Evening Star Newspaper, December 31, 1924, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY . December 31, 1924 THEODORE W. NOYES. . . . Editor ‘The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office, 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave, New York Office: 110 East 42nd St. Chicago Office : Tower Bullding. Buropean Office : 16 Regent St.,Loudon, England. The Bvening Star, with the Sunday morning edition, s delivered by carriers within the eity at 60 cents per month; daily only, 45 cents per monthi; Sunday only, 20 cents per month. Orders may be sent by mail or tele phone Main 5000. Collection is made by car- Tiers at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Dally and Sunday..1yr., $8.40; 1 mo., T0c Daily only...... 1 mo., 50¢ Sunday only . $2.40; 1 mo,, 20c All Other States. $10.00; 1 mo. $7.00: 1 mo! Member of the Associated Press. The Assoclated Press fs exclusively entitled 2o the ‘use for republication of all news dis- patchen credited to it or not otherwlse credited in this paper and also the local news pub: lished herein. " All “rights of publication of special dis herein 180 reserved. Proposed Fair-Rental Law. e proposed new rents printed elsewhere in The Star, discloses legislative proposition which should not be enacted without serious, searching consideration and Wwithout radical amendment. Rental conditions here are declared by the bill to be dangerous to the public health, comfort, morals. peace and welfare and embarrassing to the Fed- eral Government in the transaction of the public business. Responsibility for these conditions is fastened upon all the owners of rented and rentable property in the District, and they are punished for their offenses against the public health, morals and welfare by being deprived of control of their property. Their property is “clothed with a public interest,” and control of it is transferred to a hostile com- missfon with extraordinary powers. The commission, on complaint or on fts own initiative, fixes what is rea- sonable rent and the service that must be rendered for this rent, and punishes es @ misdemeanor any disobedience by the owner of the orders of the com- wuission. The bill impairs the obligation of all existing leasing contracts and of all hereafter to be made, as far, at least, as the obligation of the tenant is concerned. The commission fixes not only the vitals but the form of the leasing contract, which may not be varied. The only effect of direct dealing by contract between owner and tenant is to put the rented prop- erty within the jurisdiction of the commission, and to make the contract negligible until remade by the com- mission. No provision in a leasing contract for the termination of a lease is of any force, Subject to the conditions and exceptions laid down by the commis- sion the tenant may hold in perpetuity. If the owner even demands more rent than the commission has fixed Rs reasonable, he is guilty of a mis- demeanor and subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding a vear, or both. If he col- lects more than the amount fixed by the commission, he is compelled to repay double the excess, with costs, and is guilty of a misdemeanor. If he fails to render the required service, or attempts to evade the Jurisdiction of the commission, he is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by $1.000 fine, a year's imprison- ment, or both. These are only a few samples of the despotic power over the owner and his property exercised by the commis- sion. In addition to these extraordi- mary powers Congress, by the bill, del- egates to the commission legislative power to make other regulations gov- erning the maintenance and operation of rental property and to punish by a fine of $25 per day violation of these regulations. The violations of the spirit and let- ter of the Constitution and of equity which have been justified as a war emergency up to this time in the pre- vious rent laws seem to be intensified at the very moment that the old justi- fication ceases to exist. Cannot Congress create an equita- ble rentals-fixing tribunal which will remedy the present evil without ex- posing the legislation to the charge that it takes an American’s property ‘without compensation or without the due process of law contemplated by the Constitution? Cannot Congress correct existing conditions without impaliring the obligation of all leasing contracts’ “Laws impairing the obligation of eontracts are,” says the Federalist, “contrary to the first principles of the gocial contract and to every principle of sound legislation,” Such laws are @bhorrent, and when passed by any State Legislature are unconstitutional, and when passed by Congress, acting not for the Nation, but as the Dis- trict s State Legislature, violate the epirit of the Constitution. The purpose of fair rents legislation is commendable. It attacks and aims to prevent the evil of extortion by ex- cessive rents. In respect to one item and in one spot in the United States it seeks to reduce by arbitrary meth- ods the high cost of living during war and during the period of post- bellum reconstruction, and perhaps permanently. Genuine, effective fair-rents legisla- tion would naturally be popular lo- cally. There are far more Washing- ton tenants than Washington land- lords. Only a fraction of Washington landlords are accused of profiteering. Non-profiteering landlords and house- owners whose property is threatened with increased taxes as a result of ex- cessive rents extorted by others are in hearty sympathy with tenants. All good Washingtonians would check if they could the war of reprisals be- tween landlords and tenants which has raged to the injury of the District. They would make substantial sacri- fices to eliminate an evil for which the unthinking by too broad generaliza- tion hold this whole community re- sponsible to the damage of the good repute of the Capital. e . These sacrifiges should, however, be v {been reached. The reduced by Congress to a minimum, only those that are absolutely essen- tial being demanded. In its present form the bill demands sacrifices and imposes humiliations far greater than are necessary to at- tain the corrective end that is sought. Shall we use a sledgo hammer to swat a mosquito, with the result of fatally smashing the mosquito-bitten as well as the offending mosquito? There are many Washingtonians who are tenants who will not in the hope of securing relief from tempo- rary excesslve rents consent to the permanent debasement of their status and constitutional rights as American citizens. —aen— School Attendance and Schools. A bill was passed in the Senate yes- terday extending the age limits with- in which children must attend school in the District of Columbla, and is like- 1y to become law at this sesslon, a: there is no objection to the measure as framed or to its purpose. If this law is enacted the age limits will be from 7 to 16 years instead of from § to 14, an increase of three years in the school span. Provisions are made for permits to children to engage in necessary work at 14 years of age if they have completed the eighth grade. This #s designed to prevent hardship in cases where the aid of children in family support is necessary. Such a law will increase materially the school population of the District, already too large for the accommoda- tions. The present facilities are inade- quate to house all the children who apply. Many of the buildings are too old to be used longer for school pur- poses. Classes are too large, and in many cases have to be divided, with a loss of teaching time. In short, the present conditions are totally unsuited to the school needs of the Capital. Un- less Congress makes provision by lib- eral appropriations for material addi- tions to the school plant the enact- ment of an amendment to the com- pulsory education law will create an inteolerable congestion. Shift can be made now to care for the surplus of school population through the adoption of the platoon ystem and the use of portable build- ings. But the point of saturation has addition of the ear increment of school con- struction just about takes care of the natural growth of the school popula- tion. Extension of the age limits for attendance makes the adoption of a large-scale building program with ample appropriations imperatively necessary. A bill for such a program of school construction has been introduced, and .will be vigorously pushed at this ses sion. It should have the full assent of the two District committees, and thould get before the two houses early to insure action. Means are available for carrying out such a program of work in the accumulated tax surplus belonging to the District and lying in the Treasury through lack of prior appropriations. It has been formally declared by a joint committee of Con- gress to be the District’s. A bill mak- ing it available for appropriation has passed the Senate, and is now on the House calendar with committee ap- proval. If enacted on the equitable terms of disbursement corresponding to those of collection, that is to say ‘with an equivalent addition of Federal money, this bill will assure means for carrying out, or at least very mate- rially beginning, the five-year bullding program proposed to give the Capital for the first time in its history an ade- quate school equipment. Thus these three measures are linked togther, amendment of the com- pulsory education law, the flve-year school building program and the Dis- trict surplus measure. They should be regarded as a program of legisla- tion to be carried out surely at the present session, e r————————— In spite of his protest that he ought not to have been convicted of man- slaughter, the chances are that if “Kid" McCoy could be given the op- portunity to cancel the court proceed- ings and start anew he would *‘stand pat e The farmer may yet become a suc- cessful speculative capitalist and sing about the happy days he spent way down on Wall Street. Memorial Bridge. Passage by the Senate yesterday of the bill authorizing the construction of the Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington puts that project once more in the way of a def- inite start toward execution. If the assent of the House can be secured at the present session work on this struc- ture, so urgently needed and so long pending, may be begun during the coming fiscal year. The Memorlal Bridge plan has been before Congress for more than a third of a century. When it was first pro- posed the traffic requirements were not nearly as heavy as they are today. The plan itself was more sentimental than utilitarian, and yet even then there was need of an additional bridge across the river as a means of direct communication. November 11, 1921, proved conclu- sively that a bridge crossing the river directly to Arlington was an absolute necessity, On that occasion an im- mense throng of people visited the na- tional cemetery to attend the inter- ment of the Unknown Soldier. A traf- fic jam occurred then that seriously marred the ceremonies and created dangerous conditions. It was thought then that with such conclusive proof of the necessity there would be no further delay. A question which later arose as to the exact location of the bridge was answered In favor of a line running directly from the Lin- coln Memorial to the Virginia shore. Two years have since elapsed with no action toward construction. The patriotic reasons for this great structure symbolizing the reunion of the sections have been intensifled since the first proposal of the project. Two wars have been fought, that with Spain in 1898 and the great wdr in 1917-18. Soldiers from the South and from the North lie together in the cemetery at Arlington, which has be- come the Valhalla of America, An amphitheater for great national cere- mania} assemblages has been erected THE within the reservation dedicated to Americans who have given their lives {for their country. The physical struc- ture of union becomes more than a symbol, it is an actual link of com- munication, Plans for the development of Wash- ington as a National Capital worthy of the country have advanced far since the Memorial Bridge was proposed. The Potomac Park has been created out of the reclaimed river marshes. The old Long Bridge has been re- placed by two structures, for railway and for highway purposes. The Aque- duct Bridge has been-replaced by the Key Bridge of graceful design and massive construction. Still remains the need of a direct route to Arlington, a link in the highway system between the North and the South, a means of accommodating the great throngs that on cerermonial occasions visit the na- tional cemetery, and a fitting accom: paniment of the Lincoln Memorial, which now rises on the bank of the Potomac across the river from the fleld of the dead, first peopled by those who fell in the war for thé preserva- tion of the Union. This measure should appeal to the House of Representatives as worthy of on at this session, Its ultimate enactment Is assured. Postponement merely means increase in cost and ad- dition to the reason foi action. A Good Year Ends. As the year wanes thoughts revert to the past 12 months} to the events of 1924. It has been a year of progress, @ year of disappointments to some and rewards for others. It has been a notable year politically, witnessing the renewed proof of the capacity of the people to judge clearly in their own interest and to manifest their will positively and unmistakably. No great disasters of a nation-wide scope have befallen. Misfortunes have been suffered here and there. Some waste of life has been caused by neg- lect of precautions. The public health, however, has been good, with no epidemics and with an advance in the warfare against disease, Material prosperity has been en- joyed In great measure. The farmers of the country have been relieved of a burden of anxiety and loss and are in better condition now than for many years. Business has developed. Indus- tries have quickened and unemploy- ment has been reduced to a low point. The country has, in fact, recovered from the results of the great war. Whatever standard is applied, how- ever, the record of a year Is always good in the net summary of happen- ings. There is a steady advance in civilization, despite setbacks and re- current brutalities and lawlessness The moral forces are gaining con- stantly in strength, Philanthropy is manifesting increasingly in wise bene- factions for the good of mankind. Notably helpful gifts have been made during the year by men of great wealth for the betterment of social conditions, for education, for the cure of disease and for participation by workers in the profits of business. In- deed, 1924 will in this respect score high in the records of American benev- olence and constructive generosity. So it has been a good vear, as all years are. The new year will dawn upon & happy, busy, advancing people, with no menace overhanging them, with a prospect of continued peace and prosperity. —_——ratee If the idea of giving refunds to pub- lic utilities patrons can be carried far enough 1925 will undoubtedly be re- garded as a record breaker for pros- perity, ——————— A discussion of tax revision is now a standing feature in the congressional program. Among the products of Mr. Duk tobacco industry are the makings of a fine university. —————————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSO¥. Resolution. - My New Year resolution neat Presents a program clear. I'll be contented to repeat The one I made last year, On which occasion I recall I had to do no more Than to restore to standing all 1 made the year befgre. Each annual cycle makes me see Fine promises displayed In January, which must be A twelve-month hence remade. But I am resoluting still. I'd have it understood That I'll go on resolving, till A few resolves make good. In Appreciation. “Do you think the American people have a sense of humor?” “Yes,” answered Senator Sorghum. “Every once in a while somebody comes along that seems to have been elected because he amused the folks.” Latest in Uniforms. The Agent who makes prohibition his care And sits down to dine, a la carty. A dress suit doth wear with an af- fable air, And is often the life of the party. Jud Tunkins says too many people are taking advantage of the fact that there's no chance to heckle by radio. Perseverence. “I suppose the hired man will be lookin’ for excitement again on New Year day."” “Yes,” replied Farmer Corntossel. “Same as on Christmas. He took the day off and went to ‘town, but he didn't get arrested.” Landlord’s Reésolution. “I will not paint the woodwork; T will not clean the hall; I will not change the papering Upon the parlor wall. “I won't increase the heating TUp from the basement sent. I will not do a single thing— Except increase the rent.” ‘Dar’s gineter be need one o' dese days,” said Uncle Eben, some in- vention dat'll persuade "ofle to go to EVENING STAR, 'WASHINGTON, THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Do not worry any more than you have to. oL » ‘This 1s the third of life's hardest iessons, to learn the difference be- tween worrying as much as one has to, and not worrying a bit more. “Do not worry,” the books on opti- mism tell you, but what is the use of telling one that? ‘Worry is part and parcel of our life. One might as Wn!l tell the eyes not to see, or the ears hot to hear, as to ad- vise & man not to worry at all. It is fine advice, no doubt, but, like 80 much fine advice, is impossible of carrying out. But to tell & man not to worry any more than he has to—well, that Is de- cidedly a different thing. There you have something practi- cal, at the same time carrying enough of theory to be pleasing to this com- plex brain of ours, which must have its mixture of theory with practice at all hazards. _“I should worry,” said the slang phrase, meaning just the opposite, of course, In that happy freedom of the idiomatic. Well, we must wofry, now and then, but Jt is up to each one of us to see to It that we worry not a jot more than is necessary. Each one will have to decide for himself or herself just what the fine point {s, where the line of the necessary ends and where the line of the unnecessary begins. * ok ko Mothers worry about their children, children worry about their lessons, fathers worry about their business, girls worry about their beaus, young men worry about their sweethearts, dogs worry about their fleas and cats about thelr dinner. Every created thing seems worrying about something or other, £o universal is this bad practice. It is the unnecessary worry thut causes most of the trouble. Requisite worry has its place. If a real problem arises, one having doubt connected with it, and demanding serious brain work in its solving, plenty of honest worry i3 the very thing needed, for out of it will come the solution, when the worry will be forgot. The man who goes home with a genuine business worry often faces the problem like a man, when he ought to be asleep, and by the morn- ing has come to a satisfactory con- clusion concerning the matter. Such worry as this.is what I call neces- sary worry. There are to be many situations in life that call for such mental trouble. To advise @ man with a vexing problem “not to worry” is ltke telling a hun- gry tomcat not to eat the piece of meat placed before him. You are just wasting your time, no matter how fine your words or how prettily they are placed on paper or how striking the binding of the book that contains them. The letters upon the back of the volume may be of the brighest gold, and still your book will be as sound- ing brass, and the reader will go away with more worles than he had before Have you not added to his woes, when you tell him in so many words that “there is no occasfon for worry,” when all the time he knows you are a liar? One of the great faults of this sort of writing—I hope I steer clear of it —is that the writer gets an enthus- fasm for an idea, and works it to a frazzle, He get the “big ldea” that worry is wrong—which it is—and p‘rnc-edx to clear the decks for ac- tio Worry is all wrong,” he blurts out, then goes on to elaborate the theme, pointing out to all and sundry that the reader is a dolt, a lunkhead and a few other slight critters, If he does not instantly agree with the main propostion and all its corallaries. The latter inculcate the supposed knowledge that worry, in all its forms, in whatsoever shape the mon- ster appears, should be blotted out Uniting on the as if it had never been—should be chased from the stage of life snd never allowed to stick its ugly head from behind the wings to frighten the audience where peace and plenty hold somnolent sway, and the hours pass away to the merry swing of great orchestras beating out “Sub- limity, Peace, Happiness, Good. Yea, verily, this fs an entrancing picture, but there {s something un- real about it. It is not life De- spite our best efforts, there will ocome moments when worry orops up. As T have tried to point out, worry then {s no longer an enemy, but a triend, if we accept it in the proper splrit. * kX ¥ The worry we should steel our hearts against is the petty worry that fritters away our time, our peace of mind, our very muscle and sinew, and our nerves above all. What a tremendous waste there is In this useless fuming and fussing that goes on day after day, night after night. We fret about the street cars, and the weather, and the tomcats on the back fence, and the barking dogs. the playing children, the fact that small Johnnie only got a “G” on his report card; we fume over the way the shop girls treat us—or do not treat us—and the outrageous atti- tude of this or that public man, and the possibllity of a life hereafter and a hell thereafter, and whether we should go to the play tonight or tomorrow night, and, if so, which necktie we should wear. Yes, our worrying is as bad as that, and generally a great deal worse. Instead of devoting our time to conmstructive effort, often we al- low matters of absolutely no- im- portance to usurp our hours More than that, we permit persons of mo importance to worry us. 1 speak not of the man who has learned to shed the ill remarks of friends, agquaintances and others, but of the great majority who take every word spoken to them in great serfousness. If you think this is not 80, Just remember this the next time some one says the slightest thing out of the way to you. You will re- act to it as most do, in all probabil- ity, going home to worry about it, as it it were something of real impor- tance, or as if it meant anything in your life as a whole. The best way to bad habit is to think about and then—as you are doing now— and to attempt to think about it at the time when it is most necessary to keep the thing In mind. Thus, when a trivial occurance starts the old wheels in the head to going around in circles, which is all worry is, for 1t gets one nowhere, stop and think on this thing! Perhaps there is no phase of human existence where thinking can do more good than in curing unneces- sary worry, for the very act of think- Ing - along constructive lines tends to blot out the worry idea. This is about the best tip that has come out of the so-called practical psychology. Most people can think of but one thing at a time, so that if they in- troduce a new thought to take the place of the worrying ones, the new one will hold dominion until another one arrives. Think about your doge, think about the kids, think about that new golf ciub, think about what you are go- ing to do this year, think about any- thing except what is worry to you. “Some more good advice"—yes, but it works, if one takes the trouble to work it out for himself. A little physical action, such as an afternoon on the links or a long walk, also helps. And motto: i “I am an old man, and 1 havé had many troubles, most of which never overcome this it now remember that grand old happened.” Traffic Problem III.—Each State a Unit in Traffic Control. By ERNEST GREENWOOD, Secretary National Conference All legislation intended to govern and regulate street and highway traf- fic should be for adoption by States and not by citles. This is the con- clusion of the National Conference on Street and Highway Safety, and means that the State enforcement division should have suffictently broad powers to formulate the regulatory provisions necessary to the detailed control of trafilc, leaving, however, to municipal authorities the formu- lation and enforcement of ordinances covering loca] conditions. Every State should have a depart- ment or bureau administering the laws applying to motor vehicles, including the issuing and revocation of licenses for both cars and drivers, and also for the enforcement of street and highway regulations. Such a department or bureau should have an adequate staff not only to handle licenses, but to examine drivers, police the highways and investigate accidents. Dificult to Change Laws. It ts a proved fact that once a thing is written into the law it is difficult to change. Conditions on our streets and highways are chang- ing so rapldly that any motor vehicle law should deal, as far as practicable, only in general principles, establish- ing minimum and maximum limits, and leaving to experienced and tech- nically trained administrators the es- tablishment of such traffic regulations as will carry out the intent of the law. This makes it possible for the motor vehicle administrators of the several States to get together, as they are now doing at intervals, discuss thelr respective problems and make such changes in their rules and regu- lations as will meet changing condi- tions and at the same time mccom: plish the all-important principle of uniformity of practice as between States. As stated in the preceding article, one of the first things such a depart- ment should be authorized by law to do is to set up the machinery for the reporting and investigating of accidents. It should be made man- datory, with severe penalties, for the breach, for all owners and drivers to report accidents in which they are involved, and municipalities should be required to report to the State motor vehicle administrator all acci~ dents occurring within their cors porate limits. The motor vehicle de- partment should be provided with adequate funds to maintain a trained corps of investigators, and this, com- bined with the keeping of uniform and detailed records and spot maps, will make it possible to gradually eliminate _ obstructions—using the word “obstruction” in its broadest sense—to the free flow of traffic and permit the natural laws governing that flow to functton normally. Drastic Penaltles Necessary. No per=on should be permitted to arive a car who has not applied for and received a license from such a State motor vehicle department, and the State law should provide the most drastic penalties for driving without such a licensd. The depart- ment should have full autherity to refuse an operator's license to any person and to suspend or revoke it for any reason deemed sufficient. The department - should be reguired by law to determine the applicant’s abil: N&'mm‘ Vehicly sately, on Street and Highway Safety. and should ascertain his physical and mental fitness and his knowledge of the laws. There should be a mini- mum age limit of 16 years, and no person should be granted a llcensc who cannot read English. The committee on insurance of the conference recommended as deter- rents to careless or reckless driving the Immediate suspension of a license in the event of accident and the impounding of the motor vehicle. If one may be permitted to interpret the conclusion of a committes, I might say that by impounding the committee did not mean confiscation, but meant the holding of a car until responsibility for the accident might be determined. There is no way by which insurance or any other device Involving compensation or the allevi- ation of suffering can be considered as an accident prevention measure. Any law or regulation, however, vehicle will act as a deterrent. Sus. which causes distinct inconvenience to the owner or operator of a motor pension or absolute revocation of licens: with drastic penalties for driving without a license, most cer- tainly has such an effect. The loss of use of the car even for a limited time must cause inconvenience and also have the same effect. Uses of Motor Vehicles. It must not be forgotten that the motor vehicle as a new means of transportation is presumed to en- able the individual to move about his business more freely and in less time. With an automoblle he is no longer governed by fixed means of transportation. Anything which takes away these advantages, therefore, will act as a-deterrent and make him exceedingly cautious about doing anything which may. cause him to lose them. In any motor vehicle legislation or set of regulations which may be set up, care should be taken to maintain an intelligent attitude. As stated in the preceding article, and repeated here for the purpose of emphasis, accidents do not happen when there is @ free flow of traffic. For three centuries the English Parliament leg- islated against wheeled vehicles of any kind, because they cut up the highways used by horses carrying passengers and freight. The first stage coaches were mobbed ard fre- quently overturned by owners of pack animals. The entire history of highway legislation is a history of an attempt at restriction which never restricted and which invariably fail- ed. Facing a crisis in traffic con- ditions as the Nation is, it is to be hoped that the present day atti- tude toward what i{s rapldly becom- ing our most important means of transportation of both passengers and freight will be more intelligent than the attitude of the.public in the seventeenth century. - Santa No Myth. ' From the Boston Transcript. Santa Claus may be a miyth, but most.of us find his reign dear. Sun Sets the Pace. From the Detroit News. The sun’'s age is placed at five mil- lion years. Its method of living, no doubt, Barly to bed and early to D it o s, D. 0, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1924. Politics at Large “What alls the Democratic party” dontinues to be a live toplc of dis- cussion in the press of the country and among Democratic politicians and now is being taken up In Congress. The current discussion was enlivened by a colloguy in the Senate last Mon- day between Senator Druce of Mary- land and Senater Pat Harrison of Mis- siesippl. Up to thb present time no eftective diagnosis has been made of the condition of the Democracy pre- senting a foundation for the applica- tion of remedy for the patient. * ok o % The Republicans, for their part, are not worrying over the causes of the anemio condition of the Democratic party but are grateful for the con- tributions made to the Republican vote last November, evidently from Democratic sources. They are con- tent to see the Democrats wrangle over thelr depleted condition, and will be glad to fan the flames of thelr discontent. * oKk x The House is hard at work on the heavy task of trylng to get the appropriation bills over to the Senate in time to have them revised by that body and passed before March 4. The bulk of the labor devolves upon the House, because the bills are exam- ined in more detail in the body which initiates them. The Senate can pass a big appropriation bill with a few hours' deliberation. The prevalling opinfon among the leaders in Congress is that no extra session will be precipitated by failure of any of the appropriation bills to be enacted into law. It has occurred in the past that appropriation bills have failed through filibustering and a_ resolution continuing the appro- priations of the current year was passed to provide for the needs of the Government. No propositions are now in sight threatening a fillbuster against any of the appropriation bills. Chairman Madden of the appropri- ations committee warned the House on Monday that whether there is to be further tax reduction depends in a lurge measure upon what the House and Senate do with the appropriation bills. The running expenses of the Government cannot bs much further reduced, he sald. The bottom has been reached in many activities. Some will necessarily remain stationary at presesnt amounts for & number of vears, others will necessarily go for- ward Fresh buying in the military serv- ices will have to be made soon for current operation. An additional building program has been authorized for the Navy. Unless further cur- tailment takes place In Navy bullg- ing by concerted international agres- ment we will be put to added ex- pense annually to keep up our al- lotted strength. There has been little or no building construction by the 1vil dctivities of the Government since the war. Many places in the United States are in need-of added public quarters to accommodate post offices and other public activities. While he never wants to see a recurrence of the former wasteful and unbusiness-like practices in the au- thorization and construction of bulld- ings, Chairman Madden does want to see proper quarters provided in those places where the Government can save rents. * k£ % Chairman Madden has a suggestion for the handling of tha surplus when one accumulates in the Treasury pro- viding for an automatic return to the taxpayer. It is to this effect; that an act might be passed which would not interfere with any other tax legislation requiring the Secre- tary of the Treasury at the end of every, fiscal Year to report to the President of the TUnited States the amount of the surplus, whatever it might be, if any, over and above a stated working balance and then after the receipt of that report from the Secretary of the Treasury President shall be required to direct the Secretary automatically to re- turn to the taxpayer whatever that portion of the surplus might be with- out any further application of law. “That seems to me a sensible propo- sition that would be inaugurated in any man's business if he were con- trolling the business entirely him- self. I see no reason why the Gov- ernment of the United States should not be conducted on as wise princi- ples as that of any in the land. S Representative Madden took occa- sion in the House to sound what he called a note of warning to adminis- trative offices about the classification of salaries in the District of Colum- bia under the new law. He said the committee had recommended in its bills a modification of the limitation which the House upon its recommen- dation adopted in the bills of last seasion. The modification recom- mended is to correct what is believed to have been administrative abuses in several of the departments, “The new law,” he sald, “gives con- siderable administrative discretion to officials in the departments. We have protected the integrity of the law as far as we have thought it wise and at the same time permitted a fair trial of operation. I want here to sound a note of warning to ad- ministrative officers. They must scrupulously follow not only the let- ter, but what they unquestionably know to be the intent and the tem- per of the Congress in the matter of salaries. It has come to my attention that there {s a growing tendency pre- valent now in a minor degree to mag- nify and exaggerate the importance attatched to the duties of some posi- tlons in order that they may be changed to a higher grade and in that way obtain greater compensa- tion.” * ¥ % ok Friends in Congress of the League of Natlons are expecting a revival of discusston of the league consequent upon -the speech of Viscount Cecil in New York upon the acceptance of the $25,000 Wilson peace award Monday night. The speech was widely read at the Capitol and was recognized as high-grade propaganda in behalf of the League of Nations. It is not expected that this prop- aganda is going to result in any det- inite proposition for the United States ever joining the League of Nations, however. The voters have put their distinet stamp of disapproval upon such action on the part of this coun- try. The League of Nations idea Is kept alive by the admirers of Presi dent Wilson, but the idea is recog- nized by politiclans as being aca- demie. In the course of his remarks Vis- count Cecil quoted Mr. Wilson as having prophesied at one of the meet- ings of the Versallles Peace Confer- ence that the time will come when loyalty to mankind at large will be equal to patriotism to one's country. The politician’s idea is that a man must first be a good ocitizen of his own country before he can become citizen of the world. The voters of the United States have in two elec- tions found all suggested forms of a League of Nations unsuitable for ac- ceptance of them by the United States. ok R % On the eve of the new year re- ports come to the departments of the Government having close relations with the business of the country, in- dicating that the country is ap- proaching an era of unparalleled pros. perity and activity In business. Pub- lished . interviews with prominent leadeys of industry echo the same prophesy. Senators and Representatives get similar reports from their constitu- enty prominent in the business world. the | ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN . How many playgrounds are there in the District?—S. R. R. A. Last Summer 60 were used Forty of them were school play- grounds and 20 were municipal. Are the chimney-like projections on the Pellatt Castle, in Toronto, really chimneys or simply ornaments?— F. B F. A. The architect of Pellatt Castle, E. J. Lennox, says that all the chimneys on the Pellatt Castle are regular chimneys connecting. Wwith fireplaces in the different rooms in the castle. There are no false chim- neys. This castle is built much after the castles of the olden times, when all rooms depended on fireplaces for thelr heating, although there is a very extensive heating plant for the castle. Q. Are diamonds M J. S A. The Geological Survey says that the inflammability of a diamond would depend on what an individual means by “inflammable.” Diamonds are not inflammable in air; however, if put in a pure solution of oxygen and temperatured at a certain point the diamond will burn. inflammable?— Q. How long must a West Point men stay in the service?’—W. A. A. A graduate of West Point can- not resign from the Army until he has served four years as graduate, making & total of elght years, inclu ing the four years at the Military Academy. However, cases of extreme necessity are considered. Q. Do the roots of trees continuz to grow after the trees are cut down? —M. W. A. The roots do continue to grow. Q. What is the o in of the ex- pression, “He stood like a Stoughton bottle”?>—A. H. C. A. A Stoughton bottle is a dark green or black bottle formerly used for Dr. Stoughton’s bitters. The bot- tle was shaped like a log cabin and used in the presidential campaign of 1840. The term from its association has come to imply a stupid person or a figurehead. Q. Where was Frederic plane found?—R. H. G. A. The plane lost by Commander Martin in the round-the-world flight was found by Mr. Sulllvan, represent- ative of the Bureau of Fisheries, in the first part of September on the Alaskan peninsula near Port Moeller. Martin's Q. Is there a “right” and a “wron way to offer a tip to a hotel chan bermaid?>—H. C. R. A. A recent article on hotel et quette says that the most tactful way is to offer the money in an envelope. Q. Can steam be seen-—C. A. A. Steam Is water In a gaseous con- dition. It s invisible. The white cloud of vapor commonly called steam is vapor composed of minute parti- cles of water suspended in the air and formed by the condensation of the true steam gas coming in contact with the cool air. Q. What will prevent the de leather in book bindings?—W. A. The Bureau of Standards sug- gests that vou apply a thin coating of egg albumen to the leather binding of the books to prevent decay. The use of ammonia for diluting and pre- serving the solution should be avoid- ed, but the whites, after a thorough IN TODAY’S BY PAUL ¥ At the close of a year—fiscal or calendar—it is customary for business men to take an inventory of stock and to note its condition If the Government were to follow that prac- tice today, it would find millions of dollars' worth—or property on which it would be impossible to set an ap- praised value—scattered about, un- insured and uninsurable, with most appalling fire hazards threatening it, and with much-needed office space en- cumbered uselessly by it. It is in- conceivable, according to many offi- cials who know the conditions, that the public, and especiafly Congress, realizes the situation regarding the priceless records of the Government. An annual. review of the situation therefore is timely. * ok kX Even from the standpoint of true history, the importance of preserva- tion of public records needs to be emphasized. A few weeks ago a French historian, Wladimir d’Ormes- son, was seeking through the archives of the French government for data regarding a certain phase of French history when he accidentally un- earthed the original reports from America during the Revolution, sent by the first minister plenipotentiary from France to her ally, the United States. These reports from Minister Alexander Gerard de Rayneval to Premier Vergennes prove that he was here to spy out the actual conditions and to hold the struggling colonies from making peace with England, lest by that peace the interests of France might be imperiled. The Gerard records had been lost for a century and a half; they throw im- portant light on American histor: not furnished by American archives. But what other truths are still hid in Amerfcan records cluttered in boxes, heaped in attics or crowded unindexed in dark corners of offices’ * ok ok % It is not merely from the stand- point of history that officials are con- cerned over the conditlons of con- fusion and neglect and fire risk sur- rounding Government documents and reports. These data are of incal- culable importance, according to the heads of all the departments, in safe- guarding the financial and political interests of the Nation. Furthermore, they are occupying valuable space in departments which iz greatly needed for the workers. They must not be destroyed, yet in most cases they are not veferred to in years, but when needed they are indls- pensable. For example, the Attorney General reports: “It is a regrettable fact that many of our files of historical value, reach- Ing back to 1790, are stored in old wooden boxes. Most of the papers in connection with the recent war will probably, in years to come, be of great value. How are the war records stored? They are largely in “Temporary Building E,” which {s rated as “slow- burning,” because it has concrete stairs and floors. But how slow- burning are acres of wooden shelves laden with wooden files fllled with papers In paper cases? Yet these are the original records of every soldier in the war, as kept by his officers, showing his efficiency and his service. Here are the data on which the wounded are given compensation Here Is the official story of his su- perior officer, of the heroism of the boy who penetrated No Man's Land to bring back to the safety of the trenoh his wounded comrade who had fallen in the late charge over the top. “What price glory” shall be put upon those fire-imperiled records? * ok k% Seventy. per cent of the records of the Internal Revenue Bureau, on which income taxes, Inheritance taxes, estate taxes are assesseC, are in _“temporary” wooden “tinder boxes.” All the census records—ex- cept what were burned up a few years ago in a fire in the Depart- agommauwu, are now beating, may be made antiseptic by the addition of a small quantity of camphor, thynol or some essential ofl Vaseline Is also satisfactory in soms cases as preservative for leather book binding. Q. What is the horsepower Niagara Falls furnishing?—C. F. A. On the Canadian side 660,000 horsepower and on the American sid 450,000 horsepower, ok Q. What is the difference between a couch and a lounge?—J. R. A. Often in the furniture trade n couch is distinguished as having o arm, or raised end, and no back lounge as having one arm and a back; & sofa, as having two arms and a back. Q. Why is the called?—T. A. A. This projection in the neck is formed by the thyroid cartilege. In the male it is particuarly prominent and is so called from the fancy that it was caused by the forbidden frutt of the Tree of Knowledge sticking in the throat of Adam. Adam’'s apple so Q. What is meant by auto-de-fe? T.W. A. This is the name of the cere- mony that accompanied the Dro- nouncement of judgment by the In- quisition; and was followed by exe- cution. Hence, auto-da-fe came to mean the burning of a heretlc. Q. What is meant by the expres sion found on the financial page of pa- pers—Bar silver (foreign), 68; bar ver (domestic), 99%7—G. C. [ A. The bar silver (foreign) is the price quoted in New York on all si ver other t that which has bee produced and refined entirely in t United States and has 1 entered any foreign market. The two quota tions were made necessary because of the operation of the special act of Congress known as the Pittman ac Under authority of this act a large amount of silver was sold during the war to Great Britain to be shipped to Indla. This silver is now being re- placed by purchases by the United States Government, of purely domes- tic silver; that is, American produced and refined. The same act makes it mandatory upon the United States Government to pay one dollar per ounce for all such silver offered at the United States mint up to a total of the amount of silver sold during the war. This figure has nearly bee: reached, and when such purchases the United States ha pleted the special domestic quotation will doubt b tinued ver true tha warmer two thin gar- than one thick Q ments one?—G. A nent experts say that two thin garments are warmer be ause the layer of air between them is a poor conductor of heat. Who “Professor of University 1 —A. V. N. Carlyle’ artar Resartus” has such a character—Herr Teufu drockh (Mr. Devil's Dirt). was (Readers of The Evening Star showld send their questions to The Star In- formation. Bureaw. Frederic J. Haskin, director, Twenty-first and C strects northwest. The omly charge for this service is 2 cents for return postage.) SPOTLIGHT . COLLINS. housed, unprotected, in Temporary Building D. These records are the looseleaf sheets written up by cen- sus enumerators each decade since the Constitution was adopted. Abso- lutely unduplicated and, when de- stroyed by fire or water, impossible to repl They contain data of t birth and family connections of every person who has ever lived in the United States—not only data of inter- est to geneologists but important in much litigation over wills and in- heritances. A fire might sweep all into an ash heap in 30 minutes, be- vond the power of any fire depart- ment to prevent. Every department of the Government is similarly at the mercy of the fire hazard. * ¥ k% Department of Justice is un ed by any law of limitations cering fraudulent extortion profiteers, and is in litiga- tion all the time, involving many mil- lions of dollars. A single case, if lost through inability to produce evidence, might cost far more than the cost of a modern archives build- ing. Claims are pushed agaimst the Government by private litigants, and when lawyers learn that the Govern- ment has lost defense evidence pressure is made upon points of weak ness so creatc The office of the alien property custodian has the records of properties of alien enemies. not “rich rejoice at get even w America?” R The records of the Department of the Interior include Aata of en upon public lands, some of which land is now of great value. It con- tains 3,000,000 pension records, frow the Civil War veterans and their widows. It contains patent records. Indian and reclamation records. The State Department wants rec ords from our consulates and em- bassies. when no longer in use, stored, methodically safely in an ar- chives building. Their importance will grow with their age. * ok * *x An officlal especially qualified and connected so that he speaks with au- thority, states that a suitable archi , as large as the Arlingto Building, now housing the Veterans Bureau, can_be erccted, without the shelves, for $1,000,000. It is estimated that the metal shelving may cost another million, and the site will cost according to location, perhaps half a million. Such a building would release space needed in the present departments for clerical help, amounting to 451,459 square feet, and space in rented bulldings now occupied for such stor- age, amounting to 31,320 square feot —a total of 482,779 square f The rental value of the space so re« leased, estimated at the minimurn: rentals of downtown business prop erty, is $1.256 per foot, per annum, s0 that the released space is worth $603,- 425 per annum. The temporary butld- ings, which the Government is now using, are rapidly going into decay and they will be unavailable almost before an archives bullding can be finished. The cost of the space, rental value, is equivalent to 21 pe cent interest on the investment re quired—about seven times the rate the Government pays for loans. According to Senator Smoot, chair- man of the committee, there is no op- position in the Senate to fmmedl passage of the appropriation, for all Senators are impressed with jts vital importance. There will be soma op- position in the House, and an effort to couplé ali Capital buildings with local buildings in the districts of the Rep- resentatives—a plan which President Coolldge announces in advance will not be sanctioned. Since the archives are not of more concern to Washing- &g | tonians than to citizens of the utte:- most parts of the Union, Congress and the President wil! refuse to enter into competition of the National Capital ‘Wwith local communities. €Capyright, 1924, by Peul V. Oelitam)