davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03

capital ships from 20 to 26 years.
Battleships of the future not to ex-
coed $4,000 tons in displacement (the
present limit is 10000 tons), and not
to carry guns of caliber greater than
| 1875 inches the present limit is Is
| incheS). Aircraft carriers of the
| future not to exceed $4,000 tons in
displacement the present limit is
$1,000 tons), and not to carry guns of
caliber greater than 6 inches (the
present limit is s inches).
1t is seen at all these proposals
call for modification of Washington
treaty provisions, wherefore apart
from other compelling reasons) the
American delegates are flint against
| them.
2-The 5-5-3 ratio to be extended
to cruisers Of displacement between
$500 and 10000 tons and carrying
guns of caliber between s inches and
| s inches the Washington treaty
limits displacement of cruisers to
10000 tons and caliber of guns
mounted thereon to inches) and the
number of such vessels to be allowed
each of the three powers to be deter
mined by the conference. Cruisers of
the future outside such allowances
not to exceed $500 tons in displace-
ment nor to carry guns of larger
caliber than inches.
This is the proposal at which the
American delegates chiefly balk, for
two reasons in chief:
l. Our need of a considerable mum.
Der of cruisers of fuel-carrying ca
pacity exceeding that of the 1900
ton craft. because of our paucity of
coaling stations and the vast dis
tances separating some of them: the
other, that adoption of the proposal
would be equivalent to immense en-
largement of the British cruiser class
without corresponding benefit to us,
since the British merchant marine
includes a. large number of vessels
capable Of carrying generous arma-
ment of 6.inch guns, and, so armed,
fairly a match for cruisers of 1900
ton or smaller displacement. No limi-
tation as to number of cruisers of
$500 tons or smaller is definitely
proposed.
8. Destroyer leaders to be limited
to 1850 tons and destroyers to 1,40O
tons. Apparently though this is not
perfectly clear. it is intended that
destroyer leaders and destroyers ex-
ceeding the displacement named
should be scrapped. Here again the
question of cruising radius is of far
more importance to us than to Great
Britain. because of the latter's great
number and comparatively close
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03

proximity to each other of fueling
stations.
Guns on destroyers not to exceed
S inches in caliber.
4. Fleet submarines to. be limited
to / 500 tons and coast defense sub
marines to 600 tons.
No definite proposal is made as
to limitation of the number of sub
marines. and 1t Is not apparent how
the distinction as to types could be
made effective without Limitation on
the number of the smaller type. My
observations above as to cruising ra.
dius apply to our attitude toward the
proposal to limit the size Of fleet sub.
marines.
Submarines to carry no guns of
larger caliber than inches.
5. Age limits for replacement to
be: For cruisers exceeding $500 tons,
"a years; for destroyer leaders and de-
stroyers, 20 years, and for submarines,
Is years.
/ remarked that the British made no
definite quota proposals except with
regard to the 7,500-10, 000-ton cruisers.
But it would appear that they have
such quotas in mind, as possibly to
emerge from the conference discus.
sions.
1--WE think" said Mr.. Bridgeman,
the British spokesman, lit would be
desirable to discuss the possibility of
limiting the number Of submarines &C.
cording to our varying requirements,
and 1t must be borne in mind that any
limit placed on the number of subna.
rines would make it easier to limit the
number of destroyers, and IL agree
ment were reached on these points
with other powers. it might be possible
also to consider the number of
cruisers each Of us should possess.
at will be noted that we have not
made any definite proposals with re-
gard to miscellaneous vessels, such
as mine-layers. small aircraft carriers,
torpedo boats, mine sweepers, fleet
auxiliaries and purely local defense
vessels.
1--WE have, however, prepared
comprehensive classification table,
which includes all types of vessels.
with suggestions for the limitation Of
their tonnage and ornaments, de-
signed solely with a view to prevent.
ing their development in such a way
as to jeopardize the security arising
out Of any agreement we may reach
In regard to the more important types
Of vessels
Mr.. Bridgeman ended with an i'm.
portant reservation:
owing to the position of Great
Britain in relation to Europe, 1t Is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03

eral Government - while steadily
reducing expenditures, taxes and
the national debt - about 40 per
cent.
While the Federal Government
has been paying off the public debt,
and spending less than it has col.
lected in taxes, the counties, States
and cities not only have spent all
the taxes they have raised, but
have issued bonds-that is. bor-
rowed money--to carry on i'm
provements, or otherwise to finance
themselves.
National Debt Diminished.
The result is that during the last
six years the national debt has
been diminished $4,961 900 900,
while in the last three years the
debts of local and State govern.
ments have increased $685..
100000. While Federal taxes have
declined 80 per cent during these
years, local taxes have increased
Sc per cent and State taxes 81 per
cent. State taxes have climbed
over local, largely through expendi.
lures for education and for high.
ways.
Since 1919 such industrial States
as New York, Delaware, Massachu.
sets and Rhode Island, which pay
the highest Federal per capita tax
and contribute the most to the sup
port of the National. Government,
show a decline in their burden;
while the total tax burden Of the
agricultural States remains high in
proportion to income. This re.
fleets the benefit Eastern industrial
States have derived from recent
Federal tax reductions. It also re.
fleets the rising cost of State and
local governments. which comprise
about Is per cent Of the tax burden
of the farming States, a burden
made all the more burdensome be.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03
War Over Direct Primary Is On

which would make their voting inef.
fective.''
In October of this year the voters
in Maine will go to the polls to pass
upon an initiative petition for the
repeal of the direct primary law in
that State. Doubtless there will be
other attempts to do away with the
primary system in other States. They
have been tried out in some of the
States already. In the last five years
at seven elections in six States the
electors voted upon seven PROPOSE
tons, all of which involved the main.
tenance of the direct primary as it
existed or modify it in the direction
urged by the Vice President. These
States were Ohio, Nebraska, North
Dakota. South Dakota, Washington
and Arizona. The total vote cast on
these propositions in all the States
stood 6S6.987 for repeal or modifica-
ton of the primary law and 1926
against. In Ohio last year the vote
against a return to the convention
system was defeated by more than
$40 900 votes.
While in some States the vote in
the primary elections has shown a
reduction in recent years. generally
speaking, the primary votes have
!,
1t may be pointed out that in many
of the States where one or the other
Of the political parties Is strongly dom.
inant, the primary election for selec.
ton of candidates is the only oppor.
tunity which the voters at large have
to pass Judgment upon the candidates.
This is particularly true in the ''solid
South" where the Democratic nom.
ination Is equivalent to an election.
1t Is true in States as strongly Repub.
lican as Vermont and Pennsylvania.
Corruption and excessive expendi.
lures of money have been shown in
some Of the State primaries. But the
defects so shown have been due rather
to the men and methods employed
than to the system itself.
Unless the issues involved in a
political campaign become of vital
import, many of the voters, engrossed
In the business of making a living for
themselves and their families, pay
scant attention to the candidates or
the elections. This makes for a small
percentage of voters at the polls. More
education in government and better
publicity seem to be the remedies.
Otherwise, Government remains in the
hands Of minority.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03

nically trained men. At the request OF
this commission open competitive ex-
aminations were held by your office to
recruit this force. 1t may be OF inter.
est to you to know that we are well
pleased w. h the caliber of the attor'
neys and examiners who have Deen
appointed, and have the utmost con-
fldence that this work in the future
will justify the high estimate we now
have Of their ability"
The fact that Congress in its last
session turned over to the Civil SerV'
ice Commission the task of supplying
the entire personnel, with the excep'
ton of the commissioner, for the new
Bureau Of Prohibition, Is good sizeo
straw which indicates the direction IN
which the wind Is blowing. However.
there Is an anomaly still existing with
respect to several thousand high al
ministrative positions. There are
about 1900 in this class outside the
operation of the civil service law.
More than Is, 900 of these are postmas-
tiers at first, second and third class or
fees. The remainder embraces col
lectors of internal revenue. collectors
of customs, registers of United states
land Offices and other important ad'
ministrative and executive positions:
Individually the majority OF the
members of Congress would be glad to
be relieved entirely of any responsible
ity in the selection of postmasters. put
collectively they are reluctant to take
the necessary legislative steps. But;
as the French say, Ca ira"-it VIII
work out all right.
A further anomaly Is found IN the
fact that Washington, the National
Capital, is the only city of any size In
the United States to which the COM
petitive-examination system of employ
ment for municipal employees has not
been generally applied. Only the po.
licemen and firemen of the District OF
Columbia government are appointed
from examinations held by the civil
Service Commission.
Nevertheless, the most chronic DOUBT
ers of the efficacy of civil service re-
form will have to admit that astonish.
ing progress has been made In a.
years. Indeed, when the long ana
deep,seated opposition Is recalled and
taken into consideration. we may very
aptly remark. in the language OF the
Scripture, THE stone which the build
ers refused Is become the head OF the
corner"
1t Is true also that the stabilizing OF
the departmental personnel has had
direct influence in promoting the
growth and Identification OF the city
Of Washington.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03
BY ARTHUR CAPPER.

OnlLeu StdbcS CCiatOt AAVAi hoiSoSs
~ EDUCTIONS in State and
local taxes throughout the
N agricultural States of the
Middle West are being de-
manded by the united
forces Of the farm organizations.
A grass roots movement to remove
from the land some Of the tax bur.
dens 1t Is bearing now will result
in a conference this Summer OF all
the farm organizations.
Farm leaders, as we'll as farmers
themselves, have been studying
the tax problem for some time. The
result of this is going to be de-
termined effort to reduce the State
and local tax burdens. Here In
Kansas, for instance, a check-up
shows that last year State and local
taxes ran q little more than $780,
0O0. 900. The Federal Government
collected $18,0OO,000 in taxes in
Kansas.
Pays Little Federal Tax.
But the land, mostly farm land,
paid the bulk of the State and local
taxes. The farmer pays little Fed
eral tax. The, income tax doesn't
affect him particularly--his income
does not place him in the income
tax-paying class. Similar condi-
tons prevail throughout the farm
ing section.
There is a maladjustment of the
tax burden. A bond that yields 6
per cent in Kansas pays tax of
so cents on the hundred dollars; an
acre of land that yields per cent
returns pays 50 an acre.
The tax conference Of the farm
organizations will consider an ad-
justment of the tax burden-pr0b-
ably along the lines of gross pro.
duction taxes, income taxes, a form
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03

viewing in a systematic manner the
financial and other operations of the
government.
The proposed committee would take
their place and, following the prac.
tice OF the new committee on appro.
priations, could. IL deemed wise. be
organized in subcommittee CORE.
spending to the main divisions and de.
partments of the Government. The
important thing, however, is that the
new committee shall be recognized as
one OF the most important committees
OF Congress, and that it shall be under
the definite obligation each year of
receiving the report of the controller
general, of examining that document,
OF making Investigations. with the
aid OF that officer and also possibly
Of the director OF the Bureau of the
Budget. OF points raised in the con.
troller generals report or otherwise
coming to the attention of the com.
mittee, and of reporting the results of
its work to Congress.
Need Of Body Recognized.
1t is gratifying to note that the de.
desirability OF creating a committee
such as is here proposed is recognized
by members of the House. Repre-.
sentative r. Walton Moore at the last
session Of Congress offered a resolu.
ton providing for the creation of such
committee, which received the
hearty Endorsement of other members
including Martin B. Madden, chair
man of the committee on appropria.
lions. That the latter was sincerely
convinced of the desirability of such
action Is shown by his advocacy of II
in his article in a leading magazine
on THE New System In Government
Again in alluding to the resolution
introduced by Representative Moore
Mr.. Madden said on the floor OF the
House:
II have felt. will say to the gentle
man from Virginia. that Is the one
missing link in our fiscal ganization
where we are weak where we ought
to be strong. II we had such a com
mittee as the gentleman has called to
our attention now, 1t would be very
wonderful assistance to the commit
tee on appropriations, in studying
problems and investigating facts
which would enable them to keep ir
close touch with the controller genera
and between the controller genera
and the expenditures committee and
appropriations committee. l think
we could, and I feel sure we would SC
organize the expenditures after thu
money Is appropriated for them as Il
keep all the expending officers of thu
Government within the law. to say
| the least"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03
BY HENRY w. BUM.


"HE following is a brief sum.
mary of the most important
news of the world for the
week ended July 2:
The Naval COnference.-It is hoped
that the following attempt at lucid
standardization of the main features
of the several programs presented at
Geneva will justify itself. The bust
ness is of outstanding Importance.
The main features of the American
proposals may be summarized as FOL
lows:
IA new treaty to supplement the
Washington treaty, to be coterminous
with 1t, and to contain provisions for
extension or modification similar to
those of the Washington treaty.
Auxiliary naval armament to be
classified as follows:
(A) The cruiser class;
(B) The destroyer class;
(C) The submarine class; '
CD An exempt class. not subject
to limitation, to receive technical
definition.
3-The cruiser class to include all
surface naval combatant vessels Of
standard displacement greater than
5000 tons and not exceeding 10000
tons, and carrying no guns Of caliber
greater than s inches.
The destroyer class to include all
surface naval combatant vessels of
standard displacement not less than
500 nor more than 5000 tons OF a
designed speed exceeding II knots.
The submarine class to include all
vessels designed to operate below the
surface of the sea.
4-Age limits for requirements:
Cruisers, 20 years; destroyers. II; sub
marines, IS.
5-Tonnage limitations:
(A) Cruiser class: For the United
States and the British Empire. 300,-
900 tons; for Japan. 100000 tons.
tBc Destroyer class: For the
United States and the British En-
pire. 100000 tons; for Japan, 100000
tons. ..4
(C Submarine class: For the
United States and the British EN-
pire, 10000 tons; for Japan, $4,000
tons.
I'm order to provide for the transi-
ton from the status quo to the pro-
posed definitive limitations in the
cruiser and destroyer classes, 1t Is
suggested that during the transition
period existing cruiser and destroyer
tonnages be considered together. and
that the tonnage to be scrapped be the
excess over the combined cruiser and
destroyer tonnage limitations. Re-
placement in each class should, how
ever. only be permitted within the
allowed maximum tonnage OF that
class"
ALI excess in the allowed COM
bined tonnage of vessels Of the
cruiser and destroyer classes now
existing to be scrapped. The choice
of vessels to be scrapped to be made
by the power whose vessels are to be
scrapped. Within the allowed ton
nages no vessel scrapped to be re.
placed until the date when she would
have reached the age limit of her
class.
/ summarize the main features of
the British proposals as follows:
1-Extension Of the age limit OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03
Detroit Traffic Conference to Plan
Code of Uniform Traffic Regulations

continued from First Page.)
at Its preliminary meeting In Detroit
will take up have been divided into
six parts: Motor vehicle movement
and regulation; pedestrian facilities
and regulation; traffic signs, signals
and pavement markings; parking.
terminals for buses and taxicabs, and
garages; street cars and emergency
vehicles; and legislation and enforce
ment.
At this meeting, the committee
probably will divide into six groups
to discuss the various phases and the
feasibility OF solving this perplexing
question. A subsequent report will
embody the entire proceedings. A
model set Of municipal ordinances, to
be used as a pattern, then will be
drawn up, just as in the case of the
National Conference on Street and
Highway Safety.
Existing codes and ordinances will
be given close study and their strong
as well as weak points will be brought
to light with recommendations looking
toward the discarding of those sections
which are out OF date and the substi-
tuition Of modern regulations.
Several States already have adopted
uniform municipal traffic codes, no.
tably Michigan, California, Colorado
and Kansas. In Michigan the ordi-
nances are in force in some 200
municipalities. while in California they
are effective in a number of towns in
the southern part of the State. In
Colorado and Kansas. certain of the
communities have similar regulations.
While these regulations and ordi.
nances are uniform In the States men,
toned. allowing for certain variations
because Of local conditions in the
cities. a wide divergence exists be-
tween those of one State and those of
another State. In the case OF Cali
fornia. the ordinance leaves to the
State law many important subjects.
such as driving while intoxicated and
speed restrictions. while both these
subjects are treated in the Michigan
and Colorado ordinance.
In general. however. the ordinances
adopted by these States cover approxi.
mately the same ground and they
have been hailed by both motorists
and advocates Of the movement for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03
Continued from First Page)


Tackling the primary from the
| money-Spending angle, the Vice Presi-
dent says:
THE primary system Is responsible
for an enormous and improper use of
money in contests under it and is
steadily tending to debauch our cleo
| torate. Since 1t lessons the oppor.
tunity of minority parties properly to
make an issue of corruption before
the public. 1t largely insures immunity
to vote buyers from political or legal
consequences with resultant increase
in their activity. So immense are the
sums which must be spent to adver-
tise himself under the primary sys-
| tenn, even along legitimate lines, by
comparatively unknown candidate
for a State or national Office, that
under these circumstances only a
very rich man, q man with rich men
behind him, or a man with an organ
lZation behind and generally con-
trolling him, is likely to succeed"
| This Is a severe indictment Of the
primary system as 1t works today in
large and populous States. On the
other hand, when the convention sys-
tenn was In full swing, men with
money back of them and controlled by
organizations of politicians or special
| interests were entirely too often sue.
cessful in their contests for nomina-
| ton.
Admits Need of Reforms.
Senator Owen admits the need of
reforms in the primary system. He
proposes three safeguards: First, an
adequate publicity system by which
the voters may learn the qualifica-
| tons of the candidates and the pros
I and cons Of the issues at stake. He
proposes a publicity pamphlet, pub
J lished by the State and giving to each
candidate fair statement of his
cause and his qualifications. He in
sists that such pamphlet could be
ISSUED at a comparatively low cost,
and placed in the hands of every
voter. His second remedy is a cor.
rupt practices act with teeth, provid.
| ing among other things that no candi-
date who is the beneficiary Of serious
corruption shall be seated, and for
penitentiary sentences for gross viola
ton by political managers and large
contributors. His third remedy is the
short ballot" giving the voters an
opportunity to know the qualifications
of the men they support.
"Mr. Dawes complains" says Sena.
| tor Owen, that the people do not
vote in as high percentage as they
should, and in this he is quite right.
But this Is no reason why we should
deprive those who do vote of the right
of exercising the vital function Of
selecting candidates. The proposal to
turn that function over to a very
small group means, II our experience
counts for anything, that the political
rascals' would select the candidates
and permit the people to confirm their
choice. The remedy is worse than the
disease. Mr.. Dawes is entirely right
in urging the people to vote. He is
entirely wrong in advocating policy
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03

cause of the depressed state of that
industry.
Unlike the Industrial East, the
farmer cannot add the amount OF
his taxes to the price of his pro-
duct and so shift the burden onto
some one else. He has nothing to
say about the selling price of his
products. He must take what the
market offers, whether his taxes
are high or low. -.
What States Have Done.
In an effort to adjust the tax
burden more fairly. Kansas this
year reduced farm values $751;
$1,000. while marking up corpora.
ton valuations SIS, 900 900 and city
property $31 900 900. Not all of this
can be shifted back to the farmer.
Iowa has been considering whether
1t wouldn't be fairer to tax farm
on what 1t annually produces.
rather than on the value of the
land. Iowa farmers would then be
taxed according to their ability to
pay, which Is the most equitable
Of rules for taxation.
The tax burden is grevieous
enough for the, country as a whole,
despite the Federal Government
tax reduction program steadily
carried out since 1920. 1t has been
handicap to business, 1t has fallen
heavily on the shoulders of folks
who live In the cities, on laborers
and professional men, but it has
helped ruin many farmers and has
so seriously embarrassed others
that they have had great difficulty,
under adverse crop and market
conditions, in keeping their heads
above water.
Tax. reform and relief are as vi.
tai as market relief. Both are es-
seftial to agricultural prosperity.
Efforts should not be lessened until
both are accomplished facts.