Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-07
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

gar Hoover, director of the Bureau of
investigation in the Department of
Justlce-iS engaged in an effort to
popularize f1ngerprinting for identifi-
cation purposes throughout the United
States. In the course of an address the
other day before the convention of the
international Association for Identtfi-
cation at Rochester, N. Y, Mr.. Hoover
said: The 1nfallibility of the finger
print science Is a subject no longer
open to controversy. A year or SO ago
an officer of Scotland Yard was called
as an expert in the British law courts
to testify in support OF the infallibility
OF identification by fingerprints. He
selected as the basis for his premise a
biblical quotation. He referred to the
Book of job, chapter 81, verse Z. read
ing as follows: He sealeth up the hand
OF every man; that all men may know
his work.
William G. McAdoo is about to enter
the lists as political photographer
"A Tenderfoot in Politics" is the title
OF the volume which will come from
the press in the Fall under his name
The book is said to shed new light on
the Wilson administration and Amer
lca's part in the World War. Uncle
Sans loans to European allies, now in
the news again, are going to pc dis
cussed by McAdoo. who was Secretary
OF the Treasury when they were made
Some lowdown on William Jennings
Bryan's retirement from the cabinet,
the Government administration of rails
roads and other wartime matters in
which wv. G." was prominent are also
70 be treated In reyelatory fashion.
+ ~
| Judge William j. T'ilson Of the United
/ States Court of Customs at New York
was appointed to the Federal bench by
President Coolidge in 1926 and elevated
to his present seat by Cal in 1928,
but he has Just handed down a decision
which challenges the legality of a
tariff ruling made, by Coolidge five
I years ago. The decision affects the
tariff rates on straw hats. BY procla-
nation. President Coolidge fixed the
! duty on straw hats vaRIed at $3.50 a
| dozen at 88 per cent and that on straw
hats Of greater value at so per cent
Judge Tilson, who is brother Of Rep
resentative Tilson Of Connecticut, Re-
! publican House leader. holds that the
President is without authority to change
the tariff rate fixed by Congress to a
/ varying rate based upon the value of a
given commodity If the decision is
sustained against the Governments ap-
peal. straw hat importers will be en-
titled to customs refunds Of about
81 ,000, 900.
/ "a
! Ed Smith, old-time Republican boss
OF Minnesota, who has 9ust passed away
was the guide, adviser and friend OF
every Washington political writer whose
quest for inside news took him into the
Northwest. Charles Nicholson, Demo-
cratic national publicity chief, says that
Smiths epitaph should read. "The only
politician from whom you could always
depend en- getting nothing but the
truth. Smiths political insight was
proverbial AMI seldom turned out to bC
inaccurate. Only few weeks ago hi
sale. to caller from Washington. RE
pu0icans have one tremendous advan.
tage over the Democrats just now
they have theis presidential candidate
a full year ahead and can start theil
campaign forthwith"
| Copyright 1917