Evening Star Newspaper, June 7, 1935, Page 10

A—10 THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Editien. WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY..........June 7, 1935 THEODORE W. NOYES. . . Editor | The Evening Star Newspa Busi: 11th St. and Pennsylvi New York Office: 110 East 4 Chicaso Office: Lake Michigan European Office: 14 Regent St. England. Rate by Carrier Within the City. lar Edition. The Evening S 45¢ per month The Evenine and Sunday Star (when 4 Sundays) 80c per month The Evening and Sunday Star (when 5 Sund 65¢ per month The Sunday Sta ~ ‘5c ver copy Night Final Edition. Night Pinal and Sunday Star.? 0c per month Night Firal Star . 55¢ per month Collection made &t the end of each 1onth Orders may be sent by mail or iepnone National K000 Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. nd Sunday. .1 yr. $10.00: 1 mo., ¥se Dail; on 11yrl $6.00: 1 mo a0c Stunday 13, $4.00: 1 mo. 40c All Other States and Canada. Daily and Sunday | yr.. $12.00: 1 mo.. $1 00 ally only 1 yr.. $8.00:1 mo. 5 Sunday only... 1yr. $500:1mo. B50c Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively en: titled 1o the use for republication of all news disnatches credited to it or not other- wise credited in this paper and also the local ness published herein All rights of publication of special dispatches herein ere also reserved = per Company ve 2nd St Building. . London. Daiiv oniy Labor Raises “‘the Issue.” Just as President Roosevelt seems to have abandoned the idea of carry- Ing to the country a fight to change the old constitutional order the Exec- utive Council of the American Fed- eration of Labor announces its cham- pionship of a constitutional amend- The federation, the council says, should take the leadership in the movement It adds that an amendment necessary to “meet and overcome the objections to the enactment of social and economic legislation by the Congress of the United States. as set forth by the Supreme Court in its decisions hold- ing the railroad retirement act and the national recovery act unconsti- tutional.” The pronouncement of the federa- tion's executive council sounds very much like the statement made to the press by President Roosevelt when he first discussed the N. R. A. decision of the court, although the President At that time did not that he would support a constitutional amend- ment. He did say, however, that *“the issue” was one which the people themselves should decide. The federation council wisely sug- gests that an exhaustive study be made betore a constitutional amend- ments i5 drafted and before organized Jabor finally gets back of the pro- posal. The Conaress is to be given au- thority presumably. under such amend- ment, to pass laws affecting hours and wages of labor, collective bargain- ing. etc. Its present proponents make the demand for a constitutional amendment, so that labor may obtain advantages, A oonstitutional amend- ment giving Congress these however. might permit the Congress to lav a restraining hand upon labor as well as upon the employers of labor. It might, indeed, prove a two-edged &word. Labor has in the past strongly opposed compuisory arbitration of its differences with emplovers. It has demanded that it be free of restraint in its dealings Should an amendment be drawn for the sole purpose of having Congress restrain employers of all kinds of la- bor— giving the Congress the right to specify hours and wages of labor, etc, and at the same time leaving labor free to strike and to force other demands, it would be neither sporting nor a just arrangement. The real truth of the matter 15 that freedom of action by labor and emplover, even though mis- takes are made, may well be better than a bureaucratic rule in which government mav dictate to both labor and industry, That is something that organized labor should consider care- fully before it embarks upon the oam- paign for a constitutional amendment now indicated. The announcement of the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor in favor of constitutionalizing the N. R. A. and other New Deal ac- tivities runs on all fours with the original pronouncement of the “issue” by President Roosevelt. It may en- courage the White House. Perhaps it ment is say powers, intrastate as well as interstate— was designed for that purpose, in the ' pected to be the hero of the hour | light of the present plans for a mere skeleton N. R. A. and in the further light of the administration's apparent acquiescence 1n plans to change other New Deal legislation in the hope that it will not be held to be unconsti- | problem now is the expansion of the | tutional. The country's reaction to President Roosevelt's apparent suggestion that the old constitutional order be re- vamped was not favorable. In fact, quite & storm of criticism arose, even in quarters that had been favorable io the President. The executive council of the A. F. of L. sounds a more friendly note. The country is still wondering what the White House is §oing to do about it. —— st Officials change from time to time. Bometimes it is the lobbyist who etays on the job all the time who proves that he knows most about de- tails of legislation. - Delayed School Construction. ‘Unnecessary and inexcusable delays in public school construction have been charged by the school authori- ties on more than one ocggsion, lead- ing in the past to acrimonious ex- ehanges between the Franklin School | and the District Building. But in discussing the possibility that delays in construction of the Woodrow Wil- son High School and the Anacostia Junfor High School may find these buildings unready for occupancy next Fall, Jere J. Crane, the first assistant superintendent of schools in charge of business affairs, makes a rather se- rious charge in his statement: The fact that the schools are re- quired to relieve congested conditions appears to be of little concern to those responsible for the construction. For indifference to public needs is in the evening of any day, nor more dar wouldn’t have been no classes if XI & grave failing on the part of public officials, “Those responsible for the construction” are Engineer Commis- | sioner Sultan and his Assistant Engi- neer Commissioners. One does not | readily associate “indifference” with | Commissioner Sultan’s record. There | are coubtless other causes for the de- lay which should be explained. As for the length of time required to com- plete these two important schools, their history is already becoming some- what ancient. The site for the Wood- row Wilson was purchased in August, 1932, and the building will not have been completed three years after the site was bought. The Anacostia Jun- ior site—for the school which is to be both & junior and senior high school— was bought in March of 1932. Appro- | priations have been made in each fiscal | vear since 1932, Whatever the explanation may be for a delay which provokes anxiety at the Franklin lest these needed schools will not be ready as scheduled should. | and doubtless will be, furnished by Cel. Sultan. e M. Laval at the Helm. That whirligig known as French politics took another spasmodic turn early today and Parisians learned at breakfast that out of the turmoil in the Palais Bourbon this week yet an- other minority—the third in six days —had been born. Having previously failed to form a government on the ruins of the Flandin and Bouisson cabinets, former Premier Pierre Laval consented to make another attempt to snatch order out of chaos, and suc- ceeded. How long his hastily constructed and necesearily patch-work govern- ment will last is problematical. It embraces members of all the warring groups in the Chamber and is a com- posite of those factions from among which M. Laval hopes to fashion a working majority. “I did my duty in forming & cabinet,” he plaintively an- nounces, “and I hope the nation and | Parliament will do their duty in sup- porting me.” As the new premier uttered this pious aspiration the boulevards still echoed with angry demonstrations staged by riotous roy- alists known as the “King's Hench- men,” who throughout the previous twenty-four hours had joined with other malcontent elements in clash- ing with the police as they voiced their bitter antipathy to the “poli- ticians” and thundered opposition to new taxation. Premier Laval associates with him- self as ministers without portfolios former Premiers Herriot and Flandin. He himself will remain foreign min- ister. The new government will de- mand from Parllament the same powers to govern by decree, in order 10 save the gold franc, that were de- nied Premier Flandin last week. It must be assumed that so seasoned a politician as M. Laval would not have assumed the task, which four others spurned, unless fairly well assured that he can marshal support for the stern financial and economic meas- ures which are called for. These in- | clude drastic budgetary measures, like reductions of government pay, cutting of pensions and new taxes, all of which are unpalatable to large and determined groups in and out of the Chamber. M. Laval will not hesitate to em- phasize the dangers that confront France if Parliament does not sanc- tion prompt and bold remedial action. He doubtless has hopefully in mind the experience of Premier Poincare under similar conditions in 1926. The former President of the republic was called to the helm, as M. Laval now | has been, to defend the imperiled franc. A legislative jam, like the one just caused by irreconcilable political factions, was finally broken, and M. Poincare was granted decree power to rescue French finance from the abyss. The present situation calls for another stronp man. with authority sufcient to preserve the republic from a plight that is ominous in the ex- treme. Parliamentary government itself is on trial at Paris, with Fascism as the dread alternative. Before many hours THE EVENING than twenty-eight hours in one week. * * * The board or its agent may issue a permit when satisfied that the minor is Teceiving adequate educationsl in- structions and that the health and morals of the minor are properly safeguarded. Of course, that amendment would permit the appearance of child actors in any show that comes to town. No shows “considered offensive to public decency” are supposed to per- form under any conditions. And the busy Board of Education would doubt- less add a chore of some intricacy to its other tasks in deciding whether a child actor was really receiving “adequate educational instructions” and in satisfying itself that the health and morals” of the child are properly safeguarded. Nor is it at all sure, from a read- ing of the amendment, that it would have permitted the appearance here some years ago of, say, Yehudi Menu- hin, who is not a member of any “professional traveling theatrical pro- duction.” The amendment is intended to do what its sponsors doubtless desire, which is to permit child actors to| | appear in Washington. And whether anybody would be benefited by this | weakening of the child labor law is| |8 matter of strongly divided opinion. — e Unnecessary and Dangerous. {In the Summer months an increas- {ing number of Washingtonians are finding pleasant recreation in canoe- ing above Key Bridge. In the later afternoon, especially on Sundays and holidays, the river is full of the small craft. But while the section of the | river between Key Bridge and a little below Chain Bridge is relatively safe for the sport, there being mo rough | water and the shore within easy reach, speedboats have added a | menace apt to take its toll in lives | within the next few months. The | wash from a speeding power boat is | enough in itself to endanger frail | canoes, but the increasing number of speedboats in recent years has added | the additional danger of collision. The danger should be easily cured Speedboats should be forced to keep within a safe speed limit on this part of the river, and there should be a police boat on hand to arrest any flagrant offender. There is plenty of room on the river for speedboats as well as canoes, but the rather confined area available to canoeists should be protected. Canoes are safe enough, even in the hands of inexperienced canoeist provided they use common sense. But speedboats dashing through a flotilla of canoes, no matter how skilled the canoeists, Tepresent an unnecessary and a real danger. There ought to | be one quiet little spot. somewhere, safe from the Speed Demon, and it is too bad that it cannot be found— | even in the upper Potomac. | e | Extension of the age limit for po- lice off\ fact that a policeman. like other per- | sons, may be expected to get wiser a8 he grows older, | - Strikers at Toledo. Ohio, decided that it may be undesirable to shut ‘off the electricity as it was in the old days to blow out the gas. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Fearlessness. Go on hoarding earthly treasure as you will. Apply your perspicacity and akill. Caution none the less is needed And a warning must be heeded— There is danger in a twenty-dollar bill. There are germs that will conspire to make you ill. ‘Though the portrait brings a patriotic thrill, And the numbers mav be noted As the loot by bandits floated— There is danger in a twenty-dollar bill. But it's wanted by the merchant in his till, | heavily als may take into account the { | consonants. | first Habitual mispronunciation of com- mon words, as heard so often, usually is due to carelessness, indifference or environment, While schooling and its lack may have something to do with it, the environment has s great deal more, and is the most difficult to overcome, perhaps. A great many well-educated per- sons Invariably pronounce the word “strength” as if 1t were written “strenth.” Naturally they say length. Another very common mistake is to pronounce “perspiration” as if writ- ten “prespiration.’ The latter is very common. One can never go into a ciowd without hearing it one or more times before emerging. While this one is more often used “lenth” for by persons of obvious lack of school- | ing, every one has heard it many times from the mouth of those who ought to-know better. ook Flower names, both in their scien- | tific and popular forms, are often | mispronounced. “Hygerauium” instead of hydran- gea is very common. Just why one should take such a | straightforward word as “hydrangea” | and turn it into the clumsy, erroneous compound “hygeranium,” is difficult to understand until oue suddenly hap- pens to think that “geranium” is one of the few scientific names commonly known to most persons. No doubt the lack of the vowel e” after the “hy” in “hydrangea” accounts for many people putting one the by main force, by suddenly leaping from “hy” 1o a word they know, “geranium.” And there you have it, a perfectly new word, created out of folk knowledge. Pronunciation of “Italian” as if written “I-talian” ix very widespread. It is on & par with “Dee-troit” for Detroit. Base ball usage throughout America, however, has made the ccented * pronounced as if writteen “De ry common. After all, it is not much worse than | the universal pronunciation of the last syllable. It all runs back to whether such words are to be pro- | mounced as English or French. * oxox % Usage, of course, is the only cri- terion. If one pronounces the word “Eng- lish” as it is written. with the first syllable a: " he is pronouncing it incorrectly It is, of course, “Inglish.” So the unwary cannot tell, by looking at one, how to pronounce & word. And any one who has heard a real Englishman talk knows so, that vou cannot tell by hearing a real Englishman talk! Good usage settles the matter. but although there are many books writ- ten with the avoweg intent of helping all and sundry, every one knows that knowledge alone is the only help. A certain amount of such mispro- nunciation is permissible, since the huge word books contain more than half a million items, more than any one human being possiblv can know. Since this is more or less true. one cannot help wonder why so many people go out of their way to leave out letters or transpose them. Consider the innocent word “pers- piration.” Why do so many insist | on “prespiration?” No doubt because they resent the combination of three “rsp.” so close together. By transposing one in front of the “e,” they get “prespiration,” evi- dently more acceptable to their tongues. Perhaps, too, a certain | amount of false modesty comes into | the matter. At one time such a word was used instead of “sweat” as more “gentlemanly.” g Perhaps, to make it less like what it really was, they insisted on a trans- position, in order to form a word that did not sound so familiar. PR Sometimes one hears such a word as “deciduous” pronounced “deci-du- ous,” with the accent on the “du. Here we get back into the old ques- tion of the English pronunciation of Latin names. Often our words of Latin derivation come from the Greek, |50 that by the time we of 1935 get | done trying to say them correctly there is no telling in the world what the result will be. In scientific terminology it is the custom, if a creature is named after & human, to pronounce that part as | it really is, and to let the Latin take | care of itself. Thus, in the name Pristella riddlei, named specifically after Prof. Riddle, the second or speci- | fic name is put in lower case (small | letter), but pronounced “riddle-i,” not | | “rid-ley-1,” as one might think. The word hydrangea comes from the | Greek hudor, meaning water, plus | aggos, vessel. STAR, "WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, JUNE 17 THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Supreme Court Should Pre-View Legislation To the Editor of The Btar: The decision of the Supreme Court | in the N. R. A. case compels all of us to “stop, look and listen.” The decision was unanimous and lawyers every- where, without regard to their political affiliations, thigk it sound. What will be the attitude toward it and what can and will be done with it are matters of policy to be determined jointly by the President and the Con- gress. The fact stands out that this act was passed in 1933 and since that time the administration has been busy putting it into execution. It has cost huge sums of money and much time, | and more than two years after it was | enacted the Supreme Court decides it to be unlawful and of no effect. | Now no one can put any one back to where he or she was before its| enaétment. The money it cost to| administer it cannot be returned to | the Treasury of the United States, | nor can the United States return it | to the taxpaver. | What has been done cannot be un- done—the status quo ante cannot con- celvably be restored. Of one thing I am quite certain, and that is that any governmental machinery, consti- tutional or otherwise, that makes pos- sible a situation like this is unwork- able and inexcusable. Some one has aptly saild: “It has long been the lament of business men and their ‘Oh, for a place where we ce whether our Hudor aggos, thus, becomes hy- dranges, meaning water vessel, per- | haps in reference to the amount of | water this plant needs at the bloom- | ing season. Geranium comes from the Greek geranion, geranos, & crane. The fruit of this plant is supposed to resemble a crane’s bill, hence the name. Geran- um formerly was called “crane’s bill,” | being & cultivated form of Pelargon- jum. This word also is Greek, mean- ing stork (pelargos), Crane or stork, take your choice. * x ¥ X | What will strike many about mis- pronunciations is that, after all, they do not make much difference, except in isolated instances where they are s0 outrageous as to be funny. | Happily most words are used fairly rapidly, and with others, so that few persons really hear them when they are wrong. Fortunately. 100, the ma- jority of persons are well bred enough to make no comment. Many a person has heard some one mispronounce & word for years without ever mention- ing it. After all, it is not much of & mis- take. Those who insist on meticulous pronunciation from others are very likely to be “all wrong” themselves on a few pet words If cornered, they may attempt to place the blame on locality of up- bringing. Curiously enough, they may be right, for many words are given special pronunciations in cer- tain sections of the country. All through the so-called “corn belt,” for instance, the name of the National Capital is pronounced “Warshington,” with the added “r.” It is needless to sav that all those folks “warsh” their hands instead of “wash” them. It may be believed that a few mis- pronunciations, now and then. but add zest to the great and continuing study of words. They are the spice, without which the cake would be somewhat flat. Many persons think they are being very polite when, instead of openly | correcting & mispronunciation, they | themselves use it and pronounce it correctly immediately thereafter. If| | this is done. it should be considerably | delayed. Not doing it at all is the | | true politeness. I WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC To let the conscience of business be apparently President Roosevelt's fixed purpose. If industrial leaders voluntagtly continue to operate more or less along N. R. A. code lines, that will be altogether agreeable to the White House. The point is that no sort of legislative pressure to require business so to comport itself is in prospect. It is going to be permitted to paddle its own canoe, wholly devoid of Government control except for the anti-trust laws. The President has faith in the good intent of the bulk of the business world, but is conscious that a chiseling minority can so de- moralize wage, hour and competitive conditions as to compel even right- minded emplovers, in a spirit of self- preservation, to revert to practices that were banished under Blue Eagle rule. At any rate, the lid is now off and things are simply to run along as are past Frenchmen are likely to have In the cosy kitchen, too, by Jack and best they can without Uncle Sam's it brought vividly to their attention that their national legislature must face the iron exigencies of the mo- | ment or invite dictatorship. i [N | The French peasant is again ex- | and give the high fiianciers lome-‘ thing tangible to work with. | r———————— | Kansas has had many bright ideas in currency and finance. Its big |Kaw and the Missouri Rivers. | —— e : Children on the Stage. ‘Washington has not lost a great deal and on the whole has gained through the ban on child labor that keeps children from the local pro- fessional stage. Those who sgitate 1emoval of the ban, regardless of the arguments of art for art's sake, are usually interested commercially in | the business. The best arguments are | those in behalf of permitting the public appearance of the very few real musical or other geniuses where the | profit motive—which figures largely |in the exploitation of children—is not so apparent. The amendment to the child labor |law recently reported by the House District Committee should be con- sidered with great care before its en- actment. For the weakening of any law designed to protect children is, of | | course, undesirable. The proposed amendment reads in part: Notwithstanding the provisions of this act, the Board of Education of the District of Columbia, or a duly au- thorized agent thereof, is authorized to issue a work permit to any female | person under eighteen years of age and to any male person under sixteen years of age, sald permit authorizing and permitting the appearance of such person on the stage of a duly licensed theater within the Districy of Co- | lumbia, in any professional traveling | theatrical production not considered offensive to public decency. Mrovided. that such person shall not appear on said stage after the hour of 11 o'clock in one day, nor more . 'than four hours Jill. By the force of human habit We affectionately grab it. And nobody fears a twenty-dollar bill. | In the Public Gaze, “Do you covet a position of great ' | eminence?"” “Yes," answered Senator Sorghum, “but T want some substantial founda- tion for my fame. I see no satisfac- tion in being just a pole sitter.” | Jud Tunkins says that these Shrine | bovs hit a bright idea in headgear. | | You can’t high-hat anybody with a fez. | tional amendment. 0 | velt carefully refrains from any ine Early Harvest. Statistics have brought thoughts that annoy. The moon's a bright sickle for har-| | vesting joy: We're wearing & smile and we're hum- ming a tune— Nobody plowed under the roses of | June, | us some ot Working. | “What did Uncle Bill Bottletop tell “ the census taker his occupation is?" “Clam digge: “But there are no clams in Crimson | | Gulen.” p “That’s his excuse for lining up with | the unemployed for relief.” The New Honors the Old. | The lights will be bright o'er the asphalted wa: No hot, sandy desert is here on display. Along with the camels, the scene will | reveal "rhe handsome, luxurious automobile. | And every device of our science or art | A splendor to ancient romance will | impart, | Of our wearisome days we will cease | | to complain, | Since we have our Arabian Nights | once again. “I ain’ got no college education” said Uncle Eben. “But I works foh education. Lots o' ‘Winter mornings hadn't started de fire.” A shepherding hand. x k% % Speculation is unabated as to the precise motives of Mr. Roosevelt in de- ciding not to seek at this time any new acts of Congress providing for some constitutionalized N. R. A. regu- lation of industry. A common View is that F. D. R.'s purpose is to conform immediately and ungualifiedly to the Supreme Court's decision in order to give the country a chance to see how matters work out minus the system which the court outlawed. After April 1 next, if not before, there may be indisputable evidence that economic conditions were better under N. R. A. In that event reckon that there would be popular demand for restitution of the Blue Eagle, if necessary through a constitu- While Mr. Roose- cation that these are his mental proc esses, they are widely discussed as & plausible explanation of his program. One thing is certain—through main- tenance of an elaborate fact-finding | organization on the ruins of N. R. A. the President will be able to keep close | tab on what happens during the next nine months and to fashion his future policy on the basis of it. If business improves in consequence of the abolition of the Blue Eagle, as its foes always predicted would be the case, the administration might banish all thought of reviving it. That would not prevent Rooseveltians from setting up the claim that after all it was N. R. A. and other New Deal agencies that laid the founda- tions for recovery. Thus there are people who ocontend that no matter what betides, barring serious business setbacks, which few authorities an- ticipate, Mr. Roosevelt's fortunes are | not in jeopardy. Unquestionably the Nation-wide reaction to his sugges- ['tion of constitutional changes did not quite come up to expectation. The view is encountered throughout po- litical Washington that the President would at this moment force the con- stitutional issue at grave risk of re- buff. By the time the 1936 cam- paign rolls around it may be & dif- ferent story. * X * % While its scope and general char- acter are to undergo drastic altera tion, the Natic~-1 Recovery Admin- istration will nc. "ave to change alphabetieal clothes to carry out the principal assignment scheduled for the stop-gap organization. It will still be N. R. A.—Nationgl Research Agency, though the szkeleton baby has not yet been thus ehristened. LY some New Dealers WILLIAM WILE. The attenuated new N. R. A. might stand for “No Real Authority,” too. * o ox % Herbert Hoover's return to the East to attend another meeting of life insurance board and for more “private visits with friends,” reaf- firms the conviction prevalent here- abouts that the former President is definitely gunning for renomination. His recent statements in conjunction with former Gov. Frank O. Lowden about constitutionalism and the dan- ger of a change in the American system to “a European form of gov- ernment” are regarded in many quar- ters as corroborative evidence of Hoover's readiness to tempt fate a third time and to capitalize for that purpose the issue that has suddenly gripped the Nation's attention. Despite the Californian's apparent desire to show that he can do a Grover Cleve- land comeback. the woods continue to be full of Republicans who think the most eminent service Mr. Hoover could render the G. O. P. at this time would be a flat I-do-not-choose- to-run-in-1936 announcement. Nev- ertheless, there are those who insist that a year hence “the chief” may well emerge as the most logical can- didate avallable. P Secretary of Agriculture Wallace took a hand in the current constitu- tional controversy when he received a doctor of laws degree at Columbia | University this week. President Nich- | olas Murray Butler had just referred | to “those who would turn this Federal Republic of ours into a highly cen- tralized political and economic des- | potism, under the mask of social re- form and progress.” Mr. Wallace, ac- cording to a published account of his address, declared that insistence upon a Constitution firmly fixed in the pasé¢ will probably keep the United States /in a “state of adolescent flux” for & considerable time and prevent it from assuming leadership in world economic affairs. That seems to put the Federal farm boss among the amenders. PR Reputed victory for Secretary Hull in the abolition of George N. Peek's post as special adviser to the Presi- dent on foreign trade coincides with the conclusion by the State Depart- ment of the fifth successive recipro- cal tariff treaty of the type that does not stir Mr. Peek's enthusiasm—the pact with Sweden. Similar treaties have been signed with Cuba, Brazil, Belgium and Haiti. Negotiations are in progress with 13 other countries— Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Fin- land, France, Guatemala, Honduras, | Italy, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, | Salvador, Spain and Switzerland. g * ox % % | Washington is keeping a weather eye | on pending Anglo-German naval ne- | gotiations. If Hitler builds a big | fleet, repercussions in the United States are inevitable. The French and the Italians will build more ships. | That will compel the British, in turn, | | to expand their navy, and such a de- | velopment, if we adhere to the prin- | ciple of parity with John Bull, sooner | or later will require us to build up to | his new level. Japan is sure to follow | | suit. The “escalator” clause of the | 1930 London limitation treaty pro- | vides for just such contingencies as | the Nazi plans will precipitate. (Copyright. 1935.) et 1 Breakfast Nooks and Prices. | operation. his | contemplated action is lJawful or not! It should be in some way and some- how provided that the Supreme Court should determine the constitutional length, breadth and thickness of & bill before it becomes a law and not after it goes into operation. I suggest that Congress pass an act that will re- quire a declaratory or advisory opinion from the Supreme Court as to the| constitutionalityy of a pending bill. At/ what stage this should be done and by whom done—which constitutes the mechanics—can be worked out by our | legislators. There is nothing new, startling or radical in this suggestion. Such is the Jaw in Massachusetts and California and I think 30-odd States and Terri- | | tories of the United States, and may I add the precedent has been estab- lished of requiring advisory or declara-| tory opinions by the Supreme Court. I refer to the act of Congress of June 14, 1934, Legal caution and con- servatism have marked and ac- companied this comparatively new re- | form, but it is, nevertheless, now used almost everywhere. Contemplate, for & momenf, how much of money and time and effort and confusion and conflict would have been saved if the Supreme Court had passed on this law before it was put upon its final passaze instead of two years after it had been put into actual CHAS. A. DOUGLAS. Constitution the Basis Of the Best Government To the Editor of The Star: In the present crisis it would be well for all of us to think more and say less. Hasty thought leads to con- fusion and error. We have the best government in the world. Our Constitution. the bul- wark of our rights and liberties. has guided the United States from the small beginnings of a litile more than a hundred vears ago to the front rank of the nations of the world. No other in history has such a record. Through the perils of war. even civil war, it had come forth triumphant. The mistakes we have made were due to our neglect of its principles and to our failure to follow its in- structions. .We have had abundant reason to regret it. The Constitution protects the rights of the States as well as the liberty of the individual, the poorest citizen | | as well as the richest: the mosy power- | ful dare not trample on the the weakest. The duties of it defines: also those of the and the Supreme Court. N !can lawfully take over thej either of the other two. I 1s & check upon the aggrey others, each a balance toginsure the just action of the others. Nothing could be fingll than the spirit with which the pglss and the majority of citizens have owed to the decision of the Suprerg Court: no anarchy, no mob action fhere. in their acceptance of the calfiiback to the | Constitution and to t great prin- ciples of government it fihculcates. The wisest group of men t Nation ever produced deliberated @ng. gave the best of their talents fhd from their travail came this Corg#itution. which has been the admirafbon of the civ- ilized world and in e and war has kept the faith and adfhnced the pros- perity and security offfthe people. If, under the fearjibegotten by the late depression. the femergency.” we have left the bedrociflof our principles our Government s of “trial and tion up to greatmess; when called back now by the decision of the Supreme Court to the wisdom and safety of the Constitution, let us return to it, de- fend it and go forward with courage. overcoming obstacles no worse than we have conquered in former times. | JOHN RANDOLPH STOCKTON. | | ——— Let the Natural Forces Bring Back Prosperity To the Editor of The Star: Now that the N. R. A. and its at- tendant satellites have been junked, the taxpayers will effect a big sa ing in administration expenses, and business, relieved of oppressive arti- | ficial obstructions. will hasten the return to prosperity by the free play of natural forces. If we could only get rid of a few more of these ineffective, collegiate nostrums of alphabetical notoriety, it would be still better, for we have learned during the past two years that nature’s laws cannot be tam- pered with with impunity. The col- lege boys tried to improve on nature by putting over an economic stunt that didn't work. We played a dirty trick on nature when we started the game of land racketeering, and the depression we are passing through is well-deserved punishment. In the course of time | we may learn that gambling in the | resources of nature is against the public welfare and should be stopped | by making it as costly to hold val- | uable land idle as putting it to its best use. { | Henry George solved the problem in the only sane and practical man- | ner possible, by taking the annual | rental value of land for public ex- penses, excluding all other taxes. By this simple proposition is it surpris- | ing how many of our economic prob- | | lems will disappear, for most of them grow out of the land question. | E. B. SWINNEY, Los Angeles, Calif. —————— A Catch Somewhere. 1 Prom the Seattle Star. Families who will eventually want to send them through college are | Prom the Atianta Journal. | Prices of food have been advancing for so many months that we can now ait comfortably in & breakfast nook. connecti E given only the brighter babies to adopt, says humane society director. 1In this gridiron era, we can't see the | jon. 3 / | cent competition actuall | tee. | to do. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN: A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Washington Evening Star Infor- mation Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. Can any automobile driver compete in an Indianapolis Speedway | event?—D. S, A. The event is open cnly to A. A. A. registered drivers who have ac- quired sufficient experience on smaller tracks to warrant their entry in the Nation's outstanding classic. Entry there is beyond the average individual Q. How did the city of Danzig vote in regard to uniting with Ger- many?’—E. T. H. A." In oicer to make such a measure effective 2 two-thirds vote would be necessary. The vote was 59 to 41, s0 the motion was lostand Danzig re- | mains independent Q. Is the Evangeline oak still stand- ing in Louisiana?—L. L. B A. The American rorestry Associa- tion says that the Evangeline oak is still growing in- St. Martinville, La. There is no way of teliing the exact ! age of a tiee while it is still standing. | but it has been said that the tree was known to be therc as early as 1758, Q. Is Senator Norris & native of Nebraska’—S. V. B A. Senator George W Nebraska was born on Ohio, near Sandusky. of in Norris a farm Q. Will the winning text in the re- be engraved on the Mount Rushmore National Me- morial’—C. A A. This contest was not sponsored by the commission, :or is the com- mission bound to accept any inscrip- | tion selected by the Contest Commit- 1t 's probable ihat the winning inscriptions will be submitted to the | commission for selection and possibly one may be accepted. Q. Who invented the mechanical hare for dog races?—V. L. A. Owen P, Smith, in 1920, Q. How many tank cars are there for use or American railroads’—E. W. A A. There are approximately 165,000 tank cars in the United States which are used for transportation Q. What causes black specks to ap- pear on siver>—G. B A. They are caused by the chem ical action of salt. Silver pollsh wi usually remove them. If eaten too deeply. a jeweler can remove them by using a buffer. Q. What are the bars attached to D. A. R. pins?—W. C. B. A. Each bar represents an ancestor i who rendered patriotic service to the country lution. during the American Revo- Q. Who was thus described, “Age cannot_wither her. nor custom stale her infinite variety 2 —F. A. Cleopatra is thus Shakespeare's “Antony patra.” described in and Cleo- is double damask?>— It 1= damask ground and the patterns eight-leaf satin weave, Q Why is Maine colder France, when both are in about same latitude’—H. T. A. Ocean currents are responsible. with both woven the in than the Most Americans b Of Hitler’s American pretty skeptical about Hitler's declara- editors generally are tion before the Reichstag that Ger- many only peace with her neighbors, but some feel that at least he clarified the European atmosphere by stating the Nazi obiectives. and others express the view that the world might well accept the speech at face value and go in for some real disarma- ment of all nations, including Ger- many. “Hitler insists he seeks only peace but continues to talk of obiectives that cannot be attained without war,” says the Los Angeles Times, and the Phila- delphia Inquirer suggests that “those who believe that Hitler is a sincere friend of peace should note the energy with which the German government is pursuing its conscription policy.” On the other hand. the Boston Transcript thinks that “declarations in the speech will go far to allay fear of German armament as a threat to peace in the immediate future.” and the St. Paul Daily News holds that “his proposals definitely rule out an early war in Europe.” “Germany wants no war,” agrees the Danbury News-Times, “but she wants her colonies back and wants this and wants that, which other na- tions do not wish her to have,” while the Buffalo Times, with some sarcasm, remarks: “As usual. everybody is out of step but Adolf. He is just an in- nocent peace-loving person, misunder- stood by all the rest of the world." The Minneapolis Star is of the opinion, however, that “his talk con- tains, at its face value, at least, great promise of peace, not so much in its wants | direct espousal of peace aims as in its candid and concrete presentation of what Germany wants and is willing to do.” “Shall the other powers accept his word?" asks the Portland Oregonian “As a matter of fact,” continues this paper. “there is nothing else for them The rearmament of*Germany is now under way and nothing will | stop it short of invasion. which Prance and Russia do not have the heart to carry out. Why not, for the sake of world peace, go a little way to meet the German leader?” A similar ques- tion is asked by the Portland Oregon Journal, which wants to know “What is the matter now with some real dis- armament agreed to by all nations, m- cluding Germany?” In the same vein, the Akron Beacon Journal is of the opinion that “if these professions were put to the proof by a sincere ef- fort on all sides to adopt measures that will really preserve the peace, there would be more tranquillity in Europe.” It seems to the Muskegon (Mich.) Chronicle that “the German position today is a crude cartoon of that of all the other powers in the world. including the United States— crude but in which the likeness is un- mistakable.” Difficulty is presented in the opin- ion of the Jamestown (N. Y.) Post in “te fact that Germany, under tuc Nazi regime, has violated the terms of the Versailles treaty.” A similar position is taken by uhe Cclumbus (Ohio) Citizen, which declstes: “It may be too bad. but Lhe fact is that people judge others by deeds rather than words. And Hitler's words foggy as they are, cannot becloud his acts of barbarism.” The Troy (N. Y. Record savs: “Perhaps he wants peace_ but he says nothing that ean be taken as a guaran.ce against war.” and the Miami (Fla.) Herald suspects that “the peace desired by 1s one that will concede jo that coun- “ Germany | There is a cold current from the north off the coast of Maine. while the Gulf Stream warms the coast of | France, Q. When was the term, circuit riders, applied to itinerant Methodist | preachers>—W. H. A. They were so mentioned by esley as early as 1766. | = | @ What city had the first sub- way?—R. A. A. London. ground railway | Kings Cross was w A two-track under- from Edgeware to begun in 1853, Q. How many Northern States had soldiers at the Battle of Gettysburg>— R. S, A. Citizen soldiery from 17 States fought on the Union side. Q. Why are berths made up on trains with the pillows toward the engine?—T. H. | A. Passengers feel less draft and faces and shoulders are better pro- tected from cinders. Q. How long did it take to build the White House?—T. M. A. It was begun in 1792 and com- pleted in 1799. John Adams was the first President to occupy it in 1800 There were still finishing touches to be added, and it was some time before the grounds were in order. Q. Was Henry CIR’Y a bachelor?— A. Henry Clay was married 1r Lucretia Hart. Q. In the history of the United States has there ever been issued an: paper money by our Government that was worthless’—H. A. A. The Government of the United States has never issued any paper money which proved worthless. The Continental currency issued during the Revolution fell very low, but ulti- mately was redeemed. Also, in 1865, the greenbacks fell to 35 cents to | the’ dollar, but returned to par. | ! Q. Is as much beer consumed in this countrv now as there was before prohibition?>—E. C. P. | A. Estimates that have been made recently show that the consumption of beer is increasing but not as much is being consumed now as was con- sumed before prohibition. Q. Are evolutionary changes now taking place living animals?>—J. P A. In general it may be said that evolutionary changes are taking place but so gradually among the living animals and plants that they are most imperceptible. A case in point is the little toe of human beings which seems to be gradually disappearing Q. What is the origin of memorial rings>—C. S A. In olden times it was the custom to bequeath memorial rings to one's friends, as is shown in many wills Richard II (1400, left a gold rin each of his nine executors. Shakw speare bequeathed rings to'a number of friends. Samuel Pepys wi memorial rings to friends. Followers of Charles 1, after his execution, wore memorial rings. some or name on them. and it lasted many teenth century h head of the deceased was forming a device used Q. When will the Pacific Interna- tional Exposition be held"—G. S A. This exposition. which includes A live stock show, will be held at Port- lagr':d Oreg., October 5 to October 12 1935, keptical Peace Gesture try every demand it may make en the world.” “The new German law eoncerning the make-up of the army and r10- viding for universal conscription of men and women in case of war seemed to some British leaders to be- lie the calm address of the Realms- leader, with its suggestions for gen eral armament.” declares the Tennessean. They are in position to eriticize Hitler if he talks peace and arms while do- ing it. The allies have in the vears since the World War, followed exactly that policy. and in adopting it Hitier is merely taking their rue” The Sacramento Bee and the Chicagn Journal of Commerce take much the same point of view, *he latter being of the opinion that Hitler might rightly ask the Leagie “what its mem- bers have been doing all these vears since the War to conserve peace and to make war less brutal.” The hopeful part of Hitler's speech in the opinion of the Milwpukee Jour- nal. comes from the fa~t that “he finds it necessary to appeal to the rest of the world.” and the San Jose Mercury Herald echoes this in the statement that “this declaration 1s convincing evidence that the ideals and principles of the League of Nations are becoming rooted in Burop2an consciousness " Hitler discovered, adds this paper, that “a challenge (f these principles and ideals aroused every nation in Europe.” The San Francisco Chronicle, how- ever, “would be surer of the claims and disclaimers of the sprech if one were surer of the stability of Der Fuehrer himself.” o No Student of History, From the San Antonio Evening News, Hitler has learned nothing from either Bonaparte or Hohenzollern but which would he prefer as a home, St. Helena or Doorn? Explained at Last. Prom the Danville (111} Commercial-News We understand now why restaurants call it strawberry shortcake. It's short of strawberries A Rh;/me at Tfii—ght \ By Gertrude Brooke Hamilton On to the Wedding Eager hands at last release her, And in laughter soft and low All her bridesmaids cluster 'round her— Is she ready now to go? Poised before her girlhood mirror, Orange blossoms on her brow, In her arms a sheath of lilies, She would be alone just now. They must leave her for a minute, They must go and close the door. Silently she sees them vanish E'er she kneels upon the floor, E'er she bends to kiss her mirror— My own looking-glass, good-by; Good-by wonderland of childhood “Little girl, don't cry, don't e At the door her bridesmaids call her In the garden near the arch He is waiting for her coming Ax musicians start the march, To her place the music draws her; Now her feet move with the tune— And the throng within the gardens See a radiant bride of June. A