The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-12-04

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fore the United States Is that of
disregard for law.
The impulse towards lawless.
ness is. not confined to the dis
tinctiye criminal ella sses-it|
apparently pervades all classes OF
the population; and worst Of all,
it is on the increase.
This is the major theme Of the
Presidents annual message to-
Congress. It shows the trend OF
his mind, his point Of view, to-
wards national issues, partic-
ularly that of prohibition.
There is nothing in the mes
sage to indicate that the Chief
Executive has swerved from his
announced plan Of rigidly en-.
forcing the national ban on
alcoholic beverages or Of standing
by the Volstead act as now
written.
: The message, indeed, commits
him more clearly than ever be-
fore to a policy of strict enforce
ment. He wants to set up the
District of Columbia as a model
ia that respect. He says that
conditions in washington are bet
ter than in many other cities, but
are "far from perfect"
The outstanding event Of the
week is, of course, the convening
Of the new session Of Congress
and the announcement Of the
national plans for the year as
made known by the President.
First on the list Of constructive
proposals to Congress Is that Of
tax reduction. It was announced
some weeks ago that Treasury
experts had found it possible to
recommend a substantial decrease
in some Of the lower income tax
brackets. The total cut, it is
estimated, will be about 1885,
100000.
Washington bulks large in the
Presidential message. Not only
Is the Presidents determination
to make the city a model Of law
enforcement reiterated, but a pro-
gram Of civic and structural i'm
provement is outlined on a scale
that was undreamed Of a few
years ago.
A large part Of that section Of
the city lying south of the Mall
"a down.atthe-heel and almost
forgotten section-is either to be
acquired by the Federal Govern
raent or to be improved. The
new War and Navy buildings
are to be erected, if plans of the
Public Buildings Commission go
through; on site directly south
west Of the Capitol, lying along
Maryland Avenue between Second
and Seventh Streets Southwest.
Other great structures are to
be built in this dilapidated Sec
ton. 49,.
About $115,ooO,ooO is to be
spent in this additional outlay to
make Washington the most
beautiful Capital in the world.
One Of the new projects calls
for the Federal purchase Of the
east side of Jackson Square,
fronting the White House-thc
Belasco Theater and the historic
Cosmos Club.
This land will be used for an
addition to the present Treasury
annex. It probably is responsible
for the recent decision to close
the BeIasco Theater.
The remarkable achievement of
Conldr. Richard z. Byrd in reach
ing the South Pole by aeroplane
is pre-eminently the news fea.
trre OF the week, over and be-
yond the presidential message.
Within the past 20 years there
are three great outstanding mas
terpieces Of adventure-the dis
covery Of the North Pole by
Peary, the transatlantic trip of
Col. Charles E. Lindbergh, and
the flight to the South Pole by
Commander Byrd.
There Is q movement afoot to
make Byrd an admiral of the
United States Navy in recogni-
WILL IA lad 6G441CtGk1EKlus
It begins to appear that the
first big test Of the Kellogg anti,
war pact has been met.
The. American Government Is.
sued. an appeal to Russia and
China to avoid warlike measures
In Manchuria and to adjust their
dispute. in that region over the
Chinese Eastern Railway by pa
cific means. A settlement was
virtually agreed on yesterday. At
the same time, the Soviet govern
1nent made public note indi-
eating indignation that the
United States should attempt to
interfere in the dispute.
There is a general belief in
Washington now that Assistant
Secretary of War Patrick J..
Hurley will be appointed to sue
coed the late James w. Good as
head of the War Department.
The former has the support of
many powerful middle western
elements In the Republican party:
both geographically and politi-
cal1y his appointment would be
most opportune, observers say.
The appointment of Dwight W.
Morrow, United States ambas-
sador to Mexico, to be Senator
from New Jersey, succeeding
Walter Edge, who has been con-
firmed as ambassador to France,
is interesting from several points