U. S. Governmentb making Progress m Its Fight Against Profiteering High Cost of living HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH ®ic ofar-lni>cpcnfrefit. LXXXVIII NO. 180 18 PAGES S the d Po.t oScrSt'H.Vru&f 1 *" HARRISBURG, PA., SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 2, 1919. tFZfigggiJgr* si ¥?V l O e C£N?S es HOME EDITION LIVING AND WAGE PROBLEMS ENGROSS NATIONS LEADERS House Decides to Remain in Session to Discuss Means of Alleviating Burdensome Living Costs By Associated Press. Washington, Aug. 2. — ; The <yes of the nation are to-day focused on the Capital where must be solved the problem of reducing the high cost of living and the new labor crisis worked out. Heeding the request of Presi dent Wilson, the House has abandoned its five weeks' re cess scheduled to begin with adjournment to-day. Immediately following this decision, House leaders an nounced that plans would be perfected to-day to permit mem bers to go home under a three day continous recess program their return to be simultaneous ■with presentation of the Admin istration plans for lowering liv ing costs. The President's request, com ing unexpectedly, provoked in formal and bitter comment from both Republicans and Demo crats, but only a single protest was heard on the floor—it com ing from Representative Blan ton, Democrat, Texas, who as serted that his opposition was due to the "railway brother hoods trying to hold up the country for about the seventh time." So pressing are the demands of the railroad employes for more pay to maintain their standard of living that President Wilson, following extended conferences with Director General Hines, asked the House of Representatives to abandon the pro posed recess of five weeks. Asks Higher Rates The President took a new sßfp 1h railroad legislation in suggesting to Congress that the act to create the commission should "make the de cisions of that body mandatory upon the rate making body and provide, when necessary, increased rates to cover any recommended increases in wages and, therefore, in the cost of operating the railroads." This was the first time that Con gress ever was asked by the Chief Executive to order the Interstate Commerce Commission to advance rates. Mr. Wilson's letter addressed to Chairmen Esch and Cummins, of the House and Senate Interstate Commerce committees, virtually transfers to the floor of Congress the question of whether there shall he an increase in transportation charges, long forecast by the stead ily growing deficit arising from the failure of railroad income to equal the government guarantee. Discussion of the traffic situation before Congressional committees recently has led to several sugges tions that Congress should prescribe a basis for rate making. This, it has been suggested, would be done by the passage of a law requiring the Interstate Commerce Commission to adjust rates from time to time, in accordance with fluctuations in oper ating expenses, so that investors would be assured of a fair return on their money. Railroads Lose Millions Net operating income of the roads under Federal control amounted to approximately $51,800,000 in June leaving a deficit of $23,000,000 com pared with one-twelfth of the guar anteed annual rental and a deficit of $30,500,000 as compared with the average income in June of the three year test period on which the annual rental was based. For the first six months of the calendar year, the deficit amounted to more than $296,000,000 compared •with one-half the annual rental The half-year net income was less than one per cent, on the $18,000,000,000 of railroad property taken over by the government. Director General Hines declared the falling off in freight business continued to be an important factor in the deficit, com bined with increases in rates which have been on a much lower percent age than increases in wages and prices of materials. Demands Arc High New wage demands before Di rector General Hines, upon which hearings have been held, total $400,- 000,000 and include $210,000,000 asked by the shopmen, $100,000,000 by the trainmen who have 'an nounced that they would strike Oc tober 1, if no relief was afforded by that time, $50,000,000 involved in the time and a half for overtime de manded by .the four brotherhoods when a general strike was threat ened in 1916 and left for future de termination, and $40,000,000 which would go to the conductors if the [Continued on Page 4.] Itheweathfj?| llnri-lsliurK mul Vlclnltyi Fulr to" nlclit mul Sunday with moder ate temperature. I.owest tem pi'nil lire to-night about 00 de gree*. Eastern PennaylVnoln t Fair to ll lah t nml Sunday. Not mueh change In temperature. Moder ate north wind*. River I No material change will oeeur In river atage*. A gauge rending of about 4.1 feet I* In dicated for Harrlaburg Sunday mornlnir. LITTLE CHANGE IN PRICES AT CITY MARKETS Refusal to Buy at Top Notch Has but Little Effect Retail produce prices ia city mar kets scarcely changed again to-day, and in some instances farmers and truckers attempted to force prices still higher for some of thu food sup plies. These attempts met the same treatment frrm the housewives as before, those who did not actually need the commodities did not buy, and the effect was noticeable. It appeared at the start of the market that the price of eggs was fixed at 55 cents a dozen. Every where this figure was given. Sales w_re few for the first hour ot more and then some of the dealers weak ened and the price dropped to 52 cents. Later a few even came down to 50 cents, but there were some tvho re fused to lower the price. Small Berry Supply The berry supply was not large to-day, and as a result huckleberries brought 22 to 25 cents a box, but few customers bought more than one or two boxes. Some housewives who usually buy dozens of boxes for can ning told the dealers during the last week that they will do without rath er than pay and exorbitant price. Home grown plums were plentiful but many of them were small and rather green. Farmers and fruit growers were asking 10 cents a box. 20 cents a quarter, in most instances, but a few had the small size box for which they charged 10 cents, and a pan, holding slightly more than a quart, which brought 20 cents. Cover Wide Range .trices for peaches covered a wide range. -Many asked 10 and 15 cents a box, the latter price for a full quart, and others were selling them at 25 cents a quarter peck. By the basket the quality and size counted, the prices ranged front 51.15 to $1.75. Blackberries could be bought for 15 to 20 cents a box, but at most stands they were smaller in size tnan during the last few weeks. The sup ply was rather small also. Summer rarnbo apples are coming in in good quantities, selling for 12 to 20 cents a quarter peck, with a few charging 25 cents. Other cooking and baking apples sold to-day for 10, 12, 15, 18 and 20 cents a quarter. Last week with a large supply of beans the growers charged 10 and 12 cents a quarter and the customers didn't buy as liberally as before. To day 6 and 8 cents were prevailing [Continued on Page 4.] Maryland Officials Take Active Steps to Prosecute Profiteers By Associated Press. Baltimore, Md., Aug. 2.—Maryland and Baltimore public officials to-day began to take active steps to prose cute food profiteers. Attorney General Ritchie will en force the 30-day cold storage pro vision. He believes this will result in the public refusing to pay top prices for cold storage products while in turn the imprisonment or fining of persons who sell such storage goods in violation of the law will aid the situation. The grand jury of Baltimore city to-day took up the question of prose ecuting profiteers. and a sub-com mittee was appointed to get to work immediately. The Governor said to-day he would go to the limit and place all available funds at the disposal of a strong committee to probe the whole situa tion. with a view of bringing out the identity of persons guilting of hoard ing and profiteering. Powers May Unite in Buying World Supplies to Check Profiteers London, Aug. 2.—Steps toward in ternational collective purchasing of foodstuffs to check profiteering and speculation, which are declared to be rife in all countries, weretaken at yesterday's meeting of the Supreme Economic Council. The return to the system in vogue during the war was proposed by the British. French and Italian representatives. The proposal was referred to a committee which will co-ordinate the plan and present it to the American government with an Invitation for its co-operation The members pf the Council stated they recognized that profiteering and speculation had been going on gen erally for some time, but the activi ties toward unwarranted price raising during the past thirty days is consid ered alarming. Urges More Wages For Government Employes Washington, 'Aug. 2. Representa tive Fitzgerald, of Massachusetts, called at the White House to advocate wage increases for all government employes. "In view of the President's stand re garding Increases for railroad em ployes," said Mr. Fitzgerald, "some thing should be done for all classes of government employes, all of whom are notoriously underpaid." This exclusive photograph, copyrighted by Underwood & Underwood, shows the huge pile airplanes alleged to have been in perfect condition which were set on fire at Colembey, France. Congress is inevstigat ir.-g this wasteful destruction, alleged to have been ordered by Army officers, who sought the easiest way tc get rid of the planes.. PREDICT STRIKE WILL SPREAD OVER NATION Leaders of the Shopmen An nounce It Will Be Success ful; Many Men Out By Associated Press. Chicago, Aug. 2.—Local leaders of the Federated Railway Shop men's Union, to-day predicted that the strike which started yesterday would spread and become the na tionwide movement that it was ex pected to be when it was called. Early to-day the strike was for the moat part contincd to points in the middle west and southeast, with some craftsmen out at points out side these generally described sec tions. In the middlo west, chiefly in the Chicago district, some 30.0Q0 men were reported out with a like num ber in the south and southeast sec tions. They demand a wage in crease from the present scale of 68 cents an hour to 85 cents, with 60 cents an libur for helpers, and that the increase be effective from Janu ary 1, 1919. Prohibition Enforcement Legislation Is Ready to Be Presented Monday By Associated Press. Washington, August 2.—Work on prohibition enforcement legislation practically was completed to-day by a Senate judiciary subcommittee, which plans to present the bill to the full judiciary committee next Monday. The subcommittee adopted the House definition of intoxicating bev erages—those containing more than one-half of one per cent. alcohol. Provisions regarding possession and use of liquor in private homes were written and were described as less stringent than those in the House measure. Search and seizure of liquor in private residences also is prohibited undfu- the Senate bill up less evidence is presented that illicit sales are being made. Billboard Is to Follow the Poles Postmaster Sites does not believe that the big billboard on Federal property ut Third and Walnut streets is either ornamental or de sirable under present conditions, but so long as it was available for Lib erty Loan and other patriotic propa ganda he was disposed to allow the unsightly thing to remain, even sub mitting to unfair criticism from peo ple who didn't understand the situa tion. But the billboard has done its bit and must go, says the postmas ter. Federal Square is undergoing a general cleanup, including over head wires and poles. Germany Prevented From Shipping Money By Associated Press. Washington, Aug. 2. Bernard M. Baruch, economic adviser to the American Peace Delegation, told the Foreign Relations Committee to day that no purchase could be made in the United States or e'sewhere by German concerns, except through the Reparations Commission to be put under the Treaty of Versailles. This provision was put in the Treaty, Mr. Baruch raid, as Ger many could not evade any part of her indemnity obligations by send ing money outside the country pri vately and thus reduce her industrial resources "to a mere shell." AS TO FORWARDING MAIL Mail matter now held at the Post Office where mailed and. forwarded only when receipt of additional postage by the postmaster .may be forwarded, postage collect, from the addressee under a bill reported by the House committee on post offices and post roads. Articles of a perish able nature or of obvious value would be forwarded directly to ad dressee from whom the postage . would ha RntlAr.Ud. SHOPMEN NOT SATISFIED WITH PRESENT WAGES Declare Intention Not to Strike But to Use Other Means to End Harrisburg shopmen are interest ed in the nation-wide strike. They are not satisfied with present wage conditions, but are resorting to every legitimate effort to bring about a satisfactory adjustment, without the necessity for taking a striko vote. This was the statement made to day by William B. McNair, presi dent of Harrisburg Federation Ad visory Board, System No. 90, Penn sylvania lines. His statement was corroborated by H. A. Bixler, secre tary, and treasurer and other local officials of the shopmen's federa tion. Mr. McNair authorized the following statement: "We most emphatically deny that the shopmen of this district are sat isfied with their present rate of pay. The exorbitant cost of living with the present rate of pay makes it almost impossible for many of the workers to exist let alone live in the mode of life befitting every Amer ican worktngman. "I speak for 9 5 per cent, of the shopmen in this district. We mean to be conservative, honest and genial in dealing with our super iors and with that intent in mind we have in this district decided to wait until every legitimate means has been reached, before we ask for or think of taking a strike vote. "I am proud of the men whom I represent in taking this decided stand, but in as far as these men being satisfied with their present rate of pay and working conditions, the statement made this morning, is absolutely wrong." While no announcement has been made regarding conferences be tween railroad officials and the federated representatives, it is un derstood that meetings were held yesterday and a further considera tion of the local wage demands by railroad officials will be taken up Monday. Local officials have been in Washington and their return is awaited. Political Wr— .tfie ' Ends in Death of Bethlehem Dentist Bethlehem, Pa., 2. ln a fight here between former Burgess Peter J. Sheehan, a democratic can didate for county sheriff, and Dr. Dennis J. Coyle, a dentist, the latter was struck on the jaw and fell to the pavement, fracturing his skull. He died half an hour later. It Is stated the altercation was over poli tics. Dr. Coyle was 34 years old. Sheehan surrendered to the au thorities and was released on his own recognizance pending the re sult of the coroner's inquest. Nebraska House Asks Fight to Cut Living Cost Lincoln, Neb., Aug. 2.—Tfie lower house of the Nebraska Legislature, by a vote of 53 to 34, adopted a resolu tion requesting Governor McKelvie immtdtajely at the close of the pres ent special session to call an extra ct dinary session of the Legislature to find means for dealing with food profiteers and to devise means for lowering high living costs. Governor McKelvie has not indicat ed what actton he will take. BOARD DECISIONS READY Chicago, Aug. 2. Decisions of the National War Labor Board were completed here yesterday affecting labor controversies in BufTalo, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh. East St. Louis and Port land, Ore. They were forwarded to Washington, where they are to be an nounced within a short time, possibly to-day. TRAITOR IS SHOT Paris, Aug. 2. Marschal des Logis de Brabant, condemned to death for having maintained rela tions with the chief of the German secret service at Barcelona, during j the war, was shot < this morning at I Vinaennaa. SUMMER REAL ESTATE SALES BREAK RECORD Value of the Property Trans ferred Also Higher Than in Former Years Summer real estate sales reach ed a new high record according to City Assessor James C. Thompson, who reported to-day that in the city more than twice as many prop erties were sold during July, this year, as compared with the san:c month in 1918. Since January 1 there have been 863 more transactions than in the same period in 1918, he announced also, and the valuation of the prop ! erties for taxation is about $2,400,- ! 000 more. i During the last month there were i 317 property sales in the city, with ! the total assessed valuation of the ground and buildings $783,715, while in July, 1918, there were 134 sales, and the assessed valuation was $347,523. Stnce January 1. in the city, 1,833 sales have been made and the total value of the properties reached $5,- 228,215; while during the first seven months of 1918 there were 1,022 sales, with a valuation of $2,797,650. This docs not include the largo number of sales on the "pay-as rent" plan where title has not passed. Property transfers in the city by wards follow: Assessed Ward No. Valuations 1 82 $ 85,740 2 202 393,230 3 39 -807,650 4 60 392,945 5 103 308,230 6 71 158,510 7 174 285,545 3 125 298,200 9 266 804,535 10 268 629,380 11 1 90 396,520 12 100 285,780 13 181 367,380 14 24 41,570 Totals 1,885 $5,228,215 Housing Situation in | Harrisburg Is Described in American Contractor The activities of the Housing Com mittee of the Harrisburg Chamber of i Commerce, of which J. Horace Mi- Farland Is chairman, weTe commend ed in an article printed in The Amer ican Contractor, a national magazine devoted to the Interests of building and eontrnctig, which has just been received here. The article follows: "The value of propaganda concen trated and directed toward the ac complishment of a definite purpose, has been clearly demonstrated during the past few months, in the great In crease of home building which has taken place In Harrisburg, Pa., large ly. It Is conceded, as a result of the publicity which attended the Cham ber's activities for the erection of more, homes. "Housing Is one of the greatest problems confronting Harrisburg to day. and in bringing about the grad ual solution of the problem, the high ly efficient Housing Committee of the Chamber has played an important part. It cannot be doubted that the of forts of the Housing Committee In laving bare the woeful lack of hous ing -facilities were largely responsible for the marked building boom which Is still on the Increase." The article then goes on to enumer ate the number of new building pro iects which have been etarted In the Capital City since the beginning of the year. Several copies of the maga zine are filed at the Chamber offices for reference by those who are In terested In local and national housing developments TO CHECK BOLSHEVISM By Associated Press. Paris, Aug. 2. Dr. Karl Benner, the German-Austrian chancellor, and Herr Frantz, the Austrian Conserva tive leader, have conferred at St. Germain with a view to establishing between the parties of the Lett and the Conservatives and Liberals a coalition intended to check Bolshe vism. The Petit Parisian says it . learns from reliable sources. HUNDRED HOMES ARE BURNED IN CHICAGO FIRE Negroes Start Blaze Which j Makes 3,000 People Home less; Three Are Missing LOSS QUARTER MILLION Incendiaries, With Flaming Torches, Speed Around District in Automobiles Chicago, Aug. 2. An incendiary fire, which the police declare was started by negroes early to-day swept through the district bounded by West 43rd, Wfest 45th, South Lincoln street and South Hermitage avenue, destroying 100 homes of Po'ish and Lithuanian employes of the stock yards and.causing a prop erty loss of more than $200,000. Three persons are missing and a score were injured. The buildings destroyed consisted ] chiefly of one and two story frame] dwellings. Three thousand men. | women and children have been ren-| dered homeless by the fire and the] bad feeling between the -hites and j negroes greatly aggravated. State! troops were sent to the scene to dis perse the crowds and prevent a re newal of race riots. Many Shots Fired The police have found several wit nesses who say they taw automobiles of negroes with burning torches in the district shortly before the fire was discovered. The fire broke out in three sections of the district at the same time. Telephone wires in the district were cut a few minutes later. A number of shots were' fired at negroes in automobiles who, it is said, were attempting to escape af ! ter the fires wore started. One negro was said to have been wound ed but was carried away by his companions. Fire Chief O'Connor after a hasty investigation declared that the fires were undoubtedly of incendiary origin and evidently started by throwing gasoline on the outside of the buildings and applying a light ed torch or matches. Fire Attorney Harry Donnelly gave the police the names of twelve persons who declare they saw negroes in the district bearing burning torches and cutting tele phone wires. The situation in other sections of the danger zone of the South Side was reported satisfactory to the authorities, although there were a number of minor disturbances. Husband Sends Bullets Crashing Into Wife, Then Turns Gun on Himself Reading, Pa.. Aug. 2. As Mrs. \ iola Folk, with a well-filled market basket on her arm, entered the home of Frank Klopp to-day, with whom I she lived as housekeeper, her hus band, Samuel Folk, aged 49, sent two bullets crashing into her body, I killing her instantly. J Then he pressed the weapon I against his right temple and ended ! his own life. The Folks lived to | gather up to three months ago when they parted, according to neigh , bors, because of the manner in ] which the husband abused the wife ; Officials Inspect The Capitol Park I u T ' l6 Third and Walnut street ] sides of Capitol Park were inspected I yesterday afternoon by George A. Shreiner, of the Department of Pub |Mc Grounds and Buildings, and ! Commissioner William H. Lynch ! and Cit >' Engineer M. B. Cowden, In ] reference to the start of the work on the coping:. ' ™ e clty officials informed Mr. t Shreiner that the city was readv to I go ahead with the work as soon as the State furnished the specifica tions and that the desire was to finish the city's part of the job be fore fall. "We told the State officials that : Harrishurg was ready, but it seems there are some things yet to be set- I tied about the coping, because we did not get the specifications," said ] Mr. Lynch. ___ 265 Modern Seaplanes to Be Sold by Navy By Associated. Press. Aug. 2. Sportsmen and business concerns interested in . aviation will be given an opportunity | to acquire modern seaplanes at low IL r , C .n^ hen u. he Navy Department | sells 265 machines at auction in the near future. Secretary Daniels has authorized the sale of the seaplanes bidders! aU * U ° n t0 the h, * hest High spaed machines of large carrying capacity, well adapted to commercial use will be included in the sale along with faster and smaller machines, The department will later issue complete details regarding the sale, the planes are in good condition but must be sold because the Navy has insufficient personnel to keep In pro per condition and because of an over supply. GENERALLY FAIR By Associated Press. Washington, Aug. 2. Weather conditions for the week beginning August 4, are. North and Middle Atlantic States- Temperature moderate but near generally fair with a prob ability of occasional showers the middle of the week. SPAIN TO JOIN I Madrid. Friday, Aug. 1. The ; Senate to-day voted a bill authoriz j ing the government to join the Lea gue of Nations. The vote was unanl- I mous. NEBRASKA ENACTS SUFFRAGE, 94 TO 0 By Associated rress. Lincoln. Neb., Aug. 2.—Nebras ka to-day ratified the Federal woman suffrage amendment, when the House, by a vote of 94 to 0 passed a joint resolution providing ratification. The Sen ate voted for ratification on Thursday. Nebraska is he four teenth State to ratify. HALIFAX THRONG PAYS TRIBUTE TO ITS VETERANS Upper End Borough Turns "Out in Force For Pa triotic Event Halifax, Pa., Aug. 2. Halifax's ninety-two men who served with the American forces during the recent war, are being honored to-day in the biggest celebrations ever held in this hustling Dauphin county borough. Thousands of out-of-town people, many of them former residents, are now within the borough, participat ing in and witnessing the extensive demonstrations arranged in honor of the men who fought for democracy. Hundreds in Parade Hundreds participated in the ex tensive street parade, which moved off at 2.4 5 o'clock this afternoon. Hundreds of out-of-town represent atives were included in the big line, which was under the direction of Chief Marshal Ira B. Zimmerman. Most conspicuous in all the line arranged in their honor, was the delegation of cx-soldiers and sailors. Veterans of former wars marched or rode and all were regarded with a high applause. Moves in Three Divisions The line of parade, as it moved off to-day follows: First division Chief marshal and aids, A. F. Enders, W. D. Straw and Walter E. Butter; Saskins Band of Sunbury, soldiers and sailors, Red Cross, Camp Fire Girls, Boy Scouts, [Continued on Pago 47,] f -U ■. r;,-.- S I ' ' t T . . . . T S. .. • • • T ♦ ♦ <•?* | 4 4 *l* *3* <| 4* -j! t $ x ' ■■<>■• ■' ■ •#! 4* f e | ej $ 4* *f* L 4 6 V '* T § 4 <| X ' ; *l® X * * T : I e t ; v, y ;. <■• "; ' T 1* to be owned by Michael Erk, 1024 Herr Street, but w 4 being driven by a friend at the time. <4* | WANT TO WITHDRAW CURRFNCY 4 JL * T Washington—Without a record vote, the „ m 4* ' . . *s* ■' - t • • T amount of currency in circulation was advisable as a |l 4 means of reducing the cost of living. The resolution 91 oh m i which was sponsored by Senator Myers. Democrat, b Montana has been under debase for two day*. * f PROMISES SLOWED AtR PRODUCTION ;• i I JL Washington- -Promises of spoedj delivery of Lib- c3g ? erty motor• in suffrcieirt numbers to i upply the A'.He ' caused French and Italian manufacturers to slow up pro * ila T ductton early in 1918,- fhe House Committee investigai 4' ing aircraft expenditures was told to-day by Represents X tive La Guardia a 'erv" ' t sjc of ih* r<- ; c< * * j X | MARRIAGE LICENSES $ Frank W. Campbell, Pittsburgh. and Catherine It. Snnford, Kay- lo, '< Oeorjce L Southard, Hrldavpoi-t.. and Hlaneh I„ Kndera, New ! * Cumberland) Edivard P. Hank, toonn, mid Ethyl M. Kirk, McVcrtovrns* * T Joseph Mnnupcll, Passnlc, N. .1.. und Jennie Koalna, Steeltoni Ernest rt J. Hog, I.ebanon, and Ana Ha lunt, Steelton. SOCIALISTS WHO OUST BELA KUN ASK FOR PEACE U. S. Food Administrator Re sponsible For Hungarian Leader's Overthrow SEEKS REFUGE IN VIENNA New Government Wants to Establish Friendly Rela tions With Entente Vienna, Friday. Aug. 1. Bela Kun, the Hungarian communist dic tator, has resigned and been suc ceeded by a Socialist government, according to a telephone message from Budapest. On receipt of news from the front that created consternation in Buda pest, Kun at a meeting of the So viet Socialists, pale faced and with his back to the wall, declared: "Very well. If you demand it, I must resign. I made the best fight I could." I . V. S. May Help j Captain Thomas C. Gregory, the United States food administrator in this region, is credited with a large share in the hastening of Bela Kun's | retirement. Captain Gregory arranged to-night ! for food relief for Budapest. He is ] bringing up supplies from the Banat region and also sending them down the Danube from Austria. Make Peace Overtures Overtures for peace with the Allies have been made by the new Socialist government of Hungary which has been set up in succession of the Bela Kun regime. Bela Kun, who resigned his vir tual dictatorship, has been furnished a safe conduct by the Allies and is expected to seek refuge here, as ! it is felt that his life would be en dangered if he remained in Buda pest. The peace overtures were made by Jacob Weltner, president of the Sol diers' and Workers' Soviet of Hun gary. Arriving in Vienna from Bud apest, Herr Weltner asked Colonel Cunningham, the leading represent ative of the Allies at Vienna, and the other Allied officials here, to [Continued on Page IS.]
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers