Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 22

Bttmial pig? of tlfp aklatti Qnbnnt Home 6wned, Controlled and Edited Oakland, California, December 24, 1934 THEOTHER FELLOV By Ad Schuster Will Federal Government Approve Mulcting Of A lambda County's Taxpayers to Tune of AND THEY SAY DECEMBER DA YS ARE SHORT WASHINGTON DAYBOOKw HERBERT C. PLUMMET 1 $25,000 in Proposed Court House Award? The Alameda County Board of Supervisors The reasons advanced, for saddling tax TYASHINGTON, Dec. 24. Back- s'age gossip has it that payers with an additional cost of $25,000 was the claim that Alameda County labor and Scotch Greeting to Ye Column jEditor God rest ye, merry gentleman, Of Faults and virtues many! I send such greetings as I can, It cost me but a penny. Nor is my giving in arrears, I count it quite enough; material would be favored to a far greater extent under segregated bids.

This claim is 'Tis more than ye in all the year seriously challenged and the facts should have been investigated and checked before the white House deliberately inspired Vice-President Garner to declare recently that the Administration would keep hands off in the speakership fight. "Cactus Jack's" assertion was to the effect that he had seen no evidence the executive end of the Government intended to interfere with the legislative, and added his own opinion, "That is as it sHould be." There's more to it than that, how (A has recommended to the United States Government, through the PWA, that segregated bids be accepted for the new Alameda County Courthouse and Hall of Records. This means, that the building will cost taxpayers an additional $25,000 over what the amount would have been had the lowest bid been accepted. In favoring segregated bids the supervisors acted upon the recommendation of the Board cf Architects, the members of which board, Have paid me for my stuff. God rest ye, merry gentleman! this manifestation of generosity with public May all good cheer be handy funds even during the Christmas season, And every greeting that ye scan The Tribune believes that Alameda County labor and material should be used where pos Sincere as this from SANDY.

A Christmas Card To new friends and old friends; ever, Washington politicians believe. Here's their explanation: sible and under the law such preference must be given. A published list of sub-contractors As the situation looks now the Administration probably will trouble' in the coming Congress. if the government approves the action, will Ml 1 ll. to thin ones and fat; to friends who are humble and ones who're high-hat; to friends who write verses and under both the lowest bid and segregated rpiv $30,000 more in lees, uoviousiy ine particularly in the House.

There are several possible sources of embar Tr. MAMMAk TOSRAilKr' PLAY AND Don't COME IM rtPrl COME IN'TIL MAMMA, "1 THIS setup would appear to fail in bearing out the rassment looming on the legislative those who sing tunes, and those who are certain all poets are loons; to all the contribs, to yearners and claims made by the architects and others horizon. urging haste, in favoring segregated bidr That Veterans' Bonus pleaders, and, with some condolence, to all of the readers; to young ones and old ones, to mild ones and bold ones, to the beauty, the snooty, the as oetween Aiameaa county suo-con- tractors The Tribune refuses to take sides: IMMEDIATE cash payment of the but when taxpayers appear to be in the had a large stake in. the decision 'and their opinion, unfortunately, was not entirely unbiased. For this reason and others their recommendations should have been subjected to the closest scrutiny and most careful analysis.

Under the contract with the Board of Supervisors the architects, under a single -'bid, would receive 6 per cent of the total cost 'ef construction, but under segregated bids 2 per cent would be added. not and the cold ones; to friends who are happy and friends who are scrappy, the punsters, the process of being mulcted to the tune of may be sidetracked in the Senate, but no one will predict with any degree of assurance what will funsters, and the mammy and pappy $25,000 this paper recognizes a responsibility, Merry Christmas! happen in the House. a a a It is not unlikely that the Federal govern Such questions as permanent Twas the night before Christmas ment will act less hastily than local bodies in and all through the region, NRA legislation, relief, the St. Lawrence waterway and perhaps the currency issue, may provoke any amount of trouble for the The number of last-minute shop reaching a decision pers was legion. 0 It might be more fun to deco- who oppose and puts forward arguments that CHRISTMAS EVE.

Politicians believe President rate a Christmas tree were it not for the task of building a thing to Roosevelt has kept this thought up the course is justifiable. Of course, if it is justifiable for the party in power to weed out make it stand up. permost in his mind during all his reflections on the leadership of the the threshold of a Christmas and before many family fires the world tonight hears While a tree has never been House in the next Congress. That he by violent means those who advocate over told again the oldest and dearest story in is desirous of having as strong an l5S- llite known to jump at the amateur carpenter who seeks to drive nails in its obstinate trunk, it can twist throw, the course must be approved in any land and under any government, and there organization as possible, no one denies, but whether he could afford to do anything personally to bring about such a desired result is another question. And, it is thought.

and squirm in exasperating manner. A nail likes nothing better than to glance off the slippery pine, and is no logic or value in those appeals which come from Soviet advocates in this country the home-constructed base in in variably tipsy. for this reason: when they are jailed for urging the over Were the administration to throw Helping matters hot at all are its support to any one candidate, or throw of this Government. the family remarks: "That tree isn't straight. Don't you think the even so much as make a gesture in that direction, and later in the ses Perhaps the traditions of centuries in which top leans a little toward the right?" Christendom.

Wise men followed a star, a was born, and faith was given to the multitude, We continue to follow a star, accepting the symbolism; The Christ Child is born anew in the hearts-of succeeding generations, and the word of One who was born- in a manger is known in most of the lands of the world. Ever -and rightfully the Christmas is a merry one. It is a celebration unlike any ether, for at no other time are fellowship and brotherhood so exalted, unselfishness and willing sacrifice so abundant. sion the House were to turn its back governments were habitually cruel and, until 9 0 Twas the night when the papas do recent years at least, the great mass of the on the President on a major legislative proposal, the result might prove embarrassing. Santa Claus Capers And mamas wrap bundles in gay people were complaining of injustice, account colored papers, 0 Fortunately there are always old 'Not My Baby' for the acts and attitudes in Russia today and for the ready acceptance, in its own cause, of newspapers and magazines which practices which in another would be con may be poked under the supports and cotton or cloth to cover them.

TT might then be charged by op--1 posing forces that men "hand-picked" by the Admiinstration to be its House leaders are unable to sidered intolerable. The evening when the stockings are being And, speaking of the top which maintain control. leans toward the right, if you have never tried to fasten a star or a hung, when the trees are decorated and the On the other the Pres Santa Claus way up there, you have missed a Job which has made packages await the eager hands is filled with a joy for all. There Is a hope, made plausible ident playing hands-off in the matter there will be no such reaction. If the House choose to oppose the heroes, wrecked reputations, and THE FORUM fcv the concerted efforts of the many, tha hurled all manner of rash speech Into the peaceful season.

TO FINE POINT. The proverbial eagle-eye of the pure food inspector is outdone a million and more times by modern science. Our Federal officers in an eastern port recently refused to admit a shipment of bath salts from Europe because they contained the visible evidences of dhristmas generosity That skinny top peak of the wishes in any given legislative proposal, he can make use of one of his favorite phrases "That's not my baby." will reach into every, home. Christmas tree Is there to test the fathers of family. If you poke it CONCENTRATED ONE PER CENT To Editor Tribune: In that genuine friendliness and cheer There's another advantage to the into an ornament which has a hole such services to be rendered the donor, i.

e. the Government the college could not legally, or morally keep the property given and at the same time refuse or fail to render the service stipulated in the grant cresent everywhere on Christmas Eve, there administration also in keeping aloof in the fight. PresidenJL.Rpos.evelt has a habit of firingmessages to made for the purpose, does the dratted thing rear proudly with its tinsel crown? Nope. It, leans first is that which is born each year, to remain a Tht editor of The Tribune disclaims responiiUlity for opinions and statements expressed in this column. Contributions should held to one hundred and fifty words.

No contributions will be acceptable unless accompanied the name and address of the writer, which, if desired, will be withheld from publication. while in its largest measure and influence in as a moving consideration for the to one side and then the other. It calls for string or wire, for a step-ladder and hazardous efforts grant. varying degrees character and action through' Congress one by one. Heretofore, because of the strict rules of the House, that body has been able to act quickly on a measure and pass it on to the slower-moving Senate.

The strategy has been to have the All sentimental pacifists seem to "Concentration of wealth" is a fact, not a theory, says a man. To prove it he says, "one per cent of the people own, over half- the wealth." 'X i Certainly they do. But owning wealth and being able to use it are different matters. If you own an extra home ind can find good tenant's who pay the rent and keep the place in good shape, your own from one who must perch high and out the year Acclaiming that blessed spirit, eight-billionths of an ounce of radium to. the pound.

i 1 Up until a short time ago radium in that minute quantity could come in without detection. Nowadays we have a gamma ray electroscope. Radium is worth a great deal of money but the Government does not wish it in bath salts. forget that at the present time because of the Dick Military Law stretch over branches to make it we share it joyfully. passed 1906 under Teddy Roose velt every able bodied citizen of the House load up the Senate calender and force that body to move more quickly than ordinarily it would.

u. S. between the ages of 18 and The rush it over. The toy population has moved from the shelves to the homes. Carols are to sound in the starlight; lights are to bloom on the trees.

It is the old, old day 45 is legally a soldier. Officers are more than mere sol behave. Finally the ornament is erect; father climbs down; the family seems impressed and the top branch decides to veer to the southwest. The only thing to do to a Christmas tree is cut off the top branch. 'Twas the night when the kids Go to bed without shooing, ership is a good thing.

But the taxes, upkeep, insurance and care of the home must go on regardless of good tenants. So it is with that ABOUT diers, we could easily raise an army of six or seven million soldiers, but without trained officers that army ment of some method of restraining and conserving our flood water and thereby restoring our most important material resource. Millions could be spent in securing the many benefits that would accrue to such a project. Reforestation, erosion control, flood control, wild life, fisheries, and last but not least unemployment. The Installation of a project of this kind would enable the wide and a new one Merry Christmas! would be a huge joke, a magnificent "concentrated one per cent.

First, over fifty millions of us have a plaster against their owner NEW YORK "What Will the New Year Bring?" For one thing, it will bring a lot of cartoons showing 1935 as a young kid, nudist save for a plug hat. body without any head. Then peek through the keyholes TIME FOR STATISTICS. Bj GEORGI TUCKEK Every enemy of America, both within and outside the country, are constantly trying to cripple the ship in the form of stocks, bonds, etc. And last year their expenses were six billions larger than their With the close of the year the Nation, To see what is doing.

Then you come to putting long machinery through which we train NEW YORK, Dec. 24. If John D. nplrnfpllci- impc rTimoc fni Income. This year four billions thin streamers of or spread distribution 'of the "24 million relief fund" in a hundred thous officers, for they do not fear the something, on the branches.

It is OLD? BUT AS TIMELY AS EVER It was many years ago that Francis Church wrote Christmas, what would you suppose body without the thinking head. States and smaller units put into statistical story that which has taken place in the twelve months. In recent seasons many of these tales, in comparison with the large ones fun, for you take each strand will pay their bill for ownership. Next year what? It depends, upon us and how they manage their holdings. If they insist upon high Soldiers can be trained into being J.

P. Morgan gives? Why, that's right tea. the editorial which won him undying fame. The gently between thumb anod forefinger, select the place which needs soldiers in a few months, but it story of Francis Church has been told and re-told Every December the scarred, and districts throughout the State, and thereby securing for the State an asset to which we can forever look with pride and satisfaction. -A.

E. Concord, Dec. 22. SUPREME COURT takes years to make an officer, armies do not cause wars, they ef a half dozen years ago, are not impressive wages and salaries to a small crowd who can operate their machinery of production, "can turn out a lot of year after year. How he came to write his famous "letter to Virginia," how he undertook, In the ordi merely fight them; let honest by themselves, with no older measuring blunt prow of an ocean steamer nudges into the slip of an East River dock, crammed to her bulwarks with the stuff.

The cargo is then transferred to trucks and hauled to nary days work a task which, was to gain him pacificists seek deeper and attack those causes if they will, but stop Stick, there is that in National statistics, in world-wide renown has been repeated so often that your attention, and, with a delicate motion such as might be' yours if you were plucking rose leaves 'out of the atmosphere, deposit each shining streamer. It is fun until you find out there are aevaral thousand of these strands in a pack and each demands a separate exercise of the pinch and pluck technique. You decide they look bet goods but can't consume them and pile up funds at the same time, there will still be a bill to pay for ownership. ADDED WORD joining our enemies in their attempt good years or bad, which speak of the re it threatens to become firing, but Church's editorial lives on forever Just as dies the spirit of Santa to destroy the only means we have of providing trained and efficient Wall Street, where Mr. Morgan is in business.

After that the tea is unloaded and carried inside, where sources of a. great Nation, Then, we income-earners who pile Claus which he pictured for little Virginia who had come to wonder, if everything was on the "up and officers. Officers are more than it is then done up in packages and up" as she had thought it was for some years, distributed among his friends. up extra wages to put in the top of that business field instead of the pillars or good produced are we much better than the management? Anyhow, we are the wealthy and To Editor Tribune: Please allow i me to explain to Aubrey Jones, for whom I have the greatest respect, that the colleges teaching or giving compulsory military training is not based upon any statute law, but because the original Federal land grants made to colleges provided that if any college Here is the famous answer to Virginia's letter it This year's story is considerably more pleasant than was that of a year ago. It is apparent the Christmas business, the country ever, is from 17 to 20 per cent better than it will bear reading on Christmas Eve to the little folks, soldiers.

-C. ROY MILLER Oakland, Dec. 22. PLEASE WRITE ON BUT ONE SIDE OF PAPER To Editor Tribune: In the Bells Crime just as Dickens' "A Christmas is read each year in so many thousands of homes to those who must be the spenders. The "one per was in 1933.

What this, and general retail ANTICIPATING Santa Claus, St. Nickor whatever you prefer have outgrown the Kris Kringle belief: cent" have not as yet an insured budget that is balanced, while ours is generally the opposite. The rich accepted the land grants they there business for the year, indicates of the better to call him, New York is making In your edition of December -18 appeared an article. A writer who advocated building bombing planes spend, but they have first to ment in one field, the larger number of car ready for a Merry Christmas. And yet I am wondering what this Christmas will hold for New York.

ter in bunches and that the effect, when you toss a handful into the tree, is, after all, a bit more artistic and original. "Don't you think there is more of that stuff on this side than there is on that?" ft At last, when the fine effect is achieved and friends come in to slay as they always must that the tree is beautiful, your reward comes when the family chimes, "Yes, Pop did that!" And the friends smile and you say "poo-pooh, I always trim the tree. I think it is the most fun of Christmas," Dear Editor I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says: "If you see It In the Sun It's so." Please tell me the truth; "Is there a Santa Claus?" VIRGINIA O'HANLON and submarines rather than by bound themselves to compel all male students who attended the college to undergo military training.

Since this is a condition of the grant or land subsidy granted the Colleges in consideration of and for learn to see their wealth. Income that buys our reasonable desire of the moment is the only wealth or It was only a year ago that Christ While this may be a beautiful mas Eve was sullied by a series of brazen murders. "The carols were thought, I cannot help but feel that Virginia, your little friends wrong. They have ricnes. G.

PETERSON. Oakland, Dec. 22. at their highest when the dagger fell been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. because of a former article by the same author which appeared in The Tribune some few nights ago, rela most unexpectedly.

They murdered They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by NOISES IN THE MORNING. To Editor Tribune: tive to compulsory military training, that the writer has automatic A. QUEST their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or little children's, are little.

In this great an aging dignitary of the church before the eyes of a horrified congregation. Actually he was in the aisle and on his way to the altar when assassins dragged him down. ally become disqualified as a naval loadings shows in another. Before the close, of the year and immediately after there will be many separate recapitulations. Advance hints concerning them are, in the majority, encouraging.

In Oakland records for the postoffice in the past six months show a 0 per cent gain in receipts ever, the same period last year. This is an index which reflects, in broad manner, the quickening in activities of the community. Supported by the showing of the port and of general business it furnishes a background of promise for the happy new year wishes which will soon be exchanged. critic. universe of ours man is a mere Insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world Can we Oakland property owners get in a huddle for the new year and resolve that we won't longer Maybe you do and maybe you don't, but if a Christmas comes around and somebody else undertakes the task, you get mad asa In questioning the advisability of THE SHEPHERD TELLS HIS STORY "It was this way," said the shep- Then, too, there was that 15-vear- about him, as measured by the Intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

tolerate the noisy manner in which hopper, assert your rights, and take military training in our land grant universities, he has shown himself to be either misguided nr a pacifist. our garbage is collected? over the job, Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa ClauSi-He exists old girl on the East Side. On Christmas morning they picked up her bruised, broken little body in a--gunny sack. This in the heart of a great city while bells were chiming Why hot enforce one rnah on one herd, sws were resting on a The flocks the grass- were cropping, and the night was strangely Let. the author leave matters per side of street collecting in silence? as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your taining to the building and oper Second man on other side, silent ation of the fleet to those trained IWESTER1 still.

the story of Christ. likewise. We were talking of the taxes which life Us highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as drear as if there were no-Virginias.

How did it happen? Don't ask me. At present two men my walkway. Talking in excessive loud Augustus had decreed. It seems that the cries of little girls aren't strong enough to pierce the din of a Christmas celebration. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry; manner.

Then bang on our cement When a bright light fell upon us, light enough so you could read. in naval affairs. JOHN S. ENGS. Berkeley, Dec.

22. SAYS TIMES ARE NO BETTER To Editor Tribune: Send Her Out of Town "You have my sympathy, old no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and man." Ana an angel came toward us yes, an angel, shining white- Cat Success Story "Why?" "My Wife got a new hat and she's sight. The eternal light wjth which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Sort of spirit-like or ghostly and iV.

1 Bill Bryant says gave us all a fright. calling on your wife tomorrow." a little patleVwill New York's Not believe in Santa Claus? You might as well not Des Moines Register. most pampered cat lives in a "You i may laugh, but I am telling just-exactly what occurred. "Long run" is right. And just why does a row of high stools before a Pension Is Included Mrs.

Binks: "Well, this is good You may ask the other shepherds, lunch-wagon at the foot of Fortyr second Street, where the oily waters of East River slap fretfully against the planks of the half-moon- dock. But he is none of your Persiaii- bar prevent it from beine a if you cannot take my word. "saloon." As for revenues to the But the angel said 'Be quiet, there's news, any'ow. Me daughter's written to say she's got a reg'lar job at last, as bridesmaid to a film actress no need to be afraid. believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch In all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they, did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus.

The most real things in the world are those that neither' children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there arls unseen and unseeable in the world. Government, after a year of repeal have we any indications of good Angora blue-bloods. -Nossir.

is It's good news that I am bringing' at 'Ollywood." Humorist times coming back? so to hear it there we stayed. ground goes huge wooden barrels from their wagons. -JOS. VALLING. Oakland, December 21.

PROJECT NEEDING ATTENTION To Editor Tribune: Commenting on the editorial article in the Sunday issue of December 2, entitled, "What of the In the final summing up of the article urgent neS4 of a wet Winter is stressed for the replenishing of our underground watertable. This urge is surely most timely and seriously important. In view of the fact our mountain and hilly ranges are being denuded of forest and underbrush "to an outrageous extent" making possiblfejhe unrestrained escape of every drop of rain that falls. This condition threatens not only the depletion of our underground water-supply but also the mountain springs and It now comes out of official 'Go to said angel, Blow Hot, Blow Cold Auto Salesman (explaining to alley-bred, with a pointed nose and a tail as skinny as a lead pencil. He arrived there by devious ways, first taking up with a colony of shanty-dwellers who make their in a manger you will see A little baby lying born the King THE RUSSIAN "PURGE." Just as was the case before, the Soviet was trying men for treason, most of the stories of what is supposed to be going en in the newest "purge" come from London.

Some are verified. Assassination of Sergei Kirov has been followed by many executions, with no claim that more than a few of those put to death tad any part in the murder. The Soviet has announced, in the crudest way possible, that opponents of its order of government may expect death. There is compromise, no recognition of any freedom of speech, and "no recognition of principles for which the patriots of. the Soviet cause fought in their revolution One dictatorship has followed another.

The "proletariat dictatorship," coming after that -f Czar, uses tha iron handainst anyi green customer) This is the radiator and this is the man. sources that there are more Federal agents trying to collect legitimate revenue (and knocking over stills) than there were during prohibition. or Men to You may. tear apart the baby's rattle and see what homes from packing cases, old Lady Oh, then, it'i an all-season "You may think that we'd been Possibly jobs for deserving Dem car? Montreal Star. pianks, anything they lay hands on.

One day he wandered into the res- makes the noise inside, but there li a veil covering the unseen world which not the atrongest man, or even the united strength of all stroneest men that ocrats thnnch drinking, or that, loneliness, perhaps, And drinking, legal, or illegal jauram. wKe nis shanty companions, Hired! Missus: "We don't want a cook Had made us frenzied dreamers and he was hungry. And so they fed liquor has exactly the same effect with a family." we'd had a mental lapse, mm. now ne reiuses to hudBP. Fur- In the long run." ever-llvedr eould tear ip-art.

Only faith, Janey, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that "curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah. Virginia, in all this world ii Cook: "Well, she's not me daugh But to Bethlehem we hurried and we found the stable door ter; she's me secretary." Baltimore Sun. Where we met a man named Jos MISSLED REPUBLICAN Oakland, Dec. 22.

i Between the Lines Although divorced threeitimes there is nothing else real and abiding. eph and sad Mary on the floor No santa Claus? Thank God: he Uvea forever. A' lakes and along with these, our wild And she had a little baby with a uieimore, me doss of the lunch- wagon would give up his job before parting with, his feline pal. When that cat goes Jo sleep on a table or a chair not even cash cus tomers are permitted to dislodge him. He 'is fed on choice sirloin steaks, sole, anything he wants.

In fact, he runs the joint within six years, she still continued manger for its bed; Where'! Hii Protest FlagT "This is a yachtsman'i "Eh?" "Ha luffed and thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand yean from now hi will eontlnut to make glad tha heart of childhood. San Rafael Inde-. life and fisheries. li is regrettable that we are so indifferently negligent of an emer- to move in the best circles. Daily.

But all I know abouLitis that's Although she felt more at home in fumrfant. what the angel said." (CoBTTlrtt, MM, sw The Tribune phla Bulletin. gerxar ttati demands the amploy- tht beat triples. London Opinion..