Indiana daily times. [volume], March 22, 1922, Home Edition, Image 1

About Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922

Image provided by: Indiana State Library

                
THE WEATHER
Fair and warmer tonight. Thursday vin
creasing cloudiness and warmer. ‘
VOL. XXXIV.
Harding May Make Public
Appeal to Halt Coal Strike
UNION HEADS
IN PLEA FOR
ORDERLINESS
Strike Order Stresses
Need of Respecting
Property.
VOICED BY GREEN
Good Judgment and
Moral Courage
‘Essential.’
That the strike of 500,000 anthracite
and bituminous coal miners scheduled
to start at midnight March 31 must be
orderly is being stressed by officials of
the United Mine Workers of America
who issued the strike call.
While John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, says the walkout
is “the same as a strike,” the word
strike does not appear in the official
call. The walkout is termed merely a
“suspension of activities” due to the fact
that the working contract has expired
and anew one has not been negotiated.
The goal of the miners is a joint con
ference with the operators —now appar
ently made impossible by refusal of cer
tain bituminous mine owners to partici
pate —at which they wish to present de
mands for continuation of the present
wage schedule, retention of the check-off
system and Inauguration of the six
hoxr day and five-day week. They would
hw content, It is Indicated, to drop the
eix-hour day, five-day week demand if
the operators wonld “come across” with
t>e rest of the program.
OPERATORS SET OX
WAGE REDUCTIONS.
The operators, however, are determined
upon enforcing wage reductions, and
it hey have n; liking, they say, for the
theck-off and have no intention of grant
ing the shorter working period. Be
sides. many of them take the view that
if they entered a conference with the
miners under the 1020 contract they
would be going against the Federal Court
in Indianapolis where 228 operators,
union officials and mining companies are
under indictment for alleged conspiracy
to violate the Sherman anti-trust act.
The effect of the suspension, in the
opinion of union officials will be:
1. To cause SO,OOO miners to drop
their tools without strike benefits.
2. To tie up about 6,000 of the
country's 7.500 mines.
3. To close up every anthracite
mine because the whok. hard coal
field is unionized.
4. To call out unionized soft coal
miners producing 2.225.000 tons a day.
5. To leave the country's coal pro
duction resting upon non-unior min
ers delivering a maximum of 600,000
tons daily.
FEAR SPORADIC
RAIL DISTURBANCE.
On top of thl* Administration officials
In Washington express the belief that the
coal strike, regarded as Inevitable, will
be attended by sporadic strikes of rail
road employes. That there will he any
(Continued on Page Eleven.)
GOVERNOR HIT
IN OKLAHOMA
BANKSCANDAL
State Executive Amons Those
Indicted by Okmulgee
Grand Jury.
OKMULGEE, Okla.. March 22—Gov
ernor Robertson of Oklahoma was In
dicted by the district court grand Jury
which investigated alleged State bank
failures scandals at Okmulgee, it was
anounced today.
Govednor Robertson was indicted on a
charge of bribery. lie left Oklahoma
City at noon to submit to arrest here.
Announcement that the Governor had
been indicted came following the arrest
of John Rebold and John P. Cook on
indictment returned by the jury charging
them with giving a bribe of s2s,u<>o to
Governor Robertson and Fred G. Den
nis. former bank commissioner.
Cook was president arid Rebold vice
president of the Guaranty State Bank
which merged with the Bank of Com
merce here about a year ago. The Bank
of Commerce failed Nov. 2 last.
Warrants for arrest of more than twen
ty-three persons Indicted by the Okmul
gee Count}’ grand jury in connection with
State bank failures were turned over to
the sheriffs office here today for service.
The banking phase of the jury repbrt
was rewritten three times. In it the jury
placed the blame for the failure of the
Bank of Commerce here last November
and for the closing of three other State
banks in this county.
Another section of the report dealt with
the grand jury's investigation of alleged
election frauds in Henrietta and the re
mainder with local municipal matters.
WEATHER
Forerast for Indianapolis and vicinity
for the twenty-four hours ending 7
p. m.. March 2.1. 1922:
Fair and warmer tonight; Thursday
increasing cloudiness and warmer.
HOURLY TEMPERATURE.
6 a. in 25
7 a. m
8 a. m 30 •
9 a. in 30
10 a. in 33
11 a. m 35
12 (noon) 30
1 p. m 39
2 p. m to
Published at Indianapolis. Entered as Second Clans Matter, Jury 25, 1914, at
Ind.. Daily Except Sunday. Postoflllce, Indianapolis, Ind., under act March 3, 1879.
MAIN STREET IN A MINE TOWN
The main street in a typical soft coal mining town, and a group of miners’ chil
dren.
Coal Strike to Find Utilites
of Indianapolis Fortified
Fuel Supplies on Hand to Last From 60 to 90
Days, Managers Report.
Effects of the nation-wide strike of
union coal miners called for April 1
may not be felt in Indianapolis for a
period of sixty days and perhaps for
a much longer time, in the belief of
| officials of Indianapolis public utilities
and coal companies, expressed today.
Neither the Ihdianapolis Light and
Heat Company nor the Merchants Heat
and Light Company, which furnish light
; and power in the city, are expected to
‘ enconnter any serious difficulty on the
I basis of their April 1 supply, inside of
: a period of ninety days or longer.
WATER COM PANT
HAS 75 DAYS’ SI.TPLY.
i The Indianapolis Water Company has
: coal sufficient to last seventy-five to
! eighty days, on the basis of the present
! demand, from April X.
The Citizens Gas Company has a sup
ply of coal which will last sixty days
| from April 1 and the company expects
to increase this supply to some extent
before and after April L
Local coal dealers have stocked up
In expectation of the strike, and say
they are in a position to care for their
customers.
While the public utilities are prepared
to take care of the demands of the con-
Lewis Lays Blame
on the Operators
By JOHN E. LEWIS,
President of the United Mine Workers
of America.
NEW YORK. March 22.— 1n rilling a
suspension of mining operations through
out the bituminous and anthracite mine
fields, the United Mine Workers of Amer
lre have no desire to discommode or in
convenience the public. The coal oper
ators of the country have deliberately
maneuvered to force this suspension.
They desire to dispose of heavy reserve
coal stocks at increased prices, and are
also desirous of forcing an unwarranted
reduction of wages upon the mine work
ers. They further hope to be able to
destroy the United Mine Workers of
America. In this ’hey are doomed to
failure. The mine workers will figlit to
protect their organization and to oppose
any decrease in wages. If it Is to be a
finish fight the publio must blame the
coal operators for any inconvenience it
may suffer. —Britten for Ue Interna
tional News Service.
All Set for Grandstand
Play on ‘Bonus’ Bill in
the House Tomorrow
WASHINGTON, March 22.—Democratic
Congressmen were lining up today for a
futile fight on the gag plan by means
of which the soldier “bonus” will be
passed In the House tomorrow.
The House Rules Committee has re
ported out a special rule which was
when adopted tomorrow will cause “sus
pension of the rules” of the House anil
allow four hours debate on the ‘'bonus”
bill.
They, with perhaps gome Republican
anti-bonus support, will attack the rule
being framed by the Rules Committee
under which the “bonus” measure will
skim through the House with a big ma
jority after four hours’ debate.
Conservative estimates are tiiat there
Jittata jpailß aantffl
snmers for a considerable time, it is be
lieved that manufacturers may be af
fected sooner. In the event of a drop
ping off of power consumed by indus
tries, the supply of coal held by the In
dianapolis power companies will last for
a time much longer In proportion.
CONTINUATION OF
INDUSTRIES FORESEEN.
Such a situation as the closing of any
of Indianapolis' Industries, according to
big coal users, is not forseen at the
present time.
The Merchants Heat and Light Com
pany expects to have on hand April l,
the date set for the beginning of the
strike, coal enough to laßt ninety days
under conditions as they are today.
“As the business of otir consumers is
affected by the strike, however, we ex
pect demand for current to be reduced,
consequently lengthening our supply of
coal to about 180 days. The matter is
entirely problematical,” Charles O’Brien
Murphy, vice president, said today.
The company has been building up its
supply systematically for the past three
or four months In anticipation of the
strike. It was stated.
light and HEAT CO.
WELL SUPPLIED.
The Indianapolis Light and Heat Com
pany, according to C. C. Perry, presi
dent, has a supply of coal now that will
last under normal conditions ninety
days frbm April 1, will last longer
if the demand increases, he stated.
The Citizens Gas Company Is in shape
to weather a considerable length of time
without coal production, according to
Frederick G. *Ttastenberg, secretary.
“The Gas Company has a supply to
meet its needs at the present time of
sixty days from April 1,” he stated.
"And we do not anticipate any total in
ability to obtain coal after that time.”
The Indianapolis Water Company is in
fine condition to meet the lack of coal
which may result from the miners’ strike,
Frank Jordan, secretary declared.
“We have sixty-five days supply at
present and by April 1 this will be In
creased'to a supply of seventy-five or
eighty days,” he said. “We cannot fore
see that the strike possibly can interfere
with the function of the water company.’’
DOMESTIC CONSUMERS
NOT WORRIED.
With the winter weather nearly over,
domestic consumers are not worried over
the situation. It. Is general belief that
the coal strike can have no direct bear
ing on their heating problems, although
the Indirect effects through lack of em
(Contlnned on Page Eleven.)
will not be more than seventy-five votes
against the biiL
The word is being passed around the
House that President Harding almost
certainly will not veto the present bill.
In fact, Chairman Fordney of the Ways
and Means Committee is quoted as say
ing substantially:
“The President told us that the present
bill meets some of his objections.”
As the situation now stands the House
members wilt be able to go forth in the
fall campaigns and say to the voters:
“We have passed the ’bonus’ for the
soldiers; we are entitled to your votes.
If the measure is not perfected it is only
a question of time when it is finished In
the upper body.**
INDLANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1922.
THINKS MOVE
WOULD FORCE
CONFERENCES
Held Only Step Possi
ble by Government
at This Stage.
HUGE RESERVES
Country Said to Be in
Good Condition to
Face Suspension.
WASHINGTON, March 22 A public
appeal by President Harding to coal
operators and miners to settle their dif
ferences and avoid a nation wide sus
pension of work April 1 may be mado
within a week.
It was learned authoritatively today
that President Harding Is Inclined to
ward suck a move as a final effort to
draw the bituminous operators Into a
national peace conference and enhance
the chances of settlement in all districts.
President Harding has consulted At
torney General Daugherty, it was learned,
to find what steps he might take toward
backing up the move ho made In Invit
ing the bituminous operators to confer
ence. The Attorney General told him
* • ardlng to reliable Information, that
he knew of no legal steps that might
be taken by any agent of the Govern
ment toward settlement before the fuel
supply of the Nation is imperiled by the
walkout.
The possibilities of a public appeal
then arose. Some officials are under
stood to have opposed It on the ground
that it was useless since the situation
has developed to such a crucial stage that
a walkout seems unavoidable.
PINS HOPE ON
PUBLIC OPINION.
The pressure of public opinion would
be brought to bear to such an extent
if President liarding followed out this
plan that the bituminous operators who
refused prevlolus advances might be pre
vailed upon to negotiate.
Attorney General Daugherty said the
strike program had not reached the stage
to warrant any statement of what the
Government may do. If the exercise of its
(Continued on I’ugc Eleven.)
RAIL WORKERS
\ MAY SUPPORT
MIKE STRIKE
brotherhoods. With 2,Z00,000
Membership, Indicate
* Agreement.'
‘ CLEVELAND, March 22.—Possibility
that the railroad brotherhoods, 2,500,000
strong, may give their support to tho
600,000 mine workers ordered to strike
at midnight March 31 was seen today
i as Cleveland became the center of what
i may become the greatest mine strike iu
| history.
i This possibility was revealed In the
I admission from brotherhood officials that
1 “the protective agreement” between min
ers and brotherhoods will doubtless re
ceive the sanction of the railroad orga
nizations. The executive board of the
United Mine Workers, it was said, al
ready have reaffirmed the agreement.
Three other factors that strengthened
this belief are:
1. Selection of Cleveland, home of the
brotherhood chiefs, for the meeting of
members of the policy committee of the
I United Mine Workers to prepare plans
for a walkout of miners throughout the
‘United States and Canada with the cs
-1 eeption of Nova Scotia.
‘ 2. Wording of article one in the miners
j railroaders protective agreement that
j "we assert our purposo to apply every
honorable method to secure adequate com
pensation for service rendered.”
3. Wording of article two providing
that when any affiliated organization is
made victims of unwarranted attacks or
its integrity Jeopardized" a conference
shall be called to consider ways ond
means to meet the emergency.
While nothing has occurred that would
lead to the belief that a sympathetic
strike might be called. It is pointed out
that brotherhood finances are practically
unlimited. Brotherhood finances it is
said, would provide the miners with
much needed and half backing In case of
a long drawn out light.
The miners' strike call was not Issued
under the Impression that railroad
brotherhoods would walk out in sym
pathy, Secretary Green of the United
Mine Workers declared today.
“The articles of alliance between the
sixteen major railroad unions and the
United Mine Workers of America do not
provide specifically for a sympathy
strike,” Mr. Green said. “It provides
only for moral and financial suj>port for i
unions by each other.”
Mr. Green would not comment further
on the possibility of the coal strike In
volving the railroaders. He said the I
United Mine Workers had prepared for !
a long strike to be conducted Independ
ent of any help from other unions ex
cept In a moral and financial way.
Crampton’s Bond
Declared Forfeited
When Leonard Cramp ton, 935 North
Belle Vieu place, special investigator of
the attorney general's office, failed to ap
pear In city court today to answer the
charge of opearting a blind tigod and
drunkenness, Judge Delbert <>. Wilmoth
forfeited Ills bond. John Orabill, 909
North Capitol avenue, was surety on the
bond for $1,025.
Champton was arrested on Feb. 7 by
Traffic Officer Fred Oakley, who saw
three men fighting on the SteUthouae lavs
BIG COLISEUM
PLANNED FOR
CITY SERVICE
Exposition Building of
. 5 Stories Outlined
to Committee.
TO COST $3,000,000
Auditorium to Provide
Seating Capacity
for 20,000.
A three-raillion-dollar Indianapolis
Exposition Building, five stories high,
with an auditorium large enough to
seat twenty thousand and with ex
position floor space twice that of the
Manufacturers’ Building at the State
Fair Ground, is the recommendation
in a complete survey of the needs
of Indianapolis for a coliseum and
exposition building presented today
to James A. Daugherty, chairman of
a committee of five which was ap
pointed to investigate plans and pos
sibilities for such a building.
This committee, composed in ad
dition to Mr. Daugherty, of Felix M.
McWhlrter, Harper J. Ransburg,
Walter (’. Marmon, Henry L. Dith :
mer and O. B. Bes, was appointed at
the regular meeting of Indianapolis
manufacturers held in the Claypool
six weeks ago.
The Analysis, which was prepared for
the committee by Fred Millls, covers the
subject from every angle. Detailed com
parisons are made In the report of the
public buildings of this kind all over the
country. Material gathered together by
Charles W. Jewett as mayor of Indian
apolis two years ago was used as a basis
for this section of the report. The Infor
mation gathered together by Mr. Jewett
has been brought up to date and sup
plemented by personal Inspection of
buildings In a number of cltiies, Includ
ing Cleveland, Milwaukee, tit. Louis,
Louisville and AtinrTta.
PRIVATE CORPORATION
TO CONTROL ENTERPRISE.
The recommendation to tb/ committee
of five Is that the building be erected by
a private corporation, capitalized with
$3,000,000 common stock, with no pre
ferred stock. Although the enterprise is
to be for the public ood, the recom
mendation la that It be run as any other
strictly private business proposition. i
According to the tentative plans which
were drawn by Herbert L. Bass of Rasg-
Knowlfon & Cos. In cooperation with Mr.
(Continued on Page Three.)
‘FREE’ CHANCES
ON AUTOMOBILE
CAUSE ARRESTS
Two Men Are Held for Pro*
muting Alleged Car
Raffle.
i Claude W. Miller, 38. 2717 Shelby street,
and lliighle Campbell, 52, 1018 North
New Jersey street, of the National Die*
. abled Soldiers’ League, were arrested to
i day, charged with selling lottery tickets.
) Both men admit selling tickets for the
j “Big Indoor Bazaar, benefit of ex-service
men’s relief station, Tomlinson Hall.
April 10 to 15, free circus, acts, big side
shows, dancing, general admission 10
coLts," but nt the bottom of each ticket
is printed, “this coupon good for one
free chance on Shevrolet touring car.”
j That part of the ticket caused the arrest
! of the two men.
j Claude Worley, special investigator ot
1 the Criminal Court, swore out the affi
davits and the arrests were made by Pa
trolmen Tooly and Fogarty. The affi
davits charge Miller and Campbell sold
tickets for a raffle of an automobile for
10 cents a ticket to Mat Stetzel, 1719 As
. bury street, and Mrs. Ethel Davis. 2161
! North Capitol avenpe. C. T. Olwln of
the Better Business Bureau, Is named on
the affidavit as a witness.
“Prosecutor Evans called Miller In about
n week ago,” said Mr. Worley, “and
warned him he wns violating the law In
selling chances on an automobile. The
prosecutor's attention was called to the
ease by the Better Business Bureau. When
Miller and Campbell continued to sell
the chances it was my duty as au officer
to file the affidavits.”
“The National Disabled Soldiers’
League is having some kind of a squab
ble among its members.” said Mr. Olwiu.
(Continued on Pago Two.)
Shank Says Chief
Oughtn’t to Ride
in Tinner’s Dream
It is not In keeping with the dignity
of the great city of Indianapolis to make
the chief of police ride around In a Ford
with a 800-pound uniformed officer as
his chauffeur, declared Mayor Samuel
Lewis Shank, as he urged the board of
public safety to buy the chief a “regular
car.”
“I saw’ Rikhoff and his chauffeur in
that little car the other day and I was
going to stop to speak to them, but I
was absolutely ashamed of the outfit.
We ought to give the chief a great big
car to ride around In. Suppose some
official comes here to visit and I ask
the chief of police to show him the towv
Are we going to have to have the chief
ride the distinguished visitors around in
that little ear?”
“But wouldn’t Joe Hogue (city con
troller) kick like the dickens if we did
inquired a board member. Mr. Hogue
recently objected because the board
passed a bill for SBS for badges for
themselves.
“Let him kick.” said the tnnyor. ‘ He
kicked all during the campaign, but it
didn’t do any good.”
Mr. Hogue was one of the watchdogs
of the Republican treasury in the mu
nicipal campaign last fear,
Siik.A-tn.i (By Carrier, Week, IndianapoiJ*, 10c- Elsewhere, 12<S.
Subscription Rates: } By Mall> 600 per Month . , sPer Year
DEMANDS FUNDS FOR
NAVY AS AUTHORIZED
BY ARMS CONFERENCE
Says 18 Battleship Fleet Necessary, Requiring
Enlisted Personnel of 86,000 Men
and 3,200 Officers.
WASHINGTON, March 22.-—President Harding demanded of Congress
today that it appropriate enough money to maintain an American Navy
up to the maximum strength authorized under the conference treaties.
Word went from the White House to the Capitol that there must be kept
in commission an eighteen battleship fleet, with all auxiliaries and prop
erly manned to give the fleet the highest efficiency. This will require an
enlisted strength of about 86,000 men and 3,200 officers.
DEMOCRATS ARE
JUBILANT OVER
ROSY OUTLOOK
Plans for State Convention
Take Up Greater Part of
Conference.
WILL FIX PLATFORM
Optimism fairly bubbled over at the
meeting of the Democratic State commit
tee at the Denison Hotel today. Every
district in the State, with the excep
tion of the Third, was represented and,
according to those in atendance, more
Interest is being displayed in party af
fairs throughout Indiana this year than
for a number of years past.
Selection of a special committee to
make arrangements for the State conven
tion, which will be held'!n Indianapolis
May 31 and June ™ and a committee to
draft, a tentative platform for consid
eration of the committee on resolutions at
the convention, occupied the greater part
of the morning session.
The committee on arrangements, which
among other things, will make recom
mendations for the temporary and per
manent chairman of the convention. Is
composed of A. C. Stallee of Indianap
olis, Seventh District, chairman; Wal
ter S. Chambers of New Castle, chair
man of the Sixth District: Dale J. Crit
tenbarger of Anderson, cbniramn of the
Eight Dlstrl t, and lMss Gertrude F. Mc-
Hugh, score.ary of the State committee.
VAN NUTS HEADS
I’LATFOItM COMMITTEE.
The committee appointed to draft a
tentative plat—form headed by Fred
erick Van Nnys of Indianapolis, formerly
attorney and chairman of the State com
mittee during the last National campaign.
This committee will welcome suggestions
as to what the platform should contain
from Democrats all over the State, and
will make an outline of a platform and
campaign policy to be presented to the
committee on resolutions at the conven
tion.
Other metr hers of the committee are:
Thomas Taggart, Joseph 11. Shea,
Charles A. Greathouse, all of Indianapo
lis: E. B. Stotsenburg of New Albany,
John S. MeFadden of Rushville, Mrs.
James Higgs of Sullivan. Mrs. Alice -Mc-
Culloch of Ft. Wayne, Mrs. J. T. GvVln
of Hensselaer, Mrs. Harry McMullin of
Aurora, Mrs. Olive Belden Lewis of In
dianapolis and Mrs. A. I*. Flynn of Lo
gansport.
The committee made an appeal to
Democrats throughout the State to put
forth the very best men and women in
the party as candidates for office this
year. Special care is urged in the se
lection of candidates for the Legisla
ture.
tenth district
ON LY SLACK EH.
It was announced candidates for Con
gress have filed In every district except
the Tenth, and It is understood several
candidates will file in that district be
fore the end of the month.
Every county in the State will put forth
a complete Democratic ticket, according
to Information received by the commit
tee.
A qnestlonalre was sent out recently
by the State committee to all county
chairmen asking for definite Informa
tion as to the number of candidates fil
ing for office. When the committee met
(Continued on Page Eleven.)
McKay Says Club Butler
Unknown to His Daughter
Pittsburgh Family Brands Alleged Romance
as Ridiculous and Absurd.
PITTSBURGH, March 22—J. Albert
McKay, father of Virginia C. McKuy,
mentioned in connection with an alleged
romance with Albert Probst, former but
ler at the exclusive Roiling Rock Club, to
day dictated this statement:
“The connection of my daughter’s
name with l’robst, who is unknown to
her, is ridiculous and absurd. His men
tal condition is in question before the
Federal authorities who will determine
the same. That is all I have to say.”
Mrs. McKay, who answered the tele
phone first, said the mention of her
daughter’s name in connection with
Probst was “the most infamous thing I
had ever heard of."
Increase Working
Force in Adams
County Oil Field
DECATUR, Ind., March 22. —Pros-
perity struck this community today.
With oil wells being drilled In
Adams County, the General Electric
Company announced production must
be almost doubled and more men
would be employed. The pay roll
now is 185 men, an Increase from
forty a few weeks ago.
The President's demand was conveyed
to Congress by Representative Darrow,
Republican, of Pennsylvania, and Repre
sentative Hicks, Republican, of New
York, two members of the Naval Affairs
Committee, with whom he conferred.
The President Informed his con
gressional callers that the Administration
Is opposed to any cut that will bring the
American Navy below the point of
j efficiency contemplated In the confer
ence treaties, either in equipment of per
sonnel. He left them to figure out for
themselves whether a presidential veto
will greet the naval appropriation bill,
now in committee, which is ready to be
brought out providing for pay for only
65.0i)0 men and 2.000 officers.
Within a few hours after the President's
views were communicated to the Naval
Afffars Committee it reported out a bill
fixing the strength of the navy at 3,410
officers and £O,OOO men, plus 6,000 ap
prentices. This is a reduction of 1.060
officers and 57,500 men from the present
authorized strength.
There is a vast difference, however,
between authorized strength and actual
strength. The authorized strength today
Is 137,500; the actual strength is around
101.000 men.
WILL HAVE TO
LOOK TO SENATE.
Thus while the Navy Committee, which
determines policy, was fixing the au
thorized strength of the Navy at dtj.ooo,
a figure commensurate with President
Harding's wishes, the Appropriation*
Committee went blithely ahead on tuc
bill urovldit g pay for only sixty-five
thousand. Its members said positively
that pay for no more would be pro
vided.
The “big” Navy men of the House
served notice they would seek to amend
the bill before Us passage, but their
chances were considered by leaders as
small, in view of the disposition of he
House generally to cut naval and mili
tary expenditures to the bone.
The upshot of the day's developemnts
was that Pleaidcnt Ilirdlng apparently
will have to look to the Senate to stop
(he wholesale cuts of both Army and
Navy.
Passage of the Army and Nary bills
in the House and their rejection by tie
Serate was forecast.
Two days of contact between President
Harding and Republican leaders have
heightened rather than allayed the acute
friction that exists between the executive
and legislative branches of the Govern
ment on pending legislation.
Something closely akin to open war
fare exists between the White House and
House leaders of Capitol Hill.
In the face of strong White House
disapproval. House leaders are calmly
proceeding with their plans to pass the
pending Army bill, cutting the size of
the Army to 115,<X)0 men and directing
the withdrawal of a majority of the
troops whtch the United States main
tains in its overseas possessions. They
asserted that the bill would be passed
and sent along to the Senate by night
fall.
Again tomorrow the House leaders
plan to disregard the open disapproval
of the White House by passing the pend
ing “bonus” bill.
President Harding regards the "bo- '
nus" bill as Inadvisable and unworkable.
He regards the House attempts to cut
the Army to 115,000 men and the Navy
to 65.000 men or less, and the directions
as to how the various troops should be
stationed as a bold move to usurp his
prerogatives.
“The President Is still commander-in
chief and he has not, nor will he dele
gate his authority in this respect to the
Appropriations Committee of the House,
or any other congressional body," it was
stated officially at the White House.
When thig message was conveyed to
leaders of the House it drew the reply
from one of the leaders that:
‘‘The House is going ahead. We will
absolve ourselves from criticism In any
event by passing the bills, both 'bonus' j
and Army.”
Mrs. McKay was asked if there was
any truth to the report of romance be
tween her daughter and I’robst She de
clared such a thing impossible and said
she did not understand how such a report
could have originated. Then Mr. Mc-
Kay came to the telephone and dictated
his brief statement.
OFFICERSSAY~
PROHST INSANE
NEW YORK, March 22. Decision on
the deportation of August Probst, former
butler of the Rolling Rock Country
Club at Ligonier, Pa., who says he is
being “railroaded” out of the country be
cause of a romance with a Pittsburgh
society girl is expected within a few
days.
Federal Judge Knox today was con
sidering evidence placed before him by
Probst’s attorneys and by immigration
authorities who declare Probst Is in
sane.
Virginia Crnigie McKay, daughter of a
wealthy Pittsburgh man. is tho young
woman with whom Probst, according to
his lawyer’s statement in court, “ex
changed a troth.”
Immigration authorities said Probst
was insane and that the "romance” was
ah hallucination. '
Judge Knox refused to hear attorneys
‘representing the Rolling Rock Club.
I Ha raaervod decision. I
HOME EDITION
TWO CENTS PER COPY
‘ANTEDATED’
POWERHOUSE
LISTED HIGH
Committee Investigat
ing Street Railway
Reports.
ASKS AN AUDITOR
Shows Demand for
Earnings cn Great
Valuation.
Although officials of the Indian*
j apolis Street Railway committee told
■‘ho subcommittee of the mayor's
j citizens’ committee Investigating the
! financial condition of the utility that
ithe West Washington street power
house is "antedated and that all
that could be realized on it would bo
I the salvage,” the company lists tho
j power house at a value of $1,173,-
942.93 In the inventory of properties
upon which it is permitted by the
public service commission to make a
return. This is one of the state
ments made in a report of the sub
committee to Mayor Samuel Lewis
Shank today.
The commutes was appointed by J.
Stephen Fullen, chairman of the executive*
committee of the general committee, about
three weeks ago. It was to probe the
utility's books. It reported today that
it feels the ueed of an expert auditor
to go into the company's accounts and
askse th mayor to help it get SSOO with
which to employ such service.
The mayor called In the citizens’ com
mittee a month ago to asefertain if the
street railway company needs the finan
cial relief its officers say it doe*.
REPORTS PYRAMIDED
INDEBTEDNESS.
The report states that the committee
found tho utility carrying a pyramided
bonded indebtedness amounting to $13,-
000.000 upon which the company Is “com
pelled to pay a staggering sum annually.
Last year, the committe reported, the
deductions from gross earnings of the
company charged to "bond, interest, etc.,”
totaled $045,067.94, the report say*.
“Officials of the Indianapolis Street Rail
way Company contend that the bonded
Indebtedness has nothing to do with
rates. However, the committee Is of the
opinion that such a burden materially
affects the net earnings of the com
pany, incidentally Impedes the expendi
ture of money In other channels, such
as enumerated under the heading of
‘construction expenditures.’ "
The committee said it found the com
pany stntlng that on Feb. 28 It owed
(Continued on Page Eleven.)
PATROLMAN IS
SUSPENDED ON
GIRL’S CHARGES
Patrolman William Martin, 1954 Ash
land avenue, was suspended from the
police department last night by Inspector
C. L. Weaver, following an alleged con
fession made by Marjorie Badger, 18,
whose parents live at Pendleton, Ind.
Martin insists he is innocent. The
story of the Badger girl is a tale of un
derworld traffic in women and part of
her story involving a man and woman
now living in Louisville, Ky., Is to be In
vestigated by Federal officers, since it
is believed the white slave law has been
violated by a man now living In Louis
ville. '
Three yeas ago, Marjorie Badger says,
she came to Indianapolis to live at the
home of her sister Mrs. Helen Johnson,
on Bell street. She remained there until
six weeks ago when she began work In
the Rainbow restaurant, 540 East Wash
ington street, owned by Naun Roboff, a
Greek. Roboff was arrested on tho
charge of contributing to delinquency of
the girl. It was there, according to Miss
Clara Burnside, chief of the women po
lice, who has been assisting in the in
vestigation. Miss Badger met Ralph Du
mont, alias "Little Ralph” and was lured
(Continned on Page Three.)
400,000 PLACED
BY LEGION IN
FIRST-DAYS
Approximately 400.000 former service
men have been placed In positions since
Monday when the bi gnational drive of
the American Legion to find jobs for un
employed veterans got under way, accord
ing to G. W. Powell, assistant national
Americanism director of the legion.
1 Mr. Powell said the first figures avail
! nble show that the greatest results have
| been obtained in industrial centers. This
|is highly pleasing to legion officials, as
! it was in these places that tho situation
has been acute.
Telegrams have been sent out to every
State In the Union asking what results
had been obtained during the first three
days of the drive.
Reports from Washington were to the
effect that the situation In that city was
not at all gdave and that few service men
were out of employment.
Maryland reported that the situation in
tha State hud been relieved appreciably
o nthe first day of the campaign.
Locally the most encouraging results
aro being obtained, although exact
figures will not be available until the
end of the week .according to officials
of the Marlon County council of the
legion. The distribution of service flags,
with a star for every man employed. Is
proceeding rapldl yamong business con
cerns and they are beginning to appear
In windows of business houses through
out the city. The distribution has been
at the rate of several hundred flags a
day.
No definite date for ending the drive
has been set, legion officials declaring
It will not be brought to an end until
every former service man 13 placed in
a job.
NO. 269.