davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-02-16

sports q Phi Beta Kappa key, won at
Amherst. The White House corre-
spondents, who are about 300 strong,
will hold their annual dinner on
March 8. President Roosevelt will at
tend. The affair will partake for him
Of the nature of a first anniversary
in the White House.
President Roosevelt has won a be-
lated victory on his old stamping
grounds at Albany. In 1881 the Gov
ernor sponsored the nomination OF
Owen D. Young, Democrat, for mem
bership on the Board of Regents of
the University of the State Of New
York. The @. o. p, being in COM
mand Of both Houses OF the Legisla-
ture, defeated Young and elected a
Republican. This week the Senate
and Assembly elected Mr.. Young a
regent, to I'LL vacancy. The Re
publicans still control the Joint ses-
sion at Albany, but decided this time
to support Young unanimously.
Senator Arthur Capper, Republican.
OF Kansas now adds to his numerous
distinctions the fact that he is the
only member Of Congress whose pri-
vate home is a fllll-fledged broadcast
Ing station. The Senator's newspaper
publications at Topeka own station
WIBW and, as his handsome residence
Is untenanted, he decided to equip 1t
for radio purposes. Fully furnished
with the most modern paraphernalia,
it has just begun operations in its new
guise. The Capper home In its day
was the scene of notable hospitality.
President Harding was entertained
there on his fateful trip through the
West In 1928. The house stands Just
across the street from former Vice
President Curtis home. The Senator
has reserved a room or two for his
private occupancy when he is back
home and of congressional duty.
Banker Melvin A. Traylor's passing
at Chicago, after a losing fight with
pneumonia, removes within the Pc
riod Of a year the second leading
Democrat Of Illinois, the other hav-
ing been the late Mayor Tony Ger
max. Traylor never took very seri-
ously his 1882 presidential boom, al
though he permitted himself to be
groomed as a favorite son. Nor were
his reported chances to be Secretary
of the Treasury in the Roosevelt
cabinet ever very strong. He did
not hold an F. r. B. C. degree. Had
Traylor lived, his friends were con-
hdent he would some day have de-
Veloped into presidential timber.
4 + y Il
Civil service status is sought by the
2,007 postal workers who carry spe-
cial delivery letters throughout the
country. Through the chairman of
their organization, the National As
sociation of Special Delivery Messen-
gers, they have just petitioned Con-
gress to be granted the civil service
rating held by other employees of the
Post Office Department.
(copVright. 1934.)
Evening star., 1934-02-16
An Important Issue.

Broadly speaking, the point OF law
involved in Mr.. MacCracken's attempt
to escape trial by the Senate for
contempt is the right of Congress to
inflict punishment "as punishment"
after the commission of the COM
pleted act on which Judgment Is
rendered. The Senate, acting as
Judge and jury, has decided it can
infict punishment "aS punishment
which is distinct from the punishment
that might be visited upon a witness,
for instance, should he definitely as
sumo an attitude, by refusal to testify
or produce documents, that would
impede the process Of legislation. The
point was urged in the hearing on
the habeas corpus writ by which Mr..
MacCracken sought release from the
Senate'S warrant Of arrest, but the
writ was dismissed. The point will
doubtless be urged again in the course
of Mr.. MacCracken's appeal from the
Senate sentence.
Regardless of how the courts may
rule on Mr.. MacCracken's appeal, the
Senate's vote on his guilt and on his
Jail sentence is indication in itself Of
the importance of the issue involved.
This vote was divided on partisan
lines. Every Democrat voted Mac
Cracker guilty, and the Democrats
were joined by nine Republicans and
the Farmer-Laborite. The twenty
who voted for his acquittal were Re-
publicans. Had the vote been split,
so that some of the keen legal au-
thorities who happened to be Demo-
Gratis had voted for acquittal, or had
more of the keen legal authorities
who happen to be Republicans voted
for conviction, it could be argued
that the Senate was voting as court.
But the vote was obviously partisan.
The freedom of no man should be
placed in jeopardy on partisan
grounds.
The safer method, in assurance of
Justice, would be reference of the case
to the courts, as was done with Harry
Sinclair. For if the Senate and House
can commit men to jail for contempt,
acting not only " judges but I"
Evening star., 1934-02-16
Japanese Not
Unlike Americans

To the Editor Of The Star:
have read your editorial in Sun
days Star entitled Retroactive Trea-
son in Japan" In it you undertake
to make out that the Japanese are
very peculiar people.
1t occurs to me that analysis Of
this situation, plus q little imagina-
Aon regarding customs in monarch
ical country, would lead one to q
quite different result. After living In
Japan for some IL years have found
japanese to be SO much more like
than unlike Americans that such dif-
ferences are of little importance.
Suppose that a cabinet member
here was under fire for something,
say mail or Army contracts, and it
became known that even several
years ago he had published a book
clarifying Benedict Arnold and all
that he stood for. Do you imagine
that fact would have no weight and
that 'his usefulness to the Govern
ment'' would not also 'Fbe destroyed'2
He, too, would have to go"
Even in America patriotism-loyalty
to the American ideal-might be
called g. species Of brass works-that
Is dangerous to monkey with
When the two nations do appear
to be In a mood to suspect each other
it appears to me that a newspaper
at the Nations Capital should aim at
enlightenment regarding our rivals
rather than further the fable about
"inscrutable Asiatics."
D. H. BUCHANAN.
Evening star., 1934-02-16
Fees for Naturalization
And Return of Filipinos
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
On February the House Of Rep
reSentativeS had two bills under con-
sideration, neither of which appears
to be OF major Importance; but they
seem TO indicate q trend Of Senti-
ment in the House immigration Com
mittee and just what is meant by the
So-called humane policy"
The first of these bills which was
passed by the House proposes to rs-
duce naturalization fees by so Per
cent; the other which was passed over
proposes to appropriate Government
funds TO enable some $4,000 Filipinos
to return to the Philippine Islands.
These Filipinos are anxious to re-
turn voluntarily if the Government
will pay their travelling expenses. 1t
was stated that the Department OF
Labor approved these bills.
One of these bills reduces the fees
which the Government may collect:
the other appropriates funds for the
taxpayers to pay. Both bills are
favorable TO immigrants, but un.
favorable to taxpayers.
The Government Is resortinE to
every recourse TO increase wages and
commodity prices. Taxes are 10 be
increased to pay q staggering public
debt. Yet contrary to the spirit OF
the time, the House committee feels
that the price of citizenship should
be cheapened.
No one objects to these Filipinos
returning home, for while they remain
mere they must be supported by
charity or else supplied with Jobs
under the civil works program. But
what one cannot understand is why
we should be expected to allow them
TO come here in the first place, and
then pay their expenses when they
want to go home.
Our quota law should apply to Inn
migration from the Western HemI-
shere, including the Philippine Is
lands, as well as to immigration from
Europe. Some of the members stated
in debate that they had been trying
to get hearings on bills, such as would
exclude all immigration for a mum.
Der OF years, but that the House COM
mittee had blocked such hearinxa.
p, WILSON.
Evening star., 1934-02-16
M. Doumergue Goes to Work.

Fortified by an overwhelming vote
of confidence in the Chamber of
Deputies on an initial test of strength,
the cabinet of Premier Doumergue
embarks upon its heavy task of gov-
erning France at an hour that is
perilously troublous The Austrian
Socialist revolution is crushed, but
the international aftermath, which Is
sure to ensue, conjures up disquieting
possibilities. Italy is reported to be
mobilizing with a view to interven-
ton in Austria if the German NaH
menace threatens to become a tam
gible one. The French would hardly
remain quieScent If Mussolini moved
to defend Austria.
Franco German relations are tense
again. The Doumergue government,
in a firm note made public yesterday,
virtually slams the door to further
arms talk between Paris and Berlin.
The French now officially charge
that the Reich has rearmed beyond
treaty provisions, which can no
longer be taken as basis of dis
armament discussions" France de-
clareS categorically that negotiations
are useless amid GermanyS demand
for "rearmament" Thus Is brought
to an impasse the protracted effort
to find ground for agreement on
Germany's aspiration to be allotted
an army Of 100000 troops-thrice the
Versailles imit-and defensive equip
ment. M. Doumergue and his col
leagues have promptly justified popu-
lar expectations that their access to
power would mean a new and strong
French attitude toward German arms
pretenSions. That attitude unfortu-
nately does not advance the contro-
versy toward a settlement, but it at
least clears the air. There is no
longer any doubt where France stands.
She is uncompromising.
In the midst of all these continental
Hcissitudes, the Doumergue govern
ment has not hesitated to risk a trade
war with Great Britain. Quotas and
tariffs which both countries have been
invoking against each other have
brought matters to the pitch Of open
conflict. The British have imposed a
twenty per cent retaliatory duty on
French imports, alleging that France
has recently made import discrimina-
tions in favor Of the United States
and Belgium. The House Of Commons
last night by a substantial vote sup
ported the governments program to
bring the French to terms through
tariff reprisals.
Just what the world is destined to
see emerging from the European CAL
dron it is battling to conjecture. The
ingredients for strife are varied and
omnipresent. Craftsmanship Is on
trial as it has not been since the
supreme crisis and folly Of 1914. And
in the thick Of 1t stands Premier Dou-
mergue and his an-star cabinet at
Paris.
Evening star., 1934-02-16
Police Should Be Called
AT Once in Kidnapings

To the Editor Of The Star:
1t has been proposed that the pay
ment of q ransom to kidnapers be
penalized on the ground that such
payment constitutes the compound
ing of a felony, 1t Is my belief that
the enactment of such legislation
would be ineffective 1t Is difficult
to conceive Of any jury convicting the
father or relative of the victim in
responding to the most instructive and
deepest emotions man is capable Of
exercising. And yet the thought be-
hind this idea rightly recognizes the
essential that the community's safety
is above that Of the individual, even
in this most heinous Of offenses.
My own suggestion would be to have
the authorities participate in the ap-
prehension of the kidnapers by taking
active steps Immediately upon receiv-
ing news of the abduction. That
would prevent negotiations between
the ranSomers and the abductors from
being effective. because the authori-
ties must remain in the background
and be non-participants If the ne
gotiationS are to be conducted at all.
The history Of all recent cases proves
that. The first thing asked by the
family of the victim is the removal
of police activity so that Conference
may proceed without molestation and
for the safety of the criminals.
1t would appear, then, that direct
and immediate action by the suthori-
ties, in accordance with the theory
Of operation inherent in police activ-
ity, is all that is necessary in almost
all cases to accomplish the proposed
result. The effect of this course would
be to stop negotiations, because they
cannot be conducted in the presence
of Gordon of police, although such
course would be agonizing to the fam
lily of the victim, and call for the
utmost sympathy of the public. But
1t would be almost death to the
most cruel and profitable Of rack
eteering ventures.
WILLIAM I. WYMAN.
Evening star., 1934-02-16
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

A. They refer to courses In the
four fields Of orientation-the hu-
manities, the social sciences. the
physical sciences and the biological
sciences.
@. Who was Irving Beriin's first
wife?-E. r.
A. She was Dorothy Goetz of New
York City, who died in 1918.
@. How does Communion Of st.
Jerome" rank and how much did the
artist receive for it?-E. S. N.
A. Domenichino received about $50
for the painting, regarded by some
critics as second only to Raphael's
TRANSPORTATION" THE Communion
Of st. Jerome" was painted in 1914.
@. What can be done 10 replace
the top soil which has been lost
by eroSion?-E. w. B.
A. The Bureau of Chemistry and
Soils says that nothing can be done
Immediately to bring back the top
soil that has been lost. The process
Of formation Of top soil is a long and
complicated one Of bringing up from
the subsoil proper plant food, and a
good fertile top soil requires as long
as 400 years to be formed For this
reason and since the use Of fertilizer
on soil is not sufficient to create q
good top soil Immediately, soil erosion
is very serious, and the bureau Is
carrying on an extensive campaign to
prevent it.
O. Do Egyptians stin munmify
their dead?-L. B.
A. Modern Egyptians do not mum
nifty their dead in the ancient man
ner. This practice was continued In
Egypt from 1900 BIC TO the seventh
century AID, and seems to have
fallen gradually into disuss.
@. Why didn't aviators use para
chutes during the World War;
A. During the last days Of the
World War, in 1918, German aviators
frequently used them, but after the
war little was done to complete the
use Of parachutes until the year 1921.
At this time British and American
aviators began working upon a para
chute which could be carried con.
veniently by pilot. It was obvious
| that the old style balloon parachutes
were too cumbersome TO carry in air.
planes.
@. How much water does an oyster
| take in each hour?-N. r.
A. The Bureau Of Fisheries SAYS
that the optimum temperature for
activity In oysters is between as
and 30 Centigrade. A healthy adult
oyster three to four inehes long, at q
temperature Of about 25' C.-that is,
| TT Fahrenheit-may take in water
at the rate OF 5000 cubic centimeters
/ per hour (over quarts). This Is
fthe maximum figure frequently OBJ
served during oyster-feeding expert.
/ ments.
Q. What is the House Of Dayid"1-
c. E.S.
A. The House of David has head
| quarters at Benton Harbor, Mich
This organization is a Christian evan
gelical sect, and the members call
themselves Israelites. It was founded
in 1908 by Benjamin" at Benton
Harbor. The colony owns land and
conducts agricultural operations. The
sect has a branch in Australia, for.
merly known as the John Wros
Church.
Evening star., 1934-02-16
Local Jobs and Patronage.

Last Friday the Commissioners,
with some elation, made known the
fact that the inspectors and clerical
personnel Of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board were to be chosen in
conformity with the agreement with
the Civil Service Commission and
that they would be selected from the
commissions list of eligibles as pro-
Vided in that agreement.
That announcement, it is now in
Hicated, may have been little pre-
mature. There have been confer
snceS at the White House and 1t Is
common knowledge at the District
Building that great pressure is being
brought to bear upon the Commits
Eioners to make these positions avail
able to patronage dispensers. 1t can
only be hoped that the Commissioners,
backed by q President who believes
in the merit system, will be able to
stand firm in their resolve to apply
the merit system in the selection Of
the liquor board personnel.
It has been said that the Depart
nent of Justice will be asked to check
the past records and qualifications Of
ell those chosen as liquor board in
spectorS. That is an excellent pre-
caution. But it should in no way in
terfere with the selection of eligibles
from the civil service registers whose
final appointment would depend upon
the Department Of Justice examina-
ton of their records.
Recent appointments to positions
In the District government have been
given to persons from the States,
whose qualifications are not in dis
puts and who will doubtless justify
the claims Of their sponsors. At the
same time, the positions To which
Evening star., 1934-02-16

@. How many commercial radio
operators are there in this country?-
L. z. B.
A. The Department Of Commerce
says that there were 1880 CONNER
cial radio operators on January J.,
1884. The radio field Is somewhat
overcrowded.
@. How do sales Of new secur-
ties compare with previous years2-
A. D. M.
A. The monthly average last year
was SOL ,068,000. In 1929 the monthly
average was $966,014,OOO, or more
than ten times as great.
@. What musical instrument is the
most popular in Russia2-P. c. r.
A. It is reported that the &C
Gordon Is the most popular with the
masses.
@. Where did bantam fowls orig
inate2-F. D. D.
A. They are believed to have orig
mated in Bantam. Java: hence the
name.
@. What city is known as the Pitts
burgh Of the South?-H. r.
A. Birmingham, Ala.
@. How many rifle clubs are there
In the United States?-E. S.
A. There are in the United States
and territorial possessions 2,726 sor-
ganized rife clubs ranging in mem
bership from 10 to 1000. OF this
number 293 clubs are In high schools,
S6 In colleges and S33 in Summer
camps.
@. What Is the rule regulating
apartment heat in Chicago?-T. NJ.
A. The city ordinances require
landlords to provide heat at 8 mini
mum temperature Of 80 degrees by
$50 am, IS degrees by 1880 am.
and SO degrees by $50 am. and
thereafter until 1890 pm.
Q. How many questions should q
person ask in one letter?-I. D.
A. II the questions pertain to one
subject, three or four may be IN
cluded. Otherwise 1t Is better to
write separate letters, as 1t causes de-
lay in passing the letter from one de-
partment to another. Address your
letter to this papers Information
Bureau, Frederic ]. Haskin, Director
Washington, D. c., including a stamp
for reply.
@. Is a melodeon the same as q
spinet?-G. S.
A. A melodeon Is a type Of organ
and Spinet is an early form Of the
| piano.
@. Who Is the champion horseshoe
| pitcher?-C. NJ.
A. Theodore Allen, Alhambra, Calf.
won the international championship
July /. 1888, in a tournament al
A Century Of Progress, Chicago.
@. Which Is older, the Society Of
the Cincinnati or Tammany Hall?-
z. v. r.
A The Society Of the Cincinnati
Is older. The Sons Of st, Tammany
was organized soon after as a riva
/ by elements who regarded the Gin
cinnau as too domineering.
@. Is Somerset Maugham, the nov
elist and playwright. related to the
British jurist Of that name?-M H.
A. Lord Justice Of Appeal Vaughan
Is brother of the novelist.
@. What are meant by orientatior
courses in colegeS?-E. ?.
Evening star., 1934-02-16
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

A Peculiar Fact.
Like Gesler, Wales has raised a hst
OF antiquated shape,
And Fashion mutely bows to that,
Because it can't escape.
And, pictured in ancestral homes,
Like modern girls, appears
A gentle, winsome dame who combs
Her hair behind her ears.
In paradoxical distress
We are compelled to say
The newest-fashioned people dress
The oldest-fashioned way.
Evening star., 1934-02-16

they were called could obviously have
been filled by local citizens, identified
with this community. If positions in
the municipal government are to be
regarded as plums for patronage
seekers, the dangers OF inefficient
government, expensive and unjust to
local taxpayers, are obvious. The
Commissioners will be supported by
Washingtonians in any and all efforts
they make to keep the system of Sc
lecting municipal personnel as free
from political considerations as pos
sible. The liquor board appoint
ments will be watched with great in
terest as a test of their ability to
do so.
Evening star., 1934-02-16
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES 3. TRACEWELL.


Of plants, but, even more, of beauty in
action.
Growth Is action, and when it en-
compasses beauty, it becomes super
charged with the vitality Of creation.
So you will see red-faced executives
with that healthy, outdoor look, seated
at immense desks, coming flower
catalogues at this time Of year.
You will see proverbial pale clerks,
you will see housewives, leaders of
society, and a multitude of unnamed
persons, all thumbing over the bright
ly colored pictures and the almost as
colorful descriptions.
A movement was begun, several
years ago, to cut down on the super
lative in such notes, but how can one
not be enthusiastic?
A flower, almost any flower, is such
bright thing, endowed by Nature
with transcendent eye appeal.
One may be glad that the move
ment died of its own momentum.
Here we have the description Of a
new calendula-and not by its creator.
either:
New and very attractive. It's
golden yellow petals are broad and
arranged rather loosely, though very
double. Stems are nice and long with
good substance, making it exception
ally good for cut flower work. Plant
grows about inches taller than other
types"
But where shall one stop?
The beauty of these books IS that
every item is interesting, If one is
interested in the first place.
Carnation, Snapdragon, pansy, petu-
mia, salpiglosSis, aster, calliopsis-
are novelties" as the new things are
called, in all Of these, and more.
Gardener. what Of the old?
Here are Zinnias, in different types,
marvelously changed from the old
brick-red creations familiar to the
gardeners Of yesteryear.
There are giants, balloons, minia-
ture or pompoms, scabiosa- -flowered
and dahlia- a-fiowered zinnias.
The desire to describe some flower
in terms Of another hes deep in the
mind and heart Of every scotsman,
evidently.
II he can Hken 8 dahlia to a peony,
and peony to a dahlia, he calls it q
pretty good days work.
Nor Is this as foolish as 1t sounds.
Well-known garden flowers are so dis
tiuctive, each in its own way, that
those really familiar with them read
lily detect these resemblances, and in
variably are pleased with them.
Nature has permitted man to take
hand In breeding her floral crea-
tions, just as she has with animals
and fishes.
Man has been able to create varia-
tions which would do Nature herself
credit.
Entire gardens may be grown from
EinnlaS now, with cnc3 effect.
This column, many years ago. gave
list of 10 varieties of zinnias and
| more than so varieties of petunias
then listed by a single seed house.
Since that time many OF the varieties
have been dropped, owing to the de-
preston, but many may be secured
still. One catalogue this year pre-
Sents q plan for zinnia garden, using
many kinds, colors and heights. This
particular garden is 20 by 80 feet, but
1t could be any size as well. 1t would
be improved by tall birdbath In the
center. While zinnias will grow al
most any place, they grow best In full
sun, and with plenty of good ferti-
lizer. Watering should be at least
once q week, and made thorough, with
care taken to put the water on the
earth around the plants, not on the
| leaves or stalks,