Evening star. [volume], February 24, 1936, Page A-8, Image 8

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

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THE EVENING STAR
With Sunday Morning Edition.
WASHINGTON. D. C.
MONDAY.February 24, 1936
THEODOBE W. NOYES.Editor
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herein are also reserved.
Roosevelt Prosperity.
“Jim" Farley, chairman of the Demo
cratic National Committee, went out to
Kansas Saturday to take a pot-shot at
the Republicans and other opponents of
President Roosevelt. It was Washing
ton's birthday anniversary. In his open
ing paragraph the Democratic chair
man said: "It is a pleasure to have one
national hero whose patriotism and vir
tues we may honor and revere without
thought of party ties." And he said he
was glad to join the people of Kansas in
observing the anniversary of Washing
ton's birth. For the remainder of his
address Mr. Farley was strictly partisan.
He reviled Herbert Hoover and the Re
publicans. He tore the American Liberty
League to shreds. He extolled Franklin
D. Roosevelt as the greatest living Ameri
can. Take it by and large, the Farley
address was masterly, from a political
point of view. Roosevelt prosperity was
a principal theme.
Mr. Farley carried the fight for the re
election of the President into the heart
of the great agricultural region of the
country. He told the Kansas farmers and
the farmers of the country generally how
much the New Deal had done for them.
The picture he drew was one of abun
dant prosperity, "after the lean years
inrougn wmon yuu unua
publican rule.” He did not mention the
fact that agricultural importations from
foreign countries have mounted high
during the Roosevelt administration and
the operation of the now defunct A. A. A.
Nor did he speak of the lessening of
foreign markets for American farm
produce. Mainly, he laid stress upon
the Federal money which had been sent
Into Kansas and all the other farm States
in the form of benefit payments for the
curtailment of wheat, corn and hog
crops, and upon an increase in prices
> for these products, as compared to the
days of 1931 and 1932.
Kansas has its candidate for the Re
publican presidential nomination in Gov.
Alf M. Landon. Landon is being put
forward as a Midwest Calvin Coolidge,
8 man who is saving of both words and
money. He has managed to keep the
State budget balanced. Mr. Farley did
not mention the Governor by name.
But he made an attack upon his fru
gality. He endeavored to hit the Kansas
Governor at a spot which he probably
considered most vulnerable, the paring
down of salaries of school teachers and
college professors. He expressed his re
gret that this had been done, declaring
that it had been the policy of the Roose
velt administration to “save the schools
of the Nation wherever possible.”
Mr. Farley spoke several times of the
Roosevelt prosperity as well rounded,
well balanced and well adjusted. He did
not mention that there are still some
nine to eleven million workers out of
jobs, and that several millions of those
who are back at work are being paid I
out of the Federal Treasury today as
a kind of dole. He made no mention
of the fact that much of the “prosperity”
that exists today comes as a result of
pouring out billions of dollars raised
from the taxpayers—of which billions
of dollars are still to be raised from
more taxation. That is all another side
of the picture.
American farmers, along with other
Americans, have become somewhat ap
prehensive because of the mounting
public debt and the huge deficits each
year in the Federal Treasury. Mr. Far
ley complained rather bitterly because
Republican speakers, among them Mr.
Hoover, are calling attention to the
financial situation of the country and
the Government. The Roosevelt phi
losophy, viewed from any angle, has
been to spend the way to prosperity.
American farmers, along with other tax
payers, may become conscious of the
fact that in the end:
Money to spend and nothing to save
May make you happy, but leads to the
grave.
Albert C. Ritchie.
Albert C. Ritchie's sudden death ves
terday causes deep sorrow for the pass
ing of a man of ability and commanding
personality. He devoted himself to the
services of his State, entering public life
_ A__l.._
CLU aii HfjV AAA OUWV/W4W** vv ***“
father as assistant city solicitor of Bal
timore, a post which he held for seven
years. Then he became assistant general
counsel to the State Public Service Com
mission, having become deeply versed in
the law through his studies and later by
teaching. In a protracted fight for the
reduction of electric light rates he scored
a victory that gave him prominence be
fore the people of Maryland, which led
to his selection as attorney general of
the State. An interim occurred, during
the World War, when he rendered val
uable service with the War Industries
Board, and then, in 1919, he won the
Democratic nomination for Governor
and gained that office by a narrow mar
gin—oddly enough, defeating the Repub
lican candidate who fifteen years later
was to wrest from him the office which
l
he had held continuously—a remarkable
record of uninterrupted occupation of
the place of highest State authority.
Governor Ritchie was Maryland’s truly
“favorite son” in 1932, when his name
was presented to the Democratic con
vention for the presidential nomination.
He espoused the cause of prohibition re
peal, becoming an outstanding advocate
of the cancellation of the eighteenth
amendment. His supporters yielded re
luctantly to the greater strength of
Franklin D. Roosevelt. Governor Ritchie
loyally supported the nominee and went
ahead with the administration of State
affairs until his unprecedented career in
that office was ended by his defeat in
1934 by a close margin, to end an in
cumbency as chief executive of the State
which was without parallel.
His attractive personal qualities, his
devotion to the interests of his State,
his eloquence in public address, all made
Albert C. Ritchie one of the outstanding
men in American affairs and the an
nouncement of his death, without warn
ing of approaching dissolution, causes a
grievous shock, which is felt especially
in the circles where this able and lovable
man was intimately known.
Canada’s Budget.
Canadians read American newspapers
and magazines, drive American auto
mobiles, listen to American radio pro
grams and in innumerable ways live
lives that tend to make the 3,000-mile
border separating the Dominion from
this country an almost imaginary divid
ing line. Now Canada and the United
States share something else in common.
They are both confronted by a grave
budget-balancing problem.
It had been expected that the Cana
dian-American trade agreement would
monopolize the attention of Parliament
at the current Midwinter session, but,
to the general surprise, Ottawa is im
mersed instead in precisely the same
woes that momentarily afflict Washing
ton. The new Liberal government finds
itself faced by the grim necessity per
turbing the Roosevelt administration's
need for rigid economy.
The Ottawa authorities have evidently
been observing New Deal history over
here and have decided that, despite the
beneficial results it records in many di
rections, the policy of unlimitedly lavish
use of public funds for rehabilitation
purposes is something which Canada
would do well to escnew. i^asi wee*, a
Conservative member, with some Liberal
support, introduced a resolution in favor
of government sponsorship of housing,
land settlement, reforestation and
other projects designed to overcome un
employment. The program entailed
heavy drafts on the treasury. The
prime minister and his minister of labor
intervened with prompt objections. They
declared that while a government could
not spend its way into prosperity, it
could easily squander its way into chaos.
Using additional language that has an
altogether familiar ring to American
ears in these embattled times, the cabi
net officers added that a government's
expenditure intended to prime the pump
of recovery would inevitably in its final
form of taxation reappear as unwelcome
grit in its waters.
Later, Mr. MacKenzie King revealed
that the stern requirements of economy
have dictated a cut in subsidization of
steamship service to China and Japan.
Then it was made known that a Cana
dian Townsend plan to retire workers
at sixty with a $50 monthly pension
could not possibly be considered. The
government's attitude toward the pro
posal, in substance, is that the country
simply cannot afford it^ and that under
the circumstances it would be dishonest
to exploit such a scheme for political
purposes.
Some of the prime minister’s lead
ing Liberal supporters are in the fore
front of the drive for undiminished ex
ru»v\riitnrp rpenrdless of budget balanc
ing. But Mr. MacKenzie King is ap
parently ready to risk a party split
rather than invoke unhealthy financial
experiments. His attitude makes a pe
culiarly timely appeal to the people of
the United States.
Soil and climate are scientifically con
sidered, but with less confidence than
when the statesman takes down the
family almanac and figures on a date
for congressional adjournment.
As a civilization progresses “class
consciousness” is hard to restrain. A
policeman may be warned that such a
thing exists by a mere automobile tag.
i
Ap Encouraging Sign.
The non-partisan character of the vote
whereby the House of Representatives
determined upon an inquiry into the
Townsend plan promotion was a refresh
ing and stimulating manifestation of
statesmanship in the national interests.
It may have been sporadic, or possibly
prompted by a somewhat selfish sense of
mutuality of protection against reprisal,
yet it was nevertheless quite in the line
of consideration of the general public
welfare regardless of party, section or
special interest. It gives point, by per
haps accidental contradiction, to the
comment of a shrewd observer of Ameri
can trend, George E. Sokolsky, writing
in the Atlantic Monthly, thus:
“Our politicians, who pride themselves
on their loyalty to the people, are often
careless of human values. They usually
think and act only in the interest of a
particular, articulate coterie that applies
political pressure for some special legis
lation. The Congressional Record, for
instance, reads more like the minutes
oi a Doay oi representatives oi special
Interests than a parliament functioning
for the whole people of the United States.
There are Congressmen that represent
potatoes and Senators that represent sil
ver; there are Congressmen that speak
for the American Federation of Labor
and Senators that speak for the Ameri
can Legion. Few ever rise to ask, What
Is happening to the American people?”
Time was when the congressional
equation rested mainly upon strictly
local elements. The member of the
House who justified his speech and ac
h
tlon by citation of its interest and im
portance to Buncombe County—thereby
originating a now common term signi
fying something less dignified and hon
orable than statesmanship—was a type
of the purely political legislator to whom
State boundary lines were determining
factors. Of late, however, the geograph
ical element in the congressional trend
has given way to the special group in
fluence. Fads, fancies, theories, hallu
cinations, visionary schemes, selfish class
claims ail spread over the State lines.
Sectionalism has given way to specialism.
The facilities for simultaneous expression
and demand have been so highly de
veloped that “movements” gain quick
headway, “plans” become insistent de
mands by groups in all the States. Pub
licity, by print and by radio, recruits
armies for economic reform, for social
relief, for special benefaction. And
speedy action is demanded, on pain of
political reprisal against all who fail to
respond with influence, speech and vote.
In the House action of Wednesday—
which, of course, does not definitely dis
pose of the threat of Townsendism, but
it is hoped that it will at least retard
its development to the end of a return
of courage and reason—there was a
stimulating symptom of a revival of the
spirit of non-partisan, pro-national
statesmanship in the halls of Congress,
It was a distinct encouragement of the
hope that more and more of the legis
lators, acting without fear of criticism
and punitive opposition, will rise to ask,
in the words of the Atlantic writer,.
“What is happening to the American
people?"
An arrested kidnap suspect was en
gaged in making sea shell ashtrays under
W. P. A. direction when discovered in
California. It will require much cultural
supervision, regardless of expense, to
stimulate appreciation of art work now
so abundantly performed.
In looking about for some nation that
may need him in its business, Selassie
cannot expect to figure as importantly
as he might if there were any possibility
of his seeking to found a world empire
with Addis Ababa as headquarters.
As an experienced campus coach,
President H. C. Bird of Maryland Uni
versity may enable American youth to
show up with a better record in Olympic
games of the future.
So much economic responsibility is
being placed on the Department of Agri
culture that it may become customary
whenever adverse criticism arises to page
Secretary Wallace.
“ 1 1 ““
The Great Falls of the Potomac are
being reserved less for mechanical power
than for the development of beauty;
which, according to some classic stand
ards, is, whether physical or spiritual,
the greatest power of all.
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Men Are Not What They Seem.
Oh, Bings, who has a business in the
undertaking line,
Has a jovial stock of stories and a dis
position fine;
I love to go and see him when his various
cares permit
And revel in his genial flow of anecdote
and wit.
And Bangs, who is a dentist, has a fund
of humor rare
And sympathy that makes the world
seem generous and fair.
He thinks that all mankind a crown of
gold deserves to gain
For every head; and for each tooth a
crown of porcelain.
But Bungs is a comedian who makes the
public grin—
He spends each sordid day in counting
dollars that come in.
And when he isn’t working there’s a
frown upon his face,
Implying utter hatred of the entire hu
man race.
Boyhood Recollection.
“Would you not like to be a barefoot
boy again down on the farm?” said the
romantic lady.
“No,” answered Senator Sorghum. “It
sounds peaceful enough, but in this life
you can never escape some kind of hos
tilities. Even when I was trudging over
the meadow to call the cattle, some big
bull would frequently stop me and try
to give me an argument.”
A Type of Greatness.
Oh, greatness is a curious thing.
It does not soothe the mind
With wisdom guaranteed to bring
Contentment to mankind.
But, with a megaphone whose size
Affrights the eye perplexed,
Salutes the public till it cries,
“What will the man say next?”
It does not bring a mood serene
And show how life may gain
Reward by effort stanch and clean.
Tfc simnlv raises Pain.
By deed as well as by his word
He leaves the public vexed
Until the plaintive cry is heard—
“What will the man do next?”
Valuation.
“Politeness costs nothing,” said the
readymade philosopher.
“Yes,” replied Mr. Growcher. “If it
had a market value there would be more
of it.”
Many an autobiography is little more
than a novel with the author’s favorite
character as the hero.
Unlearned Lesson.
They say experience will aid
All people to discern,
Through generations wars were made—
And yet we never learn!
“Don’t make de mistake,” said Uncle
Eben, “of bein’ satisfied to honor George
Washington’s memory by tellin’ de truth
only once a year, on his birthday.”
h A
THE POLITICAL
MILL
By C. Gould Lincoln.
President Roosevelt’s tax program for
the present session of Congress is ex
pected to be revealed this week. Rumors
have been that it will be limited in two
respects—first, to approximately $500,
000,000 new revenue, and second, to meet
ing the payments of benefits paid the
farmers for complying with the program
laid down by Secretary Wallace under
the new farm relief bill, which has
passed both houses and will be sent to
the President for his approval as soon
as differences between the House and
Senate measures have been adjusted.
The President may make other demands
for taxation, but if he does it will be a
surprise, except perhaps for some kind
of a tax to bring into the Federal Treas
ury at least the $200,000,000 in possessing
taxes which the Supreme Court ordered
turned back to the processors after the
A. A. A. had been invalidated.
* * * *
mi- _ ft _____ J_li i . l .. Annn
vaufbiiimuitv v-umuttu OUII1C ipoUv)
000,000 in processing taxes under the
A. A. A. and used the money. If even
tually there should be a ruling that this
tax was illegally collected and must be
refunded, there would be another prob
lem for the administration. In order to
close the door to any such loss, some
legislation might be attempted in ad
vance, and tacked on to the new tax bill,
if it is thought advisable.
Despite the desires of progressives in
the Senate, like La Follette of Wiscon
sin, and Democrats like Senator Byrd
of Virginia, to increase the new levies
so as to raise a billion dollars or more,
there seems little doubt that the admin
istration tax program, whatever it may
be, will prevail. The Democrats are not
anxious to stir the country up with new
and heavy taxes on the eve of the na
tional election, however wise it might be
to provide without further delay more
revenues to meet Government expenses.
If heavier taxes must come, they figure
that the time for them is after next
November 3, not before.
* * * *
Republican thoughts, like those of the
Democrats, turn to three great States
across the Alleghanies—Illinois, In
diana and Ohio. Victory in these States
is necessary to Republican victory. At
present Ohio looks to be the Republicans’
best,bet among the lot. In Illinois Re
publican leadership has been shot to
pieces for a number of years. There
exists practically no Republican organi
zation worthy of the name in Cook Coun
ty, Chicago, while the Democrats have
built up a strong organization there.
What this means is easy to understand
when it is realized that about one-half
the vote of the entire State lies in Cook
County. Downstate, which has been Re
publican territory in the past, the farm
ing industry is the big industry. The
Illinois farmers, like those in Kansas,
fjphrnska nnrt nthpr States, have bene
flted through the A. A, A. checks and
are expected to benefit under the new
farm law. It seems clear that if the
downstate counties are to be won back
to Republicanism, the Republicans must
offer these farmers a substitute for the
Democratic benefits. Nothing yet has
been put forward comparable to these
Democratic benefits.
* * * *
Indiana is another State where Re
publican leadership has gone to seed.
Factions even now are struggling for
control among the Republicans, with
former Senator Jim Watson and former
Gov. Goodrich, not to mention former
Senator Robinson, striving for leader
ship. The Democratic Governor. Paul
McNutt, has made himself unpopular
with a lot of people. It would appear
that the Republicans had a chance in
the Hoosier State, provided they could
get together.
And in Ohio the Republican organi
zation, which is comparatively strong
and close knit, is up in the air today
over the matter of sending a delegation
to the Republican National Convention,
in Cleveland, instructed for a candidate
for President acceptable to the people
of Ohio. They do not like Senator Borah
of Idaho, who is the only one of the
major candidates so far to enter the
primary there. State Chairman Schorr
has conceived the plan of polling 15,000
Republicans throughout the State to
learn their presidential preferences, in
the hope, presumably, that he will be
able to persuade Gov. Landon of Kan
sas, or some other, to enter the lists
with Borah, or to so weaken the Borah
claims for preference that the organi
zation can put forward a “favorite son’’
candidate with some hope of success.
tf favnritp-snn randiriate should Win
in the primary, then the Ohio delega
tion would be in a position easily to jump
to another candidate at the convention,
when the time came. The strife among
the Republicans in Ohio is encouraging
to the Democrats.
* * * *
Senator Borah talked to the Nation
Saturday night, the night of George
Washington’s birthday anniversary, over
a Nation-wide radio hook-up. He kept
away from partisan politics and deliv
ered a statesmanlike address, dealing
with the subject of American foreign
relations and seeking to rededicate the
Nation to George Washington’s policy
of no foreign entanglements. Of do
mestic problems and the issues of the
coming campaign he had practically
nothing to say. His only possible shot at
the Roosevelt New Dealers was a chal
lenge to any one who desired to amend
the Constitution to come out into the
open with a specific amendment, and
not to seek by indirection to change the
Constitution. But when the Idaho Sen
ator was asked if he meant this as a
direct challenge to President Roosevelt,
he denied that he had anything of the
kind in mind. Borah has always felt
strongly on the subject of America's
keeping out of entangling alliances with
foreign powers. He made his great fight
in the Senate after the World War to
keep this country out of the League of
Nations. With war clouds hanging over
Europe today, he made it clear to the
American people Saturday night what
his position would be if he were elected
A 1 VdVIVllVt AAV. nuum UU 1**0 > -
keep the country from becoming involved.
* * * *
President Roosevelt has moved to
make peace among the Democrats in
California. Through Chairman James
A. Farley of the Democratic National
Committee, the administration’s atti
tude toward the make-up of California's
delegation to the party’s national con
vention in Philadelphia has been an
nounced. The list of delegates sug
gested by Farley is a compromise between
the factions represented by Senator Mc
Adoo and George Creel and the E. P. I. C.
Democrats who followed Upton Sinclair
in the last gubernatorial election. Mc
Adoo will have the control of the ma
jority of the delegation, if the slate
goes through in the primaries. All the
delegates are favorable to Roosevelt’s re
nomination. There has been bad blood
among the California Democrats ever
since 1934—and before. Roosevelt may
need California badly next November.
The State has a sizable block of electoral
votes. In 1932 Roosevelt had the support
of Senator Hiram Johnson and of a large
number of Republicans. He is likely to
need them again this year. So far there
has been no indication that Johnson
would not support the President for re
election.
THIS AND THAT I
• _
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
Bad weather has at least one good
side.
It makes people get up early, owing
to the plain difficulties of getting down
town.
Snow and ice slow up everything, with
the result that those careful persons who
wish to be “on time” set the alarm clock
ahead of time.
The result has been a great increase
in the numbers of the traveling public
between 7 and 8 o’clock.
Staggered hours among Government
employes by no means explain the entire
increase.
No, we are certain that bad going,
afoot and awheel, has a great deal to
do with it. That this inclement weather
has most to do with it.
* * * * •
Especially if one lives in the suburbs,
“where the snow begins,” it is expedient
to get up early, and get a good start.
For the ice begins right at the front
step.
Even the steps themselves must be
negotiated with care.
Slow walking is safe walking.
Much has been said about safe driv
ing, and much more ought to be said
about it, but safe walking is something,
too.
There is a great deal of unsafe walk
ing, as any one can testify who has stop
ped on downtown comers for a time and
watched it.
The older the man or woman, It seems,
the more sure he or she is to give a
demonstration of unsafe walking across
streets.
Often the traffic lights mean nothing
at all to such walkers. They seem to
expect all drivers to await their pleasure.
* * * *
Many persons who have been forced
this Winter to rise before their custom
ary hour, owing to the difficulties of
getting downtown, will stick to the habit
from now' on.
There is something to the early hours
of the day which must be experienced
to be appreciated.
This feeling of aliveness, which is a
part of such hours, is a real thing to
many persons.
They would not miss it for anything.
Indeed, some w’ho are able to roll
downtown leisurely at 10 o'clock have
been known to leave their homes at 7,
just for the fun of it.
Habits are habits, and this is a very
easy one to get into. Early leaving for
the downtown often means earlier re
turning home. But even if it does not,
it still secures to the wayfarer the keen
est, purest air of the entire day.
* * * *
Whatever the almanacs may show', the
light in the morning comes about 45
minutes earlier than it did two months
ago.
That is, real light, so that trees may
be distinguished easily, comes these days
about 6:30 am., whereas, a month or
longer ago such light came only at
7:15 am.
No matter when dawn, as such arrives,
the real light that counts is the light
which is strong enough so that one may
discern the garage from the house, easily,
and without doubt.
If one engages in the happy recreation
of feeding the wild birds, he will have
the best possible gauge of light, because
the birds are difficult to see before true
light arrives. It is this real light, not
almanac calculation, which determines
the birds. This is the light they wait
for. Birds which formerly began to as
semble only at 7:10 an, now appear be
neath our feeds at exactly 6:30 o’clock.
* * * *
A great many nervous persons would
find getting up earlier, and especially
going downtown earlier, would work
wonders with their nerves.
Many do not realize just how much
the hustle of modem life has to do with
the “blues” and other forms of nervous
tension.
Even if one is not. acutely aware of it,
this tension can play havoc with dis
positions.
Those who find themselves growing
irritable over nothing, so it seems, will
do well to try this prescription of getting
up earlier.
Not only will it permit one to be more
leisurely in dressing and at breakfast,
but above all it gets one started on the
task of getting downtown when the air
is fresh.
* * * *
The hat of many a man is off, these
days, theoretically, at least, to all these
elderly ladies one sees, often with canes,
slowly and painfully making their way
to work.
Though their footing is no longer sure,
they manage to get downtown, even in
snow and ice that might deter persons
many years their junior.
It is, indeed, a real task to get down
town some of these Winter days.
Ice-covered driveways, and zero tem
peratures, often combine to throw many
automobile owners onto the public ve
hicles. Everything is overcrowded, so
that if one desires less crow'ding, the sure
way to get it is to rise early and be ahead
of the crowd, if possible.
nr*/,., u.. «
arrangement of the personal morning
schedule, one may better achieve one’s
destination, at the same time save a
great deal of the hurry which results in
worry, which in turn too often results in
jagged nerves.
* * * *
The early riser gets more than all that,
however.
He receives the beauty of the good
earth in all its glory.
Often the city dweller forgets all about
the earth.
He permits buildings and concrete and
traffic to blot out the face of the eternal
mother of us all.
The little bit of earth in the tree box
is only a sample.
Beneath the tree, beneath the side
walk, beneath the concrete street lies
the great globe.
Man's veneer is slight, indeed, as was
to be seen when they dug up the street
car tracks.
Only a comparatively few inches dowm,
and there was the earth, but those few
inches had seemed to blot it out com
pletely.
* * * *
The early riser somehow' will feel in
his very bones that he is a part of Na
ture, in a way that is not permitted to
the late riser, who necessarily must rush
and push.
Time to look around, and time to real
ize that all we see that is man-made is
really nothing, in face of all that is
Nature-made.
As marvelous as these inventions of
man’s are, actually they could be wiped
out in the twinkling of an eye.
The real things are not these things.
What the real things are every person
must determine for himself. Certainly
he has a better chance of doing it, if he
will get up early and permit the sun to
help him.
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE.
Little savoring of a vacation falls to
President Roosevelt's lot during his cur
rent sojourn at Hyde Park. Tax tribu
lations are engrossing his entire thought
and energy, to the end that when he
returns to the White House later in the
week it will be possible for him to lay
concrete recommendations before Con
gress. On no other recent problem has
F. D. R. experienced such perplexity or
concentrated more gray matter, although
it's suspected that some of the delay in
reaching conclusions may be due to the
administration's desire wholly to dis
associate the tax proposition in both the
public and congressional minds from the
new farm law. It was apparently deemed
wise to have the triple A replacement bill
well over the dam before tackling its
revenue aspect. The President had op
portunity before leaving Washington to
explore every possible angle of the prob
lem he now faces, and presumably knows
his mind by this time. Curiosity is uni
versal as to whether his tax recommen
dations will include immediate provision
for bonus and relief funds or be confined
to revenue for farm bounties.
* * * *
Plans of Senator Byrd, Democrat, of
Virginia to propose a billion-cKillar tax
levy and of Senator La Follette, Progres
sive. of Wisconsin to renew his drive for
a broad income tax base with increased
normal and surtax rates foreshadow an
inevitable tug of war in both houses be
fore revenue legislation is enacted. Sen
ator Pat Harrison of Mississippi, chair
man of the Senate Finance Committee,
points out that no fiscal legislation of
recent years nas Deen passed wiuiouu
“tampering” with income taxes. In this
respect, a new tax bill is like a pro
posal for tariff revision. The sky becomes
the limit in the way of schemes and sug
gestions. The prospect grows stronger
that tax turmoil may cause prolongation
of the session far beyond current proph
ecies of a May 1 adjournment.
* * * *
There's a recrudescene in Washington
of talk that Supreme Court Justice Owen
J. Roberts is the best presidential timber
at the Republicans’ disposal. Whether
those who espouse the Pennsylvanian’s
candidacy do so with his assent is widely
doubted. He is considered pretty deeply
wedded to his high judicial post. Never
theless, Roberts boosters, arguing from
the premise that the Constitution has
become the paramount issue, contend
that the justice who delivered the deci
sion annihilating A. A. A. is the man of
the hour. In those quarters the view is
also heard that none of the aspirants,
avowed and otherwise, now in the fore
front of the G. O. P. race has really
contrived to arouse anything resembling
genuine, Nation-wide enthusiasm. Rob
erts, they say, has incomparable appeal
to the “millions” who believe that “pres
ervation of the Constitutional Union”
transcends everything else now before
the country. Incidentally, Justice Rob
erts is an honest-to-goodness dirt farmer,
operating his own rural estate outside of
Philadelphia as a long-time practical
hobby.
* * * *
Of all places in the United States, it is
the White House over which the Stars
and Stripes did not float on Washing
ton’s birthday. The explanation, of
course, is that the flag is never displayed
when the President is not in residence
there.
# * * *
Gov. Landon, despite the shrinking
violet role to which he has dedicated
himself with respect to presidential
aspirations i* apparently in minute
A
__ __ .
touch with the political and legislative
situation as it develops at Washington.
At any rate, it's understood that he is
in daily long-distance telephonic com
munication with a distinguished fellow
Kansan here, who is in position to keep
him posted on how things are going both
in the congressional camp and in the
East, as far as vthe fortunes of other
G. O. P. candidates are concerned. Lan
don talk continues to be widespread
throughout the Capital, with many ob
servers believing that the Governor
easily has the inside track at this time.
* * * *
Far from going at big business with a
bludgeon, as it was thought Roose
veltians might do in the coming cam
paign, it looks instead as if the New
Deal will hold out an olive branch. That
seems to be the plain inference from
Chairman Farley’s "note of caution’’ in
his recent St. Louis speech, wherein he
admonished the financial and industrial
world “not to pull down the house which
sheltered you.” The Democrats appear
ready to appeal to business on the
ground of gratitude for its "rescue" and
the possibility that “Federal credit’’
again may be a “welcome place of
refuge.”
* * * *
In former Senator Jim Reed. Kansas
City produced one of the star congres
sional inquisitors of all time. Friends
are wondering whether Representative
Charley Jasper Bell, Democrat, of Mis
souri, who hails from the Reed bailiwick,
will match the Senator’s record when
the Townsend plan investigation under
his prospective leadership gets going
next month. A native of Colorado, Rep
resentative Bell was brought up and
rpcrinn and
began his career in public life as a mem
ber of the City Council. In 1930 he was
elected a circuit court judge, but re
sumed private law practice in 1934, on
the eve of his election to Congress, in
which he is serving his first term.
* * * *
Townsend plan revelations in the
House investigation will be watched with
anxious interest by innumerable mem
bers of both branches of Congress. It's
an open secret that all over the country
Townsendism is rampant to an extent
that threatens the political existence of
many candidates for re-election, who are
either openly opposed to the plan or
noncommital. Qualms on that score
are not relieved by the announcement
that the Townsend people propose this
year to put at least 300 candidates for
Congress in the field pledged to the
scheme’s support.
* * * *
Broadway theater land in New York
City has just witnessed its first Federal
backed play, "Jefferson Davis.” a drama
tization cf the life of the President of
the Confederacy, beginning with his days
In the United States Senate. Gen. Robert
E. Lee figures conspicuously in the story,
which closes with his eulogy at Davis’
burial in Richmond. Eventually the play
will take to the road. It was written by
John McGee. Southeastern regional di
rector of W. P. A.’s Federal theater
project.
(Copyright, 1036.)
Relic.
Prom the Kansas City Star.
Pennsylvania has a State law prohibit
ing the working of horses more than 15
hours a day, evidently reflecting the days
when the horse bloc in the legislature
amounted to something.
A
ANSWERS TO I <
QUESTIONS <
By Frederic J. Haskin.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Evening
Star Information Bureau, Frederick J.
Baskin, Director, Washington, D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. What is the meaning of slalom with
reference to sports?—E. R. ,
A. Slalom is a Norwegian dialect word *
meaning zigzag. It is' now applied to
that form of skiing.
Q. What States got the first checks
from the Federal Government to help
in giving old-age assistance?—S. M.
A. The first checks were sent on Feb
ruary 13, 1936, to Iowa, Alabama and
Delaware.
Q. Which country uses the most soap
per capital—the United States, England
or France?—F. S. *
A. Annual soap consumption per
capita is: United States, 251- pounds;
England, 19 Vi pounds; France, 17 i*
pounds.
Q. What do the initials C. I. F. stand 4
for?—E. H.
A. This expression is used in quoting
prices, particularly in the export trade,
to indicate that the price includes the
cost of the goods plus insurance and
freight.
Q. Was Tweed, one-time boss of New
York City, sent to prison for graft?—
F. D.
A. Tweed was tried for complicity in
robbery and fraud, but the jury dis
agreed in the first trial. In the second,
Tweed was found guilty and sentenced
to 12 years’ imprisonment and to pay a
fine of $12,750, but both penalties were
set aside by the Court of Appeals after
he had served one year. Tweed was later
imprisoned in a civil action by the State,
and died in jail.
Q. Was pepper once considered very
valuable?—J. M.
A. In the Middle Ages pepper was
prized above all spices. The most im
portant early English guild was the
Pepperers Guild. At that time the spice
was so valuable it frequently took the
place of money. Soldiers took it as
part of their bounty. People received
rewards in pepper, often paid their rent
in nnnnnr ...ill ..._—-1
••• r rl' » ***-** ** ***** ** u*j * vuvi
waited in suspense to hear how much
pepper they had been bequeathed.
Q. How many motion picture houses
are there in the world?—E. L. 4
A. In 1934 there were 110,910 motion ■
picture houses, 70.907 of which was
equipped with sound.
Q. Is temperance taught in the public
schools?—J. R.
A. All States but one, in which the
subjects of the curriculum are left to
the superintendent of public instruction,
have laws requiring teaching of the
effects of alcohol and narcotics on their
users.
. Q. Why is there a blue ribbon across
the breast of George Washington in some
of his portraits?—H. W. R.
A. The origin of this emblem is found
in Washington’s own general orders,
dated July 14, 1775. In these he said that
the commander in chief should wear a
blue ribbon, the majors and brigadiers
a pink ribbon, and the aids a green rib
bon. The purpose was to prevent mis
takes in rank, due to soldiers not know
ing their officers by sight. 'r
Q. Can people cross Bering Strait on
the ice?—J. J. M.
A. At its narrowest point Bering Strait
is about 56 miles wide. The strait is
never frozen from shore to shore. The
only instances of persons having crossed
afoot are when men have been carried
away by accident on ice floes. Eskimo
and Tchuktchi have occasionally been
swept away and landed on the opposite
shore. Such occurrences are rare.
Q. How many craters are there on the
moon?—J. L. C. |
A. More than 32.000 craters on the
moon are indicated in maps and many
others may be seen with the present-day
telescopes. They range in size from 150
miles in diameter and of greater area
than the State of Maryland, down to
about a tenth of a mile across. They
are depressions, the floor usually lower
than the surrounding plain and are
roughly circular in shape. Many con
tain high mountains rising from the
floors and many large craters have
smaller ones superposed upon their
floors or walls. This pertains only to
the side of the moon visible from the
earth.
Q. Please give some information about
Sagamore Hill.—R. F.
A. Sagamore Hill, the country estate
and residence of Theodore Roosevelt, is
situated near the town of Oyster Bay, on
the northern shore of Long Island, about
30 miles northeast of New' York City.
The substantial, unostentatious house
stands on high ground, commanding a 4
splendid view. Following Mr. Roosevelt's
death it became the residence of his son
Theodore. Young's Memorial Cemetery,
which contains the grave of the former
President, is also situated at Oyster Bay.
Q. When was Montgomery Ward & Co.
established?—H. M.
A. In 1872 Aaron Montgomery Ward,
with his brother-in-law', G. R. Thorne,
established the mail order house of
Montgomery Ward & Co.
Q. Was Robert Fulton of steamboat
fame also an artist?—E. N. D.
A. From 1782 to 1786 he engaged w-ith
success in landscape and portrait paint
ing in Philadelphia.
Q. When is the dog derby held In
Canada?—M. C.
A. The Eastern International Dog Sled
Derby, popularly known as the Quebec
Dog Derby, was held at Quebec City, '
Province of Quebec, on February 20,
21 and 22.
Q. What is (the penalty for publishing
or selling copyrighted musical composi
tions without consent?—E. L.
A. A comparatively new section of the
penal code makes it a misdemeanor to
print, publish or sell copyrighted musical
compositions without the consent of the
owners. The offense may be punished
by a maximum penalty of a year's im
prisonment or $1,000 fine, or both.
A Rhyme at Twilight '
Bv
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
Winter Music
The song birds are South. For melody
We turn to the violin.
With woods gone white in still twilight
We must find our song within.
If love should fly away for awhile
Strike art’s rare lyre, and sing I
Though dusks are cold with loss untold *
Song will lure love back in Spring.
\