davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-04-02
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. Traceuell,

vation of Government cafeteria deport-
ment
Il have not met the sea gull before as
a grazing land bird. Maybe these sea
gulls have to act this way because of
some rider sneaked onto an appropri-
alton bill mot the sea gull's).
''The sea gulls have known before
came to Washington searched for their
daily garbage on the waters or satisfied
their gustatory interests on nearby
beaches in the traditional dining habits
Of respectable members of the gull family.
Il pause for breath and to inquire If
it is gull habit to at times tire of shore
dinners and indulge in table dhote Of
mixed greens and grubs or whether the
hectic surroundings of the Washington
nian sea gulls have made them different.
Perhaps we should have a congressional
investigation of the entire subject.
Sincerely, D. G."
y ~
PLAZA HOTEL"
Dear Sir:
please tell us something about these
grass-eating sea gulls now found in flocks
on the parks and public squares.
never before have seen gulls eating
grass-if it Is grass they are eating.
And If not grass what? You don't
have grass fish in Washington, do you?
Sincerely, j. T."
4 4
The gulls are not eating grass, but
centipedes, millipedes, cutworms and the
like, brought up by the heavy rains OF
March and the generally warmer weather.
Fish and garbage are other staples in
the gull diet.
ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
First, I thank you for your interest
ing and helpful column would not
have known otherwise what foods to
have for robins. Last year during our
late snowstorm, I was prepared, with
softened bread, and raisins, and sure
enough, they came to our protected back
porch, our feeding station, and again
this year.
Il place food, too, on the porch steps
and on the pavement. We have a large
number of English sparrows, song SPAR
rows, starlings, grackles, several jays,
about nine cardinals, junco, two downy
woodpeckers, two tufted titmice, a mock
ingbird, robins and two doves
rs it not very unusual for the latter
to feed on ones porch?
Il had two doves last year and two this
year and suppose they are my last year s
pair. In summer we have the catbird
thrush and the thrasher.
Il used sunflower seed, cracked corn, or
chick feed, suet and the robins food
Last summer a gentle gray squirrel
would eat on my lap-sunfower seed
peanut butter and peanuts.
Il feel when we feed the little people
of the air we are ministering to them In
q small way somewhat as Our Fathe,
In Heaven takes care OF us.
Very respectfully, E. M. E. D."
Evening star., 1943-04-02
Red Cross Success

Washington has met and most
notably exceeded its quota in the
Red Cross emergency campaign. It
was announced yesterday that 338, 1872
contributors have subscribed 81 ,672,-
300 and that further gifts are ex-
pected before the stipulated closing
date OF the drive on Wednesday next.
This means that the Nations Capital
has qualified for the list of cities
which have gone over the top"
On a population basis, the number
OF givers here probably puts Wash
ington in first place.
But an even more gratifying sig
niflcance attaches to the success OF
the local campaign. It wipes out the
memory of year ago, when the
District of Columbia failed in its
support of the Red Cross, raising only
$525,691 Of its specified $750,O00 OBJ
jective If it is remembered that
the 1943 drive was in progress during
the period when extraordinarily
heavy tax payments were being made
and while business was disturbed by
many disconcerting wartime restric-
tions, the showing registered by
Washington testihes to authentic
patriotism and fellow-feeling.
All friends of the Red Cross have
reason to be proud of Chairman
]. c. Folger and the men, women
and children who served as volunteer
solicitors Interpreters" the CO.
operative enterprise which now is
ending so gloriously. They have re-
nected the spirit of the American
forces on the fighting fronts over
seas. Nothing finer, perhaps, can be
said of them than that by their
labors and their sacrifices they have
merited the privilege of such kinship.
Evening star., 1943-04-02
Single-Tax Advocate
Again Discusses World Peace.

To the Editor OF The Star:
The Ball proposal to set up an inter-
national police force to insure world
peace is good step in the right direction,
but it is step which will require con-
siderable reinforcement if its broad OBJ
Jectlves are to be fulfilled.
That the Ball resolution, a compara-
lively minor advance on the obstacle
laden road to true and lasting peace,
should encounter any sizsble congress
sional opposition is threat against that
freedom for which we now are fighting.
It is the duty of everybody as matter
Of seH-interest, If for no other reason,
to raise combined voice of unprece-
dented magniture that will thunder
through the halls Of Congress. Let us
announce with an unshakable faith in
the power of free men that we, the
people of America, consider ourselves
no more human than our fellow men in
other parts of this suddenly contracted
world.
From Gods earth we all originally
came and back to that earth, landlord
and tariff protectionist or pauper we
shall return, with nothing but our bones
to show for our struggles against each
other. Who are these persons who
clamor for American supremacy?
Peace never can be insured by matn.
Evening star., 1943-04-02

even from minute to minute, could
be held in check by some regard for
moderation, or II the welfare Of the
people could calmly tolerate this mad
license from which, in situation like
this, it suffers in tho worst possible
fashion some ground would
appear, perhaps, for concealing the
truth and saying nothing; but
inasmuch as there is only seen a
mad desire without control, to pay
no heed to the needs OF the many,
- it seems good to us, as we look
into the future that Justice
intervene to settle matters impair
TALLY, in order that that which, long
hoped for, humanity itself could not
bring about may be secured for the
common government of all by the
remedies which our care affords"
His expectation of benefit was not
justified, but Diocletian is remem-
bered for it, nonetheless.
Evening star., 1943-04-02
DiocIetiun's S Edict

Whether or not Diocletian was a
good emperor is matter of opinion.
Some writer's praise him, others con-
demn his policies and procedures.
He was, certainly, dictator of a
sort. To save the imperial realm
from anarchy, he set himself pro-
digious task of reformation. It was
charged that he sacrificed the in
terests of the people, but there is
evidence that he was not deliberately
hostile to their welfare.
In 301 AID, for example, he issued
the proclamation which, having been
rediscovered in 1909, insures his fame.
Frank Frost Abbott describes its pur-
pose in a paragraph reading: In his
effort to bring prices down to what
he considered normal level, Diocle-
tian did not content himself with
such half-measures as we Qatter-day
Americans) are trying in our at
tempts to suppress combinations in
restraint of trade, but he boldly fixed
the maximum prices at which beef,
grain, eggs. clothing and other
articles could be sold, and prescribed
the penalty of death for any one who
disposed Of his wares at higher
figure. His edict is very compre-
hensive document, and specifies
prices for 700 or 300 different articles.
This systematic attempt to regulate
trade was very much in keeping with
the character of Diocletian and his
theory of government. Perhaps no
Roman emperor with the possible
exception of Hadrian, showed such
extraordinary administrative ability
and proposed so many sweeping
social reforms as Diocletian did. "
He frankly introduced the monarchial
principle, fixed upon method Of
succession to the throne, redivided
the provinces, established carefully
graded system of officials, concerned
himself with court etiquette and
dress, and reorganized the coinage
and the system of taxation. We are
not surprised, therefore, that he had
the courage to attack this difficult
question of high prices and that his
plan covered almost all the articles
which his subjects would have occa-
sion to buy"
The emperor also "froze" wages
"from those of the ordinary laborer
to those of the professional advocate"
or lawyer His unit Of money was
copper coin of which the value was
fixed at one-fifth of penny. The
Encyclopaedia Britannica declares:
1.-THE edict was well-intended but
abortive attempt to meet the distress
. caused by several bad harvests and
= commercial speculation" but "the
actual effect was disastrous, and the
edict soon fell into abeyance."
Modern students Of the experiment,
however, cannot avoid being i'm
pressed by the passionate sincerity of
Diocletian at the start of his effort
to "remake" the economy OF the en-
pire. His motive and purpose were
set forth with faultless logic in these
words: IF the raging avarice
which, without regard for mankind,
increases and develops by leaps and
bounds, we will not say from year to
year, month to month or day to day.
but almost from hour to hour and
Evening star., 1943-04-02
lnfIution

The evil of imitation, we are told.
Is having too much money and not
enough articles on which to spend it.
The second part we can understand.
but not the first. Few people besides
Treasury experts ever will believe
that they can have too much money.
TO make 1t clear, take the case OF New
Guinea, where imitation already has
set In.
Before the war, the price of a wife
in New Guinea was two sticks Of
trade tobacco, total value twenty
eight cents. The economy was bal
anced because it was hard to earn
twenty-eight cents in those days.
Now, with British and Americans
willing to pay relatively fabulous
prices for souvenirs or work on roads
and airports, almost any one can
accumulate the necessary twenty
eight cents overnight, swap it for
tobacco, and trade that in for a wife.
Hoarders have aggravated the situa-
tion by acquiring entire harems, TAX
ing that many more wives of the
market. The result. as might be
expected, Is that the cost of the few
remaining available wives has scared
beyond all reason. It is difficult to
get good wife now for less than a
dollar. The next item of the infia-
tionary spiral will be a demand for
more tobacco for days work, and so
on. Secretary Bugaboo Of the New
Guinea Treasury is frankly worried.
He recommends wife rationing as a
temporary measure, but warns that
permanent results can be obtained
only by heavy taxation to reduce
purchasing power, necessitating a
radically reduced standard of loving.
Evening star., 1943-04-02
Blood Donor

THIS much Ue can do-Ue dtsodrds,
Dho,
For lack of education, or, for q teD,
Too many years OF Hutno, may not
fight
In dctiUe serDice. We cdu also bleed,
Stretched on narrop cots of spotlsss
Dhite
For this, our country, IN her AoAr
of need.
Drop by scarlet drop IN crystal 3ors.
Our blood goes out to challenge
mighty Mars
With n1iohtter lope. Here Is our Hp-
ing BREATH:
A steady healing stream detvsro
death
From willing hearts and GLADLY
opened Deins
For good to those ,pho bear the labor
pains
OF this ne,D porld. God 1tue "
strength and nerve
TO keep this rich tide tulLin whtch
Ue serve.
MARION DUDLEY.
Evening star., 1943-04-02
Democratic Struteqy

The political peregrinations OF
Frank C. Walker, Postmaster Gen.
eral and chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, will be increas-
ingly of interest until the Democrats
name their candidate for President
in 1914. Mr.. Walker has just returned
to Washington after a trip which
took him into ten States west of
the Mississippi River. He has re-
ported that he found things looking
up for the Democrats in territory
that was distinctly hostile a year ago.
He did not deny that there was criti-
cism of what goes on in Washington,
but said the criticism was mainly
directed against the large number of
Republicans who have positions in
the Federal war agencies, like the
OPA.
Mr.. Walkers refusal, however. to
talk about presidential candidates.
his reason being that it is entirely too
early-gives the key to the strategy
of the New Deal Democrats. It is
obvious enough that if the Postmas-
ter General, member of the Presi-
dents cabinet. undertook to boost
fourth term candidacy for Mr.. Roose-
welt, it would be interpreted imme-
diately as meaning that the President
is going to run again. It would be an
other, but most important step in
the fourth term drive, which has
already started in some New Deal
circles. The strategy, however, is not
to throw a fourth term issue into the
open, sixteen months before a nomi-
nation can be made. With a war to
be fought. this is entirely advisable.
Politically it is wise, too.
AS chairman of the Democratic
National Committee. it is the job of
Mr.. Walker to see that the national
organization is kept in good running
order, and that Democratic lines be
kept intact. He knows perfectly well
that there are strong groups of anti
fourth term, anti-New Deal Demo-
Gratis scattered about the country.
But there is always the chance that
this condition may be improved by
next year.
The one remark made by Mr..
Walker which seems to indicate
which way the wind is blowing was
to the effect that the resolutions
recently adopted by some State legis-
latures calling for a constitutional
amendment limiting Presidents to
two four-year terms were intended
Ito cause us as much trouble as
possible" He pointed out that these
resolutions had been adopted only
where Republican majorities con-
Evening star., 1943-04-02

trolled In the legislatures. They were,
he added. purely political"
For the present. Mr.. Walkers ad-
vice to the Democrats Is to bend all
their efforts to a successful prosecu-
ton Of the war. It is good advice.
For a successful prosecution Of the
war, both on the foreign and home
fronts, may we'll be the determining
factor in the national elections next
year.
Evening star., 1943-04-02
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdsktn.

A reader can get the dns,rer to 6ny
question OF fact by torittn1 The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred-
eric J. Haskin, director, Warrington.
DC Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
@. To what extent has the number OF
Government publications and press re-
leases been reduced since the beginning
Of the war?-C. c. P.
A. The once Of War Information re-
ports that more than ~ 1917 600 copies Of
International publications and press re-
leases have been eliminated.
@. How long was the submarine
Squalus on the bottom OF the oeean7-
c. L. S.
A. The submarine was raised after III
days. It is curious to note that one
mechanical device was stin IN running
order. This was Navy clock fitted With
a plastic lens.
@. What is the inscription On ths
memorial to DR.. Trudeau At SaranAc,
NJ Y.?-P. E. W.
lum bears the words, ITO cure sometimes.
to relieve often, to comfort always" This
was Trudeau's favorite quotation.
Q. Is there . male fish that produces
young?-L. D.
A. The female sea horse places un-
fertilized eggs In the brood pouch Of
the male where they are carried until
Matched.
@. Is the weeping willow native to
the United States?-J. w. B.
A. 1t was brought to this country
from England. A. Hyatt Verrill says
that the tree owes its existence there to
fragment Of basket used As q con-
tainer for figs sent from Smyrna to Lady
Suffolk early in the 18th century. Alex
ander Pope was present when the gift
arrived
Evening star., 1943-04-02

@ How many days has the President
to act upon a bill after 1t has been
passed by both Houses Of Congress?-
E. L. H.
A. He has 10 days, not counting Sum
days, In which to act upon 1t.
@. When will National Music Week
be ohserved?-Q. M. r.
A. May 2 to- 9.
@. Please give q list Of some Of the
important technical developments Of the
past IS years.-D. P. M.
A. Streamline trains, synthetic rub
Der, f1uorescent lighting, polarized glass.
glass building blocks, television, fiber
glass, synthetic hosiery, sulfa drugs.
electron microscope.
Q. What is the origin Of the sar-
cophagus in which Napoleon is btriedr
"A. H. D.
A. The sarcophagus, Of red Finland
granite lined with marble from Corsica,
was the gift Of Gear Nicholas Of RUS
sia. The body of the Emperor Is inelosed
In six cofhns.
@. Is it true that some persons have
no given names?-G. D.
A. Not all Americans have given
names. There is no legal compulsion to
use one.
@. Who was the last member OF tho
House OF Hanover to sit on the British
throne?-R D. N.
A. Queen Victoria was the last MEM
Der Of the House OF Hanover, whose sur
name is Guelph. to sit on the throne Of
England.
@. In mythology, who was the nymph
who pined away until only her voice was
left?-H. G.
A. Echo She pined for the love Of
Narcissus.
@. When was the office Of tea tasters
established?-H w.
A. An official tea faster was created
by act of Congress in 1883, after agitation
by tea drinkers
". WdS LI1c Dig 6cICIld ever us
covered?-G. z.
A. The Big Bertha. the large gun
used by the Germans in the First World
War. was dismantled by the Germans
before the armistice. The foundations
were discovered by the Allies. It was
stationed in the forest of St. Gobain near
the town Of Laon, in Northern France.
@. What is the difference between
the Celsius and centigrade scales?-M N,
A. There is none. In 1876 Celsius.
who favored decimal system Of meas
urement, divided his thermometer scale
into 100 parts. This produced the cent?
grade scale widely used today In scien-
tiflc work.
Evening star., 1943-04-02
Letters to the Editor

Discrimination Between Active Service
And Desk" Duty Urged by Veteran.
To the Editor Of The Star
A short time ago read statement In
the press to the effect that members
Of subcommittee Of the House Ways
and Means Committee had proposed to
exempt for 1943 all incomes up to $500
a year for all members Of the armed
forces.
In World War I, I served overseas for
many months in the Navy; accordingly,
I am completely sympathetic to any
plan which will give special considera-
ton to those who are on active" duty
in the armed forces In the present war.
However, the proposal to apply the ex-
emption to all servicemep wherever they
may be, appears to me to be quite un-
justifiable, particularly in the case of
the thousands of officers attached to
desk jobs in the War and Navy Depart
ments in Washington, and to those per-
forming similar inactive" service in
other parts of this country.
A large proportion Of all officers up
to the grade OF major in the Army
and lieutenant commander in the Navy,
are receiving In salary, quarters. allow
ances and other benefits, considerably
more money than they ever earned in
civilian life. I heartily would indorse
the proposal Of the subcommittee, if it
were made to apply solely to men of
the armed forces or insular or foreign
assignment
Finally 1t does not seem fair and
equitable in these difficult days that men
Of the Army and Navy on strictly desk
and routine assignments in this city
and elsewhere In the United States
should be recognized as a preferred
group and generally relieved OF the pay
ment Of taxes at the expense of equally
patriotic and loyal citizens who have
not enjoyed salary increases-and there
are many of them-and who are trying
nightly to make a living, buy War
bonds, pay taxes, educate children, make
payments on home. and maintain life
insurance protection for the members of
their families.
FRANKLIN D. MOORE.
Evening star., 1943-04-02

tanning large standing armies or by
setting up league of nations SO long as
the causes of war and human suffering
exist. An international police force in
itself will not prevent busy minority
from spreading unemployment and
hatred, disseminating the germs which
incite nations against each other.
Greed, selflshness and the desire to
excel are human characteristics which
to attempt to deny would be challenge
to nature itself. But man-created laws
which place in the hands of men the
power to use these human traits for the
purpose OF destruction not only can be
vigorously challenged but can be abol-
1shed. Laws which, through unjust tax
alton, deny men fair reward for their
labor and which, through tariffs, prevent
them from indulging In desired trade
with their fellow men are the true
causes of poverty and war.
These causes can be eliminated only
II we grant labor, industry and agricul-
ture complete economic freedom. Legiti-
mate enterprise and free competition,
the life blood of civilization and progress.
must be made to function as God in
tended them to function
We can break the present private mo-
nopolistic grip on the earth only If we
abolish all illegitimate taxation and i'm
pose tax solely upon the value of land.
1ndustrialist and laborer, home owner
and farmer would then be free from the
outrageous penalties which now i'm
prison them on a politically and religious
ly free but disinherited earth. D.A.
Britain's place" in Federation"
Seen as That Of Member" Only.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Basic truths rapidly are shaping up
in Americans minds-the underlying
fact that adherence to regional fedora
tions of national identities will end this
war and point the way to a practical
working peace. Study your map again.
Felix Morley clearly enunciates this
In recent article. The Americas read
lily may comprise such a homogeneous
regional federation.
Europe and part of Asia can be con-
formed into another sound, workable
regional federation, but British plans
for tampering in the affairs OF CONT
mental Europe through the war-making
balance-of-power policy must be thrown
out, as in violent conflict with the prin-
ciples Of regional federation. European
nations will not tolerate 1t in the years
to come, any more than the United
States would tolerate dictation from
nearby British Bermuda.
British plans for retaining domina-
ton of states and areas whose people
and economic status are integral parts
Of other regional federations also must
be cast out.
Obviously the road to peace is blocked
by this outnnoded determination to re-
tain colonial imperialism in a world
whose pattern must follow regional
federation. Britain's place In Euro
pean federation must be that Of q mem
Der only-not an economic dictator.
Our of1cials must be frm, even II II
hurts. E.F. MINER.