Evening star. [volume], December 02, 1918, Image 1

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

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WEATHER.
Tartly cloudy tonight: tomorrow
fair; little change in temperature.
Temperature for twenty-four hours
ending 2 p.m. today.: Highest. 44, at
- p.m. today; lowest, 32, at S a.m.
today.
Full report on page 20.
Closing New Yoik Stocks, Page 20.
Member of the Associated Press
Tin Associated Press It exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
Credited to It or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local aewa published herein.
An rights of publication of special
dispatchea hereto are also reserved.
Saturday's Net Circulation, 1NJM
Sunday's Net Circulation, 844U
No. 27,249.
WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1918?TWENTY-FOUR PAGES.
TWO CENTS.
PRESIDENT TELLS CONGRESS
IT WILL KNOW OF ALL HE
DOES AT PEACE CONFERENCE
That of Public
PRINCIPLES ACCEPTED
MADE TRIP ESSENTIAL
Republicans Show Disapproval of
Plan by Their Silence?No
Questions Asked Executive.
President Wilson announced at a
;:<<int session of tho Senate and House
1 .day his plans for attending the peace
? oufereneo abroad and submitted a
J' umber of suggestions regarding rc
? ? instruction in this country.
The disapproval of the determlna
' lion of the President to go abroad at
this time which has developed among
J members of Congress of both parties
v as made manifest when republican
I members and many of the democratic
senators remained stolidly seated
1 when the democrats of the House
rose and cheered the President's
statement that he would attend the I
peace conference.
The assemblage presented a strange
appearance, one-half of the persons
?it the floor of the House standing
:ind applauding-, while the other half
t-at silent.
Tower to Sign Bills While Absent.
"Hardly had the President left the
c hamber before a discussion broke out
cn the floor of the House, led by Rep
resentative Mann, as to the power of
The President to sign bills passed by
< ongrress when he is out of this coun
iT. aj* be planned to do- while abroad,
hen the House met at noon and was
? ailed to order by Speaker Champ Clark
the roll way called and 354 members
rnswered to their names. The Speaker
announced that a quorum was present,
*?nd upon motion of Majority Leader
Kitchin the resolution was adopted un
?j*r which Messrs. Kitchin, Sherley and
?vlann were appointed a committee to
J.otify the President of the United States
that the House was ready to receive any
communication hie had to make.
Mr. Kitchin then offered a resolution
providing that the House take a recess
1,lUi1 *?'c}oc* to meet in joint session
"with the Senate and receive a message I
Torn the President of the Unite* States.
The House then tool* a recess until 1
OClOCK.
President Wilson formally an
nounced his intention to go to Paris
for the peace conference, saying the
hilled governments have accepted
principles enunciated by him for peace
H-nd It is his paramount duty to be
present.
\ The President said he will be in
Aose touch by cable and wireless and
tltot Congress will know all that he J
Hoes on the other side.
He expressed the hope that he would I
nave the co-operation of the public j
and of Congress, saying through the i
rabies and wireless constant counsel
tind advice would be possible.
Referring to his announcement that!
'he French and Itritish governments
had removed all cable restrictions
upon tho transmission of news of the
< -nference to America, the President
. aid he had taken over the Ameri- i
?an cable systems on expert advice so
as to make a unified system available. I
The President devoted tho greater;
part of his address to a discussion.
?>f the war and its results and to J
domestic and economic problems con-|
erning this country. He dealt with I
conservation, shipping, taxation and'
railroads, together with other less!
exigent subjects. On the railroad
problem the President said he had no
t-olution to offer, but he urged care
Jul study by Congress.
The President declared lie stood
i eady to release the railroads from
government control whenever a sat-1
isfactory plan of readjustment could
be worked out.
No definite program of reconstruc
l on can be outlined now, Mr. Wilson
I-.ud. but as boon as the armistice was
s igned government control of busi
ness and industry was released as far
;.s possible. lie expressed the hope
that Congress would not object to
. inferring upon the War Trade Board
>.r some other agency the right of fix
? ig export priorities to assure ship
: lent of food to starving people
abroad.
The President said ha hoped to see
a formal declaration of peace by
treaty "by the time spring has come."
Paying tribute to the people's con
duct In war, he spoke particularly of
the work of women, and again ap
pealed for woman suffrage by fed
eral amendment.
President's Entrance Applauded.
The President's entrance Into the
House chamber was the signal for ap
plause. Some of the democratic mem
bers cheered. On the republican side
the applause was considerably milder
speaker Clark and Vice President
Marshall occupied the rostrum when
i;ie President was escorted into tho
. -amber by a committee consisting of i
senators -Martin Hitchcook, Simmons,
-odge and Kellogg and Representa
i uT GiUe'tt Sherley' Flood. Mann
The House chamber was a mass of
humanity. Kvery available space was i
occupied. The corridors outside the
? hamber were filled with hundreds of '
disappointed men and women who had
. oped to see and hear the President.
Crowds Throng Corridors.
The galleries filled early. The mem
bers of the diplomatic corps and
their wives were present In the
executive fallery Mrs. Wilson and
YJV. occupied prominent
oor of the House, in
addition to the senators and repre
sentatives, the members of the Su
?' the President's "cabi
? -t and the heads of the foreign
' legations were seated, j
lilt benate, headed bv the Vice
1 resident, entered the House chamber!
. .lortlj before 1 o'clock. The Vice
resilient v.as applauded when he as
? -nded the rostrum.
Ui: c?"-ds i" the cor
do.s that the doorkeepers of^ the
House chamber had closed the door
irough which the Senate was com
before all the Senators were ln
?k fearin? that persona not entitled
to the floor might enter. Several times
sen*to?f to V? opened to admit
senators. One clerk succeeded in
TEXT OF PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS
MADE TO CONGRESS TODAY
tlm i,. ,n of the Congress; The year
elapsed since 1 last stood be
tlufv t?U to n>J" constitutional
time ,???give to the Congress from
of f1 ? information on the state
. ^nion has been so crow'ded
?ln^i ?great events, great processes
r"" ,?reat results that I cannot hope
?,ve you an adequate picture of its
;.h=?sactions or of tlle far-reaching
e3 which have been wrought in
ne lire of our nation and of the world.
"ave yourselves witnessed these
o?ings' as * have. It is too soon to
assess them; and we who stand In
midst of them and are part of
"JL are leBS qualified than men of
another generation will be to say
wnat they mean, or even what they
nave been. But some great outstand
??? 'act.s are unmistakable and con
stitute, in a sense, part of the public
business with which it is our duty
to deal. To state them is to set the
stage for the legislative and execu
J've action which must grow out of
them and which wc have yet to shape
and determine.
A year ago we had sent 145,91S men
fv^rseas. Since then we have sent
i.?50,al3. an average of 162.542 each
month, the number in fact rising, in
, ay last to 245.951, in June to 278,760,
in July to 307,182, and continuing to
reach similar figures in August and
September?in August 289.570 and in
September 257,438. No such move
ment of troops ever took place before,
across 3,000 miles of sea, followed by
adequate equipment and supplies, and
carried safely through extraordinary
dangers of attack?dangers which
were alike strange and infinitely dif
ficult to guard against. In all this
movement only 758 men were lost by
enemy attack?630 of whom were
upon "a. single English transport
which was sunk near the Orkney
Islands.
Given Support of Industries.
I need not tell you what lay back
of this great movement of men and
material. It is not invidious to say
that back of it lay a supporting or
ganization of the industries of the
country and of all its productive ac
tivities more complete, more thorough
in method and effective in result, more
spirited and unanimous in purpose and
effort than any other great belligerent
had been able to effect. We profited
greatly by the experience of the na
tions which had already been engaged
Tor nearly three years in the exigent
and exacting business, their every re
source and every executive proficiency
taxed to the utmost. We were their i
pupils. But we learned Quickly and,
acted with a promptness and a readi
ness of co-operation that justify our
grreat pride that we were able to serve
the world with unparalleled energy and
quick accomplishment.
But it is not the physical scale and
executive efficiency of preparation,
supply, equipment and dispatch that
I would dwell upon, but the mettle
and quality of the officers and men
we sent over and of the sailors who
kept the seas, and the spirit of the
nation that stood behind them. No
soldiers or sailors ever proved them-I
selves more quickly readv for the
test of battle or acquitted themselves
with more splendid courage and
achievement when' put to the test.
Those of us who - played some part
in directing the great processes by
which the war was pushed irresistibly
forward to the final triumph may
now forget all that and delight our I
thoughts with the story of what our
men did. Their officers understood
the grim and exacting task they had
undertaken and performed It with an I
audacity, efficiency ami unhesitating
courage that touch the etory of con- !
voy and battle with imperishable
distinction at every turn, whether the
enterprise was great or small?from
their great chiefs; Pershing and Sims, I
clown to the youngest lieutenant; and
their men were worthy of them?such
men as hardly need to be command
ed, and go to their terrible adven
ture blithely and with the quick in
telligence of those who know just
what it is they would accomplish.
I am >roud to be the fellow country
man of men of such stuff and valor.
Those of us who stayed at home did our
duty; the war could not have been won
or the gallant men who fought it given '
their opportunity to win it otherwise;
but for many a long day we shall think
ourselves "accurs'd we were not there,
and hold our manhoods cheap while any
speaks that fought", with , these at St.
Mihiel or Thierry. The memory of those
days of triumphant battle will go with
these fortunate men to their graves;
and each will have his favorite memory.
"Old men forget;' yet all shall be forgot,
but he'll remember with advantages
what feats he did that day!"
Turn Tide to Victory.
What we ail thank God for with deep
est gratitude is that our men went in
force Into the lino of battle just at the
critical moment, when the whole fate
of the world seemed to hang in the bal
ance. and threw their fresh strength into
the ranks of freedom in' time to turn
the whole tide and sweep of the fateful
struggle?turn it once for all, so that
thenceforth it was back, back, back for
their enemies, always back, never again
forward! After that It was only a scant
four months before the commanders of
the central empires knew themselves
beaten, and now their very empires are
in liquidation!
And throughout It all how fine the
spirit of the nation was?what unity of
purpose, what untiring zeal! What
elevation of purpose ran through all its
splendid display of strength, its untir
ing accomplishment. I' have said that
those of us who stayed at home to do
tho work of organization and supply will
always wish that we had been with the
men who we sustained by our labor I
but we can never be ashamed. It has' I
been an inspiring thing to be here in the i
midst of fine men who had turned aside
from every private interest of their
own and devoted the whole of their I
trained capacity to the tasks that sup
plied the sinews of the whole great un- I
<1 making! The patriotism, the unsel- I
fishness, the thoroughgoing devotion and
distinguished capacity that marked their
toilsome labors, day after day, month
after month, have made them fit mates
and comrades of the men in the trenches
f..on ?>? Rea- And not the men here
in Washington only. They have but
directed the vast achievement
Throughout Innumerable factories.
upon innumerable farms, in the depths
of coal mines and iron mines and cop
per mines, wherever the stuffs of In
dustry were to be obtained and pre-,
pared. In the shipyards, on the rail- i
ways, at the docks, on the sea, in
?,V,eryJab2ur ,tha* was needed to sus
." the battle lines, men have vied
with each other to do their part and
?ey can look any man
at-arms in the face, and sav. We also
strove to win and gave the best that
was in us to make our fleets and
armies sure of. their triumph!
Gives Praise to Women.
w? ??y of the wom
th?ir instant intelligence.
rasas- ??lss
et ?xcrzuupc ifcat
attempted; their aptitude at tasks to
which they had never before set their
hands; their utter self-sacrifice alike
in what they did and in what they
grave? Their contribution to the great
result is beyond appraisal. They have
added a new luster to the annals of
American womanhood.
The least tribute we can pay them
is to make them the equals of men
In political rights as they have proved
themselves their equals in every field
of practical work they have entered,
whether for themselves or for their
country. These great days of com
pleted achievement would be sadly
marred were we to omit that act of
justice. Besides the immense prac
tical services they havo rendered, the
women of the country have been the
moving spirits in the systematic
economies by which our people have
voluntarily assisted to supply the
suffering peoples of the world and
the armies upon every front with
food and everything else that we had
(that might serve the common cause.
I The details of such a story can never
! be fully wirtten, but we carry them
at our hearts and thank God that we
! can say that we arc the kinsmen of
such.
And now we are sure of the great
triumph for which every sacrifice
was made. It has come, come in its
completeness, and with the pride and
inspiration of these days of achieve
ment quick within us we turn to the
tasks of peace again?a peace secure
against the violence of irresponsible
monarchs and ambitious military co
teries and made ready for a new or
der, for new foundations of justice j
and fair dealing.
Seeks International Safety.
We are about to give order and or
ganization to this peace not only for
ourselves, but for the other peoples
of the world as well, so far as they
will suffer us to serve them. It is in
ternational justice that we seek, not
domestic safety merely. Our thoughts
have dwelt of late upon Europe, upon
Asia, upon the near and the far east,
very little upon the acts of peace and
accommodation that wait to be per
formed at our own doors.
While we are adjusting our rela
tions with the rest of the world is it
not of capital importance that we
should clear away all grounds of mis
understanding with our immediate
neighbors and give proof of friend
ship we really feel? I hope that the
members of the Senate will permit me
to speak once more of the unratified
treaty of friendship and adjustment
with the republic of Colombia. I very
earnestly urge upon them an early
and favorable action upon that vital
matter. I believe that they will fe?i. I
with me, that the stage of affairs Is
now set for such action as will be
not only just but generous and In the
spirit of the new age upon which we
have so happily entered.
So far as our domestic affairs are
concerned the problem of our return
to peftcfe is a problem of economic and
industrial readjustment. That prob
lem is less serious for us than it may
turn out to be for the nations which
havq suffered the disarrangements
and the losses of war longer than we.
Our people, moreover, do not wait to
be coached and led. They know their
own business, are quick and resource
ful at every readjustment, definite in
purpose and self-reliant in action.
Any leading strings we might seek
to put them in would speedily become
hopelessly tangled because they would j
payno attention to them and go their
own way. All that we can do as their
legislative and executive servants is
to mediate the process of change here,
there, and elsewhere as we may. I
have heard much counsel as to the
plans thai should be formed and per
sonally conducted to a happy consum
mation, but from no quarter have I
seen any general scheme of "recon
struction" emerge which I thought it
likely we could force our spirited
business men and self-reliant laborers
to accept with due pliancy and obedi
ence.
Armistice Removes Many Agencies
1 While the -war lasted we set up many
I agencies by which to direct the in
dustries of the country in the services
it was necessary for them to render,
by which to make sure of an abundant
supply of the materials needed, by
which to check undertakings that
could for the time be dispensed with
and- stimulate those that were most
serviceable in war, by which to gain
for the purchasing departments of the
government of certain control over the
prices of essential articles and ma
terials, by which to restrain trade
with alien enemies, make the most of
the available shipping, and systemat
ize financial transactions, both public
and private, so that there would be
no unnecessary conflict or confusion,
: ?by Which, in short, to put every
; materml energy of the country in
harness to draw the common load and
make of us one team in the accom
plishment of a great task. But the
! moment we knew the armistice to
have been signed we took the harness
off.
Raw materials upon which the
government had kept its hand for
fear there should not be enough for
the industries that supplied the
armies have been released and put
into the general market again. Great
industrial plants whose whole out
put and machinery had been taken
over for the uses of the government
, have been set free to return'to the
uses to which they were put before
the war. It has not been possible
to remove so readily or so quickly
the control of foodstuffs and of ship
ping. because the world has still to
be few from our granaries and the
ships are still needed to send sup
plies to our men oversea and to bring
i the men back as fast as the dis
' turbed conditions on the other side
of the water permit; but even there
restraints are being relaxed as much
as possible and more and more as
the .weeks, go. by. .
Never before have there been agen
I cies in existence in this country
which knew so much of the field of
supply, of labor and of industry as
the War Industries Board, the War
Trade Board, the Labor Department,
the food administration, and the fuel
administration have known since their
labors became thoroughly systema
tized; and they hare not been isolated
agencies; they have been directed by
men who represented the permanent
i department of the government and
l so have been the centers of unified
and co-operative action. It has been
! the policy of the executive, therefore,
i since the armistice was assured
(which is in effect a complete sub
mission of the enemy) to put the
knowledge of these bodies at the dis
I posal of the business men of the coun
try and to offer their Intelligent me
diation at every point and in every
matter where it was desired. It is
j surprising how fast the process of
1 return to a peace footing has moved
| in the three weeks since the fighting
stopped. It promises to outrun any
inquiry that may be instituted aad
any aid that may be offered. It will
not be easy to direct It any. better
_ t. j wl
PASSING THE BUCK.
RUMELY INDICTED
AS GERMAN AGENT
Alleged Representative in
Newspaper Purchase Held
on Two Counts.
ACTION IS TAKEN HERE
Edward A. Bu'mely of Xew York,
said to hare been tho agent of Ger
many in tho purchase of the New York i
Evening Mail, '"'as indicted here by
the grand jury today on a charge of j
failing to report to the alien property!
cutodian German ownership of prop-j
erty. Rumely is under indictment in |
New York on a charge of perjury in
connection with a report made by him.
The indictment is in two counts.
One charges that Rumely October 17,
1917, and since had the custody and
control of certain shares of stock in
the S. S. McClure Newspaper Corpora^
tion for and on behalf of an enemy of
the United States, the imperial Ger
man government, and that he ^failed
and omitted to disclose this fact in
his report to the alien property custo
dian The second count alleges that
Rumely failed and omitted to make
known to Mr. A. Mitchell Palmer the
custodian, that October 6 1917, and
since he was indebted to tne imperial
German government in the sum of
$1,451,700. !
Duty to Make Beport.
The indictment sets forth that after
the passage of the trading-with-the
enemy act October 6. 1917, it became
and was the duty of any person in the
United States who had custody or
control of any property of, for or on
behalf of an enemy of the United
States to report the fact to the alien
property custodian.
It is stated that this official had his
office for the transaction of business
in the District of Columbia and at no
other place "and that failure to re
port such custody of enemy property
became and was a crime committed
within the District of Columbia.
The penalty provided by the act for
the violation of any of its provisions
is a fine not to exceed $10,000 or im
prisonment not to exceed ten years, or
both.
Kubin Indicted for larceny.
Benjamin Rubin, who "confessed'* to
the murder of Eva Roy and escaped
from the Virginia Jail, returning to
Washington, where he was appre
hended, was indicted today by the
grand Jury in two charges of larceny
and one of assault.
The grand Jurors ignored a charge
of homicide against Louis Washing
ton. it being shown that he acted In
self-defense in killing George John
son September 13 last. A charge of
grand larceny against Arohie Adams
was Ignored, as was an allegation of
robbery against Andrew Smith.
Other Indictments.
Others indicted and the charges
against them are: Howard Actor, Jo
seph Avery, George M Delsnider and
Owen P. Meade, Joyriding^8amuel J.
p Morgan and Frank West, non
fupporlfJack Dale and William
Braxton, assault; Edith Crult, vio
lating section 4 of the penal code,
and Edward Ross and Grant Smith,
housebreaking.
WOULD DECLARE OFFICE
H)F PRESIDENT VACANT
Senator Sherman of Illinois, republi
can, announced today that he would
Introduce tomorrow a resolution to
declare vacant the office of President
because of Mr. Wilson's absence, and
oroposin* that the President's powers
and duties should immediately de
voirs upon the Vies President.
Half of Money Pledged
to War Work Dae Today
DM TH Mk? ? ?W?? ?? ?*?
waited ww work Ww?.
It M. half of the nunt
r?m offered to cosMtkirte la dae
tQ?ay. Yoar cheek akoald he
payable Clevelaad H.
pnlfti tfewMfcr, 1799 G street.
Aaotier payaieat or ZS per
test ad tow pledge will ho dae
jaaaary IS.
tytm last paya?e*t of tho ao>
T
-4
PLOT TO RESTORE
KAISER REVEALED
Large Sums of Money in
Hands of Berlin Pro-Em
peror Propagandists.
DISCOVERY FOILS SCHEME
Dismissed for Failure;
Not for Their Grimes
PARIS, December ?DUcnu
brought about by the former
emperor'* act of KtuMhtloi,
the Mltoni of BMtli
according to a dl?p*tch to L/'In
formatlon, Mts:
"The Impression la made that
the Hoheasolleras were Ma
mimed only becauHe they failed
to conquer and not beeauae they
-violated ail lawa of humanity."
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, December 2.?A plot to
restore Imperialism and secure the
return of Emperor William has been
discovered in Berlin, according to a
dispatch from Amsterdam to the Ex
press.
According- to the dispatch, which
was filed at Amsterdam on Friday, tfflT
chief men behind the plot were Field
Marshal von Mackensen, Gen. von
Born and Gen. Count Sixt von Arnlm.
It is said that they Instructed the
Prussian officers* corps to carry on a
pro-emperor agitation, beginning im
mediately after the demobilization of
the troops was completed. Large
sums of money are said to have been
placed at the disposal of the leaders
by munition makers.
Collapse of Plot Reported.
The plot collapsed, owing to this fact
that a secret service agent overheard
a telephone conversation. Many ar
rests have been made In Berlin and
other cities, while the government has
long lists of suspects who had planned
to seize members of the present gov
ernment.
No direct evidence of "William Ho
henzollern's connection with the plot
has been found, it is said, but it Is be
lieved that the outline of the plan
was brought to Berlin by two of his
suite, who recently went to the Ger
man capital for the ostensible purpose
of taking the wife of the former em
peror to Amerongen, Holland.
Lieut. Dr. Gustav-Krupp von Bohlen
is said to have been in control of the
financial arrangements. Field Marshal
von Mackensen is reported to have
attempted to induce Field Marshal von
Hindenburg to join, but the latter re
fused, saying that he intended to re
tire after the demobilization of the
army.
The whole Prussian court, it Is
stated, was in sympathy with the plot
ters, and it is said that Prince von
Buelow and Dr. George Michaelis, for
mer imperial chancellor, had promised,
to help. The plan was to organize a
provisional government trader Field
Marshal von Mackensen or some other
military leader and then urge William
Hohenzollern to return.
Abdication of Prince Demanded.
PARIS. December 1 (Havas).?The
Petit Journal says it is convinced that
the associated powers will now de
mand the formal abdication of Fred
erick William, the former German
crown prince.
THE HAGUE, Saturday, November
SO.?The Netherlands government has
appointed a commission to report on
the position which the former German
emperor occupies in Holland. The re
lationship of the Dutch government
to legal questions which may arise re
specting William Hohensollern's ad
mission to and hia stay in Holland also
will be Inquired into. Vhe commission
consists' of B. C. X Ltfdaer, Prof. A. A.
E. Struycken and A. E. Alex.
Action "Surprises" England.
LONDON, Saturday, November 30.?
The formal abdication of .the German
emperor caused surprise in England.
It had been supposed on the strength
of the announcement made by Prince
Maximilian of Baden, while chancellor
and the reports of tho Berlin council
of soldiers' and Workmen's delegates,
that William Hohenzollern had abdi-.
cated before he left Germany for Hol
land.
The abdication Of the former German
crown prince was accepted here as a
fact on the same basis, bat it l? new
believed that Frederick Williahj has
POt ^ ^
ON ELECTION DATE
Majority Socialists Want
More Time?Indepen
dents Urge Speed.
PEACE SOCIETY'S PLEA
PARIS, December 2.?Tkc Ger
man Klekifat will be convoked
shortly, according to newspapers
in south Germany, says a Zurich
dispatch to LInformation.
BERLIN, Docember 1 (by the As
socijfted Prts**.f*4n tbeTO?|nton of the
majorty socialists and the bourgeoisie,
ac#ordlnc t? Die Freihelt, the date
Fefcrttary 16, -ifeMSMl ?&
people's commissioners for holding an
election to the oonstltuent assembly,
is too early. . It is maintained that
more time is needed to put into effect
a pure socialist party.
The Independent socialists hare
Stated that threatened separation of
the Rhine province and Bavaria makes
it imperative that an early election be
held. The bourgeois and socialist
press agree that the soldiers' and work
men's congress, which meets December
16, will accept the election date.
Radical socialists have not yet ob
tained control of the greater German
wireless stations- at Nauen and
Konigswusterhausen, but Independent
socialists, in company with the Spar
tacus group, have secured controi of
all home stations with a restricted
radius.
A resolution favoring the convening
of the national assembly at the earliest
possible moment was passed by a
meeting of the soldiers' and workmen's
council at the reichsta? chambers yes
terday. Out of the 300 in attendance
only two voted against the resolution.
The meeting was orderly.
Want Germans to Try Ex-Kaiser.
AMSTERDAM, December 2.?A
number of the soldiers and workmen's
councils in Germany have requested ?
the German government to have for
mer Emperor William tried by a. Ger
man tribunal, according to a news
agency telegram from Berlin. The
agency telegram from Berlin The
Sivernment, it Is stated, will submit
e question to the national assembly.
Hindenburg Tolerates Bed Flag.
AMSTERDAM. December 1.?Field
Marshal von Hindenburg has issued
a proclamation, according to the Co
logne Volks Zeitung, declaring that
conflicts with the soldiers' and work
men's councils will be avoided. He re
quested at the same time that the
central government instruct the coun
cils to abstain from interfering with
the army commanders.
"No offense will be taken to the dis
play of the red flag "if it is dis
played In a wortffr, manner," says
the field marshal, and the same atti
tude must be expected from the sol
diers' and workmen's councils toward
troop emblems.
Silesia Threatens to Secede.
COPENHAGEN, December 1 (by the
Associated Press).?The people's coun
cil at Breslau today sent an ultimatum
to the German government demand
ing Immediate convocation of the
constituent assembly and threatening
that Silesia would separate from
Prussia unless a satisfactory answer
is received within forty-eight hoars.
King of Wurttembarg Abdicates.
BERN, December 1.?Following the
example of the former German em
peror, the King ef Wurttembure hau
publicly abdicated He renounces the
crown only in, his own name, malcin*
no mention in his declaration of the
heir apparent.
COPENHAGEN, December 1.??Ad
vices from Bavaria say the fall of
Premier Eisner is expected soon ami
that Herr Auer. a socialist, is men
tioned as his successor.
Bavaria May Ask Separata Peace.
LONDON, Saturday, November 80
Bavaria will open negotiations tor a
separate peace with the entente al
lies, according to an Exchange Tele
graph dispatch from Zurich, which
adds that the rupture between the
governments of Berlin and Munich is
now complete.
The government of Germany is sup
ported by Field Marshal von Hinden
burg. who placed the army at Its dis
posal, and refuses to resign or to dis
>miss Dr. W. S. Solf, foreign secretary
in the coalition cabinet, or Dr. Ma
tbias Errberger.
German Peace Society's Appeal.
BERN Thursday. November -2S.?
Tte Gemuui peace soelety. at If
' ~ irti.ii in *1 ~
e
TO READJUST TAX
RATEjNCAPITAL
Commissioners in Annual Re
port Cite Large Unex
pended Balance.
WOULD STOP ASSESSING
INTANGIBLE PROPERTY
In Recommending Increased Water j
Facilities City's Population I*
Placed at 526,248.
Directing attention to an unexpend
ed balance of District revenues at the
end of the past fiscal year of more
than a million and a quarter dollars,
the Commissioners, in their annual re
port for the District of Columbia, sub
mitted to Congrew today, suggest re
peal of the tax on intangible property
and readjustment of the tax rate in
the District.
Local revenues over and above all
charges made under the half-and-half
act have been growing' at a rapid rate
during the past three years, the re
port shows. At the end of the fiscal
year 1916 there was an unexpended
balance In the United States Treasury
of $1,380,218.90; end of 1917, ?673,
733.77 and end of the past year, $1,
226,732.79. for a total of $3,280,685.46.
Season for Surplus.
The cause of the surplus^ It is stated,
is the continuance of the tax rate of
81.50 and the new tax upon Intangi
bles.
The Commissioners* report Is a com
prehensive resume of the activities of
the several branches of the municipal
government during the fiscal year
ended June 30 last. It differs from
previous reports, however, in that it
touches upon certain added duties
that devolved upon the local govern
ment heads and their subordinates in
the course of the war.
Important legislative recommenda
tions, several of which have been
contained In previous reports, are
submitted. Falling In the latter class
is the proposal that there be enacted
a law which would enable holders of
tax titles to real estate to go into a
court of equity and obtain settlement.
Such a law, it Is declared, is needed
to preclude willful evasion of tax
payments.
Por New Markets Law.
i- Likewiseth?>r?pninfT<>n4enoa, Ur a
new weights and markets law is re
newed. Need of a better law for the
regulation of the sale of firearms is
emphasized. This need, however. Is
no greater, say the Commissioners,
than the need of a stricter enforce
ment of the present concealed-weapon
law in the courts.
Another renewed recommendation
is for the establishment in the Dis
trict of an institution for the care of
feeble-minded persons. Legislation to
provide supervision for the so-called
"baby farms" also is urged.
Acquisition of the Klingle Valley
tract for park purposes once more is
recommended to Congress.
The water situation is discussed at
length, the report showing that the
total mean daily consumption for the
year was 59.60C.970 gallons, as com
pared with 51,454,000 gallons for the
preceding year. The Commissioners
say they believe the present supply
of water to be ample only for a popu
lation of 500,000 persons,' if properly
conserved. In another section of the
report they estimate the population
at more than 500,000.
Estimate the Population.
They reach this estimate by adding
33.06 per cent to the population of the
District in October, 1917. At that
time It was 395.497. The number of
street car fares jumped 33.06 per cent
from October. 1917. to October. 1918,
and the District heads figure this
would be a fair rate of Increase by
which to determine the city's growth.
It indicates a total population In Oc
tober last of 526,248.
High compliment Is paid by the
Commissioners to the work of MaJ.
Daniel J. Donovan, a3 acting adjutant
general for the draft In the District;
Clarence R. Wilson, as food adminis
trator; William H. Baldwin, as chair
man of the District Council of De
fense, and others who have engaged
in important war work in the Dis
trict.
Text of Report.
The full text of the report submitted
to Congress today follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa
tives of the United States of Ameri
* ca in Congress assembled:
A6 required by a clause In section
12 of "An act providing a permanent
form of government for the District
of Columbia," approved June 11. 187S
(20 Stat, 108), and by section 9 of
"An act making appropriations for
sundry civil expenses of the govern
ment for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1915, and for other purposes," ap
pr&ve^ August 1. 1914. ^he Commis
sioners of the District of Columbia
submit herewith a report of the offi
cial operations of the government of
the District of Columbia during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1918.
The Commissioners have prefaced
this report with an abstract of the
portions of the reports of the several
branches of the District government,
which they deem of exceptional In
terest to the public, and with com
ments and recommendations which
the Inexperience suggests far im
provement and progress in the ad
ministration of the affairs Intrusted
to their supervision.
Xr. Gardiner Sworn In.
On October 9. 1917. Commissioner
W. Gwynn Gardiner took the oath of
office as one of the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia, for the term
ending July 13. 1919, and entered on
duty as such, as successor to former
Commissioner Oliver Pick Newman,
who had resigned to accept an ap
pointment as an officer in the Na
tional Army. On the same day Com
missioner Louis Brownlow was
chosen president of the board.
During the fiscal year under con
sideration the Board of Commission
ers consisted of Commissioner Louis
Brownlow, Commissioner John G. D.
Knight and Commissioner Oliver Peck
Newman, until Oetober I, 1917, and
?inoe October 9 last of the first-named
-mi. ??? m.1 i
$15,928,819 ASKED
FOR DISTRICT FOR
FISCALYEAR1920
Economy Feature of Esti
mates Submitted to Con
gress by Commissioners.
ADDITIONAL POLICEMEN
AND TEACHERS PROVIDED
Ho General Permanent Salary In
creases Sought?$1,370,318 for
Water Department.
Estimates amounting: to $15,928.S1:<
for tho maintenance of the District
government and development of the
Capital city during the fiscal year
ending: June 30, 1920, were submitted
to Congress today by the District
Commissioners. This Includes the ap
propriations for the water depart
ment. Exclusive of the water depart
ment appropriations, the estimate.*
amount to J15.545.259.
Economy has been the watchword
of the District Commissioners In
framing: the estimates, while at th?>
same time they have been careful to
include necessary items to meet th<
changed conditions In the District.
Increases in the number of employes
have been recommended in the esti
mates. Increases in salary to em
ployes have been recommended In a
separate memorandum sent to the
Secretary of the Treasury, in accord
ance with an executive order. The
proposed Increases in salary amount,
to about $1,?00,000. All proposed sal
ary increases for the federal govern
ment employes, as well as for the
District employes, have been submit
ted separately from the regular esti
mates to the Secretary of the Treas
ury, so that it^ will be possible fc
him to make a survey of all the pro
posed Increases in salary.
$788,300.34 Over Current Tear..
The current appropriation act car
ried a total of $15,140,518.66, including
water service appropriations. The es
timates for the coming year, there
fore, are Just $788,300.34 more than the
appropriations for the fiscal year 1919.
The estimates submitted by the Com
missioners last year amounted to
$17,502,324.99.
The Commissioners chow that esti
mates chargeable to the general reve
nues of the District are $1S,781,25!>.
and those chargeable to the revenues
of tyie water department, $147,5?0.
The estimated rev?tttiea of the Dis
trict which will be available to meet
appropriations for the expenses of the
$9,727,800. From this sum the Com
missioners have deducted estimated
appropriations paid wholly from the
District revenues, leaving $9.:99,15<i
available to be appropriated under the
half-and-half plan of meeting the Dis
trict government's expenses, the fed
eral government matching dollar for
dollar with the District. If the Com
missioners had approved of expendlnp
the entire sum their estimates would
have reached $18,598,301 for the half
and-half appropriations.
Legislative Provisions.
The Commissioners have Included a
number of legislative provisions,
among them one for "Americanization
work." Under this provision $12,0i>0
is to be appropriated to Americanize
foreign residents of the District in
both day and night classes in the pub
lic schools. A principal who shall give
his full time to this work Is estimated
for at $2,500 a year. Teachers and
Janitors of the Americanization schools
may also be teachers and Janitors of
the day schools.
The Commissioners have recom
mended an Increase of 1{9 public
school teachers, divided among the
various classes.
In the police department recom
mendation is made for three as
sistant superintendents at $2,500 eaeh.
Instead of one; for twelve captain*
at $2,000, Instead of eleven; for an
additional property clerk at $2,000,
for seven additional lieutenant* for
three additional sergeants, for sixty
six additional privates and ten addi
tional drivers.
For the fire department six Inspec
tors are provided, instead of two un
der the existing law.
' Other Changes Urged.
Borne of the other changes In the
existing law recommended by the
Commissioners are as follows;
Personal tax board, three assistant
assessors instead of two.
Provision for the various markets
and market masters is Included in
estimates for the office of the super -
lntendent of weights and measures.
Under the requests of the Public
Utilities Commission the proviso in
existing law that no person shall be
employed at a rate of compensation
in excess of <4,000 a year is Strieker;
out.
For the minimum wage board, ap
pointed under authority of the law
enacted at the last session of Con
gress to establish minimum wages
for women and minors employed In
the DIstriot. the sum of $5,000 Is rec
ommended, of which $2,500 la to pay
the salary of the secretary.
For the Publio Library provision 1*
made for a number of additional em
ployes, Including a director of refer
ence work at $1,500, a chief of di
vision of fine arts at $1,200, a di
rector of library training class at
$1,500, a supervisor of binding at
$1,200, a shelf lister at $1,020. a sirel'
curator send head page at $1,020, and
several other minor employes.
For the purchase of a site for the
Canal street yard, for stables, store
yards, eta, $200,000. The site is tn
contain from 100,000 to 150,000 square
feet.
For Streets and Avenues.
for the work of streets and avenue*
sad for the construction of wbsrtu ?
romls. the unexpended he lessee ap
propriated last year are mad* again
available.
For the repair of streets and ave -
nues the estimates carry l$7(,000.
whlclr Is the same as the qprrent ap
propriations. and for repairs of
suburban roads the estimates arc
$250,000. an Increase of $50,000 over
the current appropriation.
For completing the replacement of
fenders of the highway bridge across
the Potomao river. $25,000.
For emergency work due to war
conditions, $25,000 Is provided. Ml in
the current law, and another item of
^Fo?0 sewers the total estimated is
$511,000, as against $??MM fsr the