VOL. 34 PLYMOUTH, N. C., FRIDAY, APRIL 13,1923. NO. 35 BEING CONTINUED 4 PIC IRON PRODUCTION NOW AT NEW HIGH LEVEL FAR ALL TIME. flEOOROS IN AUTO PRODUCTION Railway Car Loading Add Their Tes timony to Other Evidences of In tense Activity. Now York.—Although considerable irregularity was apparent in the chief financial markets during the past week, reports frohi industrial dis tricts showed that the strong upswing in business is being continued. Fiji iron production is at a new high level for all time and a similai condition probably exists with regard bo steel. The secondary buying move ment in steel priducts, which started last December, and which was super imposed in one that had begun in the spring, has come to a pause, this is explained, however, by the fact that production is now extraordinarily large and that consumers are assured all the steel which their plants can handle. That other branches of industry are operating at what amounts to ca pacity may be seen from the figures for automobile production for March. Somo 346,000 cars were manufacture ed in that month, which exceeds by 67,000 the best previous record, made in June of last year. Over twice as many cars were made in the first three months of this year than last, the total being slightly more than 867,000. Makers believe thta the total for the year will be 3,000,000, but point out, significantly that favorable conditions wil be needed in the materials mar Ttamvay car loadings also aaa rneir testimony to the other evidences of intense actiyi.ty. continuing to set new high records for the season of the • year. In this connection much inter est has been displayed in program an nounced by the American Railway association. Anticipating further gains in traffic and a wholly unprece dented autumn movement of freight, the railroads have authorized the ex penditure of $1,100,000,000 this year for the expansion of their rolling stock and other facilities. Favors Cut in Surtax Rates. Washington.—Possible efforts by the treasury to have Congress cut the surtax rate on incomes further were forecast in a formal statement by Sec retary Mellon, who asserted that March collections of income and prof its taxes, aggregating $462,000,000, hud fully justified his prediction that downward revision would have the effect of actually increasing rather than decreasing the federal revenue. Coupled with this statement, was a declaration by Mr. Mellon that the March collections which were under the lower rates of the new law of “under such revision as has been ac complished" provided a practical answer to the tax problem and A"shows clearly what course further ‘Revision should take.” He mentioned that although highe rates were in effect in March, 1922, the collections at that time were $70,000,000 less than hi the same month this year, at cir cumstance which he regarded as proof that the downward revision had acted as a stimulant to business. Shoot Auto Carrying Girls. Greenville, S. C.—The car in which they were riding was badly shot up and Miss Rosalie Bowen and Miss Mary Owinn, young women of Ashe ville, N. C., miraculously escaped death when they failed to halt as or dered to do so by a group of federal prohibition officers on the Greenville Asheville highway about 20 miles north of here, according to a story told by the young women on their ar rival here. After a tire was deflated by shots and the car dashed into a ditch, officers searched it, the young women said upon arrival here, and then allowed them to proceed. Prohibition officers, it was said, were waiting on the roadside neat Traveler’s Rest in Upper Greenville county for expected rum smugglers when the automobile hearing the two young women hove into sight around a curve, T. L. Queen, officer in chargo of the party, stepped into the road, the girls said, and attempted to flag iLj0wn the on-coming car. The young women, they later told officers here, thought the group of men were high wayment. became excited and dashed ahead. PREVENT EXECUTION AND KILL FIVE IRISH REBELS. Dublin.—While a party of repub licans at Glenoar, South Kerry, were about to execute a railroad workman named Cornelius Hanna find, who had been kidnapped, tried and condemned, they were surpris ed by Free State troops. A fight ensued, during which the condemn ed man was forgotten and escap ed. * The republicans barricaded themselves in two houses, which were stormed by the Free State forces and captured. The republi cans lost five men killed and two made prisoner. WANT FAIR PRICE FOR SHIPS PLAN UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR DISPOSING OF FLEET NOT YET WORKED OUT. No Thought of Selling at Sacrifice For Unrestricted Service, Says Statement. Washington. — Formal announce ment was made by the shipping board that no plan now under consideration for disposal of the government fleet contemplated the sale of ships “for un restricted service’’ at less than world market prices. Suggestions that a sale at any price policy might be adopt ed was said to have resulted in a nat ural hesitancy on the part of operators to venture at this time upon opera tions designed to build up new lines or take over some of those now main tained by the board. “It is true,” the board’s statment said, “that studies are being made for offering government owned ships on lines at a considerable reduction from world market prices in those cases where the purchasers will guarantee to maintain the services in foreign trade for a term of years but there is no intention of making reductions where the is no guarantee of the maintenance of service to foreign ports, an no reason at all why reduc tions should be made for the sale of vessels to be used in the protected coastwise trade where foreign flag ships may not compete. “There is therefore no reason why ship owners should hesitate to buy ships at the present time for unre stricted coastwise or intercoastal oper ation because of any expectation that ships for such service would be sold at greatly reduced prices later on.” The policy committee, headed by Commissioner Lissner, was understood to have agreed upon the basis of the report to be submitted to Chairman Lasker when he returns to Washing ton about the middle of this month. Beyond the statement that there would be no bargain sales of good ships offered and that the market will be relieved of the competitive threat held in the unadaptable tonnage there has been no suggestion as to the scope of this report. Reports are being received daily by the valuation committee , of which Commissioner Plummer is chairman in the form of replies to the exhaus tive questionnaire sent to operators and captains of shins in active ser vice and custodians of those tied up. No compilation has yet been attempt ed but estimates have been made which place the total obsolete and un desirable shipping in the government fleet at upwards of 2,500,000 dead weight tons or yearly 30 per cent of the entire fleet. The last official re port showed about 3,350,000 -tons in active service and twice that "in ordi nary” or tied up but presumably avail able if sudden demand arose. Grew to Attend Lausanne Meet. Paris.—The American embassy here has received no instructions regarding participation by the United States in the forthcoming Near East conference at Lausanne, although there is no doubt that America, as before, will be invited to attend. Jose C. Grew, American minister to Switzerland, will probably attend the negotiations as an observer wheth er Ambassador Child goes from Rome or not. F. Lammot Belin, attached to the American embassy here, also is expected to attend. Hughes to Speak on Court Plans. Washington.—An important declara tion in support of the Administration proposal for American membership in the permanent court of internation al justice is expected from Secretary Hughes, when he speaks April 27 be fore a meeting here of distinguished international lawyers. Although it was aid that the detail ed arguments to be set forth for the secretary had not taken form, it was indicated he would lay down at length the considerations on which the mem bership proposal is to be renewed with the reconvening of Congress. SECRETARY WARNS NOT TO ENGAGE IN CONTRO VERSIES CONCERNING MILI TARY POLICY. WELL TO INFORM THEMSELVES Weeks Urges People to Beware of In correct and Misleading Statis tics. Washington.—Secretary Weeks in a formal statement urged the public to be wary of individuals and organi zations who, he said, are responsible for “the widespread circulation that has been ^iven recently to incorrect and misleading statistics concerning the cost of the military defenses of the United States.’’ American citizens, he added, “would do well to inform themselves of the facts and to examine into the charac ter and patriotism of those who are prompting the pacifist campaign be fore taking a step that may readily align them with the enemies of the republic." During the day Mr. Weeks also took occasion to warn army officers not to engage in controversies with any or ganization as to military policy. He made it clear that the department it self would criticise the activities of such groups, if critionsm were neces say. Mr. Weeks admitted he had receiv ed a statement from Brigidier Gener al Amos Fries, chief of the chemical warfare service, which had been pre pared by the general as an answer to attacks made against him by the Na tional Council for Prevention of War and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. It was stated that General Fries’ reply would not be made public, either by him or the department. The decision to withhold the state ment, it was said, is in line with Sec retary Weeks’ policy to personally deal with controversies originating between army officers, organizations and groups of citizens, and is not to be considered in any way as a reprimand or census of the general. “I am perfectly willing for officers to speak,” Secretary Weeks said, ‘‘and they are doing it every day in the corps area. ‘‘But when any criticism of organi zations or citizens are necessary in the interest of national defense and wel fare. I will make them personally.” Three People Killed Crossing Track. Raleigh.—John Henry Weathers, prosperous farmer, his wife and Miss Irene Weathers, their 16-year-old adopted daughter, were killed when their automobile was struck by a Nor folk Southern freight train at Fuquay Springs, 20 miles from here. Miss Weathers, who was driving, was horribly mangled, but was rushed to a Raleigh hospital, where she died three hours after the accident occur red. Her foster parents were killed outright. The half dozen or more witnesses of the accident differ as to the manner, some holding that the automobile stopped dead on the track in front of j the approaching freight, others main jtaining that while the automobile was j moving very Rlowly, it did not stop. Georgians Honor President. Augusta, Ga.—Citizens of Augusta gave a dinner in honor of President Harding, the fourth chief executive of the United States to visit the city in its history, which dates hack before the foundation of the republic. The others were George Washington, Wil liam McKinley and William Howard Taft. Headers of the life of Augusta and of this section of Georgia joined in honoring Mr. Harding at the dinner, at which other members of the presi dential party were guests. About 200 persons attended the dinner. Brief addresses were made by Thomas ,T. Hamilton, editor of The Augusta Chronicle: Major Joulian M. Smith, Benjamin E. Pierce, vice presi dent of the Aguusta Chronicle Publish ing company; Rodney C. Cohen, com mander of the Georgia department of the American legion; Federal Judge William H. Barrett, and Judge Henry C. Drummond, all of Augusta. Responses to these addressee were made by various, members of the presi dential party, including Brigadier Gen eral Charles E. Sawye.r, the presi dent’s physician, and Edward B. Mc Uean, publisher of The Washington Pot. The final address of the evening was by the President, who spoke brief ly and Informally. TWO DEAD AND SIX HURT IN AUTO CRASH — Raleigh.—William Naylor and Robert Chappell, both of Raleigh, are dead and six other boys are in jured as a result of a collision of two automobiles here. Naylor was killed instantly and Chappell died after being removed to a hospital. Hospital authorities stated Bud Rankin, McKeesville, a North Carolina State college stu dent, whose injuries at first had been reported slight, had been re moved to the hospital in a serious condition. Bill Bethune, State college stu dent, driver of the automobile in collision with Chappell's car, was arrested on charges of manslaugh ter, when discharged from the hos- j pital later. He was released in $1,0C0 bond, signed by his father, L. A. Bethune, president of a Clin ton bank. Hearing was set for April 17 in city court. FLIGHT WITHOUT ACCIDENT SECRETARY WEEKS EXTENDED OFFICIAL WELCOME TO THE PILOTS. Left Texas on Six Thousand Mile Trip to Porto Rico and Thence to Washington. Washington.—The six army air planes which left San Anonio, Texas, a month ago on a G,000 mile flight to Porto Rico and thence to Washington, landed at Bolling field bringing to suc cessful conclusion one of the most re markable pioneer flights ever attempt ed by the army air service. Secretary Weeks extended the oSicial welcome to the 12 pilots who made the trip and directed that a citation be placed in ther records crediting them proper ly with ther achievement. Air service officials said the flight negotiated by land planes, over wide stretches of water and strange land areas without accident and on sched ule, splendidly illustrated the role aircraft would take in the scheme of national defense. Capt. Thomas G. Lanphier, in command of the squad ron, also pointed to this possibility. He declared Porto Rico formed the logical base of action for an air force againsit an enemy fleet approaching the Panama canal from the Atlantic side, adding that it had been proved possible, as a result of the flight just made, to concentrate an air force at Porto Rico within 24 hours and attack an enemy fleet or bombard land basis within a radius of 800 miles. Major General Patrick, chief of the army service, also called attention to i the part aircraft could play in defend ing the country and providing means of quick communication between the continental United States and the island possessions. me la army air service pilots wau ; flow from San Antiulo, Texas, to the island of Porto Rico asid who landed at Bolling field ending their flight, have accomplished something really worth while,” General Patrick said. “I am naturally proud of the enthu siasm with which they undertook their task and the skill with which they ! carried it through, flying over strange countries, piloting land planes over considerable water areas, all without accident and on schedule time. “They have given a remarkable de monstration not alono of the role aircraft can play in national defense, | but also of the possibilities of quick and easy communication by air with this, one of our most impotant island possessions. The flight could easily have been continued for the few re- j manlng hundreds of miles to the main line of South America." Liquor Thieves Make Big Haul. Baltimore.—Whiskey thieves broke into one of the storage buildings of the Spring Garden’s General Bonded | Warehouse Number 1 district of Mary- , land, in southwest Baltimore, bound the three watchmen and carried away three large trucks loads of liquor. The watchmen were liberated two hours later by a Baltimore and Ohio trainman who heard their cries for help. They said there were about 40 men in the gang. The bandits gain ed entrance to the warehouse, the watchmen said, by breaking the lock on the door. *_ i Volcano >s Active. l£ilo, T. H.—Kilauea Volcano is mote active than it has been for ye^rs. The glow in the sky is visible for) milee. With forty acres of flro less than 300 feet from the rim, ten fountains are sprouting an amount of lava estimated at three million cuoic yards weekly. _ i 1 ! SECRETARY MELLON FINDS SIT | UATION IN EAST “VERY SATIS FACTORY.” SMALL NUMBER OF FAILURES Federal Reserve Board Calls Atten tion to High Rate of Industrial Production Washington. — Declarations were made in two official quarters that gen eral business conditions throughout the east were nearly normal. The central and western parts of the Unit ed States were saijl, at the same time to be making rapid strides toward recovery and the prediction was offer ed that those sections soon would be in better condition than at any time since the prosperity incident to the war. Secretary Mellon asserted, on re turning from his first vacation since he became head of the treasury, that the industrial and financial situation in the east appeared “very satisfac tory.’’ His trip included visits to sev eral important centers and in all of these he reported he found renewed evidence of prosperity and optimism concerning the future. The federal reserve board declar ed in its official monthly bulletin, that continued active business conditions in every section were shown by the maintenance of a high rate of indus trail production. Along with this, the bulletin said, there had been increases in freight traffic and employment and a larger volume of wholesale and re tail sales. The bulletin also called attention to the unusually low number of com mercial failures reported in Febru ary which, according to its figures, wai the smallest since September. 1020. The total number of failures, the r<* I port showed was 44-per cent less than [ in February, 1922, and 54 per cent i below the record reached in Deeem i her, 1921, near the height of the de : flationary process through which the J country went. There was a marked : decline in the number of failures in ! February as compared with January I and incomplete reports for March in dicate another reduction. Some concern has been expressed by the government officials recently regarding harked tendencies toward inflation, but these were discounted by the treasury secretary. He said that while there undoubtedly was some speculation, as is true always during periods of prosperity and ex pansion, it heed not be considered dangerous. Mr. Mellon's views on this phase of the situation were substantiated by the bulletin which reported little in crease in the borrowings from the federal reserve banks. Commercial banks which are members of the re serve system, however, have greatly increased ther loans and investments. The total of the two items of assets a few weeks ago was something like $25,700,000,000, whereas the highest point reached by loans and invest ments at the peak of the 1920 expan sion was only four hundred million dollars greater. Arlington Hotel Burns. Hot Springs, Ark.—The Arlington hotel, oldest hostelry in Hot Springs and one of the most noted in the south, was destroyed by fire of unde termined origin, all guests, number ing more than 300 escaping without serious injury although dense smoke threatened to overcome many as they groped from the exits. The loss was estimated at upwards of a million dollars with something more than half that sum covered by insurance. In addition, loss of personal effects, including jewelry, money and cloth ing of guests will run into a consider able sum. Most of the hotel occu pants were left with no personal property other than the clothing they wore when the alarm was given. Car Loadings at Record Figure. Washington.—Railroads loaded 917, 036 cars with revenue freght during the week ending March 21, or 12,760 cars more than the week before, 79, 795 cars more than the same week a year ago, and 230,469 cars more than during the corresponding week of 1921. The car service division of the American Railway Association, which compiled the reports, pointed out that the total broke all pervious seasonal records, and with one exception, was larger than the amount of freght tak en into transportation during any week this year. W. J. JACKSON & SON (Established 1896) Plymouth, N. C. UNDERTAKERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS Will Arrange for Embalming Upot Request Motor Hearse Service D. B. MIZELLE DENTAL SURGEON In Plymouth every Tuesday and Wednesday prepared to do all kind! of MODERN DENTAL WORK. MUSIC SHOP MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS PIANOS Baldwin, Hamilton, Howard SHEET MUSIC Quality Line Throughout DR. W. L. DAVIS EYE SPECIALIST Graduated at Philadelphia Optical College, 189G; took post gradut* work In 1909. Offers Optical Y/ork not surpassed in South. Office with Plymouth Jewelry Co. Plymouth Market & Grocery *■ Company BUTCHERS STAPLE AND FANCY GROCERIES Individual Cold Storage Plant Everything Kept tn Perfect Condition WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU W. T. NURNEY UNDERTAKER Everything to be Desired la Funeral Supplies Modern Motor Hearse Service Splendid line of Caskets and Coffin*. Cemetery Lots for Sale. We can ar range everything for Funerals. "Ash rhosc We Have Served." ■MBWMB—— Our lobby Is Good * Printing a 1 J Ask to see samples of our bust ness cards, vist ting cards, wedding and other invitations, panv pilled folders, latter heads, statements, shipp ing tags, envelopes, etc., constantly carried in stock for your accommodation. Get our figuras on tha® printing you have been thinking of New Type, Latest Sty! e Faces Patronize Oar Advertisers They are all boosters and deserve your business. sr

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