Evening star. [volume], May 08, 1937, 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.
SATURDAY......May g, 1937
THEODORE W. NOYES.Editor
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Unworkable and Unjust, j
The House Civil Service Committee
could not have chosen a more certain '
method of confusing and perhaps killing
the desirable extension of civil service
status to emergency and other employes
than by coupling with such extension the
application of the illogical, unworkable
and contradictory principles of the ap
portionment of offices law. The fact
that this has been done tentatively by
the committee indicates a woeful lack of
appreciation of the spirit of the merit
system. For what the committee ap
parently desires is a merit system that
preserves, in addition, a modicum of the
spoils system. The two do not mix.
The President and the administra
tive officials who know from experience
the problem of “covering" employes into
the civil service have recommended ex
tension of civil service status to those
now lacking it bv non-competitive ex
amination, without reference to the ap
portionment of offices of law.
There is, of course, the objection that
non-competitive examinations may tend
to continue in service many of those
who were appointed without any ex
amination and many who could not re
tain their present jobs under competi
tive examination. But the natural turn
over among employes is a corrective that
(Works automatically. Within a few years
employes so covered into the civil service
wmuld be replaced by new employes se
lected through competitive examination.
As the change would be gradual, any
disruption to Government service would
be prevented.
The committee has voted, by a close
margin, to support Chairman Rams
peck in his efforts to subject all non
civil service employes to competitive ex
amination. That process, though apt to
handicap the functioning of seme agen
cies during the transition period, might
be defended on the ground that it is
strictly in line with sound merit system
principles.
But to couple the competitive exam
ination with the application of the appor
tionment of offices law is indefensible,
unworkable and should be abandoned.
It would mean, in the first place, the
arbitrary' dismissal of possibly 10,000 em
ployes from the District and the twelve
States, which, under the apportionment
of offices law, have exceeded their quotas
based on population. These people would
be dismissed, not because of failure to
qualify under the stiffest of competitive
examinations or because of incompetency
—but merely because of their places of
legal residence.
Why have the District and the nearby
States exceeded their quotas under the
apportionment of offices law? Because,
In the first place, of the availability of
eligibles for Government employment
when speedy recruiting was held essen
tial. Because there are thousands of
low-paid jobs in the Government for
Which the only available candidates are
the people who live in this vicinity. Be
cause administrative efficiency in the
Government is better served by appoint
ment of available candidates close at
hand than by bringing employes here
from long distances away—perhaps to
fill temporary jobs.
In every Government emergency de
manding the taking on of additional per
sonnel the apportionment of offices sys
tem has broken down and has been dis
carded as unworkable. That was true
during the World War and it has been
true during the creation of emergency
agencies. The excess over quota of the
District, Maryland and Virginia does not
represent the enjoyment of special favors.
It represents the response to Government
needs by available personnel. That has
been recognized in the past by the Civil
Service Commission, by Government
agencies and by Congress in making
exceptions to the apportionment of offices
law. To resurrect the law now. in
connection with the delayed move of ex
tending the civil service to emergency
agencies, savors of patronage and is
therefore contradictory in itself to merit
system principles. It would represent an
act of great injustice to employes of
proven efficiency. It would tend to im
pair the efficient functioning of the Gov
ernment establishment. The idea should
be abandoned.
Photography at Lakehurst.
The Chinese have a saying, attributed
to Confucius, that “one look is worth a
thousand hearings.” This apothegm is
given point just now by the remarkable
series of photographs taken of the
Hindenburg disaster at Lakehurst which
have been printed along with the news
of the shocking event. Rarely if ever
has such a calamity befallen in circum
stances permitting such a completely il
lustrative depiction. While the arrival
of a giant gas bag carrier is no novelty,
the Hindenburg and its predecessor in
trans-Atlantic travel, the Graf Zeppelin,
having come and gone many times, there
▲
was on this occasion special interest in
the first of a scheduled aeries of cross
ocean trips for the season. Consequently
the landing field at lakehurst was well
supplied with camera men, and their in
struments were ready for the approach
of the Hindenburg. They took numerous
shots of the ship as she came within
range and when the first sign of trouble
appeared they began to “shoot” at high
speed. The result was a pictorial record
that shows the progress of the disinte
gration of the great craft, the several
explosions, the spread of the flames, the
frantic rush of the people below, the
final settling of the giant frame upon
the ground and the last smoldering of
the fabric.
To these news photographers, who so
efficiently and courageously performed
their task in circumstances of actual
peril to themselves, high commendation
is due. They produced a story in neg
atives that is without equal for fidelity,
drama and perhaps of value in the de
termination of the cause of the disaster.
They presented not merely the “one
look” of the Chinese sage’s observation
but a sequence which required no imagi
nation on the part of the readers of the
prints to understand the course of the
tragedy.
Skill, training, experience and, above
all, nerveless steadiness in circumstances
of shocking disturbance were required
in the making of this extraordinary
record. The news photographers at
lakehurst deserve the wannest thanks
and the highest praise for their service
on this occasion.
Relief Costs.
A battle royal over the relief appro
priation asked by the President is in
the making. On Monday the subcom
mittee of the House Appropriations Com
mittee will meet to fix the sum at least
tentatively. The President has asked
the Congress to appropriate $1,500,000,
000 for work relief during the next fiscal
year. The proponents of economy,
among them Senator Byrnes of South
Carolina, are demanding a slash in
the appropriation to $1,000,000,000.
Others, more relief-minded, are seeking
$2,000,000,000 or even $3,000,000,000.
America can, undoubtedly, hdve as
much unemployment and relief as it
is willing to pay for. In other words, if
the maximum amount of $3,000,000,000
should be appropriated by Congress, it
could be spent for work relief or any
other kind of relief for which the ad
ministration decided to distribute money.
Just how much money is actually
needed is the question. Statistics show
that industrial employment in this
country is at about the high point of
1929. And yet the clamor for relief
money from cities and States continues.
Be it well understood, the clamor is for
Federal money. The cities and States, if
left to their own devices and to the
duty of raising the money themselves,
might find the relief needs not quite
so great.
unfortunately, relief has gotten into
politics in a big way. It has played its
part in the last two major elections—
for Congress in 1934 and for President
in 1936. The distribution of Federal
money had its effect on the results.
There is another election coming next
year for Congress. Notwithstanding re
peated demands for an investigation of
charges that relief money was being
used to obtain votes, to compel workers
to vote a certain way, the lid was
clamped down tight and no investiga
tion by the senatorial committee was
permitted. What will happen in the
future no one can say.
The politics of relief expenditures
promises to take another twist, however.
Unless these expenditures are curtailed
the public debt will continue to mount,
and so will taxes. And that is where
the shoe pinches, in a country which
now seems to have come far out of the
depression which gripped it for several
years. So the question of pouring out
money is not so one-sided as it once
was. There is a real determination on
the part of many Democratic as well as
Republican members of Congress to
call a halt. The demand for a census
of the unemployed in this country is in
creasing. Until there is such a census,
calls upon Congress for relief appropria
tions are largely guesswork.
One of the delicate questions former
Postmaster General Hays is expected to
decide is how motion picture pay ought
to be divided among press typists and
make-up artists.
Latin American Debts.
Secretary Hull recently suggested to
a distinguished trans-Atlantic visitor
that Old World governments would do
well to take a leaf out of the Pan
American note book and bury the
political and economic differences which
keep Europe in turmoil and are largely
responsible for its remaining an armed
camp. What the State Department chief
had in mind was the success of the
American republics at Buenos Aires in
evolving ways and means fer pooling
their interests and obliterating condi
tions that breed strife. Latin American
governments, or at least a representa
tive section of them, are setting the
United States’ European war debtors yet
another example. They are giving seri
ous attention to proposals designed to
re-establish their credit by adjusting
long-standing defaults on their dollar
bonded indebtedness.
Negotiations to this end are under
way or in contemplation with Cuba,
Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia.
Later discussions are in prospect with
Brazil. Argentina has set a proud ex
ample to all Latin America by maintain
ing payments on her external debt,
despite enormous difficulties and even
at the height of the depression. Ar
gentine credit in consequence is high
in both London and New York. Recent
refunding operations, made possible by
that circumstance, are the envy of many
countries in both hemispheres. Un
fortunately, other South American re
publics, whose obligations in the United
States are in chronic arrears, have as
yet revealed no Inclination to move
toward resumption of debt service in
any form.
While there is no expectation that
Latin American defaults will be wiped
out immediately or on any extensive
scale, the outlook is steadily becoming
brighter. Substantial economic improve
ment is in progress throughout the
sister Americas. Their debt-curtailment
capacity is correspondingly on the in
crease. Reciprocal trade treaties ne
gotiated with .the United States by
several of the Latin states are important
contributory factors in the forward
movement. Uncle Sam is absorbing ever
larger quantities of their raw materials
and increasing his exports to them. This
country is a natural and traditional
source of capital supply for Latin Amer
ica. The overwhelming bulk of its
public debts and a vast volume of
private obligations are held here. Con
tinued access to our money market
is of paramount desirability. Happily,
most of the states concerned are con
scious that a prerequisite is practical
demonstration of readiness to meet exist
ing obligations to the fullest and most
regular degree permissible.
When Sir Walter Raleigh arranged his
trip to South America he did so with
care to avoid interference with old plans
of identification and survey. In fact,
he did not give as many close particulars
from personal imagination as the tra
ditional Raleigh managed to supply.
While Mr. Farley may be able to tell the
world a great deal that is interesting,
he should also be expected to hold his
text to the accuracy of scholarship even
when he appeals to poetic fancy.
" ——» i-—
In the demands for money to run a
great government, the figures of Mr.
Harry Hopkins are frequently called
up for scrutiny. He has had many op
portunities to do good and has not, it
may be, been sufficiently impressed by the
fact that an idea may not hold to an
assertion of its precise valuation.
So far as the smiling goes, photographs
shew that the justices of the Supreme
Court are comfortable in producing copy,
requesting only the time which might
be required for an exhibit of facial con
tour in correct relation to their responsi
bilities.
When Lindbergh makes a trip he keeps
the details from public awareness in a
manner which dampens enthusiasm but
keeps him in reliable form for future
service. The experience he has had is
not without its value in promoting cau
tion.
In spite of erudite eloquence there is
no evidence that a single European dic
tator has changed his mind about any
thing.
Shooting Stars.
by PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Pride of Possession.
You must admit, if you will trace
The world's historic scheme,
That favoritism has place
In every mortal scheme—
He was a watch dog, so we said;
That pup with spongy feet.
He'd let you pat him on the head
And bring him things to eat.
He'd watch a rat hole by the hour
And with the rat in sight
He'd keep on watching. But his pow'r
To hypnotize was slight.
He'd watch the chicken coop w!ith care
And when a midnight guest
Claimed all the poultry that was there,
He watched with interest.
He watched a burglar who, one night
Appeared with nerve immense,
His silent wonder at the sight
Showed great intelligence.
He is a watch dog and he gets
The best of care each day,
Nor heeds the jeering or the threats
The neighbors toss his way.
A gentle egotism reigns
Throughout all human kind.
The thing that you possess remains
Apart and all refined.
So, be you dull or be you wise
As through this world you jog,
You’ll find that any dog's a prize,
Provided he’s Your Dog.
Said in Exasperation.
“That irate colleague says you have
a chip on your shoulder.”
“He’s worse than I am, at that,” re
joined Senator Sorghum. “He has a
blockhead on both shoulders.”
Jud Tunkins says the nearest he ever
came to getting the best of an argument
was to rest his mind by changing the
subject now and then.
The Concluding Interrogation.
Into the starry universe
We gaze where suns form or disperse.
Into the atom still we stare
And try to learn what more is there.
By each discovery we are led
Toward new discoveries just ahead,
Until we sit in silent doubt
And wonder what it’s all about.
“Peacemakers,” said Hi Ho, the sage
of Chinatown, “do not always succeed
in stopping a fight. They sometimes
get into it themselves and only suc
ceed in making it larger.”
Overobliging.
My radio! My radio!
Your jesting I must praise.
It brings me back the long ago—
Those happy childhood days.
My radio! My radio!
When ragtime tunes you bring
I wish that you—like friends I know—
Would think before you sing.
“Don’t ax me if I’s afraid to walk
past a graveyard,” said Uncle Eben. ”1
never tried It. I always run.”
Economic Conference
Program Suggestions
To thf Editor of The 8t»r:
The world economic conference which
many nations are contemplating would
not only contribute to the economic well
being of the world, but would also aid
in the maintenance of universal peace,
If it could solve certain problems.
The most outstanding of these is the
economy based on war, which the au
thoritative states of Europe are main
taining. Because their nations lack the
necessary natural resources to make them
prosperous and are not large enough to
accommodate their crowded populations,
the dictators arm themselves at a rapid
rate, utilizing every available means of
Industrial production in order to ac
quire more land. Although this creates
an artificial industrial boom, a food
shortage is imminent, as they are de
pendent upon other nations for their
foodstuffs. As their peoples become dis
contented after lacking many food neces
sities, the dictators, in order to remain
in power, glorify the arts of war and
take advantage of every international
incident that would give them an op
portunity to seize some territory. As the
arms race goes on, tension is increased,
and only a spark is necessary to plunge
the world into a conflagration.
Another problem which needs solution
Is the setting up of trade barriers by
nations. Great manufacturing interests
within a nation, whose products would
receive competition by foreign-made
goods, strongly urge upon their govern
ments to have a high tariff to protect
them. This action, which is often taken
by the government, causes other nations
to retaliate in the same manner, thus
shutting off a large amount of trade
between countries.
Another problem is the equalization
of the standard of living of the world.
In some countries, especially those in
Asia, the living standards are very lowr,
due to the feudal systems that are main
tained in them. When people of these
nations emigrate to countries which
have a high standard of living, much
ill-feeling is directed against them by
their new countrymen. This is due to
their failure to adapt themselves to the
standards of the new country. Soon race
riots break out and nations begin quar
reling over the rights of their nationals
in other countries. Diplomatic relations
are quickly cooled if the dispute is not
settled. If the persecuting nation is
weak, then soldiers are sent in by the
stronger power upon the pretext of
protecting her nationals. This often re
sults in the acquisition of much land
belonging to the weak nation by the
imperialist government—a step which
has the disapproval of many other na
tions. ALBERT PRUSS.
Figures and “Figures”
In the Problem of Crime
To the Editor of The Star:
A big game hunter starting off with
only fishing line and rod. not knowing
even the appearance of his quarry, let
alone its living habits and instincts,
would be laughed at, and certainly
would not be expected to bring home
even 10 per cent of a catch. This situa
tion is typical of the crime conditions in
Washington. Despite the wave of criti
cism resulting from the publication of
the Washington Crime Commission's re
port, the results of 10 per cent convic
tions cannot be considered "poor.”
To the experienced criminologist, the
naiveness of the discussions aroused by
the report is striking. Among the lead
ing police organizations in Europe, which
are adequately staffed with specially
trained officers, have all the latest tech
nical equipment and are well admin
istered, wdthout the many typical Amer
ican handicaps, 1 to 2 per cent con
victions for murder would be considered
satisfactory. A somewhat better result
with respect to other serious offenses is
a routine expectation. As a rule, it would
not exceed 10 per cent in most instances.
The 10 per cent referred to is based on
accurate and reliable statistics, not a
superficial scanning of police and court
records.
As long as we concern ourselves pri
marily with "only 10 per cent" and shut
our eyes to the 90 per cent of statistical
data which is not available concerning
the criminal, his living habits, instincts,
associations and behavior traits, no real
progress or improvement can be expected
with regard to the crime situation in
Washington or other locales. Scientific
research and study of the criminal would
constitute our strongest weapon in com
bating crime—murderers do not report
or customarily surrender themselves, but
have to be detected and apprehended
before they can be convicted.
A good working knowledge of the
criminal is fundamental to adequate
police protection.
For the past two years, under spon
sorship of the Attorney General and ad
ministration by both Justin Miller and
Wayne L. Morse, a vast amount of data
has been collected and is being analyzed
with reference to criminality and the
criminal. This study and other investi
gations of a like nature constitute the
only stable means of increasing the
ominous 10 per cent. A lasting structure
is the most economical in the long run
and requires a sound and solid founda
tion. DR. HANS VON HENTIG.
Formerly Editor Monatsschrift fur
Kriminal Psychologie.
Objection to Daylight
Saving in Washington
To the Editor of The Star:
May I be permitted to register objec
tion to the proposed "daylight saving’’
time?
Having talked to several people re
garding the daylight saving time plan
and having found every one of them
opposed to it and having lived in a city
in which it was tried and discontinued
upon a city-wide vote, I believe that a
majority of the people do not want it. It
may be true that the chambers of com
merce, social clubs, golf clubs and other
like organizations favor moving the
clock up an hour, but we who have to
do the work of the Nation will be forced
to lose one hour of sleep each day.
The evenings of the Summer are too
hot to sleep before 10 o’clock, which
would be 11 o'clock under "nut time,"
thus no one could get any rest by retir
ing an hour earlier; yet we would be
forced to rise at 4:30 of a morning in
stead of at 5:30, as we now must do in
order to arrive on the job at 7 am. Our
work day would be started at 6 o’clock
and end at 4 o’clock, even though the
clocks called it 7 am. to 5 pm.
The false time would merely act to
deprive us of an hour of sleep in the
early morning when everything is quiet
and cool and give us an hour more of
time in the evening when it’s too hot
to sleep.
In a city in which the writer resided
at the time, the Young Men's Business
Club started a campaign for "daylight
saving." The daily papers took it up,
the chamber of commerce joined and
so did several other clubs. The City
Council then, at the request of these
organizations, enacted a city ordinance
to move up the clock and it went into
action only to meet the opposition of a
young attorney who sued for an in
junction and demanded a city-wide vote.
He won and the vote was called and the
"daylight saving" time plan lost by an
overwhelming majority.
Z.M.94SJOOL
THIS AND THAT |
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
More than half a ton of seeds and
grains, and many days spent in helping
the birds, had their Just reward the
other morning, when a delegation of
songsters stepped forward to greet
Templeton Jones as he descended the
steps of his home on the way to work.
First came a pair of catbirds, sleek
and happy in the fresh air of 7 am.
They found something very intriguing
to eat in the grass beneath a large
spirea bush.
Jones called to them, with his best
imitation of the drawn-out mew of the
species. He half expected this to
frighten both birds away, but evidently
they were too busy.
His imitation did not scare them in
the least. If it did anything, it served
to attract the attention of the song
sters, which came a little nearer.
Pleased by this manifestation of
friendly interest, Templeton Jones
walked a bit closer.
The catbirds were not perturbed in
the least. They kept on hopping around,
eating in the grass, now and then cran
ing their necks, in that semi-absurd but
altogether delightful way these birds
have of felicitating themselves.
* * * *
As these were the first of the species
to be seen in the Jones yard this year,
they were more than welcomed, for truly
there is no finer bird than the catbird.
In sleekness, grace and general in
terest, it is a very fine songster; and its
song, above all. is far more than the
mewing cry which gives it the common
name.
Few birds, rightly heard, have any
more to offer by way of variety. Many
of the brilliant songs heard from trees
and shrubs in suburban and country
districts come from the catbird, rather
than the mockingbird, which often gets
the credit.
Jones always had been fond of the cat
bird, but this was as close as he ever
had got to a pair of them.
He felt especially pleased that they
did not fly away at his approach. Now
he was within 10 feet of them, still they
stood their ground.
* Jk * *
This was to be a morning of surprises,
however.
Two English sparrows lit on the lawn
in front of him.
Friendly enough in the downtown sec
tions, these birds seem rather timorous
in the country, often flying up from
feeding stations at the slightest sound
of opening door.
To those familiar with these birds
only as city gamins of bird life, this
country timidity will seem rather
strange.
Downtown English sparrows often per
mit passersby to walk within a foot of
them, as they fight for subsistence.
Their bravery there is a matter of
necessity.
Through generations they have be
come so used to fighting for their food
in the streets that they know nothing
else.
* * * *
Let a band of these birds take to the
suburbs, however, and they shortly tend
to revert to their original wavs in the
English countryside. It must not be
forgotten that, although a city bird over
there, the entire island is not very large,
and these birds are found in the country
as well as towns and cities.
I '
Under the influence of trees and
shrubs and lawns, these sparrows tend
to take on traits of shyness which they
thus come to share with most members
of the bird kingdom.
Let us make plain that Templeton
Jones is not one of these rare and gifted
souls who instinctively have the ability
to attract birds.
Nor has he made a practice of luring
the pigeons in the parks, permitting
them to stand on his shoulder. Rather
he. shies from such acts, but loves the
birds nevertheless. It was a real pleas
ure to him that morning to have dat
birds and sparrows stay by him, rather
than fly away.
He thought of the feeding stations he
had installed, and the pounds upon
pounds of fine food which he had pro
vided for them all. '
Now he was getting a little reward of
a new kind; always the sight of the
birds feeding has been enough, but here
was something more.
* * * *
A fine pair of robins, always friendly
fellows, flew down in long slanting lines.
They alighted on the grass beside the
sparrows, and not far from the catbirds.
Well, well, well!
This was almost too much. Surely if
he took one step, thought Jones, the
whole crowd would fly away.
He whistled his best imitation of &
robin calling for rain.
The male bird put his head on one
side, then dived for a worm.
His aim was excellent. The worm was
long, and lasted the bird about four
seconds.
Ac Ac * *
Jones decided that the birds had
greeted him sufficiently for one morning,
so started to walk on.
“Do not go yet, mister,” said the birds,
or sounds to that effect.
The best was yet to be.
Suddenly, with just a slight flutter of
wings, a pair of wood thrushes alighted
on the grass.
They landed with that easy drop
known the world over as characteristic of
birds.
Their beautiful speckled breasts, their
reddish-brown backs, their clear eyes
and amiable movements, combined to
make one of the best of bird pictures.
Templeton Jones was delighted, for
to him the wood thrush was and is the
quintessence of bird life.
* * * *
By this time the catbirds had skirted
the other side of the shrub and had dis
appeared.
The sparrows were hopping around,
dipping into the grass with their
characteristic movements.
The robins were strutting not far from
the sparrows.
The thrushes seemed content to look
around expectantly, as if waiting for
fpmething.
Jones had been practicing the thrush
song for six years.
He tried a tentative triolet.
He was no thrush, true, but he loved
the song, and did it mediumly well for
an alien species.
Two bright eyes, peering in his direc
tion, was all the applause he asked.
The thrush lifted its head.
“Now, listen." the bird seemed to say.
Then it poured forth, softly, as
thrushes sing when they sing on the
ground, the first part of its wonderful
melody.
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS R. HENRY.
Blue eyes are not really blue, nor red
sunsets really red.
The apparent color Is due to the scat
tering of light when the photons hit
against extremely minute particles. It
takes place only when the diameter of
the obscuring particles is small in com
parison to the wave length of the light.
For this reason light in the blue end
of the spectrum is scattered more than
light in the red end.
This principle, worked out more than
a half century ago by the English
physicist. Lord Rayleigh, was explained
at the annual meeting of the American
Chemical Society at Chapel Hill by Drs.
D. L. Gamble and C. E. Barnett of the
research division of the New Jersey Zinc
Co. as a hitherto unappreciated means
of measuring particle size and distribu
tion.
“Thus,” Dr. Gamble pointed out. “the
sun appears red when viewed through a
thick smoke fog. but white through a
fog in the country consisting of water
droplets. Water drops are too large to
produce true scattering. Their action is
in the nature of diffraction and reflec
tion, which is almost equally effective
for all wave lengths. Hence water drops
appear white, whether viewed by re
flected or direct solar radiation.
“Other examples of structural colors,
which are produced by scattering phe
nomena are the red color of the sunset,
the colors of bird feathers, the blue color
of the sky, or of skimmed milk. This
blue is now known as Tyndall blue.
There is no blue pigment in blue eyes
and it was pointed out by the English
physicist Tyndall years ago that the
blue of the eye is really the blue of turgid
media and is analogous to the blue of the
sky or the blue of skimmed milk.
curing uie nrst two or inree years
after the eruption of Krakatoa a red
dish-brown corona was often observed
around the sun. This was known as
Bishop's ring. It was explained as the
result of the scattering of sunlight by
small dust particles, the blue being scat
tered back toward infinite space, while
the red was unaffected. Assuming that
the particles were spherical, it was pos
sible to calculate their diameter.
“If such observations are confined to
radiation in the visible spectrum, one is
able to measure only the diameters of
extremely small articles, since the wave
length of light through the visible spec
trum is small and the diameter of the
particles which will scatter such radia
tion must be still smaller. By extending
the observations into the infrared, how
ever, the great increase in wave length
makes possible the measurement of the
diameters of coarser particles with con
siderable accuracy. For example, if it is
desired to determine the size of pigment
particles in a paint, a small amount of
the paint is diluted until it is translucent
with some clear paint oil. A cell is
filled with this suspension of pigment in
oil and mounted in front of the entrance
slit of a spectrometer. Light frfem an
ordinary automobile headlight bulb,
which is rich both in visible and near
infrared radiation, is focused on the cell.
That transmitted through the suspension
is separated into a spectrum of single
colors or wave lengths extending from
the visible blue to the infrared.
“A thermocouple is used to measure
the intensity of the radiation represent
ing each one of these wave lengths and
the intensity of the radiation transmitted
at each wav.e length is plotted against
the wave length. From the equation,
which relates the intensity of the trans
mitted radiation with the diameter of
the suspended particles and the wave
length of light the avenge diameter of
the particles of pigment in the paint is
calculated and certain information re
garding the size distribution of the par
ticles is also obtained. It is of consider
able importance to determine the particle
diameters of the powders used by the
paint and rubber industries because this
largely determines the useful life of rub
ber tires, as well as the color, gloss and
brushing properties of paints and
enamels.”
* * * *
Utilizing a principle that certain gasses
are partially opaque to specific wave
lengths of radiation, Dr. E. D. McAlister
of the Smithsonian Institution has per
fected an instrument that will detect
one part of carbon dioxide in a million
parts of air in less than five seconds.
Radiation of the specified wave band
Is passed through a sample of the atmos
phere and allowed to fall upon a thermo
couple. where it sets up an electric cur
rent, depending on the amount of radia
tion which has gotten through the at
mospheric path. This current is recorded
on a galvanometer and provides a pre
cise measure of the gas concentration.
By using other wave lengths the pres
ence of like minute quantities of other
gasses, such as water vapor, can be de
termined. When both sensitivity and
speed are considered, this new method
is many times more sensitive than any
other known in chemistry.
Must Take Precautions
To Prevent Disasters
From the Danbury News-Times.
Dr. David J. Price, United States De
partment of Agriculture, has reported to
the Governor of Texas that in gas-heated
schools a type of alarm ought to be
installed which will ring a bell when gas
mixes with the air in a building, so that
the pupils may file out as in fire drill.
He renews the very old recommendation
that gas applied to domestic uses should
be mixed with a malodorant, so that the
smell of escaping gas will be perceptible.
It is not alone in the use of gas that
the New London catastrophe has a
lesson to teach. The lesson of preven
tion that saves is brought home to every
body everywhere.
One of its manifestations is in the
work of tenement inspections which
Chief McNamara is beginning in Dan
bury.
One of the mistakes commonly made
is the failure to emphasize the infrequent
nature of certain types of death-dealing
accident.
It is not in the field of motor vehicle
safety alone that this error appears.
We may leave buildings unprovided
with exits, we may neglect those pre
cautions which were taught us by death
dealing tragedies, and nothing will hap
pen for a long time. It may be that
nothing will ever happen in our par
ticular place of neglect, but out of these
neglects, once in so often, somewhere,
some time, will come that by which
scores, or hundreds, will be destroyed,
painfully, to the grief of the Nation.
Let us do now those things which will
prevent the infrequent disaster.*
Second Choices and Guesses.
From the Newbursh (N. Y.) News.
What girls admire most in men are
brains and character, says our favorite
heart balm expert. In this imperfect
world, however, all too many have to
make a second choice of men with good
salaries.
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HA SKIN.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Evening
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C.
Please inclose rtamp for reply.
Q. What was the name of the picture
John DilUnger went to see the night h*
was killed?—E. J.
A. John DilUnger was killed as he
emerged faom the Biograph Theater in
Chicago after having seen a melodramatic
film called ‘‘Manhattan Melodrama.’*
Clark Gable and William Powell were
starred in the picture.
Q. Which can furnish more power,
Boulder Dam or Niagara Falls?—8. H.
A. Boulder Dam.
Q. Who is the pretender to the Russian
throne?—M. M. H.
A. The present pretender to the/nrone
of all the Russias is the late Cza-’s first
cousin, His Imperial Highness Ylrsrficf
Duke Cyril, the son of the younger
brother of Czar Alexander III. He re
sides at Coburg. Germany and St. Briac,
Brittany, France.
Q. In what year was the first United
States census taken?—E. J. B.
A. In 1790.
Q. Where is the Dust Bowl?—C. J. H.
A. It is very indefinite in area and
covers the northwestern section of Texas,
most of New Mexico, the southwestern
section of Kansas, the southeastern sec
tion of Colorado, and very small areaj
of Oklahoma,
Q How many grocery stores are thera
which do not sell meat, how many do,
and how many meat markets are there
in the United States?—J. W. C.
A. The 1935 Census of Business re
ported: Grocery stores (without meats'.
188,738; combination stores, groceries and
meats, 166.233; meat markets, 32,555.
Q How much salary does John L.
Lewis receive, and who pays it?—A. B G.
A. The salary of John L. Lewis is
$12,000 a year. He refused to accept an
increase to $25,000 a year at the last
meeting of the United Mine Workers of
America, which organization pays hi3
salary.
Q At what height is the timber line?
—R. D. G.
A. The timber line, which is the upper
limit of tree growth on mountains, is of
greatest height in the tropics, gradually
descending toward the north and south
and also toward the seacoast. In the
Himalayas it is about 11,800 feet high.
In the Alps it is 6,400 feet and in the
Rocky Mountains from 9,000 to 12.000 feet.
Q What was a sphinx?—R S.
A. The sphinx was a monster famous
in Greek mythology. It had the head
of a woman, the body of a lion, wings of
a bird, and the tail of a serpent.
Q What is the elastic clause in th#
Constitution?—S. S.
A. It is article 1, section 8, clause 18.
By this clause Congress is allowed a
choice of the means by which certain
enumerated powers shall be exercised.
The words “necessary and proper" in this
clause permit great differences in inter
pretation. The strict constructionists be
lieve that only the powers explicit'
granted should be exercised. On the
other hand, the loose constructionists
hold that the intended or implied powers
are to be assumed.
Q. What causes a person’s voice to
change when he goes from one section
of our country to another to live?—C. N.
A. One's voice is influenced by the
voices which he constantly hears. This
is especially true with children who are
quite imitative. However, many teachers
of speech believe that the vocal cords be
come tense or relaxed according to differ
ences in climate and that for this reason
the enunciation and quality of the South
ern voice tend to be less tense than the
Northern voice.
Q. Please give the names of the sevc
hills on which Rome was built—N. S.
A. The names of the hills are Capito -
ine. Palatine, Aventine, Quirinal, Vimma'..
.Esquiline and Caelian.
Q. What did tha Indians Use for
money?—H. R. A.
A. The Indians used shell money or
wampum as their medium of exchange.
In the manufacture of these shell beads
much patient labor and a marked degree
of skill and careful manipulation were
required. Their manufacture was appar
ently not confined to any class of per
sons among the natives. In New Eng
land and along the Atlantic seaboard
wampum was chiefly of two colors: The
white, and the violet or purple, which
latter varied in shade from pale or pi:-.';
violet to dark rich purple. The val -
of these shell beads was determined b
their color and degree of finish. In fr: \
they were cylindrical, being from abr.r
to 3-16 inch in diameter, and from
to 7-16 inch in length. Wampum
very early became a medium of exchange
at fixed values between the whites and
Indians, not only in merchandise, but
also in dollars and cents.
Q. How many people are in the con
sular branch of the foreign service?—
V. R. J.
A. Approximately 30 new vice consuls
were sent abroad last year to foreign
countries. The consular branch of the
American Foreign Service consists of
approximately 650.
Q. Who are the greatest mathemati
cians of all time?—H. W. G. 1
A. Dr. Eric Temple Bell, famous mathe
matician and author of "Men of Mathe
matics," regards Archimedes. Sir Isaac
Newton and Johann Friedrich Carl Gauss
as the three leading mathematicians of
all time.
A Tip From the Classics.
Prom the Indianapolis Star.
If those C. I. O. organizers understand
Latin they should realize they are per
sona non grata in Ontario.
Caledonian Miscue.
From the Sioux City Tribune.
Scotch shipyard workers staged a
walkout. They probably never heard
that sit-down striking saves shoe
leather.
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton.
The Gay Season.
Wild honeysuckle all along the highways.
Robins tossing their songs among the
trees,
Gold butterflies be-sprinkling the green
meadows
And in the clover blooms the hum of
bees;
Spring bringing forth new blossoms every 1
day,
Fair skies and water—Bummer on th£
way.