Evening Star Newspaper, March 12, 1921, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR,|>>. With Sundsy Morning Editien. WASHINGTON, . G EATURDAY. oo March 12, 1831 THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor | 12 done to 2~ Tribune ng. Office: First National Bank Buildls -n—uaall-cn.ul..l‘l-.l.uh:t Star, 45 cents 3 ith. g T T R Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. 1yr., $8.40: 1 mo., 70c . 1 mo., 50c 1 mo., The New Commissioners. 1 mo., 20c | reduced 1mo., 85¢ | outgo at the same time. The move of the railroad com- for a reduction of operating costs may be viewed as an ultimate step toward a further reduction in the cost of living. A lowering of the trans- portation item will be feit, if justice all consumers, in an even- tual lessening of the charges. The public, of course, pays the freight. 11th St. and Pemngytvania Ave. | And the public pays not merely the exact amount of freight cost, but a percentage on that freight cost in the with the Sunday meraing | fOrm of profit on outlay. ‘by carriers within t6 €1t | At present the railroads’ plea is that they cannot run their lines without loss. They are seeking to lessen the operation costs. If this plea is justi- fied they cannot at the same time lower wages and rates simultaneously. They will be no better off if the wages were cut and the freight rates were together. They would be simply lowering their income and their But the pub- lic expectation is that if the railroad wages are reduced, say by $1,000,000,- 000 a year in the aggregate, and this suffices to put the roads back on a pay- President Harding's selections for |ing basis. the reduction of freight rates the District Commissionerships are|Will follow as quickly as possible after ‘whally satisfactory. He has named two | the resultant recove genuine Washingtonians, who enjoy If the public is to pay in high freight the full confidence of the community |Fates for an indefinite period for the and are in all respects well qualifie | operating losses incurred during the for this responsible assignment to|period of high wages, it will be a long duty. Mr. Cuno H. Rudolph and Capt. time before any real gain is made to- James F. Oyster will make capable [Ward a reduction in the cost of neces- Commissioners. Mr. Rudolph has al-|sities to the consumer on the trans- ready served one term in the office, | portation item. The present problem, with high credit and to the full satis- | therefore. is to find a point of adjust- faction of the citizens. Capt. Oyster | ment at which a certain percentage of has demonstrated in various civic po- the old losses can be amortized, with- sitions a high degree of administrative | out menace of a financial strain affect- ability. Both are business men. Both ing the whole national situation dan- are devoted to the advancement of the | 8erously. capital's welfare. Both are identified with its activities. They are well known in Congress, before which as Commissioners they will serve as the | congig District's representative: Secret Service Duplications. It is stated that the President is ng the formation of a cen- tral investigation bureau by the con- This combination is especially for-}q;jigation of the various agencies now tunate. These two men were NOMI-fsouttered through several departments. nated in 1913 for the same positions by President Taft, but the nominations were not confirmed by the Senate. be- cause of a disinclination to fiil such places on the eve of a change of ad- ministration. Many other nominations were negatived through non-action. and when the administration changed others were named by the new execu- tive. Thus President Harding has merely revived the excellent nomina-{ tions of 1813. In making these selections the President returns to the former prac- tice of organizing the District on a bi-partisan basis, interrupted and dis- regarded in the Taft and Wilson ad- ministrations, except in the appoint- ments made in each case as the ad- ministration was about to die. In their political affiliations Mr. Rudolph has been republican and Capt. Oyster democratic. As District citizens, the former aresident for over thirty years and the latter for his lifetime, they are not voters—which fact specifical- 1y qualifies them for the commission- erships—but their party mffiliations have been sufficiently marked to cause them to be regarded as members of the opposing parties. These two men will make not only efficient civilian District adminis- trators, but capable and fair minded public utility commissioners. They enjoy public confidence. They know the local needs. They will give the District good government. The Dis- trict is to be congratulated upon their selection and President Harding is to be thanked for his admirable choice n this, his first action vitally affecting the capital community. The Special Session. There is a renewal of the specula- tion about the length of the special session. Three months, say some. Make the getaway before the hot ‘weather begins. Others think the allowance too short. There is much on the card. All of it is important. None of it should be slighted. Why hurry? Why not give to each subject the considera- tion its importance deserves? It was Mr. Harding’s desire that the session begin with a clean slate. He wanted no hang-overs from the Sixty- sixth Congress. But there are hang-overs. Not aHI of the government’s needs were pro-‘ wided for, and the matter must be at- tended to before June 30, the close of the present fiscal year. ‘Then there are the questions of revenue and tariff revision, and both are full of debate. How will it be; possible to put up the shutters early | in July? Nor will it be safe to overlook the| situation in Europe. The situation @ver there is ticklish again. The latest Kinks may be straightened out in no great time. But suppose not. Sup- Pose the snarl spreads. We are not in | it, of course, but a renewal of mel turmoil might involve us in some way. In a trade way, for instance. 1 Such a move would be in the line of higher efficiency and greater economy. During the war this scattering of the “secret service” work of the govern- ment became conspicuous through | frequent interferences. Many cases oc- curred in which agents of three differ- ent departments were working at cross purposes, each without the knowledge of the other. Indeed, in some instances the “secret service” people found themselves actually shadowing one an- other. The Army had a service, and, of course, the Navy: the Department of Justice had a big force, and the old- time Treasury service was in action; the Post Office Department had its own investigators, and the Interior Department had some as well; the Labor Department had a bureau of immigration inspection that spread pretty far over the field of general in- quiry. There was no real co-ordina- tion between these agencies and there is now little co-operative understand- ing and system. If all these bureaus or divisions were brought together under a single head they could be used for any speclal lines of investigation required, with assurance that there would be no du- plication and no leakage of secrets. The government should be considered as 2 whole and not as a series of water-tight compartments. What the Attorney General knows is informa- tion for the Secretary of War, or the Secretary of Labor. Undoubted!y that theory works out in practice. But most of the work in departments is done by the subordinate chiefs. The head cannot know all that is doing. But if there were a single head or board in command of the investiga- tions work of the government, which in plain terms is the secret service work, there would be no difficulty about each department chief being con- stantly informed on matters affecting his own line and affecting the govern- ment’s welfare in general. ‘What is really needed, therefore, is a clearing house of secret service in- formation and direction. This can be effected, perhaps, without legislation, but it would be best done by specific reorganization of the bureaus or the establishment of a supervisory bureau of investigations, which, usingall the now organized branches, could re- duce duplications and gain a maximum of efficiency and assure a proper use of information for the guidance of the government work. —_——— Two reasons are offered for reducing armaments, one that war will not be necessary and the other that should 0ds and material employed that make the kind of military equipment now in use seem comparatively harmless. —_—— The ex-kaiser showed wisdom in selecting woodchopping for his occu- pation. An industrious woodchopper finds more encouragement and less criticism than one who undertakes THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, DL onstrated, they assert, that railroad transportation has outgrown private ownership and operation, and that only the government can handle it. ‘We are probably on the eve of a very interesting discussion of the whole matter, with the party in pow- er committed against the socialistic proposition. —_—————— March. March hung a fog on Washington last night, but the sun after returning from his evening out tore down the draperies of gloom. March is not lending his wholly-hearted efforts to making the festival of spring a bloom- ing success. But a man should not be too free in abuse of March. Consider the facts! March has never been def- initely placed in the procession of the seaso He does not know whether he is the rear guard of winter or the advance agent of spring. and some confusion has resulted. Three or four of the most unruly days of the whole year have been placed in charge of March, these being March 4, March 17 and the ides of March. Even if sweet May had such days as these among her thirty-one she might crown herself with rue instead of roses. The ides of March are older ofienders than the 4th and 17th. You remember that ides of March, and you know what the ides, with the assistance of some conspirators, did to Caesar. People should not expect too much mildness of manner in March. Martius was a rough war god and a soldier of the old school. T the tented field for him rather than a desk, and the flinty couch was his thrice-driven bed of down, as Mr. Othello put it. Then March was treated ill by Caesar. Time was when March led the pro- cession of the mont but when Caesar made over the calendar he gave first honors to Januarius and demoted Martius to third place. It was a raw deal, and March has been a raw month ever since. —_——— Joy for the Splitters. A letter written by President Hard- ing to Rear Admiral Benson, chair- man of the Shipping Board, is now be- ing quoted in behalf of the splitters of infinitives, who always appreciate an eminent example of the divorce of the preposition and the verb. The President asked the chairman “to im- mediately advise” him on certain mat- ters. Contenders for the usual and traditionally approved form of infini- tive hold that there is no occasion ever to thrust the adverb into this place of intrusion. On the other hand, the splitters dote on putting it into that unusual place. Like the spelling reformers, they have been prone to cite their own custom as ‘“‘usage” in Justification. It matters but little in the national equation whether the infinitive is split or undivided. Thrusting the adverb into its irregular place will not settle the league of nations question or re- duce the cost of living. One cannot get the least hint at the foreign rela- tions policies of the new administra- tion out of that somewhat unorthodox presidential phrase. Still it is rather to be regretted that the President has thus set an example, for now probably through sheer emulation and the en- couragement of high instance infini- tives will be split by thousands and tens of thousands, to the great dis- tress of those who hold to standard and to rule. ——— - . A kiss in the motion pictures, it has been decided, must not occupy more than the two seconds required to show three feet of film. The three-fuot kiss is likely to arouse as much discussion as the five-foot booksheif. —_——— The fear of being regarded as slow pay does not cause the German gov- ernment any great apparent anxiety, even at a juncture when business re- construction is the great aim. —_——— Farmers have always been more or less indignant to find their serious business turned into a board of trade sporting proposition. —_—— Easter closely follows income tax day, thus providing a holiday at a time when general fatigue is at its height. —_— Agents whose duty it is to enforce war be unavoidable there will be meth-|a close scrutiny on reservations and interpretations. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Passing the Responsibility. How oft the citizen you hear Who says in accents wise— The session’s length will depend Dn!.m, letters or one of the professions.{“Oh, friends, the path of duty s clear; efrcumstances. While the ork presses, Congress is likely to remain and do its task. John Barleycorn puts up as many ebstructive arguments as a Berlin palitician, ———— Railroad Wages and Living Costs. | Statistics compiled by the bureau uf: tsflway economics throw an interest. fag light upon the question of railroad | wages, now brought into evidence by the proposed wage cut on the great! trunk line systems. According to these figures there has been a steady focrease ‘tn material degree in the @werage number of employes, the aver- age yearly wage of all employes and the aggregate of wages paid from lsxzi to the present date. Thus in 1913 there were 1,433,904 workers on sverage on the American railway sys. tem with an average yearly wage of $830 and an aggregate wage of $1,190,. the ! going for them is heavy. ————— The manner in which the occupa- tion has been met would indicate that 80 far as Germany is concerned the war is over. The Railroad Question. Two excellent nominations were sent Senate yesterday. John J. Esch onsin and Mark W. Potter of New York will add to the strength of the Interstate Commerce Commission. They are familiar with the transporta tion question. Mr. Esch is considered an authority on the subject. His de- feat last year deprived his party of services In Congress which would have been of great value this year and next. The transportation question grows in difficulty and importance. The rail- roads are in a state of depression. The Some are reducing their forces materially. Near- 1y all are preparing wage cuts. They are finding this necessary in order to 223,755. In the year 1920, with 1,933, 824 employes on the average, the aver- age yearly wage, with the July wage award included, was $1,910, and an sggregate of $3,808,386,000. In other ‘words, the average wage of a railroad ‘worker increased $1,080 a year, or 130.1 per cent. Government statistics show that the peak of the high cost of living was passed in June last, and that since then there has been a decrease, steady bat slow, from that point, which was the highest in the history of the coun- keep their wheels turning. The situation is such that action of some kind to relieve it is considered imperative. A congressional investi- gation is suggested, and one is likely to be ordered. ‘The advocates of government owner- ship and operation are rejoicing. They think they see an argument in the sit- uation in favor of their policy. They insist that only through the adoption of their policy can the country be as- sured of adequate transportation at living figures. It has now been dem- ) ] You must economize! How oft the warning sounds anew, And keeps you wondering why, They always use the pronoun “you' Instead of saying * Harmony. “No political party can hope to suc- ceed without harmony.” “True,” replied Senator Sorghum. “In politics, as in music, when every- is encouraged to consider him- | self a soloist. all you get Is a promis- { cuous jazz cffect which, though some- ! times amusing, is always inartistic.” Daylight Saving. “Is your boy in favor of daylight saving? “I reckon he is,” replied Farmer Corntossel. “If he goes on stayin’ out o' nights, pretty soon he won't be usin’ any daylight at all.” Tip From Chicago. Our discontent would end at last, And all our frowns would fade, It wheat grew in the flelds as fast As on the Board of Trade. Jud Tunkins says he's goin’ to econ- omize on shoe leather by not marchin’ in so many parades. Speeches and Thoughts. “I always think before I speal “That’s only part of the trick,” re- plied Senator Sorghum. “The more difficult portion is to kecp your audi- ence thinking after you get through.” the soothsayer bade Caesar beware the | claims the prohibition find it necessary to keep {penden for “with this utte Editorial Digest The Inaugural Address. Warren G. Harding’s first public ut- terance as President of the United States seems to come very near being “all things to all men,” if the varied interpretation of his inaugural address by the mewspapers of the country may be taken as a guide. Although thers is no lack of praise, even from papers which do not hold to his political ideals, there is pole-wide disagreement as to whether he outlined a concrete domestic program or merely vaguely described a general policy. As to foreign affairs there is even greater variation of opinion. Some see the United States, under ropublican guidance, taking & prominent piace in the concert of na- tions working for world peace, while others read a prediction toward national { aloofness in the President's remarks. | cerity and patriotism. as well as| platitude and reaction are discernible in f Mr. Harding's creed, according to the tint of the spectacles through which its critics examined it. The impression of most writers is ex- pressed in the Kansas City Times (inde- pendent) and the Chicago Daily News (independent), both of which see the in- augural address “‘not as a program,” but as “a confession of faith,” and as such, in the words of the Times, “it is appeai- ing.” If. as the Chicago Post (inde- pendent) suggests, the President “shows the country more what he wants to do than how he is going to do it the New | York Globe (independent) finds forgive- ness for thus “uttering gencral senti- ments” in the custom which makes “In- tion day, by common consent” not | don for the promulgation of def- “a breathing space of | In which “we celebrate, «sful politician, but the poor boy become famous.” Agreeing with the World (democratic) that H zood deal more optimism in the Pres- ident's address than the facts war- rant,” the Newark News (independ- | ent)’ feels that “Mr. Harding contents i himself, and seeks to content the! country, with a blanket assertion that all will yet be well, that what the futidre holds for us is somehow good.” But what that future is or how it is to be brought about “are things about which Mr. Harding is vague if not % | New York | Wwriters who, with the Balti- more Evening Sun (independent dem- ocratic). discern a “lack of definite- ness and concreteness” in the address apply that characterization chiefly to the President’'s treatment of interna- tional relations, and they agree with the New York Times (independent democratic) that “on this subject he is cautious and vague.” Because of this “distressing ambiguity of ex- pression” (Roanoke Times, demo- eratic) the Brooklyn Eagle (independ- ent democratic) does not know “yet whether the new President still be- lieves that the league of nations is a dead issue or whether he will com around to the opinions * * ¢ whic firm a_certain amount of faith in the possibilities of the league if we enter it under reservations protecting our in- terests.” But the Oklahoma City Oklahoman (democratic) believes that “Indefiniteness” on this point can be explained by the very probable reason that “Mr. Harding has not vet made up his mind on the great, outstunding issues.” Either he has no “well de- fined thought as to what the attitude of the country should be” the Phila- delphig_Record (‘ndependent demo- cratic) “surmises, “or else he is re- serving this subject for a separate message to Congress.” ° While to the Harrisburg Patriot (in- dependent democratic) “a search for «a definite plan of world_concert is in vain,” the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot (democratic) sces “the olive branch atill held out to an association,” and the New York Times (independent democratic) notes that “he does mot | shut the door to the entry of the United States into association with other countries in_order to compass | the main objects of the league of na- tions.” But even in dealing with his proposed “association” the Omaha World-Herald (independent) finds “the pronouncement %o _ replete with, suggestion of but, however, never- theless, notwithstanding, and on the other hand.” that “it is clear that the command ‘Forward!’ has not yet been given.” In striking contrast to the views presented thus far, many other news- papers, republican for the most nnn.| agree with the declaration of the Butte Post (republican) that “noth ing more precise and comprehensive | has a place in the state papers of any of the Presidents. The Philadelphia Bulletin (inde- “there is a - pendent_republican) sees “no room for doubt. nor lack of definiteness’ in a_declaration which, according to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat (repub- lican) ‘“means unquestionably that President Harding intends to carry out his pledge, and the pledge of the republican party, to seck the estab- lishment of an association of n: tions for the promotion of pea In the opinion of the Burlington (Vt.) News (independent republican) “nothing can be clearer” than the| “definite foreign policy” the new President announces, in which the Philadelphia North American (pro- gressive) holds, “not only is rejec- tion of membership in the present league unequivocal, but it is forti- fied by sweeping declarations of prin- ciples and policies which are irreconcil- able with American participation In any such alliance of nations, The Detroit Free Press (inde- pendent) believes that the address jcontaina not the slightest hint of an | intention on the part of the party | Jnnw in power in America to join the | league of nations * or any oth- er national organization of & sub. stantially similar character. “So ends the league, 50 far as con- cerns America, with the covenant and all their dreams and visions,” pro- New York Herald (inde- ance of the new executive the last glimmer- ing ember of hopes of those who have yearned somehow to juggle this coun try into the league of nationssdies." But, apolis on the other hand, the Indian- (independent republican), sees “nothing in what President Harding sa nor in_ his attitude, that should make it difficult for us to get together with nations anxious to be in agreement with us” and he “has left the way open to take up negotia- tions where they were dropped.” The (republican) also ssential principles of s stated by Presi- room for Star Springfield Union finds, in “the our national life dent Harding, “abundant any course that. while maintaining our sovereignty unimpaired, may as- te us with other nations in the opment of a higher international cause.” From standpoint of the Bos- (independent) “the voice s the voice of an Ameri= administration,” while (inde- pendent) ‘Mid-Victorian’ means in literature and morals, the Harding reaction means in business and poli- ti But the almost universal eym- of the press toward the Presi- public_utterance is sum- med up in the strongly democri Vindicator of Youngstown, Ohio, which feels that “his very evident sin- cerity and earnestness, his prayerful desire to be of sarvice to his country and mankind, will win him the re- spect and good will even of those who have opposed him." the ton Globe 1t||rbuzhout pathy dent’s first Mexico would like to take a Fall out of the cabinet—Mobile Register. Thus far, Herr Hohenzollern is the only war Bill permanently settled.— Columbia (8. C.) Record. The world changes slowly. Manu- facturers are still making celluloid collars and corkscrews.—Baltimors Evening Sun. European press comment indicates that it wasn't Europe’s heart that but its gall sac.—Cleveland broke, News. Germany seems to think that her credit for losing the war offsets her debt for starting it.—Norfolk Virgin- ian-Pilot. Some are not enthusiastically sup- porting the Kkill-the-dandelions cam- naign this spring. — Saginaw News- Courler. No American is too poor to have the closed car salesman around for one tion, at least.—Grand Rap- DAY if aLady Should live in a shoe, With so many children She’d know what to do She’d feed them on Bond Bread, of course, Wouldn’t you? = reamy’ fu It melts in your mouth - Dorden EAGLE BRAND Condensed Milk | _ CHARLES H. DIGGS, INC. LANDSCAPE DEBIGNERS 1503 CONNECTICUT _ AVENUE TELEPHONE NORTH 8816 ;l[fl[fllfllfllfllfl]lflflllfllfl]flflfllfllfl]flflllfl Folding Autographic Kodaks— We have a complete line of these fine Cameras in the following popular sizes—1-A, 2-A, 3 and 3-A. All of them made ~with the auto- graphic feature which en- ables the user to jot down on the film itself at the time of taking any data which he wishes. Be sure that you get a KODAK. Then bring us your films for developing and printing that's supe- rior. The National Remembrance Shop (Mr. Foster's Shop.) One door from 14th St. ©"2oofe S 20% REDUCTION FITTINGS, ETC. EDWIN E. ELLETT 1106 9th St. N.W. CLEVELAND PARK DELICATESSEN 3300 Wisconsin Ave. Home-Cooked Food and Pastries Take advantage of this store by saving work and money. | F1 R;EPLACE l | Alexander b-cy, Proprrie!or‘ 13 Quick Relief From Constipation Get Dr. Edwards’ Olive Tablets That is the joyful cry of thoue sands since Dr. Edwards produced Olive Tablets, the substitute for calomel, Dr. Edwards, a practicing phy- sician for 17 years and calomel's old-time enemy, discovered the formula for Olive Tablets while treating patients for chronic con- stipation and torpid livers. Dr. Edwards’ Olive Tablets do not contain calomel, but a healing, soothing vegetable laxative. No griping is the “keynote” of these little sugar-coated, olive-col- ored tablets. They cause the bowels and liver to act normal They nlever force them to unnatural ac- tion. If you have a “dark brown mouth”—bad breath—a dull, tired feeling—sick headache—torpid liver —constipation, you'll find quick, sure and plcasant results from one or two of Dr. Edwards’ Olive Tablets, at_bedtime. 3 Thousands take them every night just to keep right. Try them. 1Sc and 30c. IF YOU HAD A NECK AS LONGAS THIS FELLOW, AND SORE THROAT We're Going to Celebrate! —You know from our past achievements just what that means. —You know that when Lansburgh & Brother announces a sale, especially one that reaches ’ into every department, that something unusual is going to happen. : —When you scan our seven pages in tomor- row’s papers, crowded to the borders with money-saving news, you'll realize the real na- ture of this sale, which has been prepared to give the broadest scope of intelligent economy without sacrificing quality. Yes, we are going to celebrate, because we have something to make a “noise” about. Four years ago the new Lansburgh building was completed —we’re proud of it—and for several years we have been holding a store-wide Sale to celebrate its birthday. Coming in the middle of March, right at the be- ginning of the season, just thirteen days before Kaster, you'll need just the things we have assem- - bled—and you're going to get them for a great deal less than they regularly sell for, and we know every piece of merchandise is a rémarkable value, because everything is new, and of such quality to give the utmost service possible for the money expended. —It will be a full week of real money-saving. . —Every day will see new goods revealed and other stocke replenished. —Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday—next week, will indeed be wonderful shopping days. —The first day’s program will be printed tomcrrow —in The Star, The Post and The Times—don’t miss any of it. And, remember, the selling starts Monday, at 9:15. il | i il i i {H |