Evening star., 1940-09-29
Capital SideIights
By Viii p. Kennedy.


the criticism Of the lack of defense
preparation by the United States is well
illustrated by the emergence of the Ma
rine Corps, Army and Navy stations on
the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as
the keystone of the Western Hemisphere
defense set-up contemplated in the ac-
QUESTION of new bases from the British.
The United States saw the need for ac-
quiring the Virgin Islands during the
Lincoln administration when they served
as base for Confederate blockade run
ners. In World War days the defense
strategistS saw the possibilities of a naval
base at ST. Thomas and The American
Virgins standing on guard of the ap-
proach to the Panama Canal So %
years ago the United States paid Dem
mark SIS 900 900 for this important de-
fense station. Thus also with Puerto Rico,
watchdog of the Caribbean" headquar-
tiers of the neutrality patrol which is
being developed as the Gibraltar Of the
West Indies-whose flying fortresses COM
mand the entire Atlantic seaboard OF
North and South America 1t was more
than 40 years ago as result of the
Spanish American War in 1898. that
the United States took formal posses
sion of Puerto Rico.
For the three main Virgin Islands
st. Thomas, st. John and St. CroiX-
and the 50-odd small and mostly unin-
habited surrounding islands, the United
States paid higher price for defense
than it ever paid for any other acquisi-
ton of territory. The actual cost aver
aged s29370 per acre, compared to
cents an acre for Alaska and q cents
an acre for the Philippines. This was
more than twice what Denmark at one
time offered to accept for these strate-
gically located islands 1t was from one
Of these Virgin Islands-St. Croix-
that Alexander Hamilton came to stand
forth conspicuously among the Founding
Fathers Of the United States.
Many members of the House are op-
posed to Government publicity bureau
as proposed by Dr. Archibald MacLeish,
Librarian Of Congress. Representative
Robert F. Jones, Republican, of Ohio
records his objections. thus: DR. Mac
Leish is in one of the most strategic
positions in our Federal Government
The Congressional Library is used by
more people than any other library in
the world. DR.. MacLeish should cham
pion the cause of unbiased information
as his sacred obligation to the public
Obviously propaganda machine of any
administration would attempt to sway
the public toward belief in the indis-
pensability of the party in power. Paid
publicity experts of any administration
would dramatic the worth of the party
in power, tell half truths of its virtue,
black out criticism and blaspheme the
constructive critic. Propaganda ma
chimes in every totalitarian country have
preceded the loss of the liberties of their
people
Taxes today are far different from
those at the turn of the century. Last
year A per cent of all taxes collected
VCAS AASAA SoAA W. Aloe loPPC0 dl ~
years ago-on income, pay rolls, motor
fuel, motor vehicles, gifts and inheri-
tance. In early 1900 more than half
the total governmental revenues came
from property taxes, where today it is
only about one-third. Customs duties
have dropped from second to last place
as a major revenue source. Last year
motor vehicles and motor fuel accounted
for 10 per cent of all tax revenues.
The rush of youthful swains to escape
sonscription by hasty marriages has
found check in the restrictive laws of
some 30 States. Waiting periods be-
came effective in five States last year.
Eighteen Of the 30 States have pre-marital
health text laws. Waiting periods range
from six days between notice Of inten-
ton and issuance Of license in Rhode
Island to "a hours between issuance Of
the license and the wedding In Della.
ware.