davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Commodore

Many civilians as well as a cOnSId-
cradle number Of enlisted personnel,
it may be supposed. are interested in
the proposal to revive the grade and
rank of commodore. In a letter to
Congress. Secretary Of the Navy Knox
has explained: The war is being
prosecuted in such a way as to in
vOlve great many small command
groups, some Of which are on de-
tached and some on semi detached
duty. These commands are not Of
sufficient magnitude to warrant their
being commanded by rear admiral,
yet they should be commanded by
flag officer
Several practical advantages would
accrue from the suggested TPstOra-
ton Of the historic designation. The
Secretary gives it as his opinion that:
Rear admirals are often unavailable
for such commands yet when an
officer is performing duty normally
assigned to an officer Of flag rank
he should be given not only the
authority but also the rank com
mcnSurate with the responsibility
and when joint Army and Navy
operations are being undertaken
there is a definite need for naval
officers corresponding in rank to
brIgadler general
Mr.. Knox adds to his communlca-
tion the significant stipulation that
such officers" would have Increased
authority - greater prestige - in
their dealings with other nayieS' He
also tells Congress: NO additional
cost to the Government would be
involved in the enactment Of the
proposed legislation All that is
contemplated is a return to The Gus
tom and pattern which prevailed
prior to 1899 when commOdorcS be
came rear admirals' The traditional
meaning Of the title is given in the
Dictionary Of American History as
beng "appIicd 10 captains command
ing or having commanded squadrOnS'
and in The Encyclopaedia Americana
as relating to officers commanding
few ships when they are detached
for any purpose from the rest Of the
feet" A Spanish word, "comenda-
dor perhaps Of Arab origin is men
toned in the Century Dictionary as a
/ possible source
Most standard reference works
agree that the legal" use Of the term
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Lawyers at OPA

The assertion by OPA AdminjS-
traitor PrentiSS Brown that there are
too many lawyers in the priCe-con-
troll section of his office and that
their devotion to legal technicalitIeS
has delayed the adjustment of price
control measures finds considerable
support in the record. He might also
nave added that their attitude on
the enforcement Of the Price Control
Act has had an adverse effect in Con-
greSS and with the public
An instance of the lengths to which
OPA lawyers have gone is to be found
in recent decision by the Municipal
Court of Appeals in the case Of a suit
for $50 against a merchant who had
sold pair Of stockings for IS cents
more than the ceiling price The
evidence showed that the sale was
made on the Gay that the ceiling
price a reduction OF the Old price,
became effective. 1t was shown that
the merchant had no knowledge Of
the reduced ceiling, nor any reason
able opportunity to secure such
knowledge, and counsel for OPA did
not attempt TO prove otherwise.
They contended that 1t was imma-
terial whether the merchant had
knowledge of the new price: that he
was bound to pay the $50 penalty
regardless OF how willing he may
have been to comply with the law,
and that the court was without any
discretion in the matter. In other
words, in the view Of OPA. no dis
tinctiOn was to be made between
Willful viOlatOrS and those who tried
to comply with the law
Fortunately. the appellate court
refused to accept such an arbitrary
and unfair doctrine. pointing out
that the language Of the act did not
lend itself to the Interpretation for
which the OPA lawyers contended
We do not think said the court in
an opinion written by Associate Jus
any such sweeping punitive measure
Black markets should be sup
pressed and profiteers punished by
every lawful means. On the other
hand the innocent should not be
swept into court with the guilty and
denied an opportunity to present
h1a of
This is an Interpretation Of the law
and its enforcement which harmon
ICES with traditional American con-
cepts Of fair play, while the contrary
view which the OPA lawyers sought
to enforce is a thoroughly alien and
Objectionable one And it is to be
hoped that Mr.. Brown, in his con-
templated reorganization, will en-
deavor to impress his legal Subordi-
mates with the fact that there is
distinction to be made between an
honest attempt to comply with law
and deliberate violation.
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Relations With Vatican
\ Theme for Discussion.
Tt the Editor Of The Star

To the Editor Of The star
Your illuminating editorial on ITALY.
the Diplomatic Front" seemed to include
the United States among the 40 or more
powers having diplomatic relations with
the papacy, but the Congressional Direc-
tory does not seem to indicate such
relations.
AS | write, the current number Of the
pontifical year book the Annuario
POntificiO is not before nc. but I under
stand that its list of envoys accredited
10 the Holy See includes Myron c. Tay-
lor as Ambassador from the United
States. Yet the press uniformly men
tionS MI. Taylor as the Presidents per-
sOnal Ambassador much as William
Philips is his personal envoy to India.
The See of Rome has no nuncio to
our Government unless MSgr. Cicognani,
papal delegate, has been recognized
as nunclo. | am not sure that he
has, though he has performed functions
IN recent years which might indicate
such recognition. l am not writing in
captious spirit but would be much
interested to know if there is substantial
foundation for saying our country is in
diplomatic relations with the papacv.
GILBERT o. NATIONS.
Editors Note. Mr.. Taylor is Presi-
dent Rooseveit's personal representa-
tive at Vatican City.
Evening star., 1943-03-17
SILVER SPRING, Nd.

SILVER SPRING, Nd.
Dear Sir:
Like others among your correspond
entS. I have been annoyed by seeing the
squirrels eat the sunfoWey seeds which
! put ont for the cardinals, nuthatches
and blue jays
'SuSDending the feeding Statiou from
long wire only served to make the
squirrels turn monkey and perform all
KINDS Of antics which always brought
them safely and surely to the seeds.
Finally plan evolved and my reward
has been grateful birds and annoyed
squirrels that have finally left in disgust.
There is a rim about three fOurths Of
an inch high all around the edge of the
feed trav on which sets the feed hopper
Using wire with about one-third inch
mesh, I fitted it down close over the
rlm and SnUgly against the hopper.
Cardinals can easily peck out a sun
flower seed but the squirrels can't ma
nipulate two hands through the mesh
and The seed gets stuck when they try
one hand,
This system also keeps out sparrovs.
for their beakS are too short and thus It
leaves the small seeds for other more in
terestin9 birds
Sincerely yours c. ". NJ"
Squirrels do eat great deal and waste
lot bur they are 50 Comical that many
persons find them we'll worth all they
cost
Surely there is. IN all nature. no born
animal comedian to su:pass the squirrel.
IT seems almost too good to be true. in
q way Of thinking, that such p funny
fellow can come to ones own ward.
If the gray squirrel were a rare 1ropiraI
animal, it would be considered a prize,
indeed
But because if is so common. both in
Washington and in nearby MARYLAND and
Virginia, it is sometimes frowned upon.
Wne mesh, Of various widths. is good
way 10 keep squirrels and pigeons out.
Both Of these eat good deal, and have
their drawbacks. especially the latter. in
yards where feeding is carried on pri-
marily for the small song birds
If chicken wire, and wire Of other
types. is available, it may be nailed to
the open faces of feeders
A frame might be built. covered with
wire, TO be placed down over feeding
station on the ground.
Wire baskets of the type used in burn
ing trash may be inverted over station.
Our correspondent seems to have done
good Job Of matching the gauge Of the
wire to the bills and paws of those crea-
lures which are unWan4ed.
Sometimes experimentation will be re-
qulred. in an age when wires OF various
types are no longer to be secured for
the asking.
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Civilians Who Patronize
Airfeld Lunchroom Defended.
To the Editor Of The Star

To the Editor Of Ihe Star.
Referring to the letter signed Army
Wife" concerning the cafeteria at Boil
ing Field, I would like to say that her
communication apparently was written
by one who is herself a civilian emploEe
She suggests a sit t-dOWn strike. Is not
that un-American?
All soldiers who cat IN the cafeteria
are married men living at the post on
rauonS and funds provided by the Army.
Have they really given up so much?
There are from three to six mess halls
on the field where these men for 25
cents can get al they can eat. We ci-
Vihans-meChanIcS etc.-have ONLY one
place to eat. And ! believe that an air
craft mechanic who keeps en- hving"
deserves hot meal Just as much as the
average soldier does Rib,
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Chinese War Eniqmu

Jubilant cOmmuniQueS from Chung
king reporting the breakdown Of the
current japanese drive in Northern
Human Province emphasize the OBJ
scurity and perpleXity Of the fighting
going on not only in that region but
IN other parts Of China as well
Northern Human has been the
scene Of indeciSive struggles for the
past four years. A loWland district
Of rich, heavy soil devoted to rice
growing and studded with lakes, it is
bounded on the north by the broad
Yangtse River. The Yangtse, wind
ing through the very heart Of China
and navlgable TO the gorgeS above
IChang, is the natural artery for
trade and communications from east
to west This vital water route is
controlled by the japanese, who
firmly hold the northern bank to
Ichang But their grip on the south
ern bank is less secure. consisting Of
series Of .bridgeheads in varying
depth.
One Of Japan'S main strategic OBJ
tectiyez has been to work southwark
from the Yangtse through Human
Province. across which runs The main
railway 10 Canton. Chjna's southern
metropolis which IS in Japanese
hands The bulWark against this
japanese ann is the city Of ChangSha
about 100 miles south Of the Yangtse
Several times the japanese have
launched OfTenSlYeS here. but each
time they have begged down, largely
owing 70 the wet terrain in which
their tanks and other heavy equip
ment cannot easily operate. The
lighter armed Chinese have Just
fOiled another Japanese effort And
much the same has proved true Of
other japanese OffenSlVes in East
Central China. where similar tOpo-
graphical conditions exist.
What is not clear in these and
other operations under different cir
cumstanceS Is the extent to which
the outcome Is due to the relative
strength and weakness Of the com
hatantS. For several months past
spOkesnen Of Free China have been
emphasizing the h8ndicapS Of their
troops owing to lack Of modern
equipment and the danger OF Japa-
nese successes due to that cause
Some weeks ago Toxic announced a
general offensive a. many points,
sined At knocking China out Of the
war. offensive operations were duly
launched, yet none OF them seems to
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Telephone Ra dio Solicitation
Objected to in Wartime.
0 The Edltor of The sta1

To the Edltor ~ The Star,
Last year around Christmas time We
soldiers IN Texas were requested not to
use the telephone during the holiday
season Because war industry needed all
available lines. Ever since then We nave
been ASKED to use the telephone only in
urgent cases and then to be brief
l am therefore amazed to hear ever so
often over the radio the telephone being
USED in connection with advertising. I
think there are other ways and means to
bring various products and services to
the attention of the consuming public
The telephone company urges us to in
vest in War bonds instead of using the
telephone unnecessarily. Ny suggestion
Is tnat the company intervene TO stop
the waste Of its facilities by radio cam
palgnng. H. P. KORN.
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Spring in ireland

The 1Uild geese drrom north AGAIN,
The ,CdUeS break bIuer on the sand
The hldCS purple IN the rain.
For spring is come to Ireland,
Where shumrockS lUeaue an emerald
charm,
The t10iHoht fingers cool and ornv.
Here lads and lusSies-arm in arm
Walk IN ioue's ne,0, yet ancient mnv.
Would I could hear the Shannon
bells
Ring out their music as Of DID,.
Or 'rdk again those quiet deUs
That buttercups make cloth of
gold.
the tO,ld geese Grrou north AGAIN,
The 1UaUes blear bluer on tho
strand
And hlocs purple in the rain
For spring is come to Ireland,
JOHN RICHARD MORELAND.
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Lost Years Tuxes

During the laSt-mInute rush in
the New York tax collectors office a
young woman stepped to the window
and asked for a Federal income tax
blank, stating that she wanted to
report her husbands income
The clerk, somewhat amused, Sug-
Costod that she take the blank to her
husband and let him struggle with il.
The woman looked at him a moment
and then explained that her husband
had asked her to take care of the
return in his last letter. which she
received just before the War Depart
mcnt notified her Of his death on
Guada'canal
A TINS war progresses there VIII be
many such cases Thousands upon
thousands Of men VIII 20 into the
service, owing the Government
tax on theIr income for the past year.
They viii be expected ultimately to
settle up. and in the case Of those
VINO are Killed. the law viii look to
their C.tatcS for settlement
This is bat one Of number Of
reasons why most people want to
have their tax payments put on a
current basis through the adoption
OF a feasible pay-as-you-9 plan.
Unfortunately. neither the adminis-
tratIon nor the Ways and Means
Committee has been able to work out
a satisfactory formula Apparently
the last hope for action this year lies
with the meeting which the House
Republicans have scheduled for to-
day to line up support for the Ruml
plan.
Evening star., 1943-03-17

men in the armed forces could be re-
placed with cotton belts. The ware
houses in the South are overfowing with
cotton.
Why not replace leather belts for the
armed forces so that the leather can be
used for shoes, and substitute cotton
belts so that the surplus cotton can be
made of some use? c. c. SANFR
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Suggests Members of Congress
Might Be Absent En- Nasse.
o he Editor OF The Star

David Lawrences $ enumeration Of
many Things that members of our Ma
tonal Legislature may DO as reasons or
excuses for abSenting themselves from
sessions Of the Congress discloses one
flaw that disproVes the whole
If one member may be absent from a
session, all may do so. Should the I'M
pulse seize all Of the members at the
same time to do anv Of the things set
forth In Mr., Laurence's list. then House
and Senate would be empty AT the time
Of conVenng the session
JOSEPH w CHFYNTY
Evening star., 1943-03-17
A Better Bill

without a dissenting voice the
Senate Finance Committee Yesterday
voted 10 repeal that part Of Presi-
dent ROOSevelt'S executive order of
October 3. 1912. reducing all salaries
to $25000 after payment Of taxes
This action was in accordance with
the belief Of committee members
that the President, in his order re-
ducing salaries above the s25.000
mark, had not only gone beyond the
law but had done exactly what Con-
greSS had said he should not DO.
The Senate itself is expected to
sustain the position Of the Senate
Finance Committee The issue will
be laid before that body when the
bill raising the national debt limit
from $I25 900 900 900 to S2lO.O 900. .0O0.-
600 is taken up. for the repeal Of the
salary limitation order is attached to
that measure.
The Finance Committee turned it's
back upon the So-caled Disney bill.
passed by the House, rela ting to sal
ary limitation. This House measure
also proposed a repeal Of the salary
reduction order, but added to this
repeal prOviso that no salary below
S25 900 net should be increased. dur
ing the war. beyond that figure. In
the opinion Of the Senators this
latter provision authorized the in
crease Of salaries to $25000 net
which, under existing tax laws,
means a gross of S67.200 and au-
thOrized the increases by law. They
maintained that this was inequtable
since the President was authorized
to put a ceiling on wages. and under
the Disney proposal he would be
unable to place a ceiling on salaries.
until they reached the high figure
Of S67,200-Or even higher should the
tax rate. on incomes be Increased.
AS the Finance Committees pro-
pOSal sands, the StabiliZatiOn Of
wages and salaries alike will be au-
thOrizod by law. Under the proposal,
however, wages and salaries may not
be reduced below the highest rate
they attained between the dates of
January ! and September Is. 1912
The effect of the Presidents eXccu-
tive order-Which provided for no
reduction of WageS-WaS to reduce all
salaries paid in this country to the
$25 900 net figure.
The committee members insist
they have proposed merely to return
to the original law-the Price Con-
troll Act Of October 2, 1912. And
they are planning to strike from that
law the language relating to in
equities under which the President
and his Attorney General claimed the
executive order reducing salaries was
legal
Furthermore. the committeeman
say, there are three ways in which
eXOrbitant salaries may be, and are
prevented. The first is through the
operation Of the price stabilIzation
law. The second is through the law
providing for renegotiation Of war
contracts, The third is by means Of
the authority which the Treasury has
had for long time to prohibit plac-
ing unreasonablY high salaries in
Operational costs for the purposes of
taxation.
The House presumably will accept
the Senate committee proposal If it
is written into the debt-limit bill as
a substitute for the Disney plan. 1t
accOmpliSheS what the House really
set out to do - the repeal Of the
Presidents executive order relating
to salaries Further, it strikes a blow
at government by "directiVe' rather
l.,
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Cotton Belts Proposed
In Place of Leather.

To he Editor Of The Star
Shoes are ratIoned because there is
shortage OF leather Meanwhile there
is great overproducton OF cotton IN
the United States.
Leather belts for officers and enlisted
Evening star., 1943-03-17

Tentative plans are suggested to
keep women in the Navy even when
the war is over. In other words, they
would be permanent Waves.
Evening star., 1943-03-17

Presidents and Their WiveS-A As
page booklet that tells the story Of
all the men and women who have
preceded Mr and Mrs Roosevelt IN
the White House, Pictures and bio
graphical sketches of them all Do
YOU know how many Presidents We
have had. their names. term of office
their politics, religion education,
birthplace, burial place. parents.
wives children, personal and public
history? This attractive booklet Will
bring YOU up to date on essentials OF
the United States history in a few
minutes. To secure your copy inclose
- cents in coin, wrapped in this
clipping, and mail to The Star Infor-
nation Bureau.
--.----
Name
Evening star., 1943-03-17

@. Why does the President wear a
black band around his arm?-W. r.
A. President Roosevelt's mother died
September 7, l94l. and in remembrance
of her he wears a black band on his
sleeve.
@. Where is there lighthouse in the
United States located on BRIDGE
B. R. Q.
A. The lighthouse on the San Fran
cisco pier of the Golden Gate Bridge is
said to be the only one so situated.
@ What is the name Of the snake
that whips people to death?-G. N.
A. No such snake is known, although
this superstition is attached to the
coach-Whip snake in some parts of tho
South. 1t is slender and swift moving.
and its habit of raising the fore part Of
the body when travelling probably
strengthened this belief
@. Are the azaleas in Mobile Ala, ma
tive plants?-E. L. H.
A. The first azalea plants in the cjtv
were brought there in 1854 bv Fifse
Langlois from his boyhood home in
Southern France
@. What is a commando dagger7-
N K B
A. 1t is tvo-edged knife similar to
the old Roman short sword
@ How long has asparagus been
known and used for food ?-L. N. A.
A. Asparagus was known to the earlv
Romans and Pliny records spears of it
Veiehting three to pound. 1t belongs
to the lily family
G. What four prize fighters ver.
named James JIG. HF
A. Corbett, Jeffries, Tunney and Brad
dock
@. What is the Children's Charter?-
D. F. G.
A. 1t is charter, consisting of "a
points. which was drawn up in 1880 by
the Conference of Child Health and
Protection. These White House confer
ences have been called by the President
every 10 years since 1909 The Chldren's
~ilet- t't iCoNittu III n NdlIDn-WlOe pro-
gram to secure the rights 1t laid down
for every child.
w. What is meant by the tenth
muse "?-P H B
A. This sobriquet is often applied to
woman poets. The earliest use Of tre
term was made by Plato, who so desig-
mated Sappho,
@. How large tree can a group Of
beavers fen?-I. N, D.
A. One of the largest trees known to
have been felled by beavers was a cot
tonWood in Glacier National Park meas
tuing 46 inches in diameter.
@ What is the meaning Of the nams
Corregidor?-A. D. B
A. The Division of Territories and Is
land Possessions says under SpanI co.
Ionlal government "Corregidor" was tbs
title Of the chief officer OF "correei-
mlento,' geographical division of
colony. Before Bataan was created into
province In 1854 this region was di-
vided between the Province of pampanca
and the "corregimiento' OF Mariveles.
the latter including the islands At ths
entrance OF Manila Bay.
Evening star., 1943-03-17

Q. Are the azaleas in Mobile. Ala. ma
tive plants?-E. l.. H.
A. The first azalea plants in the city
were brought there in 1854 BY Fihse
Langlois from his boyhood home in
Southern France.
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 1nriter, although the use of
a pSeudOnynl jor publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the rioht to edit all letters 1cith
rie1r TO condensation.
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
Bu Frederic J. HGSkiu.

A reader can oct the drSire- to orv
question OF tact hy wrtt,rq The Eve
MING Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. HGskir, director Washington.
D G Please ,nciose stamp for return
postage
Q What is the method OF estimating
the amount OF seed needed for a lawn?-
B. w.
A. Grass seed usually Is estimated at
TO pounds for each 1000 square feet
OF lawn area II clover is added, pound
of grass seed to one quarter pound OF
white clover is considered a good pro-
portion.
Q Did Alexandra Dumas make
great deal of money from his many
books?-S. T
A. Biogra piers say that his entire
works total 1900 volumes and earned
for the author over IS 00O, 900.
Q. What Is the number OF japanese
IN the United States who are natural
born citizens OF this country7-H. G.
A. The number OF natural-born cit-
zens Of the United States OF Japanese
race In continental United States in 1910
was 1862
g. Where is the geographical center
OF The State of Texae?-B n D.
A, The geographical center Of Texas
is located in McCuloch County, Is miles
northeast OF Brady.
Evening star., 1943-03-17

O. How large tree can a group Of
beavers fen?-I. n D.
A. One of the largest trees known TO
have been felled by beavers was a cot
tonwood in Glacier National Park meas
ming 46 inches in diameter.
Evening star., 1943-03-17

Q What is commando dagger7-
N K. B.
A. 1t Is tWo-edged knife similar to
the old Roman short sword.
Evening star., 1943-03-17

w. What is meant by the tenth
muse ?-P. H. B.
A This sobriquet is often applied to
woman poets, The earliest use of t1e
term was made by Plato, who so desig-
mated Sappho,
Evening star., 1943-03-17

Q. How long has asparagus been
known and used for food?-L N. A.
A. Asparagus was known to the early
Romans and Pliny records spears of it
weighing three to a pound 1t belongs
to the lily family.
Evening star., 1943-03-17

O. Why does the President wear a
black band around his arm?-W. r.
A. President Roosevelts mother died
September !, l94l, and in remembrance
of her he wears a black band on his
sleeve.
Evening star., 1943-03-17

@ What four prize fighters vers
named James JIG. H, F
A. Corbett, Jeffries, Tunney and Brad
dock
Evening star., 1943-03-17
Name

Address
Evening star., 1943-03-17

A. Biographers say that his entire
works total 1900 volumes and earned
for the author over IS 900 900.