davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-02-24
Police Court Problems

The report of Walter F. Bramhall.
chief clerk Of the Police Court. pro-
vides convincing evidence of the need
for reforms in administrative pro-
cedure at this steadily growing court.
The antiquated, lax methods of han
ding the business affairs of the Po-
lice Court are known to have worried
Department of Justice officials for
long time. The situation is said to
have been of particular concern to
them as a result of observations made
during an investigation some months
ago into alleged irregularities at the
court. More recently, deputy clerk
and a bailiff were dismissed after
confidential inquiries by court au-
thorities. Mr.. Bramhall, in his an
nual report to the Board Of Police
Court Judges, disclosed that when
one of the two bonded employees of
the finance office is on vacation or
sick leave, an unbonded and often
an inexperienced clerk is required to
serve as a substitute When it is
considered that more than 100000 in
fines, forfeitures and collateral is
handled during the course of year
In the finance office, the dangers in
herent in such a haphazard system
become clearly evident.
Mr.. Bramhall is correct in his con-
clusion that it is unwise to permit
this condition to continue. He rec
ommends not only the appointment
of an additional bonded employe for
the finance office but stricter regu-
lations governing the selection Of
court employees More specifically,
he suggests that to qualify for such
position, an applicant should submit
to careful character inquiries by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Civil Service Commission or some
other outside agency, and, moreover,
should be required to pass certain
tests designed to gauge his educa-
tional and other qualifications for
the job. These proposals are OBJ
viously sound. They should have been
in force long ago. Meanwhile, the
Department of Justice, with the an
nounced cooperation of judges,
prosecutors and members of the bar,
is preparing recommendations to
Congress for drastic reorganization
of the court machinery that would
include modernization of the ad-
ministrative setup. The tentative
plan calls for consolidation of the
Police and Municipal Courts into a
single tribunal under a presiding
judge who would have general ad-
ministrative supervision of the whole.
Some such Capitalization of author
ity and responsibility, accompanied
by an overhauling of outmoded busi-
ness methods now existing, would go
far toward eliminating potential
evils of the present system.
Evening star., 1941-02-24
France BuIks at japan

The French home government at
Vichy has rejected a Japanese
sponsored proposal for the settlement
of the undeclared war between its
Far Eastern colony of Indo-China
and Thailand 1t is understood that
the Japanese mediators proposed to
give Thailand more than it had asked
for In the negotiations being held at
Toxic, France being called on to
cede some of the richest border prov
inces and several cities of large size.
The most interesting point in this
matter Is not French reluctance to
cede valuable territory to Thailand,
but the fact that the home govern
ment seems to be standing up to
Japan. Unless it be mere gesture of
bargaining device, this self-reliant
attitude of Vichy suggests several in
teresting possibilities.
The Petain government is OBJ
viously dependent upon its German
conquerors. Hitherto, the indica-
OlOllO llcNC DCCl1 UlIdU oC4 LII puG pICS@
sure on Vichy to grant Japanese de-
mands for concessions in Indo-C China.
Those concessions today give Japan
virtual military possession of the
northern province of Tonkin, bordsr-
ing on China; the right to use the
splendid naval base at Caz1 Ranh
Bay, and a veiled occupation of
Saigon, the capital of Indo-China.
Repeated news dispatches from the
Far East describe heavy concentra-
tions of japanese troops in or near
Indo-C China and swarms of japanese
naval craft in all adjacent waters.
Furthermore, the attack launched by
Thailand was clearly undertaken
with Japanese approval and possibly
at japanese inStigation. From all
this it has been widely assumed that
Indo-China lay completely at Japan's
mercy and would pass without re-
sistance under her control whenever
Japanese policy should so elect.
Recently, however, there have been
indications that Japan might not
have quite such smooth sailing. For
the past ten days, the japanese press
has been complaining Of obstructive
attitudes among the local French
officials and coloniStS, allegedly en-
couraged by British propaganda.
And now comes direct encourage
ment from Vichy itself, in the shape
of a categorical refusal of Japan's
mediation proposal in the Thailand
dispute.
Can it be that, at the eleventh
hour, the French colonial authorities
will resist further japanese penetra-
ton and fresh Thai aggression? Can
it even be that, in such an event,
Britain will extend them aid? That
would indeed precipitate a crisis in
Anglo-Japanese relations, but the
stiffening British attitude in the Far
East does not entirely exclude the
possibility. Another highly interest
ing point is the seeming lack of pres
sure on Vichy from Berlin regarding
Indo-China. The situation is OBJ
scure, but its potentialities are as
intriguing as they are far-reaching.
Evening star., 1941-02-24

bearing about nine -tenths of the cost
of retirement, and the workers them
selves should expect to pay more for
liberalized benefits.
An important new feature of this
bill is the proposal to extend retire.
ment coverage to non-civil service
employees, and to the legislative and
judicial branches of the Government.
These groups now are in the anom-
alous position Of being barred from
social security benefits because of
their. Federal employment and, at
the same time, being excluded from
the Federal annuity system. That
condition well may be corrected.
Evening star., 1941-02-24
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles z. TrucetpeIl.

our yard without going to the bird feed
ing stations.
There are four feeders, and sometimes
there are two squirrels at each feeder,
making eight animals in all.
Usually from four to eight squirrels
are to be seen all morning long.
In the afternoon the number usually
shrinks to two, or even one; often there
are no squirrels at all to be seen after
o'clock
Our guess Is that squirrels, having ami
NAL stomachs, not bird gizzards. get full,
after they have eaten all morning They
are then willing to retire to their trees
to sleep.
1t may be that il the woods the squir-
rels are so occupied with hickory nuts
and the like that they find no need for
eating with the birds.
On the other paw, there is no food
these active rodents like more than SUM-
flower seed. Few birds consume more of
1t than our squirrels.
There is one feeding station on a stake
just outside the dining room window.
Here the squirrels come at first light,
one chasing another out time and time
again.
They come up the steel stake to the
back of the feeder, perch on top, and
then twist themselves over the edge.
The moment the squirrel in the station
feels the advent of the intruder, it
bounces out and across the yard without
waiting to dispute the situation.
We have never seen squirrels get in a
fight. One simply leaves, which no doubt
is as good way as any to settle an argu-
ment. If one OF two persons for in
stance, simply refuses to argue, there
usually isn't any quarrel.
A squirrel at a bird feeding station is
not an altogether unmixed Joy.
Despite the fun which he brings to
the scene, he eats a great deal of food,
and makes so many rushes back and
forth that he tends to scatter the birds.
He never attacks a bird We have
never seen one harm any sort of bird.
All the birds which attend feeding sta
ton banquets understand this thorough
ly. They are not really alarmed, even
when they fly away. Usually they go
only few feet, returning Immediately
to the food.
Excess energy is the keynote of squirrel
character. Occasionally one sees a
human being of exactly the same sort,
unable to sit still, always on the 90.
While lesser paced individuals must ad-
mire them, they also cause uneasiness.
Caesar did not like the lean and hungry
Cassius. Give me men about me-" he
said, who are fat"
Squirrels are forever bouncing around.
II they cannot find another squirrel to
chase, they go leaping through the trees,
making the most perilous jumps just for
something to do.
1t is strange fact that the birds,
which are just as active< in a sense.
never strike the observer as having
the squirrels excess energy, and espe-
cially his playful character. Life is real
and life is earnest for a bird. For a
squirrel, life is joke and all things
show it.
Evening star., 1941-02-24
'BERWYN, Md.

Dear Sir:
Have been intending to report on the
state of the birds for some time. We
have juncos, titmice, chicadees, jays,
white-throats, downy woodpeckers and
one pair of cardinals.
Occasionally starlings come. I still
don't like them. But don't let it disturb
you. 1t is a passive sort of dislike and
last winter when we had snow as ]
watched them discovered that two
weren't starlings at all but cowbirds
males.
Last winter we had dozen cardinals
and half as many jays. This winter we
hav. more jays. The juncos are beauti-
full birds and they play games. 1t may
be tag. One place they like to feed is at
the foot Of large stump. They chase
each other around and around. Then
two of them will fly across the yard
keeping about foot apart and then fly
up and together. That's the tag. l
haven't been able to see whether they
flight. 1t seems to be the end of the
game.
Speaking of nesting, we had the bay
breasted nuthatches all last winter and
they stayed into April. Toward the last
of their stay they would take sunfower
seed from the window sill feeder to the
ing 1t, carry it away.
II have watched these birds feeding
their young in the North, carrying in
sects into the nest inside a tall, half
rotten stub. But although I tried to
follow their line of flight and find likely
place for a nest never could find out
what they did with those seeds.
I'VE saw the white breasted nuthatch
last winter but haven't seen it this win
ter. And the Carolina wren which win
tered here last winter hasn't come back.
I'VE had two unusual visitors last year
a possum in the winter and q bittern
which caught frog in the marsh at the
corner of our lot.
1--WE have gray squirrels about, yet I
have never seen them visit a feeder.
But a chipmunk has been coming
now and then for two years. Wood
thruShes came last year and think a
veery. 1t wasn't hermit I know them
well. Their evensong is marvellous.
And that brings me to the last item.
evenSong. Out here in the country the
frogs and the tree toads begin it and
the birds carry it on from early dusk to
full dark, with the mocker for an epi-
logue. We have Knockers but they come
to the feeders infrequently.
although We have kept the feeders
well supplied with sunf1ower seed,
scratch feed, crumbs and suet, we have
had fewer birds this year than last.
II hope it is because their natural
food is more plentiful this year and not
as much snow so far. We like your
column. Sincerely yours, E. P. B."
Our correspondents experience is ex-
actly opposite to our own, when it comes
to squirrels.
Never one of these rodents comes to
Evening star., 1941-02-24
Says Concentration Camps
Are Not Exclusively German.

Az tHe 6ulIOE Ol Inc otb
A correspondent recently declared that
England did not invent the concentra-
ton camp" BY implication, his inten-
ton seems to have been to suggest that
Nazi Germany was responsible for de-
vising the trick of rounding up human
beings in corral. The facts of history,
however, cannot be ignored in even the
best of causes. Both Great Britain and
the United States have had recourse to
the technique and method of concentra-
ton camps, the former during the Boer
War (when South African men. women
and children were herded together like
pigs in pen) and the latter during the
civil turmoil in Mexico about Is years ago
(when refugees coming into Texas were
similarly treated. Further information
may be found in the Americana"
A. w.
Evening star., 1941-02-24

power of love. There is abundant
evidence that the Golden Rule, the
Sermon on the Mount, the Beati-
tudes, the commandment that ''ye be
as little children are" the parallels
and the proverbs of Jesus constitute
a practical doctrine for the guidance
of multitudes as well as for that of
individuals willing to trust such holy
discipline.
Evening star., 1941-02-24
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. HdSkin.

A reader can get the dnSlUer to any
question of fact by lGrtting The EUe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. HaSktn, director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Has it ever been determined how far
the germs of cold travel as the result
of a sneeze?-P. ]. A.
A. The Air Hygiene Foundation re-
Gently reported that an justified sneezs
sprays the air with thousands of droplets,
some of which travel IL feet and at O
rate as high as $50 feet second.
q. Is there available an estimate Of
the number Of LoyaIsts in the colonies
at the outbreak of the Revolution2-
H. N.
A. Loyalists were said to compose about
one-third of the population of the Thir-
teen Colonies.
@. What length Of time is considered
a generation?-C. H. P.
A. A generation is generally taken TO
be equal to about SO years, thus allowing
three generations to a century. This
figure has been in use for long time
and when computed was regarded as a
fair average of the length of life Of man.
@. I have heard that there is a small
section of the mainland of the United
States that cannot be reached from any,
where in this country by land. Can you
tell me where it ISIS. N.
A. The little tab of land in Northern
Minnesota that juts up into Canada and
is bounded by Lake of the Woods on the
United States side.
@. Is a kilometer more or less than a
mile?-M. V. o.
A. Less. 1t equals nearly five-eights of
a mile.
@. How many times has the heavy
weight boxing championship title been
out of the United States?-J. T. H.
A. Under the current boxing rules, the
heavyweight title has been out Of tbs
United States three times. The holders
of the titles we're: Bob Fitzsimmons,
Australia; Max Schmeling, Germany:
Primo Camera, Italy.
Evening star., 1941-02-24

In the past it used to be said that
westward the course of empire
takes its way" As long as free mes
sages could be sent to Germany, the
course of insults was eastward.
Evening star., 1941-02-24

A new species of octopus discov-
cred on the Presidents trip to the
Galapagos Islands has been named
Octopus Rooseveltii. Probably some
Republican chose the name.
Evening star., 1941-02-24
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the Uriter, although the use of
a pSeudorym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters 1uith
q Uie1U to condensation.
Evening star., 1941-02-24
Protests Sacrifices"
OF Supporters of Lease-Lend Bill.

To the Editor Of The Star:
This seems to be an era of hypocritical
Sacrifice" The too-old-to-fight Tory
Senators are eager to fight for Britain
with our boys. They also are most gen.
erous in being willing to give away to
the Chief Executive what does not belong
to them to give away, namely, treaty
making and war-making powers. They
would sacrifice their obligation to this
Republic under their oath of Office and
generously pave the way for the destruc-
ton of this Republic in order to aid such
other nation or nations as our Chief
Executive may wish to aid.
GEORGE E. SULLIVAN.
Evening star., 1941-02-24

An indigant question comes from
Toxic: when did Japan ever
say she would attack Singapore?"
A muffied response comes from
Chungking: when did Japan ever
say she would attack China?"
Evening star., 1941-02-24

The British have not yet an
nounced the capture Of any General
Gorgonzola, but this interesting
event might happen any day.
Evening star., 1941-02-24
Quotes Washington's Letter
On Freedom From Connexions"
SoTERIOs NICHOLSON.

To the Editor Of The Star:
In q letter to Patrick Henry from
Mount Vernon. October 9, 17s5, in which
he rendered to Patrick Henry the post of
Secretary of State, George Washington
stated: MY ardent desire is, and my
aim has been Gas far as depended upon
the executive Department., to comply
stxsctH with aA oar engagements, for
Evening star., 1941-02-24

Successful Public Speaking, a
32-page booklet which tells how
to plan and deliver all kinds of
speeches, how to improve your
voice, how to overcome stage
fright and hold an audience. To
express yourself clearly and con-
vincingly m n leadership,
whether in business, public or So
cial life. To secure your copy
inclose 10 cents in coin, wrapped
in this clipping, and mail to The
Star Information Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1941-02-24

O. How long does one have to serve in
the Navy before he can purchase dis
charge?-G. A. S.
A. 1t is not possible to purchase dis
charge from the Navy.
@. Was the Alhambra destroyed dur
ing the recent Spanish Civil War?-H. S.
A. The Spanish Embassy says that the
famous Moorish palace suffered no DAM
age during the civil war. On the con-
trary. it has gained more interest by the
recent archaeological discoveries made in
its surroundings.
@. How did the term pallbearer origi-
nate?-J. L. G.
A. A pallbearer is so called from the
fact that originally he was required to
hold up the corners and edges of the
pail covering the coffin. The word "pall'
is derived from the Latin "pallium,"
meaning a coverlet. 1t occurs in the
English language as early as about 144O.
@. What color hair and eyes did Dolly
Madison have?-G. H.
A. Dolly Madison had blue eyes and
jet-black hair.
@. Is there any special reason for flying
the flag over the Capitol in Washington
at night?-M. S.
A. The custom originated during the
World War. 1t was felt for patriotic
reasons that there should be one building
over which the flag never ceased to fly.
The Capitol was selected as being typical
of the United States and as being out
side of military regulations, which de-
mand the furling of the flag at sunset.
@. Please tell me at what age the titls
of master" to boy is changed to Mr."
L. R. c.
A. BY the time a boy is Is it is GUS
tomary to address him as Mr..
@. When did the first German emil
grants come to the United States and
where did they settle?-L. D. T.
A. The first German settlement, prop
erly so-called because of its permanence
and individuality, began near the close
of the 18th century. A colony of re-
ligious refugees settled at Germantown,
Pa, in 1858. The first German to land in
the New World arrived with Left
EricsSon's expedition. His name was
Tyrker. There seems to have been some
Alsatian and Hessian Protestants among
the Huguenots who settled at Port Royal,
S. c., in 1862. There were several Ger
mans among the first settlers at James,
fouyr in 1877
Evening star., 1941-02-24
Mcmher of the Associated Press.

A., The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to 1t not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
All rights of publication of special dispatches
herein also reserved.
Evening star., 1941-02-24

@. How long does one have to serve in
the Navy before he can purchase a dis
charge?-G. A. S.
A. 1t is not possible to purchase dis
charge from the Navy.
Evening star., 1941-04-25
Cororer to Probe Death
OF Man at Blue Plains

An inquest into the death of
Maurice Colforde, ST, inmate of the
District Home for the Aged at Blue
Plains, was to be held today in the
District Morgue.
Mr.. Colforde died in the institu-
tion early yesterday. An autopsy
revealed hemorrhages to have been
the cause of death.
Police said he was involved in an
alteration with another inmate,
Henry G. Brown, 81, Tuesday night
Evening star., 1941-04-25

by 3,028 900 over a 12-month period,
the Social Security Board reported
today.
Aid was extended in February to
IA 1896, 900 persons in $4,000 house
holds, compared to 15.040,0O in
5,439, 900 households for January and
1904 900 persons in 6,221, 900 house
holds during February last year.
Obligations incurred were S215,-
4l4,000 in February, against S222,-
262,000 for January, a decrease Of
81 per cent. The February obliga-
tions figure was 1873 per cent under
the same month last year.
Evening star., 1941-04-25

and said that he had an earning
capacity of $4,000 year.
Mrs. Hippelheuser said they were
married in New York in 1897. No
children were born of the union, she
stated, but she had two children by
previous marriage. Her income,
which she set at $25 a week, is re-
qulred to support the children, she
stated through Attorney ROLAND G.
LamenSdorf.
Her suit said her husband had told
her that he did not want to be tied
down to any woman and stated that
she had two nervous breakdowns be-
cause of his treatment of her. The
Evening star., 1941-04-25
Conduit Road Citizens
Ask Bigger Shut-in Fund

Members of the Conduit Road
Citizens Association indorsed a
proposal last night to increase by
$4,000 the appropriation for edu-
cation of handicapped shut-in chill
dren. This would make possible
a longer period of teaching for
them daily, it was said, and would
increase the teaching staff by about
80.
The number of out-dated buses
Evening star., 1941-04-25
Radio Script Writer Sued
BY Wife for Maintenance

Mrs. Jean c. Hippelheuser, radio
actress, today had filed papers in
District Court, demanding that her
husband, Richard Hughes Hippel-
heuSer, 1900 Sixteenth street NV.
radio script writer, give her main
tenance payments.
She described her husband as an
adviser to Bernard Baruch, financier.
Evening star., 1941-04-25

on the Conduit road line Is now
very low. following replacements by
the Capital Transit Co., President
Thomas v. Reagan, association
president, reported. The associa-
ton had sent letter of complaint
to the company earlier on the sub
ject.
Details of a fiesta to be staged
by the Community Chest May %
on the Glover estate at 1900 Mas
sachusetts avenue were presented
by Serge N. Benson. A nominating
committee was named to report at
the next meeting, the last of the
season
Evening star., 1941-04-25
Speculation Tuxed

VICHY, April 25 (P).-The official
journal yesterday promulgated the
long-awaited tax against specula-
ton, affecting all profits made on
the resale of stocks acquired since
the reopening Of the Paris exchange,
March 10.
Evening star., 1941-04-25

HERE is your opportunity way advance Of the regular
The Hecht Co. Bargain Annex ANNUAL ADVANCE SALE
OF HOTWEATHER SUITS gives you the chance to make
your selections from fresh Stocks plus few models from
lost season. at price that is only possible because of this
great onceoyeor preseason seng Imagine wool trop-
co worsteds at this price, And imported Mohoir fabrics!
Shetonds, tweeds and Iongweoring twists! Here every
thing you want in summer suit. Style fit . comfort
looks. and wear And at such modest price, Sizes
"a to SO in regulars IS As in shorts 80 SO souts
3o to "A longs 40 to SO in long stous 80 46 in short
stouts!
Evening star., 1941-04-25

In q bathroom of the home and fell
to the floor after being struck.
Mr.. Brown was held for action
OF the District coroner yesterday
and was slated to appear at the
inquest today.
Evening star., 1941-04-25

suit stated the Columbia Broadcast
ing System pays him SITS a week
and that he gets other money from
Mr.. Baruch and from other sources.
Evening star., 1941-04-25
Public Aid Rolls Drop
3,028 900 in Yeur

by the Associated Press
The number of persons receiving
public aid under all Federal security
and work programs has decreased
Evening star., 1941-04-25

We cont msnion the
brond Of these fonous
shoes but you'll recoo-
nize md 90 for them the
minute you see themI