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and Itablished 1844. $2.00 Y<*ar. Tri-Weekly Abbeville, S. C., Friday March 10,1922 Single Copies, Five Cents. 78th Year, JECTS Fi IN I >RNEY GENERAL ADVISES iCRETARY FALL OF IN tlOR DEPARTMENT OF FINDINGS?LE?AL OPIN >N GIVEN Taahington, March 9.?Appro xi jly 20 per cent of the govern lt employees in the classified service are barred from pen benefits of the retirement act ler an opinion by Attorney Gen Daugherty transmitted to Sec w-n' DaL LJT ran wuu auuuwr?.. n. . jtary Fall estimated today that )0 employees'7were affected and out of 8,000 who had retired the act, four-fifths, or 6,400 Joyees, have been drawing their ion illegally under the opinion. attorney general ruled, ac ig to a review of the opinion to Secretary Fall by tie >r of the interior department only those employees who held positions as the result of com ipetitrve examination )' were en to the benefits of'the retire* it act. Thus, Secretary .Fall Mid [those employees who entered the led service as the restiltn>f a ive examinations were en |W W ?m WUWN V* .? it act. Thas, Secretary Fall said those employees who entered the ied , service as the result of lential order without such ex ition to the number of 89, were excluded. The attorney leral held fdrther that while the it by executive order might lode within the classified service ticular positions and classes such order would not embrace persons hold particular positions except )n competitive examinations. In his review of the opinion the kicitor of the interior department pd that 56 per cent of the em jyeea who. uanu^ uawu ?uv. ~ w lent age; were retaind in ec f'e service for*two year periods un authority of the act because of jcial value to the government, did kt enter the service through com ftition and would be excluded from benefits. These, he declared, had fth all other barred by the opinion j m contributing 2 1-2 per cent of j [eir monthly pay to the pension1 pd as required by th8 act. Asserting that approximately )0 employees who had retired have receiving pensions illegally, le solocitor said unless congress iacted legislation for their relief ?re was no way for their pay to mtinue. Secretary Fall's attention was illed by the solicitor to a ruling of |ie comptroller general that if a de trimental disbursing agent pays a >n money contrary to his con letion of the law the agent is eld' personally responsible for re ayment of the sum to be paid. The iKcitor also said that the sum de ed from the salaries of the em loyees not benefiting must be re inded. Secretary Fall said today that le interior department law officers id drawn up-a bill which has been ibmitted to the proper committees congress looking to relief from )e situation created by the opinion as to include the 80,000 within le meaning of the retirement act. J. FULP SPEAKS IN GREENWOOD Major J. D. Fulp, Superintendent >f the Abbeville Schools, was a peaker at the organization of a ^rent-Teachers' Association can Jreenwood yesterday. In his ad Iress Maj. Fulp declared that a ^rent-Teachers' Association in cco*?plish great good and was a rreat factor in promoting better un lerstanding between the teachers md the parents. \ HOUSE MEMBERS WILL PASS BONUS PREDICTIONS MADE PRIVATELY BY BOTH SIDES?ACTION WILL PROBABLY NOT BE SOUGHT UNTIL LATER IN THE MONTH. NO CONTEST SOON Washington, March 9.?While the fight against the compromise soldiers' bonus bill continued today unabated, house members on both sides of the question predicted privately that the measure would be passed by the house. Although a two-thirds vote would be required to put the bill through under such a procedure, Republican leaders Were discussing the question of calling up the measure under a suspension of the rules. This would preclude the possibility of amendment and ordinarily would limit debate to 20 minutes on each side. The major ity membership will be sounded out on this proposition but a decision probably will be withheld until af ter the return here late in the week of Chairman Fordkey of the ways and means committee, who'will have charge of the bill on the floor. The next rules suspension day -in the house will be Monday, March 20. Leaders said the army appropriation bill would be taken up next iucsou? ahead of the bonus bill and even If the latter measute were not called up under a suspension of the rules, it probably would not be considered before the week beginning March 30. There was some discussion during the day as to President Harding's at titude with regard to the compromise bllL Representative Mondell of/Wyo ming^ the majority leader, said he did not think the statement made at the fchite House yesterday that Mr. Harding occupied the same position that he did when he suggested a sales tax or postponement of the legisla-^ tion was to be taken to mean that the executive was prepared to veto the measure. Representative Hawle of Oregon, a Republican member of the ways and means committee, said the president had suggested a 90 day's delay in en actment of the legislation as an al ternative for the sales tax and that in the view of the committee this sug gestion had been met by making Oc tober 1, 1922, the effective daxe of the bill. / FREE SEED VICTORY Winners in House Rejoice in Carni val Style Washington, March 9?The house of representatives today replaced in the agricultural appropriation bill the $360,000 item* tor free seed which was cut out by the commit tee in framing the measure. Friends' of free seed, satisfied they would win again as they had for 20 years, acted like a crowd at a carnival during the brief battle, which they won by a vote of 145v to 85. Offered by Bepresentative Langley (Republican) of Kentucky, as an amendment, Chairman Ander son, in charge of the 'bill, promptly mad? a point of order against it Representative Hicks (Republi can) of New York, who was presid ing, held the amendment in order while a great shout went up from both sides of the chairtber. Claiming that seed prices had dropped from the old high mark, Mr. Anderson sought to reduce the Amount to $240,000, but his pro posal was howled down. ' The 65 members voting against the gift let loose such a bellow that the chairman was in doubt.\ Repre sentatives Mondeil and Garrett, the party leaders, stood up to be count ed with the winners. AT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The Rev. L. Ross Lynn, D. D., president of the Thornwell Or phanage at Clinton, will preach in the Presbyterian church here Sun ir.y. AMERICA DECLINES ITALY'S INVITATION SECRETARY OF STATE HUGHES ADVISES AMBASSADOR RICCI UNITED STATES WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ECONOMIC CONFERENCE IN GENOA.' Washington, March 9.?The Am erican government today declined the invitation to participate in the in ternational economic and financial conference to be held at Genoa next month, on the ground that the con ference is not primarily an economic one "but is rather a conference of-H political character in which the gov ernment of the United States could not helpfully participate." The refusal to enter the confer ence was contained in a note from Secretary Hughes to Ambassador Ric ci 'of Italy who had presented the invitation on behalf of his govern ment which in turn was acting for the allied ambassadors' council." Ambassador Ricci immediately communicated the text of the note to his government. "LThe note stated that while the American people were desirous of suitably assisting in the recovery of the economic life of Europe, the Uhiited States government could not be unmindful of the "dear convic tion" of tfye people "that they should not unnecessarily become involved in European political questions." The (iohvictiori was expressed that all considerations of economic re vival Would' be futile without the es tablishment in Russia of the essen tial basis of production outlined in the public declaration of the Ameri can government on March 25, 1921, and urged that "adequate action" to that end be taken on tfie part; of "those chiefly Responsible fpr Rus sia's present economic disorder.". In that connection it was also pointed out in the note that the Am erican government believes nothing should be'done looking to the obtain ing of economic advantages in Rus sia which "would impair the just op portunities of others," and warning was issued that "fair and equal eco nomic opportunity" in Russia was expected by the United States in the interest of Russia itself as well as that of all other powers. In conclusion the ^ote expressed hope that progress would be made in preparing the way for "the event ual discussion and settlement of fundamental, economic and financial conditions relating to Europe which press for solution." 8,000 U. S. EMPLOYEES, - ' BARRED RETIREMENT Washington, March 9.?A ruling by Attorney General Daugherty Wednesday deprived 8,000 civil ser vice employees of their retirement pqy, and 'also the money they have paid to the government providing for that pay. Those affected came into the service by presidential or der, and not by competitive exami nation. Legislation will be introduced in Congress to remedy the defect in thp present law under which the ruling was made, aa officials said it was ail obvious injustice. 1 - MISS LEILA RUSSELL Miss Leila Russell came "to Abbe ville today from Winthrop College to help with the organization of the graduates of Winthrop College in this county. While in Abbeville she was the guest of Mrs. W. H. White on Greenville street. Miss Russell is making a tour of the state organizing the Winthrop Daughters and will go from Abbeville to Greenwood to hold i meeting there. COTTON MARKET The cotton market in Abbeville today was 18 1-4 cents. RATES TOO HIGH MUST COMEDOM ___ RAILROADS LOSE 23 PER CEN1 PASSENGER BUSINESS?FINA1 ARGUMENTS BEFORE I. C. C INQUIRY INTO GENERAL RATI LEVELS HEARD Washington, Mar. 9.?Increase* passenger fares have lost to the rail roads 23 per cent of the passenge business thepr had in 1920 and alsi the good will of the public,'Fred W Putnam, of the Minnesota railroai commission, declared today in th final arguments in' the interstate com merce commission's' inquiry into g&i eral rate levels. "The railroads eighteen month ago had the good will of the public and today they have lost it," Mr. Put n^m asserted.'"It is the relationshi; of the railroad users through the tick et windows and on the passenge trainB that forms public opinion, no through the freight-department" Asked by the commission what rat of return he considered railroad ought to earn, he said, that if th commission held six per cent reason able it should expect railroads t IJL if-. - earn more Mian mat in gwu uoie and le88 than that in periods of dc pression. ) John S. Burchmore, counsel fo the National industrial Traffic leagu urged' the' commission whatever it action might be as to rates to issu a decision in the case to shipper would know the future. ; "Freight rates are a species of ta: laid on every commodity and practic ally every.form of activityMi Murchmose said. "The whole body o public opinion holds today that rate are too high and must come down the only question is whether the rail roads are able to bear reduction. Oi that point there is confusion an< / . j doubt and ignorance on tne pair o (all disinterested observers. We aske I the commission on this record to giv us a decision as to jnst what the si1 uation is, what it can do to reduc rates and what it cannot do?some thing that will remove the uncertain ty surrounding business." # Commissioner Mayer suggeste th^t conditions were changing an that any findings of that sort by th commission would not hold for mor thaiJ three or si? months. "That will be helpful even fo three months so that business1, me may plan and estimate with an at surance.of finding conditions to fi their calculations," Mr. Burchmor responded. MRS. D. POLIAKOFF HEARS FROM RUSSI; Mrs. D. Poliakoff has just recen ed a letter from her sister in th Province of Minske Russia sayrn that she had received a box sent t her tby Mrs. Pcliakoff sometime ag< and that it was in good shape an intact. If there are others wh would like to send things to reU tives in Russia this information wi be of interest Mrs. Poliakoff say her sister tells her that the*y hav enough vto eat; but that clothes ai hard to get,, and that if she send another box to be sure and enclos a spool of thread and a hair comb. AUGUSTA COTTON ROW HAS A $2,000 FIR] Augusta, Ga., March 9.?Fire tha ! at: nne time aDDeared to threaten large section of Cotton Row was pu under control this afternoon after general alarm had been turned i with a loss of only $2,000. The sam pie room and office of the cotton firr of Luke and Fleming was guttec and the offices of Frank Calhoun con siderably damaged. ' FERTILIZER ADVANCES ?s Guano has advanced $1.50 a tor and 16 per cent acid has advance 51.00 on the ton. FEDERAL MONEY I FOR GOOD ROADS I r FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS IN ? POSTOFFICE BILL.?ORDERED REPORTED BY SENATE POST I OFFICE COMMITTEE?TO IN CREASE WITH YEARS. j 1 Washington, March 9.?Appropri - ations of $50,000,000 for federal r road construction next year, $1,900, 0 000 for continuing the trans-conti nental airplane mail service anc 1 $513,000 to repair the New York e Brooklyn pneumatic mail tube ser - vice are additions to t)ie annual post - office appropriation bill carrying a bout $624,000,000, which was order ed reported today by the senate post office committee. In addition to the $50,000,000 foi next year in carrying out. the federa highway act, the committee declare r for $65,000,000 for 1924 and $75, t 000,000 for 1925. . :?! Altogether the senate committe< e added nearly $70,000,000 in the pos s tal budget as passed by the house e Among additions inserted were pro i- -visions for continuing the joint post o al commission next year and for .in a vestigation of "star route" contract for 1919vto 1921 to determine wheth er -there should be readjustments t ol r compensation. e ? An increase of 100 in the numbei 8 of post office inspectors over the 42( e authorized by the house also was rec 8 oamended by ' the committee/ Th< preseht force is 485 and' Chief In spector Simmons testified that th( inspection force was "hopelessly be hind" in its work. Depredations ol ' parcel post 'mail, Mr. Simmons said 4 have Increased the bureau's wori greatly. ' N \ > The $1,900,000 authorized foi ^ continuing the trans-continental mai ^ service^ which the house refused t< ^ provide for, is the minimum for eaf< operation of the mail airplanes, of ficialsHold the committee, althougl $300,000 less than the estimates. Th< committee was told that Americai airplane development was "neglible' compared with foreign airplane sys , tems. n / a f (j Eventually officials said it is hope< . that private companies will take ove: C \ p the airplane mail transportation. r EXPORT COTTON GOES n \ Special Train T^ke* Shipment Frov it Atlanta e Atlanta, March 9.?WBat wa said to be the largest single ship ment of export cotton from Atlant since the World war began left to day on a special train of 40 cars fo Europe via Savannah. There wer approximately 3,500 compresse bales and it was said the railroai freight charges to Savannah woul< be $16,000 and the steamer freigh changes from there to Europe $7, 000. The price was not stated. Ruth and Schaag Join Team. New York, Mar. 9.?Babe Rutl and Wally Schang, the last Yank* players to be lined up for the com ,!ng baseball season, today left Ho Springs, Ark,, for New Orleans, t< join Manager Euggins and the re mainder of his spring training squad MRS. GILLELAND'S E ; CONDITION UNCHANGED The friends of Mrs. Roy <5ille land will be sorry to know that he: condition remains unchanged, bu that she is considered as holding hei own. VISITING HER SON Mrs. Thomas of Baltimore is ir the city for a visit to her son, Mr Arthur Thomas.. Mrs. Thomas is at the Community House and i; meeting with a warm welcome froir i, the many friends of her son. d Mrs. Thomas has been spending the winter in Florida. \ APPEAL BY DAVIS 0 GOVERNMENT HAS / NO DESIRE TO INTERFERE UNDULY, BUT HAS DUTY TO SAFEGUARD INTERESTS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE AFFECTED Washington, March 9.?Secretary of Labor Davis today broke the silence he has maintained during the ten days in which the govern ment has 'actively sought intervene tion in the impending coal strike, \o llTWP minp nnflra+flrs And fha - miners' union "in the name of com mon ysense to get together and save , - the country from the costly results - of a strike." The government has "no desire to interfere unduly," he : announced, but "has a doty to safe 1 guard the interests of the |>eople y 1 who will be seriously affected Cby the . suspension of coal mining." Although no immediate responses > wer received at the ^secretary's of . fie after the statement was issued, v . press dispatches immediately reflect . ed the interest taken In it by repre . sentatives of unions and operators. ..x' . Official reports to the department, 3 however, were concerned latgely ' . witfi. details concerning the dHssen f sion in the miners' organization, where Frank Partington, the- Uli . nois leader, and some other district ) heads are said lo be begianinglecal , negotiations in defiance of the pOli-' rv nf T>r?aMaft+ JrAhI, Jimtftti afirl . the national executive board of the , United Mine Workers. Reports also . were received on th? attitude of in f dividual mine operators who have in t the past entered into national- wage t agreements. The department's agents have . been assured that miners' locals in j nearly all sections throughout onion } fields are "overwhelmingly voting to ^ strike April 1," bat this informa tion has been discounted to a de 1 gree, officials said, (because a strike , vote is quite often taken so that the j committee assigned to negotiate the( , issues can act with fullest authority. There Was no disposition in offi cial circles today to reveal that Mr. / ^ Davis' statement wh&h explained again the government's position on r the result of the refusal Of Penn sylvania And other mine operators in the central competitive field to enter negotiations looking to anoth er national wage agreement. The a union-, it was pointed out here, has sought this course from the begin s ning and the operators have been K unyielding in opposition, though * Ml? _ willing' in sonje cuscm w mane iwm or district contracts with the union. Luxury Tax Killed Columbia, March 9.-?The senate yesterday afternoon by a vote of $0 ijto 10 killed the luxury tax bill. The house by a vote of 44 to 41 sustained the veto of Governor Coop er on the bill to enlarge the board .of trustees of the University from sev en to twenty-one members. The act is dead. Seiie Steamer With Whiskey New York, March 9.?The Ameri can schooner Victor, loaded with more than 3,000 cases of American Scottish whiskeys, whose value was estimated by prohibition agents at nearly $400,000 was seized by cus toms inspectors in the lower bay to day and tied up at the Battery, pending court action. mayor's court David Smith and Mamie Chase, colored, were before the Mayor's court this morning on a charge of disorderly conduct and fined $20 and $5 respectively. home On a visit Prof. Robert Coleman Js spend ing until Monday with his parents, Tiff- 1 *JT^, */ T itii , aiiu iu;-5i n. x. v/viuuioii. i ivx. j Coleman is traveling in the inter est of tfce College of Charleston.