Evening Star Newspaper, January 29, 1925, Page 6

06 THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. . .January 29, 1925 THURSDAY. THEODORE W. NOYES. he Evening Star Newspaper Company Office, 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. York OMce: 110 Fast 42nd 8t Chicaxo Offica: Tower Butldiog European egent St.,London, England. The Evening Star, with the Sunday morning rdition, fa deilvered by carriers within ty at 60 cents. per month: dafly only, 45 cents per month; Sunday only. 20 ents per inonth.” Orders may be sent by mail or tel me Main §000. Collection {n made by car- s at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance, Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday..1yr., $3.40; 1 mo,, 70c Daily only........1yr, $6.00; 1 mo, 50¢ sunday only 1yr, $2.40; 1 mo,, 20¢ All Other States. v and Sunday.1 yr., $10.00: 1 mo., $5¢ Dally only.......1yr, $1.00;1mo, 60c Sunday oniy 1yr, $3.00;1mo., 25¢ Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press 1s exclusively entitied f5 the use for republication of all news dis. lited to 1t or not ofherwise credited al news pub An Adequate Budget. Leaving for ongress to deter- mine” whether to repeal the lump- sum payment plan inaugurated in he current law as an annual meas o of Federal contribution to the up- keep of the National Capital or to apply the proportionate percentage plan, in accordance with existing sub- stantive law, the House appropriations committee today reports a District I which is exceptionally liberal in it: provision for funds. It proposes an appropriation of $30,968,957, which is an increase of $1,794,803.79 over the current appropriation and an in- «rease, as well, of $196,436 over the budget recommendations. This is an exceptional situation. Tleretofore the District bill on emer- gence from the House committee has been in terms of reduction from the budget estimates, and often from the current appropriation. The House committes this year has recognized the large and growing needs of the District in terms of a bill which makes | generous provision for all branches of the municipality, and for the first time in the history of local fiscal logislation approximates the real re- Guiremen The committee seeks to justify the jumpsum plan as the permanent method of making Federal contribu- tion to the upkeep of the Capital in an extended argument. It presents tigures to show savings to the fted States under this system which, with its recommendation, it submits in its report, though not in the text of the bill, for congressional ap- proval as the substantive law of District appropriation. This argu- ment, of course, is directed to Con- gress itselt and {s framed to ap- peal to the spirit of economy. It is at the same time addressed to the veople of the District, seeking to show that under the lump-sum system larger appropriations will be made by t'ongress than under the definite pro- portion plan. In other words, with the J'ederal contribution reduced to a maximum lump sum not in proportion 1o the total, there 13 to be no stint in appropriating District revenues to be 1aised by increased taxes. If a limit is placed by Congress upon its own outlays by appropriations from the Treasury in Capital maintenance, Uongress will appropriate without vestraint from the taxes levied with- vut limitation upon District property. This point is stressed in the follow- ing language of the report accom- panying the bill to the House: It the lump-sum plan should be- come permanent law, so that the bud- xet could be presented on that basis, there is no reason why the estimates submitted for the District of Colum- Lia should not presented in such total amount as the citizens are will- ing to stand for by way of taxation, with due consideration belng given to the relative importance and merit of the various objects to be appropriated for. This question is to be determined letween the House and the Senate. Whether the lump-sum plan is adopt- «d by the House for one year only or made permanent by the use the language of substantive law the appropriative clause, this new bill will undoubtedly be the most liberal that has ever been «nacted for the maintenance of the District. Generous provision is made in this bill and will doubtless be con- tinued in the later framing of the measure, and perhaps increased, for all branches of the municipal organi- zation, for schools, for police, fire pro- tection, for street Improvements and for salarles in the executive estab- lishment. Reserving for future discussion the question of the fairest and est method of Federal partici- n in Capital maintenance, it is order to express gratitude to the House appropriations committee for this unusually, but not unmerit- edly, liberal provis The Capital community requires a large budget. 1t has never had an adequate one. Its needs have accumulated. Its scale of pay for its public servants has re- mained low. while elsewhere such rcales have risen. It has lagged in its vhysical Now it would m to be the will of Congress, as ex- pressed up to this point by the House mmittee on appropriations, that vashingto'n needs shall be met adequately. The spectacle of a Dis- trict bill which in its first stage ex- ceeds current appropriations and bud- get estimates is a gratifying novelty. in on. equipment. ® S The child labor amendment might lave found more popular support if t had made special provisions to re- strain the average “infant prodigy.” o Oysters. Maryland and Virginia are defend- ing their oysters. A demonstration ot confidence in the oyster was given st Washington in the Municipal ¥ish Market; the health commissioner of Chicago, invited by the Governor of Maryland, is inspecting the oyster waters and industry of Maryland; the tisheries commissioner of Maryland a3 teken the air and broadcast calls Editor | the | ties | thousands of persons. Virginia representatives of the oyster industry and Gov, Trinkle are dis- cussing plans for “alleviating the sit- uation that has virtually paralyzed the oyster trade.” In Chicago oysters were charged with causing typhold infection. This charge was repeated far and wide in | the Central West and a ban was put on the oyster in @ number of citles. It is denied that typheld in Maryland or Virginia has ever been traced to | Infected oysters, though in the tide- | water parts of those States quanti- of oysters are eaten by many It is clalmed that the waters of the far-down Po- tomac, the Chesapeake and the salt water parts of its tributaries are not polluted. Oysters are sent west from a long stretch of the Atlantic coast. In the 5,000 square miles of oyster- bearing waters in the Chesapeake basin oysters come from thousands of beds and also from many places along the coast northeast of Mary- land, and if there has been typhold infection by oysters it may have come from oniy one of the great number of beds. —— An Agricultural Program. In sending to Congress the pre- liminary report of the commission which he appointed to work out a program of agricultural relief and permanent betterment, President Coolidge has placed upon Congress the burden of declding whether there shall be farm legislation at the pres- ent session, Except for recommended changes in the tariff schedules—and tarift legislation is a minor part of the commission’s program—there are no proposals which must necessarily cause prolonged debate. Amendment of the credits act to permit rediscounting of the paper of credit corporations by intermediate banks s something to which there cannot possibly be valid objection. It is badly needed by the cattlemen, who at present are in the most serious straits. Creation of a Federal board to en- courage co-operative marketing looks to the permanent betterment of agri- culture along sound lnes and has the support of all right-thinking farm economists. Revision of railroad rates to favor agricultural and other bulk commodities is in the interest of the consumer as well as the pro- ducer and has long been advocated by competent thinkers. These are the features of the commission’s program calling for legislative action, and the President's expressed hope that they will receive early and fa- vorable consideration need not be in vain, But the fact that these measures ought to be adopted without prolonged debate does not assure that they will be. The commission’s pdogram is not, of course, at all to the llking of advocates of the McNary-Haugen bill and other proposals for price fixing and the artificial stimulation of agriculture at the expense of the United States Treasury and the rest of the community, They will prob- ably take advantage of any opening up of the question in Congress through proposals for legislation to put forward their pet measures, and thers is likely to be plenty of debate. But the President having sent his recommendations in befors the end of January, Congress will have to answer to the farmers if there is no relief legislation by March 4. They are not going to be satisfied to see the fantastic used to kil off the prac- tical. Nor will demands for an extra session serve to alibi Congress for failure to act along lines which ought not to be made controversial. The principal recommendations can be adopted at this session if the price fixers will withhold obstruction. A price-fixing law cannot be passed at an extra or any other session of the incoming Congress —_— e One of the politest phrases ever contributed to the diplomatic vocab- ulary is “debt cancellation.” There is always an agreeable and a disagree- able way of saying the same thing, according to the mental attitude of the speaker. Only a crude and abrupt person uses the word “repudlation. —_—————— The recent farewell dinner to Mr. C. B. Slemp may very properly figure as an incident in a serfes of official casions, in which sincere felicita- tions are mingled with earnest re. grets. agricultural ——————— The steps toward tax reduction were so well received last year that there should be considerable interest in developing this particular phase of economy. r———— Radio and the Eclipse. The Radio Corporation of America learned important facts from the sun’s eclipse. In what way this knowledge will be applied to improve radio trans- mission cannot be known now, but the physicists and engineers special- izing in radio can be relled on to put the facts to the best use. Millions of people using radio for instruction and amusement understand the impor- tance of the matter in hand, and ra- dio improvement will hasten the com- ing of millions into the radio fleld. The main deduction from radio- eclipse observations is that short wave lengths follow the sun. The report from WGY, at Schenectady, and the Bronx laboratory of the Radio Cor- poration is that the 75 meter waves could not be heard until just before sunrise. With the sun they came faintly. As the sun rose they grew stronger. During the eclipse the waves faded and during totality were blotted out. When the eclipse was over, the 75 meter waves were re- ceived clearly. The 380 meter waves were faint and irregular before the beginning of the eclipse, strengthened as the sun was covered, were strong and regular during totality, and as the eclipse passed became faint and irregular. These officlal and sclentific tests are corroborative of results recently given in the press of experiments made In large part by amateurs. It has been reported several times that day messages on short waves have been heard at greater distances than long waves in daylight. The inference or falgy play for ihe oysisey @nd jnlwhich the layman dgaws from thege 2 THE EVENT observations is that day transmission should be on short waves and night transmission on long waves. The rea- son for the sun's effect on these waves ‘will be sought by qualified men whose study is radio. If the reason is found, it may be possible to adapt wave length to position of the sun and in- tensity of sunlight. The scientific experimenters’ reports on static do not give much, encour- agement. The report from WGY was “as the sun appeared the short wave lengths grew stronger and as the short wave lengths increased the static increased.” There are other references in the reports to static, and the sclentists seem to be knitting their brows and scratching their heads over this subject. Static is baffling, but the case is not hopeless. It is not a very important thing to the thousands of radiots who tdke their nourishment through crystals from WRC and WCAP, but it is distressing to tube users who listen to KFI, KPO and KGW; and really the demons, gob- lins and coyotes are often very active in the short stretches of air between Washington and KDKA, WEAF and WFIL ———— The Lamond Crossing. There has been delay In doing away with five railroad grade crossings in the north part of Washington, but if a bill now pending in Congress be- comes a law a beginning will be made in the removal of these crossings. This bill has been introduced in the House and Senate by the chairmen of the District committees for elim- ination of the Lamond grade crossing, where several fatalitics have occurred. In pressing this matter upon Congress the District Commissioners wrote: “It is urgent at this time, in order that a start may be made, to eliminate the five remaining grade crossings in the District of Columbfa.” Under the terms of the bill the Commission- ers shall construct a subway and ap- proaches to carry Van Buren street under the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio Railrcad, onehalf of the cost of construction to be paid by the raflroad company, which would also pay the cost of lighting the subway. There is also a provision in the bill that if a street railway company should use this subway it shall pay a quarter of the cost of the construc- tion of the subway and approaches. With the removal of the Lamond crossing it i3 thought that the re- maining grade crossings in & section of the District fast gaining in popu- lation will soon be eliminated. — ey Reduced railway rates for inaugura- tion constitute a strong inducement to the public throughout the country to enjoy a visit to Washington, in- teresting at any time and especially 0 on this occasion. —— Reports of business prosperity as they reach the Government clerk in his present apprehensive state of mind are likely to sound more or less like foreign news. ————————— It must be admitted that the Sen- ato made the proceedings touching Mr. Daugherty more popularly interesting than the New York court succeeds in doing. —— e Instead of being tried, the ex-kalser enjoys the distinction of having his birthday celebrated in Berlin with gun play and other riotous demonstra- tions. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Indispensable. 1t workers we must send away As we economize, Oh, let us for awhile delay ‘Those whom just now we prize. Dismiss the men who idly sleep And at thelr tasks are slow. But, in the name of Pity, keep The few who shovel snow! Taking Refuge in Science. “Youll simply have to make some sort of a speech on some current topics,” remarked the trusted adviser. “All right,” answered Senator Sor- ghum; “how about the League of Nations?"” “Sentiment 13 much divided and you may offend.” “I suppose I could touch on prohibi- tion enforcement.” “You're llable to stir up antipathies among the lawless element, and call attention of the law-abiders to the bad boys you haven't put in jail.” “Oh, well, I suppose we'll have to adopt the usual custom when times are such that & discreet politician refrains from discussing politics. Bring out the encyclopedia and we'll prepare to attack the theories of Dar- win and Einstein as threatening not only the human race, but the entire solar system.” . Heard but Not Shown. We used to sing with fervor free, This world's & fleeting show, But now there's not so much to see. It's mostly radio. Jud Tunkins says he doesn't exact- Iy admire short skirts, but he's got to congratulate the younger genera- tion on belng rheumatiz-proof, Chest Protectors. Committees here! Committees there! We meet committees everywhere. No one need fear the Wintry storm ‘While badges keep our bosoms warm. Action. “What do you think .of Trotsky's attempt to fill Lenin's shoes?” “You must admit they do not fit him so badly as to prevent him from running.’ ‘Wings. The poet sang his patient lay, “We have mot wings, we cannot But we have aeroplanes today, And we are going to have some more, “De average man,"” said Uncle Eben, “can’t show near de gratitude foh a chance to earn real money dat he manifesses foh any old kind of a tip on de races.” G _STAR, WASHI BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. The wonderful art of radio broad- casting is too new to become petrified already. Yet that is what seems to be happening, despite the variety of entertainment and instruction fur- nished listeners by the great stations. The sclence of broadcasting, a dis- tinct thing from its art, {s advancing with all the certitude of precise ex- perimentation, but the actual con- duct of the studios already shows ® dacided tendency to become “sot in its ways." This has come about because broad- casting, lilke Topsy, “just grew,” dis- playing a wonderful growth, with- out parallel, indeed, yet surely not free from possibilities of further de- velopment. Directly to the contrary, radio broadcasting shows such vigor and worth that it can and must go on to new conquests, and will only be hekd back by the cries of enthusiasts who are foes to progress, or studlo di- rectors who believe In letting a good thing alone. The first license for radlo broad- casting in this country was Issued by the Department of Commerce In September, 1921. In 1923 the number of statlons Increased rapldl accord- ing to the department rec ds, until today there are more than 530 sta- tions, including the class A, or small- er stations, and the class B, or high- powered broadcasters. Radio broadcasting. therefore, may properly be said to be in its infancy, S0 wonderful a babyhood that the slightest tendency toward ossification must be watched by Its wary parents and all of us who love the child. I have done my full share of sit- ting up with this baby: and, there- fore, when I said in a recent article that the bromdcasting p- trams now tended to bore me, 1 meant just that. M E. R J ks If It is variety I waat? “Since we h had our crystul set,” sha writes, “we have had President's message; two political conventions; a funeral; a wedding: a prize fight; the world serfes; church services of all denominations; cathe- dral services; talks on avery possible subject; muslc on every instrument; #ongs from grand opera to jazz.” No, variety is only a very small part of what I want, or what any one wants who desires to see broadcast- Ing expand to its fullest possible limits. We want to see the studios take their heads out of the sand, and stop playing varlations upon the above list. ‘Why, the possibilities of br ast- ing are limitless! Broadcasting of & weddling, a funeral, a prize fight and a world serfes are but the first prat- tlings of the infant. The super- broadcasting which we shall see, I am firmly convinced, will be transcendent in comparison with Mrs. J.'s list, as complets as It may seem. Because, In the first place, the di- rectors of stations and studios have been too timid. They have done the very best they could, in a new and bewildering sclence and art, and their efforts are to be commended. | (May I add that they have been com- mended by me, In many articles in The Star during the past year?) But they have yet to study the major points of their art, because they have yet to come to the point where they have the proper funds, the needed authority and the vislon necessary for such super-broadcast- ing as was initlated when the glo- rious rado volce of Mme. Borl thrilled through the ether. Studlo directors, instead of having to devote thelr time to raking over a clty for free amateur talent, much of 1t very good, some of it only fair, will come to the point where they can devote their entire ability and energy to tho artistic and educational side of_thelr work. Much remains to be dome In the study, from the radio standpoint, of A." The appeal of the human voice B. Instrumental combinations. C. Belentific comparison of sound vibrations at sending and receiving ends. A broadcast collegs is a possibility, an institution of learning where Hoover’s Decision to Hold Post Of Commerce Chief Applauded Secretary Hoover's declination f the President's suggestion that he take the post of Secretary of Agriculture, to be vacated soon by Secretary Gore, is almost universally approved by the editors of the country, who seem in- clined to accept without question the view of Mr. Hoover that he can be of more service to the farmers through his efforts to aid the distribution question, which has been his chief alm in his present position. Says the Kansas Clty Times: “Yes, of course, Mr. Hoover would have been just the man for Secretary of Agriculture if he could be spared from the Department of Commerce. Indeed, he would be just the man for almost any big position, whether in Government or privats service, but there is not enough of him to go around. One big place is about all a man can fill at one time, no matter what his capacity or versatility. Mr. Hoover is not only a man of extraordi- nary ability, who has distinguished himself in many places, but he sup- plements his ability with concentrated thought and prodiglous effort. He is not only the righi man for a big place, but he is capable of making a blg place out of one of moderate dimensions.” “It fs a hopeful sign,” remarks the Seattle Times, “when a public man puts aside ambition for place in or- der to render exceptional service. As p sitions are rated In Washington, the Secretary of Agriculture outranks the Secretary of Commerce; but the opportunity to serve faithfully is no better. Secretary Hoover knows he is making good where he Is and he prefers to remain where his unusual ability will produce results rather than chance a new place.” In the opinion of the Fort Worth Star Tele- gram, “there is something unusual in the public suggestion by the Pres- ident that a member of his cabinet ‘consider’ transfer to another cabinet post, and something more unusual in the public declination of the cabinet member addressed. If there is any insubordination here, the interests of the country are better for it. The post of Secretary of Agriculture, of course, requires the services of an able man. Mr. Hoover s that kind of a man, and would make an ideal Secretary of Agriculture. Yet, the requirements of the post of Secre- tary of Commerce are even more pressing.” * ok ok Kk “Such a posture on the President's part,” thinks the Manchester Union, “discloses the fact, which has been made apparent in other ways, too, that the Chief Executive has arrived at the same conclusion as that reached by substantially every stu- dent of the problem, that what the fanmer needs is not methods which would insure greater production, but methods which would secure for him a larger proportion of the consumer's dollar, spent for the products of the farm. In the office of Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Hoover says, accord- ing to the Springfleld Union, “he can make a contribution to the Improve- ment of the farmers’ position by ad- vancing measures that mdke-for re- duction of costs in our whole dis- tribution system and by helping to bring ahout improvement and stabil- 1ty in the general commercial and in- gustrial situation both a% bome #2d courses would be given in this art and science, so that broadcasters, especially the directors, might be tralned for a dignified, learned pro- tession. The letters “B. D." signifying doc- tor of broadcasting, might be award- ed to graduates who qualified them- selves In the studies of music, publlc speaking,” social and individual psy- chology, ete. No, it Is not varlety I want. It is something bigger and better than va- rety. It is the better and the best. * kK K % Today the broadcasting stand somewhat amazed at them- selves and the public. They try to find out “what the public wants,” and do their best to satisfy that hydra- headed monster. For one thing, they often fail to credit the public’ with enough intelli- gence. They are somewhat shy of good literature, for instance, fearing that the | public will become bored, evidently. It is not what s offered the public that bores; it is the too long duration | of what I8 offered. This is a day of rapld movement—pep—snap—oall it what you will, it is the spirit of our age. Peopla used to listen entranced to addresses four hours long, but that day has long gone by. In the early days of this republic a speech was about the only form of public enter- tainment there was, and with char- acteristic spirit the American people got their money's worth of speech- making. But If Danfel Webstar were able to come back, and deliver us & four- hour speech, I am sure the hall would be deserted long before the time was up. We have the fast-moving radio impulses, the motion pictures, the plays, the speeding automobiles, countless outdoor nd indoor games, fr lom from restraint, and, above all, prosperi We need, in broadeasting, rapid change of offerings, absurd contras if you will—anything to keep up our hair-trigger interest, * ok ok x s one of the hardest the human mind. the most difficult to capture and the most difcult to hold. Educators know this, and the broadcasters must learn it. In teaching children, it is necessary to get their interest fore you can get their serious tention. Since men and women |but children of a larger growth, |same thing holds true of us. The way to secure this interest, |in radio broadcasting., is to make | rapid changes, variety in five-minute | periods, not in half-hour changes. | Everything must be made short, with the exception, of course, of such pro- |grams as cannot be sent over the alr except “as Is,”" Le, an address by the President, a symphony, etc. As a matter of cold fact, & move- ment of symphony s too long for radio broadcasting. In an auditorium the listerner s not fatigued, his faculty of attention fs not stralned, becauss he watches the players, has this and that distraction from time to_time. N Listening over ear phones or to a loud speaker makes tremendous de- mands upon this faculty of attention— a demand which broadcasters must some time stop to consider, The element of surprise—one of the largest in the theater—is almost totally lacking in radlo. The news- papers print in advance the completo | programs, so that the listerner knows exactly what he is golng to hear. Radio reception has none of the charm of the comedy or of thas novel—looking forward to what is coming next. Finallv, the questfon of a sound economic’ basis for broadcasting is still very much “up in the alr,” along with tho programs we all enjoy. But this question is too large @ one to be gone into here. All I care to say is that until it is settled proper- ly, along sound financial lines, the art of radio, as distinct from its sclence, will be serfously retarded in its progress toward real superbroad- casting. stations Attention faculties of first be- at- are the abroad. This is the long view, and Mr. Hoover may be depended upon to fulfill, in large measure, his antici- pations.” In the opinion of the Kalamazoo Gazette, “the problems of commerce are, after all, the problems of the farmer. Commerce and agriculture are essentially tied together in a nation whose principal business is farming.” To this view the Birming- Nows gives assent and adds: “Unquestionably, the Secretary Is | right. Also it must be true that whatever service he renders as head of the Commerce Department, and such data and figures as he may as- semble, will be of general and public benefit’ and will be available at all times for the benefit of the agricul- turists. Mr. Hoover's point seems well taken.” As the Newark News sees it: “For the purpose in hand, this exceptlonal executive, who serves In the cabinet at no little personal sacrifice, {s vastly to be preferred to any dirt farmer the West could turn up. For it is becoming more appar- ent with the passage of every day that the department is entering upon a new phase of its activity, In which the commerclal distribution of farm products will take. precedence over advice as to crop raising, which, however, will have to be kept on its present high plane.” “In all this talk about cabinet changes at Washington,” declares the Reno Gazette, “the proposal to take Herbert Hoover out of the Depart- ment of Commerce and place him over the Department of Agriculture ap- pears to be the most absurd. It is not to be wondered at that Mr. Cool- idge did not press the proposal.” In the incident, however, the Nash- ville Tennessean &ees more than & determination on Mr. Hoovers part to remain where he is in the cabinet. Tho Tennessean says: “Ever since he took the President's chair Mr. Coolldge has been at loggerheads with Congress, and one by one his cabinet officers are finding it impos- sible to sit in harmony with him. Is it possible that Coolidge is right about everything and everybody else in the Government is wrong; or s it another case of ‘they’re all out of step but Jim? " Attorney General Gets Notary Applications To the Editor of The Sta: Application for appointment es a notary public in and for the District of Colurgbia should be addressed sim- ply: “To the President,” but sent by the applicant to the Attorney Gen- eral of the Unlted States, Depart- ment of Justice, and not to the office of the President, as i3 stated in The Star of 19th instant. If the Attorney General approves the application, a commission is made out in the name of the applicant, countersigned by the Attorney Gen- eral and sent to the President for his signature, which, If it s afiixed, completes the document, which is held by the Department of Justlce, and not delivered to the notary until he furnishes an approved bond, in the sum of $2,000. e+ G, RATHEONE, Mo-B The North Window BY LEILA MECHLIN. While Winter snows are still mantling the country and, mixed with s0ot, besmirching clty streets, an- nouncements begin to come by mail of Summer schools of art and art tours in Europe, reminding us that, no matter how bleakly the north wind blows, vacation days are ahead. These announcements for the art student and lover are Itke unto the seedman’'s catalogue, which for the garden-maker hus always been the first harbinger of Spring. They take one out of the workaday world and into the land of dreams. Say what one will, the artists are a happy people and know better than almost any class how to have a good time. Summer colonies of artists are centers not merely of art production, but of good fellowship, of gayety. and those who gather there accumu- late not merely a knowledge of their art, but a valuable supply of happy memorles. So popular are the resorts where the artists gather that if one wishes to squeeze In it Is necessary to plan long ahead. It is partly for this reason that the announcements go out at this time. * % %% The number of these Summer colo- | nies for artists is rapaidly growing. loucester was one of the first to be established, then Provincetown and Ogunquit. The last has a rival in Malne in Boothbay Harbor. Lyme, Conn., {5 an all-year-round colony, as—drawing on our seven-league boots and taking a long step across the continent—is Carmel-by-the-Sea, | In California. There are the Inlandj colonies, one in the Berkshires, an- other at Woodstock, N. Y., and there 1s a second all-year-round colony at ew Hope, Pa. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts some years ago established its Summer school at Chester Springs, a picturesque sec- | tion of the country not very far as| the crow flies from Ph . The Chicago artists who do congregate in the Summ. at Oregon, Iil. Then thera is the famous colony at Taos, N. Mex., to which many of the Eastern painters make resort. This year for the first time there is to be a Summer school and colony at Santa Fe, N. Mex., under the director- ship of the Denver School of Art. Thers will be a Summer school of art at Colorado Springs, and, manned by teachers from Pratt Institute, Brook- iyn, a Summer school of art will be conducted this year for the first time In Portland, Oreg. And so it goes. * %k * Together with the announcements of Summer schools come the pro- spectuses of travel tours. A number of the colleges are arranging special tours for art students under the leadership of the heads of art de- partments or schools of architecture. These provide daily lectures on the steamship in transit and discursive talks en route. Surely If ons is able to look and listen at the same time one might In this way accumulate great wisdom in brief space. One series of these tours {s sponsored by an organization which has as its chief object the increase of friendly international relationships. Quite generally today art is being recognized as a medium of common understanding and as a means of pro- moting “peace among men of good " Largely with this object in view the American School of Fine Arts at Fontalnebleau was establish- ed a few years ago by the French government. This was originall started as an American school of musie. News comes through our American Academy in Rome that the Italian government, following this lead, is establishing this Summer an American school of music in the Villa @'Este at Tivoll. What a privi- lege to spend a season in residence in that rambling old villa and to be able to wander at will In those lovely gardens, to watch the shadows lengthen, twilight fall, and finally the stars come out overhead to the tinkling music of its fountains! But what a responsibllity our American students must assuma not to dlsturb tho romance of the ages or to jostle the ghosts that walk those stately avenues! In opening the Villa d'Este to American art students the Italian government places in our hands a sacred trust and pays us the great- est of compliments. * * ¥ % During the past fortnight or more a radical change has taken place In the personnel of the management of two of our great American art mu- seums—the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Art Institute of Chi- cago. Both of these institutions have for some months been without a president of the board of trustee In Boston, Morris Gray, not only one of Boston's leading citizens, but a writer of delightful poems and in- spiring essays on art, retired from the presidency of the museum a year ago on account of Ill health, after saveral years of service. He was fol- lowed by Thomas Allen, a painter, whose death occured almost imme. diately thereafter. At a recent meet- ing Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, a member of the distinguished Coolidge family of Boston and a direct de- scendant of Thomas Jefferson, a graduate of Harvard of tne class of 1915, was elected to the vacancy. Public announcement was mada of the fact that the board of trustees desired to place leadership in the hands of one of the younger genera- tion. In order to give the mew re- gime complete freedom, Arthur Fair- banks, director of the museum for 18 years, and Benjamin Ives Gilman, secretary for 32 years, resigned. In Chicago, Potter Palmer has been elected president of the board of trustees of the Art Institute to re- place Charles L. Hutchinson, who held that position from the time he was a young man until his death late last Autumn at the age of full three- score years and ten. At the same time the older members of the board, who had served for many years with Mr. Hutchinson, were retired to an honorary advisory board and their places filled by men of the younger generation. To be sure, it is time that the younger generation was stepping in, and it is gratifying to know that thers are representatives of this gen- eration willing to assume the mantle of responsibility and “carry on.” The question {s, What will they do? Will they Introduce radicallsm or, feeling responsibility, be converted to con- servatism? In any event, it seems that the torch of art that lights the way of life 1s to be borne on, and its chosen bearers are not the weak, but the strong—those with youth and courage and vision, those who will not be satisfled with small achleve- ment. * ok Kok In this connection note may well be taken of an article on “The Charm of Oxford,” contributed to the Quar- terly Journal of the University of North Dakota by Gjems Fraser of the class of 1920 of that university and a Rhodes scholar from North Dakota, 1921-24, essentially one of the younger generation, and, judging from his name, one of the newer sons of our groat republic. It is a delightful ar- ticle, setting forth sympathetically and admirably the significance of Ox- ford from the viewpoint of the Amerl- can college student. For him the gharm of Oxford centers about tradi- tions; one of these is the ‘“tradition of beruty,” which, he declares, is well founded. To him “the towers and spires of Oxford, together with their setting of parks, rivers and wind- ing walks, combine to make it “one of earth’s most beautiful citfes.” The beauty of Oxford,” he says, “colors its whole life. Even the most unsentimental must pause now and then before the quiet harmony of the place. The spell endures in spite of ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN Q. How are substitutes found when teachers are absent from sohool? Why don't normal school graduates do this work?—T. B. M. A. The local School Board says that substitutes are registered in the Franklin School bullding and the names are given to the superinten- dents of the high schools and various grade school districts. Thess super- intendents call out the registersd substitutes direct {n the absence of a teacher. Since substitutes are pald either 3240 or $2.88 a day for their services, normal school graduates seldom apply, as they usually prefer regular work and cen qualify for it Q. What President was the first to attend a theatrical performance in Washington?—G. T. T. A. The earliest record of this kind | {s of President Monroe. He and his family, in 1819, attended a perform- ance at the Washington Theater, at the northeast corner of Eleventh and C streets northwest. Q. How may cells are in the aver- age human brain?—A. C. A. It has been estimated that the cortex alons contains 9,200,000,000 cell bodies and that the entire nerv- 0us system must contain at least 13,- 000,600,000 cell It is generally agreed that In the human being the number 1S not {ncreased after the third month of fetal life. Q. What s known ?2—W. T. A. on or radon Is the heaviest £hs known. the heaviest gas Q. When will Easter come year?—L E. 8. A. We will have a late Easter, the Sunday falling on April 12. this Q. What is_the average slevation and slope of Europe?—A. W. E. A. More than one-half of the con- tinent of Europe is less than 600 feet one-sixth | above sea level s over 1,600 feet. The main water- shed of the continent runs from southwest to northwest, with a grad- ual glops toward the north and " steeper one toward the south. and only Q. Why is lead used to make type rather than a harder and more dur- able metal?—J. P. A. The alloy of which type mads 1s lead, tin and antimony. The chief reason for its use is it be- comes liquid at a comparatively low degree of heat and can ba eastly forced-In the small crevices of the matrix which makes the fine 1i of the type face, and also hard and tough enough to stand the wear and strain when used for printing. Q. For whom was Chapel named?—J. E. A. The word “Sistine” 1s derived from the Itallan “Sitino” and the Latin “Sextfs The chapel was so named for its founder, Pope Sextus IV (1471-1484). Q. In what part of the United States are the ivory-bill woodpeck- N TODAY’S the Sistine R4 the Carolina paroquet fout A. The Biological Survey says tha: the Ivory-blll woodpecker is found at the present time In the wet and heavy semi-tropical woods of thas southeastern United States. Tra Carolina paroquet was foind in pra.- | tically the same regions. It is bes- | lieved by sclentists to be extinet, in asmuch as specimens have not been seen In several years. When las seen these birds were found | Florida. Q. Did Daniel Chester French u any particular model in designing h Minute Man?—V. E. B. A. Mr. French savs that he had no models to guide him. The genara Pos6 of the Apollo Belvadere, siightly altered was his inspiration. Q. When was the soclety of Confad- erate Veterans organized?’—G. G. L. A. The United Confederats Ve erans was organized In New Or in 1889 by survivors of the Civil War, Q. T would like to know ths mean- ing of the Indlan word “Connoque nessing."—W. J. P. A. The Bureau of American E nology says that the name Connogu pessing i3 the reduplicated locative form of the Delaware nast pestle, meaning “place of the pastles.” 7 original form evidently was Qunnaqunnasinn. Q. Whers did the saying originate, “The & never eets on the Britisn Empire A, P. A. The germ of the idea of the sun's never setting on ths dominio; of a particular ruler is found Herodo Book VII, chapter 8. boast was a common one with Spanfards in the sixteenth and sever t quently a luded to in the literature of othe countries. It does not seem to be recorded who first used the expres slon in regard to the British Emp | John Wllson, who wrote under t pen name of Christopher North, (1785-1834), In his Noctes Ambros: 30, April, 1829, says ‘“His fons on which the su: | never se This appears to be the |first use of the expression in Engiis! literature. in Tha the Q. Why s lobster meat 8o high In price?—J. D. A. The rise in the price of lobster {1s due to the increasing mcarcity of |this shelifish and the diffculty with iwhich it Is propagated. An expert at the lobster hatchery of Woods | Hole stated that if only 2 o I)l},h‘)d eggs hatched survived |fourth year, the present condt might be maintained, but that doubtedly a greater percentage tha this perishes, Have you a question you womt o swered? Send it to The Star Info | mation Bureaw, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Twenty-first and C streets northwest. The only chargs for this | service is # cents in stamps for return postage. SPOTLIGHT BY PAUL V. COLLINS. For nearly 25 years the question of soverelgnty over the Isle of Pines has been mooted, in and out of Congress, and pressed by the American resi- dents of the {sland. The United State: action In liberating Cuba without ab- sorbing it, imperialistically, has been the outstanding glory and enigma ot modern civilization—confounding the world in its confusion as to the spirit of the nation which defies the world of Imperialism with its Monros doc- trine, vet unselfishly submits to mo- tives of abstract justice In dealing with the so-calied “weaker” natlons within its own sphere. Within the last few days attention has been called to an item of the international ledger account which appears to have been forgotten by both Cuba and the United States. If a “statement of account” were ren- Gered, it might read something like thia: TNITED STATES CAPITAL, January 80, 1025, The Republic of Cuba, Debtor, To the United States of America. 1006.6—To costs of military oc- cupation of Cubas, per re- quest of the government thereot, and by virtue of treaty obligations (s per War TDepartment ledger) . $6,005,000.00 To interest at § per ceat, aver: age term, 1608-1926, 17 > imple interest). To estimated costs incurred the United States sald _occupation. To interest on sa: at & per cent. Total due....... P¥PLEASE REMIT It will be noted that the above statement has no reference to the costs of the first occupation, fmm diately following the war of libera- tion of Cuba from Spain. All expenses of that occupation, under the gov- ernorship of Gen. Leonard Wood, pending the pacification of the island and the organization of the govern- ment of the Republic of Cuba, were 0 Involved IR our general expénses of carrying on our own war against Spain that no account against Cuba was ever kept. It constitutes our free will oftering to liberty and inde- pendence of the Western Hemisphere. That war of liberation is variously estimated to have cost us between $15,000,000 and $25,000,000. We “Re- member the Maine,” and our expense in avenging that outrage was ours alone, 5,869,250.00 3,000,000.00 550,000.00 16,324,250.00 MAIL. * ok k% Thers 13 no separate acoount of the actual expense of our Navy in the second interventlon, but some years ago Representative Stevens of Min- nesota (now deoensed) made a care- ful estimate from data gathered from official figures, and his findings were approximately $3,000,000. The figures stated above as to the Army are of- fiolal, as reported yesterday from the War Department. No offiolal demand has been made upon Cuba for settlement, because during President Roosevelt's and President Taft's administrations im- mediately following the intervention it was known that Cuba was too weak to consider such an account. Then came President Wilson's term, with little improvement on the part of the island affairs, and then came the World War, with its strain upon all international interests and strength. But the fact that a separate and itemized account was kept in the War Department when Secretary of War Taft was chief in the actual in- tervention and was temporarily Gov- ernor of Cuba, while also Secretary of War of the United States, indicates that the usual law of nations that the cost of an army of occupation of a foreign country, whether belliger- ent to the de facto government or by request of that government, was to be pald by the nation occupled, was e ——— in no place have I ssen such varlety of beautiful spots.” And then he adds: “Its highest compliment, In my opin- fon, however, is that it offers a fitting. environment for %he Oxford life.” What an astute deduction, what a re- markable interpretation of the mean- ing of art! How well it would be if our city planners and municipal fathers were to take this to heart and employ art to create, as it only can, & fitting environment for life—lite in Amerlca! And how happy it would be it generally it were understood that life today could and should be lived the busy city and in spite of the ‘weather. No place have I seen more auaint and pigturesque shan Oxfordy on a plane which would accord with the environment which art at its best | held as applicabls In that instanca, subject to,collection in due season. Sometimes Uncle Sam has been caricatured as a veri vle Shylock, but as a collector of debts he would lose his job in any first-rate merc. tile establiehment, as judged by the comments of Semator Dill, who has discovered this overlooked item on the ledger. * ¥ In the official Teport of the Secre- tary of War, Willlam Howard Taf for the year 1906, thers {s a detailed history of the intervention which was called for by President Palma to sav the island from anarchy, due to a re- yolt of the Liberal Pparty against the Moderates who held the offices. Pres- ident Roosevelt was extremely re- luctant to intervene, but was forc to consent by the course of events in the Cuban revolution that was then active. President Palma, the vios president and the cabinet resigned and demanded that the United States save Cuba from anarchy due to the suerrilla warfars of the Liberals, wk with armies numbering 15,000 or 260 000 were ravishing the country, loot- Ing sugar mills, burning cans fislds and capturing cities, even threate ing Havana with a force of 10,000, At that time, Secretary of State Elthu Root was touring South Amer- lca. President Roosevelt sent Secre- tary Taft and Acting Secretary of State Robert Bacon as official repre- sentatives of this Government to in- vestigate conditions and seek pacifica- tion. Immedlately upon thelr arriva President Palma Insisted upon his own resignation. In a short time Secretaries Taft and Bacon prevailed upon the insurrectors to lay down arms and disperse. Mr. Taft becams provisional governor untll it was ar- ranged for Gen. Charles E. Magoon to serve as provisional governor. The American Army of Occupation was held in Cuba from September, 1905, until February 1, 1909, under com- mand of Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Barry— an army of 6,000 at the time of evacu- ation. “What bearing has this Interven- tion upon the ownership of the lsle of Pines?" was asked a Senator. Hs replied that it had no connection di- rectly, but in the general adjustment it might have much to do with the settlement. While Gen. Magoon was serving as provisional governor, there were many American residents of the Isle of Pines who thought it opportune to insist upon confirming the American title to the fsland, but Secretary of War Taft instructed him to reply “that while the fact that a majority of the residents of the Isle of Pines were Americans may call for excep- tional provisions In respect to pro- vincial and municipal government, any of the three bases mentioned in the communication of October 1, in- volving an entire separation of the Isle of Pines from the Island of Cuba, is wholly inadmissible.” (Ex- hibit 25, page G40, Secretary's report 1806.) R The much talked-of February 1901, “Platt amendment” to the ap- propriation bill for the War Depart- ment was not written by Senator Platt, but by Secretary of State Root. It not only became a United States statute but wad embodied in the Cuban constitution and in a treaty between the Cuban Republic and the United States. It, therefore, be- came the supremes law of both re- publics. By its provisions, (Article III) the United States was given ths right (and obligation) to intervene against any interference with Cuban independence or the maintenance of a Cuban government adequate for the protection of life, liberty and prop- erty. The President, under such a treaty, needed no action by Congress to sustaln such Intervention. By Article VI of the same treaty (“the Platt amendment”) it provided “that the Isle of Pines shall be omitted from the proposed constitutional boundaries of Cuba, the title thereto being left to future adjustment by treaty.” No such treaty has yet been actu- ated through any ratification by the Benate. The answer of Secretary Taft in 1901 indlcates that the title was not then deemed to lie apart from Cuba until the treaty be agreed upon, according to Article VI of Secretary Root's “Platt amendment.” 4Copyrigh 1025, by Rauk ¥ Collinall .