Evening Star Newspaper, April 29, 1929, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR With Sundsy Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY.........April 20, 1929 THEODORE W. NOYES. .. .Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company ‘Business Office: 11th St. and Pennsvivania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd St Chicago Office: Lake Michigan Buildinx Eurovean Ofice; 14 Rerent SL., London, ngland. Rate by Carrier Within the City. The Evening Star_ ............45C per month The Evening and 60¢ per month 65¢ per month i . .5c per copy e at’{he end of each month Orders may be sent in by mail or telephone ain 5000 Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. 13108 ; 0., 1515 3400 1 m mo.. 40¢ a Daily onl: nly .. 1 mo., Sunday only . T i T5c . §5.00. Member of the Associated Press. ‘The Associated Press is exclusivel to the use for republication of ail news df patches credited to it or not otherwise cr ited in ihis paper and also the loca pu rein. Al rights of publicution of ches i al Land Armaments at Geneva. President Hoover recently indicated, | when discussing the Geneva preliminary | disarmament commission, that the| United States’ interest in reduction in! land armaments is next to nothing. He| explained that this country already! maintains a far more slender military establishment than would be allotted us | under any conceivable limitation agree- ment. Ambassador Gibson's proposal regarding trained reserves has, never- theless, stirred Geneva as profoundly as his earlier pronouncement about naval Umitation. It was mainly at the instigation of the American spokesman that the pre- liminary commission Saturday decided to exclude “trained reserves” from lim- itation of armies. Mr. Gibson announced | that his Government has no objection to Jooking upon “trained reserves” as out- wide the.scope of any scheme to curtall land, as distinguished from sea, arma- | ments, ‘The American Ambassador, it goes without saying, acted on the authority of Washington. It is not difficult to di- vine the origin of his instructions. It is to be found in the Hoover administra- tion's demand for action in the field of international disarmament, military as well as naval, instead of the chronic de- lay which has steadily blocked all ef- forts in those directions. The Gibson “concession” concerning trained reserves is characteristic of the whole trend of Hoover policy, because its transparent purpose is to pave the way to results. Critics of the American attitude at Geneva charge that it represents an about-face by the United States. This country has always held, and still holds, that real reduction of land armaments must comprehend trained reserves. Prance, Italy, Japan and other coun- tries wedded to conscription have held that maintenance of their enormous reservist military strength is not incom- patible with land limitation. As long as these diametrically opposed views are stubbornly maintained reduction of armies is manifestly impossible. What the United States, therefore, has now proposed at Geneva is, in a nutshell, that the conseription countries which want their reservists excluded from land limitation shall be given an 85c | 50¢ v eniitled | THE EVENING STAR. WASHIN will offer a program of sixty concerts. On this occasion, arranged by local civic organizations, its rival—using the noun in its pleasantest and best sense —the Marine and Navy Bands, also ap- peared to do it honor. It was the re- cipient of a special new regimental flag. In smaller towns every member of the local band may be known personally to a generous proportion of the inhabitants. The Capital is too large a community {ization for this to be the case in this connection, but Capt. Stannard is known personally and favorably to thousands, while we Washingtonians who have | seen and heard those under his leader- {ship grace so many occasions feel, at ileast, that we know them. We appre- | ciate their technical skill, are impressed by their soldierly maneuvers and rejoice in the handsome special uniform that they honor and that honors them. There will probably be a profusion of impressive and highly skilled European bands at the approaching exposition, 1 mo, 50c but it would be difficult to find a Dis- r bers of his famlly own substantial | trict man, woman or child unwilling to prophesy that this group, national in so far as its recruitment is concerned, but local as to its headquarters and the pride of the community, will fail to hold its own with any of them. For this oc- casion we all are appropriately “small- towners” and, in spirit at least, will all be down at the “depot” primed for a little back-slapping, waving and cheer- ing. e Defying the Law. Early last Wednesday morning Officer Rouse, following an automobile across Anacostia Bridge and firing at its tires through a dense smoke screen, shot and killed the driver of the car. A blast of | oriticism against this officer for having used his gun was followed by an inquest on Thursday afternoon, and after hear- | ing testimony regarding the incident a coroner’s jury held Officer Rouse for the action of the grand jury. He was immediately suspended without pay and released from custody after furnishing bond in'the sum of a thousand dollars. On Thursday night Officer Rinke, chasing an automobile suspected of carrying liquor, was fired upon, either by the occupants of that car or by those in another car escorting it. He pursued without firing in return and the occupants of the automobile, aban- doning it in an alley, made their escape. The car contained liquor. On Friday night and during the early hours of Saturday morning Officers Campbell, Rhone, Gallimore, Sinclair, Brown and Cunningham were at dif- ferent times involved in the pursuit of four separate automobiles, which used speed and laid down smoke screens to make good their escape. None of these officers so much as drew a pistol. None of them fired a shot. All of them, tem- porarily blinded by smoke containing a mixture of burned oil and ammonia fumes, followed the suspects as far as they could and gave up the chase. In the case of Policeman Rinke, he said that he did not return the fire of those in the automobile he was pur- suing because of the criticism which had been leveled at his brother officer, Rouse, who did use & gun. In the case of the other officers questioned regard- ing their failure to use revolvers to ef- fect the capture of men committing a felony by using the smoke-screen de- vice, they avoided any direct explana- tion. But what is the most natural conclu- sion to draw from this recital of events? opportunity to vindicate their theory that reduction of armies is neverthe- less practicable. If it proves impracti- cable, the opposing theory will be auto- matically vindicated. Another confer- ence could, and undoubtedly would, de- cide upon s substitute land limitation scheme which would thenceforward compel conscription countries to limit their reserves along with troops under colors. At any rate, Geneva seems persuaded that the decision relating to trained reserves clears the air and brightens the prospect of securing both military and naval disarmament. On the one hand, the decision has removed appre- hensions of countries where consecrip- tion is in force and thereby improved the chances of agreement for reduction of standing armies. On the other hand, it has rendered conscription govern- ments far more friendly to naval reduc- tion, because those countries, Prance, Japan and Italy, lay more stress on their armies than Great Britain and the United States do. ‘Thus, far from promoting “mili- tarism,” as some of America's critics are charging, the United States has moved practically and tangibly in the only di- rection which promises to eonvert dis- armament from a theory into a condi- tion. - It is rumored that Col. Lindbergh has all the fame he wants. Pame is sometimes irksome. But once acquired, it can never be relinquished. It is & glorification which involves much hand- shaking and & perpetual effort to look pleasant while being photographed. N Off Goes the Band! A feature of American town and even village life has long been an interest in brass bands. Many & community with little or no other claim to fame has been put on the map through its possession of an organization of musi- clans enjoying & reputation country- wide, State-wide, or in some cases transcending even these broad bound- arles. Sometimes it rejoiced in the title “Silver Cornet Band.” When that group departed to play at some county fair or to participate in some distant parade or pageant, it received a send-off some- what comparable to that tendered a stellar base ball team. The spirit of rivalry between the musical organiza- tions of various towns was, and still is, as estimable as it is charactistically American. The Nation's Capital is the proud pos- | sessor of no fewer than three bands by which we, its inhabitants, loyally swear. One is-wery ancient; two comparatively new. The United States Army Band, di- regl outgrowth of the World War, is #out to seek fresh laurels in foreign “fields, and it carries with it the best wishes of every loyal Washingtonian. That it will acquit itself with high credit 1s the conviction of each resident of the District and, in fact, of all Americans fortunate enough to have heard it. This organization was the recipient The only logical conclusion is that our police officers are beginning to feel that the path of least resistance is the safest. Give up the pursuit and no questions are asked. Shoot, and the officer faces loss of pay, disgrace and a possible trial as a criminal. ‘The logical developments from such a situation as that which now confronts the community, unless the community supports the Police Department in a drastic effort to remedy it, are fearfully apparent. Immunity from the law lies in the possession of an automobile faster than & motor cycle or police car, equipped with a smoke-screen device and defying the law to catch up. The use of mustard gas and hand grenades hagnot become general, up to this time, as improved methods of evmlnq ‘both- ersome police officers. All the ‘under- world asks, however, is time and a little mcre maudlin sentiment from its law- abiding sympathizers. e Dueling is no longer s polite and formal custom. Pistol play is required not in affairs of honor, but in the business of the underworld. ] The Eligibility of Mr. Mellon. ‘The Senate committee on judiciary has wracked its brains over the ques- tion whether Andrew W. Mellon is in- eligible to hold office as Secretary of the Treasury because he owns stock in several commercial corporations. And on the narrow construction of an old statute & very considerable portion of the committee is inclined to hold him ineligible. Indeed, s report has been prepared by Senator Norris of Nebras- ka, chairman of the committee, insist- ing that Mr. Mellon is not eligible. The law which the committee has been called upon to construe under a resolution offered in the Senate by Senator McKellar of Tennessee in part follows: “No person appointed to the office of Secretary of the Treasury, or Treasurer, or Register, shall directly or indirectly be concerned or interested in carrying on the business of trade or commerce.” There is much more of the law, but this is the language which has been quoted against Mr. Mellon. Mr. Norris, in his tentative report on the matter at issue, insists that the question might be simplified by asking: “Is a person owning stock in a corpora- tion even indirectly concerned or in- poration?” The Benator from Nebraska, however, omits from his simplified question two very important words of the statute which, if included, give a very different aspect to the matter. They are “carry- ing on.” Mr. Norris and the Senators who believe as he does say that to be interested in a business is the same thing as to be interested “in carrying on” a business, But if they are correct, why did the authors of the statute in- clude words which clearly indicate that the interest in commercial enterprises Baturday night of a testimonial cele- bration staged on the eve of its de- parture for Spain, where, at the forth- objected to was an actively operated in- terest? A farmer in Iowa may own stock in a min&/in Colorado or stock in goming Ibero-American Exposition, it & woolen mill in Massachusetts, but it and the Army Band too large an organ- terested in the business of such a cor- | would be little short of ridiculous to | assert that the farmer was himself carrying on mining or manufacturing operations, even indirectly. Mr. Mellon, it appears, is not carry- | ing on any business, except the business of the Government. When he became | Secretary of the Treasury more than | eight years ago, Mr. Mellon had resigned | { every office which he held in any cor- | poration engaged in the business of | trade or commerce. He resigned all his | directorates in such corporations. He is not now an officer or a director in any such corporation. He not only resigned from every office he held in national banks, trust companies and other banking institutions, but he sold | all the stock he owned in these banking H | institutions. But Mr. Mellon, the committee' has | been informed, continues to own sub- | stantial amounts of stock in the Gulf | Oil Corporation, the Aluminum Com- | pany of America, and the Standard ! | Steel Car Company. Also other mem- | amounts of stock in these corporations. | Mr. Melion does not own a controlling interest in any one of the corporations, | but it is pointed out that, in combina- tion with other members of his family, he does hold such a control. However, there has been nothing found to indi- cate that Mr. Mellon is engaged in carrying on any of these businesses, directly or indirectly. ‘The ownership of stock in corpora- tions in this country has become a gen- eral thing with men of property. Some men who have made successes in com- ! mercial and financial life of the coun- try hold large blocks of such stocks. It does not appear that there is or should be a desire to limit the list of eligibles to the office of Secretary of the Treas- ury to men who do not own stock in corporations, though it is quite con- ceivable that men who are engaged in carrying on the business of these cor- porations should not be eligible, pro- vided they do not relinquish these ac- tivities. Mr. Mellon did relinquish all of his active connections with the busi- ness of trade and commerce. He has lived up to the law. His eligibility has been approved by the Attorney General of the United States in an opinion rendered the President. Mr. Mellon has served during two administrations as head of the Treasury Department, and is serving in a third. ‘The question of Mr. Mellon's eligibil- ity was brought up in the Senate years ago. It was shelved after the facts had been developed. Now, because Mr. Mel- lon has political enemies—enemies who do not approve of his course in the conduct of the Treasury Department— the question has been raised again. Un- der the old law invoked, if Mr. Mellon were tried and found guilty he would be dismissed from office and fined $3,000. It is realized that the agitation |'might blossom forth as Lionn, Fishh, ‘This boy Jimmie Foxx of the Phila- delphia Athletics has got a lot of people consonant-minded. If you stop to think about it, there is no real reason in the world why a Fox should not be a Foxx. ‘The writer here has a double “1” on the end of his name and it doesn't strike him nor any reader as odd, but somehow Foxx looks as if the typewriter had slipped. Yett (there we go doing it already) there are several precedents for a double consonant at the end of an animal sur- name. We have Catt and Hogg, both very prominent families. But no Dogg! Let the lovers of man's best friend explain this if they can, how the word has come into such disrepute that there is not a Dogg 1‘n ihe‘c“;y directory. Once one becomes addicted to the double consonant, no doubt it is a habit which appeals mightily. Men o?emd will by the names of | Lion, Fish, Bear and Bird, respectively, earr and Birdd, llkewise respectively. There is no telling where the thing would stop. If two terminal consonants, why not three? Thus Congress might pass a law making the official designation the Congresss of the Uniteddd Statesss. ‘The Capitall Cityy would become ‘Washingtonn, or Washingtonnn, or ‘Washingtonnnn, just for extra good measure, | It might be possible to allow cities to take on extra final consonants in accordance with population, so that if ‘Washington, with half a million, was fixed as the standard with one ter- thinal consonant only, New York City would be entitled to be written as fol- lows: Newwwwwwwwwww Yorkkkkkkkkkkk. ‘The name ofsthe great metropolis, with her something more than 6,000,000 inhabitants (as estimated for July, 1928), would show her population at a glance. The same principle (shall we call it reasoning?) could be applied to cities ending in vowels. Thus the populations of the t;o leadi) ities. would show as well as the e Cmuloow Philadelphiaaaa. L The vowel has too long held the as- cendancy. Maybe the time is at hand for ending this reign. The genius of our language is per- haps nearer to the consonant than to the vowel. Vowels merely aid in mak- ing a tongue more fluent, more sono- rous. The Italian speech, with its heavy vowels, is the universal musical lan- guage. It is interesting te note that the Hawailan language, which fairly rip- ples with the letters “o” and “a.” is the native tongue of natural musicians, t00. The prominence assumed by musicc in allll cultural countriess has led to great stressss being placed on lan- guages in whichh the vowels predomi- nate. All the e such tongues as Welsh have gone right along with their queer (to us) combinations of double con- sonants. Every one has seen Russian names with so few vowels that an American cannot get a grip on them against Mr. Mellon is largely political. The Senate cannot try Mr. Mellon un- less impeachment proceedings are brought against him in the House. If the Senate should hold him ineligible under the statute, and it is not likely it will, it would still be necessary for the United States attorney of the District of Columbia to bring suit against him. With the opinion of the highest legal officer of the land supporting Mr. Mel- lon, it is not likely such a suit would be instituted. One thing apears certain, Mr. Mel- lon will be retained, even if the old law has te be amended or repealed. ———— The donations of Aimee McPherson are made, like those she accepts, in sheer human generosity and good will. In spite of much suspicion the Cali- fornia court could not say otherwise, ——o— As daylight saving resumes, citizens in various parts of the country are to be pardoned if they are not prompt in giving the right answer when asked the time of day. ————— Credit must be accorded Al Smith for having given Tammany & fair sem- blance of good reputation for at least one campaign Summer, o Clearing the galleries will not prevent interruptions of applause. Congression- | al moments may arise when legislators themselves applaud. e SHOOTING STARS, BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, Relaxation. I went a-fishing where the sky Was mild and blue and shining, Each cloud that lightly drifted by ‘Turned out its silver lining. I fished until the sun sank low And left the world to dreaming; And even in the moon's white glow 1 watched the ripples gleaming, No finny prize adorned the hook Out in the tide suspended. Not even one small nibble shook ‘The line that I extended. Yet there is nothing I would say To anger or to shame them. The fish were on & holiday— You really couldn’d blame them. A Gardener’s Reflection. Now, hope becomes a trifle scant As all your foes you contemplate; | For every little seed you plant A dozen insects lle in wait! The Post Card. How beautiful the post card seems! A mellow sunshine sheds its beams On ancient walls or stately trees, Where all the world seems at its ease. It shows no dust or smarting heat, Nor counters filled with things to eat, No crowded cars nor smelly ships, No petty bandits out for tips; | It lllustrates a glorious scene Where All is silent and serene. ‘To make a restful holiday. For every traveler on his way. A picture from the Land of Dreams, How beautiful a post card seems! The Old Song. ‘This is the burden of the song ‘That sounds among the busy throna:‘ “Oh, I am right and you are wron | { | l’l'hnulh for a time two men agree, A parting there is sure to be, And each the little book will read That shows the precept or the creed ‘Which to his special mood appeals. And so the hurrying world reveals Of thought a constant clash and play Which brings both pleasure and dismay, And still we hear the ancient pong |william H. Stafford of Wisconsin. to pronounce them. President Hoover is said to be en- countering t;;nexpecudl d‘tl:'c‘uflu ml‘n making u| personnel of w En- toru‘::‘emp Commission. He wants men of the highest legal attainments and | of unquestioned impartiality on the" prohibition issue, for, though the in- quiry is aimed to go far beyond merely prohibition enforcement and prohibi- | tion lawlessness, the President recog- | nizes that the commission will encoun- ter prohibition questions at every turn. It is reported that several men, whom the President wanted to name to the commission, disqualified themselves by reason of positive convictions respect- ing the part which prohibition plays in the reign of lawlessness and in the breakdown of legal machinery. Ap- pointment of the commission is long past due, and is now presumed to be imminept, though the White House continués silent as to when the an- nouncement may be expected. There is a possibility that the commission may be limited to five members, instead of nine, as originally contemplated. * k% ¥ Recent rumors that Justice Stone of the Supreme Court, and member of | the Hoover ‘“medicine ball cabinet,” has been asked to head the Law En- forcement Commission were brushed aside at the White House, without either confirmation or denial. It is no secret that Mr. Hoover has confer- red with Justice Stone on this prob- lem, as well as with Chief Justice Taft. Richard Washburn Child, dip- limat and author, friend of Coolidge and of Hoover, is also reported to figure in the selection of the commission and the preparation of its agenda. Mr. Child has made notable investigations in the fleld of law and lawlessness in the United States. He has been a re- cent White House guest. Charles Evans Hughes, Silas Strawn, Newton D. Baker, George Wharton Pepper and William Draper Lewls, president of the American Law Association, continue to receive prominent mention in Washing- ton speculation as to the personnel of the commission. ‘The announcement by Bishop Free- man of Washingten Cathedral that the body of Norman Prince, American aviation ace, and founder of the Lafa- yette Escadrille, now interred in the| Americon Pro-Cathedral at Paris, is to be brought home and entombed in a hero's shrine in the new cathedral here, is the sequel to abandonment of the plans of his father, Frederick H. Prince of Massachusetts, to bulld a memorial chapel and mortuary at Fort Myer, adjacent to Arlington Cemetery. The site had been picked, the plans drawn, and Mr. Prince had agreed to spend half l" mmwnu‘ dcrllhtrl‘o Xol; its erecum; as a gift to the Nation memory o his son. The Fine Arts Commission raised eleventh-hour objections, fric- tion developed over the site and size of the chapel, and a few weeks ago the ‘War Department made known that its original permission had been rescinded. Mr. Prince has now donated to the Washington Cathedral several hundred thousand dollars, which provides for a memorial chapel on the main floor af the great church structure. It will be known as the Chapel of St. John, and will contain the tomb of the gallant ace. * ok kX Believe it or not, the class of 1894 at Harvard College furnished the only | two Republican votes in the House re- | corded against the administration’s farm bill, which was overwhelmingly | adopted by the lower branch of Con- gress last Thursday. The two Republi- | can “irreconcilables” to farm relief, as embodied in the measure, were George Holden Tinkham of Massachusetts and Though college classmates, their agree- ment to disagree on the farm ques-| tion was just a coincidence. * ok ok K The feud between Senators Johnson and Caraway over possession of Calvert Manor, historic Maryland estate 8 miles from the Capitol, which both men coveted as a Washington domicile, is at an end. The flery Californian and the sarcastic Arkansan are by way of burying the hatchet. Johnson moved out of Calvert Manor on March 4, the day his lease expired—and not a day sooner—and Caraway has moved in. Senator Johnson has purchased a fine old city house at 122 Maryland avenue northeast, on the very slope of Capitol Resound among the busy throng: “Oh, I am right and you are wrong.” ATON, . D C. MONDAY, THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. After all, there are a great many more consonants in the alphabet than there are vowels. We have always wondered why there were only five vowels, and their names are a, e, i, 0, u, “and some- times y and w.” These are the written vowels, softly spoken without obstruction in the vocal passages, without the audible friction or stoppage characteristic of the con- sonants. There are other spoken vowels, but we confine ourself to the written word. The vowels impress ohe as sly rascals of letters, which have managed to oust their hard-working cousins, the con- sonants, from the places of honor, and have taken the lionn’s share for them- selvess. Outnumbered 4 to 1, the crafty vowels have nevertheless managed to get them- | selves spoken more than all the con- sonants put together. They have imposed themselves on whole races of peoples, so that most of {us think a word no word at all except it be liberally sprinkled with a, e, 1, ooru. There has been a quiet propaganda going on through the centuries in favor of these five letters, so that today the ‘l"no‘ft used is none other than the vowel e. If you have ever had the misfortune to get it knocked bodily off your type- Kr:ter, you will know how indispensable s. * K ok K We are all so used to accepting our alphabet without investigation or bother that we sometimes forget just wl}]mt a curlous proposition it is, after all. ‘The alphabet is almost as standard- ized as the multiplication table. Just as there are & few students who ques- tion the tables, although many rebel at being forced to learn them, so there are few who turn bolshevik over the alphabet, and fewer still who “get away with it” when they do. ‘The so-called “reformed spelling” has made little headway, despite great names and publications in its favor. The example of the Literary Digest has in no way influenced millions. We have a mild interest when we note their spelling of “sulfur,” but when we write it ourself we use “sulphur,” and so does every one else. Conservatism itself is almost at a standstill when it comes to words. In the words of the old darky spiritual, “It was good for my father, it's good enough for me.” Yett there is a constant change go- ing on in words, too, almost slower than changes in animal characteristics. We do not refer to the new words which are constantly introduced, as mankind invents and creates and in- vestigates. Many of these “catch on” and become standard. ‘The real change in the language comes about through subtle additions and derogations which creep over words. An example of this is the word “dog,” which is the name of man's four- qed friend. As applied to an animal it means one thing, and as to s human being another. So we find “dog” in the dictionary but no “Dogg” in the city or telephone directory. In the meantime, since Jimmie Foxx has shown us that the “double cross” may be strictly O. K., we may per- haps expect the Goose to spell his last name Goslinn, if the fad spreads. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS in progress, under Mrs. Johnson's di- recl':on. It may be recalled that the trouble about Calvert Manor started when Johnson, who was in ssion under a lease, discovered that Senator Caraway had acquired a deed. John- son was chagrined because he had planned to buy the property himself. Caraway was mad because Johnson would not move out immediately, as an act of senatorial courtesy to the new owner. * kX ¥ Proponents of a tariff on bananas as a scheme for curtailing their importa- tion, in the hope of compelling Ameri- can houswives to put more apples and oranges and cereals on their tables “to fill up the gap,” have not succeeded in enlisting much sympathy in Congress for this proposal. Their contention that foreign-grown food products, such as bananas, coconuts and sago, are sub- stitutes for the products of the Ameri- can farms, and that the farmers should be “protected” from this competition, proceeds on the doubtful assumption that it is possible to frame & tariff bill which will change the eating habits of the American people. They insist that if & duty of 50 cents or $1 per stem is levied on bananas, importations, which exceeded 60,000,000 stems last year, will dwindle, and the song refrain, “Yes, we have no bananas today,” will be no longer a jest. The predominant view of the congressional tariff tinkers is that a banana tariff would boost the cost of this staple and popular fruit with no resulting benefit to American agriculture. * kR X Two distinguished feminine new- comers to Congress, Ruth Hanna Mc- Cormick and Ruth Bryan Owen, are not in favor of hiding their light beneath a bushel. They aspire to stellar roles in the House, that they may earlier render consplcuous service in the affairs of Government. Mrs, McCormick has ap- plied for a place on the naval affairs committee, and Mrs. Owen seeks ap- pointment to the foreign affairs com- mittee. Nothing less will suffice. Places on these major committees are ordi- narlly awarded only to members of long service. Neither acquiescence in nor refusal of the request of these charm- ing ladies is going to be easy. Embar- rassments and heartburnings lie in either course. Decision is to be deferred until the organization of the House committee at the ug:;nnl of the regular session néxt December. (Copyrisht, 1929.) Plants Are Now Given Calomel Like Babies BY E. E. FREE, PH. D. Doses of calomel for baby plants no less than for baby humans have been found beneficlal in experiments con- ducted by the New York Agricultural Experiment Station of Geneva, N. Y, and reported by Dr. Hugh Glasgow of that station in a recent issue of the New York City trade publication, Chemical Markets. One of the serious dangers that con- | front a baby plant as soon as it sprouts from the seed and starts upward through the soil is the danger that | some hungry grub or worm or insect will come along and eat it. Every farmer knows that he must plant many more seeds than he expects to get; plants and one chief reason for this is that so many of the plant babies are eaten before they can grow far enough | upward even to see the light af day.| Many chemicals and otner devices | have been tested out to prevent these plant infanticides, but one difficulty is that most of the poisons that would kill | or repel the insects also injure the seeds or the seedlings. An exception, the New York State experts have found, is ordi- n calomel. If the baby seeds are rolled in this familiar medical powder before they are planted, a little of the powder sticks to them. ‘The seed is not affected, but insects that come along evidently either eat the calomel and are poisoned by it or else are repelled in some way by its mere presence. In any event, Dr. Glasgow re- ports, seeds thus dusted with calomel before planting produce a substantially Hill, and is already in occupancy, while extensive alterations and remodeling are / plants than do higher average hea;luwbdlux‘;lvm( 3'& ani ‘the ordinary way. % APRIL | 1| Quebec Law Restores | | annuity so that they will not feel that |Lighting Is Deplored 29, 1929, Plea for Retirement Benefit Action Made To the Editor of The Star: I wish to thank you and express my appreciation of the article publishe in last evening's Star under the caption | “U. S. Workers Hit Retirement Biil.” It comes nearer to expressing the sen- timents of individual Federal employes than anything I have seen in print. Our outerying need is to obtain for those already retired an increase in, they are objects of charity to those who are willing to house them for the tiny amount, they can afford to pay. Our next need is to enable those whose health is declining (not neces- sarily because of old age), and who have served the Government faithfluly for 25 or 30 years, to retire from actual service without feeling that thev are objects of charity to their family or friends. We should have the option of retiring after 25 or 30 years of ser- vice or at 60 years of age, with the | same annuity paid to those who are forced to retire at 70. Age is not the determining factor in our ability to work® There are many in the service 70 vears of age who are more fit phys- | ically and mentally than others who | have scarcely reached 50. As Dr. Work | states, it would be economical from the Government's standpoint to enable | these emploves to retire. i Of the $110,000,000 in the retire-| ment fund, only $19,000,000 has been | provided by the Government, the bal- | ance, $91,000,000 representing the de- ductions from our salaries, so there should be no question of funds avail- able for the purpose. The retirement fund, from the deductions from sal- aries, is increasing by leaps and bounds each year. VICTORIA G. PEACOCK. ———— e At Lincoln Memorial To the Edifor of The Star: I am wondering if you can tell me who is responsible for the artificial light installed in the Lincoln Memorial which sheds its luminous rays over the statue of Abraham Lincoln. I have often wondered, 100, if the one who suggested the illumination realizes the change in the effect and the impressiveness of the memorial. Directly in front of the building the lighting is rather effective as it shows up the statue to full advantage. But, from across the reflecting pool the vista is ruined; it is devoid of the spirit- ual power and inspiration that it for- merly had when it stood out in the distance as a symbol of strength, of simplicity, of beauty, of power. It was a thing of grandeur in the twilight; it stood out in its glory like a temple against the darkness of night; and in truth was always an inspiration to me whether flooded with moonlight or enveloped in clouds of rain. But alas! now all that is gone! The arti- ficlal light glares out at me as I drive by. causing dark shadowy columns on either side of it. Instead of inspiration entering my soul, as in the former times when I 50 often drove by, now there is only pathos there, a sadness as if something had been lost forever. To my mind the most beautiful building in our Cap- ital has been robbed of its power on ac- count of this illumination. Would that it could be as of yore with its great- ness in its very simplicity untouched by artificiality! A. GLADYS SHELDON. Opposes Auto Parking On Streets at Night “fo the Editor of The Star: An article appeared in your paper of April 23 on “parking changes being sought” in “front of apartment houses of more than four stories.” Why the discrimination? Of course, the cars could be parked on adjoining streets, but would not the sensible thing be to not allow all-night parking at all? Certainly, for the Capital of the “U. 8. to allow its streets to be ! used for “public garages” is an eye- sore. The streets lined with cars and trucks of all descriptions does not beautify a city in the night hours. Have you ever noticed that Baltimore | presents a better appearance at night | than our city, where millions are being spent to beautify it? In my humble opinion it would not only aid the firemen but the police, in keeping down crime, to compel peoplc | to put their cars in garages at nigit. | O. M. BLUNDON. | i ——————————— Freedom of Press | From the Vancouver, B. C., Dally Province. | The Legislature of Quebec has lately | enacted a law of newspaper libel, the Quebec press act, and Premier Tasche- reau, who has been given the credit and the praise for it by the newspapers of that province, seems to have gone a great way to remove an anomalous and intol- erable state of affairs. Heretofore, it appears, there was no such statute in Quebec, and the law of libel, based upon an article of the French Civil Code, was 5o indefinite that newspapers there fre- quently paid damages rather than de- fend suits in court, and there is no doubt that in so doing they sometimes submitted to blackmail. The new law purports at once to preserve the reason- able freedom of the press and to protect the citizen from libel, and may be sald to bring the statutory law of Quebec in line with the rest of Canada in this par- ticular. ‘The principal and material clauses of the new law provide: (a) That a libel action against a newspaper must be brought within three months of the pub- lication of the article complained of. (b) That no action shall lie until the newspaper has had three days’ notice of the same, so that the newspaper, in its discretion, may either make retraction or correction. (c¢) That if a newspaper thus makes full retraction, and estab- lishes its good faith, only actual and real images may be claimed. (d) The newspaper shall publish any reply, pro- viding it is reasonable in length and confined to the actual libel, the injured party wishes to make; and when the injured party has availed himself both of the right to retraction and the right to reply, no prosecution for libel shail issue. (e) Reports, accurately made in good faith, of legislative, parliamentary or court proceedings, or reports of pub- lic notices issued by the government, are made privileged. (f) A libel judgment given against a newspaper must be pub- lished therein upon the order of the court. (g) No newspaper is protected by this act when the complainant is ac- cused of a criminal offense, or when the article complained of refers to a candi- date for office, and was published within three days of nomination day and up to the day of polling. No responsible newspaper will object to this law. By the same token. no rea- sonable citizen will say that this law confers an undue freedom upon the press. r————— Hollywood Rapped Again. From the Hamilton Spectator. The world’s worst business man, we think, is the proprietor of the Hollywood store who laid in a stock of wedding anniversary cards. e Singers’ Success Explained. From the Boston Evening Transcript. “Why Singers Succeed” is an inter- esting article, every reason being pre- sented except the chance that they can sing. ——————— Streets Are Not Garages. From the Utica Observer-Dispatch. Using streets for traffic and reason- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. The answers to questions printed here each day are specimens picked from the mass of inquiries handled by our great Information Bureau maintained in Washington, D. C. This valuable serv- ice is for the free use of the public. Ask any question of fact you may want to know and you will get an immediate: reply. Write plainly, inclose 2 cents in coin or stamps for Teturn postage and address The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, ‘Washington, D. C. Q. Do many States have juvenile courts?—J. T. A. There are only two States which are without some law providing for a special court for children. these laws are seriously inadequate. Q. What is the monetary basis for compensation of radio artists?—L.D. M. A. There is no basic pay. Compensa- tion depends upon the talent, experi- ence and demand for the artist. Q Does a food shortage exist in Russia?>—W. H. G. A. The Soviet Information Bureau says that while there have been some crop failures this past year, there has not been a serious shortage of food, due to the size of the country and the abundance of other crops. This diffi- culty will be even less the coming Sum- mer, due to the new crop about to be harvested and which from reports will be larger than usual Q. Please give information about the ruby-throated humming bird.—L. L. A. The ruby-throated humming bird is found in Canada and in the United States east of the Mississippi River. It winters in Southern Mexico and other Central American countries. It is the smallest bird found in Eastern North America. However, it is not the small- est humming bird, as there are some Central and South American species that are only about two-thirds the size of the ruby-throated bird. Q. Please explain the phenomenon of the Reversible Falls at St. John, New Brunswick —M. A. A. The St. John River, draining an area of 26,000 square miles, discharges its flood into the St. John Harbor through a rocky gorge, famous in Indian lore. The famous “Reversing Falls” are so called because at high tide the water of the harbor is above the level of the river and has a perceptible drop upstream. The occurrence is unique and is considered one of the natural wonders of the world. Q. Is Pvt. John Allen of Mississippi still living?—D. D. F. A. Tvt. John Allen was a Confed- erate soldier. After the Civil War he was a member of Congress from Mis- sissippl. He served from March 4, 1885, to March 3, 1901. He died at Tupelo, Miss., on October 30, 1917. Q. What is the Pittsburgh plus plan? Is it still in force?—E. T. A. The Great Northern Semaphore says that the Pittsburgh plus practice consisted of selling steel at a base price at Pittsburgh plus the all-rail rate of freight from Pittsburgh to destination. ‘This practice applied to steel no matter where it was manufactured, so that one buying steel at a Chicago or Duluth mill paid the Pittsburgh price plus the rate of the freight from Pittsburgh to his factory, although the steel might have been actually rolled at Chicago or Duluth. The effect of this practice was to admit Pittsburgh and other Eastern manufacturers to Western mar- kets as competitors with Western man- ufacturers upon an exact parity of ma- terial cost, or at an advantage over the ‘Western manufacturers. It limited the market of the Western manufacturer to territory west Mmt and de- prived him of the ity of sell- ing through his normal market, namely, the territory which he could reach at a freight advantage over his nearest com- petitor. The final order of the Federal Trade Commission abolishing the prac- tice was issued July 21, 1924. Q. Is there such a thing as black snow?—R. L. A. Though sometimes discredited, it is an actual fact that black snow some- times occurs. The color is produced by the action of innumerable fungi, known as the “Micrococcus nivalis.” It has also Many of | been reported from time to time that snow either red, blue or green in color has fallen in certain localites. This is caused by the action of such fungi. ‘The black snow is comparat rare. Q. Did Bellini paint the “Portrait of Sultan Mahomet” at court?—A. B. S. A. Gentile Bellini visited Constanti- nople. It is, however, improbable that he painted this portrait at court, be- cause of Mohammedan prejudice against the representation of living , things. The portrait was probably exe- | cuted from memory. Q. Why was the dollar bill having a picture of “History Instructing Youth™ withdrawn from circulation?—E. L. B. A. The certificate is of the series of 1896, which had as the ornamental pic- ture the figure of a woman pointing | out to a child the Constitution of the | United States. The Constitution. of course, was in very fine letters—so fine, | in fact, that only with the aid of a | powerful magnifying glass could the let- | ters be deciphered. The word “tran- quillity” was misspelled, only one “I” being used. Because of this and other defects, the misspelling not being most important, the certificates were with- drawn from circulation. Q. What is the difference between a sanitarium and a sanatorium?—A. M. A. A sanitarium is a place where well people go to keep well. A sanatorium |is l’l‘ place where sick people go to get well. Q. What is the distance around the Tidal Basin by following the road along the water's edge?—M. B. D. A. The Bureau of Public Buildings and Roads says that it is about 2 miles, or 11,000 linear feet, around the Tidal Basin by footpath. Q. What per cent of our foreign com- merce is carried on with American ships?—R. C. A. In the fiscal year 1928 it amounted to 39 per cent of the 100,000,000 long tons, valued at $8,000,000,000. Before the World War American ships car- ried only 10 per cent of our trade abroad. Q. What is the emblem placed on the door post of an orthodox Jewish home, which the guests touch when they enter>—E. E. C. A. The emblem referred to is called “mezuza,” which literally means “door post.” It is placed there in fulfillment of the command in the fifth book of Moses, “And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thy house and upon thy gates.”” The emblem contains a small piece of parchment or paper on which is written by hand the above quoted passage and others to remind Jews of duties toward their religion. Q. What is_the ratio of sutomobiles topperéons in Los Angeles and Detroit? A. In Los Angeles there is one car to 2.5 persons. In Detroit the ratio is one car to 3.5 persons. Q. Does a quarter section of level land contain less actual ground space than a rolling one?—H. T. A. The Geological Survey states that when land is surveyed for division it is treated as a plane surface. ' a quarter of a section of level land con~ tains the same amount of land s & quarter of a section of rolling land, but there may be actually more surface or earth in the rolling section than in the level section. Q. How many rooms are there in the White House?—M. L. D. A. The White House says there is no official record of the number of rooms in the White House, as it de- pends entirely upon what one would call rooms. Practically all of the bed- rooms have attached to them valet | include the pantries and such a basis there are over 50 rooms in the White House. Q. For whom was Byrd's ship, the Eleanor Bolling, named?—J. S. B. A. The ship Eleanor Bolling |named in honor of Comdr. Byrd's | mother. Tariff Proposals -i)y Hoover— Discussed Along Party Line . Arguments for and against the tariff siggestions of President Hoover are along partisan lines, with a few ex- ceptions. His desire to create a scien- tific basis for rates gains support as a means of divoreing the subject from politics, while opponents maintain that politics will continue to be a factor. More effective use of the flexible tariff plan, with increased importance for the Tariff Board, is similarly productive of | differences of opinion, critics objecting to the executive power involved. “President Hoover favors much more efficiency in the system under which the commission recommends to the President administrative changes in tariff rates, * * * ” says the Columbus Ohio State Journal (Republican). “The flexible tariff idea is all right but it is not good unless it is ably and disinterestedly applied. President Hoover’s recommendations are good. He wants to get everything, even the ‘Tariff Commission, to working in a busi- nesslike way.” The Wheeling Intelli- gencer (Republican), in expressing its approval, holds that “there is marked sentiment for the changing of the tariff basis from the present uncertain method of equalizing foreign production costs with our own to & system whereby wholesale costs. a truer basis of value, would be equalized by import levies.” “The Tariff Commission, he intimates,” as observed by the Chicago Daily News (independent), “ been g timid and too weak. And so it has. He would reorganize it, pay higher salaries to its members, attract men of highest | attainments and vest in them authority to recommend ‘secondary changes’ with out fear or reluctance. Thus he would give to Industry and consumers alike reasonable security for the future. Mr. Hoover’s ideas regarding the principle and method of tariff revision by Con- gress at the present session are sound and progressive. Business sentiment should support them and should urge Congress to heed his advice.” * ok % % “With business and industrial con- ditions generally prosperous, the sound course to pursue, as Mr. Hoover sug- gests, is to look after the sick indus- tries only,” says the Fargo Forum (Re- publican), while the Savannah Morning News (Democratic) contends: “Protec- tion is no longer sectional, and no longer a dividing line between farm and factory. If that is true, and evi- dently it is, just where is the oppo- sition to protection to have a founda- tion in economics? And if it loses its foundation in economics, it is bound to lose it in politics. Which may not be palatable for old-line Democrats, but which is a fact nevertheless.” A different point of view is taken by the Atlanta Journal (Democratic), which argues: “It may be’ said that economists regard agricultural tariffs as ineffectual where a country’s har- vests are in excess of its domestic needs, and where, accordingly, a duty on im- ports can scarcely serve to raise the domestic price. Presumably, then, the President has in mind (as one means ture) commodities P farms to the extent of an exportable surplus and which must meet competi- tion from abroad. ® * * Time and again, American agriculture has looked to Re- publican tariffs for help, but in vain. Once more the farmer is likely to find, if he trusts to that advice, that he leaning on a broken reed. able business instead of for storage is the first and longest step to be gained ' in trafic problems. * kX ok ‘That protective tariffs are detri- ment to the farmer in two ways” is af- i, firmed by the Charlotte News (Demo- cratic)—“first, the tariff al cost of the manufactured products has to byy more than it will increase the price of the things he has to sell; * * * no people producing an excess of farm products can export them unless | the imports coming back are largely | the products of the factory,” A warning from John Barrett, former director of the Pan-American Union, which is quoted by the Baltimore Sun (independent Democratic) is that “un- favorable tariff legislation” might affect favorable prospects to the south and that there are coming from all over Latin America “reports of business un- rest, possible ta reprisals and other | indications of serious economic uncer- tainty about the future of United States Latin America trade relations.” Speaking of Canada, the Detroit News (independent) urges: “If there is to be any discriminatory tariff legisla- tion, then for heaven's sake let it not be at the expense of our best customer and next-door neighbor, but rather against the countries whose lower standards of living constitute at least a rational argument for shutting out their products.” * ok * Support for the President’s flexible tariff ideas comes from the Columbus Evening Dispatch (indepengdent) and Cleveland News (independent Repub- lican), whilé the Springfield (Ill.) State Journal (Republican) comments: “It.is possible President Hoover is overopti- mistic in expecting that higher salaries will bring to the Tariff Board the sort of service he desires. The tariff is still in politics and the machinery for its ad- ministration will not be surrendered by the politiclans. Hope of improvement,” continues that paper, “is in the develop- ment of -a political type unhampered the tradition that it is good politics to sidestep responsibility.” Asserting that “tariff levels are al- ready destructively high,” the Dayton Daily News (independent Democratic) quotes President Hoover's statement that “it is obviously an unwise pro- tection which sacrifices a greater amount of employment in exports to gain a less amount of employment from imports,” and adds, “If only that had been thought of before, there would be no agricultural problem to plague us now.” The New York Evening World (independent) and Davenport Democrat (Democratic) protest against the pres- ent or increased power of the President and Tariff Board, as undemocratic. A view expressed by the Worcester Gazette (Independent) is that it seems unlikely that “this arrangement would make the President a tariff ‘czar'”; that “his function, it would seem, would more nearly resemble the part he played in proclaiming the national origs clause of the immigration act. In other words, he apparently would 30: would h-ly register the wil : ut would merel ) of Congress as formulated by the Tariff Commission.” Mexican Generals Exit. Prom the Fort Wavne News-Sentinel; “Nobody is ind spenscble,” said the Mexican rebels' high command, when arrangements were quickly made to fill Tals umped overthe et Snd Sedo era American soll, % 5