davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09

vidual drivers opportunity for employ
ment. The result has been that public
utility, such as the taxicab business, has
not been subjected to the regulation ex-
tending as q matter of course to other
public utilities. No attempt has been
made to restrict the number of cabs to
the needs Of the public. Nothing has
heen done to force upon the cab oper-
ators the assumption of financial reSpon-
sibility. Nothing has been done to guard
the riding public against dangers re-
sulting from long hours and overwork
by the drivers, although one Of the oper-
ators stated yesterday that these Impair
the efficiency Of the drivers and endan-
ger the public" Nothing has been at
tempted to assure the driver a minimum
wage for his labors, or to guarantee any
standard of service by the taxi COM
panies.
The local taxicab business is an ex-
ample of unrestricted competition at its
worst. And, while Congress has finally
given the Public Utilities Commission
authority to fix regulations on rates and
zones, it has still left the commissions
hands tightly tied as concerns adequate
regulations for public convenience and
safety.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09

British, Swedes are now talking about
France as the only power to which they
can look for support.
The Anglo-German naval deal re-
quires Denmark, too, seriously to recon-
slider her defense problem. The Danes
have already been reminded from Ger
many that they control the entrances to
the Baltic and that Danish neutrality
can be maintained only if Denmark
retains the power to close or open the
Great and Little Belts and the Sound at
will. Denmark has also had NaN warn
ings that the Reich, one of these days,
may seek rectification of the postwar
arrangement that restored part OF
Schleswig- Holstein to Danish jurisdic-
ton.
Stockholm dispatches report that be-
cause of these various considerations the
Scandinavian states reluctantly now
face the necessity Of ornaments on q
substantial scale. Even the present So
cial Democratic government in Sweden
recognizes the conditions that the new
situation in the Baltic has brought
about and is in mood to act accord
ingly. 1t is an ironical circumstance
that the region which is the birthplace
of the Nobel Peace Prize idea has at
length been drawn into the orbit of the
international race in war machinery.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09
Not Much Help.

Some improvement in the disordered
taxicab situation may result from the
Public Utilities Commissions inquiry
into rates and zones, to be followed by
regulations relating to their uniformity.
Certainly uniform rates and zones are
the foundation of any system of sound
regulation. But as developed by one of
the large operators, at the opening ses-
sion of the hearing yesterday, if present
minimum rates are made the standard
the city will still be overrun by too many
cabs and the drivers will be forced to
work long hours to make a living wage,
with resulting danger to the public;
If rates are increased, patronage will fall
off and number of drivers will I'M
doubtedly be forced out of work.
This suggests that the Public Utilities
Commission must decide at the outset
its objective in rate and zone regulation.
1t should be something more than uni
formity, as desirable as that may be.
The commission should decide whether
its regulations of zones and rates are to
be in the interest of the general taxi
riding public, or whether they are to be
chiefly to assure employment for taxi
drivers.
The taxicah situation here has been
muddled, first, by the almost total lack
of regulation; second, by the fact that
opposition to regulation has been based
mainly on the effect upon the indi-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09
Robert Fulton Bridge.

A proposal has been made for a name
for the new bridge across Rock Greek
at P street, now approaching compile
ton. The fact has been recalled that
Robert Fulton, inventor Of the steam
boat, made his first experiments on
those waters with model that later
developed into the Clermont, and his
name is suggested for the viaduct span
ming the valley. There should be no
question of its adoption. Fulton was
a friend of Joel Barlow, American poet,
philosopher and patriot. His home was
Kalorama, an estate then bordering on
Rock Greek. Fulton and Barlow coll
Elaborated in the early researches in the
application of steam to navigation, and
it was while Fulton was a guest Of
Barlow at Kalorama that these early
experiments were conducted. Rock
Greek was then a considerable stream
and afforded a suitable practice course
for such purpose.
No memorial to Fulton exists in Wash
ington, although his name is identified
with the early history of the Capital.
1t is doubly appropriate that it be now
given to the structure spanning the
creek, a replacement of one that has
borne only the title of the thoroughfare
of which it has been for many years
feature To name this bridge for Fulton
would definitely fix in the public mind
for all time the fact that the waters
which it spans were utilized by the
great inventor, man of exceptional
genius, a native American, and con-
tributor beyond measure to the welfare
of humanity through his discoveries and
devices, and were the scene of the ex-
periments which gave to this country the
everlasting credit OF steam navigation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

all, the medicine of the peoples uncon-
taminated with the rationalizations OF
the priest-doctors.
Centuries before the Spanish con-
quest the Aztecs had collected flowers
and herbs from the lowlands and de-
veloped a true botanical garden. The
early historian, Torquemada, wrote:
'Montezuma kept garden of medi-
cinal herbs and the court physicians
experimental with them and attended
the nobility. But the common people
came rarely to these doctors for medic
inal aid, not only because a fee was
charged for their services, but also be-
cause the medical value of herbs was
common knowledge and they could con-
coct remedies from their own gardens"
The first chapter deals with head all
ments, such as colds, assesses, falling
hair and skull fractures. The second
describes treatment for sore eyes, fever,
blood-shot eyes, cataract, insomnia and
drowsiness. The third is devoted to ear
infections. The authors describe in
detail treatments for headache and for
nose-bleeding.
Two of the most interesting plants
described as cures for pain are the "tolo-
hauxihuitl" and the ''nexehuac," both
members of the datura family, whose
plants are used the world over for their
narcotic properties, the effect being due
to the fact that they contain the drug
atropine. Remedies are described for
such varied ailments as dysentery. skin
diseases, govt, pain in the joints, burns,
wounds, cracks in the soles of the
feet, etc.
Long before the days of modern psy-
chiatry these Indians considered fear,
fatigue and feeblemindednesS as diseases
and prescribed medical treatment for
them. Besides the use of plants, ami
mails, stones, various kinds of earth,
salts and carbon were used in the con-
coction Of the Aztec medical formulae.
There are numerous references to the
use of bezoar stones, which were OBJ
tanned from different species of birds.
Salt, obtained in cakes from the salt
lake of Taxcoco, was one of the chief
articles of trade during the Aztec empire
period Animal charcoal was used in
the preparation of bitter principles for
infusions and tinctures. 1t is used for
the same purpose today. although in
purer form.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09

When the first white men came to the
New World they encountered people with
cultures superior, in some respects, to
their own.
The Indian doctor compared favorably
with his white contemporary. Neither
of them were much good, from the view
point Of modern medicine, but both had
q vast accumulation of Empirical meth
DDS and formulate which contained much
of real value. The white medicine was
suitable to the conditions Of Europe,
where it had been developed through
adapted to the conditions Of life in
America and when the Pilgrim fathers
settled at Plymouth they owed much to
the red medicine men.
A photostatic copy Of what is believed
to be the first medical treatise written
in the New World has Just been OBJ
tanned by the Smithsonian Institution
from the Vatican Library. Hitherto its
existence has been known only to a
few scholars. 1t was found by DR..
Charles U. Clark while in search of early
American texts in European libraries.
The treatise-an herbal describing the
various plants and other materials used
in Aztec medical prescriptions-was the
work of two AztecS who were educated
at the College of Santa Cruz, founded
by the Spanish in 1885. Composed
originally in Aztec, it was Immediately
translated into Latin. The chief author
appears to have been q certain Martin
de Ia Cruz. The date was 1852. This
college was the first institution Of higher
learning established In Mexico by the
Spanish for the education Of "sons of
gentlemen Of the principal towns and
larger provinces. The authors probably
were students there.
A description Of the manuscript, with
q resume Of the contents by DR.. Emily
w. Emmart of Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity, has just been issued.
The materia medica of the AztecS was
highly developed at the time OF the con-
quest. 1t compared favorably with that
of Europe, where physicians were still
practising astrology, initiative magic and
witchcraft in addition to the scanty
medical science Of the age. For the
peculiar needs Of a people living at a
high altitude In a semi-tropical country,
the Indian medicine probably was su-
perior to the European. This was recog-
nized by the Franciscan friars OF the
College of Santa Cruz. There the native
curative arts were taught in preference
to those of the white men. The works OF
many of the great European herbalists
of the sixteenth century bear witness to
the fact that Aztec medical teachings
had considerable influence over the
practise Of healing In Europe.
Aztec medicine, as Is shown by this
herbal, was practical and relatively free
from superstition. A few healing
charms are described, but such were
common to all medicine at the time.
For the most part this materia medica
is made up of time-tested remedies
which were used because of their
demonstrated efficacy. The demonstra-
lions might not satisfy the modern prac-
titioner, but this was the sixteenth
century.
This medical science was not the
property of the Aztecs alone. It was
the distillation Of the experience Of
centuries, and probably reaches far back
into earlier civilizations. It was, above
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09
What Prohibition
Did Accomplish

To the Editor of The Star:
Mr.. Walter Walton seems to be Of
the opinion that perfection in the COM
liberalization and consumption of alco-
holic drinks has been reached. Calling
himself dry" though negatived by
the sense of his remarks, he takes his
fling at prohibition.
Let us see what prohibition accom-
pliShed. Practically all legal intoxicants,
representing rs per cent of preprohibi-
ton alcohol, were completely barred.
The Is per cent of illegal liquors in
the preprohibition era was doubled.
Hence so per cent, at least, reduction
in the consumption Of alcohol for bev-
erage purposes.
But the greatest accomplishment Of
prohibition, generally overlooked, was
that there was no solicitation. If q
man drank, he did so without solicita-
ton; he was not induced by display,
advertisement, personal or other solicit
tation. Today every effort is being made
to make men, women and children alco-
holic conscious. And this self-alleged
dry approves even to the extent of
attempting to glorify same as ideal.
IT there was an increase in lawleSs-
ness in trade which never had been
lawful the same was to be expected from
a leadership at the greatest ebb in
America. And prohibition will come
back when the present stage of abuse
fingers while longer. And the greatest
proof of the value of prohibition is that
the distilleries have not found the mar
ket for their products which they ex-
pected. Mr.. Walton may be fooled,
but the disti1lers are not. They know
that prohibition broke habit, and they
are desperately attempting to return
America to the stage of alcoholic con-
seriousness as before prohibition
And then, Mr.. Walton should know,
there was the Interior purpose known
of all men. GEORGE w. JONES.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09
Arms for Scandinavia.

It is not only the equilibrium in West
ern Europe that has been disturbed by
Great Britain's private naval under
standing with Germany. Northern Eu-
rope, too, is upset by the rearranged
balance of power, which again makes
the Reich force in the North Sea and
the Baltic. While the rest Of the Old
World has been giving itself over to
costly competition in ornaments since
the World War, the Scandinavian king
doms have devoted themselves to pursuit
of the peaceful arts, concentrating time,
energy and resources exclusively upon
development of their respective social
and economic interests.
Now Sweden, Denmark and Norway,
which have been called "the last out
posts of sanity in Europe" suddenly
realize the need of strengthening their
defenses, unless they are to face help
lessly contingencies created by the re-
emergence of Germany as a naval
power While both the Reich and Rus
STA remained negligible at sea, the
Swedes, Danes and Norwegians expert
enced the luxury of effortless security.
They presented the exemplary aspect
of nations which had solved the joint
problems of peace and disarmament.
The Scandinavian peoples envision
henceforward an entirely different and
far less comfortable situation. With the
Nazi fleet in unchallenged control of
the Baltic, Sweden's position becomes
especially worse. Plans are already in
the making to concentrate the whole of
her foreign trade at Gothenburg, on the
North Sea, in order to avoid any de-
pendence on the Baltic in case of war.
With the Baltic and the Skagerak viz
tually alienated to the Germans by the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09
Beauty in the Mall
Versus Parking Space

To the Editor of The Star:
The effort to make one-hour parking
for the tourist" is on par with the
effort to beautify the Agriculture
grounds by placing dirty, smoked trash
can on its front lawn. Its counterpart
is the beautiful brick wall at the
new Internal Revenue Building, placed
there to torment MOTORISTS fine
principle of cooperation
They have cut down all the beautiful
trees which formerly "marred" the
beauty of the Agriculture grounds-and
replaced them with beautiful CD mud,
to bring a desert look, beautiful CD
signs that look like miniature tomb
stones, some grass and the aforesaid
trash can.
Now they say there will be one-hour
parking for the tourists. How generousl
One whole hour for the tourists to see
the new museum, the Medical Museum,
the old museum, the aircraft building,
the Smithsonian and Freer Art Gallery.
How very generous, especially as goodly
part of the space is illegally reserved
for Congressman and holders of official
permits only" Methinks I hear the
murmuring of a certain official who,
when he took office, said that in five
years he would have all the cars off the
streets Of Washington. Already many
people are shopping out of town be-
cause they can't get parking here, rea-
sonably.
But to return to the tourist needs.
Their trade should increase every year,
so why not make the denuded Smith
sonian Mall into huge parking place
for tourists? One, at the very least, for
two hours, would be a real help to the
tourist. 1t has proven so at the Capitol.
Then make at least two driveways north
and south between Twelfth and Seventh
streets, across this Mall for the tourist
AS it Is they must waste precious time
and drive to Twelfth street, or Seventh
street, to 60 north or south five blocks
with no exit.
Why not be practical and humane to
both tourist and residents in this great
motor problem, instead Of connecting
ways to make life harder for them?
A great many motorists from the Gov
eminent buildings north Of Constitu-
ton avenue park on Independence ave-
nue-thus adding greatly to the bedlam
south of Constitution avenue at 4:30
If those buildings had reasonable park
ing spaceS-and it could be done-their
cars would be out Of the way by the
time the traffic from south Of Constitu-
ton avenue reaches there.
1t seems to me the country has gone
made on beauty versus the practical.
A huge parking place for tourists on
the denuded Smithsonian Mall would
be practical and hospitable and en-
nance the beauty Of the Mall-in the
eyes Of the motorists who have no "re-
served spaces" and would be real
comfort and pleasure to tourists
w. p. RIESECK.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09
The Great Court.

Senator William E. Borah OF Idaho,
in letter to the New York Herald
Tribune, strongly urges that the SUI
preme Court of the United States be
kept out Of party politics. Its members,
he says, should be free of the suspicion
that they are presidential possibilities.
For the sake of the court as well as the
country, which must look to its highest
tribunal for the protection Of its lber-
ties, Mr.. Borah's advice should be
needed. The Supreme Court has its
functions to perform. They are as vital
to the country as any that may be per-
formed by The Chief Executive. The
court has not long since given demon
stration. 1t has given new hope to
millions of Americans who have watched
with increasing alarm the encroach-
ments Of the Executive upon the legis-
lative branch of the Government. The
strength of the decision of the court
lay in the fact that it was non-partiSan.
It was the unanimous opinion of men
holding widely divergent political views
before they dedicated themselves to
service on the supreme bench.
The Senator from Idaho was impelled
to address his letter to the New York
Herald Tribune because of newspaper
reports that efforts might be made to
draft" either Associate Justice Stone
or Associate Justice Roberts for the Re-
publican presidential nomination next
year. Senator Borah made no criticism
of these gentlemen. His attack was
upon the proposal that the membership
Of the highest court should be dragged
into partisan politics; that the court
might become hot-bed, greenhouse
for the cultivation of presidential boomS.
The thoughts of the people have been
turned to the Supreme Court in recent
weeks because that tribunal has spoken
out effectually to check usurpation of
power and the unconstitutional delega-
ton of the making authority of Con-
gress. The suggestion that the major
political party in opposition to the
Roosevelt New Dealers should turn for
leadership to a member of the court
may be natural. At the same time it
would necessarily be embarrassing to
any of these judges who have given
themselves so Fundamentally to the
cause of justice and the support of the
Constitution.
The Supreme Court of the United
States has been a bulWark for the
people on many occasions. AS Senator
Borah has pointed out, it was the Su-
preme Court which finally called halt
on the military government of the
Southern States, imposed by an embit-
tered Congress at the close of the Civil
War. 1t was the decisions of that great
court which ultimately brought again to
that section of the Nation the freedom
which is American. The Supreme Court
now has begun the task of hating
dictatorial government of the people. 1t
has much more to do. 1t is no time to
shake the faith of the people in this
tribunal by making it appear merely
political proving ground for great guns.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09
Investor i'm Utilities
Protests Oppression

To the Editor Of The Star:
voted for President Roosevelt, but
! regret 1t now as / am not in SYM
pathy with his radical views toward
the utility corporations. I have money
in one of the big electric corporations
and in my estimation millions in all
walks of life will suffer serious loss
from their investments in the utility
corporations if Mr.. Roosevelt Is allowed
to interfere in the expansion Of these
companies. Many women have most of
their money invested in the utility cor
porations and If they become In any
way crippled or curbed and the divi-
dend rates cut some will suffer. The
big utility corporations are a public
necessity and they hire thousands of
clerks and should be allowed to prosper
without interference. I think that Mr..
Roosevelt instead of attacking So-called
big business should encourage it.
Does Mr.. Roosevelt desire to add more
people to those now on charity and to
reduce to pauperiSm thousands by
Gripping the utility companies by in
reference? I have always been loyal
to American institutions and am opposed
to communism and all detrimental
agencies seeking to destroy or to under
mine American institutions, because
when my grandfather and his children
became American citizens Ton their
arrival from Wales my grandfather
always stressed loyalty to the land of
his adoption and opposed communism
in all forms and taught his children and
grandchildren to do likewise. I, how
ever, feel now that President Roosevelt s
attitude toward the utility corporations
is almost communistic in theory and II
followed out will ruin the utility COM
panies and also mean financial ruin to
millions of investors.
Pittsburgh.
DOROTHY A. DAVIS,