Government Tackles Problem of Ships Tied Up in U, S. Ports by U-Boct F : "jcr
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH
LXXXVI— No. 42 20 PAGES
TACKLE SHIP PROBLEM
CREATED BY U-BOAT WAR
RUTHLESS WAR
CAUSES VIRTUAL
BLOCKADE OF ALL
ATLANTIC PORTS
Question Regarded by Offi
cials as Overshadowing
Collateral Issues of Situa
tion; Conditions Becoming
Intolerable
NEW MINED AREA IN
NORTH SEA ANNOUNCED
Will Enable Liners to Take
Northern Route and Avoid
Danger Zone; Decrease in
Daily Tonnage Sunk by
Teutons Noted With Won
der
Washington, Feb. 17. What has
virtually become a blockade of Amer
ican Atlantic ports by Germany's ruth
less submarine campaign was regarded
by officials to-day as overshadowing
the collateral issues of the situation.
That President Wiison soon will go
before Congress to announce steps to
relieve the situation was the generally
accepted view but no time has been set
lor his action and there was no indi
cation of how soon it will be taken.
The effect on the country of the
shipping sitution was reflected in the
receipt of hundreds of telegrams by
government officials to-day urging
that something be done to relieve the
congestion.
Becoming Intolerable
Officials recognize that the holding
of the majority of American and other
ships in port fast is becoming intoler
able. Piling up of freight on rail
roads, while believed to be largely
due to weather and other conditions,
is nevertheless looked upon as in part
the result of the inability of exporters
to clear American ports of freight.
Means of protecting American ships
against the submarine danger still are
under consideration. Many officials
believe the President has the power to
direct the Navy Department to fur
nish these vessels with guns and gun
crews. Nevertheless the possibility that
a clash with Germany might result is
expected to cause the President to go
before Congress before taking such a
step.
While the President and the Navy
Department pondered the arming of
merchantmen. Secretary McAdoo was
preparing a list of vessels held in port,
and Secretary Redlleld was at work
on a comprehensive analysis of the
damage submarines are causing to
shipping generally.
Proclaim New Mined Area
Great Britain's proclamation of a
new mined area in the NCrth Sea to
restrict the movement of German sub
marine to and from home ports, and
the plans to make Halifax instead
of Kirkwall a port of search for trans-
Atlantic shipping between the United
States and Northern European neu
trals were expected to provide some
relief from the gerieral shipping con
gestion. By the latter plan vessels
might avoid the war zone.
Officials also noted with considerable
wonder that the aggregate tonnage of
submarine victims recently has been
only a few thousand tons daily. The
idleness of American ships was dis
cussed at yesterday's cabinet meeting
and officials emphasized that the main
problem in the German-American re
lations now is the submarine campaign
and its effect on American commerce.
Inquiries concerning the unofficial
reports that the Yarrowdale prisoners
have been released by the German
government and in regard to a train
load of American consuls and other
nationals long overdue from Munich
have been addressed to the Spanish
ambassador in Berlin.
I THE WEATHER
Fop HnrrinhurK and vlclnltyi Prob
ably ll K ht ruin to-nlKht, tiirniiiK
to IlKht noiv Sun<ln.V| nnrnirr to
night, with lowml temperature
Hlioiit 3U ileitrerM; much colder
Sunday,
For KUNtrrn IVmnyli anin: Prob
ably rain to-nlKht. turnln K to
snow Sundnri nnrmfr to-nlKht,
much colder Sunday) frcwli to
HtronK Houthwent, shifting to
northweat nlnila.
Hlver
lhe Sunqiiel.nnnn river mid nil Ita
hrnnclicN will probably remain
nearly stationary without much
chanKe In the Kenernl Ice altuu
tlon, except poNxlhly the Upper
Wert Branch. A Matce of about
... feet In Indicated for Harris
burn Sunday mornliiK.
General Conditions
The storm that wan centrnl over
Saskatchewan, Friday mornliiK
hns moved rapidly southeastward
and In now central over the l.ake
region. It hnn cauaeil snow Ken-
Tally In the States along the
border and In Canada.
Mht mow fell Friday In the ir_
Ohio Valley, Middle Atlantic
and New Knglnnd States. There
hns been a Kenernl rise of 2 to 18
degrees In temperature over prac
tically all the country east of the
MUalaalppl river.
Temperature! 8 a. m., 3 decrees
above aero.
Sum Rises, diW a. m.
Mooni New moon, February 31, ltia
a. m.
Illver StaKei f1.3 feet above low
water mark.
Yeaterday's Weather
Highest temperature, 54.
lioweat temperature, 34.
Mean temperature, 311.
Normal temperature, SO,
' SPRING Sm.ES ~J
E cK DV ' fwTittPt mat]
TOWN • TC (OME OFF. J _
I amE
CouAi?f SHOULttEPS DECPEED FOR a TAILORS HAVE INVENTED A SUBSTITUTE
HOLD A (ONVEHTION POP THE SOLE WHOSE WPad ' ~ *r t
OF MAKING A (CAT FIT AROUND THE fIfCK i FOR WOi? NINfr -STYLES MfN (OWE.WD STYLES WW frO-pUT SOME
EUS STILL WEAR "WE FIRST DBS CUIT THEY OOU&HT
MOTORIZED MAIL
COLLECIIONS AND
DELIVERIES JULY 1
When the present poßtofflce is re
opened July 1, after extensive altera
tions and additions have been complet
ed, Postmaster Frank C. Sites announc
ed to-day, that motorized delivery, col
lection and transportation of mail in
this city will probably be started.
At present most of the letter collec
tion and parcel post collection and de
livery is being done by horse-drawn
vehicles. Bids are being advertised
for, for a contract to furnish motor
ized service for this work for a period
from July 1, 1917, to June 30, IJ2I.
The proposals must be delivered at
the office of the First Postmaster Gen
eral, Postoffice Department, Washing
ton, D. C., by 2.30 o'clock, March 28.
Postmaster Sites stated to-day that
with a motorized system the city will
have unequaled collection and delivery
service in all sections. The regular
mail carriers will be retained for dis
trict work, but it is the plan to make
all box collections by auto.
To II untie tlie Mall
Motorized transportation will be
SAYS IT'S UP TO
STATE TO WATCH
DAIRY SOURCES
City Health Officer Declares
Co-operation Willi City
Is Necessary
Dr. J. M. J. Itaunick, city health of
ficer, to-day was pleased at the offers
of co-operation made yesterday by
milk producers and retail dairymen
looking toward the prevention of pos
sible disease epidemics and particular
ly toward immediate vaccination with
anti-typhoid fever serum of all who
come into contact with the city's milk
supply.
The noed of a system of co-opera
tlon between the city and State where
by the local health bureau could have
first hand Information as to contagious
diseases on dairy farms that supply
the city was dwelt upon to-day by Dr.
Raunlck.
"Co-operation between the State and
city is needed at all times," said he.
"During last summer's epidemic of
typhoid fever we worked together, but
we ought be together all the time so
as to be a step in advance of the next
epidemic.
"There is no system whatever by
which a community Is udvised of (he
existence of disease in adjoining com
munities and only In epidemic is close
co-operation established," said Dr.
Raunick, ,
Should Watcli Supply
To this statement the city health of
ficer added the explanation that if the
city were Informed of farms on which
contagious diseases have occurred,
that the milk supply could be care
fully watched, inspected and the de
(erminatlon made as to whether the
supply ought to be pasteurized or
shut off,
Dr, Raunick said that such infor
mation should come from the State.
He takes the position that it is just
as necessary for the common good
us periodic inspections of dairy farms.
He pointed out one Instance last year
where milk was shipped Into the city
from a farm on which a sereve case of
scarlet fever was being treated,
HARRISBURG, PA., SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 1917
used also, when the plans are complet
ed, for taking mail from the postoffice
to trains, bringing it from the station
to the postoffice and carrying it be
tween the Pennsylvania and Philadel
phia and Reading stations, when trans
fers are necessary.
Work will be started on Monday on
the slate roofing on one wing of the
addition to the postoffice, and as soon
as completed all interior work will
be rushed. A large derrick in the
northwest corner was removed to-day,
and work will eb started next week on
the structural part of the roof.
Practically all interior equij"ient is
here. Postmaster Sites announced, and
will be installed as rapidly as possible.
Included in the new equipment will be
1270 lock-boxes, and the city post
office authorities are planning as nearly
as possible to give the samu numbered
boxes to present renters.
Half the work on the first floor of
the remodeled building has been fin
ished, and when the roofing is complet
ed on the wings, plastering and floor
ing will be rushed.
U.S. WILL LIVE
UP TO TREATY
WITH GERMANY
Text of Explanatory and Sup
plemental Clauses Proposed
as Protocol Made Public
Washington, Feb. 17. The full
text of the explanatory and supple
mental clauses proposed by Germany
as a protocol to the Prussian-Am
erican treaty were made public to
day at the State Department.
Briefly, the protocol amplifies the
treaty so as to place Germans in this
country and Americans in Germany in
case of war on exactly the same foot
ing as to all property rights, freedom
from detention, concentration camps
or sequestration of property that are
applicable to other neutrals. Na
tionals of either country might re
main fully undisturbed in the other
country as long as they please and
not for the nine months' period pro
vided in the treaty.
To Live Up to Spirit
Merchant ships of either nation
might not be seized or driven to sea
unless under a safe conduct to their
homo ports through all possible
enemies and their captains and crews
may not be made prisoners.
U(fleers havo pointed out that while
Germany's violation of several pro
visions of the treaty may be taken by
this country to have vitiated the
convention, the United Stutes will still
continue to live up to its spirit. Two
proclamations already have guaran
teed that German ships or private Ger
man property will not, even in case
of war be seized and used by this
government.
Little interest is shown by the State
Department officials in the German
proposal.
There is no indication that any im
mediate action will be taken,
Whether the new document con
stitutes in effect a new treaty subject
to ratiticaton by the Senate or whether
it is a mere explanatory protocol is
one of the points at Issue, If it is
shown to have new provisions or
modify the sense of the earlier docu
ment Senate approval is essential,
£ht Star- M>rpcnbent.
GERMAN EMBASSY
GAVE ORDERS TO
DISABLE STEAMER
Captain of Kronprinzessen
Cecelic Testifies Command
Came From Official
KEEPS NAME A SECRET
Work Was Done to Prevent
Vessel's Use in Event of
Hostilities
Boston, Feb. 17., — Captain Charles
A. Polack, of the North German Lloyd
steamship Kronprinzessen Cecelie,
testified to-day at a federal court hear
ing on a petition for the sale of the
vessel that he had been ordered by a
man connected in an official capacity
with the Germany embassy, to disable
its machinery. This was done, he
said, to prevent the ship's use by this
government in the event of hostilities
with Germany, lie refused to divulge
the name of the man giving the order.
Captain Polack said he was in Ho
boken, N. J., when he received the or
der and that he telegraphed his chief
engineer here to disable the engines.
The work of destruction was done on
January 31 and February 1, he said.
When asked by counsel for the peti-J
tioners to give the name of the per-"
son from whom thq order was receiv
ed, Captain Polack said:
"Your Honor, I am an officer of the
German navy and if I should have to
disclose the name of this gentleman
in this hearing, I might be tried for
treason when I went home to Ger
many. 1 wish you would not oblige
me to answer that question."
Keeps Name Secret
The question was not pressed and
Judge Morton decided that it would
not be necessary for the captain to
answer it at this time.
Captain Polack said he met the em
bassy official in January at the North
German Lloyd offices in Hoboken. The
orders to disable the ship were given
at that time in the presence of Captain
Moller, superintendent of the com
pany's lines in this country, he testi
fied. Captain Polack was preparing
to visit Hot Springs, Va., at the tiipe
but changed his plans and returned
to this city.
Continuing his testimony, the cap
tain declared the embassy officials said
to him: "The relations between the
two countries are being severed and
the condition is very serious."
The witness testified that he inquir
ed whether the machinery • was to be
disabled immediately and that he re
ceived an affirmative answer. Captain
Moller, he said, did not participate in
j this part of the conversation.
SETS BAIL MY ÜBS TOLD
Judge LmtdlN Milken Another Record In
Hencli MnthrrantlcN
Chicago, 111., Feb. 17. Levy Zlm
eroff, dealer in women's cloaks, suits
corsets, waists, hosiery, etc., is not only
a good talker, a businessman you un
derstand, but he is also a fast talker.
Federal Judge L.andls will never forget
it. lie had the judge gasping for air
yesterday morning when he finished
testifying In an invountarly bankruptcy
proceeding his creditors brought
against him.
As ZlmerofT concluded the Judge re
moved Ills glasses, polished theia and
replaced them on his nose. He looked
at the man, then he waved his hnger
menadngly.
"You're bound over to the grand Jury
In 5.000 bonds for perjury, $25 for each
lie you told here, this morning," B aid
Judge Landls. At $25 each ZimerofT
told 200 lies, according to Judge Lan
dls, and goodness knows he wasn't on
the stand such a long time at that.
The judge tried to learn what be
came of Zimeroft's assets, but failed.
MAKES DAYLIGHT
SAVING PERMANENT
Paris, '.Feb. 17, The Chamber of
Deputies adopted a bill permanently
advancing the legal time one hour dur
ing the summer, The setting forward
of the clocks is to begin the first Sun
day In April, and this tinia will be in
force until the lirßt Sunday in October,
EARL WHITE, NEW
POLICE OFFICIAL,
TAKES HOLD TODAY \
*- J
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sdW v ,.
py % ■■
EARL M. WHITE
E. M. White, 2205 North Fifth street, j
this morning' assumed his duties as j
complaint clerk at police headquarters. |
The appointment was confirmed vester- |
day after Council had abolished the of- ;
flee of Superintendent of Detectives and j
placed the plain clothes men under j
Police Chief J. Edward Wetzel.
White will have charge of the sys- |
tem that will be installed at police I
headquarters to keep a record of all
complaints made. He will have charge j
of the assignments to each case and j
handle the report that each officer j
makes. He will relieve the Chief of j
much of the detail work of the de- j
partment.
Years of police court reporting have |
kept Mr. White in close personal touoh i
with every officer on the force and i
given him countless friendships j
throughout the city.
Buller and Bent to
Protect Fish From
Steel Co. Drainage
The State Department of Fisheries!
has called upon th.e Bethlehem Steel
Company to change Its method of
i drainage wastes Into the Susquehanna
I river at Steelton. An Inspection of
I conditions along the river shore has
| been made by fish wardens arid the
; reports will be taken up at once,
j Arrangements were made last night
j for a conference between General
| Manager Quincy Bent and Commis
sioner of Fisheries Buller and Deputy
j Attorney General Davis at the Capitol
• on Tuesday, when a definite policy will
be adopted, it being recognized that
the steel works is a big proposition
and the changes will require some
time.
Up to Trolley Co.
to Make Next Move
in Jitney Protests
The Public Service Commission yes
terday and to-day received answers
I from all of the jitneymen complained
of by the Harrlsburg Railways Com
] pany and the company will now have
to make the next move.
It is likely that the company will
press for hearings and that a date
will be fixed within the next few weeks
for presentation of cases.
Since the decision of the Supreme
Court in the Wilkes-Barre jitney cases
[the cases pending which are governed
I by that test will be rapidly disposed
j of. There are not many of them.
Potatoes Sell at $3.60;
Highest in City's History
Take them or leave 'em at $3.60 a
bushel.
This was about all the consolation
Harrisburyers got to-day when they
viewed the potato market and its soar
ing prices.
Grocers throughout the city who
charged these prices declared that
many reasons were back of the latest
increase in the cost of the tubers.
Good grades of white potatoes, how
ever, arc being sold in the wholesale
markets in Philadelphia at $2.75.
The price is said to be the highest
ever demanded for potatoes in the
history of the city. Housewives say it
is virtually a dollur more than the
highest price demanded in recent
years. Early in the fall of 1915 pota
toes sold in the local markets at 50
cents a bushel.
Harrisburg Rotarians to
Attend Reading Conference
Harrisburg Hotarians will take a
prominent part in the proceedings of
the district conference of the Kotary
t Club, which will be held in Reading
on March 27. Arrangements for unend
ing the conference will be made by the
local club at a meeting to be called for
the purpose early next month. A large
delegation will go from this city.
Among prominent men who will ad
dress tile sessions .are: George W. Har
ris, of Washington, D. C.. an ex-distrlet
governor; Glen C. Mead, Philadelphia,
past International president; F. W. Gal
braith. Cincinnati, International first
vice-president, and Guy Gundaker, in
ternational second vice-president.
The district comprises the States of
Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Maryland,
Virginia, West Virginia and the District
of Columbia and Includes twenty-four
clubs. The conference w'U closo with
a big banquet in the evening.
BILIi FOR STANDARD I>OAF
The bill to establish a State stan
dard for a loaf of bread Is being pre
pared and will be presented in the
Legislature next week. Chief James
Sweeney, of the bureau of standards,
has repeatedly urged such a standard.
F. AND M. KI.KC T
Seven directors are scheduled to be
elected at the annual meeting of the
tosckholders of the Harrisburg (foun
dry and Machine Works to be held' in
the general offices of the corporation
next Thursday morning, I
Single Copy, 2 Cents HOME EDITION
STAMM GETS
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR W. B. ITTNER
Telegrams and Letters Boosting St. Louis Expert in School
Construction Received by School Board President
vim
FIVE MEN STILL LINE UP AGAINST
SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Greenfield, Ohio, Philanthropist Who Spent $250,000 of
His Own Money For School Tells of Expert's Ability
While the selection of an architect
for the big building program planned
by the Harrisburg School lioard un
der the terms of the $1,250,000 loan
passed by the voters in November is
still open, directors this morning said
they expected something of a deadlock
before the selection finally is made.
Telegrams and letters lrom various
points in the country to the advisory
committee which recommended Wil
liam B. lttner, widely-knoxvn architect
and school designer of St. Louis, have
doubly impressed members of the com
mittee and the directors who sup
ported the St. Louis man, with Mr.
Ittner's ability.
Members of this advisory committee
—to which the Ittner recommendation
was referred back by the Hoard after
it was defeated five to four—this
morning said they were unable to say
when the matter would again be
placed before the Hoard. It was
strongly hinted, however, that the next
report would be even more strongly
in favor of Ittner's selection.
President Stamm is in receipt of
two telegrams and a letter from per
sons who strongly urge the selection
of Mr. Ittner.
Mr. Stamm said he was particularly
impressed by the communications
from E. Li. MeClain, of Greenfield,
Ohio. Mr. MeClain recently took into
his own hands the high school needs
0 % t |
ENTENTE TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC |[
!!
BERLIN. FEB. 15. BY WIRELESS TO SAY
VILLI:. 17. / JG TO AN AN ji
NO I; CEMENT IN ' j!
TH: NTE jj
NA i " AN TO : . >(."!■: !!
FROM, JTO APRIL 20 IN ROME. ALL THE j
! ENTENTE COUNTRIES WILL BE REPRESENTED, .]
| IT IS SAID. IN ORDER TO DISCUSS "MEASURES j
! OF ECONOMIC WARFARE" AFTER THE CON- ||
| CLUSION OF PEACE j
! BOMB AIRPLANE STATIONS jj
; Berlin, Thursday, Feb. IS. —By Wireless to Sayville, ]
! Feb. 17. —lt is officially stated, says an Overseas News | f
| Agency announcement to-day, "that German naval air- ! [
! plaes on-February M copiously bombarded airplane stations ][.
I in the vicinity of Dunkirk and Coxyde. Good hits were j!
| obtained. A hydroairplane successfully .bombed trading jfe.'
ship.; j:ichi i" 1 in th D ' |' n
TWO U-BOATS SUNK 85,000 TONS jj
Berlin. Friday, Feb. 16. —By Wireless to the Asso j;
ciated Press, via Tuckerton, Feb. 17. One German sub- P
marine returning to home base reports that during a period '[
of 24 hours she sank merchant ships aggregating 50,000 < \
tons. Another German U-boat has a record of sinking !(
total tonnage of 35,000 in five days.
SALAZAR THREATENED AMERICANS
El Paso, Tex., Feb. 17. While at Sabinal, 98 miles
south of Juarez February 8, Jose Ynez Salazar made a jU
threat to attack Juarez and kill all of the Americans at j j
tending the Juarez races, according to a Mexican who ct. ]|
caped from Salazar's command at Sabinal and is here today. ||
GREW GOES TO AUSTRIA
Pans, Feb. 17. Joseph C. Grew, formerly secretary I'
of the American embassy at Berlin, wh<> i <me here from j|
Germany after the break in diplomatic relations with the I P
United States, departed for Vienna ist night to become >|
counsellor of the American embassy there. j!
' i
|
MARRIAGE jj
Frank ( Inyton llcrry nnd Anna Catherine Hippie, Ilarrlnburi.
. ..................................... '
of his home city, contributed $250,000
for the building and equipment of a
building and engaged Mr. Ittner to
draw the plans for the work.
"It certainly is reasonable to pre
sume that where a man spends that
much of his own money that he is in'
terested in getting the best," said Mr
Stamm. Mr. McClain's telegram to
President Stamm follows:
"1 understand that you are con
sidering employing a capable
schoolbuilding architect, which
prompts me to recommend for
your favorable consideration Mr.
William U. Ittner, of St. .Louis,
who was employed by me after
making a most thorough investi
gation in connection with a high
school building and equipment
which I desired to donate to this
community. I have found Mr.
Ittner most thoroughly capable,
painstaking, courteous and perse
vering at all times. My interest is
[Continued on Page 17]
WHKKfj TOKN FROM TRUCK
In attempting to make the turn at
the eastern entrance to the South Sec
ond street subway last night, the
front right wheel was torn from an
automobile delivery truck belonging
to Atland's French Cleaning and Dye
ing works.