Evening star., 1932-09-29

This newspaper puts at your olspOSal
q corps Of trained researchers In Wash
| ington who will answer questions for
you. They have access to the Govern
seums, galleries and public buildings
and to the numerous associations which
maintain headquarters In the Nations
] Capital II they CSn be OF assistance
| to you, write your question plainly and
send with cents In coin or stamps to
| The Washington Star Information Bu-
reau, Frederic j. Haskin, Director
Washington, D. C.
@. What is the length Of the Boston
Gclt marathon swim?- IN. d.
q The accepted distance for the
I sws.4n from Warren Bridge, Charles
/ town, to Boston Light is 1919 miles,
but the route varies from year to year.
With perfect conditions. the shortest
route Is about 9 miles, but with adverse
| tides, 1t Is nearer Is.
@. When and how much has the
salary of a member of the House of
I Representatives been changed
| M. M 8.
| A. The salary of members Of Con-
gress has been changed several times.
| Originally Representatives received S6
day, in 1859. which was raised to
| So almost Immediately. In 1865 a nat
| rate Of $1,000 year was granted. In
| 1874 an act was passed raising the
salary to $500, but this act was i'm
mediately repealed and the salary re.
manned at $4,000 until 1900, when 1t
| was again raised to $500. In 1925
the salary was raised to $4,000 year.
At the present time. this amount Is
reduced to $4,000 during the general
cut in Government salaries.
@. In how many cases are sutorno-
bile accidents due to mechanical failure
in the automobile? @.
| A. In 1921 400 accidents studied. in
| only $500 cases were the accidents
i due to mechanical difficulties. This, is
! only l time in %.
@. When and where are boats sold
which have been conflscated for viola
ton of the prohibition act?-C. w. H.
| A. The Bureau of Prohibition says
! that each prohibition district has its
own clearing house for cCnfiscated
keep it as cleared up at all times as
possible A notice concerning the sale
| Of confiscated cars and boats is posted
in the local papers where such sales
! are to take place. These sales are ccn-
Quoted as public auctions.
@. Who originated the card display
used by the Naval Academy at foot tall
| games?-N. N.
| A. The card displays were introduced
at the Naval Academy during the 1880
| foot ball season by Midshipriran N. c.
| Copeland, a member Of the 1881 class.
However, it was not Copeland's original
| idea He received his ilformf ton re-
garoing these stunts from Stanford
University, at Palo Alto, Calf.
@. Why will ivy live in water?-M. B
A. The Bureau Of Plant Industry says
, tenance from the air, the water, and
from the stored up material in the
plant itself Ivy planted in water will
not continue to grow indefinitely. 1t
will. however, under favorable condi-
tons thrive for quite while, the
length of time depending upon how
much plant food there is in the plant
and in the water.
Q. What is the correct way to eat q
sandwich? Should fork or fingers be
used?-F. L. H.
| A. 1t depends upon the time. place
and company. The general rule for
eating sandwiches is to use fork II one
is provided and it is possible to do so.
Q. Did Sol Smith Russell, the come
| dian, fight in the Civil War?-W. H. F.
A. He was born in Brunswick, Me,
June Is. l846, and died May 2. 1902
| He served in the Union Army as q
drummer boy.
| @. How much money was spent in
this country by the allies during the
World War?-R. T. p.
| A. The only record of indebtedness
of European governments or corpora
tions to Americans is the record Of
| funded Indebtedness. What is owed
on open account is not a matter of
public record. although likely to be re-
fected in the exchanges. In 1914 the
total Of governmental and corporate