Evening Star Newspaper, July 5, 1925, Page 26

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition WASHINGTON, D. C. SUNDAY. July 5, 1925 THEODORE W. NOYES. Editor ce: 110 East 42nd St. Tower Bujldin 18 Regent St.. Lo England. & European Office The Evening Star. with the Sunday morn- ing edition, is delivertd by carriers within the city at' 60 cents per month: daily only. 45 cents per month: Sunday only. cents per month, Orders may, be sent by mail or telephone Main 5000. Coilection is made by carrier at the end of each month Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia, Daily and Sunday....1 yr. $8.40: 1 mo. Daily only ... 131560001 Sunday only 1y $2.40 1 mo. All Other States, Daily and Sunday...1 yr. $10.00: 1 mo., 85c Daily only 1yr. $7.000 1 mo., 80c Sunday only 13 $890i1m 3 Member of the Associ: The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dis. patehes credited to it or not otherwise cred- ted in this paper and alzo the locAl news published herein. Al tights of publi of special dispatches herein are also ed Press. European Union for Security. Calvin Coolidge, standing on thé spot where George Washington took command of the Continental Army 150 vears ago Friday night, called on Surope to lay aside its differences and agree on permanent terms of peace. The President pledged the moral sup- port of the United States in such an undertaking. As a means of bringing about permanent peace, the President indorsed the principle of security pac among the nations of Europe now advanced abroad. He made it clear, however, that “America should refrain from making political commit- practical ments where it does not have political | interests.” In this square with the W eulogized at the bridge. The President’ to the nations of common he stands four- ington whom he celebration in Cam- recommendatio urope are based on as well as on high sense moral grounds. “If what is saved in the productive peace of to v is to be lost in the de- structive war of tomorrow, the people of this earth can look forward to noth- ing but everlasting servitude,” he said. And again: “The world has tried war with force, and has utterly failed. The only hope lies in peace with justice.” The plea of the President to the na- tions of the Old World is that they be guided in their future dealings by what has happened in the past. Of what avail the building up again of in- Gustry and prosperity, of peace and happiness. if in the twinkling of an eve all is to be swept away In the hur- ricane of war? If distrust has become deep-seated through long centuries of hate and war, and war and hate, then let the nations enter into security pacts, and live up to covenants. Such a course,” “would be suri peace said the President, to endow the partici- pating nations with an abundant ma- ual r On what an there be any encour- agement disposition to attempt to financ ival of Europe?™” In questioning the advisability of at- tempting to finance a revival of Eu- rope, the President did not in so many words refer to American loans. But as America is the only source of such loans today the infercnce was clear. The futility of a reversion to the old state of affairs, with nations waiting merely the opportune day to strike at one another in the hope of some material gain, was strongly implied. What security for loans under such conditions? The problem has its busi- ness side But the President. while se practical means of peace broad, does not overlook the ideal end to be sought. “Peace with justice” is the great principle which he enunciates and upon which rests the promise of regeneration of the world. The century peace which has existed between the ['nited States and Great Britain, to which the President specifically referred, has been a “peace with justice.” When George Wash. tngton laid down his sword, he turned to peace. The President rightly de- clared that Washington “demonstrated by his arguments, and our country has demonstrated by experience, that more progress can be made operation than by conflict. by co- To agree quickly with your adversary always pays.” ———— Policemen place peanuts under the Wheels of automobi in order to check up on motorists who fail to move their cars within the time limit. It is good detective work, though not sufficiently, picturesque to sustain the traditions of Dupin or Lecoq. — alee Coal Prices and Strike Talk. Coming events cast their shadow be. fore. Expected events that never hap- pen also are not without their shad ows. The threatened strike in the coal mines may or may not happen, but its shadow is already looming on the horizon. Some of those who deal in coal are talking of an increase in prices of fuel. So far there has been little beyond headshaking and gloomy prognostications. Nor should the talk of price increase go farther. There has been no strike, the supplies of coal are plentiful and there may be no strike. The inclination to wring from the public “all the traffic will bear,” with- out regard to costs or a fair return on investments, is not confined to any particular business, nor does the im- peachment lie against all business men engaged in the sale and distribu- tion of coal or the other commodities. But it is an inclination that crops out here and there. The people of Wash- ington expect a fair deal from the coal merchants, and there is reason to belleve they receive such a deal, strike or no strike. But the suggestion that prices of coal will go up because a sirike is “threatened” should be scotched at the very beginning. It prices should mount now, prices that are paid by the consumer desirous of placing the coal in his cellar for fear king the | 1 in the anthracite mines, the incréase in the price would represent mere “velvet.” It would n any tase be a form of profiteering in one of its worst forms. Should the producers of coal seek to increase the prices which they charge the wholesaler and the retafler be- cause of this threatened strike, they, too, would be guilty. In such event the retafler might well say to his cus- tomers that he is forced to raise his prices because of the increase de- manded of him. An increase of prices by the producer for hard coal, based on the possibility of a strike, at this juncture would be an attempt in ad- vance to compel the public to pay lossés which he anticipates from & failure to manage his own business. The consuming public often has been compelled to pay the piper, to meet the responsibilities which belong to in- Austry or labor, or both. The business of coal mining and ais- tribution is uneconomically performed in this country. It has been the sub- Ject of much criticism, but no solution of the problem has been found. One of the serfous drawbacks is the sea- sohal character which the business has taken on. The people as a whole will not buy coal in the Summer months to warm them during the Winter. Prices, therefore, go up and down with the seasonal production and demand. Prices are on the up- ward turn because of this seasonal character of the business. But there should be no further increases than | are usual at this time of year merely because of a threat of strike. - White House Kenovations. Protest by architects against pro- posed renovations in the White House which will tend to restore the colonial aspect of the structure arve not cal- culated to publte arouse The historic building is strictly | colonial design. It is tvpical of the rative American architecture. The in- terior should conform to the exterior. When a number of years ago | changes were effected in the White House, both in the outer and inner ar- rangement, public feeling wasaroused. President Roosevelt, however, was not moved by expressions of dissent, | and proceeded with the revision of the building. The proposed renovations |{do not aim at any change in the exterior, but affect merely the fur- nishings and decorations of the rooms, and are calculated to restore the | strictly colonial aspect of the mansion. | The fact that the present scheme of decoration has been in vogue for more than two decades does not constitute a reason against the restoration of the original character of the building. It a | mistake was made when the French | empire style was adopted for the in- { terfor it need not necessarily be per- petuated simply because of the lapse of time. One of the chief criticisms of Amer- ican art and architecture is that they lack in native character. The colonial style, an adaptation from the classic, | |is the nearest approach in structural | | design to a characteristic American fashion. It has gained a distinctive place, and it is highly appropriate that it should be perpetuated in the residence of the Chief Magistrate, hoth within and without the structure. | Public taste in these matters is de- pendable, despite the lack of technical knowledge. Public feeling, however, is the surest gulde. Sentiment is power- ful as an influence, and in this present matter the sentiment of the people of the country is undoubtedly favorable te a renovation that will definitely re- store to the White House the true colonial character that it once pos- sessed, and that should never have been supplanted by an exotic fashion. i [ — 1 It Is Our Way. | It is the American way. When the Santa Barbara earthquake was | | shaking down walls plans for rebuild: | ling the city on a better and larger | scale were making. It fe the spirit. | {1t shows itself in California and all | other parts of the United States. When the business section of Balti- more was in flames and it looked as though the whole city might burn, progressive people there were not only cheering on the firemen end turning on more water, but were planning to rebuild the burned section. Away back in the 70s the peopie of Chicago, when the town was burning, were saying, “Rebuild and make a greater Chicago.” At Galveston it was the {same way. Let fire, flood or quake blot out a large part of a city and its people do mot give up to discour- agement. “Build better” is what they say, and before the telegraph wires cease 1o tell of destruction and dam- age bulldings begin to rise on sites of those destroyed. There is another note in nearly every great American disaster. While excitement is on the news generally tells of looting. Po- lice, soldiers and citizens go on guard against looters. It was so at San Francisco, and we have had the same |kind of news from Santa Barbara. {In the population of all cities are | men so low in nature that at oppor- tunity they are ghouls, and a disaster jdraws ghouls from other sections. I In the course of time the only parade regarded as safe and sane may be the circus parade, which is mora instructive and unlikely to start an argument. A Ah Sing’s Strategy. All the ingenuity in the world is not born within the bounds of the two Big oceans, Canada and the Gulf of Mexico, despite the boastful arrogance which puffs up American chests every time a native son wriggles out of some extraordinarily precarious predica- ment through a streak of mental strategy. To wit: A Chinese coolle, employed as a porter in an American club in Tientsin, was ‘“cornered” and badly beaten by a band of revolution- ists who raided the club and departed with some of the furnishings. Being a true son of the soil, Ah Sing knew that just one raid and one sound beating of a lowly coolie would not be worth the candle to his misdirected fellow countrymen, so he made ready to recelve the mext band of rebels which put in appearance. As he ex- pected, another company of outlaws of coming shortage, and there should | arrived. They were greeted with an be no suspension of mining September | American flag floating from the wlm no fireworks!™ e dow of the club, and the prediction by Ah Sing of results ‘too direful for éven the bravest of Chinamen to face if the premises were again violated. The flag had been made by the coolle from strips of red and white cloth, and its blue field was bedecked with 68 white stars. The Chinese are not very adept at understanding the other fellow's point of view, and the lower caste Chinaman knows that he cannot trust his fellow countryman not to Blip a knife be- tween his ribs while carrying on a friendly conversation. His sense of self-preservation has therefore been developed to a point of inventive genius far beyond that of any other race in the world. Usually, however, he outwits his enemy by some sleekly designed bit of trickery, and not by sheer bravado. Ah Sing's piece of strategy at Tien- tsin bears comment for the exploita- tion of two large truths; that when the safety of his own person is in- volved the Chinaman has unqualified- ly first claim to ingenuity, and that the American flag, in whatever clime its stars and stripes may be freed to the breezes, commands respect. To be sure, the flag Which was un- furled from the clubhouee in Tientsin daringly displayed 68 white stars, but- what odds? It saved the club's prop: erty—and Ah Sing's hide. ——a—— Six Nameless Simians. Cook County, 111, has a 200, and the zoo, of course, has monkey inmates. Now there are six infant simians in the monkey house, an# the Cook Coun- ty authoritiés want to name them ap- propriately, 8o they have asked the public to &ponsor the little fellows. A prize of $5 ha& been offered to the person who submits the best list of six suitable names for them. The offer comes at an opportune time. Chicago is particularly well situated for such a competition, for it is greatly con- cerned, through the participation of one of its leading cltizens, in a legal proceeding soon to be held in which the simlan family will figure largely. It is a better than two-to-one wager that the majority of the lists submitted to the Cook County officials in this contést will include such names as Darrow, Bryan, Scopes, Dayton, Ten- nessee and Darwin. These are all mascyline, save possibly Tennessee, but the feminine membets of the now nameless coterie in the Chicago zoo can be readily accommodated by varia- tions of these titles. ——————— The stage coach gave way to the railroad, and the railroad now shares trafic with the omnibus. Passenger and freight airplane service will soon be perfacted, and the day may be reached when a locomotive is as much behind the times a8 a horse would be today behind a street car. v Mr. Doheny feels grieved by a willingness to let the incidental con- sideration of personal thrift take precedence in discussion over the rela- tions of the oil buainess to national preparedness. b When Independence day was estab. lished this Natioh had thrown off a tyrannical system of foreign taxation. July the Fourth this year found Uncle Sam in the position of a world creditor. ————— An improvement in modern condi- tions is to be noted. The 5th of July is no longer remarkable for an over- worked condition of the police force and Fire Department. ——— The failure of a big brokerage firm reveals the usual number of innocent bystanders hurt by the get-rich-quick speeder. AR SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, Costume Zoology. “Her feet like little mice peeped in and out’— So Suckling wrote— “Beneath her petticoat.” But now her lusty calves come romp- ing out As she asserts A gay contempt of skirts. Sense and Sound. “Do you intend to make any speeches when Congress next con- venes?" 4 “I haven't decided.” answered Sena- tor Sorghum. “A statesman used to have to keep talking in order to keep the public reminded of himself. Now there is a growing impression that the man who keeps the quietest may in reality be doing the most work.” Effort to Be Good. I never play poker. I never drink rum. T never steal money nor dally with &in. And yet with the law in collision 1 come. Some trafic cop's constantly run- ning me in! Jud Tunkins says the monkey has lost out as an ancestor because he failed to leave any property to be in- herited. High Hopes. “We're going to get up some kind of a plan to enable you to borrow more money,” sald the candidate. ‘Al right,” answered Farmer Corn- tossel. ‘“Mebbe I kin borrow enough to back up a demand for debt cancel- lation and make the old mortgage look like an asset instead of a liability.” Summer Attire. The Bell Hat is a thing of grace Concealing quige the best of her. You can’t behold her pretty face, Though you see all the rest of her. Bold Barleycorn. “Liquor will undermine your consti- tution.” “It may do worse'n that,” said Uncle Bill Bottletop. “It's even tryin’ to un- dermine the United States Constitu- tion.” “De Fourth of July,” said Uncle Eben, “allus makes me wonder how folks kin manage to be so contented all de days in de year 'cept one, wifout - THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €, JULY 5, WHAT IS EVOLUTION? By Lemuel V. ¢ In the minute details of paleontology (the study of plants), blology (the study of life), and other sciences from which evolution draws its “‘proofs,” the sci- entists Rave had the fiéld pretty much to themselves. Neither laymen nor philosophers could challenge them on these findings, but when the emphasis shifted to the question of “why,” rath- ér than “‘what,” the scientists had a fight on their hands. A quotation from the great Gefman philosopher, Em- manuel Kant, written in 1790, although before the statement of the evolution- ary theory, may serve to state fairly accurately the opposed view: “It is quite certain that we cannot become sufficiently acquainted with or- ganized creatures and their hidden po- tentialities by aid of purely mechani- cal natural principles; much less can Wweé explain them; and this Is so certaln that we may boldly assert that it is ab- surd for man even to conceive such an idea, or to hope that a Newton may one day arlse able to make the produc- tion of a blade of grass comprehensi- ble, according to natural laws ordained by no intention; such an insight we must absolutely deny to man.” Natural Selection Accepted. Many of Darwin's followers, includ- ing Haeckel, at first accepted ““natural selection™ as the required explanation. But, while natural selection held its own, as one of the processes of evo- lution, it fell far short as a complete and convincing explanation. and_has steadily lost in scientific prestige. Such naturalists as the late Henri Fabre, the great Frenchman, have shown its inadequacy as a satisfactory theory of causation. While the law of the surs vival of the fittest has fared better, there is still a blank in which the ex- planation of the origin of fitness must be written. Why these variations among Individuals which give some creatures special endowments which enable them to survive and propagate? The evolutionists have not answered. The stuff of life is protoplasm. It is the single reproductive cell—a minute bit of protoplasm—which carries over the fnheritance. If there is a physical basis for the organic heritage, built Into_the life stream from the first cell in the bed of the ocean, it is in this germ plasm. | Bryan's Chance. Mr. Bryan's profound study of evo lution will reveal to him hers the break in the ranks of his enemies. He will find the evolutionists divided in 'wo camps—those who accepted the centripetal” theory and those who accept the “centrifugal” theory. The question at issue §s how do newly ac- quired characteristics get Into the germ plasm? Those who hold to the centripatal theory maintain that the process is from without inward—that adaptations of survival value are reg- istered In the germ plasm and new | structural or action patterns transmit- | ted. The advocates of the centrifugal | theory belleve that the germ plasm | | carries all the latent and gradually unfolding variations—that the process is from within outward. The Iatter theory is now the more generally accepted by leading scien tists. They have been driven farther | back into scienitfic agnosticism, and they have frankly admitted that they do not understand and cannot explain the mystic origins of form and func- | tion, hidden in an almost infinitesimal cell.” Mr. Bryan, resourceful lawyer and controversialist as he is, should | be able tv confound them with this. | For if his opponents admit, as they | INDIAN About 22 miles from the National | Capital, on a promontory overlooking the Potomac River, is the tiny village | of Indian Head. This little hamlet is | 80 obscure that apparently nothing has ever been written about it. A search of the various encyclopedias and the files of the Library of Con- gress revealed no mention of it. And yet it is of vital importance to the people of the United States. In fact, | it 1s so infportant that this is doubtless part of the reason for its being care- fully guarded against publicity. For | —there {8 located the only Govern | | ment-owned powder plant Until a few years ago Indian Head was also the site of the naval prov ing grounds. They were the reason | for its existence. About 1890 it was | decided to remove the proving work from Annapolis, and an area of land in Charles County was selected. A tiny community was dug out of this wil- derness and thus Indian Head came into being. Its inhabitants consisted of the workmen, the few naval officers on duty there, and a marine guard.| To this day many of these original workmen and their families still ive there. ¥ < Until the time of the World War all of the guns and shells of the Navy were tested at indian Head. In 1918 work on new proving grounds was begun at Dahlgren, Va., and some of the proving work was transferred there. This in a measure relieved the congestion of work which was caused by the Increased demands of a nation at war. In 1921 all of this work was transterred to the Virginia grounds. Motorists and visitors still find indi cations of the proving work that was formerly carried on at Indian Head. On the outskirts of the village the trees bear signs warning against the dropping of lighted matches or clgar- ettes, because of unexploded shells in the vicinity. Along the narrow beach may be found pleces of shell and of steel armor plate which is twisted and shell-torn. Powder Plant Opens. With the adoption of smokeless powder in 1899, the Navy established its own powder factory at Indlan Head. The output of this plant be- fore the World War wae increased from time to time until it was pro- ducing about 20,000 pounds a day. The increased demands of the war, how- ever, necessitated the enlarging of the plant and brought many more people to this place. The laboratory became practically a training school for the technical force employed for inspec- tion duty in connection with the pur- f_explosives. R thia additional population and activity the town boomed—that is, in a modest way. More houses were needed and these were built by the Emergency Housing Corporation. A school was bullt, & community center, stores and banks came into existence. There is a small, but comfortable hotel. But even with this growth the town still remained practically a d_corporation. O tn Yie 'and of the war and the removal of the proving Wwork the number of inhabitants dwindled. How- ever, the town is unique in its self- sufficiency. It has little outside con- tact. While there are freight trains, there is none for passengers. The only way to reach it is by a boat which runs three times a week, or by motor. The boat carries the mail. The State of Maryland built an ex- cellent dirt road which connects with the main highway. Practically all the way this road is overhung with trees and in the Spring these are thick with honeysuckle. = Washingtonians fre- quently take this trip with picnic lunches which may be eaten in the woods beyond the village. There are many places overlooking the river where one may entertain himself the boats plying up and ::'n. t. gives one the .sense of be- F. Parton must, that this is the modern stand of evolutionists he will be able to re: fute them with their own pundits— the glants of a few decades ago who explained the mutations of life by the transmission of acquired characteris- ties. Search Only Begun. The frank confession that evolution has not yet made its full case, so far as basic’ problems are concerned, is clearly stated by Henry Fairfleld Os- born in the preface to his book, “The Origin and Evolution of Life. “In truth,” says Dr. Osborn, “from the period of the earliest stages of Greek thought man has been eager to discover some natural cause of evolution. and to abandon the idea of supernatural intervention in the order of nature. Between the ap. pearance of “The Origin of Species,” in 1859, and the present time there have been great waves of faith in one ex- planation and then in another; each of these waves of confidence has end ed in disappointment, until finally we have reached a stage of very general skepticism. Thus the long period of observation, experfment and reason. ing, which began with the French natural philosopher Buffon, 150 vears ago, ends with the general feeling that our search for causes, far from being near completion, has only just begun. “Our present state of opinion is We know to some extent how plants and animals and man evolve; we do not know why they evolve. We know, for example, that there has existed a more or less complete chain of beings from monad to man, that the one-toed horse had a four-toed ancestor, thdt man has descended from an unknown ape-like form some- where in the tertiary. We know not only those larger chains of descent but many ‘of the minute details of these transformations. We do not know their internal causes, for none of the explanations which have in turn been offered during the last 100 vears satisfles the demands of obser- vation. of experiment, of reason. It is best frankly to acknowledge that the chief causes of the orderly evolu tion of the germ are still entirely un- known. and that our search must take an entirely fresh start. Sees No Conflict. “As regards the continuous adapta bility and fitness of living things, we have a reasonable interpretation of some of the causes of the phenoména of adaptation, but they are the smaller part of the whole. Especially mys- terfous are the chief phenomena of adaptation in the germ: the marvel- lous and continuous fitness and beauty of form and function remain largely unaccounted for. We have no sclen- tific explanation of these processes of development from within, which Berg- sori has termed ‘creative evolution,’ and for which Driesch has abandoned a_ natural explanation and assumed the existence of entelechy— that is, an internal perfecting influence.” Dr. Osborn is an evolutionist and a great scientist. In thus admitting the profound mystery of the basic im- pulsions of life and organic chang he steps aside for those who say they have a supernatural revelation. He sees no fundamental reason for a quarrel between religion and science, in their larger aspects and deeper es: sentials. Neither did the late Jacques Loeb—great biologist—but he added a proviso: “I have no quarrel with the supernaturalists.” he said, “provided they will offer their reveiation as a working hypothesis HEAD BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN ing many miles from the city and its crowds. There are now perhaps 1,500 or 2,000 inhabitants of Indian Head. The school, which is partly administered by the Federal Government and part- Iy by the State of Maryland, has 800 pupils. The courses extend through the high school grades. The village has its own hospital, own water works and electric plant. Many of the workmen have their own farms out- side the town limits and raise their own vegetables. Some even raise their own tobacco. They are, indeed, suf- ficlent unto themselves. Life at Indian Head. The big event of the year is the Charles County fair. This is held in the grounds of the community center and to it come the people of all the surrounding country. There is a great judging of jellies, knitting and live stock. The central figure in this is an old retired naval lieutenant, who was stationed there when the grounds were opened, and has lived there ever since his retirement. On the whole, life at Indian Head is rather quiet’ and largely out of doors. In the Summer the popular pastimes are swimming, fishing, boat- ing and playing tennis. In the Fall the duck shooting is said to be excel- lent. The families of the few officers stationed there may meet for a game of bridge, but there is comparatively little of the usual soclal activity of a naval station, The golf fever seems to have skipped this community— perhaps because there appears to be no suitable location for a course. Probably the thing which strikes the visiting motorist most forcibly is the speed limit and the zeal with which it is enforced. Upon arriving on the outskirts of the town. one is greeted with a brilliant yellow sign informing him that the speed limit is 15 miles an hour. Of course, this is not an unusual rate for a small town. There are many where the rate is 12, The remarkable point is the almost clairvoyant powers of the marine guard when it comes to detecting the speed of the motorist. Not long ago a party from Washington was astounded to have a guard step from the sentry box, hail them and inform them they were doing between 16 and 20. Distinguishing between 15 and 16 miles an hour seems quite a feat to the average person. Curbing Speeders. Tt must be said that the curbing of the speeders is not confined to casual visitors. A naval officer on a tour of inspection was stopped and chided, and it is told that the son of one of the original inhabitants was told to leave the town because of his con- tinued disregard for the speed rule. Even in the days before the motor cycle displaced the horse this rule was vigilantly enforced. A marine mounted on a horse would galiop after any offending motorist. An officer for- merly attached to this station said he often wondered how this guard could tell how fast the motorist was going. Certainly he had no speedometer on his horse. Several theories for the strict enforcement of the speed limit have been advanced. One Is that it would be dangerous to have high- powered motors thundering through on account of the powder stored there and another is that the ldrge number of children living there necessitates a low rate. ‘When driving through this isolated, slow-moving village it is difficult to realize just how important it is to the people of this country. Upon the work of this community largely de- pends the efficiency of the Navy. The latest type guns would be of little use without the powder manufactured there. Which proves that a town should not be judged by its exterior— | of $548.000,000. oxr_speed lmity i 1925—PART 2. Capital Sidelights The long vacation tiat Congress is having this Summer is not much of any kind of a vacation for some of the Senators and Representatives, who seem to be so warped away from everything but work that ordinarily they are in their offices on Capitol Hill, as usual, unless filling public engage: ments elsewhere. Some of them are lawyers of eminence who could make a handsome income practicing before the bar while Congress is not in ses- sion, but they say they have no time for it, and decline all offers of private business. One example is Senator Borah of Idaho, whose public activities are so numerous and constant. Another ex ample is the very prominent member of the House from the Virginia dis- trict nearest to the National Capital, who gets the smallest allowance for mileage of any member of Congress and who has more constituents visit- ing his office daily—Representative R. Walton Moore. Since Congress adjourned this Vir- ginia representative has had four ex ceedingly busy months—filled with the consideration” of a wide variety of matters in which his district is in- terested, with many pubMc addresses, sometimes from a Washington radio station and sometimes before au- diences and in conferring with and trying to be of use to his constituent: There i3 no subject of public inte est that escapes Representative Moore. He is one of the best-read men in Col gress. In the House reading room of the Library of Congress he is known as probably the most frequent visitc of all the public men who are stu dents of affairs. His colleagues, the library authorities and others com- petent fo judge acclaim him as the greatest living authority on Virginia history, which he illustrates with many authentic human interest anec- dotes. When asked about his Representative Moore said: “That is something yet to happen. 1 have dreamed of a trip abroad this Summer and made two reservations, each of which has been canceled. A little later, however, I shall try to arranxe for some real vacation in addition to that which I now get in the evenings at my Fairfax home, which of all places is the one I like true Virginian hospitality is dispensed at the beautiful Fairfax home of Mr. Moore, where he is always a most genial host of the old school, regaling his guests with such bounteous spreads as have made the Old Do minfon famous and with tales of the vallants of Virginia gleanad during a lifetime of research. Thosé who sweepingly decry Con- gress know very little about the earnestness and unflagging industry of many members of both branches in their efforts to live up to all the multifarious requirements and ex pectations, multiplied in recent vears since legislation has been passed through which the Federal Govern ment comes closer to and does more for the individual citizens. And these hard-working members, so con- scientiously on the job, let it be said, are the very men who do not resent vacation but, rather, welcome, constructive and helpful criticism. % a0 For the first time in history three women are to be members of the National House of Representatives when Congress reassembles in De cember, and two of them will be from the East, which hasx never before & woman to the legisiative halls. are Mrs. Norton, Democrat Jerse: ) reputed to be a “practical politician,” who succeeds Representative Charles F. X. O'Brien who was a _member of the Ho: Dis. trict committee having . jurisdiction ver Jegislation affecting the National Capital. Mrs. Julius Kahn, n Francisco, Cal Republican, of who succeeds her {late husband, chairman of the mili |tary affairs committee. Kahn s many friends in Washington since she has lived here for 26 since Mr. Kahn first came to gress. She s decidedly “a Con home her. Mrs. John Jacobs Rogers;, Republi- can, of Lowell, Mass., just elected by band, who was author of the act which reorganized the foreign service and standardized salaries and established a retirement system, is also well known in the National Capital by her good deeds, especially for the maimed former service men. Mrs. Rogers served as persons rep- resentative of Presidents Coolidg .Executive first-hand information on the needs of the former service men, and the way they were cared for in the veterans' hospitals throughout the country. She gave special atten- tion and tireless personal service to the. patients In the Walter Reed Gen. eral Hospital, where she was know as a veritable ‘angel of mercy. Whenever the President visited Wal- ter Reed he found Mrs. Rogers there in a nurse uniform doing her best to cheer the sufferers. She will be thelr ‘“‘next friend" in the naxt (‘ongre: % ox % Members of Congress who are de- voting these Summer months to ex tensive research work in the Librar of Congress are recefving 100 per cent co-operation and express amazement at the versatile efficiency of Dr. Her- man H. B. Meyer, director of the Leg- islative Reference Service, who is also president of the American Library As soctation. Many strange questions come to Dr. Meyer. For examgple, he was asked by a member of Congress for the pop ulation of hell. Dr. Meyer explained that no statistics are available, prob- ably owing to difficulties thai would confront the census taker. Then it occurred to Dr. Meyer that a rough calculation might be made, starting with the Noachlan deluge and taking Archbishop Usher's date for that event. The problem appeared in a rough way the summation of an arith- metical series, of which the first term woufd be Noah's family, the last term the present population of the world and the number of generations since Noah's time the number of terms in the series. The percentage struck between the saved and the damned was based on a well known evangelist's estimates, with which the questioning member of Congress was in agreement. x ok ok % One of the most carefully selected libraries in Washington is the prop- erty of Dr. Meyer, who before enter- ing the Library of Congress had ex- tensive technical and practical expe- rience as an enginecr on public util- itles. For more than a quarter of a century he has indulged himself in the fascination of book collecting. His private library numbers about 10,000 volumes and is especially rich in Eng- lish and American literature and his- tory. It includes many first editions of modern authors—English, Irish and American. Special attention has been devoted by Dr. Meyer to fine printing in Ameriea, and the collec- tion includes specimens from most of the noteworthy preésses. The collec- tion of books printed by Bruce Rogers, whom Dr. Meyer declares to be Amer- ica's foremost printer, is practically complete. * k% % ‘The housing of United States Gov- ernment personnel and irreplaceable records in fire-trap buildings in Wash- ington will again be forcibly brought to the attention of Congress early in December, with startling figures show- ing what poor business it is to neglect such a situation, entirely aside from the -moral responsibility of properly protecting the safety of employes. Fire cost this country $1,044 a min- ute last year—an annual economic loss Last year 599 public And | body,” and loved by all who know | nearly 15,000 to succeed her late hus. | and | { Harding in securing for the Chief ! i Speaking of the Senate, Senator Joe Robinson, Democratic leader in that body, tells a captivating story of how the one time Henator Jeff Davis of Arkansas impressed a visitor from home with his importance in the Up- | per Chamber, Jeff, it seems, was sit ting in the gallery with his constitu ent, the' proceedings were boring him to tears. Only about two or three Sena tors were on the floor. One was speak ing in humdrum manner ‘“for Record.” Page boys lolled about gossiped in low tones. The presidi officer was lost in a book. Reading clerks were yawning. Some of the doorkeepers were asleep. this is the Senate’ remarked constituent with a tone in his t was anything but compli the voice th mentary. “Well, would you like to see some action?” asked Jeff, sniffing the breeze The constituent allowed as how he craved just that sort of thing. “Then I'll go down there,” said Jeff, ind the first thing you know you'li see hell a-popping. You just see what happens when Jeff Davis hits the floor.” Sure enough Jeff had not been gone MEN AND AFFAIRS who admitted after a time that | BY ROBERT T. SMALL. inferests, President Vogue are £0 great that nothing of an have an Coolidge's that and impression popularity “upsetting” nature may | at the polls in 1926. The whirligig of fate is such ever be expected how- that a whole flock of incumbent Republicans, swept in office from normally Democratic States Be Harding landslide of 1920 Abot | to face the fight for re-election under very different circumstances, Of course, the administration is going to do everything in its power to help them There will he the cry of “Stand by Coolidge Mr. Coolidge has virtually been the Republican party ever since Mr. Hardi s death gave him his chance in th White House. He dominates the 0. P. today more than any man any time in its history So the (¢ idge colors will be run up in all of the senatorial fights and national issues will be shoved to front by the Republicans. But 1926 is not a presi dential vear. and Mr. Coolid; n not be running for offic n until ‘l when he likely to test the technical third-term theory. 1t is dif- ficult to say at this time just 1at the Coolidge infuence will be in many of the contests. but a minute or two when bells be. In A for instance, where Sen. gan to ring, pages began to hustle |ator Ralph Cameron must face ih here and there, doorkeepers snapped | music, the normal xote of the State to attention, reading clerks were on | is overwhelmingly Democromie. | OF their feet, and the presiding officer’s | course, the Democrats of Arizana ro el was beating a tatto an his desk. | serve the right to squabble Amoms Senators began to pour in from every | {hemselves. just Democra do door Voices boomed. The Senate | evervwhere, i would seem to was galvanized 5 be the only el » they have to lote In the midst of the excitement | oy, vea hough all Democrats ade enator Davis returned to his con-| mit the strength and popilarits of M. sgtituent in the gallery. Needless 10| Cameron with the people F say that worthy from the Ozarks! With the Democrats of the country was deeply impressed : pulling together everywhere Senatop “Your're right, Jefl,” he exclaimed.| Ashurst looks for them fto gain vire “those fellows down there must be|tual control of the Senate. i mire scared o' vou." event the Senator expects enou; It developed that as Jeff reached the | g (16 STHalor expects enough floor he had suggested in very much|two yvears of the present Coolidse of an undertone the absence of & |iirm more than 1nterie quorum | * ok % o= LR “Bob” Wolf ¢ Senator Henry F. Ashurst of Ari f o Bob Sliosiihes. ~ tae b zona, back in Washington and looking | S0 philos s as cool as a cucumber In a seersucker [ Ker 40 pol et iy o suit.'says the country I8 going to get | WO igens, His latest is i a surprise next year when ft| Y. 0V UG RCn OF an optimist. finds the Democrats gaining half | .jrcid of friends i s wned (0 dozen or more seats in the Senate. |frjjow ‘L prlelan In New Yo et The Senator has found, as others have | g 11", MO0 that s idod { who have traveled about lately, that |y i 8 . x S the le, particularly the business | & (Cewrieli vorc) | | | This and That By Charles E. Tracewell. Rejoice, and be glad, all friends of animals, for Jack Spratt, the cat, came back’ After 131 days of wandering returned at dusk, reduced shadow of his former self. his head bloody, but unbowed, his meow alone retaining its former vigor It was a pitiful little figure. more resembling a rat than a cat, that ne meowing lustily down the alley just after the rain. A kind triend picked up the wanderer for us. It's Jack, it's Jack!” rang s lights went on running to see Jack to a out and the neight igal. What a reception was his lost 10 of his 15 pounds, head was torn to shreds, but bones and fur. yet no monarch could have gotten such a welcome. Jack was glad to get back, too. anctically he rubbed his head against - friendly le: while many 1ds tried to pet him at once. His hief interest was in the re tor. nning to it, he meowed vigorously Two saucers of milk he consumed me He had his fore- immediately. All this time an ad miring and wonder-striuck company stood around in the kitchen watching th f-starved animal. Well, well, the cat came back!’ they sald, over and over. “The cat came back! g » Jack was a very sick cat, we found after the first happiness of his return was over. Sitting in his old chair, he refused to rest, but continued to look around with half-closed eyes, as if not sure he had attained the haven that he had sought for two weeks. Looking at him there, his chest, shoulder and other bones sticking out hix tail attenuated that had been so fat, each person making a theory own of his Some thought he had been locked | up somewhere, others that he had wandered miles away and had been working his way back, day by day or rather night by night Jack seemed to want to tell but the veil which the Creator has inter vosed between us and the animals re- mained. God alone knows where Jack Spratt was during his wander- ings. His mouth was so sore, probably from eating decayed meat garbage, that he was unable to eat meat for several days. One could only conjec- ture what the cat had been “up against” in his struggles to get home. Yet he seemed happy at last. Grati tude is not one of Jack's ecardinal traits, but that night he manifested it plainly, despite his illness. He would sit in one's lap, purr tremen- dously, then start uneasi LR A visit.to the veterinarian's helped him considerably, but the strange sur- roundings frightened him 8o that it was thought best to bring him home. This second home-coming made Jack more grateful than ever. This time the wild look was gone from his eyes, and he was soon up to his old tricks, such as sharpening his claws on the rug, taking the best seat in the room and demanding veal cutlet Instead of round steak. Jack Spratt is “resting up” now, helping me answer the scores of kind letters from all parts of the District of Columbia and nearby States in- quiring about him. “One touch of cat, you see, Mister, makes the whole world kin,” Jack meowed, proudly. He joins me in thanking all those who sent sympathy, who made tele- phone inquiries, who called, who thought they had found him, who in other ways aided in the city-wide search. I am hoping that some day Jatk Spratt_will tell me the story of hif wanderings, and if he does and if there is sufficient demand for the tale, I ell it in this column, along with of perhaps the greatest cat hunt in civilization. In the meantime, we will let Jack slumber and eat in his well deserved rest, picking up his lost pounds and his lost healith tained fire damage of more than $10,000 each. Particularly applicable to the situ- ation in many Government-occupied buildings in Washington is the state- ment of the insurance department of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, based on data furnished by the National Board of Fire Under- writers and the National First Waste Council: “Loss of Wfe is the greatest toll ex- acted for carelessness, and it is in public buildings that many of our great disasters occur. ities usually command Nation-wide at- tention for a day, but for the most part public institution fires are quickly forgotten.” . But this will be made a “burning question” when Congress gets back on Anstitutions in the United States.sus-ithe job, t he seemed | we wondered where he had been. | Such calam- | F ifty Years Ago ' In The Star Those who have investigated the subject.” says The Star of July 1, 1875 ert that the expense to the Gove !l\rmm-m for telegraphic dispatches ap- proximates near to the Tolls 00 rates paid by the public on Titles, Account of the verbosity in- | A ed in by many ment officers in using The charge at present is every word for a cireuit of 230 miles, dditional cent being charged for 3 he telegraph howeves Government, include the e of the the address and signature in their ¢ e. which the: do not when private individuals use their lines. It happens 1 the address and signature are quite long the dis; + dtself. F 1 stance. Gen. John Smith, who, we will suppose, commands an expedition to the Black Hills, teleg to Gen Sherman at St telegram he- ing add Sherman, Comma e United States, Mo. nd signed John “mith, Commanding Expedition to the k1 Here we have about words, each one of which costs nt a cent every time it g -mile circuit. It is probable t a reform in this particular will { be introduced, especially as it is found {Inexpedient to reduce the present |rates, except to limit the maximum 1[)]’1(‘9 paid to 10 circuits, or 2,500 | words.” * After one of the most protracted trials on record, the Beech r-Tilton case in Brooklyn me to an end on the 2d of July, 1§ 4 disagree ment. The Star o Beecher Jury that date snve | Disagrees. D okl and this probably r eedings in the case of g | Beecher. Tilton has not the money, if he has the inclination a new trial, and in all p other trial would end prec has, in a disagreement of the jury. The case presents the anomaly of not having the requisite evidence either to to undertake convict or to acquit, and so it will go down in the list of celebrated cases which a prolonged examination has served to shed no light. It would ape pear, however, that Tilton was er with the jury than had been sup- posed. The idea had been industrious. ly given out that it stood 11 for the defendant to 1 for the plaintiff, but it stronge seems that it has really stood 9 to 3.” - x x ‘Washington 50 years ago was in a state of uncertainty regarding the. right sort of material to use for street, paving. It experimented with wooden s blocks, which proved Pavements in ¢ be unsatistactore. 2 3 Asphalt pavement Disrepair. {700E, (bawerper developed. The Star of July 3, 1575, 86 ‘The duty to which the Coramission- ers of the District should most stu- diously address themselves just now is unquestionably to ascertain whether the terms of the contracts with several companies, firms or indiyid- vals who undertook the paving of o jstreets are such as they can be com- pelled to keep the streets so paved by them in complete repair for a term of years that it is popularly believed m b the case. If so it is high time that the terms of such contract be enforced or suits for damages be instituted a the delinquent contractors and bondsmen. “The condition of many of the streets, the improvement of which cost the taxpayers pretty heavily, and out of which it is believed the ¢ coined handsome fortunes, is o than before the improvement began. Phey are, indeed, not only a disgrace to the city, but dangerous to horses and carriages and consequently to human life, and, although they were smooth and attractive for a little time at first, { they are now in such a state that they are avoided as much as possible by travel of all kinds, and real estate ly- ing upon them is in danger of depre- ciating in value more and more each week until repairs are ordered. “It is quite certain that so far as wood is concerned, nearly everybody was decelved as to its probable dura- bility, but it s, on the other hand, equally certain that its premature de- cay is largely due to the careless, ig- norant or dishonest manner in which the work was done. The only remedy, therefore, seems 10 be to see how far the contractors can be held to place the damaged streets in passable con- dition and keep them =o for such time as their several contracts stipulate.” ———— Like the Flowers in Spring. From the Boston Transcript. The return of the sea serpent wild be welcomed by the humorists. Jokes on prohibition were fast going 4ry when the old visitor arrived.