davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-06-22
UNCLE RAYS CORNER

1t seems strange to think of rock
which is lighter than water, but VOL
canoes make a great deal of such
rock. 1t is known as. ''pumice" or
"pumice stone" When it falls in
a lake or sea it floats.
A piece of pumice stone contains
hundreds of little pockets or pores.
Usually it is white or gray, but it
may be dark brown or black. Some
times it is yellow. Red pumice is
known, but it is rare.
When lava rises from volcano
there is a great deal of water vapor
mixed with it and some parts have
more vapor than the rest. AS the
outer coat of lava hardens, pieces
with many pockets made by water
vapor may break off, thus giving us
pumice stones.
The actual stone in a piece of
pumice is heavy enough, but the
holes and pockets cause it to be of
light weight. That is why it floats.
Time and again, large regions in
the ocean have been covered with
pumice, which also has the name of
"rock froth." 1t has been so thick
at times as to hold up the passage
of sailing vessels.
In 1883 the mighty volcano Kraka-
toa broke loose. The Strait of Sunda
(Which borders the island of Java
was covered with pumice over an
area two-t thirds of a mile wide and
Evening star., 1939-06-22
Rock From Volcanoes

Another rock which comes from
lava is "obsidian" 1t also is a form
of glass, but is heavy and does not
float. It may be black, brown or
red.
If you visit Northern Ireland you
may go to the coast and see the
Giants Causeway. 1t is one of the
amazing works of Nature. People
gave it the name because of a legend.
The story goes that the rocks were
put together by giant who started
Cbut did not finish) roadway from
Ireland across the sea to Scotland.
In real fact, the Giants Cause
way was made by eruptions of a
volcano The volcano laid down
blocks of basalt rock, which were
hardened from lava. About 10000
blocks are in the form of columns.
Most of the columns have six sides,
but some have five or seven sides,
others eight or nine.
Many columns are more than 80
feet high. The blocks and columns,
piled one above another, form cliffs
which rise to heights of 300 to 400
feet.
For nature section Of your scrapbook)
G~eA nad
Tomorrow: The Rock Called
Granite.
Evening star., 1939-06-22

Winning Contract
BY THE FOUR ACES.
Completely Overlooked
South. dealer.
Neither side vulnerable.
A1073
vQ1092
<A9854
AoJs4 As652
v83 N VIA
>Q106 We UT
&10752 S @J9963
AJAX
~AKJ65
%K32
AAQ4
The bidding:
South. West North. East.
~ Pass 80 Pass
3v Pass 6v Pass
~ Pass Pass Pass
Dear Four Aces" writes one of
our St. Louis readers, Playing with
one of my favorite partners I ar
rived at a grand slam contract on
the hand submitted. think you will
agree that I had sound opening
two bid, and certainly my partner
had fine enough support to warrant
: his taking me to six. then bid the
grand slam, fully confident that the
combined hands would produce the
13 tricks. When West opened the
queen of spades, I gazed with dismay
at the dummy, since I obviously had
a losing diamond trick with no way
to get rid of it. I would appreciate a
frank criticism of the bidding"
In spite of the fact that South
had a very powerful hand, we be-
lieve he should have been content
with small slam because of the fact
that his diamond holding of three
to the king could hardly be called
ideal If he had held king-small, we
would say by all means bid the grand
slam. AS it was, unless partner held
both ace and queen, there was great
likelihood of diamond loser.
However, as the cards were dis
tributed, the hand was an absolute
laydown All South had to do was to
play out his five trumps, three club
tricks and two top spades, mean
while discarding from dummy in
such manner that the spade ten
and ace and one diamond remained
In order to keep the high spade, West
would have to let go of a diamond,
whereupon all the outstanding dia-
monds would have fallen. This SIM
pie squeeze should not have been
overlooked.
Yesterday you were Oswald ia
eoby's partner and held:
QJXXx
vXX
<AKx
AJAX
The bidding:
You. Schenken. Jacoby. Maier
"A Pass "a Pass
(O
Answer: Your correct bid is four
spades. Since your partner can only
bid two spades, there is no chance
for a slam. In fact, you may not
make game, but you certainly want
to be there.
Score 100 per cent for four spades,
go per cent for three spades, none for
any other bid.
Question No. 166.
MerWin Maier is your partner.
Evening star., 1939-06-22

10 miles long. In some spots the
pumice was from 13 to 16 feet deep!
A report came that sailors escaped
from a boat which was made pris-
oner" by the pumice-they had
walked on it to the shore! After
pumice has rested on the water for
a long time, it becomes water
logged and sinks.
Pumice is form of glass. 1t is
useful for polishing ivory, metal and
stone. Often, but not always, it is
ground into powder before being
employed in this way.
Evening star., 1939-06-22

The bidding:
Maier. Burnstone You Schenken,
~ Pass CD
What do you bid? (Answer to-
morrow
(Released by the Bell Syndicate. Inc,)
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
10 MILLION IDLE,
A.F.OF L.F|NDS

The American Federation Of
Labor today reported that
10,380,000 persons were unem
ployed at the end of 1898, and
charged that the New Deal spend
ing program had failed to put
men to work and produce goods
to capacity.
Unless plans are devised to set
private industry to work produc-
ing goods and raising living stand
ards, the Federation said the ma
tion in 1910 will either face an
other depression or a greater
armament program to provide
employment.
Demanding the establishment
of a national planning board to
chart the nations economic fu-
ture, the Federation's monthly
survey of business warned:
Excessive armaments lower liv-
ing standards and increase danger
of war. Also, Government cannot
forever go on piling deficit upon
deficit. A very real danger lies
ahead in 1940."
The survey found the immedi-
ate business picture to be bright.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
notes
BUILDING GAINS

G.NS.) Building permit valua
tions for cities, excluding New
York, were So per cent higher in
December than in the same month
of 1887, Secretary Of Labor Per
kins announced today.
This increase was brought
about by a gain of IS per cent
in the value of new residential
buildings and of "a per cent in the
value of new nonresidential build
ings. she said. A decrease of Z
per cent was shown in the value
of additions, alterations and re
pairs.
"A new building code became
effective in New York city the
latter part of January, 1885,"
she said. This caused large
influx of applicants for permits
in December, 1887. and Jan
uary, 1898, which normally
would have been spread over a
much greater period.
During the calendar year
1898 permits were issued in
cities reporting to the depart
ment for buildings valued at
$1,694, ,345, 900. This is an in
crease of 3 per cent as compared
with the year 1887"
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Business Rise
Seen by Carneu

ATLANTA, Ga, Jan. % Q.N.S.)
Although denying he is a business
prophet, T. j. Carney, newly
elected president of Sears, Roe
buck & Company, today ventured
the opinion that business will be
better in 1889 than it was last
year. He said:
Il should dislike to think that
my first move put me on record
as business prophet. I never
have been and, I'm afraid, never
will be one. There are too many
variableS affecting world eco
nomic conditions to permit any
one person to pose as an au-
thority on the future. I can
only say that Sears selling per-
formance in the recent past has
been encouraging; the last
periods sales were the best in
our history. We are inclined to
think-on the basis of the best
evidence available at the mo-
ment-that business will be
better in 1899 than in 1888"
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Roberts TO Preside
At Church Breakfast

Justice Owen J. Roberts Of the
Supreme Court will preside at q
breakfast on February % follow
ing a corporate communion for
men and boys Of the Episcopal
Church at Washington Cathedral.
The Right Rev. James E. Freeman,
Bishop of Washington, will be cele-
brant at the communion at 8 a. m.
The announcement was made last
night at meeting Of the Potomac
Assembly of the Brotherhood Of
st. Andrew, at the Episcopal
Church of the Ascension, by H.
Lawrence Choate, president of the
assembly.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
HUGE HOUSING
FUND FAVORED

NEW YORK, Jan. % Q.N.S0
Increased Federal funds to re
house a million families during
the next five years were sought
today by the National Public Hous
ing Conference.
Holding its eighth annual meet
ing, the conference approved nin'
policies after hearing letter O.
greeting from President Roose
velt.
The platform approved by the
conference urged:
/. Increased Federal funds to
extend the program of local
housing authorities to rehouse
100000 in the next five years.
2. Local housing authority
laws to be passed by all States.
3. Financial assistance by
States to local housing authorl-
ties.
4. More local housing authori-
ties and an increase in their
activities.
5. Local subsidies.
6. Reduced building costs.
7. Families displaced by slum
clearance to be given first claim
of houses constructed under the
proposed program.
8. Budget appropriations by
cities covering salaries and
other routine expenses of their
housing authorities.
9. Federal, State and local
loans for the benefit of families
in income groups just above
those served by subsidized
public housing projects.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
By :EUie' R0bm

Everywhere you 60 up here they're talking about
the birthday parties and the March of Dimes
in fact, it was announced at the big prize fight,
that a special charity" fight was being held in
the campaign against infantile paralysis. People
are just now waking up to the fact that these
big birthday parties are not just some private
matter of our President. For year or two,
lot of our good old Republican friends expressed
themselves very openly that it must be lust an
other way the Democratic national committee
had found to raise money" or Ito make property
around Warm Springs, Georgia more valuable" :"
But now MUST say this campaign has caught
the imagination of the entire country in every
paper you read and everywhere you go.
All Must "Do Bit"
'TNHE Presidents birthday is now recognized as
the time for every creed, every nationality
and every faction of mothers and fathers to do
their bit to fight against this dread disease. It's
just another sign of the great American spirit
taking hold!
One of the greatest workers in this campaign
up this way is Gen. Hugh "NRA" johnson of
Dead Cat" fame. His speeches are ringing the
bell-he's even converted Westbrook Pegler-
Il hope you saw his articles about the GeneraD.
But General johnson is only one of literally
thousands of celebrities in this country who are
giving their time, energy and money. The movie
stars, the newspaper writer's, the athletes in all
lines of sports, artists, writer's, singers one and
ALL are doing their bit.
Entire Nation Benefits
AS YOU all probably know already, half of the
AZ money raised is used in local communities,
the other half nationally-so that the whole
country gets the benefit. My trip to Warm
Springs, Ca. last fall with the Presidents party
was a revelation to me, and taught me plenty as
to really just what CAN be done for those who
have been smitten. Close by, in Atlanta, saw
the freshman football game between Georgia
Tech and the State University, which is played
annually for the crippled children's hospital and
which drew over 25.000-all paid admissions.
The slogan for the game is: Strong Legs
Will Run. That Weak Legs May Walk" What
a marvellous idea!
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Complaints

Dear Mr.. Moser: The prin-
cipal complaint of the many that
are made by visitors to the Ma
tional Museum is in regard to the
elevator service. There are four
passenger elevators, two on the
north side and two on the south
side, one on each side being in
operation every day. except Satur-
day afternoon, Sundays and all
holidays. On these days only one
elevator, on the north side, is in
operation in spite of the fact that
on Sundays and holidays we have
the largest number of visitors. Wis.
itors who enter the building
through the main entrance on
the south side facing the Mall
must walk through the building.
Naturally, there is much COM
plant, especially with elderly peo-
pie who cannot climb stairs. The
attitude is and always has been,
To - with the visitors the idea
being to run the place as cheaply
as possible. One more elevator op-
orator hired would take care Of
the elevator shortage. ."-Employe.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
HOUSE GROUP
SET TO STUDY
D. C. LOAN BILL
Rep. MCGehee to Call
Subcommittee

Charging moneylenders are OBJ
tanning "exorbitant" rates of in
terest from Washingtonians, Rep
resentative Dan r. McGehee CD0,
of Mississippi, chairman of the
House District Judiciary Subcom
mittee, today announced he will
hold hearings soon on the Allen
small loan bill.
IT strongly advocate" he said,
"a District law that will permit
small loan businesses to operate
here at a normal profit, so as to
make it unnecessary for Wash
ingtonianS to go across the line
into Maryland and Virginia to
pay exorbitant rates of interest"
ABSOLUTE CONTROL"
Mr.. McGehee, who foStered a
small loan bill for Mississippi when
he was a member of his State leg
islature, said he advocated "abso-
lutte control" of the business, but
one which would provide an oppor-
tunity for the small loan business
to operate here.
The Allen bill boosts the in
terest rate from the present one
per cent to two per cent, pointing
out that no small loan businesses
operate in the District because OF
their inability ito make any
money"
TO CALL GROUP
Representative McGehee an
nounced he would call his sub
committee together next week
and would recommend that hear
ings be held within a short time
on small loan legislation.
Praising The w hin g o n
Times for it's research into the
problem of small loans, he said
he would turn the Times stories
on moneylenders over to his sub
committee for their study in con.
nection with hearings on the
| LEGISLATION,
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Surprising Support

T LEGISLATORS have been
II startled by the support
manifest for tine Frazier
Lemke price-fixing bill in let
terS and editorials from out
West-especially as the larger
farm organizations are not
working for the bill.
Some of its original sup
porters in Congress put it for
ward more as Strategical
maneuver than as legislation
seriously intended for adoption.
They were so dissatisfied with
the present farm law they
wanted to put up something
new and revolutionary so as to
provoke widest interest in the
question.
But what was intended as a
spear Of protest has become a
high voltage trident of insured
ton, which cannot easily be let
go. Some hackers of the plan
are inclined to switch over to
the direct subsidy domestic
allotment) suggestion. They a
or S among the bills signatories)
may not vote for arbitrary price
fixing by legislative fiat when
they face the issue finally.
Ardent supporters of the leg
islation think it will pass. but
best unbiased judgment at this
writing still is that neither price
fixing nor subsidy will get
through. Present farm law is
likely to stand another year, not
because of love of Wallace but
because of lack of agreement on
a better plan.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Speaking of Government Workers

the ICC and, of course, many other
agencies have forwarded a list of
those whom it desires to promote
through reclassification and Gre
alton of new jobs before the Execu-
tive order of June "a becomes ef-
fective, for after that date promo
tions through grade require exam
nations. This list is now pending
before Civil Service and it's safe
bet it will be approved although
all those recommended for pro-
motion are in the higher salary
brackets, and the Civil Service
Commission is fully cognizant of
the fact that reclassification is
for the purpose of salary raises
and not change in character of
job or work-and, further, why
should the recommendations be
restricted to the higher brackets?
-E. j. s.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Rep. Fries Urges
'NA' for Goa.

Representative Frank W. Fries
(DO, of Illinois. yesterday sug-
geSted to President Roosevelt
that Government operated coal
"TVA' be set up in Southern Illi-
nois to utilize the vast bituminous
coal deposits there for the genera
tion of power. The proposal would
be worked out in somewhat SINH
lar manner as that employed by
the Government in producing
water power in the Tennessee
Valley.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Wage Law Waived
In Tobacco Industry

Wage-Hour Administrator Ell
mer F. Andrews has granted
seasonal industry exemptions
from the overtime provisions Of
the wage-hour law to the green
leaf and loose leaf tobacco indus,
tries.
His ruling permits employers in
these industries to work their EN-.
ployes up to IL hours per day or
Sc hours per week without paying
overtime during a period not to
exceed IA weeks in any year. The
law normally requires payment OF
time and one-half for work in ex-
cess Of A hours per week.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Sears ROebuCk Chairmanship
Goes to General WOOD
Carney President
In Shift of
Officers

ATLANTA, Ca. Jan. 28 I.N.S.)
Gen. R. E. Wood, president OF
Sears, Roebuck & Co., today was
named chairman of the board
succeeding LeSsing j. Rosenwald
who retireS both as chairman OF
the board and as a board member,
At the same time, Thomas j.
Carney, vice-president in charge OF
operations of the company, was
elevated to the presidency to sue
ceed General Wood.
The changes in the company'S
official family took place at a two.
day meeting Of the board of direc
tors in Atlanta.
PRESIDENT FOR 10 YEARS
Three ether vice-preSidents were
elected They were Donald M.
Nelson ss chairman of the execu.
tive committee and executive vice
president; Theodore v Houser,
vice-president in charge of merch
andising and Gordon B. Hat
tersley. vice-president in charge Of
operations.
Resignation of two members of
the board, in addition to Rosen-
wald, was announced. The re-
signed members will be succeeded
by Julius RoSenwald. End. son Of
the retiring chairman: Theodore
v. Houser and Gordon B. Hat
tersley. The board also declared
a dividend of IS cents a share.
payable March 10, 1899, to stock.
holders of record on February 10,
1899.
General Wood, the new chair
man of the board, has been presi-
dent of the company since 1928.
The new president, Carney, has
been with the firm since 1902,
having started with the organiza-
ton before he was of age. His
first job was in the shipping
room.
LONG WITH COMPANY
Nelson. the new executive vice
president and chairman of the
executive committee. has been
with the company q years.
Houser. vice president in charge
of merchandising, is a native of
Kansas City and has been with the
company since 1928.
Hattersley, who succeeds Car
ney as vice president in charge of
operations, is not yet 81. He Joined
Sears in 1924, and his rise with the
company was rapid.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
PUG WILL GET
PEPCO DATA ON
POWER USAGE
Commission Seeks to
Benefit by Cut

The Potomac Electric Power
Company prepared today to fur
nish the Public Utilities Commits
sion with data on consumption Of
current by home owners as con-
trasted with power used by COM
mercial establishments.
The commission ordered these
statistics yesterday in an attempt
to enable the smaller consumers
to share in the $394,O95 reduction
in rates, effective February
which the utility contended should
be distributed over the commercial
Schedule E."
DOMESTIC BRACKET
A spokesman for the commits
sion insisted it was his under
standing approximately 40 per
cent of the company's customers
come within the domestic bracket.
For this reason, he said, the re-
duction should be distributed on
so per cent-40 per cent basis be-
tween commercial and domestic
consumers.
In line with this opinion, Riley
E. Elgen, chairman Of the COM
mission, asked for the information
and the company's president, DR..
William Mcclellan, said he would
try to submit the data today or
Monday.
COUNTER OFFER
When the commission ordered
the reduction of $394,O85 yester.
day at public hearing, the COM
pany countered with an offer to
slash approximately 1898 900. The
commission order was based on an
ALLOWABLE return of per cent on
the company's property valuation
here of some $75,000,000.
A year ago, to put into effect
provisions of the sliding scale
agreement between the commits
sion and the company, this allow
able return was reduced from 612
per cent.
REDUCTION FOLLOWED
In the wake of this action came
a reduction Of approximately
$4,000 from which the chief
beneficiaries were commercial con-
sumers.
The sliding scale agreement
was reached in 1924. Each year
since then some reduction has
been made. On the basis Of COM
parative figures prepared by the
Federal Power Commission. the
PUG contends Washington now
enjoys one of the lowest electric
rates in the country.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28

Division did not want women ex-
aminers or attorneys, although at
the time a vacancy existed.
The excuse by Civil Service is
that it is "interdepartmental prob
lem and it cannot step in" That
may be, but it is within the pur-
view and duty of the Commission
to enforce the principles of the law
and not lend itself to ways and
means to circumVent the law
through technical phrasing and
sham examinations. At present
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Doesn't Like ICC

only satisfactory guess why
" Mr.. Roosevelt named left
wing tipfeather Amlie to the
1CC Is that the President does
not like the ICC-and deeply.
This is the commonly accepted
Surmise in Congressional cloak
rooms. There is a precedent for
it. He appointed Hugo Black to
the Supreme Court at the time
he had the same feeling about
the court as he now has for the
Interstate Commerce CommiS-
sion. In both instances he was
unable to do anything about
revising the object of his dis
affection except to say "blah"
The Washington times., 1939-01-28

day! But it was wonderful for
the President and Mrs. RooSe-
velt both to come out and give
the horse-lovers q chance to
see them. I'm particularly
pleased as a horse-lover my.
self, and l hope my colleagues
put on a good show.
I would have given most
anything to have seen Enrol
Flynn do his stuff on one OF
the White House horses. I
should have been there by all
means, to take a good spill as
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
DEN o. THE PUBLIC:

DEN O. THE PUBLIC:
After giving much thought to
the pro and con for retention of
the Civil Service Commission in
its present makeup, and the in
lection of merit" and career
service" in Federal service, one is
at a loss to understand the mean
ing of such termil- -ology when
taken into consideration with the
ease with which the Civil Service
Commission lends Itself to nefari-
GUS schemes, practices and manip-
ulations by department officials to
evade the law and Classification
Act.
The writer is under the impress
sion it is no longer legal for the
Civil Service Commission to limit
examinations and appointments to
male eligibles only, and that being
the case, will you please explain
upon what authority it is practiced
within Interstate Commerce Com
mission, for that agency will not
make appointments Of women to
legal positions and bmits their
advancement to other worthwhile
positions. The writer has in mind
the fact that several women en-
ployed on legal work in ICC have
been advanced to Grade CATS,
but denied P rating. while men
performing the same work were
given P ratings. Further. in one
instance woman with bona fide
Civil Service legal status was de-
tailed to the legal division in Mo
tor Carrier Bureau on legal work.
When the detail period was up,
this woman had to return to her
clerical section, the reason being
given that the chief Of the Legal
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Chi|dren's Nights

Children's nights at Buchanan
Center will be re-opened beginning
tonight from 6 to 8 under the
supervision of Hildegarde Christen'
sen. A course in dance inStruc-
ton under the supervision OF
Evelyn Davis will be conducted at
Buchanan Center Saturday morn
inRS.