Evening Star Newspaper, August 9, 1937, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition, WASHINGTON, D. C. August 9, 1937 THEODORE W. NOYES The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 11th St and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd 8t. ©hicago Office: 435 North Michigan Ave, Rate by Carrier—City and Suburban. Regular Editlon. ing and Sunday Star Tty 65c per month or 15¢c per week ‘The Evening Star The Bunday Sta: -5¢ per copy Night ition. Night Final and Sunday Star-._.70c per month Night Final Star. _55c per month Collection made at the e each month or each week, Orders may be sent by mall or tele- phone Natlonal 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Dally and Sun : Daily only ; Sunday onl $4.00i r 10c per week All Other States and da, Daily and Sunday_ 4 yr, Daily only__ _"_ 1 yr Eunday only"___Z7 1 yr.! Member of the Associated Press, The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein, All rights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. : P Moved, Seconded, Carried. A certain social organization of this city had as its president a number of Years s4e a man of somewhat impatient tempermpent. When presiding over the meetings he took short cuts to action, with & formula that, whatever its lack of parliamentary precision, was effec~ tive. He would listen for a few minutes to discussion and would then rap his gavel briskly and say: “I move, second and carry” the proposition under con- sideration. He would brook no re- monstrance, would tolerate no appeal. Vice President Garner has adopted this role of the efficient autocrat in matters parliamentary and legislative. On Saturday he “moved, seconded and carried” the substitute court bill through in record time, and so concluded a sit- uation that was certain to end in just the same way if the regular routine of procedure had been strictly followed. This was no new role for Mr. Garner. He had played it before, while he was Speaker of the House of Representatives, thereby expediting the transaction of business. Until Saturday, however, he had not employed his “move, second and carry” technique in his conduct of the sessions of the Senate, to which he was transferred March 4, 1933. He had, with often evident impatience, refrained from legislating with his gavel. Indeed, no such occasion or opportunity as that of Saturday had previously offered. The court bill—the second or amended court bill—was on its way to passage. All agreed that it would pass. The features of the first bill that had aroused bitter snd determined opposition, even and Particularly in the Democratic ranks, had been eliminated and the measure had been trimmed almost to an innoc- fous desuetude, to use a phrase made famous by Grover Cleveland. Form-loving Senators, especially those who clung in spirit to the form and purpose of the old bill, which they were reluctantly abandoning in the face of an assured majority against it, wanted to go through all the motions, wanted to make some explanatory and expostula- tory speeches before the final act of this gerio-comedy of legislation was con- cluded. There were some near-post mortem deliverances to be emitted, not in the hope or expectation of changing the verdict but to gratify the spirit of loyalty to a losing cause. At the psychological moment the Vice President swung into action. “Are there amendments to the committee amend- ment?” he shouted, his voice dominat- ing the chamber. These amendments were then put and carried with a rapid- fire formula, “without objection the amendment is agreed to,” swiftly re- peated. Then came the climax. With the briefest possible pause the Vice President proclaimed: “Without objec- tion the bill as amended is passed.” When the tumult and the shouting died the serene figure of John Nance Garner stood forth the victor of the battle. His face was somewhat more highly colored than usual, his hand was cramped from constant wielding of the gavel, but his spirit was serene. He had “moved, seconded and carried” the court bill. And that was that! But what a different sort of court bill this from the court bill which the Presi- dent threw into the senatorial hopper February 5! And what a turmoil had raged from that fateful day on, through the remainder of Winter, throughout the Spring, and halfway through the Summer! And how many ties of party discipline had been sundered, and what 8 lot of “face” had been lost in those twenty-six weeks—just half a year! Has anybody reckoned the cost of that long struggle, in terms of stenog- raphy, printing, witness expenses, not to go Into such items as the Jefferson Island harmony picnic? Has there been & reckoning of the consequences, pecu- niary and otherwise, of the protraction of the session far beyond its normal duration incident to and caused by this stubbornly fought losing battle for short- cut judicial “reform”? Well, it is now over, that battle. It has been lost by the aggressor, the pro- ponent, of a plan which shocked the country and split his own party. The go-called compromise bill—that which the Vice President on Saturday “moved, seconded and carried,” with the Senate’s assent by silence—is an innocuous meas- ure in comparison with the original bill. It provides for speedier court action in the lower judicial range, for an assured representation of the administration in the tests of constitutionality before the lower courts and for the maintenance of the authority of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of acts of Congress, by majority. It does not permit the packing of that Court, and in that negative feature alone is it a triumph for the defenders of the vital principle of a judiciary free from polit- dcal influence. ‘The historian of the future who essays an analysis of this protracted episode will find many factors of interest and influence tending to the climax of Sat- urday. He will note from current chronicles the instant outburst of public feeling in opposition to this astounding attempt to make of the Supreme Court a rubber stamp for the validation of acts of Congress however revolutionary in character and however violative of the Constitution. He will see the ranks of the President’s political party riven by the proposal. He will observe the dis- tortion of long maintained sectional lines of support of that party, upon all questions and all issues. He will read the brave words of Democratic Senators in debate challenging the righteousness and the need and the wisdom of this proposal. And he will come at last to the final pages of this record of six months of struggle and note the words of the Vice President, presiding officer of the Senate, “Without objection the amendment is agreed to—without objec- tion the bill as amended is passed!” ——— Helpful Outline. Representative Kennedy's plan for reorganization of the municipal govern- ment should be accepted in the spirit with which it has been offered. There is, of course, no remote chance that such an important undertaking as the legis- lative enactment of his scheme can be completed before the end of this session. It would be unwise even to attempt it. Mr. Kennedy has offered in outline the basic principles on which he would be willing to sponsor reorganization legis- lation and before the next session of Congress local citizens will have the time and opportunity to give the plan careful consideration. It is probably true that nothing short of giving to the citizens of Washington full participation in their government will remedy the chief defects of our local governmental system. For these defects all spring from the same root. No sound governmental system is pos- sible that fails to give those who are governed a voice in their government. And Mr. Kennedy's plan falls short of giving to Washington and its citizens any real system of representation. An advisory counsel might prove helpful. But Congress retains the power utterly to ignore such advice. The fact that such advice might be given formally, in- stead of informally as at present, would not go far toward changing conditions as they are today. Elements of the plan, however, might improve the efficiency of the local gov- ernment and prove of real benefit to Congress. The time has certainly come when searching examination should be made of the personnel needs at the Dis- trict Building, to find whether there is waste in jobs. For maintenance and operation expenses of the local govern- ment have become enormous, eating up a large percentage of the taxpayer’s dollar. The proposal for modifying the powers of the Bureau of the Budget over the local government, powers which were never intended in the first place and which have been enlarged in a manner that contradicts good sense as well as good government, will meet with universal approval. Divesting the Budget Bureau of some of its extraor- dinary policy-making powers has been urged for many years by many compe- tent authorities. Enlargement of the Commissioners’ powers to “legislate” in the matter of municipal regulation is also desirable and it would be helpful if Congress would experiment in further delegation of its legislative powers. The word “ex- periment” is used advisedly, for any delegation of authority to the Commis- sioners would face a test in the courts to determine the limits, under the Con- stitution, to which Congress may go in sharing its exclusive powers. These limits are at present somewhat hazy and not clearly defined. Mr. Kennedy has shown himself to be sympathetically inclined toward the problems faced by the people of the District and he has occupled, on the House District Committee, a strategic position from which to study these prob- lems. The Kennedy proposals, together with the plans being studied by the Com- missioners’ committee, should prove helpful next Winter as the basis for experimental legislation. — e All that Mr, Wagner has to say about the literature he caused to be distrib- uted about the housing bill is in the nature of apology. If the desks of Sen- ators are to show propaganda they must bring it into the august chamber with them. e Rainbow Over Gettysburg. Not many persons saw it, but yester- day, toward the close of the afternoon, an especially glorious rainbow appeared over the national park which has re- placed the battlefield of Gettysburg. There had been several showers, the usual Sunday crowds had been fright- ened away by the threat of still another downpour. Only a few straggling visitors wandered through the lanes and among the monuments which commemorate the fratricidal struggle of seventy-four years ago. A sinking sun painted the whole picture with gold, and spectators watched it at its work with appreciation. But the miracle was unannounced. Indeed, it seemed entirely by accident that the eastern sky slowly became a canvas for the solar artist. A crystal curtain descended from scattered clouds high overhead. Thus the imperative. material for the ultimate marvel was provided. Minute by minute the rainbow grew from the horizon line to north and south until the arch was perfectly complete, a burning band of blended colors bright as flames. Small wonder, an observer thought, the ancient Hebrews found such a phe- nomenon symbolic of the mercy of God. Nothing else in human experience could be more profoundly inspiring. A law of mathematics, of course, may be ac- cepted in explanation of it. Skilled physicists, certainly, are competent to duplicate it in their laboratories. The principle involved is simple enough for a child to understand. Yet the magic of THE EVENING STAR, WASHI it remains. The average soul is stirred to its depths by the indescribable beauty of the effect and even the most faulty comprehension of the cause is com- pelling. Call it superstition as we may, the con- viction of millions that a rainbow means peace has self-evident merit. It signifies the end of a storm, if nothing else. And at Gettysburg its connotation was that of restored solidarity. The carnage of July, 1863, fadad into history; the tur- moil of 1937 ceased to disturb the tran- quil heart. Every difference between men, it seemed, was ephemeral in char- acter. Let war and revolution rage, let the classes indulge in the bitterest of strife. In the end the sun will shine again—perhaps through a veil of tears, vet with the grandeur and the splendor of illimitable eternity. e It is now rumored that Mr. James A. Farley has an excellent opportunity to go into the automobile business and try to make good salesmanship win him back friends that politics may have lost him. As to the Farley attainments in salesmanship there can be no doubt or question. B — Rex Martin, the aviator, had dis- tinguished friends, but they are not mentioned when he becomes a victim of ill fortune in an airplane at sea. He is at least listed among such dis- tinguished favorites as Amelia Earhart and Will Rogers. = e China has at least bolstered her credit by borrowing some gold from this coun- try and depositing silver as security. China has the worst of the betting odds, but this sounds like a bear move in the betting ring. ————————_ Movies revive old names and teach gentle recollections. The name of Jim Fisk revives a modern version of the song which a circus clown once sang with uncovered head: “You may say that Jim Fisk was a very bad man! But he never went back on the poor!” Some one will yet contribute to footlight lore a Nat Goodwin. ——r—e—— Tammany has paused from time to time to lend its fame to gild the career of some man of political genius. Royal 8. Copeland may prove to be one of these. e The month of August has folded off nearly a quarter of itself on the calendar and the motions to adjourn are not yet heard in Congress, where they are by this time anticipated with enthusiasm. ——— Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Conversational Nature. I wonder what he talks about, The bee in yonder clover? Is he a creature filled with doubt, Or but a singing rover? I wonder what they have to say, The kine so softly lowing, Or fowl that lift a barnyard lay, The pigs who grunt while growing? They paused in matters they discussed And said, in haughty humor, “You're not supposed to know. Just The ultimate consumer.” Becoming Modesty. “Are you going to conduct a campaign for education?” “No,” replied Senator Sorghum. “My constituents know so much now that I've got to study to keep up with them.” You're Jud Tunkins says the man most liable to have the best of an argument is the one who manages to keep out of it. Perplexities. I must confess I do not understand All that the diplomats so grave relate, And fear that diplomats in many a land May reach a somewhat similar mental state. Too Great a Sacrifice. “Who is the most popular man in Crimson Guich?” “Cactus Joe. He was unanimously elected sheriff.” “Is he now holding office?” “No. He refused. He said he'd rather go on bein’ popular.” “A sneer,” said Hi-Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “is a smile which, once good wine, has been through -carelessness allowed to turn to vinegar.” Fishing. “Everybody fishes some,” Said Hezekiah Bings, “Even in the busy hum Of life’s common things. PFishing for a compliment, Fishing for a smile, Each one fishing is intent In a different style. “Fishing for a title grand With a social bait, One who thought a whale to land Only got a skate. As the seasons go and come Still the custom clings. Everybody fishes some,” Said Hezekiah Bings. “Everybody needs a certain amount o' sleep,” said Uncle Eben. “Dar never yet was anybody so smart dat he maybe couldn’t be caught nappin’.” ] Bulgarian Royal Heirs. From the Asheville Times. When the newly born heir to the Bul- garian throne cries, the doctors do not know whether it is healthy infant lung exercise or a lament over being born to the purple in these uncertain fascist, communist, democratic days. ——e—. Worth the Cost. From the Williamsport (Ps.) Sun. One million British spinsters have presented petitions to Parliament, de- manding that they be declared eligible for government pensions at the age of 55. ‘It might be worth authorizing the pension to learn how many spinsters of 55 would admit that age. r kind word for the wayward yet clever | Progress of Labor Merely Keeping Up With the Times To the Editor of The Star: It has been our privilege to witness recently one of the most outstanding and revolutionary procedures yet under- taken by any government for the pur- pose of bringing about and establishing tranquillity among capital and labor. I refer to the wage and hour bill recently passed by the Senate. The history of the struggle between capital and labor is as old as mankind itself, dating back to the memorable dates of the pyramids and the construction of such edifices as the ancient Tower of Babylon. Of course, in ancient days most of the burden of building-such structures was carried on by slaves and we read of the gruesome cruelty inflicted by those whose command was the law. Slavery was the customary practice in ancient Assyria, Egypt and Babylon and even during the existence of the old Greek democracies there were countless engagements in which slave labor participated. How often we have read in the works of Homer of the Trojan men of war which were propelled by the sweat of Ethiopian oarsmen. Throughout the long and trying years under which rose and fell the imperial- istic Roman Empire runs the story of the slaves in the market places and of how they were utilized as gladiators to satisfy the whims of a lustful and licen- tious mob. As civilization expanded and the ex- tension of education stimulated to a certain degree the abolishment of such cruel practices mankind evolved into a different sphere of servitude. After the fall of Rome and the setting up of the feudalistic state slavery gave way to the more enlightened means of labar known as serfdom. Wnder this system men and women tilled the fields for powerful nobles who in turn furnished them protection with soldiers main- tained by the taxes which the poor serfs were forced to contribute. Serfdom continued throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance up until the time of the Reformation and the Industrial Revolution, when the intro- duction of the factory system induced the peasants to leave the fields and go to the cities to work. This was the be- ginning of large municipalities and the complex social and economic orders which were the offspring of this cap- italistic mass production. Individuals became the power at the wheel of in- dustry and therefore demanded to guide the wheel which would pilot the ship of state. Individual initiative was stim- ulated and self-importance wove itself Into the social, political and economic fabric (f the masses. Labo conditions improved as time went on and with its improvement we find the setting up of trade unions es- tablished to protect the bargaining rights of the workingman. Recently we have witnessed the quick growth of the American Federation of Labor, and, in the eyes of this organization, its bad- boy offspring, the Committee of Indus- trial Organization. This latter organ- ization has sponsored the whimsical but, strange to say, successful sit-down strikes. Labor apparently for the first time is demanding the upper hand and is suc- ceeding to a great extent in getting it. Labor has traveled a long road from the slavocracy of ancient Egypt to the predominance which it holds today. Its advancement may best be described by the simple axiom so logically true that it is merely keeping up with the times. BENJAMIN R. STICKNEY, Jr, ———s Nusiance Industries and Row House Developments To the Editor of The Star: ‘The battle on the nuisance industry front rages with alternating advantage but not armistice. Each camp marshals its apparently unassailable arguments for the next assault. Not only touching concern for the row- house dwellers in the future Benning housing district, but great humanitarian concern for the health of the local fish (non-human variety) is the latest sam- ple. Increased employment and lower baloney prices are of scant concern in a politically dominated center when esthetic values hang suspended. That pollution detriment claims are grossly exaggerated and bear slight relation to fact it takes no up-to-the-minute expert to_establish. But it is interesting, if painful—all question of relief aside—to throw an eyve over the alternative: Sixty acres of row houses for the underprivileged (owners of one car only). This much has been promised or threatened. Gobel com- pany, if squeezed out, would doubtless sell its land, to be devoted to the same high-minded purpose, construction of more endless masses of super-tenements in rows. Is this what defenders of the city from nuisance industries fought for? Esthetes willing to risk the bake-oven climate of the newly created paradise purified by their successful battle against nuisance industry incursion could steep their souls in this matchess spectacle: Hot, dry streets, clogged with as many row houses as the building code will permit to be jammed onto each square block. Acres of red-hot roofs, steaming streets. Concrete alleys with only so much struggling and licked-before- planted back yard as won't cramp the inevitable built-in garage. Acre after acre of this in a section where detached building has ruled. The esthetes’ alter- native. Do you like it better than what they have excluded? At least it is what, with addition of officlal and political pressure and bountiful Treasury funds to erect memorials and temples for the tourist trade, makes Washington the city beautiful. Never mind the swelter- ing, humidity-drenched outskirts. ‘W. BAHNSEN, —o—s Congressional Shortstop Suggested as New Job To the Editor of The Star: I'd like to have a certain job. There is no such job, but there ought to be. The job would be Congressional Short- stop. I am one who believes, with some ancient political wag, of great wisdom— whose lusty name ought to be remem- bered, but is not—that “the Nation would be better off if Congress would repeal half the laws and then adjourn for 10 years.” Unlike the power of the President to veto a bill after passage, the job would carry full power to kill proposed legis- lation. Believe me, I would exercise it. I would not apply the Supreme Court’s method, to save legislation that, by pos- sible interpretation, might be constitu- tional, but if a bill even smelled of un- constitutionality, it would go out on the first strike, as a caught foul. A statute would have to be sorely needed and mighty fine to get past. It would have to be short and right to the point (an unheard-of attribute now- adays). It would have to embody a short preamble, stating its purpose. Its meaning would have to be clear to a 12- year-old schoolboy. If it was a repealing law, I'd not only let it go through—I'd push it through. My services would be worth a thousand million a year to my country, and of priceless value to future generations; but oh, mamma! wouldn’t I be unpopular, though? ERNEST HAVILAND HOBBS, MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1937 THIS AND THAT 4 BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Bagworms are in the evergreens now. It is a good thing to keep a watchful eye for them, because the eggs are laid ir those silken cases. These are among the most interesting constructions to be found in the garden. Most gardeners, however, prefer not to see them! They will forgo this lesson in natural history, rather than meet up with bagworms. If all gardeners in a neighborhood will use ruthless tactics toward these nuis- ances, in a few years they can be com- pletely eradicated. One bag left—and the entire neighbor- hood is infected again. So complete destruction of the clever cases is in order at this time. There is no remedy except hand-pick- ing of the cases from the evergreens. This insect likes arbor vitae and junipers best, but at times will take to some trees, and it is best to watch for them else- where as well. LR After the bags are picked from the boughs, they should be burned at once. Burning them from the limbs, as some- times advocated, is a dangerous practice, not only to the health of the tree, but also to the safety of the gardener. Mostly the bags can be hand picked easily enough, but, if they are too high, recourse should be made to a ladder. The bagworm is one of the lepidop- terous insects. The bag is constructed when the creature is in the larval state. Sometimes bits of leaves and fine stems are woven in. The larva transforms itself into its pupa stage. The females—these are wingless—lay the eggs there.” The new cycle is ready to begin. Most gardeners prefer to regard these changes, and the bag around which it centers, as merely disguating. No doubt that attitude is one reason why some people let them alone, or try to use flame, to keep from touching the silken struc- tures. No harm comes from handling them. Often they are around at the back side of an evergreen, in a position difficult to reach, * X ok % It is not an insect to let alone, how- ever, and very diligent search should be made of the home grounds to eradicate them, Fortunately, even the most tender- hearted gardener has few scruples about killing insects. The bags, once removed, should be burned at once. This is the best way to deal with them. Sprays and other treatments do little good, owing to the clever construction of the case, or bag, which is highly water- resistant. L The only safe way is to hand-pick them and burn them. This way millions of future bagworms are nipped in the bud, and pretty soon an entire neighbor- hood is free from them. It is good practice in amateur garden- ing to be suspicious, on principle, of all strange and unknown worms. insects, “bugs,” creeping and crawling things in general. Almost every one knows that the lady- bug, so-called, is helpful to a garden, and should be let alone. There may be a few others which help, and some that do no harm, but on gen- eral principles these will have to go, along with the many harmful species. It is a pretty safe procedure, that of destroying all insects on sight. It is simply playing safe, especially in a garden which is partly shady. In this type, so prevalent in the suburbs where there are many trees, the problem of having a good garden is rather com- Pplicated. Sunshine, the great antiseptic, helps curb insects. Ordinarily they do not like it and tend to go elsewhere. In the shady garden, especially in a muggy Summer, when mildew forms easily, there will be a great increase in insect pests, as well as in various rusts and plant mildews. There is little gainsaying that garden- ing in any form is more difficult than it was 20 years ago. Millions of pounds of poisonous insec- ticides are used by vegetable gardeners. ‘There i3 some agitation to the effect that this vast use of poisonous sprays may help cause diseases in man, as well as be a danger to birds. It is certainly true that modern home gardening is beset by 10 insect pests ‘where only one was found 20 or 25 years ago. It is a good plan to be on the watch for them. Don't become 50 interested in your roses that you fail to see the on- coming “black spot.” Take a look at the portions of plants not so easily seen, and maybe you will be able to find some unwanted creature hid- ing there. * k% % ‘Try to get the good mental perspective which is able to see something interesting in something unpleasant. Even the worst garden pests are inter- esting, rightly viewed. Some of them are marvels of adaptation and efficiency. If one is able to see this, in his looking, he will be more intent on the search for the pests, will he not? If one is inter- ested in a thing, from two angles, he will have just twice as many approaches, and be able to see more, and recognize more. This is especially helpful in finding garden pests. Many of them are cleverly concealed, actually camouflaged, so that the person in a hurry passes them over. It is & good thing, now and then, to set aside several hours just to a search for blights, flaws, pests. Include plants which do not seem to be doing well, and look them over carefully. Search for signs of borers, and for insects which dig tunnels in the ground at the base of plants. The gardener may not know exactly what the pest is, or what damage it does, but he can be sure that it is doing his plant no good. Give the eyes a chance to rove, to roam, to spot unusual things, insect or otherwise. Then that living. tumble of worms, slithering along in the grass, instead of being something unnoticed, and forgot- ten, will be seen at once as unusual, something interesting, but something to be destroyed. on general garden princi- ples, as soon as one has given it the once-over. Many of the insects are creatures of rare beauty. Even caterpillars, which make many persons “jumpy,” are gayly colored. in some instances, and quite marvelous, in their way. The gardener may not like their way, but it is their way, after all, and he had better respect it, and find out all he can about them, if he wants to have a garden. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS Next year's political campaign is “in the making now.” in the opinion of well- informed political observers here, and, although the elections do not take place for more than a year, it is their view that the outcome will be determined to a marked degree by reactions to accomp- lishments of the present session of Con- gress. In reaching this conclusion they point to the fact the next regular session, which meets in January, probably will be of short duration and that it is not likely that any legislation which will be passed then will make much impress on the following November's elections. The effects. however, of what has been done by this session will have made them- selves felt to a considerable extent, at least by next Summer or early Fall, and the voters will have had time to analyze these results carefully before November and decide whether they wish to continue and strengthen legislation from which the aforesaid results emanated. If the answer is favorable, the electorate will return to Congress the members who have given support to these measures. * K % X In the leadership which President Roosevelt has assumed in pressing for a wages and hours bill, a housing bill and other measures which he considers essen- tial to the ultimate success of his pro- gram, he has been influenced, careful students of the political situation here hold, by his interest in the future wel- fare of his party. They claim that he is taking a long look ahead, realizing fully that if the party is to go forward, if it is to win at the polls next year and two years hence, it must continue to show the voters actual accomplishments in the realm of social progress to which it has set its face. He recognizes, they affirm, that in politics as in many other flelds of human endeavor and in nature, there can be no standing still, that there must be constant advance if the party is to maintain its strength and its hold. This is the principal reason, they assert, why the President has insisted on Con- gress remaining in session in spite of Midsummer heat and the desire of most members to get home to enjoy some rest and vacation. It was necessary, the President held, that certain legislation be adopted first which he thought neces- sary for the ultimate good of the Demo- cratic party. * K ok K Speculation becomes more and more intense as to whom President Roosevelt will nominate to fill the vacancy on the United States Supreme Court created by the recent retirement of Associate Justice Van Devanter. With many names having been proposed it is not known whether the President himself has yet decided on whom he will confer this high honor. Nor is it known whether he will submit the appointment to the Senate for its approval before Congress adjourns, or avail himself of the author- ity which the Attorney General has ruled he possesses to make a recess appointment, leaving confirmation to Congress when it reconvenes. There is a prevailing opinion in some well- informed quarters that the President already has made the selection of the man he wishes to place on the bench, but that for reasons known only to him- eself he is awaiting the psychological moment to present the name. In these same quarters it is believed that this may depend on the final action of Con- gress on the compromise bill providing for procedural reform in the lower courts. X %X X X Ve This Congress will establish a peace- time record of appropriations with an estimated total of $9,589,619,909, which is larger than any previous year's appro- priations except those of two World War years, and that of $10,336,309,510 ap- proved by the second session of the Seventy-fourth Congress, but which in- cluded $2,237.000.000 for veterans’ bonus, which is not considered as money for continuing operations of the Govern- ment. The estimated appropriations by the present Congress include about $120,- 000.000 to be contained in a deficiency bill, which is expected to be adopted during the closing days to cover defi- ciencies of the Maritime Commission and for the National Labor Relations Board. * ox ok % With test flights preliminary to the establishment of trans-Atlantic airmail service being successfully completed on schedule, the third of these having just been made, and.with new air records of various character being set with astonishing frequency, aviation officials here call attention to some of the “com- monplaces” of flying today which were unheard of yesterday, or which only a few years ago were “thrilling feats” which on their accomplishment com- manded world-wide notice. With the celebration in New Jersey last Saturday of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first airmail service in that State, be- tween Ocean City and Stone Harbor, they recalled that it is only 26 years since the first flight was ever made by an airplane from the deck of a vessel. This was done by means of an im- provised, sloping wooden runway erected on the prow of the cruiser Birmingham at Hampton Roads in November, 1911. About two months later the flyer, Eugene Ely, repeated the performance and made a “return flight” to the deck of a vessel, this being on the battleship Pennsyl- vania at San Francisco. e Farm legislation to which Congress, it is anticipated, will devote a major part of its attention at the next regular session in January, is recognized by agri- cultural authorities here and by experts on problems of national economy as of greatest importance to the general wel- fare of the United States. Following an intensive investigation during the in- tervening months, it is the belief of these experts that a comprehensive pro- gram can be worked out and agreed on within the next year which will be of permanent relief to the farm population. This will deal mainly with the economic needs of the farmer. But it is pointed out that the farm problem is a two- headed one, and that a large part of the farmer’s troubles arise from conditions beyond his control, from conditions be- yond the control of any man—these being droughts, floods, frost, hail, insects and other natural causes. In order to afford protection against these uncontrollable causes, there is possibility of adoption at this session of Congress of a wheat in- surance bill which already has passed the Senate and which was approved by the House Agricultural Committee last Saturday. This would set up a Federal crop insurance corporation to insure farmers against losses from such causes as thoss named. x ok kX ‘What is believed to be the shortest monorail electric line in the world is that which runs in the subway between the Capitol and the Senate Office Build- ing. It is only 760 feet in length. But even in negotiating this short distance “passengers”—limited mostly to Sena- tors, their clerks and secretaries and Senate employes—often become absent- minded or so absorbed in their legislative cogitations that they leave packages lying in the car. Only a few days ago one of the Senators lost his eyeglasses in that way. This diminutive electric rail- way, which was completed in 1913, a few years after the subway was built, carries an average of 2,000 passengers daily during the sessions of Congress. The sturdy little cars swing around the curves for about 225 trips daily, (Copyrisht, 1937.) ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by wriking The Frening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, Please inclose stamp for reply. D. C. Q. When War Admiral ran 1'; miles in 2:28%; at Belmont Park on June 5, for & world record, how much distance would he have covered if it had been possible for him to continue running for one hour at the same rate?>—R. N. A. If War Admiral had the endurance to continue as suggested above, in one hour he would have covered 35 miles 616 yards—a little short of the distance be- tween Baltimore, Md., and Washington, D.C. Q. When King George VI and Queen Elizabeth entered Westminster Abbey to be crowned, what was the cry with which the choir boys greeted them?—T. 8. A. The anthem, “I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me, We Will Go Into the House of the Lord.” was sung. inter- spersed with high staccato cries of “Vivat! Vivat!” by the choir boys. Q. Where is the Long Tom River?— R.D. A. It is in Oregon. It is over 100 miles long, but its source and mouth are less than 7 miles apart. Q. What are the three items for which families spend the most money?—T. L. E. A. For many years they have been list- ed as food, shelter and clothing. Trans- portation has become such a problem in modern life that it threatens to remove “clothing” from third place. Q. When did the American Tobacco Co. lease the plant of the American Cigar Co.?—D. K. A. In March, 1932, the American To- bacco Co. leased for 99 years at $1,800.000 per year the plants, brands, trademarks, etc, of the American Cigar Co. Q. How is mothers’ milk preserved for use in feeding delicate babies?>—L. T. A. The milk is expressed under thore oughly sanitary conditions, cooled, pas- teurized, chilled rapidly and kept on ire until needed. A method of freezing the milk in tablet form and keeping these wafers at a very low temperature has been developéd. Q. Did some of the early hotels pro- hibit guests from drinking and smok- ing?—J. H. A. The following notice was posted at the old Marlboro, which opened at Bos= ton in 1820 and was probably the first temperance hotel in America: “No in- toxicating liquors to be sold or used about, the house. Smoking of cigars not al lowed on the premises. Family worship to be attended morning and evening. No money to be received at the office on the Sabbath.” Q. Who was the first person to fly an airplane from a ship?—E. H. A. The first man to fly an airplane from a ship was Mr. Eugene Ely, who took off from the deck of the U. 8. 8. Birmingham on November 14, 1910. Mr. Ely was a civilian employed by Glenn Curtiss. A special platform was built on the gun turret of the Birmingham in order to make this flight possible. Mr, Ely was a test pilot who was employed in order to ascertain whether it would be practical for airplanes to take off from United States naval vessels. Q. Where is Reunion?—W. R. A. Reunion is an island in the Indian Ocean about 420 miles east of Madagas= car. It has belonged to France since 1643, Q. Where did Huxley get the title for his book, “Eveless in Gaza"?—L. C. W. A. “Eyeless in Gaza at the mill with slav is the line from which Aldous Huxley derived his title. It is from Mil- ton and refers to Samson, blinded by the Philistines. Q. What is the oath of allegiance that Hitler received from the officers and men of the army and navy?—C. R. A. Tt is as follows: “T swear by God this holy oath: That I shall be absolutely obedient to Der Fuehrer (the Leader) of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler, supreme head of the army. and that I will be ready as a brave soldier to give my life for this oath.” Q. Is there any emplovment or voca- tional guidance bureau for the blind?— A. The Bureau of Business Placement, and Guidance of the Braille Institute of America, Inc., is located at 741 North Vermont avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. Q. How long did it take to make the Statue of Liberty?—P. C. A. The work was begun in 1874. and in 1876 the hand bearing the torch was completed in Paris and sent to America, the complete statue being finished in 1883. The task required the aid of 60 men for 10 years. When completed, the various sections were conveyed across the Atlantic in a man-of-war. The erec- tion of the statue was slow and difficult, the sections being hoisted as required by & derrick from a great platform running around the top of the pedestal. Q. Was the late Marion Zioncheck, Representative from Washington, born in this country?—H. W. A. He was born in Poland. Origin of Familiar Sayings. Every day we use scores of those crisp and colorful expressions which give pe- * culiar vigor to the American language. Where and how did they come into use? In the booklet, FAMILTAR SAYINGS, there is a collection of over 500 famous sayings, words and phrases that are the ones concerning which the most ques- tions are asked by newspaper readers. It is & publication that will refresh your memory about some of your old favorites and give you a great quantity of new information. It will interest and amuse you. Order your copy today. Inclose 10 cents to cover cost and handling. USE THIS ORDER BLANK. The Washington Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. I inclose herewith TEN CENTS in coin (carefully wrapped) for a copy of the booklet, FAMILIAR SAYINGS.