davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
Why the Delayf

On the second of April the Commits
sioners directed the superintendent of
weights and measures to investigate
the action Of the coal merchants in
adopting the 2,000-pound unit for the
sale Of coal in place of the long ton of
2,24o pounds. Very properly. the
superintendent Of weights and meas
ures had called to the attention of the
Commissioners what appeared to him
to be an evasion Of the law, which
specifies that "Coal shall be sold by
the long ton"
Some time later the corporation
eounsels once was asked to render an
opinion on the law and the Depart
ment of Justice was requested to in
vestigate possibility of price-fixing
agreements. The opinion on the law
is expected any time now.
In the mean time, the coal men have
naturally been under suspicion and in
effect charged with evading the law.
Why has 1t required such q long time
to fix their status? If the law says
one thing, and the coal men do some
thing that appears to be contrary to
what the law says. what ID 1t about
the riddle that requires nearly a month
to solve? The coal men are either
guilty and subject to punishment or
they are within their rights. The
public Is either being imposed upon or
has no legal ground for complaint. The
question is important enough TO be
decided quickly. 1t ought to have been
decided within twenty-four hours.
The District Code says that when
any commodity is sold by weight, it
shall be net weight. When any COM
modify is sold by the ton, it shall be
understood to mean two thousand
pounds avoirdupois. Coal shall be sid
by the long ton, consisting Of two
thousand two hundred and forty pounds
avoirdupois."
The question Is whether the state
ment Coal shall be sold by the long
ten" is a definition Of ton OF coal, as
distinct from a ton of something else,
or whether 1t is q mandatory pro-
nouncement that when coal is sold, 1t
shall be sold by the long ton" AS
the District Code goes at length into
the regulations for the sale Of c2al in
pound lots without specifying any limit
to the amount Of coal that may be sold
by the pound, there Is naturally room
for doubt as to whether coal men are
not legally entitled to drop the word
ton" as they have done, and comply
with regulations laid down for the sale
Of coal by the pound. 1t is obvious
that the law does not preclude the sale
Of coal in less than long ton lots. II
80, every coal dealer who sold 800
pounds Of coal would be violating the
law.
But that, Of course, is what the law
yers must decide. It remains that
anybody accused Of violating or evading
the law has the right to know what
is what, and that right soon, and in
this case the right Is shared By the
consuming public.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
Canadian Finds Parking
Too Difficult to STAY

To the Editor Of The Star:
When was cut of the office at noon
time today o motorist, whose car bore
license plates Of Ontario, Canada, ap-
preached the curb, where there was
ample space to park, and asked me II
1t would be all right to park in the
space. He was told that according to
the sign he would be able to park for a
period OF one hour
He said, We'll, will give it up,
have been trying to find q place to park
so that we might be able to see some of
the buildings in the city, but I have
been unable to find q place where I
could safely leave the car"
1t would not be difficult to imaxfns
the impression these people had when
they left our city, nor Is 1t dificult 70
imagine what they viii say to others
contemplating a visit to Washington.
It would seem every effort possible
should be made to create O good Inn
preston relative to our city, and, as we
are hoping that 1892 will be q year
when many visitors will have every
cause to be glad they have come to
Washington. should not something be
done to enable them to stop III our city
Tor more than lone hour?
4. Q. BROWN. +.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
The Naval Disagreement.

with Chancellor of the ExcheQuer
enowden rising in the House OF Com
mons today to disclose his plans for
raising the tax wind in Great Britain
IL is easy to understand the anxiety
and disappointment occasioned by the
breakdown of the glo-French-Itali
naval negotiations. II these come to
naught. as the latest news indicates,
fresh burdens for the British taxpayer
ore inevitable.
The sole purpose of Foreign Secretary
Aenderson's zeal in patching up the
Franco Italian tonnage controversy was
to make sure that Britannia might con-
tinue TO rule the European, and espe-
eially the Mediterranean, waves without
undue expansion Of her fleet. If French
demands for additional replacement
ships between 1894 and 1936-the rock
ROTATIONS have foundered-is enforced,
Britain'S cruiser quota under the 1890
limitation agreement with America and
Japan will be thrown out Of gear. The
escalator, or escape" clause, providing
for extra-treaty construction, can be
invoked. II Britain builds beyond her
treaty ratio, the United States would
be ut liberty to do so, too, as would, Of
course, also Japan.
Thus the possibility Of q new era of
rivalry and competition in sea arma-
n1ent definitely lies hidden in the failure
OF the European naval powers to get
together on tonnage allotments. The
disquieting aspect Of 1t is what must be
the background Of their inability or I'M
willingness TO do so. Obviously the
Runpowder Of suspicion is pot yet ex-
tracted from the European situation.
When nations haggle and squabble over
displacement, guns and armor 1t means
that their faith in the preservation OF
peace Is far from firm. Statesmen who
engage in such maneuyers give plain
evidence that they are operating under
q war psychosis. They preach peace,
bat will not cease 10 plan against the
moment that it may be broken.
The proposed German-Austrian Gus
toms union is cited, especially by the
French, Is the cause Of the new ten
sion amid which the European naval
states have agreed to disagree. Per-
haps France is waiting q week or two
70 see whether the League Of Nations
Council at Geneva will outlaw the Ger
man-Austrian scheme. Paris will not
be budged from the belief that customs
Anschluss means eventual political
Anschluss and q new Germanic menace
IN Europe.
with the general disarmament con-
ference" less than q year away, its
prospects cannot be said to be brighten
tns. Already the cables hint at post
ponement of the League of Nations
most ambitious enterprise until the dove
Of peace is tapping over a Europe more
Inclined to adopt her as the Old Worlds
ozacial bird.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
The Mayor Sees Red.

Mayor James J. Walker, whose ad-
nainistration Of the government of New
York City Is now the subject Of attack,
sses o red" plot In the effort to Dust
him from once. This Is new wrinkle
In Tammany tactics. Tammany has
been under IRE many times in the past,
bat 1t has not before undertaken through
tn spokesmen to picture itself the VIC
tim of the reds. Much the same kind
Of things were said Of Tammany and
Sc system when Tweed was the boss,
and later when Croker was the head
q the organiza ton. as are said today.
But IL seems to be popular today to
blame everything on the reds
In q written statement the other
day Mayor Walker denounced his chief
AecuserS in the City Affairs Committee
&c members OF the Socialist party, re-
ferring TO DR.. John Haynes Holmes
and Rabbi Stephen S. Wise. He init
mated that TIE reds were at the bot
tom Of the charges made against him
to Coy. Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1t does
not seem to have percolated through
the mind of the mayor that 1t matters
little who brings charges against him
Of maladministration If the charges are
correct. Furthermore, his accusers
have promptly replied that at least one
Of the men whom he charged with be;
ing Socialist il, and has been for years
of he a 4
party, Rabbi Wise. In an address de-
nvered yesterday at meeting Of the
Holy Name Society of the New York
Fire Department the mayor went mor'
at length into the charge that Com
munistS are at the bottom OF all th'
rumpus over the government Of New
York City.
In this country" said the mayor
"there IL o subtle and hidden purpos'
in the attacks that are being made OF
men holding public once. There Is I
very definite purpose OF tearing dowr
the structure Of this municipality
which has won the admiration OF tn
people of the world--the imperial Cit,
Of New York"
The mayor seems TO forget that tn
charges against him are the cnimins
ton Of an exposure Of graft and wrong
doing by public Ofiicials in his admins
tration. He seems TO forget that I'll
Governor Of the State has taken tn
charges seriously enough TO deman
that he answer them. He seems TO fol
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
= =+%[ ~

| q. How long have peopls pruvideA
shelters for birds7-w. Fl. q.
A. Early records Of Asia Minor testify
to the use OF doves and pigeons for
carrying messages, and it Is reasonable
to believe that shelters were provided
for the birds. The shelves for swallows
in Japanese temples and feeding towers
with nesting places maintained by the
Brahmans Of India were early indica-
tons that birds were taken care of.
The American Indians were known to
hang gourds on trees for purple mar
tins and other 1nsectivorous birds.
@. What State has the greatest per
centage Of land capable Of cultivation
p. g.
A. Iowa claims the largest proper
ton Of actually arabic land.
@. What preparation do acrobats use
on their joints to make them more pill
able?-R. B.
A. The fiexibility OF acrot-'; Is dua
to constant exercise and intense train
ing and not to any preparation which
they apply to their joints.
Q. What was the flrst organized army
| In the history Of the worldly. M. S.
| A. Historians say that Egypt was the
| first country to have military organi-
zation. Sesostris or Ramses III was
the first military organizer Of Egypt
Q620 B.C). Palamedes. In 1893 BE-,
was the frst to form an army in q
regular line Of battle. The first guards
and regular troops Of q standing army
were formed by Saul in 1898 BIC.
@. Which one of Shakespeare pall.
bearers emigrated to Virginia?--J. F.
A. DR.. Weldon emigrated to Fred
ericksburg. Here he was buried. His
ffSspSl aRf fVRn ma
@. Who prepared the famous address
Of the citizens Of Salem to Gen. eager
B. T.
A. This address, relative to the Ros-
ton Port Bill, was written by Col. Tim
othy Pickering.
@. What States have avenues named
for them In the Nations Capitals. w.
| A. All States In the Union except the
States OF Montana, California and
Washington are represented In the City
| Of Washington as avenues. However,
California and washington are repre-
sented as streets.
@. What was the tribute Of Lieut..
Becker TO his wife before his electro
cution for the Rosenthal murder?-D. 3.
| A. Before his electrocution, on july
| 80, 1915, he said: II am proud to ilsve
been the husband Of the purest, tho
noblest woman that ever lived-Helen
Becker. This acknowledgment Is the
only legacy I can leave her" Mrs.
Becker's statement was: I'm all the 10
| years Of our married life I never had
occasion to regret that was his wife,"
@. How many bowling alleys are
there in the United States?-M. C.
A. Statistics show that there are now
10000 buildings. churches. clubs. fra
ternal organizations and industrial 60.
adjustments occupied by bowling alleyG
1t Is estimated that the general aver.
age Is eight alleys TO each place. This
means that there are 10000 bowling
/ alley beds in operation.
@. When and by whom were the
plans for the Brooklyn Bridge made?
When was it built?-I. L.
A. The plans for the Brooklyn Bridge
were made by william G. Kingsley In
1855. The bridge was begun January
3, 1870, completed and opened to tbs
public May "a, 1888. It's total length
! is 6,016 feet; its height. 135 feet.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27

That old. worn suitl
Despite the well meant 1eers oi
friends, and the sneering glances Of
foes, he wears 1t.
Perhaps The time has come to tel
why he wears 1t.
The answer Is easy.
He likes i'll
This is the simple confession which
confutes alike friend and foe.
Even clothing statesmen stub their toe
against fond recollection.
Neither penury nor Incidence can ex-
plain that suit.
The case demands psychology.
And shall have it.
For the present, let us concentrate
on the suit.
It was purchased in the early Spring
of-well, when was the Shrine conven-
ton here?
That convention was held here In
June, 1923. and that suit was purchased
either in April or May.
What q suit!
Eight years old this Spring, and about
through.
In fact. clear through, in places.
AS the boy in the funny picture said
THAT amt no patch, that's mel"
X X
Sometimes one hears criticism of thu
so-called comics" but they are d
bottom very human.
Humanity has q way of excusing any
thing which is basically human ir
essence.
What will appeal to many about tho
funny pictures is that they are un-
compromisingly honest in their use o.
language.
Let us difTerentiate. Honesty ant
purity Of language are entirely dis
tinct.
The purist shudders at such an ex.
preston as IT'S me-" but just the same
it is probably said a million time!
every day. by persons in all walks Of
life, by those who ought to know bet
ter and by those who, strange to say
do know better.
Who is there who, when entering his
own home, perhaps late Mt night, hai
not been accoSted with the plain Ques-
ton, Who's that?"
And who is there who has not re-
sponded, easily, colloquially:
ITS me?"
So -
There are hundreds Of these honest
downright sort of statements which are
ungrammatical, but pleasing to the
mind that welcomes such qualities In
language.
This old tweed suit Of which ",
speak here at length (about a column
sums up grandly these two eSSentia
qualities Of language and clothing.
1t Is an honest suit. 1t is downright
BY right Of its existence for eigh'
solid years 1t can lay claim to out
lasting and outwearing thousands upor
thousands Of suits Of lesser quality
That 1t IS frayed and worn is moi
to its discredit. although perhaps Il
may be to that of its wearer; but wher
we know more about him, as no doub'
we shall in time, we will perhaps SEE
that such suit loyalty Is not entirel!
to his discredit, either.
Perhaps there IS too much talk. II
this heeting life, Of discredit and tn,
like; maybe, II all Of US looked harder
for qualities to credit to others, w
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27

ANY reader can get the answer 20
any question by writing to our Informa-
ton Bureau in washington, ID. @. This
offer applies strictly to information.
The bureau cannot give advice on legal,
medical and financial matters. It does
not attempt to settle domestic troubles
or undertake exhaustive research on
any subject. Write your question
| plainly and briefly. Give full name and
address and inclose cents in coin or
stamps for return postage. The reply
| Is sent direct to the inquirer. Address
The Evening Star Information Bureau
Frederic j. Haskin. director, Wash
| ington, D. G.
q. Were Memorial day and Decora-
ton day always observed on the same
day?-B. J.
A. For many years Memorial day
was the Sunday Immediately preceding
Decoration day, the 30th Of May, and
the @. A. r. posts went in q body TO
the church Of some minister selected by
them for special services and to hear
a sermon lauding their valor. Then, on
the 30th Of May, Decoration day. they
decorated the graves Of their dead in
the forenoon and In tho afternoon
usually had public exercises.
q. How are citrus fruits colored for
market?-C. E.
A. It Is q delicate process which Il
carefully done. Kerosene burners are
still used to some extent, but ethylene
Is now often used.
@. Was Alexander Graham Bell born
in this country?-O. NJ.
land, March 3, 1847; moved to Canada
in August, 1870. and came to Boston IN
1871 as teacher Of deaf-mutes.
q. What Is the designation for the
gender Of noun which Is not deter
mined naturally?-A. T. T.
A. Gender is either natural or gram
NAUTICAL. In the latter case there Il no
necessary coincidence Of gender and
| sex.
@. How can one obtain the glossy
appearance on chocolate candy
C. P.
A. Chocolates derive their glossy ap-
pearance by careful control of their
dipping temperature (about 80 degrees
Fahrenheit) and quick cooling at SO to
IS degrees Fahrenheit in o relatively
dry atmosphere.
@. What IS tapa cloth?-R. @.
A. It Is a flbrous sheet obtained BY
pounding the bast Of the paper null
berry tree in the Fiji Islands and is
used for clothing by the natives.
@. Was Herbert Hoover's father q
preacher?-W. D.
A. He was not, but his mother was q
Quaker preacher.
@. Is there q city named Carcassonne
| or is the poem about 1t entirely fanci-
ful?-M. 8.
A. Carcassonne Is an actual city stu.
ated on the canal Of the Midi in South
! ern France. The Midi Is one of the
most beautiful of the waterways OF
France, over 100 miles being lined with
magnificent trees. Carcassonne boasts
fortress which has stood for Is CEN
turtles.
@. Why are the chapters in Dickens
Christmas CAROL called staves?-C. F.
| A. Stave Is another word for stanZs
| or verse OF poem or song. Since q
carol is literally a song celebrating the
nativity Of Christ. It is quite appropriate
that the subdivisions be termed slaves
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27

get, too, that the state Legislature.
which certainly IL not yet red" or
ganisation whatever else may be said Of
It, has ordered an inquiry by . COM
mittee Of It's own into the government
Of New York City, an inquiry which
promises to begin with the mayors
own record in once. 1t Is exceedingly
doubtful that he will be able to drape
himself successfully in this cloud OF
red, as he is seeking to do. For the
moment, however. 1t appears that the
wise-cracking mayor has given up wise
cracking and 10 taking the situation
more seriously.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

those affecting Jewish communities.
Boieh will be introduced by former At
torney General Albert Ottinger Of New
York chairman Of the campaign TO raise
Manhattan Islands 81 100000 quota of
the $4,000. 900 fund American Jews are
building to AID their Old World core
ligionists.
Washingtonians this week need not
have any jaw-breaking qualms over the
way to pronounce the name of the
King Of Siam-Praj adhipok. Your
Majesty" will quite suffice for any com.
moner in the District Of Columbia who
Is privileged to approach the royal pres
ence. That goes for Queen Rambai-
barni, too, though her name doesn't
suggest as many lingual complications
as that Of her consort. The ofncial pro-
nunctation Of the King of Slams name
is something like Prah- jaw-dih-pocE.
Here's another tip. The words Siam
and Siamese are purely Occidental
terms, like Japan and Japanese. The
SiameS0 call themselves 1.-The Thai"
which means "the free" Their country
is called "Muang-thai," or land of the
free" even though Siam remains one
of the handful of existing countries
ruled by an absolute monarch. King
Praladhipok never has o Parliament on
home in Washington, where people can't
vote, either.
Senator Henrik Shipstead, balance Of
power, Of Minnesota was watching q
movie news reel the other day. When
President Doumergue and the Bey Of
TuniS were shown watching a mag
nificent review OF Tunisian troops Ship
stead remarked, well, those soldiers
aren't among the unemployed anyhow,
though they might as well be-"
K X X
Not long ago the officials of the Ma
tional Child Health Conference laid on
President HooVer's desk a Sheaf of type
written reports foot high. On top was
q brief digest of them. Hoover handed
back the digest. saying he preferred to
go through the reports themselves.
Next day the President returned the re-
ports to the committee with a scrubbed
memorandum reading: II give up.
Bring on your digest"
Copyright, 1917
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
THIS AND THAT


might surprise ourselves-and them-by
finding them.
This grand old suit was purchased
by the wearer, he informs US conf
dentially, when he weighed exactly l3C
pounds.
Now he weighs ITO pounds.
See what eight years have done tc
him in the way Of aroirdupois, an ab-
surd word. but not half so ridiculous a
the thing itself
That the suit had that much stretch
in It is due entirely, our friend believes
to the fact that 1t Is q tweed.
Some one Is going TO arise some day
perhaps poet or other, who will sing
in words of light the praise Of the
faithful tweed.
Then this specimen shall lead all the
rest.
Eight years ago tweeds were not
common.
Today one sees them on every wight
but in 1923 the sturdy tweed was COM
pletely outclassed, except with q few
Of its devotees.
Clothing statistics, to be secured
from any manufacturer, jobber, retailer
will prove 1t to you.
The man who wore tweeds then had
a distinction which later years have not
afforded him, since tweeds became as
common as dandelionS in the fresh
Spring grass.
A tweed is perhaps the most adapt
ale suit III the world. Not only will II
go" almost anywhere, but 1t has an
elastic quality, due to its weave, which
enables 1t to stretch and stretch.
| Hence 1t Is possible for a man
weighing ITO pounds now to wear the
same tweed suit which he wore eight
years ago at 100. But it Is close At.
n \ y
The psychology of the wearer Is even
more interesting than the history OF
this grand old rag.
Although he has never said 50 him
self, one may gather from his words
He belongs to the solid citizenry OF
one-tie men.
Now q one-tie man Is q peculiar
creature, too. He may have a hundred
cravats hanging on rod, but he never
wears but one at time-and time. in
respect to him. means weeks and
months and maybe years.
II q dark blue tie happens to be his
favorite, he wears 1t until he wears it
out. Even when such a tie becomes
wrinkled he wears 1t.
Those who assume personal response
bility for his appearance find It ex-
tremely difdcult, If not impossible. to
get the tie away from him.
Thus he receives reputation for un-
tidiness which he does not deserve
since an intense loyalty is at the root
| of it.
| The tie, not the man, should receive
the blame, II blame there must be. But
there should be no stigma, either with
ties or suits.
| Let us see the good in things. If we
| can. Look well, therefore. at this old
worn suit, and recognize a remarkable
production; one which ought to &
into a museum, perhaps.
1t has defled sun, rain, jeers, sneers
Nor cleaner nor presser can do it any
good, q state Of affairs which seems tC
be more or less true at the end of all
things.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-27
Power Commissions Power.

In sending cut 3 QUESTIONABLE to the
operators of hydro-electric power prof.
ects under Federal license to learn,
among other things, to what form CT
State rate, service and securities regu-
latIon, II any, they are subjected, the
Federal Power Commission has taken
action designed TO throw light into an
other obscure recess Of administration
Of the water-power resources Of the
country.
1t Is the FIRST time since the enact
ment Of the water-pOwer act Of 1920
that this information viii have been
made available. II Is necessary TO carry
out the intent Of the act. Furthermore,