Evening Star Newspaper, December 28, 1924, Page 34

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. SUNDAY......December 28, 1924 . . Editor THEODORE W. NOYES ‘The Evening Star Newspaper Company 10 East E Chicago Oflice: Tower Bullding. European Ottice: 16 Regent St.,Loudon, England. ‘The Evening Star, with the Sunday morning edition, is delivered by carriers within the | eity at 60 cents per month; daily only, 45 cents per month; Sunday only, 20 cents per month. Orders may be sent by mail or tele- photie Main 5000, Collection is made by car- Tiers at the cnd of each month. . Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginla. Dally and Sunday..1 yr., $8.40;1 mo., 70¢ Dalily only .1yr, $6.00:1 mo., 50c Sunday only .....1yr, $2.40;1 mo,, 20¢ AIl Other States. Daily and Sunday.1 yr., $10.00:1 mo., 85¢c Dally only .1yr., $7.00;1 mo., 60c Sunday only ....1yr., $3.00;1mo., 25¢ Member of the Associated Press. The Assoclated Press is exclusively entitled o the use for republication of all news dis. patches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news pub- bt herein. ~ All rights of publication of fal d spatches herein are also reserved. Substantive Law and Exceptions. The act of Congress approved*June 29, 1922, making appropriations for the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1923, thus states in substantive law the terms of Federal contribution to the main- tenance of the District: Be it enacted ® * * from and after July 1, centum of such expenses of the District of Columbia as Congress may appropri- ate for shall be paid out of the revenues of the District of Columbia derived from taxation and privileges, and the remaining 40 per cent per centum by the United Slates, excepting such items of expense as Congress may direct shall be paid on another basis That provision established definitely and permanently until specifically re- pealed the 60-40 ratio of District- Federal participation in Capital main- tenance, replacing as an organic act the statute of Jupe 28, 1878, which established the 50-50 r It per- mitted exceptions of such items of expense from the 60-40 ratio as Congress might direct to be paid on another ba Those exceptions were v stated in the current end subsequent appropriation acts. Two years later, by the acts ap- proved June 7, 1924, making ap- propriations for the present fiscal Yyear, Congress, by the following pro- vision (applicable to that fiscal year only), made an exception from the 60-40 ratio of all of the I rict ex- pense items in the foliowing language of the appropriative clause: Be it enacted ®* * * that in order to defray the expenses of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925, any revenue (mot in- cluding the proportionate share of the United States arising as the result of the expenditure of appropriations made for the fiscal year 1924 and prior fiscal years) now required by law to be credited to the District of Columbia and the United States in the same propor- tion that each contributed to the activity or source from which such revenue was derived shall be credited wholly to the District of Columbia, and in addition, $9,000,000 is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury pot otherwise appropriated, and all the re- mainder out of the combined revenues of the District of Columbia and such advances from the Federal Treasury as are authorized in the District of Col- umbia appropriation act for the fiscal year 1923. Notwithstanding this departure in the current law from the 60-40 ratlo, the substantive law which establishes that ratio as the prevailing mode of financing the District remains unre- pealed and unamended. Congress has in this current law simply placed, for the fiscal year ending in 1925, all of the District appropriation items in the excepted class and made special provision for them. that, annually, 1922, 60 per tio, is. that crisis, and in no wise lost the re- gard of their fellow masculines. Ghandi's movement for the restora- tion of the Indian textile industry was political in its inception, as a protest against British dominion. The leader, however, has had a severe lesson in the course of the past few years, and is much moderated in disposition, though unchanged in his view. He has been released on promise of good behavior. His requirement, as presi- dent-elect of the National Congress, that the members take up yarn spin- ning, shows that he is not entirely inclined to drop the economic reform which he fostered at the outset of his agitation. If the Ghandi idea were adopted in this country what a variety of handi- work American congressmen could produce in the course of the sessions! For there are representatives of many trades and crafts in the ranks of the legislators, Most of them have long since ceased from their manual labors. For years they have been making their living with thelr pens or tongues. An exhibit of the handicraft of congressmen would make a re- markable show. It has just been announced that the late minister of labor in the MacDon- ald British ministry is going back to his old job as a miner, working with pick and shovel in a colllery. He has no private fortune, and he is now without his official salary. He has to earn his living. So he goes back to his old work. This gives a hint, If the handicraft idea of Ghandi is worth any- thing it may be @ means of cultivat- ing an industrial independence for iegislators, for their sustenance when they lose their public places. —— The Light Rate Settlement. Ten years ago the District Com missioners, acting as the Public Utilities Commission, began the valu- ation of the properties of the Poto- mac Electric Power Company to de- termine a fair rate for electric cur- rent with reference to the cost of production and to the capital invest- ment. After two yvears the work of valuation was completed, and was stated at slightly more than $11,000,- 000, as of December 31, 1916. On the basis of this valuation the Commis- sion ordered a reduction of the rate from 10 cents per kilowatt hour to $ cents. The company appealed to court to set aside the rate and the valuation on the ground that both were too low. The case has been pending since without final decision. Meanwhile, consumers of electric cur- rent have been paying the old 10-cent | rate, with a provision that 2 cents| should be impounded and held as a fund in trust to be reimbursed to consumers should the 8-cent rate be approved-or to be turned over to the company should the 10-cent rate be established. By direct negotiations now a com- promise settlement has been effected between the Public Utilities Commis- ston and the corporation whereby the rate is reduced to 713 cents, and the $6,000,000 fund of impounded excess payments shall, after the deduction of about $500,000 for taxes, be divided equally between the company and the consumers. In other words, the con-| sumers will get a little less than 1| cent per kilowatt hour back in cash, while the rate for the future will be reduced by 25 per cent from the 10- cent charge. This arrangement means that the rate for the past eight years is now established retroactively at 9 cents instead of 10, as the company claimed, and 8, as the commission ordered. Had the court ruled finally in support of the commission’s valuation and rate a refund of full 2 cents, perhaps less taxes, would have followed, leav- ing the rate at 8 cents. The com- No new enactment is required to re-establish the definite proportion principle. It is now the law. The Commissioners have estimated for District maintenance on the basis of that law. The Bureau of the Budget has stated the District budget in alternate terms, but with the definite- proportion law given precedence in the appropriative clause, It must be assumed that the law of 1922 will be followed, though it may be feared that the House committee on ap- propriations may proceed as a year ago to underwrite the appropriation act as a wholesale exception. While the original act of 1922 may be repealed by indirection and evasion, it is not now repealed either in law or in fact, and the District retains the status in law of a definedliability partnership with the United States in Capital maintenance and upbuilding. That the Federal partner is disposed 10 evade this liability appears thus far only in terms of ‘‘exceptions,” which though wholesale in the cur- vent act, are nevertheless still excep- tions that must be re-stated annually if Congress continues to be disposed {0 repudiate its own arrangement cffected in June, 1922, In pressing for their estimates before the House committee on ap- propriations, whose work on the District appropriation bill begins to- morrow, the District Commissioners are proceeding upon the assumption that the fundamental law of definite proportions contribution will be fol- lowed. They have made their esti- mates on that basis. There is no war- rant for assuming that the substan- tive law will be temporarily suspended through wholesale exceptions this year as last. Muscle Shoals, like the brook, goes on forever, and the debate concerning it threatens to do the same. Legislators and Handicraft. Members of the annual Indian N tional Congress, it is announced, will be required in qualifying for ’leader- ship to sgfn 2,000 yards of yarn monthly, as.an evidence that they are in sympathy with the Ghandi move- ment for the development of the na- tive textile industry. So probably the ‘world will soon witness the spectacle of Hindoo statesmen gravely at work et their spinning wheels or with dis- taffs in hand, while they are studying legislative problems. This will be a réminder of the war-time, when nearly all the women in the world were work- ing with knitting needles on sweaters and other garments for the seldiers. Some men even took up knitting at’ promise upon the 73-cent rate is therefore an advantage to the con- sumer beyond that which would have been gained by a full approval of the commission’s valuation and rate by the court. The process of refunding this money will be long and difficult. Many of the consumers who have contributed to the fund have dled and thelr estates must now receive the refund. Others have moved away from the city and ceased to_ become users of current here, and they must be found and their shares given to them. Those who are still using current will get their refunds in cash directly. The new rate will go into effect on the Ist of February. The refunding will begin promptly, but may require months for completion. This agreement settles a dispute that has been a troublesome factor in the relations between the District and the public utilities corporations for nearly e decade. It has affected the status not only of the Potomac Electric Power Company but of the ‘Washington Rallway and Electric Company, an affillated corporation. The impounded money could not be regarded as an asset. It was, in fact, a lability, Now its ownership has been determined, the resources of the corporation deflned and a cause of irritation between the corporation and the community removed. The Dis- trict officials who have fought the District battle during all these years and who have conducted the negotia- tions for this settlement have ren- dered a valuable service, and the cor- poration itself is to be congratulated upon the spirit of adjustment that has led to this altogether satisfactory solution of a vexing question. —————— The assertion that jazz represents a distinct school of music destined one day to find expression in grand opera is finding support in some of the cur- rent art demonstrations. Never has language been more loosely employed, and, as one psychologist states fit, “jazz is inarticulate profanity.” Radio Millions, * Estimates of the number of people in this country who have radio sets and are listening in to programs vary widely. It is, indeed, almost impos- sible to determine the radio population of the United States. One authority, who has perhaps the best information on the subject, puts the figure at 7,000,000, while others go higher. Local officials here and there are en- deavoring to count the number of sets, ‘but find 1t difficult to keep pace with the constantly increasing number. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C Over in Queens County, N. Y., by ‘ai- rection of the borough president, em- ployes of the Street Cleaning Depart- ment recently made an enumeration and turned in a total of 34,994 sets. The purpose of this count.was to as- certain how many persons were being served by the municipal broadcasting station. If radio equipment were only to be procured intact and complete from | dealers it would be possible to keep tab on the number by returns from manufacturers. But many sets are made by amateurs in the art who buy their materials here and there and assemble them. Even so, there is a chance of fairly accurate reckoning through the number of the essential parts that are sold, crystals and am- plifying tubes, though in the case of the latter muitiple tubes often go into single sets, and the total of those items would not be an accurate indi- cation. If there are 7,000,000 sets in use in this country today the number will probably reach 10,000,000, it not more, within the coming year. Indeed, to fore- cast of the extent of radio use a twelve- month hence is idle, for no one can possibly tell the future of this facility for entertainment and communicgtion. It has developed o rapidly that some feel that it may wane. Yet the utility of the radio is such as to make it prob- ably a permanent item of household equipment, In-computing the number of listen- ersin no count is taken of the multi- tudes who are’served by radio through amplifiers in audlences, sometimes of several thousand on special occasions. During the recent campaign speeches and convention procedings were heard simultaneously by as high as 30,000,000 people, mccording to one estimate. e It was a daring fiction writer who first employed the idea of long-dis- tance homicide by means of germs. At present scarcely a week passes with- out a news item about such an inci- dent, Scientific study is a great means of improving the mind, but is not in- variably helpful to the morals. ————————— Business conditions are so favorable that Wall Street is this season using the stock ticker for happy New Year greetings in the form of rising quota- tions. The cheer is chiefly for the legitimate investors, the speculators can lose ail their financial merriment overnight. S A prediction that in a few years Christmas gifts will be sent by radio is hopeful for the Post Ofice Depart- ment, but not encouraging to the man who has been accustomed to depend on the holidays for his neckties, socks and other wearing apparel. ——————————— The ethical situation which pre- vents members of Congress from rais- ing their own salaries calls on, the American statesman to inclyde among his duties that of setting the world an example in economy. —_— et A dictatorship starts with great en- thusiasm usually on the theory that almost any style of governmental au- thority would be an improvement on what the people have just been through. s A collapsible battleship might pos- sibly be designed that would be easy and inexpensive to take apart in case of scrapping as a disarmament demon- stration. r———— Human philanthropy grows so lib- eral that the small boy and girl must agree that there was little need of a Santa Claus, anyhow. e Toklo, like big cities the world over, must have its “jingoes,” who Imagine they are patriotic when they are mere- ly impolite. _— ———— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNAON. Satire. I've heard the old pathetic lay— A tear it served to bring— “Although you think my songs are gay, T'm saddest when I sing.” Grim Satire lifts a merry volce, * And hints, amid his cheff, “While I apparently rejoice, I'm maddest when T laugh.” Specialist in Economy. “Are you economizing?" “All I know how,” answered Sena- tor Sorghum. “I wouldn't dare ask for an increase of compensation. It is the recognized duty of the true states- jagain i America | from the beginning of her career she man to makc business as good as pos- sible for everybody except himself.” Otherwise Engaged. These public problems raise a row And questions rise throughout the land. I can't attend to them just now. I have a cross-word puzz. on hand. Jud Tunkins says you've got to give the saxophone credit for one thing, it hasn’t left any chance of hearing the feller that used to whistle “Listen to the Mocking Bird with Variations.” Inadvertence. “Women have all the best of i said the young man. “What makes you think so?"” “My folks made me promise not to smoke till I was 21 years0ld. It never occurred to them to make my sister promise the same thing.” Voices of Humanityy “Literature brings men forward from all walks of life.” “Undoubtedly,” answered Miss Cay- enne. “The last drama I listened to sounded as if the dialogue had been written by a canal boatman.” Satiated Curiosity. Investigation still they press Upon our nerves unsteady. A ot of us would fain confess We know too much, already. “Many a man will wish you & happy New Year,” sald Uncle Eben, “an’ den take it all back soon as de crap game start: Idea Worthy of Being Expanded BY THOMAS R. MARSHALL, Former Vice President of the United States. A Chinaman, if we are to believe information that comes to us, is not permitted to celebrate New Year's day unless and until he has paid all his debts, together with any that may have been left by his deceased father. Before commenting upon this alleged fact I wish to state that I never was in China and do not know the lan- guage of that nation. I merely tell the tale as it was told to me. 1f it be a fact that participation in the festlvities incident to the birth of a new year Is dependent upon the payment of debts, the Chinese must live in a most pronounced material- Istic atmosphere, Obligations appar- ently have been reduced to a dollar- and-cents basis. It one owes no “cash” he starts the New Year with a bang. For him the day marks a new beginning. This might be a pleasing custom for America to adopt. I can see its pos- sibllitles for good. Bit New Year's day in our modern business life in which credit means everything prob- ubly would be & drab holiday. Many of us, no doubt, would be denied the privilege of burning fire crackers un- less we assumed the attitude of the Hoosier who, when he executed & note in adjustment of,an open account, ex- claimed, “Well, thank God, that debt is paid. * k ¥ % To us the chubby littte fellow who ushers In the new year is a fairy who comes to us bearing gifts. As we welcome him we feel that the past year has become a part of the eternal past and that we are on the threshold of a new career. It is just as well that this is so. T would not lessen hope or dull enthusiasm. Optimism is more potent than pessimism. It is better to belleve that New Year's day beckons with a smile than that it re- pels with a frown. Courage, fortitude, ho and cheer are essentials in the battle of life. However, it may not be amiss at this season to consider whether New Year's is just a day on which one {s to forget the past and look with unclouded vision upon the future, pr whether, contrary to the Chinese view, the old year projects into the new year obligations other than those which may be expressed in terms of dollars and cents. Joyous us we are at the close of 1924 and joyous as we should be over the hopeful prospects in the material world, we ought not to overlook any of our obligations. Unless we pay our ordinary debts we shall suffer the pangs and penalties of bank- ruptcy. This we well know, but the knowlexdige does not depress us be- rause the pportunities of meeting our ordinary debts are favorable. But what about our ob tions which cannot be met by the payment of meney? Do we have no debts of dut Tove, gratitude, which are equally pressing and harder to meet? I have the Nation rather than the individ- | uals who make up the Nation in mind now. We enter the new year, of | course, individuall and as a people. It is as a people that I note some general observations. * ok ok K TUnder our flag there dwells approx- imately 6 per cent of the world's population. This 6 per cent has | scraped together from one-third tod one-half of all the world's wealth. In other words, we have at least five times our share of the wealth when estimated on a population basis, We produce 25 per cent of the world's food; 34 per cent of the world's com- modities; 50 per cent of the world’s coal; 15 per cent of the gold of the world; 48 per cent of its silk; 41 per cent of its cereals; 71 per cent of its cotton; 79 per cent of its corn; 64 per cent of its petroleum. We have 40 per cent of the world's raw materials; 36 per cent of all the railroads; 40 per cent of the developed waterpower ; &4 per cent of all the automobiles of the world. The New Year beckons to us and we feel that his smile means more £old, more corn, more petroleum, more automoblles. And so it does, nor would I have it otherwise even though I could. But what of the debts growing out of the prosperity we have enjoyed? I refer to those debts which are not enforceable in the courts of tha land nor collectable by execution. A nation, let it not be forgotten, may stand a lot of ruin; it can safely pass through perfods of depression; its real test has to do with its capacity to endure prosper- ity. * k kX New Year's may hold out every- thing that is bright, yet we may make shipwreck of the year if we fail to pay the debts which come to us from the past. I eliminate the debts of duty, love and gratitude which we owe to God, great as they are, and urge only the debts we owe incident to our free institutions. All this great material prosperity which amazes the world has come to us un- der the institutions which our fath- ers formulated for us. We owe a debt to those fathers; we should be ashamed to celebrate New Year's un- less we vowed to pay it now and hereafter. We must keep the faith our fathers gave to us, preserve the institutions which they established and under which we have prospered; and cease not to instil Into the young of the land a sense of leyalty, love and veneration for the principles which have made our republic the envy of the world. We owe a debt of love and grati- tude to every institution in Amerf that is seeking to train our young aright; to all the thousands of bene- factions that minister to suffering. sighing, sinning humanity; to all the causes, religious or social, which are teaching the real idea of democracy, which s nothing more than the brotherhood of man. Our belated | answer must be “yes” to Cain's far- oft cry, “Am I my brother's keeper? Not that any one of us would make of another a slave in body, mind or soul, but that we are all to belleve ourselves children of the self-same 4od and of the same glorious repub- lic. God gave us freedom, fraternity and prosperity. We are His trus- ted In the new year we should spread the light of charity and de- mocracy among the nations of the world. We should not enter the new year flippant! but rather we should pass over its threshold in a solemn mood, glad, of course, that God has given us opportunity, yet sobered by the realization that of him to whom much has been given much shail be expected. (Copyright, 1924, by 21st Century Press.) OLD IRONSIDE’S FATE ] BY FREDERIC J]. HASKIN The frigate Constitution, the most famous ship In American history, is in the limelight. The Navy Department, says that the old ship is rapldly Totting, and that unless funds for extensive repairs are forth- coming, Old Ironsides will soon be a thing of the past. For some years the frigate has been Iving in the Charlestown navy yard, and has been pointed out as one of the sights of Boston. Each year thousands of visitors go aboard to see for themselves the vessel wh showed proud British warships that would, and could, contest Britain's claim to dominion over the high seas. Old Ironmsides was not the only American ship which played an fmportant part in the war of 1812, but,, without this particular star of the Navy, the war of 1812 and Amer- ica's subsequent history might have been quite different. From the time the frigate was bullt in 1797 her rec- ord was a succession of naval vie- tories and triumphal cruises. But the vessel's claim to Ameri- ca’s interest does mnot rest on her fighting history alone. The Constitu- tion ix distinguished because almost the American people as & pluck and was held up by symbol of achievement. Her victory over the British frigate, the Guerriere, in the beginning of the war of 1812, occurred just at the critical time when the American peo- ple were discouraged over British victories in land battles. The Brit- ish themselves admitted that for America to win the first battle at sea would give this country great con- fidence in its power. And so it did. The Constitution went on to other victories. Years after, when the Civil War broke out, and Old Ironsides was being used as a training ship at Annapolis, haste was made to tow the frigate back North. This was done because of the rumor that the Maryland Confederates were going to make special efforts to capture the ship. It was said that seeing the Confederate flag flylng on Old Ironsides would have powerful in- fluence in strengthening the morale of the Southern forces. Destruction Once Proposed. A century, plus almost 30 years, is a long lifetime for a ship. The Con- stitution would have been hacked to pleces or sent down to Davy Jones' locker in 1828, if the sugges- tion of a Secretary of the Navy and his consulting board had been fol- lowed. At that time the frigate had fought the Barbary pirates, and had seen hard war service. She was on 4 Mediterranean cruise when she sud- denly went out of commission and experts #aid that the cost of repairs would be more than the original cost of building the ship. But the proposed destruction, of Old Tronsides was mentioned by chance in a newspaper, and Oliver Wendell Holmes immediately wrote his stirring poem, beginning, “Aye, tear her tattered emsign down” and had it printed in the Boston Adver- tiser. Public resentment at the idea of sinking the ship rose so high that Congress provided, the necessary ap- propriation. After that the Constitution had many other advextures. She made a trip around the world between 1844 and 1848, and in the 495 days at sea she traveled 52,279 miles, or an aver- age of 106 miles a day. She was the flagship of Admiral George Dewey, later of Manika Bay fame, between 1867 and 1870, In 1878 she made a trip to Francerto carry goods sent by Americans to. the universal exposi- tion at Parig. Four years later Cld Ironsides went permanently out of commission, but she had served the ‘country for half a century after thb naval board ,of 1828 read her death war- rant. From time to time since Holmes' written the old bark has gent need of repairs, and patriotic , sentiment has always de- manded fhat she be patched up and preservefd. Last Spring the Naval Board of Inspection and Survey looked the old Constitution over and reported that she is in decidedly bad shape. The main tgpmast is twisted, the mizzen- top is klued and the mizzen topmast is badly checked, to mention only a few of the disabilities from which the aged frigate is suffering. The general diagnosis was that Old Iron- sides is unseaworthy, the rigging is unsafe and the spars not secure. Temporary repairs would save the ship only for a brief time. Can Be Saved for Many Years. In its report the hoard said: “The Old Constitution can be placed in a dry dock and can be rebuilt, part by part, in a way still to be the Old Constitution. That object will not be attained if the present vessel is allowed to go to ruin, and if, at a later date, a replica is bullt from plans and data taken from the pres- ent vessel. By rebuilding, if proper material {s used, the Old Constitu- tion can be saved for an indefinite number of years, 30 to 50, without | further extensive overhaul.” The board further suggested that a part of the lower deck could well be used for exhibition of naval relics from the early days. In 1916 the Navy Department asked for and received $150,000 for the pur- pose of restoring the old ship. Now $475,000 is needed to recondition and maintaln the vessel for a time. Whether an economlically inclined Congress will consent to dig into the national ‘coffers for nearly halt a million dollars for an unseaworthy ship is questionable. A bill for the purpose would be very likely to get pushed aside, as was the bill intro- duced by Senator Lodge at the last session. Undoubtedly Congress ap- proved the idea of preserving the famous ship, but the matter is apt to be postponed to what legislators like to call a more seasonable time, The Constitution, however, con- tinues to leak and to get In worse condition from dry rot, and it any- thing is to be done it must be done shortly. Secretary of the Navy Wil- bur fs now considering ways and means of raising the $475,000. The Massachusetts branch of the Daugh- ters of 1812 has offered to conduct a campaign among the school chil~ dren in crder to make up the fund. Secretary Wilbur likes this plan, and he may ask Congress to authorize the acceptance of the fund if the Daughters of 1812 will raise it. An objsction to the plan, if it is carried cut as a nation-wide cam- palgn, is that in some States and cities the public school regulations do not permit the children to bring contributions for any purpose to school. §til], throughout her career, the luck of Old Ironsides has been proverbial, and probably she will be taken care of somehow. Even when she was built, this ship, which was one of six frigates, had a special appeal for the people. A published account of the launching of the Constitution said: “The best judges have pronounced the Consti- tution, llke her archetyps (the Fed- eral Constitution) to be a perfect model of elegance and strength, and every individual employed in her construction appears to pride him- self in having assisted at the pro- duction of this chef d’oeuvre of naval architecture.” Cannot Escape T. C. From the Faribault News. In'about an hour or an hour and a half after the meek inherit the earth the collector will be around for the inheritance tax. Stands in With Nature. From the Birmingham Age-Herald. It seems to be a part of the code of a janitor to furnish heat when the weather is warm and turn it off ‘when the weather is cold, A janitor won't go agin nature, , DECEMBER 28, New Year Debt-Paying 1924—PART 2 Capital Sidelights If & $30,000,000 title to 4 miles of seafront at the entrance to Jamalca Bay, near New York City, cen be set- tled by a few old sheets of paper in one little-heard-of Federal bureau, what Is the reference value of all the archives of the United States, not to mind their historic worth? For more than a decade Congress has been urged to bulld a modern, fireproof archives building to properly house these old documents of incal- culable value, which are now stored in firetraps and dank cellars. Here s a little human-interest story told by Col. E. Lester Jones, director of thé Coast and Geodetic Survey, which illustrates why these records should be properly preserved to protect the Government and the indlvidual in property rights: Suit was brought in the courts of New York State over title to the western part of Rockaway Point, at the entrance to Jamaica Bay. Rock- away Point I3 the easterly of two points which Inclose Jamalca Bay. Between these points lies Rockaway Inlet, a deep channel through which flow 'the tidal waters entering and leaving the bay. The title to Rock- away Point passed from the State to a private individual more than a cen- tury ago, and thence eventually to the corporation now in possession. During that century Rockaway Point has grown to the westward a distance of some 4 miles or more as the result of sands deposited at its extremity by waves and currents. The City and State of New York claimed that about 1887 this point, in the course of its westward growth, overtook and annexed an {sland, and that as title to this island had never passed from the State, it remained State property after it became at- tached to the mainland, and In con- sequence title to that part of the present point which consists of a for- mer island and all subsequent ac- cretions was still vested in the State. The case for each side was prepared and presented by an impressive array of professional and scientific talent. The present Secretary of State, Judge Hughes, was one of the attorneys for the corporation. Yet the facts on which the case was decided were established by the Coast and Geodetic Survey through reference to old charts. From the records of frequent topographic and hydrographic sur- veys made by the Federal bureau at that point, the corporation was en- abled to establish to the satisfaction of the court that Rockaway Point had not overtaken and annexed an island as claimed by the State, but that, on the contrary, as the point grew westward, thers had always been a navigable channel between it and any islands still farther west. It was shown that the existence of the island had not been continuous, but that one would be washed away by the encroachment of the channel, while another would subsequently appear in a position farther west, and that during the periods when islands were in existence the tend- ency had been for island, channel and point to move to the westward in unison. ¥ They are telling in congressional cir- cles a *'good joke™ on some of their col leagues, fllustrating how “Canny Cal with the blood of the New England Yankee in his veins, is quite well able to cleverly disconcert pressing politicians and make them quite ready to withdraw without having forced him to accede to their importunities. According ot his story a group of con- gressmen called on the President urging that he appoint to the International Boundary Commission ons Adolphus P. Nelson, formerly a member of the House from Wisconsin, who attributed his de- feat for re-election to the fact that he refused to take orders from Senator “Bob” La Follette. “Cal” listened to them then drawled out—"By the way, I've a little veto message waiting action, how many of you are going to vote to sustain the President?” Then atcounts differ as to whether it was two or three men in the delegation who raised their hands, while the others, with embarrassment, registered “Present, but not voting.” thought that was about the propor- tion,” commented Cal, with a dry smile —and that was about all there was to the “interview.” T g Oftentimes in Congress they sneer at the scientists in Uncle Sam’s service, and especlally at those who are devoting their lives to “pure” science as differ- entlated from “applled” eclence—and yet: There was a follower of science for the sake of science itself, researching out his days in a laboratory of the Smithsonian Institution. He happened to be studying eome grubs, or ground worms. One morning he noted that the grubs had evacuated one side of the laboratory and gone to another side. Simple experiments convinced him that the grub had very eensitive smelling apparatus, and could thus locate pa ticles of food placed far beyond its vislon or allotted sphere. Result—during the World War, when polson gas was killing our American youth by the hundreds in the trenches overseas, a lot of these grubs were taken into the trenches with canary birds and other devices for giving warning of gas ralds—and the grubs saved a very large number of American lives. The name of this humble sclentist has never been divulged, and it was never in- tended by the Smithsonian that this story should be written—but he saved hundreds of mothers' sons by his study —sneer at that, if you will, Mr. Con- gressman. * &k The Walt Mason of Congress is Representative J. Alfred Taylor of West Virginia, publisher of a weekly paper, Pick and Shovel, named in honor of the two tools which helped most to develop the section he repre- sents, rich in coal deposits. Here is a sample of his Muse: “DON'T WAIT FOR BIG THINGS. “Sixty seconds make a minute, tiny little things, and yet they form the months and years that speed on lightning wings. Most people want to do big things and for the chance they wait—but vears pile up and soor they find, alas, it is too late. I hope, my friend, vyou'll never try to do some big things bye and bye— the chance may never come. It is the little things that mount and make a great big sum. In living out your lite youw'll find that little things are all you do, so do them gently, with a smile—and doing so, make life worth while.” * X % K Representative Sol Bloom has just had an interesting personal experi- ence showing how a story grows with frequent repetition. Many years ago—at least 15—he originated the story of the glass eye. Briefly it is this: A man in needy circumstances sought a loan from a banker, who finally said: “All right, I'll grant the loan if you meet one condition. Can you tell me which of my eyes is glass?' The applicant for the loan looked carefully for a few minutes and then said: “Of course, your right eye is the glass one.” “You win,” the banker replied, "and you get the loan—that's settled. But do you mind telling me how. you could tell my right eye was glass. I've tried many persons and you are the first stranger who could dis- tinguish it” Then the other said “Oh, that was easy—it looked just a little more sympathetic.” Sol Bloom, the originator of this story, has had it told to him scores of times as a new one. The other night he went to see,the Music Box Revue and deplored the fact that he had not turned his youthful talent more persistently to playwriting, for he found this child of his. brain grown into. a whole act. written around his glass-cye test, MEN AND AFFAIRS BY ROBERT T. SMALL. Now that the Borah committee of the Senate has discovered that the Republicans did not have such a “horrible” campaign war chest or “slush fund” as the La Follette Pro- gressives chose to call it, there has been a demand in certain quarters— some of them rather ciose to Presi- dent Coolldge—that the committee should go further and inquire into the making of the wholesale charges in the very middle of the presidentlal contest. It is argued that the motives behind the wild charges emanating from La Follette headquarters should be probed and presumably the authors of the charges should be pub- licly castigated. Those who have been urging this action upon Senator Borah and his colleagues overlook the fact that the inquiry into election funds was con- ducted primarily for the purpose of advising and gulding the Senate in future legislation respecting cam palgn contributions and the conduct of elections generally. No one in the Senate, not even the most | distinguished of the constitu- tional lawyers, believes that a way ever can be devised to do away with campaign charges and pre-election rumors. It is not possible to frame a law to reach them. And besides it would take a lot of the “color” out of a campaign if any attempt wer made to muzzle the various party managers. Even the taciturn Mr. Butler, chairman of the august Re- publican national committee, would have suffered a terrible handicap un- der such a statute. Mr. Butler useq up 80 much language during the cam- palgn it s freely and confidently predicted he will keep a tight mouth during the next two vears in the Senate. Knowing Mr. Butler's propen- sities of silence so well it is difficult for Washington to picture him as a garrulous chairman of a couple of months ago. There s just a slight suspicion that Mr. Butler had two or three pretty good press agents and that his talks were mostly vicarious instead of vocal. * ok x % Modern stage plays are having a terrible effect upon the general mo- . A young lady in New York City Invited her dear old grandmoth- er down from New England to spend the holidays. She s a real picture- book grandmother of the old school, Fifty Years Ago In The Star John Sleeper Clarke, who was one of the foremost comedians of the American stage 50 years ago, “plaved Washington” during Christmds week - 4 of 1874, ap- English and American pearing in 3 3 Byron's Theatrical Audiences..5oq Ty, accompanied by “Among the Break- ers” and “Toodles,” which was one of his most famous characters, as well as in his famous role of Maj. Well- ington De Boots, in “The Widow Hunt.” In The Star of Decem- ber 26, 1874, is printed an interview with Mr. Clarke, as follows: A Star representative yesterday paid a visit to the celebrated come- dian, Mr. John S. Clarke, who has cently returned to America, his native home, and who has met with such ex- traordinary success among our Eng lish cousins, and had an interesting interview with him in relation to the comparative natures of English and American audiences, and the parative profits of the theaters of the two countries. Mr. Clarke received our representative withgreatcourtesy, and at once entered into the spirit of his inquiries. He was asked: “Have you ever noticed any great difference in the character of the audiences in England and in this country?"” “Oh, yes; there is a curious differ- ence in this respect. The Americans, though they go to the theater in an off-handed way, without having giv the matter much previous consider tion and without thinking it neces- sary to go in full dress, are really more attentive than the glish. The English decide upon going some two or three days beforehand, and give the matter of theater-; ng the same importance as they would a formal invitation to dining out. They come in full dress; they get in some time before the performance commences, and devote more attention to the promenade and refreshment saloon than they do to seeing the play. It has not been very long since it was common to have coffee and other re- freshments passed around among the audlence. Now, the refreshments are kept in the front part of the theater. “Is there not a lack of enthusiasm among English audienc o “It s a great mistake to suppose this, and I believe that most of our people think that English audiences are cold. Theyv are slow to take to an artist, but with their favorite they are very enthusiastic. With all the kind things that have been said of me in this country, and the wide reputation that has preceded me, I had a struggle to establish myself, but after I had succeeded I found as many warm friends as I have at home. They are people who do not take other people’s opinions, they must see for themselves.” “How have you been pleased with your reception in this country on your return?” “I have been delighted with my re- ception, and much struck with the rapid progress everywhere apparent. ‘Washington especially has improved almost beyond recognition. It is now one of the most beautifully laid out cities in the world. I have been es- pecially flattered here because during this week of my engagement I have been more successful than in almost any Christmas week in my experience. You know, Christmas week is a hard one for theatrical men and a real financlal success is rare during that season, as people generally find more room for enjoyment at their happy firesides than at theater: “How are the profits of American theaters as compared with English theaters?” “They are decidedly better. It is very rare that you would find such profitable engagements upon the Eng- lish dramatic records as are afforded in New York, Philadelphia and in the Western cities of America.” “Can you give me some figures in relation to your own engagements?” “Well, yes; though we don't like to speak very freely upon this, espe- cially when we can report great suc- cesses, as it would savor a little of egotism. In London, I revived Col- wan's comedy of ‘The Heir-at-Law,’ and had & run of 151 consecutive nights, at the Strand Theater, and also ‘The Poor Gentleman,” which had a run of 60 nights at the same place. This was the first of the recent re- vivals of legitimate old comedy, and these were the longest runs on record up to that time. I subsequently plaged Bob Acres at my own London Theater, the Charing Cross, for 127 nights in succession, and again re- vived ‘The Heir-at-Law’ at the Hay- market for 60 nights. My share for this last engagement was $20,000, which is an extraordinary amount for a ‘star’ during a London engagement. At Walnut Street Theater in Phila- delphia my profits during 11 nights in last November .amounted to over $11,000. I have every reason to be grateful to the people of England for their generosity, and I am proud to have proven that they are not so jealous of foreign artists as has been 1 could not have been more sweet, simple, smiling. wil'i an a most heavenly goodness s.ining from the slightly faded but alc: blue eyes As part of grandmo'her's metre politan education it was planned t take her to see her fi.st Broadws show. For some reason, which mus remain more or less obscure, krar daughter chose a certain war pls for the introduction. The plu picts the life in « marine regin during the World War. The dix'c is just one cuss word after anct There was so much swearing plece the censors tried to stop it, | they made no headway at all swearing became all the more inter and pointed Well, grandmother gasped duri the first act, smiled during the se ond, and then during the tiird sl suddenly leaned forward :id we groping in the dark at )or fec Granddaughter thought a sios mu be untied or possibly hurtin = are you dolng she asked at len looking for my replied the swe from Vermont gran: = e vld lad * * % Down in Texas they swear by ti northern breezes that have bee: sweeping the prairfe: this holida: week that “Ma” Ferguson is getting ready to run for the presidency. Sh has been re g how Calvin Cool idge had faith in Massachusetts and eventually reached the White House On the eve of her inauguration as governor of the Lone Star State “Ma has written an appeal directed par llh:ular!v to the n, and the tex | of the letter is | “Have faith in Texas.” £k % | At a recent dinner of the Pennsy | vania Society of New York the stor told of a price-cutting war tha | the undertakers engaged in at a ce tone town, All sorts of ir | ducements were offered to prospec | tive clients during the war. Finall | the strugg: hed the advertisir stage, and finally one of the keene of the competitors came out with a half-page ad with the very simple but convineing wording: | "Why go around halt dead whe: we will bury you for $37.507" the quoted price it will be that the war had reached | kKilling stage, or clse the story | pretty ola. | (Copyright, Heard and Seen Buying a cat a Christmas present is about as a tough a job as one can stack up against. It i3 pretty hard to inculcate tha correct Christmas spirit into a cat Some way or other the animal ref; to understand what it is all about. Now cats are stubborn brutes an:- way, 0o I was not surprised when Jack Spratt, alley cat de luxe, failed utterly to respond to the spirit of the Yuletide. A catnip mouse was out of the question, because Spratt had several {sprawled around the house in various stages of desiccation. Catnlp, by the way, i3 a very much overrated felino tidbit, as any real cat will tell you. Rubber balls are things to t f, and as for b; pons, a regards them with the suspicion. They are rather too large for food purposes and are good for nothing else. What, then, was the cat to have for Christmas? It meant nothing to Jack that ail | the other members of the family had | been taken care of, t relatives and others had been rem bered What would give Spratt touch of the Christmas spirit, and make him realize, too, in his dumb, animal way, that it is more blessed to give than to receivee? » x x 1 am afraid that Jack, along wi the rest of my animal friends, feels that the aphorism applies only from others to him. From the cat stand- point, the maxim reads: “It is more blessed to receive than to give.” This applies particularly to the great need of anin what more appropriate of good meat for a Christmas present to a cat? “This i8 the only thing he will un- derstand,” we said. “Give him plenty of gpod 0ld meat on Christmas day, and he will be happy, indeed So meat it was to be. Two huge lamb chops were cured, first of all. These. were mot the so-called French chops, which are composed of ome-eighth of a pound of bone and one bite of meat No, these were the coarser, but larger shoulder chops, each contal ing a good gquantity of meat, red a succulent In addition, hal? a pound of round steak was put into the larder for Spratt, and these meats together with what the family would have. for Christmas dinner, were to be h Christmas present. * * Jack showed up bright and earl Christmas morning. “Meow!" he cried, which, being for the day, meant a real food, se- | The cat's first handed him. It was a lamb cho That Spratt ltked it fmmensely there was no doubt in the kitchen. He laid his striped head on the lef: side, grabbed the chop, and went after it in approved jungle style, modernized for clty purpos 1 “Pretty good, old fellow?" "Il say it was,” purred Jack. So began Spratt's gustatory Christ- mas. He ate and slept. He ate to sleep, and, arising from dreams, went back to the kitchen to eat some more. Today no demand for food was re- fused. His sides bulged, and still he ate, until the wonder grew that one small cat could hold so much. Jack said it was the best Christmas he ever had, which, perhaps, was no wonder, since it was his first. successtul had I been born and reared in the country.” * k ok K In the courss of the preparations 50 years ago for the great centennial exhibition at Philadelphia in com- memoration of the signing of tho o s Declaration of In- Great Britain at dependence, muc the Centennial. interest was manifested as to the attitude of the British govern- ment toward the affalr. This matter is thus mentioned in The Star of Decem- ber 26, 1874: It is officially announced that the British government has accepted the invitation of the United State to send an English commission to the cen- | tenntal exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876. At the same time it is stated that “acceptance has not been secured without difficulty” and it Is hinted that “the favorable result obtained is due, In large measure, to Col. For- ney’s efforts.” Probably it was rather a cool proposition to invite John Bull to assist in celebrating his own de- feats In this country, but he shows his hard sense in putting a good face upon the matter, and on the whole he can afford to Jook upon the cen- tennial demonstration with the pride of a father in the success of his big boy, who was rather too high spirited to get on amicably under parental rule of patriarchal severity, but who has done remarkably well on his awn hook. %