New Britain Herald Newspaper, February 22, 1921, Page 1

ABLISHED 1870 NE\V BRlTAlN CONNECTICUT, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, A N - / 1921. —TWELVE PAGES PRICE EDWIN DENBY, A LAWYER FROM DETROIT, IS SLATED FOR THE ECRETARYSHIP OF THE NAVY as Enlisted Man In The Marine Corps And Sailor Al:o During War— hoice A Surprise OVERFOR COMMERCE AVIS FOR LABOR SEC. ther Speculations For Cab- inet—Weeks, War; Hays, Postmaster; Mellon, Treas- ury; Walace, Agriculture;’ and Fall For Interior. The new cabinet as sclected by President-elect Harding will be: Secretlary of Stated—Charles Evans Hughes, New York. Secretary of the Treasury—An- drew Mellon of Pennaylvania. Secretary of War—John W. Weeks of Massachuselts, oy General—Harry ugherty of Ohio ter General—Will Bays of Indiana, tary of Navye-Edwin Den- by of Michigan. Seerotary of the Interior—A. B. Fall of New Mexico. Secretary of Agrioulture—Hen- I ry Walluce of lowa retary of Commerce—Her- £ bert Hoover of California. Secretary of Labor—James J. Davis of Pennsylvank H. ., Augustine, Fla., Feb. 22, (By pelated Prems). — Presidont-elect difg completed his cabinet slate y by a virtual selection of Bd-, Lgnby of Detroit, Mich., as gec~ of the navy. oholce was the first big sur- octions, amon gLl Penby's nal or. ap- d In newspaper speculation t the navy post. He I8 an at- y and a former member of con- id has served as an enlisted war-time in both the navy ine corps. is understood a formal tender acceptance are yet to be ex- nged but Mr. Denby is regarded those close to Mr, Harding as prac- Iy certain to take the place. here were also growing indica- today that the virtual selections rbert Hoover retary of commerce and James Pavis of Pennsylvania, to be secre- of labor, soon would be definitely , putting the complete cabinet ta final form. Dark Horse. Denby, who was drawn into the net situation as a dark horse aft- foymer Governor Frank O. Low- of Illinols, declined to be consid- for the navy portfolio, Is 50 old and has an Intimate knowl- e of Far Eastern affairs in addi- to his naval experience. He went ‘hina In 1886 with his father, who ed there as an American minister later he spent ten years in the nese maritime customs service. A Gumner's Mate, oturning to the United States in . Denby served as a gunner's the American navy during with Spain and at the age as a sergeant in the marine during the world war. He was esentative in the 59th, 60th and ongresses, makipg a particular of naval affairs as a member of val committee. Hoover and Davis. rbert Hoover of California and o8 J. Davis of Pennsylvania vir- © been chosen for member- President-elect Harding’'s leaving open but one place now seems certain to go to a horse. tentative offer of the portfolio jommerce s understood to have made to Mr. Hoover and the rfl] expectation hcre Is that he nocept. Davis. a former steel worker now a banker, is to be mecretary abor if the cabinet slate gocs ugh as it now stands. It is be- d no final offer has been made im although he has been askcd himself In readiness for the ent. Other Members. eantime, it became known that the seven eabinet selections pre- wly resarded as virtually certain heen finally put into the class of nties. Two of these, Charles E. of New York for secretary of n In ot h 'NEGLIGENCE MAY HAVE ! CAUSED FIRE—CURTIS P STARTS IN CELLAR. Health and Fire Depts. and Hall Commission Hint- ed At By Mayor. Mayor Orson F. Curtis will shortly institute an investigation of reports that paper to the amount of about 100 bales had been allowed to accumulate in the basement of City Hall, thereby furnishing fuel for the fire which ! broke out early this morning and which, according to estimates of | members of the City Hall commis- sion, caused damages of $10,000 to the building. Commenting upon the sit- uation this afternoon, Mayor Curtis said: “If conditions in the bascment of City Hall are such as have been re- ported to me, I firmly belicve that one or all of threc agencies are gulty of negligence: The inspectors of the hcalth department and the fire prevention bureau of the fire de- partment, whose duties are to see | that no such conditions are allowed to go” on, and the members of City Hall commission, that paper was being stored ! basement in that manner.” The mayor was one of the first city officials to arrive atthe scene of the blaze this morning. He looked over the grounds thoroughly but did not go into the basement since he had been warned that water was too deep {in that part of the building to ven- ture without rubber boots. It isa matter of general knowledge that a large quantity of scrap paper has been lying about the basement for some time past, much of it baled ,in large bundles and about enough loose to make up one bale, The mayor [wu not aware that the quantity of sorp was near as large as reported, | however, he said this afternoon and had he known he praoba- bly would have ordered its early re- moval as a fire ha¥ard. Among the duties of the fire pre- vention bureau of the fire department. which is a recently instituted adjunct to the work of fighting flames, is to soe that conditions that might cause | fired are nof allowed to exist. Since the possibility of loss of life is in- volved, the matter has been regarded as one of health, and the inspectors of that department are supposed to be on the look-out for such hazards. The City Hall commission, If it had knowledge of conditions, was. negli- gent In the performance of its duties by allowing those conditions to exist, Mayor Curtis feels. in the “HAS'I‘ER HIND” GAUGHT \Joe Urbatis, Head of Gang Which Secured About $830,000 Loot From Toledo P. O., Arrested. Toledo, Feb. 22.—Government in- spectors here working to clear up the robbery at the Toledo post office last Thursday morning announced today that the robbers were responsible for the theft of $800,000 in unregistered government bonds and between $28 - 000 and $30.000 in cash. This much, the inspectors admitted has been ac- counted for and the check up is be- ing continued. All of the stolen mail except that which the authorities have accounted for has been destroyed, it is under- Ilood Police today reiterated that in the arrest of Joe Urbatis yesterday at Elkhart, Ind., the “master mind” in the robbery has been apprehended. Urbatis and Joe Culbert, police say Eot out of the city yesterday when they heard that a police stool pigeon had revealed details of the robbery. Communication with the Elkhart po- Iuw- resulted in their c-pmrc English Pollce Sergeant Wounded in Ireland Dublin, Feb. 22.—A police sergeant was seriously wounded by unknown persons in Maynoot, County Kildare, today, and a constable was wounded in Cahey, County of Tipperary. Thirty-eight members of the Irish republican army who were drilling in Bollinrobe, County Mayo, rounded and captured by crown forces without casualties. Trotzky’s Train Atta Attacked By Cossack Troops Riga, Feb. 22.—A report from Mos- coy today says that Cossack troops at- tacked the railway train of Leon Trot- | zky, the Russian soviet war minister, as it was traveling along the Moscow- Orenburg rallroad. Several of the war minister's trainmen were wounded, it ¢ added. {immediately provided they khew | 1in the barber shop to get | Head of War CITY HALL DAMAGED | IN MORNING BLAZE Timely Dlscovery Averts Prob- able Destrucflon of Building P Corbin Awakened By Smoke Sends in Call for Fire Department—Chief | Loss Council Room Badly Scorched. Noble Places at $5,000.— A fire which for a time threatened the destruction of City Hall was dis- covered at 2:15 o'clock this morn- ing when Philip Corbin, who has apartments in the building was aroused by the smell of smoke. He telephoned to the fire headquarters and Engine Company No. 1 was sent to the scene. On ar- rival at the city building, Chief Wil- liam J. Noble sensing the apparent danger the structure was in, sounded an alarm from Box 14, at 2:32 o’clock, bringing Engine Companies Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 and the (ladder companies, 1 and 2. Plenty of Smoke. At this time volumes of smoke were issuing from the various windows in the building. The fire was discovered in the store-room below the work- | room of the water department in the western wing of the building. In this room was stored about 3 tons of old | paper which had been baled and was being kept for sale later. Blaze Soon Checked. The fire ate (ts way through the partition up to the water department and the wall separating the barber shop conducted by Paul Vogelgesang. With five lincs of hose laid, the fi fighters soon were at work, and the | flames were confined to the cellar and the partition on the first floor. Council Room Damaged. However, the smoke had by this' time made its way through the entire building, and as a result consider- able damage was done in th¢ com- mon council room and also in other . offices. Members of the New Britain club, who maintain sleeping quarters in the building were aroused from their slumbers and were ordered from the building as a safety precau- tion. A Bft of Luck. In the work-room of the water de- partment there was piled several thousands of dollars worth of lead, | but -this fortunately escaped the flames. A chlorinating machins vefc ued at $400 was .considerably dam- | aged, and also a drill press used in ; the department. 4 Mr. Vogelgesang said today that the damage to his place would not exceed $50, and was mostly due to water and smoke. It was necessary for the firemen to chop .a'large hole at the | flames. Chief Willlam J. Noblo today esti- | mated the damage at $5,000. Secretary William Dunn of the City Hall commission estimates the loss at over $8,000. He has submitted a claim ! to the insurance company for $10,000 for money to make repairs. SECY. BAKER EXPLAINS Pepartment Believes ¥Mouse Committee Had Ulterior Mo- | tives in Probe. 22.—Secretary ' of today J. Washington, Feb. Baker informed Chairman Kahn the house military’ that his recent refusal to permit committee ‘M. Hill and C. C. Lindsay, house war ‘investigation committee agents, | examine secret documents at the war to ‘department, was based on the ground ‘an interest in this investigation ‘ing that Hill | the were sur- [ was assistant [ chief of staff of the Pittsburgh dis- | i Co. that they ‘“‘were, known to possess not | wholly inspired by a desire to safe- guard public interests.” Mr. Baker's letter was accompanied by a report from Major Churchill, director of military intelligence, say- and Lindsay went to department with a letter from Samuel T. Ansell, counsel for one of the investigating committees and waunted to see the papers in the set- tlement Thse of the Valley Forging Co. of Verona, Pa. Major Churchill gaid there had been copsiderable dis- cussion of the justice of the com- pany’s claim against the government on shell contracts and the action of the Pittsburgh claims board in al- lowing it. Major Churchill said the record rhowed that while the Valley Forging investigation was under way, Hill to Major Hogs, then jtrict ordnance board, and that Lind- | say was associated with Edmund Leigh of the plant protection section. Holy War Declared Aga.mst Serbians | Feb. 22.—A wireless mes- sage from Berlin today says that ac- cording to Swiss reports the Montene- grins have declared a holy war against the Serbians. Two Serbian ments London, | or agreement. | laws.” | connected, said a . here today by George ing's cabinet. | enter the cabinet IMMIGRATION TO BE LIMITED 15 MONTHS Agreement Reached Today by Both Houses—Senators from West Secure Modifications. Washington, Feb. 22.—Senate and house conferees agreed today on the senate bill limiting immigration of aliens during the 15 months begin- ning next April 1, to three per cent. of the number in the United States at the time the 1910 census was taken. At the insistence of senators and representatives from the Pacific coast the conferees agreed to strike out the section of the senate bill, speci- fving that the act should “not be con- strued as amending, repealing or modifving any law or agreement now existing which forbids the admission of any aliens of any nationality or by geographical boundary. This section was designed to pre- vent any conflict with state depart- ment officiald in controlling immigra- tion from Japan and China by treaty \s approved by con- ference the section was made to read that “‘the provisions of this act are in addition to and not in substitution for the provisions of the immigration Thus, existing laws are not affected and referepce to the agree- ments with Japan land China are omitted. HOOVER NOT ASKED T0 BE SECRETARY Declines to State Whether Or Not He Will Refuse. New York, Feb. 22.— Herbert Hoover has not been asked to become a member of President-elect Hard- {ing’s cabinet and his friends believe the department of commerce offers no such field for service as the pub- lic institutions with which he is now statement issued Barr Baker, identified with Mr. Hoover in relief | work. Seen at’ hls office this morning, Nr. Hoover sald: “I .have not received-any invitation to become.a; member of Mr. Hardy HERBERT HOOVER. I am going to be at office until 1 o'clock this after- It is possible that a telegram and my noon. might have been sent to me becn delayed in delivery.” Mr. Hoover declined to say what would be his attitude should an of- | ‘fer come to him from the president- elect. Mr. Baker’'s statement follows: “Mr. Hoover has not been asked to of President-elect Harding. Furthermore, Mr. stated sometime ago that he had no desire for political office and felt that he could be of greater public service outside than inside the cab- inet. His friends are advising him that the department of commerce of- fers no such field for constructive work as do the public institutions with which he is now associated. “Mr. Hoover had. hoped that soon as the funds for child relief were gecured he could turn some of hi attention toward his own profession of engineering as he is not a rich man and does not feel that he can continue indefinitely to give his en- tire time to public service and in faet 1 know that he has negotiations to this end.” as (‘.\R!"\‘()'S FEVER"“DROPS. Famous Tenor Now In Convalescing Stago—Passcd Restful Night, New York, Feb. 22.—Enrico Ca- ruso, convalescing after an attatk of pleurisy and heart trouble, passed a restful night, his physicians an- nounced today. dropped. Hoover ! , Lewis Killed At | &t its deepest. WM. . WCOMBS DIES AT GREENWIGH HOME Former Head of Dem. National Committee Succumbs Today WAS WILSON'S MANAGER Death Came At 7:15 This Morning —Body to Be Sent to New York— Was in 46th Year—Funeral Ar- | rangements Incomplete. New York, Feb. 22.—Wliliam McCombs, former chairman of the democratic national at Greenwich, Conn., at 7:15 o’clock today of heart failure, it was an- nounced here todgy by Frederick R. Ryan his busines§ partner. Mr. McCombs, who directed the presidential Wilson in 1912 had been in failing health for several years and during the past few months his heart af- fection became so serious that deatn was expected at any time. Mr. Ryan announced that the body would be brought to this city late today and funeral would be announced later. Mr. McCombs, who was 46th. year, leaves two Robert and Ashton of Hamburg, Ark., and three sisters, Mrs. Cor- rine Hardy of Little Rock, Ark., Mrs. Ethel Thomas and Mrs. Ran- dolph Silveman, | HARDING SENDS | NG SENDS MESSAGE President-clect’s 30 Word Expresson on Washington’s Birthday Crosses Continent. Hartford, Feb. 22.—Part of a 30 word message dictated by President- elect Harding was sent from the wire- less sending. station of Hiram Percy Maxim, 276 North Whitney streect, Monday night and relayed across the continent to the Pacific coast. The other part of the message was sent from the wireless station at Sunny- vale, Cal., about 40 miles from San Francisco, from Los Angeles and from Vancouver, Wash., and relayed east. The message was started from the Hartford end at 8:10 and was com- pleted in about six minutes. ng of the part from the west com- pleted: at--11:40. The message read:- ay the spirit of Washington be our guide in all national aspirations and may the current year mark the return of tranquility, stability, con- fidence and progress for the entire world. “WARREN G, HARDING.” The message was sent as a test in preparation for the inaugural message which will be sent broadcast on th enight of March 4. The test was open to amateur operators throughout the country. MAIL ATRPLANES LEAVE Aviators Will Attempt to Cross Oon- tinent with 350 Pounds of Mail Each, In 36 Hours. Hazelhurst, N.' Y., Feb. 22.—Two airplanes, each carrying 350 pounas of mail, left Hazelhurst Field today for San Francisco piloted by E. M. Leonhard and E. M. Allen. They ex- pect to reach the Pacific coast in 36 hours. Reports to postal officials here said that Leonhard was forced by misty weather to alight near Dubois, Pa., but plans to continue to Cleveland to- MOorrow. Allen, it Cleveland at in his was reported reached 12:15 and was relieved by Pilot W. J. Smith, who continued ! the western flight in another ma- chine. Two other mail service planes left San Francisco this morning for the east. Elko, Nevada Today San Francisco, Feb. 22.—Captain W. F. Lewis, air mail service pilot on the RReno to Salt Lake leg in the attempt to establish a record for rapid delivery between San Fran- cisco and ew York was killed today at Elko, Nev,*when his plane fell according to advices received here. ©L YOUR SIDEWALKS. Chief Willlam J. Rawlings has is- sued orders to the patrolmen to rig- idly enforce the the ordinance rela- j tive to the cleaning of snow and ice from the sidewalks. Several com- plaints have already been registered with the police about sidewalks in var- ious parts of the city, and these com- plaints are bein; investigated. SPARRO“ SONGSTERS Song sparrows entertained resldems of West Main street near Lincoln street vesterday when the snow was snow {s on the ground, T committee, died | arrangements ! brothers, | (OBSERVANCE OF DAY | IN WASHINGTON, D. C. Executive Br;andh of Govt. Closed—Honorary De- grees at University. F. | ‘Washington, Feb. 22.—Although all executive departments of the govern- ment were closed in observance of ‘Washington's birthday today, both houses of congress, facing crammed icampaign of Woodrow ' legislative calendars, with adjournment only ten days off, remained in session. | In both senate and house, however, long enough { business was suspended to permit the customary reading on the i floor of Washington's farewell address. Ceremonies at Mount Vernon today included the laying of a wreath on | Washington's tomb by R. L. Craigie, | British charge d’affaires, the British branch of speaking union. In connection with the celebration | of the 100th anniversary of its found- ing, George Washington university to- day conferred honorary degrees upon more than a score of public officials and distinguished men and women. Julia Marlowe, famous Shakespearean actress and wife of E. H. Sothern, received the honorary degree of doctor of letters. Among others who received honorary degrees were J. J. Jusserand, ambassa- dor from France; Senor Don Beltran Mathieu, ambassador from Chile, and Senor Rolando Ricei, newly appointed ambassador from Italy. WARNS SERVICEMEN State Board of Health Says “Cootles” ©Oan Carry Typhus—Gives Symp- toms of Dreaded Disease. Hartford, Feb. 22.—Soldiers who saw service in' the trenches of for- eign battlefields are entitled 'to. be _ranked ss experts on ‘rnybacln" as “the ol lice of “cootie’ fame im'the United States is' also known, in the opinion of the Connecticut depart- ment of health. As a guide in the fight against possible appearance of typhus fever in the state, the depart- ment has sent out a notice descrip- tive of the symptoms. The germ of infecting material is present in the body of the louse which has fed on a person ill with typhus. “The louse is the cootie” and, says the notice, all cities and towns have expert louse hunters who know this insect. Every ex-service man knows | that young lice are whitish while the l older ones are grayish. The louse is a slow crawling insect, and the no- tice says “it enjoys intimate compan- | | ionship with his particular host orq person on whim he is living and feed- ing, and because he feeds daily he rarely leaves his host unless mecha.nl- cally dislodged.” The departmental notice tells how to dislodge the louse, and points out ; that kerosene used in a bath solution is one way of doing it. AUTO FEE INCREASE Public Mass Meeting at Commerce Rooms Tonight. Additional Regis- tration Charge Will be Discussed. A mass meeting will be held at the Chamber of Commerce rooms tonight when the matter of the = increased automobile registration fee will be dis- cussed. All parties interested in the subject have been invited to attend. The General Assembly will bring the matter formard at its mecting to- morrow morning. The Truckmen’s Bureau of the Commerce. Chamber has approved of the ihcrease, provid- ing it will not be more than 100 per, cent. The proposition was also met with favor by the Hartford automo- milists. The increase is of vital im- portance in view of the fact that the additional fee will naturally be charg- ed to the customer when transporta- tions are made. GOMPERS CALLS MEETING in behalf of the English- s ! i | vital Questions of Orzanized Labor | Being msc\med at muve ! ing of A. [N - W rej ] It is very seldom that | The tenor’s fever has | this type of bird is heard while, thaud | AMERICAN GOV. SEND. T0 COUNCIL OF LEAGUE EQUAL RIGHTS IN MANL U. S. Communi mands That And Associat BeGivenSame! SIMILAR NOTE; TO ENGLANE Message From St3 ment Reaches - Afternoon—To ered Wednesd Washington, Feb. 22. ed Press.)—The ' Amx ment has. presented council of the league demand that all allied' nations be given eq in mandate territories. It was announced tod department that a no ical with the one on to the British gove: vember had been d council which is in Decision to act in thi withstanding the early mnistrations was pre: understanding that th templated immediate dates such as those i and Palestine. 3 England Did N Great Britain mnev Secretary Colby's no November nor has th received the official mandates which l} -Acting on ‘an that . gince the cao taken aétign on \h. dates, the opintons Colby’s note to Lo British secretary affairs, should. be. e no, reply from Great Britain, it, cially mud Great ‘B paring an answer th towards satisfying the) tentions that equal op® be - provided tor the countries in” all map It has been suggested land Geddes who rets United States yesterds tations with the foreig don had been empowi the ideas of his gov gubject. Officials of. declined to say from W intimation came thal should be taken directl but it was believed * Great Britain and the ish ambassadov comV age. Intimations have bef the department from i a certain amount of has followed but this4 the United States has| tion before that bod sisted that it was no an indication that was to become invol ies of the league but itestation of the de United States to ins even though it is not league. In his note to Lord: tary Colby said the Ul not propose to be e ticipation in the rights secured under m la the tredties of peace to be heard from the mandates before they force. In Reply to Engia ‘This note was in Great Britain under d gust 9 and which de plication of the pri of treatment to the Near East to be placs mandate. The Americ took issue with what the British position agreements and treati considered only by of the league of nation Mr. Colby said tha ! States as a pa : war “and a c9 ul ) ue,