Evening Star Newspaper, January 11, 1933, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR With Sundsy Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C WEDNESDAY. .January 11, 1933 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor Whe Evening Star Newspaper Compan Business Of and Pennsylvania Ave ice: 110 Rate by Carrier Within the City, ‘ Bvening ll;rs AR, 48¢ per month s 4 Bundars) . 80c per month ing and Sunday Star 1 a o ‘ench month | ail or telephone | v "ok jon ma e may be sent In by m: 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and V] % | brought about “arms equality.” All Other States and Canada. ; 1mo.. $1.00 - i ¢ i 1mo. 15¢ a7 only i 1mo. 80c Member of the Associated Press. o Associated Press 1s exclusively entitied The ablication of All news dis- N e exlted 1o It O mot otherwise cred- this ;per pnd also the local news Ehite e All rights o lication of | al dispatehes herein are also reserv e mént accomplished the virtual aboli- the rights and expectations which un- derlie the Reich’s program. ‘The Reichswehr—Germany’s present limited standing army—is on the threshold of drastic reconstruction, not to say expansion, under Gen. von Schleicher. The soldiers who presently will be attached to German embassies and legations will have, as a special lnflgnmmt, the explaining and justi- fying of the Reich’s alms, as well as the minor duty of keeping their pro- fessional eyes open for all the purely military information they are entitled THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, WEDNESDAY, his name. There is an element of con- structive patriotism involved. One of the premier tenets of Ameri- can democratic coctrine is the convic- | tion that poor boys may become fa- mous men; that any boy, however hum- ble, born in the United States, may as- pire to the presidency. History records the fact that obscurity of birth and poverty in childhood and youth consti- tute no effective bar against political éminence. Jackson and Lincoln are classic examples. But Calvin Coolidge also came into the world under no ob- to gather and send to Betlin. Outstripping in importance Germany’s | specific reason for stationing military | observers abroad is the proof her pro- | gram supplies that the Reich’s deter- mination to revise the treaty of Ver- | sailles piecemeal is steadily on the! march. Last July the Berlin govern- | | In December it The | Reich has other known designs on t.hq covenant which imposed conqueror’s | terms upon a vanquished foe. Germany | wants to be relieved of the odium of | “war guili” She craves the retumn of | her lost colonies. She harkers for re- lief from the restrictions which keep her a fifth-rate power at sea. She; vehemently demands the wiping out of | the Polish Corridor. She would like— tion of reparations. The Light Rate Compromise. | The Public Utilities Commission, in | fts dispute with the Potomac Electric Power Co., stands in the advantageous position of having won its first battle —or a satisfactory portion of it—in the Disirict Supreme Oourt, which affirmed its euthority to crd:r rate re- ductions regarcless of the old consent decree and anted that the rm:‘ should be lower than those establish- ed by that decree, even if not so low as those ordered by the commission. In his letter to the commiscion yesterday Presjdent Ham of the Potomac Electric Power Co. suggests, in effect, that in- stead of fighting through to a finish in the Court of Appeals, to which the case ‘was appealed by the power company, both parties shake hands and make up and resume annual rate fixing under a modified consmnt decrce. The new consent decree rate-fixing formula would fix rates, roughly speaking, half way betweesn what the District Su- preme Court szid they might be, the | low point, and what the old consent decree said they should be, the high point. That 15 the formula by which rates for the last year w:re fixed, and is the formula by which the Public Utflities Commission, in a recent letter to the power company, suggested they be fixed for the current y:ar. The company would gain, through this compromise, the re-establishment of the consent decree for an indefinite time. It would be able to look for- ward, each year,.to & definite method of rate-fixing. It would also profit by the fact that the rates in the revived consent decree would not be as low as those which the Supreme Court has said the Public Utilitles Commission might equitably order, and which would be ordered if .the €ourt of Appeals up- held the lower court. The public would gein, Immediately, another reduction in rates. The public . | dlstinguished from 'the present “short win & part of its fight for lower electric rates, but would lose the oppor- tunity of ordering even lower rates. It would apparently have won its point although the terms of the new consent decree might in some respect alter this suthority. « In short, if the electric company's proposal is accepted, there will be re- established the consent decree as an in- strument for automatic rate reduction, eliminating tedious court fights and pro- ducing an immediste reduction in rates. If the electric company’'s proposal is declined there will apparently be no rate reduction until the Court of Ap- peals hands down its decision, which may not be for zeveral months. If that appeal should favor the commission there will be a greater reduction of rates than under the immediate re- vival of the consent decree. The Public Utilities Commission has the choice between immediate peace with immediate rate reductions and continued litigation with the possibility that there will be lower rates. The company has a club in the form of power to appeal to the courts on every order and tiv up execution of the orders; the Utilities Commission has a club in the form of its recent court vietory. It is a question of putting the clubs aside or going at each other again nip and tuck. The commission should decide its course in the light of what 4 best for the interests of the public ———————— Many suggestions for a cebinet slate are being made, but all of them at present are so faint as to be susceptible ©f easy erasure. —————— German Military Attaches. Announcement from Berlin that Ger- man military attaches, for the first time since the World War, will, on April 1, go on duty in Washington, London, | Paris, Rome, Prague, Warsaw and Mos- | cow is a highly significant sign of the times. Due unmistakably to the strong hand of the soldier-statesman, Gen. von Schleicher, who now is chancelior, the development may be interpreted as the fiest fruits of Germany's newly won “equality in arms” It bears this as- pect, even though it is officially ex- plained that the necessary negotiations with the seven foreign governments concerned began several months be- fore the disarmament conference bowed to Germany’s demand for the military status granted her as the price of re- Gaining her presence at Geneva. ‘The German government has a defi- site and logical purpose in stationing efficial soldier-observers in the leading world capitals. The yesr 1933 i destined, it believes, to witness & pro- gressive amplification of the Reich's Jongings for a defense establishment more in keeping with the dignity and meeds of s sovereign state. Liberated though she does not set it down as a formal objective at this time—the re- acquisition of Alsace-Lorraine. With the success that has crowned Germany's efforts thus far to undo the | work of Versailles; it would be a rash| prophet who wculd say thet she will| pregress no further with thai herculean | task. L A e Short Seszion Filibustering. ‘The present row among the Demo- crats in the Senate over the Giass banking bill does not give the country hope for the future. If there is one thing the country needs it is an im- provement in the banking system so as to prevent as far as possible bank failures, whizch in the United States have run into the thousands during the depressicn, although in Caneda end| Grect Britain there have been few, if | any, fallures. Scnator Carter Glass of Vignia, one of th: authors of the F:leal Reserve System, which ad- mittedly was a great step forward, has presented a bank reform bil', far reach- ing in effect and cesigned to remedy some of th: ilis of the banking situa- tion. His bill was carefuly consicered | by tha Scnat: Benking Committee be- fore it was favorably reported to the Eenate. And now Senator Huey Long of Louisiana, lke Horatius at the bridge, has d>clared, that the bill shall rot pass. Wih a couvle of other Democrats ready to stand on his right and left hand, Mr. Long proclaims that the G'ass bill is hot to be voted upon al the present session—un'ess, indced, 1t be amerded so as to suit Mr. Long. He is particularly opposed to the pro- visions permitiing an increase of | branch banking. The Senator from Loul'dan: declares in the Senate thet his v:ice is the voice of Roo:evelt, the President-elect, whbn‘; he speaks of the Glass banking bill. Benator Glass, on the other hsnd, is| said to be the selection of Mr. Roosevelt | for Secretary of the Treasury. Further- more, Mr. Glasy belleves that the President-elect weuld sign the banking bili if it were sent to him by Congress after he takés office, despite. the fact| thst Mr. Long takes absolutely the con- trary view. In a “long session” of Congress, as sestion,” which ends March 4, Mr. Lorg might filibuster in vain against the pending banking Dbill. But under the | present circumstances, with all the appropriaticn bills pressing for consid- eretlon and the Democrats champirg at the bit to get the beer bill voted upon, Mr. Long’s efforts are likely to; prove effective, unlers, indeed, the Senete should be willing to zdopt a resolution impcsing the cloture rule. ‘The only other effective measure would be resort to long night sessions in an | effort to wear the Louisians Senstor down. This course is tcugh alike on Senators supporting a measure as well | a: on those opposing it. When yesterday Mr. Long was pre- | vailed upon to permit the deficiency appropriation bill to come before the Senate for consideration Senator Me- Kellar of Tennessee, another Democrat, threw a monkey wrench into the ma- chinery by offering an amendment pro- posing that there be publicity regarding income tax refunds, and the Senate adjourned in a tangle. Surely the Democrats will not undertake at the present moment to accuse the Repub- licans of obstructive tactics in the Sen- ate, or with seeking to force an extra session of the Congress, For years Senator Glass, recognized | among the Democrats as a leacing | authority on banking, had a thorn in his side in the Senate, the former Sen- ator Thomas J. Heflin of Alabama, who did not agree with Mr, Glass. Finally this thorn was removed through the defeat of Mr. Heflin for renomination after he had refused to support Al Smith for President in 1928, If the Virginia Senator heaved a sigh of relief, probably no one will blame him. But today Mr. Glass may mutter prayer- fully when he thinks of the junior Sen- ator from Louisiana: “How long, O | Lord, how long!” r——— An economic world conference offers a temporary solution for difficulties that may threaten Gieneva hotel keep- ers. A Coolidge Stamp. The suggestion that former Presi- dent Calvin Coolidge should be repre- sented on a postage stamp has a certain attraction. The officials of the Post Office Department are considering the idea, and it is expected that their de- cision may be one of approval. There is ample precedent for such a stamp in the issues commemorating Presidents Harding, Wilson and Taft. The first named of these Chief Execu- tives died in office, and the stamp pro- duced in his honor was a so-called “mourning stamp.” The others passed from the earthly scene after retiring from the presidency, but public opinion approved stamps in their memory. Mr. Coolidge has & place in the affec- tions of the people. That was made manifest by the grief colncident with from the bondage of the Versailies treaty military clauses, German attaches 8 Washington and elsewhere are evi- expected to enact the role of foreign public opinion as to his death. There is, therefore, an emo- tional background for the present de- mand for philatelic recognition of his vious guarantee of future fortune. He was only & Vermont farmer's son, and his whole life was a long, laborious | struggie, commonplace in detail, to| escape from that condition, The theory has been that what Mr. Coolidge did lies in the power of any boy to do, and the theory is a good one. If mathematics contradicts it in some part, it confirms it in other re- spects. Certainly, not all who would bz President can reach the White House, but many can, meny have. The idea, for that reason, is sound. However, like every other practical phase of democratic philosophy, the | concept has been under attack. Pessi- mists and cynics have slurred it. Dis- couraged men have mocked it. Grover Cleveland, mecting Franklin Roosevelt when the successful candidate of No- vember 8 last was a boy, wished for him that he might never be Presi- dent. There is a current bromide to the effect thit only a man extrava- | gantly desircus of punishment would | want the office. Granted that it is & | strenuous assignment, the fault does | not lie in the position itself; its diffi- culty arises from the unhjustly ecritical attitude of a portion of the electorate | which is seemingly impossible to | please. . A stamp in honor of Calvin Coolidge would be a recognition of a great and good man, but it would be more than that. It would be, in effect, a recog- nition of a fundamental principle of American life—the principle of equal- ity of civic opportunity—which Kas been under inexcusable attack in recent years, but which is descrving of pro- tection as 2n intgral of the patriotic faith of the peoj BT A Cleveland, Ohio, music pubiisher has been arrested as a escaped con-| vict from a Colorado prison years ago. Public sympathy is always with a man who has redegmed a slight offense by a career of deserved success. In this case the estimation of sympathy due may depend, perhaps, rather whimsi- | cally, on the kind of music he has been engaged in publishing. R Calvin Coolidge said fishing was & pestime for small boys and then| changed his mind in gentle deference to a public that had become accustomed to seeing a hard-worked executive | going at least through the forms of relaxation. e Public me@ must submit to portrai- ture. Ome of the ‘arts of statesmanship is to smile in a manner that looks spontaneous instead of suggesting that the photographic artist has just given a peremptory order to that effect. ———ee— Perhaps Russia is entitled to an op- portunity for mild inquiry as to why a few old unpaid debts should be up new trade’ while they are being ex- plained. —————e——————— A lame duck has the consolation of knowing that no wounds are so serious as not to have a chance of healing four years. —v—— The Chinese are wiling to discuss | peace with Japan, hoping, no coubt, | that the discussion -will not afford ex- | cuse for further aggression. Beer legislation is complicated by | mathematics that run all the way from the brewery to the office of the revenue collector. ———————— " Republican opinion still holds to the | idea that the more Democrats there | | are in office the greater likelihood there | is of mistakes. s SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Mathematical Mystery. Lot's o' talk—and nothin’ said, 8o the numerous hours have sped As we tried to understand All the arguments in hand. Brave endsavors to explain Mysteries of loss and gain Only keep us on the run— Lot’s o' work and nothing done! Abcandxyse Sound in mathematic glee, Yet they keep us, in our biz, Wondering what the answer is. Consistent. “Are you a free trader?” “No," answered Senator Sorghum. “You are a high protectionist, then.” | “No, I stand on my record. If busi- ness isn't satisfactory, I'm always for something else. Jud Tunkins says too many of the folks who do not fear war are of the class who never fought and are willing | to try anything once. Confident Prediction. No matter how you toil and fret, No matter how much breath you waste, Whatever kind of tax you get ‘Will not be wholly to your taste. Keeping Going. “Are you fond of dancing?” “Very,” answered Miss Cayenne. “It is expressive of our modern state of mind. We want to keep going as grace- fully as possible, regardless of whether we are getting anywhere in particular.” “I shall not return home in order to participate in hostilities,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown. “There is no need. I am advised that there may be a gang war right here at any moment.” Fruits. . The fruits of victory, they say’ ‘Will represent a loss Of time and energy, if they Prove only applesauce. “I ain't sxin' foh no office, said Uncle Eben. “All I wants is & career. But & better reason exists for the issuance of & stamp in tribute to & boss that'll tell me how to work stead o' how to vote.” | others. brought up as a reason for not working |, . Job wit | of = Sometimes one is led to believe that people put on too severe a look. Surely life isn’t as bad as all that. Many a man, and especially many a woman, goes around with a great long face, as If the very world were coming to an end. 1f you happen to be sensitive to such things you will be harassed by a walk through the cily sireets, so many of these lugubious countenanc:s are met, each onz more woeful than the last. The effect of this distress is cumu- lative. It weighs upon the mind and heart until one pauses to reflect that this sad appearance, for the most part, is probably merely a habit, and a bad habit, ac that. One is forced to the conclusion that mostly the severe look seen upon so many faces is a matter of muscle pull, pure and simple, unresirained by efforts of mind or will to right it. Just what woes there may be behind these faces no one can say authorita- tive.y, buy on:'s symp is givea & severe jolt upon seeing such a counte- nance suddeay severivy and wreathe iicelf in :miles over exactly nothing much at all. If therc were any real resson for the set face, the inexpressive eyes, the down-drawn mouth, would it be able to be banished so quickiy? The observer has a suspicion that there is no true reason; that in the majority ol such case; the owners of these harassed faces have got them- selves into a series of bad habits, both mental and physical. This conclusion may do—no ‘doubt does do—an injustice to certain persons, Whos: woes are oniy (0o eviden.. We will leave them in their sorrow, since no one on the outside can heip them any. If there is to b2 any help for them, the clcansing passege of time will bring fi. The remainder of the owners of these cevere faces need a little lecture from some one. They are hurting 1If they hurt themselves, that is their own business, but when they hurt others that is soclety's business. It is the business of every one who has to look at 'em, alas, Especially if you happen to be one of these human beings, of whom there are many, who find endless diversions in looking at and watching other human beings. Not every one, of course, is so in- trigued. Many a person is interested solely in his precious self. Such a man (or woman) always makes e diverting study, but we are not concerned with him now. The special subject of interest is the sad-faced wight who perhaps has no real reason for being so. He ought to do something about it. He could do something about it, pro- vided it is not an inherited facial con- formation, such as is sometimes seen. He could do something, that is, pro- vided he would realize his failing, which he will not, of course. Therefore the matter is a hopeless one? Quite right! The world is full of hopeless matters, that coss not make them any the less interesting. Some sclentists think that human, soclety is a plain failure, and that there is no hope for man; that he is drifting to destruction in a world which has neither balance nor guide. This attitude does not prevent them, and all the rest of us, from eating, and enjoying life, and prying into the love- liness of the universe and its mystery, its_wonder, its never-ending treasures. Such an attitude does not militate one whit against happiness, or praise, or the sense of worship. | | themselves and | Senator Huey Long is well read in European political history. There's a sneaking suspicion he’s staken a leaf out of the notebooks of English states- men, Bince Victorian days they've in- dulged in the practice, as newcomers in Parliament, of forging to the front by picking out shining lights for attack. Disracli was a master of the art. As a young member of the House of Com- mons, “Dizgy” contrived to rivet the country’s attention by Jambasting Prime Minister 8ir Robert Peel, and keeping it up. In more modern times the late Lord Birkenhead adopted the same tac- tics, vaulting into national fame by his concentrated assaults on Lloyd George, of whom he later became the closest of friends. The Kingfish of Louisiana has now taken on in turn three of the biggest men in the Senate: Rob- inson of Arkansas, Borah of Idaho and Glass of Virginia. With his single- track political philosophy of th distribution of wealth” as the cure-all for the Nation’s ills, “Hooey” has an uncanny knack of dragging it whatever it under discussion. alleries are beginning to like him. He elready a “copy” favorite of the press benches. He has wit, rough eloguence and powers of repartee the envy of many an older senatorial hand. And as controller of the “Long bloc” of three votes, he's something to be reckoned with. Ak xe Reports that President-elect Roose- velt and his family are going to occupy the Townsend mansion on Massachu- setts avenue during their brief sojourn in Washington before March 4 strengh- en the belief that Sumner Welles will land in a high position at the State Department under the new administra- tion. Mr, Welles is married to the former Matilda Townsend, present mis- tress of the establishment, one of the show places of the National Capital. In addition, Mr. Welles ever since Gov. Roosevelt’s nomination has been in {requent consultation with him on foreign aflairs. He was one of the President-Elect's visitors in New York The Undersecretaryship of State is the post which gossip as- sociates with Mr. Welles' future ac- tivities. He's a Latin American spe- cialist and once headed that division in the State Department. With his wife, he occupies en elaborate country place at Oxon Hill, Md., near Wash- ington. yesterday. R Th:re's a diverting yarn making the rounds on Capitol Hill, of which Sena- tor Bulkley, Democrat, of Ohio, is tne hero. A reporter suggested to the Buckeye statesman that he ought to assemble a group of fellow Democratic Senators and map out a legislative pro- gram. “You misconstrue the functions of Senators,” rejoined Bulkley. “It's their business to pick executive ap- pointees to the Federal service, and it’s the job of the President to formu- Hyde Park, N. Y., or at No. 1600 Penn- sylvania avenue isn't entirely clear. Senator Bulkley's Christian name Robert, but he answers to the nickname T * ok k ok Closing up of the Blackstone Hotel & Chieago tears at the heartst: oL many a Washington politiclan and statesmen. Ever since Bull Moose days the Blackstone had almost as many traditions as the Capitol at Washing- ton itself. Within its wind-swept quar- ters athwart Lake rty his- tical repu- immortal story of how the G. O. P. Senate bosses, under the di- rection of Col. George Harvey, got to- gether in “a smoke-filled room” and at 2 am. decreed that the Marion man should be put over on the mext ballot. In his book on Harding, published two . At Chicago, in 932, the Blackstane, as with convention etivi | P! WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. |army at Shanhaikwan is not definitely is | Chile, who has just flown back to his THIS AND THAT [ DS S S ey BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. ‘What so many oth.u:ue‘ llllg::ilflm rsons ought to have, for own 'lxood and the benefit of others, is just & touch of the cynic in their mental make-up. Then they would realize that there is a certain vigor, joy and sprightliness in Just being slive. If one does not find it so, then one has not studied life as one should. One's feet hurt? What of it? The hurt shows that the feet are alive and kicking. 1if they i not hurt under the circumstances, one | would feel sure that they were para- lyzed. One’s plans went awry? Then there is opportunity for new lans. “I am an old man and I have had many troubles, most of which never happened.” goes the saying, admitted to be | g the truth by countless persons. If it were not so life would be a poor thing indeed. The truth is that many of the things we fca> in this world never happen | ahd actually are never in any danger of happen.rg. | ‘When the blight of worry is added | to these impossibilities, a vicious circle | is formed, which no doubt accounts for | most, if not all, of the woeful faces which one sces everywhere, Depression? ‘Why, it has caused more worried talk among those who are not in the least “depressed” than it has among those who have felt its worst effects. The “pressure,” as the old colored | woman calls it, has made its force felt all along the line. But here again worry does no good. What woula do | good is sensible optimism and a sane, | cheerful spirit. Such things ave con- | tagious, too. Tas doleful habit of worry, in any | one of its multitude of branche:, has becn invelghed against thoasands of | times, so that it would seem, offhand, as if it were a sheer waste of time to say anything about it. Just the opposite is so. ‘The truth is mighty and will prevail, at_least some of it will. Here a little, there a little, there is never any telling when a sentence, a word even, Will strike home to some- body or other. Any one who at any e, in any place, utters words against.worrying is doing some good in. the world. This is not the same as to say that & reader will stop worrying just because he reads a statement that he should not do_so. The matter is a great deal more com- plex than that. What may happen, however, is that an impression may be made upon him, and perhaps unconsciously, as it were, without him in the least realizing that anything has happened. An electric button has been pressed, however, which will start a bell ringing somewhere far back in the mind. The mind will begin to do things to itself, and at last, perhaps months or years later, there will come to the per- son a viial response. He will stop worrying, or at least stop worrying as much as he did. He may call it religion, or fatalism, or will power, or anything he chooses, but the fact remains, whatever and however he may call it. He may never be able fo put his fin- ger on the “doorbell” again. or even re- call that any outside finger once pressed it. 1t makes no difference. He is better off than he was before, and a chance word or two, read in a g]e;qxu. per, or a magasine, or’'a book, returned from Cincinnati for the Dem- ocratic circus, she attended it only by proxy, with the aid of a radio set in her apartments at the Blackstone, * X %k ¥ ‘White House attaches close to Calvin Coolidge, especially his friend, Col. Ed Star] of the Secret Service squad, remarked that the last act in the drama of the Vermonter's career—his burial at Plymouth on January 7—wgs almost the only important episode in it that was denied sunshine. The weather seemed to have an incorrigible habit of turning out sunny and bright whensser President Coolidge was to be the star of an occasion, though his inauguration on March 4, 1925, took place under darkened skies. One of the best of the 10,000 idge anecdotes extant con- cerns the weather. A friend was walk- ing with the lamented “Cal” and re- marked: “Mr. President, looks as if it might rain.” Coolidge said nothing. Five minutes later his companion ob- served: “Mr. President, looks now as :llx lt]mdlfxlllt cllur up.” ¢ To that he awlee reply: “What are you t to do? Commit me?” s TR Diplomatic illness is a malady long known in Eurcpean politics, and evi- dence is now forthcoming that it is not unfamiliar in the Orient. At any rate, Viscount Kikujiro Ishii, former foreign minister of Japan and one-time Am- bassador to the United States, has post- poned “on his doctor’s orders” his pro- gcted trip of good will to this country. le had expected to sall for Europe and America about this time, but is not now planning to leave Tokio until next Spring, arriving in the United States not earlier than May. Whether Vis- count Ishil's indis) ion was brought on by recent operdtions of the Japanese known. * K ¥ ok Senator Key Pittman, Democrat, of Nevada shares with Vice President Cur- tis a sion for the ponies. He is still ng how he backed his hunch of impending Democratic victory on election day last November by going to Laurel and putting his money on a horse named Bandwagon. The nag won. * % % % Rear Admiral Grayson, who is now dcmu:j himself to keepi democ- racy safe for Inauguration day, spins a yarn about A recent visit to the Kentucky blue grass for the purchase of horses. Grayson became impressed by the fact that all the colored gentle- men he encountered insisted on ad- dressing him as “colonel.” Finally he decided to inquire how come, and par- tleularly what & man had to do in Old Kaintuck to become a colonel. ¥ lied one of his dusky guides, “you gets to be a cunnel in three ways. Some folks is bo'n cunnels. Others gets to be cunnels by fightin’. And some S:u dat way by givin’ fellers like me & &k w Qur most air-minded diplomat is William 8. Culbertson, Ambassador to t from Was n on a six-da Efiht. By ship the journey takes 21 3 (Copyright, 1933.) Tons of Advice. From the Roanoke News. e President Hoover has receiv of penouml mail since he ent the White House, Who says that letters to the President don't carry much weight? e r————————— Taxes and Trimmings. Prom the New Orleans Times-Picayune. At last the New York and Philadel- ia governments are trimming their udgets. - Having overtrimmed their taxpayers nlntd‘i. ere hing else they could do. 3 — v{hroulh the Senate to increase tre- |men who are “horrified” at the idea 7 JANUARY 11, 1933, Washington Not Hit By Johnstown Flood To the Editor of The Star: In the magazine section of The Sun- day Star of January 1.‘m:$n Mans- field, in his “rhemory 3" asked answer was reiteration of that old fallacy which I have had to contend I came to Washington, near] 2gd. And, sure enough! * town flood” was the answer. ‘Well, -it did not—was not—cculd not be! If anybcdy is interested enough to get out a good map and look over the ;‘x:m:uz:. helbv‘vltlltl’ Tn‘iwit is & .:g; graphical possi E topogra of the country would make th2 task of Kate Smith getting the moon over the mountain mere child’s play in son! The watersheds of Mountains never seem to in conception of those who have been la- boring under that impression, and more than once I have quite a time cor- recting such persons of their erroneous ea. stage Just because there was & high of water here at the same time, they|; jumped to the conclusion that it was caused by that event of May 31, 1889, which horrified the Nation. Now 1br & few facts to rectily this too general impression Jennstown les in a little valley on tae western slope of the Allegheny Moun- tains at an altitude of about 1,500 feet and nearly 200 miles from Washington by the latest best route, with mountains towering nearly 1,000 feet higher than |, Johnstown’s “elevation lying between here and there! The Potomac River rises on the eastern slope of these mountains (in Pendleton County, W. Va., I think), while the Little Conemaugh River, down whose bed the waters of the South Fork Dam were hurled on their death-dealing wave, rises in Cam- briz County, Pa., and flows westward- | Iy to join the Eionycreek River and fcrm the Big Cenem~ugh, and it is at this junction that Jo'nstown is located. At Baltsburg the Loyalhznna Creek joins it and then it is called the Kis- kiminitas, which flows into the Alle- {heny River, whose waters mingle with he old'Monongahela at Pittsburgh to form the Ohio, which goes on—still westward!—to meet the then south to the Gulf of Mexico. peozhle of New Orleans can, with more truthfulness, claim to have stood on the banks of the Father of Waters and caught a relic from Johnstown! More than once I've had such statement made to me here in Was] ington, in reference to some “authen- ticated” relic of the time, “Why, my father pulled it out of the Potomac himself!” Oh, yes! Well, it may have come out of the Potomac, but it never tflcn'e'd down that river from Johns- own! For the benefit of the Baron Mun- chausens who may ask, “Vas you dere?”’ I can answer “Yes!"-—most decidedly, for 1 was born and raised there; was in my 11th year at the time of that disaster which put the place on the map forever, and I do not have to draw eny on my imagination to remember that terrible experience. Also, I have articles in my home here which we recovered after the waters subsided, and some of them still bear the imdisputable evidence df their bath of nearly 44 vears ago. I am a genuine Johnstown flood relic F. B. WOOD. —————— Grateful for Treatment At Emergency Hospital To the Editor of The Star: My enforced stay in Emergency Hos- pital for a month and a harf'l hcl.’l been of such nature that I desire publicly to acknowledge my gratit & 1 knew of no better way than to ask you to publish this letter in your paper. On November 16, 1932, as the of an accident while working on new Senate Office Building, I was taken to Emergency Hotfll::l and operated on by a member of hospital staff. I Tay 5 i o "3t irds, , one the wards, Throughout my fllness and recuperation I received the most wonderful treatment from everybody who came into contact with me—from the tendent, , other staff d and nurses, including those who had no conneetion with my case. This was not because I was wealthy or young, because I nothing on eerth gnd am a. he-‘aevotiap of everybody to e w levotiop of eve o fare of the patients. I cannot let the opportunity raa! without thus express- rifelt gfatitude to“‘ ing my hee 4 cy Hospital for its unceasing and de- voted care and attention. WILLIAM A. ————— Farm Relief Will ;A—.dd To the Cost of Living| To the Editor of The Star: At this time, when there are 12,000,000 men out of work in the United States, when most of them have ¢ifficulty in obtaining the barest n;z‘eshduu of life, Ih:n ";hc only thing Wwhich saves many of.them from ac- tual starvation is the fact that food costs have somewhat depreciated from the terrific point they reached a few ears ago, & bill is being rushed mendously the cost of the basic neces- sities of life for the benefit of the one class of men, who, however small their income, never face starvation — the farmers. God_ bless our generous Senators! Help them to raise the cost of living to the destitute! Help them pile taxes on depressed business for the benefit of one single class of men! Three cheers for another gang of farm relief ad- ministratcrs, not to follow, but to add to, the Farm Board business wreckers! ‘Wheat is to be guaranteed at 600 per cent above its present price; cotton, pork and other necessities to be pegged up similarly. And this by the same of a 1 per cent sales tax on other ar- flc!sl '.h;n food.n Sure, l_?:‘k it to,:l;.ex people who are starving. ey aren’ shape to fight back. J. RICHARDS. Potomac Heights Harmed By Municipal Projects To the Editor of The Star: ‘This :ection (Potomac Heights) was & very nice place with hills and hollows, but since the engineers of the District have started to meke the hills meet the hollows and ruin property it is in & most disgraceful conditicn. Roads and alleys are & sea of mud. The District sends a few loads of cinders and there stops, not even rolling them down flat. ‘We are paying taxes and have to rent a garage, not being able to go to our own. I tried to leave the car on the street, but it was smashed up one ev . We have written to the Commissioness, but that did not help. Half a dozen cars have been stuck in the mud and had to have help to pull them cut, MARIE MANNING. A Hint to Potomae River Broadcasters|on To the Editor of The Star: Apropos of our local broadcasting stations, may I make a suggestion to. those announcers who are cmwnr tively lacking in imagination? Would it not furnish pleasant variety to be told: “This is Washington, across the Potomac from Alexandria.” I, for one, wmplmwmnwwm- tion.. H G. STATHAM. Indifferent. Prom the Detroit News. A box of Christmas cigars was opened by one citizen, because his cold was at Foot Ball Sociology. Prom the Indianapclis News, Bold aut & stage where it didn't matter. c——— o — Poetic Reportership. Prom the Sioux City Tribune. sfFen A %W, AT . lcense. generally of m”‘;u% L loccasionally dark. In th ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Y FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. How many States in this country require an automobile driver to take out a driver's license?—M. M. enty-four States and the Dis- bla require a driver's o Vhat is the origin of ice skating?— A The first mention of skating, sustained through a fall on ice by Si. Liedwi of Scheidam, Holland, in 1392, now called “the patron saint of skat- ing.” However, relics unearthed in the PFinsbury Circus district of England in- dicate the existence of a crude form of skates, with bone for the blade, prior to the twelfth century. Q. How many enlisted men in the of are growing in this couniry?—J. W. T, A There ere at the present time 862 specles, 228 varieties and 87 hybrids of trees grown in this country, making a total of 1,177 different types. Q. How is a nisned?—M. P. R. A. “Jaj at First Hand" says’ that the walls are bare, “and inside the framework of pale yellowish fine- grained hinoki wocd the large panels are covered with heavy paper in mono- chrome—like our wall paper— ftenest lahh rin the tokonoma, with its fi Taised above that of the room. It is divided into two parts by a pillar of fine dark wood, and the recess in the right generally holds a Japanese cabi- net of finely fashioned wood, inlaid perhaps with mother-of-pearl and sup- porting a sir%le art object. It may 8 bronze statuette or a marvelously carved box in the familiar red lacquer. In the recess to the left hangs a moun- tain scene or sea picture and at its foot, stands a vase, ‘With oftenest a sin- gle flower, sometimes with two or three sprays, but always in artitic balance, to vary the scroll. The art object, the vese and the flower are the pride of the lady of the house.” Q. Was Rudolph Priml born in the United States?—T. D. - A. He was born at Prague December 7, 1881. He came to this country be- fore he was 20 panisf bellk and came with him again in 1906. At this time he decided to make America his home. Q. Had a balloon ascension been at- tempted before the memorable occasion when Jean Pierre Blanchard made a successful ascension in 1793?—G. W. A. The first attempted ascent was that of Joseph‘Deeker, an Englishman, His balloon was burned during inflation in New York August 14, 1789. Q. What is the purpose of La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux?— W P W A. A condensed statement of its pur- pose is: “For God and country; to Rlenneu house fur- t|Fold and defend the Constivition. of the United States of America and the American Legion; to be members of the American and at all times strive to pro- mote its principles and its welfare.” Any white male member of the Ameri- can Legion who has been & member for one yur}nd has rendered to the Amer- ican Legion or lormed some dhfinnhhdmmlea or M«M eligible to membership in the “Forty and Eight.” g Q. Has the wool of dead sheep the r | same value as the wool of live sheep?— A C. A. Wool taken from dead sheep has less value for weaving purposes than wool sheared from live, healthy sheep. The character of the wool fiber is nat- urally influenced by the condition of the sheep and wool from a dead anim is inferior. Q. How should an engraved card an- nouncing an engagement be worded?— T. N. A. This type of card should not be used. Q. What is the origin of the name of Ellllm.nd?—s,“l'w ) A. Ellis Island, which was also known by the name of Gull Island, Oyster Island, Dyres Island and Bucking Island, received the name of Ellis Island from Samuel Ellis, a butcher of Man- | hattan. No record has been found of the exact date of the name of the island, but it is known from an adver- tisement that it was possessed by Sam- uel Ellis as early as February 21, 1785. His residence at that time, according to the advertisement, was 1 Greenwich !ktm..r"‘. at North River near Beaf Mar- A. Late in the Summer of 1786 armed mobs prevented the sitting of the courts | in many cities of Massachusetts. A ses- | sion of the Supreme Court was broken |up in September. Most of the insur- gents disbanded in the late Winter or early Spring of 1787. Q. In the United States are more persons emplcyed in manufacture or agriculture?—O. D. A, According to the 1930 census, 10,- 482,323 persons were employed in agri- culture and 14,317,535 in manufacturing and mechanical industries. Q. Did President Roosevelt and his family remove from the White House RhmA i’t‘ was remodeled in 19037— A in the Spring of 1903 President Roosevelt and m:.hmuy removed to 22 Jackson place yntil they left Oyste: B‘-or }'l'h . Return o St the Fall 1% their tomporary c;mymw Q. Is the Chinese government in good financial shape?—M. N. Chinese finance A. According to the minister, the Chinese government has 8 balaced budget for the first time in 21 years. Advantageous loan conver- slons and cessation of new coupled with internal economies, have greatly improved Chinese finances and her bonds are rising in foreign markets, Q. Where is Lord Plumer buried?— W. H. A. The body of the great commander lles in “the Warriors' Chapel,” West- minster Abbey, immediately below & tablet memorializing the million men of the empire killed in the World War. Q. How did the name achieve its rity?—A. D. S e A. Ernest wsoun, through whose poem the name e popular, was a student of the classics and took his title from the name of a woman who Horace. & Wy dia President Wiisan veto the T e B AL mt e 5 “Those who enmem here bill over his veto in 1917. Q. How many Japanese are fhere in R T e e e ‘were 138,884, “Buy American” Is Declared : Closely Linked With Tariff ‘The movement to “buy American,” misguided sense of the tariff we pre- | have mistreated our own consumers ment to the home product,” but that “when Jmcu are in kvorno( the foreign article they will not lsten, at least not enough of them to count.” That paper holds that “the protective tariff is the real ‘Buy American’ recipe.” * K ok ok ‘The movement is described similarly ‘orld-Herald by the Omaha Wt the tion, American,’ if it were ecarried w’!‘w‘ com- pletely, would undoubtedly help ce: manufacturers. It would undoubtedly E'rlovldt jobs in the protected indus- es. But what of the rest of us? The rest of us are consumers of manufac- tures, are producers of wheat and corn and hogs. crops be sold abroad if we foreign nations from paying “.me enly way they will e those prevailing 18| attempt to correct this the same time, but the measure of prosperity was with our exports and & suppression of them would have wrecked us then even as now.” * ok ok X are not sure,” remarks the Sioux Falls Daily -Leader, “that the influx of foreign goods is entirely ful. One good emana from it is the realization that um’;m'tarlfl in foreign nations. To situation, how- Buy American’ Way to promote ‘Buy Ameri~ through tariffs.” The Glendale News-Press commends the movement, but suggests that “in the effort to live up to the principle, the buyer is entitled to the aid and tion of the merchant and the manufacturer.” It holds that the for- Comparatively Safe, From the Des Moines Tribune.