davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-05-21
Mr.. Metzerott Explains
Rent Control Testimony
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
In your news article Of May II con-
cerning the public hearings on the
Ellenbogen rent control bill a portion
Of my testimony is quoted in such a
way as to distort its meaning and
purpose and as q result Is not quite
fair to me. I am sure this was not
done Intentionally. This is not, there
fore. intended to be complaint. but
rather an explanation of my attitude.
I was not present as voluntary
witness. but was there under sum-
mons from the committee. and as ]
am neither a landlord nor a tenant
| and have no grievance against either
group, individually or collectively, 1t
Is fair to assume that my testimony
represented only my personal views
without bias. All other witnesses, with
the possible exception of the gentle
man representing the Federation of
Citizens Associations. had personal
interest in the passage or defeat Of
the legislation.
The chairman of the committee
definitely stated at the outset that
was present at his request. and ex-
planned that I did not care to testify
as to present conditions, but would
confine myself to conditions as they
existed during the life of the former
Rent Commission, the difficulties en-
countered in successfully administer
ing the law, and my opinion as to the
necessity for certain provisions in any
new law in order to make its ad-
ministration successful. I did not
advocate or oppose the enactment of
any rent legislation, but stated that If
there is to be legislation on the sub
ject it should be based upon the ''po-
lice power" and not upon emergency.
I stated that while the refusal to
allow landlords to evict their tenants
would constitute very drastic legisla-
ton did not believe that law regu-
lating rents could be successfully ad-
ministered without some such pro-
vision. 1t seems to me that this is
quite different from saying. as you
quoted me without qualification, "he
favored the proposal to deny land
lords the right to evict tenants with
out first securing the permission of a
rent commission"
During the war period the Govern
ment built an extensive group of
structures near the Union Station
Plaza, which it rented to its employees.
Recently there has been mention Of
the introduction in Congress of similar
legislation. as well as legislation to
provide Government housing for
Senators, Representatives and legisla-
tive employees. Might it not be we'll
to consider which is the lesser of two
evils-regulation of rents or Govern
ment competition?
Money flowed freely into the de-
velopment of public utilities during
regulation, but it is panic stricken in
its efforts to get away from the New
Deal competition in the utility field.
OLIVER METZEROTT.
Evening star., 1935-05-21
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON

Mechanism.
A certain gentle fancy
Has been manifest of late
For the music necromancy
Now considered out of date.
When the lights are bright and cheer
ing,
Mid a festival array,
I wish I could be hearing
That old hand organ play.
Mussolini comes to prof1er
Some announcements very great
But no Verdi comes to offer
To revise and orchestrate.
We have machine guns nearing,
Bombing planes are on their way,
But instead I'd fain be hearing
That old hand organ play.
Evening star., 1935-05-21
Banking Bill Is Promised
Rough Handling in Senate

Passage of the banking bill by the
House Of Representatives brings COM
ment in the press that the fight over
this measure will be more spectacular
In the Senate. 1t is pointed out
that opposition to the provisions
which place control Of currency and
credit in the hands of the Govern
ment is likely to be led by Senator
Glass of Virginia. Supporters Of the
banking bill favor taking control
away from private banking.
Assuming that the Government
alwayls consisted Of wise and patri-
otic men," says the Long Beach
(Calif) Press Telegram, "its ability
to control money and credit, and con-
sequently the ebb and flow of busi-
ness, would be a beneflcent thing,
protecting the people from the violent
and destructive fluctuations which
have been witnessed in recent years
and periodically in the past. The
danger is that Government control
Of central bank will be political
control"
Amendments proposed by bankers, -
states the Akron Beacon Journal,
which would have destroyed the re-
forms embodied in the bill, including
the direct Government control of
credit, the volume of money to be
placed in circulation and the deposit
insurance plan, which has done so
much to revive confidence in the
banking system, were turned down.
The fact that the bill as it emerges
from the House is not satisfactory to
extremists in either of these groups
Is its best warrant to general public
indorsemsnt. 1t gives the President
the right to appoint Reserve Board
governors, who will be broadly rep
resentative of financial, agricultural,
industrial and commercial interests.
1t would curb the power of centralized
private banking control to expand or
contract credit and currency at will,
one of the fruitful causes of the mar
ket crash of 1929 and the wave Of
speculation that preceded it."
"The bill should be passed." de-
CldICS tllc 0dCIdHlCAUO DcC, DCNdQoC,
as President Roosevelt himself well
has said, These (proposals) are a
minimum of wise readjustment of our
Federal Reserve System in the light
Of past experience and present needs"
Expressing opposition, the New York
Sun remarks that under the bill
"greenback financing, masquerading
in an orthodox finance costume, would
be made easy" The Sun also OBJ
serves: "The reasoned statement ex-
planning the significance of the bank
ing bill Of 1885 and its relation to
banking and business which william
c. Potter, chairman of the Guaranty
Trust Co., has sent to that institu-
tons stockholders should serve as q
call to all banks and business men to
unite in opposition to the bill"
In standing sponsor for such a
measure" asserts the Chicago Daily
News, FRANKLIN d. Roosevelt not only
repudiates every Democratic principle
and tradition. but fiouts the memory
of every great leader the party has
followed to victory or defeat. In the
field of finance the administration
RA allied itself with the communism
Evening star., 1935-05-21
The Bankhead Bill Will
Give Farmers a Chance

To the Editor Of The Star:
The Bankhead farmers home cor
poration bill, which win probably come
up before the Senate soon, is the one
piece Of legislation which gives the
man who has reached the end of his
present resources q chance to make
his own recovery.
I am writing as one who has had
actual experience with every branch
Of the New Deal designed for this pur-
pose, but in a large degree failing to
meet with any very great accomplish
ment. Two and q half years ago, be-
fore the present administration was in
power, I decided to try to do some
thing to bring together the acres Of
unused land in the South and the
man in the bread line up North. I
think I am correct in saying that this
was one Of the very first applications
to the Government for rehabilitation.
The r. F. C. was then the only agency
to which could appeal. I was ad-
vised to put through the State hous-
ing bill in Florida Ga State in which
climatic conditions are favorable). A
few days after this bill was passed and
signed by the Governor the r. r. C.
policy was changed and the applica-
ton was sent to Public Works, Sub
sistence Homesteads, and on down the
line. never at any time being re-
jected. and at one time being approved
but running into a State snag which
finished 1t in that department.
As I understand the Bankhead bill,
II it is passed, the man who has a
good record and has been or feels
himself capable of becoming a farmer
may take his own destiny in hand, as
any good American wants to do, and
say to the Government: Il think ]
can take my family on this twenty
acres Of land and make living, pro-
vided I can borrow enough mortgage
at long-term payments to start me
of. I do not ask that the property
be decided to me until show what ]
can do" This is no more than has
been done for the home owner through
the Home Owners Loan Corp, but this
process should help the city man be-
| fore he gets on relief.
The other purpose of this bill deal;
with the tenant farmer problem. which
has been growing rapidly in the last
few years. Every American knows the
advantage Of home ownership, and the
Bankhead bill will give this privilege
to the tenant, together with added re.
sources. which now are divided with
| the landowner.
AS I understand the situation the
subsistence homesteads deal only with
the man who has some definite in
come, outside of what he can grow on
his homestead. The Federal Housing
Administration insures only urban
property. The F. z. r. A. rural re-
habilitation is only for those on relief
and groups Of houses are built by the
Government and the family assigned
to certain locations, leaving the indi-
vidual very little say in his own
destiny. On the other hand, the Bank
head bill will allow the hard-pressed
man to strike out for himself, and at
least attempt to rebuild his own life,
as your and my ancestors have done
before us.
GENEvIEVE Won ASCHEBERG.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

There Is more than one way tc
sustain a loss.
The idea Is so completely wound ur
with money that many persons fail tc
realize that they suffer deprivation In
many ways.
One Of the most common, and often
least realized, lies in the failure to be
fair to others In ordinary conversation
One is not being fair If differences
of opinion are greeted with surly, un.
friendly airs; with contempt or any
other indication Of dislike of difference
It Is possible to wonder If any human
ever honestly liked differing opinion
Education tends to make the world
unbending in its estimates.
This was one of the dangers the
poet had in mind when he asserted
that a little knowledge is dangerous
thing.
He realized. perhaps better thar
most, that unfortunately the tendency
of learning. as commonly known, il
to make people intolerant Of others
especially the ideas held by others.
Here education Is faced with ar
almost impossible task, of course. II
is asked, on the one hand, to attempt
to educate out" of human beings q
certain amount of intolerance.
In that very doing education slowly
builds up more intolerance, in effect
specializing on that which manifest:
itself in a red face, flashing eyes and
loud, explosive voice at the mere men,
ton Of difference of opinion.
4 4 4
ANY one who indulges in these mani
festations is simply cutting himself of
consciously or unconsciously, from
much entertainment, some possible
gain, a great deal of help.
For it is almost incontrovertible
that the progress of humanity has
come about largely through an inter.
change Of ideas.
All the good in civilization, and
some of the bad, has resulted from
the exchange of opinions. What one
man has thought has been passed
on to another, and what the second
man has thought has been modified
perhaps, as result.
Or the second man made his COM
ments, and passed them back to the
first, who. If he really possessed the
mind capable Of acquisition, modified
his own ideas. retaining what semed
to him good, discarding what seemed
to him not so good.
X n n
This Is the passage Of the torch OF
learning from hand to hand.
1t Is the way, and almost the only
way, in which the average human be-
ing ever begins to acquire the ele-
ments Of civilization.
Because one lives in q civilization
does not mean that one is civilized.
The great failure of society has
been right here.
We cover our eyes to the fact that
part OF civilization Is Just as uncivil-
lied as ever, indeed 1t is worse, be-
cause 1t is supplied with the elements
Of civilization, but to make a misuse
Of them. not to use them as the civil
lied portion contemplated.
Hence every city has wild and reck-
less driving, urged on by the speed
mania, in itself a misuse Of the
powers brought forth from Nature by
the mind of man.
Contemplating the cars roaring
along our boulevards, the spectator
may ask himself what all these people
are doing hurting themselves through
space so fastly for, when the great
George Washington had time enough
to take all day to make the journey
between Mount Vernon and Washing
ton.
Evening star., 1935-05-21
Cites Roosevelt's Speech
In '32 on Gold Standard
o the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor Of The Star:
listened with interest the other
evening to Mr.. Morgenthau's recent
broadcast in which he severely criti-
cized the previous administration for
letting gold 60 out of the country.
Doubtless nearly every one with an
ordinary amount of intelligence knows
that Mr.. Roosevelt Is his own Secre-
tary of the Treasury, but for the
benefit Of his mouthpiece, Mr.. Nor
genthau, would like to refer him to
Mr.. Roosevelt's speech at Brooklyn,
N. Y, near the end Of the campaign,
In which he stated that Mr.. Hoover's
claim that We were nearly forced OF
the gold standard was a libel on the
credit Of the United States"
VICTOR F. BENNETT.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

down by this channel for the rest Of
May and through early June the
drought-stricken region may be fairly
confident of a normal Summer. But
everything depends upon Nature.
There is nothing that man can do
about it-except to know that there
have been droughts In the past and
anticipate that there viii be others In
the fufrs.
Evening star., 1935-05-21
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton.
Town Bachelor

OF an evening in his pent house
Overlooking town
Friends of his tell him their troubles
AS the sun goes down:
Men whose children squander money,
Chaps with wandering sons,
Men whose youngsters are rebellious,
Some with paragons.
Problems of the heart they bring him
Fer the stars have shone.
With O smile and sigh he listens
He who lives alone. +,
Evening star., 1935-05-21
The Logan Bill.

The Logan Bill.
If the Logan bill. reported yesterday
by the Senate Civil Service Committee,
were to be considered on its merits as
a measure to improve the Government
service, there would be little or no
doubt about its early enactment. Un-
fortunately, there is not much chance
of its being so considered. Political
patronage is still regarded in too many
quarters as a necessary element of the
party system in government. To the
victor belongs the spoils, and the Logan
bill would deprive the politicians of the
spoils.
It is a sound measure, however, and
It Is not too much to believe that
pressure of public opinion in years to
come will force its passage or the
passage Of similar bill. The pur-
pose of the bill is to place some 10000
positions in the Government under the
classified civil service and to require
the incumbents of such positions, on
h certain date, to pass non-competi-
tive civil service examination. There
after the positions would be filled by
competitive civil service examination.
The passage of the bill would add
lev, 80 &I,a etr nf I,o
system now and in the future.
OF more than 65l, 900 Government
employees. some 10000 are appointed
now without regard to the civil service
laws. About $4,000 of these are found
In the New Deal agencies which have
been created in the past two years and
half. In some Of these Congress has
declared that the appointive power
(the head Of the department or
agency shall make appointments re-
gardless of the civil service laws. In
others Congress has permitted the
head Of a department or independent
agency TO make appointments outside
the civil service, while In still others,
such as the N. r. A. and the new work.
relief agencies. the President is given
the right to make appointments with
out regard to the civil service laws.
In the first two groups the Attorney
General has ruled that the President
does not possess power to blanket"
into the classified civil service the po-
sitions or the incumbents. In the last
named group. the President may, by
executive order, place employees under
the civil service, but that has not
been done.
The Logan bill would reverse the
present order to the extent that all
positions would be placed under the
civil service by statute except those
which by executive order are specif-
ically exempted, and such executive
orders would have to be repeated every
four years. Responsibility for main
tanning the integrity of the merit sys-
tenn principle would thus be shifted
squarely from Congress to the Presi-
dent.
No administration in recent years
has suffered such wide criticism as
the present administration for weak
ening the merit system. The doubtful
permanency of some of the new
agencies, together with the need for
haste in the face of an emergency,
have been cited as excuses for legis-
lative departures from merit system
principles. Practical politics and the
demand for jobs, Of course, are the
real reasons. Enactment Of the Logan
measure would accomplish great deal
to restore confidence in the admins
tration's real desire to strengthen the
merit system and outlaw the partisan
spoils system.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

With reference to the soldier bonus,
the President will deliver his ideas in
person without requiring the media
tion of the Secretary of Agriculture
or the Postmaster General.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

Like the State of Alabama in q
nominating convention, Abyssinia
holds commanding position in the
League of Nations because of alpha
betical precedence.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

It is the radioferous desire of DR..
Royal Copeland to have health gen.
erously distributed through the land,
but he cannot undertake to alleviate
all the depicting worry that accom-
panies political care.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

A tremendous intellectual movement
Is on foot to invite forgetfulness of
more recent quarrels and start his.
tory all over again with the period
of Henry VIII.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

The Ringing circus is again on
tour. The famous midget will no
doubt see that the genial j. P. Morgan
will get free ticket whenever he
wants IL.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

Lawrence of Arabia wished for
obscurity. but was denied 1t. One Of
the elements Of Britain's power Is the
determination to bestow fame where
it is deserved.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

The wealth problem has not
changed entirely since the days of
Jacob and Esau. when the dominant
idea was to profit by each momentary
advantage over necessity.
Evening star., 1935-05-21
Safer Awheel Than Afoot.

From the Chester (Pa) Times.
A lot of fellows who really don't
know how to steer an automobile are
driving around because they feel that
1t In too dauger6aS to walk.
Evening star., 1935-05-21
Emblematical Art.

! seldom see a Congressman
With whiskers on his chin.
Although do the best can
can't approve the grin
Which Uncle Sam" displays on call,
Mid patriotic chants;
It wearies me and, most of ALL
do not like his pants.
Evening star., 1935-05-21
COnfding,

whats worrying you now?"
"A brain trust" answered Mr.. Dus-
tin stax. II hired tremendously
smart lawyer and trusted him i'm
plicitly."
Evening star., 1935-05-21
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
MARYLAND and virginia.
All Other States and Canada.
Member Of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively en-.
titled to the use for republication of all
news dispatcl es credited to 1t or not other
local news published herein. All rights OF
publication Of special dispatches herein
are also reserved.
Evening star., 1935-05-21
The Changing Times.

From the Kalamazoo Gazette.
There was a time when some people
believed in chewing each mouthful OF
food certain number of times, to aid
digestion. Now they do it to get their
moneys worth.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

Germany. famous for its logical
philosophy, is now supposed to say
only Hell, Hitler" without permitting
anybody to interject, "warum?"
Evening star., 1935-05-21
Heathendom,

HeathendOm.
Why do the heathen rage
With temper seethin'?
In question we engage,
who are the heathen?"
A heathen We espy,
A man and brother,
He simply makes reply,
"You are another!"
Evening star., 1935-05-21
Nobody Missed.

What has become of the forgotten
man?
HE doesn't exist" answered Sena-
tor Sorghum. The United States mail
makes daily disclosure that no one Is
so lowly and obscure as not to be on
somebody's sucker list"
Evening star., 1935-05-21

Politics." said Uncle Eben, sounds
to me like game where folks ask rid
dies, only instead of laughin' dey gifts
mad"
Evening star., 1935-05-21

Jud Tunkins says he likes to pay as
he goes, but as taxpayer he'd like to
inquire whether he's gettin' anywhere.
Evening star., 1935-05-21

Q. Is The reindeer domesticated?-
S. E.
A. 1t has long been domesticated In
Scandinavia, especially among the
Laplanders, and in Northern Asia, for
its flesh, milk and hide and for use
as a draft animal. In Kamchatka it
also serves as a saddle and pack an
imal. 1t sometimes attains a speed Of
10 miles an hour.
Evening star., 1935-05-21
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN,

A reader cun get the dnsDer to
any question Of fact by iDrittng The
Washington Epening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic J. Hdsktn, Director,
Washington, d. c. Please incIose
stamp for reply.
The Washington times., 1935-11-04
Last Outpost
For Earle

"The Last Outpost" dramatic
story of revolt in the Arabian
desert, will be presented Friday at
Warner Bros. Earl Theater. The
cast of this Paramount picture in
cludes Cary Grant, Claude Rains,
Gertrude Michael and Kathleen
Burke.
Hailed as successor to Lives
of a Bengal Lancer" the new pro-
duction is set against the colorful
background of the Eastern Front
during the World War and tells its
story amid the relentless warfare
that the Turks waged with the
British army in Mesopotamia.
Claude Rains appears as a Brit
ish secret service agent in the
film, while Cary Grant is seen as
an officer attached to the
armored car division. Gertrude
Michael is cast as a nurse, the
woman both men love. Charles
Barton directed "The Last Out
post" from a story by F. Britton
Austin and a screen play by Phillip
Macdonald.
On the stage variety bill will
be presented featuring Cass, Mack,
Owen and Topsy, funsters; Car
dini. the suave deceiver; the Stu
art Morgan Dancers, and Max and
His Gang.
The Washington times., 1935-11-04
ICOVer HOIl VWOOd

aids to wardrobe before the cam
eras. Marlene Dietrich, who is said
to have once asked who Mae West
was, now copies her steadily, and
like Lupe Velez, can appear in
diamonds to the knees. Although
Frau D. prefers her emeralds and
rubieS when she can get them.
Naturally the clothing bills Of
the cinemalettes are something
like the inventory of shop. But
it isn't so foolish as it looks. They
are constantly being snapped
wherever they go, and if they once
look Shoddy, they get at once the.
reputation Of being eccentric,
Stingy, on the down trail, or Greta
Garbo. Dolores Del Rio, Claud-
cite Colbert and Carole Lombard
spend fortunes on their clothes,
and look where they are.
Papa and mama nags Since.
the Santa Anita track made so
much money last year, and
jumped into the first rank Of
race courses in America, with
Mrs. Dodge Sloan and the whole
tribe of Whitneys rushing west.
ward no for it, nlsny Of our
brighter lights decided that was
a very nice piece of cake indeed
of which to have a slice. The
milk and ice and junk companies
are in despair on account Of all
their best steedS have been bought
up by the movie stars.
The secret side Joan Craw.
ford keeps a free room in a hos
pital year in and year out for
the worthy needy. Marion Davies
is head of so many charities, it
is a wonder she ever has time to
give of her abilities to the SCREEN
Everyone has heard Of the
hordes of relatives supposed to
live off the incomes of the stars.
but far too little has been said
about the very many old and
less successful friends who are
voluntarily maintained and aided
by them all the time.