The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], March 02, 1914, Image 1

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD
VOLUME xxxxm
—*
Lucy’s Attorneys Request
Defendant’s Sentence Be
Fixed so They Can
*■ Perfect Appeal
OPINION PREVAILS
. LACY WILL BE GIVEN
MAXIMUM PENALTY
Other Cases Against Lacy, Who Is
Charged Under Six Other Indict
ments, Will Hardly Be Tried
at This Term of Court
By I.. S. BR1TI
Montgomery, March 1.—(Special. >
Vheodore I*acy, found unlit y Saturday
tight by a Montgomery county jury
of embmllng gffO^NNl funds of the state
OOBTlct department, In which he served
M chief clerk for more than two years.
Will probably be sentenced to a prison
term by Judge Armstead Brown tomor
row.
I.acy'n attorneys have requested
•Podge Brown to flx the defendant’s sen
tence as enrly as possible In order that
they may perfect an appeal. The case
"Will be tried on appeal In the coart of
appeals, and will be called, probably,
Sometime during May, when Montgom
ery county cutes will come before that
tribunal. \
Maximum Penalty Expected
In pursuance with the request of Lacy’s
attorneys, Judge Brown, it is understood,
win fix the former chief clerk’s sentence
'when court convenes tomorrow morning.
The sentence will be fixed at from one
!to 10 years, according to statutory pro
vision. and opinion prevails that lAicy
will be given the maximum penalty.
The other cases against Lacy, who is
charged under six other Indictments, will
hardly be tried at this term of court.
.T^e defendant was to have been tried
under the seven Indictments on last Tues
da.,, the time fixed by the court for the
hearing of the celebrated rase, but the
entire week was taken up with the trial
under the first indictment, that charging
embezzlement of $50,000. The seven indict
ments allege the embezzlement of $102,000,
four of them having been found shortly
after I^acy’s flight and three of them
having been returned by the recent grand
jury. The Indictment for $50,000, under
which he was convicted, was drawn a
few weeks ago.
Await Action of Higher Court
It is not believed that Lacy will be
tried under any of the otner indictments
until the cqurt of appeals has passed
upon ,l\1g case, which action wiU not be
|tkt*n before th< VpViiiVi4 Tbb -f ><*ke+ of
che city court is ‘sufficiently crowded to
occupy this entire term of court, and
even if there were not a large number
of cases to come before the court, it
is unlikely that Lacy would be tried
at this time under the other indictments.
Regarding the action of the Jury in
convicting Lacy, there has been consid
erable satisfaction expressed on the part
of the people of Montgomery. The jury’s
verdict of guilty was not unexpected.
The governor of Alabama, who had
followed the trial since it began, an
nounced shortly after the jury returned
Us verdict that he had never enter
k rained any doubt of Lacy’s conviction.
The governor was greatly pleased.
Much of the state’s success in winning
a verdict against Lacy was due to the
efforts of the governor, wno had sup
pled the list of witnesses to be sum
moned, and who had given all the aid
in (his power to the able attorneys whom
he had employed to assist the attorney
general and solicitor.
The governor today declined to give any
expression in regard to Lacy’s convic
tion, announcing that the court had not
fixed Lacy's sentence, and that ho pre
ferred not to make any statement until
euch action had been taken.
Acquittal of Louisiana
*. Couple for Murder a Dis
appointment
Shreveport, March 1.—A verdict of
not guilty was returned here today In
the case of Hcrvey S. Little and his
fvife, Anna Bond Little, the former
charged with murdering J. ,T. Van
Cleave, and Mrs. Little as accessory
before and after the fact. Within a few
hours after the jury gave its decision
a mass meeting of protest was called.
Boon after the call was Issued the pre
siding judge, John R. Land, issued a
statement upholding the action of the
court and the district attorney at the
trial. The foreman of the jury. J. O.
’.fester, also Issued a statement saying
'■Wie state had not proved Its case. As
the time for holding the mass meeting
drew near It was announced that It
had been postponed until Monday
night.
Van Cleave was killed by Little last
fall as he came by a building In which
his real estate office was located. It
was charged Mrs. Little told her hus
band that "If he did not kill him her
father would." Because of an alleged
^insult Van Cleave Is said to have of
fered her. Little pleaded self-defense,
saying Van Cleave attempted to draw
a weapon just as he fired. Mrs. Little
dented she urged her husband to attack
Van Cleave. Van Cleave and Little for
merly were business partners.
Washington, March 1.—Haytl’a new
government with Oen. Oreste Zamor.
successful revolutionist, as president.
-rwEl be recognized Immediately by the
United States. This was announced to
night by Secretary Bryan, who has had
the subjeot under consideration since
reports Indicated that the new
was In complete control of
THEO LACY WILL PROBABLY BE
SENTENCED TODAY BY BROWN
TWO KILLED WHEN
TRAIN STRIKES AUTO
NEAR COLUMBUS, GA.
Seaboard Train, Emerging
From Cut, Strikes Ma
chine—One of Victim’s
Heads Is Severed
f -
—
Columbus, Go.. March 1.—(Special.)
Two women wore killed and two men,
C. F. Hollis and T. Z. Downs were In
jured when an automobile in which they
were riding was struck by a Seaboard
Air Line passenger train about two miles
south of this city about 6 o’clock this
afternoon.
The head of one of the women was
severed completely just below the ears.
The other was killed instantly by the
impact. They were riding In the rear
seat of the car and the men on the
front seat.
Hollis, who is a contractor, suffered the
most severe Injuries of the two men,
his right leg being broken, nno his body
bruised. Downs, who is employed in a
lumber plant, was painfully bruised. The
women lived in the city and the men also
are residents of Columbus. The bodies
of the women and injured men were
brought to the city on the train that
Btruck them, the bodies being taken i?i
charge by an undertaker and Hollis be
ing carried to the city hospital.
The train was just emerging from a
cut and the automobile was following *a
curving road across the track when the
accident occurred.
EDWIN J. HOUSTON,
SCIENTIST, PASSES
Teacher, Author, Patent Expert, Etc.,
Succumbs to Heart Disease in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, March 1.—liidwin .1.
Houston, scientist, inventor, teacher,
author, patent expert and worker in
boys’ organizations, died hero today
from heart disease. He was 70 years
old.
For many year's Professor Houston
occupied the chair of natural philos
ophy ami physical geography in the
Central High school of this city. He
was prominent as a consulting engi
neer and author of boys' books. Ho
was known as an expert In electricity
and twice was president of the \meri
can Institute of Electrical Engineers
and was chief electrician at the world's
fair in Chicago.
.:-~ •-vr--’
Memphis, March 1.—Of 70u revenue li
censes held in Memphis 576 were sur
rendered to County Attorney Z. N. Es
tes today when the “nuisance'' act,
passed at the last session of the state
legislature, became operative, ending the
day of the open saloon in Tennessee
a number of the saloons, transformed
into “soft drink" establishments reop
ened tonight to serve non-alcoholic and
other beverages coming within the re
quirement of the state prohibition laws
of less than 2.6 per cent alcohol.
Government licenses still in force, it
is stated, are held by wholesale dealers,
who will be permitted to continue ship
ments outside the state; drug stores and
river steamers.
Without, exception, according to police
reports, the saloons closed their doors
for the last time promptly at midnight
last night and without, the buffoonery
usually attending such an incident. Up
to a late hour tonight no complaint had
been made of the violation of the law.
FRENCH COAL MINERS’
STRIKE CALLED OFF
Paris, March 1.—The national council of
miners’ unions today decided to call off
the strike of coal miners begun in the
southern coal fields February 24. The
council requested various organizations
to have their men resume work Tuesday.
The strike was called as a protest against
the elimination by the Senate of some
clauses of the underground workers’ pen
sion bill. Forty thousand men struck.
Blizzard Sweeps Virginia
Bristol, Va.-Tenn., March 1.—A blizzard
tonight was sweeping east Tennessee and
southwest Virginia. Snow began falling
here early today, the storm being at
tended by brisk winds and falling tem
perature. Tonight the thermometer here
registered 10 degrees above zero and cold
er weather was expected before morning.
Alfonso Receives Americans
Madrid, March 1.—Commissioners if
the Panama-Pacific exposition were
granted an audience today by King Al
fonso, who greeted them cordially. The
commissioners will leave tomorrow for
Toledo.
....
f *
f HBAt'HBY BARBI.IT 4
4 KSCAPES DEATH *
4 " - 4
4 Santa Barbara. Cal., March 1. 4
4 While "looping the loop" here to- 4
4 day Lincoln Beachey, the avia- 4
4 tor, lost control of Ills biplane and 4
4 fell 1GOO feet, but managed to right 4
4 himself 40n feet from the ground 4
4 and escaped with slight Injuries. 4
4 The machine crashed into a tree. 4
4 but suffered slight damage. 4
4 ♦
A ■ ... ... . „■ i
TWO ARE ARRESTED
IN
; _ t
Well Known Political Lead
er and Architect Attempt
to Bribe Capitol Com
missioner
Oklahoma City. Oklu.. March j. "Dyna
mite Ed” Perry, widely known as a politi
cal leader in Oklahoma, and i\ H.
Weathers, an architect of this city, were
arrested tonight on a warrant charging
them with having attempted to bribe
T\ J. Goulding. a member of the commis
sion appointed by Gov. Lee Truce to let
the contract for the erection of a $1,500,000
state capltol building here. The warrants
were Issued on information tiled by Cotin-i
ty Attorney D. K. Pope.
Perry and Weathers were released .c
bond of $2000 each for appearance at a
preliminary hearing March f>.
In u statement E. G. McAdams of comi
self for Perry and Weathers said:
"At this time w* do not care to make
any statement other than that there is
absolutely no foundation for the prosecu
tion.
“At the proper time we will show the cit
izens of tin* state the object and purpose
of the prosecution, hut in making this
statement W'e do not intend to criticize
the action of the county attorney, as we
expect to show that he has been misled
on tills matter.”
Information filed by the county attor
ney charged that Perry had offered to pay
$15,000 to Goulding should the architect
plan submitted by the contracting firm
of which Weathers is head bo accepted
by the capitol commission.
Goulding Issues Statement
Goulding issued a statement late to
night in which he declares that in con
versation with him February, 21. Perry
said "something about getting $15,000 for
landing the contract.”
"A few days later," the statement con
tinues. "the other members of the com
mission and 1 received an anonymous
•etter wliAh we construed clearly as an
uttempt at blackmail. The letter made
threats of what the writer would do if
a certain archtiect secured the contract."
Goulding’s statement then relates plans
which, lie said, were made to trap the
letter writers and telle of an alleged
meeting between Perry and Goulding in
u local hotel.
Goulding asserts that Perry told him
then that lie represented a Minneapolis
architect and that he would secure $16,000
lor landing the contract.
"Suppose half of that amount was laid
on the table in your office and you would
<ume along and get it. You certainly
would not leave it for someone else to
fi^t. would you?" Goulding said in the
rtsi nefif • ‘v;; »
Goulding asserts that lie reported the
alleged occurrences to Attorney General
West of Oklahoma and a meeting be
tween himself, Perry and Weathers was
arranged at the offices of the commis
sion. in which he declares telephonic de
vices were arranged. This meeting, the
statement says, occurred yesterday.
Weathers. Goulding said in the state
ment, told him ho was to be associated
with the Minneapolis architect thafe^Perry
is alleged to have said In' represented.
A. K. Perry has been prominent in
political affairs in Oklahoma for a num
ber of years. Ho gahiod national promi
nence in 1912 when he attempted to stam
pede the Chicago convention for Roose
velt.
INFERNAL MACHINE
KILLS REPAIRMAN
Frederick W. Mennerich Killed Try
ing to Open Mysterious Package
Received Through Mails
Sullivan, III., March 1.—Frederick
W. Mennerlch was killed today by the
explosion of an Infernal machine which
he received from Decatur, 111., by mail
and tried to open after deciding that
his ability as an expert repairman
would prevent. Ignition of the explosive,
Mennerlch's wife, from whom he had
been separated, was taken In custody
at Springfield, 111., as a witness, but
later was released.
Mennerlch received the package by
mall Friday. It bad been mailed at
Decatur Thursday. From the appear
ance of the parcel, Mennerlch dec’dod
It was an explosive apparauts and re
fused to open it. He wrote a letter
to his wife in Springfield, telling her
about the package saying he had de
cided to open it. as he knew how to do
so without causing an explosion.
This letter was not mailed, but way
found unsealed In the yard after the
explosion. This fact led the sheriff
to believe that possibly Mennerlch had
made the machine himself to cover up
suicide.
LABOR LEADERS
ARRIVE FROM AFRICA
London, March 1.—Ope of the largest
crowds ever seen in Hyde Park gathered
today to welcome the labor leaders de
ported from South Africa because of their
connection with the general strike. Pro
cessions frbin all parts or the city
marched lo the park where, from nine
platforms, the nine deported men ad
dressed the crowd. A resolution was
adopted condemning the action of the
South African government.
The labor leaders declared they intend
ed to return to South Africa.
TODAY’S *OE-HERALD
1— Laey will | sentenced to
day.
Commission y give up trip
to Chthual
New York grip of snow
storm.
Committee ort on alleged
shipping <
Rural ban! established at
this seBSli
Two killed ddent.
Graft scam oma.
2— Drastic an ■dy is found in
German f
Flonzaleys 1 tonight.
It— Big investi estern coast of
South An
Lackley sp car Underwood.
Selma com ’ meet today.
Underwood rain •’ Mountain Creek.
Eight gove abarai.
4— Editorial c
5— White talk ■ ' icy trial.
Wiggins d live flies to the
reporters
Fairfax Hr ' today.
Underwood d in are Bhown in
close acr
Blrmlngha 1 1 '• illticai center of
state thi
0—Sports.
«-DotlUM { ■ ; fair this falL
I l"
HAYITS NEW GOVERNMENT
WILL BE RECOGNIZED BY U. S.
the republic was torn by revolutions
In January and President Oreste fled
aboard a German ship, Zamor with his
brother, Charles, marched Into Port Au
Prince at the head of a considerable
force and proclaimed himself President.
He called the national assembly to
gether and on February 8 was elected
President.
Oen. Davilmar Theodore in the mean
time had set up a government at Cape
Haiten. He fled, however, at the ap
proach of Zamor's troops and now is
supposed to be somewhere on che Santo
Domingo border with a small follow -
BIRMINGHAM. ALABAMA. MONDAY, MARCH J. 1014
{Those Concerned Declare
Explanations Must Come
From Washington
! CARDEN WILL RETURN
|TO MEXICAN CAPITAL
f *
j Refugees Believe State Department
Is Satisfied It Has Correct Ver
sion of Benton Killing, Hence
Change of Plans
Juarez, March 1.—The Benton inves
tigating commission today was pro
vented from proceeding to Chihuahua
to examine the slain Britons body by
rebel orders.
Colonel Fidel Avila, military com
mander here, declined to permit them
j to board the regular passenger train
| widt h was waiting.
Whether the incident means delay or
the permanent prohibition of the
mission could not be learned. The
mystery thrown around the occurrence
led to many apparently exaggerated
rumors.
Persistent inquiry here and in El
Paso failed to establish anything but
the fact that the commissioners were
refused passports on this side and re
turned to El Paso. No official *n Ju
arez hns authority to take such ac
tion as was taken in tills case. Only
two persons in northern Mexico have
the power—Venustiano Carranza and
General Francisco Villa.
The order surprised tlie commission
ers. Villa at Chihuahua repeatedly
lias expressed ills desire to hasten the
inquiry and his offer of a special train
to take the commissioners from this
city to Chihuahua, where Benton’s
body Is said to be buried, was formerly
accepted by Marion Letcher, the Amer
ican consul here.
George C. Carothers, agent of the
state department in many of its deal
ings with Villa, also delayed his de
parture for Chihuahua.
El Paso, March 1.—The trip of the Ben
ton investigating committee to Chihuahua
was postponed suddenly or abandoned to
day shortly before the commissioner*
were about to take the train. Those con
cerned said thut any explanation must
come from the state department.
The commissioners are Charles A. C.
Pereival, British consul at Galveston, and
James Hambledon, a British subject long
resident ifi MejtiCo; K. E. Thomac, a law
yer of El Paso, who has made a special
study of international and Mexican law;
B. M. Worsflam of El Paso and Majs. W.
T. Davidson and C. J. Manly of the United
States army.
: At Fort Bliss, Gen. Hugh L. Scott, who
I appointed Davidson and Manly to assist
in the examination of Benton’s body, said
he had no information further than that
the medical men had been notified to be at
the train at 9 o’clock and that later they
reported to him that they were not go
ing.
None of the commissioners would talk
about the delay.
Major Davidson said the subject was one
which he could not discuss. Perceval de
which he could not discuss. Pereival de
clined to be seen.
Refugees (deeply interested in the situa
tion were at a loss to account for the
new turn in affairs. Several said they
thought that Carranza's attempt to use
the Benton negotiations as a lever to ob
tain recognition of the Huerta and the
dispatches from Washington, indicating
that the state department already is sat
isfied that it has the correct version of the
I Benton killing” had something to do with
| the change- in plans.
Carden Will Resume Duties
New Orleans, March 1.—Sir Lionel
Carden will return to Mexico City with
in a* short time and resume hla duties
as minister from Great Britain, ac
cording to a statement he skvc out heie
today. Sir Lionel was In New Orleans
less than an hour cr route from Gal
veston to Washington, whore Tuesday
he will see PresMept Wilson and it Is
expected will discuss the situation In
Mexico. He said he expected to spend
Tuesday In Washington tlifii hurry :u
|New Vork, where he will board the first
(CMtlsMS sa Pace Mfkl)
1 *rV-vVifi-ftY TrZSfii • A
NEW YORK CITY IS IN
GRIPOFSNOWSTORM;
WIRES PROSTRATED
Wet Snow Snaps Wires.
Many Poles Topple
Over in Gale
CONDITIONS AMONG
THE WORST IN YEARS
I
Five Deaths Due to Storm in New
York City—Ships Due to Reach
Port Sunday Are Held
Up Outside
New York, March 1.—A destructive'
storm swept the northeastern section of :
the country today and still was raging
late tonight. From Pittsburg and Buffa
lo on the west to the Atlantic seaboard
and up through the New England states
heavy gales carried rain, snow or slt;et,
the maximum precipitation In some lo
calities being more than 15 inches. Snips
were blown ashore, Interurban conimuni- .
cation by telegraph and telephone <vas
interrupted for hours, and trains were
blocked or delayed on nearly all railroad
lines. In New York and vicinity there
were live deaths due to the storm. The
safety of the crew of an unknown
schooner aground off the Connecticut
shore was in doubt.
The storm was central off New York
tonight with the temperature falling rap
idly. Telegraph companies reported the
damage to their service as the most seri
ous in years and officers of railroad com
panies made the same statements. The
possibility of damage was greater than
advices at hand at a late hour indicated,
owing to the lack of communication. Gen
erally it was only by roundabout routes
that interior cities of the storm zone could
be reached. Telegraph poles, blown over
by winds reaching a velocity of more than
SO miles an hour, fell across tracks and
trains were halted altogether or crept
along a few feet at a time. Trains on
some lines were in effect lost In the
storm. In northern New Jersey cities
were thrown into darkness at nightfall,
authorities in several Instances discon
tinuing electric light service because of
fallen wires.
In this city at midnight more than
inches of snow had fallen, nearly paralyz
ing surface traffic and cutting off some
of the suburbs entirely.
New York, March 1—A northeast storm,
• swerving to the northwest which first
I brought rain, then snow, raged over :
I New York and vicinity today, cutting |
the city almost completely off from tel- |
•graph and telephone communication.
Reports showed its effects to he wide- '
spread. Five deaths due to the storm
.occurred here, two together when a roof
collapsed under the weight of wet snow,
crushing a man and a boy. Another
man, blinded by snow, was killed by u
train. Several persons were overcome by
exposure, and a number were Injured In
street accidents.
Wet Snow Snaps Wires
Trains for the most i art left the rail
road terminals on time, but with wires
down quickly were lost track of. Noth
ing could be learned concerning incom
ing trains except as they arrived, late on
all lines. Wet snows snapped telegraph
and telephone wires end with a gale
blowing 72 miles an hour at times many
poles toppled over. Or- some lines the
poles fell across railroad tracks, block
ing traffic.
As reports begun to come in later to
night Jt was learned that the blockade
of train traffic on some railroad lines
was even more serious than had been
thought earlier. The wer.tbomjd Twen
tieth Century Limited for Chicago was
reported stalled by falhn poles across
the New ork Central tracks north of
Ossining. Other trains on the line were
stalled at various points.
Conditions Worst in Years
At local offices of telegraph compan
ies It' was said conditions were among
.the worst In years. The Western Onion's
60 wires to Chicago and most of the 161
wires to Philadelphia were down. Chicago
was reached early In the evening by a
.few remaining wires by way of Phil
adelphia and Pittsburg. The Postal Tele
graph company reported wire prostration
,VV "|Cs«tU,,d ui^ag. Bight)
GIGANTIC WHITE STAR LINER BRITANNIC
LAUNCHED AMID CHEERS OF THOUSANDS
! —.. ' I
NFW wi-trrr <=rrAt? i tNf r bk»itankjic ~~
Without a hitch to mar the event, the 60,000-ton triple screw steamship Britannic of the White Star line,
slid down the ways into the Il'ver Lagan, at Belfast, Ireland, recently, to the cheers of thousands of per
i sons who lined the river's hanks and amid the tooting of the sirens of innumerable craft anchored nearby. The
Britannic, 000 feet long and representing the acme of British shipbuilding, took her first dip amid a tro
| mendous demonstration. Half a dozen tugs quickly fastened lines to the massive hull and pulled her back
to the yard, where she will remain until she is fitted out, finished and made ready for her maiden trip, the
date of which has not been set.
REPORT ON ALLEGED
—
Declares Any Attempt to
Dissolve Trust Would
Cripple Trade
WRITTEN OR FORMAL
AGREEMENTS RARE
('ommilleo Recommends Both Foreign
and Domestic Shipping Combina
tions Be Placed Under Control of
the Commerce Commission
Washington, March 1.—Foreign and do
mestic. shipping of the United States Is
ho combined by agreements, pools and
conference arrangements that an attempt
to dissolve the combinations would crip
ple trade. This Is the conclusion reached
by the House merchant marine and fish
eries committee in a final report of the
so-called shipping trust Investigation,
made public today.
The committee, after two years of ex
haustive inquiry. recommends that both
foreign and domestic shipping combina
tions be placed under the strict control
of the interstate commerce commission
and that if necessary the commission bo
enlarged to care for the additional work.
The final recommendations of the com
mittee, embodied In the fourteenth vol
ume of Its report, Just, compiled, sets
forth that shipping lines in virtually ev«
ery trade route from or to United Staten
ports are operated by agreement or con
ference to restrain competition. The re
port declares that the- advantages ac
cruing to both shipper and ship lines
through these agreements are so great
that combinations should bo allowed to
continue, under the supervision of tho
interstate commerce commission ps to
tates, classification, rebates and discrim
ination. It would be futile, the commit
tee states, that tin* attempt to restore
competition by ordering agreements ter
minated.
The report deals with 800 foreign and
domestic navigation companies and 20ft
railroad lines.
Committee's Findings
In a statement summarizing the com
mittee’s findings and recommendations,
Chairman Alexander said:
“Relative to tin* foreign tirade, the re
port shows (hat it is the almost uni
versal practice for steamship lines, both
on the inbound and outbound voyage, to
operate under agreements and conference
arrangements whim have for tln ir pur
pose the control of competition between
♦ he conference lines or between them ami
nonconferenre lines. Eighty agreements
or understandings, inv lying nearly ull
tlie regular lines operating on nearly
every American foreign trade route, are
In effect, dealing respectively with tin
traffic through and fretn Europe, Africa,
Australia. Asia, South America, Mexico.
Central America and the West Indies.
In the few instances whore several lines
served the same trade and denied the
existence of co-operative aYrangements, it
appears that one lino was suffiicentl.v
powerful to dominate the other lines and,
■—tinned «>«»■■■■■■■■■
NUMBER 300
BE ESTABLISHED
_
Party Leaders, However,
Believe Rural Legislation
Can Be Postponed
IMMIGRATION BILL IN
SENATE THIS WEEK
Bryan Appears Today Before House
Committee on Foreign Affairs to
Explain Mexican Situation.
Suffrage Fight Tuesday
Washington, March 1.—Excepting the
necessary appropriation bills. trust leg
islation and a new law to enhance rural
credits are the only measures on the
i “must’* list of the administration before
the present session of Congress, it was
made known today. However, some party
loaders believe rural credits legislation
might lie put. over until next session if
n tangle over the trust bills should pro
long the session until campaign leaders
at home begin to cr> for help.
There is an earnest desire on the part
of democrats to establish a system of
rural banks before the approaching con
gressional campaign. When the curren
< \ bill was passed many promises were
made that it would be followed by leg
islation to help the credit of the farmers,
and, though no declaration was mad& that
such a law would be concluded at the
j present session, republican criticism of
| the free listing of farm products In the
tariff law demands, in the opinion of
* many prominent democrats, early com
pensatory action on behalf of farmers.
Tt Is probable that many other bills
will be passed, but leaders in both
houses of Congress Intend to keep the
legislative programme short. A bill to
repeal the toll exemption provision of
the Panama canal act probably will be
introduced within 10 days bj Represen
tative Adamson, chairman of the inter
state commerce committee. It will be a
flat repeal measure and is certain to
provoke opposition. The Immigration bill,
which has passed the House and will
be reported from the Senate committee
this week, also will be urged to a con
clusion if it is possible to pass it be
fore party managers feel that the cam
paign demands an adjournment.
Equal Suffrage Amendment
Senator Ashurt has given notice that
he will press tin* constitutional amend
ment- f*»r aqua.! suffrage )n tint Xcnabv
but hfs efforts to Ax u time for a vote
will be opposed by democrats and repub
licans alike. The constitutional amend
ment for prohibition protmbly will not.
be taken up at this session.
The trust bills, it Is apparent will re
quire considerable more time m perfect
ing than originally anticipated. March
1 was set as the time for beginning con
sideration but that time 1* here and not
one of the bills proposed is ready for
consideration in either branch. It is prob
able that either the House or Senate
committee on Interstate commerce will
report a bill to create an Interstate
trade commission this week or next,
but it will be many weeks before meas
ures to prohibit Interlocking directorates,
to regulate holding companies and to
provide for federal regulation of rail
road securities will be reported. Grow
ing opposition to measures which sup
plement the H her man act may result In
abandoning thebe measures altogether.
President WINon is seriously considering
the trust fe,;tsiatlvo situation and fur
ther conferences between the* legislative
and executive branches on the subject
are certain to be held before tbo pro
gramme is completed.
Dnm and Water Power Bill
A general dam and water power bill
is being formulated by tho House in
terstate commerce committee and it prob
ably will be ready within a fori night
to report to the House The commit
tee plans to keep strictly within the
lines raised by President Wilson and to
so frame It us to avoid any possibility
of constitutional objections, especially
any suggestion of federal invasion Into
state affairs. The purpose is to induce
private capital to promote nnvtgtation In
shallow streams through hope of profit
from the use of the water power gener
ated. Secretary Garrison has proposed n
measure under which the w'flter power
concerns on navigable waters, as pub
lic utility companies, would secure au
thority from both state and federal gov
ernments.
Speechniaklng on a variety of current
questions is in sight tide week. The
agricultural appropriation bill, aggregat
ing $19,000,000. shunted off tomorrow by
District of Columbia legislation, will com**
up Tuesduv. with prospect of many
speeches; the rivers and harbors bill,
carrying $4.'J,-»S9.000, is next, with the naval
bill. Involving *140,000,000. and the always
debatable battleship programme follow
ing.
Flans to reorganize the scheme of gov
ern (giant of Porto Rico are under wav
in the House committee on insular af
fairs. where tomorrow Delegates Rivera
and Frank Martinet of Han Juan, rep
resenting the unionist party of the island,
will explain the Rivera bill, designed to
i grant citizenship with a view of ultimate
j Independence. Beeretarv Garrison has
stamped the bill ns Impractical and said
■ that (he t’nited States has no intention
| of granting independent *
! Bryan Explains Mexican Situation
Secretary Bryan tomorrow’ will appear
before the House committee on foreign
affair* to explain the Mexican situa
tion.
The project for a national university
1 Continued on I'nge Twin
WOMAN CLAIMS EVIDENCE IS
HATCHED UP AGAINST FRANK
Atlantu, March 1.- Interest In the
rase of Leo M. Frank, ti e factory su
perintendent sentenced to death for the
murder of Mary Phagan, a 14-yenr-oldl
employe, here last April, today was
augmented by the disclosure, for the
Brst time, of the contents of an affi
davit In which it Is charged that the
local police attempted to manufacture
evidence against the accused man.
This affidavit, made by Mrs. Nina
Formby of Atlanta, before Frans Slo
gell, 1. I., a notary of New York, Is
dated October 30, 1013, but until today
bad been kept a secret. In It Mrs.
Formby accuses certain Atlanta polk ^
officers of attempting, by* percussion
and threats to Induce her to testify
that Frank frequently had brought
young girls to her house, and that he
had attempted to bring Mary I’hagan
: there. Mrs. Formby charges that the
I detectives brought whisky to her houa*
and drank It there on several occa
sions, while trying to persuade her to
offer testimony ulong the lines she al
leges they' previously had suggest! «i
Her affidavit, she says. Was eventual
fly made to rdntradlot the published rc—
i port that she had told the police that
' Frank had often brought girl* to her
home.
. ..