Evening Star Newspaper, May 31, 1924, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Ealtion. WASHINGTON, D. C. SATURDAY.......May 31, 1924 THEODORE W. NOYES. .. .Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Comggny Business Office, 11th St. and Pennsyivanty dve. New York Office: 110 East 42nd Si Chicago Office: Tower Building. Buropean Oftice: 16 Regent 8t., London, England. ‘The Evening Star, with the Sunday morning edition, e delivered by carriers within the at 60 cents per mon daily only, 4% ts per month: Sunday onply, 20 cents pe month Orders may mail or tele- phone Main 5000. Collection is made by car- riers at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday..1 yr, $8,40: 1 mo., 70¢ Daily only 2 . §6.00 ; 1 mo., 50¢ Sunday onl . $2140 1 mo,, 20¢ All Other States. Daily and Sunday.1 yr, $10.00 1 mo., Daltiy oaly ......1yr. $7.00:1mo. Sunday only 1¥i. $3.00%1 mo. Member of the Associated Press. ‘The Associated Press is exclusively entitled ta the uxe for republication of all news dis- tehes credited o 1t or not otherwise credited in this puper and also the local news pub- lahed ‘herein. " All “rights of publication of apecial dispatches herein are also reserved. —_— Let Congress Seek the Facts! In 1878, after a long inquiry into the relations between the District of Co- lumbia and the federal government, the needs of the former and the obliga- tion of the latter, Congr provided in a statute, which was regarded and ccepted as the organic act for the National Capital, that 50 per cent of all the appropriations for its main- tenance and development should be paid out of the United States Trea Under that act Washington, long suffering from inadequate support, de- veloped and gr 1t became a city worthy of American pride as the seat of government. as the national center. In the course of time, however, opposi- tion developed to the continued divi- =ion of expense between the United States and the District taxpayers. That opposition arose from a misunder- standing of the taxation capacity of the people Washington. Exemp- 075 were made from time to particulars, in certain items, the whole cost being thrown upon the District. “Then an attack was made against the ratio, which was denounced as too high for the government and too low for the District. As a result ury this question was re- ferved to a joint congressional com- mittee, which in 1915, after an exhaus- tive inquiry. reported in faver of the principle and terms of the fixed p portionate ratio. Notwithstanding this finding the efforts to break down the act of 1878 persisted. and the ratio was provisionally changed from 50-50 to 60-40. Two years ago that new ratio was written into the bill making ap- propristions for the ensuing fiscal vear, with a provision that for five vears taxation should be at an in- ercased vate in order to accumulate a sufficient fund to enable the District to meet drafis for its percentage dur- ing the first portion of the fiscal year. | That arrangement was regarded as, in effect, an agrecmient that there should be no change in the fiscal relations durlng that period. Now. suddenly, without warning, without hearing, without any con- Rideration of the matter on its meri the House has adopted a provisi which wipes out the principle of @ inite proportionate contribution and substituted lump-sum provision. a principle which, if adopted. leaves the District completely at the mercy of a cheese-parins omical Congress without any whatever against the necessity of paying taxes in exorbitant amounts to meet heavy and increasing appropriations for Capi- tal maintenance. Contrasy to confident expectations, the Senate. instead of striking out this unfairly adopted inequitable provision, with its possibilities for grievous harm to the local taxpayers. has compro- mised the matter by increasing the lump-sum appropriation from eight to fourteen “or in lieu thereof 40 per centum of the sums named in the bill. Thus the provision remains as a lump-sum plan, though increased in amount. A compromise in confer- ence is suggested as a logical outcome of the difference. which would leave 1t &till @ lump-sum proposition. If this course is followed one more step will be taken toward whittling down the federal government's con- . tributton for the upkeep of the Na- tional City, which was begun in the exemptions from 50-50 some years ago, was continued in the further exemp- tions of particular f.ems, and finally reached the int of reducing the ratio. It is urged by those who favor lump- sum eppropriations that the District has much to gain from them, that Congress will be more liberal with fed- eral money if the ratio is removed. - But, alas for hopes in this direction, there is nothing whatever in the rec- ord of the past half-century to warrant such expectation. On the contrary, the disposition has been to lessen, not to increase, the government's share. It has been to regard the District tax- payer as favored with low assessments and low rates, as relieved in compari- son with other cities of a fair share of municipal maintenance burden. In view of this record of persistent attacks upon the principle under which, despite the variations from it, ‘Washington has become the pride of America, should not Congress now frankly determine the right relation- ship, between the federal government and the Federal City? Should it not once again, as it did in 1878, and again in 1915, deliberately ascertain the equitles of this situation by a thorough inquiry? Whatever may be the lump sum agreed upon, if one is the result % of the present conference, there should be a provision in the District appro- . priation biil for a joint congressional Antestigation to seek the facts as to District taxation and the District's ability to bear Capital maintenance burden and the obligations of the gov- ernment to carry a part of that bur- den. miliions. Pass the Naval Bill. A disquicting suggestion comes that the appropriation bill recently passed by the House, authorizing ad- ditions to the Navy to restore th 5-5-3 treaty ratio, may be defeated i , the Benate. It is reported that Dems hand some members of the farm bloc will resist the appropriation unless farm reilef Is extended. It is also com- plained that there is not enough time in which to pass the measure and ad- Jjourn by June 7. The suggestion as to lack of time is not well founded. There is nothing in the bill warranting or requiring long debate. The House passed the measure in one day. Neither is there anything abstruse in the proposition involved in the bill. It is purely a measure of national defense, not of extravagance or in any way smacking of militarism. President Coolidge and the naval authorities indorse the bill and urge its passage. There is reason to believe that the dominant sentiment of this country approves the object of the islation. It has been shown that the United States is weaker in naval power than is authorized by the solemn treaty of the arms conference. That should not be allowed to continue to exist. Adding the cruisers and rehabilitat- ing other vessels, as proposed by the bill, is only an act of fairness to our. own nation. Senators. it is submitted, will be taking a long chance of incur- ring rebuke by their constituents if this bill is allowed to fail. i — . A Chameleon Candidacy. Petitions asking Senator La Follette to be an independent candidate for President are being culated in Chi- cago, and from that center elsewhere by a national committee organized in the interest of his candi In ex plaining that the petitions do not ask him to head a third party, and that it is understood that he will not consent to do so on a national scale. S. J. Konenkampge, who is described in the dispatches as county chairman of the conference for progressive political ac- tion. rather adds to the confusion re- sarding Mr. La Follette’s status than clears it. He says that whoever may be nominated at Cleveland. La Follette will be the “regular Republican candi- date in Wisconsin.” He says also that he understands that La Follette will be the choice of the Farmer-Labor varty in Minnesota, and probably of the same party in North and South Dakota. But in other states, says Konenkampge. La Follette’'s name will be entered simply as an inde- pendent without party designation. According to this, La Follette will ibe a Republican in Wisconsin. a Farmer-Laborite in Minnesota and the Dakotas and an independent without party designation elsewhere. It is dif- ficult to see how he could stand as a Republican even in his own state, not- withstanding the large preponderance of the primary vote in his favor. He will not be the party nominee on the national tickef, according to present reckoning. The name of Mr. Coolidge, assuming that he is nominated week after next at Cleveland, will go on the ballot as the Republican candidate, with electors pledged to vote for him in case they receive a plurality of the votes in November. There cannot well be two Republican candidates for President on the Wisconsin ticket. Nor would it be entirely consistent for the senator to be a Republican candidate even in his own state when he has so recently turned his back upon both parties in his pronuncia- mento. A chameleon candidacy is proposed, | it would seem, a candidacy taking its color from the soil on which it rests. This has been tried before, though not in quite such frank terms. Gen. Scott, in his ijll-starred campaign for the presidency in 1852 against Franklin Pierce, made a tour of the country and trimmed his speeches to the local sentiment. He was overwhelmingly beaten, though the candidate of the Whig party. Should Mr. La Follette go on the road under the various flage that have been designed by him for Chairman Konenkampge he will have to talk like a Republican in Wiscon- sin, a Farmer-Laborite in Minnesota and the Dakotas and an independent aloof from all parties in other cities. This will be some task. . Unemployment remains a matter of serious consideration by the British government. Yet in England, es else- where, there are people in need of the industry that supplies food, clothing and shelter. Labor is a naturdl re- source which economists are still seek- ing to utilize to proper advantage. R The calmness with which a few prominent people permit themselves to talk of the next war should com- mand serious consideration to every proposal for a peace conference. The war habit is a dangerous possibility in civilization. O et One or two eminent entertatners are in danger of depleting the box office by glving too much free courtroom en- tertainment. ——— Parliamen Blockades. France and Germany are in political situations strikingly alike at this pres- ent juncture. In both countries minis- terial changes are imminent as a re- sult of recent elections. In both com- binations of parliamentary groups have been proposed, without success at this time. In both obstinate opposi- tion has been manifested against cer- tain leaders, and their removal has been made the price of adhesion to a ministerial program. In Germany overtures to the Na- tionalists to join the Centrist party to form a ministry under Herz, the pres- ent chancellor, were about to be ac- cepted when new demands were made by that group, including the right to name the chancellor. In France, Her- riott, Soclalist leader, was regarded as assured of the premiership when some of the members of the extreme left demanded that the premier should not accept his portfolio from President Millerand, atd insisted that the execu- tive retire. There is no prospect of immedidte solution of the problem in either coun- try. Herz is firm against a coalition which will give the extreme National- ists the balance of power in the min- istry or tre Reichstag, and Millerand refuses to be forced out of office at the Insistence of the extreme Social- ists. In Germany the fate of the Dawes reparation plan is in the balance. The Nationalists, including the Monarch- ists, urge that there should be no rati: THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €. SATURDAY, WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. revision of the Versailles treaty re- specting Germany's responsibility for the conflict of 1914. Chancellor Herz, faced with the task of carrying on the government pending a new organiza- tlon, is threatening to call new elec- tions if the requisite combination can- not be effected quickly. The National- iste, supporting Tirpitz for chancellor, appear to have the whip hand now, but they would be compelled in a new national campaign ‘o stand squarely upon a program of reaction which, in the face of the assured Socialist sirength, would not be assured of sup- port suflicient to return them to an- other Reichstag as strongly as at present. President Millerand vefuses to be forced out of office at the demand of the Socialists. There is talk of a vote in the Chamber of Deputies calling for his resignation. But such action m be concurrent. and the Senate is be action. Premier Poincare’s iy is effe tomorrow. A provisional ministry will doubtless be provided to insure continued administration. Neither France nor Germany can take any comfort out of the parliamen- tary deadlock in the other country tive e The eightieth birthday of Anatole France is celebrated in Paris with great enthusiasm. Voltaire was ac- claimed by the admiring masses at the age of eighty-four. France does not allow the proverh “the good die young." apply invariably to her Wl writers. e B nces of two liquor seilers Rockville were postponed till October S0 as to give them an opportunity: to do their farm work. It more law vio- lators could be compeiled to connect with plow and harrow some of the questions relating to agriculture might be easier. Sen in et — s Comments on Congress by the President have at times been lacking in regardful enthusiasm, but Congres may at least feel hopeful that none of them will get into the Cleveland plat- form. The Japanese e who contemplate protest against United States fmmi- gration legislation may as well bear in mind that they have come into re- lations with one of the most obdurate Congresses on record. e———— a Before solving fertilizer problems for agriculture Muscle Shoals will have a few preliminary sessions with the an- cient question of governments owner ship. s Polltical matters are shaping up in a manner to permit the public tempo- rarily to forget the days when there seemed nothing to talk about except Teapot Dome. c——— A crime wave is psychologically ix evitable when public interest conspires to convince weak-minded criminals that they are picturesquely impor- tant ———— In view of painful historical asso- ciations the communists in Europe might at least have found a more en- couraging name for themselves. ———————— Motor speeders are most to be feared when they are in a position to regard occasional fines merely as incidents of the regular running expenses. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON Strange, But True. Love is a sentiment so strange It leaves mankind perplexed. Long centuries have failed to change The tenor of this text. Joe Jubbins, a devoted swain, 1Is gentle, good and kind. His idol treats him with disdain And cruelty refined. Bill Blubbins pulls a lassie’s hair And slams her on the floor. She sighs, though others speak her fair, “It's Bill that T adore!” So sages puzzled still appear And vow in phrase involved. “Love is @& problem ever near: Yet one that can't be solved.” A Legislative Objective. “Why do you insist on introducing this brand-new bill when we already have more laws than we can enforce?” inquired the solicitous friend. “The question of enforcement didn’t figure 50 very strongly in my mind,” replied Senator Sorghum. *The prin- clpal object in introducing that bill ‘was to show my constituents that my heart is in the right place.” War Inventions. At peace inventors lightly scoff. Why can't their genius lead 'em Instead of killing people off. To find new ways to feed 'em? Jud Tunkins says some of these classic artists leave him wondering ‘whether their motto Is “On with the dance” or “‘Off with the clothes.” The Incessant Brook. ‘Where wildflow'rs lightly dabbled Their petals at the dawn, A little brook once babbled On and on and on. Into @ stream it hurried Far from the woudland flow'r. Its murmur where it worried Told of water pow'r. For years its echoes gabbled Into debating drawn, That little brook that babbled On and on and on! Like a Book. “How well do you know the duke?" ‘Like a book,” answered Miss Cay- enne. “He has a very attractive title, but very few ideas of importance to communicate.” Misnomer. ‘Why do they call it ‘bootleg licker?' I dunno,” sald Bill Bottletop. “All the fellers that sell it eround here has got 80 prosperous they wear patent leather shoes.” said Uncle > ¥O &yn, “is “Patience, Answers to Questions BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN Q. Where is the oldest Catholic college for women in the United States>—M. C. F. A. St. Elizabeth's, two®* miles out- side of Morristown, N. J. has this distinction. It was founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1899, celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary on May 10. It is afliated with the American Association of University Women, is empowered to grant academic de- grees of bachelor of letters, bache- lor of arts, bachelor of sclence and bachelor of music and grants a high school teacher's certificate to 1ts stu- dents in education, which is honored by the New Jersey and Pennsylvania state boards of education. Q Did Woodrow Wilson ever sleep Buckingham Palace—J. . A. President and Mrs. Wilson oc- cupied the Belgian suite at Bucking- ham Palace from December 26 to De- cember 21, 1918. Q. How does the per capita tax in this country compare with that of the allies?—D. S. O. A. The internal tax for 1923 in the United States was $20 per capita; in_Great Britain, $95: in Franc $130, and in Italy, $60. Q. Do many foreigners Caito, Egypt?=—<. V. L. The latest census shows that Cairo has a population of 63,000 fo eigners, mostly Lutopeans. Cairo I'has lost much of its oriental char- within the lust fifty years The modern section of the city vide, well lighted strects. and stores, cafel, concert halls and an operd Bousé. It is known as the Ismailtych There are electric tramways and other means of transportation Q in live in Are bass considered food fish or game fish?—W. S. H. A. The bureau of fisherles that this iz a disputed question many sections of the country bass Is both a commercial und a game fish says in the fooa fish and A. The country anciently known as Babylon or Babylonia constitutes in part what is known as Mesopotamia. The distance from Babylon to Jerusalem was between 500 and 700 miles. The buried city of Nineveh was situated near the city of Babylon ? How did Mayfair get its name? A. This fashionable London, vast of Hyde Park name from the annual fa was once held there in ) fair was abolished in 1708 district in r which The Q. What has been the increase in the cost of living in Canada?—A. C. A. In June, 1914, the average cost of food and shelter for a family of five was $14.14 per week. In 1 this had risen to $21.21 Q. When it is said that a horse stride is twenty-four feet, how is i measured?—M. B. A The stride is measured by entire distance covered from the point the front feet leave the ground to the point they strike the ground Q. How many moons has each of x‘heHmnnn: of our solar system?— A. The Naval Observatory says that the number of satellites known at present is as follows: Mercury, none; Venus, none: Earth. one; Mars, two. Jupiter, nine; Saturn, nine: Uranus, four; Neptune, one. Q. Please decide a very heated argument as to whether a_mouse de- velops into a rat?>—H. P. S. A. The Department of Agriculture says that there is no truth to the statement that a mouse develops into a rat. There is a difference between rats and mice. Both rats and mice belong to the Rodentia, an order which comprises more than a third of all living species of mammals. Q. Which state had the first legis- lation for the abolition of slavery’— S. W. S, A. Massachusetts was the state to declare her soil free. Her constitution, adopted in 1780, had a bill of rights prefixed to it which a negro named Quaco tested in 1783, The court decided in his favor and |slavery was abolished. first Q. How old is the Dowa of England?>—F. H. Easiuen A. Alexandra, Dowager Queen of England. will be eighty years old on December 1. Q. What is darso”—T. G. A. A. Darso is a grain sorghum of un- known orgin. It is probably a cross between a saccharine sorghum and a non-saccharine sorghum. Q. Does Octavus Roy Cohen write both detective and negro stories or does he employ an assistant to do one kind for him?>—I. M. A. Mr. Cohen says that he writes both kinds of stories himself, finding great pleasure in changing from one to the other. He finds it refreshing to turn from ome type of story to the other, thus keeping an enthusiasm for both. Q. Is there a daily change in the height of the water in the Mediter- ranean Sea—what we call tides here in America’—L. H. B. A. The Mediterranean sea has very slight tides. At most places the dif- ference in level is only a few inches. Q. How daid cannel name?—D. 1. V. A. Cannel coal burns with a bright, candle-like flame, and it is probable that the name is a corruption of candle-coal. This coal is found in Kentucky, ' Ohio and Indiana, and some believe that it is a product of an accumulation of animal as well as plant remains. The same kind of coal is found in Scotland where it is called parrot coal. coal get fits Q. What religion has the most fol- lowers?>—G. P. M. A. The religion which has the most followers is Confucianism or Taoism. The members number 310,925,000. Q. Was the John Nicolay who with John Hay wrote a “Life of Abraham Lincoln” & German?—E. C. P. A. John George Nicolay, who w: secretary to Abraham Lincoln, and who was Qne of the authors of several books about Lincoln, was born in Ger- many in 1832, Q. What does the word “Italy’ mean?—E. F. W. A. Italla is & Greek form of Vi- talia, meaning grazing land. Italy is the English form of the nam Q. Where is “The Temple of the Sun’ -D. H. N. A. This is an Immense temple in ancient Rome on the site of the early Pulvinar Solis on the Quirinal HIilL It was erected by Aurelian after the taking of Palmyra. Q. What is the cause of the moon being encircled sometimes with rain- bow-colored bands?—G. W. F. A. A rainbow around either the moon or an artificial light is due to droplets of water or minute ice crystals floating in the air. Q. Should thi ‘ll be turned on in a stove before the match is applied to the burner?—H. D. A. A second or two should separate the operations. 'l‘\lrnlnf the gas on before the flame is applled blows the alr out of the gas holes and produces & purer flame. (Take advantage of the free informa- takes its | the | Hubert Work, Secretary of the In- terior, may be permanent chairman of the Republican convention at Cleveland. His name is, at any rate, usder consideration in exalted quar- ters. Though a doctor by profession and in public life more or less as a pastime, Secretary Work has long ranked as an uncommonly shrewd politician. When Will Hays left the Harding cabinet he recommended Dr. Work for the postmaster generalship as one of the “real men” of the Re- publican organization, besides being excellently equipped with organizing and executive ability. Giving him the permanent chalrmanship at Cleveland would be a gesture to the west, for he hails from Colorado. Tn his day Dr. Work has been chairman of the Republican state committee of Colo- rado and a national commiiterman from the Centennial stat * ¥ * % Former United States Seuator Thomas of Colorado, & stalwart Dem- ocrat, wonders why nobody has dis- covered the resemblance between Car- ter Glass and Samuel J. Tilden. Thomas says it is markedly physical, and in certain 1 mental, too. The 1 made the presidency about the Virginin senat age, too—sixty-six. (Cilass, like den,’is short and stocky; has a smo face somewhat conspicuously adc with a fighting nose, and can on casion turn on a usefully irase temper. If Glass should® be ele President there'd another ? paperman, like Harding, In the White House. The ator edits and pub- lishes _the prosperous Lync Dally News (morning) and (evening). pr Til- * % The marvei of the closing hours of the Democratic presidential fight 1s the superhuman energy of William Gibbs McAdoo. He has campalgn managers and leaders everywhere, but he remains the Foch of his own fight. His driving power is Inex- haustible. Newton D. Baker, who 1s officially and temporarily for Cox, once sald there was nothing to com- pare with McAdoo's force except a locomotive. “He steams into things full tilt Just exactly lke an engine.” Baker put 1t, “and makes for destin tion with the same irresistible dash.” Democratic pollticiany continue— those outside the MeAdoo fold—to POOh-pooh his chan hieviag the magic and nec 3 York. But they gravely impres ed by his “post-oil” primary achieve- ments just the same. * ¥ x Calvin Coolidge himself was “sprung upon the Republican convention at icago in 1920 from Oregon, when In the selection of Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi to deliver the keynote speech of the Democratic national convention, managers of the Democratic national commitiee have not only made excellent choice from the standpoint of ability, but also have done their best to bring harmony within the party in the opinion of editors Because, as the Salt News (independent) points out, ator Harrlson is acceptable the presidential candidat has not been aligned with them in their campaig nomination,” notes the Advance (Democratic), friendly to all and is sald to still have an open mind as to who he will support when the balloting b gins.” Therefore, the choice of Sen- ator Harrison, the Savannah Press (Democratic) Suggests, “is not a vi tory for any candidaté for the nom- ination, but, rather, a victory for the party.” Truly, “it is something for deeply perplexed planners for the convention to have found some- body for some job acceptable to all concerned,” continues the Manchester Union (independent Republican), and “that is what confers a singular distinction upon the assignment of Temporary Chairman Harrison.” The Brooklyn Eagle (independent Demo- cratic) 1s inclined to congratulate the Democratic party “on this evi dence of its capacity for harmonious action,” for “his selection is a happy augury for the sort of shoulder-to- shoulder work that will be needed after a man has been picked to make the contest against Calvin Coolidge for the first place in the gIft of the American people.” The New York World (Democratic) finds it “a sign that the two great blocks of dele- gates marshaled under the banners of McAdoo and Smith are fairly even- 1y balanced.” hence “Mr. Harrison, popular with both factions, but the open ally of neither, will sound a keynote directed against the Repub- lican party and its record rather than a keynote indicating who is to be nominated for President by the convention.” an ran Lake Deseret “Sen to_all o % ufte any of for the Lynchburg but “he is * ok ok % “*The hope of Democratic leaders for party victory is based upon progres- sivism and aggressivism,” according to the Dallas Journal (Democratic), which declares “Senator Harrison has given proof that he possesses both of these,” and *he is the sort of keynoter who may be depended upon to keynote at a Pitch which will hit the public's car and possibly the public's fancy.” Senator Pat got his commission as keynoter, ob- serves the Minneapolis Tribune (Repub- lican), “by virtue of his cumulative at- tacks on the common enemy, plus his adeptness for discovering beautitudes in any person who wears the Democratic label—except Senator ‘Jim’ Reed.” The Seattle Times (independent Re- publican) contends the selection “in- dicates there will be no calm and dispassionate review of Republican achievements.” To which the New York Herald Tribune (Republican) adds “there would be mud upon every Republican officeholder from Maine to California when he sat down, and the snow-white robes of Democracy as portrayed in finest Mississipplan would bring_ tears to the eves of bronze Diana on the Garden's tower, but it would be only so many tattered passions and objectives.” Now we shall “discover what kind of a diplomat Pat Harrison can be,” ssserts the Detroit News (independ- ent), which mentions that he must @eal vocally with the ofl situation and the prohibition question, and it clalms 4¢ Mr. Harrison can discuss them without ~offense or ignore them lausibly he will make a name for imself, but he will not be envied in his task.” The Nashville Banner (in- dependent) does not doubt he will make a “telling keynote speech,” fur- thermore, “in his prime, enthusiastic, ebullient, inspiring and marvelously keen-witted, his great audience—and the country—is sure to be entertained by his deliverance.” As the Phila- delphia Bulletin (independent Re- publican) puts it, there “is assurance that all the traditions of the job will be fully lived up to.” The Richmond News Leader (independent Demo- eratic) believes “he has just the tem- perament to pitch correctly the ‘key- note’ speech,” and, “he can be relied upon to set Republican teeth a-gnash- Spen * Kk * The Duluth ‘Herald (independent) agrees “certainly Pat {s a good man for the job,” for “he can point with pride and view with alarm as well a8 Any. man. of am hatags | vide MAY 31, 1924. the celebrated Judge McCamant swept the old guard off its feet by suddenly nominating the Massachusetts gov- ernor for Vice President. Orcgon, 1t appears, plans to launch Lowden's vice presidential ship at Cleveland, If present plans are carried out there'll be a picturesque Pacific-coast contest over second place, for Cali- fornia is understood to be ready and determined to offer Herbert Hoover as the President’s running mate, * oK ok ok About the time the bands are play- ing at Cleveland a new Coolidge blography, third of its line, will be off the press. The author is Horace Green of Washington, who is writing a series of volumes on “Contemporary Statesmen.” Borah was the subject of his first volume. Senator Pepper will be the hero of his next one. Green says he has dug up a mass of new material about the President much of it of a documentary charac- ter. “There's to be some “inside stuff” about the Boston police strike, which may throw light on an issue which, it is said, the Democrats are dis- posed to “clear up” during the ap- proaching campaign * X ox % Count that day lost whose descending sun has not gone down on a new vice presidential candidate on both—or all three—tickets. The very newest Republican suggestion concerns James J. Davis, Secretacy of Labor. “Jim the Puddier,” as his stirring autoblography is called, hap- pens to been born in Wales, where ctary Hughes' ancestors came Paragraph 4 of se tion 1 icle Il of the Constitu- tion the President of the 5 es must be a natural born ically pro- nust be low citizen, i nativ, Now that “Bob” La Follette's in- dependent candidacy for the presi- dency is generally assumed, there ought to be a Pulitzer prize for some- body will explain tersely and in words of one syllable just what “throwing tl efection into the House” means. The constitutional article on the subject and the twelfth amendment, dealing with the presi- dential election, are clear only to a Philadelphla lawyer. The twelfth mendment is the longest piece of tinkering over done to the Constitu- tion. The present House of Repre- sentatives (which will be the one into which the election m be thrown”) is so close, too, that the situation is more than ordinarily complicated. Here's an offer of two seats for “Abraham Lincoln.” the su- who perb new patriotic movie of the hour, as a reward for an elucidation which a schoolboy can grasp! (Copyright, 1924.) 'Pat Harrison Is Considered Ideal Democratic Keynoter sees it, Harrison “a good talk a skillful debater, bold and resourc ful in action, has won both the Ii & and respect of his party breth- rén in and out of Congress,” be- use “they have confidence not only fn his ability as a ‘keynoter,’ but in his fairness and npartiality.” It may be that Senator Harrison will measure up to the greatness of the great hour which his party faces, but there is ground for the fear that he will not, if his theme is to be merely a criticiem of ‘New England domination, " in the opinion of the Baltimore Sun (Independent), which insists “it would be little short of a calamity blunder to ‘keynote’ this campalgn as a sectional basis." Differs With Bonus Foe. Writer Says Real Reason Exists for Passing Bill. To the Editor of The Star: I.note what Joseph Gray Kitchell has to say In your issue of the 2Sth entitled “Aroused by Bonu Mr. Kitchell has every reason to be aroused after Congress passed this measure over a veto and the enor- mous propaganda launched at it by the Soldlers’ Anti-Bonus League and the big interests that the league rep- resents, Mr. Kitchell states that some day we may know a really good reason why the bonus allowance was grant- ed. That reason is known right at present, and if Mr. Kitchell has not informed himself concerning this measure to the extent of finding out the reason 1t was passed he is not qualified to express himself as to the merits of the adjusted compensation bill. Any member of Congress can show him the reason in the form of hundreds of letters from all parts of the country indorsing this measure, and at the same time thousands of form letters, written in identical lan- guage and mailed from the same places, representing the opposition's propaganda and the result of the activities of the Soldiers’ Anti-Bonus League. The exposures of the Amer- ican Legion and the investigations of the committees in Congress handling this measure, in which it was shown that most of the opposition came from big business and through their intim- idation of employes. Congress was not only afraid of the political out- come of defeat of this measure, but they consldered the people's wishes and the source of the opposition. Mr. Kitchell certainly can stretch his {magination concerning two mil- llon men whom he alleges are op- posed to thie measure. In my travels throughout the country I have found probably 95 per cent of the ex-serv- ice men entertaining just the oppo- site views. None of them refused to accept the paltry pay check of $30 (less $15 and then $6,50 more for in- surance and in some other cases an additional $5 on liberty bonds) which Uncle Sam’ offered them for their services as soldlers, so why should they refuse the government's offer to adjust such pay at this time? The government adjusted the salaries of all the other patriotic people and or- ganizations in the country, the rail- roads, the war contractors, the gov- ernment employes, organized labor, and they did not consider It “commer- clalizing” their patriotism. So why should the soldier consider it com- merclalizing his patriotism to accept an adjustment of his war-time sal- ary? Personally I do not get adjusted compensation, as I served as a major during the war, and they are exempt- ed under the provisions of the law, but If 1 should be entitled to receive it I would accept it, and in view of the government's liberal treatment of all its subjects other than the sol- diers during the war I would not con- sider it such a disgrace as Mr. Kitchell seems to think it will be. Furthermore, 1 am still in the service a member of the reserve and am ready to offer my services tomorrow. I would Itke very much to see such an organization as suggested by Mr. Kitchell, one composed of service men Who want to save the country a bil- lion dollars by refusing to accept the bonus, formed. I would suggest that Mr. Kitchell communicate with the Soldiers'’ Anti-Bonus League along this line. He might find them just as officient in organization work asthey were in propaganda work. The: would be a sort of nucleus to buil on, and I do not see any reason why 'y_canuot be as powerfu 89 The Library Table BY THE BOOKLOVER The Booklover has a friend who has long known Henry Holt, the dean of the publishing profession. He re- ports that to read “Garrulities of An Octogenarian Editor” is next best thing to sitting up with Henry Holt till 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning hearing the same kind of talk as is found in his book. This volume, which is further described on the title page as containing “other somewhat biographical essays and bilography, bLut consists of reminis- cences, impressions and letions jotted down from time 1o time over many years as they suggested them- selves. Part one is devoted to the au- thor's life and his friends; part two, to his four great teachers—Frank A Walker, E. L. Godkin, Herbert Spen cer and John Fiske; and in part three he expresses the principal conclusions —on politics, spelling reform, marri- age and divorce, birth control, pro- hibition, education, religion and m: other subjects—reached in his | experience. con * K % % Henry Holt, who is now more than eighty-four, talks in the opening chapter of his book in large part about old age, or, he puts it “about getting old and keeping young,” und the di and habits that have proved successful in his case. The Booklover wis much struck with what he had to suy about the use of tobacco. A guo ill show the quality of the 1k which makes up this book “I have seldom used tobacco to ex- ss. 1 never smoked before | was ars old, and thence only at rare 1 1 was nearly cleven. Then I went to a school in the cou try where we kept pipes in our huts in the woods, and used them pretty freely. Between thirteen and four- teen T changed schools and until after seventeen smoked only in va- cations, two or three cigars a day. though about the end of that time I entered college. smoked habitually and in one vacation found I was run- ning over twenty cigars a day. From that time until 1 was about sixty I averaged perhaps four or five, About then I really did begin to smoke. My good doctor explained that it takes the average System about twelve hours to eliminate tobacco, and If it then has four or five hours' freedom from it hours’ abstinence in & stand all that ix apt to b it. But not the slightest whiff must Le taken in the off hours. Since then I have seldom smoked all 1 wanted to—usually four or six ciga times & dozen, or since the wa their equivalent in pipes. * = i confess that I phrased the beginning of these confess regarding bacco to amuse myself a little by imagining the holy horror of some of my readers. The confessions are all true, however. Tobacco can he a pofson. bur I've found it a mighty slow one exereisc & pinch * % * x The author's native Norway is the scene of Johan Bojer’ novel, “The Prisoner Who Sang,” as it has been of his earlier ones. The chief character of the novel. Andraes Pedersen Berget, is a wanderer al- most equal to Goethe's Wilhelm Meister, but a mental, not a physical wanderer. He cra not only mnew scenes but also new personaliti and becomes in his own imagination in turn a lay preacher, a farmer, an engineer, a bank messenger, a gyne- cologist ‘and various other things. Born in a peasant hut, the illegiti- mate son of a hunchbacked woman, he is really a poet and a great creative artist. As a fluent liar, boaster and irresponsible egoist he is the equal of Peer Gynt. “He wanted to put on another's very skin, Peter today and Paul tomor- He explains to the prison chaplain: “My crimes consist in imi- tating other people. I could not rest content with being shut inside one fate—l longed for fresh ones.” Peer Gynt is saved from the butto! molder's ladle because Solvelg has loved him throughout his life, so Andrea is redeemed by his love for Sylvia. * ¥ K x The circumstances of Robert Louis Stevenson's marriage to Mrs. Fanny Osbomrne are told in a new book by Lloyd Osbourne called “An Intimate Portrait of R. L. S Mrs. Osbourne and her two children were staying at Graz-sur-Loing when Stevenson, then only twenty-six years old, came there also and met the Osbournes. Later they met again in Paris, and about three years _afterward = still again in Monterey, Mexico. Lloyd Os bourne was at that time eieven years old. His mother told him that their old friend “Luly” was coming. Soon after the arrival of “Luly” another visitor also came. Mr. Osbourne says: “Then my father came down for a short stay, his handsome face just a little clouded and with a curious new intonation in his voice during his long closeted talks with my mother. He was tall, very fine looking man, with a pointed golden beard and & most winning and lovable nature. Once as I was studying my lessons in an adjoining room and felt that strangely disturbing quality in their subdued voices—reproaches on her part and most affecting explanation on his of financial straits at the time of my little brother's death—I sud- denly overheard my mother say, with an intensity that_went through me like a knife, ‘Oh, Sam, forgive me! " soon after this Stevenson, on a walk, told the boy that he was going to marry his mother. * ok ok ox “British-American Relations,” by J. D. Whelpley, attempts to reveal to Americans and to British their vari- ous factors of temperament, policies and material circumstances which are Iikely to prevent or promote the ac- complishments of a closer union of the English-speaking peoples. Mr. ‘Whelpley has been called in England the unofficial interpreter of America. He has lived in England almost as long as he has lived in America. On the other hand, former Ambassador George Harvey, who has written the introduction to Mr. Whelpley's book, has stated that he considered Mr. Whelpley to be the best informed American he knew concerning Eng- lish life, conditions and affairs. * ok ok * The American Library in Paris has prepared the following list of French novels, published during 1923, which it recommends for purchase by libra- ries In the United States: “La Briere,” by Alphonse de Chateau- briant”; Thomas 1' Imposteur,” by Jean Cocteau; “L'Infirme aux Mains de Lumier: by Edouard Estaunie, “Les Allonges,” by Jeanne Galzy; “Prelude,” by Paul Geraldy: “L'Bqui page,” by Jacques Kessell; “Genetrix,” by Francois Maurice; “Apriel, ou la e de Shelley,” by Andre Maurois; “Ferme la Nuit” by Paul Morand, and “Le Jour Naissant,” by Gilbert de Volsins. * K K K “Not information, but interpreta- is the motto chosen by Dr. H. Powers to express his purpose in book, “Japan,” re- as the first volume travel series. Though written for, visitors to Japan (that is, travelers in the flesh or in imagination) it presupposes guide books to give the facts about hotels, rallroads, manners and customs and the like. Its aim is to Interpret nd to asnwer autobi- graphical,” {s not a continuous auto- | REDUCED INCOME TAX PAYMENT EXPLAINED Treasury Moves to Prevent Com- plete Stoppage of Funds on June 15 if New Bill Is Signed. ALLOW PARTIAL DEDUCTION June Installment May Be Cut by One-Half. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. Treasury officials today explained the method by which taxpayers would ca culate their mext payments on June 15 if the conferencé report adopted by Con gress is approved by President Cool idge, which now is certain. Instead of permitting the taxpayer per cent reduction on his omitting the June installment, the new plan provides for u scheme which will not make a hol in Treasury receipts at this time The method is as follows: The taxpayer has the option of paving I taxes in_full, and if he did March 15 he will receive a credit « one-fourth. If he pays his taxes quarterly installments he will be lowed on his June 15 payment a cre it of one-fourth for that payment arnd e-fourth for the has n in Mar the one-fourth taxes will b parts, bu March pay In other word -duction on allocated in four view of the ent has heen pas taxpayer will get @ credit of 1 his installment in June Cuts Payment to Half. Thus a taxpayer who had a tax b of $1.200 to pay and who paid $300 « March 15 Jast would ordinarily hav. have had to pay another $300 on Ju 15, but instead he will be permitt to deduct $75 for the pavment he mads in March and $75 for the credit whic he is allowed in June, or a total deduc tion of $150, so that he actually w 0 in June. When the Sey ayment comes he w v $75 from his 300 bill, = that the net payment will be $225. O he will deduct the r¢ maining $75, <o that his bill then woul also be In this way the the taxpayer to fuurth reduction nd the asury T+ government permit take the full oue in four equal par revenues coming into the are not seriously disturbed Whole thing may be reduced to & forimula by taking alf of wha wus pald in March and subtracting it from what would ordinarily be paid in June. In December and September €ach only one-fourth of the March in stallment would be deducted. Counts on Steady Income. The Treasury Department depends upon an even fow of money into the Treasur: from income taxes and when they fall short the government has to borrow and pay interest, which the expense. In order to borrowings to the minimum it thought best not to permit the taxpayer to omit his June install- ment altogether, but to let him pa> a half of it then and take two other credits in September and December. All the features of the ne law 1l be retroactive to January 1 of vear. Therc is some doubt of the power of the government to lev excise tax on gifts which were prior to the signing of the new law There have leen some test cas in which individuals contended th they had a rizht to make a certai transfer of pro ¥ because no law was on the statute books and tha they might not have done so h they had kuvowldze of € tax thu would be later . vied. The govern m in the y 1S won these test cases on the d that an excise tax may be levic any transactlo which has eceurred. There is room for difference of opinion on this feature of the law. howev it i not nlikely th stances will 1 further testing ality of this pro Constitutionality Proved. s for the retroactive effect on the transactions of the taxpayer gen- erally, the government has no doubt of the constitutionality of the nev provisions, for the individual's income is supposed be calculated on « arly basis, the revenue act of 18, which not signed until February, 19 retroactive to January 1, 19 1out being upset in the courts. There are other phases of the new bill which, as usual, will be open to attac the courts, bu they cannot be conjectured in advance for nearly ev revenue auct has something in it which produces law suit. The gift tax provision is prohaiis the principal one on which legal col test will be made. The Treasury it self dld not insert these ambizu. provisions in_the bill, but will b compelled to defend them when once the measure becomes law. COURAGE “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” —HENLEY. incres reduc was of nd w In the drab part of the povert stricken Whitechapel district of Lo don Samuel Gompers was born, and made another little one for his im- Poverished mother to care for. After four years at day school e was apprenticed, at ten, to a shoe- maker, but not liking the trade he be came a cigarmaker. He was thirteen when his mother took him to New York, where he obtained work in « cigar factory and went to night school. As a boy in England he had thousands of silk weavers, deprived of work by the introduction of machin- ery, marching under banners bear ing the words, “We are starving,” and the picture remained with hir At fourteen he began the study of work- ers’ problems, helped organize New York's first cigarmakers' union, and was given card No. 1. Married at seventeen, he continued to study at night and to read to f low workers at the bench. He was twenty-one when he was naturalize and twenty-four when he became sec- retary of the cigarmakers' local Later_he was elected president and served six years. One of seven men at the organiza tion of the Federation of Trades and Labor Unions in 1881, he was chosen president, but declined. A year later the leadership was forced upon him. There was no salary connected with the office, and many employers of labor and government officials laugh- ed at his zeal and sncered at his efforts. Then came the reorganization of the federation into the American Fed- eration of Labor. Gompers was elect- ed president at a salary of $1,200 a vear. After he had served nine yes he was defeated by John McBrid leader of the coal miners. Gompers was re-elected the next year and ha< held the office ever since, the salary now being $7,000 a year. With the growth of the organiza- tion there came the battles with fac- tions that sought control so as to effect radical changes in its policies. The war brought its prob- lems, and at its close Gompers was ‘uade president of the international sommission on labor legislation at the peace congress, was consulted by leaders of the world and feted by royalty. Today the American Federation of 000,000 workers, laber s )