davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-05-29
Wholesale Volumes Up

A survey of wholesale firms In
April, the Commerce Department
says, showed sales per cent higher
than March and 81 per cent higher
than in April of last year.
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Abuse of Discretion

With automobile accidents taking
mounting toll of lives in the Dis
trict, the disclosure last week that an
assistant corporation counsel had
nolle pressed a charge of driving
while drunk against a local attorney
after the defendant had agreed to
plead guilty to a minor OtfenSe can
only be viewed as an abuse Of dis
cretion which tends to undermine
public confidence in the machinery
of law enforcement.
All prosecutors, including assist
ants to the corporation counsel,
whose duty it is to enforce the traffic
laws, have the right and an Obliga-
ton to enter nolle presses in any case
in which the evidence, in their judg-
ment, clearly fails to support the
charge But it does not appear that
any such legitimate exercise of dis
cretion was involved in this matter
On the basis of the assistants own
statements, he nolle pressed the Sc
rious charge without hearing the
evidence or notifying the complain
ants, being guided solely by the as
surance of the defendant and his
attorney that the damages had been
paid and that the compliments did
not wish to prosecute"
The complainantS have denied say
ing they did not wish to prosecute
the defendant, but, regardless of
their attitude, there seems to have
been a clear abuse of discretion in
this instance because, irrespective of
payment Of damages or the wishes
Of compliments, proper regard for
the public interest in matters of this
kind should have operated to deter
the prosecutor from quaShing the
drunken-driving charge without even
hearing the evidence against the de-
fendant. If the action taken in this
case is defenSible, it would seem to
follow that all drunken drivers in the
District should be secure against
prosecution.
This is matter which most ur-
gently calls for remedial measures
by Corporation Counsel Richmond B.
Keech, who has had report on the
incident under consideration for sew
eral days. In fairness to Mr.. Keech
it should be pointed out that the nolle
PROSE- was entered some time before
he took Office, but that fact should
not be permitted to stand in the way
of firm action to restore public conf
dence in the traffic enforcement
branch of his office.
Evening star., 1941-02-04
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles +. TrdceDeH.

the bureau and the person who Is Co
operating.
A tedious amount OF clerical work is
involved-tedious. that is, one does
not like such work. Checking and re-
checking CHECK and double check, as
ANDY used TO call IT. do not appeal to
some natures.
It is the only way, OF course, to recog-
nize bird and to keep track OF its
movements.
Persons who find dead birds with
bands on their legs should remove the
band. check the number and send 1t to
the Biological Survey. In this way they
know where the bird was first banded,
its subsequent career, as far as reported,
and its end. In this way, and in this
way alone is it possible to tell how long
the wild birds live.
1t has always seemed to US that bird
banding would be most melancholy
task. We looked over record some
time ago, showing the histories Of hum
dreds of banded birds, and it was amaz-
ing how many OF them lived but two or
three years.
Perhaps one must have the true scien-
tific spirit to enter into bird banding
with vim and vigor and perennial in
terest. There can be no doubt that the
interest grows with the work.
Grinding suet in meat grinder, set
medium, is a good way to serve 1t for
nuthatches and chickadees.
Nuthatches, by the way, often have
their under parts grayish-white. Oc-
casionally a red-breasted nuthatch is
reported in this locality, but we have
never seen one.
The big news in our garden now is the
appearance of a pair of chickadeeS.
The ground-up suet is exactly 10 their
taste, and they share coconut shell Of
1t with pair of titmice.
When you have titmice and chickadees
together you have about as nice dis
play of birds, in little, as any yard
shows.
The chickadees in particular, are de-
sirable birds owing to the particular
quality of which there is never too much
III decent NOI III dL ANY OIlt llIllt
daintiness of the true sort.
Cute" is the word which may be ap-
piled to the chickadee, and It does indl-
cate some Of this quality, but certainly
there is a great deal more to it than
that. Perhaps It is the basic elemental
decency of all good creatures which
mind their own business and permit
others to mind theirs at the same time
they present a perfect picture Of good
health and that harmony Of nature
which God so often placed in the hands,
paws and claws of creatures of the wild.
1t is a great pleasure TO watch these
dainty things perch for an instant on
the brim Of the bobbing coconut shell,
then dart forward over the snow to a
nearby tree
The nuthatChes. Of which there are
regularly four, are among the busiest
guests at this particular feeder.
They take bits of suet away to the
rough bark of locust trees. where they
hide them for the downy woodpeckers
to find.
In this way the birds help each other
in cold world
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Cites Virginia Tradition
For "Jittery" Politicians.
To the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor of The Star:
A great philosopher said: Fear is the
dungeon of the mind" and it would seem
that courage is the key to unlock the
dark chamber. Cowardice means con-
tinued confinement.
In describing the spirit of bravery,
necessary to destroy the monster of
doubt the following story, which recently
was related for the first time, seems
appropriate: "On the evening of June II,
1882, Stonewall Jackson's army, the VAL
ley campaign ended, toiled up a noun
tain to Rockfish Gap, near Richmond.
They had been called for the defense
of the city. The army was climbing then,
as we are today, into the unknown.
That night when the army was en-
camped and the campfires were lighted
q staff officer, overweight with sus-
pense, burst forth to Stonewal jackson:
Well never get over the mountain and
win the fight at Richmond Furiously
old Jack turned upon the officer: Take
no counsel of your fears. I have never
yet gained victory by counseling my
fears"
1t was said that this spirit 'isa the
summation of the tradition of Virginia"
The politicians of this jittery period who
seem determined to arouse mass hysteria
in order to make the people war-con-
scious should remember Jaekson's
courageous utterance.
xDMUND Z. GOLDSBOROUGH.
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Eritreu
are agloV

The ancient Roman name for the
Red Sea was Erythraeum Mare, and
it was from that source that the
title Eritrea was obtained. When
applied to an area of approximately
forty-f1ve thousand square miles OF
hills and valleys, the modern desig-
nation commonly has been accepted
for an Italian colony bounded inland
by the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Abys-
sinia and French Somaliland. But
the territory never actually has been
brought into subjection by any
European power. The inhabitants a
decade ago were estimated to num-
ber about six hundred and twenty
one thousand. A vast majority Of
these people are semi-nomad shep-
herds of Arab stock or Of Ethiopian
ancestry The plateau-dWellers gen.
orally are Copts. their neighbors in
the highlands and in the lower coun-
try are disciples of Islam. A certain
militant pride characterizes both
clements Neither is noted for
anxiety to avoid trouble.
Perhaps the contemporary popu-
lation is Of only relatively recent
Importation The main road from
Adults to Axomis runs through terri
tory which formerly was occupied
by different races. Ruined cities,
broken monuments, may be seen on
either side of the highway The in
scriptions are in several primitive
alphabetS. 1t is recorded that "at
the end of the reign of Nero, and
perhaps even earlier, the king of
the Axumites ruled over the Red Sea
coast from Suakin to the Strait of
Bab-el-Mandeb and traded con-
stantly with Egypt. This potentate
called himself kings of kings COM
manded an army and a fleet, coined
money, adopted Greek as the official
language, and lived on good terms
with the Roman Empire"
Beginning about 1740 bitter
struggle prevailed between Abys-
sinians and Egyptians. Fortune
favored first one side and then the
other; neither succeeded in achiev-
ing conclusive victory. The notori-
Evening star., 1941-02-04
When the Road Is Silver

Who WOuld Udlk on Utnter night
When the road is silUer beneath his
feet
And the air Is fragrant y'th falling
sno1U7
CLASSY skeins bind the tettered fo1o
OF the bIue-lipped brook, while the
bold stars meet
To enthrone the 0host-ridder hills
OF Whtte.
Let him beUare Of the prtsn1s OF
light,
Let the time for making be s,ctt
and feet,
Lest this lumineScence duH-edge his
sight.
Clean and cold are the minds that
bloU,
They eclipse the sky NTH crystal
sheet:
Nothing else but his heart is bR-
quietly bright
When the road is SiIDer beneath his
feet.
LEILA PIER KING.
Evening star., 1941-02-04
~TAKOMA PARK, Nd.

Dear Sir:
"A titrnouse and q chickadee, each with
a band on his leg, feed at my window.
I should like 20 much TO know by whom
they were banded.
Can YOU give me any information as
to why they are banded and is it un-
usual to see birds with bands?
I'VE have fed and watered birds at
this place for many years. We put grain,
only. on the ground. Have shallow boxes
hung on the back porch for other food.
It's amazing how much they eat and
the large number that like suet. I keep
large piece in one box and even the
mocker loves it. For the f1ickers and
woodpeckers the suet is nailed to tree
trunks.
IAN this winter the birds have eaten
10 pounds of grain each week. During
real winter, snowy weather, they con-
sumo much more. Our nuthatches have
gray breasts instead of white as the bird
book shows.
Your articles are read and enjoyed
at our house, and we are very grateful
for the information they contain.
with every good wish for you and
your birds, I am.
Gratefully yours, J. G."
Bird banding is carried on under the
auspices Of the Biological Survey.
The work is done to give ornitholo-
gists a true picture. with statistics, Of
bird life in this country.
They want TO know how long birds
live, whether the same pairs remain to-
gether where they migrate. whether they
return TO the same places year after
year, and SO on.
A license is necessary now to take
part in this work
Essentials in this work are traps Off
cially numbered and registered bands
and q desire personally to handle birds
without harming them.
Only comparatively few amateur
bird lovers will have any desire to take
part IN this type of work. Birds. when
caught, are extremely scared, naturally
enough. Their reactions differ, OF
course, but any one who ever has held
O bird in the hand knows what it is
Unless one is extremely careful in
handling the traps, and especially in
springing the door. bird may be caught.
Removing them is a matter of great
f1uttering on the part of the bird and
some trepidation on the part OF the
human being involved, especially I. rev
at the work
The bands have to be put on just So
They should slide, but not allow so much
play that a berry or other foreign sub
stance could get in between the band
and the leg. II too large, the band may
cause the creature TO become caught
somewhere,
II Is not very often that one sees
banded birds hereabouts.
We have been watching them at feed
ing stations for six years. now. and have
yet to see our first banded specimen.
The numbers of band show nothing
in themselves. The only way they can
be used Is in checking them against the
registers, and this properly concerns only
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Fsvors Immediate Passage
OF Lease-Lend Bill Unchanged.

To the Editor OF The Star:
At this time when American safety and
freedom are threatened, it is imperative
that all political factions quickly agree
on national policy that will assure
American safety. Time cannot be Sc
cured by prolonged debate. We know
that our security depends upon Britain
retaining command of the sea. Good
sense dictates a policy of full aid to
Britain. Our Navy and air force should
be co-ordinated with those of Britain
while we rearm.
The responsibility of Congress today is
greater than that of any Congress since
1861. This Congress has the information
and advice of the President, his cabinet,
of high Army and Navy officers The
Presidents lease-lend bill should be
passed without change and in time to
save Britain from defeat There is no
use in considering halfway measures
when Hitler has told the world that he
will take from the have nations" A
negotiated peace is impossible. we have
Hitlers word for 1t.
I should like to ask the isolstionists if
it is half as disastrous to "plow" Ameri-
can soldiers under European soil as it
would be to tie their hands and "plow'
them under American soil along with
women and children bombed and ma
chine-gunned in American cities?
FRED P. PATTON.
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Summarizes Objections
To Lease-Lend Bill.

To the Editor OF The Star:
favor the lease-lend bill because there
seems to be so few good reasons for
opposing it. The reasons advanced are:
Col. Lindbergh: Doesn't want either
side to win, wants negotiated peace,
believes a just peace is possible now and
that We should cooperate with the
victor. Thinks 10000 planes sufficient.
does not believe We could impose our
way of life on Europe or Asia, hopes
for peace by the collapse of one side
or the other, but has no preference con-
corning the ethics of either Believes we
were largely responsible for the war and
that Germany will win, but that we can
lick her all alone.
Mr. Kennedy: Puts the cost in one
pan of the scale and the safety of our
institutions in the other, is afraid of
arouSing the public to fighting pitch"
afraid to trust the President with the
power Of quick and necessary action.
Believes the British Navy will neither
fight to the death nor surrender, but
when England is defeated will protect
British possessions. Would rather sur
render to victor than become 'in-
volved," and prefers Hitler-dominated
world to risking war, but would rather
see Britain successful.
Mr.. Thomas: Would welcome drastic
changes in our Government, doesn't
like the present trend toward preserving
democracy.
Gen. Johnson: Fears to give power to
the President, even in the present emer-
gency; would rather risk the danger of
delay than trust the President and his
advisers.
Several persons: Are opposed to doing
anything because they are not told just
what the terms of peace may be. Many
are sore at Britain because of the way
England fought us in 1776 and 1872,
because of her treatment of Ireland,
India, Egypt, Australia and Canada, or
because she helped Germany recover,
was for time an appeaser and failed
to pay her debts.
Why not let the dead past bury its
dead and do what is wise and good for
these United States now?
JOHN e. FIELD.
Denver Colo
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Randolph. Utah
Suggests Correction
or Revenue Laws.

To the Editor of The Star:
The views of Mr. Kennedy and Col.
Lindbergh on our defense situation are
significantly interesting but tend to add
to the confusion surrounding the lease
lend plan
Of course, the opinions of these gentle
men may open the field for clearer
thinking on the question of whether or
not We should 60 the limit. In the
meantime, it is well that we extend our
industrial capacity to the utmost in
order that maximum strength may be
reached as soon as possible.
believe, however. that along with the
appropriation of billions for our defense.
some attention should be devoted to the
job of plugging the gaps in domestic
revenue laws. 1t seems incredible. but
true nevertheless, that importers Getting
one example,, with great energy and
fertile ingenuity, manage to take ad-
vantage of the loopholes in the Tariff
Act and the apparent lack of an ade-
quate field force to enter goods at values
and classification rates of duty incon-
sistent with the nature of the imported
article. If handicaps such as this could
be overcome, think Treasury Depart
ment actuarieS would note q general
increase in the yield of customs revenue
GEORGE F. WEITNER.
Long Island City, N. Y.
Evening star., 1941-02-04

Gus disorder of the neighborhood
led to the intervention of Italy with
the approval of Great Britain. On
February S, 1885, italian troops oc-
cupied the principal town, Massawa,
described as "the chief and only
good port" affording access to the
turbulent interior. There followed
intermittent strife involving Ethi-
opians and nameless highland tribes
resentful of foreign intruderS even
when they appeared with money in
their hands to pay for the real estate
they wanted.
AS a practical investment, Eritrea
never has been worth its cost to
Italy. If, however, it is appraised
for its strategic value, it must be
conceded to be important. 1t could
be and probably has been base for
operations against the British life
line to India. Obviously, it is for
that reason that English armies cur
rently are moving to expel the
Italians from the coastal region.
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Wuqe-Hour Act Upheld

The Supreme Court decision up
holding the Wage and Hour Act is
another important victory for the
New Deal social welfare program,
and extends still further the ever
widening orbit of the power Of the
Federal Government within the
States.
The law, prohibiting interstate
shipment Of goods produced under
lower wage-hour standards than pro-
vided by the act, was held uncOnSti-
tutional by Georgia District Court
which said it sought to regulate
manufacture within the States, and
that this was an area that Congress
could not reach under its power to
regulate interstate commerce.
With one inCiSive sentence, the
unanimous decision of the Supreme
Court, read by Justice Stone, swept
away this contention:
while manufacture is not of it
self interstate commerce, the ship
ment of manufactured goods inter-
state is such commerce and the pro-
hibition of such shipment by Con-
gress is indubitably a regulation Of
the commerce" Then, as if further
10 emphasize the sweeping effect of
the decision, the court said that "the
obvious purpose of the act was not
only to prevent the interstate trans
portation of the prescribed product,
but to stop the initial step toward
transportation production with the
purpose of so transporting it"
In the same opinion, the court
validated the chiIdlabor ban en-
bodied in the act, and specifically
overruled a tWenty-tWo-year-old de-
cision holding Congress to be without
power to regulate the employment
of minors In that earlier decision,
which provoked notable dissent by
Justice Holmes, the ourt had said
that the congressional power to pro-
hibit interstate commerce was linn
Ned to articles which in themselves
2ave harmful and deleteriouS prop
erty-"a distinction" Justice Stone
commented, which was novel when
made, and unsupported by any pro-
vision of the Constituencies long
since been abandoned"
The decision upholding the major
provisions of the act was rendered in
a case involving the indictment of a
Georgia lumber company for a series
of violations. With it, Justice Stone
read another opinion affirming the
order Of the Wage and Hour Division
Evening star., 1941-02-04

fixing minimum wage Of thirty-two
and one-half cents an hour for the
textile industry. This had. been
challenged. mainly on procedural
grounds, by group of cotton mills
in the deep South and again the
court was unanimous, holding that
the administrative process was in full
conformity with the law.
Evening star., 1941-02-04

O. When was the manufacturers tax
on cigarettes Increased?-M. r.
A. The manufacturers tax on ciga-
rettes was raised from $500 a thousand
to 1926 a thousand in July, 1910.
O. How many people does the Metro
poIitan Opera House accommodated
L. M. B.
A. The seating capacity of the Metro
politan Opera House is 3,445.
O. When was the Railroad Retirement
Act declared unconstitutional b. the
Supreme Court?-C. F. A
A. The first Railroad Retirement Act
was ruled unconstitutional by the Su-
preme Court on October "a, 1884, the
second was ruled unconstitutional Nav
s, 1885. On June "a, 1887 the present
act was approved
@. What is a Charivau?-C T 3.
A Charlva-i is a French word Of un-
known origin meaning rough music Corr
rupted into shivaree in America, 1t deSlg-
mates an old custom Of Serenading newly
welded couples with every type Of noise
making device.
@ When did the small bills come into
circulation?-K. E. A.
A The small size United states cur
rency was first issued July TO- 1929.
@. What per cent Of the blood Is
water?-F. L. T.
A Blood consists of q per cent solids
and 78 per cent water.
Q. When was bonded whiskey author
lied by the Government?-F. o. B.
A. The authorizing act which eStab-
lished bonded whiskey was passed March
3, 1897. The law required that whiSkey
should be stored in wood for no less than
four years, and that the whiskey should
be bottled with an alcoholic strength of
100 proof.
c. What statesman was known as the
Little MagiCian?"-M. A.
A. Van Buren was so called because
of his shrewdness and skill in handling
political affairs.
O. Has Oklahoma had two capitals?-
M. j. D.
A. Guthrie was the capisel Of Okla
homa from 1890 to 1911. Since that
time the capital has been Oklahoma
CITY,
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Says Germans Should
Care for Refugees.

To the Editor of The Star:
I read the article in The Sunday Star
Of January 26 in which Mr.. Clarence Z.
Pickett rells of the refugees starving in
France. Whose fault is it that they
are refugees" and that they are starv-
ing2
Conquerors usually feed their prison.
~ sad masters iood taasif slayaA u
Evening star., 1941-02-04

seems TO me remember reading how the
German soldiers bought - up all the
foodstuff in France. I also heard over
the radio that it was suggested by some
that We only help ourselves" Should
We follow this advice we'd send no food
to any one.
But Americans cannot be that selfish.
they are always willing TO help those in
want and always have. But as to giving
the refugees a haven in this country.
what would we do with them? There
are so many of our own people out Of
work. L. G. F.
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Denver, Colo.
Exempts Senator Wheeler
From Praise of Hitler.

Exempts Senator Wheeler
From Praise of Hitler.
To the Editor of The Star:
Suppose Senator Wheeler did predict
that Hitler ultimately would dominate
Europe. Many others predicted the same
thing, and their predictions thus far, un-
fortunately, have. been borne out by the
facts.
There appears to be no record of Sen
ator Wheeler ever having expressed ad-
miration for Hitler. Nor did he ever say
anything like "the only way to meet Hit
lerism LIS with Hitlerism."
n. q. LAIN.
Evening star., 1941-02-04

Statistics show that the best time
to make a million dollars Is between
the ages of so and "a. This will be
disappointing news to a lot of us Just
past the -four-year mark.
Evening star., 1941-02-04

German bombs may be doing Brit
ain a favor in that they will succeed,
where all other methods failed, in
throwing open the bases of Fire to
her one great natural protector.
Evening star., 1941-02-04

A Clearwater fla man discovers
that not only Is his heart on the wrong
side, but also that his stomach is
upside down. However. his thumbs
are UP.
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Advocates Provisions"
To Stop Labor Troubles.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Since our extensive preparedness pro-
gram has been in operation many de-
bates have ensued in Congress concern
ing the building OF a strong line of de-
fense and aid to England. While these
evident necessities have been discussed,
what consideration has been given to
labor conditions in vital defense indus
tries.
The backbone of this defense program
is the worker, yet what provisions have
been made to prevent difficulties from
arising in the Nations important defense
industries? Strikes and threats of strikes
are prevalent in these indispensable
plants, but what has been done to pre-
vent such occurrences?
1t is my opinion that adequate pro-
visions should be made by the Govern
ment to stop any such activities.
WILLIAM DEEDS.
Evening star., 1941-02-04
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the ,rriter, although the use Of
a pSeudony1n for publication is
permissible. The Star reserreS
the r1Qht TO edit all letters 1Cith
q uie1U to condensation.