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Ik punt closes v Straus Laboratory to Go Out of Business March 15. STATEMENT ISSUED TODAY Failure of Congress to Appropriate for Its Maintenance. REASON FOR DISCONTINUANCE Owner Hopes for Action on His Proposition at the Coming Extra Session. The Nathan Straus laboratory is to bo closed March K> ami the hundreds of mothers who have l?een obtaining the milk supply for their Infants for many months from the central depot on H street northwest near 13th street and the substations will, in consequence, find that supply cut off This announcement was made at noon today hj* Miss Hurn, who has been in charge of the laboratory since it was opened and who labored assiduously to have the government take it over. In a letter to Miss Hum. Mr. Straus says that the machinery of the laboratory' will be preserved intact and he will await action by the extra session of Congress hoping that it will take advantage of his offer to deliver the plant to the government as soon as an appropriation is made for Its maintenance. Mr. Straus Disappointed. The failure of the last Congress to pass the measure carrying an appropriation to maintain the plant was very disappointing to Mr. Straus. In his letter he says: "In view of the demands of my work and means elsewhere it will be necessary to close the Washington laboratory, and I have written to this effect to Secretary MacVeagh, Surgeon General Wyman, Health Officer Woodward. Senator Ga'llnger and Representative Oleott, and erewith inclose copies of letters. As you know, last year the Washington laboratory accomplished, under your management, with the aid of Dr. TaylerJones. the purpose for which it was established, in proving that properly pasteurized modified milk saves the lives of babies. "My Intention, as announced, was to close the laboratory January 1. but in view of the desire of Secretary MacVeagh and Dr. Wyman to make it a government agency for the saving of child life, and owing to the ursent representations of Health OfllJbr Woodward as to the necessity for the work, I authorized you to continue the undertaking pending action by Congress upon the bill authorizing the acceptance by the government of the gift of the laboratory. Expects Action at Extra Sosaion. "This bill, adopted unanimously by the Senate, lacked the concurrence of the House, ottang to the shortness of the session. In view of the fact that , the bill may be passed by the new Congress at the extra session next month. I will keep the laboratory plant intact, so that It will be ready for instant operation, and my offer to give the plant to the government will hold 1 good, pending action at the special session. MI trust that such action will be taken promptly, so that the laboratory may again be in operation before the coming of the hot weather Increases the peril of raw milk, and that the public health service will carry on practically the demonstration of the truth that that body teaches in the [ Milk Bulletin, namely, that *pasteuriza- , tlon prevents much sickness and saves many lives."" ROCK CREEK DRAGGED : IN SEARCH FOR DR. GRAYI | Harbor Police Report That No Trace of Missing Druggist Has Been Found. It was reported at a late hour this afternoon by the harbor police that no trace had been found in Rock creek of Pr. William A Gray, who disappeared March 1. The creek was dragged today because Policeman D. L. O'Brien, stationed at Wisconsin and Pumbarton avenues northwest, reported that he had been talking with Dr. Gray the afternoon of his disappearance, and told him which car would take him home. Pr. Gray boarded a Rackville car. but later returned to the Dumbarton avenue comer. After again being directed by the policeman. Pr. Gray is said to have started east along Pumbarton avenue toward Rock creek. Dr Gray is supposed to have had a large sum of money with him when last -ren. , It was believed by his relatives that he was eitber assaulted or robbed and his >odv thrown into the creek, or that he wandered along the embankment and fell overboard. Howard of $100 Offered. A reward of $100 has been offered by B Chew, a brother-in-law of the misstig man. for information which will lead to disclosing Pr. Gray s fate or whereabouts. Members of the harbor precinct pro ?ded to the vicinity of the P street in idge early this morning, equipped with a small boat and several grappling irons. They dragged the creek from the P -neet bridge to its junction with the Polornac river JUDGE LAHDIS SEVERE. Gives Frank Goll Heavy Sentence for Oleo "Moonshining.*' 1 illi'AGO, March 8.?Judge Kenesaw ' Landis today tincri Frank Goll. who ad been found guilty of oleomargarine .lourxdiining." $."..<>? m ami sentenced him i > serve tive years in Fort Leavenworth prison. lie is the third man sentenced to a ng term in the federal prison and diled to pay a heavy tine for this offense in itie last two days. Girl Held for Court. Mary Anderson, colored, giving her address as DOT 2d street northeast, was- held 'or the action of the grand jury by the Police Court today on a charge of bouse reaking Mary was arrested by Policeman O. T. Davis of the ninth prei inct \ esterday morning on a charge of enterng the home of Alaj. Samuel il. Walker. 12" R street northeast. Funeral of Miss McGregor. Funeral services for Miss Anne Grace McGregor, daughter of John McGregor, a contractor and builder, who died at her parents' home. 212 .Maryland avenue northeast, yesterday, will be held at her late residence at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Miss McGregor was born in this city and was twenty-four years, or' age. i $ BID TAFHAREILL "Lame Ducks" Pay Final Call at White House. OTHERS ALSO RECEIVED Archbishop Ireland Pays Respects, While Members of Senate' Talk With President. Departing statesmen paid farewell calls on President Taft today. Home of them are of the "lame duck" class, while others are still in the ring politically, but are leaving the city tor vacations. Ex-Senator Nathan Scott, national committeeman from West Virginia., saw the President and talked about post ottice and other appointments in that state, lie is to talk with the President again. Four congre-etnonal districts of the state are represented by democrats, and Mr. Scott, as national committeeman, will control all the patronage of the state except in the one district having a repfcblican on the list. Archbishop Ireland was a caller during the day. 'Oh, nothing of significance," said the prelate. "I am just giving evidence of my American citizenship bypaying my respects to the chief of the nation." Senators Penrose, Guggenheim, McCumber, Brandegee, Gamble, Thornton, du Pont, Owen and Borah were among the representatives from the upper house with the chief executive. Ex-Senator Burrows was also a visitor. Discussed Magazine Rates. Ex-Representative Calderhead of Kansas, former member of the ways and means committee, called on the President to discuss Kansas matters. He showed the President brief telegraphic correspondence he had with Gov. Stubbs of Kansas just before adjournment of Congress regarding the postal rate on magazines. Mr. Calderhead received the tollowing telegram from the governor: "I am advised upon excellent authority that the proposed increase In secondclass postage is aimed directly at pro gressive magaz.nes and pcriodi. als; that the rates pioposed are confiscatory and will practically ruin every popular periodical in the country, and will, therefore, deprive the people of their only free press. A vast ma.ority of the people of Kansas are oppos.d to the inc:ease, and I most earnestly urge you to vote against it. YV. R. STl'BBS." The reply of Mr. Calderhead to the governor was as follows: "Dear Governor: Your message is at hand, and, as usual, you are wrong. The Congress of the United States is not the enemy of the people, and the freedom of the press is not in danger. I wish you would get some correct information. "W. A. CALDERHKAU." Location of Lincoln Memorial. Mrs. John T. Henderson talked with President Taft today about the location of the Lincoln memorial. She favors placing this memorial, whatever "it may be. on the crest of Meridian Hill, claiming that it is the highest and most commanding spot in the city. The President is chairman of the commission that will erect the memorial, to cost $2,000,00b. The President informed his visitor that the matter is now in the hands of the art commission. Dr. E. M. Gallaudet today invited the President to attend the anniversary exercises of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, in May, and If possible to be present May 10. when the new president of the Institution, Percival Hall, will be installed. The President is a patron of the insti*11 Hnn anri aires area t interest in its work. Dr. Gallaudet -vv-111 retire in May after a service of tifty years. President Taft received an invitation today to attend the cornerstone laying of a Pythian Temple at Gaithersburg. Grand Chancellor Rhinehardt of the Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias of Maryland, extended the invitation, accompanied by B. H. Warner, jr.. H. C. Price, Alexander Carlisle and F. H. Trazarre. President Taft will, it is said, name exSenator Carter and ex-Representatives Tawney and D^hbv, as members of the international joint commission to pass upon boundary waters of Canada and the Tnited States. Congress appropriated 175.000 for the expenses of this commission. WILL BlLDlGlEL ON THE ARLINGTON Slit Company of Financiers Formed for the Erection of Modern Structure. An organization was formed yesterday by the incorporators of the company which proposes to finance the construction of a large and modern hotel structure on the site now occupied by the Arlington Motel and the adjoining properties belonging to the same holdings. The enterprise will require millions to carry it out, but from the names of the men who are interested in the project, which have just been made public, it is concluded that the raising of the necessary money will not be difficult. The corporation is designated as the Arlington Hotel Company. List of Directors. Among those mentioned in the list of directors are Gen. T. Coleman DuPont, Charles P. Taft and Edward B. McLean, the complete list or oracers ana directors being as follows: George Howard, president; F. M. Andrews of New York, .vice president; James F. J. Archibald of New York, secretary: William D. Hoover of Washington. treasurer. The board of directors consists of George Howard. F. M. Andrews."J. F. J Archibald, William D. Hoover. F. S. Butterworth, lid ward McLeai), William B. Hibbs, F. E. I'hapfn. Gen. T. C. du Pont, Charles P. Taft. William A. Ulman, L. L. Dunham and Murray Cobb. Sale of Present Property. Woodbury Blair and the National Savings and Trust Company yesterday acepted a deposit for the sale of the Arlington Hotel property to the Arlington Hotel Company of Delaware, subject to the leases of the present tenants. The plans for the building, designed to cover the entire side on Vermont avenue between H and I streets, have already been prepared by F. M. Andrews of Now York, the vice president of the company, and it is expected an early beginning wil be made of the work of construction. MEET TO NAME BISHOP. Rev. Robert Talbot's Name Presented to Kansas. Episcopal Churchmen. KANSAS CITY. Mo.. March 8.?Twenty Episcopal churchmen and seventy-flve laymen are In convention here today for the purpose of electing a bishop of the diocese of Kansas City to succeed the late Bishop Edward R. Atwtll. Among those nominated for the office are Bishop Cameron Mann of the diocese of North Dakota. Bishop Sidney C. Partridge of Kyoklo, Japan; Rev. Robert Talbot of Washington, D. C.; Rev. Edward Henry Eckel of St. Joseph, Mo., i Rev.* Robert Nelson Spencer of till? city. SUIT OVER HOPE GEM Jewelers Seek Payment of $180,000 for Diamond. ACTIONS AGAINST NIcLEANS Firm of Cartier Files Papers in District Supreme Court. TO BE PAID IN INSTALLMENTS Jewel Keeping Up Its Reputation of Causing Hoodoo to Attack Its Owners. The hoodod of the Hope diamond, which has followed its successive owners since the jewel graced the corsage of the illfated Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, has attacked the new owners of the expensive bauble, Mrs. Evelyn \V. McLean, daughter of the late Thomas F. .Walsh, the multi-millionaire mine owner of Colorado, and her husband, Edward B. McLean, son of -John R. McLean of Ohio and Washington. The first evidence of the unpleasant notoriety which is said to radiate from the exquisitely chiseled fades of the diamond to reach its present owners is ! shown today in a suit at law filed In the District Supreme Court by "Cartler" of New York and Paris to recover $180,000, the price of the gem, from Mr. and Mrs. McLean. Louis J. Cartler and Pierre C. Cautier, diamond merchants of New York, trading as "Cartier." ask judgment against Evelyn \V. McLean and Edward B. McLean for the purchase price of the celebrated jewel. Through Attorneys Clarence W. DeKnight and Brandenburg & Brandenburg the Cartiers say they delivered the Hope diamond and its accessories to the McLeans on their promise to pay the sum of $180,000. Though requested to make settlement several times, it is alleged, McLean has failed and refused to pay. Terms of Sale. The terms of sale as set out in the *;i.rwl L.. MAeAkn nViATI' urtiaiaiiuu iiicu uy vuc iiici niauio onvn that $40,000 was to be paid in cash January 28, 1911, on which date Mrs. McLean was to deliver to "Cartier" an emerald and pearl pendant owned by her, and for which the merchants had agreed to allow her $29,000 on account of the llope diamond. The remainder of the purchase price, $114,000, was to be paid in installments, the Cartiers tell the court, but the amounts and times of payment of the installments are not disclosed by the papers filed. The declaration filed in court today is in three counts. One claims Judgment for $40,000, the cash payment claimed to have been due January 28 and still unpaid. The second charges the failure of the McLeans to keep their alleged promise to deliver to "Cartier" the emerald and pearl pendant, which was to figure in the transaction at a valuation of $26,000. For this alleged refusal judgment for $2<>,000 is asked. The third count seeks to recover the entire purchase price of $1,80,000, which* includes both the previous counts and the deferred installments, amounting to ?iii,uw. Say They Decided Not to Buy. Although Mr. McLean could not be located this afternon, it is understood, his friends say, that he had not definitely decided to keep the stone when it was given into his possession by Cartier, January 28 last. I A few days after Cartier left the gem at their residence, Mr. and Mrs. McLean decided they did not desire to purchase it. and, it is said, several times since then the firm of Cartier has been requested to take the diamond back. Those familiar- with legal procedure in cases of this kind say that the jewelers must produce agreements to substantiate their claim for $180,000. Mrs. McLean has not worn the stone, which weighs 44Vz karats, at any of the social functions which she has attended this winter. The dazzling violet blue rays of the stone were first given prominence at the court of Louis XIV of France. One report has it that the stone was a people's ransom for the conquering arms of Louis. Another report ascribed it as a gift to Mme. de Pompadour from an Asiatic potentate seeking favor at the court of Louis. Later it was among the crown jewels of Louis XV and his queen consort. Again it adorned the corsage of Marie Antoinette. Stolen Many Times. In the dark days of the reign of terror history loses sight of the stone. It was stolen, fought for and sold many times. It reappeared in the latter part of the last century as the property of a fabulously wealthy English banker, Henry Philip Hope, from whom it took the name it has since borne. He passed it on to Lord Francis Hope, who married in 1894 Alay Yohe, an English actress. Eater Sultan Abdul Hamid of Turkey coveted the jewel and paid, according to report, $400,000 for it. When it returned to France is not definitely known. It was lately in the hands of a French syndicate, which, in turn, sold it to or placed- it on sale through the Cartier firm, a transfer being effected with great secrecy. DR. BELTRAN ELECTED. Will Be President of Honduras on Davila's Resignation. PUERTO CORTEZ, Honduras, March 8.?Dr. Francisco Bcltran, who was agreed upon last week by the peace conferees as provisional president of Honduras, was elected yesterday by congress as premier designate, or first vice president of the republic. This is a full acceptance by the congress of the conditions of the peace agreement, and Beltran becomes the constitutional as well as provisional president of the country immediately on the resignation of President Davlla. Rafael Lopez Guiterrez was elected second designate by the congress, which means that in event of lite death of Beltrau lie will succeed to the presidency. Dr. Beltran, accompanied by the members of the peace conference and probably by Gen. Manuel Bonilla, will go to Tegucigalpa within a few days. Immediately on his arrival at the capital Dr Beltran will take over the reins of the government. All of the troops in Puerto Cortez were assembled yesterday and the terms of the peace agreement read to them. TRIAL FOR CONSPIRACY. Alleged Attempt to Fraudulently Obtain Alaskan Coal Lands. CHICAGO, March 8.?Five witnesses from Alaska in tho government's forthcoming suit against half a score Americans on charges of conspiracy to defraud the government out of valuable Alaska coal lands arrived in Chicago today"and registered at various hotels under assumed names. Government officials are seeking to keep their identity from becoming known until they appear before the federal grand jury tomorrow and until indictments arc returned. These witnesses were five weeks on the journey here and their time since arriving has been spent in the federal building. where they are aiding the government investigators In chocking over documentary evidence which Assiatant Attorney General D. B. Townaend will presfnt to4 the grand Jury. It is expected the inquiry will last several days. ENTRAINING . ' f^yJMWy<(r? # It . * >SEl9Hl m^lEra ? jf*o r. ... ?..;. / ,o ?* Aii.ri'r^ J "' .::' iA * - * * ; < ' 1 . : ' . .'.'it x' - . a ,. fx.?. . : S-'LiJ*. ' :4fc> i**. V - * M*:V ? *' i- if iri I' 11 " "' | ^ ' AN ARMY WAGON FROM FORI MYER CONVEYING SUPPLIES Tt THE CARS. OFF FORSANANTONIO Departure of Three Batteries From Fort Myer. TAKE PART IN WAR GAME Over Fifty Cars Needed to Carry the Commands. SIXTY-HOUR RIDE LIES AHEAD Battery D Proceeds Through City to the Union Station, But Other Commands Entrain at Bosslyn. Three batteries of the 3d Field Artillery, U. S. A., have left Fort Myer, and within sixty hours after the cars start this afternoon will be at San Antonio, Tex. Their leaving Fort Myer this morning gave Washington a thrill, as the actual sight of an active part in a great mobilization of troops was offered to thousand of people. Fifty or more cars and three long trains had b^en furnished by the railroads, and all speed possible has been urged upon railroad men all the way along the lines to the objective point. Batteries E and F entrained at the Pennsylvania freight yards in Rosslyn, and Battery D at the Union station. Of great historic interest to those who watched the departing troops was Battery D. This famous organization, now under command of C&pt. Willard Newbill, has for its *own special bit of pride the fact that it was the first organization to enter the City of Mexico in the war between the United States and that country. The men of Battery D all knew of the record of their organization and not a few of them spoke of it as they loafed in the snow this morning waiting for troop cars, box cars and "flats" to back up to the proper railroad siding. The War Department has urged speed on the railroads. The officers of the three batteries urged speed on the men this morninir. The men themselves had the freshly outfitted look that goes with the start of a long campaign, or a long war game. Parade Through City. Battery D, originally scheduled to leave from Virginia avenue and 4'/i street southwest, was sent to the Union station, and as horses and men and guns and wagons filed through the downtown section of the city, thousands of men and women, who have seen Fort Myer's artillery a hundred times with little or no comment, rushed to windows and stopped work to see this historic battery go by. From Fort Myer the wagons carried huge loads of ammunition, which stuck out at open ends of wagons with the label plainly showing that it was real shrapnel and not merely lireworks. Great wagons off hay for the horses and mules in transit were sent over the railroad, and kindling wood and much-worn camp cooking outfits gave the departure a solid, real campaign sort of look. The artillerymen looked lean and brown this morning, and the revolvers tucked in holsters, and dangling a careless rawhide thong, looked well enough like war Mules and gun carriages, limbers, escort wagons, ambulances, harness, tentage, rusty looking camp baking outfits, cooks' supplies. wood and hay for the batteries were all loaded on a tremendous train furnished by the Southern road. The first section on the Pennsylvania was composed of a tourist kitchen car, two tourist sleepers, three box cars, live flat cars, two gondola cars and six standard stock cars. The second section had a tourist kitchen car, two tourist sleepers, a sixty-foot baggage car that was loaded to the limit, three box cars, five fiat cars, a gondola car and eight stock cars. The Southern train carrying Battery D was similar to these other trains. Entraining at Rosslyn. At the llosslyn freight yards a big crowd had gathered by !> o'clock this morning to see the soldiers entrain. Prominent among those who came to *' - ..t? woo T iant rion see ine reguiai o i/n nao u*?uvt v*v?*> Nelson A. Miles, retired. Sherman Miles, his son. is first lieutenant in F Battery. Lieut. Miles was on hand early at the Rosslyn freight yards and superintended the loading of the forage and stable supplies in box ears. His father was with him. He watched the loading of the field guns and horses wKh the eyes of a critic, but volunteered 110 advice to the younger and active officers. "I don't know that I have anything to say about the movement of the troops south," he said. "It's all been explained in the papers. This work here is being done admirably." Loading the Guns. The guns were loaded on flat cars Each piece was unlimbered from its carriage and the two run on the car with the wheels turned toward the car couplers. Two guns, two gun carriages and a caisson were loaded on one forty-foot car. The wheels were then chucked with heavy oak blocks and naile4 to the car noor. As a further security against slipping, each piece was lashed with ropes to the steel sockets on the sides of the cars. The whole was then covered with a tarpaulin. The guns, gun carriages and caissons were run from the street on the cars over a heavy plank platform. Four cars were required to load the gun' and caisson equipment of each battery. The field wagons and other heavy equipment were loaded in the same way, the wheels being locked and lashed to the car sides. The horses were run over a stock loading plank into the stock cars and hitched with a short halter line. The animals were loaded about twentj to twenty-five to a car without unnecessary crowding. Officers and men are to be carried in tourist cars. These cars G FOR THE TRIP * * ***-! ?? V*T X' 1 ^^ *-w,r*? **' ' * a mi r WfTTfy ' BL*^R -^B^^^V^B:iy:x-.^K-':M ' wSbi Bp El mm ?& * *" mi:m ?*?> :w-i? ^ B^A m ^^HHQ^^^SPPWbI B ~j* ' "' a V >*-'-* v H HMfl ' flHRnHn J , j^QHHHE ?* *. '<? * ;">* ^ V^BkT M - - - w* .^Btt JH I- -> . vj.vS <? ' xaM I * <11 Bh^i Mni|nHnnn I : i':v-' 31 I 1PI M * : *: >M* ;AV - ^PWI^..:? w ggaw*^?^.-. ^ Jl GEiV. NELSON A. MILES AND HIS S ROSSLY! had not arrived at the scenes of entraining early this afternoon. Each battery will travel as a section, i Their route goes from here to Baltimore, i thence to Ilarrisburg, to Indianapolis, St. Louis. Iron Mountain and San Antonio. The Officers. The officers with the departing troops are: Capt. Brooke Payne of Battery F, and in command of the squadron; Lieut. Sherman Miles and Lieut. Bronson, both of Bubprv F\ Ra.tterv TVs officers are Capt. Willard Newbill, Lieuts. William H. Shepherd, Samuel R. Hopkins and John Lund. Battery E's officers are Lieut. David C. Seagrave in command. and Lieuts. Frederick W. Stewart and A. W. Smith. The commands consist of t ! 363 officers and men and 3'.?7 horses are taken. FALLS FROM HIS HORSE; IS DM fl SQUARE William Hogan, Member of Battery, Unable to Go With Comrades to Texas. | William Hogan, a member of Battery D, 3d Field Artillery, was not able tb , go to the front t<?day with his ccmpan; ions. He fell from his horse at I'enn! sylvania avenue and 14th street while ( his battery was on the way to the Union station, and was painfully hurt. Hogan was dragged along Pennsylvania avenue from a point a short distance east of 14th street, to 13*^ street, ; and a number of people ran from the i sidewalk and endeavored to stop the J horse. Blood was streaming from a ; cut in Hogan's face and he seemed to i be unconscious. Based on an examination made later at the Emergency Hos- i pital, the opinion was that he had befen but slightly hurt, but it is possible that lie sustained internal injuries and the physicians advised that he be detained at the hospital until he recovered from the severe shock. Rescued by .Policeman. Policeman Wittstatt, detailed for duty about the Municipal building:, ran across Pennisylvania avenue to intercept the horse, and the animal fell just before the policeman reached the north side of the thn-oughfare. Just as it arose the officer grabbed the bridle. Several of the artillerymen had urge* their horses ahead to rescue their comrade from his perilous position, and they reached him about the time the policeman stopped the horse. Hogan was lifted from the side of the spirited animal and placed in an automobile, to be taken to the Emergency Hospital. "Don't take him to the hospital," said one of the artillerymen. "I'll take care of him." "He's sdriously hurt," . the policeman said, "and he will have to be given treatment." Quick Run Made. A quick run was made to the hospital. Hogan had1 partly recovered from the shock when the institution was reached and he objected to entering the operating room. He was assisted into tne room, however, and placed on the table. Hogan. who says his home Is in Boston. did not lose consciousness during: the exciting run of the horse. He was able to leave the hospital this afternoon, and it is stated he returned to his post instead of joining those 011 the way to the Mexican border. ENOUGH DOLLAB BILLS. Treasury Department Temporarily Discontinues Issue of Greenbacks. The issue of one-dollar greenbacks, which was planned by the Treasury Department several weeks ago to meet the pressing demand for small bills, has been tentatively abandoned. It was found that the conversion of the large outstanding silver certificates into one-dollar denominations promises to meet tho demands for the present, at least. There are about $35,000,000 in large denomination silver certificates which will be retired and dollar notes will be Issued in their places. There has been no one-dollar greenback since 1885. The announcement of the intention to reissue the old not* caussd wide comment in banking circles. TO TEXAS* Psn^HliPilfflM Fy^rcSUi^HHH^H ^TxrT . 25 T-^mfflSli ?p#B|HHp| *? ^ <"^p mmHS^Kv *1 v^te^>i? 7-?~ - Wis&S> v *& $& - -&^lili? P*WBMK^BI^EHl!liBMB^Ma^MS^^MBtta^Wl^^Mj M ' ?a hb m cv\ -.5. ... ; m s ^ I . - .M^"? t^, "^j ^ j II iMMML ^M|||^K j| j; .^fM on directing the loading at r, va. COMMISSIONER LEECH BROUGHT DOWN A PEG Montanan, Who Made Charges Against Ballinger's Office, Apologizes. B. C. Leech, sr., commissioner of the United States court at Valier, Mont., It was said at the Interior Department offices today, has learned that it Is not compatible with the dignity of a federal officer to make reckless and groundless charges against other federal officials. November 17, 1910, he wrote to the President regarding a contest in which he was involved with adverse claimants to certain public lands which he desired to possess in the Great Falls land district, Montana. In his letter lie alleged that the attorney at Washington, whom he did not name, for his opponent in the contest, "has a "great influence* with the general land office," and that to secure prompt and fair action in that office it was necessary for him to have the influence of the President. Letter Referred to B&llinger. The President referred the letter to Secretary Ballinger, who called upon Mr. Leech for details regarding the alleged great Influence, Mr. Leech, it is declared, replied evasively, indicating that he had no facts upon which to base the charge made. The matter was laid before the Department of Justice and. February 11 Judge Carl Rasch in the United States district court for Montana cited Mr. Leech to appear before him charged with conduct unbecoming an officer of the United oiaies. Mr. Leech madeapology to the court for the language he used and was informed that he would not be further punished if he wrote a letter of apology to all concerned. Under date of February 27, he wrote an apology to the Fresldent and another to Secretary Balliriger. In the letter to Secretary Ballinger Mr. Leech says that at the time he wrote his original letter *1 did not fully appreciate the full importance of the statements contained in my letter, neither did I have any evidence in my possession or within my knowledge to substantiate my statements." ' HAS NOT COME HOME. Blanche Barr, Who Eloped With Considine, Still in New York. Blanche Barr, who recently left her home here and went to New York with John Considine, a married man and a salesman of this city, and who was detained in New York 011 the complaint of her brother, has not yet returned to her home. Her mother, Mrs. F. H. Barr of 1225 O street, said today that her daughter was still in New York with her two brothers, one of whom lives in this city and the other In Brooklyn. Mrs. Barr will not discuss the elopement of the seventeen-year-old girl. The girl I will be brought home, It is expected, within a few days by her brother. F. J. Barr, a cierk in the Interior Department. The delay is probably caused by the prosecution of the case against Considine in the New York police court. WILL BE IN GOLF CABINET. New Secretary of the Interior a Lover of the Ancient Game. CHICAGO, March 8.?Walter L. Fisher, who has been appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Taft, is an enthusiastic golfer, and undoubtedly will become a member of the President's "golf cabinet." When Mr. Fisher Is In Chlcagro he spends a large part of his recreation hours on the Onwentsia and Skekic courses. He is said to have a record considerably under 90. e Banker John A. Ve-dier Dead. GRAND RAPIDS. Mich., March A? John A. Verdier, a wel". known banker, died today of heart disease. He was seventy-two years old. ? . ' HEAR OF PROGRESS; /: - \ f-1 : | Development of South Since11 War Topic of Discussion. _ OUTLINE NEEDS OF FUTURE I Southern Commercial Congress Opens (" Session at Atlanta?Two Thou J A. sana rresent. ( ATLANTA. Ga , March X.?Two thousand business men of the south?mem- ^ bers of commercial clubs, chambers of commerce and boards bf trade- -had arrived in Atlanta this morning; when the opening session of the Southern Commercial Congress was called to order by President John Parker of New Orleans. At the meeting were northern men. j successful in business ami official life. <. who have come to this meeting to hear of the progress the south lias made "since the war." Among the northern visitors will be President Taft. Theodore Roosevelt and several cabinet officers. Speaks for All Southern States. Responding to Gov. Brown's address of welcome at the opening of the convention, Gen. Julian S. fair of Durham. N. C., second vice president of the congress, delivered a brief tribute to each of the southern states. "For Maryland, my Maryland." he said. "I speak to you for the state which honored in having been the tlrst of ail the colonies to grant freedom of religious worship; the state which in its infancy gave to the nattcn Francs S ott Key and his 'Star Spangled Banner.' "I speak tor Viig.ma, inothe. of Presidents, in whose hallowed soil rests toe ashes of her great men. "I speak to you for that sturdy state carved from the loins of her noble mother?West Virg.nia. Wealth beyond the dreams of avarice is he d in her j mints, her rorests ant ner rivers. "For North Carol.na, I cry 'All hall!' Adversity she has borne with <1 gn ty. and prosperity ha- not in her dr ed up J the sources of k.ndly svmpath\ with all ] them that struggle painfully along the pathways of life. ( "I speak for South Carolina, state ot : the cavaliers, that state which gave Cal- j houn to the nation and could rest her claim to recognition and lame on that one fact alone, if there were none other. "I speak for Tennessee, tie state of Old Hickory and numberless ".thers whose names are inscribed on the honor roll of the nation's records. Tribute Paid to Others. "For queenly Alabama I speak, the development of whose marvelous natural resources has proceeded by leaps and bounds and Is one of the wonders of this wonderful country of ours. "From Mississippi I bring you greetings; from the* state of Jefferson Davis, the great leader of the Confederacy, the luster of whose name and fame no praise can add to nor any cavil can tarnish. "Next in the roll call Is Arkansas, whose progress in material wealth has been the wonder of the last decade. "The etate of fair women, swift horses and Marse Henry Watterson greets you through me. There is none that can boast of greater glory than Kentucky. , "I speak to you for Missouri, than whom none other of all the states bears prouder title. "Let me speed to the state of sunny breezes?fair Louisiana. "Again I fare on to the land of flowers, o fair Florida. Indescribable le the charm and the attraction of Florida. i "Imperial Texas speaks through me to you?state of the Lone Star. I "Youngest of all the southern states, Oklahoma makes her bow, with an area ; as targe as that of all New England. i "I have saved the Jjest for the last, i How, indeed, my friends, shall we ever be able to forget the warm hearts of i Georgia'? people, who through their gov- 1 ernor have bid me welcome today?" - 1 Need Money to Develop. In his address to the members of the i a ? 1 a 1 .4 i I congress Secretary yuaries aetiareu umi the organization stands with every editor and practical business man who preaches against the futility of congresses and conventions that meet with a blast of trumpets, accomplish little and adjourn to lie dormant until a future time. ; "We. do believe, however." he continued, "that the raw material, the water power, the mineral deposits and the i vast acreage of idle lands In the south are calling for people and money. And we further believe that no one community, no one state, within this section, having so many conditions in i common, can do what is needed to con- i vert the national mind to the truth about its health, climatic, social and i educational conditions and its unlimit- ; ed opportunities. I "However, a sane and earnest com- , bination of the available constructive i forces can work out by the time the i Panama canal has opened a destiny for the south which will be not only a 1 mighty uplift of all conditions affecting our people, but also the return of ' the south to the councils of the nation in all the potency of statesman- ! ship we once enjoyed." OFFICIALS LEAVE TODAY. ; i President Taft, Secretary Wilson and Others Going to Atlanta. < A general exodus of officials from J Washington Is scheduled to begin this i afternoon ttf attend the meeting of the I Southern Commercial Congress at Atlanta. President Taft. Secretary of Agriculture Wilson and Victor H. Olmstead, chief of the bureau of statistics of the Agricultural Department, are all going, and will all deliver addresses in the course of the meeting. It is considered that the present session of the commercial congress is the most important business gathering ever held in the south. STEAIWMURIA 1 DRIVEN ASHORE BV GALE British Vessel Off Norfolk, Va., 1 7 i With Crew of Thirty-Five in 1 Imminent Peril. i NORFOLK. Va., March 8.?With their vessel hard ashore, being lashed by a forty-two-mile gale and swept constantly by furious seas which continue to drive her farther on the shore, thirty-five men on the British steamer Manchuria today are In imminent peril. The Manchuria, bound from Newport s News to Tampico, Mexico, with a cargo j of coal, went ashore yesterday during t thick weather. Life savers from the < Little Island and False Cape stations f spent the night on the beach and today , are on shore awaiting an opportunity <? to shoot a breeches buoy line over the vessel. The wrecking steamer Rescue t is standing by to effect a rescue of the men and begin salvage operations when the weather conditions permit. Th$ United States revenue cutters Onondaga and Seminole are on their t way to render any assistance possible. p Capt. Traylor and his men refused t yesterday to leave their atranded ves- c sel, preferring to take the chances of ? remaining on board in hope the ship ? would be floated. Today they have t been signaling frantically to be. taken from their dangerous position. fa The ship began to leak during the t night and today Is full of water, e Though the heavy seas are breaking * over the Manchuria ehe le believed to f be etlll Intact. li AFTER BOY FIREBUGS Police Engaged in Effort to Break Up an Active Gang. REWARDS FOR INFORMATION rorch Applied to Sheds at Rear cf Dwellings in Northeast. 3THER SECTIONS ALSO VISITED Band of Juveniles Causing Troubla and Expense to District Fire Department. a A bright blHae in f?r of t* ?: K.si tol street last night abo ;t t*o lock laitned wide attention and a prompt -esponse on part of the .firemen prevent* 1 :he flames from spreading to h neat b frocery store and dwellings, although ti a tore building was sore bed. The 10 ice officials say they have reason to I *leve that the fire was the work of an ncendiary, being one of many simlla dazes that have occurred in the raster i section of the city during recent weeks, end the fire department chiefs share tins iriew. "Boys are undoubtedly responsible lor most of the fires,'' said hire Marshal Nicholson to a Star reporter today. "Not >nlv have boys set tire to sheds and outbuildings in the eastern se.ction of the city, but they have started a number ?>r brush tires. "For a time," the fire marshal added. "boys turned in false alarms of fire to see the engines run, but Igtely they have ipplied the torch." After the Firebugs. Oapt. Mulhall, in command of the fifth police precinct, has had membe-s of hia command doing duty in civil an clothes for some time in order to apprehend the luvenilc fir-bugs, but thus far the latter ^ have managed to prevent capture. It has been common talk about some of the Ka.st Washington schools of late that boys were setting fire to mods. Tvi their identity has not yet been staldis ed. In several instances burned pa... r atfd rags were found, but at tl nr. hit night the destruct oh wa.- so eomplct. mat noining was lei to ten ni" i.i < One of the shed fires. Fire Marshal Nicholson stated, resulted from < hildre plating with matches, and the flames re stilted accidentally, but in the ott er In stance*?, he stated, he was convinced that the tires had been started intentionally Such fires, when discovered in time, are easily ext ngulshed, although there is always danger of a serious conflagration. Brush Fires Numerous. While most of the shed fire? have been confined to the eastern section of the city, the brush firee have occurred in different parts of the District. Last Sunday, the fire marshal stated, boys started a blaze in brush near University Heights, and it extended over seveial hunch ei acres of land. "Firemen saw the boys and tried to oveftake them," Marshal Nicholson saiu. "but they did not succeed, as it wu* necessary for them to give almost thenentire attention to the tire." Last Friday boys started a blaze on a , lot near 34th and Q streets northwest, and the same day the firemen were called to Albemarle street cast of Connecticut avenue. Fort Stanton and Pan- > core woods. The latter part of February brush fires in Cox's woods, Thompson < woods and on property on the Vviictl* and Tunlaw roads, near Good Hope, and at 1st and N streets northeast claimed attention. More serious attention is being given the fires in sheds in East Washington, however, and the police will pay rewards for information leading to the arrest an4 conviction of the perpetrators of tlieni. The latter part of November fire nu discovered in sheds in tlie rear of loll and 1013 North Carolina avenue southeast, and last month burned paper was found under the rear gate of 1011. Deliberate Attempt to Start Blaze. "The paper was put there for the purpose of setting tire to the shed and fence." suggested the fire marshal, "but it burned itself out before it cam* in contact with the timber." A similar effort was made to set fira t<? the automobile shed in the rear of 1?1 11th street southeast last month, while the shed in the rear of 112 10th street, across the alley from the automobiia shed, was burned. Hay in the stable on premises No. 324 8th street southeast was fired February 23, and the police and firemen were satisfied that the blaze was the work of a juvenile incendiary. Burned rags were found in the shed in the rear of 211 Sth street southeast the 24th of February, while the same day burned paper was found on premises at the rear of iwi Massachusetts avenue northeast, where a slight fire occurred. 4 February 28 fires back of 802 D and .'>12 5th street southeast claimed the atten lion of the police and firemen of the. Dis Iriot, while a blaze in the shed at lot# 10th street southeast two days ago. the ire marshal says, was accidentally starte l by children who were playing in the shed So frequent have the fires become that residents of the eastern section of th? dt.v have become greatly alarmed because of the danger that some of the fires started for the purpose of burning sheds and fences may spread to dwellings. CLERKS' FINOSAWAIT ACTION OF TRADE BOARD Movement in Behalf of Government Employes to Be Considered Tonight. _____________ / 4 Advocates of the movement inaugurated by P. B. Chase to aid government clerks " in their efforts to obtain increased salaries are awaiting with interest tho action 4 which will be taken by the Board of Frade at its meeting tonight. It is expected the board will formally launch the crusade toy appointing ten members to serve on the committee of jne hundred which is to direct the campaign. These ten members will form th.? mcleus of the committee, which will nclude representatives from every stata ?nd practically every largo city. Chamber of Commerce to Aid. The Chamber of Commerce. It is underitood. will not be slow In doing its shai ? owards starting the crusade, t'apt. Oyaer has carefully studied the suggestions >f Mr. Chase, and at a meeting of tlie _ m . a ^ f ii>a ehn m nar t fim, * i _ >oara 01 air^ci'/r^ ui mc ow night he will explain the situation in letail. The full chamber meet* ne\t Tuesday and tinal action is expected at I hat session. I What Committee Is For. I In reply to those persons who assert I here Is no interest In the clerks' cam- I >aign outside of Washington. Mr. Chase I oday said: "That Is exactly what thla omnrittee of one hundred is to be or- H ;anlsed for We will educate the peoplo , nd create public sentiment strong enough H o be felt in the halls of Congress." It became known today that a num- H er of business men and commercial in- H erests in Washington, are ready to gub- * cribs sums to the movement, but are raiting for the two trade bodies to H ormtlly give approval to the project and H lunch the propaganda H