Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 278, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 January 1936 — Page 12

PAGE 12

The Indianapolis Times (A SCKirPS-FOWARD NEWSPAPER) ROY W. HOWARD President JL.UDWEL.L, PENNY Editor EAHL, D. BAKER htiglr.es* Manager

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Ott'g Lipht ana the People AVI It Find Their Own Wav

WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 29, 1936.

IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE 'T'HE success or failure of governmental machin- ■*- ery depends almost entirely upon the merit of Its personnel. Good public service rests on good public servants and those can not be chosen at random from the voting books of political parties. The League of Women Voters tonight by radio opens its campaign to abolish the "spoils system" in American public affairs. Few movements in the nation deserve as much attention and as much support as does this great drive. Governmental positions can not be filled adequately by men whose only recommendation is that they can “deliver" their districts at election lime. The merit system is the only fair and democratic means of assuring the people, the voters and the taxpayers, of honest and efficient public service. Too. merit service means more than the building up of a personnel possessing a high rating of efficiency. It means economical government. The day of political plums must go. The League of Women Voters is doing its share. RESERVE BOARD’S WORRIES the same day that Congress enacted the bonus over his veto, President Roosevelt nominated six of the seven men who are to serve on the reconstituted Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. This may now seem a coincidence hardly worth noting. But there may come a time when it will have an all too painful pertinence. For certainly the pouring of two and one-half billions of veterans’ bonds into the already swollen reservoir of potential bank credit will not make the responsibilities of the new Reserve Board any easier. We have read various comments on the caliber of the new board members. In general they are appraised as men of experience and independence. They would have need of those qualifications even if no serious problems pressed upon them. Events which now seem to be galloping toward a crisis indicate that they may also have need of all of the courage and wisdom that the stoutest and wisest human beings possess. The new Reserve Board, with its vastly increased powers and its liberation from possible Treasury Department domination, will be the nearest thing this country has had to a Supreme Court of finance and banking. And in view of the problems that are piling up, those powers could hardly be too great or that independence of action too secure. tt tt tt FOR one thing, member banks now have on deposit in Federal Reserve Banks reserves totaling more than five and one-half billions, of which nearly three billions are in excess of reserve requirements. Should a speculative fever take hold, these reserves could be used as the basis of a credit expansion greater than that which brought on the boom of the late twenties and the collapse of the early thirties. And since there is no possible use for such a volume of credit in legitimate business, it could only be diverted into channels that would bring on an even bigger speculative boom and worse collapse. As the veterans’ bonds are cashed and the goverment borrows elsewhere to meet payments, and as the government continues its other borrowings to overcome deficits created by other expenditures, bank deposits and bank reserves will mount and the credit inflation danger swell. The thing which keeps the picture from being really terrifying is the fact that the new Reserve Board has what most banking and finance authorities regard as adequate authority to keep us from going on another speculative drunk. It has the power, for example, to dotfble reserve requirements—a very drastic power indeed—one which, if exercised abruptly, could have the deflationary effect of forcing many banks to the wall. It also has the power to increase substantially the present stock margin requirements, and prevent thereby too great diversion of bank credit into stock gambling. But the question is: Will the new Reserve Board recognize the danger point when and if it arrives, and will it have the courage and wisdom to apply the necessary brakes? The old Reserve Board had less power to cope with the gambling boom of the late twenties But it failed to use even the power it had. until too late—until the nation’s credit already had been trained into gambling centers. a m tt IT is reasonable to expect that the new board will profit by the mistakes of the old. Yet there is an Ironical difference in the problems which arose In the late twenties and those which loom ahead. Then, the speculative impetus came largely from outside the government, although those on the inside blindly fed that fever for selfish political gain. Now. the dangerous credit unbalance is one created principally by the fiscal and monetary policies of the government, over which the Reserve Board has no control. But surely an Administration which had enough confidence in these men to select them for this important responsibility will not fail to counsel with them on ways and means of reforming government policies which aggravate their problems. WPA AND PRIVATE JOBS MUCH of the valid criticism over Federal work-re-lief routine will be dispelled, we believe, if the state chiefs follow the letter and spirit of the recent orders of WPA Administrator Harry L. Hopkins, relating to the hiring of relief workers by private employers. The charge has been general that men and women on WPA pay rolls have been turning down offers of private jobs. Stories of such refusals have come from every part of the country. Behind most of these refusals appeared the fear that once the worker left a steady government job in favor of a temporary private Job he would find himself jobless when the private work gave out. Under Mr. Hopkins’ new orders such workers may return to WPA. "It seems to be extremely Important,” he told state administrators "that all workers be given every reasonable opportunity to accept temporary employment because this often results in a permanent opportmttr. ud. obvioutijr. worker. re goto* to b.

loath to accept temporary Jobs unless they can be given definite assurance that the WPA work will be open to them upon their completion.’’ Mr. Hopkins, however, warns that the temporary work must be full-time, paid for in “going” wages and of a natufe that will not upset established labor relationships. Obviously, while relief wages should be lower than the private scale, the government should not use its work-relief rolls to cheapen the private labor market, or as a weapon against organized la bo. There are many dangers in the great job of administering Federal work-relief—waste, red tape, Inefficiency, party politics, and the useless and synthetic type of employment that is almost as demoralizing as the dole. The gravest of all is that these government "clients" become habitual relief wards of the government. Private industry and the government should cooperate against this menace—industry by proffering bona-fide Jobs, and the government by facilitating the enrollment of workers on such jobs. PLAY BALL! JUDGE JOHN D. MARTIN of the United States ** District Court at Memphis is a baseball fan and president of the Southern League. As such he knows the value of teamwork in sport. Asa judge he also knows its value in government. This judge recalls that the founding fathers wrote a Constitution, vesting co-equal powers in the legislative, executive and judicial arms of the government. None should encroach on the others’ power. Upholding the constitutionality of TVA, he said, with Mr. Justice Stone, that the way to remove unwise laws Is by the ballot, not by use of the courts. Upholding AAA as a proper use of the general welfare clause, he said: “The soundest public policy is conserved when district courts do not interfere with the operation of acts of Congress. Pending fiinal decision of the Supreme Court, nullification of laws in some districts and their enforcement in others leads to much confusion and inequality.’’ Upholding the Wagner Labor Act as non-violative of “due process," he said: “It would be utterly inconsistent with the firm principle held by this court to invade the powers of the legislative and executive departments of the government, by staying the proceedings of an important executive board established by act of Congress; except upon a conclusion reached by the court that such an act is unconstitutional beyond a shadow of doubt. . , . District courts should be most reluctant to pronounce acts of Congress void." If all our district judges held the sportsmanlike —and constitutional—views of Judge Martin the confusion now reigning on Capitol Hill would cease and effective government would be resumed. DEATH OF AN OLD JOKE npHE old joke about dreading the dentist’s drill is due to die a joyful death with the discovery of a simple chemical solution that is reported to make dental drilling a painless procedure. And since the joke was no Joke and the dread a very real one, the discovery may lead to more regular visits to the dentist and consequently better dental health generally. If the new solution comes up to expectations, the name of Dr. Leroy L. Hartman, Columbia University professor of dentistry, will be added to other famous dentists who have helped rid the world of pain. Only time will tell whether the new anesthetic agent is as good as popular opinion has acclaimed it. Professional opinion seems divided. Dentists who heard Dr. Hartman announce the formula are reported to be rushing orders for the solution. Others are more skeptical, and Dr. Hartman, like many another scientific discoverer, probably will be subjected to some criticism by his scientific colleagues. The chief criticism comes from those who resented announcement of the discovery through the public press rather than through a scientific meeting or publication. In this first announcement, also, the formula of the solution was kept secret, and secret formulas are anathema to medical and dental scientists. The true value of Dr. Hartman’s discovery can not be known until the solution has been tried by other investigators on large numbers of patients. That is the way of science. Dr. Hartman’s reputation as a scientist and the care with which he has tested his solution, however, justify hope that the pain of dental drilling soon will be a thing of the past. NO FREE SEEDS J TNCLE SAM went out of the free seed business in 1923, so it is useless to write the Department of Agriculture and ask for them. Secretary Wallace is again emphasizing this fact, for the annual deluge of letters requesting free garden seeds is already beginning. A WOMAN’S VIEWPOINT By Mrs. Walter Ferguson FOR the eleventh time the Conference on the Cause and Cure of War meets in Washington. Whether you’re concerned with the question or not, it is a good thing to visit this conference because it shows you that many men and a very large number of women are. As is true of most conferences, your first impression is one of confusion that amounts almost to chaos. You wonder how on earth any order, to say nothing of peace, can come out of such a mass of contradictory attitudes, or any sane conclusion be reached by such dissimilar types of individuals. Gradually, however, you get a sense of unity. You feel a vast undercurrent of power which is the pulse of minds pushing toward a single objective. So, after your toes and perhaps your feelings have been well squashed, you get a sense of comradeship and decide everybody is headed in the same direction. First, you probably will sit politely and listen to fine speeches; next you pay a visit to one of the forums, or as many as possible, and then you’d better stand around to catch fragments of conversation. The last will convince you upon one point. Women are going to do something about war in spite of hell and high water. Above and beyond the details of the conference, this is the big item which can not escape you. They may be, and are, tremendously bewildered about how to set about the business. It may take a long, long time—but, they'll never stop until effective international peace machinery is built. There are all sorts of women whose minds are made up about that. Homely women, handsome women of many nationalities and beliefs, and of many grades of intelligence. They are not in accord on all questions. Some of them are as far apart as the poles, politically and racially. But they are not in disagreement in their attitude toward war. They’re funny, all these women, and a little pathetic and terribly, terribly in earnest. So much in earnest that they can not }>e defeated. They are moved by a great ideal—and ideals are inde-

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Squaring The Circle With THE HOObiER EDITOR

JNDIANAPOLIS between 1822 and 1824 was a state capital to which the Legislature refused to come and which had no Senator or Representative to get in there and hiss for it. Before that, between 1820 and 1822, it was a sorry, bedraggled and lonesome state capital, legislatureless too, and forced to go to a county seat 60 miles away for its own mail or a marriage license. Those were bad days for Indianapolis, what with the Indian trouble it was having as a sideline. The Legislature, in a legislating whimsy, had sent some commissioners out from Corydon to select anew site for a city that would be the capital and would be located somewhere near the geographical center of the state. To all but the legislators, Corydon was in bad repute then. Appease the constituency by establishing anew capital if necessary, but let’s keep on meeting in Corydon, the Legislature apparently had decided for itself. tt tt it "TT7ELL, the commissioners se- ’ ’ lected the mouth of Fall Creek for the site, and returned to Corydon to report to the legislators. They told about the Indians found in the region and the lawmakers turned sissies. Everything was all set, apparently. The Federal government had given the land. All that remained was to clear it, make some streets, and then try to get someone to live there. Connersville was the county seat and when the handful of new Indianapolis residents found that they must travel 60 miles to transact such simple business as getting their mail, they put up a howl that the Legislature heard in 1822. That year it created Marion County with Indianapolis as its seat, and the Federal government moved in with a postoffice; one street was “cleared” although it remained full of stumps; and another saloon was erected in the belief that the Legislature would meet there soon. t* a WHEN Indianapolis sought to muster its political forces to make the Legislature meet in the state capital, it suddenly realized that the Legislature, in creating Marion County, had failed to give it representation. So Indianapolis was a state capital ignored by the Legislature, and powerless to do anything because it actually had no representation in the state legislative body. This created a good deal of consternation among those who had speculated in real estate, although the whole mile square of the city brought the government something less than $150,000. Eventually it was ironed out and the bemused Legislature voted to give up its beloved Corydon and to meet, in 1825, in the city it had created as capital. QO State Treasurer Samuel Merrill loaded a large two-horse wagon with gold and records and made the journey from Corydon, going about 12 miles daily. By the end of November the machinery was installed. When the legislators came for the first session in the new capital in January, 1825, they found one stumpy street, three saloons, and almost nothing else, except a controversy about who was the first settler. George Pogue had just about talked a Mr. McCormick out of the title when an Indian raid carried Mr. Pogue off and left the field open for Mr. McCormick. He improved his time so well between then and his demise that every one’s still confused about the matter today. OTHER OPINION On Social Security [Sep. Ernest Lundeen. Minnesota FarmerLaborite.] The Administration social Security Act is pitiably and utterly inadequate. ... There is no unemployment insurance for those now unemployed. The unemployed must first secure jobs. They must hold these jobs and pay a percentage out of their meager salaries for years before they are eligible. The aged are expected to live way below a decent American standard of living. Anew social security law should be placed on the books, based on definite and fundamental principles. The law must be national in scope, payments must be made from the Federal Treasury, and the funds collected from income, inheritance, gifts, corporation reserves and other accumulated wealth of the country. tt a u Day of Understanding [SEA Service] Feb. 22, the anniversary of George Washington’s birth, this year will take or a deeper significance. To promote greater understanding and co-operation among Protestants, Catholics, and Jews as American citizens, Feb. 22 will be designated Brotherhood Day. Feb. 23 will be similarly designated. Inaugurated by the National Conference of Jews and Christians, the day should mark anew outlook on the relationships of the three groups. In the words of the conference slogan, it should “make America safe for differences.” Though rituals and dogma may divide Jews, Protestants and Catholics, there is certainly no excuse for the variance in beliefs extending to everyday good citizenship. Brotherhood Day should focus attention on the value of attaining a

‘WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE, AL?’

The Hoosier Forum

(Times readers are invited to exptess their views in these columns, relipious controversies excluded. Make uour letter i short, so all can hare a chance. Limit them to £SO words or less. Your letter must be sianed. but names will be withheld on reauest.l tt tt a THINKS LITTLE BALL OF YARN MAY BRING DISASTER By A. J. McKinnon I wish to remind Senators VanNuys and Minton that it makes little difference to us how they vote on the Nye Munitions Committee fund. The National Union for Social Justice has agreed to put up SIO,OOO, in case the Senate fails to do so. These Indiana Senators could not be depended upon to stand by the people in general when big business, finance and bankers are connected with one of the greatest scandals in America. The great desire of Senators of this kind is to kill the Nye investigation, if it takes in some real higher up, we will all know sooner or later if it does, since the investigation is going to be completed. Instead of Senator Nye’s winding up his little ball of yarn, as Senator Minton states, that ball of yarn will be around Minton’s neck next election. The other end will be around VanNuys, who is standing by (as he quotes) the Supreme Court’s unconstitutional act against the AAA. The Indiana voters must keep these acts in mind when next election day rolls around. We can’t be fussing around with those senators who condemn Nye. What a mess these Senators and these international law experts and Cordell Hull will make of that neutrality bill and what a sad thing for us citizens when we find ourselves in the European war. Nye and his committee are trying to keep us out. It is an outrage to say the least for two Senators of our state to try to kill the Nye investigation. Well, the “little ball of yarn” will tangle those two Senators into a knot they will not come out of for some time. tt tt a PRAISES POUND WORKERS FOR CARE OF DOG By Mrs. A, Walter A kind word to those in charge of City Dog Pound. One day recently someone ran over a young collie pup, broke his leg. He dragged himself into our yard and lay in the mud and snow' until Mr. Walter came home, then we fed him and put him on a bed of sacks on our front porch. I tried to find out where lie belonged but no one seemed to know, so we called Dr. Conger at the pound. She said she would send for the dog. She w'as kind. And

Questions and Answers

Inclose a 3-cent stamp for reply when addressing any question of fact or information to The Indianapolis Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 13thst, N. W., Washington, D. C. Legal and medical advice oan not be given, nor can extended research be undertaken. Q—What is the Greek word for hero? A—Heros. Q—What language did Jesus speak? A—Aramaic, a dialect of the Hebrew that was prevalent in Palestine during his lifetime. Q—What is the meaning of the name Damariscotta, a town in Maine? A—lt is an American Indian name said to mean “ale-wife place,” or “place of little fishes.” Q —Where can an inexpensive edition of the Apocrypha be obtained? A—From the American Bible Society Bible House, Astor-pl., New York City. Q—What is the authorized operating power of the Cros.ey radio broadcasting station in Cincinnati? A—lt is authorized by the Federal Communications Commission to operate with 500 kilowatts power during the dfnr and 50 kilowatts at night, unlimited. It is rated as the

1 wholly disapprove of what you say—and ivill defend to the death your right to say it. — Voltaire.

that little dog thanked us with his eyes and tail. My husband said he would bet that when those men came, they would be rough and hurt the poor animal. This is what happened: When the young man came he lifted the little fellow ever so gently, put him on the seat beside him and thanked me kindly. It is a fine thing to know that all drivers are not alike. I hope the one who did this to the little dog will see this, for he didn’t even stop when he ran over him and most likely wouldn’t have stopped if it had been a child. Thanks to you, Dr. Conger and driver. I think you are very fine, and doing a most godly piece of work. Because when you are so kind to animals I know you must be kind to people too. a tt MODERN METHODS OF SCIENCE PRAISED By Jimmy Cafouros Modern psychology and modern methods seem to put to wise use that rare old saw about the stitch in time saving nine. Once upon a time all the physicians went about trying to cure people of their various sicknesses and ailments. Now', by means of a wider and more effective sanitation, antiseptics and preventives, disease and illness are successfully checked at the source. And this is not the case alone in medicine. In crime, the criminologists and social workers of the land are studying backgrounds and as much as possible eliminating factors that go to make up the potential criminal. As another example take the fireman. Once the custom w’as to wait for a fire to start before fighting it. Now we see fire prevention, elimination of fire hazards, condemnation of fire traps. a a a MAKES PLEA FOR PENSION FOR AGED By W. H. Richards It is said that several millions are clamoring for the Townsend plan. When you pin one of them down to what he really expects, you find that those who expect S2OO a month are few. What they really want is adequate relief from want for the aged. However, Dr. Townsend has stirred the country and it is obvious that something must be done. Republican or Democrat candidates probably will promise to put in practice the ridiculous proposed plan, but we have had promises before from candidates —promises that have not been kept. They will promise anything to get votes. When the Socialist Party holds its convention in May it is probable that it will outline a plank promising a pension of about S6O a month

most powerful broadcasting station in the world. Q—What is a holding company? A—One whose principal business is to own stock or securities of other companies, the interest or dividends upon which constitute the income of the holding company. Q —Name the Assistant Postmasters General of the United States. Which of them supervise the air mail? A—William W. Howes, first assistant; Harllee Branch, second assistant; Clinton B. Eilenberger, third assistant, and Smith W. Purdum, fourth assistant. The air mail service is under the supervision of the second assistant. Q—How high do apple trees grow? A—Forty feet or more. In some of the older orchards of New York State apple trees may reach almost 50 feet. Q—Who wrote “Perfume of the Rainbow” and “The Voice of the Mountains”? A—Mrs. Lily Adams Beck wrote the first and Ernest A. Baker wrote the second. Q—When did George Washington cross the Delaware? A—His first crossing was Dec. 8, 1776, and his seconfe was on Christ-

for all over 60 who do not have an income of that amount. They will advocate no sales or transaction tax to take the money from the underpaid workers, and no obligation that the pension money must be spent as received. That will appeal to those who now are raging over the Townsend plan in the hope that their howling may get them something. In several cities where the Socialists have risen to partial control they have proved that their platform is to stand on after election, as well as a means of getting into office. When science is making discoveries daily to lengthen the life of man and industry is reducing the maximum age of employment, it is necessary that the government make some provision for those whose gray hairs have caused them to be thrown into the discard. tt a CLAIMS FALLACY IN BRUNO’S PLEA By a Reader In reading of the case of Bruno Richard Hauptmann I see his counsel quite frequently claims his constitutional rights have been violated I would like to know how a man who enters this country illegally and makes no effort to become a citizen can have any constitutional rights. TWENTY YEARS OLD BY MAUD COURTNEY WADDELL He’s twenty years old And out of his teens. The years have passed by Like magic it seems. And made him a man— This baby of mine. I’m glad he is tali. That smiles brightly shine. Like sun o’er his face. He thinks with a mind Keen, active and trained— Yet tender and kind. And other folk, too, Admire him as well; I’m proud and I’m glad— What more need I tell. DAILY THOUGHT Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, .and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.—St. Matthew xxv, 36. A KIND heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshed into smiles.— Washington Irving.

SIDE GLANCES By George Clark

“I want this done very thoroughly. The bridge club will be here today, and you know how they poke their noses into every corner.’* . -.V - .: . V:- - :•< > X ’Y . ... A • •

JAN. 29, 1936

Your... Health By dr. morris fishbein

THAT old proverb, “It’s an ill wind . . . ,” it seems, applies even to the depression. Perhaps one valuable result of hard times has been the way in which people on relief have been taught to select their diets to get the most good out of them. In most communities baskets prepared for the poor were arranged by dietary authorities who sought to combine in them not only essential food substances, but. also “appetite appeal." There’s no use giving someone foods that he simply can not eat because he does not like them. Nutrition value comes not from the foods on a list nor even from the foods in the basket, but from those actually eaten by a family. You must remember that money spent for food not afterward eaten is wasted. In selecting diets for ourselves, for the poor, or for invalids, therefore, you must choose foods that are not only necessary but also appeal to the appetite. , Illustrating the manner in which relief authorities observe that rule, the Illinois relief commission developed four standard dietaries planned for seven persons in each family. These dietaries are classified as general, southern, Italian and Jewish. a a A CERTAIN amount of spaghetti is included in the dietary for each group, but macaroni appears only in the Italian and general lists, and is eliminated from the southern and Jewish diets. The Italian group also is allowed extra portions of macaroni, as well as vermicelli. The general, southern, and Jewish diets include two pounds of spaghetti a month, whereas the Italian list includes 15. The general diet provides quantities of navy beans, which do not appear in the southern diet. The Jewish list provides no pork and beans, but does have a good allowance of lima beans. Moreover, the Jewish diet list includes four cans of sardines, to three in the Italian and two in the southern lists. In contrast to these allowances, the southern list includes four pounds of salt pork, which does not appear at all on any of the other diet lists.

TODAY’S SCIENCE BY DAVID DIETZ

NEW TYPES of radio-meteoro-graph sounding balloons are being developed at the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory of Harvard University. With their use it is hoped that important advances can be made in increasing the accuracy of weather forecasts. Similar types of balloons are now being used in Europe and three weather stations in Soviet Russia send such balloons up daily, according to Prof. Charles F. Brooks, director of the Blue Hill observatory. The radio-meteorograph is a combination of weather instruments—barometer, thermometer and hygrometer—with a short-wave radio set. Instead of recording their readings upon a revolving drum, the instruments actuate the radio transmitter. Listeners on the ground tune in and record the signals. “There seems good prospect that such instruments can come into general use in this country,” Prof. Brook says. “Dr. Lange and Mr. Bent, research associates of the Blue Hill staff, already have developed one run by clockwork which costs about $70.” Prof. Brooks, however, has hesitated to attach this type of instrument to a sounding balloon at Blue Hill because the prevailing westerlies usually carry such balloons out over the ocean. tt a a Accordingly, Dr. Lange has devised a simpler instrument) which does not contain a clock. Instead, the barometer in which the pressure changes as the balloon ascends, is made to rotate a disk, which in its turn controls the contacts between the instruments and the radio transmitter. Balloons equipped in this fashion have attained heights of 10 miles, sending back signals over a period of two hours and 22 minutes, Prof. Brooks said. He emphasizes the need for data from the upper air and points out how weather forecasters were handicapped without it in the past.