Evening Star Newspaper, February 19, 1926, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. —— WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY......February 19, 1026 THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor TheEvening Star Newspaper Company 11 se S Feuesivania, Ave nd Pen: : New Fork Ofite: 110 Bamt dgnd St. Ohica/ o Office: Tower- Building. Buropean Offce: 14 Regent St.. London, Eog! The Evening Star. with the Sunday morn- tng edition. 1s delivervd by carriere within the city ut 60 cents per month; dally only 45 cents per month: Sunday only, 20 ce month, Orders may be sent by ma'l or Boiepnone Main 8000 Cotlection 1s mads by carrier at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Maryland and Virgini Dally and Sunday. All Other States and Canad: Dally and Sunday.lyr. §12.00: 1 me Daily only .. 13r, $8.00:1mo.. Sunday only . $4.00: 1 mo. Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled 0 the use for republication of all news die atches credited to it or not otherwise cre thiz nover and alwo the local news herein. Al rights of publication Lspatches herein are also reserved. Educators in Session. ‘Washington, the national meeting Place of organizations representing the country at large, is now the scene of assembly of the National Council of State Superintendents and Commis- sioners of Education. This is the first of a series of meetings to be held in conjunction with the National Educa- tion Ass uen, in the course of which fully 15,000 men and women di- rectly engaged in educational work will confer here. Those at present in session are the officers of the States who are charged directly with supervision over educa- tional work. They have a great re- sponsibllity. They direct the adminis- tration of local schools and of institu- tions of higher learning. They do not themselves teach, but they administer the workings of teachers and schools. The course of education in the United States is steadily toward a higher plane of efficiency and practi- cal usefuiness. General scholastic training is accompanied by vocational training. The chief effort is to pre- pare the young people of the country for lines of work in which they will be successful in adult life. The rou- tine of ‘“reading, writing and ‘rith- metic,” the fundamentals of school- ing, is not neglected. But every course of study is shaped to meet the needs of the younger generation as Pprospective participants in the actual work of life. It is the duty of these superintendents and commissioners lation outgrew that kind of water service. There have been surveys of streams for the purpose of building dams across the valleys and creating reservoirs, but with the Potomac close by and Washington's water supply from the river at Great Falls doubled by a new condult, it was reasonable that the Arlington County people would seek connection with the Great Falls-Washington aqueduct. The plan on which the Virginlans lay most stress s that which would tap Dale- carlia, the first reservoir between Great Falls and Washington. ‘Washington outgrew the first Great Falls aqueduct, and after years of agi- now in session here to maintain the balance between courses of study to insure practical development without neglecting the elementary educational lines and to insure an eficient per- sonnel in the teaching staff. Time was when the schools of the country, rural and urban, were pawns of politics. They are now, to a large measure, removed from that category. Politics still plavs a part in educa- tional administration, but to a far less degree than formerly. An intelligent public opinion has been developed in favor of the divorcement of the schools from political influences, with merit as the basis of appointments and promotions, and with the welfare of the children solely in view as the primary consideration. In the course of these meetings ‘Washington will learn much regard- ing the course of education in the TUnited States, and it is to be hoped that Congress will take note of these proceedings. to the end of a more faithful meeting of responsibility as the District’s legislature in providing adequately for the District's schools in all respects. —.——— Washington's birthday will call at- tention to the fact that the Father of His Country may still defy the icono- clasts. He will forever be remem- bered as the man for whom the great- est city on earth was named. —_————— Clncinnatus was summoned from his plow to assume governmental re- sponsibilities. The farmer In politics has not of late succeeded in asserting himself on any such commanding terms. —_——— The films depicting a recent world conflict all agree that it required a remarkable amount of profanity to win the war. ———at— Virginia-Aqueduct Project. The big question with the people of Arlington County is an ample water supply. Two or more bills are pend- ing in Congress for delivery of water from the Great Fal's.-Washington aqueduct to the Arlington County sanitary district, but the Representa- tive from Virginia in whose district Arlington County is has asked the subcommittee which conducted hear- ings on the various bills to concen- trate on that bill which provides for carrying water across Chain Bridge. ‘Washington is interested in the health and comfort of the people who live outside the District of Columbia Iines and in the fast-growing towns of what has come to be called the *“Metro- politan District.”” South and west of the Potomac and beyond the north, east and west boundaries of Wash- ington population is growing fast. In time Washington within the District boundary will be the center of a city extending miles outside the ten-mile square, which was reduced one-third by the retrocession to Virginia in 1846 of that part of the District ceded by Virginia to the Federal Government. In that part ceded by Maryland to the Federal Government the survey lines dividing Washington and Maryland run in many places along streets flanked by houses or through thickly peopled neighborhoods. An increas- ing number of persons who live in ‘Washington during the work day have their homes and familles “across the river” in the beautiful country of high ridges and plateaus that within recent memory was Fairfax County, later Alexandria County, and which is now Arlington County. A tew years ago it was all right for the trans-Potomac people to depend on ordinary wells and springs. Later, various communities sank deep wells, pumped water into high tanks and piped it to homes by gravity. Popu- tation, almost half a century, the con- struction of a second conduit and the building of new reservoirs and en- largement of old reservoirs was be- gun. Washington will grow to be a city which will need all the water brought down from Great Falls by two conduits, but that condition is a £00d many years in the future. Tap- ping the upper reservoir to supply Arlington County and extending Dis- trict .mains to serve the Metropolitan district in Maryland will draw off wa- ter in a large and Increasing volume and will shorten the time when more | water must be taken from the Po- tomac at Great Falls or another point. In discussing-the bill to pipe water across Chain Bridge it ought to be remembered that the security of that bridge s under suspicion, that engi- neers have said the bridge is too old and weak for its traffic and that a bill for a mew bridge at Little Fails is pending before Congress. The matter of the new bridge and the aqueduct frem the upper reservoir to Virginia might be considered together. ———mee— Automatic Light Extension. Extension of the automatic electric traffic light system will be undertaken by the traffic office as soon as funds become available from the first defi- ciency bill. Present plans of the off call for the lights to be from Twelfth street and Massachu- setts avenue to Seventh street and Massachusetts avenue and on Six- teenth street from the present termi- nus at Florida avenue to Park road. This move is only the beginning of an extensive development of the auto- matic tght plan in Washington. As soon as sufficient funds are provided other streets will be similarly treated, and the District is slated to become one of the best regulated traffic cities in the country The success of the light system, measured in factors of safety and ex- pedition, since the change in timing was effected, has led traffic officials to campaign earnestly for extension. Prior to the change to the “pulsating ystem” which now obtains on the two streets some dissatisfaction was manifested by motorisis that expedi- ton of traffic was not accomplished. Since that time, however, universal satisfaction has been expressed with the operation of the lights. Now that it is possible to travel from one end of the automatically regulated streets .o the other without a stop and without the necessity of speeding, there should be a concerted drive on the part of the police to en- force the regulations. Unfortunately, cases have been observed in which motorists have deliberately made a turn against the signal in full view of 2 policeman and ‘‘gotten away with it.” Any infraction of the ‘rule of the lights” is a serious one, as colli- sions are likely to resuit. Instead of immediately relieving po- licemen on duty at light regulated in- tersections, they should be stationed there to watch for flagrant violations of the law. Until there is universal obedience the 100 per cent measure of safety that is the ultimate desire of traffic officials will never be effected, and so it is distinctly up to the Police Department to check violators before the situation grows worse than it is now. —_———— Some of the sensational divorces in high life leave the impression that most of the sentimental agitation was suffered by the public, who eagerly followed the details in print. ———— Prohibition is still looking for some reliable method of padlocking the prin- cipal wholesale sources of liquor sup- ply. The disrepute into which the phrase “‘Hang the Kaiser!” has fallen shows the utter unreliability of “slogans.” A Berlin Cancer Discovery. From Berlin comes word that Dr. Josef Schumacher has announced the discovery and isolation of the cancer bacillus, which he says is extremely large and shaped like the letter S, with nodules at the ends. He declares that it was visible under a microscope magnitying only sixty times and was found in such enormous numbers as to constitute ten per cent of the en- tire mass of cancerous area. The trouble heretofore has been in finding a color solution to make the bacillus visible. It seems extraordinary that so large and so prevalent a bacillus should heretofore escape detection by the numerous researchers who have been for years hunting for it. Dr. Schumacher’'s announcement, there- fore, will be received with reserve, although there is every disposition to welcome it if a genuine discovery has been actually made. The isolation of the cancer bacillus is the goal at present of 2 host of bacteriologists, who recognize that this disease is the greatest menace to life at present. Recently two sclentists in London, Guy and ,Barnard, announced the tdentification of a certain form of germ life with phases of cancer, in terms which indicated progress. They had gained this point through a long, painstaking study, with the invention of a remarkable instrument of mag- nification and photography. Thelr dis- covery was hailed as one of the most definite advances yet made toward cancer isolation. From time to time these “discov- eries” are announced, only to be later discounted and eventually disproved. The good faith of those who declare their attainment of this long-sought goal is not questioned. Their failures have been honest ones. But they have raised false hopes and have caused deep sorrow. The present prayer is that Dr. Schu- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY, macher is right and that he has found the baclllus and that with its discov- ery will come a cure. He thinks that a cure can be found through the stim- ulation of the lymphatic glands, the secretions of which, he declares, are hostile to this malevolent element. e The Utah Disaster. Probably threescore lives were snuffed out by the snowslide in Sap Gulch, Utah, This is one of the most vividly dramatic tragedies that has ever occurred in this country. With practically no warning, countless tons of snow began moving down the steep mountainside, gathering force as it progressed, crushing everything in its path and at the bottom smotherjng a little community. It was all over in a few minutes, then rescue work was started, a Herculean task. Hundreds of men came to the work, digzing with painful slowness into the great mass of snow and debris, death. A very few were rescued alive, spared by miracles of good fortune. This little community lies in a trap of nature, at the bottom of a precipi- tous pair of hills. The town of Bing- ham, which adfoins Sap Gulch, and of which the stricken village is practi- cally a suburb, has been called the narrowest in the world, fifty feet wide and two miles long. It is just a string of houses. The site was not chosen for its advantages. It just grew there because of the location of the copper mines in which the men worked. The flimsy houses offered no resistance to the avalanche. Indeed, it is doubtful whether the most substantial struc- tures could have withstood that ter- rific rush of heavy snow, bearing with it trees and rocks gathered in its move ment down the mountain. Floods have taken their heavy toll of life in this country as dams have burst and loosed impounded waters. Usually these floods pour through nat- ural channels and sweep a long path. In this case the slide was lateral and was spent at the bottom. It only de' stroyed that which was directly in its path. A sudden melting of all the snow in the hills would have caused perhaps o greater disaster, but that would have given warning. In this case the snow simply “let go'* and slid, and it was the misfortune of the little town that it lay right in its course. r——— Palm Beach bathers are moving to draw the line against the common spectator. And yet it is one of the ambitions of aristocracy to impresa populur attention. The newer the aristocracy, the more intense the am- hition becomes. Palm Beach bathers, subtly related as they are to Palm Beach real estate, should be wary of going too far in affronting tbeir pub- Lie. Legislation to reduce taxes is seldom able to show the speed that was mani- fest in the emergency that increased them. ———e——— Baden has about decided, in the case of Bergdoll, that a bad American has not the making in him of a goed Ger- man. ———— Uncle Sam contemplates the World Court with some diffidence, and yet with a sportsmanlike inclination to try anything once. ——————— There are many indications that only to find | THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Mary Roque, back from Florida, sat in her office on the fourth floor of the Essary building, looking out at the skyline of .downtown Washington. ‘While neither so high nor so wide- spread as that of New York, the sky- line of the National Capital (‘of the United States,” as the radlo an- nouncer says) has its peculiar polnts of interest. Mary's bright blue eyes focused on the Capitol, standing gray-white above the jumble of heterogeneous bulldings in the immediate vicinity. “I like Washington better than Florida,” she breathed, and her child- like face, beneath its mass of golden bobbed hair, took on a look such as many young men would have liked to inspire there. None had ever done so. Fraglile, star-eyed Mary loved no man—no, not she—and, for all she cared, none loved her. She was happy with her joyous ac- ceptance of life as she found it. Her work as private investigator kept her busy, and therefore happy, to a large degree, at least. Be busy at something, if it be no more than carrying a cano or twid- dling one’s thumbs—that is one of the greatest secrets in life. Ennuif, bune of the world, is ban- ished by movements, whether physical or mental. Keep busy, and the world is yours! * k% % Rap, tap, rap! As if in respo though's, there came a tapping oftire door. “Come in, Any one from that expected > to her unuttered alled Mary. putside, if he might judge appy voice, would have to gaze upon a charming conditions are stabilizing. It is an en- couraging fact that there has not been a cabinet resignation in a long time. ——————— Old-fashioned fiddlers are now in de- mand. Music as well as science has its archeologists. ——————— Germany is now anxlous to get rid of Bergdoll: which {llustrates the dan- ger of picking up stray pets. ——— e SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Development. The country boy his mark has made In law and in finance. He'll surely lead the grand parade If once he gets a chance. The country boy sbut yesterday Was bashful-like and coy. He is a traffic cop today— Bow to the country boy! Listening Aloof. “Are you fond of grand opera?” “Very,” answered Senator Sorghum. “It sounds like a terrific argument, to which I can listen without being expected by my constituents to participate.” Told in Confidence. I heard a man so very wise. His language filled me with surprise. His erudition seemed immense, Above all simple common sen: Quoth I, “The things you say sound grand. Yet, often, I don’t understand.” He gazed at me and heaved a sigh And murmured, “Friend, no more do L Jud Tunkins says the man who has more money than he knows what to do with is mighty liable to turn out to be one o' these myths you hear so much about. Artistic Strategem. “How did Snake Ridge manage to hold Crimson Gulch up for every- body's valuables?"” “They took a mean advantage,” answered Cactus Joe. “They sent a man around who pretended to work a movie camera and while we was all tryin' to bulge into the picture, they went through the town and helped theirselves.” The Comfortable Eskimo. The Eskimo finds some things nice. In Summer he need buy no ice. In Winter, when the blizzards blow He never stops to shovel snow. “Money talks,” sald Uncle Ebén. “And in addition, it plays de ukulele and de saxophon The Changing Landscape. From the Long Beach Press-Tclegram. What is so rare as a block without one or more gasoline service stations in it? Good Old Dobbin. From the Boston Transcript. After all, a good horse can pull his legs out of a deeper snowbank than *a motor truck can. " creature. He could so judge. J. Jeffery Locksmith did. Locksmith was the proprietor of the firm of .I. Jeffery Locksmith & Co., re- tailers of the celebrated *Hot Dog" phonographs and records. Matters had not been going so well with records recently, so the pro- prietor had thought he would look up \ary Roque, “the girl who helps you out.” He opened the door, in response to her call. and stepped into what seemed to him 2 most unusual office The first thing he saw was Mary herse'f, with a quizzical smile lighting her face. She was seated in a small Windsor chair of mahogany hehind a mahogany desk, on which flowering bulbs stood | 1zed pots of deep blue Behind her an ordinary office win- dow had been transformed, by gold gauze, into a bower of light.' which shed its refulgence upon Mary's light hair and across her desk Draperies of delft blue framed the lght s J. Jeffery Locksmith gasped > thought of his bare, : ¢ despite—or proh “latest thing” in Jeffery to himself. he Inquired politely, * ¥ ok ox Mr. Locksmith,” replied J. Jeffery started. of surprises. ‘How did you know me?” “Wor!' you he seated?’ asked Mary. realizing that she sounded for It was his day at the | all the world like the interlocutor in_an old-time minstrel show. Locksmith sat down in & small ma- hogany chair. The chair gave him a feellng of insecurity, but in that he was mistaken. The chair was strong enough to hold an elephant. “Why, I buy your records, you smiled star-eyed Mary. “You look rather—er—young, if I may say so,” mused the red-faced proprietor of J. Jeffery Locksmith & Co. “Don't let that worry you, Mr. Locksmith,” sald Mary, severely prim. her easy smile vanished. “Iron bars do not ‘a prison make, nor lack of customers a good balance at the end of the mont! And she smiled. It was J. Jeffery's turn to gasp in earnest this time. This youns woman, without a word from him, had divined the intent of his visit to her. “I guess you'll do.” he finally sald, his features relaxing into an em- barrassed smile. ©You seem to know all about me." “No,” said Mary, her smile like u benediction. No, 1 know mothing about you—but I do know something about your store. Isn't that’ what you came to see me about “Yes, It certainly is. I suppose 1 ought to see an efficiency expert, or some such sort of chap, but I hite ‘em “You don't need efficier as vou do common sense, if you will me to say plied vith one of her famous sn which took the sting entirely out. x koK * J. Jeffery Locksmith had nothing to say at all. He looked at the young woman helplessly. For weeks, now, the sale of records in his store had dropped. His listening booths, former- ly crowded every afternoon with young people of fox-trotting proclivi- ties, now saw only a few people in an afternoon. Customers recently had been made up largely of elderly people whd want- ed some of the old-time hymns. Where formerly the strains of ‘‘Asbestos Sam” und “Stovepipe Blues” cracked the glass sides of the booths, “Nearer, iod, to Thee,” und “Rocked in the of the Del d sway. J. Jeffery Locksmith personally pre ferred the hymns— but there had been 4 great deal more money in the trot records. “Asb Sam” s 100 to 1 against the st hym that had ever been sung. Devotion + poor second to motion, in the nograph record business These sud thoughts swirled around in the head of the proprietor of the v ksmith & Co. retailers records, 4s he sat moodily looking at Mary Roque, the girl he had doubted because she looked s young. “You see, Miss Roque,” he admit ted, “I came here expecting to find : thindipped woman with eyes like gin lets——" v grinned. instead, 1 =0 wuch &1 find — why, me just you'' roared Locksmith greatly relieved—because he had been about to declare “a peach. “Thank you, very much, Mr. Lock smith,” smiled Mary. “And now let us get down to business.” WASHINGTON .OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE President Coolidge, though he has never been really “sick” in his whole life, is finding himself as susceptible as lesser mortals to the germs of bronchial and catarrhal affections so prevalent this Winter. He is particu larly subject to “Summer colds.” One | that overtook him in 1924 was not baffled till the doctors of the chemical warfare service dosed the President with chlorine gas. Immedlately fol- lowing his return from Swampscott last year, Mr. Coolidge had a touch of something remotely resembling hay fever. If the White House physician could prescribe any one course of health regime for the President, which 50 far they've been unable to impose | upon him, it would be an outdoor | sport of some kind. To all such sus- gestions heretofore Mr. Coolidge has turned an almost impatiently deaf ear. He considers such things as horseback riding and golf time-wast- ing. Walking is the only ‘game’ the President thus far has been in- duced to play. * ok ok * confreres of the diplomatic corps, of which he has now been dean for a year, are busily speculating over the real reason for the return to Madrid of Senor Don Juan Riano, the Spanish Ambassador. Officially, Senor Riano has been recalled to at- tend a “‘conference of Spanish ambas- sadors.” But except on occasions of momentous emergency, European governments are not accustomed ta hold such conclaves. Another sug- gested reason is that Senor Riano has not been to Madrid since he was first stationed at Washington, in Decem- ber, 1913. Senora Riano is a former Miss Alice Ward of Washington. The United States has some rather deli- cate commercial treaty negotlations pending with King Alfonso’s govern- ment, It may be that the Spanish au- thorities desire to consult Senor Riano regarding certain snags that have arisen in that connection. As far as is publiclv known, the Ambassador's status at Madrid is high. But the envoy's colleagues in Washington for the moment are mystified by his re- call. His * ok kK Louis Wiley, business manager of the New York Times, was a visitor to Washington this week and made two important calls. One was at the White House, where he paid his re- spects to the President. The other was at the House Office Building, where Wiley went to shake ‘hands with a Congressman who once black- ed his boots. The latter is Repre- sentative Meyer Jacobstein, Demo- crat, of Rochester, N. Y., who was a “newsy” on the streets of that city 30 years ago, when Wiley was bw- ness manager of the Rochester Pokt- Express. Jacobstein recalled that while the union rate for a shine in 1895 was only a_nickel, Wiley was celebrated far and wide in the news- {entertaln a representative party boy fraternity because he always in- ietad on paying a dime. “We thought it particularly generous,” the Con- gressman explained to the Napoleon of the publishing world, “because you had a small foot.” * K K ¥ s When Senator Hiram Johnson has to evacuate Calvert Manor, across the Maryland line, and make way for its new owner, Senator Caraway of Ar- kansas, the Californian will take with him a faithful old Chinese servitor, “Joey,” who has worn the Johnson livery for more than 30 years. All of the politiclans who have accepted Johnsonian hospitality in San Fran- cisco and Washington q'urms that ong interval know ‘‘Joey' almost as well as they know Hiram. The Chi- naman helped the Johnson family out of a tight hole during the San Fran- cisco fire 16 years ago. Banks were not doing business for several days, and citizens who hadn’t a bank roll on them were out of luck. The John- sons found themselves in that unhap- py plight. But “Joey” came to the rescne with $35 that he seemed in the habit of carrying around in his socks. * ok * ¥ Hand-shaking delegations at the ‘White House have not for a long time been so picturesque as the one this week that included 12 or 15 honest-t goodness American Indians. They were Arapahoes and Cheyennes from Oklahoma, here for a hearing on some Indian project pending before Con- gress. The Cheyenne chief bore rame that didn't fit in very well wit “Stlent Cal.” It was Magpie. White House attaches of ancient vintage never see Indians coming to pay re- spects to the “Great White Chief” without recalling a yarn Roosevelt loved to tell on himself. Before lea ing office T. R. thought he'd like to of In- dian chiefs from the Western reserva- tions. They came to Washington in kala attire—feathers, blankets, toma hawks and the rest of it. The colonel made them a great speech. It was interpreted to the redmen sentence by sentence. “Teddy” noticed that after every translation there'd be i chorus of grunts sounding something like “Bush-wah! Bush-wal When the seance was over, the President asked the interpreter what “bush-ws meant. "It means ‘bunk,’ Mr. Presi- dent,”” was the reply. T. R. snorted with glee. * & ok ok Arthur G. Sorlle, Governor of North Dakota, spent most of the week in Washington. Naturally his headqua; ters was the office of young Senato Gerald P. Nye, upon whose shoulders Sorlie placed the toga a few weeks ago. The governor is happy to find the editor-statesman making good at the Capitol, according, at least, to everything Sorlie can find out about his protege. “Gerald asked me the day he left the statehouse at Bis- marck,” Gov. Sorlle told this writer, “what I expected of him at Washing- ton. ‘Be vourself,’ I said. And he seems to be delivering the goods.” Senator Nye, who has just been nom nated: for both the short and long senatorial terms by the ‘‘progressive Republicans” of North Dakota, will face in the primaries on June 30 the “regular Republican,” who was Cool- idge manager in the State in 1924. He is former Gov. Louis B. Hanna. * koK K An organization calling itself the “American Association Agalnst the World Court” has been engaged in an intensive campalign to see that Senator Borah's speech in Chicago on Wash- ington’s birthday is delivered before a thumping big crowd. The executive committee of the assoclation is headed by former Judge Daniel F. Cohalan of New York, long prominent in the Sinn Fein movement in the United States. The Sinn Feiners, who have dwindled into a hopeless minority among Amer- icans of Irish’ extraction, are still ir- reconcilable on the Irish Free State. They battle ceagelessly for Irish “free- dom.” So as the Free State govern- ment entered the League of Nations, all and sundry associated therewith, including the World Court, enjoys the enmity of Irish-Americans of the Cohalan type. (Copsright, 1926.) Government Clerks Faithful Workers To the Editor of The Star: The letter of the Hon. M. L. Davey to the secretary of the American Fed- eration of Labor is a base fabrication, to say the least, and a great injustice to the Government clerks in Washing- ton and elsewhere. I was a clerk in the Post Office Department for two and a half years and in the Treasury Department for 15 years. Previous to that I had been an accountant in New York City for 40 years. So I am competent to judge faithful workers when I see them, and I will say that the clerks in both departments were faithful and hard workers. The let- ters that the member of Congress re- fers to no doubt were written by dis- ‘gruntled employes, of which there are always some in all departments and business offices as well. The retire- ment bill for an increase 18 a just bill, and I believe the members of Congress so regard it. CHARLES F. WRIGHT. New Haven, Conn. FEBRUARY' 19, 1926. Increased Annuities Only Measure of Justice To the Editor of The Star: 'On June 80, 1925, the number of enrolled annuitants was 11,689. Of that number 7,267 served 30 years only. All of these were benefited, some less and others more, by the general increase in salaries which took place soon after the act of May 22, 1920, became effective. Those whose terms of service (30 yeais) did not expire until the fifth year after the retirement law became effective were not only benefited by larger compensation for services rendered, but by the assurance of larger an- nuitles, because of the larger average annual basic salaries received by them ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. What three occupations rank highest as muscle developers?—O. L. G. A. It s not possible to select any three definitely. Among the strong- est men in ordinary occupations are stevedores, moving-van men and steel workers—the big fellows known as puddiers. Q. We hear so often of rich In- dians. How many of them actually have bank accounts?—A. D. T. A. There are approximately 4,493 individual Indians with cash balances In banks ranging from $1,000 up to 200,000 or over, and there are thou sands of Indlans with deposits to their during the flve years next preceding retirement than they would have re- ceived had thelr terms of service ex- pired immediately or soon after May 22, 1920. But 4,422 of those 11,689 served faithfully and well, periods in excess of 30 years, varying from 1 to 20 years, but were removed from serv- Ice when or soon after the act of May 22, 1920, became effective, and were thus deprived of the benefits which would have accrued to them from the general increase in salaries; hence these 4,422 wers not only deprived of increased compensation for equal serv- ices rendered, but will be deprived of increased annuitles because their aver- age annual basic salaries during the five years next preceding retirement were not increased (H. R. 7), in add!- tion to which they are to be deprived of credit for time served in excess of 30 vears The daily decreasing number of this class will soon disappear, after which the provisions of H. R.'7 will prob- ably be acceptable to all. Meantime, is there one conscience within the range of governmental authority that would disregard the moral rights, o plainly apparent, of this smaller and equally meritorious class? It is claimed that, although the annuitants of this class are to be deprived of credit for time served in excess of 30 veurs and have been de- prived of increased compensation, and hence of ing sed annuities, section 7 of H. R. 7, if approved by Congress, will provide equal means for the com- fortable maintenance of those ‘re tired under the provisions of the act of May 22, 1920." ‘Hope springs eternal, etc but hope deferred maketh the heart M. POTTER. Local Bridges Must Be Made Safe for Traffic To the Editor of The Star: Few people realize that the bridges in Washington are deathtraps for mo- orists. During the past year three coidents e occurred on bridges spanning Rock Creek Park alone ery one still recalls the details of the Klingle Bridge episode, to which has been added the recent tragedy. The third recorded accident occurred when a car went through the railing ¢ the “Million-Dollar Bridge” and hung over the side thereof, the driver being saved only by the grace of God. How many more tragedies must oc cur before something will be done to safeguard the lives of c Is it realized that thou ple living north of the Klin Bridge have to s two bri s daily on their way into town—the Klingle ind “Million Dollar.” or the Klingle 'nd Calvert Street Bridges? Think of the lives that d going over those two anti the Klingle and C Director of Traffic Lidridge is re- ported to have said that if the car in the latest accident had slowed down to eight miles an hour in accord with | the sign on the bridge the accident \mn,hl not have occurred. How ab- a! Isn't it bad enough to compel citi- ens to travel over old, rusty, and out- | rn bridges? Must they be furthe: compellsd to visualize the immens: of the drop below to the tune of eig miles an hour? Apprehension as the safety of, let us say, the Calvert treet Bridge (to mention only one to . and’ the generul psycholc itomobile driver is to ne stance acro: as traffic and r permit. It was also reported that follawing the Klingle Bridge accident Director ldridge recommended that the Klin le and Calvert Street Bridges be pro- vided with curbs 12 inches high on either side of the sidewalk. Had this been done, Mr. FEldridge stated, | Thursday's ‘accident would not have oceu Well, if this is the case, is responsible for t tune? One is mo How many tragedies must we have, how Jarge the toll of life. befc an apathetic public will be moved action? DOROTHY C. FOX. iate | s it about as quick sonable caution \\111' who, then, misfor- Boy Scouts Make Good Citizens of Tomorrow To the Editor of The Star The Washington Council of the Boy routs of American wishes to to vou its heartfelt thanks and appreciation for your timely edi- torial on February 13 entitled “The Pioneers’ Worthy Successors.” The council feels that vou have struck the keynote. If the men of today of from 35 to 65 vears of age had “learned while learning was fun” the principles of ty, truth, obedience and chivalry taught to the Boy Scouts, the council believes that there would be more obedience to law, more love of fair play and fewer heart breaks through broken homes than at present. These men would have too many big things to think of to have time to dwell Upon the mean and petty side cf e. The great need of the Scout move- ment in Washington is for more scoutmasters to help organize troops and train_Scouts. There are 25,000 boys in Washington of Scout age and we can enroll nearly all of them if we can get our story to the young men of scoutmaster caliber of this city who earnestly desire to offer their services somewhere or some- how, but to whom the right oppor- tunity has not yet presented itself. L. A. SNEAD, President. Disposition vs. Ability. From the Santa Roea Press Democrat. “If you are dull and have a good disposition,” says a well known edu- cator, “you get along better than if you are bright and have a rotten dis- position.” There 1§ a bit of wisdom that should be driven into the mind of every boy and girl. Youngsters often imagine that the mind is everything, and men- tal ability and education are all they need.” Sometimes they learn late in life, to their sorrow, that tempera- ment and character count more, not merely in personal satisfaction but in material success. Analyze the business and profes- slonal men you know, and see if this isn't true—whether agreeableness isn't more important than brightness? The two combined, of course, make the big successes. A good disposition can be cultivated. It can also be helped by anything im- proving the state of health. No Nostalgia for Ponzi. From the Bristol Herald Courler. Having been indicted by a Florida ind jury, Ponzi begins te feel at iome down there, { tions that the sh credit ranging below $1,000. Q. Which division of the A. E. F. recelved the most regimental cita- tions and participated in the greatest number of offensives?’—L. L. A. Credit for battle participation is not given to divisions, but to regl- ments composing the divisions. None of the regiments of the United States divisions in the American Expedition- ary Forces in France served in more than three offensive operations. The following divisions served in three offensive operations: 1st Division, 2d Division, 3d Division, 4th Division, 26th Division, 28th Division, 32d Di- vision, 42d Diviston and 80th Division. The greatest number of operatlons, both’ offensive and defensive, credited to the regiments of a United States division during the World War 15 five, credited 10 the regiments of the 3d Division. The greatest number of battle honors given to any regiment of United States divisions during the World War is seven, awarded to the . 3d Division. The Tth Infantry of the 3d Division is credited with lle de France in addition to the credits given above. Q. Did the Government pay the re- offered for the capture of the as- sassin of President Lincoln?—W. A. WL A. The United States Governmen paid $30,000 to be divided among 2 soldiers and 3 officers for the capture of Booth, who assassinated Lincoln. Boston Corbett, sergeant, was paid $3.300 as his share for shooting Booth. This amount was pald about 1885 after the other conspirators were captured. Q. Has the Government met with success in eradicating the pratrie dog in such States as Wyoming?—D. C. A. The Department of Agriculture says that less than a dozen live pr rie dogs could he found in Nioh Coun ‘Wyo., this Fall over an area that had been almost solid prairie dog towns for a stretch of 20 miles in one direction and 48 miles in the other. Extensive and unremitting warfare has been waged since 143 in this s all but exceeding active pest, with the result that today native hay has been cut from land formerly Mddled with & mounds, ine flelds have heen grown on lar worthless prairie dog cc ony only a few vears ago. Q. Do v tourists visit Quebec. Canada?— the tourist season of utomobiles entered the province of Quebec from tha United States ~nd other Canadian proy 'his estimate has been prepured by the Quebec Automobile Club, which its information from official d semi-official sources. On the basis of four persons to a car, it would ap pear that 1,000,000 persons came into the province of Quebec by automobile during the past season. Each of these is estimated to have spent at least $20. Quebec, therefore, benefited to the extent of §: Q. What cit < capita use of electric: M. F. A. It is said that New York Ci has the greatest per capita or “densit use of electrical energy of any city i the world. The city generates and | pole’w uses approximately 10 per cent of all the electric energy generated iIn the United States. It uses more electrical energy than is used by 12 European countries combined, having an aggre- gate population of about 110,000,000 people. Q. What causes droplets of water to form on the top of meringue’— A. Meringue forms sirup because 00 much sugar has been used. For pies the correct proportions are from one to five tablespoonfuls of sugar to each egg white. Q. Is the water of the Hudson River salt as far north as New York City extends?—J. S. M. A. There is a slight indication of salt in the Hudson River as far up as Troy. However, this varles with floods. In case of floods the tides push the sea water back and the salt water does not go very far up. With- out floods, however, the water is brackish as far up as Troy. Q. To what use are canceled stamps put other than making stamp collec- tions?—M. G. A. The Post Office Department sax that canceled stamps have no valie other than philatelic value. checkers?—F. . | . The game of draughts or check- ers is said to be of the greatest an- tiquity. Pleces of checker boards and men have been found in tombs of Egyptian rulers of a date not later than 1600 B.C. Some of these are at present preserved in the British Museum. Homer in his “Odyssey speaks about this game being played by the suitors of Penelope. invented Iroguois Confederation formerly oc- ing the shores of Cayuga Lake, Q. If two cars were in the mud, one with 30x313 tires and the other sim!- lar car with 38x4 tires, which would pull out better?—W. A. A. The 33x4 tiree would pull out easier than the 30x3% tires, as they would have more traction area. Q. Is it more economical to make bread than it is to buy {t?—C. J. A. When material, fuel and labor are considered, the price differs ver little. If the housewife places n value on her time and if the stove he hot anyway, it is more economical to make bread at home. Q. What does a totem pole signify? A. The Tndians of sout have for generations used the t pule as the symbol o0 portant in their socis are three kinds of these the pe al pole shc alogy of an second, the hich could be erected to com- memorate some great event in an In- dian's life; the third, a kind of tomb- stone. The most powerful members of a tribe might have had the tallest pol Some of the standards of the great Indians have stood 60 feet or more in height. There are totem poles which represent higher caste than others. The resources of the National Capi- tal provide more information of every Kind than can be found in any other place in the world. Fortunately, this enormous volume of knowledge is available to the erpert in research We are organized to get it. The mails will carry it wherever it is needed. The Evening Star Information Bureau was established for the purpose of | making this enormous body of knowl- edge accessible to you. Ask whatever you want to know and send £ cents in stamps for return postage. Address The Evening Star Information Bu- reau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. C. Does Wizardry Qualify Religious Teacher? Newspaper comment atement s a widespread feeling plant wizardry is not a prime qualification for a teacher of religion. There have been numerous sugges. maker should k< 1o his last. Yet some observers find the famous naturalist, in his refusal to believe in hell-fire and his faith in nature and the present world. no more of an infidel than many persons_ac d as orthodox > far,” remarks the Utica Ob. Dispatch, “the white-hair wizard has startling or upsetting to the faith of thousands. Modernists have said as much from numerous s, The last article of Mr. Bur credo is even more llkely to strike a popular chord—Tet us have one world at a time. Let us trust the rest as we trust life’ One world at a time is sound doctrine and good sense. This belief makes for the kingdom of heaven on earth, v purpose of all religions.” * ox W ox This is the Tulsa World's view: on Luther £ his re “While, last Sunday, Burbank talked | of love and of birds, and flowers and trees, and people, in the terms of one who found good and pleasure in all of them, the ministry was whooping it up in blazing scorn of this same man who dared to tread ground on which he had no business. We hold no brief for Burbank, but he, In his gentle wonder as to man, his place in na- ture, his importance in the universe. and his honest search for truth, comes much nearer to realization of the es- sence of the teachings of the mean Jesus than do his critic: “The blaze of indignant controversy’ is accepted by the Lincoln State Jour- nal as evidence of “‘emotion more than intellect,” and the Journal suggests that “when Burbank expresses a dis- belief in a lteral hell-fire and other things of like nature, he is only doing what many of the so-called orthodox churches did In effect a generation or two ago. “It is too bat the Chicago Trib- une, however, observ: “that Bur- bank’s dictum concerned religion. Man's raligious beliefs are best let alone. He who has a firm religious conviction is fortunate. He has a staff to support him through life, and, when death comes, an expectation of happiness instead of fear of the un- known.” Surprise i3 expressed by the Portland Oregon Journal that ‘“he who has been a privileged partner in the creative processes of nature” should have “consulted the method and the result more than the cause.” The Journal describes the attitude as “bewildered groping, which is char- acteristic of a generation,” and sug- gests that Burbank “might have seen that a spineless cactus or any cactus, an improved potato or any potato, could not be unless a vast and direct- ing inteiligence was back of the cell and the form it takes in growth.” x ¥ * * “It is more than a pity—it is some- thing_of a misfortunt declares the New York Times, “that the very emi- nent and successful horgiculturist 'sud- denly has taken to tfalking about things concerning which he is no bet- ter authority than anybody else. His personal opinions as to immortality | have gained some attention merely because he long since proved himself | better able than most people to select one promising seediing from 10,000. And the Syracuse Heraid exclaims: ‘““Why, oh, why, do so many of our fllustrious sclentists and inventors kl 1 is the primary | With Plants stubbornly refuse ‘stick to their » \Why does the wizard Bur- sigh for impossible worlds to conguer when he manages so well in a sphere of achievement in which he the admiration of millions of his trymen unvaried by a single note strange kink in’ human continues the Lynchburg “that makes most men, how- noted they may be in ona fleld, recognition in another. Just n is sometimes moved things about which son to believe ha knows any more than anyhody else, Burbank recently moved to talk about the of the universe and things ie realn of rationalism. The result was hardly gratifving to his ad- mijrers. It i 1 foolish proverb, that which the shoemaker to stick_to hi Similarly the Bay City Times Tribune holds that “plants, not religion, are Burbank's trade; be. cause he works wonders with the soll is no sisn that he can work wonders with the sky The Canton Daily News, remarking that “Burbank has gone back to his plants to meditate.” expresses the hope “that both he and his plants will benefit.” x ok % K With a tolerant attitude, the Wichita Beacon suggests that “per- haps the country takes too seriously the rather iconoclastic views of Mr. Burbank on religlon,” and recognized that “there is a great temptation on the part of every man who has been successful in one line to take his suc- cess as a mandate to tell all other branches of human activitles how to conduct affairs. All of these various phenomena of successful men,” the Beacon adds, “have a tendency to help entertain the world. It is refreshing sometimes to recelve new points of view, even though they are not based on_experience or study The Berkshire Evening Eagle also sees Injustice in criticizing the sclen- “A man llke Luther Burbank.” this Massachusetts paper, *‘mi be gentle, kind and loving in his life: he may contribute vastly to the scors of knowledge; he may work hand in hand with God for vears in the de- velopment and beautification of His handiwork; he may be generous, whole-souled, charitable and just; he may square In every way with our conception of human lUving at its best; he may spread the fame of our land to every nation and to every clime and flll the earth with the splen- dor of his manhood, but let him inter- pose an honest doubt and he is a faker and a faithless materialist.” nature. News ever comment on Reverence for the Law Should Be Manifest To the Editor of The Star: The eighteenth, or prohibition amendment to the Constitution of the United States, it is generally known was adopted under article 5 of suid Constitution, which requires a tw thirds vote of both houses of ti: Congress, also ratification by three fourths of the several States. This being o, the eighteénth amendment stands equal in authority with any other part of the Constitution, and is subject to obedience by &ll of our people. As the great, immortal Lin- coln said of laws generally, “Let rev- erence for the law become the po- litical religion of the Nation."” EDWIN 1. SHOPE.