VOL. LIX XO. 18,528
Entered at Portland (Oregon)
PostofTfce as Second-Class Matter.
PORTLAND OREGON, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1920
PRICE FIVE CENTS
CREEL DEMANDS
RIGHT OF PRESS TO
en cm mcuo it nun n
IT IN EAST
PORTED TRAFFIC
TOO MANY FOG HORNS
ABOUT WOODS HOLE
GUATEMALA REVOLTS
AGAINST PRESIDENT
WALKO
FRENCH
PROMISE
TRIAL OF WASTERS
SOUGHT IN HOUSE
Huge Profits Charged to
Army Camp Builders.
V -O NEAR NORMAL
,1, RAILWAY OPERATION IX
2 4 HOURS PREDICTED.
OL.LL.Vj I IHLiVO urnLLU
LETE INQUIRY
TO LEAVE RUHR -
PAPERS MAY OMIT OR PRINT
AXV ITEMS, COURT RtUES.
V
WILSOX CHAXGES PLAXS
SUMMER CAPITAL.
FOR
ABRERA FORCES BOMBARD
CITY SIXCE THURSDAY.
i
COMP
raud Charges Are De
clared to Be Absurd.
ALL RECORDS ARE OFFERED
Official Press Agent Says
Long Distance Lying Tires.
GRAFT PROBES BELITTLED
Transfer of Official Bulletin Is
IX-nicd and Deal Said to In
volve Only Mailing List.
NEW YORK, April 12. George
Creel, who hearted the committee on
public information, tonight made pub
lic a letter he has sent to Attorney-
General Palmer insisting: that Mr.
Palmer investigate at once charges
by the joint congressional committee
on printing that the Creel committee
had wrongfully transferred the offi
cial bulletin to Roger W. Babson of
Wellesley, Mass.
Mr. Creel also made public a let
ter to Senator Smoot, chairman of the
committee, declaring the senator
knew there was no transfer of the
official bulletin to Babson, but that
the joint committee "sneakingly
worked in. secret to frame the indict
ment that my testimony would have
made absurd." He added that the
senator "as much as anyone else" was
responsible for wiping out the Creel
committee June 30, 1919, "in the mid
dle of its orderly liquidation."
Iaqnlry la Demanded.
The joint committee charged that
the transfer had been made without
cost to Babson and suggested insti- j
tution of legal proceedings against
Creel, Babson, C. T. Clayton and Ed
ward S. Rochester, to see if the gov
ernment could not recover money.
In his letter to Mr. Palmer, Mr.
Creel said:
"I insist that your office commence
an instant investigation and put my
self and every record at your dis
posal. I want, to know from you also
what protection one has against the
deliberate slanders of a member of
congress. Not only are Senator
Smoot's charges false, but he knew
them to be lies when he uttered
them.
"The official bulletin was not
transferred to Roger Babson or any
one else. It was discontinued by the
order of the attorney-general on the
ground that I had no right to sell the
property at public auction. The one
asset waa a mailing list and this was
publicly placed at the disposal of any
.citizen caring to copy it, an action
also taken under orders of the attorney-general.
"Any private citizen was at liberty
to start a publication of similar char
acter, and this is what Mr. Babson did.
Ha received nothing from the gov
ernment except the right to copy the
mailing list."
Short Word Is laed.
To Senator Smoot, Mr. Creel said
that after he had been' "dispossessed'
on July SO, 1919, his records had twice
been moved and had been jumbled
into army trucks. He declared a
"private memorandum, stating this
confusion, was sent to Senator War
ren, but eome one sneaked it out to
the press, and the conditions precipi
tatcd by congress were credited to
my 'desertion.'"
"I am sick and tired of this long
distance lying," he said. 'Tour rec
ommendation to the attorney-general
to bring action against me is bun
combe and you kiow it. A better and
quicker way is to have me appear be
fore your committee, or any other
senate committee, and make full an
swer to this official bulletin charge.
"Ever since the armistice it has been
jour steadfast attempt to shame the
American war record and besmirch
..'I ord. To date, these congressional in
vestigations have cost $2,000,000, but
failure to develop a single instance of
graft still forces your group to rely
upon the activities of individual
liars."
CITY POPULATION GROWS
General Increase Xoted in Census
Bureau Report.
WASHINGTON, April 12. Popula
tion statistics announced today by
the census bureau included:
Flint, Mich., 91,599, Increaee 53,048
or 137.6 per cent over 1910.
Adrian, Mich., 11,878, increase 1115
or 10.4 per cent.
Wabash, Ind., 9872, increase 1185
or 13.6 per cent.
Emporia, Kan., 11,273, increase 2215
or 24.5 per cent.
Freeport, 111., 19,669, increase 2102
or 12 per cent.
GIRLS WILL NOT TEACH
Yassar Graduates Xot to Go Into
Poorly Paid Profession.
NEW YORK, April 12. Vassar col
le?e will not graduate a "school
marm" this year, according to results
of a survey of the senior class, made
public here tnnisht.
Low salaries, it was raid, had
caused students to turn to business,
social acrvlC3 and other professions.
$100,00 0 Damage Suit for Drop
pins Xame From Facsimile '
Ballot Is Dismissed.
CHICAGO, April 12. Right of a
newspaper to publish what it con
siders news and to disregard what
ever it believes does not come within
that category was upheld today in an
opinion of the appelate court, dispos
ing of a $100,000 damage suit brought
by William Reeda, an attorney,
against the Chicago Tribune com
pany. Mr. Reeda, a candidate for superior
court judge in the November, 1917,
election on an independent ticket,
charged the Tribune with publishing
a fac simile of a portion of a speci
men ballott, giving names of the
democratic, republican and socialist
candidates for the judgeship, but
omitting the names of the independ
ent candidates. It was contended by
Mr. Reeda that this omission was
"wilful and malicious and done with
intent to injure his candidacy."
"The defendant owed no duty to
either the plaintiff or the public to
publish anything which, for any rea
son, it did not see fit to publish," the
opinion read.
"The defendant is the sole Judge of
the value of news as such. A news
paper must remain free to publish
such matters as it regards as possess
ing news value and to refrain from
publishing such matters as it may
determine do not possess news value."
POLICEMAN HELD SLAYER
Charge Follows Recent Conviction
of Others in Butte.
BUTTE, Mont., April 12. Andrew
Brady, a member of the Butte police
force, was charged with murder in
connection with the death of Sylves
ter J. Prenatt in an information filed
in court this afternoon by County
Attorney Rotering.
Three men have been convicted of
murder in connection with Prenatt's
death and two of them have been
sentenced to death and the other to
life imprisonment. A fourth is sched
uled to be tried shortly.
During their trials testimony was
offered to show that Brady had taken
some of the accused men to the
Prenatt home on the night preceding
tne killing, and told them $8000 worth
of whisky was stored there.
NOTE REPORTS SINKING
Message Found In Bottle at Van
couver, B. C, Tells of Mary B.
VANCOUVER, B. C, April 12. Tot
boys today turned over to the light
house service a note which they said
they found in a bottle on a Stanley
park beach bere yesterday. The note
read: "Adrift in a small boat off
Flattery. Mary B. sinking. Merlin.
captain. March 27."
No boat named Mary B. belongs to
this port. Two fishing vessels bear
ing the name are registered from
Seattle.
Owners of two Seattle fishing
schooners named the Mary B. today
telegraphed to their captains to de
termine if they were safe. Neither of
the boats has reported trouble. It
was said.
TEN IRISH PICKETS HELD
Women Who Harried British Em
bassy to Face Grand Jury.
WASHINGTON, April 12. Ten Irish
pickets arrested last week at the
British embassy were held for a fed
eral grand jury today by United States
Commissioner Richardson on charge
of violating a federal statute making
it a felony to "assault" a diplomatic
representative of a foreign govern
ment.
The women gave bond in the sum
of $12,000 each. They were Misses
Elaine Barrie, Kathleen O'Brien
Katherine McKeon, Mary Walsh. Mrs.
Thomas Currin and Mrs. Honor Walsh.
all of Philadelphia; Miss Helen
O'Brien, St. Louis; Miss Maura Quinn,
Boston, and Mrs. Katherine Columbine
and Mrs. James Walsh, New York.
LIBERTY BONDS FALLING
Low Price Attributed to Treasury
Announcement Last Week.
NEW YORK, April 12. The price
of liberty bonds fell below 88 for the
first time today, when new low rec
ords were made in four issues under
heavy selling. The second 4 Vis closed
87.88, second 4s at 88, third 4 Vis at
91.60, fourth iAa at 88.06.
Weakness of these bonds was at
tributed to the announcement made
last week by the secretary of the
treasury that new issues of certifi
cates of indebtedness would carry
interest rates of 5"4 per cent.
GUARD STRENGTH IS LOW
Enlistments 32 7 9 in March; Force
2 4 Per Cent of Maximum.
WASHINGTON, April 12. The Na
tional Guard during March made a
net gain of 3279 in enlistment, it was
officially announced today.
The guard numbers 42,600, or about
24 per cent of the maximum of 179,000.
PLANE FALLS; ONE DEAD
Passenger Killed and Pilot Hurt
When Machine Tail-Spins.
SIOUX FALLS. Si D . April 12. B.
F. Ramsey is dead and W. T. Cook,
a civilian pilot, tonight was in a hos
pital in a serious condition.'
Their plane fell Into a tail spin and
crashed to earth west of here.
HALTS INDUSTRIES
Switchmen's Strike Takes
More Serious Aspect.
SITUATION IN WEST RELAXES
Middle Section Also Reports
Conditions Better.
SOME EMBARGOES LIFTED
Brotherhood Leaders Confident
That Break in Chicago Will Be ,
Followed by General Return.
CHICAGO, April 12. While the un
authorized strike of railroad em
ployes which started here two weeks
ago with the walkout of 700 switch
men on the Chicago, Milwaukee &. St.
Paul railroad today appeared gradu
ally to be waning In the middle west
and the far west, the eituation east of
Cleveland took on a more serious as
pect. The center of development in the
walkout of insurgents had shifted to
the east, where additions to the ranks
of the rebel railroad workers had
caused a serious stoppage of freight
and passenger traffic and the closing
of several industries.
The situation in the Chicago yards
showed a marked Improvement and
reports from other large railroad cen
ters in the middle west indicated that
the crisis was past and that the strik
ers were returning to work in con
siderable numbers.
Brotherhood Chlefa Confident.
Officers of railroad brotherhoods,
who have been fighting the strike,
were confident that the breaking up
of the walkout in Chicago would be
followed by a general resumption of
work in other areas.
A pronouncement of the govern
ment's course was expected at Wash
ington tomorrow by Attorney-General
Palmer. Investigators of the depart
ment of justice were completing an
inquiry Into the sltuatlon,"Mr. Pal
mer said.
More freight moved into the Chi
cago yards today than on any day
since the strike started, railroad of
ficials announced. More than 9006
stockyard employes, forced out of
work by the strike, returned.
Packing-house receipts, including
4000 cattle, 2500 hogs and 4000 sheep,
was a larger quantity than received
any day last week. About 25,000
stockyard workers were still idle.
The Illinois Central, the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul, the New York
Central and other roads reported car.
again moving in the switching yards
(Concluded on Page 4. Column 1.)
AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR POST HAS UNCLE
CATCH r REOHT
mi
Service to Be Restored, Barring
Unforeseen Events, Declares
Southern Pacific Official.
"Unless someone throws a monkey
wrench into the machinery, I believe
that within 24 hours trie situation
will be practically normal," said A. T.
Mercier, superintendent of the South
ern Pacific company, regarding the
strike of switchmen on the lines of
that railroad. This mar be said to
express briefly the general situation
prevailing in Portland yesterday. The
grip of the unauthorized walkout ap
pears to have been broken, although
there was still some trouble, and the
Spokane, Portland & Seattle line waa
experiencing a tie-up.
While all railroad executives were
optimistic yesterday ' afternoon and
expressed the belief that the strike
this vicinity was virtually over
and that it would be but a short time
before the crews would either be
back at work or others would have
taken their places, freight embargoes
had not been ordered lifted. That
they might be today or tomorrow,
however, was felt fairly certain.
Several meetings of the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen and of
the switchmen's union have been held.
one being in progress last night, but
from all that could be learned there
was no final decision as to returning
to work.
"We are beginning to see daylight,"
said Superitendent Mercier of the
Southern Pacific. "We added two
crews at the Brooklyn yards yester
day morning and two more went on
duty In the afternoon. The situation
waa very much improved. We were
able to make our perishable delivery
to the east side and to take care -of
our oil shipments. Our own improve
ment over Sunday was about 20d per
cent."
Mr. Mercier said that 90 per cent
of the men who took out engines
were new men and added that "all
of the strikers who return, return as
such," losing all of the benefits of
their former relationship with the
company.
"Conditions are growing gradually
better," said M. J. Buckley, general
superintendent of the O.-W. R. & N.
lines "Our men are reporting back
slowly and things in general are bet
ter. The crews at Huntington and
Umatilla went out, but returned
again. We have one crew out of five
on duty at The Dalles. In the Albina
yards we have now seven crews .to
against six on Sunday."
The O.-wr R. & N. dispatched two
freight trains and received three, it
waa stated at the Albina yards office
by Dan Quinn. There were some
transfers between this road and the
Southern Pacific.
At the office of the Northern Pa
cific Terminal company it was an
nounced that there had been a de
cided improvement. Three more crews
were on duty yesterday afternoon and
movement of 'freight waa being ar
ranged. An early return to normal
conditions appeared likely, it was re
ported. The sole point where actual im
provement was not reported was from
the offices of Superintendent Vermil
(Concluded on Page 4. Column 4.)
BY TE.TQ1-
H ULT YArA GO Tx
Crane Estate Too Much Subject to
V
Disturbing Xoises and Also
Too Small for Staff.
jrllta. fBy
WASHINGTON, April'12. fBy the
Associated Press.) President Wilson
will not establish the summer White
House at Woods Hoie, Mass., as had
been expected.
Instead he probably will select
some other place where more accom
modations are available for the large
staff of secretaries and attaches.
It became known today that the
announcement that the president had
selected the estate of Charles R.
Crane, minister to China, for his sum
mer home was premature. The presi
dent had accepted Mr. Crane's offer
of a lease, but it had not been in
spected by the secret service opera
tives and White House attaches.
When- White House advance agents
Inspected the ground, it is said, they
concluded that the Crane estate waa
not large enough, and that the accom
modations in the village were insuf
ficient for the force from the execu
tive offices.
It also developed that the Crane
mansion is close to a railroad track,
that there are several automatic fog
signals In Long Island sound close
to shore and that the layout of the
Crane grounds in relation to the pub
lic streets and sidewalks of Woods
Hole were such that the secret serv
ice men advanced what they termed
practical obstacles to their regular
plans for guarding the president.
When these considerations were
laid before the president, it was said
today, he reluctantly abandoned his
plan to go to Woods Hole.
It has not been decided where the
president will go in view of the
changed plan, but several offers are
before him.
The president did not go motoring
today but spent some time on the
White House portico on the south
lawn and in his study. His drive
about the capitol Sunday served to
invite rumors that he had suffered
a setback. Rear - Admiral ' Grayson
reiterated that the president was In
better condition than any time since
he returned from his speaking trip
last October.-
GREETING GOES TO DEBS
Fellow Socialists Remember Fed
eral Prison Inmate.
CHICAGO, April 12. "A message of
love on the anniversary of your in
carceration" was sent today to Eugene
V. Debs, now In federal prison at
Atlanta, Ga, by the national execu
tive committee or the socialist party.
The message said:
"Dear Gene: In the name" of the
millions whom you have touched with
your love and Inspired hy your cour
age, the socialist party sends you
fraternal greetings and this message
of love on the anniversary of your
incarceration.
"In your ceil you are a beacon light
to tne suriering masses, and your
words are winged messengers that
are arousing the people from their
slumbers.
"The spirit o our movement is
abroad in the land; the day of vic
tory appears."
SAM PLAY THE GAME, i
Troops to Get Out When
Quiet Is Restored.
NOTE RESULTS IN HARMONY
Acceptance of British View
Expected in London. '
DETAILS NOT SETTLED
Brltibii Ask for Explanation of
Plans of French and Policy
Is Outlined Immediately.
PARIS. April 12. The Earl of
Derby, British ambassador to France,
delivered to Premier Millerand at 1
o'clock this afternoon the British re
ply to the French premier's note of
last evening. M. Millerand refused to
discuss the contents of the note with
the newspaper correspondents.
During a conversation lasting more
than a half hour between Premier
Millerand and Lord Derby, after the
conference of ambassadors, the Brit
ish ambassador, after handing his
government's reply to the French
note to Premier' Millerand, asked
M. Millerand for certain . explanations
which would give more precise infor
mation on the intentions of the
French government. Such Informa
tion was so simple and easy to give,
says a semi-official note issued late
this afternoon, that M. Millerand was
able to supply It at once.
"It is understood," the semi-official
note says, That the French troops
when they evacuate Frankfort and
Darmstadt also will withdraw from
Homburg and Hanau.
Occupation May Be Limited.
"The German delegation's demand
for an extension of three months for
the disarmament of Germany has cre
ated a new situation, of which the
allies, particularly France, must take
account. This demand would appear
necessarily to form the subject of the
first discussions at San Remo.
"Furthermore, It s probable that
tha French government, anxious not
to appear as wishing to bring pres
sure upon Its allies in connection with
this question, will strive to limit the
occupation of the main towns and
will show itself disposed to withdraw
its troops as soon as the situation
becomes normal in the Ruhr districts
as regards the German effectives."
LONDON. April 12. An aulhorlta
tive statement Issued tonight indi
cates the Franco-British situation is
even more favorable than presented
by Andrew Bonar Law, the govern
ment spokesman in the house of com
mons, today.
French .Acceptance Kxnrcted.
The statement intimates that
French note is expected accepting the
British view and agreeing to evacuate
the occupied towns rapidly on with
drawal of tJieGerman troops from the
Ruhr, which has already commenced
Both France and Great Britain are
increasingly convinced of the neces
sity of keeping in agreement for the
settlement of the questions regarding
Germany and those affecting other
parties of the world, Mr. Law told the
house.
The approaching conference of the
heads of the allied governments will
no doubt serve to confirm and consol
idate the complete understanding be
tween the two governments," said
Mr. Law.
Mr. Bonar Law was bombarded with
questions and several queries sug
gested sympathy with the French
viewpoint. The government leader,
however, refused to be drawn into a
discussion.' He declared any state
ment made in the house by a mem
ber of the government which would
seem to justify the British attitude
might have the .appearance of critl
cising the attitude of Great Britain's
allies, and on the other band, that any
statement might have the effect of
conveying to the German govern
ment that there was not complete
agreement among the allies regarding
the importance of the treaty.
MILLERAX'D MAY XOT ATTEXD
Premier Does Xot Want Other
( Powers at Conference.
PARIS. April 12. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) It was declared today
in a reliable source that if the su
preme council meeting at San Remo
was to discuss the misunderstanding
between France and Great Britain.
Premier Millerand would not attend.
A personal talk on the subject with
Premier Lloyd George would be wel
comed by the French premier if Mr.
Lloyd George could find it. convenient
to come to Paris, but it is considered
in official circles that as the point
at issue Interests France and Great
Britain only., it is needless to dis
cuss it before the representatives of
the other powers. ,
Crisis Believed to Be Over.
LONDON, April 12. The solidarity
of the entente is emphasized in the
latest French communication. In
British official circles the opinion
was expressed today that all the dan
gers with which the situation was
fraught had definitely been dispelled.
Up to noon-Sunday there had been
undisguised nervousness here over
last week's cross channel exchanges.
Many Xon-Combatants Are Killed.
American Marines Land to
Protect Legation.
GUATEMALA CITY. April 12. (By
the Associated Press.) Many noncom
batants have been killed in Guatemala
City, which has been under shell fire
of the forces of President Cabrera
since Thursday night.
The city is undefended except by
volunteers armed with rifles. On one
da. the bombardment was kept up
from 10 A. M. until 8 P. M. SheHls
fell in various parts of the city and
casualties are believed to have been
heavy. Cabrera is strongly entrenched
in La Palma, outside the city.
WASHINGTON, April 12. The long
threatened revolution in Guatemala
against President Estrada Cabrera
finally has broken out. Reports to
day to the state department said the
opponents of the president had gained
control of Guatemala City after some
street fighting.
A marine guard from the cruiser
Tacomaand submarine tender Niagara
has been landed to protect the Ameri
can legation.
MEXICO CITY, April 12. In Guate
mala the revolutionists have formed
a new government with Carlos Her
rera as president.
Advices from Tapa Chula, state of
Chi a Fas, said that Cabrera was a
prisoner, and another that he was
besieged in his home.
Great excitement prevails through
out the republic. Numerous Guate
malans began crossing from Mexico
to participate in the revolution.
PROFIT TAX IS PROPOSED
Representative Johnson Has Plan
to Provide Soldiers Bonus.
WASHINGTON, April 12. A bill to
re-enact the law Imposing a tax of 80
per cent on excess war profits was
introduced today by Representative
Johnson, republican. South Dakota,
a means of raising revenue for a
soldier bonus. There also would be
a levy on the privilege of issuing
stock dividends.
The bill would be made applicable
to profits of 1919, 1920 and 1921, and
Mr. Johnson figured it would raise
$1,000,000,000.
GERMAN SHIPS ALL SOLD
Board Reports 28 Vessels Disposed
of Within Past Week.
WASHINGTON, April 12. All Ger
man cargo vessels taken over by the
government have been disposed of to
private interests, the weekly sales re.
port of the shipping board, made pub
lic today, shows.
During the week ending April 10
the board sold 8 vessels for $21,751,
065. Included were 11 former-German
merchant ships.
.Xcrvy Briton Again Decorated.
TORONTO, Out, April 12. Lieutenant-Colonel
William O. Barker has
been awarded a second silver medal
by the king of Italy for heroism in
October, 1918, when he attacked 60
German airplanes single-handed and
shot down six before he was downed.
Colonel Barker, it is said, holds more
decorations for bravery than any
other living' British airman.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
lESTERDAT'S Maximum temperature,
62 decree: minimum, 49 degrees.
TODAY'S Rain; southerly winds.
Vnrlirn.
Thirteen states leave Carranza govern
ment. la repot. Pane 16.
Azerbajans threaten to massacre 25.000
Armenians in Baku. Page 5.
Guatemala revolts against President Ca
brera. Page 1.
France promises to leave Ruhr as soon as
order is restored. Page 1.
Nnilnnal.
Republicans attempt to recover losses said
to be du to extravagance in construc
tion of army cantonments. Page 1.
Federal action In switchmen's strike awaits
further Investigations. Page Z.
West's water-power bill agreed on In con
ference and will be reported soon. Pa.ge
Creel demands full Investigation and de
clares fraud charges by committee are
absurd. Page 1.
Woods Hole too noisy and too small for
summer White House. Page 1.
Senate approves voluntary military train
ing but appropriation cut over two
thirds. Page 2.
Mine chief, from .iail balcony, attacks
governor. Page S.
Domestic.
Switchmen's strike in far east halts in
dustries. Page 1. '
Chemists in convention declare discoveries
wilt cut high cost of living. Page 1.
Xew York faces grave situation as result
of switchmen's strike. Page 4.
Pacific Northwest.
Taft boom in Oregon killed on own re
quest. Page .
Homestead entries at Roseburg open with
rush. Page 8.
6 ports.
Steve Dalton will take place of Harry
Sehuman against Stanley Willis, Fri
day night. Page 14.
Beavers open well and are likely to come
home in first division. Page 14.
Commercial and Marine.
Winter wheat crop In Oregon makes good
progress. -Page 23.
Chicago com weakena on belief strike is
nearly over. Page 23.
Strike news and money flurry unsettle
stock market. Page 23.
Two shipping board steamers listed to load
here for orient. Page 22.
Portland and Vicinitr.
Normal railway traffic predicted Jn 24
hours. Pago 1.
Forgery by veteran partly laid by jury to
aurgeons in army who gave generous
injections of drug. Page 11.
Visitors accused of attempt to block meet
ing of league ot women voters. Page 13.
Kew estimate shows increase In annual
deficit of street car company. Page i'4.
Low general fund may force special city
olectlon. rst J
'Bla.ckte'' Williford, ex-convict wanted in
Seattle in connection with murder of
Robert C. Scott. Puge 7.
Printers' union raises issue on proposed
school plant. Page S.
RECOVERY SUITS DEMANDED
Democrats Delay Effort to
Begin Actions in Court.
COST-PLUS IS CONDEMNED
Committee Charges ' Cantonments
Cost Government -10 Per Cent
More Tlwn Tlicy Should.
WASHINGTON. April 12. ftr n
publican leaders had denounced i.nt
democrats had upheld the govern -nt-nt
system of building army camps durir.a;
the war, the house pr. pared today for
a fisnt tomorrow on two p'oaoa,
to deal with persons alleged to have
reaped rich profits from alleged ex
travagance and waste.
With the Investigating committee's
report attacking construction meth
ods, the republican majority presented
a resolution directing that evidence
obtained during the nine months' in
vestigation be turned over to the attorney-general
with the request that
he institute criminal and civil pro
ceedings. The democrats countered
with a substitute resolution proposing
to instruct the committee to name
persons. firms and corporations
"which should .be investigated," be
fore directing the attorney-general
to proceed.
Huge Waate la Charsresl.
When the house quit tonight, de
bate was not ended. The principal
speeches were made by Representa
tive Doremus, democrat, Michigan,
author of the minority statement, and
Representative McCullough, repub
lican. Ohio, signing the majority
statement.
Representative McCullough declared
the cry "we won the war" had been
made to cover many sins, while Rep
resentative uoremus asserted that "if
the supreme architect of the universe
had built these campa the bleacher
managers would have found fault
with the Job."
To the republican charge that the
government lost $78, 531.521 on 16 na
tional army cantonments through ,
waste and was entitled to recover
damages, the democratic member said
if his computation was correct, he
figured he had squeezed $85,000,000
water out of "pretended claims to re
covery." - Mr. McCullough said it was not
within the province nor the duty ot
the committee to prosecute crime or
indict criminals.
'"The report of the'majority contains
facts and evidence," he declared, "and
the record of the testimony 'taken in
connection with the construction of
Camp Sherman at Chillicothe, O., and
Camp Grant at Rockford, 111., con
tains evidence on which the depart
ment of Justice should immediately
predicate grand jury proceedings."
Coat-Pins Is Condemned.
No attempt was made to save pub
lic money, he said, adding: "You are
paying, your children and your chil
dren's children ftr- generations to
come will pay, fnd continue to pay
for the cost-plus system. Let us
hope , that never again will such a
reprehensible system be put into ope
ration." Representative Doremus said that
the stress of war justified "abandon
ing peace-time methods of construc
tion." "Indeed," he declared, "if Secretary
Baker had attempted to build the
camps by the competitive system, he
would have been guilty of the gross
est incompetence and merited removal
from office."
After nine months' investigation,
with access to ail records, be said,
the majority of the committee was
"unwilling to make specific recom
mendations or a specific allegation
of fraud against any person, firm or
corporation."
Besides the secretary, the majority
report held Colonel W. A, Starrett, an'
architect of New York, "primarily"
responsible for adoption of the cost
plus contract, and it was intimated
that he used his position on the
Emergency Construction company to
obtain contracts for the George A.
Fuller company, of which his broth
er was president.
Charges Are DealedL,
The minority said this "charge rests
wholly upon inferences," and pointed
out that Starrett waa not examined
by the committee.
The majority charged the law creat
ing the national council of defense
and permitting establishment of su
bordinate bodies waa "perverted from
its clear intention and transcended,
particularly in- matters relating to
construction "work."
The subordinate bodies, it was said,
"became in fact actual dominant
functioning organizations," and that
the Emergency Construction com
pany, headed by Colonel Starrett,
procured separation of the canton
ment division from the war depart
ment and "usurped and dominated
functions Of that division."
The conclusions of the majority
also declared that failure to classify
carpenters correctly alone caused a
loss of $400,000 for each cantonment;
(.Concluded on Tagc 2, Column 1.)
(
95.8v