Evening Star Newspaper, December 16, 1934, Page 22

A—22 PLANETS BARREN, NEW STUDY SHOWS Carnegie Astronomers Find Even Mars Lacking Oxy- gen for Life. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. Blue-veiled earth's ice-robed sisters ~the planets revolving beyond her in the solar system—offer scant possibili- ties of organic life. Studies of their atmospheres have been continued during the past year by astronomers of the Carnegie In- stitution of Washington by highly re- fined methods. They have determined, beyond much argument, that the thin atmosphere of Mars contains practically no oxygen and hence that any life which exists on its cold surface would have to be of a very different nature than that on earth, Observations of the Mar- tian atmosphere with the spectroscope during the last few years have failed to reveal the characteristic lines of oxygen, without which no earthly life could exist, but the case was not con- clusive. The absence might be due to the scattering of the light of these lines by the planet’s atmosphere. It was barely possible that an astron- omer on Mars, studying the atmos- phere of the earth, would conclude that it had no oxygen and hence must be a dead world. Martian View of Earth. The Carnegie astronomers couldn’t get on some other planet to find out what the spectrum of earth looked like; but they finally hit upon a device which answered the same purpose. They determined the absorption spec- trum of the earth's atmosphere by the very dim light from the shaded portion of the moon inside the bright crescent of a new moon. This repre- sents sunlight which has passed through the earth's atmosphere three times, from the sun to the earth, to the moon and back to the earth again. The difference between it and the spectrum of the bright portion of the moon would be appraximately the spectrum of the earth-shine which the astronomer on Mars would obtain. The spectrum showed plenty of oxy- gen. Hence it becomes apparent that Mars hardly has any at all and if there is even & low order of life on its cold, desolate surface it must be such as can exist with an extreme minimum of oxygen. The safest con- clusion is that the planet is lifeless. ‘The only planet whose atmosphere is known to contain oxygen is earth. Temperature on Jupiter. ‘The presence of the gases ammonia and methare in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn was established and Jupiter's minimum temperature was set at about 123 centigrade. This phenomenon is explained as follows: “The presence of an excess of hy- drogen is to be expected on planets derived from the sun and having i, larger values of surface gravity than the earth. No known substance ex- cept hydrogen can exist at high pres- sures present below the surfaces of the major planets with a density low e_nuuxh to explain their mean densi- ties. As these planets cooled, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen must have com- bined with hydrogen, but of the hy- drogen compounds with carbon only methane, the most volatile, could be expected to show in the atmosphere. Ammonia is more easily condensed ) and, although abundant on Jupiter, is scarcely detectable on the outer planets, All free oxygen must have combined with hydrogen and the re- n]mlgag ice must have fallen below the clouds.” PLAY TOURNAMENT 'y PLANS COMPLETED Groups in Metropolitan Area of Maryland and Virginia Eligible. Plans for the 1935 one-act play tour- nament, conducted under auspices of the Community Center Department, have been completed, nounced today by Mrs, Elizabeth K. Peeples of the department, All drama groups in the city and the metropolitan area of Maryland and Virginia are eligible to enter the pre- liminaries. Applications must be in on or before January 5. Coples of the tournament rules and the application blanks now are avail- . able at the headquarters of the Tour- nament Committee in the Franklin Administration Building. They will be mailed upon request. The contest, which will be con- " ducted on February 5, 7, 9, 12 and 14, will be held in the auditorium of Roosevelt High School. The finals will be conducted on Saturday night, February 16. The dramatic critics of the five ‘Washington newspapers will judge the finals. Members of the Tournament Committee are: Mrs. Marie Moore Forrest, Miss Bess Davis Schreiner, both of the Community Center De- partment; Prof. W. Hayes Yaeger, C. Melvin Sharp and Thomas M. Cahill. it was an-| THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, Principals in German Club Comedy Three of the stars in the play, “Hurra, Ein Junga”—meaning one boy—to be presented tonight by the Ger- man Theater Club, are shown above in a scene from the production. They are, left to right: Willie Kessler, Gustav Heller and Gertrude Rahn. The play is a comedy staged in & German setting and will be given at 8 o'clock in the Arcade Auditerium, McCormack Held Likely Choice *y To Lead Democrats in House Considered Outstanding Candidate for Im- portant Post, Mrs. Greenway May Be Given Poston Waysand Means Committee. BY WILL P. KENNEDY. HE incoming Congress is likely to see some innovations. For example, a relatively new- comer — Representative John W. McCormack of Massachu- ,setts—who has been in the House only six years, is considered to be the lead- ing candidate for the House leader- ship, a recognition by the Democrats of the younger men in the party—a generous gesture welcoming the younger element to active service with honors and positions of trust awaiting them if they can earn them. There is also a strong disposition to give unprecedented recognition to the women. This is likely to be shown in placing & woman on the most im- portant committee—Ways and Means, the Tariff and Tax Framing Commit- tee—for the first time in history. Mrs. Greenway Candidate. Mrs. Isabella Greenway of Arizona is a candidate for this place with or- ganized support from the Western State. Her selection would also be a recognition of the claim of the West for larger part in drafting the tariff and taxation laws. This would be a distinct honor for Mrs. Greenway in her second term in the House. She has shown marked ability, energy and considerable independence. ~She is credited with having first brought Lewis W. Douglas to the attention of the President for the office of budget director. Subsequently she succeeded Douglas in the House. Mrs. Green- way is on most intimate terms as a frequent guest at the White House and was one of Mrs. Roosevelt's brides- maids. While there are women of much longer service in the House, who also have shown marked ability, for one reason or another they are likely to | give way to Mrs. Greenway for the | post of honor on the Ways and Means | Committee. Mrs. Norton Honored. — Mrs. Mary T. Norton of New Jersey would naturally receive first consid- eration as senior in service for a Democratic place on the Ways and Means Committee. She was honored signally, however, in being the first woman to ever be chairman of a major House committee, when she took charge of the District Committee. Mrs. Norton stated positively the other day that she has no thought of re- linquishing this chairmanship, because | she feels it is a duty toward the Na- | tional Capital to carry through a pro- gram of progressive legislation for which she has secured a pledge of support from House leaders. If the Republican membership had a place to spare on the Ways and Means Committee their first thought would be given to Mrs. Edith Nourse | Rogers of Massachusetts, who has de- | voted special attention to legislation for trade development as sponsored by the Department of Commerce. But besides the long waiting list for the few Republican places on that com- mittee, Mrs. Rogers is held off by the fact that Massachusetts already has a veteran member on the Ways and Means — Representative Allen T. Treadway—who is ranking Repub- lican, and heir apparent to the chair- manship if and when the Republicans again come into the majority. Mrs. Florence Kahn of California, MRS. ISABELLA GREENWAY. also & well-thought-of woman Re- publican member of proven experi- ence has been given honor in being the first woman appointed to mem- bership on the Appropriations Com- mittee. There are four Democratic vacan- cies on the Ways and Means Com- mittee with Mrs. Greenway as an outstanding candidate, to date. Db T e Import Curb Effective. Germany's new Import Control | Board has been able to make German | trade show its first favorable trade Fourteenth street and Park road. —Star Staff Photo. NEW NORTHWEST OFFICE OPENED BY RELIEF UNIT A new office for the Northwest di- vision of the District Emergency Re- | lief Administration was opened yes- | terday at 1908 Pennsylvania avenue. | Reliet officigls held “open house” from 5 to 8 p.m. yesterday. The new office, rented by the Dis- trict, takes the place of the former Northwest branch station at 2403 Pennsylvania avenue. Mrs. Laura Neilsen, divisional su- pervisor of the Relief Administration, NEW ISSUE SEEN IN GOTTON VOTE Popularity of Crop Control May Cause Demand in Other Fields. By the Associated Press. The Agricultural Adjustment Ad- ministration last night had before it the task of answering puzzling ques- tions raised by the nine-to-one vote in favor of retaining compulsory cot- ton control for 1935. One was whether producers of other major jes would be answered yea or nay, should they demand compulsory control to“aid in keeping their production within bounds. Secretary Wallace has said that he sees no reason to extend the principle of the Bankhead cotton control act to other major crops. The vote on the measure, however, was so overwhelm- ingly in favor of continuance that officials decided the sentiment in favor or so-called regimentation was greater than even its advocates real- ized. } 2,600,000 Eligible to Vote. Approximately 2,600,000 farmers were eligible to vote in the election to determine whether the Bankhead act should apply for another year. A two-thirds majority was necessary to keep the legislation on the books. The tabulation of the first million votes showed approximately 907,000 for and 93,000 against. The Bankhead act has been getting most of the attention, but another compulsory measure has been a law almost as long and a poll on it is now in progress. The legislation is the Kerr act, applying to almost all types of tobacco. Final returns on this measure will be announced soon. Faverable Vote Expected. A. A A officials assert that legisla tion has been satisfactory and that a vote for continuance is almost certain. LIVING CHRISTMAS TREES Norway Spruce and Balsam Firs. Planted in green tubs and clay pots. These trees can be used indoors and then planted in the yard for lasting beauty. In clay pots, standing 18 inches high, each.. . . . .35¢ In clay pots, standing 24 inches high, each.. . . ... 50c In green tubs, standing 30 to 36 inches high,each. . 75¢ In green tubs, standing 45 to 54 inches high,each$1.00 In green tubs, standing 54 to 60 inches high,each$1.25 In green tubs, standing 66 to 72 inches high,each$2.00 In green tubs, standing 72 to 78 inches high,each$2.50 Orders Amounting to $1.00 or More Delivered Free in Washington, D. C., or Vicinity Leissler’s Nurseries East Falls Church, Va. Lee Highway, 35 Miles From Washington, D. C. Phone Orders Promptly Filled Fast, Free Delivery CLARENDON 1306 balance in many months. 0, hs T =il predicts a BLACK and WHITE Christmas $25 D. C., DECEMBER 16, 1934—PART ONE. Another problem raised by the Bankhead vote was whether the tax which the act levies will apply on all cotton marketed above 10,400,000 bales—as was the case this year. Senator Bankhead, Democrat, of Alabama, favors that 10,400,000 quota, but A. A. A. officials point out that about 12,000,000 bales will be grown under the voluntary program. They assert that the Bankhead act and the voluntary plan must synchronize to avoid arousing the South against both plans. They will insist on about 12,000,000 tax-free bales. “CHRI.STMAS ORATORIO” PLANNED AT EPIPHANY Washington Choral Society to Sing Bach’s Famous Work at Candlelight Service. Bach's “Christmas Oratorio” will be sung by the Washington Choral So- ciety at the annual candlelight service at Epiphany Episcopal Church next Friday at 4:30 pm. The Bach oratorio, accepted along with “The Messiah” as one of the two finest compositions of Christmas mu- sic, will be conducted by Louis F. Pot- ter. Walter Nash will be at the organ, and Lily Garritt, contralto; Justin Lawrie, tenor, and Charles Trowbridge Tittman, basso, are among the promi- nent soloists who will take part. Opening the program, Adolf Torov- sky, organist at Epiphany Church, will play 15 minutes of Christmas music. parts one and two of the oratorio. A zogenberg, Maxson and traditional French and English numbers will fol- low the Bach oratorio. ‘The public is invited to attend the candlelight service, offered by the Epiphany Church and the Washington Choral Society in response to hundreds of requests following the services by the same organizations last year. —_— Tiny Radio Set Made. A crystal radio set, so small that it will stand on a quarter, yet which oper- ated perfectly, was made recently by an 18-year-old Londoner. for and fashi ‘This will be followed immediately by | program of short carols and chorales, | including numbers by Praetoriud, Her- | ‘women. WATCHFUL STOREMAN CAPTURES PRUNE THIEF All's well that ends well. The American Stores, Inc., now has back its can or prunes, and the erstwhile prisoner, captured by Louls Mos- chetto, 19, of 403 Eighth street south- east, has departed for shores un- known. Young Moschetto witnessed the Jessie French & Co.,, Worch Pianos. Open Evenings JLansburghs Fuzzies prune snatching out of the corner of his eye while waiting on a woman customer in his store, at Fourth and East Capitol streets, at 8 o'clock last night. He raced the culprit down the block and dragged back a down-at- heels fellow, bearing on his face the evidence of many previous skirmishes. ‘The law, hastily summoned, would have none of him, so the unidentified snatcher went his way. 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