Evening star. [volume], March 03, 1925, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
(tJ.' S. Weather Bureau Koreosat.)
Fair and warmer tonight; increas
ing cloudiness and warmer tomorrow,
probably followed by rain in after
noon. Temperatures—Highest, 32, at 2
p.m. yesterday; lowest, 11, at 6 a.m.
today. Full report on page 7.
Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Pagn 28
\ T GQ Entered as second class matter
.. U. “ |, os t office, Washington, I), c.
PRINCIPALS AM
. RISING OF CURTAIN
TOR INAUGURATION
Stage Is All Set for Dignified
Pageant When Coolidge and
Dawes Take Oaths.
UTMOST SIMPLICITY
WILL BE PRESERVED
Last-Minute Changes Made With
Approval of President —Cere-
mony to Last Three Hours.
With the stage all set ami the
principal actors already in the wings,
"Washington awaits today only the
raising of the curtain on the quad
rennial pageant that is to be re
peated tomorrow, when the Nation
pets forth to the inauguration of an
other administration.
Although the ceremony with which
President Coolidge and Vice President
Daves will be inducted into offce
will be marked by the utmost sim
.plicity, the program will be entirely
fitting of the dignity of the occasion
and in keeping with the ideals the
pew administration has set out to
follow.
Leaders and aids burned late oil
last night completing final details,
and before noon today announced that
they were ready to go forward with
th< ceremony strictly according to
schedule. Starting at 11 o’clock in
the morning when the presidential
party reaches the Capitol, the festivi
ties will virtually be completed by
shortly after 2 o'clock.
Minor Change* Made.
Minor changes were made in the
program at the eleventh hour, and have
received the official approval of the
White House, which has carefully
watched the development of the en
tire arrangements to make sure that
nothing of pompous nature might un
intentionally be included and detract
from the simplicity of the occasion
that President Coolidge is so anxious
to maintain throughout.
The only important change in the
line of march for the parade is the
inclusion of the members of the
Washington citizens' committee in
the second division, with the gover
nors and their staffs. The committee
men, riding in automobiles, will ap
pear directly behind the United States
Marine Band, taking second place
only to the marshal of the division
and his staff.
As nearly as can be judged in ad
vance, the parade should begin its
march about 1 o'clock and." rfioVlfflC
at the regulation Army pace, should
reach the President’s reviewing stand
In front of the White House about a
half an hour later. Despite efforts
to prevent a long halt once the
parade begins its march. It will be
necessary, officers announced today,
* to stop the head of the column at
Pennsylvania avenue and Tenth street
for a brief time.
Must Await Second Division.
Virtually the entire second division,
it was pointed out. will be present at
she formal ceremony of swearing in
the President on the inaugural grand
stand. Some time will be required to
get . the governors and their staffs
through the crowd to their point of
concentration, arrange them in line
.according to their allotted positions
and get them under march. Part of
this time will be used to get the
military division en route, but some
time will elapse before the whole
second division can be assembled.
The parade will start from New
Jersey avenue and B streets south
east immediately upon completion of
the inaugural ceremonies at the Capi
tol. The President will not wait to
ride at its head for a short distance,
but will leave for the White House,
partake of lunch while the second di
vision is being formed, and he in the
reviewing stand with Vice President
3>awes and the members of his party
when the head of the column swings
jnto the improvised court of honor.
No change has been made in the
formation of the first grand division.
3t will be led by Maj. Gen. Hines, as
grand marshal, his staff and aides,
followed by the United States Army
Band. The first section will be com
posed of units of the Regular Army—
Cavalry, Infantry, Engineers, the Air
Service, Artillery and tanks, appear
ing in the order named. The sth
Regiment of Marines, from Quantico,
and a seaman regiment from Norfolk
* will comprise the second section.
Governors in Second Division.
Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan is marshal
of the second division. Immediately
behind the United States Marine Band
w ill appear the inaugural committee,
the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia, and the governors of the
States in the order named: Delaware,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecti
cut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New
Virginia, New York,
llhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky,
Ohio, Indiana. Illinois, lowa, Nebras
ka, Colorado and Wyoming.
Dispersal of the parade will begin
at Eighteenth street and Pennsyl
vania avenue. Persons standing
there, however, will see the entire
procession, as it will continue in its
formation up to that point. Some of
the troops will turn up or down
Kigtheenth street, as the case may be,
while others will continue on to
Nineteenth and Twentieth before
swinging out of line and returning
to their camps in various parts of the
ci t y.
Heavy Guard Planned.
On his trip to and front the White
"House, the President will be escorted
by a platoon of mounted police, com
manded by Maj. Sullivan, and a
squadron of cavalry front and rear,
with outriders to either side. Near
his car will also be a machine con
taining Secret Service men. Other
Secret Service operatives and plain
clothes men will be profusely dis
tributed through the crowds to pro
tect the Chief Executive and the mem
beis of his party from possible harm.
The names of the members of the
Grand Army of the Republic who will
act as his guard of honor were an
nounced today as follows: Hosea B.
Moulton, commander of the Depart
ment of the Potomac; Maj. Gen. John
L. Clemni. staff senior vice com
mander-in-chief; Coi. John McEiroy,
last senior vice commander-in-chief;
Henry A. Johnson, staff junior vice
f eommander-in-chief; O. H. Oldroyd,
assistant adjutant general of the De
partment of the Potomac; E. D. God*
(Continued on Page 10, Column 3.)
Throngs Pouring Into Capital;
20,000 Visitors Due Tomorrow
Governors, City Officials, Political Lead
ers and Citizens Filling Hotels and
Streets for Inauguration.
All roads, rail and paved, from
North, West and South led to the Na
tion's Capital today and emptied into
the already crowded city thousands
upon thousands of citizen#—distin
guished or not so distinguished, but
all equally Intent on witnessing to
morrow the Induction of a President
of the United States.
As train after train poured its
occupants into the concourse of Union
Station today and street conveyances
took up the task of distributing them
about the city the streets of Wash
ington once again began to take on
the appearance of bustle and excite
ment that quadrenially marks the in
auguration of the Nation's Chief Ex
ecutive.
Visitor* Expected.
Although the crowd this year ad
mittedly is smaller than those which
have attended many such ceremonies in
the past, due to the desire of President
Coolidge for lack of elaborate dis
play, estimates obtained from trans
portation and hotel officials and other
sources led to the belief that more
than 20,000 persons from out of town
will be on hand for tomorrow's cere
monies.
Many important delegations of
State officials arrived this morning.
Most of these delegations came on
special cars or trains of cars. They
included governors and their staffs,
CONGRESS LEAVES
NOTABLE RECORD
OF DISTIT ACTS
Accomplishments for Capital
Unmatched in Any Preced
ing Legislative Term.
Leaving behind it a notable record
for enactment of beneficial District
of Columbia legislation, the Sixty
eighth Congress will pass out of ex
istence as the clock strikes the hour
of noon tomorrow. The 'zero hour”
Is near at hand, but it will not strike
before history has been made by the
legislators of the National Capital;
history for which all Washingtonians
are grateful and proud; history of
accomplishment for the Federal City,
which has not been matched by any
preceding Congress.
Through the activity and zealous
ness to duty of the now dying Con
gress, Washington will soon have an
ideal school system; Its automobile
traffic will be controlled by modern
regulations; a $15,000,000 bridge will
span the Potomac to the Virginia
shore; the District will begin to spend
its more than $5,000,000 surplus from
accumulated taxes; needed public im
provements will go forward on ac
count of the largest appropriation
bill ever passed; the street car com
panies may consolidate into one sys
tem; District citizens will have the
benefit of lawfully pure milk and
cream, and motorists will pass under
instead of over the dangerous La
mond grade crossing at Takoma Park.
Many Notable Acts.
These are only a few of the better
ments that the Sixty-eighth Congress
can point to as its record is scanned.
Washington, in addition to these
manifold benefits, has a school census
and compulsory school attendance
law; the teachers in the schools re
ceive more adequate pay; police and
firemen are better compensated and
receive one day off a week; District
and Federal employes have been
granted increases; a Park Com
mission has been created for the
beautification of the City of Parks;
Six hundred thousand dollars has
been appropriated for use this year
of the new commission as a fore
runner of a yearly sum of $1,000,000;
two tracts of land, donated by pub
lic spirited citizens for parks have
been accepted; $2,500,000 has been
made available for work on the new
water conduit; needed amendments
to the zoning law have been acted
upon and before 12 o'clock tomorrow
the civil service retirement act is
expected to receive favorable action
in the House, and likewise the de
ficiency bill, carrying large sums for
the District.
For the first time the District com
mittees of the House and Senate have
functioned as one committee in joint
session, and there has been a proposal
to continue this method on account of
the good results obtained. The com
mittees also have met during the last
session in separate sessions, and the
"District needs first and last’’ has been
adopted as the motto.
To these committees must go a large
share of the credit, but to the respec
tive chairmen a word of praise Is due.
Senator L. Helsler Ball, chairman of
the Senate committee, who, unfor
tunately for Washington, retires to
morrow, has been an indefatigable
worker for the welfare of the Nation’s
Capital.
He has shown foresight and vision,
(Continued on Page 2, Column 7.)
Mussolini Is Very Seriously III;
Close Friend Takes Over Helm of State
BY HIRAM K. M ODER WELL.
By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily Newa.
ROME. March 2 (By Mail to
Paris, March 3). —Very serious
illness has compelled Premier
Mussolini to hand over the helm
of the Italian state to his friend
Federazzoni, who now Is, In fact,
prime minister of Italy.
Optimistic bulletins concerning
Mussolini’s health had been forth
coming daily for the past fort
night, but it is no longer possible
to conceal the fact that his malady
seriously threatens his future effi
ciency.
The truth appears to be as fol
lows:
Mussolini suffered an attack of
influenza in the middle of Feb
Mie Mtomma §?kf.
V J v y WITH SUNDAY MOBNING EDITION
well known public officials of other
cities and their parties, political or
ganizations in a body, patriotic asso
ciations, the military, etc.
Vermonters Here Toduy.
Two of the largest groups of the
day arrived this afternoon from the
President's native state, Vermont.
Carml Thompson, one of Mr.
Coolidge's pre-convention campaign
managers and former Republican
candidate for Governor of Ohio, came
in early this morning on a special
sleeper from Cleveland, accompanied
by a carful of friends.
Payne Whitney, New York sports
man, is expected to arrive tonight on
his private car, Westmont, with a
large company of guests from New
York cit y.
A Southern train early this after- j
noon brought in a contingent of 200 I
officers and men from the marine base
at Quantico, Va. They occupied six j
cars.*
Other Groups Expected.
Among political organizations due
here today were the Mlneola Republi
can Club, consisting of 50 persons,
coming in two special cars at 6:20 p.m.,
and the Home Talk and Item Party
of Brooklyn, comprising 25 members,
in a special car due at 6:45 p.m.
Some of the biggest delegations will
not come here until tomorrow.
One of the largest single groups
will get into Washington early to
(Continued on Page 10, Column 6.)
W armer, With Rain
Possible, Forecast
For Inauguration
Unless the weather deliberately
helies the signs as Forecaster
Weightman read them today.
President Coolidge will ride to his
inauguration tomorrow beneath a
warm sun.
Clouds in the offing, however,
will struggle to reach Washington
with a supply of damp weather in
the late afternoon, the forecaster
believes, and if Dame Nature
doesn’t keep sufficient check on
them, they might even arrive here
in time to wet the inauguration
crowds along Pennsylvania avenue.
The official forecast for tomor
row Is: "Increasing cloudiness and
warmer, probably followed by
rain.”
“I don't want to be held
responsible If the rain should j
happen to develop in time to mar ]
the parade and ceremony,” Mr.
Weightman pointed out today.
"But I have well founded hop«»
that the skies will be fair and the i
temperature much warmer thajn
today during the Inaugural exer
cises.”
The Arcticllke blasts that swept
Washington last night stayed i
long enough to send the mercury
down to 11 degrees at 6 o'clock
this morning.
GOVERNORS ARRIVE
FOR INAUGURATION
Number Already in Capital
With Aides—State Con
tingents Welcome Them.
With the arrival or pending ar
rival of governors and lieutenant
governors from 18 States, ‘‘native
sons” sojourning in Washington had
completed plans to welcome the vis
iting delegations with open arms to
the Capital City with various types
of receptions and ceremonies this
afternoon, tonight and tomorrow.
State societies generally consti
tuted themselves the mediums of re
ception for* the governors and their
attendant suites. In a few cases spe
cially picked committees had ar
ranged quiet little affairs for the
chief executives of their respective
States.
Outstanding in tonight’s celebra
tions, in so far as gubernatorial vis
itors arc concerned, will be the gov
ernors’ ball, at the Congressional
Country Club, at which more than a
dozen of the chief executives of States
are expected to be in attendance.
The first woman governor to attend
inaugural ceremonies here Mrs.
Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming—was
welcomed by a committee at the
Union Station. She was escorted to
Meridian Mansions, the residence of
Senator and Mrs. Kendrick, who will
entertain her and her sister for sev
eral days.
Governors Here Now.
The arrivals thus far today in
cluded the following:
Gov. C, J. Morley of Colorado, who
is stopping at the Washington Ho
tel, accompanied by a small staff.
Gov. Adam McMullen of Nebraska,
accompanied _by his military staff.
Gov. R. P.' Robinson of Delaware,
(Continued on Page 4, Column -^?)
ruary. This in itself was not
serious, but his constitution was
already weakened by overwork,
and perhaps by the long mental
strain following the Matteotti
murder. Also it is said he had
a chronic disease of long stand
ing affecting his digestive organs,
for which, In spite of his weakened
condition, an operation was per
formed Thursday. Mussolini can
not be the man he was for a long
time, even if he is able to re
sume his duties.
Federazzonl seems to be destined
to take the reins permanently if
Mussolini retires. He has been
minister of interior lately and is
credited with great common sense.
(Copyright, 1925, by Chicago Daily Newt Co.)
Radio Programs—Page 36.
WASHINGTON, D. G, TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 1925 -FORTY-TWO PAGES. *
DAWES, ENTHUSED,
WHIRLS THROUGH
ROUNDOF CALLS
Vice President-Elect, With
New “Underslung” Pipe, •
Visits President.
SCORNS AUTO TO WALK
BRISKLY FROM HOTEL
Engages in Snappy Repartee With
Senators and Cameramen.
Sees Other Officials.
Picturesquely smoking: a brand- ,
new "uniierslung" pipe' of the type
made world famous by him, and
dressed in distinctive, yet stylish
mode, America's Vice President-elect,
Charles G. Dawes, put in a busy’ morn
ing today at the White House, the
War Department and the Treasury,
taking occasion between times to
deliver himself of some pointed re
marks on good citizenship, and to
remember by his first name a col
ored messenger who had been foot
man to President McKinley,
The general and his new pipe had ]
a typical "Daweslan” morning for the
day before inauguration—clear, cool
and snappy. From one place to an
other the Vice President-elect walked
alone and with brisk step, making
his first call on the President of !
the United States at 9:30 and return- !
Ing 'o the New Willard Hotel, which
is tempo.n.rily his home here, shortly
after IX o'clock.
(’nils at White House.
True to his promise that he would i
not talk politics until after inaugu- |
ration, Gen Dawes spent more than ,
half an hour with President Coolidge i
at the White House, the President's I
first caller of the day, but had noth- j
ing to say concerning the nature I
of their conference. It was the cus- j
tomary meeting of the two chiefs}
of the Incoming administration priori
to inauguration
Gen. Dawes was in fine fettle, and
at the White House engaged in jolly
repartee with Senator Edge, Repub
lican. New Jersey, and Senator Ship
stead, Farmer-Labor, Minnesota. De
clining Senator Edge's invitation to
go up to the Senate this morning, the
general told newspaper men after
ward he had told the Senator that
would soon be a procedure all too
"common."
With Senator Shipstead. It was un
derstood, the Vice President-elect had
a good-natured hut to-the-polnt in
terchange over the spirit of the Mid
dle West. The Vice President-elect
remarked, it was learned, that he
himself had been educated in the West
(Continued on Page 2. Column 4.)
GARDNER RESIGNS
AS PENSION CHIEF;
|
Hays Haymaker Will Act as
Commissioner Until Ap
pointment Is Made.
Washington Gardner, commissioner
of pensions for the last four years,
has submitted his resignation, and it
has been accepted by' the President.
A successor to Mr. Gardner has not
been appointed. Hays Haymaker,
deputy commissioner of pensions, will
serve as acting commissioner until an !
appointment is made.
Mr. Gardner, who was appointed by !
President Harding, is SO years old,
and is regarded as the dean of chiefs
of the Government bureaus. His home
is in Albion, Mich., and he formerly
served in Congress and as Secretary
of State for Michigan.
In 1913, Mr. Gardner became com
mander-ln-chief of the Grand Army
of the Republic, after serving as
commander of the Department of
Michigan, and holding several other
posts in the G. A. R.
Last Fall Mr. Gardner was severely
injured in an automobile accident and
remained five -weeks at Emergency
Hospital recovering. He returned to
his office early this year.
Served in 18 Battles.
Commissioner Gardner has been ad
dressed as '‘General" for many years,
the honorary title coming to him
through his rank in the G. A. R. He
enlisted in the 65th Ohio Infantry in
the Civil War in October, 1861, as a
private and was discharged Decem
ber 14, 1864, with the rank of ser
geant, serving through 18 major con
flicts in that war. Mr. Gardner was
severely wounded In the hot fighting
near Resaea. Ca., in 1863 and for a |
I time his life was despaired of.
! The retiring Pension Commissioner I
was born in Morrow County, Ohio, j
February 16, 1845, and received his
education at Ohio Wesleyan Univer
sity, taking a law degree at Albany
law School and later studying at Al
bion College.
Long a leader in the movement for
increased annuities for Government
workers, Mr. Gardner a few months
ago turned his endeavors toward
authorization by Congress for estab
lishment in the Pension Office Build
ing of a national memorial and
museum for the soldiers of the wars
of the United States. A bill was In
troduced in both houses of Congress
at this session providing for the estab
lishment of such a museum, to serve
as a repository for national relics and
characteristic uniforms and weapons
of all the wars in which this Nation
has engaged.
Guide to Capital
For the benefit of inaugura- I
tion visitors in Washington
The Star today prints a map
of those sections of the city
in which are located most of
the public buildings and points
of historical interest.
It will be found on page 32.
fsfdfd
GAPPER TO HEAD
0. C. COMMITTEE
Chosen to Succeed Ball as
Chairman—Has Long Been
Friendly to District.
Senator Capper of Kansas has been
elected by the Republican committee
on committees of the Senate to be
chairman of the Senate District com
mittee in the new Congress. Senator
Capper will succeed Senator Ball of
Delaware in this office, the latter
retiring from the Senate.
The Republican Senators have been
called to meet in caucus at 11 o'clock
Thursday morning. At that time the
committee on committees will sub
mit Its list of committee appointments
for ratification. The election of a Re.
publican leader and the nomination
of a President pro tempore will also
take place. The secretary of the Sen
ate and the sergeant-at-arms of the
Senate will be nominated. These nom
inations later will be submitted to the
Senate and, as the Republicans will
have a majority in that body, the
nominations should be equivalent to
election.
While the Republican conference of
the new Senate has not yet met and
has not formally decided whether
there shall be a reorganization of the
Senate committees at this time, it Is
predicted today that the committees
would be reorganized. The alterna
tive would be to permit the reorgani
zation of the committees to go over
until next December at the first regu
lar session of Congress.
Capper Interested In City.
Senator Capper, who is slated to
head the District committee, has been
a member of that committee for a
number of years, and has taken keen
interest in the affairs of the District.
He has given particular study to the
public school system. As chairman of
the joint congressional committee a
year ago he made an exhaustive re
port on the schools.
Many of the recommendations have
been enacted Into law including in
creases in the salaries of teachers,
a better compulsary school educa
tion law and a building program for
the District schools.
Senator Ball .of Delaware, who will
be succeeded by Mr. Capper as chair
man of the District committee has
been recognized as a strong friend
of the National Capital. Largely
through his efforts one of the. most
important programs of District leg
islation ever enacted has been put
through Congress at the present ses
sion. Senator Ball was the author of
the original rent act for the District
and fathered many other important
measures.
retirementlll
DOOMEDTO FAIL
Republican Leaders Declare
Measure Already Passed by
Senate Will Not Be Enacted.
The civil service retirement bill
will not be passed at this session of
Congress. This word was passed
1 along to leaders of She 450,000 Gov
ernment employes who have been
making a desperate and unremittent
fight to get action in the House be
fore this session closes. It was con
firmed today by Republican leaders
in the House. This decision is under
stood to be based on word directly
from President Coolidge that he does
not want this measure passed.
Both President Harding and Presi
dent Coolidge early In their adminis
trations declared their sympathy
with the pledge of wornout Govern
ment employes who could not retire
to starve and so were clogging the
Government pay rolls and preventing
efficient work in the various Govern
ment establishments. They declared
their earnest support of this legis
lation.
The cabinet, through Secretary
Work of the Interior Department,
has also dec'Ared Its urgent interest
In having action taken.
The bill has already passed the
Senate, and if allowed to come up for
a vote in the House would undoubt
-1 (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.)
SOVIET OFFICIAL DEAD
IN VLADIVOSTOK RIOT
Serious Uprising Among Sailors Re
ported in Progress at
Siberian Port.
By the A**ociat-d Pres*
HARBIN, Manchuria. March 3—Re
ports from rogranichnaya say that a
serious uprising has occurred among
the sailors at Vladivostok. Karpen
ko, the Soviet representative at
Vladivostok, was killed during street
rioting, according to these reports.
GERMAN ELECTION
SET FOR MARCH 23
All Parties Anxious to Have
New President at
Helm of State.
By the Associated Pres*.
BERLIN, March 3.—The date of the
German presidential election, at which
a successor to the late President Ebert
will be chosen, was officially fixed to
day as March 29.
By Radio to The Star and t'hicaeo Dally News.
BERLIN, March 3. —All parties are
desirous of hurrying the German presi
dential election.
It must be remembered that a Ger
man president is elected by direct popu
lar vote of all persons over 20 years old.
If the first election fails to give any
one an absolute majority, a second elec
tion will be held two weeks later and
the plurality candidate is elected.
The two most likely candidates now
are former Chancellor Marx and Chan
cellor Luther, although the latter may
not be mentioned in the first election.
He will undoubtedly poll a heavy vote
as a non-partisan candidate in the sec
ond election. Luther is an undoubted
Conservative.
Despite much disorder and confusion
this election may do much to divide the
sheep • from the goats—tnat is, the
friends of the new regime from the par
tisans of the old and show which side
is the stronger, thereby clearing the
air for the future.
(Copyright, 1925, by Chicago Daily Nf*i Co.)
PRIEST TO OFFICIATE.
Ebert to Be Buried as Catholic De
spite Socialism.
By the Associated Presa.
BERLIN. March 3.—The interment
of President Ebert at Heidelberg on
Thursday will be with the rites of
the Roman Catholic Church. Father
Maas of Heidelberg will read the
service.
I This announcement was made late
yesterday and there had been s much
uncertainty as to whether there would
be any religious ceremonial at the
funeral. While the President was
born In the Catholic faith, his activ
ity for many years as leader of the
Socialists, who have been extremely
antagonistic to all religions, had
given rise to the popular impression
that Herr Ebert ho longer was a
churchman, although he apparently
(Continued on Page 3, Column 4.)
i Inaugural Editions j
p)e gening £iaf
March 3,4, and 5
I '; •* . • . ' 1 ’ , f' I
Mailed, postage prepaid, 10c
(Anywhere in the United States and Canada.) |
In addition td all the current news in each issue, the
edition of March 4 will contain a special rotogravure section
of the inauguration ceremonies from the first President to
.the present day. Pictures of the. various brilliant processions. ij
the Presidents taking .the oath at the Capitol, and special j!
incidents connected With historic Inaugurations.
New and hitherto unpublished photographs of the
President, the Vice President and their wives.
Send lint sf names and addreaaea (accompanied by
10 centa for each) to Star Ofllce, Eleventh street and Penn
sylvania avenue, and the three Inaugural Issues will be
| promptly mulled.
“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.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
FUND WINS IN VOTE
House Makes $150,000,000
Bill an Amendment to De
ficiency Measure.
By a vote of 255 to 96, under sus
pension of the rules, the House today
adopted as an amendment to the con
ference agreement on the $55,000,000
deficiency appropriation bill the $150,-
000.000 public buildings bill, which
had previously passed the House and
failed in the Senate. Included in this
$150,000,000 is $50,000,000 for new
Federal buildings in Washington.
This amendment was offered by
Chairman Madden of the House
appropriations committee, and lead
ers in the House said today that there
is a good chance that it may be ac
cepted by the Senate.
The $150,000,000 public building
program carries merely an authoriza
tion for this amount and takes no
money out of the Federal Treasury
during) the next fiscal year.
Included in the $58,000,000 deficiency
bill is $2,631,500 to be taken from
the District surplus of $4,500,000 in
the Federal Treasury to make a start
on the five-year school-building pro
gram, which has already passed both
houses of Congress.
Other Important Items.
Other important District items in
the bill are $500,000 for the starting
of work on the Arlington Memorial
Bridge: $150,000 for a new Red Cross
building as a memorial to the women
in the World War; $251,000 for im
provements to the Capitol power
plant; $70,000 for replacing elevators
in the State. War and Navy Building;
$60,600 for a traffic director, assistant
corporation counsel and other ex
penses incident to the new traffic
laws for the District: $21,000 for op
eration of the Mount Pleasant
branch library; $125,000 for sewer
extensions; $59,000 to carry out
the new law abolishing the La
mond grade crossing and extending
Van Buren street through the viaduct;
SIO.OOO for a new death chamber at
the District jail; $30,000 for a new
elevator in the Washington Monu
ment; $23,000 for buildings for the
National Training School for Girls;
$254,000 for support of District pa
tients in St. Klizabeth's Hospital; $lO,-
000 for -removing the white and
colored bathing beaches on the Tidal
Basin: SIOO,OOO for the Rock Creek
and Potomac Parkway Commission;
$50,000 for new water mains: $909,000
for the Federal institution for wom
en at Alderson, Va.; $13,100 for addi
tional land at the Beltsville farm of
the Department of Agriculture; SB,OOO
for a new greenhouse on the Arlington
experimental farm and $69,000 for
seven commissioners of the Court of
Claims.
5 BANDITS AWE BANK’S
OCCUPANTS; GET $30,000
By the Associated Press.
ST. BOUIS, March 3.—Five armed
men entered the Mound City Trust
Co. today, held 20 or 25 employes and
patrons at bay and escaped with ap
proximately $30,000 in cash. One
shot was fired by n robber, but no
one was wounded.
Yesterday’s Circulation, 103,405
MELLON DEFENDS
TREASURY IN FACE
OF BOW REPORT
Declares Bureau Irregularity
Charges as Far From Prov
en as in 1920.
SAYS YEARS OF SEARCH
FAILED TO SHOW GUILT
Committee, With Two Dissenting,
Recommends Comprehensive Audit
of the National Debt.
Secretary Mellon in a letter to
President Coolidge today informed
the Executive that the Treasury's
“accusers" charging- irregularities in
the handling of Federal securities
remain "as far now from proving
their charges as they were in 1920."
The .Secretary added that with the
exception of a "petty theft” involving
some $13,000 in bonds, the two and
one half years of investigation by
Charles B. Brewer, Department of
Justice agent, and the more recent
investigation by a special House com
mittee had developed nothing further
than a reiteration of the original
charges made in 1920 by J. TV. Mc-
Carter, a former deputy register of
the Treasury.
The letter is as follows:
"There has been submitted to Con
gress a majority report of the spe
cial committee appointed under
House resolution 231 (Sixty-eighth
Congress, first session), to investi
gate matter relating to Government
bonds. One member of the com
mittee. Representative Strong of
Kansas, has filed a minority report,
expressing complete disagreement
with the committee’s findings. The
chairman of the committee. Repre
sentative McFadden of Pennsylvania,
has filed a separate report.
No New Information.
"The committee’s report, for the
most part, is hardly more than a
repetition of charges made by Mr.
Charles B. Brewer, a special assist
ant to the Attorney General, in a
report to the Attorney General, dated
January 15, 1924. Mr. Brewer's
charges were, In turn, substantially
a repetition of charges made in 1920
by Mr. J. W. McCarter, former as
j sistant register of the Treasury under
' the Democratic administration.
"These charges are familiar to you,
to member of Congress and to the
- public generally. I shall not repeat
' them In this communication. Briefly,
j they allege that fraud has existed in
j connection with Government bonds.
"When the charges were made by
1 Mr. McCarter, in 1920. Secretary Hous
■ ton thoroughly investigated them
! and publicly stated in two letters,
dated September 28. 1920, that they
were without foundation.
“Mr. McCarter again presented his
! charges in April, 1921, to a member
i of Congress, by whom they were re
; ferred to the Department of Justice.
! It was at this time that Mr. Charles
B. Brewer, a special assistant to the
Attorney General, began his activ
ities.
Says Irregularities Unproved.
“Mr. Brewer devoted nearly 3 years
to an investigation of the McCarter
charges, and during that period made
several reports to the Department of
, Justice which indicated, in substance,
that he suspected irregularities but
could not prove them. In these in-
I terim reports he usually included an
appeal for more time in which to de
termine the facts. In October, 1923,
after 2Vs years had elapsed and Mr,
Brewer still claimed his inquiry
! was incomplete, you designated Mr.
j Charles G. Wa hburn, an attorney-at
i law of Worcester, Mass., as your per
! sonal representative to consult with
j Mr. Brewer and to ascertain what
| facts he had developed. The situa
-1 tion, as disclosed by Mr. Washburn’s
study of the matter was much the
; same as in preceding, years. Mr.
Brewer stated that he had not de
veloped all the facts, and that he
desired more time to present his
•proof.’
“Mr. Washburn advised you of the
situation, and Mr. Brewer was given
three additional months in which to
[complete his investigation. Having
already spent two and a half years
on the matter, certainly it was rea
j sonable to suppose that this would
be sufficient to enable him to finish
any remaining phases of his work.
Accordingly, it was arranged between
Mr. Brewer and Mr. Washburn, that on
January 15, 1924, Mr. Brewer should
submit his final report.
"Mr. Brewer filed a report with the
i Attorney General under date of Janu
) ary 15, 1924. It contained no evidence
| which could in any wise be construed
jas a justification of the charges. As
; an investigator of the Department of
| Justice, it was Mr. Brewer's duty to
j ascertain and determine whether the
| charges were true or untrue. He did
! neither. His report was merely a
reiteration of the charges, with em
bellishments, and with the comment
in each instance that further investi
gation would develop the facts.
Call* Charge* Absurd.
“Mr. Brewer's report was .eferred
| to the Treasury, and in my letter to
[you of April 26, 1924, I answered in
'detail all his specific charges. I stated
j then, and 1 repeat here, that there
j have been no fraudulent duplications
! or overissues of the public debt, and
j that the charges are absurd. There
were some mechanical and clerical
errors In the preparation and record
ing of the enormous volume of war
time securities, and there were some
petty thefts of retired securities from
the files. The mechanical and clerical
errors did not result in any loss to
the Government, while the thefts of
retired securities from the files have
involved a loss to the United States
of only $13,100 out of approximately
$100,000,000,000, principal amount of
securities retired by the register of
the Treasury during the period 1917
to 1922. Any fair-minded person will
agree that this is a remarkable rec
ord. The wonder is that, considering
the frailty of human nature and the
war-time conditions under which
most of the work was performed, the
errors were so few and the actual
losses to the United States so inslg-
I niflcant.
“In March, 1924, nearly a year ago,
the House of Representatives passed
a resolution authorizing a special
committee of five members to inves
tigate the Brewer charges. While the
resolution did not specifically refer to
these charges, the discussion In Con
gress clearly indicated that those who
sponsored the resolution were Lb
~ (Continued on Rage 13, Column 1.)
TWO CENTS