Evening Star Newspaper, February 26, 1926, Page 8

8 THE EVENING STAR ‘With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY......February 26, 1926 THEODORE W. NOYES. .. .Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd St. Chicago Office: Tower Building. Buropean Office. lllfizlzrul St., London, Kiand: The Evening Star. with the Sunday morn- sng edition, fs delivered by carriers within the city at' 60 centa per month: daily only, 45 cents per month: Sundas only, 20 cents per month_ Orders may he sent by mall or telephone Main 5000 Collection is mado by carrier ut the end of each month Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virg Dally and Sunday....1yr. $0.00: 1 mo., The Daily only L1¥r $8.00: 1 mo’ 50 Sunday only 131 $3.00: 1 mo., 25¢ All Other States and Canada. Daily and Sunday.1 yr.$1°00: 1 mo., $1.00 Datly only 1 SK00:1mol 75 Sunday only " $4.00:1mo. 35¢ Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press in exclusively entitled o the use for republication of all news dis atehes credited to it or not otherwian cre td in this paper and nleo the local news i 1l riehts of publication herein are also reserved. Bootlegger Permits. Traffic Director Eldridge is seriously considering a plan to reject the appli- cations of convicted bootleggers when new automobile operators’ permits are jssued next July. He believes that the term ‘“mentally, morally and physlcally fit” in the traflic code shows clearly the intention of Congress to deny permits to persons having a po- lice record. Tn furtherance of this plan the traf- fic director has prepared a list of ap- proximately two hundred bootleggers in the District who have been con- vieted in court, and he expects to add the bootlegger classification to the other classes of operators who will he refused permits in the weeding-out Pprocess next Summer. No one, except, of course, the boot- leggers, c with Director Eldridge's me to rid the streets of this cla drivers The hootlegger ace to all quarrel me: are elin A hootleg trafii *goods of motc heavt! There make pe the vigilanes of the that his car, louded But that only speed and recklessness more es- it his journey Is to be com- without appre n by law Knowing that he is breaking no compunction in respect for is to get his regardless lking and | Knows A al to * : g B aws, 1 Tie realizes to| capac mak sent plete officers one 1 also ty, is unwieldy. its the | oak most cer- n the debris fs! traffic director's also persons of swep in the classificn victed of u tially Liind, v tion con- hter, persons par-| to read cla nd insue per: 15 should and 1ded fncom upldity zeneral reck lessnes Wa next . ton. by Lea . can set the pace for a new era in traflic 1t can, it the re; tions g ning the issuance of permits are held literally to the letter of the law, eliminate a great class of undesirable drivers from the streets of the city. It is estimated by the tratfic office that more than 12,000 persons are operaling automobiles in this city whose permits should be re- voked. These 12,000 and possibly a great many more should be placed on the blacklist; examination should be rigid; permits should Le refused for cause without fear of reprisal from any source, and Washington should be | cleansed of the scourge of reckless, criminal, fncompetent, insane, blind, | deat, one-legged, one-armed and stupid automobile drivers. ———e— The pathway of the present German politicians might be more clear if It were not so plain that the Hohen- | zollern family still retains e consid- erable pull. it con ns. The Vice President’s Gavel. Yesterday the senior Senator from Missour took occasion to rebuke the Vice President as presiding officer of the Senate for what he characterized as the application of gag-rule. The day preceding, at the close of the pro- ceedings on the tax bill, the Senator from South Carolina moved to reject the conference report and discharge the conferees on the part of the Sen- ate from further consideration of the bill. One Senator moved to lay that motlon on the table, and another simultaneously made a point of order that a negative vote on a motion to concur would effect non-concurrence in the same manner as the Senator trom South Carolina wished to reach it. The Vice President ruled the mo- tion to non-concur out of order. The senator from South Carolina insisted on his motion, and stated that if it was ruled out of order, which it had wiready been, he would appeal from the decision. The Vice President said: The chair_has held the motion out of order. The question is, Shall the decision of the chair stand in that ruling as the judgment of the Senate? The question was put, and, accord- ing to the Record, “the decision of the chalr was sustained.” The vote was then taken on the conference report, which was concurred in by a vote of 61 to 10. In the speech of rebuke yesterday the senior Senator from Missouri said that the Senator from South Carolina had “demanded the yeas and nays, but the motion was literally gaveled out of the Senate while he was demanding the yeas and nays and the chair was insisting upon putting the question.” He gave warning that ‘“the gavel will not be used In the Senate to shut off the rights of the members.” The Record does not show that the yeas and nays were demanded, but it does show that the motlon was put 10 the Senate en sustjining the deci- sion and that the chair was sustained. A yeaand-nay vote may have been prevented by the expedition with which the question was put, but there 18 no evidence that anybody was “gav- eled” out of his rights. Indeed, a read- ing of the Record will show that all was done in order and that time was saved, the final vote on agreeing to the conference report being a definite answer to the question raised by the motion to non-concur. The expedition of business in the Senate is greatly to be desired. Par- liamentary punctilio is of less impor- tance than promptness in reaching de- cisions. The purpose of the Vice President s to get a maximum of re- sults with a minimum of procedure consistent with propriety. In this he has the unquestionable support of pub- lic opinion. —ra————— Keep the Films Clean! An organization styled the Motion Picture Theater Owners of America, representing, it is stated, about eighty per cent of that industry, yesterday started @’ movement to bar from the films a woman who has just been given a wide publicity of an undesir- able character. Held at Ellis Island as one who, confessing to “moral tur- pitude,” should not be admitted to the United States under the immigration law, then admitted by writ pending a court hearing, she was immediately glven a prominent place in the news through her attendance at a theatrical party, at which the chief feature of “entertainment” was, it is alleged, the bathing of an unclothed chorus girl in a tub of wine, participants in the party then. according to the tale, drinking the wine of the bath. De- nials of the details have been entered, but the story stands, nevertheless. Now the theater owners, through their association, have protested against the admittance of this noto- rious woman to the films. They In- clude all “publicity-mads” persons. They characterize the theater party as & “publicity stunt.” “Keep the countess, or any other publicity-made person, out of plctures for the sgen- al welfare of the industry,” suys the sident of the organizatior nless ossess what film folk call’ ar- This is a wholesome sign. Unques- tionably there would be a rush to this particular person in the movies, for there are many people who delight in the portrayal of noto £ far below standard, re would for a short time bs patronage. But every time 4 bid 1s made for popularity the mo tion picture industry loses ground, and evidently the owners of the theaters, whose erwanization has acted with commendable promptness, real- ize that in order to hold the public support thelr houses must net be e ploited for these occasional displa vulgarity and unwholesome noto- just of Motion pieture udiences, as a rule, know good pluys and good acting. A Poorly constructed and a poorly acted win public support. eadlly the standard of judgment has the development of this en- nt industry began, and it 1s now to find the owners of T ture theaters, whose in- e equal to those of the pro- nd distributors, taking this stand agalnst the abuse of the public nfidence through the exploltation of sirable people, who have gained £ meretricious notorlety. ————————— Mexico apparently cares little for the scandal, so long as the United Stites newspapers, so generous In the matter of free advertising, continue to publish all the Tia Juana racing news. R A Belated Protest. ‘The local division of the American Automcbile Association has filed a be- lated renuest for reconsideration by the Houre District committee of the amendment to the traffic law which provides fcr the use of revenues from operators’ permits for completion of the automatic electric control system. The assoclaticn also objects, according to its representative who appeared be- fore the committee, to Ythe wording of the amendment which gives the traffic director additional authority in revo- cation of permits. This action was taken despite the fact that the bill has been reported by the committee and is pending on the House calendar; that the Commission- ers, the director of traffic, citizens’ associations, and motorists and pedes- trians have expressed themselves in favor of it; and that the provisions of the bill call for a speedy reform in two of Washington’s most serious traffic evils, lack of funds to effect im- provements and the weeding out of the i{ncompetent army now operating automobiles in this city. Is the American Automobile Asso- clation willing to put itself on record against a practically unanimous pub- lic opinion in faver of qiick action on the traffic measure? Is the assocla- tion, & private and commercial organi- zation, attempting to dictate to Con- gress, the Commissioners and the peo- ple of Washington the use to which revenue should be put? Is the as- sociation condoning the use of the streets by persons arrested for flagrant violations of the traffic law, but who have by legal trickery es. caped trial? Or is the association, by the lateness of its request, merely making a bid for publicity? Basing its protest on the “principle involved” in ‘“‘perverting” the license fee measure into a revenue measure, the association states that it considers the amendment will set & viclous precedent in the various States. There is unquestionably merit in the theory that an operator’s permit is merely an identification card for the police and that it should be issued as cheaply as possible, and its issuance should not be a means of taxing mo- torists. But In this case there has been no attempt to change the price of the permit, no attempt to make a source of revenue out of it. If the assoclation, at the proper time and proper place, had requested the House District committee to lower the rate for each permit according to the cost price, its position would have been a good deal stroneer. But Jt does a0l take this aotion. J¢ undy br | possible | street and THE EVENING BTAR, WASHINGTON, D. walits until the last moment and pro- tests the using of the money ralsed by this activity for the completion of the lighting system. It does not con- tend that $1 a year is too much for the Washingtonian to pay for his driver's license, but it does protest the expenditure of this revenue on traffic improvements. In the final analysis the situation sums up into the following terms: One dollar a year is collected from each automobile driver; it is proposed to spend this dollar to improve traffic conditions. The association belleves that this dollar bill from the pocket of each motorist should not be used for traffic improvements because It “might set a viclous precedent.” ‘Washingtonians, however, do mnot particularly care what portion of their dollars goes to the cost of the permits and what portion is used for traffic improvements, and they are not par- ticularly concerned about the “viclous precedent.” A dollar a year seems cheap enough to them and they realize that the cost of the card will never be any cheaper, Besides these things, they would rather have the money used promptly for traffic improve- ments than to have it lle idle in the Treasury and the improvements in- definitely delayed. The Michigan Avenue Crossing. In the course of a hearing before a Senate District subcommittee the other day on the proposal to eliminate the grade crossing at Michigan ave- nue, in Brookland, objections were raised to this improvement by two in- terests. Residents and owners of property on two sides of the cre who would be most affected by change of highway grade, oppose the bill on the ground that there is a route across the tracks at Monroe street. A representative of the rall- road company said that, while the com- pany is not opposed to eliminating grade crossings, there are at the pres- ent time so many elimination projects under way that this particular one should be postponed. On the first point there is but one If it is decided that damage to property Incident to the elevation of the highway at Michig aven should be prevented, the crossing there should be abelished and all tratlic di- verted to Monroe street. In other words, this highway should be closed at the railroad MNr and all trafic across the tracks prohibited. It is im-, to prevent accidents when tracks grade, whatever the supposed safe- guards and means of protection that may be established. There chould be no grade crossings in the District of Colum] and if the cost of correction of the existing crossing is too great the highway should be abandoned. answer. As for the company’s plea for post- | ponement, some consideration may be given. But postponement means in creased cost and probably an addition to the death roll. Delay Is dangerous as well as expensive. other works are being carried on, or are In contemplation for immediat execution, all should be undertaken now. This Michigan avenue crossing, which s a rticularly cause of the great and increasing vol ume of travel, may not cost a life for | five years, and again a fatal accident may oceur there tomorrow. Recent tragedies have demonstrated | that there §s no safety at these places. If this particular crossing is put into the postponed class out of considera- tlon for the property owners or the railroad company Congress will as- sume a direct responsibility for any deaths that may oceur there, ————— Publicity thrust upon Count Salm serves only to call attention to the impression among managers that he has no talents as a lecturer or a movie star. i —_————— After a serious world crisis Mussolini favers going back to anclent Rome; thus establishing him- self In public attention as the earth’s greatest reactionary. —_————— After a few Broadway experlences, Countess Cathcart might he quite willing to experience deportation as a means of moral freedom. ————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Moonlight and Economy. The lovely moonlight falls across The roadway I must tread. It puts away the fear of loss, And quells the sense of dread. The lovely moonlight guides my way To comfort and content, And ylelds me light for which I pay No solitary cent. Significant Silence. ; t"You haven't said a great deal of a “My silence is intended,” answered Senator Sorghum, “as a demonstration of power and security. A man who knows exactly where he is at doesn't have to say much.” Extravagances. A lady bathed in ginger ale. I don't see why she should. Hot water and a kitchen pail Would do a lot more good. Jud Tunkins says there's no use worryin’ about the date of presidential inaugurations. If they keep on gettin’ quieter and quieter, nobody'll notice ‘em anyhow. Political Prowess. “I hear that your boy Josh is at the head of his class at school.” “Yep,” replied Farmer Corntossel, ‘Josh ain't much of a scholar, but he's a fine politician. He drew his allow- ance in advance and bribed all them boys ahead of him to let him move up.” Adjustability. I like my little radio, At which I used to scoff; For when the stuff gets punk I know ‘That I can turn it off. Traffic regulations are gradually working around to a point emphasiz- ing the disadvantage of the man who can assert no political pull. “Dem old excavations,” said Uncle Eben, “shows dat amr Egyptian family had quite a little left after de under- taker's bill was paid.” are at the same | workings However many | Y| an unexpected blow of sorrow was to bad one be-| THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Dan Dooty, cub reporter, had an assignment that struck him as emi- nently disagreeable. He had not been in the newspaper profession long enough to acquire that sang-froid which is necessary if one s to survive. He only knew that he would have given his next pay envelope to any one who would go on his assignment for him, That being an impossibil- ity, however, there was nothing to do but go himself. “I'd rather be shot,” mused Dan, as he strode along. He looked around in despair. His eyes caught sight of the Essary Building, where Mary Roque had an office. He had one hope left. “By George!" exclaimed Dan. Ko see Mary." . He had known that agreeable young lady since childhood, or, rather, Mary Roque had known Dan since he was born, as she was con- siderably older than he. To think was to act. He got up to Rer office as fast as the elevator could take him, and burst through the door with scant ceremony. “Hello, Mary!" he cried, dropping into a'mahogany chair. “Why, Dan, how are you?” I got a job I don't like."” “A common case.” o I've come to ask you to help me out Mary looked a question. * ok Kk ok ve got to go,” began Dan, “and tell a woman that her son has been lost in a wreck at sea. I'd rather be drowned myself.” “Buck up, Danny,” returned Mary. “Duty is duty, remember—"" know, Mary, but shell around, and—" “You have got to learn to do ft, Danny, even if it is disagreeable. ‘There are disagreeable sides to all work.” Dan looked around at Mary's office, with its curtained windows, mahogany spinet desk, blue draperies, flowers. “Nothing disagreeable here, he commented. ‘No, it is agreeable enough here, but the disagreeabls part comes in my work where it does in every one else’s, the human contacts, Dan. But what do you want m Dan Dooty b ted 1 thought maybe you would go for me.” “rn weep med of you,” said Jk severe, but the ame her beautiful ve to go yourself, . | am asha ry, trying to 1 sion 111 | “You will K and hurry up about it." All right, then. but—but won't you g0 with me? No telling what Mary jumped up, grabbed her hat, and pushed Dan out the door. “I'li follow along, as a sort of guardian, | the whole This is your job, but you will have to do thing yourself, Dan. you know, not mine." Dan sighed with great misgiving. “I'd rather be shot” he said, with conviction. The public little knows the inner of the minds of newspaper men. Many persons regard a reporter as a sort of ogre, poking his nose into places where it has no business, whereas in many cases the reporter would rather be any place in the world than where duty forces him. “I'll trafl you, Dan, about a block,” whispered Mary they came in sight of the woman's home, to whom e dealt. any an older ne; have shrunk from young Dan Dooty. It was a case in point. paper man would the task before Gritting his white teeth, Dan strode up the path to the little house. It was a poor dwelling, meager bud clean. Dan pulled the old-fashioned white china bell knob. He heard it clanging inside. He could see, in his mind's eye, the woman in the kitchen. 8he would open the door, and then he would say, “Madame, your son was drowned in the wreck of his ship.’ No, he would be darned if he would say that. He would say it some other way. He cast a despairing look at the butchers shop on the corner— The door creaked and there stood a gray-halred woman, the mother of the drowned sallor. “Mrs. Johnson?” faltered Dan Dooty, removing his hat. “What is it?" crled the woman, clutching at her apron. A sallor's mother is always in dread. “What do you want?” “Your son—"" began Dan. He got no further. “He is dead, he is deat screamed the woman, throwing herself un the floor at Dan’s feet. “Oh, my God, why hast Thou afflicted me?” ‘And she began to roll back and forward on the floor, tearing her white halr and screaming terribly, like an animal in pain. Dan Dooty felt a clutch at his heartstrings. “He—he was hurt—" he lied bravely. "Heyls dead, he is dead! screamed the mother, groveling on the mat- ting. “1 had a dream, I had & dream—-" * £ * ¥ At this point the neighbors began to in. " The butcher, with his cleaver still 1n hand, was the first to arrive. He saw his neighbor rolling on the floor in agony, while over her stood & young man, bat in hand, looking anxiously and helplessly down. The butcher seized him by the arm, brandishing the cleaver. “What have you done to her?” he roared. Two women rushed in, then several men. The stricken woman lay sobbing on the floor. The men looked threateningly at Dan Dooty, whom the mother's intui- tion had completely upset. “Her son—her son——" he stammered, and could say no more. Then, like a gleam of sunshine, Mary Roque entered. “Poor woman!" she sald, infinite pity in her eyes, as she bent over and put her arms around Mrs. Johnson “Her son has been lost at sea,” she said, looking up at the group. “He," she said, indlcating Dan, “is A news- paper n detafled to break the news to her. Poor, poor woman!" he con- tinued. leaning over the mother. Safe in the arms of another woman, the stricken mother sobbed out her art. “I had a dream last night,” e moaned. “I saw Tom in a barrel, | afloat on the sea. and big waves were sweeping over him. Save me, mother!’ he called to me, and I tried to pull him out of the harrel, but the harder I tried the more he stuck fast. Oh, God!" sobbed the unhappy woman. ‘Take charge of her,” commanded Mary to the other women. Dan Dooty, cold sweat on his forehead. sidled out the front door. Mary soon refoined him. “Didn’t you forget something, Dan”" she asked. He looked blank. “This,” sald Mary Roque, slipping him an excellent photograph of the young sailor which she had quietly taken off the mantel as she passed out. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE John Coolidge, who has just fig- ured in the pugilistic news from Am- herst, takes after his mother in phys- ical type, rather than after his fa- mous father. “Little Cal” was the light-complexioned of the presidential boys. John is a brunette, like Mrs. Coolidge, and seems to have inherited her dash and punch, too. He is “shaping” rapldly at college and winding up his sophomore year with his earlier boyish shyness pretty thoroughly overcome. Regular Sum- mers at Camp Devens as a citizen sol- dier have developed John Coolidge in a fashion extremely pleasing to his parents. The opinion can safely be risked that his demonstrated ability to take care of himself under Marquis of Queensberry rules causes no per- turbation at the White House. On the contrary, it probably makes amends for John's reported failure to hit as high a mark in French last semester as his doting and distinguished daddy r. hoped for b On Capitol Hill it's an open secret that the two men who put their heads together and really brought about conference agreement on the tax bill were Representative John M. Garner, Democrat, of Texas, and Senator David A. Reed, Republican, of Pennsylvania. Garner was the ranking House con- fereé; Reed held the same place among the Senate’s representatives. Pow-wows had not been in progress long before Judge Garner discovered that “Dave” Reed was the live wire on the Senate side of the table. So the Texan decided to concentrate on the Pittsburgher whenever matters became critical, and got-together tactics were necessary to break an impending deadlock. Gar- ner is one of Speaker Longworth’s Democratic_cronies. So is Finis J. Garrett of Tennessee, minority leader in the House. * kX Herbert Hoover begrudges himself an annual Midwinter fishing vacation of a week or ten days, and has just returned from it. He took his rod and reel to the east coast of Florida, but was never far out of touch with affairs at Washington, for U. S. S. Kilkenny, one of the little steamers in the Bureau of Navigation service on the Atlantic seaboard, was kept close at hand for the Secretary’s offi- ofal convenience. On these occasions it files his departmental flag—two white ships rampant on a quiescent sea of blue. Hoover has always burned Incense in front of I1zaak V\all- ton’s image. The administration’s handy man calls fishing first ald to thinking. In Florida waters last year Hoover landed an amberjack that gained him a fisherman’s coveted gold button, the scaly captive welghing 87 pounds. His luck wasn't so good this Winter. Hoover is usually ac- companied on fishing_holidays by a couple of friends. His companions this month included Assoclate Justice Harlan F. Stone, Dr. Vernon Kellogg and Mark Sullivan, anglers all. * Kk K K Wayne B. Wheeler, czar of all the drys, is not disturbed by the plans of the alcoholic liquor traffic commit- tee of the House to make a searching survey of prohibition conditions. When it comes to surveys, the Anti Saloon League claims to be monarch of all it surveys from its lookout at the foot of Capitol Hill. Thus “Gen- eral” Wheeler views without alarm the wines and beer bills, the investi- gations and the other projects launched from day to day against Vol- steadism and the eighteenth amend- ment. One of the things at which Wheeler is expert is counting con- gressional nose: He keeps in prac- tice from a favorite gallery seat ad- jacent to the clock in either house. Wheeler's tabulation of congressional probosces convinces him that on a showdown the present House and Senate would be dryer than their predecessors. So when Edge, Ed- wards, Hill, Celler, Stayton and the other fleld marshals of the wet bri- gade are fulminating the loudest, Wheeler sleeps the soundest. * * % ¥ Another Smoot has arrived on the Washington scene. He {s Harold R. Smoot, eldest son of the senior Senator from Utah, who has just removed to the Capital from Salt Lake City to be- come the head of a prominent New York brokerage office. Mr. Smoot, ir., Inherits paternal talent from the chair- man of the Senate committes on finance, having been in the banking and hrokerage business in Utah for many years. Senator Smoot himself is a banker by profession. His son and heir, before going into brokerage, studied law In Washington, and for two years was a Mormon missionary in England. Like his influential father, young Smoot, who is in his 30s, is a fine physical specimen—tall, broad- shouldered and powerfully bullt. *x %% ‘What price “senatorial courtesy™ these days? Comes a Senator from Arkansas and buys a fine old house over the head and without the knowl- edge of a brother solon from Cali- fornia, who has occupled it in peace and happiness for ten years and ex- pected to do so_indefinitely. The next aspect of the Chesterfleldian code, as practiced in the more exclusive wing of the Capitol, reveals Senators from Idaho and Missouri taking the war- path against confreres about to seek renomination, respectively in Illinois and Wisconsin. The victims of the new system of senatorial manners think that some “Dawes plan” to re- store the little proprieties of senatorial life might have a better chance of adoption than revision of rule 22. * ok ok % A great war-time figure in Washing- ton who was the terror of all Germans in America, Capt. Guy Gaunt, has now become Great Britain's own mys- tery man. Gaunt was nominally naval attache of the British embassy in Washington between 1914 and 1918. In reality, he was chief of the British intelligence service in North America, and acquitted himself so famously in that capacity that King George knight- ed him. Later he was elected a mem- ber of the House of Commons. After his_injury in an automobile accident in 1924 Sir Guy suddenly disappeared from England, and was never heard of again until he turned up aboard a sailing ship off the coast of British Columbia two weeks ago. He sald he was fitting out a treasure hunt ex- pedition to the Cocos Islands. Con- servative party leaders never were able to clear up the mystery of Gaunt's prolonged absence from the House of Parliament, from which he is now expected to resign. He is an Aus- trallan by birth, and has a brilliant record in’the British navy. In Parlia- ment he distinguished himself by his plain sailor language. Gaunt was British liaison officer for the United States after 1917, and enjoyed many intimate comradeships ‘here. His friends say the Germans placed a heavy price on Gaunt's head. (Copyright. 1926.) Tells Her the Sad News. From the Uniontown Herald. One East End man always confides his business troubles to his wife— whenever she asks him for money. Anywhere Else But. From the Newark Star Eagle. Democrats have about decided not to hold thelr next national convention on the “sidewalks of New York,” 0., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1926. A Just Principle for Civil Retirement To the Editor of The Star: The following is offered as a just principle which might be considered in drafting pension bills for Govern- ment civil employes: That every employe allke (in this Government of equal rights), who has served the Government for 15 or more years, at whatsoever period of his life, should be entitled to a proportionate pension (based on period served) from their sixty-fifth or seventieth year on, and not preference be given only to those who give the last 15 or more years of their lives to the Government. ‘The present law makes it desirable to enter the Government service after 40 years of age to enjoy pension rights, Appointments under Civil Service are somewhat difficult to pro- cure after 40, for various reasons, generally necessitating political influ- ence or presidential orders No recognition as to pension rights is given those who give the first 15 or more years of their life to the Gov- ernment. Would there not be much more new blood entering the servi if employes knew they could resign after stated periods still retaining thelr old-age pension rights; if they knew they did not have to stay “until the end of time” to receive pension privileges? Government work, generally, is be- numbing when one does the same kind of work for long perfods of years, and many of the business and collegiate minds In the service would welcome a year or less of extended leave after each of such (say 15, 20, 25 and 30 year) periods to try their wings in other ficlds. Such a policy of leaves would not only be upbullding to the individual, but the Government would | receive better service from the em. | ploye should he return again to the Government service. Why do the Army, Navy and Marine Corps have liberal pension systems? Is it not because legislation has been put through for these organ- izatlons? Is not the Civil Service valuable to the country in time of peace as the military? ~ Also are we not all citizens under the same flag and thereby are we not entitled to similar pensions? ¥. M. DAVISON. Bridge Accidents Due To Reckless Driving To the Editor of The Star: The wild driving which results in automobiles crashing through bridge railings does not arouse any marked sympathy in me. Dridges are not intended to be used as forts, nor as race tracks. Drivers afflicted with the undue haste habit should take to the meadows and race in th marshes, first removing the cattle, but leaving the tree stumps for| “thrills.” They can have lots of sport | and do little damage. Some of your correspondents ap pear no more desirous of being an- noyed by speed ruies on bridges than on streets. There is more concerned than the matter of bridge strength. | All of the several bridges criticized | are safe for sane driving of ordinary | automobiles. Very heavy trucks must use cautfon. It is a pity that very heavy trucks are mot excluded alto- gether from streets and bridges, for they are not only notorious pavement wreckers, but in a few vears will be noticed appreciably docally as house wreckers as well, bringing down plaster and doing other damage common to light earthquakes, which the vibrations they cause simulate. Very many times during the past year I have seen wild driving fo and on the Calvert Street Bridge, at speeds greatly in excess of bridge| and street regulations. If automo- biles bounce off the bridge it is the chauffeurs’, not the bridge's, fault. It is unfortunate engineering that causes sudden narrowing of roads at bridge approaches, but that shouid | tnduce to caution. Racing on bridges or past vehicles on bridges ought to | he stopped as well as prohibited. Bridge traffic should be polite, not| competitive. W. E. ALLEN. | | i | | Preserve the Trees In Capital Development To the Editor of The Star: We heartily agree with Mr. Patrick | J. Wand's desire to improve our Capi- tal City by improving the entrance— that is, the Plaza and a thoroughfare via Pennsylvania avenue to the Treas- ury Building—but we think it would be a crime to uproot any of our trees. Our Capital s known_ everywhere as the City of Trees. Every lover of nature glorles In every tree on the Avenue, as well as on other streets. Each tree gives shade and a breath of alr to the business man and traveler | alike as he passes along his way on a hot Summer day. Will we sacrifice our trees, our expressions of God or our own comfort for the sake of a European-like Capital? Or will we im- prove our city in an American-like manner by dignified buildings and our trees? I would suggest that Mr. Ward take | a drive through Rock Creek Park.| Such a drive would be sufficient to! assure him that it is unnecessary to| leave our city to find peace, quiet and contentment without destroying any of our parks. My third suggestion is to Increase public playgrounds. idle thinker than the one who takes no exercizse? Our country’s cities, es- peclally the more progressive Western | citles, have many times the facilities we have for exercise. Seattle, Wash. for example, with less population, has | seven swimming pools, each larger than our municipal pools. Portland, Oreg., has five. These cities also have more tennis courts and golf links and ball parks, with greater seating capacity for guests. To summarize: I suggest that we follow Mr. Ward's suggestion of im- proving Pennsylvania avenue, _the Mall and approach to them from Unfon Station; that we preserve our trees, for which Washington is noted, and that we build a large swimming pool, either in Potomac Park or at Pennsylvania averiue and the river, southeast, or both V. BERDILLA SMITH. Motorists Should Obey Traffic Signal Lights To the Editor of The Star: 1 was glad to ses vour timely edl- torfal, “Obey the Lights,” in Mon- day’s paper. At first there was gen- eral observance of the signals on Si¥- teenth street and Massachusetts ave- nue, but now so many are disregard- ing them and getting away with it that all classes of drivers are falling into the habit. It is to be hoped that watchfulness on the part of traffic policemen_will soon break up this practice, Design, location, method of operation—in fact, evervthing taken into consideration—these signals are among the best to be found anywhere and reflect credit on the Traffic De- partment officers. Automatic signal- ing is the solution of present traffic problems; eventually it will be ex- tended throughout the city, so why not obey the lights now? 8 H. W. SMITH. A Back-Seat Driver. From the Binghamton Press. bl:lhe manlwho is dnm h}; his tr&:a— conscience y hears the Volce of ‘nis conscience Epeaking from the back seat, | erown that Suzanne has worn Where is a more | ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. When a woman is weighed, how much should be allowed for her clothes?—J. K. A. Modern-day attire minus hat and coat welghs about 8'% pounds. This is in sharp contrast to the siyles of 400 years ago, when a lady of fashion wore garments weighing 3% pounds. Q. Who is the youngest singing in an opera company A. Marion Talley i the member of any opera compan: is 19 years of age and made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera louse on Wednesday, February 17, in the role of Gilda in “Rigoletto.” Q. How much give oft?—H. L. A. The Forest Service says it is difficult to determine this exactly. A tree 10 inches at the base would pos- sibly give off approximately 10 to 20 gallons per week. Very little is known about the transpiration of trees. water does a tree Q. How many soldlers were there in the mobilized allied forces in the World War?—W. H. M. The total number was 42,188 The total number killed was 2,115. The total number wounded was 12,831,004, Q. Was_Philip Nolan a M. B. J. The Man Without & Country" is a mingling of fact and fiction. There {8 no source of information con- cerning Philip Nolan except in the story of which he is the hero. 150 real per- Q. What causes creosote in chim- nevs?—B. B A. Creosote deposit in a chimney 1s a produet of distillation from burn- ing wood. Greater quantities of the deposit a produced when wood 1s burned, so the best precaution is to be sure that dry wood is used,! = this will lessen the creosote. Chim- neys that are subjected to cold winds are more susceptible to creosote than others, as the walls seldom become hot enough to carry off the gus. Q. Who started the Royal Black- heath Club?—0. H. W. A. There is a tradition that King James I played the first game of golf at Blackheath in 1608. From that time a club was organized at Black- | heath of the better class of Scotch- men. This club, the Royal Rlack- h was one of the first golf ot clubs in S i Q. What is the inspiration of “The | sil,”” by Alexander?—¥. D. T. Al st was inspired by the poem “Isabel,” by Keits, which was derfved from the Itallan of Glovanni Boccaceio Pot of Q. In accidents, what part of the is most frequently injured?— . R. It is sald that 53 per cent of all accidents are injuries to the arm and hand; 28 per cent, leg and foot; 8.1 per cent, trunk: 5.8 per cent, eves, and 43 per cent, head. Of accidents to the arm and hand, 67.2 per cent are to the fingers, 14.2 per cent to the ds and 18.6 per cent to the arms most dangerous injuries are those e head, of which 22 per cent are Injuries to the trunk come Q. Why Is callco so called?>—G. A. B. green | | against Demetrius A. Calico derives its name from the city of Calicut, in Madras, where {t :v:m :"Hl manufactured. It was brought to England in 1631 b East India Co. = AL Q. On what continent are the mes: languages spoken?- . R. S, A. There are said to be more than 900 languages used in Asta, almost 600 in Europe, 275 in Africa, and mora than 1,600 languages and dialects ir the Americas. Q. How much does the Federn Government spend to control floods along the Mississippl?—V. P. A. Congress appropriates at the present time $10,000,000 per year t be expended for the control of floo. of the Mississippi River. Q. Is the red liquid fn a thermom ter alcohol or mercury?—I. M. § A. It is alcohol containing a solved dye. dis Q. What Is the name of the new march of Sldney Roche’s that is be. ing played by Army bands?—L. C. A. It is called “The Washington High School.” Q. What was the liament"" ) A. “Barebones Parliament’ derfsive term applied to the Parliament” summoned by Olive Cromwell, July 4, 1653. It derlved that name from one Barebone, a tan ner, one of the members for ths cit: of London. 13840 long 15 the earth's orbit?- H. . A. The earth travels 584600000 miles on its annual trip around th« sun—that s, approximately 160146 miles per day. Q. Mow large are whales A. A blue whale is -t whale. It is about 78 feet long, feet around the shoulders. and has head 19 feet long. The welght of the flesh is 50 tons; of the blubber, § tons blood, viscera and baleen, 7 tons w rige | bones, 8 tons. Q. Is the Colossus of Rhodes meant to represent any one?—J. D. A. It represented Hellos, the Bun God. The statue was the work of Chares of Lindus. It was erected by | the Rhodians at a cost of 300 talents. apparently as a thank offering after the successful defense of the city reeles. It but 56 wve: 1 earth quake, and lay until 653 A.D., when the ptured the city and sold the metal to a Jewish merchant. later When in doubt—ask Haskin. He offers himself as a target for the ques- tions of our readers. He agrees to furnish facts for all who ask. This is a large contract—one that has never been filled before. It would be pos- sible only in Washington and only to one who has spent a lifetime in lo- cating sources of information. Hoakin does not know all the things that peo ple ask him. but he knows people who do kmow. Try him. State your ques- | tion briefly, write plainly and inclose 2 cents in stamps for return postage. Address Frederic J. Haskin, director The Evening Star Information Bu- reau, Washington, D. C. Glorious in Defeat, Verdict Of Miss Wills’ Countrymen Fine tennis, consplcuous sporte- manship and promise of future su- premacy are recognized by Helen Wills' countrymen in their comments on her defeat by the French champion, Mile. Suzanne Lenglen. Special pride |is felt in the young contender's poise the good nature she maintained der trying circumstances during ontest. We wish that Miss Wills had taken the champlonship this year,” says the Madison Wisconsin State Journal, “but it is a question whether her exhibition of sportsmanship and character Is not more emphasized by defeat than it would have been by V. »od winners are plentiful.” sville Times pays this trib- Good tennis is inspiring. Miss ¢s it. Good sportsmanship is even more inspiring. Miss Wills has it. She is a distinguished American.” an Of the future the Cleveland News | declares: “There is great virtue in the rule of try, try again, and the admirable young sportswoman from | California is the one who knows it,” while the Fort Wayne News Sentinel holds that “if she malntains | her present rate of progress for an- other yvear or two, she doubtless will be as invincible as Suzanne has been in the past. * x K ¥ Honor to both contestants is ac- corded by the Duluth Herald, which remarks that “the American girl show- ed skill and courage which suggest that it will not be long before the so worthily will pass to her. The Lansing State Journal says that “Mlle. Lenglen seems to be what is termed a prodigy, in less formal language what is known as a ‘whiz.’" and that ndoubtedly she is a rare combina- tlon of fast-seeing eve and perfectly co-ordinating muscular agility “Helen Wills gave beautiful battle continues the Portland Oregon Journal, “and she smiled in defeat. And she dldn’t lose her temper. And all her conduct was that of a dead game sport in the highest sense of the word. And in her smiles and in her skill she was American through and through. And she isn’t through with her wonderful opponent yet." EREE “The loss of the match s her gain observes the Soux City Tribune: * leaves her with something for which to strive. Without an objective life is likely to be a colorless succession of days und months, marked neither by joy. nor by progress.’’ The Mart burg Evening Journal recognizes increased international respect for Helen Wills' ideal sportsmanship and for her ability to extend the French player who is accustomed to defeat her opponents easily.” Belleving the defeat may be but a stepping Stone to ultimate triumph, the Pasadena Star News says ‘“the heart of California and of America” is with Miss Wills. “Miss Wills proved an admirable loser,” the San Antonio Express notes with pride, and showed “genuine sportsmanship, a quality of which our countrymen boast and like to see dis- played,” and the Milwaukee Journal exclaims, “Victory it possible, but sportsmanship always, should be the slogan of every athletic club and assoclation in America:” * k ok X The Sacramento Union also hails the American player as one who “proved herself faithful to the»hlg)'h est standards of sportsmanship” and who “stood forth as a wholesome, sterling young gentlewoman in & set- ting marred by much sordid comme: cialism, jealousies and infirm loyalty to the game for the game's sake.” The Des Moines Tribune-News, consider- ing the same factor, draws the conclu- sfon that “development of sportsman- ship has a large part in shaping W est- ern character and has a large part in determining Western leadership and control.” The similar comment of the New York Times is that “tennis is nothing ¥ not a game for gentlemen and gentlewonien, and to degrade it by outbursts of rowdyism is o put at years | hazard something 1ot fine to be cars lessly thrown away. Miss Wills returns “glorious in de feat,” says the Bloomington Panta graph, because she “made a showing such as no other American tennis player had ever produced.” ‘“Thers is nothing but honor for her in her defeat,” the Lynchburg News adds. * 4wy “Suzanne Lenglen won the tennix match.” in the o n of the Cantor Daily News, “beciuse she was not @is concerted at anv time. AS one re port expressed it, “she won through | superior steadiness.’ It was steadi ness through which the tortoise beat the hare. Miss Lenzien is entitled to all praise for her v Recog nizing that “Helen Wills was the dar- ling of the crowd from the time she faced the net,” the Savannah Press concedes that. spite of the fact that Miss Wills is an American, there was something about the wizardry of the French player which compels ad- miration of n and goes heyond the | bound of nationality. “The Gallic cock crows long. and with right.” concludes the Newark Evening News. vmbolio figure, may he awaken America to what betides! Those French lads and lassies are up and comi armes, mes enfants' Arise. ve beatem ones, for the Summer cometh when man can sleep! Forest Hills o Transplant Roosevelt Trees to Memorial Here loud and To the Editor of The St My attention to the & Sunday Star of Fel M. Henrl Correvon, ropean (Swiss) botanist, w ing. Permit me to give you something of interest to the American peopls in which M. Henri Correvon plays an important part Our late President Roosevelt was personal friend of M. Henri Correvon and always visited this gentleman in Geneva. ~ On_his wonderful trip to Africa Col. Roosevelt called on M. Correvon, and, taking from his pocket 2 handful of seeds, said, “These are of the American silver pine."” M. revon planted them and they grown to quite a size. 1 have tried | to interest the people who have in charge the Roosevelt Memorial, but have made rather poor progress to find any encouragement in what seems most appropriate, viz., the se curing of these trees, grown in Swit zerland from seeds carried there b President Roosevelt, then returned to adorn his memorial. T had the pleas ure of talking on Sunday with M. Henrl Correvon over the phone. He was at the Swiss legation. He knew all about my desire to have these trees transplanted to America through the Interest of my daughter, Mme Hugli Camp of Bern, Switzerland, formerly of Washington, who, having seen these “Roosevelt pines,” as M Correvon calls them, decided they should be placed around the Roosevelt Memorial. M. Correvon phoned me that if would be a great pleasure to send these trees to America. He would send them to Mme. Hugli Camp in Bern. E. ALICE CAMP. Evidence Asked as to Washington’s Prayer To the Editor of The Star: Having just read in The Star of to day an eightinch item about an al- leged “Washington prayer’ sald to be copied in his own handwriting and included in his manuscript prayer book, and as I never heard of it be fore, I am jnclined to regard it as u fake or plous forgery; but, of course, I may be mistaken or simply not well informed. So will some of your read ers be so kind as to give me the evi dence that this prayer was ever cop ied or used by this great man” H. P. GERALDN 4