Evening star. [volume], May 03, 1924, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
Showers tonight and probably to
morrow morning followed by fair
during tomorrow: temperature for
twenty-three hours ended at 1 p.m.
today: Highest, 75, at noon today;
lowest, 48, at 6 a.m. today.
Full report on page 4.
Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 24
"V,-, OQ 000 Entered as second-class rnattei
** post office Washington, D. C.
LATEST CLUE TURNS
SEARCH FOR MARTIN
INTOBERING SEA
Party With Dog Teams to
Comb Rocky Shore—Na
tives Tell of Seeing Plane.
COMPANIONS TO LEAVE
WITHOUT COMMANDER
Ships Scouring Waters Near Chig
nik Report All Efforts Thus
Far Fruitless.
By the Associated Press.
FALSE PASS. Alaska. May 3.—As a
result of infoiynation from natives
scattered along the barren Alaskan
peninsula that they saw Maj. Fred
erick L. Martin, who has been miss
ing since Wednesday morning, head
ed northwestward in the direction of
• Chignik Lakes and the Bering Sea
wireless calls were broadcast today
to all vessels in that northern body
of water, and additional parties were
organized to search the rocky Bering
Sea shore.
A party with dog teams will go to
day from Chignlk to the north side of
the Alaska peninsula to search for
Jlaj. Frederick L. Martin, missing
*lobe flyer, along the Bering Sea.
The weather early in the morning
promised well here, and it was be
lieved that three other aviators who
left Santa Monica, Calif., March 17
with Maj. Martin would depart soon
from Dutch Harbor, 180 miles west
*f False Pass.
While government ships and can
nery boats continued combing the
southwestern shores of the Aleutian
Islands and the Alaska Peninsula as
far east as Chignik for Maj. Maitin.
* commander of the United States
ai ound-the-world flight, his three
companions awaiting him at Dutch
Harbor. Unalaska Island, were pre
pared today to continue their journey
f f weather conditions permitted. The
n* xt scheduled stop for the three was
Atka Island, 350 miles southwest of
* here they were stationed. Orders
were telegraphed to them yesterday
from Washington, D. C., to speed
westward and not wait for their com
mander.
Search I* Fruitless.
Reports received from King Cove
Stated that vessels had searched un
successfully for Maj. Martin and his
mechanic, Staff Sergt. Alva Harvey,
In two harbors and five bays. Efforts
\o find them in Leonard and Adolgo
fjarbors and Coal, Belkofsky, Volcano,
Jiear and Pavlof bays proved un
availing. Latest dispatches declared
the ships went as far as Ivan Island
at the foot of Pavlof Volvano.
Overland searching groups from
Chignlk returned late yesterday with
out any definite trace of the Ameri
can aviators.
The route the missing flyers at
tempted was a short cut to Dutch
Harbor. Although the gales have
moderated and the temperature has
climbed slightly. It was said here
that the missing men might be suf
fering from lack of food, as they
did not carry provisions from Chlg
rik. Chances of killing game were
small, natives said. One faint ray of
hope that the men might not die
from starvation was disclosed by a
member of a coast guard crew, who
told overland searching parties that
Maj. Martin was presented with a
1 fishing pole while staying in Seattle.
Nearly all the streams and the shel
tered nooks along the north Pacific
shore line offer good fishing.
At daylight today renewed efforts
were being made by every one in
the 400-mile area to locate the miss
ing flyers.
MARTIN FORESAW DANGER.
lIV KVA* J. DAVID.
Ppec’al Correspondent of The Star and the
North American Newspaper. Alliance.
ON BOARD UNITED STATES
COAST GUARD CUTTER ALGON
QUIN (by wireless via Chignik,
Alaska), May 3.—ls another Arctic
tragedy to be recorded in the dis
appearance of Maj. Frederick L.
Martin, commander of the round-the
world flight? All day today and
last night the wireless operator on
the Algonquin has had his ear to the !
receiving phones, seeking the answer,
for whatever news there may be—
frood or bad —from Maj. Martin is
ikely to first reach us over the radio.
It is not generally known that Maj.
Martin’s flag plane, Seattle, which
left Chignik for Dutch Harbor last
Wednesday morning at 11:30 o’clock.
Is equipped with a small radio set
having a mean sending range of 250
miles, sufficient to reach our ship,
providing the plane itself has not
tome to grief.
The Algonquin is now off Was
tiesenski. Alaska, about half way be
tween Chignik and Dutch Harbor and
directly in the proposed line of flight.
We have been cruising for the past
twenty-four hours, in and out of the
hundreds of bays and harbors that
dot this barren coast line, on the
constant lookout for some trace of
the lost flyers.
There is a general belief here that;
the terrific storm of the last two,
(Continued on Page 2, Column 4.)
PLANECARRYING two
SETS HEIGHT RECORD
Hacready and Camera Man Reach
31,540 Feet. Unofficially;
Pictures Sharp and Clear.
An unofficial altitude record of
81,540 feet, for two men, was estab
lished and photographs of the earth
were made from this level, which is
declared to be the highest a camera
has ever successfully operated. In a
flight over Dayton. Ohio, yesterday,
according to a message received here
today by Lieut. George W. Goddard,
photographic officer In the office of
chief of air service, from the com
manding officer of McCook Field,
Dayton.
The flight was made by Lieut. John
\ Macready and Capt. Albert W.
ytevens. pioneer aerial photographer
of the Army air service, in tho Le
Pore biplane, which Lieut. Macready
has used in an endeavor to capture
the altitude record of the world.
The pictures were sharp and clear
ond, according to the message, “In
dicate that clear photographs may be
secured from any elevation obfain
p. ai ft by airplanes.” ...
F oley May Succeed
father-in-La iv as
Tammany Leader
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 3.—Surrogate
James A. Foley may succeed his
father-in-law, the late Charles F.
Murphy, as leader of Tammany, if
he will resign from the bench, the
New York Times says.
Agreement upon the selection of
Mr. Foley is said to have been
leached in conference of influen
tial members of Tammany. The
election is expected at a meeting
of the executive committee
Wednesday.
COOLIOGE NOW FACING
REAL TEST AS LEADER
Decisions on 5 Major Bills May
Have Important Bearing
on Campaign.
HAS LEFT CONGRESS FREE
Will Have Chance in Next 6 Weeks
to Assert Himself.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE!.
President Coolidge’s opportunities
for leadership, for assertiveness and
for curbing the multifarious tenden
cies of Congress in the present session
are coming In a bunch—all in the
next six weeks.
Not since the day he succeeded (he
; late President Harding in office has
there developed such j.n occasion for
decision on policy. The course of the
whole Coolidge administration, its
character and objectives, will be
charted now and may furnish the
basis for discussion in the coming
presidential campaign.
Five Kusentlnl Bills.
For Mr. Coolidge has before him
these essential things to decide:
First, whether or not to sign the
soldier insurance bill.
Second, whether to use his influence
in the conferences between the two
houses to prevent the publication of
income tax returns and the removal
of other features of the bill which
are contributing to business uncer
tainty.
Third, whether he will approve the
Bursum bill passed by both houses
providing for increased pensions for
civil war and Spanish-American war
veterans.
Fourth, whether he will sign the
McXary-Haugon bill providing for
the creation of an agricultural ex
port corporation and machinery
whereby the price of wheat and other
products shall be arbitrarily raised
to come up to a fixed ratio with other
commodities.
Fifth, whether he will sign the im
migration bill with clauses in it
giving direct offense to Japan and
impairing the good relations which
have existed with that country, espe
cially since the armament confer
ence and the recent earthquake.
Oawlu of Others.
There are dozens of other bills in
volving important principles, but the
foregoing constitute the outstanding
measures Mr. Coolidge said at the
outset of his administration that he
did not care to indicate in advance
of action by Congress what his policy
toward specific proposals would be.
As a consequence Congress has gone
ahead in many instances and legislat
ed without regard to possible action
by tho President
The President has taken no action
with reference to the making of all
Income tax returns public. The Sec
retary of the Treasury has opposed
this provision, but Mr. Mellon does
not have the veto power. The Senate
has just gone ahead with the very
provision which, House leaders suc
ceeded with difficulty in defeating.
Whether the provision which per
mits any one to see income tax re
turns will be retained aJTter confer
ence between the House and Senate
is doubtful, but already there Is so
much left to conference that the ad
ministration’s effort to get a good
•tax bill has been thwarted.
Publicity of income tax returns in
order to prevent corruption Is ap
proved, but the opportunity for in
dividuals who are not lawmakers to
get trade secrets is the chief objec
tion. Under the House bill the In
formation would be available to con
gressional committees under regula
tions which would safeguard the
misuse .of the data by business com
petitors. Under the Senate bill there
is no such precaution. Anybody who
wants to walk into the Treasury and
find out what his business opponents
are doing can look at the income tax ■
returns. They would be as public as
library books.
The interesting thing about thq
whole tax situation is the way the
prediction of Senator Smoot last
autumn has been verified. He was
against tax revision this presidential
year because Jie felt that politics and
radicalism would supersede any scien
tific plan for tax modification.
He said then that a combination of
Insurgent Republicans, together with
the Democratic minority, would be
enough to defeat the administration
proposals and might result in a tax
bill that would do more harm than
good. But public opinion insisted al
most unanimously that an effort be
made to revise the taxes. The Re
publican leadership has been strug
gling with insurgency. Many regu
lar Republicans have failed to attend
sessions of the Senate at which their
votes were badly needed. The Sen
ate bill In the end will be a hodge
podge, more radical than the House
bill. The supposition that the confer
ence between the two bouses will
make a satisfactory bill Is rapidly
growing less plausible.
Mr. Coolidge himself has not Inter
fered in what Congress has done. . As
a result he will receive a bill with
many features in it which would
justify a veto. In the desire for an
early adjournment of Congress and
the fear that the President cannot
overcome the radicals who hold the
balance of power, the measure pre
sented to him very likely will be
signed.
$5,000,000 BANK FAILS.
“Frozen Assets” Given as Cause
for St. Paul Failure.
t
By the Associated Press.
ST. BAUD, Minn., May 3.—The Cap
itol Trust and Savings Bank of St.
Paul, with deposits of $5,000,000, was
ordered closed today, A. J. Veigel,
atate superintendent of banks, an
nounced.
."Frozen assets’ was the cause, Mr.
Veigel said.
The bank, which has a capital of
$500,000. is closely allied with fur
CapLs; N ; Conn! I' rU he;-. 1. .<
prganueu iu 1530.
m SUNDAY MORNING EDITION
U. S. GRANTS CUBAN
PLEA FOR ARMS TO
PUT DOWNiREVOLT
Hughes Approves Request
and War Department Is
Ready to Rush Munitions.
POWER ALREADY GIVEN
BY CONGRESS FOR SALE
Unfilled Order, Legally Sanctioned,
Permits Delivery From Surplus
War Supplies.
The Cuban government, facing a
“condition of violence” .in Santa
Clara province caused by revolution
ists. has appealed to the Washington
government for the purchase of a
considerable amount of arms and am
munition for use by the Zayas forces
against the revolutionists.
The appeal today was approved by
the State Department and forwarded
to the War Department, where it is
regarded as certain that the arms
and ammunition asked for will be
made available to Cuban authorities
without delay.
In the absence of Secretary Weeks,
War Department officials declined to
reveal the amount of munitions asked
for. but indicated there would be no
trouble in filling the order from the
supply of excess war supplies held by
the Army.
Under the proclamation issued yes
terday by President Coolidge estab
lishing an embargo against shipment
of war munitions to Cuba specific
provision was made by which it will
be possible for the government to
supply the Zayas forces with arms
and at the same time rigidly enforce
the embargo against any commercial
shipments of war materials to Cuba
which might find their way into the
hands of revolutionists.
Sale Is Authorised.
The Cuban army was largely
equipped with service rifles, machine
guns and revolvers when it was or
ganized. American officers who
worked with the Cuban authorities
in organizing the army point out
that the practice of selling arms to
Cuba has been followed since that
time, and sales of munitions to the
% Cuban government have been legally
authorized by Congress.
There is an old order for purchase
of war munitions still partially un
filled before the War Department at
the present, time, under which war
materials have been sold to Cuba
since 1916.
Because of these circumstances it
will be an easy matter to comply
with the emergency request Author
isation for the transaction already
exists and no delay Is contemplated
In exercising It and expeditiously de
livering the quantity of munitions
and arms needed by the Cuban gov
ernment for the use against revolu
tionary forces.
DlKera From Sale to Mexico.
The transaction with Cuba differs
in this respect from that recently
negotiated between the Washington
government and the Obregon govern
ment of Mexico. No authorization
existed at the time Mexico asked for
arms for use against the de la Huerta
revolutionists and the decision in
that case had to be taken by Presi
dent Coolidge.
The sale to Cuba would be made in
line with the policy announced by
President Coolidge when he Issued the
proclamation under which more than
$1,250,000 worth of war materials
were sold to the Obregon government.
That policy favored the sale of arms
and munitions to recognized govern
ments of friendly nations, particularly
in Central and South America, which
were in need of such supplies for de
fense against revolutionary and other
disorderly elements which were at
tacking and attempting to overthrow
regularly constituted government in
stitutions.
ZAYAS OFF FOR FRONT,
By the Associated Press.
HAVANA, May 3.—President Zayas
left Havana today for Santa Clara
Province, where armed men are in
revolt against his government. He
was accompanied by Secretary of In
terior iturralde and Gen. Herrero,
chief of staff.
The president’s departure was kept
H secret until some time after hjs spe
cial train, with a military guara, had
left the city. It was understood he
was going to Clenfuegoes, near where
most of the trouble has centered in
the last few days.
It was declared by Subsecretary of
the Interior de la Torre that Presi
dent Zayas desired to ascertain per
sonally the exact situation in Santa
Clara Province and that his departure
for the scene of the anti-Zayas out
break did not mean that the situation
was more serious.
Newspaper Suspended.
The morning newspaper El Sol was
suspended today and copies of the pa
per were seized on the street by po
lice acting on orders of the govern
ment. It was officially declared that
the chief reason was publication to
day by El Sol of what purported to be
a message from Dr. Federico Laredo
Bru, who recently fled from Clenfu
gos, apparently to avoid arrest on
suspicion of implication In the armed
revolt in Santa Clara province.
An order for the expulsion of Aldo
Baroni, Italian subject and director
of the newspaper El Heraldo, as a
pernicious foreigner, and the arrest
of Luis Guillermo Gallo on suspicion
of being a messenger from Gen. Car
los Garcla-Veiez marked the latest
moves here. Gallo, a resident of Ha
vana, was arrested late yesterday on
arrival from Key West, it became
known early today. He claimed to
be an agent for a tourist agency, and
it was reported he had come from St.
Petersburg. Fla..
The action of President Coolidge In
forbidding shipments of arms and
ammunition to Cuba, except such as
may be authorized for sale to the Cu
ban government, was described by
President Zayas as a great aid in
breaking up the rebellious movement,
and he predicted an end of the move
ment within three or four days. He
then referred to President Coolidge’s
action as an evidence of friendship
for the Cuban government which is
deeply appreciated.
SIOO,OOO Fire Reported.
PROVIDENCE, R. 1., May 3.—The
oven shop of the American Enamel
Company’s plant here was destroyed
.».y flfi today ’.i”’ leas estimated in
excess of SIOO,OOO, .
WASHINGTON, I). C., SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1924-THIRTY-FOUR- PAGES.
IS THIS NEW STYLE^"FR^
PRESIDENT VETOES
PENSION MEASURE
Refuses to Sign Bursum Omnibus
Bill on Grounds of
Economy.
OPPOSES EXTRA BURDEN
Similar Legislation Also Disap
proved by Harding.
President Coolidge today vetoed
the Bursum omnibus pension bill.
The veto based on the- ground
of economy, the executive holding
that the measure would entail an un
warranted drain on the Treasury.
A somewhat’similar bill by Senator
Bursum, Republican, New Mexico, was
vetoed last session by Persident
Harding.
Senator Bursum, Republican. New
Mexico, author of the bill, announced
that an early effort would be made to
pass the measure over the veto. He
said he thought there would be enough
votes in both the Senate and the House.
lUmwim (or Veto.
The President’s statement follows:
“To the Senate: I am returning
herewith Senate bill 5, ‘An act grant
ing pensions and increases of pen
sions to certain sailors of the civil
and Mexican wars and to certain
widows, former widows, minor chil
dren and helpless children of dead
soldiers and sailors and to widows
of the war of 1812, and to certain
Indian war veterans and widows and
to certain Sapnish war soldiers and
certain maimed soldiers and for other
purposes.’ without my approvai
“For the next fiscal year the effect
of this act will be to take an addi
tional $58,000,000 of the moneys paid
by the taxpayers of the nation and
add it to the pension checks of ihe.
veterans of the wars <Tf 1812, > f 1003
and their widows and dependents.
This is the effect for the first year,
but the burden upon the taxpayers
will continue for many years to come.
While impossible of accurate estima
tion, the commissioner of pensions
states that the proposed addition to
the pension roll will total approxi
mately $242,000,000 for the first five
years and $415,000,000 for the first
ten years.
Molds Expense Unjustified.
“No conditions exist which justify
the imposition of this additional bur
den upon the taxpayers of the na
tion. All our pensions were revised
and many liberal Increases made no
longer ago than 1920. Every survivor
of the civil war draws SSO per month
and those in need of regular aid and
attendance, which already includes
41,000 of them, draw $72 per month.
As others come to need this the law
already gives it to them.
The act also proposes to extend the
limits of the war period from April
13, 1565, to August 20, 1866, so that
those who enlisted during this year
and four months of peace now be
come eligible for the same treatment
as those who fought throughout the
war. There are other questionable
provisions providing for the pension
ing of civilians, and relating to the
pensioning of certain classes of
widows.
“But the main objection to the
whole bill is the unwarranted ex
penditure of the money of the tax
payers. It proposes to add more than
25 per centum to the cost of the
pension rolls. It is estimated that It
would bring the total pension bill of
the country to a point higher than
ever before reached, notwithstanding
it is now nearly sixty years since the
close of the civil war. A generous
nation increased its pensions to well
over a quarter of a billion annually
and has already bestowed nearly
56.250,000,000 in pensions upon the
survivors of that conflict and their
dependents. While there has been
some decrease in the annual expense,
it is now proposed by a horizontal in
crease to pay all survives $72 each
month, without regard to age, to
their physical condition or financial
condition.
With the other proposals, a new
high record of cost would be estab
lished.
Need for Economy.
“The need for economy in public
expenditure at the present time can
not be overestimated. I am for
economy. I am against every un
necessary payment of the money of
the taxpayers. No public require
ment at the present* time ranks with
the necessity for the reduction of tax
ation. This result .cannot be secured
unless those in authority cease to
pass laws which Increase the perma
nent cost of government. The bur
den on the taxpayers must not be In
creased; It must be decreased. Every
proposal for legislation must be con
sidered In the light of this necessity.
“The cost of commodities is dimin
ishing. Under such conditions the
cost of government ought not to be
increasing. The welfare of the whole
country must be considered. The de
sire to do justice to pensioners, how
ever great their merit, must be at
tended by some solicitude to do
justice to taxpayers. The advantage
of a class cannot be greater than the
.v<-M‘are of *hc nation.
(Signed) ’ CALVIN ■ COOLIDGE- ’’
FIVE ALIENS ARRESTED.
Braved Perils of Niagara Falls to
Enter U. S.—Fail.
NIAGARA FALLS. N. Y. May 3
Five aliens, one a woman, were
brought across the upper river from
Canada in a rowboat a mile and a
half above the falls early today only
to fall into the hands of immigration
inspectors. John Snyder, sixty-five
years old, charged with bringing them
into this country, was arrested.
Tho trip across the upper river was
a perilous one. The night was dark,
and many ice floes were being car
ried by the swift current down to
the rapids above the falls, which start
less titan a half mile below where the
quintet was landed.
Immigration men say that the price
per head for smuggling aliens across
the upper river is |IOO.
COURT PROTECTS
DAUGHERTY WIRES
Senate Committee Must Show
Cause Why Telegrams Should
. Be Surrendered.
INJUNCTION SUITS ARE FILED
%
Stafford Orders Telegraph Compa
nies to Withhold Messages.
Justice Stafford of the District Su
preme Court has cited the members
of the Senate Brookhart-Wheeler
committee to appear before him next
Friday to show cause why an in
junction should not be issued to pre
vent them from insisting on the sur
render of private telegrams sent and
received by Harry M. Daugherty,
former Attorney General of the United
States during the past three years.
Similar court orders were also is
sued against the Western Union Tele
graph Company, its manager, H. F.
Tass; the Postal Telegraph Cable Com
pany and its manager, T. P. Dowd, to
prevent them from surrendering the
telegrams to the committee.
The court orders followed the filing
of two suits lor injunction late yes
terday afternoon by Mr. Daugherty
against the members of the commit
tee and the telegraph campanies.
DAUGHERTY EXPLAINS SUIT.
For Protecting Telegrams and Test
ing Rights of Committee, He Says.
By the Associated Press.
ASHEVILLE. N. C., May 3.—The
suit brought in Washington by for
mer Attorney General .Harry M.
Daugherty was instituted “for the
purpose of protecting the telegraph
company and to test questions of law
whereby it may be judicially deter
mined to what extent a committee,
without evidence or authority, can
take over the duties of the court,”
Mr. Daugherty declared last night Ip
a statement.
“The telegrams would be of no
service whatever to the committee.
Nobody has any business with any
telegrams outside of those that are
official,” he said. "Telegrams, other
than those which are official, pertain
to little, if any, private business, but
relate to family and social matters.
Some may have been political, though
I paid little attention to politics after
becoming Attorney General.” '
HOLLAND AND SOVIET
PARLEY BREAKS UP
-
I By Cable to The Star and Ch’cico Daily News.
Copyright. 1924.
BERLIN. May 3. —Negotiations be
! tween Holland and soviet Russia
| which had been under way here for
i a week were broken off today.
The Dutch demanded no money
j from Russia, but asked merely aca
demic recognition of Russia’s' pre
war debts. The Russian delegates
replied that they were quite ready to
consider payment, but that they could
not recognize the debts in principle.
This debt question therefore pre
vailed oyer other matters, such as
Dutch recognition de jure of the Rus
sian government and Russian use of
Rotterdam as a port of export in
stead of Hamburg.
Soviet Envoys Adamant.
When the difficult point was
reached the Dutch representatives
asked that the negotiations be Inter
rupted but not broken off. The so
viet ambassador replied that on the
basis of debt recognition further con
versations were useless. _ • <
AGREES TO $14,400
FOR DEEDS OFFICE
House Raises Rent Appropriation
for Recorder More Than
SB,OOO.
DAVIS MAKES THE MOTION
Proposal Follows Personal Inspec
tion of Premises.
Increase from 65,000 to $14,400 In the
appropriation for rent of offices for
the recorder of deeds was made by
the House in committee of the whole
today on motion of Representative
Charles R. Davis, Republican, of Min
nesota. in charge or the District ap
propriation bill.
Representative Davis explained that
Chairman Maddfen of the House ap
propriations committee, accompanied
by members ot the subcompalttee on
the District bill had visited premises
occupied by the recorder of deeds,
and had reached an agreement with
the owners, whereby the entire build
ing would be supplied to the recorder
of deeds for $14,400.
New Building IManned.
Chairman Davis assured the House
that in a few years a new building
would be erected near the courthouse
to be occupied- by the office of the
gressional Record.
RepresentaVlve Chindbloom of Illi
nois told his colleagues that he had
recently visited the office of the re
corder of deeds to look up a title
and that he never saw a public office
so congested and men working under
sucb cramped and practically Impos
sible conditions.
Representative Blanton rose In op
position to the amendment for the
purpose of discussing his own pro
posal that the two street car com
panies in Washington should be forc
ed under their charter provision to
give transportation for a flve-cent
fare. He declared that 70,000 school
children are now compelled to pay
cents for street car rides.
Han List of Nampa.
In advocating a District tax rate
of $2.50 he showed pictures of an
estate whose owner he said he
could not mention by name on ac
count of congressional courtesy, but
that the owner of that estate has
declared his intention of defeating
the Cramton amendment which
changes the fiscal relations between
the federal and District governments
by establishing a fixed contribution
of $8,000,000 instead of the 60-40 pro
portionate arrangement.
Representative Blanton said he has a
list of senators and members of Con
gress showing what property they own
in the district, and that if they persist
in an effort to keep the tax rate at
$1.20 he will print that list in the Con
gressional record.
Failed on Point* •( Order.
Two attempts to force a 5-cent
street car fare in Washington through
limitations on the $41,120 appropria
tion for the Public Utilities Commis
sion, made yesterday by Representa
tive Blanton, failed when points of
order were lodged against them by
Representative Cramton of Michigan
and Chindblom of Illinois.
Representative Blanton proposed
withholding the entire appropriation
from the Public Utilities Commission
until it ordered a return to the 5-cent
Representative Cramton of Michigan
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company and the Capital Traction
Company. The point of order that
this was legislation on an appropria
tion bill was sustained.
Cramton Win* Point.
Representative Cramton won his
fight, which has extended over sev
eral months, for protection of motor
men and conductors on the street
oars against open vestibules in cold
and stormy weather. The House in
(Continued on Page 2, Column 1.)
Rum Runners
and the
U. S. Coast Guardi
BY BEN MeKELWAV.
The story of a thrilling
I week’s cruise aboard the
cutter Seminole, patrolling
"Rum Row.”
Beginning Monday In
The Evening Star
“From Prest to Home
Within the Hour ”
Hie Star’s carrier system covers
every city block and the regular edi
tion is delivered to Washington homes
as fast as the papers are pfinted.
Yesterday’* Circulation, 98,820
* TWO CENTS.
HUGE U. S. BUILDING
PROJECT APPROVED
IN SENATE REPORT
Fire Hazard and Working
Conditions Are Emphasized
Before Body.
$50,000,000 REQUESTED
FOR NEW STRUCTURES
Expenditure Would Be Limited to
$10,000,000 a Year—Action
Urged at Once.
The deplorable conditions under ■
which many of the employes of the
government are forced to work in the
District of Columbia., and the fire
hazards faced by priceless records of
the government, arising out of inade
quate and improper housing for vari
ous agencies of the government, are |
emphasized in a favorable report sub- !
mitted to the Senate today by the !
committee on public buildings and |
grounds on the bill authorizing the ;
expenditure of $50,000,000 for a build
ing program In Washington.
The report was made by Senator
Keyes of New Hampshire on behalf of
the committee, and the bill has been '
placed on the Senate calendar. Every '
effort will be made by its supporters !
to get favorable action upon It at the
present session of Congress. Senator
Keyes, Chairman Fernald of the com
mittee and others believe that the sit
uation here arising out of the need of
more government buildings in Wash
ington requires heroic treatment.
President Coolidge in his annual mes
sage to Congress urged the enactment
of such legislation, and the public
buildings commission, beaded by Sen
ator Smoot of Ctah, made a strong re
port on the matter to both Senate and
House.
Buildings Proposed.
The bill as reported to the Senate |
provides for the expenditure of not!
more than $10,000,000 in any fiscal 1
yoar. The buildings particularly rec- 1
ommended include those for the bu
reau of internal revenue, the Depart
ment of Justice, the general account
ing office, the Department of Agri
culture, a national archives building, !
the general supply committee and j
independent office buildings to house
the alien property custodian, the bu-1
reau of efficiency. Civil Service Com- i
mission. Federal Power Commission,!
Federal Trade Commission, Commis- :
Sion of Fine Arts, International 1
Boundary Commission, International'
Joint Commission. United States
Tariff Commission and other miscel
laneous units.
Report By Keyes.
In his report, Senator Keyes said:
"The committee believes the adop
tion of this bill will lead to a well i
ordered and dignified housing of the !
government’s various departments, '
bureaus and independent establish
ments in the District of Columbia.
The necessity for the adoption of a
building program has long been i
lecognized by all who are familiar i
with conditions under which many of |
the government activities carry on I
their work. Unless early action be '
taken by Congress to relieve the |
present situation, it is only a question j
of time, and a very short time at I
that, until the government will find j
itself in an impossible situation, due
to the rapid deterioration of the so- \
called temporary war buildings.
"There are now in existence twelve 1
of these structures, ranging in floor '
area from 30,000 square feet to 300,000
square feet. They are veritable fire
traps of the flimsiest wooden con- |
struction and present a constant and
most dangerous fire hazard. Several i
of them are literally crowded to the '
roof with priceless and irreplaceable
records, the destruction of which
would mean a staggering loss to the 1
government. That there have been |
no serious fires in these structures to I
date is due entirely to elaborate pre- |
cautions taken by the officials in
charge of them.
Life liimlt »ar.
“Aside from the fire menace, there
is the undeniable fact that they can
last but a short time longer and only
then by the annual expenditure of
considerable money for their repair.
In fact, only a few months ago one of
these buildings. Treasury Annex No.
2. 14th and B streets, became so di
lapidated that the advisability of
abandoning it altogether was con
sidered. Fortunately, however, funds
were available with which It could
be temporarily repaired, and for the
time being a serious situation was
averted, serious, for the reason that
a portion of the bureau of Internal
i revenue occupying the building had
I no funds for rental, there was no
! other government space to which It
I could be transferred, and even if It
had had funds no privately owned
: space could be found for its use.
"Aside from these facts, there is
no valid reason why the business of
the United States government should
be transacted in buildings which are
in appearance, comfort and conven
ience no better than wooden barns.
“In addition to the practical con
siderations of fire hazard, mainte
nance cost and usability of these tem
porary buildings, there is the hu
manitarian consideration of the work
ing conditions of the government em
ployes. Many protests have been
made to the public buildings com
mittee and to the public buildings
commission concerning the deplorable
conditions under which employes
must work in these temporary build
ings. In the summer they are in
tensely hot and in the winter It is
difficult to keep them warm. It is felt
' by your committee that the govern
! ment Is obligated to give its employes
in the government workshop here in
Washington reasonably decent, if not
comfortable, working- quarters.
“The government Is a tenant in its
Capital city to the extent of $673,-
307.52 annually. Numbers of these
buildings are poorly adapted to gov
ernmental uses and are so widely
scattered over various sections of the
.city as to make the transaction of busi
‘ness exceedingly cumbersome. Econo
my and good business administration
demand that all activities of the gov
ernment be housed In public build
ings, located with due regard to the
t-apid and efficient transaction of the
public business. It is confidently be
lieved that the buildings provided for
in this bill will make it possible for
the government to vacate all rented
buildings In the District of Coium-
J bia," - ,
BATTLE ON INCOME
TAX RATE SCHEDULE
STARTEOINSENATE
Senator Simmons Explains
Democratic Plan, Opposed
to Mellon Proposals.
DECKS OF BOTH PARTIES
CLEARED FOR STRUGGLE
All Except “Fighting Provisions"
of Bill Settled in Eight-Hour
Session Yesterday.
The Senate launched today into it
fight on the income tax rate sched
ule, the result of which will deter
mine the amount cf reductions after
this year in the taxes of more than
14,000.000 taxpayers.
Senator Simmons, North Carolina,
ranking Democrat on the finance
committee and author of the income
tax plan indorsed by the Democratic
conference, outlined hia proposal
calling for a greater reduction in
the normal rates than under the Mel
lon plan, but less of a cut in the
higl.er surtax brackets.
Minor Points Cleared.
An eight-hour session yesterday
filled with rapid developments dis
posed of all except the "fighting pro
visions of the bill,” as Chairman
Smoot of the finance committee char
acterized the income, corporation and
estate tax schedules! The Democrats
have agreed in party conferences to
make an almost united stand for
changes in all of these provisions.
A Republican Insurgent-Democratic
coalition appeared yesterday for the
first time in the revenue bill con
sideration. resulting in the openin';-
of tax returns to public inspection.
Thirty-two Democrats joined in the
support of the proposal, which w? ■
made by Senator Norris, Republican.
Nebraska, and carried. 4 8 to 27.
The House had voted to open these
returns to inspection by certain con
gressional committees, and the Sen
ate finance committee had approved
this provision with the addition of
power to the committees to make
public "any relevant or useful in
formation" obtained from the return--
Democratic Schedule.
The Democratic income tax sched
ule advanced today provides specifi
cally for a reduction in the present
normal rates of 4 per cent on in
comes below $4,000 and 8 per cer.‘
above that amount to 2 per cent on
incomes below $4,000. 4 per cent on
Incomes between s4 k ooo and SB,OOO
and 6 per cent above that amount.
It calls for a surtax rate beginning
at 1 per cent at SIO,OOO and graduating
up to a maximum of 40 per cent, which
would apply on incomes over $500,000.
The present surtax rates start at 1
per cent at $6,000 and scale up to 50
per cent at $200,000.
Tlie Mellon plan, reinserted In the
bill by the Republican members of the
finance committee, calls for normal
taxes of 3 per cent on incomes below
$4,000 and 6 per cent above and a sur
tax schedule starting at I per cent on
SIO,OOO, graduating up to 25 per cent
at SIOO,OOO.
Admitting lack of support for the
Mellon plan. Republicans are preparing
for a compromise. Many favor a stand
for the Longworth compromise adopted
by the House, providing for normal
rates of 2 per cent on Incomes below
$4,000, 5 per cent on Incomes between
$4,000 and SB,OOO and 6 per cent on in
comes above that amount. The surtax
rates in this plan start at 1 % per cent
at SIO,OOO. graduating up to 37k* pet
cent at $200,000.
WAREHOUSE BLAZE
MENACES ORPHANAGE
150 Children at St. Vincent’s Re
moved as Fire Becomes
Dangerous.
FOUR ALARMS TURNED IN
Flames Discovered Shortly After
2 P.M.
One hundred and fifty children
were removed from a wing of the
St. Stephen’s Orphanage Asylum, near
4th and Channing streets, this after
noon when a fire in the warehouse
of Barber & Ross, nearby, assumed
dangerous proportions.
The fire was discovered shortly
after 2 o’clock, and when firemen
reached the building it had gained
such headway that a second alarm
was turned in, closely followed by
a third and fourth, bringing twelve
engines, four truck companies and the
water tower.
Chief Watson responded to the sec
ond alarm. The first battalion and
Deputy Chief A. J. Sullivan and Acting
First Battalion Chief Watts also re
sponded.
Y. W. C. A. CONSIDERS
' VOTING PRIVILEGES
Delegates to Convention Discuss
Proposal for Amendment
to Constitution.
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 3. —Delegates to
the national convention of the Young
Women’s Christian Association de
cided today whether to extend voting
privileges to girls of creeds not now
eligible to vote.
The question came before the con
vention yesterday in the form of
an amendment to the constitution, but
after a brief deibate it was laid over
until today. A two-thirds vote is
neoeesary to carry the, amendment
and the proponents of the change
are not confident that they can
obtain the necessary number.
Membership in the organization
now Is open to girls of all races
and religions, but the right to vote
rests only with those who are mem
bers of churches eligible to mem
bership in the Federal Council of the
Churches of Christ in Ameriefe