Evening Star Newspaper, June 3, 1931, Page 8

A—S8 % THE EVENING STA ‘With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY......June 3, 1031 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company ‘Business Office: 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. New Yorl ast 4and &t e Michigan Building. Regent .. London, pointee comes up for confirmation. ‘The public will naturally withhold judgment pending the official disposi- tion of & matter which can be disposed of only after unprejudiced inquiry. As a lawyer with the Interstate Com. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1931 THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. R |man, or by the Senate, when the ap- was used as such until a relatively few years ago. In the old days when the creek was open barges entering it from the river brought produce to the market at Seventh street, then, as laber, the Center Market. There were little docks merce Commission and as s member [ here and there along its bank, where of the local Public Utilities Commis- sion, Mr. Hartman has won confidence for his ability and initiative. His atti- tude as a member of the local com- mission has undoubtedly made enemies. But regardless of the motives on any- body's part which has brought to light correspondence of nearly six years ago, n |8nd regardless of Mr. Hartman's own d NAtional 8000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Mazyland and Virginia. iy and Sunda iy only - unday only All Other States and Canada. ally and Sunds aily only #unday only Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclysively entitled all news dis- in this published herein. n Epecial dispatches herei — At French Lick Springs. ‘With four, at least, of the Governors of States assembled at French Lick Springs for their annual conference, potential if not actual candidates for presidential nominations next year, the spot light has been turned on the con- * ference to a greater degree than in many years past. The Governors, who are at least suspected of listening to the buzz of the presidential bee, are put- ting their “b-st foot” forward. There is Pinchot of Pennsylvania, the amaz- ing Mr. Pinchot who turned Pennsyl- vania topsy-turvy in the campaign last year, with his speech yesterday attacking again the public utilities of the country and urging Federal control. And Ritchle of Maryland, with his plaint that something be done about national prohibition and the tariff, and Roosevelt of New York, who wants all the governments, National, Federal and al, to take the lead in setting the ‘economic structure of the Nation again in order. Perhaps before the confer- ence is over the fourth Governor in the list of “Who's Who for President” in 1932, White of Ohio, may also break loose with a front page story. Gov. Pinchot’s address on public utili- tles, with particular reference to the tontrol of electrical current by a huge monopoly, was thrown into the confer- ence of Governors despite the fact that he had been assigred an entirely dif- ferent subject, dealing with the forests and natural resources. The Pennsyl- vania Governor is angling—or so it has been reported from Harrisburg for ‘weeks—for support for the Republican nomination for President next year. He s making his appeal through the power question to the Progressives in the G. O. P, to the Norrises, the Howells, the Brookharts and the La Follettes, and also the common run-of-mine Republi- | cans, whom he is trying to interest in the cost of electricity. He would like to be the rallying post at the Re- publican national convention for the elements in the party opposed to the renomination of President Hoover. A great difficulty the Pennsylvania Gov- ernor will face is the amiable fondness of all the Progressive Senators for plac- ing themselves firmly in the spotlight on such occasions as the national conven- tlon. ‘These presidential possibilities at- tending the conference of Governors have, temporarily at least, laid aside State issues and tackled national prob- lems. It is quite true that national problems vitally affect the States. But it is equally true that the governments of the States can do nothing with na- tional problems which, under the Con- stitution, are assigned to the Federal Government for consideration and action. But what Governor can be nominated for President on a State issue? He must enter the broad field of national politics and national issues if he is to be considered. And there is Ritchie of Maryland defending States’ rights and declaring that the Federal Government has no business regulating the liquor traffic in the in- dividual States, and on the other hand is Pinchot of Pennsylvania arguing that the Federal Government must step into the regulation of electric power because the States are more or less helpless before the power interests. Gov. Roosevelt of New York is de- manding a “new leadership” in govern- ment. It seems reasonably certain he is not demanding & new leadership in the Empire State, where he himself is the head and forefront of the State government. He is asking a new lead- ership of the Federal Government, with- out a doubt, and equally without a doubt he is willing to provide that lead- ership if he can be placed in the White House. On the sidelines, fer out in Ne- braska, Senator George W. Norris, who not so long ago declared that what the country needs is “another Roosevelt in the White House,” is now chanting the praise of Pinchot of Pennsylvania, pic- turing him as five hundred times more acceptable as a presidential candidate next year than President Hoover—Pin- chot, who was a prominent member of the old Roosevelt “tennis cabinet.” e “We Never Speak as We Pass By,” warbles Uncle Sam about Liberia. ———— Mr. Hartman Under Fire. Publication in the Washington Daily News of alleged correspondence, the authenticity of which is not denied, between Harleigh H. Hartman, vice chairman of the Public Utilitles Com- mission, and Charles Hansel, a public utilities expert, comes after the Presi- dent's announcement of Mr. Hartman's reappointment to another term on the ‘eommission, but almost & month in ad- vance of the legal expiration of his first term, which falls on June 30. The eorrespondence, which took place in 1925 when Mr. Hartman had left the Interstate Commerce Commission to go fnto business for himself as a consultant on public utility matters, raises a natu- val question as to ethical practice on Mr. Hartman’s part, inasmuch as he was at the time still retained by the Government to argue a railroad case then pending before the Interstate Commerce Commission. The question s raised, but not necessarily answered by examination of the correspondence itself. The answer will be given either by the President in his consideration of by his reappointment of Mr. Hart- explanation of the nature of the em- ployment with which the correspond. ence dealt, the statements in some of the letters are subject to inferences which, it is assumed, Mr. Hartman himself will seek to clarify. ———r—ee. Stalin and Steel. Josef Stalin, czar of Scviet Russia, whese real name is Djugashvilli, changed it to Stalin, which means, freely translated, “man of steel.” News comes out of the Communist com- 7 | monwealth which indicates that Stalin is about to live up to his pseudonym in literal terms. The Soviet promuigates a project to erect ninety great steel plants. One cf them, now building, at Magnitogorsk, on the southern side of the Ural Mountains, will be the largest in Europe, if not in the world, No phase of the Five-Year Plan is more boldly formidable than Stalin's steel-making program. It has been | intrusted, as far as construction oper- ! ations are ccncerned, to an American engineer, Jotn Calder, who recently was appointed adviser to “Soyustroy,” the government division which handles new construction. The particular job now assigned Mr. Calder is to direct the building activities of “Stalmost,” the Soviet Union steel construction trust. Within this combination are— existent or in contemplation—ninety individual plants scattered throughout Russia. Older establishments are to be remodeled and modernized. New ones will represent, under Mr. Calder's directicn, the last word in up-to-date plant construction and equipment. Mr. Calder is best known in Amer- ican engineering circles for his work in industrial relations—the relations between employers and employes. He made his reputation while serving at a Chicago packing mant during and after the World War. Mr. Duranty cables the New York Times an indica- tion that Mr. Calder's chief usefulness as Soviet construction chlef will be in | that field in which he achieved emi- nence here. It is also apparent that Mr. Calder’s work is cut out for him. “Despite marked success in certain phases of the construction of Magnito- gorsk,” says Mr. Duranty's dispatch, “and strenuous efforts by the workers under difficult conditions, there is & grave lack of co-ordination and rational utilization of labor and materials which has caused anxlety lest the pjant fail to achieve its estimated production at the appointed date. Such failure would in turn seriously hamper other con- struction enterprises and the Chelia- binsk tractor plant, which will rely on Magnitogorsk for iron and steel.” One wonders what the American ex- pert in industrial relations thinks about government in industry, as it exists in Russia. Mr. Calder, in 1922, when he could hardly have envisioned his present service, had this to say, when address- ing the Society of Industrial Engineers: The great bulk of human industrial effort must continue to be outside of the immediate control of the govern- ment. Industry in a democracy can only progress with the consent of the governed. It is the negative attitude about this on the part of a few promi- nent capitalists that retards progress in industrial relations. Capitalism holds the fleld beyond any doubt. It is the only system which has made good and there is no other in sight that can carry on. It looks as though the Poles might turn again to Paderewski for a Presi- dent. He has already had one success- ful tenure of that office, and if any one appreciates the value of harmony, he does. ‘The old poker story was about the man who played the first hand for fun and the rest of the evening to get evén. ‘The recent Argentine tennis visitors played the first two days to get even and the last day for fun. Of all automobiles sold in this coun- try, the percentage of closed cars runs slightly over ninety. The percentage of closed deals, however, is considerably lower than that. “Good Americans, when they die, go to Paris,” runs an old saying. It seems that Texas Guinan must wait awhile yet. Constitution Avenue. Work has started on the improve- ment of B street, as it used to be but Constitution avenue as it now is officially. Steam shovels are at work in the vicinity of the new Commerce building to widen the thoroughfare and as time passes they will work through to the junction at Pennsylvania avenue. From Sixth street eastward to the junction buildings are now standing in the line of the avenue. These will later be razed and the street lines established for a uniform width throughout. Constitution avenue will be & re- markable change from the original travel course along the same route. there flowed Tiber Creek, which ran westward to the Potcmac from fits branching point at about Pirst or Becond street and Pennsylvania ave- nue. One stream flowed easterly and southerly to the Eastern Branch, and was known as James Creek. Tiber reached the Potomac a little north of the Lincoln Memorial site. After Wash- ington was established it was used as a line of communication and wennonndminlmflywmm trafic. Eventually it became known as s canal and was used as such. It degenerated into a veritable open sewer, for into it flowed the drainage of the city, very slowly moved into the river by the siuggish tides. ‘These two water courses, Tiber Creek and James Creek, made of southwest ‘Washington a veritable island, and that section was early and is even now by elder residents known af “The Island.” Time came when the condition cf the creeks gravely affected the health of the community. James Creek was cov- covered sewer and it ‘em for common these wares were unloaded for sale. ‘When the work of digging foundations for the Commerce and Internal Reve- nue buildings was in progress, remnants of these old dccks were found, piles buried deep below the surface, and even some wharf planks, relies of a century ago. Probably others will be found in the excavations for the Department of Justice and other buildings along this line of old B street. So Constitution ayvenue, extending from Third street to Potomac Park, will have an interesting history, but probably very few will know it when the day of its full development arrives. It will stretch between the Mall and a series of public buildings unsurpassed in the world for impressive design and size. Only in the old archives of local conditicns of a century and, more ago will there be record or reminder of the creek and its bordering market houses. e A Strange Problem of Law. ‘The - death on Monday of Arthur Huddell, President of the International Union of Operating Engineers, presents |are a singular problem of law and at the same time illustrates the strangeness of fate. Mr. Huddell was one of thcse of- ficers of the Union who were assailed recently by & gunman in a restaurant in this city. The assailant shot one man in the head, inflicting a wound that seemed almost certain to prove fatal. Another shot struck Mr. Hud- dell in the breast and was checked by & notebook held in a pocket, causing merely a contusion. It was g remark- able escape from instant death. On Monday Mr. Langdon, Mr. Huddell's desperately wounded associate, was dis- charged from the hospital as cured, or at least as past all danger, On that same day Mr. Huddell, who had been taken {ll after the shooting, with what appeared to be merely a severe nervous shock, died of pneumonia. An inquest is to be had tomorrow to determine the cause of death, and to ascertain whether it was due to the shock of the bullet that was so strangely checked in its flight. Upon the verdict of the coroner’s jury may rest a charge of murder against the as yet unidenti- fied and uncaught assailant. If he were taken he could certainly be charged with assault with intent to kill. He could not be indicted for murder, how- ever, unless it is established that his attack upon Mr. Huddell was the cause of his death. As respects a murder charge the shooting of Mr. Langdon is of no consequence, unless within a year the wound inflicted upon him should prove to be a cause of death. Speculation regarding the precise na- ture of the charge against the assailant is merely academic so long as the man remains unidentified and uncaptured. Nevertheless the legal basis for a mur- der charge must be established by the inquest into the cause of Mr. Huddell's death, which will be held tomorrow. r—————————— If precedent counts for anything, it is likely that few of the machines poli- ticians are constructing for 1932 will be featured by “free wheeling.” Rum- ble seats, however, will be rather com- mon. —_———.——————— Human nature stays funny. Some Washingtonians who groaned over a drought that lasted many months groaned the loudest over the recent /twenty-four-hour rainfall. There is this advantage in being & tree surgeon. One's professional career is not ruined if some foreign substance remains in the wound. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. A Trip for the Summer. Let us fare away to s far-off land, But not to the tropic’s gleaming strand That is faint with lotus scent; Where the languorous breeze is soft and slow; Where even the waters as they flow Are tepid and indolent. We'll turn our backs on the rustic spot ‘Where the ivies broider the sylvan grot. Ere a month has passed away The leaves will wither that bowered there And the grass will die and twigs be bare 'Neath the sun’s relentless ray. 8o we'll steer our course for the iceberg where In luxury nestles the polar bear, As he melts him a couch of ease; ‘Where the borealis is chill and bright, Where the snow is monarch of day and night; Where there's nothing to do but freeze. “Do you think your sudiences enjoy the statistics you quote in your o “No,” replied Senator Sorghum, “I just put 'em in to make the rest of remarks seem more interesting by con- Jud Tunkins says the great objec- tion to dreams of ambition is the habit they have of turning into terrible nightmares. Raat Unappreciative. The rose, likewise the violet, To me seems but a bore. I'd rather have an 'orchid, ‘cause 14 costs & great deal more. Applied Economics. “Aren’t you afraid to use such an unreliable plece of rope to swing the o “No,” replied Farmer Corntossel; “the individual must expect to make sacri- fices for the general good. When that hammock breaks, some one person is going to get hurt a little and scared a whole lot. But think of what a laugh all the other boarders will enjoy!” To the Thermometer. "Tis not as one of high degree That we regard you tenderly; When from your lofty poise you fall— *Tis then we love you best of all. “Hold on to yoh hopefulness an’ patience,” sald Uncle Eben; “but don't The laughter of other le, heard from a distance, sounds 3 In itself, it is silly. The contact of mind on mind is all only the peculiar braying sound which we call laughing, he is liable to find himself wond over the whole matter. So this is what distinguishes man- kind from the beasts! Yet any jackass can make almost as undignified a noise. A trombone handled in a certain manner will imi- tate it almost to perfection. * ok ok * Perhaps there is ‘no one, hearing laughter at a distance, but has paused to contemplate this peculiar mark of our common humanity. When one is part of a gathering, where laughter holds sway, there is nothing either peculiar, strange or ab- surd about it. This is because the participants are victims of that strangest trait of human nature, the mob mind, as it is largely called, which makes even the stalest jokes fetching when repeated in a gathering. Every one has had the experience of being convulsed with a stage joke, only to have it fall flat when he at- tempts to repeat it at e. The audience is lacking, the lights gone, the elemental contact of elbow with elbow particularly among strangers. * ok k% Perhaps nothing else shows laughter up for exactly what it is like that fact. A joke goes over biggest whi told among mere acquaintances. Every one laughs, one from fear the others will not think he has seen the point, another because he nas seen it quicker than the rest, a third because he knows that he is expected to sce it. Laughter is thus, in essence, an easy way of blufing. The less a man knows the louder he laughs; the smaller his real store of experience in the world the more inclined he is to make a joke out of everything. ‘This may explain why an irresponsi- ble junior, as the English call a very young man. is given to much laughter. His disposition is called “sunny,” but that is a roundabout compliment, at best, since there have been no clouds. * k% ¥ ‘What proves that laughter is mostly bluff is that so little said is worth laughing at. Judged by themselves, the remarks which cause it are commonly foolish, and if there were not more to it than that, those who laugh would merit being held for investigation. ‘There is, of course, a great deal more to it than the chance bit of talk which usually provokss laughter. This extra something is humanity, which, resolved into its most casily under- stood definition, means conflict. Conflict, without dcubt, is at the basis of all laughter. ‘That is one of the reasons why laughter must be held in some suspicion by the man of peace, despite the fact that it commonly Is credited with having exactly the op- posite effect. What could be more peaceful, it might be thought, than a gay gath- ering, where laughter roils out like the surf curling back from the shore? * x k% ‘The conflict of typical laughter is the inner combat of mind against mind, the eternal battle of souls which goes on wherever men come ether. It is the war of the ego, the ever- lasting I. Most of our wit and humor has at bottom the desire laugh at the other fellow's expense, and he may say this who realizes that humor has as its alm d'scovery, and appeals to the sympathies, and that wit alms to throw light, and appeals to the intelligent. Only satire and sarcasm, as such, intend pain, and only the latter definitely. But let us see. These are the public, professed aims. on their good behavior, as it were. Such dist'nctions were made at first hand by dictionary makers, who, in trying to be truthful, l‘“l'?{.‘d to put humanity in‘its best A simpler truth, as we see it, is that laughter is the aim-all and be-all of every branch of fun, and that to get the laugh, to cause the Jaugh, to create g‘l’k laugh, is the biggest function of * Kk ok Every man aims, in his secret heart and mind, to exalt his own ego and to depress the egoes of others. This is a harsh doctrine, but not quite as bad as it sounds, since it is mostly unconscious, and thus not work- ed out very well, or ruthlessly enough, in the huge majority of cases. Mostly men stumble on, unconscious- ly pleased when some one deftly uses psychological facts to please them, not when they realize that they le the innocent victims of a slight trick. Even the most powerful men are pleased when a man of lesser weight, as such things go, asks them to do a m.hr: favor which does not cost them much. This deftly exalts the ego of the giver, and yet does not repress the ego of the asker. It gets the big man com- ing his way and is a trick often used, often unconsciously, by the astute in the ways of this world. * ko * Laughter is no such delicate weapon. Commonly it is a bludgeon, and is most often so used. Laughter is the most intolerant thing in the world. A laugh demands a laugh, and woe to him who refuses. Like most mass propositions, con- formity 1s all that is required, and this need only be a lip conformity. He laughs best, in & group, who laughs the loudest. He laughs best who laughs first, not last, for laughter is quick to detect the non-laugher, and subtle in re- sentment, maybe not showing it for minutes, or hours, or maybe days or years. Like the offended elephant, which fs said to hold a grudge for a lifetime, to vent his spleen against the offender years later, when he has forgotten all about it, laughter is always ready to find out the weak point in the defense of the non-laugher. * o x % Laughter thus becomes, to many, an unintelligent monster, which somehow has got into possession of men’s minds and seeks its own satisfaction in a dull round of cheapness, the sign manual of which is a loud, harsh noise. Gravity of face and conduct appeals to some as the best policy, except when in a group where the monster Laughter 2-: umfi: away. '!'he:“}chke! only thing to lo laugh as y as any one else and even louder. o Let joy be unconfined, indeed, then. No doubt it is good for the mind and tissues to unbend, as it is called, to be human, as some say. Maybe it is; but, after all, every one knows that laughter is somewhat silly, when it is the laugh- ter of other people, and especially at a distance. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Everybody in the world knows that Canada’s hit-back at our skyscraper tar- iff touches only one of the Dominion’s grievances against the United States. If Premier Bennett were to submif merely a list of them to BSecretary Stimson, it'd be a document a yard long. Prohibition has stuck in the Ca- nat ' crop for 10 years. They not only dislike cur interference with a once legitimate Canadian export trade, but particularly take umbrage at our, expectation that they shoul he‘lE us enforce the noble experiment, both by land and by sea. The American Coast Guard's habit of sinking a_ Canadian rum-runner now and then hasn't ex- actly conduced to popularization of the eighteenth amendment north of the border, either. The Ottawa government has never seen eye to eye with us re- garding the St. Lawrence Waterway. Radio is still another bone of conten- tion. Canadians claim that American- controlled wave lengths so domis the North American ether that the Dominion broadcasting is _practically under the control of the Federal Radio Commission at Washington. * x % % Arrival of Col. William Duncan Her- ridge, new Canadian Minister to the United States, will practically coincide with enactment of the “fighting tariff” just promulgated at Ottawa. Col. Her- ridge plans to present his credentials before the end of June. He'll speak with more than ordinary authority here. Through marriage with Mr. Ben- nett’s sister, Col. Herridge recently be- came the prime minister's brother-in- law. Apart from that unique status, Washington is destined to come to know Herridge for what he is—a two- fisted young diplomatist. Like the United States Minister to Canada, Col. MacNider, Col. Herridge is a World War soldier with a brilliant service rec- ord in France. The two Ministers are almost the identical age—42. Herridge accompanied Premier Bennett to Wash- last Winter, but it wasn’t pub- licly known then that he was slated to be Canadian envoy here. * ok ok k ‘Word has reached the White House that positively no bones are to be picked when President Hoover is at Indian- apolis on June 15. He 1s to attend a monster chicken dinner given by the Indiana Republican Editorial Associa- tion. Pive thousand Hcosiers will sit down with the President at the State Grounds. The caterer in charge of the mammoth feed contracted to supply chicken, sans necks, wings or backs. * kK * Prank J. Hogan, nationally famed ‘Washington lawyer, recently was speak- er-guest at_a dinner of the District of Columbia Fire Department. His wit and eloquence so charmed the firemen that the marshal wrote him a cordial letter of thanks, winding up as follows: “Hoping that the deparument can soon be of service to you.” Hogan wonders if he can depend on that. * ok ok ok Jefferson Davis, now immortalized in bronze in the Capitol of the United States, was to prohibition. In acclaiming his virtues at Statuary Hall yesterday, Senator Pat , whose address was a masterplece, omitted an interesting phase of the soldier-states- man's career. During the tl = losing of his life, the unbowed leader of lost cause was immersed in bitter de- ‘moral ranged uarely against prohibition. It was in 1887, two years before Davis’ death, that Bishop Galloway of Texas, in a scath- boleth of the salcon.” * K X K ‘Tho this week's freedom-of -the-press decision Court is sit down an’ let ‘em interfere wif yoh |only the latest reglar work. ‘Cause if you does, a!dred the facts in the case, made neces- ered over for part of the way. Tiber whole lot o’ folks is gwinter mistake Supreme Court cases of contemporane- ous times relating to free-speech prob- lems. An earlier volume by Prof. Chafee, entitled “Freedom of Speech,” also deals comprehensively with Ameri- can controversies associated with that issue. “The Inquiring Mind” reviews not only Supreme Court decrees on free speech, but also on industrial relations, especlally injunctions. Chafee's treatises command great respect among Chief Justice Hughes and his colleagues, even | though complled for the general reader, rather than for the lawyer or the Judge. . * ok kE President and Mrs. Hoover settled tactfully the squabble they ran into in connection with their recent visit to Valley Forge. The Rev. W. Herbert Burk, founder and president of the Historical Society, was the first to in- vite Mr. Hoover to visit Valley Nrfe on Memorial ‘day. ‘The Pennsylvania State Park Commission also extended an invitation, which was the one the White House accepted. As soon as the President heard that Mr. Burk’s nose was out of joint, it was decided, when the time came, to mollify him. When Mrs. Hoover visited Gen. Washington's headquarters at Valley Forge she con- sented to accept a gorgeous bouquet from the white-haired clergyman, whereupon the President invited Mr. Burk to travel back to Philadelphia in the White House special train, a jour- ney of 45 minutes, as the guest of Mr. Hoover and the First Lady. The inci- dent now ranks as definitely and de- lighttully closed. e ‘Treasury authorities will not be sur- prised if the forthcoming issue of $800,000,000 3! per cent long-term bonds is oversubscribed more than six times. They anticipate roundly a $5,000,000,000 subscription. Su a result would tell graphically the story of the Nation's ld-choked = bank vaults and capital's investment shyness under depression conditions. It should also dispel the notion that Uncle Sam is either broke or hard up. . (Copyright. 1931.) ) Holds That Chain Stores In Part Cause Depression To the Editor of The St Having just read the letter of C. B. Hemingway, entitled “Abolishing Chain Stores Will Injure Everybody” I crave space sufficient to refute his statements. While I doubt very much if the con- sumers are bettered by chain store service, I do know beyond the doubt ' farmers are injured by the chains, especially we nearby market gardeners. Before the advent of chain groceries in Washington, and though ‘Washington was a mere village as com- pared with today, yet there were many times the amount of hasers on the wholesale market. Will Mr. Hemingway dare to say the removal of independent and placing the producer nder mercy a few chain store buyers injures no one? In saying the chain store is the farmers’ greatest bugaboo, I belleve I voice the sentiment of a vast majority of producers selling direct on the market. We have ever labored under the idea of “supply and demand” logical market to get &|we rush to laway from there, Causes and Cures of America’s Depression To the Editor of The Btar: Some lngg are fundamentally 'mn! with country. We are fi ting & Worse mess day. causes of our hard times are®obvious. values until they burl::.' va.th:n was stretched until it Mert’lu e‘mfi: limit. Stock prices were pushed up to ridiculous heights, and people neglected thelr affairs in a mad rush to get rich | quick on the market. There has been! overproduction in most of our prin- cipal products such as wheat, cotton, oll, copper, steel, motor cars, Prices and wages have been too high, and ex-‘ travegance and waste consfantly on Our tion hes | The country has lost vast sums through lawlessness, crooked business, unzm&lzoymem and prohibi- tion. = Most of means to meet these conditions have so far been futile, and ill-advised, and none of them goes to, the root of the matter. We are like an| ostrich hiding its head in the sand,! and predicting prosperity round thel corner. The situation reminds us of the collapse of the Florida boom a few years ago, but is infinitely more dan- gerous. And in the background is the threat of Soviet Russia, which daily bgcomes mbre ominous as its indus- trialization schemes beccme nearer realization. 2 In Europe, where conditions have been generally unfavorable since the war, our collapse and mistaken policies have in economic distress, while the political situation becomes increas. ingly involved. Everything there would seem to be leading up to another war in a few years. Such a war would thoroughly ~exhaust the countries in- volved. It is probable that in event of such a war history would re- peat itself, and that this country, on account of desire to make money, and because of unparedness, would not 50 into the war until compelled to 0 50. To meet these conditions will re- quire changes of national policy. Let us forget for a while our so-called high standards of living, and get down to facts. We have had wild orgy of waste and extravagan the only cure now is readjustment and economy. A non-partisan commission business men should be appointed to deal with readjustments in , time, market- ing, production, employment and prices. This should have done long ago, but no doubt much may still be ac- complished. Tariff and debts should be readjusted. We should strive to co- operate with foreign countries with sim- 2:‘!; Inmes:t. n’g; stand aloof, or we 0 under. is ecor » however, shourd not be at the eountog;ywr Army and Navy. They should be kept up to the”limit allowed by law in men and mnemll:‘ efficlent to meet our needs; a security against fore! aggression, or domestic rebellion. A‘nflronx Army and Navy is our best guarantee for improvement in employment and busi- ness, and for the safety of our insti- tutions and homes. We are facing a greater crisis than at any time during "llel worlg ‘War; to meet it with safety will require an equal amount of enthu- siasm and patriotism. % RICHARD CONRAD. —————— A Plea for Better Seats at Arlington Amphitheater To the Editor of The Star: Something should be done to rectify the amphitheater at Arlington. Of course, naturally, the designers of the Greek structure—as I understand it is supposed to be—did not think how dis- comforting it would be to those that would attend any exercise if it hap- pened to be held on a hot, sunny day. Those lucky enough to know some of the ones in charge of arrangements, and could get seats in the boxes, in th shade would no doubt enjoy the pro- gram, without fighting the heat, the hot and hard stone benches—that seemed to get hotter every minute— as the program went on. ~The worst part of it is that there are no backs to_the seats. I wish to those that are in charge of the mesting or exercise., Why l!o you have any tickets to enter the “Arlington Memorial Amphitheater?” If any person is patriotic enough to go and spend their time and money, and if you were from out of the city, and could not get any tickets, why have they not the right and privilege as any patriotic American. And the writer happens to be a member of the United Spanish War Veterans. So why not pense with the tickets in the next exercises? Let the doors be open to all who enter and try to figure out some way of building a shade over the open- ing, at least on one side s0 as to keep the sun from shining in the most of it, and in that way you will give some comfort to those that have to sit on the hard stone slabs. While I have it on my mind: Purchase about one thousand cushions, like those used at base ball parks, and give them to the ones that must sit on the harg stone benches. > I hope that by next Memorial day something will be done 50 as to get e';e'r‘y‘ on;d t.hnt’eomg a comfortable place and enjoy the program. But if those that have the amphitheater in charge do not make an effort to make the audience comfortable there always will be thousands ill-tempered, that go unless they are lucky enough too, or get acquainted with the that be and secure a box seat. nless it happens to be a cloudy day, Iam, Yours very truly, FELIX A. URY. Holiday Buyers Made the 'Day Hard for the Clerks | tin taxal To the Editor of The Star: Any one who looked into any of the grocery stores on Decoration day morn- ing must have been amazed at the hordes who had waited to do their marketing on a holiday morning with- out the slightest consideration for the clerks who had already been obliged to work the preceding Friday evening to make up for the expected Saturday afternoon holiday. It seems too bad that such things cannot be better man- aged or that people cannot be more considerate. ‘When those in the stores are forced to work so hard and under such pres- sure - for several hours on a supposed holiday morning, it is apparent that by the time the store is closed in the mid- dle of the day they must be too ex- hausted to take any further interest in his used to appen every to n e year in the department stores for several weeks ':b‘:fore Ch;l:::ua ‘when virtually all e stores open every evening un- til late. Fortunately for the clerks, and without the slightest harm to any one else or loss of any of the Christmas profits of the merchants, the practice was stopped in cne city after another, partly by the enactment of limited hours of labor laws and partly /by the realization by the merchants that aside glom humgirz;lm; motives, with which ey can ly be charged, it did not help their business particularly and probably only resulted in im; ng the ammn:y o'lh:hn clerh.h ver the cause for change the depart- ment stores, the chain stores are no dif- ve | ferent on holidays and the clerks should similar treatment. A Name Proposed For Washington To the Editor of The St Apropos of “Washington's "—which is fine! h one of the farthest-reaching, | ington, have nf MARION STUART CAKE. —_——— Burne’ Prayer Answered. Prom the San Antonio Express. Presumably, that California inventor’s flexible mirror enables you to see your- self as others see you. Danger Both Ways. Prom the Janesville Gazette. ‘There is not as much danger in blow- in.l:\ltt.hanlumhlnmpphl on A Terrible the Oakland Tribune. Title. the | M- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN. ‘The resources of our free Information Bureau are at your service. You are invited to call upon it as often as fuu It is being maintained solely to serve you. t question can we answer for you? There is no charge at all except 2 cents in coin or stamps for et pos . Address your letter to ‘The Evening Star Information Burcau, mdel;lccl. Haskin, director, Washing- Q. What is a name for the intercol- legiate boat races?—C. L. H. A. They are usually called regattas. Q. Is the telephone often used to re- port fires or call the police?—F. J. D. A. The telephone company in Wash- ington, D. C., says that approximately 60 per cent or 70 per cent of fire re- ports over the country generally are received in the various fire depart- ments via telephone. Approximately 90 per cent of police calls or other emergency calls come via the telephone. Q. Where did the Ringling Circus get its s2a elephants?—O. McC. A. Both Goliath and Colossus, the sea elenhants exhibited by this circus, were purchas>d from Hagenbeck Bros., animal dealers of Hamburg, Germany. Q. When are the great rose flelds of Bulgaria harvested>—M. W. B. A. From May 15 to June 15, depend- ing upon prevailing weather conditions, qiwmc 15 nieant by embracery?— A. It is an attempt to corrupt or in- fluence a jury by money, promises, let- ters, threats or persuasions. In the United States it punishable by fine and imprisonment. Q. What do birds eat when snow covers the ground?—E. D. K. A. Birds find insects in the bark of trees. They also feed on soft parts of Q. Was “My Country, *Tis of Thee,” set to the music of “God Save the King"?—A. C. B. A. The words were written by Dr. B. F. Smith while a student at Andover in the Winter of 1831-32. In the writ- ings of Dr. Smith the following state- ment is made: “I had in my possession a quantity of German song books and, finding ‘God Save the King' I = ceeded to give it the ring of republ patriotism.” Does ders as Great Britain?—E. A. It has more. In 1928 Great Bri'fln had 138 and Germany had 1,264. Q. How many letters went to the Dead Letter Office last year>—E. L. W. A. The 1930 annual report of the Postmaster General says that unde- liverable letters numbering 22,685.940 were received in the Dead Letter Offices during the year, which was a decrease of 393,679, or 1.7 per cent, from the number received during the previous year. Q. Does any other naturalist compare with the late Luther Burl in ac- complishments?—B. L. E. A. For more than half a century Ivan Germany have uany mur- | Viadimirovich Michurin of Koslov, Rus« sia |n:; b;;: dolnl‘ similar work. w' evolve new {fruits, berries, pllsm‘ -ndhnowm and, uxmwthm ol man, breeding. produced 25 new kinds of grzpes and 52 new varieties of cherries. Before the revolution in Rus- sia he was visited by botanists of the :Jnl%d States Department of Agricul ure. Q. go ;u atolls have a central lagoon? A. Atoll is the name given coral islands of that type. Q. What is the figure of s the expression, “Gray hairs respected”?—O. P. N A. Metonymy. Q. How_many Jews Europe?—T. R. A. About 10,000,000. Q. Please explain how corn was popped by radio, and why it was placed betwe=n jars of ice—R. W. A ie General Electric Co. says that “the heating of the corn is pro- duced by radio waves of very shori wave lengih. The heat is generated by current induced within the kernels themselves. The purpose of the glass jars, with ice, placed on each side of the corn, was to show that this was so— that is, that the surrounding atmos- phere was cold and that the only thing that was heated was the corn itself. The reason that the corn S heated by the short wave radio and the ice water was not was because of the difference of the electro-conduc- Nvlbley of the corn kernels and the ice water.” Q. Who introduced the custom of wearing black as mourning?—C. J. A, It was originated by Anne, the Queen of Charles VIII of France. On the death of her husband, in 1498, she surrounded her coat-of-arms with black in token of widowhood and clothed her- self in black, contrary to the prevailing mhl;u which was for widows to wear white. Q. Why is one flag flown at the Union Station in Washington some of fluMume, and at others, three?—M. M. A. The circular plot of land in front of the station containing the s was originally planned as a part of the station grounds, but was taken over by the Pederal Government shortly after | the station was completed. The Union Station keeps one flag ready for occa- £lons when only one is needed, but on special occasions the office of public buildings and‘ public_parks sends two additional flags and the Union Station then flies all three. The most recent cccasion on which three flags were flown was on the visit of the King and Queen of Siam to Washington. | Q. What food did Lindbergh take on | his_solo hop across the Atlantic?—D. L W, A. He carried two ham sandwiches, two roast beef sandwiches and cne | hard-boiled egg sendwich. He also car- | ried two cantesns of water, about four | quarts in all, but no coffee or liquor. ‘h in ould be are there in all While the United States Supreme Court has upheld legislation in In- diana establishing graduated taxation affecting chain stores and classifi- ‘!hu.l settling the legalistic aspects of | the question, the country sees the even- tual outcome of the controversy as a matter to be settled by economics and public policy. The decision’s effect on States is discussed, with the question | of whether State revenues or bus rivalry are the chief considerations. Some see in it authority for laws to equalize the struggle between the chains and the independents, while others view it as authority for laws which, with the possibility of higher levies than those imposed by Indiana, will tax the chains out of existence. Reviewing the history of the case, the Indianapolis Star states: * provides that each mercantile establish- ment must pay an annual license fee of $3 when operated as a single unit. Owners operating from two to five stores pay $10 on each additional unit. The fee is $15 on each unit in excess of five and not more than ten. From ten to twenty units the fee is $20 each. The fee is $25 on each unit in_excess of twenty. The act became effective on July 1, 1929. A suit was brought in AFH!. 1929, to test the constitutionality of the act. The attorney general defended the law and on February 1, 1930, a three-judge decision was banded down in the Federal District Court declaring the law to be un- constitutional. District Judges Baltzell and Slick and Circuit Judge Sparks were of the opinion that the law sets up an arbitrary classification that vio- lates the constitutional rights of the owners of more than one mercantile unit. Attorney General Ogden appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States and that tribunal sustains the classification. Justice Roberts finds that the constitution ‘does not compel the adoption of an iron rule of equal tax: tion, nor prevent variety or erences taxation, or discretion in the selec- of subjects, or the classification for tion of properties, sinesses, trades, callings occupations.” The court holds that it is in duty bound to sustain the classification adopted by the Legislature if there are substantial differences between the occupations se] ly classified, and that such dif- ferences need not be great.” * k% % “The Supreme Court is careful to make it clear,” says the Omaha World- Herald, “that in this, as in many other contentions, its decision is purely legal- istic. It may uphold or deny the con- stitutional right of a State to enact a law in dispute. The decision as to its wisdom is left to the legislative power. Strictly_spealping, that is none of the Supreme Court's business.” The Lowell Evening Leader points out that “the principle of the graduated tax is the same as that upon which our income tax shedules are based; in view of modern merchandising trends the decision is of far more than ordinary importance.” “The decision will' increase rather than quiet the controversy raging over the status of the chain stores in mod- ern retail distribution,” according to the Newark Evening News, which attests that “growth of the chain stores has been enormous,” ‘and that “it appears tural economic growth which or it e B though the Legislatures of three- fourths of the States have been in ses- sion. iter, there has been renewal of the agitation for chain store taxation, partly awaiting the Si Court decisions Carolina believed, because in it ers have heonn:*duvbd that such laws sire on some new pendent stores and organizations have ;fl:fllflwmhfinhfl cation of mercantile establishments, | pending chain store legislation in other | little | wise it will be re Chain Store Decision Raises Question of Future Policies | tention in other places besides the State | Legislatures.” | “Attempts to provide special taxa- | tion for chain stores in other States,” records the St. Louis Globs-Democrat, “have failed chiefly because most State Constitutions particularize closely 8s to taxation, and their courts are disposed to construe provisions rather literally. In Federal taxation, Congress has freer hand than does the average Legislature, and aside from the pro- iness | hibition on tariff taxes and confiscatory imposts, there are few Federal inhibi- tions on the State taxes that may be levied. The United States Supreme Court, accordingly, finds nothing in Indiana's law repugnant to Federal requirements. Revenu: raising, how- ever, is not the main purpose for which most of the State legislation relative to chain stores has been proposed. To tax nationally owned chain stores out of existence by placing on them greater burdens than on the locally owned single store is what has been aimed at, or, at least, a beginning in taxing them out of existence.” The Green Bay Press-Gazette recognizes confir- mation of “authority to enact laws tending to equalize the struggle between these stores and independent concerns for business.” e “The decision,” thinks the Charlotte Observer, e impetus to the propo- sition of placing higher taxes on the chains. The Legislatures of Ohio, Tlli- nois and North Carolina at once began shaping bills to correspond to the license levies in Indiana.” The Observer finds that “the fairest deliverance on the subject that has come to its at- jon” is that of the New Yor& the independent retailer really needs the special advantages afforded by dis- criminatory taxes, in order to meet the competition of chains that are not guilty of unfair practices, his right to survive becomes problematical. 1If, on the other hand, abuses arise through chain store competition of a kind that threatens the existence of efficient, in- dependent businesses, relief should be provided by attacking specific abuses, not by attempting to penalize fair and efficient chains that have demonstrated their social worth.” “The tax of $25 on each store could just as well be made $2,500,” suggests the Charleston (S. C.) Even! Post, raising the question of “whether the Su- preme Court is prepared to permit con- fiscation of any legitimate business un- der the guise of taxation in these days is questionable, although there are many who think the court will abide by the dictum of Marshall that the power to tax is the power to destroy.” The St. Louis Times feels that “the tax to be charged is by no means confiscatory or even large enough to be seriously gg- posed,” that it should “not affect the profitable conduct of the stores in- volved” and that it “will put the inde- pendents in a better poafl‘i‘on for fair competition.” “Individual merchants,” advises the South Bend Tribune, “will do well to ponder all aspects of the decision. may increase legislative influence on private business competition.” The Charleston (W. Va.) Daily Mail - clares, “There is much probability in the view that if the chain stores do prove to be an economic success, not only from the point of view of the chains themselves, but of the public generally, they are likely to persist.” “Extravagant States,” thinks the New York Sun, “may look to the tax as one more fountain of cash. In States fnore led as inequitable, on and an impost on Baltimore Evening Court’ theory of taxation.” ‘hicago Daily m- oflez;l ;.het 1)‘udlme“‘“lnrf.: “The chain must justify economically. If it ministers to the Vllbl.lc ‘welfare, mnwuhmlmmllndhz; long run will be futile, like opposition to labor-saving and capital-saving im- provements generally. Meanwhile the efficient and well managed independent no artificial legislative would not be permitted I‘:}qfiu court.” ‘The Topeka Daily Ca) that “one of the qulw-:'agwt'gmwn ern foundation for & {ax -