Evening Star Newspaper, October 18, 1935, Page 10

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY ......ccc0.....October 18, 1935 THEODORE W. NOYES...........Editor SRt et et ol e o IR The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Business Office: 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd St. Chicago Office: Lake Michigan Building. European Office: 14 Regent St.. London. England. Rate by Carrier Within the City. Regular Edition. 45¢ per month i Siirdsy Biar .“:‘ o 60c per month 65¢ per month B¢ per copy Night Final Edition. izht Pinal and Sunday Sta! 1 Star Tre Evening The Eveni o lruid 70c per month 55¢ per month af the each month. be sent by mail or telephone Na- tional 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. : 1 mo. 850 $6.00; 1 mo.. 50c $4.00; 1 'mo.. 40c Bqfly and Su aily only Sunday onl: ‘Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein. Al “Fights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. Anglo-French Cri Crisis succeeds crisis with stagger- dng confusion in the Italo-Ethiopian conflict. A few days ago it was the grave situation at Geneva, resultant from differences over sanctions, that threatened League solidarity in plans to thwart Mussolini. Then Anglo- Ttalian tension in the Mediterranean clouded European skies, as it still does. Now comes a violent clash between British and French policy, rivaling in bitterness the celebrated controversy over Fashoda, which brought Britain and France tc the brink of war, in the days before the entente cordiale. Only Il Ducc can view with equanimity the squabble agitating the two leading League powers, though he doubtless recognizes that it can only postpone the day of reckoning for him. lcndon and Paris are at loggerheads over Premier Laval's reluctance to vield to Britain's demand for the assistance of the French if there is an Italian attack, on the British fleet in the Mediter- ranean. What is particularly asked 1s that French dockyards be placed at the disposal of British ships. of Prench war vessels stressed. London insists it upon France only to do her duty under the covenant, now that the League has declared Italy an aggressor subject to sanctions. As the hour for punitive measures ap- proaches, with mounting evidence that the burden of enforcing them will rest on its fleet, Britain requires a yes or no enswer from the French. France, caught between the two fires of her loyalty to the League and her fear of alienating Italian friendship, hesitates. She de- mands that Britain give binding pledges of reciprocity—that if France goes to her aid in the Mediterranean, the British will come to France's affi in the event of certain aggressive developments in Europe. London interprets French hes- itation as a pro-Italian trend, intolerable under present circumstances. Along with it, the British discern a hostile “per- fidious Albion” tone crystallizing in French public opinion, for inspiring which they are inclined to hold the Quai d'Orsay responsible. The net result is an atmosphere highly charged with ex- plosiveness on both sides of the Channel. France perpetually and incorrigibly has the German menace on her eastern frontier in mind. Hence, her difficulty of choosing between Britain and Italy. If she casts her lot against Mussolini end goes to full lengths with Britain in suppressing him, she fears the time may come when she would face a hostile Nazi Reich allied with Italy. If she repudiates Britain France must reckon not only upon confronting Hitler with lukewarm and inadequate Italian support, but per- haps even an Anglo-German combina- tion, of which there have recently been hints. M. Laval's dilemma is thus immense and perplexing. He is dealing with a strongly anti-war-minded France in no mood to be drawn into a European con- flagration as a pawn in Britain's deter- mination to be supreme in the Mediter- ranean. France's answer to London is due during the next few*hours. On its tenor may once again well depend the issue of war or peace in Europe, which for the moment transcends the fate of Ethiopia and Italian aggression there. ‘The powder barrel needs only a spark to set alight a blaze almost too terrible to envision. apparently not is calling — Whistles for Speeders. A court official at White Plains, N. Y., offers a suggestion for the cure of the speed habit that is the cause of the majority of motor accidents. He pro- poses that whistles be so attached to the cars that they will blow when the speed rises above a certain point, say foriy-five or fifty miles an hour. He thus expresses the idea: “Put & whistle on them, like my wife has on her tea kettle to let her know when the water’s boiling. It would serve as a warning to the dn}ver who forgets himself and would also warn others on the road against a speeding driver.” It sounds plausible, but it may be feared that it would not work. At any rate not sufficiently to cure the real speed fiends, who not only know when they are going faster than they should, " but seek that speed purposely. The driver who unconsciously runs his car up to dangerous speed might be checked by the tooting of a whistle of reminder. And yet it would have to be a pretty loud whistle to strike his attention, what with the ordinary noise of the motor and the clash of traffic. A sharper penalty than a bit of din In the ear is needed to cure the speeder; that is to say, the chronic speeder, who regards traffic rules as merely something to ignore. He is not himself afraid of speed. He believes that he is capable of managing a car at forty-five or fifty miles an hour in city traffic and at a A THE EVENING. STAR, higher rate.on the country road. And.' moreover, he likes to speed. There is nothing unconscious about it. The motorist who is temperamentally incapable of obeying the regulations in respect. to lights, the rights of others on the road and the speed limits should not be permitted to drive. His discovery through repeated arrests for improper driving should result in his elimination through revocation of license. For sooner or later, with that vicious habit of speed, he will do irreparable damage to others. And then it will be too late to apply an adequate penalty. ———. The Federalists. Governor George H. Earle of Pennsyl- vania, who rode into office last Fall as a supporter of President Roosevelt, is an ardent protagonist of an amendment to the Constitution. The amendment would legalize such New Deal acts as the N. R. A, now defunct; the Guffey coal act and others of the same galaxy. Governor Earle is far more outspoken in regard to this matter than is the titular head of his party. He did not, however, in his recent address on the Constitution be- fore the Herald-Tribune Forum, state in specific terms the amendment which he believed should be adopted. The Pennsylvania Governor's address made one thing clear at least, provided, | of course, his views represent fairly the position of the Roosevelt New Deal. It is that Federal control, instead of State control, of things economic and social must be had. The Governor talked of “wage slavery,” which he said exists | undér the Constitution as it stands to- day. A decision of the Supreme Court of the United States holding invalid the Guiley coal act, he said, would be “as unspeakable a misinterpretation of the Constitution” as the Dred Scott de- cision, which interpreted the Consti- tution as permitting “chattel slavery.” And he adaed that if the Constitution Co-operation | be so interpreted as to make it impos- | sihle for the Federal Government to insure labor the right of collective bar- gaming under the Wagner act, “then the Constitution will have to be | amended.” It is in vain that those who believe in the sanctity of home rule and State government point out tg such New Deal- ers as Governor Earle that the remedy ligs in the hands of the States them- if they wish to improve social and economic conditions by law. Gov- erncr Earle is of those who believe that the Federal Government must tackle the job, despite the fact that many, indeed all of the States, have laws of their own to improve the conditions ! of labor and to better social conditions. The Federal issue is therefore presented | to the voters provided Governor Earle's party chief, President Roosevelt, is will- | ing to advocate it. If it wins, the country will see a centralized Government in Washington such as has not yet been dreamed of as possible. Governor Earle argues at length about the right of the American people to amend their Con- stitution. Surely, no one in his right | senses would deny that right. It is a | right that has been exercised in the past. The one amendment made by the people | which they later rejected was the eight- eenth. Governor Earle might consider this. For that amendment gave to the Federal Government absolute control over the liquor traffic. It was argued before the adoption of the eighteenth amendment that it was necessary to put the Federal Government in complete control, since the States were unable to do the job. When Federal control was in vqgue there was a revulsion of feeling. “I do not be- lieve,” said Governor Earle, “that the aca- demic right of a State to authority which it cannot exercise should be permitted to prevent the Federal Government from acting on a national scale for the na- tional good.” This federalist doctrine comes with a strange sound from sc-called Democratic lips. Is the 'New Deal party to become, in effect, the federalist party? Or has it already become so? Opponents of a great concentration of power in the Federal Government over all the concerns of the American people are not in favor of “wage slavery.” They are, however, opposed to a great bureau- cracy in Washington, dealing with wages and other matters of vital concern to the people, a bureaucracy that once it is established may become a slave driver. —— e As Winter comes something may be done to keep the old Blue Eagle from looking as homeless as a snowbird, R Art in the Mall. One of the topics for consideration by the National Capital Park and Plan- ning Commission, which is meeting to- day and tomorrow, is that of the place- ment of the gallery to be donated to the Nation by Andrew W. Mellon to house his rich collection of paintings. A site is quite definitely in view and its formal designation is likely to be made by the commission. It is the space of the Mall oppasite the Labor-Interstate Commerce Building, now occupied by greenhouses of the Department of Agriculture, It is a logical site, appropriate in that it lies virtually adjacent to the National Museum, which houses the present National Gallery of Art, for which a permament adequate home is proposed for placement in the sbace lying be- tween the present structure and that on which it is now planned to erect to ac- commodate the Mellon collection. Thus if this contemplated site is determined upon and definitely approved by Con- gress, the assent of which will be requisite, there will be in prespect for early consummation a group of art cen- ters unsurpassed,”if indeed equaled, in the world. It will includé within & nar- row compass the truly National Gallery maintained by the Government, the Mellon Gallery with its richest of art works, the Freer Gallery, a gem of rare quality as to both housing and contents, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, notable as a permanent collection and as the scene of the biennial exhibition of con- temporary art. This grouping is so definitely desirable that there should be no question of its | selves consummation. Mr. Mellon’s gift to the Nation, structure and collection, should be placed with regard for its own dignity as well as for the public convenience of access. It will not constitute & “na- tional gallery” such as has been already established and is at present unsuitably and inconveniently housed in the Museum, a collection which, when space is afforded, will have a high value as a contributién to American history. ‘The use of the Mall for the piacement of such establishments as scientific in- stitutions and galleries of art is in'no wise contrary to the spirit of Capital making which has produced the Wash- ington of large parks and open spaces. It is unfortunate that an intrusion upon the park area for purely administrative uses occurred more than half a century ago, when the first home of the then Bureau of Agriculture —afterward ex- panded into a “Department” — was erected within the Mall lines, an error unwisely perpetuated when the perma- nent home of that Department was erected. When the then so-called five-square site for Government construction at the west end of the Mall-Avenue triangle was acquired it was proposed to build thereon three separate structures for as many _Government units. That quickly proving unsuitable because of inadequate space, the suggestion was advanced to place one of the three department buildings on the park area, to the south. That was vigorously and successfully resisted on the ground that further trespass upon the Mall for departmental uses would endanger its integrity as a park. Later developments proved the wisdom of the final choice of another site and the ulti- mate utilization of other land than the triangle and the Mall for these public- service housings. ‘To the assemblage in the Mall of scien- tific and cultural establishments such as the Smithsonian and its branches, the Freer Gallery and now the national gal- lery, which for immediate identification must be known by the name of the donor, there can and will be no objections in the light of the general trend of park development. Rather, indeed, is it to be heartily approved in the interest of a balanced, systematic and harmonious Capital evolution. ——————— As the processes of natural selection, survival of the fittest and other great natural programs go on, the mysterious intention to make humanity happy by making everybody miserable continuous- ly asserts itself. x B ‘Whnen Woodrow Wilson was credited with a determination to keep us out of war, he uttered one of the slogans which, tholigh inefTectual at the moment, comes | up atter the lapse of years for an encore. - Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Remorse. You didn’ show forbearance an’ you didn’ act polite When Summer was a lingerin’ ‘round de door. You blamed her in de mornin’ an’ you scoided in de night, Till I reckon she ain’ comin’ 'round no more. She seemed to wish you'd smile at her an’ ax her foh to stay An’ help revive de blossoms ‘round about. But nobody seems to like her, so I guess she’s on her way 'Cause she knows dat she has wore her welcome out. Oh, you'll miss de sunny welcome dat de mornin’ used to bring; An’ you'll miss de big bouquets she used to make An’ de songs she used to teach de birds out yonder foh to sing, ‘Where de trees begin to shiver and to shake. When de Winter comes a shoutin’ where her voice was soft and low An’ a stompin’ where her footstep was s0 light You'll be grievin' an’ complainin’ foh de days so long ago— An’ I reckon maybe it will serve you right. Encouragement. “Your speeches have the right ring to them,” said the admiring constituent. “You think so?” asked Senator Sor- ghum. “Yes, sir. You keep on practicin’ and you’ll get somethin’ that'll do for a regu- lar lecture.” 3 Jud Tunkins says that as a rule he wouldn't object so much to seeing a man play the piano if he could keep from watching the expression of his face. Strange Collection. ‘The family album is a book ‘Where any visitor may look And see our grandsires decked with care In curious clothes and startling hair. Self-Sacrifice. “De man dat reaches foh de biggest of everything,” said Philosopher Sam, “allus gets left.” “All right,” replied Mr. Erastus Pinkley, “T'll take de worst of it. You kin hab dis small cucumber an’ I'll take de big water- melon.” The Busy Lexicon. ‘The lexicon contains, we know, Of words a vast array. Men like to place them in a row And see what they will say. And unto them the human race Owes most of what it has, As some march forth at solemn pace And others romp in jazz. And though they move through joy or care, And strive to do their best, They never quite get anywhere ‘That gives the mind a rest. “By de time you's old enough,” said TUncle Eben, “to tell de diff’rence between & broken heart an’ disappointed vanity, you's old enough to realize dat it doesn’ make much diff’rence, nohow.” ) WASHINGTON, D. C. Pedestrians Victims of Deadly Discrimination ‘To the Bditor of The Star: ‘Theoretically, every law-abiding citi- zen of the United States has exactly the same rights as any other one. Prac- tically, however (at least here in the Capital of “the. greatest nation on earth”), citizens who drive automobiles have rights which are clearly defined and fully enforced, while citizens who walk must either wait for the rare oc- casions when no automobile is near or cross the street at the risk of their lives. ‘We walkers (most of whose first names appear to be Jay) are solemnly admon- ished to “follow the lights and avoid danger.” (Pardon me if I smile) I once stood on the southeast corner of Fourteenth and G streets while the lights made three complete changes before the solid stream of right-hand and left-hand turning autos gave me a chance to cross. Waiting for one or two changes of lights is quite a common experience. Is not the citizen who walks entitled to an opportunity to cross a street with- out being endangered by an automobile coming from any direction? If not, why not? Now, we are told that pedestrians must be protected against themselves, and are threatened with arrests and fines for “jay-walking"—that is, using our com- mon sense and crossing between inter- sections instead of at them. Between intersections traffic moves in only two directions; at intersections it moves every which way. How about the loading platforms if this proposed rule goes into effect? The platforms on Fourteenth street between G street and New York avenue are in the middle of the block, and can only be reached by crossing part of the street. Autos pay no attention to people going to or coming from these platforms, and I once waited until five street cars which I could have used had gone along before there was a crack that I could jump through and catch the sixth car. ‘There are unquestionably more peo- ple in Washington who walk than drive autos, but the larger number gets very much less consideration, except in the amount of criticism ladled out. We get more than enough of that. Commis- sioners, traffic officials and traffic cops all seem vitally interested in the speci- ally-privileged class of auto drivers, and have little, if any, interest in those whom they contemptuously call “jay-walkers.” There will not be that justice and equality to which all American citizens are entitled until some plan is adopted which will give to every one who walks a time and an opportunity to cross a street without being killed or injured by an automobile. “Actions,” says the proverb, “speak louder than words,” and untii they have made proper provision for the safety of pedestrians the traffic authorities of Washington are continu- ally proclaiming as their policy, “Keep the auto traffic moving, let the ‘jay- walkers' fall as they may.” SAMUEL A. THOMPSON. Less Milk Consumed Since Repeal Was Voted To the Editor of The Star: Since repeal of the eighteenth amend- ment a Government survey finds that in 59 leading cities of the United States there has been a decrease of 27 per cent in the consumption of milk. This in spite of the fact that there are several million more babies to feed. In the State of New York this decrease amounts to approximately 6.000.000 quarts per month. To produce this 6,000,- 000 quarts of milk per month requires 25,000 cows. If these cows were strung out in line along a highway, allowing 10 feet per cow, they would cover 47': miles of road and if they were milked by hand it would take about 1,000 men to milk and care for them and 100 two-ton trucks, not counting weight of containers, with 100 men to haul the milk to market in 5,000 10-gallon cans. P At 20 cents per gallon this decrease in the consumption of milk in New York means a cash loss to the farmers of $3.650,000 per year. It requires about 10 times as much grain to feed these cows as is used in pro- ducing the same quantity of beer, and for grain fed to his livestock the farmer realizes twice as much as for grain sold on the open market. The brewer gets, relatively, four times as much for his beer, an artificial product with no food value, as the farmer gets for his milk, a natural product with the greatest food value of anything the Lord has created. Of course, New York is an exceptional State, in point of population, but divide these figures by 2 and multiple by 48 and you will arrive at approximately the loss repeal means to the dairy industry of the farmers in the United States. And this is not all, for the man who drinks beer and so cannot buy milk for his babies, cannot buy bread or meat or shoes or clothing or pay his rent, and his family must go on charity for sup- port. The near three billion dollars spent for booze in 1934, if used in normal channels, would go a long way toward relieving de- pression and reducing taxes. CHAS. M. PIDGEON. o Juslice as Defined by Graven Inscriptions To the Editor of The Star: “Equal justice under law” is the work of the chiseler (in stone) high above the front door of the new building erected for the United States Supreme Court. This adds on public edifices to the nu- merous’ production of sloganeers or makers of ponderous aphorisms calcu- lated to catch the eye and soak into the consciousness of Uncle Sam’s quite nu- merous family. Analysis of the wording brings forth a question as to whether there would be any justice at all in “unequal” justice. If not, “equal” seems redundant. Further, can there be any justice under unjust law? Is there no unjust law? This raises further questions: What is law? What is justice? The whole doctrine of law has been reduced to three principles: “That we should live honestly, should hurt nobody and should render every one his due.” ‘These constitute the law of nature, which has origin in the God of the universe. And Sir Willlam Blackstone has said that alongside of the pronouncements of the Almighty, no contrary human laws ‘are of any validity. Judgments founded upon valid laws must be true and righteous altogether to mete out that justice which is deeply imbedded in the soul and the conscience of man. Perhaps a revelation of the justiee above the front door is found in the lettering on the rear of this new edifice. High above the back door is chiseled in stone these words: “Justice, the guardian of liberty.” circumscribed by the law of the Constitution, by acts of Congress made in pursuance thereof, by treaties made with other nations (these three constituting the “supreme law jof the land”), yet mindful that the dommon law of England is the basis for American jurisprudence, we read again the front- door promise and the back-door inter- pretation, and may have faith that our highest court ever will strive to establish Justice, so far as humanly attainable, out this broad land for all the inhabitants thereof. JOSEPH W.CHEYNEY. { FRIDAY, OCTOBER - 18, 1935. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. Further acquaintance with the mosaic Gourami, one of the best of the newer introductions to the home aquarium, rates it higher than first thought. Beautiful, well behaved, intelligent, even humorous, is this Gourami, & mem- ber of the great bubble nest bullder family. At times it is a veritable clown. How can a fish be humorous? It is easily answered: By actions, of course, since it cannot speak. ‘There is a tropical fish called “clown fish,” but this name was given on nothing more than several large colored spots, which the namer thought resembled the colored balloons sometimes painted on clown costumes. Our Gouraml, on the other fin, is a true clown in its actions. Friendly to a degree he never hides himself in the plants, but swims right out in front where what he does can be seen easily and completely. LR One of his favorite humorous diver- sions is butting the rubber tube which carries compressed air down Lo an aerator stone, through which it is blown and thereby broken up into millions of little bubbles. Just why this tube should excite the attentions of the mosaic, or butterfly Gourami, as it had better been named, is hard to say, since few other fishes pay any attention to it at all. Our subject, however, finds real fun in ramming his shoulder, if a fish can be said to have such, against the tube. He does this with a swift flip of his entire body, which rapidly takes him about 3 inches away. Then he looks steadily at the tube, swims carefully near—and gives it another butt. Occasionally he does this with his snout, pushing the tube an inch or more out of line. It is not possible for even the most careful observer to say that the expres- sion of the fish’s face changes any. It would be interesting to say that, but it would not be true. What may be said is that the fish really seems pleased with his action. It can be imagined that the casual observer would find it difficult to join in this judgment. To him, no doubt, the fish would have exactly the same “look” one time as another. Even at feeding time, to such a person, there | would be no change whatever in the | fish face. It can be imagined, too, that the person who has spent many minutes watching fishes in the home aquarium may be able to find something there that the other has not. It is so. He often discovers changes in piscatorial faces one time from another. He would not say exactly that the fish's expression changes. It is more subtle. Perhaps the eves dilate | slightly or the fish holds its fins just a little more taut. 52 Better tank conditions uniformly reg- ister in the better “carriage” of the fishes. ‘This is noticed especially when a group of fishes are taken from a small tank and placed in a larger one. Invariably they look larger. | aquarium. TRACEWELL. It is a matter of more than mere appearance, however. ‘They are larger. ‘The greater amount of water per fish permits {hem to stretch themselves, as it were; their fins stand mére upright and the entire creature is greater in a very evident way. * % x ¥ Since the mosaic Gourami is an ac- commodating creature, these changes show up very plainly—if one happens to be a good piscatorial observer. Being a fish observer, of course, is something in itself. One might be a good observer of plays or of wrestling matches; one might excell at observing paintings and statuary and still be a lamentable failure at observing smatl fishes. Most persons, when they come up to an aquarium see it as a whole, and the fishes as incidental notes in the water. That, of course, is exactly the wrong’ way. The real piscatorial observer sees each fish, first of all, one by one, then he goes on to the aquarium as a composition. The fish, no matter how many are present, is the main thing. Each fish, in its turn. Thus the real observer is in ten times as good a position to know whether a fish changes, in any way, from moment to moment and from day to day, as the man or woman whose only interest is in the aquarium as a picture. * ¥ X X . Our mosaic Gourami really has a very | fine time in the average tank and that | is a feature which helps make him the | good fish he is, for it is something not | every fish displays. There are, unfortunately, many small animals called popularly “tropical fishes” which really have no places in small tanks. Many of them succumb, even under the best conditions, because they have not been acclimated and never will be acclimated. Yet they live long enough | for many persons to regard themselves as vastly clever at tank management. Then there are many more which, | though able to live in confinement, do not enjoy life. This is another case | where the observer must know his fishes before he can pronounce judgment. The fish out of place in a tank always shows it plainly enough to the educated eye. He lives, but he is not enjoying life The mosaic Gourami, on the other | hand, lives and enjoys living. His very method of swimming, at once | alert yet discriminating, shows this. At no time is he ill at ease. Always he seems to have some definite place in mind to swim to, although his journey may be no longer than $0 inches at the best. Yet he takes this tiny swim with real | gusto, so that it is a pleasure to watch him at it. It is impossible to catch him dissatis- fied. That is one factor which makes him well worth a place in the home He loves life, this fellow. So he is worthy of addition to any tank which is to be observed clqsely. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC'WILLIAM WILE. Our politicians are X-raying the recent Canadian elections in order to discover whether the results suggest anything, as far as 1936 is concerned. The in- triguing point is that Canadian voters, who ousted an administration in 1930 on the depression issue and installed a New Deal government, have now re- instated the old regime. Will history repeat itself here next year? That's the question.¢ The respective Canadian and American issues involved are, of course, not identical. But Canadians are like ourselves in so many things, with kindred economic problems, racial mix- tures and general political outlook, that men wonder if it may not come to pass that the U. 8. A. will do a year hence what Canada did this week, viz., return | to the allegiance it previously renounced, | and for the same reason—dissatisfac- tion with a New Deal. Republicans pro- fess to think such a prospect grows stronger every dayv. Democrats contend that Canada’s political somersault has about as much to do with what's going to happen in this country as the rainy season in Ethiopia. One thing occurred in the Dominion that's likely to find its counterpart on this side of the border —independent party movements proved a complete flop. k% Col. Edward M. House's recent radio talk is widely interpreted as an appeal to the United States to join the League of Nations, in order to make anti-Italian sanctions “100 per cent effective.” The broadcast recalls the proposal, once espoused by Woodrow Wilson’s war-time adviser, that this country should become “an associate member” of the League, in order to do its part on just such occa- sions as the present Tort to stop blood- shed in Africa. In view of the peril of Anglo-Italian conflict and general Euro- pean war, interest attaches to Col. House's revelation that President Wilson, foreseeing the World War, was arranging for a peace mission to Europe when the Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914. * X k% Assistant Attorney General Frank J. Wideman has just made an interesting record. In June, he argued the last case before the Supreme Court in its old quarters. It was the Sandy Fox suit, involving the Government’s right to tax Uncle Sam’s Indian wards, and affected many who have grown rich out of oil. The court decided for the Gov- ernment. The other day Mr. Wideman argued the first case heard by the Su- preme Court in its new quarters. It involved the question whether taxes on alimony are collectable from the husband or the wife. The Government holds that this time it is the man who should pay. Mr. Wideman, who heads the tax division of the Justice Department, has dealt with some 1,600 injunction suits relating to processing taxes. He is now supervising preparation of the brief in the Hoosac Mills case, which will pro- duce a Supreme Court decision as to the constitutionality of A. A. A. Another record chalked up by Attorney General Cummings’ able young assistant is that Wideman, who hails from Florida, has argued personally for the Government in every one of the Federal appellate courts of the Union, * ok ok x If Judge Robert E. Healy of the Se- curities and Exchange Commissionr ever wants to break into the movies, he should find an opening awaiting him either as understudy for or successor to Lewis Stone, dignified and popular character actor. At least, the judge and the Hollywood star look almost enough alike to be twins. Mr. Healy, before achieving a national reputation as general counsel of the Federal Trade Commission, was a judge of the United States Court of Customs Appeals and later a member of the Vermont Supreme Court bench. He is a native of the famed Revolutionary community of Bennington. “t ~ “Alumni” of the World War Industries Board have just been notified that the “chief.” Chairman Bernard M. Baruch, | has decided to hold another triennial | reunion of the group. It is scheduled for Armistice day in New York City. The merry get-togethers generally include a midday breakfast meeting and a dinner | at the home of Mr. Baruch, followed by a theater party and entertainment at which he is also host. Usually about a hundred survivors of 1917-18 days at Washington assemble for these orgies of reminiscence and a discussion of the state of the Union. * ok % x | Chairman Landis of the Securities and Exchange Commission made his Wash- ington oratorical debut this week in an off-the-record talk before the National Press Club. The youthful new keeper of the bulls and bears is a forceful and fluent speaker. He has an eloquent jaw which he juts out at psvchological mo- ments to emphasize important points Although “Jim” Landis has spent nearly | all his professional life in law class rooms, one gets the impression he would be an uncommonly effective figure in court, especially before a jury. * X X X ‘Washington political quarters note with interest Father Coughlin’s message to the New York Times, denying reports that he is going to wind up the National Union for Social Justice and support President Roosevelt. His organization, the broadcasting priest says. is intent upon increasing its membership during the coming year, particularly through radio campaigns in the West. “I am neither supporting President Roosevelt nor opposing him,” Father Coughlin states. “I am determined to support principles and not men. The major principle is the nationalization of credit.” * x % x Almost every day produces evidence that the Republicans plan to stress New Deal spending as their paramount issue. On October 21 Representative James W. Wadsworth, Republican, of New York, long an honorably mentioned G. O. P. presidential possibility, will speak at a National Economy League Manhattan luncheon meeting on the subject of “Who Pays for All This?” Col. Frank Knox, avowed Republican White House aspirant, will deliver a blast on the same subject under similar auspices at a big New York dinner in January. It prob- ably will mark the formal opening of the Chicago publisher’s pre-convention cam- paign in the East. * %k *x X American Legionnaires who recently fraternized with him in St. Louis gath- ered the impression that Gov. McNutt, Democrat, of Indiana, has a definite bee buzzing in his white-thatched and dis- tinguished-looking bonnet. For the mo- ment, it is a vice presidential bee, with on second place in case, for any reason not yet disclosed, “Jack” Garner decides not to aspire to repomination. If it is Roosevelt and Garner again in 36, the former Legion national com- mander’s comrades think the Hoosier will set his cap for first place in 1940, (Copyright. 1935.) A Rhyme at Twilight Gertrude BroBoyke Hamilton Toward Home The faces at the close of day In streams of homing cars Give their divergent thoughts away As dusk removes the bars. A banker has seraphic smile, A clerk jots numbers down, A merchant naps in the brief mile, A farmer stares at town. Turning from commerce in the dusk— | spot where the frost occurs. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS By Frederic J. Haskin. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Washing- ton Evening Star Information Burean, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washing- ton, D.C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. How many people in this coumtry are killed by accidents in the home? —R. M. A. Last year home accidents claimed 34,500 lives. Q. Whose idea was it to restore Strat- ford, the Lee home, as a national shrine? ~G. H. A. Mrs. Charles Lanier of Greenwich, Conn,, discovered in some family papers the manuscript of a speech made by Sidrey Lanier, the poet, on the death of Gen. Lee. In this he urged the establishment of a memorial, to which all who loved Lee might contribute. In this way Mrs. Lanier interested others in Stratford as a national shrine. The purchase and restoration has been un- dertaken by the Lee Memorial Founda- tion, Inc. The home is being purchased by gifts solicited by the public. The United Daughters of the Confederacy have assumed an obligation of $50,000. Q. How long has Addis Ababa been capital of Ethiopia?—F. M. A. Addis Ababa has been the capital only since 1896. Q. What did the City of Boston do with the money Benjamin Franklin left to it?—G. B. K. A. In a codicil to his will Benjamin Franklin gave to the town of Boston the sum of 1,000 pounds sterling. This was to accumulate for 100 years, at which time Franklin estimated that it would amount to £131,000. However, the total amount of the fund on July 1, 1891, was only $391.168.68 and the apportioned amount for the City of Boston was $322.490.20. Owing to litigation this increased to | $329,300.48 by January 17, 1894, when it was actually paid over. It was used for the erection and equipment of the Franklin Union. 41 Berkeley street, Boston, a trade school following Frank- lin’s ideas of practical education. The remainder of $102455.70 was put on in- terest and at last account (1933) the fund amounted to $570,572.64. On July 1, 1991, in accordance with the terms of the will, the principal will be divided without restrictions between the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts and the fund will then cease to exist, Q. Why are oysters taken on the Pacific Coast more expensive than oysters along the Atlantic Coast?—B. L. A. They have much higher market value than those on the Atlantic be- cause the demand on the Pacific Coast is greater than the supply. Q. When did the boll weevil first be- come a cotton pest in the United States? —R.L.C. A. It has been known in the cotton belt since 1892, when it first entered the United States from Mexico. Q. How long have bloodhounds been known?—A. R. A. The breed was known in Scotland as early as 1575, being said to have been introduced from Brittany. Q. How cold does it have to be for frost to form?—F. R. W. A. When frost forms the temperature s 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, at the The tem- perature a few feet above the surface of the earth, on still, clear mornings, often is several degrees higher than it is at the surface. Hence frost may occur on the grass and in low places when the temperature on a porch, for in- stance, is distinctly above the freezing point. Q. How did the style of type called italics originate?—T. O. A. It is said to have been an imitation of the handwriting of Petrarch. Q. What great composer has been called “the giant among players’?—M. B. A. Beethoven. Q. What is a banshee?—F. L. M. A. In Gaelic Ireland and Scotland, a banshee is a spirit said to warn, by weeping and wailing, of impending death, especially death by violence. Only | certain families are said to have a ban- shee, and only the kin or household of the doomed person may hear her. Q. When was polygamy abandoned in Turkey?—O. F. A. In 1924 Mustapha Kemal Pasha prohibited polygamy, abolished the harem and commanded the unveiling of women. Q. Did Robert Louis Stevenson's stepson collaborate with him in writing any stories?—A. R. A. Lloyd Osbourne collaborated with his stepfather in the writing of ““The ‘Wrong Box,” “The Wrecker,” and “Ebb Tide.” Q. Was Stonewall Jackson in the United States Army when the Civil War started?—G. T. A. He was a graduate of West Point, class of 1846, but had retired from the Army in 1851. He was a professor at the Virginia Military Institute. Q. Where was a person first electro- cuted for a crime in ihe United States? —S.D. A. In the State Prison at Auburn, N. Y, August 6, 1890. Q. How wide will the Florida Canal be—D. McC. A. The width of the Atlantic-Gulf Canal will extend for 3 miles out into the Atlantic and 16 miles out into the Gulf. Channels 1,000 feet wide will lead into the canal from lightsRips at these two extreme points. On -the inland waterway, along the beds of the rivers that are being utilized, the channel will be 400 feet wide, while through that small portion of the canal to be cut from rock and shale across the divide the passage will have a minimum width of 250 feet. Q. Was “Mademoiselle de Armen- tieres” composed during the World War? —T. W. A. The tune is derived from a sixteenth century folksong entitled “Die Drei Reiter.” Its words had their origin in an English Army ditty called “Skiboo.” which was popular about the time of the Franco-Prussian War. Q. How long has artificial leather been made?—T. W. A. Artificial leather has been made since 1850. Q. Who is Santa Lucia?—E. H. L. A. Santa Lucia or Saint Lucy was a Sicilian virgin martyr, popular in Sicily and Southern Italy, and commemorated daily in the canon of the mass. Her attributes are a lJamp, an awl, a sword or wound in the throat. T feast is cele- brated on December I3. !