SEEN and HEAR)
around the v
NATIONAL CAPITAL!
By Carter Field j
FAMOUS WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
Washington.—Public utility execu
tives would do well to consider what
has happened, is happening, and
probably will happen to the San
Francisco bay ferries. It might in
duce them to exercise a little fore
sight instead of waiting for hind
sight to prove they are right—as
suming that they are. Because
the trouble about waiting for that
demonstration—still assuming they
are right—is that they will be in the
position of the motorist who in
sisted on exercising his rights under
traffic regulations:
"He was right, dead right, as he
drove along.
But he's just as dead as if he’d
been wrong.”
Out in San Francisco the ferries,
naturally, suffered a huge loss of
business when the new bridges were
opened up. To recoup some, they
obtained permission to reduce their
rates. So they made the one-way
rate for a car 30 cents instead ot
50 cents, and the round trip 50 cents.
Whereas the bridges charge 50 cents
toll each way, except for a slight
reduction for commuters.
As a result, the ferries are doing
a land office business hauling auto
mobiles, and the bridge revenues
are not what they should be. So
the six counties that guarantee the
bridge, which means that they have
to make up any deficit in paying op
erating charges and interest on the
bonds, are alarmed.
They are appealing to the state
railroad commission to reopen the
case. What they want, of course, is
to force the ferries to charge just as
much as the bridges. Boiled down,
if they get what they want the fer
ric: might as well go out of busi
ness.
Just Imagine
Now let's go back a few years—
in other words, use hindsight—and
imagine a situation. Let’s sup
pose that when the bridge was first
^proposed the ferry owners had re
duced rates sharply, instead of first
waiting in the vain hope that the
bridges would never be built,
and then seen the inevitable hap
pen. Obviously, a ferry cannot
compete with a bridge, once a
bridge is built. If the bridge man
agement is permitted, it can make
any rates it pleases, drive the fer
ries out of business, and then raise
its rates again. It costs the bridge
management virtually nothing, save
a little wear and tear on the paving,
for traffic to pass over it. The main
cost is interest on the investment,
and that goes on, whether there is
any traffic or not.
The case is strikingly similar to
a government hydroelectric proj
ect The project may be uneco
nomic, but once the dam is built
and tne power plant installed the
current must be produced. The mere
fact that it loses money, that it
costs the taxpayers money, is beside
the point. It is, not to make a
pun, water over the dam. So the
competing privately owned utilities
lose money, the taxpayers lose mon
ey, and nobody guins, not even the
consumer, because the utilities
could, had they used foresight in
stead of hindsight, have supplied the
consumer at just as low rates. As
abundantly demonstrated by the
San Francisco ferries.
If those ferries had reduced rates
back before the bridges were au
thorized, it would have been neces
sary, in all computations as to
whether construction of such
bridges was economically sound, to
figure tolls on the basis of ferry
rates.
This sort of figuring was done,
but it was done on the basis of a 50
cent ferry charge, hence a 50-cent
toll on the bridge. On that basis
calculations were made showing
that the bridges would pay. Had
those calculations been made on a
30-cent straight toll, 50-cent round
trip, which the ferries are now
charging, the bridges might never
have been built.
No Hope of Speed
Crop control and wages and hours
regulation legislation, to enact
which congress was called in extra
session, do not promise very rapid
action. Very little doubt exists that
both will be enacted, but every indi
cation is also that congress will
make haste slowly, and in rather
exaggerated fashion.
The one contingency that might
result in beating the wages and
hours bill is that the American Fed
eration of Labor and the Committee
for Industrial Organization should
both decide openly to knife it. Some
think that the A F. of L. could do it
all alone, but no one here in touch
with the situation doubts that both
could do it.
Nor does any one doubt that they
would kill it if they dared! Neither
of the organizations likes it even a
little bit. That resolution adopted
t>y the A. F. of L. bristles with op
position to the original plan, and
while it was disavowed by leaders
in the discussion that the same ob
jections lay against the present
form, the opposition is there.
Why else, it might be asked, would
an organization as politically mind
ed as the A. F. of L. devote suffi
cient time to put through a resolu
tion castigating something which
had already been changed as a re
sult of the pleading of its own presi
dent, William Green? Why not just
discuss any objection which still re
mains?
The answer is simple. Those re
sponsible for that resolution, in that
curious form, were seeking to build
up public opinion against the wages
and hours bill, almost regardless of
details. So they hit it hardest on
what they considered its more vun
erable points, despite the fact that
those points had been eliminated
in the last session.
Wanted No Change
There is the possibility, of course,
that there was a slightly different
purpose—that the desire was really
to prevent the bill’s being changed
again into something resembling its
original and. to union labor, ob
jectionable form.
As a matter of fact, the bitterest
opponents of the bill, the folks who
so effectually sidetracked it last ses
sion, holding it in the house rules
committee after every one had as
sumed it would pass, are hoping to
change the bill substantially. And
some of the changes that these
potent gentlemen want to make
would again add some of the fea
tures that William Green managed
to get stricken out.
As a matter of fact, the opposition
of little southern sawmills and other
small plants did not really reach
the burning point last session until
after Green’s federation influence
had accomplished these changes.
The effect of the so-called Green
changes was to restrict the juris
diction of the board, or whatever
the governing body that enforces
the wage and hour regulation may
be called, to compelling the 40-hour
maximum and the 40-cent-an-hour
minimum. They would leave all
disputes involving conditions better
for labor than these particular limi
tations to be settled by collective
bargaining.
Boost Income Tax
Income taxes on $5,000 to $50,000
stipends will be sharply boosted by
congress In revising the tax law
to get the additional money the
Treasury needs, unless there should
be some totally unexpected upset.
Levies on corporation net incomes
will also be boosted. Corporations
are now paying 15 per cent of their
net incomes to the federal govern
ment. in addition to the undistribut
ed earnings tax—which, of course,
they do not pay if they distribute all
their earnings to stockholders.
There will be a strong effort to
lower exemptions and hike levies
on incomes below $5,000, both of
which are advocated, and have been
for several years, by Senator Rob
ert M. La Foliette of Wisconsin.
There is a possibility of boosting
the tax on incomes below $5,000, but
the chance of reducing the present
exemptions is practically nil.
As a matter of fact, this is one
of the few points on which La Fol
iette and the New Deal differ. La
Foliette wants those with the small
er incomes to pay taxes for two rea
sons. He wants them to know about
taxes, and he knows that to get
as much money as he thinks the fed
eral government should have it is
necessary to go lower. It just so
happens that no one has ever con
tradicted the statement made by
Alfred M. Landon during the last
campaign, that if the government
took every dollar of every income
in the country from $5,000 upwards
it would pay only a fraction of
what the government is now spend
ing.
Very few people in the country
believe this. It sounds too fantas
tic. But it happens to be true and
La Foliette, though never quoting
it, knows it and acts on it.
Not on Program *
Taxes were not included in the an
nounced program for congress. But
since the announcement of the pro
gram the budget figures have been
worked out. It has developed that
the deficit for this fiscal year will
be much larger than was anticipat
ed. It is now certain that the debt
of the government, on which interest
must be paid, will be increased this
fiscal year by at least $750,000,000.
This is much smaller than has been
the case in the last five years, but
there is no assurance at the mo
ment that this is the final figure.
The only sure thing is that it will
not be less than that.
On top of this the Treasury knows
now that a heavy shrinking of rev
enue will be revealed in the income
tax returns of March 15, next, both
corporation earnings will be small
er, it is forecast, than for 1936, due
not so much to diminished business,
for this is comparatively slight, as
to increased costs—wage boosts,
higher commodity costs, etc. And
it is net earnings on which corpora
tion income taxes are computed.
Individual incomes from divi
dends, as compared with the re
turns of last March, will be way
down in consequence. But on top of
this individual incomes will be down
because there will be nothing like
the profits resulting from security
sales.
C BeU Syndicate.—WNU Service.
In the
AZORES
Loading Azores Beef for Portugal.
Tourists Find Many Interesting
Things in the Azores Islands
Prepared by National Geographic Societ:
Washington, D. C.—WNU Service.
IT IS an interesting trip to
visit the seven islands of
the Azores, northwest of
Sao Miguel. Sailing at 9 in
the evening, you anchor at
dawn in the little harbor of
Angra do Heroismo, on the
island of Tcrceira. This at
tractive, historic old town,
hemmed in by green hills,
nestles at the head of an oval
bay.
From (ho first, Torroira (third
Island to be discovered) has been
the home of explorers and war
riors. In 1474 half of the island was
given by the crown to Joao Vaz
Corte-Real as a reward for his voy
age to Terra Nova dos Bncalhaus
(New Land of Codfish: Newfound
land). He was the first European
except the Vikings, so the Portu
guese affirm, to set foot on New
World soil. You see the house
Corte-Real built and the church
where he lies. In the same church
is the tomb of Paulo da Gama, sec
ond in command on the first voyage
to India, who fell ill on the way
home and was put ashore here,
while his brother, Vasco, sailed on
to Lisbon to receive the highest
honors his king could bestow.
Other brave mariners sailed from
Terceira to the Far West, one of
whom is credited in Portuguese an
nals with the discovery of Labrador.
Although some historians question
the voyages of the father, two sons
of Corte-Real, Gaspar and Miguel,
are known to have sailed from An
gra do Heroismo, but they did not
return. In the town hall you are
shown a sealed box presented to the
city by Prof. Edmund D. Dclabarre,
of Brown university, who some
years ago deciphered, on a rock by
a Massachusetts river, a worn in
scription which he translated:
“Miguel Corte-Real, by the grace
of God, chief here of the Indians,
1511.”
The box in the town hall contains
soil from a spot near this rock.
It is quite possible that Chris
topher Columbus, while on a visit
to his brother-in-law, governor of
Graciosa, the island next door to
Terceira, profited by tales told
him by early Azorian voyagers
who had sailed west and returned.
Islanders Were Good Fighters.
In the Sixteenth century, men of
Terceira put up a splendid fight
against the invading Spaniards.
When their stronghold fell, Philip
II made it his bulwark against
British sea rovers.
Angra received the handle “do
Heroismo” to its name when, a
century ago, it sent troops to Por
tugal to win battles for Dom Pedro
IV (who was Dom Pedro I, emper
or of Brazil) against his brother,
Dom Miguel.
In the massive fortress built by
Philip II, political prisoners are now
held. During the World war Ger
man residents of Portugal were
brought here.
The leading export from the
Azores to the United States is em
broidery of the Madeira type, made
by the women of Tereeira.
This is the only island of the
Azores where bullfights are held.
These are in the Portuguese fash
ion—no bulls killed and fine horse
manship displayed.
In Angra do Heroismo is one of
the Azorian meteorological stations.
These stations are the watchdog;
of the mid-Atlantic, warning ships
of approaching storms, sending
word to craft on the distant coast
of Morocco of the coming of the
houle, that strange wave which rises
between Iceland and the Azores and
sweeps across the ocean.
After motoring to the landing field
for airplanes on a plateau four
miles from the city, and to Praia da
Vitoria, across the island, with one
of the finest natural harbors in the
Azores, you sail on.
Gracicsa from the sea is not as
attractive as its neighbors, but does
its part agriculturally in spite of
shortage of water, producing wine,
cereals, and cattle. The Azorian
donkeys are bred here. In the bot
tom of its rock-strewn crater is
a large cave with a fresh-water lake.
Albert, prince of Monaco, who did
much scientific work in the seas of
these,northern islands, describes it
as “a unique miracle of Nature.”
Sao Jorge is beautiful and wood
ed; its pastures are famous in the
archipelago. In the port of Vila
das Velas there is a statue to the
memory of a native of the island
who ‘‘struck oil” in California and
left money for the sick and poor
of his boyhood home.
Pico’s Wines and Cattle.
Pico, whose imposing volcanic
peak rises 7,821 feet above the sea,
is poorly watered and raises its
vines in an unusual way. In rifts
in the old lava flow, lupine is placed
to decompose, and in this im
provised soil the young vines are
planted. Pico wine is stronger in
alcoholic content than other
Azorian wines.
The men of Pico ar.e famous whal
ers. There are lookouts on the hill
tops, and when the call, “Baleia!
Baleia!” rings out, the specially
built boats are swiftly launched,
towed nowadays by a motorboat,
and off they go to chase the giant
of the deep. Harpoons, thrown by
hand, are used, and spears when the
exhausted whale is at last brought
alongside—a combat requiring cour
age and skill.
It is interesting%o watch the load
ing of cattle at Caes do Pico, future
beefsteaks for Lisbon. At all of the
Azorian ports you anchor offshore.
The cattle are rowed out in barges,
10 or 12 to a barge. A broad sling
is placed under an animal, a rope
tied fore and aft to prevent kicking,
and, by means of a cable from the
ship securely hooked to the sling,
the creature is hoisted aboard most
humanely.
The conical mountain of Pico, the
glory of the Azores, is best seen
from the island of Fayal, separated
from Pico by a channel about four
miles wide. In winter it wears a
mantle of snow. You see it pearly
gray, with a girdle of floating
clouds; clear and blue, sharply out
lined against the sky; glowing rose,
fading to mauve and deepest purple
against a star-spangled background
—a never-to-be-forgotten sight. No
other volcanic peak appears so sea
girt and isolated as this queen of
the North Atlantic.
Cable Station at Ilorta.
Horta, on the island of Fayal, is
a town well known to Americans in
the days of New England windjam
mers and whalers. It is the seat of
the oceanic cable stations. In one
building six companies—British,
German, Italian, French and two
American—are housed. They trans
mit, through many systems of chan
nels, messages to stations in North
America, Europe, and South Africa,
and, by interconnection, to every
part of the world. Four staffs do
the work of relaying. In the cen
ter of the building is a four-way
window through which messages,
mainly in code, are passed. Thus,
should Jones and Jenks of New
York cable to their Rome represen
tative. the message, received by
one of the two American com
panies, is handed through the win
dow and a moment later is being
received in Italy.
It is a night's sail from Fayal to
the jagged rock of Corvo, a single
extinct vol.cano which thrusts only
its head above the sea.
Corvo’s 700 hardy sons and daugh
ters, whose home is lashed in winter
by the sea in its fury, are isolated
for weeks at a time, even from
their only near neighbors on the is
land of Flores, 12 miles away. In
spite of hard work and exposure,
they are a sturdy lot, living a sim
ple. contented life.
Flores is the most beautiful of all
the islands. Water is so plentiful
that streams cascade inte the sea.
The hedges of blue hydrangeas, the
floral wonder of the Azores, are at
their best from July to September
on nearly all the islands, glowing
to a height of 10 to 20 feet. In
Flores trails are actually cut
through tunnels of these sky-blue
blossoms. Masses of golden broom
drape the cliffs. The island is with
out roads, but one is soon to be con
I structed.
I I
Species of Candidates.
SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—
It takes all kinds of candi
dates to make up this world.
Maybe that's why the world
seems so overcrowded.
There’s the candidate who belongs
to all the secret orders; if he l$ft
on ms emblems,
he’d catch cold;
knows every grand
hailing sign there is;
hasn’t missed a
lodge brother’s fu
neral in years; can
hardly wait for the
next one to die. No
campaign complete
without him.
Candidate special
izing in the hearty
handshake, the neck
Irvin S. Cobb
embrace, the shoul
der-slap, the bear-hug, the gift of
remembering every voter by his first
name, and the affectionate inquiry
regarding the wife and kiddies.
When he kisses a baby, it sounds
like somebody taking off a pair of
wet overshoes. Usually has a weath
erbeaten wife needing a new hat.
Strutty candidate who’s constantly
leading an imaginary parade of
50,000 faithful followers. Loves to
poke his chest away out and then
follows it majestically down the
street. A common or standardized
species.
Biblical Wisdom.
IN THE Book of Nahum, Chapter
II, I came upon this verse:
“The chariots shall rage in the
streets, they shall jostle one against
another in the broad ways; they
shall seem like torches, they shall
run like the lightnings.”
Those Old Testament prophets
certainly peered a long way into the
future. Because I traveled by night
through a main thoroughfare leading
from Los Angeles to the sea and
vice versa, and I knew what Nahum
was describing.
But not even an inspired seer of
the Bible could imagine a record of
traffic mortality so ghastly as the
one we’ve already compiled in this
year of grace 1937 A. D. (automo
bile destruction)—or a people so
speed-mad. '
• * •
How to Fight Japs.
WHENEVER we have a Jap
anese war scare, I think of
Uncle Lum Whittemore, back in
west Kentucky, who loved to dis
pense wisdom as he hitched one
practiced instep on a brass rail and
with his free hand fought the resi
dent flies for the tidbit of free lunch
which he held in his grip.
One day a fellow asked Uncle
Lum, who had served gallantly in
the Southern Confederacy until a
very hard rainstorm came up, what
he’d do if the yellow peril boys in
vaded America.
"I’d hunt me a hollow tree in the
deep woods,” he said. “Yes, son,
the owls would have to fetch me my
mail. I been readin’ up on them
Japs. They’re fatalists.”
“What’s a fatalist?” demanded
someone.
“Near ez I kin make out,” stated
the veteran, “a fatalist is a party
that thinks you’re doin’ him a deep
pussonal favor when you kill him.”
* • •
Hollywood Fashions.
SOME envious style expert says
Hollywood fashions are too gar
ish. If he’s talking about Hollywood
males, I say they’re just garish
enough.' If they were any more
garish than they are, visitors would
have to wear blinders, and if they
were any less garish, Italian sunsets
would stand a chance in the com
petition. And I want the champion
ship to stay in America.
Billy Gaxton picks out something
suitable for a vest to be worn to a
fancy dress party and then has a
whole suit made out of it. Bob i
Montgomery’s ties are the kind that
I buy in moments of weakness and
then keep in a bureau drawer be
cause I’m not so brave as Bob is;
and also I keep the drawer closed
because I can’t stand those sudden
dazzling glares. And Bing Crosby
is either color-blind or thinks every
body else is. But his crooning is
mighty soothing. And so it goes—
red, pink, green, purple, orange,
sky-blue and here and there a dash
of lavender.
Our local boys gladden the land
scape with the sort of clothes I’d
wear, too—only my wife won't let
me. Stop, look, listen! That's our |
sartorial motto, and these jealous
designers back east can kindly go
jump in a dye-pot.
IRVIN S. COBB.
®—WNU Service.
San Marino
Legend says San Marino, on the
eastern shore of upper Italy, was
founded in the Fourth century by
St. Marinus of Dalmatia. Its total
area is 38 square miles. Its known
history begins in 805 A. D. By the
Tenth century San Marino had
launched its republic. The Monte- j
feltro family and the papacy pro
tected it. Once it was captured by
Caesar Borgia, but soon regained
freedom. Napoleon recognized its
independence. Garibaldi, great Ital
lian patriot, fled to San Marino on
his first retreat and there disbanded
his army.
Fashion's Triple-Threat
1997
1353
1357
LJ ERE’S something new in the
■* way of triple-threats, Milady:
This trio of smart contestants in
the thrilling game of Sew-Your
Own! With all three in your ward
robe you’ll know stadium style,
classroom coquetry, and sorority
chic. Best of all, you won’t
spend a king’s ransom nor a “long
stretch” in their making, thanks
to the economy and simplicity of
these modern Sew-Your-Owns!
Sorority Chic.
Sorority chic begins and ends
in the boudoirs on the third floor.
This highly tasteful smock (above
left) is a sorority requirement of
the first order? You may choose
either the short length to work in
or the long length to be lazy in.
Use percale, gingham or silk print.
Classroom Coquetry.
What if your knowledge of bugs
or battles, or what have you, is
limited? You can count on a cer
tain coquettish smile and a cer
tain smooth-lined frock (above
center) to take you through any
inquisition. It will put the stamp
of approval on your appearance
indelibly. Try your version in
dull crepe or sheer wool.
Stadium Style.
Big moments come fast and
furious when you’re rooting for
dear old Alma Mater, but you
have to look the part to be one
with that glamour and fun. Sew
Your-Own suggests its newest
spectator dress just for this pur
pose—that you may look the part,
feel the part and be on the win
ning side, no matter when or
where the competition takes place.
The Patterns.
Pattern 1997 is designed in sizes
14 to 20; 32 to 44 bust. Size 16
requires 3% yards of 35-inch mate
rial. In full length Vk yards
(short sleeves).
Pattern 1353 is designed in sizes
36 to 52. Size 38 requires 4% yards
of 39-inch material.
Pattern 1357 is designed for sizes
*Tavoilte IQecipe
of the Week
Succotash is excellent to use in
filling stuffed peppers and in mak
ing souffles and scalloped dishes,
but this time the suggestion is
especially for succotash chowder.
If you have not tried it, do so and
you will find yourself well repaid
for the time and energy spent.
Succotash Chowder.
3 slices bacon 1 No. 2 can succotash
2 onions Salt and pepper
2 potatoes 2 cups medium white sauce
3 carrots Chopped parsley
Cut the bacon into small pieces
and fry until crisp. Chop the onion,
dice the potatoes and carrots and
add to the bacon fat, and fry until
the onion is a light brown. Add
the succotash and about a cupful
of water. Cover the pan and
simmer until the potatoes and car
rots are tender. Season with salt
and pepper. Meantime, make the
medium white sauce and add it to
the cooked vegetable mixture. Al
low the mixture to heat through
thoroughly to blend the flavors.
Serve hot with a sprinkling of
chopped parsley over the top. This
is hearty. If you prefer a thinner
chowder, add extra milk.
MARJORIE H. BLACK.
12 to 20 (30 to 40 bust). Size 14
requires 2Vfe yards of 54-inch ma
terial.
Send your order to The Sewing
Circle Pattern Dept., Room 1020,
211 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, 111.
Price of patterns, 15 cents (in
coins) each.
New Pattern Book.
Send 15 cents for the Barbara
Bell Fall and Winter Pattern Book.
Make yourself attractive, practical
and becoming clothes, selecting
designs from Barbara Bell well
planned, easy-to-make patterns.
© Bell Syndicate.—WNU Service
GET READY FOR
WINTER DRIVING
No section of our population is
more dependent upon the automo
bile as a means of transportation
than the residents of the smaller
communities and rural districts.
Yet each Fall, many car own
ers cause themselves a great deal
of trouble and expense by neglect
ing one or all of the simple yet
necessary steps to assure proper
operation of the car in Winter
weather.
A minimum Winter protection
program should cover:
1. Complete change to correct
grade of lubricants for motor,
transmission and differential.
2. Motor tuned up, including ad
justing of carburetor, valves,
distributor, sparkplugs, genera
tor and all electrical equipment.
3. Drain and flush cooling system.
Refill with suitable anti-freeze
solution.
Selection of motor oil and
greases for Winter driving is par
ticularly important. You must
select an oil which will permit
easy starting, that will lubricate
the motor throughout the entire
driving range of speeds and will
continue to do so for a reasonable
mileage.
For many years Quaker State
Winter Oils and Greases have
been recognized as the highest
quality and most generally satis
factory Winter lubricants on the
market.
Through Quaker State’s highly
developed methods and equipment
it is possible to produce a motor
oil which will have a satisfying
body over the 400-degree range of
temperature it will meet. That
is, when the motor temperature
is way below zero, the oil will still
be fluid enough to allow the motor
to turn easily and also to flow
freely to all the bearings. Yet this
same oil has enough body to stand
up and to give the motor proper
lubrication when the temperature
inside the cylinder wall reaches
400J and over.
As with any other product you
buy, you get what you ‘pay for.
An oil of Quaker State quality is
necessarily expensive to make.
This does not mean, however, that
Quaker State is more expensive
to use. Being pure, concentrated
lubrication, it stands up longer in
service. It gives more miles per
quart and at the same time gives
the bearing surfaces safer protec
tion.
You will want to step into the car,
even when the mercury is hiding
in the bulb and press the starter
with every expectation that the
motor will start off with its usual
Summer zest. This sure starting,
plus motor protection, is only pos
sible by preparedness.—Adv.
m 'a mmm m m a ■ There are two classes of news
IY»f IM TUC Pk§ C I in these columns every week:
I J 111 »llt |*J 3* flU * (l) Interesting stork- about events
® ^ ^0 • all over the world; and (2) the ad
vertisements. Yes, the advertise
ments are news, and in many ways the most important of all, because they affect
you more directly and personally than any other. •
• A new and better method of refrigeration is devised—and you learn about it
through advertisements. Improvements are added to automobiles which matte
them safer than ever—again advertisements carry the story. Styles change in
clothing—and advertisements rush the news to your doorstep. A manufacturer fiuds
a way to lower the price on his products—he advertises to tell you about the savings.
• You'll find that it pays to follow this news every week. Reading the advertise
ments is the sure way to keep abreast of the world ... to learn of new comforts
and conveniences ... to get full money’s worth for et«ery dollar you spend.