Evening Star Newspaper, April 17, 1921, Page 44

.. 3 1 THE SUNDAY ST&A WASHI.'NGTON; D. C, APRIL 17, 1921_PART 2. \ forward and the people will dmnd'!zm and the use of the canal itself as that its government yield and meet its | a right of way into Washington. That - THE ‘With WASHINGTON, D. G SUNDAY..we. ....April 17, 1921 The Surplus Equities. In any consideration of the use of the surplus District revenues now lying in the Treasury for the expan- sion of the school system and the ques- tion of the water supply there should be no departure from the principle that these funds were raised under the organic act of 1878 on the basis of equal participation by the District and the general government in capital maintenance. Had these funds been Imded as they should have been | from year to year in meeting the Dis- trict’s growing needs as a rapidly de- veloping community, each dollar of District tax money would have been accompanied by a federal dollar. There- fore the surplus as it stands now rep- resents an equitable asset of twice the amount borne on the books of the ‘Treasury as accumulated, unused Dis- trict tax revenues. - If this money should be appropriated for the urgent school needs or for the extension of the water system, Con- gress may, in strict adherence to its new policy of District maintenance, de- cide that the District’s share of the ¢osts to be thus met shall be 80 per cent, instead of 50 per cent, although equitably the 50-50 ratio should apply in this particular matter even though the 60-40 ratio now pre- wvails in the making of appropriations. ‘This, however, should be the only al- ternative. No effective argument save that of the power to do so can justify Con- gress iIn ignoring the equity upon which this surplus fund is based. It is undeniable that had this money been used it would have been doubled and that the District to date would have received the benefit of approximately $9,000,000 in appropriations for main- tenance or for permanent works. It is not to be denied that those whose taxes went to the accumulation of this fund paid with the full expectation that their dollars would be matched by federal dollars in the expenditure. ‘There was more than an implied con- tract in the collection of these taxes that they would be expended on the half-and-half basis. - There was a law to that effect. There remains an im- plied law governing the expenditure, if the fund is now used as it should be, to bring the District’s school equip- ment or its water system more nearly up to point of need. . These considerations prevail what- ever the length of time between the collection of the revenues and thir ex- penditure. If thisfund were to remain for ten years idle in the Treasury it ‘would still be subject to the same con- slderation. Should Congress, however, conclude that the change of appropria- tion ratio can be made retroactive to effect these accumulated resources it has the power so to order. But the order would not be just. —— e Conscience and Compound Interest. President Harding has received a demonstration of the power of con- ice and the compound interest table. A letter has come to him from California inclosing a dollar bill, with the explanation.that it represents 40 cents® worth of property wrongfully taken from him twenty years ago, | With interest to date. . 'If this thing happened to everybody, ; what a lot of “easy money” would { come! There is hardly anybody who * has not at one time or another loaned money and after a period of fading expectation has finally “kissed it good: bye” and practically forgotten it. If conscience and the compound interest . case worked together in all these cases " there would be some rare windfalls. A * tendollar bill loaned ten years ago EVENING STAR,) notes. plan fell through. It can undoubtedly Of course, it is conceivable that the | put coal into Washington from the occupation may spread, with the Ger- | Cumberland flelds at a cheaper haul- man government continuing obdurate, ing rate than the railroad. But it to envelop the greater part of the|cannot always get the coal at the German area. That means gractical-{ upper end and is thus handicapped ly an international receivership. Ger-{as a competitor with the rafls. many has now no recourse save in revolution. intervene and will not in any way check the allled measures of coercion. On the east there is no source of help. Austria is herself bankrupt. Poland is hostile. The Scandinavian states are impotent. It is a case of pay or be occupied. ‘With occupation by the French comes a lessening power of possible resistance later. For as the tide flows eastward it will envelop the centers of manufacture, a8t which it is believed arms are still being made, and also the centers of secret armament. If Germany bas any thought of creating a great fighting force, sufficient to meet the French in a sudden uprising of resistance, it is inspired by the same false reasoning that brought about the war in 1914, and marked every German move to the ultimate disaster in 1918. The Colombian Treaty. President Harding, brushing aside long-standing and overheated con- troversies on the subject of the Colom- bian treaty, urges upon the Senate the course of ratifying that instrument. Without entering into the question of the rights and wrongs incident to the revolution of Panama from Colombia, he strongly emphasizes the advisabil- ity of composing a difference between the United States and Colombia which has endured overlong, and of doing it in 80 generous a manner as to enhance our prestige and repute with our neighbors to the south. It is to be earnestly hoped that the Senate, ris- ing superior to charges and counter charges, the assertion or contradiction of which can never be fully substan- tiated, will follow the presidential sug- gestion with the higness of spirit in ‘which it was advanced. ‘The story behind the long contro- verted treaty, briefly told, is this: In January, 1903, President Roosevelt held authority from Congress to treat with Colombia for the right to con- struct the Panama canal, and, if such negotiations failed to carry through, to undertake the Nicaragua canal proj- ect. Panama was at the time a sub- division of the republic of Colombia. In August of the same year, a con- vention concluded between Secretary of State Knox and the charge d'affaires of Colombja at Washington, whereby the United States was to acquire for a price of $40,000,000 the property and ; rights of the French Panama Com- pany, was rejected by the Colombian senate. On November 3, three days after the adjournment of the Colom- bian congress, the council of the city of Panama proclaimed the republic of Panama and a bloodless revolution was speedily effected. The new re- public was recognized by the United States three days later, American war- ships ‘ having been ordered to the isthmus and marines landed at Colon. By February, 1904, a treaty between the United Statés and the republic of Panama had been negotiated and rati- fied, the United States obtaining con: trol of the “Canal Zone” for a pay- ment of $10,000,000 cash and $250,000 a year as from 1914. Colombia, feel- ing that she was entitled to compensa- tion for her loss,sought the same, and by the treaty now pending in the Sen- ate the United States would pay her $25,000,000 as indemnification. The acerbities of the controversy in this country over whether the respec- tive positions of the United States and Colombia in 1903 were right or wrong, whether or not we on the one hand in- stigated the revolution in Panama in our desire to obtain the rights we sought or Colombia on the other sought to “blackmail” us into paying an exorbitant price for those rights, need not be gone into. They have in the past too effectively served to be- cloud the main issue of whether or not Colombia is entitled to compensation from us for the loes of Panama. For too long the question has been a sub- Ject for political controversy. Today it ‘would seem that on its merits from the viewpoint of statesmanship, the treaty, with the strong influence of President Harding behind it, will be favorably acted upon by the Senate in the near future, and an uphappy incident in our relations with a sister republic definite- 1y and finally closed. — ———ve——— A tariff that will be regarded by would return in the form of something | ®VerYbody as satisfactory is, as usual, over $17. In fifteen vears it would |00 much to hope for. Tariff revision have become about $23. Interest piles |15 On ©Of the permanent features of up after a few years, even on small | Statesmanship's responsibility. amounts. Not all conscience payers, though, computs the Interest. , They feel that souls are saved by merely pay- g the principle. If, indeed, the in- terest were compounded in all “bad debts” and a full liquidation were ef- fected, there would be an overturn i that would shake the financial founda- tions of the country. [ i Berlin continues to insist that if anybody is preparing for future war, it is France. Putting Pressure on Germany. ‘The French plan for tightening the screws on Germany in case the repara- —— A railroad expert who can think of no expedient except a continuous raise of rates is not regarded as of much practical assistance in the pres- ent situation. ———— A reduction in the price of steel should invite a rush to the bargain counter at & time when construction of all kinds is needed. ————— A general feeling prevalls that a mandate should not be too arbitrarily arrived at. The C. & 0. Canal. If the Navy Department buys its tions payment due on May 1 is not|eau for Indian Head from another forthcoming is, of course, not dis- closed in detail. But it appears to be to extend the area of occupation be- yond the Ruhr and to include a part of the industrial section of Westphalia. ‘There was some talk of a French move as far as Berlin. This, however, would be extremely bazardous. Ap- parently it is the idea of the French military and political leaders to put the pressure on Germany gradually, to extend the area of occupation step by step as long as Germany re- mains obdurate. ‘The psychology of this procedure is sound. If Germany refuses to meet her obligations under the treaty and the reparations awards she will be under a constantly Increasing domina- tion by France. Steadily the line will advance. The German people wiil be made to see that there is no escape isource than the Cumberland field, the Chesapeake and Ohio canal will be de- prived of its chief trafic and cannot be maintained. This is the net of s situation that is being called to the attention of the department in the hope of a change in the plan. During jthe war the government, recognising | the value of this waterway, made cer- tain of its continued maintenance by guarsnteeing operating expenses, and it spent about $40,000 on this account besides bullding $50,000 worth barges. The government has a long- standing investment of a million dol- lars in the canal. Is this artery of commerce to be closed and the gov- ernment’s expenditure scrapped? . During recent years the Chesapeake and Ohio canal has had a hard time competing with the railroads. There |let the umpire carry a six-shooter, and | Between relativity was & plan, indeed, some years ago ‘|use and development. The Navy Department s, of course, ‘The United States will notljusllfled in seeking the cheapest mar- ket for its coal, for local or any other use. But there is an equity in this case that is worthy of consideration, even when the cry is for economy in all lines.” 1s it not the best economy, after all, to preserve a potentially valuable transportation system, even though in present conditions it cannot be profitably maintained? If there is no future for the canal, if it does not pay as an investment in future potentiality to maintain it now at a loss, it should be definitely closed. But that has not been dem- onstrated. Virtually the maintenance of the canal depends upon government patronage for the present. Cannot this condition be cured by the develop- ment of commercial patronage? The application of the Maryland delega- tion to the Secretary of the Navy to continue the use of canal-borne coal at Indian Head should lead to an in- quiry into the possibilities of canal Assuredly it is of no advantage for the canal to be maintained on sufferance from year to year with the constant menace of fail- ure and closure impending over all the operatives. Real Kindness. Every year the people of Washing- ton are specifically asked to “be kind to animals.” This is one of the most popular forms of ‘“‘drive.” Nobody is asked for a penny. No tags are sold. No bouquets or souvenirs are tendered. Just a thought passes, a thought that it is hoped will live for at least a year. “Be kind to animals,” read the placardson the street cars. What does that mean? Few people own horses, but many of them use them, and the injunction is not only to be kind your- self, but to insist upon kindness by others toward the animals they con- trol. Everybody more or less gets in contact with the animal world all the time. There are dogs and cats in the houses. These domestic pets are nat- urally objects of attention and kind- ness. But there are many strays that suffer because people are unkind. It must be perhaps the greatest kindness to put them out of existence if they cannot find good homes. But there they are, awaiting adoption or pre- ferring vagrancy, perhaps. A child that is cruel to an animal is likely to be cruel to fellow beings. One of the principal duties of this “‘week” is for parents to preach the lesson of consideration for all four-footed crea- tures—for birds as well. Often through these kindness thoughts comes a broader understanding of the won- derful life of the creatures that cannot talk and yet that are so intimately cs- soclated with humanity. The people of Washington were asked last week to be kind to animals at all times and in all circumstances. This will be a happier city for the humans as well as the animals if they respond. % The fact that there are variations does not prevent the United States Treasury’s problem from being the old one of where the money has been going and where it is coming from. i The German government will ac- complish something if it succeeds in making a separate peace with the communists. & A part of Kerensky's strategy evi- dently consists in subjecting Lenin to long periods of suspense. * One Pancho Villa is still remembered as a man who made disarmament a punctual and benefit reality. Germany is not one of those patient taxpayers who are willing to stand in line waiting for a bill. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Perfection. “Perfection is a state sublime,” Said Hezekiah Bings. “But it requires a lot of time To reach such wondrous things. And should I wait to find a friend All flawless, stanch and strong, My quest through ages might extend It I could live so long. “And of so wonderful a mind At last I chanced to see, I'm very doubtful if he'd find A fitting friend in me. Besides, if all were fashioned thus, Like angels without wings, This life would be monotpnous,” Said Hezekiah Bings. “Hiram,” said Mrs. Corntossel, “have you made improvements in the place so’s to render it attractive to the summer boarders?” “All the improvements that are necessary,” replied Farmer Corntossel. “I've bought a lot of jazz records and some new needles for the phonograph.” Summer Styles. ‘The bathing suit is made of stuff That's neither long nor wide. But then the ocean's big enough Each bathing suit to hide. Jud Tunkins says he hopes some day the raflroads will again be rich enough to give every traveler a map and a time table of his own. Natural Aptitode. “What, in your opinion makes the true diplomatist?” “A true diplomatist has to think so quick and see so many different pos- sibilities,” said Senator Sorghum, “that T wouldn't undertake to define his qualities. You might as well ask me what makes a good poker player.” Enforcement. “Has Crimson Guich a base ball club?” “Not any more,” replied Cactus Joe. ““When a game was on we didn't dare we couldn’t find one willin' to work from the penaity. A few such steps | for its acquisition by the Wabssh sys- | empty-handed.” - POLITICS AT HOME|Uncle Sam Soon to Cash in On National Forest Policy “The Republic Is Opportunity.” At this time, when the signal suc- cess of a newspaper editor and pub- lisher is recorded iIn his presence in the White House, it is well to note the success of another man who began life in the same fleld and rose to eminence and influence. He has just passed away, In his sixty-fourth year. Jeter Connelly Pritchard—the name Jeter Is very unusual—was a printer's “devil” in a small town in Tenncssec. He liked the work, and kept well smeared with it. Ambition stirred in his bosom, and he moved to a small town in North Carolina, where he be- came joint editor and publisher of a newspaper. He succceded in the new fleld, studied law, entered politics, acquired influence, held office, attended state and national conventions as a dele- gate, directed campaigns, and, in time, as a reward for many party services of great value, was elected to the United States Senate to fill the unex- pired term of “Zeb” Vance, who had died. 1897, Mr. Pritchard, as he then was, received an appointment from Presi- dent McKinley, who had just taken office, to a place on the bench of the District here, and, after a brief service, was promoted to a place on the cir- cuit bench of the United States, where he served until his death. It was a typlcal American career, beginning in poverty and obscurity, and ending in eminence and all the comforts of life. Judge Pritchard possessed no showy gifts, but won through character and an all-around equipment of common sense well and diligently applied. Last year he was mentioned for the repub- lican nomination for Vice President. It was but a personal compliment, but bestowed with sincerit¢ by men who had known him all their lives. A Presidential Experience. Mr. Harding is meeting with one ex- perience which must be very agreeable to him. He is recelving many invita- tions to attend public functions of one kind or another, and assured in every case of a most cordial reception. These invitations come from all sec- tions of the country. Men in all walks of life extend them. Committees wait upon him and voice in fitting terms the wishes of those they represent. In the nature of things but few of these invitations can be accepted. Mr. Harding has entered upon a busy period. The public business will keep him close to base for months. And pub- lic business is very exacting. Those charged with it must attend to it. But the pressing of a button, or the writing of a letter, will sometimes an- swer; and, of course, Mr. Harding will be at such service wherever it will sub- stitute for his personal presence. This experience, fortunately for the country, comes to every man who oc- cupies the White House. When a man crosses those portals he becomes the representative of all the people, those who opposed his entrance as much as those who promoted it. All alike con- fess his representative character and authority, and toward all allke he is expected to manifest a kindly interest. In other words, he is the President of all the people, and, as such, an object of interest to all. All want to do him honor in his office. The office continues to hold its place as a lure. The best of our public men dream of it, and many openly aspire toit. It imposes hard work and brings much harsh criticism on the incum- bent, but the place “is the gude for a’ that.” @ ——— Jefferson. Is Thomas Jefferson coming back? It looks a little that way. At any rate, the 13th of April received more notice this year than for several years just past. The well known and well beloved anniversary was observed in a number of states, and some of the speeches were marked by the old-time fervor. One note, however, may produce dis- cord. This was sounded at Pittsburgh —a. rockribbed republican town— where a thousand persons dined in honor of the day with the Women’s Democratic Club of Allegheny County. The principal speech was made by Homer S. Cummings, a visitor from Connecticut, who last year presided as temporary chairman over the San Francisco convention. In a report of the dinner this appeared: “Many compliments were paid Wood- row Wilson by the speakers, especial- ly Mr. Cummings, who declared while Jefferson had been fnstrumental in making America free, Wilson had been instrumental in ultimately freeing the world.” ‘This will be challenged in all Jef- fersonian circles. Jefferson the paro- chial statesman, and Wilson the world statesman? The true Jeffersonian will answer, Never! Jefferson play seeond fiddle? He drew'the real bow .in his day with skill and sweet effect, and never played second to anybody. Why now, even figuratively? At his winter home in Florida Mr. Bryan issued a statement inspired by the anniversary, and in that he said: “Jefterson has been dead nearly a century, but his political code is the only basis upon which a democratic party can stand today, and the apply- ing of his ideas to pending problems offers the democratic party its only hope of restoration to power.” This is in the old familiar key. This is the stuff. This has the ring in which all democrats used to delight. Can Mr. Bryan re-establish his party on that basis? And on that basis can he restore it to power? And in mak. ing the attempt will he again offer {himself—as he would be justified in doing—as the Moses of the adventure? —_——— A circus manager claims he is solv- ing the problem of {increased rail rates by <attooing his performers. They can then be sent anywhere as printed matter under second-class postage.—Seattle Union-Record. and the Presi- matter of dent's message, the gray the nation is working timore American. Retiring from the Senate in March, | BY SHELDON S. CLINE. IGHT off the reel let Mr Average Newspaper Reader be advised that this story is &oIng to give him a shock. But he needn’t be alarmed. It isn't a kind of shock that will hurt. Indeed, the acnsution is calculated to be wholly pleasurable and gratifying. Way back in the days immediately following the Spanish war a fellow of the mame of Gifford I'inchot eame to Washington with a hobby, and he rode it so hard that he came to be |looked upon as a good deal of a nuisance. As a generality this hobby was “conservation of natural re- sources,” and it particularly was “forest preservation.” A lot of peo- ple, In and out of Congress, didn’t like Pinchot, and they liked his hobby {8till less. They believed the true na- | tional economic poliey was to cash in on natural resources as rapidly as the cashing process could be achiev- ed, and they didn't think the then present generation should be required to dig down into its jeans to confer a more or less doubtful benefit on posterity. Their chief and most tell- ing argument was that the Pinchot program would cost a lot of money, with slim chance that any of it ever would' be returned in the way of benefits. Had Mr. Pinchot and his supporters had the hardihood to predict that within the lifetimes of men than liv- ing the national forests would be- come a source of net revenue to the government disbelief and derision would have overwhelmed them. But that is the promise now held out. And it is the shock which is calcu- lated to give Mr. Average Newspaper Reader pleasurable and graitfying sensations. | * * x At the Washington headquarters of the forest service they are very reluctant about making claims as to future profits, but they produce the figures and tell the inquirer to draw his own conclusions. Here are some of them: In 1918 sale of timber and other products from the national forests aggregated $3,574.930. In 1919 it was $4,358.414 and in 1920 the total reached $4,793482. This shows an average increase in receipts of about $600,000 a year. But national forest timber sales are only beginning to be developed and as yet there has been only a scratching of the sur- face of possibilities, On the 156.- 000,000 acres of nafional forest res- ervations there is about one-fourth of the standing timber in the United States, the vast bulk of it in areas which are only beginning to be made accessible. As privately owned tim- ber lands are denuded. this govern- ment timber will become more and more in demand and more and more valuable. And so, it is figured by the forest experts, the increase in Teceipts from sales will be an ac- celerated ome.. Soon it will be jump- ing a million dollars a year, and before long the yearly jumps will be two or three million dollars. All this doesn’t mean much, how- ever, until the expenses are taken into’ account anq examined. There will be a net profit from the national forests only when receipts have caught up with and passed the ex- penses of administration. The sig- nificant thing is that during these recent years of rapidly increasing receipts the administration expenses have remained practically stationary. In 1920 the direct cost of adminis- tering the national forests, not count- ing permanent improvements, such a3 rosds, telephone lines and the like, was $3,746,236, or a million dollars less than was received from products from those forests. In addition to the direct adminis- tration expense, there is an “over- head”™ charge of in the neighborhood of a million dollars a year, and a variable cost of emergency fire-fight- ing, which last year amounted to about three million dollars. The “overhead” is for maintenance of the office of the forester in Washington and of the offices of the eight dis- trict foresters. Only a part of this is properly chargeable to the na- tional forests, for a good deal of the outlay results from assistance given private forestering ventures. The cost of emergency fire fighting can never be told in advance, but three million dollars a year is a high average. Adding one million dollars for ‘How to safeguard and develop all- American trade—commerce between the United States i and those repub- Senmslm? lics to the south Is Impending. tnat have always looked to the United States as & model —s0 that the western hemisphere may be entirely self-sustaining and the various governments bound by closer ties of friendship and business rela- tions for mutual protection against any possible foe, i8 being most seri- ously considered. Officials of the State and Commerce departments, business leaders who during the recent war worked on the War Trade and War Industries Board with Uncle Sam, and the members of the House ways and means committee who are now drafting the tariff bill realize that®the trade between the United States and the Latin American couptries 1s on the verge of & serious slump. Right now, when conditions for commerce with Chile are adverse, the business advisers cannot forget that but for Chilean nitrates this country and the allies would have been hard put during the war, and 80 are advis- should fill orders of their agents in Chile in good segson and in poor sea- son to maintain & hold on that mar- ith the assurance that in the Il:::‘ :\In it will pay them better than, seeking larger immediate profits else- "ff-rfionn defense and the integrity of the western hemisphere are being considered no less than commercial profit in the conferences now betg held in official as well as in business cireles regarding the proper courses u of forelgn and domestic eom- ‘!’l‘ll:::l points out that for the past decade about one-fifth of the United States' total foreign trade has been the Latin American countries, T (hat during 1920 it Increased to one-fourth. " * % Jt remains to be seen whether after the general readjustment injeconemic and ‘ndustrial Trad l’ceelh(u conditions now 2. under way fis of War and Peact. compiete ‘Lat- place. But it is worthy of .especial no- tice that the trade of the United States with Latin America. during the year 1920 was surpassed only by its trade with Europe. Enropean trade, however, amounted to-42 per cent of L} ing that American business interestsi the sale of | ¢4 “overhead” and three million for emergency fire fighting to the 1920 cost of direct administration, we find an expense bill of $7,758,455, against receipts of $4,793,452, a deficit of $2,- 964,973, The fact is disclosed, there- fore, that if the expenscs remain sta- tionary and the rate of increaged re- ceipts” since 191X is muintained, at the end of five years the deficit will | shoes proudly sticking out toward be wiped out and a net profit re-| Union station, and a broad smile turned- : wreathing his face. > Between those two extremes of his With an increaning to, handle, it is reason’ ales business hle Lo expect that costs of admintstration will in- | 8% his delight ‘in the whole pro- crease. But receipts from eales are | Certainly one's first railroad jour- bound to incr much more rapldly [ ney is a momentous affair, althouxh i 4 & crease, | Perhaps it will never remembered. Lo dminiutration comts increase | Many of us can well remember that profit Indicated by the 1 figures | first ride, because we took it quite will, in all probability, be reduced. In'fact, receipts for the present year are koin (o ke a tremendous Jump, oy ue to the ope d . S m g eh Aanaar of pulp wood| The National Capital has passed Kan pulp wood totaling, in round figures, | through a really wonderful musical a million dollars, are now in process of regotiation, and ‘Alaskan pulp manufac- ture is a very juvenile Infant industry. The Alaskan paper pulp resources, wit proper reforestation, are estimated to be sufficient to supply forever one-third of the present needs of the United States. Most of the Alaskan pulp timber lies within & few miles of Davigable water, with cheap water transportation to the centers of con- sumption on both the west and east coasts. As we now have to depend 80 largely on imports of pqfip and pulp paper from Canada, and even from Scandanavia, it is easy to be- lieve that development of the Alas- kan pulp industry will be rapid. Nor does this end the story of pulp wood and its possibilities in making the national forests profita- ble. In national forest lands in a wide strip of Rocky mountain_ter- ritory running south from the Cana- dian border there is enough standing pulp wood to make the I'nited States independent for all time of outside sources of supply. A good deal of this timber now is remote from transportation_and cannot profitably be exploited. But provision of trans- portation for opening up these vast resources of wealth is only a matter of time. FEach passing year makes it more imperative that these timber supplies shall be drawn upon. Now. it having been demonstrated that making the national forests pay a profit is a probability of the near future, ‘the reader naturally will be interested in knowing what the pos- sibilities of those profits are. There are at present approximate- 1y 156,000,000 acres of national for- est lands, which is an area as large as the state of Texas, with Vermont thrown in for good measure. There doesn’t seem to be any good reason why, in the course of the next twen- ty-five or fifty years, these forests should not be made as profitable as are the national forests of Europe, some of which pay a net annual profit of as much as $8 an acre. Official_statistics show that in Ger- many, before the war, national for- ests paid a net profit of about $5 an acre. As a matter of fact, the American forests, the bulk of them being in wirgin timber, ought to be a great deal more profitable than those of FEurope, which have been heavily cut over for generations. * * * But it pays always to be conserva- tive, 80 let us put the possibilities of profit from our national forests at $3 per acre per year. With the present area that would mean an annual income of considerably more than $500,000,000, about equal to the cost of running the federal govern- ment a few years ago, When the country was first shocked by the discovery that it had a “bilion-dol- lar Congress.” And, whatever the final profit may smount to, it will be perpetual. That's what the sclence of forestry and a forest policy mean. For every tree that is cut another tree is plant- or obtained by natural regenera- tion, so that the cutting of trees may go on and on forever. A half bil- lion dollars pouring into the federal Treasury each year from the na- tional forests isn’'t at all a bad legacy to hand on to posterity. In conclusion, a word as to the cost of administering the national forests is bound to be of interest. Last year, including “overhead” and ‘emergency fire fighting. the total cost of the forest service was in the neighborhood of 6 cents an acre. Does this seem extravagant? The latest available figures show that in Saxony the cost of administering the national forests was $3.60 an acre a year. Yet these Saxony for- ests returned a net profit of $5.40 an acre a year. (Copyright, 1621, by The Washington Star.) PLANS FOR ALL-AMERICAN TRADE the total in 1920 (a time when Europe was in absolute want for everything) as compared with 50 per cent in 1919, whereas the trade with Latin Ameri- ca increased from less than 20 per cent in 1919 to 25 per cent in_1820. The - trade between the United States and Latin America has grown steadily in value since 1915, the great- est increase having taken place in 1920, when the total trade amounted to $3,378,185,567, and exceeded that of the previous year by 44 per cent. From the standpoint of American foreign trade, Argentina is the most important of the South American re- pubjics, and is surpassed by Cuba alone of the Latin American countries in the value of its commerce with the United States. Exports to Argentina gained 37 per cent in 1920, the principal increases ‘occurring in coal, cotton, tex- tiles and structural iron and steel, all of which, however, were subject to rather sharp ‘advances in price. Imports from Argentina increased 4 per cent in 1920, as compared with 1919, but they stili show a decrease of 9 per cent under 1918 figures. Trade with Chile, the leading com- mercial country of the west coast, in 1920. reached $175,826,064, or 29 per cent more than in the previous year. This gain was principally due to the 46 per cent increase in imports, which consisted chiefly of nitrates and cop- per-ore. * % The trade of the United States with the West Indles during recent years has been only slight- Trade With the ly less than that West Indi with South America, ally surpassed and in 1920 actu- the latter by $59,- 980,565. Increased shipments of sugar from Cuba account for 88 per-cent of I the guin in imports and 47 per cent of the total gain in trade. In 1820 36 per cent of the total trade be- tween the United States and Latin America waa with Cuba, and it sur- to pursue during these trying times|passed in value the combined trade of a decided slump in Latin American with Argentina, Brasil and Chile by The Latin American division of the | 25 per cent. The market depression and the gen- erally unfavorable exchange sttua- tion in the majority of the Latin American countries during the last hailf of 1920 are not observable in the statistics covering exports to South America, the figures for the last quar- ter of 1920 showing a greater per- centage of increase over 1919 than for any other period of the year. This can be accounted for partly by the|Y" fact that goods shipped during the period were ordered during the early part of the year, when many plants were unable, on account of the short- age in goods, to flll orders immedi- in America will drop back ‘to its old | ately. ely. The Department of Commerce, the] consular service of the State Depart- ment, the Pan-American Union and other government agencies are lend- ing their most authoritative informa- tion and contributing their best coun- sels toward strengthening 2 ican commerce. HEARD AND SEEN Perry Burkett tosk his first rail- road trip last week. Unknown to fame, having vet to witness his first July 4 celebration, Perry nevertheless found his first trip on the “choo-choo” cars a great experience. The trip was preceded by a taxi- cab ride, which Master Perry took in great good humor, his first pair of being, a fat youngster manifested. by various twistings, twirlings and kick- a number of years after our Initial y season. Not onnly did all the old favorites play and sing at recital and concert, but many new and capable musicians appeared before the music lovers of the city. For number and variety no vear has ever equaled the season Just passed in a musical way. There also was evidence of local musical devel- FIFTY YEARS AGO IN THE STAR. A movement against corporal pum- ishment in the schools was in Progress Abolishing Corporal through- . 3 h Punishment in Schools. . un:,f fifty years ago.. Washington was in line with the reform. The Star of April 11, 1871, says: “The opposition to corporal punish- ment in schools making headway in varfous parts of the co ry. and in Washington quite decldedly The trustees of our public schools have discouraged its use until it figures much less conspicuously in the re- ports of the teachers than formerly, In the board of aldermen iast night Mr. Champion of the committee on schools reported favorably on the bill . introduced by Mr. Connolly, Which prohibits the punishment of pupils, whether by the application of blows, or by constrained position of the person, or by protracted stand- ing. or by a coerced exposure of any pupil to heat or to cold, or to dark- ness or to solitude, or by denying the privilege of water, or the gratifica of any reasonable natural desire. or by detention in the schoolhouse after tha dismissal or intermission of the ol. or by the requirement of cx- cessive study, or in any other man- ner. This, it will be seen, embraces various modes that have been prac- ticed by injudicious teachers, usually opment in the formation of a capable string quartet. As a general rule the audiences were discriminating and keenly apprecia- tive of the best. Walt Whitman said that to have great poets there must be great audiences, t0o, and the state- ment applies to musicians. ‘Take the thoughtful looking, gray- bearded msn who sat in a forward row at one of the appearances of the Flonzaley quartet. He looked every inch the musiclan himself. When the quartet finished a superb number, he leaned over to a compan- n, his eyes beaming. Tsn’t it just wonderful! he said. “They've been playing for half an hour and they come out even every tim, * * x The greatest attraction at the Na- tional Zoological Park today will be the four cubs of Mrs. Brown Bear, provided they make their first public appearance, as the Zoo officials are hoping they will do. Four cubs is an unusual mumber for a bear to have, according to keepers. The four cubs, each about the size of a cat, although somewhat heavier, are expected to be “more fun than a bar- rel of monkeys.” The cubs each weighed only about sixteen ounces when born January 1. The size of new-born bear cubs is very unusual in the animal world, be- ing such tiny creatures at birth, and developing into large beasts at ma- turity. * * % When an elevator man dons a dress suit you can expect something. So it proved at a banquet held by a business concern. Many employes and officers appeared in unusual busi- ness attire, but some wore dress suits. Among the latter was the elevator man. To say he created a sensation is to put it mildly. He was the “hit” of the evening. His assoclates, high and low, had gotten so used to his ap- pearance at the elevator that they took him as a matter of course. So when he appeared that evening in a dress suit, with snowy white shirt and all, he “knocked them cold.” * * % . Children have frankness down to a fine science. ‘Those . of their elders who pride themselves upon being frank should ‘consider that the little ones are born that way. Some of the fearful things children say would take a “grown-up® years to work up courage to hand out orally. . Take young Billy, who has a par- ticular fondness for ice cream cones and custards. A neighbor made a custard for Wil- liam, and turned it over to his mother for him. The neighbor happened to come in later, and, seeing Billy, asked him if he liked the custard. “Naw,” was his startling answer. “It didn’t taste good.” CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. without authority from the trustees, and frequently in direct opposition to their wishes. A motion to lay the bill on the table was lost, receiving only three votes, and it was made the special order for next Monday week.” - * = A peculiar meteorological condition prevailed fifty years ago that cailed for the following com- Peculiar ment in The Star of Weather. April 12, 15712 “The extraordinary weather phenomena of the last week are something previously unknown in the northern half of the United States at this time of year. On the Atlantic coast from Maine to Wash- ington the thermometer has ranged from 80 to 85 degrees, a regular June temperature, and the high wind: which have prevailed would have been appropriate 2 month ago. That there is some general elemental dis- turbance at present, which as yet is Dot explained, but furnishes material for scientific investigation, is appar- ent from the daily reports of the weather. In the west there has been apparently a moving succession of tremendous windstorms, principally affecting Missouri, Kansas, Jowa, Ne- braska and Wisconsin, blowng down buildings with almost the terrible strength of a tropical hurricane.” * % The outburst of radicalism at the French capital which marked the end of the Franco- Communism Prussian war. was ac- N cepted as a symptom in Europe. ¢ a spirit generally prevailing in Europe fifty years ago. The Star in its issue of April 15, 1871, commenting on the “commune at Paris, says: *“It is claimed that these men sim- ply mean to put into practice the dog- mas of the International Working- man’s Association, which has such a large membership all over Europe. The leading idea which animates them is to reorganize Europe upon social- istic principles. but they have no very definite idea of just what they want or how they propose getting at it. In @ blind and dumb sort of way they declaim against the injustice of the existing relations between capital and labor, but they suggest no practica- ble escape from these difficulties. They believe that their principal an- tagonists in France are the peasants, several million of whom acquired small patches of land apiece under the legislation of the republic of 173y, The commune is a gigantic trade union. “The commune movement seems in- tended to be a general one all over Europe. The Italian, German, Eng- lish and Swiss leaders of the interna- tional workingman's society have been consulted and one of the latest acts of the new government was to admit foreigners, even the hated Ger- mans, into the commune. The German organ of the organization strongly sympathizes with the insurrection, and says that the future of Germany. as well as that of France is involved in the struggle. DIGEST OF FOREIGN PRESS Germany Slipping Away. The refusal of the American State|that Germany signed? knowledgment of guilt which was in- serted in the Versailles treaty and ‘A thing of Department to hold out any encourage- | the past, we tell you; a false confes- ment to Germany until the latter had squared accounts with the allies met sion extorted by violence. We are not guilty, we have pever been guilty. There only remains among us a small a hearty welcome in Ffunce. The number of independent socialists who French are beginning to feel that Germany is wriggling gradually out|jority of the grip in which the allies held her at the time she sued for peace.lj;gj9 ang still speak of the responsibility of the imperial government. The great ma- consider’ that Brockdorff- Rantzau is right. It was he who saw clearly. If the government of June, the national assembly had ‘Thus former President Poincare says |listened to him we should have resist- in the Matin, Paris: “Germany continues to give us|selves again. Pproofs of good faith and to thank us |offer passive resistance. for our untiring long suffering. We ed at once. We were wrong to appear to yield Today we have come to our- We are determined to In the end we shall find some favorable oppor- tunity which will free us from our granted her tolerance and delay for|engagements If we keep putting off her disarmament. only had the effect of encouraging Our kindness has |the evil moment. ‘Who knows what can still happen in the east? ‘The time may come when we may have her in equivocation and evasions. The |an understanding with England for note addressed to the Teich on the |the exploitation of Russia, or with 29th of January by the interallied Paris conference and the note ad-|of a division among the allies dressed to the reich on” the 1st of | creasec. America, perhaps even with Japan. And then as time goes on the chances in- one of them has in- ternal preoocupations, financial diffi- March by the interallied commission of | culties, strikes. states of emergency, military control are only for the Berlin | Irish troubles, Florentine riots. What government successive pretexts for in- lucky circumstances for us are taking solvent replies. ol “The ‘reichswehr’ has only, they say, place every day to free us from our igations and prepare our revenge:!' ‘M. Loucheur, minister of the liber- the quantity of cannon, of machine guns, | ated regions, related in the chamber the of mine throwers and of guns allowed comedy that Ge ny is playing to make the world believe that she really by the peace treaty and the Spa protocol. | had drawn up a plan for the restoration But they do not add that besides the of reichswehr arms remain in a number | 2! our devastated regions. Intolers'le xigencies for the employment of Ger- n labor, exorbitant pretentions or bad of secret organizations and among num- | faith shown in the providing of mate- bers of private individuals. The allies have ordered them to deliver up this material spread all over the kingdom: | workmen they pretend to be deaf and do not even | should be better lodzed and bette: to enswer a word. Contrary to ?fl‘i'm:y and to subsequent demands, the forts of Kustrin, of Lutgzen-Bozen and of Koenigsberg are well furnished with light and heavy guns. Impossible | their victims. rials; in the word, the resumption of the propositions of Versailles, Spa and London. Germany demanded that the in the devastated regions r treat- ed than the inhabitants themselves. We should have witnessed the scandal of the former conquerors returning to in- sult, by their comfort. the misery of As to the bricks, slates, to give them up, says the reich, and it|glass that Germany had pretended to ber of factories. P P he same attitude and the keeps them. ' The manufacture of | offe: Ut atorials is beginning again in & | i nothing has come of it—it has all peared. Tn France the government, the cham- bers-and the country all agree im de- same language,” continues the writer, “in the | siring to put an end without delay to a jon of reparations, Until lately zn“?:lnce the armistice Germany, on the whole, acknowledged that she ought to pay war damages. During the discus- Slons before the signing of peace, after the signing and the ratification. all es except the extreme right and the communists declared themselves ready to organize and carry on the work of n. Since the beginning of this ear a great change has taken place in nearly all German circles. The govern- ment of the reich has taken the initiative in the very face of the allies o” a propa- ganda on the origins and responsibili- ties of the war, and a great many Ger- | full s have begun to say, some of them :‘;t‘upu even to think, that their coun- try is innocent, that it was obliged to declare war, that it was forced to ruin our provinces and that the. responsibili- ties ought at least to be shared by all t powers, that owes o 2 e ‘But how the sol > a0~ e : V4 situation which, if it lasts, would lead to catastrophles. M. Briand. who at the London conference succeeded in convinc- ing our allies of the perfidy of the reich and who persuaded them to the idea of the joint coercion, will know how to finish the work so well begun. Since the first sanctions taken have not brought Germany to make ahy amends: since, on the contrary, she . strengthened in her fixed resolution: since, besides violating the Versailles treaty, she has added a number of vol- untary infringements, I imagine that our allies will agree with us that the cup isy 1. “We must have an understanding, then, as soon as possidle with our allies on’ the measures to be taken, which must be 2 means of compulsion as well as a pledge. If we do not take neces- sary nce difficulties will ¢ Srmounisbia The Hiee has coms surmoun! ‘come stop the march of evil' )