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Outlines Method of Government Operation. ASKS FOR FAIR TREATMENT •ays Complete War Service Can Only Be Given by Putting All Carriers Under Government Control- Urges Prompt Action. Washington, Jan. 5.--The adminis­ tration's policy In regard to the gov­ ernment control of the railroads was outlined by President Wilson In an ad­ dress delivered at a Joint session of the two houses of cofigress yesterday. Bills to carry out the president's Ideas already had been prepared under the supervision of the department (if Justice and were Immediately intro­ duced with plans for prompt consid­ eration in both house and senate. The president spoke as follows: V "Gentlemen of the Congress: I have asked the privilege of addressing you In-order to report that on the 28th of December last, during the recess of congress, acting through the secretary of war and under the authority in­ ferred upon me by the act of congress approved August 29. 1916. I took pos­ session and assumed control of the railway lines of the country and the systems of water transportation under their control. This step seemed to be imperatively necessary in the interest of the public welfare, in the presence Of the great tasks of war with which we are now dealing. "As our experience develops difficul­ ties and makes it clear what they are. I have deemed it my duty to remove those difficulties wherever -I have the legal power to do so. To assume con­ trol of the vast railway systems of the country is, I realize, a very heavy re­ sponsibility, but to fail to do so in the existing circumstances would have been a much greater. I assumed the lesser responsibility rather than the weightier. Complete Mobilization Needed. "I am sure that I am speaking the mind of all thoughtful Americans when I say that It Is our duty as the repre­ sentatives of the nation to dc every­ thing that It is necessary to dc to se­ cure the complete mobilization of the whole resources of Amerlea by as rap­ id and effective a means as caii be found. Transportation supplies all the arteries of mobilization. Unless it be tinder a single and unified direction the whole process of the nation's ac­ tion is embarrassed. "It was in the true spirit of Amerlea, and It was right, that we should first try to effect the necessary unification under the voluntary action of those who were In charge of the great rail­ way properties; and we did try It. The directors of the railways responded to thf need promptly and eenerously. Praises Railway Executives. "The group of railway executives who were charged with the task of actual co-ordination and general direc­ tion with patriotic zeal and marked ability, as was to have been expected, and did, I believe, everything that it 'was possible for them to do in the cir­ cumstances. If I have taken the task out of their bands it has not been be­ cause of any dereliction or failure oc their part, but only because there were some things which the government can do and present management cannot. We shall continue to value most highly the advice and assistance of these gen­ tlemen, and I am sure we shall not find : ftem withholding it. ;'.V Government Control Needed. ! "It had become unmistakably plain that only under government adminis- .... tration can the entire equipment of the several systems cf transportation be fully and undreservedly thrown into common service without injuri­ ous discrimination against particular properties. Only under government administration can an absolutely un­ restricted-and unembarrassed common use bt made of all tracks, terminals, terminal facilities and equipment of every kind. Only under that authority can new terminals be constructed and developed without regard to the re­ quirements or limitations of particular roads. But under government admin­ istration all these things will be pos­ sible--not instantly, but as fast as practical difficulties which cannot be merely conjured away give way before the new management. Little Disturbance as Possible • "The. common administration will be carried out with as little disturbance of the present operating organizations and personnel of the railways as pos­ sible. Nothing will be altered or dis turbed which it is not necessary to dis turb. We are serving the public inter est and safeguarding the public safety, toot we are also regardful of the inter est cf those by whom these great prop­ erties are owned, «nd glad to avail our­ selves of the experience and trained Watch and Man Alike. The watch that works only by fits ; and starts Is never to be trusted. Nor - * to the man who does his work in the «pme way ever capable of the highest - a i. achievement possible to his station. ' 'i- With men as with watches the test lies being right and reliable all the time. ; V Tho Minuet. p.. "jx ^he old-time "minuet" derives Its (Sfjgjttune 'rom the Latin minutes--small. Applying to the short steps peculiar VJ$O this dance. ability of those who have been man* aging them. It is necessary that the transportation of troops and of war materials, of food and of fuel, and of everything that is necessary for the full mobilization of the energies and resources of the country, should be first considered, but it is clearly In the public interest also that the ordinary activities and the normal industrial and commercial life of the country should be interfered with ami dis­ turbed as little as possible, and the public may rest assured that the Inter­ est and convenience of the private shipper will be as carefully served and safeguarded as It is possible to serve and safeguard it in the present ex­ traordinary circumstances. To Keep Lines in Gocd Repair. "While the present authority of the executive suffices for all purposes of administration and while, of course, all private interests must for the present give way to the public necessity, it is, I am sure you will agree with me, right and necessary that the owners and creditors of the railways, the holders of their stocks and bonds, should re­ ceive from the government an unqual­ ified guaranty that their properties will be maintained throughout the period of federal control In as good repair and as complete equipment as at present, ando that the several roads will receive under federal management such com­ pensation as is equitable and just alike to their owners and to the general public. "I would suggest the- average net railway operating income of the three years ending June 30, 1917. I earnest­ ly recommend that these guarantees be given by appropriate legislation and given as promptly as circumstances permit." "Deal Justly With Securities." "I need not point out the essential jus­ tice of such guarantees and their great Influence and significance as elements in the present financial and Industrial situation of the country. Indeed. :>ne of the strong arguments for assuming con­ trol of the railroads at this time is the financial argument. It is necessary that the values of railway securities should be justly and fairly paid and that the lanre financial operations ev­ ery year necessary in connection with the maintenance, operation and devel­ opment of the roads should, during the period cf the war, be wisely related to the financial operations of the govern­ ment. "Our first duty Is, of course, to con­ serve the common Interest and the common safety and tc make certain that nothing stands In the way of the successful prosecution of the great war for liberty and justice, but It Is an obligation of public conscience and of public honor that the private interests we disturb should be kept saff from unjust injury, and it is of the utmost consequence to the government itself that all great financial operathms should be stabilized and co-ordinated with the financial operations of the government. No borrowing should run athwart the borrowings of the federal treasury and nc fundamental indus­ trial values should anywhere be un­ necessarily impaired. In the hands of many small investors In the country, as well as ln'natlonal banks. Ir. insurance companies, in savings banks. In trust companies, in financial agencies of ev­ ery kind, railway securities, the sum total of which runs up to some $10,- 000,000,000 or $11,000,000,000, consti­ tute a vital part of the structure of credit, and the unquestioned snlidity of that structure must be maintained. "The secretary of war and I easily agreed that. In view of the many com­ plex interests which must be safe­ guarded and harmonized, as well as because of his exceptional experience and ability in this new field rf govern­ mental action. Hon. William G. Mc- Adoo was the right man to as­ sume direct administrntive control of this new executive task. At Mir re­ quest he consented to assume the au­ thority and duties of organizer and di­ rector general of* the new railway ad­ ministration. He has assumed those duties and his work Is in active prog­ ress. May Need Treasury Grants. "It is probably too much to expect that even under the unified railway ad­ ministration which will now be pos­ sible sufficient economies can be ef­ fected In the operation of the rail­ ways to make It possible tc add to their equipment and extend their op­ erative facilities as much as the pres­ ent extraordinary demands upon their use will render desirable without re­ sorting to the national treasury for the funds. If it is not possible. It will, of course, be necessary to resort to the congress for grants of money for that purpose. The secretary of the treasury will advise with your commit­ tee with regard to this very practical aspect of the matter. For the pres­ ent I suggest only the guaranties I have indicated and ^such appropria­ tions as are necessary at the outset of this task. I take the liberty "f ex­ pressing the hope that the congress may grant these promptly and un­ grudgingly. We are dealing <Wth great matters and will, I am sure, deal with thein greatly; . The Hardiest Palm. The hardiest palm at all common Is California's Trachycarpus excelsus, known as the windmill palm. Not alone Is It hardy In withstanding low temperatures, but it is tough and will endure rough treatment, but boxed It is not a success. Use for Starfish. Starfish are known to contain nearly 5 per ceijt of nitrogen and a small quantity qf phosphoric acid. ID Japan they are used as a manure. PEACE PARLEY HALTS 28,000 GERMAN TROOPS REVOLT-- --OBJECT TO BEING SENT TO FRANCE. FOOD SUPPLIES ARE CUT OFF Kaiser Halts Conference irt Brest-LIt- ovsk Following Russ Demand to Transfer Seat of Negotiations to Stockholm. London, Jan. 8.--An official state­ ment issued at Berlin Saturday and forwarded from Zurich announced that because of the -Russian request to transfer the peace conferences from Brest-Litovsiv8 to Stockholm, the cen­ tral powers had temporarily suspended the negotiations with Russia. The message, which was filed at Zurich Saturday, said: "Another tfro\vn council was held today at Berlin, which Field Marshal von Hindenburg and General von Lu- dendorff attended. After the meeting this official announcement was issued:- " 'In consequence of the request of the Russian government to transfer the seat of negotiations from Brest- Litovsk to Stockholm, the central pow­ ers have temporarily suspended the negotiations with Russia.'" A dispatch received here from the Russian wireless service says that 25,- 000 German soldiers in the region east of Kovno have revolted. German de­ serters stated that in consequence of the government drafting all soldiers below the age of thirty-five for dis­ patch to the western front, the afore­ mentioned number of men rebelled and marched out of the battle line. Then they entrenched themselves with rifles and machine guns against the other German units. The German military authorities have been power­ less against the revolters and are try­ ing to cut off their food supplies. The German deserters declared that one of the motives for the revolt was that the sending of troops to the west­ ern front was a contravention of the Russo-German armistice agreement. CHARLES W. DYSON Charles W. Dyson Is one of the American navy officers recently pro­ moted to the rank of rear admiral. He is bead of the designing room of the bureau of steam engineering. In the navy department. RUSS SCORN PEACE INCOME TAX MADE PLAM New Revenue Will Be Collected Un­ der Laws to Support Fighting Men Abroad. Washington, Jan. 4.--The amount of Income taxes payable under the pres­ ent revenue^ laws are given below. Every unmarried person having a net income of $1,000 or more, and every married person or head of a family having an income of $2,000 or more must tile a return before March 1,1918, Failure to make a correct return within the ' time specified involves heavy penalties. Annual Married Single Income. man's tax. man's tax. » :,ioo $ s 1,20) 4 1.SOO 6 b 1,500 .... 10 1,600 . .... 12 1,700 14 1,800 16 1,900 18 2,000 20 2,500 : .1 10 80 3,000 20 40 4.000 40 80 6,000 80 120 ^ 6.000 130 170 7,000 180 220 8,000 235 276 9,000 295 835 10,000 855 895 11,000 425 46S 12.000 495 635 13,000 670 610 14.000 650 690 16,000 730 770G 16,000 820 17,000 885 18.000 1,000 19.000 1.090 20,004 1.180 25,000 • 1,780 80.000 2.380 35,004 2.080 40,000 8.580 45.000 4,380 60,009 6.180 73,000,4..-- 9.230 100,000 16.T80 150.000 31,680 250,00® .......... 69.680 600,000 : 192.680 1,000,000 ; 475,180 860 905 1,040 1,130 1,220 1,820 2,420 3.020 3,620 4,4-0 6,220 9,970 16,220 31.720 69,720 192,720 475.220 TO CUT PASSENGER TRAINS Director Qeneral McAdoo to Issue Or* der Soon--Will Relieve Freight Congestion. Washington, Jan. 5.--Hundreds of passensrer trains on railroads east of the Mississippi will be withdrawn from service under orders soon to be issued by Director General McAdoo, based on specific recommendations made by a committee of Eastern pas­ senger traffic officers. Dynamite Found in Coal. - Streator, 111.. Jan. 5.--A stick of dy­ namite 14 inches long was found In a car of coal by a workman at the plant of the American Bottle company. Had the dynamite gone into the gas pro­ ducer a severe loss ,of life and proper­ ty would surely have resulted. Offi­ cials of the bottle company profess to believe that the dynamite was loaded with the coal by chaive at the mine. TROTZKY SAYS SLAVS WILL NOT CONSENT TO PROPOSALS. Declares 3,000,000 Ready to .Fight If Central Powers Do Not Change Demands. Petrograd, Jan. 5.--The bolslieviki foreign minister, Leyn Trotzky, de­ clared that the government of the Rus­ sian workers would not consent to the German peace proposals. M. Trotzky's declaration was made before the control committee of the council of workmen's and sailors' delegates, during an address in which he denounced in scathing terms "Ger­ many's hypocritical peace proposal." Asserting that the government of Russian workers would not consent to such conditions, he said that If the central powers did not agree to free disposal of the destiny of the Polish and Lettish nations, it would be urgent­ ly necessary to defend the Rrsslan revolution. He said the needs at the front would be satisfied, whatever ef­ forts might be necessary. Representatives fiom all the fronts who attended tlie meeting declared the troops would defend the revolu­ tion. but said bread and boots were necessary. , The Russian pence delegation offi­ cially has suggested to the central pow­ ers that the meeting place of the peace delegates be transferred to neutral soil. The to'alt In the negotiations and in­ dications of a German refusal to re­ move the conference to Stockholm have revived universal discussion in Petro­ grad of a resumption of fighting, with a greatly reduced army, probably 3,- 000,000 men. HURLEY ASKS CASH FOR SHIPS Seeks $82,000,000 of Congress for Ac­ quisition or Establishment of » Shipbuilding Plants. Washington, Jan. 7.--Chairman Hur­ ley of the shipping board asked con­ gress for $82,000,000 for acquisition or establishment of shipbuilding plants, in addition to the $165,000,000 hereto­ fore asked for the next fiscal year, lie also asked for Increase of author­ ity for construction of ships from $1,- 234,000,000 to $1,935,000,000. F. A. Brown, purchasing officer for the* Emergency Fleet corporation, told the committee that within 60 days the shipping board hopes to have deliv­ ered from Oregon the heavier timbers for the construction of 200 wooden ships at a price of $15 less a thou­ sand thsin that of pine """timbers which the South was unable to deliver. M'ADOO CUTS OFF 400 TRAINS Four Die In Mine Collapse. Wilkesbarre, Pa., Jan. 8.--Four miners are believed to have perished In tin accident in the Barnum mine of the Pennsylvania Coal company near Pittston. About 100 men were at work when the middle vein collapsed. Emperor Charles Bars Duelling. Vienna, Jan. 8.--Emperor Charles has Issued a decree abolishing duelling in the Austro-Hungarlan army. Be­ fore the war the settlement of quar­ rels between officers on "the field of honor was encouraged. Through Passenger Trains on Three Roads East of Pittsburgh Affected. Washington, Jan. 8.--Announcement was made on Sunday at the office of Director General McAdoo that approx­ imately 400 passenger trains had been taken off the three principal roads op­ erating east of Pittsburgh since mid­ night Saturday. Locomotives relieved by "the cutting off of these trains will be turned to the hauling of coal and generally relieving the freight congestion. Third Liberty Loan February 15. Washington, Jan. 7.--The third Lib­ erty loan campaign will be opened February 15, it was learned here. What amount is to be raised could not be ascertained. Preparations for ad- vertislng are nearing completion. When a Woman May Lie. - A Kansas City court has ruled that . y "a woman may lie to her husband when - the provocation 1s great enough.* fir: ' from our meager experience, notes the Pennsylvania Grit, it appears as If the •Hear ones are provoked virtually all •the time. And, mercy, how angry they 'do become when the subject of ages Is broached. sr ; ! ,"7 She Is Like the Reed. -^-Wotnar is like the reed which bends •V' * ' every breeze, but breaks not In the temyesL--Aistbblshop Whately. Written In Fifteenth Century. Written in the fifteenth century, a manuscript containing letters and minor works of St. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, father of the Latin church, who suffered martyrdom in 258, was one of the most interesting objects when the dispersal of the libraries of Charles J. Groves of Boston, Mass., and others was begun. Canadian Forests. The extent of Canada's woodlands and forests is said to exceed -865,000, 000 acres. Teutons Bombard Italy's Hospitals. Rome, Jan. 5.--The Teutons have begun bombing hospitals on the Italian front. The official statement reported enemy airmen directly attacked two hospitals at Castelfranee and Yeneto, killing 18 patients by aerial bombs. China Has 25,000 Men at Front. New York, Jan. 5.--China already has 25.000 men behind the firing lines In Mesopotamia and France, Dr. Well­ ington Koo, Chinews ambassador to this country, said in an address here before the Chamber of Commerce. Will Succeed Newlands. Reno, Nev., Jan. 7.--Charles Belknap Henderson, banker, and attorney of Elko, Nev., was appointed United States senator from Nevada to fill the vacancy caused by the death of'Fran* els G. Newlands, by Gov. Boyle. NEW CABINET POST '.S.5 SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN INTRO*. DUCES MEASURE PROVIDING SECRETARY OF MUNITIONS. WOULD ELIMINATE RED TAPE Proposed Act Has the Backing' of the Senate Committee and Will Be ] Strongly Pressed--In Force Only During War. Washington, .Tan. 7.--A department of munitions under a new cabinet head known as the secretary of munitions is proposed in a bill introduced on Fri­ day by Chairman Chamberlain of the senate military committe as a result Of the committee's investigation of war operations. The new department would operate during the, war and one year thereafter. The bill has the backing of the senate committee and will be strongly pressed. The new secretary of munitions would have power under the presi­ dent's direction to control arms, am­ munition, food, clothing, equipment, tentage, transportation and any other materials the president shall desig­ nate as munitions of war. 1 Government bureaus, agencies and funds necessary to a munitions admin­ istration would be transferred to the new department which contemplates control of naval as well as army sup­ plies. "The bill is intended to increase and expedite the supply of munitions of war," said Senator Chamberlain. One great trouble with the war estab­ lishment as disclosed by the investi­ gation has been a lack of co-ordina­ tion and the seeming Impossibility of getting rid o.f circuitous methods of doing business. Until there can be co­ ordination and methods more direct the United states will be groping in the dark for many months before we can place ourselves in proper fighting trim." NATION'S BIG FOOD INDUSTRY Duties of Holders of Foodstuffs Out­ lined by Charles J.'Brand, Chief of Bureau. . Washington. Jan. 1.--All dealers In nnd holders of foodstuffs in quantities substantially greater than family sup­ plies should report In the war emer­ gency food survey of the United States to be made as of January 1, even though they do not receive inquiry blanks by mail, according to a state­ ment made here by Charles J. Brand, chief of the bureau of markets of the United States department of agricul­ ture, who has the big war inventory in charge. 'We have attempted to send sched­ ules from Washington to each of the hundreds of thousands of firms and In­ dividuals who handle the food supply of the country, but obviously it has been physically impossible to reach them all," said Mr. Brand. "All deal­ ers, manufacturers and warehousemen having any food in'their possession, and all other concerns, such as hotels and institutions having more than $250 worth of food on hand, should arrange to report their holdings of December 31, whether schedules hav<? been deliv­ ered to them or not. In case they do not receive schedules by January 2, they should write for copies to the bu­ reau of markets. United States depart­ ment of agriculture, at Washington, or should call at or write to one of the many branch offices throughout the country." BIG BRIDGE TO DIXIE OPENED Structure Mile and Quarter Long Over Ohio River at Paducah Is Completed. Metropolis, 111., Jan. 7.--A mile-long freight train working its way across ft gigantic steel structure over the Ohio river between Metropolis, 111., and Pa­ ducah, Ivy., and 'disappearing in the distance was the simple "ceremony" that marked the opening of a great masterpiece of bridge engineering which spans the Mason and Dixon line at this point. Approximately a mile and a quarter In length, this is one of the noted bridges of the world. Tt contains the longest single span--720 feet--ever constructed. It is supported by seven piers, the largest of which is 60 by 110 feet at the bottom and 187 feet high-- larger than the average skyscraper. All told, 17;000 tons of steel, 150,000 barrels of cement and 10.000 cubic yards of gravel were used in the con­ struction. the cost of which was $3,100,00*0. The structure is double- tracked. O. K.'s "Autonomous Army." Zurich, Jan. 4.--Emperor Karl of Austria-Hungary lias approved the cre­ ation of an "autonomous Hun army," according to Vienna dispatches. Do You Possess Your $48.76? Washington, Jan. 8.--Money in cir­ culation in the United States January 1, amounted to $5,120,424,000, or $4S.76 per capita, as compared with $5,085,- 370,000 one month ago. Circulation has Increased $680,000,000. Mrs. Wilson Aids Netdy. Washington, Jan. 5.--Mrs. Wood- row Wilson took a hand in helping the city's poor, suffering from eoal shortage, by putting a truck at the disposal of the movement for free/dis­ tribution of eoal to the needy. ISafc Russ and Germans Have Brisk Trade. Petrograd, Jan. 5.--A Russian news­ paper correspondent, who visited the German lines on the north front, found a brisk Interchange of trading now keeping troops on both sides busy, according to his dlsyaptches. Faces Disloyalty Charge. St. Louis, Jan. 8.--llenry C. Koenlg, former member of the St. Louis board of education, was bound over to the federal grand jury after a Red Cross solicitor testified as to disloyal utter­ ances he had made. Held on Disloyalty Charge. St. Louis, Jan. 7.--Henry C. Koenlg, former member of the St. Louis board of education, was bound over to the federal grand Jury after a Red Cross solicitor testified as to disloyal utter­ ances he had made. Austrian Flyers Defy Pope. Rome, Jan. 7.--In the face of the note of protest from the Vatican, Teu­ tonic aviators on Friday again bombed Inhabited parts of the cities of Tre- viso and Padua, a war office statement announced. M R0SLYN WEMYS&^,, Sir Rosslyn Weuiyss, who has been appointed first sea lord of the British admiralty to succeed Admiral Jelllcoe. He is a man of great execu­ tive ability. TO RUSH U. S. ARMY RECOMMENDATIONS OF ALLIES' COUNCIL FOR WINNING WAR. Belligerents Pool Ships to Hurry American Army to Europe- Closer Union Assured. Washington, .ran. 4. -- American troops are to be rushed to Europe in as large and constant a stream as is humanly possible; the allied nations will so arrange their shipping as to provide the necessary transport; the merchant shipbuilding program must be rushed; there is to be closer co­ operation of all the co-belligerents to present- a single and united front to German autocracy; the part of the United States has been clearly defined and arrangements made to carry it out. * These are the principal results, as they affect America, of the recent in­ ter-allied war council in Paris. The recommendations, made by the American delegates, of whom Col. E. M. House, President Wilson's personal representative, was the head, are the result of the great council of heads of all the co-belligerents. A definite plan was formed for more active utilization of American naval forces, and an agreement was made with the British admiralty to effect certain plans for anti-submarine war­ fare. The contribution of the United States to a pooling of war resources was agreed upon. The arrangement guarantees full equipment of every kind to be available to all Ameri­ can forces sent to Europe during 1918. Arrangements were made to have the United States participate in mili­ tary deliberation of a supreme war council "as a step toward efficient and centralized unity of control of military operations." Plans also were worked out where­ by, in order to permit the United States to visualize the problem of food control at home, Great Britain, France and Italy agreed to establish legalized and compulsory control of foodstuffs In their countries. RECORD STORM HITS CHICAGO City Swept by Worst Blizzard in Its History--Traffic Is Halted--Drifts Over 15 Feet High. Chicago, Jan. 8.--Chicago was struck by the most severe storm in its history on Sunday. A 44-mile-an-hour gale which arose in Texas two days ago swept into the city early Sunday morn­ ing and kept up Its terrific pace throughout the day and night. A blind­ ing snow accompanied It. Every form of traffic was demoral­ ized by the elements and drifts of 15 or more feet were not uncommon sights. Several persons were Injured. Pedestrians were few and far between. Railroads--especially to the South, North and West--tossed up the sponge. Those from the East maintained trains, but delays were great. Whole Town Joins Red Cross. Roswell, S. D., Jan. 7.--Every man, woman and child living here has joined the Red Cross. Farmers Choose Florida. Washington, Jan. 8.--The thirty- eighth annual meeting of the farmers' national congress will be held In Jack­ sonville, Fla., next December 3, 4 and 5. This decision was reached here by a subcommittee. Norway Loses Many 8hips. London, Jan. 8.--In December 22 Norwegian ships, with a total gross tonnage of 32,755, were lost in conse­ quence of war measures, the Norweg­ ian legation announced. Seventy-five lives were lost. British Win In Palestine. London, Jan. 7.--An official commu­ nication issued on Friday by the war office says General AHenby reports a further advance by a part of his line north of Jerusalem over a distance of • mile. Four Suggested as New Envoy. London, Jan. 7.--It is suggested edi­ torially hy. lhe DaUy Chronicle that either Viscount Grey, Earl Redding or J. Austen Chamberlain would be acceptable as ambassador at Washing* ton. TO MOBILIZE L J. B. DENSMORE IS NATIONAL On ' iRECTOR OF EMPLOYMENT ' SERVICE. NAMED BY SECRETARY WILSON New Board Formed at Washington t. ^ Will Recruit Workers for Agricul- ture, Shipbuilding and War S, % Contract Plants. Washington, Jan. 9.--Mobilization of 3,000,000 workers for agriculture, ship­ building and war contract plants was intrusted to the United States employ­ ment service by the department of la­ bor. Tremendous expansion of the serv­ ice is in progress in preparation for recruiting men necessary to carry oa the economic work in support of the military forces in the war. Solution of the labor shortage problem by this means is confidently proposed by the department and the co-operating labor organizations in answer to suggestions that conscription of labor is necessary. One early result is expected to be* the placing of 400,000 mechanics in shipbuilding plants to aid in hurrying to completion the merchant marine program. John B. Densmore of Montana, so­ lictor for the department of laborr will be national director of the em­ ployment service by appointment of Secretary Wilson, He will have as his assistant Robert Watson of Mas­ sachusetts and Charles T. Clayton of Maryland. Samuel J. Gompers of New York, son of the labor leader, will succeed Mr. Watson as the depart­ ment's chief clerk. Organization plans of the new serv­ ice were described in an official state­ ment, which said, in part: "The United States employment service has been divorced from the bureau of immigration, made a sepa­ rate arm of the department and one of the largest and most important war- prosecuting organizations of the na­ tional government. "Through the utilization of existing and proposed federal, state and Snu- nicipal employment offices and state defense councils the federal employ­ ment service will cover the entire con­ tinent with a network of inter-related labor exchanges. These will "recruit' and transfer workers from one section to another and eliminate the present chaotic situation of a surplus of work­ ers in one region and a shortage in so­ other. "Supplementing this labor distribu­ tion work, the federal service will cre­ ate a vast reservoir of labor to meet the increasing demands of the various war industries. "The public service reserve is ex­ pected to prove a conscription of la­ bor to be unnecessary." EARL READING SENT TO U. S. Will Have Title of Ambassador, but Will Be Representative of British War Cabinet. London, Jan. 9.--Earl Reading, lord chief justice, will go to the United States as direct representative of the British war cabinet, according to the Daily Express. While Earl Reading will have the title of ambassador, pure­ ly diplomatic matters will be in the hands of a charge d'affaires, the earl controlling war activities. Earl Reading's work will, according to the understanding In official circles, deal mainly with financial and general business matters, and he will he re­ lieved of the ordinary ajnbassadorlal functions of handling numerous minor diplomatic negotiations, which consti­ tute a large part of the embassy's work. DRAFT LAW IS SUSTAINED Chief Justice White Delivers Unani­ mous Opinion of Uncle Sam's Highest Court. Washington, Jan. 9.--The selective service act was upheld on Monday a» constitutional by the Supreme court. The government's contention that the power given congress to declare war Includes power to compel citizens to render military service both at home and abroad were sustained by the court. Chief Justice White, who delivered the unanimous opinion, in a brief state­ ment declared that after considering the various contentions the conclusion had been reached that most of them were imaginary rather than real. U. S. Ship Sunk; 8 Men Lost. New York. Jan. 9.--The American steamship Harry Luckenbach has been torpedoed and sunk with loss of life, according to word received on Mon- ,day by the owners of the vessel. Eight of the crew ore missing, the owners were inf-ormed. The crew con­ sisted of 30 men. British Casualties. London. Jan. 9.--British casualties reported during the week ending Mon­ day, totaled 18;998. The losses were as follows: Officers killed or died of wounds, 113; men, 3,832. Officers wounded or missing, 448; men, 14,006. Half Rate for Soldiers. Topeka, Kan., Jan. 9.--Governor Cap­ per appealed to the secretary of war to have the government put in a half-fare railroad rate for all soldiers going home on furloughs. He says the coun­ try owes the boys that much. John D. Gives More for Wan New York, Jan. 9.--John D. Rocke­ feller, Sr., contributed $5,500,000 addi­ tional to the Rockefeller Foundation. This sum is needed to meet the addi­ tional demands made on the Founda­ tion on account of the war. Hamburg Dark to Save Coal. Amsterdam, Jan# 9.--Hambnrg. Ger­ many's second largest city. Is now en­ tirely without street illumination at night, in cons-equence of the shortage of cool, which has curtailed the ont- put of ga8 and electrlcity.