iMW-ssw I,'c '.-..(vsyvwyj- --yc- 'iUjl . uenmg tablk fefrger ' THEEXfHER Washington, T)cc. 20. Cloudy and warmer tonight: Saturday fair. NIGHT EXTRA i , Tr.MrKitATnnn at bach hock 8 1 0 jlOjll J12 llgl34 'r LJJ i5T f? i-2-t 125 lad ianm2 T2VJUVCIAL 33 VOL. VI. NO. 88 Enterni as Second-CUns Matttr at th rottnmce, at Philadelphia, Ta. Undtr tho Act of March 3, 1879. PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1919 I'ubllohcd Dollr Except Sunday Hubn'rlptlon Trlre fl a Tear by Mall. Copyright, 1010, by Public Ledger Company PRICE TWO CENTS, dJWfcyr!" .v WHY DID SNYDER QUIETLYHANDOUT FAT JOB TO VARES? Questions Aro Asked Following Auditor General's Disposal of $7000 Post ATTEMPT- TO CARRY WATER ON BOTH SHOULDERS SEEN .This Is Query Being Made by Moore Followers, and Ex planation Is Wanted By GEORGE NOX McCAIN Charles A. Snyder, auditor general, has as yet neglected to come across with nny explanation as to why lie tllpped Into town, appointed a promi nent antl-Moorc leader to a $7000 job, between hours, and then slipped out again as quickly as he could, Mr. Snyder, whoso term Is about to expire, is a candidate for state treasurer next year. The presumption in Moore administration circles is that Mr. Sny der is assiduously practicing tho grace ful art of carrying yater on both shoul ders. Liko the old organization In Phila delphia ho Is professedly ignorant of th'e fact that a new administration and a new deal is on in this city. , Mr. Snyder is not the only state leader who, sooner or later, will have to come to a realization that things have changed in Philadelphia ; that there is a new band at the wheel that must be consulted in connection with ap pointments and legislation affecting this city. If any Btate leaders aro wedded to their idols, which means the discredited Republican organization, they will have to take the consequences and abide by the results. It's thcirtfuneral. Situation Explained to Sproul Governor Sproub and Mayor-elect Moore have held several conferences recently in Philadelphia. The new ad ministration and its leadership as well as- its relation to the state at large and Mate politics in particular have been discussed in a tentative way. No un ilorKtnnHIni? has been arrived at. but Mr. Moore, I understand, has presented succinctly and directly the situation. anu nis own position, to uovcrnor Sproul for his careful consideration. The question as to whether or not Governor Sproul proposes to recognize Mayor-elect Mobre, not as the titular, but as actually head of the reorganized Republican party in Philadelphia, or whether ho will maintain such relations wjth Eleventh and Chestnut streets will have much to do with state politics In certain directions. At all events the situation fore shadows the, entrance of the new city , administration into the field of state politics in so far as It affects Phila delphia and its government. In the past. Philadelphia delegations have played a prominent part In state politics. Under the leadership of Mayor elect .T. Hampton Moore they will play an equally conspicuous part in the coming four years, I have no doubt. ' The uncertainty as to whether Auditor General Snyder was acting under instructions or with the knowl edge and consent of toe state ad ministration in his hurried and rather surreptitious method of appointing nnti adralnistration state officials ii Phila delphia, has left a Vandjkc brown taste in the mouths of Republicans affiliated with the incoming Mayor. ' Somebody Must Explain Somebody evidently will have to mnke an explanation, and an 'cxplanatioD that will explaiu, too. In conversaUon with friends Mayor Moore has distinctly affirmed that he regards all those who arc not with him as against him. And this holds good in everything, pertaining to Philadelphia, in Harrisburg or 1c Uiis city. The new Major is determined that all factions must recognize that a dif ferent sort of administration is coming into power. It is to be a good govern ment administration. Leaders apd fac tions who aro not ready to recognize this will not only" be classed among the foes of good government, but branded as such. i. , , ., , , , i And this holds good from the highest to the lowest in city or in state. This declaration, I am permitted to Bay, car ries the stamp of autborltativo utter ance. Mr. Moore and his' advisors have en deavored assiduously to 'secure a har monious organization of 'the new Coun cil as an Indication that all factions were united in the interests of good gov ernment for greater Philadelphia. He has given his pre-election word that he would treat all factions fairly, and as the head of the Incoming administration political and otherwise he desired the unanimous support of all factions. Serves Notice of Fight No sooner was he elected than the statement was made that tho Vare or ganization would refuse to recognize him as tne political nean ot tne or ganization. In other words, while dis claiming such a purpose Eleventh and Chestnut streets served notico that it proposed to fight him. Being the kind of a man that be is there was but one reply to mnke. He would fight, too. Like Colonel Greene at the battle of the Mud Fort below Philadelphia nearly ;i ICO years ago, he added, "I Bhall ask no quarter, neither ehall I give anv," Up to this time the Mayor-elect had no reason to doubt thnt David H. Lane and Senator David Martin would join hands with him. Three weeks ago the information was brought to him that a responsible leader Jn the Republican city committee had declared emphatic ally "Dave Martin is with us. They can't get him away from us. We own him." Two weeks ago Senator Martin and Mayor-elect Mooro had a conference. The local political situation was threshed over but before the conference was concluded It wan pretty well evident that 'the veteran Nineteenth ward leader proposed to join the opponents of the new administration, It wasn't until this suggestion developed Into actual fact that J. Hampton Mooro proclaimed his purpose to give no quarter. If Senator Martin, David 11. Lane, Sena tor Vare, Sheriff Ransley, Congressman Vare, John R.K. Scott and all the other old organization leaders had their hands lifted against the new adminis tration aiid wanted to fight, then figh.t it should be. And h fight to the bitter snd'wlthwitfwjptkr;' ' n J " U Lay Rising Living Cost to Lack of Production Prices Will Sink in Natural Adjustment of' Reconstruction Period in Opinion of Some Manufacturers Here Manufacturers of the city believci generally that the high cost ot living Is due not to profiteers, but to hick ot production. And they believe, some of them, that prices will sink in the natural adjust ment of the .reconstruction period, while others say that there will be no relief until everybody gets down to hahl work. Scarcity and high price of raw ma terial, short hours and Sack of help arc the factors which bring about tho high cost of living, in the opinion of S. R. Fleisher, o the S. 11. & H. TV. Fleisher Co,, Inc., yarn manufac turers, r "These causes tend to decrease the amount of production," he said. "High wages, most manufacturers believe, are justly and necessarily high because of the high cost of living, of foods and wearing apparel, shoes, suits and so on. "Certainly manufacturers are not anxious to place a high price on their goods. The manufacturer must try to keep his prices well within the purse capacity of the consumers. If he doesn't ho will soon find out he lias no mar ket. Profit Tnx a Factor "It is true that the excess profit tax is a factor in keeping prices high. One can easily understand why. Any thing that takes away a part of the margin of profit on goods which cost a great deal to produce naturally in creases the cost to cover the manufac ture of such goods. "There may be profiteering, but I think that profiteering is not general among manufacturers. It is known that during the last four years of the ar there has been an abnormal consumption 4 R Voman Killed in.Hold-Up Let- tors in Car Seek Girl Addressee Here ARREST LOCAL CHAUFFEUR An automobile .stolen from this city was the "murder car" used by auto bandits who held up a store in Passaic, N.-J., and shot and killed thewlfc' of the proprietor when she resisted. Tho machine was stolen from the Philadelphia and Reading Railway garage, Twelfth and Cherry streets, Wednesday afternoon. Five hours later the thieves drove up to the stord in Passaic and the murder followed. Three persons got out or the stolen machine and entered the furniture store of Morris Goldstein. Mrs. Goldstein was covered with a revolver and ordered to turn Over the cash in the store. She resisted and was shot. She dleM a few hours later in a hospital. Machipo Is Abandoned. After the shooting the bandits ran from the store, made their way through a crowd of excited shoppers and jumped into the car.. The machine was foifnd abandoned later on the outskirts of Passaic. The auto is a seven-passenger touring car, the property of John Peters, superintendent ot the Philadel phia Division. The gang is believed to have been met by another machine. They arc thought to have been taken to New York or brought back td this city. A handbag with several letters writ ten to a Philadelphia youngN woman in it was found on the floor of the aban doned machine. A man in Jersey City wrote tho letters. This man, Harry J. Nelson, twentv four years old, told the police tho woman resided in Jersey City uutil early In the fall, when she moved to this cltv. He corresponded with her frequently, he said. The letters were identified by him as eome he had sent to her. Police Won't Divulge Name The police of Passaic refuse to di vulge the name qf tho woman. , They admitted, however, that thelfonly clue Is the knowledge that she was prob ably, on the scene. A Passaic detec tive is expected here todayto aid local detectives In their search for tho woman. The gang, according to the Passaic pollqe, is a desperate band of crimi nals who operate along the line of tho Lincoln Highway betweeen New York and Philadelphia and towns adjacent to that thoroughfare. During the last two years the band has stolen more than $100,000 worth of goods, much of which was stolen .xoni big freight trucks plying be tween the two cities. The murder of Mrs. Goldstein Is not the first laid to robbers along the high way. A few months ago a truck was held up and more than $20,000 worth of cloth stolen. The driver died from injuries received defending the cargo. The cloth was bound for this city. Nelson, the Jersey City correspond ent, proved to the police that he was In Jersey City at the time, and could not have been implicated. JAPANESE VOLCANO ACTIVE Cattle Poisoned by Eating Ashes on Grass Near Mount Aso Toklo, Dec. 20. (By A. P.) Mount Aso, a volcano in Kyushu has been un usually active for several wjeks. Rum blings, small eruptions and fihowers of ashes were frequently experienced. A comparatively big eruption occurred a few days ago when masses of ashes fell over tho surrounding country. The ntmospbero above tht volcano district wai a mass of reddish yellow clouds and the mountains and fields were mantled with a thick layer of grayish ash from the crater. Numer ous cattle which ate tho grass on the fields have died 'through poisoning,. PHLA AUTO USED NA A II tr.?JJM$K,' of raw- material which leaves the market rather bare today. This problem of waste will soon right Itself, just as I believe the food problem will right it self. The curtullment of shipments of food overseas after the stress in Europe is relieved, nnd our adopted methods of food conservation, will soon remedy the food problem. "The price ot rnw material will come down again soon. The world had enough wool, for instance, before the war, und would have plenty uow but for the abnormal consumption (hiring wartime. Soon the supply of raw material ji ill be adequate, and the price of the row stuff will sink, nnd so will the price to the consumer." Public Tasto Still Abnormal Charles P. Vaughn, of Dungan, Hood &,Co., leather manufacturers, believes that the excess profits tnx is u direct factor in determining the price of goods. "In order for any business to make a normal profit," ho said, "and pay tho excess p'rofit tax too, the business must assure itself of un abuormal profit. If manufacturers and producers uro working on a normal profit basis, cer tainly the excess profit taxes are a strong factor in determining the price of commodities. "Everybody knows that the public is demanding the best of materials and that the bujlng power of the public is greater thau it has ever been. And even though tho prices urn high, the public wants the best, nud the public buys the best. Shop girls wont furs una silk stockings. "I am inclined to believe that it is a question of bupply and demand. The supply doesn't approach the demand. And the immediate cause of the lack of Continued on rate Twenty, Column four HALTS Ml THEFT Policcf Believo Youth Youngest Membor of Gang of Auto Ban dits Comrades Escape LEAVE $5000 IN LOOT In Carmen Tumojo, sixteen years old, the police believe they have the youngest member of a band of motor car bandits that has been operatlug in this city. ' The boy, who gives an address in Early street near Twelfth, wa caught in the basement of !!7 North Ninth street by the watchman last night. Meanwhile the burglar alarm was jinging. ami the police of the Eleventh and TVinter streets station hurried to the place just In timcTto see a limqusine speed away. TVhea arrestrd the boy, thinking his comrades were cornered, according to the police said, "Look out, they hove gilus and will shoot." Stocked on the pavement were bales of cloth worth $.',000. The robbeis were surprised before they had time to rcmae any of it. Tho bars of the rear window had been sawed through unci bent back, and the boy entered, it is said, passing out the cloth to his confederates outside. He told the police he had "done a job" on Ridge avenue for the same gang several nights ngo, for which he was to have received .ffiO, but bad not been paid the money. According to the police the boy has been in the re formatory twice. HE GOT THE SCOTCH Benevolent Possessor of Four Bottles Rewards a Soldier Nxiv York, Dec. 20. A joyous per son who exuted the Christmas spirit rolled into u northbound subway train at the Herald square station, yes terday afternoon, carrying a large bnu dle in his arms ns carefully as if it were a baby. He plumped himself into u seat and beamed on tho tired shoppers. Just then a united states nrmy reg ular entered the car and sat down op posite. Tho man with the bundle got up and crossed over to him. "Do you know that I have four bot tles of lovely Scotch In this bundle ?" he said. "How could I know?" answered tho man in uniform. "You don't imagine I'd be carrying homo cider?" was the reply in a hurt tone. "Say I Just told a gentleman I wouldn't give nny of it to anybody but a 'worthy object.' Rut jou look all right. Were you over?" "1 hail two years of it," said the mil itary nerson rather sheepishly. "Well," exclaimed the other, "I'll be darned, but l ve round o "wortuy ob jest' at last. I'm going to give you a bottle." And he did. GUARD NABS BOY WINSTON, ON CITY HALL VISIT GREETED BY COINCIDENCES Next Director Meets Office Force of Public Works Department, but Doesn't Indicate IVhom He May Retain John 0, Winston, the next director of the Department of Public Works, visited City Hall today to get a line on bis nevy job. Incidentally, Mv. Winston en countered several coincidences which re lieved the monotouy of his tour through the drear corridors. He was accom panied on his tiip by Director Dates man, but gave no bint as to his plans or possible changes In the department. The prospective director, who con-1 ducts n publishing house on Arch street, first visited the main office of the de partment. After being Introduced to nil the emnloyes Mr. Winston met J. Jarrett Johnson, the negro messenger,! "This Is tbe man wno guards your outer door," said Director Datesman, indlcaUng Johnson. After greeting Johnson cordially Mr, Winston said: "I hope you will keep out all bums and hobos,," 1.'Ss," said Johnson with a spread? ingiStfai, "And. the book wato." GABLE AND REILLY TO GET BEST JOBS IN SHERIFF'S GIFT Former State Senator Slated! for Chief and Real Estate I Deputy CLAUDE L ROTH SELECTED FOR $5000 SOLICITORSHIP Vy"ay Believed Open to Election' of Woodruff to Civil Serv ice Commission The three biggest plums in the sheriff's office are to fall into the bauds ! of Independents, it was stated author! talivcly today. viuau r runic liable, former stale senator and close personal friend of Sheriff-elect Robert 11. Lainbcrton, is slated for the office of chief und real estate deputy at 5(500(1 n jear. The job is now held by George MeCurdy. Horace TV. Reillj, secretary of the' Town Meeting party nnd formerly con uected with the committee of scvcnl.. is to be made personal deputy at .$5000 a jear. It was believed the present incumbent, George Do It. Mjcrs, a veterau in the office, would be retained. CIntido L. Itolli, attorney for the Town Meeting party, is to be appointed Solicitor of the sheriffs office. The Iiition pays ?,"000 u jear. Mr. Roth was in charge of the corps of nttornejs engaged by the Moore campaign com mittee during the primary contest. The present solicitor is George S. Russell. Reilly, who is In be tunned personal deputy, wus a candidate for civil service commissioner, also a $.'000 office. IP prospective appointment to the sheriff's office Is belleied to make t'liutoi: Rogers Woodruff's election to the civil service, commission probable. Mr. Woodruff ti now u registration commissioner. Tho determination to iiamo Reilly to tho personal deputjship jarred mem bers of the Republican Alliance. It was hoped by them that John A. Voor hees, executive secretary of the alli ance, would be named to tho post. it was reported that the strong can didates for the Civil Service conimis slonerships. to be filled by the new Council, will he, besides Mr. Woodruff, Alfred O. Hetheriugtou and George TV. Coles, chairman of the Town Meeting party. XMAS TREES GO BEGGING Ten Carloads Remain Unclaimed In P. and R. Yards Here Officials of the Philadelphia nud Reading Railway are puzzled as to the disposition of ten carloads of Christinas' trees In the freight yards at Twentieth nnd Indiana stieets that have, not been claimed. The supply of tnTT-put--rtir the market this year exceeded the de rtand here to so greut uu extent that the prices weri not only reduced to nominal sums the day before Christmus, but there were many trees left over. At the Twentieth and Indiana freight Minis alone 185 carloads were received, which is a record. Although the .'as signees have been notified thejr trees have arrived, there does not srem to be n rush to claim them. According to Harry Hlntrrlighter. agent at the ards. the trees will bo held thirty days, and if not claimed, will be in some way destroyed or disposed of. In some in-, stances the freight bills amount to more than $100 on n car. HOLDS UP SUGAR BILL Wilson Defers Signing Pending Memorandum From Board Washington. Dec. 20. fR A. P.) President TVilson is withholding nc tiou on the MeNury bill extending the life of tho sugar equulizution board un til the board files n memorandum con cerning the measure. - It was said at the White House to day that the board had requested this delay. There was no indication wluft the board's attitude on the bill would 'be. DELAY FINANCIAL CONGRESS Second Pan-American Conference Will Begin January 19 Washington, Dec. 20. -flly A. P.) Postponement of the fccoikI I'au American financial conference for one week, frnrli Jnminrv 19 rt 1!) n- iioiinccd today by Secretary Glus, due to tne inability ol uelejrntes trnm .Ar- .gentinn, Peru and Uruguay to obtain sailing accommodations in time. FRANCE OVERSUBSCRIBES LOAN New York, Dec." 20. Prance's na tional credit loan was ov crsulv-cribed on tho first day, according to cubic ad vices received here today from Paris by thn French commission. The advices added that the oversubscription had ex ceeded the mos'optimistic expectations of the government. Mr. Winston smiled. There were volumes In his smile, but he Usucd no specific order against the book agents. He then visited tho various bureaus. In tho Rureau of Lighting he met Alex ander Moses RIble, chief of the bureau, who has been helping to throw light Iu many things in Philadelphia, Later in one of the corridors the next director encountered fornj'er Director of Public Works Thomas L. Hicks. "It's funny," .said Mr. Winston, "bow they pick ns outside fellows nnd put us In charge of theso affairs." "That's thq way things go," said Mr. Hicks. Only one man fe.lt a Tittle uncom fortable after tho prospective director's visit. He was the chauffeur of Director Datesman, After Introducing Mr. Winston to the chauffeur, the director said "lie knows all about a Plerce'-Arrovy." "That's a pood car," said the vWtor, "but I use auoUkr," - y '' 'Us! ?wiJiikB i 'HL wi lLLHKf &BMN (c) Kftdel & Herbrl THE HON. ALEXANDRA MAKV TADOGAN ' fourth daughter of tho lain Vis- ouiit Chelsea and tho Hon. Lady Muuv, whoso betrothal to (ho Maiquls of Itlandford Is minouncn). lie is tlui eldest sou of tho Iluho und Klielics!, of Marlborough, tho for- uicr Cousiiclo Vaudcrbilt of New York MOTORMAN KILLED" IN TROLLEY COLLISION; GLASS CUTS THROAT Crash on Hunting Park Avcmio Follows Successful Effort to Avoid Hitting Auto 'Ihnmas Strnhlnn, motorman, was fntallv hurt in n collision this morning on Hunting Park avenue, at Eight eenth nud Clarissa streets when two Route I'.." cars collided. The motor man, whose throat was cut bv flviug glass, died later iu St. Luke's Hospital. The cars weie proceeding along the avenue when the leading car was sud deulj stopped, to prevent n collision with an automobile. It is believed the brakes of the car iu rear fuiled to work, for it crashed into the ear ahead. The rear of the first cur and the front of the car behind were badly smashed. I'usscngers were I brown to the Door by the force of the. Impact. .Several women fainted, but were re vived when curried out into the air, Strehlen was brought to the hospital iu the automobile of William A. Koh ler. 150.10 North Maniac street. Truffle was blocked for more than ii n .hour b.v tho collision. Patrol vvagunT'froin -Uiree-Til'itricrsi-wTrtr suiri moned, but none other than the motor man was hurt sufficiently to require hospital treatment. RAILROAD STOCKS RISE Forward Movement Follows Procla mation of President Wilson Now York. i)ee. 2(5.--The railroad shares and bonds made appreciable ic- ,.n..to,,n. " Kt,"",k '""J1" r!'s- ! Ident Wilson's proclamation ordering the return of tho transportation s.vstems to private ownership on March J. The f.ict that the date nf the reditu of the carriers bus been deferred from next Thursdav, according to the orig inal plans of the President, for two months is of the highest importance In the views of both railroad and financial lenders. It likewise removes n great deal of uncertaint attending the rnll road situation in the minds of security holders. The action of the President will per mit a more "uieful aud intelligent study of tho situation by Congress. The forward movement iu the inll road stocks wus gradual and unat tended by nny seusntiouul features. Wlille the entire giotip were carried up from large fractions to over three points, the gieatcst benefit was derived by tho secondary issues, or whut is called the low -pi Ice stocks. The high grade issues, however, felt the same impulse and nuido substantial gains. CAUGHT AFTER LONG HUNT Alleged Fugitive Nabbed on Eve of Leaving Country On the evc of soiling for his home in Rulgaria, after drtectives hud sought him for five jcur.s without suc cess, Louis Pet ruff, thirty years "old, 112 Pearl street, Cninden, was -ar rested at his home. He wus locuted through a letter ho wrote-to a relutive in Cleveland. Petroff, it is charged, absconded live years ago with $2200 from a restau rant in Cleveland, O. He had been a fugitive ever since, it was said. When captured he hud .?20) und a steamship ticket in Ills pockets. He will be held for extradition to Ohio. BABY'S PHOTO TO SLAIN MAN Woman Irjnorant of Husband's Mur der Sends Child's Picture A letter with the picture ot a baby girl Inscribed "To Daddy" and ad dressed to Saluni Shriff, who was mur dered iu Gloucester on October 11), was turned over to the police authorities there today. The letter was written by the wife of Ithe dead man, Rcrthn, vho does not yet know that her hus band was killed. It was received ut a restaurant where the man was emplojed as a cook, and where he wns killed with a cleaver by a man, who is being sought bj tbe police. Tho letter Indicates that the couple had been separated for some tlmo nnd that Shriff had never 3een his child. It reads in part: "Please come home for Christmns. baby and I botli want you. AH is forgiven. I am teaching her to sa 'daddy.' " The police of Gloucester will notify the wife of .her husband's death. Cold Turkey Cloudy and trarmrr tonight, fiaturday fair, tee ore told. Jack Fratt it nowhere in tighi- Hut the turkey, at least, tcill lo coW. PR N T ORDERS -1 GERMAN LINERS I D -,,. .,,... OU!-. I - Group to Bo Turned Over at Early Date NO WORD FROM ENGLAND ON RETURN OF U.S. TANKERS 103 Other Vessels Undor Ship ping Board Control Will Be Sold by Government Ry tho Associated Press Washington, Dec 2(5. On recom mendntiou of the State Department. President TVilson has ordered that the remaining seven former German ships used to bring home American troops be turned over to Great Rritain. !' his instructions, the shipping bonrd announced todny, this action would be taken as soon ns u properlj accredited Rritlsh representative was i furl v to receive the vessels, now in New York hnrbor. The Imperutor. sec ond largest ship afloat nnd one of the originnl eight Hamburg - American liners emplojed in American transport service, was delivered recently to the Ciiiuird line, 1Vl of Letter to Lansing In a letter to Secretary Lansing, made public todav. John ltarton Pnjnc, chairman of the shipping hoard, laid: "I am directed bv the President to eomplv with the request contained in jour letter transmitted to me this day from the White House and to advise pu that the seven ex -German ships, to wit, Graf Waldcrscc, Zeppelin. Pretoria, Can Finislerre. Mobile. Prinz Fried- rich TVilhelm and Kaiserin Augusta Tictoria, now in the harbor of New York, will be delivered to the repre sentative of Great llritain as soon as the proper person is designated to re ceive the same." The PrcMdrnt's action, it was .said at tho State Department, followed a rcouK-t fi oni Great Rritain that the ship"- be Hiirrendeied under the original in- be Hiirrenileieu under me origin.ii.. allocation ot tun interallied shipping v.v'tiiiius)init i ti (v hi iimo' tw n- -- vessels out of Gcnnun luibom follow Ing the in inistice. On iiivestig'jliiiii. il was added, the nninin neimi ulili'li 'II rilili,l t fPI 1 II P department found that the United States hud no right to retalu the ships beyond the period of tin ir service in bringing back American tioops, now. completed, nud so reported to President Wilscn. Status or Oil Tankers in Doubt While the President's order puts an end to (lie controversy oer Ue German ships, the status of twelve Standard Oil tank stenineis formerlj under the Ger man Hag. but now jn the Pirth of Forth under. Itrltisli jurisdiction, remains in doubt Dcl.iv In litrnluj iver the (tcrtnnn pusseuger crufl b.v the shipping board, it K understood, has been due to in'orth to obtain title to these nil curriers. The last formal action us to the tankers was the order of the Supreme Council at Paris that the be held in ISritibh oustndj uutil filially .disposed of nnd be not delivered for operation under the aw aids made by the allied commission, 1 lie shipping board bus under con deration the sale of all former Ger iii.-t ii passenger snips except me seven mentioned above, with the stipulation (list the vessels be run under the Amer ican ling, it wus announced. These vessels, which were taken over bj the government diiriug the wiir, totul lil.'i. aggregating approximately 2,"0, 000 deadweight tons. No price has been fixed for the ships, but $2.10 n ton is suggested us a probable valuation b.v high officials. While no announcement has been made b.v the board of a chaiige in polic.v with rrgurd to the piogroni for the establishment of passenger lines to nil paits of tho world, officials freely dis-eu-Msl the possibility of the board's abaudouiug passenger service. "Dry" Ships Will Lose The decision of the board not to per mit the use of liquor on government owned ships is expected by shipping ex perts here to make competition with privately owned vessels virtually im possible. The latter, being able to serve Continued on 1'nsn Tnent), Column 1'our GIVENTOBRITAIN i HAVANA-NEW YORK CABLE IS BR0KEH NEW YORK, Dec. 26. The Copimercinl Cable Co. announced today that its Havana-New York cable is broken and messages cannot to handled to nny part of CuT5a. A repair ship has heer dispatched, to mend the break, it was, added. "NO TROOPS TO PROTECT NON-UNION MINERS TACOMA, Wash., Dec. 26. Governor Louis F. Halt refused today the request of the Wilkcson Coal & Coke Co, for troops to protect uln-union miners at Wilkcson from union miners who have not been taken back since the coal strike iu the state was settled, GETS FINE PRESENT Man Receives Valuable Package by Mall After It Was Stolen One of the most prized Christmas presents received by S. Millens, of 202 South Ninth street, was a package con taining vnluablo papers which had bceu stolen from his home on Christmas Rve, A suit of clothes and au overcoat were also stolen, but only the papers were returned, The package, which was returned by mail, did not bear tho name of the fender. Mr. Milieus spent Wednesday night worrying about the loss of the Supers, as they were very valuable to Im. When he received the package his OhrtotsHtM was brightened. Congress Faces Problem of Compensating Roads The Senate has passed the Cum mins railrood bill and the House has passed the Ewh bill. These meas ures now go to conference. In neither bill has the question of reimbursing the losses to the rail roads siistuined during government operation been settled satisfactorily to the owners. Both provide fur government aid. Other proposals before Congress gave waj' lo these two measures. Hy the time tho railroads arc re turned to their owners n solution of the limitieiul problem is expected to be found. The government may hae to issue bonds to tide over the railroads. 2KILLEDBYTRAIN AS MOTOR fi I Men Are Victims of Grade Crossing Accident in Wil mington, Del. BODIES DRAGGED 100 YARDS Two men were killed in Wilmington early today when their utitomobilo was struck and demolished by a-train bound from tliis city to Washington. They were J. C. Gord.v, twenty-eight yonrR old, a fireman who had been boarding at 1 I West Twenty-sixth street, Wilmington, and E. C. Mngnr gal. an engineer, of Maruhnlltnii, Del. The accident occurred while the men were motoring to their homes after fin ishing work at the Edgmoor freight jnrd of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It happened where the company's trneks cross Thirtj -third street. Tho automobile was wrecked. When the train, nn express which left Rroad Street Station at 11 :7i o'clock lust night and was due at Washington nt 3:4o o'clock this morning, finally stopped, parts of the demolished ma chine were still stuck lo the cowcatcher of the locomotive. Roth bodies were fnnnrl mnre tlmn ,, ,., ... ,"",:' .,: "., '"""'J '", ' ""' " "' ",- " -"-' Tho accident was at a private cross ing, ut which a switchman is on duty from 7 o'clock in the morning until 11 at night. The crash occurrcil at 12:02 o'clock this morning. XMAS SWAPPING TODAY Free Traders Exchange Well Meant but Impractical Gifts This wns free trade das. If was celebrated by Republicans as well as Democrats. They Hocked to the stores, where ,thc terrible tantalizing ucckuc that "mom gaie lo pop wns swapped for something in Keeping with "pop s" general iitinoHphere. Shirts with wallpaper patterns were swapped for those of civilized complex ion. Slippers with fur collars wciu truded for natty gaiters. Iu trading at home, "piom" ami ' popt got the worst of it. im usual. Girls who got impossible ttiugs from rural aunts slipped them to matter and condescended to take a dozen good huudkerchiefs or lacy collars. Wise .voutiiH who liked dad's new tic, plus und cult links couviuced him-they were too loud, sand, like real martji-s, gave him some near but not quite silk socks with 'which thej were deluged. ASKED FOR SUGAR; TOOK $70 "Customer" Holds Up Camden Gro cery Store Manager Herbert Schre.vdr. manager of a groc ery store at 7(55 Walnut street, Camden, was held up at the point of n gun by ,i "customer" nnd robbed of S70 shortly before noon today. Schre.vdr was counting money when n man entered the store nnd asked for a pound nf sugar. lie was about thirtj -five jeurs old, dark-haired aud of med ium sire. When Schre.vdr returned with the sugar lie found the stranger pointing a revolver at him. The "customer" gathered up the liiUs to the amount of S70 and cscnpeil. Schre.vdr immediately communicutid with the police, but no trace of the thief has been found. WRECK BLOCKS P. R. R. ROAD 15 Freight Cars Derailed on Phila delphia and Baltimore Branch Traffic was blocked for several hours today on the Philadelphia, Raltimoro and Washington branch of the Penusyl. vania Railroad as the result of a freight wreck nt Northeast Marjland. Fifteen cars ot a lengthy train were derailed by a broken truck on one of the front cars. Tbe cars were strewn over tho four tracks nnd it was neces sary for southbound trains to Wash ington to make a detour over tho tracks of the Raltimoro and Ohio Railroad. Most of tho wreckage wus removed be foro noon and the southbound track is now clear. ANTI-STRIKE PLAN A IN CUMINS BILL Gomnnrn nnrl Rrnthprhnnrlo Mnv r , BELIEVED DOOMED Dntormino I nlvnr Prnvlelrin (I in Railroad Measure WAGE RISE DEMANDS MAY AGAIN BE PUT OFF Machinists Voto to Quit if Antk Walkout Clause Be comes Law lly CLINTON W. GILBERT Man Corrrsponilfnt of llio Evenlne rnbltfl I.lier t Washington, Dec. 26. Tho meeting' of Samuel Gompers and the railroad brotherhoods here next week will largely determine -the labor provisions of the rauroau Dili on which both branches ot Congress will reach an agreement, and under which the railroads will return to their former owners. The uniou leaders will meet to lake action upon this legislation. They- will not have anti-strike legislation to fight; that provision of the Cummins Mil U believed to be dead. It was drawn In the hent of the anti-labor excitement. Much water has gone over the dam sldco it was conceived. No Longer .Shouting Revolution Railroad labor is no longer shoutlnc about revolution. The Plumb plan i dead. Rvcn government ownership is likely to get only n mild indorsement out of next week's meeting an indorse ment called for b.v the official position, of the American Federation of Labor on. this subject. On the pther hand, striki prohibition has been tested in the In junction at Indianapolis aud has failed. In n word, labor and the 'politicians! have given up their dreams of a liv( weeks ago aud arc' working together as of old. It is as if the days of the Plumb plan excitement, of general strike talk;, and of auti-strlkc plans were only an unpleasant nightmare. It is doubtful if the anti-strike clause of the Cummins bill ever had nny sup port among practical men. The rail--road administration was always prt vately opposed to it, -and undoubtedly toM the Senate and House committees what.it thought of it. It is doubtful, .too, if the old railroad executives jiad any more faith in this panacea than had Mr. Hines. motherhood Chiefs Win Favor All pracllcal, experienced men pre ferred to deal with the cjiiefs, of? thtf railroad brotherhoods themselves tathefc? than to trust to laws which would make striking a crime, but which would probably ,bo unoirfv;o4;ah:Ie. They haH found tbc-railroad. brotherhood Jtihleu reasonable and practical. , And the brotherhood chiefs havexyjtB r: favor by their handling of their mcs. i during the recent trying times'. Ths government is desirous of returning tbe toads to their former owners Without raising wages and. without having a strike. The problem of facing the men S demands is to be left to private owner ship, and this is reasonable. The mn vbn are to operate tbe roads should determine whut they will pay their workers. They should not be put in the position where thoy may Bay that the government during its period of railroad management had burdened the roads with impossible costs. I'nlons Still Conciliator' The brotherhood chiefs have been considerate. The unions' demands for more money were made last summer, but they have not been Insisted upon. The chiefs gnve the government until Jni'iinry 1 to return the roads to their former owners before pressing for inv creased wages, and it is to be presumed that thej will give it three mouths more of grace, until March 1, the new "date . ijct for the restoration of private oper ation. The have foreborn to press for the immediate satisfaction of their demands on the plea that the administration have time to reduce the cost of living. The government has had three months in which to cheapen living und, it has failed. Costs hive risen. Rut the chiefs will, it is understood, wait again. Such moderation lias hud its reward in at least an official attitude which has killed anti-strike proposals and which will result in the consultation of the unions regurding the labor pro visions of tho railroad law. Government and labor have got back to their old understanding of each other Labor kuows that it cannot coerce tho government by thrcnts and the adminis tration knows thut it is better to sus tain and work with moderate labor' chiefs than to promote, it docs not know what by severe aud unpracticable tactics. Rlaehlisling Plan Proposed The latest proposed substitute for the Cummins unti -strike proposal, that ot Senator Lenroot, will probably oepeuu upon the altitude of labor at next week's confereuec. Senator Lenropt suggests thut the board for the Bettle ment of industrial disputes between, railroads and their workers have aim tborit to blacklist fur four mopths either railroad executives or railroad workers who fail to obej its decisions. The board would be n permanent body represeutiug neither the roads uoc their men, but composed solely of rep-: rcseuta lives of the public. The black listing penalty would inuke its arbjtra- Contlnurd on 1'ueeTwenH. Column WW GET$700 IN 2 ROBBERIES ' Hold Up Driver, Steal $347 In Cash, and Jewels Goods valued at more than $700 were' stolen in two robberies in tho central part of tho city last night and early this morning. None of the thieve have been apprehended, Felix Stein, u driver employed by ths R. Pincus Co., pork packers, 22 North Delaware avenue, wns held Up by three; men nbout 0 o'clock this morning a he was driving his. wagon away from the freight yardd at Thirtieth and Spring Garden streets. The robbers obtained two diamona and one signet ring, and cash valtte, in all at $347. A bulk window in tbe fur store ot T.-rivllr. nnd Axelrod. 1204 Walnut street, was brhksn early this morulM aud seven pieces of fur valued at'MH were taken. No &eo tt, fcas Uevii'-obtalw;-" IKfVSMt .' .i VI 41 '4 1 r & , & r
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