Evening Star Newspaper, March 11, 1931, Page 8

[THE EVENING With Sunday Morning WASHINGTON, D. O WEDNESDAY....March 11, 1831 profe NIRRT SN TS S 5 THREODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor fiter .o R The Evening Star Newspaper Company . B0 ce: S o Fast 4300 Poh Bk STAR Edition. Rate by Carrier Within the City. 45¢ per month 60c per month { exch montn or telephone Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. All Other States and Canada. mn Sunday. A.]yr.lfl. 0: § mo. s1,00 y .. yr.. $8.00: 1 mo. J5c v only i 1mo. oc Member of the Associated Press. Assocjated Press is exclusively entitled o ‘use for republication of all_news dis- es credited to it or not otherwise cred- this paper and also the local news ein All rights of publication of atches herein are also reserved. to ¢ 5 apect Gas Company Deals. ‘The Washington gas companies are sssuming the characteristics of a foot ball and the Public Utilities Commis- slon, rather helplessly, is trying to fol- low the direction of the punts. - They were kicked out of Washington and esught by various utility operators who finally passed the ball to the Seaboard Investment Trust. With a law on the books that was presumably airtight, the Public Utilities Commission sought to enforce it by tackling this trust in eourt. ‘The Public Utilities Commission grabbed nothing but an armful of air. The La Follette anti-merger act was found to be meaningless and its pro- wisions were defeated by the use of ‘words that have more standing in courts ©of law than anywhere else. Now the ball has changed hands again. The phantom Seaboard In- westment Trust fades away, to be re- placed by a creation known as the ‘Washington and Suburban Companies, which proceeds to issue bonds secured by stock in the concerns and places management of the propertiss in the bands of the Central Public Service Bystem of Chicago. The Seaboard Investment Trust has spparently served its purpose. ‘What was that purpose? Its management came to Washington with a blare of trumpets and a beating of drums and d to inaugurate an era of Bigger and Better Service, with a vol- that Mr. Raskob so attractively de. scribes. “Recreational parties of all kinds” will probably be organised at 5§ o'clock on Friday afternoon, but will they all head for the country? Per- haps for the first two, or maybe three, Priday afternoons at 5 o'clock. But on the fourth Friday afternoon one is forced to visualize father's home coming, loaded up with ornithological literature, fish hooks and butterfly tracts, to be greeted by an apathetic, it not antagnostic, family circle. Mother will coldly inquire whether he realizes the dangers from infected mosquito bites and does he know that she is still lame from sleeping on & rock. The ¥ | darling little daughter will serve notice that this is the afternoon she has been invited to go to a movie and the tea dance is tomorrow. Junior will demand to know whether he has got to give up a promising career in the base ball profession in order to study those darn birds. And father? He may put up a little fight, if he is a loyal Democrat, and insist on heading for the country again. One's guess is that he will be glad to get back to the office to catch up on his work. And if he has no such ineclinations, you will probably find him on Saturday afternoon--the fourth Saturday afternoon — fanning himself at the ball park and addidg to the stability of the peanut trust, We all want a lot of leisure and & chance to study the birds and the buttercups—for the first three Satur- days. —ra—————— The Watson Questionnaire. Senator Watson, Republican leader of the Senate, has challenged the Progres- sives, meeting here today, to answer four- teen questions regarding public problems and governmental policies. The chal- lenge, sent from New York to Senator Norris, chairman of the Progressive con- ference, calls on the Progressives to an- swer whether they desire to repeal the eighteenth amendment or have the Fed- eral Government take over the enforce- ment responsibility of the State. It asks the Progressives to say whether they desire the recognition of Russia, the Government ownership and opera- tion of the railroads and the public utilities, whether they seek to have the Congress given power to override the decisions of the Supreme Court and whether the Constitution should be amended so as to do away with the presidential veto of measures passed by Congress. The questionnaire also wishes the Progressives to say whether they favor a Government ‘“dole,” whether the Farm Board should be abolished, whether the Farm Board should cease making loans to farmers and whether the tariff on farm products should be reduced. It demands the attitude, too, of the Progressives on an embargo or a tariff on oil and on immigration. In the Progressive group of Senators who have called the conference, and in the entire group meeting here today, there are men who would say “Yes" #ts pressure, despite regulations against such increases, possibly to supply gas But herent design without the development plans to care for expansion.” Gas have increased. The reason they creased, according to the quoted of one gas company official, le are eating more in in restaurants. They are ‘That is why they are FER ee g Egi §§i§§ g g Seaboard Investment served its purpose, whatever new holding company enters scene. Management is transferred » 90 & Chicago company, with resulting § ties, at present, as to the fate of personnel concerned with present find out who owns the gas companies, end how. The investigation should not be & superficial inquiry. All of the efforts made to test the legality of the first transfer of ownership should be re- peated and increased to test the validity »Of this second transfer. By law the “Public Utllities Commission is given #pecific suthority over consolidations and financing of utllities “property in the District of Columbia.” 8o far the Public Utilities Commission has been as much ignored in the current financing and consolidation plans as if it never existed. By law the Public Utilities Commis- sion is supposed to examine changes in ownership, financing, stock issues, etc., to make sure they are in the “public in- terest.” The people here have no way of knowing whether the gas company deals are in their interest. They may be, but it is presumed that they are chiefly in the interest of the utilities operators, who do not form holding companies to swallow up local concerns for the fun of it. - Party leaders are more numerous than wsual, each leading a group that favors some particular purpose or ideal. The art of politics depends on conciliation and it is generally understood that the art of statesmanship was never more needed than at present. o Raskob the Poet. ‘Mr. Raskob reveals himself as a poet s well as an economist of sorts when he pictures the benefits of the five-day week : Adoption of a five-day week will in- erease consumption enormously, for the reason that when the week's work is finished at 5 o'clock Friday afternoon recreational ies of all kinds will be mn\ud. instance, a man will his wife and children in his auto- mobile to the country, to a watering , the mountains or a camp. The ly will be thrown together for a week end out of doors in God's sun- light, where all the beauties of nature be_studied and taught the chil- What_a , trees, flowers, fish and camp life in general, and, apart from such healthy to learn all about |- mental development, think of the great ical advantages children will gain week ends in the country. All this will result in consumption of more bber, fabrics and mate- The five-day week may increase con- sumption enormously, but one is forced 49 bt that it will be Zor the reascns to nearly all of these questions. But there is likely to be little unity of opin- jon by all of the Progressives on any of them. The Republican senatorial leader has thrown & bomb into the Progressive meeting at its start. Either the mem- bers of the conference will undertake to make reply or they will ignore the questionnaire, If they reply they lay themselves open to criticism within their own ranks, for who can speak for all of them on prohibition, or on the question of Government ownership of the railroads and the public utilities, or on the question of an oil embargo, which has split the West and the East? If no reply is made to the challenge of Senator Watson the Progressives will be subject to attack on the ground they are unwilling to discuss concrete ques- tions and care merely for generalities and talk. ‘The Watson questionnaire may do for the Progressive conference what the Progressives have undertaken in the last Congress and in several previous Con- gresses to do for the Republican organi- zation of the Senate. It may split the conference wide open. The Progressives may fetort that Senator Watson, a standpat Republican, has no business catechizing those who believe in “Pro- gressive principles.” But if they do, they lay themselves open to the charge that they are dodging questions which either now confront the country or will con- front it. The questions of prohibition and an oil embargo are both to come before the next session of Congress. Mr. ‘Watson would like to know what the Progressive program is to be in regard to these matters, which, after all, are considered important by & very large number of people in this country. What are the Progressives to answer? [ The farmer is again exbected to be enough of a financier to understand how to manage loans and mortgages, as well as crops. No business requires more versatility than agriculture. —_—————————— No accurate method is known of measuring the relative strength of “wets” and “drys” The presence of strength is unmistakably indicated by the evidences that both sides are thor- oughly afraid of each other. oo Joseph P. Cotton. The work of the Undersecretary of State is not, under our system, of a character to attract public notice, vet no other single official of the Depart- ment of State is a more potent factor in its internal conduct or in its vitally important relations with the members of the diplomatic corps stationed in ‘Washington. Joseph Potter Cotton, who has just left the scene following a protracted period of distressing 1iliness, was s splendid exemplar of what the right bower of the Becretary of State should be. Brought here by Col. Stimson from the New York bar, where they had been intimate professional associates, Mr. Cotton was forthwith intrusted with the task of reorganizing the departmental administration. Rapidly, because of his personal charm and tact, a specles of teamwork ensued, said by men and women who have long been at “State” never to have been known there before. He became “Uncle Joe” to his co- workers and subordinates, & sobriquet which spoke volumes for his popularity and their devotion. Periodically the Undersecretary of State serves as a buffer between Ambas- sadors and Ministers of foreign govern- ments and the Secretary of State. Fre- quently, especially during Col. Stimson's prolonged absence at the London Naval Conference, Mr. Cotton functioned as Acting Segretary. In all of these re- sponsible emergencies he acquitted him- . THE EVENIN STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, WE self with outstanding skill. He enj¢ the confidence of President Hoover no less degree than that of Secre! Stimson. One of the “new patri whom the Chief Engineer brought it his administration—8100,000-a-year m. in private life, who were willing to ser BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. the republic at a tenth of that income- Employes of many business establish- Joseph Potter Cotton typified the calments in Washington have the pleasant ber of able seamen upon whom a fortu!bit nate Uncle Sam seems always able of giving presents to their fellows occasion. Usually such gifts are confined to call when the’ ship of state needs tceddings, trips and ilinesses, but we draft them for high duty. j0w of one mercantile firm where The American bar loses in him one of® departments specialise in birthday its adornments, the country a distin-gvery worker lets the date of his guished and able public servant. Lighting the Monument. Out of the experiments now being conducted atop the Washington Monu- ment to provide adequate warning for night fiyers will unquestionably come an appropriate system that will defl- nitely end the menace of the tall shaft to those who roam the skies in the darkness. Various types of illumina- tion are now being tried. The other night, for instance, the tip of the Monument was bathed in a red glow which observers declared to be highly effective. Other devices will be installed and tried until the best is found and then the shaft will serve both as a warning and direction mark for fiyers. ‘Washington has been undergoing, in the vicinity of its airports, the same ex- perience as that of other cities, Build- ings and other obstructions near land- ing fields have been found to present a serious danger to fiyers at night and & general program has been going on all over the country for the proper {llumi- nation of these objects. With the Cap- itol already illuminated and a fine sys- tem of lighting near and on the air- ports, the Monument, is practically the last of the danger spots. The experi- ments on it, therefore, cannot be con- cluded too soon. ———reee Underworld promoters of superficial gayety are becoming careless. Less skill is being shown each year in preventing the innocent amusement seeker from realizing that there may be a high-pow- er car outside waiting to take some dis- tinguished member of the audience for a ride. Possible dictatorship is feared in Peru. The chief controversy does not relate so much to general patriotic sentiment re- garding the idea of a dictator as to the identity of the personages qualified to fill the position. In Havana the bullding occupied by a comic publication that touched on public affairs was attacked by a mcb. Mobs have, from time immemorial, been distinguished by the lack of a sense of humor. ————— A number of -important financial connections do not tempt Al Smith to give up the role of a “happy warrior” in politics for the more serene position of a leading man in big business, e When Mayor Jimmy Walker decides to take a vacation he is regarded by his admirers as one who did not start the Tammany trouble and, therefore, should not be expected to finish it. o SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Income Tax Return, I try to meet my taxes as I should. The calculations leave me rather sad. While my intentions are exceeding good I know that my arithmetic is bad. I try to figure out each cent that's due, While friends protest I'm growing thin and pale. If some mistakes I make before I'm through, Will you forget me when I go to jail? Good old acquaintance, times with peril thrill, The motor cops keep guard in every place; If a convivial drop I chance to spill The law will advertise my fall from grace. But for my deepest dread I have to thank This paper, where my figures often fail. If I go wrong in filling out the biank, Do not forget me when I go to jall. Though I'm no figure in a homicide, 8end me a bright occasional bouquet. 8end me my pictures printed far and wide, And cigarettes to pass the time away. Since I may be called to account for crime, Bay it was mathematics made me fail To keep my life unsullied and sublime. Do not forget me when I go to jalll No Polite Dueling. “In the old days an offended states- man sent & challenge to a duel.” “Yes,” answered Senator Sorghum. “The formalities were rather impressive, At present shooting has become so com- mon that it is utterly undignified and out of the question. Jud Junkins says a good disposition helps & man along in life, up to the point where it gives people the impres- sion that he is easily imposed on. The Calamity Spokesman. My banner of grief is unfurled. With Calamity’s mourners I've sat. Let's look for the End of the World. There is nothing more gloomy than that. On trivial predictions why waste An energy plaintive but strong? The End of the World suits my taste, 1 am sure it will soon be along. As Chivalry Fades Away. “Does your wife drive the car?” “Yes,” answered Mr. Chuggins. “You see she isn't working. Bo I let her drive 50 that if the police bother us, I let her get arrested so that I won't have to lose time from the office.” “He who tells a sad story only for the sake of sympathy,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “delays a remedy of his fortunes by wasting not only his own time but that of a friend who might be helpful.” 3-Cent Car Fare. Education is & blessing. Let our studious youth take heart, Tardiness can't be depressing When the street cars do their part. “De game is gettin’ so skase round here,” said Uncle Eben, “dat goin’ hunt- in' looks like unemployment takin' de form of useless hard work.” B — Distance Lends Enchantment. Prom the Columbus Ohio State Journal. It must be rather nice to be wellu'a = h to O;l in terms be known, although he may not how many of them he has lsugh. %1s then the duty of the “commit- 'to purchase a birthday present for Aior her, as the case may be, and tejlect from his assoclates for its t, Pmnt. sully this necessary work is done imcet, in great secret, as this makes thetire process more enjoyable. * Kk x % ine shirt, and tie, and pair of 80 P_v constitute such a birthday preni This is a sample of such gifts. H\| dozen or more of these col- lecthsare taken up every month, it is i but the total outlay bears heav on no one, and affords & gl::fl mento to all, as every one day. In of establishments—+and this in- clude Grernment offices—such _gifts are aifed to more specialized oc- cu:on e eflflvtfi of course, is one of largesbfhese. We suppose no single occasit ge rise to more inappropriate zlf’;:uh flr‘;. is. i i © bdity of presenting & re- tired mh §th a nice clock to tick oft his refing minutes needs no il- lustratic. An e# hair is better, but even it has its nbacks. W Usuall work of the “committee” turns o the duty of one man. Every as at least one of these —we welabyt to say busybodies, but that wou nfair. It takea Gtain disposition, some- times ak to infus, to be the chair- man of £ “cCamittee.” Such snan-sually it is's man— must hava g°Nne desire to be help- ful and | “doaings” for others. Unless géfgriow some such person you will iveho idea just how selfish, in the y work of the world, most humy * Most_hiht beings are so interested in A No. tht they have little time for No. 2,3¢No, 3, and No. 4, and so_on. Theoretidy:of course, they are willing to anifhe presence of others and to givehebplace, but mostly it must be Imith that they suffer others rat’r tHy rejoice in their presence. To suchhumamueings and these constitute te bulkys workers in all lines of €eavor, 'e greatest favor :tltey can 20W anohy s to let him one. Their $inctivapolicy of “dog eat dog” and“thedevil take the hind- most” 1s, in the result of prac- tical everyd& ng refined finally to & system in "{Wthey are willing to let others alnif they are accorded the like beneltemaelves. * *x Now, our clahn has more of the milk of humm idness in him, from the very starl.ols career, evidently. He takes, not & negative, but a posi- tive, interest in his fellow workers. ‘Whatever his faults may be, no one can say of him that he is not sincerely glad to participate in these little gift occasiol 5. He does not shrink, as many do, from the task of circulating the list, and see- | era ing to the collections, and purchasing the present, and finally presenting it. He is the ringmaster of the show, whether the occasion be a wedding, or & trip abroad, or a retirement. His face fairly oozes contentment. It may be said that the man who is to get the gift will be fortunate if he gets alf the pleasure from the reception as this man gets from the giving. * % % & On second thought, it is not so much the giving as the getting, as the whole plan, which pleases our man. He enjoys every minute of it. The selection of the gift is his meat. If he almost invariably chooses an inap- prug:llu something or other, he is not to blamed, for usually he has too much money. Perhaps the average person would fain not contribute, but the genius of the hive, as it were, demands that he give. Maybe he has a secret dislike for the man who is to get the silver percolator, whlc‘h is too large for anything but a hotel. But he must put his name down; he can never be sure that the “list,” as it is called, will not be seen by the victim. 80 he puts his name down. Every- body else puts his name down. The names go down so fast that before an hour is up the chairman has enough money to purchase a percolator large enough for the Mayflower, £ hE* 8o what is the chairman to do but secure a large tray to put the perco- lator on? The result of this combination is a nobby gift, indeed, one which would please a Grandee, or Grand Seignior, or maybe a Maharajah. Ordinary John Jones, esq., who actu= ally gets it, has no idea in the world what to do with it. It is tco big. John likes his coffee, but he doesn't want to swim in it. This huge affair would deliver enough coffee, served in ordinary cupse, to g0 half way round the world. * ok kX ‘The good old chairman of the “com- mittee,” however, never stops for an in- stant to consider Jones, or the perco- lator either, He has $7065 on hand, when he had expected about $30, and the question was what to do with it. Jones had shown an unexpected strength, and the results were stagger- ing. You can buy a lot of percolator for $79.€5 these days, as the chairman found out. 80 he ordered the heaviest, the most massive. the grandest percolator in town, and & regular bit of silver plate armor to go beneath it. ‘When he stood in front of J. Jones, esq., proudly fingering the string which held the paper which concealed the gift, he fairly beamed. No one could blame him, not even Jones afterward. No man in history ?;.d‘ Bever got so much percolator for WASHNGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. ‘There isn't’ sty Tor the mer of & neces- 's in conclave at to form a third Wheeler in 1924, ¢ Oyrwise enter the presidential lists a8 ong before next year's camgil‘l\ o Progressive third party will b 8 g in being, if not in name It will Tithe roost on Capitol Hill, By 1ts dinonty can legislation be enacted. V¢ the ex- clusive stress which rs Norris, Wheeler, La Follette, C4z and Costi gan lay upon the {0fation of a pro- gram for consideratidy the incoming Beventy-second It is these entlemen and their batetic Repub- ican and Democratijijes in House and Senate who will | a definite and decisive balance of pd, * ¥ ¥ In the Senate thwy|y temporarily g0 Republican for A of per- petuating their presnivish share of committee chairmanhiplums (Borah, Foreign Relation: , Judiclary: Nye, Public Lan , Interstate Commerce; Norbeck,lating and Cur- rency; Howell, Clairt bhnson, Com- merce; Frazier, Indis Hairs; La Fol- jette, Manufactures,ag Shipstead, Printing). But on r¢cAs the Repub- lican Progressives wilheiG. O. P.-ism and go Norris. In flhm it may be young Mr. Kvale, bor, of Minnpesota, who'll cashe on organization. Lal on yisconsin's 10 Progressives are §ng plre the tune in a chamber &wost &ally di- vided between Repubans 8§ Demo- crats. These iron fac.by abor, iding vote essive council of war new party becomes cryat: take the trouble to ofize already is? * x Kkt The stage managers (" sive convention are irjd anything they are reaf ‘Wh what ernors they Roosevelt of New Yé, Pennsylvania, La Follck of Olson of Minnesota an Mel gon all developed [pvious hgage- ments. The fact that jost of executives at the moent havelegis- latures on their handwas the generally assigned forte gubernprial boycott of the Progrese POWesw, In st least two cases—0¥.of Ciovs. Roosevelt and Pinchot—e causes were the actual determinal Yorker isn't doing anythi that can remotely jeopardi: for the Democratic preside ination. _As for the shiftyint Gifford, he has by no mea: himself that the regular nomination next year majnot¥op into the lap of a 100 pertent power, anti-booze Progresfe of kidney. * oK K * Washington _ newspaper grieved over the physical one of their oldest friends, McDowell, veteran servitor al tional Press Club, “Mac” couple of months ago and Freedmen’s Hospital. The ch he can ever resume work are der. Nobody knows just how is. He must be close to 90. htil Winter he was on duty at he ol erect and spry and verbose as fer, his nimble wit and passion for words unwithered. McDowell h a distinguished career. Besids clai ing to be one of the millioor m darkeys who at one time or gher hel Storewall Jackson's horse, h was f years butler to Gen. NelsonA. Mil Before that he was private dh the yacht of Samuel J. Tilden ap companied the celebrated New Democrat on a cruise to England. the Press Club four years ago fo into its own building “Mac” moted "0!? ll nllv:r ::. doomun‘.‘ more genial n his £ bodies of any ”?m' " * Ok K ox H Now that the BState Dep reviewing the state of our relations’ Soviet Russia, the new book of ica’s foremost authority cn_the G munuur." regime, the Rev. Edmund of Uni Thterest 10 s calied 1| sylvania and Kern of Indiana. < | article in your Last Stand—An Interpretation of the Soviet Pive-Year Plan.” Father Walsh, who recently left Washington for one of his periodical visits to Rome, believes that Czar Stalin and his fellow auto- crats at Moscow instigated the five-year plan as a desperate last throw by a nation, poor in capital but rich in crude strength, for the purpose of capitalizing the present globe-girdling economic de- pression. The underlying suggestion in Dr. Walsh's book, just off the press at Boston and consisting in part of his brilliant series of wn lectures st Fall, is that the Communistic re- gime will stand or fall by the results of Stand of Gas Company _On Pressure Is Scored To the Editor of The Star: Again permit me to comment on the latest published reports concerning the g2s situation in Washington. It is almost unbelievable that the company could take the stand it has in its controversy with the Public Utilities Commission. It has made s lamentable salesmanship op- — ;:1 a ::gy“ ‘:\m the public ever since the ownership passed into outside ands. Disregard of public safety and public rights will not be tolerated by any arbi- trary or illegal actions of the gas com- pany. Gas is a public utility affecting every man, woman and child in the city and environments. It must be ad- ministered in accordance with justice, law and reason, or it will eventually 'r'lhlve ul: be taken over the people emselves. From can gather, the predica- ment in which the company finds itself —lulelL a matter of jure over the allowabie limit—is its own fault and is , to house heat- traceable, in large degree, whien Sreriated o this end. ve: i gnn be expected when so little judgment is exercised in & major enterprise, up- system in 3 n?uu-helfinl plants should be allowed except by permit, the company show- ing that Chl;.:wmmdrlfl fi‘ the gas main in the case - ble without unduly affecting the pres- sure or ration of other appliances. Mr.v?ood the president of the new company, evidently was brought up in the school of high-pressure salesman- ship, and certainly as a salesman he has made & good job of it. But something more is wanted. The goods s0ld, and sales should not exceed al ity to maintain the material in proper order without upsetting the rest of the tricks. Fallure to surround the management with_conservative el talent the first place, to avoid the evident pit- falls which have been reached, was bad judgment. Stop to think of it for & single min- ute. One can perhaps visualize the vast outlay necessary to relay the hundreds of miles of gas mains in Washington with the single purpose of heating | homes seven months of the year, to re- main practically idle the balance of the year. Can they raise the money? I doubt it, under present conditions. A consolidation of the local gas com- panies is sought by the management. Congress has some champions of the ople in it who will demand a full air- mg of the recent complaints, and will see to it that only meritorious programs will be tolerated. Mr. Wood has already publicly stated that Washington gas was uneconomical, to produce at its present heating quality, heating value should be reduced 50 to 75 heat units, Is this a move to be shortly made by the gas company? If 80, it .lhfidp?d fully anticipated and | promptly stopped. | While the gas company explained in public hearings'the losses expected the first year of operation under the new gas rate, the public must watch keenly | all items of expense account tend- ing to point to an increase in rates due to losses sustained. Especially should appliance sales expenses be scrutinized. The public should not be asked to re- imburse the company for any losses they arbitrarily set in a business ven- ture in which such losses were antici- pated in estimated future profits in greater gas consumption. The whole subject seems to be wide open. We can rely upon the Public Utilities Commission and Mr. Keech for alertness in protecting the people’s interests. ‘W. M. WALLACE. “Mlfi-gi‘lxging:’ Flayed; Hoover’s Work Lauded To the Editor of The Star: ‘The Seventy-first Congress has ended '%u that the Presi- session, for which the scheme to conve.t Russia by brute | bees force from an agricultural into an in- dustrial power. * x k% Lieut. Col. John Thomas Taylor, vice chairman of the National Legis- lative 'Committee of the American Legion, deserves a medal of honor from the veterans. Virtually every dollar of bonus legislation—and that's saying a mouthful—enacted by Con- gress during the past four of five years was enacted under Col. Taylor's driv- ing salesmanship. When not on the firing line on Capitol Hill, where his bustling, soldierly figure is familiar to every member of House and Senate, ‘Taylor practices law at the District of Columbia bar. ve of Pennsylvania, he grew up in Indiana. In the years before the war he ingratiated himself with Senators Boise Penrose of Penn- From France, Taylor, who went over as a private, emerged as & captain, d brought home half a dozen citations for extraordinary gallantry before the enemy. Before the foes of bonus legis- lation, Taylor, now & reserve officer in the Chemical Warfare section, reveals no less intrepidity than when the Germans in the Argonn ' xox % Martin Codel, Washington radio writer, has coined & brand new idiom— ‘audible journalism.” That’s his name for broadcasting of news, analyses of politics and reports of current events, which are becoming more and more regular features of radio programs of throughout the ccuntry. At the recent Cleveland convention of national broad- casters,_somebody who remembered Ed- mund Burke's immortal designation of the preas as the fourth estate, christened radio “the fifth estate.” (Copyright, 1931.) o Statue’s “Tobacco Leaf” Headpiece Held Palmetto To the Editor of The Star: A short time ago I was reading an aper about the Statue of Freedom on the dome of the Capitol. In your article it said there was a string of tobacco leaves hanging down from the back of the head. this you are mistaken. They tobacco leaves, but palmetto leaves. My father, Capt. C. D. Brown, was em- ployed about the Capitol for years. He was there at the time the tue was finished and the sculptor had taken it to the Capitol for Congress to inspect. My father told me that Jefferson Davis, ‘who was then Secretary of War, thought the South ouxm to be represented and so they decided to add the palmetto leaves. Some of the Senators thought that the neck was too long, but the sculptor, Thomas Crawford, said that they must remember that it was goin, to at a great height and so wouls look all right. However, although it broke his heart, he had shorten the neck, with the had pm‘?hened. as if set on the shoulders. p{ have lived in Washington about 50 ears. My husband was Charles Parker, 4 well known vania avenue hotographer on Pennsy peiny was minister. My mother was a [ descendant of I was connected with m; are not M to result that It made the head or years. My father was one of the Browns of Rhode Island, descended from Chad Brown, who er Willlams® dearest friend and lineal Ro‘er Williams, so I am a descendant of the ninth generation. husband's | ness. business and met many tinguished ople while there. I also boarded in house with many distin- ished Senators. I am nearly 82 years pld, but have a very retentive memory nd keep up with affairs all over the orld. Pl correct this statement B8 HITZARETH BROWN PARKER, to_put the gress was, apparently, {'. Some tried to ministration in a_ hol make President, and to the sul nt drought (for which, it may hmnld. he was not responsible) ‘The country had been at too stiff & pace. The mill Was after more millions. Greed was everywhere. The resources of the country were being consumed at an enormous rate. Gam- bling on the stock market was absorbing he ition of all sections of our coun- iry to an extent never equaled before. Wild speculation in numerous other lines was rife. Warnings of men of long experience in financial matters went unheeded. A crash was inevitable, e been re-elected to Smith or any other the presidency or than Mr. Hoover been chosen’ as man than aced | President, the crash would evidently have come just the same. Mr. Hoover has shown great patience and common sense in dealing with the, trying conditions through which we are ing, and the countfy may consider tself fortunate in having a man with his vision and qualifications as Presi- gleom during this period of world depres- n. “gnned:t lfgr, tl!;:o\lr;r‘: administration an st effor made to enfor the prohibition I y ot mmm umli':t prior e results are apparent everywhere, Violations by men in high positions are no longer treated lightly, and use of intoxicants by the common herd, espe- clally the young people, is losing its Ppopularity. Mr. Hoover believes it is the duty of all citizens to observe all laws, whéther :he laws conform to their views or not; that we have the right to work for the repeal of a I but not to violate it. He makes an honest effort to obtain the facts about any matter requiring {legislative action, and is governed by the facts in deciding what action he will take. A safe and sane President, who is deeply interested in the welfare of all the people. JNO. W. DAVIS, e Curb Vendors Blamed For Lot of Failures To the Editor of The Star: The reason so many stores are being vacated and their proprietors in business and heading for bankruptcy courts may be attributed in part to those conducting business from - carts, baskets and boxes on_our sf venues. This gives Washington ppearance of unfortunate Euro- pean cities, and should be discontinued. Street corners are filled with apples, lemons, oranges, bananas, lead fencfll, chocolate candy and even “bootleggers’™ wares; and those who rent stores to sell these articles and mrent and license to do so are thus dicapped by these groups with no Flowers and photographs expense: are also on sale on the streets and avenues. No wonder reputable merchants are icking on this “free sales” business. streets are made for pedestrians, not “panhandlers” of money and busi- H. T. McCONVEY, The Joke’s on Whom? From the Cleveland News. ‘Wedding rrty from Indiana robbed the home of the Illinois her who mmrmed the ceremony, but, of course, Jel:. may have been just s wedding ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. ‘This bureau does not give advice, but it gives free information on ln{ sub- ject. Often, to be accurately informed is to be the need of advice, and information is always valuable, whereas advice may not be. In using this serv- ice be sure to write :lurl;. state your -cent stamp n Q. On what dates in 1932 will the Olympic ganfés be held?—T. J. A. They are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from Saturday, July 30, fi';u;du, August 14, sixteen days and Q. How does the accidental fatality rate per thousand in the United States pr.I?u'h‘:;‘h othlerr mmflut—n H. . est in country. Can- comes next, then Aumzfin and Switzerland, then New Zealand, Scot- land, England and Wales, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Norway and France. Q. How many logs were in Lincoln's birthplace?—A. R. \ A. The cabin was constructed of 143 ogs. Q. Isn't it the tendency nowadays to employ younger people in preference to older ones>—E. L. 8. A. Prom 1890 to 1920 the proportion of men between 45 and 64 years of age gainfully employed in all occupations except agriculture increased by more than 23 per cent. While results of the 1930 census are not yet available, this same tendency is indicated by & study of employes covered by group insurance policies of six insurance mwhs in 1923 and 1928, This reveal that throughout the peflo‘do :l{aw-d - every age group over an in- cr:zo - :mpflryml ent. Thernm is .:1; dence that employes are ytnf their jobs longer and growing old in service in the report that the rate of turnover in labor in 1928 in about half of that in 1923. . How does one apply for entrance lnqt}::’wunzr Brothers’ School of Act~ ing?—J. M. A. The Warner Brothers’ First Na- tional School of Acting is maintained for the ingenues and juveniles under Jong-term contract in that studio, and it is not opened to the general public. Practically all of the studios maintain some kl.nl of & teacher of dramatics. . In what !fl dl&c AT-mn Burr's ason e e "“;.\l. ‘gmmtflll of Au'gn Burr for trea- son lasted from August 3 to August 31, 1807. and that to economically produce it, its W appeared in the New ‘Monthly ,, published in England. The latter T o it was published three volumes. More than 500,000 coples were sold in land alone and its success in the United States was even greater. A survey conducted by publishers here and abroad shows that more than 15,000,000 coples of the novel have been sold. The author's rights were so extensively abused that in spite_of the world-wide use of her theme she received no benefits of au- thorship outside of England. This fla- grant piracy started a movement to devise some protection of literary works in this country and British lands, the result of which was the international copyright law adopted in 1890. Q How long was the cloth-yard shaft as used in the days Robin Hood?—C. T. \ i A. The Archers Comj Pine- y of hurst, N. C, says that hilites for have the inch. plle added to 3t the ch-] ~t yard mm&u. became a 28-inch.” Q. How often have real have occurred. e shortest recession began in 1907 and lasted for only eight months. The longest recession began in 1912 and lasted for 25 months. This recession, ver, may be left out of consideration because it was abnormally longed by the outbreak of the World 'ar. The second est recession be- gan in 1910 and 3 , 8 mont months; 1912, 25 months; months; , 9 months; ), sion not ended.” For. e e un! New York City was first ml‘n 1870. It was established 3 Board of Education. It was named for Thomas Hunter, Tion, "I 1530 Doere were' 3008 siinss in aitendance. sy o Veto for Muscle Shoals Bill Starts Nation-wide Debate its of has followed the veto by President Hoover, The question of Government operation is viewed from many angles, while the President’s suggestion that a board ited two States opin! ernment regulation, as exem) the past or proposed for the “A ringing challenge to those would further weaken and cripple cogent, and the 1 “un 80 convincing acts are c that i is not surprising that Se Norris could not m The Youngstown Vindicator avers that “the engineer President here :idv:ufigo country the benefit of expert “The country has the sound judg- Supporting the President in his veto, ment to agree with Mr. Hoover,” ac-|f cordi ing to the Hartford Times, while the Indianapolis Star holds that the "frflldenflll action upholds the jority in this try that the | fc a majority country nould. Government not engage in busi- ness” The Philadelphia Evening Bul- letin is convinced that “the power of Government to regulate to the extent that the public welfare requires it is nngr." the question of rej tion, the 8t. Louis Post-] teh es the posi- tion that “regulation of the power in- dustry has broken down because of de- cisions by the United States Supreme Court,” and that “there is not a State in the Union which has not found its regulatory commission powerless in the face of those decisions.” The Topeka Daily Capital argues that “regulation of power is at this time a practical nullity”; that “State public service com- missions are blocked by the overlapping o into_interstate commerce and Fe regulation is lacking.” The Rochester Times-Union points out that “when it is desired to get the utilities to do any- thing they don’t wish to do, regulation devfivm into a battle in the Federal courts, with odds all on the side of the utility companies and the costs of liti- gation c!lll'[!d‘w"«he l:ecple." * “No doubt the President will suffer politically because of his veto,” thinks the Newark Evening News, which, how- ever, states that “he is to be commend- ed for having enunciated a policy in ac- cord with American ideals.”” After con- sidering queries on traditional policies, lease provisions of the vetoed bill, fer~ tilizer possibilities, national defense and ublic interest in the area affected, the ew York Sun concludes: “The answer is likely to be negative to all five, But if the answer were affirmative in regard to them all there is still all the people should be taxed for the benefit of a few in order that private initiative may be wrecked.” “The general principle that the Fed- eral Government should keep out of business that belongs primarily to_the peo] is indorsed by the Atlanta Con- stitution. . The St. Louis Globe-Democrat asserts that “Muscle Shoals itself and all public enterprises of its type would ‘The requirement of an and superior type of mind as manager” h&md by the Buffalo Evening News, with the comment that “the United States hardly can afford to undertake enterprises of such a character that only one man could manage them suc- cessfully.” The Baltimore Sun holds the that “an intelligent national of the power issue wculd pere mit an honest experiment in Govern= ment ownership and operation.” The Kansas City Star recognizes the “unde sirability and danger of Government wnership or operation as a general observing that “for more this prop= erty and to realize on the investment,” that paper concludes that “the plan em- ed seemed the only gl Intel cer maintains that “it is better to have the plant remain idle than to hand of the taxpayers to the power ‘trust.’” The Anniston Star regrets that “the t muffed its chance” when itical issue. lews, however, sees “no danger at pres- ent of power monopoly.” “We hold no fear of Government Altimately prove disastrous,” while the | Fatnes raises the issue ? 48 8 2 g H g 5 Es ]