Evening star. [volume], August 23, 1935, Page A-8, Image 8

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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CJT- . . -
THE EVENING STAR
With Sunday Morning Edition.
WASHINGTON. D. C.
FRIDAY .August *3, 1935
THEODORE W. NOYES.Editor
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herein are also reserved.
Compromise.
The President has saved his utility
holding company bill and the House has
“saved Its face.” In a final drive the
President has brought about the consent
of the House to a “compromise" of the
original “death sentence" clause which
had been adopted by the Senate and
nas then rejected by the House. A
letter written by the Chief Executive to
Representative Rayburn of Texas, chair
man of the Interstate and Foreign Com
merce Committee, expressing a hope that
the House would accept the compromise,
was one of the closing moves in this
political melodrama which has been
played over a period of six weeks or
more.
Considerable difference of opinion was
expressed in the House debate yesterday
as to the real meaning of the “death
sentence" compromise. A “death sen
tence” obviously is a difficult thing to
compromise. For example, Representa
tive Huddleston of Alabama, Democrat,
Who has been a leader from the start
In the House fight against the Senate
clause, commenting on the proposal,
•aid:
“This compromise proposal Is like
Imposing a death sentence on a man
and then granting him a reprieve on the
condition that he eat a keg of nails
each morning for breakfast. Only three
or four holding companies in the entire
country can survive if this biU is passed.
The compromise, however, is declared
by Its supporters, among them Mr. Ray
burn, to be less drastic than the original
clause adopted by the Senate and a
concession to the House. The language,
at least, is different. The compromise
directs the Securities Exchange com
mission to require by order after January
1, 1938, that existing public utility hold
ing company systems be limited to one
such company and one subsidiary and
to prevent control by the two companies
of more than one integrated operating
system. However, if the commission
finds that additional integrated systems
now controlled by the two holding com
panies are not capable of independent
economic operation, the present con
nection may continue.
The effect of the compromise, never
theless, will be to require widespread in
tegration, or unifying of existing holding
company systems by means of exchange
of securities or public sale. It will mean
a great shrinkage In the number of ex
isting holding companies, and those
which remain will have to give up con
trol over a large number of operating
units.
The vote In the House yesterday
ehowed 59 Democrats and one Republi
can changing their position of August 1,
when the House declared against in
structing Its conferees to agree to the
Senate “death sentence” clause. The
parliamentary maneuvering to make it
possible for this final measure of vic
tory for the President in this contest
has been effective. Not once has the
Senate been given an opportunity to say
whether it would recede from Its original
vote for the clause and accept the
House proposal. And the original Senate
vote showed the death sentence clause
passing the Upper House by the margin
of one.
Belated Road Correction.
When the Defense Highway in Mary
land, leading from the Capital to
the Severn River, was constructed it
was immediately recognized as danger
ously narrow. The fifteen feet of driv
ing surface could not possibly accom
modate the traffic safely, especially in
view of the numerous curves. Acci
dents occurred promptly. Cars went
off the sides and crashed and lives were
lost. This led to an "Improvement,” the
paved surface being widened to twenty
feet. Still the road was dangerous.
A “berm” or side surface of dirt proved
a treacherous factor and the accidents
continued. Barely adequate for week
day traffic, it proved again to be inade
quate at week ends, when the traffic
greatly increased. The casualty toll
mounted despite the extension of the
pavement.
Last Tuesday’s disaster, the worst in
the record, with five persons killed, has
brought the matter to the point of fur
ther action and now* the Maryland State
Roads Commission has moved to cor
rect this menace. It has decided to
seek funds from the Public Works Ad
ministration for the widening of the
highway to permit a three-lane course.
It Is to be assumed that this improve
ment will include the abolition of the
dangerous abrupt drop from the con
crete surface to the dirt abutment,
which was the Immediate cause of the
accident of last Tuesday, in which five
lives were sacrificed.
It Is an infinite pity that the obvious
dangers of road construction are not cor
rected before, rather than after, fatalities
occur. This condition on the Defense
- Highway has been patent for years. It
V.
ha* taken ten lives at the same point
where the car and bus collided on Tues
day. The curves need correction as well
as the surface. They have been evi
dent perils ever since the road was laid
out. If the State had been held re
sponsible in monetary damages lor the
maintenance of this dangerous thor
oughfare in the case of all the casualties
that have resulted from it the correc
tion would have been assured long ago.
But the theory prevails that the road
user assumes his own risk and conse
quently there Is no compensation when
the faulty planning and construction of
the road result in accidents.
There are many other dangerous
places and dangerous roads in the sub
urban area which require correction.
This present case is simply the most
tragic demonstration of a long-neglected
duty.
A Stopgap Measure.
Like the worried old lady, who, ha
rassed over the prospect of leaving the
children alone during her absence,
flung back the parting admonition:
‘•Don't let the cow awallow the grind
stone.” Congress rushes toward the de
lightful prospect of adjournment with
strict order* to the Preiident not to get
us mixed up in this pending European
war while it Is away.
The Pittman neutrality resolution, im
perfectly drawn and in itself incapable
of effecting its high purpose, opposed
by both the President and his advisers
at the State Department, has been com
promised by limiting its provisions to
February 39, 1936. By that time Con
gress will be back at work. The role
of a neutral nation may be studied
against the background of actual condi
tions, and legislation then framed to
fit the case.
That sort of compromise is about all
that could be expected without delaying
the long-sought adjournment for an
other indefinite period. As a declara
tion of basic policy it undoubtedly rep
resents a solid public opinion, unalter
ably opposed to war. It gives the Presi
dent needed authority in law to place
embargoes on munitions and other ship
ments of war materiel—authority the
lack of which might be embarrassing.
And in case of an emergency of some
sort between now and next January, In
which the President would be seriously
handicapped in the conduct of foreign
relations by the terms of the neutrality
resolution, a special session of Congress
could be cohvened on a few days’ notice
to deal with that emergency.
As a declaration of permanent policy
the Senate resolution is unsatisfactory.
Its arbitrary terms are in a manner
contradictory to the obligation of a
world power to use its influence to main
tain world peace. The resolution affords
no real safeguard against the very
entanglements which are feared and
which are best prevented by leaving with
the President the discretion in foreign
affairs entrusted to him under the
Constitution. The people of the United
States do not want war. There is no
mistake about that. But war entangle
ments cannot be avoided by mere statu
tory declaration that there are to be no
entanglements.
Gas Tax Diversion.
Gas tax diversion to uses other than
those which benefit the special class of
taxpayers from whom it is collected is
to be fought as a vicious abuse of the
principle on which it was first levied.
The facts that it is easy to collect, and
that a moderate tax is relatively pain
less—like all sales taxes—have led to this
abuse in some jurisdictions, which have
squeezed gasoline taxes to the point of
diminishing returns, and used the pro
ceeds for a variety of purposes totally
unrelated to the tax-paying responsi
bilities of automobile users.
In Washington the gasoline tax has
yielded more revenue for needed street
and highway work than properly should
be charged to automobile users, and
more revenue than Congress has been
willing to appropriate for the purposes
to which it is confined. Should the
gas tax proceeds be available for use
as part of the general tax fund of the
District, the prospect would be excessive
and unreasonable taxation of a class of
taxpayers already heavily taxed.
Gas tax diversion is not only unfair,
but dangerous and represents a prin
ciple that should be fought to the end
at the District Building. •
An African-European war is feared.
As events develop Africa may figure so
obscurely as to leave Addis Ababa only
a modern substitute for Serajevo.
A “FifthEstate ”
Radio is becoming a ‘‘fifth estate” in
America. Such, in any case, is the judg
ment of Federal Communications Com
missioner George K. Payne, who, In a
speech to the American Association of
Agricultural College Editors at Cornell
University, warned against the dangers
of permitting the broadcasting business
to win political power. The networks,
he insisted, are generally motivated and
controlled by commerce. Unlike the
newspapers of the land, “the radio
battles for no rights” save those of Its
own selfish interests.
Such an Indictment is perhaps some
what too inclusive. The public pfob
ably will not forget that there are many
programs on the air which are entirely
unobjectionable. But It also will re
member that In more than one recent
instance there has been gross abuse of
the privilege of utterance over the ether.
Freedom of speech, it seems, may be
perverted. And Mr. Payne is well within
the facts of the matter in his com
plaint against the sale of radio time
to irresponsible demagogues. The great
broadcasting chains undeniably are at
fault when for a consideration they
admit to their programs propagandists
of discontent, promoter* of anti-social
mischief.
The press faced the sane problem long
ago. It was obliged to practice a degree
of discrimination. The loss in terms of
money was serious, but the gain in terms
at sell respect was worth the price. Radio
•
doubtless will have a similar experience.
Supervision already exists and may be
strengthened, If the networks remain
unconCcted by their owners. Mr. Payne
would have the support of thousands In
any campaign he might launch to rid
the air of nuisances thus far too patient
ly tolerated. The public resents the
misuse of the principle of free expression.
But a "fifth estate” is not In itself
a perilous development. Radio has a
cultural significance which cannot be
questioned. It la Indorsed by millions.
To hold the good will of the populace,
however, the networks must be mindful
of their obligation. Unworthy program
material Ik a danger. Listeners-in, It
should be remembered, have the privilege
of quitting, and when a sufficient num
ber exercise that right the broadcasting
business will feel the force of their dis
approval. Tlmf on the air can be sold
only to sponsors assured of a public.
The question, therefore. Is one for the
Nation to decide. If the people want
a "fifth estate,” they will say so.
“I Object!”
Federal employes, ruefully contemplat
ing the wreckage of the leave bills today,
will be pardoned if they conclude that
justice can be stretched to the point
; where it ceases to be a virtue and be
comes what is commonly known as a
pain.
Arguing that any new legislation
should result In the same treatment for
everybody, Senator McKellar of Ten
nessee yesterday blocked action on the
measures to restore the thirty days’ an
nual leave and to standardise sick leave,
declaring they would do too much for
some and not enough for others.
"The bills ought to go over until equal
justice can be done to all employes,*
was his premise.
Supported on the one hand with a
letter from the Navy Department asking
exclusion from tha legislation of field
employes now on the forty-bour-week
basis, the Tennessee Senator cited the
cue of these—unless the law were
changed—as a horrible example of leave
prodigality. The other side of the pic
ture, he amplified, was {assented in the
mail equipment shops here, far which
the bills made no provision. These em
ployes, he said, receive neither sick nor
annual leave. The Poet Office Depart
ment reports that they get fifteen days*
annual leave, Just as do other postal
employes.
In the field of controversy, at this
stage of the congressional session, the
bills of course went "out," thereby get
ting, as Senator Copeland, Democrat,
of New York aptly put the case, equality
for everybody—or precisely nothing.
It. is regrettable that Senator McKel
lar, the lone dissenter of the Upper
House, could not have seen the advisa
bility of passing the leave bills "as is”
for the benefit of the overwhelming
majority of the Federal force and then
legislating for the minority at the next
session or, meanwhile, relying upon an
executive order to effect a correction of
the inequality.
Country roads are not as highly con
sidered as big, well-gardened boulevards.
This is fine for the big city tourists, but
| rough on the farmer seeking to get his
crop residue to market.
The only man on earth who retains
the title "czar” Is Will Hayi, »nd there
are signs of dawning dictatorship even
in his background.
_ . _
Shooting Stars.
^ BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
»
Catching a Train.
The statesman with his suit case packed
Will hurry down the street;
His explanation is exact
To friends that he may meet:
•
“Adjournment day is on its way.
With new Importance fraught;
I'm making haste to catch. Ill say.
Another train of thought.''
Perilous Heights.
“Are you going to run for a higher
position?’*
"No,” answered Senator Sorghum. “As
I look up the ladder of fame I see so
many broken rungs that I’ve decided to
stick to earth and do my running on
the level.”
Jud Tunkins says when so many folks
are being cracked down on you can't
be surprised to see some tax dodgin’.
Bombing Planes Instead of Sleighs.
The pines are growing right along
Beneath a Summer sky.
And we shall sing b Christmas song
Quite gayly, by and by.
The pines are sighing in the breeae,
With gloomy disposition;
Oh. what’s the good of Christmas trees
Trimmed up with ammunition?
BUI Says "Nat.”
"Is there any graft in Crimson
Gulch?”
•T should say not!” protested Mesa
Bill.
"Why so emphatic?*
"It would be indiscreet to say any
thing different.”
Don’t Shoot.
We used to pray for blessings great
And happiness at home,
But now strange powers in the State,
All heartless, seem to roam.
For benefits we used to cry,
But now we're mute,
Except as now and then we sigh,
"Don't shoot!”
The bandit prowls where lights are gay,
To show a scene of strife.
You tremble as you hear him say,
“Your money or your life!” ,
The husband on his wife bestows
No kiss as a salute;
His hands go up; his words are these:
"Don’t shoot!’’
msmwmm «
"Politics keeps up so much loud talk,"
said Uncle Eben, "dat maybe folks has
whisperin’ campaigns cause day dona
lost their Tdoea.” .
\
Eastern Shore Verdict
Applicable to New Deal
To tbo Ml tor of The Stir:
Over a year ago the writer, in a letter
to The 8tar, predicted that the adminis
tration’s doctrine of food scarcity would
play a leading part in the elections of
1936. True, It has sent the price of beef
and pork out of sight, but what benefit
has it been to the producer and the
consumer? Since the fiasco of the sow
and pig massacre the fanners have very
few hogs to sell, even at high prices.
The millions of Bill Smiths who are
fortunate enough to still have jobs to
which they can tote a dinner bucket are
growing more and more resentful as
they fall to find the good old ham or
beef sandwich reposing in Its depths
when the noon whistle blows. That old
! line "and now, my friends,” is beginning
to seem a poor substitute for the succu
lent ham and beef. In other words.
Instead of "bull” on the radio BiU
Smith wants beef or bam in his sand
wiches.
The A. A. A. program has turned mil
lions of hitherto upstanding, indepen
dent. self-respecting fanners into a
shiftless, half-ashamed mob of vote
sellers and charity recipients. The Bill
Smiths who still nsve a jod in omer
! lines of work are beginning to mutter
and glower when they And the old pay
1 envelope Is not big' enough to cover
1 decent food for their families and at the
same time help to pay the salaries of
the thousands of political henchmen
and parasites with which the country
is cursed today. My business brings me
into contact with people from all over
the country and. boy! after hearing all
the Westerners with whom I have talked,
I don't need a special election in Ohio
to tell me what Is the prevailing senti
ment out there. Is there any one over
10 years of age, except those directly
or Indirectly tinder the Government
plum tree, who is really silly enough to
think that any real good can come from
the mass of theory-inspired, cockeyed,
asinine antics and looney legislation of
the New Deal? What is the answer?
It looks like a deliberate attempt to
nullify the Constitution and Russianize
the country.
The American people are not going to
continue to be gluttons for punishment
until It is too late to do anything about
It. It Is not going to be necessary to do
to them what was done to a man down
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland many
[ years ago. It was in the old days when
the practice of shanghaiing men to work
on oyster boats was In vogue. Taken
aboard drugged, they were poorly fed,
mlserablv abused, worked almost to
death and paid not at all. If they fell
sick they were sometimes killed and
thrown overboard. One day the body of
one of these poor victims washed ashore
and a coroner's Jury was impaneled.
The Old fisherman who acted as fore
man announced the verdict as follows:
, -wal. sir. we find this here man was
! hit over the haid with a marlinspike
and killed, throwed overboard and
drowned, washed up and died!"
S. H. MUMFORD.
That Mellow Voice and
That Pleasant Smile
To the Editor ol Tbt Star:
Rightly have the citiaens questioned
the program and proposals of the New
Deal. The astounding thing has been
the soundness of the sleep of the vast
citizenry, which within the past month
has awakened from its lethargy and is
wondering Just what has transpired in
the interim. The leader was once ac
claimed as the Moses we needed. But
i his promises and his subsequent acts
have not been in agreement. As Frank
lin D. Roosevelt sought the vote of the
people in 1932 he aaid: “One question,
however, must be answered first, be
cause of the simple fact that these
public works cost money • • • and in
the case of the Federal Treasury thor
oughly unsound financial policies have
made its situation not exactly desperate,
but at least threatens its future stability
If the policies of the present adminis
tration (the Hoover administration) are
continued.” Then in another speech
Roosevelt boomed out: "If in some
crisis It lives beyond its Income a year
or two it can usually borrow temporarily
on reasonable terms; but if, like a spend
thrift. it throws discretion to the winds,
is willing to make no sacrifices at all in
spending, extends its taxing to the limit
of the people's power to pay and con
tinues to fill out deficits, it is on the
road to bankruptcy.”
The “two” years Candidate Roosevelt
referred to have passed: we are con
tinuing “to fill out deficits’* he referred
to in 1932 in warning tones. What do
we see under Roosevelt, not the candi
date, but the President? For three
years the appropriations are equal to
the years 1790 to 1913. Some figures on
the national debt (not including State
or city) are: Mississippi, $500,000,000;
Ohio. $1,500,000,000; Michigan, $1,000,
000,000. Maryland, which prizes herself
on her State solvency, has a national
debt of seven times her State debt.
People have not sensed that the legis
lator who votes billions is giving him or
her a bill which must be paid. Eng
land shows a surplus of several millions,
the United States a deficit of several
billions. The mellow voice has been
too much of an opiate; the results are
far short. This holiday spirit of spend
ing must give way to such common sense
ideas as those of Senator Vandenberg
as outlined in his radio speech. Cer
tainly no truer words were ever spoken
than those of Senator Tydings in the
Senate: “Debt never was a blessing to
any one and It is no blessing to the
Government of the United States.”
ANTHONY Q. BONFIELL
Asks Same Title to
Letter on Parking
To the Sditor of The Star.
Would it be too much to request that
the caption of Mr. Harry Brainard’a
letter in your issue of August 20 be made
the title also of the very few words that
follow: •‘Capital’s Streets Are a Mess
of Stalled Cars.”
No city can be found that is any more
beautiful than the City of Washington;
no limit of expenditure to increase its
beauty; but, alas, it is only a great big
garage. Would It be possible to start
some kind of a campaign appealing to
the pride of the people in this respect?
Why spend millions to beautify a city
and then allow that beauty to be covered
up with automobiles? It matters not
whether they be new $6,000 carp or $50
second-hand, unpainted cars. Wash
ington Is Just a garage.
WM. K. SINGLETON.
Reverse Finance.
From tht Hertford Times.
A typical American Is a man who
works this month to earn the money he
spent two months ago.
— ^ 1 •" 1 ' >,
Three Doses Needed.
From the Salt Lake Deseret News.
A cynic says there is no cure for gul
libility, but he should persevere. The
third dose of oil well stock often does It.
-1 ate -■ ?»
A Classic Reminder.
From tbs Ban Antonia (Tax.) Express.
Former King George of Greece alts by
hli airplane in London, awaiting recall.
Ho should remember what befall Ioarua.
' ' { *. " '
THIS AND THAT I
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
An ambitious ladybug rods downtown
on a suburbanite’s collar.
Seven miles by motor coach, then It
went up in an elevator, powered by
electricity.'
Thus Nature's primitive modes of
travel, legs and wings, were aided
within half an hour by both gasoline
and electricity.
The joke of the matter was that the
suburban gardener didn't know the
ladybug, beloved of all gardeners, was
a passenger on him.
If he had known, he might have re
called the old story about the lady
gardener who was showing the garden
to an Englishman.
“That,” she said, pointing, ‘‘is a lady
bug."
The Englishman surveyed the small
spotted creature gravely.
"My word," he said, “but you have
good eyes."
* * * *
The English, of course, know our
ladybug strictly as ladybird.
Even in American dictionaries you
will find the description of this group
of more or less hemispherical beetles
under the latter designation.
“Ladybug” Is designated “United
States.”
It Is said that the colloquial use of
“bug,” to designate any Insect whatso
ever, as used commonly In America, Is
not In good standing at all In Great
Britain. With them a "bug” means
Just one creature, and a most unfortu
nate one. at that.
The avidity with which Megilla
maculata, its scientific name, feeds
upon smaller insects and the eggs of
larger ones, makes it a desirable beetle
for the home garden.
Almost every newcomer to the Joys
and trials of gardening is warned by
older hands to leam to recognize the
lady bugs, so-called, and to let them
alone, in the interest of better and
larger flowers.
Just what the creature really does
for the home garden is a question. That
is, It is impossible for the gardener to
see what It does, if anything, or In
any other way to leam of good results.
Yet he has heard so often and so
loudly of its good deeds that he is
willing to take them for granted.
* * * *
And surely the small creature, with Its
shining, colorful shell, its tidy appear
ance. fully lives up to the “maculata”
part of its Latin name.
A great many Insects, regardless of
size, strike the observer as unclean.
Perhaps this comes about through
the association of crawling things with
the idea of dirt, In general, but it is
a surety that few persons regard the
ladybug as dirty.
Rather, it has a strikingly clean air
to it. In this it resembles the lightnln'
bug, so bright in our Summer nights.
Both of these are beetles.
Scientists hold that there is no more
deairable creature In the garden than
the ladybug, hence for many years a
Nation-wide propaganda has gone on
in its favor.
Whoever composed the famous "Lady
bug, ladybug, fly away home,” rhyme
did more than all the scientists, how
ever, for its safety.
Its destruction would have come more
rapidly through thoughtless persons,
who might have crushed it when found
on plants or indoors, had it not been
for this pretty rhyme, known and be
loved for generations.
The idea of releasing the creature to
i
“fly away home” aomehow struck the
fancy of mankind.
It is the custom, therefore, among all
peoples to hold the ladybug. or ladybird,
on the tip of the finger, while repeating
the old lines, and then gently puffing
the breath at the beetle.
The small gust of wind causes the
ladybug to flap its practically invisible
wings, and rapidly fly *way, to the
Invariable delight of the human being,
young or old, who thus helps it.
How fortunate it would have been for
myriads of creatures if mankind had
invented subtle little poems about them,
giving them their freedom as a result
of it.
Then, perhaps, the bunnies, most
innocent of living creatures, would not
have been slaughtered to line fresh
mens coats at our colleges and prepara
tory schools.
* * * *
The ladybug which rode to work In
style, neatly resting on the suburbanite s
collar, came into sudden activity as the
man sat down at his desk.
Suddenly he felt something crawling
down his neck, as the idiom has it.
This Is a vastly uncomfortable feeling.
Every one who has been on a picnic,
American style, has known It.
A highly uncomfortable, natural
feelin', an Ins ' crawling around on the
skin. Gen. Johnson put it bluntly when
he issued his famous statement about
"ants in the pants.”
Our suburbanite found the neck
enough.
Slapping vigorously at his coat collar,
he went on with his work, only to be
reminded forcibly a few seconds later
that something or other really was
crawling around beneath his shirt.
He rammed a hand between the first
and second shirt button, felt around
madly, felt nothing, went back to work.
He looked down at last, just in time
to see the ladybug calmly crawling out
on his shirt front.
As he posed it on his linger, pre
paratory to launching it into the morn
ing air of downtown Washington, he
wondered at the journey it had taken
and how ealmly it accepted its
migration.
All creatures, except man, take things
calmly.
“What Is, is; and what will be,
will be.”
That is the motto of all life, except
man, restless, dissatisfied man.
You can take a dog or a cat off the
street and In a few hours it will be
at home in the finest living room.
You can put It back in the gutter and
by nightfall it will have adapted Itself
to that life again, accepting it lor
what It is.
* * * *
And the ladybug, too, the suburbanite
thought, as he prodded it away into the
downtown air.
He watched It go, but It was soon
lost to sight, being very small against
the bulk of one of the largest of large
Government buildings.
It would seek grass and shrubs and
trees and it would find them shortly,
thanks to Maj. L'Enfant and others.
There it would be at home, forgetful
of its. past life, no matter how sagely
it looked out from its little eyes.
Ladybug. ladybird, lady fern, ladv
finger, lady fish, lady-love, lady-killer,
ladyship, lady’s mantle, lady's slip
per—
All these are in the dictionary, but
only one of them answers to the poetic
title, bird of our lady.
Maybe that did as much to save it
as anything.
‘ 1 1 I
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
Congress in Its closing days is always
a center of national interest. This year
the eyes of the whole world have been
focused on it due to Its consideration
of neutrality legislation. Many of the
other proceedings of America's national
legislative body are watched by other
nations, either individually or in groups,
because of their possible effect on in
ternational relations, but nothing which
has transpired at the Capitol during the
present session has been the object of
such world-wide attention as the neu
trality program of this Government.
The present critical situation in Europe
created by the demands of Italy on
Ethiopia and the importance of the
United States in all great international
problems has emphasized the signifi
cance of Its attitude on the neutrality
issue. The question as to how far the
Congress of the United States would
go in defining the position of this coun
try on that subject is one which has
been scrutinized with Intense and grow
ing Interest throughout the world.
* * a a
So kaleidoscopic have been the
changes in the political picture in the
United States during recent months and
with such suddenness have some of the
shifting moves of an economic and
financial character been thrown upon
the screen that many trained observers
here say it is the first time in their long
experience that they have been unable
accurately to gauge general “trends’’ in
public affairs. Previously, they say,
they have been able through their broad
knowledge of situations to "put two
and two together” and calculate with
reasonable certainty the way in which
political currents were running, but
recently, they claim, it has not been
possible to make such predictions with
any assurance of success.
If any one word were to be used to
sum up more succinctly than any other
the characteristics of the present age,
it would be "speed.” In transportation,
communication and almost every other
field of human activity, the methods and
the machines of a decade ago—in many
instances, those of a lesser "antiquity”—
are now obsolete or obsolescent. The
extensive Army maneuvers now taking
place at Pine Camp, N. Y., furnish a
striking example of this rapid trans
formation of modem armies, both in
methods and equipment. Nothing more
than 15 years old is being used there.
Motorized units travel in an hour and
a half distances that would have re
quired a day in 1917; and divisions reach
and attack positions 24 miles distant in
an hour and a half, as against a day
and a half only a few years ago.
* * * *
Formal reception by President Roose
velt of three diplomats in one day this
week constituted a precedent, as far as
State Department officials were aware,
in the presentation of credentials by
foreign envoys. On several previous
occasions, two diplomats had been re
ceived on the same day, but there was
no recollection of the number having
been extended to three. On Wednesday
afternoon the Ambassador of China,
Sao-Ke Alfred Sze, in ho previously filled
the post of Minister here, having re
cently been raised to the rank of Am
bassador ; Phya Abhibal Rajamaitri,
Minister of Siam, and Povllas Zadeikis,
Minister of Lithuania, were received by
the President. Richard Southgate, chief
of the division of protocol; Julius C.
Holmes, assistant chief, and Charles Las
*
Cooke, ceremonial officer, acted as their
respective escorts to the White House.
* * * *
“What’s the ‘box score?”’ That's the
way in which the United States Forest
Service is now keeping record of the fire
“outs’’ in the forest regions of the coun
try which its men patrol. Thus the
‘ batting average” of Uncle Sam's forest
Are fighters is shown in an appealing
manner. The “box scores” are being
issued every 10 days, and the exceUent
work being done is revealed In the latest
report, which shows a great reduction
in every region of the country except
one in the number of ’’extra period”
fires. In one region there were no such
fires to date this year as against eight
on an average in the corresponding
periods of the preceding four years. In
other regions the reduction was from
120 to 76. from 23 to 12, from 21 to 7,
and so on through the improving record.
* * * *
To build up the Census Bureau of the
United States to a point where it may
“without challenge" be recognized as the
best, as it is now the largest, statistical
organization in the world, is the ambi
tion of its director. W. L. Austin. In
announcing the recent appointment of
Dr. H. L. Dunn. Dr. John Collinson and
Dr. Forrest E. Linder to Important posi
tions In the division of vital statistics,
and other appointments and changes in
various divisions of the bureau, Mr.
Austin asserts that these advances are
“motivated by consideration of public
service, scientific progress and merit as
a guide in the selection of personnel.”
* * a *
“Bad blood” between two Indian
tribes, the Shoshones and the Arapahoes,
which has led to frequent trouble be
tween them ever since they were placed
on the same Wyoming reservation many
years ago. has been wiped out by the
emergency conservation work camps
which have been established there, ac
cording to reports to Washington. These
former feudists now work together in a
friendly way, it is stated, and compete
in base ball and other athletic games
with no more than the expected dis
putes over the umpire's decisions.
* * * *
Secretary Hull's desire to further the
President’s “good neighbor" policy in
Latin America, was manifested in his
appeal several days ago to Senator Pitt
man, chairman of the Foreign Rela
tions Committee, on behalf of a sani
tary convention with Argentina nego
tiated some months ago which would
permit importation into this country of
froien meat, from Patagonia, in South
ern Argentina, where the records show
no infectious cattle disease to have ex
isted during the 30 years since such
records were kept. The Secretary
pointed out there was no danger what
ever of any disease being imported from
that source. Last-hour ruah, it Is
feared, will prevent action on this treaty.
(Copyright, 1936.1
The Only Way.
Prom the Indianapolis Star.
New York racketeers are said to be
fleeing the city as a sweeping probe gets
under way, and the only way they should
be allowed to go Is east.
Rowing and Reaping.
From tbt Burlington (Iowa) Oaiettr
Two sensible farmers at Saginaw,
Mich., have agreed to postpone a law
suit until after harreet.
*
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
By Frederic J. Baskin.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Washing
ton Evening Star Information Bureau.
Frederic J. Has kin. Director, Washing
ton, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. What kind of a car did Petillo
drive when he won the Speedway race
this Spring?—Id. J.
A. Kelly Petillo* car was a Gilmore
Special. The weight of the car was
I960 pounds and the qualifying speed
was 115.005 miles per hour for 33 miles.
Q. 81nce helium is so light, why
doesn’t a cylinder of helium rise in the
air?—J. C.
A. Helium weighs about 1-7 of the
weight of air. However, when com
pressed into a steel cylinder, it is so
dense that it weighs about 17 times as
much as air and does not exert any
lifting power.
Q. What is the meaning of Haflx, the
name of Iran’s lyric poet?—R. H.
A. The Persian name Hafiz is really
only a title meaning gifted with a good
memory. It was bestowed upon the poet
as a pupil because he could recite the
whole Koran. It has clung to him by
fame instead of his real name which
was, in full. Muhammad ad-Din, or
Mohammed, the sun of religion.
Q. Is Labor day observed throughout
the United States?—T. T.
A. It Is observed In all the States
and Territories.
Q What was the first railway to reach
the Missouri River?—P. N.
A. The Hannibal Road. It was In
corporated In 1847, but the line was not
finished until 1859 and through trains
began operating on February 15.
Q. How many States can be seen from
Lookout Mountain In Tennessee?—
E. O. C.
A. The claim made for this mountain
is that seven States can be s^n from
it, namely: Tennessee, Mississippi. Ala
bama, Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina and Kentucky.
Q. When were weather observations
at various places first collected and
charted?—A. V. T.
A. The idea of recording observations
of weather made simultaneously at nu
merous places and forming these obser
vations into charts was first realized by
Brandes, a German physicist, in 1890.
These charts were not published. The
first that were published were produced
by Prof. Elias Loomis of Yale College In
1843, and represented the weather of the
Eastern United States on February 16,
1842. Telegraphic reports for the pur
pose of weather forecasting were first
suggested in 1842.
Q. How did the Democratic donkey
and Republican elephant originate?
—C. H.
A. Both originated from cartoons by
Thomas Nast. The cartoon depicting
the donkey was published in 1870 and
the one depicting the elephant was
published in 1874.
Q What Is the cost of supporting a
candidate at a citizens' military train
ing camp for one month?—D. L. M.
A. Exclusive of transportation and
mileage, It averages from $40 to $50.
Q. How many Mohammedans *rg there
In the United States?—V. A. O.
A. About 25,000.
- f***
Q. What cities of less than 150,000
population have zoo*?—H. M. F.
A. Hershey, Pa.; San Diego. Calif.;
Jacksonville. Fla.; Madison, Wis., and
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Q. What is a pyrophone?—E. M.
A. This is the name of a curious kind
of a musical instrument invented by
Georges Frederick Eugen Kastner. son
of the German composer and musical
theorist, Jean Georges Kastner. It con
sists of a set of lubes, from which the
sound is produced, not by wind, but by
jets of gas.
Q. Who was Thomas of Celano?—H. T.
A. He was a Franciscan friar and
disciple and biographer of St. Francis
of Assisi. Bom at Celano In the Abmzzl,
he Joined St. Francis about 1214 and
appears to have been one of the first
band of friars who went into Germany.
Q. Does Death Valley have aand
storms?—A. L. S.
A. Sandstorms and dust whirlwinds
of a few hours’ duration are common.
Q. How many Girl Scouts are there?
—W F
A. The active, paid-up membership,
as of October 31. 1934, totaled 355.752,
inclusive of Brownies (girls between
7 and 10) and leaders.
Q. How much rayon is produced in
this country?—L. C.
A. The 1934 production of rayon was
210,331,100 pounds.
Q. How Is the word, cantaloupe, pro
nounced?—W. S.
A. The preferred pronunciation gives
the last syllable the same sound as
“loop." but the usual “lope” Is also cor
rect.
Q. Please give some information about
the Junior Achievement Society.—L. J.
A. It was organized in 1919 and the
name changed In 1926 from the Bureau
of the Eastern States Agricultural and
Industrial League. Its purpose 1* to fur
nish leadership and direction for leisure
time to young people associated in small
groups or clubs, who are engaged in
simple hand-processes by which objects
useful and artistic are manufactured
and through which they gain experi
ence in business procedure, buying and
selling, principles of co-operation, mar
keting, management, wages and costa.
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
Were I the Queen
You are the Kin*. And In the royal place
I but a singer—one whose song would be
With the first frown or shadow on your
face
Gone like the wood thrush in nocturnal
space,
An echo in your heart of melody.
Were I the Queen and you a serf whose
eyes
On my calm passing watched the sun
light seek
My amber hair under the Bummer skies
And saw my court, my chess-board
pawns and spies,
Yet dared not make outcry, or even
speak—
Were you my slave, with pomp and
power between,
How lost to love and life the lonely Queen 1
4