davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
$4,000 Ross Estate
Stake i'm Will Contest
Fire Insurance Broker Favored
Son Who, He Said, Stood by
Him Sin Hour of Need"

Mrs. Francis H. Ross, three sons and
daughter are opposing another son
in contest brought in the Surrogates'
Court to prevent the probating of the
will of Francis H. Ross, a fire insur-
ance broker.
MIR. Ross left an estate of about
100000. His widow, his daughter and
sons other than Francis II. Ross jr.
are objecting to the will on the ground
that Mr.. Ross was incompetent when
he executed it and was under undue
influence. Hugo Wintner. counsel for
Francis II. Ross, the chief beneficiary,
said yesterday that he will prove that
the testator was competent and had
good reasons for making one son the
principal beneficiary.
The widow was bequeathed $4,000,
with the comment that he made no fur
ther provision for reasons we'll known
to herself. Edwin H. Ross, a son, was
left $4,000, but no provision was
made for Gerald j. Ross, another son,
or Mrs. Beatrice Corbett, daughter of
the testator. They were omitted, he
said, because during his lifetime "they
caused me no end of suffering and hu-
initiation and for the further reason
that in my hour of need they had all
forsaken me-" Francis II. Ross jr.
inherited the residue of the estate He
had stood by his father, it was said, in
"the hour Of need"
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Cuyler Says Railroads
You'd Welcome Inquiry

T. De Witt Cuyler, chairman of the
Association of Railway Executives, de-
clared yesterday that the railroads Of
the country would welcome an investi-
cation of the transportation situation.
which had reached one of the most
serious stages in the history of Amer
lean railroading because of declining
revenues and continued high operating
expenses.
Such an investigation" Mr.. Cuyler
said. would go long way in clearing
up the atmosphere arising from charges
of mismanagement on the part of the
railway executives since the return of
the carriers to private operation. We
welcome the fullest investigation. AS
to private operation, it is my opinion
that the railroads have not had a
chance to show what they can do under
normal conditions"
Mr.. Cuyler also took occasion to
comment on reports from Washington
that steps might be taken to turn the
railroads back to the government. "The
story, as printed in morning paper"
he said, "is apparently based on mis-
information and is made out of whole
cloth. There is no foundation for the
report to my knowedge."
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Lawyer, Ill, Despondent,
Dives From Fire Escape
Skull Fractured in Fall, but He
Probably Will Recover;
Note Left for Wife

Dependency, caused by long ILL
ness, caused William r. Miller, thirty
six years old, lawyer, of Cleveland,
to attempt suicide early yesterday by
diving from fire escape on the sec
ond floor of 327 West Fifty-seventh
Street, his temporary home. He is in
Bellevue Hospital with "a fractured
skull, but probably will recover.
A note scribbled on the back of an
envelope, apparently addressed to his
wife, read: Dearest, there is only one
way can help you. I'll take that way
for you. hope you will be happy. l
was square with you. love you. Bill"
On picture postcard was another
message, reading: Gentlemen. Despon-
dency, induced by i'll health, the reason.
Notify 327 West Fifty-sixth Street"
Mrs. Miller was found asleep in her
apartment. She said she knew nothing
of her husbands attempt to kill him
self. They were married about year
ago and came to New York three
months ago because her husband
sought expert treatment for nervous
depression.
Miller is a prisoner in the hospital,
charged with violation of the Sullivan
law. When he was found by police
man loaded revolver was on the
ground beside him.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
ssSpooks'' Cause Shooting
Of Farmer and His Wife
Weird Spirits, Real Estate Deal
and Disappearance of
Ghosts Involved
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

ALLENTOWN. Pa, March 10.-The
presence and later the absence Of
spooks on Michael Yost's farm, near
Emaus, was blamed to-day for the
shooting of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Meyer by Yost this morning.
Yost bought the old Meyer home
stead farm last fall from Allen Fetter-
man, of this city Previous to that
Fetterman had urged Meyer, who lived
on the farm adjoining, to buy it. Yost,
who as a wife and six children, did
not enjoy the winter here, alleging
his life was made miserable by spooks
Recently he agreed to sell the farm
to Meyer, accepting money down. The
spooks forthwith stopped coming
around, and with the opening of spring
Yost decided to stay.
Meyer refused to release him from
the agreement of sale, and while
Meyer and his wife were milking the
cows early this morning Yost is said to
have appeared and emptied a revolver
at them. Both were wounded seriously.
Yost disappeared in the woods,
where several shot were heard, but
since his body could not be found it
is thought he may have fired as a ruse
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Courtland Smith Reported
Slated for Postal Job
Appointment as Third Assistant
Postmaster General l. Ex-
pected This Week

AS recognition Of his active sunno-+
Of President Harding during the carr
paign last fall it is virtually cs~
tainty that Courtland Smith. presjaer,
of the American Press Association w.,
be appointed Third Assistant Pos.mas
ter General, it was learned yesterday
The appointment will be made. II !.
SAID, the latter part Of next week ara
Mr.. Smith will assume his new dutje'
Immediately. The American Press A.,
sociation's Offices in this CITY are :.
225 West Thirty ninth Street Tn
service supplies news and featura
stories to small newspapers thrours,
cut the country, and it was the insn.
ence welded through it for the Pres.
dent that won Mr.. Smith his an.
pointment.
The division of the PostotFce De-.
partment over which the new oficisl
viii have supervision is that q.
finances and it is not unlikely that TIA
parcel post also will be transferred +,
ais Office. He will also be in position
to look after the interests Of publish.
ers in their relations with the Dc.
partment.
Mr.. Smith is a brother-in-law Of 4.
thur Brisbane, editor IN chief Of III,
W. II. Hearst publications, and hs,
been the active head Of the America.
Press Association for many years.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Congress Plans
Full Inquiry i'm
Rail Situation
CONTINUED from page onc)

ing supplies and other changes in
methods than by sweeping reductions
in wages.
In view of the proposed reductions
Of pay on the railroads, the railroad
employees organizations are more than
ever anxious to present their side Of
the case to the Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee.
Senator Cummins expressed the view
that the advisable way to deal with
wages. if the roads sought reductions,
was first of all to take the matter up
with the men and reach an agreement
if possible. If that could not be done,
then the controversy should be carried
to the Railway Labor Board.
Adjustment Boards Favored
Legislation will be proposed by Sem
ator Cummins which will require the
establishment of railway adjustment
boards to settle matters in dispute
between the roads and employees re-
latng to hours of labor, working con-
dltions and subjects other than wages.
Such boards are provided for in the
new transportation act, but are not
mandatory. 1t was supposed the roads
and employees would arrange for such
boards, but as they have not done so
IT apparently will be necessary for
Congress to step In and require that
they be established.
Comment in House Interstate Com
merce Committee quarters to-day was
that for the roads or some of them
arbitrarily to cut wages without refer
ence to the Railway Labor Board was
especially i'll advised because the roads
had just been before Congress asking
that government guaranty be met in
partial payments without waiting for
final settlements.
THE roads, in other words, are put in
the attitude of wanting the new law
lived up to when it suits their purposes
and of not regarding it when it does
not suit their purposes" said a member
of the House Interstate Commerce
Committee.
Information here does not bear out
the idea advanced by some of the rail
road employees leaders that there is
concerted movement by all the roads
to cut wages. This information, which
has reached members OF the Senate In
terstate Commerce Commi ttee, is that
some of the railroad executives regard
the Pennsylvania move as unfortu-
nate.
The reduction of railroad wages plus
the cut in pay of some Of the packers
employees are by no means devoid of
political interest in Washington. A
prominent labor leader said o-day that
the reductions would be used by the
opposition to the Administration for
the purpose of embarrassing it and
seeking to show the Republican party
was not friendly to the workingman.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Property Owners Fight
Against Proposed Dam
Special Dispatch to The Tribune

TRENTON, N. j., March 10.-Charg-
ing that fulfillment of the proposed
plan for the construction of a dam
across the Ramapo River at Oakland
would result in the virtual destruction
of the estates of wealthy residents of
the Ramapo Valley, with an attendant
loss of approximately $4,000 900, prop
erty owners of the section, through
counsel, to-day vigorously opposed the
plan at hearing conducted by the
State Board Of Commerce and Develop
ment. The purpose of the proposed
dam is the creation of a reservoir with
a capacity of $4,000 100000 gallons of
water, from which the city of Bayonne
seeks the right to divert 50,0O0,0O0 gal
Ions daily for its own use and that of
adjacent municipalities with which it
may make contracts.
planned to the board by Corporation
Counsel John Milton, of Jersey City,
who has been retained to represent
Bayonne. The proposed reservoir, he
said, would extend from Oakland, where
it would be necessary to construct q
dam, to point about FIVE miles above
Suffern, N. Y. Opponents of the i'm
provement, however, maintain that the
principal damage will be caused along
the lower reaches Of the Ramapo ada
cent to Oakland. This territory, they
claim, would be virtually submerged
by the reservoir and completely de-
stroyed.
1t was decided by the commission
that, in view Of the fact that counsel
for Bayonne did not fully disclose the
city's plans, and in Difference to the
wishes of property owners affected,
whose opposition to the project has not
been completely prepared, further
hearing on the case will be conducted
in Trenton on April 7.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
French Gave 1900, 900 Francs
To Accused Cinema pro,,,...

pARlS, March 1o.-An inquiry, bv the
ponce in connection with the case NJ
Andre Himmel. reputed general man
ager of the Franco.American Cinema
tograph Corporation, has revealed thst
100000 francs was deposited hv
prencnmen in the American Bank in
ra!ls Tor the account of Himmel, of
wnlcn WI oon sum, according to the police, only
.o,ooo francs remain on deposit. The
various Frenchmen in Himmei's c;nero %
tograph projects. N-''0 IA a
himmel was arrested recently on his
arrival at Havre from New York on ths
cnarge mar OF having misused more than
I'uoo,ooo francs invested in the como
ration by Frenchman named Rlvarv
who caused his arrest. -
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Pennsylvania Begins
Computing Wage Cuts
Special Diapatch to The Tribune

PHILADELPHIA. March lo.--The ex-
ecutive department of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. with very little preliminary,
to-day plunged into the enormous task
confronting it of working out the
equitable reduction in wages ordered
Wednesday by the board OF directors.
Since every step will be taken in
strict accordance with the regulations
Of the Railroad Labor Board, 1t was
said that the task may easily consume
another month. After that another
month will have TO elapse in most cases
before the reductions to be announced
can 60 into effect.
The plan to be followed includes
separate consideration for each ciass.-
ication of labor. md conferences before
decisions are made with the representa-
tives Of the men in each craft.
1t was announced to-day at the
offices Of the Philadelphia g. Reading
Railroad that meeting between repre-
sentatives of their unskilled labor and
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
AIdridge Is Undecided

George ". Aldridge, Of Rochester
70 whom has been offered by Preside
Harding the Office of Collector Of the
Port of New York, told friends in Ne
York yesterday that he had not as VI.
decided whether he would be able %
accept President Harding's prefer Ur.
til Mr. Aldridge decides the disposition
Of the other importanr Federal Offices
will be held in abeyance
The Republican friends Of Collecto-
of the Port Byron F. Newton yestel-
day started a quiet movement to ha,s
him retained in Office until the end a.
bis official term, next September. CO.
lector Newton in his administrator
has made many friends among Repub-
licans and they have offered 20 go to
the front" for him in order TO have ia
service end at the expiration Of the
fouryear period.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Boylan Sees Democratic
Victory in Miller Plan
Passage of Traction Bill Would
Gust Republicans, Senator
Tells Women

State Senator's John J. Boylan. Demo
crat, and Schuyler NJ. Meyer, Repub-
hcan, and Judge Cornelius Collins dis
cussed Governor Miller's traction bill
last night before the members of the
Women's Democratic Political League
at the Hotel Vanderbilt Senator Never
spoke in favor of the bill and the other
two speakers against it.
Senator Boylan said if the measure
embodying the Governors traction pro-
posals became a law it would mean
that Democratic Assembly would be
elected next year and the following
year would see Democratic majority
IN the Senate. Ii such a condition came
to pass it would give him great pleas
ure, he said, to present a bill killing
the Governors traction plan and leeis.
lating the traction commission out of
office -
Judge Collins declared the Gov
ernor's plan to be the greatest piece Of
lnsolence with which New York City
had ever been threatened, 1--WE have a
contract for a five-ce subway fare !"
he said, land we will make the com
panies stand by that contract"
Mrs. Harry M. Lilly, former presi-
dent of the New York City Federation
OF Women's Clubs. also spoke. Mrs.
Lillian X. Sire presir~d.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11

He was graduated from Harvard in
1896. He is associated with manv
large institutions, being vicc-presidcnt
of the Fifth Avenue Safe Deposit Com
pany, director of the American Ali
ance Insurance Company. the American
international Corporation, the C. & N.
w. Ry. Co, the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western Coal Company, the Second
National Bank and the Queens Insur-
ance Company.
Mr.. stillman is fond of golf and
sailing. He has two brothers, Charles
Chauncey Stillman and DR. Ernest G.
Stlllman. His father died March Is,
1918, after having served as pre- esident
of the bank from 1891 to 1909, and as
chairman from 1909 to 1913. Each of
the sons, after the death of their
father, received in trust one third of
the residuary estate, which in each in
stance amounted to $9,694,571,
M. Stillman has two sisters-Mrs.
William G. Rockefeller and Mrs. Percy
a. Rockefeller. He is q member of the
Knickerbocker, University, Brook, Au-
tomobile, Racquet and Tennis, Down
Town, Golf Links, Garden City Golf,
Sleepy Hollow Country and New York
Yacht clubs,
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
5000 Needle Workers
Said to Endorse Strike
Applications for Settlements
From ITO Manufacturers
Claimed nv Leader

More than 5000 needle workers en-
ployed in the children's dress industry
have responded to the general strike
call to fight the attempts of manu-
facturers to establish a lower wage
scale, 1T was announced yesterday bv
Harry Greenberg, the strike chairman.
Greenberg said further that ten of
the strikers had been arrested while
picketing on charges of disorderly con-
duct, and he intended to appeal to Po-
lice Commissioner Enright to have po-
lice interference stopped.
Many manufacturers, he said had
asked for settlements, but he explained
that no new agreements would be
signed until Monday, when settlement
headquarters would be established at
the Cooper Square Hotel, 2 St. Marks
Place. Greenberg declared that t1O ap-
pllcations for settlement had been
received.
The strike was called when manufac-
turers attempted to lower the wage
scale from S to 25 per cent. The strik-
ers demand minimum weekly scale of
S16 for learners, $25 for operators, $50
for women presscrs, $40 for men press
ers and $40 for cutters. They also de-
mand recognition of the union and a
torty-four- hour week.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11

General Manager Frederick NJ. Falck
will take place next Tuesday "to dis
cuss the necessity of making reduc-
tons in the existing rates of pay"
Few Unskillcd Employees
About $4,000 men are employed by
the Philadelphia & Reading. Fewer
than 5000 Of these men, it was said,
fall into the ranks of unskilled labor.
This designation includes twenty-five
classifications, among which are ware
house labor, platform laborers, transfer
laborers, baggage porters, car cleaners,
engine wipers and track laborers.
The first discordant note emanating
from locai source was the threat to-
day Of Harry S. Jeffrey, who represents
seven crafts of railroad workers aifi-
lated with the A. f. of L., to fight
wage reductions to the bitter end. He
said it was quite possible that strike
would be resorted to if the Railroad
Labor Board turned down the protests
which the men intend to make. He
would be glad to be called into con-
t, ence by the Pennsylvania Railroad
officials, he said, but added that he
was prepared to show in such a con-
ference that if the wastage and leakage
caused by inetficiency were stopped
more money could be saved than by
wage reductions.
The latest complete report of monthly
pay roll figures of the Pennsylvania
Company, compiled for the Railroad
Labor Board, was completed to-day
1t was for December, 1920 At that
time the road employed 270,354 per-
sons. Since then the force has been
cut to about 100000 employees, and,
therefore, the figures Of this report
can be considered only as proportionate
reflections of present conditions.
The pay roll IN that month totaled
S43, ,41s,o0O. Of that amount only $685.
600, or about 2.05 per cent, was paid to
flcials. That classification takes in the
president of the road and 533 minor
officials who received less than $4,000
year.
Even with the inclusion of the SAL
aries of the highest officials, it was
shown. therefore, that the average
monthly pay for officials was about
1870.
Clerks Got S5,66o,666
The largest item on the list was for
the pay of 3S,149 clerks, who received
from $500 q year up. The amount for
them was $500 .666. The trainmen, if
all grouped together. would have made
an even larger item, but they were sub
divided into many different classes,
each With different wage scale.
The compensation of the most impor-
tant of these groupings for that month
follows:
1o,122 road freight orakemen and
hagmen, :......,.., s1s72,s4s
5,142 road freight engineers and
motormen ,.......... ,.asa,25o
1892 road freight fremen and
helpers ........... 1868 4os
3's13 road freight conductors. 7so.573
l,771 road passenger engineers and
motormen ..........: .:.......... 4541e4
1,1l1 road passenger fremen and
helpers .................... 331,so1
l'Ssl road passenger conductors. 34S, so7
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Packers Promise Meat Supply

CHICAGO, March 10.-Assuranc that
the nations meat supply will not be
interrupted, regardless of any action
that may be taken by the unions on the
recently announced reduction of wages
and readjustment of working hours,
was given to-day by the packets. =
Despite the strike threats being
made BY the agents of the union, we do
not expect any trouble that will inter-
fere with the nations meat supply"
said statement issued by Armour &
Co: "a survey of the packing plants
indicates that the individual employees
understand the situation and do not
want to be forced to idleness, or to be
asked to go on strike. The union lead
ers who ere talking strike do not rep
resent 25 per cent of the packing
plants employees.
The nation is engaged in an effort
to get back to normal, which in the
main means reduction of prices. Those
who are talking strike in order to up
mold inflated wartime wages are OBJ
structing the nations return to normal.
We stand with the public in the fight
against war prices in time of peace"
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Strike Vote On
As Harding Acts
In Packers Cut
Ballots Go to Workers
i'm Plants While Their
Protest Against Wage
Reduction Is Considered
To Know Poll Wednesday
Meat Supply for Country Is
Assured in Any Event,
Armour & Co. Announce

OMAHA, Neb., March 10.--The appeal
by the conference of the Meat Cutters
and Butchers Workmen's Association
to President Harding to try to prevent
wage reductions and changes in work
ing hours from going into effect March
ID has been taken up by Mr.. Harding
with the Department Of Justice and the
Department Of Labor, according to in
formation received to-day from Frank
Morrison, secretary of the American
Federation of Labor, at Washington.
The conference authorized the unions
executive committee here to arrange
Immediately for strike vote.
In a telephone conversation with
Dennis Lane, secretary of the union,
Mr.. Morrison said that a call had been
issued to all allied unions in the pack
ing industry for a conference in Chi
cago next Wednesday. The meeting
will outline a program for concerted
action il strike is called against the
wage cut approXimating 121a per cent
proposed by the packers.
The strike ballots will be mailed i'm
mediately from Chicago, and the final
result is expected to be known by next
Wednesday. The executive board is
given authority to call and conduct a
strike if a referendum vote authorizes
1t, and to arrange all details of any
settlement
All locals are warned to refrain
from striking or taking other action
pending issuance Of a general order
A petition for an Injunction to re-
strain the packers from reducing wages
OF readjusting working hours has been
planned for presentation in the United
States Court in Chicago next week if
the employees appeal to President
Harding to use his influence to prevent
the changes does not bring desired re-
suits. Redmond S. Brennan, of Kansas
City, general counsel for the packers
employees, said to-day.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Compers Says
Foes of Unions
Plot Serfdo1n
Warns Alleged s'Bourbons''
Among EmployersAgainst
Driving Too Hard the
Bargain of Wage Revision
Won't Submit, He Holds
Declares Open Shop Mere
Subterfuge to Close All
Plants to Union Workers

CAMBRIDGE. Mass, March 10.-Sam-
uels Gompers tonight voiced organ
lied labor's opposition to wage reduc-
tions and the open shop movement
Addressing the Student Liberal Club
at Harvard University, the president
of the American Federation of Labor
warned the enemies of rational labor
unionism against driving too hard the
bargain of wage revision; declared that
labor regarded aspiration as guaran-
tee under the Constitution and inter
preted that in terms of 1--WE want more,''
and asserted that the open shop was
simply a subterfuge to close shops
against labor unionists. He added that
the men of labor, having. fought TO pro-
tect the country and themselves against
political autocracy, were not now
New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
700 Boatsnen ON Strike.
Union Leaders Declare
Owners Plead Ignorance of
Walk-Out and Insist Wage
Cut VIII Stand

James Matthews, business agent of
the Tidewater Boatmen's Union. yes
terday declared that 700 men employed
in the loading and unloading of coal
and grain barges in the harbor have
gone out on strike in protest against
wage cut of $40 a month. officials
of the New York Boat Owners Asso-
citation declared, however, that if a
strike is IN progress they do not know
1t and that the wage cut will stand
According to Joseph Ryan, vicc-pres-
ident of the international Longshore-
mems Association, with which the
boatmen's union is affiliated, many
members of the owners association
had decided, in view of the threatened
strike, not to reduce the wages of the
men %hlch is now Sll0 month. This
was also denied by officials of the
owners association