Evening star. [volume], December 17, 1917, Image 1

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

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No. 26,900.
WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1917?TWENTY PAGES.
ONE CENT
m WAaxntoTov An mm ivbvbm.
TWO CENTS ELSEW8XJUE.
t I.OSIN'G >'E\V YORK STOCKS PAGE 17.
WEATHER.
Partly cloudy tonight; tomorrow snow,
with rising: temperature.
Temperature for twepty-four hours
ending 2 p.m.?Highest, 29. at 2 p.m.
today; lowest, 21 at 2 a.m. today.
, Full report on page lt?.
Swrm Net Clrcvtatle*, Mntk mt WiifWi.
1*17. DiUj innir. tttlli ??Maj, M.4N.
Public Interest Keen in Last
Chapter of Prohibition
Fight.
SPEAKER CLARK WARNS
THRONG ON OUTBREAKS
Open Letters Cause Excitement, and
Members Are Flooded With Mes
sages From Constituents.
Representative BarKley of Ken
? tacky. one of the prohibition leaders,
claimed early this afternoon that a
complete eanvaMs* of the state dele
gations in the House indicated adop
tion of the prohibition resolution by
m margin of fifteen votes over the
necessary two-third*.
One hour before noon today the
House of Representatives started in to
make the last chapter in the long story
of the fight for nation-wide prohibition,
a fight that has been waged for years.
Today's proceeding consisted of action
on a resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States prohibiting the liquor traffic in
the nation.
Two-third? of the voting: membership
of the House is required to adopt the
resolution and ratification by three
fourths of the states of the Union,
within seven years, is necessary to
make the change in the Constitution
operative.
At 5 o'clock this afternoon debate is
to end and the resolution be brought
to a vote. It passed the Senate last
August, but has been amended In tb.fr
form in which it passed the Senate.
The Resolution.
The text of the resolution follows:
Resolved by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress as
sembled (two-thirds of each House
concurring therein*, That the fol
lowing amendment to the Constitu
tion be, and hereby is. proposed to
the stales, to become valid as a part (
of the Constitution when ratified by
f the legislatures of the several states
as provided by the Constitution:
"Artiole
"Section 1. After one year from
the ratification of this article the
manufacture, sale or transportation
of intoxicating liquors within, the
importation thereof into, or the ex
portation thereof from the United
States and all territory subject to
the jurisdiction thereof for beverage
purposes is hereby prohibited.
"Section 2. The Congress and the
several states shall have concurrent
power to enforce this article by ap
propriate legislation.
"Section 3. This article shall be
inoperative unless it shall have been
ratified as an amendment to the
Constitution by the legislatures of
the several states, as provided in the
Constitution, within seven years
from the date of the submission
hereof to the states by the Con
gress."
Changed the Text.
The House committe on the judiciary
changed the resolution as it passed the
Senate by providing that prohibition
should become effective one year after
ratification of the amendment to the
Constitution; extended the time from
six to seven years for ratification, and
provided that the several states as well
as Congress shall have concurrent
power to enforce the article by appro
priate legislation.
By the time the House assembled to
day the gallery were packed with
spectators interested in the proceed
ing*. Speaker Clark admonished the!
audience that expressions of approval 1
or disapproval of remarks made on the
floor would be rigorously repressed. I
Public interest has been at high
pitch. For days the local newspapers i
had been carrying in their advertising
columns "open letters" from dis
tinguished public men and labor lead
ers, setting forth arguments for and
against the legislation at this time.
Flooded With Letters.
Members of the House had been flood
ed witn telegrams and letters from
their constituents on both sides of the
ouestion and importuned personally by
representatives of the organization
pushing the legislation and interests
opposed to it.
When the resolution was laid before
the House this1 morning Chairman
Webb of the judiciary committee was
recosrnized to control half thf time in
favor of the resolution, in behalf of
the democratic side, and Mr. Volstead
of Minnesota half the time in favor
in behalf of the republicati^side. Then
Mr. Gard of Ohio was recognized to
control the tirn* of democrats opposing
prohibition and Mr. Graham of Penn
sylvania of republicans opposing it.
Willing- to Grant Time.
Representative Webb discussed the
progress of the measure in the judiciary
committee. He said prohibitionists, in
cluding himself, would be glad to provide
the rights and privileges to the citizen
brewer to have a year after the law goes
into effect to wind up their business. He
said there could be no conflict of juris
diction between the national government
and the staUs under this resolution.
Representative Cooner. Ohio, for the
amendment, reminded the House that
"you look into a hatband or a coat to
s??e if it bears a union label, but you
can look in vain into the whisky bottle
for a union label."
Representative Dyer, Missouri, oppos
ing it, said the issue now is nothing
more or less than whether Congress
shall stand by the President of the
I nited States and his war attitude af
tecting the subject or whether Congre-ss
shall stand by "L>inuiddie and the Anti
Saloon League, who think more of this
issue of the \*et and the dry than thev
do of the issue of whether America or
Germany shall win this ?reat war."
Invade State Bights.
Representative G?rd of Ohio, dem
ocratic member of the judiciary com
mittee. declared that the amendment
pi-oj >o?ed an invasion of the police
power of the states and threatened
the unanimity of the American people
in winning the war. He said national
prohibition is for Congress and state
prohibition a matter for the state legis
latures. *v
"We firmly believe. * he said. Ytha?
the state should have the right toi de
trroine whether the interests and the
Continued on 8eventeen i h Page^>
CALL OF ARMY LURES
J
Quits Seat in House and Enlists as
Private?Sent to Camp
Meade.
representative: r. c. johnson.
Representative Royal C. Johnson of
South Dakota has relinquished his seat
in Congress and enlisted as a private in
th*? Regular Army. He visited the War
Department this morning: and then left
for Camp Meade, Annapolis Junction,
Md., to take his place in the ranks.
In saying- good-bye to his friends hej
said he probably would be "the tamest j
private in the camp."
Representative Johnson is thirty-five
years of age and has a wife and two
children. He was attorney general of
South Dakota from 1911 to 1914, when
he was elected to Congress to the Sixty
fourth Congress as a republican. He
was re-elected to the Sixty-fifth Con
gress. He believes in practical patriot
ism, that the way to win the war is by
fighting and that the place to fight is
in the ranks.
BRITISH LABOR DEMANDS
RESTORATION OF BELGIUM!
Opposes Aggression by Allies, But ]
Wants World Safe for
Democracy.
LONDON, December 17.?The Daily
Telegraph prints a long statement on
war aims and peace policies formulated j
by the parliamentary committee of the J
trades union congress and executive of j
the labor party, which is to be submit
ted for indorsement by all sections of
the British labor movement at k con
ference at Westminster December 28.
The statement follows mainly the terms
of a similar pronunciamento published
and cabled abroad some months ago.
It declares that in continuing the
war labor is actuated by a determina
tion to make the world safe for de
mocracy hereafter. No sympathy is
expressed with attempts to convert the
war into one of conquest, but the state
ment insists that restitution and repa
ration and also certain territorial re
adjustments are necessary, if the re- I
j newal of armaments and war is to be j
! avoided.
The statement puts at the forefront j
a demand for the restoration and re
habllitation of Belgium at the expense
i of Germany. It deals also with nlsace
1 Lorraine, Italy, the Balkans. Poland,
! Turkey and German African colonies
| on lines similar to those suggested in
| earlier documents.
| CONSCRIPTION ISSUE
IN CANADIAN ELECTIONS
Soldier and Woman Elements Ex-!
pec ted by Government to Vote
Down Referendum Proposition.
OTTAWA. Ont., December 17.?Upon
the decision today of the voters
throughout the Dominion rests the fate
of the new union government, which, if
retained in office, will enfort*e selective
conscription to fill the ranks o? the
| Canadian army overseas. Opposing Sir
i Robert Uorden, leader of the union !
J for.ces, is the veteran liberal leader. Sir I
Wilfrid Laurier. who proposes a refer
endum as an alternative to the com-1
pulsory conscription law, pledging the J
liberals to abide by the will of the;
voters.
The polls opened ar 6 o'clock this ,
morning and will close at 5 p.m. By ac
clamation already made eighteen Lau- :
rier and eleven Borden supporters have
been returned without opposition. Four
contests have been deferred, leaving de
cisions to be given in 202 constituen
cies. It is estimated that there are a
million and a quarter male domestic
votes. 300,000 overseas soldiers' votes
and probably half a million women who
are permitted to vole through relation
ship with soldiers in service. Both the
j Borden and the Laurier managers ex
j press confidence, while the prevailing
' belief is that the decision will be given
by the soldier and the woman votes.
The government bases its hopes on the
soldier and woman elements to retain
the Bordeu ministry and confirm con
scription with heavy majorities.
MAY 0EDEE C0NSCEIPTI0N.
England Considering Means of Ee
cruiting Army From Ireland.
Uahleicrani to Tkr Kvrnlnic Star and
4 hirago Daily >ew?. < op> right. 1? 17.
| DUBLIN, Ireland, December 17.
! There is active discussion in Ireland of
i the possibility of conscription. Con
! script countries estimate the number of
' men available at a tenth of the popu
lation. This would leave a maximum
for Ireland of 400.000 men. By volun
tary recruiting Ireland already has coti
! tributed about 200,000.
The importance to England of maintain
ing the food supply makes it desirable to
keep in Ireland sufficient men af agricul
tural work. When these allowances have
been made anybody can guess himself
at the extent of the man power avail
able in Ireland for service in the army.
There are very divergent opinions as
to how far resistance to conscription
would be carried out. Whether the
government will think it worth while
10 enforce it depends on whether the
number of men procured will be suf
ficient to justify the trouble to the
government.
At Least Give Congress Power)
to Americanize Them by Full
Representation in Congress.
IN EQUITY DO IT AT ONCE i
Theodore W. Noyes. Editor Star.
The constitutional amendment which j
Washington urges (H. J. Res. 73 and S. I
J. Res. 64) does riot propose the admis
sion of the District of Columbia into
the Union as a sovereign state; it does
not propose the destruction of the "ten
miles-square" provision of the Consti
tution; it does not lessen tn the small
est degree the control by the nation of
the "ten miles square."
It does not disturb in any way the
financial relation of nation and capital.
It is not based upon either the aboli- j
tion or the retention of the nalf-and- j
half law. j
It is not complicated with changes in ?
the municipal government of the Dis- j
trict in respect to which Washingto- |
nians widely and radically differ.
It repeals nothing; it destroys noth- i
ing. It alarms no one, alienates no one,
wounds nobody's sensitiveness.
What the Amendment Does.
This constitutional amendment as
sumes that the nation will continue to
control its capital through Congress
and asserts that the time is close at j
hand when the people of the capital ?
should be represented in that Congress.
The ten-miles-square provision of the
Constitution set up a peculiar political
entity?not* a state, not a territory, un
der the exclusive control of the nation.
This amendment is supplementary to
the ten-miles-square provision. It
says, in effect, that, after a century of
increase and development, the Ameri
cans collected in the seat of govern
ment, entitled at all times to every
American right and privilege consistent
with continued national control of the
capital, are now or soon will be en
titled to representation in the national
government.
It enabled Congrrenn to make Ameri
can* of a community of nearly 400*000
people, who are now politically aliens;
and to naturalize for the purpose of
representation in the national govern- '
ment a city slightly larger than Min
neapolis and slightly smaller than New
Orleans.
The constitutional provision estab
lishing the ten miles square is responsi
ble for the monstrous paradox of un
representative government at the capi
tal of the great republic. This consti
tutional amendment will ultimately cor
rect it.
Our proposed legislation is supple
mentary to existing law, adapting the
latter belter to the conditions and
needs of today. It is thoroughly con
structive. It is not in the smallest par
ticular destructor,
tt leaves undisturbed and confirms
the national control of the nation's
city and the correrponding?*tlt*rt*l
obligation of adequate financial par
ticipation in the maintenance and tip
building of the National Capital. The
act of 1878 and the exclusive legislative
clause of the Constitution are alike un
touched.
It enables Congress to make Ameri
can state citizens of the people of this
community, giving them effective repre
sentation in Congress, their local and
national legislature, which may deprive
them of their property by taxation, and
of life or limb by sending them to war.
Such representation is not inconsistent
with the exclusive power of legislation
concerning the District possessed by
Congress. On the contrary, such repre
sentation is the more essential since
Congress is not only Washington's na
tional legislature, but its municipal and
state legislature. The effect of this
amendment is not to admit the District
into the Union as a state, but to enable
Congress to give to nearly 400,000
Americans residing in the ten miles
square under the exclusive control of
i ongress the same representation as,
citizens of a state in Congress and the
electoral college.
A New Political Status.
\ot a new state, but a new political
status is to be evolved. This amend
ment operates as a supplement of the
ten-mile-square provision, empowering
Congress to define explicitly, in view of
the changes of more than a century, the
political status of the residents of the
federal District. It will alter the exist
ing law of congressional and electoral
college representation and will create a
new American constituency with repre
sentation in Congress and the electoral
college- not a new state, but a political
ly uplifted District of Columbia, an en
franchised ten miles square already
? reated and made unique by the Consti
tution. This new factor in our scheme
of national government representation
mav be unusual, peculiar, extraordi
nary; but it is not so nnuniinl, peculiar
and' extraordinary as the original
creation and present day retention by
the great republic of the totally un
represented ten miles square, the seat
,.f government, a Dl.trlct phy.lcally
within the ( nlted State*. eve? contain
ing It. capital, hut politically oot.lde
of the Inlted State..
The states uniting under the Consti
tution had the power, which they exer
cised of creating this unique -unrepre
sented capital-containing, nation-con
I trolled District. Two-thirds of Con
gress and three-fourths of the states
have the same power, which they
Khould exercise, to give to the nearly
j 400,000 people of this unique District ail
equally unique political status.
Who is there in all the world who
does not think that the nearly 400,000
Americans in the seat of government of
-lie Tinted States are entitled to repre
; seutation in the legislature which alone
makes laws for them and taxes them
and may send every man of them to
I war. perhaps to be wounded or killed?
(who contends that these nearly 400,000
' Americans are not as intelligent, as pa
triotic, as public-spirited, as American,
in short, as tile same number of Amer
icans anywhere else in the United
States, or as the smaller number of
Americans collected in five of the
states?
Statehood Not Demanded.
Though the District can make con
clusive showing of fitness tor admission
j to the Union as a sovereign state, no
(demand for such admission is present
'' ed. Our proposed legislation confirms
| the national control of the nation's city
i and the exclusive legislation clause of
' the Constitution is untouched.
I \n that is asked is that the Consti
tution empower Congress to declare
that residents of the seat of govern
ment are 011 the same footing as citi
zens of tjie states in relation only to
Congress, the electoral colloge and the
courts of the United States.
Surely Congress will heartily co
operate to .ecure to lt.elf by constitu
tional amendment the power to cure
the evil and shame of completely non
representative government in the seat
of government of the great represent
ative republic. To accomplish this
good end Congress ought not to hesi
tate to propose to the states thl. en
largement or It. own power*.. Surely
Collate., doe. not dl.tru.t It.elf.
The Injury to the nation from thl.
condition la na treat aa that Inflicted
upon the dt-AntrlnilM* MMmmlty.
The national .haate ia the (Ratir.
iiifeiflttlir'.rii 1 NliffiiiliiliSr
ATTACK BY BRITISH
ON FRONT IN ITALY
I
Offensive South of Monte Fon
tana Secca Breaks Down,
Says a Berlin Report.
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, December 17, via London.?
British troops on the Italian front yes
terday launched an attack against the
Austro-German lines south of Monte
j Fontana Secca, but it broke down be
fore the Teuton positions, the German
i >v*r aW* 3uwjouneed today. ^
HOME. December 17;?Austro-Gefrftan
fojrces, which attacked the Italian lines
oh the northern front from the direc
tion of San Marino, were driven back in
disorder, the war office announced to-.
; day.
In the Col Caprille region the Italians
attacked and then were counter attack
| edc Finally the enemy had to withdraw
! to the positions from which he started.
Teutonic Attack Checked.
j ROME, December 16.?There was lit
tie infantry lighting- on the front be
| t'ween the Brenta and Piave Saturday,
and one hostile attack was checked, }
the official statement from the war
office today says. There was much
artillery fighting on the northern
front. The statement reads:
"Between the Brenta and the Piave
the struggle, which diminished in in
tensity Friday evening, did not in
crease yesterday. About 3 o'clock in
the afternoon in the Col de la Beretta
region hostile infantry attempted to
advance against our line, but was |
driven back completely by a prompt
counter attack. The artillery ^activity
generally maintained the character of
a harassing fire. Our batteries re
peatedly and for a long time put down
an intense barrage on the positions on
Col Caprille which had been withdrawn
from the day before.
"In the Giudicaria valley, the night of
the 14th-15th, we repulsed enemy de
tachments. which, after long artillery
I preparation, attempted to carry one of
! our observation posts on Monte Mela no.
At the delta of the Piave a storming
platoon, well supported by an armed
motor boat, destroyed one of the ene
my's small bridges, and patrols con
sisting of sailors attacked some houses
occupied by the enemy and captured a
number of prisoners. Along the re
mainder of the front the fighting was
normal. ?
LEGION OF HONOR FOR
Baltimorean's Services Kecognized
by France?Survivor of Torpe
doed Steamer Sussex.
Prof. James Mark Baldwin of Balti
more, a survivor of the disaster to the
cross-channel steamer Sussex, who has
been since the beginning of the war
extremely active in behalf of Franco
American relations and American citi
zens in France, received the insignia
of the Legion of Honor yesterday in
Paris in recognition of his services
Prof. Baldwin is the father-in-law of
John A. Sterrett of this city and dur
ing the winter of 1919-ltll jived in
Washington, working on, several ot Ills
bo<fks, ojT whfctr there have been pub
lished a large number, translated into
several languages.
Prof. Baldwin is generally conceded
to be the leading psychologist of Amer
ica. He. graduated from Princeton- In
1884, since which time he has received
many degrees from educational institu
tions both in this country and abroad.
He was the recipient of the first hon
orary degree in science ever given by
Oxford. He has received numerous
other honors for eminence in his pro
fession and he is a member of the
Frenoh Institute.
In response to an invitation he was
lecturing at the Sorbonne, in Paris, at
the outbreak of war, and remained to
lecture for the Comite Francaise both
in Paris and other parts of France. His
services were also sought in England,
and while returning from a tour there
he, together with his wife and daughter
j Elizabeth, was aboard the Sussex when
that vessel was torpedoed by a German
submarine. All three were saved, al
though the daughter but recently recov
ered from injuries and exposure.
Prof. Baldwin was extremely interested
in the situation at the beginning of the
war and with his wife, who is a leader in
IY. \V. C. A. work in Paris, has identified
ihimeelf prominently with many national
and international activities growing out
of the war. He is the chairman of the
Paris branch of the Navy League of the
United States.
The insignia of thev legion was present
ed at a special sfifeislon of the French
Maritime League at the Sorbonne, pre
sided over by the minister of war, Georges
Leyg?:s, and attended by President Poin- i
care.
Honor Jerusalem's Liberation.
PARIS, December 16.?A Te Deum
was said this afternoon in the Cathe
dral of Notre Dame in honor of the lib
eration of Jerusalem from the hands of'
the Turks. j
Population of Washington
POLICE CENSUS
The Population November 1, 1917 395,947
The Population November 1, 1915 357,749
Increase in population in two years 38,198
Percentage of increase 10%%
Maj. Pullman, superintendent of police, believes that 5.000
additional people have come to Washington to live since Novem
ber 1. This is a reasonable estimate, as The Star's circulation
for the fii*st ten days.of December is 3.956 over the average per
day for November.
NET CIRCULATION OF THE STAR IN
AND OUT OF WASHINGTON
First 10 days of December, 1917.0 96,588
First 10 days of December, 1915 75,715
Increase in circulation for two years 20,876
NET CIRCULATION OF THE STAR
IN WASHINGTON
First 10 days in December, 1917 85,501
First 10 days in December, 1915 66,576
Increase in circulation for two years 18,925
Percentage of increase 28%
The circulation of The Evening Star, with its OXE EDI
TION printed every afternoon between and 4 o'clock, and sold
in and about Washington, is believed to be the greatest circula
tion in proportion to population of all newspapers in the United
States, including all the various editions printed by most after
noon newspapers.
This enormous circulation concentrated in Washington and
nearby suburbs insures to the advertiser to completely cover this
field without waste pr duplication.
The Star is delivered by carrier, daily and Sunday, to the
homes of Washington and is believed to be greater thai; the
home circulation of all other Washington papers combined.
*
FOR MEETS
Senator Poindexter Asks for
Inquiry of District Com
missioners.
A resolution calling upon the District
Commissioners to inform the Senate
what steps, if any, they have taken to
remove the snow and ice from the streets
and sidewalks of the city was adopted
by the Senate today.
Senator Poindexter of Washington,
author of the resolution. declared the'
.condition of t?e. streets in the capital
would be a disgrace to a frontier mining
toWn. ,
Army Men Seriously Crippled.
"I don't know whether or not the
streets have been allowed, to remain
covered with snow and are in collusion
with the enemies of the country," he said,
"but if the pro-Germans had conspired
against the military forces of the country j
here they could not have done so more ef
fectively than by having these streets left
covered with ice. I know a number of Army
men who have been seriously crippled in
the last few days, falling on the icy 1
streets and put out of business- long be
fore they were able to get to the battle
! front."
Senator Gallinger suggested that if
the District of Columbia Commissioners
are to clean the snow from the pave
ments they must have a more liberal
appropriation.
"It seems to me," said Senator Poin
dexter, "that the residents of the city
j should be compelled to clean the snow
i and ice from sidewalks from in front of
| their dwellings. In other cities they
I are compelled to do so. You might
think from the general condition of
j sidewalks today that there is some ob
iect in keeping the snow on them in
stead of removing it." j
Fate of Snow Bemoval Acts.
i Senator Dillingham called to attention
j that courts had declared u n const itu
j tional two snow removal acts of Con- i
gress. He said that a third measure, j
j believed to be constitutional, had twice
passed the Senate, but so far had failed |
| of action in the House. !
REARRANGEMENT OF HIGH
COMMANDS IS INDICATED I
Maj. Gen. Goethals May Succeed |
Sharpe?Barrette Gets Weav
er's Post.
Rearrangement of some of the high
commands in the War Department was
indicated today by the detachment of
officers designated by Secretary Baker
| to sit in the department's war council,
i It became definitely known today that
' Maj. Gen. Goethals. builder of the i
i Panama canal. ?lias been offered the J
i place of quartermaster general to suc
ceed Maj. Gen. Sharpe.
Provost Marshal General Crowder is the
oitfy officer assigned to the war council
who will not be detached from his
present office.
The two remaining officers are Maj.
Gen. Weaver, chief of coast artillery,
and Maj. Gen. Crosier, chief of ord
nance, who has been under fire in the
Senate investigation. What officers will
act for them at the heads of their bu
reaus is not yet known and probably
has not been decided. ,
Brig. Gen. John D. Barrette of the Coast
Artillery Corps, recently at Camp Upton,
has been selected for chief of coast artil
lery, succeeding Gen. Weaver.
YEARLY THEFTS, $2,000,000.
Chicago Police Eeport Shows 14,0001
Burglaries of All Kinds.
CHICAGO, December 17. ? Thieves
and robbers have profited to the ex
tent of more than J3.000.000 by their
operations in Chicago since the first of
last January, according to police fig
ures mad<- public today. This is said
to be tne largest harvest ever gather
ed nere in a year ?y criminals.
There have been 14.000 burglaries oft
all description, twenty pay-roll robber- |
ies and ten bank robberies.
Says Berdan Died of Poison.
CHICAGO. December 17.?The death of
Xiucius B. Bercan, millionaire of Toledo
Ohio, in a hospital here, last Wednesday,
was due to poison, in the opinion of Dr.
F. J. Port, who attended him during an
attack of convulsons at a hotel before
being taken to the hospital. Investigation
baa already been started by Coroner Hoff
man. Dr. W. D. McNatly. coroner's
chemist, .is perfecting an analysis of the |
stomach contents.
%
Criticises Length of Time to
Get Appropriations Through
for Ordnance.
TELLS OF PISTOL ORDER
Inquiry into alleged delay, in sup
plying the Army with guns aud the cur
tailment of funds recommended by the
ordnance bureau for that purpose was
taken up again today in open session by
the Senate military committee after a
two-day examination of Mai- en
Crozier behind closed door?.
Gen. Crozier, who was still on the
stand today, continued his detailed state
ment of the ordnance situation a* far
as it revealed nothing the War Depar -
ment considers a military secret.
Gen. Crozier declared there was e
tir^lv too much red tape in getting
!money. While an emergency appropria
Ition request for a lamp ?Pp?pr?'?n ?
$2,932.537,000 was made by the ^ was
j partment April ??, a da. Congress
of appropriations made a year ;.T
interrupted Chairman ?b*?berlam.
have not been ^t.reiy satisfied wi
any explanation made of this ??
instance, you had money ?vv
for small arms, and you spent
money for pistols instead of rifle*.
Short of Pistols.
?We were far shorter of pistols than
rfles" Gen. Crozier answered.
rtV not going to be slowed up in this
w\ in t^e slightest degree on account ^
?VVo"'t think the countrj- will be wtis
fi^d with that explanation." Senator Cham
Berlin insisted. ' We reed rifles for arget
practice and training purposes and in
"how prospective appropriations byjCon
r were anticipated was recited bj
V, Crozier. For instance, he said orders
wNi placed for 9.000.000 rounds^of am
ess s: asa?? Sr
"^eVan
H.500.00O.000 since the war bega.
ri#?n Crozier explained, citing the mag
nitude of operations. "That is more
than 50 per cent over the entire gov
ernment's expenses for any year since
the Spanish war."
Explains Cause of Delay.
That all bureaus' appropriation esti
mates go to the War College and then
W the chief of staff before they go to
t&e Secretary and then to Gof?gresji
explained by G*n. Crozier as a cause
of delay in appropriation?.
*'Does the advisory commission or the
Counell of National Defense jnject
to cause further delay T asked Senator
W ads worth. , _
"No, it does not," the ordnance head re
plied
Senator Wadsworth asked whether the
government should have an officer or de
partment similar to England s minister of
munitions.
"Mv own belief is that the better way
is to' enlarge and strengthen existing or
ganizations rather than create new ones.
Gen. Crozier replied. "Quicker results
have been obtained here than by the
British organization." i
Senator Hitchcock said that It seemed ,
there was an unusual length of time ?
between appropriations and deliveries, j
and asked whether the War? Depart-i
ment had considered any " speeding up (
P'*We think, and, 1 think, the country
i thinks thai there has been too much
delav, too much red tape, too much
circumlocution in the department
said Senator Hitchcock "Has any ef
fort been made to shorten up the pro
Ce,iYes. a great deal of red^ tape has
been eliminated." said Gen. Crozier.
Not After Centralization.
Gen Crozier said he was not plead
ing now for greater centralization of
authority or responsibility, but sug
gested minor legislation.
" Appropriations ought to be made
available for any purpose necessary in
the prosecution of the var. said Gen ,
Crozier who also recommended that !
legal restrictions upon purchase or |
condemnation of land for factories, i
cantonments and other Army purposes
be removed. ^ \
"It there has been any dereliction in;
i hat respect. I think it has not been j
due to Congress, but to failure of the j
executive heads to ask Congress fori
legislation," said Senator Weeks.
Again Discusses Finances.
Returning to ordnance bureau
finances. Gen. Crozier said that with
<1 500 000.000 already spent by his de-,
partment it still has about that much
'more on hand.' I
"Why is it not being spent?contract-,
ed for?" asked Senator Hitchcock
| -It is," Gen.'Crozier replied, referring |
to the bureau s program incident to ?
future expenditure. Explaining the
delav necessary. Gen. Crozier * i
orders for projectiles for mobile artil
lerv For this purpose 5,8.000,000 was I
appropriated and orders given for 81
i per cent of the appropriations by Sep
tember 1, while deliveries on December
I I had amounted to only $2,000,000. or
about one-fortieth of the total.
\11 of the ?1.500,OOO.oOO remaining,
the witness said, -will be ordered 1
against during the fiscal year. j
That his bureau is in fifteen different
buildings was cited by Gen. Crozier, in |
reply to statements by Senator Hitch
cock that letters are written by offi
cers located across the hall or on the
next floor from one another.
Delays in Field Correspondence.
Delays in Army field correspondence!
were cited by Senator Wadsworth.1
Army regulations, he indicated, delay j
loth mail and telegrams. In one case,
he cited a telegram was three days in |
sifting through to a high officer in the I
department.
"1 think the complaint and criticism
against the ordnance and other bu
reaus Senator Frellnghuysen of New
Jersey interjected, "is that they are
bound up in red tape by the paper sys
that of indorsements?in use for
many years. There is no centralization
of correspondence.'
Gen. Crozier said he could not change
?i>o e-eneral indorsement system with
out orders from "higher up." but said
office efficiency experts were studying
office methods and management in his
bureau.
Coast Defenses Considered.
Regarding American coast defenses.
Senator Frelinghuysen asked:
"The country wants to know whether
r coast artillery and defenses are of
nrooer tvpe and able to cope with
? attacking force, submarine or oth
tr?-ise- is it ?s effective as those of
Fiiropean nations?1
??Tes" said Gen. Crozier. with em
nVKLsis' "For the last ten or fifteen
and now our coast defenses have
hien superior to those of any nation
of Europe. Our guns are more than
adequate." .
ARMISTICE SIGNED
I;
PEACEMEY NOW
Cessation of Fighting for 28
Days, and Thereafter Un
less Notice Is Given.
ENTENTE MAY RECOGNIZE
RULE OF THE BOLSHEVIKl
More Tolerant Attitude Attributed
to Influence of American Dele
gates at Paris Conference.
W hen the amistiee agreement bctweeflr
the Russian government and the central
powers goes into effeot on the eastern
front today the emissaries of the sev
eral countries will l>egin negotiations
looking toward |>eace between Russia
and her former enemies. Meanwhile it
is indicated in London that the allied
powers may be preparing to deal more
sympathetically with the bolsehviki gov
ornment.
The armistice between Russia and the
central powers is to continue for twen
ty-eight. days, and for an indefinite
period afterward unless a seven dav
notice is given. Both sides agreed not
to carry on military transfers on the
eastern theater, except those begun
when the treaty was signed.
May Becognize Bolsheviki.
London newspapers forecast that the
allies will give recogniti on of the
bolsheviki "in order to prevent Russia,
from passing under the political and
economic heel of Germany." Great
Britain is said to have decided to' re
lease Tchitcherln. a Russian political
prisoner, and the bolsheviki are now
permitting British subjects to leav*
Russia. To the American delegates at
the Paris conference is said to belonr
the credit for the tempering of the
allied attitude toward the bolsheviki.
Labor strikes appear to be the great
obstacle before the bolsheviki at pres
ent, especially In the Petrograd dis
trict. The railway and fuel situation*
I ^ serious. The counter revolt Is
i still more or less of a menace to b*i
' shevlk authority, and the constl- "
| tuent assembly Is another knotty
i problem. The confiscation of all prop
erty, lands and money of the Russian
!Church has been decreed by the bol
; sheviki. who also have abolished alt
privileges of the clergv.
Terms of the Armistice. I
By the Associated Press.
PETROGRAD, Sunday, December 11.-^
The terms of the Russo-G?rman armis
tice, according to a statement issued
here, obligate no transference of troops
until January 44 (January 1 Russian);
no increase of troops on the fronts or
on the islands in the Moon sound or a
regrouping of forces. The Germans are
not to concentrate troops between
the Black sea and the Baltic east of
the 1.1th degree of longitude east of
Greenwich. Intercourse between the
troop? may be allowed from sunrise to
sunset. Groups are limited to twenty
five persons at a time who may ex
change newspapers and unsealed mails
and who may carry on trade and ex-,
change articles of prime necessity.
A special agreement will be made by
the naval general staff regarding the
extension of the armistice to the White
?ea and the Russian coast in the Arc
tic zone. It is agreed also that at
tacks on war and commercial vessels
must stop in these regions in order to
avoid attacks in other seas.
The armistice on the naval front em
braces all of the Black ?ea and the
Baltic sea east of the Meridian 15 de
grees east of Greenwich. The demarca
tion line fixed for the Black sea is from
the lighthouse of Slinka to the estuary
of the Danube, to Cape^Garos. In the
Baltic the line runs from Reoguel trv
the western coast of Worms Island, to
the Island of Bagsher. to Khegarne.
Russian war vessels must not cross
south of this line and the other parties
must not go north. The Russian gov
ernment guarantees that the entente
war vessels will obey the rules of this
provision and that Russian warships
will not be allowed to sail among the
Aland Islands.
Text of the Agreement.
The text of the armistice agreement
fellows:
"Between the representatives of the
higher command of Russia on the one
hand and cf Bulgaria. Germany, Aus
tria-Hungary and Turkey on the other
hand, for the purpose of achieving a
lasting and honorable peace between
both parties, the following armistice is
concluded:
"The armistice shall begin on De
cember 4 (December 17) at 2 o'clock
in the afternoon and continue until
January 1 (January 14). The con
tracting parties have the right to break
the armistice by giving seven days'
notice. Unless notice is given the
armistice automatically continues.
"The armistice embraces the land
and aerial forces on the front from
the Baltic to the Black sea. and also
the Russo-Turkish front in Asia Minor.
During the armistice the parties con
cerned obligate themselves not to in
crease the number of troops on the
above fronts or on the islands in Moon
sound, or * to make a regrouping of
forces.
"Neither side is to make operative
any transfers of units from the Baltic
Black sea front until January l (Jan
uary 14), excepting those begun be
fore the agreement is signed. They
obligate. Themselves not to concen
trate troops on ports of the Black sea.
or Baltic sea east of 15 degrees of
longitude east of Greenwich.
Neutral Zone Provided.
"The line of demarcation on the
European front is the first line of de
fense. The space between will be
neutral. The navigable rivers will be
neutral, their navigation being for
bidden except for necessary purposes
of commercial transport or "on sections
where thc? positions are at a great
distance. On the Russo-Turkish front
the lino of demarcation will be ar
ranged at the mutual concent of the
chief commander.
"Intercourse will be allowed from sun
rise to sunset, no more than twenty-five
persons participating at a time. The* par
ticipants may exchange papers, magazines
unsealed, mail and also may carry on
trade in the exchange of articles of prims
necessity.
"The question of releaae of troops freed
from service who are begfinA m# of
*