davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1924-01-31
Doukhobors Returning Home,

Announcement from Winnipeg that
5000 Doukhobors from the Kamsack
district Of Saskatchewan are contem-
plating a deal for the sale of their
property preparatory to migrating to
Russia, revives memory of the pecu-
liar antics Of these strange people
some years ago. They belong to a re-
colony in the Dominion which they
ran upon gfous-communistic prin.
ciples. They took it into their heads to
migrate. and large number of them
started south without clothing. Tramp
ing along the roads in a state Of ma
.ture that naturally aroused public in.
dignation, they were finally halted and
returned to their reservation No
one ever fully understood just why
they took the freakish notion to march
in public unclothed. They are nom
resistants, and were persuaded with.
out much difficulty to go back home
and conduct themselves normally.
Still from time to time they have given
and otherwise failing to conform to
the normal conditions Of life. Strong
prejudice has been created against
them in that part of Canada. Now il
Is announced that 1900 expect to sail
for Odessa within a month, a ship
having been chartered. and that the
remaining 5000 will probably follow
within a year. The soviet government,
it is stated. will provide them with
land and implements for a return of
one-siXth of their crop. They are good
farmers. and the present party of
5000 will take with them about 81
100000 accumulated through their
farming operations in Saskatchewan.
It is easy TO see why Moscow will vel
come them. One wonders whether they
will have any clothes To wear after
they have lived in Sovietia a While.
Evening star., 1924-01-31
Larger Municipal Powers.

Appointment of a subcommittee OF
tho Senate District committee to con-
Slder plan to enlarge the powers
"f the District Commissioners in Ger.
tain details of municipal MANAGEMENT
and to draft a bill to that effect is to
De welcomed as an indication of a
desire on the part of the Senate COM
mlttee TO facilitate the local admins
tration. Anything that is possible
within the fundamental law along
this line will be acceptable. Hereto
fore the only power given to the
commissioners has been that. of franz
ing certain municipal regulations
building, police, etc., for the protec-
ton OF life. health and property.
Certain decisions have been rendered
by the courts to the effect that Con-
SI'ess cannot delegate it's general pow.
ers of exclusive legislation for the
District of Columbia given by the
Constitution. One of these decisions
Ntuach against Van Riswick) inval.
1dated on that ground an act of the
-
seventies of the last century In
conformity with that decision. or a
reconsideration or modification of
1t. whatever is granted by Congress
In the way of direct administrative au.
thority would be helpful in the di-
rection of speedier corrective and pro-
1ectivc and constructive action. OF
course. the framing of the bill which
is now contemplated the limitations
imposed by the court on this delega-
ton of congressional authority will
be held strictly in view.
Doubtless much can be done still to
enlarge the powers OF the Commits
sioncrs. To do So would facilitate the
municipal business and would relieve
Congress. The authority granted by
statute to the Commissioners to write
and enforce certain sup c4nai rcgula-
tions has been eXernise5. oy TIE mu-
ncipal heads with discretion and in
the main to the advantage of the COM
munity. Changes IN these rules are
made only upon deliheration and after
aScertainment of public wishes.
Evening star., 1924-01-31
''Scofflaw'' Epithet For Vets
Fails to Record Decided Hit

tion are to be shamed into compliance
ii must be by some term more op-
probrious and specific. It must be by
linking the statute law with the tre
mendous moral force of that univer-
sal natural law which causes any
man TO smart when called a thief
and only smile if called a speeder."
X x X
Scoff1aw may be all right in Bos-
ton. the Trenton Times suggests, but
elsewhere there are plenty of offend
ers who would rather be called az
sCofflaw than rum hound or even ~
bootlegger, because. to use a common
expression. 1T does not mean any
thing to the average person. It's
too much like slapping on the wrist
loafer who insults a woman" This
view impresses the Cleveland News.
which recalls '.reformers full of the
best intentions labored earnestly for
generations to rescue erring brothers
from the curse of the rum demon by
calling them drunaards, boozers,
topers. winebibbers. sots. soaks
souses and other names considered
highly invidious. Long and arduous
failed to Danish strong drink that We
had to pass a law outla wing it. And
now they want us to I name-Calling
to make the law work.
And the Cincinnati Times-Star be-
lieves 1.-The true American scofflaHs
are those make-laws in the Sixty
fifth Congress and the state legisla-
lures of 1919 who voted the cup from
their neighbors' lips, but not the
wines and liquors from their own eel
lars" -.
Evening star., 1924-01-31
Signs of Prosperity.

The internal revenue bureau of the
flying increase in the payments to the
government. from all internal levies
in the six months from July to Jan
uary l, as compared with the same
period last year. The payments for
the last six months We're 1889, 791 =
432. while in 1922 they We're S1.167..
6i6.452. Income and profit taxes con-
stituted. as usual. large share of
the total. For the past six months
the receipts from this source were
sS21 ,259,o5l. as contrasted with s679,-
196.120 in 1922.
Internal revenue receipts are I'M
falling indices of the general condi-
tion of the country and the people, for
no one. can escape the tax gatherer.
1t is pleasant reading. then. to note
what the figures show in the improve
ment Of business reflected in these
increases. All classes are sharing in
the good times and encouraged to look
for still better times to come.
Another sign of the times of a
highly favorable nature is the boom
IN railway car building. and railway
car construction. The Iron Age pre-
diets that 1924 will be an unusual
year in buying. Some of the large
western railroads have placed heavy
orders for rails and cars and others
are "in the market with inquiries
indicating preparations to buy.
The first month Of the new year
has fulfilled the prophecies of thriving
business made at the beginning and
all the reports augur we'll for con-
tinuance Of prosperity.
Evening star., 1924-01-31
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

Thomas w. Gregory, the democratic
member Of President Coolidge's BIZ
partisan commission to probe the oil
cases, grew up in Austin, Tex, with
Col. Edward NJ. House. It was largely
due to Houses influence that Gregory
was taken into the Wilson cabinet as
Attorney General Born in MISSISSIPPI
pi. reared In Texas and now q prac-
ticing lawyer in Washington, Greg
ory Is Of the solemn and silent type
that Calvin Coolidge himself incar-
mates. Like the President, Gregory
prefers works to words. Siias H.
Strawn. the republican on the oil
case. has long been in the inner coun-
ellis of the G. o. p. in Illinois and
the west. He is a particular crony
OF Fred w. Cpham. the republican
national treasurer. Since William NJ.
butler, the Coolidge campaign chief
tain. took up his headquarters in Chi
cago ne has seen a good deal Of
Strawn. and doubtless Buffers COM
mendation weighed heavily with the
president when the two lawyers were
picked out. Mr.. Coolidge went west
Tor his legal talent. Which is a. sign
OF the political times.
y n
Mr.. Box hasn't as yet brought any
pressure to bear on the United States
Senate, but Washington's Little Con-
sress' will tackle the Box peace
prize award at its weekly meeting on
February 2. This parliament of con-
gressional private secretaries and at
taches will debate a resolution pro-
viding that The Little Congress OF
the United States favors the adoption
OF the peace plan submitted by the
thn nok & Jury or award" The fight for
meth Romney, the democratic as
sistant to the republican serReant-of-
arms of the House. supported by
Robert II. McGimsey. secretary to
senator Ransdell Of louisiana. The
resolution Will be opposed by Wal
lace Wharton. secretary to Repre-
sentative Watkins of Oregon. and
Paul John Kvale.. who is secretary
to his father. the successor Of Andrew
j; Volstead in the House. The Lit
congress- elects a new speaker
every two months. At present its
'Gillett' is socialist, Marx Lewis.
secretary to Congress- lone socialist
member. Victor l.. Berger of Wiscon-
sin. r. F. Snyder, secretary to Rep
resentative Albert Johnson OF Wash
lngton. Is chairman of the Little
congress committee on order Of
business.
4 r. n
Edward L. Doheny, who holds the
center of the stage in the oil-lease
scandal, was the principal angel Of
Eamonn De Vslera's campaign for
Irish freedom" in the United States.
During the year or two preceding the
establishment Of the Irish Free State
Doheny was president of the "Ameri-
can Association for Recognition of
Evening star., 1924-01-31

so much in need of repair that il
might collapse, but 1t has not been
printed in the news that the building
inspector has condemned 1t or served
notice on the present tenant to move.
There are many persons who rent
flats in Washington who see no rea-
son why No. 16Oe PENNSYLVANIA ave.
nue. should be uncomfortable in sum.
mer. 1t has a good-sized yard on all
sides and is convenient to Lafayette
Park and the ball grounds on the
Elltpse. 1t is set far enough back
from the street that the Georgetown
navy yard cars ought not to keep
the tenants awake all night and yet
II Is close enough to the street that
the occupants may sit at the front
window and see what is going on in
the world.
Ihis Washington summer stuff is
sometimes overdone. Not everybody
in Washington owns a cottage at
Newport or summer plantation in
the Adirondacks and yet many local
residents live to ripe or green old age
and get good many sweets out of
life. Last June and July. when the
mercury ranged in the nineties. many
men who came in from Mount Pleas
ant. Brightwood, Anacostia. petworth,
brookland and all the other places
of which Washington is the suburb
testified that they slept under
blankets last night" There is no
reason why tenant of No. 1900 Penn
sylvania avenue should not live hap.
PLY. even i'm warm weather.
Evening star., 1924-01-31
Government Building Program.

The bill introduced by Senator
Smoot, chairman of the public build
ings commission. authorizing appro-
priation of s50.0O0.0oO for construct
ing government buildings at Wash
ington, is another step toward meet
ing a need which has been felt and
which has been under discussion for
good many years. With the recent
expansion in government work the
need for new buildings has become
pressing. Of the sum carried in the
bill not more than 100000 900 is to
be made available in any fiscal year.
II the pending bill becomes a law
construction will soon be begun on
buildings for the bureau of internal
revenue and other Treasury bureaus
and offices not housed in government
owned buildings; a building for the
general accounting office: homes for
the Department of Justice. the De-
partment of Agriculture, Department
Of Commerce and Department Of
Labor; d national archives building,
ply committee and other government
purchasing agencies.
It is provided in the bill that the
buildings shall be erected on land al
ready owned by the government or
on private lands which the Secretary
of the Treasury may acquire. No
doubt most of the buildings will be
constructed on land now owned by
the government and outside of park
land. The section between 14th and
18th streets anu Pennsylvania avenue
and B street, which was taken over
by the government several years ago,
will provide sites for some Of the
buildings. The government also owns
land west of 18th, south of the Ave-
nue. and north of Potomac Park on
which temporary buildings stand.
Evening star., 1924-01-31
Licensed Peddlers.

The Commissioners have agreed to
regulation to require "peddlers or
persons who go from door to door 60
Letting subscriptions to obtain a per-
NIT before engaging in such business"
Those who must obtain permits are
described as "beggars. book can
vassers, peddlers and solicitors for
subscriptions" The regulation was
made after the receipt by the Com.
missioners Of a letter from the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton stating that many citizens have
complained of frauds practiced on
them by house.to-house canvassers.
The experience of housekeepers and
their maids is that these bell.ringers
are quite numerous. Some persons
who answer the doorbell have said
that there must be million Of them.
Generally these visitors do not COM
nit fraud, no matter what their inten.
tions. because SO few Of them get in.
We shall see how the permit system
works. Even if only the honest ped.
dlers and canvassers get permits,
there will still be many pulls and
pushes on the bell. If a woman, in
terrupted while washing the baby or
broiling a steak for supper, adjusts
her hair and apron and finds at the
door a man who Gays that he has a
license from the District Commission
ers to sell her something she does
not want, it is believed that she will
feel no resentment.
It is probable that unworthy people
follow the houss.to,house visiting Plan
Evening star., 1924-01-31
ANSWERS To- QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HhSKIN

Q. What do We charge foreigners
for an American visa on passports?-
II. T. T.
A. The United States charges $40
for visas on passports of aliens from
all countries.
9; Can motion pictures be sent by
A. This has not been accomplishe d
yet, but mechanism is being de-
yeloped with the expectation Of trans
mitting motion pictures by radio, 80
that events may be portrayed before
our eyes as they are happening in
distant lands.
@. How many circuses are now in
winter quarters?-G. H.
A. The Billboard lists thirty-two
as being in winter quarters. Others
may be added to the number later.
originate?-J. p.
A. 1t Is said that Jenny Lind ap-
piled the term in a joking way to a
car that was specially prepared for
her comfort when she made her tour
1852. ~
O.. How Is Saint Gaudens pro-
A. 1t Is pronounced as II spelled
Sent Gawdenz."
@. What is the average amount
per acre for potatoes and corn
]. H.
A. The Department of Agriculture
says that the average yield per acre
approximately 104 bushels, while ap-
proximately twenty-seven bushels of
corn are grown per acre.
Q. Is the word Bible always begun
with a capital letter?-D. A.
A. Bible is begun with a capital
only when 1t applies to book which
is considered sacred, as the Holy
Bible. or the Mohammedan Bible-the
Koran. The word is usually used in
this sense. When the noun Is used
merely to identify other collections
of authoritative writings a capital is
not used.
Q. Who was the last Of tho soldier
q de1d ID to be returned from France'-
A. Charles W. Graves was the last
OF the war dead to be brought from
overseas. He was buried at Rome,
Ga.
@. What was the total vote cast
P. I.
A. The unofficial popular vote cast
in England on December last was:
Conservatives. 5,359,6s0: Labor, A.
348,37s: Liberals, 4,251,513; other par
ties, 226,1Ss.
Q. What state first observed Arbor
day?-F. J. p.
A. The pioneer Arbor day state
is Nebraska. where the observance
began in April 1872.
@. How many ecIipses will there
be during the present year?-A. *. C.
A. In 1924 there will be Ave
eclipses, three of the sun and two Of
the moon. none of which will be WIS.,
ible in the United States. There will
be total eclipses of the moon on Feb
ruary 20-21 and on August 1915. and
partial eclipses of the sun on March
6, July 81. and August 80.
Q. In the lumber industry, how are
woods classified as hardwood and
softwood.-O. j. W.
A The forest service says that
wood of the evergreen trees is soft
wood and the wood OF broadleaf trees
is hardwood
Evening star., 1924-01-31
Patent Office Congestion.

Secretary Work. in special report
made to Congress on the state Of
business of the patent office for the
past calendar year, says that as
result of changes in methods Of
handling applications the office has
gained on the accumulations at the
rate Of 1000 cases a month. Still
congestion prevails and the Secretary
describes conditions. due to greatly
increased business, as "deplora BILE"
Even under the new system Of co.
ordination it will be five years before
the technical work can be current.
and TO accomplish this reports must
be augmented by at least 100 more
examiners. Notwithstanding the cur
rent gain. there are still on hand
$1,000 patent applications and o.IOO
srsds mark and 900 design cases.
This congestion in the patent office
is due to two causes. Increase of work
the result Of marked development
of business and industrial progress.
and depletion of the trained force con-
sequent upon the heavy turnover"
No other branch Of, the government
suffers so severely in personnel de-
pletions as the patent office. 1t has
been frequently styled a training
school for patent experts. Young men
enter the service at comparatively
low salaries, work for several years
to acquaint themselves with the prac-
tees Of the Office, study law mean
while and then go out into the field
as patent experts for Industrial cor
porations or members of established
firms Of patent attorneys, at much
greater salaries than they could pos
sibly hope under the present condi-
tions to receive from the government.
The result Of this large and steady
turnover in the force is necessarily
slowing of the procedure. The office
is compelled constantly to break in"
new men. 1t cannot maintain the
headway that is possible with a con-
stant. experienced force.
The remedy for this condition is
higher pay scale that will lessen,
tnOuSH IL may not prevent aItOgether.
the depletion Of the force by drainage
into private work. The government
probably cannot compete with the
corporations and large firms of patent
attorneys in the higher ranges of pay.
But it can. at least. make the patent
office service more attractive as a ca
reer for large percentage OF the men
that it employs for this important
service. The patent Office is a self
sustaining institution, the fees col
lected far more than meeting the ex-
penses. 1t is. therefore, very poor
economy to hold down the scale of
pay for this branch of the work when.
in consequence of low rates. the gov
ernment is losing valuable men and
as q result failing to keep up it's
current of business. The very fact
that the service rendered by the
patent Office is paid for in fees makes
it incumbent upon the government to
keep the work up to date. The postal
service is maintained by fees and it
must be kept current. So should the
patent work.
Evening star., 1924-01-31
1900 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Through all this talk about a sum.
mer White House runs the inference
tE1. No. 160U, Pennsylvania avenue is
not a comfortable place in which to
live when trees are in full leaf and
fountains splash. This will not dis
courage any of that large and increas-
ing number of gentlemen who would
take a four-year lease on the dwelling.
To most persons in Washington it
seems to be that sort Of a dwelling
house which is so often called "eligi.
bic" 1t is not altogether cozy and
Aomelike, but it might be made so by
somewhat restricting the number and
variety OF callers. A few weeks ago
sEol.- Sheriff. said that the house was
Evening star., 1924-01-31

the Irish Republic" Doheny was
given the floor at the democratic ma
tional convention In 1920. to submit
a minority report from the committee
speech he read the report. which IA
vored recognition OF Ireland. The oil
magnate. who followed William Jen-
nings Bryan and w. Bourke Cochran.
pleaded his inability to emulate their
master oratory and said 1t was virtu-
maker.
His buddies recently had "a good
laugh on julius H. Barnes, president
of the United States Chamber Of Com
merce. Barnes was in Washington
addressing a local commercial body
at it's annual dinner. He was rhapso-
dizing about the prosperity in which
America is engulfed. why" he said,
there isn't u shopgirl in the United
States today who doesn't wear silk
stockings" Whereupon there came
a chorus Of merry voices. which cried:
How do you known When Barnes
his prosperity talk into other chan
nels.
* 4 *x
1t is the cheerful season when par
ties and politicians promise profuse-
republican scouts are already at work
in various sections Of the country
trying to find out just what it Is the
farmers would like written into the
G. o. p. national platform in 1924.
Evidently the downtrodden ruralist
is to be invited to write his own
planks. The democrats will not lag
far behind in "cultivating" the bu-
collie brother. Somebody once said a
platform is something a party gets
in on" and not anything 1t Stands
on"
When Secretary Mellon addressed
the Manufacturers Club OF Philadel-
phia the other night and received its
gold medal of honor, he made a
speech" that was long-winded for
Mellon. 1t lasted three minutes and
thirty-eight seconds. When the toast
master told the Secretary of the
Treasury that his remarks were go
ing to be sent broadcast by radio.
Mellon said: We'll. I'll have to watch
my step. That stage whisper got
into the air along with Melons other
loquacity.
); 4 y
Alice Roosevelt Longworth lives IN
the Senate and House these days
when debates of historic import are
under way. She enjoys every minute
of them. Indeed, Princess Alice" en-
joys everything. A Comrade asked
her recently for the secret of her in
exhaustibrc capacity for getting out
of life all il has to offer. ITS a sim
pie remedy" Mrs. Longworth replied
II won't be bored and ] never am"
(CopyriVht 1924
Evening star., 1924-01-31
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
In Florida

In Florida.
In Florida the balmy breeze
Is waited over azure seas.
The sunshine dances from afar
To murmurings Of the light guitar.
If I were there. would l return
To Washington. to help them learn
Sad facts. amid the ice and snow?
Respectfully, i answer, No.
A congressman cuts in just here
And says, you'd have no cause for
fear
Should you from Florida he called
And in the witness chair installed.
You will not feel the winter chill
Around the dome up on the Hill.
You will admit before we're through
We've tried to make it warm for you."
Evening star., 1924-01-31
COURAGE
81 an, the master OF my fate.
l am the captain OF my soul"
HENLEY.
LINCoLN's MANY FAILURES.

Abraham Lincoln was born in log
cabin in the then ''wilds of Ken
lucky" His mother died suddenly
when he was ten years old.
With less than one years schooling
In his life, he read borrowed books
by the light of the log fire.
He wanted to be a Mississippi river
pilot. but stayed with his rowing.
thriftless father until twenty-five
year old. Striking out for himself,
he handled practically his first money
while clerk at New Salem, Ill. '
Promoted from private to captain
in the Black Hawk war, he returned
to New Salem, ran for the legislature
and was Overwhelmingly defeated
He, with a worthless partner, bought
a store. 1t failed. and Honest OLD
the obligations. Appointed county
surveyor, his horse and instruments
were attached for the stores debt.
and friend saved them for him.
He and blue-eyed Anne Rutledgf
were engaged. She died suddenly.
suicide.
Elected to the legislature, he haal
to borrow funds to buy suitabla
tlmeS. nc IeATn0u law IfOHl
books and was admitted to the bar. !,
Showed under in his race for Com
gress. he won two years later. Seek
ing to be land commissioner. he WAS
offered the governorship OF oregon
and his wife rejected 1t. He lost two
races for the United States senator
ship. once following the debates with
Douglas. His name was proposed for
the vice presidential nomination, ana
he ran second.
He was elected and reelected Pres
ident Of the United States. He guild
ed the country through the civil war
He accumulated the equivalent OF
half a million dollars. Today his ex-
amples have guided statesmen of the
world; his. name is. honored and his
memory revered.s
"I have been driven many times to
my knees" he once said. by the oveIns
whelming conviction that I had ,nof
where else to go. My own wisdom
and that about me seemed insufficient
for that day"
Ncxt--HsIrn..KcllerF FqHnd HappiHessS
-. aaxssss 49,