davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-02-22
Ratification of Repeal
By Conventions in States
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Our friends the lawyers are raising
questions about the ratification of the
proposed amendment to repeal the
eighteenth amendment of the Federal
Constitution The proposed amend
ment is by its terms to be submitted to
conventions in the several States. The
lawyers pose the question of whether
or no the Federal Congress should
provide for. the method of holding the
conventions. Lengthy, indeed, and very
intricate are the legalistic argumenta-
lions. Yet to me the matter is one Of
utter simplicity; and although we have
never before this had an amendment
decisive parallel.
The matter comes wholly within
article 5 of the Constitution. That
article provides two methods for the
submission Of proposed amendment
by Congress to the States. Congress
may pursue either method. The pro-
posed amendment becomes part of the
Constitution when ratified by the
Legislatures of three-fourths Of the
several States, or by conventions in
three fourths thereof The matter in
quotation marks Is taken literally from
article 5.
AS the lawyers 80 learnedly point out,
the Constitution says nothing as to the
mode Of creating the State conven-
tons. Hence the argumentations in
legal circles. The simple, final answer
to all the fine-spun augmentation Is
this: The Constitution says no word
about how the several State Legisla-
lures shall be created, assembled or
run. Therefore the legislative mode
OF ratification Is subject to the same
questions as the conventional enc. See
the language quoted above from article
5 for the parallel.
Many proposed amendments, running
from our earliest period as a Nation
to 1882, have been proposed by Congress
to the State Legislatures; and of these
20 have been ratified by the Legisla-
lures of ee-fourths of the States
and hence are part of the Constitu-
ton. Never has Congress provided for
the election, qualifications, terms or
payment of the State legislators. nor
for the times of their sessions, nor for
their method of conducting their
affairs. In these matters no two of our
State Legislatures are alike. Yet no
question whatever has been raised as
to these points as regards amendments
to the Constitution. Why, then, should
any such points be raised in regard to
State conventions; and. If raised, why
should they not be decided on the an
slogy indicated. an analogy having the
sanction of century and half?
GERRY 9th.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-02-22
Income Tax Fairer
Than a Sales Tax

To the Editor Of The Star:
Every income must be turned into
purchases Of labor and goods before
that income can be consumed by its
recipient. More public revenue can be
raised by an income tax than by a
sales tax. Inevitable pyramiding Of
sales taxes results in confusion by the
tax rate appearing falsely productive,
and discriminates against certain prod
ucts, but affects the consumer little.
Theoretically, the sales tax might
raise revenue from the same people as
the one-rate income tax, and in equal
amount, but the latter tax is rarely
adopted. The one-rate general sales
tax should be compared to the grad
uated income tax exempting low in
comes; between these two systems the
amounts paid by individuals will vary
greatly.
The usual sales tax hits most Of the
population in proportion to income.
The graduated income tax. with usual
exemptions, makes high incomes bear
a greater proportion of public expense
than would be the case with sales
tax; this Is, In effect, a redistribution
of incomes.
Sales tax advocates enormously as
sumo that the income land likewise
purchases) of each person Is proper
uonal to work done, and that Govern
ment helps each person in the same
proportion; advocates Of the graduated
income tax assume, also mistakenly,
that portions of all high incomes are
gifts from the Government Cor public !,
while low incomes are all earned. Many
low incomes come exclusively from some
special privilege; these incomes IN full
ought to be taken by the Government,
forcing drones to work, and yet the
sales tax takes little Of them, while the
graduated income tax takes nothing at
all. Many moderately high incomes
arise almost exclusively from individual
work, and yet the sales tax takes
small part, while the income tax takes
a big slice, although the Government
has given little service on which to base
any tax.
Any sales tax, like any income tax,
reduces effective income by the amount
of the tax; in addition, it creates feel
ing Of disgust at prices higher than
value, thereby depressing ambition and
business. With the graduated income
tax, the depressing psychological effect
Is almost absent, because the tax docs
not increase the price of goods and be-
cause the low income necessary to sus-
tain life is exempted.
There is an absurd argument that
heavy taxes on large incomes reduce
funds for expansion of industry Actu-
ally. money left with many consumers
produces more sound business than an
equal amount left in the hands OF a
few would-be lenders.
The income tax. although much bet
ter than the sales tax, would not be
the most equitable tax, even If incomes
could be classified into earned and un-
earned But whatever else happens the
graduated income tax helps to level out
incomes: If all public expense was paid
for by the graduated income tax, up to
90 per cent in the high brackets, there
could not possibly be the present in
congruity of immense wealth and abject
poverty-want in the midst of plenty.
w. C. DUNCAN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-02-22
Seven Years for Ratification.

Unusual expedition in the submis.
sion OF the proposed twenty-first
amendment to the Constitution, re-
pealing the eighteenth amendment. has
been due to the evident wish to obtain
ratification by the necessary three,
fourths in the shortest possible time,
and also to the fact that a large num-
Der Of State Legislatures are now in
session. 1t is assumed that the process
OF ratification by State conventions,
will be determined and instituted by
the Legislatures. The fact that the
resolution sets q time limit for ratifl-
cation does not Of itself call for such
haste in notifying the States, through
the Governors, Of the action OF
Congess.
There is no provision in the Consu-
tuition respecting the length Of time tc
elapse between the adopting vote Of
Congress and the ratifying vote Of a
State convention in case that method Il
chosen or permitted. The whole ques-
ton Is up to the States, with the posi-
bility OF q challenge in court of the
validity Of ratification on the grount
Of inadequate submission of the ques.
ton to the people of the several States
1t Is fact worthy Of mention tina
the resolution Of amendment adopted
by Congress the other day contains, a.
does the amendment which it is pro-
posed to repeal, q time limit within
which ratification must be given, sever
years. The eighteenth amendment wa.
the frst to be adopted which carriet
within It's own provisions such q tim,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-02-22
Wandering Boys of Nation
Held i'm Need of Camp Relief

Public approval Is freely given TO
the project before Congress for an ap-
preparation Of $40, 100000 to establish
quarters at Citizens Military Training
Camps for boys who have been wander
ing through the country as a result Of
the depression. The relief feature Is
commended, and there IS q strong be-
lief that the boys will be saved for pro-
ductive work and will profit by the
training to be offered.
1.-THE uncontrolled movement Of youth
Is one Of the tragedies Of the disor-
dered economic situation" according to
the Buffalo Evening News, which fears
that wandering might easily become
q fixed habit" The Evening News
points out that mo other plan for re-
lief could so quickly be put in opera
tion," and that lit would be possible
at these camps to check on the edu-
cational needs Of the boys" That
paper also suggests that those in
charge could see to it that contacts be-
tween boys and home were maintained"
The Birmingham Age-Herald says that
youth adrift in this fashion makes a
special appeal to people who are aware
Of the social values involved" The
OnaTleStOu 10. ~ evening FOSt AYERS !.
They are estimated to number as high
as 200 900, and there is no reason to
doubt this estimate. Needless to say,
they constitute menace and prob
lem, and nothing Is being done to solve
it. Unfortunately, the probability Is
that when the depression shall have
passed and unemployment subsidized to
normal proportions, many of these
youths will not be seeking jobs again,
but will have become confirmed va
grants or worse
Many of these youngsters have died
Of hunger and exposure" according to
the Cincinnati Times Star, Others
have been killed on the railroads, and
the open road has been a notorious
school for vagrancy and crime" The
Times-Star describes the proposal as
1.-THE only practicable plan that has
been suggested to handle the most diff
ficult problem of the depression" The
Charlotte Observer refers to the wan
derers as "fledgelings out of a broken
nest, who are sharpening their wits
upon the raw milestone Of experience,
and declares that they ARE aSsociating
with criminal types and are imbibing
ideas Of hatred for law and disrespect
for human rights" OF the opinion
that they are becoming tramps," while
some have too much pride to return
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-02-22

! home and become charges upon mem
bers of their families" the Lexington
Leader feels that the new plan will
help considerably" The Milwaukee
Sentinel Is convinced that "many of
them have become confirmed vagabonds
and tramps," and that opening of the
training camps will save thousands
from idle and useless lives" That
paper holds that "the problem has been
growing more acute and dangerous.
4 ~
Those young men," advises the Fort
Worth Star Telegram, ARE well worth
salvaging. A million Of them have po-
tentiahties worth many thousands Of
dollars each to their own era and that
OF their posterity. Definite purpose,
educational opportunities, mental and
physical training and observance Of
cleanliness and decorum will detour
them from the fate that awaits the In
sidious drift into the ranks OF the
| 'hoboes' and 'panhandlers that VIII
happen to all OF the individuals not
taken in hand by some department OF
human relations" The New Orleans
Times-Picayune offers the Judgment:
Assuming intelligent supervision Of
the training camps, they Should prove
of immense benefit to the youth who
accept their care and shelter. The les
sons Of order, discipline and good citi-
zenship may prove strange and irk-
some to some of the wanderers, but
, the great majority should profit by
them. The plan contemplates recla-
nation as well as relief, and the first
objective, considered in the light Of its
long-run benefits. Is no less important
and desirable than the second"
"One of the most nationally advan-
tageous of all appropriations made or
mooted to deal with the economic stu
alton" is the verdict of the Boston
Transcript, which emphasizes the COM
bining of personal welfare with public
service" while the Springfield (Mass.)
Republican, quoting from Senator La
Toilette, calls it "the first measure of
| the session dealing directly with human
suffering" The Glendale News-Press,
| finding that many Of the boys came
from homes broken by discord," and
that Gin other cases poverty set them
afoot ON the highway, without fixed
objective" commends the influence of
the Boy Scout movement, and concludes
that upon the development of these
young persons rests a great hope for
the future of the country"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-02-22

Do women have Q monopoly or
patience?
If any one doubts it, let him watch
| one of them work a jig-saw puzzle
It's patience that works these things
! and women have plenty OF 1t, so that
tossing of a picture in almost no time
at all comes natural to EN-.
Your average male either refuses to
attempt to put the $50 component parts
Oh the puzzles together (Which shows hi
high inteligence), or. II he attempts
it, he becomes very wrathful about it
Who invented these things, anyway
! he wants to know.
Why should any human being spend
his good time putting something to-
gether which was taken apart just to
be put together again?
And why spoil pretty picture, in
the first place?
He Is as resentful about this spoil
alton of art as he was over the cross
word puzzles, which he declared were
worse than a waste Of time.
Down in his heart he admitted to
himself that he didn't have enough
brains to work them.
He was wrong there, however.
It wasn't brains which were needed
to work crossword puzzles, but pa
thence.
The same quality. exactly, which does
the jigs.
Nothing is more queer, in American
life, than the crazes Of the day-what-
ever day 1t may be.
Cutting a picture into bits. and put
ting them together again, has peen
known for long, long time.
Every one Of any age at all can re.
call his youth, when many beautifu
sawed-up puzzles could be secured.
Maybe one or two Of these were kept
in families as part of the game chest
In the older days Of the Republic
games were more of feature OF nome
life than they are today.
One means, of course, various poarc
games. as they are called, which were
q real part of the recreation OF the
home circle. -, -.
Cards mankind always has with it
but the various types of games utilizing
every one can recall the nah jong
craze.
At one time every store window dis
PLAYED the most elaborate sets, some In
ivory, all artistic and appealing to the
eye.
It was a good game-it is good
game-but the passage OF time die
something to it.
These things come and go in waves
In the older days, they made their
appeal, not only on novelty, but partly
at least, because there was not so much
to do.
In the hey-day of prosperity, as we
like to call it, every one felt he had q
great deal Of money to spend, and
therefore he spent it.
The depression, as no one likes to
call it, has been instrumental in doing
away, even among those who have not
felt its pinch, with the wholesale elabo-
ration of outside pleasures.
Whether or not the family Is return
ing to the home 1t seems to be fact
that simple pleasures, almost elemental
in their appeal which can be carried
on quietly, and at little cost, are greatly
in vogue.
The latest is this jig-saw puzzle
business.
Here Is something old, but something
which is going like wildfire.e
Everybody Is buying them-and the
women folk are solving them.
It's patience that does 1t.
Patience according to the dictionary
is calm endurance Of pain or any
provocation."
Most men (even those who buy these
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-02-22

the shoulder and head TO halt black
and half silver mixed. The tail is
bushy, with white tip.
9. What was the Great North Road'
A. About 800 years ago the road
winch led from London TO Edinburgh
was 80 designated.
O. What Is the proceeding for Cub
to import narcotics from the Urss.s.s
States?-R. J.
A. The legal division Of the x~r.au
Of Narcotics says that a country in
order TO receive narcotics exported
from the United States must be a mem
Der Of the International Opium Con-
vention Of 1912. Cuba is member Of
this convention, and as such would be
entitled to receive importations pro-
vided all of the necessary regulations
are complied with. The country de-
string to import narcotics must furnish
evidence that there Is a shortage Of
such materials and that they will be
used only for medicinal purposes. With
the request for such importation the
importing country must send a certifl-
cate listing the narcotics desired and
the purposes for which they will be
used. II the country Is a member Of
the said convention such q certificate
Is generally honored. The commissioner
Of narcotics then issues "a certificate Of
expectation, which permits the desired
narcotics to be sent to the country i'm
porting them.
@. Is Col. Iindbergh a life member
Of the American Legion?-G. A. w.
A. The American Legion says that
there are no honorary memberships IN
the American Legion and that Col.
Lindbergh is not eligible for regular
of this organization.
O. How long did it take to make the
bells for the Singing Tower in Florida9-
M. II. G.
A. 1t took Is months to make the II
perfectly tuned bells. These were
manufactured in England and weigh
from IT pounds to IL tens.
@. What is black light?-G. L. 8.
A The term is applied to the mira
| red rays, which were also formerly
known as dark chemical rays" The
| fact that there are radiations outside
| the visible spectrum was demonstrated
as early as 1900. The infra-red rays
are those which occur beyond the red
end of the spectrum They are Of
| longer wave length and invisible. Re-
Gently infra-red rays were used in max
ing photographs at night.
@. Who was called the second WASH
| ington?-T. r.
A. Henry Clay was sometimes given
| this title.
@. How much do pigs weigh ut
| BIRTHS. H.
| A. They vary in weight from IL to 4
pounds, with most of them weighing
from 21a to pounds.
| @. What Is the salary Of the head Of
the American Red CrosS?-J. A.
A. When Judge John Barton Payne
became chairman of this great organ
ization in 1921, it was with the stipu-
lation that he would receive no salary,
and would pay all Of his own expenses.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-02-22

| priated for was $4,000 for the fsca
year 1881. Reductions of 500 and ther
Of 2,157 men, made in the two succeed.
ing years. have brought the strength Of
the corps down to its present figure
Another cut Of 1,743. As proposed ir
the budget, would leave to the corps
only 1880 men and would mean Q
reduction since July l., 1880, Of 4,40C
enlisted men, or nearly one-fourth Of
its former strength.
The House Naval Affairs Committee
held an Independent hearing Of its own
few weeks ago on the proposal to
cut the strength Of the Marine Corps
After listening to the testimony of the
Secretary of the Navy, the high-rank-
ing officers Of both the Marine Corps
and the Navy, that committee unani-
mously reported against the proposed
reduction. The Appropriations Com
mittee Of the House has taken the same
attitude. 1t Is to be presumed-and
hoped-that the House and the Senate
will concur In the recommendations OF
these two committees.
The Marine Corps has demonstrated
throughout the history Of this country
its effectiveness In times Of emergency
and Of war. 1t has served with the
Navy and with the Army. 1t has
taken part in all the wars and In all
the public disorders with which this
country has been engaged As It's COM
mandant, Maj. Gen. Ben H. Fuller, told
the Committee on Appropriations: Its
members have fought, bled and died
in all parts Of the world in both peace
and war in the service Of their coun-
try" 1t is proud record. The Ma
rines are especially trained for sea serv-
ice, as we'll as for land. The idea has
been advanced In some quarters that
the Army could take over the work of
the Marines, but without that special
training for duty with the vessels Of
the Navy there would be q lack Of
experience and efficiency that might be
disastrous on occasion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-02-22
The Marine Corps.

Overriding the recommendations Of the
Budget Bureau, the House Appropria-
tons Committee has framed the naval
appropriation bill SO as to keep the United
States Marine Corps at its present en-
listed strength, 15,343. The proposal
by !, TAB men. This would have brought
the personnel of the corps to a point
below its pre-World War strength. 1t
would have SO reduced the personnel
as to make it impossible to give proper
training for war and emergency, be-
cause OF the widespread duties of the
Marines which would prevent bringing
sufficient number together for that
training. Furthermore, the conditions
| in the World today, with treaties fiouted
| by important nations, do not incline
the American people to look with COM
! plaisance upon proposals to impair the
national defense. The House Commit
| tee on Appropriations has acted wisely
and in the interest Of the safety of the
country
The Appropriations Committee in its
report to the House, declaring itself in
favor Of retaining the present strength
of the Marine Corps, said succinctly:
| The primary mission of the Marine
Corps is to provide forces to assist the
feet in the seizure and initial defense
of advance bases. BY referring to the
hearings under the budget proposal il
will be seen that there would be left
at the East and West Coast bases STE
and $3.50 men, respectively, in which
numbers, Of course, is the permanent
station maintenance force. Within these
numbers the Navy would need to fine
trained bodies of men for advanced
base activities. The numbers speak fol
themselves.
! The Marine Corps has been the target
Of economy proposals for q number o.
years. The enlisted personnel appro
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-02-22
Urges Retention of
Chimneys on Mall
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The STAR
In clearing the Mall Of the old war
buildings the two tall chimneys on
Seventh street doubtless will be re-
moved. We wish they might be spared.
These lofty structures served a useful
purpose throughout the period Of hos
tllities and are enduring well the vicis-
STUDIES of peace. The rise and fall
OF prices, the passing of the political
show and the coming of this new era
OF economy have not shaken their firm
foundations nor looSened a single brick
from their heaven kissing tops. Sym
bols Of industry, emblems of creative
processes, these tall columns are identi-
ned with the most destructive conflict
the world ever saw and the highest
taxes 1t can pay. AS twin monuments
to the folly and futility of war let
them stand-until the debts are paid.
II the landscape artists who guard the
esthetic aspects of the Mall protest,
perhaps their professional objections
will be withdrawn if these American
draped with English ivy, while a wide
border Of French iris is developing
around their bases and a few forget
me-nots are included.
As cold, silent memorials there Is
another purpose these heaven-pointing
spires may serve. Notwithstanding pay
cuts past and pending, Uncle Sam S
army Of white-collar workers may well
be reminded occasionally that they live
in one Of the few cities Of the land
where smokeless chimneys and con-
tinuing jobs have any abiding intimacy.
Or who knows when the cosmic ray
may be captured or the atom har-
messed and all these industrial towers
ha,nroa ralirc No mora NOV auor ho
built, and these are conveniently near
the Museum.
These twin stacks are fine specimens
of their kind, master examples of the
mason's art. We are not sure but
their slender, tapering shafts possess
quite as much of grace, beauty and
historic interest as some Of the objects
In bronze and marble that ere called
nonumenks.. " r THARR.