davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-02-21

The Supreme Courts decision that
the Senate had the power to punish
william P. MecCracken, witness in
the airmail investigation, for con-
tempt, is accepted by the press as
an important definition, with many
editors suggesting that the legislative
branch Of the Government should
show moderation in the use Of this
power, thus established after much
uncertainty.
THE Senate" 1t is explained by
the New Haven Journal Courier,
sentenced the former Assistant Sec
retary of Commerce for Aeronautics
because he failed to produce certain
papers held to be necessary to the
airmail investigation. But the papers
had been destroyed some time before
called for. Mr.. MacCracken therefore
argued that he had surrendered all
papers then in his possession and
was willing to testify. The court
disposes of this question with the
statement that the problem of guilt
should be decided by the Senate
The sole point at issue was, as summed
by defense counsel, whether the SEN
ate had authority: To arrest a pri-
vate citizen with q view to Furnishing
him directly and without recourse to
the courts for the past commission
of completed act which prior to the
arrest and proceedings to punish had
reached such stage of finality that
1t could no longer affect the proceed
ings - In brief: Can the
Senate punish a private citizen for
acts now completed which, In the
Senate's opinion, obstruct present
legislation"
"In this particular case" according
to the Milwaukee Journal, "the de-
fense which MacCracken raised
amounted to an argument that
citizen could trif1e with Congress and
get away with it. MacCracken had
withheld the papers and allowed some
Of them to be taken away and de-
stroyed. He claimed that he could
not produce them without the con-
sent of his clients. When punish
ment seemed impending he got, or
went through the motions of getting,
this consent. He produced what pa
pers he had left, Then he said in
effect: See, have purged myself
Of contempt. I am not obstructing
Congress any longer, so you cannot
punish me- It is this attitude of
trying to outsmart the Nations legis-
lative body that is dealt the hardest
blow"
ITO determine its course, Congress
must have the power to make COM
plete Investigations" says the Roches-
ter Times Union, while the Columbus
(Ohio) Dispatch concludes that eft
must have power to extract evidence"
The Oklahoma News advises that the
decision warns future witnesses not
to obstruct an essential legislative
function" The st. Joseph (Mo.)
News-Press calls the decision "a
timely aid in clarifying the rights Of
Congress in relation to recalcitrant
witnesses"
1.-THE Legislature represents the
people," states the Brooklyn IN. "
Times Union, "and should q private
citizen refuse information necessary
to the enactment Of beneficial legis-
lation, he would obviously endanger
the general welfare. Without the
power in o Legislature to summon, to
question. and to punish contumacy.
the people themselves would lack a
necessary instrument for the proper
conduct of public business" The
Schenectady M.Yl Gazette also OBJ.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
Senseless Publicity.
From the Wall Street Journal.

From the Wall Street Journal.
Nothing can be said in defense Of
that provision Of the revenue act of
1884 which opens summarized per-
sonal income tax returns to public
inspection. Congress apparently ac-
cepted without reflection the argu-
ment that exposure of a mans re-
ported net income to scrutiny of his
neighbors would smoke out tax
dodgers. Any one who has ever at
tempted TO make out tax return,
even for the most modest of family
incomes or the smallest Of small busi-
ness men, knows that the compli-
Gated laws and regulations governing
the returns must render neighborhood
shifting useles to the Revenue Bureau.
AL that this requirement will do
but it is plenty-is to expose thou
sands Of taxpayers to the vexatious
and in some cases dangerous atten-
tions Of mendicants, racketeers and
other varieties of unemployables. It
will destroy perfectly legitimate right
Of privacy for no good purpose what
ever.
All the information that Govern
ment agencies can use Is annually
provided them by persons Of taxable
income, or is theirs for the asking.
No opinion as to the accuracy of an
income tax report based on the skele-
tonized summary demanded by the
pink slip" can be worth a cent to any
body. These items will be 100 per
cent useless, except to the very gen.
try against whom the Federal Gov
ernment has lately engaged in a long
needed and already largely successful
campaign.
A clause in the law which promises
nothing but aid and comfort to public
enemies should be repealed before
March Is next. =
Evening star., 1935-02-21

Every one who goes to Florida
could send back small boxes Of seeds
to the home folks.
Few do, however, and, since they
are mostly kindly people, we must
believe that they simply never think
Of 1t.
Yet q small box Of varied flower
seeds from the South's most famous
State-or Is it?-is an enhancing and
inexpensive gift.
Nothing O garden lover could re-
ceive would interest him or her more.
especially ut this time Of year, when
Spring seems Just around the seasonal
corner.
Half of the >pleasure from a box
of mixed seeds from the Southland
lies in the unknown.
One Is not able to recognize q seed.
Mystery lies there in q very small
compass.
Here are brown seeds, looking
something like beans, here are very
dark ones, round and bullet-like, here
are fiat affairs reminding the OBJ
server Of some long forgotten candy
of youth.
Do you recall the enormous sticks
of paraffin which once did duty as
chewing gum?
There is no telling what one will
think about. Immediately he recalls
those sticks.
One thinks about the place 1t was
purchased. perhaps.
Then one thinks Of what7
He thinks Of Q Small-town general
store.
1t wasn't the typical general store
Of American fancy, however.
1t was, indeed, the first country at
tempt at q modern department store
We Of the cities are 30 used tc
the department store, as such, that
seldom we think of the history oi
these interesting institutions.
There was q time in this country
when, having conquered the big cities
these stores set out to do likewise ip
the smaller places.
It was about at the period of the
introduction of water works" and
electric lights.
Let those who think now in terms
of airplanes imagine they represent
the last word. There was just as
much excitement in the late SOS and
early eos over electric lights, rum
ming water and department stores.
The thrill, the illusion Of progress
Is In the mind, too.
Those big sticks of paraffin. now
they were for sale in one depart.
ment" Of the small-town store.
Whether any child regarded them
as the genuine equivalent of chewing
gum we do not recall, but surely
there was something satisfying ir
such huge quantities Of material In
the mouth.
Small pieces, bitten Of, rapidly
assumed a soft state
The fun came in stufing the mouth
as full as possible.
Soon the chewing child came tc
resemble a squirrel with jaw full
of hickory nuts.
No squirrel would have been guilty
of packing the mouth so full he could
not chew, but that was what happened
to many a child.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

It seemed that the appeal of rea-
son was utterly lost, that nothing
could be done about it, the mouth
must be stuffed more and more, not
less and less. Hence in time no more
could be put In, which left the child
holding half stick Of parafiin as
yet unconsumed.
~ &E
AS vivid as these recollections are,
they must take second place to an
other in connection with the same
scene.
This is the memory of sunshine
across a counter Of gingham.
The sun came in over q counter
close to window.
It illuminated the goods much as a
| painter might take a sheet Of white
i paper and by drawing a brush across
is make it into something colored and
living.
Thus is shown again the plain fact
that there Is no telling what will strike
child most. Not the stick of false
chewing gum, not the people, but a
ray of sunshine across colored cloth.
Revealing an artistic soul, Ell?
Maybe, maybe not. There is no
telling how many such impressions
never get recalled, in after life, since
the precise spark is not there to recall
them.
A chain of words must come first,
picturing the scene, before he who
recalls is able to visualize the past.
Happy in the streets Of our city are
the feet of those who help to recall
pleasant things.
All this Is not as far away from q
match box filled with seeds from the
South as one might think, of1hand.
For such . box of seeds Is q tan
gible presentation Of memory.
Each seed is a bit of natures men,
ory.
It is the embodiment of memory. as
It were.
A seed Is q solidification of the de-
termination of nature to keep itseli
alive.
Just why it wants to keep alive
no one knows. At least the explana-
tions are not very satisfying.
The "why" Of it all is mystery
and evidently must remain so. AL
we can do is accept the determine
ton.
II there ever was a determined
thing, 1t Is this inoffensive little
curious, intriguing flower seed, which
the gardener takes between his finger
and holds up to the light.
Here 1t is, nothing, in one sense
a nothing to be blown out Of the
hand by the lightest wind. and tt
get down into a small crack in the
concrete, and be lost forever.
Here it is, though. Something
something to fall into rich earth
and be watered by rains, and to start
growing, and to come to light after
while as full-fiedged life in @
world Of life.
Which deserves the most credit
the seed or the forces that water 1t
and feed it, and light it to life?
Silly seed, II it swells up with self
importance and forgets the forces
that make it.
Silly forces, II, having seed, they
will not water and feed and help
1t on its way, but must hold 1t down
saying. mo, we won't let you grow
you have grown enough already"
Evening star., 1935-02-21

Purposes Of generous Andrew Mellon
to make the District of Columbia an
art center of the world should be safe
guarded against berets and smocks, in
an indiscriminate affectation Of the
Latin Quarter.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

A reader cun get the GnstDeT to
any question of fact by tDriting The
Washington Epeni1g Star Information
Bureau, Frederic J. Hasktn, Director.
Washington, d. c. Please tnclose
stamp for reply.
@. Is the Mate that Is running in
the Santa Anita Handicap on Feb
ruary % the horse that has been
racing In England?-L. r.
A. 1t is. Through an error it was
stated in this column that Mate was
still In England. This famous horse
was brought lack to this country
about three months ago.
@. How many press conferences has
President Roosevelt held since he has
been in ofiice?-F. l.. w.
A. More than $50 Of these confer
ences have been held. The President
never cancels one when he Is In
Washington.
@. How many people would be elig-
ible for old-age pensions2-F. S.
A. The Economic Security Com
mittee has estimated that less than a
million persons would be eligible for
old-age pensions. The estimate was
based on the number Of persons over
IS who are receiving relief in the va
rious States, plus those who are re-
ceiving old-age pensions in States
having pension systems. The cost to
the States would be about Sill 900 900
ANNUALLY narnrAtrv Tn ky,n
@. Are flags used by the Weather
Bureau to show expected changes in
weather?-E. c. B.
A. Certain flags and lanterns are
displayed at stations on the seacoasts
and the Great Lakes. Flags to indicate
expected changes in weather and tenn
perature are no longer used by the
Weather Bureau, except that the cold
wave flag "a square white flag with a
square black center) Is displayed on
some buildings in which Weather Bu-
reau Offices are located. Display oi
the cold wave flag has been discon-
tinued in recent years at a number Of
Weather Bureau Offices because dis
semination of the information BY
radio, telephone and In the newspapers
fully serves the purpose.
@. How much did crime cost the
country last year?-l. c. M.
A. approximately $4,000, 900 900.
@. Where is the kumquat grown
and for what is 1t used?-E. N. P.
A. Kumquat is a Chinese citru!
fruit extensively cultivated In Japan
Florida, California and also in English
glasshouses. It is Of small size, rounc
or oblong in shape and has a sweet
rind and acid pulp. 1t Is chiefly usec
for making preserves and confection.
cry. Many people enjoy the favor oi
the raw fruit.
@. Why did the members Of the
cast in "Rasputin" cross themselve:
from right to left instead of the &C.
cepted way?-M. L.
A. They followed the custom of tht
Eastern Orthodox Church, not the
Roman Catholic.
@. Is there q memorial to Dick
Wilmington in London?-G. r. w.
A. At the corner of Salisbury road
near the foot of Highgate Hill, Lon
don, there is a memorial to Dick Whit
tington. 1t is stone inclosed within
an iron railing, from which rises g
tall iron arch bearing a lamp which
is lighted at night. 1t is on this site
that Wilmington turned again" al
the sound of Bow Bells and went back
eventually to become mayor of Lon
don.
@. What sort of work is done by
An orthodontist?-T. c.
A. Such a dentist specializes in
krnnkir, irrnnr,lo ritinc ~ khn knnth
Evening star., 1935-02-21

One of the Uncle Remus fables de-
scribes a rabbit in peril that climbed
a tree. contrary to the rules of natural
history, because he was jes' bleeged
to-" There are times when the strict
logic of law has to yield to exigencies
of public safety.
Evening star., 1935-02-21

In such extraordinary times as these
a government Is doing well to keep
law and order functioning reliably
without calling on groups to set alarm
clocks so as to arise in time to be
shot at sunrise.
Evening star., 1935-02-21

@. Please give some information on
Hepplewhite furniture-A. J..
A. 1t was so named for George Hep
plewhite, an English cabinet maker,
VINO died in 1876. The furniture is
characterized by hghtness, delicacy.
grace, the effect depending more on
inlay than carving. Hepplewhite was
constant and successful user of a
shield back for chairs. He probably
originated the winged easy chair, in
which the sides are continued to the
same height as the back. The Hep
plewhite chairs are often adorned with
, galleries and festoons OF wheat ears
or pointed fern leaves; sometimes also
with Prince Of Wales feathers.
@. Is petroleum found in scotland2-
o. K. s.
A. It occurs in Scotland in the form
Of shale.
@. What proportion of the popula-
ton Of this country is attending
school?-S. M.
A. Considering public schools, pri-
vate schools, colleges and all others,
about one-fourth of the entire popu-
lation attends school daily.
@. How long is an Angstrom unit?-
T. H.
A. 1t is a ten-millionth Of q MILL
meter.
@. What country has paid the United
States what it owes to date on its war
debt?-R. v. p.
A. Finland was the only country to
make a payment on her debt to the
United States last year. Finland is
now paid up to date.
@. What is the address Of the Amer
ican Municipal AsSociation?-N D. C.
A. 855 East Fifty-eighth street, Chi
cago. Its membership includes 80
State leagues of municipalities.
Q. When did the great eruption of
krakatao take place?-T. H.
A. Krakatao is volcanic island in
the Sunda Strait, Netherland Indies.
This island blew up in August, 1888,
with a report that was heard 5000
miles away. Thousands and thousands
OF persons were killed by tidal waves
IN places that were hundreds of miles
from the island. The Sunda Strait
lies between Sumatra and Java.
G. Is it possible to put a l-inch
plug in 1-inch hole?-R. j.
A. The National Bureau of Stand
ards says that it is possible to put
a l-inch plug into 1-inch hole if
the surfaces are fabricated. The
amount the plug can be over size
and still enter by hand depends on
the "oilineSs" Of the lubricant.
@. Has a woman ever been nom
mated for President of the United
States?-J. r. j.
A. Mrs. Belva lockwood ran for
President in 1884 and again in 1888
on the Equal Rights and Liberty
ticket.
@. Were the children Of Israel
slaves from the time they went to
Egypt?-G. T. j.
A. The enslavement of the children
Of Israel in Egypt was gradual proc
ess. They were at first honored cit
izens and gradually descended Ii the
social scale.
O. What Is the derivation Of the
name "Ouija"?-A. B.
A. 1t is believed to be a combina-
ton Of the French "oui" and the
German "ja," both words meaning
yes"
@. Who wrote, "One is nearer Gods
heart in a garden than anywhere else
on earth?"-C. F. C.
A. 1t is from Gods Garden" by
Dorothy Frances Gurney.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

A Twilight Salutation.
De day gifts tired bout half-past 5.
De clouds like chariots arrive,
A-rollin' down de west, so slow.
Says Mistoh Day. "I got to 60.
I done my bes' to bring q smile
Or help you work a little while.
Now I mus travel on my way.
Good-day to you," says Mistoh Day.
st done my bes' to bring you cheer.
I maybe failed an brought tear.
No one does jes' whut he intends.
Days is uncertain, same as friends.
Some of us Days is frownin' dark.
We can't all reach de sunshine mari
But each mus call an 60 his way.
So long to you," says Mistoh Day.
Evening star., 1935-02-21

Aviation is no longer in its infancy,
1t is in lusty youth an expression Of
ideals that must scorn the sporting
thrill" or the suggestion of mercenary
purpose.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
Germany's Evasions.

German diplomacy no doubt plumed
itself over its adroitness a few days
ago when it accepted "in principle"
and in part the Anglo-French pro-
gram for European paciflcation. The
only portion of the plan to which the
Reich aSsented outright was the pro-
posal of a western air alliance pro-
viding for mutual assistance against
an aggreSsor in the case of an un-
provoked attack. AS to all other mat
tiers, Hitler merely expressed a will
ingness to discuss them with Great
Britain.
At once the Germans tactics were
interpreted as an attempt to drive
a breach between the British and the
French by conducting negotiations
only with the London government
If that really was the Fuehrer's pur-
pose, it seems already to have gone
the way of so many other NaI mis-
calculations. Authoritative word is
forthcoming that Great Britain op-
poses any German effort to single out
the air pact from the whole structure
which Britain and France would
erect for peace and security in
Europe.
1t thus becomes apparent that Ger
many must agree to the entire prof.
ect instead of merely that feature
which makes a special appeal to her
the air agreement. with its tacit
acknowledgement that the Reich, in
spite of the prohibitions of the Yer
sailles treaty, has military air force
and is entitled to it. That phase of
the Anglo French accord is found
particularly attractive in Berlin.
Germany has been in expectation
of a visit from British Foreign Secre-
tary Sir John Simon and Disarma-
ment Expert Capt. Anthony Eden,
with whom the Wilhelmstrasse
would initiate the desired converSa-
tions. But Berlin now is advised
that while Hitler's recent "acquies-
cence" in the Anglo-French proposals
is good, as far as it goes, it does not,
in the British view, go far enough.
The Germans are reminded that their
evasions are unwelcome and unsatis-
factory. Until they are in mood to
consider European peace requirements
on a more comprehensive scale they
are likely to wait in vain for a visit
from Sir John Simon and Capt. Eden.
That seems virtually to have been
determined at meeting of the British
cabinet on Wednesday.
The points on which it is i'm
perative for the Germans to take
a positive position include their re-
turn to the League of Nations, a
general ornaments convention, their
adherence to the Rome agreements
for mutual non-interference in Cen
tral Europe, especially Austria, and
an Eastern Gocarno security pact.
AS it considered the attitude to be
assumed toward Germany's evasions
the British cabinet had before it
note dispatched by the Soviet gov
ernment to both Britain and France,
expressing its view that the London
proposals for q general European
settlement, embracing the four points
just mentioned, must be kept intact
and carried out In full.
HitleriSm is on the spot. Matters
plainly are moving to point where
it must demonstrate by deeds, in
stead Of merely by platitudinous
protestations, that it intends to keep
the peace, or run the risk of isolation
by q grouping of international force
which can and will compel Germany
to do SO.
Evening star., 1935-02-21

In order to be funny it is not neces-
sary to be unpleasant. Tossing around
deceased felines is shabby metaphor
even in the heat of political debate.
Evening star., 1935-02-21

Ax-men in dress suits beheading
beautiful society women constitute an
incident of grotesque horror that
shows why Fliegende Blaetter is not
funny any more.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
MiIder Moods.

MiIder Moods.
There's no doubt about it," unused
Senator Sorghum, we're a great deal
more gentle and refined than we used
to be-"
There have been some hard-boiled
methods"
mot in craftsmanship. There was
q time when political quarrel might
lead to a duel. Now the worst you
can expect is libel suit"
Evening star., 1935-02-21

The Russian ballet is beautiful, but
no more typical of Russian life than
the Ziegfeld Follies or the Earl Carroll
Vanities is of American life.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
Wrestling.

From the Kansas City star.
Hackenschmidt, the old maestro Of
wrestling, is now studying philosophy;
but when Make Baer retires he'll be
just about ripe to rewrite the books
for I'll Ia ancient viseacreAs
Evening star., 1935-02-21
Not Quite the First.

From the Nashville Tennessean.
Mrs. Roosevelt Is the first Presi-
dents wife to make a flight over the
sea, but not, probably, the first lady
to be up in the air and at sea at one
and the same time,
Evening star., 1935-02-21

High-priced lawyers are frankly
mentioned as formidable In public
affairs. An N. r. A. code for lawyers
has never yet, been seriously con-
templated.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
Hardest Test to Come,

From the Rockford dll) Register-Republic.
The scientist who drank heavy wa
ter and survived has yet to brave that
New York bootleg Nqu0E
Evening star., 1935-02-21

Carrie Nation was brave feminist
In her day. She never attended q
cocktail party or smoked a cigarette
in all her life.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
Superficial Observation.

Superhc1aI Observat1On.
A lot of things in life We spurn
And to the scrap heap send 'em
Because we don't have time to learn
To fully comprehend 'em.
Things which instruct us or amuse,
Which worlds great minds delight In,
Look like a lot Of curlicues
To them that can't read writin'.
Evening star., 1935-02-21

Slaughter of spies creates an inevi-
table gloomy curiosity as to what they
are liable to find out.
Evening star., 1935-02-21

"Fohgive yoh enemies" said Uncle
Eben, but dom let dat stop you FUN
havin' 'em put under bonds to keep
de peace"
Evening star., 1935-02-21
The Memory Mill.

Oh, memory should be like q mill
And in ife's busy grind
Reject the useless and the i'll
And leave the good behind.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
The Difficulty.

The DImcuIty.
'Does your boy Josh know anything
about how the place ought to be run?"
"I'll say he does," answered Farmer
Corntossel. "I'n say he knows all
about It. The trouble seems to be
that the hired man and I are too
dumb to follow out instructions as
fast as Josh can give EN-"
Evening star., 1935-02-21
The PrOvisO.

Don't you believe it is right for q
man to say exactly what he thinks?"
"Yes," replied Miss Cayenne; PRO
vided he really thinks"
Evening star., 1935-02-21
ALI Other States and Canada.
Member of the Associated Press.

titled to the use for republication Of all
news DISPATCHES credited to 1t or not other
wise, credited IN this paper and also the
publication of special dispatches herein
are also reserved
Evening star., 1935-02-21

Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
MARYLAND and virginia.
Evening star., 1935-02-21
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