Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 46, Number 30, 14 December 1920 — Page 1

tip.;6 x- VOL. XLVL, No. 30 Palladium, Est. 1831. Consolidated with Sun-Telecram, If 07. RICHMOND, IND., TUESDAY EVENING, DEC. 14, 1920. v SINGLE COPY 3 CENTS

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STABILITY TO HINGE ON SUM OF INDEMNITY Mark Sullivan Says Amount

German Reparations Linked Up With Prosperity Is Uncertain Factor. MAY ANNOUNCE SOON By MARK SULLIVAN. WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 14.One thought has been pressed upon me so , often and from sources of such weight that it seems to call for widespread knowledge. I am told by business men, bankers, and other men of practical affairs, as well as by men whose standing Is on the theoretical side of economics and business, that there is one uncertain factor before the settlement of which ' no progress can be made toward bet- ; ter business conditions. That factor, they say, is the uncertainty of tho ' amount of the German- reparttions. It is not a question of the size of tho reparations, but a question of knowing what it is, of making' the sum , definite. f They say that there can be no economic stability t in the world and no '. business prosperity until Germany ' knows the amount that she Is to pay, : and the allies know the amounts that they are to receive. Cause of Instability. This factor, they say, is the pri mary cause of instability. There can - be no stability In foreign exchange ib the relative value of dollars, ttounds, francs, marks, lire etc. until this factor is fixed. So long as there is instability of foreign exchange, there can be no stability of foreign trade, and until foreign trade can flow . smoothly and upon assured lines, there can be no . domestic industrial or business prosperity. This thing - underlies all question of taxation, tariffs, and everything else fiscal in its nature. The amount that Germany must pay is of little importance compared with the making of this amount a fixed sum as against an indeterminate and unknown sum. So long as it remains indeterminate it is a blind factor in place where should be one of the most solid foundation stones in the struc

ture of international trade. , . . Source of Trouble. If a malevolent Intelligence should H search the universe, of economic evil to find precisely that thing which Is . most destructive to economic stability and to the human comfort and content which rest on business stability, these men say, it would probably invent the device of placing- one of the nations of the world under the burden of an indeterminate debt, in which the creditor has the power to Increase the amount of the obligation in proportion as the debtor shows capacity to pay. The moral and economic evil of such a situation and its capacity for trouble-making on a world-wide scal9 are indescribable. The demoralization it works in the debtor is greater than the disorganization is brings to the creditors and to disinterested third parties as well. . Did Not Fix Amount. Due to causes too complex to enter into here, causes which at the time seemed insurmountable and made the consequences excusable, the amount of the German indemnity "was not fixed . by the peace conference. The peace conference merely asserted Germany's obligation to pay, but did not fix the amount sjie must pay. The fixing of that amount was left to what is known as reparation commission. Nominally, the mandate of the peace conference to this commission was that it should fix the sum before May 1, 1921, but' actually in the language of the treaty, this mandate is so hedged about with so many .qualifications (hat the reparation commission can delay, and may delay, the fixing of the amount until much , later. A conference of the Allied powers has been called at Brussels this w$ek, to discuss the German reparations. How much this may mean and

how much progress may be made can only be known later. Business Men Anxious. The business leaders of the allies are fully aware of the desirability, from a business standpoint, of an early determination of the sum that Germany must pay, but other considerations cause some of the allies, especially France, to be tolerant of positioning the fixing of the amount. So long as the amount of the reparations remains indeterminate France retains certain privileges with which she is reluctant to part. Th's point, of course, assuming that the theory is correct has the strongest rioHb)e bearing upon the foreign policv which the Reoublican leaders are 1tit now formulating. So 'ong as we are absent from the corf-f.nce of the allies, we are in no isiMon to use our Influence toward hastening the date when the amount of the German reparations will be msde known. It First Step. This date will mark the first progress toward equilibrium, and will be the first ster toward the resumption of commercial stability. In reparation, as restlessness under Present cord'Mons becomes acute, the new Fenubl'can administration will be under incrasine pressure to make progress toward a concrete programme for our International relations. It would seem almost ridiculous to begin to speculate so erly on just when the pendulum that recently swung so far in favor of the Republicans will begin to swing back, but when it does begin, the cause will probably be economic distress and, in ways perhaps complex and indirect, will nevertheless pretty surely be related to what Is here set forth. (Copyright 1920 by the New York Evening Post, Inc.)

Cork, Swept by Fire,

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CIE View along Grand Parade, Cork, above, The entire city of Cork. Ireland, important buildings. The fire followed of the fires is not known. A group. of of the corn market and many residences recent trouble. REDUCTION OF WAR DEBT CAUSES WORRY (By Associated Press) '.WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. House ways and means committeemen, now considering plans for tax- revision legislation, have encountered a stumbling block in their efforts to devise a method for disposing of that part of the nation's war debt, $7,500,000,000, maturing in the next two and a hall years. Believing that, the four billion dollars annual tax ievy proposed by the treasury would be Insufficient to care for the ordinary operating expenses of government and to cancel the treasury certificates and Victory notes soon to mature. Chairman Fordney proposed refunding into long term bonds the certificates aggregating nearly two and a half billion dollars and the first issues of war saving stamps and Victory notes. The proposal of the committee chairman, however, met with the disapproval of Dr. Thomas S. Adams, treasury tax expert and economist, who as one of the witnesses at the opening bearing yesterday, told the committee that the program of the treasury appeared sufficient to provide revenues to take care of the maturing obligation, but who warned that the treasury estimates for taxation could stand no reduction if the program were to be carried through. HOUSE MAY HASTEN RELIEF FOR FARMERS Bv Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. Plans foT securing action by the house before the holiday recess, on legislation reviving the war finance corporation were laid today by proponents of the farmer relief measure, following las passage in the stnoae. The house committee on agriculture to which it was expected the measure would bo referred today, planned to report it out promptly. As finally acted on by the senate late yesterday, the section of the measure relating to extension of credit was amended so as to make it merely an expression of the opinion of congress that the federal reserve board should direct extension of more liberal credits to farmers. In the original form such action by the board was made mandatory. Another amendment expressly included other than farm products under the export farm financing provisions. , Ponder Senate Action on Repeal Wartime Laws (By Associated Press.' WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. Speculation today as to its probable fate in the Senate, followed passage in the house late yesterday without an opposing vote of the Volstead resolution repealing most of the war time legislation. The repeal measure was broadened at the last moment by the adoption of an amendment including the Lever food control act. As it goes before the Senate, the measure leaves for repeal only the trading-with-the-enemy . act, the war finance corporation act, measures dealing with issuance of liberty and Victory bonds, and the District of Columbia rent act.

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Is Noted as City of Beautiful Architecture

and recent pictur e showing British was for a time threatened by a fire the ambush of British soldiers in which buildings. on Albert Quay, including the

were destroyed. The destruction exceeded that of any property loss in the 4 -

Postmasters May Out of PALLADIUM NEWS BUREAU WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 14 There are now 78 post offices In the eight counties of the Sixth Indiana congressional district, three of them first class offices, located at Richmond, Newcastle and Connersville; four second class offices, 14 third class offices and 57 fourth class offices. Under existing law postmasters of fourth class offices are under the civil service and are selected by competitive examinations. First, second and third class postmasters are appointed by the president subject to confirmation by the senate. Under the present administration an executive order extends civil service regulations to first, second and third class postmasters, but it is anticipated that under the Harding administration this executive order will be modified, at least so far as first class postmasters are concerned. First class postmasters have been appointed for terms of four years. Richmond First Class There are 14 post offices in Wayne county. Richmond is the only first class office. There are no second class offices. There are four third class offices at Cambridge City, Centerville, Earlham and Hagerstown. Fourth class post offices are located at Boston, Dublin, Economy, Fountain City, Greensfork, Milton, Pershing, Webster and Williamsburg. A bill to reimburse C. B. Beck, postmaster at Richmond, Ind., out of tho federal treasury, in the sum of $1,729, representing the amount Mr. Beck voluntarily paid to the government a3 part of the funds embezzled by Otto H. Sprong, a former postal clerk in the Richmond post office, has been introduced in the house by Representative Elliott of Indiana. Sprong, who is now in prison, embezzled over $4,000. His bond did not cover the full amount of his shortage but Mr. Beck made good the balance. Mr. Beck's friends are of the opinion that he should be reimbursed by the government for he was not responsible in the slightest degree for the loss sustained through Sprong's speculations. Cannon Studied Here "Uncle Joe" Cannon, former speaker of the house, who was a student In Richmond when Earlham college was known as Friends' Boarding School, will establish a new record for longevity in the national congress on Dec. 28. He will then have beaten the existing record. At the end of the present congress, POSTPONE HEARING OF WATER RATE CASE Hearing of the petition of the Richmond City Water Works for" authority to revise rates for water service in Richmond and Spring Grove has' been postponed from Thursday, Dec. 23, to Tuesday, Jan. 11, according to an announcement made by City Attorney Reller Tuesday morning after returning from Indianapolis. The city will oppose the increase in tates that is to be asked by the company. Benjamin Perk, accountant for the city, will make an audit of the company's books and advise the city in the matter of rates.

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military guarding streets In Irish city. which caused over $7,000,000 damage to four persons were killed'. The origin city hall and Carnegie library, part be Taken Civil Service Rule March 3, he will have served for 44 years, and he has been re-elected for another two years. The late William B. Allison of Iowa, served 43 years and five months, both in the house and In the senate. Mr. Cannon has served only in the house. The late Justin S Morrill, a senator and a representative from Vermont, served 43 years and nine months. Mr. Cannon has no near competitor for service in the house. He has had 25 consecutive nominations and 23 elections. y Gets Big Plurality Mr. Cannon was re-elected to the house last November by a plurality of over 26,000, the largest he ever received. Bad luck has pursued him, however, in recent months. Last winter a fall at the capitol fractured a leg and early this fall while at his home in Danville, 111., he fractured an arm in a fall. The day the last misfortune befell him he was to make a 200 mile trip to deliver a political address'. After his arm had been placed in splints he was advised to remain at home but he kept his speaking engagament. Today Mr. Cannon appears to be as vigorous as ever. GERMANY CANNOT PAY DEBT IN CASH, CLAIM (By Associated PressT BERLIN, Dec. 14. Negotiations have been proceeding for some time between the German and foreign governments with the view of changing the present arrangement by which Germany is obliged to pay her monthly debt balance in cash, says a semiofficial stateemnt issued here. This arrang-ement was made under a section of the Versailles treaty. Owing to the amount of the payments which have been made recently, Germany has entered into communication with Great Britain and France for the purpose of devising a different method of settlement. The negotiations hav-a been without result thus far, but are not yet terminated. "In view of this," the statement adds, "the German clearing office has been instructed to notify the clear ing office of states concerned that for the present the settlement of accounts in the form hitherto prescribed, cancan not take place." Last Night's Wind Storm General Over Indiana (By Associated Press.) INDIANAPOLIS, Dec, 14. A wind storm which attained a maximum velocity of 42 miles an hour, last night caused only slight damage throughout Indiana, according to information received here today. Most of the damage was done to telephone and telegraph wires. Numerous plate glass windows were broken and trees felled. No one was reported injured. ENVOYS TO CONFER (By Associated Press) ROME, Dec. 14. Premier Giolitti today called for a meeting of the council of ministers on Tuesday morning to consider the course to be taken relative to many important matters now pending. v

CONSUME DEPARTS TO TAKE THRONE Denies Rumors That He Will Abdicate in Favor of Crown Prince George Plans Triumphal Entry. MANY RUMORS AFLOAT

(Br Associated Press) LUCERNE, Switzerland, Dec. 14. Former Constantine of Greece, recall ed to that country by the government, established after the fall of the Venizelos regime, rose this morning prepared to leave for Venice. A private car to be attached to a regular southbound train awaited him at the station. He will be met at Venice tomorrow by a Greek warship and will embark for Phaleron, the port ot Athens. Members of his suite, with their families had made arrangements to go to Brindlsi, Italy, where late this week they will go on board a merchant ship and sail for Greece. All luggage owned by the king and his followers had been Bent away. To Pick Up Son It is expected Constantine will reach Phaleron on Sunday, having picked up Prince George, his eldest son, and the Greek council of ministers off the islands of Melon. Plans for a triumphal progress from Phaleron to Athens have been made by the Greek government. PARIS, Dec. 14. Constantine will not remain long on the throne of Greece, say Geneva dispatches to newspapers of this city. The corre spondents declare they obtained this information from a personage closely connected with Constantine." He is quoted as saying that after a brief in terval Constantine will abdicate in favor of Prince George, Duke of Sparta. In taking this course, Constantine, it is asserted, will give the impression that be is acting in accordance with his own wishese and not acceding to those of the allies. This decision was reached upon representations from Demetrios Rhallis, the Greek premier who is said to have pointed out that Greece would be in a critical situation if opposed by the great powers. In an interview with newspaper correspondents at Lucerne yesterday Constantine declares he would not abdicate in favor of Crown Prince. .George, adding he had nevef had any such intention." ATHENS, Dec. 14. Admiral Coundouritis former regent of Greece, and General Paraskevopeulos, former commander in chief of Greek forces on the Smyrna front Bailed for Maseilles today. WORKERS CLAIM SHOP TRICKED EMPLOYEES TOLEDO, Dec. 14. A strike against the closed garment plant of the Cohan, Friedlander anr Martin company was declared today by the Garment Workers union, by Morris Pearlstein, international vice president of that organization. The plant was closed more than a week ago, "because of adverse business conditions," according to an announcement which followed its suspension of work. About 300 men and women were employed, it was said, when the plant closed. It developed, according to Mr. ! Pearlstein, that the company trans ferred its orders for manufactured goods to shops in Boston, Chicago and elsewhere, and that the strike just declared will be extended to these. Refined Sugar Drops to 8.5 Cents Per Pound NEW YORK, Dec 14. The American Sugar Refining company, an nounced another reduction of cent in the price of refined sugar to the basis of 8 cents per pound for fine granulated. Quotations of other refiners remained unchanged. Weather Forecast MOORE'S SPECIAL FORECAST Below freezing weather will be general Tuesday night, as we are now west of the Pacific coast storm center which is sweeping eastward and the strong winds and gales will gradually decrease in velocity. The southeastward movement of an extensive Brit'sh Columbia storm indicates mostly unsettled weather for the next few days, with only brief periods of fair weather. For Indiana, by the United States Weather Bureau Generally fair and colder tonight and Wednesday except probably snow flurries in extreme north portion tonight; westerly gale decreasing. Temperatures Yesterday Maximum 59 Minimum 47 Today i Noon 43 I For Wayne County, by W. E. Moore. Mostly fair and colder tonight and weonesaay, except ior local snow squalls. Weather Conditions Generally heavy rains and gales occurred during the past 24 hours, from the Great Lakes south to the Gulf of Mexico, with thunderstorms at a" few places in the upper Mississippi valley. Below freezing temperatures, covers the plain states and zero weather in portions of the north and far southwest. It is quite cold over Arizona; it is rero at Flaestaff. Abnormally cool weather in California. Another stcrra is now moving southeast from British Columbia.

ASSEMBLY CONSIDERS DISARMAMENT; EXPECT SERIES OF ADDRESSES

Bt Associated Press) ' GENEVA. Dec. 14. Consideration of the disarmament program of the league of nations as settled upon by committees, began in the assembly of the league today. It was expected the project would be accepted without modification, but, like the plan for an international court, which was 'discussed yesterday,- is expected to furnish occasion for another series ot addresses. The principal feature of the program is an appeal to the powers to agree not to increase appropriations for armaments during the next two years. From this beginning it is hoped to develop a gradual reduction, fi nally reaching a point where a general limitation, based upon previous appropriations, may begin. Consider Opium Traffic Other important matters on today's agenda were -reports on the "white slave" trade and the opium traffic, which were to be taken np following the debate on disarmament. Two sessions of the assembly will be held daily, beginning today and ending on Friday; this provisional agenda being adopted for the purpose of finishing the meeting of the assembly before Saturday. It is realized, however, that if any one subject brings on a long debate the meeting will last until Saturday, and most of the delegates, counting on a full week's work, have reserved berths on trains leaving for Paris Saturday night GIPP, FOOTBALL STAR, DIES EARLY TUESDAY (By Associated (Press) SOUTH BEND, Ind., Dec 14. George Gipp. Notre Dame football player, died at 3:23 o'clock this morning, from stereptococolo throat disease. Glpp, whose splendid playing this year won him country-wide recognition and made him a choice for a position on an All-American eleven, had been ill since the Notre DameNorthwestern game on Nov. 20. Pneumonia also helped weaken the athlete. Specialists called from Chicago succeeded in ridding his system of pneumonia, however, but Gipp did not have the stamina left to ward off the poison resulting from the throat affection. During the final hours of his fight for life, Gipp was rational and was said to show remarkable grit, as he gradually grew weaker, refusing to give in to the inevitable. His mother, brother and sister-wero at the bedside when he died. CORK REMAINS QUIET AFTER RIFLE SHOTS CORK, Ireland, Dec. 14 Except for a heavy fusillade of rifle shots at about one o'clock this morning which aroused the population of Cork, frightened by the disorders of Saturday and Sunday, the night passed quietly in the city. No police auxiliaries were in evidence in the streets today and it is believed all have left the city. LONDON, Dec. 14 Investigation by a military commission of the fires which swept the city of Cork on Saturday night and Sunday was expected to be completed there today. Major General Strickland, commander of military forces in Ireland, is the head of the commission, and the taking of evidence began yesterday. The mayor of Cork and two Sinn Fein members of parliament have been called to' explain allegations they have made a dispatch sent to various ambassadors here relative to outrages which they declare to have been perpetrated in Cork during the past week. Announcement of the commission's findings was awaited with keen interest, as the question of who was responsible for the fires in Cork has assumed great importance, since the conflagration. In the absence of clear evidence, rival elements have been doing their utmost to fix the blame on the auxiliary police or the Irish extremists, respectively. AUTOMOBILE STOLEN FROM CURB TUESDAY An automobile belonging to Thomas Williams, farmer, living south of Richmond, was stolen Tuesday morning between 10:30 and 11:30, according to his statements to the police. The machine was parked on North Ninth street between Main and A streets. Williams was said to have left his machine for only a short time to make some purchases. He found the machine gone when he returned. He notified the police, who are trying to locate the car. GOVERNMENT CANNOT AUDIT RETURNS, CLAIM WASHINGTON. Dec. 14. The treasury department estimates that "more than a billion dollars" is outstanding in unpaid taxes because of the government's inability to audit the returns. Dr. Thomas S. Adams of the treasury r.taff testified today at hearing on taxation before the house ways and means committee. Because of the complex nature of present revenue laws. Dr. Adams add, ed, the interial revenue bureau has been unable to complete the checking up a tax returns for 1917. He saw no immediate hope of making the audit current with the tax returns filed.

PROFITEERING IS CRITICIZED

RY SENATORS; Evils of Alleged Speculation Draw Sharp Rebuke From! Senate Committee on Re-i construction Ask Laws. ASK PROBE CONTINUED (Br Associated Press) -4 WASHINGTON, Dec 14- Shar criticism of the national coal inquiry J with Implied threat of drastic leglsla-j tion accompanied the partial report of 1 the senate committee on productloi and reconstruction submitted to the senate today. In general the report, which asked! power to allow the committee to cox tinue its investigation, suggested rov-l eminent activities to bring about co-l operation under regulation in building I construction, but its three Republican! members, senators Calder. of Ne York, Edge. New Jersey and Kenyon.1 Iowa, supplemented their findings! with additional statements all ofl which agreed in asking special legls-l lauve attention to present methods ofl producing and distributing coaL - These. Chairman Calder said, "must I be corrected," while Senator Kenyonl declared that "If the matter is to go on, I, for one, harsh as the remedy I may be shall favor taking over the mines. Senator Edge expressed as his conclusion that "the coal industry cannot bring order out of the prevailing chaos and give even reasonable relief to the suffering people, so I am ready to modify somewhat, in this case, my op- j position to government Intrusion into private business, and to advocate legitimate scrutiny." Point Out Monopolies. Coal profiteering especially as it followed the priority orders of the interstate commerce commission has I continued unchecked by the depart ment of justice and is a "national disgrace" the commute said in its joint report. "Coal speculation has been permitted to monopolize the transpor tation facilities of the country, retarding necessary construction . and increasing the basic cost of manufacture and distribution of commodities in general. It has bled the home owners. public utilities, and Industries. "Our investigation Into the coal situation has convinced us that the private interests now in control of the production ""trad distribution of' coal, in spite of efforts by some, are actually unable to prevent a contlnu-1 ance or repetition of the present de-; plorable , situation and that it is the j duty of the government to take such reasonable and practical steps as it may to remedy the evil." Ask for Reports Government administration of the production and distribution -of coaL the committee said, "should be a last resort, but for tne present it was recommended that operators, wholesalers, jobbers and retailers in the in dustry be required to file full and frequent reports with a federal agency. These reports should show," the committee concluded, "total tonnage produced or. handled, size and quality thereof, amount of tonnage contracted for. sold on contract and at spot sale to whom, and the prices made and received under contracts or tales." The reports should be sufficient "to determine costs and profits, and the corporate inter-relations or the communities of interest, if any, between companies producing and distributing coaL" Housing Shortage In other fields, the committee said, "there exists a serious shortage of housing, not only in the great cities, but in the smaller cities as .well, even in the far west and south," which it held to have a deleterious effect upon health, morals, and Industrial growth. Labor conditions also were discussed by the committee. Financing building Investment, the committee said, should be aided in several ways, suggesting lowering of excess profits tax and sur-taxes and tax exemption for real estate mortgages. A modification of the federal reserve act to permit member banks to invest in long-time mortgages was further recommended, and the committee said it indorsed the principle of "the home loan bank bill, which is designed to facilitate a wider distribution of real estate mortgages through standard bond issues." Popular saving and thrift, ft was concluded, would be aided by consolidating under the postoffice department all federal thrift activities, and by amending the postal savings law "to provide adequate interest for depsitors." INGERMAN HELD IN AUTO INVESTIGATION (By As!"w-ted Press) INIANAPOL1S, Dec. 14. Albert Ingerinan, aged 23 .who says his home is in Milton, Ind., was held by the police here today while they continued their investigation of transactions In. automobiles which he is alleged to have made. According to detectives, Ingerman recently obtained two - automobiles from Richmond, Ind.. giving dealers fraudulent checks in payment and later selling the cars to a firm in this city. The charge against the young man is vagrancy pending the result of the police investigation. PLAN "AIR HARBOR" PEACE RIVER, AlbertaDec 14. Work has been, begun on an "air harzor" here which will form the southern terminal to the proposed aerial transportation system Into the Mc Kenlie oil fields, it was announced today. , " .