The Washington times. [volume], March 23, 1916, HOME EDITION, Page 8, Image 8

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THE WASHINGTON TIMES, THURSDAY, MARCH 23.' 1916.
ieHa0liitt0ton Wm&
PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING
n ...(Including Sundays).
By The Washington Times Company,
THE MUNBKY BUILDING. 1'enna. Ave.
FANK A. MUNSEY, President .
H. H. TITHERINGTOijT, Secretary.
C. H. POPE, Treasurer.
On Year (Including Sundayi). fJ.50.
Blx Months, tl.H. Thro Months. Wo.
THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 101GV
NEUTRAL SHIPPINQ LOSSES
Since the war began, according to
the estimates of our Department of
Commerce," more than 2,000 mer
chant vessels of nearly 4,000,000 ton
na'go have been sunk, captured, or
driven off the seas. Those figures
include some GOO ships of Germany,
f6r the most part bottled up in hbmc
or neutral ports.
But the impressive, the shocking
thing about these figures of the
maritime casualties of tho war is
set that Germany heads tho list; it
is not what destruction of shipping
Great Britain has suffered; nor yet
her allies. Nor is it what vessels
have been lost by Austria and Tur
key. It is what losses the neutralB
have experienced and have had to
stand, still must stand, for tho de
struction, of their vessels goes on
unabated.
Of the vast fleets of Great Britain
only 500 vessels have been lost, 225
of them by submarines. Her allies
all put together have lost only 167.
Austria and Turkey together have
lost only 204.
But of the comparatively meager
merchant fleets of the maritime
powers which have kept out of tho
war 186 have been destroyed out
right, 92 of them torpedoed by sub
marines, 94 blown up by mines, and
23 others have been damaged, with
out being lost, by submarines and
mjnes.
This is the most unspeakable work
ever done against the property, the
rights, and tho lives of neutrals in
all the history of war since the dawn
of civilization.
CRITICAL CONDITIONS ON THE
BORDER
It would bo senseless to shut eyes
to the fact that conditions on the
Mexican border aro highly uncom
fortable; threatening, and drifting
tpward the critical. They may not
be accurately reported, for our ama
teur censorship has a good deal vet
to learn about how not to make mat
ters worse by suppressing tho
truth.
But it is reported with seeming
reliability that a large body of Car
ranzista troops have des6rted and
gone over to Villa. It will be lucky
If this shall prove untrue; it will be
quite logical if it shall prove true.
Expectation of just such a thing has
been general since it was assured
that Washington and Carranza
would try to co-operate. Villa has
at his command a powerful weapon,
that ho well knows how to use: the
ignorance and prejudice of the Mexi
can masses.
' Re-enforcements are demanded by
the American commanders on the
border, and aro being hurried there.
Reports say that Villa has defeated
a considerable force of Carranzistas
and escaped, leaving his pursuers
dazed about what happened to them.
The whole situation is menacing in
the extreme; for it is perfectly plain
. that initial reverses would make it
more than ever necessary for tho
American expedition to be tressed
to ultimate success. Nothing has
happened yet that was not reason
ably to have been expected. There
is no occasion for great alarm. It
is beyond serious possibility that
another Custer massacre will mark
this bandit hunt in Mexico.
But there is in all these stories,
plausible and. probably warranted by
tho facts behind them, that' which
powerfully enforces the demand for
better preparation by this country.
Suppose it shall turn out that in a
bandit chase our whole army must
suffer revorses and that the outcome
must be for a considerable time in
doubt I It is a grim joke on this
nation; but it is worse than that,
when thought turns to tho possibili
ties of an embroilment in tho greater
turmoils of the world.
ISPAHAN, THE OLD AND THE
NEW
"Schchcrezado," a story typical of
the days of llaroun al ICaschid, and
tho caliphs of Bagdad, is to be told
to Washington this week by Russian
dancers.
Now comes the news that Ispa
han, once a veritable Arabian
Nignts city, .ruled by those very
caliphs of Bagdad, has fallen before
the advancing Russian armies.
Six centuries ago this city had its
gay bazaars and buzzing khans,
whilo tho dull plop-plop of camels'
feet beat a Bteady rhythm on the
cobblestones. Now somo twenty
thrco miles of ruined wall encloses
a city of ruinB crumbling mosques,
deserted palaces, and shattered col
umns, with a sprinkling of little
homes where the present-day citi
zens live.
Ispahan has always been a center
of Persian history and legend. Back
in the days when Nebuchadnezzar
ruled Babylon and drove tho Jews
from his kingdom, a croun of them
is eald to have found a refuge in
F
tho river-girt vtlley where tho city
totters today. At length it came
under the control of tho Bagdad
caliphs, who were overthrown fol
lowing a mastacro in 1392.
The Golden Age .of Ispahan waB
tho seventeenth' century; Shah Ab
bas tho Great its Pericles. The city
grow to accommodate a million in
habitants. The Persian government
was proud to claim it as the capital.
Two palaces, beautiful still, tes
tify to the former greatness of tho
city. They bear the picturesque and
distinctly Oriental names of the Hall
of Many Columns and the Palace
of the Eight Paradises. The one
is a monument to the civic prido of
Shah Abbas and is notable for its
twenty slender pillars, lofty roof,
and mirrored court; tho other is a
gem of a dwelling, set in well
planned gardens.
In olden times, when travel be
tween Ispahan and tho nearby towns
was still heavy, five bridges were
built to accommodate the endless'
caravans. These bridges are still in
fairly good condition, and by way
of theso camo the victorious Rus
sians on their advance from Tehe
ran. Russian dancers or Russian
troops both have been transportedi
back to tho Old .East today.
THE FOLLY OP PEACE TALK NOW
The Department of State has been
compelled to issue a statement
positively denying that this Govern
ment has been approached by Ger
many, in any way, with 'tho sug
gestion that the United States act
as a peace mediator. There ought
to have been no occasion for such, a
statement, because it has been ob
vious in recent months that neither
side in the great conflict was ready
to think of peace on any terms that
the other side would consider.
Yet irresponsible discussion hns
constantly put forward suggestions
that something of tremendous sig
nificance was going on, and tho last
few days have brought reiterations
of tho declaration that matters were
so framing that peace was to be ex
pected by autumn. This kind of
comment is calculated to embarrass
the Washington Government, to mis
lead the public, and possibly to dis
organize many business arrange
ments. Probably nobody knows better
than tho manufacturers of such
stories that there is no basis for
them. Of course, either side would
be glad to make peace: on its own
terms. Neither side has ever, from
the beginning, been farther from
thought.of peace at any other terms,
than it'is today.
Germany holds the advantageous
position of occupying great terri
tories she has conquered. Peace on
her terms would in effect create a
German empire stretching from
Antwerp to Constantinople; would
leave France crushed and dismem
bered; would make Poland a German
dependency, and Belgium a province
of the empire. There would be no
security in such a peace; it would
I' "ve the Prussian military machine
more powerful than ever, flushed
with victory, certain to make fur
ther assaults on Europe before long,
in the effort to complete its -domination
of the continent. England
would, of course, come next, because
England has not been a loser in the
war to date; England would emerge
as the great rival of Germany; and
the future would hold for these two
powers an inevitable duel to the
death.
England does not want peace
while this peril resides in all the
tomorrows of this century. She
wants the task finished now, while
the forces are in hand to finish it J
Franco and Belgium and Russia
have precisely similar reasons for
wanting the same thing. Peace talk
today is more impossible than it was
a month after the war started.
YUAN'5 MIND CHANQES AQAIN
Yuan Shi Kai has thought
further on the subject, and decided
not to be Emperor of China. He an
nounces that the revolution in Yun
nan province has demonstrated that
the people are not unanimously for
him for Emperor; so he" orders that
the council of state shall resume
its character as tho senate; IIsu
Shih Chang resumes tho seals as
secretary of state, and Yuan will
be President instead .of Emperor.
It must cause the wiTy old Yuan
to smile in his sleeve as he juggles
the government institutions of one-
third tho human race. Whether he
chooses to call it republic or mon
archy, he keeps his one grip firmly
on whatever of power resides in tho
Peking government He will go on
cutting off the heads of personages
who interfere with his program;
he will boss the job just as com
pletely as ever; his graft will be
quite as good, whether he is called
Son of Heaven or Mr, President.
Nevertheless, it is significant that
the old fox shifts ground once more.
It is a confession of the larger in
fluence that the people have; an ad
mission that something like public
opinion is forming and making it
self felt in China. Pressure from
the governments of Russia, Japan,
and Great Britain is understood
largely to have influenced Yuan in
' giving up his imperialistic adven
ture; a pressure, it may be added to
which the United States contributed
not ono whit, although this country
was thexflrst of all to recognize the
Chincso republic.
Tho revolt in far-away Yunnan did
not seem very promising of results;
but the truth is that it doesn't take
a very big revolt to make real
trouble for a Peking government,
for Peking hasn't much to do at best
with tho internal control of China.
Tho fact that anything at all could
be accomplished from such a base
of dissatisfaction is testimony that
China is being knitted togother Jnto
something like a national whole;
and this 1b the best possible evi
dence that somehow or other, per
haps before very long, real progress
will be made toward realizing the
republican nsplratlon that undoubt
edly inspires tho Chinese people.
Tho life of a Yuari even assuming
that he is lucky enough .to keep his
head on his shoulders, to avoid gifts
of silken cords, to' evado the deli
cate attentions of cooks dropping
poison into his soup, and.to keep out
of tho way of 'patriots with daggers
up their flowing sleeves, is not very
long compared to the antiquity of
China.
THE QASOLENB CRISIS
Being vitally concerned, the So
ciety of Automobile Engineers has
been making a close study of the
situation which confronts the coun
try in 25-ccnt gasolene. They fore
see injury to the motor industry un
less a solution is found, for investi
gation brings them to tho belief
that gasolene prices will go still
higher and never will sink again to
the level to which automobilo own
ers in this, country have been ac
customed. They estimate that if demand re
mains constant, refining methods re
main the same, and no new sources'
are developed the supply will be ex
hausted in .fifteen years.
The demand will not remain con
stant; it will increase, for even-if
high "gas" tends to check the sale
and use of pleasure cars there prob
ably will be economy in its use still
for marine, industrial, and agricul
tural purposes. At tho same time
refining methods will be improved.
Ten refiners, it is announced from
Washington, have been licensed to
use thc.Rittman method, which
greatly increases the percentage of
gasolene obtained from crude oil.
Suppose, optimistically, closer refin
ing and increased demand offset one
another tho date of exhaustion re
mains the same and the problem re
mains unsolved.
The engineers suggest as remedies
control of the distribution and the
exportation of fuel b'y legislation;
the improvement and eeneral use -of
better distillation processes'; curtail
ment of waste and development of
new fields and development of
cheaper fuels.
Their advice on legislation carries
no more weight than a lawyer's ad
vice on engineering; it appears the
improved methods are being adopt
ed; high prices will tempt further
oil development and retard waste.
There remains as their proper
sphere the development of motors
to use cheaper fuel.
Kerosene, they assert, is the
answer. If demand for it should
make it more expensive, still the
general use of two fuols would
create a mutual price check. Car
buretors already have been designed
which will use kerosene, and there is
said to appear no insurmountable.
difficulty in making an automobilo
motor which will use kerosene or
gasolene, or both, at the whim of
the owner.
Here, as the engineers themselves
recognize, is the most important
work they can undertake for the
preservation of their own great in
dustry and for the general good of
the world.
If they keep on scouring Mox.
they ought to clean up soon.
Among the other harrowing de
tails is that they are plowing
through tho desert.
You can get a line on how busy
a man is, by the way he reads t
war map. t
There's no danger of our standing
up so straight on international
issues' that we'll lean back.
Oh, well, you'll get more exercise,
anyway, out oi a half-dozen golf
balls, than from a gallon of gaso
lene. Congress is, speeding up, but
there's no danger of breaking any
speed laws so long as the general
debate system Is retained.
A man in France plays the violin
with a wooden hand. There's a man
upstairs that does the same thing
with a wooden head.
Prohibitionists probably will not
fail to underscore the fact Dead
Man Hill lies in the center of the
Champagne country.
Among other good things that can
be said of Villa, he has kicked the
other daily crises off the front
PaBes
A Yale professor says that nt
thirty years a man is worth $4,100,
According to whether you're buying
or selling.
MILITARY E
E .
LEGION HEARS DYER
Missouri Congressman Speaks
For Better National Guard
in Washington.
Washington should have the Ideal na
tional guard organlxatlon of the coun
try, Congressman L. C. Dyer of Mis
souri told tho members of the Military
Service Legion at tho Chamber ot Com
merce last night. Such an organisation
a the legion, he declared, was destined
to have a big effect on the' future ot the
national' guard throughout the country.
The meeting was attended by 100 for
mer members of tho. national guard,
separate military organisations and Dis
trict volunteers. Col. It. D. Slmms.
president of tho organization, submitted
u. "J"" of constitution and by-laws,
which were adopted. An associate mem
bership was authorized for former
members of the organised mllltla of
other- sections at the country.
Fo JLne.rlfle UD ot the legion,
Copt 8herldsn Feree said. a. plan Is be
ing perfected for a complete course of
Instruction ot tho Wlntlirop range. The
Indoor range of the National nine As
sociation at Klfleer street and Pennsyl
vania nvenui. Is also open to mem
bers. An insignia for the organization wti
adopted and membership cards dlatri
bJtcd. Alexandria to See
Gamboling Prophets
Kallipolis Grotto Will Give
Spectactular Entertainment
Tomorrow.
A spectacular "gambol" of the Kal
lipolis Grotto Glee Club. In which about
KX) prophets and friends will partici
pate, wlll take place tomorrow after
noon when they leave Washington for
Alexandria.
The party rlll take the train at
Twelfth street and Pennsylvania avenue
northwest at 8:30. Upon their arrival
they will bo received by tho mayor of
Alexandria. .who will present them
with the "keys to the city."
The prophets will parade from the
train to the Elks Hal. led by the Indian
Guard Band, and will there be guests
at an entertainment and dance.
Woerner and Gross, "black-face
princes." will participate In the pro
gram. Other entertainers-will Include Charles
A. Stevens, J. Heldenhclmer, Fried
Kramer, C. II. Poptnoe, Edward Hutch
inson, Charles l. Shackleford, Dave
Wolf. Wlllur Fookes, Kirk C. Miller,
and S. F. Shreve.-
Commerce Club Elects
Permanent Officers
A permanent organisation of the Com
merce Club of the Department of Com
merce was effected yesterday afternoon,
when a tentative constitution was
adopted, officers elected, and commit
tees appointed.
O. E. Oiler was elected president ot
the board of directors: Dr. L. O. Whit
ler, vice president: George Johannes,
treasurer, and C. E. Molster. Dr. L. F.
Whltler. W. P. Harmon. A. L. Baldwin,
T. O. Coland, and D. J. Richardson,
members of the board.
FUNERAL RITES FOR
CAPITAL RESIDENTS
Hours and Places of Service Ap
ranged by Bereaved Families.
Kuneral services for Mrs. C. Annie
Joseph, who died yesterday at Garfield
Hospital, will be held at Wright's
chapel tomorrow at 11 o'clock. Inter
ment will be private.
Mrs. Anna Mohun Phelps.
Kuneral services for Mrs. Anna Mo
hun Phelps, who died yesterday at her
residence, the Dresden, in her seventy
fourth year, will be held at Bt. Patrick's
Church, where requiem mass will be,
celebrated tomorrow at 10 o'clock. In
terment will be private.
Mrs. Nathan Plummer.
Funeral services for Mrs. Nathan
Plummer, who died on Tuesday at her
residence, 213 T streot northwest, in her
seventy-third year, wUI be held tomor
row at 10 o'clock.
W. S. Sutton.
Funeral services for W. 8. Button,
who died yesterday at Providence Hos
pital,, will be held at Wndle's chapel to
morrow at 8:30 o'clock, thence to Bt.
t-tatrlck'a Church, where requiem mass
will be celebrated at o'clock. Inter
ment will be made In Mt. Olivet Ceme
tery. Mrs. Margaret Sweeney. x
Funeral' services for Mrs. Margaret
Sweeney, who died yesterday, will bo
held at her late residence, 806 First
street northwest, thence to Bt. Aloyslus'
Church, where requiem mass will ne
celebrated at 9 o'clock.
Mrs. Catherine Chewnlng.
Funeral services for Mrs. Catherine
Chewnlng, who died Tuesday at the
home or ner aunt. Airs. Katharine
Blelfus, 10 Fourth street northoast,
will be held tomorrow at 3:30 o'clock,
thence to Bt, Joseph's Church, where
requiem mass will be celebrated at
9:30 o'clock.
Joseph Richardson.
Private funeral services were held
today for Joseph Richardson, who
died on Tuesday, at his late residence
in f airiax couiuy, va. inicrmeni was
made In Ivy Hill Cemetery.
Horace H. Lockwood.
Funeral services for Horace Hill
Lockwood, a former employe of the
Pension Bureau, who died yesterday
at his residence, 62 Randolph place
northwest, will be held tomorrow at
his late residence at 1 o'clock, under
auspices of Lincoln Post, O. A, R. In
terment will be made In Arlington
Cemetery. He was aged seventy-seven
years.
Mrs. Tucker Kenney.
Funeral services for Mrs. Tucker
Kenney, who died on Tuesday at the
residence or ner aaugnter, Mrs. Mary
K. Campbell, 81S Michigan avenue,
Biookland. will be held at St. Luke's
Baptist Church. Brlghtwood, tomor
row ai i o ciock,
Joshua R. Wheeler.
funeral services for Joshua R
Wheeler, who died on Tuesday, aged
sixty-one years, will be held at Cen
tenary Methodist Church, Laurel. Md
tomorrow at 11 o'clock. Interment
in Beltsvllle Cemetery.
I
Railroads bate Worst
Pressure iri History
If the War Continues
Co-operation of Interstate -Commerce Commission
With Companies Inspired By Reports That
Real Catastrophe Was Imminent in
Shipping Situation.
By JUDSOrf C. WELLWER.
If the war end war demand for American products -shall con
tinue unabated into the autumn, there is every reason to fearahat
the railroads will face the hardest pressure for transportation service
that has, ever been imposed on them.
The Interstate Commerce Commission's jnitiation of co-opera-
tion'with the railroads, looking to relieving the freight congestion,
was inspired by reports from both
gested the imminence of a real catastrophe unless preventive meas
ures are taken early.
Underneath the surface, there is fear of political consequences
the coming fall. The industrial East lias so largely monopolized the
capacity of the railroads that the grain-growing States of the West
are in dangerof being unable to market their products.
ATTITUDE OF WEST.
The West has not viewed with any
too much satisfaction the spectacle of
the East making huge profits out or
manufacturing war supplies. It war sup
plies. Insistent on getting first to
markcH. should absorb all the carrying
capacity of the railroads, and shut out
the Western business. It considered
very certain that a tremendous row
would be projected.
It lo desired to avoid any such danger.
Some time ago the Interstate Commerce
Commission called to a number of ral -rn.A
men to Washington to discuss this
freight congestion. The railroad peo
ple wero particularly anxious to make
It very apparent that they we no
to blame. There was a good deal of
conversation about tne lack of MPPlng
to
tako cargoes iw .--....
PThe railroad pePe pointed out that
warehouses up ana aown mo .
coast are all filled and that cars can
not be unloaded because there Is no
place to put thel contents.
Fear of New Duties.
After hearing a good deal of this
kind of testimony, the commission In
dicated that It was more concerned
about remedies than causes. It consid
ers the proposition mainly one of physi
cal operation. In which It Is feared
the failure of the railroads to co-operate
among themselves and with their ship
pers has accentuated unfortunate con
ditions. ... .. .
There is a very genuine fear that tnis
situation may reatiltln the Impoiltton of
new duUes upon the Interstate Com
mission, requiring It to supervise phy
sical operation of llitf railroads, at a
time when It lias neither tho experience
nor the machinery with which to do
thU effectively. ,
One hears among members of Con
gress a good !eal of Intimation that
more rlgoroun Government control
ought to be exercised unless conditions
very soon Improve.
Would Enlarge Commission.
It enn be said with the best ot au
thority, that the Interstate Commerco
Commission does not want to be ciomea
with power over the physical opera
tion of railroads unless the Commls
Inn'i membership Is increased and
nrnvlaton is made In the law for A Very
distinct distribution of functions among
groups of the commissioners.
Thus, speaking for the commls'lon,
xrr rvimmliMlnner Clements, who In
lenirth of sertlce Is the veteran ot that
body, strongly urged that two more
commissioners be authorized, brlnrlng
the membership to nine, and that the
Commission bo permitted to distribute
Its functions In such manner thnt a,
group of two or three members might
exercise pmctlcallv I'nal authority In
manv matters which now require tho
agreement of tho entlrr body.
Sentiment Strongly Favors It.
Mr. Clements made this recommenda
tion to the Congressional committees
and supplemented It with the sugges
tion that the commission should have
authority over Issues of railroad "se
curities. From the present outlook It Is doubt
ful whether the latter proposal will be
adopted by Congress at this session.
While sentiment as strongly in iavor oi
It, the formulation of such a measure now Acqueduct bridge. Th-i hearing
Si!!,d.i.?d.'Xuimorelme?hM w" ca,le'1 attho "KBtlon of Secre
of business as to require more time mnii ,,... w'ar NVwtnn r Knkcr
Congress Is likely to have at tho present . 'cJy'kinfMme'd the board
... i -.i t !,... th com- t,,Ilt requests for n hearing huve oeen
?.35 rjh.r.h?., lmS iiiv mo received from the Chamber of Dim-
iY.l0nwi.h emr PhecaJS2 of Y th? merco- Georgetown citizens' Assocla
meet with favor ,aus8 ,of uie (Jn nnd othe(. c,vl(J boalcfl
crowded condition of the commission ,st The chamber of Conwrce stated that
ilSkl1, Con"" -na ,?"'? imm ' "It views with alarm any project tor
1W8, heapmg new duties UP "" c .the location of the bridge that will de
mission without making adequate Pro-i,riVB Georgetown of bridge facilities
vision for handling them. the Virclnla shore."
The present Inability of the railroads lo u, vlr'"" """
to handle all the business offered them
Is widely regaraea as -ft poweriui argu
ment In favor of Government control of
securities.
Situation Is Changed.
Tor some years prior to the war,
railroad business had been In a state
of depression and physical conditions.
Including equipment, had faUon Into
something UKe demoralization, u nau
been difficult to get money because of
the bad showing In earnings and tno
uncertainty about possible develop
ments in legislation ana puunu
opinion. ....
Then came the sudden and utterly
unexpected increase of demand for
transportation, inciaeni iu mo "'";
ment of war supplies, It could hard
ly have come at a more Inopportune
time. , ,
A year ngo the warring countries
were more concerned to get food sup
plies than anything else. At that
time thla country had a vast surplus
of these necessaries on hand, but was
not yet ready to begin heavy shipment
of arms and ammunition. But today
the situation Is entirely changed. The
munition factories are turning out
tranloads and shiploads and fleet
loads of their wares, and the western
powers are demanding these In pref
erence to any other kind of freight.
An Industrial Revolution.
As the Ashtlng matorUls are chloily
made In tho East, there Is great anil In
creasing difficulty In getting freluht
from the West pushed through the
eastern zono of congestion. A veritable
Industrial revolution has taken pUce In
southern nnd middle New Englaiu.
which beforo the war was In a condi
tion of profound depression largelv duo
to the mUfortunek of the New Haven
system.
Tho Qtner nv n raiirrsu man oc
scribed New England as a big bottle,
the neck of which was represented by
tho New I lit veil lines across Connecti
cut. The bottle Is full to overflowing
of Industrial products trying to gurgle
shippers and railroads which sug
out through this Inadequate neck, with
the result that there Is a fearful lam.
The worst congestion Is In tho region
tributary to tho port of New Vork.
from which tho backwater of this ex
cess traffic Is dammed back as far as
tnlddlo Pennsylvania and New York,
and on some lines of road still farther.
Grain States Complain.
It is smalt wonder that fears are now
being entertained concerning the move
ment of the middle West crops the com
ing autumn. Complaints have been
reaching the commission from all over
the grain States, that cars are not to
be had, elevators are full, and that
when cars are ordered to Western
points to relieve this situation they
simply don't arrive.
They are seised en route at the va
rious Industrial centers, and started
back East acain. In the KasL both
sidings and warehouses are filled, add
the lack of ships to carry ttway export
goods Is making conditions worse all
the tune.
The West Is beginning to complain of
what It regards as discrimination In
favor of the East. It Is charged that
tho embargoes laid by various rail-
xoads have been manipulated to the ad
vantage of the Industrial East so that
the cars are kept In that region.
It Is quite possible that the Inter
state Commission will be compelled,
with the consent of the railroads, to as
sume authority to control embargoes
on freight. Thero has been especial
complaint that the embargo ordered has
In somo cases favored particular kinds
of commodities, and this Is one of the
grievances of Western shippers.
The commission Inquiries Indicate that
the preferred classes of freight, namely,
arms and ammunition, and other fight
ing paraphernalia, constitute not over 6
per cent of the freight offered to the
roads. The testimony Indicates that
generally this kind of freight has been
pushed through pretty promptly." i'
Want "Experiment Postponed.
One argument that Is powerfully help
ing the Western shippers has to do with
the food supply of Eastern cities and In
dustrial centers. These come largely
from the West, and It Is claimed that
unless provision Is presently made for
a freer movement of Western freight
toward the East the scarcity of sup
plies east of the Alleghcnles will pres
ently find reflection in Increases of
prices that will cause a huge hubbub.
in e rauronas ana tne commission
seem about equally anxious to handle
the situation without glting Congress
an excuse to get excited. On neither
side is there any desire that a lot of
new and experimental power shall be
conferred on the commission In the
matter of regulating physical operation
of the roads.
While It Is recognized that this Is
likely to come before many years, there
Is general desire that the experiment
shall not be undertaken In such ab
normal times as the present, when It
might add to the difficulties Instead of
decreasing them.
Hearing To Be Held
On Aqueduct Bridge Site
A hearing will be-held before the Dis
trict Commissioners In the board room
of the District building Monday at 10
a m. on the location of the proposed
Takes Issue With Board
Of Education on Forum
Dr. A. J. McKelway, chairman of the
Citizens' Committee of Forty In Be
half of Popular Government In the Dis
trict of Columbia, today Issued a state
ment In which he strongly advocated
free use of public schools for com
munity forums.
In his statement Dr. McKelway takes
sharp Issue with ministers who opposo
throwing tho schools open for nubile
meetings on Sundays on the ground that
this would Interfere with church going
and constitute a desecration ot Uie
Snbbath.
Dr. McKelway says "Miss Margaret
Wilson hns stated the case very plainly.
We are contending for the right of the
local community, organized Into a
forum, to meet at their own school
buildings when they pleaso."
Dr. Copeland Addresses
Jefferson Community
A lecture on "Sanitation and Hy
giene," for children was delivered by
Dr. A. G Copeland beforo the Jeffer-son-Amldon
Community Center at the
Jefferson School yesterday.
The community forum question was
discussed by the Itev. K. K. Jackson,
of the Congregutlonal Church nt Upper
Mnntelnlr. N. J.
Mrs. C. M. Chlpman reported the or
ganizing of Uoy and Girl Scout Clubs.
Will Speak Tonight.
Tho Rev. Dr. Mtrshall A. Hudson,
president of the World-W'de Ilarnca nnd
riillathea Union, will address tho Ha
racas Jind Phllntheas ' of Washington
and vicinity at Centennial llaptlst
Church, Beventh and 1 streets north
east, tonight at 8 o'plock.
STORE
IS
Midnight Looter Frightened
Away Several Other Lar
cenies Reported.
An unidentified man broke the show
window of a store cdnducted by Ben
jamin Herman at 3M0 M street north
west shortly after last midnight. He
was frightened away before he could
obtain any loot.
Annie Tilly, colored, 1313 Vermont ave-
nue, reported to mo poni iwuajr wmi
a man attempted to anatch her hand
bag last night When she was attacked
she was near Eleventh and Irving
streets northwest. Tho man had follow
ed her from Garfield Hospital.
Among the larcenies reported during
the past twelve hours are:
r our.eiccinc con, ici ". -
tomobllo of L. II. .Borghausen, 715 Tenth
street northeast.
Money, amount unknown, from auto
matic piano and telephone box In closed
premises at 1100 Eighth streH south
east, occupied by Martin Schneider, of
806 L street southeast.
Clothing, shoes, and safety raxors,
the property of 'John Murphy and John
Kooney, from 333 Pennsylvania avenue
northwest. ..
Laprobe'from an automobile, the prop
erty of K. Muelhclsen. WW Sixteenth
street northwest.
Butt of clotnes, from -uuomaa w.
Vaughn, 1721 Rlgga place northwest,
by colored man who represented him
self as being employed by a pressing
establishment.
Automobile tire, from garage of 3,
Kronhelm, 1409 U street northwest.
Nine pigeons, the property of George
H. Carroll, 630 Elliott street northeast.
Matilda L. Thomson
Leaves M.E. Church $106
The will of Matilda L. Thomson, dated
August 10, 1916, nled for probate yester
day, devises SlOO each to the building
fund of the Iowa Avenue IT. B. Church
and the Eastern Star Home. Bequests
of 1200 each are made to nieces, Edna
L. Trowbridge and Mabel T. Brandt; la
a nephew, Elma M. Haythorn, and to
Hugh M. Sterling.
The will provides that after the pay
ment of several other smaller bequests)
the remainder of the property shall ha
divided betwen two sisters of the testa
trix. Cornelia Ide Trowbridge, of New
ark. N. J., and Mary Adeline Haythorn.
of Oswego, N. Y. Hugh M. Sterling, in
a petition filed with the will, seta forth
that the assessed value of the real es
tate Is SI.Z3 and the personalty tS.600.
Tho real property consists of premise)
1109 Decatur street northwest,
COMING EVENTS ON
CAPITAL'S PROGRAM
Toda
ay's
Amusements Schedule
for Tomorrow.
Today.
MvJpc Pictures, "Mlnlnlppl IUvr In flood
Time," Jdjul , jFor. XatlpnM.l'reii Plub,
t;J0 p. m.; mmorr training demonstration?
Henry J. Sutton, 5:45 p. m.
Addrea. "Immigration," Joseph I. Teppcr,
before Ahaa Zlon Society. 1K1 Biitti
treet northwest. a:lu p. m.
Exhibit or scout tactics. Boy Scouts. Metro
politan A. M. B, Churih. i p. m.
Heeling, committee or 100 for Yuskecee In
stitute, Colored V. II. C. A... 11 Twelfth
street northwest. 8 p. m. ,
Open meeting, Washington Academy of
Sciences. New National Museum, k.lj p. m.
Meeting. State, War and Navy Club, Ebbltt,
t n. m.
Organisation meeting, new branch of Colored
tipenlsn-Amencan war 'veterans or Dis
trict, True lierorm Hall. Twelfth and V
streets northwestr -S-p. m.
Address, the Kev. Marshall A. Hudion. Cen
tennial iiaptlst Church, beventh and 1
streets northeast. S p. ru.
Lecture, "Nietzsche and the German Kaiser."
Emma Ooldman, Arcade, t:li f' m.
Chorus rehearsal. Home Club. ):3 p. m.
Lenten meeting to discuss "lousing Ideals,"
with Dr. W. C. Woodward, John fhlder and
Or. Oeorge M. Kober partlclpaUng. ltauach
er's. U a. m.
Meeting. I'rogressIe Council, No. 9, Daugh
ters ot the American Reolutlon, In head
quarters. S p. m.
Organ recital, Edwin H. Lemare, St. John's
Church, Lafayette Square, 8 p. m.
Classes In Uerol system ot memory training,
Y. M. C. A.. S p. m.
Laying ot cornerstone of new chemical
building of Uureau o( Standards. 2::o p m.
Masonic Naval, Np. 4, New Jerusalem, No.
I; Temple-Noyes. No. U; William K. Hunt.
No. It, Evening Star.
Odd Fellows Covenant. No. U; Columbia,
No. 10: Excelsior, No. 13; Salem, No. 12;
Friendship. No. S. nebekahs.
Knights of rythtas Harmony, No. .
National Union Bancroft Council. Dahlgren
Council.
Iloyal Arcanum Identification meeting. Cap
itol Council.
Fraternal Order of Eagles Washington Aerie
meeting.
Modern Woodmen of America Maple Camp,
M7 Morton street northwest.
Socialist party Y. P. S. U
Knights of Columbus Keane Council.
Amusements.
Belasco "The Passing Show of 1M5," I p. m.
National DlaghlletC's Ballet Russe, 8:11 p. m.
Poll's "The Shepherd' of the Hills. 1:14 and
1:14 p. Vn.
Keith's Vaudeville, 1:15 and S:1S p. m.
Loew'a Columbia MoUon pictures. ll:St a.
m. to 11 p. m.
Qeyety Burlesque. 1:11 and 8:U p. m.
Tomorrow.
Lecture, American Work In Serbia,'' Mme.
Blayko Oroultch, residence ot Mrs. Charles
H. Butler, 1635, Eyo street, 11 a. in.
Trip to Alexandria. Kallipolis Orotto also
Club and frlsnds, leave Twelfth street and
Pennsylvania avenue northwest, :M p. m.
Address, "If Dr. Wise Wero Alive," the llsv.
Abram Simon, memorial services for Dr.
lsaao M. Wise, Eighth Street Temple. S
p. m.
Monthly dance, young people of All Souls'
Church, 1141 Church street, 8:39 p. m.
Entertainment, "A Study In Black and
White," Columbia Heights Athletio Club,
Wilson Normal School, 8 p. in.
Heading. "Reconstruction and the Klu Klux
Klan,7' Attorney General Thomas W. Greg
ory, before Mississippi Kocloty. Belcourt,
Seminary, Thirteenth and lllrard streets'
northwest, 8, p. m.
Meeting, Camp No. 17L United Confederate
Veterans, local North Carolinians Invited,
Confederate Hall, IKS Vermont avenue
northwest, 8 p. m. ....
Lecture, "The Immigrant Making a Living,"
Dr. Frank O'Hara, MoMahon Hall, Cathollo
University, 8 p. m.
Concert. Soldiers' Home Band Orchestra,
Stanley Hall. :! H.tn.
Preparatory service, the Rev. C. K. Granger.
Ounton Temple Memorial 'Presbyterian
Church, Fourteenth and It streets, 8 p. m.
Ladles' night, motion pictures and dancing,
St. John's Lodge. Chapter No. 11, r. A. A.
M Masonic Hall. 8 p. m.
Masonic St. John's. Np 11, Hope, No, !0;
Capitol, No. 11; Mount Pleasant, No. 11;
Royal Arch Chapters! Takoma. No. K;
Cathedral. No. 11; Bt, John's Lodge; No. IS,
Eastern Star.
Odd Fellows Central. No. 1. Metropolis. No.
It; Phoenix. No 28; Martha Washington,
No. ! Dorcas. No. 4. nebekahs.
Knights ot Pythias Rathbone-Sitperlor, x0,
29; Syracuilans, No, 10; Rathhone Temple.
No. t. Pythian Sisters.
National Union East Washington Council.
MoKlnley Council.
Daughters of America Friendship Council.
No. II.
United Spanish War Veterans "Cra'rl of the
Snnket" celebration, KIks' Hall.
Socialist party local Central WmMtmlon
Illustrated lecture, moving pictures and
slides, "The Boy Scout .Movement." J. W
Patton. and exhibition ot scout feats, Horn
Club, Silt p. m.
WIDOW
BROKEN
B STRANGER