Evening star., 1925-07-19
Current News Events
Summary of Important National, Foreign and
Local Affairs Specially Arranged for the
Convenience of Students.
scribed to $4,50O,000 which is $500, 900
short of the goal of S. 100000

short of the goal of $1,000, 900.
Enumerators will start tomorrow
gathering data from which to compile
Washington's first census of school
children, an annual undertaking which
is provided for under the compulsory
education law passed for the District
by the last Congress. The figures will
serve as basis for enforcement of the
new law. Unofficial estimates place
the number of Washington children
OF school age at approximately $4,000.
Economic.
Farmers and city dwellers continued
to swap jobs during the year 1924, the
Department of Agriculture announced
last week, backing it's statement up
With figures to show that 2,750,000I
farmers left their farms and journeyed
to the cities and industrial centers to
seek livelihood, while 1896 900 city
dWellers left the crowded marts to buy
farms. Two section of the country
New England and the South Atlantic
States-showed increased farm popu-
lations, while all the others showed
decreases. The department in a later
statement declared that the average
monthly wage for farm hands is S3494,
with board. With the use of modern
farm methods, reports to the depart
ment indicated that the present sup
ply or farm labor is adequate.
Uncle Sam has rolled up a balance
of trade of $1,042 ,681 497 during the
fiscal year just closed, thus showing
that amount of exports in excess Of
imports. Both the imports and ex-
ports for the last fiscal year exceeded
those of any period during the last
five years.
After passing back and forth be-
tween the Senate and the House of
Deputies six times, the French budget
for the year 1925 was adopted late
sunday night last week. Two contro-
VerSlal measures We're stricken from,
the bill one providing for the reduc-
ton OF income tax payments from the
following years income, and the other
providing relief for the smaller classes
of traders from the payment OF a
turnover tax. The government prom
ised separate action on these two prob
lens later.
The Standard Oil Company of New
Jersey last week announced that here.
after its workers in the midcontinent
oil fields will work on an eight-hour-
day basis, instead of the twelve-hour
day, which has been in effect since the
try, in 1853. Wages will be scaled to
meet the change. and three Shifts for
the 24-hour day will be inaugurated to
replace the two shifts heretofore in
existence. John d. Rockefeller, jr..
who controls the company. has long
opposed the 12-hour day, but officials
denied that he had suggested the
change. 1t is presumed that other
camps in the oil fields will follow the
q a cot hty tLn n.
pany.
Henry Ford's bid for the 200 Ship
ping Board vessels offered for scrap-
ping purposes was opened last week
He offers S1.706. 900 for the vessels.
compared with the S1.370.000 offered
by the Boston Iron and Metal Com
pany OF Baltimore when the original
bids were opened, June 80. 1t will be
remembered that Henry Ford's hid
failed TO reach the Shipping Board
when the first bids were opened. al
though Mr.. Ford said ii had been sent.
Nhen Admiral Palmer of the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation recommended
that the Shipping Board accept the bid
or the Baltimore company his recon-
mendatlon was overruled and new bids
were asked. 1t was evident that Mr..
FORD had the advantage of knowing,
NHNA ASAOiS what lIle previous nlgn DID
was. and easily bid above it. The Bal
tlmore company has filed formal pro-
test against consideration of the new
bids, and dema nded that all proposals
now be rejected and the ships offered
under new advertisement and new pro.
ceedings.
While the miners and operators of
hard coal mines were having it nip
and tuck at Atlantic City over the re-
newal of the present wage agreement.
which expires August 81, President
Coolidge conferred with Secretary of
Labor Davis at Swampscott over the
government program in case a strike
Is called September l. No inforrna-
tfon was available at the Summer
White House concerning the Govern
ment's plan of operation in case of a
coal strike. nor would the Labor Sec
retary comment on the possible out
come OF the conference between oper-
atorS and miners
Secretary Davis is leaving for Eu-
rope for tour and study of industrial
centers there.