Indianapolis Times, Volume 36, Number 226, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 January 1925 — Page 4

4

The Indianapolis Times ROY W. HOWARD, Prudent. FELIX F. BRUNER, Editor. - V.JL A MAYBORN, Bus. Mgr. Member of the Scnpps-Howard' Newspsi>er Allianee C • • client of the United Press and the NBA Service • * • Member of the Atidlt Bureau of Circulations. Published daily except Sunday by Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos., 214-220 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis • • • Subscription Rates: Indianapolis—Ten Cents a Week. Elsewhere —Twelve Cents a Week. • • * PHONE—MA in 3500.

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.—Matt. 16:24. The more a man denies himself the more he shall receive from heaven.—Horace. 1 ' ■ THE SENATE FORGETS “He (the President) . . . shall nominate and by and with the consent of the Senate, shall appoint . .. judges of the Supreme Court . . .” —From the U. S. Constitution. "Tl FEW days ago the President sent to the Senate for its J~i, advice and consent the name of Harlan F. Stone, Attorney General, for appointment to the United States Supreme bench. The Senate had a perfect right to inquire into Mr. Stone’s record to this day before givings its advice and consent to his appointment. It had a perfect right to inquire where he learned his law, how he practiced it when an attorney, how he conducted the Columbia University School of Law when he was dean, and how he has managed the Department of Justice since he became Attorney General. It had a perfect right to inquire into the Ownbey case, wherein Mr. Stone appeared as attorney for Morgan & Cos. before the Supreme Court. But the Senate decidedly overstepped its authority when one of its committees undertook to put Mr. Stone on the grill for turning over to a grand jury in Washington, D. C,, a case involving Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana in what the Department of Justice thinks may he a conspiracy to defraud the Government. The Senate decidedly overstepped its authority when it permitted Senator Walsh, attorney for Wheeler’s defense in this and other cases wherein Wheeler is involved, to quiz the Attorney General regarding the evidence he intends to submit to the jgrand jury, and to urge that the activities of the Washington Grand Jury be stopped. A grand jury of his fellow citizens is the last thing Senator Wheeler should fear, and anyway, the submission of a case to the grand jury involving a Senator has nothing whatever to do with the consideration of Mr. Stone for the Supreme bench. The Senate’s advice and consent to Mr. Stine’s appointment is to be given or withheld solely upon his qualifications for the high office, and not upon whether or not the Senators like or dislike it when he submits a case involving one of their number to a grand jury. , r-* ~ l THE FARMERS’ ILLS p RESIDENT COOLIDGE’S Farm Commission has concocted J a prescription for America’s erstwhile suffering farmers. The fact that a world shortage of foodstuffs has brought sudden prosperity to farmers has lessened somewhat the interest in the proposed cure. The patient is already up and around, though perhaps only temporarily. Sooner or latpr, attention will again have to agricultural problems. The remedies which the FariniJCommission proposes for the JJJLs which may again manifest themselves are three-fold.

The most important is efficient cooperative marketing. The others merely point toward lower freight rates for agricultural products and toward higher protective tariff rates against foreign grain and livestock. The commission discourages the belief that the farmer can rind relief through development of export trade. The American farmer cannot “compete in foreign markets for the sale of his products at world price levels,” the report states. The farmer lust cooperate with his fellows in bringing about “a balanced American agriculture by which production is kept in step with he demand of domestic markets and with only such foreign markets as may be profitable.” Though the commission’s interest is obviously directed t<J\vard boosting the farmer’s income, a passing hope is expressed aat the farmers can prosper “without making disproportionate arge upon the American consumer.’* The cooperative marketing which the commission relies on r the major portion of its cure is to be sponsored by the Govrnment through legislation tended to encourage more unified action among farmers engaged in the same line of production. The lower freight rates and the higher tariff are less specificaly pro ' :d , e for - 14 “ merel J r suggested that these subjects be given thorough consideration. The long and short of the commission’s findings is that the armers can t count on permanent prosperity unless they regate production and prices. Two very difficult propositions.

Income Tax The revenue act of 1924 provides that In computing net Income there tnay be deducted from gross income ‘a reasonable allowance for the exhaustion. wear, and tear of property used in trade or business, Including a reasonable obsolesI'snoaJ* For convenience this filowarice is usually referred to as “depreciation.” The deduction is con- > cd to property actually used in a bu'ness, trade, profession, or vocation. In general it applies to capital assets, the cost alt which cannot be deducted as an expense. For" example, a lawyer or physician is not permitted to write off as a current expense the cost of his professional library, but may deduct an allowance for its depreciation. Deductions are not allowed for depredation of a taxpayer’s home, the furnishings therein, his personal effects or clothing. Costumes used exclusively In the theatrical business. however, may be the subject ot a depreciation allowance. • Depreciation fin the value of land, whether improved or unimpioved, cannot -be claimed. No amount may be included fbr depreciation representing reduction in valua of property due to changes in environment —for example, loss in rental due to a change in the social or business condition of the neighborhood. Neither is any change in ne amount or rate of depreciation j Uowable on account of an increase or decrease in the market value ot property. Fluctuation In the value of depreciable property has no bearing rate or amount allojvtniangibjes, the use of which tn n-ade or JpuineKß is dejipiteiy lisp-

ited In duration, may be the subject of a depreciation allowance. Examples are patents, copyrights, licenses, and franchises. Tom Sims Says Some people will live in a perpetual fog, which is why they go around blowing their own horn. Sometimes.,* man thinks women have no sens*? because he only knows- the popular ones. . As" you * think so you eventually look. Some day they may get radio down to Where it doesn’t sound as if the needle needed changing. Most of those in debt got there by trying to live up to what they claimed they are making. A bachelor is a nvan who has no one to throw his worn-out neckties away for him. Sometimes it is best to part with old friends just as in parting with old shoes, even though the new ones are uncomfortable. Almost time to start figuring on where you can borrow the money ■frith which to pay your income tax. One bright sign that civilization is advancing is people are beginning to realize they should pay doctor Sometimes we get mad and think all we get for our taxes are the receipts. (Copyright, 1926, NEA. Service, Inc.)

TIMES RHADERS ARE FOR CITY MANAGER GOVERNMENT

One Letter Writer Says Drastic Measures Are Necessary. To the Editor of The Times A IS TO A business manager form of government for Indlanapolls, there is a necessity that would warrant a change of almost any kind. Many people agreed with William Allen White as to the League of Nations who did not believe In It as a remedy, but rather as an emergency measure. White said that when a htouse is oil fire one does not do the meticulous (word of ten letters beloved of novelists) thing but throws household goods out of doors and .windows "promiscuous like.” A famous New York physician years ago said that when a woman who did too much “dining” called him in he asked if she liked chocolates and if she' did he told her to eat a pound a day. Sounds like idiotic treatment tgr an overfed, but the doctor said the thirst the chocolates would cause would in turn give his patient the internal bath she would not otherwise get.

If Indianapolis will not be capably governed under Its present form no doubt the business manager form would turn the trick. But after all it must be known that business manager, commission or Federal, as the present form was called when it was established, is not a panacea. Letting a “George do It” unquestionably would arouse the people to a sense of community spirit which always must co exist with capable and honest administration of their government, true to a paraphrase of the axiom to make it read, “eternal vigilance is the price of continuous good municipal government.” Many Experiences

There have been many experiences with various centralizing forms of government. The first notable one with the commission form was in Memphis in the seventies, to deal with a yellow fever situation and of Which the head was Luke Wright, late Governor In the Philippines, and then in the Cabinet of a President. After a few years and the emergency passed Memphis reverted, as did also Galveston, which called In a commission to deal with the tidal wave calamity situation, and as did a number of other cities. In the course of years the commission form took on the name of a half dozen cities as being the demonstrators of it. The plight of Indianapolis is due to at least thirty years of feudalists politics until the words “public service” and “public servant” are obsolete. The dispute is over a sort of proprietary possession of the local government. - Many good people have been “drawn into the vortex,” until you hear them discussing city elections wholly personal antipathies. By hook or crook or by' business manager the people must he lifted out of the “vortex”—perhaps "gutter" Is the better. Self Governfljegt <♦ * The big mistake .aljyeas basics: due -to the ignorant' belffef thst the administration of a city’s government is a master of identical discretion' on the part of the city official. It has led to the bromide "put him in office and let bifH'rtytj, it like (always ‘Hke’) hr does hi* business,” as If laws did not prescribe practically all his acts. Mr. Mellon for several years has been trying to enlighten the public and make the people realize that his discretion as secretary Is all but negilible, that the people throughtheir representatives in Congress determine his official action. In an article in The Times on the Cleveland experience with the business manager form it was said that the city council decides what shall be done and the business manager sees that it is done In the best possible manner. The council is elected by the people, and there you are. A well known citizen in an article In The Times says that "whenever the people have the will to change” the present “vicious archaic” system will no longer be tolerated. He speaks of the “suppport fcnd cooperation of equally high grade and public spirited citizens acting as a board of directors.” But, the directors would be elected by the people as the present council was, and the people are to decide what manner of a board is to hire, direct or fire a business manager. What is true in Cleveland has bee true elsewhere and is, in shdrt, “self-government,’’

Pleased With Stand To the Editor of The Timet I am so pleased at the stand you have taken in regard to city affairs that, like the old lady with the Jig in her heels, I can’t keep still. Politics, as you say, must be eliminated, for no man or woman today can be honest with the good of city, State and Nation in the heart and be what is called a successful politician. The day is fast passing when we would vote for a candidate, regardless, not caring whether he was a man .or an. ape so long as he'represented, your particular line of politics. The independents will eventually bring about the right conditions such as we find existing in any good business house in this or any other city. ' < 1 Economy and satisfactory service is the rule. Men are not hired for their politics, They are hired solely for the good they can do the firm and the people they serve. If this manner of conducting business is good for an individual or Arm why should it not be ’good for a city? And if good for a city why should it not be good for a State? If good for the city and State why should It not be good for the Nation? Our Congress today, in my opinion, is too large and unwieldly to transact business expeditiously and well, and If w© are to believe certain things said, especially of late, “rotten to the core.” Men of Indianapolis, hit us get together now. and get action. Mere talk will get us no where. The newspapers of our country can exert a tremendous influence for good, If they quite generously will put their shoulders to the wheel and do what The Times of Indianapolis is doing, boosting, everlastingly boosting, v a- A. W'

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

RIGHT HERE IN INDIANA By GAYLORD NELSON 1_

Lights nn ENATOR EDWARD O’* S I ROURKE Jr-. ha 9 introduced UrJ a bill requiring that all vehicles operating on public highways at night carry at least one nonblinding light. v The measure makes no exceptions, so humorists have free play. Vehicles

include baby carriages, wheel barrows and pushmoblles, as well as more stately conveyances. However, a baby carriage without lights on a road at night may cause a fatal accident. No smash can be more serious. In the horsedrawn age it mattered little whether

■3|r nyapr - > NELSON

vehicles carried lights 'or not.. Collisions were rare, for are endowed with sense of sight. Now automobiles swarm at night, and, while they have eyes, they don’t see. Consequently making highways safe for night travel has become a serious problem. Vehicular lights* do not altogether solve it. Blinding headlights are almost as dangerous to other traffic as no lights at all. Recently another method of protecting night driving has been advocated. That is to illuminate roods from permanent fixtures like ordinary street lighting. It sounds logical. This system is being installed on a stretch of highway out of Richmond, Ind. That may-vbe the beginning of the end of powerful-headlights. Soon, they may become as obsolete as kerosene lanterns carried, by city pedestrian*.

Telling It to Congress

Wisdom of Ward I think It was Artemus Ward who said it was “better to know fewer things than to know" so many things that ain’t so.” —Senator Moses (Republican), New Hgjnpshire. - *•% •* *• -J.r • - A New Treat . Electric power development in the United States is fast changing from the localized service of individual stations to widespread interconnection, with service rendered over areas not only larger than municipalities but also larrer than individual States.—Report of • the Federal Power Commission. Military Training Everywhere we see evidences that the benefits of military training to the individuals and the Nation, for peace as well as for war, are being appreciated more and more by the people. The civilian components are requesting more and more Instruction and more and more facilities.— Report of the Secretary of War. Germans on the Job I am reliably informed that the industrial revival, particularly In Germany, has been so astonishing that American exporters have hardly recovered their breath after finding that the Germans have regained the biggest part of their foothold in Latin America, which was temporarily lost to them during the war. —Representative Ackerman (Republican), New Jersey.

In New York By JAMES W. DEAN NEW YORK, Jan. SI. —Any young fallow with a flare for writing can And In New York the opportuniyt for a life of ease, comfort and, possfb’y, wealth. If he Is- content to remain obscure and anonymous. There are here any “number of men who have made their “pile” In commercial pursuits and are ready to lean back and become famous. In other words, they have the urge to write, the stories or their lives so that-they may become as beacons to ethers. But most of these hardheaded giants of commerce are also thick-headed, being able to write little more than their names. Tn the shadow of many an autobiography published In the past few years stalks the ghost of a young college chap who has worked up a synthetic passion for the career of some captain of Industry and set It down in words. This finally comes out In a volume bearing the name of the captain of industry. The young college man remains anonymous. * • • There is one man In his middle forties who sees me frequently in the hope that I can land a newspaper job for him. His name is in “Who’s Who,” and a long list of literary accomplishments follows it. After getting away to a promising start as a man of letters, he was induced to write an autobiography for a certain man. Following that were several jobs that brought him in easy money, but which took his own creative powers. Now, past 40, he wants “to find himself.” and finds that apparently he sold his birth j right to a literary career for a mess of pottage. * ♦ * And I know another young fellow who gave up a very good position to devote himself to writing. He wouldn't consider for a moment the idea of doing an “autobiography” for another man. He has written the most original motion picture plot I ever read, but be can’t And a producer to take It. They’. aM tell him they want only stories with a reputation as a novel or stage play. In other words, the stagnant movie is creating nothing for itself. In the meantlmtffea young" fellow with genius for a mtoplay writing is almost

Closing SHE Chamber of Commerce — in a letter to the board of works Thursday— urged closing Oriental St. as part of the track elevation program from Davidson St. to State Ave. The plea, as might be expected from an organization with a tender eye for industries established or in prospect, reeked with dollars and cents. An automobile assembly plant is located at the juncture of Oriental St. and the tracks. Opening the thoroughfare would injure this plant, which has an annual pay roll of sl, 500,000 and pays $24,000 In yearly taxes to the city. The company might shut down the branch rather than adjust it to the changed conditions. Residents in the southeast section of the city have been active vocally and by petition to open the street. The railroads Involved and certain industries in the vicinity as stoutly oppose it. The board of works finds both horns of the dilemma equally sharp. All agree that an underpass at that point will cost a considerable sum. The controversy is a living example of the need in growing communities always to plan in the present with an eye to the future. Otherwise public improvements are excessively costly and every project becomes a storm center. Regulation 9 SWO bills regulating motor bus operation are before the Senate. One vests control of this newest transportation Infant in the service commission, while the other places it under the highway department. Public hearings on the measure have been held this week. Traction men, bus operators, and others interested, all - agreed that motor busses and truck lines should be regulated but Traction men want it done by the public service commission. Bus operators believe that body would favor railraad and traction Interests to the mortal hurt of their competitive industry. That’s not very complimentary to the public service commission. That body is presumed to regulate for the mutual protection of utilities and public and not to throttle one transportation agency for the benefit of its competitors. Perhaps it has hoofs and horns, but probably bus operators' fears would prove to be unfounded. Anyway, the selection of the regulatory body for their- business should be determined solely by public intereconomy and effectiveness. Stpjte.Ppflch&i were killed by tjie not by adverse regulation. QT~i£em and eleeiw** lines are now moribund artificial respiration by friendly commissions can't restore them to life. Motor busses, likewise, must survive or perish according to economic law—and that only—regardless of what body controls them.

Living T i_ "| HE cost of living in Indianapolis was seven-tenths of i one per cent higher in December than in the corresponding month of 1923. This breathless news has just leaked out from the Department of Labor. The average for the United States was four-tenths of one per cent lower" last month than a year ago. Ifow come? Evidently it’s worth more to live hfre than elsewhere. No family budget should be strained by the microscopic Increase, which excites Government statisticians. more than private ultimate /consumers. The cost of living is the subject of endless investigation and discussion. What are the essential Items entering fnto it? No two persons agree, for one person's necessities are another’s luxuries. ' An Evansville man supported two wives, a child, and paid $lO a week on an automobile, all out of a weekly wage of $35. He lived In perfect peace and harmony until a bigamy charge fell on him yesterday- Yet, according tp those who delve In figures and purport to know, the present cost of living would make his feat impossible. He successfully defied the high cost of living, but not the criminal statutes. Food, clothing, housing, heat, light and miscellaneous items may rise or fall, the cost of living—in the final analysis—depends on the individual. His greatest problem is to make living worth the. cost. • Opening Up / By HAL COCHRAN Early in the morning when it’s time for folks to rise, how oft this same old story has been told. A sleepy missus whispers, when dad ooens up his eyes. “You’d better fix the fire; the house is cold.” So father tumbles outward at the breaking of the day, and it really doesn’t take a fortune teller to tell a wond’ring world that he is simply on his way to fix the bloomin’ furnace* in the cellar. He shuffles in his slippers and his bathrobs drags behind. He really has real reason to be sore. But what’s the use to argue wh§n ills wife’s made up his mind that it’s up to him to feed the furnace door. ’ In time the coals are blazing and they’re heating up the house. He’s Wise to get the furnace fire in trim. For if he didn’t rojise the heat to warm his little spouse, she’d likely make it kincla hot for him. (Copyright. 1925, NEA Service, Inc.) * , A Great Ilaboratory Asa result of the equipment built up during the war the Government possesses in the Bureau of Standards the greatest physics and re

No Wonder He Doesn’t Catch Anything!

THE AGE OF ORGANIZATION

By N. D. COCHRAN A— IDDRESSING a gathering of editors at Washington, President Coolidge attempted to bring into relation two things which have been considered quite generally as not only unrelated but antagonistic—ldealism and business. The idea is worth analysis. “The chief Ideal of the American people,” he said, “is idealism. I cannot repeat too often that America is a Nation of idealists.” In another part of his address he drew the other picture, saying, “After all, the chief business of the American people is business. They are profoundly concerned with proSuyipF. selling. Investing and prospering 'ln the world. I am strongly of the opinion that the great majority, of people will always find that these are moving impulses In our life.” There was a time in this country when the tradesman was looked down upon as of rather inferior stuff. The early aristocrats were plantation and slave owners, and agriculture was a manner of living rather than a business. There was less of real democracy then than there is now. Class distinctions were more marked and more rigid. Once we turned our hands to man--ufacture, the development of life as

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?

Tou can ret an answer to any question of fact or information by writing to The Indianapolis Times Washington Bureau. 1322 New York Ave.. Washington D. C.. inclosing 2 cents in stamps for reply. Medical, legal and marital advice cannot be given, nor can extended research be undertaken. All other questions will receive a perKnal reply. Unsigned requests cannot answered. All letters are confide*Ual—Editor What is t vi amount of indebtedness on thf Marion County court-, house through January, 1925? $600,000. C&n white window shades be cleaned? Spread a sheet on the Aoor, unroll the shade and with a soft cloth shrub the shade with magnesia and water. After treating one side turn the shade over and clean the other

bee Tomorrow’s Paper for TWO PAGES of News About the SECOND DAY OF THE Semi-Annual RemnantE. O. M. Sale ,* MANY NEW VALUES ON SALE MONDAY MORNINGALL OVER THE STORE ,<-rv, u , V,' * ', ■ . .ov

business grew rapidly. Strangely enough our oldest occupation has been the last to organize itself as a business. Cooperative effort in farming is even now in its youthful stage, but it has made headway and agriculture is rapidly organizing in a manner that means business. That farming Is on the way to ah organized business is indicated by the large number of farmer organizations. By a gradual evolutionary process these numerous organizations will decrease in numbers and increase In strength by merging. Those engaged in labor didn’t feel the dignity of It until they began to organize. The individual worker wasn’t much better than a slave bo long as he dealt with organized employers. His strength commanded respect only when there was added to it the strength of his fellow workers. What he did was to make the selling of labor a business; and today the American Federation of Labor is one of the biggest big business concerns in organized industry. Not many years ago there was no such thing as organized credit In most American cities. Bankers were in a competitive business, and didn't ever have clearing house associations. Today banking is an organized business.

side the same way. This method removes the dirt and renews the Bhade at a cost of about 10 cents. "What causes white spots on the nails. This Is sometimes due to the condition of one’s health and sometimes Is caused by a bruise. Rubbing the nails with olive oil may help heal a bruise. What does the Spanish name “Conchita” mean? It is the diminutive of Consuelo, which means "consolation.” In arranging a budget for the family what are the principal items of expenditures? <*>f course this Is to some degree a

SATURDAY, JAN. 31, 1925

Every profession Is either organized or headed that way. Art and literature, as well as science, are organizing So it is true that all of us are, in one way or another, making a business of our lives. Even our kitchens are organizing through leagues of. housewives and consumers; and that is really more important than the organization of our parlors. We can let them live a while loqger in the society columns. In the early stages of this evolutionary process there was much that was sordid in business, because there was much that was ignorant. But we have been learning all the time. If we get right down to brass tacks, there is greater opportunity for idealism in business than there is in politics. Nearly every man who has made a success of his own business would be glad to serve the public for the mere joy of service, if he didn’t have to wade through the muck of partisan politics to get the opportunity to serve. Some day we’ll get wise enough to make public use of the ability of men who have succeeded in business and who on retirement And themselves rich In money and experience, but out of a job. And they’re not all recatlonaries, either. There is such a thing as a practical idealist.

matter of personal selection hut the following might be mentioned as cot* oring the general expenses of the average family: Food, shelter, clothing, operating expenses, (which includes fuel, gas, electricity, etc.), advancement, and savings. How old Is Douglas Maclean, Is he married, and what is his address? He was born in 1894, and is married to Faith Cole. His address is F. B. O. Studios, Los Angeles, GW. Will you suggest some names for twin boys? Arthur and Andrew; Mai com and Martin; Duncan and Douglas and Edward and Edmund.