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Fire* Cost 500 : - : Million a Yeea r Eighty Per Cent of Fires Preventable, Says President of Fire Protection Association. Chicago.--There is a bonfire in the United States, -a blazing pyre fled by frame cottages and brick factories, by forests and farm crops, by ships and Automobiles. Every mlnate, year in «nd year out, $1,000 Is thrown Into this fire. Every half hour, day after 4ay, a man, woman or child Is cast Into the flames. There Is no jsuch bonfire In reality, tmt the picture of the blaze fed by money and by human beings represents the actual toll of fire In America each year as It was expressed at the 27th annual meeting of the National Fire Protective association In convention at the Drake hotel. 15,000 Lives Yearly Toll. "The tragedy of the whole thing Is that 80 per cent of these fires are preventable," said H. O. Lacount of Boston, president of the association. "Carelessness is the thief that is stealing $1.70 out of every $1,000 of the nation's wealth through the annual Are loss of $500,000,000. Carelessness Is the assassin who annually causes the death of 16,000 persons though lire accidents In this country." The smoker who heedlessly drops his pipe or cigarette ash Into a wast* basket and the person who thoughttegsly tosses a glowing match Into a pile of waste are the ones who start tnost of the fires. Next In order of responsibility come defective chimneys and flues--proper cleaning or a trowel full of plaster would prevent nearly all of these fires. Dustless mops and electric fiattrons, the latter left going while the house wife answers the front door, represent the two classes of fire causes which run a close race for third place-- «lectrlcal Installations and spontaneous combustion. Assails School Condition*. "Lack of proper exits, proper fire drill and sufficient fire fighting apparatus endanger 00 ^er cent of our school children," declared B. & Ifoulton, member of the 8afety to TJt^ committee which made Its report recently. The association seeks Improvement of fire laws, establishment of more rigid building codes. Among other things, It protests against use of the inflammable motion picture film and urges adoption of the slow burning film now on the market. "Nltro-cellulose film," read the report of the committee on public Information, "discarded by picture houses, Is being sold and transported In lengths of from 10 to 200 feet through the malls to the owners and operators of amateur projectors throughout the eottntry. . There la at present no legal restriction to thu traffic." Heiress to Estate Must Wed 2-Generation Yank Denver, Colo.--A bequest of the greater part of the residuary estate of Gen. Frank D. Baldwin, Colorado'* Holland Is Getting Rattlers From Idaho Ontario, Ore.--Idaho rattlesnakes are being shipped to Holland where they will engage in the manufacture of a serum for the benefit of the human race, the enemy of all snakedom. Robert Llmbert, of Boise, ha* shipped 47 rattler* to Amsterdam, Holland, where they will be used by the putch government in experimental work, chiefiy In the development of a serum calculated to provide a cure for rheumatism. The snake* were captured in an hour and a quarter at Black's creek, 12 miles from Boise, on the Mountain Home highway. They range from 10 to 30 inches in length. Repair Shi] Jp Added to the American Navy greatest military hero, to his granddaughter, MInr Alice Amle WUllams- •Foote, providing that she marry an American of at least two generations, marks the general's last will and testament filed here. Total assets of th* estate are estimated at slightly more than $20,000, one-half of which 1* left outright to the widow. . A I m I The United States repair ship Medusa, the first ship of her kind ever constructed, photographed at her launching at Bremerton, Wash., recently. The Medusa Is the first ship design ;d and constructed to accompany the battle fleet ln*U its cruisings and prepared to make any repair possible at sea. She Is 488 feet long and has a capacity for 22 officers, a crew of 272 and sailor workmen numbering 108. Need Technical Talent in Navy Officers of High Rank In favor of Premium to Keep Men for Long Terms. Washington.--Despite the MMbtlon attracted In recent months to the question of gun elevation on battleships and modernization of the fleet, the problem of biggest concern to the navy today 1* personnel. In the recent fleet maneuver, ranking naval officers made every effort to emphasize that the question of enlisted personnel 1* the main consideration in Broadcasters Form Association Radio broudcasters met the other duy in Chicago to form a national association and to combat the royalty demands of authors, composers and publishers. Here, left to right are: Eugene F. McDonald, president Chicago Radio laboratories, temporary secretary of the National Broadcasters' association; J. Elliott Jenkins, director WDAP, a member of the committee to draft a constitution and by-laws; Wilson J. Wetberbee, director Westinghouse station KYW; Thorne Donnelly, temporary chairman, director WDAP; Powell Crosley, Jr., temporary treasurer. the maintenance of the 544 naval ra> tlo of the Washington treaty. It Is estimated that 60,000 of the Mr 000 provided by law will be due to re^ tire at the expiration of their terms of enlistment, while the navy will be lucky to get 40 per cent of these to reenlist. This constant turnover from year to year is regarded as the weak feature of the fleet. Longer Enlistment Period*. In stressing the problem in it* relation to personal efficiency naval experts point out that the British enlistment term is twelve years, while the Japanese term 1b ten years, thus assuring these countries a permanent personnel of trained men which the United States cannot hope to have at the rate of the present yearly turnover. Doing away with the war enlistment periods of two years and three years and going back to the four-year period will help to some extent, but even at that It is estimated that. In order to have a personnel sufficient to maintain the efficiency ratio of the 5-5-3 treaty, the United States should allow Itself at all times a larger personnel than Great Britain has, while at the present th total British personnel Is 20,000 med greater than of the United States. Not Enough Radio Men. The constant turnover Is particularly felt in the bigger and more technical phases of naval work. A* an example of this it is pointed out that the navy today Is unable to maintain anything like the requisite quota of radio telegraphers, although tadio communication Is the very nerve center of naval operations. It Is estimated that there should be enough of these to take care not only of the fleet but of every shore station under the American flag. Development of expert gunnery also Is severely handicapped by the same situation as regards personnel shifting. Down In the fleet It Is not at till unusual to see officers of a battleship throwing dice to decide who shall get an electrician newly assigned to duty. The demand now Is that congress put some kind of premium on technical ability In the navy and allow compensation which would enable the navy to keep this class In the service for a long term of years. Seek for Reason Why Women Work Labor Bureau Delves* Into Problem for Answer to Economio Status of Men. RUSSIA IS NOW FACING BIG SURPLUS OF GRAIN A_ Oistricts Starving Year Ago Now Swamped With Wheat Moscow.--Too much bread promises to be Russia's dilemma In 1923. From 1917 until 1922 bread was the most precious thing in Russia. A farmer could trudge into Moscow with a small sack of grain and trade it for a grand piano or anything which the hungry city dwellers had to offer. Now the same peasant could walk from one end of Russia to the other and, excepting in a few isolated famine districts, could not get a jackknlfe for the same eack of grain. If the harvest of this year turns out as expected, Russia will have a surplus of grain which could be sold abroad. From a country which less than 18 months ago was clamoring for crusts, Russia has changed Into a nation wbicb promises within a few months to be swamped with wheat and rye. At Saratof, near certain communes that have been listed as faminestricken, rye flour, the staple of bread, is quoted at less than 25 cents a pood, which is 36 pounds. At Samara, the district where even cannibalism occurred among the starving a year ago, rye goes begging at less than 40 cents a bushel. In Moscow, transportation costs have made prices somewhat higher, almost double the reigning price In the great producing regions. Siberia, once the granary from which wheat poured Into western Europe, did not fare so well in last year's harvest, and there prices are higher, but in Odessa and at Kleff, in the southern wheat belt, recent official quotations show wheat costing under 70 cents a bushel. The soviet government, through the collection of taxes, has rolled up a I grain reserve amounting to nearly 200,- 000,000 bushels. Some of this is needed to feed the army, but as for the bulk of the grain, unless It can be exported, the government doe* not know what to do with It . » y J The government is trying to * $ find out why women work. Can \ 0 you give the reason? ' ...4 Washington.--Most women work because they need the money. Such la the conclusion reached as a result of a survey made by the women's bureau of the Department of Labor. The rapidly Increasing number of women in Industry, In business and in the professions Is creating economic problems that are not to be solved offhand nor dismissed with a gesture. For instance, what will be the effect of this ten" ;ncy upon marriage, the family and the future of the race? And, again, what will be the ultimate effect of the competition between men and, women in similar field* of work aqa endeavor? Is it possible that the more women there are who work the more there will be of the succeeding generation who will have to work? Is It all due to the high cost of living, and is the world fast approaching a situation in which It will be Impossible for the average man to earn enough or produce enough to support the average family without assistance from those who should be his dependents? These ant some of the questions growing ouinOT the problem that Is recognized as sufficiently real and Important to call for study by a governmental agency. War'a Influence One Faeor, It Is undoubtedly true that the World war contributed largely to the problem and complicated It by forcing women Into Industrial occupations never before undertaken by them. "The Industrial Code,"' a recent work on industrial relations, in discussing thla says: "Under stress of national necessity It was found that woman could do almost any kind of work that man can do. Handicaps theretofore accepted as Insurmountable were overcome quickly and easily. Was It a question of clothing; hampering skirts, petticoat* and the like? Then the impedimenta were discarded promptly and the overalls of the male workers were adopted. Was It a matter or Inferior physical strength? Then Inventive genius came forward with a machine, or a method, that minimized the physical demands made upon the worker. Was It a question of environment; of moral and sex hazards to which, under the old order, common acceptance ruled that women should not be subjected? Then society Immediately reared around the woman workers a protective wall of sentiment and public opinion that guaranteed them an Immunity never before enjoyed by any of their sex "It was found that many occupations had been closed to women for no reason other than tradition or custom, and it was also found that women excelled at tasks at which It had been b* lieved only men could be proficient Contrary to expectations, It was found that standards of productivity in many Instances were raised Instead of lowered as a result of the Introduction of woman workers In industries theretofore reserved to men." Compete With Men for Jobs. It was when the man returned from war service and found a woman In his old position that the trouble really began, for the situation Immediately obtained of two workers for one job, creating a competition that tended Inevitably toward the reduction of wages and salaries. This was a bad situation from the labor standpoint, and the fact that some employers were not slow to take advantage of It made It all the more acute. Many of the women continued at work. Hence £he inquiry. "We all know that the mere fact of so many women at work Is an Important one," says the statement of the women's bureau, "and one that has much bearing on the organization of our present life. But we cannot get the final significance of this fact until we know why so many women are working. "Women work because they need the money, not only to support themselves, but for an even more urgent service, to help in the support of their families. This statement may be a surprise to you; it is surprising to many people who for some reason think that many women are at work Just for fun or excitement But It is a true statement, and if you will look around you, you will see that It la true." In the case- of single women who are working the bureau found that an invalid mother or a worn-out father are not uncommon charge* for the working woman. In the United States as a whole about one woman of every fly* la gainfully employed. Only about one-fifth of the wageearning women are married, but that one-fifth is working for the aame reason as the other four-fifths--because they need the money. Two-Third# of Detroit Workers in Auto Plants Detroit, Mich.--Half the Industrial employees In Detroit in 1914 were employed in the automobile or allied Industrie*. Today approximately two-third* of the Industrial employees here are working either in automobile planta or In factories closely allied to the automotive Industry. Officials of the Detroit board of commerce make the announcement to show the rapid growth of the automobile Industry. 'During the period the population of Detroit has more than doubled. In 1914 Detroit had a total of 112,- 483 Industrial employees, of whom about 56,000 worked In automobile or accessory plants. Today the city has approximately 320,000 industrial workers, and of these about 205,000 are employed either In automobile planta or In establishments where parts of motorcars or motors are produced. The number of automobiles made in Michigan every year is about 80 per cent of the total output of the coun try. Killed Recovering Ball for Qlrl. Seattle, Wash.--Catallna Tarantan, twenty-one years old, bell boy at the Hotel Sorrento here, was killed when he went down an elevator shaft to recover a ball for Suzanse Held, little daughter of Judge George T. Reld. vice-president of the Northern Pacific railway. ' Woman Makes Furniture. Potsdam.--Frauleln Mary Peschlow of Nowowes, is the first woman in Germany to pass a successful examination as a cabinet and furniture maker. She will work actively at th* trade among all men artisans. Remains of Senator Nelson Arriving at St. Paul Prince of Wales Picks Beans at Big Banquet London. -- English hostesses who have been vying among themselves to have the popular Prince of Wales dine with them have been dismayed to find that his royal highness has very abstemious tastes and eschews all except the simplest dishes. One of London's most aristocratic and wealthy families set a regal banquet before the prince lately, only to find that their guest passed It all by and chose a plate of cold ham and beans. English physicians attribute the prince's good health to his frugal diet, abstention from all rich, highly seasoned dishes, especially flesh foods; much outdoor exercise, and a cheery, optimistic disposition. Keeping Soldier iii Ifons Is Abolished London.--Lieut Col. Walter Guln cess announced in the house of commons recently that the army council lias decided to abolish field punishment No. 1. „ Corporal punishment in the army was abolished in peace time In 1868 for the reason that some commanding officers were discovered to be Introducing many Illegal punishments to avoid having to resort to the lash. •Then, In 1881, flogging was finally done away with, and two forms of field punishment, known as No. 1 and No. 2, were Introduced, it having been found necessary to employ some form •f punishment in the field wlflch should cause the offender no Injury and which should- not prevent the performance of his active military duties. Under field punishment No. 1 the offender could be kept In irons--fetters, or handcuffs, or both--and attached for certain clearly lald-down periods of time to a fixed object He could be subjected to any labor, employment, or restraint as though he had been sentenced to Imprisonment. Field punishment No. 2 was precisely similar, except that the offender could not be attached to a fixed object Boy Falls Fnre Stories; - * Clothesline Saves Life New York. -- Jimmy Marzigliano, three years old, fell five stories from the fire escape at his home to a cementpaved court yard. His parents returned from the city hospital and smiled, as they said they had been told his injuries consisted of a scratch on an arm and another on the nose, but at the hospital Jimmy was reported In a serious condition. A network of clotheslines from the back window* of the tenement where Jimmy lives, to a pole 'n the rear of the courtyard, saved him from being crushed on the pavement. He had climbed on a box to watch a ball game In the yard. He clutched a clothesline and It snapped, but the rope unwound through a pulley, swinging him into the railing of the fire escape off the first floor windows, from which he dropped to the pavement _ Norwegian Preacher ROAD BILL RIDES THROUGH SENATE i Upper Chamber Passes the Goi* ernor's $100,000,000 Highway Measuce. The body of .ae late Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota on the palsson with the military escort tnat received th* body at the Union station In St Paul and escorted It to the state capital, where it lay In state two days prior to Interment at Alexandria. Starts Labor Trouble • Bergen, Norway.--The latest "dream preacher" one Maria Akerblom, has been arrested In Finland. The woman caused such a furor among the work* Ing classes that the authorities felt forced to take action. Going from place to place on horseback, with flowing hair. Maria foretold the immediate end of the world. She declared that in view of this to own a house or land, to save money or do any kind of work, was useless. As a result of her preaching all of her large following of peasants, it is said, have been economically rnlned. NEW BALLOON TO FIGHT GYPSY MOTH FROM AIR Ten thousand tons of tomatoes cucumbers, cauliflower, onions, grapes, carrots, cabbage and other garden products arrived in the United States from Holland last year. Agriouttural Department Borrows Army Machine. Washington. -- The gypsy moth, which long has been playing havoc tn the forests of New England and elsewhere, must watch Its step from now on. Early In June experts of the Department of Agriculture will 6tart a flgnt on this tree p^st from the air. For tliis campaign, the army air service has turned over to the department the M-B, a new-type motor balloon built for the specific purpose of spraying and powdering with chemicals pest-infested forests. The M-li Is capable of hovering over a specified point, and this characteristic is expected to prove highly valuable In the campaign. It has heen thoroughly tested by the engineering division of the air service at McCook field. It i* equipped with two 75-hors# pewsr m«• V tors and carries five passengers. An army crew jvlll navigate the M-B dui^ ing the campaign against the gypsy moth. New York state appropriated $150,- 000 for combating the gypsy moth along the border from the St Lawrence river to Long Island sound, but it is feared that any measures confined to application from the ground will prove inadequate. Coue Beads Latest Fad of University Co-eds Iowa City. la.--Coue heads are the latest fnd among University of Iowa co-eds, the string consisting of 20 polished walnut beads with an oval. pendant. The beads which represent the famed auto suggestion methods of Emile Coue, are coming to be potent lectors In keeping up courage before tin exam. Instead of a last flustered glance over, the notebook before the final quiz, each fair co-ed calmly counts off her "Day by day, In every way, my freshman English Is getting better and better." Some fears are expressed In sorority circles that the chant may come to take the place of the nightly "Now I lay me." - WIRS BY VOTE OF 31 TO 12 8*nator Essington of LaSalle County* Leada Fight Against Act--House < . Slashes Omnibus Bill--No In- ^ x orease for Chicago Judge*. Springfield.--The senate by a vote of 81 to 12 passed the bill embodying Governor Small's plan for an issue of $100,000,000 new good roaa uouas Senator Thurlow G. Essington, of\ LaSalle county, led the fight against" the bill, and later changed his vote ill order to move reconsideration on th* next legislative day. Senator Dalley, of Peoria, who voted for the bill, blocked Senator Essington by moving foi- reconsideration Immediately. The motion was defeated, but Senator B*- slngton Insisted he would make his mo-, tlon on the next legislative day and that the bill would be Invalid unlea* a ' new vote were taken. The measure is expected to pass the house, but that body may adopt some amendments advocated by friends of economical government. In that event the senate would have to pass on the hill again, but In either case the me**- ure Is expected to emerge from the legislature within the next fortnight Governor Small will sign it if it 'Is passed, and the voters of the state will express their opinions of the bond Issue at a referendum In November, 1034. How They Voted. The senators voted as follows: For the bill--Bailey, Barr, Boyd, Boehni, Carlson, Carroll, Cuthbertson, Dalley, Denvir, Duvall, Ettelson, Forrester, Gilberson, Gray, Honpisch, Hamilton, Jewell, Lantx, Marias, Meents, Plotrowski, Ryan, SchulzU Shaw, Smith, N. E. Smith, O. W. Sfteed, BHv ford, Turnbaugh, Van Lent, Wood. Against--Buck, Dunlap, Essington, Glenn, Hicks, Kessinger, MacMurray, Mason. Mills, Searcy, Swift, Webster. Senator Richard R, Meents, Republican, of Iroquois county, who introduced the bill, called the bill up for passage with the statement that there had been enough talk, that every man had decided how to vote, and that an Immediate roll call should be taken. Slashes Omnibus Bill. A total of $550,600 had ben lopped off the original $18,000,000 carried ill the omnibus bill when the house of representatives ended second reading consideration of the bill. Speaker Shaiiahun announced that the omuibu* will be made a special order of business next Tuesday when it will go t*> a roll call. ' Governor Small's state tax coa^ mission, the Illinois commerce commission, and health department pay rollers were chief sufferers in the reductions made by the house. The Investigating fund of the tax commission was cut $20,000 annually. Percy B. Collin, one of the governor's chief advisers, is head of the tax commissi on. This reduction, $40,000 for the bienuium, was made on an amendment fered by Representative Castle Harrington). No Boost for Chicago Judges. The Marks bill to iucreuse the salaries of the Municipal court judges la, Chicago was defeated in the senate 19 to IT. Senator Marks gave notice of , reconsideration. Senator Kessinger (ltep., Kane) led the opposition. Ok's Brundage Budget. The senate committee on appropriations voted to act favorably on tk* bill giving Attorney General Brundag* $75,000 to prosecute the $2,500,000 Interest suite against Governor Lieut. Gov. Fred E. Sterling and Andrew Russei as former state trea*w era. The Brundage forces won by tit < slender margin of two votes after on* of the hottest committee fights of th* session. Every effort had been mad* by both sides to obtain a full attenfanoe and 30 senators were preeent at ' the roll call. The test came on a vot* on a motion by Senator Richard J. Barr (Rep., Will) to table the bill, afe action which would have killed It The roll call follows: Those agalnifc killing the bill in committee--Barbour* Boehme, Buck, Cuthbertson, Dunlajy Essington, Glaekln, Glenn. Hlcka* Hughes, MacMurray, Mason, Milhfc O. W. Smith, Swift Those in favor of kilting the bill-- Bailey, Barr, Boyd, Dalley, G!lberso% Haenlsch, Hamilton, Jewell. Lant* Meents, N. E. Smith, Sneed, Telfordt Wood. V The Shepard-Towner federaV-ald bIR was passed by the senate by a vote tf' 27 to 8, with four not voting. This permits Illinois to accept provisions of the federal act i>romolk Ing Infant and maternity welffersi Check for Two Cents Settles Man's Estate LIdu., O.--A check for two cents was cleared in the regular way through the banks her* recently. The check was drawn by John T. Cotnert clerk of courts, to R. S. Stetlner, attorney, and was necessary In the settlement of .an estate. It was said to be the smallest check that ever passed through the local clearing house. All Over th* Stat*. Aurora.--Adjt. Gen. C. E. Black h** authorized the organization here of ||l National Guard llnlt to be knbwn Machine Gun company D. with a meofe» bershlp of not less than fifty nor mo«i» thnn seventy-eight. W. C. Groom, ** world war veteran, wtll be Its cnptal% Elgin.--The cornerstone of Klgln^K Masonic temple will be laid .Tune % with Elmer E. Beach of Chicago. ?mn<t master of the Illinois grand lodge, in charge of the ceremony. It is ex-' pected former Gov. F. O. Ijowdeo will deliver the principal a^ldresR. Rockford.--Plans are beinx made t» reorganise Rockf<Td's two cna:panle« of Nntioiial Guardsmen as units of th* One Hungered -and Twvntv-ninth infantry. Th'rty-th'.rd division. A n«>wr state armory, costing $300.<X,o. Innr* enough for conventions, e.\p<>sttl,»ux athletic rtrhesand other I>1« ewnis. |» a po^lMHtp. If the roinpwnles are i*> organized. Ohio.--Twtre <r?thb» «*»«-« t hive plllitBeel tte H«»Hn* ,.f \y# H. Kmuh. Oa tv«* rlsdt ttmlf merchandise t» th* v*t«t «f ttu-v tbMfe $2,500.