The Omaha Morning iee s VOL. 52—NO. 160. SSKrtTirt OMAHA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21. 1922. * SJSf«ii_TWO CENTS Louisiana Militia on Feud Case Arrive at Mer Rouge, Sup posedly to Protect Detec tives Dragging Lake for 2 Victims’ Bodies. I Kidnaped After Festival New Orleans, Dec. 20.—Company C5, National Guard of Monroe, has ar rived at Mer Rouge, I,a., and pitched camp, according to a telephone dis patch received hero this morning. Monroe, La., Dec. 20.—The celebrat ed Mer Uouge kidnaping case, which, for four months has Ineffectually tax ed all tif tlie legal machinery of the state of Louisiana in its effort to solve, and moved forward another chapter yesterday when National vX Recen aX* .is on Brit ish B&>°' .^is Give Guns Longer Range Than American Vessels. Officers Are Concerned Washington. Dec. 20.—(By A. P.)— Relative fighting efficiency of British and American battleships at long range, was understood to have been called sharply to the attention of the senate naval committee in con sideration of the pending naval ap propriation bill. Naval officers are known to be greatly concerned on this point, ns the British have vir tually completed post-war moderni zation of their 15-inch gun ships and no start on similar work has yet been made in the American navy. The effect of the British post-war improvements, it was said in naval circles, was to give the entire main British fleet a range of 30,000 yards against a maximum of about 20,000 yards for all American battleships ex cept the Tennessee, California, Mary land, Colorado and West Virginia. In addition, as permitted under the Wash ington treaty, the British ships have been equipped with "blister” anti torpedo construction, and their decks armored against airplane bombs and high-angle fire. Cost About $60,000,000. A rough estimate of the cost of modernizing American ships in the same way, so far as increasing gun elevations and strengthening decks is concerned, is approximately $00,000, 000. In the British program ns much as $4,000,000 is said to have been ex pended on a single ship. When naval estimates wo under consideration in the budget bureau and later before the house appropria tions subcommittee, fi was said, funds were asked by naval officials for a limited beginning this year on making over battleships to be retained under the treaty. The items presented call ed for conversion of coal-burning bat tleships of the 14-inch gun type to oil burners and the installation of five inch antiair craft batteries to replace all present three-inch guns on the big ships. The items went out in com mittee, but there are indications that inure urgent represenatlons are be ing made to the senate. Fuel Change Vital. Change from coal to oil fuel is of vital importance in widening the ef fective radius of action of (lie ships, it was explained by naval ollicials, while substitution of five-inch anti aircraft batteries means using shells with a 50-yard "burst” instead of the 25-yard area covered by three-inch projectiles. In other words, It was said, ”a curtain of fire" against air craft with five-inch guns would need one-half the number of guns in action ; to make it effective. The most striking point to which attention is being directed, however, Is that of long range, big gun fire Opposed to the modernized British fleet today, navy officers have stated, the bulk of the American fleet would face the necessity of closing in five miles under salvo fire before they could bring their own guns to bear. As the British ships are also slightly faster, it is said, the possibility of bringing the entire fleet into action would be negligible. Range of Runs I,united. Older American battleships, as well as the British ships now modernized, were designed and built before the possibilities of aircraft “spotting” were seen. Their guns had a range up to the limit of vision from the spotting tops of the ships, which is 20,000 yards under most favorable conditions. Tests with aircraft, however, have fully demonstrated both In American and British naval opinion, based on war lessons, that fire can be made effective against ships entirely out of sight over the horizon. The British are said to have acted on this know-l edge in making the costly changes necessary to rnise turret guns to a 30 degree firing elevation, as compared do the old 11 or 12 degree maximum. Two Youths Admit They Are Bandits Who Wounded Girl Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 20.— William A. Farr, 10, and Rex Aylett, 21, confessed last night that they were the two bandits who shot and probably fatally wounded Miss Roy lance Fitzgerald, on a road south of here" Saturday night as the culmina tion of a series of highway robberies that have terrorized motorists for months past. Farr fired the fatal shot from a .41 calibre pistol. • He led the officers tonight, following his confession, to a barn near a smelter, where he had hidden the weapon. Farr's confession greatly cleared the situation for the investigators. Aylett had told his story earlier in the day. Farr said tliat he was standing on the running hoard of the stolen automobile, and fired the shot which doctors say will at least cause permanent paralysis of Miss Fitz gerald's limbs. It was Farr, accord ing to his own admission, who fired the shot which narrowly missed an other motorist, when the two motor bandits accosted him on the s^ate highway, a short time before the Fitzgerald shooting. U. S. Settles With S. P. Washington, Dec. 20.—A final set tlement of claims growing out of government operation of the Southern Pacifio railroad system has been com pleted, it was announced today by Director General Davis and the rail road administration. The corpora tion and its subsidiaries received from the government a total of $9,250,000 covering all outstanding accounts in cluding those arising from the guar antee against losses in earnings dur ing the six months after federal con trol terminated. Christmas Greetings Sent to Children by President Harding New York. May 20.—President Hard ing sent Christmas greetings to the children of the United States in the form of a telegram to the Santa Claus association, a national organization, which receives letters written by chil dren to Santa Claus and sees that they are suitably answered. "Merry Christmas to the children of tile United States," the president’s message read. The words were sent by radio to night. to each of the 48 branches of the association in the country. U. S. Judges Will Decide Today on Phone Rates Hearing of Injunction Suit Against State Commission Completed Last Night. Decision in the Northwestern Bell Telephone company's suit to enjoin telephone rates ordered by the state railway cotnmision, effective January I, will be answered by Federal Judges Robert E. Lewis, T. C. Munger and J. W. Woodrough at 10 this morn ing. The state railway commission re cently Issued an order cutting out the 10 per cent surcharge on telephone ex change rates. The order left the North western Bell company's other rev enue practically unchanged. Removal of this surcharge deducts about $300, 000 from the company's revenue a year, it was stated. Would Increase Kates. The Telephone company, in its ac tion, seeks not only to enjoin this order, but to get permission to estab lish increased exchange rates. H. O. Taylor, chairman* of the state railway commission, in defending the commission's ord^r, argued that the operating expenses of the Northwest ern Bell company are higher in Ne braska than in any of the other four states in which the company operates. Ho said the commission i)as ad vised the company to reduce its op erating costs in Nebraska, that he be lieved the company would not do so, and that this decrease should make up any possible deficit in earnings. Experiment on Switching. "e\V allowed (lie company to pay tlio American Telephone and Tele graph company, its present organiza tion, about $200,«00 a year, for the purpose of making experiments,” con tinued Mr. Taylor. "Now the machine switching system has been installed in Omaha at an additional Investiment of $2,000,000, and tlie people of Nebraska are paying for the experiment, rather than the American Telephone and Telegraph company. "The state railway commission lias always stood ready to guard the com pany's rights, and if ut the end of a period of months, the company shows the need of more revenue; that it can't reduce operating costs, we’ro ready to make an order which will bring relief. We are of the opinion that the company will ilnd relief, not in imposing a higher rate, but in a more economical basis of operation.” Charge Expense Different. E. M. Morseman, jr., attorney for the telephone company, argued that the operating expenses differ in dif ferent localities. He denied that the machine switching system is an ex periment, declaring it a great step in (he advancement of telephone effi ciency. Touching op operating ex penses, Mr. Morsman quoted an au thority to show that wages would not decline greatly in the next two years. Presiding Judge Lewis tried to get an agreement between the opposing counsels shortly before the hearing began yesterday morning, so Unit a master to arrive at a new rate sched ule could be appointed. Failing, he expressed a desire to leave for Den ver last night, and insisted that the case be cut ns short as possible. Rail Decision Today. Attorney Morsman argued the case for an hour, Chairman Taylor for about 10 minutes and Earl M. Cline of the attorney general's office for about the same length of time, before an adjournment was taken at 7 last night. No recess was indulged in un til the late adjournment, but Judge Lewis decided it would be necessary' to remain in Omaha until today. A finding on the Burlington-North western-Omaha railroad tax Injunc tion suit also is scheduled to be made by the judges this morning. Suit Started to Test New Illinois Bonus Law Springfield, 111., Dec. 20.—(By A. P.)—A friendly Buit to test the con stitutionality and legality of the Illinois soldiers’ bonus laws was filed in the Sangamon county court todny. Half a dozen objections to the bonus law are raised. It is com plained that the law was not legally passed and that it is unconstitu tional. The proceedings took the form of a petition for injunction against the service recognition board and State Treasurer E. E. Miller to prevent any further activity in carrying out pro visions of the 155,000.000 soldiers’ bonus. They were filed by Dr. Elmer E. Ilagler, president of the Spring field Chamber of Commerce and father of two soldiers in the world war. Fourth Member of Box Car Gang Convicted at Beatrice Beatrice, Neb., Dec. 20.—(Special.)— A jury In the district court tonight brought a verdict, finding Eou Me Cowif guilty of burglarizing the mer chandise store at Kinney last August. Frank Vicars and Melvin Stanley, two other members of the gang, were found guilty last week of burglarizing a Union Pacific boxcar, and the fourth, Sam Parker, has pleaded guilty. Hurry Up With More Rope w/A vW rWr-"* v 1 Royalty Oil Bid of Sinclair Firm Accepted by Fall Program to Place Salt Creek Product on Parity With Midcontinent Field Completed. Washington, Dec. 20.—Acceptance of a bid of thg'Slucluir Crude Oil Pur chasing company for purchase of all royalty oil accruing to the govern ment in the next five years from the Salt Creek field, in Wyoming, was an nounced by Secretary Fall of the De partment of the Interior. This transaction, he said, marks the successful completion of his program to place Salt Creek crude oil on a price parity with similar oils from the mid continent field and will bring the gov ernment 70 to 90 cents more a laurel for this royalty oil than was received, under a contract with the shipping board. The price differential between the two fields, which has averaged 67 cents a barrel for the last five yars and now amounts to 70 cents a barrel in oil of less than 37 degres gravity and 90 cents a barrel on oil of better than 37 degrees, is wiped out, as far sa the government is concerned, by the Sinclair contract, Mr. Fall declared. The price range in the midcontinent field is from $1.40 to $1.60 a barrel, and at the present rate of produc tion, the 'government receives 90,000 barrels of royalty oil daily from the Salt Creek field. This oil will be sold at midcontinent prices to the Sinclair company and the proceeds devided, as provided by law, 52 >4 per cent go ing to the reclamation service, 37'4 per cent to the state of Wyoming and 10 per cent to the United States trea^ fcury. The secretary said he expected the production from the field to in crease materially during the life of the contract. Thirteen firms competed for the con tract. The Sinclair Crude Oil Pur chasing company was described as one of the largest purchasers of crude oil, in the midcontinent field and the acceptance of its bid was said to mark its entry into the Wyoming field on a large scale. 22 Arrested at Brooklyn Navy Base in $1,000,000 Theft New York, Dec. 20.—Twenty-two civilian employes at the Brooklyn navy base were arrested today on in dictments returned several months ago by a federal grand jury, charging that government property to the value of more than $1,000,000 had been stolen since the war. The arrests were made by agents of the Department of Justice. The grand jurors indicted 23 men ufter its investigation of the alleged wholesale thefts which the authori ties said included clothing, oil and various other materials used at the navy base. The 23d man under in dictment was not found at the naval base today. Acting Governor Refuses Illinois Requisition Uneoln, Dec. 20.—(Special.!—Act ing Governor Barrows denied the re quest of the governor of Illinois to hand over for trial in the courts at Quincy of William Perry Johnson of Lincoln, whose wife accuses him of abandonment. Johnson was able to convince the governor that his wife had left him and had refused to live either in Alliance or Lincoln, where he had good jobs. The governor said that as Johnson had a divorce suit pending in this county, ot which no tice had been served on the wife, she had a full opportunity to pre sent her grievance in that tribunal Day’s Activities in Washington Announcement whs made that ths Department of Justice was prepar ing to tile a suit against the Wright Martin Aircraft corporation to re cover a $3,001,715 war claim. Hearings by tiie house judiciary committee on the Keller impeach ment charges neared conclusion with the examination of Department of Justice officials who refuted them. Republican leaders decided to de fer further consideration by the house of the Green resolution pro posing a constitutional amendment to prohibit issuance of tax exempt-secur ities. Representative Upshaw, democrat, Georgia, in a speech in the house, called on high federal and state gov ernment officials to "sacredly de clare” they would not drink bootleg liquor. Federal reserve banks were auth orized to purchase or rediscount bankers' acceptances of six months maturity drawn by growers of staple agricultural products or co-operative marketing association. A Dill was introduced in the senate by Chairman Wadsworth of the mili tary affairs committee, authorizing the War department to sell nearly 50 pieces of property not needed for military purposes and located In 20 different states. Longer Term Credits Extended to Farmers Washington, Dec. 20.—Bankers ac ceptances of six-months maturity drdwn by growers of stapl* agricul tural products or co-operative mar keting associations, are eligible for purchase or rediscount by the federal reserve banks, under a ruling promul gated today by the federal reserve board as a step in the direction of longeruerm credits for agriculture. Officials declared the decision which makes the agricultural paper eligible for rediscount for six months Instead of three, "should be of material as sistance to co-operative marketing as sociation in financing the orderly marketing of crops." Acceptance of six months have been asked for by many agricultural organizations and the longer period is believed by officials to more nearly according with the turnover period re quired by the farmers to market crops Cor whose production he has borrow ed money. The ruling requires that the accept ances he secured by warehouse re ceipts covering the products against which the acceptances afe drawn. It is in line with a policy announced some time ago by the bourd which made eligible for rediscount accept ances drav a to finance domestic stor age of commodities pending market ing. Agricultural Budget Bill Is Taken Up by House Washington, Dec. 20.—The agricul- ; tural appropriation bill currying $68, 781,553, including $32,000,000 for road construction under the federal hlgn way act, was taken up today by the house. The good roads appropriation represents an Increase of $22,000,000 over last year's figures, and the bill as a whole calls for $21,852,000 more than was appropriated a year ago. Itepublican Deader Mondell said It was planned to pass the interior, agricultural and postoffice bills be fore January 1. If this program is adhered to. the army bill will be the only big supply measure pending after the first of the year. Two Women Die of Burns from Flaming Oil Grandmother, 74, and Her Granddaughter Die When Gaspline Pan Explodes on Kitchen Stove. Mrs. Alice Emily Sharp, 74, and her granddaughter, Lola Belle Sharp, 24, were burnod to death in their home, half a mile from Underwood, la., about 13 miles from Council Bluffs, Tuesday afternoon. This is the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Sharp, parents of the younger worn an. They were washing and the older A$rs. Sharp was doing some dry cleaning. It is said she placed the pan of gasoline on the kitchen range meaning to warm it. The gasoline exploded, drenching the two women with flaming oil. They ran from the kitchen to the back yard where they were seen by Mrs. John Sharp and ne.ghbors who tried to extinguish the flames which enveloped them. Before this could be accomplished both were terribly burned. The older woman died at 9:30 Tues day night and her grown daughter at 2:30 yesterday morning. Suryiving the elder woman are her son, Juhn, and these four brothers: John Dunn of Spencer, Ind.; George Dunn of Council Bluffs, James Dunn of Hitchcock, S. D., and Ben Dunn of Logan, la. The young Woman is survived by her parents and a brother, LeKoy. Butler Nomination Blocked bv Norris S' Washington, Dec. 20.—Action by the senate' on the nomination of Pierce Butler, St. Paul attorney, to be an associate justice of the United States supreme court was again "locked today by an objection to con sideration. Senator Norris, republi can, Nebraska, was understood to have entered the objection but Chair man Nelson of the judiciary commit tee wa.s said to have served notice that he would call up the nomination again Thursday. No Trace of Bandits Who Robbed Mint at Denver Denver, Colo.. Dec. 20.—Tracing down an endless number of supposed l clues without result and investigat j ing scores of reports given to them 1 by residents of Denver end vicinity of suspicious looking characters or automobile parties, the Denver po lice nearly 48 hours after the rob bery of $200,000 from federal reserve bank employes seemingly are without ! definite Information as to the Identity I of the robbers. U. of C. Students Ordered Not to Motor for 6 Months 1 Berkeley. Cal.. Dec. 20.—Four stu- I dents of the University of California ' who pleaded guilty to charges of ex ceeding the speed limit have been sen tenced to remain out of automobiles for six months. The Weather Forecast. Thursday fair and warmer. Hourly Temperatures. ft U. Ill.f I 6 a. in...16 7 a. m.14 H a. m.rt 0 a. m.13 10 a. m.IS 11 a. in.16 13 noon. ... . . .30 1 P. m. .23 3 P- m. 2J ! * P- m.27 i 4 p. m.28 5 p. .27 j 8 p. nt.27 I 7 p. Ill.28 | 8 p. .Uj Arbuckle Will Return to Screen Film Comedian Given Chance by Arbiter of Picture In* dustry to Ke^ain Place He <)nce Held. Conduct Reported flood I,os Angeles, Dec. 20.—Ttoseoe Ar buckle, rotund comedian, burred from the screen since last April because of his encounter with (he lnw, was today restored to the privilege of com ing buck to the place lie once occu pied in his Industry, If he can. Will II. Hays, head of tlie picture indus try, announced that all restrictions against the actor were to end Jan uary 1. The Famous Players I-asky corpora tion, which distributed Arbuckles’ pic tures, announced that no effort would be made at present to market some films that were shown or others that were never released. Joseph Schenck, producer, said he would employ Ar buckle und the latter said he was thankful for (ho chance to work and would strive to make good. Mr. Hays issued a brief statement* saying ho felt every man w»as entitled to his chance and tlmt film industry not only wanted to live and let. live, but it wanted to live and help live. Kntillril to Chance, Mr. Hays said: "Every man in the right find at the proper time Is en titled to his chance to make good. It is apparent that Roscoe Arbuckle'S conduct since his trouble merits that chance So far ns I am concerned there will be no suggestion now that he should not have his opportunity to go to work in bis profession. "in our efforts to^ develop a com plete cooperation with the industry. I hope we can start the new year with no yesterdays. Hive and let live is not enough; we will try to live and help live. "It bsenme known apart from the Br|pf formal utterances that certain definite features figured in the action that will allow Arbuckle another op portunity to make good. “Completely Chastened.** "First, perhaps, was the fact that lie seems completely chastened and that his conduct since he was barreil from the screen last April apparently lias been excellent. "Then, too, the action was taken In the spirit of Christmas and It was believed that fullest co-operation in all branches of the motion picture industry would lie best advanced by clearing the slate ns far as possible. Made (lean Pictures. "Again it is known that Arbuckle never made a picture to which any exception could possibly betaken, and he never will. His pictures were not high art, of course, hut they were always clean and they brought laughs to millions. “Still against It was felt that in as much that a jury acquitted him from the charges upon which he was tried, he is constitutionally entitled to the right of any citizen—especially to the right of working at anything he knows how to work at. “No plans are in contemplation for the release of the three comedies in which Arbuckle appeared before his trial and which have since been held up, and the action now taken does not in any way concern the release of the flints.” Bank Bandit Dressed as Woman Wounded Dyer, Ind., Dec. 20.—(By A. P.)— Three bandits this afternoon held up the First National bank of Dyer and escaped with $5,000. One bandit, who was dressed as a woman, was shot by John Keilmnn, a grocer, and apparently mortally wounded. The bank was robbed a year ago in tho same manner by bandits who got $12,500. William Gettier, a bookkeeper, was alone in the bank when the man in woman's clothes entered and covered him with a revolver, then signalled to the other two, who came in and cleaned out ail tho money In the vault. As the trio turned to run to their automobile, Gettler stepped on a bur glar alarm uder the counter. In answer, merchants along the street armed themselves and opened fire. The bandit in woman's clothes fell with blood spurting front a wound in his chest. Tito other two paused long enough to throw the man’s body into the tonneau of their touring car and then sped west, with a quickly organized posse In pursuit. Madumoiselle Sorcl Says She Fairly Adores America Havre, Dec. £(*.—Madamolselle Morel, Ihe French actress, arriving hero to day from New York on the steamer Paris, said she "fairly adored” Americans, individually and collective ly. "I especially liked Bostonians,” she said. "Boston is the soul of America. New York is admirable, but I'll stick my ground on Boston.” Informed that Madame Pa quin had said that her annual dress bill of a half million francs was 10 times too much. Mademoiselle Morel denied that she had ever maintained such an ex penditure was necessary "except for a very unusual woman.” Ship Bill Supporters Blocked. Washington, Dec. 20.—Futile ef forts were made again in the senate today by supporters of the adminis tration shipping bill to bring to a vote the question of whether that meusuro should remain before the senate or be displaced by Norris* agricultural financing measure