Evening Star Newspaper, May 9, 1937, Page 32

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Editien. WASHINGTON, D, C. May 9, 1937 -. Editor THEODORE W. NOYES._. The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 11th St and pennsvivants Ave New York Office: 110 East 42nd 8t. Chicazo ce. 435 North Michizan Ave. Rate by Carrier—City and Suburban. Regulsr .‘l“.l. ‘The Evening and Sunday ® A0Cg8e ber month or 150 per week The Evening Star 45¢ per month or lDu per week The Sunday Elll o C per copy Night Final Edition, Night F'nal and Sundsy 8t B or it th d of e each week, Orders may DI sent h mail or tele- Phone National 5000 4 X Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance, Maryland and Virginia, aily “only Sunday only All Other B ay onl: Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press i3 exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to t or not otherwise credited in this aper and lltso the local news puhxnluz; mnhm ublication of special honm are lllo reserved, o8 N ates and Canada, nday. 1 yr. $12 ol f 1 yr.. $5.00; 1 mo. 80¢ The Imperial Conference. Coronation echoes will hardly have died down before London will be the scene of the business end of the glamor- ous events about to rivet the world's interest. Two dpays after George VI dons his crown, the prime ministers of the self-governing dominions and repre- sentatives of India and the colonies will assemble under Mr. Baldwin's chair- manship to consider the manifold prob- lems and interests of the empire on which the sun never sets. The confer- ence will symbolize, even more than events in Westminster Abbey, the solidar- ity of the British Commonwealth of Na- tions. Representing 400,000,000 subjects of the Crown, the conclave will be an impressive testimonial of the unity and power of the diverse community of peo- ples that flourishes within the folds of the Union Jack, The Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons epitomizes the spirit of the conference in significant terms. It is an occasion, he said in London at a ceremonial of greeting to the King, which will enable the empire “to guard against the strange creeds abroad in the world today.” Though such evidence is superfluous, the gathering of Britannia's clans will emphasize the altered aspect of the empire, contrasted with comparatively recent times. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have advanced to full sovereignty. India has been brought under a constitution which gives it virtual autonomy. 1Ireland, when it accepts the new De Valera constitution, will have substantially loosened the Bri{- ish tie, although Eire remains within the old framework, so far as external rela- tions are concerned. With single excep- tion of the London Privy Council's re- tention of final authority on legal and constitutional questions, the daughter states enjoy unalloyed freedom. They are in control of their own economic, taxa- tion, tariff, immigration, defense and diplomatic systems. With enactment of the statute of Westminster in 1931, their independence became weli-nigh absolute, ‘They will hold confab with the “mother country” as co-equals. Fiscal affairs will bulk largely in the proceedings. Whether or not the em- pire shall conclude commercial agree- ments with other countries as a unit, or whether these shall continue, as in the recent case of Canada and the United States, to be negotiated separately, will be debated. Conclusions on that subject may determine the fate of the currently proposed Anglo-American re- ciprocal trade pact. The vital issue of defense will receive important consid- eration. To what extent remote empire outposts like Australia, which stands in traditional fear of aggression by Japan, shell participate in upkeep of the British Navy is a matter involving delicate questions of policy. On the occasion of Edward VIII's abdication the British nations gave a striking demonstration of imperial harmony. The impending con- ference is destined to produce addi- tional proof of the durability of those invisible strands of sentiment and com- mon interest that make the far-flung ‘British realm one of history’s remarkable triumphs in the sphere of democratic government, of which it is now so solid & bulwark. ————— ‘Taxes must be faced and paid, but the method is demanding more careful study to prevent the subject from becoming one of delirious demonstration instead of a matter-of-fact custom. e Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day as a special date set -apart from all others in the calendar probably is an unnecessary occasion. The love of children for their parents is a ‘constant and not merely an intermittent -phenomenon. By nature it begins at ‘birth and continues forever. Filial devo- “tion is, in effect, an element in the uni- versal religion of the race. If ever it @tood in need of artificial stimulation, the fact ought to be concealed. A man or woman, boy or girl, requiring to be urged and educated to show affection to & maternal relative—the very source of life itself—would be less than human. ‘Few such individuals exist. . But the habit of celebrating the serv- Ices of mothers as a class is a de- "fensible custom. Indeed, there is some- 4hing essentially beautiful, noble and in- «spiring in the thought that once in each ‘yur the common devotion and respect "for mothers should have organized and nstitutional expression. The ceremonies «devised for the purpose are deeply im- ‘pressive in character. Also the personal ‘fribute which parallels them is com- Jmendable in its particular objective. In -8 letter written by an aged Quaker lady 1ong ago and still preserved among the “Heirlooms of her family these words .appear: “I like my sons and daughters -t0 like me, and I like to have them tell "mre 20.” The dear philosophy of pride 50 definitely phrased is a heart-warming 4 experience to add to any store of memories. Yet the usual point of view of the generality of mothers is even more en- gaging. Perhaps it may be summarized in the citation of another, somewhat more modern example of matriarchal opinion: “I care nothing about Mother's Day myself, but the young people find such pleasure in it that I always consent to act the part they assign te me. I would not disappoint them for worlds.” A certain interchange of love, then, is indicated in the perennial event. The- day provides opportunity for manifesta- tion of the basic principle of civilization —the principle of understanding, sym- pathy and appreciation which in numer- ous emergencies has been crudely but convineingly dramatized in the cry: “Women and children first!” Humanity is pledged to that conviction in all its dynamic implications. The helpful influ- ence of its faith demands no argument. An Ounce of Prevention. Lack of adequate regulations to pro- tect the Capital City against nuisance industries placed the Commissioners at a distinct disadvantage in dheir efforts to prevent erection and operation of a slaughter house in Northeast Wash- ington. A hearing Tuesday on the King bill— which would prevent the location of such industries in the District—now gives the Commissioners the opportunity to join forces effectively with the Rederal agencies already so much concerned over the threat to National Capital develop- ment contained in the siaughter house proposal. The Commissioners are acting in the best interests of the community in de- ciding to take full advantage of this opportunity and to add their testimony to that which will be given in favor of immediate enactment of the King bill. They will be joined by other spokesmen for the community and its local civic or- ganizations, anxious to prevent what qualified authortties have already pro- nounced to be a serious blunder, the adverse effects of which will be felt for years to come. The interests of the National Govern- ment and of the local community are closely joined in this effort to enact the King bill. For the Federal Government, creation of a blighted area in a sec- tion of the city where development has begun and where future development is planned, represents a lack of foresight that must be remedied now, and quickly, by proper legislation. For the commun- ity, the people who live here, are threat- ened with a variety of nuisances and their perpetuation for years to come unless the means are found of heading them off. The extent of pollution of the Ana- costia River, through drainage from the stockyards and pens—if not from the slaughter house itself—is a matter that ‘should concern the health authorities, both local and of the United States Public Health 8ervice. There seems to be some uncertainty over the extent of such ‘pollution. There should be no such uncertainty. It is amazing that at this time, when the people of the District have spent over a million dollars on a sewage treatment plant in order to end existing pollution of the Potomac and Federal authorities are studying means of ending other sources of river pollu- tion, there should be even a remote pos- sibility of adding another source of pol- lution to the Anacostia and Potomac. That possibility in itself is enough to demand searching investigation and re- port from competent health authorities. Possibilities of pollution and other forms of nuisances, however, are not as important in themselves as the obvious fact that slaughter house or any other nuisance industry should be kept out- side the District of Columbia. The foothold gained by the present proposal for a slaughter house rests in the flimsy argument that the slgughter house existed on the same site before. But because pigs once roamed Pennsyl- vania avenue, does it mean that their rights to Washington as a pig sty are forever established? There is no place within the narrow limits of ihe District for slaughter houses and the immediate protection of the King bill is essential for the prevention of a hideous mistake. ———————— Offhandling of an airplane always can be attributed to a neglect of conditions under which it sails. Whether cor- rectly or not, the figures do not remain behind to tell their own story accu- rately and clearly. Flying is still a mystery, demanding the most expert supervision for its successful accom- plishment. —_————————— Youth is trained for experiment in new methods of warfare with results which convey no assurance that the effect will be satisfactory. In the mean- time, old theories await consideration as to the management of the wealth we have already attained. A Metropolitan Incident. Sometimes supernormal gifts are em- barrassing to their possessors. Espe- cially such as ventriloquism, the power to “throw” the voice. One of these vocal gymnasts, carrying a zipper bag, was seen to open this. conveyor at & transfer station and a curious bystander peering within saw the figure of an infant. A plaintive wail sounded. The train came along, the man closed the bag and went aboard. The bystander, scenting a possible crime, rushed to a telephone and made a report to head- quarters, Detectives were speeded out to various points on the line. Presently one of them saw a man with a zipper bag alight. Accosted with a demand to open up for inspection, the man complied and produced a doll. He explained that he was on his way to fill a professional engagement and had merely been rehearsing. The detective ‘was skeptical, which every good detective should be in the presence of the un- usual. Nothing would do but that the suspect should prove his powers. He thereupon guve & dmondnuonon the L3 _THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, platform, to the bewilderment and the enjoyment of a rapidly growing crowd. The detective, convinced, released the ventriloquist, who fought his way through the crowd and boarded a bus. He was fortunate. A little more and he might have been mobbed. A crowd is always potentially dangerous, espe- cially when crime {5 suspected. Now the ventriloquist realizes that it is not al- together safc to perform in public. Just another bit of life in a big town, where excitement is always on tap. Popular Choice. It is a conventional fashion to make light of popular choice in things esthetic. The masses, it seems, are not competent, to judge for themselves. sional artists may be supposed to know enough about art to appraise contem- porary pictures. The canvases hung in the Fifteenth Biennial Exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery, which will be con- cluded today, represent the choice of & jury of painters. No layman was in- cluded in the panel. Such is the eminently defensible philosophy of discrimination followed by the trustees and directors of a great number of similar institutions. But the Corcoran governors are rather more liberal than the majority of their contemporaries. With an honorable in- stinct for fair play as well as a keen de- sire to understand the public reaction, they invite visitors to the show to ex- press their own predilections and preju- dices. The people, average men and wom- en, are inyited to vote for their favorite works as they see them on the gallery walls. And this year, as on frequent oc- casion in the past, the composition receiv- ing the so-called “popular prize” is a romantic effort—*Ballerina,” a ‘“pretty” conception executed by Feodor Zakharov, a Russian impressionist of the theoretical- ly conservative school. Logically, the verdict indicates that the masses have small patience with realism. Also, they prefer good to bad draftsman- ship, natural to imaginative form and color. They care nothing, apparently, for “the problems successfully worked out” for which painters as a class entertain such vast respect. It matters little, in their opinion, whether a task is easy or difficult. All that they care about is the result. It pleases them if it is graceful, quiet, peaceful in effect. Perhaps & psychological point is in- volved. The world, to the public, may be overcrowded with trouble. In art, then, the people commonly may desire retreat from the strife, sanctuary from the tur- moil. If that be true, the fact is signifi- cant. It reflects, possibly, an impulse of the soul of the race for beauty unmarred, verity undistorted, hope unbetrayed. ————————— Any method of paying indebtedness is gratefully studied by the taxpayers who are encouraged to look for a means of solving the expense without incurring an obligation to be met by the children who still demand play as well as admonition. ——————— Business will sound a joyous note in Maryland as new taxes are found for the same old subjects; & joyous note that holds many a reminder of ancient cheer and calls for the old enthusiasms along with the old regrets. In some respects Maryland deserves its ancient rating. ——oee Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Non-Interference. When you find a feller ready To perform the needed work With a heart that's true and steady And a hand that doesn't shirk, If you can't be of assistance As you see him persevere, Trying hard to make the distance, Well—at least don't interfere, When you find a man so clever That with him you long to go, You might copy his endeavor And attempt to steal the show. Do not be a trouble breeder; Let the track be clean and clear. If you cannot be a leader, Well—at least don't interfere. Knowledge. “Why don't you make a speech that will tell your constituents exactly what you think about this question?” “Because,” answered Senator Sorg- hum, “as yet I don’t know exactly what I think, and if I did know I don't know that I would want my constituents to know it.” “Youthful imagination,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “is like the pic- ture on yonder billboard. It gives pleas- ure even though no one can hope that life’s performance will reveal anything 80 resplendent.” Reporting Progress. 8o here we are! Though distant still Prom wishes we would fain fulfill. And yet we find on glancing back We've made some progress on the track That marks the course we must pursue To leave the false and reach the true. And 30 we find, with conscience clear, At least we've got from there to here. Jud Tunkins says admiration doesn't always mean envy. When you see a parachute jumper you admire his nerve but you don’t envy his intelligence. P Belief. “To succeed,” said the earnest youth, “s man must believe in himself.” “Yes,” answered Miss Cayenne, “but you mustn't be too credulous.” Prodigality. By Nature’s riches; never scant, We're taught to be extravagant. Why strive to paint the twilight sky And snare its glories, ere they fly? We let it fade without regret. ‘There will be others finer yet. “Dar’d be happier homes,” said Uncle Eben, “if a man could allus be as patient around de house as he 1s 'when he goes |3 Only profes- D. C Hopkins as the Partisan of the Unemployed BY OWEN L. SCOTT. Harry Hopkins is about to set an all- time record. Before July 1—within the span of four peace-time years—he will have spent $10,000,000,000. His plan is to add another $1,500,000,000 to that total in the next twelve months, clinch- ing the title. With that money Mr. Hopkins, as generalissimo of the Nation's relief forces, has performed stupendous tasks. At one time, back in 1934, he was pour- ing money into the pockets of nearly 7,000,000 American families. During that period he created 4,000,000 jobs. Today his job total is down near to 2,000,000, but expenditures still are figured in the billions. Thus his views on the subject of relief take on added interest. But first there are the figures that command attention. The 2,000,000 W. P. A, jobs provided by Harry Hopkins for about $2,000,000,000 a year cover only a fraction ‘of the cases getting public assistance in this year of recovery. Another 1,500,000 are receiving a dole from State and local governments. These are the so-called “unemploysbles” for whom the Federal Government assumes no responsibility. In addition, 1,750,000 are being helped each year by federally aided State pension plans, built up with- in the new social security program. This brings the total near to $,250,000. Add 800,000 farm families getting loans and grants from the Resettlement Ad- ministration, and the total of destitute families in this Nation receiving direct governmental assistance reaches 6,000, 000. At the very peak of the depression that total was under 7,000,000. * X K K Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor, finds that, during this period, 5,000,000 new jobs have opened within those corporations that report to hes. Many more millions of jobs have developed in industries for which the Government maintains no figures. In fact, the latest estimates of unemployment, made by Government experts for confidéntial use, show between six and seven million in- dividuals in this country able to work, and yet unable to find work. Relief of one kind or another, on the basis of officlal figures, must be going to nearly all of those families. It is against this background that Harry Hopkins, with the help of Presi- dent Roosevelt, is maneuvering just now to get an additional $1500,000,000 to provide jobs for fewer than 2,000,000 out of the 6,000,000 families still getting governmental assistance. The 4,000,000 other families will get along on slightly more than $1,000,000,000 from the Fed- eral, State and local governments. A maneuver is under way in Congress to cut to $1,000,000,000 the money to go to Mr. Hopkins in the new fiscal year beginning July 1. The W. P. A. ad- ministrator was asked whether he could get along on a billion. “I could,” he replied, “but I do not think that the unemployed can. When ever there is any trouble in this coun- try, some people think that the -way to fix it is to take it out of the hides of the people least able to give up what they have. That usually means the un- employed.” * K X ¥ Mr. Hopkins was asked what he meant by trouble. He replied: “Whenever there arises a need to save money, people get excited. They decide that something needs to be done. Then they decide that the way to do the saving is to take money away from the people who haven't anything. The feeling is that they probably will not yell so loud.” But what about W. P. A.? 1Is it re- flecting the pick-up in private employ- ment, which has been taking place in nearly every month for the past year? “We are entering the Summer period with between 700,000 and 800,000 fewer people employed by W. P. A. than one year ago at this time. Of that total, about 250,000 represent workers trans- ferred to the Resettlement Administra- tion. The last figure of W. P. A. rolls shows 2,081,593 employed. My judgment is that around 15000 a week will be dropped between now and July 1. That does not mean that only 15000 people will leave W. P. A, We have many more leaving, but we are replacing them from the relief rolls of the States. Approximately 350,000 are on local relief who are employable and eligible, but not employed by W. P. A.” But then is $1,500,000,000 going to be enough? “That depends on economic condi- tions,” Mr. Hopkins said. “You are projecting a figure substantially less than in the present fiscal year, when about $1,800,000,000 was expended. You .are assuming that the employment curve will continue upward in the next year and three months. Based on these as- sumptions, the $1,500,000,000 is enough.” *x X X % A growing demand is heard in Con- gress that States and cities should bear a larger part of the relief cost. Senator James F. Byrnes of South Carolina, lead- ing the economy bloc, says that $500,- 000,000 of the cost could be borne by localities. To which Mr. Hopkins replies: “Contrary to a lot of popular opinion, the cities and States are putting up very substantial sums of their own money. Back in 1933 they contributed $332,000,000 for relief purposes. They put up $810,000,000 in 1936 for the same purposes, exclusive of P. W. A. and social security, and are putting up sub- stantially more in 1937. “As a matter of fact, while Federal spending for relief has declined—de- creasing 15 per cent for the first three months of 1937—the cities and States have been spending more. Develop- ment of the social security program will cause this trend to continue. Old-age pensions are increasing every month faster than the total of people on general relief declines.” That led to a discussion of W. P. A, job costs and of the type of work given in return. “A W. P. A. job costs an average of between $780 and $800 of Federal money each year. The average wage is $53.92 a month. This compares with a cost of $1,200 for & boy in a C. C. C. camp. Re- cently, W. P. A, job costs have been going up slightly. The increase is due partly to increased living costs, and those costs will be a real problem if they continue to point upward.” * ok % X% What about the problem of finding skilled workers to help with projects? “We have fewer and fewer skilled workers each month. We will have to adjust our program accordingly. Still, we require that 95 out of every 100 work- ers on a project must come from the relief rolls. We think that the quality of work turned out.is improving all of the time.” There is a ‘widespread feeling that the Government is going ahead blindly in applying its relief policies. Nobody knows the actual total of unemployment. Estimates vary widely. With W. P. A, resettlement, social security and forty- eight or more State organizations in the relief field, the way is opened for duplication and overlapping. Apparently the whole relief picture is a hodge- podge of disorganization. 8o Mr. Hop- kins was asked what he thought about cemulo('.haunemployed *1 thipk it would be < MAY 9 desirable,” he ! 1937—PART TW A MOTHER’S INFLUENCE. BY THE RIGHT REV. JAMES E. FREEMAN, D. D, LL. D,D.C.L, BISHOP OF WASHINGTON. Some one has said, “Sow a thought and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny,” which implies that the primary thing in life, which determines its whole futurc course, is that which is involved in its early train- ing and conception of service. Some of us do not get our true estimate of life's higher values and our relation to them until we have reached maturity, with the result that we enter the race late, with a distinct handicap. In the great plan of things, what may we regard as the normal and proper place for germinating. and developing right conceptions of life? Surely it is the home; and the boy or girl best equipped to confront the world and to take a useful place in its scheme of things is the one who has received both inspiration and direction in the home life. One of the finest examples of this with: which we are familiar is the story of the early life of S8amuel, contained in the books that bear his name. Apart from the man himself, his mother, Hannah, is easily the most worthy and conspicuous figure in the narrative. Her name and her hymn of praise, contained in the second chapter of the first book of Samuel, have always been associated with the name of Mary the mother of Christ and her song of gratitude con- tained in the first chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. A comparison of the two inci- dents and of the two songs will repay the reader. Samuel has been called the “child of promise,” and his career is one of the most interesting and impressive in the Old Testament. Its early interest centers in the noble devotion of his mother and her deter- mination to shape and fashion his career and from childhood to dedicate him to the service of God. It might be well said of him that he was born to Ris office, for it was the influence that his mother exercised over him in early life that fixed and determined his whole course. As he had been the child of prayer, it was logical that he should be the man of service. It is consistent to say that Han- nah literally made it possible for Samuel to become the great judge and prophet of his people. Persistently, prayerfully, with an eye single to one end, she gave herself to the task of fitting her son for his future career. Fifty Years Ago In The Star In view of Andrew W. Mellon’s recent gift to the Nation of works of art and a B gallery to house them, Giving Art 0 witn an estimated value the Public. of $50,000,000, the fol- lowing in The Star of May 4, 1887, is of interest: “Even generosity has its fashions. Cor- nelius Vanderbilt set the Spring style for New York miflionaires when he gave Rosa Bonheur's ‘Horse Fair' to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mean- while Miss Wolfe's will has been so ! drawn as to convey her splendid collec- tion to the same institution, and her death gave the bequest effect. Now Judge Hilton, who, in spite of all the contests begun and threatened, is likely always to retain the lion's share of the estate of Alexander T. Stewart, comes forward with & gift of two of the most expensive works in the Stewart gallery. The Metropolitan Museum is in luck. It should improve its opportunities and cultivate the good will of other rich New Yorkers, so that none of them will be tempted to branch out in a new direction for the sake of leading the mode. There is Jay Gould, for example. Why should he not give something of value to the public, who have so often contributed to his enrichment? He has not founded any hospitals or reading rooms. endowed any colleges or built any libraries. He can, therefore, better afford a picture or two for a great popu- lar museum than some of his contem- porary millionaires who have spent a part of their wealth already in aiding and educating their fellow men. Let the good fashion be encouraged.” * * X The rails used in street railroading fifty years ago were a source of chronic s complaint by the public, T-Rails on Washington suffering Car Lines. from this nuisance along with other citles. The Star of May 7, 1886, says: “The movement for improved street car rails in New York and Brooklyn does not seem to make much headway in the State Legislature, and so far as the public can see that sleepiness seems to have overtaken the movement which is the forerunner of death by freezing. Nearly everybody knows that the T-rail 1s a nuisance and that the grooved rail is sure to be substituted at some time. But the railway companies everywhere are apparentily able through the re- sistance of inertia, and perhaps at times through the use of active measures, to postpone the improvement until the present rails wear out. And in the meanwhile all other vehicles than the street car suffer.” replied, “but there is a lot of loose thinking about it. Most people identify a census with relief. In my opinion, the same amount would be required for relief if the unemployment census showed 12,000,000 or 6,000,000. The reason for that is that we have the name, address, sex and occupation of every unemployed person in America who is in need. Our appropriations are not for the care of the unemployed, but for the care of the unemployed who are in need. We know who those people are and where they are and what they do and how old they are and what kind of work records they have and what their disabilities are. “We need a census for other reasons. It should be a continuing census, not one taken from the air one month and then forgotten. Other countries tie in this census with unemployment insurance and have a month-to-month record which is of value in determining Gov- ernment policies.” * X k% Harry Hopkins, in all of his discussions and all of his planning, regards himself as the partisan of the unemployed. One member of the cabinet recently re- marked privately that he has a “vested interest in destitution.” But there is no official in the Government whose views carry more weight with President Roose- velt. Even at this stage of recovery, with 1929 production records being broken, one out of every six American families is getting some form of dole from Government, Federal, State or local. The political power of this group 1s something with which each member of Congress must reckon. Under these circumstances, the voice of Harry Hopkins can take on the character of the master’s voice, particu~ larly when it is tuned with the White House. This suggests that the spending record already set up is due to be broken quickly by the present champion, : (Copyrisht, 1937.)° [ It reminds us of the influence that Susannah Wesley exercised over her great sons, John and Chades. This was graphically stated by one who said: “The dead hand of Susannah Wesley rings the church bell in every Methodist meei- ing house throughout the world.” Here again is the power and influence of the mother {llustrated. It was a like conse- cration on the part of the mother of Phillips Brooks that gave to us one of the greatest preachers America has known. Nothing is more tragic in our modern life than the indifference of those who are charged with the respon- sibilities of home life and child life to their sacred obligations. It is reason- able to say that where a man or woman miscarries in life, the defect is in nine cases out of ten directly traceable to the home. And again it is demonstrably true that where a man or a woman comes to a place of power and influence the inspiration as well as the genesis of their greatness may be traced to an ordered home and consecrated parents. The common expression which we hear in most homes is, “I am doing my best to give my child & good start in life.” What does this imply? In the main it may be taken to mean social prestige or advantage in material things. How many men and women today are entering spheres of service that call for unusual consecration or selfless living because they received their Inspiration as well as their direction under the family rooftree? It is widely stated that fewer men are entering the ministry because of the failure of parents to give direction and suggestion in early life. If it is true that no man is ever greater than his mother, then let us pray that, in this pregnant age, we are to have raised up a new type, or shall we say a better type than the old type, of consecrated, character-making, habit- forming mothers. That was a great tribute which George Griffith Fetter paid to his mother: “The noblest thoughts my soul can claim, The hollest words my tongue can frame, Unworthy are to praise the name More sacred than all other. An infant, when her love first came— A man, I find it just the same; Reverently I breathe her name, The blessed name of mother.” Capital Sidelights BY WILL P. KENNEDY. Just what the Army Medical Museum, at Seventh street and Independence ave- nue, the old B street southwest, offers of general interest to visitors is ex- plained by no less a personage than the surgeon general of the Army, Maj. Gen. Charles Reynolds. It was founded 72 years ago and is today the largest medical museum in the United States. There are two elements in the museum, one a collection of old relics that might be of interest to any one who might drop in there while sight-seeing. But the essen- tial value of the myseum lies in the pathological specimens of professional in- terest. They are very complete. The museum is a companion and comple- ment of the surgeon general's library. For example, if a doctor comes to Wash- ington to study a subject connected with the eye, in that library he can get every piece of literature ever written, at any time, in any language, in any country, of any consequence. Then he can cross the hallway to the museum and see the pathological specimens that he has been reading about in the registration of the opthalmological colleetion. In the same way with other matters relating to medi- cine. If one is studying the subject of pneumonia or of influenza, he can get all the literature in the library and go over to the museum, in the same build- ing, and see the specimens pertaining to that disease. So, Gen. Reynolds em- phasizes, “the value of the museum lies in its exhibition of human pathology, rather than in the ambulances and litters and such things that may attract lay visitors in Washington.” * x X % The Army has been making extensive studies of & new portable field cooking range which Maj. Gen. Henry Gibbins, the quartermaster general, reports to the House Appropriations Committee, has proved to be “very desirable for our pur- s.” The suggestion has been made that the Government should buy the patent rights to this particular stove for $150,000. But the Government cannot get 10 experimental ranges it desires for further tests for $5,000. The in- ventor was at Fort Benning on another matter, became interested in a portable gasoline stove the Army had developed, started experimenting, was given permis- sion to continue his tests at Fort Ben- ning. The new range has been tested and favorably reported upon by the Cavalry, the Field Artillery, the Signal Corps, the Infantry and the Air Corps. The Infantry tests were extensive and continued over several months. This range is equipped to use treated gaso- line, wood, coal and may be equipped for natural gas. Eventually the War De- partment, Gen. Gibbins said, would pro- vide 1,600 of these ranges for the Regular Army, and 2,000 for the National Guard —a total of 3,600. Gen. Gibbins told Congress that the Army had been try- ing since the war to develop a satisfac- tory fleld range. “There is no question but the Army needs a range of this type, and this is the best range developed to date.” X % % M. L. Meletio, one of the veteran Re- publican clerks in the House, who with- drew from a famous fish packing concern which his family have conducted for three generations to live close to legislation, is greatly envied these days by all the House pages—not because of his legis- lative lore, but because he has the niftiest pocketknife they ever saw. This knife was given to Meletio 35 years ago, is pearl-handled and looks as good as new, because he carries it in & chamois case. It packs away 15 widely varied instru- ments, such as scissors, tooth pick, ear spoon, comb, corkscrew, flle, saw, etc. ‘When that knife was made bottle open- ers and can openers were not as im- portant & part of & man’s equipment as they are today, so those utensils are missing from the Meletio knife-kit. * * k% The Army is in the horse-breeding business. It has 687 stallions, with 660 of them loaned out for breeding, 138 of them in Texas alone. Forty new ones are {0 be bought this year, at an average cost of $800. Brig. Gen. Augustus P. ‘Warfield of the quartermaster general's office says: ‘“Motor-conscious as the world is there will never be a time when the Army will not need horses. Since the breeding program was inaugurated last June 1, 206 stallions have been pur- chased, 255 donated and 82 produced at Army depots, and 126,000 foals produced. The Army is buying 3,762 horses this year and plans to buy 3,622 next year. Gen. Mahlin Craig, chief of staff, ex: plains that in the past 10 years the re- quirement in animals has been reduced from 43,657 to 24,850, a reduction of 43 per eent. 4 Protection for Civic Esthetic Values BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. There is a strong movement in Amer- ican cities for legislation which will give protection to esthetic values. With scanty exceptions existing laws dc not recognize such values as having any legal standing, and it has been only oy warping laws pertaining to police power and public health to fit particular cases that protection has been accorded against unsightly structures or unde- sirable uses of property. Americans cling to the old idea of English law that a man’s house is his castle and that the land he owns is his peculiar domain to do with as he pleases. The result has been that, over most of the country, esthetic values have been ignored. One may find an unscreened Junk yard next to a handsome church and there has been little to do about it. The attitude of the legislatures and, for the most part, of the courts has been that such problems should be attacked through education, civic pride, voluntary organization work and similar effort, but not through the medium of law. That may be all very well so far as some people are concerned—indeed, probably, so far as most people of given com- munities are concerned—but, it appears, there nearly always is some non-co-opera= tive, recalcitrant property owner who insists upon maintaining what is an esthetic nuisance, to the detriment of an entire neighborhood. It may be cited that most cities of any size now have zoning ordinances. But these are only partially effective They declare that certain sections shall be confined to residential use, that cer- tain types of trade or business can be carried on in certain sections and that manufacturing shall be carried on only in certain locations. This is a long step, but it falls far short of covering the case. Even in these zoning ordinances, the esthetic values are not controlling. ‘While it may be stated that a certain section shall be wholly residential, there often is nothing to govern what kind of residences shall be erected. Nothing can control the size of the house, what color it is painted, what material is employed or the manner of the landscap- ing about it. Theoretically, a man could erect a residential tent of unsightly ap- pearance on a lot in a residential district and still be within the ordinance. * % Xk X It is true that, in laying out suburban subdivisions of land, the exploiting owners have sought to restrict the cost of houses to a minimum which would rot permit huts or hovels to be built. Some attempts have been made to provide that designs shall conform to a general type as, for example, in an English village or a Colonial village. There has always been some doubt about the validity of these restrictions. When a man has bought and paid for a parcel of land and it is deeded to him in fee simple, it has proved difficult to get the courts to narrow the use to which he can put what is his land. In the case of a long= term lease, the matter is altered—the title has not passed. This difficulty is probably the chief reason why there now is pressure for legislation which would make restrictions binding. In Washington the Federal Govern- ment has established the National Com- mission of Fine Arts. No public edifice can be erected until the location and design have been passed upon by this commission. The jurisdiction extends even to small monuments, fountains, public garden ornaments and, to a con=- siderable extent, to landscaping. In practice, private builders of office build~ ings, stores, hotels and auditoriums have bespoken the good offices of the Fine Arts Commission in guiding their pro- posed designs, to the end that there shall be no conflict with the harmony of nearby public structures. It is the belief of the proponents of the plan for legislation that it is entiraly feasible for municipalities or other local governments to delegate definite, en- forcible powers to similar commissions, Where junk yards, lumber yards or other unsightly places already are in existence, it might be possible to resort to con= demnation proceedings, not necessarily against the property itself, but against the current use of the property. One cannot discuss such a program without reference to two great admin- istrators who, by unusual force of char acter, pushed through their civic beauti- fication schemes in the face of popular clamor. In 1864 Congress gave authority for the carrying out of the original plans of Major 'Enfant for the city of Washington. When Alexander R. Shep- herd became Governor of the District of Columbia he determined that the work should be done. While the streets had been fully charted by l'Enfant citizens had ignored the plan. Houses had been built on sites which were the middle of projected streets. The streets themselves meandered like cow paths. The Governor condemned rig and left and became so unpopular th: he was mobbed and hung in effigy. But he accomplished the task and a later generation erected a monument to him * oK koK At almost exactly the same time the Baron Haussmann became prefect of the Seine and undertook to improve Paris. His experience was similar to that of Governor Shepherd. He laid out the Bois de Boulogne. He cut through the gardens behind the Luxem- bourg to build the Boulevard de Sepas- topol and the Boulevard St. Michel. He drove a street right through a convent and an ancient cemetery. He razed houses and aroused fury. But when the work was done he had a monument in the shape of the Boulevard Haussmann In both cases the ruthless programs resulted in the creation of two of the most beautiful cities in the world. An example of how other laws are warped to meet the need of laws for the protection of beauty is found in a suit against the New York Highways Department brought by an outdoor bili- board company. The department had Jjust completed a highway through scenic country. The billboard company had erected a huge sign at a point where it obscured an unusually fine view. The sign was on private property and nothing under the existing laws could be done about it. Nothing, that is, save this bit of strategy. On the public right of way, bordering the road, the highway department planted a shrubbery screen 50 that no one could see the signboard. The signboard company brought a suit seeking to enjoin the highway depart- ment from maintaining the shrubbery screen. Helpless under the laws pro- tecting private property, the court nevertheless, was in sympathy with the esthetic side of the case. It refused the injunction under the trafic laws, which was assuredly stretching the matter. The court gravely held that the conspicuous sign had the effect of distracting the attention of motorists from the serious business of driving, and, therefore, constituted a traffic hazard. Incidentally, the court failed to note that the view, which was the real issue, pre= sumably would be just as great a dis- traction. It seems quite likely that, beginning with city ordinances and progressing, there gradually will be built up a code which will result in increasing the visual amenities of not only American cities, but of the eountryside, p L}