davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-03-16
BELGIUM PAN|CKy
OVERFRANC'SDR DROP
Officials Seek Plan to Stop
Fall, While Crowds Keep
Watch Outside Banks.
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.

BY Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
PARIS. March 16.-All Belgium is
in mental anguish and all France is
watching Belgium.
The reason is that Belgium's In
it's money seems suddenly to have
failed. The Belgian franc yesterday,
after nearly six months Of relative
stability. fell II points.
Government officials are hastily con.
sulting. In Brussels crowds stand
outside the banks. People watch the
fluctuations Of the exchange rate as
they watched the communicates dur.
ing the war; Last Autumn the Bel.
gian franc was around 120 and l30 to
the pound sterling. The Socialist gov.
ernment, under popular pressure, de-
cided to stabilize the franc at 107 in
order to lower the cost of living. 1t
borrowed abroad $500, 100000 francs
for this purpose.
Further Loan Sought.
The sum proved to be insufficient
and negotiations have been under way
with British and American banks for
years. The banks finally offered to
lend Belgium $100.000,000 for five
years on the following conditions:
Belgium must balance her budget
increase taxes. economic on army ex.
oenses, pledge 400, 900 900 francs worth
of state-owned colonial securities, raise
the discount rate, consolidate part of
the floating debt and, finally, estab.
lish an autonomous railroad system,
increasing rates and discharging one
in every five employees.
The negotiations recently reached
something like a deadlock, when all
Belgium cried out against giving the
country into foreign control"
Reasons for Collapse.
The reasons given for the collapse
of the Belgian franc are the loan
deadlock, exhaustion Of previous sta.
bilization credits, the economic crisis
resulting from stabilization, the re-
moval of foreign capital resulting
from raising the discount rate. refusal
of Belgian banks to accept the gov
ernment'S demand that they renew
internally 1900, 100000 francs worth
Of short.term bonds which fall due
shortly, and, finally, speculative ma
neuvers both at home and abroad.
Frances special interest in the sit
uation springs from two sources
First, the fall Of the Belgian franc ad
versely affected the French franc yes
terday Second, France also has beer
considering stabilization.
The moral drawn here from the Bel
gian experience is that one must avoid
at any cost falling into the hand OF
foreign bankers, and that in any case
sterilization of falling currency can
! not be effected artificially. but depends
| on economic factors, which must all bs
taken together.
| Copyright. 1926. by Chicago Daily News Co. J
Evening star., 1926-03-16
EMBASSY BUILDING
BILL PASSES HOUSE
Would Create Commission
and $1OO00,00O Fund for
Diplomatic Corps.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The Porter bill to provide $4,000. 900
for acquisition Of American embassy
and consular buildings abroad was
passed yesterday by the House and
sent to the Senate. The vote was 1913
to As.
The bill, which would create a COM
mission composed Of the Secretaries
of State. Treasury and Commerce and
four members of Congress to nego-
tiate for diplomatic buildings when
ever 1t was considered advisable, had
administration Endorsement and was
advocated as an economy proposal.
Representative B'anton, Democrat,
Texas. attacked the bill as creating
"a permanent junketing commission"
while Representatives Howard. Ne
braska, and Lozier, Missouri. both
Democrats, held the Government
should care for American farmers be-
fore improving the condition Of its
diplomatic corps.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
''Black Maria'' Picks White House Gate
AS Good Resting Spot and Breaks Down

With the $50 miles Of streets in
Washington from which to select. a
Police Court BLACK Maria," loaded
right in front Of the White House
this morning shortly before 9 o'clock.
After Maria developed paralysis,
or perhaps getting very tired, she
sputtered along a way on her repu.
tation and coasted to a stop at the
west White House gate.
The colored driver muttered elo.
quently, climbed down and began to
crank her. Maria remained silent.
A crowd collected. Humorously-in-
clined men passed remarks to rnose
inside the van, who returned the
wise cracks with interest. The driver
passed uncomplimentary remarks at
everything in general.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
OFFICIALS SCOUT
MERGER RUMORS
Prospects No Brighter Than
Before, They Say, After
Conference on Issue.

Prospects Of merger of the Wash.
ington traction systems appear no
nearer than they were several months
ago officials of the Public Utilities
Commission admitted today, despite
insistent rumors that a tentative plan
of consolidation had been laid before
the commission at a special executive
session yesterday afternoon in the oil
fee OF Engineer Commissioner y.
Franklin Bell.
Deliberations at the session were
veiled with the utmost secrecy and
members of the commission showed
no disposition whatever today TO re-
veal the nature of the discussion. l.
is known. however. that some phase OF
the merger question was talked about.
Officials at Meeting.
Those who attended the meeting
We're William F. Ham. present OF
the Washington Railway and Electric
Co.; Charles j. Bell, president of the
American Security and Trust Co.; Ed
win c. Brandenburg. attorney, ana
Eugene f. Thompson. Washington
representative of the North American
Co., of New York, which owns the
Washington Rapid Transit Co. ana
controls considerable stock in the TWO
traction companies. Mr.. Thompson.
however, attended the conference az
"A member of the board of directors OF
the Washington Railway and Electro
Co, and not as representative O.
the North American Co.. It was said
Mr.. Bell and Mr.. Branderburg also
are on the board Of directors OF the
Washington Railway and Electric Co
"Regardless of the matter consic
cred" said q member of the commits
sion today. "the Washington Railwa!
and Electric Co. was the only utility
represented"
John II. Hanna. president OF the
Capital Traction Co, last week an
nounced that a plan of consolidation
was still under consideration. but thai
it's completion was not imminent.
Meeting Called Hastily
The conference yesterday was has
tily called and continued for more than
an hour. Upon It's conclusion. Mat
w. f. r. Covell. Assistant Engineer
Commissioner, isued the following
statement at the direction of Commits
sioner Bell. chairman of the Comnis-
sion:
THE commission held a confidential
discussion. The subject is not to be
announced"
Col. Bell later declined to arnplify
the statement.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
EDUCAT0RLAUDS
0RATORY CONTEST
Principal of George Mason
High School at Del Ray
Sees Many Benefits.

Harry Baker, jr.. principal Of the
George Mason High School, Del Ray
Arlington County. Va, in addressing
q communication to the headquarters
Of the National Oratorical Contest
The Star Building, has high words OF
praise for the contest and states tha'
his school will have a large and cred
liable representation in the contes,
this year.
Initiative and self control are among
the outstanding benefits to be derived
from participation in the contest. Mr..
Baker asserts. and he also pays trib
ute to The Evening Star for it's en-
couragement of an educational and
civic movement of such a commend
able nature Mr.. Bakers letter says
Il am strongly Of the opinion thai
partic- patton in the National Oratori.
cal Contest will go long way toward
developing initlatiy- and contr,
among our student body. And
know Of nothing more calculated I,
aid in the schools realization of the
most important cardinal principle
education, the development of goot
citizenship.
Our school is very much intereste,
in this work and appreciates the Cd
portunity afforded by The Evening
Star in making it possible for us t.
enter the contest
Immediately in charge of the woi X
OF consultation and supervision of the
contest among the pupils are: Mrs.
Naomi Craver. head of the English
departing mt OF the junior high school:
Mrs. Henry Ransom, in charge of the
same department in the senior high
school department. and Miss Eva Har.
baugh. head of the commercial de.
partment. Mr.. Baker is actively co.
operating with the committee in this
work.
The Del Ray High School is one of
the progressive new high schools of
the Virginia section in the ir:ym diate
vicinity of Washington. IT occupies
new and modernly CONSTRUCTED and
equipped building. which, In conjunc.
ton with the former large brlck
school structure which it adjoins, ac-
commodities nearly 1000 pupils OF
this number about 800 are in the high
school department, two-thirds Of whom
are Of junior section. A faculty of
well equipped teachers is in charge
Of the combined school plant.
Mr.. Baker. the principal, is par.
ticularly we'll equipped for his duties.
In addition to bachelors degree
from George Washington University,
he holds normal and business school
diplomas from Illinois institutions.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
FUNERAL TOMORROW
OF GEN. M'DONALD
Distinguished Veteran of Three
Wars Will Be Buried in Ar
lington Cemetery.

Funeral services for Brig. Gen. John
=. Mcdonald, 67 years old. U. S. A, re.
rired. who died in Walter Reed Hos.
'ital yesterday. will be conducted in
81. Johns Episcopal Church tomor.
Tow afternoon. at o'clock. Inter.
;nent will be in Arlington Cemetery.
The list of pallbearers and other
uneral arrangements are to be an
lounced later.
Gen. Mcdonald had q long and dis.
~!ngulshed record in the military serv.
.ce. He was a veteran of the Span
American. Indian and World wars,
nd was twice cited for gallantry.
He was graduated from the United
states Military Academy in 1881 and
ssigned to an Infantry regiment. He
vas promoted through the various
isratfeS, reaching the rank of brigadier
General in January, 1928. He was re-
tired several weeks later.
Gen. Mcdonald was actively en-.
Faged In the ST. Mihiel. Meuse-Argonne
and Ypres pffensives, receiving special
decorations from the French, Belgian
md Italian governments; received the
distinguished service cross for hero.
ISM at Epionville and the distin.
guished service medal for meritorious
service at Foret de Hesse.
In the Spanish-American War he
Eerved as a lieutenant colonel Of the
st Alabama Infantry; was brevet
red for gallantry in action in the
philippines, where. although wound
ed, he refused to relinquish his COM
%nand until the battle was over, and
served as captain Of scouts during
Indian wars.
He leaves two sons, Robert Dyer Nc.
Donald. OF Chattanooga. Tenn, and
Lieut.. John Bacon Mcdonald, u. S. N.
md tive daughters, Mrs. Gordon Nc
Pherson of London, Eng, and Miss
Sue Aston Mcdonald Of this city
Evening star., 1926-03-16

Finally. a mechanic was called
from the police shops, down south
west. The mechanic arrived first.
and. after disappearing under the
hod for several minutes. emerged
with the announcement that AL was
right. A few seconds later Maria was
snorting as Of yore.
Just as the van got under way
President Coolidge walked to the
front door of the executive offices, as
though to add apother offer of ad-
vice to the food of suggestions from
passersby.'
He stood at the threshold until
the van had disappeared toward the
Treasury and then returned to his
Office to resume his interrupted study
Of the Italian debt situation or some
thing.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
MATTE0TT| MURDER
HEARING IS BEGUN
Trial of Men Accused of Slay-
ina Anti-Fascist Leader
Stirs Italy.
BY the Associated Press.

by tne AosOSAotCu ! hSSc.
CHIETI, Italy, March 16.-The
trial Of the FIVE men accused Of hav-
ing kidnapped and murdered the So.
cialist deputy Giacomo Matteotti In
June. 1928. thereby creating politi-
cal scandal which for six months
rocked the foundations Of the Fascist
regime. began today in the local Court
Of Assizes before Judge DANA. Many
Fascist notables were present.
The proceedings here constitute the
closing chapter Of what is considered
tho most important politico-legal case
since the Dreyfus trial in France:
Matteotti was the arch enemy OF
Premier Mussolini, and his muir
der. which anti.Fascists charge was
ordered by the premier, excited tre-
mendous struggle between Italy's
dominant regime and its opponents.
After selection of a jury the judge
was to begin his formal interrogation
of the accused men. The defendants
a~e Amerigo Dumini, Albino Volpi
Giuseppe Viola, Ameleto Poveromc
and Augusta Malaoria.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
APPLICATION Is REFUSED
FOR DOUBLE-DECK BUSES
Necessity of Trimming Trees as
Well as "Peeping" Charges
Given as Reasons.

Double-dec bus habitues were
dealt severe blow today by the
Public Utilities Commission when Il
refused to approve an application
of the Washington Rapid Transit Co.
for permission to purchase six new
busses of the double deck type for
it's Sixteenth street and Petworth
lines.
The Commissions refusal. II is un-
derstood was not based entirely on
the vigorous protests against the
peppers on the two-deck busses, but
on a report from Clifford Lanham.
superintendent of trees and parking
of the District. that considerable
trimming of shade trees would have
to be done because of the height o.
the double-decker
Complaint was made to the Com
mission at public hearing March 10
that peppers on the sun.decks of the
high busses remove all vestige of pri
vacy from homes along the bus
routes.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
CR|T|C|zES BELLS
WATER BILL STAND
Engineer Declares Objection
of Commissioner Attack on
Secretary of War.
Special Dispatch to The Star

Special Dispatch to The Star
CLARENDON, Va, March 16.--Asa
| F.. Phillips. consulting engineer Of the
Arlington County Water Supply Com
mission. today severely criticized En-.
gineer Commissioner Bell for his
stand taken yesterday against that
provision Of the Arlington water sup
ply bill which places the distribution
of water under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of War. The bill has
passed the House and is now before
the Senate.
Commissioner Bell. in Stating th"t
such an arrangement Is unfair to the
people of the District Of Columbia.
fror, whom the water will come, Mr..
Phillips declared is not assailing the
bill but is directly an assault against
+ha Judgment of Congress and tha
integrity Of the Secretary OF War.
This Is CLOSELY ma anifested when II is
taken into considera ton that Con-
gress. after giving Commissioner Boil
! full opportunity to express his views
as to who should control the delivery
OF water TO Arlington County. decided
hat 1t should be placed in the h"nds
, Of the Secretary Of War, Mr.. Phillips
| said
Aliege Distrust Of Secretary.
! Stating that Commissioner Bell in
/ fers a distrust Of the Secretary Of
Wor as 10 his fai~ness and Justice in
! fixing rates to be charged for the
water. Mr. PhillioS dcc,ared
| "It Is an extraordinary situation
| that an officer Of the United States
! Arrnv comes ont in +ho ~"h"c ~~"ss
co~demuing the action OF Congress
and saving that this action IS mani
! fes'ly ur"air to the people Of the DIS
tr'ct Of Columbia and I take II as a
reflection on the Secretary Of War
who by the act is directed to fix these
! rataS.
"If Cob Ba''s statement was intend
! I'd to ACCOMPLISH anv purDose II must
appear fairly evident that purpose
was 10 create in the public mind OF
| tha naopla Of the District OF Co'umb'a
an i'll faa'irg toward tho nA'rhb0rire
| communities In Arlington County and
~ divert attention of the people OF
| Washington from his protected In
crease of not lass than ?s per cent OF
their own water rates. This aspect OF
the matter is most unfortunate"
Sees 'Unfair" Proposal.
| Mr.. Phillips said that Col. Bell would
I not only have tho people OF Arlington
! County paw a share Of the cost OF
operation and maintenance OF the
aaueduct. filtration plants. etc. but
also pay part of laying of all mains in
J tho streets Of Washington. This. in
deed. ne said. would be unfair Under
| tho provisions Of the bill. he said. the
cost of water to the consumer IN AR
| lirg.on County. when the cost Of in
| sailing the distribution mains Is
! taken into account. will be approx
| mata'v six times that paid by the
! Washington householder.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
HELM IS WITNESS
IN DRYLAW TRIAL
Senator and Two Represent
atives Testify for Former
Prohibition Unit Attorney.

J. Thomas Hefin, Senator from
Alabama, and Representatives Stea-
gall and Alden, from the same State,
were among the character witnesses
who testified today before Justice
Stafford and a jury in Criminal Divi-
sion as to the reputation for verac-
ity and integrity of Maj. James F.
Johnson. former attorney In the pro-
hibition unit. Maj. Johnson and Dan
iel j. Shields of Johnstown, Pa, are
on trial for alleged conspiracy to
bribe officials to issue permits to brew
cries in Pennsylvania.
Senator Hefiin said he had known
Mai. Johnson for 20 years in Alabama
and at Washington and that his repu-
tation was good. The other members
of the Alabama delegation also spoke
in high terms of the accused.
Defense Outlined.
Col. James f. Easby-Smith outlined
the defense of johnson after Justice
Stafford had overruled a motion for
an instructed verdict. The lawyer
said he expected to show a case OF
entrapment, and claimed that prohi
bition agents sought out johnson
when he was engaged in legal WORK
for the prohibition unit in Phiiadei
pNla ana pTeEdlIeu OIl nm ~ 81 ACA
a holiday trip to New York over Feb
ruary %. 1924. The agents provided
liquor, the lawyer stated. and intro
duced o her agents to him as law
yers connected with enforcement
These latter followed him TO Phila
delphia and attempted TO induce hin
to get into communication with Ger
tain brewers in Pennsylvania.
Induced to Call Up Shields.
Finally they got him to call VI
Shields of Johnstown, Pa, whom they
claimed was attempting Illegal meth
DDS to secure liquor permits for 6
brewery which he had purchased
Saul Grill, one of the agents, 1t was
ated, made presents of candy to the
wife Of Maj. Johnson and invited her
to a social function.
Mai. Johnson was testifying in his
own behalf this afternoon. The pros
ecution Is being conducted by AS
sistant United States Attorneys Fihel
iy and Burkinshaw, while Shields i:
j being defended by Percy Allen Ros'
Of Johns own and by Judge Michae
NJ. Doyle Of Washington.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
Rhinelander Attorney Invited to Leave
Mississippi Town for Criticizing 1t

The letter pointed out numerous i'm
provements made here recently, and
added. You yourself have taken about
$21, 900 profit out Of two real estate
deals here, and Ocean Springs has been
kind as it knows how to you and your
client. Leonard Kip Rhinelander, Civ.
ing you both hospitality, rest and Sc.
clusion from your recent strenuous ex.
periences in the East. The citizens of
Ocean Springs resent your recent in
terview as published because 1t is un-
justified and untrue"
Mr.. Jacobs had not replied to the let.
ter today. He and Rhinelander have
been here for several weeks.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
PRESIDENT WATCHFUL.
May Not Go to Father Unless Setback
Occurs.

President Coolidge apparently does
not intend to go to the bedside Of his
father, i'll IN Vermont. unless the pa
tents condition shows a more serious
turn for the worse.
The White House Is in constant
touch with Plymouth by private tele
phone, and the report received today
showed that Col. Coolidge was grow
ing weaker. but that the change was
not regarded as of a pronounced char
acter.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
Today in Congress
Senate,

Senator Pittman addressed the
Senate on the Gooding freight rate
bill.
Agriculture committee met to
pass on the Haugen bill creating a
bureau of cooperative marketing
in the Department of Agriculture.
Secretary Of Interior Work Is to
appear before irrigation and recla.
nation committee this afternoon
on the Boulder Canyon project.
A judiciary subcommittee held a
hearing on the lonshoremen's
compensation bill.
Another subcommittee Of judi
ciary is to meet this afternoon on
Senator Caraways practice and
procedure bill.
Privileges and elections commit
tee is meeting this afternoon to
vote on the report Of its subcom.
mittee, which decided in favor of
Daniel 8. Steck, Democrat. in his
contest for the seat Of Senator
Brookhart, Republican, of Iowa.
The special committee created
to receive bids for the leasing Of
Muscle Shoals Is in session this
afternoon.
The claims committee will hold
an executive session this afternoon
to pass on pending measures.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
COLONEL COOLIDGE
HAS RESTFUL NIGHT
Little Change Noted Other
wise in Condition of Pres.
ident's Father.

BY the Associated Press.
PLYMOUTH. VT. March 16-The
condition rs Col. John C. Coolidge
was lh!ie changed today. An early
morning report from the sick room
said the father of the President had
passed a restful night and was able
to take a little nourishment.
DR.. Albert NJ. Cram Of Bridgewater
physician In charge, planned to visit
his patient during the forenoon. In
the meantime Deputy Sheriff Mac
Aulay, the colonel's body guard. was
authorized to issue the brief state
ment.
Road Being Cleared.
While news from the Coolidge home
continued to be favorable, q large
force of men started out from Wood
stock early today to open the snow
bound road leading from Plymouth
to White River Junction for automo.
bile traffic A stretch Of 10 miles is
already passable for cars, and work
was concentrated on the 7-mile trip
rom Bridgewater Corners to this
hamlet. Three tractors and two
snow plows were used in the work.
Each day since the condition OF Col.
Coolidge became serious, q week ago,
has seen an increase in the number
Of persons gathered here to watch the
progress of his case. Miss Florence
Cilleys general store has become a
hotel, with guests sleeping on cots In
the public hall above the store and
waiting in relays for seats in the little
dining room. The word went out at
last that visitors must furnish th9lr
own bedding, and, as a result, the
stock Of horse blankets in the Ludlow
store has been exhausted.
Ready to Flash News.
City men who have been accustomed
to steam.heated apartments have been
learning here to get up IN the middle
Of the night and stoke wood stoves
with green birch billets. Each night
the thermometer sinks to many ue'
gress below zero and fire is prime
necessity. Telegraphers lodged in a
little room beside the public hall sleep
beside their instruments, ready to
flash TO the world any new turn in Col
Coolidge's Illness.
The colonels bodyguard keeps watch
for the newspaper men. Each evening
Deputy Sheriff McAulay brings to the
general store the final report from the
| sick room. and in the morning he Is
again on hand with bulletin. DR.
| Cram issues written statement al
midday after his daily examination OF
! the patient. For the rest "Sherif!
! Angus" has been instructed to give
out Immediately news Of any sudder
| development.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
BOYS HELD IN THEFT.
Real Estate Messenger Confesses
Taking Money, Detectives Say.

Kenneth Earl McElroy, II years
old. Cottage City, Md, employed in
the real estate office of H. r. Howen-
stein, 1871 H street, and two friends,
Theodore Paul Dorsey. 20 years old.
Riverdale. and John Milton Nagel,
16 years old. Colmar Manor, Md,
were arrested today on charges Of
embeZzlement.
Kuehling and Wilson, they said, that
as & messenger from the real es-
ate office to a bank. he had withheld
$1,000 and mailed it to Dorsey's home,
where. it is alleged, the money was
divided.
Nagel will have a hearing in Ju-
yenile Court. while his companions
will be arraigned in Police Court.
Evening star., 1926-03-16
"TOOTSIE" MISSING IN ICE
Eskimo Woman Sought Since Ber-
ing Sea Floe Broke Up.

NOME. Alaska. March 16 CD.-Na.
tives are alarmed over the disappear
ance of an Eskimo woman known as
Tootsie, who has been missing since
the Bering Sea ice went out and car
ried with 1t many persons, who later
were rescued by the Coast Guard.
Tootsie is we'll known through her
association with Arctic expeditions
of Roald Amundsen and Vilhjalmur
StefanSSon.
The ice moved off shore a consid-
cradle distance and broke up into
numerous leads, which made rescue
attempts difficult and dangerous.