davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
The Merger Report.

The Bureau of Eficiency's report on
che merger agreement approved by the
District Public Utilities Commission may
be interpreted as an Endorsement of the
major provisions of that agreement. It
accepts. as the Public Utilities Commits
sion accepted, the compromise" valua-
ton of $5o,00O,0O0 for the proposed new
company and grants that the two rail-
way companies could at least secure
such a figure or one in excess thereof,
II they took the matter into the courts.
1t goes beyond the Public Utilities Com
mission on the matter of fares, stating
In its report that ION the basis of the
figures of contemplated net increase of
revenue there appears to be no justi-
f1catfon for any increase in fares as a
result of the merger or as a result Of
the rate basis recommended in connec-
ton with it," The bureau suggests fur
Their, that Congress may desire to eX-
tend the period of one year, suggested
in the agreement as the time during
which existing fares are guaranteed to
remain stationary, and set longer pc
Fiod. This recommendation is based on
the bureaus belief that the time re-
quired by the merged company to bring
about economies from unified operations
remains uncertain and may not come
Rithin year.
Discussing the valuation figure of
S5O,o0O,000, the Bureau of Efficiency
logically suggests that this be taken as
the basis at present, but that there be
written into the agreement a definite
proviso for new valuation within ten
years. This would enable the Public
Utilities Commission to go more deeply
into the subject than it has been per-
United to do in the short period of It's
4 existence. It eventually would pTNgide,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05

also, q conclusive answer to the recur-
ring debate over the fairness Of the
valuation figure now accepted.
The Bureau Of Efficiency finds that
the power clause Of the merger agree
ment is general and vague in its
terms" and suggests that definite unit
of measurement be agreed upon In ad-
vance between the Potomac Electric
Power Co. and the merged company. In
order that costs Of power may not be
left uncertain.
The Senate District committee rs
soon to receive one more report on the
merger from DR.. Milo r. Maltbie OF
New York, an expert whom the COM
mittee engaged to analyze the agree
ment With that In hand, 1t is to be
hoped that both committees Of Con-
gress will make revisions in the agree
ment as necessary safeguards to the
car-fare-paying public and proceed to
its prompt ratification.
No doubts have ever been cast upon
the necessity for merged operation
of transit lines. The doubt has been
upon the form OF merger agreement,
Both the Public Utilities Commission
and the Bureau of Efficiency take the
view that with some revisions the agree
ment under study will not only serve
IN hiring about unified operation at once.
but will leave open for careful and
painstaking study, and later decision,
those problems which so far have acted
to block any unified operation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05

get Of altogether or with . ridicu-
lousy light penalty. #h
It is only necessary to recall the man
in Richmond who killed his sweetheart,
received a year in the penitentiary and
was paroled at the end Of seven months,
or the robber in the small Virginia
town near Washington who with three
companions held up a bank and was
fined five dollars, to realize that such
inadequate punishments tend to in
crease rather than decrease the COM
mission of crime.
Jersey justice has long been famous,
but 1t now appears that New Jersey
will have to share honors with the
State of Maryland. The roll of States
that have performed meritorious service
to the public in dealing out swift JUS
tice is still open. May the list increase
In size until there are no absentees in
the forty-eight States and the District
of Columbia!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
Parachute Safety.

Once again the parachute has saved
the life Of a flyer whose plane fell to
pieces in the air and the mythical
Caterpillar Club has added new men,
Der to its rolls. Testing a new Curtiss
plane built for the Navy, James Collins,
the pilot, rose to an altitude of six
thousand feet above Boiling Field
Turning the nose of his ship downward
and throwing his powerful motor to
full throttle, he dove toward the earth
at an estimated speed of four hundred
miles an hour. This test, which is
given to all planes, and one of the
most severe ever devised to ascertain
structural strength, was fatal to the
new ship. Soon after Collins went into
the dive a wing sheared off and he
found himself spinning dizzily above
the ground with the centrifugal force
of the ship holding him in the cockpit,
For three thousand feet he fell, help
less, but finally, by exerting all of
his strength against the iron hands
that seemed to be holding him in his
seat, he wriggled free and jumped,
landing safely few moments later,
while the remnants of his ship buried
themselves in the ground.
The Caterpillar Club, composed of
pilots who have saved their lives by
the use of the big umbrellas, is said
to have a membership of one hundred
and seven out of one hundred and
twelve who have left their planes in
midair. Even the small percentage of
failures detracts none from the value
Of the parachute, as it is probable that
in most, or perhaps all, of the cases of
the five flyers who met death the jump
was either too close to the ground or
the aviator was unable to get free of
his ship. 1t Is indeed a remarkable
contribution to the safety of flight
through the air.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
Justice. Swift and Sure.

The Silver Spring National Bank was
robbed at the point Of a gun on Octo-
Der q. Two days later, through eff
Gent police work, the robber was cap
tured. Yesterday, after fair trial,
the bandit was given fifteen years in
the penitentiary-a hold-up, capture
and a sentence in little more than
a month.
It is such refreshing examples as
these that encourage the hope that
sooner or later the courts of this coun-
try will universally deal out justice,
swift and sure, for major crimes. Mary
land, by its common-sense handling
Of this offensc, has set high standard
for other States to follow and congrat-
ulations should be extended the court,
Jury and prosecutor for the able man
ner in which the case was dispatched
Prompt trial and exact justice are
imperative If crime is to be materially
lessened in the United States. Senti-
mentalism has too often been substi-
tuted for stern actuality and criminals
have found that If they get what they
term a break" in procuring tender
hearted juries or judges they will either
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
SHOOTING STARS.
By pHILANDER JOHNSON.

PeriIS.
They tell us we may go to smash
II we should risk an airplane crash.
I'm glad existence does not show
The perils of some years ago.
A broken leg one would reveal
Who slipped on banana peel.
A hoss-and-buggy runaway
No longer leaves the town "distrait."
We do not quake in helpless fear
When some swift bicycle draws near.
OF cherished friends we heard with
dread
Who smothered in folding bed!
Dismayed, no more we hold our breath
For gals WIN lace themselves to death,
We VOW these perils of the sky
Are less than those of days gone by.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
Describes Scientific
Test for Old Age
BY E. E. FREE, PHI. ID.

A scientific test for youth or old age,
not depending on gray hair or fading
eyes or wrinkles, and which cannot be
fooled by any art of the beauty parlor.
was described by DR.. Alexis Carrel OF
the Rockefeller Institute of New York
City before a recent meeting arranged
by the New York Academy of Medicine
for discussion of human old age and OF
what physicians can do about it.
The test depends on DR.. Carrots well
known method of growing living tissues
outside the body, in artificial solutions
kept at constant temperatures in incu-
bators. For nearly 20 years DR.. Carrel
has kept alive bit of tissue from the
heart of a chicken which died years
ago. If living cells of the kind called
fibroblasts are grown artiflcially in fluid
prepared from the blood of the person
whose age is to be tested, the rate at
which these cells grow is an index, DR..
Carrel told the New York physicians,
of the age of the individual.
The age thus measured Is, however,
the "phySiologic age" the actual youth
not necessarily the same as the age in
years. Such tests might be useful, DR..
Carrel suggested, in determining whether
people who undergo gland operations or
other alleged methods Of rejuvenatlon
are really made any younger. Another
possibility, not mentioned by DR.. Carrel,
is that insurance companies might use
such tests to select persons apt to live
longer than the average number OF
years.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05

In looking back over the ways and
doings of the gay nineties," it is easy
enough to see the absurdities of life
in those days. They stick out like the
hats on top of the heads OF the oeauu-
full lady Automobiles.
It is not SO easy, of course, to de-
tect the hokum of 1923. For one thing,
we are too close to everything. Mo-
dernity has a way of blowing its own
horn in regard to its own features.
Every age did exactly the same thing.
No doubt the chariot Caesar rode in
impressed the rabble as the Snappiest
vehicle that ever went on wheels.
Twenty years from now. we are con-
WINGED, there will be one phase OF this
decade that will be generally given the
horse laugh that it-or rather he
deserves.
1T" is the superhurry called snap"
che" is the gay young blade who fondly
believes that he is "go-getter.
The latter term had its origin IN
American business life. and applied and
applies principally to the high-preSsure
salesman, the bright young man who
was and is able to sell his firms goods.
When every Tom. Dick and Harry
however. took it upon themselves to be-
come "go-getters," they spoiled the
meaning of legitimate descriptive
phrase. They turned sound business
designation into by-word, when many
men began to put on the front OF
the "go-getter" without his stamina,
speed and natural gayety.
X X \; X
The hokum of these would-be hurry
up fellows. who want to give the world
the impression that they are more eff
Gent than everybody else. lies princt-
pally in the following fact:
That they actually don't get as much
work done as some quiet chap who
tends strictly to business and keeps
plugging away
The faithful old Bob Cratchits of the
world, who sat on high stools and kept
old-fashioned books, didn't know a
thing about Reimbursement, hence
maybe they didn't draw enough pay to
have a decent Christmas. That was
the way Dickens pictured the original
Bob in his christmas Carol"
What such quiet men did do, and do
do, was and is to turn out as much
work as the next one, with less worry
and fuss about it. Their methods are
quiet and lack show simply because
they have solved the problem OF SELF
application.
The man always in hurry, who
bustles here and bustles there, often
gives the impression that he makes such
a stir about everything because he
doesn't know exactly what he is doing
and wants to throw up smoke screen.
If this isn't what he is trying to do,
why does he have to splutter so?
His opposite is some little man of
high finance, who moves as quietly as
a mouse, yet gets worlds of work done.
There are several men of this type
high in various lines of national activi-
ty. Any one can think of several.
Maybe you have met one.
You say that such a man doesn't
have to make noise; he has arrived"
Well, all that is true enough, and is the
very secret of the secret. The man al
ways was that way!
X *
One Of the reasons why the chap in
a perpetual hurry has to work SO hard
is that his very stir creates so much
friction.
Mental friction, OF course.
He is resented by probably nine
tenths of his contacts. Even if they
say nothing to him-and the chances
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
Oldfield of Arkansas MOurned
By His Colleagues and Public

Devoted partisan that he was, the
late William A. Oldfleld won and held
during his 20 years in Congress the
esteem and affection of his colleagues
on both sides of the House in a meas
ure that can be claimed for few public
men. This fact stands out in country
wide expressions of regret at the death
of the Arkansas Representative at the
close of his final service as chairman
of the Democratic congressional cam
paign committee.
LAS a legislator" according to the
Fort Worth Telegram (independ-
ent Democratic), Mr.. Oldfeld was
one of the foremost men of his time.
His comprehensive information, firm
grasp of issues and convincing forceful-
ness in debate made him a leading
figure in Congress. With his
great abilities and attachments and his
indefatigable laborS he united the man
ly and engaging qualities which win
hosts Of friends and are equally con-
ducive to cooperation and Cancellation.
He was one of the most popular men
who ever sat in Congress"
X X X X
ITO serve within a few months of 20
continuous years in the Nations Con-
gress," declares the Little Rock Arkan-
sas Democrat (Democratic), lis in it
self an accomplishment of which COM
paratively few men can boast. To win
the confidence of the citizens OF a con-
gressional district and hold that conf
dence for score of years is to achieve
what not one man in thousand can
hope for. These things Representative
Oldfield did, and when he died at Wash
ington he was still not at the peak Of
his career, for each session of Congress
brought new problems in craftsmanship
which he met and solved. But Mr..
Oldfield did more than hold his office
for 20 years-he won and held the title
of the Democratic whip in the House
and of leader in the national Demo-
cratic congressional campaigns. And
he won one of the largest personal
followings which any man in Congress
had"
He was a robust, two-f1sted fighting
man who carried no personal feelings
into fights and harbored no resentments
afterward," attests the New York Eve
ming World independently. and the At
lanta Constitution (Democratic) states
that "he was virile force on the DEM
'ocratic side, was an indefatigable
worker, an uncompromising party man.
leader Of power, and possessed a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

cherry trees will shortly leave Toxic
for the United States, being destined
to take the place of as many trees on
the Potomac Speedway, Washington.
which suffered damage in this years
local floods. 1t appears that the Japa-
nese embassy requested the city of
Toxic to make the substitution. The
park officials of the NipponeSe capital
thereupon selected 500 trees, all more
than 6 feet in height. They are ex-
pected to reach this country in a few
weeks.
X X II
Anybody laundering for new kick
In home-brewed drinkableS will be in
terested to learn that the Bureau of
Standards in Washington has con-
cocted an ingredient hitherto not ex-
tant. For the present, it's known by
glutaric acid, and probably needs to
be shaken well into several syllables
before using, or at least before pro-
nouncing. DR.. Warren E. Emley, one
of DR.. Burgess scientific wizards at the
bureau, told the American Chemical
Society about neutrality-suspicious.
acid the other day. He said it makes
good lemonade. Xylose, its principal
element is a sugar made from peanut
shells and cottonSeed bran. It has a
sweet taste and no food value. In addi-
ton to its possibilities for lemonade
ct al.-chemists think kyle. etc. can be
utilized as an industrial substitute for
glucose and as food for sufferers from
diabetes.
X X r X
Herbert Hoover shares Woodrow Will
sons opposition to Greek letter fra
ternities in colleges and universities
He resolutely refrained from joining
one of them at Stanford, and neither
of the President-elect's sons was fra
ternity man when at Stanford-the
younger, Allen, is still an undergrad
uate there, though now with his par
entS in South America. His friends al
ways understood that Hoover considers
fraternitieS "undemocratic." He wears
the insignia of an engineering frater-
nity conferred on him long after COL
lege days. Mrs. Hoover is sorority
sister, distinguished member of Kappa
Kappa Gamma.
Copyright. 1929
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEVELL.

are thousand to one that they will
not-they think it just the same.
The breezy fellow who insists on
slapping you on the back. in giving you
the generous glad hand" that means
little or nothing, who is forever SIAM
ming the door of your Office as he goes
out as if the devil were on his heels
Well, he isn't one-tenth as effective
as he thinks he is. is he?
He oozeS good will so perS1stently
that he is slightly mawkish about it.
Particularly does he rub the quteter
man the wrong way. His strut and
rant get him nowhere with such men.
They would more appreciate an easy
going. even sloW-tempered visitor, who
could convey the impression OF power,
rather than pep"
Some men try to carry the qualities
of the student day "cheer leader" over
into active business life. In some
memorable instances they succeed very
we'll 1t is not with them but with
their imitators that one would find
fault.
One would not go to the extent of
the Immortal julius. who asked for
men about him who were fat, and who
slept O. nights. 1t is not necessary.
The quiet man, like the crouching
cat, is most effective when the quietest.
He brings down his prey. whatever it
may be, without any need OF gong or
cymbals.
His placid face inspires confidence.
He knows that those who take rapid
steps often have to wait at the goal
until he comes up.
Their speed got them nothing eX-
cept the relief of their own minds
since the contemplation of their own
superlative qualities Gin action) acts
as a sedative upon such mentalities.
The quiet fellow who comes strollin~
in Just as the band begins to play VIII.
hear as much music as the other fell
low.
While the "go-getter" is kicking up
dust in the aisles, the other slides no
and shakes the conductor by the hand,
learns the names of the pieces he is to
play, and takes his seat.
Some of these speed boys remind one
of the man we once saw in great
symphony orchestra.
He had the least to do of anybody
in the organization, but he managed
to attract the most attention.
The great and able conductor became
lost in the stir created by this individ-
ual, who was intrustad with the feat of
clashing two huge cymbals together at
exactly one moment in the entire SYM
phony.
That was his job
He was seated at the extreme left
Of the stage. placed rather high, so
that his clashing cymbals would sound
out properly at the fated time.
Just after the symphony started. he
decided to get into action. Rising slow
ly in his seat, he tentatively lifted his
brasses and slowly approached them
together, as if measuring what he had
to do.
The audience expected a ringing
sound. but got nothing at all. The
man sat down In a few minutes he
hoped up again and went through the
same performance.
1t now became kind of game. The
audience began to wonder when. If
ever, the man would hit that stroke
Conductor, orchestra, symphony, all
were forgotten in the excitement Of
watching the ridiculous performance OF
the very self-important cymbal crasher
And when his grand slam finally came,
it fell fat of course. They usually do.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05

strong personality" dying "in the zenith
of his usefulness"
X xx
"In politics he was stalwart. in
friendship he was a stalwart, in devo-
ton to the ideals and principles Of the
Democratic party he was stalwart,"
records the Waco News-Tribune Cnde-
pendent), with the further tribute: He
is Off the firing line. He will be missed
by his congressional colleagues, regard
less Of party, and his friends in many
States. Oldfleld was leader OF men.
He was high in the councils OF his
party. Just now the Democracy needs
men of the Oldfield caliber"
THE news of his death Is received
with sadness by his colleagues in Con-
gresS, Republicans as well as Demo-
Gratis" says the Hartford Courant Gin
dependent Republican,, while the
Republican, describes him as lone of
the excellent men in the Senate who
was 'self-made' boy from the farm"
The Raleigh News and Observer (Dem-
ocratic) describes Mr.. Oldfleld as one
who was well grounded in the faith,
militant fighter and true man."
Chosen party whip in 1920" ex-
plains the Memphis Commercial APP
peal (Democratic), his work in that
tdUdclIN
him unanimous choice for chairman of
the congressional committee. He was
one of the Democratic veterans of the
ways and means committee, and was
particularly active in tariff and taxa
ton legislation. He placed the party
and the people he served above all
things. No citizen Of Arkansas went to
him with a plea which he failed to
heed. and he was as keenly interested
in matters which concerned other States
as he was in matters affecting Arkansas
and his constituents"
"He is a real loss to the Democracy,
which is not rich in parliamentary lead
ers in the lower house of the National
Legislature" comments the Brooklyn
Daily Eagle independently, and that
paper, describing him as a leader who
"had shown practical efficiency" and
r ferring to the period in which he
graduated from college and was adj
mitted to the bar, continues: Within
the five years that followed he had
twice been elected prosecuting attorney
of his county. His genius for politics
was apparent from the start OF his
active career"
Mr.. Oldfields 20 years Of continuous
service in the House had given him a
position and leadership in which his
real ability was well recognized" OBJ
serves the Roanoke World-News inde-
pendent Democratic), which points to
"the unusual position of Arkansas in
the affairs of both branches of Con-
gress has often been commented upon.
The people Of that State" continues the
World-News, make 1t a policy to select /
carefully their representatives and then
to keep them in Office. This policy re-
suits in the members of the delegation
from that State winning the most i'm
portant committee assignments under
the seniority rule that prevails both in
the House and Senate" s't~
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05

Wheth-l he can push his resolution to
a vote n the short session remains
to be sen. There is disposition in
some quarters to postpone action on
the Ware case, both because of the
shortneSs of the session and because
of the fact that Mr.. Ware is very
i'll man, having suffered a stroke of
paralysis last Summer. Senator Reed,
however, is about to leave the Senate
The charges against Ware grew out of
the investigation which his committee
conducted. and Senator Reed is de-
sirous of having the matter wound up
before he gees out Of the Senate.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
The Radio Will Fix That.

From the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
The average life of telephone poles
has been greatly reduced says sclen-
tific note. And If automobiles continue
to increase, the average life span of the
pole will soon be hardly more than that
Of the pedestrian.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
Confession of a Parent.

You have sent your boy to the best
schools"
II have"
"And encouraged him in Young
Americas organizations"
"YeS."
"Is the result satisfactory"
every. I am convinced that parents
should learn to obey their children"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05

The picture card showing a sleigh
with reindeer is already in veidence. al
though the mail man in post office
uniform is faithfully attending to the
local freight with a flivver.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05

A goodwill tour brings SO many gifts
prompted by hearty sentiment that ques-
ton may be revived as to whether there
1t not after all, a Santa Claus.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05

A lame duck" may, as a rule, regard
an able record in halls of state as con-
shutting valuable recommendation to
employment in new capacity.