Evening star., 1933-09-27

Current efforts>> to effect a retail
merchandising code are producing about
as much fuming, fussing and pickering
as N. r. A. has thus far experienced,
not even excepting the discord that &C
companied the birth of oil and coal
codes. No code exceeds the retail pact
in general importance, affecting, as 1t
will, some 5000 600 employers and en-
ployes and countless millions Of con-
sumers Existing difficulties are not OF
I'D by retailers themselves, with manu-
facturers and jobbers wading into the
fray besides Price control, which the
Recovery Administration so far has
lodged on principle, is the thing around
which battle mainly revolves. The
proposition has countless thorny angles
that embrace almost every element
entering into modern commerce-pro-
duction costs, wages, hours, trade dis
counts, consignment practices and what
not. One of the retail groups would
make it illegal to price goods lower
than 10 per cent of cost. Another
faction, which includes drug stores,
Graves the right to sell certain leader"
articles as low as 81 per cent under
wholesale list prices. One outstanding
feature OF the retailers war is the
more or less open vendetta waged
against big New York department
store which has long and publicly spe-
cialized in underselling competitors by
6 per cent. It is sought under fair
practice code to outlaw such methods.
Here's the short, sad story of an
American career diplomat, who wasn't
diplomatic. For the past six years Min
lister at a certain minor but attractive
capital, he was recently transferred,
with the same rank, to another and
considerably less desirable post. There
by hangs a tale. In the city to which
he was formerly accredited there lives
a young American couple which did not
receive from the United States legation
the social recognition to which 1t
thought itself entitled. on account OF
both the husbands business connections
and the wifes social and political back
ground. especially in washington. After
the Roosevelt landslide in November,
1892. the Minister Ga Coolidge ap-
pointee) took more notice OF the cou-
ple. Friend wife was even invited to
pour tea at a legation reception. But
it was too late. Wires had already been
pulled at washington. and a couple OF
weeks ago the Minister was notified OF
his transplantation. To add to his
chagrin he discovered that his sue
cessor Is bosom friend Of the father
of the young matron who resented the
treatment she'd received from the lega-
ton.
\ X \ X
Another Champ Clark has arrived In
Washington. He's 10-year Champ,
Sd, son of Senator Bennett c. Clark,
Democrat, of Missouri, and grandson
namesake of the former and famous
Speaker of the House. Young Champ,
who soon will be a Washington school
boy is expected to inherit the ancestral
passion for politics, but at present base
ball is his exclusive hobby. He knows
by heart the name and record of almost
every player in both leagues. Hailing
from St. Louis, Champ wanted either
the Cardinals or the Browns in the
world series, but, if he realizes his am
bition to see the Senators and, the
Giants fight it out at Washington, he
will root for his new hometown team.
Champ Is an ardent sand lot ball play
er and a southpaw pitcher. He has a
couple of kid twin brothers. Marsh and
Kimball, who reveal base ball symptoms,
too.
X X X X
No fewer than four women who adorn
the Washington political scene figure
as authors in the list of new Fall books.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt has written
Its Up to the Women" The name of
her cousin, Alice Roosevelt Longworth,
is attached to volume of ''rcminis-
cences," entitled Crowded Hours." An
autobiography bears the informative
name of Dolly Cams Book" and Mrs.
Frances Parkinson Keyes (wife of Sen
ato- Henry w. Keyes, Republican, OF
New Hampshire) has produced novel
of washington life entitled Senator
Marlowes DaughteEN y