Evening Star Newspaper, May 3, 1929, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY...........May 3, 1020 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor v L i The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: ilth 8t. and Pennsylvania New York Office: 110 East 4 3 Chicago Ofce: Lake Michigan Building. Euronean Ofice, 14 Rerent St.. London. Ave. 2nd St Rate by Carrier Within the City. Tre Evening Star 45¢ per mcnth The Evening and Sunday Star fwhen 4 Sundavs) 80c per month ‘The Evening d Sy when § unday ction made at the en Col {igers may be sent in by mail or telephone Fate by Man—ravlbllil:‘ Advance. Al opir Buiday only ‘Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Preas is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dis- P ted to it or not otherwise cred- ited in this paper and the local news published hersn All rights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. P School Estimates for 1931, The school estimates for the fiscal year 1521, as approved and made pub- lic by the Board of Education, call for an increase of $1725,602 over the ap- propriations made for the fiscal year beginning next July and ask for a total of $13,710,202. These estimates are yet to undergo the trimming and.revision that come with further examination and study by the Commissioners, the Bureau of the Budget and the commit- tees of Congress. But it is interesting bias upon the news so printed, be avoid- ed. Upon the conscientious publishers of the Nation, conducting their prop- erties as public institutions in full ap- preciation of this truth, devolves the obligation of progressively bulwarking that popular confidence to which fair title has today been won. No matter how innocent the connection, financial relationship with any utility or great corporation affected with a public in- terest cannot but inspire cynical doubts as to the editorial integrity of publica- tions so connected. This truth, of course, has no bearing upon outright or part ownership by a newspaper of the mill where its newsprint is pro- duced, provided that mill is unen- cumbered by direct public utility con- nections. Both the newspapers involved and the International Paper & Power Co. suffer more than they could possibly gain through the relationship which has been established between them. They suffer, whether deservedly or not, a diminution of public confidence in the ingenuousness of their respective operations, No economic convenience can adequately compensate such a loss. There is, in view of all developments since the disclosures before the trade commission, every evidence that this fact is fully appreciated by the news- papers of the Nation. e ‘War Debts and British Politics. Our British cousins are deep in the tiroes of their impending parliamen- tary election, which explains the recur- rent recrudescence of John Bull's war debt to Uncle Sam as a public issue over there. Ever since the Labor leader, Philip Snowden, recently espoused something resembling repudiation of that -$5,000,000,000 obligation it has to note some of the increases and the causes that account for them. Proposed increases for officers’ and teacher's salaries, for instance, amount- ing to about half a million dollars, are largely automatic increases brought about by the working of the salary bill and a normal increase in personnel. An increase of approximately five thou- sand dollars for the school attendance Cepartment is necessitated by enforce- ment of the child labor, law. An in- crease of five thousand dollars for transportation of tuberculosis pupils is explained by the growth in the number of such pupils and the fact that inade- quate appropriations in the past have forced many of them to ride to and from school for long distances on street cars, instead of in school busses, as should be the case. Health Department and Fire Department requirements call for an increase of three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, an amount intended to cover the cost of reducing fire hazards and improving sanitation in the school buildings. An item of sixty-two thousand dollars for “the equipment of steges, Central and Dunbar High Schools,” might lead the casual observer to the conclusion that the residents of the District are paying highly for properly training the stu- . dents of these two schools in dramatic art. But it is found that when steel curtains were, upon the insistence of the Fire Department, installed in these two schocls, other stage paraphernalla ‘was rendered relatively useless. The additional item for the stages in these two schools is to cover the cost of ma- terial needed to harmonize the working of other stage equipment with the steel curtains. The board's estimate for new build- ings is $2,565,000, or an increase over the last appropriation of $730,000, but there is a reduction of $80,000 in the estimate for land. The combined esti- mate for land and buildings is a thou- sand dollars above the three million which the board has contended should be appropriated annually for new build- ings and land. One of the interesting comparisons made possible is that which lies between the board's estimates and the estimates made by Auditor Donovan for 1931 in his proposed five-year financial pro- gram. Maj. Donovan, with a budget of $48,552,500 in mind for 1931, would have allowed $12,732,000 for education. This is nearly a million dollars below the board's estimates for the public schools, and the difference becomes even great- er when it is remembered that Maj. Donovan includes the Public Library, with salaries, expenses and expansion, in his estimate, while the board deals merely with the public school system. It is apparent that there still exists s marked difference of opinion between the Franklin School and the District Building on school needs, a difference ©f opinion which, it is to be hoped, will become less through the continued co- operation of these two agencies, both of them working toward the single aim of improving the public school system. —————————— *There is no doubt that Col. Lindbergh knows how to pilot an airplane. This knowledge causes his advice on airports to be valued as the result of experience which may be more significant than technical information derived from researches of realtors. o Newspaper Integrity. The fact that the International Paper & Power Co. has acquired a ponderable nterest in several influen- tial newspapers, disclosed by the Fed- eral Trade Commission in the course of its investigation of the so-called “wpower trust,” cannot but disquiet the ininds of the American public and the American press. The Star is far from seeing eye to eve with those who make the demagogic charge that the facts as disclosed establish a deliberate plot on the part of the International company to pur- chase and poison the news and edi- torial complexions of the press. There is far more of sanity and the probabil- ity of entire truth in the explanation of the facts given by Mr. Graustein to the effect that the newspaper interests of his company were acquired for the sole purpose of guaranteeing a steady market for the nmewsprint produced as one of the two principal functions of the International. But having said this, and having admitted the superficial economic soundness of Mr. Graustein’s plan as set forth, The Star adheres to the belief that there is grave cause for the profound concern that these de- velopments inspire. It is essential to the good name of American journalism that the most re- mote possibility of control of news or editorial columns by any agent except been the subject of animated discussion on and off the hustings. Yesterday, as an obvious move in the campaign game by the Conservatives, Lord Birkenhead secured the approval in the Hopse of Lords of a motion re- affirming the principle of the famous Balfour note. In that note Great Brit- ain proclaimed that she would not de- mand more from her war debtors than would suffice to pay her own debt serv- ice to the United States. In moving adoption of his motion, Lord Birken- head denied that “the American Na- tion” had subjected itself to the slight- est ground for criticism by refusing to identify itself with the Balfour prin- ciple. It was strictly America's busi- ness, Birkenhead explained, to say whether we approved or disapproved of it. Earlier in the week Premier Baldwin, speaking before the British Bankers' Association, made some characteristi- cally sensible remarks about the Ameri- can debt settlement. He defended it as “one of the most important steps” ever taken in behalf of British financial in- tegrity. He sketched in matter-of-fact terms how Britain had “given her bond to America” in the midst of the World War, “I went to America,” Mr. Baldwin continued, “to get the best terms I 'THE EVENING spent a good part of his youth inventing ways to make folks buy newspapers on trains. Suppose some philanthropist had come along about that time, bought & newspaper from the bright train butcher and decided to send the young- ster to college. The philanthropist might have made a highly successful broker out of young Edison, but would the broker have invented the electric light? And is it not just as reasonable to believe that Mr. Edison's protege, after intense training in the art of in- vention, will turn out to be a successful broker? Necessity is not only the mother of invention, but she numbers among her children a good many inventors. While Mr. Edison may give some bright young man a fine college career and develop a capable executive to run the plant at West Orange, fate and the gods of chance are set against the young man from the start if he hopes to become 2 successor to Mr. Edison. Mr. Edison will have no successors. Edisons are born, not made. As for genius, he once said, him, “Genius is two per cent inspira- tion and ninety-eight per cent perspira- tion.” R Sale of Firearms. ‘The Board of Trade's public order committee will work for legislation to curb the menace which lies in the in- discriminate sale of firearms, seeking, first, & law for the registration and ex- amination by the Police Department of all purchasers of firearms, and, sec- ondly, to reach the mail order traffic in firearms by a statute bringing such commerce within the purview and juris- diction of local laws and ordinances relating to sale or carrying of deadly weapons. Without this second law, which Congress would necessarily have to make applicable to the country at large, the first type of legislation would be relatively innocuous. No matter what obstacles are put in the path of would- be purchasers of deadly weapons in the District, they are useless unless like statutes apply elsewhere. When every mail order house advertises and ships pistols on receipt of the price, the pistol becomes one of the most easily obtained commodities in the world. Efforts to end the pistol-buying and pistol-toting menaces usually accom- pany a public flare-up over the com- mission of particularly sensational crimes. Unfortunately, these efforts gradually lose momentum and come to nothing. The problem of ending the danger which lies in the indiscriminate sale and possession of firearms is too big, apparently, for solution at this time. The contention is often heard that an attempted prohibitory statute would work mainly to the advantage of the underworld by depriving law-abid- ing citizens of weapons to be used in their own defense. While pistols and guns are manufac- tured, it is idle to speak of preventing their sale. On the other hand, regis- tration of purchasers by permit and after examination, accompanied by laws such as the Sullivan law in New York, could. We funded the debt. Instead of the contracted $250,000,000 we pay $165,000,000 per annum for ten years, and $190,000,000 after that—and that covers both interest and redemption. ‘The prime minister insisted that, bur- densome as is the obligation still rest- ing upon the backs of British taxpayers, it was well shouldered, “else we should never have made any progress in re- storing the currencies of Europe or re- placing the credit of the city of London on the high level where it stands to- day.” Lord Birkenhead yesterday subtly sug- gested the satisfaction with which Brit- ain would greet all-around cancellation of war debts. “It would suitably con- clude a great and perilous comradeship in arms,” he said, referring to America’s non-cancellationist attitude. But it is amply apparent from Mr. Baldwin's previous remarks that British states- manship, ever jealous of British pres- tige, financial and otherwise, looks upon the American debt settlement as an in- cident not only honorably and fairly closed, but, from the British treasury's standpoint, profitably ended. —————————— Even early Maytime does not prove positively assuring in the search for an inauguration date that will be surely satisfactory. A Successor to Mr. Edison. One envies neither Mr. Edison nor the youthful genius he selects to succeed him as the Wizard of West Orange. As for Mr. Edison’s task, there are about one million boys of fourth-year-high- school age in the United States, and possibly twenty-five per cent of these would fall into the upper stratum, or those endowed with the intelligence and ability to make them eligible for Mr. Edison's selective test. Of these two hundred and fifty thousand youths a small proportion would be classed by psychologists as geniuses. And when the forty-nine geniuses, one selected from each State and the District of Columbia, appear at West Orange and answer the questions put by Mr. Edison, only one of the forty-nine will be chosen to go to college at Mr. Edison’s expense and prepare himself thereafter to fill the shoes of the man who has brought more light into dark places than any human since the world began. But Mr. Edison’s task is relatively simple. Consider the prospect faced by the winning genius. Suppose this young man’s brow fairly bulges with facts relating to parallels and paral- lelograms, perpendiculars and protract- ors, commensurable magnitudes and in- commensurable magnitudes, the doc- trine of the center of oscillation, the theory of torsion, the equilibrium of arches and domes, electrostatics, elec- tro-dynamics and the difference be- tween Scansores or Zygodactyll and Cursores or Struthionidae. What of it? When he has graduated from college and with numerous degrees jangling against his Phi Beta Kappa key goes to work, what will the watching world say? The watching world will say, “Now invent something,” and pity the poor boy who is told to invent some- thing! Suppose he does not. There will be loud laughter heard throughout the world, but it will not come from the solemn-faced young genius who is rack- ing his great brain to do it. Mr. Edison never went to high school or to college, and when he was of an age of the young geniuses now in their which makes the possession of an un- authorized firearm a felony, are rea- sonable steps that should be taken as & matter of course. The Board of Trade's committee will have the senti- ment of the community behind it in its labors. ————— ‘The number of night clubs in New York is placed at an enormous figure. There must be favoritism somewhere. A few of them appear able to monopo- lize the choice police publicity. ————t ‘The Congressional Record, as time advances, undergoes more severe editing. It is traditionally known that orators used to write in the word “applause” to suit themselves. - ‘The presentation of Helen Wills at court would be more interesting if she could persuade all the dignitaries to meet her in turn in action at the tennis court, ———— A smoke device is not likely at any time to be mentioned as a special in- ducement by the alert and enterprising automobile ad writer. ————— Some of the European hotel keepers agree that conferences have brought peace and prosperity so far as they are concerned. —————— J ‘With good luck, President Hoover may be able to offer his visitors fish for breakfast instead of ham and eggs. —_————— No conference is a failure if it leads to another conference with the hope STAR. WASHINGTON, THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. It is amusing how few people arc willing to admit their ignorance of any- thing. One might believe that most of us were under orders to appear wise at all cost so few times do we frankly and freely admit that we do not know. No doubt modern universal education is partly responsible for this attitude. A second cause is the vanity of man- kind and a third is the innate mean- ness of, alas, too many human beings. In Boswell's “Life of Samuel John- son” is to be found the following anec- dote bearing upon this point: “A lady once asked him how he came to define pastern as the knee of a horse. Instead of making an elaborate defense, as she expected, he at once an- swered, ‘Ignorance, madam; pure igno- rance.”” The present writer, in line with the Johnsonian honesty, will admit at once that he hadn't the slightest idea where the horse’s pastern might be until he looked it up in the dictionary. A fine horss was there presented in diagram, with all his salient parts named, with lines running to them. The pastern is | part of the foot, the horse having a rather long foot, or bottom part of his leg, whatever you want to call it. Johnson was a scholar, and didn't know anything more about horses than most “booky” people. But also he didn't pretend to know when he didn't know. He didn’t mind in the least admitting his errors when he made them, and ascribing the right reason for them. He didn’t labor under the foolish present- day impression that every one is sup- posed to know everything, and to by no means admit ignorance of anything. Today you will find few people, for instance, who will not attempt the defi- nition of any word you pop at them, even if they tell themselves that they never even heard the word before. Try this experiment on your friends and acquaintances, and see how few o them will say, “I don't know.” Words are part of every one's schooling; theo- retically, at least, every one who has gone to school ought to know most of them. So when you ask a definition from the average man he will immedi- ately think it incumbent on him to fire back some sort of answer. ‘The honor of universal education depends upon his giving some sort of answer. Then, he is an average man, and such an individual is usually more or less proud of himself. Closely asso- ciated is his knowledge that the ques- tioner is probably only too glad to “catch him up” on something. This is that innate meanness of which we have spoken. A fourth reason which propels most persons into attempting to give some sort of answer, when they don't know, instead of plainly admitting their ig- norance, is the necessity which most moderns seem to feel for putting up a bluff. A good bluff, in the eyes of the world, is almost as good as the real thing; at least it is often as successful. A half-way clever man or woman is usually able to bluff a way through al- most any sort of question to some sort of fourth-rate answer. Mostly he will “get by" and save himself from an out- and-out confession of not knowing. Students in the higher institutions of learning receive excelient training in blufing. Many a man takes geology, for instance, and never opens the book or attends a class, yet manages to pass a good examination. How does he do it? He bluffs. He writes 10 pages on something he knows little about, but if he happens to have that sort of in- structor, he makes a good impression Jjust through clever handling of the ordinary facts which all people learn through living. You say that such a student is a clever writer rather than a geologist? Admittea. And many a man who passes for wise in everyday life is rather a good talker than a wise man. He doesn’t know, but he will never admit it, not even if he knows that you know he doesn’t know. S An amusing experiment is the follow- ing: Ask the first friend you meet if there is one “1” or two of them in the name of the “great French poet Elli- fant.” Now, of course, there is no French poet, great or otherwise, by that name, but the one questioned will be an honest man, indeed, if he doesn't hem and haw around and say, “Let me see, I believe it has a double 1, hasn't it?” Not one person in a hundred will say frankly that he doesn't know, that he never heard of the man, that he is unacquainted with French verse. If he does, you may rest assured that he has got to that satisfactory point in life where one doesn't care much what every Tom, Dick and Harry thinks of him. He is mere intent on knowing what he knows than in trying to im- press others with what he doesn't know. | taf Such men are refreshing to meet, just as old Sam Johnson must have been refreshing to meet. We will never for- $|get the real “kick” we got when one day we asked a learned gentleman of our acquaintance how to spell a certain word. “I don’t know,” and walked on. It takes real courage to do that. It shows, above all, superior knowledge. Only the man who knows mmethinfi can afford to admit that he doesn’t know everything. Knowing has a high place in the human scheme of things, but it should never exact a false knowledge of what one does not know. There should be a general reformation in this respect. More and more men and women should come to admit easily that they do not know. After all, the departments of knowledge are so many and so wide that no one can possibly know more than & small part of them. To be un- willing to admit ignorance is silly. Yet ignorance is a harsh word, one of the most forcible in our language. No one wishes to team up with it, so mostly every one pretends to know everything. 1f the world could get rid of the single word “ignorance” and remove the con- tempt that is a part of it, soon it ‘would be natural and easy for all of us to re- plv. candidly, honestlv and with a smile, “Why, 1 don't kno he smiled, WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE ‘The man who had a lot to do with Herbert Hoover’s start in public life has just arrived in Washington. He is Robert Peet Skinner, now American Minister to Greece and one of the sea- soned veterans of the United States foreign service. When the World War broke out in August, 1914, Skinner was American consul general at London. To his offices in “the city” Yankee tourists streamed in serried und strand- ed ranks. British banks had declared a 10-day moratorium and American let- ters of credit and travelers’ checks were just scraps of paper. The consulate general, of course, couldn’t come to the rescue, and corresponding panic seized the marooned expatriates. One day, in the midst of their lamentations, a young mining engineer named Hoover, who had an office near the consulate general, turned up. He said he'd ob- tained possession of $30,000 or $40,000 of real money and thought the best “war service” he could render at that particular juncture was to help out his impoverished compatriots. Mr. Skinner gave Hoover the back room of the con- sulate for an office, out of which in a day or two grew a typical Hoover or- ganization for the speedy and effective relief of every American in the British Isles who could present a convincing tale of woe, Tk ok ok X Although the only Indians now ex- tant there are a few wooden oldtimers in front of cigar stores, it's to the City of Brotherly Love that President Hoover has gone for the full new high com- mand of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Recent appointment of . Charles J. Rhoads of Philadelphia as Indian com- missioner has now been followed by the naming of a brother Philadelphian, J. Henry Scattergood, as assistant com- missioner. Both Rhoads and Scatter- good are prominent Quakers. Each of them, too, served in the Friends' over- seas relief work after the war and made Hoover's acquaintance in those activities. It is the first time in many years that the Indian Bureau has not been manned by Westerners from reser- vation districts. Rhoads and Scatter- good have long been active in the af- that differences may be adjusted. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Discrimination. ‘We brought the dictionary out ‘To make ourselves a platform. ‘We ranged the sentences about In this form and in that form. Of currency and tariff laws It spoke with deep emotion, And other things that raised applause And protests of devotion. ‘We should think twice before we speak, And after the oration, By further thought we ought to seek ‘To benefit the Nation. The platform is before us set. By studious persevering ‘We learn which parts we must forget And which still claim our cheering. Quick Changes. ‘The month of May brings many a thrill, Contrasting joy and sorrow. Today salutes us with a chill, A sunstroke’s due tomorrow. Suspicion. T shall not say he is a shirk, ‘The man who says he loves to work, Nor tell him with a sneering snub To join the Ananias Club. And yet, when he is singing gay About the worker’s joyous way, And unto toll persuading me, I do suspect his studied glee. He does not seem to do a thing, Except to stand around and sing. I shall not say he is a shirk, Yet sinister impressions lurk, When I am toiling like a Turk And he assumes a soulful smirk, And tells me that de loves to work. ‘The Tactless Ones. They tell you when your woes you nurse, fourth year at high school, he was busy an open ownership dedicated to the ebligation of printing uncolored news trying to invent ways and means to earn a living. Inventions, with him, and sommenting fearlessly .ang without Jjust led from one thing to another. He ’ That your misfortunes might be worse. And think they're due for thanks from you, If mhat they say proves atrictly true, > fairs of the Indian Rights Association. * X K X Fortunate Washingtonians are grate- ful recipients, with the compliments of the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association, of wooden _candlesticks claiming historic origin. When it was decided in 1927 to remodel the White House the association successfully bid on several trusses from the old roof as soon as the timbers from the de- molished structure were put up at auction. Out of the wood candlesticks of artistic design were fashioned and have now been presented to the lumber manufacturers’ friends. A printed legend attached to the base of 'the candlesticks attests that the pine tim- bers from which they were turned sup- rted the roof of the White House or 112 years and that the wood pre- served its soundness throughout that riod. Gavels, also made from White ouse timber, have been sent to several patriotic societies and public organiza- tiors. * ok ok ok In this column attention recently was called to the fact that Herbert Hoover once had his picture taken with the man who is now the Po of As that sensational disclosure failed to agitate the Senator who has appointed himself defender of the American faith against the pretensions of the Vatican, here's another revela- tion that seems worthy of his vigilance. On the famous Rodgers bronze doors, which practically form the main portal of the United States Capitol on the east front, the statue of Pope Alexan- der VI stands out in bold relief. The figure, 18 inches high, is part of an allegorical design depicting the life of Christopher Columbus and is one of a series of statues of sovereigns en- throned when America was discovered. Besides Pope Alexander VI, there are figures representing Ferdinand and Isa- bella, Charles VIII, Henry VII and John II. The Rodgers doors were cast in Munich in 1865 and are some of the finest bronzes of their kind extant. * kK Kk Y Eugene Meyer, who retires as farm loan commissioner after 12 years of continuous Federal service, has long ranked as one of the financial best minds of the Government. Four Pres- dents—Wilson, Harding, Coolidge and Hoover—and four Secretaries of the Treasury—McAdoo, Glass, Houston and Mellon—held him in high esteem. Meyer quit his own lucrative private banking business in 1917 to serve Uncle Sam during the World War, and has been kept in service by. successive ads: ministrations since that time. Prob- ably no financler in the United States has so fine a background of professional training. After student days at the University of California and gradua- tion from Yale in 1895, Meyer spent two years in London, Paris, Berlin and Brussels studying banking and inter- national finance. He is a rich man and is sure to be heard from in big business ere many moons. * K ok K Big oratorical guns. which bark lenl:edly in the law. will hold forth at the seventh annual dinner of the American Law Institute in Washington on May 11. They include Newton D. Baker pof Ohio, former Secretary of War; arned Hand, judge of the United States Circuit Court. second circuit, of New York, and William D. Mitchell, Attorney General of _the United States. The presiding officer at the dinner will be a former United States Attorney General, George W. Wickersham of New York, president of the institute. ks > This is “National Hearing week,” sponsored by the “American Federation of Organizations for the Hard of Hear- ing.” Its headquarters is in Washing- ton, and it has three major aims—re- habilitation of the deafened, conserva- tion of hearing and prevention of deaf- ness. There are said to be about 3,000,- 000 children in the United States with defective hearing, and it is contended that 80 per cent of deafness probably could have been prevented. The founder and honorary president of the federa- tion is Dr. Wendell C. Phillips of New York. =k & Representative Gilbert N. Haugen of Towa, chairman of the House agricul- tural committee and author of the farm bill which recently the lower branch of Congress, is one agricultural leader who doesn't think Wall Street is the source of all evil. He has a son there who is employed in the National City Bank—the country’s biggest—and has a promising career ahead of him. Representative Haugen is proud of the record of the House in enacting farm- relief legislation after barely a week's debate, and by a majority correspond- ing to nearly 11 to 1. Haugen, with 15 continuous terms in Congress and en- tering upon the sixteenth, holds the record. He came to the House in 1899. (Copyright, 1929.) ——e— Writes Alley Slums Mar Beauty of City To the Editor of The Star: Pages of print and illustrations tell us of the magnificent Capital of the future, a Capital worthy of this great Natlon of ours. A forceful and practi- cal President has sponsored his ap- proval of the elaborate plans that ma- tured under his predecessor. There is already practical evidence that the pussyfooting and parsimonial attitude has been abandoned and that some real progress may be expected in the near future. ‘We are told that hundreds of millions are available for the general “face-lift- ing” of the city of Washington, which is to include a series of new buildings, reconstruction and remodeling of old ones and the general beautlification and extension of the park system. Now that we are given assurance that these improvements may be realized, I venture to suggest that another project be included and a few millions diverted to that purpose. Legislation to that effect was enacted several years ago, but for various reasons the plan was never executed. I have in mind the abolition of the alley slums of Washington, for as long as these contaminated hovels remain we cannot comsclentiously point to Washington as a model and beautiful city, regardless of the costly beauty spots elsewhere. Many of those unsightly and un- healthy sections are unfit for human habitation and are a menace to the health and welfare of thousands of ‘Washingtonians, and the younger gen- eration brought up in those environ- ments can have no reason to feel en- thusiastic over the beautiful surround- ’i?:" that are proposed to arise about em. I hope to see the local press devote pages to the exposure of these condi- tions persistently until a demand for their elimination cannot be longer ig- nored and thus make Washington not only a beautiful but a model and healthful city in its entirety.” C. V. BRENT, { D. C, FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1929. East Mall Proposal Examined in Detail To the Editor of The Star: There is much interest evinced in the recent publication of some of the development plans for the District of Columbia and in the radio addresses on this subject. Actual beginning of the great project has occurred and has awakened gen- eral public interest all over the coun- try. It does not seem, however, that as yet the plans are truly worthy of the great possibilities of the situation. In 1922 the undersigned submitted to the commission an original plan which embodied two new features. One of these features has been adopted in part, providing for the boulevarding of street from the Capitol Grounds to the Potomac River. The full plan was to carry this boulevard clear through, via B street northeast to and across the Anacostia River by a bridge or viaduct, | probably also of the memorial type, and | on_to the District boundary. Thus was provided a truly magnifi- cent and adequate approach to the Na- tion’s Capital from the North, as well as an artery for through vehicular traffic from Maryland to Virginia and the South. ‘The second feature, equally impor- tant and comprehensive, provided for what may reasonably be termed the completion of the Mall system. This will, if adopted and consummated, create an “East Mall” to complement the existing “West Mall.” The new Mall should be of the same width as the present one, 1. e., from the new memorial boulevard (B street northeast) to B street southeast. It should be acquired as soon as possible, and when cleared of all_buildings now standing be devoted to the many great buildings, mostly non-governmental, wk::ch the future is certain to necessi- ‘The north half of this entire new Mall would thus accommodate national galleries of art, science, aeronautics, national conservatories of architecture, education, music and opera, etc., also national headquarters of such societies and organizations as might be deemed worthy, as well as special housings for the great collections that will be be- queathed to the Nation when it can adequately care for them. ‘The present East Capitol street should remain as it is, a central drive through the East Mall and connected to the Anacostia park system, possibly re- named Capitol Drive. The proposed remodeling of Lincoln Park into a site for the State build- ings is deemed entirely inadequate. Some of the States would doubtless de- sire to erect buildings monumental in size and varied in scope of usefulness or_purpose. It would also seem unwise to pre- sume on a total of 50 States. Several are now contemplating a subdivision, and even one State with no plat pro- vided for its mational building would present an awkward and embarrassing situation. ‘Therefore, it would appear logical to set apart the whole of the northern half of the East Mall for this purpose, calling it the State Plaza, ibly, and the south half the National Plaza. In passing, it is suggested that the present District Building, much too beautiful to be entirely lost forever, might be removed to a site in the new Mall and used as a hall of statuary, for which, we read, there is even now pressing need. ‘The East Mall is in reality actually started, as it begins, properly speaking, with the area upon which the Con- Library stands. The new home of the Supreme Court will com- plement the Library if the plat of ground is made of the same area. It would be regretted should this building be placed upon the half sized, ill- shaped plot as now contemplated. The present proposed site for the air- gort is across the Potomac, across the usiness part of the city, and far re- moved from the Post Office. A recent continuous flight from England to India proved the necessity of a two-mile run- way. The aircraft of the future may require four og five miles for take-off. How fatal, th would be an airport built only for today! It is more than probable that every llrg:vn of the future will be connected its post office by pneumatic tube. The Potomac and the absence of a straight, direct street would present quite a problem, ‘The logical solution would seem to delay even a little more before Gravelly Point is finally decided upon. Some- where along the Anacostia River, very close, if not contiguous, to the new boulevard and Mall, very likely could be found a site offering all the re- quired advantages and none of the disadvantages of the sites now under consideration. This site would be not much more than two miles from the Post Office, practically nothing by ?rgzd. straight boulevard or pneumatic ube, In the same vicinity should be lo- cated the Stadium, out in the open country, yet within very easy bus and motor distance of the heart of the city. Why should not some future Olympic games come to the Nation’s most beau- tiful city and the world’s most won- derful Capital? Development of this the Nation's greatest opportunity, so well begun in the past and so honestly and con- scientiously brought to the present day, has now surely reached the point where the people ask and expect no further half measures, no more piecemeal plans, but a complete and final working out of the whole problem as a whole. The awakened civic spirit—Washing- tonian, congressional and national—will be satisfied with nothing else for the “Symbol of America.” Let us think and plan from now on. Then, in terms of nothing but ultimate completeness, with only the idea of the absolute utilization of our truly won- derful possibilities. Surely we do not wish future gen- erations to reproach us for lack of courage and foresight, to upbraid us for lost opportunities. C. E. CURRIER. ] Policemen Who Shoot Rum-Runners Defended To the Editor of The Star: It is with interest that I read the criticlsms against the police concerning the law enforcement officers in the city and their efforts to stop rum-running. It seems to me that it is the same old cry that is always raised when a police- man in the line of duty kills a criminal by accident. When policemen use their weapons to stop felons, they are criti- cized, and when they fail to stop crim- inals they are criticized, so what are they to do? As far as criminals are concerned, I would like to ask some of those who criticize the police the most what they would have to say if one of these rum-running cars should strike some one of their family and leave this person lying in the street? Men who equip their cars with dead tags and smoke-scrson atus are potential murderers of nd should be dealt with accordingly. These men, driving through the streets of the Nation's Cap- ftal at 60 and 70 miles an hour, are far more a_menace to innocent people than one policeman who uses his revolver in line of duty. These men are going to speed regardless of consequences and will speed whether they are being pur- sued or not. One liquor-laden auto- moblle careening through the streets at 60 miles per hour can strike another automobile and kill more people than stray policemen’s bullets would kill in ars. yel would like to see some of the worst critics of the Police Department mount- ed on motor cycles and ride through the streets at 60 or 70 miles an hour in pur- sult of some of these criminals, and after some bootlegger had tried to crowd them to the curb and shot at t | lawed among the civilized nations. them several times, I think lh;};n:'ould ee with me ti this spee car :ernut should be -bonah«f’ W. HUFF, _ ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERI ‘There is no other agency in the world that can answer as many legitimate questions as our free information bu- reau in Washington, D. C. This highly organized institution has been built up and is under the personal direction of Frederic J. Haskin. By keeping in con- stant touch with Federal bureaus and other educational enterprises it is in a position to pass on to you authoritative information of the highest order. Sub- mit your queries to the staff of experts whose services are put at your free dis- posal. There is no charge except 2 cents in coin or stamps for return post- age. Address The Evening Star Infor- mation Bureau, Prederic J. Haskin, di- B | rector, Washington, D. C. Q. Who filled Representative Mad- den’s seat in Congress until Oscar De Priest was elected?—M. C. A. The seat remained vacant. nors usually fill the vacancies in the Senate by appointment, but vacancies | in the House are not filled until an elec- tion takes place. Q. What per cent of America’s invest- ment abroad is invested in Canada?— P, . 8. A. Canada has over 27 per cent of all United States investments abroad. 1928 this amounted to $4,120,000,000. Q. Please explain the capture of some icebound Dutch ships by French cavalry.—N. L. A. During the Reign of Terror, the French armies were sent to protect the threatened frontlers of the country. Gen. Pichegru led an army into Amster- dam in 1794. At that time the Dutch fleet was icebound in the Zuider Zee near the harbor of Amsterdam. Piche- gru surrounded the fleet with his cav- alry and compelled it to surrender. The result was that the government of the country collapsed and Holland was forcibly allied to France in 1795. Q. When was iron discovered?—A. Y. A. Specimens of iron have been found in Assyrian and Egyptian ruins. In the British Museum there is a piece of iron believed to date from about 4000 B. C. In the Black Pyramid of Abusir, at least 3000 B. C., Gaston Maspero found some pleces of from, and in the funeral text of Tepi I (about 3400 B. C.) the metal was mentioned. The knowledge of iron spread from the south to the north of Europe, and one theory is that iron first came into use from Africa. Q. What countries belong to the Pan- American Union?—L. C. A. The countries in the Pan-Ameri- can Union are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Do- minican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Salvador, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela. Q. Were many people killed as witches in Europe?—W. R. P. A. From one end of Europe to the other during the period of the Reforma- tion, executions of witches were of daily occurrence and it is estimated that from |- 1484 until 1782 300,000 women and chil- dren perished on this iImaginary chargs. Q. When is a flag flown from a build- ing under construction?—H. T. S. A. There has never been an official | ruling about the raismng of a flag on & newly constructed building, but it is customary to raise the flag when the peak of the building has been reached. Q. How was the Unknown Soldier of France selected?—J. J. A. The French embassy says that “seven unidentified bodies were re- moved from as many sectors of the war front and placed in new caskets similar in every respect. Those seven similar caskets were brought to the cellars in Cerdum’s Citadel. There, a French war- blind soldier was directed to choose one of the exposed caskets. The six remain- ing bodies were subsequently inhumed without marks.” Q. What does the name “Iowa” | mean?—E. J. A. It is derived from the Indian tribe Ioways or Aiaouez, a branch of the Sioux. The word means “sleepy ones.” Q. How far is it from Newfoundland to the Azores?—C. L. N. A. It is 1264 miles. A fine stecl Gover- | C J. HASK. piano wire has been run between the two to determine the distance in con- | nection with the laying of a cable. | i Q. Does the wind in a cyclone blow as hard as a tornado?—A. P. | A. The Weather Bureau says that | eyclones are storms that cover extensive areas with winds of varying degrees of intensity, but usually not of the force experienced in tornadoes or hurricanes. The term “tornado” is applied to a vio- lent rotating wind which usually cov- ers a narrow area and a comparatively short path. A tornado is distinguished by its funnel-shaped cloud. Q. Could Hawail becomé one of the United States?>—G. S. A. There is no_constitutional law | which would prohibit the Island of Hawaii being given the status of a State. It is already annexed and is a Territory of the United States, having the usual territorial degree of self-government, with representation by a delegate in the United States Congress. Q. When did our income tax go into effect and what were the exemptions al- lowed for married and single persons?— ll'LF ok A. The first income tax law under the constitutional amendment went into ef~ fect March 1, 1913. The exemption then allowed for married persons was $4,000 and for single persons $3,000. Q. What arrangements were made for cooking on the early sailing vessels?— ¥ C A. Hutchinson's Treatise, published in 1791, tells of the cooking arrange- ments on the vessels at that time. It seems that a slab of metal was placed on the deck and a cauldron of water suspended by a tripod placed over it. A fire was made, either of coal or wood, depending upon the availability of either, and the ‘salt pork was boiled al- most_constantly, insuring hot food for the sailors at practically any hour. Hutchinson also speaks of taking the drinking water, adding a few tea leaves, and placing this in a bottle which he corked tightly and allowed to boil within the cauldron, so that he could have a hot cup of tea which is more refreshing than plain water, thus con- serving his water supply, quenching his thirst, adding food value that allayed his hunger for the salt pork, and thus saving himself the fearful disease of scurvy. Q. Who originated the vaccine?— D. G, A. There are authentic records to show that the Hindoos steeped a thread in the pustule of a cow and preserved it until smallpox appeared in the com- munity; then a needle was threaded | with this same thread and passed under | the skin of the upper portion of the arm. Q. Are donkeys ever brought up from the coal mines?—D. G. A. It is the exceptional case when donkeys are left in mines overnight. Q. What ‘percentage of the Indians | ad_ gatned citizenship before 1024>— A. The Bureau of Indian Affairs states that two-thirds of the Indians of the United States had acquired citizen- ship in one way or another prior to the year 1924. That year Congress passed a law which gave citizenship to all native-born Indians. Q. How old is George Bernard Shaw?—M. D. A. He is 72. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, July 26, 1856. Q. When will the next World's Fair open in Chicago?—W. R. T. A. The second World’s Fair will be | held in Chicago in 1933. At the pres- | ent time the date has been set as June | 1, but this is subject to change. Q. Are Sicilians of Italian origin?— M. R. R. A. Sicilians are a mixture of many na- tionalities, as in early days Siclly was the battleground of all countries. Peo- ple came from all the Northern African and Eastern Mediterranean as well as all those of Europe to twl:'t‘ Frankness in Arms Effort Held Favorable to Results Statements made by Hugh S. Gibson, chairman of the American delegation to the preparatory disarmament commis- sion at Geneva, proposing reduction of naval strength by the nations, are hail- ed by the people of the United States generally as notable for their frankness, friendliness and courageous spirit. The proposal tor make total tonnage the basis of agreement is accepted as offer- ing hope of results. Removal of inter- national suspicion is predicted as a re- sult of the policies set forth. “Hope that the general ratification of the Kellogg peace pacts will be followed in reasonable time by another and more promising naval disarmament confer- ence is now kindled throughout the world,” in the opinion of the Syracuse Herald, while the St. Louis Globe-Dem- ocrat, calling the effect upon the gov- ernments and public opinion of Europe “electrical,” adds that “there is confi- dent hope where despair had prevailed.” The Savannah Press believes that ghe program “broadens the expectations ef a new peace.” “There was an assurance, a_direct- ness, a freshness about Mr. Gibson's presentation of a much-handied topic,” according to the New York Sun, “that makes for the belief that this proposal will receive from the governments of other countries consideration to warrant the cordial phrases with which their representatives received the speech.” The Sun points out that “no other ne- gotiations have begun with a great naval power taking quite so clear and promising a stand for concession and compromise.” * ok ok X “With the spirit prevailing,” says the Columbus (Ohio) Evening Dispatch, “it is an undue pessimism which would take it for granted that nothing of real value can come out of the Geneva dis- cussions.” The Kalamazoo Gazette re- marks that “the candid, fact-finding spirit of the Gibson message ought to | have its effect on the disarmament | cause. It seems to be having that ef- fect already.” The South Bend Trib- une emphasizes the point that “evidence of American sincerity is found in the fact that our Government is willing to forego insistence that its own limitation program be given first consideration.” “The American delegates made it plain,” declares the Nashville Banner, “that the United States is ready to blaze the way along the paths of peace and to lead the civilized world, if pos- sible, to consummation of that long- dreamed day which should see war uu; Ob- stacles, some of them grave, must yef be encountered. Racial animosities national rivalries cannot be dismissed in a moment, but it is entirely probable that Ambassador Gibson, under com- mission from the American Govern- ment, vrote history at Geneva.” “The Hoover-Gibson program is bold almost beyond belief,” asserts the Har- risburg Telegraph. “Perhaps that qual- ity will do more for its success than any other. Certainly it puts Great Britain and other nations with big- navy ambitions squarely before the bar of public judgment. In the meantime it will be hoped that the plan will suc- ceed to the point, at least, where the world will cease to gour untold billions into ships built as the result of mutual fear and distrust.” The Houston Chronicle suggests that “the greatest lack heretofore seems to have been a real desire for accomplish- ment”; that ‘“‘possibly that is provided now. ‘The Birmingham News lauds the favorable attitude of Mr. Gibson, and Sir Esme Howard exclaims: “More strength to both these men and to the yet and | high that nerves the country of each of them!” The Roanoke ‘World-News praises the “candor and good sense displayed,” and adds its ex- planation that “the nation that desires many small cruisers to protect its trade routes and the nation that desires only large cruisers of battle strength can meet on the common ground of total tonnage rather than of the number of separate ships.” v Recognizing & new “approach to the question,” the Santa Barbara Daily News, nevertheless, advises that “the American people will take kindly to no arrangement which in the slightest de- gree withdraws from thé position that this country must have sea power at least equal with that of any other na- tion.” The Kansas City Journal-Post sees the possibility that “if the League of Nations could use the United States, it would gladly accede to any agree- ment as to the size of the Navy.” Viewing both sides of the question, the Madison Wisconsin State Journal states: “Our governmental responsi- bilities are geographically so far flung that defense without a navy able to cope with one that might be sent against us would prove im ble. While not all Americans will be in full accord with the attitude of the Hoover administration as disclosed in this con- ference, all lovers of peace are bound to agree that it is far better than any forecast would have led one to believe. As long as we are ready to make ‘maximum concessions’ in one of the two major branches of warfare, we are moving in the right direction.” *x ®E “It is rather significant,” remarks the Oakland Tribune, “that those who have been provoked because England would not agree to American proposals are provoked again because England is taking kindly to this one. Before the plan is detailed, and before i€ere is any discussion of the categories, we hear assertions from the tight little group of irreconcilables that because Britain has responded favorably to this suggestion, it must be an evil one.” The Jersey City Journal looks forward to an agreement under which “the knots may be untied and the suspicions that broke the tri-partite session set at rest.” “A formula for real progress,” is seen by the Buffalo Evening News, while the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette feels that “the field this time would appear to be fair- ly well prepared for action.,” and the | Asheville Times says that “the moral effect, if this provisional understanding can be translated into actuality, will | be_tremendous.” “We will not have real naval dis~ armament,” in the judgment of the Wheeling Intelligencer, “until this ‘par- ity’ nonsense is abandoned. Fighting sea power can be based reasonably only on the legitimate needs of national pro- tection.” The Philadelphia Public Ledger welcomes curtailment of the in- fluence of the “navalists” and points out that “the United States is asking the other naval powers to allow their statesmen to assume control of the question.” The Cleveland Plain Dealer assumes that “it become:- political rather than technical,” and the Haver- hill Gazette states that “if this spirit prevails over narrow nationalism” hope for definite accomplishment exists. The | Bangor Commercial views the Gibson . speech as having “‘gone far to eliminate suspicton and selfishness.” ‘The Youngstown Vindicator com- ) ments: “It is a simpls ides, but s | practical that one wonders why noboc.s 2 ever tho of it before.”