Evening Star Newspaper, March 25, 1925, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. ‘WEDNESDAY. ...March 25, 1825 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 Building. Eutopean Office: 16 Regent St., London, England. The Eventng Star, with the Sunday morning adition, f detivered by cartiers o the clty at 60 cents per month: dajly ¢ cents per month; Sunday ouly, 20 cents pel month. " Orders may_be sent by mail of tel phose Main 5000, Collection is made by c tiers at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance, Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunda. Dally only Sunday only. All Other States. Daily d Bunday 1 yr., $10.00; 1 mo., Daiy ‘oniy ; 00; 1 m. Sunday ouly Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled fo the use for republication of all news dis- patehes credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the locul news pub- Iished ‘herein. ~All rights of publication of tehes herein are also reserved The National Guard. The threatened denial of Feder funds for the pay of the National Guard attending armory drills comes at an unfortunate time of year for the | Guard. If these funds are denied, and it is necessary to forego drills almost immediately prior to the period of Summer encampments, it will prove a more serious blow to the Guard than had it occurred at any other time of the year. President Coolidge, it is announced, is investigating to determine whether an appropriation of $1,33 000 for the National Guard carried in & deficiency bill signed on the closing day of the last Congress should be ex- pended. Tt is further announced that the investigation is undertaken in the light of the President's economy pro- gram, which is expected to make tax reduction possible. The sum mentioned was provided to make possible armory drills in all parts of the country be- | tween now and June 30, the close of the present fiscal year. The National Guard is an essential part of the system of national defense in this country. The greater its ef- ficiency, the greater its potential serv- ice in an hour of need. It is to be earnestly desired that the President 1n his examination of the present situ- ation shail give every consideration to the needs of the Guard. If the Guard needs this money—and its representatives, through the Na- tional Guard Association of the United States, insist that it does—then it should have it. Contention has been made that the States, and not the Fed- eral Government, should make good the needed sum. The law says, how- ever, that the Federal Government is to make certain expenditures for the National Guard in of ices which the Guard may be called upon to perform. Furthermore, the money which is to be expended on the Guard comes from one source—as does the money raised for all governmental purposes—from the pockets of the people. There is, indeed, no other source from which the Government, State or Federal, may gather funds. 8o far as economy is concerned, and the effect it may have on the people, it would seem of little account whether this money for the Guard is to be paid by the States or the ment. Underneath the controversy as to Whether this comparatively small sum shall be expended or not by the Fed- eral Government within the next three months lies a contest between the Budget Bureau and the National Guard Association. The Budget Bu- reau did not recommend the appro- priation. The Guard association, through a representative appearing before the congressional committees, prevailed upon Congress to grant the sum requested. The War Department had recommended the appropriation originally to the Budget Bureau, but the bureau had turned it down. The President, it appears, is inclined to take the side of the Budget SBureau. The law specifies that no request for en increase in any item of appropria- tion above the estimate of the Budget Bureau shall be submitted to Con- 8ress or its committees by any officer or employe of a department of the Government unless at the request either house of Congress. As the law authorizes the President to submit estimates for the National Guard, the contention is now made that its rep- resentatives come under the operation of the accounting act. It would be a mistake, however, to strike at the morale of the National Guard in order to uphold a techni- cality of the law. The National Guard has been built up through un- tiring and devoted efforts of patriotic citizens. It has been uphill work at best, particularly since the World War, with this country as well as the rest of the nations sick of war. A slight push sometimes serves to start on a down grade an organization that has been erected only with the great- est effort. now view e Federal Govern- of | ———— The late Samuel Gompers did not leave a large estate. A part of his success In life consists in evading the numerous opportunities naturally placed in his way of becoming a rich man. —————. The Future of Agriculture. Secretary Hoover cannot see any reason why any one should be pes- simistic as to the future of American agriculture. A Nation which is in- creasing its population at the rate of a million and a half ®very year, ‘he thinks, gives assurance of a market for foodstuffs that leaves little to be destred; especially a Nation such as the United States, which regards a steady betterment in standards of liv- ing as the only goal worth while. In- crease in the acreage brought under cultivation. he sajd in an address at Florence, S. C., is not keeping pace with the Increase in population, and it is inevitable that this should mean a | should be. { provement is bound to follow, better return for the acres which are under cultivation. Mr. Hoover makes it clear that American farmers are not now taking N full advantage of the opportunities of- fered by the unparalleled American market. ‘This is evidenced by the fact that we import annually about $800,- 000,000 worth of farm products. He does not contend that all this $800,- 000,000 worth could be produced profit- ably at home, but he believes a very considerable part of it could and 1t is his view that in the American market American farmers should have the full benefit of a pro- tective tariff, and that until this home market is supplied they should not worry greatly about markets abroad, except for seasonable surpluses. That fits in with the Coolidge pro- gram for a self-sufficient Nation, agri- culturally speaking. Just now a good deal of lamentation is heard because of the slump in wheat from the high price of a few months ago. But as practically all of last year's wheat crop, except that reserved for seed, had left the farms before the slump came the farmer is not injured there- by. In fact, such well informed au- thorities as the Secretary of Agricul- ture are inclined to view the drop in wheat prices as a blessing to the farmer. Had wheat remained around or above $2 a bushel it would have presented an almost irresistible | temptation to a large expansion in the acreage of Spring thlt. Then, with oduction almost certain to be larger than the world's requirements, there would have been a repetition of recent wheat history. The nearer the wheat acreage is kept to the require- ments of the American market the surer the farmer is of a profitable price for the wheat he grows. Probable Traffic Innovations, Although Traffic Director Eldridge probably knows more about Washing- ton trafic conditions than any other man, he has wisely decided not to rush headlong into drastic changes, but to make a thorough survey of the entire situation with a view to gradual end permanent improvement. Mr. Eldridge’s life work has been traffic. He has lived in Washington for many years, and not only has studied conditions here from every angle, but was active in working with the committees in Congress which framed the present traffic law. Despite the knowledge that he possesses he has decided to make “haste slowly,” and to acquaint himself thoroughly with the duties and scope of his office before making changes in the regu- lations Arterial highways will probably be one of the first innovations introduced | in Washington after the director gets the machinery “oiled up” in his new office. Washington presents many streets where this system of traffic control may be installed with good results. The dir- :tor is given author- ity in the law (o establish this type of fast street to relieve congestion in getting to and from the downtown sections. The speed limit on these highways will probably be raised from 25 to 30 miles an hour, so that all traffic can move with the greatest saving of time. Washingtonians will also see in the near future some new types of traf- fic signals tried out. With an ap- propriation of $10,000 available for the installation of new control lights and some part of $60,000 appropriated at the last Congress for the adminis- tration of the traffic law in addition, the most modern and progressive sig- nals can be obtained for testing upon |at least one of the new highways. Light signals for the regulation of traffic over wide and straight thor- oughfares, of which Washington has many, range from the expensive tow- ers used on Fifth avenue, New York, to the comparatively inexpensive ones which perform with the maxi- mum efficiency in Wilmington, Del. The latter consist of a compartment containing three lights, red, green and yellow, which are strung on wires high above the street at intervals of about three blocks. The District of Columbia now has | the money to put into effect the terms of the traffic law; it has a& competent and experienced man at its traffic helm, and enough judges to mete out swift justice to violators of the rules. When the changes are made—wise changes and studied changes—im- and Washington will soon lose its title of being “the worst city in the coun- try in which to drive an automobile.” —————— A cabinet official might easily be tempted to resign for the sake of the customary correspondence calling at- tention to his personal merits and the value of his services. —————— Mussolini has recovered, and will proceed with the good work of demon- strating that Italy is no less apprecia- tive of her statesmen than of her opera stars. —————— One of the problems which con- front a play censor in New York is that of avoiding service as an un- salaried press agent. Another Arms Conference. Disclosure that President Coolidge and Secretary Kellogg are moving to- ward another conference for further limitation of naval armaments indi- cates merely that American policy is following its logical and natural course. Since the 1921 Washington conference achieved its signal, but only partial, success in putting a stop to competition in naval armaments this Government has stood ready to make @ move for further limitation whenever the opportunity seemed promising. The breakdown of the European scheme for an arms-limiting conference, as provided for in the Geneva protocol, leaves the field open for American initiative. An American- called conference now would not run counter to any other program that gives any promise of success. A conference assembling in Wash: ington at the invitation of this Gov- ernment would confine itself, it is to be expected, to the question of naval and aerial armaments, and would not, therefore, obviate the need of a Euro- pean conference for the limitation of land armaments. But every step in the direction of armament limitation is a step forward, and if it proves possible to work out a naval program during the coming Summer there will be that much less to tackle when Eu- rope eventually gets around to the matter of land armaments. - The underlying requirements for success are the same, whether the question to be dealt with is the limita- tion of naval or land armaments. At the Washington conference the treaty for the limiting of naval armaments was made possible by the four-power Pacific treaty and the nine-power Chinese treaty, removing possible causes of conflict. Better understand- ings between nations in other direc tions will make possible further naval limitations, just as removal of causes of possible conflict in Europe will make possible reduction and limitation of land armaments. The reason the United States can- not usefully sit in a conference on land armaments is because we arm not parties to any of the quarrew which are responsible for the matm tenance of land armaments, and hw cause we have nothing to offer in the way of reduction of our own arma- ments on land. The thing responsible for huge land armaments in Europe is the sense of insecurity felt by the nations of Europe. If a security agree- ment can be worked out, along the lines now proposed by the British government, the way will be open for a conference looking to the reduction of land forces. All the United States can do in this respect is to set a good example, and this may be done by such a conference as President Cool- idge and Secretary Kellogg now have in mind. —————————— The rapidity with which history is being made is a discouragement to the biographers, who are only beginning to get their data well in hand. New names and new faces have their at- traction in political life as well as in the realms of art. N Congress usually adjourns in time to avoid interfering with the less im- portant but more genial interest in the base ball season. There is an art in knowing when you have the close and sympathetic attention of your audience. —————. Colleges are.giving more attention to the study of agriculture. Farmers are studying to give their sons the advantage of college education. For national success, brain and brawn must learn to work together. —————— Until the contentions relating to the artistic obligations of Mr. Borglum are decided the public will have to go on as usual emjoying the mountain scenery in its primitive, unsculptured state. e A film comedian complains in court that another film comedian is stealing his funny' makewup. America has a sense of humor, and the privilege of gratifying it is one of serious commer- cial value. ——————— It has been boldly stated that Amer- ica is “a lawless Nation.” It is also asserted that America has more laws than she really knows what to do with at the present moment. —————— It will be difficult to deal with im- polite drama so long as there are audi- ences willing to pay for the privilege of being offended. ——— If King Tut had known about the possibilities of oil exploitation his tomb might have been even more splendid. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. First Principles. “It’s time to start life oves Says the bird up in the tree. “It’s time to be a rover, From all artifices free. It'd time to stop vour wishin’ For the pomp with lights aglow; It's time to go a-fishin’ Like the cave men long ago. “It's time for make-believing That for Nature you're & match And, no special grace receiving, You will eat what you can catch. Now the Great Outdoors is winning A response from every heart As we seek a new beginning For a bigger, better part.” Demonstration, “The enthusiasm over your last speech did not seem as vociferous as usual,” remarked the candid adviser. “That’s all right,”” answered Senator Sorghum. “I'm trying to appeal to the thinking people, and at present am not encouraging interruptions by the cheer leaders.” Statesmanlike Repose. The Senate’s gone away I find. So I with a contented mind May doze along in bliss profound ‘With the alarm clock still unwound. Jud Tunkins says wealth doesn't necessarily bring happiness, and if you don’t believe it you can ask any mummy in an old Egyptian tomb. Criticism. The play is bad that they rehearse. ‘The costumes are a bluff. The audience is even worse That pays to see the stuff. Not So Quiet. “Don’t you find Washington rather quiet since Congress went away?” ‘On the contrary,” answered Miss Cayenne, “there is much less serious and repressive broadcasting to inter- rupt the jazz.” Completing the Combination. Neptune roared and raised a storm. Quoth he, “A rum fleet's drawing near And when the weather grows more New bathing costumes will appear. oid “I'll roar again in boisterous glee. As Wine and Woman drift along. The least that I can do will be To add my special touch of Song.” “Some men's idea of patriotism. said Uncle Eben, “is mostly de hope of tradin’ off three cheers foh a comforta- ble political job." ., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 1925. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES k' TRACEWELL. High school cadets were drililng on my street. Uniformed in blue, khaki belts, white gloves, capped and gunned, the boys came down our faultless con- crete way. “Left. Tight, left, right, left—left— left. Watch your chest!-—left—left— left, right, left, right, left—left. Squads left—hey!'—left — left — left. Squads right—hey'—left—left.” So throughout Washington they are arilling these bright Spring days In the vicinity of every one of our great high schools, as well as on our street. The Washington high school cadets is a corps of which the city and ation has been proud for many rs and this year the recruits and older members are leaving nothing undone to retain that position in the affection of the people. Every Monday and Thursday after- noon the boys drill. They have been at it for weeks and these days are harder at it than ever, as the time for the annual competitive drill draws nigh. It will not be so many weeks, now, before the battalions are drawn up in grand review at the ball park, drilling company by company, for the highest honors, to the tune of brass bands and the homage of an entire city Atten-tion! FHup! Squads right— march—right, two—right—two—halt. One, two—keep your es open. Ground guns. Atten-tio] * X x % An airplane flew overhead as boys were drilling. A modern bus rolled by as the cadets went right oblique. A child wheeled a doll car- riage across the street. The wind blew in keen from the west, cutting through the bright sun- beams. “The most important thing Is not to take short steps,” harangued th tain. “Try to take full steps.” The cadets stood stiffly at attention. the top sergeants lcoked with eagle eves for imperfections. Great atten- tion Is being given these days to de- tails. A sort of military informality prevails, Now is the time faults. It will be too late on the drill ground. Then every man must look out for himself. But now the officers are doing the looking out. Cries of “Left—right—left—right” sound from around the corner. A cou- ple of squads come into view. They pass aleng our street, with the tail boys in front, the short, squabby fel- the to correct the {lows in the rear. The first sergeant of that squad wears glasses. His legs have a pe- culiar motion, but he gets there just the same. All the )¥s get there. Per- hips these very lads, rounding Into form today, will be wearing the coveted ribbons one day in June. An officer, who must be nothing short of a major, hot-foots it along the street from around the corner. He comes to the center of the block, where & captain has his squads. Inspection begins. This is a curiously interesting per- formance. The major walks along the line (I call him a major, he was some officer very important, T am sure of that). He comes to the first cadet. The man presents a s, then gives his head a convulsive jerk. He is looking into the chamber to see if it is loaded correctly, Of urse, there are no car- tridges in it, as the cadets drill with- out them now, even in the competitive drill, The major stands looking at the rigld figure as If accusing him of every misdemeanor under heaven and the manual of arms. The major looks. “Why doesn’t he do something?” the unmilitary observer wonders. Then he does something. He does it with a vengeance. The major shoots out his long right arm, snatches the gun from the hands of the cadet, and gives the Springfleld the “once-over,” a citi- zen's corruption of “Inspection.” * %k % ¥ I May, a real major's daughter, runs up with Rex, her dog, on the end of a long rope. The haughty cadets, in their splen- did blue, bearing their 14-pound rifies, little realize that the tanned man there on the lawn, pottering around with his tulips, is a West Point grad- uate. I May, from her height of 3 years, looks up at the cadet major, but that individual is too busy convulsively seizing guns to pay much attention to her. I May has bad Rex, a_ large pup, out for a walk, but now Rex decides it 1s time to do the leading. He selzes the rope In his mouth and begins to pull. I May tugs, too, but Rex is stronger. His sire, Tipple, the red- eved, is a mighty dog of war, and Rex is a chip off the old block. “Boo-hoo!” crles 1 May, as the dog drags her along the sidewalk. The cadets, standing at attention, dare not smile. Heads Jerk, major's arm shoots forward. military men must not be diverted. * ok x * ‘Watching the cadets drill, I realized that at last 1 had solved & problem that always had puzzled me. It was this: Why should military men, as a rule, be the most courteous to be met in public life? They are. 1 have never seen it fail. An Army officer always has time to be decent to the civilian. Once I called upon Gen. Pershing, just after he returned from France, and was nearly bowled over by the courtesy of the man. He walked across his tremen- dous office, seized my hand, escorted me to a seat. Had T been the President myself, I could have received no better treat- ment. Watching the cadets drill, T got a clue to the whole thing. It is like this: The Army demands angularity. It calls for abrupt changes. Every mo- tion is along a strazight line, every change sharp. Their daily life calling for the harsh and angular in liberal doses, by the laws of antithesis Army men drop into the opposite extreme when off duty or when meeting clvilians. War is angular, harsh, ugly. Life is round, curved, beautiful. The nature of fighting demands that it be as it is, just as life calls for curves. In war, men walk In straight lines because a straight line is the shortest distance between two points. In life, men take the circular road, because “the longest way 'round is the shortest way home.” This is the only explanation I can find for the fact that an officer, off duty, raises tulips, and is the gentlest sort ‘of man in the world. the WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE The Tufts Weekly, official organ of Attorney General Sargent’s alma ma- ter, commemorates his entry into the cabinet by recalling his first use of ‘aribtrary power for the public wel- fare.” There is a between-the-lines :ggestion that he will use shirt- sleeve methods at the Department of Justice if and when the occasion arises. The Tufts Weekly : “Although John Garibaldi Sargent was not in the least belligerent in his college days, there was one occasion when he exercised a little arbitrary power for the public welfare. One of the students in the dormitory, who lived on the ground floor, had made himself obnoxious to the whole stu- dent body by certain traits. Sargent was chosen leader of a committee to notify the youth to leave. At mid- night the committee entered the mis- creant's room by kicking the door from its hinges. Sargent told the stu- dent to ‘get out and stay out’ Then he and the rest of the committee pitched the student's furniture through the windows. left and never returned. Even during that incident, the big Vermonter was not roused to real anger. This lack of rancor, together with an ex- tremely broad tolerance, made him so popular that Sargent was elected president of his class as a freshman. He was a steady, careful student, ending his academic course third or fourth in class standing.” * ok X K Speaker Nicholas Longworth has just disclosed an unknown piece of personal history. It appears that he rowed in the Harvard crew two or three years before graduation, in1891. Not long ago a cultured Chinese star- tled Longworth by asking if I-hu—vm—dl was still using a certain racing-shel contrivance. Longworth, asmunde? at the technical aquatio knowledge o the Odiental,inquired what the lat; ter knew about boat racing. ~Oh. 1 used to be at New London regularly, the Chinese replied. “Did you ever gee Harvard row?” Longworth said. Tho gentleman from Cathay wet joined: “Never.” Longworth couldn understand how a man could g.;’: watched boat racing at New Lon and not seen the Harvard crew oy whereupon the Chinese retorte was coxswain of the Yale ore 5 * % K * A here will be an American-Argen- lin'll‘an festivity in Washington on fi:: 25 when a statue of Gen. Don de San Martin, liberator of the ATgers tine, will be unveiled. It is the gift of that country to the Government o the United States. General San Mar- tin measures up in Latin American estimation to the herolc dimensions of George Washington. He was bnrln during our War of lndevendince. t has been said of him that “he was an American by birth, a revolutionist by instinct and a republican by con- viction.” When the statue of Simon Bolivar, hero of Peru, Venezuela and Colombia, was unveiled in New iqu by President Harding in 1921, it was the occasion of an_important pro- nouncement of our Monroe Doctrine policy. President Coolidge may say something equally momentous when the San Martin statue is dedicated. Mrs. Anna Schoellkopf, wife of the secretary of the American embassy at Buenos Alres, has just written a stirring life of San Martin. A1 Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. sunmaé who spend almost as much time al the White House as they do at their home in Boston, will sall for Naples tomorrow for a sojourn of seven or elght weeks. They plan to be back in the United States just before June 1. The Stearnses took leave of the Coolidges in Washington this week. Now and then, particularly in recent times, there have been tales of estrangement between the President and his oldest political friend and closest counselor. Various causes are assigned. Once in a while Stearns (one hears) has been too communica- tive to suit his more taciturn ‘protege. On other occaslol (so the stories g0) the throne has been “badly ad- vised” by the man behind it. Hardly any of these tales rests on any foun- The student | dation except gossip. The Coolidge- Stearns liaison is complete and cop- per-riveted. e Maj. Gen. Charles F. Humphrey, U. 8. A. (retired), is famed in_the Army as the only man wh. Roosevelt to go pened at Siboney, Cuba, in 1898. The lieutenant colonel of the Rough Rid- ers went to Humphrey on a certain oceasion when the latter was quarter- master general of Shafter's expedi- tionary force, and made & requisition. “Are vou the commander of regiment?’ Humphrey asked. Leonard Wood Is colonel; I'm only lieutenant colonel,” T. R. explained “Well, you can go to hell" said Humphrey. Six years later President Roosevelt had to appoint a quarter- master general of the United States Army. He named Humphrey. " One of the Lenten society storie going the rounds concerns a Southern dowager irreverently known, because of partiality for snowy dress effects of bizarre style, as “the white squad- ron.” At one of the Midwinter White House receptions the dowager de- sired admission to the blue room, where the chosen elite, like Senators and cabinet officers, gather after hav- ing passed down the receiving line. An attendant, finding her without the requisite card, denied her right to enter the blue room. “Well” the dear old thing remonstrated. “T've never had such an experience in my life. If I'd known I was going to be insulted like this I would never have ed for an invitation!” * ok X K One of the last acts of Secretary Hughes at the State Department was to designate the American consul in Palestine, Oscar S. Helzer, as the United States' representative at the opening on April 1 of the world's first Hebrew university, at Jerusalem. The occasfon also will be marked by the presentation to the university of a collection of American official pub- lications relating to commerce, agri- culture, irrigation, reclamation, for- estry and markets. The establish- ment of the university will be cele- brated at a public meeting in Wash- ington under Zionist auspices. (Copyright, 1925.) “Square Deal””> Promoter Admits Fraud Charge “Square Deal” Brooks, Shreveport oll promoter, pleaded guilty in the Federal District Court, at Texarkana, to a charge of fraudulent advertising. “Eighteen months and $500 fine.’ A philosopher once remarked that he was ever suspicious of any -man calling _himself “Honest John,” “Square Deal” or other self-righteous title. Too many of such titles are self-bestowed and undeserved. It a man is homest he does not have to advertise it in his name. Its evidence is in_his actions. When a man's proved honesty is such that it be- comes a popular saying and simile, and the title is bestowed upon him Dby others, it may mean something. Otherwise it is camouflage, or the re- sult of a guilty conscience. Those adopting such names may feel that their honesty is so ques- tionable that they need the name or people might not know it. Men who do not doubt their own honesty do not feel the need of such titles. The others are in the’ same cl: with those doubtful characters who proclaim themselves gentlemen at every opportunity. That is evidence of their own doubts. The real gen- tleman does not feel the need of ver- bally claiming the title. He doesn't.— New Orleans Item. ———————— Dancing masters, meeting in New York, are trying to devise an inter- national dance. Apparently they be- lieve the good old-fashioned war- dance is out of date.— Kalamazo Politics. at Larg BY N, 0. MESSENGER. The conduct 6f the Government of the United States, which is frequent- 1y describeq as.the greatest going concern in the world, never permits a let-up In the industry, whether Con- 8rexs Is In recess or in session. The absance of Congress from Wahington until the first Monday in next Decem- ber, unless previously summoned by the President In extraordinary ses- sfon, does not imply a vacation to the administrators of the Government. Fresident Coolidge and his advisers In his cabinet will have much to ponder over during the time the ab- sent legislators are making political hay while the sun shines, in their balliwicks, or disporting themselves in recreation according to thelr taste. The administration will work while they play during the Summer and Fall, busying itself upen problems of statesmanship and a side line of pol- itics. President Coolidge is promising himself an extensive vacation this Summer, but it Is a certainty that many an hour of it will be engaged in burning the midnight ofl over the problems of the country and the fu- ture of his administration. * kK K Every President of the United States must be given full credit for his de- votion to the public interest as his first object in life. But it s only human nature to expect every Presi- dent to work also for the success of his administration and the palitical party of which he is the head. It is admitted as a fact that the success of the present administration is to meet its supreme test in the Congress Which begins next December. Upon the success of President Coolidge ifi dealing with that Congress and the securing of legislation accepted by the voters as for the country's best welfare will depend the Republican party's continuance in power. Differences of opinion between the Republican and Democratic partles as to what s best for the country’s wel- fare are acute. They must be com- posed and crystallized in legislative action. In the coming Congress a third element enters into the equa- sion in factional differences existing in the Republican party. Several policles of proposed legis- lation and international negotiations are outstanding features of the work ahead of the Congress and adminis- tration, which will have to be given thought during the existing recess of Congress. One of the most important is preparations for the further reduc- tion of taxes and revision of the rev- enue laws. This is one that is likely to be followed by the public with the most general interest. Tax reduction, touching the pocket nerve of the Na- tion, {& the most sensitive. Those who appreciated in the last payment of their income taxes the beneficent re- sults of the last tax reduction find thelr appetites’ whetted for more. They will be likely to follow very closely the administration’s proposals for additional reductions. Fortunately, the Government's financial condition holds out the most substantial prospects for the accom- plishment of more reductions under the new bill. The Government had carefully estimated upon its financial condition to warrant further in- creases. Only a few days ago the Treasury Department announced that the returns from the March payments demonstrated that the estimates will be fulfilled during the coming year and that Congress will bes assurea it :;\n proceed with the planned: reduc- on. * ok ok % The administration gives notice that the tax reduction plan is to be worked out with the_ fulest co-op- eration with Congress, the taxing power, and that there is prospect of less partisanship ‘than ever before in the new law to raise revenues for the conduct of the Government. The Coolidge administration hopes to pre- sent for the consideration of Can- gress the most businesslike tax meas- ure that has ever been offered for its consideration. Fault will certainly be found with it when it gets into the House of Representatives on grounds reflecting the differences ot Political opinion, but the good sense of the legislative body in the end may safely be counted upon for a wise so- lution of these différences, Party interests will be subordinat- ed according to the present prospects to sound economics in the prepara- tion of the next law on taxation to &0 on the statute books, * K Kk President Coolldge will ind amon; burdens during“the period of nxs‘;:;f posed vacation the duty of reaching @ decision upon the calling of a new arms conference, This project is a Qquestion for decision entirely within the jurisdiction of the Chief Execu- tive. Congress has given him more than a hint of its favorable disposi- tion toward another effort to round out the achievements of President Harding and Secretary Hughes in behalf of preserving the ‘world peace and mitigating the horrors of war to future generations. But the initia- tive rests entirely with President Coolidge. He does not have to con- sult Congress about undertaking the enterprise, and only needs to send to the Senate the result of the confer- ence in the form of treaties negotiated. During the Summer the country can think over the question of a world court. President Coolidge is already upon record as to his atti- tude on this question, but here is where Congress must have the final word. One of the early actions of the next Congfess is expected to be on the disposition of the proposal that the United States should adhere to a world court with the reserva- tions which have been proposed by the Department of State, * k% % President Coolldge will also, dur- ing the Summer, find his attention directed to plans for railway legis- lation In the next Congress, He will be expected to dwell at length upon this subject in his annual mes- sage, and will be overwhelmed with suggestions during the recess for recommendations to be made to the legislative body. Publlo men declare that the time was never more pro- pitious for constructive legislation for the benefit of the rallroads and the protection of the rallway em- ployes than it will be found when Congress reassembles. From every quarter come comments upon the changed condition of public thought on what is known as the rallway question. The railways are no longer looked upon as a menace, but are recognized as one of the most Important ele- ments in the stability and prosperity of the Nation. G * X Kk ¥ President Coolidge and advisers will be called upon to consider the ques- tion of prohibition enforcement. The President has but recently declared his attitude upon the enforcement, which presumably is reflected by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, the two officlals under whom _prohibition enforcement falls. The President, it is known, wants strict obegdience to the duty imposed by the spirit of the Consti- tution to carry out’ the act of Con- gress, but the President does not think that the. spirit of the Consti tution imposes upon the Governmen the sale duty of enforcement. He contends that the States and the mu- have an equal burden im of impos- » THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. D, R TR S FRAE N CORNRNOMN o o s RO S = S o o B o TR Dot St B LTRGBS R A —_—_— e — ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN Q. In the early days in Washington were there many Irish residents?— ST A. “A Chorographical and Statis- tical Description of the District of Columbia,” published in Parls in 1516, says: “Nearly one-half of the popu- lation of Washington is of Irish ori- gin. The laboring class is chiefly Irish, and many of them have no ac- quaintance with the English lan-| guage. They have cut the canal, made and repaired the streets and ex- ecuted most of the manual labor of the city.” Q. Where 1s the cave which Mark Twain describes in “Tom Sawyer”?— AL A A. The mayor of Hannibal, Mo, says that the cave in which Tom Saw- yer was lost is about a mile and & half south of Hannibal and is open for visitors daily. Vice President Dawes stopped his special train last Fall and visited it. Mark Twain and a bunch of his boyhood companions were lost in the cave for 36 hours and were finally found by a scarching party. Within the last two or three | weeks another cave has been fouad In the same valley and oa land owned by the man who owns the Mark Twain cave, which seems to be even larger than' the famous one. Q. What city had the first mu- nicipally owned street cars?—C. M. A. San Francisco bullt the system of the sort in 1910. Q. Does the Gov eight vears' serv enter West Point? A. The graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolls make an agreement upon entering the acad emies that they will serve a period of elght years,ifour years of which is the schooling at the academies and four years service upon graduation However, in special circumstances resignations are accepted before the termination of this period. irst rnment require from boys who T. C. B Q. What was the Balfour declara- tion concerning Falestine?—H. D. It refers to a statement made | 8ir Arthur Balfour of the British | naturs | distu | annually. | pounds. | three v and to encourage its occupation as a homeland for the members of th Jewisk race of all natlon Q. How is the small hole drilled the dlamond in a die used for draw ing wire?—J. K A. The holes in diamonds are drill- ed with minute bronze or soft iron wires charged with diamond dust and then the Interior of the hols made !5 polished with a smoother dri!l charg ed with very fine diamond dust. Q. Why is snow white?—A. W. T A. Snow is white because the crys tals are so minute that each call of the retina recelves a general im- pression produced by the combinatio of different wave lengths reflected from innumerable minute facets. Q. What is second growth timber —S. A. D A. It 1s the growth that comes u 1y after cutting, and oth bing ca Q Will ordinary air absorb fumes ether, gasoline and alcohol read noist ", E.C. A. The absorptic 2 vapor by air 1s affected only by the amount of that vapor present in the and by th temperature. Thus ordinary afr perfectly “dry” for gasoline, thou “damp" for water, and will & as readily as Death Va ine alr ab Why does China have an immi- when no al Q Are the Ame Fifteen ye Q me per capita £0 pound 100 Q. Between w Keats lished? E. D. is published A. All h 7 1820 (Let The Prederio J. 7to Star Information Burea Hask , Twenty first and C streets northwest, anawe Parllament that it was the policy of Great Britaln to stabllize Palestine | - CHAPTER L Reprint from the Independent In the weeks just past press and magazines have been with statements, articies and terviews bearing upon the value afreraft in relation to the Navy. Ter- rible pictures have appeared with ships apparently lost in the smoke and gases from the explosion of inglo bomb, and if the theoret thinking person” is able to as late the masses of food thus offerec to his brain with a clear understand- Ing of what the correct answer is, his mental digestion must be in a super- lative degree of health. If the ex- treme view held on one side of the argument is to be believed, an air force, properly equipped with planes, lighter-than-air ships, bombs and gas, has rendered & navy unnecessary, or at least relegated it to a very sec ondary position. Moreover, stress is lajd upon the economy which would result by this substitution of an aerial for & water-borne navy. To support this view the now al- most classio example of the bombiing of the battleship Ostfriesland is cited, with reference also to the bombing of the Virginia and New Jersey and to the sinking of the new battleship Washington last Fall. The Ostfries land was an ex-German battleship, turned over to the United States u der the terms of the armistice. She was designed in 1908 and completed in 1911, which makes her of about the same period as the Florida and Utah, the oldest ships of our Navy at the present time and quite out of date %0 far as protection is concerned. In 1921 it was decided to test out against her the results which could be at- tained by bombing from After being made as water-tight as possible without too great expense at the New York Navy Yard, she was towed to what we know as the South- ern drill grounds, about 50 miles off the Capes of the Chesapeake. On the way down she leaked so badly that| on the first day of the test she al- | ready had several hundred tons of water aboard. Moreover, anticipat that she would undoubtedly receive severe underwater damage from the bombs exploding alongside, doors and so-called equalizing flooding pip running across the ship wers opened to allow any water which might en- ter from this damage to distribute itself across.the ship. In this way it was hoped fo prevent her capsizing before the greatest amount of infor- mation which could be gained from the experiments should have been realized. We, members of the board sent to witness the tests, had grandstand seats on the airplane tender Shawmut, close to the old ship. Half the first day was spent in walting. The first test called for was deck-plercing bombs from an altitude of 4,000 feet on the deck of the Ost- friesland. It was misty and blowing moderately, and not only was the sea too rough for the necessary inspection trips of the board to the Ostfriesland, but the airplanes could not have seen the ship, as the clouds would have obscured her with the planes at 4,000 feet. By noon the sea had gone down, but the clouds persisted. The deck- plercing bomb attacks were, there- fore, further postponed and high-ex- plosive bomb attacks proceaded with, as in droppiing these hombs the planes could fly at lower altitudes The tests were made first with 230- pound bombs, then with and 600 pound, next with 1,000-pound, and finally with 2,000-pound bombs. It ‘was the Intention, after hits on board the ship had been made, that we should go aboard to make a thorough inspection of the damage. Since thp whole idea of the test was to deter- mine the damage done by these bombs, the airplanes were permitted to fly just high enough to keep clear of the effects of the explosions. Inspections aboard showed the ef- fect of the bombs in the holes torn in decks and bulkheads, but torfl les than had the hits been with high- explosive, large-caliber shells. the end of the first & 52 ship with 69 bombs, ranging in welght from 230 to 2,000 pounds each. The only effect really noticeable was that due to the leakage caused, not from the hits, but from the bombs which missed the ship and exploded clos alongside. Even this leakage could day of have been handled by the pumps had | there been steam up &and a crew | aboard. The next morning the attacks be- | gan again, starting with five 1,000- pound and ending with six 2.000- pound bombs. Due to the shaking up received from the misses alongside, the leakage increased, and ‘finally, with a 2,000-pound bomb explodinig close under the stern, the ship went down. There is no denying that it was a shock. A battleship had been sunk by airplanes. It had kept 69 of them busy, flying at low altitudes and dropping 86 bombs of a total weight of €6,000 pounds to do it, but it had beent done! A new and formidable weapon against ships of the sea had demonstrated its power. ““The next K} to which reference is roraft. | the dropping of | planes had attacked the | your question. The only charge is 2 cents &n stamps for return postage ) often made is that of the bombing of ships P New Jersey and tight doors hu ssion anchored limitatic represente battleships these tests out in as ac sible the effe, derwater charge bombs upon the and her ament tre test construction ed to find a manner as pos 1e explosion of u representing large tructure of the sh . W had For these reasc s dectded not to drop the bomt them in relatio 1 from planes, the be from certain to the ship rigging. If dropr exact location of the explosions re tive to the uld known, wh e way selected the actual da around the could be determined. Three tests were « charges represent bombs, and after eact | aboard and made nation of the with of boc ar d out one we w a thorough exam ship and the machinery in amount of damage was d the le caused, y each explosion was well in 1t p held though | side the by the ex completely, the effect was in W that it would have put ut of act no densers, which all ag of the machinery most age, injured in any way. to these tests, two charges represent- ing torpedoes were exploded against the side of the ship. Following the under-water expl sive tests, the ne on the gram was to be ping loaded deck-piercing bombs fr planes. Unloaded bor as it was particularl tain information a. effect on the armored dec! The tests were set for a Satt morning and the time was left to the planes. However, the bad, with strong w all day waited for the come out. On Sunday mo clear, with-a 40-mile bree and again we waited, the w too strong for the planes to venture the 40 miles or so to sea. noon, however, two came « after one had passed over the three times and the other eight ti to get their bearings they dropp their bombs. Fortunately, one was a hit, so an inspection was made, and it was found that bomb had struck the deck, as hoped for. While it had not penetrated, the effect was such as to indicate that heavier decks | would be desirable to meet the men- ace of airplane bombers. The next day the weather cor tinued bad, and as it was decided that all the information sought fo from bombs had been obtained, the ship was sunk by gunfire It must be realized that thess bombing tests covered but one speclal period or phase of the operations of a navy in war, namely, the actua combat after the meeting of opposin forces. Long before the opposing forces meet the fleet may have ic steam thousands of miles to find the enemy. Alrplanes alone cannot do { this, for these tests off the the Chesapeake showed that at sea was not a trip to be undertaken by afrplanes. Co: ly, for distant operations there be carriers. To be completely pendent of seacraft these carriers should be airships, and it has beer suggested, apparently seriously, tha such carriers would fill the bi However, the largest airship buiit the Eos Angeles, of 2,400,000 cubic feet capacity when filled with helium an carry a useful load, including of about 30 tons. The 6,000,000 cubic feet ship now being visualized would similarly carry 80 tons. A sin- gle bombing plane weighs & tons, so that, with no allowance for fuel, the most these airships could do would be to lift 6 and 16 bombing planes, respectively. 1f the bombers were needed 2,000 miles away, 40 tons of fuel would be needed for the big air- ship to go this distance and back, and consequently this airship, twice the size of the Los Angeles, could transport but eight bombing planes this moderate distance, and that wit} out any aliowance for food or oth supplies except for the trip to t designated place and back. to disable t no way ship were the con- the parts pro- desired to to the penetrati weather owing, planes t was was Capes ) m 1igh quer mus inde (The second and concluding chapter of this article will appear in tomorrow’s edition of The Star.)