North Carolina Newspapers

f . 77-7-7 : I iS^iffegp»* »* ,-r, *% -. flit ~ . ~ '"" 'j f „. */r7™ e8 £ erat 'j effor l t ~° I . Bave " h 'K ley ee,at Memphis during the Mississippi river volley Hoods.' 2.—Protessor Charles R, Fay, dean of Tufts college, Boston, delivering the first lecturelnthe college's radio lecture course. 3. Former O. S. Senator S. H. Pjles of Seattle, who has been appointed minister to Colombia. NEWS REVIEW OF CURRENTEVENTS Russians and Germans Almos Break Up the Economic Con ference at Genoa. SIGN TREATY OF THEIR OWN Allies Bar Germany From Chief Com mittee but Neutrals Protest —Fight- ing in Ireland Increases—Little Navy Advocates Are Defeat- r ed in the House. By EDWARD W. PICKARD several days last week It was * thought the Genoa conference was about to break up In a row, but at this writing it appears possible that the trouble will l>e fixed up and the discussion of plans for the economic regeneration of Europe will continue. Germany and Russia precipitated the row, and the formet got most of the blame, the soviet delegate, Tchltch erin, being credited with a clever move. Following up the negotiations begun in Berlin, be and Doctor Ratbenau got together in Uapallo and signed for their respective governments a treaty that anticipates what might be done by the Genoa conference. The two ' countries agree to cancel all war debts, all claims for war damages, and all claims for damages due to the Soviets' nationalizing German property, pro viding Russia does not repay other for eign nations for this nationalization. In the latter case, Germany maintains the right to claim damages. It Is agreed that Germany and Russia rec ognize each other and resume full diplomatic and trade relations, that they treat each other as most favored nations, and that the treaty of Brest- Lltovsk is canceled. Announcement of this [/act brought expressions of Indlgnarft protest from Lloyd George and Barthou, who were seconded rather weakly by Facta of Italy, and more earnestly by Theunys of Belgium and Ishil of Japan. These five statesmen then called In the delegates of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Rumania and Jugo-Slavia and all signed a note to the German delega tion telling of their pained surprise at its action, which they said violated the conditions Germany accepted when she entered the conference, and their decision that as a result Ger many should not be permitted to take part In any future discussions or de cisions relating to Russian affairs. The Germans took this kick rather calmly, and some of them said they would rather leave Genoa than with draw the treaty—a choice which Lloyd George offered them Wednes day. But the neutral nations—Nor way, Sweden. Denmark, Holland, Spain and Switzerland —promptly lined Up against the allies and Joined Rus sia In the defiant statement that Ger many could not lie barred from par ticipation In discussion of Russian af fairs except by full vote of the con ference. This action was actuated both by resentment against the Brit ish premier's attempts to dominate ! ..the conference and by the fear that j In the private conversations that have | been going on In his Genoa villa ar- i rangements would he made with Rus- sin that would prejudice the interests of the snTaller powers. The Russians also Insisted that Germany must sit in all conferences because there were many questions still at Issue between Germany and. Russia. On Thursday, however. Lloyd George said the Ger mans had agreed not to participate in discussions of Russian affairs. D ARTHOC of France held with Lloyd George that the Rnsso-Ger man pact revealed violations of the treaty of Versailles and that the Ger mans must be excluded. He was hacked up to the limit by his govern ment. Premier Poincare sent to the French ambassadors in the allied countries Instrtctfons to Insist that energetic measures be taken and pen alties applied to Germany if the.Ra pallo treaty were not abrogated, re gardless of what the Genoa -confef ence might decide In the matter. He heki that the execution of the treaty I of Versailles must be Insisted upon now. Both the British and the French feel that the Russo-German pact, while nominally economic. Is in reaTit.v political and embodies a dis tinct threat of a complete alliance of the two countries against the entente. It is believed, too, that it would re sult in the commercial suffocation of Poland and perhaps of the other small nations tlmt lie between' Kussia and Germany and 'along the Baltic, and those of the little entente. One thing is evident: Ffttnce's fear that the Genon conference would get into a muddle, and her absolute dis trust of Germany's good faith and good intentions are,, justified. A writer in the Paris L'Eclalr says Germany has sent' 12,000 "shock troops" Into the Ruhr and Is ready for resistance In Silesia, while the soviet armies are threatening the Polish and Uuniantan frontiers. He adds: "There Is no time 1 to lose If we want to avoid war." The nationalist's of Italy are no less alarmed, seeing In the pact prepara tion for a great alliance between Ger many and liussla and probably the entire Islam world and a war fh the not distant future between those pow ers and the allied nations. D LANS are under way for a finan *■ clal conference to tye called by the European banks of issue to dis cuss plans for the regulation of cur rcncy, in which conference the United States Federal Reserve bank will be asked to take part. Meanwhile, great hankers, including J. I'lerpont Mor gan, are arranging to meet In Europe to study the question of an Interna tional loan to Germany to help In the reconstruction of that country, to Im prove her exchange and to assist her In paying the reparations. In view of Germany's repeated refusal to pay, the allied reparations commission virtually has turned that problem over to financial experts. 'TMIE long drawn-out pence negotia tions at Ihilren between Japan and the Far Kasterti republic have been broken off. and Jnpan has de cided to send more replacement troops Into Siberia. The Chita delegates, according to Tokyo official statements, after gaining some of their points, made what the Japanese considered Impossible demands concerning pro tection of lives and property of for eign residents, and the open door, and threatened to quit the conference If these were not conceded. Tokyo thereupon Instructed Its delegates to withdraw. CTILL another peace conference— 'that between the leaders of the Irish factions —does not seem to be accomplishing much, for the fighting In Ireland goes on with Increasing bitterness. De Valera's Easter coup did not eventuate, but one of his ad herents attempted that day to assas sinate .Michael Collins, head of the provisional government, and there were bloody clashes between the re publican and Free State forces, which were continued all through the week. In Dublin the "rebels" occupied the Four Courts and other buildings and engaged In battles with the Collins troops: and In Belfast the Catholics and Protestants killed and burned and looted to their hearts' content. STIRRED by President Harding's dismissal of employees of tlie bu reau of engraving and • printing nml other bureaus, and b» rumors of plans to restrict the operation of the merit ln*v generally, the National Civil Service Reform league railed a conference of all Interested organiza tions and individuals to meet In Wash Ington April 27. That engraving bu reau affair Is causing the administra tion a lot of trouble and the end is not yet. In attempting to explain the Pres'dent's action the official orjran of the Plate Printers' union asserted the country was flooded with millions of counterfeit federal reserve notes and other treasury Issues. This was flatly denied by Secretary Mellon. CHAIRMAN I'AT KELLEY of Mich igan and his cohort of "little navy" men went down to defeat In the house of representatives last week, and if the senate does as It Is ex pected to do the l, T nltei States will be able to maintain a navy of respect able proportions. * In committee of the whole the house by a vote of 177 to 130 adopted the amendment -to the committee bill which provided for an enlisted personnel of 80.000 Instead of 67,000 men. A few days later this was confirmed by a record vote of 221 to 148, and then the bIH was passed awl handed on to the senate. Ninety Republicans voted against the personnel Increase and 48 Democrats supported It. The measure carries a t'jtal appropriation of $251,209,000. which Is .f18.000.000 more than was fixed by the appropriations commit tee. Further increases are expected In the senate. ' ■ ''HE fight of those who believe In adequate national defense Is now centered on tlife army bill. In this the American Legion Is taking active part. National Commander MacNider appearing before the senate appropria tions committee to denounce the house bill which provides for only 115,000 enlisted men. He said: "The American Legion unqualified ly backs up the President, the secre tary of war, and General Pershing In their support of necessary appropria tions for the National Guard, organ ized reserves, reServe officers' train ing corps, and civilian military train ing camps as recommended by the War department, and also" supports the uosltlon that approximately 150.- '*oo men Is. the minimum number needed for the regular establishment to perform its proper mission in our plan of national defense." C OMETIME during the present sea- son the senate will pass soldier bonus legislation. So much was de termined by the Republican senators In caucus by a 3 to 1 vote, and they osked the finance committee to report a hill "within a reasonable time." But they reached no decision as to the form the hill will take. The right of the senate to add any revenue pro visions to the bill passed by the house Is questioned, since the Constitution requires that revenue measures must originate In the house. Republican leaders of both senate and house are again discussing the plan of financing the bonus by the sale of British bonds, and It is understood that If,these are found available through the work of the foreign debt commission, Presi dent Harding, will not object to that method of raising the funds. With this in view efforts are being made to postpone senate consideration of the bonus measure until after the tariff bill has been passed, by which time It Is expected the work of the com mission will be far enough advanced to give assurance that the long-term British securities will be available. CM.OODS and tornadoes have been " playing havoc lp the Middle West. Through much of the Mississippi river valley the rivers and streams have broken their levees and overflowed theli' banks, doing vast damage In many towns and Inundating millions of acres of land. Unseasonably cold weather added to the distress of the people who were driven froiptfyhelr homes. The windstorms were most severe In southern Illinois and south ern Indiana. Several towns were badly wrtWed and about fifty Uvea were lost. 'I II HK two I'ortueneae aviators who started from Lisbon to fly across the Atlantic to firazll In aeveral "Jumps" got aa far os St. Paul's rock, about a thousand miles from the Ctipe Verde islands. but smashed their plane In making the difficult landing there. A new plane will be sent to them* by the Portuguese government to enable tflem to complete their Journey. \I7">MKN from ail parts of the * » Western Hemisphere assembled In Raltlmore. Mil., at the call of the National league of Women Voter* to confer on such subjects as education, child welfare, women In Industry, pre vention of the traffic In women, civil and political status of women and in ternational friendliness. It is hoped the conference will lead to clou* co operation among the women of the entire world. n EPRKBE.VTATIVE BI.AND of In dlana has drafted a bill whlcb authorizes the President to appoint a "coal Investigation agency," composed of the director of the geological sur vey, director of the bureau of mines, director of the census and commis sioner of labor statistics atld srx oth ers to be ''iinfirmed by the senate, It would be given sweeping powers to obtain Information. THE ALAMANCE GLEANER, GRAHAM, N.. C MARCH FIRE LOSS SHOWSJEGHEASE TOTAL IS $476,452 IN STATE COM PARED WITH $718,155 SAME MONTH OF 1921. DAILY FIRE LOSS 515.G82 More Than Half the Entire Loss For March Resulted From One Fire, a Tobacco Warehouse. f v Raleigh. According to the official reports of fires made to Insurance Commissioner Wade, the-North Carolina fire loss for March amounted to $476,452 as com pared with $718,155 for March, 1921. On the other hand, the fire loss of the United States and Canada for March was $39,910,750, it being an In crease, states the Hbmmissloner, of nearl? 40 per cent over March 1921. North Carolina also makes a good comparative showing with the country at large for the first quarter of the year, the aggregate for January, Feb ruary and March being $1,904,097 as against $1,757,155 for the same period of 1921, whereas the United States and Canada fire loss is $107,878,050 as against $89,789,900 for the first quar ter of 1921. There were 166 damage fires during March, against 132 in February; of these"ls fires at 14 points occasioned a loss of $5,000 and over, totaling $335,000, leaving for the other 151 fires $141,452 or an average of less than $1 ,000 each against an average loss for this group of $535 in February and $1,456 in January. The average loss' of the 15 fires in the $5,000 group was $22,500 against $28,960 in February and $36,- 363 in January. The average daily fire loss was $15,882 for March, sll,- 829 for February and $35,000 for Jah uary. More than half of the entire loss for March resulted from only one fire, a tobacco warehouse and stored cotton at Goldsboro, with $241,500 loss. Thrjnj Million For Education. The state of North Carolina will spend this year for educational pur poses the sum of $3,267,200, not in cluding any money raised by the coun ties of the state for school purposes nor any bond money. The sum of $3.267,2f1), as well as a further sum of $345,000 which is appropriated to such institutions as the Caswell Training school, the Stonewall Jackson Train ing school and others not 100 per cent educational In their nature, making a grand total of $3,612,200. comes from the general state fund secured through state levies upon incomes, corpora tions, railroads' etc. Practically every other dtate in the union levies a state-wide ad valorem tax for schools, and there are very few states where the state rate Is less than 75 cents on the SIOO worth of property; and this is in addition to the local county taxes which run the total assessment for school purposes up to $1.25 to $1.50 per SIOO valua tion. Included in the total of $3,612,200 is not only the cost of administration for the state department of education and all appropriations for training ex tension work, the medical examination of children and the support of all state Institution*, but also $832,230 which goes to supplement the county funds of 37 co'jntios of the state in order to assure a six-months term for every school In every county. Each county before participating In the equalization fund Is required, un der an act of the recent legislature, to levy a county tax of not less than 39 cents. If the tax thus levied is not sufficient to provide a six months term for each school, then the defi ciency Is made up by the state board of education. It Is interesting In this connection to note tat, accrding to figures secured from the commissioner of Interral rev enue, there are seven counties In the state whose levy for school purposes Is 30 cents or under There were 24 counties whose levy was 39 cents or less Nine counties have .a rate of 60 cents or more and 27 counties have • rate of 50 cents or more. Investigation of Coal Field*. The North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey has recently obtain ed, through co-operation with the Unit ed States Bureau of Mines. the service of Mr. J J Farbe«, coal mining engi neer of the bureau, to make a study of the methods of mining and prep aration for market of the coal of the Deep River coal basin of Lee. Moore and Chatham counties; also to stury the gases and du*t In the.mines in or der to recommend methods which will reduce to a minimum the hazards of coal mining. Maxwell to Sit on Case With I. C. C. Commissioner A. J Maxwell, of the state corporation commission, has been named on a committee of five to sit with the Interstate corporation commission In the hearing of I. C. C. docket 18.494, which Involves regional rate* for the southeast Other mem bers of the committee are Commis sioner Perry, of Georgia; Commission er Burr, of Florida: Commissioner Pat terson. of Alabama, and Commissioner Forward, of Virginia. Hearings In the case will be held at Ashevllle. New Orleans. Chicago and New York. [ To Build New Passenger Stations^ Five years of more or less patient waiting brought their reward wken the corporation commission the immediate construction of union passenger stations at Kinston, Selma and Newton, and called for plans for a similar structure to be erected by the Atlantic Coast Line, and the Nor folk Southern at Plymouth. Petitfons wore filed by kinston, Selma and Newton In 1917' and the commission Was about to order the stations bifltt in all three towns when the war intervened. Since then the financial condition of the roads has not, in the opinion of the commission, justified an order (or new construc tion. r The time has not yet returned when the carriers can reasonably be ex pected to enter upon a policy of large expenditures for depot construction, the commission declares, but condlr tlons at the towns involved in the or der demand that adequate facilities be built without delay. Plans for the three ordered have been on file for years. Construction Is ordered to be completed within the next six months. Kinston is the outstanding petitioner represented in the order. The rail roads bought land five years ago and were about to let the contract for a Htatlon costing about $50,000 when the war Intervened. The plans have been hanging fire, and delegations of Kins ton citizens have been coming to Ila leigh to prod the commission since the armistice' was signed. Selma's new station will cost $29.- 000, according to the plans on file with the commission. Several weeks ago a delegation was heard. protesting against allowing the carriers to Im prove the present natation on the grounds that when that was done they would set up the claim that no new accommodation was needed. Selma does more Junction business than any town of its size in the state. At Newton the Southern and the Carolina & Northwestern railroad are dlrocted to build a union station In accordance with the plans now on file with the commlssioh, the work to be completed within six months from the date of the order The work there will involve an expenditure about equal to that ordered at Selma. School Bond Issue Held Valid. Hy unanimous decision, tne North Carolina supreme court upheld the va lidity of the five million dollar stats bond issue constituting a school build ing loan fund available to the coun ties of the state. The opinion in the case was written by Associate Justlca W. A. Hoke. "It would present indeed an incon gruous and most deplorable condi tion," reads the opinion,'' If the gen eral assembly, having thus provided for a compulsory attendance on th« public schools were hot allawed to make provisions also for adequate and suitable housing purposes. And we are of the opinion that the proposed bond Issue with the requirement that the loans made to the counties be repaid to the state is throughout a constitutional enactment and In the reasonable exercise of the powers con ferred on the authorities to enable them to properly maintain the public schools of the state." The supreme court action was the final ruling in the case of B R. I.acy, State Treasurer, vs. the Fidelity Flank of Durham, a controversy without ac tion determined before Judge W. A. Devin In Wake county In March when he held (hat the bond Issue which the defendant hank had contracted to pur chase. was valid "and constitutional In aU respects. Dr. C. K. Brooks, superintendent of public instruction, was delighted with the court's opinion. "9 didn't see how the count could do otherwise.'' he said, but It is a relief to know that the court hag upheld our school policy so com pletely. It is the most important de cision In years, from a school stand point" Already applications have been re ceived from counties for the entire five million dollars to be repaid In twenty equal Installments covering a period of twenty years of one million dollars have already been anticipated under the act of the loan fund, The bond Issue jvas authorized bjr the general assembly In chapter 147, Laws of 1921, and provided a fund whereby the counties might be en abled by state advances to acquire sites to provide holdings, equipment and repairs necessary »to maintain' a six months' school Wants Priton Farm Land. The state board and the North Car olina agricultural secretary were un able to agree on a proposition for the purchase by the agricultural of 200 acres of prison farm land ad joining ihe state lair grounds The society wanted the land an an exten sion for the fair grounds, but a price could not be agreed upon. The hoard held its regular monthly meeting in Supt George Hosa I'ou'a office at the prison New Charters Issued. Charters were issued to the fol lowing new concerns: New Bern Candy company. New Bern, authorized capital 125,000 and $5,000 subscribed by P. 8. and Pearl Sadler and O. W. I;ane, of New Bern The Woman's Shop, Wilson, author ized capital U5.000 and $3,000 sub scribed by S. Stewart, L. Dew and 8 P. Clark. The High Point Mattress company. High I'olnt, authorized capital $25,000 and $7,500 subscribed by S. A. Holmes and others. O ANITARY walls are essential. Germ laden walls may be the cause of much illness. I ■ Why take a risk when it is so easy to have Alabastined walls —beautiful, artistic and ab- I Alabasbie I Instead of Kaltomine or Wall Paper Alabastine, either in simple single colors or the many hued onyx effect so rich and so easily produced by the new Alabastine Opaline process, will give you wails which are germ proof—walls in harmony with your ■ rugs draperies—any lone or tint to please your To obtain Alabastine effects you must use genuine Alabastine I b« r printed in red on every jjJ jjfl Interpreter of Nature. Ignorant. Tin* Inhabitants of ii frog pond close I Husband—Did you ever notice, my nf luiiid, says lilt* Yoiingstown Tele- j dear, that a loud tulker Is generally Sinlll, awakened two little girls who "t>n ignorant person? were spending their ilrxt night In the j Wife—Well, you needn't shout so. country. Klrst came the piping I'm not deaf. voice of a little "peeper." i ;;\M.at H Hint V- ask«, Winnie. To Have , p|ear Swect Bkjn I think It H a bird, Susan ven- Touch re dness. roughne* 11 " "I" >• . or Itching. If any, with Cuticura Olnt ",e» « hasao-profimdo frog | rn>nti (hpn hMhp wUh Cutlcunl Soap " >' T ••""VIM' and hot water. Rinse, dry gently and What s ha,.- Winnie asked In a (lußt on „ Cut , cnr(l f# T 1 ":. i ~ Ipove a fascinating fragrance on skin. ~. m ' hul Everywhere 25c each.-Advertlsem.nt. I think It Is either a cow or an auto- j A Word for Himself. Betty—"Jack won't take no for an Or Who's Who. answer. What shall I do?" Tom—"Say The man whose answer to the Kdl- ' 'yes' to some other fellow." , khi questionnaire was graded AA - must certainly know watts uatt. — He careful today—tomorrow may b« Lire. ' too late. She Discovered "After 10 years of hit or miss baking with various other brands of powder I at last discovered that the bitter taste some times found in hotWeads was caused from alum in cheaper grades of powder. So I am now an ardent booster for Royal Baking Powder." MrJ L j ROYAL BAKING POWDER Absolutely Pure Contains No Alum Leaves No Bitter Taste Send for New Royal Cook Book —lt's FREE Royal Baking Powder Co., 130 William St, New York