Evening star., 1932-07-19
! IARIo DEL COMERCIO, Bar
\ ranquilla: One of the daily
j papers published in the capital
, has reached our desk with

- has reached our desk with
timely comment upon the con-
struction Of a modern aqueduct. There
Is no question that Bogota needs this
aqueduct, and the editor Of the paper
Or. Jorge Vargas, with his usual valor
and independence. confines himself
largely to a discussion Of where. when
and by whom the artificial channel
should be constructed.
The organ cited, with discriminating
phrases, calls attention to the fact that
the present proponents of the enter
prise are Nicolas Camargo Guerrero,
relative of Dr. Patino, the mayor OF
Bogota, and also a close kinsman OF
the secretary Of the municipal govern
ment and the German contractor
Senor Horck. From this it appears that
it Is the intention to award the con-
tract to another German firm regard
less of previous unhappy experiences
with such concerns. The article de-
clares further that the dealings OF the
country with the Julius Berger kon-
sortium, and the Hugo SHINES Gesell-
schaft. on other contracts. should make
it more wary in its dealings with Tor
eign contractors.
We agree with Dr. Vargas that gov
ernment contracts should be awarded
as far as possible to our own people
If we are not as well equipped to exc
cute them as some alien enterprises
may be in the matter of experience and
equipment, these are defects which Will
never be remedied among us SO long
as we continue to give the work TO
outsiders who, naturally, are not so
vitally solicitous about its proper per-
formance as native interests would be.
nf nnntrQHtS l.
nicipal or national improvements should
also be entirely free from the taint Of
any personal bias or advantage upon
the part of government officials.
Higher Standards
Seen on World Stage.
Corriere Della Sera, Milan: The
sixth international congress of the S. U.
D. T., (Societa UniverSale del Teatro)
is continuing its sessions in the Sala
DELI Opera, at Rome. Signor SEVERN,
secretary of the National Union OF
French Artists. addressed the assembly
upon THE Mission OF the Theater.
Signor SEVERN alluded to the dlhculty
encountered by the union In adopting
uniform qualifications in every country
for membership in the organization, and
cord in the basic principles and ruling
ideals which should govern and animate
the industry.
At present the theatrical profession
occupies a high place in the public
esteem, but this is not surely an emf
nence from which it cannot be dis
lodged and the profession Is continually
beset with controversies from both
within or without as to whether the
theater and the screen are beneficial
factors in the social scheme. or q lure
and menace to the public and particu-
larly to the juvenile public.
It is claimed for the theatrical in
terests that they purvey what the peo-
ple seem to want; that highly moral
and edifying plays and pictures have
received usually SCant patronage. NO
class of performance is better attended
than what is called the varieties, y
though these medleys in the aspects OF
| the theater generally criticized and
repudiated. are far more risque and
| offensive than any scene or episode OF
| the legitimate fin or drama. Censor
ship in all countries determines ulti-
mately what can be shown to the spec
tators, and perhaps this is the best
manner of solving the perplexing prob
| lem of standards in what may be pre-
sented A play that would arouse in
tense antipathy and disgust in one
| land, may sometimes be shown with
perfect impunity in another. The ef-
fects for good or i'll Of such spectacles
or illusions depend entirely upon the
| characteristics of the audience.
The histrionic masterpieces Of bygone
centuries, prior to the year 1909. fol
instance. were not essentially chaste OF
moral. Passion and assassination were
the themes of most Of them, and YET