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WEATHER FORECAST. Cloudy and warmer to-da- y; IT SHINES FOB ALL fair; increasing south winds. Highest temperature yesterday, ag; lowest, 18. Detailed weather report! on editorial pace. Copyright, Ul, by tin Suit Printing and Publishing insdallea. PRICE TWO CENTS. VOL. LXXXVII. NO. 117 DAILY. NEW YORK, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1919.- - Entered as eecond daaa matter, Post Office, Mew York, V, Y. PARADE OF RED AIDS A FIZZLE; FIYE ARRESTED First Clasli With Police Enough for Army Dodgers' Sympathizers. QUIT AFTER FIST FIGHT Woman Seized at Door of Church and Two Others Taken to Station. LEGION OFFICER ACTIVE Start and Finish of March at Parish House Sermon Gives Approval. The parado or 'iwalk\ which certain radicals and sympathizers had planned to hold yesterday morning as a protest against tho continued imprisonment of anti-w- plotters and draft slackers was broken Into fragments only three blocks from Its starting point by Lorll-lar- d Spencer, chairman o2 tho Ameri- can Legion's committee for tho sup pression of activities, and two squads tf police under Capt Benjamin Ashley of tho West Twen tieth street station. Although from the scattered rem nants small bodies of marchers were organized In neighboring thorough fares, there was no picketing of churches such as had been previously announced, and .the demonstration proved a dismal failure. Five of the marchers were arrested, Including Dr. Gertrude Kelly of 507 Mad- ison avenue, and. a young woman who said She was Miss Gladys Grelner, daughter of John Grelner of Baltimore, a member of the American Railway Commission In Russia. At many points the parties of radlsals and near radicals clashed with police, soldiers and civil- ians and scuffles resulted In which placards bearing Inscriptions demanding amnesty for what hey term \political prisoners\ were torn to bits. Headquarter In PnrlaU llonee. The whole performance, TTfctsV-tM police charge constituted disorderly con- duct, was openly approved by the Rev. Percy Stlckney Grant of tho Church of the Ascension, who turned his parish house Into headquarters for the slacker sympathizers and highly commended them In his Christmas morning sermon. The marchers assembled at Dr. Grant's parish house early In the morning, and there bedecked themselves with the shoulder bands and placards announcing the motive of their proposed demonstrat- ion. There were more than two hun- dred of them, most of them quite young. Few of the type generally seen at radical meetings were there, for most of them belong to that Impressionable class whose misguided sympathies the Reds And It easy to appeal to. They left the parish house In single file, keeping six feet apart, because of flcjals of the League for Amnesty for Political Prisoners and other organiza- tions directing the affair had told them that In this manner they would be able to walk up Fifth avenue without a pa- rade permit The Rev. Dr. C. V. Howell, a Methodist clergyman, headed the pro cession, carrying the American flag. Ha was accompanied by Hiss Alice Rlggs Hunt and Miss Florence Lee. At the corner of Fourteenth street they came\ In contact with Mr, Spencer, who commanded a battalion of the 369th Infantry In the war, and the police and were told to disperse. Two of the marchers, who said they were Arthur Leeds and Arthur Hayes, attorneys. tried to argue tho matter and were terfering with the police. Major Spencer Take a Hand. The radicals fired a verbal volley at the polce and a richly dressed woman launched a tirade at Police Captain Ash- ley, but Major Spencer delivered a coun- ter attack. 'These police officers are only doing their duty,\ he Bald, \and there Is no reason why you should assail them. It would be well for you to have more respect for the law.\ After more argume.it the woman was told that the men for whom she showed sympathy and wanted to have released from prlaon were put there because they gave aid and comfort to the enemy dur- ing the war, helped unsuccessfully to obstruct the draft and tried to keep am- munition from going to the army over-tea-s. The police tired of debating; the mat- ter and advanced upon the crowd, which broke up and went toward Fourth and Sixth avenues In groups of two to two dozen. Only the flag bearer and the two young women who accompanied him were permitted to continue-u- p Fifth ave nue. The others roamed the neighbor ing thoroughfares. , The arrests began a moment late' when Patrolman Harry Carver of the West Twentieth street station found Julius and Samuel Friedman trying to organize another parado at the corner nf Sixth avenue and Twenty-fir- st street. He took them to the station and charged them with having \unlawfully refused to dis- band.\ There was a lively tow In front of the Hotel Wolcott on Thirty-fir- st street, where one of the women slipped on the Ice. A policeman trjed\ to help her to her feet and she accused him of having brutally attacked her. Two malo march- ers became excited and started to de- nounce the officers. , Soon bystander were In tho mlxup and there was a lively flst fight In which an officer of the Aviation Corps snatched a bunch of placards from a youth and toro them up. women Are Arrrntcd. \I saw as much service .as you ever did.\ the youth yelled. The ofllccr told him he was ashamed of him; that If he didn't like this government he could get out In fact, chould have gone with the Reels on Uie Buford. , t)r Gertrude Kelly was arrested with Miss Mary Duffy of 214 Smith street,. - Continued on Second Page. Biter Is Badly Bitten on , Christmas Tree Gouge LIFT up your heads nnd rejoice, all yo downtrodden consumers who havo been paying mnny time's as much for things ns you formerly paid: Two weeks ago vast shipments of Christmas treos reached New York, and becauso of tho antici- pated demand, and because other things were very high, thoy wotg priced at from $6 to $10 each. One week ago Christmas trees could bo obtained from ?2 to ?4 nnayery fine trees. The expected demand had failed to materialize. On Tuesday night Christmas trees wero selling at from 35 cents to $1. And on Christmas eve, with stores filled with Christmas traces, all over tho city wero sign3 marked on great piles of trees: PLEASE TAKE ONE1 And to-da- y the dealers and speculators who had hoped for and anticipated much profit from the solo of Christmas trees will begin to hire truckmen to tako away their trees and throw them Into the river or give them to janitors to help heat cold SEA GALE BORN GIRLGETS$2,001 Passengers on Maurotania Haiso $700; Ford Agent Gives Baby Motor Car. SCOTCH BAD IS THRIFTY He Baffles New Daughter's Automobile Order and Nets 81,801. Tho luckiest and thriftiest man aboard the Cunarder JIaurctanIa, In yesterday from Southampton and Cherbourg, was William F. Atley, coming from tho land of thrift and Harry Lauder, to make his home In America. His dlsUnctlon came through his being the ultra-happ- y father of a storm baby born on the most riotous day of the trip, Monday, when his wife, under the stress of unusual weather, added Frances Mrtura Astley to the passenger list. The 503 first cabin passengers twen hours after the birth of FranvL ces, nuea witli me pnuanmropy oi Christmastide, swiftly made up a purse of $700 for the little gale girl. F. L. Kllngensmlth, European agent for the Ford Motor Company, besides contributing his share In the puise, de- cided that the little girl could not do without a proper baby carriage, and he turned over to.tho happy rather a spe- cial Christmas gift from Henry Ford, an order for an automobile, \f. o. b. Do- - trolt.\ The frugal father looked at the order a few minutes and conceived tho scheme of enriching ills little daughter by raffling the order, perhaps fearing that the automobile might not bo big enough for her when she grow up. A notice posted In the saloon inspired most of the ship's company to Invest in the car. and on Christmas eve the In heritance of Miss Frances was Increased by $1,301. Tho passenger winmn; the car declined to bo Interviewed. FRANCE SENTENCES GERMAN STEEL KING Long Prison Term for Wreck- er of Briey Plants. AsiiENs\ Dec. 25. A court-marti- has sentenced the German officer. Robert Roeckllng, administrator of mines at Karlsruhe, to ten years\ confinement, llfteen years of exile and a fine of ten million francs upon his conviction of a charge of organizing the pillage of fac- tories In eastern France. It was testified at his trial that he collected machinery and other material from the factories and blew them up In November, 191S. His brothers, Herman and Ludwig, were given a similar sen- tence by default. The Roeckllng brothers are known na German \steel kings.\ Herman Roeck- llng, president of a steel association, was at Troves as a member of the Ger- man armistice commission, for which reason he was not arrested. The other brother, Ludwig, went to Versailles as a member of the peace delegation and con- sequently was covered by diplomatic Im- munity. The evidence presented by the prose- cution was to show that the brothers had systematically destroyed trie French metal working plants at Brley, Mlche-vlll- o, Longwy and other places, trans- porting within two years time millions of tons of material to their factory at Karlsruhe, including quantities of un- damaged material, so as to make the op- eration af what remained of the French plants thenext thing to Impossible. $32,000,000 IS UNCLAIMED, And a Great Fart or it ueionga to Uncanny Scots. Special Catle Despatch to Tni Scs and Me i'tioiic imager. Copyright, 1919. alt rights reserved. London, Dec. 25. The Parliament committee on dormant bank balances, after an exhaustive Inquiry, has uncov- ered J22,000,000 lying unclaimed In British banks, of which 12,000,000 be- longs to untraceable persons, and there- fore will be turned Into the Government treasury to help pay the nation's debt. A far greater amount was expected when the Inquiry began. One remarkable fact Is that there is moro unclalmet. wealth In Scottish than In English, banks, which disproves the renutatlon that the Scot Jias oi looking after tho shillings. s MAURETANIAi PORT, BATTERED BY HURRICANES Bridge Pails Twisted, Bul- warks Dented by the Wild Seiis. Praise for siqpper Giant Cunarder Gets In for Christmas After Excit- ing Struggle. 1,500 TBEMBLE IN STOIOI Notables Among Arrivals Tell of Improved Prospects in Europe. Tha skipper said ho would bring them In on Christmas morning, and ho kept his word. Battering wintry seas did not matter much to a veteran like Capt. Arthur Henry Rostron, com- mander of tho swiftest ship afloat, tho mighty Cunarder Mailretania, aa no has been more than thirty years navi- gating tho lusty waters of tho world and wears the gold medal given to him by Congress for rescuing the survivors of tho Iceberg pierced White Star liner Titanic. Of course, when a big ship like tho rushes through tempests some seas may bo expected to come aboard, and they fulfilled tha expectation, particularly on Monday evening, when tho liner was In mld-occa- n, where combers always are tall- est when hurricane squalls tear crests off and smother decks. The Mauretanla had been plunging down Into the valleys and rising on the hills most of the day of stress, and a large part of her 1,500 voyagers were not at meals when she dipped under tho grundaddy comber, which teemed tn b more than fifty feet tall, but probably was not, and shipped tons and tons of real solid water. The cataract came over the weather bow when the stem of the giantess started lifting, and even the professional ocean crossers were, startted by the thunder of tho water on the steel superstructure. The crest roared at the very feet of the officers on the bridge and bridge rails were twisted and' bulwarks Just aft of Uw bridge wero dented by the tremendous Impact that caused momentary consternation in cabin .and steerage. Celebrate Christmas. It seemed to some of tho passengers as If tho ship was never going to get back again on a level keel when she started down the Incline of the towering billow. But she did, as aha always has rimihtleas always will unaer an ei- - ftctent commander. Everybody looked at everybody else In commission ror a fearful moment, and then everybody be- gan to feel pretty good when the Maure- tanla got going again In her usual way, riding the waves triumphantly. Thereafter tho trip was serene enough to enable tho ship's company to think about celebrating Christmas Eve nboard, even If tho liner did not reach port on Christmas Day. But the gallant skip- per said there was no doubt that all hands would eat their Christmas dinner In Manhattan or the neighborhood, and they got here yesterday morning In ample time to turn the trick without perhaps the wassail they had been per- mitted to absorb at breakfast. There were Christmas trees In Bteerage and cabin. Tho Christmas Eve celebration was a special dinner, gently moist, and a concert. Everybody said a good word for the skipper for bringing all hands safely through the tumult Iteirnn Tired of Hotel. James B. Regan, owner of tho Hotel Knickerbocker, who returned from a trip to promote his safety device for railroad trains, said he had established two S50.000.000 corporations, one In England and one In France, that he would not have another hotel If title to It was handed to him on a gold plat- ter nnd that he would turn the manage- ment of the Knickerbocker over to his fon, James B. Regan, Jr. Frederick H. Screaton, of Lord & Taylor, who has been in Europe stneo October, said Europe was recovering rapidly from the war; that mills handling wool and cot ton products were booued up almost a year ahead and the ractorles \or Scot- land .were unusually prosperous. Samuel S. McClure, publisher, said he had been studying the economics of Ireland and found her the \most pros- perous, comfortablo and country In tho world,\ outside of poli- tics. The Irish banks had deposits of more than 100,000.000 and had formed alliances with English banks to find an outlet for their money. Ireland had exported as much food to England since 1913 as cither America or Argentina. Sir Ernest Harder \Williams English publisher, said that everybody In Eng- land was reading and that any old book was a good seller. Other arrivals by tho big ship were Frederick W. Wile, formerly Berlin correspondent of Lord 'Northcllffo's papers, who will become Washington correspondent of the Philadelphia Pub-H- o Ledger; F. L. Kllngensmlth, Euro- pean representative of the Ford Motor Co. : Morton Jacobs of tho Overland Company and William Loeb, Jr. KAISER WILHELM PLAYS SANTA CLAUS ' Crown Prince Attends r's Party in Castle. By the Aisoclatti Fftit. AmerO.vokm, Dec 25. Tho former nrann Crown Prince Frederick reached some or tnc runciionarics were tho guests at u banquet eve- ning In tho' great hall the Bentlnck Castle. Tills was tho .of a cele- bration arranged the former Emperor personally. A huge Christmas tree was tho hall, and from thla tba former ruler distributed gifts. i Expects Little Financial Aid for Europe in U. S. THE HAGUE, Dec. 25. Will- iam Wcsterman, president of the Rotterdam Bank, who has just returned from America, has launched a movement for an In- ternational conferenco of bankers at The Hague to sottlo afte.r tho war financial problems. Mr. Westerman declares in tho Nieuwe Courant that, in his opin- ion, based on information ob- tained in high financial circles in America, it is extremely im- probable that Europe can expect much finnncial aid from America. Official negotiations between Dutch and Gorman representa- tives on the question of extend- ing credit to Germany, with coal as security, havo opened at The Hague. 'BLUE SKY' LAW WON'TFITINNJ. Commission Urges Benson, Not Badicalism, to Halt Stock Sale Frauds. GOVEBNOB GETS BEPOBT \Wordy Legal Traps Can't Catch Crooks\ Bemcdial Plan Suggested. The way to stop stock soiling frauds Is to provide a flexible, virile, fraud hunting State machinery driven not by statuto but by human intelligence and human activity. This is the chief recommendation submitted to Gov. Smith yesterday by the commission which Investigated two principal evils, tho Initial issuance of securities which aro either worthless or that havo so little value that the purchasers Immediately sustain severo loss, and tho negotiation and sale by swindlers of worthless sccurltles to In dividuals. In this connection the com mission considered a wide variety of legislation. Tho flnal report rules against such drastic legislation as somo Wcstorn States havo put Into their bluo sky laws. ' . Foil Report to Governor. - The report (n full, as submitted to the Governor, says: \On September 25, 1919, you ad dressed to Mr. A. Barton Hepburn, Mr. Charles H. Sablh, Mr. William H. Pcr-te- r, Mr. William H. Rcmlek. Mr. Alfred J. Johnson, Mr. John J. I'ulleyn, Mr. John Godfrey Saxe, Mr. George V. Mc- laughlin, Mr. Laurence McGulre, Mr. James J. Hoey, Mr. Mortimer L. Schlff and Mr. Edwin C. Vogel the following letter: A bill was presented at the last session of tho Legislature providing for certain publicity as to practices In connection with securities offered to tho public for Investment. This bill failed to pass, but Its introduc- tion suggests to my mind that pos- sibly there was need of such legisla- tion In this State. New York Is y tho financial centre of the world Is being looked to by other States for lead- ership in financial matters. I have- - concluded to appoint a com- mittee of rnen prominent In national, State and private banking, as well as members the legal profession, and representatives of the investing public, to mako a study of sub- ject and report to mo before January 1 the result of such study, together with a draft of such legislation as the committee may deem necessary. To my mind there should be a proper supervision of the Issuance of new securities and n prevention of the evil of Issuing and offering for sale to the Investing public of worth- less securities and securities of doubtful value. I have appointed you a member of such committee. Will you communi- cate with the other members the committee, a list of whom Is here- with 'enclosed, and arrange for a preliminary meeting? (Thanklng you In advance for any Interest you may be kind enough to take In this matter, I am. Hepburn Ilenda Committee. \All of theso gentlemen complied with your request. We met on September 29, 1919, and duly organized by electing Mr. Hepburn as chairman nnd Mr. Thomas F, Woodlock ns secretary. We requested your Excellency to assign the Hon. Robert C. Cummlng, chairman of the Legislative BUI Drafting Commis sion, to aid ua In our deliberations. You complied with this request, and the com mittee has been greatly aided In Ha labors by Mr. Cummlng's cooperation. \We provided ourselves with the laws of the States In which statutes have been enacted on this subject. Our secre- tary prepared an abstract of these laws and furnished a copy to each member. \We corresponded with the officials of the various States having legislation of character, seeking suggestions thai might be of value to us. We also' corre sponded with the clearing houses, vari- ous exchanges In the country, the Stand- - Lard Statistics Company, Poor Manual, Moody' 3 Manual, ana various other or- ganizations having do with securities supplying tho public with informa- tion In relation thereto, asking for specific suggestions as to desirable regu- lation. \Wo held hearings and were addressed by representatives of the Investment Bankers Association of America, Private Bankers Association of the State of New York, the former Capital Issues Com- mittee appointed by the United States Government various other organiza- tions Individuals familiar with tho Hon. Edwin P. Kllroe, his deputies. Judge Swann and Mr. Doollng both ap- peared before the committee gave valuable InformaUon. \Your committee has held a number of executlvo sessions, and has actively, Continued on Sixth Page, here y to spend with his parents isudjccu their second Christmas In exile. I \\on. Edward Swann. the District At- - J. B. Kan, Secretary of Internal Af- - torney for New York county, has estab-falr- s of the Dutch Government. Burgo- - liUhed a Bureau of Commercial Frauds master Pcrchoom of Wlerlngen, mem-- 1 In his office and has placed the same In bers of the Von Benflnck family and charge of Hon. John T. Doollng and merongen this of climax by erected in and of this of this to and and and and GERMANS DENY DODGING AWARD ON SCAPA FLOW i Von Lersncr Expects Ratifi- cation of Treaty in About Two Weeks. DELAY LAID TO ALLIES Entente Note a Surprise-Wir- e From Paris to Ber- lin Shut Off. APPBAISAD IS GOING ON Charge Is Beiteratcd Hotly That Berlin Envoys Intend- ed to Go Home. By the Attociatetl Prett. - Pahis, Dec. 25. Tho flnal dato of the repeatedly postponed oxchango of rati- fications of tho treaty of Versailles now depends upon tho speed with which the allied missions in Germany can verify tho German figures of nvallablo floating dock tonnago de- manded by tho Allies as compensation for- tho sinking of the German warships at Scapa Flow, according to a statement y at the headquarters of the.German peace delegation. Baron von Lersncr, head of tho Ger- man representatives, said ho believed this would take nt least a fortnight, If not longer, In view of tho difficulties of transportation In Germany and the de- tail Involved in verifying tho figures. \A decided misunderstanding Is re- flected In tho Paris press during the last-tw- o days regarding my projected trip to Berlin, which I subsequently abandoned,\ ho said. \My object was to hurry, rather than to delay, tho putting of tho Versailles treaty Into effect. \From Monday night until Wednes day afternoon at 2 o'clock I was de- prived of any .communication with my Government by either telegraph or tele- phone, In consequence of which Berlin had no knowledge of the Entonto note or of the oral communication given on this subject\ by M\. Dutasta (secretary of tho Peace Conference) until this morn ing. Wanted to Hurry Settlement. 'I thought that a trip to Berlin and an oral explanation of tho situation to the Government would facilitate \mat- ters. The Inference by the French papers that tho German Government wanted to delay the exchange of ratifications Is absolutely unfounded. We want nothing more than effective restoration of peace. \Peaco means the repatriation of our soldiers prisoners In France, who are obliged to spend another Christmas In captivity, though hostilities havo been suspended for moro thnn a year. \Tho fact that Herr von Slmson ar- rived in Paris last Sunday to start nego- tiations for putting the treaty Into ef- fect proves that wo had no Intention to delay matters.\ Regarding the Entente note Baron von Leraner said Its tenor surprised him, as It seemed bo little In accord with the progress of tho negotiations. \The Paris press,\ he said, \even an- nounced our readiness to deliver over all the harbor material we could spare with- out endangering our economic existence as compensation for the Scapa Flow sinkings, and forecast an early agree- ment on this question. If we did not get that far It was not our fault. Our ex- perts have not been asked to talk the matter over since a week ago.\ Bnron von Lersner asserted that ac- cording to tho oral communication of M. Dutasta at the time of the delivery of tho note tho Entente made a diminu- tion In the port tonnage demanded, con- ditional upon verification of Germany's contention that the Entente estimates of the harbor material available were er- roneous. nlsloynlty OhnrKei Denied. \I want to.say In this connection.\ he continued, \that tho statements in the French press that we were disloyal and gave out wrong flguies on this tonnage Is absolutely unfb-iuded- . This the In- vestigation would prove. I promised M. Dutasta to ask. my Government to give all facilities for such Investigation and have no doubt that they will be ac- corded at once. \Wo both agreed that It should be possible In a short time to verify our statements and come to a deflnito agree- ment regarding harbor materials to be dellvored fty Germany. I hope that our expectations will soon be fulfilled and that peace will finally be put Into effect.\ After tho chief of the German delega- tion had Informed M. Dutasta that he thought It advisable to go to Berlin communication by special wire was re- stored, according to the Information given out nt tho headquarters of the German delegation, and It was decided to telegraph the. note am' oral communi- cation. Taking Into consideration the time for coding, transmission and de- coding, the communication could not come to the knowledge of the German Government before the morning of De- cember 25. German Storlea re Denied. The Havas Agency Issued the follow ing official note: \The German press of Wednesday pre- tends that Baron von Lersner never In- tended qulttIngParls and that the state ment he made to m. uiuasia mat ne meant to leave with Herr von Slmson w.is erroneous, me ucnuiui press in sinuated that this was unfounded and that the news sent out by Havns and the story of Von Lersncr'9 second visit to M. Dutasta was an Invention to cover up the Havas story of tho intended withdrawal. Theoe allegations are contrary to the truth. Von Lersner s declarations at 11 o'clock .Tuesday morning cannot bo denied. They were immediately written and communicated to an tno Allies. Continued on Third Page RAIL WA Y LABOR PROBLEM GREA T CONGRESS PUZZLE; LENROOf'S PLAN GAINING U.S. MAY SELL GERMAN SHIPS ., i Believed tho Craft Will Bring in Neighborhood of $250 a Ton. OABGO BOATS EXCLl'DKD Government Operation of Pas- senger Vessels Not Consid- ered Prof itahle\. BptM Dtspatch to Tnc Sex. Washikoton', Dec. 23. The Shipping Board has under consideration the sale of all the German passenger ships now In Its possession, 103 In number, aggre- gating about 250,000 tons deadweight. The list Includes every class and type of vessel from the largest the Lovla-tha- n to the smallest of passenger vessels which sought haven hero when tho world war began. Included In tho number are at least two German raid- ers that ran Into American ports, tho Eltel Frledrlch and the Kronprlnz Wllhclm, now In service under tho Shipping Board's flag. A number of the largest nnd finest Interned German vessels are being held by the army for transport service and there Is a contest over them, the Ship- ping Board asking that they be turned over. , Official announcement Is being made by the hoard that all of the ships may be offered and bids are being asked on nil. It Is expected they will bring about $250 a ton. Final decision as to sale has not been made, however. The sale offer docs not apply to the cargo boats. These will be kept and operated by the board. No ptatemwit or explanation of the policy \under consideration\ was made by the board. It Is understood, however, that the proposed sale of these former German ships Is In lino with tho general findings of the board that Government operation of passenger liners Is not to be desired nt the present time because of larger returns accruing to freight ves- sels and becauso the operation of Gov- ernment passenger lines Is not deemed desirable in the present state of devel- opment of the American merchant ma- rine. Competition with vessels privately owned Is regarded hero by shipping men aa well nigh hopeless because the latter permit the use of llauor outsldo of the three mile limit and In fact serve drinks of all kinds. The Shipping Board has prohibited the use of Intoxicants on Its vessels In the passenger aa well as the freight traffic. In the announcement that the board will be glad to receive proposals for any or all of the German vessels it is stipu- lated that the ships must operate under the American fine and proposals for pur chase must indicate the line of sen-Ic- In which tho vessels arc to be put If sold. This means that the board will In effect kecD control of them but will endeavor to start American Interests In the shipping business. Proposals will bo received from per sons, firms or corporations nnu it is likely that the usual terms of sale, 25 per cent, down and the balance over a period of years, will be acceptable to the Government No prices are named In tho request for proposals. The German ships are of various ages, but for the most part are in good con- dition and In service. They are all Ger- man built. WILSON'S CHRISTMAS TURKEY EATEN IN BED Enjoys the First Full Meal Since He Became III. Special Despatch to In Sux. Washington, Dec. 25. President Wilson passed the quietest Christmas to- day the White House has known during his incumbency. He was permitted to go In his chair into tho south gardens for fresh air this morning. Mrs. Wilson and Miss Margaret Wil- son were the only two nt tho family din- ing tnble of the Executive Mansion for Christmas dinner. Tho President's din- ner was served to him in bed in his room, his wife and daughter spending the dinner hour with him. Though the President had. permission from his physicians\ to eat anything he choso. he ato lightly of turkey and trimmings. It\ was his first full meal since his illness. No house guests wero at the White House and no callers were permitted to see the President. Mrs. Wilson went to the Country Club In Virginia with Dr. Grayson to carry Christmas remem- brances to club attaches and others. LAWYER WILLED TO BE BURIED IN BASKET Rich Briton Also Wanted Jugular Vein Cut. Special Cable Despatch to Tns Sen from the London Times Service. Copyright, 1919. all rights'reierved. Worthing. England, Dec. 25. Samuel Tristram, a barrister here who died leav- - lnc-a- n estate of 1100,000, directed that he should be burled In a wicker basket not more than two feet below ground In an unbrlcked grave In o country church- yard. Also he directed that his body should not be removed for burial until a medical attendant lfad given a writ ten certificate that a surgeon had sev- ered the jugular vein. Further tho testator directed that no solicitor, stock broker, stock Jobber or any future husband of his wfe should be appointed a trustee qf his will. ' More Pay for Spain's Priests. Madrid, Dec. 25. A commission has been appointed by Parliament, composed of the heads of the Church and Senor Garnlca, the Minister of Justice, which already has begun consideration of an amendment to tho concordat, made nec- essary by demands df the priests for increased stipends and the necessity of the appointment of more bishops. RADICALS ALONE OPPOSE RETURN Labor Leaders, and Plumb Plan Friends Continue Their Opposition. BELIEF FELT ELSEWIIEBE Little Difficulty Expected in Carrying Out Plans for \Unscrambling.\ Special Despatch to To 3cx. Washington, Dec. 26. President Wil- son's proclamation returning tho rail- roads to their owners March 1 has re- ceived general approbation except from the radicals in and out of Washington, who have fought steadily and by every posslblo method for a continuance of Government control for at least two years In the hope of ultimate Govern- ment ownership. Government officials, legislators and representatives of practically all of tho parties nt Interest in tho present railroad- -situation regard tho proclamation with favor. Many labor leaders and Plumb plan advocates, who havo sought a continuance of Government control, are bitterly opposed. The major feeling with many of those Interested In the roads Is one of rellof rather than Joy. It was pointed out y that to all practical purposes the method means nothing except the carry- ing out of the legislation now pending In Congress for the return of the roads and means with this legislation. The proclamation, it Is said, greatly lelleves the fears expressed by railroad executives and others that labor advocates of the Plumb plan had \reached tho President\ with their theo- ries and that-th- e Executive might under- take a continuance of Government con- trol The practical turning over of tho roads to private controlNwIU bo begun Immediately. Director-Genera- l, nines has only waited for word, from the White House before undertaking the active programmo of actually turning Over the roads to prh'ate management. The fun- ctional the Railroad Administration aro to be gradually turned over to corpora- tion officers by the simple process of making them temporary representatives of the Railroad Administration. This will mean the slow easing of operating and financial burdens from Government to private shoulders and at tho same time will guard against loss of powers that might be needed by the Govern- ment. Little difficulty is expected In the operating changes. Director-Gener- al Hlnes has been engaged for a month on a programmo of \unscrambling.\ Each Individual road Is now getting Its own traffic, passenger and freight, to a largo extent. Control and routing has been broken along the lines of the original roads. Some of the roads aro expected to make claims for loss of traffic that they have never recovered pnder Gov- ernment control and routing, btit these will no doubt go to the court of claims. The financial settlements will bo much more Involved. It Is likely that they will be turned over to Swager Sherley, Director of Finance, who has been mak- ing a study of the problem for many months. DEATH LIST IN SWISS AVALANCHES GROWS Eight Are Killed in Hotels and Santtarium. Geneva, Dec. 24. The avalanches which occured at the mountain resort of Davos yesterday caused terror among residents and visitors and resulted In a number of deaths ip the village It- self. One hugo powdery avalanche swept down upon a sanitarium, smash- ing door's and windows on the first and second stories' and killing a Russian woman and her nurso and seriously In- juring several others. Many were Im- prisoned In tho upper floors throughout the night. It Is considered a miracle that tho sanitarium did not collapso, as the walls were badly damaged. Another avalancho fell on tho Hotel Excelsior, killing two employees nnd doing much damage. A third avalanche almost overwhelmed the Pension Germanla. Five dead have been taken from this building, but It Is feared that others are burled under the wreckage. One French Invalid child had a mirac- ulous escape. Though the room In which It lay was almost filled with snow tho cot was untouched. Six avalanches swept down within an hour, all leaving their natural ocus from the Schlahorn Mountain, overhang- ing Davos, and carrying down telegraph and telephone wire. This Is the Mrrt time the avalanches have taken this route. Happily thty occurred In tho afternoon, when most of the people were out of doors. It is reported that one avalanche passed within ten yards of a phrty of American and English skiers. It will take several days to clear the roads. Many Chrlstmafl festivities were cancelled and winter sports have been temporarily suspended at Davos, where the trains are blocked. EUSHINGWHISKEY ABROAD. One Kentucky Firm Arrange to Khlp 30,000 Gallons. LOUISYIM. Ky., Dec. 25. Arrange- - ments.for shipping approximately 30 000 gallons of whiskey out of the United States before January 16, when exporta- tion of liquor will bs prohibited, have been concluded by John T. Barbee & Co.. distillers of Versailles, Ky.. according to reports reaching here. The whiskey will be hauled to' sea- ports in motor trucks, it was said. The company refused to name the country to which the liquor would be sent. Off- icials, however, eald It would be out of the United States by January IS. Conferees on Be'turn Lcgis lation Welcome Delay t Granted by Wilson. HARD AT WOEK ON BILL Fault Is Found Witli Both House and Senate Flans to Deal Witli Unions. BLACKLIST AN' OBSTACLE Wisconsin Sonator's Compro- mise Froposal Might Bo Harmful to Public. Special Despatch to TnB Snx. Washington, Dec. 23. President Wilson's proclamation returning tho railroads to their owners on March 1 sets at rest tho most pressing concern regarding them and already Its effects are observable in a shifting of Interest from tho White House to tho Capitol, where the conferees are at work on the reorganization legislation. Tho roads aro to go bade to their owners, but their futuro in private management will depend on the legis- lation that will bo enacted beforo that date. It is agreed that tho conferees' task will bo a good deal simplified In view of the certainty about the Presi- dent's Intentions. There will be less necessity henceforth to consider tho possibility that the President might disapprove particular features of tho legislation and for that reason veto It So long as the President had not an- nounced his intentions with the final- ity now expressed various interests have been able to insist, with or with- out real basis,- that the President would not accept ono kind of legislation or would insist other sort. They may indeed go on insisting, but they will have less capacity to worry the ten men who are trying to hammer tha bill Into the form In which It will be- come law. The relation of labor to tho railroad companies Is conceded to bo one of tha dlfllcult and dangerous features that th new era will have to face early. Because of this the provisions of the new law relating to dealings with labor aro tho centre of greatest Interest. Settlement llasls In S Iff lit. It Is believed by a number of legisla- tors who have been giving close atten- tion to this question that a basis of set- tlement Is already In sight which will bs far less objectionable to labor than the Cummins anti-strik- e provision and yet that wjll give as large protection to the public Interest as Is at present possible. fho House provisions have been criti- cised for setting up an elaborate mechan- ism for dealing with labor troubles, but placing nowhere a definite power to make and enforce orders. On the other hand, tho Cummins proposal of prohibit- ing strikes and setting up' n tribunal with completo power Is protested from the other side as certain to arouso tha bitter antagonism of employees. Be- tween theso extremes a lino of com- promise has been suggested by Senator Lcnroot (Wis.), which the Senate did not accept but which seemed to mako a dis- tinctly favorable Impression on the Housa Interstate Commerco Committee. The House managers, of course, are commit- ted to tho House plan, but If compromise must be reached between the House and the Senate proposals, as now seems likely, the Lcnroot suggestion will bo certain to get serious attention. Senator Lcnroot puts a reverse on the- Cumml.is plan. Instead of forbidding strikes nnd compelling men to work he lets them strike and forbids them to work under certain conditions. He pro- vides a Bcheme of conciliation with the necessary tribunal, but Instead of giving It power to prohibit men from strlklng-h- authorizes It to mako orders under which men who striko In violation of the tribunal's Inclines raav not CO back I to work for-- fixed period In the employ of any carrier In 1 10 country. rreerrcs \Inviolable Ulfflit.\ Thus the \Inviolable right\ of men to strike, as President Wilson has called It, Is preserved, but the man who strikes takes the chance of seeing himself black- listed for a period so long that it will give him pause. He runs no risk of be- ing enjoined by a Federal court and per- haps locked up if he violates the Injunc- tion : but ho does take the chancer of being barred from employment on any raUroad In tho country for a period so long that the loss of t!m'o would at least bo a serious consideration. - The plan Is not by any means uni- versally accepted ns a compromise be- tween House, and Senate Ideas. Senator Cummins (In.), for Instance, protested when he discussed It that It would Im- pose upon labor a more objectionable condition than that of his own antl-strl- project. Ho characterized It as cruelty to tho workers. Ono objection that has been advanced to It Is that any arrangement which In- volves penalizing a considerable number of workers by enforcing Idleness upon them Ifi a tlms when skilled nnd special- ized workers are so scarce as now must havp efct the ,)UD,C au!t0 as serl fla on t),fi nipn ,hcmacVes. Nevertheless. It is believed by many who have been studying this problem of labor adjustment to represent on the whole a medium between tho alleged futility of the House scheme and the drastic character of the Senate proceed- ing. It is discussed widely In both Sen- ate and House, and the House commit tee has questioned benator i.onroot closely about Its workings. Ho has been .itB.ntip'ier ft Lv the flenata's 4
