Evening Star Newspaper, February 20, 1921, Page 30

F=T THE EVENING STAR, With Sanday Morning Edition. - WASHINGTON, D. C. SUNDAY......February 20, 1921 THEODORE W. NOYES. . . . Editor “%he Evening Star Newspaper Company rupting form of entertainment should be permitted to have it, not particu- larly because of the effect upon that special class or group, but because of the fact that it is impossible to segre- gute such a class and that all others have access to the possible debasing influence. In plain terms, the censorship ques- Business Office, 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. | tion turns upon this: Should films be New York Office: Tribune Ruilding. Chicago Office: First National Bank Building. Kuropean Office: 3 Regent St., London, England. The Eveping Star, with the Sunday morning efition, 1 delivered by carriers within the city At 60 cents per month: daily only. 45 cents per month; Sunday onl, ‘cents per month. H:lr ders may be ment ‘mail, or telephone nl'l 5000. Collection is made by carriers st the end of each month. S Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday.. $8.40; Daily only > .1yr., $6.00; 1 mo., 50c Sunday onl; .1yr., $2.40; 1 mo., 20c All Other States. Progress in Welfare Work. Social welfare work in the District of Columbia is making long strides forward. Only a few months ago the situation, which had prevailed in most of its essential features for several decades, was not auspicious. Some sixty district agencies were in the field, seeking with unco-ordinated ef- fort to meet the welfare requirements of the community. The measure of their success was inevitably limited as a result of their different methods of functioning. The agencies, those dependent upon them, and the public at large were partially conscious of the defects of the situation. Co-opera- tive effort was rare and sporadic, and as an authoritative estimate of the true welfare needs of the National Capital was lacking. there was no clearly defined program upon Which the several agencies were working har- monipusly. The public was reacting to this con- dition of affairs. Beset with what seemed to be countless appeals, vaguely sensing that the local methods of social welfare work in the general sense of the term were lacking in efficiency, the interest and support essential to continuing the work of driving distress from Washington were falling away. To meet the par- tially justified skepticism of the pub- lic several indorsement committees had been established, and these, unco- ordinated, served in their turn to complicate a difficult situation. That was a few months ago. To- day, apparently fully appreciative of the need for modernizing the machin- ery for dealing with the vital problems of hunger and want and distress in ‘Washington, the agencies and the in- dorsement committees have combined interests. The Washington Council of Social Agencies has bcen formed, evi- dencing the determination of the . @gencies, which are no more and no less than the creatures of each Wash- | ingtonian for conveying help to the helpless, to study their individual lnd! -collective functional problems to- gether, and to work toward the goal of complete efficiency. The several and unco-ordinated indorsement com- mittees, the proxies of the public (orl passing judgment upon the worthiness of the individual welfare agency for public financial support,- have been drawn together inte a single instru- ment known as the Indorsement Com- mittee of Welfare Organization. The sNational Capital, divesting itself of outdated methods and machinery, is abreast of the times. What the development of welfare ‘work in Washington shall be in the future must depend largely upon the degree of earnestness and enthusiasm ‘with which these newly created in- struments of the public function. Each essential to the other, it should not be long before the two in turn are able to work together in complete harmony. There is the obvious dan- ger of overlapping to be provided | against, and to this end a clear con- ! ception of the scope of their l,espec_mhmud‘cominue to be used as the| source of water supply, It is impera-: tive fields of activity is essential to each. . On the face of it such a conception should not be difficult to attain. The primary function of the indorsement committee is to pass judgment upon j the worthin#ss of existing agencies | for public financial support. It should not directly concern itself with the business of persuading the agencies to come up to the standards it sets. 1t is the judge. The primary function of the council is to work to the end that every welfare agency in Wash- ington may shortly be worthy of the indorsement of that committee and of the confidence and the support of the community. The function of the public must then be so to support the judgment of the indorsement committee and the efforts of the council that no social welfare agen either lacking in- dorsement or refusing to co-operate in the quest for combined efficienc; can continue to live in unexamined selfishness withia the District. So! shall Washington attain to welfare efficiency. i i —_————— ! Russia is famous for its natural re- | sources which are prevented from | functioning because of abnormal pol- ities. Movies and Censorship. Varying views on the subject of mo-| tion picture censorship have been ex-| pressed to the District Commissioners | by citizens and associations. The sub- | ject is one of acute interest to the| people. Some feel that there is need | of an official supervision over the films ' and others hold that the matter of reg- | ulation can safely be left to the pro-| ducers and exhibitors, who are sup- posedly shrewd and discriminating juéges of public taste. It is on the question of public taste, however, that opinion divides. 1Is the public taste itself an adequate standard? Can the judgment of producers and exhibitors be safely trusted on the score of what | | less of what the public likes? In other words, does the public know what is good for it? ‘Threre is a “taste” for every kind of entertainment from the lowest. to the highest. There is a “public” for every sort of diversion, however unwhole- some. The real question, therefore, is ‘whetber that presumably small per- centage of the public that wants a cor- R shown that are in any manner or to any degree unfit for youthful behold- ers? Herein lies another question, that of parental control. Obviously it is impossible to keep off the screen all pictures that involve situations that | cannot be safely and clearly explained to a child. The serious difficulty In this matter lies in the fact that many families attend the “‘movies™ together, parents and children in the same party. In many cases parents cannot go un less they take the children. In other cases the parents go because the chil dren insist on going and are not per- mitted to go alone. There is a fault of discipline here, but it is a fact and not a theory and must be met. Apart from the sex problem films that form a considerable percentage of the pictures of today, there are other types that are subject to objection, the “thrillers” and many of the so-called comics. But the difficulty about all | these matters is that there is no fixed starting point, no established stand- ard. Not even that of “‘taste,” because. as already suggested, there is a taste for pictures that are worse than any that are publicly shown. < So it is to be seen that this is not a simple question, however readily peo- ple may divide pro and con. If the movies are to be censored the task of those assigned to the duty will be| one of the most difficult ever pit upon | officials. Unless the law of censorship, if one is passed, specifies the topics that cannct be lawfully shown on the screen there is no end to the possible differences of opinion among the cen- sors themselves. ——————— Immediate Water Supply increase. Secretary Baker asks Congress for an immediate appropriation of $200,000 to start work on the increase of the District's water supply. The project recommended is known as the Tyler plan, the cost of which is estimated at $9,000,000. It has been approved by the Federal Power Commission and is calculated to provide for the increas- ing needs of the District for at least sixty vears. In his letter of recommendation the Secretary states that the situation is so serious that he is obliged to urge that provision be made at this session for commencing the work. It is need- less to stress further the urgency of | this matter. All reports that have been made by officials point to the fact that unless the water supply is materially increased with the least possible delay the, District will be gravely threatened with a water shortage in the near future. There is, indeed, no assurance against a dis- astrous condition even in the summer to come, with the population consid- erably lower than that of two years 2go, owing to the post-war depletion. Should the coming summer be intense- | ly hot and the water supply lowered through lessening of the pressure in- cident to the season it will probably be necessary to put all consumers on short rations. And year after year this danger will increase. If an appropriation is made before adjournment next month work can be started at once. If the matter is al- lowed to go over to the extra session it cannot be begun for perhaps half a year later, maybe longer. There is no reason for delay in this case. The expenditure must be made sooner or later, and if made now will be less than if postponed. There is no conflict of projects. Whether the Po- tomac power is utilized or not, the water supply must be increased. The judgment of those who have surveyed | the situation is that the Potomac tive, therefore, whatever is done about the power, that the dam at Great Falls be raised and an additional conduit constructed and a greater distribution and filltration system provided. These are the absolute essentials. They can- not be minimizved. The House has yet to pass the pen- eral deficiency bill. That measure will afford a suitable vehicle for the appro- priation which Secretary Baker recom- mends. Thus there is no legislative reason against a compliance with the requisition that is made in the name of public health at the capital. ———— One of the objections to impeach- ment of Judge Landis which may arise | in the mind of Representative Welty is the apparent fact that the judge would thorougnly enjoy it. f The fact that nothing happened to Trotsky when he was sent to the firing line may compel Lenin to saesty formally for a dissolution of partner- ship. f The inaugural ceremonies will at some juncture afford Mr. Wilson the opportunity to express persvnally his congratulations to Mr. Harding. f There are congressmen who venture to imply that the expense accounts functioned more actively than the treaty. The New Woman’s Party. The National Woman's Party has gone out of existence only to come im- mediately to life again. The transition from the old to the new organization has been effected with little trouble | and In a conservative spirit that com- ! mands commendation. The new pro- | gram which has just been adopted |calls for concentration upon matters | affecting the welfare of women, an | | appropriate fleld of usefulness for this | organization. It was wisely decided | inot to commit the party to a dis-; is good for the public welfare, regard- | armament policy, which would have| | made it a one-issue-association, greatly ! handicapped In the real and substan- | tial work for the betterment of the | women of America which lies imme- diately at hand. There is much to be done to correct abuses and effect reforms in aid of American womanhood. Discrimina- tions are still practiced in the law. Probably for some years to come this { harsh climate. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., FEBRUARY 9 20, 1921—PART field will be a fruitful one. Now that the women have the vote they can work directly to remedy the ills from which they suffer. They are in a posi- tion now to become themselves the lawmakers and the lawgivers. The| {hope is that they will be guided in| their political activity to the end of | complete emancipation by a spirit of conservative consideration for the gen- eral welfare and not by a disposition to precipitate a sex ue in our politics. | | i | —————— | Secretary Hughes. ; President-elect Harding forn | nounces his selection of Charle { Hughes of New York to be Secre of State for his cabinet. first positive onnel of the official March 4. It is in accordance wi general expectation and it is highly gratifying to those who hope for aj trong, sound, capable admini i Mr. Hughes has not been parti identified with foreign «uc ! But he is a man of brona vision, ot { deep understanding and of capa | getting at the heart of any situation {or question. He conscrvative ir |judgment. His judicial experience| i qualifies him for the handling of our| | international relations. Whether he| yhas a particular program for appli-| jcation to the present troubled condi-| i tions is not known. But there is every | levidence that he and the Iresident- clect are in accord in their hope to| (advance the cause of peace and w: | restore the United States to the basis | of harmonious relationship with all} | the powers. i { In his selection of Mr. Hughes as! I_Sm'reuxry of State Mr. Harding has i followed no particular line of political | policy. The former Governor of New York and the former justice and for- | mer presidential candi i factor at the Chicago e | June. He had withdrawn from politics | !and was devoting himself to the prac-| | tice of law. There was no particular | faction to please in his selection. He ! was chosen obviously because of his merits and the ability that he has! {shown in all his previous undertak- {ings. The announcement of this selection lat this time is well advised. So much { gossip has played about the cabin, making that it is reassuring to know that at least one of the ten places ! is definitely settled upon, and it is to! ibe hoped that other names will be an- nounced as speedily as possible, which { probably means as quickly as those { whom the President-elect chooses and {assigns to particular offices indicate ingness to serve. n-| ns| ry | This is the | 4 | i A Bit of Winter. Weather forecasts for the week to] | come indicate some real winter. The | { coldest weather of the season has been predicted., That would not necessarily jbe 80 very cold. And if the winter is | really just about to start—it can hard- i1y be said to have begun yet, with only two sprinklings of snow and a min: imum of cold—it can only last a very { short time. Usually the bad weather {comes in this region about the middle {of January. Now February is almost | gone, so0 that Washington is more| than a month to the good in point of | | 1In this connection it may be noted | { that snow ranging from four to fifteen | tinches was yesterday reported from ! various points in Kansas, Oklahoma, ! ! Texas and Arkansas, with the storm | moving steadily northward. At Fort| Smith, Ark., fifteen inches of snow | fell, the keaviest in years. This is probably the base of the weather bu-| reau’s forecast for a severe visitation here a few days hence. During the past week the air was springlike on two or three days. Buds were starting in the shrubbery. Some | wild flowers had already put in appear- jance. These untimely blooms, how-| ever, may suffer disaster. If the sap! starts in the vegetation a sharp frost | may do much damage. It is perhaps well, therefore, that the cold is coming now before the trees and plants are too far headed toward spring develop- ment. —_——— The opinion of John Hays Hammond that Russia will become a constitu- tional monarchy and later a democracy ‘will not appeal strongly to bolshevists who regard liberty as the absence of luy kind of government—in deflance | of the scientific axiom that nature ab- {hors a vacuum. ———— Statistics bave not yet disclosed the | amount of money that has had to be supplied from one source or another | for the payment of the Hohenzollern board bill. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILAY DER JOHNSON. Ornithology. The dove of peace sat on a limb, In serious perturbation. He played the part required of him ! In general conversation. i | He sighed, “I am go-busy now, As controversies flourish, {T am in doubt as to just how My family I shall nourish. “I speak when I would rather clutch | A turnip or a carrot. Sometimes 1 have to talk so much | I wish I were a parrot!” | Finance. “Rafferty,” said Mr. Dolan, “what's your opinion of foreign foans? “They’re strictly all right—from the | | standpoint of the people that are do- {ing the borrowing.” Valued Immunity. “Why are you so fond of the films “Because,” replied Miss Cayenne, | “I know there isn’t a chance that the jauthor or the star will come before ! { the curtain and try to make a speech.” New Pages. On January 1st we turned A new leaf, as in years of yore. ©On March the 4th the lessons fearned They say will make us turn some more. Jud Tunkins says a man who brags about leaving office poorer than when he entered it merely irritates the bill collectors. | presidential nomination. Very fi men belie is rough.”” The eat 1 noting his continuing policies and his ac | Meadovite Io( the country? POLITfGS AT HOMEMeasure Aimed at Illiteracy Peril The Democratic Situation. ,With reference to the democratic situation, Mr. Bryan, in his latest { pronounciamento. says: “The party cannot run with water sed over the dam. Neither ade a tail to anybody's that has pa can it be candidac The difliculty is that everything said and done now will he made to bear a personal, a selfish, interpretation. This very deliverance of Mr. Bryan will be construed by his opponents in his party as a sort of bid for another a Bryan’s part to con- trol the next democratic national con- vention in his own behalf. 3 to dethrone George White tly appraised as a maneuver n Mr. McAdoo's interest; as an effort to convert the chairmanship of the democratic national committee into a TeAdoo asset for use in the prelim inaries leading up to 1924. The resistance of M stantly appraised as a maneuv in Gov. Cox’s interest; 1 notice that the governor is not “through,” but that, notwithstanding last year's beat- ing, he inte to try his fortunes again, and will put up as vigorous a fight for the nomination of 1924 as he id for the nomination of 1920. The democracy is much faction-torn, and will have to move with extreme care to avoid giving the opposition another walkover. The different ites now busy — Bryanites, Coxites and hould lay off until the After the republicans have interpreted in legislation the mandate of last November will be time enough for the democrats to take, a look around. situation cle —————— Strong Cabinets. When strong cabinets are men- tioned, that of Mr. Linceln and that of Mr. Hayes stand out. And in each of those cabinets three strong men tand out. In the Lincoln cabinet Seward and Chase and Stanton were tall pillars of strength. Mr. Stanton did not ap- pear until January, 1862, nearly a ar after the administration had be- gun to function. But from the day of his appearance the whole life of the War Department showed a qdicken- He was one of the greatest war s the world has ever known. In the Hay: cabinet Evarts and { Sherman and Schurz rose above their fellows, and impressed the country deeply with their capacity for busi- ne: The great achievement of the Hayes administration was the resump- | tion of specie payments — something that John Sherman directed with con- summate courage and skill. If Mr. Harding gives us at least three men of commanding powers, should he not start with the confidence Every seat at the cabinet table is Important this time. Both our foreign and our domestic problems are fuil of difficulties, and Mr. Harding will need lieutenants and Iadvisors of most excellent quality. Neither Mr. Lincoln’s nor Mr. Hayes' cabinet was hailed as strong | at the time of announcement. Both had to demonstrate strength in action. Both did, and so signally that the country promptly and ungrudgingly awarded a full measure of praise. And the reputations particularly of Seward, and Stanton and Sherman are as se. curely established as those of any men In our history as a free people. Mr. Bryan as Democrat. There are democrats who resent Mr. Bryan's latest deliverance. They do not concern themselves with its terms, but with the fact that ke should still consider himself free to advise as to democratic policies. ‘What right has he to do so? The weight of his name and counsel were thrown against the party's ticket last | year. He held aloof from the cam- paign. He made no speeches. His prediction that if the party made its appeal on the peace treaty it would be defeated was quoted by the opposition, and frequently after Gov. Cox’s call at the White House. Granted, all of it. And yet Mr. Bryan as a party man was within his rights all along. Feeling as he did about the peace treaty and Gov. Cox's record as a wet, he owed it to the party tosexpress himself frankly be- fore party ion was taken. ‘When the party acted in defiance of his advice, there was nothing for Mr. Bryan to do but keep silent. He could not stuitify himself. He could not ask for the election of the man he had pronounced unworthy of the pres- idency, nor indorse an appeal to the people of the futility of which he had no doubt. Mr. Bryan is still a democrat all right. Moreover, he has shown him- self possessed of prophecy. He called the turn on both the nominee and the platform. The country rejected both by such a vote as was never before known. Should Mr. Bryan be punished for playing the prophet? Does the de- mocracy want to confess that a prophet is not without honor save in his own party? Has it at this time votes and prophets enough to throw at the birds? On the contrary, does it not stand in need of all the assistance it can command? ——— A harbinger of spring that must not be overlooked is the exodus of the community Christmas tree from the ourthouse yard.—Kirksville (Mo.) X press. It is too bad that no woman, wish- ing to brag on her husband before company, has ever learned to do it without makinz him fecl like a hoob. —Kansas City Star. It is safe to assume that neither Great Britain nor any other European country wants a war with the United States. They have an entirely differ- ent idea about what they want out of us—Memphis News Scimitar. And now something about hogs— but pshaw! let'’s be merciful. The coal mine operators are going through the agony of making out their ifcome tax returns.—Springfield (Mass.) Union, White was in- | Supporters of Smith bill, the one compreher cational measure now before Con- | gress, feel confident that it will be passed during the extra session. Their assumption is based on the fact that it has been indorsed by nearly every woman's ors: - tion in the United States, beside: numerous men’s associations that are vitally interested in the wel- fare of America’s public educa- tional tem. T iith-Towner bill was pre- | pared in outlined form by the | emergency commission of the SNation: Association during the spring and summer of Lducation 19 It was introduced. in the | Sixty-fifth Congress by Senator Hoke Smith of in October, 1918, d bill with the active co-operation of the Later the was revis | { ecducational committce of the | American Federation of Labor, | and reintroduced in the Sixty- | xth Congress in* M 1919. | * k% I s o by Senator Smith that the bill is compre- | hensive because it provides a pro- { gram to correct not only the { superficial weaknesses which the war revealed in the public school em of the nation, but also the underlying deficienci The measure provides for the creation of a department of education and federal aid for encouraging the states in the promotion of educa- tion. Tt includes an appropriation for the removal of illiteracy among the native born, and an- other appropriation for the Amer- fcanization of the foreign- born. It provides, by appropriation, for a program of equalizing educa- tional opportunitics within every state, and thus aims squarely and effectively at the fundamental de- fects of rural education. It makes possible a comprehensive and na- tion wide program of physical and health education. And funda- mental to the success of all these measures, it places the prepara- tion of teachers upon a solid and substantial basis. % X % ¥ Naturally, there is tion to the bill. Senator Smith maintains that despite this the bill will find its way through Con- gress comparatively ea: Opponents of the bill are in- spircd chiefly by the fear that the measure has been designed toward ultimate national control of the schools—public, parochial and private. Senator Smith de- | nies this most emphatically, point- ing out that the biil does not infringe upon the Tights of the states. “It does not provide for federal domination,” he stated an interview with a répor ome opposi- in for Safety First in To the old *Stop-Look-Listen” sign has been added ‘“Think™ by those who have been studying the John Hays Hammond, eminent mining engineer, prominently mentioned for Secretary ofsthe Interior in President Harding's cabinet, has been the latest authority testifying before the House forelgn affairs committee on the resolu- tion of Representative Dallinger of Massachusetts, calling upon the State Department for authoritative informa- trade between the United States and Russia. Out of these hearings has come a conviction on the part of the com- mittee that the business interests oé, the United States should be cau- tibned that, while Russia is a great reservoir of raw materials, which can be used to very great advantage in the United States, and, while there is trade pioneering and development work in Russia that can well engage the best talent and energy and cap- ital in this country, the time is not ripe. * * % Representative Ernest R. Acker- man of New Jersey, a member of the foreign affairs com- Caution Is mittee, himself a big business man, With Necessary. . iensive ana intimate personal acquaintance with Russia, expresses the consensus of opinion in the House committee when he says: very cautiously with regard to Rus- sian trade. American business must study the Russian situation and be ready to go nto that country and develop tradc at the right time. But now is the worst time in ail the his- tory of the world to engage in trad with Russia.” i The real hoiled-down situation, as presented by the State Department officials, as viewed by the member: of Congress and urged for the care- sia is §o terrific, the economic pov- the people are 80 hungry and the demand for commodities so great that at present Russia presents a gi- gantic economic vacuum, with no prospect of alleviation under the present political and economic cun- ditions. The greatness of the future Rus- sian trade is undisputed, and t share obtainable by the United Stat from a sclfish commereial point of vi depends much upon our Tuture relations with the future Russian government. Our potentially favorable position can b impaired by an unwise relation with the present authorities. In gratitude A Catechism of Q. What are the prohibitions ot the Constitution in regard to powers which may be exercised by the states? é A. There are three paragraphs in the Conatitution relating to this sub- {Ject. First, no state shall enter into any treaty, alliance or confedération, grant letters of marque and reprisal, coin money. emit bills of credit, make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts, pass any bill_of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of no- bility. econd, no state shall; eant of the Cn ithout the iy dng Time Is Not Russian situation and .. the possibilities and out- Yet Ripe. 15, for American trade. tion in regard to the facts regarding | “American business must move | ful consideration of the business men | of the United States, is just this: The devastation of industry in Rus- terty of the country is so complete, | In Twelve Lensons—N. Expected tp Pass Congress at the Extra Session. The Star, “but for federal co-op- eration. There will be no inter- ference with the Catholic or paro- ! chial schools if the Lill is enacted into law. The propaganda awainst the bill,” he said, srepre s it The bill is the work of many rnest friends of public educa- { tion. No one who understood it wonld oppose it unless he opposes education. The object of the bill the jon thro osed of educa of knowledge id in their performa duty and their constitu- over children.” p nce of their tional authority * Kk % ¥ the of the bill, Senatdr Smith referred removal of Discussing various phases to the of il literac, provision for the teracy. extent in the United State il- he 1, “is so great as to amount ! not onl to a national disgrace, but a national menace as well. According to the census of 1910, { there were in this &ountry { 500,000 persons te ars of age and over who could not read or write any language. In addition, there were 3300000 who could i not speak, read or write English. These istics put us in ninth place among the nations, with of the civi The zed world ahead osures of the last iiliteracy are not available, but it is believed the percentage of illiteracy not been substantially reduced 1910." * %k Xk x { mos of sus to t that since Touching upon the Americaniza- tion feature of the measure, Sen- or Smith declaréd t the anization of the foreign- immigrant is a matter of great importance to the country. The Dill, according to his inter- pretation, secks to stimulate the states to undertake this work. Congress, he said, has no power to force the states to undertake it. and, even if it did have the power, it would still remain true | that voluntary co-operation is al- ways better than -cocrcion. Senator Smith stated that there are mow more than 15,000,000 for- eign-born in the United States, more than 2,000,000 of whom can- not read or write any language. “This mass of ignorance is not merely a negative evil” he said: Americ horn it has become and iS now an active source of danger to the republic. . Funds necessary to carry on the work outlined in the bill are authorized from the federal Treasury. These authorizations for appropriations are made con- tingent upon the states appro- | priating an amount at least equal- | ly as large for the same purpos Russian Trade | for America’s friendly .attitude to- | ward a future national government, it is confidently expected that our op- | portunities will be unparalleled. The | upbuilding of the_industries of Rus- sia will not only be a great humani- tarian work, but will render a patri- otic service to the United States. The government of the United States at present imposes no restriction on trade and com- {Few Restrictions 'E""‘““’m Wiih ussia, except in Now Imposed. (ne case of the export to Russia of materials suscep- tible of immediate use for war pur- poses, including locomotives, railway material, rolling stock, motor cars and their component parts. When the | exportation to Russia of such re- | strictea commodities is intended, it is | necessary to obtain special export | licenses from the War Trade Board section of the State Department, and each application for a special permit will be considered on its own merits, There are no legal restrictions on the physical importation of gold into the United States, although no assurances can be given that Russian gold, and Vin particular bolshevist gold, could be disposed of in the United States, if jm- ported, to the federal reserve banks. the mint or otherwise, Mr. Kliefoth advised. There are no restrictions on imports from Russia. By the soviet decree of March 20, {1919, the Consumers’ Co-operative {Society and their unions, including {the All-Russian Central Union of | Consumers’ Societies. were converted from a free, e, indepéndent, co-opera- tive organization with- a private judicial status into a compulsory |state institution and forming a part 1of the machinery of the soviet au- thority in Russia. All foreign trade }in Russia is an absolute monopoly of ! the | t authorities. be stated categorically,” - Kliefoth, “that inasmuch as u ding is considered crimi: nal, all private individuals caught trad- ing brought before the extraordinary commission and are liable to execu- been uined; itive nationalized and . there is at present business in Russia.” largely no With reference to the amount of | commoaities now on hand ana being i produced in Russ 1duur s have | fnormal industry ceased anq all ac- icumulated stocks were ifollowed by three years of total col- {1apse of industry under the present authorities of Russia, there are now no commodities on hand for export {which Russia could economically spara or which are sufficient in {amount to affect any trade condition between the United Stat Rus- sia. DY, the Constitution BY HENRY LITCHFIELD WEST, Insued by the National Security League. (Copyright, 1919.) imposts or duties on imports or ex- ports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspec. tlon laws; and the net produce of all dutics and imposts, laid by any State on imperts or exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress. Third, no state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with an- other state, or with a foreign power, or engage war, unless actually invaded. or in such imminent danger a8 witl ot admit of qelag. i tion; that all private goods are con-| | sidered contraband, and that all in-| i a, it is evident that | {after six vears of war, during which | consumed, | 'HEARD AND SEEN Bright days last week turned peo- 1e’s thoughts Zoo-ward, with the re- sult that hundrads of persons visited {the animal park for the first time in several month ! During the winter months the Na- tional Zoological Park goes inte a sort of semi-eclipse. There are many visitors, of course, especially on Sun- days, but for the most part the crowds are slim. And certainly the hollows and dales of the Zoo park are not the most in viting upon n _cold winter's day. 1 the intr walic he can get it any zero.day tramping up and down the hilis in Z00. He need not venture into Roc Creek Park. He can find all the sting of winter in the Zoo Many who visited the park last k found out for the first time why so hard to sce the American er that inhab t 1 lion inclosure. Many had come to doubt the e of the beaver. To ms a more fabulous b centaur, because one has never either. The ~ beaver works at sleeps in the daytime; that son he is so hard to see. ( Zoo officials is authority staiement pid hiker desires a strenuous by night and the rea- ne of the | for this busy on its anni projects. There is some chance then of seeing it at work without organiz- ing a torchlight party. Cloudy days also are favorable, so those interested in the American bea- ver may utilize their next cloudy day by visiting the park in search of the mammal. But do not be disappointed beaver is out of sight. * * x Dreams of a rhinoceros! He usually is about, yet a certain set of men openly confess that such a critter is the fond | object of their waking dreams Officials of the Zoo want a rhinoce- ros and they want one bad, as the' vernacular has it. A fine old mother hippopotamus graces the park. but ro rhino. And officials are tired of hearing children ask to see a rhinoce- | Which ros, when they have no rhinoceros to show them. They have a small hippo, which they hope to trade for a rhino. however, so it may not be many months before the children’s curiosi is satisfied Most of the new animals at the Zoo stated. So infrequent has been the visit of modern Noah's arks to Ameri- can shores that the zoological parks in the United States have been forced to depend upon each other for new animals. What one park has another may lack, and vice versa. When the local Zoo secures a rhinoceros and a giraffe it will have almost completed its collection of the better known larger animals. * * % While we are on the subject of furred and feathered creatures it may be well to mention a certain sparrow that has a taste for the original. Certainly a sparrow that takes its morning drink by sitting on a cake lof ice and picking off small bits, which* it consumes with avidity, is an original bird. - Yet this enterprising specimen of English sparrow was to be seen every morning last week, in front of a downtown hotel, doing just this very thing. Every morning the ice man left eral large cakes of ice on the dewalk in front of the hotel, and as regularly this sparrow came to get his matutinal drink of ice water. {Some say he came at the same minute every morning. As to that T can’t say. but T saw this bird perched contentedly upon the cake of ice, chiseling away vig- orously. * * ¥ The Afro-American liking for big words has been illustrated often, yet not too often for another one. Perhaps you remember Dinah, the colored maid of Capt. Jenks, as the Army officer was called for the con- venience of this column. Dinah likes those big words, speci- mens that roll off the tongue and sound good, whether used correctly or not. Many persons of large edu- catidn do the same sort of thing sometimes, but manage to “get away with i Dinah was telling how the captain managed to secure her as the maid for the Jenks household. She said: “‘If you don’t come to our house, |and it will be a good thing if the u; Tl have to catnip you.' he said.” CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Is Italy Pro-German? The French press, even the official- ly inspired Temps, hds been suggest- ing that Italy was again showing a preference for her first love of the 9ld triple Wliance, Germany. Having got the iroublesome Austro-Hun- garian empire out of the way and had the lost provinces restored, Italy did not seem sufficiently interested in securing German indemnities for France. The Tempo of-Rome replies to this talk, as follows: “The Temps has attacked us un- justly, but we like. to return good for evil. -We answer the Temps, which speaks of a subterranean anti- French campaizn, and calls us ‘Ger- man propagandists’ with a tranquil- lity almost amounting to melancholy, i that it is making a mistake, a double mistake—psychologically and politi- ally. H ““ e psychological error is an old one. In_the whole of Italy those, great and small, who have said some bitter truth bout France, have been touched by it. Those who have suf- red most are those who love their sister nation most, who have learned ! from her culture, followed her mind and admired, even when she censured them, her splendid bursts of passion Even when we comment on and re- pulse a mistake, we are never So blind as not to see the deep causes. often full of nobility, and we feel a sort of sacred fire for the race and the nation which fills us with stupor a admiration. A fere are wonderful virtues in the French people, a quality of passion and an_ ardor for sacrifice which are admirable, and which we should like to see transfused into the blood of the Italian people. If France were to remain hypnotized by the ~German problem, she would be led, if she con- tinued, to ruin, by neglecting all other questions of foreign policy, and only inciting in the end the rival | who feels flattered at being consider- eg as ‘a corpse that still frightens 1 1 1 “nd whose bellicose spirit is fanned by an endless worrying of the ad- rsary. Ve ha ‘political error consists in not understanding exactly tbe tone o ur writings. fempts which the Temps calls ‘sub- terranean _anti-French campaigns, there exists really only the hope of putting our ‘ex-allies on their gua against illusions_and dan which {hreaten them. We do not wish 1 preach nor give advice, but we do think, without presumption, that i they were to read our articles more | attentively, instead of finding in them stupid and deliberate intention o injuring ¥rance, they would discover an honest effort to reconcile the mod- ! orate policy of Italy with the im- { pulsive and violent policy of Francs {hna to find points of contact an harmony." American-Russian Policy. Commenting on the American gov- ernment’s decision not to join in recognizi n?’ the Paris urnal de Debat: be - s the stream ncar | he best time to see that beaver, he | Which have been dedicated said. Is in the autumn, when it gets |public 1 dam construction | if the | Surely. a rhinoceros seems the most | unlikely thing in the world to dream | are obtained mow by exchange, it is| In many of the at-! gers which | ] | Lettonia and Esthonia, : cember, says: |one of the victims get pensions of i1y !acled under orders and were FIFTY YEARS AGO IN THE STAR. The bill to create a territorial form !of government for the District pass- ed both houses of {Passage of the Consress by adop- ‘ . ” tion of the con- Territory Bill. 5" 0 0o o the 17th of February, 1871 With reference to the conference agr ment which settled Qifferences itween the two houses, The Star in i1s ue of February 13 said: A number of ortant amend- | ments have been to b Among these is one empowering th new je and be sued; i the made government {one providing for minority repre | tation, | with prevent large and for board of power 1t anin from The provision is the leg ure over the Police Court ldelogate to the House of Repre atives must have the qualific {of a voter and is to Le a membe the House District committee { valuation of government property {to be made upon real publi is state except buildings and public grounds. to the use, as Jackson Square. The powers of the board of public works are considerably restricted and four members instead of two are to appointed by the President. {townships are to be created in county outside the limits of cities, and of the several corporations. Junme 1 1571, their powers are continued for certain purposes named.” - * % the subject of the the District undex the new terri- torial act The . Star of Febru- the Governorship. ., 34, 1s71. “The conditions which surround an ordinary territorial organization do mot exist here. We have none of the turbulent and unsettled elements constitute the primary oc- cupants of frontier sections. Th is neither a city or refuge for escaped field for the in _repealing the charters In diseussing i governorship of | The District and said: criminals, an experimental soldiers of fortune, nor vet adapted as a hospital for d ed and dis- carded politicians. The citizenship of the District is composed mainly of persons firmly settled in life and strongly attached to their homes. Property and life are as secure, the grade of intelligence is as high and the standard of morals as sure here as anywhere in the United States, and this community is in every sense as competent to furnish proper govern- ors for the several states and terri- tories as they are to furnish one for it. We ask, therefore. that our new ruler, whether he is to be King Log or King Stork, shall be chosen from our own midst.” * * ® When the new wooden pavement was laid on Pennsylvania avenue the rejoic- ing citizens of the Dis- The Avenue trict decided to hold a 5 carnival in celebration Carnival. o that tong-awaitea reclamation from the mud that had for vears choked the capital's main street. Preparations for this affair were in progress for weeks. It was scheduled for the first three days of the week. beginning February 20, 1871. On Fri- day. February 17, The Star urged the people of Washington to enter into the spirit of the carnival by adopting in some degree the European style of merrymaking. and, while appreciating that some of the modes of Kuropcan carnivals could not readily be adopt- ed, it advocated at least the decor: tion of Pennsylvania avenue from end to end with brilliant colors. It added, after noting the appearance of Corso at Rome at carnival times: “Of course, our wide Avenue, more than four times the width of the Corso, would need an immense amount of variegated color to give it anything like the brilliancy of the Roman street in carnival time, but a good deal can be done in that direction by a littie well directed effort. Another feature of the Roman carnival is worthy of our imitation, and that is the unde- viating good temper maintained by the immense crowds in all the wild sports and conflicts of the occasion. ‘Rows’ Or ‘scrimmages’ seem to be un- known at the Roman carnival, despite the apparent provocations. Perhaps our fiery American whisky has some- thing to do with our more quarrel- some disposition on festive occasion: of strong liquors at eur carnivalt was discouraged as much as possible. DIGEST OF FOREIGN PRESS this a formal disapproval on the part Of America. The Washingtou gov- ernment is oniy following for Lh: present, with regard to Kussia, the policy already announced at the last session of the peace conference and | foreseen in the note of the z4th of March, 1920, with regard to Turkey. “The American government has always declared that it considered the soviet rule as uansitory and noc worthy of the recognition of civilized nations. At the same time it main- tained that it believed in the restora- tion of Russia and that it would carry out the same line of conduct with re- gard to Russia of the future as it would adopt if it existed already. It did not wish that Russia should be able to ask later for explanations for the decisions of the greal powers | which might run the risk of plunging the world into a fresh war. It thought by this means to act as the real Russian national sentiment | would wish which was absolutely up- | Posed to foreign in |71t was for this : | tinues, “that the American govert- ment continued 10 oppose the vpera- tions of European nations in Russis | as well as all dismemberment o€ fus sia, and that it refused to recogmize the independent republics of Lithu- | ania, Esthonia, the Ukraine and the Caucasus, in the same way as it would oppose the annexation of Bessarabia by Rumania, Tts present attitude toward Let- tonia and Esthonia must have been foreseen and could scarcely surprise any one."” S5 All Lost Save Honor. One of the grimmest of war tragedics | has just had a final stroke of irony added to it, writes the Daris corre- spondent of the London Times. At dawn on December 4, 1914, a French corporal and five French soldiers were | shot by a firing party of their com- rades. With eighteen others they had been tried by court-martial on the previous afternoon, and though the been found guiilty of having aban- doned tneir pust in the late enemy. All six vigorously protested their innocence at the.time, and wrote pathetic letters to their families de- claring their inability to understand why they were 10 be sent to a de- grading death. They admitted that | they had retired grom an advanced trench during an assault by Germans, but protested that they had acted un- der orders. Their protests were we. availing, and the unhappy men met death, leaving a besmirched memory behind them. Their relatives, how- ever, took active steps, and now, after over siX years, the honor of the six has been restored. The supreme court. having found that the men not guilty of cowardice, has annulled the verdict of the court-martial. The men’s widows are to receive pensions of £36 a year, each to date from De- 1914, and three children of i - ot others had been acquitted, the six had -