Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-12-05

City Post once, Massachusetts,
avenue and North Capitol street, to
enroll under the Alien Registration
Act.
Their answers to questions on the
information forms we're routine until
question No. IA arose.
Have you ever been arrested, in
dicted or convicted of any offense?"
the registration clerk asked the man.
We'll, no. Not unless you include
small things like petty larceny"
We've got to put it all down"
the clerk said. What was the Of
fense?"
Oh" they said. "I took a little
money from my boss t'
How much?"
1T doesn't make any difference
1t didn't amount to anything really"
A Matter Of Degree.
We've got to know the amount, /"
the clerk insisted. IF it was less
than 500, it was petty larceny. If
1t was more it was grand larceny"
They didn't call it either" the
man explained. They referred to
it as ewbezzlement."s
Come on, what was the amount?"
''Thirty-five thousand dollars"
The wife interrupted with a shrill
cry. Why, you never told me any
thing about that"
Il know, dear" the man said
soothingly. Il really didn't do it.,
that's why I didn't tell you. I'm
innocent"
Sticking to stern reality, the clerk
persisted. What disposition did the
court make of your case?"
Il served two years in the peni-
Tertiary"
Il might have know it." the wife
remarked, glaring at her husband.
Now we're ruined. Everybody will
find out"
Not unless one of you tell" the
clerk assured her. Cur records are
secret"
Routine Far From Dull.
Few of the cases handled by the
registration authorities here are as
dramatic as this one. But all has
not been dull routine in the regis
tration Of the more than II 500 non-
citizens who have signed up through
the local post Office.
Just the other day there was the
man who wanted his, marriage
status distinctly understood.
Are you married." the clerk in
quired when he reached question
No. 5.
mo gotta WIFE"
But thought you said this little
girl is your daughter"
Sure, gotta da girl but no gotta
wife"
You were married to this girls
mother weren't your"
Sure
Did you get a divorce9'
"No."
Then your wife died3"
mo"
Then you're still married. You
most certainly have got a wife.
That's the law"
Listen" said the non-citizen. IF
you gotta wife and da wife she run
away and da wife she stay away
for u year, then you no gotta wife
I no care what the law say"
Lets mark you down as mar
ried, anyway" the clerk declared,
well both know better, though"
Public Sometimes Errs.
Naturally, some citizens have mis-
understood the registration.
One middle-aged man weaved
his. way to the information desk.
wiped beer foam on his mouth and
said he wanted to register.
Where were you born?" he was
asked.
In Prince Georges County," he
replied proudly, "just a few miles
from here"
Then you're just as much citi-
zen of the United States as I am"
the clerk said. You don't have to
register"
Say, buddy, don't try to give me
the run-around. I want to sign up
for a Christmas Job and don't tell
me I can't do it.
I'm that case, mister, you should
apply at another office. See our
sign over there. This is for alien
registration; you're not an alien"
1--WE, been given the run-around
by smarter guys than you, buddy,
leta me have one of them blanks. I"
Waste Basket Material.
He got the form all right. In cases
like this, once 1t is determined by
checking the form that the signer
has filled cut that he Is not an
alien, the clerk put 1t away neatly,