Evening Star Newspaper, January 29, 1926, Page 8

THE EVENING With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. January £9, THEODORE W. NOYES The Evening Star New: paper Company Chicngn Ofen: Europoan Office: 14 Rewent St.. England. with the Sunday morn- edition, Ia deiivered hy carricra within ity at’ 40 conta per month . daf Dor e Riinday_ ont rdcre may te sen Collaction i3 made by London, The Evenine & Maryland and Virginia nd Sunday....1vr. 00001 mo. 75 Dails only 1 yr. S8.00: 1 mo. B0 Sunday enly 1300 $5.00: 1 mo. All Other States and Canada. n y.1yr 7 gy Sunday-1 3 SLk00: 1 mas 44.00: 1 mo. Tax Bill Exigency. Clearly, it is destrable that the t reduction bill, now before the Sen: should be considered and passed as speedily as possible und that it should become & law before the 15th of March, the final date for the first p; ment for the first quarter of the vear. Yesterday In the Senate it was dt explained why promptness is essential. This present situation dif- from that of another occasion, when a reduction Dbill was enacted after the first payment date and re- bates were later granted to taxpayers. Tor this measure, as Senator Smoot sets forth, exempts some 2,500,000 tax- payers entitely from assessment. They are liable to taxation under the ex ing law and are required by that law to make returns and first-quarter pay- ments by March 15 next. If the new law is not enacted by that date they must pay, and if then their exemption is granted it will be necessary for the Government to refund to them, and not merely, as was done before, credit them with the excess of taxes pald, with corresponding remission from subsequent quarterly payments. To do so would entail endless confusion and a costly proceeding. This is a situation which cannot be argued away. The need of prompt- ness is actyal and urgent. It has been proposed to close debate and vote on the bill on the 10th of February, which would give eleven full legislative days for debate. That is a short time ac- cordins to one standard of measure- ment, but a long time according to the exigencies of the situation. The subjects of legitimate debate in this proposed legislation are few and may be thoroughly discussed well within the period proposed. The situation is well adapted to a filibustar, but, of course, there will be no filibuster. That is distinctly set down at the out. set. There is no disposition to pro- tract debate “unduly”—which is the polite form of expression regarding the unspeakable. The world will little note nor long mber what we say here.” Thus spoke Abraham Lincoln at Gettys: burg. IHis words apply pointedly to senatorial debate which has for its purpose the “scrupulous care of ex- amination” now urged in cennection with this present measure, which is designed to grant relief to millions of people from unnecessary tax burdens. The world—which in this case i3 the Tnited States—is walting for deeds, not words. There will be no filibuster, ition to protract debate “‘un- the Senators are mindful of the world thinks about their re; duly,” what deeds. oo Like many other matters which agitate the public mind, the World Court may yet subside into the domain of harmless uninterest. It was Grover Clevelund who invented the phrase “innocuous desuetude, h still sur- vives in hopeful usage. ——v—— The eyes of Europe are turned on America. By this time the Prince of ‘Wales should be considering a perfect- 1y docile electric horse as the safest means of exerclse. et Tracks or Busses? The Publie Utllities Commission now is consldering the request of the Washington Rallway and Electric Company for permission to renew its overhead trolley construction on North Capitol street between W street and Michigan avenue. Residents of the region protested and asked that the reconstruction, when. authorized, should Le on the underground conduit vasis, to conform with the system that extends now to W street. The company, after obtaining an offictal Jegal opinien that the public utlities met authorizes the commission to di regard a provision of the 1899 law for the {nstallation of the under- ground trolley when North Capltol street should be repaved, intimates that if the commission requires the reconstruction to be on the under- ground conduit basis, it will abandon its present tracks and substitute motor busses. This ralwes a question of interest| .y tyrn'warmer, attended by rain or in connection with the respective transportation development in Wash- ington. Has the underground con- struction reached its Imit? Has the process of extending that mode of electric traction, which has been pro- gressive for some years, ceased? An- swers to these questions may be found in the intimation just given that the traction companies—at least one of them—will abandon their track lines in favor of bus lines rather than £0 to the expense of reconstruction on the more costly basis. 1f that {s the case, if it is to be the policy of the traction companies to substitute trackless for track trans- port in the outlying sections, it may follow that in time they will abandon thelr tracks in the center of the city. The cost of maintaining an under- ground system is heavy. It must be renewed occasionally at great ex- pense. Recently the Washington Railway” and Electric Company has .Editor STAR !come when turthe ‘Will the outlying!are reported. | ends of the system be abandoned in|below zero at Duluth, elghteen below 1926 | £12.00. 1mo. $100| | | sections of the country, it is belleved reconstructions | will be needful. favor of the more flexible and less expensive motor bus? It is plain that a period of change | has arrfved. The protest of the resi- | dents of the Norih Capitol street re- | glon affected in this case against the | renewal of the overhead conatruction |is logical and reasonable. It ia for the commission to decide whether it | should be heeded on its merits, with. out reference to the alternative sug- Kested of abandonment of tracks be- yond W street and the substitution | of smaller unita. Diplomatic Immunity. Protests have been flled with the thirty degrees below zero and lower It was thirty degrees at St. Paul and twelve below at Mil- waukee. Dwellers in the zero parts of the country probably think of Washington s a city of the “sunny South," where Winter weather is en- feebling to man’s constitution and Wwhere magnolia blossoms exhale fra- grance In the parks. People in the zero sections no doubt think of Wash- ington as many ofour people do of Palm Heach, Moblle and New Orleans, and congratulate themselves on living in & snappy and invigorating climate. Generally there ts all th snappiness in Washington that is needed, and | there come cold waves which muke a thick overcoat seem thin. ‘We are content with our climate, It State Department by the District Com- missioners against the continued de- flance of local traffic regulations on the part of attaches of forelgn coun- tries, who, depending on the su-called “diplomatic immunity,” have ruth- lessly and consistently violated rules Inid down for the protection of the ant casea were cited by Commissioners, ane involving an ittache of the Belglan embassy wnd the other 4 member of the Ecuadorian lezution, but these constitute but & fruction of the total of traffic viola- tions charged up to those possessing “diplomatic immunity.” Not only have regulations been de- fied by representatives of forelgn governments, but it {s mot an un- common occurrence for a Washing: tonian to find himself antangled with the car of a speeding diplomat, who, on ascertaining that his machine will still operate under its own power, will politely 1ift his hat and proceed on his way, leaving the voteless and help- less resident of this fair city gazing ruefully at the wreckage and wonder- Ing how he can save enough from the grocery bill to pay for repatrs. It is eminently proper that the Commissioners should report these matters to the State Department, and the department, in turn, should make strong representations for the eltinl- nation of this class of law-breaker. No city can have a privileged claws of motorists. It Is not possible under the nation-wide traffic movement to protect life and ltmb, and it 18 not possible under all rules of decency and courtesy on the highways and byways of these United States. No man, be he of high station or of low, can be allowed to place himself, with the consent of the Government, in the position of careless disregard of human life. Reckleas cperation of an automobile, coupled with ceflance of the constituted authorities, can lead to only one thing in the end, the slaughter of innocent citizens. It is a simple matter for the State Department to request the recall of an offending diplomat. There can be no better reason for a request of this kind than the menace to lves In: volved In the deliberately reckless op- eration of a motor car. “Dipiomatic immunity” must not be stretched to cover willful violations of laws de- signed to protect life and property. A “Howling” Success. International radio test week ended last night. The best that can be sald for it from Washington's standpoint is that it was a “howling' success. All: manner of howls, from little howls to big howls, intermingled with screeches and whistles, were on the alr for Joeal listeners, and many a disgruntled radio fan was reluctantly forced to “sign off” as a measure of protection to his ears. From published reports in various that small success was obtained in spanning the sea with ether waves. In New York, as in Washington, ra. diating or regenerative receivers were blamed for most of the trouble. A prominent’ New York radio concern in advertisements in the newspapers pleaded with owners of regenerative sets to “stay off the air and let real radlo have a chance.” If nothing else has been accom- plished by the tests just concluded they have demonstrated emphatically | the menace of the improperly oper- ated regenerative set. Untll laws are passed ellminating this type of ap- paratus, or the public shows an in- clination to learn its proper opera- tion, the progress of radio reception will be at a standstlll, as one regen- erative set alone is capable of blanket- ing the reception of an entire city. The situation is clear, even if the alr is not. Before the next series of tests occurs drastic action is neces- sary if any hope of success is to be held out to the millions of radio en-! thusiasts in the United States. This test has shown that the time has ar- rived when facts must be faced it the great new art of communication is to develop along progressive lines. 1f motorists have their way over here one of the early questions before the World Court will be the cost of rubber to American consumers. Seven-Degree Weather. The weather forecast is that the crest of the cold wave has passed Washington and that the weather snow. Some of us regret that the forecaster found it his duty to intro- duce rain or snow into the warming. up process. On Thursday the fore- caster for thim region said that the temperature would fall to seven de- grees—above zero, of course. He was right. The official thermometer reg- istered seven degrees at 6 o'clock this eters gave @ different registration of the mercury, but thermometera do not agree. Some are more sensitive to temperature changes than others, and some are nailed on colder porches. The public would not have found fault with the forecaster had he made a blunder in the public Interest, and if the mercury had reached only seven- teen instead of seven. It is when the forecaster promises pleasant weather and it rains or blows cold that the public shows resentment. ‘Washington's seven-degree tempera- ture for a moment in early morning been relaying stretches of its various | was balmy weather compared with less lines within .the underground conduit | fortunate places. rone. Its trackage is now generwllyland along the western part of thejold remark, ‘A fool and fn Eucd condition, but the time In the Northwest, Lains region, -tomperstures of is the best we have. It is famous for Its variety. ‘Even while this low-de- gree woather is with us many of our Ppeople are thinking that February is a short month, and that in March there are apt to be bright, warm days, which will bring buds on many trees and that early flowers will show their colors. ————————— A trip to Africa is among Willlam Mitchell's plans for the future. When some mental agitation arises in con- nection with governmental affairs there is always a mysterious psychic impulse which makes a man want to %o and tell his troubles to a rhi- noceros. ————— Sa many eminent citizens are press- ing for opportunities to deliver timely and most {nteresting remarks that the dance orchestras may as well fuce the posaibility of being crowded off the radio. ———————— Unele S8am has shown enough retl- cence about entering the World Court to prevent him from being burdened with the difficult responsibilities of umpire. The role of “good listener” fs still possible to America. ——————————————— Among the dutles of the World Court might be that of feminding im pulsive diplomats that there are cer- tain obligations of courtesy where such little matters as traffic regula- tions are concerned. ————————————— A few ptatesmen are strongly in favor of some plan that would enable Uncle Sam to be in the League of Na- tions, but not so that he could no- tice it. ——————— The fact that a Congressman may now park as Jong as he likes offers no moral support to any theory that a diplomatic attache may drive down @ crowded street as fast as he chooses. et American diplomacy is regarded as having entered upon a new era which revives the old question, “Where do we go from here’ ——rar—— ‘The Weather Bureau, like some of the political prophets, is least agree- able when most accurate in its calcu- lations. ——————————— ‘The brevity of Col. Mitchell's resig- nation may indicate a desire to hold his powers in reserve for a long, hard talk vet to come. ————r——— A hopetul tip goes out that the coal controversy will be settled in time to prevent @ shortage of fuel for June, | July and August. ————————— Florida must sooner or later face a situation which finds land in the hands of hopetul purchasers with profes- slonal realtors remalining observantly aloof. ————— o A coa! conference might get results more rapldly if arrangements could be made for it to hold all deliberations in unheated quarters. ——————————— One of the severest tests an Arctic explorer may have to meet is an In- vestigation of his reputation for truth and veracity. e — SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JORNSON. The Heavy Task. When life grows weary of the patient Jost That strives to check the flow of mortal grief, Somebody still must do his little best And search for smiling that may bring rellef. And yet, the burdened heart may beat 50 slow ‘When seeking stremgth to answer Duty’s call To prompt a smile and keep the lights aglow, A Jjest becomes the heaviest task of all. Workless But Wonderful. I have heard you referred to as a popular idol.” 'Yes,” answered Senator Sorghum. “But the {lliteracy {s such that some of the folke out home spell it ‘idle.’ Deflant of the Winter. If intellects were all immense, ‘To griet we'd be compelled to cling. The mocking bird lacks human sense. That's why he manages to sing. Coerclon. “Why did you give that inferjor servant such splendid referenc “1 was obliged to give them,” ex- plained the weary housewife, “in order to persuade her to go peaceably.” Jud Tunkins says a Soclalist is al- ‘ways ready to tell the kind of govern- ment he doesn’t want without giving would be practical. The Final Peace. All language impolite will stop. A fight will be a crime~ ‘When no one has to face a cop For parking overtime. ‘A Home Builder. “Are you still devoted to your radio set? “Yes. It keeps my husband at home nights, “Listening in?" “No. Trying to make it work “Bootleg licker," said Uncle Eben “ig de latest reminder of dat famous his money o 'soan parted.” 2 - THIS AND THAT | BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. What is tihe ideal bath? Some one has said that there are two classes of mankind—those who bathe and these who do not. Every one has heard the story of the newcomer to these shores who was sewed into his clothes at the be- ginning of Winter and not let out of them until Spring. Often at country fairs the astute observer may sece a gypsy mother give her little one u bath. The brown-skinned child, perhaps a year old, is stood on the ground and then a bucket of cold water inverted over its_head. The gypsyette then toddles around in the fresh air until it Is dry. This method of bathing baby, however, cannot be recommended for the av erage child. There have been all sorts of hath- ing cults, notably one in which water was to be abjured, and only oils used for the cleansing of the skin. These unysual sorts of “baths’ have met with the popular disfavor they deserve, most of the normal world resting content with good old water, than which there is nothing better for clennsing purposes. Whether bathing is natural to men or not does not_particularly concern us any more, The practice of thou- sands of vears ix behind ir, with plagues and other so-called “dirt Aiseases’" in the background for na. tions that do not bathe. To the student of the genus man, poking into the origins of the prac tice of bathing may be interesting, but for the average citizen the best way to achieve the desired result is a question decidedly more interesting. * ok ok what is the best In other word way to take a bat o ‘Many minds, many opinfons, runs the old saw. This will hold good In regard to the bath, too. Every one will have his favorite way of washing himself. s do not bathe at all, and there v be classed with the “grea unwashed." 3 Cats, on the other hand, use neither bathtub nor running water, yet man age to keep pretty clean. In the human family the preference is divided between the hot bath anc the cold bath. Most of those who ad vocate one extreme will not coun tenance the other. “A hot bath s the only kind I can take,” says one “A hot bath is devitalizing,” says another. “Now you ought to take a cold plunge In the morning.” Brrrr! Very few of those interested in the preservation of their health but have experimented at some time or othe: with the various methods of bathing The enthustast for a period will in” for hot baths. He will boil anc parboll himself, having read some place what u healthy race the Jup anese are and how they always bath. in_steaming water. 1t the experimenter keeps the proc ess up for any considerable length o time he is likely to find himsel rather susceptible to colds. Then, reading that th> cold bath the only method to physical salva tion, he will “go in” with equal vin for the cold shower. Heroically he will arise in the morn. ing and with grim determinatior |plunge his length under the icy waters of a full tub plunge. The physical resources of his body BY FREDERIC Echoes of the seve: the Senate over the World Court are not destined to die out for many & {day. Inventories of the profit and loss account, from the standpoint of victor and vanquished, are now in progress. One of the commonest Zpeculations s whether William 1. Borah, in his first major engagement as chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, has enhanced his reputation or now finds himself in partial eclipse. The anti-court oppo- sition pinned great hopes on Borah' inflyence and eloquence. It is an open secret that he did not quite measure up to expectations. effort to diagnose the failure of their leader and hero, incline to the beliet that Borah's heart was really never {n the fight. They do not suggest that he was insincere in his opposl- tion. What they mean is that, having !scented almost certain defeat, the Demosthenes of the Senate cid not throw himself into the fray with that | dogged energy and devastating bril- lance that usually characterize Borah's crusades. His friends, among {whom are many political opponents, don't think that any of Borah's four anti-court speeches found him any- jwhere near the top of his superb ora- torical form. * ok ok ¥ ‘Who killed Cock Robin? There be those who say that Calvin Coolidge, with his quiet little bow and arrow, rr(ormed that operation. The Presi lent did not go about the business with either a big stick or a brass band, but opinion is unanimous that had the ‘White House not steadily and sternly pressed for the court it might today be on the rocks. Now that it can be told, there are any number of Senators, mainly Republicans, whose enthusi- asm for the court is less than luke- warm. That block of 40 of them who plumped for the resolution of ad- herence was a “Coolidge bloc” as cer- tain as anything in politics can be. The President demanded and receive what {s known in European parlia- ments as a vote of confidence from his own supporters. Votes in favor of the court were virtually made the symbol of Republican loyalty. They would be withheld, those in question were given to understand, at the cost of ranking offenders henceforward as disloyalists. \r. Coolidge began his gum-shoe work for the court at Swampscott last Summer. It lasted until mid-Winter in Washington. * k% *x Indiana’s two Republican Senators, James E. Watson and Arthur R. Rob- inson, voted against entry into the World Court, furnishing the big sur- prises of the last act of the senatorial drama. The Hoosier statesmen are too canny politiclans to have leaped before they looked. Watson is up for re-election this year. Robinson will not have to aspire until 1928. All {n- dications suggest that both of them preferred Klan friendliness to Cool- idge support in the fights that lie ahead in Indiana, both in the pri- maries and at election time. “Jim" ‘Watson hitherto has been considered an out-and-out World Court man. | morning. Many household thermom. | &R accurate description of a kind that | Byt the Klux drive sent him scamper- ing off the reservation at the eleventh hour. It looks as if Beveridge, in the hope of Coolidge backing, might now feel the urge to tempt fate again in the Indiana senatorial race. If Wat- son and Beveridge go to the mat in the primaries there's one member of the administration who will have di- vided antipathies. It is Postmaster General Harry 8. New. * ok x *x One of the promptest hits scored by a newcomer to Washington's kaleldoscopic diplomatic corps is Mme. Henri - Berenger, wife of the lately arrived Ambassador of France. Men and women mean to pay her the highest of compliments when - they suggest that Mrs. Coolidge herself {18 in danger of a rival from the stand- oint of vivacity, charm and per- onality. Mme: Berenger {8 a tall, WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS eek battle in Court foes, in an | ‘will do their utmost to react from the shock, so that he will become as pinl as a lobster under the combined in fluence of the water and the applica tion of a big towel. At first the bold one will feel very proud of his bathing. He probably will make a nuisance of hmself among his friends by singing of the glories and benefits of the cold plunge. One who did not know him might imagine that he had never taken a bath before in his life. * ¥ % x For several weeks he will fool him self into helieving that he is getting fun out of the thing. He will repress his intelligence. which Is trying to tell him that he really is shrinking from the cold water, and will continue to giit hix teeth and jump in. Then, one fine morning, a bit colder than usual, he will take advantage ot the fact that he gets up late "o omit his cold bath. That day he will have more “pep’” than usual, and he will wonder why, until the fact dawns upen him that the Increased feeling of vigor arrived coincident with the omission of the morning cold plunge. He will meet an old doctor friend. “Why, man, what is the matter wtih rou?" the doctor will ask. “The matter with me? Why, I nev er felt better in all my life."” “I know what you have been doing, the doctor will declare, positively much in the manner of Sherlock “You have been taking cold plung “That's right,” the offender But how did you know “I can.read it in your face. n freezing your liver nly have been freezing some: the other will declare. * % % =% The avernge wage-earner, who has to get to work in the morning, will solve the daily bath problem in the fol- lowing manner He will realize that to take a hot bath and then go out in the cold, prob- to stand on a corner for many minutes waiting for his car, is not the best thing in the world for a seden- tary person. The cold bath, per se, has been ruled out. as stated. What is the logical thing to do? Simply, he will discover, to combine the two, taking a short, hot spray, fol lowed by a short, cold one. This is the true morning bath, and if it is preceded by some simple series of setting-up exercises, that bring in- crensed breathing and perspiration, it will distinctly make one feel as if he is “sitting on the top of the world.” This bath is one of the best tonics in the world. It recommended by most doctors and those interested in butlding up the health of the Natlon. It allows those wha cannot take a cold bath with any pleasure or beneflt to indulge in that healthful, pore-clos- ing process. While it secures cleanliness, its hig- gest benefit is increased eirculation, brirging the blood to the skin, and re- moving internal congestions. The hot part of this bath should be hot, and the cold part cold. ther end should be lukewarm. An ordi- nary small spray, that may be pur chased for a dollar or so, s better than an elaborate shower. If the cold water makes the bather gasp for breath, he may be assured | he is getting it right. The point is to stop before it becomes disagreeable. This is a bath one may enloy honestly. vill ad WILLIAM WILE. . and_enters Into the spirit ot things with a zest and naturalness that are captivating. If she and Sen- ator Berenger determine to do so, the prediction is freely made that Mme. Berengzer will have little difficulty in restoring the French embassy to old- time rank as the favorite resort of Washington's intelligentsia and elite. * ok ok ¥ ! Breckinridge Long of Missouri and the District of Columbia is the latest addition to Washington's ever-grow- ing ranks of resident authors. The former Assistant Secretary of State, who studied political economy -at Princeton under Woodrow Wilson and later became a member uf his admin- istration, has just published “The Genesis of the Constitution of the United States of America.” Long traces our magna charta from the earliest governmental document in America, the Plymouth covenant of 1620, and continues the story down to the constitutional convention of 1787. Critics pronounce this maiden literary effort of the young Demo- cratic politiclan the first comprehen- sive study of this particular field of political inquiry. “Breck” Long bears the scars of a couple of {ll-starred senatorial crushes with “Jim” Reed in Missourl. But one of these days his admirers confidently expect him to try again and triumph. * %k ok % This is the season when Vice Presi- dents of the United States dine out in their country’s behalf. Dawes is doing it, like Marshall and Coolidge did it before him. The general has a system, and insists that strict adher- ence to it is all that saves Mrs. Dawes and himself from digestive collapse. They make it an ironclad rule to go home on the stroke of 10 p.m. That lsvn signal, according to the rules of Washington soclety, for less distin- guished guests to do likewise. The Vice President says he's often abed by 10:30, under the dinner-party clo- ture he has adopted. The World Court got a lot more at- tention, but Ethelbert Stewart, com- missioner of statistics at the Depart- ment of Labor, hit a bull's-eye as wide as the continent itse¥ the other day when he spoke up for more “petting” privileges for “Joe of the stock yards" and “Mary of the canning factory. The occasion was the National Confer- ence on Outdoor Recreation. The direct result of Stewart’s plea {s the cam- paign launched by Paul J, McGahan, American Legion delegate at the out- door conference, to give closer atten- tion to the recreational problems of industrial and rural workers. On Feb- ruary 5 the executive committee of the conference will mest in New York to ‘see what practical steps can be taken in that direction. (Copyright. 1926.) Vagaries of Fashions Costly for Factories One London firm attributes a loss of $50,000 a year to the vagaries of women’s fashions. The firm manu- factures hairpins and hatpins. Before the present urge for small hats and shingled hair the firm did a flourishing business in pins. Now, with pins about as antiquated as bustles, it does hardly any business. Not only the ordinary straight pin, but the old reliable safety pin has gone out of fashion. Manufacturers of safety pins bewail the fact that woman seems no longer to be pinning herself together. They blame lingerie clasps, dome fasteners and other mod- ern “gadgets” for the decline in their business. Americans, too, are blamed by the British needle and-pin manu- facturers. Before the war the United States produced hardly any pins; now it manufactures millions—and puts a 35 per cent duty on all that are im- Ry | | | i baving Washington’s Opinion of His Detractors Revealed To the Editor of The Star* The two splendid editorials in The Star rveplying to the flippant but libelous charges of Rupert Hughes against the character of George Washington the praise. This writer pretended to have ex- amined into Washington's life “ex- haustively,” finding, among other things, that the First Gentleman of America was an accomplished swearer. Strange that Mr. Hughes never came across this general order to the Army, issued by Washington himself, before the abandonment of New York, when the half-formed Army of Americans, numbering 17,000, was facing a splendidly equipped British force of 30,000: “That the troops may have an op- portunity of attending public worship, as well as to take some rest after the great fatigue they have gone thyough, the general, in the future, excuses them trom fati duty on Sundays, ex- cept at the Whipyards or on special occasjons, until further orders. The general is sorry to be informed that the foollsh und wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing, a vice heretofore little known in an Ameri- can Army, {s growing into fashion. He hopes the officers will, by ex- ample as well as influence, endeavor to check it, and that both they and the men will reflect that we can little hope of the blessing of heaven on our arms if we insult it by our impiety and folly. Added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character desplses it (Orderly Book, August 3.) It would seem from the latter sen- tence we can have Gen. Washington's opinion of Mr. Hughes, as well as the fiction writer's views of Washington. As the anniversary of the First tleman approaches and the scho children, a5 well as children of older growth, celebrate his birth, let it be brought out once again that Wash- ington regurded truth as a supreme virtue; that uprightness of life and conduct were his notable characteris- tics; that reverence for things held sacred and divine was regarded by him, as by the decent of this genera- tion, the sine qua non of a true gen- tleman. ROSS! EDW. MITCHELL. st Motormen Should Also “Respect the Crosswalks” deserve highest We see the legend, “Respect the Crosswalks,” at varfous car platforms and suppose that is g caution to the motorman. The other evening on my way home, T walked down the east side of Tenth street northwest to D, crossed to the west side of Tenth, then crossed D and proceeded to the curb on the Avenue. There I stopped to take knowledge of the situation. There was an aute approaching half way down to Ninth street. There was an up-coming street car just leaving its Ninth street stop. There was no vehicle coming up from the south side of Tenth to cross the tracks and turn up the Avenue. There was a Navy Yard car just crossing Eleventh street coming down. That car I wanted to board. I calculated that I should have time to cross the street and car tracks and reach the loading platform at the moment of the stopping of that Navy Yard car. So I crossed the roadway and the nearer car track, and, just as I expected, was ready to cross the down track as the car stopped, ever mindful of the pedestrian's right of way between the painted lines. But that car did no stop nor even check its speed, but came right on. I was between the two lines of tracks. I could not turn back, as I might be in the way of the up-coming street car. So I turned to make my way by the side of the.moving car intending to pass behind it to the loading platform. As 1 turned something struck my ankle and tripped me. Evidently the up-coming car had not stopped at its platform. As I got on to my feet again, both cars had come to a stop, and I was between them. Then co ductors and motormen were very solic- itous of my welfare. Here was the setting for a tragedy, which would have happened had I allowed myself to become “panicky.” I had made no mistake in my estimate of distance or time, and arrived us I planned just! when the car should have stopped at | the platform, and far enough out in the right of way to be entirely beyond | the end of the platform. Bince the occasion, I have seen sev. eral cars continue past their stopping points without even slowing thelr speed. How is one to know whether a car is to stop or not? How can one plan their time to meet such cases? Cars are scheduled to stop at certain places for the accommodation of the public. How may one know whetber that scheduled stop is to be made or not and not inadvertently risk his life in getting to a desired car if the mo- tormen pay mno attention to the “Re- spect the Crosswalks'” sign? S. CHANDLEE. Distinctive Colors for Car Lines Proposed To the Editor of The Star Would it not be advisable for the good of the public if the trolley|cars had different colors? There are two trolley lines here and both are painted green, one company’s cars a shade darker than the other. Both com- panfes {ssue transfers and such trans. fers are mnot available on the other company's lines. Transients are con- stantly ~ finding that the transfers given them are void on the cars they have taken to continue their journey they have been confused by the simi- larity of coloring on the street cars. Who ean say that, by the present con- fused coloring, thousands of extra fares are not paid unnecessarily? The number of fares must be very great, considering, without exaggeration, every transient will pay two fares in. stead of one until he has learned his 5 iah sh to say, also, that many con. ductors here—perhaps on wcmi’mc of the pressure of work—are very In- different to giving the information where to transfer; the: world to know it. i MICHAEL BLISS. Approves Star’s Model Home Exhibit Program To the Editor of The Star: Congratulations for your timel: - tempt to systematize ang bmuutyyc:ll'» tain parts of town for bulldings better befllfl;s fous Nntlt;lnal City. Your crusag owever, should \\-l;::\elo ity uld include the t us have an expert = tendence of all Imndlng:fI not :: yrtl:r safety of construction, but for general harmony of design and color, and for residential avenues let us (as at Paris) gund neither above nor below a sky ne. This_would save us from further patched bed-quilt squares, where 6 to 10 different colors of houses, with lines yunning raggedly to different heights, compose the coup d'oeil. The uniform light gray color of all Paris adds enormously to ita beauty. M::t t:nlltl;t:z”w Wwe have in our cous stone quif beaut \utmg:x’xm &Puh."“ It is also comparatively cheap, in that it is cut into slabs by machinery and is very abundant. I allude to the In- diana and also the Georgla limestones. Bricks as well as cement are made the same color. Would it not be well for you to consider these symphonies in gray 'l“ conmnefluon Mlz‘h the new build- ings In which you have become in: terested? MRS. JOHN B. HENDERSON. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERI Q What was the last composition played by Haydn’—F, A. Five days before his death Haydn was carried to his plano. He played his own “Hymn to the Emperor. This was the last time he touched his instrument. Q. How many buffalo are there at resent and where i3 the largest erd?—K. D, G. A. The total number of buffalo in North America was estimated in 1924 to be 14,369, The greatest herd in the world the Canadian national herd in Walnwright, Alberta, which num- bers more than 7,000 Q. What {s the most expensive type of road? And name a few of the cheaper ones.—C. G. H. A. Brick roads cost on an average of $44,700 per mile; Portland cement concrete, $38,300 per mile; bituminous concrete, $33,600 per mile; bituminous macadam, $29,100 per mile; water- bound macadam, $17,600 per mile; average of ull types, $16,900 per mile; gravel, $9,900 per mile; graded and drajned, $7,800 per mile; eand clay, $7,400 per mlle. Q. What i{s watchmakers' oil and how is it obtained?—L. N. L. A. Watchmakers’ ofl, the finest of its kind in the world, is obtained from the jaws of the porpoise by the Pas. samaquoddy Indians, who live on the coast of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Maine. The jaws are hung up in the sun, and the oll as it drips from them is caught in cans, placed below. Orly about half a pint comes trom each jaw. The oil commands high prices, and in late vears it has become 8o expensive that its use in the delicate machinery of lighthouses has been abandoned Q. Was the Liberty Bell captured by the British during the Revolution?— E. R. L. A. The bell was not captured. It was hidden in the Delaware River, near Trenton, thereby preserving it from capture by the British. Q. Did the Government ever ex- periment with camels in the American Desert?—P. L. H. A. Two shiploads of camels were brought over in 1836 and 1357 and landed at Indlanola on the coast of Texas. The camel station was estab- lished at Camp Verde, 60 miles west of San Antonio. The project was in charge of the War Department, and Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War, was an ardent advocate of the plan. The experiment was a fallure, not becauss the beast could not live in America, but because of opposition of local ranchmen. After the Civil War many were sold to circuses. Q. What battle was fought two weeks after peace had been concluded at Ghent?—A. H. F. A. The battle of Q. What is a lowboy?—L. A. R. A. This is a small table with one or two rows of drawers, so called in con- tradistinction to the tallboy or double chest of drawers. Both wepe favorite pleces of furniture in the eighteenth century in England and America. The lowboy was generally used as a dressing table, but occasionally as a side table. New Orleans. Q. When will February have five T. G. be five Sundays agall A. There will Sundays In February in 1948, then in 1976, then | in 2004. The regular interval is 28 years. In case of a century inter- vening that s not divisible by 400, the interval is 40 years. Does Woman’s Represent Co Presuffrage days were recalled in ‘Washington recently when 850 mem- bers of the Woman's Party marched to the White House to present a new equal rights petition—a demand for a constitutional amendment which would wipe out existing laws which differentiate between men and women in industry. Much of the newspaper comment that has followed questions whether the Woman's Party actually represents the thought of the coun. try’s women and whether a majority of the women would favor the pro posed amendment. “Here is as strange a grievance as was ever put upon the doorstep of an American President,” declares the Akron Beacon Journal, as it re- calls the fact that “‘a few years ago the country was told that the grant of suffrage to women would solve all thelr problems and correct every inequity directed against them. Analyzing the equal rights amend- ment now being urged by members of the National Woman's Par the Kalamazoo Gazette says: “Its spon- sors argue that the variods State and local laws which regulate the hours and working conditions of women in industry constitute an unfair dis- crimination against the fair sex. They would have women recognized as the equals of men before the law. thus wiping out any existing statutes which are based upon a distinction between the male and male divi- slons of the human rac P Describing the visit to the White House, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle ex- plains that ““They got as far as the executive office, where a subordinate told them that the President was over in the White House proper and would not see them on the Lord's Day, but might grant them an audi- ence later.” “Why so many workers should be ‘protected’ when they are against be- ing protected,” the Brooklyn Daily Eagle finds it very hard to determine. The Muncie Morning Star points out that President Coolidge had no author- ity to grant such a request, but thinks the women should “accomplish much by directing attention to their com- plaint.” This complaint, according to the New York Times, from a study of their petition, seems to be that “‘they have been only sufferers by laws sup- posedly enacted for their benefit. Laws restricting the occupations in which women may engage, the num- ber of working hours per day, and night work have simply handicapped them in competition with men and so narrowed the fleld of women's oppor- tunity.” e o o “Should the amendment be passed, would the women generally be satis: filed?” asks the Bangor Dally Com- mercial, which expresses its belief that “undoubtedly the amendment is being urged in support of principle, but it appears very doubtful if, with its effects thoroughly understood, it would receive the indorsement of the majority of women." The Newark Bvening News also asks, “Do Alice Paul and her associates represent the opinfon of the women of the coun- try?” and the News wants to know “with wlat authority are they trying to have the status of women fixed by the Federal authorities.” Pursuing the same thought, the Milwaukee Journal wants to know whether, if the equal rights amend- ment should pass, “would all the pro- tective legislation that has been built up for woman workers, and mothe: thus be endangered?" The Journ: adds: “The Woman's Party s speak: ing for the professional woman. FPre- sumably she could take care of I self: But could the girl in the fac- tory or the mother who finds hersell with a family that must be supported by her own effert? 8o the National C J. HASKIN. Q. How many trees ere used an nually for tclegraph and telephone poles?—F. R. A. The American Tree Assoclation says that it takes about 5,000,000 tree: yearly to maintain telegraph and tele- phone wires. @ Who 1s the Viceroy of Inala’- . W. C. A. The present Viceroy of India .- Right Ilon. Edward F. L. Wood. Q. Does country?—E. L. A. The mango has besn cultivated to some extent in southern Florida and California. It has been sald that some §-year-old trees in Florida ha borne as many as 6,000 fruits in single season. thle mango grow in thi: Q. How much does & bear cub welgh at birth?—A. V. C. A. At birth a bear cub weighs from 9 to !_2 ounces, which is about 1-200 to 1-260 of its mother's welght. It is about 8 inches long, blind and covered with a dark hair so thin that it Is practically naked. The mothe bear suckles her young as other an mals of this type d ?.. “‘hlnt does Hohenzollern mean” A. The name Hohenzollern is de rived from Castle Zollern, the ances- tral home of the family. The name literally interpreted, therefore, means High Zollern. Q. Which is the largest afrplane ir the world?—H. A-Co 0 2irplane - The Barling bomber is the larg rplane in the world. It is a tr wing spread of 120 fee o capa of 6 tons, allons; an capacity of lons and is by six Lib four is the serate it. Although ing 10,000 pounds of 5,000 is set in the The ‘weight of exceeds 40,000 pounds 1o make 90 est plane specific plane with which miles an hour. Q. What can be done to brighten Sheffleld plate?—H. L. C. > A. Sheffield plate 1s polished In the same manner as sterling amd solid silver. Q. What causes sn to appear all black specks pear on you chemical ac These v silver into th silver are caused by the tion of salt on the silver. be removed by any cream What would you do if you wantel to get a passport, or stop your sh. from squeaking, or build a chick coop, or found @ hospital, or preserie persimmons, or become a diplomat— and you didn't know how? Suppose you wanted to know why the sun looks large at sunset, or what the | cost of living in South’America is, or | the total exports of the United States last year, or the income of the Rocke- fellor Foundation, or who wrot silver Threads Among the Gold”? { Our Washington Information Bureau has answered every ome of these questions and many other and more | dificult ones. It maintains a big steff of experts and correspondents whose | business it is merely to answer ques- tions—your questions. This service is free nd in your question, together with @ 2-cent stamp to cover the re- turn postage. Address The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. C. Party Really untry’s Women Federation of Women's Clubs against the Woman's Party demands In their endeavors, the petitioners “represent real workers who want to | work but are hampered by the laws ‘welfare’ advocates have succeeded in | getting on the statute books for the | various States,” in the opinion of th { Indianapolis_Star, which feels t! as a generdl thing, theorists “vie from a distance the problems they would kolve.” Referring to Miss Paul and her supporters, the Utica Ob server-Dispatch udds, “It must be that these women bLelong to that sturdy | type of Amer! s who were noted fc their self-reliance, and were quite willing to paddie their own canoe. But the Philadelphia Bulletin be lieves: “The cry for sweeping consti tutional amendment to solve the deli- cate and complicated industrial prob em of women's work and wages wi not make an appeal to the American | people.” In the opjnion of the Bridge port Post the Constitution has been amended enough for a while, and the | Post suggests. when legislation such proposed is necessary, “If the States have the power, then work through the States; if the power is lacking in the States and the reform is desirable, then amend the Consti tution. But how often does that situ ation arise? Perhaps once in a cen- tury is * ox ok Suggesting that “women in & pecul- [iar way are dependent upon the spe- cial protection of soclety,” the Hart ford Times argues: “In spite of the independence and robustness of the leaders of the feminist movement, the fact remains that mothers of infants and other obvious classes require pr tection from exploitation which is i evitable without it. These necessary protections in a practical world are as important as some great principles re. garding the ‘equality’ of men and women.” And the Baltimore Evening Sun, advising the President, concludes: “Don't, please don't, slam the door in their determined faces. Let them in. Make them feel at home. Remember, the moment those crusaders become martyTs the two-sex idea is a3 good as You'll be careful now, won't Years of Service Not Fair Retirement Basis To the Editor of The Sta 5 The Star of Saturday, January 2 contdined the view of the New York congressional delegation on _retire- ment legislation. e view was e pressed that employes of the Govern- ment who had served 30 years should be retired because of their advanced age. Employes who have served 30 years may be only 48 or 50, and the view of the New York delegation and the provisions of the Lehlbach bill leave out of consideration that vast number of Government employes of over 60 who have served between 20 years and who would, because of the 30-year provision, be obliged to remain on in Government employ until they reach 30, while their younger and more competent col- leagues, who might have served 30 years, could retire. Surely, years of service alone should not be the one element considered. If the .view ex- pressed be enacted into law, then Federal offices will still be obliged to retain the older employe, and the younger one may retire. The estab- lishment of a uniform retirement age, giving to those who have served the least number of years the smaller annuity would result in uniformity throughout and obviate the ridl | ulous situation of a man on one side Tof a de st 50 because he had served nd the neces. sary retention of the one on the other side, of 68, whe Lud_ served o years. HERBERT NOR