Evening Star Newspaper, March 26, 1926, Page 8

> THE EVEN With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY.... «.March 26, 1626 THEODORE W. NOYES. . . . Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. Nl;mvnrk 8fmfit~e: _{_lfl Elil "‘;:‘m: St. cako : Tower Building. European Office '{‘;0 Rerent St.. London, England. The Evening Star, with the Sunday morn- Ingedition. is delivered bv carriers within the city at 60 cents per month: daily only. 4% cents per month: Sunday on'y. 20 ccnts per month. Orders may, he sent by mail or telephone Main 5000, Collection is made by carrier at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday Daily only .. Sunday only posing as policemen. The informer had been identified with the gang- sters. - The death penalty is needed as a weapon in the war of soclety against crime. Organized criminals, armed to slay, and slaying without compunc- tion, potential murderers always, should, upon identification and con- viction, be sent to the gallows or the electric chalr. They maintain their discipline within their ranks by the threat of death. They are held to- gether only by the fear of reprisal. Under the present dispensation of “mercy” in court, and the chance which they have to delay ptnishment, they are in a position of advantage as against the interests of society. Imposition of the death penalty upon all who engage in robbery with deadly weapons in their possession, All Other States and Canada. Daily and Sundas.1 yr., $12.00: 1 mo.. $1.00 Daily ontv 17000 1 mos 1ae Sunday”onty 137 3400: 1 mo: 36c Member of the Assoclated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled o the use for renublicatinn of all news dis- patehes oredited to it or not otherwise cred- itrd in this paner and aiso' the loc: . Dlishad herein. - All rights of publication #pecial dispatches herein are also reserved. 1yr. No State Tax Since no State Benefits. What are the benefits enjoyed by the citizen of a State which constitute the real consideration for the State taxes which he pays. If he lives in a large city of the State, is it the driblet »f State expenditures which the coun- ties permit to get through to the city? No. The State tax which he pays is essential to his status as citizen of a Stats and to his enjovment as such citizen of political and judicfal rights of inestimable value and of large financial benefits. What comparable benefits are en- joyed by Washington? State taxes are paid that one may enjoy with thousands outside of one's home city the privileges and benefits of citizens of the State, including representation in Congress and the clectoral college and in a State legis- lature; a recognized status in the United States Supreme Court, and the financial benefits which come from en- foyment of the land grants, bounties and so forth, which the Nation has lavished upon the States. se land grants amount to 188, 3 acres of the public domain. These money donations include hun- dreds of miillons. The payment of taxes as the citizen of a State gives the taxpayer his pro- portionate share in these financial benefits. The Washingtonian enjoys no pait in these grants, bounties and benefits as citizen of a State. Why should he y or have .rged against him as part of his equituble tax bur- den the taxes which are incidental to the status of State citizens and which are one condition of the enjoyment of these financial benefits? The Washingtonian has none of these political or judicial rights or privileges. Why should his fair tax burden he held to include what the State citizen pays in connection \\im: the actual enjoyment of these inesti-} mable rights, privileges and benefits? This contention is elaborated in edi- torfal corrvespondence printed else- where in today's Star. ———e— A New Submarine Record. Eclipsing the submergence record for V-class submarines of the United States Navy, the giant undersea craft V-2 descended to a depth of 220 feet in | tests conducted recently near Ports- mouth, N. H. Her sister ship, the V-1, had only a few weeks before put the record at 204 feet, and it was be- Heved that this mark would stand un- til submarines with stronger resist- ance powers were built. But the V-2 was not content to allow the V-1 to garner the laurels of exceptional un- derwater achievements and therefore set out to smash the record. With the V-1 having set the mark at 204 feet and the V-2 at 220 feet, it may be expected that soon the V-3 will bob up out of the depths with a new record for her class. Competition of this kind, conducted on safe and sane lines, makes for efficiency. Abil- ity of the submarine to resist the tre- mendous pressure on these deep dives is a tribute to its construction and its operation. May the friendly rivalry continue until the United States sub- mersibles lead the world. e It makes little difference whether & man believes in evolution or mnot. But it is altogether unsafe to repu- diate sclence to the extent of refusing to be vaccinated. —— et Gangsters and the Death Penalty. A man arrested as he was leaving a notorious night club in New York City the other night on suspicion of com- gikclty in certain desperate crimes is now believed to have been the “master mind” of a gang operating in several large cities and taking a total of at least a million dollars in loot during the past year. One of the members of the gang, taken in a roundup which followed, has made a confession in the vernacular of the underworld which reveals a large organization and the adoption of thoroughly businesslike methods of operation. The gangsters, it would seem, do not hesitate to take life upon occasion. They punish be- trayal with death. There is reason to belleve that this particular band is re- sponsible for many murders. The leader, adopting an attitude of com- plete indifterence as to his own fate— he is wanted for murder in Baltimore and in Buffalo, and is suspected of murder also in New York City—has proposed to the district attorney that if his wife 18 freed from all charges he will tell the entire story of his depre- dations. That proposal is under con- sideration. Znough is known of the operations of this gang, which is a typical crim- inal organization, to show that it works on the basis of death for all “peachers,” those who violate gang rules and who are suspected of weak- ness of purpose, The fear of death is the binding factor in the organiza- tion. In this connection a case just reported from Chicago is of impor- tance. A man who recently revealed to the public the hiding place of two robbers was shot to death in his sleep by two men, who gained admittance to the apartment in which he lived by N whether they use them or not, would, assuming a speeding up of the judi- cial process, tend to discourage this form of crime. Gangsters would not so lightly join the ranks of shrewdly led criminal bands. Men of the call- ber and temperament of the one who is now in the toils would not engage in crime as a profession. At present the chances regarding capture and punishment favor the criminal. As long as that is the case there will be organized desperate crime. Reverse the situation, speed the processes of trial, stiffen the pen- alties, and crime becomes a losing game. One of the surest steps to that end is the enactment of laws which impose capital punishment upon all who are convicted of participation in any degree in crimes while armed with deadly weapons. Proposed Freight Terminal Bridge. Tomorrow a hearing will be held before a subcommittee of the Senate committee on interstate and foreign commerce upon a bill, recently passed by the House, providing for the erec- tion of a bridge across the Potomac above Little Falls, to serve the pur- poses of a projected freight terminal. Against this measure, passage of which through the House greatly sur- prised the people of Washington and the surrounding territory of Maryland and Virginia, who are vitally affected by the proposed plan, there is a large body of public opinfon, which will be expressed tomorrow at the hearing. If there were urgent need of addi- tional freight terminal facilities in and around Washington the fact would be clearly demonstrated by the demands of the railroads and the business community. No such de- mands have been voiced. The rail- roads serving this section have pro- vided themselves with adequate ter- minals for the handling of freight. The truck hauling involved is reduced to a minimum. There is no congestion in normal times, and in abnormal conditions, such as those experienced during the war, the congestion is not such as to necessitate large per- manent additions to the equipment. The railroads, furthermore, are them- selves fully competent to determine their own needs, and to date they have mnot indicated any belief that there is occasion for extensive addi- tions to their plants. ‘The shippers of this locality have not complained of lack of facilities. They have suffered, as have those of all other regions of the country, when unusual conditions have imposed dif- ficulties, but they have not in this instance advocated the sacrifica of a considerable area of the suburban territory, destined to become an at- tractive residential section, to meet a need that when it develops can be better met by the expansion of exist- ing terminals. In this case it has been shown that the railroads do not wish for a new terminal, the shippers do not ask it and the residents of the region which it is proposed to bisect with rail lincs are strongly in opposition. Further- more, the dwellers within the Capital look with concern upon the proposi- tion to establish a freight vard at the northwestern corner of the Dis- trict, with the certain result, if the yard is used to any considerable de- gree, of developing a heavy, street- destroying, nolsy, disfiguring and troublesome truck traffic through the heart of the city to and from the business section. One consideration that is certain to be of definite weight in this connec- tion is the prospect of interference by the projected bridge, which is an essential feature of the terminal plan, with the Government's project for the development of the water power of the Potomac. Such a structure of & height to clear the waters impound- ed by the dam at Little Falls would have to be of great length. If au- thorized now, in advance of the be- ginning of the water-power works, it would need to be thrown back far from the present banks of the river, So far as known, this factor has not been taken into account at all. The House passed the bill without ascer- taining the views of the Government'’s engineers upon the possibility of in- terference with the power project. Certainly the Senate subcommittee, which is now considering the measure, must, regardless of all other consid- erations, refer the matter to the War Department, if, indeed, it does not disapprove the proposition on its face as needless. ———————— Railways wlill soon transform Si- beria, once a place where political exiles were sent, to a favorite region for bustling realtors. ——te—. New York Attacks Reckless Driving New York plans to attack the reck- less automobile driver with every weapon at its command. According to plans announced by Dr. L. I. Harris, health commissioner, all motorists con- victed of recklessness will be given severe tests to determine their ability to continue to drive on the streets of the city. | The examinations will be both physi- cal and mental, particularly mental, in order to ascertain whether reckless driving was due to “mere callousness to the sacredness of human life or suf- fering from an inferiority complex which prevents acting promptly in an emergency.” The tests will be made by physiclans of the Health Depart- ment in conjunction with the police 8- <HE EVENING STAR, » THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. under Commissioner George V. -Mc- Laughlin, Another plan which is now under way to bring home to motorists the re- sults of reckless driving will be the erection of monuments to children who have been killed by automobiles. These monuments will be placed at pivotal points in various localities. The weekly death rate of children will bn posted on them, and services con- ducted by Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girls will be held regularly to remind all drivers of the appalling total which has been reached in automobile deaths. Whether either of these plans will result in betterment of conditions is problematical. The reckless motorist is hard to eliminate, and it is doubtful whether even if he Is constantly re- minded of his faults he will mend his ways. However, any plan is a good one if it saves the life of a child, and every community should be constantly on the alert to devise ways and means of cutting the accident toll. As trafic becomes heavier and a greater proportion of the population changes almost overnight from un- skilled labor to alleged engineers of dangerous vehicles, it is a question whether or mot the licensing provi- sions should not be made so strict that only persons of real ability would be allowed to drive automobiles. In many cities this theory is held, but, as far as is known, it is practiced in none, as it is the simplest matter in the world for a person to pass the present examinations. It is a real task to pilot an automobile through the intricacles of present-day traffic, and only drivers with proved ability should be allowed on the streets. ———t———— At this season of the year ento- mological experts invariably report the arrival of many new destructive insects. The Summer gardener will plant without fear. The insects, re- gardless of number, generally get most of his crops, anyhow. His re- ward lies in a congenial celebration of returning Spring and the pleasures of expectation. ———— Congress is awakening to the fact that the affairs of the District of Co- lumbla are of great interest and urgent importance. The work of man- aging the business of a great capi- tal and growing metropolis is recog- nized as one worthy to claim the highest legislative skill and the most conscientious attention. — Trotsky is fortunate in the fact that Russia cares nothing whatever for base ball. As professor of journalism he would be entirely incompetent to instruct a class in the art of reporting the exciting incidents of a world series game. ——.— No man can be powerful in all kinds of ways. Henry Ford has substantial and widespread influence, vet when he announced his preference for old- fashioned dances more people than ever took up the Charleston. ———— The manner In which & Cincinnati bootlegger spent money while a pris oner In Atlanta fs lable to give rise to complaint that a poor man has no chance in a penitentiary. e S Few people deny that the League of Nations has some ideas worthy of at- tentive consideration, but a great many are convinced that it needs new management. et SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. An Immune. Though few go unmolested, A certain man I know ‘Who has not been arrested Since several weeks ago. The various regulations That threaten far and near Bring him no agitations ‘With penalties severe. He almost went to heaven; That's what the nurses said. He’s been in ward eleven, All neatly tucked in bed. The Safer Course. “What are you going to do about this great question of public policy?"” “Keep on asking it,” answered Sen- ator Sorghum. “The man who asks a public question is always interesting, but the man who seriously tries to give a practical answer finds himself in all sorts of argumentative difficul- ties.” Romance and the Calendar. A touching narrative may move Our thoughts to chronologic lines, Since April Fool's day may but prove A sequel to St. Valentine's. Jud Tunkins says a man who imag- ines the world is against him admits that he is against the world. Evolution is a subject which the wise are inclined to debate and the still wiser are inclined to leave to its own vindication. Impetuous Thermom. ‘When upward goes the temperature, It always goes too high; ‘When downward, it is pretty sure ‘With cold to make us cry. So in life’s cup which should hold bliss Falls many a bitter drop. Our trouble, Old Thermom, is this: ‘We don’t know when to stop. “A hoss race,” saild Uncle Eben, “‘proves a man is entitled to his own opinion, no matter how expensive it may be. Tough. From the Loulsville Courier-Journal. True to its product, Brazil proved a_hard nut to crack at the meeting of the League of Nations. —————— . The Final Error. From the Nashville Banner. \ Neglect a cold if you want to, but remember that it may be one of the very last things you ever do on this earth. 0o, A Shortage. From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Spring lambs are at a_premium in New York. Stock Exchange bears gobbled up the entire visible supply. Raw Enough, Surely. From the Wall Street Journal, Does exported drama come" under the head of raw material? A ‘We found ourselves, the other eve- ning, strangely interested in grind- stones. Now, we have no use whatever for a grindstone, having no axes to grind, either figuratively or literally. Yet here we were, comparing the merits of three grindstones, as in- tently as if our living depended upon it. Yes, you have guessed jt—we were immersed in the big mail order cata- logue which had arrived that after- noon! Semi-annually we get into such a fever. Then we look into the various priced cream separators, harrows, harness, washing machines—become conversant with babbitt metal, wreck- ing bars and harness. Here we have the three grind- stones, the descriptions of which we solemnly perase. Always we have admired the men who write these big catalogues. They manage to bring out the good points of each thing so well. Take the three grindstones. The first one is priced at $6.20, the second at $7.20, and the third at $4.80. No. 1 has four ball bearings, “other makes have only two.” What do you know about that! Other makes have only two, the cheaters! Why should we pay our perfectly good money for any grindstone that possesses only two ball bearings when we can get one here that has twice as many? “Do not confuse this grindstone with the light, small-sized stones of- Tered many stores as thelr best grade,” we are warned. “A heavy, first-quality grindstone that cuts fast and runs so ‘ight the strength of a small boy will easily operate and grind perfectly the hard- est tools.” * K K % We have a picture of little Johnny grinding away merrily, turning out the most perfect edges. This machine has a large stone about 21 inches in diameter by 2% inches thick. *Has heavy angle steel frame, rmly braced and is strong and rigid”’ (It will have to be if Johnny gets to mon- keying with it) ‘“Adjustable steel ith drip water can and Spray (How John would enjoy Grindstone . 2 is “the kind offer- ed {n many stores as a regular full size grindstone.” It is for those de- siring & small stone suitable for light grinding. Well, now, let us see—since we only have a pocket knife and never used it, perhaps this small size stone would be the best. It only costs $4.80, re- member. The book says it has a good quality stone, about 20 inches in di- ameter by 2 inches thick, is well made and nicely painted. At the rate of grinding our knife, once a year, a stone 20 inches in di- ameter ought to last as long as we might ever require it. But what's this: At a slight additional cost, we are told, the other two are much better “buys.” Perhaps that is true. Maybe we had better get this No. 3 grind- stone, with a 22-inch stone by 2% inches thick. It pays to buy the best.” Yes, we know that, from sad experience. How nicely the stones are gradu- ated in size, so that just at the mo- ment we concentrate on one machine we discover that the other is thicker, for a not much thicker price! When will we ever learn to make decisions? We wish somebody would get an ab- solute monopoly on some article, make just one pattern—the best—and sell it for just one price. Then would we be free from this WASHINGTON, D. deep doubt that assails us when we buy anything, from a radio to a grindstone. | * “Heavy' wrecking bars.” There is something, now, for which any householder has use (unlike a grindstone). This one is forged from three-quar- ter-inch stock steel. It is a tool for “opening boxes, taking down brick walls, ripping off shingles, pulling nails, ete.” There is a strong wedge-shape point at one end, powerful sure-grip claw at the other. Comes in two lengths, 24 and 30 Inches, and the prices are 24 cents and 28 cents. The shipping weight is 4 and 5 pounds, respectively. Here we can get some tested cable log chain, $2.50 for 14 feet, complete with steel swivel center and grab hook on one end and round hook on the other. Grabbing our big thousand-page vol- ume, we turn over several hundred ges at a clip and plunge suddenly mw the middle of furniture. It is a long jump from log chains to couches. Here is something we always have wanted—a regular old - fashioned couch, the sort that modern interior decoration has banished from the living rooms in cities, but which holds forth as of old In countless small town and farm houses. And why should it not? It is one of the most comfortable articles devised by man, and, it we mistake not, the famous King Tut reclined upon one of startlingly sim- flar shape. The head gracefully sways up, to give a natural support. Instead of trying to make yourself comfortuble with pillows (and failing), as with the davenports, day-beds, etc., on this honest old couch one can lie natu- rally and read at ease. The prices here run all the way from $17.35 to $43. * ok koK The city man, by means of this catalogue, or a similar one, can come out of his selfish provinciality and can enter, if only for a moment, into the hustling, busy, workaday world, where a grindstone stands for some- thing, where one's livellhood may depend upon a good log chain, where the right sort of cream separator at the right price may make a great deal of difference. Here the city man, who grumbles when the rain spolls his fancy suit, may discover that thousands of men wear heavy “work shoes,” and buy shirts with triple seams, and wear socks that stand the gaff. Here the smug individual, the “man of the cities,” of whom the worthy Mencken sings so industriously, gets a glimpse of the great, teeming back- bone life of this country of ours. Here one may discover, if he tries (and if he dares), that the “great open spaces’” are not entirely a joke; that n:en do fare forth to battle with the elements; that logs do swirl down the streams; s are to be fed and that it pz v scientific feeding; that t and re- quire to be milked; that a pouring rain at 4 am. requir different sort of shoe and a less-flossie kind of raincoat than are needed on a sun- shiny day on a city boulevard. These twice-yearly sessions with the big catalogue inspire us. They bring to us some of the reality of life, which we are likely to let slip from us under the superartificial conditions in which life has placed us. They make us realize, more than ever, that honor and shame from no condition rise; act well your part, there all the honor lies, WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE Alanson B. Houghton, storm center of recent international events in ‘Washington, is salling back to his am- bassadorial post at London during the first week of April. Administration spokesmen insist that Houghton re- turn to Great Britain with his pres- tige unimpaired as far as Washington is concerned. But events must dem- onstrate whether any of his diplomatic tall feathers are missing when he as- sumes relations with Downing street. Some authorities confidently predict that Houghton will find a considerable drop in temperature the first time he communes with Sir Austen Chamber- lain, British foreign secretary. The House of Commons having just acquit- ted Chamberlain of responsibility for the League of Nations muddle over Germany, Sir Austen would be less than human if he failed to give his famous monocle a twist of righteous indignation the next time Houghton— unterrified critic of the league—visits the British foreign office. France is “madder” at the American Ambassa- dor than Britain is. Perhaps Hough- ton will now have to find another dip- lomatic crony in London. Hitherto the United States envoy's most intimate friend there has been M. de Fleurian, the French Ambassador to the court of St. James. * K kK ‘When Germany staggered human- ity in 1914 by the invasion of Bel- gium the allled cause had no warmer friend anywhere in the world than John Sharp Willlams, then United States Senator from Mississippl. Al- though Willlams is in political retire- ment, he keeps abreast of events at home and abroad, and just now is keenly interested in the question of America’'s European debt operations. The Mississippian is a cancellation- ist. Having observed that James W. Gerard, former American Ambassa- dor to Germany, favors virtual wiping out of allied obligations to the United States Treasury, Willlams has just written a friend as follows: T agree with nearly every word Gerard said. He might have add- ed that France never made us pay one cent of interest on the loans and supplies she advanced us in the war for our independence. It is especlally a shame to collect money from Belgjum and Serbia. Nobody, individual or nation, ever ultimately lost anything worth having by a policy of magnanim- ity or generosity. * k% ¥ On the walls of the executive of- fices of the Washington telephone company there hangs a copy of the first petition circulated for installa- tion of an exchange in the National Capital in 1878. The petition recites that i a sufficiently large number of subscribers could be assured in ad- vance the installation would be made with reasonable promptness. Among the signers, who agreed to put in a telephone, was Robert G. Ingersoll then practicing law in Washington. The petition set forth that telephone service—that was 48 long years ago— would not cost in excess of “four dol- lars a month.” * % ¥ ¥ The calm and cautious Christian character of Calvin Coolidge—a G. 0. P. slogan in 192é—has popularized alliteration in politics. Now, appar- ently, everybody’s doing_it. Repre- gentative Thomas W. Phillips, Jr., who calls himself western Pennsyl- vania's candidate for the guberna- torial nomination, hoists tax reduc- tion—in accord with an august ex- ample—to the mainmast of his ship of appeal. He has just ol that Pennsylvania is “taxing away hope, happiness, health and the homes of the humble and helpless. It is high time to halt.” S William Gibbs McAdoo floated in and out of Washington this week, seeing politicians, but not, he avowed and averred, talking politics. The Los Angeles lawyer insists he's a candi- date for nothing in the world except the honors, joys and emoluments which accrue from his practice as an attorney. McAdoo visited the Capitol and saw friends in the House and Sen- ate office buildings, but left the im- pression that his only real business in the East at this time is to attend to some legal business. “Al” Smith's pet aversion may not be a candidate in the sense of an acknowledged aspir- ant, but nobody thinks he would run away in 1928 from any Democratic presidential lightning that seemed in danger of striking him. McAdoo will bhe 63 years old next October, but doesn’t look it, or anywhere near it. Straight, slender and strong as an Ig- dian, he gives no physical eign of need to quit the strenuous life of politics. * ¥ ok X American prohibitionists have just acquired a distinguished ally on the other side of the Rio Grande. It is Senora Natalia Calles, wife of the President of Mexico. Senora Calles has just accepted the honorary presi- dency of the Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union in her country. Mexico is almost as wet as the gulf that bears #ts_name, but both President Calles and his wife are ardent drys and pub- licly advocate abolition of drink as one of Mexico’s most urgent needs. Pulque, which is derived from the Maguey cactus, is the liquor of the country. * ok ok K Vice President Dawes has just made the interesting discovery that his late father, Gen. Rufus R. Dawes, camped as a soldier in the Unlon Army on the identical spot where Mr. and Mrs. Dawes now live in ‘Washington—Meridian Hill. The Vice President the other night was piling through a book written by his father, entitled “Service With the Sixth Wis- consin.” The book consists of a diary and letters written by Rufus R. Dawes, then captain of K Company, 6th Wisconsin Infantry. One chap- ter narrates the march of the regi- ment in August, 1861, from Baltimore to Washington. ‘“We reached the Capital at daylight,” said Capt. Dawes, “and, after marching to the City Hall Park, later in the day went to Meridian Hill, where we established our camp, a few rods from Columbia College, then being used as a_hospital for the wounded from the Bull Run battle. This camp, called Kalorama, was, as indicated by its classic name, indeed beautiful for situation and for its magnificent view of the Capitol and the city.” That same view Is the one enjoyed, these moonlit nights and clear days, by Vice President Dawes from his home on Meridian HilL * % X ¥ Representative John D. Fredericks of California is one of the very select few who do not aspire to re-election this year, Capt. Fredericks, who is Los Angeles’ spokesman in the House, has never been comfortable in the capricious atmosphere of Washington and claims to be a classic example of the superior climate of his home town, where he is always well. He stuck it out at Washington this Winter as long as his health would stand it, but went back to Los Angeles several weeks ago. Fredericks’ district, numbering the million and more_inhabitants who populate Los Angeles’ several hundred square miles of area, is sald to be the biggest in the country. (Copyright, 1926.) \h C., FRIDAY, MARC™ 26, 1926. Associated Charities Gives The Most Practical Help To the Editor of The Star: One hears the criticism made, “The Associated Charities spend so much in mere administration—salaries, ex- penses, etc. I want to see my money spent on food, clothing and shelter for the poor and unfortunate.” What we really desire, or should desire, is that our donation shall do the most good. The easy, slipshod way fs to follow the old-fashioned *‘soup kitchen” plan of doling out, year after year, a basket of food here, some clothing there, or a night's shelter. Tha! plan requires a very small “overhead,” so that about 80 per cent of donations will be present in this form of relief. But the difficulty is that you may keep this up indefinite- ly and have as much poverty in your city as you had at first, and, in addi- tion, a fine assortment of paupers as a permanent lability, with a side- line of fakirs and crooks. As a mat- ter of fact, we had this condition, or something very nearly approaching it, before the advent of the Associated Charities. The aim of the Associated Charities is something more than temporary re- lief. That aim is rehabilitation. Im- mediate physical needs are attended to, and often that is all that is neces- sary, but where it develops that there is more than the surface need, some- thing more is attempted. For in- stance, discovering what work this man or that woman can do, and then finding out if and where such work is needed; what s this child’s ailment, and what can be done for it. Some- times the way of permanent relief leads to the Juvenile Court. In the case of a helpless, deserted wife, permanent relief may mean finding the husband and bringing him before the Police Court. The seemingly pitiful case regarding which a dozen letters have been received may prove to be that of a notorfous fakir. Great efforts are put forth to prevent the breaking up of familles where a true family spirit is found. Contact is maintained with health and sanitary agencies and the public schools and all healthful activities. Now, work of this character requires the expendi- ture of much intelligent personal effort and over considerable periods of time. Tact and training are needed. It would be infinitely easier merely to hand out, on application, food, clothing and fuel. The late B. Pickman Mann, who was an active worker for charity in this city for nearly half a century, once remarked that in making his donation to the Associated Charities it was his custom to add the condition that no part of the money should be used for any purpose except adminis- tration, and compared the old method of charity to pouring water into a sieve. The chief merit of the Associat- ed Charities {8, in my opinion, the emphasis it places upon permanent upbuilding. GEORGE A. WARREN. ——on—s Local Opera Should Have Community Aid To the Editor of The Star: Is Washington to have local opera? I would say that Washington has had local opera, and good opera at that, after the splendid production of “Lo-| hengrin’ given by the Washington Opera Co. on Monday night. ‘The writer is familiar with Wag- nerian opera as given in Europe and does not hesitate to state that this production bears favorable compari- son. True, the mechanical setting of |the stage and some minor details of technic would suffer by this compari- son, but the music and the perform- ance is the thing. The soloists were adequate, the choruses exquisitely done and the orchestra well balanced and a distinet asset. Had this same production been given by a visiting company 1t is safe to surmise that the Auditorium would have been packed and the audience would have gone away rapturously praising the work of the evening. Just why this worthy asset to the art life of our city is not more wholly sup- ported is almost beyond the realm of reason to those who follow its course. Is it because it is being done by a local company? If it is—why? Di- rector Albion has had a wonderful vision for grand opera in Washington, and his untiring efforts have certain- ly borne fruit from an artistic point of view. It has been demonstrated beyond the shadow of a doubt that a local company can put on an artistic pro- duction of grand opera. Is it to be perpetuated, just at the zenith of its proof, or {s it to be thrown in the dis- card? I, for one, should feel proud to boast of the fact that Washington supports its own opera company, and especially the sort of company which has been giving us such worthy pres- entations during the past few vears. R. DEANE SHURE. Two-Deck Busses A Menace to Trees To the Editor of The Star: T was very glad to see that the Pub- lic Utllities Commission rejected the application of the bus company for additional double-deck busses on Six- teenth street. I hope that the com- mission will ind a way to eliminate the few double-deck busses now run- ning on Sixteenth street. One of the crowning glories of ‘Washington is its wonderful shade trees. Such trees have a hard enough time surviving by reason of the fact that so much of the ground about them is now covered with asphalt. It in addition they are to be trimmed up to make room for double-deck busses the remaining skeletons would soon wither away and we should be left without trees. I have been very regretful to see that it has been considered necessarv to widen certain downtown streets, such widening to be at the expense of the removal of the trees. I do hope that such devastation of trees will not be allowed to extend further and by all means nothing ought to happen to Jeopardize the lives of the trees on Sixteenth street. To that end I hope the utilities commission will persist in its decision with respect to double- deck busses. G. F. BOWERMAN. Bus Rider Hasy Pleasure Using Two-Story Vehicles To the Editor of The St A letter over the signature of Mrs. J. B. Henderson objecting to the dou- ble-deck busses on Sixteenth street has recently appeared. Mrs. Hender- son owns, I believe, the property known as the Henderson Castle on Sixteenth street. Does this give her the right to dictate as to what ve- hicles shall use that thoroughfare? ‘What a return to feudalism, when the baron of the castle owned the right of high justice, the middle and the low, and was lord of life and death in his domain! It would be iniquitous if one rich woman could so drastically interfere with the pleasure of so many not so fortunate- ly situated as she. I, in company with thousands of others, thoroughly enjoy the long ride (for one single dime) from Lincoln Memorial to Longfellow street, on the outside of a bus in the fresh air, admiring (and perhaps envying a little) the fine houses and many automobiles along Sixteenth street, not even one of which are we well enough off to possess. Those, however, who do own them should not begrudge us less fortunate ones the little pleasure we can have. MALTON BOYCE. ANSWERS TO Q. How many physicians are there in the United States and money do they make?—IL. N. A. In 1925 there were 147,010 prac- ticing physicians. It is said that the average gross income of physicians is $3,000 per annum, or $441,030,000 for all. how much NOK Q. When was the first ship built in America that crossed an ocean?—L. C. A. A little band of Huguenots at Port Royal built a pinnace in 1562, in which they returned to France in the Winter of 1662-3. This s thought to be the first American-built ship to cross the ocean. Q. What per cent of the coal in a mine can be taken out?—N. O. K. A. All coal can be extracted if there are no buildings erected on the mine, but if there are buildings there now, pillars must be left; in that case only about 50 per cent can be extracted. Q. Please give the derivation of the name “Russia.”"—J. C. A. It is derived from the name given to the Swedish Vikings or Varangians, who established themselves at Nov- gorod and were called Ros Rus, or Russl. These words are Slavonic and Greek corruptions of Ruolsi, the name applied to the Swedes, denoting rovers or seafarers. Q. Please give the origin of the crown jewels of England.—W. H. M. A. The principal ones follow: King Edward's crown was made for the coronation of Charles II in 1662 by Sir Robert Vyner. The imperial state crown was made for Queen Victoria in 1838 by Rundell and Bridge. The im- perial crown of India was made by Garrard for the coronation of King George V as Emperor of Indla at Delhi in 1912. The queen’s ivory rod, the crown of Queen Mary, the dladem of Queen Mary of Modena, the queen’s scepter with the cross were all made for Mary of Modena, the consort of James II, in 1685. The State Crown of Mary was made for the coronation of Queen Mary in 1911. The king's royal scepter and the king's scepter, with the dove, were made for Charles II in_1660. The queen's scepter, with the dove, was made for Mary II in 1689. The king's orb was made for Charles II in 1662. The queen's orb was made during the reign of Willlam and Mary. The ampulla was made for the coronation of Henry IV in 1399. The spoon is attributed to the twelfth or thirteenth century. The sword of state was made for George IV. The spurs and Queen Elizabeth's salt cellar were made for Charles II. The first record of the bracelets was found during the time of Mary of Modena, Q. How does the Navy Department bend boat frames?—W. N. V. A. The Navy Department says it has, for some time, discontinued the steaming and bending of boat frames, owing to the losses incurred during the bending. In lieu thereof, manu- factured laminated boat frames are used, which consist of strips of oak planking about one-quarter-inch thick, glued together with casein glue. It| has been found that it is possi manufacture the most diffi frames in this manner without steam. | ing the wood, and also that such! frames hold their shape perfectly,| even after being submerged in salt | water. Furthermore, they are strong- er than solid frames and experience BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. QUESTIONS has also shown that the cost of bend- ing and gluing them is not more than the cost of steaming and bending solid trames. Q. Is the 1926 quota from Great Britain filled?—J. B. We are informed that the Brit. ish quota is filled for more than a year to come. The annual allotment for Great Britain and northern Ire- land is 34,007. Q. Was Jerome Bonaparte a brother of Napoleon®™—E. R. A. Jerome Bonaparte was a broth- er of the Emperor Napoleon. He vis- ited the United States and married Miss Betsey Patterson of Baltimore. Q. Who first made ice cream on a commerctal scale?—M. S. A. While there is a dispute about the first ice cream served in this country, it seems to be well estab- lished that John Fussell, Baltimore, Md, was the first to make it in quan tity. Q. How many hours of labor must be expended on an acre of wheat?- - . T. A. Tt has been estimated that the average is about 10 hours. With most favorable conditions and best of ma- chinery the record of 3 hours has been made. A century ago the production of an acre of wheat took about 60 hours of a man’s toil. Q. How many Senators will Le elected next Fall, and how many gov ernors?—N. L. A. There will he 32 senatorial cam- paigns and 31 gubernatorial contests, Q. How old is Capt. Fried?—W. G, A. Capt. George Fried, command.: ing officer of the U. . Preside Roosevelt, was born in Worcester. Mass., August 10, 1877. He eilistly in the Navy when he was 23 veur;} old. Q. When did the American pack ers first establish their business in Argentina?—M. S. P. A. Swift & Company was a pioneer when it bought a plant already in ex istence in July, 1907. Q. When did Buffalo Bill make his first appearance with his troupe con- ing East L. V. A. The autobiography of William Cody says_that his show opened in Omaha in Ma : Q. Why does placing a silver spoon in a glass prevent hoiling water when poured into it from breaking the glass?—T. A. The spoon conducts heat some- what better than the water does, and this causes the water around it to be hotter than other water at the same leved. It, therefore, rises and sets up a circulation in the glass, so that the water boils in the upper levels and not directly on the bottom. Did you ever write a letter to Fred- eric J. Haskin? You can ask him any question of fact and grt the answer in a personal letter. Here is a great educational idea introduced into the lives of the most intelligent people in the worli—American newspaper read- ers. It is a part of that best purpose of a newspaper—service. There is no charge except 2 cents in stamps for return postage. Address Frederic J. Haskin, director, The Lvening Star Information Bureau, Washington, D.C. Parental and filial love, two of the most beautiful sentiments of mankind, are universally understood and ad- mired. Between President Coolidge and his late father, Col. John C. Cool- idge of Plymouth, Vt., this human bond was unusually deep and abiding. The Nation sends out to its bereaved { Executive a warm and sincere sym- pathy joined with manifestation of admiration and affection for the rugged and stalwart character of his father, who he laid to rest beneath the snows of the Vermont he loved. “Apart from the sad and distressing features of the death of John C. Cool- idge from the standpoint of the Presi- dent and his family, Plvmouth and the State of Vermont both lose a citi- zen of marked ability and virtue in his taking off at the advanced age of more than fourscore years,” says the Rut- land Daily Herald, which, continuing. says: “It would be fulsome and unfit- ting to praise too highly the life and character of John Coolidge. These things speak for themselves, but it is both meet and proper to pause at this time of solemn mourning and consider the nation-wide effect of a life like his, considered in terms of his example and precept, handed down to his son embodied in the person of the Presi- dent of the United States. John Cool- idge was frugal, self-denying and in- dustrious; Calvin, the son, is likewise. John stood for a high standard of per- sonal conduct enlightened and inspired by a sincere personal religion; Calvin instinctively reacts to the same stand- ards and inspirations.” * % “The hearts of the American pe ple go out in sympathy to the Pre dent, who lost in his race with death and arrlved at the home of his boy- hood too late to see his father alive again,” says the Winston-Salem Jour- nal, as it declares that ‘“people ev- erywhere had come to know and ad- mire the father of the President for his sterling qualities of genuine American manhood.” Says the Sa- vannah Press, “Every one will sym- pathize with the President of the United States, who, after all, is a simple citizen and who felt toward his father the affection of a boy and the loyalty of a man.” That the Pretident’s sorrow will be understood by those *“whose hearts have known the same sort of filial devotion that has been manifest in the life of Cal- vin Coolidge” is the testimony of the Muskogee Times-Democrat, and the Cleveland News says, “The News joins with the people of this great Natlon in extending sincere sympathy to the President for the second great personal loss he has suffered since assuming the presidency.” The Worcester Evening Gazette pictures people all over the country as feeling like “grasping the President by the hand and saying in that fine old all- your trouble.” " * ok k% The devotion of these two—father and son—is well understood by the country. Says the Nashville Banner of the son, “He preferred to spend his vacations in the plain and mod- est home amid the Vermont hills, and was never bappier than when, re. leased temporarily from the cares of state, he was companion to his fa- ther.” The Detroit News records that “petween father and son there had existed a very deep and lasting affec- tion, a splendid pride in his son on the colonel’s part, a profound devo- tion to his father on that of Calvin Coolidge.” Says the Newark Eve- ning News: ‘“There was something wholesome and fine in the relation- ship that existed between President Coolidge and his father. That it was a very vital matter to both was evident to all who saw them together. They were so close they liked to sit in sflence, just being together—sure sign of complete sympathy.” 0t Col. Cool 's tralts of charac- Character of Col. Coolidge Admired Throughout Nation ter the press speaks in admiring tone Says the Ann Arbor Times News of him: “He was a grand old man. He was the kind of a fellow who ought to be a President’s father.” The Duluth Herald lauds the colonel's “integrity, his religion and his iron consecration to principle.” and sees in him and his son embodiments of ‘“the materiul out of which America was made.” ek The Chicago Daily News analyzes John Coolidge's qualitie and finds him_ “plain-spoken, law-abiding, hard- working, upright. He had common sense and character. He practiced the elementary virtues,™ this paper affirms, and it considers his life and example might well be studied by the American people, “and especialiy by the younger generation.” To the Youngstown Daily Vindicator he wau “the rey, ntative of an admirable type of citizenship,” and the New York Evening Post calls him dividual of a refreshing type ‘“representative American. Danville Bee he appeals & been “a venera of the pioneer type, hardy, and with a rugged hones during his brief appearance on the stage of national life brought him a warm and affectionate regard.” having le and austere figure Says the Atlantic City Union, “If the living in their turn can depart with not as creditable a past, will have lived in vain.” * kX ¥ That his own community and Stat had honored him many times in life is considered a convincing tribute to the attainments of Col. John (: Coolidge, as the Manchester ‘Union points out: “He had been a member of the Vermont House of Representi- tives and then of its State Senate and had held a commission as colonel on the governor's staff, itself evidence of standing in the State.” That “pub- lic honor and public office came per- sonally to Col. Coolidge by reason of his ability, his strong character and the respect in which he v held by those among whom he. lived,” is the tribute of the Saginaw X Courier. “His word was I says the Birmingham News, and he was one “to whom the neighbors came for advice and counsel in pre- cinet affairs.” Such men as he was, according to the Anniston Star and other papers, “are the leaven in the bread of humanity. They are typical of the true American.” To him canie the joy of being esteemed most by those that knew him best. As the Akron Beacon Journal has it, “In the community in which he spent most of his life he was especially esteemed and beloved for his dili- gence, integrity and goodness,” and the Trenton News appraises him as having been “an outstanding figure in his little New England neighbor- they inclusive Irish phrase, ‘I'm sorry for | hood. Armed Robbery Should Be Punished by Death To the Editor of The Star I am glad to see you take the posi- tion that armed robbery and burglary should be a capital offense. Until it is, the criminal will go armed and trust to an easy officialdom to escape penalty. Until then, the timid and other possible victims will pack & gun in thelr turn. If a man is starv- ing, he has only to walk up to a cop and slap his face and he can get all the accommodation he needs. But to “hold up” an innocent man With i gun is cowardly and unjustifiable. Too much of the element of banditry has come into the country from places where generations have lived by foul means. Stern methods are now necessary to cure the evil unless the United States wants to become like China. W. E. ALLEN.