davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1917-12-12
Assembly in Session;
Allies Await Its Acts;
Courts Are Abolished
Rr the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, December ia number of
professions. in which banners uphold
ing the constituent assembly were car
ried, converged on the Tauride Palace
in Petrograd on Tuesday, according to
a Reuter- dispatch. A series of extem-
poraneous meetings was held outside
the palace.
Early Tuesday afternoon. it is added.
a score or two of members of the con-
stituent assembly met In one of the
committee rooms No disorders were
reported during the afternoon. Large
banners, expressing best wishes for the
assembly, have been placed across
many of the streets.
PETROGRAD, December 11.-Not-
withstanding the undercurrent of oppo-
sition from the bolsheviki as a result
of which political strife is certain, the
general opinion in Petrograd is that
the actions of the constituent assembly
must be regarded as definite by the
Foreign embassies, which for more than
a month have been in difficult posi-
tion as regards the Lenine-Trotzky
government. The allied embassies are
frankly awaiting the decisions of the
assembly. This is the attitude ex-
pressed by one of the diplomats today
= The bolsheviki have dispersed the
senate. the highest Russian court, and
all the other courts of Petrograd, in
keeping with the recent decree of the
peoples conmissaries. substituting new
revolutionary tribunals.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
AN Russ Ambassadors
!, Dismissed by Trotzky;
| Have Ignored B0lsheviki

PETROGRAD. December 10. = Leon
Trotzky. the bolsheviki foreign min
lister. has issued a decree dismissing g
all Russian ambassadors and their
stalls, because they ignored the bolshe-
Wiki demand that they denounce the
Kerensky government.
I'VE have declared them deprived of
all further rights and pensions" Trot-
zky said.
The decree, which is dated last Fri
day, says that kilograms were sent TO
the diplomatic and consular repre-
xentatives of the Russian republic and
that they were asked to reply as to
whether they consented to carry on
their duties under the present govern
ment. These kilograms not having
been answered, both the diplomatic
and consular representatives are re-
Meved of their functions. The am
bassadors and members of the staffs
OF embassies and consulates in allied
and neutral countries are deprived of
the right to spend money at the cost of
the state.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
C. H. sTANLEY's FUNERAL.
Services for Singing Evangelist at
Gospel Mission Tonight

Funeral services for Charles II. STAN
ley, singing evangelist, who died at the
Gospel Mission. 214 John Marshall place,
yesterday morning. are to be held at 1890
o'clock tonight at the mission.
c. N. Howard of Rochester, N. Y. and
Herbert w. Kline, superintendent of the
mission. are to conduct the services. A
number of prohibitionists and members
of the Anti-saloon League OF America
are to participate in the services. The
body later will be taken to Baltimore for
interment.
Mr..Stanley was for twenty years a
stage comedian. Twenty-one years ago
after he had performed on a stage in
Harrisburg, Pa. he walked into the Res
cue Mission there while Mr.. Kline, the SUI
perintendent. was conducting services He
was converted that night. and never re-
turned to the stage, devoting the re.
mainder of his life to evangelfstic work
Evening star., 1917-12-12
VOTE THANKS TO MIR. BAKER.
Coiored Ministers Commend Hi.
Stand for Equality of Citizens.

A vote of thanks was extended Sec
retary Baker by the Baptist Ministers
Conference Of the District Of Column
bia and Vicinity, which met Monday
at Metropolitan Colored Baptist Church.
with Rev. DR.. M. w. D. Norman pre-
siding. for his stand in favor of liberty
and equality of all citizens before the
law, without regard to race or color
in his appointment Of Emmett ]. Scott
as special assistant to the War De-
partment.
1t was also voted to appoint COM
mittee of five to draft resolutions con-
demning Commissioner Gardiner for
bis reference to the colored population
of the District In the course of his
speech relating to suffrage in the Dis
trict Of Columbia before the Board of
Trade. This committee consists of Rev.
Drs. NJ. w. D. Norman. chairman; S. G..
Lampkins. w. D. Jarvis, Aquila Sayles
and Joseph II. Lee.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
HALIFAX DEAD 1900;
|. 1000 IN THE RUINS
Casualty List Drops as Ref
ugees Return, Hundreds
Blind, City Suffers.

BY the Associated Press
HALIFAX, N s., December ia re-
vised estimate today of the explosion
casualties reduces the death list to ap-
proximately 1900. The known dead total
500 and 1t is believed that not more than
1000 bodies and perhaps only 900 still lie
under the debris of shattered and burned
buildings The list of victims Is steadily
becoming smaller as relatives are reunited
and refugees who left the city return
From 800 to 500 persons are totally or
partly blind and 200 children have each
lost both parents, according to the Ameri-
can and Canadian workers investigating
the situation.
The Boston relief ship Calvin Austin en-
tered the harbor today.
The arrival of the Calvin Austin was
made the occasion of demonstration
at the pier The vessel bringing CLOTH
ing, food. and. more important still,
glass and other materials greatly need
ed, was welcomed by great crowds. who
cheered the ship, the captain, the crew
and her precious cargo.
Relief work is being developed along
better organized lines daily. Today the
weather was clear though cold, and on
the whole favorable to the work of re-
covering bodies and of reconstruction.
1He nerves u tHe pduie oil sum uH :
strung, and intense alarm was caused
over Il rumor that the authorities were
to blow up munitions ship in the har-
bor What had been announced was
that the sunken hulk of the Mont Blanc
would be destroyed as a menace to
navigation. The official statement failed
to reach the public generally. and great
crowds gathered in the parks, many
persons being seemingly panic-stricken.
Soldiers went among them, allaying
their fears, and big posters were placed
in conspicuous places pointing out that
not the least danger attended the de-
struction of what remained of the
munitions ship,
Evening star., 1917-12-12
GREAT BRITAIN SPENDS
$33, ,97O,O 600 EACH DAY

LONDON, December 12.-Andrew Bo-
mar Law, chancellor of the exchequer,
introducing a vote of credit in the
house of commons today said he esti-
mated that the present vote would car
ry the expeditures to theend of March,
1915 He declared that the average daily
expenditure In the last sixty-three days
was ae.7sl, 900 and for the period since
the end OF the last financial year.
Rs.6s9.O0o.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
TO LECTURE ON RUSSIA.
Dr.. E. h. Egbert Will Explain Con-
ditions in New Republic.

DR.. Edward II. Esbert of the District,
who went to Russia with the American
Red Cross commission in 1914. will lee
ture tomorrow morning at II o'clock
before the civic section of the Twen-
tieth Century Club at All Souls Church.
His lecture will deal with economic and
social conditions In Russia.
DE.t GeorGe r. eBowerman. librarian Of
fA1 Eublte LfbfAsy, viii speak on the
- fss e' &c ..,33s. nsss.set r
Evening star., 1917-12-12
Victim of Shooting Dies; Boy Held.

FREDERICK, Md, December H.
Abner B. Thompson, the thirteen-year-
old weverton boy who was shot by his
cousin, Melvin Aforiarity, Washington,
when the two boys were hunting near
Brownsville. Washington county. last
Friday, died this morning early at the
Frederick City Hospital. The bullet
perforated the boys throat. grazing ar
teries. Moriarity, who is fifteen years
old. has been held under $1,000 bond
for a hearing before Howard p. Hart
man, Hagerstown, today. The arrest
was made by Sheriff Starliper. The
father OF the accused is u street rail-.
way conductor OF Washington
Evening star., 1917-12-12
SNOW NOW COMES TO AID
ITALIANS IN MOUNTAINS
By the Associated press.

BY the Associated Presa.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
ITALY, Tuesday. December 11.-Snow.
which has been eagerly awaited and
long delayed, began to faiI this morn
ing in the mountain district. where the
Austro German armies are striving to
break through. The beginning of the
snowfall adds to the optimism of those
who have been confident that the drive
would be checked within its present
limits.
BERLIN, December IL. via London
Local engagements have occurred on
the mountain front in northern Italy,
between the Brenta and the Piave,
army headquarters announced today.
Prisoners were taken by the Austro-
German forces in this lighting. The
statement reads:
italian front-In isolated sectors be-
tween the Brenta and the Piave local
engagements have occurred. We took
prisoners"
Evening star., 1917-12-12
TALKS ON INDIA SCHOOL.
Daughter of Bishop Robinson Ex-
plains Missionary Work.

Miss Flora Robinson. daughter of
Bishop J. &. Robinson of India, dean
of the Isabella Thoburn College for
Women, at Lucknow, India. addressed
a large gathering of women at Foundry
NJ. E. Church yesterday afternoon and
briefly outlined the history of the col
lege.
Mrs. w F. Mcdowell. national presi-
dent of the women's Foreign Mission
ary Society OF the ". F. Church. intro
duced Miss Robinson, and also told of
her own visit to India and the work
being done there by the college.
Mrs G II. McGrew described the
work OF Miss isabella Thoburn and of
her intimate friendship with her as
fellow missionaries. Mrs. d. Olin Leech
sang and Rev. John MacMurray offered
prayer
Evening star., 1917-12-12
Reform Bureau to Open Tomorrow

The twenty-second annual confer
ence of the international reform bu-
reau Is to be opened at $3.50 o'clock to-
morrow morning with an executive
session of the directorate at a break
fast session at St. James Hotel An
other executive sessions of the directors
will be held at 3 o'clock in the office of
the bureau. The conference will con-
tinue through Sunday.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
All Nations Are Urged
to Join Brest-LitovSk
ParIey for ArniStice

PETRoGRAD. Monday, December 10.
The central executive committee of
the workmen's and soldiers council of
Petrograd tonight adopted resolution
Sppea1ing to all belliserent countries
to take part in the arrnistice con-
ference at Brest-Litovsk. 1t approved
the action of the Russian delegation at
the first conference and empowered il
10 continue further negotiations with
view to concluding IAN honorable and
democratic peace in accordance with
the decision of the second congress OF
workmen's and soldiers delegates
Evening star., 1917-12-12
GERMANY STILL USES
1900 TON U-BOATS
Lines of Nets and Mine Traps
Bar to Reputed 5000
Ton Submarines.
A NEW PERIscoPE TRICK
BY HERBERT COREY.

BASEL. Switzerland. November IL
Some one has been doing heap Of cas
moufiaging about this U-boat business.
In the latest issue picked up of a
very widely read and popular ma gazine
I found an article in which the Ger
mans are given credit for submarines
of 5000 and 5000 tons. They just bris-
tie with guns, these monster diving"
cruisers They shoot torpedoes out of
their back hair. apparently. They car
ry enormous crews and supplies enough
for q three-month cruise, and can go
from Kiel to the Cape of Good Hope
and back. and can fight small cruiser
on even terms.
That's just a perfectly lovely story.
But the Germans say they never heard
of IT.
Some one is camoufaging Ny own
belief. based on a slight knowledge of
the German character. is that IL the
Germans had any such IJ-boat as that
the kaiser and all his court could not
keep the fact q secret. Every dying
German would include boast in his
last words. But IL may be tho Ger
mans are becoming witty and deceptive
Maybe they hope that one lone news
Taper writer VIII luil the world. to
sleep and that they can sneak out to
sea with these diving monsters. Any
Evening star., 1917-12-12
FRANCIS R. WELLER AT HEAD.
Warrington Chapter of Association
Of Engineers Organized,

a Washington chapter of the Ameri-
can Association Of Engineers was
formed at a banquet OF the association
held last evening at the Continental
Hotel.
The following officers were elected: :
Francis r. Weller. president; A. S.
Grossberg. first vice president: l..
Stevens. second vice president; o. n.
sutherland. treasurer: A p Connor. re-
cording secretary; Capt. Hayes, corre-
spending secretary. and W. S. Cooley,
sergeant-at-arms.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
Ambassador Fletcher Coming Here.

MEXICO CITY. December 12-Henry
p. Fletcher, the American ambassador,
will leave at once for Washington to
attend a conference at the State De-
partmert regarding an increase in ex-
ports OF gold and foodstuKs from the
United States to Mexico. Luis Cabrera.
the Mexican minister OF finance, will
be present at the conference. Mr..
Fletcher will be accompanied BY NrB.
Elstsher xhsy xia Pend the chkiat-
Evening star., 1917-12-12
Supt. Thurston on Library Board.

Ernest L. Thurston. superintendent of
schools of the District of Columbia, has
been appointed a member of the board
of trustees of the Public Library, to
succeed S. Walter Woodward. deceased.
The appointment was made by the Dis
trict Commissioners, who notified Theo-
dore w. Noyes, president of the board,
Of the appointment.
Evening star., 1917-12-12

yards where the Lakes Pool coal is
standing, assemble q train of cars and
start it out at once. 1t will be con-
signed to the chairmen OF county fuel
administration organizations formed
several weeks ago to aid in handling
the fuel problem. which has been big
one since last summer. Distributions
will be left in the hands of county ad-
ministrations, through which thou
sands Of appeals have been coming to
state departments for help.
Evening star., 1917-12-12

tho uraans of maintaining order and I'M
tend TO use thsir whole power to op-
pose the bolshevikt
The newspaper pubhshes SHARPLY
worled urotests against the bo1shevikt
from seven different army corps.
Turkestan is reported to be nobiffzing
All men between the ages Of sixteen
end forty-five who win be sent 20
Tashkent. capital of that government.
20 tight the bolsheviki. who now con-
troll the city
Evening star., 1917-12-12
City to Give Halifax Home.

The city Of Schenectady. N. Y, has
agreed to build at least one workmans
home in Halifax. Representative Lunn
of New York, who is mayor of
Schenectady. has announced that the
Halifax authorities had approved the
plan and expressed hope that other
cities would take similar action.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
Data Shows Outrageous Prices.


cat the first meeting of the District
committee" said Senator King today,
IT will endeavor to have steps taken
looking to an investigation of market
conditions here. Already l have gath
cred a large amount of data which
shows that the people of the District
are paying outrageous prices for food
stuffs. 1t ought to be stopped
Senator King was a member of the sne-
cial committee which investigated the
strike of the employees of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company He
did not sign the report submitted at the
close Of the last session of Congress bv
other members Of the committee. ana
today he said that he did not aerea WITH
some Of the findings Of fact nor with SOM
Of the conclusions reached by the other
committeeman.
II am opposed to municipal ownersb;n
of the street railways in the District .
said Senator King. II do not think IL
is necessary. ] am inclined to believe
utilities commission separate and dis
tfnct from the District Commissioners
would be advisable. in view of the inn
portance and large amount of work at
tached to the supervision of public
utilities in the District. However, I am
be clothed with the right to fix hours
Of labor and wages.
IF such powers were granted, the com.
mission should be given authority to
prohibit strikes. And do not think
this country. or the District. is ready
for such a law"
Senator King said that he might later
draft and file separate report of his
own. II legislation proposing municipal
ownership We're proposed, he said, he
would certainly file his views on the
strike.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
COX BALKSAT j. S.
ORDER, SE|zESCOAL
Ohio Governor Directs That
TrainIoads to Be Sent
Where Needed iHState.

BIZ the Associated Press.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, December 12.-Gov.
James NJ. Cox went over the heads OF
federal fuel administration officials to-
day and has taken the Ohio coal short
age problem In his own hands
The first move today was to order
solid trainloads of coal assembled and
sent Immediately to points in the state
most seriously in need Of fuel
The order is directly contrary to in
structions of F. c. Baird, federal fuel
administrator in charge of the lakes
coal pool. Cleveland. who refused by
long -dis.,ance telephone today to sanc-
tfon such action.
The Ohio executives order followed his
appeal directly to President Wilson late
yesterday, in which he asked the Presi-
dent to sanction an order to permit
Ohio consumers to take over thousands
of cars of coal consigned to lake points,
which have been standing on sidings for
days while families living within sight OF
| il have been on the verge OF freezing.
Immediate relief was promised by fed
eral authorities s1ast night through In
structions from the fuel administration to
Homer c. Johnson, federal fuel adIninis-
traitor for Ohio, calling for diversion
Gov. Cox Uses the Telephone.
| Following up this move Gov. Cox to-
day got in communication with Mr..
| Baird by long distance telephone at
Russell, KY, and asked for immediate
diversion OF all lake coal and it's ship
ment over the state in special coal
| trains. Mr. Baird notified the govern
| or he was held responsible by the op-
| orators for the cost of all lake fuel
| standing on Ohio tracks. and declared
| he would not release it unless he was
| guaranteed.
| He asked that either Mr.. Baird or a
| representative of his department be
! sent at once to operate and work with
| state officials before guaranteeing pay
| ment. The conversation ended by re-
fusal of the Cleveland man to accept
| the proposal.
| Summoning NJ. ]. Caples, vice presi-
| dent of. the Chesa peake and Ohio rail-
| road. who is chairman of the railroad
Transportation committee of 4the Ohio
| branch, Council of National Defens6,
and General Manager NJ. s. Connors OF
| the Hooking Valley railroads, imme-
| diate steps were taken for procuring
motive power to operate special coal
| trains.
Meeting to Complete Plans.
The three officials with Charles C.
Marshall OF the state public utilities
commission, E. d. Leach, assistant fed
/ oral fuel administrator for Ohio; r. c.
Mayer. executive secretary of the Ohio
fuel administration, and J. B. Dugan,
sion, held meeting Just before noon
today. and complied arrangements for
handling the trains and taking care Of
those sections and scttteE au6extng Tho
The plan Fili be tors "a direet 1nto
Evening star., 1917-12-12
British Repulse Attack.

( LONDON. December IA local at
teck by the enemy yesterday afternoon
against our positions north of La Vac
&uerie tCambrai 'front.' was repulsed,"
eays ctoday's official communication. I'VE
eerrfed out a successful raid last night
N the vicinity of Pontruet, north Of
st. Quentin. In which we captured pris-
eners and a machine gun.
sOn the remainder OF the front there
Is nothing of special interest to re-
port"
There was great activity in the air
on Monday. especially in the Cambrai
region, according to the official state
nent on aerial operations issued last
night. British airplanes dropped
bombs on enemy villages. and the Ger
mans bombed the British area Five
Geslman airplanes were brought down
and three British machines are miss
ing. On Tuesday British aviators
dropped bombs on a large railway
Junction northeast of Pirmasens, In the
B&yayian Palatinate, about 100 miles
east OF yerdun.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
VIII Have Artillery Supply.

"The indications are that we will be
able. with the assistance of England
and France, Gen. Crozier replied. 1--WE
are short of artillery for training pur-
poses, but we are not short on the other
side. and will not be-"
How long will it take to catch I'D on
this side?" Senator Reed queried.
I'VE will be fairly well caught UP on
the most importan things by next
summer"
That he has plan prepared. to sub
NIT to Congress with Secretary Bakers
consent. to deal with the munitions la :
Dor question was stated by Gen Crozier,
but he declined to reveal its scope. The
hearing adjourned until tomorrow.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
DR.. A. T. STILL, MEDICAL
SCHOOL FOUNDER, DIES

KIRkSVILLE, Mo. December 12.-Dr.
A. T. stili. founder of the osteopathic
school of medicine, died here today.
Evening star., 1917-12-12
GERMANS FEELING OUT
HDE'SL|NE NEAR RHEIMS
French Repulse Attempts to Ap-
proaeh-British Check Attack
Near Cambria.
b. the Associated Press.

b the Associated Press.
PARIS, December 12.--German parties
felt out the French lines at points north
vest of Rheims last night, according to
foday's war -office announcement No
activity OF Importance elsewhere is re-
Ported. although there was artillery
4ghting OF some liveliness In the Yer
3un region. where also German raid
vas attempted. The statement reads:
Z srNorthwest of Rheims several enemy
attempts upon our small posts were re-
pulsed by our fire. There was somewhat
nveiy artillery activity on both banks
tf the Meuse (yerdun region). North of
Hun 344 an enemy raiding party was
driven off,
The night was calm everywhere
Evening star., 1917-12-12
Wired Here for Permission.

Gov. Cox has no powers to COM
mandeer coal"
Gov. Cox yesterday wired Federal
Fuel Administrator Garfield for per-
mission to use the coal in Ohio that
was not being moved by the railroad
authorities.
He said in his wire unless the fuel
administration acted Immediately the
people of the state would lose conf
dence in the administration
Evening star., 1917-12-12
Acts Without Authority.

If Gov. Cox of Ohio attempted to direct
coal shipments himself without authority
from the national fuel administrator he
acted outside the scope OF his powers and
officials here do not believe the railroads
will yield to his demands and move coal
that has not been requisitioned by DIR.
Harry A. Garfield. the national fuel ad-
ministrator, according to f. r. Sartwell Of
me Iuei aaiin,stratiol,, . @ .t,s al.ernooh..
Gov Cox took such action" said Mr.
Startweil. "It Is not thought here that
the railroads would yield to his de-
mands and move coal not requisitioned
by the administration.
Evening star., 1917-12-12

Delay Caused by Congress.
Preparation of estimates and actual
appropriation by Congress, the general
said, caused further delay.
I'VE did everything we could" he
continued, ito get the manufacturing
establishments of the country going on
orders in anticipation Of appropria-
manufacturers did not care to spend
money or could not secure loans in
advance of actual appropriations. That
caused very considerable delay. There
also were delays Under the abnormal
purchasing system necessary. without
time for competitive bidding. in many
cases"
Referring to the cost. plus. 10 per
cent" contracts. Gen Crozier said the
system had worked out fairly well"
Prefers Fixed Prices.
are definitely fixed" he said. 1T is bet
ter to use that only in case of emer-
gency.
Some manufacturers would not take
fixed price contracts at ALL" Gen. Cro-
zier said. They wouldn't take the risk
except with a profit on a percentage
basis. They had had their fingers burn
ed. No orders for rifles were made at
"a fixed price: manufacturers wouldn't t
take the orders
Gen. Crozier said that early in the war
the President had allotted SIS, 900
OF his $100.000.0o0 emergency fund 10
the War Department and that emer-
gency orders for material had been
given.
Senator Wadsworth asked IL any pre-
|cautionary steps were taken before the
war declaration.
Prepared for Sudden Expansion.
There was a good deal of thinking
and discussion DONE" said the gen.
eral. I'VE prepared for sudden expan-
sion and did all we could.
we have been kept back by shifting
of labor. by men changing employment
SO often, attracted by higher wages OF
living conditions. England has a law
prohibiting men from leaving munition
work without permission. We should
require legislation to accomplish that
81 don't find an actual shortage OF
munition labor needed In this country
We haven't taken enough men into the
military service to create a shortage
will the American Army be able to
supply itself with sufficient artillery %
asked Senator Reed.