Evening star. [volume], February 23, 1915, Image 1

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No. 19,872. ~~~ WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1915-EIGHTEEN PAGES. one CENtT
REPORTTOSENATE
ON DISTRICT BILL
Conferees Fail to Agree on
Rider Abolishing Halfand-Half
System.
TWO OTHER AMENDMENTS
MEET WITH OBJECTIONS
in "Bill flnrnmis
AIVTIOIUU ill Mill viixug
sioners Authority to Appoint
Board of Education.
The conference report on the District
appropriation bill, showing an
agreement between the two houses on
ft!! except three items in the bill, was
submitted to the Senate today by Senator
John Walter Smith of Maryland.
Senator Smith urged the adoption of
the report so that the House might
have an early opportunity to act on it
also.
Objection to the immediate consideration
of the report was made by Senator
Root of New York and Senator
Thomas of Colorado, and the report
was ordered to be printed and will
come up later.
The Senate conferees succeeded in
having the item lor tlOu.OVV lor the
1 eciamatioii of the Anacosua river flats
retained m the bill. Tney also succeeued
in naving an item of $5o,uoo for the
equipment of the new Western High
Senooi retained in the bill, striKing out,
now ever, the language ""to be lmmeuiaieiy
available."
.en amendment for an eight-room addition
to tne Powell Scnool, costing
-' o.omO, was agreed to.
.c Senate amendment providing that J
hereaiter all pupus whose parents are
employed otnciaiiy or otherwise in the;
District snail oe admitted and taught
i.ee of charge in tne District schoois
.? as agreed to.
Appointment of Board of Education.
The conferees inserted a provision that
hereafter the members of the board of
education shall be appointed by the
District Commissioners instead of by the
District Supreme Court.
The House conferees agreed to the
Senate amendment appropriating
money to be used by the Southern Keliet
:?ociety for the care and maintenance
of indigent and inlirm men,
women and children, reducing the
amount from $io,OUO to |6.000.
The Senate conferees receded from
Conafi. Qmonrlmont tA aiA f hi. SJ?_
suciation for the blind and to aid the
?'olumbiu Polytechnic Institute, also
for the blind. The Senate conferees
receded from the amendment to the
provision for the District reformatory
and also trom tnat amendment which
would provide that no brick or other
building material that may be produced
at the workhouse or reformatory
shall be sold in competition with products
of free labor to any department
or institution of the District govern- :
inent. Under the head of Improvement
and repairs on streets and avenues an
item of $89,400 in the House bill was
increased to $110,700.
Yielded by Senate Conferees.
The Senate conferees receded from an
amendment to repave with asphalt the
granite roadway of P street northwest
between 28th street and Wisconsin avenue.
Under the construction of suburban
roads the Senate conferees receded
from an amendment carrying
$30,000 for Connecticut avenue from
Tilden street to Grant road, and also
from an amendment carrying $4,200 for
Benning road. The House conferees
agreed to the following Senate amendments
under this head: Six thousand
dollars for Albemarle street from Connecticut
avenue to Reno road; $9,400
for Kenyon street from Georgia avenue
m P-.rU nlurc The Senate rereriert
from its amendment changing the provision
for public scales as carried in
the House bill.
The House conferees agreed to an
amendment carrying $3,750 for the construction
of a swimming pool, shower
baths, etc., for the Georgetown playgrounds.
The Senate conferees receded from an
amendment increasing the appropriation
for the care of Rock Creek Park from
$1S,000 to $30,000.
The House conferees agreed to an
amendment increasing the salary of the
special beginning teacher in the normal
schools from $b00 to $900.
Compromise Effected.
The conferees agreed to a compromise
of 537,300 for the purchase and repair
of furniture, tools, materials and books
to be used in connection with manual
training.
The conferees threw out a Senate
amendment for $2,000 for the employment
of temporary personal services
tinder the head of schools. They also
struck out a Senate amendment "giving
the District Commissioners authority to
close public areas which may lie wholly
within the boundaries of any site purchased
for the Eastern High School. The
Senate amendment providing that any
balance remaining after the purchase of
the site for the Eastern High School may
be applied for the purpose of putting the
cite in a suitable condition also was
Ctricken out.
The Senate amendments applying to
the metropolitan police were agreed to
except a:i amendment of $5,000 for the
* reconstruction of cell corridors.
1'nder the fire department the Senate
conferees receded from an amendment
increasing the salary of a chief clerk
from $3,%00 to $3,000. Senate amendments
providing for a machinist at
two machinists at $1,200 each.
' an electrician at $1,200, boiler maker
and blacksmith, and a painter at
$1,200. clerk at $1,000, a machinist helper
at $900 and a skilled laborer at $600
were agreed to.
Belating to Dismissals From Force. I
A Senate amendment providing that
hereafter no removals from the force !
of the fire department shall he made '
except upon written charges and after
an opportunity for defense on the part \
of the person against whom such j
charges may b* made was agreed to.
The language providing that no person
so removed shall he reappointed to any
.position in the Arc department was
stricken out.
The Senate amendment decreasing
the amount for repairs to apparatus
and motor ve>iclea and for new apparatus.
etc.. from $1 5.000 to $8,000
was not agreed to. A Senate amendment
for two combination chemical
and hose wagons, motor driven, to cost
$12,000 was agreed to.
Under the items for the helth department
a Senate amendment of $1,000
for repairs to the smallpox hospital and
administration building was agreed to.
A Senate amendment for the extension
of water mains to provide Are protection
for the smallpox hospital was not
agreed to.
v The conferees agreed to a Senate
amendment for a chemical laboratory:
for the purchase and installation of new
apparatus, $2,080; for the replacement of
" (^Continued on Second face.)
Lr
SAYS EVELYN LOSS
TRAGIC ACCIDENT
President Is Informed Captain
Did Not Follow Safe Course
Laid Out for Him.
OFFICIALS HERE FEAR
FOR SAFETY OF CREW
Civil Suit for Damages by Owners
and United States Insurance Bureau
Only Recourse.
President "Wilson views the recent
sinking of the American steamer Evelyn
in the North sea as a tragic accident,
he told callers today, and has
been unofficially informed that her
captain was not following a safe
course laid out for him. He added that
warnings had been given that mines
were planted in the area in which the
Evelyn was sunk.
The President indicated he has not
yet determined whether replies will be
sent to the recent notes from Germany
and Great Britain on the war zones
and the use of the American flag. He
said, however, there was nothing in
the German or English notes which
would cause the United States to
change its position. He indicated that
the entire subject still was under consideration.
The sinking of the Evelyn and the
international situation generally were
discussed at the Cabinet meeting which
was the briefest in months. It was
indicated that no further action would
be taken until further details were ob
lainea ana rnai tne aaminisirauyn
nothing in the incident liable to cause
international complications.
It was said to be practically certain
that 110 replies will be sent to the latest
British and German notes.
Awaits News From Crew.
Officials of the Washington government
today awaited with some anxiety
wrord as to the fate of thirteen of the
crew of the Evelyn who were reported
to have rowed for the HoHand coast
after the vessel struck. The only official
word which had been received was
from the American consul at Bremen,
who on Sunday night reported the
safety of the crew.
Olficials heard today through unofficial
sources that only the captain and
fourteen members of the Evelyn's crew
had been accounted for. All of the
party, except one, who died from exposure,
were safe in a hospital at
Bremerhaven following their rescue by
a Dutch pilot ship.
Definite information as the results of
the insuiry into the disaster now being
made by representatives of the
American government also is awaited
here. Pending such information, however,
the Washington government will
not decide upon a course of action.
Secretary Bryan cabled to American
Minister Henry Van Dyke, a* The
Hague, the same message he previously
had sent to Ambassadors Page and
Gerard, at London and Berlin, respectively,
asking that every care be extended
to the missing members of the
crew should they land on the coast of
Holland. He also requested that Minister
Van Dyke make an investigation
of the facts of the occurrence through
all available agencies.
Only Civil Suit Likely.
It was conceded in official quarters
that if the nationality of the mine were
not determined, and if no proof were
obtained to show whether official notifications
to neutral vessels concerning
the courses they should steer were
being followed by the Evelyn, there
would be virtually no ground for diplomatic
protest. A civil suit, however,
by the United States war risk insurance
bureau and the owners of the
vessel and cargo is certain to follow
upon such evidence as can be gathered
through the official inquiries now being
made. Some officials thought that a
claim for damages might even be laid
against both Germany and Great Britain
if the mines were sown far beyond
belligerent zones of operation without
giving due notice to neutral craft.
Although there has been no protests
thus far from the United States concerning
the laying of mines in belligerent
waters, and none is 'believed likely at
this time, it was considered possible in
many -quarters that an effort might be
made by the American government to
learn more definitely from the belligerents
the precautions which they have taken to
safeguard neutral commerce in the mine
zones, and to obtain more data on which
American ship captains could be guided
in the future as to safeguard channels.
CRITICISES SHIPPING POLICY.
Representative Uoore Cites Incident
of the Evelyn.
"The United States government seems
to be more responsible than anybody
else for the menace of war which the
incident of the Evelyn has emphasized,"
said Representative J. Hampton
Moore of Pennsylvania today. Mr.
Moore was explaining his resolution
introduced today asking the Secretary
of the Treasury to make a report regarding
the ownership of the Evelyn,
which was sunk by a mine in the
North sea, and the amount of insurance
placed on that vessel which the
recently organized federal war risk insurance
bureau will have to pay from
the United States Treasury.
Mr. Moore further said:
"The administration could not have a
more concrete example of the unwisdom
of its shipping policy. The President
wants us to buy foreign ships and
tlie Evelyn was a^foreign ship built
thirty-two years ago.
"The administration wants us to give
American registry to foreign- built vessels
wrecked and repaired in American
waters, and here the Evelyn fits in
also. She was wrecked and repaired in
! 1S97. and received full rights to fly the
American flag, a right greater than the
j value of the ship itself, when the war
broke out. Still it was not sutttcient to
induce insurance companies to protect
her against carrying conditional contrabands
into the war territory."
Representative Moore said that the
loss of money from the United States
i Treasury by insuring the Evelyn in the
i new war risk bureau is an example of
1.1 in ftfrhtinCT int?matlnn
al complications.
Shell Wounds Priest at Mass.
HAZEBROUCK. via Paris, February
23.?A soldier priest was saying mass
yesterday in a church at Elverdlngue
near Ypres, when a German shell exploded
over the building. A portion
of the missile carpe through the roof
and struck the priest on the head. He
was taken to the nearest ambulance,
where an operation was performed,
and it is hoped he will recover, ai.
though his condition is serious.
HOW TO MEASURE
CITY TAXBUROENS
Done Accurately Only by Comparing
Dollars Actually
Paid in Tax Levies.
CENSUS DISCREDITS
PROUTY'S METHOD
Reported Relation of Assessed to
Trne Value Worthless as Factor
in Measuring Comparative
Tax Bnrdens.
NO. II.
Editorial Correspondence of The Star.
BY THEODORE W. NOTES.
An impartial commission, if
one is created, can do the capital
and the nation good service by
deciding the fairest and most accurate
method of measuring the
comparative tax-burdens of cities.
Washington urges that the dollars
of tax-money actually paid,
shown in total census tax-levies
and especially in the per capita
tax-levy, furnish the only lair and
approximately accurate basis of
measurement and comparison.
Representative Prouty and the
anti-District faction following his
lead contend that comparative
tax-burdens are accurately measured
by accepting as true the
census-reported relations of as- i
sessed to actual value in the dif-j
lerent cities and by applying this
ratio to the tax-rate.
By the first method of compari-1
son Washington's tax-burden is
heavier than that of the vast ma-1
jority of American cities, and
measures up fairly with that imposed
upon cities approximating
the capital in population. Owing
to the capital's peculiar disabilities
this burden is heavier than in
any other American city.
By the second method Washington's
tax-burden is figured out
as among the lightest of all
American cities, and by the injection
of some statistical factors
outside the census which Washington
considers irrelevant, Mr.
Prouty proclaims that the capi-,
tal's tax-burden is only a little
more than one-half that of the
average American city.
Congress directly, or indirectly
by commission or joint committee,
is petitioned to analyze these
two methods of comparison and
to decide which is fair and approximately
accurate, and which
is unsound and misleading.
Washington protests to Congress
that it is grossly unjust to
the capital to accept the Prouty
method of comparison and to reject
the per capita tax-levy method
without the thoughtful consideration
which this vital issue deserves.
Our method of comparison
measures' the tax-burden by the
dollars of tax-money actually paid
and divides the burden per capita
among those who have paid it.
The Prouty method assumes
that unsworn statements from
American cities concerning the
relation of assessed to actual
value are true, and that if the law
provides for full valuation the
property is assessed for taxation
at 100% of its actual market
value. But this assumption is
false, and everybody knows that
it is false. The census bulletins
expose its falsity; municipal officials
almost everywhere confess
it.
The slightest unbiased examination
will convince any fairminded
investigator that the
Prouty method of comparison, on
j account of the presence of this
iactor 01 unreiiamnty ana inaccuracy,
must be discredited as ab-1
solutely worthless.
The figures on which both
methods of comparison are based
are taken from the- census bulletins
concerning American cities.
Let Congress consider the testimony
on this issue given by the
census authorities. Both sets of
figures are from the census: let
the census decide which of its
figures lead to truth and which to
error.
Testimony of Census Authorities.
Census bulletin No. 65 (1890) says:
"In comparing th* rates of taxation
between the several places it should
be borne in mind that the relation of
the assessed valuation to the true val
uaiiOH vanco Ricavi^ ? ?? n.iai is apparently
a high rate of taxation may
be owing not to an excessive levy, but
to the low value placed upon the property
assessed, requiring the rate to be
correspondingly high in order to yield
the desired revenue. It woald MPfni
therefore that the taxatfoa per capita
represents more nearly the relative
burdens Imposed by the tax levy."
In addition to the actual figures of
tax rate, assessment and thx levy, the
census in recent years has collected
the opinions, estimates, guesses of
mnniciDal officials as to the true value
of property, and has then flgureg out
what the tax rate would be on the full
value of property, If these estimates.
(Continued on Third Page.)
SHADE OF G.
TENSE FEELING >
AMONG PEOl
Nervous Over Possib]
Blockade?Move
to Frontier
THE HAGUE, via Lon^i, February 23
?A tense undercurrent of feeling has
been running through all classes in
Holland for the past two or three days.
This is attributed tb public concern,
owing to Germany's action in not replying
to/ the Dutch note of protest
concerning the North sea war zone and
nervousness as to what might result
from the German blockade and submarine
activity, which possibly might
produce an untoward incident at any
moment. /
Aithnnch vessels beloneine: to other
neutral states have suffered, Dutch
ships up to the present have escaped
damage, but many seamen are demandRUSSIANS
DRIVE Tl
PLAN CONSTA
LONDON, February 23.?A report on
the fighting in the Caucasus received
from the headquarters of the Russian
commander of that region, says that
February 21 there were engagements
with the Turks in the vicinity of
Tchoruk, as a result of which the Turks
were driven beyond the river. There
was no fighting elsewhere on this
date. |
, An official dispatch from Sofia says The j
Russians are concentrating large forces at ,
Odessa, in readiness to ship them to '
Midia on the Black sea, sixty miles
northwest of.Constantinople, for an attack
on Constantinople.
A dispatch to the Daily Telegraph
ROYALTY GETS TIC
ALONG WITh
LONDON. February 2.1.?A private
message from Berlin states that this
was the first "bread day." Every German
received a ticket early in the
morning entitling him to his supply.
Every member of the imperial family
as well as the humblest households
was Included in the distribution without
distinction.
The Prussian diet has unanimously i
accepted a bill appropriating 100.000.O0o
marks ($23,000,000) as a subsidy to be]
used in alleviating the sufferings of'
persons affected by the war, says a
Berlin dispatch received by Reuters
Telegram Company by way of Amsterdam.
Food Supply Assured.
Clemens Delbruck. the imperial minister
of the interior, declared that a
supply of food for the population at
moderate prices was now assured.
"The methods by which Great Britain
DISCUSSION OF PE/
HELD INADVIt
BERLIN, via Paris, February 23.?An
inspired statement in the N6rd Deutsch
Allgemeinc Zeitung replies to demands
that the newspapers be permitted to!
discuss the war and what should be
done if Germany is victorious. Discus- j
sion of future peace terms at this time i
is considered inadvisable by political
and military leaders, the article says.1
It adds, however, that at the proper i
time, which will be decided by the |
court of military events, such a discussion
will be permissible.
"When this time comes," It says, "the
i government will be thankful for the
W.?NOW FOR ANOTHER
JOW PREVAILS
PLE OF HOLLAND
le Results of German
:ment of Troops
Continues.
' ins increased wages owing to the
risks. Some of the men decline to sail,
and have left their ships, especially
those bound for England. Numbers of
passengers for the Dutch East Indies
have decided to pass through Germany
to Genoa in order to take ship there.
Even the Dutch fishing boats, by
governmental order, are to be painted
in the national colors, while their
crews have been advised to carry with
them evidences of their nationality.
The continued movements of troops
toward the various frontier points and
the constant work of military engineers
on inundation works have increased
the uneasiness of the people.
The newspapers generally refrain from
commenting on the situation.
. 1
jrks back;
ntinople attack
I from Athens says that the Turks, expecting:
the entrance of the allied fleet
into the Sea of Marmora, have sent
i troops and heavy artillery to all the
j islands in that sea.
Tension With Greece.
PARIS, February 23.?When tension
< between Turkey and Greece was greatest
last week, says the Petit Parisien,
the Turkish minister at Sofia asked the
Bulgarian government if it would permit
Turkish troops to pass through
Bulgaria for an attack upon Greece
should war be declared. Premier RadoslavofY
replied, the paper asserts, that
neither country would be permitted to
transport troops across Bulgarian territory.
:kets for bread
{ germany's poor
is striving to wage a war of starvation
against Germany." Herr Delbruck
continued, "imposes on every man the
obligation to subordinate every other
consideration to * -
serving nis
1 country. What will inflict the most injury
011 our enemy and contribute the
most for victory for the fatherland
must be the principle by which we are
governed hereafter in carrying on the
conflict. Then we cannot lose, even if
| the whole world should be in arms
against us."
Kaiser Urges Sparing Use.
| A special dispatch to the Berlin Zeitung
am Mittag from Koenigsberg says
that Emperor William during his visit
to Loetzen, East Prussia, at the time
of the recent operations, spoke of the
necessity of dealing sparingly with
food supplies. He said he expected of
every German that he would restrict
the consumption of food as much as
possible. particularly of potatoes,
which, the emperor said, under no circumstances
should be used as food fof
horses.
VCE TERMS
>ABLE BY TEUTONS
| support of public opinion, and there
will be no disposition to prevent the
people from publicly discussing terms
I of peace." * - * - ,
Lloyds Advances Marine Rates.
LONDON, February 23.?The Lloyds
Underwriters have advanped war risk
premiums on transatlantic passages
nearly one-half. Coastal risks also
have been increased. Lloyds' rate for
transatlantic passages is now from IVi
I to i?A per cent. The government, howAVAr.
nnntimion "* "
old rate of 1 1-20 per cent. - *
*
ih IE
mi,
| jli
111
1 1 i
r?P ^ it,.. ! 1
i, .
YEAR'S REST!
INDIANSAND WHiTES
STILL BATTLE IN UTAH
i"
Reinforcements of State Forces Expected?Red
Hen likely to
Seek the Hills.
DENVER, February 23.---Reinforcements
are expected to reach Bluff,
Utah, today, where posses of whites
are engaged in a battle with Piute Indians.
In the fighting, which began Sunday,
five Indians and one white man have
been killed, one white man wounded,
and/six Indians taken prisoners. It is
said desultory fighting continued all
night within a half mile of Bluff, and ,
that the huts of Tse-Ne-Gat, leader of
the Indians, who is wanted for murder,
have been burned.
Navajo Police on Way.
Reinforcements are ovnocted -r.???
Monticello and twenty-five Navajo police
are en route to Bluff from Ship
Rock Indian agency, New Mexico.
It is believed that the Indians will attempt
to escape through the hills, according
to advices from Bluff, and the
leaders of the posses are anxious for
reinforcements in order that the retreat
of the Indians may be cut olf.
SALT LAKE CITY. Utah. February
23.?A message just received from Buff,
v.tab, says Indians are entering the
town. It is not known yet whether
they are Piutes seeking a parley or
the Navajoe Indian police from Ship
Rock agency.
FIRE CONSUMES HOTEL;
THREE BODIES IN RUINS
Business Buildings in Birmingham,
Ala., Destroyed, Involving PropT.o?e
T.Trppiliiny tOAftfVlA
V* "J yWWjVVVl
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., February 23.?
Fire broke out at 4:30 o'clock this
morning: in the Robertson Hardware
Company store, on 20th street, lower
part of a three-story building known as
the Buyck & Thomas building, and oils
and paints exploded, causing rapid
spread of the fire. The blaze was not
under control until after 7 o'clock, and
the loss is estimated at more than
$200,000.
The White Palace saloon, owned by
M. C. Romeo, and the Joe Wheeler restaurant
and the Windsor Hotel are destroyed
with the Robertson Hardware
Company store. <
Charred Bodies Found.
The charred bodies of three guests cf
the Windsor Hotel were found. Their \
identity will have to be established later. <
Search is on for other bodies. ,
Jack Burney, who occupied rooms in j
the Windsor Hotel, on the two upper j
floors of the building. Jumped to the
sidewalk and had both ankles broken, l
Four tiremen were so badly hurt they i
had to be hurried to the hospital. Karl \
Irwin. KnoxvilTe: J. C. Murry and C. <
M. Murray of San Antonio are pain- \
fully hurt and are in a hospital. t
The Windsor Hotel is a small one in 1
the heart of the city, occupying one of
the oldest buildings in Birmingham.
Fire wrecked the structure almost completely,
and it is probable that several
bodies are in the debris, which is piled
high in the shell of the building, it is
not known how many people were in
the business building when the fire began,
but police are trying to get a
check on those known to have been inthe
hotel. t
c
FRENCH GENERAL KILLED.
Gen. Loyzeau de Grand Maison Falls 1
on Field of Battle.
PARIS. February 23.?Another of the
distinguished soldiers of France has ?
fallen on the field of battle. It was announced
today that Gen. Loyzeau de
Grand Maison had been killed In a re- 1
cent battle. c
TRADE COMMISSION
IS UNDERSCRUTINY
Senators to Inquire' Closely
Into Qualifications of the
President's Nominees.
SNUB TO REPUBLICANS
SUBJECT OF COMMENT
Senator Newlands Predicts Favorable
Report From Committee and
Hopes for Early Confirmation.
The President's appointments to the
new federal trade commission, sent
to the Senate yesterday, will receive
the closest kind of scruUpy by senators
before their confirmation is permitted.
Republican senators today indicated
that they thought the appointments
"weak." They contended, too,
that the President had "burglarized"
the republican party in selecting representatives
of the bull moose party
for minority members of the commission
and in ignoring the republicans
entirely. The law provides that not
more than three of the members of the
commission shall be members of the
same party. Three democrats have
been appointed and two progressives.
"The President may think that he is
justified in selecting the two minority
members of the commission from the
bull moose party," said Senator Sherman
of Illinois today. "But the description
of ghosts by a small boy in
Illinois pretty well describes the bull
moose party right now?'there ain't
none.' "
Criticism of Hurley.
Senator Sherman not long ago criticised
Edwin N. Hurley of Chicago, one
of the democrats appointed to thf commission,
on the floor of the Senate,
charging that Hurley was a member of
the "insidious lobby" said to be operating
in Washington at the time the
tariff bill was under consideration. He
has also contended that Hurley was a '
partisan of Roger Sullivan in Illinois. 1
But Senator Sherman said today that |
lie had so far found there was not much
opposition to the President's appointments
to the commission among the
democrats and that he did not propose
to "tilt at windmills" as he would be
doing if he undertook to fight the confirmation
of these appointments if he
attempted to prevent their confirmation
without support from the majority
side.
"Let the democrats make all the mistakes
they want to," said Senator
Sherman.
Some of the republican leaders, however,
. insist that the appointments
should be givep the carefulest kipd .of
scrutiny before action is taken upon
them. They point out that the work
of the commission will be qf vast Importance
to the business of the country
and that, men of high .ability
should" be placed on the commission.
Predicts Favorable Report.
Senator Newlands, chairman of the
interstate commerce committee of the
Senate, to which the nominations have
been refered, said that he thought the
nominations would be reported favorably
from the committee without delay,
and that he hoped they would be
confirmed before the close of the session.
Consideration was begun today by the
committee of the nominees for the commission.
It was apparent at the outset
of the meeting that careful inquiry
into qualifications of the nominees
would be demanded and the list was
referred to a subcommittee to report
not later than Saturday. The subcommittee
consists of Senators Pomerene,
Robinson, Saulsbury, Townsend and La
Follette.
Seme of the senators expressed strong
doubt that confirmations could be had
before March 4 in view of the vast
amount of work which the Senate has
before it for consideration in the few
remaining days of the session.
Whether the President would undertake
to make recess appointments of
the commission should the Senate fail
to act upon the nominations was a
matter of conjecture, at the Capitol.
Will Stand by His "Nominees.
President Wilson met rumblings of a
Senate figrht on his nomination for the
new federal trade commission today by
the announcement tha$ he intended to
stand by them. W. H. Parry of Seattle,
Wash., the President said, had been
appointed as a republican. Parry
hitherto had been described as progressive
republican.
GERMANY CALLS TROOPS.
Landsturm Now in Neutral Countries
Ordered to Join Colors.
GENEVA, via Paris, February 23.?
Germans up to the ape of forty-eight
eligible * service with the landsturAi
troops have been recalled from Switzerland
and it is reported here those
living in other neutral countries have
also been directed to join the colors
not later than March 3. Austria likewise
lias summoned from neutral
countries men of the landsturm
up to the age of forty-five. The order
a.fects 2,000 living in Switzerland.
LOSES SUIT FOR FEE.
Supreme Court Affirms Decision De-' i
nying Gleason's Charges.
John B. Gleason, a New Tork lawyer, '
:odav lost his suit in the Supreme j
ourt of the United States for ?60,000
harges for defending Harry K. Thaw I
n his first trial for the killing of Stan- it
lord White. j.
The court held that services of a
awyer are not property, within the *
meaning of the bankruptcy law which '
jrovides a bankrupt shall not be dis- t
. barged from liability for obtaining t
mopcrtv by false pretenses, and so <
tflirmed the federal courts in New <
fork. e
DAY IN CONGRESS.
i<
Senate. J
Met at 11 a.m. '
Debate was resumed on the army bilL c
The interstate commerce committee *
jcgan work on nominations to the fed- c
iral trade commission.
The conference committee on the adninistratton
ship bill was called to
neet tonight. c
House. 1
Met at 11 a.m. *
Debate was continued on the fortifica- J
ions bill. 8
Federal Judge Dayton continued
inder cross-examination before a ju
Liciary subcommittee. |
> >
GERMAN OFFENSIVE
BROUGHT TO A HALT,
RUSSjANSDECLARE
TftnlU A HMMtf ?*4
w.cm o iciiui Ml Illy dl Ddy
, After Defeat in East
Prussia.
AUSTRIANS REPORTED
TO BE IN GRAVE DANGER
Division Repulsed Hear Krune,
Checking Enemy's Movements,
Says Petrograd.
FIGHTING GOES ON IN NORTH
Slavs Confident Present Defense Line
Cannot Be Penetrated?Loss
of Corps Not Regarded
as Catastrophe.
PETROGRAD, February 23.
via London.?Making claim to
marked successes in the Carpathians
and to havine defeated
the German offensive campaign in
the north, which "never emerged
from its period of preparation."
Russian staff officers took an optimistic
view today of the outlook
along the whole front.
The Russian ioth Armv, which,
according to an official report by
Grand Duke Nicholas, the Russian
commander-in-chief in the
field, lost one of its corps in the
last big battle in East Prussia,
now stands at bay along the line
of the Narew, Bobr and Niemen
rivers within Russian territory.
Advance Is Stopped.
The German advance from East Prussia
has been stopped, owing largely
to the flooding: of rivers and the melting
of snow, while the attempt to cross
the Bobr river' has been thwarted. A
new battle line has thus been formed
in the north, along which there is uninterrupted
fighting.
On the other hand, operations in the
Carpathians are developing rapidly and
the Austrian right flank is now threatened
by the offensive movement. Near
Krasne, thirty miles east of Eemberg,
the Russians repulsed an Austrian division,
thus putting a check on the movements
of Austro-German forces which
were attempting to concentrate at
Stanislau.
Situation in Poland.
The situation in northern Poland,
however, is regarded as of greatest immediate
importance. The position of
tho Gprmans near Ossowetz is r.onsid
ered critical, since they are under attack
from the heavy guns of the fortress
and are unable to bring up their
own heavy artillery, owing to the poor
roads.
A stubborn fight on the road to Lornza
was won by the Russians, with the
result that, the important point of Edvabno
still remains in their hands.
The only location in that general vicinity
still in dispute is Przasnysz, fifty
miles west of Lomza. According to
Russian staff officers the Germans have
gathered a large force near this point
and are expected to attempt an advance.
German Formations.
Along the whole front the Germans
have been proceeding in six separate
groups?the first in the direction of
Eydkuhnen, the second toward Grodno,
the third around Ossowetz. the fourth
in the district of Lomza, the fifth in
the direction of Przasnysz and the
sixth near Plonslc and Nowo Georgiewsk.
All these groups are keeping as
close as possible to the railroads on
account of the almost impassable condition
of the highways. Communication
between these groups is maintained
by means of cavalry.
A general survey of the whole northern
field of operations is said to show
that the Russians have retired to a
previously prepared line and are able
to stop the German advance wherever
it is decided to accept battle under
conditions which are deemed the most
favorable. Russian officers say it will
be impossible for the Germans to
break through the present line of defenses.
No Fears for Lemberg-.
No fears are felt here for the safety
of Lemberg. The town of Halicz, with
its extensive fortifications, is expected
to provide an effective barrier to the
Austrian advance toward Lemberg.
The Halicz bridge over the Dneister is
the only point at which the Austrians
could hope to cross the broad, treacherous
river. Between Haliez and Lemberg
the country is a level plain,
which would be difficult to riefcnd.
On account of these conditions it is
i>elicveil the Austrians will deliver their
>ffeusive movement northwestward,
ihrough a country less strongly for:ified.
Russian View of Losses.
"Grand Duke Nicholas lifts the curiam
frankly and truthfully, as he has
lone on previous occasions when suchas
not been won," says the Rceh.
The enemy's forces were so great that
he tenth army could not withstand
hem. The position of our forces he
ame difficult on account of the Hole
>f railroads and the presence of deep
mow, which prevented the arrival of
enforcements. We had either to aj:ept
a battle which would have entailed
treat losses of men without profit, to
>urselves. or retreat to a position in
vhich we could hope to meet the enemy
luccessfully.
"Common sense dictated the latter
:ourse. When the Germans observed
ur determination they threw themselves
on our flank, hoping to destroy
mr entire army.
Corp* Is Laid Open.
The rapid retreat toward Kovno laid
pen one of our array corps, which was
arthest to the left. With unusual course
and stubbornness this glorious corps
ought an enemy which outnumbered it
nany times. All honor and glory to
hose heroes who sacriced themselves to
ave others"
Not Viewed as Catastrophe.
#l-?? A" AAinmnnlMtlMi fpnnt
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