The evening world. Newspaper, March 13, 1920, Page 3

i i { TOGOVERN GARAGE AND CHAUFFEUR Conditions Growing Out of | “Rake-Offs” and Graft Called Intolerable. B&G INDUSTRY IN PERIL. New York Counselled to Pass a@Law Like That Adopted by Illinois. \ By Sophie Irene Loeb. (Btaft lent of ning World.) Aad REBANY, March 13.—In reaponse to mumerous ‘complaints received by ‘Dhe Evening World as to high rental changes in garages, chauffeurs’ bo- muses, and “rake-offs,” and other abuses growing out of this third or fourth ranking industry, in commer- otel enterprises, The Evening World hag made a survey which discloses the-following: New York State has no laws which safeguard the property of amy owner or operator of an auto- mobile in any garage where he leaves his car. 4 Garages afe unlicensed and ir\ operation subject to no supervision except from the Fire Department. No longer may the automobile be regarded as the rich man's luxury, since thousands of people of modest means are owners of motor vehicles, Last year, in New York City, there were 126,750 privately owned cars, leensed , by the State Department. ‘There were 41,057 commercial: cars, exctusive of dealers. ‘The mumber of licensed chauffeurs was 107,824, and the number of own- er operators was 163,091. A total of $2,481,345 was realized in licenses by the State Department. ‘These significant figures, which are growing daily, speak volumes for the need of proper regulation. Complaints received are of petty thefts, percentages granted to chauf- feurs, and of such other practices that smack of graft in the operation f automobiles, and these warrant serious consideration and a correc- thon, of prevailing conditions, & WESTERN LAW THAT MIGHT BE COPIED HERE. fn Chicago, the next largést tty in the United States, there were pre- sented such astounding facts of in- tolerable conditions in connection with garages and chauffeurs that a State statute was enacted that now Siwes ample (protection to the owners t-motor vehicles. ‘This statute became effective June ‘30, 1919, The provisions are clear- cub and to the point. They are as ftolows: “No chauffeur or other person shall @rive or operate any motor vehicle or motor bicycle upon any street or highway in the State in the absence of the owner of such motor vehicle or motor bicycle without said owner's consent. “No chauffeur or other person hav- ing the care of a motor vehicle for the owner shall receive or take direct- ly or indirectly any bonus, discount or wéher consideration for the purchase of supplies or parts for such motor vehicle or for work or labor done thereon by others. * “Ne person furnishing such sup- piles or parts, work or labor shall give or offer any such chauffeur or any other person having the care of a motor vehicle for the owner thereof, either directly or indirectly, any bonus, discount or other consideration thereon. “Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction sball be tined’a sum not exceeding $200 or imprisoned in the county jail for a period not exceeding six months, or both, in the discretion of the court. STATB OFFICIALS AGREE THAT DRASTIC LAW IS NECESSARY. 1 discussed this matter with Fran- cis M. Hugo, Secretary of State, who hag charge of licensing motor ve- hicles, chauffeurs, &c. He stated: “Kt would certainly seem that there should be some supervision or regula- tion over garages and chauffeurs in thig State, in the interest of the thou- sands of people who own motor ve- hicles. “This industry is growing every minute and has become of euch pub- lic concern as to make it a public business of no small proportions, I believe it is a move in the right direction.” John F. Gilfhrist, City Commis- ~-esioner of Licenses, agreed with this view, and further adde “Not only would such a measure prove a safeguard for the owners of automobiles but for the garage owner as well, to say nothing of the honest chauffeur who suffers considerably be cause of the misdeeds of unscrupulow chauffeurs. ‘ “The garage owner would, under such a law, be more sure of getting at these misdeeds of chauffeurs and correcting them, thus eliminating criticism of his business. “Innumerable complaints come’ to me of owners who have been the victims of theft, petty graft on gaso- line, and other charges, for which there seems to be no remedy at pres- ent. “Such a law I believe would clean up the conditions in this State to no small degree.” Wins Conere: mal Medal a American Citizens Frank Abram thirty-o years oid, of No. 610 Park Avenue, Brook- lyn, ex-marine, was naturalized yes- terday by Federa! Judge Garvin. Abramson was awarded the Congrea- s . Bonal Medal of Honor for diving into the sea with hig boots and overcoat la to, rescue u shipmate, He was W Born th London. ‘He served two en- listments in the army and one in the Marine Corps. SATIN witH FRENCH COLLAR N> Form THE TRIMMING Accordion. pleating is the vogue abt Present, as strikingly shown in the one-piece frock with jewelled girdle. Boasts are justified for this South- ern costume, whose skirt is accordion pleated crepe de chine and whose kellygreen blouse is edged with broad white silk braid. Algo, there is shown a beautiful dress coat of brown satin with new French collar. Bands of quilted eatin gtve a new idea in trimming. One of the original costumes known “NGREASED THES” NOTA GOOD EXCUSE FOR RET GQUENG In One Case Tenants Are Raised $20 Month—Tax Increase Is 52 Cents. Investigations by The Evening Worki show that, contrary to the claims of most landlords, increased taxes play a very small part in the cost of running apartment houses, An Instance of this is No, $71 West 117th Street, containing ten apart- ments, owned by Miss Mary Crane. According to Mrs. M. M. Thay a tenant, rentals in the apartment will be increased by $20 a month when the present leases expire. Mrs. Thayer declares she will not pay the rental. This building is assessed for $39,000, and the tax in 1919 was $904.80 and in 1920 $967.20, an in- crease of $62.40. This would make the monthly increase per apart- ment 62 cents and a monthly in- crease on the building of $6.24, No. 1264 Lexingon Avenue is a twenty-one apartment house, Henry Cooperman, a tenant there, has been told his rent is to be raised from $60 to $100. Increases of $20 per month have been made already in two cases. The owner of the house is Arthur Block of No, 955 Park Avenue. ‘The house is assessed at $120,000 and the tax in 1919 was $2,784 and in 1920 $2,976—an increase of $192. This makes the monthly tax in- crease on the house $9.14, or an in- crease of 76 cents per apart- ment per month. No. 629 West 115th Street, owned by the Fair Return Realty Corporation, 18 an eight floor house with sixteen apart- ments. W, J. P. Moore, a mechanical engineer, who has lived there eight years, ts now paying $1,600 a year and has been informed he will have to pay $2,200. This building is assessed at $150,- 000 and the taxes in 1919 were $3,480 and in 1920 $3,720, an in- crease of $240, which makes the monthly tax increase on the build~ ing $20. The monthly increase per apartmeng would be $1.08. No. 431 Riverside Drive is owned by the Calvert Real Estate Corporation. |The rental of Louis Francis Brown, a tenant, has been almost doubled, hav- ing raised from $1,500 a year to $2,600. He says such increases have been gen- eral throughout the building, The building contains twenty-eight apart ments, The house is assessed at $275,- | 000 and the tax in 1919’ was $6,338 | and jn 1920 $6,820—an increase of $492 on the building. This would make the monthly increase $41 on the building and on each apartment @ little over $1.40, SLIFE SAVER? Oo CALLED BECAULE OFITS ROL.S OF BLACK SATIN 4asr WRIST, NECK ANID HIPS, THE TASS EL Velalt ant DECORATES © TURBAN OF WAX, . as the “life saver” gown, so named from its black satin rolls about collar, cuffs and hips, shown at the Fashion Art League show at the Auditorium Hotel in Chicago, is reproduced in the Picture, ‘The hand made tassel Which finishes the turban is of wax in colors corresponding with the French blue satin duvetyne of the brim of the hat. RAND TELLS PLANS FOR INVESTIGATION OF SWANN'S OFFICE New Adviser to Keep Work Secret—Inquiry to Start Monday. Col, William Rand, No. 87 Wall Street, designated by Attorney Gen- eral Newton to act as special deputy attorney general in directing the work of the Extraordinary Grand Jury, gave out a statement to-day in which he said: “At the request of the Attorney General I have undertaken to act for him in the matters covered by the Governor's requisition of Feb, 20. This involved primarily an inquiry by the Extraordinary Grand Jury into charges of criminal offenses alleged to have been committed by certain members of the staff of the District Attorney, “The results of this inqutry will be- come known in due course and through the proper offictal channelsy In the mean while the public interest and ordinaryp fairness to the lawyers involved in these charges require that they should not be pre-judged and that the progress of the inquiry should not be attended by statements of fact or of comment to the press, No such statement will be made by me or by any one under my control. “And pending the inquiry no infor- mation of my plans or purposes or tose of the Grand Jury will be given, I make this announcement so it may be understood that any news of what the Grand Jury is doing or proposes to do will come from sources than myself.” Mr, Rand has not yet named his as- sistants for he has not yet decided how much help he will need. He was an Assistant District Attorney under William T. Jerome, The jury will meet Monday to or- ganize for the inquiry. When Mr. Swann was told that Col. Rand had been named, he said he was pleased, as he considers him an able and just lawyer. “But I have nothing to do with the appointment,” he added other “Aren't you vitally concerned?” he was asked “No,” replied the District Attorney, am not concerned at all.” ‘But your office is to be investi- |Justice and we | CHARGES SHEVLN SHELOS DRY AGENT HELDFORSLAYING Assistant District. Attorney Says Prohibition Chief Hampers Inquiry. Assistant District Attorney Joyce, in charge of the investigation into the shooting of Henry Carlton by Pro- hibition Enforcement McMullin, as- serts that the Federal authorities are doing nothing to aid him in learning why Carlton was shot in the back of the head with a revolvér held close to his scalp, although McMullin, an ac- knowledged ex-convict, asserts that he did not shoot until Carlton “lunged at him with a knife.” No knife was found at No. 234 East 76th Street, where Carlton was killed resisting ar- rest for selling $736 worth of liquor night before last, Joyce called on Prohibition Agent Shevlin to produce a number of pro- hibition agents as witnesses to the killing. Shevlin said he would send no employee of hig office to ald in the prosecution of another unless he was ordered to do so by the United States District Attorney. Joyce ap- plied to the office of* the United States District Attorney and was told that Mr. Shevlin must act on his own authority and that the Fed- matter. * McMullin has refused to permit his finger prints to be taken, Without them no data as to his pust are available at Police Headquarters. Detective Burton Folsen has been sent to Sing Sing Prison by Joyce with photographs in the hope of learning something of the prisoner's record, ’ “Mr. and Mrs, Stewart McMullin” registered at the Hotel Wallick, on Feb, 28, and after the man had shown his credentials as a revenue worker and an employee of James 8, Shevlin, Supervising Prohibition Commissioner of this district, they were given a room, They have been there ever since then, paying $5.50 a day, or $38.50 « week, for the room, without meals. McMullin’s salary is $1,500 a year, or a trifle under $29 a week, according to an official statement in Washington, ‘The fact MoMullin is an ex-conviet was established by @ reporter for The World. MoMullin first came to The World Building several months ago to sell a story on prison life. Later he called on the reporter who had talked to him and said he had been employed by the Department of going straight. “McMullin” told The World re- porter that he got mixed up in the hold-up six years ago because he was drunk at that time, He gave a false name to save his family’s honor. Officials, he said, knew nothing of the Westchester affair when they employed him Shevlin said to-day that “McMullin had been a valuable worker in his of- | fice” and the office “would stand by him to the limit.” Nobody who does not receive gated, is it not “There is nothing to investigate,” ‘Was the answer, daily reports from these enforcement agents knows just what peril of death ‘they encounter from reckless and | EVEN “SatuRDAy, American Fashions for the Summer Girl _ . Are Full of Witchery and Accordion Pleats eral prosecutor had no part in the | ee “SAVE ON MEAT” . SLOGAN FOR WEEK Department of Justice Schedule Designed to Cut Cost off Living. The Department of Justice, which has been rounding up fig- ures on the cost of living, an nounced to-day that the first “Save Money on Meat” week will take place in New York and eight ther States beginning March 28. It urges the public to eat the less expensive cuts of meat, and says that as a result of conferences held by the Fair Price Commis- sioners, it is expected retailers will stock up with the low priced cuts to meet the demand. Here ia the official suggestion as to what you should and should not eat: Cut These Out! BEEF, pet pound, Choice loin steaks .. $0.69 Choice beef tenderloins « 65 Beef tenderloins .. 80 Choice steer ribs ...se++++ 32 PORK, Tenderloins .... 55 Choice loin chops .... a Eat These! ’ BEEF, Best chucks (roasts, chuck steaks, pot roasts, d&c,). $0.15 Best briskets . Medium plates , Flank steaks . Pigs’ feet .... Best shoulders nercenary n said, criminals “I have every reason to believe that McMullin's life was in danger when he shot Carlton,” “As to his being an ex-convict, he swore when he was appointed that he had never been convicted of a crime. every day,” I shall of course investigate the charge that he swore falsely and take action, But until it is proved I re- gard him as a law-abiding faithful officer of the government. That's his record here." Su? Seo PRINCETON SENIORS AWARD HONORS FOR BRAINS AND BLUFF Class Prefers Brunettes to Blondes, but Twenty-seven Members Ad- mit They Never Kissed Either. PRINCETON, N. J., March 13. HE Princeton class of 1920 has finished its annual balloting and distributed honors as follows: Most Respected Man in the Class— John M. Harlan, Washington, D. C. Best All Round Man—Erdman Harris, Sewickly, Pa. Most Brilliant Man — Erdman Harris. Most Popular Man—John K. Strubing, Philadelphia. an With Best Legs—John K. Strubing. Best All Round Athlete—R. M. Trimble, Ben Avon, Pa. Class Baby—James H. Douglas, Chicago. Handsomest Man—J. A. Minott, Portland, Ore. Most rtaining—Joseph Mad ington, Ky st Bluffer-—James A. O'Gor- man, son of ex-Senator O'Gorman, York, The class prefers brunettes to blondes, but there are twenty-seven men not qualified to vote on that ‘ question, since they never have Kissed either blondes or brunettes, es s —_—— MAKUM 13, 1920. U5. WILL FINANCE PRODUCTION OF OIL TO REDUCE COSTS: Will Seize Fuel Flow on In- dian Lands and Buy Foreign Oil. i FIGHTING PROFITEERS. Shipping Board and Navy Re- fuse to Pay Exorbitant Prices Here. WASHINGTON, March * 18,—The Government has decided to take over the entire oll production of the Osage Indian Nation, totaling 15,000,000 bar- rels a year, to insure a supply of fuel oll for the Navy, Shipping Board and ‘War Department. Crude oil’ thus obtained will be tradéa for fuel oll or held in storage until the trade can be made at what Government officials regard as fair terms, Present high prices asked by fuel oil producers will not be recog- nized. Another item of the oll policy is a decision of the officials that unless the yovernment is able soon to purchase fuel ofl at a reasonable price the ghip- ping Board and Navy Department will go into foreign fields, buying crude oll and refining it in competition with United states refiners, To prepare for this step the De- fense Council will send an oil com- mission to Mexico. The Government also will back some private oil com- pany willing to produce crude oil at a price it considers fair. p The Government decision to take IN NINE CITIES|over the sage Nation oil was reached at meetings of the Council of Issues | National Defense and following con- ferences betwen John Barton Payne, Chairman of the Shipping Board, and Seoretary-elect of the Interior De- partment; Secretary Baker and Sec- retary Daniels, A permanent oll policy has been de- termined upon to cover a period of years and to insure a continuous sup- ply, One of Payn first acts in the Interior will be to announce that the Government will take al! its roy- alties from Government lands in the form of crude oil. Representations already have been made to President Carranza with re- gard to the sending of a commission to Mexico to-examine the o!| situa- tion, Carranza a few days ago agreed ty welcome the commission and the matter now is belng studied by Presl- dent Wilson. Forty-cent gasoline is in sight, ac- cording to Joseph Phelan, Shipping Board Oil Expert. “I shall not be surprised to see this record price reached in August or September,” said Phelan to-day. he only way to keep the price down is to burn Tess gasoline. We must have loss joy riding and leas automobile buying.” Gasoline has advanced about 40 per cent. in the past year, This ad- vance has hit approximately 8,000,000 owners of autos, motor boate and aeroplanes, nn nnceae SUNDAY MOVIES IN JERSEY. ‘The showing of “educational and cul- tural” motion pictures on Sunday in New Jersey found a new champion to- day in Commissioner of Institutions Burdette G. Lewis, who declared in favor ot the Senate dill authorizing a referendum to the people of Jersey cities of the quéstion of “motion pic- tures and other kinds of entertainment ‘on the Sabbath, along with sports.” Better for the family to go to the movies on Sunday, Mr. Lewié said, than that the men should be driven into cider of milk production. z the “milk trust’? “~ houses and gambling holes. ——»—__. Fannie Brice’s Bank Accounts Released. tuted against “Nicky Arnstein, a leged “master mind” of the bond theft ring, Federal Judge Learned Hand to ay signed an order releasing the ac- counts of Fannie Brice, wife of Arn- stein, in the Colonial Bank and in the United States Mortgage & Trust Com- pany. $323.61 in the Colonial Bank, ‘The amount of her balance in the other bank is not shown, ‘Miss Brice has a balance of 70 CUT PRODUCTION Swann Prepared to Take Im mediate Action If Sheffield Notice Violates State Law ~ District Attorney Swann to-day turned over to his assistants, Jim T. Dooling and Robert Johnstone the question of the legality of the Notice issued by the Sheffield Farms Company, calling upon farmers reduce their milk production. ie it Is found the notice violates the State law and wag sent out from this city, the District Attorney's of4) action. Loton Horton, President of @he Sheffield Farms Company, “thinks more of his pocket than he does of the lives and health of our children* Health Commissioner Copeland to-day in charging that never Rag” malnutrition and undernourishment been so widespread; ‘The Health Commissioner contended that the” jfarmer ts at the “mercy of two cold« ‘blooded groups of men—the of the Dairymen's League ang New York Milk Conference Board. — At the headquarters of the Dairy~ men's League it was said last night the league condemns any curtailment Charges that would rather see milk thrown away than to distribute it at cost a by M. G. ‘Dubois, editor of the Sune day Courier of Poughkeepsie in @. letter to Mrs. Louls Reed Welemiller, Deputy Commissioner of Markets, “Selling surplus milk at cost of distribution is entirely practicable,” says the edtior, who adds that he has seen it tried with success and that the method “protects the price to the producer and encourages increased use of fresh milk.” | Fourteenth Street STORE OVEN 9 a. m. to § p.m HEARN West of Fifth Avenue Opening of Our Every Department in the store participates in offering v 18th Great Spring Sale Monday, March [5th Important Price-Cuts In newest Apparel for every member of the family, as well as gen- eral merchandise and % ae household needs. onlay flee Is prepared to take immediate” — ee Sy oreo