Evening star., 1933-12-22
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Although White House confirmation
IS lacking, expectation persists that
PRESIDENT Roosevelt may utilize the oc-
casion OF his Woodrow Wilson birthday
banquet address on December 28 to
make important statements on foreign
policy. The function is sponsored by
the woodrow Wilson Foundation, which
is dedicated to perpetuation of Wilson
peace ideals. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Roose-
| welt have been members of the founda-
tons board, and the President was
active In the creation of the organiza-
ton Most of the Wilsonian Old Guard
are still ardently pro-League of Nations
and dream of the day when the United
States might under some conditions
join up at Geneva. Mr.. Roosevelt is
not believed to cherish any such plans,
even though Col. Edward NJ. House, a
co-founder of the League, ranks as one
Of the Presidents trusted advisers in
world affairs. Relations with Latin
America. especially Cuba; recognition OF
Russia, disarmament, the Far East, war
debts, reciprocal trade relations with
foreign countries and the World Court
are some of the topics upon which the
President might venture in a discus
sion of the international situation at
this time. Four Roosevelt cabinet
members rate as WnsonianS-Secre-
taries Hull, Swanson and Roper and
Attorney General Cummings.
Nothing is likely to be heard of it in
the way of a legislative proposal, but
some proposals have Just been published
looking to a constitutional change in
the status of the vice presidency of the
United States. The complete detach-
ment of Mr.. Garner from the recovery
and emergency scheme seems to have
given rise to the suggestion in some
minds that ways and means should be
evolved of transferring the vice presi-
dency in the future to the executive de-
partment of the Government. The
idea is that such change would not
only lift many burdens from the over.
worked presidency, without affecting
negatives, but would afford a Vice Pres
ident knowledge and preparation for
the presidential task, should it sudden
ly be thrust upon him.
x X X
Despite the fact that it has been Of
fcially ordained that the Navy shall
remain man dry, its newest addition the
ened at Puget Sound the other day with
real champagne, made in California
From the time the eighteenth amend
ment became the law of the land water
exclusively has been splashed against
the prows of newly launched American
warships. 1t looks as if the revived
precedent in connection with the
Astoria is to be the rule henceforward
and sparkling wine, in accordance with
ancient tradition will again be used
for launching purposes after an inter-
val OF 13 years.
In the current bulletin of the Ameri-
can Relief Administration organi-
zatlon which went to the rescue Of
famine-stricken Russia after the war
| under the leadership of Herbert Hoover
it is stated that the former President
nowadays receives something like 500
to 1000 letters a day, asking opinions
giving opinions or extended greetings,
| many Of which communications Mr.
Hoover personally answers. These cor
respondence duties and his activities in
| connection with the Hoover War Ii
brary at Stanford University recently
required the setting up of an office In
one wing of the Hoover home at Palo
Alto. Somebody asked "the chief'' re-
| Gently whether he was "cultivating
idleness." He replied: mo. working
| at it,
X X X X
The Tennessee Valley Authority has
discovered that within the SO OOo-acre
tract to be flooded by the Norris Dam
near Knoxville, are 50 cemeteries con.
tanning more than 1900 graves. The
authority has carefully mapped each
cemetery and faithfully recorded the
| inscription on every tombstone. The
majority of the graves will eventually
be relocated In a national memorial
cemetery. the site for which will be
selected by T. v. A. The actual trans
fer will be carried out in cooperation
with religious, patriotic and civic So
cfettes. Some Of the cemeteries are