davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
Public Buildings on Capitol Hill.

A lively discussion is in progress re-
speeding the site that Is to be chosen
for the new official home Of the Con-
troIler Generals once. Originally it
was proposed to place this establish
ment within or adjacent to the Mall
Avenue triangle, where it would be con-
venient to the departments housed in
that area. Then objection was raised
that the Office of the controller general
should not be associated with the ad-
ministrative departments, inasmuch as
that officer is not definitely member
of the administrative force, but holds
a midway relationship between the adj
miniStrative and the legislative. There
fore it was suggested that a site for
the new structure should be selected on
Capitol Hill, within the range Of the
congressional establishment.
Tentatively a square of ground was
proposed, lying Immediately east of the
Senate once Building. This PROPOSE
ton caused an immediate disturbance
The headquarters of the Woman's Ma
tional Party, ousted from the historic
brick Capitol" at the corner of First
and A streets northeast, had been
shifted to a large dwelling at the south
east corner of the block thus provision
ally chosen for the accounting Office"
The organization had made a pro-
tracted and persistent fight against the
custer from the structure that once
served as the Capitol, during the period
following the burning of the Federal
state house" by the British soldiery.
1t lost its fight, Of course, for the
ground was needed for the Supreme
Court, which Is soon to be erected.
Having acquired new home, a block
to the east. the party settled down for
q permanent stay there, only to be
menaced anew by the march of prog
ress.
Now counter suggestion is made for
the location Of the controller generals
ofices, Residents of the region known
In local parlance as Capitol Hill" urge
that the structure be placed on East
Capitol street. as one Of the units Of
Government utility certain TO be created
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
Blocking of Streets
Protested by Doctor

TO the Editor OF The Star:
Traffic congestion In the environs Of
the American League base ball park has
long been the bane of those whose &C.
Physicians find it particularly discon-
certing, frequently being unable to park
within three or four blocks of their pa
tents. This situation was not so diffl-
cult Of measurable relief, for three
streets whereabouts, ending blindly, could
have been cut through. Volumes of
north and south bound trafhc-and east
and west bound north of the park
could escape the busy corner, Seventh
street and Florida avenue, we're these
streets continued. To end this matter
Of blind streets seemingly ought to De
desideratum Of modern municipal street
planning. The streets in question are
Vermont avenue northeastward and v
and w streets eastward. Habitual users
of this area were recently aStounded
when a corporation erected a mammoth
structure in the middle of the w street
line, soon followed by another in the
v street line, both on Georgia avenue
But their establishment knew no bounds
when what ought to be V street was
then cut through blind at both ends
It misses its continuity westward, and
Vermont avenue as well, by some sixty
feet, while w street eastward Is closed
forever.
verged upon flying to print, as is
the way of those who would relieve their
chests, in praise Of q local municipal
betterment whose merits are inescapa-
BILE, te., the placement of corner lamp
post street designations on different
planes and not higher than, say, 8
feet Pedestrians and autoists con-
stantly have both Of these name plates
I'm the eye line. TRAFFIC Is thus expe-
dited no less than Is served the con-
venience of the stranger within the
gates. But this matter of erecting pri-
vate structures in the courses Of neces-
sary street extensions so opened my eyes
that soon saw the street name plates
we're placed haphaZardly-some high,
some low, some one plane, some an
other plane, and some not plain It is
to be hoped that Vermont avenue will
be extended before a mammoth struc-
ture Is erected In its course which will
forever close it to the people, and. too,
that the street signs viii be kept uni
form. VIM. H. WILSON, M. D.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
Human Nature of 1t.

From the Fort Worth Record-Telegram.
The attitude Of the American public
on the development Of some project
without precedent is one Of the out
standing reasons for the growing i'm
portance of the profession Of psychiatry.
The story of the vote in and around
San Francisco on the erection OF a
bridge across San Francisco Bay Is a
concise example Of the vagaries of the
community mind. Some of the citizens
bitterly opposed the idea because 1t
would destroy the natural beauty OF the
Golden Gate" Others worked against
It for the declared reason that 1t was
"too large a project" Another oppoS1-
ton developed because OF the bellef
that San Francisco and Oakland are
getting along all right as they are: +"
Those favoring the $33 900, 900 PROPOSE
ton rested Strictly on the assured
safety and convenience Of the transbay
transportation. The latter were VIC
torious by vote of three to one.
Many of the railroad systems Of the
country encountered the exact type OF
opposition reflected in this instance.
They were opposed to the idea and used
the first argument available-logic i'm
material. They are operating today In
the expansion of the highway systems
of the country. Water conservation
projects bring them to the surface at
election time. The Trinity Canal will
find the ubiquitous small percentage OF
opposition on the familiar job.
There is something about growth, ex-
pansion and development that appears
to "bow the necks" of a certain portion
of the human race. 1--WE are the same
as our fathers have been," they say.
I'VE are not going to build anything
that our fathers didn't think of build
ing" When the automobile made its
appearance, they literally endured, then
pitied and reluctantly embraced its
usurpation of the vehicles of their
fathers.
They were on the job when Socrates
became too advanced in his notions,
when Copernicus introduced new idea,
when Newton's apple fell on his brain
instead of on his skull and when the
people of the colonies went "haywire"
on the subject of a government Of the
people. They jeered at Fulton'S Cler-
mont and disdained Howe's sewing
machine. They fought bitterly against
church organs and opposed anesthesia
as a product of the Inventive genius of
the Prince of Darkness.
Their children and their ,children'S
children are with us in the flesh. II
there were more of them than there are
of us, we now would be concerned about
the market price OF thatches for our
huts.
It is some kind of lawl
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
Urges New Tax Basis
AS Depression Cure
To the Editor Of The star:

To the Editor Of The star:
The washington Star reprints an
editorial from the Chicago Daily News
on Paths to Better Business" quoting
vention OF experts to stabilize business
and prevent the recurrence Of crises
and depressions.
No man who realizes the untold
agonies which hard time means for
millions can fail to wish for and to
work for full success In this.
But no doctor can treat patient with
success till he first determines the cause
of his illness.
On the same page Of The Star F. J.
Haskin gives a brief history Of the
A study. of this sheds light on the
principal cause Of hard times, and to
those who will put aside prejudice and
intelligently consider what It means will
indicate the cure-the only effective
cure.
An old sea captain, r. r. Randall,
dying In 1900, left large farm in New
York City to be used for q Snug Har.
Dor for old sailors.
years, but In 1881 the Supreme Court
upheld it.
In 1900 its rental value was $4,000
year; in 1880, $4,000; today, $4,000
600 a year.
This $4,000, 900 a year rent for q very
small part Of the land Of New York City
is not being earned by the man who
died 100 years ago.
It is being earned today by labor and
capital, and when 100000 year is
taken from labor and capital for mere
permission to use a small piece Of land,
both wages and interest are cut down
just that much.
Titles to land were originally intend
ed to insure o man against losing his
savings.
They have been twisted into devices
to enable some to get without earning,
which means that many earn without
getting.
The only way to Cure and prevent
hard times Is to take these enormous
land values which are due to increasing
population and public improvements in
taxes for the use of the community
which creates them and to abolish all
taxes which take from labor or capital
any part Of their earnings.
WILL ATKINSON,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
The Mount Vernon Boulevard.

AZ the early completion Of the Mount
Vernon Memorial Boulevard is at stake
1t Is to be hoped that Senator Howell
Of Nebraska will be able to satisfy him
self Is to the justification for the ad-
ditional appropriations provided in the
bill 10 which he has objected, and that
he will not permit the measure to fail
and thereby halt the work on this great
projsct.
Senator Howell has based his objec-
ton TO the bill on a practice that Is
not uncommon in financing large Gov
eminent projects. That practice Is to
obtain an initial appropriation from
Congress, based on the estimated cost
of the Job, and then to seek further
appropriations over and above the origl-
M. estimates as the work proceeds.
In the case of the Mount Vernon
Memorial Boulevard the right Of way
has been acquired through purchase
condemnation and donation. The land
thus acquired amounts to 8o6 acres.
The work Of grading and filling and the
construction Of bridges has almost been
completed. The bill before the Senate
now requests an additional $4,000, 600.
OF this amount $2,3oO,OOo is required
for completing construction Of the road
way project and was included in origi-
nal estimates. The additional $4oO, 1000
now sought is for the acquisition OF
land bordering the highway and "nec-
essary for the development, protection
and preservation Of the memorial CHAR
acter Of the highway" .
This additional land. TO be developed
as a parkway, includes about $50 acres
most of which is swampy and can be
obtained cheaply. The remainder Is
more expensive land, some Of which mas
already been developed for commercial
projects which, considered In relation TO
the memorial boulevard, are objection
able.
The ACQUISITION Of this land was not
Included In the original estimates for
the parkway. But as the project de-
yeloped It became necessary to guard
against the encroachment Of objection
able commercial undertakings and the
only feasible form Of protection Hes IN
purchasing the surrounding land. This
purchase would ordinarily be placed in
the hands Of some other Government
agency, such as the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. But
Is the Bureau Of Public Roads had
charge Of the other work, it was thought
better to place IN its hands the pur-
chase Of land IS well, thus preventing
a division Of responsibility.
Senator Howell does not object to the
Mount Vernon Boulevard, but to . prin-
ciple that enters into the method Of its
financing. The Senator may be counted
upon TO satisfy himself Is to the sound
ness of the principle without endanger-
ing the completion Of the highway, IS
the work now under way win Of neces-
eity stop from lack of funds IL the addi-
tional appropriations are not forth
coming.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

formula with the full knowledge that
there is no chance of the Senate accept
ing the House resolution before March
4. With the expiration of this Congress
the favorable vote In the Senate on the
Norris resolution and the forthcoming
action of the House on its own resolu-
ton will count for nothing.
*
Representative Robert Luce of Massa-
chuSettS, frequently bracketed with
James M. Beck of PENNSYLVANIA as the
the present day, has, no middle initial
in his name, but on most of his mail
and usually when his name appears in
print, he Is credited with middle
letter.
Most frequently it appears Robert E.
Luce" he says, presumably from a
Subconscious association of ideas. My
correspondents, trying to recall wholly
nonresident middle initial, try Robert
A., Robert B., Robert c., Robert D., and
when they come to Robert e. they con-
clude that that seems to sound right
That is induced by their familiarity
with the famous name Robert e. Lee. .
The research department at Repub-
lican National Committee headquarters
has worked out an interesting hypOth-
esis to explain the Democratic land
slide" last November. In 1928 Mr..
Hoover polled 21,302, 100 votes. AL
Smith received 15,016,443. In 1880 all
the Republican candidates for the
Lower House received 13,070,980 votes
and their Democratic opponents polled
a total Of 11,018, 642.' These figures in
dictate that about 100000 voters who
participated in the presidential contest
remained neutral in the congressional
battles last Autumn and that practically
tWo-thirds of the absentees were Re-
publican Hoover voters two years before.
This proves, according to those whose
sympathies are with the President, that
the 1880 results were no accurate
measure of the popular mind with re-
spect to the presidency.
Copyright, 1917
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
An Interesting Invitation.

The North Carolina Assembly has in
vited former Gov. Alfred E. Smith Of
! New York to address the Assembly.
Gov. Smith is a guest within the bor-
ders of the State, at Pinehurst, and the
invitation extended by the Assembly will
be interpreted in some quarters as a
mere courtesy extended to distinguished
visitors. In others, however, 1t is likely
that some political significance will be
attached to the unanimous vote of the
Assembly asking the latest Democratic
presidential nominee to appear before
the State Legislature. North Carolina
was one of the four States of the solid
cratic tradition and voted for President
Hoover and against Gov. Smith. On the
surface it would appear that sentiment
in the State has changed tremendously
since the election in 1928, and that Gov.
Smith. If a candidate for President next
year, would sweep the State against q
Republican rival. Perhaps he would,
although there are those who doubt it.
There has been a recrudescence of
Smith-for- President sentiment in recent
weeks which has not been downed. Gov.
Smith has never said that he will not
be q candidate again for President. He
has said that any man who undertakes
to say what he will do in the future,
when he cannot foresee the circum-
stance which may arise, is silly. Many
Democrats today profess to know what
Gov. Smith will or will not do when
the presidential campaign rolls around
next year There are those who insist
he will not be a candidate for the nomi-
nation, among them some of the lead
ers Of his party. On the other hand, it
has BEEN the contention of many Demo-
Gratis that Gov. Smiths 1923 campaign
was just a warming-up gallop, an edu-
cational process, and that when the
people Of the country, including the
South, came to know Gov. Smith they
would forget prejudice and place him
in the White House.
Gov. Smith undoubtedly continues to
be an outstanding figure in his party.
His acknowledged ability as an executive
and his shrewd common sense, coupled
with the prominence of his service in
ONCE, could not fail to distinguish him.
He took Q prominent part in the last
congressional campaign, although he
made but few addresses outside of his
own State, one in Massachusetts, and
another in Rhode Island. 1t has been
generally believed that he would have
much to do with the selection Of the
next presidential nominee of the party,
because of his great influence with the
rank and file and with the leaders.
Until Gov. Smith issues an ct do not
choose to run" statement. his name will
be linked with the coming presidential
campaign. Even If he be not an active
candidate he will be considered dark
horse" q candidate to whom the Dem
ocratic national convention, Il dead
locked through many ballots. might
turn. Indeed, there has been talk
recently that a plan is on hand to
stampede the convention for Smith aft
er a score Of ballots have been taken
without the nomination of candidate.
Doubtless great deal will depend upon
Gov. Smiths own determination in this
matter, whatever it may be.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

| Even those who ordinarily pay nc
attention to changes in the weather no
ticed the fine rainy day recently.
Rain Is that rare!
It was Arthur Guiterman, the poet
who immortalized Wind-in-the-H Hair
and Rain-in-the-Face.
one does not have to be q poet, ex-
actly, TO enjoy rainy day.
Nor need one be out in 1t for long
to get its full aspects.
A short walk will do.
II one can take this walk in the
Getty proper" as the taxicab lingo calls
the downtown portion, he will discover
the best charms Of the season.
4 \ 4 4
Something there is about falling rain
in the downtown districts which makes
it q thing apart from rain in the resi-
Dental sections and the suburbs farther
out.
Rain humanizes itself, as It were, in
the so-called marts of trade.
So many hundreds of cabs, so many
thousands of persons, so many drip
ping umbrellas, so much glistening,
black concrete, so many bright eyes.
Here the falling water becomes but
the reflection Of the people it falls upon
At one corner it CLEANS soggily on
the new straw hat OF young girl who
passes with spots on her light silk
stockings.
She is getting to be, what Grand
mother called, soaked, but she won't
wear rubbers or carry an umbrella.
Women deteSt foot coverings, and COM
monty loathe umbrellas. Rubbers and
umbrellas are masculine, not feminine,
as many suppose.
Old clothes, including shoes and
coats, are necessary II one is to enjoy
walk in the rain. With the excep-
ton of increasing the traf11c hazard,
already too great, an umbrella Is no
hindrance.
AS a traffic incumbrance, however, an
old-time umbrella has its drawbacks.
It would be interesting to know how
many accidents are due to bumberE
shoots a word not in the dictionary,
but often in the MOUTH.
When one Is walking along a busy
modern thoroughfare with an umbrella
over his head, he has binders on, as
well, although he may not regard his
protective covering in that light.
More than ordinary caution Is neces-
sary when carrying an umbrella. Often
1t Is the wisest policy to close the de-
vice when crossing the street.
Every one has seen man or woman
Dlln0Iy crossing y street III Iramc WIN
an umbrella slanted across the face,
oblivious to what is coming to right or
left
This course, it must be submitted. is
all wrong, and no one with an ounce
of caution in his blood will get caught
in the path of nowadays traffic with
his face covered with an umbrella.
1t is much better, much wiser, to get
wet.
To get bit wet from the rain won't
hurt any one, and 1t may do lot of
good.
Good, be it asserted, II 1t brings home
the wetneSs of the wet, as 1t were. To
view a rain perpetually from the coy
depth of a car, or through O window
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
no weak spots on the Front!

Disclosure that the loot Of the thieves
who early yesterday morning held up
and robbed Q Treasury mail truck at
the Union Station was worthless
1907, 900 In near-face value and only
4 few cents in real worth-does not
lessen the gravity Of the crime nor the
need Of strengthening the defense
against perhaps more fruitful repetition.
The Government must continue to ship
currency and securities back and forth
In one form and another. 1t is one Of
the heaviest shippers Of Immediately
valuable materials In the country. The
fact that its record Of loss In the course
Of the years Of these movements OF
money goods il small does not render
less significant and suggestive this latest
abortive attempt at large-scale
seizure.
Crime Is Q conflict between disorder
and order. It has become q well or
ganized warfare against the State and
society. The thieves, professionals and
casuals alike, are constantly trying TO
beat the defenses set up against them.
Almost Is rapidly and regularly Is
safes and strongholds are made secure
against the burglars and craftsmen the
latter invent means Of breaking into
them. While the average runs decidedly
against the crooks, they are persistent
IN their efforts. They are clever in
the devising Of means to circumvent
the safeguards, to break the barriers
An evidence Of the competition,
amounting to state Of warfare, that
prevails between law and lawlesSness
Is manifest In the presence in the streets
Of every large city Of armored trucks
veritable tanks" for the transport
anam paint to point a valuahles Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
New Zealand Quake Reveals
World at Mercy of Nature

face indications OF seething activities In
Natures subterranean laboratory" the
Blade asserts.
But, as the New Castle News says:
The city had been supposed immune TO
earthquakes. Perhaps the sense Of Sc
curity was not warranted In region Of
volcanic origin, frequently subject to the
eruption of nearby peaks" this paper
suggests, concluding that Mature Is far
Dispatch observes: More than so
Notwithstanding earthquakes occur each
year. One of these disturbances on the
average may be expected every week.
Yet despite the frequency Of these de-
structive tremors, there still remains
much to be learned about them, espe-
cially as to their distribution"
%* -
The Memphis Commercial Appeal
adds: Not only does man stand i'm
potent before this display Of natural
force, but, what is worse, he stands
baff1ed by it. Experts in Seismology
and kindred sciences may have their
ideas about the cause Of these earth
commissions, but their ideas amount TO
little more than reasonable theories or
working hypothesis. They are not all
agreed as to the reason why the surface
of the globe begins TO shake so violently
that great cities and mountains are
hurled down and the bottom of the sea
is pushed up into sight" concludes the
Commercial Appeal.
AS to the future Of the stricken New
ZealanderS, the Portland Oregon Jour-
nal remarks that "quakes are part Of
the New Zealander's life. The warning
that precedS usually is the groaning Of
the earth The people seek places Of
safety. Afterward, If there are dead,
they bury them. If there is property
damage, they repair it. And they take
up again, without complaint, an orderly,
industrious and neighborly life. The
New zealanders have no word for de-
feat" The Houston Chronicle. calling
Pacific, the happy country which has
had so little Of that warfare of class
against class which diSturbs and dis
mays the nations of Europe" says 1t
has been disturbed by the forces of
nature, not by the harsh and unfeeling
weight Of conflicting views and preju-
dices held by mankind. And 1t will con-
tinue to exist as formerly, strong and
able to work out its own destiny IN the
world" this paper predicts.
In the great scheme of making and
forming a planet, man seems to be only
an incident, and not very important at
that, however powerful and efficient he
may be in his own realm muses. the Port
Huron Tilnes-H Herald, while the Altoona
Mirror comments: I'VE are in the
habit of speaking of the solid cart
And to all human appearance 1t Is
very solid and durable adventure
through space. Yet we have Il.
assurance that it will continue its
journey. bearing upon its ample bosom
ever-increasing numbers Of that tram
STORY creature we call man. The
chances favor its continued journey
space for an inuefinite period.
But the most fortunate of us has no
guarantee of continuance for a single
hour Yet that fact does not lessen our
curiosity concerning the future or de-
press our spirits or quench our desire
TO know the worst