Evening Star Newspaper, December 14, 1925, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edltion. WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY .December 14, 1925 THEODORE W. NOYES.... The Evening Star Newspaper Company Busingss Office: 114n st "und Penneyivanta Ave. Nfr‘;uynrk ;’N' e ]TIU En'l: ,x"..dr‘lxl:'flf Curo Of e Butidpie. Buropean Ofice: - 14 Kegent St.. London, England. The Evening Star, with the Sundzy morn- for eition. 1§ Gellvered by carrigrs, within the city at 60 cents per month; .“8 only, b Rinday ony. 20 sents rr Orders mi he sent mall or lephione Main 6000. Collection is mude by €arricr at the end of each month Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. aity day. L $0.00: 1 mo.. 75c A e 00 1 ma: Foe 13 i unday 5 $3.00: 1 mo. only 135 All Other States and Canada. Patly Sunday.. 1 vr. $12.00: 1 mo., §1.00 BAliT il M T FR00 1 e 78 Sunday only 1yr. $4.00:1mo. 35¢ Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exc entitled 0 the use for repul, the local mewa < of publication al dispatches herein are wlso reserved Dangerous Delay. s annual report the commis- rnal Revenue calls at tention to the difficulty and the waste of time incident to the present hous inz of t I is established in te widely ed. inefficiency to this di inc wi sep- the persal of the force and loss of invaluable A new building for branch of the is urgently re- ar; due the grave risk of records by this ire important ment service wnce of nearly two miles sep- the branches of this nd communication between o tal at all times. The sr of papers between them in- visk of The time of chiefs of division is squan- d fro. Not even the telephone is , cut down this heavy “‘over- alt is a hich is serfously in lement of claims &nd the closing *counts. In respect of the fire risk, the Gov- ent has for some years been run- lose to the edge in this particular bureau. Some of the units of the Internal Revenue branch of the Treasury are housed in the tem- me of loss. the effective head Elowlng ¢ passing to constant use rrear ern ning new law has entailed a further loss upon the city. The Democrats pro- test that this is not an adequate ex- planation and demand a recount or, failing that, a repeal of the constitu- tional provision for a State census, which they clalm is unnecessary, in view of the Federal census of the decennial years. In this connection it 1s interesting to note that although the Federal census is provided for by the Consti- tution of the United States, specifical- ly for the purpose of apportioning the members of the House of Representa- tives, no reapportionment has been made based upon the count of 1920. Though four and a half years have clapsed since the count no reappor- tionment law has been enacted, and Congress is continuing on the basis of 1910. Four presidential elections have oceurred in that period, in 1912, in 1916, fn 1920 and in 1924. All of these have been based on the 1910 census, the electoral college being apportioned to the size of the House of Repre- sentatives. It is now proposed to seek the en- actment of a reapportionment law at the present session of Congress in sea- son for the congressional elections next vear and therefore the presl- dential election of 1928. Some States, under an apportionment maintaining lose membership, while others would rain. This is a difficult problem, but t must be met and solved, else the principle of proportionate representa- tion is defeated. as New York holds to the census the funda- ment certainly the United should continue to do so. States Nine More Shopping Days. Ten days remain after today before Christmas, and one of these is Sunday. That leaves nine days for Christmas buying. How many people have heed- ed the injunction to do their buying eany in order to do thelr mailing early? Many, doubtless; perhaps most ’f the people. But there remain some who are still looking about waiting for inspiration, or perhaps waiting for bargains, many who from force of habit postpone their shopping, and they will be coming along perhaps this week, perhaps the first of next week, with their contributions to the enormous volume of holiday mail, add- ing serfously to the burden of the postal clerks. Some weeks ago the Postmaster porary war buildings, constructed of flimsy materials and already in a state of decay and dissolution. These structures would never be insured by any company save at a virtually pro- hibitive premium rate. Yet in them stored original documents, rec- ords, reports, tax rveturns, the ac- counts of individuals and corpora- tions, with an enormous aggregate of represented value. In one certain building a fire would destroy, beyond the possibility of salvage, files upon which depend the settlement of claims mounting into billions of dollars. Their replacement, if at all possible, would require several years of labor. This condition will continue until a new building is provided to house all the branches of the Internal Revenue Bureau. It is proposed to include such & structure in the program of new public building work in Washington. No less than a deliberate invitation to disasater is involved In delay. Nor is the situation with regard to the Internal Revenue work different from that of other branches of the Government. Every department is crowded and scattered. Bureaus that should be assembled are dispersed all over town. The headquarters build- ings are densely and indecently packed, with the health of all work- ers in jeopardy in consequence. In all of them records of the highest value are exposed to l¢ No business corporation could func- tion effectively or economically in such conditions. The Government is not immune to the risks incident to neg- lect of the first essential of good ad- ministration, a proper housing of the executive operations. This fact fs thoroughly recognized in Congress, and action is promised at the present session. But the situation was quite as urgent a year ago and action was then assured. It was not had, and thus ihe fear arises that procrastination, are which is causing a heavy loss in the rapid advance of costs of construc- tion, may continue. Assuredly delay 35 the worst economy. The prayer of all who know the situation with re- gard to the Government housing is 1hat disaster will not occur before ac- tion is had. —————— One way to get rid of sparrows is 2o call out the Fire Department. The relief may prove temporary. The sparrow is an obstinate and sturdy bird, who has survived many a heavy Tainstorm Census and Representation. Every ten years midway between #he Federal enumerations, New York conducts a State census for purposes of apportionment. These counts are provided for by the State constitution and are conducted by an organization named by the Legislature. The vear 1925 is a State census year, and the enumeration was made some months ago, but the results have not yet been fully announced. The figures have veen given out for some of the ap- State countles, though they have not been forthcoming regarding the coun- ties comprising Greater New York. It is now indicated that the metropolitan population will be stated at 5,800,000, and this fizure has given great um- brage to Democratic leaders, who de- clare that the enumeration is a wicked Republican scheme to cut down the Jegislative representation of Greater New York relztively to that of the yest of the State. Increases having been noted in the upper counties, where the Republican party dominates in the main, the lack of proportionate increase in New York City is flouted as untrue. Has not New York City grown in proportion with the rest of the State? it is asked. The Republican conductors of the cen- rus point out that there has been a Joss of population from the metro- politan srea into the suburbs and that the decrease of immigration under the! General broadcast a4 plea to the peo- ple of this country to mail early in order that the postal workers might have a hollday on Christmas. On all sides his request was approved and there was evident a very general re- action of sympathy for the plan. It remains now to be seen whether the response was effective. Not until the 24th can this be determined. Specific admonitions have been issued by the postmasters with regard to Christmas cards, which go through the mails by the milllon. They should be mailed before a certain date. Bach one of these requires separate handling. Though not as bulky as a package, each card must be “distributed” anad delivered. Were it not for the cards .the postal problem would be easy in solution. ‘The habit of early holiday buying and mailing is becoming generally fixed, but it can be carried further. The hope is that this year will find the postal work all cleaned up before the close of December 24 and the post office idle on Christmas day as a dem- onstration that the people can comply with the very reasonable request of the Postmaster General. ——————— No Display—No Demand. Indiana Intends to have a “bone- dry” Christmas. So do lots of other places, but 80 far as is known none has taken the drastic action of that Middle Western State. Pocket flasks and cocktail shakers have now been barred from the win- dows of jewelers and shopkeepers to avoid tempting the shopper into thoughts of the forbidden beverages. All merchants have been ordered to cease displaying these articles of teryear,” under penalty of prosecution. No more will the sight of a hammer- ed silver flask or a beautifully chased shaker intrigue Indiana womenfolk as they wander blithely through the shopping districts seeking Christmas presents for husbands. Flasks and shakers are banished. They have been placed in the category of the beverages they have been de- signed to transport. They are obtain- able only by direct request; obtain- able, however, if the buyer is persist- ent and 18 not previously tempted by an attractive display. Such is the power of advertising. there is no display there will be demand. At least that seems to the way the problem is figured in diana. 1f carried at all, because of the dis- couragement offered by enforcement of the law, Indiana Christmas stock will doubtless find refuge in ginger ale bottles and glassware of some such de- scription. But nevertheless, it is an Interesting experiment in psychology. e As a prudent financler as well as a fine athlete, Red Grange might be justified In resting up after a busy season and waiting for the income tax to be reduced. ——————————— - Military experts must admit that war may be indefinitely postponed if disarmament conferences can be pro- vided for as a perpetual program. It no be In- New Era in House of Lords. Members of the British House of Lords have been minding their p's and q's since the installation of a new sys- tem of amplification in the august chamber. Until a short time ago it was perfectly all right for a bored member to remark to his next neigh- bor that the “‘speaker was a silly old fool” or to discuss with him matters entirely unrelated to the business at hand, but now, with every whisper faithfully conveyed to the very cor- ners of the room, a new era has been inaugurated. Studious attention is given to every speaker. Members, afrald that the new machines might even register the expressiony on thelr faces, &b - the House at its present size, would | brone in sixty days i€ they would join mental basis of legislative apportion- | |from trying the same experiment. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. 0., MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1925 THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. tempt to assume pleasant counte- nances throughout the long-winded speeches. Not a “side” remark is heard and the ‘“orator” of the mo- ment s assured that his message is at ieast being heard by his colleagues. In the old days it was necessary for the speaker to shout. He had to over- come not only the length and breadth of the huge chamber, but the con. stant “chattering” of the assemblage. Now he can speak in a conversational voice, knowing that each inflection and each tone will be reproduced with fidelty to his rigid listeners. Verily, modern science is producing a change, even in the lives of the legislators of Great Britain. From this premise, conjecture may be start- ed as to the merits of Vice President Dawes’ plan for cloture or a system of amplification for the best results in the United States Senate. It is a moot question. R Sir Broderick Defeated. Efficiency of the United States rum- running blockade is strikingly illus- trated in the dispatch from London telling of the appearance in the Bank- ruptey Court of Sir Broderick Hart- well, who set out a few years ago to challenge the liquor laws of this country. Promising investors fifty per cent with him in shipping huge cargoes of liquors to the United States, Sir Brod- erick, for a time, made good on his contracts and enjoyed much pros- perity. Recently, however, his scheme has failed to work. Sefzure of a vessel carrying approximately 30,000 cases of Hartwell Corporation bonded stock by United States rum chasers has caused him to announce his defeat. The fate of Sir Broderick’s plan for quick riches will probably deter others An effective blockade of overseas liquor shipments will do more than anything eise to make the United States “dry,” not only tiguratively but literally. ——————— When a brand-new Senator rushes into speech, he subjects himself to certain long-established forms of dis- ciplinary embarrassments. Neverthe- less and notwithstanding, he has the pleasure of knowing that he has pro- vided an oasis of relief in what might have been a desert of platitudinous monotony. ————— There is a safe medium in music, as in other things. If Henry Ford Insists on trying to popularize such old tunes as “Turkey In the Straw" and “Pop Goes the Weasel” there is likely to be a popular reaction that will make the taste for ultra-jazz stronger than ever, ———— Tests made In Baltimore prove that women are nearly 100 per cent inac- curate In estimating time, while men are but 45 per cent inaccurate. The sad part of it is that the most ac- curate men court and get married to the most inaccurate women. ————— There is doubt in the minds of stu- dents as to whether Uncle 8am would have any greater success in super- vising farm industry than he has found in managing steamship: ———— Col. Sherrill has formally tendered his resignation of all the various {m- portant posts he holds hereabouts. If ever a city could with propriety add “Good luck” to “good-bye,” Wash- ington can. ———————— Mayor Hylan has applied for a pen- slon upon his retirement from office December 31. There are some New Yorkers who would be very glad to subscribe. —— e A Greater Washington already ex- ists. The urgent matter now in hand is that of providing suitable accom- modations for it. Britain's bootlegging baronet is a bankrupt. The alliteration is one of the by-products of the effect of Amer}- can Coast Guard work. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Santa Claus. A tiny youngster shed a tear— And for an ample cause— For he had only learned this year There i3 no Santa Claus, “I hoped,” he sighed, “I'd find some way At last to hug him tight And kiss him once for every day ‘That he has made so bright.” And then he climbed on Daddy’s knee ‘While smiles shone ou: anew. “I'm awful glad to know,” said he, “That Santa Claus i{s You.” Valuable Discipline. “How long were you in the United States Senate before you were al- lowed to make a speech?” “Several years,” answered Senator Borghum. “And it was valuable dis- cipline. What a successful statesman has to do these days is to get over his natural eloquence and cultivate the art of impressive silence.” Busy Days. The Christmas season in its prime Was made for smiles and cheering. And llkewise, friend, it is a time For high-class financeering. Jud Tunkins says poets are like some women; they can be wonderfully attractive even when they sound kind o' foolish. Contrariment. My dispesition sunny Its proper pace can't keep. The sob stuff seems so funny! ‘The comics make me weep! Classified Crime. “What wonderful jewels Mrs. Jin- gelglass wears! 1 should think she'd fear being kndnaped.” “That wouldn't be a -kidnaping, rejoined Miss Cayenne. “That would be a diamond robbery “When I hears Gabriel's trumpet,” sald Uncle Eben, “I speck I's gineter be kind o' grateful foh de change The sun was putting its best foot forward when Mary Roque and her escort, Col. Loganberry H. Ball, ar- rived at Olpikeye, Fla. The natlonally advertised orb was doiny its best to send forth the varlety of beams for which Florida is famous now throughout the lund. The sunbeams flickered all over the Spanish-type railroad station, a big new bullding that was one of the prides of Oloikeye. Olotkeye had many things to be proud of, in addi- tlon to its sun and its depot. The sun was a regular institution— Hke the poor, it was always with them. Ah! What o slander on the fair, fat and forty town of Oloikeye! There are no poor In Olotkeye. Every man in it who has not made a million dollars in the past two years {hopes to do so within the next two months, rich in hopes. Wasn't there the fine new Spanish- type railroad station as real evidence that Ololkeye was actually on the map, instead of being but a name, and very pecullar one at that? No one seemed to know just exactly what its nume meant, and no one cared, as long as there was plenty of land in and around it to divide and subdivide. The subdivision specialists had done thelr best, their very best, which is a auite capable best, as you must be- lieve if you talk only five minutes to any one of then. This was the city into which _droppe afternoon Col. Ball, hearty Western- er, looking for his erring daughter, and Miss Roque, girl investigator. “Please do not call me girl fin- vestigator,” N Roque smiled. ““It sounds as if you said girl alligator.” “What do you want me to call you, then?" asked the Colonel, who was already attired in a suit of stiff white duck that made him look positively {mmense Miss Roque, wearing a dark travel- ing dress that only the expert realized was chic, so simple it was, smiled one of_her glorious smiles. The sun was one phase of nature Mary Roque's smile was another. ‘Oh, just call me Miss Roque,” sald the girl from Washington. As the two bowled along to Oloil- keye's best hotel, the Lorton, Mary Roque sat silent, happy to be in Florida at last. It already seemed an age since she and the ‘man from Omaha had stepped into the big train on the low- er level at Union Station, and had been whisked deftly, with all the pow- or of steam, out of the National Capl- It was a cold, gray December day they had left Washington. To the north, out over the Government Print- Ing Office, the skies had all the ap- pearance of snow, dull, dark, the clouds massed in angry manner. Such skies had followed them until the band of real Southern temperature appeared. They had watched the scenes along the tracks. Passing through Georgia, they had smiled with delight at the sight of the negro’s cabins. This was the South, famous in song and story “There s Uncle Remus!” Mary Roque had cried at the sight of an old colored man leaning on his stick in front of his hut. Pickaninnies, too, were rolling on the floor. Then the flowers had appeared. And here in Oloikeve huge hibiscus were flaunting their great pink flow- ers at her from every yard, as they sped on to the hotel. so that those who money re not are purse-proud in , sir, eity— thit sunshiny “I love it, Colonel,” sald Mary, her “Isn't it beautifu “Right pretty,” answered the Col- cnel. “But I ltke Omaha better.” * k¥ X “After all, Col. Ball,” Mary Roque said that evening, as they sat on a circular velvet seat in the palatial lobby of the Lorton. ‘*After all, we are not here to admire Ilorida, so much as to find Maisie.” “That's right, we got to find Malsie. You think we should try the Chamber of Commerce?” Mary's slimness looked almost child-like, as she stirred a velvet-clad foot under a silk evening dress. Her bobbed yellow hair was perfection; the precision of her features fairy-like; her complexion pink, and natural as the sunshine of Florida. Col. Ball could not help admiring his employe, his “girl detective,” us he called her to himself. Another of his secret commentaries was “too skinny, but certainly is a pretty little thing.” Mary was happlly unaware of his views. “The Chamber of Commerce? Never! The Chamber of Commerce is too busy drumming up to the Nation the long-lost glory of Oloikeye. The town has been overlooked too long already, according to their best ads in all the papers and magazines. “Look at all these fine gentlemen stirring around here, and _every blessed one of them intent on finding some shiny new dollars out east of town, “Hold on to your pocketbook, Col. Ball,” smiled Mary. “Look that hun- gry gentleman over there giving you the once-over.” It was true enough. A splendidly dressed fellow of about 30 years of age, with a predatory face, but one rubbed down by much contact with others, was directing his dark eyes toward the red velvet divan. “A real estate man, Col. Ball—oh, excuse me a realtor! * k ¥ X “That feller's looking at you, young lady, not at me,” grinned the Colonel. onsense, Colonel. They haven't sny time for girls down here. Land is their one and only interest, land to divide and subdivide, land to sell and resell. That man has deslgns on your well filled pocketbook, Col. Ball. Don't iorget that I warned you, ir—- Col. Loganberry H. Ball uttered a distinet sound of disdain. “I am too old a bird to be roped in by a real " he eaid at last. “Now, if they got any hawgs down here—-"" Before the Colonel could put his thoughts into order the man with the hawk.like face had walked over. “1 beg your pardon,” he said, bow- ing slightly, “you are Col. Ball?" The Colonel confessed it. “I am Merkton L. Jones of the Merkton L. Jones Realty and FI- nance Corporation of Ololkeye," con- tinued the stranger, now a stranger no longer. “When I find a man of evident ability in Olofkeye I handle the case personally. “My salesmen are the best in the State, but when I run across a visi- tor to our great Commonwealth who strikes me as being a man of ex- perience, 1 like to talk to him my- self, because then I know I can put our proposition up to him in a wa that will be distinctly first class. He was quite sure of himself. He paused to look down on the lan- guld blond who was staring across the lobby. “Your daughter here, Col. Ball,” said the head of the Jones corpora- tion, “will be interested in the fine trip we have planned for yo Air Board Report Pleases Many of Differing Views American public opinion has found much of interest in the report that was made by the President’s aviation inquiry board, headed by Dwight W. Morrow, lawyer, banker and business organizer. Judgment as to the effect of the findings of the commission dif- fers accordnig to the point of view on the merits of the Mitchell case, but most of the comment is favorable to the logic displayed by the investi- gators. *“One’s opinion of the Intelligence of the commission,” the Nashville Ban- ner remarks, “is increased by the fact that it took speclal note of the fact that aviation was in a formative state, and that it was not possible to hope at this time for a permanent solution. That is eminently and obviously true. The same policy is one which takes cognizance of the best existing thought, works in accord wtih it. and s yet flexible enough to allow for alteration in accord with developments as rapidly as they come and are proved of real intrinsic value.” That the commission “has worked intelligently and honestly in its investigation” is recognized also by the Brooklyn Eagle, which belleves, however, that *“to accept Its report as final would be as great a mistake as it would have been to accept Col. Mitchell's program without investi- gation, * % % % “The board does not tell us what Is right or wrong with aviation,” declares the Milwaukee Journal, and then asks, “Why?" gl g as Its own answer to the query, “Simply because it does not know. Like every other investigation of flying and the natlonal defense, it had before it & vast amount of con- flicting testimony, which it had neither the basic knowledge nor insight to reconcile. To follow a path out of that maze was simply a case of take vour choice. So the board chooses to leave things pretty much as they are.” Yet the result, as viewed by the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, is that the report ‘will not suit Col. Mitchell,” and like- wise “will not please the general staff,” and that paper finds that “‘the appar- ent fact, all the same, is that the President’s board has driven its way through the voluminous data, the mass of technical evidence, the varie- gated conflict of opinion and the clash of prejudice to an intelligent plan for rehabilitating military and commercial aviation in the United States.” * kK K “The fact that the board was com- posed of able men of affairs and that the report was signed by every mem- ber, gives it welght,” states the New York Evening World, which points out that “its tone is temperate, and de- notes less a disposition to discredit the more radical critics of the service than to develop the facts.” The rec- ommendation for co-ordination of avia- tion activities among three depart- ments is approved by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which says that “this seems to be a most sensible report,” and adds that the recommendations “will meet with general approval, and Congress, with its ear to the ground, may be expected to acquiesce.” The recommendations, in the opinion of the Seattle Dally Times, “are based upon common sense and an adequate understanding of the country’s needs,"” and the Times restates its conviction that “the air force should be ad- equately developed, but as an integral part of the Army and the Navy.” The New York Times, also, is impress- ed by “the breadth as well as the patience of the inquiry behind the re- port,” and by the “calm and judicial temper which pervades the whole,” while the New York Herald-Tribune holds that “the board has performed a public service with admirable fdelity.” with the stand taken by Col. Mitchell, the Sioux City Tribune observes that “on practically all the outstanding claims and charges made by Col. Mitchell, the inquiry board held against him,” but on the other hand the St. Louls Post-Dispatch asserts that “it followed Col. Mitchell's criti- cisms and recommendations in sev- eral Important points.” It s also the judgment of the In- dianapolis Star ‘that ‘“the changes recommended in the report may be re- garded as real concessions by line offi- cers, who are slow to recognize the extent to which the airplane has altered the character of battle condl- tions.” Similarly the Des Moines Tribune-News states that “mixed with the rebukes to Mitchell are a host of recdmmendations, all tending to bring about at least some part of the re. forms he has led in fighting for.” “Mitchell can afford to regard the development _ philosophically,” com- ments the Detroit News, with the declaration that “the recommenda- tion that new cabinet assistants shall devote all their time to air matters is a concession by the notably con- servative Morrow board that aviation deserves more official attention.” As the Davenport Democrat sees it: “In the end, unless it all comes to mere words, we should have more intelli- gent and progressive encouragement of aviation in both the legislative and executive departments at Washing- ton, and if so, Col. Mitchell can say, some day: ‘Well, they may claim they did it, but I think I stirred them up to it, after all.’ " * ok ok “A moral victory for Col. Mitchell” is claimed by the Lafayette Journal and Courler, which avers “it was diffi- cult, but at the same time it was necessary for the report to ‘save the faces’ of a lot of red-taped officers of much dignity who had been put ‘in bad’ through their own stubborn folly and the outspoken methods of Col. Mitchell and his many backers." Rochester Times-Union also points to the fact that “the report urges a_larger representation of avi- ation officers on the general staff of the Army,” and that ‘4t has been brought out at the Mitchell hearing that s representation {s now in- adequate. Against these opinions the Rock Is- land Argus contends that ‘“the report settles nothing” and that it “simply proves the autocratic attitude of offi- cial Washington." America’s Store of Oil. From the Seattle Daily Times. Prophets of gloom who have pre- dicted that the United States, which produces 64 per cent of the world out. put of petroleum and consumes 72 per cent, soon would be destitute of this vital commodity have been rebuked by Sir Henri Deterding, director of a large oil company. Recently he took issue with Sir Richard Redmayne, who had testified before the British coal mission “that America's oil supply would be exhausted within 25 years. “A half dozen years ago,” sald Sir Henrl Deterding, ‘“‘some authorities predicted that the world's oil supply would be greatly reduced in three years, but the opposite occurred. ‘When prices are low, search for oi] ceases, but when prices rise, the search is renewed and the supply aug- mented. This will probably continue indefinitely.” A ——— May Become a Luxury. #rom the Roekford Star. Do not speak slightt spuds, You n?:y be mm‘:"h‘n befors the meama Protests D. C. Motor Lights and Brake Rules To tho Editor of The Star: I wish to thank you for the edi- torlals that are appearing in The Star concerning trafic regulations. Your editorial on bright lights (December ), meets my approval. There 18 no sense in using bright lights on well iighted sireets. 'The bright lights of automobiles on our streets have be- come an intolerable nuisance. It is particulurly bad on ralny or stormy nights. I have repeatedly seen pe- destrlans run down by autos on wet nights, the excuse being that the driver could not see the pedestrian on account of the bright lights of au- tos facing him. It is almost impos- sible to see pedestriaps under the present regulation on rainy nights. A well known attorney has already published his views of the headlight law from a legal standpoint. The brake law is worse than the head: light law., Shades of Lycurgus! Why, with the law schools here turn- ing out lawyers by the thousands, do the detenseless people of the District of Columbla have to have such laws inflicted on them? No one with an iota of legal training would have ever written such a law as this brake law. To quote: *“1. Foot brakes—On a dry, hard, level road, free from loose ma- teral, the foot brake shall be capable of stopping the car from a speed of 20 miles per hour within a distance of 0 feet”” Do you know of & stretch of 50 feet of city streets here that will comply with all these con- ditions? 1 don’t. This is a criminal law, and according to the practice is to be construed strictly against the Government. If one were being tried under this law he could not be legally convicted unlegs the prosecution proved that the brake test was made on u road of the character defined. It would be necessary, to legally test brakes under this rule, to construct an ideal highway of at least 50 feet in length; it would have to be dry, hard, level and free from loose mate- rial throughout the entire 50 feet. If the street on which the brake test was made was not dry, or not level (that 1s, tested by & spirit level), or uneven or not swept free of loose material (no matter how small an amount) the law would not be com- plied with. I think I have said enough to show how impractical the law fs. But I may add that 1 would not want to operate an automobile that would not stop on applying the brake (except on grades) within a distance of 25 feet. 1 think that most autolsts would have an uncomfortable feeling if their autos would not stop on ap- plying the brakes at 25 miles in a a distance much less than 50 feet. 1 have driven automobiles over the streets of the District of Columbia distances that total over 100,000 miles. I think that my experience should entitle me to say something. H. M. ARMSTRONG. Cure Crime Waves by Rounding Up Suspects To the Editor of The Star: There is one way, and apparently one only, by which this widespread banditry can be stopped—that adopt- ed In war times when an alien hostile element exists among the popula- tion, 1 e., interning the entire suspect class. This would require special legis- lation conferring powers upon the po- lice stmilar to those given under mar- tial law. Through the swift getaway provided, the crook, plus high-powered car, situation is one where direct pre- vention of raids and hold-ups is no longer possible, or even the apprehen- sion of their perpetrators. The police cannot be everywhere and at all times; nor have they the right to use thelr weapons save in self-defense or extreme necessity. Remains only to round up these miscreants in advance and take them into custody or under survelllance, in effect, what was done with enemy residents in the allied countries and our own during the war. They are known, the police finger can be placed on the thieves, thugs, mur- derers, in our big cities who will be the doers of tomorrow's crimes of vio- lence. There needs but the right to ar- rest on suspicion and before the event. The constitutional guaranties mak- ing necessary the premiliary swear- ing out of warrants have no place in an emergency of this sort against men of this type. Why be solicitous for the libertles of the lawless and sacrifice those of the law-abiding? A guerrilla warfare is being waged against the soclal order, the safe- guards of society are threatened. Shall we balk at extreme measures any more than we would in time of open war? Many as may be the dif- ficulties connectetd with this mode of procedure, they are as nothing com- pared with the insuperable ones of any other. A crisis exists akin to that created in the war by the submarine calling for preventive and repressive steps rather than offensive. Indeed, employed by desperadoes, the automo- bile might be styled the submarine of clvilization. The executive who pro- poses and puts through some such method as this of dealing with the menace will receive the community's lasting gratitud STEP N B. STANTON. Substitute Teachers’ ay System Is Unjust To the Editor ot The Star: “Mephisto—She is not the first. “Faust—Not the first! Woe! Woe! By no human soul Is it conceivable that more than one human creature has ever suffered thus.” The pity of the “‘case’’ mentioned by a recent correspondent in The Star under “Fair Pay for Teachers Who Hire Substitutes” is not only that “There are others,” but that the com- munication published in The Star of December 11 is, so far as I know, the first stroke on the part of the public press to correct by publicity or propa- ganda a hoary injustice and deeply intrenched wrong against a clags of sufferers too proud to beg and too highly appreciated by the community to be listed as “Opportunities” by As- sociated Charities. It ought to go without saying that a teacher excluded, through no fault of her own or desire of her own, on ac- count of disablility incurred in the line of duty, should not be required to fill the vacancy at her own expense. On the other hand, any willful absence from duty on the part of any employe from the highest to the lowest should be taxed according to the income of that employe. A perfectly simple proposition, that makes the average mind wonder at the complicated con- glomerate to which we are trying to adjust our intelligence. A few highly pald substitutes, not enough by a tenth to do all or the most necessary substituting at times of stress, and vet severely taxing the ingenuity of administrative officers to find some- thing for them to do when the ma- chinery {s running normally, and then the double and treble accounting ac- cording as the pay must come from the teacher’s poeket after she has her check or be deducted before the check is made out at the District Building for the old-line or outside substitutes who are still necessary as heretofore. A perfect substitute is a moral im- possibility; a good substitute is dim- cult and requires not only broad prep- aration, but constant refurnishing and refurbishing. None should be expected to work for less than $4, but there should be a flat rate for all, because one link of a chain is as important as another, At the same time the larger appropriation is necessary for all such cases as was mentioned by your cor- respondent of December 11, and to it should be added the surplus from tax- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. How fast does an afrplane as- cend?—H. H. A. The climb of an airplane is ap- proximately from 400 to 1,200 feet per minute. Q. Do many farm communities have radios so that they can take advan- tage of the market reports, weather reports and other information essen- tial to their welfare?—D. A. A. Progress in the use of radio for the dissemination and reception of agricultural information during the last four years has kept pace with the general development of this new American industry. It is conserva. tively estimated that there are now about 376,000 radiophone receiving sets on farms in the United States, which is an increase of over 165 per cent in one year. Q. What are the duties of a dental hyglenist’—W. D. D, A. The dental hyglenist is permitted only to remove stains and deposits from the exposed surfaces of the teeth. He may be employed in pube lic institutions, in schools und in of- fices of licensed dentists. Q. How is the city chosen for the Olympic games?—D. H. A. The international Olympic com- mittee selects the city in which the Olympic games will be held. In 1928 they are to be held in Amsterdam, Holland. Q. Can 4 college have a professional for a coach?—R. I N. A. A professional player may coach a college ll'al)l.lll ny sport Q. Is the title of & copyrighted hook | protected by the copyright registra- tion o that no one else can employ 1t>—R. A. H. A. Neither the author nor proprie- tor of a literary work, whether copy- righted or not, has any property in its name. The name is a term of descrip- tion, which serves to identify the work, but any other person can adopt it and apply it to any other book, pro- vided he does not use it as a false token, to induce the public to believe that the thing to which it 13 applied is the identical thing which it originally deslgnated. However, the name of a drama may become a valid trade name, in connection with the presenta- tion of dramatic compositions. So, also, may be the name of a newspa- per, or of a magazine periodically is- sued. Q. Has Europe any trees that com- pare in size with the big trees of Cali- fornia?—G. G. A. While there are none o large as the California Sequolas, large speci- mens are found in sections of Russia and in the forested parts of Germany and the Balkans. Q. What is the difference in color between the male and female sea gull? —K. Z. A. The Biological Survey says that there s practically no difference be- twean the color of the male and fe- made sea gull; in fact, in the cas of all ocean birds, it is hard to dis- tingutsh the sexes. Young-sea gulls however, are gray. Q. Will helium ever completely take the place of hydrogen for in- flating dirigibles?—W. T. T. A. German =scientists report that they have discovered a new source of helium, the non-inflammable gas in monazite. Experiments show that helium can be produced from the mineral in paying quantities, so that hydrogen may soon be discarded for infidting dirigibles. Q. in-the-Face, Gen. Custer?—W. V. W. A. Chlet Rain-in-the-Face was a noted Sloux warrior and chief. He was born near the forks of the Cheyenne River about 1835. He died at Standing Rock Reservation, N Dak., September 14, 1905. He was a full-blooded Hunkpapa. He was many times on the warpath, and was a leading participant in the Little Big Horn fight. It is now generally doubted that he killed Gen. Custer. What is known of Chief Rain- | Islan, the Indian who killed | Q. What work did delphia City Troop do ington at Tranton?—W., 11 A. The Philadelphia City Troop (probably the oldest distinctively cav- alry organization in America) served, says C. F. Adams, “under Washing- ton's immediate command as a species of headquarters escort not only at Trenton and Princeton, but subse quently at Brandywine.” the Phila- ith Wash- Q. Where is the highest building in any country other than the Uniteed States?—J. D. A. The highest building outside the United States is the cathedral at Ulm, in Germany, which is 529 feet to the top of the spire. Q. Have tapestries been woven the United States’—W. 1. W, A. They have been wove: United States. William Baumgarten started looms at 321 Fifth avenue, New York City, in 1893. After several pieces had ‘been finished the § was moved to Willlamsbridge urb, and weavers from Aubusson wera engaged. A piece of American tapes try put out by these looms is at pres ent in the Field Columbian Museum in Chicago. Another set of wall panel and furniture, costing $20,000, was exe cuted for P.'A. B. Widener of Phila delphia. Some wall panels were. also made for the directors’ room of the New York Life Insurance Co. Q. Harbor A How deep is the water in Pear -W. D. P. Pearl Harbor, i s. 1s landlocked 50 to 60 feet bar at the er thus making th useless for large the annexation of the island United States a channel 41 mile was dredged from the seu across the bar and coral reef, with'a depth of 35 feet. This now makes the harbor avai able for the largest vessels afloat. the Hawalian The depth Originally ther on} Q. How much weight will a squars foot of airplane wing support?—M. C. A. It depends on the speed of the afrplane, the shape of the wing and the angle at which the surface is pre- sented to the direction of motor. Ordinarily airplanes are loaded from about § to 12 pounds per square foot, Q “Ahmed’ mean?—C. H. §. A. Tt fs a Persian word meaning prince or ruler. Q. What are the D. A. R. pins?—A. E. A. The number of bars on the in signia pin of the D. A. R. represents the number of ancestors who rendercd patriotic service to the country. Q. Who financed the first railroad built by the Baltimore and Ohio’— E. G. A. The original Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was financed through stock subscriptions principally from prom nent Maryland citizens, including Charles Carroll of Carrollton, then the surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. Q. How many applic: made last year for patents and trade- marks?—T. A. H A. Applications for patents for In- ventions, designs, and reissues in- creased from 79,689 in 1924 to 82,213 in 1925; and trademarks, labels and prints from 19,855 to 21,378, Fees collected and turned into the Treas- ury amounted to $3.042,276, a figure larger by $228,977 than during any previous vear in the history of the Patent Office. (Government statistics bring out the fact that the uneducated man has only one chance in 900 to attain dis- tinction. There is no reason why any one should live under such a handi- cap in these days of free schools and free informat This paper supports in Washington, D. C., the largest free information bureau in eristence. It will procure for you the answer to any question you may ask. Avail yourself of its facilities for your self-improve- ment. Inclose a 2-cent stamp for re- turn postage. Address The Star In- formation Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Twenty-first and C streets northwest, Washington, D. C.) What does the word attached to WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Maj. Gen. Frank W. Coe, chief of the United States Coast Artillery, told the Mitchell court-martial that 10,000 anti-aircraft guns couldnt de- fend Washington against an attack from the sky. Well, such an array of artillery saved London—saved it repeatedly during the World War. This observer lived through countless days and nights of German air raids on London. The invaders almost in- variably did damage. Their grand total of victims, in lives and demolish- ed houses, was a quite considerable one before the armistice came. But London was not “destroyed” or even serfously marred. No building of con- sequence was laid low, or even hurt. Windows were smashed, roofs caved in, and, on one or two occasions, rows of fraglle houses were knocked to pleces. But the gigantic battery of antl-alreraft guns that blazed away, hell-bent for leather, whenever the enemy planes came to London, magnfficently and effectually defend- ed the great city. We took to the cellgrs, in accordance with govern- ment orders, but in our refuges we always felt safe when we heard the cannon booming {n a barrage that lasted sometimes for the better part of an hour. Antiaircraft artillery was London's sure shield {n 1916, 1917 and 1918, * ¥ ¥ % Representative Theodore E. Burton, Republican, of Ohio, was addressing a recent meeting of the Woman's Re- publican Club of the District of Co- lumbia. His subject was the “World Court.” Question time came. Up rose a lady In quest of enlightment on a point_ that evidently had long puz- zled her. “Mr. Congressman.” she queried, “is the Pope a member of the World Court?’ The Cleveland statesman was able to satisty the lady that the Vatican is without represen- tation in the international tribunal. Mr. Burton thought her question showed that education on what the World Court really is could be widen- ed in the country without doing any harm. % ¥ ¥ ¥ The opponents of agricultural price- fixing legislation in Congress have colned a catchy slogan—“Nary a Mec- Haugen bill!” Advoeates of some form of Government aid to producers of surplus farm produce retort with a slogan of their own. They admit it isn't as witty as the foe's, but a lot more meaningful. It {s: “Equality for Agriculture! et Senator Pat Harrison's friends are busily congratulating the Mississipp! scourge on having done a handsome turn in Gulf real estate speculation since Congress adjourned last March. It's understood that the bellowing bull of the bayou baillwick “cleaned up” in plutocratic style on a Biloxi acre- age deal. No one In Washington, political friend or foe, begrudges Pat his prosperity.” He has hitherto not been a man of means—had, in fact, to add to his official income annually by chautauqua tours and other speak- ing engagements. Now, he hopes to indulge in pmu n:{mrtm.l flights as a as a nt as;flnllnbm.m- Fiawas onls In England they say a man's made when Punch lampoons him. Alanson B. Houghton, American Ambassador to the court of St. James, has “ar- rived.” A late edition of John Bull's best stab at literary humor publishes the following doggerel about the United States envoy: The Germans are the guys I dote on Says NMr. Houghton (sounded Hoton Yes. that is how—or rather. ho— He calls himself. 80 now you know) his previous situation “enemy nation their Teuton tact who knows the fact But he's of Anglo-Saxon stuff L if we treat him well enough he'll come—I hope he wi e us even better still S Prince Otto von Bifsmarck, s son of the Iron Chancellor, who i about to leave Washington after an eight-week visit to America, will take back with him to the Reichstag, of which he's a member,-a good story picked up in our country. Out in Chicago, before the war, there was an fmmensely popular dining resort called the Bismarck. Of course, it had to change its name. So some wit sug gested that theé name be turned in- side out and thoroughly American ized by conversion into “Mark Twain, the syllable “bis” meaning twice in Latin. Prince Bismarck, who is 1 his very early 30s, wears Har Lloyd spectacles, speaks fluent Amer ican English _and would otherwise fit into the Yankee picture if ever he decided to prefer America to the land of his distinguished fathers. * ¥ ¥ % The two Republican woman mem- bers of Congress—Mrs. Julius Kahn of California and Mrs. John Jacob Rogers of Massachusetts—will make their debuts as_public speakers In Washington on January 18. The oc- casion will be the women's indus trial conference called by the Depart- ment of Labor. In addition to ad- dressing the conference the Congress- women will broadcast their remarks by radio. It happens that both Mrs. Kahn and Mrs. Rogers are the wiaotws of men who left their impress on major pleces of national legislation Julius Kahn's name will forever be associated with the draft law. John Jacob Rogers was the architect-in- ling the war Dr. chief of the Rogers law by which Uncle Sam'’s foreign service was re- organized. The women who now sit in the Kahn and Rogers seats pur- pose carrying on the traditions of their husbands in the respective realms of preparedness and proper representation of America abroad. * ko President Coolidge 1s said to have ap occasional confidential adviser on =gr- cultural economics, known in the farm- ing world as “Cal's Man Frida: nickname springs from the fact that the person reputed to be of bucolic influence at the White House is Dr. David Friday, former president of the Michigan Agricultural College. Dur- day was statisti cal adviser to the Treasury and to +he United States Telephone and Tele- graph Administration. He is pdw g,mlel.sor o‘t ‘zougfl economy at the ew School for Social Research, New York City. i 2 (Comyright, 1925.) [