Evening Star Newspaper, February 27, 1923, Page 6

6 THE EVENING STAR, ‘With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. CUESDAY.....February 27, 1923 THEODORE W. NOYES.......Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Busioess Office, 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. \pe York Ofco: 150 Nawsal St icago Office: Tower Bullding. Ruropean Ofice: 16 Regent St., London, England. The Ereniag Star, with the Sundsy morning Rdition, i delivered by carriers within the city Rt 60 cents per month; dally only, 45 cents month: Sunday only, 20 ceits per month. ders may be sent by mal’, or telephone Maln 5000. Collection is wade by earriers at the end of each wonth. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday..1y Tally only... Bunday only 70¢ 50c 20¢ Daily and Sunday..1y Daily only.. Sunday only. $3.00; 1 mo., Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press Is exclusiely entitied o tiie use for republication of all news dis- patclies credited 1o it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news pub- Tished “herein. " All Fights of publication of epecial dispatches herein are also reserved. — e The Teachers’ Bill. While disappointment felt that th, recognize is naturally House vesterday did not District day" for the pur- of considering the teachers’ pay bill, with other local measures of im. portance, hope is not lost that oppor- tunity will soon be afforded for the transaction of this bit of legislative husiness, so essential to the welfare of the Distr system. The Iouse committee on rules has prom- ised nce. Yesterday the nflict was between the District busi- s and the deficiency appropriation which, strictly under the rules of the House, had right of way. It must be assumed that the promise of con- wtion for the teachers' bill holds od, and that the way will be open before adjournment. permit a conference on the differences between House and Senate bills to put this mea 1t there school such a cf ure on its pass repeatedly serious has stated that objection to the amendments by the House Dist making certain changes in the pay scale and adjust- ments. 1f that is the fact this bill should lead to littl no debate. Tt »whind report from committee and « powerful public . manifested yesterday, per- by the presence in House of hundreds who are anxious © enactment. It would seem that the presence of these parents of the capi- tal, and particularly their manifesta. tions of in the galleries, gave some offense to But tter must bear > of Wash effective representation of affecting their welfare, and that vesterday's. gathering in the ries was hut a natural exhibition of public feeling which is to be con doned and rated as rather to the credit than the discredit of the community. If this Dill is being sincerely sup: ported, with its amendments, there hould be no trouble about it when it zets before the House, and if 1he promise of “time” is also sincere which there is no reason to doubt, that opportunity should be afforded. Until the gavel falls to end the life of thix Congress hope will remain that the teachers’ pay bill quired in justice to the public school staff, will T ted is no proposed ct committee s is has the sentimen vorable ps indiscreetly, > galleries of Washingtonians disapproval members. 1gton are denfed any in the shap. laws eng Reclassification Equity. Gratification at the ter classification compromise bill was ex- Presse v the government employes met in this city last night and pointed out some particulars in which the measure can be made more equita- hie in practical application. For the incorporation of these amendments there will undonbtedly be opportunity, as the bill. if passed by the Senate, will in all like ference, who its assun at the House a cepts it in principle but asks a settle- ment of differen; 1t the bill now main enacted the personnel classifica- board created to administer the law will have responsibilities and op- portunities unique in the government bitterness and animosi tion i arisen during the long period required to frame this legisla- tion should make the board keen to! prove to the goverpment personnel i entire fairness and impartiality in al- locating employes to positions, in making efliciency r complic This ted duties devolving upon it srd will have the opportunity to pull the government sesvice out of slough of despond into which it has fallen b “the present chaos and unfairness, by working out and putting into operation a fair, hu- mane and ntitic of per- sonnel administration. The first problem is to get this bill enacted into law, then to adopt meas- AU s system ures to reassure the workers that this | is a plan for the improvement of their conditions, as well as to make the gov- crnment more efficient and economi. If that can be accomplished it will so stimulate the government em- ployes to achieve work of such quan- tity and quality that Congress and the country will soon be convinced that fully 100 per cent return in the serv- ice is being received. cal. France has not given Germany any new suggestions as to efliciency in government-controlled railways. The School Report. The report of the joint congressional ecommittee on District public schools, presented to the Senate yesterday, fol- Jows the lines of general expectation in recommending first a change in the method of organization and adminis- tration; second, an improvement in the courses of study; third, adoption of a long-term constructive building pro- gram, and fourth, enlargement of the ieaching force, with a better scale of pay. In respect to the first item the com- mittee follows the lines of recom- mendation of the state superintendent of education of Pennsylvania, who was consulted as an expert, and who ‘urged that the board of education be appointed by the President and given and in.season to | in mind that the { passage | s0 urgently re- | s of the re-y hood be sent into con- i is in the | atings and all other | authority independent of the District Commissioners. On'this point The Star has heretofore expressed its belief that this is not a desirable method of organization, tending to remove the chools from the public contact that is | essential to satisfactory administra- tion, and also to confuse the requisi- tions for funds, which should all be handled by the District Commissioners to effect a fair allocation of revenues between the various municipal activi- ties. In regard to the school building pro- gram there can be no question or dis- pute. The District’'s needs in this re- gard are notorious and urgent. The schools are underhoused and under- equipped, and only a broad program of consecutive, consistent constructions will catch up with the arrears and provide for future needs, In point of the courses of study and teaching force there will be no reason for question in the public mind. What- ever educational changes may be re- garded as desirable by those qualified to discuss the matter, may perhaps best be left to the school system rather than written into law. The teaching force, if the bill now pending in the House is enacted, will be put upon a proper basis of compensation: In num- bers, however, the force should be in- creased, especially as the plant is ex- panding. At present the educational staff of the schools is too small. ' § None of these, matters, save perhaps the teachers' pay bill, will be con- sidered at the yresent sessioi. This report will be filed as a general guide for the next Congress. The District's hope i that it will be taken up early enough to insure action, at least along the line of a constructive building pro- gram, and that the question of the wisest form of administration will be considered carefully. Mr. Hughes Abandons His Trip. It is a matter for keen regret that Secretary Hughes has been compelled to abandon his projected visit to South America in connection with the Pan American Congress at Santiago. The visit has been looked forward to, hoth in the United States and in Latin America, as an event of major im- rortance as making for better under- standing and closer relations among the republics of the western hemi- sphere, and it can be accepted as as- sured that the reasons which have induced Mr. Hughes to change his {plans are impelling The Pan American Congress presented an au spicious opportunity for the paying of such a visit, but because advantage | cannot be taken of this occasion it {does not follow that the American | Secretary of State cannot make | trip at & later da Critical affairs in Europe demanding | attention from the State Department lare emergency matters which do not admit of being put aside. but this doe: {not mean that the United States re [ gards European policy as of superior ones. ! been recognized, by the present ad- ’n.imslnuim\ in particular, that cul- tivation of the friendship of the new {world republics should be a cardinal ‘]n‘mflplr of the program of this gov- ernment. and neither President Hard- | ing nor Secretary Hughes has let pass {any opportunity of demonstrating the good will of the United States toward these republics. The record already written is a brilliant and gratifying one, and it will be enlarged as time passe Today practically the only rift in re- lations between this gevernment and its American neighbors is in the case of Mexico, and even here time is work- on the side of better understanding. {The American State Department has shown tact and remarkable patience its tact rded at and patience have becn least to the extent that other Latin American governments have. come to understand that our Mexlican policy is wholly unselfish and straightforward. That understanding on the part of the other republics is a powerful influence which eventually will help bring about a satisfactory understanding with Mexico itself. —_——————— and rew: 1 More pay for teachers is a reason- iable demand. The youth of the day that makes up the citizenship of the future is entitled to instruction by competent and contented minds. iermany has given a practical demonstration of the axiom that the i real value of a currency unit is meas- ured strictly by its purchasing powe No reorganization of the school sys tem will be complete until it provides a full day's schooling for every child who is old enough to need it. Keep on Building! The housing situation in the District anid contiguous territory is on the way to adjustment, and with peace and harmony between contractors and the i men working for them the adjustment { could probably be brought about with- in a reasonable time. Yet, there is talk of industrial war between em- ployers and employes in the building Dbusiness. Tt would seem that there are many considerations to induce them to pull together. city needs homes and other kinds of structures. This need, coupled with increased building costs and maintenance, makes the rental rates of houses, flats and rooms higher than at any other time in the city's history. Persons on a fixed salary are paying out a greater proportion of their earn- ings for shelter thag ever before, and after paying rent the spending power of those persons for food and clothing is materially reduced, and their ability to put away savings in the banks is crippled, and the banks to a large ex- tent finance building operations. The greatly increased price at which flats rent and small houses sell is stimulat- ing building, so that construction is going on in the District at a rate with- out precedent. There is a struggle going on to re- store the equilibrium between the need for shelter and the amount of shelter obtainable. With building oper- ations being carried on as now it must be that all mechanics in the building trades are employed, and it would seem that wages must be high because the rate of wages is set forth as one of the reasons for the high cost of building. Bullding material is high, but wages cut a large figure in the the importance to American policy. It has | in dealing with the Mexican situation, | THE EVENING cost of lumber, brick, steel and ail other supplies. i ‘To put the, cost of building to & higher level will have a tendency to check bullding, reduce employment in the bullding trades and raise the cost of shelter. To put construction costs much higher might stop it altogether except in very urgent cases. There ought to be peace. There ought to be no discord between contractors and the men working with them. Yet we are hearing much tu' : of clashes, and strikes, and the whole train of evils that follow such things. The most energetic get-together means should be adopted. This is the worst time for a break between the building contrac- tors and their men. Everybody would be hurt. Senator William: Everybody who knows Senator John Sharp Williams will wish that he finds his Arcadia, and that he will find there as much happiness as the Greek poets celebrated in their songs. Ar- cadia was a beautiful district of Greece inhabited by a simple pastoral people who were believed to be distinguished above all other people for their hap- piness. In retiring from public life Senator Williams told the Mississippl Society of Washington that on going home to Mississippi he would rise when the cock crows, gather flowers while the dew is on them, read his books, eat his dinner in the middle of the return to books and letter writing in the afternoon, eat supper, not dinner, in the evening, listen to the sweet nade of his band of moc ing birds in the twilight and live out a happy old age surrounded by troops of friends. There is no doubt that “Marse John" phrased those senti: ments in the most delightful English. The gift of language is his. It has dis- tinguished him all through his career. Here is a man with a wonderfully fine natural intelligence on which was im- posed a classical schooling. His mind was kept rich by steady reading of good books. When the senator was a young and encrgetic debater in the House nearly all members listened when he spoke because of his broad ‘knuw!mlgr of every subject he under- took to discuss. Another gift of John Sharp Williams is that of friendship. He has alw: easy and courteous ways and he has drawn men to him. Washington peo- ple regret that he is retire from pub- lic life, and the peopte of Mississippi have cause to regret it. But if he should find radia a trifle dull, and should long for the clamor and action of public life, the door is wide open for his return. i | i Mail Slots and Boxes. There ought to be lively work today this evening and tomorrow in cutting mail slots in front doors and screwing up boxes, for the post office announces that Washington carriers 1l not de liver mail after tomorrow at homes which have not complied with the “no box-no mail” order. Persons who have rot complied with the order will re- ceive mail by calling for it at the city post office. That would be a step back- ward of something like a hundred years. There ought to be prompt com- pliance with the regulation prescribed i by the Post Office Department. It is { much easier to comply with this regu- ilation than to combat it. The great majority of residents of the capital { have complied because it saves them { time in answering the postman’s ring | {and promotes the earlier serving of | i their mail and their neighbors’ mail. | The whole argument was gone through some months ago, and most persons concluded that the weight of reason was on the side of the letter box or letter slot, and they put in the labor saving and time-saving device without further parley. its box or door slot for mail! —_————— Burope can hardly fail to perceive i the danger of rendering her wars so I commonplace that they may fail to arouse poignant interest in the west- ern hemisphere. ———— As Col. Bryan has a home in Miami, both great political parties will be represented with distinction in Florida for the next few weeks SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Always a Candidate. My Uncle Jim's a candidate For an official place— ¢ And he's a man, 1 want to state, Of intellectual grace.; { He knows all kinds of politics, Domestic and abroad, And how to show up any tricks Of bribery or fraud. He's been a candidate for years. The fact each paper notes. He gets the compliments and cheers, But never gets the votes. It's never in the cards for him The heights of fame to touch. We're sort of scared of Uncle Jim, Because he knows too much. The Serlous Joker. “Have you a sense of humor?” “Yes,” replied Senator Sorghum. I can appreciate a joker in a legislative bill as much as anybody.” Jud Tunkins says overanxiety to have & good time is What causes most of our troubles. Musings of a Motor Cop. Hortense has left me in a plight, Deserved, beyond a doubt— ‘When I called at her house last night She hung the “Go!" sign out. Sign of Greatness. “What makes you think your boy Josh is going to be a great politiclan?" “Because,” replied Farmer Corntos- sel, “he kin talk fur hours tellin’ us how to run the agriculture business witheut havin’ had any personal ex- perience whatever.” ! The Particular Woman. “What do you think of the pictures of Tutankhamen’s tomb?" “It is wonderfully furnished, but 1 shouldn’t call Mrs. Tutankhamen a neat housekeeper.” “When we gits too busy reformin’ one another,” said Uncle Eben, “‘we's each liable to sacrifice ourselves by not checkin’ up on our personal short- comings.” Let every home have | of & jtendent of prison: S { ' 1 i | i { Cidec s been a man of simple, | e el {any | fense; | relief | the Treasur j wireless TAR,. WASHINGTON, D. ©., THE WAYS OF WASHINGTON BY WILLIAM PICKETT HELM. To him whose fancy leads him to explore our yesterdays, Washington is as a mine of gold. Old memories sweep in cohorts invisible over ouy wide avenues and pleasant, tree- fringed streets. Old associations cluster around almost every corner. 0Old landmarks rear their timeworn and familiar forms wherever human eyes are turned. Here but a few brief years ago a smiling farmland; today the fairest city of the western world. Where now our statesmen tread, there trod but yesterday, undisturbed, the far- mer's cattle. ‘What footfalls echo down the pages of our history since that day George Washington first gazed down upon the future site of America's future capitall How many glants have come and gone! What impres. sive tread was that which wore smooth the stones over which we now are stepping? Time touches with light and caress. ing hand some of the old, old things. The clock that ticked away the hours when Jeft Davis was Secretary of War sits in its self-same place today and still ticks away the hours. It is a good clock; good, we hope, for another sixty-odd years of useful- ness. The old oil lamps that Davis used are reposing still in the office of the Secretary of War. They stand where they stood in the days when the shadow of the civil war darkened the nation. They are not used, for coal oil has long since been van- quished by the incandescent bulb, but there they stand on the mantel, wicks neatly trimmed, just as they were in Davis' day and time “There are old stories that still are told in the government buildings, stories those days and before. very passing vear bings more, Some of them are filled with hearty laughter, better for one’s health than eighteen holes of golf_and some of them are eerie: One summer night, early in the season of 1918, the light burned brightly till after midnight in the office of the Secretary of War. The tide of battle was fast flowing to the flood acroxs three thousand miles of ocean; troop movements were pour- ing eastward from our shores; Belleau Wood was in the making. Secretary Baker sent home the last of hix clerks and continued on at his desk alone. The lights in the other offices flashed off. one by till_his was the only light left, building was quiet. deserted s him and the few watchmen. 1 o'clock meared. Mr. Baker to zo home. He turned off the light and stepped into the corri- dor. It was almost darkened light being poor that the S tary could just make out his way the door. He had gone three or four paces toward the exit when he heard foot- steps at the farther end of the corr dor. ile stopped. In wonder, one should be pacing the corri- <o unseemly an hour, and i | ¥ | | that | Unmistakably, the sound was that of footsteps. Moreover, the tread was quick-and fmpatient. As he listened, wondering if a watchman was try- ing to keep awake, the sound of a human volce in a strange and jumbled tongue, high-pitched and clear, came to his ear. The Secretary of War retraced his steps quietly to his own door and then tiptoed down the corridor in the direction whence came the sounds. He reached the end and just around the cor-er beheld the figure of a clerk, om he knew well, walking rapidly back and forth. And as he walked the clerk talked ancient Greek. The Secretary recog- nized the passage as a long extract from an old Greek tragedy, written by one of the major poets. The clery was declaiming; hc was giving the old Greek tragedy, in tonal expres- sfon, all he was worth, For half a minute, perhaps, Mr. Baker looked on, unobserved. Pres- ently the clerk saw him and, much abashed, halted his passionate elo- quence.’ They exchanged a few words ‘and the Secretary passed on out into the night. Such an incident, naturally, would leave jts imprint on a mind far less sensitive than that of the Secretary of War, During the weeks that fol- lowed Mr. Baker thought often of the midnight incident. He marveled that the clerk should be there, and, still more, that the clerk should know so well the lines of the Greek tragedy. From time to time he saw the clerk. Then one day the little fellow appeared no more at his desk. He had gone into the ranks. And there- after Mr. Baker thought less of the {ineident Some time afterward Mr. Baker went to France. IHe visited the ex- peditionary force. inspected all branches of the service, learned at first hand of all that was going on and contemplated, and returned to the United States. He came back aboard an Army transgort. On board he mingled with men # well as officers, chatted with the doughboys, spent long hours in thelr quarters, learned of their veiw- point with respect to the war. He visited also the ship hospital He went among the sick and wounded and finally asked to be shown into the ward where were kept the poor fellows who had become demented. They took him there. As the door opened and he stood on the threshold tlicre smote his ear a volley of Greek poured out in a voice high pitehed and clear. He stopped. thunder-struck. He lis- tened. He recognized the theme. It wus from an old Greek tragedy writ- ten by one of the major poets. He went to the bedside whence it came., And there, as the reader Wiready has surmised, he saw once more the clerk with whom he had parted in the dim corridor of the War Department building at Washington m ths before. Mad. ladics and gentlemen; raving mad 'And that.” said Mr. Baker a few ¥u ago, “is my one outstanding lection of the world war st EDITORIAL DIGEST Plan Submitted for Study Rather Than Immediate Action. The long - discussed effort to straighten ou* ne of the complex- ities of governmental functions has progressed as far as the submission to Congress by the President of a definite plan of reorganization of fed- eral departments. While its immedi- ate adoption is out of the question the plan affords a basis for future action and a theme for present dis- cussion which editors find well worth considering And already editorial opinion is showing wide divergence in some of the controversial points. As summarized by the Nashville Tennessean the salient points in the new program are: “Consolidation of the War Depart- ment and Navy Department into a ngle department of national de- dcpartment of education and welfare, to be in charge of education, health, ocial service and veterans activities. The women's and ‘hildren’s bureaus of the Lepartment of Labor would be transferred to the new department. of education, now under the Depart- of the Interior: the superin- from the Depart- d blic health, from xtension of the postal service so as to provide for develop- ment of telephone, telegraph and communications, with a change in the name to Department of communications.” i : It is well, the Louisville Courier Journal suggests, to refer to the plan of President’s Harding’'s agent, Wal- ter F. Brown, “as a proposed plan For Brown proposes, while the com- mittee, and after the committee, Con- gress, disposes.” Expanding on the thought which the Boston Herald ex. presges, by saying that “as now con- stituted the cabinet does not rep- -sent any intelligent attempt to cre- ate a simple and efficient machine. * e ’s The cabinet ‘just growed, The Star recently pointed out that the government organization, which is “a veritable patchwork,” has been evolved from “only four department State, Treasu War and the beginning “each had its definite and distinct function. The Attorney General was added as a legal adviser, without a department at first, and the Postmaster General was next created as the officer in charge of mail serv- jce, also without cabinet seat. Before the Interior Department was created these other two officials had been ment_of Just given cabinet rank. Then came Agri- ! culture and finally Commerce and Labor, which soon was divided into two separate departments, bringing the number of executive branches up to ten, the present number.” Furthe the Boston paper goes on to sa “Congress created one bureau after another, and hitched them on to the several departments, usually without s would the bureau ! rhyme or reason. brought forward contemplates great changes clearly intended to produce ovrder” out of the resulting chaos. “There i3 no question.” the Brook- n Eagle contends. “that many of A the ‘plan now wught to be regrouped.” and it looks upon the proposed program as a means of “making government more simple.” However. in common with several papers. it feels that the “only doubtful phase of the report is that relating to the consolidation of the War and Navy departments. While “much may be said in favor of consolidating them under one head.’ it is, on the other hand. “plain that they have relatively few points of contact, especia]ly in times of peace.” From the viewpoint of the New York World this proposal is only a little less dubious than “that other pet project of the President's—the crea- tion of the new department of wel- farc.” The World feels that by in- cluding the recommendation for this consclidation “experiment.”” which *is certain to arouse bitter opposition.” the “Brown organization plan has been greatly weakened. On ‘the other hand. the Chatta- nooga News believes “that the coun- try favors” such a merger, which, the Watertown Standard points out. has been proposed ‘under almost overy administration.” In the opin- ion of the Standard. “no other two {departments dovetail so_completely {as the War and Navv. They neces- sarily must work together in har- mony in time of emergency. With two separate heads differences of opinion arose and it was frequently nceessary for the President to take a hand. With a single cabinet officer responsible for all defense, both land and sea, direction and co-operation might be easler.” The Minneapolis Tribune agrees that “the business of jwar can never be ideally conducted Iby two distinct and ‘independent bureaueracies People who know anything about bureaucratic jeal- ousies know that co-operation is by o means always to be depended upon.” More than that, as the Tribune sees it. “any program of na- tional defense ought to consider all branches of the service as means contributing to a single end. Land !service, naval service and aerial serv- ice must be studied, each in its re- lation to the other. Thers should be no aggrandizement of one at the ex- panse of the other. Hence the value of centralized ‘control presided over by a man who feels no partisanship toward any specific branch of the | service. Viewing the program as a whole. while “there is abundant room for simplification and reduction in costs. the Ohio State Journal feels that its adoption is far from certain, since “any veorganization that displaces {men or reduces their official impor- tance or compensation would be un- popular with members of Congress. Toliticlans want more and better places * * * and all congressmen are politicians at times.” ECHOES FROM CAPITOL HILL STOP PAS: UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAWS If the members of Congress and the President would do their duty, then no Supreme Court would ever have a chance to declare an act of Con- gress unconstitutional. It 18 the habit of “passing the buck” by mem- bers of Congress that has brought about a situation that 1s giving con- cern to many people—Representa- tive McSwain, South Carolina, demo- crat. ONE OF THE ESSENTIALS OF WAR. War is hell. Internattonal law has attempted to restrain some of its bar- barities, but vou cannot get rid of them. Killing itself is contrary to all our moral senses, and yet it is one of the essential necessities of war.—TRepresentative Temple, Penn- sylvania, republican. BUILDING UP A DISREGARD FOR LAW. If the Congress of the United States continues to trespass upon the libe ties, personal rights, and freedom of the people of the several states of this Union, they will build up a sen- timent in disregard of law which will shake the whole fabric of our gov- ernment.—Senator Underwood, Ala- bama, democrat. NO WAY TO PAY PUBLIC OBLIGATION. No civilized nation in this world today will countenance for a moment the doctrine that private property mbould be taken for the satisfaction of a_publio obligation.—Representa- tive Rayburn, Texas, democrat. THE SITUATION OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. The situation of Austria-Hungary today is pitiful. Formerly a great nation of 52,000,000 people, its terri- tory has been divided into six differ- ent nations. Its capital city—Vienna —has a population of 2,000,000 people. The balance of its territory is largely mountainous and without sufficient tillable land to feed its population and with substantially no coal de- posits—Representative Hawes, Mis- souri, democrat. NO DANGER OF PRUSSIANIZ] AMERICANS. For myself I have altogether too high an opipion of the American peo- Dle to believe that they are in danger of being Prussianized through either a Regular Army, an organized re- serve or any other military force. Representatife Newton, Minnesota, republican. THE LOVE OF AMERICAN: FOR THEIR GOVERNMENT. One of the most gratifying things in these days of change and experi- ments is the teally deep-seated and quite general confidence and pride which the great majority of the American people have in our govern- ment. Ninety per cent of the people be- lieve in and respect our form of gov- ernment, and I venture the opinion that they will be the last to surren- der or destroy it.—Senator Borah, Tdaho, republican. e THE CURSE OF OUR CIVILIZATION. The muitiplicity of our laws today is the curse of our civilisation.—Sen- ator Stanley, Kentucky, democrat, p NG [the agencies of federal government | NEW BOOKS AT RANDOM TREES AS GOOD CITIZENS. Charles Lathrop Pack. The American Tree Assoclation. You remember that.day when the young god Prometheus, angered at the haughty elder gods, stole fire—the most Jealougly guarded treasure of Olympus— and gave it to man. That was the very moment, you recall, when Zeus and his war lords were serlously considering the total’ destruction of this troublesome and pestiferous race of men. The neigh- borly act of Prometheus, however, not only saved man from annihilation but it secured to him, as well, the prime wherewithal of continued existence— gods or no gods. The gift of fire was man's salvation. And thercafter trees —the great fire food—became something other than home of hamadryad, or tem- ple of worshipful rite to the gods of Olympian skies. Throughout the years, since that day, the trees have stood shoulder to shoulder with man in the business of creating a warmed and fur- nished world. But not all of them. Certain of these have held aloof, unresponsive to the sacrificial adventure in usefulness. Pa- Ba4n trees, maybe, throwing back to re- mote ancestral 'types, waiting, one fancies, for the cycle to round again upon the pagan belief that beauty is its own excuse for being. Up to recent years these idle trees werc left pretty much to God and-the poets and other impractical folks who, liking the look and feel of them. planted others around their homes and along their streets. And these companionable, do-nothing trees were gathered loosely up under the name of shade trees. * ok ok K Mr. Pack offers this book in an ardent and very practical advocacy of shade {trecs. “Good citizens” he calls them, Imainluinmg that they deserve this title, not only by the quality and scope of their public service, but by the legal status that they have finally acquired, as well. Stepping a little back from this book, to get a free view, one finds that it has two outstanding features. One of these rounds up a record of shade-tree movement. so general, 80 spontaneous, o quickly responsive of every part of the whole. as to suggest & renaissance of the ancient tree cult, subdued and modified by the natural process of adaptation to the mod- ern outlook and aim. The other sums to a body of instruction—simple enough to meet anvbody, practical enough to appeal to the go-getters of the world. Every craftsman_prefers to work with his own toolx. The sci- entist is no exception. But. to take no chance on meeting his definite pur- pose here. Mr. Pack lays aside the technicalities of tree life and culture, and. in the plainest of words. talks about a tree much as he might talk about a man. He tells of its looks, ts dixposition, its habits: of the places which it likes most and where it thrives hest; of its proper schooling and training: of its occasional ail- menta and the treatment that prom- ises to set it speedily upon its grow- ing way again. of its service to the {community” and its high standing| therein The author thef moves out into the general fleld of shade trees. He| points to Washington and Paris as star examples of tree culture, won- dering. in passing. what these cities would be_stripped of the forest green- ery in which each is set. He tells of the keen rivalry among cities for pre- eminence as shade-tree centers. Springfield, Mass., is, at present, for its population, the foremost of our cities in this respect. The author describes methods of tree appraisal. according to accepted formula. and the money value that many cities count among their asgets. on the basis of such competition. - He analyzes the taws that have been enacted through- out the country to protect both the life and the rights of these “good cit- izens" * ok o The shade tree in history makes a | mewhat familiar story, a deeply interesting one. From this it is but a step to the Hall of Fame, estab- shed in honor of famous trees. These are nominated, elected and confirmed in proper form. This institution proved to be a tremendous influence in spreading interest in the shade- tree movement. Many of these trees deserve mention—one in particular. 1t is the Gen. Sherman sequoia, in the redwood forest of California. This tree gained admission to the hall on the statement of age alone. It is i=aid to be the oldest tree now living— more than 4,000 years old, a giant growth when Christ was born twenty centuries ago. The memorial tree idea sprang into lite at the signing of the armistice, wnen the people of the United States adopted the tree as a symbol of their tribute to peace. Immediately every sort of organization responded with en- thusiasm to the beautiful and significant ceremony of memorial tree planting till the entire country stands now a com- munity in this enterprise. The most thrilling instance of the rite accompa- nied the burial of our Unknown Soldier at Arlington and at the same time | marked the opening of Armistice week two vears ago. i i i * * % The planting of memorial trees, ¢ panded. is producing the *‘roads of re- membrance” where shade trees, miles and miles of them. are stepping into line along the great highways that soon will 1oop our cities and towns and flelds together into a commonwealth of grow- ing friendliness and Intimacy. These “roads”’ are placed and described here i terms of their present achievement and along the lines of their ultimate ful- fillment. And so this stimulating book goes on —a 'kind of eplendid, portable arbore. | fum. Chapters and pages are packed | with tree lore. Instruction for the learner is here in a rounded body of fact and method—simple, definite, com- plete, for the purpose involved. =Here, Too. is instruction. supplemented by ample and_suggestion, for municipali- ties and other governing bodies, to the end that the tree-planting project may, in every community, take advantage of {experience already gained. And here. {for everybody, is an_inspiring story of fine achievement. Both the news and the literature of the tree movement are 80 happily blended here that the former makes its usual promnt appeal while the latter moves more slowly into one’s permanent appreciation. It has become @in axiom that men of science—the most useful of all men, perhaps—are notably inarticulate to the average man by vir- tue of thelr special language and gen- eral obliviousness to the world around them. So they are poor purveyors of ideas In anything like popular form and appeal. That may be 8o with many of them. But is not true, decidedly not true. in respect to Charles Lathrop Pack—for a_more open man or a more communicable one than this author has proved himself to be in this inspired {ree propaganda cannot be conceived. Deplores Recent Crime At Fairmount Heights To the Editor of The Star: Any crime committed is an offense against the whole community. Any violator of the law is an enemy against the whole community. The citizens of Fairmount Heights regret to the full the wave of crim which seems to have struck this com. and they offer any assistance they can give to apprehend and con- vict any gullty parties. They are determined th2t no irresponsible per- Son or anything shall mar or-inter- fere with the most helpful relations that exist, and have existed ‘in this community among all cjtizens. They ask to_be called upon in time of distress, They will use lawful means.to drive any criminal into prison sen. P JAMBS P. ARMSTRONG. { night. CAPITAL KEYNOTES BY PAUL V. COLLINS. ‘WASHINGTON, D. C., February 26. —It was undoubtedly without any reference to the movement amongst 4 certain element in Congress to override the decisions of the Supreme Court, as to the constitutionality of a law decreed by the court as uncon- stitutional, that Chief Justice Taft, came back at the legislators, in his speech at the Law Instituts banquet, Wwhen he alleged that the legisiatures are to blame for the errors of courts. He blames the legislatures for their unwillingness to give the courts necessary power o render just de- cisions. He failed to specify just what power is lacking, “which could be supplied by act of the legislatures, to clarify the brain of the “most learned judges,” but surely an humble layman would 'not question the decision of the Chief Justice. The comment of Chief Justice Taft confirms the argu- ment recorded in this column a day or two ago, protesting against en- larging the power of Congress by en- abling it to confirm a law after the Supreme Court had ruled it as uncon- stitutional, by re-enacting it with & two-thirds vote—a process known as a “recall of judicial decisions.” Tf statesmen hesitate to empower the high courts adequately to study and pass upon the laws, then the states- men are not taking the responsibility of correct law administration and in- terpretation with the seriousness it deserves—requires. The American lovers of liberty, under a govern- ment of law, it is argued, would in- deed rue the day when any influence —certainly when political excitement ! and dll-considered, transitory enthusi- agm—could sweep aside the safeguards of the Constitution. When the Consti- tution needs to be amended, the con- servatives plead, let 5o important a step be taken soberly and with due enlight- enment, and studied and passed upon by the whole people—not in radicalism by a few politiclans. “Let the people rule:” * ok ok * 1t is a long step toward correc- tion of a fault when the fault is recognized and stated. The American Law Institute recognizing the failure to bring speedy and certain justice through the courts, ascribe the com- plexity of the laws as the chief cause, not only for failures in court, but for increasing disrespect for law. which tempts to its violation. There- fore a complete restatement and codification of all law is to be under- taken—a tremendous task, which, it is prohesied, will require ten to twenty years to complete. and an ex- pense exceeding $1,000,000. * x ok % Outside of the courts and law offices, most people have thought the disrespect of law was due to lax execu- tion by the officers of law in haling | offenders into court. It has been declared that the liquor laws were sure to break down, because they can not be enforced. 'The statement of the internal revenue collector, at-{ tributed to him within the last fort- | that 95 per cent of prohibition officers are either killed or corrupted ! within the first six months of their service. is the most startling confes- sion of the weakness of government that has been made in many genecra- tions. It bespeaks a woeful state of society. If we now must add that | only 10 per cent of the homicides | are ever convicted in court, and that the uncertainty of law is corrupting merchants to cheat. and crimes of all kinds to be committed with increas- ing impunity—as charged by the com- | mittee of the American Law Institute. | representing the leading judges and | lawyers of America—the disclosure is most impressive. | assure Good citizens everywhere will real- 1zo that they have a serious dut, perform. beyond merely living law-abiding citizens. It is time every good citizen took squarely duty of co-operating actively in law enforcement and respect for law, he- cause it is law, whether the citizen voted for or against that particular law. America is headed for anarc, it is alleged, unless strong influen are set at work to counteract pres criminal _tendencies and law cn tempt. This points to a great field of patriotic usefulness for commun ity assoclations and other organiza ons. * K ok % Senator David I. Walsh (democrat) of Massachusetts joins with Senato Underwood, democratic floor leade of the Senate, In denouncing the oid fashioned filibuster as a practice Congress, by which a minority talks to death a measure supported by majority. As both of these senato:s were opposed to the ship subsidy b against which u successful fillibust: has just been waged, it can not b said “that their attitude against the filibuster practice is biased by their desire 1o see this particular filibuster fail. It is bascd upon the broade grounds that it is a defeat of the rul of the majority, and, as such, is “gov- ernment by the minority,” which is tyranny: cnator Walsh, commenting filibuster, is quotcd “The first step necessary to check the alleged growing lack of confi- dence in Congress is to guarantce the right of the majority to call the roi and pass final judgiment on all leg latio I talk and more vot would, in my opinion, promote 1 public good The senator from Mas vocated an immediate reform of rules. saving: “Indeterminate d i8 a slovenly, antiquated henslble metiiod of conduc business.” on the 8 saying: &5 * * The fact that these criticisms most strongly from the leaders of th democrats, in this instance, is 1o spe cial reflection upon the members of their own party who have differed fron: them. and have fought the subsic with this weapon. The other part been equally guilty it a pract which might well be outlawed, with th. honors equally divided betwe T parties. It is a test of physical endur ance, not mental reasoning n th forty million marons. attributed 1 America by the Princeton psyehologis: might serve as senators—at reduccd pa —if legislation is to be achieved | sheer physical strength, rather than the logic of intellectual debate. ¥* % ok X The Secretary of Agriculture, Honr Wallace, say8 that he has no power prevent the meat merger of thé Arinour and Morris packing companies, but that as soon as they merge and begip to do- velop & meat monoponly. he has ampl power to break the monopoly. He car not lock the stable door, but Tow he can chase the fellows who try to kidnap the horse! Why has not Congress put a proper padlock on the Stable door and given its groom the kev? In the meanwhile the merger is gressing. in Chicago, the the public t they have best lawyers. Amcricans had jus! gun to get bac to normaley, tom, eating meat averaged six poun more in 1822 n cither 16 All- that 1S in po crease ds of meat. Wit until that merger goes through and monopoly begins to boost the price then we'll “eat 'em aliv we pork (Copyright. 1023, by P. V pre olline. ) The Monroe Doctrine Only 25 Per Cent Monroc. To the Editor of The Star: | In Mr. Edward Berwick's letter in | The Star of Friday. February 23, the | impression is given that all of Mon- | roe’s verbose message of December 2. 1823, is Monroe doctrine and that all of the doctrine is contained in that message. H As a matter of fact, the doctrine, today. is made up of four deflnitely enunciated principles, no more and no less. no matter what may be the modifications in the future. ‘These four principles are: 1. Monroe principle: No extension of European territorial hollings in the Americas, but perfect freedom of | European powers to deal and shuffle with their American colonies as they chose. II. Grant principle: No territory in the Americas subject to transfer to_a European power. I1I. Olney principle: No intrusion by any European power in the politics of any state in North or South Amer- ica and the flat of the United States is law upon the subjects to which it confines its interposition. IV. The Root principle: What we will not permit the great powers of Europe to do, we will not permit any American republic to make it neces- sary for the great powers of Europe to do. AMr. Berwick seems to think that the Monroe doctrine remained, even unto this day, as _ Monroe formulated it, after it had been suggested by canning the British premier, and mod- ified by Rush, Madison and others. History tells us that within three vears from the Monroe pronounce- ment Clay modified it by declaring that the United States would not al- Tow European powers to trade their American colonies at will, in that Spain would not be allowed to transfer Cuba and Porto Rico to any other European power. Van Buren declared the same thing in 1830 and in 1845 Polk declared that the United States would never acknowledge any transfer of territory, whether made by the desire of the inhabitants, by purchase or by force, from any coun- try of North America to any nation of Europe. Apparently Polk did not think. the Guianas in South Amenica worth considering. The logic of events proved that one of those colonies had | Suggests U. S. Bounty For Still Capturers | To the Editor of The Star: It scems presumptuous on the part of a private citizen to think he can ofter anything new on this question which 1s costing the government o much money and our Congress &0 much worry. 1 desire space in your paper to ask question for the readers to consider and answer in regard to enforcing the eighteenth amendment. Why could not the government make enforcement self-supporting by offer- ing the citizens who capturve stills and illicit “booze” 50 per-ccm. of the value of the confiscated property? The alcohol thus captured could po used as medicine or fuel instead df being destroyed, and men who are now “bootlegging” to get money would raid illicit stills to get money. There is no more reason in wasting captured whisky than there would be to throw silver or gold into the ocean if found in & raid on counterfeiters, or in making a bonfire every year ol the goods that go to the dead letter office. hen we want to get rid of wolves wo offer a bounty on their scalps, and it is my .opinion if the property of the man who attempts to violate our Constitution were to be divided between the state and the officers or citizens who brought him to justice, you would soon see the traffic of 1l- licit booze come to an end. Anarchists are more dangerous than wolves. Then why not offer a bounty und rid ourselves of them? . The violation of our Constit treason. Bootleggers are gu 8. L LANNING. ution is ity c!l to be very seriously considered Cleveland's administration matter of trunsfer of 13 colonies m the Americas settled by the Grant prine While there are many de nected with our national relation the Americas. such as the RooSev decision that European powers temporarily occupy territory American countries, the Lodge prohi- bition of the gaining of strateg footholds in the Americas arc 1o more a part of the Monroe doctr: than is the Bolivar T Americas para las Ameri Today. the old d t fours upon its four basic pri As the doctrine is ours, and alone. our government alone violate it. which it has don several occasions. European cc may contravene the doctrine. have, now and again Mr. Berwick injects, in parentheses the idea that Monroe, when he mei tioned the system of the Kuropes: powers. had in mind the tem militarism and imperialism as a1 bl system. Imperialism and militarisn had absolutely nothing to do with the case. Our country was even the headed upon the westward course empire which took its westward wi and our country with it. through exercise of military power, first to the Pacific and later to the far east via the westward course of th American empire. At present our course of empire seems to be laid to the southward, Porto Rico, Haitl, Panama et al No, Monroe had no notion of the evils of militarism and imperialisn If he had had such a notion. we, the people, in our empire-by-military power-built glass house, should be the last to throw stones at other peoples for indulging in those national sins Incidentally, if we can differentiate patriotism from national self-conce!t sufficiently to feel patriotic shame, a well as patriotic pride. it might well for us to remember that ap from the commonplace national s of imperfalism and militarism have a number of darling ones of our very own. among which may b mentioned oratorism. litoratism lawyvorism. pedagogism. parsonisin sumptuarism, meddleism. prohibitic» of-libertyism and war-provokine pacifism, each a more deadly sin a nation's soul than either milita or imperialism. WM. W. KIMBALI ours wo Summer White House Called a Restriction To the Editor of The Btar: There {s an agitation on foot a Washington home is likely found for the Vice President, which Is perhaps admissible—to get a summe White House for the President Though we honor our Presidents as much as subjects do their kinge, | wish to say that Presidents would not and_never will like to live in summer White Houses, a it is sure that our American Presidents will seek an fndependent free will privac to liberate themselves from official- dom. Tt ‘should not be our desire in ou: America to start on a career of Whit- Houses here and White Houses there on the pattern of castled here and castles there, as in the old country. The royal families and all their sons and daughters are each provided with castles and appropriations. If we ara to follow the line of old traditions. we might do as well and better by setting up things for our much more worthy officials—the secretary of state and the rest of -the President’s cabinet, and lay out a park for that purpose. We have passed the out-of-date old- world methods. Our aspirations are great, and we have made this country great by the bplain policies of its founders. We can still be content follow their plain policied, the poli- cies of a republic. If anything is to be done, it would be a grateful country to reward with a pension our ex-Presidents who have born the terrifying perplexities to please all. parties and who boldly stand for our principles—the repre- entatives of our republic, the grea eat republio vet born In' deeds an. ideaTs. MICHABL BLISS. sinc to be ’ < ’ v/ 3