Evening Star Newspaper, November 20, 1928, Page 1

4 WEATHER. (U. 8 Weather Fair tonight and tomorrow; tonight, with lowest temperature about 34 degrees. ‘Temperatures: Highest, 77, at 2:45 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 44, at 7 a.m. to- Full report on page 9. day. Market: No. 30,884, post office, Buresu Forecast.) colder Final Quo- Edition. s, 3:30 Entered as second class matter Washington, D. C Ch WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Fpening Slar. WASHINGTON, D. €, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1928—FORTY-FOUR PAGES. U.S. AGENT DENIES BEING INTOXICATED IN PASSING VESTRIS Letter Read at Inquiry Brands Steamboat Inspec- tors as “Murderers.” “NOTHING TO SAY,” SHIP RADIOES DAY OF SINKING Wireless Logs Disclose No Com- munication Telling of Danger Before S 0 § Was Sent. Br the Associated P NEW YORK, November 20.—Capt.| Edward Keane, Department of Com- merce inspector of hulls, shouted 2 de- nial today that he had been intoxicated when he passed as seaworthy the steam- er Vestris, which sank a week ago yes- | terday with a loss of more than 100 lives, Capt. Keane was the first witness to- day at the investigation of the Vestris foundering being conducted by the United States Steamboat Inspection Service at the customhouse. Charges Made in Letter. The presiding officer read a letter dated November 14, and signed “Samuel Iawson.” The letter was received by the Steamboat Inspection Service in an envelope on the flap of which was print- ed “United States Lines.” The letter contained charges that the inspection of the Vestris by Capt. Keane and an inspector of boilers, consisted of the inspector enjoying a hearty break- fast on the ship and “swilling Whisky and beer in the ship's bar.” “The inspectors left in the afternoon,” the letter read, “with a certain weak- ness in their legs and each with a pack- age under his arm.” Branded as “Murderers.” The letter concluded with the remarks that this was “the kind of murderers” that comprise the personnel of the steamboat inspection service. Capt. Keane was asked how much, if any, of this letter was true. “The whole thing is the most out- rageous lie I ever heard,” he said. “1 am the fourth generation of my family which has never touched a drop of any stimulant. Capt. Keane was then asked in de- tail about each specific charge in the letter. He said that neither he nor the other inspector had breakfast on the Vestris, that neither of them had ,anything, or were offered anythink to ‘drink on board and that they did not carry away with them any packages. Says He Wonld Not “Take Chance. He was_then asked if he and his associate had carried which looked as though they" ht contain bottles of jor, they would not have b:en stop] by customs men on the er. “There were customs men and pro- hibition men in plain clothes on the pier,” he said, “You don’t suppose that ‘we would take any chance of being picked up for bootleggers?” Capt. Keane told in detail of his in- spection of the Vestris, an annual in- spection completed several days before the steamer left on i ill-fated voyage in_what some of the survivors have called an unseaworthy condition. He said that he found everything that was his responsibility to inspect in condition. He mentioned particu- larly the coal ports and the half doors in the side of the ship through which the crew enters and leaves while the ship is at its pier. Officers of the Vestris have testified at the Federal hearing being conducted by United States Attorney Tuttle that water ‘émurcd into the ship through both the coal ports and the half doors. ‘These officers, First Officer Johnson ahd Chief Engineer Adams, said that efforts were made to tighten these openings in the hull, but it was found impossible to stem the flow of water. Says Lifeboats Were 0. K. Capt. Keane said his inspection of the Vestris covered four days, during which he thoroughly examined life- ‘boats and their equipment and the life preservers. e declared the 12 life- ‘oats he had inspected and which were ample to take care of passengers and crew were in first-class condition. The inspector’s testimony was given before Dickerson N. Hoover, supervis- ing inspector general, and Thomas J. Padarell, assistant United States attorney representing Federal Attorney Charles H. Tuttle, was delegated to examined the witnesses for the Govern- ment. “In the work you were assigned to do on the steamer Vestris did any one in this office give you the impression that it was to be hastily done?” Hoover asked. “No sir.” “In examining the steamboat did you have ample time?” ‘We had plenty of time. I was four ys on_ her.” ‘Was it true you needed more assist- ance to make a thorough inspection?” “Four days was ample time to do it.” 68 Life Preservers Defective. Of the 697 life preservers aboard, which he said he examined, Capt. Keane said he had found 68 new ones defective. Capt. Keane said food, water, lanterns and flares in the lifeboats conformed to regulations. Some witnesses at the inguiry before United States Commis- sioner O'Neil testified that flares were defective and that there was no oil in lanterns. The lifeboats themselves, said the captain, who is 62 years old and the holder of a license for steam and sail in the United States and a British master's certificate, could not have bet- ter sustained the banging they were subjected to if they had beerl made of rubber. Keane said his tests of the libefoats had revealed no defects in boats them- sgelves or in the falls by which they ~ were lowered “Some witnesses have testified that the boats had holes in them. Did you see an, asked Mr. Hoover. “No, sir,” replied Capt. Keane. “Other witnesses said these holes were ©ld ones. Would you have seen them?” “T looked inside and outside of the boats,” said Keane. “I saw no holes.” The falls, the witness asserted, were in “A-1 condition—only 6 months old.” He said he did not think there were any yafts on the ship and that none had come up for inspection. Radio logs introduced at the Federal fnquiry yesterday afternoon show that during the morning of the day she sank the Vestris told her sister ship, the Voltaire, “I have nothing to com- | municate.” During this period, according to pre- ~ "(Contipued op Fage 5, Columa 1) Says, However, That Rites Will Not Take Place | at White House. No Formal Announcement Has Been Made, Gover- nor’s Daughter States. By the Associated Press. NEW ORLEANS, La., November 20.— Miss Florence Trumbull, daughter of Gov. John H. Trumbull of Connecticut, told newspaper men today that she and John Coolidge, son of the President, would be married, but not in the White House. “Are you and John Coolidge going to have a White House wedding?” she was asked, as she reached the city with her father and mother to attend the gov- ernors’ conference. “No, it won't be'a White House wed- ding.” she replied, blushing. “Has there been any formal an- nouncement of the engagement?” “Not vet,” she said. “You don’t deny it by any chance, do you?2” pursued her questioner. “Oh, no,” she said. “In fact, the engagement is accepted among all your friends, isn't it?” “Oh, yes,” she smiled. “It seems to be accepted everywhere.” MORE POLICE SEEN AS DISTRICT NEED Turnage Declares Court System of Washington Also Is Inadequate. A police force inadequate in numbers and a court system “practically the same since the days of the Civil War” were blamed as partly responsible for the number of crimes in the District of Columbia by Needham C. Turnage, United States commissioner, in an address before the Washington Adver- tising Club in the Press Club today. Except for the addition of two Police Court judges, the courts here have been practically the same since the days of the Civil War, he said. The commis- sloner then asked, “How are 1,400 po- licemen in the District going to detect all crimes when there were 22,000 ar- rests made in the past year?” The also hlamed the general public for increase in crime in the Dis- trict as elsewhere, and attributed the lack of law enforcement to it in a large degree. In this connection, he referred gmcuhfly to persons being unwilling volunteer as witnesses to aid police- men and also the tendency for persons to get out of doing jury duty whenever possible for them to do so. . $1,300,000 Stolen in Year. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1928, there was more than $1,300,- 000 worth of property stolen in the District of Columbia, Mr. Turnage said. The police, through their good work, he continued, recovered the major part of it but left more than $348,000 as a total loss. During the fiscal year ending in June, 1927, he said, there was a total of more than $3,000,000,000 lost in the United States through erime. Commiseioner Turnage praised the local Police Department and advocated higher salaries for policemen, indicat- ing that whereas the local department is_inadequate in numbers, it does ex- cellent work considering the number of men on the force. He stressed the need of making police pay attractive to obtain men able to cope with the in- telligent class of criminals. MODEL FACES QUIZ IN ROTHSTEIN CASE, Ruth Keyes Denies She Knew Gambler Who Was Slain, Mrs. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, November 20.—An attrac- tive blond woman was due in New the mystery surrounding the death of Arnold Rothstein, shot to death there November 4. The woman, Mrs. Ruth Keyes, 24, was taken to New York by detectives for a second questioning as to what went on before and after a party she attended in the hotel the night of the shooting, Mrs. Keyes, who terms herself a free- lance clothing model, admitted she had room No. 330 in the Park Central Hotel and said she visited room 349, which was the number of the room where Rothstein was shot. She denied knowing Rothstein, however, and said she did not know George McManus, whom police wish to question. “I was in New York on a shopping trip,” said Mrs. Keys. “The night of November 31, went into the hall to look for a maid. That was the night before the shooting. In the hall T met a man, who had a room on the same floor. He seemed quite nice and said his name was Jack. About 4:30 the next after- noon, Sunday, Jack called my room and asked me to join him and another man and have a drink. “We had several drinks. I don't seem to remember what the other man looked like. At about 6 o'clock I left them there.” Mrs. Keys said she did not know whether either of the men was Roth- stein or McManus. Log Book forghe use of its readers. page 36. York today to aid the State in clearing M FLORENCE TRUMBULL DECLARES SHE IS TO WED JOHN COOLIDGE FLORENCE TRUMBULL. JOHN COOLIDGE. GIBSON T0 FIGHT FOR D. C. BUDGET House Subcommittee Chair- man Not Satisfied: to Only Make Recommendations. Chairman Gibson of the subcommit- tee of the House District committee expects to appear before the subcom- mittee of the Distriet budget, when that body starts hearings December 20, to explain needs of the District as his com- mittee has found them and to appeal for appropriations adequate for what he believes to be the best interests of the citizens of the Capital. Mr. Gibson stated today he will rec- ommend to the appropriations body that sufficient funds be granted to carry out proposals of the Gibson subcommittee, He emphasized that his subcommittee will not be satisfied merely with mak- ing recommendations, but intends to wage the fight to the end, either throug action of the District Commissioners, through new legislation ,or through thz appropriation bill. c Officials Not on “Grid.” Chairman Gibson declared he does not want District citizens to gather the impression that his subcommittee is abandoning the study of any problems vital to the Capital. At the same time he wants it understood that no District officials are on the “grid” or are to be subjected to hostile questioning. His subcommittee has launched a sweeping survey of all branches of local Gov- ernment, he stated, but is not making an investigation in the sense that is generally understood. The so-called police investigation will not be given undue prominence during the coming short session of Congress, . Gibson said, reiterating there is urgent legislation that must be prepared for presentation to Congress. This leg- islation, he said, includes such subjects as the merger of the transportation lines, fiscal relations hetween the Dis- frict government and the Federal Treas- ury, adjustment of the licensing sys- tem, questions of assessment and taxa- tion, and, most pressing of all, recom- mendations of the Bureau of the Bud- get for appropriations to carry on Dis- trict activities. Merger Report Is Delayed. ‘The Bureau of Efficiency report on the merger will not be submitted to- day, as was indicated yesterday. The bureau has not been able to. complete its draft of the report. Chairman Gib- son and the office of Senator Capper, chairman of the Senate District com- mittee, were so notified by the bureau today. Mr. Gibson, however, is in con- ference at the bureau today on the merger report and other District matters. Mr. Gibson conferred late yesterday with Commissioner Dougherty and out- lined to him the program of the Gib- son subcommittee. He called at the office of Maj. Hesse, superintendent of police, to pay his respects, but that official was absent. He also called on Chief Watson of the Fire Department. Mr. Gibson expects to inspect Hoo- ver Field tomorrow, in line with his policy of studying all localities pro- posed for an airport. His present views, however, are that Gravelly Point is the best site proposed so far. New Radio Log Book Issued by The Star. In view of the reallocation of wave lengths of all of the broadcasting stations in the United States, there is an amazing demand for definite, authentic information as to the changes which have been made. It will be necessary for the radio fan to keep a record of stations brought in, and to meet this demand The Star has published a complete This bool¥may be obtained either at The Star Office, Eleventh and Pennsylvania avenue, or at any of the Star’s Want Ad Stations listed on HOOVER MAY DROP CANAL ZONE TOUR FROM ITINERARY More Countries on Good Will Tour. KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH WORLD BY RADIO Planning to Lissen in on Details of California Game Saturday. BY REX COLLIER, Staff Correspondent of The Star. ON BOARD THE BATTLESHIP MARYLAND, November 20.—Equator {bound on a frank, grimage of friendship, President-elect Hoover's good will battleship Mary~ land today was cleaving steadily a path tarough the trackless, sun-lighted Pa- cific toward her first port of call, Corinto, Nicaragua. This powerful elec- trically driven colossus of the seas, one of the newest and largest American warships afloat, had forsaken American waters and today was paralleling along | Mexico's peninsula, Lower California. Incidentally, she was entering the very finest fishing grounds on earth in the Gulf of California, and strong indi- cations are that prospective problems of international diplomacy might be forgotten a few hours while America’s next President tries his luck casting for tarpon, sailfish and other monsters of the deep. They don't grow any big- ger anywhere than down here. He has plenty of lines and hooks in his baggage and may use them from 2 small launch while the battleship heaves to at sea. Recreation, however brief, would benefit Hoover, for he has ahead of him a strenuous 15,000-mile journey through perhaps a dozen Central and South American countries, a journey that may sway the course of future pan-American relations. Hoover believes many diplomatic niceties, to be worked out, requiring mature thought and cautious ‘handling of problems, will affect his itinerary. Confers With Fletcher. Hoover and Ambassador Fletcher to- day were in conference on them and to contemplate change in &chedule time. : ‘Hoover may forego_ his desire to in- spect the Panama Canal in order to jsave three days by cutting straight from Nicaragua to such a port of call as Peru. He has learned navigation :‘lllm:ultdzsf lck:‘olr{; at m';ne other ports because of shallow waters. The President-elect called correspond- ents into his homelike spacious quar- ters aft and the whole. pro; as he termed the trip. From his discus- sion it is an apparent extracrdinary mis- sion, not for political or personal pur- poses, but a sincere, grandiloguent ges- ture of cordiality by Uncle Sam to sis- ter republics. Thoroughly at Home. Hoover chose a battleship because he couldn’t afford to charter a ship, and it costs the Navy no more to cruise south than other directions. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover and son, Allan, are presidential five rooms. Hoover sur- rounded himself not only with a com- plete library on Latin America, but two sheaves of lighter literature of undiplo- matic nature, including the latest de- tective stories interspersed wl',h“ bio- graphical works—"Life of Lincoln,” ete. A strangely feminine touch on the battleship is an abundance of yellow roses, maroon _chrysanthemums an other flowers in his suite, to say nothing of a dozen pink ribboned boxes of choco- tes. ]'Mrs.- ‘Hoover and Secretary Ruth Fes- sler thrilled at the majestic gray dread- naught. Hoover spent vesterday after- noon and evening. on his private sec- tion of the quarterdeck chatting with Capt. Victor Kimberly and newspaper men., Watches Escort Squadron. He watched an escort squadron of six destroyers leave as he passed San Diego late yesterday afternoon. The destroyers accompanied the Maryland from San Pedro, throt:llng to the 15-knot pace of the battleship. Hoover stood, overcoated, last night and gazed at the star-studded sky and also listened to radio music from the dining room, and said he plans to listen-in on the Stanford - California game Saturday. He read the ship's daily paper, the Evening Hurricane, containing the last news of the world by radio and also took a crack at a correspondent who mistook the range indicator on the mast for a clock. Members of the party attended a movie show with the crew. The San Pedro farewell was poign- ant. Ten battleships fired a presiden- tial salute of 21 guns as the party came ahoard in tenders, and planes in V for- mation swooped above. Bands on each battleship played the national anthem as the Maryland passed, and the Mary- land band replied each time. Passen- gers lined the rails of all ships and pennants fluttered in the warm breeze. Commercial planes with photographers z00med around. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover stood at the rail of the quarterdeck and waved good-by. WOMAN, 108, CELEBRATES Ireland’s Oldest Inhabitant Marks Her Birthday, By the Assoclated Press. DUBLIN, Irish Free State, November 20.—The Hon. Miss Catharine Plunkett, reputed to be Ireland’s oldest inhabi- tant, today celebrated her 108th birth- day. She spent the morning reading letters and telegrams of congratulation at her little home outside Dunbalk Louth. Although confined to her room, this wonderful old lady has retained all her faculties unimpaired. She directs the management of her household and takes a keen interest in current affairs, having a newspaper read to her daily. Miss_Plunkett comes from a distin- guished family. Her grandfather, Wil- liam Conyngham Plunkett, was created a peer in 1827. HITS GOLF BALL 390 YDS. TAMPA, Fla, November 20 (#).— What, is believed to be a record drive of a golf ball was revealed -here today when Carl Seka, Forrest Hill profes- sional, and another golfer, partner of Tom McHugh, measured the distance of a drive by McHugh Sunday. The sphere was found to have traveled down No. 7 fairway for 390 yards. McHugh is professional at another club hs'". ) Would Permit Him to Add! unselfish pil- | thoroughly at home in their sumptuous: HIGH COURT SITE - TOCOST §1768.4 Commission’s Report Ex- ceeds Appropriation Fixed by Congress. It will cost the United States $1,768,741 to acquire the two squares of ground opposite the United States Capitol as a site for the new building for the United States Supreme Court, if the report and award of a commis- sion of three citizens is accepted. Con- gress has appropriated $1,700,000 for the site. Justice Hitz, who received the report of the Commissioners, set December 5 as the date on which the property owners may file objections to the award. The property is known as Squares 727 and 728 ‘and lies between East Capitol street and Maryland avenue, First and Second streets. It includes 81 “parcels of land. The col n T com| d ot Sewell A"'m., was “A. Charles Fiske and Willlam A. Hittinger. Largest Award. The largest award is to the National Woman's Party, which owns the land at the corner of First and A streets, which is said to have been the site of the old Capitol Building and also served as a prison in Civil War times. The commission places a valuation of $299,200 on this property and build- ings. The National Woman's Party had sought $1,000,000 for their property. The next largest award is for the Congressional Apartments at First and East Capitol streets, for which the commission allows $212,250. The Gar- land Apartment at 131 A street north- east is valued at $95,600, and the Kite Apartment, at Second and East Capitol streets, is placed at $100,000. The d | Darlington Apartment at 149 A street northeast is given a valuation of $57,000. Other Properties. Other properties and their valuation as fixed by the report of the commis- slon include: 156 A street northeast, $9,500; 154 A street, $11,509; 152 A street, $10,750; 150 A street, $9,000; 148 A street, $8,000; 146 A street, $8,500; 144 A street, $9,100; 142 A street, $14,. 250; 140 A street, $12,500; 138 A street, $9,500; 136 A street, $11,010; 134 A street, $8,000; 132 A street, $16,000; 130 A street, $16,000; 101 Maryland avenue, $25,000; 103 Maryland avenue, $16,000; 105 Maryland avenue, $13,500 107 Maryland avenue, $11,500; 109 Maryland avenue, $10,500: 111 Mary- land avenue, $10.500; 113 Maryland avenue, $13,500; 115 Maryland avenue, $16,500; 117 Maryland avenue, $16,000; 110 Maryland avenue, $14,500; 121 Maryland avenue, $15,000; 123 Mary- land avenue, $14,000; 125 Maryland avenue, $9,000; 127 Maryland avenue, $11,000; 129 Maryland avenue, $11,500; 131 Maryland avenue, $15,000; 112 Sec- ond street, $8,250; 110 Second street, $6,550; 108 Second street, $6,750; 148 and 150 East Capitol street, $21,000; 146 E. Capitol street, $12,000; 140 E. Cap. street, $12,000; 138 East Capitol, $11,500; 136 East Capitol, $12,500; 134 East Capi- tol, $12,000; 132 East Capitol, $26,000; 130 East Capitol, $26,000; 128 East Capitol, $30,000; 124 East Capitol, $21,- 500; 122 East Capitol, $37,500; 116 East Capitol, $34,000; 112 East Capitol, $28,- 500; 110 East Capitol, $18,000; 13 First street, $31,000; 121 A street; $11,000: 123 ‘A street, $10,000; 125 A street, $17,000; 127 A street, $16,500; 129 A street, $13,- 000; 135 A street, $19,500; 137 A street, $19,500; 139 and 141 A street, $14,000; 147 A street, $9,500; 153 A street, $13,- 000; 28 Second street, $8,500; 26 Second street, $9,500; 24 Second street, $8,000: 22 Second street, $8,250; 20 Second street, $12,500; 18 Second street, $21,000; 12 and 14 Second street, $29,000. . KING DOUBTS NECESSITY OF SPECIAL SESSION Senator Favors Consideration of Farm Relief and Kellogg Pact at This Time. An extra session of the new Congress next Spring, advocated by some Sena- tors returning to the Capital, does not appear necessary, in. the opinion of Senator King, Democrat, of Utah, who arrived back at his office today. Sena- tor King said he favored consideration of the agricultural relief problem and thought the Kellogg treaty to outlaw war could also be disposed of at the coming_ session. Senator King said he would favor the Kellogg treaty, but added that he re- garded it largely as a jesture. The Utah Senator also stated that he thought, the naval cruiser building pro- gram should be considered separately and apart from the treaty. . Clemenceau's Sister Dies. PARIS, November 20 (#).—Mme. Jacquet, sister of cwgle: c‘lleun:lenfiu, France’s wartime premier, ay b the Age Of 88, . | as fast as the papers Yesterd “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes are printed. ’s Circulation, 106,705 * P) Means Associated Press, TWO CENTS. . THATS g EXPERT & SCRATCHING! Z7 W Evanston Woman Held for Playing Radio at Midnight By the Associated Press. EVANSTON, TIll, November 20.— The first arrest for playing the radio after midnight in Evanston was made early today when police took Mrs. Elizabeth Wood into custody. Mrs. Wood was jailed, after she slapped Policewoman Georgianna Juul for disturbing her pastime. The midnight radio ban was in- voked by a recently enacted ordi- nance. MINTOSH RESIENS CONTROLLER'S POST Presidént Regrets Official’s Retirement—Successor Not Determined. J. W. McIntosh, controller of the cur- rency, has submitted his resignation to President Coolidge. In making this known at the White House today, it was explained that Mr. Meclntosh’s resignation was unexpected, and that the President regretted his retirement. 1t was said the President had not yet formally accepted the resignation, but he will do so very shortly. 1t is understood that Mr. Coolidge has not yet made any decision as to the appointment of a successor. Mr, McIntosh was in New York City today and there was no authori- tative indication from the Treasury De- partment as to his plans for the future. He was appointed by President Cool- idge on December 16, 1924, to the posi- tion of controller from that of deputy controller. His financial experience was lengthy and varied. He began a banking career with the Farmers' State Bank of Eustis, ‘Nebr. He later became head of a depart- ment of Armour & Co., in Chicago, re- signing this position in 1905 to act as receiver of the Western Stoneware Co. of Monmouth, Ill. In 1907 he be- came president and treasurer of this company, which he resigned to enter the Army in 1917. Following the end of the war he was appointed director of finance of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, remaining in this post un- til May 23, 1923, when he was appoint- ed a deputy to the controller, He was born December 23, 1873. NEWMAN IS BOOMED. Friends of Kansas City Banker Want Him As Controller. By the Associated Press. KANSAS CITY, November 20.—The Kansas City Star said in its edition this morning that Albert Newman, ex- ecutive vice president of the Commerce Trust Co. here, is being considered for controller of currency of the United States under the incoming Hoover ad- ministration. ‘Bankers in the vicinity of Kansas City are reported to be urging Newman for the position. Newman, & close friend of Vice Presi- dent-elect Charles Curtis of Kansas, has been active in the Republican organiza- tion in Missouri and Kansas several years. OCEAN FLIGHT DENIED. Shortage of Gas Prevents Return ot Graf Zeppelin to U. 8. FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany, No- vember 20 (#).—The Graf Zeppelin will make no 'second trip to America this year. The Zeppelin works in announc- ing this today said that the necessary supply of gas was not available. The Graf Zeppelin is again ready for flight, but it will merely make six or seven short cruises to comply with the requirements of the German Aeronauti- cal Testing Station at Aldershof. 'SMITH TELLS JURY i | | | STRESS GARBLING OF COOLIDGE VIEWS Conversations at WhiteI | House Tell British Journal- | ists of Interview System. The presence of several British journalist at the bi-weekly press con- ference at the White House served to- day to bring forth an emphasis upon President Coolidge’s feeling that his un- official views are sometimes misinter- rpreted abroad. at the conference just how these meet- ings with newspaper men take place, what their purpose is, and what obliga- tions are jmposed upon those who pic- ture the President’s views. Especial emphasis was laid on that obligation which prohibits the direct at a President unless a is issued at,the White House. Mr, Coolidge is‘of the opinion that his unofficial views are rarely - terpreted in this country, but that sometimes abroad he has difficulty in getting over full appreciation of what he has in his mind. Prepares Advance Copies. Because of this, the President be- lieves that he has solved some of the difficulties by preparing well in ad- | vance any speeches dealing with for- | eign relations so' that his words may | be given to European countries in ex- actly the same form as they are made known to American citizens. A luncheon at the British embassy | followed the White House trip of the visitors who are passing several days here and for the rest of the day, the program was left informal, to suit the convenience of the visitors and allow periods of recreation and rest from | the strenuous program which the jour- | nalists had been following since they arrived in New York October 1, Will Visit Arlington. Tomorrow morning the group will go to Mount Vernon and Arlington and during the afternoon will visit the Washington Cathedral and the new British Embassy Building, under con- struetion. ‘The program yesterday was concluded by a reception at the National Press Club last night. J. Fred Essary, presi- dent of the club, welcomed the visiting Jjournalists. He stressed the significance of this visit, hoping it was the begin- ning_of peaceful invasion of America by British. Many more Americans visit England, he said, than British visit America. Clarence A. Phillips of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, which is sponsoring the tour of the journalists, presented an illustrated lec~ ture, “Washington, the City Beautiful.” DENIES WAR PLANS. Poland Declares Moscow Story Is Pure Invention. WARSAW. November 20 (#).—The| Polish Telegraphic Agency today issued | an official denial of a report published In Moscow stating that Poland was involved in extensive preparations, in- cluding France, Rumania and Jugo- slavia, for an anti-Soviet war. The statement said that the reports of alleged changes in the Polish-Ru- manian guarantee pact of 1926 and “fantastic military details” are pure in- vention. CHILDREN BURN TO DEATH TULSA, Okla. November 20 (#).— Three small children were burned to death here last night when they were trapped in their burning home. Their mother, Mrs. Colbert Roberts, had left them alone to go to a grocery store.| The dead are Colbert, jr., 6: Lorain, 3, | and Jack, 16 months. i Finding of the body of Jack in front of an open fireplace led firemen to be- lieve that the fire was started when the boy played with the fireplace embers. District Shows 16.4 Per Cent Increase In Automobile Registrations for 1928 The District of Columbia led all the States in the increase of automobile registrations in 1928, according to figures in_the hands of Wade H. Coombs, District_Superintendent of Licenses. Mr. Coombs exhibited a tabulation compiled by an insurance concern for which he "furnished the information respecting Washington. The tabulation chows that in 33 States in which the census was made, automobile registra- tions increased about 6 per cent for the period of January 1 to September 30, 1928, as compared with the correspond- ing pel last year, The figures were as 17,688,140 registrations, against 16,685,967. In the District the registrations in- creased 16.4 per cent, from 122255 to 142,360. The figures showed that auto- mobile registration in Florida had de- clined during the same period. The visiting British writers were told | b HE WAS DERANGED ATTIME OF KILLING Bitterly Arraigns Daughter’s Conduct for Period Pre- ceding Her Death. TELLS OF HIS CONNECTION WITH SALVATION ARMY Blames Those Who Had Taught Girl to Drink Liquor and Smoke Cigarettes. Pleading that he was temporarily de- ranged and in a highly excited frame of mind when he strangled and suffo- cated the last spark of life from the | body of his daughter, Bessie L. Smith, September 26, in their apartment at 1151 New Jersey avenue, Franklin Ells- worth Smith, 50 years old, today harangued the jury in District Supreme Court, Criminal Division 1, for nearly two hours, in an attempt to escape the death penalty for his crime. Smith was called to the stand » the second witness for the defense. H was allowed by his attorney, E. Russel Kelly, to tell the jury his story with- out questioning and at lengthy detail. Defendant on Stand. Smith took the stand at 10:45 thi morning, and still was on the stanc when the court recessed at 12:30. Fc immediately launched forth into a de- tailed explanation of his relations with his daughter. Most of his testimony, addressed directly to the jury, dealt with her association with John Steele. . the man with whom he declared his daughter was keeping company at the time of her death. He described Steele as a “worthless, no account loafer, who lied, stole and would not work.” Coming up to the morning he killed his daughter, Smith said he came home without the slightest intention of slay- ing her. He said that he found her and !l:ls mrl;l' gmhg\, e‘tfl?gt breakfast when e arrived and got int. an argument with his daughter over a pork puddin; which he bought the night . before. which he wanted for breakfast. After said, and as she preparel fully clothed, he said he back uoting of written statement | her £ hands tightly clenched ahout her throat “Had to Go Through With T.* He said that she moved convulsivel” for a few moments and then rollapsed unconscious on the bed. “I didn’t want to harm the girl,” he said, “but when I started I felt that I to five minutes. Then I was sure she was beyond all human aid. Just to make sure. however, that she would have no suffering whatever, I took a mirror from a bureau and held it be- fore her mouth. A small spot of mois- ture, about the size of a quarter, formed on the mirror and I then placed two fingers over her nostrils, shutting off her breath there. and placed my other hand over her mouth. T held her thus for some time, I don't know how long, and I again put the mirror in front of !her face and again the small spot of moisture appeared. I repeated the process of holding her nose and mouth until I was sure that she was beyond all hope of recovery and would suffer no_more. “I loved that girl with all my heart. I would have given my life for her. “If I had planned to kill anybody, it is only natural to assume that I would have killed John Steele also. My daughter is dead and John Steele is a free man today. It isn't reasonable to suppose that if I had planned killing any one that I would not have killed him before I killed my daughter.” Steele Listens Unmoved. Steele, who was in the courtroom dur- ing Smith’s denunciation of him, except for a few minutes when he went out- side to smoke a cigarette, sat during the final denunciation unmoved. Mrs. Lily E. Allen, 73, mother of Smith, was the first defense witness to - take the stand this morning. She told how one of her son’s eves was crushed at the time of his birth and how his eyesight has been poor al his life, final- ly forcing her to withdraw him from graded school when he was in about the fifth grade. She said she then put her son to work to keep him off the streets. When he was about 16, Mrs. Allen said, Smith became interested in the Salvation Army evangelistic sérvices here and would attend the services whenever his work permitted. It was at these services that Smith met his wife. “There never was a better kind o1 boy that walked this'earth than Frank,” Mrs. Allen said. “He gave me every cent almost that he earned. He was always very affectionate to me and always worked hard.” His Eyesight Bad. Smith told the jury that his eyes al- ways had bothered him and that he was forced, in 1922, to leave a position as bookkeeper with the National Metro- plul}\]ttan Bank on account of poor eye- sight. He said he had had for many years little voice in the running of his house- hold and for tRe ater part of the time had prepared all the meals, washed the dishes and attended to other de- tails of the household without any aid from his wife, who was working, or his daughter, who wolud assume no re- sponsibilities. He bitterly arraigned his daughter’s conduct for the two or three years At she o1 associations, had turned to dfi and smoke and used profanity and had been continually abusive and con- He with whom he said his daughter had associated and whom, he said, were “I continually upbraided her and Mmm““'d with her without avail,” Smith described his associations with The registration figures all contain duplications, according to Mr. Coombs, and are not to be taken as representing lthe actual number of automobiles Radio Programg—Page 3| the Salvation Army as those of a sol- dler and all through his testimony to :’t’x: jury he gave evidence ‘:L & distinct (Continued on Page 2,