Evening Star Newspaper, December 23, 1923, Page 27

f McNARY BILL PRIMARY STEP | IN FORESTS PRESERVATION Measure Is First Fruit of Nine Months’ Survey by Senate on Vital Problem B BY G. GOULD LINCOLN, ONGRESS, the states and the people generally are becom- ing aroused to the need of effective measures to pre- #erve the forests of the nation and to devise some plan by which there may be an orderly cutting of forest prod- ucts without the ultimate destruction of the forests. There must, at the #ame time, be an adequate supply of timber to meet the economic needs ©f the country. The first frult of an investigation ©f the entire subject of reforestation by a speclal Senate committee, con- ducted over a perlod of nine months, was the {gtroduction a few days ago ©f a bill by Senator McNary of Ore- gon, chairman of the committes. This bill proposes close co-operatfon between the federal government and the states to protect the forests; a £tudy of the relation of taxation to forest perpetuation, with the purpose in view of helping to perpetuate the forests through favorable tax laws, co-oberation in assisting the farmers of the country to keep up wood lots, ashelter belts, ‘etc.; amendment of the Weeks law so as to widen the pro- | wision under which purchales of for- #sted and cutover lands within the watersheds of navigable streams may Pe made; co-operation with the states 41 the production and distribution of forest tree seeds and plants for the Durpose of establishing forests upon denuded or non-forested lands; au- Thority to accept on the part of the Fovernment donations of lands chief- v suitable for the growing of tim- er and authority for the President o extend further the national forests. Bill a Conerete Proposal. Senator McNary's bill is not in- fended to be the finished product of the committee's work. Rather it pre- ®ents a conerete proposal upon which the committee will work, with the Mdea of introducing later a measure summing up thelr recommendations. Such a bill will probably be offered at the time the committee files its \final report with the Senate. The other members of the commitiee are Senators Moses of New Hampshire, ouzens of Michigan, Harrison of ississippi and Fletcher of Florlda. During the recess of Congress this committee visited the forest sections ©of the south, the west, the states bor- gdering on the great lakes and New England, holding hearings and care- fully jnvestigating the situation The annual report of the forester ©f the United States, Willlam B. Greeley, just made public. lays em- phasis upon the need of the national government taking the lead in the matter of forest protection and de- velopment. At the same time his re- vort indicates that the vital neces- sity of acting, and acting without de- lay, to prevent the destruction of the forests has impressed itself more and more upon the states. Especially does the report of the forester call attention to the need of the practice of Scientific forestry— whereby only the mature timber is cut and care is taken to have a con- atantly maturing supply for each suc- ceeding year—and to the need of re- forestution of “the land already de- nuded, Forests Being Drained. Under existing conditions the for- 8ts of the country are being drained. The remaining virgin timber in the south and the far west, Mr. Greeley voints out, make it possible to meaet the needs for high-grade lumber. But the cost is mounting steadily. Sec- ond-growth eastern forests eke out ‘the supply of lumber required in this country. The huge total of 25,000,000,000 cuble feet of wood is being drained from American forests aanually, Growth, it is sald, replaces oniy efore U. S. 6,000,000,000. It is easy to see where such procedurs will land us. ‘The forester recommends that steps be taken to assure annual production of wood equal to that required and used. If all the forests were given today adequate protection against fire and ‘elementary practices of foestry were Introduced, he says, the annual growth could be iIncreased to about 14,000,000,000 cubic feet, or a little over half of the present requirements. But by intensive forest management, similar to that in the best European forests, the total area of forest land could be made to grow 27.000,000.000 cubic feet annually, or enough to care for present day needs and afford a little surplus. 21 Per Cent Publicly Owned. It is estimated that 21 per cent of the forests of the country today are publicly owned—by the federal gov- ernment and the states. The rest is in private ownership. There is a move- ment on foot in many of the states and in the national government to add to these public holdings of forest lands. Nineteen states have estab- lished state forests, totaling about 5,500,000, of which New York has nearly 2,000,000 and Pennsylvania slightly over 1,000,000 acres. Pennsyl- vanfa has authorized a bond issue of $25,000,000 to purchase state forest land, and New York an Issue of $7,500,000. But the federal government, on the other hand has done little in the way of extending its forests. The pur- chase of 81,000 acres under the Weeks act already referred to during the last vear marks the lowest ebb in federal acquisition of lands, the for- ester points out since the policy was initiated in 1911 The budget bureau has recom- mended an increased appropriation for the purchase of lands, under the Weeks act, for the coming vear, and there is strong prospect that it will be provided by Congress. | __sPublic sentiment.” said the for- ester, “Is urging more and more that the national government assume a larger direct part {n reforestation by the acquisition of land where re- forestation 1s difficult or costly or where timber production can be com- bined with the protection of valuable sources of water.” Private owners of timber, both in the south and in the northeast, are giving more and more attention to the growing of timber, forced to such action by the economic demands and the high prices of timber brought from a distance. They are begin- ning to see the possibiiities for sat- isfactory returns from thelr second growth,” if it is given a chance to develop. Lumber companies is other sections of the country, also, are turning more and more to the prac- tice of forestry to save their forests. Twelve states maintain forest tree nurseries and distribute young trees for forest planting. 1In addition to the stock grown for use on the state forests, theke nurseries produce about 12,000,000 trees annually for distribution to private owners. New | York's nursery is the largest in the United State: Forest fires are responsible for tremendous losses to the timber sup- ply and the forests each year. For example, in 1922, it is "estimated, there were 51,900 forest fires and that these fires resulted in $16,678,- 485 damages, and the area burned over was 8,194,189 acres. To get back to the McNary bill: That measure proposes there shall be expended 32,500,000, with the under- standing the states will spend a like amount, “to study the effects of tax laws, methods and practices upon forest perpetuation, to co-operate with appropriate state officlals to encourage conservation and growing of timber” and to promote protection of the forests against fire Other sums are proposed to be ex- pended, as follows: One hundred thousand dollars for the distribution of forest seeds and plants for the purpose of establishing forests upon denuded or non-forested areas, and $100,000 to assist farmers in improv- ing and renewing their wood lots, etc. -Huge Profits on Cuban Sugar Shown by Tariff Board Data The average cost of production of the Cuban sugar that went skyrock- eting in American markets last spring was 2.15 cents a pound, laid down at the mill in Cuba, according to preliminary figures covering 63 per | cent of the total 1922 crop, complled by the Tariff Commission. In addition, the commission states, the cost of marketing this sugar mmounted to slightly more than one- Aifth of a cent a pound. It is assumed that that figure covers transportation o New York, the chief port of entry. The duty of 1.76 cents a pound, im- yosed under the tariff act, would ‘bring the total cost of raw Cuban gpugar, laid down in New York, up to #bout 434 cents a pound. According to the commission's figures, the cost ©f refining sugar {s placed at 1 cent ® pound, making the total cost of re- fined sugar slightly in excess of & cents a pound. This compares with # selling price that varied between 8 #nd 11 cents a pound, approximately, States, covering both (are and beet sugar, and our island p3ssessions, the commission finds, ars from 200 to nearly 300 per cent of the cost of producing Cuban sugar, varylng from about four and one half to about six and one half cents a pound. The fig- ures indicate that the tariff at the present time fails to equal the differ- ence between costs here and in Cuba. Tarlff Reduction Unlikely. For this and other reasons, it is regarded here as unlikely that Presi- dent Coolidge, at the conclusion of the investigation, will find a basis upon which he ean apply the flex- ible provisions of the law to bring about a reduction in the tariff. On the other hand, it is thought likely that the administration will urge the further expansion of the sugar industry in the United States to place consumers here less at the mercy of the Cuban producer than at the present time. This policy was advo- cated by Secretary Wallace and other &nd indicates profits ranging from 60 10 more than 100 per cent pald by the {American consumers of Cuban sugar Guring the period of high prices. Months’ Investigation. The commission’s figures have been jgeathered after many ‘months of in- N estigation. They have been compiled, 4he commission assserts, “for the pur- $ose of assisting' the Prealdent in as- certaining the differences in the cost #f production of sugar in the United fitates and In the chief competing wountries.” The figures will be used &t & public hearing January 15 next, ~vhen the Tariff Commision will hear ithe views of interested parties on the pdvisability of reducing the present Lariff on sugar. The hearing will be the first to be Jeld by the Commission where a commodity of general, every-day use §s involved. There has been consid- krable agitation for a reduction In §he tariff on sugar but the tariff com- nission determined for the late Pres- dent Harding early last summer that fhe tariff had no connection with the pensational increase in prices and ghe commission’s decision was an- Jrounced at the White House at’ the “Aime. It was pointed out by the commis- #fon at that time that the price of $ugar varied, almost over night, to & greater degree than the entire tar- ¥t change brought about by the op- ®ration of the new tariff law. Since ghen, however, the commission has Yeen making a thorough study of #ugar production at home and abroad o ascertain 1f production costs mva( pnatertally changed, for it is only on ‘vhat basis that the President and tho | wommission can act. . Baw pugar, osts -n-gbe officials here during the term of Presi- dent Harding and probably will be brought to the forq again by the present administration. Among the nterested parties” preparing to present their views to the commission at its public hearing are the beet sugar farmers. The beet sugar crop, due to tariff pro- tection, was about 300,000,000 pounds greater this year than last—a fact that probably saved the consumer from much higher sugar prices,than those which prevailed last spring. As soon as the crop was available the effect of its competition with Cuban sugar was seen in “falling prices. The price reductions started in October and November, as soon as the beet sugar came on the market, and prices remained down as long as beet sugar remained a factor. At the present time, beet sugar farmers are recelving guaranteed prices on the beets, which run up to about $10 a ton, and make farming profitable in the beet belt. The farmers, naturally, are opposed to any tariff reduction which ulti- mately would lower the price of sugar beets. Mars Tourist Resort. Nomenclature might attract plane- tary travelers to Venus rather than Mars, but if there were to be a cholce on climate alone, Mars would prob- ably draw the largest tourist trade. The climate of Mars is belleved to be ke a clear day on the top of an earthly mountain, whereas the cl mate on Venus is thought to be like a cloudy time in the lowlands of the earthly tropics. Scientific arguments favor Mars as an inhabited place over Venus, though there are some who Univwkadslions 1Ak NORAIRSESTISE ALK m THE SUNDXY STAR, WABHINGTON, D. 0, DECEMBER 23, 1923—PART 2. The Story the Week Has Told BY HENRY W. BUNN. HE following is a brief summary of the most important news of the world for the seven days ended December 22. THE BRITISH EMPIRE. At the recent Imperial conference of pre- miers, Mr. Baldwin pledged his government to an extension of imperial preferénce. There is a good deal of speculation as to whether a labor or a liberal government would take over and fulfill that pledge, and as to what effect failure of fulfillment might have on intra-im- perial relations. Embarking for home the other day, Premier Massey of New Zealand, asserted that such failure would be “a slap in the face to British sentiment throughout the empire.” He deprecated as foollsh, suggestions of se- cession, or of legislation by the outlying com- monwealths unfriendly to the mother country, but expressed the conviction that non-fulfill- ment would have lamentable consequences. He plausibly asserted that continuity Is even more desirable for the imperial than for the foreign policy of the British government. On” the other hand, many liberals are of- fended at Mr. Massey's statements, asserting that important pledges to the daughter com- monwealths must be subject to ratification by the commons. It may be thought that, as in the recent domestic episode so disastrous to himself and his party, so In his pledges to im- perial preference, Mr. Baldwin showed less discretion than good will. These imperial con- ferences are necessary, but full of dangers. Doubtless in future, British premfers will go warily and without a clear mandate, will give no definite pledges. Certainly repudiation by a new government of the definite pledges of the Baldwin government on imperial prefer- ence. would be very prejudicial to imperial harmony. Perhaps the greatest need in the em- pire is of political genius of the first order, which should address itself to the transcendent problem of an efficient imperial machinery Relations between the government of India and that of Afghanistan are always precarious and just now they are somewhat more so than usual, owing to the actlvities of a gang of wild tribesmen made up, it would seem, in- differently of Pathans from either side of the Afghan border of the northwest frontier prov- ince of India. From time to time a group of them will descend on a British post with the intention of seizing a British officer or woman,- to hold for ransom. They generally fail of that purpose, but not without murdering a British subject or two. The British cannot round up these gentlemen without the co- operation of the amir's government, for es- cape across the border is easy, and the amir's border subjects are sympathetic. . M. Tchicherin would have the world believe that there is good prospect of another Brit- ish-Afghan war—a consummation devoutly to be deprecated by the British, in view of the terrible experiences of 1838 and 1878. But, ap- parently, the wish is father to the thought with M. Tchitcherin, for one hears that, however tar- aily, the amir is now taking effective steps for co-operation with the British border authori- ties. There is no absence of British suspicion that this tardiness has been due to Russian in- trigue. Between British India and Russian Turkestan, the amir is in a very delicate posi- tion: but that is a long story Russian blandish- ments have as background, a considerable red army in Turkestan. GERMANY. . Berlin having proposed an ‘exchange of ideas” between the German government and the French and Belgian governments, M. Poin- care assented, provided the Germans should re- frain from questioning the prerogatives of the reparations commission and from suggesting or insinuating treaty revision. The French gov- ernment must, however, he sald, Teserve the right to consult any or all of the other allied governments before replying to German com- munications. Such negotiations, he opined, should be frultful, especially if addressed to economic and administrative questions l.‘elil- ing to the occupied territory. M. Poincare's as- sent is of first importance. It implies retog- nition by him of cessation of passive resist- ance. If the new German chancellor is acting in perfect good faith, a tolerable modus vi- vendi for the occupied territory should soon be evolved. It is understood that a new German ambassador will present his credentials at Paris about the first of the vear, to take up negotiations as proposed. The reparations commission has invited Gen. Charles G. Dawes and Mr. Owen D. Young to serve as the American members of the com- mission, which under its auspices will seek to discover how the German budget may be balanced and the German currency stabilized, and has offered the chalrmanship to Gen. Dawes. It does not yet appear who is to be the American member of the other commission, that which will seek to ascertain the amounts and whereabouts of expatriated German as- sets. The reparations commission has referred to the governments represented on the com- mission the request of the German government for permission to float a loan not to exceed the cquivalent of $70,000,000, in the form of credits for purchase of cereals and fats, the bonds thereof to take precedence of reparation dues. Contrary to a statement in my last summary, an advisory .reichstag committee of fifteen members is associated with the German cabi- net in the exercise of the dictatorial economic, etc., powers conferred by the “authorization” act. - ALBANIA. J. D. Hunger, a Dutchman and financial ad- viser to Albania, under the auspices of the league of natlons, reports that Albania Is riding for a financial fall. Her budget shows a 30 per cent deficit. The main cause thereof seem to be too large an army, an excess of officals and the extreme difficulty of collecting taxes from the wild highland tribesmen. There is a rumor that with charming nalvete the provisional government has offered the Al- banian throne, since William of Wied so in- gloriously ran away In 1914, to an American millionaire, no doubt expecting that he would make good the deficit. But after all, though amusing, the idea is not preposterous. There are American millionaires who could afford an annual million or so for such a purpose, and no more satisfactory way to employ a fortune can be Imagined than in helping Albania. It needn’t be so expensive cither, if the office jobbers were sent packing, the army reduced to sensible size. and the spirit of innovation sensibly controlled. Of course, the millionaire should” have the artistic temperament. Nor should it be esteemed a small honor to wear the Albanian crown, for the Albanians, espe- cially the Ghegs, are amog the finest people on earth, the oldest established race in south- eastern Europe, as nearly pure Aryan stock as you can find, magnificent fighters, as the Itallans and Serbs know. No need of birth con- trol in Albania, thanks to the vendetta, which in some districts accounts for 25 per cent of the deaths. GREECE. The elections on December 16 for a new national assembly resulted in a sweeping vic- tory for the liberals, who are still popularly known as Venizelists, and who are divided into two, lLe., “moderates” (who have hitherto favored a very limited monarchy), and “repub- licans.” It would seem that the moderates are the more numerous, but the republicans, who ap- parently include most of the army and navy officers, are the more aggressive. The anti- Venizelists remained away from the polls al- most to a man, so that their strength is not known. The extremist republicans have been manifesting and resolutioning for immediate dethronement of the king and proclamation of a republic, but the military directorate and the provisional government have so far succeed- ed In averting so dubious a proceeding, one so lkely further to discredit Greece with the great powers. They acted wisely in providing a ship for the king, his family and entourage, and advising his majesty to go aboard and take a little vacation outside his realm pending de- cision by the new assembly as to the future form of government for Greece. The kin long since sick of his job, was fain to comply. An admiral has been installed as regent. The new assembly is to decide whether the future government shall be a monarchy or a republic, and in the former case whether the present dynasty shall remain or a new dynasty shall be established. The auspices are generally interpreted as pointing to a republic, with Venizelos as president. There is very little likelihood of retention of the present dynasty. Venizelos, having an eve to the great pow- ers, has been holding aloof and advising all hands to keep cool and go slow. A committee has gone to Paris to escort him back to Athens. It is understood that King George is taking his vacation at the court of his royal parents- in-law in Rumania, The development is a dreadful blow to the charming and ambitious Queen of Rumania, who had dreamed of a Balkan confederation, whereof the cementing principlé should be through the marriages of her, children, the royal house of Rumania. . TANGIER. An agreement to supersede the Algeciras agreement, prescriblng new political and ad- ministrative arcangements for the interna- tionalized Tangler zone of Morocco, has been signed by representatives of France, Great Britain and Spain. When, or if ratified by the French, British and Spanish governments, it will be submitted to the governments of the other powers which adhered to the Algecira agreement, except Germany and Austria, for their adhesion. The new agreement is prob- ably an improvement on the Alggeiras one, but leaves a great deal of room for further improvement. It recognizes the Interests of France, Great Britain and Spain in Morocco as superior to those of other nations and the interests of France as slightly predominant over those of Great Britain and Spain respec- tively. Not without reason, Spain challenges the French claim of predominance (Incidentally, of the 9,000 European inhabitants of the city early in’ this century 7.500 were Spaniards) and Spanish ratification is therefore doubtful. The interests of the natives and the sultan’s government get as much recognition as one should expect; that is, not much. Perhaps Tan- gler will be better governed in the future than it has been in the past; perhaps it won't. To date no international regime anywhere has been a howling success. MEXICO. President Obregon has himself organized operations on both military fronts, the eastern and the western. The rebels attacked the gov- ernment troops defending the important rail- road of San Marcos. Repulsed, they retreated, tearing up both rallroad lines and so impeding pursuit. Reports as to the latest developments on the eastern front differ, according as they issue from a government or a rebel source, each side clalming successes. Dispatches indi- cate an enveloping movement of government troops upon Guadalajara, where is the chief rebel concentration in the west. Cautlously 1 venture the opinfon that the government troops are getting the upper hand on both fronts. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. On December 20 Congress adjourned over the holidays, having accomplished a great deal of nothing. | As to how drawing certain Tchitcherinian in- ferences from a passage in the President's message to Congress, M. Tchitcherin made a touching overture to our government of Mus- covite friendship, of how Mr. Hughes coldly and cruelly rebuffed said overture, of what fol- lowed thereupon in Congress and of the pro pect of a mighty logomachy in both houses on the question whether the Muscovite crew are candid or sangulneous—a truce to such debatable matter over the holidays. MISCELLANEOUS. Mussolini announces that he hasn't decided to dissolve parliament. Apparently he hasn't decided not to, either. A plausible explanation of the hero's strange-seeming recent activities might be submitted, did space allow. The Turkish government has annulled the Chester concessions.” “The Turkish govern- ment has not annulled the Chester conces- sions”—One or the other statement is true. Whether he has or has not annulled ‘the Ches- ter concessions, it is doing no injustice to the Turk to belleve that he might. At Canton. China, Sun Yat Sen, president of the Canton republic, explodes, detonates, ful- minates in ceaseless denunciation of the pow- ers, but, viewing the latter's ever-increasing fleet, refrains from executing his threat to seize the customs house. I chairman; V’q HIGH ROAD TO PROGRESS . IS TAKEN BY COLOMBIA $25,000,000 to Be Paid to Nation by u. S. Is Chief Contributing Factor. BY BEN McKELWAY. HE $25,000,000 to be paid C(u’ lombia by the United States under the terms of the treaty agreed upon last year —of which $10,000,000 already has been pald—may be as bread thrown upon the waters, for the payment of the first $5,000,000 installment a little more than a year ago was a con- tributing factor in bringing about % complete reorganization of Colom- bla’'s fiscal system, to bring her to the front as one of the most prosperous of the Latin American republics. This reorganization was brought about by an Amerfcan mission of financlal experts, selected by the State Department, which has re- turned to the United States with glowing accounts not only of its own success but of the bright future which awaits Colombia and the great! increase in trade relations with the United States which will be brought about directly by Colombla’s wise in- vestment of the funds which this country is now paying her. When Colombia was assured of the funds provided under the treaty with the United States she stralghtway began planning how to spend the money to the best advantage, found a strong national sentiment in favor of Investing the entire amount in a comprehensive program for public works, with raflroad con- struction predominating. But before entering on this program the gov- ernment sought to have Its entire fiscal system put on a modern basis and after some discussion requested the United States for a financial mis- sion of advisers to assist her in bring. ing this about. Members of Mission. The misston from the United States was composed of Prof. Edwin Walter Kemmerer of Princeton University, Howard M. Jefferson of the New York Federal Reserve Bank; Dr. Fred R. Fairchild, professor of political economy at Yale University; Thomas R. Lill, a certified public ac- countant, and Dr. Frederick B. Lu- quiens, professor of Spanish at Yale University, who served 3s secretary. The mission found Colombla taking its problem very seriously anxious to profit from advice. A spe- clal session of congress was con- vened, special commissions were ap- pointed from Colombia's fourteen departments to assist in the work and as soon as the financlal mission prepared and proposed legislation con- Bress enacted it into law. The result was that in les vear Colombia has brought more far reaching changes financial system than any ever attempted in a much perfod. The new laws have “olombian currency upon the standard, they have glven iier a new general banking law which con- forms to the best modern practices in the United States and Europ system of banking supervision control, closely modeled on the York state law, has been put effect. Colombia was given, with some modification, what is known as the American uniform negotiable in- than a about in her country longer Einstein is dethroned. Dr. Spinden has dis- covered that more than 500 years before the Christlan era the Mayas of Yucatan were fa- milfar with the theory of relativi Real Workers in the National Capital BY HERBERT COREY. HERE 1s np more talk of mak- | ing by statate an assistant to the President. The thirty-odd independent establishments, boards, bureaus and commissions that have been called,a needless burden upon the Executive have ceased to bother. Business at the White House never skips, falters or misses fire. Reason why?. President Coolidge has an assistant. Meet Campbell Bascom Slemp, born at Turkey Cove, resident of Big Stone Gap, Va_ Fifty-three years old. Of a Mongolian placidity. The face is to- tally fllegible. One eye or the other seems to be slightly askew. Complex- fon very faintly shaded with tan. No mustache or whiskers. Seems to be kindly, helpul, genuine and is as- suredly ag smart as & weasel. Active. Fine handshaker. Flits from palm to palm in the presidential walting room like a butterfly. Simile bad, for but- terflles do not buzz. He does, In al- most inaudible fashion. Almost uni- versally liked, but is probably re- garded by members of his club as dangerous at poker. No one doubts that Campbell Bascom Slemp thinks quickly and well, but no one can tell When he thinks or what he thinks. Should be fine at table stakes. Successful Secretaries Rare. Dig deep In memory and find the names of presidential secretaries. See how many you can remember. Joseph Tumulty {s barred, as of too late a vintage. Try to think of the men who have really left an imprint on their political generations. It is & hard task, for successful presidential secretaries have been somewhat more rare than pink tigers. To be success- ful the man must not be too big, nor too small. It iy too early yet to prophesy complete success for Slemp, but he is starting well. The first test, perhaps, will be when President Coolidge makes a mistake. If Slemp takes all the blame, then Slemp will probably do. People say that Slemp is the politl- cal expert at the White House. If that is true, then Cortelyou inspired Roosevelt's policles and Hilles wrote to save the minutes of a busy man's C. BASCOM SLEM certain letters frying fat out of cer- waste on more or less futile hand- shaking, gossip and story telling. Yet his callers must be seen, thanked, jollied, sometimes mollified, roused, interested, enthused. For Calvin Coolldge is not only President of the United States. He is also a candidate for nomination and elec- tion. Slemp's father likely taught him how to play politics. The old gen- tleman was a spade bearded, cordial, astute person, part way between a covenanter and a cavaller, who was in politics for the love of it. He was a republican, and republicans in of- fice in Virginia come under the head of mammoth caves and other natural wonders. He held his seat in Con- gress until he died and then his son inherited it. The only reason why C. Bascom Slemp ceased to be a con- his health was bad. be in politics, as the committesman from Virginia. Now his health is good agaln. People say he has had a handful of teeth replaced by porce- lain. “This s Mr. Google of Swamp Creek,” someone says to Mr. Slemp in the outer office of the President's suite at the White House. Director of Interviews. He says that he is glad to meet Mr. Google. He looks glad. He really seems to be glad. He finds out who Mr. Google is, In the un- likely event that he does not know already, what he wants, what he knows. Mr. Google has come on to report the state of affairs in Goose Valley township to the President. Also to shake hand and have a little chat and go back home to tell the folks that he had a fine talk with Cal. If that interview were permitted to run free and loose it would be painful both to the President and Mr. Google. The visitor would fire off what he had to say and Mr. Cool- idge would have replied: “That is true.” Then there would be no more at all. This sort of thing seems not to wo Mr. Coolidge. He pre- sumably, used to it, but it gives strangers the hump. After vainly seafching themselves for something lucid that might fitly be sald to the President of the United States they He continued to gressman, after elght years, was that Ttaft's speeches and Hay prepared Lincoln's address at Gettysburg. Slemp 1s a political expert, beyond doubt, but there is another expert on the White lot, as old-time Washing- tonians still 'call the presidential acreage. No question that he helps President Coolidge with advice, in- formation, suggestion, all that sort of thing. ‘But the more one observes Mr. Coolidge in political action the more one admires his political sa- gacity. He is the boss. Make no doubt of that. Coolldge’s Peculiarities. When the death of Warren G. Harding elevated Calvin Coolidge to the presidency he cast about for a private secretary. He is perhaps, aware of the defects as well as of the qualities of his own temperament. He has no small talk at_all. Callers upon Calvin Coolidge have never found any difficulty in talking busi- ness to him. His questions have been searching, to the point, extraordi- narily {lluminative. His replies have been concise, accurate, candid. But when business is over it does not oc- cur to him to talk about the weather. He knows it is a fine day. So does his caller. Why say s0? He did not know where to put his hand on the man he needed. The ideal private secretary for the new President must be able to supply the genlality he lacks, must be & bu ness man who can_funotion with day and clip seconds off what is left, must be a sound, working politician and should have an intimate personal acquaintance with Congress. That, presumably, is how Calvin Coolidge outlined the qualifications he must find in his assistant. He did what Calvin Coolidge has always done ‘when puzzled. He went for advice to the men who know. Slemp Gillett's Choice. “Find me the right man for sec- retary,” he sald to Speaker Gillett of the House and Senator Moses of New Hampshire. Other members of both houses were also enlisted 9 the search, but Gillett and Moses” seem to have been placed in charge. By and by the others withdrew. “We'll leave it to Gillett,” sald said’ the Speake: Others had been passed in review by ‘the searchers and dismissed. No one knows who the others were. They do not know themselves. Slemp was selected because he had the needed qualities. Immediately an outcry arose against the appoint- ment. Slemp was a professional poli- ticlan, people sald. True. He had been a lily white in southern poli- tics. Still is. True. He is a rich man. “True, He is worth one million, two millions, 'hltwlrmgr. one likes to guess, which he in EHadad, or hin. the man,’ tain republican appointees to office at a time when the republican or- ganization in Virginia was bankrupt. True. A commonplace with politi- cians and in politics. Approved by President. “He'll do,” sald Calvin Coolldge. “He flutters about too much,” said people who watched Slemp work at the desk whereat have sat Tumulty and Hilles and Cortelyou and Loeb and others whose very names have long been forgotten. “He goes from man to man shaking hands. He does no stop long enough to find out what any one of them wanted.” The criticism, savors of humor. It is mot heard any more. The corre- ondents who visit the White House daily, and who are, by and large, a hard-boiled, critical, somewhat sour- ed lot, do not say that any more. If they ever said it. Slemp is easily the best handshaker who has held the presidential outer gate in three political generations. Mind you, his task has been to cover up any ap- parent lack of geniality in his chiet and at the same time to save the chigf’s time. Mr. Coolidge penur- fous about time. He hoards i{t. He is the only President in memory— perhaps the only one—who has ac- tually kept his desk olean. That means constant industry. Eight more stenographers are at work in the coal | White House _than ever vnr&: Er that state of shern~batoon—Ha- haar. SUIARD- - would permit their Adam's apple to flicker for a time and then retire in confusion. It might leave the wrong sort of an impression on the right sort of a_man. So Mr. Slemp deftly directs affairs the way they should 8o, “I am enormously Interested in what you have to say about Goose Valley,” says he. “Won't you let me take you in hers where you can dictate this to a stenographer?” Saving President’s Time. Mr. Google does, of course. When he comes out with his copy Mr. Slemp runs it though. 1 “I shall have this placed on file,” he says. There is no resson to doubt his sincerity when he declares that this information is of value. “I have told the President what you have done, and he has asked me to bring you in to meet him. Mark you, Mr. Google has not asked to meet the President. He might, conceibably, be a modest man who would doubt his right to ask this. But he is flattered at the thought that the President has asked to meet him. Any one of us would be. He goes in, with Mr. Slemp at his elbow, a few sentences are rapid- fired, and he goes out, pleased. None of the preclous presidential time has been lost. Mr. Coolidge gets back to his study of conditions, examina- tion of doouments, inguiry nto this Fs. An unend- struments law, now in operation in forty-five American states. the Dis trict of Columbia, Hawail and the Philippines. A new bank of central issue has been created with an au- thorized capital of $10,000.000, and a pald-up capital at present of som thing like $6.000,000 in gold. This bank of issue will have the his desk. Some of it would there if it were not for Slemp. “Were they friends before was made private secretary?”’ “They knew each other. No more.” His political value to his chief seems to be in the management of details. No one doubts, now, Calvin Coolidge is distinctly his own boss. He decides on his own poli- cles, charts his own courses. But Slemp meets the men from all over the Union, writes the letters that must be written, fits cogs into the machine. His relationship to Con- gress is of immense value to the President. He knows the men on the hill, their reactions, passions, preju- @ices, desires. He keeps the two ends of Pennsylvania avenue in touch. Friction may come between the President and Congress. Proph- ecy would be unwise. But Slemp will lessen the probability No other President has ever had just such a secretary, though every one has needed n man at his elbow who is practical in politics. Charles D. Hilles knew politics when he was resident Taft's secretary, but Mr. aft was the most superb postponer jin the world. He never by any chance put off to tomorrow what he could put off to day after tomorrow. That rather hampered Hilles, and then, too, Hilles did not have first- hand knowledge of Congress. Tum- ulty was a practical politician, but Mr. Wilson missed many a trick by not taking his advice. Cortelyou and Loeb were clever, adaptable men, but they had not had a sound grounding in practical politics. What they knew of Bt they learned after coming to Washington. One thing they learned was to take the responsibility for presidential mistakes. . Loeb Took Blame. *Loeb did it,” Mr. Roosevelt said more than once. Not always with a twinkle in his eye. Loeb always confirmed his chief. "It was my mistake,” he would say. Slemp_effaces himself, but not too much. He is a strong, ardent, pow- erful personality. No man can con- tinue to be a state committeeman lodge Slemp which bids fair | and | and | i that | {climate of the United States, sole right of bank note issue in Co- lombia and within a few years will be issuing the only paper money which can circulate in ‘the republic. The bank is required to hold a 60 per cent gold reserve against notes and de- Posits, and, as the fiscal agent of the government, has limited powers of dealing diréctly with the public. Has New Budget Law. Colombia has a new budget law which Is considered on a par with the best modern budget legislation. Tt provides an executive budget. Un- less additional revenues are provided for, the executive's budgetary esti- mate of revenue may not exceed the average of (te national revenues re- celved duPhE the preceding three years. In phssing this law congress imposed upan itself a self-denying ordinance not to vote expenditures in excess of the budget submitted by the executive, unless it should provide additional revenues to meet them. Un- der this law, it is ‘stated, expenditures now are being cut to the bone, econ- omy and efficiency is the slogan for the administration and there is good prospect that fn the years immediate- Iy to come Colombia will exhibit the unusual spectacle for Latin Americe of a balanced budget. During the last few months, indeed, revenues have been exceeding expenditures. Country Has Great Fature, Colombia is a country with a great future. Right at our doors, the port of Cartagena is only two-thirds as far from New York as San Francisco 1ts area is about ten times that of the state of Pennsyivania, but with only about six million inhabitants. Tts temperature varies from the intense heat of the lowlands, with their vast { banana plantations, to the frigld tem- perature of Mt. Tolima, which is cov- ered with perpetual snow. §t has thousands of square miles table lands, where the temperature 1§ that of perpetual spring, and where the products are those of the temperate It 1s the world's greatest producer of platinum and of emeralds. It is one of the richest countries in the world ia fts deposits of gold and petroleum. Un- like most of the South American coun- tries, it has an abundant supply of coal. Tt is rich in water power and produces some of the finest coffe the world, while its resources for tle raising are virtually unlimited. acking in Rallways. Colombia’s comparative isolatlen from the rest of the world is due to its lack of railways. The total mileage of the country is considerably less than that of Connecticut. Her greas- est problem today the lack of transportation. She has an abun- dance of the things the world needs. but she cannot get them to the mar- ket. The key to a development which must come soon is more railroad con- struction, and of the twenty-five mil- lion dollars to be paid her by the United States twenty million dollars is to be devoted chiefly to railroad construction, and of this amount ten million dollars is already in the hands of the government. With the twenty million dollars de- voted to railroad construction as a margin, Colombia expects to borrow further funds to extend her railwav construction in the years immediately to come. With the finanefal reform legislation just put through. with he small public debt and her fine debt record, with her great natural re- sources and with the strong group of men now in control of the govern- ment, Colombia’s future is considered bright. is pep. That impressive individual omes more meeting of a national committee. Many fauits might be found with national committeemen, but they are always men. Siemp's |job is to help his chief. and he does. | One of the consequences is that never in the history of man has business proceeded at the White House with so little friction. Mr. Coolidge is left free to devote himself to what seems most important. Other Presi- | dents have complained bitterly of the thirty-odd independent establish- ments, the heads of which report to |the President and to no one else Almost every other President has | made a gesture of extreme fatigue. | “I should have a competent as- sistant,” two or three have said, in public or private. It wasn't an assistant that was needed. It was a system. By not wasting time they would have had time to spare. Mr. Coolidge will not leave Washington to make an ad- dress. He will not permit his time to be wasted. The outer halls are not cluttered up as they have been in the past by herds ot constituents. agitators, visitors with corn salves, patent milking machines, road maps, and packages of maple sugar. If the ardents of that sort get past the outer guard they must still pass the Slemp screen. and the meshes would catch mustard seeds. Slemp is not the system, but he is part of it. He meets an average of 150 people a day. He must plgeon-hole each one, find out what he wants, talk to him sympathetically and sincerely. send him away in good temper whether his requ 1s refused or not. Slemp can say *“no” more grace- fully than any recent predecessor in his " office. He writes i{nnumerable letters daily. He is available at al- most any hour of the day or night by any one who has any color of right to call for help, advice, or an answer to a plain question. His working day begins when he opens his eyes and continues until he is no longer able to stay awake. And he must be cantinuously and genuinely kindly and good tempered and help- ful. who lacks thought be with each The funny part is that he is. America Upon Threshold Of Great Electrical Age (Continued from First Page.) cost of power, but will place it at the disposal of the small village and even the isolated farmstead as well as the great city or industrial com- munity. Fifty years from now power will be so cheap and accessible that man will be independent of his sur- roundings. The comforts and luxu- rles which we think of today as in- separable from the large town or city will be then avallable for every home In the country, whether it be in the heart of New York or Chicago or in the mountains of California or the plains of the northwest. “When that time comes nearly all the mechanical pyocesses of industry as well as most domestic services will be performed by electricity and great masses of the population will be relieved of the monotonous drudg- ery which is an inevitable part of the world’s work today. “What this will mean to our whole soctal, moral and political life it is impossible for any man to say, but nobody can question that it“will spell a better, fuller, healthier and happier existence for all those who will come after us and who will enjoy the fruits of the seeds which we are toddy planting. “Fifty years ago electricity turnel not a single wheel except perhapi on a tiny scale in the laboratory of some scientist. Yet at the beginning of the present century the electric lighting and power systems of the country represented a capitalizataion of about $650,000,000, and twenty years later that capitalization had grown to $5,000,000,000. The increase in production in the last twenty years has been still more impressive, Last year the total output of the country was 47,669,004,000 kilowatt hours, an increase of mnot less than 1,900 per cent in twenty years. “At the same time great economies have been effected in the produgtion of electricity. Steam turbmes have accomplished wonders ‘in this direc- tlon. In 1888, at the first generating station at Chicago, it took about 12 pounds of coal to produce a kilowatt hour. This figure has been reduced to 18 pounds today, and we expect that in the new station which the Commonwealth Edison Company is building there will be a further re- duction to 1.6 pounds. Incidentall this station will probably be the larg- est in the world, with an ultimate Tating of 600,000 kilowatts,",