davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1938-03-05
Jobs. lust JOhs.


Once again, the Senate arrogates to
itself the appointive power of the Ex-
ecutive branch Of the Government, the
latest development being adoption of
an amendment to the Independent Of
fees Bill making employment Of at
torneys and experts receiving 5000 or
more annually subject to Senate con-
f1rmation.s
If the amendment has any saving
grace it lies in the proviso that in
cumbents are not to be disturbed, and
that those appointments now subject to
civil service will continue thus to be. In
this latter category come attorneys in
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
Employees Compensation Commission,
Veterans Administration and Federal
Communications Commission, legal per-
sonnel elsewhere being exempt from
civil service, as experts traditionally have
been since this class made its debut in
the Wilson administration.
Outside Of the fact, however, that no
general upheaval is contemplated in the
terms of the amendment, there is Moth
ing to recommend 1t. Not only is the
way paved for perpetuation of all the
existing evils Of patronage. but in addi-
ton q barrier is raised against any ap-
pointment, no matter how meritorious,
unless the Senate chooses to confirm.
The Senate has been working toward
this grand slam" for . long time. First
Evening star., 1938-03-05

came the requirement that w. P. A. and
P. w. A. administrators should be nomi-
mated by the President and confirmed
by the Senate; then followed the same
treatment for positions at 5000 and
over in the Bureau Of Archives; next it
was Social Security; then the United
States Housing Authority above the
$500 bracket, and finally, all the inde-
pendent offices. That is, all but the
Tennessee Valley Authority, which was
left untouched as a concession to sena-
tor Norris.
Coming at time when the Senate is
preparing to turn to the Presidents re-
organization program, which contem-
plates extension of civil service upward,
outward and downward" the amendment
does not offer any particular encourage
ment to those who may have hopes in
that direction.
As the bill moves over to the House,
the action there will be watched with
interest.
Evening star., 1938-03-05
Offers Suggestions to
Remedy Traffic Situation
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
For the past couple of years great
deal has been said and written about the
traffic situation in Washington. It seems
to me that the public has missed the
whole key to the situation. AS resi-
dent Of the city for 20 years. during
which time have been both driver and
a pedestrian, offer some suggestions
which I think might be helpful.
Regulation of taxicabs by law pro-
viding that any cab driver involved in an
accident, regardless of fault, have license
suspended for month, at the same time
providing that taxicabs be diminished
in number by about half. These vehicles
have dominated Washington traffic and
the streets will never be safe until they
are regulated in some such drastic man
ner as this.
Indiscriminate enforcement of traffic
regulations on all drivers, including those
of taxis, buses. and street cars. These
latter classes seem to be under divine
protection: for two years I have seen
only one taxi and one bus driver stopped
by an officer.
Provision of an intelligence test as
prerequisite for drivers permit. This
would eliminate in large measure the
accidents caused by sheer stupidity.
Regulation of pedestrian traffic by
means Of a suitable light system and
enforcement thereof by fines. AS both
driver and pedestrian I can sin
cerely say that believe it is more often
a pedestrian than driver who is at
fault.
Other regulations, including adjust
ment of the speed limit to Is in down.
town sections, IS in suburban. Common
sense will show that these limits are
more easily enforceable than one like
~ for the simple reason that a driver
glancing at his speedometer can more
easily see Is than q 20 due to longer
marking lines.
These proposals are not all that should
be enacted and some may seem too
radical or drastic. But I believe that If
enacted they would accomplish a great
deal more good than drives" safety
campaigns" or such absurdities as the
new auto inspection law or the horn
blowing law. At least they would be
worth try. F. PHILLIPS.
Evening star., 1938-03-05
Lawful Government.

In severe castigation of the practice
of the Virginia Legislature Of the dele
cation of powers to boards and commits
sions which are reserved by the people
to the lawmaking bodies, Judge
Frederick w. Coleman of the Freder-
icksburg Corporation Court, one of the
most outstanding as we'll as one of the
most outspoken jurists in the Old Do
minion, has sounded a warning which
should not only be needed by laWmak-
ers of his State, but should command
the attention of all citizens interested
in promoting law and order.
In his remarks, addressed to the
grand jury, Judge Coleman said that
it is believed that If and when this in
tolerable practice is abandoned, the
people will have more respect for the
laws of the land.
The practice is a growing one in bu-
reaucratic control, and is not confined
to Virginia, but it is extending into the
National Government machinery, grad
ually taking away from the electorate
that control of their Government which
the forefathers of the country reserved
to them in the Constitution. AS Judga
Coleman pointed out plainly to his jury,
which no doubt will be called upon to
consider the cases of those charged with
violation of some of the laws made
through the delegation of power, the
General Assembly has no authority
whatever to delegate to these sub-agen-
cies or State departments the power to
make laws" or ito promulgate rules and
regulations to have the force and effect
of laws" violations of which may result
in fines and imprisonment.
He said further that the heads of the
departments who formulate these rules
and regulations are appointed to their
respective jobs and do not derive their
authority directly from the people to
make the laws to govern them, thereby
depriving the people of the right of trial
by jury.
Judge Coleman in making his remarks
in charge to the grand jury gave them
that official status which should COM
mand deep consideration, the results of
which they can carry back to the elec-
torate in their districts to spread the
alarm. 1t should cause them and others
concerned with this growing trend in
government to realize that their birth
rights are fast slipping away, and
awaken them to the imperative need of
sending to the Legislature only those
representatives whose respect for law
and order carries with it determine
ton for full support of their Constitu-
ton.
Evening star., 1938-03-05
Extinction.

The time has come, it appears. when
the human race-at least that part of
1t represented by the populations OF
North and South America and Europe
can start worrying about extinction"
One very potent reason, as explained
by Professor Samuel J. Holmes Of the
University of California at a meeting
here, is that rearing children has be-
come an economic liability. He pro-
poses, As the only feasible escape from
this eventual extinction, that the state
pay families for undertaking the job.
Folks no longer can be expected to do
something for nothing. It may be that
Professor Holmes is right.
Now If extinction is to be prevented
by subsidy 1t is reasonable to presume
that the subsidy must be sufficient to
provide q real inducement. A parent
Is now allowed an exemption Of $4O0
for each dependent child on income tax
returns. Maybe, 1t is too much or too
Evening star., 1938-03-05

little, but 1t is at any rate one official
estimate of the cost of supporting
child.
In 1880 there were II 40 800 children
under five years of age in the United
States. At least this number is essen
tial to maintain the population. There
would be an annual bill Of $4,577, 1885,
600. There are probably an equal num-
ber between five and ten years Of age.
That would make the annual bill $685.
$4,000. But this has allowed for bare
maintenance. Nothing has been al
lowed to compensate the family for the
labor involved in child rearing-$200
child would be little enough. The bill
goes up to $13,733, 1868, 900.
This is propabiy just a start. In the
Utopian society of the future surely
NOBODY would expect boy or a girl to
cease being dependent on the family
before at least the age of twenty. The
bill might easily be augmented to twenty
billions a year. And by that time, of
course, the state will have reached the
point of taking care of all the sick and
guaranteeing everybody an adequate
diet, and lot of other functions which
will cost money.
Folks gasp at some of the expendi-
lures of the New Deal. Maybe they
have not seen anything yet.
1t would be graceless to scof at any
sincere proposal to improve the physi-
cal condition of the people of the United
States. But a pertinent question, it
would seem, is What will we use for
money? Or, it might be asked, is it not
simply choice between two ways of
extinction?
Evening star., 1938-03-05
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES 3. TRAcEWELL.

after all. They prefer to feel that they
are making their own way in the world.
Their realization Of any human agency
in feeding is very remote, we believe.
They do not understand much about 1t,
one may feel, despite the contrary be-
lief by some enthusiasts that they do.
The fact that they may appear tame,
and even eat out of the hand, does not
prove that they know who 1t is who Is
feeding them.
All they can know is that food ap-
pears, that there 1t Is, for the eating, and
so eat they must, do and will.
The human agent in the feeding is
only incidental, one with the wind, the
clouds and the blowing rose vines.
This is just as well.
Cannot man do something, now and
then, without obtruding his own per-
sonality into it? 1t is 5ust as we'll that
now and then something comes along in
which he plays but a small part.
Feeding the birds is good, because 1t
permits the feeder to stand apart, for
q time, and watch nature at work.
Z he insists on trying to tame the
wild birds, he is missing the greatest
Joy Of the feeding.
The birds do not know him, and do
not want to know him.
The feeder and its food get no par
ticular thanks from the birds, let that
much be realized
"They know me-" bah!
What are all the family trees in the
the world to the cardinals In our
garden?
The only tree they know anything
about is the big one to which the feed
ing station is attached.
They do not know it as "tree."
They do not know it as anything.
Tree" and bird" and food" are Just
words invented by man to stand for real
things.
The creatures know the real things,
but they do not know they know them.
That is the difference
We can force ourselves on their atten-
tion, and they will look at us, in time
may even eat from the hand, but that
diverting spectacle means nothing to
them.
Put out the food, and let the birds
alone.
AAdt ID IIic USSt tlllIlS 10 QO
Wild birds need no other attention,
aside from little water, and some dust,
If it can be made this time of year.
Water and dust baths are enjoyed by
all birds at all seasons of the year, but
they seldom get to take a dust bath
during the winter except where thought
full persons have provided for them
They are more fortunate as regards
water bathing. Often on warm days ice
will melt in little pools large enough for
the songsters.
1t is possible to loosen the earth be-
meath some shrub, and mulch it care
fully. so that it approximates dust This
may be done even in the coolest weather.
There is no situation they like better
than beneath a bush.
Those interested in this work should
experiment with all sorts Of leftovers.
Some bird or other will eat almost every
thing
Evening star., 1938-03-05
Shows Fallacy of Tax
Based on Ability to Paw
To the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor Of The Star:
In your issue of February 26 Mr.. C. v.
Burnside expresses himself in favor of
taxation according to ability to pay. The
spread OF this idea In face of its complete
divergence from commonly accepted busi-
ness principles is remarkable.
Governments are set up by society as
instruments to render it certain services.
In like way business man sets himself
up as an instrument for service to his
community. Imagine his undertaking to
exact price for his services or goods,
not at their current value, but according
to the size of his customers pocketbook.
Crazy? Surely, but that is the idea back
OF taxation according to ability to pay.
In equity the business rule of payment
for value received should be the rule for
Government and community services to
the individual. The value of such serv-
ices is nowhere so completely reflected
and ldentifiable as in the price of land.
Inc dlf1erence in price between q city
lot and an equal area in the country, is
the difference in value of such services.
We're the city to erect a building on a
citizens lot for his use he would not
question its right to payment for such
use. He should have the same view as to
the value it gives to his bare lot by its
services. But should he build at his own
cost, wherein lies the city's right to re-
qulre him to pay again for the building
by taxing it? Police and fire protection?
But an adequate tax upon his lot should
cover that Such building tax is in real
1ty a fine under penalty of conf1scation
OF the entire property.
To many this lone land-tax idea bears
no comparison for fairness with the drag
net way Of securing revenues. But saw
we Danish from the community all who
are not landowners, including children
tourists and other transients. Then esti-
mate the slump in land values by relation
OF the remaining land-ownipg population
to the area involved. The result would
show the total contribution of the ban
ished to the community land values
This total would include what should &c
to their credit as payment toward the
community expenses under land value
tax. The resultant figures would doubt
less be huge surprise to many of us.
These are some of the reasons why the
writer land owner, advocates a land
value tax in place of all other taxes
Other reasons are the simplicity and
decidedly lower cost of levy and collec-
tion, to result in cheaper government and
a lower living cost to all Of the COM
munity. WALTER N. CAMPBELL.
Evening star., 1938-03-05
A Proposed Retrocession.

The suggestion has often been made
to give New York back to the Indians
even at less than the cost price If the
trade could thus be negotiated, but the
suggestion to give the District back to
Maryland has not been heard publicly
for many moon.
Despite the apparent reluctance of the
red men to repurchase Manhattan for
anything like, the $24 bargain they orig
inally made, Marylands attitude might
well be favored notwithstanding Repre-
sentative Palmisano's reported comment
on Representative Nichols bill that the
State would be getting the SKINNED
milk rather than "the cream"
The cession Of all of the District except
the Federal land as proposed by Mr..
Nichols would give Maryland:
l. One used numbers racket" in ex-
cellent condition.
2. Half million taxpayers and DO
tential voters, we'll worn but serviceable.
3. One additional relief problem in
delicate condition.
4. One excellent traffic problem ready
for immediate solution.
1t should be pointed out with en-
phasis that these benefits will be addi-
tional to the large income already de-
rived by Maryland from local pari-
mutuel enthusiasts at the Bowie and
Laurel Fairgrounds.
The plan would, of course, be a great
boon to Congressman on the District
Committee as the four out of the twenty
members who have been attending the
hearings would be able to join the others
in concentration upon their own i'm
mediate communities.
Evening star., 1938-03-05
Visiting Neighbor's
Impressions of Capital
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
When one comes to Washington the
natural feeling is that of awe. The reali-
zation that here is formulated all the
plans and policies. foreign and domestic,
which control the destinies of what we
like to feel is the greatest country in the
world: that here come and go ennis
saries of all the other countries, large
and small the world over, is perhaps
gigantic to our suburban minds.
Here, too. gather the great political
minds; we of the backwoods, feel that
they must be great, they get away with
so much. To most Of us the inner work
ings Of the Senate, the House, the State,
War and Navy and executive depart
ments are to say the least mysterious.
We wander up and down the avenues,
survey the massive structures which
house the New Deal and its predecessors.
We drift along Connecticut avenue and
find it fine avenue, but barely shadow
of Madison avenue in New York City.
Having spent portion of our life in
the Army we call on friend or two, wan
der about the Military Establishments
and listen in on concert of the Marine
Band, and find this magnificent musical
organization playing in room hardly
large enough for high school class play.
Musicians are crowded together to the
point where the trombone plays in the
cornetist's lap. A good spot for a few OF
those free and easy New Deal dollars, but
why build concert hall for the armed
services? Their Job is to fight and not to
play music. We shudder to think of what
the Army and Navy have to play in. No.
we haven't been to either place, but we
are going.
And then, there are the taxis, hard
working, long hours, little pay, two taxis
where there should be only one-no LA
bility insurance. Yes, if my wife wasn't
working for the x. Y. T. we couldn't
make it, and We've been trying to get
that compulsory insurance enacted for
couple years, but guess they're too busy
up on the Hill" So say the local hacks.
And the cop on the cornerstone day we
hope to ask question he can't answer;
and, oh, yes! While we write, a plane
scars overhead, and in our minds eve
we can see the traffic lights turn red.
hear the siren and after a moment, see
the alrllner slide into that one-way mud
road that serves as an airport for this,
the Nations Capital. And we wonder
why more pilots don't go 'haywire"
An, yes, the spy scare. and the F. B. l.
and the old pensioners at the family
hotels" and the February rates'-and
business is bad" and furnished apart
ments which are not furnished, and the
payday sales'-reminds us of canteen
checks in our enlisted days-and Georges
birthday and the four-hour sales, and
the last but not lease the guide who said
that any avenue which was named after
one OF the original thirteen colonies
would lead us direct to the Capitol. The
poor trusting souls started to walk up
New York avenue. We did get to the
capitol, but there was slight detour.
j. M. WILD.
Evening star., 1938-03-05
BETHESDA, Md.

Dear Sir:
II enjoy reading your articles in The
Star. In one article you included q list
Of foods to attract birds. Later some
one, I think, asked In letter about
cardinals, and what to feed them.
"A few years ago neighbor from New
Jersey told me that cardinals like canta-
loupe seeds. I tried it and cardinals
soon found them.
II save some seeds for the winter.
Your list did not mention cantaloupe
seed and wondered why.
Respectfully, E. H"
OF such small nuggets Of everyday
wisdom Is the art Of feeding the birds
built.
All seeds of this nature are liked by
the red birds.
The prime favorite, Of course, is the
sunfower seed
There is probably nothing in the
world cardinal would rather find than
sunflower seed.
Not even a seed of the cantaloupe.
Fortunately, sunflower seed can be
purchased at every feed store. 1t might
be difficult to get cantaloupe anywhere,
except from seed grower.
The sunflower is such a prolific plant
that its seeds are many and highly
stored with carbohydrates Of exactly
the type liked by the cardinals.
Perhaps few persons would be able to
eat enough cantaloupes to garner much
seed, but the sunnower seed can be
bought at about IS cents a pound.
This comes pretty high, however, for
feeding the birds.
If there is any turnout whatever at a
feeding station, the owner will find 1t
impossible to keep up the pace at that
rate.
Fortunately there is no need to serve
pure sunf1ower or cantaloupe seed and
nothing else; they are best mixed with
other and less expensive grains and
seeds.
This gives the birds the opportunity
to hunt and find for themselves, some
thing which they seem to enjoy as
much as their human friends.
Another way to feed these speciality
seeds is to put out q cupful of them
in special place.
This permits such birds as the cardi-
mails to have them more or less to them
selves.
We prefer the other method, of mix
ing some Of these larger seeds with
every batch of feed put out.
The squirrel, bird" without wings, is
particularly fond of the sunflower Seeds
This diverting rodent will shovel his
way through a large amount of fodder
to get at one SllnflOWer seed
X
In cantaloupe eating family perhaps
enough seed could be saved through the
summer.
If this were dried and put away in
paper bags. it would be in good condition
for fall and winter feeding to the birds
AS indicated, only small amount,
not more than handful, need be
added to several pounds of general food
Birds are great deal like humans,
Evening star., 1938-03-05

The length determinations, the bureau
announces, are accurate to at least one
part in 10 millions. which is about the
limit Of accuracy attainable with present
instruments.
1t only remains for two others, indie
pendently, to check on DR.. Humphreys
measurements for them to be considered
by the International Astronomical Union
as natures inch sticks, or tenth-inch
sticks, relative to the long cadmium yard
line.
At the same time the bureau an
nounces the findings by DR.. Carl c. Kiess
of the spectroscopy section of several
new wave lengths in the infrared spec
trums-where the lines are too long for
the radiation to be visible-of iron and
titanium. They will serve as new finger
prints of the elements in nature by
which they can be detected wherever
they occur-in the blood stains left by a
murderer or in the structure of a star
a few million light years away from the
earth.