Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-20

Even though Washington for the
time being is without both President
and a Congress, the ship Of state sails
serenely and busily on. Little birds are
whispering that for some time past the
Government departments have been
working at unusually high pressure all
along the line, on special orders from
the Chief Engineer This doesn't mean
that Mr. Hoover found anybody loaflng
on the job. 1t FATHERS appears to be the
fact that he has evolved large NUM-
Der of new propositions, which call for
extra hustle and hustle, because they
have to be tackled in addition TO and
alongside the regular grind OF Uncle
Sans business. The executive branch,
when Congress is in session, always has
To keep a weather eye peeled In the
direction of Capitol Hill. That takes
time and attention from the routine &C
tiyities of department heads. assistant
secretaries and division chiefs. Now
that Senate and House are of the map
for while, all hands can clear for in
tensive action at the administrative end
of Pennsylvania avenue, and full steam
ahead will be the order Of the day un-
til December comes again.
X
James C. Stone, the new chairman
of the Federal Farm Board, halls from
Lexington, KY, heart Of the Blue Grass
horse country. He even confesSeS 10 an
interest in a racing stable. When the
appointees to the Farm Board were be-
fore the Senate Committee on Agricul-
ture in 1929, pending their conflrma-
ton, Mr.. Stone was asked TO oetan ms
business connections. Among them ne
listed his partnership in a string OF
ponies that sometimes come in flrst.
But I think ought to add" Stone
said to the committee, that don I
know whether a racing stable Is an
asset or a liability" Legge'S successor
at the Farm Board was the organizer
of the Burley Tobacco Growers Coop
erative Marketing Association. which
showed raisers Of the weed IN Dixie Tor
the first time how to deal with the
buyers of their product on something
approaching equal terms. That's eX-
actly what Congress meant to do for
the farmer" Chairman Stone explains
when it passed the agricultural mar
keting act"
Since Mr.. Hoover's plans to visit the
Caribbean were announced. mistaken
thought has found wide expression, 10
the effect that he is the first President
of the United States to visit Porto
Rico. A native of the island, now
resident of this country, recalls that
President Roosevelt tarried in Porto
Rico on his return trip from the Pan
ANA Canal, then under construction.
! Teddy" landed at Ponce, in the south
of the island, and crossed Porto Rico In
an automobile over the famous military
road. The colonel was so entranced by
the scenic beauty Of the country that
he christened Porto Rico Americas
Switzerland"
X
The Smithsonian Institution Is now
figuring in an investigation just started
by the United States district attorney
in New York City. The investigation
concerns the Smithsonian Scientific
Series" consisting of a collection OF
elaborate volumes dealing with the
wonders and glories of the institution,
particularly its scientific acnlevements.
The district attorney wants to ind out
TO what extent the publishers OF the
books were authorized to use the name
of the famous branch Of the National
| Museum at washington in connection
with their high-preSsure sales methods.
Agents, one of whom canvassed WASH
| inRtonians in high positions this Win.
ter, represented that 5 to 10 per cent
of the proceeds Of sales went to the In
stitution. The gentleman VINO was
working the Capital proudly exhibited
the names of a goodly number of dis
tinguished local signatures to $500 con-
tracts for the series. John j. Raskob,
according to testimony developed in
New York, ordered first edition" Of
the set at the price just mentioned.
| X X + X
John Joseph Leary, -jr., of New York,
who has just been appointed by Presi-
dent Hoover 70 investigate European
employment agency systems, was an
idolatrous supporter Of Theodore Roose-
welt and stu publicly describes himsslt