davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1921-03-06
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

7 7 UMAN life is cheap in the
- United States-cheaper than in
most other civilized nations. if
the statistics of homicides are
to be believed Literally thousands of
men and women are murdered in this
country each year. while only hundreds
pay the penalty. and comparatively few
pay the extreme penalty of execution.
Two reasons are given by students Of
the problem. The first is the laxity Of
the enforcement of the laws against
crime and the interminable delays in
court procedure. The second is the ease
with which weapons to kill are obtained.
It is with the second reason that the
people and Congress at last appear to
be ready to deal.
Easy to Get Weapons.
For years the "gun toter' has gone about
in the various communities of the country
practically with impunity The states have
their laws against the carrying Of con-
cealed weapons-and SO has the District
Of Columbia Some of the states have
la ws more or less stringent dealing with
the sale Of firearms. But the fact re-
mains that any man, or woman. who
has the price-not great price, by any
means-can possess himself or herself
of a pistol whenever he or she desires
to do So
Yesterday in Washington. the Ma
tional Capital. which is supposed to set
an example Of good and efficient govern
ment to the rest of the country, former
Senator Charles B. Henderson of Ne
vada was shot through the arm in the
Senate Office building by man be-
lieved to be mentally unbalanced a
few days ago an insane negro obtained
possession Of a pistol. shot and killed a
policeman and wounded seriously several
other persons before he himself was shot
| to death. If this were an isolated case it
! might cause public Indignation. but not
the outburst of wrath that followed this
| frightful event. Again Friday night
another negro shot two policemen and
one civilian and was himself seriously
| wounded in a gun fight. These are the
last Of long series of such happenings,
and it is to be hoped are the last straw
which will break the camers back
which will finally arouse the people of
Washington and Congress to the neces-
sity of drastic action.
Bill Offered Six Years Ago.
| A little more than six years ago
! Senator Shields of Tennessee, whose
state has been heavily afflicted by
| the indiscriminate Shootings of the
'tgun toter," introduced a bill to sup
press the sale of pistols and other fire.
arms Of like size used commonly in
! felonious homicides. 1t was referred
| to the Senate judiciary committee
There it rested. A similar bill was in
| troduced in the Sixty-fourth. Sixty
fifth and Sixty-sixth Congresses. In
Evening star., 1921-03-06

the war, taxes imposed on account Of
the war, have not been revoked ana
no steps have been taken to revise
them.
The present system cannot produce
the, amount of money it did during
the war time, because OF the letting
down Of business. However. our ex-
penditures this year have reached
over four billion dollars, leaving a
deficit in the form Of short-term GER
tif,cates Of $2,500,oe0.0oo. The frst
duty, as republican leaders see it, is
to cut government expenditures, so
as to enable them to reduce the tax
Evening star., 1921-03-06

only. but with profound conviction
my belief that in a very short time
there will be an outburst of excite-
ment here accompanied by a wide
spread public demand for a new
building program to prevent the
threatened passing Of the Trident
across the Atlantic.
Public opinion here, when it is
aroused, brings overwhelming pres
sure on a government which, unlike
ours, can be overthrown in a day by
an adverse vote in the house OF COM
mons. II NorthclifYe or other power
full newspaper owners choose to raise
a storm they can do so in a week by
trumpeting forth with sensational
Implications the figures about the
American feet given above. In that
case the moro moderate and wiser
views taken by the admiralty. or the
opinion of the cabinet, may weigh
little and Britain will be compelled
to take up again the naval competi-
ton that she hoped the scuttllng OF
the German fleet ended once for all
The imperial defense committee is
still sitting in secret conclave deter
mining the future naval policy of the
empire So far as the public knows
its debate is confined to the relative
merits of battleships, submarines and
aircraft in modern warfare. ! have
strong reason to believe that the
composition Of the American feet and
general political relations with Amer
ica also come within the scope of
its deliberations and will greatly in
fluence its findings.
Big Debt to America.
To begin another naval building
race would raise a financial probe m
of the first magnitude. Britain owes
America now about five billion dollar
It is true that the other allies, in
cluding Russia. owe England more
than double this amount. but it is
very doubtful whether most Of this
money, if any, can be collected.
Should England commence laying
down great battleships. costing per-
haps forty million dollars apiece,
against the United States it is real
lied here that Washington would
probably say at once. "If you can at
ford this expenditure you can afford
to pay US what you owe"
1t is only within the past few days
since Austen Chamberlain's speech
that the British public has realized
that America intends to collect the
money owing her hero and will not
permit Britain to defer payment until
she herself is reimbursed by the 9TH
er allies. The knowledge OF this fact
and simultaneous realization that an
American fleet is being prepared
larger than the British constitute a
double shock.
1t would. am convinced. be the
greatest mistake for Americans to
conclude that because Of these diff
cuItes England will tamely submit
to being outdistanced at sea. The
country, while paying taxx*ionayer-
Evening star., 1921-03-06

q, remain steaming about, hoping the
| other fellow would come out and
fight.
Advantages W ith Defenders.
Perhaps the enemy admiral would
oblige. He probably would. knowing
the odds all in his favor. Those who
! know with what difficulty some of our
| ships. especially torpedoed ones. were
| gotten back to port after actions in
the North sea, will realize that for a
| torpedoed battleship to get home $500
| miles across the Atlantic would be
practically impossible. Moreover. any
ships heavily damaged which might
| desire to put home would have to be
escorted by destroyers, which would
| weaken the fighting value of the fleet.
Defending ships, however. even though
| torpedoed, could probably be saved
and put in action again in a month or
so. This consideration alone would
make foolhardy any attempt to fight
a fleet action on the wrong side of the
| ocean. My estimate is that the in
vading feet would be practically de-
stroyed, and that perhaps one-twen-
tieth of its force might ever expect to
see home waters again. l say this
regardless of whether on paper one
feet might be considerably stronger
than the other. The disadvantages L
have enumerated and many others
would entirely outweigh superiority
in numbers if the larger fleet sought
to bring its enemy to bay in enemy
waters
Then you believe" L asked the
admiral, that England should not
build against the American battle
ships?"
Terms Them "Expensive Toys"
81 certainly do he replied. 81 think,
moreover, that if your people found
out that we. were taking no notice of
your expensive toys they would very
soon get tired of spending a billion
dollars or SO in four years to in
cUmber the water with these con-
trivances'
Vice Admiral kerr's view is that of
a large school Of informed naval
opinion. But the technical reasons
which he brings forward are not un-
utiSloOu Uy luo puphSp WIZ
think, at the mercy of any scare
campaign that may be started here
because Of the growing American
feet AS every American is brought
up to regard the Monroe doctrine as
something sacred, whether he under
stands it or not, SO every Englishman
acquires in the cradle the dogma that
the British navy must always be su-
preme. And the danger that may
arise when the British. people see that
supremacy slipping from them will
not be lessened by expert opinion that
no matter how many dreadnaughts
the two nations build they can never
fight, but that by commerce raiding
the two countries can thoroughly
wreck each other IL the supreme ca.
ever takes place.
Copyright, 1a21l
Evening star., 1921-03-06

burden. The session of Congress just
closed cut the amount nearly a bill
lion-and cut the estimates much
more than that.
If the reduction is sufficient Con-
gress can repeal the excess profits
tax without substituting new tax.
In case the cut cannot be made the
duty still remains to revise the war
tax system. 1t is hoped by the ma
jority leaders that the excess profits
tax may be repealed and the surtax
in the higher ranges may be reduced,
by a substitute either upon the un-
distributed profits of corporations or
Evening star., 1921-03-06
By WILL p. KENNEDY.

TINE new administrations first
drive to fulfill it's campaign
and inaugural pledges to the
people will be made at the
extraordinary session of Congress.
This is far and away the most impor-
tant extra session ever held, because
there are problems. both domestic
and international, different from and
greater than have ever been pre-
Aented to any Congress.
The international situation will be
tenuous until the question of indem-
nifty that Germany is to pay has been
settled. and that is a matter that the
United States alone cannot settle; it
IL to be determined by the allies.
The problem of settling our foreign
relationship formal PRONUNCIATION
of peace-is the particular business
of the Senate in the incoming extra
session, and it is matter of world
Importance. with all civilization
eagerly watching the course of the
United States. Much of the actual
procedure. however, must be worked
out by both houses. Until We arrive
at solid basis of peace, through
treaty or international agreement, it
10 a job for the Senate and not for
the House. After that there will be
a great deal of work for both houses.
For example. the foreign service of
the United States must be put on a
sound business basis. Members of the
foreign affairs committee say that
1R hn nj ad
States is still functioning substan-
TALLY as in the days of Andrew jack
son.
Other Problems.
While the Senate is wrestling with
the best way to establish peace at
home and abroad, the House has an
outstanding and perplexing problem
in the establishment of sound fis-
cal policy regarding taxation and
tariff.
While these pre-eminent problems
are being worked out, other matters
of vital interest will be under con-
alteration simultaneously. and they
include:
The federal budget system. the
House and Senate reorganization to
facilitate congressional consideration
of the budget and auditing of expen-
ditures.
Associated with and growing out
of the budget legislation Will come
reconciliation of the federal depart !
ments and other executive establish |
ments.
complementary to the reorganiza-
tion is reclassifcation of work and /
0alaries for the government en-
Oloyes.
Soldier legislation, particularly the
ancient coordination of activities
for the ex-service men, will receive
0arly attention.
immigration and NATURALIZATION
Evening star., 1921-03-06
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

80, the new deal is on. All Washington
feels the thrill of it and shows unrnis-
takably the effects of the passing Of one
- administration and the advent of another.
There is a tingle in the official atmosphere.
ozone anmates the environment. One is SEN
sible of general spirit of ''bucking up; this.
too. in spite of the fact that only the executive
heads of departments have changed. along with
the presidency.
Perhaps it is the promise of what is to
that gives the electrical glow to ofticialdom.
For sweeping changes close abroad, shift
ngs not only of personnel, but new policies,
radically different policies and novel programs
of administration and legislation, compared with
the record of the past eight years.
The transition of administration made hard
y hardly ripple and left no wake. The de-
parting democrats effaced themselves grace
fully by playing the host to their successors.
The cabinet officers visited by the pro-
spective incumbents. who were "shown over the
place" literally we'll fgurattvely. Vice
President Marshall took Vice Presdent-elect
Coolidge under his wing and broke the news
gradually to him of what he will have to en-
dure in listening to Senate debates. 1t is said
the newcomer did not finch turn hair,
Ladies of the new officials families enter
tanned socially. Indeed. as the cub reporter
would write it. "a pleasant time had by
and ALL.
Inc democrats whose iOt mas peef not d
happy since November 2, were glad 'it was
all over" and many of them so expressed them
selves Their troubles trials and tribulations
were ended and it is henceforth "let the CALLED
jade wince"-the fgurative jade being the
publican administration and jority in Con-
gress
One tragic event lent a somber note-the
death of Champ Clark. AS the democratic party
prepared, like the Arab, to fold up its tents
and as silently steal away, this great leader
of a democratic faction slipped across the bor-
derland of another life. His fate had been vital
ly bound up in politics of the past eight years.
His eyes were closed before he witnessed
his great adversary. Woodrow Wilson. physi-
cally leave the White House, a man defeated
in his dearest aspirations and broken in health.
Politics had done for them both. Champ Clarks
friends have recently wondered which man had
suffered the greater disappointment-Cham
Clark in having the nomination and election
taken from him by Woodrow Wilson. or the
Evening star., 1921-03-06

aging SIS per head Of the population,
Is nevertheless not in the exhausted
financial condition of the continental
nations. England is courageously
trying to meet her expenses out OF
revenue and pay off some of the war
debt at the same time. But borrow
ing capacity is not exhausted. And
without dragging herself as near
bankruptcy as France and Italy are
now. she could IL q great wave Of pa
triotic fervor were aroused pay on
the American debt and start a great
naval program at the same time. The
bad blood. not to say hatred. such
a proceeding would arouse here need
not be insisted upon. To put the
matter blunuy. believe that if the
British feel compelled to mako the
terrible sacrifices involved in a cut
throat naval competition with Ameri-
ca, war between the two peoples in
the not distant future will be not i'm
possible.
One of the greatest living English
public men recently remarked: For
some, years before 1914 I said that
war with Germany was a certainty.
do not feel that war with the United
States is a certainty, but 1t is a prob
ability" This remark is not typical
here-not yet. At present I am sure
nine important Englishmen out of
ten repudiate with horror the idea Of
such a conflict, not only for senti-
mental reasons, but because they be-
lieve it would mean the ruin Of this
country and Of the world. When they
use the words ruin of this country"
they are careful to point out that it
would ruin the United States as well.
world debacle would ensue after such
a war. which would be bound to be
prolonged. to drag other nations in
and to destroy commerce on all the
oceans. From the effects Of such
disaster not even America, they think,
though unconquerable by direct at
tack. could recover.
There is one school Of naval
thought here which contends that
Britain should not attempt to build
against the United States. It's ar
guments are based on two grounds.
One is that America is a non-aggres-
sive power, unlike Germany. and un-
der no circumstances would wanton-
ly attack Great Britain. The other
and stronger ground is strategic.
Vice Admiral Mark Kerr. who COM
manded the British fleet in the Adri-
attic during the war. belongs to this
school. and he discussed with me in
unusually frank terms what war with
America at sea would mean. He per-
mits me to quote him. contrary to
usual naval etiquette. because he said
he believes that complete frankness
is the best means Of preventing .
possible catastrophe .
Evening star., 1921-03-06
NEW PRESIDENT IN WHITE HOUSE,
AND A NEW DEAL IN WASHINGTON

ceaselessly for the public service Few, indeed
are the sinecures of public office For the most
part-aye. overwhelmingly preponderantiy-tney
places which require ability. INDUSTRY aru
uous application. 1t is work which taxes IL
out of a man. in the long run. when faithfully
done.
Yer, often complaint is heard from business
men about the difficulty of doing business with
the government at Washington. Accustomed 10
transacting business "over the counter they
fret and fume when they encounter delay ana
red tape in Washington. 1t is the terrlhc I'M
mensity of volume of public business Wnlcn re-
tards instantaneous transaction. NO cltlzen
can estimate the magnitude of this going con-
Germ of Uncle Sans.
President Harding will have Congress
his hands "some time in April, according to pres
ent plans as understood 1t is by means
horriftc prospect. it falls out. 1t will start out
a friendly Congress, and there are no indca-
tions of troubles likely to arise to disturb the
cordial relations.
Team work between the executive and the
Congress is recognized to be essential. The
President and the republicans in Congress have
their eggs in the same basket Which is to say,
harmony and success necessary to contin-
ued republican regime, and neither the Presi-
dent the congressman gain anything by
The makeup of President Harding is
cepted as guarantee of his intention to ge along
with Congress and not pull against it. He has
been there, and knows the deep-seated feeling
of congressman for their own rights and appre-
citation of those Of the executive we'll
The general impression which prevails
around Washington. in all circles susceptible of
being sounded, as to the administration,
can be described about as follows The new
comers very welcome because sit time
for change" The newcomers have the con-
fidence of the people, who believe that the
Harding administration will make good
There is faith in the chief executive DISPOSE
tion to support him loyalty. and confidence in
the men he has chosen his advisers.
So, while there was minimum of public
demonstration at the inauguration. because
there opportunity to manifest it. there
is a great, deep undercurrent of qualification
confidence. hope and good will for the new gov
ernment.
Copyright. 1921. by The Washington star.)
Evening star., 1921-03-17

Capt. p. n. Martin of No. ; engine
company of the District fire depart
ment retired Tuesday after a service
or nearly twenty-scven years. The
members of his company gave him
one of the finest tributes ever paid a
retiring officer in the department at
exercises held at the engine house
Tuesday night.
They arranged a luncheon in con-
nection with which Capt. Martin was
presented with a gold cigar case,
gold cigar cutter, gold match box
and watch chain. The retiring officer
responded.
Capt. Martin entered the service of
the fire department as a private in
July, 1894, and served in that capacity
for eight months, when he was made
an assistant foreman of No. II engine
company. He remained there until 1900.
when he was appointed captain of
No. = chemical engine. He was later
sent to No. Q engine company. which
was known as the "hoodoo" company,
which he completely reorganized. He
was appointed acting battalion chief
in the fall of 1908 and detailed at No.
= truck company. He remained there
until September %. 1918. when he Sc
cured a leave of absence and entered
the quartermaSter service as a first
lieutenant. He was demobilized in
August, 1919. and returned to Wash
ington.
Upon his return here he was placed
in the position of a private in the fire
Evening star., 1921-03-17
THE WEATHER.

District of Columbia and Maryland.
cloudy and unsettled tonight: tomor-
row fair: moderate temperature;
moderate to fresh southerly winds
Virginia, cloudy tonight, warmer
in extreme northwest portion; tomor-
row fair: moderate variable winds.
West Virginia, cloudy and warmer
tonight. probably rain in north por-
tion; tomorrow fair.
Records for Twenty-Four- Hsurs.
Thermometer-4 pm. 65; 8 pm.
81; IL midnight. SO; am, 43: am.
-: noon, IS. Barometer-4 pm,
2S.aS; Pm. 30.03; IL midnight. 1910;
am, 30.13; 8 am. 30.19: noon. 1910
Highest temperature, II. occurred
at pm. yesterday. Lowest tempera-
Temperature same date last year
Highest, 81; lowest, 40.
Tide Tables.
Compiled by United States coast
and geodetic surveys)
Today-Low tide. SOP am. and q. 90
PM; high tide, 11.21 am. and 1853
pm.
Tomorrow-Low tide. s:14 am. and
1905 PM; high tide, 2:27 am. and
3:02 pm.
The Sun and Moon.
Today|Sun rose, 6:1s am; sun
| sets. 6:1S pm.
Tomorrow-Sun rises, Sis am:
| sun sets, S:17 pm.
! Moon rises. 11:41 am; sets. 1928
am.
Automobile lamps to be lighted
one-half hour after sunset.
| weather In Various Cities.
Evening star., 1921-03-17
TARIFF BILL DELAY
PREDICTED IN HOUSE
New Measure Ready for Con-
gress in Two Months,
Says Committee.

While President Harding. at the re-
quest of the Senate and House leaders
on tariff and revenue matters. is
seeking to decide whether the new
Congress shall tackle tax legislation
or revision of the tariff first. the
members of Congress now in wash
ington are not deceiving themselves
with the idea that the House ways
and means committee viii have a
tariff bill ready to report to the
House when Congress meets April IL.
or that these important matters can
fbe finally disposed of by Congress
before late in the summer or fan sof
the year.
Members of the ways and means
committee today expressed the opih-
ion that it would require two month $
for the committee to frame a tarlH
bill for submission to the House that
the committee would be Wiling 10
stand on. The least estimate placed
on the time needed for this WORK
was six weeks.
Days Being Wasted.
In the meantime. the days are pc
ing wasted while the President ana
the leaders are trying to make up
their minds whether to put through
tariff revision or tax revision ieSiS-
Iation first. Congress adjourned
March 4. nearly two weeks ago. Since
that time not a wheel has been stir
ring when it comes to the actuai WORN
of drafting u tariff or revenue Dill.
Democratic members of Congress
are inclined to laugh in their sleeves
at the situation. They are saying TO-
day that the republicans are hasten-
ing to the White House to have the
President determine for them what the
course of Congress shall be in iesls-
lative matters. And they recall II wa
not long ago that the republicans we're
chiding democratic members OF Con
gress for doing just this thing when
Woodrow Wilson was President.
bringing Great Pressure.
The fact Of the matter is, 1t was
said today, there is great pressure
being brought to revise the tarin up
ward without delay. On the other
hand, members of Congress realize
the very popular demand that the
taxes be revised Immediately so as
to lessen the burden upon the people.
The revision of the tariff upward is
not going TO reduce the cost of living
in this country: in fact. it is likely to
keep prices up. or even to give an
excuse for increasing prices of COM
modities. it is said.
On the other hand. revision of the
revenue laws. Tightening the tax bur-
den. might we'll help to make the cost
Of living somewhat lighter.
Between Two Fires.
So the members OF Congress are be-
tween two fires. Some of their con-
stituents. including the farmers, are
demanding immediate action raising
the tariff rates. On the other hand
their political instinct tells them that
it would be wise to reduce the taxes.
But they do not like to offend their
constituents. They are engaged in
the meantime in the gentle art of
passing the buck" to the President.
Suggestion was made today that
the tariff and revenue revision be
combined in one bill. In this way, it
was said. it would be possible to avoid
making enemies by taking UP one
first and allowing the other to go
over. 1t was intimated that this
course might be adopted eventually.