Evening Star Newspaper, December 23, 1929, Page 8

3 THE EVENING STAR With Sundsy Morning Edition. WASEINGTON, D. C. MONDAY.....December 23, 1920 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star N per Company 111 and Pennsylvania Ave ST, by Carrier Within the City. R ..45¢ Ler month a7 ginia. &R 1 me: e .00: 1 mo.. 4Cc All Other States and Canada. %fil‘fimnfi 17¥r.812.00: 1 mo. RE RS Member of the Assoclated Press. en credited Reciy S Diblianed berorn:” Special “duspatenss .he local news ts of publication of are also reservea. A Zoning Review Needed. In its annual report the National Capital Park and Planning Commission suggests that as roning in Washington s almost ten years old, this would be an appropriate time “to analyze the experience gained, to discover weak- nesses that need reinforcement and to take advantage of new methods or ex- periences of other cities.” ‘That is & good suggestion and the Zoning Commission would do well to sccept it. Zoning has “sold itself” as a principle not only to Washington, but to'practically every city of the country. But it remains a relatively new experi- ment. It has been practiced in Wash- ington long enough now to pause and look back for the handicaps that have been discovered and to look ahead in anticipation of the problems that are offered in the city's growth and in the unique econditions presented by the Federal Government's extensive build- ing plans. Some such studies are now ‘being made. They should be broadened and intensified. One of the complications that has arisen under experience in administer- ing the soning law is the inflexibllity of | the zoning code itself and the lack of ability on the part of the Zoning Com- mission, as at present constituted, to do anything about it. In s report sub- mitted some time ago by S. G. Lind- holm, the commission’s engineer, it was pointed out that “meritorious cases to which the radical measure of rezoning cannot be applied have been left with- out relief.” Citizens who have common sense requests to make of the Zoning Commission, snd to whom the changes are of great importance, have in the lurch and without hope because the zoning code does changes they ask when reason under the sun could not be made. Advisory Committee, com- of representatives of the local bullding and trade bodles, architects and realtors have asked for the institu- tion here of a board of zoning appeals, which would take appeals from the decisions of the Zoning Commission and make -readjustments under the code When circumstances warrant. But the inherent in a board of zoning appeals are recognized, despite the suc- eess of such boards in other cities. The alternative proposal has been to reor- ganize the Zoning Commission by the sddition of expert subordinate personnel and the creation of & special committee ‘under the commission that could sit on petitions for change, investigate the merits thereof and report, with recom- mendations, to the Zoning Commission. ‘This arrangement would allow the Zon- ing Commission to retain its control the soning of the city as a whole would provide the machinery for Telief in specific instances with- involving the whole commission’s or working radical changes in the From the viewpoint of the city plan- hers, one of Washington'’s most im- t soning problems lies in restric- of bullding height. Under the en- act itself it is possible to build the north side of Pennsylvania ivenue east of 15th street to a height 160 feet. But under the zoning Tegulations, the maximum height so far allowed has been 110 feet, with 20- foot setbacks. The maximum height allowance has been increasing, how- ever. The city planners point out that where height is concerned, the Zoning Commission’s policy has been one of ‘constant liberalization. In view of the Federal Government's Self-imposed limitation of 97.5 feet for i ] E 1 g i It its new bulldings, the Zoning Commis- sion should makes 110 feet its absolute maximum. Even with setbacks, that too high. But buildings should higher, and those in areas op- jolning the relatively low t structures should conform. Zoning Commission now exer- & powerful and direct influpnce on commercial value of property. It effect this value by any regulstion. now s direct relationship be- 20ning and assessments for tax- 16th street being the best ex- ‘The importance of the Zoning Commission should be recognized in in- creased appropriations and larger per- sonnel. The commission is too vital as # governmental sgency to be consti- tuted, as it is, on a “part-time” basis. ———————— During next day or 30 no ene in g%ii ] gy to plsy Santa Claus. Any direction now means hard ———— Peacs on Asian Earth. It would be difficult to imagine a inore sessonable compliment which China and Russia could present to the world than their ending, on the eve of Christmas holidays, of the dispute which has hung fire between them for months. There is to be , on the Asian earth. genizations in Manchuria (which the ©Chinese summarily closed up last Sum- mer) and re-establishes similar Chinese As an even more practical assurance of peace, both Chinese and Russisn troops are to be withdrawn from the frontiers, and all persons arrested in connection with the railway controversy will be liberated. In all directions war- like trappings and maneuvers are to be discarded in favor of the ways of amity. At a Russo-Chinese conference to be held in Moscow on January 25, full diplomatic relations will be restored and “all outstanding questions settled.” Thus ends—or is about to end—the most serious threat to which world peace has been subjected in a decade. War in Asia could no more have been localized than war between Austria- Hungary and Serbia was localized in 1914, War between Russia and China would indubitably have drawn other powers into it, and once this or that one was in, others could hardly have kept out. Another World War was in the in- cubator as long as Russia and China stood at daggers drawn on the Man- churian-Siberian frontier. ‘That is why under American leader- ship the powers intervened in July to thwart any warlike purposes on the part of Moscow and Nanking. That is why the United States within the past month ventured again to remind the Russian and Chinese governments of their sol- emn obligations to observe the restric- tions of the Kellogg-Briand pact. M. Litvinoff seized the occasion to return a truckling reply to Secretary Stimsan, but the gleaming and gratifying fact, Russian bluster to the contrary notwith- standing, is that the action America urged has now been taken. There is peace, not war, on earth this Christmastide. Railroad Consolidations. ‘The Interstate Commerce Commis- sion has, in accordance with the trans- portation act of 1920, submitted a plan for proposed railroad consolidations. ‘The details of the commission's plan ‘were no sooner made public than a pro- test was raised in the Senate Chamber by Senator Wheeler of Montana and Sen- | ator Pittman of Nevada becaute the | proposal is made that the Great North- ern and the Northern Pacific be merged. The Montana Senator insisted that such & merger would do away with com- petition, and so would work to the dis- interest of the people of the Northwest. One of the arguments advanced for the consolidation of the rallroads has been that it would eliminate ruinous com- petition and permit the rallroads to give better service at a lower cost, as other public services have been able to do, following eonsolidations. The outburst in the Senate, however, is only & forerunner in all probability of other attacks upon the plan which has been advanced now by the Inter- state Commerce Commission. No one believes that all the raliroads them- selves are going to be satisfied. In- deed, there are signs already that some of the important lines will not agree. But at least the commission has pre- sented the country with a compre- hensive plan. A beginning has been ‘made. As desirable as railroad consolidation admittedly hes become, the proposal which was seriously advanced years ago, and in & measure provided for in legislation now almost a decade old, has been delayed awaiting a report from the commission. It appeared that nohing could or would be done until that report was made. Now that the commission has done its part in this matter, it is to be hoped that any sup- plementary legislation needed will be put through Congress without great de- lay, and that the railroads themselves will use their best efforts to aid in bring- ing about a realization of the merger plan. Mere criticism without construc- tive advice is likely to be of no avail, whether it comes from legislators or from the railroads themselves. ‘There is & general agreement among members of the interstate commerce committee of the Senate that further legislation is required to give full au- thority to bring about the consolida- tions now advanced. Senator Fess of ©Ohio, who has a bill awaiting action by that committee, and Senator Watson of Indians, Republican leader, are eon- vinced that such is the case. ‘The plan now advanced by the In- both by the rallroads and by Congress. It may require revision. It may prove to be only & beginning of a final plan. But at least it gives to the roads and to the Congress an indication of what the commission itself would approve in the way of consolidations and the de- velopment of & comparatively few great railway systems for the country. There must be consideration given to the “short lines” and to the weaker lines in working out the entire plan. Un- less such consideration is given, sections of the country requiring railroad de- velopment may suffer badly. It is ob- vious that stronger and more prosper- ous lines may object to being weighted down with properties that are not pro- ductive. But public service demands that these weaker lines be cared for. —————————— In the frequent and inevitable dis-| cussion of sugar production, that states- man may be deemed fortunate who can content himself with the luxury of plain Vermont maple sirup. — —— Germany’s Good Faith. German good faith in internstional obligations survived a notable test yes- terday. By an impressive minurity those of the Reich's electorate who went to the polls falled miserably to register the requisite referendum vote to defeat the Young reparations plan. Of 41,250,000 qualified voters, only some 6,231,000 took the trouble to cast their baliots, and of these but 5,782,000 favored rejection of the reparations agreement. Twenty-one million votes were required to carry the Nationalists' destruction program, but it did not ob- tain much more than a mere cre- fourth of that number. The reaction- ary scheme to ditch the Young plan is now “spurlos versenkt.” More than German loyalty to an in- ternational pact was at stake. Ger- man common sense and enlightensd self-interest were no less involved in the decision which Nationslist in-| transigence forced the people to make. The junker-militarist die-hards, now proved to be a powerless clique, termed the reparations pact, in the making of which the lamented Strese- mann was 30 potent a factor, “the en- THE EVENING answer. The German people are mot only on record in favor of keeping their government’s plighted word, but have shown the world that they are fully aware of the side on which their bread is buttered. No other way was open than the path of straight and sagacious dealing which the Reich now purposes taking. It leads directly to the fortheoming meeting at which all the reparation powers, debtor and creditor, will for- mally exchange ratifications of the Young plan. When it becomes the new economic law of Europe, the Old World can settle down to a definite period of jreconstructive activity, impossible while Germany chafed under the exactions of the Dawes plan. The Reich has a long and arduous pull ahead of it, to meet the heavy burdens of the revised reparations sys- tem. But the events of yesterday as- sure the world that the German people are determined to buckle to the task manfully. They would be less than human if they do &0 always uncom- plainingly, but they have now assured themselves of that international good will 30 necessary to any country em- barked upon the uphill journey on which Germany set out ten years ago, and in which she is making such satis- factory and creditable progress. R Pay for the Seals! ‘The Tuberculosis Association is still several thousand dollars short of the campaign goal of $40,000 to carry on its important work during the next year, and part of the shortage is due to the fallure of persons who received seals by mail on approval to make the proper refund. The neat little “Health Greeting, 1929,” will still be good in 1930, In fact, thousands of people throughout the land use them on envelopes for many months, and each one as brightly presents its message of hygiene and good cheer. Although labeled with their year, the Christmas seals are in fact timeless, as the work which they help to do is price- less. A children's clinic and health camp are run with the proceeds of the sale, and in addition free lunches are provided for fresh-air classes, and im- portant free health literature and ad- vice is given to parents and children. Amid the bustle of Christmas it is a very easy thing for any one to forget to pay for the packet of seals which he received, but each packet is impor- tant to the work, and those who have received them should either return them or pay for them. ———— e Mexican statesmanship often learns to look upon the discovery of a more or less dangerous plot only as a part of the day’s work. ———————— The fact that the faithful letter car- rier cannot reach the Antarctic regions has left Comdr. Byrd's party dependent on radio for holiday cheer. The radio has served its purpose well for the reminder of human fellowship, and sen- timent is after all the chief requisite for the true Christmas spirit.. —_——— Arrangements are being made for the regulation of steam rallroads. The prophets are often wrong. They an- nounced years ago that the term “steam raflroad” would become obsolete long before this time. All railroads were to be electrified. ————— Authorities announce that pains will be taken to reduce old John Barleycorn to his proper status as & myth during the Christmas season. —— e Tt is too much to hope that solutions of all the homicide mysteries will be forthcoming as Christmas gifts. ——— Discussion of the World Court by the United States Benate will not be called for immediately. In the meantime there will be a large number of other things to talk about. — e SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Guardianship. The small boy is & friend so true; ‘The small girl is an ally, too. They bravely bring their forces out, Detying every gloomy doubt. They call from yonder dusty shelves Who gather round, once more, in glee, As guardians of the Christmas tree. The boy and girl now bid us look Once more upon the story book, And hail the forces as they come With music set to horn and drum, ‘While we obey—and are content— A leadership so confident, And earestly rejoice to see These guardians of the Christmas tree. Defending Tradition. “You think we have too much legis- lation?” “Well,” answered Senator Sorghum, “we’ll have to draw the line somewhere. I simply can't carry out the wishes of everybody. I am now receiving letters from persons who desire me to intro- duce & bill to make it llegal to teach children that there isn't any Santa Claus.” Later Advice. “Shop early!” echoes from the past. ‘The present slogan is “Work Fast!” Jud Tunkins says it's & mistake to make the greeting “Merry Christmas” the foundation for a headache next morning. Romping Initials. The printer sald, “I'll have to go And study up my radio. As letters strangely strike my eye ‘They look to me like so much ‘pi'” Exchange. “Have you decided on your Christ- answered Mr. Meekton. ‘“‘Hen- rietta and I will exchange neckwear. I will receive a beautiful silk tie, and she will receive a pearl necklace.” “A light heart,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “is something well worth possessing and should not be confused with a light mind.” The Willing Work:r., ‘With Santa Claus again we plan, And know he will not shirk— The letter carrier is the man slavement of the German people.” The Nationalist croakers in October drum- med up enough popular support of that theory to necessitate yesterdey's ref- erendum. Now they have had their ‘Who does the real work. “I knows & man,” said Uncle Eben, “who played cards so much dat he had to give up tr7in’ to play Santa Claus.” > STAR, WASHIN ONDAY, DECEMBER 2 THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Now stir the fire and close the shutters ast, Let mdl the curtains, wheel the sofa round, And while the bubbling and loud-hiss- ing urn Throws up & steady column, and the cups, mnh!et but not inebriate, wait on each, So let us welcome peaceful evening in. ‘This is the season of the year, above all others, when the world loves to welcome peaceful evenings in the quiet of the home circle. Even those who “rear to go"—to the movies—are willing this week to keep company with the Christmas tree, the gifts, the candy, the turkey and the fruit cake. 1t is & pleasant picture the elder poet brings up, and one which is duplicated more times than is realized by those Who have held their ear too close to the ground of current life, g0 that pocket flasks seem to obliterate the tea cup and “wild parties” totally eclipse normal lving. Yes, it is a picture of & decent home which Cowper gives us in a few verses, A home where the graclous way of living held high place. It was in the days when every house had its shutters and its heavy curtains to draw over the windows. Weather stripping had not been in- vented. Nor had central heating. Rooms with fireplaces were called “fire rooms,” to distinguish them from the bed rooms, which mostly were without heat. Frost collected on those Cows. ‘The sofa, bably a chort affalr, more resembling a Virginia love seat than a dnvezmon‘ was wheeled around in_front of the hearth. In all likelihood the tea kettls was hung out over the blazing logs, where it sent uj steady column of hissing steam. listening china and the white napkins had an indubitable ap- peal. then as now. e cups “that cheer but not inebri- ate” were poured, and sugar and cream assed round. So they welcomed peace- ] evening in. R ‘The modern living room is just as well adapted to eating as the drawing rooms or music rooms of the Victorian age, Buch eating, of course, implies a &mhefl appetite. !'t ti; neither cuu; ary mnor expedient serve roas beet with bread and butter and ice cream in rooms ordina- rily devoted to other purposes. Yet the family which has missed the pleasure of eating in the living room has missed a treat, indeed. We do not mean a formal tea to which friends are invited, but the simple family affair. ‘The advent of the dining alcove in many apartments, and even in some houses, has helped the use of the more formal quarters for the pleasant pur- poses of food consumption. A d“nhfifn"w"' 1t must be confessed, | bool J is somet of a snare and delusion. It there are children, they drop crumbs on the floor, which are difficult to !ee. and then they slide out beneath the table, to the utter confusion of guests. Often, t0o, the members of a family Tight 'satins has Bean helped By 2o e] y universal feminine desire to “reduce.” ‘The 1 result has been a larger and larger use of “living” quarters, no m&r whnt.n:.hey are uuedfinwhether g room, sitting room, room, Doves. of 'eating bresk d"‘{,‘“';‘"’n"“" poses of e ast, luncheon, tea or dinner. EREE R Such eating must be no bull-in-a- china shop matter, If & cup of coffee or tea is spilled on the new Oriental rug some one is | f going to pay for it, so the only thing to do is not to spill it. Living room eating must be, in es- sence, dainty eating, of the sort which distinguishes gentlemen and gentle- women. While all eating is essentially feed- ing, mankind has managed to obscure the fact by refinements of service and food, so that the civilized world no longer looks upon & Ehu as & trough. Lest any one k that these re- finements have been such for untold generations, let us remind him that even at the time Columbus discovered America it was customary for residents in the beautiful palaces of Ihli to use the first three fingers of the right hand as a fork. Forks were permitted only to women, and to them only for certain dishes. Both men and women used the knife in the left hand. If the reader will bend the thumb of the right hand over the little finger, and crook the other fingers, he will see that they make an excellent natural fork. Try this on the family tonight. Bold- Bl dip up some mashed potatoes with e aforementioned fingers, and if the gcod housewife makes any remarks, as surely she will, reply, still boldly: ul;:gy, Lorenzo the Magnificent ate Then present her with a prize, if she refrains from making the obvious come. back, “But you are not Lorenzo the M;(Hntflcen’tnl‘;h vacy e essence B iy of living room How people can sit in such C with all the curtains up is Bomem'.;lne: hard to understand, but, then, no one knows why people stand in line in the cold to see a movie when the one on the next corner is just as good. Cowper's people not only closed the shutters, but let fall the curtains, too, and the probability is that the house itself was set back from the highway a good half mile, and the entire grounds surrounded by a wall 2 feet thick and 6 feet high. How much more essential is it, then, that the blinds be pulled down fin & modern home in the evening. Forego the pleasure of dazzling the neighbors with the sight of the new bridge lamp. Other people have bridgs lamps, and no doubt they cost just as much, if not more, Hang up thick velvet eurtains on rods and draw these across the windows on Winter evenings. The art of using hangings of all sorts is not known to the extent it deserves in America. Rich draperies, wall hangings, soft Tugs, these match each other, and do more than any other factor to make a unnnfl,l cozy, as if real human beings live Have you not entered rooms which, although furnished according to the dic- tates of interlor decorators, gave the impression of being show rooms? Surely real people do not live in them, for, look as one will, he finds nothing there for kr:sl peoplomto ao‘.,m'rbm are no , N0 sewing cabinets, no pipes lying idly around. - ve Enter ahother room and, although you see at once that no particular wealth is here, the place has a well kept, cheerful look, which invites to reading, rest and repose. A careful analysis of such a room will show, in most cases, that the effect is secured, first of all, by the use of articles of everyday usage, and, secondly, by the careful handlin; of rugs, curtains, draperies and wall hangin, gs. . If one llddl g‘? “l;:,eh & room the \uman, pleasant fa of eating and drinking, he gives it A'touch of :lwre brought in from the great outdoors, where tea leaves grow and sun shines, and birds sing merry in the boughs of trees across far-flung seas. Let us recall WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Congress goes into the holiday hud- dle with a record of three weeks' ac- complishment, which goes far to upset the theory that the American snail's habitat is Capitol Hill. Both houses functioned with neatness, dispatch and a minimum of hot air. To have speed- ed tax reduction to enactment, pro- longed the life of the Federal Radio Commission, ratified the French debt settlement and cleared the decks for eventual passage of the tariff bill—all this since the regular session began on December 2 is a schedule of which leaders and members alike can be proud. And they are. There was marked restraint in partisanship. There were relatively few “political” speeches or maneuvers in either branch. There was an unwonted ess of pro- cedure. Even Senator “Jim” Watson had filfl;fll! little truualemln lflMn'g n agree a sena':a“ program devised for strictly The gnomes, the fairies and the elves, |- ‘With the holiday truce over, the Democrats will roll up their sleeves and get ready for the 1930 congressional campaign with a vengeance. No mat- ter whether President Hoover signs or vetoes the Hawley-Smoot tariff bill, the opposition is preparéd to assail the Republicans for their attempt to fasten ah he; cost of IlVlnlaan the All;!rrfli&ln e by passing a skyscraper c- m law. It would have been better gunning for the Democrats if they could have shot at such a law actually on the statute books. As it is, they ex- pect to be able to show the country that it was the Democratic-led Senate coali- tion which alone thw: the G. O. P. tariff rald. Grundy and Bingham will be slogans which the Democrats will carry into the 1930 campaign in sten- torian tones. Shattuck will be another. To just what extent the 1929 stock nic can be exploited Democratic leaders have not yet figured out. If the ‘Hoover prosperity program misses fire, and the Spring, Summer or Autumn is marked by a recrudescence of depres- sion, all hands Agm that it would be a miracle if Republican control of Con- gress is not lost at the November elec- tions. * ok ok X It has been decided to house the American delegation at the London Naval Conference in the swagger Ritz Hotel. 1t is just around the corner in Plecadilly from St. James' Palace, where the sessions of the conference will be held. The delegation’s rather elaborate secretarial and clerical staff will have its headquarters in the Hotel Mayfair, on Berkeley street, just off Piccadilly and within a stone’s throw of the some- what ritzier Ritz. The Japanese have leased capacious accommodations in the Grosvenor House Hotel, across from Hyde Park and not far from where Sec- retary Stimson and his colleagues will be quartered. * ok ok K Mr. Yung Kwal, counselor of the Chinese legation in Washington, is the senfor diplomat now on duty in the United States. He has been in the Chi- nese service at Washington, with only lette, who lifes in New York, has just published her sec~ad book, “Art America.” Some ago her. maiden ' effort appeared, “Concerning ‘Women.” Miss La Follette was tht up in Washington, while her late fa- ther, Willlam L. La Follette, was a member of the House of Representatives from a Washington State district. He was a first cousin of the late Senator “Fighting Bob” La Follette. M:as La Follette is an alumna of Trinity collere. She was formerly on the edi- torial staff of the Nation. “Art m ing, sculpture and music, but with architecture and other specimens of the beautiful in.the United States, * ok X Somebody who 15 aware of the com- radeship which unites Representative Ruth Hanna McCormick and Alice Roosevelt Longworth remarked the other day that their respective fathers would turn in their graves if they knew &t‘:eu respective daughters were bud- e Roosevelt. disliked each other. " R. was my father's choice for Assistant Secretary of the Nayy. He insistea on President McKinley appointing him, and secured his appointment. ~They differed, they quarreled, they irritatea each other, they were unlike as indi- viduals, and their training and ex- perience in life had been from such different sources that it was difficult for them to arrive at an understanding on any given subject. Nevertheless, they entertained a healthy respect for each other, and, as a matter of faci, Alice and I disliked each other in the early days. It was only because Col. Roosevelt insisted upon our friendship that we were driven together by the force of his desire to have us friends. * ok ok X | Northern and Southern California, {which lie awake nights hating each other, have a new bone of contention. Each wants the Navy's big new Pacific Coast dirigible base located in its part of the State. When Congress directed | the Becretary of the Navy to recom- mend where the base should be estab- lished he referred it to the Navy Gen- eral Board. The board advised that it should preferably go to the Los Angeles- San Dfego area. After inspecting a great many sites the speclal board of aviation experts ordered to make rec- ommendations reported in favor of Sun- nyvale, on San Francisco Bay. The little bit m‘hl.lu!v:hl“ ét b: kgown in ‘Washington t! ey don’t. Congress specifically reserved the right to decide finally where the West Coast gas bag home base is to be. When it comes up for final settlement the fur will iy on Capitol Hill, * ok ok* Organized rallroad labor is preparing an unusual tribute to “Dan” Willard on the occasion of his approaching twen- tleth anniversary as president of the Baltimore & Ohio. It will take the form of a banquet for 1,100 guests, mostly rail workers and union leaders. The B. & O. was the first American raliroad to adopt the union-management eco- operation plan devised by the railway department of the American Federation & brief interruption, practically since | of Labor. he was gradusted from Yale with the class of 1884—a gerlod of roundly 40 years. Mr. Yung Kwai is married to an American lady. One of their sons is a professor of Oriental literature at Yale. The counselor is now the trusted ad- viser of the man, Minister C. C. Wu, whose father, Wu Ting-fang, he also ml:'gen fl!&o“ml‘ mm“(nlmm!l v rrogation point was impe: China’s en at I?:éle Bam's court. Since then Kwal has seen a whole dynasty of Chinese Ministers come r.nnd !lg at Washington. He is approach- g 70. * ok Not all of the La Follette us TUns to statesmanship. Senator “Young Bob's” second cousin, Suzanne La Fol- (Copyright. 1920.) . Tickler Makes Dead Sure. From the Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch. Coroner investigated the case o fellow who tickled o mule’s hing Verg.lhct. no doubt, was “tickled death.” {I g ) They Know Their Beef. From the Altoons Mirror. Purdue University, foot ball champion of the Big Ten, al mknutpngepm stock judging at the international live stock show in Chicago. They know their beef at dear 01: Purdue, ! 1 1929, Article Stirs Interest In Randolph Grave ‘To the Editer of The Star: In & recent issue of The Star there appeared a letter from C. G. Lee, Jr. under the title “Mystery of Arlington Is Scmewhat Dispelled.” It contained considerable information about Mrs. Mary Randolph, much of which is now rapidly coming to light from numerous descendants of the famous Virginia family of that name. Since the appear- ance in Sunday's Star of my article about Mrs. Randolph's grave in Arling- ton I have received a great many letters from people anxious to throw some light, on the questions I propounded. I am very grateful to all who have taken the | trouble to write to me upon the subject. It ;uul‘d, seem from what Mr., !fi gays in the closing paragraph o letter that he dougu Mrs. r‘v.’mdolph'l grave was the first in Arlington, except ibly for that of some siave. He {safl, “It is well to remind him (Mr, Chase) that three of the children of G. W. P. Custis, the bulider of Arling~ ton, failed to live to maturity.” That is true; several children of Mr. and Mrs. Custis died in infancy, but there are no known graves of those children &t Arlington. Those infants, or some of them, might have been buried some- where upon the estate in unmarked graves, but I think it is altogether more probable that they were taken to some churchyard in the vicinity of Arlington or, perhaps, to Ravensworth, near Fair- {fax Court House, the later home of Mrs. Custis’ father. Very likely there was a family burying ground upon the Fitz- hugh estate of Ravensworth and there is nothing to indicate that there was one matked out and reserved in the Arlington estate until Mrs. Custis died in April, 1853, Where the graves of Mr. and Mrs. Custis are now inclosed within the iron fence southwest of the mansion house there is scarcely any space for other graves. However, the iron fence was probably built around the graves of the master and mistress of Arlington in later years and therefore it Is within referred to might have been buried somewhere in that vicinity or elsewhere without anything left today to indicate the fact. If Mr. Lee knows anything upon this gmltullr subject I shall be ear from him. In the meantime I have hopes of being able to see the Custis family Bible, which may give some reason for the burial of Mrs. Randolph near the Custis . ENOCH AQUILA CHASE. Urges Congress to Act In Behalf of Veterans To the Editor of The Star: I read in your issue of December 15, and saw that Senator Heflin has introduced a bill ip the Senate to give our veterans in St. Elisabeth's a hear- ing to determine their sanity every six months by the doctors affiliated to this institution. A very slim hope to the war veterans in this institution to know their status will be reviewed by the same doctors who have had the g_ower all the time to give them their eedom. The Scnator says that war veterans | committed to this institution for the insane are dolorlnwe\; bmdzh those |wlth money are explof y the people on the outside, who put this money YE their personal use. gravity of the charges made .flunn this institution demands a sub- stitution of the system instead of grant- ing the power to hospital authorities they already had, but neglected to use. A few years ago an ex-Congressman literally {ore down the gates of this institution in order to free a number of veterans. My suggestion is for Congress to ap- ?oim a committee of its members or the purpose of examining the status of every war veteran in this institution, consider the eligibility of their instant release, and determine their compensa- tion rating. T veterans who The knowledge that wa: ‘helped to defend the Ni toid e Nation in the late the warrant for Co gress to act on this matter nnmedhwlny-. JOHN JONES. Northern Liberty Market Site Favored To the Editor of The Star: America” deals not only with paint- ad Southerh Californians didn’t like this a y Kindly allow me a little space in The Star for an opinion in Lhr matter n: “We, people,” of the Bethesda section favor the Northern Liberty Market site 8s the most suitable. There is no dog:& :oba&t.tlu being central. To be o e, that argument, is the Conven- street, alo; neatly fitted up, ready to occupy. K street is wide, and its bullding line is far back, allowing, if needed, for widen- :n[ of Ll;: ;:rcekel still i armers up to lay their marks . _The idea would be to L -mnmuw wide, 80 as to use ',h: . [space between K and L streets and from Fifth street to New Jersey avenue. * | The buildings now there, residences 8 few small business places, are of not much value and could be purchased at & reasonable price, and then you would have a market that would meet its in- tended purpose for years to come. Both systems of street railways there, and it is convenient for all the le. The Patterson tract, only a half-dozen blocks away, would answer for the Wholesale section, also near our prin- cipal railway systems, and the trains from 'way down in Dixie could also Treach this site to unload their ucts. The Center Market people, below the Avenue, must move within the next s and a place for them must be decided on quite soon, so let us argue on subject, giving all a t; Nave: liis !‘yl n -opportunity to . The time is shorter every day. S. oy CHAS. A. READ, Duke’s Wealth Achieves Purposes of Late Donor From the Asheville Tim Five years ago tod: signed the indenture which was to mark the beginning of a hew period In Southern education, in hospitaliza- tion facilities in the Carolinas and in the support of orphanages, Methodist churches and ministers. It was the establishment of an endowment of 40,000,000, as an initial sum, for edu- catlon, social and religious welfare, At Duke University and at other Eucex in the Carolinas the anniversary being observed with exercises ap- fiampn::in .Por :h:.h“ has been no ’dell;y cal out the purposes of the Duke Foundation. L In these five years the foundations of what must be one of the country's !rnmb universities have been laid. n 'ames B. Duke have already been opened to the public, and others are being built, because of the assistance of the Duke Foundation. A large portion of the wealth createa by Duke’s genius in finance and in- dustry is being converted into the social machinery of civilization, even as the Duke power plants are con- verting nature's energy into wealth, As @ builder of great industries, Mr. Duke knew the importance of the human factor in the success of any enterprise. It 18 not surprising, there- fore, that his first and last counsel, and his only condition, to the execu. tors of his plans for the university particularly, were that they should seex out men of a callber big enough w mv?”n rightful place in & great uni- versity. —— o Slush Fund in China? From the Indlanapolis Star. If the Big Ten thorough _investigation, it ibly would flng. :.:ut m;fl% u‘n’: unuu: generals been from slush fund. the realm of possibility that the infants | glad to ! ed | solidation - could binal be consisten ady looking mak lon y and pass equired h _roads trusi ppesed that the prodi year, this igns direc P many communities new hospitais | The ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. l we had the pleasure of serving yog i our W Informa- tion Bureau? Can't we be of some help eric Haskin, ‘Washington, D. C. Inclose two cents in | i coin or stamps for return postage. Q. What is the lowest temperature to which ice can be brought?—N. J. B. A. Ice can exist at any temperature below freezing point. Why did Premier Clemenceau always wear gloves?—P. T. A. A. The late Premier Clemenceau wore gloves because of & skin affection, Q zfll nlm:flu;‘a Tflhlol“ nickel d tinum?—H. A. T. mA. D'l'l'le Bureau of Mines says that nickel will dissolve in nitric_acid, whereas, platinum will not be affected by it. Q. What has become of the little grandmother of the Russian revolu- ion?—F. R. = R Katherine Breshkoezsky is sald to be living in Prague. Q. What work will the temporary census employes do in Washington?— H. G. G A. The temporary force in Washing- ton, D. C.. to which appointments will be made in accordance with the civil service laws and rules, will consist prin- cipally of general clerks, tabulating machine operators, card-punch opera- tors, and calculating machine opera- tors. Examinations for these positions have been held and it is not known at this time whether it will be necessary to hold any of them again. Q. How does a Territory become a State?—J. R. B. A. A Territory wishing to become a State takes action among its citisens to prepare and present a memorial to Congress asking for statehood. 1If this is passed favorably upon, a bill is in- troduced termed “an enabling act” which if passed permits the people of the Territory to meet and formulate a constitution, which 1s submitted to Congress for action. Q. How many men, women and chil- dren did Moses lead out of ? A. Accor to Exodus xii.37, Moses led out of t 600,000 men besides women and children who were not at that time enumerated. It is estimated that the total number was two and three millions, and probably nesrer the latter figure. Q. In a word which contains a dou- ble vowel, what is meant when two %uu are placed over the second one?— A. The diaresis over the vowel in- dicates that this vowel does not coalesce with the vowel but has a sound distinctly its own. Q. Who posed for the statue on the %onu of the Capitol in Washington?— . L. A. Tt is impossible to say who posed for Crawford’s “Freedom.” Mr. Fair- man, who is the best informed authority on the art of the Capitol, says that he has numerous requests for information on this subject. Extensive research causes him to feel that the figure probably an idealized one. Q. Where was the forest in which Robin Hood was supposed to have flourished>—M. G. M. A. Sherwood Forest is the name is|as given to & stretch of hilly country In the west of Nottinghamshire, England, between Nottingham and Worksap, about 25 miles from mnorth to south and 6 to 8 miles from east to west. It was formerly & royal hunting forest and the traditional scene of many of the exploits of Robin Hood and his fol- lowers, It is now almost whally de. is occupled by parks and S Whero are the Diomede Islands? A. ‘The Diomede Islands Q. Who introduced sweet potatoes in P o cad thay they Set appeated 8a in ‘when Columbus soms back to Queen Isabells. Q. Who invented slot machines?— A. Coin-in-the-slot machines were known 200 years B.C., and it is proi able that Cteeiblus invented them, They were used to dispense purifying water to Egyptian worshipers as they entered the temple. Five drachmae had to be in the machine in order to receive the ug . Slot machines did not come into general use until about 100 years ago. Q. After mnmi & soup course, should the spoon be left in the bowl or placed on the plate on which the bowl rests?—H. W. 2 A. After finishing the mm‘eo\me the soup spoon is lald on te beneath the cup or low broad in which the soup has been served. Q. What was Mme. Curie's maiden name?—G. T. A. Her name was Marie Sklowska. Q. What does the term “shin plas- ters” mean?—P. M. A. The term “shin plasters” as applied to T mon Grlginaiy 1 currency after the War of the Revolution, Q. What is the date won which the !en:,te D“A'ffl“ the ellogg peace PARTH was ra the Senats on tifled January 18, 1939, and signed by the President on January 17, 1929, Q. What flower is leading in the em?m;t !31' selection of a national flow- er?—P, . A. Voting in this contest has been extended to January 1. zine says that the wild rose still has a big lead. It has had over 400,000 votes, while its -nearest competitor, the columbine, has had about 166,000, Q. Do birds roosting on wires interfere with the ?—E. N. D. A. 8hort caused. pufbose vas Ui Bnge prins wsed was the i linese?—H. S. > flnA' 'l‘hmun;e r:hcor%shg the use 117! ger prin e ese as early 200 B.C. 'X‘My employed an im- Prullon of the thumb as a signature or business and legal transactions. Q When was the Yale Bow! opened? ‘what by ths —H. R. A. It was formally opened in 1 Future Railroad Conditions Linked With Waterway Blans of national 1 Congress; railroad con- solidations and waterway development. The commission, the ) e d observes, “has acted freely under one section of the transportation act of about 10 years ago to permit one car- by purchase of stock, or 1 any manner of , OF in any manner not involving an actual consolidation. Much has been done in recent years with proviso the devalonl::rnc on * % “Railroads themselves have from time to time proposed consolidation,” recalls the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “but no two groups have agreed. Each is natu- rally to its own interests, and there is nobody but the commission to consider the general welfare. In its re- port the commiss! states that while many systems have endeavored to build consolidated lines by the expedient uj of going into the stock market and buy- | Topel ing the securities of companies they de- sire to unite under control, the Clayton act forbids purchase of one competing road by another, and it has therefore T sucl to ‘divest the selves of stock acquired in others. The Star-Telegram quotes the commis- sion's statement as to the more recent method of indirect control by “friendly tees” and concludes, “It has never been su| consolidation of the railroads into several great systems along lines which would conserve the interests of the public and the carriers 'm:'é’:‘:'cpmnm srent ‘on its face.” In th « nt on ace,” e h‘:&m‘:.h of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, L e commission’s program cannot be carried out if rail properties which 1t ass to one system are already con- trolled by another through a holding wmalny. And it is also clear that com- petition may be eliminated or lessened through the holding company and the intent of the law thus violated. The |and years that have elapsed since ted the commission to prum slon’s comment on 3 m difficulties in the way of consolida- efforts, and threatens the extinc- Llox;a of cmpsu_blgnnuwr d all the general plan for rail eon- wlld'm’r:n The subject 15 of ever po; co-ordinate parts clent whole; and it is difficult to see how this can be done until an effective consolidation of railways has been ef- fected, and a simpler and more adjust- , | able rate structure put in effect.” * ok k% “Unquestionably there are too many rallroads for th or the country’s good,’ Sack, equpment and peonnel e ment_an nne - out l.mperqo ing service. Many are obso- lete. Many are poorly managed or in- adequately financed. Bize, power, standardization, co-operation — these are needed in the railroad industry even more than in most industries.” that ',hamlnu s . mufg at long: propos consolidate eppears on the way.” The ka Dajly Capital looks upon the matter as at present “the uppermost subject in the work of the commission.” The Ogden Standard-Examiner con- cludes: ‘“There is general agreement in Government and business circles that consolidation will produce transporta- tion . * * * The human angle must receive study. There can be no real social progress, if consolidation fail to benefit the stockholders, the public and the employes.” Nobel Prize Winner Shows Fine Humanity Prom the Detrolt News. Just the other day Thomas Mann, German novelist, won the Nobel prize of $48,000 for literature. Now he says he didn’t deserve it; that the money d have gone to Arno Holz, and play- wright, who died Em before the award ‘was announced & life of starvation combinations in the interest of better | hous service have indicated conclusively that they can be effected onl; most favorable conditions. For five years the Interstate Commerce Commission sought to be relieved of the task of formulating a definite program of con- solidation,” but could not without the consent of Congress. * ok kK “The commission,” according to the Baltimore Sun, “cannot compe! ance of its plan, but Promulntlm of it will give opportunity to ascertain whether it has succeeded in devising a rearrangement of the rail map which the carriers will be willing to eon.n.der . commission's discussion of the se- = to l;:hlch {gr‘ma'.km of ding companies own: railroad stocks has complicated the situation is the outstanding feature of its report. ‘There 1s no attempt to conceal the fact t the consolidation program ‘is very likely to be partially or even wholly defeated,’ " without “authority which will enable the commission to assert control over these non-operating rail- road concerns. If there is wmon to defy its authority, protrac litiga- tion is ln;,lc!pl'ted." i - plan for consolidation,” it is pointed n::: ymfla‘l Iglrm;m Chronicle, “retains actor of competition. num(utrnl:lsuublhhuglu?: 13 or more grest rallway s coun- try, with about equal financial and about equal under the in China started s |of terri probal 2 i Scotch collle; that his house full of the finest furniture, rugs and pictures; that he almosh always wears patent leather shoes. is no mean gesture to hide a shame-faced good fortune. There is a fine humanity in it. In its mixture of irony and humor it reveals the t novelist and student of human affairs with more than his artistic ear attuned to the still, sad music of humanity. Mr, Mann knows that the world and the crities believe him worthy of the honor, He might have received the award with an Olymplan wave of the hand. He might have presented himself with three more maidservants and a whols kennel of dogs. Instead the -old quest! of human justice gives him pause; he cannot even recon- cile himself to the scriptural theory of “to _him that hath"—if that f pessage can be literally interpreted. This doubtless represents the differe ence between the man who is accus- tomed to. think in terms of fundamental human values and the garden variety of Fortunatus. It is a sign in an era often reproached for materialistic . Per] the time of universal therhood not so far off as it seems. ——e Advice From the Editor. Prom the Bchenectady Uni tar. “Go ‘and sin_ some more Matter of Psychology. 4,