davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1931-12-18

Mr.. Frear OF Wisconsin, who draws the
amazing inference that other cities
make contributions to the Federal
Government for the support Of Wash
ington while the District Is exempt"
from such contributions.
Does not Mr. FTear know that Wash
ingtonians contribute not only to the
District as municipal taxpayers, paying
tribute to the Federal Government, on
the same basis that all other cities and
the States contribute? Does he not
know that the District taxpayers pay
more in Federal taxes than any one
of 25, n!o;e than half of the States
That they pay only slightly less than
the combined payments of ten Of the
States? That on a per capita basis one
WaShington!an contributes more In
ury, from which is taken the Federal
contribution, than the combined pay
mentS of one ArkanSar. one Alabaman
one Georgian, one Idahoan one Nfissis-
Sippian, one Montanan. one NebraSkan
one New Mexican, one North Dakotan,
one South Carolinian. one South Da-
kOtan and one WyOminglte, who are
represented in the tax-levying Congress
by "a Senators and 81 Representatives
What city contributes a single penny
toward the Federal Government and
in addition" is called upon Ito pay to-
ward the upkeep Of the DISTRICT? Can
Mr.. Frear name a single city other
than Washington. having this addi-
tional burden?
1t is a tragic travesty on justice to
realize that it is on the basis Of such
distorted reasoning that the District
of Columbia has been indicted for tax
dodging.
Evening star., 1931-12-18
Legs Diamond Gets His at Last.

The impossible has happened. Legs
Diamond has finally been taken for
the long ride. On three other oc-
cas!ons he has been made the target
Of the guns of rival gangsters, and
though quite thoroughly peppered, has
recovered. This time, however. his
enemies were sure of aim, and ap-
psrently working at close quarters in
the course OF party that was being
thrown by the Diamond gang in cele-
bration of their leaders acquittal yes
terday at Troy on charge Of kid
naping, they did thorough Job. Then
they disappeared along with the other
members Of the Diamond crew, leay-
! ing only the gang-leaders wife, who,
I with the keeper of the establishment,
Is held as q witness. Thus passes one
OF the most picturesque villains of the
great American gang drama that has
oeen IN production for a number of
years. Diamond was never big
time" operator like Capone. He was,
nevertheless, bold and resourceful in
! his lawlesSness and one of the luckest
men who ever broke a statute. That
he escaped execution at the hands of
The law Is sad commentary on the
effectiveness of American justice.
Evening star., 1931-12-18

unique not alone as a character but also
as a creative poet The Call suggests
that perhaps Americans will remember
best and longest the prize poem of 1913.
entitled Gen. William Booth Enters
Heaven. thrilling picture Of the Sal
VaIlon Army and its militant activities"
1T should interest some OF the
Younger literary men who have an un-
Aeaithy Scorn for the materials and
methods OF this country and who have
a polite and enervating nostalgia for
Europe that Vachel Lindsay was as
American as Chautauqua meeting or
as William Jennings Bryan" notes the
PrcVloence Evening Bulletin. which be-
!leNeS there was in him great feeling
Tor beauty and a great rhapsodical
strength. He translated the method of
camp meeting into his works bv the use
OF playing in crescendo upon the emo
IlonS. urging the readers to rise and
proclaim the moving spirit within them.
lie mas had widespread influence upon
some Of the newer poets. and his works
are splendid contribution to the grow
ing art1culateneSS of the United States"
Speaking of honors done him, the
Schenectady Gazette noting that "he
invariably fascinated his audience
whether of high or of low degree"
records that he had the honor of being
the first American poet to give a recital
OF his own poems at oxford" and holds
the further unique distinction Of being
the only poet whose voice has been
recorded to any extent, if at all with
some So phonograph records of it in
the possession of the Columbia Univer-
slty library, including many of his more
famous poems"
Evening star., 1931-12-18
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN,

Have We had the pleasure Of serving
you through our Washington informa
ton bureau? Can't we be OF some help
to you in your problems? Our business
Is to furnish you with authoritative in
formation. and we invite you to ask us
any question OF fact in which you are
interested. Send your inquiry to The
Evening Star Information Bureau
Frederic j. Haskin, Director, Washing
ton. y. C. Inclose cents In coin or
stamps for return postage.
@. What was the Communist vote for
President in the last election?-F. j.
A. Foster, candidate of the Workers
Party, which is regarded as Communist.
received total vote of 4a,77O.
@. What foot ball team is called the
| "Bears"?-J. K.
A. There are at least three teams
that are sometimes called the Bears
! those Of Brown. California and Baylor
! (Texasb universities.
@. How many Christmas trees are
! used in this country every years. j.
A. The United States Forest Service
estimates the number sold annually at
! from 100000 to 100000, However,
! there is no way of ascertaining the
| number Of Christmas trees used that
are not bought and sold.
O. What classes OF workers are en-
ployed in the Public Health Service Of
the United States. and how many are
there Of them?-B. j. d.
A. The personnel consists OF a corps
! of medical dental sanitary engineers
| and pharmacist officers. nurses special
lists and other technical and non-tech-
nical employees. At the last report there
. were ! 094 medical officers and other
persons of scientific ratings and 369l
general technical employees.
@ Who wrote the song "Dnah"?-
S. N
| A. This song. which was popular
about five years ago and is still PLAYED
by dance orchestras, was composed by
Eubie Blake
G. What is the difference between
High German and Platt DeutSche?-
V. N.
| A. The designations high" and "low"
German refer to the German language
| High German Is SO called because it is
! spoken in the hilly and mountainous
midland and southern districts. Low
German is spoken in the. low and level
northern sections Platt Deutsche. or
| low German, is the term often ap-
| piled to the dialect spoken in the rural
/ districts.
| O. What is the record for a person
holding his breath under water1-H P.
! A. The record for staying under is 6
minutes % As seconds. made by M
Fau!iquen in Paris in 1912.
O. What is the "unpardonable sin"
, in the Brahmin religion?-L. R. E
| A. The Brahmln code lists four great
sins-to oppreSs a suppliant TO desert
wife, TO rob a Brahmin and to betray
a friend And for the last there can
! be no forgiveness
| G. Is II illegal TO date check ahead?
! j. w T
A. There is no law against it. If a
| check Is gwen on March Is and dated
! April /. The bank does not pay the
check until April !. If on April there
are no funds in the bank, the check is
returned, marked No funds"
| @ What were four minute menu
A. The term was coinei during the
World War. They were men and women
who gave their services to the Govern
ment for the purpose of making
; speeches in behalf OF the Liberty and
! Victory loans. They were so called be-
Evening star., 1931-12-18
Defects i'm Railroad
Regulation Deplored
From the Baltimore Sun.

From the Baltimore Sun.
After almost half a century Of Fed
eral railroad regulation it might be
supposed that moderately workable
scheme of regulation would have been
perfected. Quite on the contrary, how
ever, the report which the Interstate
Commerce Commission has forwarded
to Congress indicates that. in the eyes
of this competent body. We are scarcely
under way toward satisfactory railroad
regulation
In the report almost every major elc-
ment in the present method Of regula-
tion is viewed as basically defective,
and thoroughgoing overhauling Of
the whole scheme is proposed. The
present plan of fixing a value Of the
railroads for rate-making purposes,
evolved after years of costly Contro-
VerSy is found to lead to such stag
gerlng complications that it's abandon
ment in favor of new plan is ad-
vocated. Even if what Commissioner
Eastman has termed the nightmare of
valuation could be dispelled however,
the commission concludes that the plan
OF holding the railroads to a fixed an
nual return on the value of their prop
erty works in just exactly the wrong
way. 1t serves to hold rates down DIR
ing periods of prosperity when there is
good reason to raise them. without per-
mitting downward adjustment of rates
during periods of general business de-
preston. Hence the commission pro-
poses play whereby the rate of re-
turn to be allowed to the railroads in
any given years would be released from
fixed percentage to move up and
down with general business conditions.
These are but two Of about a score
OF changes in the present scheme of
railroad regulation which the commits
sion proposes. but taken alone, they
involve basic overhauling Of the reg
ulatory scheme. 1t is discouraging that
at this late date in railroad regulation
the scheme should still be so far
from one that would be generally
workable. This being 50, however.
there is only one thing to do short of
abandoning the whole undertaking o.
hopeless step which almost no one
seriously proposes And that Is to have
Congress address itself Immediately and
with real vigor to the report Of the In
terstate Commerce Commission. There
can be no excuse for congressional IN
difference to system Of railroad regu.
lation which the experts imuediatAly
I'm charge dnd RnefNay aafaetira
Evening star., 1931-12-18
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PH1LANDER JOHNSON.
Machinery.

machinery.
They're sowing and they're reaping and
they're milking by machinery.
Whichever way you look, lot of wheels
obstruct the scenery.
The scheme of modern life will not be
viewed as quite complete
Until we find way to do without our
hands and feet.
And vet the best of mechanism some
times grows unbearable.
The way it creaks and rattles and breaks
down is something terrible.
And then machinery gives way to
simple human skill
And leaves us all dependent on the
mind and on the will
So when we're theorizing upon systems
and connivances
Let's draw the line and not depend too
far on such contrivances.
For We'll have no end of trouble
though the start may seem serene
If we ever undertake to do our think
ing by machine!
Evening star., 1931-12-18
Urges Sales Tax to
Restore Prosperity

To the Editor OF The Star:
1t has long been my desire to express
my opinion concerning a highly possible
solution to the stabilization of our coun-
trys financial and economic status.
The unequal distribution of local taxes
upon the people who pay these taxes
has been to my mind the greatest ele-
ment which has brought about the de-
pressed state of being in which we are
now fioundering.
In all departments of localized gov
ernmental activities steps have been
taken to change methods from old to
modern, but in the most vital Of these
activities, taxation, We have fallen be-
hind the times.
Throughout the country building ac-
tivities and its associated trades nor
mally employ 40 per cent Of the labor in
this country: not per cent of these
are today employed, The reason for
this Stupendous drop in these activities
Is because practically the entire yoke of
taxation has been laid upon real estate.
Railroads are suffering through lack
OF freight tonnage, the majority Of which
IS normally building materials. They
also carry great burden of taxes.
Farms also carry too great burden
OF taxation. The market price of their
products does not possibly pay for these
exorbitant taxes
OF course, it is necessary to have
taxes, but the form l advocate would
remove its burden from the oppressed
activities and commodities.
My plan is a graduated retail sales
tax. Every retail concern shall pay to
its local government a specified per-
centage of its yearly gross sales, on
the following scale: Onehalf per cent
on the first $4,000 l per cent on the
second $4,000, 1l2 per cent on the
third $4,000, 2 per cent on the fourth
$4,000, per cent on the fifth $40 1000
and after that also per cent.
The adoption of this plan of taxation
and its concurrent abolition of all
forms Of real property tax, except that
on idle land, will bring the unemploy
ment situation and the present eco
nomlc crisis to a swift close, for more
building activities would Immediately
begin and continue
employment would become normal
because of the demand for workers in
these activities. The demand for other
commodities would keep pace with pro-
ouctlon on account of the normaliZed
spending power. The owning of a home
would be each mans blessing instead
OF a burdening curse Farms would be
improved because of their release from
the yoke, thereby creating more labor
and employment Railroads would in
crease their freight tonnage in building
materials. as no competition would be
forthcoming from motor trucks in the
held: Incomes would mount and the
result would be more money in the
Federal Treasury and less deficit.
1t now seems that the entire blame
Tor the present economic condition has
fallen from the shoulders Of the Fed
eral Government to those of the State,
county and city governments, and it
Is just that each man who enjoys the
privileges of citizenship in our great
democracy should pay for It,
The adoption of this plan of taxation
gives each and every one, according to
his means, the honor and opportunities
TO share equally ir the great expense
1t requires to run our country and bal
ance our economic situation.
SAMUEL l.. GOTTLEIB.
Evening star., 1931-12-18
Premature Alarm

BY the Impressive vote Of 81 to the
( House Ways aid Means Committee yes
terday went on record against further
reduction or cancellation Of intergov-
ernmental debts. Action ensued in the
form OF an amendment to resolution
favoring ratification of the one-year
moratorium instigated by President
Hoover last June
During three days OF hearings on
the moratorium the committee was del
uged with assertions. attirnations and
accusations alleging in more or less
categorical form that the moratorium
is the thin edge OF the wedge which is
to etfectuate cancellation OF America S
war debts. None of the congressional
witnesses heard by the committee came
laden with any more convincing proof
on that score than their suppositions.
Both Secretary of State StimSon and
Undersecretarv of the Treasury Mills
testified. If they had any cancellation
information, it was not Forthcoming,
nor indeed does there appear to have
been any effort on the part of the COM
mittee to discover whether they possess
it or not
If these responsible officials of the
Government had been asked whether
any of our European debtors have
sought cancellation, the answer would
have been what every one knows to be
the caSe-that they have not. The only
possible reservation Secretary Stimson
might have felt called upon to make in
this connection IS that the French
Washington that it would not consider
amy reduction Of German reparations
| unless there We're corresponding re-
duction Of war debts.
For the present the unequivocal state
ment Of President Hoover stands as the
administration position on Europe s
Obligations TO the United States Treas
ury. His message to Congress on for
elsn affairs, submitted on December 10,
begins with a quotation of his COM
mun1cation to the foreign governments
concerned in June-a communicat ton,
Mr.. Hoover reminds Congress, which
was sent with the support of a large
majority of the individual members of
the Senate and House"
After narrating his proposal to post
pone during one year all payments on in
tergovernmental debts, reparations and
relief debts the President declared. Il
do not approve in any remote sense of
the cancellation Of the debts to US"
He adds, None of our debtor nations
has ever suggested it." Mr.. Hoover asks
Tor the reconstruction of the World War
Foreign Debt Commission, with au-
thollty to examine such problems as
may arise in connection with these
debts during the present economic
emergency and to report to the Congress
its conclusions and recommendations. ="
1t takes a considerable stretch of the
imagination to read into these plain and
sane words any indication that the
American Government is planning or
plotting cancellation" Until there is
some tangible evidence that it is, oppo-
sition to President Hoover's moratorium
program, on that score at least, is pre-
mature and unjustified.
Evening star., 1931-12-18

cause they addressed audiences assem-
bled for other purposes, such as theatri-
cal performances, and their time was
limited to four minutes.
Q. Where is Mandalay?-T. b. A.
A. Mandalay, the chief city Of Upper
Burma, with population OF $50 900, Is
situated on the Irawaddy River, in Cen
tral Burma. which is the easternmost
part OF the Indian empire.
Q. How does the use OF coal today
compare with few years ago?-J B. o.
A. In 1880 coal supplied IL per cent
OF world energy production, as COM
pared with S8 per cent in 1918.
@ Is there much cholera in the
world today?--M. M.
A. The annual report Of the United
States Public Health Service says that
cholera was more prevalent during the
calendar year 1880 than " was during
1929, although in 1880 it was not re-
ported outside of Asia and the adjacent
Islands Cholera did not appear in the
continental United States, but an out
break began in the Philippine Islands
In May, 1890. and continued through
out the fiscal year. Cholera appears
every year In parts OF Asia, and under
present conditions outbreaks in the
Philippine Islands may be expected, but
me mum Der OF cases and deaths are
mUch smaller than they were o few
decades ago.
q In what direction did the center
OF population of the United States move
between 1920 and l930?-S. A. T.
A. Between 1920 and 1880 the popu-
1ation center moved 223 miles west
ircn point 1.9 miles west of White
hall, owen County, Ind. to a point 20
miles northeast Of Linton, Greene
county, Ind, which point is 81 miles
southeast by south Of Terra Haute and
1876 miles northeast by north Of Vim
cennes.
@. What is the Bible OF Wall
Street "A. W. H.
A A book BY Lawrence Chamberlain
on The Principles Of Bond Invest
ment' has been SO called.
Q, Where did this country get the
C. C.
A. Probably from Montesouieu, whose
DOCKS were very popular in the colonies
He was the first to introduce the tri-
paFtlte idea and define the advantages
OF the separation Of the executive.
legislative and judicial functions.
Q. What is the total number OF
strings IN pianO2-A r
A. Tie total number of strings In n
hooern upright piano of Tia octayes
IS ABOUT 225, Il is estimated that the
pull Of the strings is equal to a strain
Of 20 tons.
= Why does q gas company charge
nat rate when a customers house Is
closed and he is out Of the citv?-w
J. y.
A. A gas or other public utility COM
pany Is authorized TO make a fat charge
curing the absence OF user OF gas or
current because certain amount Of
service must BE- performed whether the
custom. er is in town or not. Also eo1ip-
ment IS at the disposal Of the customer
without making necessary a reinstalla-
lion.
y How much popped corn will one
pint OF popcorn make?-T. H.
a. 1t should, il in good condition.
make IS TO 20 pints Popcorn should
not be stored in a warm or heated
room, as II will become too drv. This
can De somewhat overcome bv snrin-
king with water before popping. If it
mas become very dry. it NAV be placed
Out OF doors IN shaded place where
II can absorb moisture from the air.
Evening star., 1931-12-18
Chinese Communist students.

Reports Of rioting at Nankirg in the
course Of which the headquarters of
the Kuomingtang, or Nationalist party,
which has been the zeal ruler of China
under the presidency of Chang Kai-
shek, was wrecked, state that the dis
turbers were students" These "stu-
dents" have been the principal elements
of disorder in Southern China for sew
eral years. They are not organized in
the sense of having definite avowed
group cohesion, but on every occasion
of friction between the factions or be-
tween Chinese and foreigners they have
acted in large bodies under leadership
They are mostly Communists who have
taken their teachings from the agents
of Soviet Russia When Michael Boro-
din was military adviser Of the Can
toneSe government he organized numer-
GUS centers of Communism, and these
have ever since, while formally affiliated
with the Kuomingtang, been seeking to
spread the bolshevik doctrines among
the people. A dispatch from Marking
states that the recognized leaders Of
the students have now split and a rad
ical element has taken matters into its
own hands. In other words, the Com
munists are seeking to control the gov
ernment Of China at the capital. They
are demanding a positive policy Of war
with Japan to recover the apparentl
lost territory of Manchuria. They care
nothing whatever for Manchuria in
fact. Their purpose is to control the
government of China. The Marking
riots are thus in the nature Of civil
war. A short distance to the south in
the provinces Of Kiang-n and Fukien
Evening star., 1931-12-18

The question was, in Templeton
Jones mind, which was the gentleman
picking up-his big felt hat or his new
| topcoat?
1t was true enough that 1t was he
! 'JoneS) who received the invitation To
rioe downtown in the gentlemans car.
And it was equally true that it was
ne CT. jones' who had accepted with
slacrity, the morning being cold and
the way long. But it was not he who
mad been invited.
Even as he sat down In the front seat
the irrepressible Jones was divided in
MS own MIND as to just which one Of
ms new habiliments was responsible for
the invitation.
II must be one Of the two, he rea-
soned, If not bo.h; for he had stood on
ina particular spot every morning for
weeks without being offered a lift" "
| ne put on hat and coat and imme-
! olately got a lift
| Thus was one OF Jones pet theories
! struck a solid blow.
The theory was this.
1lat man ought to be liked for
| hln1seif alone, irrespective of his clothes.
he had always prided himself on the
lacI that he was able to see the real
man beneath his clothes, whether they
! itAie quallIy or the m6reSt rags.
while he was the last one who would
nave said anything against the power
OF clothlng to impress, he cherished the
belief that the astute man bothered
little about them.
The peculiarly astute man, he
thought, permitted the glad rags To
have no influence upon his Judgment
OF the man himself
| He WAS 4bla +n Gao H. ,,a,, .-- -. :,
abide by his decision. whether the fol-
low wore high hat and frock-taiI coat
or appeared IN the rougheSt or oldest
clothing.
! Templeton Jones had an excellent
opportunity to try this theory of his
! out when he refused to get rid of his
old topcoat and his cap.
| No one knew better than Jones he
ing what Is commonly called a phi
losopher that caps are not the thing
| except for chautfeurS and the like
The civilized world is sold" on felt
hats. The biggest fool in Christendom
| Is accepted as man If he wears the
orthodox felt hat
! Jones, cherlShing childish desire ia
be loved for himself alone and not for
his felt hats and his new topcoats
refused to win any ones appreciation
by the display OF SO many yards of new
cloth and fragment of felt on ton of
his hee,'
III fact. II Jones had not experienced
Pneumonia three times in his life, and
therefore possessed healthy RESPECT
! Tor germs in whatever form, he would
have gene without hat Summer and
| Winter
The Summer end Of 1t he managed
eXcellently. but when the cold breezes
OF Autumn began to blow he went back
| to hat-er, cap.
His insistence on the cap had cost
him many a friendship he well knew
But there was a stubborn streak in
Iempleton Jones. one which nobody
cCuld erase except himself, and he
would not.
As for the old topcoat, Jones loved IL
! with the mighty affection Of some old
FARMER who plideS himself on having
worn the same garment for nigh onto
80 years
! Templeton Jones could count only
10 wears for his topcoat, but it was a
! noble garment
| 1t had seen two mere years than
Jones famous tweed suit. which he
had worn for eight years. or until the
law farbade it, or would have done so
II Jones had insisted.