davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17
Minimum English.

The Language Research Institute Of
New York University has begun work
on a minimum vocabulary of English
to contain between nine and thirteen
hundred words. DR.. Michael West
and Miss Elaine Swenson will have
charge Of the compilation. They
will check their lists against dozen
others employed in teaching English
las foreign language" At the end
Of about six weeks they hope to be
able to announce dictionary" ade-
quate to the average minimum need.
Doubtless the enterprise is worthy
of commentator and amply merits
success. But the sponsors are not to
be envied. Be their findings what
they may, there will be critics who
will complain about them. 1t would
be impossible to satisfy everybody. For
example, how about H. L. Mencken,
who insists that the people of the
United States speak the American and
not the English language? How about
those provincial partisans who believe
their own particular variety Of English
to be the only legitimate brand
Yankee English. Dixie English, Hill
Billy English, Cowboy English, as the
case may be? And how about those
gifted innovators who seek to i'm
prove on the language in the light
or darkness of their own mentality
George M. Conan, Bugs" Baer and
their celebrated contemporaries of the
press, the comic strips, vaudeville, the
movies and radio? DR.. West and Miss
Swenson will be fortunate indeed If
they can please all parties.
But perhaps they do not care about
objections. 1t may be that their pur-
pose is merely that of making avail
able practical lexicon for the service
of those aliens who wish nothing
better than guidance in the colloquial
tongue o. the moment. If that is all
that is wanted. very few phrases
will suffice. Among the number. Of
course, should be new DEAL de
preston" Code" administration"
lob" allotment" "chiseler," pagan
ethics" managed currency" and pay
cut restoration" Also, big bad wolf"
"c'mup n see me sometime" "hotcha"
and where's Elmer?" Not to mention
gold digger sugar daddy" 'gim-
ME" blessed event" that way" ION
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17

more amusing things with which to
while away the idle hours"
We have had tense year in Con-
gress," says the St. Louis Post-Dis-
patch, land nothing is more welcome
than congressional comedy. Only
comedy Of the rollicking sort can
tighten the great burden of anxiety
attending every act of Congress at a
time when getting ones hat knocked
of is daily experience. The gro
teSque examination of DR.. Writ by a
congressional committee is exactly
what was needed. DR.. Writ fell in
with a little company at a dinner
party in Virginia. This would have
all have been well enough, but the
good doctor forgot to take his sense
of humor with him"
Now that We all know what DR..
Writ had to tell" AYERS the Wall
Street Journal, 1.-The world will breathe
bit easier. Satellites Of the brain
trust is nothing more and nothing less
than dramatization, in the beautiful
Hollywood manner, of personal dis
agreement among certain lesser ad-
miniStration advisers as to how far
oA4O AAO" 4oSb AA4C County, SIlOulu NC
led toward the left. The conversa-
tional music DR.. Writ heard all OF q
September night in Virginia was no.
body's new world symphony. but only
a tone-poem in diSsonance by a little
group of serious modernists. And vet
it Is possible to maintain that DR..
Writ, at no little cost to himself, has
rendered his country a genuine serv-
ice. If he never speaks Of this again
and that would be a comfort-he will
still have put the soberer among his
compatriots on their guard. not anxi-
ously, but in a confident watchfulness,
against certain probably remote con-
tingencies. But why be solemn about
it when Donald Richberg has so
promptly supplied so delightful a note
of comic relief? To Mr. Richberg, the
failure of DR.. Writ to prove the ex-
tstence of nihilist plot close to the
American throne is of itself convinc-
ing evidence that the league of stuffed
shirts is plotting viciously, and Of
course secretly. against recovery. It is
not communism, not even fascism. but
nothing less than stufflsm that
menaces America today! With that
heroic epilogue let the Writ picture
fade from the screen"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17
The Furlough Goes.

Postal employees throughout the
United States will view with pleasure
the order of Postmaster General Far
ley canceling the payless furlough, eff
fective May !.
Instituted in March. at the rate of
a day per month, the furlough was
designed to hold down expenditures
by $4,000, 900 for the remainder of the
fiscal year. Departmental heads justi-
fed it on the ground of falling busi-
ness and corresponding surplus of
employees; the workers themselves, to
whom it meant a second pay cut, in
asmuch as they were, and are, sub
1ect to the statutory reduction applied
elsewhere, condemned it as imposing
an unnecessary hardship.
At the time the furlough was ap-
piled the Postmaster General prom
ised it would not be carried out in its
entirety If business improved. and
announcement If its revocation was
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17
Deplores Lighting
OF Cherry Blossoms
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
I wonder who is responsible for
this latest attempt to paint the lily"
That Washington's cherry blossom
spectacle should be marred as it is
by the conspicuous presence of equip
ment for night illumination is about
the grossest breach of good taste since
screeching siren during the war
time invited good people to minute
of prayer at the hour of noon. Why
ruin the loneliness of the Tidal Basin
for visitors who see it by day in order
to make brief gariSh spectacle at
night? No one with a scintilla of
artistic appreciation in his makeup
can look upon the present display and
find it satisfying. If night llumina-
ton must be had. borrow portable
Army searchlights which from a dis
lance may provide all the light
needed, but in the name of all that is
esthetic don't create q situation
wherein tin pots on the ground are
more Of an eyeful than are the bios
SONS themselves.
j. MARION SKULL.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17
Excess Profits Tax Viewed as Surest
Way to Bring About Higher Wages

corporations. all having varying de-
grees Of earning power. working I'M
der many of the 600 codes.
With an administrative force OF
half the present N. R. A personnel.
fair return on capital investments
in practically all industries could be
determined. Each industry or firm
would be given a rating of what
would be considered a fair return on
the investment and after a fair re-
turn was realized. If the firm and all
firms within the borders of the United
States and protected BY our present
tariff and money systems, were taxed
at the rate of SO per cent of the
lowered gradually as the wages rose
within the organization. such tax
could be an effective and enforceable
method Of raising wages and bringing
about the more equitable distribution
Of income Such tax could be
made definite and specific and ap-
ply to all firms alike. and no
firm or business man could offer the
excuse that his neighbor or COMPETE
tor was not complying with the code.
Neither would any firm or business
man be asked or compelled to pay
any definite amount of wage or scale,
but would only be subject to tax of
SO Der cent Of his excess profits. un-
less he paid a certain definite wage.
He could have a recognized and fair
return on his capital investment with
out being subject to one cent of tax,
but after he had realized a fair re-
turn, then his tax would start at SO
per cent and would be lowered grad
ually and in proportion to the in
creased wages paid and buying power
contributed through his employees to
the general consuming market.
But, Of course, before there will be
any profits or incomes of any impor-
lance people must be put back to
work and taken off doles. This would
require the expenditure of several
more billions of dollars than has yet
been given. So maybe there is some
thing to Prof. Wirt'S fears of pro-
longing the depression until our pres
ent form of Government can be
changed. H. H. Under.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17
Seeking an Aviation Policy.

In proposing that pending airmail
legislation contain a provision for the
appointment of a commission which
would study and outline broad pol
icy Of aviation development in the
United States the President recog-
niZes a close connection between air.
mail policy and aviation policy as a
whole.
Former Postmaster General Brown,
under his Interpretation of the widely
discretionary powers given him in the
Watres act, adopted one policy of ad-
ministering the airmail subsidies for
development of commercial aviation.
That policy has been repudiated by
the present administration. But the
substitute proposed in the pending
airmail legislation does not promise
any great advantage, to the Govern
ment or to the industry. over Mr..
Browns policy The attempts TO pro-
vide a workable substitute, involving
the temporary and ill-advised use of
the Army Air Corps, have succeeded
up to this time in thoroughly mud
ding the whole business
A commission, such as the Presi-
dent proposes, could at least make q
disinterested study Of how best to en-
courage healthy growth of CONNER
cial and military aviation. The Presi-
dent has found according to the
White House statement explaining his
new proposals, that "the United States
has had no broad aviation policy" and
that the proposed commission can
make an immediate study and rec
ommend to the next Congress a broad
policy covering all phases of aviation
and the relationship Of the Govern
ment thereto"
Many will agree with the President
that the formulation of a definite
policy on aviation by a commission.
which would undoubtedly contain in
its membership experts on aviation. is
vastly preferable to development Of
such a policy under the pressure of
political considerations. And one Of
the main subjects to be studied by
such commission would naturally be
ways and means for a complete di-
vorce from politics of the administra-
ton Of future Government subsidies
to- encourage aviation development.
The commission plan, while it is not
new, always recommends itself be-
cause Of the obvious advantages of
disinterested study.
At the same time, the proposal for
such a commission is another re-
minder of the difficulties experienced
by the administration in discovering
a substitute for the policy followed BY
the previous administration toward
the airmail. Responsible officials have
been anxious to get the Army Air
Corps out of the airmail business as
soon as possible. To this end, Post
master General Farley will open bids
next Friday for temporary contracts
to carry the airmail. These contracts
were to last until the pending airmail
legislation was enacted and a perma-
nent contract method established.
But when the pending legislation is
enacted, the contracts granted there
under will last only for a year "or
until such time as broad policy re-
lating to aviation as a whole is
adopted"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17
Writ Investigation Greeted
With Smiles and Warnings

The press generally smiled at the
testimony of DR.. William A. Writ.
Gary. Ind, educator. before a con-
gressional committee. in which he told
of hearing satellites of the brain
trust" talk of revolution which would
bring a dictator on the stage of ma
tional life. Lack of Importance seems
to be conceded. but number of OBJ
servers take the occasion to voice
warnings against lightly debating
projects which may be considered at
lacks upon the Constitution.
The grave and basic question raised
by DR.. Wirt'S fantastic charges will
remain" in the opinion of the New
York Herald Tribune, which adds
No emergency requires private de-
cision reached by one man for unde-
fined reasons. The country has thus
far gone along with its President
loyalty and truStingly. The time has
come when it is entitled to insist upon
candor and open debate-upon know
ing not only that it is on its way.
but knowing where it is headed and
why"
Somewhat similar views are ex-
pressed by the Toledo Blade, the Oma-
ha World Herald, the Miami Herald,
the Columbus Evening Dispatch. the
Portland, Me-. Press Herald: the New
port News Daily Press, the Akron
Beacon Journal, the Manchester, N. H..
Union: the Gary Post Tribune, the
Cincinnati Times-Star, the Charles
ton. w. Va. Daily Mail, and the
Springfield, Mo, Leader-PreSs.
Conversations such as he de-
scribes." according to the Danbury
News-Times. ARE constantly going on
in thousands of places. There are
thousands who suppose that the
United States is already plunged into
communism, simply because they have
not taken the trouble to know what
communism is. AS for the ideas that
Government is likely to take over
business property, it may be found in
the report of Mr.. Eastman, railroad
co-ordinator. 1t is not improbable
that American railroads may be ma
tionalized. DR.. Writ for the moment
is an object for sympathy"
AS to the practical effect of the
testimony, the Springfield (Mass.)
Republican finds that "it did not con-
firm DR.. Wirt's forecast" That paper
continues: AT all events, the New
York stock market was strong all
day. The leading shares. with the
Writ testimony coming over the wires
into the Stock Exchange as fast as 1t
was delivered. gained from one to two
points. Look over the stock quota
lions and see the plus signs smartly
marching up and down the page
plainly, the stock market could see no
Stain advancing on Washington"
Most Americans" in the opinion
OF the Jersey City Journal, will be
inclined to think there was only a
mirage" while the Roanoke World
News looks upon the matter as farce,
and the Louisville Herald-Post refers
TO 1t as much alo about nothing"
The Nashville Tennessean comments:
"A Virginia dinner party at which DR..
Writ got some views of the larger
members of the brain trust second or
third-hand saw the origin of the train
of events which burst with puny ex-
plosion in the congressional committee
room. Now we can find other and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17

the verge" back in circulation"
"phfft" and similar niceties Of the
Broadway commentators and keyhole
historians. With these and a few
menu selections-"ham an" "corned
beef hash." 'hot dog" "suds," pot
likker" and the hke-a stranger could
manage.
There are nAtive-born citizens who
get along with what would seem to be
only shadowy skeleton Of the Ian
guage which once was adorned by
William Shakespeare.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17

accompanied by the statement that
action was prompted by the now ia
vorable outlook.
The Postmaster Generals order also
holds a satisfactory note for postal
patrons, inasmuch as 1t removes re-
strictions OH service that accompanied
the furlough program.
Through increased service a meas
ur'i of relief is forecast for postal
substitutes. whose meager earnings
were further reduced by the retrench-
ment program.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Little IN Much.

Little IN Much.
When you a statement clear would
make
On matters old or new,
The public feeling to awake,
A sentence short would do
When resentment all intense
Arose 'gainst public sham
The strongest style of .eloquence
Was just an epigram.
But when your heart becomes less
bold;
Your mode of thought less brave,
In paragraphs the world you scold
And next In chapters grave.
Through pages long your words will
reach
When ,utterance is vain.
There is no limit to our speech
In trying to explain.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Q. When was the first song book
printed in this country?-J. F. s.
A. The Bay Psalm Book. printed
In Cambridge, Mass, In l64o. was
with the exception Of an almanac
the nrst book printed in the American
| Colonies. 1t contained words with
out music. The ninth edition. printed
in 1898, contained IS tunes.
O. Who used the nom de plume.
Peter Parley?-R. B.
A. The American author, Samuel
Griswold Aldrich, who lived from l7a3
TO 1860. His books attained great
popularity.
Q. What is a dead-eye on a sailing
vessel?-R. A. B.
A. 1t Is a rounded, fiattish wooden
oiock encircled by q rope on an iron
oand and pierced with holes To re-
celVe the lanyard on a ship. used tn
extend shrouds and stays and for
other purposes.
u In which States do the most In
| dams live?-M. Id
n. Inc number Of Indians in the
united States in 1880 was 340 540
ana, OF the States where there are M
FEDERAL agencies or reservations onIv
three, Maine, Louisiana and Teras
nave an Indian population in excess
OF 900. OF the States having Federal
agencies, the following have the larg-
est populations: Arizona, $4,000:
New Mexico, $4,000: South Dakota,
$4,000, and Oklahoma, $4,000.
Q. How much burglary insurance Is
carried in the United States?-A. w.
A. Over $4,000, O00,O worth OF
protection is carried. The premiums
amount to about $4,000 900 a year.
Q. In the light opera, "Pinafore,
VINO was the admiral who was
parodied2-D. H.
A. In the opera is the character Sir
Joseph Porter. K. c. B., who stuck
close to his desk and never went to
sea" and therefore became ruler of
the queens navee." He was a parody
OF the contemporary first lord Of the
admiralty, William H. Smith. who was
a powerful newspaper publisher with
few practical qualifications for his
task.
Q. How many hospital are there in
the United States?-D. L. N.
A. There are about $3.50 registered,
with a capacity Of over 1,014,350 beds.
@. What is the difference between a
pontoon and float on an airplane?-
P. H.
A. The term pontoon is now obso-
lete. The word float is used 1t is a
completely Enclosed water-tight struc-
ture attached to an aircraft in order
to give it buoyancy and stability when
in contact with the surface of the
water. In float seaplanes the crew is
carried in fuselage, or nacelle, sep
arate from the float.
@. How many fur farms are there in
Canada?-F. S.
A. In 1888 there we're 6298 in op-
GRAFTON. OF these 5,22l were fox farms.
@. Aside from Little America, where
Is the southernmost post office in the
world?-H. w. K
A At the present time the most
southern post office is Ushuaia, Argen-
tina Capital OF TERRA del Fuego).
Q. How many United States minis
were in operation last year?-E <.
A During the fiscal year ended June
30, 1888, 10 mint-service institutions
were in operation-coinage minis at
Philadelphia, San Francisco and Den
yer; assay Office at New York, which
makes large sales of fine gold bars;
minis at New Orleans and Carson City,
conducted as assay Offices. and assay
ofices at Boise, Helena, Seattle and
Salt Lake CITY,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17

Booful Kee Kee is famous. He is
a monkey who bit Maxine Elliott in
the leg. Maxine, who retaliated by
having Booful's teeth pulled, was
orce an actress. She is now 10 years
old and many a good old-time agent
is crashing his teeth as he sees such
splendid piece of natural publicity
copy going to waste.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17

Votes for Washington, D. c., have
long been advocated. The Nations
affairs have progressed to a state Of
completely that leaves little doubt as
to the assistance that might be rem
dered by the silent citizenship that is
so intimately aware of events and
motives in the Nations Capital.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17

@. How old Is the American owned
horse which won second place in the
Grand National Steeplechase at Ain
tree, England, March %. 1934?-L. P.
A. Delaneige, owned by J. B. Snow,
is nine-year-old. This odd name is
a French phrase meaning literally
"of the snow"
O. What are the largest guns?-
M. M. r.
are the three eighteen-inch guns
mounted at Cape Changi, guarding
Great Britain's naval base at Singa
pore. The guns are described as being
So feet long. weighing $50 tons. and
capable Of firing projectiles weighing
$500 pounds.
G. Are religious features popular in
newspapers? On the stages. L.
A. An editorial in Editor and Pub
Usher says: This week the New Yoak
World-Telegram claimed that the re-
cent hitherto unpublished Dickens
Life Of Our Lord" increased its cir
culation more than 10 per cent while
running; other newspapers in the
West reported gains of Is per cent.
King Features Syndicate is now
issuing an interesting new serial on
the story Of the Bible. United Fea-
lures Syndicate Is now offering a po-
litico-religious series by Henry A.
Wallace. Broadway saw two religious
plays this season, one by O'Neill. Re-
hglous matter seems TO be as much in
favor as ever.
@. When was the Folger Shake
speariaE Library opened officially?
II. c.
A. April %, 1882.
@. Can you take up such matters for
individuals as pension claims, Army
records. or personal grievances with
Government departments?-P. E. L.
A. We can do no more than direct
you to the bureau with which you
should correspond Personal matters
can not be handled through this serv-
Ice. General information regarding
the activities of Government depart
ments or concerning their findings
can be secured. Address your question
to this newspapers Information Bu-
reau, Frederic j. Haskin. director.
Washington, D. C. Inclose coin or
stamps for reply postage.
Q. When was Germantown, Pa,
absorbed into Philadelphia?-N. N.
A. 1t was discontinued as a post
office, August %, 1868.
Q. Has the past Winter been more
severe than usual in the United
StateS?-G. F..
A. In some parts Of the United
States 1t has. but taking the country
as whole, it has been warmer and
dryer than normal. The region from
Central Virginia, Central West Vir-
ginia and the Middle Lake region
northeastward is the part Of the coun-
try which has had unusually cold
weather and more snow than normal.
Since the large cities Of Washington,
Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Cleveland, New York and Boston were
affected. a great deal Of publicity was
given to the subnormal temperature
and the attending discomfort.
@. Where was the Isle of Patmos,
to which ST. John retired?-S. P.
A. 1t is in the Aegean Sea and
Is now called Patmo or Patino.
@. What are the principal lines
in which a person can make money
in Alaska w. W.
A. There is very limited pros
pect of employment in Alaska. Gold
mining and fur trapping are two of
the profitable industries of Alaska.
but 1t is only persons Of experience
who are at all likely to succeed in
either type of endeavor.