Evening Star Newspaper, November 26, 1923, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR cn be such o thing With Sanday Moxning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. . | THEODORE W. NOYES. .samml Drik s The Evening Star Newspaper Lompany* Business Office, 11th St. and PennsylWinia Ave. New York Offiee: 110 Eas: ind St. Chicago Office: Tower Buildy an Office: 16 Regent St., London, The Evening Star, with the Sunday Mmorning edition, is delivered by carriers wititin the 60 cents per month: dmilv obly. 13 Sunday ouly, 20 cents per Orders may be sent Yy mml or tele phone ‘Main 5000. Collection B made by e wers at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payabie in Advance. Maryland and Virginia, Bally and Sunda; 1 . $8.40; 1 mo., 70¢ Dy ol Y21 ¥r $6.00: 1 m Bunday oniy.. ... 1yr, §2.40: L m All Other States. Dally and Sunday.] yr., $10.00: 1 mo., 85¢ Daily only o 3e 000 L mor e mday oniyllllll1yr §3.00: 1 mo. 2 Member of the Associated Press, The Associated Press is exclsively entitiea o the ‘use for republcation of all vews di patches credited to It or not orherwise d herein All rights of ‘publieation of wpecial diapatc . lervin are also reserved. Albert as Chancellor. Selection of Heinrich Albert as ehancellor of the German republic by President Ebert to suceeed Strese- mann is of interest to the American people, apart from the question of German administration, on account of | the position Dr. Albert held in this country prior to the entrance of Amer- ica into the war. That position was somewhat anomalous. Officially he was commercial attache of the bassy. Actually he was chief of propa- ganda, and to him were ascribed many activities that were not regarded as acceptable in a diplomatic agent. ‘He was identified with mwch of the ac- tivity in the stimulation of pro-German sentiment in the United States, and it was plain that he deplorably failed to gauge the sentiment of this country in respect to the war and German re- sponsibility for precipitating the great disaster. At home Dr. Albert's task will, the present, have nothing to do any unfavorable reaction caused in America by his appointment in view of his war-time service here. He is charged with the duty of organizing a ministry which will car ernment in a most difficult situation. He is not assured of a majority in the reichstag. Indeed, it is likely that he will fail to secure the support of the socialists, without whom a chancellor can ha-dly expect to form a majority bloc. That he does not-expect such support is indicated by the fact an- nouncec in the cables that he now holds in his pocket a presidential de- cree permitting htm to’ dissolve the _reichstag if it doew not furnish a ma- “Jority support for the ministry. To- morrow may tell the tale. ‘What will happen after di; it Albert uses the power that thus vested in him is not to be f told. It is indicated in the dispatches that he will assume a virtual dictator ship, with military powers transferred to him from Gen. von Seeckt, com- mander-in-chief of the federal army In respect to the American feeling concerning Dr. Albert the Germans, it would seem, are quite at sea. suggested in some of the reports that one of the considerations leading to Albert’ familiarity with this country and the possibility of a special appeal to American sympathy and support for his government. This is a forlorn hope. Indeed, his selection is on this ground rather unfortunate than other- wise, for what Dr. Albert did in the United States before it entered the war was not calculated to win him high esteem outside of pronounced German circles. Germany, however, is faced with a task that cannot be lightened by any degree of American sentiment. This government will not in the least de- gree alter its policy, which was stated clearly in Secretary Hughes' letter to Lord Curzon proposing an interna- tjonal expert economic commission on reparations, participated in by the United States. There is no feeling here for a lessening of the reparation obli- gation, but on the contrary a pro- nounced feeling that Germany must be made to pay the allies for war dam- ages. The essential task in Germany at this time is to restore the finances to a sound basis, and to make good the pledges that have been given. Domes- tic politics, the strife between the so- clalists and the industrialists, on the one hand, and the republicans and the monarchists, on the other, do not less- em- en this obligation. Dr. Albert is fac- | ing a tremendous task, and whatever the feeling regarding him that may remain in this country he has @ least the sympathy of the American People in thelr hope that Germany will fin in him a successful administrator, capable of establishing government at Berlin on a sound basis of honest in- tent to carry out the obligations of ‘war. —_——— Fears are entertained that the wdited i this paper and also the lo: [ It is | | { | ¥ on the goV-1 ¢oung in the hold. w { i 1 | | s legiglation, leaving the party in power open to criticism for noun-performence. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1923. -_—— tures of government service, such as jannual leave of one month and sick It i difficult to see how this Con- leave, which are tempting. There is AY N ber 26, 1923 gress can escape action upon tax re- 'also some prestige in *“‘working for duction. Sacretary Mellon has the country his cheerful an- nouncement of the possibility of & ma- terial reduction in federal taxes. The pevble “rose to it™ Tike &’ hungry bass ‘ngiand, | to @ minnow, and the press picked it up eagerly. It'is noted’ that a caravan of old-fashioned prairie schooners is to journey from Ohio to Washington working up' sentiment far tax reduc- tion, economy and simplicity—a kind of Coxey's army. They will be sup- posad to impress the lawmakers. It will probably be several days be- B0c, fore the orsanization of the House is | compieted. owing to adjournment for | the late President Harding, and longer for the Senate. It is the best judg- ment on Capitol Hill that Speaker Gil- lett will be elected Speaker af the new House. There may be a flarry over the House leadership between Mr. Longworth of Ohio and Mr. Graham pected to ate factional division cal- ted to leave scars s has been away a long time, back, welcoming the new members amd renewing assurances of esteem for those who have served before. Taken Six Miles Offshore. Seizure of a British schooner about six miles Jersey precipitate a question of American urisdiction in advance of the agree- ment that is now in process of nego- tiation anting this government the right to carry enforcement of the pro- hibition law to the twelve-mile line. This bhoat, notorious a liquor smug- gler, w: sighted when lying close in- shore, and was chased by two coast guard cutters. She put to sea, but was caught in a short time, although auxiliary to slip away from pursuers. A three- inch shot was fired across her bow. A it was unheeded another shot was fired directly over her hull. She was then boarded, and after a short fight with the erew was held and scarched. Two hundred cases, remaining from the original 4,%00-case cargo, were \ere a man was hiding who is known as the “rum- smuggler king.” In his pockets were bank notes for $60,000, and in the cabin safe were other notes to the value of $30,000. This money, he ad- mi had been received from the smuggler boats of New Jersey that visited his ship. He was defiant, and declared that he was within his rights, as the hoat taken more than three miles offshore. This case should hasten action on the new agrecment with Great Brit- ain. Here is a power schooner that by dropping anchor just on the other side of the three-mile lile—which off the | Jersey coast is almost tantamount to a shore business in illegal trade: landing—does a $90,000 in a few hours. It was obvi- Under the old it could carry on this traffic impudent- ly. The only risk was that of the own- ers of the small boats plying from the shore; they being fast and of light draft could make an casy escape. 4 '} With perhaps a score of them taking election as chancellor was his | off portions of the cargo they could scatter in many directions, and a veritable flotilla of chasers could not catch them all. Plainly the way to enforce the law is to catch the supply boat. Under the three-mile-limit rule she 1s immune. Under the proposed twelve-miledimit arrangement she is subject to capture. At twelve miles anchorage is difficult to find. Trans- nce of cargo is not easy. The chances of the small boats reaching from the twelve-mile line are diminished. This new agreement will come be- .fore the United States Senate at the coming session of Congress for rati- fication. The case of the Tomako, how- ever it may turn out in the courts under the, present rule, should be a conclusive argument for ratification. —_— ——————— There is, as philosophers have re- marked, no loneliness so great as that to be found in a crowd. The space in front of some busy hotel or cafe is coming into favor with thugs as a con- venient point of operation. —_———————— America cannot become sufficiently aloof from forelgn affairs to make it unnecessary to guard diplomatic representatives from the attentions of tmported bomb-throwers. ————— A glance at Turkish affairs suggests that Mustapha Kemal is a pretty shrewd bargainer with everybody ex- cept his fellow countrymen. Government Office. Certain statistics compiled and made public by the Clvil Service Commis- sion show that all is not well in the {government service at Washington and among the sixty-odd thousand employes of the government at the turkey, so closely assoclated with the | National Capital. The Civil Service Thanksglving feast, will become ex-|commission tells that the turnover of tinct. Many articles of food once fa-| employes in the government service miltar are falling into disuse. It will |j; the District of Columbia, exclusive be possible to be quite as sincerely | os employes of fhe District govern- grateful to Providence with a chicken and waffle dinner as with the tradi- tional banquet bird. —_———t———————— The Coming Congress. Next Monday at noon the Sixty- eighth Congress will convene in regu- Jar session for a term which is expect- «d to run far into the summer months, and in certaln contingencies may con- tinue until near the approach of the general elections. On the eve of the presidential and congressional cam- paigns it is always the fond hope of the statesmen-politicians to “‘clean up and get away” as soon as possible, but experience has shown that it is not always feasible. We can vision the House and Senate republican leaders nodding significantly to the re- spective chairmen of the appropria- tlons committees, too, with the sug- gestion, “You'd better keep 'em pretty busy with appropriation bills." Too much legislation in a campaign your seems to be regarded as a hoodoo by the politiclans. Prohably it can be likened to the motto useribed to Presi flqfimll.o » his own, “What I do + sy cannet hurt me ™ Yot there ment, averaged nearly 20 per cent from October 1, 1922, to October 31, 1923. On the latter date there were 65,851 employes in the government service here, being a reduction of 2,713 from the number of employes on November 1, 1922. During the year there were 12,476 additions to and 15,397 departures from the service. The great war and the immense work the government was called on te do made necessary the employment of thousands of men and women. The high mark was 117,760 federal em- ployes at Washington. With the close of the war and the gradual winding up of war business there,has been a steady decrease in the number of em- ployes. That was expected. But there is especial significance in the “turn- over.” There is significance in the fact that during the year closed on October 31, 1923, 15,397 employes left the seryice and 12,476 entered it. Many persons are anxious to get into the government service. The pay may not be high, but It Is sure and regular. It seems large to many persons who come from villages and from the farms. Generslly the work of Ilinols, but the contest & not ex- ! shington will be glad to see it | | their chances in the wider world of | government oft the New | coast, as a rum-runner, may | heretofore her speed has enabled her | international limitation of jurisdiction | the government” and in “being em- ployed in the government service at Wnah(ngton." But there is a great deal of disappointment. The pay is not good when the high cost of living anywhere nowadays, and especially in a city, is taken into account. In spite of the civil service law there is al- ways the possibility that a worthy, capable and industrious employe may lose his position or be “separated from the service,” “for the good of the service,” when some high government official wants to make a place for a friend or useful political adherent. Promotion is normally exceedingly slow and often never comes to him who waits. The duties of an employe are often so highly ‘“‘specialized” that | he does one particular little thing till he comes to the point of boredom and exhaustion. The only recently adopted is not consid- ered liberal, even though the fund that maintains it is contributed by the employes. Many persons seek to get away from the government service and take private industry and enterprise. Many more would do this, but the very fact that they have worked long for the handicaps them. They have been doing one particular plece of work over and over again so long that they might not fit a place where general office work or general work of other kinds is done —_—————— Contempt of Court. Exercise of the power to punish for contempt of court is stretched to the breaking point in the Craig case. A power which the court rightly has for self-protection while actually function- ing is weakenéd and discredited if stretched to apply with harshness to remote technical or constructive con- tempts committed out of court. If a judge has power to jail a libelous critic, without the Intervention of grand and petit jury that is required to punish the offender when any one else is libeled, he should, if he 1s wise, hold this power In reserve for emer- gency use and exercise it with self- restraint and discretion. Abuse of a unique power, apparently constitutional or traditional rights of other Americans, will tend inevitably to legislative withdrawal or curtail- ing of the power itself. The sugges- | tion that a judge cannot be prevented trom jailing ene who verbally slurs him even by presidential pardon gives another strong impulse toward with- drawal of the power. conceded that the modern unpardona- ble sin is really contempt of court, in- cluding contempts that are remote and technical —_———— New York police have been making notes on theatrical performances to be filed in the secret archives of head- quarters. At last a relfable method has been found for protecting the dramatic critic from the wrath of the manager. —————— As the time for his message to Con- gress_approaches President Coolidge | becomes more and more an object of | close public attentioh. Congress Is, af- ter all, but a small section of his audi- ence. —_——————— No boom can feel safe while C.. George Harvey is too busy winding up his official affairs to sit down to his trusty typewriter and plunk out exact- 1y what he thinks about it. ———— Tammany has often expressed opin- ions on national politics, but never so emphatically as to let them inter- fere with its strictly local responsibill- ties. ——— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, Juvenile Gravity. Trying to be frivolous And very up-to-date, Grandma makes a funny fuss And sits up rather late, Grandpa wears eccentric styles And speaks in sporty phrase. The children lose their sunny smiles, Observing old folks' ways. Children very grave have grown. Heavy are their cares. Soon they'll struggle all alone ‘With the world's affairs. 0ld folks say, “We've done our best. Now it's up to us To enjoy a little rest And be frivolous.” Proper Discretion. “You are very discreet in avolding a life of superficial pleasure in the haunts of white-light pleasuce.” “Yes,” replied Mr. Dustin Stax; “af- ter patiently accumulating a respecta- ble fortune I don’t propose to be re- ferred to as a self-unmade man.” Safety in Street Cars. ““We've got to have a street car line in Crimson Gulch,” remarked Cactus Joe. “The town as yet isn't eovering much territory.” “It's a question of safety, not dis- tance. The street is so full of flivvers that & weary citizen needs some way to get around without the risk of being run over.” Migration. In winter, south; in summer, north; The tourists gayly roam. A song anew is sounding forth, ““There’s no such place as home.” Precedence Disregarded, ““You are not in a hurry toannounce your boom.” “Precedence does not always count,” answered Senator Sorghum. “The fact that a man is first to get his hat in the ring doesn’t necessarily imply that he's going to be the ringmaster.” Jud Tunkins says what they call a musical show reminds him of the merry Innocence of childhood. It should be seen and not heard. “You can't depend on public favor,"” sald Uncle Bben. “De fact dat de by- standers laugh at a kickin' mule ain’ Kineter save dat mule f'um & lar- rupin’* retirement system | infringing | It will not be | inadequate is not hard and there are some fea- | WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE | A maximum of ideas with a mini- mum of words, it is announced at the White House, is to be the key- note of President Coolidge's maiden message to Congress. The program is In strict accord with Mr. Coolidge's passion for thrift in the use of language. It Is probable that the message will be the shortest of co- temporary record. In latter-day times Woodrow Wilson was accus- tomed to write the relatively briefest presidential communications to Con- {&ress. Mr. Harding also was at pains to ‘be as concise as circumstances permitted. Presidents McKinley and Taft were wont to cover a vast amount of territory In thelr messages, but Mr. Roosevelt was the most addicted to length. He insisted on traversing his views in voluminous detail. * Xk ¥ X Old-timers on Capitol Hill say that the custom Initiated by President | Wilson of delivering messages In per- {son makes for brevity. The encyeli- jcals sent up to be read were always much more verbose. President Cool- idge has not yet determined whether he will meet Congress face to face 'and speak his message. Some of his friends hope he will relegate the prac- tice followed by M rs. Wilson and ‘Hardlng und have his communication read. Calvin Coolidge's oratory is not his paramount asset. He always “reads” Dbetter in print than his speeches sound in personal delivery. The literary style of his state papers 4. Governor of Massachusetts, and {of many of his prepared addresses as | Vice President, is o outstanding | merit. It has happencu to many men |that ‘a powerful speech has falle {flat because of ineffective delivery. Mr. Coolldge, who is conscious of his elocutionary disadvantages, may, therefore, decide to run no risks at the Caplitol on December 3. * ok ¥ X% The Navy Department Is being swamped with requests from all parts of the country for visits from U. 8. §. Shenandoah, our mammoth and mag- nificent mew dirigible airship. See- retary Denby has reluctantly had to decline all suggestions for further |cruises, at least for the immediate {present. The Shenandoah’s exhibition | flights thus far have been conducted at the expense of training necessities |tor crews, and the department has {decided there should be no additional jdelay. Everywhere — throughout lin New England, along the northern Atlantic seaboard and through the { Virginia countryside adjacent to | Washington—the Shenandoah’s ap- | pearance evoked the utmost enthu |siasm. The people of the Shenandoa alley, through which the alrship cruised the other day, welcomed her with special acclaim. * k k% Several milllon farmers, during the third week of December, will par- | ticipate In a great and solemn ref- |erendum on the soldiers’ bonus. It will be conducted by the varlous state Farm Bureau Federations. Ways and IN TODAY’S “The way to a man's heart Is | through his stomach,” says the house- wife. The parallel maxim of the statesman {s that the Shemin des Dames must be diverted to pass | through the man's tax account. In line with that financial engineering, | the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. | Mellon, has proposed to make a cut | through the tax list. The proposal as its total results are Indicated. Has there been found any Individual who objects to the cutting of his own taxes? The taxes which are recognized as an onerous burden were established as war emergency resources. Pa- triotism made them welcome, gener- jally, as they were needed to 'win the war, but now_the war is over. Secretary Mellon, November 10, 23, says: laking the most conservative esti- es about the yleld of existing taxes and the possibilities of further reductions in expenditure, it appears that for this year, and for the mext four or five years, there should be a surplus of “something more than $300,000,000 a year, over and above all ‘expenditures chargeable to the ordinary budget, including the fixed debt charges payable out of current revenues."” “This glves a reasonable margin," he adds, “not only for tax revision, but for tax reduction.” The Secretary advises that this tax reduction should be applied as fol- lows: Dec. in Tnc. in miliions miltions of dol's. of dol's. Reduction in tax on earned income.... Reduction in’ Do Readjustment of surtax pital 1oss limited to 1 Tnterest and capital tions to be limlted. : Community property amend- €. ‘telegraph Net reduction of taxes. * %k X% One strong argument in behalf of reducing the surtax on incomes Is based on the persistent blanketing of incomes in tax-exempt securities, thereby taking investments out of enterprises of business and industry. In 1916, there were reported 1,206 in- comes exceeding $300,000, and each year these have decreased in num- ber, until, in 1921, there were only 246, The 'decrease is attributed, not to reduced incomes, but to tax-exempt investments. It IS to lure such in- vestments back into industry that surtaxes on incomes would be re- duced. The reduction gn “earned incomes” is especially urged because they are always uncertain of continuity, be- ing interrupted by sickness, death or old age. “Normal tax” applies on all incomes, whether from earnings or inherited investments. The proposed reductions would be, for example, on an Income of $4,000 a saving of $12.25; for anm Income of $10,000 a saving of $223. “Nuisance taxes”—on telegrams, telephones and theater admissions are “inconvenient,” as characterized by Mr. Mellon, and so $100,000,000 would be cut off from such “nuisances.” “Jewelry, according to our standard of living can not properly be denomi- nated luxuries, the Secretary of the Treasury, “therefore the tax should be removed. Aside from the tax on jewelry, the saving on the “nuisance” taxes of $100,000,000 is nearly a third of the total proposed reduction. * ok k X In a letter dated January 24, 1922, from Secretary Mellon to Representa- tive J. W, Fordney, then chairman of the ways and means committee, this stated: The budget estimate indicates a deficit for 1923 of over $167,000,000. These figures make no allowance for expenditures not covered by the bud &o 3 the | middle west, in the Mississippi valley, | | meets with general acclaim, in so far | means for taking the vote will be determined at the national conven- tion of the American Farm Bureau Federation in Chicago, December 10- 14. The federation 1s already on record against the sales tax. The prediction Is made at Washington headquarters that the farmers, in thelf overwhelming majority, favor the Méllon tax-reduction program, particularly the blow it is proposed (o strike at tax-exempt securities. “Politics and Independence—by Willlam B, Borah” is the title of a book of the Idaho Demosthenes’ speeches shortly to be published by a New York house. The compiler is Horace Green, a Washington writer, whose leitmotif in putting Borah's orations between covers is to show that he has been a ploneer as far as major administration programs in' re- cent times are concerned. The book will embrace not only Senator Borah's jest known speeches in_and out of Congress, but some of the celebrated Senate resolutions he has introduced, which eventually were translated into national policy. The conference on limitation of armament {s perhaps the most notable instance. The coinci- dence of the book's apppearance on the eve of 1924 is devold of signifi- cance—both Borah and his. Boswell affirm, * X x X Robert C. Morris of the New York bar, who represented the state of Missouri in the branch banks case argued before the Supreme Court last week, Is o lineal descendant of the revolutionary banker whose name he bears. So he figures appropriately in litigation which strikes at the funda- mentals of our national banking sys- tem. Missourl’s contention is that if national banks are permitted, with- out restriction, to establish hranches, the banking business is in danger of becoming a _national bank monopoly. Mr. Morris dwelt with emphasis upon the opinion of Henry M. Daw troller of the currency, that he not properly permit the establishment of branch bank activities ¢ * in any locality where the state laws or practices prohibit the state banks rendering similar services.” That is the case in Missouri. In Great Britain and Germany, owing to the branch system, banking is virtually the monopoly of half-a- dozen, or fewer, leadmg banks. * k% % Dr. Helnrich Albert, ho is to be the next chancellor of the chaotic German republic, was “der gute Albert” (the good Albert) who fig- ured in Count Bernstorft's pre-war correspondence of evil memory. It was the contents of Albert's port- follo, obtained by British secret serv- fice operatives in New York, that re- ‘vmlled the ambassador’'s illicit acti ities in Ameri while we were still at peace with Germany. The British foreign office made widespread prop: |ganda use of the Albert corre- | spondence and canceled bank checks, | issuing them as a pamphlet that | proved to be of the most damaging |and convineing character. Albert's | pre-war position in the German gov- | ernment was as an expert adviser on expositions. He had to decide { whether a domestic or foreign exhibi- tion was worthy of official German “ support. SPOTLIGHT BY PAUL V. COLLINS of claims; $7.000,000 on account of Russian _relief, under the act ap- proved December 22, 1821; $5,000,000 to a possible $60,000,000 on account of additional compensation to govern- ment _employ 2 total of $112,000. 600, chiefly for 1923, * * reduction” below the budget must be still further reduced the next two ¥ within ars and must agere- gate about $300,000,000, to overcom the indicated deficit. * ¢ ® There is grave doubt whether the estimates of receipts which appear in the budget can be realized, and up to date the shrinkage has rather more than kept pace with the shrinkage of expendi- tures.” It appears, from the above, that the secretary’s estimate looked for a def- icit of $300,000,000 for the fiscal vear 1923, which actually gave a surplus of $310,000,000, in round figures—a span between prophecy $610,000,000. * % k% In the report of the budget bureau, July 1, 1923, it appears that in Feb- ruary, 1923, the budget bureau had predicted a deflcit of $180,000.000, yet when the vear ended, June 30, there was a surplus of exactly $309,657,- 450.30. That latitude of the guess, atter more than half the year had passed, amounting to nearly half a billion dollars, proves the range of forecast. The total expenditures of the government amount to only seven times that discrepancy. * ¥ * ¥ Inextricably involved in the politi- cal controversy likely to arise in connection with the proposed tax re- duction, when it reaches Congress, is| the question of adjusted compensa- | tion to the veterans of the world| war, for the advocates of the one are fighting the other. Secretary Mellon in his letter above referred to says: “New or enlarged expenditures would quickly eat up the margin for reducing the burden of taxation, and to embark on any soldiers’ bonus, such as was considered in the last | Congress, or any other program call- ing for similarly large expenditures, would make it necessary to drop all consideration of tax reduction, and consider, instead, ways and means for providing addltional revenue. A soldiers’ bonus would postpone tax reduction not for one, but for many years to come. It would mean an increase rather than a decrease in taxes, for in the long run it could be pald only out of moneys collected by the government from the people in the form of taxes.” * K k¥ Secretary Mellon had previously estimated, In a letter to Chairman Fordney: “On the most conservative. esti- mates, therefors, the cost of the soldiers’ bonus, In the first two years, would probably be mnot less than $850,000,000.” Commenting on the Treasury's esti- mates of revenue, deficits and sur- pluses, Mr. John Thomas Taylor, at- torney for the American Legion, writes to the ways and means com- mittee chairman: “According to the figures prepared by the Treasury Department for the Senate flnance committee, the sol- diers’ measure will cost §$242,000,000 for the first three-year period, or an average slightly more than $80,- 000,000 a year. * * * This pro- posed cut of $85,000,000 a year for the millionaires will pay ‘the ad-| justed compensation bill, year by year, although Mr. Mellon proposes tax reductions of $323,000,000 a year, or four times the sum needed to pay it Referring to the span between the prophesied deficit of $180,000,000 and the actual surplus of $310,000,000, Mr. Taylor says: ‘““You may not realize it, but the official records of Congress show that In the past two years Mr. Mellon's official miscalculations concerning government finances total a greater sum than the entire amount the ad- Justed compensation bill would cost if patd in & lump sum. The records of Congress show that these official mincalculations were made In state- ments opposing the soldiers’ meas- be paid as the 1923 installmenti under the treaty with Colombia, and | and fact ot EAST IS EAST BY FRANK H. HEDGES One of the most pleasant soctal lives |that Americans may experience any- where In the world has'been inter- rupted by the disaster that has lald waste the port city of Yokohama and | made of the capltal of Japan a deso- |late and stricken community. It is often difficult from this side of the |Pacific to imagine the conditlons under which friends live and carry on their work in the island empire of the east. Japan seems so fantastic to the man or woman who has never been there that he cannot pleture everyday life amid a surrounding and background of gayly colored kimonos, jinrikisha, bowers of cherry blossoms and—the ever present pos- sibllity of a devastating earthquake and fire, Many misslonaries living in the in- terior lead a life that differs greatly from that of the business and official communities in the port cities and the capital of Japan. To these lat- tor the residents of Tokio and Yoko- hama, life is in a large degree the same as in America, save that there is always present the fascination and lure of the strange and exotic cus- toms of an alfen and pleturesque race. The food that Americans eat in Japan is very much the same food that Americans eat in San Francisco or Washington. Beef and chicken, eggs and bread, potgtoes and ice cream are always to be had. True, tuere are certain focds, especially vegetables as tender bamboo shoots or lotus root. that are typically Japanese, Rice is seldom served to the foreigner (and every American in Japan is, of course, a “foreigner”), because the Japanese belleve he pre- fors other food. The cIothes that might have been seen worn by Americans parading the fashionable Ginza before its destruc- tion would have been duplicates of the clothes to be seen on Pennsyl- vania avenue or 16th street this after- nooh. Although Japanese kimonos re far more comfortable than tight- fitting trousers and coat on a hot summer day it is only the Ameri- can who is willing to be considered 0dd and a freak who will depart from the clothes of his native land to adopt Japanese dre: Fashion magazines re as eagerly scanned in feminine mbassadorial circles in Tokio as in boudoirs in New York. * k * X Most Americans In Toklo do, it is true, live In Japanese houses, but they are houses that have been adapted to conform with American habits. The embassies and legations are western style, while a number of business men and misslonaries have homes built as are the homes of this country. Others rent a typleal Japanese house and then furnish and partly remodel it. The soft straw {mats may be left on the floors, but |chairs, tables and veds are intro- duced. The paper screens that take the place of windows usually give way to glass and wood. Lack of furnace heat In the winter is the only real drawback to a Japanse house after it has been thus remodeled. Servants are plentiful and less ex- pensive than In this country, but the ideal conditions of twenty years ago no longer exist. Man servants now demand wages so high that in many homes they have been replaced with women. Business, naturally, occuples the major part of the daylight hours of the men. For the women there is iess to do. Soclal position demands that they shall not do their. own housework, and to scoff at social po- sition in the far east is to court dis- aster in business and in many other ways. The Japanese masses have scant respect for the foreigmer who does not “keep his place,” and his place is high in the soclal scale. Women's clubs like those in this country, Red Cross work agd similar activiti gain in importance as | housework is put to one side. Classes 'to study Japanese color prints |flower arrangement or some other | form of Japanese artistlc expression jare formed. In fact, the interest in {the culture of Japan is a_very real | interest on the part of both men and women. A walk through any street or alleyway in Tovko never fails to stir the imagination and whet the | curiosity. The Imperial Hotel is, perhaps, the center of American life in the capital. In Yokohama it was the Grand Hotel, {the Galety Theater on the “Bluff” and the Yokohama United Club. Tea and ces are held in the hotels. | Appointments to meet friends are { made there. The luncheon, or tiffin. hour always means the gathering of friends in the grille or dining room {or, if they he men, perhaps in the bar, | for Japan has not vet seen fit to pro- hibit wines and liquor. * Kk kX Summer and winter resorts in the mountains or on the seashore draw many Americans over the week end | or for longer periods of rest and play. { Perhaps half of the American women in Japan spend the hot summer months in the northern mountain vil- |1age ot Karuizowa. Church and mis- {sionary organizations plan their con- {dinner | ventions to be held there at that time, | being certain of a large attendance from all corners of the empire. Tennis, gol and vachting are prob- |ably the most popular sports. Base {ball and basket ball teams of Amer- |icans are pitted againgst the teams 1of Japanese colleges and universities. | Riding is indulged in by some, while mountain climbing and cross-country | rambles are exceedingly popular. The multiplicity of beautiful walks within easy distance of any city in Japan makes tramping a delightful exercise Lack of good roads handicaps motor- ing. Fhe Japanese theater is visited only occasionally save by those Ameri- cans who have made a study of Jap- {anese stage art, for the drama or | dance appeals as an artistic but lfttle | understood spectacle. American mo- tion pictures may be seen at any time. Japan has become as ardent a dev- otee of the fllms as in t.'s country, and more than half of those shown |are of American manufacture. Books and magazines are valued more highly the farther one is from their source. Dinner is the great social event. Because the bulk of the Amer- fcans living in Japan are well edu- cated and well read, it Is seldom that a dinner party is held where the conversation falls to be interesting. Any American with friends in Japan may be certain of a pleasant visit there, for hospitality 18 spontaneous and Sincere. The visiting celebrity is wined and dined to his or her heart's content. Because many of the Americans in Japan are young bache- lors, the debutante who voyages across the Pacific thinks that she has tumbled into an earthly edition of paradise. Allin all, it is an easy and pleasant life. It is necessary to forego some of the conveniences and comforts of this country, but on the other hand Japan offers certain pleasures and |interests not to be found {n America. | The Americans there fret and fume against the life they lead, but once |they have returned to the United States, life here is apt to seem a bit Qull and prosaic and many eagerly turn eastward again. All this has been wrecked by the rocent disaster. Yokohama is gone and Toklo Is sorely stricken. Kobe is concerned with relieving the dis- {tress and suffering of her sister clties Many Americans have returned home to walt until conditions improve while those remaining to through the hour ot trial and occupled by more s than enjoying life. The re- construotion of American wocial 1if in Japan is only uno of the mun: events that will come about grad w empire returns to norma, ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC ].- HASKIN Q. Do people in foreign countries observe Thanksgivings as we do In the United States and Canada?—S. T. A. Thanksgiving day Is char- acteristically an anniversary observed in North America. So far as we know, there Is no comparable anni- versary observed elsewhere. Canadian Thanksgiving day comes on the Monday following Armistice day. . Has an automoblle controlled by ‘radio been demonstrated success- fully?—J. B. G. A. The Soclety of Automotive En- gineers says that the wireless con- trol automobile was developed in Dayten, Ohio, by an engineer who was ussociated at one time with th gincering staff of the Air s McCook Field. It has bee onstrited a number of tim brought into the public ently at the aeronautical meet at St. Louis Q. When will Thrift week be ob- served?’—L. D. R. A. Natfonal Thrift week will be observed from January 17 to January 23, 1924, Q. What kind does King George —P. G. R. A._ The British embassy s: that the King of England uses the Daimler car and_ has preferred it for some years. He Is also seen in a Napler automobile. of an automobile of England us Q. Will veneered furniture warp as readily as solid furniture?—F. L. A. A panel of this construction has the advantages that It is more nearly of the same strength in all directions, and that as it absorbs or gives up moisture it shrinks and swells about as much one way & another. Splitting along the grain in one set of plies Is made impos- sible by the cross grain of the alter- nate plies, and rapid shrinking across the grain in the face veneers s offset by.a s'ow shrinkage along the grain in the core. . How many motion pletures of the world war were taken?—E. P. C. A. The Signal Corps says that ap- proximately 1,000,000 feet of ilm were taken during the war. Q. Why is it necessary to buy ointment In order to get a suly tonic for the air?—O0. C. A. By many authoritles salphur is given preference over all other tc gents for application to the sc: On zecount of the insolubility of su phur, it cannot be used in liquid fc for treatment of scalp disorder: must be applied as an ointment. m s0 Q. When @id the Panama revolu- tion take place?—M. P. A. From 1846 to 1903 there were fifty-three revolutionary outbreaks in Panama. The revolt which achi the independence of the republic o curred on November 3, 1903. It was largely the result of the refusal of Colombia to accept the plans of the United States in regard to the con- struction of the Banama canal. Q. What has become of the rose window of the Rhetms Cathedral?— B. C. A. The great rose window In the west facade of the kheime Cathedral was destroyed (n the fire of September 19, 1914, which resulted from incendi- ary shells. . Q. What are the varlous acids found in fruits?—C. P. N. The | ved | A. Mallc acid is present In gen- erous quantity in apples, pears, red and white currants, blackberries and raspberries, quinces, pineapple and cherries. Citric actd is found in lemons, 1imes, oranges, gooseberries, strawberries and raspberries, and tar- tarle acid predominates in grapes, though it exists in other fruits. Salicylle acid is sparingly present, probably In the form of methyl ester, in plums, cherries, currants, grapes and strawherries,’ raspberries, ete. Borle acid is said to be present in oranges and lemons, Q. Who put the first levee on the Mississippi?—G. W. B A. The first levee on_the Missis- as bullt at New Orleans Perier. It was completed November 15, 1 Q. What does mean?—G. M. W. A. amp in well” signifies ous conditions in the well. The two gases that are formed in a well are carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The former is more dan- gerous than the latter. Q ‘damp in a well” Is scagiola a stone?—J. L H. agiola is an Imitation stone tine of a substratum of finely nd gypsum mixed with glue, va- ated its surface while soft h marble, spar or granite dust, nd subsequently polished. It is used mns and other orna- mental Q. Does a man who pays for a lock box in a post office own the box? If not, what is he paying for?—C. R. The Post Office Department that the rentais collected for > use of lock b in post offices re for services rendared in the pri- Vi delivery il ‘There is no I provision of law whatsoever by which |a box renter may acquire legal owner~ ship of the box, which Is a part of the equipment nost office. Q. Are all wi —W. V. E A. ‘There are These are found es dark in color? some white whales, tn Arctic and Ant- arctic regions and also along the Alaskan coast. The white whale is not so large as the other types of whale. Q aise to country? A. The |savs that Do we send as much merchan- pan as we receive from that ¢ 4 of Commerca in 1822 our exports to (Japan were valued at $218,510,000, While we_imported products’ to ths value of $354 the casualtles and ate of the “Light 3 D. W, der for the charge read glan wishes the dly to the to prevent the en- ay the guns. French on vour left” The Light anced straight to its front fire from the flanks. Five minutes r the guns in front got in their i Only two formed bodies of the ! Light Brigade found their way back. {The brigade lost 247 men and 497 { horses, out of a total strength of 673 | engaged in the charge, which, from first to last, occupied twenty minutes. y to nt and my carrying a avalry i both (Have you a question you want answered? Send it to The Star In- Jormation Bureau, Frederic J. Hgs- kin, director, 1220 North Capitol strect. The ‘only charge for this service is 2 cents in stamps for return postage.) Johnson Urged to Explain His Kind of Progressivism The presidential campaign has ac- tually begun, judging’ by the com- ments of the American press. Senator Hiram Johnson of California threw his hat into the ring just in time to get in the South Dakota primary Except for his policy of "hands off” in forelgn affairs, editors analyzing his platform are agreed that it somewhat vague, and they ask which way he is progressing—backwards or sideways. As the Chicago Daily News (inde- pendent) sees it, Senator Johnson's | statement Ymay please those who are | committed to his candidacy on per- | sonal or other irrelevant ground but:it will make no appeal to an open-minded person who seeks light and leadership, not glittering gen eralities, on the comple proble facing the United States,” and it goes on to say: “The only fundamental thing about his attack upon the spe- cific proposal _to enter the world court is its fundamental unsound- ness and_irrationality.” The Grand Rapids Press (republican) asserts:| “When Miram throws his sombrero into the 1824 arena with a statement that ‘reaction and progr mus fight it out, people are not quite sure on which side they must place him. Having waved his red clo at the beast of reaction and flour- ished his sword, he might retreat precipitately, as he.has the past two years, holding out a handful of tariff oats to bribe the animal off, or as when he dodged his duty as a sen- ator by failing to appear to vote in the Newberry case.’ Taking excep- tion to his demand for the direct presidential preference primaries and declaring his foreign policy must be classed as “reaction,” the Duluth News-Tribune (republican) says, be- fore considering Mr. Johnson's claims to the nomination on their merits, a demurrer is in order. It suggests that ‘he should first establish his| claim to the title of ‘progressive,’ at least to the extent of making it clear ham News (democratic), however, thinks the reiteration of his anclent falth and belief “has added signifi- cance at the time President Coolldge seems to be wavering in loyalty the old lfne bitter-enders and to t members of his official family, like Hughs and Hoover, who are by no mears sold on active opposition to economic agreements with European nations or to any sort of concerted €fYorts to relfeve the financial stress,” * ¥ %k x the opinfon of the Los Angeles Times (Independent republican), in Senator Johnson's own state, the sen- | ator “comes again, denouncing, criti- zing, threatening: and he comes characteristically with empty hands, offering nothing, promising nothing and seeking to hide his weak cause behind a veil of empty phrases. His alluslons to human progress are generalities and demasogic; his re- newed defiance of any participation by the United States in forelgn prob- lems is {llogical and In striking har- mony with the editorial policy of tha Hearst newspapers.” And the Spo- kane Spokesman-Revlew (independent republican) adds, Vhen Senator Johnson says that the principle of popular government and home rule is being taken from the people, that the country has drifted from Its pop- uiar moorings, he is babbling false- nonsense.” The Lincoln ourral (independent repub- . furthermore, observes that his t be regarded as real- s brou Johnzon offer which braska voter t ay, Prestdent Coolidge, should have Nebrask Support in' next year's convent Taking note of his defi- nition of what afllicts the country now, the Indianapolis News (inde- pendent) argu if Johnson would on, and not, which way he is progressin as #there is nothing to indicate that it {s forward.” With somewhat the same views, the Louisville Courfer- Journal (democratic) continues, “he Would better stick to isolationism and let progressivism alone—there is no longer any such thing In this| country a&s Hiram Johnson pro- | gressivism.” Likewise, ~the Nashville | Tennessean (independent democratic) | feels, “his efforts to resurrect the lost cause of progressivism is a lit-| tle touch of political comedy that will | add to the gayety of the * k ¥ X In the same view the World (democratic) continue: ital letters express the Johnson per- sonality and the Johnson statement of intentions. They also hide the| distinction between two_ other pos: | sible labels, namely ‘PROGRESSIVE'| and ‘progresstves,’ It is a_distnction | Hiram will have to make clear.” Be- cause he clings to the word ‘Drogr: sive’ he has become, according to his | own assertion, a middle-of-the-road | man, which, according to the Detroit | Free Press (independent), “leaves the impression that the senator is at- tempting to appropriate what he con- | siders popular and effective, rather than express settled convictfons and principles.” | The fact that he secks to compro- mise with both sides of the road “will greatly disappoint his more enthusi- astic followers in the primarics — a change that we fear may be his un- doing,” avers the Springficld Union (republican). The Butte Miner (dem- ocratic) also feels that because of his sort of middie-of-the-road pol- icy “his position today is weaker than ever it was.” To which the Burling- ton Free Press (independent) adds, “in_gelecting a man to manage the business of this great republic we do not often choose for that tremendous | responsibility # man who, as has | been sald of Bryan, can ‘set his mouth | going and_go off and leave It." The Norfolk Virgin ot (independ democratic) lfoves, furthermor that “it will take a great deal of ex- | to show that there |s enough | © between the Johnson prin- | and those subscribed to by the | reactionar to v vitality to & rgvolt” The Birming | may well vse fewer and smaller words the voter might be able to guess what he is talking about” And the D troft News (independent) concludes “the people of the United States have to elect to the presidency a man | Who announced to them that he was their self-appointed candidate.” The lack of a definite issue and a good many other hurdles will con- tront Hiram, according to the Mil- waukee Sentinel (republican), which feels that: “Here in Wisconsin inter- est in the Johnson candidacy will center largely on its possible effect upon the perennial boom of Senator La Follette. As a voice of protest, { Hiram is likely to acquire some dele- es the Wisconsin man has been figuring on: this possibly will add an agrceable zest to the exercises.” On the other hand the Albany cker- hocker Press (republican) declares Senator Johnson's didacy will serve a purpose because he ‘repre- sents a section of political thought within the republican party which have expression—it is of efit to_the country to know just how much of it there is” Whila commending him for unselfish devo- tion to the cause nearest his heart and agreeing with him in his state- concerning what our foreign fey should be, the Boston Tran- script (independent republican) is in- clined to feel. there is slight differ- ence, if any, in his policies and those of the present administration, there- by multiplying President Coolidge' of nomination by & decisive In a Few Words. T believe there is a close relation- ship between the high cost of women’s hats and the high rate of divorce. Women should 1limit their expenditures on their latest style bonnet to 0 cents. I have often made hat for that ““SENATOR REBECCA FELTON. I don't know of any man in the world whom 1 envy less than the prime mine Twter. LORD DERBY, 1l never been tried and not prevall at present. —DR. HENRY VAN DYKE, democracy has rtainly dos