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warmer tonight: Saturday fair.
NIGHT
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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
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