davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1924-12-11

Both courts differentiated between the
payments and the data Of income and
exemptions submitted by the individ-
ual to the Government and held in
confidence. In Kansas City the court
discussed this matter at length. 1t
was TO be construed as part Of the
return, inasmuch as the law directed
publicity by opening the records to
public scrutiny, denial of the right of
publication Of the tax amounts was
an infraction OF the first amendment
to the Constitution. In New York the
court merely declared that the tax
payment is not a part Of the return.
and that, therefore, the statute has
not been violated.
However the case reaches the Su
preme Court, by direct appeal as from
the Kansas City decision, or by indi-
rect appeal in effect. as in the New
York case. that court will have before
it specifically the question of whether
the amount Of tax paid is an integral
part of the return and whether
the denial of the right of publicity to
the newspapers is a contravention of
the first amendment, which guaran
tees freedom Of the press. The Gov
ernment is not pursuing these cases
but is seeking Il defini-
ton of the law. Should Congress re-
peal the publicity statute before de-
cision is rendered by the highest
court, these cases may lapse, but they
should be pushed to final decision, in
order to settle a question which is Of
Importance apart from the income tax
question.
Evening star., 1924-12-11
Christmas Drawing Near.

The days before Christmas are few.
The President orders a suitable and
useful gift for many thousand Gov
ernment employees when he proclaims
a half holiday for them on the day
before Christmas. One does not have
to strain the fancy to hear Christmas
bells and smell the baking turkey.
Christmas is written in the shop
windows. Christmas seals have been
put on sale for the help Of humanity.
The postmaster hangs out the Christ
mas sign and says Mail early or
we sink or something to that effect.
Things are being speeded up at the
post office, the force of workers is
being doubled and the windows and
the substations are being opened
early and closed late.
No special correspondent at the
North Pole has sent down this year
an interview with Santa Claus and
description of his plant, but 1t can
be assumed that this great old friend
Of little people and of grown.ups has
taken on extra hands and length
ened the work hours of his force.
The Postmaster General, in an
official report to the President. will
say that the mail for Santa Claus
is heavy this year and that some of
It IS written by folks who have not
been long at their copy-books, If such
things as copy-books are nowadays
used at all. There was a time when
Santa Claus could make all the things
needed and deliver them, too, but
there has been q great increase in
the number of children, the size of
cities and the height Of buildings, and
it has been necessary that Santa
Claus enlarge his plant and lengthen
the roll Of assistants. Modern archi-
tects have put many things in the
way, and, whereas q good sleigh and
feet reindeer with some of the quail
Evening star., 1924-12-11
The Gas Tax Inquiry.

Inquiry has been ordered 10y the
House District committee into the
administration Of the gasoline tax
law in Washington. Surprise is felt
at the, failure Of the tax to yield
the amount estimated and q subcom'
mittee will try to ascertain the cause
Of this difference.
Either the estimate Of the tax
yield was too high or the tax is
not being fully collected. One Of the
two is evidently the cause of this
disparity. The Commissioners have
expressed the belief that the tax is
fully collected and that failure OF
the yield below the estimate is due
to the fact that in the original com.
putation the average use Of gasoline
per motor car i'll the District was
placed too high.
This should be an easy matter to
determine. Gasoline shipments into
the District Of Columbia can be
ascertained almost exactly by ref
erence to the freight invoices, mas.
much as practically all of 1t is
brought in tank cars over the rail
roads. With a certain allowance for
waste, which can be computed, the
daily consumption may be set down
definitely. Large users of gasoline
may be importing directly and evad-
ing the payment Of the tax. They
are presumably subject to the tax,
even though they do not buy from a
local source. If this is the case some
measure OF the difference between
tax yield and estimates may be there
discovered.
There is little likelihood that any
material loss in revenue is due to
the purchase of gasoline by District
motorists outside this jurisdiction.
The Maryland tax is the same as
that Of the District, and the Virginia
tax is 1 cent q gallon higher. So
there is no inducement for the local
motorist to cross the boundary TO
obtain a supply. Apart from the tax
prices are approximately the same
in both of the States and the Dis
trict.
If the estimates prove to have been
too high the lower yield Of tax, will
lead to a revision of the estimates
for appropriations from this fund,
which is available for street repair
and improvement work. If evasions
of tax payments are found prosecu-
tions should follow, with the adop-
ton of precaution against repeated
offenses.
The question having been raised, it
is well that it should be probed and
the facts determined rather than
allow the suspicion to remain that
any Washington dealers are evading
the law.
Evening star., 1924-12-11
The Income Tax Cases.

In order to be certain of final
decision on all angles Of the income
tax publicity question the United
states has brought three cases, one
in Kansas City, one in New York and
one in Baltimore, citing q newspaper
IN each city as defendant. At Kansas
City the court has ruled that the law
had not been violated, inasmuch as
Ine matter published was not a part
nf the income tax return, scrutiny or
publication of which is specifically
prohibited. An appeal was noted in
the Supreme Court. In New York
tho case was submitted to jury, with
instructions by the Judge to the effect
that no violation Of law had been
proved, and an acquittal verdict was
rendered. Inasmuch as a defendant
cannot be placed twice in jeopardy for
the same offense, an appeal could not
be carried to the Supreme Court on
that verdict. So a fresh indictment
has been drawn against the New
York newspaper, citing different
names and amounts taken by 1t from
the tax records. 1t is expected that
this indictment will be dismissed by
che court, and from that action ap
appeal may be taken. The Baltimore
case has not yet been decided.
In both the Kansas City and the
New York decisions the courts ruled
that publication of names and amounts
paid In taxes did not constitute vio-
lation of the prohibition against Civ
ing publicity to income tax returns.
Evening star., 1924-12-11
Fog in London.

Stories come from London Of the
prevalence of dense fog IN that
city for many hours. This visitation
Of what has come to be known as
London particular" is in line with
tradition. Due to some popularity
OF atmospheric conditions, the British
capital has been perennially subject
to these thick mists. settling down
upon it without warning, blanketing
it in impenetrable murk. blocking
traffic, even stopping some lines Of
business and causing people extreme
discomfort and even danger. Just
why the moisture Is so thickly con-
densed at that particular point has
never been explained. Fog is caused
by meeting of air currents Of differ
ent temperatures with a heavy per-
centage of humidity. 1t is veritably
atmospheric water in suspension.
Some have thought that these Lon
don fogs were due to the exhalations
of moisture from the walls Of stone
and brick buildings, which are par
character Of the London fog Is ac.
credited to the presence of much
SCOT in the air due to the use Of
innumerable open-grate fires burning
soft coal. The "smuts" which arise
from the chimneys mingle with the
water particles suspended in. the air
and give an unusual degree of
opacity to the atmosphere.
In this latest London fog traffic
has been almost suspended in certain
districts, the mist being persistently
thicker in certain localities than in
others. 1t has been necessary to
burn flares at street corners to guide
drivers. Trains have been stalled
because Of the obscuring Of signals.
The subways have been comrara-
lively free from the fog, but have
been choked with traffic as the sur
face vehicles have been deserted
People have been utterly lost in the
streets for hours. All sense Of di-
rection is gone in a fog. Land
marks are blotted out, guides are
lacking.
Scientists have striven for years
to try to find a cure for these visi-
tations, which occur mainly in the
late Fall and early Winter. Nothing
has ever been done, however, and
the fogs remain the terror OF the
London pedestrian, the despair OF
business men and purveyors Of en-
tertainment. No American cities are
subject to any such peculiarly dis
abling phenomenon.
Evening star., 1924-12-11

Vice President-elect Dawes has told
President Coolidge that he prefers to
occupy the position to which he was
elected, and will not accept an invi-
tation to become an ex officio member
of the cabinet, a position which, ac-
cording to the Nashville Tennessean,
Mr.. Coolidge enjoyed during Presi-
dent Harding's administration"
The Harding plan," continues the
Tennessean, "is not adapted to color
full personalities with strong convic-
tions and the courage to express
them. Were Coolidge and Dawes to
sit at the head and foot of the council
table the ends of the table might be
reversed almost from the outset.
Dawes made a wise decision, and no
doubt Coolidge heaved sigh of re-
lief when he announced it." The
Grand Rapids Press says: I'VE are
inclined to agree with Mr. Dawes
as Mr.. Coolidge does-that It Is bad
precedent TO assume that the Vice
President should be as completely
identified with the party leader as
Mr.. Coolidge was. The Vice President
Is subordinated too much, even as
matters stand. Let him be a free
lance, an imponderable, factor to be
tie. and he will not only enjoy the
vice presidency a little more, but will
be in a position to stand on his own
feet in case of emergency"
X X X 4
While no great harm would be
likely to result from the participation
ings," observes the Indianapolis
News, at is hard to see how very
much good could come from 1t. 1t is
better that there should be no con-
fusion Of executive and legislative
functions" The Des Moines Register
agrees that there is SO little chance
Of any good coming from including
him in the cabinet that the Harding
policy might very we'll be dropped"
While, in the opinion of the Seattle
Times, MT. Coolidge's attendance at
Harding cabinet meetings was uni
formly pleasant, it is by no means
sure they were highly beneficial" It
is likely, the Times continues, that
Gen. Dawes will find the Senate suf
ficiently interesting to command his
entire attention, and perhaps his
pungent comments on senatorial
practices and achievements will serve
to speed up that sloyT-movtng body"
Actual experience demonstrated
the failure of the experiment" says
the Springfield, Mass, Republican. which
believes that the example in the re-
cent campaign demonstrated the
risks attending the Harding Coolidge
experiment when the opposition can
didates based their charges that the
Vice President had harbored a guilty
knowledge of the administrative
scandals on the mere fact that he had
listened in at cabinet meetings and
had thus become a responsible mem
ber Of the administration over whose
Evening star., 1924-12-11
Building Inspection Deficiencies.

An illustration of the narrow mar
gin Of maintenance allowance granted
the District in the annual appropria-
ttons is afforded by the report of
the inspector of buildings to the effect
that unless a supplementary appro-
prtation is granted his service will
face deficit for the present fiscal
year. The current appropriation for
the annual employees of the office is
S5T,oS0. with an allotment Of SIT, 1000
for temporary inspection. The budget
Just submitted proposes s5S,000 for
the annual employees, an increase OF
$500, and O provision OF $4,000 for
temporary inspectors, an increase Of
$4,000.
These amounts are far too small.
There is a total field force Of 10 men.
OF these only 13 inspectors are avail
able for the actual work of build
ing inspection, and of the other 6
are assigned to elevators, 1 to fire
escapes and I to signs. 1t is obvi-
Ously impossible for 13 men to cover
ell OF the new building works in
This city thoroughly. Construction
for the services of at least twice as
many inspectors.
At the time Of the knickerbocker
Theater disaster. in January, 1922,
attention was pointedly called to the
inadequacy of the building inspection
;-E
then, but. did not go far enough. 1t
treated that branch Of the District
government as it has perennially
treated all the branches Of the mu-
4icipal organization, with rigid econ
ory, cutting down the Commission
OF force and Of pay.
Proper building inspection. Is a
matter Of such vital Importance that
funds for the maintenance Of this
service should never be skimped. It
ls necessary to watch every construc-
lion work closely, in detail. No mat
ter how conscientious contractors
may be, errors will occur, laborers'
faults will develop. Disinterested
supervision is essential. The safety
% life depends upon integrity Of con-
s;truction.
1t is not enough to dole out IN
creases OF force and equipment to
a growing ,city, especially when the
municipal equipment has never been
adequate. Since the Knickerbocker
disaster the building inspection force
has been increased by only four men.
Such an addition should have been
made to the inspection service 10
years before. Just SO in the matter
of the schools. A heavy arrears of
school building needs has accumu-
,ated until the District school system
IS congested to the point Of a veritable
denial Of education to large number
Of the children Of the Capital. Merely
20 catch up with this arrears by
20 per cent, which is q maximum
OF annual performance by Congress,
IS to continue to deprive the District
uf its proper facilities for this essen
tial work.
Evening star., 1924-12-11

the White House are "Tiee." the
executive cat that was lost last
Spring and found by radio, and "Roh
Roy" the beautiful white collie, which
Is Mrs. Coolidge's frequent companion
In his moments of reverie, and
some times when reading. the Presi-
dent sits with "Tige" curled up In
his lap or even perched on his shoul-
der. The tricks that Roy Roy" knows
were mostly taught him by Mr.. Cool
ldge. The First Lady of the land ls
understood to be somewhat more in
clined toward birds than animals
and some of the sweet singers in thc
White House were trained by her
X x X X
Radio fans by the thousand ought
to be interested in a bill now pend
ing in Congress to give the paw and
allowance of lieutenant in the Navy
to Charles Benter, leader of the Navy
Band. In addition to granting the
leader better income, the bill de-
signates that the organization, now
known as the Navy Yard Band. shall
henceforth be known as the United
States Navy Band. The air audience
far and wide for more than a year
has been enjoying the music of Ben
ters men, who, of course, supply 1t
without extra pay. Even IL the lead
ers salary is raised to that of a
naval lieutenant (ranging between
$4,000 and $3,750, including allow
ances) the Navy Bands leader will
still get a good deal less than the
conductor OF a Washington theater
orchestra The latter receives no less
than $3.50 a month for directing 90
or 22 men through one program a
week. The Navy Band of 81 men
plays dozen programs a week. They
are President Cooidge's favorite must
clans. Benter's band accompanied
President Harding to Alaska.
y i: X
Baron Ago Won Nathan zu warten-
berg g-und-PenZlin--to give the newly
appointed German ambassador to the
United States his full name-has spe-
clalized in Russian affairs during his
past three years of service in the
Wilhelmstrasse at Berlin. Although
nobleman and a former officer OF
dragons, Baron Nathan is believed
to have identified himself whole
heartedly with the democratic regime
Just sustained afresh by the German
election. There has been q consider-
able competition for the Washington
ambassadorship. One ardent aspira M
was DR.. Wilhelm Solf, the German
envoy to Japan. But Soif, despfte nm
commonly fine equipment for the mis-
sion, was German foreign minister in
the last days of the HohenzolIern an
tocracy, and 1t was not felt at Berlin
that he would be an ideal choice for
Washington.
Copyright. 1e24)
Evening star., 1924-12-11

shapeless hole would quite as sat
isfactori1y allow the escape OF steam.
The great danger which threatens
the craft movement in this country is
lack of Willingness on the part of the
young to serve an apprenticeship in
order to attain proficiency. Life Is
short and art is long, and time saving
is the cry of the hour; but good
craftsmanship is only acquired
through endless effort, through that in
finite capacity for taking pains which
Is so rare that some have been disposed
TO cali It genius.
Evening star., 1924-12-11

OF course, the Congressman scru-
tinizing naval appropriation IS
naturally inclined to inquire how
much OF the money is likely to rep
resent the sinking Of valuable ships
to obtain statistics relating TO target
practice.
Evening star., 1924-12-11
SHOOTING STARS.
By PHIIANDER JOHNSON.
Moderation.

Moderation.
Let's be quiet; let's be gentle
And discreetly sentimental
AS we have the big display
On Inauguration day.
Let's extend IN our eiation
Flattery by imitation,
Valuing the thought sincere
More than ostentauous cheer.
Even mid the merry riot
Rightly due-none can deny it
Let us pause and think anew
On the work there is to do.
Evening star., 1924-12-11

1t Is asserted by Gov. Ritchie of
Maryland that the freedom Of the in
tlividual has never been so much re-
stricted by law as it is now. Yet the
reports Of grand juries indicate that
Sn spite Of the restrictions a great
many individuals are taking too many
serious liberties.
Evening star., 1924-12-11

Predictions that the President will
have trouble with Congress create no
surprise. Having trouble with Con-
gress is part of the Presidents regu-
lar occupation.
Evening star., 1924-12-11
Dawes Attitude on Cabinet
Has Nations Editors Guessing

policies and acts he had no control
| whatever"
THE innovation OF the last admin
istration was not an Improvement on
the wisdom of the fathers" in the
opinion of the Boston Transcript I'm
! the cabinet the Vice President was
placed in the uncomfortable position
by the very nature of his office of
sharing the responsibility before the
public OF the decisions OF the cabinet
without any authority either to in
fiuence or to oppose them. The cour-
try owes Il vote of thanks to the
Vice President elect. to whose com
| mon sense is due the return to con
stitutional practices"
x K X
~There is very little evidence that
Mr.. Coolidge contributed anything
very definite to the formation of the
Harding administration policies" oh
serves the Rochester Times Union,
which adds: "On the other hand, there
is little doubt that Mr.. Coolidge
gained In the closer knowledge of gov
ernmental problems which came from
his attendance at the cabinet meet
ings On the whole, perhaps, the ex-
pertinent worked well rather than ILL.,"
AS the New York World sees 1t: THE
country needs Vice President in the
cabinet. For his presence there is not
only the obvious argument that he
may one day succeed his chief in Of
fee and can profit in that case from 3
closer contact with affairs, but the
additional argument that the policy
making burdens of the Executives are
heavy enough to stand the co-opera-
ton OF two minds. Mr.. Dawes is a
man whose energy might make the
re DraC a..
cabinet less of precedent and more
of real thing"
Gen. Dawes action, In the opinion
of the Milwaukee Journal, to q good
many supporters of the Coolidge
Dawes ticket is likely to be a dis
appointment. They had yisioned the
peppery general hammering the cabi-
net table until the inkwells danced,
driving home his brass tacks' In gov
ernment. 1t may not matter that Gen.
Dawes voice Is not to be heard in
the inner circles of government Yet,
coming so soon after his saving the
country from the red flag and the
demagogy and mob psychology, this
self -effacement of the man of the
hour would indicate that the Ameri-
can people swallowed an awful dose
of bunkum. In fact, we are beginning
to suspect that all the talk about
how the politicians tremble when Gen.
Dawes name Is mentioned is Just
some more of what the younger set
calls blah- -blah."
X X X
The Birmingham News refers to
possible ambitions in 1928 and Mr.
Dawes desire to keep his political
record unattackable, and remarks s: "Ife
would rather put up with the loneli-
ness and detachedness about which
Thomas r. Marshall grumbled, rather
than be linked up with cabinet con-
claves on Teapot Dome and the rest
of the unpleasant things with which
Vice President Coolidge was linked
In prediction days" This theory is
discounted by the San Francisco Bull
letin, which says: Our notion Is
that IL Mr.. Dawes does not wish to
sit at the cabinet table 1t is because
of bashfulness. He is a shrinking vio-
let on whose tender petals tiny dew
drops tremble. He might make a good
President IL he could get over It, But
that will NOT be until long after 1e2s."
Evening star., 1924-12-11

The Forbes case presents so many
variations that the discriminating gos-
sip enjoys the privilege Of selecting
whatever line of scandal suits his
fancy.
Evening star., 1924-12-11

Assertions are made that the next
war" will be fought in the air. In
that case, everybody may as well en-
list. There will be no safety in being
a non-combatant.
Evening star., 1924-12-11
Give Business a Chance.

From the Birmingham Age-HeraId.
Those who are urging an extra session
Of Congress are respectfully requested to
give business a chance to catch up he
fore the obstructive process is resumed.
Evening star., 1924-12-11

A threat of communism brings every
French patriot to alert attention.
Frances experience with communism
is a historic sufficiency.
Evening star., 1924-12-11
Member of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
70 the nse for republication OF all news dis
patches credited to 1t or not otherwise credited
=; "a this paper and also the local news pub
Hsaec herein. All rights of publication of
special dispatches herein are also reserved
Evening star., 1924-12-11

Aircraft operations may make the
elevation of guns a less important
matter than facilities for transmit
ting explosives downward.
Evening star., 1924-12-11
Consistent Economy.

Consistent Economy.
You are not saying much at
present"
"a true statesman today" answered
Senator Sorghum, 'is expected to
economize, even in words"
Evening star., 1924-12-11
Message to Moscow.

AS the London Daily Telegraph
views 1t, the American election was .
message to Moscow,
Evening star., 1924-12-11
The Lawless Average,

From the Des Mones Register
One trouble with the average man
Is that he generally considers himself
above the average.
Evening star., 1924-12-11

New styles in socialism are an
1ounced. Marx has apparently had
his day as a best seller.
Evening star., 1924-12-11

The Evening scar, with the Sunday morning
eSition. Is delivered by carriers within the
city at so cents per month; daily only, 45
cents per month: Sunday only. 20 cents per
month. Orders may be sent by mail or tele-
phone Main 5000. Collection is made by car
tiers at the end OF each month
Evening star., 1924-12-11

Jud Tunkins says his community
has lost interest in saving daylight
and is now trying to cut out the
moonshine.
Evening star., 1924-12-11
Rate by MaiI-PayabIe In Advance.
Maryland and Virginia.
All Other States.

Daily only. ......1 yr., $500; / mo-, soc
Sunday only. yr., s3.0o: mo-. 25c
Evening star., 1924-12-11
Father, Dear Father" /"

Father, Dear Father"
Father, dear father, out there in
the tub
The home brew is gassy and pale.
We hope you will hurry away to the
club,
Where people drink mild ginger ale
Evening star., 1924-12-11
THEODORE w. MOVES. a.. Editor
THE Evening Star Newspaper Company

Business Office 1ith St. and Pennsyavania Ave.
New York Once: i10 East 42nd St.
Chicago Once: Tower Building.
European once: 10 Regent st.. London. England.