Evening Star Newspaper, February 5, 1930, Page 8

A—S8 T.HE‘ EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, pgBRUARY 5, 1930. _— . VO oS o vy, B Y, e, ¥epwsvane 9 . New Ifiu THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTONW, D. C. ‘WEDNESDAY. . . February 5, 1930 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor e Evesing and Sui (when 4 ays) . The Evening and’ Surid (when 5 Ine ) o rs may be NAtional 5000, Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. B Maryland and Virginia. & All Other States and Canada. Pally and Sunday..1yr. $12.00; 1 mo., § only .. 1yr.. $8.00: 1 mo. Suuday only 151 35 Member of the Associated Press, Associated Press is exclusively entitled Tepublication of all news dis- national convention of | to each owner. This plan, however, was held in Balti- | frowned upon by the suthorities. to be| If 1t is not feasible to follow the mail- the first national mpm:.mmm’“m thering of the association, which was | some other pi for the relief of the ::rneduveulyunun. At it will | taxpayer should be worked out, so that be considered the project for a new|by 1931, when owners purchase new York, a assoctation party. Nobody can now foretell the outcome. New-party creation is a favorite in- door sport in America. Some day an enterprising historical researcher Wwill compile a record of the independent and special political movements begun in this country, and the list will be a long fone. Some of them have gained the | position of actually putting candidates in nomination for the presidency who have received electoral votes. Most of them have died aborning. The three tailors of Tooley street, of British fame, have nothing for compactness and spon- taneity on American political party starters. ‘There is something rather appealing about the idea of a liberal party based upon the “let us alone” principle—ap- pealing to a certain type. The inclusion in the slogan of the immediate call of The Naval Conference. Two weeks have elapsed since the five power Naval Conference convened in London and the delegations are still arguing the question of method of Picedure. No attempt has been made S0 far to present actual tonnage figures for the various categories of naval vessels, and no ratio proposals have been advanced. On the surface, the failure to get down to brass tacks may appear disheartening. But the ques- tions of method of procedure which have arisen quite naturally must be settled before the powers can begin to deal with the proposals advanced by the various delegations, outlining their needs in total naval tonnage and in the various categories. The French on the one hand and the British and Americans on the other have been in dispute over the method to be followed, the French declaring first for “global tonnage” and the British, backed by the Americans, for the category plan. A compromise plan has been put forward by the Prench which is the subject of discussion now. The delegations are moving forward, however, in the consideration of various phases of the naval limitation program, despite the inability yet to reach a final agreement on method of procedure. ‘The Americans and the Japanese are conferring, gpparently in amicable man- ner, over the ratio of 10,000-ton cruisers to be allotted to both. The Japanese have urged that they be allowed 70 per cent of the American tonnage of these vessels, and to American eyes this de- mand appears too great. There is the word “religious” is somewhat unfor- tunate. It has implications that may militate against a full line-up of the ob- jectors to things as they are. And moreover there is a possibility that thereby the real objective of the pres- ent movement may be obscured. The A. A. P. A—Association Against the Prohibition Amendment—can not expect to get all anti-prohibitionists to leave their present parties and join the new one, if it is started. For even the ardent wet is apt to be more intent upon being regular in his party affiliation and action than upon having his way in the matter of repeal or modification. oo Assessment and Taxation. Despite the Government's great pur- chases of valuable real estate in down- town Washington and the subsequent loss to the District of revenues from taxation of this land, Washington’s real estate assessment continues to grow by leaps and bounds. The figures for the fiscal year 1931, which begins next June, as given by Assessor Richards, show that the Capital's taxable real estate is valued, for taxation purposes, at $1,212,000,000—an unprecedented total. The figures reflect a healthy growth, for the increase over the preceding fiscal year amounts to nearly $30,000,- 000. The increase in assessments, how- ever, becomes even more striking by comparison with the figures of 1923, the year that real estate assessments were based on full value instead of two-thirds value. In 1923 Washington real estate tags, they will not be put to incon- venience. Nearly a whole year remains to study the question, and it is the earnest hope of every motorist that the year's study shall bear fruit. ———————— . The New Chief Justice. The country has reacted in énthusi- astic approval to the selection of Charles E. Hughes as Chief Justice, to succeed Judge Taft, who has resigned from that post because of the failure of his health. From every quarter comes ex- pression of the most sincere approbation and indorsement of the President’s choice for this most important office. There is no sign of partisan feeling. Mr. Hughes' eminent fitness for this post is recognized. His prior experience as & member of the court is rated as a special reason for his selection. His talents as lawyer and interpreter of the law are accepted as particularly quali- fying. This is a most agreeable phenomenon of public appraisal and approval. It does not often occur. In the case of Mr. Hughes, who had left the bench to be a candidate for the presidency, {he had won eminent distinction in another role, that of Secretary of State, to such a degree as to command the respect and admiration of the country regardless of politics. His selection as a judge of the international court was an honor that the country recognized as highly deserved. Singularly, his name was not immediately associated with the office of the chief justiceship when the sad news came of the resig- nation of Judge Taft, for it was thought that he had found in that international i role an honorable and congenial part to play that might suitably cap his career as jurist, Washington is especially gratified at the selection of Judge Hughes, for it means his return to this city as a resi- dent, doubtless for the remainder of his life. He has now been a Washingtonian for two periods, the six years of his associate justiceship and the four years of his State secretaryship. He has been & frequent visitor and occasional so- Journer at other times, in the course of his various incidental engagements and assignments on public duty. Now as Chief Justice he will be again, and it is to be hoped for a very long period, & citizen of the District, and for this the Capital community is grateful. s ——. It is now assumed, no doubt with was assessed ati $723,000,000. The in- creass during the nine fiscal years in- injustice, that Einstein’s theory of elativity must have something to do cluded in the comparison has been |With perpetual motion, merely because nearly half a billion dollars. it has not as yet been practically Teason to belleve that the Japanese may ‘There was $36,000,000 worth of new | demonstrated to the average intelligence. modify their demands in building in Washington in the last particularly if they are .:I:‘c'fl’:u’";;’ calendar year, 1929, this figure bringing their desires regarding submarines, The | th¢ total cost of new building here in British and American delegations have, the seven calendar years since 1923, in- it is reported, gone into the question clusive, to about $349,000,000. The dif- of battleship tonnage, and are tentative- ference between this sum and thq in- 1y considering a reduction to fifteen such | 2S¢ in realty assessment in the nine capital ships each, with a consequent | Y®3™S including the fiscal year 1931, great saving in maintenance and in |C3R De generally attributed to increased replacements. The battleship “holiday” is to be continued until 1936, if the plans work out. However, the agree. ment with regard to battleships is re- ported to hinge upon success in dealing With the limitation of cruiser and other auxiliary tonnage. It is obvious that the United States will not agree to a reduction of battleships, unless there can be some decision to limit cruiser tonnage. A spirit of co-operation and of hope has developed at the conference in London. The various delegations are seeking in every way to adjust dif- ferences—not to magnify them. It is well understood that the world is look- ing hopefully to London in this crisis in the move for better accord, and that it will frown upon failure. There are strong motivating causes for the con- ference. The fear of war growing out of a new naval bullding race is one of them. Another is the earnest desire of the nations—the people of the na- tions as well as their governments—for Telief from the heavy burden of tax- ation which increasing naval armament places upon them. They are emerging from the devastation of the World War. ‘They do not wish now to be held back. For it is clear that unless some agree- ment can be reached at London, a mighty naval building race will be in progress. Ever since the Naval Conference be- gan the American delegation has pressed for greater publicity. The con- ference is engaged in a work in which the peoples of the world are vitally in- terested. They should be as fully in- formed as possible. Beyond doubt there are certain stages of negotiations which must be handled behind closed doors. But there is every reason for the peo- ples at home to be kept fully informed of the progress of the conference. The force of public opinion has been the potent factor in bringing about the present Naval Conference. It may be effective, if there be need, in bringing about an agreement at London. ———— When prominent appointments are! under consideration, Senator Borah sometimes develops indications of an urge to take the veto power into his own hands. ———— Tke New Wet Party Plan. ‘The other day, in discussing former Senator Bruce’s proposal for a conven- tion to consider ways and means to effect the modification or repeal of the | Eighteenth Amendment, The Star sug- gested the possibility that a new political party might result from such an assemblage, & contingency never to be ignored in_ this country. Now it appears that this possibility is quite conceivable, indeed 1is actually being advocated. At a private dinner given the other night in New York by one of the foremost and most definite op- ponents of prohibition, attended by the seventy-five directors of the Associa- tion Against the Prohibition Amend- ment, the idea of a new political or- ganization was definitely advanced. A speaker, identified with the Republican party in Western Pennsylvania, not only launched the new party, in theory, but gave it a name. It is to be called the Liberal party, and it is to be com- prised of all who desire to combat not only prohibition but “every form of religious dictation now menacing the property values. Increase in Washington's real estate assessment, plus an increase in the tax rate from $1.30 in 1923 to $1.70 in 1930, has more than doubled revenue from real estate. In 1923, the real estate tax yielded approximately $9,400,000. In 1930, the real estate tax yield will be $19,907,000. In 1923, the Government's contribution to the expenses of District maintenance amounted, under the 60- 40 method of appropriating, to $10,762,~ 098. In 1930, the Government’s contri- bution, as placed in the table in the ‘hearings on the 1930 appropriations bill, amounted to an estimated total of $9,- 965,000, including as United States con- tributions a proportion of miscellaneous Tevenues now credited, under the lump sum, to the District of Columbia. If in 1923, with Washington real estate assessed at about $723,000,000, the United States saw fit to contribute more than $10,000,000, the amount of the Federal contribution in 1931, with a real estate assessment of $1,212,000,- 000, should be raised proportionately. —— e Science accomplishes marvels at pres- ent and it is the privilege of & public that holds Willlam Howard Taft in admiration and esteem to hope that a means will be found to conquer the illness which threatens to remove an able man from so distinguished a career of usefulness. R Immense opportunities for practical human experience boldly utilized by Charles Evans Hughes should make him even more valuable in the United States Supreme Court than he was, when, through a sense of public duty, he left it. ———————— Procrastination is not to be en- couraged. The procrastinator, however, is the one now depended on to come forward with a decision as to what his share will be in order to make up the full quota for the Community Chest. He is not invariably punctual, but his heart is always in the right place. ———— Personal Taxes and Tags. Although nearly a third of the au- tomobiles in Washington were rated as “worthless” under the personal tax sys- tem of securing new tags, the innova- tion of collecting taxes through this method has been marked with success. Estimates vary as to the increase of revenue to the District, but it seems assured that a material gain has been made. Under the old system it was more or less of a hit-or-miss proposition for the owner when he was valuing his car for personal tax purposes and there was little or no check-up on his valu- ation. Some persons probably paid too much; but many paid too little. With the new plan in operation the motorist must now pay his personal tax at the same time that he secures tags, this procedure resulting in an accurate and impartial valuation of his car for the taxes collected. While the results of the new system have been gratifying to the municipal government, the fly in the ointment, as far as the tax payer is concerned, is that he is forced to great inconven- ience in settling his account. A journey to the District Building, a long wait in line and delay at the wiidows is his portion under the new arrangement. Some time ago it was suggested that ] Only an expert magazine editor could calculate what Trotsky’s trusty type- writer could have made for him if it had been kept at work producing mystery stories instead of political essays, ———— Fishing is a sport for the small boy who hopes to become President as well as for the President who craves the reminder of a small boy's care-free existence. ———— ‘There can be little fault to be found with a Federal situation which shows an abundance of work to be done and an abundance of funds to pay for it. = e A comfortable desk chair has no charms for Lindbergh. He won his fame as an aviator and insists on re- maining true to type. ——raee— SFOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Palmy Days. The stories fill me with dismay About the actors and the play— Of how they sit up late at night And angry grow with pretext slight, They stimulate romantic charm. To hearts they often bring much harm— Yet now the players are sincere, 1t is the audience that seems queer! The audience that sits apart— A marvel of cosmetic art, With costuming so very fine, Startling and statuesque of line— The talk between the acts is bright, Sometimes more witty than polite. An auditorium we see Like what the stage used to be. The player folk are at a loss. The footlights now they gaze across And feel a yearning so intense For that departed audience Whom they could startle more or less With simulated wickedness. The stage in innocent surprise Observe its public worldly wise, Nerve Strain. “Is your hard work over the tariff telling on you physically?” “Not yet,” answered Senator Sor- ghum. “But my prolonged study of the tariff involves some nerve strain. There are two sides to every question and I'm afrald I am going to get cross-eyed trying to see both sides at once.” Jud Tunkins says he'd rather have & tip on a horse race than on stocks. The cruel suspense doesn’t last so long. Words and Their Uses. Sald Hamlet, “Words, Words, Words! are here; And it is only proper that I study them with earnest cheer. A prince should be a diplomat.” A Weary Student. “How has Josh been doing with his studies?” “Not so well,” answered Farmer Corn- tossel. “He and the teacher had an argument about universal peace. Josh slammed his book shut and said the big mistake was in not putting an end to all hostilities before the Trojan war started.” “Praise undeserved,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “brings insecure pleasure. It is counterfeit money in the currency of fame.” Precaution. At night I now go out with care. I hold both hands high in the air. And thus each stranger I salute, “I mean no harm. So please don't shoot.” “Everybody is entitled to his own United States.” According to tentative plans, brought forth and agrecd upon at the dinnsr i 3 the matter could be as casily and satis- factorily handled by the municipal gov- opinion,” said Uncle ' Eben, “same he’s entitled to a dog, if he'll keep it THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. ‘Three Army men, the finest gentle- men he had met in the past 10 years—he wondered what had become of them. Perhaps they were off at the other side of the world, basking in tropical sunshine, while he and the remainder of Washington looked out upon a snowstorm. They were Maj. Jim, Capt. Bob and Capt. Tom, to use names which dis- tinctly were not theirs. After all, it is not so much names that ‘count as men in every walk of life, A good name is rich treasure, indeed, but behind the name, as behind the gun, it is the man that makes it worth while. ‘The tradition of the service calls for a man to be an “officer and a gentle- an.” It was to this double category that his three good acquaintances be- longed. Maj. Jim was as husky, dapper a man in appearance as ever came out of West Point. blacksmith, the muscles of his sinewy arms were like iron bands. His blond hair was kept cut close, giving him the appearance of a hand- some, typical German officer. What- ever may have been his manners on the field, he was perfect off. This he-man had two hobbies—gar- dening and crocheting. Sometimes the first is looked upon as a woman's occu- pation, and certainly the second al- ways is. There are sturdy sailors, however, who can crochet and do all sorts of needle- work as handily as any woman, and some say that the resulting product has a finer quality. Maj. Jim plied a wicked needle. This diversion he kept mostly for the house, not wishing to make himself too con- spicuous with nosey neighbors, It was in the garden that the Major shone. There the same deft fingers which guided the needle turned to' con- struction on a large scale. His restless energy, without a war to attend to, found solace in building a Fergou too big for the yard, but not large enough for his spirit. It was a thing of love, made with In‘ur craftsmanship. The brickwork at the end was as trim as if the fate of the world had depended upon its solidity. Years were to pass away after the Major left, but that brickwork was to show not & sign of crack or settling. ‘The same sure fingers dug up the remainder of the yard, and sifted in good soll and manure to the depth of 2 feet, a labor advocated in most garden books, but carried into execu- tion in few gardens. ‘With all this, Maj. Jim was the soul of courtesy. They say that Army men, who rule their fellow human beings and sometimes in no ungentle tongue on the field, are the mildest and meekest of men at home, being in bondage to wife and children. Well, maybe so. At any rate, it doesn't hurt them, if one might have judged from the inherent courtesy which seemed a part of Maj. Jim. * x ok x Capt. Bob was less talkative, but every whit as fine. It was he who took the children out for a walk, and no doubt it was he who put them to bed. A strange shyness held his tongue| mute, but if one looked in his book- | cases he found there sundry volumes of | poetry. . Now, a love for poetry is no sure index of a mind, but surprisingly often it proves the rcader to be the possessor of certain qualities of heart which man- kind has come to dub spiritual. The kindly thoughts of every day,| flowering in consideration for others, in- ly were found to have come from ‘The speed with which Mr. Hopver put over the nomination of Charles Evans Hughes for the Supreme Court caught most of the Washington newspaper con- tingent off first base. Associate Justice Stone, for a variety of plausible reasons, not the ieast of which was his personal intimacy with the President, had been immediately and almost unanimously touted as the sure winner, with Senator Borah rated as a dark horse, and Calvin Coclidge as an outside chance. A host of powerful speculative news dispatches anent Chief Justice Taft's prospective successor . died aborning when the Hughes nomination was sprung within S0 few hours ‘of the announcement of Mr. Taft’s retirement. In retrospect it is perfectly obvious that the President with advance notice of the Taft Tesig- nation had picked Hughes, secured the latter's acceptance and had calculat- ingly acted to head off the welter of Pprognostications certain to ensue so long :: ;he lll:‘poltr;:.mgmdnix:‘nmgg open, and reclude the bandying about of man: distinguished names. e * Ok kX ‘The Taft resignation directs attention to the fact that in the span of 140 years of the existence of the Supreme Court_there have been all told only 10 men to hold the post of Chief Jus- tice. 1In the past 42 vears there have been but_three, Melville W. Fuller, Ed- ward D. White and Taft. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, nearing 30 years’ serv- ice in the' court, who ‘will be 89 years d in March, 'has served under all three. Justices may come and justices may go, but this grand old man goes on apparently forever. In a court of 9 members, 15 justices have come to the court since Justice Holmes was appointed in' 1902. Of the six Presidents who preceded Mr. Hoover, Coolidge made one appointment to the Supreme bench, Harding four, Wilson three, Taft five, Roosevelt three and McKinley . one. * K K % If Congress enacts the Fess bill, in- ]tmdueed last week by the Ohio Senator, ® ‘who chairman of the Washington Bi- Centennial Commission, chnrggd with Preparations for the 200th birthday celebration in 1932, the bibliographers of Washingtoniana will have a host of new books and documents to catalogue. Senator Fess seeks authorization to publish a “definitive edition of all the essential writings of George ‘Washing- ton in 25 volumes,” to print and dis- tribute a portrait of Washington, to issue a Washington Atlas, with maps, showing " all places identified with ‘Washington's career, and the printing and distribution of a hundred thousand copies each of two pamphlets to be en- titled, - respectively, “Honor to George Washington” and “Reading About George Washington.” To employ the necessary staff, director, historian, sec- retary and clerks to start this and other features of the celebration, the Fess bill proposes authorization of an initial ap- propriation of $200,000. * K % K Every sesslon of Congress brings many freak bills, but the following res- olution filed in the House by Repre- sentative Hartley of New Jersey and duly referred to the committee on mili- tary affairs takes first prize: “Whereas the records of the War Department certify that Nicholas Casale of 228 Highland avenue, Newark, N. J.,, who served in Company C, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry, 37th Division, enlisted with a patriotic desire to serve his coun- try, although he was only 4 feet 10 inches in height and but 104 pounds in welght; and whereas the said Nicholas Casale served with conspicuous bravery in Bois Emmont, in Prance; and where- as the cost of examining the records of every enlisted man would be out of pro- portion to the benefits derived there- frem: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, ‘That the House of Representatives does hereby designate the said Nicholas Ca- sale as the smallest fighting soldier of the American Expeditionary Forces,” * * * Dr. Clarence True Wilson, secretary of the Methodist Board of Public Morals, diverts momentarily from:the prohibi- tion theme to turn his guns upon the as | clgarettes and allied smoking mediums. ‘He pays an unconscious tribute to the potency of advertising. Upon the thesis thab “the use of tebacco I nerve-dis~ re was an outcast inviteq - Lhec‘p‘. Bob_was behind the He saw lonesomeness ipn him. to a purtyx invitation. Ives. Sometimes he did not know :ebout. it himself, but only sensed it. His courtesy to women—and this was a part of the character of all these men—somehow set him apart in the very streets, where so many well but_ill-bred {lell(:"! pass on the queer ty of civilization. p"‘x”h};n was no mistaking the kindi- ness exemplified in_the clumsy grace with which he handed a companion down from a car, or opened a door, or held her umbrella. This was no pol- ished courtier, but an honest man who liked and respected women. Even the sly trickery of flirtation, common in so many “parties” of this modern age, failed to make a dent in his urban gentleness. He came from g farm, but he brought With him from Like Longfellow’s now mellowed | there good qualities of mind and heart which_never wore off. And Wherever Capt. Bob is now there is a gentleman, * kX K |opposed or voted against Alfred E. others before they realized it them-.Smith, the party nominee for President, Politics at Large By G. Gould Lincoln. The punishment of Democrats who jumped the traces in 1928 and actively is being pursued still further in the South. Alsbama led off. The State executive committee decided to admit to the party primary this year as voters all Democrats. But it issued an edict that any one who had opposed or voted against Smith should not enter the pri- mary as a candidate for nomination for office. This was directed entirely at Senator “Tom” Heflin, who is up for re-election this year. Florida Democrats followed the lead of their Alabama hbors, and raised the bars against :re:ly‘ one who voted against Smith be- coming a candidate for office in the Democratic primary there. And now the Texas State committee has “gone e it.” and done PSS e In Texas, as in Alabama, the Demo- ! crats who remained regular and voted Capt. Tom perhaps came nearer sumx?g the general idea of an Army officer, but maybe that was because he was from civilian life. 2 He had a bright, bold eye, and a lean, slim build which looked well upon a horse. He had a habit of saying “Huh?" after statements, as if seeking the ap- proval of the one to whom he spoke. He did this, however, in no “yes. yes® spirit, but solely in & spirit of comradeship, the same which he showed for his men on the march to the Rhine. As a mother sorrows over her chil- dren, so was his compassion for his men. He might have jammed a re- volver in the ribs of one who com- plained of'sore feet, but he knew the good and bad side of that man as few did and applauded the one and for- gave the other. A keen lover of horseflesh, he found the grand game of polo to his liking when he entered the United States Army. Two bad spills, with resulting injuries, did not prevent his going back, but the third brought orders. * ok ok ok ‘These were three rough bozos—fight- ing men, but gentlemen all. Such is the paradox of the service life to the layman. Is it because of the necessary crudity of the life, the harsh commands, the grunted orders that an officer turns inward on himself and brings forth in his civilian life an unusual portion of decency? The thing is psychological rather than dependent upon .that old wheeze about “a soldier and a gentleman.” No doubt that enters in; the long line of American officers, from George Washington onward, is noble, distin- guished, giving & man lineage worth living up to. \ ‘We can recall looking down upon the funeral cortege of Gen. Wood and thinking that the life he had led was the only one fit for a man, and that if we had to do it over again we would want to wear epaulets or howeveryou- spellems. “You wouldn't, either!” chorus our Army friends, but that is simply the world-wide belief of all men that if they had it to do over again they would do_something else. Maybe one would and maybe one wouldn't; no doubt the same old time, chance and circumstances would play their honored parts, as they have done, but certainly no one would be the worse, but only better, for being as kindly as Maj. Jim and Capts. Bob and Tom. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS turbing” and its use by women un- American” and ‘“destroys the feminine ideal,” he optimistically opines that if all tobacco advertising ceased, then “within five years the number of to- bacco users would decrease by half.” If such advertising directed to women ceased, he predicts, “the smoking woman would be a rare exception.” He visions the policy of the “American tobacco trust to extend the tobacco habit to every child who is old enough to go through the physical processes of smoking.” He calls upon members of Congress to ac- cord to the American home the protec- tion it deserves. Tps, of the Radio Commission since its in- ception, is shortly to leave to return to the Regular Army. To Capt. Hill prob- ably more any. other single man belongs the credit for working out the intricate structute of wave-length = ments, statlon power and allocations of time, which constitute the existing broadcasting . “set-up” and which brought order out of chaos of the air. But engineering problems and details have not abated, but rather multiplied with the growth of the industry, and in the recent law extending indefinitely the tenure of the commission provision was made for a permanent chief en- gineer, with a ‘salary of $10,000, and two assistants at $7,500, and the com- mission is now engaged in' seeking trained engineers of outstanding experi- ence from civil life for these berths. The appointments are expected within a few weeks, * ok ok % In dealing with the Veterans' Bu- reau Congress stipulated that most of the records of the bureau should be strictly confidential. These provisions have been held to preclude bureau of- cials from furnishing to any one, ex- cept upon the written authorization of the veteran himself, the address of any one on their rolls, whether he is the holder of a bonus or insurance certifi- cate, or a veteran receiving disability allowance, or medical treatment. Cases are innumerable of appeals from mothers seeking to locate a missing son, wives a missing husband, children a missing tather. In many instances the bureau knows precisely where the missing man is, or at least the address where he re- ceives his mail, but they must turn a deaf ear to appeals from his relatives, They volunteer to forward mail to him, but if he does not choose to answer and prefers to remain “lost” so far as his family is concerned, the bureau does not betray his whereabouts. (Copyright, 1930.) . Take Jewels to Taxicahs And Then “They Forget” From the Roancke Times. Perhaps it is the excitement of rid- ing in taxicabs that causes people to leave packages in them. This particu- larly applies to the larger cities. One reads of an opera singer leaving a $10,000 necklace in a cab, of a mes- senger stepping out and forgetting to gather $150,000 in securities that he was dispatching, or somebody leaving a packet of valuable plml’l. ite fre- quently there are storles in news- papers about such occurrences. A Chi- cago company finds that 11,000 per- sons left articles in the company's cabs last year. Women lost more than men and umbrellas were the most frequently forgotten articles. One woman forgot a centur{ plant and a can of beans and half a dozen persons left their store teeth. One hundred flasks were left behind, but only three contained anything. The prize forgetter was a musician, who left a big bass drum on the seat of a cab. Pretty good signs| that we are absent-minded and care- less, are they not? Primo’s Successor. From the Columbia, 8. C., State. Primo the dictator of Spain is suc- ceeded by a general who was defeated by the Moors, But, then, it would be perhaps impossible to find a Spanish general that has not been defcated by e Moars, for Al Smith are aiming at an indi- vidual, another Tom—Thomas B. Love. Mr. Love was a leader in the anti-Smith Democratic camp. He was at one time Democratic national committeeman for Texas and has be}sln x}_r:mln}sntlm party affairs for years. Mr. Love, having upset the apple cart, in 1928, is Inclined to be a candidate for governor of the Lone Star State this year. But the regular Democrats say he shall not make the race as the Democratic candidate. They have sought to bar him from the pri- mary. And now Mr. Love is to chal- lenge this action on the part of the Democratic State committee in the courts, on the ground' that it has no right to bar a man from participating in the primary as a candidate for nom- ination, particularly as the ‘committee proposes to allow all the anti-Smith Democrats to “vote” in the primary. * K % % Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas, who has represented the State in the Upper House of Congress since 1913, when he succceded former Senator Joseph Bailey, is to be a candidate to succeed himself again this year. Sena- tor Sheppard two months ago issued a statement in which he favored allow- ing all Democrats to participate in the party primary this year, whether they supported the national ticket two years ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS solely to the handling of queries. This paper puts at your dis] 1 the services of an extensive organization iri Wash- ington to serve you in any capacity that relates to information. This service is free. Failure to make use of it deprives you of benefits to which you are en- titled. Your obligation is only 2 cents in coin or stamps inclosed with your inquiry for direct reply. Address The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washing. ton, D. C. Q. How old _‘I_l so:cu Strauss, the composer?—H. T. S. A.pcll-le will be 60 on April 6. He has just arrived in this country. He is on his way to Hollywood to write theme songs for the talking pictures. . When was the Saturday Po?t. given this name?—J. H. A. As founded by Franklin in 1728, the periodical now known as the Sat- urday Evening Post was entitled the Pennsylvania Gazette. The name was changed in 1821 to avold confusion be- cause at that time there were six other papers in Philadelphia using the word Gazette in their title. Q. Was Lady Beaconsfleld older than her husband, Disraeli?—P. T. A. A. At the time of their marriage Disraell was 35 and his wife was 50. She lived to be 83. Q. Why are there so many more lakes in some parts of the country than in others?—J. J. D. A. The most common cause of the formation of lakes is the disturbance of drainage by glacial action. Thus, they are generally abundant in mountain regions or within those areas subjected to ice. Q. Is it safe to cook and eat the green leaves on rhubarb stalks?—M. C. A. The green tops should not eaten. Q. How is the velocity of the wind measured?—M. K. A. It is measured by an instrument called an anemometer. It consists of three or four hollow hemispheres on the ends of equal rods at right angles to each other and designed to rotate in a horizontal plane about the point of in- tersection of the rods. The instrument may be seen turning in the wind at any Weather Bureau station. Evening C. 2go or did not. He is like other Demo- cratic members of Congress from the South in the stand he takes, believing that the quickest and best way of heal- ing the wounds of 1928 is to encourage all the deserters to return to the party fold. But the folks back home still have blood in their eye apparently. They are intent on flattening out the Heflins and the Loves if they can do so. Senator Sheppard so far has no opposition to his candidacy for the Senate. Probably it would make not the slightest difference if he had op- position so far as his being returned to the Senate is concerned. For he is popular in the State, has the distinc- tion of being the author of the eight- eenth amendment to the Constitution, i§ as regular as a clock and has done as much for his constituents as any other man in the Senate or the House. But if no one offers against him, Sena- tor Sheppard will have the pleasant ex- perience of riding serenely into office without having to turn his hand. * ok % In Virginia the regular Democrats | did not play with fire, They held out the olive branch to the anti-Smith Democrats and permitted them to take any part in the party primary last year they desired to take. It worked and the efforts of the anti-Smith Democratic leaders, including Bishop Cannon, were unavailing, for the regulars nominated and then elected Gov. Pollard over the coalition candidate, Dr. William Mosely Brown. North Carolina, the fourth Democratic State to go Republican in 1928, is having its Democratic ruction this year. But there, as in Virginia, the party leaders have nbt undertaken to read the anti-Smith ‘people out of the party, so far as being candidates for office are concerned. Some of them would dearly like to read the veteran, Senator Furnifold Simmons, out of the party and the Senate. But they did not get far with such a suggestion. He is to be a candidate for renomina- tion this year, and there has been no effort to prevent his entering the primary, although he declared Smith should not be elected President. He has an opponent_for the nomination, Josiah William Bailey, of the soreheads and some of the politi- cal enemies that Senator Simmons has acquired during his long political ca- Teer. Senator Simmons is a fighter | from the drop of the hat. He is no longer young. But he has all the cour- age in the world and he has had for years a very large following in the State. He saw clearly what was going to happen to the Democratic cause in the South if Alfred E.Smith were nomi- nated in Houston, and the fact he was right and so many others were wrong still rankles in many Democratic bosoms, * Kk ok | . Senator Henry J. Allen of Kansas was born under a lucky star. He is to have opposition for the Republican nomina- tion for the Senate in the primary this August, it Is true, but two men dacy, which makes it a triangular race. In such a contest, it is believed that all | chances of Senator Allen’s losing van- iishes. It is quite true that Senator Allen might defeat any single candi- date entered against him. But with his opposition divided he is looked upon as a sure winner. On Kansas day, January 29, it is the custom for the politicians to make their announce- ments, and last week Representative Sproul of the third Kansas district and President Snyder of the Kansas Farm Bureau Federation declared they would enter the senatorial list, Representa- ’tlveufloch v;:l.lne;(pecud to have a try for the nomination, too, but he deci try again for the House. Fo Senator Allen has been a storm cen- ter in Kansas politics more than once. | He was elected governor and backed the Industrial Court plan, which got him in dutch with the labor organizations and also with capital. But the present governor, Reed, was a judge of the In- dustrial Court, yet he was elected chief executive of the State. So it is doubt- ful how much of the old opposition to coming senatorial race. Sproul is counting on getting the labor vote, :fi:ev"fil A_ndb.i{xyder }:he farm vote. N will probably get his full share of both. The junior Senator from Kan- sas, who was appointed to fill the va- cancy caused by the retirement from the Senate of Vice President Curtis, is a stanch supporter of President Hoover. He turned his back on the debenture plan of farm relief, supporting the Pres- ident in this matter, and was attacked In the Senate by Brookhart and other Republican progressives, Senator Allen, however, gave as good @s he received in the Senate dehlfind the people back home rather Wk» the way he fought back. Furthermore, the Kansas farmers are in pretty fair shape, like the new farm relief law and the Federal Farm Board, and are not as_radical s some of the farmers in other Western States. * ok X Report hes it that former Repre- sentative Rodenberg of Illinols is to enter the senatorial primary there. If | he does the race for the Republican nomination will have four entries— Senator Deneen, Mrs, Ruth Medill Mc- Cormick, Newton L. Jenkins, a Chicago But some of Mr. nberg's friends here doubt very much that he will enter the contest. He has spent much of his time in Washington practicing law since he voluntarily left the House a number of years ago. If he does throw his hat in the ring it will carry a wet feather. He will stand for modification of the 1ava ADd Will AUQREW 9RROSS e yember col have already announced their candi- | the Industrial Court will affect the | Q. Was some of the text of “All Quiet on the Western Front” left out of the edition sold in this country?—G. W. L. A. It is true that the editions sold in this country are expurgated. Q. How is George Cohan’s last name pronounced?—M. C. B. A. The Cohan family pronounce the name distinctly in two syllables, giving all letters full value—Co-han. Q. Why can stars be seen in the dny'.lm:' from a well or mine shaft?— A. Stars are not visible during the day because the superior light of the sun and its reflected rays from objects on the earth is so strong as to obliterate the tiny rays from stars so that the; make no impression on the retina of the eye. At the bottom of a shaft or very tall chimney, where no light en- ters and the direct rays of sunlight are cut off, the retina registers the rays from the stars and hence they become visible. Q. Is there a new railroad through Mexican Break While serious complications are not anticipated in connection with the Mex- ican action, breaking relations with Russia, effect of this move is be- ieved to be a curtajlment of red prop- aganda in other Latin American coun- tries. It is also observed that the sever- ing of relations is in harmony with the attitude of the United States. “Other nations have tried to play with | Moscow,” remarks the San Francisco | Chronicle, “and have found that the chocolate creams are always loaded with { red pepper. There is nothing at all sur- | prising about Mexico's inability to get along with the Bolsheviks. While Mexi- can envoys have been exchanging polite (words with Mr. Stalin in Moscow, Sta- lin's friends have been Whooping up Communist. disturbances in Mexico and | egging on demonstrations against Mexi- | can embassies and consulates in various { parts of the world. That is because dis- jcord is the keynote of the Kremlin's policy. The one ambition of Soviet | statesmen is to throw monkey wrenches | into the machinery.” * K K K Pointing out that England has remon- (strated to the Soviet government on its { own account, the Chicago Daily Tribune | states that “the Communists have been making trouble in both countries,” and adds:- “The reply of the Soviet to pro- tests is pulled out of a pigeonhole. It's the red devil, the Third Internationale, over which the Soviet says it has no { control. Its leaders are identical with the Soviet leadership, ideas and pur- poses, but although Mr. Stalin ‘looks alike’ he can't do anything about it, and that certainly is a tough break for both of them.” “The action interests Americans from two angles,” according to the Geneva Daily Times. “It is reassuring about Mexico, which many people in this country recently believed to be in active sympathy with Russian Communism. It indicates that the Soviet crowd, in spite of protestations to the contrary, is still up to the same old tricks.” The Ashe- ville Times is convinced that ‘“such events will confirm the majority of Americans in their opposition to the { minority which favors Russian recogni- | tion. Before we enter into formal rela- tions with the Soviet,” continues that paper, “we rightly demand of Russia i entry of the United States into the World Court.- Mrs. Medill McCormick in her effort to defeat Senator Deneen has come out on a strong anti-World Court platform. Senator Deneen voted for the adherence of the United States to the court when the matter was up in the Senate in 1926. His colleague did so, too, the late Senator Willlam B. McKinley, and Senator McKinley was defeated in the primary by Col. Frank L. Smith, running as a foe of the World Court. “Big” BHl Thompson, mayor of Chicago, was roaring around in those days against the World Court and King George, etc, and several anti-court speeches were delivered in Chicago by anti-World Court Senators. It has been reported that Senator Borah of Idaho would go to Chicago and make an anti-World Court speech during the present primary campaign. Such an address might be helpful to Mrs. Mc- Cormick, but Senator Borah says he does not intend to'do it. * K ok Kk Senator Deneen has the best of the argument so far, it appears. He has a real organization, which none of his opponents has. Jenkins, who has filed for the Senate nomination, ran in 1924, when Deneen defeated the late Senator McCormick, who was the husband’ of Senator Deneen's chief opponent now. Jenkins had the support of the pro- gressive group, which later backed La Follette in the presidential race of that year. He received about 125,000 votes. It's scarcely likely he will get so many this year. On the Democratic side, it looks as though “J. Ham” Lewis, the only Democrat to sit in the Senate from Ill%mol.s for many ;l Ioi;fl yenr—find he eft years ago—would have a walk-away for the senatorial nomination. The Democrats are hoping that the financial jam in which Chicago has recently found itself, due to the anticipation of taxes and the failure to make a new a ment, will aid them in the Ne-x This is a special department devoted , the BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN, Pyrenees between France and Spain?—S. K. \ A. The Pausarapossa Railroad Line, which was opened in 1928, connects France with Spain through the Pyre- nees Mountains. The tracks are lald through the most picturesque part of the mountains, reaching an altitude of 3,600 feet in some places. At Frank- fort a tunnel, just under 5 miles alti~ tude, connects France and Spain. Q. Will a marcel hold without bril- liantine?>—M. T. M. A. Some hair, especially fine hair, holds a marcel better without bril= liantine. Q. Please explain the expression “pea soup fog."—S. D. A. It is meant to give a picture de- scribing the color of the fog and con= veying an idea of its thickness. Q. Why do the Siamese give especial care to white elephants?>—E. H. B. A. The natives of Slam believe that the white elephant contains the soul of some dead person, perhaps an ancient . The people of Cambodia, Indo=- China, Sumatra and Abyssinia also hold the white elephant in high regard., Q. Is the same prayer offered each day at the opening of the session of Congress?—B. O. E. A. The prayers are extemporaneous and differ from to day. Q. Please give the general rules for Roman numerals.—A. T. A. General rules in Roman numerals are: Repeating a letter repeats its value; a letter placed after one of greater value adds thereto; a letter placed be« fore one of greater value subtracts from it. In employing Roman numerals, a dash line over a numeral multiplies the value by a thousand. Q. What countries other than ours pe | Talse oysters for the market?—E. K. S. A. The various countries which raise oysters for market besides ours are Eng=- land, France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Italy, Australia, China, Japan, Canada, Mexico and certain parts of South America and Algeria. In these various countries there are about 10 different cies of oysters, all of which are similar in structure to our own, though some do not grow so large and do not have the same flavor. Q. Is new-mown hay perfume actu= ally ml:de from the ofl of grasses?— E. . K. L. A. In the preparation of this perfume the compound coumarin is largely em= ployed. This is formed by the action of a ferment on the constituents of the plants. The proper tone is obtained by adding to the coumarin a certain quan=~ iity of lavender and bergamot. Q. What kind of a shawl is a Tili walla?—H. M. A. This is the name of one of the Indian or Kashmir shawls, which are loom woven, sometimes in one piece, but more often in small segments, which are sewn er with such pre= cision that the sewing is quite imper ceptible. They are called kai and Kani Kai, and are made principally in the Punjab. . Who invented paper bags?—M. T. 2_ ‘The honor of inventing paper bags goes to China. For centuries folded paper has been used as bags in that country. Our mmiel'xnz p;l;:ernl;:‘uh:: lved gradually. :::nrded just who has been responsi- ble for the present form. With Soviets, Backed by American Opinion roof that its government is responsible :nd that it does not foment agitation andx:m constituted authority in other lands.” ‘The Mexican gove + the Philadelphia Eve: | traced directly to Moscow the offensive | demonstrations against Mexican lega- | tions in other countries. It scorns the | absurd attempt of the Moscow regime, in view of its ruthless control of press, platform and all political activity in Russia, to pretend it is not responsible for the notorious Third Internationale. England is beginning to find evidences of renewal of the same vicious propa= ganda inspired by the regime it has just ized. The policy of the past and present administrations in Washington as to Soviet recognition is again vindi- cated.” “The Mexican government's assump- tion,” says the Providence Journal, ‘“means that the Soviet government is not yet ready to conduct its relations with other nations on a plane that will inspire mutual confidence. Indeed, within a week Foreign Secretary Hen- derson of the British government, with which' the Soviet government has re- cently re-established diplomatic rela- tions, has found it necessary to warn the Soviet embassy in London against resuming its propaganda efforts in Great Britain. * *° * The Soviet policy will certainly delay Russia’s re-entry into the full fellowship of nations. The fact that the Moscow authorities adhere to it must make the American government more determined than ever to c! to the program of non-resumption of diplo- matic relations.” * it,” explains ‘has W “The Mexican gewernment, unwilling longer to endure ‘insolence or affected incomprehension of our methods,’ finds severance of diplomatic relations with Soviet Russia the inevitable choice. It is not likely to be embarrassed by its action,” in the judgment of the New York Sun. The Altoona Mirror sug- gests that “it is probable that Russia ‘will pocket the insult, real or imaginary, and permit Mexico to live in peace. Should the charge of the Mexican au~ thorities be founded upon fact,” cone tinues that paper, “it is possible that the rest of the conservative world will follow the Mexican example. While Russia is within her rights in modifying her government program, the other na- tions of the earth may be justified in insisting upon cutting her acquaint ance.” “The action of Mexico,” suggests the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “may have a fairly wide effect if it causes some others of the Latin American countries to administer a similar rebuke to Rus« sia, attributing their Communistic an. noyances to her. As for the Commu. nists themselves, they probably would welcome the advertising. It is just a question of how long Russia can afford to be viewed, whether justly or not, as an international meddler.” The St. Louis Times, noting an absence of naval or other fighting equipment, concludes: “‘We resign ourselves to the indolent role of observers of a shadow boxing exhibi- tion, which will be confined to impotent gestures. It can't be much of a show, and hardly will hold the boards of the first page for more than a passing mo= ment.” *A severe blow to the Communist prop- aganda work which has gone on in the New World” is seen by the Flint Daily Journal, which points out that “Mexico has been held by Moscow to be its prin= cipal base of operations in the New ‘World,” and that “economic and social conditions in Mexico have been such as to make that country an inviting field for propaganda.” The Brooklyn Dally Eagle welcomes “the growing trend in Mexico toward stilling agitation and getting down to the business of improv- ing conditions.” The New Orleans ‘Times-] e avers that “with domes- tic ce restored, a stable government established and the latter’s program of orderly development and progress under way, Mexico nggmnuy found its Soviet friends more troublesome than helpful.” “The Russian regime,” says the Mus- kegon Chronicle, “will discover, much to its surprise and along with a lot of other revolutionists of the day, that the old-fashioned moralities it affects to de- spise are founded on human experience and cannot be flouted at will without its Pringing she ta griet,”