Evening Star Newspaper, February 3, 1927, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition WASHINGTON, D. C. | THURSDAY....February 3. 1927 THEODORE W. NOYES The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office m:g? i e Buropeun Sticn. A ngland The Evenine & Ing mdition la dalivered he en the eity ni A0 canta ner month 48 oanta nar month - S, only | Per month. Orders may he sent by mail or | telenhone Main 5000 Collection is made by carrier at and of each month Rate bv Mail—Pavable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. afly and aily only unday only 7he A0e 28¢ 2000 1 mo. 2000 1 mo. $3.00: 1 mo. 1vr 1¥r iyr All Other States and Canada. aily and Sunday..1 vr. £12.00: 1 mo., $1.00 ailx onlv ... ] vr. $%.00:1mol 750 unday only ..l 1yr. $100:1 mo. Member of the Associated Press. The Aesociated Press is exclusively entitied 40 tha uas for republication of all news dis- Patches cradited to it or not otherwise cred 1tad in this papar and lso the local news published herein. All rights of publication of enecial disnatches herein are also reserved An Encouraging Disappointment. While committee on the judiciary vesterday postpone next session consideration of the specific shaping of the form which should be given to the proposed const: amendment enabling Congress to grant national representation to the District is cause . for disappointment, the in in the decision of the House to until utional re are grounds | situation It was conceded in the discu that on basic American principles the people of the District are entitled to national representation, but it was insisted that such representation should be granted in such a way as not to dimihish in any respect the e: clusive legislation power of Congres and full national sovereignty in the District. And the delay until next De- cember was indicated to be primarily for the purpose of assuring to a cer- tainty that the joint resolution and the ,Proposed amendment were so worded as to remove all doubt of possible disturbance of national jurisdiction at the seat of government. Organized ‘Washington is encouraged to believe that the end desired can be readily accomplished, since its proposed amendment was framed with the very purpose of obtaining that result. The proposed amendment to the Constitution does not propose state- hood for the District or any sem- blance of statehood, bevond national representation in the two houses of Congress and in the electoral college. It does not in any respect lessen the exclusive legislation power of Congress ‘provided by the: Constitution. Tt merely admits to a participation by the District in that exclusive legisla- tlon power through admittance of its representatives to the two houses. This question was effectively an- swered by the report of the Senate District committee An the Sixty-sev- enth Congress, second session, on the | Joint resolution proposing a national representation amendment in the iden- tical terms of those of the now pend- ing resolution. In that report the Senate committee set forth that the power of exclusive legislation may not be delegated by Congress, nor can it destroy it or surrender it. It pointed out that the problem is to find a way to give the people of the District the representation to which they are en titled as national Americans in Con- -gress and the electoral college with- out depriving Congress of the exclu- sive legislation control. It reported that the joint resolution solved this problem by granting to District resi- dents representation in Congress and the electoral college on the same basis as citizens of a State, but with no oth- er powers and attributes of statehood. than those specifically named. The full text bf the Senate District committee’s report on this subject, as far as it relates to this question, ap- pears in another column of The Star today, accompanied by extracts from the “Washingtonian Americanization Catechism,” which, in the form of question and answer, sets forth what the District seeks through national representation, and also that which is not sought. Tn that it is stated: “We do not seek to disturb in any way na- tional control of the Capital through Congress.” 1t is moreover explicitly stated that the District does not seek for statehood, not only “because there 18 not the slightest possibility of se- curing it,”” but “because it is not for the welfare either of the District or the Nation to propose it unless na- tional representation for the District cannot be obtained in any other way."” The constitutional amendment pro- posed by the pending resolution merely empowers Congress to grant national representation to the District at its discretion and in its own time. Inasmuch as the courts have held, as set forth in the Senate committee’s re- port in the Sixty-seventh Congress, that Congress may not even delegate this constitutional r, much less destroy it or surrender it completely, there is no ground for apprehension on the score of any impairment of that power. It is therefore confidently believed that the doubts expressed concern- ing the effect on this point of the adoption of the proposed amend- ment can be met and fully satisfled when the committee in the next Con- gress resumes its consideration. The right of the District Americans to vot- ing representation is not denled. The trend of the national development is toward the enfranchisement of all citizens of the United States. The continental territories have all been admitted to statehood and their peo- ple enfranchised. The women have been given the vote. Washington alone is denied it. Washington, a com- munity of more than half a million, with 300,000 potential voters, with re sponsibility for service in war, with its heavy burden of national taxation and with its high percentage of intell} gence and citizenship fitness, is t) for encouragement pow| 'last now to be entranchised, and it {may not be doubted that this act of justice will not be much longer de layed. - Justice Granted. Passage by the Senate last night, after objection had been made to its | consideration and later withdrawn, of House Bill 11174 insures an enactment of partial justice. It provides that hereatter frontage of abutting property on which a legal assessment for paving or' repaving has levied and paid shall be liable to any further assessment on account of the replacement of such pavement. This is an amendment to called Borland law, enacted September 1. 1916, which !mposes upon the owners of property fifty per cent of the cost of all paving work on streets of the District of Columbia, the maining fifty per cent being divided between the District and the Federal Government. The inequity of that original act has been steadfastly main- tained by the people of Washington and repeated efforts have been made to secure its repeal. Under it grav injustice has been done to property owners. They have been compelled to bear half the cost of new street pavements and of replacements, despite the fact that the streets are for the benefit of the entire com munity and not their own exclusively or primarily. Streets that have been paved under the Borland law have worn out under the increasingly heavy traffic and in later years the owners of adjacent property have been compelled to bear half of the cost of In some instances these ssessments have heen ruinously burdensome upon the property owners. This present bill, which is now to be laid before the President for signature relieves them of at least the unjust charge of replacement cos In the discussion of the bill last night the question was asked whether, if there was good reason for the pas- sage of the original act, Congress was now justified in repealing it in part. In answer the Senator in charge of the bill sald I will say that T was not a mem- ber of the Senate when that act was i ed and became a law, but during the eight years that I have been here I have heard nothing but criti- cism of the method. It h been pointed out repeatedly that this is the only city of its size where the cost of repaving is charged in the manner in which it is charged in the District of Columbia. It is not the common practice at all. It is the exceptional thing. It may have been that it be- came a law at the time when the city was in desperate straits for finances, as we know that some years ago the Federal Government was compelled to take over control in order to Partial no been the so straighten out matters and pay off the indebtedness which had accrued'. This is in part a correct statement of the situation. The Borland law is an exceptional, unusual method of paying for street paving. But it was not adopted for the reason suggested by the Senator as the possible cause. It was the result of an effort to impose upon the District taxpayer a larger share of the burden of capital maintenance than -equity and long-continued practice had pre- scribed. It was an ill-considered, un. Jjust impesition upon the individual taxpayer, for which there was no justi: fication in the financial condition of the District, which was not in straits, /It was not in any manner the conse- quence of a necessity that the Fed- eral Government “take over control in order to straighten out matters and pay off indebtedn which had accrued.” It was simply one of a series of attacks made upon the prin- ciples of the organic act of 1878, es- tablishing a form of government for the District of Columbia and a method of maintaining the municipal administration. Full justice demands that this par- tial repeal of the Borland law be fol- lowed by full repeal, putting the cost of street paving upon the general funds and not in any part upon as- sessments on adjacent property. o Many a judge must regret that the facilities for censoring testimony fn court are necessarily employed with caution and forbearance. . Communists are dissatisfled with all forms of government and uncom- fortable with no government at all. —————— Stage Cleaning. Matters are moving toward the es- tablishment in New York of a stage censorship outside of the law, to effect a cleaning of the metropolitan the- aters of the pernicious dramatic pabu- lum served to the public. At a meet- ing yesterday of producers, managers, actors and playwrights a plan was agreed upon for the regulation of the theater without legal censorship. It will be lald before the city officials for discussion, and if it is acceptable to the district attorney and the munici- pal administration it will be at once worked out in detail and adopted in the hope of averting legislative action. One of the best known and most highly respected members of the the- atrical professign, Winthrop Ames, whose ideals have always been high and whose productions have been uni- formly free from objectionable fea- tures, has been placed at the head of this organization—an act which creates confidence in the public mind that a sincere effort will be made to clean the stage of its present filth. It is recognized, however, that a weakness of the voluntary censorship plan is that independent producers remain free to-violate the edicts of such a censorship and to fight in the courts for their rights of production. Certain producers have refrained from joining this present movement. They are the ones whose stage offerings are most obnoxious. The question remains whether any voluntary cen- sorship plan can effect the necessary house cleaning. It is, however, a wholesome sign that the majority of the theatrical producers, backed by a strong array of leading actors and playwrights, are enlisted in this effort to purge the theater. Public taste is not debased to the point of exclusively demanding libidinous spectacles and dramas. Notable successes are constantly scored by clean plays, well constructed and well acted. They succeed even hough other offerings of a different THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, character succeed likewise, 1t 18 1dle | to assert that there is not a certain public demand for the unclean. It is equally idle to that the de- mand for the ean dominates Modern sobiety not degenerate, however debased may be the diversions and entertainments which thrive upon the patronage of the morbid and the prurient minded. In the city the size of New York there is a “public” for | any kind of entertainment. The prob- | lem is to prevent the pollution of the | stage as a .whole by allowlng that public to be the dictator of the stand ards of the stage to assert un The most prosperous Nation in history is not supposed to amuse itself with dangerous play toys such as war planes and battleships. But it has the means of acquiring them rapidly in the remote and regrettable possibility of their being seriously required R R R A threat of censorship is based on the hopeful assumption that the pub- lie will refuse to see or read things that appeal to morbid curiosity. The threat is usually in danger of re- volving itself into a promise of worse to come. sl Tennis plavers are permitted make fun of each other's figures. It is a satisfaction to note that the figures are physical and not financial. There are no implications of un- sportsmanlike profits. —_— e Beauty prizes have been awarded 50 promiscuously that there might be some interest in a competition to!l discover a homely girl who is amiable | and who knows how to keep house. R0t i The audacity of old John Barley- corn has always been unlimited. He now proposes to go into business in legitimately recognized partner- ship with Uncle Sam himse!f. N The “Washington novel” has been a frequent experiment in literature. It has invariably demonstrated that however bad the assumed conditions may be, the novel is worse. N A visit to the theater once gave the ticket purchaser material for conversation. He is no longer ex- pected to tell what he saw or repeat what he heard. SR Gossip about Gladstone is neces- | sarily based on the theory that the great reading public never loses its interest in ancient history. —_———— ‘When it comes to a matter of political troubfe, Mexico makes an especlally imposing ‘demonstration of “undeveloped resources.” NS SHOOTING STARS. to 1Y PHILANDER JOH Ground Hogs. We're feelin’ kind o' gloomy down t6 Pohick on the Crick. The sky was full o' sunshine where the clouds were once so thick. But Mister Ground Hog came along and gave a glance on high; And next he saw his shadow, as he turned his weather eye. The mocking bird was happy and composed a little song Inviting birds to come around an’ bring their friends along. But Mister Ground Hog selfishly got out into the sun And sald, “T want the spotlight, even if I spoil the fun! The branches seemed all ready to take on a greener glow As if the flow'rs were eager to come out and help the show. An’ then the bilzzard ~ame along, a-zippin’ 'crost the roof ‘While Mister Ground Hog hunted an abode that's weatherproof. He's dreamin’ warm an’ cozy, while ‘we others have the blues. He had his day of comfort. Then he scattered the bad news \ Which in folks, as well as critters, is & mighty selfish trick. we've no more use for Ground Hogs down to Pohick on the Crick. Embarrassment of Books. “I suppose you spend a great deal of time in your library?” “No,” answered Senator Sorghum. “So many folks around the house are buying best sellers that I am afrald to take a book off the shelf for fear of being shocked instead of en- lightened.” Perils of Literature. The Sanskrit literature looks tough. Let solemn scholars heed it. It may be full of scandal stuff. I'm glad I cannot read it! Se, “Money,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “is a power which philos- ophers profess to despise but which will remain supreme so long as beau- tiful women respect it.”” Jud Tunkins says a good politiclan manages to avoid the ideals of a philosopher and the too practical notions of a grafter. Patient Industry. “You have made Crimson Gulch one of the most beautiful towns on the map!” f “Yes,” answered Cactus Joe. “It shows what patient industry can do. We kept shootin' cattle thieves and hazin’ tenderfeet, until one of the motion pictures took notice and made us the metropolis fur wild western films.”" World Full of Hamlets. “The times are out of joint!"” Sald Hamlet with a sigh. ‘We make the selfsame point He made in years gone by. ‘We face the same old plight Friend Hamlet used to nurse. We try to set things right And often make them worse. “You can't always tell 'bout de power a man has,” sald Uncle Eben, “by de airs he puts on. A drum major looks like he was leadin' de perces- sion when, as a matter of fact, he has to step lively to keep f'um bein’ pushed.” e L Safe Sportsman on Guard. From the Boston Herald. A Washington _administration’s everyday job is the shooting ag apple oft some Tell boy's head. > 3 0., THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Every one wanted to get out and dig_that afternoon recently when the thermometer struck a high point of 76 degrees, approximating Summer temperature in January There was a certain lushness to the round that beckoned to gardeners, ‘ome here and dig me!" Borders pre- viously stiff with cold looked absv- lutely ‘mellow to the practiced e; Everywhere in the air was the call of the garden. Duties, which one had thought on the shelf for two or three months, at least, suddenly assumed the most important air. Kochla bushes, browned and ugly, ought to be torn up at once. Visions even flashed across the mind of plant ing grass seed. Sober thought, how- ever, declared that, even if it sprout ed, it would be killed by the next cold day. \ So there was no use, then, in get- ting excited just because Nature, in a queer mood for this latitude, in- sisted on presenting us with a Spring day in the middie of January. * ok K X Average yards are not things of beauty in Winter, Ordinarfly, one mnever gives the vard so much ts a thought from De- cember through March, but this mild day, almost a record, forcéd house- holders into giving the immediate out- doors the ‘“‘once over."” The rosebushes, for one thing, need pruning. That best of growers, Radiance, sprawls over the window sill, as if trying to get into the house There is even a tinge of pink yet in a cold-blasted bud. This bush pre- snted a real rose in December, which was the admiration of all lady-agents who passed this way. They sell all sorts of things, from flavoring ex- tract to magazines, and are not so obnoyious, as a general proposition, as tre men, many of whom fondly imagine that they are “high-pressure salesmen.” High pressure applied in the form of a good stout boot to the seat of their trousers is what some of this gentry deserve, especially when they attempt to stick their foot in between the door and the jamb. Many a would-be ‘high-pressure” salesman has lost a toe by that pro- cedure, and, we hope, many another toe will suffer a like fate, so long as house-to-house canvassers indulge in such crude tactics. The lady-salesmen, however, who admired our December rose, were in a different category. Two of them were “working" the block, one on one side, the other on the other. “Oh, Mable, look at this rose!’ cried the one on our side of the street. “That's the first time 1 ever saw a rose in December!” said the other, all en- thusiasm, In truth, it was not much of a rose, but pretty good for Christmas- time, undoubtedly. There are not many full-blown roses seen outdoors in Washington at Christmas. The Radiance is one bush to throw them, if any will. ' This rose and its sister, Red Radiance, admirably fill all needs of the average home owner, who simply wants good roses. The two Radiances are sturdy growers, vig- orous and healthy, and, with a pre- liminary early Spring spraying of nicotine solution to kill the aphids, will go through the Summer and Fall in the best of shape. If one pays too much attention to the lists of “rose diseases,” in the magazines, he is apt to be ‘“scared out” of planting this queen of flowers, especially if he is & newcomer to the gardening world, but there is no real reason for fear so long as he sticks to such roses as these. * K ok K Then the question of manure de. serves consideration. Well rotted cow manure, it is generally agreed, is the best fertilizer in the world, but the trouble s that it is very hard to get In a large city. In some sec- tions men come around with wagon loads in Autumn, and even in De- cember, but much of this stuff is‘too hot, and too filled with straw. Inex- perienced householders often pay a tancy price for a load of such manure, and have It put on their grass, only to find it so dlsagreeable that they soon are willing to pay some one else to remove it. Well rotted manure of the proper kind is free from an excess of straw, and has the appear ance of black garden loam, and any one who finds this quality has made a find, Indeed. Applled to borders in the Fall, or even Winter, it is the best thing In the world for them, and especially for the rose bed. When you are in our public parks next Spring, notice thatathe rosabushes set out by Uncle 8am are literally planted in manure. There are some very fine beds in Montrose Park, in _ George town, which it will pay any one in- terested In roses to visit for this fea- ture alone. * % ok x As one who has.spent his fair share of time “stewing around” about the condition of his lawns and has now happily reformed, we would like to warn all persons against a similar procedure. The chances are 99 to 1 that your grass will come out all right next Spring, no matter how poor it looks now. Grass is pretty tough stuff, after all, and is in the care of a hardy old lady, Mother Nature, who “knows her stuff,” as indeed she ought, bes ing very, very old, and consequéntly wise in her ways. The experience of our friend Tem- pletion Jones is instructive. Mr. Jones had two excellent lawns the first Sum- mer in his new home. The front grass came with the house, the back yard was planted by the householder. That Autumn he cut his grass the last time on September 6, after which it di@ not grow any more to amount to anything. The next Spring his lawns were almost bare, after the dead grass was raked off. Jones im- mediately jumped to the conclusion that he had cut his grass too late. Plenty of grass seed, however, again gave him good lawns—so good, in fact, that Jones had more than a suspicion that his old grass had come up, after all. The last Autumn, how- ever, he made his last cutting on August 15, in order to test the advice of the “experts” that a lawn “should be allowed to go into the Winter with a long coat of grass.'” As the result of following this ad- vice, Jones had the deadestlooking grass in Washington by the middle of September, and, as the season was mild, nice brown grass, when all his neighbors had nice green grass. To- day, he informs us, his lawn looks Just’ a bit worse than any one else's, and by Spring bids fair to be just as poor-looking as last year. To date he can see no benefit whatever from refraining to mow, and has had to endure a brown lawn much longer than usual. He says that hereafter he will continue to run the mower until the snow falls. Winter birds are having the time of their life, however, eating seed in his back yard, so Jones feels more than ever that it is an ill wind, in- deed, that blows no one good, BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. The House of Representatives was interested on Tuesday when Represent- ative Lozier of Missouri pald tribute to the memory of the late Queen Car- lotta, who is credited with having in- stigated the 1862 usurpation of the “throne” of Mexico by her consort, Maximilian, in the midst of the strain and stress of the United States Civil War. Carlotta—hopelessly insane since the execution of Maximilian— died in France last week. The speaker not only related melo- dramatic history of that conspiracy of France, England and Spain to set the Austrian usurper upon the “throne” of the Republic of Mexico, in deflance of the Monroe Doctrine, but he also told of the effort of a Con- federate general, Joseph O. Shelby, to make alliance with Maximilian and bring 50,000 ex-Confederate soldiers to the Emperor's support after Lee's surrender. Gen. Shelby proposed to make the throne strong, in spite of the forced retirement of the French before the ultimatum given by Grant’s victorious army, which was then well able to reaffirm that the Western Hemisphere was no longer open to colonization or interference by Kuro- pean powers. Emperor Maximilian listened attentively to Gen. Shelby’s proposition, but upoh the advice of Marshal Bazaine, the commander-in- chief of the French army supporting him, he declined it. What would have been the outcome had this filibuster adventure been accepted? * kK K Lee had surrendered at Appomattox, the Confederacy was conquered, but Gen. E. Kirby Smith's army, west of the Mississipp!, was still in the fleld. Gen. Smith decided that further re- sistance would be useless, and he pro- posed to surrende; A Gen. Shelby, who commanded a di- vision of Smith's army, opposed the surrender, and advised that, instead, the transmississippl Confederate army should concentrate on the Brazos River and thence march into Mexico, where it should have “the option to fight to reinstate Juarez (the fleeing native President of Mexico) or espouse the cause of Maximilian.” Apparently he was indifferent as to whose cause it should champion. It appears to historians to have been a piratical or mercenary adventure, rather than one based upon principle Gen. Shelby proposed that the ex- pedition should be led by Gen. Stmon B. Buckner, and the officers who agreed with him appointed Shelby to break the news to Gen. Smith that the army desired him to _turn the com- mand over to Gen. Buckner. Gen. Smith did so immediately, in writing, but Gen. Buckner declined to accept the command, and a few days later Gen. Smith resumed command, and surrendered to the Union forces under Gen. Pope. Gen. Shelby then appealed to his own troops for volunteers, and suc- ceeded in engaging an army of 1,000, with which he invaded Mexico. That was in the Spring of 1865. Marshal Bazalne had already wiped out the houndary between Mexico and the United States by Invading Texas more than once. There was no official protest when this filibustering expedi- tion from America came marching across the Rio Grande through Mon- terey, Saltillo and Queretero into Mex- ico City, and its general asked audi- ence with the Imperor. But the French Marshal Bazaine looked with jealous eyes upon the proposal to sub- stitute an army of Americans in place of the only force then remaining in Mexico, the French, since the English and Spanish had promptly obeyed the demand of Secretary Seward to heed the Monroe Doctrine and vamose. * K ¥ X Representative Lozier in his interest- ing speech failed to advert to the pro- posal made by President Jefferson Davis soon after the triple invasion of Mexico by the allies, France, Spain and England, that the Amer- ican Civil War should be suspended while the North and South should combine forces and reafirm the Mon- roe Doctrine. Surely there has never been a more startling proposition in the midst of any great war than that. Perhaps Gen. Shelby was not aware that his own government had com- mitted itself to a policy which un- mistakably classed aid to Maximilian as disloyalty to the Confederacy, as well as to the Government headed by President Abraham Lincoln and Gen. U. 8. Grant. * ok ok “‘Poor Carlotta!” If she and her am- bitious Maximilian had only waited a few years more, in thefr charming lit- tle retreat in the Tyrolese Mountains, they wauld have inherited the throne of Austria—then one of the greatest in Europe. ‘But they chose to undertake the subjugation of a foreign people who had never harmed them, and to sacrifice the lives of men and women defending their native land. Finally President Juarez in 1865 captured the Emperor and shot him and his two of- ficers, Miramon and Mefia, and never since that shot has royalty dared raise its head on this continent. Mar- shal Bazaine, whose authority as Max- imilian’s marshal prevented accept- ance of Gen. Shelby's fillbuster, was in command of the French fortress of Metz when the Prussians invaded France in 1870, where he surrendered his army of 180,000 French defenders of thelr homes. Just ‘as was the case in the World War, when there were premature an- nouncements of armistice before the real end came, so there was more than one effort to end the Civil War. There was a visit to Richmond by Francis P. Blalr, sr., with a letter of authority from President Lincoln to confer with President Jefferson Davis. Later, President Lincoln wrote of that Blair incident: “The old man (Blair) meaft well, but I gave him no authority to make any statement or proposition to any one and after his return I stopped him from proceeding when he began to tell me what he had done at Rich- mond. Nevertheless, President Davis con- strued the Blair mission as an author- ized indication of the United States’ readiness to talk peace, and so he ap- pointed Vice President Stephens, Sen- ator Hunter and Assistant Secretary of War Campbell to represent the Con- federacy in a conference with Presi- dent Lincoln and Secretary Seward—a conference arranged upon a steamer llxgscsl'lored offt Old Point, February 4, * k% % The Contederates’ commission “dis- tinctly restricted their powers to a discussion of the issues involved in the war existing between the two countries.” ‘When the commissioners approached the Unfon lines, Gen. Grant refused them passage until he had communi- cated with President Lincoln, who upon learning that the wording of their commissions, “between the two countries,” might be construed as ac- knowledgment of the Confederacy, at first refused to hold any conference, but he was persuaded by Gen. Grant that “it would do no harm, if it did no good.” Quoting from “History of the United States” by Edward S. Ellis, vol. V, pages 1811 and 1312, “Mr. Stephens opened the business on hand by stating ‘clearly and with precision the conditions which the Confederates were instructed to lay before the President of the United States.’” These had been orally com- municated to them by President Davis on the day previous to their departure, at his residence in Richmond. Judge Campbell's journal of that date says: ‘Mr. Benjamin, Secretary of State, came for me to go to the dwelling of the President, where I found my col- leagues convened, and Davis then divulged to us the for creat- THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1927 New Mt. Vernon Route. Writer Points Out Shorter Bou-| Which Would Cost Less. To the Editor of The Star: 1 note by The Star of the 17th the Agriculture Department has recom mended the adoption by Congress of what is caller the “river route™ for the proposed Mount Vernon boulevard. People sometimes, and birds and beasts always, take a direct course in going trom place to place, especially #0 when the direct route Is most feasi- ble. That the persons surveying the two routes south of Alexandria should have so carefully avolded a route more to the west than either of those sur- veyed is indeed passing strange. Did these gentlemen ever go to the plateau Dbetween the home of Mr. Richardson and the old Collard homestead and look north to the Washington Monu ment, then turn half way around and look south right over Mount Vernon? It not, why not? One view from this point would be worth more than many days of surveying with an in- strument, The Government, s building for all time a road of magnificent proportions, not simply a winding, twisting cow- path, and the writer would like to sug- gest to Congress that it hesitate about the adoption of any route until this matter is further investigated. Though not an engineer. he does not hesitate to say this western route would cost from 25 to 30 per cent less than the river route. Why? First, it is about two miles or more shorter. There would be no bridges and there would be material in abundance along the route to make such fills in Cameron levard Run Valley as would be necessary. Assuming a change in the course to the ridge from Washington to a point about half a mile west of the reservoir at Alexandria, it would cross the Little River road above grade; also above the grade of several railroads entering Alexandria, thence close to Sharon Church and the schoolhouse on the Telegraph road to Richardson’s house and to Collard house, direct to its ob- jective. The right of way by this route Would cost as little as any other. Thus there is absolutely no road to run into the boulevard at grade, the lay of the land being such that the new road would cross all others above their level. The route recommended is certainly most_illogical throughout, in that it suggests a sweep from the bridge to the river, thence along the river, in- volving much bridging and filling, to Washington street in -Alexandria, through a network of wagon, trolley and steam roads, to say nothing of the scores of tracks in and about the rail- road vards. What are you going to do with them? Put them out of busi- ness, and then do you propose to cut down the 200-foot Wwidth to 60 feet or less, the width of Washington street? This, in itself, would spoil the beauty and usefulness of the entire thing, to say nothing of the congestion of traf- fic in this restricted portion. Now, won't there be a nice glut of traffic in this bottlenecked area crossed as it is by every east and west street at grade in the city? Veritable death traps, all.__All right, go a little further. What do we find next? There is Hunting Creek to bridge and a high fill from its south end to reach the highland; after about three miles on the ridge we get down to the level of Little Hunting Creek, requiring an- other bridge. Then the detour to Fort Hunt. This surely was not con- templated in the original idea to con- struct a boulevard from Washington to Mount Vernon. To one familfar with. this section it looks as though the Government is paying out a lot of money to go around Robin Hood's barn. The most serious objection to the entire scheme, however, is the bottleneck of Wash- ington street. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. So also will this magnificent 200-foot boulevard be but a 60-foot road all the way. And nce safety is the thing of primary importance, these’ death traps in Alexandria should be avolded by all means. Yes, T would invite the surveyors to take a look at the route suggested herein. It would certainly be to the Government's interest to have them do so, in order that the route may be shortened, reduced in cost and made safer for the many who will use it as the years roll on. The writer is assuming, of course, the original idea will be maintained, which contemplates the construction of a magnificent highway connecting the Capitol of this great country with the home and tomb of our first Pres dent and great military leader, who at a crueial point of our Nation’s life crossed the icy waters of the Dela- ware in the darkness of night and by so doing saved to us and to posterity the land we now enjoy. Surely he is worthy of it, as well as to symbolize the reunion of the North and South which would be in keeping with the wealth and dignity of this great Na- tion. Otherwise this matter will be of little moment. It should indeed be the Nation's tribute to her greatest son. JAMES E. JOHNSTON. ing the commission and the functions which were assigned to it. ‘“‘He stated that there whs exceed- ing discontent in the United States concerning the breach by the French Emperor concerning the Monroe Doc- trine, In the armed occupation of Mexico, and the subversion of that government to a foreign prince—a discontent which was shared by the Confederate authorities and people; and that it was purposed (presumably by those who had prompted Mr. Blair's mission) to form an alliance and combination of military forces be- tween the goveriments at Washing- ton and Richmond, with the object of expelling Maximilian from Mexico. We were not further informed of the means and methods of compounding our own difficulties, nor as to.the dis- position to be made of Mexico after such joint occupancy. But Mr. Davis seemed assured that this basis of common interest would be acceptable to Mr. Lincoln, and he concluded by conferring upon us the power to make any treaty but one that involved re- construction of the Federal Union.' “When Mr. Stephens had explained the scheme of making common cause against the usurpers In Mexico, Mr. Lincoln, with emphasis and force, dis- claimed all knowledge of or responsi- bility for any proposition of Mr. Blair to Mr. Davis covering such a project. * * * Mr. Lincoln declared that he ‘had encouraged and would listen to no terms which did not involve an immediate recognition of the Federal authority by all the States, and the abandonment forthwith of all armed resistance to it.’ “Mr. Hunter and Judge Campbell were both averse to the Mexican proposition, believing such invasion as was proposed to be neither a ra- tional nor righteous enterprise, and they made no secret of their disposi- tion in regard to it after President Lincoln had repudiated the idea.” This conference occurred February 4, 1865. Lee surrendered the follow- ing April 9. The Maximilian War in Mexico con- tinued two years longer, but on May 15, 1867, the Juarez forces, near Queretero, captured Maximilian, with Gens. Miramon and Mejia, and they were court-martfaled and shot. Shel- by’s Mexican filibuster had no' more glory than did Walker's filibuster in Nicaragua a generation earlier, It was condemned alike by North and South. “Poor Carlotta” certainly suffered a long and comfortless pen- ance for her part in the Mexican tragedy. Secretary Seward wanted war upon both England and France because of it—especially England— but was overruled by Lincoln. Our Government gave France an ultima- tum, backed by Grant's victorio Army, to leave this continent, and i ignominiou: owed the retreat of gc—m Q. How many churches are there in New York City?—B. M. . A. According to the latest informa- tion available New York City has more than 1,600 churches. Q. A frlend and I had a discussion as to what Is meant by “the Spanish Main.” Can you settle the question for us?. B A. The term “the Spanish Main" is 1y given to the Caribbean Sea and to “the north coast of South America from the Orinoco to Darien. | The term is also applied to the shores of the Spanish possessions In Central America. Q. Is Marle Corelll real name?—A. G. A. This is the pseudonym used by a_Mary Mackay, adopted daughter arles Mack: the author's B of Q. Is it true that it was at one time unlawful in the United States to use a bathtub?—L. B. D. A. In the early history of the bath- tub, it was declared a menace to health by medical men. In 1843, Phil- adelphia tried to prohibit bathing be- tween November 1 and March 15 by ordinance. In 1845 Boston made bathing unlawful, except when pre- jscribed by a physiclan. Virginia taxed bathtubs $30 a year. Q. Is it true that ants eat mush- rooms?—S, E. C. A. In Panama, Colombla and Venezuela ants of a certain varlety cut fragments of leaves, which they carry to their nests. On these leaves, the ants deposit the spawn of mush- rooms. When the mushrooms grow, lhtiy are used as food for the young ants. Q. Does water draw frost so that the wetter a plant is, the more likely it is to freeze?—M. C. W. A. The Department of Agriculture says that large bodies of water, such as lakes, serve as a protection to plants against damage by Autumn frosts. This is due to the heat stored during the Summer. In the Spring, such bodies of water tend to retard the growth of plants and thus safe- guard them against late frosts. Q. Is it quite correct to wear an engagement ring on the right hand before one is married, and after one is married change it to the left hand?—C. W. D. A. In this country it is not cus- tomary to wear an engagement ring on the right hand before one is mar- ried_and to transfer it to the left hand upon marriage. Both the wed- ding ring and the engagement ring are worn on the third finger of the left hand. In European countries where it was the custom to use one ring for the engagement and wedding ring, the ring was worn on the left hand during the engagemeht and changed to the right after marriage. Q. Of whom was it said, “All the Frenchwomen dote upon him and all the men are jealous of him"?—G. S. A. Orlouski said this of Frederic Chopin. Q. How may ths rosin which has become caked around the bridge of my violin be removed”—C. S. B. A. Rub lightly with linseed oil to which has been added a small amount of powdered pumice. To prevent the rosin from accumulating, the violin should be wiped off each day with a silk handkerchief. Q. Was there an increase or de- crease in crops last year?—E. J. C. A. Frank Greene, editor of Brad- street's, says that the total value of last year’s harvests fell $1,148,000,000 below that of 1925. This was the smallest aggregate for at least five years. Q. What is “French cleaning”?— J. A C. A. The process of petroleum clean- ing. or what we call today “dry clean- ing,” was discovered in France in 1866, hence the term “French cleaning.” Eu- ropean countries have until recently employed the method to a much greater extent than the United States has. Women there make a more gen- eral business than do American women ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASK of sending household articles, such as rugs, draperies, upholstered furniturs and the like, to professional dry clean- ers. A plant at Perth, in Great Brit- ain, employs 4,000 people and has 1500 branches or raceiving shops. One London plant cleans an average of |9.000 felt hats (mostly ladies’) every week and another ns out 10,000 pairs of flannel trousers around a ten- nis season. The indugtry in this coun- | try will turn out haitf a billion dollars’ worth of work during this year. This relates to the bettor rate commercial cleaners and not to the “pressing par- lors.” Q. Have rallroad aoccidents in. Commerce Commission show that sinoe 1913 there has been a reduction of 51 per cent in the number of passen- gers killed on American rallroads, 67 per cent in passengers Injured, 67 per cent in employes killed and 81 per cent in number of casualties due to train collisions. Q. Does the Utah season beavers open in the Spring?—O. S. A. There is no open season for beavers in the State of Utah. Q. What F. L 8. A. This term was applied to a man with a strong, appealing voice, who could go from dance hall to cabaret, to open-air moving pictures—in faot, any place—and sing the songs the publishing firm was trying to put over. It was a much more direct form of advertising than any other. Since the war the song plugger is not so prevalent owing to changes of con- ditions in the trade. Q. What night of the week is eon- sidered as critic night?—W A. Theatrical productions are re- viewed by dramatic critics the first night of the week on which the play is shown. Q. What is the “Odtaa”?—N. A. K. A. John Masefleld has Informed us that “Odtaa” 1is composed of the initial letters of the phrase, “One darn thing after another. Q. What section was at one time known as Widow's Mite”?—A. W. A. A tract of 600 acres lying north- ward from what is now the Naval Medical School Hospital, at Twenty- fourth and E streets, was once called this. for is a “song plugger’?— meaning of of Washington “the Q. What is the size of the head of the Statue of Liber M. F. B. A..The dimensfons from chin to cranium are 17 feet 3 inches and the length of the nose is 4 feet 6 inches. It is said that 40 persons can stand In the head of this statue. Q. Who holds the American ten- nis singles championship?—B. E. M. A. Rene Lacoste, a Frenchman, won this title last Summer. This is the first time it has been held by a foreigner since 1908, when it was won by H. L. Doherty of England. Q. Just what can be done with 1,000 cubic feet of gas?—T. B. H. A. A gas company has figured out that 1,000 cubic feet of sas will: Cook 18 meals for six persons; heat shaving water for 1,000 days; roast sufficient coffee to make two cu 70 years; light two for ‘500 years; boil 275 gallons of water; bake 1,700 three-quarter-pound loaves of bread in a continuous oven: do the work of two hens in hatching eggs; broil seven 3-pound steaks; barbecue enough ham to make 1,750 sandwiches. Take advantage of this free service. 1f you are mot one of the thousands who have patronized the bureau since its establishment we want you to start mow. This is a service main- tained for the bemefit of the readers of The Evening Star and we want you to get your share of benefit from f{t. Send your questions to us. Inclose 2 cents in stamps for return postage, Ad- dress The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Robert E. Lee's amazing hold on the affections of America is reflected in the tributes of the press on the recent anniversary of the birth of that “Christian soldier” of the Con- federacy. In a fellow Virginian's explanation of the South’s loyalty to Lee may per- haps best be found the basis for his universal popularity: “One reason for this devotion of his followers,” says the Richmond News- Leader, “is the absolute honesty of Lee's character. One is never de- ceived about his nobility. One never discovers a quality that repels, * * * A second reason is the unusual com- bination of the exemplary and the objective in his acts. * * * There was something in his bearing, something in his manifest sincerity, something in his manifest lack of all self-glori- flcation that made men mot only ac- cept moralizings from him, but cher- ish them as well. Mingled with this quality was the deepest sense of re- sponsibility. * * * Still another rea- son is the bellef, not to be shaken by the skepticism of outsiders, that he was cast In a different mold from most men. His soldiers belleved that there was more of divinity in him and vastly more of genius.” “The hero of a lost cause, Binghamton Press, “he was never more heroic than in defeat. And he deserves to be honored now for those qualities of character which outlive the occasion that called them forth, and which survive as an_inspiration to future generations of American youth.” The Press recalls how, “when the end came at Appomattox, Lee turned to the task of restoring the ruined South, and with loyalty end courage sought to alleviate the bit- t:rness of the reconstruction animosi- ties.” says the * Ok k% “Time has swallowed up the mighty armies that struggled along the banks of, the Rappahannack, the Mississippi and the James,” remarks the Cham- paign News-Gazette. ‘‘The hosts that fought at Gettysburg, at Shiloh and at Chancellorsville have marched on into the dim mists of the past, so that blue and gray uniforms allke are hardly distinguishable. Yet Lee has not been swallowed up by time. The cannon smoke has drifted away only to reveal this heroic figure looming larger, more majestic than ever. The country has forgotten, gladly, that he ever fought for a lost cause; it remem- bers only the valor, the skill and the shining manliness with which he fought. He taught us that there can be failures which shine as gloriously as any success.” “Long ago he ceased to be merely the commander of the men in gray,” according to the New York Evening ‘World, ““and today and tomorrow he will be remembered as a great Ameri- can, a perfect knight of chivalry.” The Morning World also states: “Sir Frederick Maurice is but the latest of sev: foreign critice to acknowl the best captain the English- race can set beside Napoleon . His statesmanshlip stands 1 Charles Francis Adams, North and South Recognize loyalty to principle was impressive.” The Schenectady Gazette also refers to him as a brilliant statesman, “and above all a real man,” and citing the fact that “he was offered the command of the Northern armies,” that paper says that “Lee was loyal to Virginia, and this loyalty deserves further honor at the hands of all Believing that a better term than “failure” should be employed in de- scribing the military experience of Gen. Lee, the Anniston Star affirms that he “is not considered a failure as a military leader by military men in other countries.” Indeed, continues aper, “the genius of Lee as a arrior is freely admitted by many military leaders, i Lee was, first and foremost,” in the opinion of the .Portsmouth Star, “a Christian in the truest sense of the word. He did not permit the plaudits and praise of the world to obscure the beacon light of lofty ideals that guided his way through life and into eternity.” The Winston-Salem Journal adds its comment that ‘“when one seeks to determine the explanation of Lee's greatness, he finds it, not in his soldlerly and admirable qualities as a military leader, but rather in those fundamentals of character which are best summed up in the word ‘Chri tian.' Those qualities were never shown more admirably than during the last dismal days of the war and the more dismal reconstruction pericd which tried the heart of Lee to the utmost and yet found it true gold.” * % ¥ ¥ “Lee, the soldier, is known through- out the world,” declares the Lynch- burg Advance, “and but little less known is Lee, the peacéemaker and Christian. Lee, the educator, has been studied but little until recent year: but through Dr. Henry Louis Smith, president of Washington and Lee University, and others, that phase of his life is becoming better known. There is nothing in his whole life giv- ing a better insight into the character of the man than his act in refusing wealth and ease after a life of stress and sorrow, and taking up another great burden even as he had laid down the one he had borne for so long. They say that Lee did not write ‘Duty is*the sublimest word in the English language,’ but he lived it.” The Ad- ance quotes Dr. Smith’s statement, ‘He was offered wealth and a home in England, wealth and high military position in Egypt and a huge salary as the nominal head of an honorable business enterprise at home.’ The Miami Daily News polnts out that “it was not the soldier more than the_counselor and adviser that gave to Lee the unique position which he occupies in the entire country today.” Referring to “Marse Robert's” advice to the South “to go home, forget and rebuld,” that paper observes that “to- day the South is harvesting the fruits of this advice” and that “the South's progress is its great monument to the memory of ‘Marse Robert”” The thought of the Houston Chronicle is that “the mind of the man has never conceived or formulated any standard to compute the value of such a life to mankind. It can be computed only by divine u:uunuu and the spiritual