Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-22

Well, it's going to be a merrier Christ
mas politically speaking, for Mr.. Hoover
than he had much right to expect a
| couple of weeks ago. The tumult and
the shouting die on Capitol Hill-for the
time being-leaving the administration
with its tail feathers mostly in place
The Presidents relief program has be-
| come law. He asked for appropriations
| Of between 500, 10000 and Sl50,000000
TO combat unemployment with accele-
rated Federal construction. Congress
voted him $116000,000. He requested
the privilege Of directing its expenditure.
Congress gave it to him He recon-
mended loaning drought-stricken farm
ers S25,000,0 900 for feed and seed. Con-
gress authorized s45 900, 600, of which
only absolutely necessary portions will
be spent. He opposed outright food
"doles" in the drought regions. Con-
gress went along on that score, too.
The White House submitted its nomi
nations for the Federal Power Commits
sion. The Senate confirmed them. The
Hoover batting average for the opening
innings of the lame-duck session is
close to 1000.
x
Hail, the holiday seasons choicest
rumor-"Wild Bill" Donovan Of New
York and nowadays frequently of wash
ington is going to realize his ambition
to be Attorney General of the United
States after ALL Not right away, but
eventually, and possibly in 1881. Here's
the how of it. Associate Justice Oliver
Wendell Holmes is going to leave the
Supreme Court bench-some day. He
will be 80 years old next March, and
perhaps think that noble anniversary
an appropriate time for quitting the
post he has adorned for % years AS
successor to Holmes, It's said, President
Hoover will appoint William D. Mitchell,
now Attorney General, and then Dono-
van will be named to head the Depart
ment of Justice. No one in authority
will discuss this triangular hypothesis,
but it's rolling of many Capital lips.
Mr.. Donovan ranked as an almost sure
fire bet for the attorney generalship
following Hoover's election. The Ku
KluX Klan and the Cannonite drys OPP
posed him. But times have changed
now.
Mai Gen. Herbert B. Crosby of the
District of Columbias triumvirate of
Commissioners, whose birthday happens
TO be Christmas eve, was at dinner at
the Army War College the other night
amid company which contained
Of the table sat Mai. Gen. John Nc
Auley Palmer, grandson and namesake
of the John M Palmer who ran for
President as a Gold Democrat in 1896.
Near him was Mai. Simon Bolivar
Buckner, son of the man who ran for
Vice President on the Palmer ticket.
A couple of seats away was Brig. Gen.
Jim" Mckinley, nephew of William
Mckinley, who won the presidential
contest in 1896. Gen. Palmer has re-
tired from the Army and now writes
books. Maj. Buckner is executive Off
Ger at the Army War College. Gen.
Mckinley, who lived at the White
House as a youngster, is assistant to
the adjutant general at the War De-
partment.
Uncle Sans ENJOYS in revolution
minded countries would do well, it APP
pears, to stay on their Jobs. In no
fewer than three recent cases, political
revolts have broken out at moments
which found American diplomatic rep
reSentatives, by sheer accident, away
on leave. Ambassador Morgan was on
vacation when the Washington Luis
government blew up in Brazil. Ambas
Sador Laughlin was just winding up a
holiday in the United States when
| King Alfonsos rebels began making
whoopee in Spain. Minister White
house was summing himself in Florida
ldSL Week W1lSIl GudCeIQaId upset anu
installed two or three presidents. Peru
chose the moment when the United
States had no Ambassador accredited to
Lima, to reVolute. Perhaps the pres
ence of American chiefs of mission in
turbulent capitals is a soothing in
| fluence.
X X X
President Hoover had a caller one
day last week who didn't get to see
him. The visitor was a bright-eyed
| we'll spoken colored youngster named
BENJAMIN Dinlkin5, aged 16. of the frst-
year class in Arnlst-ong High School,
| Washington. BENJAMIN told the
/ guardians Of the executive portal that
! he wanted to see Mr.. Hoover "on busi-
ness" The business consisted, he eX-
planned, Of a desire to ask the President
il he could help Benjamin get a Job
turing he hnlidsYA 20 be could eaxu