davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
Bv Ccrsolidated Press

HASTINGS, Nebr-. February liz
This town is losing one of its principal
ndustries-entertaini ining claimants 10
the quarter -million-dollar estate Of
John O'Connor, who died13 years ago.
A court decision barring all of 1000
claimants throughout .the world. in
Guiding 100 women who claimed TO
be OConnor's widow, has caused an
exodous OF would-be heirs and law
,yers. The estate. by the court decree
goes to the State of Nebra ska.
The total spent by persons trying
to get a part of the O'Connor estate
probably exceeded the total value of
the estate. For years. since the aged
man died in his humble home where
he had lived the life of q recluse
claimants have swarmed into Hast
ings.
The body of the recluse was kept in
cold storage severel years and after
its burial undertakers took In goodlay
sums for digging it up for identfffea
ton purposes. And almost every
time the undertakers' customer iderfti.
fed the body as that of long missing
relative.
At least 200 persons claimed
O'Connor was a brother. Five hundred
sought a part of the estate on grounds
he was an uncle or cousin. The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
STATE GETS RECLUSE'S ESTATE:
100 sWIDOWS.' 200 BROTHERS SAD
Thousand Persons Claimed John O'Connor's $3.50
OOO-'sWives'' From All Over World-Under.
takers Worked Overtime Exhurhing Body.

gclaima nts came from many States and
several European countries. One
Michigan woman. after spending A
large sum to have the body eNhumed,
viewed il and said
'Oh. it's my poor John, my hus-
band who left M u wears ago.
Five years ago court hearing of
claims continued throughout an entire
Summer. with the result that all
relatives" were declared out. But
large numbers appealed. the recent
final decision being that John 3. Kirk
man of Kansas City had no claim on
the estate.
John OConnor came TO Hastings
60 years ago. He opened little shoe
shop. bought land At sl.25 an acre and
watched ii grow into value of $3.50
an acre. He never spoke to woman
told friends he hadn't a relative on
earth and died without leaving will
Among those barred by late court
Idec4sipns are the O'Conners of Lap&er,
Nigh. = sCConnor of Natervliet. n y:
pisCn -brethers, hail breed Indians of
SeflKirk in the Hudson Bay country:
Henry c. O'Connor. Miami. Fla: Mrs.
Mary O'Connor Tindell. Covent
Garden. London. England; Daniel
OConnor. Virginia City. New. and
Mrs. Mary O'Connor. Washington,
d. G.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
HAMILTON RESIGNS
AS TRACTION HEAD
Capital System President
Will Be Succeeded by -
John H. Hanna.

George f. Hamilton resigned today
as president of the Capital Traction
Co. to become effective March II. the
eighteenth anniversary of his election
to that office. His resignation. pre-
sented at a meeting of the board of
directors of the company, was uneX-
pected 1t was accepted with the un-
derstanding that he will continue to
serve the company as a board mem
ber, general counsel and chairman of
the executive board.
John H. Hanna, who has been vice
president, in charge of operations OF
the company. for the past 10 years.
was elected unanimously to fill the
vacancy created by Mr.. Hamilton s
resignation.
With Company 81 Years.
His election will become effective
on the date of Hamilton's resignation.
Mr.. Hanna has been connected with
the Capital Traction Co. for 80 years.
He is graduate Of Princeton Uni
versity of the class of 1S9" and holds
the degree of civil engineer.
Mr.. Hamilton gave as his chief
reason for resiGning his desire to de-
vote more time to professional en-
pigments and personal matters. His
letter of resisnat ton follows:
II hereby tender my resignation as
president of the Capital Traction
Co.. to become effective March IL,
1926
L was first elected president on
the 11th day of March, 1908, and
thereafter reelected in each succeed :
ing January, so that on March II,
1926. l will have completed IS years
of consecutive service.
Years Filled With Difficulties.
THE IS years of my official life
have been eventful ones in the his
tory of our company-years filled
with difficulties overcome, dangers
avoided, and With fair accomplish
ment in safe and useful direction.
While willing and desirous of
continuing as board member to work
with you for the welfare and prog
ress of the company, I am, and have
been. as you know. for some time
anxious to be relieved of the exac-
tions and possibilities incident to
the Office of president in order that
may give more fully my time and
energy to professional employments
and personal matters.
From the day of my first election I
Continued or Page .. Column 81
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
ORYEAW TEETH"
lNTWONEW BILLS
Measures, Considered by
Treasury, Will Go to Con-
gress Shortly.

Two more bills to strengthen pro-
hibition enforcement throughout the
United States are under consider ra :
ton by the Treasury Department and
will be sent to administration leaders
in Congress for introduction within a
short time. They will follow the
measure introduced in both houses
last week to establish bureaus of Gus
toms and prohibition.
The first new measure, which vir-
tually has been approved by Secre-
tary of the Treasury Mellon, pro.
vides for materially tightening the
national prohibition act along several
lines, including much more severe
penalties. 1t may be forwarded to
Congress late today or within the
next few days at least
Revision of Statutes.
The other measure which is eX-
pected to follow shortly, to- become
the third administration bill for bet.
ter prohibition. will be a compre.
hensive revision of the Revised Stat
utes. including those relating 20 GUS
toms, marine and others which bear
upon the enforcement problem.
ing it's program for more stringent
prohibition while the moderation ele-
ments of the country are marshaling
their forces for an attack on the dry
regime, both through Congress and
by mass meeting in the Capitol here
February %.
The wet and dry issue, it was esti-
mated today, as a result of the three
administration bills and the gathering
- l.
Joined with more intensity within the
next few weeks than at any time dur
Ing the more than six years of pro-
hihition.
Andrew j. Eolstead. father of the
national prohibition enforcement act.
was closeted with Treasury officials
for several hours yesterday in con-
ference over the proposed revision of
the Volstead law.
The advice and counsel of Mr.. Vol
stead. who was chairman of the judi
ciary committee of the House when
the national prohibition act became a
law. has been sought in several con-
ferences relating to revision, it was
learned today.
The conferees at the Treasury, as a
matter of fact, were busy on the pro-
posed amendment to the Volstead act
up until a late hour last night.
Exactly when this bill will be sent
to Congress was not revealed, but off,
cials indicated that it would be sent
very shortly.
The advice of Mr.. Volstead was also
understood to have been sought in
connection with the third admfnistra-
ton mea sure which deals with the Re-
vised Statutes. This bill is understood
to be comprehensive and lengthy,
dealing with a vast number OF details
and many statutes which treasury
officials feel have proved themselves
weak spots In prohibition enforcement.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
COOLIDGE MAY AID
RETIREMENT BILL
Favors Raising Annuities of
Civil Service Employees, But
Seeks More Data.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President Coolidge may become the
deciding factor in bringing about en-
actment at this session of Congress of
for Government employees. The Pres
ident has let II be known that he
would approve an increase in the an
nuities now being paid employees on
the retired list, but he is not clear
regarding other details of this propos-
ed legislation and 1t Is his intention
to confer with those members of the
Senate and House who are handling
this legislation so that he may be
come more familiar with all the
points involved.
Senator Stanfield Of Oregon, former
chairman of the Civil Service COM
nlittee of the Senate, who has taken
a leading part in the handling of this
legislation at this time. said today
that he expects to go to the White
House within the next few days to
discuss this legislation with the Pres.
ident.
Besides explaining the matter in de-
tail, it is his intention also to learn
the Presidents views. He was in
clined to think that the House and
Senate will be ready to carry out any
ideas that the, President might ad-
vance.
Senator Stanfield expressed the
opinion today that the joint meetings
being held by the House and Senate
civil service committees are making
progress and that the prospects, of
getting early action on this bill are
bright.
President Coolidge is known to have
told Representative Lehlbach of New
Jersey, chairman of the House civil
service committee. who has been
championing the liberalization of the
retirement laws, that he would ap-
prove reasonable increase in the
annuity. The President, it is asserted
would be disinclined to approve abol-
ishment Of the classification boa rd
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
w. R. E. Head Says Future
Traction Policy Should
Be Laid Down..
DECLARES COMPANIES
THEN COULD PROCEED
Tells House Committee City Could
Be Served Best by Unified Control,
But Scouts Fare Reduction.

The best basis for A merger Of the
street railway companies in Wash
inston would be for Congress TO
adopt a constructive policy tof the
future so that the companies msh'
know on what condition the merged
company would he allowed to opef-
ate and thus know exactly the ad-
vantages TO the existing companies
in merger. William F. Ham. presi-
dent of the w. II. & f. Co., toid
subcommittee of the House Dis
trict committee today.
Mr.. Hams suggestion was made
after intensive questioning and ne
made it clear that he had no inten-
ton of criticiZing the committee or
Congress, but was giving his pest
judgment.
Mr. Ham explained that single
COMPANY could be better planning
and the entire city could be afforded
traffic facilities and emphasized that
a merger should be looked upon as
building for the future by having one
corpora ton under control OF Con-
gress, either direct or by delegated
authority, to develop a unlf1ed ade-
uuate transportation service for the
Capital.
Opposes Fare Reduction.
Benefits to the public would come
gradually, but il is unfortunate that
they have been led to believe that
merger would mean a reduced carfare.
said Mr.. Ham. Neither of the existing
street railway companies is now re-
ceiving reasonable return on fair
valuation of its property as fixed by
the Public Utilities Commission under
an act of Congress, he said. 1T is
futile at this time to look for any re-
duction in fare, Mr.. Ham told the
committee.
At another stage of the hearing.
when asked regarding the prospects
of merger as explained by George K.
Hamilton. president of the Capital
Traction Co at the last session Of this
subcommittee, Mr.. Ham said that he
had been in conference with Mr..
Hamilton some time ago.
He said that the North American
Co., which holds about three-fourths
Of the common stock Of the Wash.
inSton Railway and Electric Co., has
made fact.findinE survey. He
knows that this same; company has
for the last two or three months
been in conference with ar authorized
,tvont;r,,ad on pace , Column a.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
Given List of Homes to Rob, Car to Use
By Police, Burg lar Says in Confession

The burglars were not only pro-
vided with lists of homes to enter,
but police automobile was furnished
to help haul away the loot, Chief
Wiltberger said the confession stated.
Henley said plot was undertaken
to discredit Wiltberger and Mayor
Charles Bartlett by Stimulating a
crime epidemic.
Dennis McEnery, former acting Ipo-
lice chief, mentioned as a result of
kenieys statements. denied any COM
plicity with his operations. OfficiaI Is
said no action had been taken against
him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
$4,000 to $4,000 Illinois Miners Driven
To Other Jobs by Machinery, Say Leaders

said. is due to increasing competition
of non.union fields and introduction of
machinery.
Pointing to the great surplus of
workers, Frank Harrington, president
of the Illinois Mine Workers, has ad-
vised local unions to refuse new mem
bers other than sons of active miners.
Oscar Ameringer. editor of the Illi-
nois Miner, said today he was advising
young miners to find employment in
another industry. Notwithstanding the
effect of non-union competition. he
said, machinery eventually would
drive many of them away.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
Senate Committee
Asks New Inquiry
Into Aluminium Co.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
Another investigation of the
Aluminium Company of America.
in which Secretary Mellon is
stockholder. was recommended to-
day to the Senate by its judiciary
committee.
The committee divided. to I.
with the seven Democrats and
Senators Borah. Idaho. and Norris
Nebraska, Republicans, voting tor
the Walsh report Recommending
such an investigation.
The other seven Repuhllcans
signed the Harreld minority re-
port recommending against any
Senate inquiry. The two reports
will be presented To the Senate
and the issue will be fought out
there.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, February IL
Hardly more than half the 10000 min.
ers of Illinois are at work, despite the
anthracite strike and the Winter sea.
son, it is estimated by responsible of.
ficials of the Illinois Mine Workers.
Those who are still at work are en-
ployed from one to six days a week
but $4,000 to $4,000 have quit mining
in Illinois. Some have gone to Michi
gan automobile factories, others to
occupations near home, and many to
non-union fields OF Kentucky.
This condition, mine officials have
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
WILL STUDY SITUATION.
BOrah Heads Senate Subcommittee to
Deal With Coal Measures.

Senator Borah of Idaho heads a
subcommittee of the Senate committee
on education and labor which today
was appointed by Senator Phipps
of Colorado, chairman of the full COM
mittee. to deal with proposed coal
legislation. The other members of the
subcommittee are Senators Metcalf
of Rhode Island and Copeland of New
York.
The appointment of the subcomrnit-
tee was authorized at a meeting of
the full committee today, when the
coal situation was discussed generally
Continued on Page 2. Column -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
10 ABOVE FORECAST
FOR CITY TONIGHT
Rise in Mercury Tomorrow,
With ThaW by Sunday,
Is Prediction.

It's going 10 he cold, cold night.
Forecaster Mitchell announced in q
chilly voice today, with the ther-
mometer flirting around the 10-degree
mark. but after that things will he
getting much warmer. and slushier.
Last nights snow. which was sort
of hang-ov from the eight and.a-
haf-inch fall of the night before,
brought the total snowfall for the
whole period to about 10 inches. Mr..
Mitchell said. 1t was the heaviest
fake precipitation since the X nicker-
booker storm of 1929. Last night s
low mark was Is degrees.
The temperature will rise some to-
morrow and will begin to climb
rapidly Saturday. the foreca ster
opfned. By Sunday he expects to see
Washington wading around in oceans
of slush.
COJ,D FOTJOyyS STORM
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
DEFICIENCY BILL
READY FOR SENATE
Comes Out of Committee
With $41,893, 1852 Added
Since Passage by House.

The deficiency appropriation bill
was reported to the Senate today from
the committee on appropriations. car
rying S423.577.162.0 an increase of
s41. 1.s93,16231 over the bill as passed
by the House.
Many items for the District of Co
lumbia are included in the bill. No
changes in these items for the District
were made by the Senate committee.
They stand exactly as they passed the
House.
OF the increases made by the Senate
committee, the Veterans Bureau will
receive S3S.250.0 900. for military and
naval compensation and for military
and naval Insurance..
The Senate committee added $50. 900
to paw the expenses of the American
delegation to the preliminary arms
conference.
Items for Streets.
Among the items for the District
of Columbia are S136.700 for street
improvements and S462,0o to be dis
bursed as gasoline tax road and
street improvements" and $4,000 for
paving roadways under the permit
system.
Among the street improvements au-
thorized and appropriated for is the
widening to a total width of 80 feet
and repaving the roadway of Connec-
ticut avenue from K street to NJ
street, and for widening by Is feet on
the east side to a total width of IS
feet and repaving the roadway of this
avenue from NJ street to Eighteenth
at a cost of $66.000.
Another provision calls for the
widening to 10 feet and repaving the
roadway of Eleventh street from Penn
sylvania avenue to New York avenue
at cost of $93 900.
For assessment and permit work on
sewers the appropriation is $255,000
Public School Items.
Among the items for the public
schools are the following:
For the completion of the furnish
ing and equipment, including neces-
sary repairs and remodeling of furni-
ture and equipment. of the Western
High School, fiscal year 1926, s22 900.
The sum of $125.000, contained in the
for the fiscal year 1925, for an athletic
field for the Western High School is
reappropriated and continued available
until June 80, 1927.
For additional amount for the con.
struction of'a wing to the Macfarland
Junior High School, $1,000.
For additional amount for the con.
struction of an eight.room building on
the site near Fifth and Buchanan
streets northwest, $25 800.
= For additional amount for the con.
struction of An eight-room extensible
Continued on Page 2, Column 81
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
COLD FOLLOWS STORM.
Death Toll in East. is; Western
States Bask in Sunshine

NEW YORK, February II FD.-
Bitter cold today followed on the heels
of second blizzard in a week that
buried Northeastern United States un-
der two feet of snow. took 16 lives
and held the section virtually snow
bound for "a hours.
Adding to the heavy snowfall of
late last week. which took 81 lives in
the East. yesterdays snowstorm
choked roads everywhere, delayed rail
road traffic. particularly in suburba n
districts. and heaped up drifts 10 and
II feet high in many sections of New
England.
A storm in Chicago took three lives.
While the East struggled through
the Snowdrifts. Colorado. Montana and
Wyoming were basking in warm sun
shine. famed by chinook winds from
the Rockies and noting increa sed
fioCks of robins.
Alberta to Get Cold.
Great Falls. Mont. usually a strong
hold of Winter, reported a butterfly.
Denver has had temperatures 10 de-
grees above normal for the first 10
days of February. They are plowing
in Alberta, but forecaSters see a dis
turbance headed that way.
While a Laramie rancher was catch.
ing a box or grasshoppers is indica-
ton that Winter was over. 10 inches
of snow was falling in Philadelphia
and Washington. with A foot or more
falling further North.
The storm. now headed northeast
ward in the Atlantic Ocean, whipped
huge seas and drove coastwise ships
to shelter.
Railroad traffic suffered heavily,
though energetic snow removal mas
tered the situation after some trains in
New England had been stuck in drifts.
At Brockton. Mass, public buildings
were turned over to hundreds of per-
sons unable to reach their homes Sew
eral smaller towns were cut off from
the outside world by the drifts. In
Rhode Island train of the Narragan-
sett Pier Railroad was showed under
till only the tops of the cars were Wis
ible. Its 20 passengers walked three
miles to Kingston, r. I.
Deaths From Storm.
1t was the second million-dollar
snow for New York City. The 81 ,0O0,-
900 thus far appropriated this Winter
probably will be wiped out. The street
cleaning forces exceed 10000 men.
Death reported in the storm were:
Gloucester. Mass, 8; Philadelphia, 9;
Boston. .: New London, Conn, .,
New Haven. Conn. 1; Greenwich,
Conn, l; Biddeford. Maine. 1; Trenton,
n. j.. l: New York, 1; Worcester, /,
and Pawtucket, |.
The storm was most severe in
south New England. Maine and
New Hampshire today are feeling the
effects. New York. New Jersey, Penn
CONTINUED on Page 5, Column 81
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
ITALIAN DOCTORS BARRED
By Cable to The star and Chicago Daily News

By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
VIENNA, February 11.-Feeling
a yainst Italians because of the Tyrol
incident has caused Prof. Meller OF
the University Of Medicine TO suggest
tnat two Italian doctors leave the
clinic Tho Italians lef: They said
their fellow students wanted them
to sign a document stan. that they
disapproved of Fremie" Mussulini
speech Eighteen Italian doctors are
still in other clinics.
,Copyrizht 1928 by Chicago Daily News Co.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
CHICAGO. February 1.-Two po-
licemen have been suspended in
Evanston, suburban home of Vice
President Dawes, as the result of an
investigation of vice and crime con-
Ciitions made by William A. Wilt
berger, called the college graduate
police chief"
The policemen. one a negro. were
named. the chief said, in a confes-
sion of Glen Henley, held on robbery
charges. who said they had aided him
and three others in more than a score
of burglaries in the exclusive suburb.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
.PERSH|NG RETURNS;
MET BY OFFICIALS
General to Enter Walter Reed
as~Soon as PossibIe-De-
cIines to Issue Statement.

Gen. John J. Pershing came back to
Washington this morning. his usually
genial face bit pale and drawn, but
otherwise showing no outward signs
Of the illness that compelled him TO
drop his task of attempting to settle
South Americas bitter territorial dis
agreement with ballots instead of bull
lets and return home for physical re
habiIitation at Walter Reed Hospital.
The veteran commander of Amer
ica's Great War armies stepped from
his Florida train to the platform of
Union Station promptly at $50
o'clock. II had been FIVE months since
he departed from the National Capital
on his serious diplomatic mission, but
he came back. at his own request,
with as little fuss as though he had
Just been away for A few weeks on
business of no more than passing inn
pnrtanco.
Gen. Pershing was greeted at the
station first by Secretary of State kel-
logg. who engaged him in converse
tion on the entire march of the Presi-
dents entrance, where his private
car was waiting. Maj. Gen. John l..
Hines. chief of staff. gave his former
chief warm welcome and others who
greeted him were Undersecretary of
State Grew, Maj Gen. Dennis f. No
Ian. DR.. Leo s. Rowe. director gen
eral of the Pan-American Union. and
Assistant Secretary of War MacNider.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
Scottish Scientist Drowned,

DUNDEE, Scotland. February IL
(P.-James Fairle Gemmill was
found drowned in the Firth of Tay
yesterday. He was professor of nat
ural history. University College, and
was widely known as a scientist.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-11
Roll Call on Amendment.

The roll call on the amendment to
repeal the inheritance tax was as
follows:
For the amendment:
Republicans Butler, Cameron,
Dale, Deneen. Edge. Ernst, Fernald
tContinued on Page l., Column ~