Evening Star Newspaper, July 18, 1937, Page 26

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D, C. SUNDAY July 18, 1937 THEODORE W. NOYES The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 11th St and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd St Cnicago Office: 435 North Michigan Ave. Rate by Carrier—City and Suburban. Regular Edition, e Evening and Sunday Star Th_ A5c per month or 15¢ per week The Evening Star 450 per month or 10c per week The Sunday Eta~ ___ ___ --5¢c per copy Night Final Edition, t Pinal and Sunday Star.. Might ‘Final “Star_- —— - -~ Collection made at the end of each m each week. Orders may be sent by matl phone National 5000, Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance, Marviand and Virginia, day. 1 $£10.00: 1wl Tssi00 1 24.00; All Other States and Canada, day_ 1 ¥r, $12.00; 1 mo 1 35000 1 mo. $3.00; 1 mo., 50c entitied to dispatches d paper an, All rights of publ cation of special dispatches herein are aito reserved. Reprisal. When Governor Townsend of Indiana emerged from the White House on Wed- nesday and put his foot down against renomination of Senator Van Nuys, the fat was openly in the fire. It was re- garded, and must be so regarded, as a threat to unseat all Democratic Senators and Representatives who are opposing | President Roosevelt's Supreme Court en- largement program. Democratic Senators and Represent- atives have opposed the court-packing bill on principle. They have been told that “regularity,” which means the sup- port of every recommendation of the New Deal President. is of transcendant {mportance. And presumably the axe is to fall on the necks of all those who do not put regularity above principle. Those who are threatened will doubtless take notice—ample notice—from the as- zertion of Governor Townsend that Sen- ator Van Nuys, a strong Democrat, can- not be renominated in Indiana. With the Democratic members of Con- gress almost equally divided for and sgainst the President’s court program, this threat of reprisal opens up a new channel of thought. Men who are fight- ing for principle are not liki diverted by threats of personal political attack. Such threats are calculated, if anything, to make them more firm in their determination, In addition, threats of personal attack are likely those threatened arm themselves act accordingly. The party whip, apparently, is to be eracked. The picture has changed since the good fellowship party at Jefferson Island. It will be recalled that Senator VYan Nuys, along with many of the other Democratic opponents of the eourt bill, was welcome as a guest at that party. The party, indeed, was gtaged by and the invitations were sent out in the name of the late Senator Robinson, leader of the Democratic ma- fority in the Senate. The era of good fellowship seems to have passed. The cracking of the party whip is not @ pleasant thing. Especially when the to make and and Representatives, who have a re- eponsibility to perform under the Con- gtitution and a responsibility to their own consciences There are other gourt, Nevada, Montana and Nebraska, where the Democratic organization seem- ingly ie to be asked to discard sitting Democratic Senators. The Democratic Benators from New England States, almost to a man, have opposed the President’s court bill. Are all these gen- tlemen also to be destroved politically because they have had the temerity to voice their honest convictions? Reprisal often begets reprisal. It is something that the administration might do well to remember. The Democratic opponents of the court bill have been at considerable pains to make it clear they are not seeking to destroy either the Prestdent or the Democratic party. They have stated their case admirably. Thev believe they should not be com- pelled to support a measure which would inevitably result in a loss of independ- ence to the judicial branch of the Gov- ernment. Surely there must be wise eouncillors who may be heard at the White House, even at this late date, S Bome of the correspondents are willing to put on a dunce cap from time to time if it will guarantee an intelligence c: pable of adjustment to the requirements of the simple juvenile reader. In fact, the dunce cap mayv be a tribute of honest humor when assurance can be given that it is worn only in fun, — e . China sells silver for gold, which fact may imply a use of the yellow metal for war purposes by a nation that considers all the possibilities of any new transac- tion. D Redemption. In Christian philosophy, the thought of redemption probably is the most not= ably sacred conception. The whole theme of the New Testament is nothing else than the conquest of death. Jesus comes into the world to save men from destruction. His mission marks the be- ginning of another chapter in the chron- {cle of human experience. Even agnos- tics concede that His teaching of immor- tality, earned and deserved, has changed the course of civilization for the better. But the Scriptures would be meaning- less if they did not Insist upon the democracy of spiritual triumph. Christ, 1t 1s reported, walked with publicans and sinners, forgave the wicked, promised Heaven to thieves on Calvary. Any re- pentent soul, He believed, might see God. In other words, every life could be re- deemed. Bewildered pilgrims of modern times eould do worse than to ponder that glorious dream. Troubled, harassed, con- fused through all their days, they wan- der under a clouded and hostile sky. Yet the star of their hope burns bright. i Few careers are utterly devold of inspi- ration. Indeed, it might be suggested as a pragmatic generality that the race Justifies itself constantly and consist- ently in the record of plain people— toflers and strugglers who leave no mark in the annals of nations, but nevertheless merit remembrance and appreciation. How long would society endure, if the fact were otherwise? Take away the lowly and the humble, and what re- mains? Of course, it is true that a frac- tional minority governs the affairs, dic- tates the policies of empires and of states. But, far more important, the basic principles of existence are in the possession of the masses. Consider music, for example: What would become of it if the folk did not sing? And painting and sculpture: Could they sur- vive for centuries if they had no com- munity significance? The same chal- lenge may be postulated for law and religion—they would perish in a single season were social support withdrawn. Everything, then, that is stable in character, constructive in effect, en- dures because of the strength, the in- telligence and the capacity to labor which are innate in humanity. Logically, it follows that each individual redeems himself in terms of service to his Crea- tor and his fellows. In the light of that reality, death never can be terrible or fearsome. s A Stroke for Peace. Short of some actual form of inter- vention in the Sino-Japanese crisis, it would be difficult to overestimate the significance of Secretary Hull's terse and timely reaffirmation of American foreign policy. That his pronouncement was issued immediately after he had con- ferred with the Chinese Ambassador and the Japanese Charge d'Affaires indi- cates that its immediate purpose is to bring the influence of the United States to bear for preservation of Far Eastern peace. While it is the threatened con- flict in Asia that the State Department mainly has in mind, the Hull declara- tion, which mentions no names, is also to be read in light of the situation in Spain. It stresses with comprehensive emphasis that “there can be no serious hostilities anywhere in the world which will not in one way or another affect interests or rights or obligations of this country.” It was exactly twenty-three vears ago this week that Europe found itself on the brink of what was destined to be- come a four-year World War. When the Midsummer madness of 1914 broke upon staggered mankind, there were few | within | three years the United States itself would | Americans who imagined that be involved in the holocaust. It fis clearly with recollection of the grim disillusionment that eventually the American people that Secretary Hull now proclaims, in effect, that history may repeat itself, as far as this country is concerned, if major warfare agam | rages even far bevond our shores. He makes no attempt to conceal our anxiety and determination not to become em- broiled in it. Washington thus properly an unequivocal stand at a critical hour in favor of “national and international self- takes | restraint” and of “faithful observance of tash is applied to the backs of Senators | international agreements.” In words that will not fail to sink in at Tokio and Nanking. as well as at Rome. Berlin, Paris and Moscow, the United States | reaffirms its advocacy of “abstinence by States than Indiana. for example Mis- | all nations from use of force in pursuit of policy and from interference in the internal affairs of other nations.” In those guarded but meaningful terms, the administration stigmatizes what is now happening both in North China and on the Spanish peninsula. In so many words it calls upon all the powers con- cerned to revert to “orderly processes carried out in a spirit of mutual helpful- ness and accommodation,” instead of recourse to arms or other methods that breach the peace under conditions “of inevitable concern to the whole world.” Secretary Hull's manifesto reiterates traditional American refusal to enter into alliances or entangling commit- ments, though setting forth afresh our readiness to participate “in co-operative efforts by peaceful and practicable means” in support of principles to which the United States is devotedly dedicated. While this appeal to aggressive spirits in Asia and Europe proclaims no new American doctrine, it carries an admoni- tion that is designed to give pause to warmakers and would-be warmakers everywhere. It thoroughly epitomizes the viewpoint of our peace-loving people and their irreconcilable resentment of policies that threaten to engulf all civili- zation in catastrophe. Ly Taxes will be checked and rechecked by the people who pay them. There may be less evidence of satisfaction among persons willing to do their best but more or less misled by the new specialist who has appeared. —_——————————— If Ameiia Earhart cannot be found there should at least be a satisfactory theory as to what became of her. Mys- teries are often profound but they are seldom permanent. ——— . Investigative Mergers. Consolidation of several Federal inves- tigative agencies has been recommended to the Byrd Committee on Reorganiza- tion of Government Departments by the Brookings Institution. Whereas others have proposed drastic mergers in this field, the Brookings experts suggest a less sweeping and more feasible grouping of these agencies. The most important change would be the transfer to the Federal Bureau of Inves- tigation of all strictly criminal cases now handled by the postal inspectors and the Secret Service. Secretary Morgenthau has been quoted in the press as opposing such a consoli- dation, on the ground that it would tend to build up a “dangerous” centralized national police force. The Brookings Institution weighed this objection in its report and concluded that the merger, instead of leading to invasion of State police powers, would result in better co- N u came to | THE SUNDAY STAR WASHL\'GTOI\' D. C, JULY 18 193 ordination of Federal activities and closer co-operation between Federal agencies and police. It is recalled that Mr. Morgenthau himself is proponent of a bill to consoli- date all Treasury investigative agencies into one large division of his department. It consolidation of the Government's detective forces will increase efficiency, effect economies and make things more difficult for the violator of Federal laws, as claimed by the institution, Congress should lose little time in acting favorably on the Brookings proposal. Certainly a merger might eliminate jealousies and “sniping,” which have marred Government investigations in certain cases in the past. Such incidents do not bear out claims of opponents of consolidation that “healthy competition” exists among separate agencies. Senator Byrd and his committee should study carefully added proposals in the Brookings report for a Federal co-ordi- nator of law enforcement in the Budget Bureau and for a central co-ordinating committee representing varfous depart- ments. One of the reasons for the success of the F. B. I. has been its absolute freedom from political or bureaucratic pressure of any kind. The director of the bureau is responsible only to the Attorney Gen- eral and the President. His apnointment is non-political. If he is to be brought under the authority of a “co-ordinator” in another department or of a committee, the door may be opened to patronage in the appointment not only of the co-ordina- tors but, indirectly, in the selection of personnel of the bureau itself. Politics and patronage should be kept out of the F. B. L. at all costs. e — The climate of Washington, D. C., makes it clear that only legislation that is close to the public mind can be called for in Midsummer. Attention can be given if emergency arises, but it gives the physician in Congress the right to be heard. o a- There are sons of statesmen ready to | answer the call of duty as they hear and interpret it. They must and will be heard from in a demand for a defense of the Supreme Court that has begun to assume the aspects of a national tragedy. e China and Japan are both confident that they can win in combat and Russia is no less secure in her belief. They all speak languages capable of ready trans- lation and vet not readily understood in the affairs of this Western Hemisphere Where are our aviators to light and flv is now a question which calls for prompt insight and a liberal purse. The Nation has both and the question should | not merge itself into lingering finance. e When Dr. Royal Copeland talks con- fidentially it is very likely that he re- minds & man that superhuman purposes and superhuman endurance do not necessarily combine. _— Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON Farm Fantasy. Long past the hour of the departing day The cowbell tinkles in melodious glee. The cattle seem to “moo™ along the way. The hoot owl seems to warble from the tree. The squeaks and whistles seem to repre- sent All of the sounds produce. It brings a melancholy discontent Persists while sleep is going to the deuce, that Nature can mood whoee It is no harmony of rural charm, Though with the tones of rustic life replete, As once again it fills me with alarm— That jazz band playing just across the street! Subtle Compliment. “Why did you put the sign over your desk, ‘This is my busy day'?” “It makes a good impression,” an- swered Senator Sorghum, “when an in- fluential constituent calls.” “But it might give offense.” “Not at all. It adds to a visitor's sense of importance when I give him a cigar and tell him I want to have a long chat with him.” Jud Tunkins says early rising is not much use to the man who puts in most of the day taking naps. Self-Estimate. Self-estimate, we've often heard, To show the truth will often fail. The hoot owl through the night {s heard. He thinks he is a nightingale. Noise Eliminated. “You charge more for board than you did last Summer.” “The place offers more rest and com- fort,” answered Farmer Corntossel. “There ain't any election for guests to sit up all night and argue about.” Littie Nonsense. It is now the silly season And its ways are far the best. It is welcome for the reason That it gives the mind a rest. So we hail the queer expressions From the platform or the press, Not as violent digressions, But as helpful, more or less. There are seasons for endeavors, There are seasons for repose. And the world goes on forever Through the sunbeams and the snows. Certain times must be conceded To a relief from common cares, And we need a silly season Just to balance up affairs. “Riches has wings,” sald Uncle Eben, “but dey has a way of flyin' back an’ crowdin’ de same old roost.” Py Pennies of the Millions Swell Treasury Funds BY OWEN L. SCOTT. On every pay day since the first of the year, Government tax collectors have reached into the pay envelopes of 25,- 000,000 American workers to take a few pennies from each. Matched with an equal number from the tills of 3,000,000 employers, these pennies are flowing to Washington to build individual reserves Against the time when old-age benefits will be paid. Treasury officials now are beginning to receive letters from taxpayers asking, in effect: “Just what is being done with my money? Is it true that the income I am forced to forego is being used to pay the running expenses of the Government, when my understanding was that this money would go into a reserve against the time when I will want to draw on it in my old age? If the money is used up now. how can T be sure there will be a reserve when the time comes to make payment?” Answers returned to inquirers asking questions of this kind are not very en- lightening. But, as the pennies from millions of workers continue to accumu- late, amounting even now to hundreds of millions of dollars, they play an increas- ingly important part in the calculations of a government that must live on bor- rowed money. * ok % % The fact is the pay roll tax dollars— which millions of individuals think of as going into an individual strong box to be accumulated for their future use—look exactly like any other tax dollars to the Treasury. Once these dollars reach the coffers of the Government they quickly are drained off to pay relief workers, or to buy silver from Chinamen, or to pay Frenchmen for a lot of gold to bury in the ground at Fort Knox, or to provide farmers with cash subsidies, or to build battleships, or to pay salaries to Congressmen, or to do any of the muititude of things for which Federal Government money is spent. In other words, the actual cash that comes out of the millions of pay en- velopes is not—as most of the contribu- tors seem to think—placed in twenty-five million separate piles in a Treasury vault to be added to as interest and tax pay- ments accumulate. Rather the cash s put to work, just as dollars placed in a bank are put to work doing a variety of things of which the individual depositor knows nothing, But what does the individual have to show for the hard money he is being forced to set aside each week in the name of old-age protection All he really has is a number, issued | by the Social Security Board. This | number represents title to a bookkeeping | entry. known as an “account.” on the Social Security Board books. The entry, or account, is an obligation on the part gress is expected to fulfill by making an- nual appropriations sufficient to cover principal and interest. ations. approximately equal to the amount of the millions of contributors, Are set up as a ‘reserve’ in the Treas- ury. o ox % Tt's all pretty much of a bookkeeping operation All that is. except the real dollars that keep flowing into the Government pocket THE CONTAGION OF EXAMPLE BY THE RIGHT REV. JAMES E. FREEMAN, D. D, LL. D, D. C. L, BISHOP OF WASHINGTON. When we come to discover and ap- praise the influences that have shaped our course of action we generally find that it was the persuasive influence of some strong personality that largely affected our judgment. Books, study, environing conditions, heredity, all these play their part, but probably more com- pelling than all these was the strong example of a person whose consistent habit and practice were irresistible. I recall hearing the famous Mayo brothers, whose surgical skill is known through- out the world, tell of the noble example of their father, a country doctor, and the determining influence it had upon their lives. It was this more than all else that gave them the impulse to de- vote themselves to their profession. Most of the men who have come to distinction in their chosen callings could tell a like story. Emulation of another's virtues, and all too often of another's vices, produces either the successes or the failures of life. We cannot live to ourselves unless we become hermits. Our every expressed thought, our every act carries an influence for good or ill, and the contagion of it affects, whether we will or not, the circle in which we move. A neighbor whom I knew in my young manhood was so courtly and chivalrous in his habit and bearing that the youths in the community in which he lived caught from his example a refinement of deportment that made them gentle- men. When we think in terms of character development it is certainly true that we learn more from example than we do from precept. The Christian faith is propagated through those who live its principles and by their daily habit ex- emplify its virtues. We cannot, if we would,” keep our religion to ourselves. We are daily witnessing to its truth or fallacy. The beginnings of the Chris- tian Church is the story of accessions through the power of example. We read that Andrew, a disciple, “first findeth his own brother,” Peter; that Philip findeth Nathaniel. It was the zeal of Andrew and Philip that changed the careers of their brothers and made of them devoted followers of the Master. This was the method when the Chris- tian cause began its way, and it is the only method by which it has ever grown and prospered. High-minded laymen are indispensable to the extension of Christ's kingdom on earth. The clergy have their well- defined office and it is a supremely im- portant one, but the Christian church calls for recruiting agents and without them it cannot go forward. The church lum for those who seek its for the refreshment and heir own souls. It is a spiritual power house designed to ener- gize into action men and women who have the desire and the responsibility to carry to the world in which they live the stimulus and the power to which the church witnesses. Exemplars Christian faith, men and women who believe and practice what they believe in every day conduct, these do more to change the world than all the muitiplied agencies the church employs. Short- term revivals may do much to stir a community to renewal of faith and prac- tice, but the consistent example of pro- fessing Christians is and powerful force and its influence a continuing one. Much is being said todav about the need of better moral conditions in our domestic, social and industrial life. Much of concern is being expressed by parents concerning the unregulated habits of youth. We are coming to realize that self-expression without a moral and re- ligious background issues in looseness of conduct. What are the correctives of these tendencies? More of precept? More rigid codes of deportment? Or more of and a finer demonstration of fundamental Christian virtues, in home, society and business. We do need codes and wholesome conventions and creeds and church worship, but even more do we need exemplars who in life and daily habit exemplify the faith they profess. We need discipline in home, society and business, but discipline that persuades by example. For a world suffering from many maladies the need of the hour is the contagion of example, the irresistible influence of those who consistentiy fol- low the great Master, Fifty Years Ago In The Star the sounding of Crowds and Fire Alarms. loud fire alarms Washington on ground of the attrac- tion of large crowds to the scene. In in | course of the discussion The Star of July of the Federal Government which Con- | These appropri- | from the millions of pay envelopes. These | dollars are of the hard cash variety much needed by President Roosevelt these days. They come from masses of individuals who must forego their imme- diate use in order to build prptection against old age. But. much to the relief of the Treas- ury. few of these dollars are to be paid back to their contributors until many vears have elapsed. No old-age benefits are scheduled to be paid until 1942, five vears from now. For many vears after that date. the payments will be much smaller than the growing receipts from pay roll taxes. This means that Mr. Roosevelt Henry Morgenthau, jr., his Secretary of the Treasury. will have at least $750,000,- 000 each vear to use in payving current bills that otherwise might have to be paid and | with money obtained from rather hard- | hearted leaders. In addition, State un- employment insurance systems are re- quired to deposit their funds with the Treasury. adding other hundreds of mil- | lions to the available cash. No such windfall ever in the past has come to a financially hard-pressed gov- ernment. And this windfall comes directly out of the pay rolls of the Nation's workers. Its effect is similar to that of a flat sales tax, levied at the rate of two per cent on nearly all of the pay rolls of the Nation. The levy has come in spite of President Roosevelt's off-reiterated opposition to sales taxes. Tt is referred to by the ex- perts as a ‘‘regressive” tax—one that bears most heavily on those least able to pay. Is all that as intended? Hardly. The basic thought of the social security planners had been that the Government, in agreeing to deal with the problem of old-age retirement, assumed a staggering future burden. That burden within fifty years will amount to more than $3,500.000.000 each year, or half as much as the whole New Deal budget in a year of emergency spending. If this burden were to be undertaken, the experts decided, then the full import should be recognized at once and prep- aration should begin for its fulfillment. This meant taxing at present to meet ex- penses that will come in the years ahead. The Congress approved this idea and the Supreme Court accepted the conclusion of the Congressmen. * K % X The idea. essentially, was that the workers of this country gradually would come into ownership of the huge national debt, now held in large part by banks and insurance companies and industrial corporations. Instead of paying interest to the bankers and the insurance policy holders of the corporations, the Govern- ment would pay the interest on its debt to the Nation's worker: But, in practice, pay roll tax revenues are being spent on operating expenses and their spending has only gone to add to the total of debt, instead of producing a shift in the ownership of existing debt. So the Government is paying interest on all of-the vast amount of money it has borrowed in the open market and, in addition, is paying interest on rapidly accumulating social security funds. Does that mean added billions on top of the debt that already is thirty-six- and-one-half billions? The answer is: Definitely so, unless the President shows that he can get the Federal Government budget into balance. These new taxes just make it easier to get large amounts of ‘money for spending, unless Govern- ment outgo is brought into line with regular income. And might the Government be unable to pay the obligations it is assuming if the present budget situation continues? * X * Actually the Government always will be able to pay all of its dollar obligations to its own citizens, because, if necessary, it could print the necessary number of dollars. But what the effect is going to be on the value of the dollar in terms of its purchasing power is something else again. A worker saving his pennies 13. 1887. says ‘The objection raised by Chief Parris to the ringing of fire alarm bells that | they serve to attract a crowd to the scene who interfere with the work of the firemen. besides injuring household goods by their well meaning but ill directed activity, will not weigh a great deal in the argument. It is not alarm bells alone that draw the crowd. It is principally the spectacle of the en- rines, trucks and hose carriages dashing through the streets with horses at full gallop and gongs raising an infernal din Probably not one citizen of the District in every thousand knows the signals by heart consult whenever the bells ring. The bustle in the streets certainly does not | begin till the big vehicles go thundering by. Until we have underground thor- | oughfares for our firefighting apparatus the engines will be followed by hundreds of idle people and the prohibition of alarm bells cannot prevent it.” o % “Dick Turpin was a very commonplace thief in comparison with the knights of 2 the mask and pis- Railroads and B tols who nowadayvs Train Robbers, board railway trains in the West and make off with the passengers’ valuables.” savs The Star of July 15, 1887. “The lat- ter are not perhaps so picturesque in cos- tume, but thev are daring to a degree exceeding the wildest dreams of the Eng- lish outlaw. fined their efforts to overhauling the | ordinary passenger. wherever they could find him, and the directors of an infested road have been made the subject of severe newspaper censure in not provid- ing proper police protection on their lines. manifested by these magnates has been aggravatingly contemptuous. On the Wabash and Western road. as good luck would have it, the general passenger agent was treated last Tuesday night to an instructive experience by making a journey in the general manager's car, and within only 75 miles of the big city of Chicago. which will give' him a lively personal interest in such complaints.” * ok % x “The effect of mustering the various separate troops of citizen soldiery into a e S compact District District Militia militia organiza- and Home Defense. tion has already begun to stimu- late martial sentiment among our young men, who are daily forming new com- panies.” says The Star of July 13. 1887. “All this is a wholesome sign. Should the curse of war ever descend again upon the country the National Capital will, of course, be one of the first points of attack and then the presence of a well disciplined home guard will be ap- preciated. The legislation which will be necessary next Winter to legalize the new system and the arguments adduced in its support may impress upon Con- gress the demand for a better general provision for the city's defense. There ought to be no difficulty whatever, and no tremendous expense. in guarding the approaches to Washington. by both land and water, with forts strong enough to hold any ordinary invading force at bay.” against the time when he might get $30 a month as an old-age benefit, might be jolted to find his $30 would scarcely buy enough bread on which to subsist. The result is that the millions of the Nation’s workers, if they want to protect the savings that they are forced to make, will need to join the ranks of those who demand sound Federal Government finances. Otherwise, the money they are saving might not be worth much when repayment time comes. And by that time the New Deal won't be around to take the blame. In fact, the sight of so much money coming from this new tax has caused officials at the White House and else- where to toy with the idea of spending some of these growing accumulations on various so-called “socially desirable” projects, such as low-cost housing or power development, if the time ever comes when they won't be needed just to meet the ordinary running expenses of the Government. One suggestion has been made that the money be used to buy up the railroads. These pennies from the pay envelopes of millions of this Nation's workers obvi- ously are going to give those workers and the rest of the Nation something to think about before very long, (Coprrisht, 1937.) Y Objection was raised fifty years ago to the | the | the | or has a table close at hand to | | centennial Commission | known as author of “The American’s | Creed.” For vears they have con- | The indifference to this criticism | Capital Sideligh BY WILL P. KENNEDY. The National House of Representatives has just lost three of its veteran and greatly loved emploves—Patrick J. Halti- gan, reading clerk for 26 vears. and Joseph G. Rodgers, an emplove for 42 | vears, 15 of which he was sergeant at arms under the Republican regime. both | by death. and by retirement at full pay for life. Harry Parker, colored messenger of the Ways and Means Committee, born on the Mount Vernon estate, who came to work on Capitol Hill first as a boot- | black, and who has been 64 years in service. These three were given the dis- tinction of being eulogized for their services by Speaker Bankhead. Minority | Chairman Doughton of | Leader Snell, the Ways and Means Committee and other leaders. The dean of emploves now in service is William “Andy" Smith. clerk in charge of the Congressional Record at the Capi- tol, who is completing his 59th year. In his day he was famous as an oarsman and cockswain—and he is still famous for his affability and readiness to give effi- cient service. Next in seniority is Wil- liam Tvler Page. completing 56 vears, whom Speaker Champ Clark jokingly insisted was born in the Capitol. Mr. Page was clerk of the House under the Republican regime and was executive secretary of the George Washington Bi- He is nationally When “Joe” Rodgers was buried he had six of the veteran emploves as pall- bearers, whose combined service totaled 236 vears: Mr. Page. with 56 vears; Joseph J. Sinnott, doorkeeper. with 51 | Years; David Lynn, architect of the Cap- itol. with 42 vears; A. E. Chaflee, read- ing clerk, with 31 vears; Marcellus Shield. clerk to the House Appropriations Com- mittee. with 30 vears. and Kenneth Rom- ney, sergeant at arms. with 26 years. Minority Leader Snell in announcing Mr. Rodgers’ death in the House said: “It is with a great deal of regret that T announce the death of another one of our old. trusted. courteous and popular employes. It is a rather remarkable co- incidence that his death came so closely after the death of ‘that other much- respected and efficient employe. Mr. Halt- igan. Mr. Rodgers has been an employe of the House for nearly-half a century. For nearly 15 vears he was sergeant at arms of the House. and since that time he was a special minority emplove. He probably has known personally as many members of the House during the last 30 to 40 years as any man connected with the House. and I am sure there has been no more popular employe, no man who was more deeply interested in the work of the House, no man who would more | quickly go out of his way to do a favor to any member on either side of the aisle than our willing friend. Joe Rodgers. It was with very deep regret that I heard of his passing and I know that his friends on both sides of the aisle are sorry to know that no longer when they enter this chamber will they be greeted by Joe's friendly smile, which was always ready for any member. I have been spe- cially close to Joe Rodgers for many years, and I am proud to call him my long-time friend.” P Representative Paul W. Schafer. for- mer newspaper reporter, editor and pub- lished and former municipal judge, mem- ber of the Roval Order of Jesters and of the Guild of Former Pipe Organ Pump- ers, has just closed out his personally conducted industrial exhibit in his office. He wanted to go one better on members of Congress who brag about their dis- tricts, by showing what his district. the third Michigan. produces. So he put on 2 show with the co-operation of the manufacturers and Chambers of Com- merce. Then, lest his colleagues might forget what they saw he filled mesh bags with samples of breakfast foods. dog food, paper washcloths and dust cloths, cheese rolls, macaroons, key containers, window washers, seed catalogues, maps and booklets. His office looked like Santa Claus’ filling station with red and white bags heaped up in one end of his office ready for distribution. Visiting Boy Scouts were entertained with cookies and candies. More than 30 varieties of food products were demonstrated. He empha- sized particularly the paper manufac- tures of Kalamazoo and the food prod- ucts of Battle Creek, but he impressed his colleagues also with the record of health resorts and educational institu- tions In his district. ——ve— A Profitless Operation. Prom the Philadelphis Fvening Bulletin Must peeve that baby operated on at the age of 45 minutes that she won't be able to talk about it for & year or two. of the | a more effective | { 1t has been shown that where profit The International Gold Problem BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. A development of outstanding intere national importance is the renewed res= tiveness of gold. The French govern- ment, recently was faced with a crisic of major proportions because of a fresn flight of gold from that nation. An oite standing conclusion which has been forced tpon the attention of all nations * is that gold remains the controling factor in international trade and more= tary relations. Ever since the World been subject to strange vicissituc One by one and in entire groups nations of the world have suspended (i gold standard, and not a few econom. have declared their belief that gold been dethroned from its ancient pos as arbiter of world economic affa Variois types of currencs have been devised ar manner of expedients caleulated to ignore zald have been attempted. The world nas been without a free gold market anywhere for a considerable perind War. gold The strictest regulatory measures sed by governments to goiern ®old holdings and gold movements. Di- rect barter has been resorted to by many nations in an effort to ignore gold. T expedients have failed and to be realized that gold will ignored. Of the major nations, Fra made the most determined effo to a gold standard. even though she nas resorted to devaluation to do so. France has long held the reputation of being especially skilled in the manipulation of international finance. but all the sk of her financiers has not ava determined movements on private owners of gold or ob deemable in gold Before the World War eral rule of inter gold inflow and aged by ma illustrate: If the Bank of Eng itself short of gold wou bank rate. There is always even in the most di fluid supply of gold or cap Much capital is erm basis. p in the past, t that if the Bank of rate, gold would speedily flow order to earn amn extra frac turn. If other countries felt losing gold too rapid taliate by increasing their rates and tha, gold would flow back again, restoring an equilibrium. * ok o x It has been learned by recent ence that such a method no longer works, France, for instance, has disco ered that she has. on occasion, even ha tened the flight of gold by her bank rate. the former effect being precisely reversed this has been that such e t logical effect ) icing confidence. Owners of capital have taken alarm at extraordinary tective measures and ha affairs m be in a prec her rate offered askance, and the ov of cap have sent their assets flee awas offered higher profit in order tn o eater secur It is a notable fact that, in spite of the most rigOrous precautions, nations haive not been able effectually to cont Such countries as Gerr enced people 10 for disobeying regulations and effe or at least attempting a flight of their wealth. Even such drastic have failed to stop the moveme and over again the fluidity of capit been proved and where there is fluidi there always is leakage The United States has invented the only absolutely potent method of hold- ing gold. That has been the offering of an artificially inflated price for it. 80 long as the United States Government Ing to pay $35 an ounce for go! which is worth but $2067 an ounce in other parts of the world, there is littia likelthood of leakage. Even the unbal- anced budget which, in some other countries would produce apprehension. has failed to tempt people to remo: gold from the United States. Of course, it 1s against the law for a private indie vidual to hold gold in this country. bif experi- re. tate. En has been looked concerned many evasions regulation are managed x ok ox % The United States Government wh forbids its citizens to hoard gold become the greatest gold hoarder in history. The wisdom of the poliey h been questioned by many economis! financiers. Too much gold in one pl has. in the past, been considered a dar gerous position. There is a tendency cause price rises and speculative move ments deleterious to a sound basis of prosperity. There is little doubt United States not probably the seif-reliant country in the world and ° curiously immune from many ouside ef- fects, serious derangements might sult from the fact that half the world gold is in American ownership. Indeed. the administration has in re- cent months displayed some apprehen- sion on the score of its gold hoard. There have been repeated warnings that infla- tion is threatened. Steps have been taken to prevent credit inflation by in- creasing legal bank reserves and making the dammed-up wealth unava able for speculative use. Almost a ago. the Board of Governors of the Feri- eral Reserve System ordered an increace , of reserves—the amount which may net be lent—of 50 per cent and again at the first of this vear & second increase of A0 per cent was ordered. effective progres- sively, the last part of the increase hav- ing gone into effect only about a month ago. of law a the mo:t that were re= * ok ok ¥ European nations have attempted tn hold their gald reserves and have been in a measure successful. The West. in general, is hoarding gold while the East is dehoarding. A tremendous stream of gold which had been in private hoard has come out of the Orient. most of 1! destined for the United States where the $15 premium could be realized. More- | over a great quantity of silver has com= from China and India to take advantage of the premium price which the United States has set on that metal The Bank for International Settle- ments recently made its annual state- ment with many comments on the worid monetary situation. A trenchant one 1s: “No country can alter the external value of its currency without affecting the relative position of other currencies and the exchange fluctuations of one cur- rency, particularly an important one, are the legitimate concern of all nations.” The bank which, in a manner, speaks for all nations, insists that there must be stabilization and a removal of artificial barriers to gold and capital movements. It also insists that trade barriers, espe- cially the artificial quotas. must be re-~ moved if economic restiveness is seen to be corrected and a solid basis of world prosperity achieved.