davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
AIMS TO ABOLISH
D. c. FEE SYSTEM
Madden Offers Bill Affecting
Offices of Deeds and
Wills.

The final step toward abolition of
the fee system in the District Govern
ment was taken today by Chairman
Madden Of the House appropriations
committee when he introduced a bill
to do away with the use Of fees for
support OF the Office of Recorder OF
Deeds and Register of Wills in the Dis
trict of Columbia. This measure would
place these offices upon an annual ap-
preparation basis, turning whatever
fees are received directly into the Fed
eral Treasury.
Mr.. Madden explained that the pres
ent laws provide schedules of fees to
be charged by the Recorder Of Deeds
and the Register of Wills for work per.
formed by their Offices for the public.
The law also permits the use Of these
fees to the extent they are necessary
for the payment OF salaries of en-
ployes and defraying other expenses
for the conduct of those offices. What
ever surplus fees remain after the ex-
penses are paid are deposited in the
Treasury at the end Of the fiscal year
and credited to the District of Column
bia.
Chairman Madden emphasized that
the tendency of Government in recent
years has been toward the abolition
of the use of fees for the support of
public Offices. The purpose OF the
bill. he said. is to take away from
these two offices the use of the fees.
a practice Of many years standing,
and require them to be supported by
direct appropriation in the same
manner as other activities Of the Dis
trict government are supported.
This bill will require the heads Of
both Of the offices to prepare a budget
annually setting forth their needs
and to come before the proper admin
istrative authorities and the commit
tees Of Congress to justify the funds
which they ask.
Mr. Madden insisted the bill is in
the interest Of good legislative pro-
cedure. good administrative practice
and says that its passage will mark
the passing Of the last Of the fee-sup-
ported offices under the District, Of
which there were at one time great
many.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
MINES IN INDIANA
RE0PENED QUIETLY
Troops Called Out to Que.I
Anticipated Disorders.
Only rs at Work.
By the Associated Press.

EVANSVILLE. Ind, February %
With troops of the Indiana National
Guard encamped here. five non union
bituminous coal mines in southern
Indiana reopened today after several
weeks of idleness.
Only rs men reported for work. how
ever, at the five mines, according to
observers for Sheriff Earl Spradley Of
Warrick County. The mines normally
employ several hundred men.
An indianapolis company of the Ma
tional Guard arrived at Evansville to-
day and three planes reached the
scene from an observation unit at
Kokomo. A company of guardsmen
from GreenSburg. Ind, also has been
ordered to Evansville.
What little activity was possible at
the reopened mines with the small
force which reported was begun
quietly, the sheriff was told, and with
no signs of disturbance.
Troop movements were ordered late
yesterday by Adjt. Gen. II. Kershner
following a conference with Gov. Ed
jackson.
Sporadic fighting between union
sympathizers and non.union miners
during a unionization campaign which
has been in progress several weeks
has resulted in a tense situation, State
officials have been advised.
Adjt. Gen. Kershner said last night
his latest reports from the mining
district indicated that quiet prevailed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
i. S. RAIDS LAND
12OGUNMEN|N NET
Chicago "Bad Lands" Clean
Up May Bring Deportation
OF Many Gangsters.
By the Associated Press,

by the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, February 23.-More
than l20 were under arrest TO-DAY as
a result of police raids throughout
the West Side bad lands for de
portable alien gangsters and CUR
men. The district has been ter
rorized the last year by gang war
fare.
Twenty-one of the men taken I'm
the sudden police attack were desig-
mated as Government prisoners BIZ
United States inspectors sent here
on instructions from Washington.
The suspects must stand trial for
their right to remain longer in this
country. inspectors said
Ninety-nine arrests were made in
cafes, poolrooms and homes and -
men were taken from street corners
Don Peppino. member OF the
"Quarto, which, police say. is the
inner government of the districts
gangsters, was taken in the round
up.
At the warehouse Of Antonio LON
bardo officers found a sawed-off shot
gun recently fired and a quantity of
ammunition. A card index secured
in the raid contains the names ~
many alleged gangsters. police said.
The political headquarters OF Dia.
mond Joe opposite was among the
places visited.
An exodus Of aliens from tho raided
district was reported to police by
railroad ticket agents and word Wa q
forwarded to arrest all suspects on
east bound trains.
Commenting on the drive. Jeremiah
Hurley, supervising director OF i'm
migration, sent here last week from
Washington, declared the crusade
would be continued until the district
Is cleaned up.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
HALF MILLION LEFT
! OF PEPCO SURPLUS
Considerable Part Probably
Never Will Be Claimed,
Officials Believe.

Approximately $780, of the I'M
pounded fund of the Potomac Electric
Power Co. remains to be refunded to
electricity consumers in the District,
according to figures compiled today
by the Public Utilities Commission.
Since last July 1, when the company
undertook to distribute the consum-
ers' share of the impounded fund,
81 1870, 900 Of the $2,950.000 total has
been refunded. Utility Commission Of
ficials believe that a considerable por-
ton of the remaining $580,000 will
never be claimed, due to the death or
removal from the city Of consumers
who cannot be located.
Three years was the time fixed for
the adjustment Of all claims. After
that time the amount remaining in
the impounded fund credited to the
consumers will accrue to the COM
pany.
Some Blanks Returned.
officials of the commission explain
that the company is making every
possible effort to locate persons en-
titled to a refund, but that a number
Of applications sent out by the COM
pany have heen returned by the Post
Office because of the failure to locate
the proper consumers. Whatever
amount which may accrue to the COM
pany, it was said, probably will not
meet the expenses Of distributing the
refund.
The impounded fund amounted to
Sc, 4&1 ,576, including the interest. Five
thousand dollars was deducted for ac-
crued taxes, leaving $5.901,5 This
amount was divided equally, one-half
going to the company and the other
half set aside for consumers.
1t Is not unusual for utility com
pany to accumulate a surplus in such
a manner as the power company un-
doubtedly will through it's acquisition
of unclaimed consumers refunds, &C.
cording to Utility Commission officials.
The Washington Railway and Electric
Co. and the Capital Traction Co., it
was pointed out, have made large
profits through the failure Of street
car passengers to turn in old tickets
for redemption at times when an in
creased rate Of fare was put into eff.
feet.
Left Big Surplus.
Figures on the commissions books
show that the Washington Railway
and Electric Co. gained almost $50, 900
In November. 1918. when the fare was
increased from tickets for % cents
to cents straight cash fare. Thou
sands Of tickets held by passengers
were not redeemed in this case, 1t was
said. leaving the company a sizeable
surplus. Again the following year
when the fare was raised the COM
pany added $4,000 to it's surplus at
counts for the same reason.
The commission has been unable
to determine how rnnCh the C9nifal
Traction Co. has increased it's surplus
accounts through the failure of pas
sengers to redeem old tickets due to
the company's system of bookkeeping.
Statisticians of the commission, how
ever believe that the figures are
lower than those of the Washington
Railway and Electric Co.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
EXPLAINS TRAFFIC JAM.
Due to Laxity of Policeman, Says
Capt. Headley.

Complaints of the congestion of
traffic at the junction of the Highway
Bridge approach road and the north
roadway of East Potomac Park were
received today. and when the matter
was taken up with Capt. Albert Head
ley of the fourth precinct he pointed
out that the fault was due recently
to individual laxity.
A policeman is assigned there regu-
larry to regulate possible heavy traffic.
but was found off his post during the
Sunday afternoon congestion.
This roadway was formerly patroled
by the park police. but the jurisdic-
ton is now in the Metropolitan Police
Department.
Capt. Headley said that there Is 8
standing order that man shall be
assigned to this post for traffic duty
on Sundays, holidays and other days
when traffic Is expected to be heavy
Howeve the precinct has no men
available for a permanent assignment
here and on days of heavy traffic it i
necessary to take a man from another
beat.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
.SN|PER CAPTURED,
ADMITS Staying z
Omaha ReneWs Normal Life
With Phantom Gunman in
Cell, Facing Death.
BY the Associated Press

OMAHA, Nebr.. February o.
, Stark terror, which had gr1pped
Omaha and Council Bluffs for more
than a week, gave way to relief to-
day with the knowledge that the
maniac gunman" who slew two per-
sons and fred at many others was
behind bars.
Frank Carter, 46, captured at Bart.
lett. Iowa, yesterday and brought
back to Omaha after confessing that
he was the 'sniper." stoically beguiled
time in the county jail as Omaha re-
sumed normal activities.
The city caught up the thread of
its business and social life after 1t
virtually had been severed through
fear of the prowler whose .22-caiiber
shells invariably were left as grim re-
minders Of his activities
Streets Deserted.
Streets almost were deserted at
night, theaters and other places OF
amusement suffered a precipitious
drop in patronage and some stores
Cancelled newspaper advertising BE-
cause Of dearth Of shoppers.
When arrested Carter. who said he
formerly was a farm laborer, possess
Il silencer, and a leather vest-ac-
couterments which the popular imag'
nation already had credited to the
mysterious slayer.
A speedy trial was promised by
County Attorney Beal. who said he
would ask for the death penalty.
There is no insanity there" said
Beal. He has a low mentality but he
is cunning and sharp"
After his capture by a four.man
posse led by a railroad section fore
man, Carter confessed to the shoot.
! ings Of last week.
Victims Made Him Mad.
Carter asserted he killed w L. Nc.
Dewitt and DIR. A. D. Searles because
they made me mad by thinking they
could resist He said he shot Ross
Johnston in Council Bluffs for pro.
lection when I thought he would
spread an alarm
Il held up McDevitt to rob him.
Carter related. He tried to grab my
gun and / fired shot over his shout
der to make him behave. Then he
started to run. That made me mad
and l shot to kill.
Il can't say that / felt sorry for
what 1 had done. but two or three
girls came along and felt sorry for
them. / thought they might tumble
onto the body, and get the shock Of
their lives. But they didn't"
He said the girls scared him away
before he could rob the body. Rob-
berry was also his objective when he
shot DR.. Searles. he said. but Il did
have slight grudge against him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
SAYS WASHINGTON AS 'sDRY'' CITY
is 'MORE DRUNKEN THAN LONDON
William p. Emo Develops Plan for Regulation OF
Liquor in u. S., Which Is Before 'sWets'' Modif-
cation Committee for Consideration.

Charging that statistics show that
Washington, under Federal enforce
ment Of prohibition. is eight times az
drunken as London and five times as
drunken as Paris under regulation"
William P. Emo Of this city has de-
veloped plan for regulation Of liquor
in the United States, which will be
studied by the modification committee.
OF which he was appointed a member
last night. by the Association Against
the Prohibition Amendment.
ION the basis Of arrests for drunk.
enness per 100. 900 OF population Mr..
Emo pointed out in a pamphlet dis
tributed at the modification banquet
last night at the Mayfiower Hotel. the
figures are: London, $50; Paris. 500;
Washington, $500.
THE enforcement Of the Volstead
act Is under direct control of the
United States Government In the City
OF Washington. Yet the statistics
prova beyond controversy that the
Capital Of the United States under
Federal enforcement Of prohibition is
eight times more drunken than the
capital Of England and five times more
drunken than the capital of France
under regulation.
The facts are beyond dispute that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
PARK COMMISSION BILL is @. KID
BY SENATE HEARING WITNESSES
Delano and Others Indorse Measure-Bel Urges
Modification of Provisions-king Would Create
Body of Expert City Planners.

schools badly, and the forthcoming
District bill provides for the spend.
ing Of another 100000 Of the sur
only $500, 900 out Of the entire surplus
for park purposes.
Asks for Fairness.
1T seems In all fairness" Senator
Phipps went on, that this money
having accumulated under the $3.50
fiscal arrangement, should have been
matched by the Federal Government
but the people needed these schools
and had to use their surplus to get
them or seek a bond ISSUE"
Senator Phipps then emphasized
again the point that by using larger
part of the surplus for the urgent
school building program, there was
LEFT only 5000, 900 for the park pur,
poses. and he expressed the belief
hat the people of the District would
much rather have used that small
allotment for park like the Patter'
son tract. rather than see 1t used to
complete linking OF the Rock Creek
and Potomac Parks, which Senator
Phipps characterized as more Of a
Federal than Q local park project.
THE 60-40 division of this item is
a fair proposal" he concluded, land
1t would leave the people of the
District a balance Of $4,000 in their
surplus fund for the purpose Of some
other park land"
Others Are Heard.
Others who testified in connection
with the National Capital planning
bill were Charles F. Consaul. repre-
senting a committee of the Board CT
Trade, and Mrs. John B. Henderson,
who. made a strong appeal for the
systematic and attractive develop
ment Of the District from now on.
Mr.. Consual said he wanted to in
dorse the general principle OF the
bill. and that while it might be i'm
proved by amendment. he thought
the advantage Of having obtained &C
ton in the House should not be lost
by far.reac ching changes in the Senate
After Senator King had expounded
his theory of having a temporary
group Of planners draw up a compre
hensive scheme for the approval OF
Congress, Senator Copeland Of New
York expressed the belief that the
such procedure by enabling the pro
posed commission to engage the nee
essary experts to draw a definite plan
Bell Closely Questioned.
Senator Copeland also questioned
Col Bell closely as to whether any OF
the power now held by the District
Commissioners would be given to the
Planning Commission II the pending
bill should be modified as the Com
missioners request. Col. Bell replied
that he thought the modification
would give the Planning Commission
more responsibility over development
of highways, parks and Fairgrounds.
but admitted that it would not deprive
the Commissioners of any definite au-
thority.
In addition to advocating that the
powers of the Planning Commission
be curtailed, Col. Bell also proposed
to strike out that part Of the bill
which would add citizen members to
the existing Park Commission.
He added the qualification that II
Congress decides to retain citizen
members on the proposed commission
that they be District Of Columbia resi-
dents.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
SEEKS PAY RAISE.
Blanton Asks Increases for Guards
in Public Buildings Here.

Representative Blanton, Democrat,
Of Texas renewed yesterday his plea
for an increase in pay for the guards
under the administration of the engi-
neer officers in charge Of public build
ings. He argued that In many cases
they receive only $85 a month, which
Is too small for a mani with family
to live on.
This plea came during considera-
ton of the independent offices appro-
priation bill, which carries an item of
81 100 900 for the office of director of
public buildings and public parks.
which includes $4,000 900 for installa.
ton and operation Of lighting sys-
tenn for the Lincoln Memorial and
$40 900 for installation Of a public CON-
fort station In that Lincoln Memorial
Final action was not reached last
night on this bill.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
OFFICIAL CALL ISSUED.
League Council Summoned to Meet In
Geneva March 8.

GENEVA, February % P).-An Of
hcial call for the council of the League
of Nations to meet March 8. when the
special assembly summoned to act on
Germany's application for member
ship in the league will open, was Is
sued Yesterday. Niscount Ishii. Jap
anese Ambassador to France. will pre-
side.
The official agenda includes 26
items, but the list omits the most i'm
portant question brought up by Ger
many'S application, that OF whether
other states besides Germany shall be
given permanent seats in the council.
Among the questions to be consid-
cred is a report of the leagues ex-
perts on arbitration conventions and
treaties of mutual security registered
with the league. 1t Is understood that
the experts have found that existing
documents show that the idea Of set
fling conflicts by Cancellation and ar
bitration has been more widely adopt
ed than is generally supposed This
IS expected to encourage the league 8
disarmament discussions.
The council will fix a new date for
the meeting Of the preparatory COM
ence, and also will decide whether this
meeting shall be held outside Of
Switzerland, SO as to assure the par
-icipation Of Soviet Russia
The council also will choose a date
for the meeting of the preparatory
commission for the international eco
nomic conference. Other matters to
be considered include the report on
the French mandate in Syria, which is
being prepared by the permanent
mandates commission in Rome. and
the selection of a site for a new as
,iembly hall. This latter topic Is ex-
pected to bring up the discussion Of
whether, in view of the controversy
between Switzerland and Russia over
the Norovsky murder, the league
should definitely tie itself to Geneva.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
Continued from First Page)

planning commission. He took the
| position that the decisions Of the
planning commission should be more
| than merely advisory and yet should
not be so iron.clad that the District
Commissioners would be bound to
carry them out regardless Of tie
circumstances.
To make his position clear. the wit
ness explained that If the planning
commission favored the widening of
certain thoroughfare and the Engi-
neer Commissioner should be opposed
10 it, he believed a likely procedure
would be for the Engineer Commits.
sioner to go before his colleagues on
the board Of District Commissioners
and explain that while he personally
was not in favor of the project the
planning commission had taken the
opposite position and that the gen
eral plan of the city should be add
hered TO.
Cites Mcmillan Plan.
Unless you give the planning com.
mission that much standing. 1t will
not succeed" said Mr.. Delano. THAT
is what happened to the Mcmillan
plan for parks"
Mr.. Delano declared he would not
dilNOCdte iDSOiutc power lOI the
ming commission, but that it would
have to have more than mere ad.
visory status if its plans are to be
accomplished.
When the question of whether the
Federal Government should bear a
part of the expense of buying the re-
naming land between Rock Creek
and Potomac Parks was taken up by
the committee, Senator Phipps. who
is in charge of District appropria-
tons In the Senate, declared that
fairness to people of the District
required the Federal Government to
contribute toward the completion Of
this project. The linking together of
Rock Creek and Potomac Parks is
more Of a Federal project than a
local one. the Senator asserted. and
at least 40 per cent of the cost should
be borne by the Federal Government.
Asks Committee Support.
The bill already has passed the
House, and is now on the Senate
calendar in such form that all of the
$500. 900 needed will be taken from
the surplus revenues Of the District.
Senator Phipps has offered an amend
ment which would take 60 per cent
Of the cost from the surplus revenues
of the District and 40 per cent from
the Federal Treasury and he appeal
ed, today to the members of the Sen
ate District committee to support
that amendment when the bill is
| taken up on the floor.
Senator Phipps was chairman Of the
committee Of Congress which found
after long and careful investigation
that the District had to its credit in
the Treasury a surplus fund Of S.
100000. the existence of which was
recognized by Congress for the spe-
cific purposes of school building and
park buying.
Senator Phipps explained today that
$685.. 900 of the surplus was appro-
priated for school buildings during the
current year without any definite
amount contributed by the Federal
Government"
The citizens OF the District. Sena-
tor Phipps continued. wanted those
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
BATTLE COURT
SENATORS PRESSED
Borah and Reed Continue In
vasion of Territory of
Protocol Backers.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. February 23.-The Mid
west has become the temporary battle
ground in the fight on the issue Of
World Court as primary time draws
near in several Central States.
Senator William Z. Borah, Republi-
can. Idaho, foe of the court, who
bitterly denounced 1t twice here yes
terday, invades Wisconsin. home of
Senator Irvine Lenroot, Republican
champion of adherence, today. The
Idaho Senator speaks tonight In MIL
waukee, tomorrow at Racine and re-
turns to Chicago tomorrow night en-
route to Washington.
Senator Lenroot at GAINESVILLE, Wis.
last night, said he would rather have
his record of aiding in obtaining
favorable Senate action for entering
the court than reelection.
Reed Asks Reprisals.
In the territory of Senator William
Mckinley, Republican, Illinois, candi-
date for reelection, who voted for the
court, Senator James A. Reed of Mis-
last night pleaded for voters re-
prisals against those who invoked
cloture on the issue in the Senate
and who voted for the court,
Senator Henrik Shipstead, Farmer
Labor, Minnesota, will follow up the
efforts of the anti-court Senator'S in an
address in Chicago March II.
In their Washington's Birthday ad-
dresses, Senators Borah and Lenroot
invoked the principles of Washington
in support of their arguments.
1t devolves on the people to save
the abandoned policies and princi-
Mes of the first President of the
United States, Senator Borah declared
in his two addresses. one in the Coli
scum and the other at a banquet Of
the Grove Barrett Brundage-T homp-
son faction of Illinois Republicans.
Both speeches were radiocast.
Stands by Washington.
Senator Lenroot said the foreign
policy of Washington embodies the
foreign policy of the Republican party
today. He referred to sections of
Washington's farewell address as
those Senator Borah will not quote. E"
Washington said il we desired to
avoid insult we must be able to repel
it. If Washington were alive today
he would uphold the foreign policy
Of the United States
1--WE are In the position that We
must come out of the court or in
evitahly become involved in the affairs
Of the League of Nations" said Sena-
tor Borah. IF the spirit of '76 still
dwells in the heart of America, we
certainly can get out of this PROPOSE
ton that Is neither court nor any.
thing. There is just one supreme
ruler in the United States from which
there is no appeal-public opinion"