Evening star. [volume], September 17, 1923, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
Fair -tonl/iht and tomorrow; no
change in temperature. temperature
for tweat/v'-four hours ended at 2
p.m. todjtf.-i Highest. 08 at 3:30 p.ra.
yesterday; lowest, 44, at 5 a.m. today.
Full teport on page 7.
- !i
Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 20
K' DC qqo Entered as second-class matter
O. -CyjtM. post ofllce Washington. D. C.
KLAN PROBE BEGUN
IN TWO OKLAHOMA
CITIES BY MILITARY
Former Chairman State
Corporation Commission
First Witness in Capital.
TROOPS’ RULE LIMITED
TO FRACTION OF STATE
Special Grand Jury to Investigate
Governor’s Actions Is Com
pelled. to Suspend.
By tlie Associated Tress.
OKLAHOMA CITY. Okla., Sep-
I Umber 17.—Thc Oklahoma City
police department, taken over by
the military late yesterday, was
returned to civil authorities today
rvhcn Mayor O. A. Cargill' served
notice on Col. IV. S. Key, military 1
commander in charge of the city,
that unless Kay Frazier, chief of
police, was reinstated at once, the
entire police force, would be re
tired by the city and the task of
Policing the city would be left in
the hands of the military.
By the Associated Press.
OKLAHOMA CITY. Okla.. Septeni- j
her 17.—Military courts of inquiry
into tlje activities of the Ku Klux
were in operation today in the 1
Ctvo largest cities in the slate—Okla
homa City and Tulsa.
The Oklahoma City court convened
toddy, and summoned as the first wit
ness Campbell Russell, former chair
man of the state corporation com
mission.
Other Court* Fund ion.
The military court here is com
posed of Col. Raul Walker, Col. H.
N. Graves and Maj. 1,. H. Harrold. It
has established headquarters in a
downtown hotel. It was indicated
that Kussell was called preliminary
to the actual opening of an investi
gation into alleged floggings execut
ed or directed in Oklahoma county.
Machinery of the court Is not yet
completed, but the full force of the
Investigation is expected to be in ef
fect tomorrow.
Meanwhile courts throughout the
slate, i»eluding Oklahoma and Tulsa,
are In session. No interruption of
civil procoedure In the state occurred
with the exception of that in Okla
homa City, a special grand jury sum
moned to meet today was forbidden
by military authorities.
Military Hnle Hr*trirte<l.
In no other city of the state was i
there any Indication that military j
rule, in effect more than a month in
Tulsa, had b<*en extended to all cor- j
tiers of the state.
Creek county, which with Okla
homa county (Oklahoma City) was
placed under "absolute martial law”
Saturday night by Gov. J. C. Waltone'
was still without any vestige of mili
tary activity. No troops had been
mobilized and all civil authority was
undisturbed.
Adj. Gen. 1!. 11. Markham arrived by
airplane from Tulsa today and went
at once into conference with Col. W.
•S. Key. in command of troops here.
The adjutant general declined to say
wnetner the state military headquar
ters would be transferred here from I
Tulsa.
Machine (fun* Placed.
Since martial law became effective
throughout the state Saturday at mid- !
night the military has superseded the
Oklahoma City police heads. Machine
guns have been leveled at the city
ball, police station and county court
house; a grand jury has been can
celed and a military court of investi
gation substituted, and state capital
citizens have been told “when to go
to bed and when to get up.”
A special grand Jury, called to meet
today to investigate charges that
Gov. Walton used state employes In
checking initiative petitions recently
tiled with the secretary of state, was
suspended last night by orders from
Col. W. S. Key, in command of Okla
homa City. A military court was or
dered to proceed "with investiga
tion work” at the direction of the
chief executive. The scope of Us
investigation will include matters
which the grand jury would not have
considered, it is understood.
Governor See* Challenge.
Gov. Walton declared in his martial
law proclamation that Oklahoma
City was the headquarters of the Ku
Klux Klan in Oklahoma, and that
“it is here ivhere the sovereign
power of the state was defied when
the grand dragon of this semi-mili
tary oragnization publicly proclaimed
in substance that the sovereign.state
of Oklahoma could not break the
power of the Klan.”
Further asserting that "the power
of this criminal organization may be
destroyed" and "the source of the
power must be destroyed,” the execu
tive is expected to guide the military
court inquiry into Ku Klux Klan
state headquarters activities.
Troup* Patrol at Night.
An infantry company and a ma
chine-gun company received equip
ment at the Oklahoma City armory
(Continued on Rage 2, Column 77)
ZR-1 on Flight
T oD.C. T omorrow
If Day Is Good
Weather permitting, the National
Capital tomorrow about noon will
get its first view of the Navy’s
queen of llghter-than-alrcraft—
the ZR-1.
Announcement was made at -the
Bureau of Aeronautics today that
the giant dirigible was scheduled
to leave Lakehurst, N. J.. tomor
row morning about 8 o’clock and
complete her speed trials begun
today.
Then she will nose westward,
passing over Southern Philadel
phia. Chester, Wilmington and Bal
timore, arriving her© about 13
o’clock.
Over the Capitol and down Penn
sylvania avenue to the White
House, the ZR-1 will be guided
and thence over to the Arlington
national cemetery, where flowers
will be dropped for the tomb of
the unknown soldier. Prbm Ar
lington. the huge cigar-shaped
craft will proceed to Mount Ver
non. and there dip a salute to
Geprge' Washington. It Is esti
mated the ship will reach this !
place about 2 o’clock, and then
will proceed to her berth at Lake
hurst. No landings will he effected j
here, <
j Ex-Senator, 101,
Heard Lincoln
At Gettysburg
E.r the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, September 17.
Cornelius Cole, formerly Untied
States senator from California, one
of the tew living men who heard
Abraham Lincoln deliver his Get
tysburg address, was 101 years
old today, and his descendants
planned a quiet reception in hla
honor at his home here.
"Longevity does not thrive on
inertia,” Mr. Cole declared. "One
must keep moving. I eat what I
want to oat. three times a day.
There are no ‘don’ts’ in my regime.
"I gave up tobacco six years ago.
1 thought It was doing me no good
and perhaps a little harm. I have
used alcoholic beverages temper
ately all my life.”
MINERS ACT TODAY
ON COALCONTRACT
Ratification and Return of
Men to Work by Wed
nesday Expected.
By the Associated Press.
SCRANTON, Pa., September IV.—
I Anthracite miners, representing the
i 100,000 union workers of the Penn
} sylvania hard coal fields, meet in i
I convention here today to pass upon
j the proposed two-year ggreement
i drafted by their officers and the op
j erators in Harrisburg nine days ago.
j Delegates representing locals in each
j of the three districts of the United
j Mine Workers in the anthracite rc
-1 gion are here for the convention.
Ratification of the terms of set
tlement was the final step necessarv
to bring about resumption of min
ing operations, suspended since Au
gust 31. when the pftevioufc* con
i tract expired and the men were or
j dered to quit work. John L. Lewis.
; president of the United Mine Work
-1 ers, expressed confidence the dele
, gates would approve the settlement
} with little or no opposition. It was
; the general belief of both union offi
cers and the men that the workers
j would be back in the mines Wed
| nesday.
Session Tomorrow Likely.
It was considered probable tl*e
convention would not adjourn until
tomorrow.
Only one point of the proposed
new contract, which embraces the
four major points of the settlement
plan put forth by Gov. Plnchot—a
10 per cent wage Increase, the eight
hour day, recognition of the union
and recognition of the principles of
collective bargaining—threatened «o
bring objections from the miners
i This was the fact that the 10 per
I cent flat wage increase would give
i cay laborers a smaller raise in pay
j than the $2 lm*reaae ask*
I President Lewie and other union
I officer* declared, however, there would
not be ttefious opposition to ratifi
cation pn thia ground.
FIND LOST FLYERS
IN WEST VIRGINIA
Langley Pilots Cany Hew Motor
to Rescue of Cole and
His Crew.
-
j By the Associated Press.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va.. September
17.—An innovation In aviation was es
tablished by pilots of Langley Field
yesterday, when a complete new motor
was taken by airplane from the Army
flying station near here to Charlestown,
W. Va., where Lieut. Cole and three
mechanics, while flying to St. Louis via
Washington, to participate in the
Pulitzer race, were forced to land be
cause of engine trouble.
The motor was dispatched imme
diately upon receipt of word of the
plight of Lieut. Cole and his three
mechanics, who were reported in Wash
ington dispatches as missing and for
whom fear was entertained for a while
yesterday that their big Martin bombing
plane had gotten off Its coursse and
been driven out to sea. Lieut Austin,
who took the motor to Charlestown, re
ported upon his return here that Lieut.
Cole and his companions probably would
resume their flight today.
Lieut. Cole and three mechanics left
Bolling Field Saturday morning at
10;S5 o’clock for St Louis, but with
their first stop scheduled at Mounds
ville. W. Va. Nothing was heard of
the Martin bomber all day Saturday
and yesterday two planes going west
were instructed to cheek up the land
ing fields on the model airway for the
missing ship.
This morning Lieut. Howard K.
Ramey, of the air service station here
and a reporter of The Star were about
to board a De Havtland airway ship
and institute a thorough search for
the airplane, when Information from
the Associated Press was received
that the plane had been located.
The search, which was to have ex •
tended as far as McCook Field, Day
ton, Ohio, and was to have lasted all
of today and tomorrow then was call
ed off.
The plane flown by Lieut. Cole is
■ entered in the bi-motored airplane
race at St. Louis in connection with
the International airplane races to be
held there in a few weeks. Lieut.
1 Leslie P. Arnold, photographic officer
‘of Bolling Field, is the pilot to fly
this ship.
Meteor , Crashing Over Steamer ,
Hurls Officer From His Post
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, September 17.—As
he peered Into the dim reaches of
the Atlantic In the early dawn last
Wednesday. Second Officer H. H.
Lancaster of the Royal Mall Steam
Packer liner Orblta was shocked
from his post on the bridge when
the heavens suddenly broke Into a
canopy of brilliant light,
i For five minutes he was held
spellbound while an immense me
teor, the sailor’s "hound of the
heavens,” shot from horizon to
horizon, leaving a luminous green
vapor in Us wake, suffusing the
heavens for twenty minutes with
color.
"It was like a glorified sky rock
et with a ruddy and brilliant tail,”
-
lEtienma Skf.
Jf \ x'' WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION V-/ "" /
— ■ ; . ■ ■■ 1 —r:— zs
WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1923-THIRTY PAGES. *_
RIVERA WILL EXILE
31 POLITICAL CHIEFS
IN MADRIDCLEAN-UP
Military Directorate Bans All
Parties in Effort to Bet
ter Conditions.
PLANS NEW OFFENSIVE
AGAINST MOROCCANS
i 150,000 Troops to Move Forward
i From Mellila Against Riff Chief
tain in Finn Drive.
By the Associated Press.
PORT VENDUES, Franco-Spanish
Frontier. September 17.—The military
directorate formed as the result of
last week’s revolution has decided
to expel thirty-one of Spain’s lead
ing politicians, including former Pre
) mior Sanchez Guerra and several
prominent liberals and Calalinist
syndicalists. It Is learned from ad
vices coming over tho border. The
expulsions will occur this week.
The military regime is refusing to
have anything whatever to do with
politicians or parties.
Senor Ventosa. former Spanish
minister of finance in several cab
inets, Who was on his way to France
aboard the Earcelona-Paris express,
was stopped by the Spanish police at
the frontier station near here and
Informed that he must remain in
Spain until the new regime had de
cided upon his status.
NEW LEADER NAMED.
Qen. Aizpuru Sent to Morocco to
Lead Big Army.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, September 17.—A new
offensive in Morocco is planned by
Prime Rivera, president of the mili
tary directorate in Spain.
The Madrid correspondent of the
Daily Express quotes the head of the
new government as follows:
"W« are sending Gen. Aizpuru to
Morocco with orders to settle the
whole problem there. We will re
spect our treaties with Ralsull, but
will make no treaty with Abd-el
Krim (the Riff chieftain) and will
launch a new offensive in the Mellila
zone in with the plans of
the general staff.”
It la stated In Madrid, the corre
spondent adds, that the great of
fensive In Morocco will probably be
gin within a week with 150,000
troops.
Rivera disclaimed any intention of
governing without parliament, say
ing that he would form ahother, truly
representative of Spanish opinion,
which would create a new constitu
tion for the country. Referring to
tho suppression of sundry officers
under the old regime he asserted that
there would be a bureau of com
plaints In each ministry to which all
Spaniards might present their griev
ances.
TREATY TAKEN UP.
U. S. Envoy Promised Early Reply
on Commercial Pact.
Ambassador Moore at Madrid in
(formed the State Department today
that he had conferred with the new
Spanish premier, Gen. Prlmo Rivera,
and had been promised early reply
with respect to the commercial treaty
in process of negotiation between
Spain and the United States.
An American draft of tho treaty
was transmitted to Madrid some months
ago, and conversations with the for
mer ministry have been going on, with
a prospect that a complete agreement
soon would be completed. The treaty
is the first of a series of commercial
; pacts which are In prospect to re
-1 adjust the agreements between the
United States and various nations on
a basis made necessary by changes
resulting from world war conditions.
KING ENDS PARLIAMENT.
No Disturbances Follow Declara
tion of Military Regime in Spain.
By the Associated Press.
MADRID, September 17.—King Al
fonso has signed a decree dissolving
parliament.
No disturbances and little excite
ment have been caused by the estab
lishment of the military regime and
the publication of decrees by the new
government. For the present Gen.
Prlmo Rivera is the only responsible
, minister. He has the power to pub
lish decrees, which thereby become
laws.
As tho country now Is governed by
a military directorate. Prlmo Rivera.’*
title appears to be president of the
military directorate, Instead of presi
dent of the council of ministers. The
foreign ministry of war will be re
tained, but It is understood all other
ministries and aubsecretaryshlps have
‘been suppressed. The various de
partments will be under control of a
higher government official, to be
chosen bj* seniority. He must, how
ever, submit all matters to the presi
dent of the directorate for decision.
Rigid Economies in View.
The military directorate will begin
rigid economies In the national ex
penses, but without prejudicing the
functions of the administration. The
government, Prlmo Rivera declares,
will propose and develop a policy of
security, regarded as Indispensable
(Continued on Page 2, Column 2.)
said Lancaster upon the arrival of
the Orbita today. "Suddenly In
the same fashion as a Chinese
rocket. It burst and all the world
seemed filled with a greenish,
magic light. The intense light
paralyzed my eyes for five min
utes, and then I saw floating in the
remote upper spaces a streak
which glowed as volcanic fires do
through brownish smoke.”
The meteor was recorded in the
Orbita’s log as flashing at 5:50
o’clock, Greenwich time. In latitude
46.12 north and longitude . 38.43
west. It crossed the heavens from
a southwest to a north-northeast
location, from the direction of the
constellation of Pegasus through
Casslopoela and vanished in the re
gion of the Great Bear. The me
teor was about four times the size
of Sirius.
; .» , •< i... ..u .....
I HOW I
YOU
Gay Dress for Policewomen j
Banned hy New j
Dainty little red and green shoes
with high French heels, or dresses
covered with rows of images no
longer will grace the forms of any
of Washington’s twenty policewomen.
For police officials—mere men—have
issued a fall fashion bulletin, de
creeing what a policewoman shall
wear on duty. Here It is, in the plain
language of the order;
"Plain dark colored cloth suit,
straight out. tailor made.
"Hats to be along simple lines, with I
no trailing trimming.
“Shoes to be black, gray or brown,
with low, flat heels.
"Stockings to be. black, brown or j
gray. , I
GREEK NAVY READY i
) TO SALUTE ITALY
. i
i
1 By the Aunrlatcd Press.
TARANTO. Italy, September IT- —
1 Arrangements for the ceremony off
Phaleron on Wednesday in which the
fleet will salute an allied naval
squadron In accordance with the set
tlement of the Greco-Itallan Incident
, were announced here today.
The Italian squadron will Join the
French cruiser Jean Bart and the
British battle cruiser Hood ten miles
off Phaleron and the combined force.
' under command of the Italian ad
miral Solarl, will steam before the
Greek fleet, which will salute the
Italian flag with twenty-one guns.
The Greek vessels In the ceremony
will Include the cruiser Giorgios
Averoff and the battleship Lefnnos,
formerly the U. S.-S. Idaho. As soon
as the ceremony is over the Italian
squadron will sail for Corfu.
While the religious ceremony for
the Italian victims of the massacre
near Janlna, which precipitated the
crisis, was being held in the Catholic
cathedral in Athene, requiem mass
will be celebrated aboard 1 ' the battle
ship Conte D1 Cavour for Gen. TelUnl
and the other victims of the massacre.
The bodies of the slain officers ar»
expected to arrive here Thursday
aboard the battleship San Marco,
escorted by the Conte D1 Cavour. the
Gluilo Cesar and a squadron of de
stroyers. They will be received by
all the civil, military and ecclesi
astical authorities, patriotic associa
tions and the entire garrison of fas
clsta militia.
The bodies will be sent to Rome,
where a solemn tribute will be paid,
with the king and his entire cablnt
participating.
saymMnteb
TO VET BUREAU JOB
• !
Brig. Gen. Charles E. Sawyer* the
White House physician, has been ap
pointed “acting community manager”
at the United States Rehabilitation
Center, Federal Park, Pcrryville, ild., ,
a government reservation projecting;
Into Chesapeake bay, seventy miles
from the Rational Capital. 1
This was learned at the office of
Director Hines and at Gen. Sawyer’s
own office in the United States Vet- j
erans’ Bureau today.
President Coolldge some time ago an
nounced that Gen. Sawyer would re
main as White House physician.
The Veterans’ Bureau hospital at
Perryville Is for nervous and mental
cases and serves as a supply -statlop
fqy the bureau. Gen. Sawyer is offi
cially in Charge and also has the
status of an "observer” for ’ Director
Hines. . i ..
The Federal Hospitalization Board,
of which Gen. Sawyer is chairman,
has virtually finished its work, but
is still existent. ->■< ■ -I
Because of Oen. Sawyer’s interest
in the welfare of the disabled war
veterans, some of his friends have
suggested that he is obtaining ex
perience at Perryville, as an “ob
-1 server," with a view of being In a
I position to aid disabled veterans In
his borne state—Ohio —when he re
sumes private practice. ,
A general practitioner In Marion,
Ohio, and life-time friend of War
ren O. Harding, Dr. Sawyer was made
a brigadier general in the Officers’
Reserve Corps and asslgne’d to* active
duty at the White House as the
President’s physician, when his friend
became the Chief Executive.
He soon became one of the most
powerful figures In the Harding ad
ministration. The board acts in an
advisory capacity to the director of
the Veterans’ Bureau on matters re
lating to th» hospital care of dis
abled veterans.
Shirt waists to be in keeping with
the position.
"The above described clothing must •
be worn on duty, except when other- /
wise directed by the officer in charge
of the woman’s bureau."
At first glance it might seem that 1
the order would make the streets
safe tor male mashers who make eyes •
at the passinig beauties. But the
last paragraph of the order is a sig
nificant one. It gives the officer in
charge of the woman’s bureau the
right to make exceptions to the gen
eral rule.
; The police department has always
; had rules of dress for the brass-but
j toned tnale members of the force, but
; this is believed to be the first time
the department has ever undertaken
j the task for the fair guardians of the
I law. »
M MILK SOURCES
PROMISED CAPITAL,
Dairymen in Clash With Pro
ducers See Possibility
of Changes.
Many new milk producers are plan
ning to ship their product to Wash
-1 ington if a fight develops between
the local dairymen and the farmers
of Maryland and Virginia, it was
learned today.
A battle between the producers and
1 distributors of this commodity is said
to be brewing over the desire of the
farmers to sell their milk to the local
dealers through the Maryland and
Virginia Milk Producers' Association.
The local dairymen are said to favor
the system of buying their milk di
rectly from the farmers as individ
uals.
Prlee Advance Uncertain.
Neither the dairymen nor the of
ficials of the producers’ association
were able to state today whether the
price of milk per quart would ad
vance on October 1.
A member of the dairymen stated
that there would be no increase in
the retail price unless the producers
go up on the wholesale figure. At the
office of the producers’ association, Ist
and Q streets northeast, it was stated
that no increase had been decided
upon.
It is understood the board of direc
tors of the producers’ association will
meet In Washington Wednesday, at
which time the question of selling milk
to the Washington dairies through the
organization probably will be dis
cussed.
It was learned today from a reliable
source that within the past few days
the health department has been called
upon for a large number of application
blanks for permits to ship milk into
Washington from sources not hitherto
shipping to this city.
This is taken to indicate that should
any of the dairymen fail to reach an
agreement with their present farms
they would be able to get milk from
these new sources.
Health Officer William C. Fowler is
following the present situation. He
stated today that fils chief concern Is
to see that only good quality milk
I ccmes into Washington. He expressed
j the belief, however, that there are no
apparent reasons for an increase in the
price of milk at this time.
Ordinarily the price advances a cent
or two on October 1 for the winter
months. Dr. FowlCf pointed out, how
ever, that the price did not go down
during the past summer, as has been
the custom in previous years.
POLICEMEN DETAILED
TO ENFORCE PARKING
Squad of Five Bicycle Hen Sent
. Out to Detect Rule
Violations.
MaJ. Sullivan’s special squad 0 f five
bicycle men started today to enforce
automobile parking rules downtown,
and at noon, had made nine arrests.
Inspector ■ Headley, • chief of the
traffic bureau, explained that the ad
ditional detail makes a total of ten
bicycle policemen • detailed- to ■ duty
with the traffic bureau.
This special parking squad was
created by Mdj. Sullivan at the sug
gestion of Commissioner Oyster, in an
effort to break up the practice of leav
ing machines In one place on a busy
downtown street all day or for sev-,
eral hours at a stretch.
The traffic regulations- specify
thirty minutes’ parking In the con
gested section except around public
parks, where machines may be left
for two hours,
.. i - . ;
155,000 CHILDREN
IBEGIN SCHOOL YEAR
[Many of Buildings Over-
I crowded as Pupils Throng
In on First Day.
"Washington’s public schools opened
today for the scholastic year of 1923-
24 with heavy enrollments. Although
there will be no figures showing the
total number enrolled on the first day
until late this afternoon, belief was
expressed that the figure probably
would exceed 35,000.
The greatest Increase In the en
rollment, in the opinion of the offi
cials, will be snown in the third divi
sion, which covers the Mount Pleas
ant sections and the newly developed
subdivisions of the northwest. Vir
tually all the schools In this division
were overcrowded last year. The
congestion gives evidence of increas
ing until the completion of the new
Macfarland Junior High School, which
will provide relief for many of the
schools.
A portable colony of four one-room
structures has been placed on the
edge of the Macfarland High School
site In north Petworth to accom
modate the overflow from the Pet
worth. West and other schools In that
vicinity, pending the completion of
the Macfarland Junior High School.
Robert L. Haycock, supervising prin
cipal of the third division, said that the
enrollment in his district gives every
Indication of being unusually heavy
The greatest Increase was noted In the
lower grades of the Petworth School.
Many of the new pupils enrolling In
this division are from out of town
The junior high school classes or
ganized in the West and Petworth
schools filled up soon after the opening
this morning. There are enough pupils
now in these classes, he said, to fill
the new Macfarland Junior High’
School if it could be opened tomorrow
Similar junior high school classes
were organized In the Emerv and
Gage schools. It is the plan of offi
cials to give pupils in these classes
as much junior high school work as
possible until the new Langley and
Macfarland junior high schools are
completed. When these buildings are
ready for occupancy the junior high
school units in tte West and Petworth
schools will be moved in their en
tirety into the Macfarland School
The junior high school classes In the
Gage and Emery schools will be shift
ed Into the Langley School.
All pupils of the Thomson School
were transferred to either the Frank
lin or Webster school. A third story
slx-room addition is being erected
on the Thomson School and this
building will not be ready for occu
pancy before the Christmas holidays.
The placing of the Thomson pupils
in the Franklin and Webster schools
increased the congestion at these
buildings so greatly that both build
ings were compelled to put all clas
ses on part time.
The officials have received some
criticism of such an arrangement, but
pointed out that It was Impossible
for the work to be completed on the
Thomson today, as the erection of
the third-story addition was not
started until about July 10. The ap
propriation for the addition was not
made available until July 1. and
work could not be started sooner. It
was said.
Despite the large prospective in
crease In enrollment, only one addi
tional school building was available
today to relieve the congestion—the
old Eastern High School, which open
ed as a Junior high school. This build
ing affords some relief to the schools
In Northeast and Southeast Washing
ton.
Periodically, however, additional
school buildings which are now under
construction will be opened as they
are completed. Before the end of the
current semester. It Is expected that
the eighty-four additional classrooms,
which will be provided by the new
buildings, will be occupied, and the
overcrowded conditions which will
exist for several months, will be al
leviated.
Tricky Currents Wrecked V. S.
Destroyers , Says Fisherman
By the Associated Press.
SANTA BARBARA. Calif., Sep
tember 17. —Strange currents flow
ing around Point Honda, where
. seven naval destroyers were
stranded the night of September 8,
still are talked of among the crews
of fishing boats and small coast
wise vessels which put in and out
of Santa Barbara daily.
Capt. Joseph Nocetti, commander
of the fisherman North America,
put in the harbor here yesterday
after a week’s cruise. He prob
ably has as extensive knowledge
of the Santa Barbara county coast
as any man and it is his firm con
Trusty Sponges
Soak Up Evidence
As Jar Is Broken
Norman Hassell, widely known
among the sporting fraternity as
“Jazz Bussell." fancy dancer, i
smashed a one-gallon glass jar
said to have contained corn |
whisky In the vestibule of the j
apartment 1465 Chapin street Sat
urday night, where he had been |
cornered by Policemen Brown and
Vermillion of the tenth precinct
and Revenue Officers Estes and
Edwards, in an effort, police de
clare, to destroy the evidence of
his possession and transporting of
whisky.
The officers, however, pulled
large sponges from their pockets
and soaked up more than a quart
of the liquid on the floor, which
will be used as evidence against
Bassell. The officers chased Bag- .
I noil, who was in an automobile,
j for more than nine squares,
j Bassell took refuge in the hall- j
j way of the apartment and as the ''
(officers entered be smashed the i
glass Jar.
gasoUTsLashed
10PERCENT HERE
Price Cut Coincidental With
That in New England and
8 Seaboard States.
A 10 per cent slash in the wholesale
price of gasoline went into effect in
Washington today, at least six of the
j leading oil companies cutting 2 cents
( off the tank wagon price to retailers.
This lowered the wholesale price from
20 to 18 cents, and cut the retail
price to 21 cents.
The cut in Washington was under
stood to be coincident with a reduc
tion in prices in New England and
eight Atlantic seanoard states, first
announced at the New York head
quarters of the Standard Oil Com
pany of New Jersey, and the Gulf Re
fining Company.
The cut, however, is sharped here,
according to reports, as the largest
cut elsewhere, announced in New
York, was 1 cent on the gallon. One
dealer here reported that the whole
sale price had been cut in Baltimore,
effective this morning by only one
half cent.
Consumers to Feel Cut,
This reduction will be passed onto
the consumer today by the retail
stations of the Standard Oil Company,
it was announced, with a reduction in
their retail prices of from 22 to 21
cenla.
The Penn Oil Company, which also
reduced its wholesale price from 20
to 18, announced that its retail cut
would go into effect tomorrow, with
the exact retail price to be announced
later, “Lightning” gas, it was said,
would be 23 cents.
Wholesalers which also made a
tank wagon cut effective today from
20 to 18 cents included the Texas
Co.. Columbia, Crown and Inde
pendent.
The real cause of the cut in gaso
line prices was not forthcoming to
day from oil company officials in the
city. k
Cause of Cut Not Known.
It was suggested informally in
certain quarters in close touch with
the gasoline situation that there has
been a large supply of gasoline in
the District of Columbia.
On the other hand, there were those
who intimated that the leading oil
companies had made a more "drastic’’
cut in the price here in the city
of Washington than anywhere else
. along the Atlantic seaboard in the
progress of a gasoline war against
the “little” companies who have been
charged with undercutting the price.
No intimation was forthcoming
( from New York headquarters of the
Standard Oil and Gulf Refining, from
whom the first announcements came,
as to the reason for the reduction.
The prices in nearby Virginia and
Maryland, served from Washington,
it was said by company officials in
charge here, will be similarly reduced.
The additional tax of 3 cents laid
by the statd of Virginia will be laid
there, bringing the new wholesale
price up to 21 cents to the retailer,
while the Maryland tax of 1 cent
brings the price to the retailer in
that state up to 19 cents.
CUT IN NEW ENGLAND.
Eight Atlantic Seaboard States
Also Feel “Gas” Reduction.
NEW YORK. September IT.—The
tank wagon price of gasoline today
was reduced 1 cent a gallon in New
England and eight Atlantic seaboard
states by the Standard Oil Company
of New Jersey and the Gulf Refining
■ Company. The new price ranges from
; 18 cents in Washington. D. C., to 21
cents in Virginia, where there is a
state tax of 3 cents a gallop.
The Texas Company announced it
would meet the reduction. The ter
ritory in which the cut was an
nounced by the Standard of New Jer
sey includes New Jersey, North and
South Carolina. In addition to the
! New England states, the Gulf Re
fining Company reduced the price in
New York and New Jersey,
i The new price in most of the terri
tory affected is 18 cents a gallon plus
the amount of state tax, if any.
GOVERNOR SEEKS FACTS.
; Ohio Chief Asks Oil Companies
Why Reductions Miss State.
1 COLUMBUS, Ohio, September 17.
Seeking to learn why gasoline is be
t Continued on Rage 2, Column IT)
victton that the devils of the deep
■were playing diabolical tricks on
the night the naval vessels went
on the rocks.
“That current along Honda was
not where it was the day before.”
he said. “Something happened to
it. One day it went one way, an
other day the next. The compass
is no good when current acts like
that. All ships that night went
straight to the rocks when com- !
pass pointed to open sea.”
Capt. Nocettl’s own craft went
ashore before the destroyers struck.
That happened at a time when he
could have taken an oath, he said,
that he was several miles oft shore.
Only the fact that his boat was of
light draft saved it from being
wrecked. t
“From Press to Home
Wit Kin the Hour 9 *
The Star’s carrier system covt-s
every city block and the regular edi
tion is delivered to Washington homes
as fast as the papers are printed.
Saturday’s Circulation, 83,992
Sunday’s Circulation.. 94,573
EXPECT 9 VERSIONS
OE NAVAE DISASTER
AT INQUIRY TODAY
Crews of Wrecked Destroy
ers to Testify After Com
manders Are Heard.
REAR ADMIRAL PRATT
PRESIDING AT COURT
Impressive Memorial Services for
Twenty-Three Drowned Seamen *
May Be Held Tomorrow.
By the Associated Press.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., September 17.
Nine versions of the naval disaster off
Point Honda September 8, In which
seven destroyers were wrecked and
twenty-three enlisted men perished,
were expected to be read into the
record of the naval court of inquiry
investigating the catastrophe when it
resumed its sessions here today.
Reports prepared by the command
ers of all of the seven wrecked ves
sels and of the two others which were
damaged in the grounding were to be
submitted to the court and read in
the presence of the commanding of
ficer and surviving members of the
crew in each case.
Crews May Testify.
After the reading of each report the
crew of the destroyer involved was
to be sworn and each man given an
opportunity to add any information
he thought' should be incorporated in
hla commander’s account of the dis
aster, or any complaint which he felt
should be made at this time. At the
conclusion of this procedure, which
was to take place at the destroyer
base here, the investigating body was
expected to adjourn to a courtroom
at the naval air station on North Is
land. where reports of other officers
of the destroyer squadron might be
submitted and the testimony of ex
perts in navigation received.
Witnesses likely to be called be
fore the court of inquiry include, be
sides the naval officers in authority
on the wrecked or damaged shipsi. the
radio operators on the various de
stroyers. their signalmen and quar
termasters on duty at the wheels of
the vessels when the squadron ran
aground.
Pratt Heads Caari.
Rear Admiral William V. Pratt,
commanding division 4 for the bat
tle fleet and himself a former com
mander of the Pacific destroyer force,
heads the naval officers constituting
the court of Inquiry.
Meanwhile other naval officials
here were busy With preparations for
impressive memorial services in honor
of the twenty-three dead. Tentative
plans call for services at the naval
air station on North Island tomorrow
afternoon, with every available offi
cer and enlisted roan of the destroyer
force participating.
Recovery of four additional bodies
at the scene of the wreck yesterday
bright the total number of dead re
covered to ten.
AWARDS SALVAGE CONTRACT.
Navy Department Orders Only One
Destroyer Refloated.
LOS ANGELES. September 17.—The
Navy Department has awarded a con
tract for salvaging the U. a S.
Chauncey, the only one of seven
wrecked destroyers deemed worth re
floating, to San Francisco Interest*.
The machinery and equipment of
the other wrecked vessels will be
salvaged under direction of the Navy.
NAISIiIOWNS
TIE IN WINNING, 3-3
BY JOHN B. KELLER.
Southpaw Wally Warmoth. recently
recalled from the Memphis club of the
Southern Association, was Manager
Bush’s selection for mound duty in
the first game of a double-header be
tween the Browns and Nationals hero
this afternoon.
Bayne was on the slab for the
Browns.
FIRST INNING.
ST. LOUlS —Gerber popped to Ruel in
front of the plate. Ezzeli lofted to
Judge. Tobin went out, Harris to
Judge. No runs.
WASHINGTON —Evans singled to
center. Peck hit into double play,
Ezzeli to McManus to Schlelbner. Goslln
tripled to left center. Rico grounded to %
Schleibner. No runs.
SECOND INNING.
ST. LOUlS —Harris threw out Wil
liams. McManus singled to left. Karris
fumbled Whaley's grounder, but recov
ered the ball in time to get the runner
at first. McManus stopped at second
on the play. Biuege threw out colllns.
No runs.
WASHINGTON— Judge went out
Bayne to Schleibner. Ruel singled to
left. Harris drove into the new left
field stands for a triple, scoring Ruel,
Biuege rolled to McManus and Harris
was caught at the plate, McManus to
Collins. Warmoth was hit by a pitched
bail. Evans singled to left, scoring
Biuege, while Warmoth pulled up at
second. McManus threw out Peck.
Two runs.
THIRD INNING.
ST. LOUlS —Schleibner singled to
left, Bayne sacrificed. Biuege to Judge.
Gerber filed to Evans. So did Exaell.
No runs.
WASHINGTON Goslin filed to
Whaley. Rice walked. A ball from
Judge's bat bounded off McManus' face
for a double, sending Rice to third.
Ruel singled to left, scoring Rica, but
Judge was caught at the plate, Williams
to Collins. Ruel took second on the
throw in. Harris singled to Ezzetl at
third, Ruel stopping at that corner.
Biuege walked, filling the bases. War
moth fanned. One run.
FOURTH INNING.
I ST. LOUlS— Tobin walked. Williams
j singled to center, Tobin taking third.
McManus walked, filling the bases. A
third strike was called on Whaley. Col
lins. with a three and two count, dou
bled to left, scoring Tobin, Williams
and McManus. Schleibner ■ went out,
Warmoth to Harris to Judge, Colllna
taking third. Bayne fanned. Threa
runs. _
TWO CENTS.