Evening Star Newspaper, July 15, 1937, Page 10

A--i)” THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Editien. The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 11th St and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd 8t. Onicago Office: 435 North Michigan Ave. Rate by Carrier—City and Suburban. Recular Edltien. Event) d Sunday Sta The EVening and By e or 156 per week The Kvening Star or 10c per week The Sunday Sta: . 5c per copy Night Fins) Edition. e e 0% B iers may be sent by mail oF telon Bhone National 5600, Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. only == Sunday .only_. $4.00; All Other States and Canada, Dally sng Sunday. L yr. $12.00; 1 mo.. $1,00 ily “only i1 E= $8.00: 1 mo., ~ 75c nday only__ooo_ 1 !r. $5.005 50c 1 mo: d08 ime Member of the Associated Press. ‘The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the ute for republication of all news alspatehes Gl’td“-ed to it or not otherwise credited in this per and aiso the local news published herein, cu rights of publication of special dispatches erein are also reserved. —_— Handwriting on the Wall. When President Roosevelt last Feb- ruary sent to the Congress his bill for the enlargement of the Supreme Court the comntry stood aghast. Resentment against this attempt to pack the high- est court in the land has mounted as the months have passed. Finally, convinced that this measure could not receive favorable action at the hands of a Sen- ate overwhelmingly Democratic, the ad- ministration consented to a *“compro- mise,” the substitute now pending be- fore the Senate. The edifice is the same. Only the front is changed. Is the President to insist further that this measure be passed? The Demo- cratic leader of the Senate, Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas, greatly beloved and respected by his colleagues, died suddenly yesterday as the battle over the substitute was going into its second week. The administration leaders have indi- cated that the contest is to go forward nothwithstanding the death of Robinson. Under whip and spur the measure is to be driven forward to passage. The handwriting is upon the wall, however. A victory by the administra- tion, if it is obtained, is likely to cost more than a defeat. No one, not even a Franklin D. Roosevelt, can create such & division, with its accompanying bitter- ness, in the ranks of any political party and benefit thereby. The President has been warned, not only by the Democrats in the Senate opposing this measure, but by the chairman of the Judiciary Com- mittee of the House, Representative Sumners of Texas. The time has come, if wiser counsel prevails, to drop this measure which has offended millions of Americans. There 13 no assurance today that it can be put through the Senate. Even before the death of Senator Robinson it was be- coming increasingly clear that the op- | position to the bill was gaining strength. The debate in the Senate has demon- strated that the ecompromise is merely the original proposal in another guise. Its purpose is to make the Supreme Court subservient to the executive and to the legislative branches of the Government. The administration has wrongly gauged the sentiment of the country. It has wrongly estimated its strength to compel the action of the Senate. There seems no graceful manner in which it can with- draw from the untenable position into which it has forced itself. Yet there must be & way out, if disaster is to be avoided. From the mere physical attributes of the situation, the task of the adminis- tration has become more difficult. With the passing of Senator Robinson, the Benate took an adjournment. This . ended the “legislative day” of July 6, a fiction of the Senate whereby it was " hoped by the administration leaders to . curtail debate on the compromise court . bill and bring a comparatively early vote. # For under the rules, as interpreted by the administration leaders, a Senator may speak only twice on the same subject in the same legislative day. When the Senate resumes business next Tuesday, following the funeral of Senator Robinson in Arkansas, a new legislative day will begin. Is it to be in- terrupted by the death of another Sena- tor, and the plans of the administration steam roller to be interfered with? Which of the Senators is to offer himself as a sacrifice? There is a principle involved in this struggle—a principle for which oppo- nents of the President's court program . have announced themselves as willing to go down fighting. On the other side is no principle, merely a desire. If the ad- ministration is wise, it will endeavor to read the handwriting on the wall. —_— e China and Japan were both anxious to learn something from this country of - our art and music, but after a few hear- ings evidently decided to make an . analysis of the sounds of war. —_— e Van Zeeland Carries On. Belgian Premier Van Zeeland may not have achieved any concrete objectives during his recent American visit, but the prestige attaching to the trip has evi- dently saved his job for him at Brussels. The young statesman, whose engaging personality made so favorable an im- pression in Washington, tendered his resignation to King Leopold on Tuesday, Its acceptance was immediately refused. M. Van Zeeland will carry on. A cabinet crisis had arisen because the Liberals objected to the participation of Minister of Justice de la Veleye in the Van Zeeland government in defiance of the party’s opposition. In repudiating M. de la Veleye, Liberals went the length of branding him a traitor for entering the cabinet without consultation with them. Despite the premier's stand against fascism in Belgium, as illustrated by his spectacular defeat of the Rexist leader, M. Degrelle, in a parliamentary by-election, the quality of M. Van Zee- land’s liberalism is apparently mis- ** trusted by those who wear that party < label. As the minister of justice joined the government at the premier’s invita- tion, Van Zeeland, in a spirit of loyalty, sought to. end the month-old crisis by himself leaving office. But for the in- ternational authority acquired as the re- sult of his selection by Great Britain and France to explore the possibilities of world agreement on economics, the pre- mier would not have survived the Brus- sels storm. It has ended with retire- ment of the minister around whom con- troversy raged. The pending amnesty bill for World War prisoners was another factor that complicated the political situation. Vet- erans and other groups bitterly oppose the government-sponsored measure, which would free those convicted of war- time treason. The King himself is said to have lost considerable popularity be- cause of his support of the proposal. While the premier was in the United States, Brussels was the scene of violent anti-amnesty riots. M. Van Zeeland's retention at the head of the Belgian government is a special cause for congratulation in distracted and troublous Europe at this juncture. He personifies the aspirations of Old World democracies for peace, disarma- ment and economic accord, not only among the larger powers, but also among the lesser states, compositely known as the Oslo group, of which he is the recog- nized and respected leader. His con- tinuance at the helm in Brussels is a wel- come augury at a critical moment. ——o—s. Extortion and Usury. The preposterous proposal that the Dis- trict be required to pay three per cent interest on Federal funds advanced to the District until the District's own tax revenues become available represents a new wrinkle in the ancient art of ex- tortion. Consider the facts: The unrepealed sixty-forty law of 1922 contained, as one of its provisions, the requirement that within a certain time the District be placed on a pay-as-you-go basis; that is, that the District meet its cash obliga- tions from its own funds. Up to the time of enactment of this law the Treasury had always advanced funds to meet appropriation obligations of the District, repaying itself out of District tax revenues as they became available. All the money belonged to the United States anyhow, whether de- rived from local or national taxation. The advance of Treasury funds was merely a bookkeeping transaction. Nevertheless, the new requirement for a cash operating basis was written into the sixty-forty law. The remainder of the sixty-forty law was ignored by Con- gress, but this requirement was retained. The District accumulated necessary surplus revenues to enable it to operate on a cash basis. The surplus funds slowly have been drained by reduction of the lump sum and by additional demands placed’on local revenues. The close of the past fiscal year found the District without funds. In the meantime, a tax-boosting revenue bill, which would raise the cash from new local taxes, is tied up in a knot. The District is “broke,” not through any fault of its own, not through any failure to pay taxes, but because of incredibly unfair, inefficient government by the ex- clusively responsible Congress of the United States. Because the District is now facing an emergency, the proposal is that the Treasury advance cash on a three per cent loan basis. What could be more unjust? Does the District receive any interest for the millions of dollars it places in the United States Treasury? Not one penny of interest! Are the people of the District in anywise re- sponsible for the present emergency? They have had nothing to do with it. Yet, because of congressional indiffer- ence and failure properly to function as the exclusive legislature for the District, the local taxpayers are asked to pay through the nose in higher taxes and then to borrow at three per cent the money‘they must pay in taxes. The excuse is offered that the House would not approve a simple provision authorizing the use of funds in the Treasury until the District government— which is merely a Federal agency for administering affairs of the District— collects local taxes and places the money in the Treasury. Well, let the House turn down the borrowing clause. Let the House make itself ridiculous in the eyes of the country by its own mismanagement of municipal affairs. Why should the people of the District pay a three per cent premium to obtain the money they must in any event pay through their taxes? Where, by the way, are the District Commissioners? They ought to be fight- ing tooth and nail against the imposi- tion of this harsh, unjust burden on the local taxpayers. They would have a more convincing argument to support their request for larger powers—such as the appointment of the Board of Educa- tion—if they gave more evidence of willingness to exercise them in the in- terest of the unrepresented taxpayers of the District. Paris hotel keepers complain of strikes, thereby showing an aptitude for econ- omy on a limited scale as well as for conferences of world scope. Sound Advice. Legal counsel for the Adolf Gobel corporation gives his client sound advice in warning that should construc- tion of the proposed slaughter house at Benning proceed as planned, at a cost of “hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps half a million,” the operations will be subject to constant criticism, in and out of Congress. It would be wiser for the corporation to abandon its plans now than to court this criticism. For the hearings on the King-Norton bill to ban nuisance industries from the District have shown the united opposi- tion to industries of this type—opposi=~ tion that has been voiced not only by municipal officials and officials of the Y THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1937. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Federal Government, but by & strong community protest. It is plain as day that the time has come when all indus- tries classified as nuisance industries, which include slaughter houses and ren- dering plants, must be kept out of the constantly decreasing area of the Na- tional Capital available for residential and park development. Adequate legislation protecting the National Capital against such industries should have been enacted years ago. It would have prevented many of the serious mistakes that Washington must continue to repent for many years to come. It has been asserted that the King-Norton bill was aimed specifically at the proposed Gobel operations. But the Gobel plans merely emphasized, and continue to emphasize, the importance of the needed protection, and prompt enactment of the bill would have saved the future complications now threat- ened by delay. Regardless of what the Gobel corpora- tion may decide to do, however, and regardless of the immediate fate of the King-Norton bill, this protective legis- lation is high on the “must” list of measures needed as guarantees of proper National Capital development. If it is not passed at this session, it will be revived in the next session. And it will be backed by the constant pressure of these who have the community’s inter- ests at heart until it becomes law. Some early day it will become law. ) ‘The monkey is a mischievous animal but he has shown no way of making the drudgery of taxpaying easier, despite his willingness to amuse. And there are moments when even the monkey seems to feel imposed upon. ——e—s As a Vice President, Mr. Garner has shown an agreeable willingness to say all that could be expected of him without seriously interfering with his status as a candidate who studied the issues that figured in his election. D ———— Soviet flyers receive all homage as they fly over this North American land. As the object in view is made known, it becomes seemingly very harmless and in accord with the normal human ambition for more speed, and a cordial reception. ——oe—s. Japan is supposed to be preparing for war against China. America has had competent students and it is not unrea- sonable to hope that some weighty words concerning peace will be said on both sides. o Boy Scouts had a good time and went home without being expected to linger on to discover the details that arise in connection with an airport. This in- formation will come up naturally as a part of future education. — e Time is necessary for any demonstra- tion and it may take a few years to show Jjust how much the suburbs developed by real estate and the Department of Agri- culture may be worth either as homes or as taxpaying assets. Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. 'A Burning Question. Of all human queries We're puzzled by one That leads the whole series: “Oh, what's to be done! ‘When the climate is torrid We struggle to shun The heat rays so horrid— But what's to be done? There are times when all knowledge Its limit has run. You can’t learn from college What is to be done. Of self each is ruler. Let’s laugh with the sun, Till his temper grows cooler— What else can be done? An Approval. “Do you approve of the classics?” “I do,” replied Senatqr Sorghum. “The classics should be studied, the same as campaign platforms. They have their improving influence, even if you don't manage to remember much of what was in ’em.” Jud Tunkins says he's saving up the fashion magazines so as to give his grandchildren a laugh at the expense of the present generation. Veracity. The weather man doth view the sky. His news is seldom good. He says, “I cannot tell a lie.” Sometimes we wish he would. Skill Recognized. “How is Josh getting ulong with the violin?” “Beter'n I expected,” replied Farmer Corntossel. “Time and again it sounds like it was goin’ to pieces, but Josh always has the luck to hold it together somehow.” Occasional Relief. “Why does Growcher's wife insist on his having his picture taken so often?” “The photographer is the only person she knows that has the nerve to ask him to wear a pleasant expression.” Unprotected. The flerce mosquito rudely goes Out of his way to bite ‘The girl who wears but scanty hose— Perhaps it serves her right. “A true friend,” said Uncle Eben, “is liable not to be near as keerful of yoh feelin’s as de man dat needs you in his business.” Curiosity and Longevity. From the Lowell Evening Leader. According to a biologist, nothing con- tributes so much toward longevity as curiosity about things. Just the same, there are circumstances in which it is wbu to take the ordinary precau- h _ N Camp Springs Not Too . Far for Airport Location To the Editor of The Star: A few years ago it was difficult to get a seat on an airliner from Washington to New York, and schedules were more frequent than they are today. In these few years we have done a good deal to make the public conscious of the dan- gers of the local airport. That is why today one can get a seat on an airliner at any time on a few moments’ notice, and he will find the ship only & third full. ‘With the prospect of having a monu- mental and thoroughly safe airport pro- vided by the Federal Government, the newspapers are now starting in to make the public conscious of the great dis- tance from the city to the airport. They make a great to-do about it in terms of mileage only, entirely neglecting the fact that an express highway is an in- tegral part of the plan, and never at- tempting to figure that with such layout the distance might easily become 15 mjnutes, which would be just about half the time it takes to get to the best airports from any important city in the world on the basis of averages. Your editorial in the issue of June 13 states that the experiences of some of the other large cities of the country prove that if the airport is too far out patron- age falls off. And you imply that “over 10 miles” is too far out, which means that you attempt to say that Camp Springs site is too far out. I call to your atten= tion the fact that the Chicago airport— located, incidentally, just where it be- longs—is 45 to 55 minutes from the Loop district, and if you want passage on an airliner out of Chicago you must make reservation well in advance. It is one of the Nation's busiest airports. The Cleveland airport is 30 minutes out, an- other busy airport that has had as many as 1,200 landings and take-offs in one day. It, too, is where it belongs. Newark airport is 30 minutes out of New York, and business flourishes. All ships going into Los Angeles are heavily loaded with passengers—you recall how many were in those ships that were wrecked last Winter. You are, I beg leave to say, a bit con- fused on the Detroit and New York air- ports. The Detroit city airport is un- satisfactory not because of its being too far out. It is a four-way field with an enormous gas tank in the “V,” and it is otherwise too close to the city. The New York airport, to which you no doubt refer (Floyd Bennett), is unpatronized, not for the reason that it is too far out of New York, but for the reason that there is an airport at Newark which is nearer and which has up to this time been of suffi- cient size to accommodate the traffic. It is otherwise a safe field, well equipped and free of obstructions. Should the Newark airport prove inadequate for larger ships, no doubt operations will shift to Floyd Bennett. BENJAMIN KING. Greenbelt Delay Irksome To Housing Applicants To the Editor of The Star: We are one of the hundreds of families who were interested in our Government's resettlement project near Washington, Greenbelt, Md. As a matter of fact, we first became interested in the project when we heard and saw about it in Feb- ruary, 1936. We were among the first to register and were advised that the tenant selection would begin shortly thereafter and that the project itself was to open either in September or the first of October, 1936. Naturally, we were impatient, for we saw in Greenbelt the things we had been praying for: Reasonable rent, a safe place for our two little children to play and a healthy environment, but when October finally came around we still kept our chins up, for the opening date had been pushed up to January 1, 1937. To make a long story short, there has been a constant disappointment in the various opening dates, until today the opening schedule for 400 of the homes is Sep- tember 1. But we are hardened now so that we hold no faith at all in their opening dates. About three months ago while visit- ing the project I was advised that they were not trying to complete the whole project, but due to the lack of funds they were concentrating all effort on four hundred of the homes that were practi- cally completed save for a few minor touches that could be put on in a few days’ time by the crew of workmen they still had available, since a great many had previously been laid off. This seemed to me to be a good solution, for, as it was explained to me, upon completion of the 400 homes there would be an income of approximately $30 each, or about $12,000 total monthly, which would enable them to continue the construction without having to borrow more money. This was all so logical to us that we swallowed it, hook, line and sinker. We tried to be content with our present living conditions, as poor as they are, hoping and praying that we might be one of the first 400 families to go into this new low-cost housing plan, or, if not the first few, we figured that we would eventually get in, for we ware eligible in every respect as far as we have been able to find out. Instead of anything being done about it, we get nothing but continuous delays from month to month. They have now stalled around with the opening for a year. Can’t we find out what is causing all these delays and if they are abso- lutely necessary? We are interested primarily in the first 400 homes for Resettlement’s own reason, that from the income of the first group of houses they will be able to go on to completion of the project. ‘We hope that you will be kind enough to publish this letter and see what the public pulse is on this subject. Per- haps we can raise enough indignation -to get behind this thing and see what is holding up the works. MR. AND MRS. G. W. BRADFORD. ——— Thoughtfulness for Pets Urged During Summer To the Editor of The Star: Will you through your valuable col- umns help us to be reminded that now come the very sweltering days when our pets will suffer much unless cool, clean water is provided. And if there is no shade to protect them from the sun and flies, the cellar is much to be preferred, at least during the very hot weather. I wonder how many realize how fiies can torment & dog by biting the tips of his ears until the blood starts. Oil of tar applied to the ears will keep them away. So when we are feeling the heat, let us remember to give as much comfort as possible to our animal friends. MARY E. CLARK. Just a Bit Complex. From'the Greenville Piedmont. We are weakening a little as a Con- gressional Record reader, having just encountered this: “Mr. Ramspeck—Mr. Speaker, I move that the House concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment.” Chinese Inventions. From the Joplin (Mo.) Globe, The Chinese are said to have invented gunpowder, printing and the slot ma- chine. Let they are considered a peace- loving mation. “Dear Sir: Amidst the constant alarms of strikes and strifes now going on all about us there may be some relief and interest in the narration of & minor, but at least peaceful, event of some forty Years ago. “A boy of ten, walking home from the old swimmin' hole, there came to my ears the familiar whistling call of the Virginia cardinal, ‘wheat, wheat, wheat- chew, wheat, wheat, wheat.’ “It emanated from a nearby clump of shrubs overhanging a small creek, and though clear and unmistakable enough it yet sounded restrained and without the usual forceful delivery. “My youthful impulse, immediately acted upon, was to steal up close to see what I decided was a sick redbird. “The illogical nature of this thought— that a sick bird would be lifting its voice in song—did not occur to me at the mo- ment. Very carefully I approached and parted the leaves, permitting me to view the feathered singer. “To my unbounded astonishment, the ‘sick’ one wore not the brilliant coat of crimson I expected to see, but was dressed in a drab, slaty blue—it was a catbird. “For several minutes he continued his excellent performance while I watched him with very round eyes. “Some while later I was to become very much interested in bird life and for a few years spent many morning hours with binoculars and note book observing our winged friends. I have, however, never again had the experience of hear- ing so unquestionable an imitation as given me that day of long ago by a cat- bird. Sincerely yours, M. R.” * & % x Bird study was always the heritage of the country boy. Maybe it was because there were so few things, comparatively speaking, to see. Maybe it was a superior Way of meet- ing and accepting life. Whatever it was, it was something fine, and it was shared by millions of small- town boys. It is true that collection of bird eggs was one of the basic factors, but this was not cruel, in one sense, since Nature is large, and what are a few eggs to her? ‘The individual parent birds might have been bereft, for a few bewildered hours, but all and all there was no loss, in a sense, This sort of collection built up solid interest in birds. It meant that an idle youngster was really never idle. He was all the time listening, watching, think- ng. He had that greatest of possessions, something to do. * ok X X ‘Thus a person who is quiet, as regards physical motion, still may be doing a great deal. He may be watching, he may be think- ing, he may be making notes in his own mind, making comparisons, and deciding something or other. This is called thinking, for want of a better name. No doubt it will do. Your thinking may not be my thinking, but both may be thinking. Some pessimists say that man never thinks, but that is quibbling. Perhaps as a race we are not logical, to any de- gree, but still 'ge think, in & way that the so-called brutds cannot. How delighted all people are with the first tentative steps of a dog toward real thinking! Bird observation requires thought, in some measure; that is its chiefest pleas- ure. Not closely reasoned, perhaps, nor demanding the same type of mental ac- tion required in solving mathematical problems, nevertheless it keeps the in- tellectual wheels going 'round and 'round, causes pleasant stimulation, keeps alive the wheels of memory. A catbird heard 40 years ago, but never forgotten—what occupation can show a better memory training? * ok X ¥ Once you fall in love with the catbird, of course, you always have a friend for life. ©One of the least timid of all birds, this sleek fellow will not fly away at your ap- proach, but will remain where he is un- til you are within a'few feet of him. His powers as a mimic are not com- monly known, but he is second in this field to the mockingbird, and sometimes even seems to excel it. The other day we heard a whip-poor- will, seemingly, time after time, but were convinced it was a catbird putting on a most excellent imitation, There was just a little something lack- ing. Just what it was is impossible to say, but no doubt it was not as clear, nor delivered with the same verve. As our correspondent stated, the “whip-poor-will” seemed somewhat re- strained. That is the best difference. Few birds sing restrainedly. There is a whole-souled quality to most bird songs which helps make them so delightful. Think of the tiny wrens, whose big voices fairly bubble out of their throats with astounding vitality. If a catbird or mocker imitated the wren, he probably would not quite man- age to attain the same gusto, even though his imitation were perfect otherwise, fox ok ox % He would miss, in other words, the soul of the singer, as might be expected. But for the human listener to realize this, he must know perfectly the song being imitated. Without this sure knowledge, he will be fooled many times. With it, no bird specializing in the imitation of others’ songs can “put anything over” on a human listener. The timbre, in other words, is differ- ent. It is especiallv in this matter of timbre that each bird places his own sig- nature on the air. Each species has its own way of sing- ing, its particular delivery, even to the amount of power in the muscles which impel the waves through the air. A catbird may do a thoroughly good job of imitating a cardinal or whip-poor- will, but always he will lack utter con- viction, just because he is not, forsooth, a cardinal, or a whipper. It is true, as our correspondent ob- serves, that one may go a lifetime with- out hearing such an imitation again. That is one reason watching and listen- ing to the birds is so interesting. Any minute may give one something to cher- ish down the.years, never to forget, al- ways to hope for again. ‘What more could one ask? STARS, MEN AND ATOMS Notebook of Science Progress in Field, Laboratory and Study. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. Chemistry looks ahead—to a day when man may fly without wings, make the rarest metals to order. conquer all in- fectious diseases, grow food crops abso- lutely to order. All these wonders may be just over the next hill, according to a tercentenary autobiography of _American chemistry just issued under auspices of a com- mittee of the American Chemical So- ciety. Today they sound fantastic, but not more fantastic than the radio and airplane of today seemed even a half century ago. Then the scientific foun- dations for these miracles had been es- tablished, but there had been no prac- tical realization. And today may be seen the basic elements of the wonders of tomorrow. For example, says A. Crecy Morrison, author of the autobiography, “the bom- bardment ot the atom by powerful elec- tric charges already has changed plat- inum into gold. Theoretically, transmu- tation is at hand. Will a method of producing these changes economically be found, and if so will all our stand- ards of money and economics be upset because man can produce the rarest metals at will? An expectation of such a result is not more visionary than to have supposed that the Hertzian waves would ever give us radio and television.” The idea of flying without wings, ad- mittedly, still is very visionary. Hardly a beginning has been made in that di- rection. But, says Mr. Morrison, “what is gravity, how fast does it travel and can it be neutralized? Will the phil- osophy of the world again be changed by new discoveries here and the aviator find himself outfitted with no wings at an?” “There may lie just over the boundary of the future,” he continues, “startling discoveries of new materials. Synthetic chemistry's hugely expanding possibili- ties hardly have been visioned yet. We already know something about approx- imately 10 times as many possible prod- ucts of chemical industries as we can use. The number of potential synthetic chemicals of which we yet know nothing at all reach astronomical proportions very quickly. In a single series of com- pounds of carbon with hydrogen of the type chemically known as paraffins, which make up our natural gas and petroleum, a calculation shows that there are three million possible combinations made up of 20 carbon atoms and 42 hydrogen atoms. Each of these myriads of possibilities may be found invaluable for some human purpose and be some day synthesized for our use.” Recent researches, he stresses, are opening the way for the growth of food crops without the customary soil. The possibilities of an agriculture based on a totally synthetic environment in which light, heat and nutrition are supplied as.needed make it possible to look for- ward to the day when the world’s food supply will be produced independent of weather and free entirely of the ravages of insects and other pests. He looks ahead to the day when “city blocks will serve the purposes now requiring vast rural acreages.” “Nature’s dyes,” continues Mr. Morri- son, “are comparatively few and of lim- ited, usefulness. By no means are these varied enough to provide the multitu- dinous changes of hue which the whims of fashion dictate and which so greatly encourage the use of fabrics. The syn- thetic dyes of the chemical industry give -an otherwise impossible variety of hue. “The fabulous cost of many of the rarest flower perfumes places them far beyond the reach of the average person. By approaching as closely to a natural odor as possible in & man-made mixture of scented materials and then adding & A modicum of flower essence remarkably fine perfumes can be built up which are within the reach of all. Synthetic rubies, sapphires and other precious and semi- precious gem stones are now produced by chemical industry at relatively nomi- nal cost. Their only defect is their per- fection. Here chemistry has outdone Nature. “Among the more or less imminent potentialities in which chemistry will take a leading role is the extinction of disease. As smallpox, yellow fever and typhoid fever have become relatively rare diseases instead of the scourge of na- tions, so may we expect tuberculosis— already demonstrated to be conquerable —influenza, pneumonia, the common cold and other infectious diseases of mature persons to disappear within a decade or two. The diseases of child- hood have already been so far con- quered that only two, scarlet fever and infantile paralysis,.remain to exact an extravagant toll. These may be ex- pected to. join diphtheria among the specters of the past which no longer haunt our young children.” The “autobiography,” according to an announcement of the American Chem- ical Society, is the result of a study in which hundreds of leading industrialists co-operated. oot Grateful to Star for Aid In Marriage Clause Repeal To the Editor of The Star: We extend our appreciation and grati- tude to The Washington Star for the splendid service which i% rendered to- ward the repeal of section 213. For the sweeping victory in the House of Representatives on Thursday of this week we believe The Star is entitled to a large share of the credit. That you will continue your support until we have final passage in the Senate we sincerely hope and believe. LOIS BABCOCK. For the Government Workers’ Council. Spending Theories Ignored. From the Kansas City Star. A good many of the first-term New Deal brain trusters found attractive posi- tions in private business organizations, but somehow Harry Hopkins' theories on “spending to save” haven't seemed to appeal to private employers. — Jobless Press Agents. From the Charleston (W. Va.) Mail. ‘There are said to be 500 jobless press agents in New York. They might be able to do something for themselves if they had a good press agent. Proof of Civilization. From the South Bend Tribune, The government of Palestine is plan- ning “army and air force barracks cost- ing approximately $2,500,000.” In other words, Palestine is definitely “civilized.” One Way Out of the Red. From the Grand Island Independent. About the most popular method of farm relief is selling the place to a country club. Newspapers, Prom the Leavenworth Times, - The radio will never supplant the newspaper, for you can't use a radio to swat flies—Belleville Telescope. And whoever heard of covering closet shelves with radios? 3 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Piease inclose stamp for reply. Q. To what kind ¢f fatal accident are- children of pre-school age most liable? —G. H. A. Burns take the highest death toll up to five years of age. Next come motor vehicle accidents, then mechanical suffocation. Q. How many resolutions to alter the Constitution are now pending in Con- gress?—F. T. A. The National Republic lists 129, Q. Do many people make a success of raising frogs for market by artificial propagation?—A. R. A. Very few have been successful in this field although many have tried. Many of the so-called frog farms arc natural marshy areas adapted to the needs of frogs, in which frogs thrive and multiply. Q. What is the oldest musical instru- ment still in existence?—S. T. A. It is a small shepherd's pipe re- cently recovered by excavations in Iraq. It is some 6,000 years old. Q. Does adoption carry with it?>—V. P. A. Adoption does not carry with {t rights of citizenship. Am adopted son or daughter who is an alien must come naturalized in order to become a United States citizen. citizenship Q. How long has the Frontier Davs Celebration been held in Cheyenne, Wyo.2—H. O. G. A. The celebration which will begi on July 28 of this year will be the 41s n consecutive meeting. The festivities consist of two companion shows, Fron- tier Cavalcade and Frontier Nights. The Chamber of Commerce of Cheyenne is building a warehouse to house perma- nently its remarkable collection of 100 sets of authentic pioneer harness and 82 vehicles. There are many historical stages in this collection. two notable ones of inestimable value being the original stages driven between Chevenne and the Black Hills from 1874 to 1887. While the population of Cheyenne is 17.000, it en- tertains 70.000 spectators at this famous annual show. Q. How much wheat can a large American freighter carry?—P. T. S A. A large American freighter can carry, roughly, about 500.000 bushels of wheat when loaded to capacity. Q. Is shellac a synthetic preparation? —W. H. A. Shellac is secreted by an insect. ‘While repeated experiments have been made to make it synthetically none has been successful. Q. How old is the King Features Syn- dicate?>—H. W. A. It was established in 1914. Q. Please give some information about Will 8. Hays.—W. F. A. William Shakespeare Hays (1837- 1907) was born at Louisville. Ky. He was a journalist, ballad writer and composer. It is estimated that his song. “Mollie Darling,” had a sale of 2,000.000 copies. Among his well known songs are “The Little Old Log” and “Shamus O'Brien.” « Q. Who said “facts are stubborn things"?—B. V. F. A. Smollett. Q. What contribution did Peter Abel= ard make to education?—F. M. R. A. Peter Abelard (1079-1142) was the most famous teacher of the 12th century. Like all teachers of that day he was trained for theology and his fame rests largely on his ability as a disputant. He was an opponent of William of Cham- peaux, whom he seriously worsted in theological debate. He became a hermit in Champagne, where hundreds of students flocked to him. He is one of the important forerunners of the school of theology which afterward became the University of Paris. Q. What is the term applied to a person of stocky, generally round form? —S. R. A. The term is pyknic. Q. What tribes of Indians live in Colo- rado?—H. S. N. x A. Only the Utes remain on Colorado land. Q. Who are the best dressed women in the world?—H. W. A. In a fashion poll of leading Paris stylists the following were chosen as the best dressed women: The Duchess of Windsor, Princess Karam of Kapurthala, the Duchess of Kent, Mrs. Harrison Wil- lizms, Senora Martinez Hoz of South America, Begum Aga Khan of France, Baroness Von Krieger of Holland, Mrs, Gilbert Miller, Princess Jean Paniotow- sky and Baroness Eugene de Rothschild. Q. At what age should a harelip be corrected?—L. T. A. Harelip operations are best done when the patient is between four and eight months old. They have been ¢~nr» on day-old babies and good results ¢~ 1 be obtained on adults. Natural Scenery of the United St:- NATURAL SCENES is an attractive’ prepared booklet with illustrations in color and comprehensive descriptive matter concerning 49 of the famous beauty spots of the United States, one for each State and the District of Co- lumbia. Chimney Rock, in North Caro- lina; Rock Creek Park, in the District of Columbia; Pike's Peak, in Colorado; the redwood trees of California are among them. Here is a sweeping pano- rama of the entire United States—au- thentic, informative, inspiring. If yon love nature and love the beautiful you will enjoy owning a copy of this book- let. Inclose 10 cents in coin to cover cost and handling. Use This Order Blank The Washington Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, ‘Washington, D. C. T inclose herewith TEN CENTS in coin (carefully wrapped) for & copy of NATURAL SCENES OF THE UNITED STATES.