Evening star., 1926-01-17

| lot lHt DetleIIltIlt VI llldHhlIlu lie
most important of the leagues ac-
tivities now under contemplation in
clude the coming disarmament con-
ference and a proposed economic con-
| ference.
The Russian Bolshevist govern
| ment last week sentenced to death
| Alexander Nikulin and thereby set
! tied some old scores. During the
czarist regime Nikulin was a govern
! ment spy, and through his activities
more than 200 revolutionists were
tried and executed. He fell into the
hands of the BolshevistS, as many
former czarist supporters did, and has
found little mercy at the hands of
those he once helped to betray.
How the newspapers should handle
the subject of crime-a much dis
cussed and debated topic-was one Of
the problems considered here last
week by the American Society of
Newspaper Editors. whose members
represent some 174 newspapers in the
United States. Casper 5. Yost, presi-
dent of the society. called the preva-
lence of crime in the United States
national disgrace. and proposed that
the members form and adopt code
of principles in the handling of crime
of crime news is one of the duties of
the newspaper as a matter of public
information, but he deplored the de-
liberate pandering to vicious instincts
in the publication of such material.
There were two mine catastrophes
last week on two successive days. An
explosion in the main shaft of the
Degnan-McConnell mine near Wilbur
ron Okla buried 105 men The OF her
explosion occurred at the mine of the
Jameson Coal and Coke Co, at Farm
ington. W. Va. About 3S men, it Is
feared lost their lives.
Although expert opinion is to the
effect that another war is at least ~
years in the future, there Is already
interesting discussion concerning a
proposed draft law, sponsored by Sen
ator Capper in the Senate and Repre-
sentative johnson in the House. This
bill would conscript not only men OF
military age, but would put the wealth
of the country at the disposal Of the
President In war times. One OF the
avowed purposes Of the bill is to make
war so unattractive to everybody, rich
and poor alike, that Congress would
hesitate a long time before plunglns
the country into a conflict.
\ tale or CRIME anu DulCHeIN dii-
rivaled in the long story of Mexican
banditry found the front pages of
newspapers last week under date
line from Yurecuaro. in the state or
Michoacan. Bandits entered train as
passengers and when near that place
locked the doors Of the coaches and set
about robbing and butchering the pas
sengers. escaping unhindered into the
mountains Fully 80 persons were
Nv he ha EN0rfnnatelE,
there were no Americans on board.
According to the Mexican govern
ment, 1000 government troops round
ed up the bandits the following day.
The President last week appointed
Philfp 6. Teller of California to be
member Of the United States Shipping
Board to succeed Myer LisSner, VINO
recently resigned. Mr.. Teller Is busi-
ness man Of San Francisco.
With Gen. Pershing on his way
home from africa. where he has been
head of the plebiscitary commission
seeking to carry out the plebisclte TO
determine the nationality of Tacna ana
africa. Mai. Gen. William Lassiter, op-
pointed as his successor, sailed tor
AFRICA last week from Panama.
Rupert Hughes, novelist and play
wright, evoked a storm of discussion
here last week which had It's echoes
from all over the country When, our
ing an address before banquet or the
Sons Of the Revolution, he described
George Washington as a "profane, IT,
religious and pleasure-loving man.
He was rebuked by members of the
society for thus defamfng the name OF
a man who has become an ideal In TINS
country. but he replied that he SIM
plv sought to picture Washington as
he was and not as the School DOCKS
paint him. He based his description
on history. but others countereu lhaI
history warranted nothing of the sort.
Congress.
Gerald P. Nye Of North Dakota, ap-
pointed by Gov. Sorlie Of that State to
All the vacancy in the senate caused
by the death Of Senator Ladd, was
seated last week by a vote OF Al to
39-winning by bare margin the po-
sition he has fought for. and which, q
short time ago, there appeared little
possibility of his attaining. While
party lines were disregarded. senator
Nye owes his victory to a coalition OF
Democrats and insurgents. with some
regular Republicans. He was elected
as a Republican. but is considered a
ssive-Republican." His ap-
ground that there is no law in North
Dakota providing that vacancies In
the Senate shall be temporarily hlled
by the governors appointment. such
a law exists in the majority OF states
The new Senator IS 33 years old ana,
with the exception or young La
Toilette, is the youngest man In the
upper branch Of Congress.
The special Senate committee which
investigated the Internal Revenue
Bureau made its report to the Senate
last week and charged that a total
of s2lO,655, $50 had been Improperly
allowed in exemptions by the bureau.
The report criticized many of the
methods of administering the income
tax by the bureau, and recommended
corrective measures for incorporation
In the new tax bill. now pending In
the Senate.
The revenue bill, carrying tax re-
ductions. Is about ready for report to
the Senate from the committee which
has been considering 1t. and the
chances are that 1t will displace the
World Court, now before the Senate,
for a time at least No one In the
Senate-not even the most enthus-
Senate-not even the most enthusi.
aStfc proponents oA auhefehCe " .ie
try's wrath by delaying vote on the
tax bill. Senator Simmons Of North
Carolina, ranking Democratic mem
Der of the Senate finance committee.
announced his intention Of having the
tax bill reduced by $500,000,000. But
the administration leaders look rather
coldly on the proposition, as the
House reduction of 1925 ,000.0 900 is con-
sidered by Secretary Mellon of the
Treasury to be the absolute limit.
senator Simmons has let it be known
that he has no intention of delaying
action on the tax bill in insisting on