davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1925-02-27
Appropriate Punishment.

Two boys were arrested in Phila-
delphia the other day for robbery Of
a hardware store. Their parents were
mulcted, for $45 in damages for the
goods stolen, the boys were brought
into the Juvenile Court for punish
ment, and the judge sentenced them to
be spanked daily for Al days in REIN.
bursement. Though the dispatch re-
lating to the matter does not so state,
it may be assumed that the spank
ings are to be administered by the
two fathers. It is question whether
in the interest of justice and for the
efficiency Of the cure the court might
not well have stipulated that each
boy was to be spanked by his pals
father rather than his own. At any
rate, spanking is the order Of the day
now for some weeks to come for
these. young hopefuls, and without
doubt the court will watch their fu-
ture careers with interest to see
whether the penalty Is effective.
This Philadelphia judge has put the
cases of these boys squarely. up to
their parents. There is where the re.
sponsibility belongs. Many fathers
and mothers are letting their children
drift along with little OF no super
Evening star., 1925-02-27
The Speakership Candidates.

Tonight the Republican members Of
the next House Of Representatives
meet in caucus to select the party's
candidate for Speaker, who will be
elected by vote of the House when the
Sixty-ninth Congress convenes. They
have the choice of two men of high
ability, long service and unquestioned
party loyalty, Nicholas Longworth of
Ohio and Martin B. Madden of Illinois.
They are fortunate in having two such
men for their selection. At the same
time they are in some difficulty in
making a choice, so high are the
merits Of each and 80 strong their
claims for this recognition and reward.
Each man is now completing his tenth
term in Congress, his twentieth year
OF service. Representative Madden's
service has been continuous, beginning
with the F'ifty-ninth Congress, March
4, 1905. Representative Longworth's
service, though covering an equal
period of time, has not been continu-
Gus. He first took his seat in the Fifty
SlSHlu AOuSI eSS III lSUoJ Dul Was dD-
sent from the Sixty-third Congress.
Representative Madden has served
with ability as chairman of the appro-
priations committee, and Representa-
tive Longworth, specializing on the
tariff, has risen to the position of floor
leader for his party. Each man has
valuable service as a legisla-
tor. Each has a claim for considera-
ton now that the speakership is TO
pass from the present holder, who ad-
vances to a senatorial seat. The friends
OF each claim that they have enough
votes now pledged TO elect their man
at tonight's caucus. The country may
rest assured that whether the speaker
ship falls to Representative Longworth
or Representative Madden it will be in
capable hands, and that the highest
traditions of that honorable Office,
which has been held by some of the
most eminent of American statesmen,
will be maintained.
Evening star., 1925-02-27
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM rIE

among the sister republics of this
hemisphere. Washington Ambas sa-
dors and Ministers from European
and other states have been honoring
Mr.. and Mrs. Hughes privately during
the weeks since his resignation was
announced. The retiring Secretary
has not encouraged anything SAVIOR
ing OF an organized or formal send
on, although opinion is universal that
he should not have been allowed to
leave Washington without some sig
nal demonstration Of regard.
Washington will lose its most ac-
complished and wittiest toastmaster
general when Col. Samuel E. Winslow
OF Massachusetts retires from Congress
on March 4. Representative Winslow
says he's going back to his regular
job, that OF manufacturing ice and
roller skates at Worcester, after six
successive terms in the House. His
friends insist that he is by no means
out of public life for good. One day
they talk Of sending him to the United
states Senate. He is on the threshold
of 63.. National approval has been
voiced with regard to Winslow's fare
well act in Congress-the proposal Of
a law whereby the teaching and study
OF the United States Constitution
pubic
and private schools and colleges of
the country.
Senator Magnus Johnson of Mime
sofa, who, in distinguished company,
VIII be able shortly to write "ex' in
front OF his title, Is going to mount
the Chautauqua platform next Sum
mer. 1t will be a maiden experience.
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and other
Midwest regions will be the regions
he will spellbind. Johnson has not vet
decided upon his subject. but 1t is
sure TO deal with his brief but pyro-
technical career in the United States
Senate. Meantime Magnus Vox will
return to his dairy farm in Minnesota,
see that his boys have kept it in run
ming order, and then go forth to en-
tighten the multitudes that congre-
gate in Main street in Summer and
Autumn beneath the big. brown tents.
Willis, Lenroot, Harrison, Fess and
other brother Senators with Chau-
tauqua pedigrees are putting Magnus
through course of sprouts.
y X X r
Representative Martin Luther
Davey of Ohio, who is a tree expert In
private life. is engaged in a lively
passage-at-arms with the Arboreal
authorities of Central Park, in New
York. In recent address before the
Ohio Society in Gotham, Davey as
serted that tree conditions in Central
Park are steadily going from bad to
worse. The statement was challenged
by Wesley B. Leach, chief forester of
New York's department OF parks. But
Representative Davey returns to the
charge with blazing artillery. He
challenges Leach to produce the off
cial figures showing the number of
trees cut down and removed from
Central Park each year for the last
decade. The Ohioan, one of the babies
of the House, asserts roundly that
"the condition of Central Park is a
disgrace to the greatest city in the
| world" Although a Democrat, Mr..
Davey apparently has no hesitation
in taking a ding at ono OF Mayor
Hylan's pet departments and officials.
Copyright, 1S25.)
Evening star., 1925-02-27

troll did not check the secret hostili-
ties. A reparations plan has been
adopted which some leading Germans
frankly declare viii be observed only
in the first installment. Meanwhile
guns are being made, airplanes are
being provided for in unit manufac-
lures, apparently commercial dye
works are, It is believed, turning out
quantities of explosive and gasrnaking
materials. The spirit OF revenge is evi-
dent in all OF these evidences of war
preparation thus brought to light.
Uneasiness is felt in France over
these manifestations, for unquestion.
ably France would be the object of a
war Of vengeance If undertaken by
Germany. Uneasiness is felt in Eng
land as well, though not in the same
degree. 1t Is felt in this country,
though in still less degree. 1t is felt, Of
course, in Poland and Belgium. But
what can any or all Of these nations
do? The only practical thing that can
be done is to continue to bring out the
facts. to disclose and expose Ger
many's secret preparations, to keep
pace with her warmaking measures, if
they are seriously designed as such,
with revelations and with proper prep
arations for defense.
Germany, Of course, is In no danger
OF invasion. Any measures she may
adopt of a militant character are de-
signed for offensive. and not defensive
warfare. The hope of the allied coun-
tries will be that by the pursuance of
a policy Of peace toward Germany on
their part, with every guarantee Of
continued peace, and by the exposure
OF the Vaccinations and preparations
of the war party in Germany. the peo-
pie Of that country will be aroused TO
the point of repudiating and abandon
ing these dangerous measures and
those who are forwarding them. For
surely the German people themselves
cannot wish for another war.
Evening star., 1925-02-27
Germany's War Spirit.

Suspicion that Germany is not faith
fully observing the terms Of the Yer.
saiIles treaty in the matter OF disarm-
anent have been entertained in the"al-
lied countries ever since the arnistice.
An interallied commission has been
stationed IN Germany to observe the
process of disarmament and has made
numerous reports, all showing plain
evidences Of a disposition on the part
Of the government at Berlin to evade
Goth the spirit and the letter Of the
obligations subscribed to at Versailles.
Now comes another report, which has
been submitted to the interallied mill.
tary council at Paris, and will be
shortly laid before the council OF al
lied Ambassadors. In yesterdays Star
appeared a synopsis Of its conclusion.
Six and a third years have elapsed
since the armistice, and Germany's
war wounds are healing, have, indeed,
practically all healed. In physical
harm, outside Of the loss of man
power, she suffered nothing. Not a
building within the area which now
constitutes Germany was injured. Not
an acre. of ground was torn by shells.
There are no marks in the entire
realm today to remind the people of
the conflict outside of the manned sur
vivors and the cemetery crosses over
the graves Of those who fell. But
throughout Germany is felt pulse Of
war preparation manifest IN drills Of
so-called police, of the training OF, of.
ficers as members OF secret organiza-
tions, Of the manufacture Of war ma
terials under guise of innocent COM
rercial Fabrication. These are the find
ings Of the allied commission.
A grave problem is presented by
these disclosures. How can Germany
be made to obey the law that was i'm.
posed upon her by the treaty OF Yer
sailles? Occupation of certain parts
OF her area did not specifically bring
about reparations payments, which
were deliberately evaded. Customs con-
Evening star., 1925-02-27
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Depending ON Sister.

Depending ON Sister.
Ethelinda's going to learn
To do a song and dance.
Her brothers each at school, in turn,
VIII have a proper chance.
A course in law will do for Bill.
It's medicine for Jake.
And Tom has great artistic skill;
A painter he should make.
But, for the intellectual group
Much patience is required.
And. for our sandwiches and soup
Some cash will be desired.
There must be one equipped to earn
The family sustenance;
So, Ethelinda's going to learn
To do a song and dance.
Evening star., 1925-02-27
Penobscot in Limelight.
Ice Breaker Again Occupies Place
in City Annals.

News comes from Maine, as always
at this time of year, that a Penob-
scot ice breaker has been seen. This
is a privilege few have enjoyed.
Just what the ice breaker was doing
when seen the report does not tell,
but he must have been having a good
time, for there Is still plenty of ice
to break in Maine. This ice breaker
was seen in company with a pack of
young procks. 1t is very much to
be desired that the next person who
sees an ice breaker or a prock will
furnish a more accurate description
Of these animals than any of the
accounts now available.
The Maine piunkus or ding-maul
is we'll known. 1t has a small body,
but a tail about 6 or 8 feet long,
with a lump of bony gristle at the
end as large as foot ball. This is
its sole but sufficient means of de-
fense. The mountain gouger or
bowger is also often seen In Maine.
He is an animal that captures those
inexpert woodsmen who lose their
sense of direction and go astray in
the woods. Less common are the
kickle-snifters, who live in old mems
boards and IN circular lakes; the
swamp gahoon, an animal that makes
snowshoe tracks, and the tree
squeak, which makes a noise like
trees rubbing together in the wind
Other Maine woods animals are the
kangagee, the mountain rabbit and
the philamaloo bird, the screbowil,
the swamp swiver, the wampus cat
and the whifenpuf.
The sfde-hi1l badger is known else
where-that creature provided with
two short legs on one side and two
long legs on the other to enable him
to browse comfortably on the sides
of steep mountains. The wunk is a
strange, animal that digs a hole and
pulls the hole In after 1t. In some
localities hunting the wunk's hole
takes the place of crossword puz-
zles, but in the nature of things 1t
is a pastime rarely successful. Then
there Is the lurloo, and the winno-
welver. the twittering teeper, the
tcheucker and the drowsy cover. In
short, the woods are full OF a. va
riety of interesting creatures that
have been shamefully neglected by
the natural scientists. We call upon
the scientists to give US further in
formation about these animals. The
public has a right to know more
about them than such poetical sta
tistics as James Whitcomb Riley COM
piled in The Flying Islands OF the
Night:
But Dwainie hides In Spirkland
And answers not at all
New York Herald Tribune
Evening star., 1925-02-27
Legislation by Absence

When the 16 Indiana State Senator's
went on strike and hoped into a big
motor bus and fed from Indianapolis
for sanctuary In Ohio, in order to
break quorum and prevent action on
a gerrymandering bill, they reckoned
shrewdly. The Legislature must ad.
journ by statutory limitation on the
9Th of March. They would have to
remain in exile only about 10 days to
make their absence effective. They
doubtless reasoned that even though
they might be arrested and their ex-
tradition sought they could delay pro-
ceedings long enough to tide them
over that period. The only other Dem
ocratic members-two in number
were Ill at home and could not be
moved. They had the quorum ef-
fectively broken. If they did not re.
turn to the State capitol before March
9 1t would be impossible for the Legis-
lature to pass the appropriation bills,
and the State government would be
broke" So they were in a strong
strategic position. There Is no wonder,
therefore, that they won their point
and are now returning under pledge
that no further attempt will be made
to pass the redistricting bill.
This is legislation by absence, or
rather the negation OF legislation. It
cannot be commended as the ideal Of
lawmaking methods. It is susceptible
OF serious abuse. Obviously, IL a
quorum can be effectively broken by
the departure Of the minority from
the jurisdiction, as was done in Ten
nessee in 1920 and in Rhode Island
last year and has Just been done in
Indiana, a premium is put upon alb
stention from duty.
Indiana has a statute which penal
ICES willful absence from the legis-
lative chambers. But the process of
law to enforce attendance or to punish
recalcitrants is not speedy, and, as in
this case, may be just slow enough
to be ineffective.
The Sixty-eighth Congress Of the
United States is nearing q close. II
a group of members Of either house
were to take train or bus, or both,
and leave the District Of Columbia for
some place sufficiently remote to pre-
vent their return before noon on the
4th of March, they might by this ma
neuver check all further action by the
two houses upon important measures.
Writs might pursue them, but with
out effect in season, with the period
of the session determined by the Con-
stitution, and therefore Interchangeable.
1t is hardly, however, to be expected
that such tactics will ever be pursued
by members OF Congress, whatever the
example set by State legislators. Re
sponsibility for fight to evade the dis
charge Of duty and to block proceed
ings is too heavy to be incurred. Those
Is Indiana Senators may gain credit
in the eyes Of their constituents by
their bold stroke in breaking the
quorum. On the other hand, they may
be only inviting reprisals at the next
election.
Evening star., 1925-02-27
Ditohing Farm Legislation.

1t is to be assumed that members
OF the House knew what they were
doing yesterday when they passed the
cooperative marketing bill. What
they were doing was to render highly
improbable that there will be any farm
relief legislation at the present session
Of Congress. The House. therefore,
goes on record as preferring no legis-
lation at all to that recommended by
the agricultural commission appointed
, by President Coolidge. Thus RESPONSE
btiity is squarely and fairly placed for
failure to make good prediction
promises to the farmers.
An attempt may be made by the
Senate to put through the agricul.
tural commissions bill and bring
about in conference reconcilement of
the differences between the houses,
, but there is no reasonable hope for a
successful outcome. No one believes
the Senate will accept the Dickinson
substitute. AS one member of the
House aptly put it, Congress might as
well go out on the front steps of the
Capitol and give three cheers for the
farmer, so far as any practical bene-
fits are concerned. 1t is the old, old
story Of the triumph of politics over
common sense. 1t would almost seem
that professional friends Of the
farmer" in Congress are afraid to do
anything practical in his behalf lest
they lose whatever political advantage
there may be in rural discomfort.
The Haugen bill, embodying the
recommendations of the Coolidge agri-
cultural commission, was a carefully
worked out program for Federal en-
couragement Of cooperative market
ing, designed to safeguard the inter
ests of both the public and the farm
ers themselves, protecting the latter
especially from unsound practices and
dishonest exploiters. It provided for
the Federal licensing Of cooperative
marketing associations, for q moderate
amount Of inspection and a minimum
OF regulation. A Federal cooperating
marketing board, responsible to the
President, was to give advice and as
sistance. The Dickinson substitute
abolishes all licensing, inspection and
regulatory features and provides for
q Federal board. to be appointed by
the cooperative marketing associa-
tions. Its chief result would be to
provide fat Government jobs for a
number of professional cooperative
marketing men, whose activities would
be confined to giving the same kind
of advice they already are giving in
their lower-paid positions with the CO.
operatives. AS there already is in the
Department Of Agriculture a bureau
which specializes on cooperative mar
keting advice, it is difficult to see how
the Dickinson bill would be Of any
benefit at all to the actual farmers.
Evening star., 1925-02-27
ARTICLE vi.

Any detailed study of the French
debt to America today-which in
cludes s4O7. 100000 for surplus ma
terials stored in France at the time
of the armistice-at once raises two
questions: Why did the United States
sell France her surplus materials at
about one-fourth of their cost? Why
not sell them elsewhere at better
figures and terms?
The answer is that the United
States had virtually no choice but to
for the best price and under the best
terms obtainable. The Liquidation
Commission sums it up in its report
as follows:
1--WE had either TO sell to the
French government or tear down and
salvage the constituent materials.
Under a salvage program many
Of the properties would have turned
out to be distinct liabilities instead
OF assets, especially as we would
have been required, at very heavy
overhead expense, to have negotiated
and settled a very large number of
claims for rents, damages and res
torations.
'Tt is estimated that It would have
required the labor OF 10000 men for
period Of six or eight months to
dismantle these installations and
salvage the constituent materials.
This labor would have fallen on
our Army Engineer Corps, for COM
petent French labor was not OBJ
tainable.
Final Price Held Fair.
Under agreement reached with NJ
Morel, however, the selling value of
each piece of property was arrived
at, not by considering its salvage
value to the United States, but by
taking into account every factor en-
tering into the determination of the
net utilization value of such piece
Of property to the French govern
ment. On the whole, it is believed
that the result obtained was a fair
one, alike to America and to France"
In making its first offer to the
French government, the American
Liquidation Commission, as shown
in previous articles. fixed the fair
value" OF the supplies at 749,000. 900.
That sum represented q price which,
in the commissions judgment, would
have enabled France to classify, sort
and condition the supplies and re-
sell them at wholesale without loss
But obviously, although the bulk of
the materials was badly needed by
the French people, the French gov
ernment should properly have been
allowed an element OF profit for
carrying on this work.
1t was for that reason that the
commission discounted the fair
value" by 25 per cent, bringing II
down to $562, 600, ,eo0.. AT that figure the
French government could have. sold
the goods, at prevailing wholesale
prices, at profit Of one-third, after
nI1 T. H. ~ 1trrr &c
The profit, in that case, would have
amounted to about $4,000, 900
nearly 1000, 100000 francs-a tidy
sum in the French treasury.
AS. an instance of the manner in
which the American commission
scaled down the cost price in dealing
with France may be cited the nego-
Evening star., 1925-02-27
THE STORY OF THE FRENCH DEBT
By WILLIAM p. HELM, Jr.

tiations covering the various install
lations-barracks, camps, hospitals,
warehouses, railroad yards. etc.-of
a more or less permanent nature on
French soil
Inventory by Army Ofacers.
An inventory was made by a COM
mittee of American Army officers of
the Engineering Corps, headed by
Gen. Jadwin, and a 500-page report,
covering each item, both as to war
cost and estimated normal cost, was
prepared. Says the commission:
The Jadwin report showed total
war costs of all American installa-
tions in France. including transpor-
tation and handling of materials. SOL
dier labor and all other elements, at
$165, 900 and normal costs of the
same properties at SS1, ,543, o00 The
joint Am erican and French commit
tee, after making deductions for the
estimated liabilities assumed by
France for rents, acquisitions, resto-
rations and damages, placed the net
present estimated value of all Ameri-
lean installations in France at S39,
256,0O0.
From that sum was deducted 25 per
cent, thus fixing the price to France.
in the first offer, at about $29, 500, 900.
And as France paid-or rather prom
ised to pay-only 20 per cent of the
price named in the first American
offer, the net cost of these installa-
tions to France was scaled down 80
per cent and became somewhat less
than S21, 900, 900.
And there we are in a nutshell:
Cost to the American taxpayer, s165.-
100000; cost to France, $21, 600, 600
not in cash, but on 10 years time.
Recently the suggestion was warm
ly applauded in the French Chamber
of Deputies that the debt should be
Cancelled entirely.
What was the opportunity that
confronted France when she pur-
chased the American surplus mate
rials? In a word, and on the basis of
the liquidation commissions report,
1t was this?
Chance for Cash PROFIT.
France had in her possession badly
I needed surplus materials worth $749,-
900, 900 at wholesale prices. She had
given America her promise to pay
$407, ,0o0 900. She could have SOLD the
entire accumulation at net profit,
as estimated by the commission. OF
about $342,00os00o, or approximately
$500, ,000, 900 francs. At the same
time her population would have re-
ceived at Wholesale cost materials
of which, in the main, they stood IN
great need.
Moreover, France would have had
available not only the cash repre-
senting the profit, but the entire pro-
ceeds Of the sales, amounting to be-
tween $500, 100000 and 5000. 100000
| francs, for her obligation, for the
purchase price did not mature for 10
years. -
In other words, through the trans
action France stood to make a profit
of $500, ,000, 900 francs and to have
| the use of not less than 4, ,000, 900, 900
francs additional for 10 years.
Whether this wap done or not cannot
be said from information at hand.
| The point is made that such were
! the possibilities.
(copyright, Isz5.l
Evening star., 1925-02-27

vision over their conduct and ideas
of propriety. Some parents. indeed,
need spanking rather than the chill
dren who are allowed to run loose and
get into bad company. At any rate,
IL these Philadelphia fathers apply
the rod with spirit to the satisfaction
Of the court they will probably at the
end Of the prescribed period have a
keener conception of their own duties
toward their offspring.
Evening star., 1925-02-27

The invention Of an anti-automobile
arnor for pedestrians may be in order.
There are moments of peril that make
a street situation look less like case
of mere traffic congestion than Of ac-
tual warfare.