davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1921-02-25
COMMERCE Of j. 5.
SHOWSFALL|NG Off
January Exports Decrease
S66, 900, 900 and Imports
Shrink SIS, 900, 900.

shrinkage of sec, 200, 900 in Amer
lean export trade in January was re-
ported today by the Department OF
Commerce. Imports for the month
fell Off s55,00o;o00. as compared with
the December figures.
Exports in January totaled $685.
900. 900, as compared with $722, 900, 900
in January, 1920. The total of i'm
ports for last month, $209,000,000
compared with $474.000.000 in the
same month a year ago, and was
the smallest in any month since Feb
ruary, 1918.
The trade balance in favor Of the
United States for the month Of jan
uary was $446.000,000.
Imports during the seven months Pc
riod ending with last January were
valued at $2,543, 900. 600. against $2.768.-
900, 900 in the corresponding period the
year before. Exports in the seven
months totaled 4,638 900, 900. compared
with $4.5S5, 100000 in the corresponding
period.
Imports of gold amounted to $685.
600, 900 in January and to s342 .000,-
with s12.000.000 in January, 1920, and
$4,000, 900 in the corresponding seven
months.
Gold exports showed large drop,
amounting to only 100000 in jan
uary, as compared with S48,000,000 in
January, 1920. In the seven months
the total was s130,000,000. as COM
pared with s319,000,O00 in the CORE
spending period the year before.
Imports of silver for the seven
months were $37.0O0,000. as compared
with s56,O00,000. while exports of sill
yer were $3S,o00,000, as against s122,-
600 600.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
SENATE VOTES s5O0,OOO
TO GET GRAIN TO CHINA
Reports of 1000 Deaths By starva-
ton Daily Stir to Prompt
Action.

One-half a million dollars was voted
today by thes Senate to defray costs of
moving acress the Pacific grain do
mated by American farmers for the
famine sufferers of China.
Senator Kenyon, republican. Iowa
In onering the bill, said official re-
ports indicated that II, ,00O, 900 Chinese
were facing starvation, and that the
daily death toll was 1000.
This act is not only one OF great
humanity" he said. but one Of good
diplomacy. The foodstuffs have been
donated by the farmers of the coun-
try. the railroads have offered free
transportation to the west coast. and
the brotherhoods have agreed to give
the labor free for the movement.
Under the bill. the Navy or the Ship
ping Board is to furnish the vessels
required. 1t Is the plan to use idle
merchant craft and to man them with
naval reservists.
Senator Kenyon presented a letter
from Secretary Colby approving the
bill.
Reports indicate that prepaf ations
are already being made by the organi-
cations now working in China to cope
with any possible typhus or cther cpl
demic which may follow this period Of
distress" the Secretary said. From
the circumstances recited it would ap-
pear to be very desirable to do what
possibly can be done to meet The needs
of the people in this famine stricken
country, and the department for its
part would therefore welcome the
passage OF this bill"
Evening star., 1921-02-25
KIWANIANS TO HONOR
WOMEN FOR SERVICES
Entertainment Will Be Given for
Wives and Daughters of
Club Members,

Members Of the Washington XII
wants Club will hold informal ladies
night in honor Of the wives and
daughters Of members Tuesday night
at the Hotel Washington. Miss Mabel
Boardman. District Commissioner, will
be the principal speaker The affair.
according to Roy l.. Neuhauser, chair
man of the entertainment committee.
Is being given in honor of the women
in recognition of their services to
members of the club in distributinr
gifts among the poor last Christmas.
Several surprises in the form of
musical entertainment viii be shown
1t Is promised. Among the entertain
ers will be Maurice Jarvis, Miss Fran
ces Scherger, soprano, and George
Flemer, violin. A supper will be given
starting at z o'clock
William A. Reid. foreign trade ad-
wiser of the Pan-American Union. ad-
dressed the club at It's weekly lunch-
con yesterday. He told of the various
products that are imported from The
several South American countries
Club, complimenting the Kiwanis club
letter from John Poole OF the Rotary
on the entertainment it gave TO tn.
Rotary Club recently was read hv
Secretary George WihSlow,
Members of the club. incIudi,
Maurice Hopkins, Waldo r. Pearce
Steve Ford. Homer L. Kit, Peyyon
Fletcher and William Barrett, enter
tanned the members with musical
numbers.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
RUM SELLERS HELD UP
IN HOME OF BUYERS
Philadelphia and Union Hill Men
Robbed by a Dozen Armed
Men With Pistols.

Reuben Comet, Philadelphia, and
Jacob Gostnsky, Union Hill. n. j.,
who motored from Philadelphia,
bringing eighteen one-gallon cans of
alcohol to be delivered to alleged
.bootleggers, were held I'D by armed
Icolored men and deprived of the al
cohol in South Washington yesterday,
while his companion was robbed of
less than IS.
The strangers said they drove to 498
L street southwest, said to be the
home Of William Bird, colored, where.
they stated, the alcohol was delivered.
They were told to come upstairs and
get their money. it is stated.
Fully dozen men were in the
house. the police were told, pistols
were displayed and the strangers
money taken, one of the colored men
dealing Gostnsky blow on his face.
Comet said he was pushed from the
house after he was robbed. and told
to go away before the police would
arrest him, and he drove away in his
car. =
Comet was left WITHOUT L. penny in
his pocket, while a dine was all the
money his companion POSSESSED when
they met a short while after they had
had their exciting experience.
out OF employment and was advised
hol here. .e -
Il was told everybody was doing
it," he said, =" and I thouEht I'd take
chance. MY wife beEged me not to
do it, but was out OF work and had
to do something, and pawned my
diamond ring to getEmoHey enough
to pay for the alcohof"
Evening star., 1921-02-25


4ngs appointment as the next Secre-
tary of Commerce.
George Barr Baker. his assistant
in announcing that his chief had be-
gun a hard "fourteen-hour day" said !:
''The matter now is in the hands OF
Official Washington. 1t would prob
ably be inappropriate for Mr. Hoover,
as q subordinate, to talk on the prob
those he will be obliged to meet when
he takes his post"
Mr.. Hoover's statement Of last night
follows:
President elect Harding this even
ing asked me to state that he has
included me in his nominations for
the cabinet as Secretary Of Commerce
edly into the plans for upbuilding the
department and wishes that I con-
tfnue to direct the policies of the Eu-
1Upean relief
sIf I take the post" he said, cit will
b only because ! believe that Senator
Aeeal Department Of Commerce. There
80 an enormous field for proper gov
ernment bureau. It can be made a de-
partment. oS the first Importance with
me support OF the administration and Of
Congress. Unless this Is done am not
warranted IN shifting my responsibilities
from relief work."
Charles Evans Hughes has resigned as
president Of the Legal Aid Society
here. His action is believed to be part
. Of a general REIMBURSEMENT of public
and private activities to enable him to
Secretary Of State. His successor will
basslected in March.
SILENT ON DRY CHANGES.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
TARIFF VOTE MAY
COME TOMORROW
Conferees' Report to House
Which Accepts Virtually
/. Senate Bill.

The Fordney emergency tariff bill
OF, which House and Senate conferees
reconcile their differences in a report
hled last night will not come up for
consideration in the House today, but
leaders on the ways and means COM
mfttee said that they expect to dis
pose of the measure tomorrow.
Inc conference agreement was
reached by the House receding on
practically every amendment, so that the
conference report differs very slightly
from from the way in which the bill came
:, AS the bill went back to the House
1t carried a fiat rate of 2 cents a
pound tariff on the ordinary house
hold brand of sugar. The Senate
amendment. which was considerably
higher. was slashed to pieces in the
threatened deadlock of the conference
and a new rate. in substitution for
the present tariff on sugar, was ac-
cepted by both delegations. The pro-
posed tariff. therefore, amounts to a
doubling of the import duties on su-
gars of all grades, making Cuban su =
gar pay duty of $1.60 per hundred
pounds and similar rate on molas-
ses and kindred sugar products.
While agreeing to the tariff on the
sugar, the House conferees stood pat
on refusal to permit a tariff on
hides and leather products They
likewise forced a reduction of so
cents a pound from the rate fixed in
the Senate amendment on certain
classes of tobacco. The Senate rate of
cents a pound on cherries was COM
promised at cents a. pound.
Some differences in the provision.
originally in the bill. for a duty on
rice compelled a rewriting of that
item with a fiat rate of / cent a
pound on all except cleaned rice and
rice used for the manufacture Of can
ned foods.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
MEXICO READY TO MEET
RAILWAY STRIKE TROUBLE
Governments Stand Will Test
Strength Between Obregon and
Organized Labor.

MEXICO CITY. February 25-Full
preparations have been made to meet
any situation resulting from the
strike of railroad workers, President
Obregon told a Joint committee from
the chamber OF deputies and the
strikers last night. He declared he
has said his last word regarding the
strike. and reiterated the govern
ments refusal to recognize the
unions as they are at present con-
stituted. Full protection. he asserted,
would be afforded volunteer workmen
and railroad property.
ernment's firm stand indicates the
imminence of the first real test of
strength between Gen. Obregon and
organized labor.
Newspaper dispatches from Torreon,
Guadalajara and Aguasoalientes say
the strike is only partially effective
there. but that there Is a probability
no trains will be running out of those
cities before 4 o'clock this afternoon.
the hour set for calling out all rail-
read workmen.
Felix Pa1avicini, editor of Ell Uni
yersal, turned over to the police last
evening a letter received by him and
signed the Brotherhood of Railroad
Workers" 1t threatened him with
death and his plant with destruction
because of his support of National
railroad Director Perez
Evening star., 1921-02-25
iTALY'S DEBT REFUNDING.
Ambassador to Discuss Matter With
New u. S. Administration.

Ambassador to Discuss Matter With
New q. S. Administration.
Refunding Of Italy's debt Of 1881
33s.ssS to the United States is to be
taken up by Roiandi Ricci. the new
Italian ambassador to the United
States, according to Secretary of the
Treasury Houston. who added that all
such matters relating to the obliga-
tions OF foreign governments would
be left to the new administration to
handle.
Sir Auckland Geddes, the British
am AMBASSADOR. who is understood to
kave discussed the British debt to the
United States during his recent visit
home. Mr.. Houston said, has not had
any conference with Treasury officials
since his return. The Treasury Sec
retary added that although France
was reported to be sending a financial
CON mission to the United States to
discuss the matter Of her debt, no me-
gotiations would be entered into by
this administration.
Secretary Houston in discussing the
allied debt situation explained that
the proposal for the acceptance of
German bonds in payment Of the Bel
gium debt contracted up to the time
of the armistice, sent to Congress last
Tuesday by President Wilson, had
nothing to do with the general policy
for the liquidation of the loans to the
allies.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
HOOVER MAY LEAD
IN REORGANIZATION
Technical Men Believe He
Would Desire Changes
for Efficiency.

Belief that Herbert Hoover will be
placed at the head Of a departmental
reorganization committee, il he is sworn
in as Secretary of Commerce. was ex-
pressed among technical men in the gov
position as head Of the recently created
engineering council. formed of the chief
engineering bodies of the country, is re-
garded as being evidence enough that
he would desire to reorganize the de-
partments here along lines of efficiency.
This fact is coupled with the dispatch
from Florida. as printed in The Star OF
yesterday, which stated that President
elect Harding was deeply concerned over
proper reorganization Of the departments
here. The dispatch intimated that Mr..
Harding, as President. would create
in addition to the joint congressional
committee on reorganization, which has
yet to meet for formal organization. un-
der the leadership Of Senator Snoot
Seen nv Feasible Way.
Formation Of an interdepar artmental
committee on reorganization, with Mr..
Hoover as it's leader, was regarded
here today as the only feasible way
Mr. Harding could create another re-
organization committee without going
to Congress for an appropriation.
1t was recalled that the Heep COM
mission, appointed in 1905. was such
board. and was composed of officials
in the departmental service, who gave
their time without price to devise ways
and means of bettering the service. AS
the result Of the work of that commits
sion better methods of handling govern
ment payments of clerks were devised.
Other reforms were secured.
Such a committee on reorganization
would in no way conflict with the
joint committee on reorganization. II
is held. but would work harmoni-
ously. with the latter body.
See Big Advantage.
One big advantage the former COM
mittee would have, it is held, would
be in it's ability to work more or less
continuously, whereas the congress
sional committee, according to an
nouncement recently by Senator
Smoot, will work three times a week
at night sessions.
Mr. Hoover, being an engineer by
training, with vast experience in
difficult administrations during the
war. would be able to size up the de-
partmental service here and unerring-
ly put his finger on the weak points,
according to the belief of engineers
in the service.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
Telegraph Soon May Flash
Whole Sections of Papers

BY Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright, 1921.
CHRISTIANIA, Norway, February
25.-"Before the end of this year I
will have perfected the detail of my
apparatus for transmitting by wire.
with Photographic accuracy, anything
that can be printed, painted or drawn
on paper in contrasting colors."
This statement was made today by
Hermod Petersen, chief of the Nor
wegian wireless system, and the in
ventor of new system of sending
messages, photographs or whole sec
tions of newspapers. Speaking Eng
lish with the utmost precision, Peter
sen, who is of the keenest type of a
cultured Norwegian, fascinates with
his rapidly unfolded view of the fu
ture of this new mechanism. Its SEEM
ing practicability and simplicity are
amazing.
With a compact sending unit, COM
posed of a small motor combined with
an automatic Photographic machine,
he is able to transmit, on an average,
100 words a minute over any dis
tance, or, in the same manner, to send
sharply defined pictures of mechan-
ical drawings, insurance policies.
commercial contracts. or any <other
form of written or printed matter.
On the receiving end everything is
Evening star., 1921-02-25

automatic, just as it is now on the
stock tickers and autographic writing
machines.
'"rhe sending speed is almost un-
limited" M. Petersen said. I'VE have
sent as high as 1900 words in ten
minutes. In operation it will be
highly economical, reducing the per-
sonnel required on ordinary wires
by one-sixth and involving only one
power plant for each system. no mall
ter how many branches it may have.
Unlike other machines requiring a
separate plant for each sending and
receiving outfit, this machine can be
operated by one man as simply as he
can turn on an electric light, and
if many machines are attached they
require only an alternating current
of varying frequency.
"a whole column of printed matter
or even a section of a newspaper can
be flashed over the wire as quickly
as one word. Perhaps the most. in
teresting feature lies in the intimate
contact established through the
transmission of personally written
letters. 1t does not matter What
language is used-Chinese, Hindu
stani or ny other. 1t all goes with
the same speed and accuracy"
Mr. Petersen is now perfecfing
method of sending wireless reproduc-
tions of messages and pictures in the
same manner.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
WANTS MORE U. S. TRADE.
Canadian Agriculturist Thinks Re-
fusing Reciprocity Was Mistake.

OTTAWA. February 2s.-Canada's
refusal to accept reciprocity with the
United States in 1911 was one Of the
greatest 1nisfortunes in the CONNER
cial life OF the Dominion. T. A. Crerar,
leader Of the national progressive
farmers party. declared in parliament
last night. He was formerly minister
of agriculture in the Borden govern
ment.
Mr.. Crerar said the government was
inconsistent in denouncing the United
States for adverse exchange condi-
tions. Canada. he said, produced many
things essential in the United States
and should seek to hold her own
country. Adverse trade balance be-
tween the two countries was relative
ly much greater ten years ago than it
is today.
This view was opposed by r. C. Hen
ders, who declared Canadian agricul-
tural interests would suffer IL the
Fordney bill is passed in Congress.
Canada then might have to raise the
tariff on imports from the United
States, he added.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
John GEHRET, LONGTIME
RAILROAD EMPL0YE, DIES
Efficient Trainmaster Had Worked
for Philadelphia and Reading
Since He Was Fifteen.

John H. Gehret Of Bridgeport. Pa,
for nearly fifty years connected with
the Philadelphia and Reading rail
road and trainmaster at Bridgeport
for many years, died today at the
residence of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Il. Hanfofd; 72 NJ street northwest.
He had been under physicians care
for several months. 4
Mr.. Gehret, who was sixty five
years old. would have completed his
fiftieth year in the service of the
Philadelphia and Reading road in
June of this year. He was consid-
cred one Of the most trusted and
efficient men in the service
He Is survived by his wife. Mrs.
Emogene Gehret. who was Miss Bear,
a public school teacher; a brother.
Augustus Gehret, and a niece, Mrs
Joseph Jones, of Bridgeport, Pa. His
mother died recently at the age of
ninety-seven years
Mr.. Gehret was a member of st
Adams Lodge, No. 529, F. A. A. M,
of Philadelphia. Pa
Funeral services will be held Mon
day afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at 72 NJ
street northwest. Intement will be
in Rock Creek cemetery.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
LOCAL CLUB CELEBRATES
ROTARY'S 10TH BIRTHDAY
Luncheon at Willard Marks Ami
versary Of Birth Of National
Organization.

In celebration of the sixteenth ami
vcrsary of the organization of the
first Rotary Club $50 members and
guests of the Rotary Club OF Wash
ington made merry at a luncheon In
the New willard Hotel today.
George w. Harris. secretary OF the
local organization. was master OF
ceremonies and besides directing the
rest of the program told the story
of the early years OF Rotary. The
rest of the history of the organiza-
tion was given by William Clabaugfi
and Henry Stringer. a number OF
songs being sung between the talks
Rev. DIR. Charles F. Warner was
called on to introduce the baby
member of the club. He began by
calling attention to the number OF
"Joes'' who were men Of distinction
and who belonged to Rotary. and con-
cluded by introducing Joe" Bradley
Although the national organization
is sixteen years old this week. the
local Rotary Club has been in exist.
ence only about nine years
A number OF additional names were
obtained at the luncheon by NJ D'Arcy
Magee. who Is making up a list of
members in Washington who will at
tend the big conference of Rotarians
in Atlantic City April IL and IL.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
OCEAN TRAVEL GOING UP.
Ship Lines Announce Old Schedules
and Summer Rate Boost.

NEW YORK. February 25.-Resump-
tion by leading Transatlantic steam
ship companies of the prc-wsr win
ter and summer passenger tariff
schedules. with an increased rate for
summer travel. has been announced
here by several OF the leading steam
ship lines.
The summer rates, effective March
!, will call for an increase Of 10 per
cent in outward first-class passenger
rates on some OF the lines, and on 9th
ers the increase win apply to both
east and west bound travel.
The International Mercantile Ma
rine Company. Holland-Amer!can line
and Cunard line said the rate viii ap-
ply to eastbound travel only. The
French line announced 1t would ap-
ply both to and from Europe, and also
to the second-class. Other lines were
non-communicative on the matter Of
increased rates.
Evening star., 1921-02-25
|COLBY INSISTS j. S.
| RIGHTS Be GRANTED
New Note Sent to Allied Coun-
ell on Former German
Territories.

Disposition of the former territorial
possessions of Germany cannot be
undertaken or effectuated" with the
to the note which Secretary of State
Colby has forwarded to the council of
the league of nations.
AS one if the principal allied and
associated powers, this country has
an equal concern and an inseparable
interest with the rest of those powers
in the territories taken from Ger
many, the note added, and in conse-
quence an equal voice in their dispo-
sition.
The council is asked to reopen the
question of giving Japan the mandate
over the Island Of Yap, which was
done at the meeting in Geneva last
December, as the Secretary takes the
position that the American govern
ment cannot regard itself bound by
the terms of the mandate. and adds
that the council obviously acted
under misapprehension of the
facts"
Note Aids Next Administration.
State Department officials assert
that this note. which was forwarded
last Monday. but was not made pub
lie at that time, has strengthened the
position of the new administration,
which comes into Office March 4, rath-
er than adding an embarrassment.
The opinion also was expressed that
there might be a conference of the
Interested powers to discuss the whole
question. 1t is understood that such
a course would be acceptable to the
United States, although State De-
partment officers said the modus
operandi was of little concern to the
American government.
Dnfn k1o I1f1
retary Colby says in his note to the
council that at the time of the dis
cussion of the question at Paris, Pres
ident Wilson was particular to stip-
ulate' that it should be reserved for
future consideration, and that subse-
Quently the United States, in notes
to Great Britain, France, Italy and
Japan, set forth at length its con-
tention that Yap had, in fact, been ex-
cepted from the proposed mandate to
Japan for the Pacific islands north
of the equator formerly held by Ger
many.
Further Facts on Yap.
1.-The information was further con-
veyed," Mr. Colby states, that the
reservations which had previously
been made by this government regard
ing the Island of zap were based on
the view that the Island of Yap neces-
sarily constitutes an indispensable
part of any scheme or practicable ar
rangement of cable communication in
the Pacific. and that its free and un-
hampered use should not be limited
or controlled by any one power"
Under Secretary Davis of the State
Department made it clear today that
the controversy as to the Island of
zap was one between the United
States and the allied powers, and not
one between this country and Japan.