davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-02-14
Balancing the D. c. Budget.

When the House Subcommittee on
District Appropriations begins its study
of the 1885 estimates, its chief con-
Germ should be the wise expenditure
of available District and Federal reve-
nues on needed local projects-and
not the accumulation of more surplus
local revenues.
The budget estimates, which repre-
sented a reduction below the Com
missioners' estimates, provide only a
nominal increase over current ex-
penditureS. This will leave surplus
revenues in gasoline, water and gen.
eral tax funds. The amount OF the
surplus in the general revenues, how
ever, is largely dependent upon the
policy Of salary restoration decided
upon by Congress. The restoration of
salaries as now proposed will mate
rally reduce the general fund sur
plus that would be available under
budget estimates sent to Congress.
While it is pleasant to speak Of
local tax reduction, the present SyS-
tenn OF appropriating for the District
promises no real relief in that direc-
ton. The expedient Of delaying nee
essary projects involving capital ex-
penditures, and Of crippling necessary
municipal services by material reduc-
ton In maintenance funds, merely
piles up future trouble for the tax
payers. A balanced budget for the
District Of Columbia, for which Con-
gress should strive, would represent
wise expenditure of all the money to
be collected from local taxpayers.
There are many necessary projects
waiting to be financed.
In commenting yesterday on the
District estimates, Mr.. Blanton mad
vertently referred to the lump sum
as $500 900, declaring that that figure,
recommended by the Budget Bureau.
should be retained. The lump sum
appropriated for the current year, and
recommended again by the Budget
Bureau in line with its policy Of not
proposing increased Federal eXpendi.
lures, is $500, ,00O-not $500, 900.
This lump sum should be increased
this year, first, because the now prob
able restoration in part of the salary
reduction will automatically increase
the District budget; second, because
the existing lump sum bears no rea-
Sonable relation to the real obligation
Of the National Government in con-
tributing to Capital maintenance and
upbuilding.
There have been suggestions that
posSibly-available local revenues be
used in beginning construction of the
first unit Of the Municipal Center.
But before another penny of local
revenues Is sunk in this project the
long-deferred guarantees of Federal
participation in its construction
should be made and understood. Local
taxpayers will certainly not agree to
go without necessary school buildings
and libraries and adequate municipal
services in order to spend more money
on the Municipal Center. That would
be the case under present conditions.
The next dollar appropriated for
Municipal Center purposes should
come from the source which designed
it and ordered it built-the Federal
Government, and which Is yet to
share in its expense.
Evening star., 1934-02-14
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Complete Specimen.

Complete Specimen.
The grip germ on his way doth go,
Creating CONSERVATION.
He visits folks he doesn't know
Without an invitation.
He does not play or sing or dance.
He tells no stories clever.
He never sees the slightest chance
For sociable endeavor.
He brings a gloomy atmosphere.
His mood is cold and distant.
He has no taste for friendly cheer,
Yet butts in most persistent.
OF all the bores who circulate
And spread dull care before US
The grip germ, so the experts state,
Is vastly the most borous.
Evening star., 1934-02-14
Courage of Senator Glass
Lauded as Friends Disagree

State" and finds a parallel In the e3-
perience of Senator L. @. G. Lamar,
describing him as "one Of the greatest
figures Of his times" and recalling
an incident in the Senate with the
statement: The money question
then, as now, was at the front. though
in, a different phase, and Mississippi
was Overwhelmingly supporting legiS-
latlon favorable to the white metal,
but Lamar was convinced that his
constituents were in error, and, despite
every appeal. refused to change his
views or vote. A wave of criticism
swept over the State and for q time
his retirement was seemingly certain,
but so strong was the reaction in his
favor, so great the pride of Mississippi
In his talents, character and courage
that he was triumphantly reelected"
For us" ctates the New York Her
aid Tribune, "the single redeeming
feature of an otherwise disgraceful
performance on the part of the legis-
iative branch of the Government last
week was the sturdy fight waged
against the gold bill by the minority
in the Senate under the fiery little
Democrat from Virginia. when we
refer to the episode as 'disgraceful'
We have In mind not so much the
vicious features Of the legislation It
self as the pusillanimity with which
that legislation was accepted, eSpe-
cially in the Lower House. Against
such a background the courageous
action Of such men as Senator Glass
and Senator Gore-the only two Dem
ocratic member Of the Upper House
to vote against the bill-must COM
mend itself to every person who stil
retains his respect for intellectual in
tegrity"
There Is no doubt" AYERS the
Kansas City Times, that these new
dealers have evolved policies that in
their Judgment will be beneficial to
the country as whole and especially
to the wage earners and the farmers,
and that they believe the revolution
ary abandonment Of the old theories
Of economics and finance Is justified
by the great emergency that con-
fronted the country. But there are
many persons, like Senator Glass, who
still believe that idealism and emo
tionaliSn are not safe substitutes for
long recognized principles Of eco
nomics."
Evening star., 1934-02-14
Miss Bentley's Appointment.

Anticipating the vacancy on the
bench of the Juvenile Court to be
caused by the expiration OF Judge
Kathryn Sellers term, q group OF
Washingtonians last Summer under
took the active championship of an
important principle in relation to this
post. Their contention was that the
vacancy should be filled irrespective
of politics; that the appointee should
be qualified not only as provided in
the statute creating the position, but
by social experience and philosophy
as well.
Their efforts were Immediately re-
wsrded by cooperation from the De-
psrtment of Justice, which canvassed
the field Of candidates for the Presi-
dent. and later by the President him
self. The Department of Justice
recommended Miss Fay L. Bentley,
director of school attendance and
work permits, and, 1t is understood,
commended her highly. The Presi-
dent appointed her, although she has
been charged with the high crime Of
being Of the Republican persuasion.
The favorable report on Miss Bent
iey's appointment, which has been
decided upon by the Judiciary Com
nnittee of the Senate, represents q
victory for the Washingtonians who
worked more in behalf Of certain
principles than for any individual.
For Miss Bentley, her many friends
and sponsors believe, possesses the
characteristics, training and qualifi-
cations that should be possessed by a
Juvenile Court judge. In the some
times acrimonious debate over this
appointment she has indicated by her
conduct that she is Immediately
blessed with one of the important at
tributes of Judge, which is dignity.
Evening star., 1934-02-14
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

And it, fortunately, doesn't make
any difference whether the fireplace
Is q huge one, able to take a great
log, or just a small hearth handling
q few pieces of smaller wood.
The IRE Is the thing, especially
during such cold weather as the city
has experienced recently.
Even the best built homes and the
most accurately weather stripped find
the added heat Of the fireplace grate-
full.
Just how the 1iickering flames help
the enjoyment of a book, in a mental
sense, is difficult to explain, but they
undoubtedly do.
From the physical standpoint there
Is bit more light, but of a Pickering
character which, were it stronger,
might not be good for the eyes. II
one sits far enough from the hearth,
as he ought, there will be no danger
from this. There is the added warmth,
but this feature is scarcely enough to
account for the real pleasure OF read
ing by the f1reside.
No, the true enjoyment one derives
is a mental satisfaction barking back
| to the early days of the race long
before there was any reading, In the
modern sense.
Still, it may be believed that man.
kind always wanted to read, even
when it was jumping around in the
trees and walking along on all fours.
That urge was in the race. If it
hadn't been in 1t, it would never have
come out, just as flying would never
| have eYentuated If the desire TO soar
like a bird had not been deeply
planted in humanity.
Writing and reading developed with
the earliest civilizations, but books
we're to come, at least books as we
know them, with type on paper, many
centuries later.
The man who reads by his fireSide
this evening is doing something which
mankind always wanted to do. There
is a satisfaction in that which Is
racial
One Of the finest pictures which
comes down to Americans is that of
the young Lincoln reading on his ell
bows before the log cabin fire.
Whether this is true picture makes
little difference.
The chances are that he did read
so, as uncomfortable a position as it
looks to US who are used TO soft
chairs-and softer beds
They were tough in those days
they had to be tough-and young Abe
| Lincoln probably got more solid COM
| fort out Of his reading position than
many o man does today seated in an
easy chair, warmed by an automatic
device and super-warmed by a roar
ing fireplace.
II the modern reader is sensible,
however, he will not read before q
roaring fire, but before a nice, gentle,
evenly burning one.
Such q wood fire requires less at
/ tention, is easier on the eyes in every
way, gives all the added stimulus of
this age-old form Of heating and
above all fits in better with the gen.
/ tie art Of reading.
| Reading is, after all, the gentle art.
Every man with a book In his
hand and his head slightly bowed Is
the Thinker.
Whether he thinks much or little,
whether he tries to think with his
book or whether he lets the book dc
| it all, he is the Thinker
We are so used TO books that the
old pride of achievement is almost
lost TO US in reading, but every reader
ought to permit himself 10 catch a
view of himself, at least occasionally,
as the Thinker Of the statue-man at
! one of his bests.
Evening star., 1934-02-14

transatlantic flights from Germany to
South America
@ When did John Bunyan vrits
Pilgrims ProgreSs"?-O M. D.
A. Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress" was
published in February, 1887. Il is
now generally supposed that he wrote
1t during a short period Of imprbon.
ment in 1875 and not during the
twelve years that he spent In the old
jail at Bedford.
@. How much money did autono-
bile drivers spend for gasoline in
1933?-E. F.
A. Including taxes, the retail value
OF the gasoline consumed by motor
vehicles in 1888 was s2,227OOo,o 900.
@. Who was the founder Of hom-
eopathy?-J. H.
A. Samuel Christian Hahnemann
was the founder of the homeopathic
system. This German physician was
born at Nielsen, Germany, April 10,
1755,. and died at Paris, July 2, 1s43.
In IT'S ne went 10 Leipzig and stud
led medicine. At a later period he
went to Vienna After some years he
returned and completed his studies at
Arlangen. He afterward practiced
medicine at different places He re-
mained at Hofrath until 1888, when
he proceeded to Paris.
@. Please give the name Of a book
which tells about the pirate, Capt.
Rooerts-E. G. r.
A. His life and exploits are to be
found in the Pirates Who's Who"
and in the History of the Pirates" by
Philip Gosse.
@. Who persuaded the Trojans 10
take the wooden horse into the city2
r. c. T.
A. The false tale is attributed to
Sinan, a willy Greek.
@. Is it true that only one person
survived the destruction of st. Pierre
in the eruption of Mont Pelee in
1902?-J. S. G.
A. Two Negroes survived-Auguste
Ciparis, who at the time was con-
fined in the city jail, and a shoe
maker named Leon Compere- -Leandre.
The city had population Of 10000.
@. Who we're the Fenians?-J. T.
A. Fenian. or Fenian Society, is a
popular name for the Irish Republic
Brotherhood, or I. r. B. a political
association Of Irish Americans or
ganized for the overthrow Of British
authority In Ireland and the eStsb-
ishment of a republic The name
was derived from fam" a COM
pany Of legendary warriors In Ire
land under the leadership Of the
mythical hero, Finn MacCumaiI. The
modern Fenian movement, adopting
the name Of the ancient military as
sociation. had its first seat among
the Irish population in America,
which had largely increased since the
great famine and exodus Of 1846 to
l847. The society was founded in
this country by John O'Mahoney In
1858. The principal object Of the
brotherhood was to supply money and
arms to the Irish cause, and in this
country the ability to bear arms was
not a necessary qualification. The
establishment Of the Irish Free State
removed the reason for existence Of
the brotherhood, and 1t is now prac-
tically extinct.
@. How old was Paul Revere when
he rode on the midnight alarm"7-
w. D.
A. He was forty.
Evening star., 1934-02-14

Has the reader-the reader who
reads everything-read all his Christ
mas books yet?
One of the finest things about hav-
ing received books as Christmas pres
ents Is the Winter weather.
Cold Is not good for much except
this.
Medical men tell us that extremes
Of weather help the system build up
its defensive mechanism, but SUBJ
zero weather, especially in and near
Washington, is not to the average
liking.
One good thing It does, however, is
keep many people home, where they
may read the long evenings through.
4 + 4
II is a true pleasure, maybe just a
little more SO at this time of year
than any other, to take down from
the shelf book one opens with an
ticipation then.
The ideal place, In fact and story,
for Winter reading is by the fireside,
where cracking logs send up their
dancing flames, their showers Of
sparks, their wreaths OF cloud.
A wonderful place for reading it is,
too, but there are others. Bed, for
instance. Reading in bed Is a habit
with some persons, with great many
others something to be Stunned.
Such reading is held by some to
denote a certain lethargy not exactly
connected with an up and doing hu-
man being.
One may feel, however, that they
are vastly mistaken in this belief.
Mankind originally went on all
fours. There must have been a band
OF griStle running along the neck to
hold it up high, in the forward posi-
ton, so that the eyes would not look
at the ground.
During the millions Of years re-
quired to enable man to go in the
upright position as a matter of course
this elastic neckband became lost to
humanity. Never once, however, not
even now, did man wholly overcome
the downward pull OF gravity.
Many diseases are caused by the
position Of walking on two feet,
rather than going on all-fours, as a
proper animal should. and mostly
does.
1t is a good thing for any one, doc
tors tell us, to give himself rest in
bed, now and then, irrespective Of
how many hours he may spend in
sleep.
This rest may be achieved in small
doses at night before the regular
retiring time.
The advantage Of reading In bed Is
that one may stretch out at full
length in bed on the back, permitting
all the organs to assume their tradi-
tional proper positions, in so far as
they may.
There Is no temptation to curl up
in ball, as so many persons do while
asleep.
The chief difficulty experienced by
the average reader is in getting the
head and neck in comfortable posi-
ton, SO that there Is no cramping.
A natural position for the head may
be secured by the use Of pillows which
permit the head to be raised to q
point where the page may be seen
easily but where the neck Is not I'M
duly stretched.
This attitude may be found easily
and may be varied, from time to time
by lying on the side and placing the
book fat on the bed.
Those who complain Of difficulty Of
reading in anything except q chair
usually try to make the process toe
uniform.
y 4 =
By the fireside, however, Is un-
doubtedly as good place as any.
Evening star., 1934-02-14
A Fair Revision.

From the Sioux Falls ArguS-Leader.
The Agricultural Adjustment Ad-
ministration has ruled that in drought
areas l0-year production average In
stead Of a 5-year average will be en-
ployed In determining corn allotmentS.
This Is only fair. The flve-year
basis would have worked sharply
against the interest of South Dakota,
because In two Of the past five years
corn production here has been far be-
low par and in another one IL has
been considerably below normal.
The 10-year basis will provide a
better average. giving an opportunity
to spread the bad years among some
good years.
The basis for this determipation is
all-importalt. The original figure Of
five years would have been satiSfac-
tory in event Of normal production.
But the crop year Of 1893 was the
worst in the history Of South Dakota,
with the crop year Of 1881 virtually In
second place.
Evening star., 1934-02-14
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

nomics in DR.. Nicholas Murray But
ler's vast educational plant on Morn
ingside Heights.
~
Although he happens to be In
America on leave at the moment,
George H. Earle, Sd, American Min
lister to Austria, probably considers
current events in Vienna and vicinity
good trainging for the experiences he
faces at home this year. He has just
been designated as prospective Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor of Penn
sylvania, where one of the hottest
campaigns of the year is taking shape.
Mr.. Earle's Vienna post is his first
diplomatic job He Is sugar refiner,
halls from Devon, Pa, and was an
undergraduate at Harvard when he
left college in 1915 to serve through
out the war in both the Army and
Navy. Minister Earle, an original
F. r. b. c. is one of our younger non
career diplomats, being in his 44th
year.
One Of the undeniable anomalies
Of this super-Democrati era is the
fact that the United States Tariff
Commission is still rs per cent Re-
publican. OF the four present mem
berS, only Vice Chairman Thomas
Walker Page Of Virginia Is Demo-
crat. Chairman Robert L. O'Brien of
Massachusetts, and Commissioners
Edgar B. Broussard Of Utah and John
Lee Coulter of North Dakota are Re-
publicans. The presumption all along
has been that two vacancies on the
commission would eventually be filled
by President Roosevelt with desery-
ing Democrats. Another thought has
been that the commission might be
cut down from six to three mem
bers.
Senator Borah, after whom the
United States Geographic Board has
just renamed Idaho's tallest noun
tain, Borah Peak, now takes rank
with other eminent Americans sim
ilarly immortalized. Among those for
whom mountains are named are Lin
coln,' Mckinley, Foraker, Blackburn,
| Quincy Adams, Whitney, Rainier,
L AhNs AAAV Val oO4ig OA4OAAAdAAy SoIA4CA OA4s
Long, Stewart, Langley and Muir
High peaks have also been christened
Princeton, Yale and Harvard. There's
a 14,000-footer In Colorado called
Democrat.
One of the arguments advanced by
some Wall Street SpokeSmen against
the proposed drastic law to regulate
stock exchanges Is that 1t might cut
the brokerage industry exactly in half
II the Fletcher bill should be enact
ed into law as it now stands. Along
with so per cent reduction in busi-
ness, these authorities claim, there
would be corresponding decrease In
office space, employees and equipment.
| X X
Former Representative Ruth B.
Pratt, Republican, of New York, a
victim of the 1892 Roosevelt land
slide, has just resumed public activi-
| ties as national chairman Of the Fine
Arts Foundation, new organization
to promote appreciation of native
American art and to care for desti-
tute artists. The plan is to raise
$1,000 in three years by public sub
tCopyright. 1e34)
Evening star., 1934-02-14

Lincoln's birthday, by all the signs
OF the political zodiac, echoed to the
barks Of the opening guns in the Re
publicans' campaign to fight their way
out of the wilderness. Pretty much all
over the country leaders OF high or
low degree were in action. In the
East, honors were divided among Ma
.ional Chairman Everett Sanders, Sem
ator L. J. Dickinson Of Iowa, Repre-
sentative James M. Beck of Pennsyl-
vania, former Tariff Commission
Chairman Henry P. Fletcher, also OF
Penn State and former Secretary OF
Agriculture, Arthur NJ. Hyde. With
Lincoln as their inspiration the
various G. o. P. orators preached
the gospel that the hour has now
come for the party to function as
an organization of constructive op-
position an dabandon q supine de-
featist role. Few Lincoln day ut
terances rang with militant confidence
that the Democratic stronghold can
be stormed at this time with any
thrilling prospect Of success. But the
spirit of fight was manifest and q
consensus that there is no virtue, and
less salvation, in continuously taking
;hings lying down. Most OF the speech
es keynoted by inference that Repub-
licans will from now on rally round
the constitutional flag and unfurl
that banner as the one likely to carry
most appeal to the electorate.
- 4
To teach the 5000 employees OF the
Federal immigration and naturallza-
ton service politeness and good humor
along with efficiency is the purpose
of a course of education just In
augurated by Daniel w. Mccormack,
Secretary of Labor Perkins commits
sioner Of immigration and naturaliza-
ton. Henceforward q series oil
weekly lectures. prepared by Col
Mccormack, will be read to officials
in the % immigration districts. They
direct members of the service to look
upon themselves, when dealing with
newcomers to our shores, as "amoas-
sadors of good will, as well as guar
dams Of the gate" Oflcials are
ordered to cultivate the value OF a
smile and the art of tempering tech
nical accuracy with justice and
| humanity" The same consideration
must be shown to aliens as to cit
liens. Col. MacCormack is q banker
hy profession and a born Scotsman
He Joined the Army during the Phil
ippine insurrection. During the Worlc
War the colonel was in the Army
transport service and later member
of the American peace mission tc
| Russia.
Another promotion for merit in the
! foreign service is the appointment of
George S. Messersmith, consul genera
at Berlin, to be minister to Uruguay
Pennsylvania by birth and educator
by profession, he has spent 20 years
in the consular service, from which he
is now promoted to the diplomatic
branch. Mr.. MesSersmith bore the
| brunt of the controversies, which
washington has had with the Hitler
government over recurring Nan av'
tacks on American citizens.
When Prof. Rex G. Tugwell rose Il
address the big alumni luncheon al
Columbia University this week he be-
gan by saying: 1T feels good to bt
back home again. There are evidently
lot of people who think it might
have been better If I'd never left
home" The Assistant Secretary OF
Agriculture, now universally rated
Brain Truster No. I. came to the new
deal directly from his chair Of eco