Evening star., 1932-12-16
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

@. What is the kangaroo court which
Is held In prisons?-A. H. A.
A. In most prisons the prisoners
themselves form a court, and elect a
Judge from their number. Each new
prisoner admitted to the prison is tried
and this practice of the trial of the new
prisoners by the old is popularity called
a kangaroo court" or course, this is
all recognized as joke and Is not
taken seriously.
@. Is the Secretary of Commerce a
member OF the Presidents cabinet2-
H. D.
A. The Secretary of Commerce Is a
member of the Presidents cabinet, but
he is not in line OF succession to the
presidency.
O. What scholarship was awarded
the boy who discovered Pluto?-W H.
A. Clyde Tombaugh. discoverer Of
the new planet, was given the Edwin
Emory Slosson $500 scholarship in
science. Almost entirely self-educatcd
Tombaugh has been honored by the
Royal Astronomical Society Of Great
Britain for his discovery, and is now on
the staff OF Mount Wilson Observatory
at Pasadena, Calf.
@. What is the quotation to the ef-
feet that what YOU are browns out
what you say?-W. T. w.
A. What you are stands over you
the while and thunderS SO that l can
not hear what you say TO the contrary"
appears in Social Aims in the volume
Letters and Social Aims" by Ralph
Waldo Emerson, first published in 1876.
O. Is shipbuilding fourishing in
Great Britain?-H E. w.
A. British shipbuilding is at the
lowest ebb in many years. A sort Of
trust has been organized which has
scrapped or merged nearly 100 ship
yards and many ships in an effort to
reduce competition and effect econo-
mics.
@. How much Of the average medical
dollar is spent for dentists, doctors and
nurses ?-J. M.
A. In 1929 the medical dollar was
distributed as follows: Physicians in
private practice. 299 cents: hospitals.
23.5 cents; dentists, 1928 cents; public
health. 3.3 cents; nurses. ST cents:
medicine. 1872 cents: cultists, 34 cents.
and all others, 81 cents.
@ What grades are taught In Junior
high schoola?-W r T.
| A. The junior high schools teach
grades Z and g. Since the introduc-
ton Of junior high schools, the tradi-
tional system of eight years for elemen-
4 tary and four years for senior high
! school, known as "a, has given place
| to new system known a. 6-3-3-that
! is. six years CT elementary school. three
! years of junior high and three years OF
senior high school.
( @. May an alien hold property in the
United StateS?-F. B.
A. Each State has its cWn laws in
regard to the ownership Of property by
aliens. In general, the States recognize
4 the right of aliens to hold land, partlcu-
I larry where treaties exist between the
| United States and the countries from
/ which the aliens come. Most OF the
States. however. place some restrictive
| provisions on this ownership. For in
stance. limit is sometimes placed on
the number Of acres which can be held.
@. When was the Knickerbocker
Theater disaster in Washington, D. C.
F. T
+ A. 1t happened during the evening Of
January %, 1922.
/ 9. Is De Valera, the Irish statesman,
more than an amateur mathematician?
L. NJ.
A. He specialized in mathematics and
sciences and obtained the degree Of
Sc. B. in 1914 He taught mathematics
in several colleges and in 1912 became
examiner in mathematics to the Inter-
mediate Education Board.