Evening Star Newspaper, April 20, 1940, Page 8

A—8 K * The Foening Star With Sunday Morning Editlon. THEODORE W. NOYES, Editor, WASHINGTON, D. C. BATURDAY_ April 20, 1940 The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Main Office: 11th St and Penneylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 47nd St. Chicago Office: 435 North Michigan Ave. Delivered by Carrier—City and Suburban. Reguiar Edition. Evening and Sunday 75¢ per mo. or 18c per week * The Evening Star 45 Der mo. Or 18C per week The Sunday Star __ 10c per copy Night Final Edition. Night Final and Sunday Star Night Final Star Rural Tube Delivery. The Evenine and Sunday Star__ 85¢ per month The Evening_Star ~.55c¢ per month The Sunday Star.___ 10c per copy Collection made at the end of each month or each week. Orders may be sent by mail or tele- Paone National 5000 85¢ per month 60c per month Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Daily ard Sunday_.1 sr. $1200: | mo.. $1,00 Daily only “ 1 1 $R.00: 1 mo., Tbe Bunday only_Z 2211 yr. $5.00: 1 mo. boe Entered as second-ciass matter post office, Washington D. C. Member of the Associated Press, The Associated Press 1s exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or ot otherwise czediea in this paper and also the local news published herein All righis of publication of special Gispatches herein also are reserved. - = = Army Appropriations War Department officials are preparing to bring new ammunition to the congressional economy front in their vigorous battle to save as much of their original appropriation bill as possible. As was the case with the Navy bill, substantial cuts were made by the House before the Nazi lightning struck in Scandinavia and before ominous rumblings had reached their present volume in the Netherlands, Italy, the Balkans and the Far East. The House trimmed the Army budget for 1941 by some $67,000,000 and in so doing eliminated several items which the Nation’s military experts consider more im- portant than ever, now that the second World War is entering new and graver phases. One of the outstanding defense projects which the House shelved “for the time being” is the proposed great air base at Anchorage, Alaska, to cost in excess of $12,000,000. While indicating general approval of Lhis’ plan, the House Appropriations Com- | mittee suggested that more proof of the necessity of such a base should be presented. Recent developments in the Pacific area have provided the Army with one good argument for their case. The whole Far Eastern | situation has been aggravated by | Japan's implied threat to establish a “protectorate” in the Netherlands Indies in the event of an invasion | of Holland. The United States was quick to warn Tokio in polite terms against making such a move—but | that warning will have little mean- ing to the Japanese war lords unless backed up by something more tangi- ble than diplomatic language. Con- gressional pussyfooting with respect to Guam has not helped matters, and if the Anchorage air base—an important link in the chain of Pacific defenses extending from Alaska to the Panama Canal—is thrown out, too, the Japanese mind | may interpret it as a corroborative indication of American timidity. The Alaskan base, moreover, is needed to 'protect this continent from any possibility of invasion from the Asiatic mainland in general and from Soviet Russia in particular. These | threats may be only theoretical a\‘.j present, but they should be met by | realistic preparedness. It is quite likely—and quite proper ‘ —that an urgent request will be made for funds with which to pro- vide additional “educational orders” in the arms manufacturing field, so that peacetime industry will be fully prepared to mobilize for wartime service. Other needs may be pre- sented by the military experts. Con- gress will make no mistake, in such a critical period in world history as now confronts the Nation, if it leans heavily on these defense authorities for advice in appropriating for national security. On the Spy Front The shocking revelations of the “Trojan horse” tactics employed by Nazi agents in setting the stage for Germany's invasion of Norway are having a salutary effect on the peo- ples of many nations. Press dis- patches tell of extra precautions being taken in the Netherlands, Rumania, Turkey, Mexico and other war-free countries to combat espi- onage and sabotage and to halt the Infiltration of subversive doctrines designed to undermine their respec- tive governments. It is high time, indeed, that the world woke up to the fact that the march of totali- tarianism is following a carefully mapped out course. It is a path of stealth, deceit, treachery and treason and it is used by the Communists as well as by the Nazis. Here is how Herr Hitler outlined his plan to Hermann Rauschning, according to the latter’s book, “The Voice of Destruction”: “My declara- tion of war will consist in the sudden appearance of my troops in the cap- ital of the enemy with which I am still at peace. They will wear the proper uniforms. They will march through the streets in bright day- light; no one will stop them. Every- thing has been prepared down to the smallest detail. They will march to the general staff headquarters and the parliament, and in a few minutes the leaders will have them removed. ‘The army will be without its general staff. All political leaders will have been liquidated.” Those are fantastic words—but no more fantastic than the story of Nor- way’s betrayal to the German invaders seemed when first it was published. Fortunately, the United States already has made good head- way against subversive influences. Thanks to the efficient undercover THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1940. work of the Federal Bureau of Inve tigation and of the intelligence serv- ices of the Army and Navy and to the searchlight of inquiry thrown on un-American activities by the Dies Committee, America no longer is fertile ground for alien trouble- makers. It is not surprising to learn from Chief G-Man J. Edgar Hoover that Communists have launched a counter-attack on the G-men. A recent “smear” campaign had the earmarks of a well-organized offen- sive of Communistic origin. As Mr. Hoover told the Daughters of the American Revolution Thursday, it is only natural that his agency should be the target of snipers, for it is in the front line of defense against the spies and saboteurs. It is comforting to know that this front line is in good hands—that relentless senti- nels ate on the lookout for any attemrt to use the “Trojan horse” technique on this side of the Atlantic. Will Italy March? There are various indications that Italy is toying with the possi- bility of entering the war in ful- fillment of her axis obligations to Germany. Mussolini’s martial emo- tions clearly have been stirred by Hitler's blitzkrieg in Denmark and Norway. Neutral observers in Rome now report as “a truly enormous de- velopment of the past ten days.” that there is now “a prospect of Italy’s going to war’—a statement, it is ad- mitted, which would have been in- credible a few weeks ago, but is no longer an exaggeration. From commencement of Anglo- Franco-German hostilities, it has been charged periodically that Il Duce would maintain his proclaimed status as a “non-belligerent” only as long as he remained in doubt as to the winning side. Should the tide turn in Germany'’s favor, it was and is believed, Italy would enter the conflict; otherwise she would remain neutral. Mussolini’s detractors even suggested that the Fascists covertly have bargained with both sides, for the purpose of discovering where the better deal for Italy is obtainable. Corroborative evidence on this score is, of course, lacking. One knows only of Italian longings for more elbow room in the Mediterra- nean, the Near East and Northern Africa, and of Rome’s realization that Britain and France stand squarely opposed to these ambitions. Nor is Rome any less conscious that if Ger- many defeats the allies, Hitler will be in position to make Italian dreams at the Suez and Jibuti, and in Cor- sica and Tunisia come true. The world has never learned either the cause or the result of Hitler’s re- cent meeting with Mussolini at the Brenner Pass. That der Fuehrer's purpose was to draft Italy’s help at Germany's critical hour—to assure eventual Fascist military support if | and when the fortunes of war dictate its desirability—can hardly be ques- | tioned. Some telltale official light on this score has just been cast in Rome. A government communique of unmis- takable Mussolinian inspiration, ad- mits and emphasizes that Nazi mili- tary missions have arrived in Italy. | They are composed of army and technical experts, whose acknowl- edged purpose “is part of a general program under way since 1938, the | scope of which is to maintain con- stant contacts between the armed forces of the two countries.” It was in 1938 that the Berlin-Rome axis was converted into an outright mili- tary alliance, with the acquisition of “living space” for both countries as its underlying objective. The outcome of the fighting in Scandinavia may determine future Italian policy. If Mussolini thinks the going is good for Germany,'heo may decide that Italy’s hour has struck. With the Nazis justifying in- vasion of Denmark and Norway as a “measure of protection” for those countries, and Japan talking about the possible necessity of having to “protect” the Dutch East Indies, rumors come from Rome that the Italians suddenly may conceive the necessity of taking Yugoslavia under their “protective” wing. It may be sheer coincidence that the Belgrade government has chosen this moment to arrest and place un- der heavy guard the former premier and foreign minister of Yugoslavia, Milan Stoyadinovitch, who is charged with complicity in a conspiracy to promote a Nazi invasion. Stoyadino- vitch was known as a partisan of Italy and Germany. Many persons have talked of him as a puppet ruler at Belgrade, should Yugoslavia ever be swallowed by the axis. His affairs came under scrutiny because of indi- cations that he has been working in secret with Italian and German agents. Should Mussolini satisfy himself that the Nazis are plotting by treach- ery in Yugoslavia, as in Norway, to seize control of Italy’s trans-Adriatic neighbor, I1 Duce may conclude that Fascist interests demand immedi- ate action to prevent a German foot- hold in the Balkans. He could not look with equanimity upon Hitler’s stealing a march on Italy in her own particular corner of Europe. Labor Act Chung_es The action of the House Rules Committee in clearing the way for consideration by the House at this session of both the Smith and Norton amendments to the Wagner Labor Relations Act will be welcomed by those who earnestly believe that this statute will have to be revised if it is ever to serve its stated purpose of promoting more harmonious rela- tions between employers and em- ployes. 3 Previously an effort had been made by the Labor Committee to bring up for consideration only the relatively mild Norton endments under a suspension of the rules, which:would have prevented consideration of the Smith proposals. But the conserva- tive Rules Committee refused to acquiesce in that strathgem. With- out advance notice and in executive session, the committee, by the sig- nificant vote of nine to one, voted to permit House action on both sets of amendments. What this portends for the Wagner Act is not altogether clear, but certainly it is a plain indi- cation that some amendments will be passed in the House. The Norton amendments are con- fined to enlarging,the Labor Board from three to five members, protect- ing craft unions, permitting employ- ers to petition for employe elections and insuring at least one year of life for valid employer - employe con- tracts. The Smith amendments, on the other hand, are much broader, looking to the creation of a new La- bor Board, the separation of its judi- cial and administrative functions and important changes in the pro- cedure of the board. In The Star’s opinion, the propos- als of the majority of the Smith Committee are more nearly in line with the revisions that ought to be made in the Wagner Act. Possibly they should not be adopted in their entirety, but that is a matter for Congress to decide and the Rules Committee has acted wisely in mak- ing it possible for the House, at least, to express its collective judgment on the matter. Boulevard Zoning After eleven years of sporadic con- flict, which culminated recently in resort to court injunction, the “gen- tlemen's agreement” between Alex- andria and the Federal Government relative to zoning adjacent to the Mount Vernon boulevard is in the final stages of becoming a formal, written compact. | In 1929 when the boulevard route | was being chosen, plans called for skirting George Washington's “home town.” The city government made urgent representations and, by agreeing to give zoning protection, succeeded in having the road routed this pledge of protection was put in writing, but since no zoning map was used “spot” zoning has become common and in some cases requests for changes and plans for buildings | have not been submitted to the Park | In the and Planning Commission. recent dispute over the city's grant- ing a change from residential to heavy industrial rating for property | of the non-conforming clay prod- ucts works near Memorial Circle the request was not presented to the | Federal commission and only a court | injunction succeeded in preventing the change. Under the new agreement, which will be in the form of a binding com- | pact, all requests for changes will be submitted to both the City Council ! and the Planning Commission, all building plans will be passed upon by the latter and changes, where granted, will be controlled by a zoning map. Only acceptance by the City ! Council is necessary to put this in | | force. Zoning, where it is intelligently ap- plied, becomes a valuable civic asset. But if detrimental variances are per- mitted without proper discrimination it may destroy property and revenue values without contributing to the general welfare. This is particularly true in the case of Memorial boule- vard, the entire value of which de- ! its | pends upon the character of environs The new agreement contains noth- ing which was not in that of 1929, but it puts the elements of the earlier compact into legally binding writing. As a safeguard for the future and a protection against unnecessary disputes it should be acceptéd by the City Council. A Sad Performance The scene was a church theater at Evanston, Illinois, and the occasion, an amateur play, billed as a side- splitting comedy. In the absence of any information to the contrary it must be assumed that the audience had forgiven the management for the customary forty-five minute delay in starting and had already split a side or two when the curtain had stuck and then fallen down, after the usual fashion-of curtains in amateur theatricals. On, then, with the play. In order to increase the fun, the script called for a killing; and the producer, to save the victim in case any one was rash enough to ask for a return per- formance, had borrowed from a poiiceman several blank cartridges for the murderer’s gun. In due time these were fired, and from that mo- ment a subtle change came over all present. Great sobs began to rack the audience and tears streamed down their faces. The actors, too, became affected with the general unhappiness and wept unrestrain- edly. Overcome by their emotions, all those on both sides of the foot- lights abandoned the theater and appointed an investigating commit- tee to discover, if possible, what had transformed comedy into tragedy. It was possible. Sadly the chairman reported, between sobs, that the policeman had in error provided not blank cartridges, but tear gas shells. Few, if any, Americans expected ever to hear of a Norwegian member of the “Judas Iscariot Club.” How- ever, it appears that at present there are a few nominees of that nation- ality. France is contemplating action making indulgence in communistic propaganda the crime of high trea- son. At that, is it anything else, in any country except perhaps Russia? & | pert on mosquitoes, Of Stars, Men And Atoms Notebook of Science Progress In Field, Laboratory And Study By Thomas R. Henry. Three United States Public Health Service officers have just completed in- vestigation of an extremely virulent, mosquito-spread malady—believed to be a fulminating, malignant type of ma- laria—which broke out this fall along the Burma road into China, the chief supply route from the outside world for Chiang Kai-shek’s army. Construction work along the highway in Southwestern China, a gigantic engi- neering undertaking, was made nearly impossible when in some places from 80 to 100 per cent of the coolies engaged fell sick of the mysterious malady. The death rate was very high. The United States medical group, now on its way home, has not reported its findings but one of its last requests to Washing- ton was for two tons of Paris green, ap- parently unobtainable in Asia, which probably was to be used against mos- quitoes. Reports of a major outbreak of per- nicious malaria caused the Public Health Service to act immediately at the request of the Chinese government. For some years isolated cases have been reported of a malady, akin to malaria, distributed widely throughout the world, which proved rapidly fatal. A century ago malaria was a Killing disease in some parts of the United States. At one time rich agricultural areas along the South Carolina coast were practically aban- doned because of fear of the dreaded malady which swept over the plantations in the mosquito season. Medical reports are so obscure, however, that it is im- possible to tell whether this disease was ordinary malaria spreading in a highly susceptible population with poor med- ical care or whether it was a much more virulent form which since has disap- | peared. Up to a few years ago an outbreak of | an insect-carried disease in Southwestern | China would have been only of hu- manitarian concern to the United States. | So far as known this malady does not S0 | its range would be limited to the flving | range of the infected mosquitoes which through Washington street. Part of | Would spread merely by human contact, spread very ent, however, with across the Pacific, it would be entirely slowly. At pres- possible for one of the insects to be | brought to the United States in a few days, or for victims of the disease to | land here and establish a reservoir among American mosquitoes. The Public Health officers, now on | their way home, are Dr. L. L. Williams, head of malaria preventive work of the service and formerly a member of the malaria commission of the League of Nations; Dr. Bruce Mayne, a special ex- and Dr. Hiram J. Bush. Both Dr. Williams and Dr. Mayne have served in India and become familiar with the local forms of malaria. Both also have traveled in Burma, where the malady along the Chinese road may have originated. For the past two months thev have been working with Chinese doctors. anxious to check the spread to any of the Oriental seaports, from whence it might soon have become a menace to a great part of the world. Fear of such a spread is aggravated by the fact that within the past few years, with air service across the South Atlan- tic, a new type of malaria-bearing mos- | quito has been introduced into South America from North Africa and already has become a major health problem in some cases. Ordinary malaria still constitutes a major health problem in the United States, especially in economically back- ward regions, because of the virtual im- possibility of eliminating mosquitoes. It | causes much suffering and saps the vital- | ity of the population. Seldom, however, is it blamed, per se, for deaths. With adequate medical attention an individ- ual case can be brought quickly under | control. But there is no guarantee, Pub- lic Health officers complain, that there | may not be a mutation in the malarial | organism which will make it much more | virulent. some variant of it has taken weird forms, now no longer encountered by physi- cians. One such was comatose fever, the culminating symptom of which was a profound unconsciousness which could not be broken by any stimulant and fre- quently ended in death. At times it changed into an extreme excitement, ending either in recovery or a fatal col~ lapse. There was also the “delirious per- nicious fever.” marked by a period of furious excitement and hallucinatéons. This enued either in a period of deep sleep from which the patient awoke en- tirely recovered, or in death. Another form was the eclamptic pernicious fever, which followed somewhat the pattern of spinal meningitis, but from which it could be differentiated by blood tests. It was especially common in children, and approximately half of its victims died. Public Health Service officers are anxiously awaiting Dr. Williams’ report upon his return to Washington to see whether the malady of the Chinese la- borers followed any of these former American patterns. == Boy Scout Chief Thanks Star for Aid, To the Editor of The Star: When the Executive Board of the Na- tional Council, Boy Scouts of America, met recently 1 was instructed to deliver hearty thanks to The Star for its share in promoting Boy Scout Week, 1940, from February 8-14. Never in the pre- vious experience of the Boy Scouts of America did those who influence public opinion do more to celebrate one of our anniversaries. The support given to our 30th birth- day by newspaper editors and publishers, broadcasting companies, radio stations, radio artists, advertisers, advertising agencies and magazine editors was al- most incredible and marvelously grati- fying to all of us. We are fully conscious that without thesenthusiastic and intelligent co-oper- ation ot friends like The Star we can- not possibly hope to maintain conditicns so boys will continue to desire to be Scouts and men to serve as Scout leaders. Please accept our very genuine expres- slons of gratitude. April 9. JAMES E. WEST. g», | and sufficient butter, air transportation | They were particularly | THIS AND THAT & By Charles E. Tracewell. < “TUCKERMAN STREET. “Dear Sir: “About this ume. last year you men- tioned a chat with your cab driver con- cerning the merits of a home remedy for colds. “Your driver had sworn by hot milk and butter. “Coincidentally that is the exact rem- edy used by my mother in curing colds and I in turn am using it on my own family for the same purpose at present. “It may be that the cure is a natural for the dairy State of Wisconsin, where we were reared. But it is effective. Whatever else it may be, the combina~ tion is a good builder-upper. x K ¥ X “Hot lemonade was prescribed for lesser colds by my mother, while a raw beaten egg was administered for a hard cough. The remedies seemed to work, perhaps because my mother was sure they always would. “But to return to the merits of hot milk and butter—so great was her faith in its curative value that she defied physicians and nurses in giving it to one of my brothers while he lay near to death of pneumonia on his hospital bed. “Perhaps I exaggerate when I say that she defied them. They merely told her that it could do no harm and it also probably would do no good. “My brother, a Boy Scout enthusiast, at the age of 13 decided to bivouac on the cold ground of our back yard when the snow had barely melted. “So bad was the pneumonia that de- veloped soon after that he was moved to the hospital and his life was despaired | Then one day the doctors shook | of. their heads and said they could do no more. The crisis was to be that night. * % o x “My mother then moved into my brother’s hospital room with an alcohol burning stove and a tiny warming pan, “Equipped with several bottles of milk she kept guard under the pitying glances of nurses who figured it was to be of no avail. “Every time my brother stirred, she lifted the hot milk and butter to his lips and made him swallow some. “The following morning the nurses exclaimed, ‘What—you still alive?' After that he rallied and came home well. “Be all that as it may, I am a hot- milk-and-butter ‘fan’ when it comes to colds. “Sincerely yours, A. R.” * % % x Such is the power of faith, in this as in ages past. Think about the world the best you can, you almost invariably come to the | conclusion that what is basically wrong is lack of faith. Faith moves mountains—and it helps | to cure colds, as our corresponcent ex- plains. This simple remedy for the common | cold must be Scotch. The driver who lauded it to us had a delicious burr in his speech, although he had been in this country many years. - Perhaps there is some science, as well as faith, in the use of melted butter in hot milk. This would simply amplify the vitamin A supply of milk, already considerable. The joker comes in the fact that the common cold is usually over—if it is common enough—Ilong before any addi- tional supplies of vitamin A could get in their work. It is problematical, of course, how this vitamin could help in a cold, at best; scientists dispute the statement that it has any effect, one way or an- other, on a cold, although admitting that it tends to keep the resistive powers of the body up to par. This mostly seems to come about because it helps the mu- cous membranes to keep that precious thing, tone. * X ¥ X Our taxi driver’s recipe was a glass of hot milk, to which is added one teaspoon of butter, stirred in until it melts. This makes a not unlikeable combina- tion, provided one likes milk. Those who do not, or who at least pretend not to like milk, would find it rather nauseat- ing, we imagine. One scarce could call this “remedy” herbal. It is rather a plain country remedy, probably based on nothing more than that the mixture is soothing on the membranes of the throat as it goes down. Also, and this had a great deal to do with it, country people, at least in the old days, had plenty of milk and butter. Bossy saw to that. These things were available and money | was not. Doctors cost money. and many phy: Also— cians do not realize this 5 i —many persons shrink from calling doc- | tors. The medical profession ought to hire a committee of psychologists to g0 into this matter, and find out just why so many persons shrink from calling the physician. Cost undoubtedly has some- thing to do with it, but probably there is | a great deal more to it than just money. | * x % x Every one knows how mealtime is awaited by the sick. Even persons near death’s door look forward with eagerness to another try | at this lifelong habit, eating. Hot milk and butter not only soothe the throat, but like the taking of all foodstuffs, for the time being open the | nostrils low ing came in and looked at my brother and | ' or and allow freer breathing. Is something. There is, ence on the kidneys or stomach. With some persons it might have a laxative effect. Certainly there is no harm in such remedies. They belong to the people, and if they have no science behind them, at least thev are based on a certain amount of common sense, combined with expediency, Probably a few spoonfuls, now and then, of this old Scotch household rem- edy would do about as much as most cough remedies in soothing inflamed throats and easing couzhs. Home remedies for the common cold are legion—this hot - milk - and - butter recipe would seem to be harmless, at least, Letters to Proposals of Cosmetology Board Criticized. | To the Editor of The Star: There is much to be said in criticism of the administrators of the District of Columbia Board of Cosmetdlogy. This board seems content to sit around end think up ways and means of making life | miserable for the beauty operators, who, unfortunately, vision. Three years ago this board was created by an act of Congress in the hope of maintaining or, if necessary, develop- ing the basis for a truly respected pro- féssion. facilities were installed and gladly ac- cepted by all. But this year, ridiculous and deplor- able inconveniences are being required of the beauty operators. Certain new medi- come under its super- | cal examinations, which have no bear- In the past either ordinary malaria or | ing whatsoever on either private or pub- lic protection in this matter are being required of those who are trying to make a living out of a fast growing yet | not too remunerative profession. * Renewal license fees together with added medical examinations, plus time off from work to take these tests, de- prives nearly all of the operators of an entire week's salary. Now a new and additional license is being proposed called the “permanent wave license” and it is going to be required if this board can force it upon the workers. What is the basis for this new H- cense? It is an established fact that not one beauty shop owner would or could employ any one who was unable to cperate a permanent wave machine. In fact no one could even get a license as a beauty operator in the first place under present conditions, if he or she were unable to operate such a machine. This whole thing is becoming ridicu- lous. First we get a wages and hour law which attempts to raise the de- plorable salaries of the people employed in this line of endeavor and now this board comes along and takes away much of this money in ridiculous fees and examination requirements. A BEAUTY OPERATOR. April 17. Asks Stamps Honoring Stars of Theater. To the Editor of The Star: Most philatelists who specialize in stamps of the United States are pleased with the series showing groups of famous Americans: Authors, poets, educators, scientists, inventors, painters and sculp- tors and composers. However, there is an important group which has made notable contributions to the cultural progress of our country whose names are not included in the heroes of peace series. Lovers of dramatic art feel that an- other group should be added to embrace stars and potentates of the theatrical realm. In view of the fact that some of the persons listed in the present series are not native-born Americans, it is suggest- ed that Shakespeare head the list of the proposed group. Shakespeare has un- doubtedly contributed more to the social betterment of the United States than any individual in the entire series. Among the outstanding names which 3, | Fannie the Edl:tor Letters to the Editor must bear the name and address of the writer although the use of a pseudonym for publication is permissible. Please be bricf! | have illumined our theatrical firmament are the following: Shakespeare, Edwin Booth. Joseph Jefferson, E. H. Sothern, Richard Mansfield, Charlotte Cushman, Kemble, Jenny Lind, Sarah Bernhardt. Winthrop Ames, Augustin Daly, David Belasco, William Winter and | P. T. Barnum The heroes of peace scries is incom- | plete and it is hoped that a dramatic art Sanitary and health protection | group will be added to the current series. April 18. A. UELAND. | Deplores Tree Destruction On Park Approach. To the Editor of The Star: I drove down Blagden avenue from Six- teenth street to Rock Creek Ford near Pierce Mill yesterday and was shocked to see several steam shovels uprooting and | cutting down beautiful oak trees, digging | and excavating a new road along the hillside, to the right, preparatory to build- ing houses along the route. I have long been of the opinion that the property referred to belongs to the Government and 1s a part of beautiful Rock Creek Park. The route mentioned is the most | beautiful, attractive and picturesque en- | trance to the park and officials having charge of the purchase of additional land for parks and recreation for our wonder- ful city appear to have been guilty of a grave oversight. Has Secretary Ickes missed an opportunity to make Washing- ton residents and visitors his debtors through additional purchases of land for the purposes named? Why such an over= sight has been permitted to get by un- challenged is something for ‘Washing- tonians to worry about. I fear, however, it is too late for remedy and correction. I would suggest that the officials respon= sible make a survey tour of the section named. The sight of the devastation will surely give them a pang of regret. April 18. W. M. MOONEY. Exchange of Men in Training Camps Suggested. To the Editor of The Star: With world conditions in their present state it occurs to me that it would be quite fitting during this coming sum- mer, when thousands of young Ameri- cans will be receiving instruction at officers’ training camps and the Citizens’ Military Training camps, for our Gov- ernment to work out a plan for the ex- change of young men receiving similar training in the Latin-American coun- tries for the purpose of bringing to- gether the young men of the United States and the Latin-American coun- tries for a more intimate knowledge of each other. I believe that if such & plan could be worked out it would not only strengthen the national defense of the countries of the western hemisphere but also help in extending the policy of the good neighbor. W. EARL HOPPER. Weehawken, N. J, April 17, Answers To Questions By Frederic J. Haskin. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Eve= ning Star Information Burequ, Fred- eric J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. How many cities use parking me- ters?>—H. K. K. A. According to the International City Managers' Association at least 155 cities in the United States now use meters to regulate parking in congested business and residential areas. Q. Is there an English-speaking group of natives in the jungles of Panama?— A H. G. A. A. Hyatt Verrill describes the tribe of English-speaking natives in his recent book, “My Jungle Trails.” These na- tives inhabit the region in the vicinity of Almirante Bay in Panama, near the Costa Rican boundary. They are known as the Boorabees and speak a language resembling the English of Elizabethan times. The author believes that they learned it from the buccaneers and have preserved it to this day. Q. Where is the King Ranch?—J. E. K. A. The King Ranch is in the southern wedge of Texas which is between Mexico and the Gulf. It covers more than 1500 square miles and is larger than the State of Rhode Island. Q. What amount is called for in rece ipes giving a pony and a jigger?>—C. T. A. There are six teaspoonfuls or one ounce in a pony and nine teaspoonfuls or 1!z ounces in a jigger. Q. Which President entertained Book= er T. Washington at a luncheon in the White House?—R. G. D. A.On October 18, 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt entertzined the Ne= gro educator, Q. What is the statue on the Church of the Latter Day Saints at Washing- ton, D. C.2—G. E. A. The 170-foot tower on the church is surmounted by a golden figure of the Angel Moroni. Q. Is it possible for States to enter intn agreements with one another without the consent of Congress?—K. R. A. Article 1, section 10, clause 3, of the Constitution provides: “No State shall, | without the consent of Congress, lay an: The food value of such a combination | too. nothing | about it which would exert a bad influ- | duty of tonnage, keep troops, or ships nf war in time of peace, enter into an: agreement o compact with another State, or with a foreign power, or engaze in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not adnit of delay.” Q. Who is the greatest actor on the American stage today?—W. N. A.In a poll conducted by Billboare the national theatrical weekly, John Barrymore was voted “the greate: per- former within the memories of theater people.” Charles Chaplin was the run- ner-up in the voting, Q. Is the wedding veil of the Empre:=s Carlotta still in existence?—C. H. M. A. The exquisite veil, which was 50 vears in the weaving, is owned by Mrs. | Henry Grady of Washington, D. C., wife of the Assistant Secretary of State. Q. What does it cost to keep the streets clean in New York City? How marny miles of streets are there?—J. J. A. In 1939 New York City expended $8.962,328 for cleaning 3,788 miles of | streets. Q. What was tk;s;nrst song hit in the United States?—L. L. H. A. “After the Ball” is said to have been | the first song to sweep the country. It | became well established when So played it repeatedly at the Chicago Ex= position in 1893. Q. Who founded the Paulist Fathers? —G. E. P. A. Father Tsaac Thomas Hecker founded the Paulist Fathers in New York In 1858. Q. What is th;‘av;agfi cost of pro- | ducing a motion picture?—W. D. A. The average cost of the 527 fea- ture-length pictures made in the United States in 1939 is estimated at approxi=- mately $210.289. Q. Please give some information about the Ruskin Commonwealth, which exist~ ed in Tennessee many years ago.—W. C. A. The Ruskin Commonwealth traces its origin to J. A. Wayland, who wrote in The Coming Nation, a paper first pub= lished in Greensburg, Ind., April 29, 1893. The original site of the commonwealth was Tennessee City, Tenn. The site was unwisely chosen because the land was poor. The colony then moved to Cave Mills, Tenn. As the result of internal dissension, over 250 of the colonists moved to Duke, Ga. and a new com- munity was erected, about six miles from Waycross in Ware County. The princi- pal industries were woodworking, broom making, the manufacture of leather belts, suspenders and cereal coffee. Q. What is the inscription over the Grove Street Cemetery gate at New Haven, Conn.?—C. H. B. A. This beautiful gate, designed by Henry Austin, bears the words, “The Dead Shall Be Raised.” Q. What was the Scopes trial>—0. ©. A. John T. Scopes was tried before the court of Dayton, Tenn,, in the summer of 1925, for teaching evolution in the high school of that city. The trial was famous for the parts taken in it by Wil- liam Jennings Bryan and Clarence Dar- Trow. On July 21 Scopes was found guilty in court and fined $100. Q. Are there any flags older than the United States flag?—M. P. A. The flag of Denmark has on it the dannebrog or silver cross, sald to date back to 1219 when King Waldemar at g critical moment saw such a cross in the heavens. The flag of Italy dates from 1310. Q. Is it true that the last battleship of the United States Navy was launcheq in 1921?—W. E. S. A. The West Virginia, the last battle- ship of the United States Navy, was launched November 19, 1921, and first commissioned December 1, 1923, Q. How does the Civilian Conservation Corps define an illiterate?—s, H, A. According to C. C. C, classification, an illiterate enrollee is one who cannot resd a newspaper or write a letter. P