Evening Star Newspaper, December 10, 1925, Page 6

6 THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. THURSDAY. . .December 10, 1925 THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company E\llmx:s OW\]A““'M. e Sa 10 Rast dind S6 Ygwer Butiding. 14 Regent St.. London, England. 11th St New York Chicago Offic European Office with the Sund: n The Frening Sta: Ing ed the city at 3 85 cents per monih: per ‘month Qera may he sent by mail or ephiona Stain S000- Caliection 1s made by «arrier at the end of each month Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Euv_v and_Sun 1 yr..$9.00: 1 mo. within v only, er month: dail per month: dapy Conte ally only $6.00: 1 mo. unday only ..100011¥rl$3.00.1mo. All Other States and Canada. afly and Sunday .$12.00: 1 mo Daily “on), 1m Bunday only ...l 1yr. $100:1 Member of the Associated Press. The Ameociated Press i3 exclusively entith 20 the sa for repatlication of all news dia atcnen’cradited o 1t or not othersise oo ted in is per and aleo the lo ne o hetern. All punlieation ! dispatches herein o reserved The District Budget. A District budget of $35,636,579 goes to Congress with the approval of the Bureau c Budget, a decrease of nearly $4. mates of the Comn $400,000 from tlons. Suppl ever, will bri the current the point of the tirst computation of District needs. This sought for District maintenance on the basis of a con- tinuation of the appropriation of a lump sum of $9,000,000 as the Fed- eral Government's contribution, de- epite the fact that the substantive law provides for a fixed ratio of forty-sixty per cent. In thus sub- mitting the estimates the Commis- sfoners and the Budget Bureau pro- ceed on the assumption that the lump-sum practice will be continued and that the figure which has been nmamed as that sum for two past will be maintained. A heavy reduction is made in the stimates for new school buildings and grounds, from §$4176,500 to $2,672,500. This cutting of a million and a half will check the work of school construction planned to catch up with the arrears from which the District's public school system been suffering. It {is hardl con- ceivable that this reduction will be countenanced by Congress, which has pledged itself 1 & progressive pro- gram of schoo! provision. Inasmuch as the present budget is based upon the lump-sum principle, there is no justification for the cutting of this or any other feature of the District's fiscal program. The money thus taken off the total would, if ex- pended, come solely from District rev- enues. Cutting off $1,000,000 from the fund for the increase of the water supply does not menace the progress of that work so vital to the public health and safety, inasmuch as it is due to the prospect that the project will be com- pleted during the coming fiscal vear. There should, however, be no lack of funds to make certain of this ac- compiishment. If there is any ques- tlon on this score, it would be better to overappropriate with provision that the surplus of unexpended money should be turned back into the Treasury. Of all the public works Now in progress or contemplated, this one of water supply increase is the most urgent and should be carried to the earliest possible conclusion. A decrease of nearly half a million dollars is proposed in the fund for street and road improvements and repairs. In view of the present con- dition of the streets of Washington this is not an agreeable prospect un- less a larger expenditure for repairs and construction from the gas tax fund should be made. The District budget has now reached proportions that reveal the size of this community, which has reached the half-million point in population. Yet a larger sum can be ‘economically expended here in per- manent improvements and in the ! establishment of municipal branches. It is a commonplace that the Ameri- can people take pride appear- *ance of the National Ca and the -efficiency of Government here. Wash. ington is yet to become the model municipal organization, but it is rap- ,18ly advancing to that point, and in “doing so it must have a liberal sup- ‘port and aid, for ftc own resources vwlll not justify the maintenance of Budgets of the size of that just sub- mitted to Congress, g ———— Many a congressman contributes to & presentation of an ornamental s§avel, reserving to himself the privi- lege of using & hammer if opportunity arises. e 00,000 from the es ssloners and of nearly the current appropria- ental estimates, how- to above not to g the budget gures, although sum is years 72,51 has ———— 8o far as young Robert La Follette xconcerned. there is an inclination - the G. O. P. to establish a family tradition for him. ———. The Public Building Bill. Prompt introduction of a bill to ,a;pand $50,000,000 for the erection .8f Government buildings in this city puts that important measure in line for early consideration at the present gession. Not even the most strict “economist intent on safeguarding pub- e funds and preventing unnecessary .expenditures can logically object to this enactment. 1In the first place, the money allotted to this purpose of properly housing the Government de- partments will not be immediately ex- pended, but will be spread over a period of years. Again, every dollar thus spent will be earning a large investment income for the Treasury in the curtallment of the Govern- ment's rent bill. Finally, the Federal business will be facilitated by the provision of proper quarters for work- ers and for the filing of records. Risks of loss will be lessened. It may be conservatively estimated that the effi- clency of the Federal administration will be increased by at least twenty per ocent threwgh the erection of morn- | | diate { the normal properly planned and placed depart- ment and bureau buildings. Some of the departments of the Government are housed us no busi- ness corporation would tolerate. In some instances the branches of a single department are scattered over several square miles. This entails a great waste of time in the ordinary daily transaction of business. The overhead cost of administration is greatly increased ‘in consequence. The time of all visitors who have ness with the Government offices wasted. It not infre- appens that a man coming to Washington to deal, for example, the Internal Revenue Bureau the Treasury Department finds that he must cover in the course of his errand eight or ten miles in jour- neys back and forth between branches of that office, going from chief to subordinate, from sulchief to supe- rior, all in different and widely scat- tered buildings. It is probable that the interest on the sum now proposed for « proper building equipment for the Fede-al offices is at present lost in terms of the time and energy to those who are engaged in dealing with the executive establishment. All these facts are well known. Every Government official has urged a broad program of construction. The Public Buildings Commission has pro- posed it, and this present bill is the result of its consideration of the ques- tion factor of public business and true economy presses for fmme- ction. There should be no doubt of legilation early in this session so that work can at once begin in the planning of the proposed structures and the provision of proper sites for them. ously uently Eve at R Nearing the End of “Economy.” In his message to Congress accom- panying the estimates for the conduct of the Government for the next fiscal ear, which total §$3,896,207,921, Presi- Coolidge says that with regard to the legitimate business of the Gov- ernment the operating costs have been reduced to nearly a minimum. This signifies that the “economy pro- gram” has been carried to almost its conclusion. The President expects that the normal expansion of the busi ness of the Government, in keeping pace with a growing nation, will in- volve added expenditure from year to vear. The economies that have been prac- ticed during the past few vears are mainly incidental to the reduction of Government expenses from the ex- traordinary requirements due to the war. Practically every branch of the departmental service 1is increased. The Army and Navy were expanded enormously. The war entailed obliga- tions in every direction. It would now appear that, save in the point of pen- annuities and other allowances growing out of the Government’s obli- gations to participants in the war and theiy, survivors, these war-time ne- cessities have been almost liquidated and the time is near at hand when increase incident to the steady growth of the Nation will over- take the reductions. In this connection it is interesting to note from an analysis of the bud- set submitted vesterday the sources Government revenues and the ob- jects of expenditure. In terms of fractions of a single unit dollar of revenue, 49.16 cents come from in- come and profits taxes; 22.85 from miscellaneous internal revenue; 14.43 from customs, and the remaining small fraction of the dollar from mis- cellaneous sources. Of each single dollar expended by the Government the largest fraction, 22.75 cents, goes to pay interest on the public debt 14.76 goes to debt retirement; 16.55 cents are required to meet military pensions, retirement World War annuities and life insurance claims, and 16.32 cents are spent on national defense. On the constructive side of Government administration only small fractions are spent: 3.35 cents for the general functions of Government; 5.6 cents for public works; 1.88 cents for the promotion, regulation and opera- tion of marine transportation; T cents for miscellaneous civil func- tions. Thus 37.51 cents of each dollar go for debt-funding and {interest and 32.87 go for national defense and the consequences and obligations of war and defense. If the policy of comparatively speedy debt retirement is followed, as the President and the Secretary of the Treasury urge, the percentage of the Government's dollar spent for liguidation will be steadily decreased, releasing a larger fraction of the dol- lar for constructive works and for care of the expanding Federal admin- istration. The President's economy program has resulted in a balanced budget with a steadily decreasing tax burden on the people. While in some par- ticulars, phases and branches of the public service have suffered from this series of curtailments, no essential function of the Government has been impaired. The people have been re- lieved very greatly of onerous taxes and will be further relleved as the present program of tax revision is carried into effect. The country may feel assured that President Coolidge will not give too soon the signal for increases rather than decreases in ap- propriations, or, 8o far as his powers go, permit the needless xnd unwise expansion of the Federal budget in the reaction from economy. den sions, ———— srand juries cannot work fast enough to prevent the United States Senate from finding materfal to inves- tigate. Mothers’ Assistance. A bill to create a board of mothers’ assistance in the District of Columbia has been introduced in the Senate by Senator James W. Wadsworth, Jr., of New York. This desirable legislation is sponsored by President Coolidge, who, in his message to Congress, rec- ommended that studious attention be given to the subject. With an aim to provide for desti- tute children in the home rather than institutions, enactment of the law will establish a board of five mem- bers, to whom all appeals for aid of this character will be addressed. Members of the board will re na compensation for their Work ex- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTO THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.» cept actual expenses incurred in carrying out their duties. The board will have complete authority over the ppropriations made for this purpose. A mothers’ assistance law is now in successful operation in many of the States. As President Coolidge point- ed out, it now remains for Congress to enact similar legislation here, and little opposition to the measure is ex- pected when it comes up i the House and Senate. , ——— Map the Bus Routes! Upon official suggestion the busses of one of the traction companies in this city will display upon their win- dows maps indicating the routes they follow, to guide persons who may seek transportation by that means. This 13 an excellent plan, which should be extended to all the bus lines in the District. These vehicles run upon somewhat erratlc routes, which are, of course, known to their regular patrons, but which are unknown or unfamiliar to others. Their destina- tions are announced by means of signs at the ends, but the streets traversed are not identfMied, so that persons who wish to go to some inter- mediate points cannot know, save through experience, where the buss run, Strangers in the city are quite at a loss to understand the routes, and even Washingtonians who do not have frequent occasion te use the Dbusses are puzzled. Maps that tell the story simply and plainly would facili- tate the traffic and would probably add to the patronage. Brief descrip- tions of the routes might placarded at the regular bus stops, on the standards which identify those polnts. In fact, anything that serves to tell the public the busses run and when they may be expected— as in the case of one of the lines, the exact schedule of which is announced at each appointed stop—would be to the mutual interest of the operating companies and the public. . (] s where ! he Horse racing is described as “the sport of kings.” This description does not imply that a member of the royal family can be luckier than all others in guessing the winner, or in person- ally going over a hurdle. .- Washington has become so great a city that, while the of Congress conspicuously enlarges its thought, it makes no apparent in crease in the Capital's population. President Coolfdge prudently re frains from trying to improve on the work of the Department of Agricul- ture in devising methods to make the old farm pay. assemblage ——oe—. A cut in taxes will enable Congress to enjoy a few sessions on lines of straightforward business with little | probability of sensational complica- tions. —— A smooth-running political machine is bound to be more or less of a men- ace to statesmen who persist in jay walking regardless of party signals. ———— othing will ever convince Mr. Charles Dawes that the vice presi- dency fs a mildform retirement to private life. ———— Ice-wagon activities made Red Grange not only a great foot ball player, but a good business man. ———— European politicians are forced to admit that there is no Santa Claus. But there is still an Uncle Sam. ————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON The Genuine. Had a little party Down to Pohick-on-the-Crick. Friends were kind an’ hearty, And the hours passed mighty quick. Circus I've attended. Listened to the band. Seen parades extended All around the land. Followed the conventlons, Talkin’ mighty wise. Refereed contentions For some cherished prize. There's no kind of greeting Makes my pulse beat quick Like that little meeting At Pohick-on-the-Crick. Uncertainties of Reform. “Do you think the Senate rules will be reformed?” “Surely, answered Senator Sor- ghum. “But I'm not certain in my own mind whether the immediate ef- fect of the reform movement is going to be to make debate shorter or longer:.’ Teamwork. A Centaur was both horse and man Built on an ancient, classic plan. The horse part ran to win a race, The man part bet on straight and place. Jud Tunkins says he’ll never play Santa Claus again unless arrange- ments can be made to provide him with fireproof whiskers and an as- bestos Christmas tree. Once a Year. “Christmas comes but once a year.” “Yes,” agreed Mr. Dustin Stax. “We're & rich nation, all right, but I don't belleve even we could afford two Christmases a year.” Tantalization. The Ice Man is a heartless elf, Who cruelly enjoys himself. In Summer ice you scarce can touch. In Winter you get far too much. The Art Atmosphere. *“The stagehands have struck! claimed Mr. Stormington Barnes. “What for?” inquired the manager. “More money, of course.” Do you think they are in imme- Yate need?” 0. I suspect they want to show | they've got temperament, same as the rest of the performers.” ex- “Profanity,” said Uncle Eben, “is a way of showin’ dat you hasn’ any argument of voh own an’ ain’ got no espect foh nubody else’s, “I wonder if 1 did right yesterday?” Mary Roque asked herself as she sat at her spinet desk, In her office on the fifih floor of the Essary Building. She reviewed her action in telling a deliberate falsehood to her client, Col. Loganberry H. Ball, who came to Washington seeking his lost daughter., Maisie Dall Lad eloped with Bill cnnick, who had tried to get into the i and, failing to pass the 1 examinations, had got himself 1 the frivolous Maisie, not satls- fled with Bill's earning capakity, had “heat it for Florida. But kind- y Roque did not want to father so much. Therefore, she made up a neat little story about Maisie and her husband going to- gether to “earn their fortune.” “Ihe big, breezy man from Omaha, nad_swallowed believing his daughter the little paragon of virtue she had been—in his imagina- ton—when she left for the East. The ethics of the situation were botherea brighteyed Mary Roque. Had she done right in de- liberately lying to Col. Ball? And sup- pose the oid fellow should run across Bill Hennick on his street car: In the latter case, Miss Roque ce tainly would be prevented from send ing a neat little bill to the Westerne To professional services rendered, $160." Mary Roque charged accord ing to the ability of the client to pay. Col. Loganberry H. Ball seemed to wve plenty of money, so why should not pay a tidy sum for an investi- ion? Yet Mary found Jublous ubout sendin; was true that, just a9 a lawver puts in h charge, win or lose, she, too, had every right to receive pay for her nvestigation, successtul or not. If she did not c hat his 1ghter she should be with her same in any e Lie wnole tale = herself rather him any bill. It s no better than that had nothing to do which were the There came a rap at the door, on which the name, “Mary Roque,” ‘was lettered in guld, that and nothing more. Those who sought her office knew she was called “the girl who helps you out.” Mary’s slim right hand clutched at her jabot, composed of rare Chantilly. Miss Roque “composed” her clothes, rather than designed them. That was the effect they produced on most be- holders, especially on those who knew nothing at all about fashion. “Come in,"” she called, picturing an irate Col. Loganberry H. Ball, who had just found out that she had de- ceived him, The door opened, and in sidled a tall, large man, his pale, smooth hair topped by a large derby, and wearing a huge light gray overcoat criss- crossed with huge blue checks. A small blond mustache twitched above red lips. His face was too pale, instead of looking di- 3 lanted across the room to the bookease at one side. He was the King of F Street, the man who had followed her through the streets one Saturday night until she had managed to give him the slip! o Miss Roque”” said the man, in an oily voice. he said, directly, 3 that he should have found her out, but glad that it Ball. 2 removed his hat, reveal Y ther expanses of light, taffy colored hair, so well smoothed down that they took on the appearance of to tell the old man | D. 0, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1925. castiron of an unusual hue. He looks like one of those store window dummies,” mentally com- mented Mary Roque. “May I sit down, Miss Roque?"” said the man, holding his hat in his right hand, while his left clutched a large yellow cane, ending in an enormous crook. If you have come on business, you may. If not—no.” “Oh, business, certainly—of course, Miss Roque,” said he, easing himself into the Windsor chair on the other side of the desk. He filled it to ove flowing. His pig eyes slapped Mary in the face, then wandered off to the velvet curtains at the window, the wide, high bookcase, the flowers on the desk, the corners of the room. Mary Roque, her smile vanished, as if forever, her eyes utterly i their customary gleams, spoke “What is your busines He smirked. “Why, to see you, of course.” “If you have any real business with me——" ‘Oh, 1 have, You see, ever since that fi saw you—-"" “I must tell you that this is a busl- ness office, not a conversation parlor snapped little Mary Roque, beginning to get mad. “If you want to consult me, do it; if not, get out!” “Now don't be—ah, mean, Miss Roque,” irritated the checked individ- ual. “It took me a long time to find | yvou, and now that I've done it, you | mustn’t expect me to walk out just because you tell me to, you know. I rather—ah, like your looks, you know. “Oh, you do?” “Oh, yes, oh, yes. The bland wiy he s | Mary Roque, at the same time made { her feel afraid. She wished she hud put in that push bell a friendly lnw up the hall had advised her to inst “In case you need help, all would have to do would be to punch for me,” he had assured with a smile lighting his handsom. He, too, had felt the attraction little girl, at once voung and changeless as the tides. “I hope,” Mary Ro . began again, severely, “that you give me credit for being on my guard against such boors as you.” The King of F street laughed. “I don't give you credit for any- thing except being clasey.” he retort ed, swirling his hat around on his in- dex finger. “All I have to do is press this but ton here,” she went on, looking down. “Then you will wish you had gone out quieth “BIuff,” he smirked. “Bluff. can’t bluff me. Miss Mary Roque “Such a nice little office, just the place for a quiet chat,” he went on “Thoughtful of you, Miss Roque.” She looked at him. Actually fellow was enjoying himself! should she do? A rap came at the door. “Come in,” she called, loud. Col ver old. “Colonel, will you please throw this man out?” demanded Mary Roque, rising. “Ile has been insulting me. “You— roared Col. Ball, grab- bing the intruder with all the strength of his 60 hearty, Western years. “Out vou go!” And he kicked the King of F Street through the door, closing it carefully, as he heard the fellow land heavily. “Now, young lad: said Col. Logan of course—of course t night 1 1d it infuriated £ the You the What Ah! unusually ganberry 1. Ball, looking ; strode across the thresh- berry H. Ball, “I want to have a few words with you!" Little Hope for Permanent Cabinet Is Seen in Germany BY FRANK H. SIMONDS. To. understand the causes of the new crisis in German politics and the obstacles In the way of the formation of another cabinet, it is _essential to keep in mind, first, that Germany has the bloc and not the majority system in its parliament, and, secondly, that at the moment the bioc £ystem is per- haps working at its highest capacity for evil in the Reichstag. The present German Refchstag has just under 500 members. At one ex- treme, so far as the large parties are concerned, is the Soctalist group with 131 members. On the other hand is the Nationallst group with 110. These two groups cannot work together, and yet they constitute almost half of the chamber, so that any cabinet, to have a majority, must depend upon the votes of the Socialists or of the Na- tionalists. This the more the case be- cause there s a group of 45 Commu- nists, who are against every govern- ment, whether nationalist or socialist, republican or monarchist. But it is not an easy thing for the parties which lie between the ex- tremes—that Is, the Catholic, People’s and Democratic parties—to make the necessary combinations. These three parties have together 185 seats, ap- proximately, while the Bavarian Peo- ple's Party, which normally stands with them, would bring their strength up to 200. * ok X % Before the present cabinet these middle parties preserved a_more or less close alliance with the Socialists. In reality the so-called Welmer bloc, made up of the parties which had a clear commitment to the republic, growing out of their adoption of the Weimar_constitution—that is, the So- clalist, Democratic and Catholic par- ties—constituted a_majority over all, and the role of the People’s Party was inconsiderable. But after the election following the occupation of the Ruhr the National- ists were strengthened, the Weimar bloc weakened and the majority which _they had thitherto held was Without the votes of the Peo- Party they could accomplish nothing. But while the Democrats and the Catholics, being hourgeois parties, were ready to do business with the People’s Party, which repre- sented big business and finance, the Socialists were, for obvious reasons, unwilling. Nevertheless, with the be. nevolent neutrality of the Soctalists, a combination was made between the three bourgeois partles to put through the Dawes plan. But thig alliance was unnatural and it broke Mown in the new Reichstag. In its place came a combination be- tween the bourgeols parties, the Peo- ple's and Nationalists; ail four united | against Socialist measures and all four represented measurably con- servative rather than radical ideas so far as home or inner politics were concerned. This was the combination on which the Luther-Stresemann cab- inet rested and it included three N: tionalist minister: x oK ¥ & When the Stresemann proposals ‘which led to Locarno came along, ho ever, there was unrest among the Na- tionalists. They did not immediately declare war upon the whole security pact idea, although the more extreme elements were hostile. But they is- sued very definite and limiting declara- tions. culminating in their party declaration of last July, which gave only a halting assent to the proposed agraement and demanded very far- reaching compensations from the al- lied governments. When the results of the Locarno pact became known, then the Na- tionallsts openly repudiated them and forced thelr party associates in the Luther-Stresemann cabinet to retire. To get the Locarno pacts through the Reichstag, Luther and Stresemann had to go to the Soclalists for the necessary votes. But the Socialists, while favorable to Locarno, had not forgotten recent history and demanded as their price that following the rati- fication of the pact Luther and Stresemann should resign. The pres- ent crisis is the result of the fulfill- ment of this promise. But the Socialists, having demanded the resignation of the cabinet, re- maih hostile to Luther, whom they regard as representing extreme con- servative interests, so far as economic problems are concerned, and they are now holding out against &ny new Luther cabinet. The Nationalists, on the other hand, are bitterly opposed to both Luther and Stresemann because of the Locarno pact. But no cabinet can live which 1s opposed by both the Sociallsts and the Nationalists, count- ing together 241 votes, because to these must be added some 60 votes coming from the Communists and the Fascisti party of Ludendorff. * ok ok x With Luther out a new cabinet might be formed taking in the Social- ists, Catholics, Democrats and People’s Party, or having the benevolent neu- trality of the Socialists, who might vote for it but not take office. Such a cabinet would be obviously based upon the common agreement of all as to the Locarno pact. But the Lo- carno pact, having been ratified, is no longer an issue, while the differ- ences between capital and labor con- stitute very real lines of cleavage between the People's Party, for exam- ple, and the Socialists. The point is that in all domestic politics the bourgeois parties are sub- stantially of the same views as the Nationalists, except in the single mat- ter of republic versus monarchy, and that emphatically is not an issue at the present time. By contrast, in all foreign questions the Socialists and all three bourgeois parties favor recon- ciliation and adjustment on the terms which are possible, while the Na- tionalists demand impossible terms, and thus in effect, if not in purpose, oppose all adjustments. In this chaotic situation Strese- mann is the single outstanding politi- cal leader, and the votes of his party, the People’s Party, have the balance of power. If they fall with the Na- tionalists they will also carry with them the Democrats and Catholics in sufficient numbers. If they fall with the Socialists the same is true. But any alllance between socialism and big business can be, at best, no more than a marriage of convenience, which cannot last. * K ok % ‘What seems likely now is some makeshift cabinet, with Stresemann as a member, although hardly chan- cellor, and depending upon a tempo- rary arrangement with the Socialists. If the Socialists stand out against Luther, then Wirth, the Catholic ex- chancellor, may come back. This com- bination can hardly last long and will probably give way after a brief time to a new cabinet with the National- ists participating. But here, agaln, Stresemann i8 likely to appear. All of which patently makes for chaos and confusion, for instability, and, from the point of view of outside nations, much bewilderment. But it has little real importance, does not signify that the republic, the Dawes plan or the Locarno pact are iIn dange, but only that the domestic political differences between Germans and the inherent weakness of the bloc system make any stable and lasting arrangement impossible. (Copyright, 1925.) | THE NORTH WINDOW By Leila Mechlin. The program notes for the concert | given by the Cleveland Orchestra in the Washington Auditorium on Mon- day evening were uncommonly in- teresting and thought-provoking. In one instance, referring to a certain composition by a Russian composer. a portion of which was rendered by the orchestra, the author told of the great difficulty experlenced by the composer's musical friends to secure this orchestration. The composer, it seems, was not merely a musician, or even primarily a musician,consequent- Iy his music was done at odd times and frequently left undone. For a concert to be given by a music school ane of his works was to be rendered, and to be so rendered had to be orchestrated. At the eleventh hour he and two of his composer friends met together in the evenings and worked like Trojans to produce the score, using pencil rather than ink, coating the sheets as they were npleted with gelatin, and hanging them over a line to dry like an every-day wash, and then passing them on, as rapidly as possible, for re- production. It was no child's play; it tremendous effort, but the resuit was a glorious plece of music, a great work of art. How little doer one associate such effort in connection with artistic pro- duction! 1low absurd in comparison is the performance of a single piece by even the trained amateur; how Jit- tle right has the latter to claim the proud title of musiclan! The same is equally irue in other flelds of art—in painting. in sculpture, in architecture. even in the handicrafts. Nothing that is really great is produced without la- bor, and oftentimes terrific mental, as well as physical, labor. This is some thing which few comprehend. A lack of willingness to pay this price also has something to do with the great quantity of mediocre work in art with which the world today s flooded. T Pennell, in his lately pub. itobiography entitled “The of an lllustrator, sy as always an illustrator, that he looked at things with an artist’s ey but pages of his book are given {0 o record of the struggles that he hasd, a5 hoy and youth, to gain a footing fn the world of art. More fortunate than many, he was not obliged to suffer physical privation be. cause he chose to be an illustrator, but he did have to work hard. All sorts of difficulties beset his path, and had he not had undaunted courage and endless determination he would never have attained his end. One of his mot- toes was the advice of the Florentine merchant to his son—"Never stint thy- self in thy work.” His theory is that the old apprentice system, in which the voung student assisted, and at the same time learned from, the experienced master, is the best, far better than the modern art school. If any one will study art,” he says, “let him go to a master who will teach and work with him, and learn the trade and the craft. If the student comes through he becomes an tist.” Joseph lished Adventu that he as a chil * ok % Looking up the record of tho early American portrait painters and realiz ing the superior merit of much of their work, one cannot fail to wonder whether there may not be something, after all. in this idea of regarding art as something to be learned rather than primarily esthetic expreesion. In all probability Copley. Gilbert Stuart, Chester Harding and all of those pzint- ers wi ttained distinction in the early days and whose works are now included in the loan exhibition on view in the National Gallery of Art, Na- tional Museum, never used the word “self-expression,” never thought whether they were expressing them- selves or not. Their aim and object was to faithfully set forth what they saw, to do the thing they had to do as well as it could be done with the tools and the medium at their com- mand. These painters painted por- traits in the first place because they were wanted, in the second place be- cause they found they could do it and they enjoyed the doing. They did it as a_profession—or, as you will, a trade. The majority began in a humble way, painting coaches, painting signs, and from this advanced to painting por- tralts. Each thing, however, they did as well as it could be done by them; they were industrious and workman: like. They had no time to indulge temperament, that is, not in their early days. They learned from one another. The output of some of these painters was tremendous, and the average of that output reached an ex- traordinarily high level. * % % The same is true of the early Ameri- can craftsmen, such as those who are represented in the remarkable exhibi- tion of early American silver now on display. It is customary for us to think ‘that we are uncommonly busy in these modern days, but what is the business of an average individual to that of the patriot-craftsman, Paul Revere, according to history? In his excellent book on “Early American Craftsmen,” Walter A. Dyer tells us that Paul Revere's activities did not stop with his silvermaking. He was an engraver and a publisher of historical and political cartoons. He was a manufacturer of gunpowder, church bells and rolled copper. He even kept a hardware store in Boston where he sold jewelry, picture frames and false teeth. He was a high Mason and an industrial organizer, a Son of Liberty and a colonel in the rmy. Sllver engraving interested him so mueh that he began experi- menting on copper plate also, drawing some of his own subjects, and by 1765 he became known as a clever, if some- what crude, caricaturist, as well as a skilled engraver. He had time to twice ride to New York and Phila- delphia to secure support and co-opera- tion among the Colonles, once carrving with him the Suffolk Resolves—the forerunner of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. At the time of the Revolu- tion he “arranged to have his affairs in Boston cared for while he moved to Charleston and devoted himself largely to public activities.” It was Paul Revere who was employed to repair the cannon left spiked at Castle William by the British on the evacua- tion of Boston. It was Paul Revere who was_ instructed, while in Phila- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. What is the difference between a dove and a pigeon’—G. T. D. A. No sclentific distinction sep- | arates pigeons from doves, but the latter term is usually used with refer- ence to smaller forms of this group, such as the turtle, ring, ground and | scaled doves. | Q. Why was named?—J. H. G. A. There scems to be a difference | of opinion as to why the Ktate of Rhode Island is so cilled, but it is| fancied that it resembled the Island of Rhodes. “Isle of Rhodes” was the name chosen by the General Court of the Colony in 1644, < | Rhode Island so | Q. What was the lowest atmos- pheric pressure ever recorded and at what altitude was §t?—J. W. M A. The Weather Bureau s: the lowest pressure of which record is 7.4 millemeters, or . This pressure was recorded in sounding balloon ascent at Avalor Calif., on July 30, 1913, at a height of 82,643 meters, or 107,095 fey ap proximately 20.3 miles s that it has 91 inch Q. Why are red nify danger? (. « A. Red. the traditional danger s nal, keeps its lead as the most easi distinguished fromi other colors at distance, in tests for the visibility of traffic_signals recently conducted by the National Bureau of Standards. | Green comes second on the list, while blue ranks third. The ordinary yel- low lghts are often 1istaken for orange or red, and lemon yellow gives better results. hts used 1o = Q. What became of the man who discovered gold in California?—0. D. A. James W. Marshall died in pov- erty. Gertrude Atherton “He dled old and alone in mountain cabin.” Q. Wi a Do other ntrles publish ther maps?-—W. M. { . Daily weather maps. based onl telegraphic reports and also on radio reports from ships, are now publish ed in most clvilized countries. though not in all. In South America only country that issues a weather map is Argentina. No weather maps are fssued in Africa south of the | Equator. Q. In “olden times” how were in- strumentalists regarded in the eyes of the law?—S. L. T. . A. As late as the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries “instrumentalists had none of the rights of citizenship. says H. E. Krehbiel. “The religious sacraments were denfed them, their children were not permitted to ink property or learn an honorable trade and after death the property for| which they had tofled escheated to | the crown.” i | Q. Were coffee and pie eaten in | Colonial New England”—J. T. ! A. Tea, coffee, cocon and potatoes | were not known at Plymouth betore | | 1691, Ple was not made in the wev- enteenth century. Hasty pudding, made of corn meal bofled in water or milk, was almost the universal break fast dish. Beans baked with pork was a Pilg 1 stapl Appie clder, dough- nuts, mince pie, apple dumplings and corn appeared on the menus 200 years ago plain why the light in a : lamp gets dim whan an heater is Hghted in the The light's geiting dim is a sizgn the oxygen in the air is bocon exhausted. 1f continued long that [ enough it may cause incomplete com { bustion in the oil heater, which carbon monoxide, a de: may cause suffocation by of oxygen in the alr Do not keep doors and win osed in a room where the light gets dim. Q. What was Mosgcow at the World War? -D. (. A. ITn 1913 it St Petersburg 3,079,100 dnhabit E the population beginning of of the 1.635,000 daym The had s of tho: n W A. Tt is na the Mosello grapes are grown delicate aroms wine so named wed for the valley of River, in which the from which these wines are made. Q. THow long does it take to dr and dyve furseal skin’—L. B A. More than one hundred dis- tinet processes are involved in treat ing each in and the minimum time requires approximately 60 days. (Come to headquarters for informa- tion. Our Washington Bureau is a clearing he f information. It makes available valuable data in the vast storchouses of fact at the No tional Capital. Here the keenest ef farts, the broadest learning, the most crpert technicel skill, are turned, day in and dau out, on erery problem con fronting the American peoole. Probd lems of the household, problems of the factory, problems of business, prob lems of the city, questions of oppor- tunity, of legislation, of travel, of ¢, and countless others are stud- ied in the Federal laboratories and in the field, by ecperts, with the backing of the richest nation on earth. All this work is being done for you by wour Government and you are en- titled to the benefit of its results. Our Washington -Rureai fs the medium through 1which yow can gain all the= aluable knowledge. It will procure or you anu information on govern nental affairs that you may ask for. There is no charge of any kind for this service. The sole requirement {s that you inclose 2 cents in stamps th your query for postage on repis 1ddress The Star Informanion Burcas, Frederick J. Haskin, director, Twenty first and C streets northwest, Wash- ington, D. €.) BACKGROUNDB OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. President Coolidge sald iz his mes sage to Congress, at the opening of the present session: “If any one desires to estimate the | esteem in which the veterans of | America are held, it is but necessary 1o remember that the current budgset calls for an expenditure of about $650,000,000 in their behalf.” Mr. Coolldge was referring”to the veterans of all the wars, including the Civil War pensions, the Spanish War pensions and the support of| soldiers' homes for the veterans of those wars. His figures have been taken erroneously to refer only to d:»! rellef of the veterans of the World War, and surprise is manifested upc discovering that the $650.000.000 € ceeds the fi res of Gen. Hines, d rector of the Veterans’ Bureau, 1! Imore than $256.000,000. Furthermore, | the President included the money paid | out on war risk insurance, for which | the veterans are paving premiums. * % % x The Veterans' Bureau report say “During the fiscal vear ended Jur 30. 1925, the total disbursements for all purposes amounted to $393,755,857 representing a reduction of §21,3 ; This reduction was due principally to the decrease of men undergoing voca- | tional training, the total disbursernent | for this purpose wmounting to $60.- 482,478, compared with $106,954, for the previous year “The disbursements during 1925 for | both compensation and term insur- ance showed an increase over the previous year, compensation increas- ing from $115,494,991 in 1924 to $129, 597,457 in 1925; and term insurance payments Increasing from $101,239,645 o $104,136,493 for these vears. The disbursements for medical and hospi- tal service for 1925 showed an increa over those of 1924, being $33,033,371 and $29,618,747, respectively.” * * x X The increase in hospital and medical service is partly explained by the new law, passed at last session of Congress, glving veterans of all wars, back to and including the Spanish War (ut not including the Civil War), free hos- pital service, regardless of “service origin” of their diseases. This serv- ice covers only certain diseases, how ever. It is further Gue to the fact that as the years go by, veterans who have heretofore fought back their dis- eases, the seeds of which were planted by influenza or by wounds in the war, are now succumbing to breakdow e During the war Congress instituted war-risk insurance for the soldiers, a substitute for pensions, such as glven Civil War and Spanish War veterans. This insurance was calcu- lated sclentifically as to cost, and the premiums to be paid by the veterans were made to cover the risk, so that while the veterans have the advantage of low-cost insurance, the expense, eventually, does not become a burden delphia the year previous, 1776, to inspect the ‘powder mill there, as Massachusetts badly needed one. Tt was Paul Revere who bullt the powder mill at Canton, Mass., and took charge. It was under his direction that the brass cannon ordered by the newly established Government in the year 1780 were cast. He was glven the gontract by the Second Continen- tal Congress for the printing of the first Continental money, which he en- graved himself, constructing his own presses for the work. At that time he was 45 years old and had a wife and eight children. He was an organizer of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics’ Association, and he was one of the incorporators of the Massa- chusetts Mutual Fire Insurance Co. He was always doing something new and something interesting, and when he died he left a fortune of $31,000. In connection with the beautiful sil- ver which Revere produced and which is shown in this current exhibition, note should be made of the fact that it is peculiarly charming in design, that it evidences refined taste, that it reflects a cultured mind and at the same time shows perfect workman- ship—hand and mind work in unison. Here is the secret of its charm, the reason for its high value today. Some one has asked why early American arts and crafts have come s0 into vogue of late. The answer is because of thelr intrinsic beauty and a renaissance of good taste. These beautiful pleces of silverware, which one time were in common use—that is, among those who waere able to afford them—are met arbitrarily interesting, on the taxpayers. Congress must make annual appro- priations to cover “losses,” because no money can ever be paid out of the Treasury except under congressional appropriations. The appropriations go into the total budget, but it is mis- leading if one forgets that the item is supported by premiums paid n by the soldiers. It is similar to the ap- propriations made to support the Post Office, which loom large when the postal receipts offsetting the disburse- ments are ignored. * ok ¥ ¥ Quoting from the report of Director Hines of the Veterans' Bureau: “On June 30, 1925, insurance records ‘were maintained for 552,340 veterans, carrying $2,865,028,729 of insurance. ¢ * ¢ In maintaining the foregoing total insurance, the average number do not depend upon a vogue or i style for popularity, but are fine be- cause of their good proportions, their graceful lines, their exquisite work-| manship. These qualities give them | permanent worth as works of art, and the fact that such should have been | produced spontaneously by the early| craftsmen of America and prized in-| stinctively and whole-heartedly by | those who used them goes to show that, after all, America was not set- led by those who lacked refinement, but rather by those who combined re- finement with strength of charactes the pioneer spirit, the courage of con- |and interest . COLLINS. of ittances received e flscal year was 320,000, and the amount premiums received more than $4,360,000." t of the “annual bud- get for veteran by about $52,000,000. The director states The total amount of premiums received on ac- count of yearly renewable term ir urance to June 30, 1925, was $432, % The total income from United States Government life ) insurance from premiums investmer as of that date $168,138.666.77." > what might appear as a big part of the budget, measuring “the esteem in which the veterans are held,” may be only the contractual obligation of the greatest insurance enterprise in the world, on which the beneficlaries are paying costs—or o large share of was That offsets was | present costs—sclentifically calculated b insurance actuarfes as ultimate complete reimbursement through the premiums. * x ¥ % Coolidge stated in his hat the organizations of service men have proposed add! nal lati changes,” ¢ ¢ which he advised Congress to glve mpathetic consid- He recommended few changes in present laws, however. The proposals of the American ion and other service organiza- tions are such as have been con- sidered at the natforial convention of the Legion and studfed by the com- mittees of all service men's organ!- zations. They are embodied in a bill introduced vesterday by Representa- tive Royal Johnson. 2. While there were 480 proposals submitted to the American Legion convention committee, these were con- densed or refected, until only 20 were indorsed, and of these 20 only 6 or 7 will be actively urged upon Congress The special proposals covered in the pending bill are as follows: 1. Creates permanent Veterans' Bureau medical service and transfers the National Home for Disabled Vol- unteer Soldiers at Dayton to the con- trol of the Veterans' Bureau and makes it avallable for World War vet- erans. The doctors now serving in the hospitals of the bureau are loansd from the United States Health Serv- ice, or employed under civil service examinations. Such examinations are not taken by old, experienced physi- cians as successfully as by young graduates fresh from medical text- books. The pay is unattractive, ex- cept to beginners, and the service loses an average of one doctor every 20 hours 2. Eliminates the ‘“misconduct” provistons barring certain veterans from compensation or medical atten- tion. 3. Authorizes doctors at their dis- cretion to recognize “service incur- rence or aggravation” of disease where historic evidence is lacking. 4. Further relief for tuberculosis vet- erans with a permanent rating of 50 »er cent disability for “arrested cases,’ since all arrested cases are liable to be revived by even slight causes. It is argued that peace of mind through knowledge that the patient is sure of $50 a month during life will be of great help in maintaining courage and strensth for self-help. 5. Removal of time limit for claim- ing compensation. The present law outlaws all claims not filed before next June. This puts a penalty on self- reliance of veterans who have strug- gled to sustain themselves but are now breaking down. It applies espectally to vocational training for veterans who, heretofore, have not been physically able to train. The direc- tor's report shows that because of the reduced number taking training & saving of $46.000,000 was made last year. Some veterans are now recov- ering strength and want to rehabi! tate their self-reliance, through learn- ing work that is possible even with partial handicaps. 6. The present law does not au- thorize ‘“out-treatment” of veterans, but all who want medical care must go into a hospital, even though their disease is in its early stages, where it could be arrested without confine- ment of the patient in a hospital. This out-treatment would economize board of patients and hospital ca- Prestdent viction. This in itself is & royal herl- tage, pacity. (Copyrisht. 1825, by Paul V. Collined