The Omaha Daily Bee VOL. 51 NO. 220. I InlU ClW M.IW Ml, It, IkM 1 , A. Weoaj M4 at 1 4t. OMAHA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1922. r Mail fit MOM IM tit , Ml . U M )! Ik M t rMIt Mix M till ). M. TWO CENTS Commission on Contracts Given County Officials, Claimed by & State Engineer at Investigatio r JV T which demand tl i tdunty officials keep J irnt spent on va J projects. Douglas counties ire the Lincoln. Feb, 28. (Special Tele gram.) Developments the first day of the Hte road and bridge probe authorised by the special session of 'he legislature were: State Engineer George Johnson charged that Nebraska county and township officials have acted as agents (or road machinery, culvert und material firm, receiving com missions from such firms on pur ihases made by the counties or tywnship.. Attorney General Clarence A. Dais charged that only two coun ties In the entire state had com plied with a law in efTect since 1917, at responsible records of every nous county road and Lancaster only two which have complied with the law, Davis charged. ' i Johnson, in his report submitted to the probe ' committee, declared that in some instances companies laised prices quoted to counties after having- guaranteed commission to county official. Many Ncmes Given. "v Names of numerous officials in Ne braska are given in connection with the charges made by Johnson in the anoended reoort. In rome cases, the 'deal was put through by means of appointing a father, brother or otner rnlative of the official or agent for the company seeking to land the county or township business. "V. C. O'Brien, clerk of Highland township, Adams county, placed an order with B. C. Larrabee, salesman lor the Galion Iron Works and Manufacturing company," says the report, "and at the bottom of the order page Larrabee says there is a commission on the order payable to V. C. O'Brien, Juniata." - speakingof the report, engineer said: . - cent of all the road counties during the has been done with en furnished by this 1 m r an UP CY idea Increase. ures sent out by onald, chief of the roads, show that foot for road ex- ka is lower than WMtesouri mile of earth ebraska than in Iowa, South ua- Colorado. Lost ads is also lower states. ' Cost ot ds is about the 'rt details the ebraska mo- tansa: not. Wyoming oer mile of pravel r here than in other constructing "Uv r ' same as in otheKtatel Mr. Johnsons W . :h...hcp in tor vehicles from 25,6 iV " 243,198 today, and addS: 'It is im . possible to conceive whilt tht roads .. i.. rAer this tr&ffic if the counties had not received state aid." i.r- a rnmtianson ,..r,rk Hone bv the countiesand by the state road department. Split Over Road. , of the day I was .pent by the committee in endeaW ing to unscramoie road conditions county. . . . . n . T O. anroyer. a ciu, wr nrrinrf. Richardson county commissioner,, admitted at the be ginning that the county had been split for years as to the location of a mam traveled road, and finally it became Johnson's duty to determine (Tn to T Two. Column Two.) Governors to Debate ' on Waterway Project Report Filed by State Engineer in Road Probe Some County Officials Hivt Criti cised This Deportment Very Se verely for Requesting the Legisla ture to Pass the Equipment Bill House Roll 5541921 Session of the Legislature. We recommended this bill for the reason that, while we feel that a large per cent of the county officials were honest and doing their best to get the most for the money expend ed, a few were not on the square and for that reason we considered that the purchase of equipment should not be made until bids were received and a price established. The enemies succeeded in having all of the pen alty clauses stricken from the bill before it passed, and for that rea son it is inoperative. To substantiate our claim that such laWvas necessary, we here with submit for your consideration certain official reports of the pro ceedings before the federal trade commission showing the method of conducting business by certain ma chinery and material firms with county and township officials in this and other states. There seems to be a tendency on the part of certain county and town ship officials to act as agents, either on a salary or commission basis, for such machinery, culvert and ma terial firms doing business in Ne braska. The records in Kearney county disclose that Christian Hove, a member of the county board, sold road machinery and culverts to the county during 1921. We are in formed that he is still representing the Galion Iron Works & Manu facturing company and serving as a member of the county board. A Few Instances. A township official in Waco town ship, York county, Charles Apple gate represented, the Galion, Iron Works & Manufacturing company during 1919 and 1920. and sold cul verts and road machinery to the township of which he was a mem ber. , Township officials of Rockvillc township and Ashton township, Sherman county, sold culverts' and road machinery to the township, while serving as members of .. the township board. We are informed that J. P. For sythe, a member of the county board of Knox county, sells lumber and culverts to the county. The above are but a few of the instances coming to our notice wiere officials act as agents' or sell to the county or township. Other methods are used such as the -appointment of the father, brother, brother-in-law, or some other relative as the local agent throuorh whom sales are consumated. These conditions are entirely too prevalent in this state and such methods should not be allowed to continue, and should be strongly Vvnuciiiiitu ou "v i. w f - - Vail We wish to especially call your attention to Docket ho. 4o6, 1-edera! Tade commission against Gabon Iron : Works - and Manufacturing COl.Vinanv. ge 18 shows that W. u enen, cleric of Highland township. Adams coulitv. olaced an order with r. u Larlabee, salesman. At the bottom of tile page, Mr. Larrabee makes the . - ; statement that there is a commission " Washington.' Feb. 28. Governors j Q thei order. Page 19 shows that v,thaniel L Miller of New iorK(tms commission is payable to W. U, id Henry J. Allen, ivansas, m - j j uncir or jumna, mu. in pvrrai nunaicu ucivj V- ii ...i!nc nf the country, arc Following U the report of State Engineer George John ton, tiled today with the special road investigation commit tee of the state legislature, in which he charges that county and township officials of Nebraska have committed irregu larities in connection with road contracts: refer to it. Have Mr. 1'abrr to make check out for $30, mark it the scrambled in Richardsi Potash MeiliGreat Throngs n. a . ! ii as rnncess f jvinsler I)tlarr McWiorter and As Kociatrs Took $136,000 in Alleged Fraudulent Promotion. Says C ompany Robbed ..j v.. nrpsent at the open- Ixy:.A iv v- r , 17,1, 1B meeting tomorrow of the hnual convention oi uic livers and Harbors congress when latters pertaining to' waterways iu- hovements ana snipping ics'"u 'e brought tip for discussion. : Governor Alien arnvea iou-y Lnt tnmc time in conference with Lmt,r. rtf rons-ress from his state La a;t h. was ready for the de late with Governor Miller on the 5t. Lawrence river project, stucu- 1.1mA fnr tomorrow. Governor Allen has said mat nc t,-i;,-.4 h Sk Lawrence river l,,,11 he widened and improved to enable shipping of the Great Lakes to pass to the Atlantic ocean that mute: while Governor Mil ler has been a strong advocate of h rWelooment of the New York state barge" canal from Buffalo to Albany, so that shipping from the Great Lakes may pass down the Hudson river to the Atlantic, thus permitting American shipping to uti lize what he termed essentially . American waters. San Francisco Business Men Favor Light Wines and Beer San Francisco, Feb. 28. More than 93 per cent of the members of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce favored the modification of the Volstead act to permit the use of beer and light wines, in re sponses received today to a post -r Tfrndnm: About 2.600 replies nor received. The Chamber of an , Have Paid Them. I Paee 21 shows that an order was placed wirh Mr. Larrabee by S. F. Weeks, Scotia, Neb. Page 22 shows that Mr. Weeks was at the time county commissioner ot Greeley county, ebraska. rage a states: Have made Arrangements here witn a very influential man to turn over everything our way for 5 per cent on graders an 10 per cent on cul vert pipe. TKey won't " purchase anything but our line. 1 hope you will approve of this arrangement. HAVE PAID THEM." At bottom of page 23, Mr. Ljarrabee's daily re port shows tnat hs paid expenses oi county board of Greeley county to see grader at Kearney, bought their meals, cigars, and sriow tickets. Paee 26. shows that Herman Wahl purchased an eight-foot grader for Saline county. rage 27 shows that Mr. Wahl was county commis sioner of Saline county, living at Western, Neb. Page 38 reads: "Enclosed you will find an order from Herman Wahl for a Sfcindard Premier grader. Mr. Wahl is going to set it up and demonstrate it him self, and if he does he is to receive $50 when the machine is settled for. So please make a notation of this; so that when time for settlement comes there will be no question about it You will notice that I have added $25 to the price and charged him the freight" Page 30 reads as follows: "Please refer to my letter of April 9 in regard to Herman Wahl setting1 up and demonstrating tne no. o eng. grader. Mr. Wahl has accom plished the fact of setting up and demonstrating this machine so tht $50 C. M. issued is due him. Now jvty, rnmmmt includes practically of the leading business men of tht when voir gel this letter take the let- done by iter of April 9 out of the file, and demonstrator hire and expenses and I will put this item in my next ex pense book after receiving the check. Please see to this at once." Another Simitar Deal. You will see at the bottom of page JO and top of page 31, the statement: "While I sm writing this letter, I want to make notation to you of another similar deal. There is a commission of 10 per cent due a blacksmith in Beaver Crossing, on the M. Twp. Seward county deal. When this grader is demonstrated I will make the settlement at the time and they the commission and charge it in my expense book as indicated above, unless I hear further from you." Page 33 states: "You are hereby authorized to ship on or about Rush, or as soon as possible thereafter to Mr. J. A. Witter at Feaver Crossing, countv of Seward, state of Nebraska, on C. & N. W. railroad for "M" township, No. 10 Premier with extra blade 20 ft cable. (Note on side) Name of Cor responding Official J. A. Witter. P. O., Beaver Crossing. Order taken by P. McDonald." Regular meeting dates. Page 35 shows that J. A. Witter was township clerk at the time. Page 36 shows that Mr. McDon ald made a collection of Mr. W. C. Grotr, payable to Carl Sheep, for $827.55: also statement at bottom of letter: "In his letter, Mr. Aif Donald states 'I took care of the extra expenses on this deal and will charge it up in hnal settlement. Please advise us to what he refers. Signed Galion Iron Works & Mfg. Co.. by Credit Manager." Also wish to refer you to Docket 430, Federal Trade Commission vs. Russell Grader Manufacturing com pany. - - '- " r - Pages 8 and 9. paragraph 5, bill of stipulations reads as follows: "That in the course of its business of manu facture and selling road machinery and similar products in said com merce in and among the states and territories of the Unted States, the respondent, Russell Grader Manu facturing company, has, in many in stances, paid a commission through a commission contract for the sale of its products in the usual form, with firms or corporations of which a pub lic official was then a member, and that thereby, in many instances, sales or its products through the service of such firm or corporation in co operation with such official have been actually effected by respondent, for and on behalf of the particular county, township or municipality with which such member of said firm or corporation has been or then was officially connected, and that respon dent has. also, in many instances where a public official has been en gaged in his community in the sale of machinery or some kindred line of business, retained such official for the sale of its products in such com munity; and thereby respondent has, in many instance, been enabled through the services of such official, to sell its product to the governing body of which he was then a mem ber, and has paid th regular dealer's commission for such service." Because of the above stiplation of facts, the copies of orders and claims paid to the individual county officials wer not introduced as eviueucc; however, we understand that this evidence is on file with the federal trade commission. In the fall of 1919, the Kearney county board bought a small Hart Parr tractor, through a supervisor as agent. This tractor was used some on the road in the fall of 1919. The following spring the county board asked our division engineer to approve this purchase and reim burse the county from the state highway maintenance fund. The division engineer refused to approve the claim, and discovered that the tractor the county was using was an old tractor, and after securing the factory number of the tractor purchased it was found that the county did not have the tractor that had been shipped by the company. The tractor which had been paid for was located on the farm of the coun ty supervisor at Axtell. He had taken the new tractor and turned an old one over to the county, which was of the same model. As soon as this suoervisor found that he was in trouble, he settled with the coun ty for the tractor and tendered ms ri-sicrnation as a member of the board, which was accepted. State Has Assisted Counties in Greater Part of Work Done by County Commissioners. We wish to especially call your attention to the fact that 90 per cent of all of the road work done by the counties during the past two years has been done with equipment and men organized and furnished by this department and that we have advised with the counties and furnished service on all such work, and when considering county road I work in comparing same with wor this department we re- in London Pay Homage Mary and Viscount Are Wed Mighty Ovation Given Couple as Chimes of Westminster Cathedral Announce Union. Wartime May 1, 1918. The pot ah bubble at its height. Five con spirators hatch a scheme to convert a $10,000 blarkimithing supply com pany into a $1,000,000 potah con cern. They sell stock, pocketing 5200,000 at the very outset, and $30 cut of every $100 thereafter. Remit: 753 stockholders are out $4.M.000. This is the graphic description of the origin and short-lived career of the William Berg Potash company as outlined by J. C. Kinslrr, United States district attorney, in his open ing statement yesterday to the jury which is to try the alleged stock fraud case in federal court. One Defendant Dead. The conspirators he named are I William A. McWhorter, W. G. Chip ley, Charles Wohlberg. Jacob Masse and Charles L. Dundy, now dead. The prosecutor charged McWhor ter was the "moving spirit of the sell t me to defraud." He also re ceived the biggest part of the spoiU, according to Kinsler. "In one division of $190,000, Mc Whorter got $58,000 and the others only $38,000 apiece," he asserted. Anticipating argument for the de fense that the potash concern might not have failed if the war had not ended so soon, Kinsler told the jury the potash concern was "like a strong man with his heart cut out. He dies." "Robbed Company Blind." "These men robbed the company blind while they were selling the stock. It died before it was born February, 1919." Organization of two subsidiary companies, the William A. WcWhor ter & Co. and the Neb-Ota com pany, were further artifices to de fraud, Kinsley outlinedCHe described other- hokus-pokus and stock-sell ing legerdemain, among them op tions lor acquiring leases on potash deposit lakes in western Nebraska on a royalty basis, without paying one cent, then turning the worthless Options over to the Berg company for a consideration of $100,000, $70, 000 of which was paid in cash. The first play' of the conspir ators was to vote themselves $200, 000 in stock without any considera tion, then to sell the stock and pocket the money, he said. . t r' . . engineer may oe witness. The names of A. L. Kriess, en gineer and general manager of the proposed plant at Merriman, Neb.; one Collins, and one La Flesche, who shared in, stock, gifts, were mentioned. Kriess will be the chief government witness, it is under stood. " J. M. Parsons, chief counsel for the defense, asked the jury to bear in mind what the potash situation was at the time the company was in its heyday. "Potash was bringing 6 to 22 per cent profit at the time. It bore promise of 50 to 100 per cent profit a month, if the war lasted. A mis take in business judgment does not mean , an intent to defraud." Newspapermen in whose publica tions Berg stock-selling advertise ments appeared in August, 1918, were the first witnesses called to the stand. Trial will be resumed at 9:30 this morning. State Senator Randall in Race for Governor London. Feb. 28-(By A. P.) Princess Mary, only daughter ot King George and Queen Mary, wis married todiy to Viscount Lascelles, with all the pomp and dignity befit ting a royal wedding. The ceiemony began in Westmin ster Abbey at 11:30 o'clock and soon thereafter the couple were pro nounced man and wife, while the chimes of Westminster rang out the happy message and vast crowds gave tumultuous greeting. The scene of the ceremony with in the historic vails of the abbey was one of impressive grandeur, with the king and queen and the en tire royal household participating and with all ranks represented in the brilliant assemblage, while outside London, Feb. 28. (By A. T.) The appearance of a black cat under the gates of Buckingham palace early this morning was hailed as an omen of good lurk for the princess by the people as sembled there. The crowd, con sisting mainly of women and chil dren, cheered the animal lustily. United in Marriage (Tu-n la rf Eight, Cslnmm Ok. f Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 28. (Special.) C H- Randall of Randolph filed today for the republican nomination for governor. He is the third en trant, others being Adam McMullert of Beatrice and A. H. By rum of Bloomington. Randall has been a state senator two terms. He was a member of the legislative committee which per fected the civiL administrative code legislation and is expected to defend J the plan in his campaign. the abbey enthusiastic popular hom age was given the bridal pair. The long-awaited day found Lon don crowded with excursionists from all parts of the isles and the conti nent. Americans also were in evi dence, hundreds having made the voyage to gain a glimpse of the great state function High Prices for Seats. . All these, augmented by native Londoners, most, of whom took the day off. crowded into every niche about Buckingham palace, along the Mall, in Trafalgar square, down Whitehall and in the precincts of the parliament buildings and the abbey. Many paid high priees for seats in stands or even standing room in windows along the way. Hours before the wedding there were overflows of humanity in every street transversing the route of the wedding party. Some, bringing blankets and food, made certain ot seeicg their ptinocss- by keep?iig-all-night possession of carefully chosen positions. At 8:4o o clock, vehicular traffic was diverted from the streets be tween the palace and the abbey by a force of 8,000 blge-coated and white gloved police, who lined the royal way crowding watchers back to the curbings. .The arrival of the guests, who had to be in their places by 10:30 o'clock, was the first reward for the occupants of the gaily-flagged stands. Gorgeously Gowned Women. Only motors and carriages bear ing ticket holders were permitted to pass the police lines. The convey ances put down at the abbey doors streams of gorgeously-gowned wo men, myriads of diamonds, sapphires and other precious stones flashing from their tiaras?" necklaces and bracelets. Their escorts were resplendent-in service dress or the velvet breeches, white silk stockings and three-cornered hats of court Te galia. Members of the diplomatic corps were shown their seats by the master of ceremonies. Outside Buckingham palace, and a few moments later, about the abbey, military guards of honor took up their positions, forming a line in front of the police, , their tall fur shakos and scarlet and white uniforms mak ing a brilliant spectacle of the mile and a half of thoroughfan Two - thousand of the king's life guardsmen and territorials, were pa raded for this duty. With them were their four bands, which entertained the crowds until, at 11 o'clock, trum peting from the mounted escort her alded the departure of the two car riages from Marlborough house, car rying Queen Mother Alexandra and Princess Victoria, with . the queen's suite. Deafening Crescendo. Alexandra was accorded a mo dicum of the applause and cheering which the crowds were reserving for the bride. As the carriage rolled by the guardsmen snapped to "present," giving the royal salute, and the bands blared the queen mother's anthem. There was a one-minute interlude, then from Buckingham palace, at the end of the Mall, trundled the three carriages of Queen Mary, the duke of York and Ptinces Henry and George. , Cheers for these members of the royal family bad scarcely abated among the elbowing masses now tip toeing in their expectancy, when from that portion of the route near est the palace door yard, the cheers swelled to a deafening crescendo as the gilded glass coach bearing the Trincess Mary and her father rum bled through the bronze gates. Before the coach and the two trailing carriages bearing the prin cess ladies in waiting and the king's attendants had reached the entrance to the Mall, the cheering had spread half way down the avenue. The band's rendition of "God Save the King" was unheard in the wild tumult. The sound of the hoofs of the bays drawing the historic Irish state coach and those of the sover eign's mounted escort also were drowned in the cries and applause. The coach, which derives its name from the place where it was built, lias a high seat with spacious plate flafs sidrs, through which the fea- (Turn l Ff Tour, Columo One." 0 j A i fci'A -sve, I t W'siL : " &v i ' v4 V"- ' , , i Princess. ' 0 Viscount Lascellctf' On "Honeymoon Special" Royal Newlyweds Board Non-Stop Train Bound - for Shifnal, Shropshire War Veterans Guard Pah; . . ' " London, Feb. 28. (By A. P.) Princess Mary's "honeymoon spe cial" was prepared to leave London with the bride and bridegroom for Shifnal, Shropshire, at 4 o'clock this afternoon. The railway officials arranged a nonstop journey. It was planned to have the 138 miles being covered at an average speed of between 50 and 60 miles an hour, the train only slow ing down at important centers to let the crowds obtain a fleeting glimpse of the couple. "Princess Mary" was the name of the locomotive assigned to draw the train, which consisted of the queen's salon and two other carriages from from the royal train. It was planned to have no other occupants aboard the train except the couple s maid and valet and railway officials. . The little village of Shifnal is densely, packed with visitors and sightseers from surrounding districts, and the station has been gaily deco rated. It has been arranged that the youngest "Mary" in Shifnal shall present a bouquet to the princess im mediately after the latter has alight el from the train. Along the five-mile route from the Shifnal station to Weston park, the residence of the earl of Bradford, where the couple spend the first part of their honeymoon, a guard of honor formed by ex-service men will be stationed. A suite of rooms i:t Weston hall has been set aside for the couple's use. The princess' boudoir is fin ished in sage green and gold and in it is much old china, principally Dresden. Texas Panhandle Is in Grip of Big Snow Storm Amanllo, Tex., Feb. 28. The Pan handle plains region, embracing eastern New Mexico and Panhandle of Texas is in the grip of one of the worst snow storms of years. Snow began falling Sunday night and still continues with no prospect of ceasing. The fall at Amarillo this morning at 7 o'clock was four and a half inches, with a -temperature of 4 degrees above rero. Cold in Rockies. . Denver, Colo.,. Feb.: 28. A cold, high pressure area extended over "the entire Rocky mountain region today, . bringing in its wake general below normal temperatures ranging from a; few degrees above zero to 32 degrees 'below at Mites City, Mont., which is the coldest point in the . country today. An area of zero temperatures prevailed over the mountain section and as far east as western Kansas, according to , the local ; weather bureau. ; " . Temperatures ranging from 20. de grees to 30 degrees below normal prevail in eastern Montana and North Dakota. The cold snap in the Rocky mountain region ' is accom panied by snow, , . . 9,000 Cases of Influenza Reported in California Sacramento, Cal., Feb. 28. More than 9,000 cases of influenza in Cal ifornia for last week have been re ported to the state board of health, it was announced today by Dr. Wal ter M. Dickie, secretary of the board, who, however, expressed the opinion that the epidenvc was reach ing its "peak." Daughter Would Succeed . Father in Seat in Congress Springfield, 111.-, Feb. 28. Mrs. Winifred Mason Huck of Chicago today filed her petition as a candi date for congressman-at-large to complete the unexpired term of her late father. William E. Mason. Mrs. Huck is also a candidate in the re publican primary. April 1, for the full concessional term. England Terminates Protectorate in Egypt ' London, Feb. 28. (By A. P.) Prime Minister Lloyd George an nouncen .in tne nouse ot commons this afternoon that the British pro' tectorate over EgvDt has been ter minated and that Egypt was free to work' out such national institutions as might be suited to the aspirations oi us people. : MacNider "Satisfied" After Talk With Harding Washington, Feb. 28. Hanford MacNider, national commander of the American Legion, conferred with President Harding on the bonus sit uation , todav. urcriniT iramwiut m actment of .thesleeislation. Mr.. MacNider and John Thomas layior, legislative agent of the le gion, ! who accompanied the com mander, declared on leaving the White House that they were "per fectly satisfied." There will be no aeiay in tne passage of the soldiers bonus leeislation. the Winn rmrf. sentatives declared, adding that the president "was heart and soul with the American Legion" and that he understood tuily its position. ; Mr. Tavlor SaiH thev riiH nnt. die. cuss with the president any plan for raising the bonus, The Weather ' Forecast. . Wednesday fair and wanner. Hourly Temperatures. tn. S 1 . m. S a. m. a. n. 1 m. in. 11 It BHow t P. r. S P. p. S p. p. 7 P. S p. IS n it 13 It 18 13 13 Highest Tuesday. Cheyenne ft! Rapid City 14 Pfcrenoort ...... 51 Silt Lak Ii 1' Santa r ........14 4 Khertdtn II 11 Sioux City 10 Inver Dodr City . Lander North riatt Hi Valentine 1 INeblo 10 fehlpom' Bullrtina. Protect ehlpmenla during the next 14 to Zi houra from t-mperatHree aa fol-Inw-: jrortli. Itj oVRrei blov: eaet aad wcit, I dtirtca below; aoutb, tero. Direct Aid for Marine . Is Urged President Harding Heroin mends Government Pro gram lo AmirI Financ ing Merchant Ship. Endorses Waterway Plan ftntehe. IW l.mil Wire. Washington, Feb. -'8, Direct aid to tne American .Mercnani .Marine a; a cost to the government of at Ira it $15,000,000 for the firt year and ul timately of possibly f.W.OM.000 an nually was recommended by Freri dent Harding in his address to con gress today. The president endorsed, in a gen eral way, recommendations made tu him by the shipping board. Besides direct compensation for America1; vessels engaged in foreign trade, the program involves the sale of govern ment ships at present market value, a construction loan fund of $ 1 25.000, 000 and arious forms of indirect aid. While President Harding esti mated that a maximum expenditure annually for the 10-ycar period, dur ing which it is proposed lo continue the subsidy, would be not more than $30,000,000, provision is made for the creation of a merchant marine fund amounting probably to somewhat more 'than that sum. May Exceed 130,000,000. The merchant marine fund would include 10 .per cent of the annual customs revenue, amounting prob ably to $30,000,000 annually, all of the revenue from tonnage taxes-, amounting to $4,000,000. postal earn ings, amounting to ?4,000,0(X), wlurii would otherwise be paid to American ships, and such money as may be returned to the government from earnings of American ships, in ex cess of 10 per cent, after such ships have belief it-id from the government compensation. On the basis of these estimates the merchant marine fund might amount during the frt year to as much as $38,000,000. Bills prepared by the ''.shipping board and embodying thp admiji'8-' tration recommendations were intro duced bv ReDrescntative Greene of Massachusetts, chairmau of the house committee on mercchaitt ma- ' rine and fisheries, - and by Senator Jones of Washington, chairman of the senate committee on commerce' Opposition Not Expected. The merchant marine committee is expected to report the bill to the house without much delay. Th sen ate committee also is certain to take favorable action. The bills probably will pass in congress at the present session: ' Comments by members of congress indicated that the legislation might . -not encounter quite so much opposi' . (Tura to Fair Four, Column Five.) Free Staters Have 6 Majority in Dail Dublin, , Feb. 28. (Ey A. P.) Shortly after the Dail Eireann re assembled today a division was taken on the ratification of the appoint- . ment of Patrick J. Hogan as dail , minister of Agriculture. The vote was 56 to 50 in his favor. This was the first show of strength between the republicans and free staters, and it was taken as an indi cation that the party led by Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins has a working majority of six. . Appeal to Supreme Court for New Trial for Moonet San Francisco, Feb. 28. An ap peal to the state supreme court was1 taken today on behalf of Thomas T. Moonev. servinar a life sentence in San Quentm prison for murder in connection with the Preparedness day bomb explosion in San Fran- ( cisco in 1916. The appeal contended that the superior, court was in error x last year in refusing to grant Moo ney a new trial on a petition known as audita querela, a procedure which permits invoking of common law pleadings as a ground for the admis-, sion of new evidence after statutory -procedure has been exhausted. Santa Fe Freight Official . Dies in Chicago Hospital Chicago. Feb. 28. W. G. Barn well, assistant freight traffic mana ger of the Santa Fe system, with headquarters in San Francisco, who had been in Chicago attending a meeting of the transcontinental ; freight committee, died today in the German Evangelical Deaconess' hos pital of bronchial pneumonia. Mr, Barnwell for nearly 30 years was identified with the Santa Fe coast lines, comprising all the lines of the Santa Fe system west of Albuquer que, N, M. He was born on April 13, 1865, in Danville, Que. Kansas and Oklahoma Wheat Fields Get Needed Moisture Kansas City, Feb. 28. The great wheat belt of Kansas and Okla homa which needed moisture most, got the very best of last night's snow, which, according to reports reaching the local weather bureau was continuing in many places tOJ day. . , From Dodge City the heaviest snow extended into the Texas Pan bundle, P. Connor, weather fore t caster, said. . l.-l . a....