Evening Star Newspaper, February 24, 1932, Page 8

A8 ~” '"HE EVENING STAR. WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY THE EVENING STAR et e WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY . .February 24, 1932 THEODORE W. NOYES. .. .Editor, The Evening Star Newspaper Company | Business Office. 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. York Office East 42nd St Chicago Office: Lake Michig: Building. European Office: 14 Re:ent . London. England. Rate by Carrier Within the City. The Evening Star . ... 43¢ per morth The Evening and Sunday Siar (when 4 SBundavs) ..60c per month | The Evenins and Sunday Siar | (when § Sundays) 65¢ per month | Tre Sunday Etar LI se yer copy | Collection made at the end of each mont) Orders may be senc in by mail or telephore ! NAtional 3 Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Mary!and and Virginia. Daily and Sunday.....1yr. $10.00: 1 mo Daily_only Sll1yr. 3600 1 mo.. Bunday only $4.00: 1 mo.. All Other States and Canada. Beily and Sunday...1sr.si2o0 1mo. aly 5 7. $3.00: 1 mo. 1yr. $300:1mo. 8¢ 400 11 only Member of the Associated Press. Tre Associated Press is exclusi to the use for republication of lished heremn. Al rizhis of nubliation of I dispatcnes hercin are also reserved. The Hale Bill. The Hale bill, euihorizing a naval | building pregrem which would give the United States full naval strength under | the provisions of the treaty of London. | has received unanimous approval of the Senate Naval Affairs Committee. The committec has acted expeditiously and | wisely. It is high time that the rest| of the world should understand that if it persists in a policy of biz arma- ments the United States proposes to be in a position to protect itself. Aua it is high time that the American people should understand that national defense is not an issue to be side- tracked. George Washington, whose memory the American people are celc- brating in this year of the Bicentenmial of his birth, sensibly and patriotically warned his fellow Americars against permanent foreign alliances and uiged them to “care always to keep ourselver by suitable establishments on A Tespect- able defensive posture.” The London treaty set forth the principle that the United States not only was entitled to have a Navy equal to the strongest in the world, but alse that it should have such a Navy for defensive purposes. Too often the impression has prevailed abrcad that the United Siates is not concerned with national defense needs; | diplomacy. It is, however, an extraor- that it is willing to follow a laissez- faire policy, hoping that nothing ad- verse will turn up. And too often tiat | peal should be addressed to Japan is th» foolish policy that has been fol- | Jowed in this country. The United States very properly has taken a lead in the movement for arms limitation, hoping finally for measures that amount to disarmament by the nations of the world, and in the movement for the settlement of international disputes without recourse to war. But while the United States has for years set an “example to the rest of the world in the matter of limited armaments, the rest of the world has disregarded the exam- ple as completely as though it had never | existed. The Senate leadership, both Repub- lican and Democratic, favors the passage of the Hale bill, though it is reported that there is difference of opinion re- garding the time when the measure should be taken up. One school of thought in the Senate | proposes that the Congress shall act on the naval program immediately, so that the American delegation at the Geneva Conference on Disarmament may be in a stronger trading position. Another holds that it would be unwise 10 give the impression at Geneva that the United States is interested in propor- tionate armaments rather than in dis- armament. It is obvious, however, that actual disarmament is a long way in the future, while limitation of arma- ments is a goal which may be sttained within the lives of present generations. A big step along these lines was takea in the London Conference when three of the great naval powers, the United States, Great Britain and Japan, rcached an agreement regarding ail categories of naval vessels. If at the Geneva Conference it is found possible to win the rest of the nations to a sim- ilar agreement much, very much will have been accomplished. In the mean- time, however, it is clearly not only to the advantage of the United States | lines, are supposed to move their routes | maintain curbstone terxinals in down- T Summer, the class A, or intercity Bus and terminals from the congested area that is bounded by Pennsylvania avenue, New York avenue, Fifteenth and Seventh streets® By August 1 none of these class A lines will be permitted to town Wachington. They must either | park outsice the downtown area cr main- tain off-street terminals on private property. They are barred altogether, however, from the congested area as outlined above. Although only a little | more than a month intervenes beiore | the effective date of the order requiring the vacation of the downtown area, there are no indications that the bus lines plan to obey the Public Utllities Com- mission's mandate. The prope:ts are that the matter will be contested in court. So far the commission's effors to enforce its orders through the courts have been unsuccessful. At the same time the sbandonment | ful plaything. It was that line of argu- | ment that caused a lad of thirteen in San Prancisco to select a soldier of the American Army sitting on a bench near Fort Funsion as his mark. “There’s & soldier—he’s used to being shot at and will make a fine target.” So ay- ing, the boy with the gun took aim and fired and the soldier went to the hos- pital with a wound that, fortunately for both soldier and boy, was not a dan- gerous one. The youth, the dispatch states, was held for the Juvenile Court Will the court go to the root of the evil and punish the person who gave or allowed the boy to get the gun? If it does not it will have missed the point of the matter altogether. e ) A confirmed stock gambler cannot The cerdinal birds never heard of such a thing as a depression. Or 9 cer. cheor, cheer!™ they cry. A squirrel crek-creks at them from |3 tree. | Did you ever hear a squirrel crek? | That's a sort of word which has a | very long and fancy name, but which |is explained easily” enough by saying | that 3t attempts to give the sound. Languages are full of such words. Every tongue has_them. | The crek-crek of the squirrels is Ithe curious, grating, teeth-gnashing | noise made as the rodents sit in trees Most often it seems to be an impre- why there should bs any more objec- | cation. hurled down at passersby. Once we saw and heard a squirrel e h ket will on to his betting that the market will | C7Cr TS e he hung onto & tree %0 down than there is to betting that : preecich While he Bung ofe & SR the thermometer tomorrow will go|weved his iront paws in a gesture of i = down and not up. His style of trans- deflance. e THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL, to inflict imprisonment upon such & sweet singer, * * X ¥ The scng of the thrush is the only bird song which we find ourself listen- | ing for as Spring com°s around this way. ) It is music, Only a slight re-arrangement of notes would b> necessary to make it{ into what human trings call a melody. | It would be in waltz time, a liting | descending sort of thing, elemental and | primitive | Few birds possess petterns in their | songs. Mosily they are hodgepodges. notes thrown tog:ther, in the same se- quence. it is true, but scarcely to b2 dignified as musical patterns. | The song of the thrush, however, is ! distinctly of a musicianly nature; that is why, although the listener may not suspect it, it is so pleasing to him. of its tracks within ths Dist'ict by th>'action is entirely apart from consider- It possesses a folksong quality, mor2 | that her treaty obligations be observed, | mise is immediately followed by the statement thet the Council does not | sible to see why it (the & old Mount Vernon, Alexandria & Wash- | ington Railwey and the substitu'ion of | busses for strect cars have added a number of so-called clrss B bus lines and termina’s in the congested area. Trese busses are not affected by the commission’s “clzss A" bus order. But the increasing amount of curbstone space they now utilize shou'd justify a requirement that they also maintain off-street terminals. Legislati ng to peoper regula- | tion of the various common cerricrs in | the District is in drasiic need of over- hauling. The streat ca:s deserv sympathy merely because of the advent | of new forms of competition. They do deserve sympethy because of the abso- lutely unfair basts upon which they are | forced to compete. The busses end the taxicabs should be made amerable to strict regulation, exercised for the com- mon good, or the street cars should be | removed from the supervision of the| regulatory agency. As the lztter alter- native is unthinkable, Congress and the | Public Utilities Commission should pro- ceed to correct an anomalous situation that is constantly leading to more con- fusion in traffic and discriminates in | the distribution of the financi] burden | 2mong those who use the public sireets for profit. e Japan's Note to the League. Japan’s reply to the League of Na- | tions Council's appeal of February 16 in relation to China, will not go into historical records as a masterpiece of dinary document. Briefly stated, it is an expression of surprise that the ap- | rather than to the Chinese, “as the attacking party.” This amazing pre- to suggest that “Japan was wrcnz in resisting the attack on her marines,” and therefore “it is impos- | ppeal) should = | | be made to Japan alon Some day perhaps it will be possible to obtain a satisfactory statement of the precise justification of Japan's ag- gressive move in China. The present reply to the League Council does not cover that point. It has been shrewdly camouflaged throughout the diplomatic exchanges. The “attack upon her ma- rines” cannot be accepted as Japan's cause of warlike measures—it is always to be borne in mind that only a “state of war” exists at Shanghal. Outside of the International Settlement Japan had no rights that required the adop- tion of independent military measures for defense. The other powers having interests in the International Settle- ment did not delegate to Japan the re- sponsibility for the defense of that area against Chinese intrusion. So far as it can be determined Japan’s military move at Shanghai was initiated as a measure of compul- sion to effect the abandonment of the boycott against Japanese goods that had been begun by the Chinese peo- ple. The “state of war” was unmis- takably due to Japanese aggression. Yet in the reply to the League Coun- cil the Japanese foreign minister says: “There is nc possible reason why the aggressive measures of China should be condoned because of her pacific declarations, while the defensive meas- ures of Japan are branded as hostile.” | If Tokio expects the powers to ac-| cept this sort of chicane as the basis of its recognition in the role of a de- fensive nation there is indeed need | itself mentioned in comnany with legit.- | requiring so much calculation to let the +he seldom goes to the trouble of ascer- | tained by to provide for a treaty-strength N2Vy,| ot 5 complete readjustment of all in- | but also it is a duty to the people|iernational valuations. If it is sincere of this country. in its argument, from the standpoint R of Western civilization, it is in need of instruction in the fundamentals of | human relationships. If it is not sin- cere it is simply employing the diplo- macy of deceit to cloak a monstrously wicked purpose. - Shrewd argument is readily offered by Bishop Cannon. If he had not decided to identify himself with re- liglon he would, no doubt, have been eminent in the law. e e Percentage of alcohol has been pro- moted by prohibition to almost as prominent a place in discussion as per- centage of interest charg B —— Boy and Gun. The boy and the gun! The combi- nation works fine for the undertakers, but it is hard on the families. The boy sometimes gets the gun by parental gift, sometimes by secret purchase, again by theft. However he gets it, he is seldom capable of its proper use or trained in his responsibility as its possessor. Having the gun, he must use it, just stmply has to use it. He fires at a mark somewhere. It may be in the heart of the city, or it may be in the suburbs, only rarely out in the open spaces of the country. Of course he prefers a living mark, & bird or an animal. It is much more fun to shoot at something that is living than at a tin can or a bottle or a paper target. The living thing may move and if the gunner can hit it on the move hells indeed a marksman. And is it not true that guns are made to hit living thirgs and make them dead things? Threre is no escaping the boy's reasoning on that score. He gets a bit of & kick out ‘of the bang of the charge and the recoil r———— Men can still remember when as boys they were told to go to the barber shop, but to be sure not to look at the Po- Mce Gazette. The pink paper that de- | picted wild life has passed away and there is no use trying to prevent a scrutiny of the picture magazines on every newsstand. —r———— Strict Regulation Required. In his appearance not long ago be- fore the Subcommittee on District Ap- propriations Gen. Patrick of the Pub- lie Utilities Commission was admon- | ihed by several of the members against permitting taxicabs and busses to| usurp great areas of curb space on the public streets. One gained the impres- sion that the members wanted some- thing done about it. Well, what is to be done about it? The Public Utilities Commission, as a | first step toward extension of neces- sary regulation over the taxicab busi- ness, which business exists in a wild and primeval state within the borders ©f the District, sought to have the cabs equipped with meters. As a few mem- ters of the House are constitutionally opposed to equipping taxicabs with meters, they succeeded in putting a 1esolution through the House to the effect that the House would look with keen disfavor upon any move thus to equip the taxicabs. With the Public _Utilities Commission saying one thing, end the House of Representatives of the United States saying another, the taxicab operators have chuckled over the vagaries of Rovernmental regula- tion in the Capital City and have mer- rily gone their way. The possibility of effective taxicab regulation is apparent- 1y as far away as ever. ‘The bus operators, in the mean time, have presumably studied with interest the ineffectiveness of the Public Utili- ties Commission’s efforts st taxicab reg- of the weapon and the knowledge that he is sending a missile at high speed somewhere. But back of it all is the %o an powibity of killng something, sBd Sereriiciess by tie e Isst that is why the gun is such & wonder« permanency, ations of normal supply and demand. So is the transaction of a man who ! expects a rise in value. Stock gambling | has enjoyed the advantage of getting mate investment until it seems compai- atively respectable. - s - Advocates of a sa'es tax do not con- tend that it will be universally popular. | No tax ever is. The sales tax has the advantage of lossening the shock by consumer know what he is paying that taining the bitter truth. When a country goes into war for the purpose of providing food and shel- ter for its large population, accurate account is never taken of the number of people who could have been main- the wealts destroyed in battles. - It is never very easy to command popular interest for statistics. Reed and Hale have managed to do so in their discussions of our Army and Navy as compared in equipment with thos: of other nations. BEen e Possibility now asserts itself that there may be enough adherents of the old Russian royalist regime to cause Staiin to consider military as well as industrial features in connection with the next Soviet plan. € e A Japan has made a close study of diplomacy and, even when her advances cause world consternation, does not for- get her fixed custom of breaking bad news as gently as possible. Some politicians refer to the bou- quets now thrown to favorite sons as bunches of crocuses. The crocus is first of the blossoms and never lasts into the Summer. So much histrionic talent is required for an anniversary celebration that the jovs of patriotism are likely to be tem- pered by the pangs of artistic jealousy. ———— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Advice:r We get advice on eberything Pertaining ic this earth, On what to say and what to sing In sedness or in mirth, On what to read and what to weay, On what is rude or nice, / For every phase of human care We daily find advice. As admonitions we attend From minds both great and small, Attention we too seldom lend To real Wisdom's call. How often has this fate been met By Washington so brave. We vraise him loudly, but forget The good advice he gave. Moment of Musical Candor, “Are you fond of music?” “Of course I am,” answered Senator Sorghum. “But you never join in a patriotic tune.” “Let me make a confession. My ear for music is not good. The worst way in the world for me to show how fond I am of a tune is to try to sing it.” Jud Tunkins says the world might have gotten rid of war sooner if there hadn't been so much more poetry than truth written about it. Discrimination. Our ancient sires revered the laws. They favored no rough frolic, But did not shoot at men because ©Of tangles alcoholie. ‘Those old-time warriors bring a thrill. We honor their position. For patriotism they would kill, But not for prohibition. Debt Extension. “If you extend a note too often,” re- marked the broker, “you might as wel burn it.” “I agree with you,” answered Mr. Dustin Stax. “What you intended as a moratorium becomes a crematorium.” “Wars,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “call on us to build monu- ments and speak splendid praise, in order to help them forget the horrors they have endured.” A Simile. The taxes they design to make us pay, Like clothing ready-made, will bring a sigh. A vast variety is on parade, But nothing really seems to satisfy. “I ain’ gineter argue,” said Uncle Eben. “If a man insists on bein’ wrong, I don’ feel called on to risk s fight tryin’ to do him de favor of puttin’ him right.” v——— A Difficult Task, Prom the Hamilton (Ohio) Journal. A list, just compiled, of 15,000 dis- eases that affiict mankind shows how much harder it must be in modern times to be an all-around hypo- chondriac. A SR East’'s Push Fails. From the Toronto (Canada) Daily Bt One might almost suspect that the East imagined that a good at the present time might the structure of the Western World. There to Stay. From the Plorence (Ala.) Herald. Some og. o:r foreign hv-'un‘-uh v - It is a pleasure to watch the car- dinals, which have been around for a montn or two. The splash of color the male makes lin shrubbery is bright, indeed, at this | season. He is a first touch of Spring, far ahead of the robin. His clear song. or call (it seems more like a call than a song), rings out every now and then. There is an old legend that if a cardinal is imprisoned. its mat= will fly to its cage. bringing it a poisonous p:;rr_\'. which it will eat and thus per- ish. This is probably a folktale, originat- ing in the early days of the republ'c, when the beautiful cardinal was much | sought after as a cag> bird. It was | foeund necessary to stop this traffic, and | thus save one of our cheeriest birds, as well as almost the most beautiful. It is a question, indeed, whether there is any common bird more lovelv than this. " Its bright color is instantly rec- ognized by most people, even in cities. The female. although duller in color- ing, yet is bright enough, e Let all the songbirds come back. they will all be welcome, but the gath- ering will not be complete until tha wood thrush arrives. | There are several sorts of thrushes, | and we are not sure which one enter- | tans us, but it makes no particular | difference. The important thing is that | he is a tirush. The thrush is a kind of American nightingale, it seems to us. His song | is unvaried, with slight exceptions, but it is s0 clear and cool, so filled with the music of woods and stream, that it comes near to being our idea of the way a nightingale should sing (but probably doesn't). ‘The books say that originally the thrushes stayed away from human | habitation. They were shy, and to bs | found only in the deepest thicket. | Well, if that were true once, it is so no longer. The thrush is one of the| chummiest of modern birds. He comes | down, in the cool of the evening, during that beautiful period when grass takes on its greenest hues, and walks around | under the shrubs, hunting for his| dinner, | In thus viewing the thrush at close range one probably will feel convinced that if he were to dangle a cularly long worm before the bird the speckled fellow would hop right up. Then a swiftly descending hand might imprison him, if any one wanted | | WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS Theobservance of George Washing- ton’s birthday anniversary and the in- auguration of the Washington Bicen- tennial Celebration proved to be a world-wide affair. The Geneva Disar-| mament Conference halted its snail's pace and took a three-day recess on Washington’s account. lor Edge, in Paris, delivered a highly sig- nificant speech concerning the Ameri- can position Xelmlhl[ Teparations and war debts. Poland issued a special ‘Washington postage siamp. Speakers throughout Germany lauded the U. 8. Shot and shell around Shanghal some- what cramped the style of the Wash- ington celebration there. Japanese and Chinese troops fajled to observe the American holiday. Mr. Hoover's Wash- ington birthday address to the joint session of Congress was his first per- sonal appearance before the House and Senate since his ascension to the presi- dency. At its conclusion and after the President and cabinet and the Senate and the diplomats had d?ned from the House chamber the House staged | an ovation for Speaker Garner, against which all the gavel wielding prowess of the ruddy Texan could not prevail “Hurrah for Garner,” some member | shouted and then belaam broke loose | and continued for several minutes. Members stood in their places, ap- plauded, yelled, waved handkerchiefs and flags and generally made merry in bonor of their popular leader. At tI Bicentennial costume ball, which cap- ped the climax of the da: gentleman appealed ceremonies. 8 asked? “I married a Washington.” To which the M. of C. replied, “Are you of the blood? 1If not, go in group one or two. Group three is only for those of the blood.” * ok ox “The Democratic Roosevelt—the Life | Story of F. D." is a new book destined for wide circulation by the Roosevelt campaign managers. The authors of this “authentic blography” are listed as Leland M. Ross and Allen M. Grobin. The pen portraiture of the hero is highly flattering. Gov. Roosevelt's character, courage, capacity and ac- complishments are graphically set forth. The {llustrations, too, are highly ef- fective: “Young Franklin With His Father and Mother at the Hyde Park Home,” “Franklin Roosevelt With the Groton School Foot Ball Team,” “The Assistant Secretary of the Family Group at Hyde Park “Gov. Roosevelt on Horseback After His Vic- tory Over Infantile Paralysis,” “Gov. Roosevelt at His Desk in the Executive | Chamber at Albany,” “Gov. Roosevelt Reading His Now Famous Message on Unemployment to the New York Legis- | lators in Extraordinary Session.” | * % x % John Garner’s potential strength, in the event of his nomination for the glruldency—hll political assets and lia- | litles as the Democratic standard [ YOur bearer, are subjected to minute scrutiny. It is being warmly debated, for instance, as to whether Texas is South or is West. The Texans claim it is West when confronted with the contention that the Northern Democ- racy is in no mood to give the nomina- tion to the South. ask Garner'’s home is west of Omaha,” say his friends; “that certainly makes him a Western candidate, rather than South.” A Bos- ton Democrat in Congress was asked how he thought Garner w usetts i mominated evels they say, one of his grandm born in Irel help,” he replied. * m‘{h, but there is no harm & bit of harm.” xox oo The conversational topic was the business lon and the tremen- dous deflation in property values and security in the past two years. ‘The s er Was & prominent member of Congress possessed of a large private fortune. “I have recently had occe- sion to take an inventory of all of my real estate and of my personal property,” he said. “and to compare their present realizable value with values prior to the be t may - in it, not than most birds' tunes. Perhaps the natives ~around Honolulu, inventing some of their walizes, used bird songs. * ok ox % It is interesting to speculate at this time upon the exact way the plants must ook upon this Winter, so com- paratively warm and mild. One may feel convinced that the plant fibers have a way of their own of looking at life as they grow it. It is nol intelligence, exactly, know it, but it is some sort of edge, one may feel sure of that. Their knowledge is a reaction to cer- tain outside stimuli, but it must come | frcm the inside. 1t is like a finger press- | ing a doorbell, Th- finger presses from the outside, the bell rings inside. : The plants respond, as we say, to warmth and rain. But that is not 2l | Their eancestors made the same re- | sponses over the centuries, and it is in their very being to so respond. That is what may be called the plant's intel- | ligence. or the plant's mind. In a way, ' it thinks. just the same as we do, and for just the same reasons. * o ox x But how is a plant to think in such | topsy-turvy seasons as these? Perhaps a Nlac does not know any | more what to make of such weather | then we do. lilacs and human beings are | entirely at sea, A whit> lilac in the vard is making itself ready, however, for Spring. It has a fine new set of leaf buds all ready, and these will unfold shortly. Unless extremely cold weather inter- venes, these new leaves will never fold up entirely. There is a wide latitude n Nature, which takes care of tender new shoots. Frost and freeze may get them. at last, but not surely. While it is extremely hazardous to | prophesy in such an abnormal weather year, it will seem to many an amateur gardener that true Spring cannot be very far away. As a matter of fact. and strictly on number of days, Spring is not so very far away. Ordinarily, one may begin on the lawn about the middle of March. And March 15 is not very far off. after all. It will be here before one knows it. There will be plenty of cool days, but the mpysterious “feel” of Spring will be in the air. That will make a difference. Then the birds will begin to arrive in earnest, and to wake up at 4 o'clock in the morning, all cheeping and chirping logether, as if the very success of the new season depended upon the amount of song from each individual bird. Everything else I own has depreciated from 20 to 80 per cent.” * ok ok A sidelight on the extent of the in- vasion of the Kentucky coal fields by volunteer investigators of the labor troubles there, is gontained in an ad- vertising circular @f a Kentucky-Ten- nessee interstate bus service, which was being exhibitsd in a Senator’s office one day this w ‘The circular con- tained the bus service schedules and references to busses for special char- ter, and autos for hire at reasonable rates and contained the printed foot- note, “Special Facilities for Visiting New York Writers.” The senatorial group agreed that this was a rather cryptic statement, with a possible dou- ble meaning. It was suggested that it may have meant that the company | offered special facilities to speed the visiting writers out of the State and out of trouble. The local authorities in Kentucky, according to protests now lodged with Congress, have showed the visitors the exit with scant ceremony. L O ‘The White House Conference on Child Health and Protection, like the babbling brook, seems destined to run on forever. It is just announced that Arkansas is to have a “White House Conference” on March 1, Michigan on March 18 and Oregon on May 2. Eleven books have been published by the con- ference to date, but that is just the beginning. Some of the titles are “Psy- t;l}"olnd Psychiatry in Pediatrics— the blem,” and again, “Pediatrics, Education and Practice,” “Nursery Edu- cation” and “Parent Education,” Mechanics—Education and Practice.” * ok x The Ritchie presidential campaign No Preference Given To Veterans in Fact To the Editor of The Star: I have read with a great deal of interest the statement made in a let- ter published in The Star over the signature of Mickie Barker, that many advantages are given the veteran in search of employment by both private and Government employers. Mr. Bark- | er's letter is fairly written, but, I be- lieve, without a knowledge of the sub- ject under discussion. Far from receiving & preference from private employers, it has been my cxperience, and hundreds of cases come to my desk monthly, that it is much more difficult for a veteran to obtain a job than it is for a non-vet- eran to obtain one. The reason for this is that practically all veterans suf- fer a vocational handicap due directly to their service in the late war. Dur- ing the period of their life that is usually spent in attending sctools of higher learning, starting at the bottom in Jow-paid jobs, or learning a trade— I might say during the time that Mickie Barker was attnding high school and thercby obtaining advan- tages that will stand him in good stead later on—these veterans were in the Army and Navy. They went in as boys, came out as men, untrained men in so far as earning & living Is con- cerned, and have suffered, vocation- ally, ever since. These claims are proved by the fact that while the vet- erans are but 10 per cent of the wags |earners of the country, they compose over 15 per cent of the unemployed. In other words, in proportion three veterans are out of work for each two non-veterans. Does that lcok as though they were cbiaining preference? The veteran of the World War who is not suffering from a disability in- curred as a result of his service is en- titled to & 5 per cent prefer the matter of civil service e: tions. Any person who has ever con- ducted examinations of a general na- ture knows that there can be a 5-point difference in marking the same papers by different instructors, so it may be readily seen that this 5-point prefer- ence amounts to very little. In order that we may compare the treatment of tfe Government reiative to civil service positions sought by veterans and non-veterans, let us com- pare two cases, one of a man who went n the Army during the war and one who did not. On April 7, 1917, two men went into the Government serv- ice. One became Pvt. John Smith and fhe other became Clerk John Smith of the Bureau of Fisheries. Both had the same qualifications as to education. Pvt. John Smith got $30 per month. Clerk John Smith got $120 per month. Pvt. John Smith goes to France. fights valiantly and comes back in 1919. The war was over, but the dura- tion had just begun, and by the time Pvt. John Smith gets out of the Armv it is. for one reason or another, April 7, 1922, five years after his enlistment. Also, on_ April 7, 1922, Clerk John Smith’ decides to resign from his job because he has an opportunity to make more money _elsewhere. In April, 1931, the Smiths both lose their jobs. Both have families to sup- port and both apply to their Gover: ment, which they have served faith- fully, and ask for jobs as clerks. To Clerk John Smith the Civil Serv- ice Commission is able to say: “Oh, yes, Mr. Smith, you served your country well for five years and you are, therefore, entitled to reinstate- ment without examination.” To ex-Pvt. John Smith the Civil Service Commission must say: “Sorry, Mr. Smith. You served your country well for five years, during and after the war. soldier and not as a clerk. Therefore. the Government cannot give you a 0b.” e your veteran's preference. I never met a veteran who would not change places with the man who served his Government as a clerk, except for the fact that they know that if it were not for the veterans there would be | no United States here for the young men of today to seek to serve for “patriotism and profit.” But with pens and not guns. JOHN ARTHUR SHAW, Director, Veterans' Employment Serv- ice. ANSWERS Many read-rs send in questions signed only with initials, asking that the answers appeer in the newspaper. The spac: is limited and would not accom- modate a fraction of such requests. The answers published are ones that may interest many readers, rather than the one who asks the question only. All questions should be accompanied by the writer's name and address and 2 cents in coin or stamps for reply. Send your question to The Evening Star Infor- mation Bureau, Prederic J. Haskin, Di- rector, Washington, D. C. . How much money is spent on amusement in this country?—A. G. K. income, the amusement field is the fowth largest industry in the United States. Its annual receipts are esti- mated at $1,500,000,000." Q. What is the longest air line in this country?—E. S. A. Market Data says: “Measurad by | TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. | crepancy between area and population of Alaska and a State of the United | States is th> case of Rhode Island, | which is one-four-hundred-and-sev- | entieth of the size of Alaska, with 1,248 tquare miles, but has over 600,000 peo- ple, and hehce 10 times as much popu- lation. Q Whst s Isinglass made of?—J. A. It is a semi-transparent, whitish and very pure form of ‘gelatin, chiefly | prepared from the or air blad- | ders of sturgeons from the rivers of | Western Russia. Q. Who said * that barks at me . | A Vespasian, the Roman emperor, is said to have made the remark in ex- | pressing his attitude toward a group of | republican conspirators. will not kill & dog 0. V. €. Q. Please tell something of the life A. The New York-Chicago-Pacific Of Dmitri Merejkowski, author of “The But you served as a . 23,000 passengers were carried. Q. When were news reels first popu- larized?—E. H. B. A. The news weekly came on the screens of the United States in 1910, when Pathe Freres of Paris circulated a weskly issue of their Pathe Journal. Brief pictures of troops taken by cam- era men during the Spanish-American War were the prototypes of the news | weekly. m;qsx.m-pun. : A. A normal healthy adult changes his position about once in seven or eight minutes while sleeping. . What American newspaper leads in classified advertising?—W. C. F. A. The Los Angeles Times still is leading the Nation in th: number of want ads printed. In 1931 the Times published 5,692,722 lines of classified ad- vertising. This was 923,906 lines ahead of the Erocklyn Eagle, second in rapk. The figures indicate that about 1,200,000 single classified advertisements were printed by the Times in a single year. The Times has long held this leading position. Q. What became of the American flag carried by United States troops in London, Engiand, during the World War?—L. L. A. This particular flag is now hang. ing at President Wilson's tomb, in the National Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, in Washington, D. C. Q. What Eastern university was the recipient of the Fidac Medal last Sum- mer?>—S. W. dac Congress, in Prague last Summer, tor University for distinguished service in promoting world peace and under- standing. The medal was presented Tuary 20-22, 1932, Q. As the Japanese reckon time, what year is this?—R. E. A._The year 1932 is the year 2592 of the Japanese era. Q. How many people have been car- ried across the ocean in one ship?— F. A G. A. The Leviathan holds the record. During the cers and crew of the ship and the con- tingent of soldiers being carried, the mnd total of persons aboard was 13,- Q How young was Mary Wigman when she started dancing?—A. W. A. Miss Wigman was 27 when she learned to dance. She had gone to school in England, travel and the Orient, and ventured into mu- sic before she found that dancing was | her life work. Q. What are the comparative areas | of Texas and Alaska?—B. B. A. Texas, with 265,896 square miles, is less than half the size of Alaska, with 586,400 square miles. But Texas has almost 6,000,000 people and Alaska only . 'An’ even more amasing dis- How often does a person move in | A A._At the Twelfth International Fi- | the Pidac Medal was awarded to Prince- | by Dr. Stephen Duggen on the occa- | sion of the annual alumni meeting, Feb- World War. counting offi- |1 ed in Europe | Ccast Airway is the longest. Last year Romance of Leonardo da Vincl”—F. L. | . This Russian novelist and critic | was born in St. Petersburg (Leningrad) | August 2, 1865, the son of a court offi- | clal. He graduated from St. Petersburg | Unlversity and married Zinalda Hippit- poet. His first volume of try was published in 1888 and was followed by transiations from Euripides and other Greek classics, and by a trilogy of his- torical romances collectively entitied ‘Christ and Antichrist.” The influence of Sienkiewicz can be traced in many of his writings. Q. Is Devonshire House in London still standing?—M. M. A. This historic mansion was de- molished in the World War and a large new hotel and apartment house was erected on its site. Q. Did former Gov. Smith of New York have a precedent for his tactics in dividing the New York Democratic support 1'1211» Gov. Roosevelt by an- nouncin s own wi ?— oo H? n willingness to run? | A.In 1879 when the Democrats | nominated for Governor of the State & man personally objectionable Honest John Kelly, then leader of Tammany Hall Kelly had himselt nominated in addition, thus dividing | the party vote, electing the Republican nominee and disciplining the party. | Q Do L. M. | A. Hai is the characteristic covering of mammals. Hairs are not wanting |on any mammals, but vary greatly in ;bk:fi=$;e' some being densely clothed ers possess it only on li parts of the body. e Q. How long has veneered wi used?—M. S. b A. The Forest Service says that the art of veneering can be traced back to | the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries preceding the Christian era. g what mekes & muscle develop?— sll mammals have hair?— | _A. Exercise causes muscles to develop. | The actual mechanics of the develop- ment of muscle consists of an increased |amount of blood to the heart during exercise. This causes growth of the | muscle and tissues, with the resulting | development in size. | .. Q. What verse of Scripture is called | the “cpitome of good citizenship”?— H. A. This title has been applied to the verses found in Mark, xii.l7; Luke xx.25, with respect to payment of taxes: “Render unto Caesar (the state) the things that are Caezar's and unto God the things that are God's.” Q. Was the British Wall actually built by Hadrian?—S. H. A. The development of the wall was | gradual. Before Agricola advanced into Scotland, about A. D. 78, he built forts to protect him from attacks in the rear. | The lines thus formed were made per- manent by embankments of earth and | & ditch, known as the vallum. Hadrian, | about A.D. 120, and Severus Septimus | 90 years later completed the structure, murus, or stone wall, parts of which | still remain. ‘.- National School Best Tribute to Washington ‘To the Editor of The Star: ‘The celebration of the Bicentennial of the birth of George Washington af- fords wide scope for reflection and appraisement, admiration and testi- monial. Whetber we consider Wash- in as citizen, Mason, patriot, soldler, president of the constitutional convention, statesman, or chief mlft- strate, his career reflects high it, an honor accentuated by the influence of his character and achievements not only upon his country and his age, but upon the whole world and through suc- ceeding generations. Varied as were his public ac- complishments, it was in the realm of democracy that they were most con- spicuous, have endeared his name to lovers of liberty throughout the world, and will consecrate his fame to all posterity. And it was directly out of this paramount phase of his public ac- tivity that grew his advocacy of a na- tional university for the country he loved and served so well. And yet, strange as it may seem. this great educational interest of his life is haps less known to the general pub- K:'m.n is any other. Unfortunately, the American people have been too ab- sorbed in the territorial and material, industrial and commercial development As Basis of Benefits likely to be derived by the m'eo!m from mmh.:-’nml bank- are em) ment. Under supervision of the Fed- eral Reserve Board, there is offered an exfension of rediscounting facilities, with the prospect of eliminating fears that have been disclosed in the course of the de) ‘The use of gold from the vaults of the Treasury is expected to aid in producing beneficial results. ss com- | Banking Measure Is Laud;e;lm New Confidence statement: “It is the obligation of the United States Government; it must have behind it 40 per cent in actual gold, and it is, in addition, a first lien | on the assets of all issuing banks.” | Indorsing the present proceedings, the South Bend Tribune states: “The simple_truth is that the Federal Re- serve System has become a hoarder of | gold. It has $250,000,000 in gold, cor- | responding to $2,250,000,000 in credit, “It is a temporary measure,” says the | in excess of legal requirements. ‘The Springfield (Mass.) Union, jhich re- | Pederal Reserve can enlarge the banks’ laxes credit restrictions, for & one-year | credit: the banks can meet the credit period, but which could be extended as | demands of manufacturers and me:- an emergency measure if circumstances | chants; and the manufactyrers and demanded. The effect upon the unem - | merchants can work back to normality pl nt situation, of the release of | with confidence that elimination of the onal credits, will be helpful in | actual unemployment and of the pros- as business men and the |pects of further unemployment will banks avail themselves of this oppor- | stimulate purchase of the merchandise tunity to expand their facilities.” The | that Americans desire and need.” New Orleans Item volces the opinion “The measure apparently is designed that “there are sound reasons for open- to broaden the powers of the executive ing up credit through the Federal Re- | officials controlling the administration serve and putting a stop to the contin- of finance and to trust to their judg- ual poun: of prices.” As to present | ment,” according to the Buffalo Eve- eonfiom, Item advises that they | ning News, and the Nashville Banner has now reached the stage, where it is ted States, and in the sev- to have a full-fledged publicity bureau. ‘,’1.}”‘.,.3“{‘1»\:.1: which it has passed, Norman W. Baxter, veleran of 20 years | i, found the national institution of of newspaper experience here and abroad, and until recently managing editor of a Washington morning news- paper. is to direct the Ritchie publicity. olitical developments of the past few weeks in the Democratic camp have greatly encouraged the backers of the Maryland Governor. The new impedi- menta in Roosevelt's path for the nomi- pation, the activities of the Smith fac- tion on the one hand and the phe- nomenal rise of the Garner boom on the other hand, are seen as increasing chances of a deadlock at Chicago, from which Ritchie might emerge victorious. (Copyright, 1932.) ———— Protests Police Service At Capitol on Monday To the Editor of The Star: ‘The writer is wondering if one of news uromrl happened to notice the deplars treatment of the Monday at the Capitol grounds the opening of the Bicen! al. some of the facts? The general public was held back beyond the curb of the plaza and crowded in like cattle, women and chil- dren being nearly crushed, when there was room within the plaza for thou- sands to hear and see the program, whereas they were crowded back to the sidewalk and not allowed by the police to step foot Off the curb. Hundreds of these people came from all parts of the Uni States to be present at the S e T [ where could not see or h‘"wln when there was room for ds mmlephl:.cermmyunasmam ple, and especially so on such an gulnn whennho{mr the Father of Country. Our 3 Then_to climax the situation the Police Department sterted to park a Jarge group of busses in the plaza in front of the people who had stood for hours for the opening of the ) s n and they. no doubt would have them parked there if the people not set up & complaint. V. L. McKINSTRY. ——— Infantile Lapses. Prom the San Antonio Evening News. Statistics, remarks s contemporary, show that bables cannot be too careful n their But history IF ok Ty b poine out o d|the nation give Washing learning which Washington knew would best disseminate the principles of democracy to the uttermost ends of the 1t is fitting, therefore, at this special time of testimonial to Washington's public services, that renewed attention be directed to his national university project, with the efforts made there- for by himself, by a number of his successors in the White House, and by a multitude of distinguished Americans in all periods of our national history. Many will be the tributes paid Wash- ington during the period of the Bi- centennial observance, February 22 to Thanksgiving day, 1932 The great national Masonic’ temple, at Alex- andria, erected primarily in his honor, will attract attention to his virtues as a Mason. His restored birthplace at Wakefleld, Va., and the churches where he worshiped, at Pohick and Alex- andria, Va, wil share with Mount Vernon the distinction of pilgrimage. !:fl.g: His name and fame will be the theme | teresting to observe that Senator Glass, of innumerable speeches, pageants and writings. His monument at Washing- will draw added scores of thous- ands. And yet, noble as is this marble obelisk, no one acquainted with Wash- ington’s mind and heart will for a moment doubt that he would indefi- nitely have pref as a monument to his memory, the national university which he so repeatedly and earnestly advocated—a monument to endure in living and beneficent activity when monuments of stone are dust. Indeed, how 30 finely could gratitude and honor be shown Washington, at the same time, how coul service did an educa Tent the Nation which he mnflufl d terity as through the iblishment, y the Government, at the National Capital, of the national university so near his heart—an institution calcu- lated to have resources, prestige and achievements impossible to any other, and yet to co-operate with each and be the friend and inspiration of all—an institution which would give the United States & new and enduring distinction among the nations of the world. Could {mfl so fitting such atone- 1d so n- be Opposition or Remonstrance? Prom the Duluth Herald. are not “going to keep the American Nation from continuing to grow in real wealth, or from being permanently prosperous.” It is ted out by the New York Times t indefinite credit expansion is not contemplated, while the Rock Island Argus emphasizes the fact that “action is discretionary with the Fed- eral Reserve Board,” and makes the further statement: “It is argued that as the legislation is to meet an emergency, no financial inflation is under contem- plation and that the idea that new cur- rency is to pour out is a figment of th imagination.” The Roanoke World- News explains that the “main purpose is to pave the way for the liquidation of billions in sound securities now held by banks, but not eligible for rediscount- “The deep-running restraint, the strength of the safeguards set up by the bill against any risk of ble in- flation are most impressive.” according to the Boston Transcript. The Birming. ham Age-Herald remarks that “it is in- who has always insisted on the strictest requirements in connection with the Federal Reserve System, is leading the movement in behalf of this amelioration of credit stringency.” “Senator Glass probably is right. Chi Daily Ne " in ters, that there will be inflation as a = of the liberalization of The Boise Idaho Statesman sees “not a step toward currency inflation so much as a shift in the mechanics of the Federal Reserve system, which will the measure by both Wayne News-Sentinel takes the position that “the of the measure is to | place the 's banking system in | the possible tion to resist | force of credit deflation.” | sees in this “another timely afirmation | of the Government's willingness and ability to support the banks of the Na- tion to whatever extent may be neces- | sary.” The Charleston (S. C.) Evenini | Post offers the comment: “The bil promises some real relief to an intol- | erable congestion of credit, If that | easement does not lead to an improve- ment in business and to a reduction in unemployment it will be because the foundations of the old order have been shaken loose by the excessive mechani- zation of industry and that something much more radical than easing of Tedit is needed to bring back what we used to call prosperity.” “It has remained for Senator Glass," declares the St. Louls Times, “to step forth and call & spade a spade. ‘Ab- solutely dirgraceful,’ is s description by the learned Virginian of the situation | in which men who have been called Napoleons of Pinance have hoarded | their sound paper when the eredit | facilities of the Federal Reserve sys- tem were open to them. ‘These timid | and frightened bankers have ceased to function. Their banks have stopped | banking. Seemingly they have no sense or conception of duty to their respec- | tive communities,’ asserted the Senator | to a very large and attentive and ap- proving audience, that was learning in uwm:hmmt that hoarding has pre- the Harris- vailed in mg&"chlm, ne H e the to Telegraph offers : “Senator Glass should under- stand that bankers are but custodians of the money of others, that they have faced most trying But now that Government be had the banks will be able to take care of their customers without injuriously limiting their credit resources. More than that, many banks which have money aplenty will now be encouraged to loan it, they will be able to discount heretofore in- eligible paper if they should have need of immediate cash.” —_—— e The Placid Past. From the Rochester Times-Union. What did Tamniany have for the day's best worry before ‘Seabury sup- plied the daily need? Limitation of Arms. Prom the Toledo Blade. posi e