davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1927-02-17
CANADA-SOUTH AMERICA
HIGHWAY is APPROVED
Senate Committee Reports Bill Pro
viding u. s. Board to Look
Into Project.

A great Pan-American highway, ex-
tending from the Canadian border to
southern South America. Is regarded
by the Senate roads committee as
within the realm of practicable pos
sibilities.
The committee reported today bill
by Senator Cameron, Republican,
Arizona, for creation of a commission
to look into the question. The road
would run from Detroit to Argentina.
such a highway will have a pro-
found influence on international rela-
tions,' said the report in part, lin
creasing amity and promoting lasting
friendships, and will augment trade
and transportation facilities fully 100
per cent during the first year of
operations"
Evening star., 1927-02-17
Couzens' Daughter Is Keen Law Student
At Tax Hearing, With $10,000,000 at Stake
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
With 100000 900 of her fathers
fortune an objective of Federal tax
seuths. Madeleine Couens, Detroit,
daughter OF Senator Cou1ens of Michi-
gan, finds the hearings before the
board of tax appeals on the petition
of former owners of Ford stock
against a further levy Of taxes an
attractive opportunity for acquiring
legal acumen.
Miss Couzens. a Junior law student
at the Washington College Of Law, is
a frequent attendant at the hearings
which are to determine whether her
father and other former owners of
Ford shares, owe the Government
$40. 100000 back taxes. Senator
Couzens' share Of this amount Is
100000. II he loses, he will at
least have the satisfaction of knowing
that. his daughters law education has
been augmented through first-hand
study of a score of legal experts in
action.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
GAS OVERCOMES2
F|REMENAT BLAZE
Nine Persons, Aroused From
Sleep, Escape Flames
on 14th Street.

Two firemen were overcome and
nine residents of apartments at 42o6
Fourteenth street narrowly escaped
death by asphyxia ton or fire when
flames started in the kitchen on the
ground floor of the four.story struc-
ture about o'clock this morning.
melting the lead pipes to three meters
and flooding the premises with 1llumi'
mating gas.
All the residents of the building were
asleep when Thomas G. Dodd and
Paul MacMaccen, garage employees OF
the Washington Rapid Transit Co,
eating in a restaurant nearby, heard
the sound of cracking glass and, in
vestigating. discovered the blaze.
They turned in an alarm and rushed
into the building.
Family of Five Aroused.
Fighting off the gas fumes. they
made their way to the second floor,
where M,rius Cottini, owner of the
building; his wife and three children
were soundly slumbering, although
the joists under the flooring sup
porting the beds were ablaze. Dodd
and MacMaccen aroused them, gath
cred up the youngsters and assisted
all five to safety in the street.
Meanwhile, Engine Company No. %
had responded and a ladder was raised
to the third.fioor front, down which
Edward G. Gill and his wife were
taken by firemen. From the rear
apartment on the third floor Mrs.
Marie Monnini and another member
of her family were escorted to the
street safely. The fourth floor was
untenanted.
Lieut.. Richard ID. Crompton and
Pvt. NJ. r. Walters were affected
by gas while fighting the FIRE.
Crompton staggered from the building
and collapsed while Walters was able
to return to the fire company house
and receive treatment. Lieut. Cromp-
ton was taken to Walter Reed Hospi-
tai. where 1t was said his condition is
not serious: tT5f1
Blaze Brought Under Control.
The blaze was confined to the first
floor. AS soon as employees of the
Washington Gas Light Co. had turned
off the flow of gas those fighting the
fire easily placed the blaze under
control.
The origin of the fire has not been
determined. A shoe shop, of which
Leo Briguglo Is the proprietor, on the
first floor, was damaged.
Fire Marshal l.. V. Sieb, who resides
in the neighborhood, heard the noise
of the engines passing and went to
the scene. He estimated damage at
approximately $500.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
PRESIDENT IS ASKED
TO AID MAIL CLERKS
Green Urges Executive to With
draw Objections to Increase
in Night Wage Rate.

William Green, president of the
at the White House today to enlist
the Presidents interest in a bill now
on the House calendar granting wage
increases for postal employees engaged
in night work. With him were
Thomas r. Flaherty. secretary-treas.
urer of the National Federation of
Post ONCE Clerks. and William II
Collins, president of the Railway Mail
Association. The bill. 1t was pointed
out, has no hope of passage at this
session of Congress unless the Presi-
dent voluntarily removes his objec-
tions as expressed through the budget
directors statement that it would in
fringe upon the budget for the next
year.
The President was told by the dele
cation that rs per cent of the mail
distributed In the postal service was
handled at night and that those en-
gagged in this work were given no
night work either in shorter hours or
additional pay. Mr.. Flaherty told
him that the Postmaster General has
twice recommended to Congress a
higher hourly pay rate for night
workers.
Every time legislation to remedy
the situation has been sought, the
President was informed. il has been
vetoed by the director OF the budget
as being in conflict with the Presi-
dents financial policy. He was re-
quested by the representatives of the
postal employees to withdraw his obiec-
tiOns TO remedial legislation fixing 4
10 per cent higher wage scale for
postal night workers. now awaiting
action before the House of Representa-
tives.
After leaving the Presidents once.
Mr.. Green said that Mr.. Coolidge had
shown sympathetic interest in the APP
peal. ~,
Evening star., 1927-02-17

Installation Of an automatic f1re
alarm system in the Washington
home at Mount Vernon was recon-
mended to those in charge of the ma
tional shrine today by Fire Chief
George s. Watson and August En-
rich. chief Of the Baltimore Fire De-
partment. These two officials con-
stituted a committee appointed by the
International Association of Fire
Chiefs to investigate the potential
fire hazards at the home and recon-
mend plan that would insure better
fire protection.
New York firm offered to install
the automatic alarm system without
cost. Plans for the installation al
ready have been prepared and Chief
Watson, accompa MED by o. f. Fern.
superintendent of machinery Of the
District Fire Department. will to
Evening star., 1927-02-17

s,lrance company which has its head
quarters here, and who Is vitality con-
cerned In any provision that relates
to safe traffic movement, is heartily
in favor Of bringing Washington up
to date in respect to permitting Its
trafflo to pass either to the right or
left of an Overtaken vehicle
= Insurance companies, OF course.
nav the closest attention to the va
rious systems employed in traffic d.
rection in every CITY," he says. Their
fic utilizes the entire width OF the
street, drives at the highest legal
speed consistent with safety, and
keeps to it's proper lane there lis a con-
sidrable reduction of accidents. Weav-
ing. slow.moving and left-lane traf-
f1c obviously Is dangerous.
ut has been found that when an
overtaken car may be permitted to
pass at the right, more drivers begin
utilizing this lane because 1t is the
one that permits the most rapid travel.
II the proposal to give right-lane
travel the right -of.way Is put into ef-
feet here, 1t should doubly enhance
the boon of eliminating the left.pass'
ing restriction"
Congestion that Is entirely too
much of a lettering influence on the
use of the automobile" will be elimi-
mated by a change in the regulations
covering passing in the opinion of
veteran of more than rs years In the
automotive trade of Washington.
"Anything that will get traffic out
of the exact center of the street will
serve to create new lanes of travel,
particularly on Sixteenth street. Con
nacticut avenue. Rhode Island avenue
and the other main arteries OF travel"
he asserts. 'This will have profound
effect on the city's ability to use its
automobiles he adds.
Many of the commentators on the
situation declare the revelation of
conditions in The Star already has
served to improve conditions in some
parts of the city.
Those behind the campaign for
change, however. declare they will
continue their efforts until the real
benefits that can be achieved only by
change in the regulations are OBJ.
tained.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
Fire-Alarm System for Mount Vernon
Urged by D. C. and Baltimore Chiefs

Baltimore tomorrow to inspect them
with Fire Chief Enrich.
The alarm system consists chiefly
OF series of electric wires which
automatically turn on a general fire
alarm when the heat In a building
reaches certain temperature
Signals in the fire headquarters would
show in which room the blaze origi-
mates.
Chiefs Watson and Enrich have
made several trips to Mount Vernon
and inspected every nook and Granny
In the Washington home in search of
possible fire hazards. A report on
the results of their investigation will
he sent to the headquarters Of the
international Associa lion of Fire
Chiefs.
The association at it's last annual
convention suggested that a fully
equipped fire company be maintained
at Mount Vernon by the District Fire
Department.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
COOLIDGE DEBATES
NEXT ARMS MOVE
Calls Kellogg, Gen. Nolan and
AGm. Eberle to White
House Conference.

President Coolidge spent some time
TODAY discussing with expert advisors
the status of the American proposals
on limitation of naval armament.
The President summoned to the
White House Mai. Gen. d. T.. Moan
a member of the American cominIs
sion to the last League or NatloHs
Disarmament Conference in Geneva:
Pear Admiral t.berle. chief of the
Navy Bureau of Operations, and sec.
r'etary of state Kellogg for series ol
prolonged discussions this morning.
IT was said at the White House
that Admiral Eherle had been aSkeo
by the President to come to ms ONCE
this morning to discuss general cohul
tionS of the Navy. Admiral Epetle
reached the executive offices he1ore y
o'clock and remained closeted WIN
the President for nearly three qua
+ers Of an hour. 1t was not disclosed
however. what course the discussion
took.
Nolan Silent on Conference.
Gen. Nolan admitted after leaving
tho Presidents office that he had been
called 10 consider with Mr.. Coolidge
the new status of the American pro
posal for special naval conference
between the IepIeSeitCatiNe9 - ~
United States, Great Britain. France
Italy and Japan, hut said that ne
could not make public the results vi
the conference.
He added, however. that both he
and Admiral jones. another MEMBER
of the last American commission 10
Geneva, would return there next
month to attend the Forthcoming
League of Nations meeting on dls-
armament
Call Is Unexpected.
Neither Secretary of State kellogg
nor Admiral Eberle would discuss the
nature of the business that took tnem
unexpectedly to the White House thls
morning.
1t was accepted in we'll informed
circles, however. that they discussed
the disarmament problem with the
President. and that the initial steps
have now been taken toward formu-
lating the program the United states
Government will follow in the face or
the failure of its first invitation to the
great powers to meet in special con-
ference.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
KILLS SELF IN CHURCH.

ELIZABETH, n. j., February II Lp).
McLain kessler. II years old,
was found dead in All Saints Episco-
pal Church this morning. Police listed
the death a suicide after the janitor
reported that he found gas jets In the
church turned on and a quantity Of
poison near the body. Frank kessler.
the boys father. is chemist.
The youth was a student at Battin
High School here. He failed to return
home last night.
No motive for suicide In known.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
FREE BOOKS PROPOSED.
Bill Would Favor Senior and Jun.
Tor High Schools.

The draft of bill to provide free
text books and supplies for pupils in
the senior and Junior high schools
was transmitted 10 Congress today
by the Commissioners.
The Budget Bureau Endorsed the
proposed legislation. but suggested
several minor notifications which the
commissioners approved. The prin-
cipal amendment eliminates the nor
NAL schools from provision Of the
bill. The legislation would become
effective July !, 1928,
Evening star., 1927-02-17
GIBSON BILL OPPOSED.

The District Commissioners trans
mitted to Congress today an unfavor-
able report on the Gibson bill, de-
signed to remove the residence re-
strictions In respect to officials of the
District appointed by the President.
The opinion was expressed that the
existing residence requirements were
necessary In the case of the appoint
ment Of Commissioners, but that they
might be waived In certain cases of
appointees to technical positions.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
BAND CONCERTS.
TODAY.

By the United States Marine Band
Orchestra, at the Marine Barracks.
s.3O o'clock. William VI. Santelmann,
leader; Taylor Branson. second leader.
TONIGHT
nv the United States Navy Band
Orchestra, At the Marine Barracks,
s o'clock. Charles Benter,. leader.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
Mabel Normand Unimproved.

SANTA MONICA, Calf, February
II P).-The condition Of Miss Mabel
Normand, motion picture actress, who
is critically Ill Of pneumonia in a
hospital here, today was reported as
virtually unchanged. Physicians an
nounced yesterday that Miss Normand
was very H. after having found that
her right lung was abscessed.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
HEADS FINE ARTS BODY.
William Bruce King Elected Pres
ident at Meeting.

William Bruce King was elected
president of the Washington Society
Of the Fine Arts at the annual meet
ing in the Central High School Audi
torium last night. Other officers unan-
imously elected We're: First vice presi-
dent, Charles Moore; second vice presi-
dent, Miss Mabel Boarr1man; secre-
tary, Miss Leila Mechlin: treasurer.
Edison b. Olds; executive council,
Frank G. Baldwin, George F. Bower
man, Il. Janney Brown, Mrs. William
Corcoran Eustis. Lynch Luquer. Mrs.
Adolph Miller. Newbold Noyes. James
Parmelee, Miss Grace Lincoln Temple
and Corcoran Thorn
After the business meeting, Arthur
Shurtleff, landscape architect, Of Bos-
ton. gave an illustrated lecture on
Parks and Their Recreational Use.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
SCHOOL PLANS APPROVED,
Fine Arts Body Acts on Gordon

Plans for two schools in Washing
ton to be constructed at a total cost
of s950,000 came before the Fine Arts
Commission today for consideration.
One set of plans. for the Gordon
Junior High School, to be erected at
Thirty-fourth street and Wisconsin
avenue at a cost of s475.000 was ap-
proved The other plans involving
construction Of the Garnet-Patterson
School. at Vermont avenue and u
streets, also to cost $475. 900, were
merely considered and no action was
taken on them.
Both the schools are a part of the
five-year building program of the
public schools, which contemplates
an expenditure of approximately $20.-
600 600
Evening star., 1927-02-17
Dense Fog Grips New York.

NEW YORK, February II P).--A
dense. ground-gripping fog enshrouded
New York today. tieing up shipping
and delaying ferry service.
Street lamps were kept burning
long after their usual hours and mo
torists were forced to turn on their
headlight
Evening star., 1927-02-17
$4,000 of Estate
OF Woman Found
Under Rag Heaps

BY the Associated Press.
MARSHALL, Mich. February IT.
approximately $4,000 OF an es-
tate left to the Holy Name Ca
thedral in Chicago by Miss Nora
Nolan. who died last week. has
been found under heaps of rags
and other hiding places In Miss
Nolans home here. Eleven thou
sand dollars Of tho find was In gold,
sewed up in cloth sacks and Sc
creted in various places.
The discovery was made by
nurse who cared for Miss Nolan In
her st illness and who has turned
the find over TO local bank.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
NEW CATASTROPHE
REPORTED IN QUAKE
Violent Siberian Shock Re-
corded in Paris-SWeden
Shaken.
By the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, February 1.-THE Grenoble
Observatory reported this morning
that It's seismograph had registered
an earthquake OF Catastrophe" pro
portions early Wednesday. Presuna
bly, the disturbance was In KAN
chatka. Siberia.
STOCKHOLM. Sweden, February
II R).-A somewhat violent earth
quake was registered here at CPS
o'clock last night. The indications
are that the quake occurred In the
northern part Of Sweden.
Earth shocks have rocked sections
of Jugoslavia since last Sunday. The
Georgetown University seismUgraph
Washington, ID. C.. registered severe
earth tremors lasting for four hours
beginning at S:4S pm. Tuesday night
The center of these disturbances WAS
estimated as about $500 miles from
Washington.
nEATI rAVV NUnVvNvvFG
Evening star., 1927-02-17

the American proposal, for both have
been outbuilding the United States
In cruisers and if they accepted they
would be obliged to destroy con-
siderable number of their cruisers.
where as the United States would
simply be spared the necessity of
building more.
Generally speaking. French opinion
resents the fact that the United
States. which refuses to enter any
sort of security pacts, either inside or
outside the League of Nations. should
nevertheless persist in inviting other
powers which have peace plans to as
sociate themselves with the Washing
ton disarmament policy.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
DEATH TOLL. MOUNTS.
New JugO~lavia Shock Said to Have
Claimed 81 Lives.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BELGRADE, Jugoslavia, February
1.-THE death toll from earthquakes
in the Dalmatia. Bosnia and Herze.
govina regions Of Jugoslavia mounted
today
A new shock at Ljubinje caused two
deaths and additional damage.
Great changes were made In the
conf1guration of the affected zone.
Many brooks and even larger streams
either disappeared or changed their
courses, while hillsides moved or col
lapsed, blocking valleys and causing
the formation Of lakes.
The populace had scarcely recovered
from tremors of Sunday and Tuesday
when yesterday a violent shock vir-
tually destroyed the little town OF
Ljubinje. killing 81 persons.
IL Killed BY Avalanche.
The new tremOrs were felt at Sara
jevO. where an avalanche. caused by
the quakes, killed l2 persons on Tues
day. Inhabitants of southern Here
govina, camping in the open despite
the cold, being afraid TO remain In
their homes. were thrown into panic
by yesterdays shocks.
There was particular terror in one
section When q small river disappeared
through shift in the earth's strata.
1t was believed today that at least
200 persons lost their lives In the
three days quakes, with the posi-
bility Of the figure going higher when
communication with isolated towns is
restored.
Shocks Due to Continue.
Little hope was held out by the
Belgrade chronological station that the
disturba noes were at an end.
Earthquake experts, Judging by the
severity and number of the tremors.
which they attributed to a rupture H.
the bed of the Adriatic, expressed the
opinion that new and even more dis
astrous quakes were likely.
Towns In Ohio Rocked.
MANSFIELD, Ohio, February II
NY.-A series of slight earth tremors
occurred here and in localities nearby
last night between 11:30 and mid
night.
Although no damage was reported
houses swayed and furniture moved
about. A number Of people Were
awakened.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
Troops to Quit Germany.

BRUSSELS, Belgium. February II
P).-Evacuation of German-occupied
territory by Belgian troops is immi-
nent. says the Etoile Beige. The pa
per adds that the first movement will
be removal of the Belgian staff from
Aix-la- -Chapelle to Liege.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
DEMOCRATS TO CAUCUS.
will Decide on Party Organization
In House March /.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
House Democrats will caucus
March 1 to perfect party organization
for the next Congress. Representa-
tives Garrett of Tennessee, the floor
leader, and Oldfield of Arkansas, the
party whip, are expected to be re-
elected without opposition.
Representative Garner of Texas
again Is slated to head the minority
representation on the ways and mea ms
committee. Democrats on this COM
mittee select their party's representa-
tion on other House committees.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
MCLEOD URGES DRY POLL.
Resolution Would Direct National
Referendum in 1928.

BY the Associated Press
A national referendum at the 1928
presidential election to obtain an
expression of sentiment on prohibition
was proposed today in a resolution
dra1ted~ by Representative Mcleod,
Republican, Michigan.
He said the time had come when
Congress should know the views of
the people on this question as "in
the, present state of affairs we do not
know our own mind"
Evening star., 1927-02-17
BRITISH REPLY IN ~ HOURS.
Acceptance to Insist That Prestige OF
League Be Kept.

By Cable to The. Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright. 1927.
LONDON, February 17.-Despite
the French refusal to accept Presi.
dent Cooldge's proposal for naval
disarmament conference. the British
government will send an official an
swer within the next "a hours, the
tenor of which will be an acceptance,
provided the prestige of the League
of Nations is not encroached upon.
Although British official circles fully
expected the French refusal and re-
Trained from giving Foreign Minister
BRAND of France any advice on the
matter, it Is reported the Italian re-
fusal caused q certain amount OF sur,
prise. since fhe British government
had been urging Italy to accept the
Coolidge proposals.
The French note is severely criti-
cized by British legal experts. NJ.
Brands theory that the Presidents s
proposal means an affront to the
league is stated to be not serious,
since the French themselves last year
signed the Locarno treaty outside the
League of Nations.
Influence on Italy Seen.
Moreover, it is agreed that the pres
ent general disarmament commissions
sitting now at Geneva are not organs
of the league, since the American
State Department made the conditions,
before sending delegates last Summer
that while the delegates would avail
themselves of the leagues technical
assistance, the delegations should be
In no way dependent on the league.
The French refusal is resented
mainly because it is believed to have
caused Italy's reported negative reply.
Italy's naval interest is almost ex'
clusively IN the Mediterranean and
her naval program is dependent en-
tlrely on the French. Dictator Mus
solini consequently is compelled TO
modal his attitude on that of France
and is unable to accept limited build
ing program when France has a free
hand to do whatever she likes.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
Today in Congress
SENATE.

The Senate is expected to pass
the District appropriation bill to-
day.
The conference report on the
radio control bill also will come
up this afternoon and it is likely
1t will be agreed to this evening or
tomorrow.
Senate District committee meets
at 3 o'clock in executive session to
hear Engineer Commissioners Bell
on locating the new farmers mar
ket, after which committee may re-
port the bill.
Agriculture committee held hear
ing on McNary resolution propos-
ing further study OF various plans
for development of Muscle Shoals.
Privileges and elections committee
held meeting on the case of
Senator-designate Smith of Illinois,
but adjourned without taking
action.
HOUSE.
House continues consideration of
McNary. .Haugen farm relief bill.
Military affairs committee post
pones action on Moore's bill for re-
moval of the old AQueduct Bridge,
at Georgetown.
Subcommittee of appropriations
committee in executive session on
second deficiency bill
Banking and currency commit
tee continues hearing on farm loan
banks.
Rules committee has Representa-
tive Scott as witness at hearing
Patents committee in executive
session on copyright bill.
Interstate commerce committee
in executive session on railroad
consolidation.
immigration committee contin-
ues hearings on proposed amend
ment to the naturalization act.
Indian affairs committee in exec
utive session on bills on committee
calendar.
Ways and means committee con-
tinues hearing on bill to fix hours
in customs service.
Veterans committee continues
hearing on bill to amend the vet
erans' act.
War claims committee continues
hearing on bills before committee.
Evening star., 1927-02-17
BRITISH REJECTION
OF NAVAL ARMS CUT
FORECAST BY FRANCE

Continued from First PageD