Evening Star Newspaper, August 2, 1937, Page 8

A—8 2 THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition, WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY ____________ August 2, 1937 THEODORE W. NOYES New York Office: 110 East ©Ohicago Office: 435 North M: Rate by Carrier—City and Suburban, Regular Edition. Evening and Sundav Star e A Ko month or 15¢ per week vening Star g 45¢ per month or 10c per week The Sunday Star -~ - 3¢ Der copy Night Final Edition. Night Final and Sunday Star. 70c per month Night Final Star_. .__ 5c per month Col! on made at the end of each month or Orders may be sent by mali or tele- Bl 5000, Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia, s10.00; 1 Shon: 1 $4.005 mo., 85¢ mo’;, 50c 1 mo., 40c onlv only’ All Other States and Can; Dally ang Sunday Daily onl: Sunday anly i 1 mo.. $1.00 S0t 1 mol " 75c $5.00i 1 mo.. 50c Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled the use fo dispatches i this published herein, Ation of special dispatches of ht herein are also reserved Conservatism Is Best. No recent legislation which has reached a vote in the Senate has so blainly reflected the skepticism of its backers as the wage and hour bill. Many of those who helped to pass it on Sat- urday afternoon had previously voted to recommit. They were plainly torn between the desire to see some wage and hour legislation enacted and the widely held sentiment that such im- portant legislation should be studied more carefully. The move to recommit having been lost, they took what was left, with the pious hope that mistakes which reveal themselves can later be corrected. But if the wage and hour law advo- vates in the House seize on the healthy victory in the Senate as opportunity to liberalize the bill's provisions by hiking the minimum wage standards from forty to as high as seventy cents an hour and reducing the work-week standards to as low as thirty-five hours, they will make 8 great mistake. The most moderately drawn wage and hour legislation is going to be difficult of enforcement. Its effects, especially on some of the small em- ployers in certain sections of the coun- try, notably the South, are doubtful, One of the reasons for the dismal break- down of the N. R. A. before the law's invalidation was the failure to take sufficiently into account the differen- tials in prevailing wages and living standards in various parts of the coun- try. The same problem confronts & suc- cessful administration of the new wage and hour legislation. If the law is in the beginning made too sweeping; if there is too sharp an increase from prevailing to new mini- mum wage standards or too sharp a decrease in permissible hours of labor per week, this attempt to lift wages may beg down under the same difficulties that brought failure to N. R. A. Those who favor the measure in principle in the House and are anxious that a start be made by enactment of legislation at this session will do well, in the interest of the new experiment, to aim at as conservative a bill as possible. There were two interesting demon-’ strations in the Senate vote on Satur- day for wage and hour legislation. One was that the President’s defeat on the court-packing plan has not cost him the continued support of a Senate ma- Jority in the enactment of “liberal” leg- Islation. Some of the outstanding Sen- ate liberals who led the successful fight to bury the court-packing plan were with the President in his wage and hour leg- fslation and will be with him in the future. They did not desert the Presi- dent in the court fight. What they did do was to hold fast to their principles. The other demonstration was in sup- port of the growing recognition in every quarter that child labor in the country is on its way out. Failure of the child labor amendment to recelve the neces- sary support in State Legislatures must be attributed to other elements.than opposition to the outlawry of child labor. Enactment of the wage and hour legis- lation will hasten the end of child labor as it has been known in the past, and there is no lack of public sentiment that this shall be done. s Spain is carrying on a severe war, but the Orient may yet succeed in putting up a combat to cause old disputes to give way while new languages and cus- toms are being tried out. ——————— Americans are leaving Eastern Asia &s rapidly as possible. Our own diffi- culties have their annoyance, but we can at least understand the languages in which they are to be discussed. e Seamen’s Handbook. Reference books can be and frequently are as attractive as any other work of literature. For example, the sixth edi- tion of the “Seamen's Handbook for Shore Leave,” published by the American Merchant Marine Library Association, New York, recently has appeared. And it is a richly useful little volume. One need not be a sailor to appreciate it. William McFee, author of some of the best of modern sea stories, writes the introduction and “apologia.” “That mysterious but invaluable asset to any business, ‘good will’” he explains, “is enormously increased by seamen who spend their time ashore in foreign ports as orderly members of an honorable profession.” The same stipulation, cer- tainly, could be made with regard to tourists as a class, Americans as a people. In other words, the handbook is a kind of primer for the practice of the art of manners. It, therefore, should be studied by men and women who never embark on any voyage save that which may be negotiated in a bath tub. Everybody is a traveler, meeting from day to day with individuals and experiences which demand a polite philosophy of life. One cannot engage [ in a conversation or even listen to the radio without learning that a co-opera- tive adjustment to the human family is required. Peace and a measure of prosperity depend upon the success of one’s relation to the whole human race. But, basically, the problem is intel- lectual in its nature. For instance, it is convenient to be able to say in Berlin, “Kellner, bitte zahlen,” or in Paris, “Garcon! I'addition s'il vous plait.” The alternative, often enough, is embarrass- ment and confusion in departing from an atmosphere which has been definitely congenial. A glossary in the handbook provides helpful guidance in linguistic amenities. Similarly, facts are furnished for every port on earth, from Aalborg, Denmark, to Zungouldak, Turkey. Every conceiv- able question that a mariner might wish answered seems to have been remem- bered; hotels, hospitals, amusements, points of interest, excursions, consulates, banks, etc, are listed in detail. And sprinkled through the pages are gems of sober wisdom like: “Souvenir col- lecting has a universal fascination, but the buyer must be particularly wary in making purchases.” The genius behind the work is Mus. Henry Howard of Newport, president of the association, a lady whose gifts cannot be concealed in the fruits of her labor. Characteristic of her is this note, printed on the back of the title page of the book: “Sent on receipt of fifty cents to any. part of the world.” oo The First Round. Saturday's race between Ranger and Endeavour II for the America's Cup was such a decided victory for the American entry that this great match in yacht building and sailing would seem to be another assured victory for the de- fender. The disparity between the two craft throughout the race was marked, the American yacht outsailing its rival in every respect. There were no flukes of wind which favored her. There were no accidents which handicapped the challenger. There was no crowding of the course by spectator boats that caused embarrassment and delay. In other words, the defender fairly and decisively outsailed the challenger. Today the race will be over a tri- angular course, ten miles to the leg. This may prove to be to the advantage of the contestant. Yachts are tem- peramental things, and sometimes a change of course favors a boat that has looked to be slow in other condi- tions. That, however, is not fi1e Jjudg- ment of yachtsmen who observed the two loats Saturday. There was some opinion to the effect that the light, flukey winds at the start favored the de- fender and handicapped the challenger, at least that there was not wind enough for a fair test of the two boats. Yet the fact that the course was covered within the time limit showed that there was breeze enough for fair headway, both yvachts suffering in probably equal degrees from this condition. Apparently the highest hope of Chal- lenger Sopwith is that he may take one or possibly two of the remaining races, in partial redemption of his failure on Saturday, which was decisive to the point of establishing a new record for the margin of time between the two craft in a finished contest. He has shown splendid sportsmanship in the acceptance of the decisive defeat on the first trial, the harder to bear because his initial challenger, Endeavour I, took the first two of the races three years ago. In that contest it seemed for a time as if at last the British boat builders had reached the mark. Then came the surprise of two successive wins for Rainbow, the defender, each by a very narrow margin—3 minutes and 26 seconds the first time and 1 minute and 15 seconds in the final contest, leaving the field open for both boats in the fifth race, which the defender took by 4 minutes, 1 second, a most dramatic conclusion of a' hotly fought battle. There is undoubtedly much sympathy for the challenger on this side of the sea. Not all of those who have spent great sums in the hope of “lifting” the cup have won the admiration of the American public. But Sopwith, like Lipton, has shown such splendid sports- manship that he today has the best wishes of even partisan Americans for success if he has in fact a boat that can outsail the defender in a series of trials which will offer conditions in which his yacht can show superior qualities, —oer—s. Inquiry is naturally made as to how long a new deal can go without follow- ing the course of nature and becoming the same old sort of a proposition. s Commemorative Coins. Representative John J. Cochran of Missouri has called upon Congress to halt “exploitation of the Nation's coin- age system as a racket.” He refers par- ticularly to eighty-one pending bills for the authorization of allegedly com- memorative half dollars. “Private dealers,” he insists, “are profiteering” in the sale of these fifty-cent pieces. To illustrate his complaint, Mr. Cochran cites the record for the so- called Oregon Trail coin. It was ap- proved in 1926, and six million speci- mens were expected to be issued. Actu- ally, there has been demand for only 237,250 copies, produced with eight dif- ferent dates and marketed commer- cially to collectors at prices approxi- mating “nearly two hundred per cent over the original” face value. Another instance of the same sort is that of the San Diego half dollar, which, according to Mr. Cochran, was manu- factured to the number of 250,000, but of which 180,000 were returned to be re- minted in an edition of which only 30,000 have been distributed. The Govern- ment, in effect, produced 430,000 pieces to sell 100,000. But the public probablyt may be less concerned with the problem of wasted labor than with that of the purpose for which the commemorative coinage is li- censed. Mr. Cochran explains that the mint delivers the special money to the THE EVENING STAR, WASHI groups which have requested it—local commissions or agents promoting neigh- borhood celebrations, exhibitions, fairs, etc, of ephemeral significance. Of course, each piece is worth the amount stamped upon it; but the practice is to dispose of the coins at a premium. Thus, the dealers are afforded a prece- dent for their manipulation of the market. Numismatists, theoretically, pay the bill. Yet Mr. Cochran appears to be well advised in his campaign to abolish the custom. A certain sanctity which the currency of the Nation ought to have is injured by the racket aspect of the business. e The gentle voice of lyrical romance resounds above the echo of remorseful sorrow and at intervals the radio con- tinues to defy static interference and to carol “The Love Bug'll Get You If You Don't Watch Out.” According to re- ports, even the unsentimental Mussolini has been having his troubles, in which the postman’s knock must be heard along with the salutation of severe discipline, e Not so many were Kkilled on the steam- boat City of Baltimore as figured in the original report. It would not be sur- prising if some of those who escaped a terrible fate claimed the care of a proper institution for some time to come. While conducting world experiments with air- craft, safety has not even been secured for the short-time trippers, close to shore. e : It appears that the ready and elo- quent Mr. H. L. Mencken was aware years ago that Baltimore, like other large commercial cities, had an underworld. Mr. Mencken at least survives in atten- tion as a practical reformer even though ancient sinners go their way. ———— Nobody asks what became of Mr. Scopes, the educator who taught simple evolution to the class, but everybody is aware of the statue in Potomac Park of W. J. Bryan, who hurled rhetorical defi- ance at it. The politician still has the last word in some of humanity's affairs. ——e—s. While he retires from the microphone, Vice President John Nance Garner leaves radio publicity largely to his fellow Texan, Mr. Maury Maverick. Texas is a large State that may be depended on to reveal a variegated list of opinions on almost any subject. ———e—s China now fears that she may have to start over again and make a new estimate of the remarkable military re- sources commanded by the able Japa- BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Outliving & Policy. “Some day you will be President.” The small boy quite agreed; Exclaiming, as he gave assent, “That will be nice, indeed. “I'll ride in motor cars all day, Or fish along the shore. At marbles constantly I'l play And own a candy store. “All books and problems I will store On a neglected shelf, I'll have a motion picture show That's run to suit myself. “T'll fire my elders when their noise With mine does not agree, And fill théir jobs with little boys Who like to play with me!” This old world would be strange, in sooth, And sorrows would ensue If all the fancies of our youth In manhood should come true. Problems. “Surely you approve of my plans for universal content and prosperity.” “I like the content and prosperity idea all right,” replied Senator Sorghum. “But these social problems are more or less complicated by people whe insist that they know the answer without doing the necessary figuring to make sure it's correct.” Jud Tunkins says if after-dinner speeches were genuinely instructive the waiters where they give big banquets would be the wisest men on earth. Large Order. The man now called upon to serve With simple toil in life's affairs Must be equipped with brawn and nerve And also answer questionnaires. Shifting Responsibilities. “There are a great many mosquitoes around here,” remarked the Summer boarder. “Yes,” replied Farmer Corntossel; “we have to f)ut up with ‘em without com- plainin’. They most come around at this time of year. Summer boarders seem to bring ’em.” “In remembering injuries,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “there is grave danger of losing precious time that might bring happiness by remem- bering our gratitudes.” Changing Minus to Plus. If what we've planned with purpose bland Should bring, with sudden dread, A plentitude of money and A scarcity of bread, Again we’ll meet where men compete With brains for public praise, And try to find some way to eat The grain we did not raise. “Big words,” said Uncle Eben, “is useful in makin’ you think twice and mebbe hunt up a dictionary before you tries to talk back.” Midsummer Attire. From the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. Bonte fellows take too literally ad- vertising that says Summer trousers are cool. A New York heat casuslty was plcked up wearing two pairs of ‘em. ~ ! { Executive Not Accorded Power to Coerce Congress To the Editor of The Star: It has not yet been fully realized how much more than the preservation of our Supreme Court was involved in the conflict in which a truce has just been called. During the controversy the exist- ence of the United States Senate as a deliberative body was assailed by meth- ods followed by the jury fixers who hang about some of our criminal courts. Un- successful as those methods were, we must admit that they resulted in the Senate losing much of its prestige. On the winping side, it emerged as a major casualty. It is painfully obvious that there is & confusion in the mind of the Executive— or in the minds of those whose mouth- piece he is—as to the meaning of that provision of~ our Constitution which directs him to “recommend to the con- sideration of Congress such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedi- ent.” The power of the Executive is only to recommend. The enactment into law of his recommendations is a matter to be determined by an enlight- ened and untrammeled Congress. The mere recording of the President’s pleas- ure could be done far more economteally than by the perfunctory action of the two bodies of highly paid public servants Who owe their offices to their constitu- ents and not to the favor of the Execu- tive. It is plain that the Constitution was draughted by men who intended that the advisory power of the President in con- nection with proposed legislation would be exercised only with the advice of the responsible heads of the several depart- ments of the Government. It is now a matter of common knowledge that he is acting upon the advice or at the dicta- tion of less trustworthy persons. The official accordion player at the White House naively admits the authorship of those “Fireside Talks,” which had been reverently listened to by thousands who thought they were hearing the words of their revered leader. It was only the voice of Jacob, the hand was that of the Esau who, in conjunction with Mr. Farley, had sought by threats and prom- ises to make Senators vote according to their “material interests” rather than according to their convictions. Now, it is proposed to reinforce the official musician and jury-fixer with six other “contact men,” who will be clois- tered in the White House and shrouded in anonymity. If the Senate now agrees to barb the shafts intended for their annoyance if not for their destruction and votes for the official creation of these human gadflies, our kitchen cabinet will assume full orchestral proportions. HOWARD PITCHER OKIE. Deplores Hedge-Hopping And Jugglery Spectacle To the Bditor of The Star: A few comments upon District taxes are wrenched out of this correspondent by the spectacle of hedge-hopping and Jjugglery that has been going on, with- out prospect of improvement, these sev- eral months past. An automobile weight tax is fair, The modern motor car hogs everything, the streets, the safety of every one, in- cluding the drivers themselves, both wild and tame; the sleep and rest of occupants of “quiet” residence sections with their perpetual horns. They should pay for it. The tax on insurance premiums should exempt policies under a certain size. This would be in line with what the New Deal purports in line with its largess to the humble and destruction to those awful royalists. If these policvholders aren't the bulwark of the United States, who is? Though most of them own a small piece of property, many have fore- gone the incredible glory of motor car ownership (on the theory that contracts they can't afford shouldn't be under- taken) to keep premiums paid. Relief funds on the outgo side know them not. The kick against a realty tax rise would be less strenuous if we got some- thing for it. A five-cent traction fare is suggested, & “fair return” to the com- pany to be made up by special realty subsidy. It's plea for ever higher fares will never end. Apparently it is utterly unable to cope with the situation, as its propaganda of the lowness of local fares compared with other places in- dicates. In general, however, the principle of city budget balance contained in present efforts is fully appreciated by any one who has existed in Washington under the last five glorious years of perfection in government. G. A. FARSON. ——oe—s. Government Workers Can Not Serve Two Masters To the Editor of The Star: Just a little reminder to the vast num- bers of United States Government work- ers, who are pushed and pulled to enlist under the Communistic C. I. O. banner, that they give some thought to the old adage, about trying to serve two masters faithfully, which is even more applicable today than when recorded in the Bible centuries ago. They should know that they cannot serve both John L. Lewis and the United States Government, hon- estly and faithfully, and surely they are not going to bite the hands of Uncle Sam who feeds them. RICHARD J. PAHNKE. oo The Future of the ‘Democratic Party From the Peter Molyneaux in Texas Weekly. Hereafter the South is going to have much less to say about the affairs of the Democratic party than it has had in the past. The action of last year's Democratic Convention in abolishing the two-thirds rule took care of that. When the delegates at Philadelphia decided that henceforth the Democratic party would name candidates for President and Vice President by a bare majority of the votes of a mational convention, by that action they turned the manage- ment of the affairs of the party over to the big cities and the industrial and mining districts of the country. The fact that during one hundred years it has been necessary for the various sec- tions of the country to reach an agree- ment on the national candidates of the Democratic party has insured to the South a degree of influence in the coun- cils of the party in keeping with its long devotion to that party and its prin- ciples. But that is now gone forever. The Democratic party hereafter will nominate its candidates regardless of the wishes of the South, and it will be taken for granted that the South will humbly accept any candidate and any platform that a combination of States like Penn- sylvania, New York, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois may decide upon. I think it is inevitable that this will change the whole character of the Demo- cratic party. Thirteen States in the northeastern corner of the country, with the assistance of one other big-city State, like California, let us say, can completely control all future Democratic conventions, just as they have controlled all Republican conventions in the past. And the character of the population of those States and their interests are so different from the population and the interests of the South that this cannot fail to have far-reaching consequences. A THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. If fish are missing from a lily pool, do not blame it onto cats without infes- tigation. It may be a kingfisher. This fishing bird sometimes flie; into local gardens, and helps himself to a meal. A pool owner was upset recently by loss of some of her brightly colored swimmers, Two or three of the fishes had been found near the edge of the pool. It was very suspicious. The owner happened to look out one day at a big shrub not far from the water. There on the bush sat a bird with a very large bill, Sun gleamed on something in its beak, It was a pet goldfish! * X x ¥ ‘The culprit had been caught in the act. His name was not Tom nor Tabby. He did not wear fur but feathers. He was a kingfisher, beyond doubt, come into the peaceful confines of a small garden for fell purposes. “A feathered Ike Walton who is a stickler for his fishing rights—" so this interesting and beautiful bird has been described. While mostly it sticks to the rivers and small streams, such as Rock Creek, it sometimes comes across country. Since pool building has increased tre- mendously in the past 10 years, it may be believed that many more kingfishers will be seen in home gardens than in the past. It is not too much to believe that if every garden had a lily pool, stocked with goldfish, the belted kingfisher might in time become one of our best known garden birds. * X ¥ % This bird is a foot long, about the size of the bluejay, but seems bigger, owing to a stouter body and a very long, thick bill. . A beautiful, trim bird is the kingfisher, with its blue-gray and white body, band- ed, and its crest, and its very eficient looking black bill. It has a dashing, somewhat impudent appearance, which well suits its ability as a diver after fish. Mostly in streams it catches minnows, chubs and the like, so that no human fisherman need fear it as a competitor for game fish. It is said to eat crawfish and other aquatic creatures, as well as beetles and locusts when the fishing is bad. All in all, it earns its salt, as a useful bird. * X %k X “Halcyon days” is an old expression, indicating certain times when .all is quiet and peaceful. Well, the kingfisher gave it the name. In the old days, hundreds of years ago, this bird was called the halcyon, so great an impression did it make upon those who saw it. It is a filne word, halcyon, and one which mankind has not let die. It unites the modern garden to the garden of Pliny. He or she who has a kingfisher at the poolside has an interesting guest, in- deed, although sometimes a very dis- comfiting one. If the owner is interested in fish life, the sight of this fine bird is something of an {ll omen. Contrary to popular opinion, the king- fisher seldom pierces the victim with its bill. Usually it simply seizes the fish between the mandibles, and so holds it while it flies to a perch, where it beats it to death, and then devours it, or so much of it as it can, if the fish is too large. Fishing from the air in this way must be difficult enough without the rules of the game requiring that a direct “hit” be registered. The bird is fortunate if it can get its bill on the victim in any manner at all, All fishes are wary about the menace from the air. That is the reason that most fishes are dark along the spine, 30 that when an enemy from the skies looks down upon them, they will merge with the dark of the water. Since the kingfisher has very sharp eyes, however, it is able to detect even the smallest fishes, the type it likes best. It must be that goldfishes of the aver- age size are not strictly to the taste of these birds. Perhaps that is why the fishes are 5o often found mutilated. “Some cat did this!” snorts the owner, but in reality it wasn't even a catbird, * K ok X The gardener beset by such a fisherbird might try putting plenty of anacharis in the pool. This aquatic plant grows so thickly and well that it affords the goldfishes plenty of places to hide. Lily pads are good for this, too, but will not always deter a kingfisher. If the owner has reason to suspect one of these birds, a good way to thwart them is to spread chicken wire over the pool. This is guaranteed to give a kingfisher something to think about, something en- tirely outside his ancest:al training. * ok ok % Very few inquiries have been received this year as to what to do for pools which have “gone green” from too much algae of the so-called free-living sort in the water. There must be something lacking in the sunshine this Summer. a quality which in past years rapidly built up these small microscopic plants, so that many people’s pools were pea-soupy all during the season when they should have been looking their best. No doubt these things go in cwles; there will be & period when lily pools are clear, and then a period when they are greenish, with goldfishes, as bright as they are, being visible only when they come to the surface. The popular “remedy” for green water, that of putting something made of cop- per into it, is mostly hokum. It this is tried, and it seems to work, rest assured that it is only coincidence, Copper in any form is harmful to ani- mal life, and one is running a far greater risk of injuring the fishes than helping clear up the water., WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE, Another strongly impelling reason why members of Congress yearn for adjournment is their desire to look after their fences without further delay. This applies in particular to 400-odd Repre- sentatives who aspire to re-election in 1938 and to the 32 Senators whose terms expire in January. Anxiety to re-estab- lish contact with their constituents is liveliest among the Democrats who incurred administration displeasure through opposition to the Supreme Court bill. In the name of party harmony, Jim Farley is now busily proclaiming that no reprisals are planned, but many members of both branches feel far from reassured on this score. With other New Deal spokesmen publicly clamoring for decapitation of “betrayers of Roosevelt,” Democrats who led or joined the fight against the President's judiciary pro- gram fear that Farley's soothing sirup may turn out to be as undependable as his “in the bag” prophecy about votes for the court scheme. In some cases, congressional primaries are barely six months away. Men who must face the guns think, under all the circumstances, that there’s not a moment to be lost in laying their plans for political self- perpetuation. Hence their yen for the folks back home. LR O At the very outset of his career as a Democratic majority leader, Senator Barkley faced a stern test of his man- agerial qualities, in connection with the wages and hours bill. Differences pro- voked by the labor standards measure, especially among Southern Senators, prove that New Déal unity is as sorely disrupted over that White House propo- sition as was the case with Supreme Court legislation. Senator Pat Harrison's vehement disapproval, while based pri- marily on the bill's disadvantages for Dixie industries, gave the Mississippian early and apparently not unwelcome opportunity to captain opposition to his antagonist in the leadership contest. The Senate fight against the Black-Connery proposition, due to be duplicated in the House, emphasizes the extent and bitter- ness of the Democratic schism. It fore- shadows plenty of additional discord when other administration-backed pro- posals come up for action, now or later. * x ok % There’s been a notable letdown in the spirit of both branches of Congress since the court battle. Vigorous as subsequent debate has been in spots, the Capitol atmosphere is highly charged with leth- argy—that tired feeling which always follows super-energetic effort in any field. Historians of the crusade to save an independent judiciary may record that it left Congress so frazzled that later legislation was enacted by a Senate and House in humor to approve undigested proposals, in order to hasten the wind- up of a session that had outlived its | usefulness. %k x Senate confirmation possibilities will bulk heavily in President Roosevelt’s appointment of a Supreme Court justice. Because of that fact, the name of Fed- eral Judge Sam G. Bratton of New Mexico rates high among candidates for the Van Devanter vacancy. As a former ‘member of the Senate, Bratton's nom- ination would be assured automatic approval by his one-time colleagues. He resigned from the New Mexico Supreme Court bench in 1924 to rum for the Senate, and, after re-election to a second term, resigned his seat in 1933 to accept one of the earliest Roosevelt appoint- ‘ments to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, on which he is now serving. Another circuit justice, Joseph C. Hutcheson, jr,, of Houston, also remains prominently in the Supreme Court run- ning. His greatest handicap is prob- ably geographical, as Texans already occupy so many seats of the mighty at Washington. Judge Bratton, while now & New Mexican, happens to be a Lone Star native, » Representative Jerry J. O'Connell, Democrat, of Montana. the baby mem- ber of Congress, is host this evening to & group of Senators, Representatives, newspaper men and prominent Wash- ingtonians at an informal reception in honor of Dr. Edward Barsky, head of the American hospitals in the Spanish war zone. Dr. Barsky went to Spain last vear, shortly after the outbreak of civil war, as leader of the medical unit of the North American Committee for Spanish Democracy, and established a series of hospitals within Loyalist ter- ritory. He returned to the United States a few days ago for a brief visit, with vivid accounts of conditions encoun- tered in the course of his humanitarian enterprise. Representative O'Connell recently introduced a House resolution, asking the President, under the neu- trality law, to declare an embargo on exports to Germany, Italy and Portugal. * ® x % Former Washington associates are surprised to learn of the fortune left by the late Roy D. Chapin, Secretary of Commerce during the last two years of the Hoover administration. The Detroit automobile magnate passed away in February, 1936. According to his will, filed for New York tax purposes last week, the estate approximates a gross value of $7,750,000. It consists princi- pally of securities, largely holdings in the Hudson Motor Car Co. of which Chapin was president, and is bequeathed to his widow and three children, * Xk ok %k Representative Charles L. Gifford. Re- publican, of Massachusetts wins congres- sional laurels for the Summer’s prize political quip. Thrusting at current Democratic family strife, the Bay Stater said in the House the other day: “Thomas Jefferson founded the Demo- cratic party and Franklin Roosevelt dumbfounded it.” * X % X Apropos revelations that “White House Tommy” Corcoran, legalistic luminary of the New Deal, first flashed into the Washington heavens under Republican auspices during the Hoover administra- tion, it's recalled that Solicitor General Stanley F. Reed, reputed to be near the top of Roosevelt Supreme Court prefer- ences, also was a Hoover appointee. He came here in 1929 as general counsel of the old Federal Farm Board. Yet an- other New Deal star of the first magni- tude, R. F. C. Chairman Jesse H. Jones, initially joined the body which he now heads by Hoover nomination to a direc- torship in 1932, * ok ok K Representative Wright Patman, Demo- crat, of Texas, co-author of the 1936 law governing trade practices, is com- pleting a book which will analyze its purpose and background. The volume will be entitled “How to Operate Hon- estly Under the Robinson-Patman Act,” and is designed to clear up widespread uncertainties and misunderstandings throughout the business world. It is largely an attempt, Patman says, to answer inquiries with which his office continues to be flooded, regarding dis- counts, permissible allowances, adver- tising credits and other moot matters that are plagulng sales executives. (Copyright, 1937.) ] Not Finally Settled. Prom the Grand Rapids Press. A dictionary settles only half of an argument about pronunciation. You can still argue about what the dictionary means, The Far-East Standard. From the Sioux Oity Tribune. Hitler says there will be no war. We are thereby led to believe that the doings in Spain represent nothing more seri- ous than s Japanese form of peace. * NGTON, D. C, MONDAY, AUGUST — L e S e e ANSWERS TO BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Evening Sta: Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. Why do some countries use stand= ard time, but qualify it by being on ths “half hour"?—N, B. A.In some countries the half hour more nearly agrees with the local time and seems to have an advantage. Among them, New Zealand uses time 114 hours faster than Greenwich; Burma, 6% hours faster; India, excepting Calcutta, 5!4 hours faster; South Australia, 915 hours faster. Q. Which is rougher, the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean?—J. P. D. A. The Pacific Ocean is less subject to storms than the Atlantic. This is due to various reasons, partly on account of its great extent and partly because there is no wide opening to the Arctic region. The normal wind circulation is on the whole less modified in the North Pacific than in the Atlantic. The trade winds are generally weaker and less persistent in the Pacific, and the intervening bely of equatorial calms is greater. Q. How much cotton is imported from Egypt?—J. K. A. About ten million dollars’ worth is imported per year. Q. If a check protector is not available, is it better to write a check with a type=- writer or ink pen?—A. N, C. A. Accountants say that when a check protector is not available, it is much better to use a pen and ink than a type- writer in making out checks. Q. When was the Auditorium Theater in Chicago opened?—H. J. A. It was officially opened December 9. 1839, with an address by President Benjamin Harrison and a solo by Adelina Patti, who, with her opera company, was the first attraction in the famous opera house. However, before the theater was completed, boards were laid across the roof and the Republican Convention, which nominated Harrison for the presi- dency, was held there. It had the largest seating capacity of any house in the United States—3,665—and is famous for its acoustics. Architects come from Fu- rope and all parts of America to see this creation of the great Louis Sullivan, who, Wwith his associate, Dankmar Adler, built it. The musical extravaganza, “Amer- ica,” playved the longest run and was shown during the World Columbian Ex- position in 1893, Q. What is a pourparler’—H. W, A. It is an informal, preliminary con- ference of representatives of different groups, factions or countries, looking to a formal agreement settling disputed ques- tions among the parties, Q. Have women contributed anything to Japanese literature?—L. F. A. In all periods of Japanese literature the work of women has been notable. It is said that the “Kojiki” and “Nihongi” were produced under the patronage of Empresses. In the eleventh century a woman produced the first novel, a prose epic of real life. To the same century belongs the “Makura no Zoshi" (“Pillow Sketches™), a realistic picture of social life in Kyoto of that time, Q. Did Parnell, the Trish statesman, ever visit the United States?>—M. 8, A. He spent the vears 1872-73 traveling in the United States. Q. What was the first American politle cal machine?—M. R, A. The first well-organized political machine in the United States was the Albany Regency. It consisted of a cote- rie of Democrats who from 1820 to 1854 exercised a controling influence over the politics of the State of New York and considerable power in national politics. Their headquarters was at Albany. Chief among this regency were Martin Van Buren and W. L. Marcy. Q. Is Kokomo an Indian name?—D. D, A. Kokomo, Ind, was named for s Miami Indian chief. Q. Is Spencer Penrose, who erected the Will Rogers Memorial in Colorado, relat ed to Boise Penrose?—E. J, A. Mr. Penrose is a brother of the late United States Senator. Q. From what place to what place did the old National road extend?—G. M. A. At the time of its construction it was the most ambitious road-building project that had been attempted in the United States. It extended from Cum= berland, Md., to St. Louis, Mo, Q. What is the name of the fictionized account of the life of James Whitcomb Riley?—A. A. i A. “The Poet,” by Meredith Nicholson, Q. What is the name of the town in Tllinois that is being moved to escape future floods?>—H. M. A. Shawneetown, Ill, will move from its present location to a new site 3 miles west, on ground above that which has been razed by the Ohio River floods, The undertaking will require two vears. Buildings will be moved to the new site on trucks, while other residences and buildings will be dismantled and rebuilt. The old site of Shawneetown will be purchased by the State of Illinois for a park. Q. How long did it take to build the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris?—D. B. 8. A. It was begun in 1163 and completed in 1304. The spires which were originally to have surmounted the twin towers were never added. Q. What is meant by the term litotes? —W. R. A. This is a figure of speech by which a strong affirmative is expressed simply by the negative of the contrary as, a storm of no small force, a matter of no slight significance. Q. How many large citles are there in Germany?—F. G. A. Germany has 53 cities with over 100,000 inhabitants each., A Rhyme at Twilight B Gertrude Broayke Hamilton. The Rhymester. I walked under trees where green boughs met, The path was chequered by light and shade, Sweet was the air in the Summer lush, Birds filled with music the cloistered glade. 3 In & mood half sad, elated half, Threaded with dreams I could not disperse, My be(;r;g was thrilled by the gift of I The strange, warm wonder of making verse. s ja)