Evening Star Newspaper, July 6, 1933, Page 8

EALE THE EVENING STAR __ With Sunday Morning Baition. WASHINGTON, D. C. SHURSDAY........July 6. 1933 THEODORE W. NOYES ZEditor mmsum:-p-_nmnn B Penneyivanta Ave. X nnsy) ; “1"“7!’1"! (‘)’t‘fl:e- 110 E: 43nd St. T Carrier Within the City. et 14 .cu‘mgmnh .60c per month 86 per month The Sunday Star.. .5¢ per copy Collection made at the end of each month. Orders may be sent tn by mail o telephons NAtional 5000. (whe Rate by Mafl—Payable in Advance. Maryland ll‘\d V:rlginh. .1yr., 810 All Other States and Canada. Daily and Sunday...1 yr, $12.00; 1mo., $1.00 Dadly only . 1y (00; 1mo., 15¢ Sunday only 1yr, $5.00; 1mo. 80c Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled %o the use for rep: tculun‘ogufllrn:sfld!ldn- or no - atches credited to ft or not otherwise cred. hts of publication of are also reserved. ted in this paper and published herein. All ri special dispatches herein — The Library and Patronage. Herbert Putnam, librarian of Con- gress, consenting to answer specific questions Wwith Tegard to a threatened patronage raid on the institution over which he presides, has dissipated many of the myths which hitherto have ob- scured the facts in the case. In the first place, he has shown that the employes of the Library are not generally provided with political back- ing. The 775 men and women on his staff have been appointed without re- gard to their party affiliations. The law says that they must be selected solely with respect to their fitness for the work, and character and efficiency have been their major qualifications. True, many* indlvidusls seeking po- sitions in the Library have brought let- ters of introduction from Senators and members of the House of Representa- tives, But the number so sponsored has been about equally divided between Democrats and Republicans. A few, indeed, have secured the indorsement of Congressmen of both parties. The point is that the records show that political interference with the Library personnel has been inconsequential. It is likewise interesting that the geographical apportionment figures in- dicate that the whole Nation is repre- sented in the staff. Some States have more than their quota, some have less. But the causes of these differences are cultural and economic rather than political. Altogether Mr. Putnam’s data support the view that were the Library now to be subjected to the patronage system the event would mark a new departure in the attitude of Congress toward the institution. It never has been a politi- cal convenience, and he does not anti- cipate that it ever will be. On the contrary, the pride which Congress takes in the work and the de- sire which Congress feels that it may continue to be efficiently conducted insures the Library, he believes, against attack by spoilsmen. Presumably, his attitude is widely shared. There must be many scholars throughout the coun- try who, having used the Library and known by personal experience its high standards of service, would resent any assault upon the institution’s traditional freedom from political handicaps, and they would make their resentment heard. The Library belongs to Congress, but it also belongs to the people. If the National Legislature were to fail to protect it, the people would assume the Tresponsibility. Recent discussion of the patronage possibilities of the Library undeniably has stirred the apprehensions of Sen- ators and Representatives as well as those of the public. But Mr. Putnam puts these fears to rest. With thirty- four years of experience to sustain his faith, he doubtless is abundantly justi- fled in believing that Congress will not be stampeded into any action which might hurt the Library or bring dis- tress to its staff and friends. T o ‘Management of gold in currency looks like another problem in relativity with which Einstein might have helped if Hitler had not kept him too worried to eoncentrate. An Extraordinary Ruling. There are two purposes in the recent enactments of Congress relative to the spending of public money. One is to balance the budget through economies. The other is to stimulate employment as a means of recovery from the de- pression. The director of the budget, to whom Congress gave certain unusual powers relative to the expenditure of District of Columbia funds, has notified the issioners of his disapproval of their expenditure of some $1,500,000 accumulated in the form of gasoline taxes, which under the law is allocated specifically to highway improvements in the District. Thus far no explana- tion of the decision has been forth- coming. The effect, however, is not a matter of doubt. It will prevent the undertaking of improvements and con- structions that would, it is estimated, provide some 8300 man-months of labor, which is to say wqrk for 8,300 men for one month, or 4,150 men for two months, or 2075 men for four months. The improvements are needed, the work is needed. The money is lying in the Treasury to the credit of the District. It cannot be used for any other purpose, cannot be turned into the Federal general funds, cannot be wiped off the books as an abandoned item. Meanwhile the program proposed by the District Commissioners for works to be projected under the Federal highway and recovery acts is being considered. To the extent that these items are approved the District will be given advances or grants from the ‘Treasury to permit constructions. The money it will get for such uses under this program will not be its own. Just what can possibly be gained by denying this highway construction work, to be paid for out of the accumulated gasoline taxes, is one of the numerous questions that are arising continually in the course of the unravelment of the great complex of budget-balancing and recovery through additional em- ployment. It is somewhat like “the question of the wholesale dismissals {om the Government seryice for the o sake of economy while large additions are being made to the Federal pay rolls in the process of the creation of the numerous new agencies and bureaus and commissions for the forwarding of the recoverv works. Tae decision of the budget director on this matter is not necessarily final, despite the power which . Congress granted him in respect to expenditures. ‘There is a higher court to which appeal may be made, the President, and it is the hope of the District that such ap- peal will be made and granted, and that this extraordinary dictum, which, if 1t is final, will not save a penny to the Treasury and will deprive many hundreds of men of the opportunity to earn a living during the next few months, will be reversed. Finis. At London the feared has come to pass. The World Economic and Mone- tary Conference, from amid such high hopes on June 12, is on the rocks. To- day its adjournment, recess or suspen- sion, or whatever device is finally adopted to proclaim Jts demise, will be formally voted. Gold bloc countries headed by France and non-stabilization countries grouped arvund the United States will fold up their respective tents and call it a day—a sorry day, it is much to be feared, for the immediate future of international co-operation either in the field of economics or other directions, such as disarmament. Eleventh-hour efforts to salvage the wreckage caused by President Roose- velt’s brusque refusal to consider the “minor issues” of temporary currency stabilization proved unavailing. The President, while standing firmly by his guns, sent the conference a sec- ond and more conciliatory message on Wednesday, urging that restoration | of world price levels for industry |and agriculture, ways and means for preserving the stability of this adjustment, once achieved, and the part which gold and silver should then play, were all subjects “deserving of exploration” and warranting continued discussion by the conference. But Lon- don was not persuaded. The confer- ence decided to admit ftself defeated by a violent collision of the monetary policies of the gold and non-gold gov- ernments and brand the existing differ- ences between them insoluble for the moment. ‘There is talk, which today's develop- ments will probably convert into some definiteness, of calling the conference off for a period of two months or more, its recall to depend entirely on when President Roosevelt deems the Ameri- can recovery program has progressed to a point permitting this country to re- sume the discussion. Spokesmen of the frustrated gold bloc said in London early today that “the more temperate tone” of the President’s later message “will facilitate the reconvening of the conference in an atmosnhere of sympa- thy, which could not have existed as long as there were violent divergences of views among the delegations.” All this is water over the dam now. It is the pulsating present and the Im- mediate future only that count. Upon them the energies of the United States Government, President Roosevelt makes indubitably plain, are henceforward to be concentrated, to the exclusion of all else. Unabashed, he dedicates the cotintry to a policy of unqualified “eco- nomic nationalism,” despite his as- severations to European statesmen in April and May that in such a course, if generally pursued by the world, the American people envisaged naugh¢ but continuance of international economic chaos. Whatever has occurred in the meantime, Mr. Roosevelt is candor per- sonified in’ notifying Europe that the United States is embarking upon & course which, it has finally concluded, is for its own best good. He advises other countries to do likewise. In such sovereign procedure, each paddling its own canoe, the President now sees the surest promise of salvation for all. Recriminations here and abroad are not likely to subside with the eclipse, partial or total, of the international eco- nomic sun which rose so promisingly over the Thames a bare three and a half weeks ago. But the acrimonious business of distributing the blame for failure will not improve matters. Of far more importance is the task of statesmanship, in America and Europe alike, to see that the devastating con- sequences of a conference debacle, so freely predicted in advance, do not at- tain foreshadowed dimensions. The world has mot gone to the dogs, and will not, unless common minds here and “over there.” Even while statesmen were floundering and quibbling at London, conditions in nearly every country, notably our own, were on the mend. As lately as yes- terday, with the cofiference about to crash, the London Times pointed out that “the American experiment has so far succeeded in raising American prices without producing any defla- tionary effects abroad. So long as this remains the case no really disturbing results to the outside world are likely to be caused.” . Perhaps President Roosevelt will feel that this admission from the oracle of British orthodoxy proves, as Mr. Walter Lippmann points out in & dispatch from London, that “the need for immediate stabilization was not nearly so important as it has been made to appear.” It is not too early for Americans to express one fervent hope, that if and when the conference is renewed their Government will have & policy which it can state and maintain through spokesmen who will not be subjected to the spirit-breaking vicissi- tudes which . Secretary Hull and his colleagues experienced in London. The United States should not, in its own interest, be called upon to endure a succession of such shocks to its pres- tige as it has just suffered. July 18 will find the vote of Alabama heard as attentively as in a national nominating convention, though not so frequently. ——o—. The Italian Air Armada. Accustomed as the American people are to gallant and masterful exploits in the air, their admiration is chal- lenged and their imagination stirred by the current flight of Gen. Italo Balbo and his armada of twenty-four sea- planes from Italy to the Century of Progress Airport at Chicago. The fleet has just accomplished the third leg of its cruise—from Ireland to Iceland— sense utterly takes flight from men’s | erly route from Europe to Labrador and the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Weather-bound for a day in Ireland, Gen. Balbo and his expedition wisely obeyed the injunctions of Premier Mus- solini, conveyed to them there, to run no unnecessary risks by a prematfte start for Iceland. The air fleet is now resting at Reykjavik. Il Duce wants the world to recognize the great adventure in which the Fascist aviators are en- gaged as a practical demonstration of the feasibility of transoceanic transport by heavier-than-air craft on a large scale and not a merely sporting stunt. They are bent exclusively upon exhibit- ing the possibility of engine endurance and of air travel in fleets involving, in the present dramatic instance, a force of roundly one hundred men—about four to a plane. Gen. Balbo's flight is of special in- terest to this country because Col. and Mrs. Lindbergh are soon to take part in a survey of the commercial prac- ticability of the northern route which the Italians are pursuing. That pas- sage to the Americas is inyiting to air- men because of its comparatively short distances, but its fogs, isolation and lit- tle known and difficult wind conditions contrast unfavorably with the southern route by way of Bermuda and the Azores. It was that stretch which Gen. Balbo and another, though smaller, Italian air squadron followed a couple of years ago in flying from Italy to Brazil. Three United States Army planes ploneered the Greenland-Iceland-New- foundland route in 1924. Only two suc- cessfully negotiated the whole distance. Since then various fiyers have used the northern course, passing in both direc- tions. But neither North nor South has the Atlantic ever before been attacked in such mass formation as Balbo's armada. If he brings it safely into Chicago, the feat will give an immense impetus to the development of a transoceanic air- plane service. All America wishes the intrepid Italian pathfinder and his men “happy landings” at their appointed destination. —_—————— Pittsburgh racketeers are complicating the beer traffic by terrorizing the bar- tender. Every day's news strengthens an impression that the old “Wild West” | has moved East. — e It would be possible for a Mrs. Mala- prop to remark that, geometrically speaking, eternal triangles are creating too many polygams. e Diplomacy has not yet devised a method of filibuster that will keep a conference going whether it is trans- acting any business or not. — e A recession in stock prices creates no sorrow when it is due to “profit taking.” The game will go on, however, until the usual loss taking is required. —— e At this time there is no doubt that a United States cbserver in Europe sees so much that he cannot describe it all. o Extending pay cuts until next year conveys a slightly confused impression suggesting a scrambled moratorium. ——— vt Reduction of the area of cultivation usually represents the idea which the amateur gardener soon approves, SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Awaiting Joy Complete. T feel a touch of sorrow As July goes on its way, And we doubt if each tomorrow Is much better than today. As we listen to the speeches We present our best applause— But the calendar still teaches It's six months till Santa Claus. ‘There are hopes and there are pleasures ‘Which we may perhaps perceive, But the transitory treasures ‘Will too often bid us grieve. While I'm not in spirits dreary, I am {ll at ease, because Of this time of waiting weary— ‘These six months till Santa Claus. Investigations. “You enjoy reading reports of sclen- tific investigations?” “Yes,” answered Senator Sorghum. “It’s & relief to follow details of a kind of investigation that cannot result in calling in a grand jury to worry a friend.” Jud Tunkins says our ideas are get- ting so much bigger that maybe we'll soon be puttin’ airplanes on money in- stead of eagles. Destination. By motors we such speed command That some times we're perplexed Regarding whether we shall land On this world or the next. Fists and Faces. “Do you admire pugilism?” “Not much,” answered Miss Cayenne. “It indicates an advance in refinement when flerce-featured men get their faces pushed in, instead of having them lifted.” * “You often say,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “that one man’s money is as good as another’s. Yet you require much argument throughout the world to prove it.” Heard at Last. The statesman now is feeling good. By radio he is drawing pay For what his fellow statesmen would Refuse him any chance to say. “I can’t see much to brag about in fishin’,” said Uncle Eben. “After all, de success depends mostly on de care- lessness of de fish.” Fireworks Spectators Barred From Capitol To the Editor of The Star: It has been the custom of many citi- zens and visitors to observe the display of fireworks from the west front of the around among the people and asked them to retire. There was no disturbance or confusion, all was quiet and orderly, and the conditions offered | steal the command. no excuse for were no “marchers” there and no of disorder from any direction that I noticed or heard of. There were no seats for sale, that is true. No one could see the ground display because of trees mddmm.mmlmmufllmmg leasant even a quiet, orderly crow Emmblu there. What was the occasion for the order to leave? b;?}m < THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. “Lightnin’ bugs!” ‘Who is sunk so deep in making & liv- 1ing, politics, international affairs, that he has no time for these insects? Show him to us, and we will show you s man whom life has immersed, not one who rides on its waves like a conqueror. And that goes, no matter how “big” or “important” he may be, or how many curious counters possesses called “money,” or how successful he is, in the ordinary sense. One success there is which has passed him by, or he has passed it by, we do not know which. #* ok ok X The lightning bug is as interesting a beetle as there is to be found in the entire 10,000 and more of them. A big family, eh? Numerous and widespread, the vari- ous beetles would inherit the earth, if it weren’t for man and his ways. Man is determined that if he, him- self, cannot inherit the earth, nothing else shall have it. Accordingly, he squashes and sprays and otherwise exterminates the beetle hordes whenever he can, and to date there has appeared no good reason why he should not do so. His propensity for eternal warfare might well be confined to this battle, scientists say, who declare that tI battle will be to the insects, unless something is done about it. Already the vast stores of grain ac- cumulated in all parts of the world, and particularly in America, have afforded the insects tribes of this earth plenteous subsistence. It is said that man, while fighting the insects on all fronts, at the same time is carefully, though inadvert- ently, feeding these creatures with his left hand. e It is nowhere said, however, that the common lightning bug is an enemy. On the other hand, he is supposed to | be samething of a garden helper, in his way. His little light is a light o’ love, a sig- nal to a mate, and in his innocent meanderings in the garden at dusk he is too busy to do any harm. He may feed upon plant lice and the like, or simply upon the sweetish secre- tions put forth by many plants. We found one the other afternoon busily crawling over a broken tip of a Norway spruce, We re him at- tentively. He has one great advantage, to hu- | man eyes, over so many of his fellows. He looks clean. = Too many insects, as far as humanity is concerned, appear to be dirty. This appearance is caused by various secretions put forth by the creatures, as well as by their many legs, and the fact, no doubt, that they are, in the human sense, strangers to soap and water and all their works. ‘There can be little question that.a great many otherwise brave men and | women shrink visibly from the members | of the insect world, when they might charge boldly enough in the face of a lion, if they had to. Even snakes, traditional compellers | of human chills, have no more startling | effect upon some persons than an ordi- nary specimen of “thousand legger.” Maybe the creature hasn’t a full thousand legs, but those who dislike 'em will never stop to argue the matter. A thousand legs, or a hundred legs, | is all one to them, they jump, yell and the history of the German colony in Bolivia, these immigrants have A RAZON, La Paz—Throughout L proved themselves worthy auxil- iarles of our national progress. character with exceptional energy ana intelligence, they have taken an impor- tant part in every worthy development within the republic, and have never hesitated to make their own interesis subordinate to those of the general pub- lic. We wish we could make the same appraisal of other foreign elements that have come to dwell among us. In far too many of these other instances, the immigrant throng has arrived within our jurisdiction for the sole purpose of promoting its own fortunes and has cared little how these selfish ambitions were attained. When the campaign began in El Chaco, it was at once observed thay while other foreign strains were willing to enjoy our hna:lflhllty, and profit by the ample fi jom and opportunity afforded in their new environment, they were not so eager to engage in efforts to support our arms and vindicate our honor. How different and htgw mp:lflor gxx this contingency were the emotions the Germans! Not only did they enlist in our battalions, and serve valiantly and voluntarily at the front, but the names of many of their dead and wounded are conspicuous on the bright scrolls of Mars. German soclety in this capital, particularly, has demonstrated in addition to these heroic activities an altruistic solicitude for our cause, and made many a gesture of true humanity and patriotism. The latest display of such fraternity is the announcement just made by the Club Aleman that on the 6th of the proximate month they will arrange a grand reunion of the loyal public in the rooms of their organization, at which a program of theatrical and mu- sical entertainment will be rendered, in conjunction v;i:h buffet luncheon .l’)lld appropriate beverages. reasonable charge will be asked for admittance, but the entire proceeds of the function will be remitted to the “Cruz Roja Boliviana,” whose funds, as we all know, are much d%pmed by the needs of our severe and protracted cam- ‘The Bolivian Red Cross is gratefully appreciative of this sympathetic mani- festation on the part of the German Club of this city, and desires to extend publicly, through the columns of La Razon, their sincere acknowledgements and thanks to the hndlgn Hlesnu:rd gentlemen who compose loct . ganization. This function, both in its conception and in its assured results, represents a most thoughtful and gen- erous initiative, and evinces the high- est aspects of g:nevolenfceu mg pa- triotism. Our German fellow-citizens shown themselves worthy those other members here soon after the German revolution of 1848. Their prototypes sought and found turmoll; they of generation have shown a constant de- sire to reciprocate that kind reception by manifold deeds of duty and de- votion. * * %% Wire Thieves Cause ' Trouble in China. North China Herald, L— The Wuchow Electric Light Co. has recently been put to a heavy financial loss, and the city residents to no small inconvenience by stealing of electric light wires in less frequented or suburban areas. The thieves, armed with long bamboo poles, to which sharp grass knives were attached, waited until after the midnight hour, when most people were! asleep and lights were at & minimum, and around, severing the wires at and making away with Bevios, ot shey eadly. detsct owd-be Combining generosity and nobility of | are litical and re- here a refuge from pol I of run for the nearest instrument of ex- rmination. uch things go. He may carry in- visible p-nnltu" and the like, but at himself in the position of Blake, England’s strange poet, who in- dited an ode to the fly. | He invited the fly to 'sit on the edge of his cup and philosophically determined that it has as much right there as his own lip. It was a pretty poem, but it wasn’t science. It was all right, when he wrote it; mple didn’'t know anythigg about s then, but nowadays even the smallest child realizes the full iniquity of the ubiquitous house fly. One sympathizes with the plight of the fly no more, but gives it the laugh. One no longer writes poems about it, :}&m' and the old ones seem fal ly * k k X Wherefore, in praising the firefly, s he is sometimes called, let us carefully point out that we do so solely from an_artistic viewpoint. Surely there is no more char garden picture than that afiorded by & hundred animated sparks glowing at: dusk, now here, now there, cver the he | 87888, in the shrubs, sometimes even as high as the second-story windows. These clever little lanterns turn themselves off and on without effort, twinkling to each other in the gloam- ing. They must keep it up all night, or at least until very late. The favorite time, apparently, is just as darkness descends. The last thrush has decided to end his songs until something happens in the world again, which to mankind is known as “dawn.” To the thrush it is not known as anything. It just is. Now dark is, and he pipes down, carefully, slowly, terminating his efforts with a few soft clucks, chuckling to himself in the face of the eternal night. * ok ok ow And now the lightnin’ bugs come out to play, all in their neat suits, sprinkling the yard with merry little Chinese lan- terns straight out of the factory of Na- a ture, Inc. They come out one mone. here animals in McDonald had a bug, there a bug, like the song about “Old They turn on their little lights, and they flip them off again, all so silently that you would never know ‘they were | there unless you could see them. ‘The best things in Nature are silent. Her sunsets, her glorious pictures, Ler inspirations to the hearts and minds ot men, almost without exception are noiseless. With noise, enters fear. It is so with Nature, it is so with man. Perhaps the world of men too long has been on the wrong track, to think that much noise and confusion is to be_progressive. It is the wrong slant, and the simple | lightning bug, which flies and {llumi- | nates himself as much as any, points the way. He gets as much pleasure out of life as many a larger creature does by | making a great big noise. Stars shine, without racket; oceans, alone specializes in sensetess noises. Take a tip from the lightning bug: let your light be seen, but don't tie a bell on it. . High Lights on the Wide World Excerpts From Newspapers of Other Lands telephone and telegraph wreckers and bandits. Forty-four of the pack are more than a year old. 35 are between 6 months and a year old and the remaining 29 less than 6 months old. * x x % | New Zealand Winter | Musters Novel Facts. Evening Post, Wellington—Do you know that— * (1) Green trousers, introduced last Summer, will be the vogue in England this year for sports and holiday wear? (2) In 1932 the record number of 1,436,849 factory-made wireless sets were sold in Great Britain, their total value being £19,323,000? (3) If you don't clean the snow from your front gate in Bucharest in 24 hours your water and electric light are cut off? (4) There is a 4,000-year-old cypress tree in Oaxaca City, Mexico, which lookg) as if it will go on growing for- ever? (5) Snuff factories in England are working overtime in order to cope with aters snuff-taking has become a craze. (6) A scientist explorer on the Great Barrier (Queensland) states that he has seen a female turtle lay 180 eggs in 24 minutes? ¥ (7) All the revenue from Italy’s bach- elor tax goes to a national bureau for protection of mothers and infants? Mus- solini seems to possess a sly sense of humor. (8) Andorn.,u mp:r:‘;"'z!p“buc in the ees, pre] employ two princes; salary, $20 a year in cash and two cows? Passing the Taxes To the Consumer To the Editor of The Star: Your editorial in The Star of July 1, headed * Taxes to the Con- sumer,” leads the writer to believe that the Towa Bakers' Association is using some strange arithmetic or indirectly admitting that they are in for collecting a little “processing tax” from the con- sumer for their own benefit. There are 196 pounds of flour in a barrel. The writer knows nothing about baking, but will wager thata 196-pound barrel of flour, after the ingredients are added and the bread made, will pro- duce at least 200 one-pound loaves of bread. Acco! to your editorial, the bakers say that flour that cost them $3 per barrel (about 1% cents per loaf) three weeks ago now costs $5 per barrel (about 2% cents per loaf) and that the g/mcmin] tax of $1.50 barrel (about Vs cents per loaf) make the flour cost them $6.50 per barrel (or about 13 cents per loaf more than it cost them three weeks ago). For this ad- ditional 1% cents per loaf they propose to collect from the consumer 3 cents per loaf, represented by a raise of price from 5 cents to 8 cents per loaf. But how loaves will one barrel of the May, of the De- Agriculture and Immigra- tion of Vi we read: “One barrel of flour es 1,000 loaves of bread.” is an error, and on page 4 of the June, 1933, issue of the same Bulletin we read: “A correction.” Stat- ing that “the number of loaves from a barrel o'; l;'ms‘;o lhmquld have ‘sbe::mlp; proximal e othing of the weight of the loaves. t.h:t any rate, the writer believes that | when they roar, do so musically; man | the sudden demand? In West End the- in The Peolitical Mill By G. Gould Lincoln. The Roosevelt administration is fac- ing a condition today, not a theory, when it comes to dealing with a new army of the unemployed—the Govern- ment workers who have been removed and are being removed by the opera- tion of the economy act and the reduced governmental budget. About four thou- sand of these workers who have lost, or outside of the seat of the Government. The question which is now being con- sidered by the President and the mem- bers of his cabinet is what can be done to place these people, who through no fault of their own, have been lef out work. In a period when the whole drive of the Federal Government is designed to put men-and women back to work, the dismissal of thousands of employes of the Government itself is a sad and a terrible paradox. * oK ok ok Under the legislation enacted by Congres: during the special session there are to be many new Government itions. There must be in order to permit the industrial recovery act, the farm relief act, the farm credits act, the home mortgage act, the Tennessee Valley Authority act to operate. The 'ming | President and members of his cabinet are reported to be considering giving the Government employes recently dis- missed first chance at many of these new positions. Certainly that is the course which should be followed in justice to men and women who have been active and efficient in the Govern- ment service, most of them holding civil service status, which was intended to assure stability of employment. * K ok % ‘The demands for Government jobs have been enormous since the Demo- cratic administration came into power. There are literally more than a hun- dred thousand jobs which may be filled by the appointment of new office holders the country over. Most of them are essentially political and incumbents know with a change of party con- trol what they must expect. With the regular civil rervice employe of the Government the si‘uation is very dif- ferent. They have worked for low pay for years when men and women doing similar work outside the Government have been more fully recompensed. ‘The “spoils system” should not apply to their positions. And it would be a grave injustice now to consider politics in putting these ousted people back to work. * K ok K Never before in the memory of old aitaches about the Capitol have the offices of Senators and Representatives been: so besieged by office seekers. The offices which are filled are those of Democratic mémbers of Congress, be it well understood. This is not the day when the Republicans are in a position to pass out jobs. Since the adjourn- ment of the specia] session of Congress the army of office seekers about the Capitol has been on the increase. With the belief that a lot=of new jobs are to be created as well as old jobs filled, they have come here from every State in the Union. The Senators and Rep- resentatives have been kept in Wash- | ington beyond their usual time after the close of a session of Congress look- ing after these unemployed. This is one occasion when a Democratic Senator really wishes that he was a Republican. The Republican Senators have hied themselves to seashore and mountain, without the cares of office seekers hang- ing over their heads, while the Demo- crats are wondering where on earth they are going to find rest from the pleas of their constituents. * K x x With the improvement in business employment is growing outside the Gov- ernment service. From every part of the country have come reports that more men and women are being put back to work. It would be far better for the workers and fcr the taxpayers if private industry could absorb all the unemployed instead of having them go on the Government pay rolls. And it is possible that the Government will not have to go fully into the huge $3.300,- 000,000 public works program which has been authorized and appropriated for if industry can get on its feet again. The recrudescence of employment and business in this country in recent weeks and months has been vastly aided by the knowledge that the Government— the administration—was moving to bring about changed conditions and to add to employment and the circulation of money through Government effort itself. While the Government’s projects are still in the formative stage and the machinery has scarcely begun to turn, | commodity prices have been on the in- crease, wages have been raised in many factories, freight has begun to move in larger volume. This does not mean, however, that recovery would have so far advanced had the Government taken no hand in the matter. After all, hope and confidence have been major factors in bringing about the increases business, and those factors have fol- lowed on the heels of the activity of the administration and Congress. Even a to be the fact. * % *x x President Roosevelt took the country off the gold standard. He has been much criticized for that. Some of his critics would have preferred, apparently, to have the United States wait until it was forced off the gold standard. The country would have been in far worse case had such a course been pursued. Going off gold has been a factor in the increase in commodity prices. It had become apparent to all who gave the matter a thought that commodity prices were far too low as compared to the value of the dollag. Now, at the London Economic Conference, the American delegation and the President have been assailed by European critics because this country will not agree to stabilize the dollar in conjunction with the cur- rencies of other nations at a figure to be agreed upon at the conference. The plain truth of the matter is that the dollar must be considered in con- nection with commodity prices in this country before it is valued in conjunc- tion with the currencies of other na- tions. The President has pointed this out clearly in his messages to the con- ference. He is not to be budged in this matter by threats of a break up of the conference. “We are interested,” said the Presi- dent, “in American commodity prices. What is to be the value of the dollar in terms of foreign currencies is not and cannot be our immediate concern.” * Xk X % ‘The foreign mations have been through the mill of depreciated cur- rencies for some years. Their pound and franc and mark have been more nearly adjusted to their domestic com- modity prices. If the United States now should agree to tie the dollar to the valuation of these foreign curren- cies it undoubtedly would bring an immediate end to the increase of com- modity prices in this country as com- pared to the value of the dollar. The European nations have in mind the re- tention of the advantage they have had in foreign markets over the products of America through their own depreciated currencies. That is the reason they are making such violent criticisms of the United States. The President has pointed out that the American people have looked with sympathy toward the European nations which went through cwrrency depreciation and the condi- tions which made depreciation neces- sary. Americans did not attack them. Nor is there any justice in the attacks now being made on the United States from foreign sources. There is a lot for this economic conference tp do, it it will forget the stabilization of the dollar for the time being and get down to work. o Abstinence, Boston Evening days " taxk gk 1! ript. o greater and farming conditions in this country | hard-boiled Republican will admit that | ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ‘The answers to questions printed here are specimens picked from inquiries handled by our on bureau maintained in 'his valuable serv- use of the public. any question of fact you may want to know and you will get an immediate reply. Write plainly and inclose three cents in coin or stamps for return post- age. Do not use post cards. Address The Evening Star Information Bureau, J.c Haskin, Director, Wash- Q. In the expression “beer and skit- tles,” what does skittles mean>—D.E.S. A. Skittles is a game resembling ninepins. Piguratively, it means amusement, as in the expression “Life is with such all beer and skittles.” Q. Are hand signals still supposed to be made when operating a motor vehicle?—R. B. A. Hand signals are considered an Drivers should give hand signals as au- tomatically as they feed gas to the en- gine. A hand signal should be given before each stop, turning movement, starting a parked car into line of traffic and before any unexpected or unusual move. Q. How much was the total amount of money that Liberty bonds repre- sented?—C. W. A. The total amount issued in Lib- erty Bonds was $21,432,924,700. Q. Do Jewish people speak Hebrew today?—H. M. W. A. Hebrew, the ancient language of the Jews, is now used only by Jewish scholars. Most Jews in this country speak Yiddish, which is a Middle Ger- man dialect developed under Hebrew and Slavic influence. It contains about 70 per cent German words. 20 per cent Hebrew and 10 per cent Slavic. g. LAre there many white buffalo? A Albino buffalo are so rare that few have been reported. There is one ’g:nlhe National Bison Range in Mon- a. Q. What is & swatch?—C. T. A. It is a trade term for a strip or square of cloth used as™a sample. Q. What women are eligible to mem- | bership in the American Legion Aux- | fltary?—F. B. | ""A”" The code of the American Le- |glon says that membership in the to mothers, wives, sisters and daugh- ters of members of the Legion, or of | men or wcnen who served in the mili- | tary or naval service of the United | States during the World War and died |in line of duty or after honorable dis- charge and to women eligible to be- long to the Legion. ! Q What will keep hard candies from hl;ecumlns sticky in hot weather? A. After making, they should be wrapped in waxed paper or packed in glass or tin containers. Q Has the Codex Sinaiticus, which | was in Russia, been destroyed?—M. L. M. A. It is being very safely preserved in the State Public Library in Lenin- grad (formerly the Imperial Public | Library). It has been there nearly 100 | years. | Q. Do Indian potters use a wheel?— A G | A They do not. Zshrah Preble | Hodge says they fashion their warss | by skillful motions of hands and fin- | | gers, aided by such primitive accesso- ries as a piece of a gourd shell, a smooth pebble, a bone for scraping the clay, or a bit of string. | Q Why doesn't the United States belong to the League of Nations?>—T. V. A. The United States does not be- | long to the League of Nations because indispensable part of vehicle operation. | | American Legion Auxiliary is limited | _lY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. the United States Senate failed to rat- ity the agreement signed by President Wilson and the other delegates to thc Peace Conference at Versailles. Q. Has the bicycle industry suffered in the general depression?—E. S. A. It is said that the bicycle indus- try has not only suffered as little as any other industry, but that it has actually improved during the depression. Q. Why and when were 1-cent pieces reduced in size?>—E. W. J. A. Copper 1-cent pieces were reduced in size in 1856 because of the greater | convenience of the small-sized coin. Q. Did Walter Hampden ever sub- | stitute for Henry B. Irving?—H. C. A. During the illness of H. B, Iry- ing, Hampden succeed=d him as Ham- | let in the Adelphi in May, 1905, playing | the part for one week. CQL Has a submarine two hulls? —W. A. A submarine is composed of proc- | tically two hulls. The innter one is a cigar-shaped affair, called the “pressufe hull,” which is so constructed a; to withstand an external prescure of 88 pounds per square inch, which i5 the outside water pressure cn ths hull at 200 feet depth. Surrounding this hull is another hull of a non-strength type, which will withstand, when empty. an cutside pressure of but 14 to 18 pounds per square inch. When diving, this hull is filled with and open to the out- | side water; consequently, no outsi | pressure upon it. Its vents and ki ston valves are left open during sul mergence. The water entering th | tank destroys tHe buoyancy and the vessel is able to be taken down under- rieath the surface. When ‘it is desired to come to the surface the water is blown out of this tank by compressed air. Q. Of the accidental deaths in ths United States last year, how many were caused by automobiles-—A. W. S. A. In 1932 there were 88.000 ace dent deaths. There were 29,500 mot: vehicle fatalities. |, Q How many acres of grapefruit trees are there in Florida?—H. G. A. Florida has about 100,000 acres in | grapefruit groves, more than 90 per | cent of which are in bearing, produc- | ing annually from 20,000 to 25,000 car- | loads of grapefruit. Texas produces | about a third as much. | Q Where is the Peace Tower erected as a tribute to Owen D. Young?—L. P. A. The tower of the National M orial Universalist Church of Washin | ton, D. C., which is known as the World Peace Tower, or the Peece Tower, was erected as a tribute to the work of | Owen D. Young in behalf of peace. | Q. Is the Skyline Drive in the Shen- andoah Park open to the public?>—T. D. | A. It is closed by locked gates. It awaits the settlement of litication con- cerning the transfer of certain lands to the Federal Government. Until this is | accomplished, a governmental admin- istrative and profective force cannot be installed. | Q. Where can I secure information | in regard to the wood construction sys- tem which strengthens wood joints manA y!;irns compared to bolted joints? A. The National Committee on Wood Utilization of the Department of Com- | merce recently issued a report entitled | “Modern Connectors for Timber Con- struction,” which demonstrates the use | of metal connectors strengthening wood | joints from four to eight timos. | @ Which Robert Bruce became a | leper>—E. M. | A. Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, ;bccamc a leper in the last years of his | life. He retired to Cardross Castle, where ‘ he died in 1329 at the age of 55. Country-wide discussion of the indus- | trial recovery act is accompanied by re- | ports of improved business conditions, | while strong hope is held that in the | coming arrangements with the Federal Government adequate provision will be made for jobs and living wages, and that the interests of consumers will be protected. There is much confidence in director of the work, and hope that his organization will reveal similar capacity. endeavoring to do the specific job of | placing more men on pay rolls and mak- | ing total wage payments keep pace with rise in prices,” says the Rochester Times-Union. Noting that “the new plan is getting under wa¥,” the Con- nellsville Courier thinks that “by early | Fall we shall begin to feel its effects, and we will be better able to forecast what they will be.” The Chicago Jour- nal of Commerce advises: “If Gen. Johnson will not try to impose too much the will of a dictator, we are sure that business men and industrialists can be of immense assistance to him and to whatever progressive age it is the aim of the recovery act to create.” Praise is given by the Asbury Park Evening Press for “the simple theory that such a gigantic and complex structure as our industrial system will work more smoothly and efficiently in this eco- nomic emergency under one head than under thousands of heads, each work- ing against the other.” “It is clear that economic recovery is at least under way,” says the Atlanta definitely from March 4.” The San An- tonio Express agrees that “facts and figures lately gathered from various au- thoritative sources indicate a sturdy, spontaneous trend toward industrial re- covery,” and that “the development is country-wide and shows signs of be- coming permanent.” The New York Times emphasizes reports of substantial “rise of average prices, doubtless both the effect and cause of trade recovery,” and the Chicago Daily News finds that “improvement in gerera! business .as already reduced the number of jobless in an encouraging degree.” ‘The Louisville Courier-Journal sug- gests that “collapse of a sagging market has been averted by re-enforcement,” and that*“the next move is to stop cer- tain elements from undermining the market by selling below cost of produc- tion.” The Omaha World-Herald sees “an effort to bring thé production of commodities into balance with what can be fairly accurately gauged as the limit of the country’s capacity for consump- tlon.” The Scranton Times brings out the point that the administration “will insist upon jobs and wages first, and profits (if any) secondly.” 5 nt inclination of the Recovery Administration to move cautiously and to give industrial enterprise full oppor- tunity to work out its own A ‘commended by the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. The Minneapolis Tribune ob- serves: “Industry is on the springboard and Gen. Johnson bids it leap. * * * To his credit, he seems firmly rooted to the notion that industry should get out and rustle for itself.” Some existing op- position is explained by the Glendale News-Press with the statement that “the idea that they are shorn of their potency to rule, and must, along with common folk, submit to an ordered course, incites them to peevishness.” The Cleveland News states that “there is ample ground for hope that the codify- ing of the Nation's industries will prove & major ement.” regulate hours of labor and, above all, to increase purchasing power, must have the fullest co-operation and observ: to attain its success,” says Worth Star-Telegram, with the further Lelief that “movement of the trades as- mmmmmuw would stand {05 the ability of Gen. Hugh S. Johnson, “It is evident that Gen. Johnson is| Journal, recording that “the renewal of | courage, confidence and enterprise dates | 'Business Gaining Impetus As Johnson Goes Inio Action ness toward the perfection of agree- /ments is an excellent step.” The Youngs- {town Vindicator contends that as “the main p is the improvement of the workers’ condition, labor cannot afford |to make excessive demands at the begin- ’ning," The Philadelphia Public Led- ger believes that “selfishness anywhere |along the line might wreck the whole set-up.” Need of an adjustment of labor con- | ditions. with increased employment, is placed upparmost by the Housion | Chronicle, the Charleston (S. C.) Eve- |ning Post, the Charlotte Observer, the | Milwaukee Journal and the Uniontown iHErald. The Jersey City Journal. be- lieving that Gen. Johnson is aware of “complications in wage scales.” adds | that “there are mists and fogs obstruct- ing the view of the new deal” “Every day and almost every hour.” according to the Baltimore Sun, “some new subject of regulation is suggested, and every time a new stibject of regula- tion is suggested it opens up an eve widening vista of regulatory problems.” The Ot‘l;land Tribune points cut that “indust'y is to be put under a control, the full nature of which is not .dis- closed,” a view which is held also by the Indianapolis News. The Lexington Leader, however, pre- dicts that “the effort to completely co- ordinate all the thousands of big and little industries in this country will end in chaos,” while the Lincoln State Jour- nal sees “the whole country stumbling along.” The Pasadena Star-News de- nounces ‘“paternalism,” and the Rute land Herald offers the judgmcnt: *Ta less our present administration is far different from any other, it will hate to give up control that is once established And unless reconstructed business Snds this control more to its liking than can be expected, business will strive to get rid of it at the earliest opportunity. On these lines we may look forward to & sharp battle on which the future of government and of business may well depend.” “One tentative impression may be guardedly ventured,” says the Wall Street Journal, “namely, that the Re- covery Administration might make | safer and ultimately more rapid prog- | ress by taking one step at a time rather |than attempting to do everything at once. ~ Thoroughgoing fundamental reguiation of any basic industry, per- meating it down to its end details, is not to be set up in a hurry; an effort to do so is likely to result in either a bureaucratic paralysis of the business or a mere imitation regulation.” ‘The Des Moines Tribune avers that Gen. Johnson is “making an excellent beginning in the building of confidence in his own ability to handle a tre- mendous job well” To the Salt Lake Deseret News, “the quality of the man- power employed to carry the program into effect will largely determine its success,” and the San Francisco Chron- icle finds “reassurance in the indication by Gen. Johnson of the type of men to serve with him.” ———— — Europe Still Eating. Prom the Dayton Daily News. False teeth were among the rml ex- ports of this country last year, lical ing that maybe after all some folks in Europe are still eating. s Wails. Prom the Boston Evcning Transcript. ‘When doctors say that the crying of the baby helps digestion they are not thinking of the indigestion it may cause the parents. ——————___ The Bar Adverse. From the Indianapolis News. An Indiana University professor ad- vocates divorce by mutual consent, hut 1t doesn't seem likely that the lawyers {5 AQuiheg ke sl