davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
Railroads Lost
Money in First
Month Under u. S.

WASHINGTON. March 2s.-For the
first time in many years railroads op-
Grated at loss in January, the first
month of government control. The
situation is attributed by railroad men
almost entirely to the unprecedented
bad weather and freight embargoes.
which reduced the hauling of general
traffic to a minimum and increased eX
penses far beyond normal.
The deficit was experienced only by
Eastern lines. Western and Southern
roads made small profits
For February the record was much
better, though exact figures are not
available. The railroad administration
hopes TO make higher earnings during
later months Offset the poor January
showing. Otherwise the government
will lose money in compensating rail-
roads on the basis of their average
earnings for the last three years.
Preliminary reports from ~ of the
1876 large roads, compiled by the Inter
state Commerce Commission and made
public to day, show January deficit in
railway operating income of $2,227 900,
as compared with positive earnings OF
$67,GO0,O00 in January last year, and
about $4,000 900 in December--a low
record for that month.
Operating revenues were s270,23l 900
and operating expenses s257,S6O,O00.
The S12,37l,0 ,0OG difference, or the net
revenue, was more than swallowed up
by ordinary taxes of 1861 900 These
taxes did not include new war levies,
which probably would amount to more
than S10,000,000. and which the roads
must pay out of the government COM
pensation payments.
The Eastern roads deficit in operat-
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
Non-Partisan Body Misrep-
resents American Senti-
ment, He Declares
Opposes Seed Bill
Declares He Will Reveal
Bankruptcy Record of Man
Who Organized Farmers
STAFF Corvespontlencel

WASHINGTON. March 29-A bitter
attack was made on the Non-Partisan
League in the House late to- day by
Representative j. Hampton Moore. of
Pennsylvania, in debating the Baer
seed bill, which he characterized as
largely political and coming from a
section of the country which does not
represent the sentiments of the Ameri-
can people as a whole"
AS the result of clash with Rep
resentative John NJ. Baer, a Non-Parti-
san Lacquer whose name is attached
to the measure. Moore will air the
A. {. Iownley bankruptcy proceedings
IN The Congressional Record" He
obtained unanimous consent in the
midst OF a counter offensive by Baer
to print certain facts about the league
IN return TOR answering question for
Baer.
II am going to put into the record"
Mr.. Moore said later, 'now that Mir.
Baer has given me permission to reveal
1t, the entire record Of the bankruptcy
proceedings of A. c. Townley, president
of the Non-Partisan League. He is the
man who rose from farmer that
couldn't pay his bills to a position
where he was able to induce 10000
ether farmers to pay SIG each to join
his organization"
Another day of debate failed to get
final action on the bill. which has been
amended to include corn, rye, oats and
barley. 1t was proposed as means of
inducing wheat planting this spring
Those who know anything about the
spring wheat planting season and the
time required to get action from the
Senate Agriculture Committee and the
Senate, once the House disposes of the
bill. it was pointed out, realize wheat
planting will DC over long before the
law is enacted.
1t has been freely charged that poll
ties is being played; Some go so far
as to say the bill will be passed in the
House ard then killed in the Senate
because its passage would be futile SO
far as helping wheat planting is con
cerned. 1t is pointed out this would
insure certain House members the sup
port of the Non-Partisan League with
out really yielding anything to the
league
Chairman Lever of the House Agri-
culture Committee is earnestly advo-
eating the passage of the bill. He de-
clarcd that before many months this
country will be forced to bread cards.
More wheat alone Will prevent this, and
he believes the seed bill will result in
{. larger acreage Of wheat.
While to-day's debate was full of
cuts and jabs, the encounter between
Moore and Baer easily eclipscd all
others Only by threatening to demand
d quorum when only a few members
were on the floor did Moore succeed in
getting ten minutes in which to pay
his respects to the Non-Partisan
League.
II charge that this measure and the
spirit back of it," Moore declared,
comes from wha. has come to be
known as the Non Partisan League, an
organization which has come TO have
one representative here. I submit -
my fellow members it is increasing in
membership so rapidly as to terrorize
certain hitherto free representatives. Of
the people in their own districts, eau
tioning them they must adopt these
socialistic practices or get out of Con-
gross "
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
Marine Workers
Threaten Strike
On Next Monday
Wire Shipping Board Urg.
ing Speedy Action on
Demands

The National Adjustment Commits
sion of the United States Shipping
Board was notified by wire last night
that unless it agreed to take up the
demand of the marine workers Of this
port for better wages and working
conditions there is grave danger a gen
eral strike will be ordered at a meeting
of the Marine Atfiliation next Monday
Similar notices We're telegraphed to
Samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation of Labor, with a
request that he endeavor to secure ac-
tion by the board and to 7. V. O'Con-
nor. president of the International
Longshoremen's Association.
These telegrams were sent by Paul
A. Vaccarelli. international vice -pres-
dent Of the longshoremen, following a
mass meeting of marine workers in
Prospect Hall, Brooklyn. to consider
the ,efusal OF the. local adjustment
board to consider the recent demands
before October next At this meeting
international President O'Connor was
accused of failing 20 urge the demands.
Pledges Longshoremen
John +. Riley, president of the Long
shoremen's District Council, presided
and pledged the men the support Of all
longshoremen in this port in whatever
action they might take.
1--WE will sacrifice everything for
Uncle Sam" said he. "We will work
twentyfour hours q day to get mun-
tions across; we will do everything
human beings can do that the boys on
the other side may live, but we must
insist Uncle Sam see to it we get
chance to live, too"
Mr.. Riley expressed the belief Chair
man Bass of the national board would
deal fairly with the men. but if neces-
sary, ne said. he believed an appeal to
President Wilson would obviate the
necessity of strike
John Brennan, president of the Tide
water Boatmen, declared O'Connor's
failure to advise relief for the men was
responsible for the present situation.
John Lind, representing the hosting
engineers, pledged the support of that
organization.
Points at Boat Owners
James Mcguire, representing the
lightermen. said his men would be in
jail if they defied the government as
boat owners were in the habit of do.
ing. He also attacked O'Con,for. de-
caring ne should be advised to retire
from his present position.
Vacarelli advised everything be left
10 the Marine Atfiliation for action
Monday, at the same time defending
O'Connor and expressing confidence
that Chairman Bass would see justice
is done.
But" he said when all other
means fail, if they fail. we still have
the right to strike We do not want
to strike. but if Il walk out is neces-
saiy, it will be because the boat owners
have forced us out"
The resolution to abide by the dec
zion Of the Marine Aflilation was voted
unanimously.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
Squler Refuses to Debate
Liberty Motor With Barlow
olgnal corps Chief Objects to Presence at Senate Com
m'ttee Hearing of Engineer Who Calls
Engine Failure

what Barlow calls bunk" about the
performances of single machine
Barlow further asserted that every
aircraft expert Of flying experience
and practical knowledge in the country
agrees with him, but that they are all
so situated they dare not say in public
what they privately admit
Barlow claims, as the inventor Of all
the aero munitions so far purchased by
Is likely to be adopted by the navy as
superior to any in use, to speak with
some authority. He says he resigned
from a $4,000 position with the Mar
lin Rockwell Arms Company, which is
manufacturing his bombs, to be free to
wage a campaign of publicity against
the Signal Corps direction of aeronau-
tics. This. he declares to be dismay
ing failure on the side of. design and
production. largely because no one IN
authority is an experienced tfler and
operator, as we'll as engineer, and also
due to military rigidity and inadapt-
partment Of military aeronautics is the
only remedy for the situation. the idea
being to take the manufacture of
planes entirely out of the hands Of the
army, as has been done in France, Eng
land and Italy.
Declines to Specify Defect
While Barlow refuses to specify the
fatal defect" of the Liberty motor
until he gets some sort of an official
public forum from which to speak. he
saws while considered merely as a motor
ii is a very admirable production, 1t
was not properly designed for the
realization in the air of its potential
efficiency. There is defect, he says,
which would have been detected in
stantly in the early stages of its ere
alton had the Aircraft Board or the
Signal Corps had the benefit of the
judgment of designer with practical
experience To overcome the defect it
will be necessary, according to Barlow,
to change the whole design and it Will
be impossible to reconstruct the motors
built or being built on the present de-
sign. The result, he says. is that lt
inevitably will be found that they will
have to be confined to use in bombing
planes as they cannot produce the speed
necessary for other uses.
He says in trial with which he is
familiar a certain foreign plane which
had a speed of only 105 miles an hour
few circles around a Liberty motor
plane which was officially reported to
be making 1877 miles an hour.
All OF TINS lnlorHldlioH mas occ'.
given privately to certain members Of
the Senate Committee on Military At
fairs. on whom it appears to have made
profound impression, and Barlow
says he will keep up his attacks until
the aircraft authorities confess the
correctness of his statements, or sue
cessfully controvert them.
General Sauicr was on the stand
most of the afternoon. and his ex
animation as we'll as that of other Sig
nal Corps officers. Howard Coffin, Com
mander r5ritton Of the British air serv-
ice, and others, will be continued in
secret session tomorrow.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29

suit against the government for the
difference between the amount offered
him and his price of 100000, which
is $401,250.
The government is prepared to show
that the original cost of the vessel was
S2o9,000 when built at Leith, Scotland,
in 1907, and that Harkness twice filed
atfidavits in the Surrogate's Court of
New York placing the value at $780,
coo. He accepted the yacht as a por-
tion of his share of the estimate of
more than s35,o0O,000 left by his
father.
witnesses for his said of the contro-
yersy have testified that the vessel was
valued at S496,ooO and s425,ooo, re-
spectively. Each witness. however, ad
mitted that his appraisement was
based on wartime figures and in peace
times the yacht would not bring more
than half the estimates"
The Court of Claims division of the
Department of Justice is being repre-
sented at the hearing in New York by
Attorneys George H. Thorne and
Charles B. Brewer.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
Standard Oil Men Ballot
Workers. Delegates to Meet
Officers at UNITY Dinner

Ninety-two per cent of the Standard
Oil employees at the Bayonne. Bayway
and Eagle refineries participated. it
was announced yesterday, in the bal
lot to select seventy-three representa-
tivcs to meet the company officers at
the conference dinner Monday night at
26 Broadway.
Officials of the company said that
the keenest interest had been shown
by the workmen in the plan of indus
trial representation.
Directors, officers and heads of de-
partments will meet the delegates
from the refinery employees at the din
ner. In the conference all will dis
cuss the plan to give the working
forces a voice in everything affecting
their welfare
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
Subway Contractors
Seek Relief in ALBANY
[Stof Co1respondencel

ALBANY, MARCH 2s.-Business men
state and municipal officials and con-
tractors from all parts of the state
urged the Senate and Assembly war
committees to report favorably on the
Waltcrs-kenyon bill, affording relief to
contractors who entered into public
contracts with the state or any sub
divisions thereof prior to the country 5
entrance into war.
The bill enables the state and cities,
towns and villages to cancel contracts
entered into before April 6, 1917. and
complete them at actual cost without
any profit to the contractors or to sus-
pend the contracts indefinitely, or sub
let them to others, or to complete the
contracts themselves.
Representatives of civic organizations
from New York City urged that the
legislation be passed. as present con-
dltions delayed completion of the sub
ways at a cost of $4,000 daily to the
city or nearly s1.5OO,O0O a year. Let
ters from the Public Service Commits
sion to Mayor Hylan in favor of the
legislation were also brought to the
attention of the committee A report
from State Engineer Williams indors-
ing the bill was also read
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
u. S. Will Get
100000 Tons of
japanese Ships
Delivery of Twelve Big
Steamers to Start
in May

WASHINGTON, March %. - Under
the agreement between the United
States and = Japanese shipbuilders
twelve big steamers of about 1OO,O 900
tons deadweight capacity soon will be
brought under the American flag in
return for supplies Of steel.
In formally announcing the agree
ment tonight the War Trade Board
let il be known that through negotia-
tlons now IN progress it hopes to have
japanese builders turn out 100000
tons of new construction with steel
furnished by the United States.
The board issued this statement:
Arrangements have now been made
as result Of the negotiations between
the United States and Japanese ship
builders for the purchase of twelve
japanese ships of approximately 100, 900
tons deadweight capacity, which will be
added to the feet Of the United States
Shipping Board within the next few
months
~AtA VI tNC NcSSeiS are large mOdoTn
steamers of 5000 tons or over. with
one exception, and none over two wears
old. Some, indeed, are still awaiting
completion
Deliveries of the ships at American
ports are to begin not later than Nav
and to be finished in September, a pro
gresslvely higher price per ton to be
paid according to the month of deliv-
cry as q premium on early deliveries.
''ln return for the sale of the ships
the War Trade Board has agreed ia
deliver to the japanese shipbuilders a
corresponding amount of steel for ship
building, ton for ton against delivery
Of the ships.
Further negotiations are in prog
ress TO secure from japanese shipbuild-
ers 100000 additional tons of new con
struction, the ships to be built in re-
turn for new steel placed at the dis
posal Of the builders by the War Trade
Board.
"Recent editorials in such papers as
the Jill Shimpo,' Of Toxic. show IN
encouraging disposition to regard the
furnishing of tonnage for Allied war
needs in the light of patriotic con-
tribution 30 Allied war purposes, and
with this spirit prevailing a quick and
reasonably satisfactory result from
these negotiations is hoped for"
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
First Case Filed in Seizure
of Vessel for War
Purposes
AppraisalCalled Small
U. S. Agents Placed Value of
$265, 900 on Boat Com
mandeered
Stat Correspondence

WASHINGTON, March 2s.-Harry S.
Hardness, of New York. whose father.
one of the Standard Oil magnates, left
an estate valued at more than S35. 5.O0O.-
600, has brought the first war case
against the government since the en-
trance of the United States into the
hostilities, the Court of Claims di-
vision Of the Department of Justice
announced to-day Hardness seeks to
recover S600,000 for his yacht, Wakiva
IL, which was appraised by government
appraisers at S265,OO0 and taken over
for war purposes. Testimony in the
suit is now being taken in the office
of Elkus, Gleason & Prosxauer in New
York
The government is vigorously resist
ing the action brought by Harkness,
Assistant Attorney General Huston
Thompson said to-day
Received Yacht in Will
"The Hardness yacht" he said, twas
procured with about 500 other yachts
under an act of Congress that gave the
President authority to commander
vessels for war purposes. The arrange
ment was to pay the owners 81 month
for the use of the vessels and return
them in good shape 1T the end of the
war with payment for loss or deteriora
ton at figure to be named by the
Presidents appraisers. The govern
ment has arrived at an amicable agree
ment with all yacht owners except
three. one of whom is Mr.. Hardness.
"The Harkness yacht was appraised
at $265.000. He accepted 75 per cent
of this figure, SloS,750. but has brought
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
Dutch Ship Escapes Seizure

Waterfront folk for a few minutes
Yesterday thought they had discovered
z blockade runner in the very ac. Of
siipping pass the Statue Of Liberty and
o0' 70 sea. The boat was the Dutch
'reixhter Stella, and az she made her
way down the nay toward the Narrows
Datch flag few at her masthead
Inquiries disclosed, however, that the
steiia had escaped the effects OF the
frssident's proclamation ordering the
seizure Of Dutch ships By arriving in
port exactly forty minutes after il was
.ssued.
The Holland liner Nieuw Amsterdam.
Wnieh was 10 have sailed on Wednea-
eaJ ny special permission Of the gov
efnment is atiil in nnrt
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
Sulzer Is Out $4,000
He Tells Grand Jury "Fusion"
Cost Him That

William Sulzer told the grand jury
that Is investigating the fusion cam
paign fund yesterday that he was out
$4,000 because Of his efforts in Mayor
MitchcPg behalf
The $1,000 which "pIain Blp re-
ceiyed from the committee all went for
expenses, he said, as did $1,000 that
came out Of his own pocket. He said
he hadn't succeeded in getting the
$4,000 back from William Hamlin
Ghilds. executive chairman Of the Fu-
@lon committee
Testimony given by members Of the
committee that Mr.. Sulzer had sought
me JOB Of rallying the East Side to the
mitchell standard was denied by the
witness. IL was cara Of tho job seek
ing the man, he declared. He waived
any immunity he might gain by tcsti-
tying.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
lStGf Corresponderce1

tD'sU Sof|eSPOHQenceI
WASHINGTON, March 2S.-General
oqu'er' chief signal officer of the army
yesterday afternoon refused chal-
lenge to joint debate before the Senate
MILITARY Affairs Committee from L. P.
BARLOW. engineer. aircraft expert and
aero-munitions inventor, who says he
Is prepared to demonstrate that the
Liberty motor is great disappoint-
ment
Barlow has been invited to appear
before the committee with General
9quler and other officers. After it had
oeen decided, because of somewhat
DUBIOUS vote, to make the session ex-
ecutive, General Squier objected to the
presence of Barlow. saying as Barlow
mad taken his fight against the aircraft
programme to the press, he did not
care to discuss aircraft matters with
MN. Senators Hitchcock, New and
others desired Barlow to remain. The
former made the point that in preced-
ing inquiries the committee did not
nave the counsel of an expert, and was
therefore at disadvantage in the ex-
ANIMATION. At this point Barlow arose
ana IelV the room, announcing that
under no circumstances would he take
part in a secret session.
W hen testify it will be in public
ne declared.
me Senate may be a small part of
lhe government" said Senator Reed
but 1t is competent to decide how it
Will receive testimony"
When I testify" answered Barlow
must nave protection. l cannot get
1t IN secret session. If the public hears
"hat have to say / will have pro-
tecton.''
Whereupon Barlow left without wait
ing for the committee to decide
whether it would comply with General
Squier's objection.
Only Good for Slow Planes
Outside the committee room Barlow
SAID once he was given an opportunity
to talk in due form ne could demor-
strate within five minutes that The Lib
erty motor is failure for everything
except low and heavy bombing planes.
de declared General Squier is we'll
aware of this fact and that the latter's
designers are already at work on a
new type of motor. but he dare not let
the public know the truth. He also as
serted that to his personal knowledge
General Squier advised Howard Coffin,
chairman of the Aircraft Board, to
withhold the facts regarding the status
OF alrplane production from the Senate
Committee. but TO tell the committee
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29

onlppng Board and Director General
OF Railroads McAdoo.
rlans were made to Immediately in
augurate survey Of port and terminal
lfics bv joint committee of the
railroad administration and Shipping
hoafa. Benjamin L. Winchell vice
president of the Union Pacific Rail-
road, and James S. Stewart. of New
ork, Will represent the railroad ad-
mlnistration on this committee.
Chairman Hurley has not yet desig-
mated the men to represent the Ship
ping Board. The project may mean
permanent developments at several At
lantic ports.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
U. S. Ship Chincha, Shelled
BY Submarine, Safe in Italy

- An ATLANTIC PORT. March 2s.~-
Inc American steamship Cbincha, re-
ported yesterday as having been at
lacked by u German submarine while
on the way to Italy. is safe in an
taa1an port, according to information
reee5yed mere to-day.
fhe ChIneha was subjected to a
period Of shell IRE from q submarine.
me sdviess stated, but managed 10 eg~
cape. During running fight several
Members Of the Chineha's crew arc
sa'0 ~ have been injursd By shell fira,
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
Lenroof Compares
Wilson to kciser

SPARTA, Wis, March 28-Con-
gresham Irvine L. Lenroot. Republi-
can candidate for Senator, in the
course of a speech here to-day called
attention to the poster displayed by
his Democratic rival, Wilson wants
Davies"
'In Germany" said Mr.. Lenroot
the Kaiser indicates what man he
wants sent 10 the Bundesrath. and
that man is sent II President Wilson
can do the same thing in the United
states. soon we won't have any more
Liberty than they have in Germany"
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29

ing income was sl7,640,00o, compared
with net operating earnings of $24,-
225,0O0 in January, 1917. For the
Western lines this was Sill 900, 900, as
compared with S30,00O,oo0 the CORE
spending month last year; and South
ern lines made s3,617 900, as compared
with $l2,612,0 900 the same month last
wear
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29

Two Dutch Ships Exempted

WASHINGTON. March 2s.-Formal
assurances were given to the Dutch
Minister to-day by Chairman McCor-
mick Of the War Trade Board that two
Dutch ships would be permitted to
come to the United States and take
back to Holland cargoes Of foodsturs
without the vessels being taken over
by the United States government when
they reach this country.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-29
Plan Rail- Merger
McAdco and Hurley Discuss
Unifcation
LStnf Corrcspondencsl

WASHINGTON, March 2s-Unifica-
ton Of all railroads and American
ocean tonnage into one great operating
unit was discussed to-day at q confer
ence between Chairman Hurley Of the
Bisbee daily review., 1918-10-06
BRITISH OFFICIAL

(I3V Review Leased Wirel
 LONDON, Oct. 5.-Field Marshal Haig reports some progress by Brit ish troops around Montbrehain and Beaurevoir in the St. Quentin sector His statement tonight adds that the Germans have begun to withdraw from the high ground between Le Catelete and CrevecOeur.
 Operations of a minor character were continued successfully by us north of St Quentin. Australian and English trops accompanied by tanks made progress in the neighbOrhood oi the villages of Montbrehain and Beau reyoir and on the spur northwest of the latter village. A number of pris- oners have been taken.
 "As a result of our continued pres sure along the whole front the enemy has begun to withdraw from the high ground known as LaTerriere plateau in the bend of the Scheldt canal be- tween Lacatelet and Crevocoeur.
 "On the whole front between these two villages our troops now are east of the canal Driving in the German covering attachments. they have gain ed possession of Laterriere and a sec tion of the Hindenburg system in this