Evening Star Newspaper, May 2, 1924, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR With Sanday Morning Edition, WASHINGTON, D. C. .May 2, 1924 tor THEODORE W. NOYES. . . .Edi C«nfll’f ivania Av iZnd K¢, Chicago Office: Tower Bullding. Brropean Offce: 16 egentSt., London, fngland. The Evening Star, with the Sundav morning #dition, s delivered by carriers within the rity at 60 cents per month: daily only. 45 €eats per mouth: Sunday only, 20 cents per month. Qrders may be sent by mail e tele- Dhoze Main 5000. ~Collection s made by car- Tiers at the end of each month " Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance, Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday.. - z 1me., 70¢ Daily only. $6.00; 1 mo., 50¢ Sunday only $2.40; 1 mo,, 20¢ 1 mo, 85¢ | 1 mo., 80c | : 1mo,, 25¢c Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Prees is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dis. patches credited o it or not otherwise credited | in this paper and aiso the local news pub lished herein. Al rights of publieation of Special dispatches herein are also reserved { Stabbing Our New Organic Act. The House, on sober second thought, ought not to be in the least proud that it permitted yesterday & legislative rider, offered from the floor without the sanction of any commit- tee, attached to the District appro- vriation Bill by & vote of 28 to 5, to rip up as effectively as in harakiri the District’s new fiscal law of June 29, 1922. This law, though it dealt se- verely and in some respects unjust- ly with the District, was an elab- orate and comprehensive piece of com- promise, constructive legislation, in- telligently’ and laboriously buflt up. ‘Washington refuses fo, believe for an instant that the Senate will follow this bad example of the House in mutilat- ing wantonly the new organic Act. The avowed purpose and promised Tesult of the new law was to bting to House and Senate and people of the District a .period of wholesome and refreshing rest from fiscal rela- tions controversy. 1f the act of 1923 is left for a few years to-work out vindication on its merits or its ure’ on its demerits, this needed rest will be secured. If the old con- troversy over definite contribution is to be renewed by com- pulsory discussion of the Cramton amendment this rest will be denied and one of the avowed main purposes of the act of 1922 will be defeated. No time can be conceived that is less suitable for a revival of this bit- ter controversy than today, when all of Congress, with hardly a moment to stop to think, is pushing feverishly toward early adjournment. The understanding when the act of June 29, 1922, was agreed upon by THouse and Senate viewed that act as 8 compromise measure disposing for many vears of these troublesome fls- cal relation issues. The contribution toward Capital upbuild- Ing was inoreased from 50 to 60 per cent, its tax rate on intangible per- eonalty was increased 66 2-3 per cent, and the foundation was laid (though'| intent to increase was disclaimed) for increasing its realty tax: it was deprived of exclusive ecredit for large sums of miscellaneous receipts hitherto solely enjoyed, this action inflicting a heavy loss, and it was 4 compelled to accumulate from its tax money of present years (every cent of which was needed to meet the urgent municipal needs of ‘today} a fund of | millions to provide in advance for| meeting the first half-year expenses of 19278, In partial compénsation for these drastic cxactions the District was to enjoy specifically for five years and indefinitely thereaftcr the benefit of . @pproximate certainty as to its ratio | of proportlonate contribution; in or- fer to spare the Distriet all contro- versy for these five years over ratios and tax rates, the law in_specific terms levied in advance this tax “for each of the flscal years ending June 30, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927,” indicated how the tax rate should be | automatically fixed, and directed that the proceeds should be applied to the District's 69 per cent contribution and to building up by 1927 a surplus-to put the District on a cash-paying basis; the .District was thus to be spared for @ long period the hurtful dead- “locks over ratics between House and Senate whjch annually endangered the District’ appropriations and un- deservédly prejudiced House genti- ment against the Capital community. But no sooner was the definite 60- 40 ratio fixed by compromise agree- ment, leaving only the surplus ques- tion to-be decided equitably by Con- gress, and almost before the Capital community had adjusted itself to its new fiscal organic act and had begun to enjoy the promised bliss of fiscal peace, o proposition appeared to re- pudiate the agreement upon the 60- #40: ratio, to substitute a system of unrelated contribution by Capital and nation and to precipitate Washington taxpayers into the fiscal chaos from which they ‘had recently emerged. And today,-when the . prospect of flscal peace has grown brighter; when, by the certificate of fhe controller general, approved by the joint surplus committee .of Congress, the District’s Treasury surplus has been demon. strated to exist, and the troublesome surplus question promises soon to. be remoyed from.the cldss of preju- dice:promoters and friction-breeders, the lump-payment proposition is re- vived and our vision of fiscal peace and rest vanishes. Will not the House reconsider? - | German-Promoted War Strikes. Count von Bernstorff, who was Ger- man ambassador to the United States until this country went (to war' in 1817, is a candidate for re-election to the Reichstag on the Demotratic ticket. He is opposed by Herr Jahneke, a Nationalist. .<.acke, it seems, was o Germar agent in this ocountry during the veriod between the outbreak of war in Europs and the entrance of the United States into :he e nflict, hix © business Leing o toment harlor strices in American munitions por s, Lo step 1he export of war materfal: to the aliles, He now proportionate | District's | f'fiu l charges that $20,000 was necessary to keep the striltes going, and that when he applied to Bernstorff for money. the ambassador falled to reply to his {first request, and later declined to {supply- the. fund.. Consequently, Jahncke now dttacks von Bernstorft as a traltor to the German people. This is an interesting sidelight on activities in the United States’ before it went into the war. 'There is no American concern over von i Bern- storft's political fortunes, but it is im- portant to know that large sums of money were being spent to promote strikes:in this country. Just-why von Bernstor(T refused to supply the funds does not appear. He hds not yet re- pifed to the charge. Maybe the am- bassadorial war chest was exhzusted. Or perhaps Jahncke's method of ask- ing the embussy directly was too 1 { | crude. . Von Bernstorff in his book maintains that he made no disburse- ments for militant propaganda in this country. Undoubtedly there was a buffer between’ the embassy and the | “agents" who were stirring up labor troubles and destroying plants. Actually those ' most interested in | the charge of Jahncke are the people who were induced to strike in the | munitions ports. It would be Valuable to have a full story of how these trou- bles were managed and who got the money. The Building Bill. The Senate committee on pubilc buildings and grounds haa voted to report favorably the biil which au- thorizes expenditure of $50,000,000 over a period of not less-than . five years for new government buiidings at Washington. This bill was drafted by the Public Bulldings Commission, which was named to inquire into the government's need of quarters at ‘Washington, and the plans which it would carry out are approved by:the President. In messages to Congress he hgs reviewed the reasons for new public buildings here. y It has been explained many times, and so clearly that all members of Congress must understand, that gov- ernment-owned buildings,’ at Wash- ington do mot furnish room for the force employed by the government-to carry. on. public busin A large number of government offices are in rented buildings distant from each other and built neither for gublic nor private office purposes. Under this ar- rangement the government's rent bill is $700,000 a year. Serator Fernald of Malne, chairman of the: committee on public bulldings | and grounds, makes clear that the government must have more office room ‘at the Capital and. that it is | better business to own than to Tent. He also says, “We have government employes here today working in quar- ters that are little better than dog kennels.” Some of ‘the governmentowned bulldings at Washington should be torn down. If not torn down, they will fall down or burn. Thousands-of employes @re quartered in ‘“tem- porary” or “semipermanent” struc tures hurriedly set up when.we en- tered ‘the war. These are firetraps and of a character which the govern- | ment would not allow private parties | to build. The structures are, disinte- | sTating and the repair bills' are ex- cessive. Some of these buildings stand ‘In_public parks and discredita- bly disfigure them. 5 William M. Butler. ident Coolidge’s . recommenda~ tion to the Republican patidnal com- mittee of William M. Butler.to be ¢hairman of the committee will un- doubtedly be ratified by that body when the committee reorganizes after the national convention. Politiciang il regard his selection as a wise and appropriate cholce, since the pres- ent chairman {ndicated that he desired to relinquish the office after the nom- ination. d Significapce will be found in-the an- nouncement thus early by the Presi- dent of the man whom he wants to manage his campaign efter the nom- ination is made. It means that Presi- dent Coolidge has definitely and dis- tinetly assumed the leadership of his party, which is altogether; right and -proper. He knows what he wants, and does not hesitate to my so. He select- ed Representative Burton for tempo- rary chairman of the convention, and ‘he will name the permanent chairman. Mr. Butler has conducted the pre- ‘convention campalgn successfully and has made no error of ent or tactics. He is the President’s close and personal friend, and the two have much in common, through long years of association. The President can be assured of the devoted loyalty of his friend. - e President Coolidge is_going to run his own campaign for election and from within the circle of his own trusted associates.. The -party is en- titled to feel that it has a rnasterful hand at the steering wheel, and this thought should encourage confiderice and raise- the spirit of party aggres- siveness. 5 Speakers who use the radio are be- ginning to suspect that their remarks are shut off without thelr knowledge. A performer who * the hook™ should at least have the satisfaction of knowing what happened to him. A dark horse will not be regarded by Col. Bryan es having even an out- side chance in the New York conven- the water jump. ————— Inquiries, Business and Curiosity. ‘Two news items appear that tell the story of the distraction of senatorial official attention from ‘the work of legislation "to that ‘of investigation, One is that the sergeantatarms is required from time t6 time to make the rounds of the various . inquiry rooms to round up suffictent membera to constitute a quorum!. Sometimes when a member calls for a quorum ‘'considerable time is lost.in waiting for the arrival of the forty-ninth sena- ‘tor. whose presence is necessary o permit business to proceed. The other item is that s0 mapy are the inquiries from tourist sightseers at the Capitol thzt the eievator men In the main vullding and the Senate Office build. wiore zaethed of calling out the tlon ‘unless he can be relied on to take | . and directions of the various rooms | 1t hes just been noted that more visitors have ccme to Washington this spring than ever before. They have come by thousands from all parts of the country. Quite naturally many of them have wanted to see where the “seandal” inquiries are being conduct- ed. They have wanted to get a peep into the rooms.where withesses are teliag their astounding tales of cor- ruption and crookedness, Perhaps they hape to get glimpses of some of the chief actors in this melodrama that has held the boards in Washing- ton for several maonths. As a matter of fact, those who virtuaily get inside of the i:quisition chambers have been but poorly rewarded for their tfouble. The fireworks have all been exploded. In the matter of the quornm, how- ever, the inquiries are certainly slow- ing up business. To lase half an hour & day to wait for enough senators to comply with the rules is a serious drain upon 2 limited time that now remains before final adjournment. A tremendous ‘amoynt of work is to be done, and at the highest pace it will be hatd to do'it all before the gavels tall. ————————— The Southern Storm. Terrific storms have prevatled in the last few days in the southeastern states, with a heavy toll of death and a widespread wreckage of prop- erty. Usually storms of this char- acter range farther west in the valley section or on the plains. Their og- currénce on the seaboard: cannot be attributed to any abnormal condition such as the denudation-of the forests. They simply have come in exceptional force and have chanced to hit regions of settlement. They are doubtless all manifestations of the same atmospheric disturbance, sideswirls from a central storm, These eddies, called tornadoes when they are of sufficient force, are net uncommoh accompaniments of an intense “low" on the weather map. Much suffering will doubtless be caused by the devastation. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed along the path of the storms, estimated at over 1,000 miles in length. The states themselves will probably pro- vide means for relleving this distress, but national assistance may be needed. In that case the Red Cross may be depended upon for such service as can be. rendered, and if funds are necessary an appeal to the country will unquestionably yield an adequate return of cash. ————— It is evidently the earnest and logi- cal opinion of Representative Cabie of Ohio that our forelgn-born citizens should have educational facilities that will provide them with something more than instructions by a boss on how to vote. | ———————— | ‘This is the month when the District of Columbia taxpayer conscientious! pays his money regardless of the fact that he has 1o choice in the selection 6f government officials. PR | With all his experience in affairs of | state, the ex-kaiser has not been able | to offer a single practical suggestion as to how Germany may meet her | present difficulties. —_—— e Bobbed-halr bandits are appearing in various parts of the country, which | merely proves that a lady is likely to | follow the fashion regardless of her | chosen profession. e Returns in favor of Harry Daugh- erty are calculated to give senatorial investigators the impression that Ohio is one of the most incredulous states in the Unlon. ———————— Incoming ships are searched in vain for Bergdoll, who is by nature so in- considerate as not to, care how many reception committees he disappoints. e Uncle Sam, often alluded to as an’ ‘expert in dollar dipiomacy, never ar- renges a war settiement 8o as to col- lect dollars for himself. —————— It is declared that alcohol is no| longer crowding the jails, and also| that oil may be -the means of filling the vacancies. " SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JORNSON, ‘Water Power, ¥ou have romped: fn your youth, Friend River. ; You have jaughed with the smiling sun; And now it ig time to déliver Your share of the work that's done. You have wandered through pleasant places 2 Like the child in his thoughtless & play, . But now you're the man.who faces The world end-ts ;workaday. Making No Netdiess Enmities, nd you don't disapprové of bob- ' “Certainly not,” answered Senator Sorghum. “The vote of @ woman with bobbed hair éounts for just as much &s anybody else’s.” Jud - Tunkins - says - congressmen ought to have ‘more pay, so as to prevent the home folks from feeling worried about trusting so much im- portant business ‘to & low-salaried Everything Attended To. ‘The primaries permit no chance Of guesses going wrong. IT do my cheering in advance And rest all summier long. _Art Calculations. “Wouldn't you like to'be a great operatic star.with a.large salary?” “No,” answered Miss Cayenne. “If 1 were going in for art:I believe I'd prefer to be a beautiful chorus lady and make a series of wealthy mar- “I 'see you Have a mint patch.” “I also have: & rusty corkscrew, said Uncle Bill Bottletop. “They don't either of 'em mean a thin, “Dar ain’ no end to dishere problem,” said Uncle Eben. ‘hougtn® “Look at ing have had to adopt the departmer. | do money it takes jes' to apend & few P Aours {n @ circus lent™ | a mile high in New York Answers to Questions " BY FREDERIC 3. HASKIN Q. On what date did the faderal troops enter Alexandria, Va., at the’ beginfing of the eivil war?—T. C. A. The¥ entered duming the night of May 23-24, 1861, and the city was taken on the 24th. . - - B sy : Q.. How .can;a panama hat. .be. cleaned?—C. B, B. .+ A. A‘mixture of ‘three parts ben- 2ine to ome: part magnesia, applied with a smail brush, is a successful cleaner for panam# hats Scrubbing| with soap and. water is-also effective, rinsing and wiping each small area as washed. % in Q. What {s the difference between -guardian and & trustes?—>M. S, . A. A -guardian is always «m zotual ‘person; ‘while & ‘trustee may be a. person’ or-an artificial creation such as a trust company or other corpo- ration. : Q. Why won't trees grow well in a town where soft coal smoka and. goal dust are in evidence?—D. W. T. A. The Department of Agriculture says that soft coal smoke deposits a_ coating of carbon and coal ash upon the leaves of trees which inter- feres with the natural functioning of the breathing pores of leaves. Smooth-leaved troes, such as ever- greens, suffer most because of the coal-smoke deposit that lies in close contact with the leaf surface. ‘The hairy or wooly leaf-coverings of some other trees prevent the forming of a compact coating over the leaf sur- faces. Suoch trees endure a smoky atmosphere much longer. Q. ' Has Princeton University al- Wways been so-calle@?—J. P. H. A, When chartered in 1746 this school was known as the College of New Jersey, and was located ‘at Elizabethtown It was moved to Princeton in 1756, but it was not un- til October 22, 1896, that the corpo- rate title was changed to Princeton University. Q. How many Irishmen fought for England in the world war?—E. T. A A . total of 275582 Irishmen from Ireland served . in the British army and navy, .according to the Irish National Bureau. This was 6.5 per cent of Ireland’s total population. Q. What are the requirements for jury sérvice?—M. M. S. A. To serve on a grand ju Tmust be twenty-one yaars of-age, but under sixty-five; must be able to read, write and understand English. must be a ecitizen of. the United States and a resident of the county within which the jury is to act and must not ha:3 been convicted of any cfime involving moral turpitude. ., From what part of the tree is flg?.\red walnut made?—I. H. A. In the avéerzge tres the only place that a decided figure is found is in the stump. ' Figured walnut is algo made from larke growths, known as _burls, which may be found occa- sionally on the trees. All these pieces | of Wood are used 4s veneers. | Q—Just what constitutes a fam- fly?7—F. T. S | A, The term family as used by the | census signifies a group of persons, | Whether related by blood or not, who | live together s one household, usu- ally gharing the same table. One person 1iving alone is counted a fam- ily, and, on_ the other hand, all the occupants of a hotel, bearding house r lodging house, that 1 Oiual piace of abode, and all the in mates of an institution, however nu merous, are treated as constituting single family. ~The private or natural family commonly, comprises husband, wife and children. ountains more tha Are there m O S A Marcy, a peak of the dacks, with an elevation of 3,34 is.the only mountuin .in New state that is a mile or more in Relght. . How long have they been hav 1ng g‘:\f tournaments in Englandi— F. B L ] A. Thé frst British open tourna- s played in 1860 and the first mentowen BEAL " ane ATet Dritish Women's tournament took place in 1393, = . Why afen’t clouds frozen when 10 San Simosphore. ‘below 3 e but says that A._The weather bureau Says S clouds in an atmosphere whose tem- perature Is below 32> generally do consist of particles of snow. Q. 1s Neufchatef cheeSe a cream cheese?—G. U- A. Neufchatel cheese Is not listed as 4 cream cheese, since cream cheese | is usually made from milk having about § per cest fat, while Neufchatel | Cheese is made from milk having only 4 per ceat fat. . What is the Greek equivalent for “Lord have mercy upon us,” which is used in chureh services?—F. R. . A. The Greek translation for this expression is “Kyrie Eleison.” Q.. What foods will add iron to the blood?—J. G. R. A. Foods rich in iron are dried| Mma beans, dried navy beans, beef- steak, eggs, entire wheat grain, oat- meal, dried peas, prunes, raisins and spinaoh. Q. If a colored man went to.the North Pole with Admiral Peary, what was his namei—B. A- - A. One member of ths Peary party was Matthew A, Henson, a colored man. Q: ‘What is meant by Tousins-ger- man?- A._ Cousins-german are first cous- n 3. | . What 15 the story about the se- poy rebellion belng . caused by the, zepoys being forced to, eat meat?—J. 0. R. A. Sepoys ars the, native British Indian soidiers. In religion they are for the most part Mohajmmedan and Brahman. One considers the cow sacred, the other is not permitted to eat pork. The Enfield rifles which were put in the hands of the.sepovs had - cartridges: greased with tallow and lard. It was necessary for the soldiers to bite thess cartridges with, their teeth. On May 10, 1857, the we- poys mutinied in Meerut, when native troops rose and liberated . some of their cemrades who had been impris- oned for refusing-to handle the Eng- lish cartridges. * Q. What. is"it-in the waters of some rivers and springs that petrifies w00d?7—R. A: R...s = L A The bureiu oF cheml: siys that it is the lime salts, and, in some. instances, eilica, in the waters of some rivers and springs that petri- fies wood. « N3 v Fredens J. Haskin is° emploved by this ~pdper to hondie the inquiries of our readers and you are invited to cadl |’ on him ‘as freely and as often as y“:.n please. Ask ongthing that is a matter of fact and the authority will be quoted you. There is no charge for this service. Ask whai you want, sign your full ame and gddress and ‘inclose 2 cents in stamps for return postsge. ‘Address Frederic . Haskin, or, Xho Star Informotion Burcou, 1220 North Capitol street. . How General Became -~ " Known as “U. 8.” Grant To the Bditog of The Star: . . An- article in Bunday's Star about Gen. Grant—spedking of his name U, S, Grant"=Seemed ‘fo bs in the dark a8 to the reason for it. ; My grandfather. Gen. Haines, was ber of Congress amd narhed 3.:.“0-}—1 z8°8 anfo: at West Point. The pomination was mads the-day be- fore Gen. nes' term . expired—he | rail, FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1924 2 ~IN. TODAY’S The House bill to amend section 28 of the merchant marine act of 1920, introduced by Representative Walter Newton of Minnesota, has been favorably reported out by the com- mittee on merchant marine and fish- eries, and will be before the House within a few days. In the Senate it is supported by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. Extensive hearings by the committee were concluded last Sat- urday and recommendation that the 1| bill pass was unanimous. This amendment modifies the act authorizing a lower through rail rate ipments billed through for ocean export. The present law makes o discrimination as to what ship is to carry the export. The Newton amendment requires that it must go under the American flag in order to get the lower rail rate, when the Shipping Board certifies that it can supply adequate bottoms to carry the trafiic offered. 1t is an effort to stim- ulate the American mérchant marine ‘with preferential rates over forel competitors and thus provide traffic for the hundreds of American ships now lying idle. * % ¥ % The application of the discrimi- natory clause of the bill to Amer- ican shipping, depending wupon = certification of the Shipping Board to the Interstite Commerce Commis- slon that it can supply adequate ships to carry the commerce, will probably be postponed to July 1. 1925, in order to give ample time to assure shipping facilities. At pres- ent there are only forty privately owned American ships and some 400 government owned ships _engaged in transoceanic trafic. There are government owned vessels lying idle, and it fs from these ldlc ves- sels that the Fleet Corporation would provide the American bottoms to take the place of the foreign vessels which it is the intent of the legise lation to displace in American ex- port trade. Of these 900 idle ships, about 200 could easily be put in com- mission, though only fifty are to- w in spot condition for immediate A proposal that the new plan be tried out firt in only certain ports of the country has been rejected, be- cause the ~Constitution expressly prohibits any disorimination be- tween states in the matter of com- merce regulations. Article I, sec- tion 9: “No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one state over those of another.” This compels the complete under- taking to carry all the American ex- ports or none, for the differential in the rail rate will throw all to Amer- fcan ve sels as soon as the law goes into effact. Exception is made in the certification of the Shipping Board regarding wheat. There could not be supplied enough American vessels for all of our wheat exports, hence the lower rail rate will be permitted on wheat whether it goes by American or foreign ships across the ocean. The same privilege is not accorded to flour—it must go under thc American flag on the ocean or lose the through rate by and this apparent discrimina- tion against American millers calls forth the irst American compiaint. * ¥ x x All is not harmony amongst the witnesses and experts who have ap- peared at the hearings. Some who professed to represent only American Interests stand charged with being more interested in foreign shipping. | These contend that the proposed dis- crimination in favor of American ships In our. export traffic will be countered abroad by discrimination against our vessels in retaliation. The reply given is that British ship- ping especially has always gone the limit in preventing American com- Boss in Death of In the death of Charles F. Murphy, undisputed leader of historic Tam- many Hall for more than twenty years. editors see the passing of the last of the old-time, big political | bosses. ‘Probably no more Interesting fig- ure has been in the background and the foreground of American politics’ in generations than Charles F. Mur- Phy” in the opinion of the Albany News (independent Republiean), while the Little Rock Arkansas Democrat (Democratic) characterizes him as “probably the most picturesque char- acter in the nation's political his- tory.”” The fact that he was undis- puted boss of Tammany Hall for twenty-one years and seven months, according to the Springfield Republi- can (Republican), “is testimony to re- markable qualities of personality, or- ganizing . and executive power and diplomacy.” The strongest tribute which ‘can be paid his leadership of Tammany, ‘the Scranton Republican (independent Republican) clalms, “is that Mo ‘one made serious effort to disputs X dtfring all the years that ho headed the- organization.” The strength of his leadership, the Min- neapolis Tribune (Republican) sug- gests, "lay largely in his playing the ‘game squarely with his political friends and with the lisutenants who worked under him to keep Tammany & going concern within the Demo- cratic party.” The St. Paul Pioneer Press (ifdependent) indorses this wiew and adds, “The length of his ca~ ‘feer, thé comparative exemption which Be enjoyed from personal abuse and the success of Tammany, with few interruptions, wiiile he was lead. er, are evidence of his high qualities. It 'may be significant of progress, con- tinues the Newark News (independ- ent), “that for the last ten years, un- der 'tire - guidance of Murphy,' Tam- many has given less cause for sharp criticism”; furthermore, the Spring- field News (Democratic) believes “the vast majority will agree that the wel- Yare of Tammany was promoted by one so taciturn, self-contained and seemingly impervious to denunciation as Murphy.” * ok k% Referring to him as “the softest man of fron who ever lived,” the Bos- ton Transcript (independent Repub- lican) declares “he wore the Iron heel, but he did not put it conspicu~ ously on the table before him; he was at least outwardly, and In a certain fm:;lofi-y morally, an tmprovemedt on Croker and Tweed." To whicl the Cincinnati Times-Star (Republi- can) adds: “His potency was of the silken .strings of - invisible power rather than of the actuality of the fist.” , The Cleveland Plain Dealer (inde- pendent Democratic) admits the evil of the boss system, but concedes that “as long as we must have bosses it !is well to have men of the type of ‘Murphy,” because “Murphy was So strong _that he did not have to bar- gain; he was so mighty that he did not have to be concillatory’; more- over, “he was a shrewd judge of men; he could appraise both their ability and itheir fealty.” The Baltimore Evening Sun (Independent Democrat- ic) believes, further, that “the mass eithérsforgot or did mot know Grant's QOrst name. He was known to every one a8 Ulysses, and .grandfather, knowing that Grant's mother was & Simpson, naturaily thought -he. bore that name. ' So the paper was made out --U?n- il-nangmL E of people in New York looked more fo Bim tor justice and for charity than they 1ooked to the laws on the statute books,” and “he capitalized their: falth in him, but he did not betray it ~ Once Murphy took the reins of leadership. the ' Lynchburg Advance (Democratic) polnts out, “he Editors See Passing SPOTLIGHT BY PAUL V. COLLINS merce, and no further acts of retal- {ation would be possible. There may be tate war on imports into America, but even Britisk vessels are being erated at a 1jss, and, with Uncle Sam holding the purse, our ships can stand as much loss on west- ward traffic as can our competitors if any nation undertakes a war to drive us off the seas. A survey of eight British lines with an_invest- ment of $50,000,000, making 337 voy- ages, showed a loss of 1.87 per cent. Other countries show equal losses, in spite of the quietude of Amerfcan ships, which has given to the for- eigners our traffic to the amount of a million dollars a day, as stated by Vice President Plummer of the Ship- ping Board, The whole world came out of the war with surplus ships, and there {s no reason why the United States should be chief among the idlers in shipping, claim the propo- nents of this program. * * % ¥ In a speech by Mr. Plummer before the marine securities committee of the American Bankers' Association of America, which he made yesterday, he called attention to the brightening Prospects of shipping, as testified by the Journal of the American Bankers' Assoclation. In the editorial he quoted it was pointed out by Lloyds that Argentine shippers had been paying such attractive rates that ships had almost abandoned Canadian grain shippers. “Today,” said Mr. Plummer, “the rate on grain out of Boston, where i Shipping Board vessels are operating, i 17 cents per quarter le: than the rate charged on grain out of Mon- treal. ® & ® ] cite this as one more Proof that the withdrawal of Amer- n merchant ships from the for- | eign commerce of this country will mean an increase in transportation charges which will cost our people, | producers and consumers, much more than any losses the continued opera- tion of these ships by the board can bring.” | * % % The world situation in regard to idle ships is improving in spite of England's activity in building last Year 1,395,000 tons, while the United States built only 91,685 tons. Idle shipping of the world decreased last year 2,200,000 gross tons, of which decrease more than half is credited to the United States. Rates were only 4 to 7 per cent higher than in 1911-1913, which was too low for many of our ships to undertake com- missions. With the new discrimina- tion in favor of American ships more of the idle vessels can be put into service without great increase in in- vestment. * * ¥ * Two committees of goyermment of- ficials have been appointed by Presi- dent Coolidge to study the policies of the Shipping Board. One committes, composed of Secretaries Mellon, Weeks, Wilbur and Hoover, together with Chairman O'Conner of the Ship- |ping Board and Admiral Palmer, {president of the Emergency Fleat Corporation, will study the recondi- tioniag of the government fleet. The second committee is to study the co- ordination of rail and ocean traflic and conference rates. There is to be a change in the Shipping Board, whereby its regula- tory functions will be separated from the operating functions—the Emer- geney Fleet Corporation becoming separate from the Shipping Board. The Fleet Corporation will have a Coolidge and will be composed of as- sistant secretaries of the Departments of the Treasury, Commerce, War and Navy. While the Shipping Board would probably have difficulty in regulating rates of foreign vessels, it can pos- sibly reach that end partly through port dues and demurrage. - (Copyright, 1924, by Paul V. Collina)’ of Old-Time Tammany Head | was not content to capturs only New York city for his party, but extended his activities over the entire state, and the political honors won by the Democrats during his regime arp Pproof of his ability.” - * x x % “How much of Tammany’s sucoess and eflisiency may be laid to Mur- phy's silent supervision can never be measured,” (independent) feels, because it is doubtful if a reform-loving -people will ever bring theinselves to pay many tributes to the genius of a' Tammany boss, but a well run city is tribute enough.” As the Hartford Times (Demooratic) sees Murphy, “he was no idealist” because “he had no deep interest in great principles or in abstract political theories; his business was to keep the machine in- tact, win victories and distribute the spolls,” and though “he prided him: self upon the integrity of his word that was about the extent of his creed.” ~The Roanoke World-News (Democratic) indorses this opinien and continues, “He had no fllusions regarding the possibilities of ‘uplift government, or of good, clean gov- ernment. and the value of them, to & political organization whose pri- mary purpose is to keep the opposi- tion” ‘on the outside looking fn.’'” In fact, “he belonged to that great un- official-class which has too often ruled in this country, a class that stands Dbehind and above the goyernment, controlling, and, as a rule, corrupt- ing 1t,” according to the Indiznapolis News ' (independent), which reg; Mr. Murphy as the “almost perfect type of this class of representative.” The Philadelphia Bulletin (inde- pendent Republican) compares Mur- | pny with Croker and suggests that “he was crafty and reticent rather than aggressive and free-spoken as was Croker, but he knew his time and fitted into the dominant cur- rents of latter day politics better than his predecessor would have done.” The Providence Journal (in- dependent) mentions also that “he Was feariess and persistent; after the most discouraging reverses he was always ready to begin straightway the task of preparing for triumph a little farther on.” The Nashville Banner (independ. ent) agrees to this view and assumes that “Tammeny fe sure to evolve fit successor, but not one who wi devote himself more completely t6 the task.” Although comceding Mur- phy a great leader, “in the sense that he was tireless as an organizer and adroit as a tacticlan,” the Des Mdines Tribune (independent Republicen) goes on to say, “He belonged to a type of molitical leader t 1s out- of-date, ‘'a leader that s his ganization solely ‘for political ecnds and reaps his rewan In patronage and offices.” Granting that Murphy's rule was compavatively ndld and that he had amiable traits, which bound his friends to him, the New Vork Times. (independent Demo- cratic) insists that “nothing of all this should make us forget that he was the exemplar and beneficlary of a system which, without officlal Te- sponsibility, degrades our official life, and wiiich condemns New York city to suffer’ from maladministra- tion and the Yowest moral standards in public office.” The Jacksonville Journal (Democratic) {s confident “thousands will mourn his passing,” that “all must attest to the genius he possessed,” and that “none caa deny he did many good works; but the " system he represented, which suffers mightily i the loss of so able an exponent, will wither, and men to come will rejoice at that” 1 president to be named by President | the Detroit News | i it - sole business the building of an or- |+ BY WILLIAM_IVY PARIS, April 20—“Ne Frenchman served” has been & gemsral rTule in German shops and restaurants since the occupation of the Ruhr. Thers ‘was one Berlin restaurateur, in par- ticular, whose establishment was a rendezvous for allled diplomats and the well-to-do section of Berlin's foreten population, and he was among the ringleaders in the boycott against the French, A few weeks ago, when the French franc was tumbling, this purveyor of cavigr,’ shell fish, terrapin, cocktails and " other ' table delicacies- decided that it would be to his advantage to take a trip to Paris and lay in & pro- vision of French wines and cham- pagnes, since rentemarks were fetch- ing fancy prices on the Faris exchange market. At the same time he determined to visit those Paris restaurants that are particularly noted for their ingenuity in separating their customers from their bank rolls. A few tips on the successful’ management of his own establishment might be picked up in this way. 1 Heé probably thought he was travel- ing incognito, but his fame had pre- ceded him. And 80 on the day after his arrival in Paris, as he was lunch- ing in’ a place not far from the bou- levards, renowned the world over for the magnificence of its prices, he was surprised when the head waiter ap- proached his table and said: “Are you mnot a confrere? Don't Yyou run a restaurant in Berlin?" He was not only surprised, bat flat- tered. Yes. he answered, such was the case.. He not only ran a restau- rant_in Berlin, hut he thought he d say he ran the best one. T thought so,” the head waiter continued, quietly. “I was in Berlin a short fime ago, and intended to dine at your place, but I was told you had some peculiar rules that might make it difficult for me to do s0. Well, we have no such rule here, and I do-not wish to interrupt your enjoyment of the food you have before you, but it might bs more ugreeable for both of us if you did not come here again.” eedless to say, he did not go again’ But when he returned to Ber- lin, he proclaimed loudly to zil who would listen: “The French are wonderful people. I was treated like a prince in Paris. We have been very stupid, we Ger- mans, We have treated the French very badly. We should follow their example, and treat them just as well in Berlin as they treat us in Paris.” And the sign, No Frenchmen served,” has come down. ¢ * x x ¥ It certainly is true that Germans are treated better in France than French in Germany. But there are certain Germans in Paris against whom the police have decided to act, and act severely. Nor is anybody likely to complain except the individ- uals dffected. ‘ who loiter about the tourist and steamship offices and offer their serv- ices to foreigners. They are willing to show the Louvre, or Napoleon's tomb, or Montmartré, or the other and less innocent tourist attractions of the capital, according %o_the tasts of the customers. Visitors have been asking for years why they were not sWept off the streets, for every visitor has the annoying experience of being followed Dby these rather doubtful- looking individuals who whisper sug- gestions of the “sights™ they will re- veal for 50 francs, and furtively offer to_sell obscene postcards. These guides speak all languages, | it ‘seems, but the police say they are mainly of German nationality. eared that they do France a great deal of harm by running down the art treasures of Paris, by emphasiz- ing that “Napoleon stole this statue from Germany and that one from Italy,” and by placing too mueh stress on the wickeder aspects of Parisian night life. And so henceforth, the police have decreed, nobody can act as a_gulde without a special license 2nd badge, and, furthermore, no licenses will be |issued except to French citizens. And the police record of the applicant will be carefully investigated, which is & precious guarantee to the visitor who Wants to be spared the risk of having his cicerone “pinched” in the midst of an evening's entertainment, and himself taken into custody s 4 pos- sible accomplice. It is a thing that has happened to some tourists in the pas Park Addition Asked. Meadow on East of Rock Creek Park Proposed. "To the Editor of The Star: I want to tell you how much I have enjoyed and mppreciated your editorials on saving the wild flowers, especially the dogwod and redbud. There is a meadow on the east boundary of Rock Creek Park be- tween Blagdon avenue and the beau- tifyl ravine that goes under Tiger bridge ‘hat, it seems to me, the peo- ple of the District ought to do all in their power to hawe made a part of Rock Creek Park. Phis meadow is a source of beauty. the year round. It has been the playground of the gentle bobwhite and meadow lark for years. Almost every wild flower known to this limate can there be found jn its eason. . Hgndreds of nature lovers walk these. meadows dally and the clear ®all-of the bob-white, whose whistle Sugeests its name, has charmed them from daybreak until dark. Children come through the spring, summer and autdmn and spend hours among the meadow flowers that bloom here wnd Jeave laden down with these wild beauties, that are unlike the wood- land flowers that perish from being recklessly picked and torn up by the rots, but much picking makes them bloom more luxuriantly. The dandelion is the first to charm them, then the violets and bluets. By the last of April the golden but- tercups nod among the grasses, In May the bright-face daisies and sweet clovers cover these meadows. June brings the handsome Queen Ann's lace and skull-caps, butter and eggs and the evening primrase. With July comes wild sunflowers, smooth and downy fox gloves, common and the dainty moth mullién, purple geradia, the dustfiower and the milk weeds, when the brilliant butterly weed makes the summer landscape look almost tropical. August adds purple to the rainbow of color that floods these meadows from springtime un- til frost, and starts with the iron- weed, which is soon followed by the tawny orange of the golden rod— “All_over highland and lowland . The charm of the golden rod Seme of us call it autumn, . - Ana others call it God.” Then come the asters, of which the white heath aster is the first, making the meadows look a8 if they had been sprinkled Wwith. gnow flakes. ‘hen the golden aster -and hardy purplé ones, which last with the golden rod, until heavy {rosts turn these beauties to_shades of tan and mauve, In November and through the win- ter Months these adows are still charming. The withered flower stalks of the golden rod, Queen Ann's lace, life everlasting and the asters are thipgs of beauty. If examined clbsely” they will be found covered with dry flower cups, a-bit scared from the seeds they ‘have born; but beautiful emblems of what they oncé had been. P %y § Above -these gray flower ‘clusters and henna grasses tall stalks of the milkweed may be seen, full of half- oren pods, looking as’if a flock of Dirds mad iighted on the ary stalke pods, full of beautiful brown seed at~ tached to silken wings, arranged in exquisite order to a eentral division of the pod. These and many other winged séed race up the meadow path with autumn Teaves and sprays of creaping grass or tumble weed. This meadow 15 alluring through &1l the season, but especially 8o in the springiime, when the Oute-like A These are the pestiferous “guides” | PRESIDENT DEFENDS ' HOOVER FISH BILL | A Urges Passage of Measure, Backe by Becretary, to Prevent Mo- nopolies and Privileges CITES PLEA IN MESSAGE Coolidge Declares Action Vital t: Protect Fisheries. o it Taking sides = with Secretars Hoover in advocating legislation tu gonserve the Alaskan fisherfes, President Coolidge sent a letter yesterday to Chairman Jones of thc Senate commerce committee urginz prompt passage of the pending: bil! ta prevent monopolies and specia privileges in the fisherfes and the establishment of preserves. The letter of the President wis made public at the White House and followed closely on the statemen: issued yesterday by Secretary Hoo- ver, challenging foes of the bill oppose the measure on_ its merits ratter than “slandering the men who have the responsibility of protecting the fishing interests.” “In my message «t the opening of Congress.” the President said, “L called attention to the necessity for logislation to preserve the Alaska fisheries from destruction. Legisl tion to prevent the continued ex- ploitation of these fisheries has been urged by Secpetary Hoover and the Department. of Commerce for thr last threo years, Condition Precarious. “It_has been supported by exhaue- tive -sctentific inquiry, by personal investigation of members of -the House and Senate in Alaska, and the whole subject has been traversed in public hearings on frequent occa- #sions before congressional commit- tees. These fisheries are in an ex- tremely precarious condition. The salmon are being rapidly depleted in many sections and are in grave dan- ger of extinction.. The situation ean- not be met under existing law. “Today practically one-half the fishing areas are absolutely unregu- lated and unprotected, open to pri vate exploftation in its most ruthless form, for there is no law which mar be applied to them. The remaining areas are covered by reservations established by President Harding two years ago and by regulations which have limited the establishment of new canneries and curtailed the operations of those already existing. It has been frequently stated by the department that thess executive measures are of a purely temporary nature. They are wholly inadequate to meet the permanent necessity. They are justified by e exigency of the need to prevent the extension of further destructive operation pending action by Congress and they have served that purpose. Defends Heaver Bill. “H. R. 8143 offers a solution or these difficulties. It has passed the House of Representatives, been re- ported with an amendment by unani- mous vote of your committee, and is now pending before the Senate, I | York Times and am advised that this bill in its pres ent form affords ample powers fo the preservation of this great b fast-fatling source of food supply for the American peaple, It necessarily | means the curtailing of fishing oper- 1t is | tions. ‘No conservation measure can be worth the name unless it reduces tha amount of fish that may be taken and thus provides. for sufficient proporti of escapement to the spawning ground: l? assure the runs for future genera- tions. “Any reduction necessarily means gac- rifice for those now enguged in these fisheries, but selfish considerations must always yield to the public interests. In the long run it is in the interest of both canners and fishermen that the industry should be preserved, and that it ehould be placed on = sound and stable basis of contribution to American food supply, and that it should become the basis of a permanent livelihood to the people en- gaged in it. “I cannot too strongly urge upon yon the necessity for the prompt passage of this legislation, as the fishing eeason for this year is rapidly approaching.” Defends Wild Flowers. Writer Pleads That They Be Left for Others to Enjoy. To the Editor of The Star: The many lovers of wild flowers a4 highly grateful to you for the splen did articles that have appeared i: the columns of your paper during thd past few weeks. We feel that much g0od has been accomplished, and ye if you had been with me last Sundaj you would have felt discouraged. T! dogwood has-not yvet reached its ful beauty, but I saw a great many pec ple with large broken pleces, all wilt ed, even before they reached homel Much of it was of & green cast, no yet having bloomed. I saw one lady ith a large bunch of broken lim and as she sat down in the woods & enjoy the book she had brought alon she threw the blossoms on the groun to wither and die. The redwood tree| were in their full beauty, and man| cars had it tied on the sides, an| hundreds of people on the street ca: bad the blessoms hurrying home. saw in the woods in the vicinity g Cabin John bridge trees all broked Really it discourages one who lovs nature to visit the woods at this se son of the year. In a recent issue of the New Yo Times, on the editorial page, und “Topics_of the Times,” appeared article I wish every one could read “Well Intentioned, But Most Unwise] Referring to the arbutus the friend of President Coolldge had sent hi from Plymouth, Mass., it sald: “T motive was right but the act Wi reprehensible, for, as its result, thej probably will be no May flowers at in the neighborhood of Plym next year” If President Coolli: would say something like this to t well meaning donors of his bouque) perhaps they would heed his word The scolding Of the newspapers af of afl hotanists and real flower lovel seems to affect the parbarians not all. And what is most Irritating abo them is their delusion that they 1o ‘pature’ and the wild flowers. both they are the deadly enemies.” This Is to the point, and it is too strong. Finally, these people mu read the papers and see the effod .that are being made.-to protect thd ‘beautiful flowers. If they do, how cf they destroy them? I hope. Presidd Coolidge will see the article in the if he does, I 14 sure he will speak a’ yord in beh is noble cause. oF Ahepp JOBN ‘P.“WAGER song of the meadow lark, singl] SVer and over again “"Tis Spring the Year ‘Iseen-tseeur,” minc] with the refreshing call of the i white over these clover-scented fie through the day. And at night Bong of the “spring-peepers” ari from stagnant pools, to be joi later in the season by the cheery of the cricket. And at sunset in & mer when Venus is her highest fireflies sileatly rise by the thousa: from this b area. Let us do all we can to save beautiful meadow from the destr] tion which would Inevitahly be f dent to_continued bullding devell ment. It is a spot that has bee tonic for the city-bound nature 19 for years, for it is near the hea the ‘city amd conVenlent for who have only an hour to spend God's wonderful outdoors. A through these mendow Daths week through the flowering of the year reveals 'God plan of things, which, In, f8 the true purposs of iy " dty’s park oo L BRIGG