Evening star. [volume], December 29, 1923, Image 1

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

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WEATHER. "1
Fair tonight; lowest temperature
near freezing. Tomorrow unsettled
and slightly wanner; probably rain.
Temperature for twenty-four houre
ended at 2 p.m. today—Highest, 56. at
2 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 37,’ at 8 a.m.
today. Full reporf on page 2.
Goring N. Y. Stocks and Bondt, Ptge 16
M w on nnc Entered as second-class matter
■v*V. ».l7,vcfO. # post office Washington, D. C.„
VERACRUZ OBJECT
OF DRIVE ON BROAD
FRONT6YOBREGON
Repair of Railways and
Bridge Near Ocotlan Pro
ceeds Feverishly.
—*
REBELS IN GUADALAJARA
BESIEGED ON THREE SIDES
Fall of Jalisco Capital to Pound
ing of Federals Expected
Momentarily.
py the Aftsociated Press.
MEXICO CITY, December 29.—A
general advance upon Vera Cruz, ex
, tending from Tehuacan to Apizaco,
l,as been ordered to begin today under
command of Gen. Eugenio Martinez,
according to Puebla specials. This
follows receipt of a report from Gen.
•I uan Andrew Almazan to the effect
That the rebels have evacuated Tehua
ran and are retiring In the direction of
Oaxaca.
President Obregon has moved his
headquarters from Irapuato to Yure
cuaro, following the evacuation of that
town and La Barca by the Estradistas
(rebels). Meanwhile, work of repair
ing railways torn up by the rebels and
rebuilding the bridge over the Lerma
river near Ocotlan is being rushed fev
erishly.
Federal soldiers, for the purpose of
distinguishing themselves from the
rebels, are wearing hatbands bearing
the slogan: “Death to Traitors.”
GUADALAJARA BESIEGED.
Federals Rammer Rebel Stroug
v hold on Three Sides.
By tiio Associated Press.
JUAREZ. Mexico, December 29.
Federal forces early today are hem
ming in from three sides the revolu
tionary stronghold at Guadalajara,
capital of Jalisco.
After having captured the towns
of Zacoalco, Yuracuaro and Ciudad
Gutman, as reported by Minister of
War Francisco Serrano, the fall of
the city is expected momentarily.
Reports that the revolutionists had
captured Gen. Gardenas and 300 men
. at Irapuato were contradicted in ad
vices received here by the consul
general, he said, adding that Cardenas
is commanding a division on one side
of Guadalajara.
RANCHERS FACE LOSSES.
Mexico Decrees Annulment of Title
to Lands.
By the Associated Press.
SAX ANTONIO. Tex., December
29. — ranchers in northern
Mexico face confiscation of their
lands under a recent decree publish
ed by the Mexican government, ac
cording to a message received by the
San Antonio Express from Louis J.
Magenta of Del Rio, Tex. Hundreds
of thousands of acres are said to be
involved.
The decree, said to have been pub
lished In the official organ of the
state of Coahuila December 5, is
signed by R. P. de Negri, minister
of agriculture for Mexico. It stated
that the concession of June 23, 1881.
for the measuring and bounding of
Idle lands was given under condition
that these lands should bo colonized,
and that this condition has not been
compiled with. Therefore, the titles
to these lands are declared to be an
nulled and the lands returned to the
dominion of the nation.
WILL RECEIVE ENVOYS.
Obregon to Return to Capital for
New Year Greetings.'
By the associated Press.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex., December 29.
r~ President Obregon, who Is direct
ing the campaign against Gen. Es
trada, rebel, is expected to return to
Mexico City within the next day or
two where he will receive the cus
tomary New Year greetings from
members of the diplomatic body, ac
cording to a dispatch received here
from the Mexican capital.
The Mexican ministry of finance
has rejected a petition, filed by the
oil refineries of Mexico, requesting
that a tax should be Imposed on
gasoline Imported Into the republic,
according to a Story printed In La
Prensa, Spanish language newspaper
published here.
SENATE FAILS TO MEET.
Short of Quorum When Huertistas
Bolt Chamber.
By the Associated Press.
MEXICO CITY, December 29.—The
Mexican senate yesterday did not re
sume discussion of the general claims
convention between the United States
and Mexico on account of the lack of a
quorum. This was because the de la
Huerta supporters refused to attend,
as they claimed the administration
had withheld consent to alteration of i
certain articles.
The chamber of deputies voted to
summon supplementary deputies to
fill the places of thirteen legislators
■who have followed de la Huerta to
Vera Cruz, general headquarters of
the rebellious faction.
CABDEZ ISSUES DECREE.
Leader of Rebels Orders Freedom
of Contract in Yucatan.
VERA CRUZ, December 29.—A
mesago from Yucatan says Ahat Gen.
Cardez,' chief of the rebel movement
there, has issued a decree guaran
teeing freedom of contract. He has
also abolished the so-called “leagues
of resistance" and has ordered that
both workers and employers have
liberty of action in making agree*
merits.
TWO PERISH IN FIRE.
Third inmate of Home Escapes,
But Is Fatally Burned.
SCRANTON, Pa., December 29. —Mrs.
Dorothy Buchanan, seventy-four, and
her brother. Grant Brown, seventy
five, were burned to death in their
home at Deep Hollow. N. T., yester
day. Wallace Buchanan, seventy,
brother-in-law of Mrs. Buchanan,
Jumped from the second floor, after
being badly burned and walked and,
crawled two miles through snow t*
the . nearest farmhouse. He is dying
at Deposit.
Japanese Cabinet
Tries Twice to
Surrender Reins
By the Associated Prew>.
TOKIO, December 29. The
prince regent this morning re
turned the resignations of the
members of the cabinet, presented
Thursday, refusing to accept
them, -y
Premier Yamamoto tendered the'
resignations again this afternoon,
indicating that the Cabinet mem
bers do not desire to remain' in
office.
RUSH U, S, WARSHIP
TO HONDURAN PORI
Cruiser to Remain Till Re
volts in Honduras and
Southern Mexico End.
The armored cruiser Rochester,
flagship of the United States special
service squadron in Central and South
American waters, has been sent to
Port of Amapala, Honduras, and will
remain in that vicinity until the
present disturbances in Honduras and
southern Mexico have quieted.
The step Is explained as a precau
tionary measure against any harm to
American life or property In either of
the two countries, now torn by inter
nal warfare. The Rochester Is In
command of Rear Admiral Dayton,
who also is commander of the south
ern cruiser squadron. She has aboard
a small complement of marines, but
it is understood none pf the ship’s
personnel will he landed except In
case of emergency threatening Amer- j
lean interests.
From the Honduran. port to which
she has been ordered the cruiser will
be within easy reach of southern Mexi
can ports, where the de la Huerta rev
olution is reported to have gained
headway.
The exact situation In Honduras la
not known here, but such dispatches as
have come through the censorship in
dicate a serious crisis. Armed disturb
ances accompanied the recent presi
dential campaign in that country, and
a band of Honduran troops are said !
to have crossed into Nicaragua and
committed depredations. The Ameri
can minister at the Honduran capital
has been instructed to express the dis
pleasure of the American government
at. these developments.
venizMeaves
FOR GREEK POST
v -*v s'\ »**.• y
Friends Skeptical of Success
of Political Moves—Failure
Is Predicted.
By the A««oci*ted Free*.
PARIS, December 29. —Eliptherioe
Venlzelos. former Greek premier, left
Paris for Athens last evening. He
evaded the newspaper men by an
nouncing that his departure had been
postponed.
The caution with which the de
parture of M. Venizelos was surround
ed is explained by his friends as
due to the fact that bitter animosities
aroused by the interior political
troubles at,Greece have not yet been
Venlzelos feels there .Is a
formidable minority. If not an actual
majority, against him in Greece at
the present moment.
His friends are skeptical as to the
success of any political action he may
undertake In Athens. It is pointed
out that If he advocates maintenance
of the royalist regime, which he is
known to favor, he will antagonize
the most violent elements of the
country.
On the other hand, there Is much
doubt, in the opinion of these ob
servers, as to whether the result of
the recent elections should be taken
as a fair expression of public opin
ion in favor of a republic.
DAWES AND YOUNG
WILL SAIL TODAY
Robinson, Third TJ. S. Representa
tive, to Join Them in
Europe.
NEW YORK, December 29.—Brig.
Gen. Charley G. Dawes, former direc
tor of the United States budget bu
reau, and Owen D. Young, chairman
of the board of the General Electric
Company and of the Radio Corpora
tion of America, two of the three
'Americans who have been Invited by
the inter-allied reparations commis
sion to sit as members of its commit
tee to consider means of balancing
the German budget, sail today on the
America for Europe.
They will be present, when the com
mittee meets January 14. In Paris,,
where they will be unofficial rep
resentatives Os the United-States, but
will act In an official capacity on the
committee. Henry M. Robinson. Los
Angeles banker, the third American
delegate, will Join them abroad.
Mr. Young yesterday sent by. wire
less his acceptance of the commis
sion’s formal Invitation lo.aerve.
-- ~ 9 - * -
HAMMER AND CHISEL
USED TO KILL SELF
Suicide Stands Before Mirror and
Drives Steel Into Head,
Police— Believe.
By the Associated Press.
WINTHROP, Mass., December 29.
“A peculiar case of suicide,” was the
police characterization today of the
death of William J. Downes, postal
clerk, whose body was found in his
home last night with a chisel driven ]
Into the bead and a hammer lying
nearby.
The police expressed the opinion
that he had forced the chisel into
hie head while standing in front of a I
mirror. He had . brooded over the
death of bis Wife. * '
SUNDAY MOBBING EDITION
WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1923—TWENTY-FOUR PAGES.
DIXMUDE WRECKED
BY BUST; FEU IN
SEA, NEWJHEORY
Sicilians Report Balls of Fire
Seen to Fall on Morning of
December 26.
OFFICER’S WATCH LENDS
STRENGTH TO SUGGESTION
No Trace of Graft or Bodies Found.
Father of Officer Takes
News Stoically.
By the A.nooiated Free*.
PARIS, December 29.—A sudden ex
plosion was suggested today as the
cause of the disappearance of the
dirigible Dlxmude.
Advices from Rome said that noth
ing had been found among the ef
fects of Lieut.’ Grenadan, commander
of the dirigible, whose body was re
covered by fishermen off Sicily, to
slfbw that he felt the ship was In im
mediate danger. In addition, Sicilians
told of having seen flashes at sea at
the time the lieutenant’s watch
stopped. •
The watch stopped at 2:30 o’clock.
The station master and other em
ployes at the Sclacca railway station
say that at 2:30 on the morning of
the 26th they saw a bright, transient
gleam in the sky seaward, the origin
of which they were unable to ex
j plain: however, they were certain it
was not lightning.
Other persons at Soiacca report that
two distinct ftames resembling balls
of fire disappeared into the waves.
The lledtenant’s body was wrapped
In a heavy fur coat over his uniform.
In his pockets were a number of un
developed photographic negatives
made during the "course of the trip,
bqt no log book or any documents
likely to throw, light on the fate of
the dirigible.
Gondola May Have Fallen.
It is considered possible that the
foremost car of the six gondolas at
tached to the Dixmude,' which con
tained the captain’s-, oabtn* and the
chart and navigating room became
detached, from the airship and fell
into- the see.: alone; lightenlag • the
craft and causing It to rise higher
and be carried' along by the wind.
iSTft
printed prayer by St. Francis de Sales
petitioning for protection and safeguard
the Freniih naval attache In Rama,
who was due ih Sclacca today, would
find In the pockets of Lieut. Grenadan
papers that would explain the dis
aster.
At present every one Is convinced
that the entire crew of fifty men per
ished and that the ship herself w-aa
destroyed.
None of Pigeons Return.
One point which is puzzling marine
department officials is the fact that
none of the pigeons which the Dix
mude carried has returned.
The news of the discovery of the
body of Lieut. Grenadan off Sclacca
Is being withheld from hla wife, who
(Continued on Page 2. Column 1.)
PREsim
SHORT RIVER TAUNT
Will Go on Mayflower as Far
as Quantico and Back
This Afternoon.
President Coolidge, with the mem
bers of his family and a party of
friends, wilK take a short cruise on
tjio presidential yacht Mayflower this
afternoon and early tonight. They
will go only as far as .Quantico and
expect to dock at the Washington
navy yard at 8:30 tonight.
The experience of last week, when
the presidential party was fogbound
at the navy yard dock and had to re
main there and the promise of the
weather bureau of much colder
weather tonight, did not deter the
President from arranging today’s lit
tle river Jaunt.
The guests on the trip Included the
Secretary of the Navy and Mrs. Den
by. First Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral and Mrs. Bartlett, former Sena
tor McCumber of North Dakota, Rep
resentative and Mrs. Kahn of Califor
nia, Mrs. Nicholas Longworth, Brig.
Gen. and Mrs. Lord and Mr. and Mrs-
Prank W. Stearns.
It has been announced at the White
House that the President has not the
slightest Intention of leaving Wash
ington, either for a vacation or to at
tend a meeting or banquet of aony
kind, during the next several months.
After that thne his plans arc indefi
nite. This announcement was made
in answer to, the great increase In
invitations being received at the
White House for the President to,
visit this or that winter resort and
from individuals and organizations to
attend some elaborate ceremony plan
ned by them.
To do business with President Cool
idge the approach must be made di
rect and not through the medium of
the public press. Much emphasis Is
laid upon this policy of the President
by a spokesman for him when asked
what the- President’s course would be
■following the receipt of the letter
from Edward Young Clarke, past im
perial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, In
which he contended that that organi
zation Is making an effort to control
local, state and national politics^'
It was made unmistakably clear
that Mr. Coolidge will very likely Ig
nore completely UHJse-who are merely
seeking publicity and are not deeply
interested in any Action by the Presi
dent. The President was represented
as being very- familiar with the
methods of some publicity seekers. If
was explained that he obtained bis
first insight into this practice while
mayor of Northampton, Mass., and
later as governor of the state. It was
pointed out, however, that the Presi
dent will not fail to .act it a com-’
muntcatlon addressed to him requires
action, despite advance publicity, but
he would rather receive the communi
cation before the sender gives It to
the newspapers, • - ~
JOHNSON CAMPAIGN
TO BE THUNDEROUS
Forecasts Are That Race
Will Be on Pitting “Masses”
in West Against Capitalists.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM RILE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, 111., December 29.—One of
Chicago's leading editors, who ranks
as an independent In politics, declares
that the duel between Calvin
and Hiram Johnson is pver as far as
the decisive middle wept, js concerned.
He says that Johnson is a dead cock
in the pit. He points out that in the
six weekp hay* Intervened be
tween the time Senator Johnson an
nounced bis candidacy for the presl
come out tor the Californian.' He ex
cepts, o t course, Johnson’s local
backers, Albert D. Lasker and Wil
liam B. Wrlgley, Jr., outside of
them. It Is asserted Hiram Is friend
less In the substantial, opinion
molding mldwestem community of
which Chicago is the center and
normal expression. •
Nevertheless, the Johnson national
campaign, like the Coolidge cam
paign. Id about to be launched at Chi
cago in the belief that this la “John
son country.” The senate? will pro
claim his platform at Cleveland on
January 3. As orator of the evening,
at a banquet in his honor, he will
hurl a broadside at the Coolidge plat
form, as represented by the Presi
dent’s message to Congress. According
to Johnson’s Chicago friends, he will
"rake the President fore and aft."
Por every major issue raised by Cal
vin Coolidge before Congress on De
cember 6 Johnson will take the other
side. He will oppose American en
try Into the world court. Ho will
advocate the bonus. He will assail
the Mellon tax program, because of
its capitalistic character. He will at
tack the President because of his
conservatism and his failure to hold
out any promise of progresslvlsm at
Washington.
WUI Assail Tax Proposal.
On the subject of the Mellon tax
proposals. If Senator Johnson's Chi
cago supporters speak by the book,
he will be particularly forceful and
specific. They will foreshadow that
Johnson will charge that, while
throwing tax-redudtlon sops to per
sons moderate or small Incomes,
the Mellon scheme is in reality a
gigantic conspiracy to cot the taxes
of the very rich.' / Johnson’s talents
as a special pleader-r-hls ruthless
ness in attack, his skUt In giving a
controversal question the twist best
calculated to appeal to the mass
mind—will be Invoked, his friends
say, to the full when he unlimbers
his guns on the Mellon project.
Before he geJW through with It.
•Johnson enthusiasts in Chicago say,
the country will realize that the Mel
lon program will actually raise, not
reduce, taxes. Ho is expected to
dwell devastating! y upon the en
thusiasm with which the program
has been greeted by the “capitalist
press” of the nation and to ask the
“plain people” to decide for them
selves whether a scheme which
(Continued on Page 2, Column 3.)
FIVE DAYS’ GRACE
GIVEN TO AUTOISTS
Commissioners Order Honoring of
1923 Tags Until January 5.
Bush Anticipated.
. , Tha Commissioners today Issued an
order making 1923 automobile tags
good .until January 5.
At tkp same time they announced
that the license office will not-be open
until noon on New Year day, as pre
viously advertised.
Dp to closing time' yesterday the
license office had sold less than 40,000
tags, and It became apparent-to the
city fathers that the employes of that
office could not hope to handle the re
maining thousands of last-minute ap
plicants between now and not>n on
Tuesday.
Accordingly, they directed Maj. Sul
livan today to instruct his men to
recognise old tags until Saturday
night, January 6.
There is one thing to be remem
bered, namely, that under the tem
porary - reciprocity agreement with
Maryland you will not be able to
cross the District line After January
1 unless you have 1934 District tags.
In other words, if you plan to go
Into Maryland Nek* Tear day you will
/.have to get your new District tags.
9: ■
Workers Denied
Half Holiday Here
On New Year Eve
There will be no half holiday for
government employes on Monday
—New Year eve.
This would require an executive
order on the part of the President,
and at the time it was put up to
him he expressed himself as being
of the same view as President
Harding, who declined to issue an
order proclaiming the day before
New Year a half holiday because
he did not look upon New Year
with the same senUment as he did
Christmas, and could see no good
reason for letting the employes off
from work for the afternoon, in
asmuch as there were no shopping
or other matters to require their
attention.
lOGiOils
FLEE DURING RIOT
S * ■' JU
100 Join in Disturbance at
Ohio Industrial School.
Police Restore Order.
By the AnoclSted Pr*»«.
DELAWARE, Ohio, December 29.
Search Was being made tdday for ten
young woman- inmates of the Girls’
Industrial School, a state institution
near here, who escaped during dis
orders last night in more than
100 girls participated.
Those who took part, in the upris
ing and did not escape today were
quiet and submissive after having
danced themselves tired early this
morning in the assembly hall of the
Institution, where they were placed
under, guard as they were rounded
up by officials. After quite a num
ber had been segregated in the hall
one of the officials, noticing the atti
tude of many of the captives, or
dered the music to be started. The
girls immediately started dancing.
A recent order of the state wel
fare department that corporal pun
ishment be abolished at the institu
tion, of which the girls learned only
within the last few days, was said
by attaches to have been the root of
the trouble. Girls in cottage B, in
charge of a substitute matron, start
ed the trouble, it was said by officials.
After trying In vain to control her
charges, the matron was brushed
aside and the forty-five inmates of
the cottage dashed into the open.
Running about the grounds shout
ing for the other 600 inmates to Join
them, the group soon grew to more
than 100, as girls from other cot
tages bolted and became unmanage
able. A. majority contented them
selves with roving about the grounds
throwing stones through windows,
screaming and causing a general
commotion. Considerable furniture
in several cottages was smashed and
several of the insurgents were cut
by glass or injured in - falling over
objects in the darknese. Sheriff Fred
Harter, Delaware county, a number
of his deputies, and Delaware police
aided by officials and nearby farmers,
quelled -the uprising shortly before
midnight.
Punishment to be meted out to the
Insurgents had not been upon
this morning, according to J. P. El
ton. husband of the matron of the
sbhool.who is 111 and confined to her
bed. Mrs. Elton has been In charge
of the institution only a few months
following the removal of Mrs. Mae
Stannard on charges preferred by
Welfare Director Harper.
The uprising was the worst In fif
teen years, according to employes
of the school.
ELOPEMENT OF MINORS
CAUSES PROSECUTIONS
Arrests Near Macon, Ga., Charge
Kidnaping in Wedding of Boy,
16,- and Girl, 17.
By the Associated Press.'
MACON,' Oa., December 29.—Miss
Ruby Mllllrons, former postmaster at
Crumps Park.'in this county, was ar
rested last night, with a.number of
others, charged with kidnaping, in
connection with the elopement of
Thomas Elbert Bloodworth, fifteen,
and Ludle .Watson, seventeen-year
old daughter of a Jones county
farmer. < .
-Th#; groom was.a table boy„ in a
downtown drug store at the time of
the elo&etnent. Miss Mllllrons is ac
cused In the warrant with engineer
ing the elopement. Sheriff's deputies
found the young couple at Kchecon
nee. Steps wlll be taken to annul the
marriage. -
AIM ID FORCE VOTE
ON BONUSBY JAN. 21
Republican War Veterans in
House to Seek Action
by Committee.
A House vote on the soldier bonus
by the end of January, regardless of
the status of the administration's tax
revision program. Is the demand of
the group of republican representa
tives who are war veterans.
Petitions are in circulation calling
for a conference of republican mem
bers of the House on the night of
January 10. Dnder the proposed call
no business except the bonus would
come up, and It Is the plan of those
behind the movement to have the
conference instruct the ways and
means committee to report a bonus
bill not later than January 21, The
conference also would be asked to
agree to immediate consideration of
the measure by the House once it re
ceives committee approval.
Meets With Plans.
The plans of the former service
men in, a measure fit in with those of
republican members of the ways and
means committee, which has jurisdic
tion over both the tax and bonus bills.
1 The committee has been considering
administrative revisions of the rev
enue bill, with the understanding that
before any study of the proposed rate
changes is begun a decision will be
reached as to whether a bonus bill
should be reported.
Executive committee sessions on
the tax bill have been suspended un
til Thursday, when the measure again
will be taken up. Members, includ
ing Chairman Green, have predicted
that a week or more will be needed
to complete consideration of admin
istrative features, and there have been
indications that some of the commit
tee members believe it should post
pone action on the bonus until the
republican party conference can pass
on the question.
Will Clear Way to r Tax.
With sentiment in the House over
whelmingly in favor of the passage
of a bonus bill, even opponents of
the legislation concede that the con
ference will instruct the ways and
means committee to report a bill
and will be to give the
measure right of way in the House.
Such action. It was generally
agreed today, will clear the way for
a showdown, In the ways and means
committee at least, on the tax ques
tion. The text of the Treasury’s tax bill,
which Secretary Mellon has esti
mated would reduce, taxes 1333,000,-
000 annually, was made public yes
terday by Chairman Green. The
draft, a bulky volume carrying hun
dreds of proposed amendments to the
existing revenue law, many of them
of a technical nature, follows close-,
ly the lines which Mr. Mellon had
announced his department favored.
BOMB IS HURLED
AMONG DANCERS
Two Women Killed, Fifty Injured
in Attack on Jews in South
ern Hungary.
By the Aesoeisted Pres*.
‘ BUDAPEST, December 29. —A bomb
was hurled yesterday among the
(crowded dancers at a Jewish women’s
charity ball in Chongrad, southern
Hungary, killing two women and
wounding fifty. The bombers, who
tossed their missile through a win
dow, are suspected of being mem
bers of the anti-Semitic "Awakening
Magyars Association.”
After thar explosion the crowd
within the. building rushed to the
door. In the panic that resulted
many ■ were trampled underfoot and
injured. The little town has.no hos-:
pital* and few doctors and
quently the condition of the wound
ed has .become precarious through
lack Os proper attention.
It la impossible to send aid from
the outside, as the railroads are
blocked with ’ijaow.
SLIDES FREQUENT IN ALPS
BERN, December 29. —Avalanche*
are crashing down the passes of the
Alps with more frequency than at
any time within the last ten years.
. Many buildings have been destroy
ed and tn some cases whole families
have.been burftd while asleep. The
forests are suffering considerably.
“From Press to Home
Within the Hour**
The Star’s carrier system covers
every city block and the regular edi
tion is delivered toAVashington homes
as fast as the papers are printed.
Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 93,839
♦
FIGHT ON GAS TAX
BILL IN NEW FORM
MAY RE LAUNCHED
Reciprocity, With House
Amendment, Is Declared to
Be Highly Undesirable.
INDIGNATION OF DISTRICT
MOTORISTS IS INTENSE
✓
Attitude of Maryland Roundly
Scored in Report of M. and
M Secretary.
Indignation over the amendment to !
the gas tax bill, providing for reciproc- j
Ity with Maryland, is high among resi- j
dents of Washington. Affecting 100,000 j
motorists, and practically every citizen
of Washington drlectly or Indirectly, it
has been proposed to retain the per
sonal property tax on automobiles, de
spite the fact that the gas tax would
bring in as much revenue as is at pres
ent collected.
Feeling among District motorists is
so' high that many believe much will
be accomplished If the bill Is Rilled.
The fact that because of the amend
ment desirable legislation had been
changed into an undesirable measure.
] and . that motorists will be taxed out
of all proportion to necessity, leads
local owners to regret that the propo
sition had ever been put up to Con
gress.
The Merchants and Manufacturers’ j
Association, the National Motorists’ |
Association, and the Washington
Board of Trade and the American j
Automobile Association are -among i
the organizations which view with j
alarm the attempt to tax the District
motorists an additional $600,000 per
year in motor taxation.
The American Automobile Asso
ciation has gone deeply into the mat
ter and a detailed statement was is
sued and printed in The Star re
cently. The Merchants and Manu
facturers’ Association, In a statement
from Charles J. Columbus, secretary, j
issued today, says, that In its amend- !
ed form the biU would not only con- j
stitute an unwarranted financial i
hardship on local motorists, but
would be a circumstance most hu
miliating to the District of Columbia. ;
Columbus Makes Statement.
"Pursuant to Instructions of the !
board of governors of the Merchants j
and Manufacturers' Association meet- j
Ing December 4, I have made an in- ]
vestlgatlon of proposed automo
bile reciprocity law for the District
of Columbia and respectively submit
’ the following report,” said Mr. Co
lumbus.
"The only community in America
that the state of Maryland has Im
posed upon is the District of Colum
bia through the persistent denial of
the right to travel over Maryland
highways to the people of the Dis
trict of Columbia. This privilege has
been and Is freely granted to the
citizens of all states.
“The discrimination is based on the
fact that the District of Columbia
county roadways do not measure up
to the standard of Maryland or of
many other states.
"That this is unfair discrimination
of the first order is proved by the
fact that the citizens of the District
of Columbia are In no sense responsi
ble for this lack of high-way stand
ard, but that in this, as in all other
matters, we are dependent upon the
' will of Congress.
"The carrying of an extra tag on
automobiles and the securing of an
additional license and the charges in
cident to the same have proved a
hardship both mental and financial.
It has likewise hurt the pride of the
people of the District of Columbia to
realize that our fellow American citi
zens In Maryland have seen fit to set
up barriers against the movement of
our people In and through Maryland.
“Despite this most uncomplimen
tary situation %s It affected the peo
ple of the District of Columbia, the
desire to eliminate the discrimination
was so great on the part of our
(Continued on Page 2, Column 4.)
ICY BUST AND SNOW
HEAD FOR CAPITAL
Mercury to Base Tomorrow Pre
paratory to Sharp Fall Monday,
Is Prediction,
,
Fresh and frisky Alaskan gales are
headed this way, right from the
upper Tukon basin, due to arrive
'some time Monday, to give the Dis- |
trict a taste of real winter weather.
Snow probably will fall later in the
1 week.
This was the long-range forecast
of the weather bureau today, when
I It sent out cold-wave warnings to a
large part of the eastern and middle
western sections of the United States.
The highest temperature in Alaska,
where those breezes are coming
from, was fifty-four ‘degrees below
zero today. The local forecaster,
i however, steadfastly refrained from
making a prediction ap to Just how
low tho mark will be here Monday.
1 "Quite snappy" was all he would
say.
Tomorrow will see rainy weather,
with a rise in the thermometer, as
1 a sort of prelude to the cold spell.
Some time Monday the breezes will
begin to swell in from The northwest,
it is expected, turning mild winter
Into the real thing.
Wild to Shift Monday.
A disturbance, with low barometer,
is now central over Wyoming, and it
is fi-om this that tomorrow s rain Is
expected here. After the rain, the
■ wind is to shift nothwest, the pres
sure will rise and the cold weather
will be on.
Snow is believed probable here after
New Yeai\ according to the weather j
outlook for the period December 31
to January 5, Issued by the weather
bureau today. For the north and mld
* die Atlantic states, in which latter
group comes the District, the predic
tion follows:
i "Much colder Monday or Monday
. night, continuing cold for several
• days. Rain over sopth apd rain or
snow over north portion Sunday
! night, followed by clearing Monday
i or Monday night Fair thereafter un
. til latter part of week when snow is
I probable."
TWO CENTS.
GORDON PLEDGES
FULL PROBE INTO
DRY RAIQSCANDAL
Declares Presmont to Be
Kept on Case—Will Prose
cute Energetically.
NEWTON AGAIN DEMANDS
' INFORMATION OF OYSTER
Representative, for Second Time.
Asks for “Missing List” Facts,
Oyster Withholds Data.
j White police and special intelligence
I unit operatives wero conferring to
! day on the next steps In the Investi
j gation of Washington's alleged rum
syndicate, the office of the district
attorney announced that “every bit of
evidence available for prosecution is
being sought so that a case complete
from all angles may be brought Into
court.
Maj. Peyton Gordon also announced
that Assistant Attorney A. N. Pres
mont Has not been removed from the
case.
“There been and there will be
no let-up In the prosecution of this
case,” Maj. Gordon stated, adding
however, that the evidence had not
yet been turned over to him. "Every
bit of evidence available for prose
cution will be made use of.”
"Mr. Presmont has not been rc
-1 moved and will not be removed from
the case, but will take part in i*.
I throughout. We are working on the
| case with all our energy *aml are
1 exercising every effort to get all
| possible evidence into shape.”
Newton Repeat* Demand.
The case was further featured to
day by another letter from Repre
sentative Newton of Minnesota to
Commissioner Oyiter, in which he
reiterated his demand to be told
| whether or not any list as referred
Ito In news reports had been found
by the police.
| Coincidentally with Representative
i Newton’s letter, Commissioner Oys-
I ter’s reply to the representative’s first
| letter was made public. Comlssioner
Oyster in his letter staled that all evi-
I denoe collected by the police was
I now in the hands of the District At-
I torney's office, and that office must
j make public what it sees fit.
Representative Newton’s letter fol
lows:
"I regret that you have not seen
fit to give me the information that
I requested. In brief, your reasons
are that you cannot make public evi
dence in your hands excepting upon
the instructions from the district at
torney.
Cites Oyster Statement.
"Os course, I have no desire what
ever to hamper further work by the
police, or by the District Attorney.
It never occurred to me to request
any information of this particular
character. At the time of writing
the letter to you, I had in mind your
own interview in the local press
wherein you yourself are quoted as
saying that such a list of names
was found and seized. I naturally
came to the conclusion that yop
would not have made this fact
known and given it out to the pub
lic through the papers if it was in
anv wav to hamper the prosecution.
•T did not request tho list or ita
publication. I asked whether such
a list had been found The papers
quoted you as saying there was such
a list, which, they said. contained
the names of a number of prominent
and influential men. Surely, if you
could then give this matter out to
the press without fear of hampering
prosecution, you now should be at
liberty to at least give the facts to
a member of Congress.
„ “The papers report that this list
mysteriously disappeared. X merely
asked whether this was true I did
not ask for the contents of the list.
Surety the ’disappearance’ of a list
of patrons, containing the names of
alleged prominent and influential
men, is a matter of grave public con
cern. The papers published the fact
of the disappearance of this Hat,
They certainly must have received
this information from your office..
Do you think it consistent to deny
to a member of Congress information
that has been given to the press
from your office?
Repeats His Demand.
“If the statement was made to the
press that this list has disappeared
this case involves something far more
serious than the charge of ‘bootleg
ging.’ It goes to the integrity of the
law enforcement officers of the Dis
trict Evidence involving alleged
prominent and influential men Is lost
Nobody knows anything about It. The
I (Continued on I’age 2, Column 7.)
31 MOROS ARE SLAIN
IN MINDANAO CLASH
Constabulary Successful in Battle *
for Abandoned
Cottage.
By the Associated Press.
MANILA, December 29. —Thirty-one
Moros were killed in a clash with
sixty soldiers of the Philippine con
stabulary at Malundu, In Uanao prov
ince, Island of Mindanao, on Decem
ber 16. according to ay dispatch-re
ceived here from Maj. Fletcher, com
mander of Philippine Scouts at Zam
boanga.
There were ho casualties among the
members of the constabulary force.
At least twenty-five Moros are believ
ed to have escaped during the fight
ing.
The Moros were accused of cutting
telephone wires maintained by the
i constabulary. The clash occurred at
;an abandoned cottage, where tno
Moros had encamped. They were un
der the leadership of D&to (chief)
Fata.
* .
SNOWS SWEEP AUSTRIA.
VIENNA, December 29.—Severe
blizzards continue throughout Aus
tria, hampering communications.
Pood supplies In Vienna are dimin
ishing and prices are rising rapidly.
Throe thousand freight cars are
snowed In at Arlberg.