davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20

One Of them, demanding the oppor-
tunity to talk freely, and granted full
sway on the witness stand, was 90
vehement In her statement of misfor-
tune that the crowd in the court room
began to laugh. A news report Of the
incident proceeds:
"I see people laughing" she said,
glartng at the crowd packing the court
room. IT don't see anything to laugh
about It was money from my blood
and sweat they took" The crowd tit
tered again and the witness stopped,
while her face grew red.
81 am not educated" she said slowly.
II don't know how to explain In Eng
fish good. Maybe that is why they
laugh. All know is that they took
away my money. the money of my chill
dren. 1t is hard for me to talk. my
heart hurts me so. 1t feels like it's
shivering"
Again the crowd laughed and the
witness began to laugh, too-weakly
and with a touch Of hysteria, and for
no apparent reason.
This little bit of comedy, so highly
enjoyed by the crowded court room, Is
what fills the chairs in our halls of
justice. Few, II any, think Of the sor-
row, the suffering, the privation lying
behind the broken words of witnesses.
1t is so excruciatingly funny to hear
the English language quantity used and
to see witness dramatizing her agony.
1t is better than a talking picture. And
yet those who laugh would be greatly
shocked at the suggestion that if they
were stripped Of their clothes and clad
in skins and placed on rocky lodges in
mountain glen they would be roaring
with delight at murderous battle be-
tween two brutes of the caveman period
in just the same spirit that they laugh
now at the woes Of the victims of mans
cupidity.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
A New Rail Plan.

From the Baltimore Sun.
The Taplin plan to build a fifth
trunk line in the East has not been
viewed seriously heretofore, though Balti-
more has been interested in the proposal
because the Western Maryland Is essen
tial to its accomplishment. This road
would give an outlet to Tidewater. Frank
Z. Taplin, president Of the Pittsburgh
q West Virginia, has now laid before
the Interstate Commerce Commission
the outline of his scheme with a view
to obtaining consent To carrying 1t out
1t embraces the Wabash, Western Mary
land, Lehigh Valley, Wheeling 4 Lake
Erie and Pittsburgh & West Virginia.
An important development was the
statement of Mr.. Taplin that negotia-
lions are under way to acquire the hold
ingS Of the Pennsylvania Co. in the
wabash and the Lehjgh and the Penn
road Corporations holdings in the
pittsburgh e. West Virginia, and that he
believed, II his plan worked out, the
Pennsylvania's interest in these car
rlers would be relinquished. The infer
ence is that the Pennsylvania obIec-
lions to a fifth trunk line would be
eliminated provided such a system were
in hands friendly to 1t.
The Taplins have shown faith In
their own ability to make a place in the
SIN by building a 32-mile link between
the western Maryland and the Pitts
burgh e. West Virginia. And they
come from Cleveland, where the Van
Sweringens demonstrated that II is pos
Sible to start with a shoestring and in
short period of time create rail
system which ranks with the greatest
in the country. In the circumstances,
the attitude Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission on this proposal will be
OF considerable significance to Balti-
more.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20

down with newspapers, tape and the
contents Of trash baskets.
This method Of welcome has become
so well established that In future the
importance Of feat viii be measured
by the tonnage of trash. In order tc
preserve the honesty Of such express
sions, however. New York should i'm
mediately adopt stringent regulations
against repeating" In trash bestowal
It would be a relatively simple matter
for instance, for some shyster hero to
plant thousands Of unemployed along
the roofs of buildings and pay them for
dumping tons Of paper into Broadway
during the ofdcial reception after set
ting a new worlds record for pole sit
ting. This devious method might raise
the tonnage enthusiasm high above
what it actually amounted to, and il
Lindbergh or Byrd demanded a recount
the results would be equally mislead-
ing. The matter should be looked into
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
Monocacy Bridge Collapse.

Close inquiry should be instituted into
the collapse Of the bridge over the
Monocacy River, on the highway be-
tween washington and Frederick, yes
terday, which caused the death of three
men. This structure, though under re-
pairs, was in service. A stone-laden
truck, driven upon it carefully, evident
~ caused it to collapse. The deduction
is that the bridge was in a weak con-
dition, perhaps due to the making Of
the repairs. Possibly it had deteriorated
in use. In any case, 1t was obviously not
strong enough to stand the strain Of
ordinary traffic, and should not have
been in service. Somebody erred In
Judgment In keeping the bridge in COM
mission in q condition In which 1t could
not Withstand the strain of trafic.
Only by narrow margin was greater
casualty record averted yesterday,
motor car containing four persons being
halted with Its front wheels hanging
over the edge of the river embankment
just as the bridge fell. This highway is
much used, its daily traff1c comprising
thousands Of vehicles In transit north
and south from and to Washington
The collapse Of the Monocacy Bridge is
cause for disquietude lest other struc-
lures may be in similar condition in
volving a grave menace to the public
safety. All viaducts in Maryland should
be inspected thoroughly to- determine
whether there Is peril in their continued
use.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
Multiple Tax Evil
Dealt Severe RIow
From the Chicago Daily News.

From the Chicago Daily News.
Whether or not the majority of the
United States Supreme Court, in its
recent decision involving the validity of
section of the Missouri estate tax
law, stretched to unjustihable lengths
the constitutional provision prohibiting
States from depriving any person Of
property without due process Of law, Is
question which laymen must leave to
learned judges and erudite lawyers.
Justices Holmes, Brandeis and Stone,
IN their dissenting opinion, which crit
iSized the decision sharply. asserted that
the majoritys action reversed q settled
rule OF law and at the same time In
vaded the sovereignty of the States. If
the three protesting justices are right,
the court sooner or later will return TO
the traditional view of the question in
controversy. But 1t Is well to bear in
mind that the decision is sound eco
nomically, for it takes significant step
toward the abolition Of oppressive double
and triple taxation.
The issue In the case was whether the
State Of Missouri had the right to levy
an inheritance tax on the personal
property-stocks and bonds-of a wom-
an who had never lived In Missouri,
having resided and died in Illinois, but
who had kept part of her intangible
personality In a Missouri safe-deposit
vault. The court held that the guar
anty of due process of law in the Fed
eral Constitution forbade such taxation
OF non-residentS.
Plainly the decision should tend ma
terially to lessen the recognized and de-
plored evil of multiple State taxation of
estates Of deceased persons. Such a
contamination is much to be desired.
In time 1t will have to be brought about,
II necessary, by suitable amendment of
the Federal Constitution,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
The Gas Company Merger.

The only regrettable feature Of the
fight now pending on merger of the
gas companies and the new rates pro-
posed by the new ownership is that it
comes so late in q session of Congress
that finds the members anxious to quit
and head for the hustings. If the is
sues that now threaten reorganization
Of the gas company could have been
developed and discussed several months
ago in Congress local gas consumers
might now be enjoying the reduced
rates promised. AS it is, there must be
quick work or the gas company merger
will die for the time being.
The gas company would have done
well to have filed its proposed rate re-
auctions with the Public Utilities Com
mission some time ago. AS 1t is, there
is no assurance that the Public Utilities
Commission is going to approve them.
The rate schedule itself is disappoint-
ing and the small consumer, who needs
more help than anybody else, finds
himself in the position Of paying more
for gas under the new rates than under
the old, although the price Of the COM
modify itself is reduced.
Senator Howell's amended merger
bill, which also undertakes to name
the rates, is founded on the assumption
that this is the one and only oppor-
tunity placed in the hands of the con-
surners for bargaining with the new
company. After the merger Is ap-
proved the gas consumers will take
what they get. If 1t is merger or no
merger, the new company is obviously
willing to grant every reasonable con-
cession Senator Howell now demands
these concessions-not only for their
immediate effect upon the rates for
gas, but for the protection they tend
to set up against future manipulations
that might disturb the rate structure.
II the merger fails at this session Of
Congress, the price of the delay will
not be exorbitant and the gas con-
sumers will be willing to pay it In
the hope Of obtaining better bargain
than the one indicated by the COM
panys proposed rate schedule.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
Enthusiasm hY the Ton.

New YorkS now accepted method of
welcoming returning heroes by shower
ing them with trash somehow suggests
the picture Of that gathering of heroes
that some day will take place in Elysium,
where men who scratched their mark on
dusty earth will foregather to talk It
over. One sees Columbus, for instance
discussing with some of the latter-day
heroes the measure Of enthusiasm he
provoked and turning away, blushing
and speechless, over the mention of
ticker tape.
IT received fifty tons of trash" Ger
trude Ederle might say. What did you
getP"
law, WELL" Columbus will stammer
and unobtrusively sneak of to sit down
on the edge of a cloud and sympathize
with Napoleon. Hannibal and Jonah
none of whom received so much as an
old newspaper.
Comparisons are often embarrassing
especially in the matter of popularity
but an interview published in the New
York World with the commissioner OF
street cleaning should be preserved as
Q matter Of current history. One finds
that while Byrd, who has flown over
two Poles, as well as the Atlantic, re-
ceived seventy tons of trash to welcome
him back, Lindberghs 1900 tons still
hold the record. Unfortunately, thu
tonnage of Queen Marie's welcome anc
the dead weight of Miss Ederle's popu.
larity were not preserved accurately
but they measured up well. Admira
Byrd's welcome, one is gratifed to learn
brought no telephone directories Ell
bloc, as it were. although thousands o.
them were torn up and contributed b!
the page to the litter that fiutterec
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
Suffering as an Entertainment.

From the dawn of civilization human
suffering has evoked delight. Primeval
man rejoiced in the agonies of those
who we're hurt, and modern man has
not lost this capacity for pleasure in
the pains Of others. The spectacle OF
a person severely injured in the street
always draws a crowd. intent upon wit
Messing the throes of the victim and
perhaps the gore from his wounds
Sports that are possibly productive of
casualties are more largely patronized
than those in which there is no risk to
the players. Motor races, with their
high percentage of risk to the competi-
tors, draw great throngs of people, most
Of whom hope to see spill"
This craving for the sight Of suffering
manifests itself along other than lines
of physical pain. The mental agonies
of those who have been unfortunate are
relished by the modern prototypes OF
the spectators at the Roman torture
games. Nothing is to them more de-
lectable than q court trial in which
witnesses tell of their shame and trou-
bles and sorrows. New York has just
! provided such an instance. A former
judge and some associates are now or
trial for fraud in connection with q
finance corporation which they pro-
NOTED and MIXED" to the tune Of
100000. Witnesses, mostly poor peo-
pie, are giving testimony as to the in.
trusting of their money to the Judge
The majority Of them are Of foreign
origin. speaking English with difficulty
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
HOch-Smith Resolution
Decision Is Praised

From the Chicago Daily News.
In unanimous opinion the United
States Supreme Court has nullified the
Hoch-Smith resolution directing the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
consider actual conditions in agricul-
ture IN passing upon railroad freight
rates. The resolution was approved by
Congress as a farm-relief measure and
the commission interpreted it in that
spirit.
The Supreme Court holds the inter-
probation to be erroneous. 1t declares
that the resolution was not an amend
ment OF the transportation act, which
provided for rates sufficient to Weld the
carriers reasonable return but a sort
nt general instruction to the commits
sion to take the needs of the farmers
INTO account while determining rate
questions. To take a situation into ac-
count Is one thing; to make it deter
minative and to extend special privi-
leges because Of 1t is something entirely
different.
The Supreme Court has treated the
transportation act literally and con-
structively. 1t has sustained the meas
ure in principle and in every important
particular. Rate structures carefully
built UP should not be undermined for
the benefit of any group or industry.
Farm relief, to be sound and genuine
must not involve injustice to any other
interest.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
Hail, Admiral Byrd!

All the world loves a hero and the
disfranchised citizens of Washington are
no exception to the rule. Their plaudits
rang today in the ears of young Amer
lean, Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd,
who measures up in full degree to the
popular idea of what hero should be-
The exploits of Byrd and his men in
Antarctica were peaceful achievements,
and the adulation Of their countrymen
is gratifying proof that nowadays men
and women do not look upon valor in
battle as the sole badge Of heroism.
Dick" Byrd has crammed into his
still youthful life enough accomplish
ment to halo dozen men in glory. He
few a plane across the North Pole. He
carried out a daring transatlantic east
bound flight. He comes home now,
freshly laurel-crowned, from two-year
expedition to the South Pole, which pro-
duced important scientific. geographical!
and perhaps even political results. He
brings his whole band of fellow adven-
turers with him, safe and sound, despite
rigors and perils indescribable and al
most uncomfortable.
Byrd and his comrades have proved
that they are of the stuff heroes are
really made of. Virginia, which claims
the intrepid sailor, and all the States
which had sons in his party, have rea-
son to be proud Of the breed they typify.
The National Capital, which is privi-
legged to greet them, halls them as men
who do honor to the virtues we are
pleased to look upon as of the American
bone and sinew.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20

the life of Woodrow Wilson, though he
is not depicted by name.
Il X
A contributor to these observations.
who read Secretary of the Navy Adams
bathtub quip about Dwight Morrow's
observation-disclosures, passes along this
one: Morrow, then q Morgan banking
partner. arrived one day in Philadel-
phia. His secretary in New York was
astonished to receive the following
wire: Have reached PHILADELPHIA.
What am to do here?" The secretary
replied: you are on your way to a
speaking. engagement in Princeton this
evening"
DR.. George M. Kober, dean emeritus
OF the medical school of GEORGETOWN
University, heads a committee of
Friends Of Gen. Won Steuben," formed
by members Of the Germania Club OF
Washington. The committee is about
to extend an invitation to President
Hoover to participate In the ceiebra-
ton Of the 200th anniversary of Steu-
ben's birth, to be held before the monu-
ment OF George Washington's great
German lieutenant in Lafayette Park
on November is. 1880. DR.. Kober and
his colleagues believe the Steuben cere-
mony will be fitting curtain-raiser to
the Washington Bicentenary of 1882.
y n
Political Washington notes with in
terest the candidacy of former Sena-
tor Gilbert N. Hitchcock of Nebraska
for the seat now held by Senator
George W.. Norris, Republican Progress
sive. Hitchcock is a seasoned Nebraska
campaigner; and If the Democrats en-
JOY the support, as it is rumored they
Will, of the Republican regulars against
Norris, there should be a battle royal
out where the corn is husked.
Copyright. ls3O)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
State Department
And Foreign Bonds

To the Editor Of The star:
The action Of q member Of the SEN
ate questioning the right Of the State
Department to approve or disapproVe
the Notation of certain foreign secu-
rites in the United States Is difncult TO
understand. No one intrusted with the
duty Of looking after the welfare OF the
American people should object to the
safeguard that Is provided by the SUI
pervision Of the State Department over
the sale Of these foreign securities in
the United States. 1t is q well known
fact that most of these securities are
sold upon a commission basis. The in
ternational bankers, who unload them
upon the American people, get their
commission whether the securities are
sound or not.
Immediately after the war many mil
lions of dollars of bonds of the city Of
Warsaw, Poland, were sold in this coun-
try, payable in Polish marks. Poland
then adopted the simple expedient of
abandoning the mark and substituting
the zloty, with the result that the bonds
proved to be practically worthless, and
American investors lost many millions
Of dollars.
Europe is already too heavily indebt-
ed to US, and 1t is highly desirable that
this Government supervise the secu-
rites offered. since, otherwise, it NAV
and itself in a position of either having
to protect its citizens investments
abroad by force or of abjectly confess
ing that 1t IS irnpotent to give its citt-
Gems any protection. The latter would
undoubtedly be what would happen,
that having been already demonstrated
In Mexico. F. G. CAMPBELL,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
Beyond Money.
From the Baltimore Evening Sun.

From the Baltimore Evening Sun.
The Scotch and the Irish, for once.
are IN harmony. They are united In
grief because, in Scotland, Ben Lomond
Will shortly be sold, and in Ireland the
Earl OF Kenmare has decided to put up
his beautiful Lakes of Killarney to the
highest bidder.
The American, casting about for some
thing on which to lavish his rever-
ence, has a hard time finding anything.
He stands In awe at the Niagara Falls,
but his heart hardly goes out to 1t. He
tees q certain interest in the Rocky
Mountain National Park, stimulated
mostly by the railroad advertisements,
but 1t Is mild interest and no more.
Perhaps the most authentic national
shrine is Plymouth Rock. But any one
who has gazed upon this unprepossess-
ing stone, lying on the shores Of the
mudhole which calls itself Plymouth
Harbor, quickly loses what interest he
had in it.
There is nothing in America properly
to be compared to Ben Lomond and the
Lakes of Killarney, which are woven
into the very cloth of Scotch and, Irish
tradition. So we cannot, perhaps, feel
quite as they do at the prospect OF their
dissertation. Yet the Irish and the
Scotch themselves must know that Ben
Lomond and the Lakes of Killarney
have a value which Is beyond money.
Their value lies in the sentiment and
the memories which they invoke.
Nothing, not even their sale to Ameri-
can millionaires or realtors, can Kill
that.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20
Stock Market Antics.
From the Asbury Park Press.

From the Asbury Park Press.
Does the stock market inspire hlsi-
ness or does business set the direction
and the pace for the stock market2
That Is question as difficult to an
Swer as that ancient riddle about tn
order in which the chicken and tina
egg came. The latter still worries tn
scientists and the other keeps the
economists divided into two schools of
thought and theory.
AS to the relationship between the
stock market and business, there Is EVIL
dence to support both sides of the
question. BLACK October" of last year
was followed by q sharp decline in
business, and since then both securities
and business have recovered slowly. But
at present business Is actually doing
better than stocks
Spectators and investors are sur
prised and disguised over the current
antics of the stock market. They can
neither fathom nor foresee the sharp
downward breaks that are occurring
with annoying frequency. The banks
are full of idle money. The Federal
Reserve cannot find borrowers. And
bankers know that the economic basis
Of the country is sounder than rock.
Back Of the puzZling situation prob
ably is the fact that memories Of the
crash last Fall will not vanish and
that it is easier TO put paralyzing
fear into peoples minds than to get
1t out.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-20

Discovering resemblance. faneied or
otherwise, between animals and human
beings seems to be one Of the chief
diversions Of visitors at the National
Geological Park these days.
We we're out there Sunday, and 1t
Of the cages was comparing some ami
NAL or other to some human being,
celebrated or unknown.
ooh, he looks like Charlie Chaplin!"
screamed a big girl in a flaming red
dress as she caught sight Of one of the
huge brown bears.
Perhaps neither the bear nor the
motion picture favorite would have
agreed with the verdict. Certainly We
could not.
If there was a thing about that bear
for the life Of US see what 1t was, un-
less it was the way he shuffied across
his cage.
Now, just why is 1t that human beings
want to see such resemblances in the
brute creatures?
The animals certainly are enough in
themselves without needing the aid Of
human likeness.
Yet the wart hog. one of the ugliest
creatures alive, we heard compared with
+,
whose name we will not mention, as the
comparison was so far-fetched.
And there was one peculiarly fat
beast, the name of which we have for
gotten. which was likened to a certain
Jimmie, a rather plump young man of
uncertain age, last name unknown.
"Oh, it looks just like Jimmie!"
screamed a young lady in the party Of
five, which included three girls, Jimmie
and another gentleman.
Jimmie did not look a bit pleased.
No sooner did the bright-eyed young
woman note this fact than she re-
doubled her belief that the tapir, or
whatever it was, did look for all the
world like James.
Jimmie, he looks Just exactly like
you'll" she shrieked, amid the laughter
of the other three-not four.
Jimmie tried to laugh it off," but
there is little real fun, after all, in be-
ing compared to shapelesS animal with
tough hide which appeared to have
been dipped into melted butter for the
occasion.
1t was hot at the Zoo Sunday, espe-
cially near the new bird house, with
Its bright blue doors and variegated
door frame.
The casual visitor wonders If that
door has any real background in tropi-
cal art. Certainly it is vivid enough,
and attracts attention. It would go"
better with its surroundings If at least
two good trees were planted near it.
Planting trees in the National Zoo
logical Park seems like carrying the
we'll known Goals to Newcastle.
There are few such places in the
world one NAV believe anv better
"treed" than Washington's own Zoo
logical Gardens.
Two Phfiadelphians on the car riding
to the park were discussing the Ma
tional Capital.
DO you know what makes this city
so beautiful" one inquired.
The other looked inquiringly respectful.