The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-21
FLASHES FROM THE WIRES

London.-The military service bill passed through the committee of the House of Commons at Il o'clock tonight amid loud cheers.
 Washington Diplomatic representa- tives in the Washington of all neutral nations have been invited to both of the diplomatic dinners to be given at the White House this winter The first, to- morrow night, will be attended by repre- sentatives of the entente allies and the second, next Tuesday, by those of Ger many and her allies.
 Philadelphia.-The necessity of training Americans born in this country as well as aliens who have come here or will come in the future in the highest ideals of American citizens was dwelt upon today by speakers at an all-day confer ence here under the auspices of the Na- tional Americanization committee. The conference ended tonight with mass meeting at which former President Roose- welt was the principal speaker.
 Washington.-Plans for speeding up consideration of legislation were agreed upon and methods of raising revenues discussed at dinner given tonight by Secretary McAdoo to democratic congress sional leaders. The desirability of clear ing the entire legislative programme be- fore the national conventions in June was urged by some of those present. Unre- served comment was made on the slow ness of Congress in disposing of impor- tant business.
 Washington-A call to the American people to arm themselves against a day fast coming when tfsy may need to fight was sounded today and tonight in stirring speeches before the first Con gress of the Ntional Security league. It was greeted with continued and enthusi- astic applause by the several hundred manufacturers, publicists, merchants. lawyers and others gathered for the con gross.
 Tuskegee.--The annual Tuskegee work CTS conference was held today when special attention was given to better housing for members of the race. Par ticular stress was laid on the fact that 14.7 out of every 1000 whites die in Amer ican cities annually as against 25.1 among negroes, while in the rural districts the death rate is 125 out of each 1000 whites, and 17.7 among the negroes. This condi- tion5 as it was pronounced, was charged principally to poor housing facilities.
 Washington.-Control of the country S water power used in public service cor porations has passed into the hands of a comparatively small group of corpora tions with an almost endless maze of inter-connections," according to special report sent to Congress today by the de- partment of agriculture. Eighteen cor porations are shown to be in control of more than half of the water power em- ployed in operation of public utilities.
 Grand Rapids, Mich.-Federal attor- neys today failed to obtain from wit nesses' admissions that the steamer Eastland, which capsized with great loss of life in Chicago harbor last July, was an unseaworthy craft. Efforts in this di- rection were made in federal district court here, where the question of juris- diction will be determined n the cases against six Michigan men under indict- ment in connection with the disaster.
 Chicago.--Irving and Herbert Updike were said by States Attorney Maclay Hoyne tonight to have told him in sepa- rate interviews that each was watching the other and pretending to fall in pith a plan of murdering their parents. Both said, according to MT. Hoyne that they had no idea of consummating the plot.