Evening star. [volume], December 17, 1924, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
(D. S. Whether Bureau Forecast.)
Rain tonight end tomorrow, cold
er tomorrow. Temperature for 24 hours
ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 82 at
noon today; lowest, 37. at 10:45 p.m.
yesterday.
Full report on page 11.
doing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 28
V n OQ Entered as second class matter
-L\P* p OS t office, Washington, D. C.
POSTAL PAY VETO
DEFEAT PROBABLE
BV SMALL MARGIN
Administration Count of
Votes Shows Lack of Two
to Sustain President.
COOLIDGE’S POSITION
OUTLINED BY LEADERS
Opposes Increased Pay Only Until
Provision Can Be Made for
Payment.
BY DAVID LAWREJiCi;.
Had the administration been able to
command enough votes to sustain the
veto message on the postal pay bill,
there wojrld have been a vote on the
measure before this.
Two votes are lacking, so the ad
ministration leaders In the Senate l>y
parliamentary maneuvers have been
able to prevent a vote from being
taken, though in the next 48 hours
they may be compelled to permit the
vote and transfer their efforts to the
House of Representatives.
The administration has a strong
enough argument to appeal ordina
rily to its party in Congress and if
the bill Is passed over the President’s
veto it will be a sign that the last
election has taught very little about
the value of party leadership.
Conditions Following Election,
Many a member of the Senate and
House was willing enough to lean
on Coolldge pillar of political I
strength to win his own election and
now the President is trying to hold
his party in line by virtue of that j
strength which he has with public j
opinion and which he may have two j
years hence in the congressional elec- I
ttons.
Mr. Coolldge makes it clear in his ;
talks with the men on Capitol Hill that I
he favors the increase in postal pay, but j
that ho wants to make sure the funds j
are forthcoming before there is an I
authorisation to spend. But the propost- I
lion is not even a m simple as that, for I
one would say offhand the postal service I
ought to be self-supporting. The rub j
comes when the Post Office Department
tries to increase the postal rates In
order to meet the pay increases.
Clamor In Behalf of Boslaesa.
Nearly every interest which could
possibly be affected by the f.uggoetrd in
crease in rates has come down to Wash
ington with a loud clamor lest Us busi
ness be affected. The farmer doesn't
want th.e increase tacked on the parcel
post.
Newspapers and periodicals are in
sistent that second class matter, al
ready overburdened with' ’expensive
rates, shall not be tampered With, leat
the cost of distributing information
and Intelligence be so prohibitive as
to diminish the educational develop
ment of the country by newspapers
and periodicals. The business men of
the country do not want to see the
first class mail rates increased, and so
on down the line.
President'* Position Made Clear.
Where, then, is the $68,6(10,000 com
ing from to pay the Increases which
most everybody admits are due the
postal carriers and mall employes?
The President has lot it be known
unofficially that If the veto on the
last pay bill is not considered for
iho present, at least until there is
an agreement by the SenMo end
House on how the money shall be
raised, he will ultimately have no
objection to the overriding of his
own veto. In fact, he will recom
mend the passage of an increased
pay bill very much along the lines
of the one now proposed by Post
master General New.
In all the budget of nearly three
and a half Miltons, isn’t there $68,-
000,000 which can be better spent for
postal employes’' wages than for
other items? That is the question
which the budget officers of the j
Government have been struggling
with, but when the budget was sent
to Congress the question was not
answered, whereupon the friends in
Congress of the postal employes went
ahead with their plan to get a vote
to override the veto. The Executive
may yet have to find the money by
cutting down on some building ex
penditure elsewhere, but the chances
are that some increases in postal
rates will be put through as a means
of paying at least part of the new ex
pense.
Strategy of the Promoters.
The strategy of the friends of the
postal bill is to get the measure
passed and make Congress and the
Executive find ways of meeting the
expense later, very much as the
soldier bonus advocates did. For if
the controversy is left to drag till a j
way is found to pay the money the
present session of Congress, which is
short, would probably lose the whole
matter in the shuffle. By passing a
law requiring the appropriation. Con
gress will commit Itself to the financ- I
ing of the pay increase, and it seems
fneviwible, if the bill passes, thaf a
Urge part of the revenue will be
raised by increased postal rates.
SENATORS CALLED IN.
president Seeks Delay Until Rev
enue Measure Is Provided.
Although the administration is cred
ited with having won the first skir
mish with the Senate over the postal
salary increase veto when an unex
pected attack was precipitated yes
terday in the Senate, President Cool
idge took further steps today to bol
ster up the administration forces.
In response to requests from him a
number of Senators were in confer
ence with him in his office today and
several conferred with him in his
study in the White House last night.
At last night’s conference were
senators Curtis of Kansas, Republi
can leaded of the Senate, whose capa
ble handling of the situation in the
Senate yesterday was a large con
ifibutor to the administration’s slight
victory; Senator Borah of Idaho, one
of "he most ardent supporters in the
Sentte of the administration’s econo
my policy, and Senator Sterling of
South Dakota, chairman of the Senate
< ommlttee on post offices and post
roads.
PI a* «• Carry es Fight.
The situation regarding this legis
ts lea wa# dlsouaeed from every an
al# aad a general plan to bring about
~VContlßu• d”on Page J, Column T >
Choice of Gompers’ Successor
Probable in New York Friday
|Duncan and Wall Leading for A. F, of I.
Presidency—Council Met Secretly
Here Last Night.
.
i
til HAS S. RING.
Staff t’orrepondent «f The Star,
NEW YORK, December 17.—The
successor to Samuel Gompers may
he elected Friday. Already the ex
ecutive council, which, with Acting
I President Frank %torrison, is now
the directing element of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, has held
a secret session for the purpose of
selecting a president.
1 his session was behind closed
doors of the council chamber in the
American Federation of Labor Build
ing in Washington, while the , body
of the departed leader of that asso
ciation was lying in state seven
floors below. last night.
The session was called primarily
{ * OT th « purpose of fulfilling the con
stitutional provision that the acting
president shall call such a meeting
of the execuive council within six
days after a vacancy in the office of
president has been treated. Out of
reverence for the memory of the de
parted chieftain, as well as because
of the impossibility of cool thinking
in the jumble and turmoil of affairs
at the time, no selection was made,
and the executive council adjourned
to meet Friday in New York City,
after the burial has taken place.
Labor Leaders Gathering.
Hotel lobbies even today were fill
ed with discussions by mighty figures
lin the labor world. Others are com
| Ing late this afternoon to be In time
! the funeral service: tomorrow
; morning, and many points Involved in
I BODY OF GOMPERS
I REACHES NEW YORK
■
1 Will Lie in State in Club Un
til Funeral Services
Tomorrow.
——
I By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, December IT.—
Through a misty lane marked out by
street lamps,gun carriage drawn
by six white horses today bore the
bronze casket of Samuel Gompers
through the streets of New York,
from Pennsylvania Terminal to the
Elks’ Club on West 43d street.
There, In the assembly room on the
third floor the body of the labor
leader was placed, to lie In atate un
til tomorrow morning, when It will
be taken to the burial place in his
toric Sleepy Hallow Cemetery, at Tar
rytown.
In front of the dais of the exhalted
ruler the casket rested, beneath the
antlers and the open Bible, which to
the Elk la the symbol of sorrow.
Each station and each dais border
ing the room was draped In the
mourning purple of the order, whence
glowed from here and there the sym
bolic words, "Fidelity—Brotherly
Love—Charity—Justice.”
BslUlsg la Draped.
At tho windows and all over many
storied front of the building hung
groat folds of black drape, limp In
the rain. The many recreation rooms
of the club were deserted. There
was only the half-opened caaket in
the lodge room, the body of the labor
leader shown wearing his masonic
apron, and the slow moving proces
sion of men and women who silently
filed past the bier.
Three aged friends and co-workers
of Mr. Gompers watched over him,
and heads of the local Clgarmakers’
Union formed a guard of honor.
There was David Levy, who worked
at the same bench with Mr. Gompers
In a cigar factory on South Fifth
avenue 40 years ago, and M. J.
Melhado. secretary of the first cigar
makers’ union Mr. Gompers organ
ized. and in which he held Book
No 1, and Patrick O’Connor, presid
ent of Local 90 of the Clgarmakers.
It was raining and hardly day
light when the special car bearing
the funeral party arrived from
Washington at 7:05 a.m. The funeral
cortege got under way at once,
moving up Seventh avenue, accom
panied by squads of police, soldiers,
sailors, guardsmen, labor chieftains
and public officials.
Here and there along the'route a
street cleaner would stand aside,
saluting, as the cortege passed, or a
group of union men hurrying to
work would line the curb with
hats off.
HONOR PAID HERE.
Notables Among Thousands to Pass
Gompers’ Bier.
I In profound simplicity the mortal
form of Samuel Gompers, the cigar
maker who became the founder of
an organisation listing millions of
organized men In its ranks, left
Washington last night for the last
time. Through midnight streets the
slow-mOving cortege wended a silent
way. And the body of the man who
had come to this country an immi
grant youth, later to bylld up the
Nation’s strongest organization of
toilers, departed forever the place
where he had sat in high councils
of the Nation as well as of the Na
tion’s workers.
Before his bier last night, from
5:30 until close to had
passed a steady stream of men and
women of all sorts—richly attired
and poorly clad; officials of the
American Government and officials
of small labor unions; foreign rep
resentatives and quiet workers in
branches of Industry.
The presence of flowers as well
as the human presences bore striking
testimony of the great heights to
which this man had climbed. From
organizations in all parts of the
country floral tributes had come to
the American Federation of Labor
Building to be banked in solid masses
In the simple little room where the
body lay In state.
Lodges Bit Farewell.
The Elks and the Mystic Shrine
had bade farewell to their departed
brother and virtually every employe
of the headquarters of the A. F. of L.
had looked on the immobile features
of their chief before the hour ap
(Contlnued on Page 4, Column I’V
U\]c Mtitmm -ptefc
y, V J / WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION
WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1924-. FORTY-SIX PAGES.
selecting the new leader i'o. il.e fed
eration are being held in abeyance
„ pending the arrivals.
Three figures stand out prominently
as the possible successors to Samuel
" Gompers. They are James Duncan.
; first vice president of the federation.
a veteran of •0 years’ standing, and
. until recently the head of the Granite
j Cutters’ International; Mathew Woll,
, sixth vice president, active and ener
getic for years in labor flields, and
William Green, another vice president
1 of the federation, secretary of the
• powerful United Mine Workers of
. America, and an outstanding figure
r on the executive council.
Woll is gaining strength continually
as the probable candidate. Admittedly
1 a worker, his friends are using his char
acteristics of hard work and clean llv
t ing in the furtherance of his candidacy,
. although all discussions necessarily are
C made with (Juc recognition of the deii
c eacy of the ’ situation. It seems today,
c though, that Woll (S capable of polling
f greater strength than either of the other
f two, although it is problematical
. whether even now he has a majority of
. the 10 members of the executive coun
r ell.
3 Green finder Discussion.
■ Green was discuosed in El Paso, Tex.
J At that time he stated point blank he
• had no desire for the office. The saying
that Is going the rounds here, however,
is; ’’El Paso Is El Paso, New York is
. New York.”
, Were Duncan to be ths man named, it
. it admitted that a sentimental reason
, for having him kound out his long career
■ as a labor leader would be a strong fac
i I (Continued on Page 3, Column 7.)
PUBLIC INQUIRY
: OF NAVY BLOCKED
• Coolidge Opposition Believed
Effective Check for
Present.
Any general public investigation
-of the Navy at this time has been
r effectually blocked by the opposition
i of President Coolidge and Republl
■ can leaders at the Capitol, It was
i Indicated today. While the Senate
naval affairs committee is to meet
: on Friday to consider further the
King resolution calling for an in
quiry of the Navy, it was learned
today that there is little chance for
favorable action upon the resolu
tion.
The committee, it is understood,
will obtain from the Navy Depart
ment and the head of bureaus com
plete statements, perhaps in writing,
relating to the Navy and its present
condition. If further information is
required then officials of the depart
ment and naval officers may be called
before the committee to make verbal
statements.
Wut No Big Ssry.
The drive made in some quarters
to force naval affairs to the fore
with the idea in mind of adding ma
terially to the favorable strength of
the country had not made an appeal
to members of Congress, It seems.
The desire expressed by both Re
publicans and Democrats is that the
United States should maintain an
adequate Navy efficiently run. but not
a big Navy.
In fact, the purpose of Senator King
of Utah, Democratic member of the
Senate naval committee. In submit
ting his resolution for an investiga
tion was not to bring about an up
building of the Navy to greater pro
portions, but merely to insure the
maintenance of the Navy along the
most effective lines consistent with
economy. Senator King has been a
strong advocate of building up the
naval aviation forces and subma
rines, rather than capital ships He
is entirely opposed to the United
States entering upon a race of com
petitive armament, either naval or
military, and believes that the United
States should do all it can to bring
about international agreements for
disarmament. He would have the
United States represented In the con
ferences of the League of Nations to
bring about limitation of armaments.
SCENE SHIFTS TO HOUSE.
Secretary Wilbur to Be Question
ed by Committee on Navy’s Status.
The scene of debate in the waxing
controversy over the relative strength
of the American Navy shifted to the
House naval committee today, where
Secretary Wilbur is to bo called for
a hearing on the question as bearing
on proposals for new naval construc
tion and developments. The commit
tee planned to call the Secretary to
day, but at the last minute decided to
postpone nls examination.
While the bill of Representative
Britten of Illinois, ranking Republi
can member of the committee, pro
posing gun elevation on capital ships,
was the Immediate question before
the committee, members evinced In
(Continued on Page B, Column 2.)
5-YEAR-OLD SAVES SIX
FROM DEATH BY GAS
By the Aisocisted Press.
NEW YORK. December 17.—An
toinette Fiere, 5 years old, saved
her parents, two slaters and two
brothers from death by gas In their
home in Brooklyn early today and
then collapsed, sinking ‘into uncon
sciousness, from which she was re
vived.only with great difficulty.
Antoinette awoke at 4 o'clock and
smelled gas. She ran to her father’s
bed, but could not arouse him. Then
she vainly tried to wake her mother
and brothers and sisters. Then she
ran to a window and called for help.
When a policeman and ambulance
surgeon arrived all the members of
the family were easily revived, ex
cept Antoinette. Persistent use of
the pulmotor finally saved her.
Radio Programs—Page 40.
j THE EARLY SHOPPER.
APPLYING BRAKE HALF SECOND
AFTER SHOT HELD SAFE DRIVING
Tests With Pistol Declared to Show Way to Eliminate
Dangerous Autoists—Tried Upon 57
Persons Here.
If you can apply the brake to your
automobile within half a second after
you hear a pistol shot you are as
safe as the average driver. If you
can apply it within one-third of a
second you are as good as the best,
but if it takes you more than a sec
ond and a half you are dangerous,
j unfit to drive a car and ought not to
be allowed abroad on the streets be
hind a steering wheel.
These are the conclusions reached
from a scientific test conducted on 67
persons in Washington by Dr. F. A,
Moss, head of the psychology depart
ment of George Washington Univer
sity, and expert of the Bureau of
Public Personnel Administration, co
operating with H. H. Allen of the Bu
reau of Standards. They used a Bu
reau of Standards specially equipped
automobile.
More Tests Planned.
Results of the tests, which will be
developed further and triod out In
Washington on a much larger scale,
wsre revealed for the first time yes
terday 'afternoon at the Washington
CAPITAL TO ESCAPE
SEVERECOLD WAVE
i Western Sub-Zero Weather
I Expected to Moderate Be
fore Reaching Here.
Although the West is in the grip of
a blizzard and rigid cold waves that
average SO to 40 below aero, the Dis
trict is in no danger of being struck
by a cold wave suddenly, the weather
forecaster said today.
The zero weather in Nebraska,
Wisconsin and lowa, which is crip
pling commerce and generally ob
structing business, will be moderated
before the wave strikes the Capital.
Tonight there will be rain, with the
chance that it may change to sleet
and a slowly falling thermometer,
which, starting tonight, will fall
steadily until tomorrow night. The
change will be gradual, however, the
Weather Bureau said, and the wind
may avert a cold wave here alto
gether.
There is a bare possibility, the
weather man said, that Friday or
Saturday there may be a decided
change in the temperature, but the
conditions are so complicated that
the cold wave will be broken long
before it reaches the District. The
cold which Is hitting Canada and the
Northwestern Stalls Is the most se
vere in years, the bureau reported?
TEN LOSE LIVES IN WEST.
Blasts of Ice and Snow Headed
Toward East.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, December 17- —Dower
temperatures today heralded the
movement eastward and southward of
a cold wave that cost 10 lives In
the Rocky Mountain States and
brought subzero blasts ’of Ice and
snow to the North and West.
The far West and the regions of
the Rocky Mountains were the hardest
hit. Snow and low temperatures pre
vailed along the Pacific coast from
the Canadian border to the normally
warm sections of California, Belling
ham. Wash., schools were closed be
cause of the cold, which hovered
about the zero point, and enow was
falling on the Mojave Desert, in
Southern California.
Drifted snow blocked trains in the
northern Rockies, where the mercury
dropped as far as 32 below zero at
"(Continued on Page 6. Column 2.)
NOTICE!
All announcements Os Christ
mas music In .the churches
should be tn The Star office not
later than noon tomorrow.
These programs will be pub
lished in a special page in the
issue of Saturday. December 21.
Addross Such Communications to
Thm Music Editor,
Evening Star.
Hotel, in an address by Dr. iloss be
• fore the National Civil Service Re
form League.
The pistol shot experiment and its
conclusions. Dr. Moss explained,
comprise but one of at least five
separate tests which are being
scientifically worked up In order to
get at the root of the traffic problem.
Thirty-six students from George
Washington University, including
both men and women; 10 drivers of
a prominent taxicab company in the
Capital and 11 students from
Howard University were put through
the test, it was revealed. The ex
periments took place on the road
way near the National Academy of
Science and around the Lincoln
Memorial.
Time of Slowest Person.
In the case of the slowest person,
whose reaction time was one and
one-half seconds, there was the
distance of 68 feet between the two
red spots on the pavement. This,
according to the experimenters, la
entirely toe great a distance, after
(Continued on Page i. Column 4.)
NORRIS AMS
UNDERWOOD BILL
Declares Measure Will Make
“Teapot Dome Look Like
a Pinhead.”
Asserting that the Underwood Mus
cle Shoals bill would make "Teapot
Dome look like a pinhead” and "Do
heny and Sinclair look like pikers,”
Chairman Norris of the Senate agri
cultural committee told the Senate
today that enactment of the legisla
tion would later become known as
"the rape of the Treasury.”
Senator Norris declared there would
be two kinds of corporations at Mus
cle Shoals.
"It will be either a public utility
corporation like the Alabama Power
Company or an industrial corpora
tion that would use every kilowatt
of power for its own use and make
none of it available for distribution.”
See* Big Firm Wilier.
He declared the General Electric
Company would get the property If
the Alabama Power Company ob
tained it.
“Tou will not cure the evil.
Senators, if you provide that this
power will be controlled by State
agencies,” he declared.
The Nebraska Senator declared he
realized the "skids had been greased”
and the "steam roller” brought up
to defeat his bill.
The bpposttlon planned to turn
Muscle Shoals over to some private
corporation, and were opposed to
Government operation.
He compared Muscle Shoals to a
a "great ship" with the American
flag swinging at the mast with the
"Coolidge Republicans tugging away.”
"Oh. President Coolidge, how can
you, just after receiving the - vote of
confidence from the people, offer your
great position to such a proposition?”
Senator Norris asked.
"Oh, how can you after receiving
such a vote of confidence from the
people be a party, to this proceed
ing?" Senator Norris continued.
See* Treasury Raided.
“Giving President Coolidge credit
for honesty in every move, giving Sen
ator Underwood the same credit,'lt
seems the Inevitable conclusion will
be that if this bill is enaoted it wlil
be known as the - rape of the
Treasury."
"It has been the history that public
utilities trusts never sleep and in
a thousand ways control the appoint
ment on commissions of men whose
views are agreeable to them,” he
said.
He declared Nebraska had a lower
power rate than Alabama and al
though both States had a public util
ities commission to regulate rates, the
rates came down because a city built
a small electric light plant to com
pete with the private corporations.
He pointed to Cleveland, Ohio, of
another similar Illustration.
Senator Norris dsclared Senator
Underwood. Democrat. Alabama, fre
quently had referred to tbs Norris
(Continued on Paget, Columa 1.)
NEW STAFF LIKELY
AT ATLANTA PRISON
Stone Considers Complete
Clean-Up as Result of
Investigation.
Appointment of an entirely new set
of officials at the Atlanta Federal
prison is being considered by Attor
ney General Stone as a result of a
preliminary Investigation by the De
partment of Justice into conditions
there.
Mr. Stone said today that among
those being considered as a successor
to A. E. Sartain. the deposed warden,
was Warden Whitman of the Illinois
State Penitentiary, at Joliet.
He declined to say how much of a
housecleaning of the Atlanta staff
would be made. Two officials already
have been removed, WardenSartaln
and E>. J. AUsn. nrl*en piffishaiHng
agent, and the Intimation was given
that other resignations might be ex
pected.
SECRECY HARKS CASE.
By the Associated Press.
ATLANTA, Qa., December 17.—De
velopments In the investigation of
the United States penitentiary here
today marked time, awaiting possible
presentation of "eserst" evidence to
the Federal grand jury by representa
tives of Attorney General Stone.
Secrecy continued as the watchword
of Government officials here. District
Attorney Clint W. Hager, In whose
hands the Government’s case Is said
by the Attorney General to rest, has
declined to make public any details.
“Even If I knew anything concern
ing the affairs at the prison, I would
not be at liberty to divulge It,” he
said. ‘T am pledged to secrecy,”
Assistant Attorney General W. J.
Donovan. Washington, has been sent
here, according to an announcement
by tho Attorney General, to present
evidence to the grand Jury in connec
tion with the investigation.
A. E. Sartain. deposed warden, has
stated hie resignation was requested
on the ground he had granted special
privileges to convicted bootleggers in
the Sartain denied the
charges and countered with the asser
tion that he has been made the vic
tim of a “star chamber" inquiry for
the purpose of ’’paying off old scores
on the part of certain- individuals."
He did not name the "Indivlduala”
Reports that ths Investigation may
result In othsr prison officials losing
their positions and may reach into
other governmental departments, in
cluding the Federal Parole Board,
could not be confirmed from govern
mental officials here.
STRESEMANN IS NAMED.
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, December 17, —President
Ebert today asked Dr. Gustav Strese
mann, foreign minister In the Marx
cabinet and leader of the German
Peoples' Party, to form a cabinet in
succession to ths Marx ministry
which resigned this week as the re
sult of the recent Reichstag elec
tions. Dr, StresamaJin asked to be
given until tonight to consider his
decision.
MILLIONAIRE AMERICAN ACCUSED
OF PLOT TO STEAL BRITISH ART
Coveted Treasures of Lady Ludlow and Hired Expert
Cracksmen to Loot Her Home ,
London Paper Charges. •
By the AMOcuted fits.
LONDON. December 17 —Following
the recovery of the valuable art treas
ure! and jewels which were taken
from the London, mansion of Lady
Ludlow last June, and which were
recently mysteriously surrendered at
Scotland Tard. the Evening News
publishes an unusual story today,
asserting that the robbery was plan
ned by an unnamed* American mil
lionaire, a resident of a middle
western city In. the United States.
The .-American, according to the
newspaper, was an aged connoisseur
and coveted the' Ludlow collection, but
was unable to. purchase it because the
owners * refused to sell. The Jewels
and art works had been collected by
Lady Ludlow's first husband. Sir
Julius Wersher, the South African
millionaire.
Being usable le acquire the coveted
objects, legitimately the American,
Influenza Microbe 5
Called Freakish ,
Attacks Her riot
By the Auocitted Preu.
PARIS, December 17.—The
awollen leg - of Premier Herrlot
Is due to a. new microbe, found bo
far In ten cases of Influenza that
have developed here recently, ac
cording- to friends of the premier
today. His physicians, they say,
have Anally diagnosed this part
of his illness, which has puzzled
so greatly, as the outgrowth of
the new freak In Influenza cases
•which has appeared in Faria
M. Heriiot's doctors are confi
dent, however, th#t the improve
ment he has skown recently will
continue, and they express the
opinion that he will be able to
leave his bed next week.
ALBAHK
AROUSES BALKANS
Revolutionary Government is
Attacked —Plot Denied
by Mussolini.
PREMIER REPORTED OUT
Heavy Bombardment Humored
Fire Doomed to Die for
Killing’ Americans.
BY HIRAM K. MODERWELL.
By Redie to The Star sad Chictfo Daily News.
ROME, December 17.—The outbreak
of civil war in Albania has raised
again the perennial specter of chaos
in the Balkans and a crop of alarmist
reporlts.
The alleged revelation by Stephen
Raditch of a secret pact against the
new Balkan state entered by Greece,
Jugoslavia and Italy naturally has
been immediately and emphatically
denied by Premier Mussolini. An offi
cial statement Issued Tuesday night
reaffirming a rigorous principle of
non-intervention in the internal
affairs of Albania coincides with sim
ilar assurances given to M. Ninclo at
Paris, which were designed to allay
Albania's fears regarding the purport
of the recent conversations between
Premier Mussolini and M. Ninclo con
cerning mutual accords on Fiume.
Operations Are Began.
Reports of Increased activity by the
revolutionary insurrectionists on the
frontiers of Albania are confirmed here.
Military operations have been begun
from Jugoslav territory to reinstate the
feudal bey government of Albania,
which was expelled by popular revo
lution last June.
Nondescript bands of Serbs, Rus
sians, Montenegrins, Bulgarians and
Greeks, armed in adjacent territory,
have crossed the border In the direc
tion of Scutari. The Albanians are
rushing forces to defend the revolu
tionary government, which was on
the eve of seeking popular ratifica
tion by elections and pacification of
the country by a general amnesty to
all save Ahmed Zogue. the former
premier, to whom responsibility has
been traced for the murder of the
Americans In Albania last Spring.
Alhasiisi Are Alarmed.
Report from Jugoslav sources of
the condemning to death of three
former Albanian premiers and con
fiscation of their estates by the gov
ernment o.’ Premier Fannoli are un
confirmed here and are described as
mendacious. Taken, however, in con
nection with facts which convey their
own comment—such as the arming
of revolutionary Bey Bands on Jugo
slavia territory and official pro
nouncements like that made by J£.
Ninclo in Paris that "only Albania
causes us (Italy and Jugoslavia)
some concern through the recent dis
turbances, due to the revolution which
brought Fannoli to power, we must
open for Albania a large credit of
patience. 1 ' These rumors are causing
alarm among Albanians here.
The Albanians here claim their
country is united Internally and,
apart from the dissatisfaction over
the League of Nations decision In the
case of the border monastery of St.
Maoum, their neighbors have no
cause for complaint against Albania.
The encouragement given elements
seeklrtg to foment disorder is regard
ed as an unfriendly act with grave
possibilities, but Albania is too weak
to do more than protest and defend
Itself to the best of its ability.
(Oepyrlfht, 1*24. by Chicago Dally News Co.)
EXODUS REPORTED.
Fannoli and Cabinet Declared Out
of Tirana.
BY A. R. DECKER,
By Cable tj Tba Star and Chicago Dally Newt.
VIENNA, December 17.—1 t Is re
ported that Ahmed Bey Zogue has en
(Continued on Page 8, Column 6.)
was said to have employed a gang
of expert cracksmen in the United
States to go to London and loot the
Ludlow home. Knowing the exact
location of the collection, from a
description which had been given
them by the millionaire, the cracks
men were enabled to perpetrate the
robbery with a minimum of effort and
danger.
After obtaining the art collection
the robbers escaped in an automobile
to Dover, it is related, proceeded in a
private yacht to a French port and
then leisurely went to Cherbourg,
where they embarked for New York.
But when they arrived in the Amer
ican metropolis, June 19, the story
continues, they found that their mil
lionaire patron had died. Unable to
dispose of the treasures, the robbers
anonymously Informed Scotland Yard
where the collection could be found
and it Is now Intact at London police
headquartera.
“From Press to Home
Within the Hour”
The Star’s carrier system covers
every city block and the regular edi
tion is delivered to Washington homes
as fast as the papers are printed. 1
Yesterday's Circulation, 99,072
BOULEVARD SYSTEM
1 TO BE FEATURE OF
TRAFFICMEASURE
Arterial Highways in Which
Greater Speed Is Permit
ted to Be Asked.
EXPERT URGES 35-MILE
SPEED LIMIT IN PLACES
Would Allow High Rate on Con
• necticut Avenue—Sees Con
gestion Relieved.
Establishment of arterial highways
in the District of Columbia, to relieve
, congestion and to speed up »cassia
• will be made compulsory in the
model traffic bill now being discussed
by the joint District committee of
the House and Senate. Senator L,
Heisler Ball of Delaware, chairman
of the joint committee, made this
statement today following the ap
• pearance of Col. A. B. Barber, motoi
expert of the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States, who gave the
committee results of the national con
l ference on traffic which has Just been
concluded.
“Arterial highways were recom
mended to aid traffic conditions In
the District by the Senate committee
more than a year ago," said Senator
Ball, “and yet nothing has been done.
These highways will relieve conges
tion very materially and should he
established at the earliest possible
: date."
i Col. Barber, who gave the commit
i tee the results of six months' study
t traffic In all parts of the country
as contained in the conference re
port of nine national organizations,
strongly urged the creation of the
> boulevard stop system or the arterial
, highway In the National Capital,
i He pointed out that Connecticut ave
r nu ® from the bridge to Chevy Chase
Circle would be an Ideal street for
t this purpose.
Fsvow 35-Mile Limit.
1 “In this connection,” he said, “I
• want to point out that if adequate
t speed is not allowed on these high
- ways they will not serve their pur
, pose. I should recommend a speed
‘ of 35 miles an hour from Cleve
land Park to the Chevy Chase Circle
I think that even now, with a speed
limit of 22 miles per hour, the higher
speed Is more nearly the average."
, Col. Barber said that in his opinion
. 016 District was not taking ad
vantage of the traffic lessons learned
• and proved successful In other cities
1 He pointed out that the conference
i of motor traffic commissioner* of the
Eastern States developed many traffic
Ideas which could easily be Jncor-
Porated in the local statutes.
. time has come,” ho asserted,
“when the District must ‘get In step’
With general traffic conditions If
equipment Is needed to better the sit
uation Congress should make the
necessary appropriations, and Con
gress should also make ft possible
for the proper traffic officials here to
attend traffic conferences."
The committee today took no ac
tion on the tentative bill, which it is
studying. The tint* was devoted
largely to general discussion with
Col. Barber on all phases of the traf
fic conditions.
Among the matters discussed were
General sipeed limits and a reckless
driving regulation; proper marking
of zones where lower speed was nec
cssary; brake test rules for com
merclal vehicles; percentage of blame
• on motorists and pedestrians In cases
of accidents, and the use of dimmers
i on headlights.
Col. Barber said that he believed
• 35 miles an hour should be the maxi
r mum speed limit In the outlying sec
■ tions of the District.
“Is there any section of Washtng
, ton where you think that it Is safe
i to drive at 33 miles an hour?” asked
Representative Rathbone of Illinois
“I think there are a great many
places where that speed is safe,” an
swered Col. Barber. "Connecticut ave
nue is one and there are other sec
tions where I believe It is proper.
Asked his opinion of the use of
dimmers. Col. Barber drew a laugh
from the committee when he said that
dimmers should be used wherever
the streets were properly lighted.
“There isn’t any such place in
Washington." retorted Senator Jones
of Washington.
Dr. John A. Harrisa, noted traffic
expert of New York City, and Judge
W. Bruce Cobb of New York, who has
handled thousands of traffic cases,
will be Invited to appear before the
Joint committee. Although these fe
no desire on the part of the commit
tee to hold hearings on traffic mat
ters. It was decided that these men
would be able to give valuable advice
on the tentative bill. They will ap
pear. It Is understood at the next
meeting of the committee, to be held
January B In the Senate District com
mittee room.
8 SERIOUS CASES UP.
With Congress frowning upon a
new traffic court and many members
declaring ignorance of the crowded
condition now existing, eight charges
of serious nature today confronted
Police Court officials, and only two
of them reached final disposition.
William B. Brandon, colored
charged with driving while intoxi
cated and exhibiting no permit, was
fined 1300 and 110. respectively. A
jail sentence of 100 days was given
as an alternative.
Larence R. Daner. a Marine sta
tioned at Quantlco, charged' with
driving while intoxicated, colliding
■and not having a permit, was fined
340 and $25 on the latter two charges.
. the first charge being dismissed.
Arthur D. King, charged with reck
less driving and operating a smoke
screen, pleaded not guilty and de
manded a jury trial. He was re
leased on two bonds of S3OO each, and
the case was set for Saturday.
George D. White of the Ontario
Apartments, charged with driving
while Intoxicated, colliding and not
exhibiting a permit, pleaded not
guilty and wai released on a bond o'
|6OO to await trial by a jury.
Maurice P. Healy of 2251 Nichols
avenue, charged with driving while
Intoxicated, colliding and not exhib
iting a permit, was released on «•
bond of I*oo to await Jury trial.
Irving Nicholas Boernateln, a mu
alcian, arrested early this, mornl.ig
for colliding with a milk wagon
driving while intoxicated and leaving
after colliding, will be arraigned tht»
afternoon. It is stated that he wii*
make a plea of not guilty and ask C.i
a Jury trial. He I* at preaen' nut m
a f 700 bond
TWO CENTS