K VOL. LVIII. XO. 18,417 Entered at Portland Ore son) Postoffice as Second-Class Matter. PORTLAND, ORE60X, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1919. 2G PAGES PRICE FIVE CENTS PRESIDENT NOT IN ON MEXICAN DEAL ENGRAVED NEWSPAPER ISSUED AT ANACONDA 2 KILLED, 3 HURT BY CRAZED FATHER GOVERNMENT DROPS CONTROL OF SUGAR HAGEN FOUND GUILTY IN FARGO BANK CASE . CHARGE OF MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS HELD PROVED. FARMERS FAVOR RAIN SLATED TO PUT PflCCrMPrD TRftlMQ COLD SNAP TO BED!" huuliiulh ...nu.u ONE-THIRD FEWER PRINTERS WALK OCT AND RE PORTERS GET BUSY. FEDERAL "AGEXTS TO WATCH FOR PROFITEERING. PIXYIUS TO BE IX ACTION TO DAY, SAYS WEATHER MAX. BAN ASIATICS Lansing Says He Has Not Discussed Affair. -SENATORS WILL INVESTIGATE Fall and Hitchcock Named to Call, at White House. RUMORS ARE DISTRESSING Senate Committee Will Seek ' to Learn Whether Wilson Is In - capacitated Prom Duty. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Washington, Dec. 4. More Important information than what the president thinks of the Mexican situation is ex pected to result from the visit to the White House of the special commit tee of the senate foreign relations committee appointed this afternoon. Rumors of the last few days have been of such a distressing; nature that the question of what is the actual state of Mr. Wilson's health fias be come one of transcendent interest. What the senate most wishes to know and what the country at large would like to ascertain is whether the commander-in-chief of the army and navy, the head of the government of the United States, is incapacitated for discharging the duties of his of fice. This senate committee, which is composed of Senators Hitchcock, dem ocrat of Nebraska, and Fall, republi can of New Mexico, of course, must first arrange an audience with the president. The attitude of Mr. Wil Bon's attendants toward the proposed visit of this committee will have some significance. Color was lent to some of the ru mors that have filled the atmosphere of the national capital 'the 'last few days when Robert Lansing, secretary of state, told the senate foreign rela tions committee quite frankly this afternoon that he had never discussed the Mexican question with the presi dent since the latter'a return from Paris. Hitchcock Make Denial. This had been denied in the senate only a few hours before by Senator Hitchcock, administration leader, who said he had gathered the confident impression that Lansing and the presi dent had conferred with regard to Mexico. In the same colloquy Sena tor Fall of New Mexico said his understanding, from conferences with Secretary Lansing, had been that Mr. Lansing had not seen the president. When Secretary Lansing had de parted this afternoon and the com mittee adjourned. Senator Hitchcock would not 1. interviewed. Senator Fall, however, whose resolution for a severance of diplomatic relations with Mexico is before the senate, was ready to answer questions, though guarded in his replies. He carried a large bundle of papers in his hand. containing evidence gathered by the special investigation subcommittee of which he was chairman, relative to Mexican conditions, together with several reports from the state da-V partment files. These papers, filled with informa tion of serious concern to the United States government, it was elicited from him, had' never been examined by the president. Mr. Wilson, it was learned, has not so much as seen one of the important reports received by the state department from govern ment agents in Mexico since last June. Senator Knll Candid. After this special committee has performed its mission of calling on the president Senator Fall is sure to be the most-sought-after man in Washington, because candor is char acteristic of the man. He will give his Impressions of the president's condition and the country will believe whatever lie reports, which cannot be said of such other meager reports as the public has been permitted to re ceive up to this time. This determination to ascertain the president's true condition is In no way a persecution as some of his partisan friends outside of Washington would make believe. The same distrust of bedside bulletins is expressed by prominent democrats in Washington as by members of the opposite politi cal party. The time has now come when It is imperative that congress, and the senate particularly, must know all of the facts. To do this, it Is ob viously necessary to break through the cordon maintained about Mr. Wil son by Secretary Tumulty and one or two others, names not mentioned! By reason of the time required to consider this Mexican question the concurrent resolution declaring war at an end was not taken up by the foreign relations committee, it is un derstood. SEAT SELLS FOR $26,000 Price for Place on Xew York Cot ton Exchange Sets Xew Record. NEW YORK. Dec. 4. A seat on the New York Cotton Exchange was sold today for the record price of 126,000. This is $2254 above the best pre vious price. "Butte Daily Upstart" Is Name of Publication; Typos Are Ordered to Resume Work. ANACONDA, Mont.. Dec . With the Anaconda Standard temporarily suspended as the result of the walk out of printers, 15 reporters of tha Anaconda and Butte offices of tha Standard today got out the first com pletely engraved newspaper ever pub lished. It is called the "Butte Daily Upstart." They solicited advertising, secured the services of an. engraver and dis covered a flat-bed press in a Job of fice. One of the reporters assisted in feeding the press. The Standard did not publish, to day as a result of the walkout over a wage dispute. Word was received today that the executive council of the International Typographical union' had ordered the Anaconda union members back to work on the Standard and required them to comply with the terms of the contract with that paper and the laws of the international union. "If this mandate is not complied with." the telegram says, "the char ter of the Anaconda union will be suspended." BUTTE, Mont., Dec. 4. Following a "walkout" this morning of the printers in the office of the Butte Daily Post, an afternoon newspaper, a dispatch was received tonight from International Typographical of ficers advising the printers their ac tion is illegal and instructing the men to return to their positions. As a consequence,, it is said, the men will abide by the decision and the Post will be published again tomorrow afternoon. The instructions from the interna tional officers are also said to affect the printers who within the last few days have left the Miner office. Those printers who have left their situa tions until a new scale and working conditions can be adjusted, but have not taken the transfer cards and still are in Butte, are expected also to re turn to their former situations'. The Butte. Miner with a small force of men will. . publish its newspaper again tomorrow morning, though, the size of the Miner will be somewhat reduced. STORES SHORTEN HOURS Billings Acts to Conserve Its Fuel Supply. BILLINGS. Mont, Dec. 4. The growing acuteness of the coal short age here culminated this afternoon in the passage of an ordinance by the city council closing all business places in the cftty from 4 P. M. to 9 A. M. daily, excepting lodging houses, coal yards, restaurants and some pub lic offices. Schools and churches. theaters and all other places of amusement and non-essentials must remain closed continuously, effective immediately. Declaring that if the thin stream of coal reaching here from the Sher idan. Wyo., field were to .be shut off the city would experience a "stark famine", within 24 hours, the city administration is continuing its ap peals for volunteer coal miners to work in a mine at Bear Creek. It is believed a crew of about 75 volun teers will leave here in a few days to begin coal production. U. S. PROTECTION WANTED Chinese Consul-General at Mexico City to Make Appeal. SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 4. F. L. Yuen, Chinese consul-general in Mex ico City, left San Francisco today for Washington to ask the assistance of the American government in obtain ing protection for mote than 5000 Chinese living In. the state of Sonora The Chinese, he said, were in danger of being massacred and having their property confiscated because of the inability of the Carranza government to protect them. 2 SUB -CHASERS MISSING State Department Is Asked to Lo cate Small Convoy. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 4. The state department at Washington has been asked to locate the United States army tug Slocum and a con voy of two submarine chasers, which have not been heard from since they departed front Balboa on Novem ber 23. This announcement was made by the army transport service today. SOUTH DAKOTA RATIFIES State 21st on Record for Federal Suffrage Amendment. PIERRE, S. D., Dec 4. Ratifica tion of the federal woman suffrage resolution was completed by the South ' Dakota legislature wh n the senate passed the measure early to day. The lower house acted Wednes day. South Dakota is the 21st state to ratify the amendment. FLOOD ENDS MINE FIRE South Dakota Property Loss Is Es- timated at $1,000,000. LEAD. S. D.. Dec 4. iFire burn ing in the famous Homestake mine since September 25 has been" ex tinguished by flooding. It was neces sary to flood the mine only to the 600-foot level. The Fire loss Is estimated close to 11,000,000., New Jersey Architect Takes Own Life. PLANS CAREFULLY MADE Madman Cuts Throat With Razor Following Crime. MENTAL STRAIN BLAMED Mother and Children Struck With Ax After Being Chloroformed While Sleeping. NEW YORK, Dec. 4. (Special.) A strange and horrible tragedy was dis covered late this afternoon in the home of Mason R. Strong, an archi tect and structural engineer, at No. 237 Lexington avenue, Passaic, N. J., one of the finest residential parts of that city. Crazed by misfortune. Strong had attempted to destroy his entire family, including himself, some time Tuesday night. Creeping through his home at the dead of night when his wife and four children were asleep in their beds, the man had dealt them terrific blows with an axe and had then taken his own life by cutting his throat with a razor. His wife was found dead in one room, his 16-year-old daughter, Eliza beth, in another. He himself was dead in the bathroom. The list may yet total four dead, for his only son, Nathaniel, 12. Is in the Passaic general hospital with only slight hope of recovery. Two other children Nina, 14, and Susanna, 9, are also in the hospital, disfigured. They probably will live. Small Things Cause Worry. It was not until the two little girls recovered consciousness yesterday afternoon and Susanna telephoned to their family .physician that "Papa and mamma are sick," that the double murder and suicide were discovered. Strong had been considered "queer" for some time. " Last summer he suf fered a nervous breakdown. He had worried a great deal about his busi ness affairs and called to ee his lawyer on the night of the tragedy regarding a trivial matter which caused him great anxiety. A number of things had been prey ing on his mind. Within a year his two sisters, who lived with him, had died and he had had a severe attack of pneumonia. . He was last seen alive about 8 o'clock Tuesday night. At that time he left the borne of his lawyer, Wil liam F. Gaston, "about a block from his own house, and went home. He and his family retired for the night. Little is known of what passed in- (Concluded on Page 3, Column 3.) TWfVT ONE. ftv CrVt'VTtE.S VOVI I M TV Attorney-General Palmer Says He Cannot Handle Matter Leeway Open for Price Rise. WASHINGTON, Dec. i. The gov ernment will not attempt to control the disposition and sale of sugar after the sugar equalization board is dissolved, December 31. Attorney-General Palmer, In mak ing this announcement tody, said that as no funds had been provided by con gress for carrying on the work of handling sugar,- the .department of justice would confine its efforts to the punishment of profiteers. In explaining the abandonment of the. programme for defeating the sugar shortage, Mr. Palmer said he had put the proposition up to con gress as he lacked "both the power and the facilities" for obtaining tangible results. After officials had outlined plans for a continuance of the control under supervision of the department of justice, he said, the necessary . funds and authority were not forthcoming. - . Mr. Palmer's actjon was generally accepted as opening up the source of more sugar supplies by permitting refiners to pay more for the Cuban raw stock. It also was believed to mean that sugar prices would soar. The department will continue to hunt down profiteers, but without means of checking up on the cost to the re finers or without control of the price at which the supplies come into this country, it was believed domestic con sumers would be forced to pay high prices after January 1. THOUSANDS JOBLESS SOON Coal Shortage Forces Shutting Down of Mines and Mills. CALUMET. Mich.. Dec 4. Thou sands of copper miners and millwork ers in Michigan will be thrown out of work by the shutting down of mines and mills, except a few of the larger companies, as a result of the fuel shortage, which brought an order from the railroad administration to day prohibiting shipment of coal over government-controlled lines to both mines and mills. The Calumet and Hecla and the Quincy companies own their own rail road lines and were not affected by the order. The Mohawk and Wol verine companies have sufficient coal to continue operation. The Calumet and Hecla company's subsidiaries will be closed, affecting 7000 men. CITY GETS JESS' WOOD Topeka Volunteers Cut Fuel on Willard's Farm. TOPEKA, Kan., Dec. 4. Twenty-six volunteer woodsmen armed with axes and cross-cut saws left the city hall on motor trucks this morning to cut wood for the municipal wood yard. Another corps of wood cutters start ed this afternoon. Wood is to be cut on a large farm seven miles east of Topeka owned by Jess Willard. former pugilist. WHY IS IT? N - U TvT T(iNT ONE " 1 WANE. i C.ONVE- W f Conviction Follows Closing of Scandinavian-American Instltu tution for Alleged Insolvency. FARGO, N. D.. Dec. 4. The Jury in the case of -H. J. Hagen. president of the Scandinavian-American bank of Fargo, charged with having made false statements to the state bank examiner, tonight returned a verdict of guilty. The jury was out four hours and 49 minutes. Appeal from the verdict will be taken, attorneys for Hagen said tonight. James Manahan, attorney for Hagen, said that the court would be asked tomorrow to set aside the verdict. If the request is refused, he said, the case would be taken to the state supreme court. The case against P. R. Sherman, cashier of the bank, indicted on the charge, will be postponed until an other court term. The arrest of Hagen and Sherman. October 4, grew out of the closing- of the Scandinavian-American bank Oc tober 2, because of alleged insolvency. The state supreme court later de clared the bank solvent and it was reopened October 25. Hagen's trial lasted nine days. The three counts on which the men were indicted involved two items of notes, one for approximately $37,000 and the other $81,000. .The state charged that the $37,000 in notes sold by the Scandinavian-American bank to the Bank of Commerce and Savings of Duhith had been ordered out of the Duluth bank by the Minnesota bank examiner, was sent back to the Fargo bank on September 4 or 5, but not entered on the books until Sep tember 12. In the meantime the state claimed Deputy Bank Examiner P. E. Halldorson examined the Fargo bank September 9 and found the item listed as money due from the Duluth bank. The .second count charged that the Fargo bank sent JS1.000 worth of notes to the Duluth bank under con ditions that did not constitute a bona, fide sale, only an agreement by which the Duluth bank would give credit on its books for them, this credit not to be withdrawn by draft. The third count charged that this item should have been listed under rediscount paper while in the Duluth bank. ' HUNTING PARTY WOUNDED Firing on Motor Cars In Ireland Followed by Clash. LONDON, Dec. 4. (By the Asso ciated Press.) All the members of a shooting party. Including H. V. Mac namara and his two sons: Donouarh E. F. O'Brien, son and heir of Baron Inchiquin; Lady Beatrice O'Brien, a game keeper and a chauffeur, were wounded today when fired upon while traveling- in motor cars in the Carron district of Ireland, says a dis patch from Ennis. County Clare. The party was held up by a num ber of men wearing disguises and an exchange of shots- ensued. Members of the party say they saw two of their assailants fall. The dispatch says it is presumed the object of the attack was the seizure of arms' car ried by the party. Vt W- W6.tVWT "TO TAN MSKrNCe J Absolute Prohibition Immigration Asked. of CONVENTION TAKES STAND Legislation Canceling Japan ese Holdings Advocated. DALLES MEETING CLOSES Oregon and Southern Idaho Dele gates Want EarJy Ratification of League Covenant. THE DALLES. Or., Dec. 4. (Spe cial.) Absolute prohibition of future Asiatic immigration into the United States or any of its possessions and the forbidding and canceling by law of the holding of real property by Japanese were advocated by a resolu tion .unanimously adopted late today by the Oregon "and southern Idaho sections of the Farmers" Educational and Co-operative Union of America, in the final day of its session here. The union solidly declared 4n favor of the early ratification of the cove nant of the league of nations without amendments or reservations and de nounced all opposing the passage of the league of nations for political purposes or unpatriotic and un-American. It declared further that no paper should be published in this country except in the English lan guage, unless it be printed in foreign language with the correct translation in parallel columns. False Labels Condemned. A resolution was adopted which con demned the selling of any commodity under a false name or at a price Tar in excess of Its' real value, making such procedure runishable by heavy fine and imprisonment. That immigration, into the United States, should be entirely discontinued and that the holding of lands either directly or indirectly should be al lowed only to persons of the Cauca sian race was another recommenda tion adopted. ' Following is the anti-Japanese reso lution: "Resolved. That the Asiatic immigra tion into the United States or any of its possessions be prohibited by statute and that the holding of real property by Japanese or any of their posterity be absolutely forbidden and canceled by law, this to include ownership, in corporation or combination." It will be noticed that the resolu tion does not include the confiscation of lands already held by yellow races other than the Japanese, it being the opinion of most members that the Japanese are the worst transgressors upon 4he agricultural lands and one of the most unassimilable of races. Treaty Resolution Adopted. The treaty resolution follows: "Resolved, That this organization is heartily in favor of the early ratifica tion of the covenant of the league of nations without amendment or res ervations and that a copy of this reso lution be Bent to the senate of the United States, furthermore, that we condemn all opposition to the passage of the league of nations for political purposes as unpatriotic and un American." The 'organization of a state-wide "Buy Tomorrow" club as a lever to assist in pulling down the high cost of living was recommended at the annual banquet of 350 delegates and guests at Hotel Dalles, by J. T. Rorick of this city in his address. "Wear and use what you own now to the absolute limit of its efficiency and its ability to make at least a re spectable appearance," Rorick em phasized. j'When you think you have come to the end of the wear of an ar ticle, don't cast it into the ash barrel. Glance it over and decide to use it again. Do this several times, and If the people of Oregon and every other state in the union will do the same, it will bring the manufacturers of the country and the laborers who in many cases are making outrageous de mands, to their senses and lower the existing high costs." Red Menace Rfx-oarnlie. Every speaker in the programme, while admitting the problem of the "reds" now confronting the country is a serious one. declared their hold upon the country but a temporary one which would be shaken off event ually by the sane citizens ol the United States. It was the consensus of opinion that the disturbing I. W. W.'lsm has now opened the eyes of the majority of' loyal Americans and that the alleged nefarious organiza tion would be summarily dealt with. "In order to gain recogn.tion at the markets where prices are made we must expand our organization," asserted Professor Hyslop of Oregon Agricultural college. "A campaign must be undertaken by the farmers to link themselves together into a solid union of concerted effort. - By this means the agriculturists will be enabled to get rid of their prod ucts systematically and to stabilize prices." The opinion was expressed by many I tl it the far, 4 and people at large. the Unitad States now are en-1 IConcluded ea Pas 2. Column 2.) Clouding of Sky Indicates Higher Temperature; Snow Held Likeli hood in Eastern Oregon. Oregon rain is to free the city from the cold snap in which it has been gripped for several days past, if the ! prognostications of the "weather man are correct. "Friday rain, mod erate easterly winds" is the forecast handed out by the local weather bu reau yesterday afternoon, and a cloud ing of the eky was taken as an indi cation of warmer weather. The mercury again touched 28 de grees above zero yesterday, equaling the cold record of each day for the past three days. The maximum yes terday was 40 degrees. With con tinued fair weather yesterday the river kept up its decline and has now nearly returned to the normal stage. The river reading -sterday morning was 3.6 feet and the fall in the last 24 hours was .7 feet. The section east of the mountains continues in the grip of the prema ture cold spell, and Baker and Spo kane yesterday experienced minimum temperatures of 2 and 4 degrees above zero, respectively. Helena held the record lor low temperature in the United States with S degrees below zero. Western Oregon will have rain to day and eastern Oregon will have eiiher rain or enow, according to the forecasts, while fair weather will prevail in Washington. A continuation of the cold snap would mean skating very soon, a number of the east side lakes and ponds being covered with sheets of ice yesterday. Nowhere was the ice solid enough for skating, but devotees of the great winter sport were look ing over their skates yesterday tovbe ready to take advantage of continued cold weather. FRANCE TO PAY CLAIMS TJ.-S. Will Give 12.000,000 Francs to Liquidate Bills. WASHINGTON. Dec. 4. Under agreement with the war department liquidation commission. France under takes to settle all claims and contro versies against the United States aris ing from American activities in France during the war, the war de partment announced today. In return the government will pay France 12.000.000 francs, and an addi tional ,o0.t00 later if the claims ex ceed the original payment. GERMANS IGNORE NOTE Oral Agreement to Be Attempted. Berlin Paper Says. BASEL, Switzerland. Dec. 4. Ac cording to the Berliner Tagebiatt the I German government does not intend to answer the last note of the Su preme council with regard to signa ture of the protocol guaranteeing execution of the peace treaty. Instead it will attempt to reach an oral agreement. MOTOR WRECK KILLS 3 Bus Jumps Rails; 11 Hurt. Two Are Unaccounted For. MUSCATINE. Ia.. Dec . 4. Three persons were burned to death. 11 In jured and two are unaccounted for in the wreck of a motorbus which jumped the rails of the Muscatine, Burlington & Southern railway near here tonight. The bus was fitted for use on rail way tracks. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 40 degrees; minimum. 28 degrees. TODAY'S Rain: moderate easterly winds. Poreign. Itallan socialists Inject tire into meeting ot chamber of deputies. Page 5. National. Government drops sugar control. Page 1. Senate committee expected to consult president regarding Mexican problem today. Page 2. President not in on Mexican deal. Page 3 Domestic. Anaconda reporters Issue first engrave paper ever published. Page 1. Passenger trains one-third fewer. Page J Five big packers accused -of anti-trust vio lation. Page 4. (Government takes steps to Investigate al leged violation oC food control act. Page 3. Sinn Fein classed with bolsheviki. Page 6. Pacific Northwest. Kvidences of nation-wide radical plot seei by government agents. Page 4. William Rigging, murder "confessor," sent to asylum. Page 7. Farmers ask ban on Asiatic immigration Page 1. Three at Seattle face charges at Centralia. Page 8. Invitation to clubhouse opening causes raid by Seattle officer. Page 7. Sport. Oregon sportsmen keen for annual meeting of state league. Page 17. Georges Carpentler wins European heavy weight title from Joe Beckett. Page 14. Northwest conference plans are well mapped out for Seattle meeting. Page 14. Beaver baseball team shakeup is expected. Page 17. dm my Darcv not scared by Gibbons' repu tation, rags 10. Portland and Vicinity. Rain slated to drive away cold snap today. Page 1. Telephone company to obey refund order. Page 8. Success of partial operation of one-way traffic plan is doubted by three city commissioners. Pago 14. Friction in Vernon school district taken to board of education. Page 9. City starts work on channel connecting Columbia slough and river. Page 10. County jail break frustrated by vigilance of officers. Page 15. Rigbt of aliens to sue In courts is upheld by Judge Morrow. Page 19. State commerce chamber will fte asked to concentrate activities, fage o. Great mall order house may rue here, P6 8. ' . i Service From Chicago to Be Cut Monday. CHRISTMAS EXTRAS BARRED Exclusive Mail and Express Unchanged for Present. EVERY ECONOMY ORDERED Senate Discusses Anti-Strike Sec tion of Railway Bill Short Line Delegates Meet. CHICAGO. Dec. 4. All railroad passenger service on north, west and northwest lines running out of Chi cago will be cut one-third beginning next Monday, under an order issued toay by T. S. Eustis, (Jmlrumn of passenger systems on these roads. A similar order will be issued In a few days applying to eastern and southern roads which probably will be effective next Tuesday. The order directed that the saving be made in "train miles." All parlor, club, lounge and observation sleep- I ing car services were tentatively or dered discontinued, but later it was announced the order was premature and that parlor cars would remain. Special trains for either business or pleasure were prohibited. The order instructed the federal managers of the various roads to eliminate "those trains which can be spared with the least inconvenience to the traveling public" They were told also "not to hesitate to lengthen or change the schedi les of remain ti g trains to permit of carrying more crs or ordering additional work." "There must be no second sections of regular trains." said" the order. "Business must be cared for by adding extra cars, but not beyond the pre scribed limit, and by lengthening the schedules of existing trains. "When capacity, of regular trains is reached, overflow' of travel will of necessity wait over or seek carriage elsewhere." There will be no immediate reduc tion in the number of exclusive mail and express trains, but additional trains or extra sections to take care of the Christmas rush were forbidden. WASHINGTON. Dee. 4. After speaking three days. Senator Cum mins, chairman of the interstate com merce committee, concluded late to day a detailed explanation of his railroad bill, designed to meet con ditions with the return of the roaus to private ownership and control. Discussing the anti-strike provision of the measure, as proposed by the committee. Senator Cummins declared "there has been an industrious effort to misrepresent the bill." He denied that it interfered in any way with the railway employes or officials who desired to quit work. Emphasizing that he was not op posed to labor organizations. Senatoi Cummins said the committee, in in serting, the anti-strike section, fell that "the civilization of America can not continue or endure unless organ ized society can find some plan to preserve industrial peace and order." President Wilson's message to con gress Tuesday, he declared, was a di rect Indorsement of the proposed leg islation. Much sentiment developed today in favor of curtailing debate so as to hasten the bill, but senate leaders said no plan of procedure had been determined. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 4. Orders for limitation of train service to con serve coal, similar to those issued for railroads operating out of Chicago, were received here today by the Unit ed States railroad administration from Hale Holden, regional director at Chicago, but local officials said the use of oil by the Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, Western Pacific and other lines obviated much curtailment of service in California. In the Pacific northwest, where the railroads burned coal mostly, they stated, transportation would be mate rially affectid. Director Holden's order specified that passenger service on roads burn ing coal must be. reduced "at least one-tl ird of the present train miles." Delegates of the Western Association of Short Line railroads, at their annual meeting here today elected a new board of directors and perfected amal gamation with the American Associa tion of Short Line railroads. The directors elected included Guy W. Talbot, Portland, Or. The directors met immediately after the adjournment of the delegates' ses sion to name two representatives to the American association. The session was given over prin cipally to the discussion of bills be fore congress providing for the return of railroads to private ownership. Tire railroads represented at the meeting are not government operated. Officers were elected as follows: . President, D. -M. Swobe: first vice president, L. G. Canon; second vice president, George F. Dietrich; aeere tary and general counsel, C. M. Oddie. The directors decided to leave th appointment of two representatives to the American association to the latter organization. A purchasing committee was chosen to buy steel, ties and other supplies .ICouuiudcd oa lTage 3, Column 2.) nr 104.0