Evening Star Newspaper, December 5, 1928, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. __ WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY. .December 5, 1928 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company ce: 11th St. & yivania Ave. w York () {ind o vwer Bullding. v, b ; "o, eCYII 3 Eurapean Ofice. :°1’= Within the City. . ... 450 Der month en The Sunday Star Collection made at’the end of each month. Orders may be sent in by mail or telepnone Main 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and \"l‘roxlnh. Daily onl N1 mo.. Bilnday onty $00: 1 Mo s0e All Other States and Canada. Datly end Sunday..1 yr. $13.00: 1 mo. e Daily only . 1 $8.00; 1 mo., Bunday only .\ b0c Member of the Associated Press. ‘The Associated Press ix el:l\;ulvely entitled to the use for tepuniidation ol Wi ¢|‘~ fllches credited to it or not othersiss cred. ted in this paper and also the local news published herein. All rights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. p=== The District's Budget. The District budget for the fiscal year 1930, transmitted to Congress to- day, represents the work of capable cutters and trimmers. who have drafted it to suit the vicissitudes of a short ses- sion of Congress and have purposely declined to look much beyond the ends of their noses into the future needs of also, & conclusive answer to the recur- ring debate over the fairness of the valuation figure now accepted. The Bureau of Efficiency finds that the power clause of the merger agree- ment is “general and vague In its terms"” and suggests that a definite unit of measurement be agreed upon in ad- vance between the Potomac Electric Power Co. and the merged company, in order that costs of power may not be left uncertain. The Senate District committee Is soon to receive one more report on the merger from Dr. Milo R. Maltble of New York, an expert whom the com- mittee engaged to analyze the agree- Y | ment. With that in hand, it is to be hoped that both committees of Con- gress will make revisions in the agree- ment as necessary safeguards to the mo.. 88 | car-fare-paying public and proceed to its prompt ratification. . No doubts have ever been cast upon the necessity for a merged operation of transit lines. The doubt has beea upon the form of merger agreement. Both the Public Utilities Commission and the Bureau of Efficiency take the view that with some revisions the agree- ment under study will not only serve to bring about unified operation at once, but will leave open for careful and painstaking study, and later decision, those problems which $o far have acted to block any unified operation. JER——, The President's Message. President Coolidge’s annual message to Congress is a final accounting in large measure of his stewardship of the Capital. In the main, its items are confined to those necessary estimates for appropriations required to maintain the local government for another year. It does not attempt to take up any of the programs for growth and expan- slon of some of the city's vim! agencies which have fallen behind the march of progress. To have done so in this short session would have been useless. The budget does provide, however, for keeping open a few additional school playgrounds during the Summer months, for a site and building for & fire station, for fifteen new privates in the Police Department, for starting work on the proposed new Business High School, additiors to the Lovejoy School, additions to the John Eaton School, an athletic field and stadium for the Dunbar School, beginning cca- struction on the Reno Junior High School and the Kingsman Junior High School, and purchase of sites for two new schools and more playground space. There are, in addition, items for the pstablishment of another child hygiene center, new buildings for the District Training School, near Laurel, Md., and extensions of wards at the Home for the Aged and Infirm. Every one will be delighted to learn that another guard has been recommended for the Boo. The estimates for appropriations for Ehe next fiscal year are nearly a million follars below the appropriations for the furrent fiscal year. The cut is largely mccounted for in the reduced appro- priations for street repair work, as the present program for street widening mnd bridge reflooring has been com- pleted, and in the reduction of more than six hundred thousand dollars for the purchase of sites and school con- ptruction. The budget figures are interesting, in that they confirm the belief or fear— -depending upon the point of view—that the day of the $40,000,000 budget for the District has arrived to stay; to stay, &t least, until it goes beyond that figure. fThe budget estimates today for appro- priations to total $39,935,622 may be compared to the appropriations of not quite thirty millions only five years ago. And the budget submitted to Con- gress today is in no sense a forward- jJooking appraisal of the actual needs of the District, but represents what almost amounts to an estimate of a continuing appropriation, so routine are its provisions. The budget is based upon the Com- {nissioners’ determination to retain the present tax rate, which produces reve- nue commensurate with the city's abil- ity to pay, together with the Budget Bureau's anticipation of the inadequate Jump-sum appropriation of the last few §ears. As an example of skill in trim- ming needs to fit a flat pocketbook, the budget is to be commended. As an example of whai the District needs in the way of expansions and improve- fments, the budget, of course, falls short Pt the mark by many millions of dollars. — e A good-will tour brings so many gifts fprompted by hearty sentiment that ques- tion may be revived as to whether there 4t not, after all, a Santa Claus. v Pugilism and literature are both be- g kept in suspense regarding Mr. Gene nney’s plans for the future. The Merger Report. The Bureau of Efficiency’s report on the merger agreement approved by the District Public Utilities Commission may be interpreted as an indorsement of the major provisions of that agreement. It @ccepts, as the Public Utilities Commis- sion accepted, the “compromise” valua- tion of $50,000,000 for the proposed new company and grants that the two rail- way companies could at least secure such a figure or one in excess thereof, if they took the matter into the courts. 1t goes beyond the Public Utilities Com- mission on the matter of fares, stating in its report that “on the basis of the figures of contemplated net increase of yevenue there appears to be no justi- ficatton for any increase in fares gs a result of the merger or as a result of the rate basis recommended in connec- tion with it.” The bureau suggests, fur- ther, that Congress may desire to ex- tend the period of one year, suggested in the agreement as the time during which existing fares are guaranteed to gtemain stationary, and set a longer pe- Fiod. This recommendation is based on the bureau's belief that the time re- quired by the merged company to bring Bbout economies from unified operations Femains uncertain and may not come Within a year. Discussing the valuation figure of $50,000,000, the Bureau of Efficiency logically suggests that this be taken as the basis at present, but that there be written into the agreement a definite proviso for a new valuation within ten wears. This would enable the Public Utilities Commission to go more deeply into the subject than it has been per- itted to do in the short period of its wmdstence, 1t eventually would prggide, national affaixs. Very properly he speaks of the great developments which have been made in recent years in America, of the strides which have beea taken in reducing the national debt and taxation, since the World War. Democratic critics are inclined to speak lightly or even sneeringly of these ac- complishments. Their announcement to the Congress in some Democratic quarters is termed mere boasting. If the “boasting” emanated from the lips or pen of a Democratic President, how different would be their song! ‘The country has reached a high de- gree of development and of prosperity, and there is not the slightest doubt that great strides in those directions have been made during the last eight years of Republican rule. The recent presidential election would never have gone as it did, had the people not been content, on the whole, with conditions in the country. But President Coolidge, in his final annual message to the Con- gress, was at pains to urge the country and the Congress to a continuance of the policy of economy in governmental affairs for which he has fought ever since he became Chief Executive. It was this policy of economy, following a period of extravagant spending, which had run this country into a twenty- billion-dollar national debt—for war and national defense, it is true, but never- theless a debt brought about by ex- penditures made at tremendous values and prices. It was this sharp emphasis placed by the President on the need of a halt in spending that gave the country confidence in him. He struck & note that cheered a people which was bearing a heavy burden of taxation. Now the President, in his message to Congress, urges that this policy of econ« omy be not forgotten. t The President's recommendations for legislation contain nothing new. With the present Congress due to expire at the end of three months and his own term of office coming to & close at that time, it would have been idle to :w a big program of legislation. Properly he leaves that to his successor and to the Congress which has recently been elected. President Coolidge urges farm relief legislation in accordance Wwith the ideas which he has previously ex- pressed. He asks for the passage of the naval construction bill, providing new and needed cruisers to balance the Navy and replace old vessels. He recommends prompt ratification of the Kellogg mul- tilateral treaty renouncing war. These are his principal recommendations. He suggests that the “time clause” be elim- inated from the naval construction bill— the bill as it now stands for the laying down of the fifteen new cruisers pro- posed by July, 1931. ‘This elimination is suggested in accordance apparently with the President’s desire for econom- jcal spending and his warning against unbalancing the budget. In some quar- ters the suggestion is halled as an ef- fort to give the country “blue print” cruisers instead of steel. However, Sen- ator Hale, chairman of the naval af- fairs committee and a strong Navy man, takes the view that the elimination of this “time clause” will have no par- ticular effect. The ships, Senator Hale says, will be constructed in accordance with the needs of the Navy and the ap- propriations made by Congress. A high note of optimism is sounded in the President’s message. It is Cool- idgesque in its clear statement and sound common sense, tinged with a strong sense of moral obligation. While the message makes no sensational or new suggestions, it is a sound public docu- ment that will be approved by the great majority of those who read it. o The picture card showing a sleigh with reindeer is already in veidence, al- though the mail man in a post office uniform is faithfully attending to the local freight with a flivver. - Justice, Swift and Sure. The Silver Spring National Bank was robbed at the point of a gun on Octo- ber 27. Two days later, through effi- cient police work, the robber was cap- tured. Yesterday, after a fair trial, the bandit was given fifteen years in the penitentiary—a hold-up, a capture and a sentence in a little more than a month. It is such refreshing examples as thase that encourage the hope that sooner or later the courts of this coun- try will universally deal out justice, swift and sure, for major crimes. Mary- land, by its common-sense handling of this offensc, has set 8 high standard for other States to follow and congrat- ulations should be extended the court, jury and prosecutor for the able man- ner in which the case was dispatched. Prompt trial and exact justice are imperative if crime is to be materially lessened in the United States. Senti- mentalism has too often been substi- tuted for stern actuality and criminals have found that if they get what they THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. get off altogether or with & ridicu- lously light penalty. It is only necessary to recall the man in Richmond who killed his sweetheart, received a year in the penitentiary and was paroled at the end of seven months, or the robber in the small Virginia town near Washington who with three companions held up & bank and was fined five dollars, to realize that such inadequate punishments tend to in- crease rather than decrease the com- mission of crime. Jersey justice has long been famous, but it now appears that New Jersey will have to share honors with the State of Maryland. The roll of States that have performed meritorious service to the public in dealing out swift jus- tice is still open. May the list increase in size until there are no absentees in the forty-eight States and the District of Columbia! o Parachute Safety. Once again the parachute has saved the life of a fiyer whose plane fell to pleces in the air and the mythical Caterpillar Club has added a new mem- ber to its rolls. Testing a new Curtiss plane built for the Navy, James Collins, the pilot, rose to an altitude of six thousand feet above Bolling Field. Turning the nose of his ship downward and throwing his powerful motor to full throttle, he dove toward the earth at an estimated speed of four hundred miles an hour. This test, which is given to all planes, and one of the most severe ever devised to ascertain structural strength, was fatal to the new ship. Soon after Collins went into the dive a wing sheared off and he found himself spinning dizzily above the ground with the centrifugal force of the ship holding him in the cockpit, For three thousand feet he fell, help- less, but finally, by exerting all of his strength against the iron hands that seemed to be holding him in his seat, he wriggled free and jumped, landing safely a few moments later, while the remnants of his ship buried themselves in the ground. ‘The Caterpillar Club, composed of pllots who have saved their lives by the use of the big umbrellas, is said to have a membership of one hundred and seven out of one hundred and twelve who have left their planes in midair. Even the small percentage of failures detracts none from the value of the parachute, as it is probable that in most, or perhaps all, of the cases of the five flyers who met death the jump was either too close to the ground or the aviator was unable to get free of his ship. It is indeed a remarkable contribution to the safety of flight through the air. — st ‘The stock market has managed itself for profits in such a manner as to make the price of holiday turkey a matter of comparative indifference in many for- tunate homes, —or—s- Congress sees to it that those old standbys, farm relief and the tariff, at least secure complimentary mention in the minutes. —— e, It is made clear that Vice President Dawes is unchanged with reference to some of his old ideas. He still smokes the same kind of a pipe. —reee. A “lame duck” may, as a rule, regard an able record in halls of state as con- stituting a valuable recommendation to employment in & new capacity. ——————————— ‘The “underworld” has become so heavily capitalized that it begins to as- sume an attitude that is socially “on top.” ———————— ‘The management of the tariff has not yet devised sufficient revenue production to relieve the income tax payer of re- spon-ibi'ties as an expert accountant. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Perils. They tell us we may go to smash It we should risk an airplane crash, I'm glad existence does not show The perils of some years ago. A broken leg one would reveal ‘Who slipped on a banana peel. A hoss-and-buggy runaway No longer leaves the town “distrait.” ‘We do not quake in helpless fear When some swift bicycle draws near. Of cherished friends we heard with dread ‘Who smothered in a folding bed! Dismayed, no more we hold our breath For gals whu lace themselves to death, ‘We vow these perils of the sky Are less than those of days gone by. His Only Objection. “Are you in favor of prohibition?” “I am,” answered Senator Sorghum. “The only thing I resent about prohibi- tion is that the complexity of its prob- lem seems likely to drive some of us conscientious and discriminating states- men to drink.” Jud Tunkins says he'd like to hear the old tune, “Listen to the Mocking- bird,” with variations. Tunes at pres- ent are so much alike there aren't even any variations. Hope. I won't turn off my radio, Although I think I should. If 1 wait long enough, I know That something may be good. “A wise man,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “Is one who is able to forget the great knowledge of his an- cestors and utilize modern mechanics.” Confession of a Parent. “You have sent your boy to the best schools.” “I have.” “And encouraged him America’s organizations.” “Yes.” “Is the result satisfactory?” “Very. I am convinced that parents should learn to obey their children.” in Young Glorification. Finances now are in such shape ‘That all are “Sittin’ Pretty.” We glorify the ticker tape And use it for confetti. “A man dat takes a vacation,” said Uncle Eben, “takes a chance on show- term a “break” in procuring tender-.in' dat he wasn't much needed in de hearted juries or judges they will either fust placey” oy D. C. WEDNESDAY, In looking back over the ways and doings of the “gay nineties,” it is easy enough to see the absurdities of life in those days. They stick out like the hats on top of the heads of the beauti- ful lady automobilists. It is not so easy, of course, to de- tect the hokum of 1928. For one thing, we are too close to everything. Mo- dernity has a way of blowing its own horn in regard to its own features. Every age did exactly the same thing. No doubt the chariot Caesar rode in impressed the rabble as the snappiest vehicle that ever went on wheels. Twenty years from now, we are con- vinced, there will be one phase of this decade that will be generally given th: horse laugh that it—or rather he— deserves. “It” is the superhurry called “snap:” | “he” is the gay young blade who fondly believes that he is a “go-getter.” The latter term had its origin in American business life, and applied and applies principally to the high-pressure salesmin, the bright young man who was and is able to sell his firm's goods. ‘When every Tom, Dick and Harry, however, took it upon themselves to be- come “go-getters,” they spoiled the meaning of a legitimate descriptive phrase. They turned a sound business designation into a by-word, when many men began to put on the “front” of | the “go-getter” without his stamina, speed and natural gayety. PR The hokum of these would-be hurry- up fellows, who want to give the world the impression that they are more effi- cient than everybody else, lies princi- pally in the following fact: That they actually don’t get as much work done as some quiet chap who | tends strictly to business and keeps plugging away. The faithful old Bob Cratchits of the world, who sat on high stools and kept old-fashioned books, didn't know a thing about self-advertisement, hence maybe they didn’t draw enough pay to have a decent Christmas. That was the way Dickens pictured the original Bob in his “Christmas Carol.” What such quiet men did do, and do do, was and is to turn out as much work as the next one, with less worry and fuss about it. Their methods are quiet and lack show simply because they have solved the problem of self- aplication. ‘The man always in a hurry, who bustles here and bustles there, often gives the impression that he makes such a stir about everything because he doesn't know exactly what he is doing and wants to throw up a smoke screen. If this isn't what he is trying to do, why does he have to splutter so? His opposite is some little man of high finance, who moves as quietly as a mouse, yet gets worlds of work done. There are several men of this type high in various lines of national activi- ty. Any one can think of several. Maybe you have met one. You say that such a man doesn't have to make a noise; he has “arrived.” ‘Well, all that is true enough, and is the very sectet of the secret. The man al- ways was that way! b One of the reasons why the chap in a perpetual hurry has to work so hard is that his very stir creates so much friction. Mental friction, of course. He is resented by probably nine- | well. tenths of his contacts. Even if they say nothing to him—and the chances _ Now is the winter of Calvin Cool- idge's discontent. A retiring Presi- dent's last three months in the White House are always a barren season. Congress is seldom inspired by any sense of obligation to heed his recom- mendations. On the present occasion the shadow of Herbert Hoover looms so comprehensively over Washington that Capitol Hill's thoughts are turned al- most exclusively in his direction. “The King is dead! Long live the King!” is the slogan that prevails on the Potomac gmdrennhlly at this period, unless a resident be on the threshold of suc- ceeding himself for another term. In the case of matters like Federal econ- omy, appropriations, the cruiser bill, the Kellogg treaty and other issues which are more or less routine, Con- gress probably will act in accordance with President Coolidge’s advice. On practically everything else, especially where new ground requires to be broken, the best guess is that House and Sen- ate will mill along and give President Hoover a chance to recommend and lead. * ok ok % ‘This writer holds it to be extremely improbable that the Hoover administra- tion will preserve a ‘“continuity of Coolidge policies” which will make the transition from Calvin to Herbert almost imperceptible. Such a thought suggests that Hoover’s regime will be more or less of a rubber stamp of its predecessor. The Californian’s career and temperament supply no foundation for any prospect of that kind. Every one who's ever worked for or under Hoover knows that he is a man of original ideas and addicted to the habit of working them out on his own lines. He has a passion for blazing trails. He is fond of choosing his own helpers—a trait which may explain the absence of many of the Coolidge cabinet in the Hoover official household. The Presi- dent-elect was nominated and victo- rious on a platform calling for perpetu- ation of “Coolidge policies.” But the uess may be safely hazarded that be- ,ore the Hoover administration has been in office many months the country will wake up to find it is living under Hoover policies. * ok kK With an Oregon Senator and an Oregon Representative, respectively, at the head of Congress’ two outstanding committees at the present juncture, the great Northwest is in the saddle as never before. McNary as chairman of the Senate agriculture committee and Hawley as chairman of the ways and means committee in the House come pretty near to being the limelighters of the legislative show of 1928-1929. Sena- tor McNary has farm relief on his hands and Representative Hawley is to lend his name—like McKinley, Dingley, Underwood and Fordney before him— to a new tariff law. Hawley is one of the veterans of the House, having just been re-elected to his twelfth successive term. He comes from covered-wagon ancestry, his people having crossed the Western plains in 1847 and 1848. By profession Hawley calls himself a teacher and lawyer. Once he was president of Willamette University, at Salem, Oreg. He is a native of the State he hails from and one of Congress' recognized tax and revenue experts. * ok kK Whether the Senate confirms or re- jects President Coolidge’s nomination of Roy O. West as Secretary of the Interior, his associates in that depart- ment—from division chiefs down to the lowest rating—acknowledge a_promptly acquired fondness for the Chicagoan. It's West's democratic manners and customs that have won him the de- partment's esteem. He knocked nearly everybody's eye out the second or third day he was in cffice by finding his way to the employes' cafeteria and trun- dling his tray like the humblest “steno” in the building—if such there be. Not everybody is aware that the President, and West have been close friends throughout Mr. Coolidge’s presidency. The Illinois lawyer was secretary of the Republican national committee, and party business brought him to W: ‘vltcd to ington frequently. He was usually in- bunk at ’:.ha ‘White House. PR Word comes that 500 new Japanese are a thousand to one that they will not—they think it just the same. The breezy fellow who insists on slapping you on the back. in giving you the generous “glad hand” that means little or nothing, who is forever slam- ming the door of your office as he goes out as if the devil were on his heels— Well, he isn't one-tenth as effective as he thinks he is, is he? He oozes “good will” so persistently that he is slightly mawkish about it. Particularly does he rub the quieter man the wrong way. His strut and rant get him nowhere with such men. They would more appreciate an easy- going, even slow-tempered visitor, who could convey the impression of power, rather than “pep.” Some men try to carry the qualities | of the student day “cheer leader” over into active business life. In some memorable instances they succeed very It is not with them but with (he;r imitators that one would find fault. * ok K X One would not go to the extent of the Immortal Julius, who asked for men about him who were fat, and who slept o' nights. It is not necessary. The quiet man, like the crouching cat, is most effective when the quietest. He brings down his prey. whatever it may be, without any need of gong or cymbals. His placid face inspires confidence. He knows that those who take rapid steps often have to wait at the goal until he comes up. Their speed got them nothing ex- cept the relief of their own minds, since the contemplation of their own superlative qualities (in action) acts as a sedative upon such mentalities. The quiet fellow who comes strolling in just as the band begins to play wii. hear as much music as the other fel- low. While the “go-getter” is kicking up dust in the aisles, the other slides un and shakes the conductor by the hand) learns the names of the pieces he is to play, and takes his seat. Some of these speed boys remind one of the man we once saw in a great symphony orchestra. He had the least to do of anybodv in the organization, but he managed to attract the most attention. The great and able conductor became lost in the stir created by this individ- ual, who was intrusted with the feat of clashing two huge cymbals togather at exactly one moment in the entire sym- phony. That was his job. He was seated at the extreme left of the stege, placed rather high, so that his clashing cymbals would sound out properly at the fated time. Just after the symphony started. he decided to get into action. Rising slow- ly in his seat, he tentatively lifted his brasses, and slowly approached them together, as if measuring what he had to do. The audience expected a ringing sound, but got nothing at all. The man sat down. In a few minutes he hopped up again and went through the same performance. It now became a kind of game. Th~ audience began to wonder when, if ever, the man would hit that stroke. Conductor, orchestra, symphony, all were forgotten in the excitement of watching the ridiculous performance of the very self-important cymbal crasher. And when his grand slam finally came, it fell flat, of course. They usually do. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. cherry trees will shortly leave Tokio for the United States, being destined to take the place of as many trees on the Potomac Speedway, Washington, which suffered damage in this year's local floods. It appears that the Japa- nese embassy requested the city of Tokio to make the substitution. The park officials of the Nipponese capital thereupon selected 500 trees, all more than 6 feet in height. They are ex- pected to reach this country in a few weeks, * ok ok % Anybody hankering for a new kick in home-brewed drinkables will be in- terested to learn that the. Bureau of Standards in Washington has con- cocted an ingredient hitherto not ex- tant. For the present, it’s known by the terrifying name of xylotihydroxy- glutaric acid, and probably needs to be shaken well into several syllables before using, or at least before pro- nouncing. Dr. Warren E. Emley, one of Dr. Burgess' scientific wizards at the bureau, told the American Chemical Society about xylotrihydroxyglutaric acid the other day. He said it makes good lemonade. Xylose, its principal element, is a sugar made from peanut shells and cottonseed bran. It has a sweet taste and no food value. In addi- tion to its possibilities for lemonade— et al—chemists think xylo, etc., can be utilized as an industrial substitute for glucose and as a food for sufferers from diabetes. * ok K % Herbert Hoover shares Woodrow Wil- son’s opposition to Greek letter fra- ternities in colleges and universities. He resolutely refrained from joining one of them at Stanford, and neither of the President-elect’s sons was a fra- ternity man when at Stanford—the younger, Allen, is still an undergrad- uate there, though now with his par- ents in South America. His friends al- ways understood that Hoover considers fraternities “undemocratic.” He wears the insignia of an engineering frater- nity, conferred on him long after col- lege days. Mrs. Hoover is a sorority sister, a distinguished member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. (Copyright, 1928.) e Describes Scientific Test for Old Age BY E. E. FREE, PH. D. A sclentific test for youth or old age, not depending on gray hair or fading eyes or wrinkles, and which cannot be fooled by any art of the beauty parlor, was described by Dr. Alexis Carrel of the Rockefeller Institute of New York City before a recent meeting arranged by the New York Academy of Medicine for discussion of human old age and of what physicians can do about it. The test depends on Dr. Carrel’s well known method of growing living tissues outside the body, in artificial solutions kept at constant temperatures in incu- bators. For nearly 20 years Dr. Carrel has kept alive a bit of tissue from the heart of a chicken which died years ago. If living cells of the kind called fibroblasts are grown artificially in fluid prepared from the blood of the person whose age is to be tested, the rate at which these cells grow is an index, Dr. Carrel told the New York physicians, of the age of the individual. The age thus measured is, however, the “physiologic age,” the actual youth- fulness or senility of the body tissues, not necessarily the same as the age in years. Such tests might be useful, Dr. Carrel suggested, in determining whether people who undergo gland operations or other alleged methods of rejuvenation are really made any younger. Another possibility, not mentioned by Dr. Carrel, is that insurance companies might use such tests to select persons apt to live longer than the average number of years. R The Radio Will Fix That. From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The average life of telephone poles has been greatly reduced, says a scien- tific note. And if automobiles continue to increase, the average life span of the pole will soon be hardly more than that of the pedestrian, S DECEMBER 5, 1928.° e e e e Politics at Large By G. Gould Lincoln. Congress is back, and so far is strangely quiet after a bitter political campaign. No one has undertaken so far to discipline or verbally chastize Senator Simmons of North Carolina and Senator Heflin of Alabama on the Democratic side of the Senate chamber for uplifting their volces against Gov. Alfred E. Smith in the campaign. Nor have the regular Republicans attacked Senator Norris of Nebraska, who sought to swing his State to the Demo- crats in_the presidential election, or Senator Blaine of Wisconsin, who made a_similar attempt, but in vain. The ‘I-told-you-so club” has not yet lifted up its voice in the halls of Congress. How long before an outburst of political oratory will be delayed remains to be seen. It is as likely as not it will break forth when a Democratic member un- dertakes to criticize the Republican administration. Then there are plenty of Republicans ready to tell the Democrats what the country thinks of the Repub- lican administration and what it thinks of the Democrats who sought to win control. . WA Senator Simmons, veteran Demo- confident that his State will swing back to its old Democratic adherence in the next election. That is, provided, of { course, Gov. Smith of New York is not the party nominee for President. Nor does Senator Simmons believe that Gov. Smith will have another nomination for { President from the Democratic party. Certainly not as long as the two-thirds rule of Democratic national conventions prevails. The Southern States, he believes, would never permit the nomi- nation of the New Yorker again. They would not have done so at Houston, in his opinion, if there had been a clear conception of the attitude which Gov. Smith would take on prohibition during the campaign and on other issues. As a prophet Senator Simmons must be ranked high in this recent election. He predicted that four of the States of the “solid South” would go Repub- lican, and his prediction was made on the eve of the election. He predicted that North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Texas would be found in the Re- publican column. He was 100 per cent right. His own State gave Herbett Hoover a 63,388 lead over Gov. Smith. Mr. Hoover carried 63 counties and Gov. Smith carried only 37. The anti- Smith sentiment was strong enough to make certain the election of two Re- publican members of the House of Rep- resentatives in North Carolina—Charles :‘. h:‘lage: d":}esahe T’nt{;flcanmsslonsl istrict ant . Pritchard in the tenth district. 15 5 7 * K Kk The result of the gubernatorial elec- tion, however, rather indicates that Sen- ator Simmons is correct in his judgment that the blican successes last month in North Carolina were due en- tirely to the displeasure of the Demo- crats with their presidential candidate, and that the State is to swing back to the Democratic column, at least for a time. Gardner, the Democratic nom- inee for governor, carried the State over H. F. Seawell, the Republican nominee, by 73,194 votes. The Democrats retain control of the State Legislature, with 84 members of the House to 36 Republican members and 35 members of the Sen- ate to 15 Republican members. * ok ok K As the election returns are finally completed, the individual strength of candidates in various States is more easy to estimate. For_ example, Wis- consin gave Walter J. Kohler, its new “stalwart” governor-elect, 3,533 more votes than it gave Mr. Hoover. The State went strongly Republican. The vote given Kohler is the largest ever given a candidate for governor in the Badger State, but so was the vote given Mr. Hoover the largest vote ever given a presidential candidate. The interest in the election was intense, as it was in other States. Some new election records were hung up. The total of 635,376 polled by Senator Robert M. La Follette is the largest ever accumulated by a candidate in this State. However, when it is considered that Senator La Follette was without either Democratic or Socialist opposition, the feats of State Treasurer Sol Levitan in polling 628,678 votes and of Secretary of State Theodore Dammann in polling 627,244 votes are more remarkable than that of the young Senator. * K K % Mr. Levitan and Mr. Dammann had both Socialist and Democratic opposi- tion, and the record established by the State treasurer is the greatest total ever cast for a candidate for State of- fice in Wisconsin. It exceeds by more than 150,000 the previous high-water mark of 509,771 established by Fred R. Zimmerman when he was re-elected secretary of State in 1924. There were 1,016,872 votes cast for President, 989,143 for governor, 803,104 for secretary of State, 898,792 for State treasurer, 876,792 for attorney general, and 742,645 for United States Senator. Sol Levitan’s re-election to the office of State treasurer is a matter of con- gratulation. Mr. Levitan entered Wis- consin years ago as a peddler with a pack on his back. His steady advance to the position of trust he has now held for many years was due to his unfailing good nature, his attention to business and his capability, his friends all say. | * Kok K Representative U. 8. Guyer, Republi- can, re-elected in the second congres- sional district in Kansas, received the largest lead over his Democratic oppo- nent of any of the successful candi- dates for election in the Kansas con- gressional. delegation. He led his Democratic opponent, Lee R. Hettrick, by 37,938 votes. It remained, however, for Representative W. A. Ayres, Demo- crat, of the eighth congressional dis- trict, to register a victory again while his State was going overwhelmingly for Hoover and against Smith. Mr. Ayres plurality was 13,315, * ok kK Up in Philadelphia, Mr. Hoover led Gov. Smith by 143,747 votes according to the final count. Nevertheless, Gov. Smith polled 276,573 votes, a remark- able feat in a city whose Democratic vote in national elections had been en- tirely negligible. The Smith sentiment was so strong in Philadelphia that it carried Democratic nominees for other offices along with it to new records of strength, though not to victory. One feature of the election was the defeat of Mrs. Flora M. Vare, widow of Sen- ator Edwin H. Vare, former boss, for re-election to the State Senate. Mc- Crossin, the Democratic nominee, beat Mrs. Vare with a lead of 6,638. However, the Republican city com- mittee of Philadelphia has ratified unan- ilmously the leadership of Senator- clect William S. Vare. Harry C. Davis, a friend of Mr. Vare and who last week was superseded as director of public safety, was chosen by the com- mittee to be executive director of the committee. Mr. Davis had held this office for many years before he was ap- pointed director of public safety. * ok kK Whatever may be the determination of the Waterman subcommittee with regard to the Vare-Wilson election con- test, it is not the purpose of Senator “Jim” Reed, chairman of the Senate slush fund committee, to let the case of Senator-elect Vare go by default in this short session of Congress. Sen- ator Reed will call his committee to- gether at the earliest opportunity and ask it to make a final report to the Senate on the ¢! that Vare won his nomination to Senate in 1926 by excessive expenditure of money and political corruption. Senator Robert M. La Follette of Wisconsin is the orly member of the committee who is not now in Washington and he is expected to return in about a week or 10 days. The other members of the commitice are Senators McNary of Oregon and Goff of West Virginia. Senator Reed expects to bring in a report that rec- ommends Vare be denled his seal cratic leader in the Tar Heel State, is|—J. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS This is a special department, devoted solely to the handling of queries. Th!s. paper puts at your disposal the services of an extensive organization in Wash- | ington to serve you in any capacity that relates to information. This serv- fce is free. Failure to make use of it deprives you of benefits to which you are entitled. Your obligation is only 2 cents in coin or stamps, inclosed with your inquiry for direct reply. Address The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washing- ton, D. C. Q. Is Henri Bergson, who received the 1927 Nobel Prize in Literature, a | Jew?—P, T. A. The American Hebrew says that the French philosopher Bergson is a Jew, and is the twelfth Jew to win a Nobel prize. Q. How fast do wild ducks and geese fly?>—M. O. 'A. The average speed of wild ducks and geese in flight is about 40 miles an hour. Q. What is the truth about Mark ’x‘wnln'séamous “Jumping Frog"” story? H. A. This story caused much discus- sion. Mark Twain related the story as having happened in Calaveras County, Calif., in 1849. Prof. Van Dyke of Princeton pointed to the fact that the | story is told in ancient Greek as having | happened 2,000 years ago. Clemens felt that the California story could not {have been based upon the Greek one, |since the man who told the story as a fact was a simple, ignorant fellow with no contact with literature. Clemens decided that the similarity of the two tales should be laid to coincidence. Q. Are negro spirituals always of a religious character?—L. C. A. They are not. While Southern negroes are intensely religious, many of the songs of negro origin do not deal with religious subjects. | Q When did women’s suffrage first agitate the people of the United States? —F. D. A. As early as 1848 agitation for woman’s rights was commenced at Sen- eca Falls, N. Y., by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Prior to this, under some colonial governors, women voted, and at the time of the American Revolution demanded to be included in the Government. Susan B. Anthony became a leader in 1848, but it was not until 1872 that she made the test by voting at the polls. She was arrested and fined, but was not jailed for refus- ing to pay her fine, which she did. In 1875 the first woman suffrage amend- ment was drafted and introduced in 1878 by Senator Sargent of Colorado. Several other measures were introduced later, and an amendment to the Con- stitution was passed by the House Jan- uary 10, 1918, and by the Senate, 1919, and was ratified by the necessary num- ber of States in 1928. Q. Whicthex of the glow worm gives 3 ent of Agriculture says that both sexes of the glow worm give light, and that light is also found in the larvae of some species. Q. Who was Mother Shipton?—S. A. A. She is supposed to have been an English prophetess. “The Prophecies of Mother Shipton” appeared as an anonymous tract in London in 1641. Afterward similar chapbooks and tracts purporting to be her prophecies ap- peared frequently. There is no trust- worthy evidence that such a person actually existed. Q. What is_the meaning of intelli- gence quotient?—J. F. . A. The intelligence quotient, or “I. Q.” of a child is determined by multi- plying its mental age by 100 and divid- Infi by the actual age. Thus the in- telligence quotient of 2 normal child is 100. A child with an “I. Q.” below 80 is rated as subnormal, while one with an “I. Q.” above 120 is rated as gifted. About five children in 100 will be found to be 20 below normal and about five 20 above normal. Q. Are poplar, bass and cottonwood classed as hard or soft woods?—F. N. A. The Porest Service says that pop- lar, bass and cottonwood are classed as hard woods, although the wood it- self is soft. Q. When did “Safety First!” become a national slogan?—C. M. A. The Bureau of Mines says that the phrase “Safety first!” became a national slogan in the year 1911, when BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. “Safety dn Zh; First Consideration!" was used on the stationery amon; the employes of the H. C. !Pnfl‘tk cok= and Steel Co. of Pittsburgh and the Illinois Steel Co. of Chicago. But since the National demonstration these firms and a great many others dealing with safety appliances have adopted this phrase, Q. Has aluminum been used for mak- ing clothing?—A. N. A. It has been used for the outside covering of shoes and 10 make brocades for women's garments. Speclalists in metallurgy predict that it is but a step forward when aluminum will be used as a substitute for cloth, Q. What is the parmeclum?—W. W. A. It is a one-cell animal that has .the ability to reconstruct itself every 25 or 30 days. Studies are being made of this animal in the Osborn Zoologi- cal Laboratory at New Haven, Conn., in an endeavor to gain knowledge re- garding the fundamentals of the princi- ples and the evolution of life. Q. Why did some Stal capitals?—R. S. R A. The States of the Union that had two capitals at the same time are Rhode Island and Connecticut. In Rhode Island it was a case of the State having two large towns, each claiming to be the political center and neither agreeing to surrender its al- leged prestige. Thus both Newport and Providence claimed the honor of being the capital of the State. Newport was a capital until 1900. ~Connecticut was similarly placed with regard to Hart- ford and New Haven. The towns were originally the capitals of separate col- onies. Eventually, however, the graphical advantages of Hartford were admitted by New Haven, and it became the sole capital in 1873, Q. How many kinds of chrysa - mums were exhibited in the }Dem:- ment of Agriculture’s show?—E. C. D. A. A collection of 170 varieties of Japanese and 488 varieties of pompon and single chrysanthemums was shown. Q. Have Dr. Albert A. Michelson's tests of the speed of light - stantiated?—S. W. B A. New experiments recently com- pleted in California have proved that the estimates were accurate. The speed of light is estimated to be approxi- mately 186,234 miles per second. Q. Where is the Stonewall Jackson shrine?—T. L. A. A permanent shrine to Stonewall Jackson was dedicated in October in the Ilittle house where he died at Guinea, near Fredericksburg, Va. Q. What is the origin of the name “Hester?"—E. D. . “Hester” is the English form of Est,hetr which is Hebrew, and means “secret.” Q. What did Government opera- tion of the raflroads cost during the war?—T. O. A. The cost to the Government of Federal operation of the railroads has been variously computed and stabed. In the report of Walker D. Hines as director general of railroads, published in 1920, a table is presented in which it is shown that the total amount of money appropriated or ‘negessary to be appropriated by the Government on account of the operation of the rail- roads was $1,886,322,885. Of this amount the sum of $1,031,899,451 covers items of indeb and investment, the report says, “which will eventually be repaid to the Goverament.” This would make the final net cost to the Government of Federal operal of the the sum of $854,423,434. Q. Did John Charles Thomas give up the study of medicine to become a singer?—H. C. B. 3 A. John Charles Thomas abandohed the study of medicine vor of ‘the development of _his ne vaice. Born Mpyersdale, Pa., ‘Thomas, ug to the time he entered the Mount Street School of Homeopathy in Baltimore, had lived In eight towns, having at- tended school in six of these towns. This situation was made necessary owing to the fact that his father, a Methodist minister, was = transferred from one parish to another. It had been Thomas' ambition to have a mu- sical career, and when, during his med- ical studies, he was awarded a scholar- ship at Peabody Conservatory, he de- clde:i definitely to devote himself to music. Q. How does one distinguish between the symbols of St. Jerome and St. the Bureau of Mines gave a National Safety First demonstration at Pitts- burgh, Pa. Previous to this, the phrase Mark?—H. N. A. By the wings tke lion of St. Mark is distinguished from the symbol of St. Jerome. Devoted partisan that he was, the late William A. Oldfield won and held during his 20 years in Congress the esteem and affection of his colleagues on both sides of the House in a meas- ure that can be claimed for few public men. This fact stands out in country- wide expressions of regret at the death of the Arkansas Representative at the close of his final service as chairman of the Democratic congressional cam- paign committee. “As a legislator,” according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (independ- ent Democratic), “Mr, Oldfield was one of the foremost men of his time. His comprehensive information, firm grasp of issues and convincing forceful- ness in debate made him a leading figure in Congress. * * * With his great abilities and attainments and his indefatigable labors he united the man- ly and engaging qualities which win hosts of friends and are equaily con- ducive to co-operation and conciliation. He was one of the most popular men who ever sat in Congress.” * ok Kk “To serve within a few months of 20 continuous years in the Nation's Con- gress,” declares the Little Rock Arkan- sas Democrat (Democratic), “is in it- self an accomplishment of which com- paratively few men can boast. To win the confidence of the citizens of a con- gressional district and hold that confi- dence for a score of years is to achieve what not one man in a thousand can hope for. These things Representative Oldfield did, and when he died at Wash- ington he was still not at the peak of his career, for each session of Congress brought new problems in statesmanship which he met and solved. But Mr. Oldfield did more than hold his office for 20 years—he won and held the title of the Democratic whip in the House and of leader in the national Demo- cratic congressional campaigns. And | he won one of the largest personal Inl‘l’owmgs which any man in Congress had. “He was a robust, two-fisted fighting man who carried no personal feelings into fights and harbored no resentments afterward,” attests the New York Eve- ning World (independent), and the At- lanta Constitution (Democratic) states that “he was a virile force on the Dem- ‘ocratic side, was an indefatigable ‘worker, an uncompromising party man, a leader of power, and possessed & Wheth=: he can push his resolution to a vote 10 the short session remains to be s.en. There is a disposition in some quarters to postpone action on the Vare -case, both because of the shortness of the session and because of the fact that Mr. Vare is a very ill man, having suffered a stroke of ralysis last Summer. Senator Reed, owever, is about to leave the Senate. The charges against Vare grew out of the investigation which his committee conducted, and Senator Reed is de- sirous of having the matter wound up l . before he gees out of the Senate. Oldfield of Arkansas Mourned By His Colleagues and Public strong personality,” dying “in the zenith of his usefulness.” * K ok % “In politics he was a stalwart, in friendship he was a stalwart, in devo- tion to the ideals and principles of the Democratic party he was a stalwart,” records the Waco News-Tribune (irde- pendent), with the further tribute: “He is off the firing line. He will be missed by his congressional colleagues, regard- less of party, and his friends in many States. Oldfiel¢ was a leader of men. He was_ high in the councils of “his party. Just now the Democracy needs men of the Oldfield caliber.” “The news of his death Is received with sadness by his colleagues in Con- gress, Republicans as well as Demo- crats,” says the Hartford Courant (in- dependent Republican), while the Charleston Daily Mail (independent Republican) describes him as “one of the excellent men in the Senate who was a ‘self-made’ boy from the farm.” ‘The Raleigh News and Observer (Dem- ocratic) describes Mr. Oldfield as one who was “well grounded in the faith, a militant fighter and true man.” “Chosen party whip in 1920, ex- plains the Memphis Commercial Ap- peal (Democratic), “his work in that capacity caused his colleagues to make him unanimous choice for chairman of +the congressional committee. He was one of the Democratic veterans of the ways and means committee, and was particularly active in tariff and taxa- tion legislation. He placed the party and the people he served above all things. No citizen of Arkansas went to him with a plea which he failed to heed, and he was as keenly interested in matters which concerned other States as he was in matters affecting Arkansas and his constituents.” * K K X “He is a real loss to the Democracy, which is not rich in parliamentary lead- ers in the lower house of the National Legislature,” comments the Brooklyn Daily Eagle (independent), and that paper, describing him as a leader who “had shown practical efficiency,” and r.ferring to the period in which he graduated from college and was ad- mitted to the bar, continues: “Within the five years that followed he had twice been elected prosecuting attorney of his county. His genius for politics from the start of his active career. “Mr. Oldfield’s 20 years of continuous service in the House had given him a position and a leadership in which his real ability was well recognized,” ob- serves the Roanoke World-News (inde- the affairs of both branches of Cone gress has often been commented upon. The people of that State,” continues the World-News, “make it a policy to select carefully their representatives and then to keep them in office. This policy re- sults fn the members of the delegation from that State winning the most im- ortant committee assignments under e senfority rule that prevails both in the House and lln&."p“