Evening star., 1926-03-21
Current News Events
Summary of Important National, Foreign
and Local Affairs Specially Arranged
for the Convenience of Students.


Secretaries of state, Treasury and
Commerce and four members of Con
gress, which would negotiate for
diplomatic buildings.
That the American Government is
determined to keep the American
Flag flying on the seas was indicated
last week when the Senate approved
an item of $4,000 900 in an appro-
priation bill to operate vessels which
may have to be taken back from pri-
vate operators because of competi-
ton. The House has already approved
the plan.
Identical bills have been introduced
in the House and Senate embodying
the recommendations of the United
States Coal Commission giving the
Government power to take over the
mines during an emergency, with
either public or private operation.
The sponsors for the bill point out
that half the session has gone and
Congress has done nothing to guard
against repetition of the coal strike.
Economic.
Inadequate traffic facilities for the
millions Of automobiles and trucks
using the roads every day in America
cost the American people $4,000
100000 a year, according to an esti-
mate made by the committee on
metropolitan traffic facilities of the
national conference on street and
highway safety, made public last
week. Listed among the poor traffic
facilities were congested thorough
fares, extra distances, inferior road
surfaces, heavy grades. insufficient
traffic police and inadequacy of or
absence of signal systems.
The strange plan of government
taxing a product which ii forbids to
be manufactured will be put into
effect through decision of the
Treasury Department to exact tax
of $40 gallon for illicitly manu-
factured liquor. Producers Of medic
inal liquor manufactured under Gov
eminent supervision now pay n tax
of S2.20 q gallon. When the Govern
ment can prove the illegal manufac-
ture of liquor, 1t can tax the producer,
and the system. already practiced
with success in some States, will be
put into practice on nationwide
scale.
Postal savings deposits in February
showed a gain of 1905, 800, indicating
to postal officials profitable employ
ment OF wage earnerS throughout the
country and a healthy reaction from
the liberal spending of the holiday
season.
Pressure of population in urban
areas. more uniform distribution of
prosperity and the decentralization of
industry are factors combining to
cause drift of population away from
the congested metropolitan areas
back to the smaller cities and subur-
ban areas and which will be noticed
in the next quarter of a century.
These are predictions by engineers
who have just completed a power sur
vey in the Middle West
The population of the United States
on July l. 1926. will be 17,135,S17, an
increase in the six wears since 1920
of II .425,l according to the esti-
mates of the Census Bureau. based on
the normal growth of population.
New York. with a population of
ii ,303,296. continues TO lead the States
in population, with Pennsylvania next.
Pennsylvania's population is estimated
to be 9,613.570.
A group of textile workers repre-
senting the striking employees Of the
mills at PasSaic, n. j.. called at the
White House last week to lay their
troubles before the President, but
they We're denied an audience They
were directed to the Department of
Labor to meet conciliators there. who
took steps to aid in the peaceful set
tlement of the strike.