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luii^wipimyiswiii^^ ^ in ' ^ Fair ton, continued if ^ ^ L^TLlf r\ X-jf "From Pre** to Homo cold temperature M A yA jfl Im A A ? ^ ? 4 >Al/ R )i( fl moderMe "winds. I I Ml/ { * 1/lTTlT tflf | lYV' MSB Within the JfoOT* 'Wi-e^aT4h?pT m.f yl Ir 71 I I r I I I I I I I I rl I *= . IfiriJV / l/VI IM 1 ^ S V- \?/ 1?1?, Dally A re race. TUlli Inlay. Hart. No. 29,513. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1916?EIGHTEEN PAGES. ONE CENT. GERMANS SQUEEZE RUMANIA'S ARMIES * AT VARIOUS POINTSj Cross Alt and Apparently Have Turned This Strong Line of Defense. VON MACKENSEN FORCES CROSSING THE DANUBE I Within Seventy Miles of Bucharest, i Villages Seized Below Rothenthurm Pass. By the Associated Press. The process of squeezing- Rumania between the jaws of ihe Teutonic military machine is proceeding with notable rapidity. Pushing eastward after their capture of Craiova and the conquest of Little k Wallachia. Gen. von Falkenhayn's troops " have broken Rumanian resistance in the valley of the lower Alt and apparently already have turned this supposedly strong line of defense across western Rumania. to which the Rumanians had retreated. A crossing of the Alt in this ^ region is reported by Berlin. Concurrently. Field Marshal von Mackensen. operating the ot??er jaw of the nutcracker, has forced a passage of the Danube near Zimnitza. giving him a footing on Rumanian soil twenty-five miles in the rear of the Danube end of the Alt line, which touches the river near TumuMagurele. The landing at Zimnitza also places von Mackensen but seventy miles from Bucharest to the northeast. Several Villages Captured. On the northern end of the Alt line, where the Teutonic armies have been pressing down from Rothenthurm pass, further inroads on the Rumanian de fenses have been effected, according to Berlin, which records the capture of several villages, despite a strong effort by the Rumanians to retain them. The Petrograd statement admits a Rumanian retreat here. On the frontier of Moldavia the Germans report the repUi e o. a Russo-Rumanian offensive movement in Gyergyo mountains. T?.e Rumanian forces which were I operating in the Orsova region evidently have retreated into the mountains rMtr.hean o Tu. nu Severin, as Berlin reports Rumanian battalions there "cut off from the main army." They a.e still making stubborn resistance, the German statement says, but apparently they have no recourse but ultimate surrender to escape extinction. V Rumanian Battalions in Turnu Severin Region o.a r\tt UUl UN, Del III I MVcl o By the Associated Press. BERLIN, November 25, by wireless to Sayville.?The German official statement reads: "Front of Archduke Joseph:^ In the Gyergo mountains a hostile attack on J Batcane Jagra was sanguinarily re- ! pulsed. "South of the Alt pass through the I Transylvania All s. several towns were captured by German and Austro-ilun- i garian troops, despite the tenacious re- ( sistance of the Romanians. Three offi cers and S?>0 men were made prisoner. ; "The enemy s resistance in the low- j lands of the lower Alt was broken. We i have crossed the river there. "On the western frontier of Rumania : in the wooded mountain^ northeast of i Turnu Severin, Rumanian battalions cut I off from the main army are stiil offering ' tenacious resistance. "Front of Field Marshal Maekensen ?Dobrudja?: There has been reciprocal; artillery firing. I "The forces of the allied central pow ers, after crossing the I>anube from 'he \ south, gained a footing on Rumanian p soil. Near Racovitza civilian natives again participated in the fighting against our troops." Advance of Germans Over Danube Checked, Is Claim of Bucharest I BUCHAREST. November 25. via London, -1 p.m.?The war office announces that the advanc. of German troops which crossed th?- l?anube river has been arrested. A crossing of the Danube was effected at Isiaez, r.t ar the mouth of the river Alt, as well as at Zimnitza. In the OUeriic valley, the statement adds, the Rumanians have withdrawn from the left hank of the Oltetz river. Islands in the Danube Occupied by Bulgarians, Says Sofia War Office t By the A?*j< PreH. SOFIA, November 25. ? Bulgarian troops have or cupied islands In the Danube southeast of Craiova, according to an official statement issued by the war office today. The statement follows: \ "In the Dobrudja enemy detachments in r uperior numbers approached our positions, but were repulsed by our artillery fire. A!"iig the Danube near Sllistria. Turtukai and Rustchuk there was artillery fighting. Near Glgen, Orehovo. Lomand and Vadin detachments of our troops occupied islands In the Danube." Rumanian Force Cut Off Is Small. AMSTERDAM, Holland, November 25, via London. ? A telegram from the Rumanian front to the Cologne Volkszeitung, dated Wednesday, November 22, says the Rumanian battalions at Orsova, cut off from retreat to Craiova, constituted comparatively a small force. WILLIAM HABEIS DIES. Often Was Styled "Dean of Thear trical Managers.'' NEW YORK, November 25.?Wllliain Harris, one of New York's best known theatrical producers, died today at his home at Bayside, Long Island. 0 He was seventy-one years old. Mr. Harris was often referred to as the "dean of theatrical managers." His eon, Henry B. Harris, was lost in the ^ffltaalo disaster* !VILU BEATEN OFF AGAIN BY TREVINO I _____ Third Day's Attack by Bandits. on Chihuahua Said to Have Failed. LOSSES SAID TO BE HEAVY: By the Associated Press. JUAREZ. Mexico. November L'5.?The i Villa bandits again were repulsed early j today by the Carranza forces defend- j ins Chihuahua City, according to a j message received at military head- j quarters here. The message said the repulse was, even more decisive than those of yesterday and Thursday, the bandits being driven clear of the suburbs after desperate efforts to penetrate to the heart j of the city and take it by storm. Bandits Attack at Daybreak. JUAREZ. Mex., November 25.?Francisco Villa and his bandit forces resumed the attack on Chihuahua City. Mex., at daybreak today, according to dispatches from the Chihuahua capital to Carranza officials here, marking the opening of the third day's fighting in Villa's effort to tvrest the capital from Gen. Jacinto B. Trevino's constitutionalist forces. The bandit army lost heavily in the attacks made on Thursday and Friday, a Carranza officer declared, adding that the government troops had remained loyal Villa's attack yesterday continued intil 9 o'clock last night, the of ficials said. Gen. Ozuna, commanding government forces late yesterday, was said to have pursued a bandit column for some distance outside the city. In 4he meantime another body of Villa followers appeared from another quarter and attacked. Later it was stated Ozuna returned to the city with his command. There was nothing to indicate that the fighting was on a large scale. Might Win From North. High hills are located immediately east, west and south of Chihuahua City. Santa Rosa hill has been fortified, and the repeated efforts of the | bandits to take this stronghold are said to have been unsuccessful. North of the city an open plain stretches for several miles, and it was from this quarter that Villa made his raid September 16. The possibility exists. Carranza officials said, that Villa might invade Chihuahua City from the north, and they maintained that it would be impossible for him to hold the'town against Gen. Trevino's artillery mounted on Santa Rosa hill. It is said Villa's apparent retreat early yesterday afternoon was a mili- j tary ruse. After Gen. Ozuna pursued a force of the bandits for some distance another large body of bandits appeared in another quarter and again attacked the city. Attack Along Dry Wash. i The fighting yesterday, as far as can be learned from the brief military messages which have come over the federal wire and from the more amplified Asso- 1 eiated Press dispatches, was centered around the eastern sector of the defen ive wApbe Prnminf alnne a rlrv wash from the direction of Santa Eulalia. to the ea t o* capital, the bandits opened their attack at 6 a.m. upon the infantry inr oiched behind breastworks extending along the plains to the ea?t. Upon being repulsed with rifle, machine gun and hrapnel fire the bandits made a wide detour and swung off to the northwest on their cow ponies. This attack co itinu d 1 until after 9 o'clock and followed an ear y morning attempt of the bandjts to capture Santa Rosa hill to the southeast of the town and obtain possession of the , -annon upon the crown of this hill. Other fighting was reported during the lay from the northwest, in the vicinity of La.a Escobas ranch, and to the south. : where Gen. Apolonio Trevino. with his cavalry, made an effort to cut off the I Villa bandits from their trains, which were left between Mapula and Horcasitas on the Mexican Central line. Villa General Is Killed. Gen. Julio Acosta, one of Villa's chiefs, was killed in a cavalry charge on the first day's fighting Wednesday, and Villa's private secretary, Andres Sada, also was killed. Villa's losses are variously estimated at from 500 to 800 dead and as many more wounded. Among the wounded yesterday was Gov. Francis Trevino, brother of Gen. Trevino, who was shot in the hand. Two officers of Gen. Trevino's general staff have been killed. The body of J Gen. Julio Acosta was found to the ; west of the city, as was the body of j Andres Sada, Villa's secretary, j (Jen. Acosta was killed in action by . ' Col. Cadera of the Carranza cavalry column. Gen. Trevino. though wounded Wednesday, was again in persona! i command yesterday and made an in| spection of the fortifications with his ; I staff. An American merchant here received j a telegram from his brother in Chihuahua yesterday, saying: "We are all well and everything here 1 is O. K." ? STEAMER POWHATAN AFIRE. Blaze in Hold Subdued Eefore Sum moned Help Arrives. BOSTON, November 25.?The steamer I Powhatan, of the Merchants and Miners j line, which left Boston last niKht for j Baltimore with sixteen passengers and | a general carxo. caught lire early today I ; off Block island. She immediately sent ! j out a call for help, but before coast ' gruard cutters had reached the scene ' C'apt. Chase had reported the fire, which j was In the forward hold, was under j control, and that the vessel had an I chored in Block Island harbor. r\ tuaai u urn n "ill llic .\cv\ Shoreham station went aboard of the Powhatan and reported that the Are had been confined to a part of the curgo No attempt was made to remove the passengers, as it was believed they I a ere at no time in danger. Conservation of Paper Every citizen is called upon to sec that not a pound of paper is wasted. Demand from every clerk that any unnecessary wrapping of packages be dispensed with. If you have no further use for today's newspaper save it for the school children's playground fund. Call Main 6036 and ask for the nearest public school to your home and the old papers will b? sent for. VEXING PROBLEM UP TO CONGRESS Proposed Embargo on Foodstuffs to Reduce the Cost of Living. DIVISION OF SENTIMENT "Feed America first." This is to be the slogan of the proponents of the embargo on foodstuffs to reduce the cost of the necessaries of ' life, which is alleged to be unwarrantably excessive. The sentiment promises to be very attractive to some elements of the population and highly objectionable to others. By way of illustration: The National Grange, meeting in this city, yesterday adopted resolutions deprecating the proposed embargo, and in the very same hour the American Federation of i Labor, in session in Baltimore, heartily indorsed It. Commercial and exporting interests in the eastern cities are already lining up with the farmers to resist the embargo. The labor unions, having an i organization, will fight the battle for the rank and file of small-salaried people who may be in sympathy with the embargo or for anything that will bring their daily bread within approximate reach of their incomes. Problem for Congress. Congress will find itself between the upper and nether millstones of these conflicting interests. On Capitol Hill it is intimated that perhaps Congress will wriggle from under the pressure by ordering an "investigation" of coldstorage methods, of reported hoarding of sunnlios for hicher nrices and of possible conspiracies to hoist prices. ) The "investigation" is a time-honored expedient of Congress to "side-step" a crisis and frequently resorted to when the national legislative body found itself between two fires or in a state of uncertainty itself. A new angle of the situation has been presented by the claim that the alleged shortage in food, upon which the increased prices are blamed, is not due to exports to the warring nations of Europe. A New York city bank, which maintains an extensive statistical bureau, presided over by Oscar P. Austin, formerly statistician of the Treasury Department in Washington, has given out a statement which insists that in point of fact the exports i for the month of September, 1916, were less than the exports for the corresponding mor.th in 1915. Whe.it Cited as Example. Taking the .staple of wheat as the first illustration, it was shown that the exports for last September were 13,108.000 bushels against 21.526,000 in September. 1915, while for the nine months ending in September the exports were 113.312,000 in 1916 and 161.761,000 the previous nine months. Statistics of other staples included in the table were as follows: Staples. 1916. 1015. Fresh beef (lbs.) 6.676.000 18,468.000 Pickled beef (lbs.) 2.481.000 4.022.000 Hams and shoultb-rs (lbs.>. 17,424,000 17,762.000 P.ekled pork (lbs.) . 3.715,000 6,580.000 Potatoes (bushels) ......... 429,000 720.00U Dried apples (lbs.) 10,143,000 27,466.000 lireen apples (barrels) 604,000 1,286,000 Inference Drawn. The obvious inference to be drawn rom this table, it is contended, is that he present crisis is not due to exports. out is attributable to some domestic ondition. There have been reports .I'om many sections that farmers are withholding their wheat and potatoes . orn market. waiting- for higher prices, xnd there is said to be unquestioned evidence that cold storage plants in all .?e !u.fge Cities uie packed with perishable commodities. In New York city t.ie olhcials are now making an inquiry and have at the outset developed that here is no shortage of staples. By this time the story is well known >i one man in Chica.ro who has 72,-00,000 eggs in cold storage and snaps lis fingers at the Department of Justice the while he openly announces his intention to "make the public pay his price.' New York commercial Interests, in heir fight against an embargo on foodstuffs, which would injure their foreign ^rade, are now asking why an embargo should not he iaiu on leather, to lower .he cost of shoes, or on cotton to bring iown the price of many lines of manufacturers entering Into tne daily ana necessary use of the people; or on metal, which is soaring also. Farmers Issue Statement. The farmers, through their National Grange in session here, yesterday gave out a statement designed to exculpate the agriculturists from blame for the high cost of food products. Nine principal heads of subjects were included in the "farmers' brier* in explanation of the increased cost of foot! supplies. The first was a claim of shortage of crops due to unfavorable climatic conditions. The second plea in bar was that the farmer himself feels the higher cost of living in that he has to pay more for his fertilizer, his farm machinery, his labor and ail the supplies that he buys, even including flour and In many cases meat. The tnira count charges tne dwellers in the city with extravagance, due to their living in cramped quarters, cooking in kitchenettes and buying their supplies out of cartons and tins, which necessarily increases the cost, the same as when coal is bought by the bushel instead of by the ton. The economic waste of the European war is set down as a fourtli cause of high prices here, while for the fifth count the "brief" falls back upon the old cry of restriction by the trusts and the monopolies. Other excuses are: Increase of farm pests destroying the crops, speculation in food products, insufficient number of storage warehouses under the control of the farmers arid Jack of market facilities in cities. Another Angle Presented. And here is still another angle to the vexing problem. Comes Mr. Thorn, general counsel for the Southern railway. before the Newlands senatorial committee yesterday, and suggests that inadequate transportation facilities add to the high cost of commodities of daily consumption. There are not enough railroads to transport the kindly fruits of the earth, for which ?V>.. .. 1, ?? nil 1 cinnn It A criven The American Fede.ation of Labor, meeting In Baltimore yesterday, did not attempt any psychological study of causes, but struck directly at etrecta and adopted a short and crisp resolution. putting it up to President Wilson and Congress to clap on an embargo untjj America is fed first. The resolution recited the fact that flour is higher than at any time sinethe civil war, while all other food staples are increasing so rapidly as to iOMrtiMti on Second Pago?> I s - -=r- \ ? ??-A o ^ -- \ o V* " \ A ***V7 ? ?? <fgsr^ ^ 2^bss.o?5^ ^ 11^. \ tkNWV<. ^ S0 f\ <^^<^?'> 2> *?''X ^5^s&? N D. C. MEN ON BORDER EXPECT EARLY MH In National Capital by Christmas, Is View Taken by More Optimistic. by j. crosby McCarthy, Staff Correspondent. CAMP WILSON, District of Co- \ lumbia National Guard Camp, San Antonio, Tex., November 24.?The signing- of the protocol by the American and Mexican conferees and its probable effect on the removal of militia troops from the border country is foremost In the minds of the soldiers from the District of Columbia today. Hopes of getting home by Christmas have been revived by the latest developments in the Atlantic City conference. By Christmas, Say Optimists. The District militiamen now believe that a general homeward movement of the militia will be started within the next few days if the provisions of the protocol are approved and it becomes effective. They feel that before the withdrawal of Gen. Pershing's column is begun the militia regiments will receive their orders to start home. Many are confident that December 25 will see them back in Washington, but there are others who feel that if the first come, first go policy is followed ri sending the regiments back home, it nay be New Year before they see the National Capital again. The problem of rapaportation will make it impossible to get all the militia units back before .hat time, they believe. Theater Folk Entertained. Officers of the 3d Regiment entertained a party of actors and actresses at ! noon mess yesterday, and showed the itage folks something of army life. Last night they were the guests of he theatrical people at a supper on the stage following the performance. The District militiamen are looking forward with great interest to a foot ball game to be played this afternoon between teams of the 3d Regiment and the 2d West Virginia. Practically the whole District re giment is expected to turn out In a body and attend the conest, which will be staged on the field ; at Fort Sam Houston. . I HOPE TO PREVENT HANGING, j Kansans Object to Execution of Ne-: gro Soldier by United States. TOPEKA, Kan.. November 25.?A cam- j paign headed by Gov. Arthur Capper was j started here today to prevent the hanging of William White, a negro soldier, at the federal prison in Leavenworth on November 30. White was convicted of killing another negro in Fort Leavenworth and now is under sentence of death in the county jail here. There has not been a legal federal hanging in Kansas in twenty-five years and it has been nearly fifty years since the state has had a legal execution. State laws now forbid capital punishment and a plea is to be made to President Wilson that a hanging on the government reservation, although legal, will conflict with the sentiment throughout the state. Andrew Carnegie Eighty-One Today. NEW YORK, November 25.?Andrew Carnegie is eighty-one years old today. He planned to spend the day 1 with his family at his home here, to ' receive a few friends in the afternoon j and to partake of a birthday dinner ! tonight. Mr. Carnegie's friends say he Is in good health. Mn. Boissevain's Condition. LOS ANGELES, Cal., November 25.? Renewed effort to improve by blood transfusion the condition of Mrs. Inez Millholland Boissevain of New York resulted in no change during the night, according to physicians today. Mrs. Boissevain has been ill with anemia several week*. \ gets KNNK* tA \NvtwoviT ^ETVVV^GV^^;^ ^ " ""*u ?sfS?ij^ [ORE WATCHFUL WAITING STRONGLY URGE WORKERS1! . TO OBTAIN 8-HOUR DAY A. F. of L. Committee, in Report, Wants All to Make Effort. r- j President Wilson Commended. j BALTIMORE, November 25.?All ! workers, organized and unorganized, ' i were strongly urged to concentrate j < their efforts to procure an eight-hour j i work day at the earliest possible time j in a committee report adopted by the i < American Federation of Labor convention today. The report pledged "the ! | unswerving support of the American j labor movement to the eight-hour prin- j ? cfple." It recommended that a special , committee be appointed to confer on : ; the subject with the organized em- j , ployes of the transportation companies j , and report not later than four weeks i < before the next annual convention of j ( the federation. j. Three resolutions for a universal I < eight-hour day by both industrial and | legislative action had been referred to j < the resolutions committee, whose re- | pert was submitted as a substitute. ( ? Mayor-elect Thomas Van 1 ?>ar of j ? Minneapolis, Minn., an international or- j -anize. or the machinists' union, in j urging that the convention commit it- j self to legislative action, declared that j "the President of the United States has I . sensed the feeling of the workers better than we have." In adopting the 1 committee's report, he added, the con- < vention would be "sidestepping the ( backing up of the President." Election of officers and the selection ' of next year's meeting place was set ] for this afternoon. Port Worth, Tex.; Buffalo. Rochester and Norfolk. Va., are contestants for the 1917 convention. W. Hays, secretary of the Interna- : ; tfonnl Typo^crnphical Union, has an- : nounced his candidacy, in opposition to j Frank Morrfron, the present secretary of tlie federation. i , ___________________________________________________ j i 1 | TOMORROW "THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATIONS" ?Unci"! Sam has originals of many , famous ones, including those of the revolution, of the civil war and 1 Lincoln's proclamation after the j battle of Gettysburg. I j ' "TIME?AND THE WIND-UP," a story 1 cf" < oM^elling interest, by MARY i , 8YN0N. "THANKSGIVING DAY WITH OUR ! I TOGO'S ON THE BORDER"?Real I Thanksgiving dinners will be pro- j , vided. with sixteen ounces of tur- j key for each man. "HOW I HELPED MY HUSBAND"?A I ; number of letters which tell the story of woman's supreme struggle | and achievement. | J "SHE LOOKS AFTER THE RIGHTS j OF INDIAN HEIRS"?A woman examines all Indian wills and sees 1 that justice is done the lawful j ] heirs. j : < "TiftRR nv wab " nhotoeraphs of these I i < faithful, fearless friends of man at I j the front in Europe. ; j , ' "PROPOSED KINGDOM OF ARABIA , J SEEKS ADMISSION AS A MOHAMMEDAN MEMBER OF THE FAMILY OF NATIONS," by CHARLES j M. PEPPER. 1 ' THE FEMALE BANDIT OF BURRO FLATS." an exciting story, by j ' AUSTIN GILL. 1 "DESCENDANTS OF THE WILD TUR- ' 5 RJlY IN THE UNITED STATES"? I | < A number of interesting facts about j your Thanksgiving day bird, by j 1 i JAMIS B. MORROW. , "WHY HAS MY STOCK DECLINED?" by ALBERT W. ATWOOD. "8IMPLE STREET FROCKS AND GORGEOUS EVENING GOWNS." by ANNE RITTENHOUSE. "THE RAMBLER WRITES OF OLD HOMES AND TOMBSTONES." "CHRISTIANIZING THE INDIANS ' AND ESKIMOS OF ALASKA." by ^ I RANK G. CARPENTER. t "PLAN FOR A COMPLETE RENAISSANCE IN FRANCE AFTER THE WAR." by 8TERLING HEILIG. 1 "GIVE YOUR SECOND WIND A 8H0W." and "SURGERY'S 8PLEN- I Din HOUR." and "THE WAY TO 1 WIN AND LOSE IN BUSINESS." and "A BASKET FOR POVERTY ! LANE." by HERBERT KAUFMAN. IN THE SUNDAY STAR ] IIJ ip>' 7 ^ "'Vr/^/rV"*"* ?' *s%*'r /C< , j GAS LIGHT VALUATIONS ANNOUNCED BY BOARD Utilities Commission Has Tentative Reports for Washington and Georgetown Companies. Tentative valuations were announced Loday by the public utilities commission for the Washington and Georgetown Gas Light companies. Contained in the reports of Dr. Edward W. Bemis, director of the valuation bureau of the commission, the findings are as follows: Washington Gas Light Company? rotal value, as shown by books of the company, $13,277,213.28: engineer's report as to cost of reproducing new the existing physical property of the com- j pany in the District, $10,479,196.44. and ! 2ost of reproduction new, less depre-; ?iat!on, $8,347,560.17. Georgetown Gas Light Company? rotal value, as shown by books of the! "ompany. $1,477,812.31; engineer's re-, port as to cost of reproducing new the! existing physical property of the corn-I pany in the District. $977,472.13. and ;ost of reproduction new, less depreciation, $806,946.89. For Plant and Equipment. The oceounting report shows the amount expended in plant 'and equipment of the Washington Gas Light Company to be $5,411,299.54, exclusive! of property sold, scrapped and aban-j Joned, and of any extraordinary ex- j penses, patent rights, etc., as well as of , franchise values and any increases in > value due to certain appraisals in ! 1903 and 1909. The excluded items Amount* to $7,865,913.74. In the case of the Georgetown company the accounting report shows that the amount expended in plant and squipment was $644,346.22, which does lot include property sold, scrapped and Abandoned, the amount charged to plant and equipment to meet stock jividends, nor any increase in value; if the plant and equipment due to ap-j praisals. These excluded items amount! to $833,466.09. Copies of the reports were sent by j the commission today to the two com-i panies. Hearing on the Washington; Cas Light Company valuation lias been set for February 1, and on the Georgetown valuation February 5. PLEA FOR EARLY SHIPPING. Express Companies Expect Record 1 Holiday Business This Year. NiCW YORK, November 25.?"The 'finer;! 1 nrnsneritv ^ r ? .vj V1. (.lie (.UU1UI)' pi'UIIIises to make the coming Christmas the ! most commercially active the country has ever known," says a plea issued by express companies today for "early Christmas shipping." "Although this crisis arises every tear as regularly as the holidays come ilong," the notice reads, "the extraor- i iinary conditions of transportation pre- j /ailing at the present time accentuate ! .ho need for early shipping this year, j "The railroads already are'working ander pressure, but it is believed that with the holiday shipping season stretched over the entire month of De:ember more adequate service can be given than if the entire Christmas movement is jammed into the week irn neuiateiy preceding: Christmas. Road Suspends for Want of Cars. KEYSER, W. Va., November 25.?The 1 rwin Mountain and Potomac railroad mspended operations for two days this veek owing to lack of coal for the lo- i :omotives caused by a shortage in cars snd Inability on the part of operators n the Fairmont district to fill the danding orders of the line. The raiload operates between Keyser and Ilurington. Closes Early for Thanksgiving. The War Department will close at 1 j'clock next Wednesday, Thanksgiving sve. and all the employes will receive :he balance of their month's pay before Aqj^houa / WANTS STANDARD SET FOR CARRIERS A. P. Thorn Tells Congressional Committee U. S. Should Regulate Efficiency. AID TO NATIONAL DEFENSE Adequate transportation facilities as a part of a system of national defense can be had only by an Improvement in methods of railway regulation in this country, A. P. Thorn, general counsel of the railway executives' advisory committee, today told the Newlands joint congressional committee investigating the whole subject of transportation. Mr. Thorn argued that it is the duty of the federal government to establish a standard of efficiency in transportation and commerce from the standpoint of national defense. He strongly urged upon the committee the necessity of concentrating authority over the railroads in the hands of the federal gov eminent, on the ground that each state has a right to be protected by the Impartial regulation of interstate carriers by the government against the differing views of other states. The lessons taught by the Europeaji war, he said, show that transportation lies at the very base of national efficiency. He contended that as the duty of national defense is imposed upon the national government it is illogical and inefficient to keep from the national government the authority to establish a standard of efficiency in transportation. Must Be Efficient, He Says. "We must be efficient as a nation if we are to deal successfully with our national emergencies," Mr. Thorn said, "and we must appreciate that efficient transportation is an essential condition of national efficiency. If we are to halt and weaken our transportation system by state lines, by the permanent imposition of burdens by unwise regulation, we will make national efficiency impossible. "Js it wise/' he asked, "for us to subject a matter of such universal concern and such great national importance to the uncertain policies and inadequate outlook of the states? The progress of events and the growth of the nation emphasize *he wisdom and necessity of reposing the power of commercial regulation, which so essentially involves the rational interest and national efficiency in the hands of the authority which is alone responsible to all the people for the preservation of our national liberty." Mr. Thorn contended that the regulation of interstate commerce by the federal government would be "no violation of the rights of the states, no invasion of their prerogatives, and in no sense in derogation of their *eserved sovereignty. but in reality is merely the specific performance of the "ontract which each state bargained fo when it subscribed to the Constitution. "It is the covenanted right of each of them, as well as in their highest interest," he said, "that the commerce in which each is interested and the Instrumentalities on which successful national defense depends shall be regulated by the fair and impartial authority which alone springs from and is responsible to them all." State Commigpions Useful. It is no Dart of the nurnose of nnv suggestion of the railroads, he said, to inaugurate a policy of abolition or obstruction of state commissions. On the contrary, a large field of usefulness must in any event be presented to them. Nor would there by any contention, he said, that a mere simplification of a system of regulation would be a complete remedy for the difficulties of the present situation, but it would be a step in the direction of a solution, because it would concentrate responsibility at 'he same time it concentrated power. It would make regulation more businesslike by removing it from the influence of local policies and politics. "It would furnish a surer basis for the confidence of the investing public,'* .Mr. Thorn said, "because more reliance could be put upon the judgment of the whole nation as affecting a matter of nation-wide consequence than could be placed in the varying judgment of different local authorities, but it will be necessary to go much further than merely simplifying and concentrating regulation. It will be necessary to introduce into the system of regulation by the national government those elements of constructiveness and helpfulness which are essential to the continued growth and efficiency of the instrumentalities of commerce." Mr. Thorn then presented the suggestions as to the principles which the railroads believe should be included in any just system of regulation. The principal features of the plan ar<j: Points for Regulation. 1. The entire power and duty of regulation should be iir the hands of the national government except as to matters so essentially local and incidental that they cannot be used to interfere with the efficiency of the service or the just rights of the carriers. 9 As one of the means of accomplish ing this a system of federal incorporation should be adopted "into which should be brought all railroad corporations engaged in interstate or foreign commerce. 3. Reorganization of the interstate commerce commission and the creation of a new federal railroad commission and regional commissions subordinated to it. 4. Interstate commerce commission should he given power to prescribe minimum rates. o. The power of the commission to suspend rates should be confined to sixty days from the time the tariff is filed, instead of ten months, as at present. 6. The federal government should have the exclusive governmental power to supervise the issuance of securities by interstate carriers. To Take Stand Monday. Mr. Thorn ended the opening statement before the committee for the railroads. rie Win gu "ic ?>lo.j?u again ?*ivxiday, however, subject to examination by the members of the committee. Before concluding? his remarks today Mr. Thorn said that the railroads would not introduce the subject of their relations with labor at this time. "It may be that Congress will have to confront and deal with this question, either before this committee or some other committee, but it ought to be met when it arises, not now. $150,000 Fire in Indianapolis. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., November 25.? The Capital Paper Company, 115 South Pennsylvania street, was destroyed by Are early today, the loss being: estimated at 1150,000. The Are was spectacular and the firemen were hindered ?>y falling walls. Two men were ^lightly hurt. _ _ 4t FEAR HAIf HOUDAY PROiECT MAY FAIC Opposition Evinced in Cabinet Causes Apprehension Among Government Workers. OFFICIALS ARE RETICENT Apprehension was felt among gov. ernment employes In Washington today that because of the opposition developed In the cabinet meeting yesterday to an all-the-year Saturday holiday the movement favoring each an order from the White House may be considerably delayed and possibly defeated.' Cabinet members today were decidedly reticent about wliat took place on the subject In tho cabinet meeting They fell back upon the rule that eubjects discussed In the cabinet are not tv uu Munvu wi u LOiuv. Regarded as Significant. There were intimations that If th# President had received favorable re* ports from all his cabinet officer* he would have promptly Issued an executive order granting the half holiday. Under the circumstances It Is feared that he will hesitate at this time. His policy for four years has been to withhold his approval of any ma'ter before the administration until bis cabinet officers joined heartily with him. Personally he is known to favor a half holiday, but he Is said to feel that he would not like to Issue an order if some of the department chiefs believed that the government's business would be crippled or Interfered with by the loss of time of half a day for nine months in the year. The exact line-up of the cabinet Is not definitely known, although at least six members have, through interviews or otherwise, put themselves on record as favoring the half-holiday. These are Secretaries McAdoo, Lansing, Baker. Redfleld, Wilson and Attorney General Gregory. Messrs. Gregory and Baker take the position that the long-exist ing law manes every saturaay a Holiday after 12 o'clock. Postmaster General Is Opposed. Postmaster General Burleson has been recorded for some time as emphatically opposed, mainly upon tlfe ! ground that the business of the country would not take kindly to the delays it is claimed would result to mail deliveries and dispatch with a Saturday half-holiday. Secretary Daniels has been put down first as favoring and then opposing the ; proposition, principally owing to the ihuge amount of extra work entailed j throughout all branches of his department by the recent preparedness legislation. Secretaries Houston and Lane have stated that they did not c?r<Tto discuss the subject while their reports upon it were before the President* and have declined to indicate how they stand, although it has long been understood that Mr. Lane was strongly favorable to giving government employes the half holiday. SCHOOLS HERE FACING COAL SHORTAGE AGAIN May Be Forced to Close if Cold j Weather Continues Into Next Week, It Is Said. With the present cold snap, the pubI lie schools here are again threatened j with having to close because of a shortage in coal. Persons in close touch with the situation today denied published reports to the effect that the schools "have a fairly plentiful supply of coal." An effort to use hard coal has not been entirely successful for two reasons?first, it is not possible to get much more hard coal than soft, and, secondly, because hard coal cannot be used in some of the larger buildings, including new Central High, McKinley Manual Training, Armstrong Manual Training and Dunbar High Schools. The situation, so far as can be learned, is still characterized as a "hand10-mouth" one. For today and tomorrow the schools are in no difficulties, nasmuch as the schools are closed and the fires "banked." If the cold snap continues over next week, however, particularly in the event that a strong wind should blow, the schools are like iy to De piacea in n preaicameuu NERATOFF IS APPOINTED RUSS FOREIGN MINISTER LONDON, November 25.?The appoint* ment of M. Neratoff, assistant Russian ! minister for foreign affaire, as foreign j minister, is reported by neuter's Petroi grad correspondent. M. Neratoff re; places Boris Sturmer, who held the for* ! eign portfolio as well as the premiez* ship. The change in the Russian premier* ship has been received here with ths keenest interest. The Daily News says: "The most important fact in the whols | matter is that the pro-German agitai tion which has lately been going on in i Russia has now been finally crushed." A somewhat similar position is taken ! by the Chronicle, which says: "The fall of Premier Sturmer was due to criticism on two grounds. First, the disorgani* zation of the Russian food supply; seo*. ' ond. the alleged attempt to promote & I patched-up peace. "Regarding the latter criticism, wo j can only say that, whatever the facts j may have been, the history of the past j ten days has shown that the duma and the army are entirety again^i ouca ? peace, and have the same conviction re? garding the need of a decisive vlctorjg as England and France." SAYS BALLOTS WERE ST0LE5, Candidate Presents Unique Issne to West Virginia Court. CHARLESTON. W. Va.. November 25.?The West Virginia supreme court of appeals has been asked to determine whether county courts acting as canvassers of election returns have the right or may be compelled to take evidence and determine from it the returns from a precinct the ballots from which havo been destroyed. The question came up in connection with a petition filed by Herbert Sanders* candidate for sheriff in Wyoming county, who charged that the ballots from ono precinct were stolen and destroyed, tha