davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1922-12-08
District Day in the House.

Despite a petition signed by ten
members of the House District COM
mittee. the leaders have declined to
set aside next Monday as District
day." although under the ordinary
schedule Of procedure that would be
the regular assignment of time for
local legislation. This refusal. it is ex-
planned, is not due to any antagonism
toward the items on the calendar
which await action, but is attributed
to the fact that the House Is congest-
ed with the consideration Of appro-
priation bills and cannot spare the
time at present for District matters.
This is the usual experience Of the
District. For many years it has strug-
gled to get its day" in Congress. A
long time ago District day" was
fairly regularly observed. but in the
recent past that item on the calendar
has been honored more in the breach
than in the observance. The District
has got its day" only by grace Of ex-
treme consideration and. incidentally.
suit has been that District legislation
has been congested, sometimes. it is
true. to the advantage Of the COM
munity in that measures that have not
been given the most careful commit
tee c. 1sideration and that have not
been assuredly beneficial have been
blocked from enactment.
One result Of the almost systematic
denial of District day in the House
has been that measures of Importance.
prevented from consideration on their
merits, have had to be added to appro-
priation bills as riders. Recently. how
ever. this has become next to impos.
sible by the rigid insistence upon the
rule against legislation in the money
bills.
Attendance in the House on District
day is never large. 1t has been pro-
posed in the past that a night session
be occasionally devoted to this line Of
business. True, the attendance at
such a night session will be small.
comprising only those who are in
timately concerned, and who con-
scientiously regard themselves as Dis.
trict legislators, but something would
be accomplished. The night session
held every fortnight would at least
keep the District calendar clear of
unobjected cases and would relieve the
House Of the reproach Of falling in its
constitutional duty as the lower
branch Of the Districts legislature.
Evening star., 1922-12-08

ditions, leaving the individual roads
to effect adjustments with their en-
ployes. An announcement Of the
course decided upon says 1t marks
the passing Of nationwide treatment
Of strikes and strike threats. The
theory Of the executives is that 1t is
impossible to deal equitably with labor
on a nationwide basis, because of
varying conditions on different roads
and in different parts Of the country,
and they held that SO long as the sys-
TEN of nationwide treatment con-
tinued it would be impossible to get
back to economical operation Of the
roads.
For many years the plan Of each
road handling its own labor problems
satisfactory both to the workers and
managements is attested by the rarity
Of strikes. The system did not prevent
national officers Of the brotherhoods
functioning as representatives Of the
men. but as each case was considered
on it's merits and with local conditions
in view it generally was easier to ar
rive at understandings.
Public interest in the matter lies in
the possibility that 1t may serve to re-
move the recurring menaces Of ma
tion-wide suspension Of transporta-
ton. All sorts Of proposals and pro-
grams to that end have been ad-
vanced. but this one has the recon-
mendation of having worked with rea-
sonable success In the past. and in
that respect 1t has a big advantage
over untried experiments.
Evening star., 1922-12-08
Member Of the Associated Press.
Freedom of the Straits.

A good deal OF uneaSlneSS was
caused allied circles at Lausanne by
the prospect of Russian support of
Turkish pretensions in the near east
settlements. and there was special ap-
prehension Of trouble when it came to
dealing with the question Of the OAR
danelles and the Bosporus. Turkish
insistance that Russia should be ad-
mitted to full discussion of this ques-
tion was taken to mean that Russo
Turkish program had been agreed
upon in advance, and it was feared
that when this issue was reached the
break so often narrowly averted would
surely come.
Whether these apprehensions were
without warrant or whether at the
last moment Turkey saw things in
new light does not appear. but devel-
opments have left Russia in the posi-
ton OF making impossible demands for
Turkey and then having Turkey repu
diate the demands. Tchitcherin is left
out in the rain without an umbrella.
while Ismet Pasha finds shelter under
the wings of the allied program.
For generations the securing of a
port on warm waters and free access,
thence to the seven seas has been
cardinal principle of Russian policy,
and Russia entered the world war
with the understanding that victory
for the allies would give her control
of Constantinople and the straits.
Russias collapse and the separate
peace she made deprived her of this
reward following the armistice, but
at Lausanne the allies brought forth
a program which gave to Russia all
the substance of the things for which
she has so long contended. Instead
of grabbing at so unexpected an op-
portunity. the Russian delegates coun-
tered with proposal that control
of the straits be turned over absolute
1y to Turkey, to be patrolled by Turk
ish warships. And Turkey rejects
this free-will offering. not because
she would not like to have it, but
because she knows she cannot get
it. Confronted on one hand by a
solid allied front. having the moral
support of the United States. and on
the other with Russia as rod to
lean upon. the willy Turk was not
long in deciding which side of his
bread was spread with butter. The
Turkish counter proposals. though not
a complete acceptance Of the allied
program, recognize that the straits
should be free in peace and war, and
against this the Russian delegates at
Lausanne protest in vain.
Evening star., 1922-12-08
The Smith Boom.

aov.-elect ''Al' Smith Of New York
is making the acquaintance Of the
expectations created by his phenom-
email victory, and finds he must hurry.
He takes hold at the beginning of the
new year.
He will not be stranger to his
office. He has served term as gov
ernor. and acquitted himself well.
But the situation Of today is more
difficult than the situation he encoun-
tered when he first tackled the bust
ness Of the state. New York is strug-
Cling with her share of the general
commotion.
And then another thing. At the be-
ginning Of his first term Tammany's
favorite had in view only his relation
to state matters. He was probably
considering no bigger things. He was
concerned principally. If not solely,
with making good record at Albany
for state consumption.
Now all is different. There is a
Smith boom for President, and the
boomers are adjuring the boomee to
lend hand by administering his Of
flee with the national opportunity con-
stantly in mind
ZAP Smith, as he wishes to be
known, is personally popular, and one
of the cleverest Of New York poll
ticians. How seriously he takes his
presidential boom Is his own secret.
But, in the nature Of things, he can
not be Indifferent to the compliment
conveyed, nor cold toward its authors.
and 1t Is altogether likely that he Is
going to tread his path warily during
the coming eighteen months, until the
meeting day Of the next democratic
national convention.
Evening star., 1922-12-08

lungs, and on account of the terrific
heat, the furnace being at $500 de-
grees Fahrenheit. Insurance under
writer's are very reluctant to take this
class Of business. Due to overexer-
tion and overheating. pulmonary dis
eases result and the death rate Is
heavy. It requires an exceedingly
active man, and glassworkers rarely
follow the trade after they reach mid
die life, II they survive until then.
But Fred Zihiman hopped to 1t. and
was one Of the youngest journeymen
in this country when he had the trade
learned at the age of fifteen. The
factory made all sorts of fancy goods,
including glass canes to hang on
Christmas trees. paper weights and
the tinsel for Christmas trees. Be-
cause of the shortage of labor. street
gamins from New York were brought
in. To Fred was intrusted the trying
task Of keeping them in order to
prevent excessive waste in breakage
Of the fragile product. That was his
start as labor leader.
At the age Of twenty-four the men
commenced to elect him to important
positions in labor organizations.
when realized how much was de-
pendent upon me-" Representative
Zihlman explains. ito see that the
wives and children of these workmen
got a square deal in life, was stag
gered. was woefully ignorant. 1t
burned in on me that / must fit my
self for the work laid upon me. !
must learn about production and SELL
ing costs and all else on which labor
arguments lean. So I set to work
studying" He worked alternately.
one week days and one week nights.
and put his spare time into studying.
His presentation OF the cause of the
worhngman attracted wide atten-
tion and in 1909 Zihlman was elected
from the glass factory bench to oc-
cupy q seat In the Maryland state
senate, representing Allegheny county.
When the session Of the senate closed
he went back to the glass factory,
and when the senate reconvened he
laid down his blowpipe again. He
served as republican floor leader in
the senate, 1914-1916.
When he first ran for Congress
there was an interesting spectacle Of
a coal miner, David J. Lewis, now a
member of the United States Tariff
Commission.
Evening star., 1922-12-08
America.

Now and then we seem to fall below
par in appreciation of ourselves. but
we do not lose in the appreciation Of
outsiders.
America looks so good in English
eyes. English emigrants head in this
direction notwithstanding appeals that
they consider other parts of the en-
pire. They have heard OF the opportu-
mites and the wages in this country,
and make a bee.line for them in de-
Gliding a change of residence.
Canadians are showing the same
disposition. They are crossing the line
into the United States In such num-
bers the Canadian authorities have
taken the matter up in the hope Of
checking the hegira.
When the question Of new homes
for the people who have been made
homeless by the clash Of the Greeks
and Turks is mentioned America is at
once introduced. Send them here is
the suggestion in that quarter OF the
world. 1t is assumed that we are in
better condition to receive homeless
people in numbers and mako them at
home than any other people.
America is the greatest going con-
Germ in existence. Disturbed as Is our
business, heavy as are our taxes. dis
contented as are so many of our citi-
zens, and extravaganty as that dis
content is expressed. the lure Of Amer
lea continues. Even those deported
for their abuse Of the government
the Goldmans. the Berkmans and the
ike-want to return after brief ex.
perience abroad.
And yet, from top to bottom-from
Capitol Hill to the curbstone-one
may hear America traduced as "in-
terest-ridden" and fast approaching
the bow-wows.
Evening star., 1922-12-08
EDITORIAL DIGEST

terms of the Volstead act The
saloonkeepers brought about prohi-
bition and. just as surely. the pro-
fessional prohibitionists and their in
experienced though sincere amateur
spect for prohibition laws. The
saloonkeepers went too far and the
prohibitionists have gone too far.
1t is also the belief Of the Buffalo
Times independent democratic) that
the people violate the Volstead law
economic. commercial. social and
medical necessity and impossible TO
reconcile with human nature. That
is no excuse for violating it. But it
is a condition Of affairs that does call
with unanswerable argument and
modification. Prohibition is a
CHASTITY failure" asserts the st. Louis
Post Dispatch Independently, but
the deplorable conditions that excite
the Presidents apprehension and anx-
iety are not the final consequences
government is the sinister threat of
present conditions"
There is an immediate necessity.
the New York Post independently
feels. that "a thoroughgoing reor-
ganization Of the prohibition ma
StiuSIS Will All cSS u lHOTOuSS IL
going enforcement" be made. Con
eressional majorities are still over
whelmingly for the law and sur
render now would be the surrender
OF an army to an army greatly in
ferior in size. Wars that do not go
well may yet be won by the applica-
tion of sufficient backbone" The
various developments. however. I'M
pei tho New Haven journal Courier
independently to inquire whether
"the time has not come for the advo-
Gates of prohibition and its opponents
to set aside their prejudices and
together calmly consider the situa-
general welfare" But It is the
(republican) that "the matter Of en-
forcement is a much larger question
than prohibition. Today we have
prohibition modified by graft and cor
ruption. Ugly deals are being made.
although nobody believes that the
existing conditions. But so grievous
is the situation that the real issue
today is: Shall we have prohibition
modified by the corrupt practices OF
officials or shall the notifications
come as the result Of amendments
to the law. duly enacted?' Shall the
bootlegger and the CRATER amend the
men amend them in fact?" And the
Boston Transcript independent re-
publican) insists that whether the
Volstead act stands or is amended or
repealed, the method of enforcement.
SO long as 1t remains on the statute
reform. The drys and the vets. alike.
ought unhesitatingly to give every
possible effort to clean this foul
plague spot In our government"
Evening star., 1922-12-08
Railroad Wages.

A pay Increase totaling $1.so0. 900 a
year has been granted 10000 main
tenance Of way employees Of the Penn
sylvania railway system. and adjust
ments are to be negotiated with other
classes Of workers. The increases are
not large individually, ranging from
cent to cents an hour, but in the
aggregate they amount to a considers
BILE sum. and at least are q move up
ward instead Of downward. Apparent
~ the men are satisfied. and that is
the important thing from the public's
point Of view.
Special interest attaches to this set
tlement in view Of the action taken
yesterday in New York by the Asso-
citation Of Railway Executives, when
It decided to withdraw. 50 FAR as pos
slble, from all connection with future
disputes as to wages and working con.
Evening star., 1922-12-08
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
The eyes of almost the entire gov
ernment service will now be eagerly
and prayerfully looking to Congress
during its present session for the
passage Of the bill No. 6433, now pend
Ing. to increase the annuity retire.
ment for civilian employees reaching
certain ages (from the present maxi
mum of s720 per annum to a mini
mum of $500 to the allowances indi-
Gated for the various classes in said
bill.
Experience has demonstrated-and.
we think. to the entire satisfac-
tion of every considerate and fair
minded senator and representative
(and We believe all OF them to be
such)-that it Is almost impossible
, for the men who have given twenty
five or thirty years of their lives in
faithful service to the government to
exc out anything like comfortable
or even decent living for themselves
and their dependents on the meager
sum of $50 a month and less:
They know. too. in view of the high
cost of living. particularly in Wash
ington. how hard it is to hoard up
even a few dollars for the. "rainy
days" of old age. Furthermore. all
Of our representatives must and do
realize how extremely difficult it is
for men. particularly ex-government
themselves) reached the age of sew
enty to obtain employment elsewhere.
Experience and competency and
physical ability seem to avail but
little nowadays. for. notwithstanding
those qualifications. their age Is held
ofne com.
PEELED to linger in idlerress and rust
away. feeding upon their pietance
for a few years only. and then to be
snufIed out from time to eternity.
inE fer ansfice apd the square deal
Our legislators will not lose sight
of the fact. we trust. in considering
this matter. that every employe OF
the government 10 contributing IA
per cent Of his or her salary toward sId
from this monthly payment a con-
siderable surplus has already been
accumulated. so that the govern
ment is not obliged at this time. ana
probably win not be for years 70
come. II ever. to pay anything OUT Oh
|. BY reference to the bill approved
january 10, 1922, It will be seen that
millions Of dollars have been appro.
priated for the increase OF retifea
pay of Army officers, NO protest .ra ~
for the military establishment. but
thcre seems to be every reason to
protest against the glaring discrimi-
nation of which the civil servant is
the victim. II. as has been said. tine
Army and Navy scheme of retire.
ment is equitable" then the civil
sch emo Is entirely inequitable and In
adequate. Relatively. the retire
ment allowance in the one case rep
resent. luxuryi in the other case
Whit more justification for starving
CIVILIAN employees in wsges. salayies
and retired pay than 4hefs' 10 In
Evening star., 1922-12-08
The Supplies and the Session

A word about the supply bills. They
ought not to be used in any parliamen-
tary maneuverings. The way should
be kept open for them. They are en-.
titled to the right Of it. If that Is done
all of them can be disposed of in good
shape and season. Uncle Sam will get
his rations. and the table on Capitol
Hill will be cleared with ease by
March 4.
1t has been too often the case that
the supply bills at both long sessions
and short sessions Of Congress have
been jusgled with in behalfs alto
gether foreign to their nature and pur.
poses. In this way jams have been
produced and good bills and bad bills
alike affected.
Always a bad policy, such would be
a particularly bad policy now. The
supply bills carry more items and
larger figures than ever before. The
national establishment is huge thing
probably the biggest thing Of the
kind in existencNand its appeals
merit lAoIouSH eAdAiAiAeAoA oio AL
telligent decision.
Congress can get through in the
time allotted If that time is fairly en-
ployed. A great deal can be accom-
plished in three months. and especial
ly under competent leadership.
The leadership on Capitol Hill on
both sides is competent. But it is also
human, and when politics bites It is
apt to respond. Let US all hope that
it may not bite" deeply in the COM
ing three months, and that in the mat
ter Of supplies the interests Of the
country. and not simply party inter-
ests, may be kept prominently and
steadily in front and on view.
Evening star., 1922-12-08
The Farmer and His Woes.

From Farm Life. q publication, as
its name implies. devoted to the in
terests of agriculture:
The usual autumnal corn-burning
canard has started the rounds Of the
press. Since it would take about $25
worth of corn to produce as much
heat as a ton Of soft coal, 1t Is ap-
parent that. even In this year OF high
coal and reasonably priced corn. there
quantity of corn will be burned for
fuel. It wouldn't pay. And anybody
who has ever tried burning corn
knows that it makes an exceedingly
poor fuel. We know what we are
aS9f for feW dsys MefS in Mime
sofa one time. and tried to boil pota-
toes on a corn-fed kitchen range.
When they begin to circulate the
rumors about burning corn we refuse
to become excited.
That the farmers are at present
under the harrow is beyond dispute.
That legislative provisions for their
relief should be made is generally ad-
vocated. But that in forwarding
those ends exaggerations are INDUCED
In need surprise no one.
It has always been 50. Thirty years
ago, when populisn, making appeal
for the farmers, was shaking the
country, much Of an extravagant ma
ture was uttered by tho leaders of
that movement Jerry Simpson of
Kansas had a gift for that sort Of
thing, and while a member Of the
House often entertained audiences on
Capitol Hill.
On one occasion. after Mr.. Simpson
had poured out his soul in unusual
fullness in favor Of project for the
benefit Of the farmers. Thomas B.
Reed, then tho republican leadef, took
the door and opined In this wise: ''adr.
Speaker. I havs listened to the gen-
tleman from Kansas with all the
greater attention for the fact that
Evening star., 1922-12-08
Safeguarding Children
Of 81 Fatal Accidents Only IA
Happened in the Streets.

To the Editor of The Star:
On the memorial erected on the
front Of the District building COM
memorating the death OF ninety-seven
children by accident in Washington
during the year 1921. though it dis
plays the true figures. this might im--
ply that their deaths were caused
from accidents in or on the streets of
the city. But such Is not the case.
Only the deaths OF fourteen OF these
children were due to traffic on the
streets. Many met their fate by ac-
cidents which took place in or on
their own premises or homes, some Of
them being burned or scalded. and In
some instances they have fallen
down the steps or over the balusters.
and it is more than likely that some
of these accidents were the result OF
negligence on the part of their par
epts.
The chief OF police has taken par
tfcular care to instruct his men to
safeguard the children while in or on
the streets, particularly while cross
ing In going to school and returning
therefrom. It may have been noticed
that an officer is on duty at the cor
ner OF Massachusetts, avenue and 18th
street while the children are as
sembling for attendance for school. A
most wise precaution.
This surveillance 10 also maintained
in the vicinity Of other schools.
At one time 1t was thought that the
children on roller skates playing
about the public streets would cause
accidents. but this practice has di-
minished. 1t is due TO the vigilance
Of our police that there are SO few
accidents in the thoroughfares and it
is hoped that the next report will
show that accidents to children in
the public thoroughfares have greatly
diminished. From all times children
have made a playground of the pub
lie streets. Naturally they would
seek these localities while engaged
in their games and sports. Taking
everything into consideration. it Is
evident that the chief OF police has
paid considerable attention to the
Safeguarding Of the rising generation.
and the streets OF the city she'll
the streets thereof."-Zeohariah
chap. viii-S. FRANKLIN STEELE.
Evening star., 1922-12-08

plead their cause
m ore effectively.
That's Representa-
tive Fred N. Zihl-
man Of Maryland.
now chairman Of
the labor commit
tee Of the House.
And Zihlman is
just as good a
glassblower today
as when he fash
ioned an elaborate
glass cane that
was presented to
Eddie Hanlon, now
park CO m m l s.
NiOner of Ralti.
Evening star., 1922-12-08

when . young man I spent some time
in the west and made the acQuaint-
ance Of its hospitable and resourceful
people and took special note Of the
land, and tell you now. sir. at this
long time after, that II we had such
soil in Maine we'd sell it by the
bushel."
1t is unnecessary to say that that
particular project Of Mr.. Simpson
failed to get by. The House. as did
Mr.. Reed. remained cold to tho Simp-
son plea.
Evening star., 1922-12-08

Coal conferences are as uncertain
in their results as conferences Of in
ternational concern. In most cases the
delegates might as well transmit their
immutable views by letter. and save
time and travelling expenses.
Evening star., 1922-12-08

Detroit is a wonderful town for
automobiles. and Senator James
Couzens has had all kinds Of expert.
ence with them. On the District OF
Columbia committee Senator Couzens
should be great help in solving traf-
f1c problems.
Evening star., 1922-12-08
Plea for Adequate Retirement
Pay for Government Employees

starving those who serve the military
establishment.
In view, then. of this recognised
condition, why should Congress hesi-
tate to grant the relief that is 30
earnestly implored and needed by
the federal civilian employees?
Will you not lend the great infiu-
ence of The Star in the effort to
bring about a consummation so de-
voutly prayed for by so many thou
sands of government employees?
CHARLES F. KREH.
Evening star., 1922-12-08
Can Blow Glass for a Living
If He Loses Seat in Congress

HERE is one glassblower in
Congress-. who went into the
factory when only eleven
u years old as bread-winner OF
his family. who At fifteen was a Jour-.
neyman, and who had devoted his
entire life to bettering the conditions
under which his fellow.men work.
educating himself. that he might