Evening Star Newspaper, July 2, 1926, Page 8

— PP ——— e — e e THE EVENING STAR District from an incubus that hi: With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY...........July 2, 1928 THEODORE W. NOYES .Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Businees Office: 11th St and Pennsvlvania Ave. New York Offie: 110 East 42nd St. Chicazo Offica: Tower Building. Ruropean Office: 14 Regent St., London. England The Evening Star. Ing"edition. is deliv the city at 60 cents ner month: dajly on 5 cents per month: Sunday only. 20 cenis Per month. Orders may, be sent by mall or telephone Main 5000, Collection is made by carrier at the end of each month. with the Sunday morn- ed by earriers within Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily s Paily and sundas.. Sunday " only All Other States and Canada. aily and Sunday 1 vr. $1%00-1mo. $1.00 aily only 1vr. $X00:1mol 73 unday only . $400: 1 mo., 35¢ Sayel Member of the Assoclated Pres: The Associated Prees {s exclusiyely ent o the uee for repul of a'll news dis patehes credited to it or not'otherwise crod: ted in this paper ard also the local news published herein. All rights of vpublication ©f special dispatches herein are also reserved Commissioner Fenning. Commi rederick A. Ien ning, accused in “articles of impeach- ment” by a member of the House of Representatives in thirty-four counts, has been given falr trial by the judl- ciary committee of the House, which has now reported, aftey a painstaking consideration of the evidence. A majority of the judiciary commit tee finds that the Commissioner is not a Federal officer, within the meaning of the law which renders such officers subject to impeachment by Congress. It likewise finds that even if he were & Federal officer, and therefore sub- Ject to impeachment, there is no evi- dence of conduct rendering him liable to formal accusation by the House, for trial by the Senate. Thus, in the judgment of a majority of the com- mittee, the charges brought against the Commissioner have failed. foner But the committee at the same time declares its disapproval of certain of the practices of the Commissioner in his capacity as attorney and guardian for his charges, mentally afflicted former soldiers, now in the keeping of the Government. It condemns par- ticularly his taking of additional fees in the form of commissions on the bonds issued by himself as agent to safeguard the interests of his clients or wards. It condemns likewise the practice of wholesale guardianships, and of close association with hospital authorities to secure such practice. Commissioner Fenning, therefore, in the judgment of the judiciary commit- tee, while he is not in his official ca- pacity subject to impeachment, and is not guilty of any impeachable offense even ‘though he were so subject, has engaged in a practice which cannot be accepted as ethical, a practice, in the language of the committee’s re- port, which “cannot be too severely criticized and condemned.” This practice has continued for a long period. It began before Mr. Fen- ning became District Commissioner, and it was maintained after his ap- pointment to and acceptance of that office. Usage, however, does not, in the judgment of the committee, jus- tify it, and other methods are pro- posed to replace it in the future. There is nothing legally wrong, says the committee, in an attorney taking such cases by the wholesale, but the practice is undesirable and should be broken up by prohibition and numeri- cal limitation. Whether this will lead to a better care of the unfortunates, to a more scrupulous safeguarding of their interests, to a surer protection | of their welfare, is uncertaip. Preju- dice has been aroused against this mode of guardianship, and it has al- ‘ready been prohibited in legislation enacted in anticipation of the com- mittee’s report. Regarding the committee’s findings, there will be but little difference of opinion in this community, whatever differences may arise in Congress, where the question has been subject- ed to heated acrimonious discussion. On the score of the character of the office there should be no dispute, in view of the plain letter of the law and the numerous and virtually unvary- ing interpretations put upon it by ju- diclal and legal authorities. The com- missionership is not a Federal, but is a municipal office, and its holder can- not be impeached and fried by Con- gress. Any other conclusion would be intolerable. The President is at all times available to safesuard the pub- lic interest. On the score of the alleged criminal- jty of conduct on the part of the ac- cused Commissioner there has not peen at any stage of the case any sub- stantial ground for belief. The clos- est approach to illegal procedure was in the matter of the taking of com- missions on bonds, a practice which seemed to have some technical justi- fication, but which has now been de- clared by judicial decision to be im- proper. It is evident that in the judgment of even those who hold that the Com- missioner has not been guilty of im- hable offenses, he has engaged in @ practice that offends the sensibili- ties, a practice that arouses doubt on the score of ethics, a practice that, while scrupulously performed for the safeguarding of the estates of the wards, nevertheless exacted the ut- most possible of return, a practice that offended against the sentiment of the people for the unfortunates whom the war left in a state of mental ‘unbalance. In all the circumstances, Commis- sloner Fenning, having been cleared of all criminal charges, having been declared to be not guiity .of the accu- sations upon which his punishment was demanded, should now recognize the fact that these accusations and this trial before committee have im- his usefulness as a public of- ficer. He has been at the same time acquitted and condemned. He may not be impeached. He should, how- ever, resign the office which he holds. That course would be for his own benefit, for his peace of mind, for the relief of the President from embar- }lument. and for the relief of the practices and that prejudice and pas: sion have created out of this deplor- able case. P Now Enforce the Order! Suggestion is made in the report of the Interstate Commerce Commission on the collision on the Pennsylvania Railroad near Gray, Pa., on the 16th of June that Engineman Gordon of the forward of the two locomotives hauling the following train, which crashed into the rear of a train stall- ed ahead, s either dead or incapaci- tated when he ignored the signals set by the trainman of the forward train. An autopsy s been performed to determine whether the engineman was alive just before the collision, but without conclusive results. Whether the engineman was alive or dead, or fully competent or inca- pacitated, the fact remains that the lack of an automatic train-stop sys- tem caused the collision. The com- mission so declares In the plainest terms. It say “Had an adequate automatic train stop or train control system been in use on this line this accident would have been prevented.” Eleven passengers and four em- ployes were killed in this wreck and eighty-two passengers were injured. The monetary damages from the col- lision are certain to be heavy. They may run to a quarter of a million dol- lars. They would certainly run higher if the cases were all taken to court and the judgments rendered were in accord with the proper scale of com- pensations. Equipment of the railroads of the country, the maln trunk lines cer- tainly as a starter, with automatic train-control systems will cost an enormous sum of money. But it will be a profitable investment. No rail- road that relies upon the block sys- tem, the test of which after all is the human element of engineman’s vision and judgment and precision of action, is safe from disaster. By good luck a lrond may escape from disastrous collisfons for several years. Then, al- most with the certainty of a mathe- matical formula, will come a wreck that will cost it heavily. Automatic train control, however expensive, will be a positive insurance against collisions and therefore against losses. Viewed solely from the flnanclal standpoint, it is the worst of bad business to continue to to a system that fails repeat- edly, that is bound to fail eventually, and that Is costing in the long run more heavily in its failures than would a dependable security installation. Now that the Interstate Commerce Commission has found another, and a most positive case in point in this collision, will it not proceed without further delays or tolerations to com- pel the railroads of this country to obey its mandate and equip them- selves with automatic stop systems? The traveling public, which cannot be compensated for losses, however heavy in terms of dollars, demands that this be done. S e Suzanne's Latest Tantrum. Mile. Suzanne Lenglen, French ten- nis star, woman champion of. the world in that game, but lately defeat- ed in England, posse: a tempera- ment. Sheisa decidedly difficult young woman. She has manifested her ec- centricities of spirit on numerous oc- casions. She aroused serious criti- cism in this country on her first ap- pearance here. In practically every match that she has played she has ex- hibited bad sportsmanship, as judged from the American and British points of view. Recently at Wimblédon she aroused much feeling by her refusal to play in a match at which the Queen of England was present as spectator. Now she has capped the climax by suddenly deciding not to begpresent- ed at court, although arrangements for her presentation have been made by the wife of the French Ambas- sador. Her explanation of this ex- traordinary and unprecedented per- formance is that she wishes to return to France and consult a specialist. Hints are not lacking, however, that imtimations have been given that the recent Wimbledon affair has caused an unwillingness at court to receive the temperamental French sports- woman. However that may be, the British public is agape over this dis- play of bad manners, and has come to the conclusion that Suzanne, what- ever her prowess with the racket, is intolerably lacking in the graces. Suzanne has never been a good loser, and therein she has failed .despite her remarkable ability as a player. Her recent defeat at Wimbledon may mean the passing of an always interesting, though often troublesome, performer on the courts. vt — In the esteem of American citizen- ship Andrew Mellon will always stand out as a statesman who devised a method of tax revision which provided for a reduction instead of an increase. e Ponzi as Clever as Ever. Charles Ponzi, wanted in Boston to serve out his term of imprisonment for fraud interrupted by an appeal which has just been denied, and want- ed also in Florida for trial on a some- what similar charge, has been ar- rested in New Orleans as he was trying to flee the country in the guise of a sailor. He was taken back to Texas and held there for extradition. He is now engaged in extraordinary efforts to block his return to prison in Massachusetts. He has cabled to Mussolini, the dictator of Italy, a request that the Italian Ambassador to the United States be instructed to intercede for him on the ground that he was on his way to Italy with “important communications for the state” when he was arrested. He has at the same time appealed to the Gov- ernor of Texas to deny extraditiom But Mrs. Ferguson has appointed a date for a hearing. Pending the hear- ing Ponzi has asked the Governor of Massachusetts to grant executive clemency on the stipulation that the fugitive leave the United States at once and forever. Governor Fuller has refused to make this bargain. Perhaps it might be just as well to let Ponzi go to Italy. He is alto- gether too clever for this country when at large. When he was-admitted time in the Massachusetts peniten tiary he went straight back to the old game of “selling nothing for some- thing” in Florida. In Italy he might be able to run straight. A new pro- gram of intensive industry has just been adopted there and perhaps there is a fleld there for his unmistakable talents. But Mussolini has no use for crooks, and perhaps he will de- cline to take a chance on this slip- pery customer. In any case, it is very doubtful whether he would ask the United States to let up on Ponzi, and it is quite as doubtful whether this country would let up on him even if Mussolini requested. vt No Hatred in the Song. At a patriotic meeting in New York last night trouble developed from the attempt of a woman in charge of the arrangements to prevent the singing of the second and third verses of “The Star Spangled Banner” on the ground that they showed hatred toward the British. Indeed, she had sought to confine the rendition of the national anthem to music alone. Members of the audience, however, resented this effort and insisted upon singing the anthem throughout. One man, speak- ing right out in meeting, challenged the program manager to show that there was any hatred for England in the song. The incident closed with a general fecling that the victory had been won agaipst the would-be amender of Key's immortal poem. It has been often said that very few Americans know more than the first verse of “The Star Spangled Ban- ner.” Indeed, the song is so difficult for the average voice that few people can sing it at all. Now, however, that the matter of the second and third verses have been squarely brought to the point of public notice, there will probably be a general overhauling of the song books and an analysis of those two stanzas. There is really nothing in the second to which any objection could be raised. There fs a reference to “the foe's haughty host,” but that is all. In the third e, howeser, is an allusion to the “band who so vauntingly swore, 'mid the havoc of war and the battle’s con- fusion, & home and a country they'd leave us no more.” Where was that tand, asks the song? Comes the an- swer, “Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.” Then comes a reference to the mercenaries of the British forces, who are de- seribed as “the hirelings and slaves.” There is history in these two verses, and, regardless of the events of one hundred and twelve years which have healed the wounds of war and have brought the British and American people into close sympathy and un- derstanding and mutual regard, it is absurd to think to unwrite that his- tory by merely omitting the singing of these two stanzas of the national anthem. Nobody ants to any hatred. Nobody wants to renew the animosities that were engendered by the war of 1812. Any attempt to prohibit or har the full rendering of the song it certain to evoke resent- ment, not hecause of any desire to revive the kelligerence of that deplor- for the man who, in the dark hour of able’ conflict, but because of regard America’s struggle, sounded a clarion call to restore the spirits of the people. Many adverse remarks are address- ed to “The Star Spangled Banner” as a national anthem. During the late war the song plugsers had an admira- ble chance to supersede it and failed lamentabl 4 arouse o Chicago policemen got into a fight over what started as a friendly base ball game. When the representatives of the law exhibit such human frailty, who is to stop the crime wave? AT T R There 1s to be no more smuggling one way or the other across the Cana- dian border. This will limit the pro- duction of labels for certain fancy bot- tles strictly to a home industry. e e Money, according to report, has been flowing like water in some sections and like champagne in.others. [ SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, Embarrassment of Riches. I do not yearn for fortune vast. ‘What course would I pursue with it? The question must arise at last, “What are you going to do with it?” At politics I'd make a play, And when I'd gotten through with it I'd view with worldly pelf and say, “What am I going to do with it?"” Serener Atmosphere. “Will you be glad when Congress answered Senator Sorghum. “It'll be a relief to get back home, where the people who disagree with you will write letters to the paper in- stead of throwing things.” The Early Photographer. Her bathing suit affronted taste In being scanty, some folks think. They téok her photograph in haste Before it could get wet and shrink. Jud Tunkins says when you see a gal in a bathin’ suit you don't know whether she's on her way to go in swimmin® or jest get photographed. Guarded Answer. “Are you a wet or-a dry?" “It depends,” answered Uncle Bill Bottletop, “on whetner you are talk- ing politically or in confidential con- viviality. Delicate Suggestion. “Do you want a ransom?” asked the captive. ot exactly a ransom,” answered the modest Mexican bandit, “But we think the publicity we have helped you to ought to be worth a little something.” Musical Mystery. Mysterious and all profound The ways of music are. The worse a tune is made to sound The more it's “popular.” “When I hears "bout de money used in politics,” said Uncle Eben, “I can't help wonderin’ whether de crap game down home ain't purty polite inter- tainment.” ) BY CHARLES ‘What some people need is a series of lessons in elementary civilization. A gentleman, distinguished in his profession, rushed up to us the other morning and pointed to a large car parked in space enough for three au- tomobiles, but so placed that only the one could get in or out. “See that fellow?" inquired friend, somewhat heatedly. “He saw me trying to park my car there, too, and he deliberately ran his car in so that no one else can get in edgewlse. This world is too full of hogs.” “Bounders,” we amended. “Fel- lows in striped bow tles, as the Eng- lish phrase it, who never had any- thing before and simply do not know how to act.” “I thought of going out and telling him a few things, but what would be the use?" ] “None at all, because he would not be able to comprehend you and would only regard you as a fool.” We parted on this note and fell to musing on the need for a set of per- tectly simple lessons in primary civi- lization. They stalk through the streets of every great city. ‘They dress well— often too well—they go in gre they are gentlemen on the surface. * ok Xk Xk case, however, where e does not save all. Scratch one of the bounders at any point and he bleeds freely, staining himself for what he is, loudly pro- claiming his true status in life. can't make a silk purse out of s ear,” the homely old and the year 1926 perhaps shows it as well as ‘any. The economic causes of this phe- nomenon are beside thig paper. What we choose to deal with here is simply the manifestation in its various forms, one of which has been given, and some of the ideas to be derived from this consideration. A great deal of the so-called “traffic problem,” for instance, is caused by ons, although much learn- ed discussion has been Indulged in as to a thousand and one other factors, all of which exist, but none of which is the primary trouble. Civilization, need it be sald, is not atural. The natural man takes what he wants, wherever he finds it. He does as he pleases, as the animals do, who know no better. The natural man, however, has no excuse in na ture, as the creatures have. Man has been given a brain, and thousands of y use in it, trickling down to even the most benighted, has given every one except the plain idiots some meed of rational faculty Yet the primitive desires overpower reasoning in millions of living beings, hence our long procession of traffic hogs. From this cause flow endless suc- sions of well dressed male beings o never think of removing their hats in the presence of women. These veritable armies of the ill-bred have, in turn, infected other brigades of men, in whom Nature and Civilization have better wrought, so that today practically no one gets up in a street car or other public vehicle to give a woman a seat T % Those who have never read books will mistreat the Looks of others. Those who have no flowers in thelr our This is one rving the su ce Calvin Coolidge, the only President of the United States ever born on the same day as the Republic's birthday, is 54 vears old this Fourth of July, but hardly looks it. A comparison of his photographs today with those taken when he entered the White House three years ago will disclose to any one that the President is aging, but aging so gracefully that it's hardly noticeable. There are some furrows and crowsfeet that did not adorn his countenance in 1923. Around the temples gray hairs are discernible, that have come with the responsi- bilitles of executive. office. Mr. Cool- idge has perceptibly taken on weight, too, though he retains his slender fig- ure. The President is proof of the fact that a man can remain in good health without going in strenuously for exercise. Walking continues to be the only Coolidge sport on record. Probably the President attributes his chonic well-being to an incapacity to worry. He lets people know every once in a while that he is annoyed, and even irritated, but he is not often unstrung or upset. One of Mr. Cool- idge’s habits is to allow even disagree- able situations—political and other- wise-—to “ride,” confident that in most cases time will right them. * ok K K 5 Senate cloakroom chatter attPibutes to the President as aggravated a case of pique as any to which he has suc- cumbed during his entire administra- tion in connection with the defeat of the Fess farm credits bill. Republi- can leaders with whom Mr. Coolidge consulted on the eve of his dramatic eleventh-hour intervention on behalf of the Fess amendment assured the White House that it, would be effec- tive. They told the President the scales were almost evenly balanced for and against the measure, but that a ringing announcement in its favor would cast just the weight necessary to incline the scales in the bill's di- rection. Mr. Coolidge thereupon went to bat. He was grievously disappoint- ed. Instead of anything remotely ap- proximating a close vote, the admin- istration measure was overwhelmed, 54 to 26. The President dislikes de- feats as much as any politiclan. But he hates being “licked” under the cir- cumstances hereinbefore narrated. There's reason to believe that cer- tain distinguished gentlemen on Cap- itol Hill are hearing from the Execu- tive Mansion in that precise sense. * ok ok ¥ Jeremiah Smith of Boston, who has added fresh luster to his immortal family name by refusing either honors or honorarium from Hungary, has long had a reputation among his home folks for unselfish service. His law partners, when asked to comment on Smith's renunciation of reward at Budapest, observed, “By those who know him well it can only be said that it's exactly like him.” A native of New Hampshire, Harvard man and at one time private secretary to Mr. Justice Gray of theé United States Supreme Court, Smith was a captain in the Quartermaster's Corps of the American _Expeditionary Forces in France. President Wilson took him to the peace conference at Paris in the capacity of counsel to the United States Treasury and an adviser on financial questions. Smith is a Demo- crat, a bachelor, and 56 years of age. * ok ox ok An animated and active member of the Senate committee which is prob- ing primary slush funds is Charles Joseph Hoy, Senate page, Arizonlan, aged 14. A freckle-faced youngster who looks like a magazine-cover boy (he is a protege of Senator Cameron), Charley was chosen for the post of the committee’s page by Senator Reed of Missouri, another of his admirers. One day Reed was the only member of the committee of five present when the convening hour of 10 o'clock ar- rived. The other four Senators were missing. Affecting great severity, Reed said to Charley. t's your busi- ness to see that the full committee is on hand and on time.” Quoth Charley, “Well, half the committee's here. Some of the witnesses who have been E. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. C., . TRACEWELL. own yards will not worry ahout those in the neighbors’. hose who have never seen any paintings except public signs will hardly he awed by a Whistle: Those who are so tough titat others cannot annoy them will scarce be oubled at worrying others them- selves. “I ain't got nothin’, T never had nothin’.” went the old song, but the first phrase has been drastically changed today, and we have a whole generation of those who have at lust got something, although they never 1d anything before. Hence arises the extreme necessity for greater stress than ever on mat- ters of etiquette, such as civilization hus fmposed upon men and women. These are not silly rules, arbitrarily adopted to cause annoyance. but de- liberately chosen through the years to facllitate the everyday life of hu- manity. To acquire them gracefully one must be born to them. It will not do to purchase a book on “etiquette” and solemnly say to one’s self, “Now, I am going to become refined.” It isn't done that way. It must not be magined, however, that lack of what is commonly called an “education” has any ticular thing to do with this matter. We have been privileged to know almost totally unlettered men who had kindness of disposition and true courtesy, almost as if by instinct. Especially did they possess a refined outlook upon women that, was re- flected in thelr every act and word. o The real need for some little lessons in civilization comes in training the children. Perhaps the grown-up bounders in striped ties and others nd all hope in this world. We ve to put up with them the We have a suspicion best we that they have no very high opinion of us, either. With the children however, all is Qifferent. ‘There is no need why they should be compelled to go through life branded by the discriminating as ving been brought up in a stahle.” Yet, what is one to think of a bright- faced youngster who comes into a home, keeps his hat on in the pres- ence of ladies and places both feet in the chair in which he is sitting? We have heard of a boy who, after dinner, climbed up on the table, in the presence of guests, and removed his shoes and stockings, to the huge amusement of his parents, but not of the guests. In public such a child has no thought for any one in the world ex- cept himself. What he wants to do, > does, or tries to do, because he has otten aw: with 1t at home, be- u civilized, be of himself fi ‘When he gr a man who deli mobile to prevent two others from parking ulongside him, simply in or- der that he may be able to get out easier. He is the man who smokes {n a pub- lic restaurant when he finishes his dinner, without one thought of those around him who are not through eat- ing. Tie is the man—but what, indeed, is the use? If civilization can make no impress upon him, what can we do? he has been trained to be un- ause he invariably thinks squirming under the Missourian’s merciless cross - examination think Charley’s arithmetic was wrong by 50 per cent. He puts in his time at the committee table drawing pictures, and gives promise of becoming & cartoonist some day. Mrs. Longworth numbers Charley among her pets *x k k x Nominations and elections lot less in Abraham Lincoln day than nowaday: Carl Sandburg’s re- cent life of the great emancipator quotes Judge David Davis as replying when asked to name the amount of money expended to make ‘‘Honest Abe” the Republican candidate for President in 1860, “The entire expense of Lincoln's nomination, including headquarters, telegraphing. music, fare of delegations and other inci- dentals, was less than $700.” Baeoe v Senator Charles L. McNary, Repub. lican, of Oregon, hero of the late farm relief unpleasantness, will hurry back to the coast after the adjournment to perform a filial duty, He's -about to lay the foundations of a home on an- cestral heath outside of Salem, near the spot where both his paternal and cost a maternal grandfathers ‘“landed” in Oregon on the occasions of the great “migrations” from the and Mid- dle West, respectively, in 1845 and ry’'s progenitors came from Tennessee. His mother was a Claggett. He himself was born on the Oregon farm where he now is going to build an ancestral establishment of his own. The senior Senator from the Colum- bia River country thinks there was something in that slogan: “Nary a McHaugen bill!" * ok ok ok The frigid question of sovereignty over the North Pole recently threaten- ed to plunge the best legal minds of the Treasury Department into a_deep brown quandary. It concerned the question of duty on Comdr. Richard E. Byrd's photographs of his flight across the top of the world. It was finally decided the pictures were ad- missible, duty-free, because the expo- sures were made “on the high seas. ‘The movie company which owns the picture rights in Byrd's flight main. tained that, inasmuch as Admiral Peary had laid claim to the polar re- gion in the name of the United States, the negatives could not be classed as imports, as is done when exposures are made abroad. . Commissioner Blair's law experts made their decision irrespective of the question as to whether Uncle Sam l(io?s, or does not, own the North ole. * ok kX% Muscle Shoals gives every indlca- tion of becoming the permanently un- finished business of Congress. Once again it goes over to another session. 1t’s been doing that for the past eight vears. The speeches made about Muscle Shoals in both Houses, if the jaw and lung power they represent could be harnessed, would compare very favorably with anything in the way of energy ever developed by Uncle Sam’s white elephant. If only the ebullitions of “Tom” Heflin and George Norris could be retrieved from the Congressional Record, they of themselves would constitute no mean voltage. (Copyright. 1926.) ———— Parl:Pblice Praised By Band Director To the Editor of The Star: I heartily congratulate Maj. Hesse on the attitude that he has taken against the unwarranted brutality of the Metropolitan Police. During my experience for the past six years as director of the Community Centers -Band playing in the public parks of Washington, D. C., I have come in contact with practically all of the park police and I have found them to be men of the very highest type of character in handling thousands of people. I can proudly say that I have not seen a single arrest or a_ person mistreated by any of the United States police. JAMES E. MILLER. FRIDAY, JULY to bail on appeal after spending some ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 2 = 1926 Traffic Congestion And Building Sites To the Editor of The Star When in o dense part where the streets are ulr gested with pedestrians and street vehicles—automobiles, auto trucks and busses and street rallway cars—a sin- gle new building, with a capacity for several thousand tenants, is erected, those several thousand tenants and the many other persons who visit that building increase and Intensify the congestion at and in the vicinity of that building. Transportation of people to and from that bullding and to other buildings in that neighbor- hood is made much more difficult. Transportation lines carrying people to that building and into that neigh- horhood are given extra burden. If transportation lines to the neighbor- hood of that bullding are already so burdened during rush hours as to be returded and somewhat stalled, the additional burden developed by the new building becomes a serfous mat- ter for the transportation lines and for the people. At this time our Federal authorities have before them the proposal to place a group of large public build- ings on the area bounded by Pennsyl- vania avenue, Twelfth street, the Mall and Fifteenth street. It is well to consider what effect that close grouping of such buildings will huve on street congestion and on transpor- tation of people into that part of Washington. The many workers who will occupy those buildings are at present scheduled to begin work at 9 o'clock nd to leave work at 4:30 o'clock. That makes two peak perlods of pedestrian and automobile and bus and gtreet rallway movement of peo- ple. That movement will concentrate at that group of buildings. It is well to try to for what conditions will arise from adding that traffic to the traffic already existing in that lo- cality. The ideal locatfon for a place em- ploying such a large number of peo- ple is a place from which long trans- portation lines may radiate in all di- rections into residence areas. The proposed location for these new butldings is not such a location. In some directions from that location there are no residence areas at all. Access to that location is one-sided. The approaches being thus limited, there is the more tendency to con- gestion in the approaches. Should not those buildings be dis- tributed, in order that the transpor- tation burden may be ditided? Should there not be distribution along Penn- sylvania avenue and along B street between Fifteenth street and the Cap- itol Grounds, a distance of one mile? Should the e not now be made an estimate of wl public buildings needed during the next twenty-five or fifty vears and locations noted for such buildings, the locations being chosen with reference to convenient commu- nication between buildings needing such inter.communication and also with reference to transportation of the workers and to accessibility by persons having business with the de partments or bureaus occupying the buildings? As an example of convenient loca- tion, reference is muade to the Patent Office. There provision is made for easy approach from all directions. The F street and the G street car lines pass at oppesite sides and ex- tend eastward to the Union station the Capitol, the Library of Congress and residence districts, and westward to and beyond the Treasury and the White House and distant residence areas. The Seventh street and the Ninth street railway lines extend north and south at each side, reach- ing many near and distant places in the city. Ample provision for auto- mobile traffic east and west and north and south over long distances is made by Sixth, Seventh, Eighth. Ninth and Tenth streets, and D, E, F, G and H streets and their connections. This same facility for approach should be considered for all the public buildings and attained as far as feas. ible. In connection withsthe location of the group of public buildings now under consideration, the problem of parking automobiles should be kept in view. Are not the streets in that vicinity now occupied to the limit by parked automobiles? What is to be done with the large additlonal num- ber of automobiles in which the occu- pants of the new buildings will seek {to come from thefr hom CYRI KEHR. - Noisy Trucks Cause Georgetown Distress To the Editor of The Star Georgetown's status as a Summer resort is seriously threatened by an ear-splitting, heartrending, nerve-de- stroying, terrifying deluge of noise. It descends upon the quiet of this beautiful old town in the early morn- ing and lasts all day. Its cause is an endless procession of motor trucks, loaded with earth for an immense fill on Wisconsin ave- nue. These trucks elther cross the Q Street Bridge or climb up Twenty- seventh street to Q street, follow Q street westward, climb by another street to R street, and thence to their destination. Without mufflers, and climbing hills, each can be heard two | consctously ‘Will a cake of ice kept uncovered in a room at freezing temperature Q eventually become smalier? —H. T. H. A. Evaporation takes place even | at very low temperatures. A block of ice left in a place where the tem- perature is zero or below will lose a considerable amount by evaporation. Q. What music was played during “The Big Parade’ J. H. A. The musical score was adapted and arranged by David Mendoza and William Axt of the Capitol Theater New York City staff. The score con- tains many of the well known Army songs, which were so popular during the war and which are used in the original form and later on adapted in a symphonic style to the emotional or dramatic requirements of the screen. There are, also, quite a few original compositions in the score by William Axt, including a march en- titled “The Big Parade.” Q. Can _woodchucks be kept for pets?—O. H. A. The Biological woodchucks make very interesting pets, and are easily cared for. They should be given roomy quarters with a den and material for a nest in which they can retire in the Fall for hiber- Survey says nation. They eat a great variety of green food. Q. What became of the Lincoln tuneral car?—T. H. C A. The Lincoln funeral car was preserved for many vears and then broken up by the Pullman Company. One of the marked features of the car was a series of landscapes painted on wooden panels between the car win- dows. Mr. Pullman preserved some of the best of them, and presented them to his friends. So far as is known, no other par r re- Q. Does the word Zend in connec- tion with the Avesta, or sacred books of the Parsees, mean the langua in which the books are written?— H. 8. M. A. The word Zend actually in the opinion of scholars means translation or commentary, but is commonly used to define the language, which is akin to Sanskrit and the Afghan tongue. Q. What queen was crowned with a ceremony after her death?—L. K. A. The queen who was enthroned after her death was Inez de Castro, who was married to Pedro I of Portu- gal. The marriage was performed clandestinely on January 1, 1347, be- fore his accession to the throne. His father objected to the union and three years later, at his instigation, Inez was murdered. When Pedro became King he had the body of Inez taken from the grave, placed on a magnificent throne, arrayed in all the royal robes and crowned Queen of Portugal. Q. If both parents have blue eves, BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. might be expected to have brown eyes?—O. A. The Carnegie Institution says that if the parents have clear blue eyes noffe of the children would be expected to have clear brown eyes, regardless of the possibility that some of the grandparents had brown eyes. Q. Which States in the United States of America do not have las regulating the number of hours women shall work?—H. T L. A. Alabama, Florida, Jowa and West Virginia do not have such laws. Q. Is the radio schocls for the deaf? A. The use of the ing the deaf has bes veloped under Dr. founder of the St. Louls Institution, and Miss Connery, its principal. By a radio amplifier remnants of hearing are stimulated so that the capacity for receiving sound ts widened in pu- pils not entirely deaf. Its service here promises immeasurable benefit, for only a small percentage of congenital- ly deaf children can be proved pro- foundly and totally deaf. 4 Q. Why are Quakers o called?— C.E A. This nickname was originally applied to the Friends by Justice Bennet, a Derby (England) magistrate, being used. in R. dlo for teach- especlally de- Max _Goldstein, in derision of orge F the founder, because he admonished the magistrate to ‘“quake at the word of the Lord. Q. What was Rensselaerwyck?—H. TR, A. This name was given to a tract of land long and 4% miles broad - nge. Agents of Kilian Van Rensselaer purchased the property and named it “Rensselaer- wyck.” Q. Has the sesquicentennial a “midway ALY A. The W and amusement tion. y is the recreation enter of the exposi- Q. How is the v nounced? 1Is the “h A. Dictionaries give the proper pro nunciation as humble with “h¥ sound “umble” was heard now. ed, adding that the fo: formerly used, but rarely Find out whatever you want to know. There is no room for igno- rance in this busy world. The per- son who loses out is the one who guesses, The person who gets on is always the one who acts upon re- liable information. This paper em- ploys Frederic J. Haskin to conduct an information burcau in Washing- ton for the free use of the public. There is no charge except 2 cents in stamps for return postage. Write to him today for any facts you de- e. Address your letter to The ening Star Inforn ation Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Wash- what percentage of their children ington, D. C. Mellon Stirs Tariff Talk With Attack on Haugen Bill Secretary Mellon's statement on the |disrepute among nations. Haugen farm-aid bill, which is a sumed to have contributed to the failure of that measure in Congress, gave new material for the argument over the tariff system and its rela- tion to the agricultural problem. The Secretary, writing in response to an ed to the principle of the Haugen bill, saying it would result in higher prices of the farmers' products at the expense of the country at large. Analyzing the attitude of Secret: Mellon, the New York World (inde- pendent Democratic) says: “He would not lift a finger to make money out of his official position; he would not suit hi lieves every one of his_policies is for the benefit of the Nation and that he always acts with the sense of being high-minded. And vyet,| curiously enough, the net result, stripped of all the ornaments, is al- | W exactly the program of the most hard-boiled section of Penn- sylvania big business.” The Dayton Daily News (Demo- cratic) adds that “'so far as the anal sis of the farm bill, given in a let- ter to Representative Haugen, the original author, is concerned, it has! the manner charac- the Setretary of the unanswerable from the of economics and com- plete in statistical detail. So far as it went,” continues the New “the Melion analysis was unassailable. The Haugen plan undoubtedly is wrong in principle, because it would lay a tax on the American consum- er. But the tariff also lays a tax on the consumer, and Mr. Mellon said nothing about that. He has lectured the farmers for wanting what he and his associates have de- manded and secured. The farmer has been made in teristic of Treasury, standpoint blocks away and two blocks after it passes. As they come a few minutes apart, the suffering they occasion is almost continuous. If you have ever waited at a rail- road station while an express train thundered by, you can imagine the painful, sometimes frightening, effect of this unceasing torture. The sick, the delicate and the nervous are not the only victims. The rule in George- town now is to close tight every door and window on the street, and live all day in the back of the house. This began last Summer. Appeals to the city authorities then brought the explanation that these trucks had to use the Q Street Bridge because the M Street Bridge was out of order. But what relief would the M Street Bridge be when these trucks come up Twenty-seventh street to Q anyway? Why can't they be Kept off the residence streets? If they absolutely must use resi- dence streets, why cannot they be forced to apply mufflers; and, if they have no mufflers, why cannot their owners be compelled to put muffiers on them? Are people to be obliged to spend the hot months in their kitchens or escape out of town? ‘Washington protects residence streets elsewhere; why should George- town be obliged to submit to this daily horror? - We understand that this will last all Summer. The valley where this fill is making is long, wide and deep. This particular real estate project will be followed by others. The pros- pect dismays. ROBERT STERLING YARD. o : All Dear. From the Buffalo Evening News, You've got to say one thing for Pennsylvania, she has no “cheap poli- ticians.” ————— Insuperable. From the Indianapolis Star. The city fathers of Berlin have voted to make marriage easier, but they can do little to ease the torment of the proposal stage. R This Colorful World. From the Detroit News. Nowadays, Joseph, with his coat of many colors, would have had no trouble finding a hat-band to match. made appeal and lost; when next he comes, it will be with a demand which may not be denied.” ¥ X ¥ % “Secretary Mellon,” in the opinion of the Des Moines Tribune (inde- pendent Republican), “has not made it any easier to get ready for 1923 by what he has said, and the Presi- dent, by letting the Secretary do the talking, is greatly minimizing his own and Republican chance: ‘The Waterloo Tribune (independent) up- holds the farmer's position with the statement: “Steel sel]ls abroad, freight paid, cheaper ihan it does at home, yet the Secretary thinks this perfectly all right. Why is it different to sell corn or cotton cheaper abroad than at home, when this is done in steel and other prod- ucts? Steel and other products are organized to do it on their own ac- count. The producers are not. There is where the Government would come in—help finance the unorgan- ized to do the same thing that or- ganized business s doing, with the Government’s help by its keeping the products of other countries out by way of the tariff.” “The farmer inquired for the reac. tion of the Haugen bill on agricul- ture,” says the Chicago Tribune (inde- pendent Republican), “but Mr. Mellon described its reaction on Eastern indus- try. It is true that industry and agri- culture must both be prosperous if the country as a whole is to prosper, but the prosperity must be simultaneous and parallel. If industry must suffer slightly that the farmer may benefit a little, that, as agriculture sees it, is no more than fair.” The Davenport Democrat (Democratic) adds its com- ment that “the farmers will be right in concluding that Mr. Mellon, like any other man blinded by class in- terest and self-interest, approves of special privileges for- himself which he would deny to others.” * % kX “The statement of Secretary Mel- lon,” in the judgment of the New York Evening Post (independent), “‘undoubt- edly played a significant part in bring- ing about the final result, as did also the speech of Senator Glass of Vir- ginia. The Coolidge administration ac- cepted the responsibility for fighting this dangerous economic fallacy, and will proudly accept responsibility for its defeat.” The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin {independent Republican) also approves the result with the assertion that “the grain growers of the West will be saved from disastrous disap- pointment, and the country. at large from a burden of lost money and un- necessarily hlxn‘firlcu. and also from ¥ | much inquiry from farm interests, object- |&110 | further statement that * The Kan- sas City Journal (Republican) agrees to this with the conclusion that “the Mellon plan_for the farmers leaves much to be desired in the way of con tructiveness, but so sound a financier as Andrew Mellon should be heeded.” “Secretary Mellon no ax to declares the Pittsburgh Chron- elegraph (Republican), with the “his view as an impartial financial expert, who has madg a thorough study of the bill and its probable effects. should command weight t the Secretary “presented a convincing argument’ is maintained by the Rochester Times- Union (independent), his is also | the opinion of the Manchester Union (independent Republican). The Wich- ita Beacon (independent Republican) asserts that “for the most part the backers have not met disp: objections to the bill, but the air with irrelevant about st versus West protective tariff principle, of farm mortga of implements. ¥ Hee ‘Republicans who voted against the McNary-Haugen bill,” it is pointed out by the Lynchburg News (Democratic), “may claim with justice that even though the measure is almost identical in principle with the protective tariff system, they were justified in opposing it because it went too far. Neverthe- less, some of them so far forgot them- selves as to use arguments that apply with equal force to the protective sys- tem. Secretary Mellon, notabl; clared that ‘it provides higher agri- cultural prices at the expense of the rest of the people,’ which is just what a protective tariff does.” The Charles- ton Evening Post (independent Demo- cratic) suggests that “Mr. Mellon has made an arbitrary distinction between icle ze apply the the extent es and the high price agricultural and manufacturing indus- try,” and that he “may have over- ed his hand.” The Newark News T (independent) asks if Mr. Mellon “is politic in stressing the benefits ac- cruing to the foreign buyer from sur- pluses dumped abroad and paid for in ¥ at home." “It is question of power,” avers the Topeka Daily Capital (Republican), with the comment: “If the industrial interests have the power, they will re- tain their privileged position and keep everybody else out; but the West, when thoroughly united. has power, nd will make use of it." The Sloux Jity Daily Tribune (independent) also concludes that “if it is fair to make United States farmers market their wares on the basis of world prices, it is fair to establish the same rules for manufactured products.” THINK IT OVER A Neglected Asset By William Mather Lewis, President George Washington University Our young people should have as part of their standard equipment a speaking knowledge of at least one forelgn language. As we become more and more a manufacturing nation, the desirability of having foreign outlets for our products be- comes increasingly evident. Goods do not sell themselves, nor do exactly the same type of goods appeal to all people. Our foreign trade representa- tives must have the ability to speak directly to a prospective customer, and versatility enough to offer him the kind of goods which he wants. It is a false assumption that Eng- lish is now generally spoken through- out the world. One does not have to travel far to discover that each addi- tional language of which he is master is an asset of inestimable value. The weakness of the American method of teaching languages lies in the fact that we stress grammatical and reading knowledge of a tongue to the entire neglect of the speaking knowledge. It is the speaking knowl- edge which gives a language voca- tional and cultural value as well. And, by the way, if we are ever in- volved in another war let us not dis- cqntinue teaching the language of the efemy country. That nation which has 2 large number of people who speak fluently the language of the opponent scores heavy in progaganda, in secret service and in many other ways. In peace and in war, linguistic knowledge 18 a national and a per- nal asset. 4 (Copyrisht. 10260 .. _ ‘e