NEW PAVING TREATY!Aurora and Elgin Electric Interurban * line, which also used the four-track...

1
Closing New York Stocks, Page 29 Yesterday's Net Circulation, 93,328 xr OS Entered as second-class matter PI O. . ~t * ± l- post office Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1922-FORTY-FOUR PAGES. .*. TWO CENTS. Full Square of Business Houses Just Outside "Loop" Prey of Flames. 25,000 LEFT JOBLESS; ONE FIREMAN IS KILLED Sparks Set Dozen New Fires.Man Held as Incendiary.Six mil¬ lions in Bnrned Bank Vaults. Bj the Associated Press. CHICAGO. March 15..A spectacular early morning flre today destroyed a full square of business buildings Just ^ outside Chicago's "loop," or down¬ town. district, with a loss estimate^ at from $10,000,000 to J15.000.000. The fire, of unknown origin, started in the center of the block bounded by Van Buren, Canal and Clinton streets and West Jackson boulevard, burned i every structure In that area, leaped north across Jackson and wrecked the twenty-one-story Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad's general office building, which also houses the Mer-1 Cantlle Trust and Savings Bank. and. tinder burden of a strong wind, dipped over Van Buren street southward and burned nearly through to Harrison street. Fighting Dozen Fires at Oner. The fire was not brought under control until nearly 5 o'clock, and even then firemen were fighting a dozen different fires and others broke out intermittently as the wind waft¬ ed sparks about. One fireman was killed, another seriously injured, ten or more slight¬ ly hurr and an unknown number of the hundred thousand spectators who thronged the burning district slight¬ ly hurt by failing bricks, burning .timbers or sparks'. The fire for a tjme threatened to ¦assume virtually unlimited propor-1 tions and every piece of fire-fighting apparatus within five miles was called out in a series of ten alarms. ^ Spread With Great Speed. "The rapidity with which tne flre spread was astounding," Marshall Buckley, assistant fire chief, said. "The flre actually seemed to run "from us." That the original blaze from which _ the conflagration grew possible was i of incendiary origin was the state-1 ir.ent of Shirley P. High, city flr.fr at«J torney, who early today announced the arrest of an unnamed man oil In¬ formation supplied by H. T. Schiff, president of the Confectionery Spe¬ cialty Company, at 521 West Jackson boulevard, where the flre started. Mr. High refused to divulge the name of the man arrested, but said that he was being questioned regard¬ ing threatening letters Mr. Schiff said the man. a former employe, had sent to him. Mr. Schiff toid Mr. High the man was discharged when he became Incensed over refusal to permit him to purchase stock in the company, and within the past two months had made a series of threats. Mr. Schiff placed his personal loss at $56,000. Places Loss Xear 913,000,000. Mr. High summoned severs! of his aides while the fire was at its height and said an investigation would be begun immediately. He placed the total loss at from $10,000,000 to $15.- 000.000. Traversing the main burned area, the Metropolitan West Side Elevated | line today was seriously handicapped' In delivering its thousands of patrons to the downtown district, as was the Aurora and Elgin Electric Interurban * line, which also used the four-track structure which was caught in the midst of the flre. The huge Burlington offlce building, called a fireproof structure, held- the flre from spreading westward, while progress of the flames toward the south was ended by the access the . firemen had to the smaller buildings ..to six stories.which begin south ot Van Buren street. A vacant lot, the site of the n?w Union depot, kept the fire from spreading northward. The Chicago river runs a block east of the burned district, but would have afforded but little protection had the wind veered the sweep of the flames toward the main business section. Heat Drives Away Police Guard. Heat from the burning buildings across the street cracked out the win¬ dows of the Mercantile Trust and Savings Bank before the Burlington building itself was afire. A heavy po¬ lice guard was thrown about the bank, but was driven away .quickly when the building caught flre". Cash and securities valued at ap-j proximately $6,000,000 are said to be In the bank's vaults, and it may be several days before they can be ex¬ amined. The Burlington building caught flro at about the eighth story and burned up and down. No stream of water ¦was powerful enough to fight the flre In the upper stories. Elevated Supports at White Heat. So fntense was the heat in the burning district that the steel sup¬ ports of the elevated structure could oe seen at white heat Despite the' calling out of extra policemen, automobiles of spectators i quickly jammed'the streets about the! burning district. The flames, leaping hign and puffed by the gusts of wind, j were visible for more than twenty' miles. The Van Buren street tunnel of the j Chicago surface lines, under the Chi- j cago rive*, debouches Just at tne burned area, and for hours a stream of water poured into it until the tun¬ nel was filled to street level. The union depot mail terminal was rot reached by the flames, but postal employes hurriedly removed all mall ¦when It appeared that the flre district could not be restricted. Cash la Vault Safe. The Mercantile Trust and Savings Bank later announced that the cash and securities In its vaults were am¬ ply protected by heavy steel, cement and asbestos walls and that they were <iu!te safe. Arrangements were made to have another bank take care of its business until i^ew quarters could be Obtained. The new Burlington building with¬ stood a heat so terrific that the flre escape on the side facing the flames across the street became red hot and bent of its own weirht. It was estimated that more ttan 35,000 persons were made Jobless fBnugh tfa* Or*, | RAIL MERGER BY TAX BILL AUTHORIZED BY SENATE COMMITTEE The Senate District committee this afternoon authoriied Chair¬ man Ball to introduce and report favorably from the committee a new bill authorizing the merger of the street railways of the Dis¬ trict and providing for a new sys¬ tem of taxation for the street car companies, in accordance with the suggestions of the District Commissioners. As soon as the bill has been prepared Senator Ball will intro¬ duce it and report It. The new bill will contain the pro¬ visions of the bill authorizing the street railway merger, which Is al¬ ready on the Senate calendar and in addition to those provisions will do away with the present tax and substitute for it a tax of SO per cent on ntt incomes In excess of 6 per cent and not in excess of 7 per cent and a tax of "5 per cent on net in¬ comes in excess of 7 per cent. DISTRlCTGETSGIFT The police war on bootless*", au¬ tomobile speeders and other violators of law will be made pore effective by the receipt of eighteen motor cycler from the federal government. Commissioner Oyster was notified today by the chief co-ordinator of supplies for Uncle Sam that the Post Office Department has agreed to turn over to the local police department its surplus of motor cycle equipment. These additional machines, repre-1 senting in value more than $5,000, will be available as soon as the city of- ficials send to Toledo a bill of lading for their shipment. Both Commissioner Oyster and MaJ. Sullivan wero elated today when these tidings were received. Maj. Sullivan pointed out1 that eighteen more ma¬ chines will practically double the present motor cycle squad/ consisting of twenty-four men. With the steady development of high-powered automobiles, it has be- come almost impossible for the bi¬ cycle police to apprehend speeders and whisky runners. Thus the big t*®1* has devolved principally upon the motor cycle squad. Present Inadequacy. When twenty-four motor c.vcl*s are divided among eleven precincts and allowance is made for men on leave, the inadequacy of the present num¬ ber becomes apparent. The generous Offer of the postal authorities will make possible the detailing of two more motor cycles to the precincts having large suburban territories, and at least one to each precinct. Commissioner Oyster believes the new motor cycles will glv# the de¬ partment a big advantage In coping wtth high-powered automobiles used by bootleggers. The ninth precinct famishes an ex¬ ample of the handicap under whicli the police And themselves In attempt¬ ing to prevent smuggling liqJ-Jr into, the District. That preclnet covers practically the entire northeast boundary of the city, with many roads leading in from Maryland. Too Many Road# «o Gaard. AC «he present time when the offi¬ cers have reason to suspect that a whisky runner is headed this way from Maryland they cannot possibly watch all of the east-end approaches to the city afld must rely largely on < hance to cover the right roads. With more motor cycle equipment this, handicap will be removed to a con¬ siderable extent. The Commissioners are extremely grateful to the federal government for the spirit of co-operation shown recently in giving the municipality badly needed equipment* left over from the war period. The off'-r of eighteen motor cycles without cost Is the second valuable contribution the government has made to the protection of life and properly In Washington. A few weeks ago the War Department agreed to turn over to the Are, department a varied assortment of equipment, from motor apparatus to small flre-flghting Implements. PROBE OF DIVORCE CASES HALTED UNTIL SATURDAY ALEXANDRIA. Va.. March 15.. Hearing of arguments, scheduled for today, was postponed until Saturday morning at 10 o'clock by the special committee of seven of the Alexandria Bar Association engaged in probing the divorce situation here. The post¬ ponement was made owing to the In¬ ability of Attorney John a Barbour of Fairfax county, representing Judge Moncure, to be here, he being ill. The committee, on motion of Attor-, ney J Randail Caton, a member of the committee, adopted a resolution that Judge Moncure be requested to forego his purpose of presenting to the grand jury, selected and sum¬ moned for Friday, March 17, all mat¬ ters pertaining to the divorce situa¬ tion now being Investigated by the committee, until a report of this committee has been filed. The Jury, however, will meet and In¬ vestigate the criminal cases, and Judge Moncure probably will have them begin a probe of the divorce situation early next week. Just after the committee adjourned, court convened and Judge Moncure called A. Cloyd Gill, a Washington newspaper man, and directed Sergt Cox to have Mr. Gill give a bond In the sum of $600 to appear before the grand jury to testify as to what he knew about divorce conditions here. Mr. Gill a short time afterward had Attorney Gardner L. Boothe, who Is a member of the probe committee, go on his bond. The court took this action because of the fact that Mr. Gill is a non¬ resident of the state of Virginia, his home being In Washington. The court is anxious that he appear be¬ fore the grand Jury. U. S. TO SET FORTH WAR CLAIM VIEWS IN ALLIED CAPITALS Ambassadors' in London, Paris and Rome to Explain Unyielding Demand. WILL MEET ARGUMENTS FRIENDLY, BUT FIRMLY Demand Not to Be Pressed When Once Recognized, Views in Of¬ ficial Quarters Here. BY EDWARD FIUCE DELL. By Cable to The Star and Chirago Dolly Newa. Copyright. 1922. LONDON. March IB..The viewpoint <^f the United States touching its claim of a share of the moneys due from Germany for the maintenance of the armies of occupation on the Rhine will be represented in identical terms by the American ambassadors In London. Paris and Rome. Ambas¬ sador Harvey will see Lord Curson Thursday, provided the British for¬ eign minister is not too ill to attend to public buslnesp. Admits of So Qacstloa. The American claim will be set forth as admitting of no question In law or in morals. Unless unexpected opposition Is encountered the American ambassa¬ dor will go no further than to cite the facts of the situation. If arguments against the American claims are ad¬ duced they will be met In a friendly but unyielding spirit. The case of the United States rests upon a "legal tripod." First, reimbursement for American outlays on the Rhine, as well as for those of Britain and France, was guaranteed In the terms of the armi¬ stice; second, these terms were re¬ affirmed In the treaty of Versailles as "armistice Articles still In force"; third, the separate treaty of the United States with Germany commits Germany explicitly to recognition of all American rights under the armi¬ stice and the treaty of Versailles. Rearard Cane an Strong. These are the fundamehtals of the American Ifgal case. America's am¬ bassadors deem them invincible. Morally they regard the case as j equally strong. While the American ! people were eager for the return of American troops, the government yielded to the appeals of the allies that the American Army remain on the Rhine as evidence of the solidarity of ttaa pewers that won the war. Certain cynicalVnd politically un¬ intelligent' persotfl in London ar*l counseling the Brltiah government to take an offensive attitude on the American claim. It Is impossible t6 believe that this advice will have any weight in Downing street, because the dullest man in the ministry could hardly fall to appreciate the peril with which It is fraught. RECOGNITION ATONE SOUGHT, U. S. Not Disposed to Press Claim at Present. Br the Associated Press. Recognition by other interested governments of Uie rights of the United States in connection with dis¬ tribution of German reparations was all that was sought at this time in the recent demand upon the allied finance ministers for payment of $241,000,000 expenses of the American army of occupation. It was stated today by a high administration official. Having "established its case," It was said, the United States will not press further now Its demands for payment of the bill. Note Serves Notice. Presentation of the demand last week before the allied finance min¬ isters »is regarded by this govern¬ ment as serving notice that its rights must be respected, it was said, and recognition of that attitude by the government was all that was desired, There has been no protest from re¬ sponsible quarters against the United States obtaining equal rights with the allied governments through Oper¬ ation of the separate treaty of peace with Germany, it was explained, and the matter of payment for the Amer¬ ican forces in the Rhineland will be allowed to take its due course. AID OF LABOR PLEDGED. Will Assist legion in Belief of Unemployed Veterans. By the Associated Press. INDIANAPOLIS. March 15..Samuel Gompers today Informed the national headquarters of the American Legion that organized labor would give every encouragement to the legiop cam¬ paign to relieve unempioymfnt among veterans of the world war. The cam¬ paign ends next Monday. "This is a most worthy object," wrote Mr. Gompers, referring to the legion's campaign. "You know, how¬ ever, that the membership of the American Federation of Labor Is com¬ posed of wage earners only. While our membership cannot give employ¬ ment to the unemployed members of the American Legion there Is no doubt that every encouragement will be given to bring about the desired results.' Thousands of members of the American Legion are also mem¬ bers of the trade unions and the sympathy of the wage earners will go out to those who did so'much for not only our own country but for the entire world." BUDGET BUREAU OFFICIAL URGES $3,000,000 FOR WATER SUPPLY Former Senator Sherman of Illi¬ nois. who worked with the budget bureau on the estimates (or the District of Columbia for the fiscal year 1923. who was at the Capitol today, expressed a hope that the conferees on the District appro¬ priation bill would approve the Senate amendments for an in¬ crease in the water supply. Sen¬ ator Sherman pointed out that the appropriation for an Increased water supply was Imperative. "There may be some ground for differences as to the appropria¬ tion* for street*" said Senator Sherman. can. live with I " muddy streets if necessary, but the city piust be provided with an adequate supply of water, and it Is absolutely necessary that )S,- 000,000 should be made available for this purpose, to be used dur¬ ing the next year or two." Senator Sherman said also that he hoped the conferees would agree to the Senate amendment authorizing the erection of a home for feeble-minded persons in the District. At present, ha pointed out, there is no proper institution here for caring for the feeble-minded. He said it was not economy to out such items from the bill. LOOKS LiK RENEW ATTEMPTS TO AMEND TREATY! I New Proposal Provides for Catling In Other Nations for "Consideration." For thr third (imp the Senate dr- tented today an effort to amend the four-power treaty to permit participation of outitide nation* In International conferences over con¬ troversies! arising In the Pacific. Aa amendment tor that purpose by Senator I'ittmun. democrat, Nevada* similar to two on the same subject rejected yesterday, was defeated. 50 to 27. The treaty opponents indicated, however, that they would bring the proposal forward again later In the form of a reservation in the hope that they might secure thr aupport of 9 number of senator* ! who object fo all amendments aa a mailer of principle. i The attempt to ai7ir>nd the four- i power treaty so that outside nations; Would be called into consultation re- j garding Pacific controversies w»s re- newed in the Senate today despite the! defeat yesterday of two amendmntsj for that purpose. A new amendment, more limited in scope than those already rejected. 1 was presented by Senator Pittman, democrat. Nevada. It provided that j in any future controversy outside na- ' lions having interests in the Pacific would lie called into conference "for consideration" of the subject. In the two previous proposals the words "for consideration and adjustment" ware used and the participating pow- i ors were not limited to those hav- ins interests in the Pacific. The practical effect of the amendment.! Senator Pittman said, would be io con- fine the group of nationas affected to i Russia, China, the Netherlands and Por- j tugal. He explained that he offered it i because of objections that yesterday's! proposals were so broad as to virtually | bring the whole world uader the scope of the treaty. ! Should such a change be made, the Nevada senator argued, it might be made by a textural amendment of the! treaty and not by reservation, as some have suggested. It was Indi¬ cated, however, that should all amendments be defeated, the proposi¬ tion would be brought forward later in the form of a compromise reserva¬ tion with the hope of gaining the support of some of those who do not j favor actual amendment of the pact. A "propaganda" favoring unquali¬ fied ratification of the four-power! treaty was charged by Senator Pitt- man, who said that those responsible apparently were well meaning, but did not know what the pact actually contained. "Great church bodies," he said, "represented by executive committees composed of perhaps a dozen men and claiming to represent hundreds of thousands of people are signing petitions for ratification of this treaty as it is. "How many of those hundreds of thousands have read the treaty? How many of those Christian people do you think would ask for ratification if they knew that it contained no pro¬ vision for consultation except be¬ tween four powers?" Opposed by Underwood. Senator Underwood of Alabama, the democratic leader, opposed the amend¬ ment, although he said he was not inclined to disagree with It "In prin¬ ciple." To amend the treaty, he said, would be to reopen the fieM of nego¬ tiation and "might destroy the treaty." He pointed out that other govern¬ ments refused to recognize the Rus¬ sian government. "While the United States might enter into a contract with a government we don't recognize," said Senator Under¬ wood. "I doubt if other nations would, and that would mean delay for the treaty. It may destroy it. The amend¬ ment is not of sufficient value to take the chancer." That the signatories had exchanged notes giving to Netherlands the benefit of the treaty was pointed out by Senator Underwood. The Netherlands, he said, did not ask to be a party to the treaty and did not request participation uniil after the treaty was signed. It would be reasonable to believe. (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) Todays News In Brief Committee depicts needs of orphans in near east and appeals for funds. Page 2 Alabama Power Company accused by Representative Oliver. Page 3 Seek possible May day plot in radi¬ cal's death by bomb. Page 1 Negro pours kerosene on woman and lights it. Page 3 Fosdick, former league official, sup¬ ports four-powfr pact. Page 3 Woman civil service employes see equal rights in reclassification. Page 17 Publicity assooiatlon to boost capita! urged by W. B. Calloway, B. & O. passenger expert. Page IT norm death toll Is placed at 24. Page IS Commissioners oppose salary lncreaso for District teachers; Page 23 < DOLLAR MARK LURING WIVES TO STEER THEIR HUSBANDS INTO JAIL"1 By th<» Associated Press. NEW YORK. March 15.."Greed for diamonds and furs is the curse of the times," Judge Louis D. Glbbs of the Bronx county court declared today in suspending sentence on Saul Zukor. millinery dealer, who pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods. "Modern women, yes, a great majority of them," he said, "are using the dollar mark to steer their husbands into jail. Jusl as long as the men of the family bring home the money no questions are asked. The trouble with the man of today is that he is too eager to make money-to supply his wife or daughter with diamonds and furs. He is bound to get it somehow.honestfy or by criminal methods." Judge <iibbs* condemnation of modern tendencies was delivered after Mrs. Zukor, the prisoner's wife, had been called to the stand. Attired in an expensive fur coat and her fingers covered with rings, she indignantly' denied that she had knowledge of her fcuiband'n f-rime. though admitting th&t* had charge of her husband's store. Judge Glbbs accused her of being in league with her husband, and ordered her from the courtroom. He explained that sentence Mas suspended because the prisoner had four small children to support. Col. Keller Says Little Could j Be Accomplished Due to Litigation. There Is little that a separate public utilities commission could accomplish In the District as long as the valua¬ tions of several of the largest cor¬ porations are Involved In litigation, In the opinion of Engineer Commis¬ sioner Keller, who is also chairman of the utilities commission. Col. Keller voiced this belief today when asked for an expression on the proposal suggested to Congress that a utilities commission be created, not composed of the Board of Commis¬ sioners. The chairman said the only thing which he sees could be done by a new commission that has not already been done would be to change the policy of a uniform rate of fare for both street car com¬ panies by giving each company the rate it would need to earn a rea¬ sonable return. Duties Do Sot Interfere. The colonel Indicated that he does not believe the duty of serving on the utilities commission unduly bur¬ dens the Distrlift Commissioners. For a short period of the year when rates come up for revision the Commis¬ sioners are kept busy serving in the dual capacity. But during the balance of the twelve months, it was pointed out at the District building today, a sepa- rate utilities commission composed of three men would flml little to occupy its time. Except during the short Intervals when rates are under revision, the meetings of the utilities commission consist principally of locating car stop signs, approving applications for jitneys and similar routine matters. Officials also called attention to the fact that the utilities commission probably has passed through the busiest period of Its career. The enormous task of valuing the prop¬ erties of the companies has been completed, and, as the country gradu- ally returns to normal conditions rate cases will not have to be heard so often as they were during and since fits war. Car Rate Lonf Uuekanged. Before the war. Col. Keller pointed out, when the nation's equilibrium was not upset, the street car rate of six tickets for 26 cents remained unchanged for many years. Nor did other utilities need changing rates. As the country settles back to a pre-war basis the utilities also will become stabilised and require less at¬ tention from tie utilities board. It Is believed. . . Commissioner Rudolph, who was serv¬ ing his first term nine years ago when the utilities law wd being drafted believed 'then that the utilities board should be composed of others than the District commission. He has reiterated that view since t returning to offlce. BANDITS TAKE |9,000. EDOEfWATER,'N. J. March IS . Three armed bandits today stole about 99,000 from the paymaster of Kellogg, Spencer 4 Sons, and escaped in an * dt omobila. j.t~4 NEW STREET PAVING TO STARTMONDAY Spring Periqd of Improve¬ ment Projects About to Be¬ gin.Repairs to Be Made. The DistHct engineer department will begin jts spring period of street paving and repair work Monday. Maj. K. S. Benson, assistant engineer com¬ missioner. stated today. On that day the Cranford Paving Company expects to begin on four important resurfacing jobs, as fol- lows: Connecticut avenue and Columbia j road, east side, from Florida avenue to California street. C street southeast, from 2d to 3d streets. A street northeast from Uh to 3th streets. The Commissioners also have ordered the resurfacing of the following streets before the expiration of the current fiscal year In June: Northwest.Seventeenth street from Massachusetts avenue to p street. 19.500, laih street, Massachusetts ave¬ nue to P street, $2,400; E street. 10th to nth street, $2.iu0; Massachusetts avenue, 38th street to Duponi Circle $9,000; Massachusetts avenue. 22d street to Sheridan Circle. $7,200: K street. Massachusetts avenue to 20th street. J10.S00. Northeast.Ninth street. Massachu¬ setts avenue to Maryland avenue. $23,000. Southeast.Canal street. South Capi¬ tol to E street, $2,000; D street, north side, from 2d to 3d streets, and North Carolina avenue, 3d street to Pennsyl¬ vania avenue. Other streets have been recommend¬ ed to the Commissioners for resurfac¬ ing and probably will be ordered soon. In addition to these resurfacing Jobs, the engineer department will have its regular minor repair gangs at work during the spring patching the bad spots In existing streets. SCORES FLEE RENO HOTEL Largest Hotel Destroyed by Fire. Firemen Rescue Many. RENO, Nev.. March IB..Scores of guests escaped from upper windows in their nightclothes when the River¬ side Hotel, the largest hotel here, was destroyed by fire early this morning. At 5 o'clock the building still was a furnace, and the ruins could not be searched, but a check was started to learn if any guests were missing. No serious Injuries were reported. The fire, believed to have started In the engine room, broke out shortly after 2 o'clock. The flames spread upward quickly and the guests, aroused by the smoke, found the stairways cut off. Most of them were rescued by firemen with ladders. The firemen prevented the flames from spreading to other buildings, but could not save the hotel. Several thrilling rescues were re¬ ported. among them that of two chil¬ dren from a blazing room. The scan¬ tily clad guests were cared for in surrounding houses. A mild night saved them much Buffering from ex- posure. NON-PARTISAN BLOC IN U. S. CITIZENSHIP URGED BY McADOO LOS ANGELES, Calif., March 15..What he termed the "Intol¬ erant partisan basis on which our government functions" was deprecated in the first speech de¬ livered here by William G. Mc- Adoo, former Secretary of the Treasury and director general of railroads, since he came to Los Angeles to make his home. In a speech before the City Club he declared all matters taken be¬ fore Congress or other legislative bodies were settled upon political bases, often much to the detri¬ ment of the purposes. "What we should have in the United States," he said, "is a large body of intelligent citizens, who fi.re not affiliated with any party and who could hold the balance of power. Such citizens would be Americans first and their check on the* big parties would be most valuable." HAMMERS MEET OPERATORS; STRIKEPREDICTED 19 Demands of Men to Be Presented and Answer Made on Friday. By th» Associated Press. SPMKGFIELD, III.. March 15,. Disapproval of the appointment of a governmental commission to ef¬ fect a settlement of the threatened coal strike, April 1. lvu evorcNKcd In a telegram sent Secretary of Labor Davis by President l'rniik Farrlncton of the Illinois Mine Worker* at noon today. NEW YORK, March 15.Anthracite miners and operators were prepared today to begin negotiations for a new wage agreement to take the place of the two-year contract which expires at the end of this month. A large number of operators arrived to par¬ ticipate in the first Joint conference this afternoon. A majority of the representatives of the miners com¬ prising the scale committee have been in the city several days conferring, the, last to arrive being President John L. Lewis of the international organization of the United Mine Workers. The nineteen demands of the miners, formulated at their .conven¬ tion in Shainokln, Pa., in January and ratified by the international con¬ vention at Indianapolis Wat month, are to bs formally presented to the coal operators and explained in detail l»y officers of the union'. The opera¬ tors are expected to immediately take them under consideration and make a statement of their position on Friday. Tim miners arc asking for & 20 per cent increase on contract rates, among other things, while the mine with other things, while the mine fleer ease below the present working basis. \o Referendum Taken. It is not cxpected that an agree- ment will be reached before the end of the month, and in that event the scale committee of the hard coal workers is under instructions of the Sbamokin convention to order a sus¬ pension of mining until a satisfac¬ tory agreement is in sight. A reler- endum on the question of suspension was not taken in the anthracite fields, the action of the convention having expressed wishes of the men. The national policy committee of the mine workers has the power to set aside a suspension, if it sees fit, but, ac¬ cording to union leaders here, sncli action is not likely. It is the opinion of miners and many of the operators that a suspension in the hard coal fields of Pennsylvania is certain. If it comes, it is expected there will be a complete cessation of production, as on two former occasions when nego¬ tiations were dragged ever many weeks. A shortage of anthracite coal Is not anticipated unless the expected suspension should run into the summer, which is not looked for by the miners. The demand for coal during the win¬ ter was below jiormal, due to mild weather and high prices, but despite this the anthracite mines have been kept steadily at work, in contrast to those in the bituminous fields, and there is a fair supply of coa! on hand, both in the big storage yards of the mining companies and In the larger retail yards of the east, It was said. Will Realst Any Cat. The miners enter the Joint confer¬ ence determined, they said, to resist with all their power any effort to re¬ duce their present wage scale as in¬ dicated by the operators. "There must be no backward step," President Lewis has said, and the miners have declared themselves as unanimous in supporting him. Beyond the general statement, that (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) I SEPARATE ROOM FOR JURY WOMEN \ SAID TO LEAD TO MORE MISTRIALS Special Dispatch te The Star. LOS ANGELES, March 15..The "mixed jury" Is having a crucial test here. Nine men and three women are about to decide the fate of Madalynne Obenchaln, charged with the murder of her sweetheart, J. Belton Kennedy. It Is the first time so far as known that women have sat upon a jury in judgment of another woman stand¬ ing In the shadow of a death sen¬ tence. Should the women on the ObenchalB jury bring about a mistrial, as womei already have dona in so many crimi¬ nal cases in California during the last three years, it la extremely doubtful whether mixed juries longei can be employed where a capita? crime is the issue. ; If California's experience counts fot anything it may be stated that..the communities which believe they have solved the "housing problem"'" for mlxld juries by segregating the met and the women, are doomed to disap¬ pointment. It has been found here that with the men and women separated in dif¬ ferent apartments the men at times reach one decision and the women arrive at another. When the jury gets together again the differences are irreconcilable and * mistrial re- suits. .... Already there has been a mistrial In the case in which Mrs. Obenchain is concerned today. Arthur Burcli was indicted jointly with her /or the mur¬ der of Kennedy, but demanded a sep¬ arate trial. Women predominated on the Jury, which was locked up for many weary hours, men and women separately, but without avail. The breach was found to be widened when the full jury met. There was nothing to do but dismiss the jury after a very expensive and hard-fought trial. On the segregation phase of the mixed jury problem the California legislature has done its part, even to the pink of propriety. In 1919, when womeh -Jvere first made eligible for Jury duty, the lawmakers directed each county should provide "a room for the feminine members of the jury which shall be separate and apart from the room provided for the male members." Rooms Lock Iaslde. This provision has been lived up to In the state in letter and spirit tn^he deliberations of* all mixed Juries. In the courtroom here where the most Important criminal cases are heard there Is a room for the deliberations of the jurors and a stairway leading to two separate apartments above, one for women and one for men. with cots for sleeping. These dormitories are arranged so they can be locked from the Inside. Juries taken to hotels for the night are quartered two in a room as a rule, with a bailiff on guard in the hall. Presiding Judge Frank R. Willis of .ggutluued on Safe 3. Column S.i ' SENATE 10 SHELVE HOUSE BONUS BILL FOR THISSESSION Senior Body Expected to Heed Economic Warning of Secretary Mellon. PRESIDENT WOULD VETO MEASURE AS IT STANDS Representatives Consider Fall Elections and Pass on Be- sponsibility for Issue. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. The House will pass a bonus bill and the Senate will shelve It for this ses¬ sion at least. That Is the outlook now that the House ways arjd means committer has received and Ignored the advICi of »he Secretary of the Treasury. the «.i-n tro'lur of the currency and the governor of the Federal Reserve Board to the effect that the bonus bill in the form proposed would be a bad thing for the economic condi¬ tion of the country. It does not happen often that a committee so important as the ways and means summons a Secretary of the Treasury of its own political af¬ filiation and after listening to his ex¬ position of the Treasury's condition goes ahead in exactly the opposite direction. It do«"S not happen often that a repu¬ diation of the Secretary of the Treasury is voiced by a whole body in Congress, but that is what is coming now. In a parliamentary form of government it would mean the resignation of Mr. Mellon, but the House of Representa¬ tives has passed many a bill that died in the Senate, and resignations never are in order here unless the Presi¬ dent himself fails to Etand by a cab¬ inet officer. In this instance, the President is squarely behind Mr. Mel¬ lon. and if the Senate should follow the House a veto is certain for the bonus bill. Maneuver for Delay. But the Senate will not ignore Mr. Mellon's advice. Over in the cloak¬ rooms of the upper house the word "bonus" rarely spoken. It hangs over the Senate like Impending doom. Just how the senior body will handle the question is not yet determined, but a tacit understanding seems to prevail that by one parliamentary maneuver or another something will delay passage of the bonua. It was the Senate, which laat sum- raer blocked the bonus bill, and prob¬ ably upon more words of warning from the White House the measur* will be set aside until the finances of the government are in better condi¬ tion. As for the issue itself, it is ex¬ pected to bob up again in 1324 when the next presidential primaries are under way. By that time, however, some republican leaders hope to re- vise the entire revenue program and lo make special provision for a fund to pa;- the bonus. This revision will be attempted by means of a sales tax. which Mr. Harding now openly favors for the soldier bonus. This commit¬ ment to the principle of the sales tax coipes at a time when revenue law* are not being revised, but. Just the same, it has brought deep satistactioii to the proponents of such tax who would have been greatly assisted a few months ago when they tried to Bet a presidential declaration on the subject to help them substitute a sales tax for all the other kinds of taxes which finally found their way into the 1921 revenue law. Fordney Shuns Advice. There is a significant bit of infor¬ mation, incidentally, in the statement of Representative Fordney. chairman of the House ways and means com¬ mittee. that he did not expect Speaker Gillett, who is now in Florida with the Chief Executive, to bring back an informal nivssage to the House on the bunus question. Mr. Fordney knows the President's views, and would pre- fer not to have them at this time. He could have had them when be visited Mr. Harding just before the latter left for Florida. The President told callers afterward that the bonua question was discussed only inci¬ dentally, and that he did not outline his views to Sir. Fordney because they were already well known. This incident, together with Mr. Fordney's declaration that he is not expecting word from the President, is generally taken to mean that the chairman of the House ways and means committee believed it impor¬ tant for the success of the republican party this fall to go ahead and pass a bonus bill In the House, where 435 members of both parties are up for re-election. Too strong opposition from the President might hinder the passage of the bonus bill in the House and spoil the record of the party there, at least, where it is ever so much more Important than in the Senate, where only one-third of the member¬ ship changes in the fall elections, and of that number certain mem¬ bers will be re-elected irrespective of how they vote on the bonus ques¬ tion. The politics of the situation Is to permit the House to express itself and thereby place upon the Senate and the executive the re¬ sponsibility for postponement of the cash bonus. (Copyright, 1#22.) PLAN FOR PROCEDURE. House Democrats Expected to , Cause Some Trouble. Speaker Gillett. before his depar¬ ture for Florida with President Hard¬ ing. told Chairman Fordney not to de¬ pend entirely upon a suspension of the rules as a means of getting til* bonus bill before the House. This was disclosed today by Mr. Fordney after his attention had been ^called to the dispatches from Palm Beach. Mr. Kordney explained that the bill could be taken UP Tuesday or later under a special rule, and added that he was not opposed to full and- free discussion on the floor. "I am willing that the sunlight be turned on the bill," said the Mich¬ igan member, who will direct lta course in the House. "I recall that we put the first bonus bill through under a suspension of the rule* and that there was not a ripple on the water about it." Prepare tor Delay. There Is a growing sentiment atnoug the republican members in the House against having the bill come up under suspension of the. rules. Several of <he ruiogrlsed par¬ liamentary authorUiCH or. iho repub¬ lican Side are preparing themselves to delay any action upon ths *"""tA ; v.. tinned "on l«age 2. Column 7

Transcript of NEW PAVING TREATY!Aurora and Elgin Electric Interurban * line, which also used the four-track...

Page 1: NEW PAVING TREATY!Aurora and Elgin Electric Interurban * line, which also used the four-track structure which was caught in the midst of the flre. The huge Burlington offlce building,

Closing New York Stocks, Page 29 Yesterday's Net Circulation, 93,328xrOS Entered as second-class matter

PI O. . ~t * ± l- post office Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1922-FORTY-FOUR PAGES. .*. TWO CENTS.

Full Square of BusinessHouses Just Outside "Loop"

Prey of Flames.

25,000 LEFT JOBLESS;ONE FIREMAN IS KILLED

Sparks Set Dozen New Fires.ManHeld as Incendiary.Six mil¬lions in Bnrned Bank Vaults.

Bj the Associated Press.CHICAGO. March 15..A spectacular

early morning flre today destroyed a

full square of business buildings Just^ outside Chicago's "loop," or down¬

town. district, with a loss estimate^at from $10,000,000 to J15.000.000.The fire, of unknown origin, started

in the center of the block bounded byVan Buren, Canal and Clinton streetsand West Jackson boulevard, burned

i every structure In that area, leapednorth across Jackson and wrecked thetwenty-one-story Chicago, Burlingtonand Quincy railroad's general officebuilding, which also houses the Mer-1Cantlle Trust and Savings Bank. and.tinder burden of a strong wind, dippedover Van Buren street southward andburned nearly through to Harrisonstreet.

Fighting Dozen Fires at Oner.The fire was not brought under

control until nearly 5 o'clock, andeven then firemen were fighting adozen different fires and others brokeout intermittently as the wind waft¬ed sparks about.One fireman was killed, another

seriously injured, ten or more slight¬ly hurr and an unknown number ofthe hundred thousand spectators whothronged the burning district slight¬ly hurt by failing bricks, burning.timbers or sparks'.

The fire for a tjme threatened to¦assume virtually unlimited propor-1tions and every piece of fire-fightingapparatus within five miles wascalled out in a series of ten alarms.

^Spread With Great Speed.

"The rapidity with which tne flrespread was astounding," MarshallBuckley, assistant fire chief, said."The flre actually seemed to run

"from us."That the original blaze from which

_the conflagration grew possible was

i of incendiary origin was the state-1ir.ent of Shirley P. High, city flr.fr at«Jtorney, who early today announcedthe arrest of an unnamed man oil In¬formation supplied by H. T. Schiff,president of the Confectionery Spe¬cialty Company, at 521 West Jacksonboulevard, where the flre started.Mr. High refused to divulge the

name of the man arrested, but saidthat he was being questioned regard¬ing threatening letters Mr. Schiff saidthe man. a former employe, had sentto him. Mr. Schiff toid Mr. High theman was discharged when he becameIncensed over refusal to permit himto purchase stock in the company,and within the past two months hadmade a series of threats. Mr. Schiffplaced his personal loss at $56,000.

Places Loss Xear 913,000,000.Mr. High summoned severs! of his

aides while the fire was at its heightand said an investigation would bebegun immediately. He placed thetotal loss at from $10,000,000 to $15.-000.000.Traversing the main burned area,

the Metropolitan West Side Elevated |line today was seriously handicapped'In delivering its thousands of patronsto the downtown district, as was theAurora and Elgin Electric Interurban

* line, which also used the four-trackstructure which was caught in themidst of the flre.The huge Burlington offlce building,

called a fireproof structure, held- theflre from spreading westward, whileprogress of the flames toward thesouth was ended by the access the

. firemen had to the smaller buildings..to six stories.which begin south otVan Buren street.A vacant lot, the site of the n?w

Union depot, kept the fire fromspreading northward. The Chicagoriver runs a block east of the burneddistrict, but would have afforded butlittle protection had the wind veeredthe sweep of the flames toward themain business section.Heat Drives Away Police Guard.Heat from the burning buildings

across the street cracked out the win¬dows of the Mercantile Trust andSavings Bank before the Burlingtonbuilding itself was afire. A heavy po¬lice guard was thrown about thebank, but was driven away .quicklywhen the building caught flre".Cash and securities valued at ap-j

proximately $6,000,000 are said to beIn the bank's vaults, and it may beseveral days before they can be ex¬amined.The Burlington building caught flro

at about the eighth story and burnedup and down. No stream of water¦was powerful enough to fight the flreIn the upper stories.Elevated Supports at White Heat.So fntense was the heat in the

burning district that the steel sup¬ports of the elevated structure couldoe seen at white heatDespite the' calling out of extra

policemen, automobiles of spectators iquickly jammed'the streets about the!burning district. The flames, leapinghign and puffed by the gusts of wind, jwere visible for more than twenty'miles.The Van Buren street tunnel of the jChicago surface lines, under the Chi- j

cago rive*, debouches Just at tneburned area, and for hours a streamof water poured into it until the tun¬nel was filled to street level.The union depot mail terminal was

rot reached by the flames, but postalemployes hurriedly removed all mall¦when It appeared that the flre districtcould not be restricted.

Cash la Vault Safe.The Mercantile Trust and SavingsBank later announced that the cash

and securities In its vaults were am¬ply protected by heavy steel, cementand asbestos walls and that they were<iu!te safe. Arrangements were madeto have another bank take care of itsbusiness until i^ew quarters could beObtained.The new Burlington building with¬

stood a heat so terrific that the flreescape on the side facing the flamesacross the street became red hot andbent of its own weirht.It was estimated that more ttan

35,000 persons were made JoblessfBnugh tfa* Or*, |

RAIL MERGER BY TAXBILL AUTHORIZED BYSENATE COMMITTEE

The Senate District committeethis afternoon authoriied Chair¬man Ball to introduce and reportfavorably from the committee a

new bill authorizing the merger ofthe street railways of the Dis¬trict and providing for a new sys¬tem of taxation for the streetcar companies, in accordance withthe suggestions of the DistrictCommissioners.As soon as the bill has been

prepared Senator Ball will intro¬duce it and report It.The new bill will contain the pro¬

visions of the bill authorizing thestreet railway merger, which Is al¬ready on the Senate calendar andin addition to those provisions willdo away with the present tax andsubstitute for it a tax of SO per centon ntt incomes In excess of 6 per centand not in excess of 7 per cent anda tax of "5 per cent on net in¬comes in excess of 7 per cent.

DISTRlCTGETSGIFTThe police war on bootless*", au¬

tomobile speeders and other violatorsof law will be made pore effective bythe receipt of eighteen motor cyclerfrom the federal government.Commissioner Oyster was notified

today by the chief co-ordinator ofsupplies for Uncle Sam that the PostOffice Department has agreed to turnover to the local police departmentits surplus of motor cycle equipment.These additional machines, repre-1

senting in value more than $5,000, willbe available as soon as the city of-ficials send to Toledo a bill of ladingfor their shipment.Both Commissioner Oyster and MaJ.

Sullivan wero elated today when thesetidings were received. Maj. Sullivanpointed out1 that eighteen more ma¬chines will practically double thepresent motor cycle squad/ consistingof twenty-four men.With the steady development of

high-powered automobiles, it has be-come almost impossible for the bi¬cycle police to apprehend speeders andwhisky runners. Thus the big t*®1*has devolved principally upon themotor cycle squad.

Present Inadequacy.When twenty-four motor c.vcl*s are

divided among eleven precincts andallowance is made for men on leave,

the inadequacy of the present num¬

ber becomes apparent. The generousOffer of the postal authorities willmake possible the detailing of two

more motor cycles to the precinctshaving large suburban territories, and

at least one to each precinct.Commissioner Oyster believes thenew motor cycles will glv# the de¬partment a big advantage In copingwtth high-powered automobiles usedby bootleggers.The ninth precinct famishes an ex¬

ample of the handicap under whiclithe police And themselves In attempt¬ing to prevent smuggling liqJ-Jr into,the District. That preclnet covers

practically the entire northeastboundary of the city, with manyroads leading in from Maryland.

Too Many Road# «o Gaard.

AC «he present time when the offi¬cers have reason to suspect that a

whisky runner is headed this way

from Maryland they cannot possiblywatch all of the east-end approachesto the city afld must rely largely on

< hance to cover the right roads. Withmore motor cycle equipment this,handicap will be removed to a con¬

siderable extent.The Commissioners are extremely

grateful to the federal governmentfor the spirit of co-operation shownrecently in giving the municipalitybadly needed equipment* left over

from the war period.The off'-r of eighteen motor cycles

without cost Is the second valuablecontribution the government hasmade to the protection of life andproperly In Washington. A few weeksago the War Department agreed toturn over to the Are, department a

varied assortment of equipment, frommotor apparatus to small flre-flghtingImplements.

PROBE OF DIVORCE CASESHALTED UNTIL SATURDAY

ALEXANDRIA. Va.. March 15..Hearing of arguments, scheduled fortoday, was postponed until Saturdaymorning at 10 o'clock by the specialcommittee of seven of the AlexandriaBar Association engaged in probingthe divorce situation here. The post¬ponement was made owing to the In¬ability of Attorney John a Barbourof Fairfax county, representing JudgeMoncure, to be here, he being ill.The committee, on motion of Attor-,

ney J Randail Caton, a member ofthe committee, adopted a resolutionthat Judge Moncure be requested toforego his purpose of presenting tothe grand jury, selected and sum¬moned for Friday, March 17, all mat¬ters pertaining to the divorce situa¬tion now being Investigated by thecommittee, until a report of thiscommittee has been filed.The Jury, however, will meet and In¬

vestigate the criminal cases, andJudge Moncure probably will havethem begin a probe of the divorcesituation early next week.Just after the committee adjourned,

court convened and Judge Moncurecalled A. Cloyd Gill, a Washingtonnewspaper man, and directed SergtCox to have Mr. Gill give a bond Inthe sum of $600 to appear before thegrand jury to testify as to what heknew about divorce conditions here.Mr. Gill a short time afterward hadAttorney Gardner L. Boothe, who Isa member of the probe committee,go on his bond.The court took this action because

of the fact that Mr. Gill is a non¬resident of the state of Virginia, hishome being In Washington. Thecourt is anxious that he appear be¬fore the grand Jury.

U. S. TO SET FORTHWAR CLAIM VIEWSIN ALLIED CAPITALS

Ambassadors' in London,Paris and Rome to Explain

Unyielding Demand.

WILL MEET ARGUMENTSFRIENDLY, BUT FIRMLY

Demand Not to Be Pressed WhenOnce Recognized, Views in Of¬

ficial Quarters Here.BY EDWARD FIUCE DELL.

By Cable to The Star and Chirago Dolly Newa.Copyright. 1922.

LONDON. March IB..The viewpoint<^f the United States touching itsclaim of a share of the moneys duefrom Germany for the maintenanceof the armies of occupation on theRhine will be represented in identicalterms by the American ambassadorsIn London. Paris and Rome. Ambas¬sador Harvey will see Lord CursonThursday, provided the British for¬eign minister is not too ill to attendto public buslnesp.

Admits of So Qacstloa.The American claim will be set forth

as admitting of no question In law orin morals. Unless unexpected oppositionIs encountered the American ambassa¬dor will go no further than to citethe facts of the situation. If argumentsagainst the American claims are ad¬duced they will be met In a friendlybut unyielding spirit. The case of theUnited States rests upon a "legaltripod."First, reimbursement for American

outlays on the Rhine, as well as forthose of Britain and France, wasguaranteed In the terms of the armi¬stice; second, these terms were re¬affirmed In the treaty of Versailles as"armistice Articles still In force";third, the separate treaty of theUnited States with Germany commitsGermany explicitly to recognition ofall American rights under the armi¬stice and the treaty of Versailles.

Rearard Cane an Strong.These are the fundamehtals of the

American Ifgal case. America's am¬

bassadors deem them invincible.Morally they regard the case as jequally strong. While the American !

people were eager for the return ofAmerican troops, the governmentyielded to the appeals of the alliesthat the American Army remain onthe Rhine as evidence of the solidarityof ttaa pewers that won the war.Certain cynicalVnd politically un¬

intelligent' persotfl in London ar*lcounseling the Brltiah government totake an offensive attitude on theAmerican claim. It Is impossible t6believe that this advice will have anyweight in Downing street, because thedullest man in the ministry couldhardly fall to appreciate the perilwith which It is fraught.

RECOGNITION ATONE SOUGHT,

U. S. Not Disposed to Press Claimat Present.

Br the Associated Press.Recognition by other interested

governments of Uie rights of theUnited States in connection with dis¬tribution of German reparations was

all that was sought at this time inthe recent demand upon the alliedfinance ministers for payment of$241,000,000 expenses of the Americanarmy of occupation. It was statedtoday by a high administrationofficial.Having "established its case," It

was said, the United States will notpress further now Its demands forpayment of the bill.

Note Serves Notice.

Presentation of the demand lastweek before the allied finance min¬isters »is regarded by this govern¬ment as serving notice that its rightsmust be respected, it was said, andrecognition of that attitude by thegovernment was all that was desired,There has been no protest from re¬

sponsible quarters against the UnitedStates obtaining equal rights withthe allied governments through Oper¬ation of the separate treaty of peacewith Germany, it was explained, andthe matter of payment for the Amer¬ican forces in the Rhineland will beallowed to take its due course.

AID OF LABOR PLEDGED.Will Assist legion in Belief of

Unemployed Veterans.By the Associated Press.INDIANAPOLIS. March 15..Samuel

Gompers today Informed the nationalheadquarters of the American Legionthat organized labor would give everyencouragement to the legiop cam¬

paign to relieve unempioymfnt amongveterans of the world war. The cam¬paign ends next Monday."This is a most worthy object,"

wrote Mr. Gompers, referring to thelegion's campaign. "You know, how¬ever, that the membership of theAmerican Federation of Labor Is com¬posed of wage earners only. Whileour membership cannot give employ¬ment to the unemployed members ofthe American Legion there Is nodoubt that every encouragement willbe given to bring about the desiredresults.' Thousands of members ofthe American Legion are also mem¬bers of the trade unions and thesympathy of the wage earners willgo out to those who did so'much fornot only our own country but for theentire world."

BUDGET BUREAU OFFICIAL URGES$3,000,000 FOR WATER SUPPLY

Former Senator Sherman of Illi¬nois. who worked with the budgetbureau on the estimates (or theDistrict of Columbia for the fiscalyear 1923. who was at the Capitoltoday, expressed a hope that theconferees on the District appro¬priation bill would approve theSenate amendments for an in¬crease in the water supply. Sen¬ator Sherman pointed out that theappropriation for an Increasedwater supply was Imperative."There may be some ground for

differences as to the appropria¬tion* for street*" said SenatorSherman. can. live with

I "

muddy streets if necessary, butthe city piust be provided with anadequate supply of water, and itIs absolutely necessary that )S,-000,000 should be made availablefor this purpose, to be used dur¬ing the next year or two."Senator Sherman said also that

he hoped the conferees wouldagree to the Senate amendmentauthorizing the erection of ahome for feeble-minded personsin the District. At present, hapointed out, there is no properinstitution here for caring for thefeeble-minded. He said it was noteconomy to out such items fromthe bill.

LOOKS LiK

RENEW ATTEMPTSTO AMEND TREATY!I

New Proposal Provides forCatling In Other Nationsfor "Consideration."

For thr third (imp the Senate dr-tented today an effort to amendthe four-power treaty to permitparticipation of outitide nation* InInternational conferences over con¬

troversies! arising In the Pacific.Aa amendment tor that purpose

by Senator I'ittmun. democrat,Nevada* similar to two on thesame subject rejected yesterday,was defeated. 50 to 27.The treaty opponents indicated,

however, that they would bringthe proposal forward again laterIn the form of a reservation in thehope that they might secure thraupport of 9 number of senator* !who object fo all amendments aaa mailer of principle. i

The attempt to ai7ir>nd the four- ipower treaty so that outside nations;Would be called into consultation re- jgarding Pacific controversies w»s re-newed in the Senate today despite the!defeat yesterday of two amendmntsjfor that purpose.A new amendment, more limited in

scope than those already rejected. 1was presented by Senator Pittman,democrat. Nevada. It provided that jin any future controversy outside na-

'

lions having interests in the Pacificwould lie called into conference "forconsideration" of the subject. In thetwo previous proposals the words"for consideration and adjustment"ware used and the participating pow- iors were not limited to those hav-ins interests in the Pacific.The practical effect of the amendment.!

Senator Pittman said, would be io con-fine the group of nationas affected to iRussia, China, the Netherlands and Por- jtugal. He explained that he offered it ibecause of objections that yesterday's!proposals were so broad as to virtually |bring the whole world uader the scopeof the treaty. !

Should such a change be made, theNevada senator argued, it might bemade by a textural amendment of the!treaty and not by reservation, assome have suggested. It was Indi¬cated, however, that should allamendments be defeated, the proposi¬tion would be brought forward laterin the form of a compromise reserva¬tion with the hope of gaining thesupport of some of those who do not jfavor actual amendment of the pact.A "propaganda" favoring unquali¬

fied ratification of the four-power!treaty was charged by Senator Pitt-man, who said that those responsibleapparently were well meaning, butdid not know what the pact actuallycontained."Great church bodies," he said,

"represented by executive committeescomposed of perhaps a dozen menand claiming to represent hundredsof thousands of people are signingpetitions for ratification of this treatyas it is."How many of those hundreds of

thousands have read the treaty? Howmany of those Christian people do youthink would ask for ratification ifthey knew that it contained no pro¬vision for consultation except be¬tween four powers?"

Opposed by Underwood.Senator Underwood of Alabama, the

democratic leader, opposed the amend¬ment, although he said he was not

inclined to disagree with It "In prin¬ciple." To amend the treaty, he said,would be to reopen the fieM of nego¬tiation and "might destroy the treaty."He pointed out that other govern¬ments refused to recognize the Rus¬sian government."While the United States might enter

into a contract with a government we

don't recognize," said Senator Under¬wood. "I doubt if other nations would,and that would mean delay for thetreaty. It may destroy it. The amend¬ment is not of sufficient value to takethe chancer."That the signatories had exchanged

notes giving to Netherlands the benefitof the treaty was pointed out by SenatorUnderwood. The Netherlands, he said,did not ask to be a party to the treatyand did not request participation uniilafter the treaty was signed.

It would be reasonable to believe.(Continued on Page 2, Column 3.)

Todays News In BriefCommittee depicts needs of orphansin near east and appeals for funds.

Page 2Alabama Power Company accused byRepresentative Oliver. Page 3

Seek possible May day plot in radi¬cal's death by bomb. Page 1

Negro pours kerosene on woman andlights it. Page 3

Fosdick, former league official, sup¬ports four-powfr pact. Page 3

Woman civil service employes seeequal rights in reclassification.

Page 17Publicity assooiatlon to boost capita!urged by W. B. Calloway, B. & O.passenger expert. Page IT

norm death toll Is placed at 24.Page IS

Commissioners oppose salary lncreasofor District teachers; Page 23 <

DOLLAR MARK LURINGWIVES TO STEER THEIR

HUSBANDS INTO JAIL"1By th<» Associated Press.NEW YORK. March 15.."Greed

for diamonds and furs is the curseof the times," Judge Louis D. Glbbsof the Bronx county court declaredtoday in suspending sentence onSaul Zukor. millinery dealer, whopleaded guilty to receiving stolengoods."Modern women, yes, a great

majority of them," he said, "areusing the dollar mark to steertheir husbands into jail. Jusl aslong as the men of the familybring home the money no questionsare asked. The trouble with theman of today is that he is tooeager to make money-to supply hiswife or daughter with diamondsand furs. He is bound to get itsomehow.honestfy or by criminalmethods."Judge <iibbs* condemnation of

modern tendencies was deliveredafter Mrs. Zukor, the prisoner'swife, had been called to the stand.Attired in an expensive fur coatand her fingers covered with rings,she indignantly' denied that shehad knowledge of her fcuiband'nf-rime. though admitting th&t*had charge of her husband's store.Judge Glbbs accused her of beingin league with her husband, andordered her from the courtroom.He explained that sentence Massuspended because the prisonerhad four small children to support.

Col. Keller Says Little Could jBe Accomplished Due

to Litigation.There Is little that a separate public

utilities commission could accomplishIn the District as long as the valua¬tions of several of the largest cor¬porations are Involved In litigation,In the opinion of Engineer Commis¬sioner Keller, who is also chairmanof the utilities commission.

Col. Keller voiced this belief todaywhen asked for an expression on theproposal suggested to Congress thata utilities commission be created, notcomposed of the Board of Commis¬sioners.The chairman said the only

thing which he sees could be doneby a new commission that has notalready been done would be tochange the policy of a uniform rateof fare for both street car com¬panies by giving each company therate it would need to earn a rea¬sonable return.

Duties Do Sot Interfere.The colonel Indicated that he does

not believe the duty of serving onthe utilities commission unduly bur¬dens the Distrlift Commissioners. Fora short period of the year when ratescome up for revision the Commis¬sioners are kept busy serving in thedual capacity.But during the balance of the

twelve months, it was pointed out atthe District building today, a sepa-rate utilities commission composedof three men would flml little tooccupy its time.Except during the short Intervals

when rates are under revision, themeetings of the utilities commissionconsist principally of locating car

stop signs, approving applications forjitneys and similar routine matters.Officials also called attention to the

fact that the utilities commissionprobably has passed through thebusiest period of Its career. Theenormous task of valuing the prop¬erties of the companies has beencompleted, and, as the country gradu-ally returns to normal conditionsrate cases will not have to be heardso often as they were during andsince fits war.

Car Rate Lonf Uuekanged.Before the war. Col. Keller pointed

out, when the nation's equilibrium wasnot upset, the street car rate of sixtickets for 26 cents remained unchangedfor many years. Nor did other utilitiesneed changing rates.As the country settles back to a

pre-war basis the utilities also willbecome stabilised and require less at¬tention from tie utilities board. It Isbelieved. . .

Commissioner Rudolph, who was serv¬ing his first term nine years ago whenthe utilities law wd being draftedbelieved 'then that the utilities boardshould be composed of others than theDistrict commission. He has reiteratedthat view since t

returning to offlce.

BANDITS TAKE |9,000.EDOEfWATER,'N. J. March IS.

Three armed bandits today stole about99,000 from the paymaster of Kellogg,Spencer 4 Sons, and escaped in an* dt omobila. j.t~4

NEW STREET PAVINGTO STARTMONDAY

Spring Periqd of Improve¬ment Projects About to Be¬gin.Repairs to Be Made.The DistHct engineer department

will begin jts spring period of streetpaving and repair work Monday. Maj.K. S. Benson, assistant engineer com¬

missioner. stated today.On that day the Cranford Paving

Company expects to begin on fourimportant resurfacing jobs, as fol-lows:Connecticut avenue and Columbia

j road, east side, from Florida avenueto California street.C street southeast, from 2d to 3d

streets.A street northeast from Uh to 3th

streets.The Commissioners also have ordered

the resurfacing of the followingstreets before the expiration of thecurrent fiscal year In June:Northwest.Seventeenth street from

Massachusetts avenue to p street.19.500, laih street, Massachusetts ave¬nue to P street, $2,400; E street. 10thto nth street, $2.iu0; Massachusettsavenue, 38th street to Duponi Circle$9,000; Massachusetts avenue. 22dstreet to Sheridan Circle. $7,200: Kstreet. Massachusetts avenue to 20thstreet. J10.S00.Northeast.Ninth street. Massachu¬

setts avenue to Maryland avenue.$23,000.Southeast.Canal street. South Capi¬

tol to E street, $2,000; D street, northside, from 2d to 3d streets, and NorthCarolina avenue, 3d street to Pennsyl¬vania avenue.Other streets have been recommend¬

ed to the Commissioners for resurfac¬ing and probably will be ordered soon.In addition to these resurfacing

Jobs, the engineer department willhave its regular minor repair gangsat work during the spring patchingthe bad spots In existing streets.

SCORES FLEE RENO HOTELLargest Hotel Destroyed by Fire.

Firemen Rescue Many.RENO, Nev.. March IB..Scores of

guests escaped from upper windowsin their nightclothes when the River¬side Hotel, the largest hotel here,was destroyed by fire early thismorning.At 5 o'clock the building still was

a furnace, and the ruins could not besearched, but a check was started tolearn if any guests were missing. Noserious Injuries were reported.The fire, believed to have started In

the engine room, broke out shortlyafter 2 o'clock. The flames spreadupward quickly and the guests,aroused by the smoke, found thestairways cut off. Most of themwere rescued by firemen with ladders.The firemen prevented the flames

from spreading to other buildings,but could not save the hotel.Several thrilling rescues were re¬

ported. among them that of two chil¬dren from a blazing room. The scan¬tily clad guests were cared for insurrounding houses. A mild nightsaved them much Buffering from ex-posure.

NON-PARTISAN BLOCIN U. S. CITIZENSHIP

URGED BY McADOOLOS ANGELES, Calif., March

15..What he termed the "Intol¬erant partisan basis on whichour government functions" was

deprecated in the first speech de¬livered here by William G. Mc-Adoo, former Secretary of theTreasury and director general ofrailroads, since he came to LosAngeles to make his home.

In a speech before the City Clubhe declared all matters taken be¬fore Congress or other legislativebodies were settled upon politicalbases, often much to the detri¬ment of the purposes."What we should have in the

United States," he said, "is a

large body of intelligent citizens,who fi.re not affiliated with anyparty and who could hold thebalance of power. Such citizenswould be Americans first andtheir check on the* big partieswould be most valuable."

HAMMERSMEET OPERATORS;STRIKEPREDICTED

19 Demands of Men to BePresented and Answer

Made on Friday.By th» Associated Press.SPMKGFIELD, III.. March 15,.

Disapproval of the appointment ofa governmental commission to ef¬fect a settlement of the threatenedcoal strike, April 1. lvu evorcNKcdIn a telegram sent Secretary ofLabor Davis by President l'rniikFarrlncton of the Illinois MineWorker* at noon today.NEW YORK, March 15.Anthracite

miners and operators were preparedtoday to begin negotiations for a new

wage agreement to take the place ofthe two-year contract which expiresat the end of this month. A largenumber of operators arrived to par¬ticipate in the first Joint conferencethis afternoon. A majority of therepresentatives of the miners com¬

prising the scale committee have beenin the city several days conferring,the, last to arrive being PresidentJohn L. Lewis of the internationalorganization of the United MineWorkers.The nineteen demands of the

miners, formulated at their .conven¬tion in Shainokln, Pa., in Januaryand ratified by the international con¬vention at Indianapolis Wat month,are to bs formally presented to thecoal operators and explained in detaill»y officers of the union'. The opera¬tors are expected to immediately takethem under consideration and make astatement of their position on Friday.Tim miners arc asking for & 20 per

cent increase on contract rates,among other things, while the minewith other things, while the minefleer ease below the present workingbasis.

\o Referendum Taken.It is not cxpected that an agree-

ment will be reached before the endof the month, and in that event thescale committee of the hard coalworkers is under instructions of theSbamokin convention to order a sus¬

pension of mining until a satisfac¬tory agreement is in sight. A reler-endum on the question of suspensionwas not taken in the anthracite fields,the action of the convention havingexpressed wishes of the men. Thenational policy committee of the mineworkers has the power to set asidea suspension, if it sees fit, but, ac¬cording to union leaders here, sncliaction is not likely. It is the opinionof miners and many of the operatorsthat a suspension in the hard coalfields of Pennsylvania is certain. Ifit comes, it is expected there will bea complete cessation of production,as on two former occasions when nego¬tiations were dragged ever many weeks.A shortage of anthracite coal Is

not anticipated unless the expectedsuspension should run into the summer,which is not looked for by the miners.The demand for coal during the win¬ter was below jiormal, due to mildweather and high prices, but despitethis the anthracite mines have beenkept steadily at work, in contrast tothose in the bituminous fields, andthere is a fair supply of coa! on hand,both in the big storage yards of themining companies and In the largerretail yards of the east, It was said.

Will Realst Any Cat.The miners enter the Joint confer¬

ence determined, they said, to resistwith all their power any effort to re¬duce their present wage scale as in¬dicated by the operators. "There mustbe no backward step," PresidentLewis has said, and the miners havedeclared themselves as unanimous insupporting him.Beyond the general statement, that

(Continued on Page 2, Column 1.)

I SEPARATE ROOM FOR JURY WOMEN\ SAID TO LEAD TO MORE MISTRIALSSpecial Dispatch te The Star.LOS ANGELES, March 15..The

"mixed jury" Is having a crucial testhere. Nine men and three women areabout to decide the fate of MadalynneObenchaln, charged with the murderof her sweetheart, J. Belton Kennedy.It Is the first time so far as knownthat women have sat upon a juryin judgment of another woman stand¬ing In the shadow of a death sen¬tence.Should the women on the ObenchalB

jury bring about a mistrial, as womei

already have dona in so many crimi¬nal cases in California during thelast three years, it la extremelydoubtful whether mixed juries longeican be employed where a capita?crime is the issue. ;If California's experience counts fot

anything it may be stated that..thecommunities which believe they havesolved the "housing problem"'" formlxld juries by segregating the met

and the women, are doomed to disap¬pointment.It has been found here that with

the men and women separated in dif¬ferent apartments the men at timesreach one decision and the womenarrive at another. When the jurygets together again the differencesare irreconcilable and * mistrial re-suits. ....

Already there has been a mistrial In

the case in which Mrs. Obenchain isconcerned today. Arthur Burcli wasindicted jointly with her /or the mur¬der of Kennedy, but demanded a sep¬arate trial. Women predominated onthe Jury, which was locked up formany weary hours, men and womenseparately, but without avail. Thebreach was found to be widened whenthe full jury met. There was nothingto do but dismiss the jury after avery expensive and hard-fought trial.On the segregation phase of the

mixed jury problem the Californialegislature has done its part, even tothe pink of propriety. In 1919, whenwomeh -Jvere first made eligible forJury duty, the lawmakers directedeach county should provide "a roomfor the feminine members of the jurywhich shall be separate and apartfrom the room provided for the malemembers."

Rooms Lock Iaslde.This provision has been lived up to

In the state in letter and spirit tn^hedeliberations of* all mixed Juries. Inthe courtroom here where the mostImportant criminal cases are heardthere Is a room for the deliberationsof the jurors and a stairway leadingto two separate apartments above,one for women and one for men. withcots for sleeping. These dormitoriesare arranged so they can be lockedfrom the Inside. Juries taken to hotelsfor the night are quartered two in aroom as a rule, with a bailiff onguard in the hall.

Presiding Judge Frank R. Willis of.ggutluued on Safe 3. Column S.i '

SENATE 10 SHELVEHOUSE BONUS BILLFOR THISSESSION

Senior Body Expected toHeed Economic Warning of

Secretary Mellon.

PRESIDENT WOULD VETOMEASURE AS IT STANDS

Representatives Consider FallElections and Pass on Be-

sponsibility for Issue.BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The House will pass a bonus bill andthe Senate will shelve It for this ses¬sion at least.That Is the outlook now that the

House ways arjd means committerhas received and Ignored the advICiof »he Secretary of the Treasury. the«.i-n tro'lur of the currency and thegovernor of the Federal ReserveBoard to the effect that the bonusbill in the form proposed would bea bad thing for the economic condi¬tion of the country.It does not happen often that a

committee so important as the waysand means summons a Secretary ofthe Treasury of its own political af¬filiation and after listening to his ex¬position of the Treasury's conditiongoes ahead in exactly the oppositedirection.

It do«"S not happen often that a repu¬diation of the Secretary of the Treasuryis voiced by a whole body in Congress,but that is what is coming now. In a

parliamentary form of government itwould mean the resignation of Mr.Mellon, but the House of Representa¬tives has passed many a bill that diedin the Senate, and resignations neverare in order here unless the Presi¬dent himself fails to Etand by a cab¬inet officer. In this instance, thePresident is squarely behind Mr. Mel¬lon. and if the Senate should followthe House a veto is certain for thebonus bill.

Maneuver for Delay.But the Senate will not ignore Mr.

Mellon's advice. Over in the cloak¬rooms of the upper house the word"bonus" i« rarely spoken. It hangsover the Senate like Impending doom.Just how the senior body will handlethe question is not yet determined,but a tacit understanding seems toprevail that by one parliamentarymaneuver or another something willdelay passage of the bonua.It was the Senate, which laat sum-

raer blocked the bonus bill, and prob¬ably upon more words of warningfrom the White House the measur*will be set aside until the finances ofthe government are in better condi¬tion. As for the issue itself, it is ex¬pected to bob up again in 1324 whenthe next presidential primaries areunder way. By that time, however,some republican leaders hope to re-vise the entire revenue program andlo make special provision for a fundto pa;- the bonus. This revision willbe attempted by means of a sales tax.which Mr. Harding now openly favorsfor the soldier bonus. This commit¬ment to the principle of the sales taxcoipes at a time when revenue law*are not being revised, but. Just thesame, it has brought deep satistactioiito the proponents of such tax whowould have been greatly assisted afew months ago when they tried toBet a presidential declaration on thesubject to help them substitute asales tax for all the other kinds oftaxes which finally found their wayinto the 1921 revenue law.

Fordney Shuns Advice.

There is a significant bit of infor¬mation, incidentally, in the statementof Representative Fordney. chairmanof the House ways and means com¬

mittee. that he did not expect SpeakerGillett, who is now in Florida withthe Chief Executive, to bring back aninformal nivssage to the House on thebunus question. Mr. Fordney knowsthe President's views, and would pre-fer not to have them at this time.He could have had them when bevisited Mr. Harding just before thelatter left for Florida. The Presidenttold callers afterward that the bonuaquestion was discussed only inci¬dentally, and that he did not outlinehis views to Sir. Fordney becausethey were already well known.This incident, together with Mr.

Fordney's declaration that he is notexpecting word from the President,is generally taken to mean that thechairman of the House ways andmeans committee believed it impor¬tant for the success of the republicanparty this fall to go ahead and passa bonus bill In the House, where 435members of both parties are up forre-election.Too strong opposition from the

President might hinder the passageof the bonus bill in the House andspoil the record of the party there,at least, where it is ever so muchmore Important than in the Senate,where only one-third of the member¬ship changes in the fall elections,and of that number certain mem¬bers will be re-elected irrespectiveof how they vote on the bonus ques¬tion. The politics of the situationIs to permit the House to expressitself and thereby place upon theSenate and the executive the re¬sponsibility for postponement of thecash bonus.

(Copyright, 1#22.)

PLAN FOR PROCEDURE.

House Democrats Expected to

, Cause Some Trouble.Speaker Gillett. before his depar¬

ture for Florida with President Hard¬ing. told Chairman Fordney not to de¬pend entirely upon a suspension ofthe rules as a means of getting til*bonus bill before the House.This was disclosed today by Mr.

Fordney after his attention had been^called to the dispatches from PalmBeach. Mr. Kordney explained thatthe bill could be taken UP Tuesday orlater under a special rule, and addedthat he was not opposed to full and-free discussion on the floor.

"I am willing that the sunlightbe turned on the bill," said the Mich¬igan member, who will direct ltacourse in the House. "I recall thatwe put the first bonus bill throughunder a suspension of the rule* andthat there was not a ripple on thewater about it."

Prepare tor Delay.There Is a growing sentiment

atnoug the republican members inthe House against having the billcome up under suspension of the.rules. Several of <he ruiogrlsed par¬liamentary authorUiCH or. iho repub¬lican Side are preparing themselvesto delay any action upon ths *"""tA

; v.. tinned "on l«age 2. Column 7