Evening star., 1923-04-05
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS

that she shall tell who do these bad
things, so that the Department of
Justice can be required to stop II.
1here is q citizens committee "f
spokane organized expressly :"
propagate gossip and poster the
former senator's wife unless she la
herself liable to a thousand libel suitA
by pointing her finger at the wrctchcs
who are so naughty.
The chances are that not one Nom
Der of that committee voted for tie
reelection of Senator Poindexter or
VIII sorrow that he and his gifted
writer. friend wife, are soon to hob
mob with the Peruvian Incas, for the
former senator is appointed ambas
sador extraordinary and ninistcr
plenipotentfary to Peru and does not
have to live in Washingt1n-city or
state-any more for some years.
In the midst OF such harassments
all that the rest of us can do is ~
cry: Oh for a Lodge i'll some va
wilderness"
= i x
Perhaps it is coincidence that IN
the day after it had been announced
that the Washington schools were
going to teach the boys and girls
house painting and decorating all the
painters and decorators of tho CITY
struck. Was it to stampede after
the job OF instructing the tens o.
thousands of prospective apprentices
to their trades that the practical mon
went on this stampede? Compare the
wages of the average teacher witt
the salaries of the man Of the brush
Do teachers ride 10 school in their
k~wn limousines? Now. the painters
demand 50 Il day-ncarlE double what
ii teacher gets.
= X X
II is not announced that the cn
dren Will merely study color haf-
monies and contrasts. According 4"
reports, they are TO do actual housr
painting and decorating. When they
graduate at sixteen years of age, ther
will they be prepared to qualify as
master painters? That is the aim or
some of the enthusiasts who demand
that our public schools replace the
apprentice system with all the prac-
tical instruction needed TO enable III"
graduate to earn his or her living
as skilled mechanic upon gradu-
ating from the high school.
The idea OF deyoting hours IT,
practical trades" which time would
otherwise be spent in the elemeutarr
studies for which public schools are
maintained, needs no extended COM
meut. Even as to house painting l'
would be hazardous to add au0lhcr
tint unto tfc rainbow.
II the study We're limited 70 the
principles Of harmony Of color thcr.
| might be much to be said in its favor.
Children are taught singing, but ~"
usually grand opera.
,:
How are the children Of today g.
ling to acquire the rudimcnts Of gen
| eral education. and how will thor
minds be disciplined in the three L..
| If they are going TO devote anything
| like enough time to become adep'
in the actual practice of any trade:
Are all children equally fitted 10 b"
house painters or interior decorators
or is the report exaggerated which
| tells us that practical painting is t.
| be added TO the curriculum of th~
| elementary and high schools of Was1-
'ington? What other trades are ii"
4 masses of children then to take uI'
Has not vocational training becpm-
somewhat loCoed?
= X
! Here is the key to the adminis,ra-
F., tive policy of Gen. Hines. director Ut
the Veterans Bureau: 1t is bette
occasionally to overpay an uudcsery-
ing man than to let half dozen
worthy men wait and suffer
| The new director is determined IN
cut out red tape and bring the servic,
man and the money due him togethel
| in the shortest possible time He has
no regard for political or official pu,
Congressional influence cuts no figure
in the face of facts and he has l.,
patience with employees Of the bureau
| who fail TO take that as their cue.
! II is tremendous job TO weed out all
| the abuses which had grown UP. b..
/ the new administration is on the juf.
! The Veterans Bureau handles more
! money and more men than any Other
! branch of the government eXcept
| the Treasury for money and the Wa.
| Department for men.
x = y
| Secretary Of Labor Davis has turn
ed prophet-not weather proph,t.
| but a coal predictor. lie forewarr~
US that coal will lie abundant ncNr
winter, which is comforting. Now
will he predict that it will be haulc.
| TO our bins? II was said to be abuu-
| dant this past winter but the trouble
was in its transportation and price
! Copyright 1923. by p Y. Collins