Evening star. [volume], March 13, 1914, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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CliOSINQ NEW YORK T> A C* I*1 i -?
STOCK QUOTATIONS I AUL J /
No. 1 !).:>?_> 5.
WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1914TWENTY-TWO PAGES.
ONE CENT.
Recent Utterances by Am
bassador Page Not Likely
to Incur Official Censure.
REGARDED BY PRESIDENT
AS POLITE DIPLOMACY
Statesmen Believe Principle Laid
Down by Monroe Has Been
Too Broadly Applied.
>>? most significant thing looming
*ip today relative to the Mexican situa
tion in?l incidentally other questions
. rnliig the attitude of the I'nlted
States to South American problems, is
that w hen there has been a definite
? lea ti - up of the irritatinir affairs of
Mexico, whether it is done l.?v interven
1ion o otherwise, a reconstruction of
hat the Monroe doctrine is and means
v ' undertaken by prominent public
men determined to test the whole thing
i:efnre the country and remove, if pos
' sible. some of the elasticity that ha- so
loiiu been given it.
President Wilson has come pretty close
to !.is construction of it in the last few
days, when there has been brought be
fore him suggestions about the inter-!
ference of foreign powers in Mexico, and
.i.',so when asked about the speech of
\ !.l-;iss;idor Page, in I^ondon, now caus
? ng agitation in the Senate and much
taik everywi.crc else. Asked about Mr.
fares assertion i.at the Inited States. I
?i- the Monroe doctrine, "prefers" that j
" ?orei?n power shall gain more land in
tie western hemisphere, the President!
? ii??.?v? ? ? i that the ;unbassa?lor's words i
i oiitei.v diplomatic and were not in-;
. to give Kurope an idea that the
?Joeii me of Monroe is to be abandoned, :
h: least oy this admiidstration.
T'.- President smilingly said that then
no d*>ui>t of i!ie meaning of this his
torn- polley in hjs; mind, but i e did not
attempt to construe the doctrine or dis
euss it in any way.
Reprimand Not Likely.
It was evident today that Air. Page will |
get reprimand from the White
House ci- State Department for what iie j
?aid to his British audience about the I
Monroe doctrine and the pleasure it \
would give this countrv to see Great j
Uritain profit by the canal. The admin- ?
Sstration will transmit to the Ser.ate the i
explanations of Mr. Page and that will |
be the end of it although the hope was j
, expressed ?<? high ofil ial circles todav j
t'u?? tne action of the Senate in . ailing i
2 or an explanation will have the effect of I
'iei'rrt.ig r ambassadors from Saving
tlongs that may bring trouble to the'ad- !
muusti ation.
' be President is an adept at phrase- ,
"'Ogy himself, and he does not seem to I
Think it necessary that American repre- 1
sentatives abroad are called upon to show
'^Sgressiveness or mareli around
with big sticks upon their shoulders to:
Impress tne other nations of the world ?
with the fact that the Monroe doctrine!
is a live-wire proposition, loaded with '
sharp shocks for any country tampering'
with it. ? I
Whatever discussion is started over the ?
Monro" doctrine at this time, it mav he j
L safc bj authority that the President and |
secret a: y Bryan i;av? not tne remotest |
id^a that Kurope will seek to make!
trouble fo; the I'nited States in Mexico!
now or in the future. Kurope miyht have '
reason to become prejudiced over the ]
Panama canal and other questions and '
break in bonds of sympathy most of
them have had for this country, leaving '
us without moral support from "enlighten
ed nations if there should be serious
trouble with Japan or some other coun
try. but all rcpoj ts from our represent
atives abroad positively deny that there
any feeling, official or otherwise, in
avor of pressure upon the administra
on to change its present plans toward
M' k ico.
Views of Statesmen.
;' tiit Mexican troubles were in s<>ine
. s" ;th American nation far south of the
i'r.ited States, Kurope might be sehem
uig t<> iiit the Monroe doctrine a blow, in
tie- view ,,f prominent statesmen and
diplomats, but Kurope knows that Mexi
co is the next-door neighbor of I'ncle
Sail, and recognizes that we have para
.eo'Mi* interests there above all other
?o'.nirbs nut together. Any adrnlnistra
?hat resents, promptly and em- !
I ma tii a! !? Kuror>ean interferenee mj
'??. M " V I have absolute 1> solid back-'
iU~ every part of tne ?'ountry. it!
.? a- i.e. >i .i.-clai.ni by prominent men. but i
a goo.j iiiany <? * these same men are bv -
:^o means inclined to believe that the
V"te: s of the I nited States are goiny to
? e lingoed into having the Monroe man
t.e thrown over the form of every nation
? <*.r from the borders of the I'nlted
States.
Several statesmen who have been
s udying the trend of things, but do
i n wish to get into the limelight at
?..is time, privately declare that the
.'?!? Mean troubles, so annoying on all
??i s. have forcibly put before thinking
on the advisability of defining the
vlonroe doctrine in the near future.
Probably a Political Issue.
T at tlie subject may be^rr.e a great
? ? in American politics in a few
? i' v - Treelv forecasted, predictions i
? i g tree, too, that there will be many I
-? ate* 0f confining the application;
the Alonroe doctrine to territory con-I
? - ' is to or Vitally important to the
. .-,i of this country.
1 e political world is beginning to take
? ' -ii ' .. that there are too many
?fas and that there must be i
' b I" 1 fre-juency with* which new
' forth It -s admitted by
?'?t ' - ? "? ? he largf South A irieriean
1" ?''J - * -'' ' ' : -r.-sp.v 111 i K nations re
I at is implied
in mmo .4 ih, constructions ?f (he fria
; e, ! " ' V': M""rov in
'a.nous tm-ssus. t.> ,-s ls-r>.
MAY GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
I S. Express Company's Directors
Meet to Complete Plans.
n::w YORK. Manii i::. Th. directors
... the 1,,?.,| States Expr**, Compm,?
.net her., today to nu.k, ntHcial derision
aa t-? the tetare ,.f the company, rt was
*xpeeled that tl.. meeting ??uld
pletc the pUiif alrea.t, mad. for winding
up the cawpt ny".? afTaits.
The li.iuuiatinir . ommitt... a!i
early in the ,|a*. e,?lsjstw| ,,f
h?'rb.s \. I caboov. president of the Mu
11:1 Insurance <??-. panv an<i a
representative and adviser ..f |kp n?rri.
V hi intt-rest^: William A. Uead \v
a :V,:',ll,..,11ari""an- I'elano' and
? 'J I d : < I i - I .
The late 1H. Ifarriman bouRl f more
Than shares of I"tiit?*?i Stages K\
press i ompany stock from the Adams
and American Express companies, and
his estate holds about half of the total
tssue of sharea.
Commissioner Before House
District Committee in Be
half of Johnson Measure.
INTENTION TO ABOLISH
ALL INHABITED ALLEYS1
i legislation Is Recommended by
| Civic Bodies and Representa
tive Citizens.
_____
I ?'omniissiuiier Siddons today urged'
the District committee of the House to
I make a favorable report on the bill re
| ? . fitly introduced by Representative
I Johnson, chairman of the c ommittee,
! proposing a method of turning in
habited alleys into minor streets. The
bill is the result of the joint efforts of
the Commissioners. representati\ cs of
the woman's department of the Na
tional Civic Federation, the Loard of
Trade, the Chamber of Commerce, the
Associated Charities, the President's
homes commission, the Sanitary Hous
ing Company, the social service con
ference of the diocese of Washington,
the Monday E.-ning Club and oth r
representative bodies and citizens. It
i was introduced at the request ol the
Commissioners.
j The bill directs the Commissioners to
I close for purposes of residence substan
j tially one-tenth of the inhabited alleys j
cf the District each year for a period of I
I ten years. It enables the Commissioners t
| to open minor streets through any square
| afiV ted. whenever this can be advantage
| ously don* . To this end it provides lor !
tne purchase of so much of the land in i
the square as may be necessary for the j
economical and proper laying out of the I
desired minor street, the replotting and :
subdivision of the land not within the 1
area or such street and a disposition ol |
this surplus land in such manner as the !
public interest may require. It permits
assessments for benefits wherever actual- i
ly found.
The bill is based upon the police power !
of the government, and assumes that!
;i.c use of alleys for dwelling purposes
is a menace to public morals, health and !
safety.
Interest in "Blind" Alley Plan.
Considerable interest was shown by
members of the committee in the propo
sition to allow the Commissioners to have j
the right to sweep through a block con- j
taining a "blind" alley, for instance, get!
control of enough land to make a minor
street and also to have control of the!
uneven "hunks" of land that now exist!
because of tlie irregular shapes of alley j
building lots.
' The purpose is to take only enough ;
land to he converted into a minor I
street." said Commissioner Siddons. who j
was aiso asked whether the District i
wanted to become owner of land abut
ting on the proposed minor streets and
to lease such land for home-building pur
poses.
"There is no such purpose." he an
swered. ,
Representative Gorman suggested that
it might be cheaper and would serve the i
same purpose if th.- District Commis- ]
sioners or Congress should simply pro
hibit the use of alleys for dwelling pur
poses. Commissioner Siddons replied '
that property rights would be greatly at- 1
fected by any such drastic order, with
out giving property owners plenty of j
time t-? adjust their affairs.
He also said, in reply to a question
from Representative Prouty, that lie is
inclined to believe no constitutional rights
would be infringed upon, and that tnere
would be no moral wrong in the govern
ment prohibiting the use of alleys for
dwellings.
?
No Moral Wrong. He Thinks.
* There would be no moral wrong. I
say." explained the Commissioner, "to \
tell any property owner, *You shall no!
longer use your property as you are now j
using it. because of the bad effect upon I
the community.' " After the Commis- j
sioner informed the committee that in;
some ?-ases the rate of return on the in- j
vestment in alloy property is 14 to IS per
cent. Rep; esentative Johnson asked for an
expression of opinion on whether or not
Congress could regulate the maximum
percentage on such investment. Com
missioner Siddons was inclined to believe
not. Representative Prouty called atten
tion to the fact that with the abolition of
alleys more streets would become neces
sary. ll? said that since he had been j
here iie had heard a great complaint i
about the numoer of streets, their width j
and the burden of maintaining them. ;
In addition to the Commissioner there
w?re present Rev. John Van Schaick, jr.: i
Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, Dr. AY. H. Wood-j
ward, Frank Stephens, assistant corpora- ,
tion counsel". Mrs. E. P. bicknell. Mrs. i
Clara Van Trump, Walter S. Ufford and
W. H. Baldwin.
SHRINERS BACK FROM ORIENT.
Went to Manila to Install Hundred
and Fifty Novices.
SEATTLE, March 1?,.?One hundred and
fifty nobles of the Mystic Shrine, repre
senting most of the important temples
in the United States and Canada, are
here today from Manila, where they went
under the auspices of the Nile Temple of j
Seattle to install l."*? novices. The
Shriners, who left Seattle December 30,
made the longest pilgrimage in the his
tory of the order, visiting the principal
ports in tlw* orient.
Many of the men were accompanied by
their families, the ?-ntire party number
ing ITjO persons.
HURRICANE SWEEPS MELILLA.1
Ships Dashed to Pieces and Fishing:
Craft Sunken in Harbor.
MEL.K-.LA, Morocco. March 13.? A hur
ricane of unparalleled violence yesterday
did enormous damage to the port of
Melilla and shipping. ^The Italian steam
er Leonardo was torrP aw. y from her
moorings and dashed against the mole
and now lies in such a critical position
that it is feared she will be a total loss.
A tug caught bv a terrific wave was
also hurled against the mob? and smashed
to pieces, while seventeen fishing boats,
launches and other craft the harbor
were sunk. There was no loss of life.
The Spanish cruiser Infanta Isabella,
which was in port, escaped probable seri
ous damage by putting hurriedly to sea.
Cardinal Gibbons Going to Rome. |
NEW ORLEANS. March 13.?Cardinal I
Gibbons, who is in this city, will sail in
May for Italy to make a j'? rsonal visit to
theh Pope, according to an announcement
here. It is explained that iiH4 is the year
for American prelates to visit tlie Vatican
and that about 100 will make personal re
ports.
DUEL WITH SWORDS
'CAUSED BY WIVES
Son of French "Immortal"
Worsts Playwright. While
Large Gallery Looks On.
GERMAN WAR MINISTER
DEFENDER OF COMBATS
Necessary for Military Caste, He
Declares. Although Admitting
Dueling Is Offense.
PARIS. March 13.?A sworcl due! fought
today between Jacqucs Richepin. son of
Jean Richepin, the "immortal," and
j-lerre Frondaie, author of a play now
being performed in Paris, resulted in the
wounding of M. Frondaie.
The quarrel arose out of an incident in
the lobby of a theater Wednesday. Mine.
Frandaie. it is alleged, made some cut
ting remarks to Jacques Richepin's wife,
known as We. Cora I.apacerie. who is
cotr.anager of the theater. M. Fondaie
took full responsibility for his wife's
comments. . ul was thereupon challenged
to light by M. Richepin.
The encounter took place on the lawn
of a house in the suburb of Neuillv.
More than a hundred notable literary
and dramatic men watched the combat
from behind hedges and from windows,
while numerous reporters, photographers
and moving picture operators occupied
a loft overlooking the lawn.
Wives Appear on Scene.
The wives of both principals appeared
on the scene, but were not allowed to
watch the combat. They remained ?n
the road outside in their automobiles,
where they were surrounded by crowds
of woman friends. They could hear the
sounds of the clashing of swords from
v.*here they sat.
During the first bout n-Hher com
batant was touched. In the second,
however. M. Richepin's sword pene
trated M. Frondaie':- forearm, nod the
engagement was brought id an end.
?Jean Richepin then embraced his su;i
ami his wife threw her.-?.!?" into his
arms, while Mme. Frondnie heiped the
surgeon to dress her husbnn i's wound
The combatants left the ground with
oi't being reconciled.
Dueling Defended.
BKRD1N. March 1.'!.?Dueling among of
ficers in the German army was strongly
defended today by l.ieut. Gen. Erncii von
Falkenhayn. minister for war. in reply
ing to an interpellation regarding the
fatal duel at M? tz February when
l.ieut. 1-I a age was killed. The minister:
for war said the institution ??f dueling!
was a necessity for the military east*. 1
Me made it clear teat his efforts to di-;
minish dueling in the army were directed,
not against the duel, but toward the re
striction of the number of cases in which
in encounter was regarded as imperative.
"1 personally v.-ould consider it a mis- j
Fortune." he said, ' if the conception of |
personal honor on which the practice of'
dueling is based should i.e eradicated. '
1 ad mil that dueling Is an off'-r.se under!
tlr laws both <?f God and of man. and!
is an evidence of physical rather than of j
moral courage. -Moreover, the penalty is!
liable to fall on the wronged man.
Must Defend Honor.
"Nevertheless, an offft-er must be the
lefender of his ov.n honor and is entitled
to regain his self-esteem, to vindicate his
manhood and to repel the imputation of
lack of courage by facing his adversary,
pistol in hand."
Dueling, according to the minister, is
decreasing in Germany.
"There were only twelve duels in 101.')." i
he said, "among the 7r?,o.*? active and I
reserve office' s in the German army, but j
this rate is still too high. The fatal
duel at Met/, could have been avoided ii" ;
Lieut. Haage had waited until the court;
of honor had considered the case, but the ,
officer had felt deeply insulted and re- ;
fused to do so, with the result that he
was killed."
WAITS FoiUHNE YEARS;
HAS MARRIAGE ANNULLED
Mrs. John C. Breckenridge Shows
Husband's Mind Is Beyond
Hope of Recovery.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 1.'. --Waiting
nine years for her husband to demonstrate
some sign of recovery, Mrs. Adelaide
Murphy Breckenridge. wife of John C.
Breckenridge. now in a Paris sanatorium,
obtained annulment of her marriage at
Salinas, Cal., last Monday. News of her
action was learned here today.
Attorneys for Mrs. Breckenridge laid
before the court affidavits from French
alienists alleging that her husbands
mind was beyond hope of recovery. She
was awarded the custody of their nine
year-old son.
The elopement of the couple created a
stir In San Francisco society ten years
ago. Mrs. Breckenridge was the daugh
ter of Samuel C. Murphy, a millionaire
banker of this city, and her husband the
son of Mrs. Frederick Sharon by a former
marriage. His eccentricity is said to
have developed during the honeymoon
and a trip around the world failed to re
store his health. In Paris lie was seized
with an attack of vertigo and fell from
the second story of a hotel. He has
been an inmate of a hospital ever since.
TRANSPLANTING OF BONE. I
Fragments From Young Woman's
Limbs Repair Faulty Spine.
PHILADELPHIA, .March 13.?An opera
tion by which fragments of bone cut from
a young woman's arms and legs were
substituted for faulty structure in her
spine was declared by surgeons who per- j
formed the experiment to have proved I
successful.
The woman was brought from Wilming
ton. Del-, to a hospital here suffering
fro n a spinal disorder which prevented
her from holding her head erect. After
five weeks' treatment, during which the
faulty bone and tissue were cut away
and gradually substituted with fragments
cut from other parts of the body, the
patient was in condition to be removed
to her home, and last night it was re-!
ported that a complete cure had been
effected.
British Naval Budget Increased.
LONDON. March 13.?The Urltlsli naval
estimates for t"Jl4-ir. amount to J257.75",
000. an increase over last year. Tile new
construction proftram provides for four
battleships, four light cruisers and twelve
(Jestroyers.
illI
NOW FACEDISMISSAL
Abandonment of Rotation System
May Cost Fifty or Seventy-Five
Employes Their Jobs.
?I'hi* method of rotation a> work, as
agreed to and practical by employes of
the Washington navy ; ard. in order to
save every man his job and give all ol
them some time and pay. noi proving
practicable and working also disadvan
tage tu the better workmen, tnc Wasn
ington navy yard proposes to put its
working force on a normal averag* word
ing basis. Thi? will mean tha. about
fiftv. and not more Uian evenly-five,
workmen will lose their positions out oi
a total number of J.tV'O on the pay roll.
The now order of things will stait eai y
in \pril. Men ?ill be dismissed one, two
or more at a time, as conditions warrant
dispensing with their services. Such men.
if th.-v continue as nav.v yard workers or
in Wild red trades, will t'md their dlsmis
L"l "alher an order of exile from Wash
'inato'i as there is little or no work of the
same or similar nature to lie found in the
National ' Capital.
Work at Yard Slack.
Since last fall A has been evident thai,
the work of the navy yard would be
I slack At that time the workers, through
I "the influence of -their union, reached an
' agreement, subscribed to by the nav>
i vard authorities, to lay off work in rota
I tion. so as to provide employment for
those who might otherwise have been dis
I charged. With no prospect of increased
woik fo, the na.y yard, and the winter
igors having been passed, the navy yard
authorities are disposed to put lb.- force
1 on a. normal average working ba-is,
eliminating the men whose services An
'";rhe'J rouit^n s: stem has opiated only
?it the Washington navy >aul tyitii <tl'
JL, of success. That it has worked
ii. re at all, it is said, is only because of
the close social relation existing among
oiai reiauon ? ^
the mVn. the strength of their union, and
tht- fact that there is no work elsewhere
in Washington for men who would be
willing to leave or might be dismissed
I from the navy yard ser\ice.^
"in the navy yarn ?"i^
That the working of the system is not
entirely satisfactory, at least to the man
agement of the navy yard is dernonstra -
,.,l I,v th( prospect of dismissals. It is
believed that many of tiie more profi
,-ient workmen will be glad to see a
I change in the system which will sue
them full time at work, although it means
i that some of t i - associates must leave
town to lind other occupation.
Has Failed Elsewhere. j
' in large cities other than Washington i
not even the workmen are in favor of the |
system. It has failed utterly to work to
i anybody's satisfaction. Proficient work-,
men. rotating in laying off at work, found ;
themselves with time on their hands when !
they much preferred to be at work rather
than wasting their pay in the pursuits
that come with idleness. Such found
work elsewhere, it is understood, where j
they could have full time.
' The result was that the navy yards
were deprived of the services of the best
1 workingmen. leaving on the pay rolls
I those who might otherwise have been
I among the dismissals had the rotation
I svstem not been in vogue. So the system
h is not proven satisfactory either to good
workingmen or wise management, being
?in impracticable economic system and
I 'working injustice to eftn-ient workers.
SANITARIUM PROPOSED.
j Operative Potters to Provide for Tu
berculosis Sufferers.
CHESTER. W. Va., March 13.?The
health committee of the National Broth
erhood of Operative Potters has recom
mended to tho organization the purchase
of a 150-1**>-acre farm near Trenton, N. I
j as a site for a sanitarium for the I
' treatment of tuberculosis sufferers.
Sentiment in the pottery towns along ;
! til0 Ohio river favors the establishment of.
i h. sanitarium and it is believed the recom
mendation will meet with the approval
I of tba various locals of the brotherhood.1
THREE BURNED TO DEATH
One Other May Die From Effects of!
Fire in Bridgeport
? Tenement.
1 BRIDGEPORT. Comr, March 12?Kire
in a six-family tenement house here
j early today caused Hit- death of three
! men, may result in the x;/iath of a fourth
j and endangered the Hys of sixty other i
: persons. The dead a:Je J a men St ad to. 1
: George Kocolla and J oho Katriee.
The tire brok- out in I'.ie basement and j
ate its way rapidly up rth rough the par- J
i titions. The dea<l nen.:were l'ound suf-j
focated and burned ju small sleeping;
I room nri the first floor. The fourth man, ?
i who is now at the hospital in a serious
1 condition, was found i;r;v*onsc'ious on the
I second floor. i
When the occupants yvere awakcnwl by ,
j the police they rushed panic-stricken :
about the building, butuijiade no effort to'
! leave it and had to b<*-rjriven forcibly to ?
! the street by a large (or?|c of police. The j
loss by fire was not heavy.
! It was a coincidence i?jat last night A. ;
| H. Bullard. a former |ire^ commissioner of i
! this city, in ;iii addr>*>! before a local '
: organization criticised urongly Bridge-j
i port's fir*-; prevention ta.ws. saying that j
i such laws as existed wen* not worth print- '
1 iug and that while t$!.> Mire -hief might .
I make suggestions to ?; <.?*izens as to lire
' prevention about th?*iT- pfvmises he could
not compel the carrying* out of the sug-.
^estions. ; j
1~.
i GRAIN TRADING' INQUIRY.
Congressional Probe of Dealing in
Futures Is Foreshadowed.
Congressional Inveslination of trading
in futures of cotton grain has been
foreshadowed by the ilcfSon of the Houes j
: rules committee in apipfinting a subcuin- '
! mittee to draft a r*sf>autior? for such
j action. * ? :
The proposed i tt\<*si if;:i' ion under the j
I resolution would ii*<(Uii:v the sanction of
I the lull* rules cumnuf :inO tli" two
! houses. The action? hicli ' hull 111u.11
Henry of the full ciii$mitUe hus been j
urging in order t?i :.n*.ak? the inquiry
have as broad a scijt^ as possible is
bused on the Manahah resolution, which
charged that the whet; trust" controls
prices oil the Chicago,: Minneapolis and
Duluth exchanges. Hearings on the Mana
han resolution preliminary to the ac
tion of the rules committee have just
been concluded.
The subcommittee cotr.fr.ses representa
' tl\ es Henry, Texas; Ilardwlck. Oeorgia;
Cantrlll. Kentucky; Lt.iroot, Wisconsin,
! and Kelley, Pennsylvauia. Its creation
I was s'l^Kested by Mr. Murdwic!:.
THE DAY IN CONGRESS.
s?*uafe*
Met at noon.
James Brown Scoit of the Car- ,
negie Peace Endowment testified
before the lobby committee.
Senator Owen Introduced a sepa
: rate bill to repeal tin* Panama tolls
exemption. i ? . ,
Voted $300,000 fot -a municipal
hospital here to be iuamec; after
Senator Gallinger of .New Hamp
1 shire. ; *
Opposition to the Ijlughes bill to
1 restrict the sale of: convict-made
goods developed at \&ii interstate
commerce committee Hearing.
House.) ?
Met at noon.
Debate on agricultural appro
priation bill resumed
Merchant marine committee
ended hearings o:6 I-a Follette
seamen's bill.
Foreign affairs committee again
considered bill to enforce Can
adian boundary fisheries treaty.
Interstate judiciarv' committee
heard arguments in favor of
manufacturers and wholesalers
fixing retail prices.
Falcon Joslyn. president of a
railroad at Fairbanks, Alaska,
told territories committee the
Alaskan railroad tax law was
virtually confiscatory.
? Lieut. Gov. Inga)?: ??f Kansas
| testified on rural credits before a
subcommittee. * j
Naval committer reported a bill
to restore the grau<* of admiral
and vice admiral High increases
of pay. ; i
SENATORS IRE MISLED,
SAYS AMBASSADOR PAGE
Envoy Declares He Was Victim of
Excessive Condensation Re
garding Speech.
LONDON, March 1H.?Ambassador Wal
ter Mines Page today received from Sec
retary of State Bryan notification of the
resolution of the T'nited States Senate
in regard to his speech on the Panama
canal and tiie Monroe doctrine delivered
before the .Association of Chambers of
Commerce Wednesday.
The Se?. letary of State requested the
ambassador to send an explanation of
the speech, and Mr. Page immediately
began the preparation of his reply.
After reading fuller accounts of the
proceedings in the Senate Ambassador
Page came to the conclusion that the
senators had been misled by the exces
sive condensation of his remarks in re
gard to his interpretation of the Monroe
doctrine.
Mr. Page declared that he had distinct
ly said ?hat tin* failed Slates would ob
ject to or prohibit any Curopean power
from taking more territory in the new
world and then in concluding had said
amid the laughter of the autiienci .
"So you see that the I'nited Slates
would prefer that no Kuropean powers
should gain more territory in the new
worl 1."
The ambassador's remarl's. he declared,
had been too greatly condensed. When
referring to the Panama eanal he had
said that Great Britain would profit most
from the canal because she owned the
great bull; of the world's shipping.
Chamberlain Disapproves Joke.
Senator Chamberlain, author of the
resolution tailing for an explanation of
Ambassador Page's speech, said today he
was gratified to lea? 11 that Secretary
Bryan had acted upon ihe Senate's re
quest.
? ] see the ambassador says lie was
joking. Well, it strikes me that ambas
sadors of this government should not
joke about matters which President
Wilson said In his message might pro
voke war." said he.
Secretary Bryan cabled the American
ambassador the text of the Senate reso
lution of inquiry and asked for a com
plete report by mail. In the ordinary
course this will require a week or ten
days unless recourse should be had to
the cables.
It is recalled that when Thomas F.
Bayard was ambassador to Great
Britain he was ealled to account by
congressional resolution for a speech
delivered by him in Glasgow, in which
iie referred to Americans as a turbu
lent people.
VANDALISM IS DEFENDED.
Suffragettes' Organ Says Govern
ment's Attitude Justifies Action.
LONDON, March to.?Votes for Women,
the suffragette newspaper edited by Fred
erick and Bmmeline Pethick Lawrence,
comments today on the mutilation of the
"(tokeby Venus" in the National Gallery
as follows:
"Miss May Richardson lias demonstrat
ed once more that society rests upon mu
tual forbearance and consent and that if
one section, however powerful, outrages
the feelings of another section, however
small, there are means of retaliation open
to those who have been wronged which
will be keenly felt by the community at
large.
"Miss Richardson's action is. of course,
widely criticised and condemned, but the
real culprits are Premier Asquith and his
government, who have taught women by
precept and example that they care noth
ing for equity or justice or the priceless
traditions of liberty. The only thing
which influences them is a strong right
arm. which can strike an irreparable ]
blow."
Gen. Grant's Bodyguard Dies.
NEW YORK, March II*.?James Bir
chard. eighty-one, who was bodyguard
to Gen. Grant all through the civil war,
died yesterday at Ids borne in Darien,
Conn. Jle was of small stature, but a
physical marvel, his. strength and agility
being famous in war times.
THINK .REBELS PLAN
TO PUNISH SLAYERS
Mexicans Here Believe Car
ranza Will Act in Deaths
of Benton and Bauch.
GIVES GENERAL CHANCE
TO SHOW HIS AUTHORITY
Secretary Bryan Acknowledges Re
ceipt of Huertas Note, But it
Carries No Significance.
Decisive action on the part of Gen.
Carranza in punishing the murderer or
W. S. Benton, the British subject killed
at Juarez, was believed today by Mexi
cans In Washington to be forecasted by
the reported arrest in Chihuahua City
of Maj. Flerro, on whom private In
formation received here several days
ago placed the blame for Benton's
death.
Ever since Carranza. named his commis
sion to investigate the killing of Benton
and Guatav Bauch, an American, sup
porters of the Mexican constitutionalists
here have insisted that there will be no
whitewashing done by the commission,
but that if any wrong was found to have
been done the guilty party would be pun
ished and proper reparation would be
made.
Information received here has been to
; the effect that Benton and Villa had j?
dispute, and that Fierro pulled his re
volver in Villa's office and shot the Eng
lishman. Fierro and Villa have long
been friends, it is said, and therefore
\ ilia tried to defend him despite his
realization that the affair might have
serious consequences.
Friends of the constitutionalists also
; say that Carranza realizes fully that in
j a great measure his authority over the
j rebel forces in the eyes of the outside
world will rest on the maimer in which
he clears up the Benton and Bauch cases,
and that he has an excellent opportunity
to stop the frequent reports that he is a
mere figurehead.
French Cruiser Off Mexican Coast.
The French cruiser Montcalm, on
: way to Santa Rosalia, lias reached Guay
mas, on the west coast of Mexico, it is
reported to the Navy Department by
Commander Taylor, in command of the
navy transport Buffalo, also in harbor
at Guaymas. The Montcalm, com
manded by Rear Admiral Ruget, will
proceed Wednesday of next week to her
destined port.
Santa Rosalia is the home of a consid
j erable French colony, u is a port in
I Lower California on the gulf coast. An
i American gunboat, taking a survey of
i conditions, crossed from Guaymas to
| Santa Rosalia a few days ago. starting
j back the same day. The brevity of tins
j visit indicates thai conditions were found
J tranquil, although no report has been
given out by the Navy Department.
Santa Rosalia is *?-radically out of the
zone of telegraphic communication, like
many points on the Bay of Dower Cali
fornia. The dispatches from the Ameri
can warships and from insurrectory
sources in Sonora provide what in
formation is received by the outside
world- at this- time.
Acknowledgment of the receipt of
J the note of President Iluerta of Mexico
j has been made to the Mexican embassy
j in Washington.
The acknowledgment is no more than
j a formal procedure of diplomatic courtesy.
: and has no greater significance. Nor lias
i it the status of a new procedure, as the
State Department has consistently ac
knowledged the receipt of all state com
munications through the Mexican em
bassy since the new administration came
into power, although there was some de
lay in this act of courtesy in the earliest
days of the Wilson regime.
Anns Question at Standstill.
? Secretary Bryan this morning denied
| that he. had made any reply to the Iluerta
: protest against the lifting of tl j embargo
: on the shipment of arms- In fact, he had
' no knowledge of the formal letter sent
; to the Mexican embassy, but was certain
I that no other importance than usual
courtesy attached to any communication
I from the State Department on the sub
ject. It is well understood that the State
Department is planning 110 reply to |he
memorandum, which asks for the co
operation of the United States to sup
press conditions of anarchy in northern
Mexico, by rescinding the order lifting
the embargo on arms.
Gen. Felix Diaz and his friends re
mained here today, but his expected
statements of the details of his proposed
plan to solve the .Mexican question did
not materialize. It is said by bis friends
that he is still hard at work 011 his plan,
and that an announcement will be made
i soon. It is said that he two Mexicans
j who are to appear before the House for
eign affairs committee tomorrow have 110
j connection with Diaz.
Alleged Slayer of Benton
Also Charged With Murder
of Mexican Railroad Men
j EL PASO, Tex., March 13.?Unconfirmed
! reports received here from Americans
! arriving from Chihuahua that the com
j mission appointed by Gen. Carranza, head
| of the constitutionalists, had caused the
| arrest of Maj. Rudolfo Fierro. one of
| Gen. Villa's subordinate officers, as the
I slayer of William S. Benton, a' British
' subject, were given credence today by :
those interested in the case. The re- I
j ports stated that Maj. Fierro is being- '
! held 011 a blind charge for the killing of j
: two Mexican railroad men in n resort
? at Chihuahua. At the tim? of Benton's '
| execution it was reported Fierro was in '
j Gen. Villa's office, said to have been the \
scene of the execution. It is known that '
j the Carranza commission began Hs in
j vestigation with information that Benton I
; had been killed by Fierro.
| Gen. Carranza's commission is said to
! have gathered convincing evidence that \
! Col. Fidel Avlla. commander of the rebel j
j garrison at Juarez, ordered the execution ?
! of Gustav Bauch, a German-American,
who was tried as a spy, but in whose j
case no verdict was rendered. Denials i
that Bauch was killed have been made '
repeatedly by rebel officers at Juarez and
at Chihuahua.
Bauch was not executed until two days !
after Gen. Villa had left Juaiez, it is1
said. It is not known whether Avila !
had orders for the execution, but the :
commission is said to have evidence in- I
dicatlng that he directly ordered the |
execution of the German-American,
i Developments connecting Fierro with ?
I the Benton case have been looked for
since Monday, when the major was re
moved as general manager of the rebel
railroads. Many had looked for Fierro's
! "disappearance" or apparently accidental
; death.
Would Improve Spelling.
NEW YORK. March 1.1.?In an effort to'
improve the spelling and the grammar;
of public school pupils the city depart- i
ment of education has asked all business I
men and manufacturers who receive let
ters of application from public school |
I graduates containing flagrant errors to)
I send such letters to the office of the j
I school superintendent. 1
ft
COMNnna PLANS
raRMALPROTEST
Devising Methods of Defeat
ing Pending Legislation
Inimical to the District.
APPEAL TO CIVIC BODIES
TO JOIN IN MOVEMENT
Concerted Action Proposed to Arouse
Interest of the Country in
National Capital.
:
The executive committee of the commit
tee of 100 will hold a meeting tonight at
8 o'clock at the offices of Henry H. 1*
Maefarland, chairman of the executive
committee, in the Evans building, to a?"t
i on a number of important matters m
connection with District legislation pend
! ins before Congress.
I The lirst of these, according to a
j statement made this afternoon by Mr
Maefarland. will be tn ask the Hoard of
i Trade and the Chamber of Commerce
! as constituent members of the Chamb* r
of Commerce of the t'nited States. to
1 appeal t" the latter body to join in a
national protest against any measure
I that will stop the progress of the *\a
tiona.l Capital by upsetting the "half
and-half" plan.
The second will be the production of
a complete list of all national organiza
tions having headquarters in Washing
ton. with an account of the particular
purposes for which they were created,
j and to deride which of these organiza
tions shall be a skid to join in the pro
test and in the campaign of education
being organized by the committee of
100. A few of these associations, it i
evpected. will not be able to take par:
, in the protest but it is hoped that ah
! the others, when the matter is property
I presented to them, will be able to do so.
Civic Association to Report.
j The third matter to come up at the
; meeting this evening will be a report of
! a conference which was held today be
tween Mr. Maefarland and Hichard t;
! Watrous. secretary of the American Civic
Association, which organization has been
I working for si>: weeks to arouse interest
I throughout the I'nited States in the sit- -
i at ion with regard to pending legislation
? in Congress affecting the District.
The fourth subject to be taken up is1 a
proposal received today from the Na
tional League of Women's Press Clubs to
hold a meeting at the Raleigh Hotel a
week from tonight for the purpose of In
forming its members of the situation with
regard to pending legislation here. Mr.
Maefarland has been asked to address the
proposed meeting.
The National League of Women's Press
Clubs is the fourth national organization
having headquarters in Washington aei
ivelv to take an interest in the pending
legislation, the first having been the
American Civi- Association, the s-econo
the Southern Commercial Congress an?.
\ the third the Woman's National Demo*
| r ratio League.
Richard B. Watrous. secretary or the
American Civic Association, returned last
evening from a trip to Florida. He
absent a week, during which time he ad
dressed meetings on the subject of civics
in five different cities.
Referring to the pending legislation n
Congress affecting Washington Mr. Wat
rous said today;
"During my absence our office naa
been getting ready to send out to our
entire membership co. es of the pam
phlet containing articles by Henry L. J- -
Maefarland relating to the finances o.
the District of Columbia. "With those
pamphlets will go a letter from the as
i sociation calling the especial attenticv
of our members to the present situation
! and asking that they express themselves
i as in favor of the most generous treaty
! men" by Congress of the tatnc ?'
j Columbia. not so much in behalf of th
! residents of the District as in their ow n
! behalf as the real owners ot the National
1 L xvill not be Hie first time that the
; attention of our members has been cal leu
i to Washington and Its "teds. th -
? letter will be in strict conformity to th.
published Stand of the association sum ,
ills birth. W.- have always contend.
that Washington should. 1c. a at
"etierous expenditure. be made not on
I i ... mot-t beautiful city m America. 1..1.
iecntuaiiv the most beautiful capita
citv ill tile world, our association vx.
; Of the first to urge the creation, some
vears ago, of the com mission of uu?
i arts, which was a distinct step forward.
Discussed at Conventions.
i - \i our various conventions we lia*e.
Us ' a rule, ban special addresses on
?WaMiington. the Federal C it> ? and l.,si
.?fr at mnSsbnventmn in Halt.more tha .
W llenr li. K. to
' ,aria'.d of tliis lit ? At t.iat t.me ?? |f
^i.,t?-d our belief that the development "f
.Washington should he .Ion* xw ?rR.
?uid constructive lines and that t>>
i means eve. v thing possible to he done
should be done to cs.iry
.plan of Washington as provided b>
lirst President. ?-r
?Washington stts tl'.e only notable e*;
, ample to al' other American cit.es of
i eomprehensive city planning, and thisas
I sociation is constantly citing W ??h'n*ton
las a model to be copied bj all uties
< their Physical construction.
?Uecause what Is known as the half
and-half plan, by which the general gov
ernment sliaies equally with the District
Un t ie expenses of the District has In the
1 ??d ,,"a'
f[jl* cimsidiTatnm aiui in cestigation b>
?n.Dct?it authorities, it shall be demon
strated that some better plan can be de
ave glad of the opportunity to i*
of ,n ' to Washington at this time
dial c'press,on by then, right now. when
sucil all expression is needed.
Appeals M?<ie in Five Cities.
? During my trip to Florida it has been
??V pleasure to make an appeal on be
leilf of Washington to rem sentatixe
. .. ?,, Cities of the state, and in
"h, histance to state that 1 was making
an appeal to the real owners of the cap
an appeal ,vhose influence was more
"",,at lor results than any efforts that
patent lor ]orth j)V tllose who happen
to "be merely residents of the District ot
0'Uv'!!!i"h is always gratifying to note
.1 . Miick resoonse that comes from
such audiences when Washington i.
mentioned. llt that there is a
\i ?t-i<iA in th ? Capital City and
that lhe voters of the far distant cities
?,'? zealous for its larger expansion
They realize that Washington is dif
ferent from the ordinary mumcipa It.v
that It is the federal city?and they
are willing and anxious to be cop
fributers. as they are on the half-and
half Plan- t? 113 maintenance on a
larger and greater scale than thej
might Indorse for their own imtnedi
a,<T places of residence.
... might say that our membership In
cludes not only several thousand Indi
viduals. but several hundred affiliated ot
canliatlons. among them many of the
leading boards of trade and chambers
.ft commerce of the I nited States, be
sides civic leagues, women s clubs and
other organizations devoted to the bet
terment of American cities. '