Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-16
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL P. KENNEDY,

The Coast Guard has taken to the air
in big way for better performance of
its multifarious duties. which the public
generally "Wots not Of" Tribute to the
efficient services Of this important branch
Of the Federal service is given by Rep
resentative John H. Tolan of California.
He points out that ten air stations have
been authorized for the Coast Guard and
nine of those have been already located
six on the Atlantic Coast, two on the
Pacific Coast and one about to be estab-
lished on the Great Lakes. The Atlantic
Coast locations are Salem, Mass: Cape
May. N. j., about to be put out of COM
mission by new one under construc-
ton at Floyd Bennett Airport, N. Y;
Charleston. S. c.: St. Petersburg, Fla:
Miami. Fla; Biloxi Miss; San Diego and
Port Angeles, Calf. The tenth station
is to be placed somewhere between
Charleston, S. c., and New York
The principal duties of the Coast Guard
are summarized by Mr.. Tolan-preven-
ton Of smuggling, enforcement of Gus
toms laws, enforcement of navigation and
other laws governing merchant vessels
and motor boats, enforcement of rules
and regulations governing the anchorage
of vessels, enforcement of laws relating
to oil pollution, enforcement of law rela-
tive to immigration quarantine and neu-
trality and saving of life and property
along the coasts of the United States.
Last year the Coast Guard searched
1911 PIP square miles Of area, Mr.. Tolan
points out; its airplanes cruised 1877 696
miles with $3.50 hours in flight; identi-
fed 1854 vessels, identified $685. air
planes, responded to lib requests for
search, assisted lob persons, assisted
400 vessels, transported IS emergency
medical cases, gave assistance in 233
cases to other Government agencies, To-
Gated 10 foreign smuggling vessels, To-
Gated "a American smuggling vessels,
sighted and reported seven suspicious
airplanes, located eight smuggling land
ing fields and located and seized 402 stills.
X y
"West Virginia leads the Nation Rep
resentative Jennings Randolph boasts,
after studying comparison of percent
ages of eligible voters in the 48 States. He
claims that West Virginia was far ahead
of all the others with percentage of
921. West Virginia is credited with 900,-
987 persons over 81 years of age based
on 1880 census figures. and the total
voting in the 1886 election was 829945.
If the alien population of some $4,000
Is deducted the voting percentage would
be increased to 946."
Compared with this the figures for the
entire United States are appalling he
points out, with only 67.5 per cent actu-
ally taking advantage of this precious
right in the last presidential election. He
cited f1OllraS uhich Shnu fhof in South
Carolina only III per cent voted, In
Mississippi only 1872, in Arkansas, 1875,
and in Georgia, 1876.
Representative Randolph warned that
"the future of our democratic system Of
Government In national as we'll as in
State affairs rests with the citizens of
the United States 1t is only when we
have an electorate that acknowledges
not only its opportunity to vote, but rec
ognizes its responsibility to do so as we'll
that we shall hope to have the fullest
expression of the principles OF govern
ment by the people" He said he hoped
the other 80 per cent Of the citizenship
might be awakened to their duty.
Within the coming year South Dakota
expects to place its first figure IN Statu-
airy Hall IN the Capitol, replica OF the
statue of General William Henry Harri-
son Beadle. now in the rotunda OF the
State Capitol-on the centennial ami
versary of his birth. Representative
Francis M. Chase Of that State has
given tribute to General Beadle, whom
Lincoln made a colonel by brevet for
gallant and meritorious conduct In
action"
1t was this soldier who spoke these
words Political institutions whose
foundations rest upon public opinion can
never be secure unless all the people
are educated" Representative Chase re-
called that he was born in Indiana,
educated in Michigan, lawyer in Wiscon-
sin, surveyor general for Dakota Terri
tory, first superintendent Of public In
struction in South Dakota, and author
Of the constitutional sections that have
guarded the school lands Of the States
: that have come into the Union in the
last fifty years"
Supplies, transportation and services
for the Army and the c. c. G. boys In
flood relief activities amounted to about
% 900 900.