The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 8

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 26, 1939 THE a What Do You Want Me IPftilafcripliia inquirer ESTABLISHED 18t9 Entered at Postoffice at Philadelphia, as tecond-elass matter Published Every Day in the Year by THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER CO. M. L. AXN'ENBERG Chairman and Publisher CHARLES TYLER President and General Manager WALTER IL ANKENBERG Vice President JOHN T. CUSTIS Editor JOHN J.

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LOUIS BUREAU Globe Democrat Bldg. EUROPEAN BUREAU IB Regent London PARIS BUREAU .13 and 15 rue Taitbout Manuscripts will not be returned unless postage is sent, but In no case will The Inquirer be responsible for their safe return. Member of the Associated Press The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use. for re-publication, of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein. WEDNESDAY TJULY 26, 1939 If the Government Taxes Its Bonds Senator Byrd's proposal to tax the income from securities issued by Government lending agencies cannot be challenged on constitutional grounds.

No amendment is required to permit the Federal Government to remove the tax-free provision from future notes and bonds. In the case of certain issues it has already imposed limited taxation. The question is whether, in the absence of similar action by States with regard to their own securities, this is a wise policy. The ideal system would grant no tax immunity to any public securities. Congress has postponed legislation on this subject because of doubts as to its legality.

A Constitutional amendment would settle that question, but for some reason many members oppose its submission to the States. One thing is certain: If all Federal securities are made subject to tax, the Government will have to pay higher interest on its borrowings. It cannot have it both ways. A recent issue of notes by the Commodity Credit Corporation, carrying five-eighths per cent, interest, is being oversubscribed. The income is not so large that a tax would be much of a burden.

But the Government could not borrow at such bargain rates without the tax-free provision. all public securities were taxed, there would be at once a check on extravagance and lessening of the competition now incurred by industries seeking new capital. To Aid Business, Release the Brakes If Senator O'Mahoney in his statement on means to promote recovery put in two words for his Temporary National Economic Committee and one for removal of present governmental handicaps on enterprise, there is no gainsaying the soundness of his remarks on the latter question. "The restraints of trade which the conscience of the Nation denounces" is an apt description of the pullbacks on business. As Mr.

O'Mahoney remarks, opportunity for expansion of produc- -tion, development of new industries, gainful employment of all the idle and building up of home markets for farm products would deliver a knockout blow to the last remaining symptoms of the 1 m. mm to Know? (Everybody's Column) -s Limited to matters of general Interest. yci personal and advertising subjects. Sign name m' address, though not for publication. Enclose self4 addressed, stamped envelope If answer by man required.

ALEXANDRIA, MARRIAGE LICENSE It recently was stated in Everybody's Colum that there was a three-day wait in obtaining marriage license in Alexandria, Va. I understand this waiting period was abolished some time aeo When is the license bureau open? Elliott F. Hoffman, Clerk of Courts of the City of Alexandria, says that office, which issue marriage licenses, requires a period of 72 hours to elapse between date of application and its actual issuance. Office hours are 9 A. M.

to 4 is P.M. daily, excepting Saturday, when the closing hour is 1 P. M. The Bureau is closed Sun- days and holidays. JUDGES' PENSIONS Please give some information about Judges pensions.

What per cent, is paid by the judge by the State, and by the county? How long must a judge serve to be eligible for pension and what per cent, of his salary is the pension? F. P. A judge who is a member of the State Employees' Retirement Association makes contributions the same as any other State employee-the percentage contributed is based on his age at time of joining the Association. The amount contributed by the State is substantially equal to that of the employee except for the prior service contribution made by the State. Any member, including judges, may retire at the ae of 60, regardless of length of service.

However any member who is involuntarily released from State service" and has been given credit for ten years of service is eligible for an Involuntary Retirement allowance. The amount of retirement allowance varies, due to years of service salary and amount contributed. County and' municipal judges may become members of the Association, as they wreceive their salaries from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but counties and cities do not make any contribution to the Retirement Fund. PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD PROPERTY Where does the Pennsylvania Railroad prop-' erty end on the west and south sides of Thirtieth Street Station? j. l.

The Pennsylvania Railroad owns the entire' north side of Market street from the river to the east side of 32d street. On the south side of' Market street is the United States under which the Pennsylvania has railroad rights, also the ownership of surface and fee property from the south side of Chestnut street to South street on the east side of 30th street From the southerly extremity of 30th street the railroad owns all the property to South street, OLD AGE ASSISTANCE Is an alien eligible in Pennsylvania for old age assistance? A. 8. J. There is no citizenship requirement for applicants for old age assistance in this State.

DANCE STUDIO Is any license required to operate a dancing studio for children in Philadelphia? To operate a dance studio for private instruction only, apply to Room 225 City Hall, for a license for private instruction, which will cost $10 and is good for one year beginning June first. You must have also an amusement permit, costing $1.50 which is good for one year beginning January first. For this, apply to Room 205 City Hall. FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT Where can I get a copy of the Federal Wage-Hour law? Is there any charge? How many employers have been cited for disregard of the law in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania? C. G.

Copies of the Fair Labor Standards Act are. available, free of charge, at the local office of the Wage and Hour Division, U. S. Department of Labor, 1630 Widener Building. Up to the present, there have been no criminal prosecutions for violations of the Act.

However, complaints have been filed against nine concerns in the Philadelphia area and injunctions were entered to prevent future violations, none of which were contested by the defendants. In HAPPY LANDING! Copyright 1939 lu The T'hilntlrlphia Inquirer Letters to the Editor Run-Down Fire Bureau Spells Danger The disgracefully run-down condition of the city Fire Bureau, as revealed by Chief Davis, is something that directly concerns every citizen of Philadelphia. Other features of governmental operation may be neglected or abused, other municipal services may be unsatisfactory; other city agencies may be over-run with inefficiency, and the average person may remain undisturbed. But if safeguards against fire are inadequate, if the city's fire-fighting forces are allowed to deteriorate, the situation is one that cannot be tolerated or justified, because it spells danger. Two services are indispensable in any well-adminis-tered citv: an adequate water supply and a proper fire protection system.

Philadelphia's water supply is notoriously inadequate and its Fire Bureau is furnishing protection against fires under severe and ever increasing handicaps. The firemen do not have the proper material. to work with the apparatus provided is outdated and outworn the high pressure lines fall far short of needs; the Bureau is undermanned. Such a condition cannot go on for long without inviting disaster. It has already menaced the city for too long a period.

It should be rectified without delay. The. old excuse of lack of money cannot stand in the way of a rehabilitated fire-fighting system. It may not be possible to obtain off-hand the whole sum considered necessary by Chief Davis to bring the Bureau up to date, but there is no reason why a start should not be made on the rehabilitation program. If the replacement needs of the Fire Bureau had been put on a long-range planning basis years ago, as they should have been, there would be no sudden demand for a large amount of funds to make replacements now.

The Bureau heads knew years back that apparatus would last only so long, that new devices would be required as fire-fighting technique developed, that trucks and wagons would wear out, that new stations and additional personnel would be required. With its customary short-sightedness, however, Council refused over the years to look ahead to future needs of the Fire Bureau. In thirteen years the Bureau has virtually stagnated so far as new equipment is concerned. Three years ago the inadequacy of Bureau equipment was disclosed in a report issued by the Controller as result of an inventory. The report showed that 76 fire trucks were in such poor condition that they should not be used and that in the whole Bureau only 24 trucks could be pronounced in good shape.

Not only the vehicular equipment is badly in need of replacement. Other fire apparatus is dilapidated and the Bureau has been unable to install modern fire-fighting devices of great effectiveness, new hoist ladders, light-wagons, wagons with carbon monoxide gas equipment for freezing purposes, and so on. The Bureau has been forced to stand still, unable in large measure to take advantage of the latest developments in fire protection. A classic instance of neglect is the retention of a fire boat that was built in 1894 and is able to operate at only one-half capacity. Obviously this boat should be replaced and the Schuylkill River waterfronts as well as the Delaware should be given the benefit of fire boat service.

As Chief Davis points out, the city's high pressure lines have not been brought to maximum efficiency. The Race street lines should be extended into West Philadelphia and needed additions made to the Fairhill system in a large industrial area. It is to Chief Davis' credit that he marks his confirmation as the actual head of the Bureau with a realistic report on the physical condition of the Bureau and an itemized list of needs. For several years the Fire Bureau has been subjected to the demoralizing effects of a feud between high ranking officials. And while the men were being pushed to and fro in the clash of rival factions, the equipment and apparatus continued to disintegrate.

Now that he is re-established as the activeas well as nominal, Bureau head, Chief Davis has a splendid opportunity to rehabilitate both the morale of the men and the physical equipment. Backed up by Director Malone, armed with chapter and verse on what the Bureau lacks and what it must have if Philadelphia is to have proper protection, Davis should be able to get action from Council on a substantial part of his program. Council cannot extinguish fires with talk; neither will it be able to ignore further the city's reasonable requests for new and improved fire-fighting equipment. Britain's Disavowal of Reich Loan Plan Prime Minister Chamberlain's disavowal of any official significance in reported talks between an official of the British Government and a German representative concerning a large loan by England to the Reich constitutes no denial that such talks, on an informal basis, took place. There seems to be no particular reason why a strictly non-military loan by Britain to Germany, if negotiated in an above-board and business-like way, should cause international excitement.

Continued peace abroad conceivably depends in large measure on the economic rehabilitation of Europe. It is well known that Germany is in serious economic difficulty. But could there be sufficient assurance that the notoriously untrustworthy Nazi Government would not use a British loan for further war preparations? An unfortunate feature of a loan discussion at this time, with or without the official sanction of the British Government, is that it savors of a bribe to Hitler not to undertake further adventures in aggression. Certainly it would be expected that any discussion -along this line would be with the knowledge of France, whose interests in stopping Hitler's advance and in en-foreing'peace in Europe are so closely associated with those of Great Britain. Yet France has expressed amazement that anything in the nature of a huge loan to Germany had been discussed.

Then, as the Senator says, pump-priming, deficit financing and self -liquidating projects supported by Government drafts on the future earnings of the people would be unnecessary. Nobody needs to be an expert economist to realize that this is plain common sense. Businesses that have to lean on the Government will never get anywhere. Yet this dependent policy is directly encouraged by the prevailing mixture of paternalism and ironclad regulation. Mr.

O'Mahoney is one legislator who seems to have the right idea of how to help business to resume its former stride. struction of ships and caused considerable trouble to the management of the yard and bad feeling among the residents of Kensington. It would be a wonderful thing if the yard could be opened again for the employment of many men. It would boom things in Kensington, increase business and give jobs to many persons who are now dependent on WPA or other forms of relief. But if the rival labor organizations are to be allowed to start trouble again among the workers, there would be little use in going to the expense, which would be great, of opening the yard and being compelled to close it again.

I lived In the district and know whereof I speak. F. V. T. Philadelphia, July 20.

Europe's Intrigues To the Editor of The Inquirer: We have a respite in the European political tension; Hitler is to harvest his grain and F. D. R. is praying for peace "as never before." May this writer ask the editor to use your European connections to uncover the lowdown on the Danzig muddle so that, if war breaks out, the American public may know the reasons for the conflict and not bo in the position we were when we went to Europe to fight for democracy and found that we were the only combatant who was fighting for this lofty idea? As this writer remembers it, Danzig, before the World War. was the harbor and trading centre for the eastern part of the German Empire.

After the war it was separated from Germany to act as harbor for the new Polish Republic. For reasons not known to this writer, the Polish Government built and established its own harbor and transferred most, If all, of its import and export business to this new city. If some power, over which we had no control, were to enforce an ukase establishing a new port on the Delaware and transferring all shipping now going through Philadelphia to this new harbor, would we want to do something about it? The European Powers are, all of them, no matter whether they are democracies or autocracies, brutally realistic in their foreign policy and unfortunately they know that this country is hopefully idealistic and that with a few sweet words and with an appeal to our "democracy" they can swing the sympathy of our people to their side no matter what sordid motives they are backing. America had been in the World War a long time before we found out about the many secret understandings and treaties between the Allies as to the division of the spoils of the war. The Inquirer, possibly in co-operation with other metropolitan papers, could do.

not alone this country, but the whole world a great service in checking up on the different claims and counter-claims which are now "upsetting the peace of mind of all people. Not by using "handouts" given the different Powers, bu by independent checking of the economical reasons which are back of all propaganda and demands for changes and rights to expansion. OLUF THESEN Colwyn, July 21. Negro Contributions To the Editor of The Inquirer: As pastor of one of the larger Negro churches of the city, I desire to express to you my own appreciation and the appreciation of every thinking Negro in the city of Philadelphia for the splendid article on "Negro Contribution to This City's Welfare" which appeared in the columns of The Inquirer, Friday morning, July 7. It is indeed gratifying to know that there are leading white citizens In our city who will not hesitate to give the Negro due credit for his constructive contribution to American life and ideals.

Such articles give us encouragement in our struggles upward. REV. R. J. LANGSTON Philadelphia, July 24.

"Sane Views, Wisdom" To the Editor of The Inquirer: This is a belated letter of appreciation and thanks for the editorial, "What Shall It Front a Nation?" This editorial made me realize what a rabid anti-New Dealer I had become. To my mind it analyzes the need of the World a searchlight for every man or woman willing to turn It into his or her own life. It would seem impossible for anyone to read this editorial without being awakened to personal needs for readjustment of thought. I thank, you for the sane views, wisdom and understanding of The Inquirer. APPRECIATION Philadelphia, July 23.

Postal Messengers Pay To the Editor of The Inquirer: Postoffice clerks and carriers receive $2100 per year for 10 months work. Postoffice substitutes receive 65 cents per hour and three weeks paid vacation. 10 days paid sick leave. Postoffice special delivery messengers receive no salary-, no vacation, no sick leave, no pension nor social security benefits. The point we wish to stress is this the special delivery department handles the most important and valuable mail in the postal system; they are full time employees and yet are held In morale, mental and physical bondage by a supposedly humane New Deal Administration.

AMERICAN REFUGEE Philadelphia, July 21. Cramp's Labor Troubles To the Editor of The Inquirer: I have been reading, with a great deal interest, the various articles and editorials on the matter of the reopening of Cramp's shipyard, but so far I have seen no mention of one of the main reasons for the closing of the yard. I refer to the many and continued labor troubles which occurred from time to time and which held up con Western Pennsylvania, there was one criminal prosecution. In Newark, N. and vicinity, approximately four complaints were filed and injunctions obtained.

A Pertinent Plea to All Graduates Dr. Blanche Colton Williams retired in May after 29 years of reminding the girl students at Hunter College, New York, that the very fact of their higher education laid upon them an irrevocable responsibility to help right a distorted world. That counsel she has summed up with emphasis to the New York branch of 'the American Association of University Women. Women today, contended Dr. Williams, are keeping their information and thinking abreast of significant world events and those who do not "fall farther and farther to the rear of the grand march." It is the privilege as well as the duty of educated women to put their education to work fruitfully, and "such women will respect all individual characteristics; they can have no adverse prejudices" even across oceans, added the noted educator-writer.

It is true that these joint pleas for noblesse oblige application of educational advantages and absolution of intolerance are heard on thousands of campuses every year. They are standard, yet they remain universal and imperative just the same. University women and university men as well can not too often be admonished to put their exalted theories and perspectives into definite channels of achievement and 'to recognize their added responsibilities. The nce-vjver By II. I.

Phillips Adolf England and France must be put in their place. Wilhelm It's a good trick you do it. Adolf (hopelessly) Ach du lieber! You forget I have the axis. You never had an axis, did you? Wilhelm (with another look at the woodpile) I've had 'em for the last 21 years; only I spell 'em with an VOTES FOR HERSELF Miss American Housewife undoubtedly has her own ideas about who should control the dollar. do you want war for? Germany has got her strength back, her people are happy; she's recaptured her self-respect.

Why war? Adolf Germany must have room to expand. What are you laughing at? Wilhelm I didn't think anybody would revive that one. Adolf We have got to show the entire world we cannot be shoved around. Wilhelm I see you're still taking in plenty of territory. If a British loan to the Reich helped put European peace on a solid foundation it would be a good investment.

But if Hitler used the money to strengthen Germany's arms for new war threats the result could be disastrous. There is such a thing as good faith. If Britain were to consider a loan to the Reich it would seem only right that the European nations that now look to England for protection against Nazi aggression should be consulted. Strangers By Joseph Fort Newton The People's Friend Questions of general interest where points of la may be involved are answered in this Column. No answers by mail.

MAINTENANCE OF FENCE Where A and have adjoining farms, are they equally responsible for the maintenance of a fence standing between the properties? I only one of them has cattle, is he responsible entirely for the fence? O- R- c- If each of the adjoining owners has improved and occupied his land up to the division fence, they must maintain an equal part of the fence between them and neither is relieved of liability except by the consent of the adjoining owner. The fact that one of them does not possess cattle will not relieve him of his proportionate liability for maintaining the fence. Complaint can be made to the township or borough auditors or in cities of the third class to the members of council. OPTICIAN'S CHARGE Is there any law in Pennsylvania limiting trie amount that an optician may charge for glasses. J.lLtt i There is no such law in Pennsylvania.

i DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS If a husband in Philadelphia sues his wife or divorce and she resides in another State, is letter to the wife advising her of the di" proceedings sufficient, or must the proceeding be advertised? Where one of the parties is a non-resident Pennsylvania, divorce proceedings brought Philadelphia must be advertised whether or the other party can be reached by personal le ter. If the party sued, although a hon-resioenw i comes into the State of Pennsylvania and is sonally served with process, the proceedinss nes7 not be advertised, nor need they be if the resident appoints a Pennsylvania attorney to rev i resent him or her in the divorce action anj 1 thorizes him to accept service of the pre An attorney should be consulted. BILL AND ADOLF Wilhelm Don't tell me, Adolf, you're really going ahead with plans for a war? Adolf How can I help it? I'm being encircled. Wilhelm Still using that one, eh? Adolf (sternly) You keep out of this! Wilhelm I wish I had obeyed that sort of. advice 25 years ago.

Adolf We have a new Germany, a mighty Germany, an inconquerable Germany. Wilhelm Yes, yes. I remember ail that. Adolf We cannot be beaten. We are invincible.

Wilhelm (staring at the woodpile) I guess there will be enough left. Adolf Enough what left? Wilhelm Enough lumber in that woodpile when you get here. Adolf Bah! You're living in the past. Wilhelm On the contrary, I'm trying to. forget it.

Adolf Just because you lost a war you think I'll lose. Wilhelm I admit it is hard to overlook the records. Adolf You should have taken Paris in six weeks. Wilhelm That's what I thought! Adolf Why, you should have won the war in six months if your generals hadn't blundered. Wilhelm I take it you are using anti-blunder generals exclusively.

Adolf If there are any blunders this time 111 make 'em, Wilhelm Stop boasting Adolf You're a pessimist. Wilhelm Yes, and I've trained for it until I'm in the pink. Say, what Mars Comes to Look Us Over Except for astronomers who travel in fancy through their telescopes, and comic strip heroes who hurtle heavenward in rocket ships, nobody from the earth has ever gone to Mars; but this week will be the best opportunity in 15 years, because tomorrow the big planet will be only miles away, if some bored voyager feels particularly venturesome. Science still argues whether there Is any life up there, where the temperature ranges down to 115 degrees below zero at night. But Dr.

Earl C. Slipher, an American astronomer who Is in South Africa for the star-gazers' version of swing, has now made the first successful color photographs of the dipping planet, and is speaking glibly of the melting of the southern snows on Mars, of patches of living green vegetation as large as the United States, and of other indications that it's springtime on our celestial neighbor. It may be odd for men on a world they can't easily manage to remain concerned about those far away. Even the moon is 231,000 miles distant when nearest to us. Pluto, a planetary pal of Mars, shuns us haughtily, never approaching nearer than 2700 million miles.

Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury are more friendly, yet still welcome no callers from this side of the cosmic railroad tracks. But in this candid camera age we are certainly laying for Mars on Thursday, to see whsU she hangs on her wash line and If Martian husbands eat in their shirt-sleeves. 7 i "What has happened to us In America?" asks a reader. "Once we were friendly to foreigners, generous to strangers; today we look askance at the outsider, if we do nothing else. "Our attitude is no longer one of welcome, 'but of suspicion, not one of friendliness, but of fear.

We treat folks of other races as enemies, as if their sole intent were to do us injury. "Never in my life I am nearly eighty have I known such a spirit as we have in America today. We have been whipped into a fury of fear and hatred, which belies our whole history. "The Bible we are supposed to read bids us to be kind to 'the stranger within thy All those old injunctions are needed today. We seem to have forgotten the spirit of hospitality.

"Actually, in our hideous dislikes we are often not even decent, much less sporting. Our religion, which teaches us to like people, means nothing at all, apparently, or next to nothing. TJo doubt do lik peo ple, theoretically, or pretend to. But in reality our dislike of people Is open, flagrant, bitter, unashamed. We make the stranger feel that he is unwanted, hated.

"Why should it be so? One of your fellow columnists says it is due to an 'erosion of soul, the result of the prolonged anxiety and privation of the depression, and its nagging, gnawing insecurity. "Maybe he is right, it is too much for me. Even refugee children, driven from home, their parents either dead, or homeless and hopeless, make no appeal to us. The thing is awful bcycud Yes, good reader, it is Incredible, but true. We have suffered an appalling slump of soul.

We have become hard, callous, having lost much of the humane spirit which has been our glory hitherto. No doubt we were too sentimental in days gone by. Now, alas, we are cynical. Once our land was a refuge of the hunted and tormented; now its gates are barred, and strangers are locked out I Taking Out Some More War Insurance In passing. the bill to permit the Army and Navy to sell guns and warships to other American republics the House has moved to strengthen and not weaken our national defenses.

It has been the settled policy under many Administrations to send our military and naval officers to South American nations to assist in training their fighting forces. For however interpretations of the scope of the Monroe Doctrine may differ, there is no doubt that in case of aggression from the other hemisphere this country could not stand by as a spectator on the sidelines. Naturally United States military secrets cannot be intrusted to any other nation. The Army and Navy can be depended upon not to disclose the nature of secret devices by American inventors. With this proviso, there is nothing in this sensible policy of helping our southern neighbors to arm themselves that should cause even the most extreme pacifists to lie awake nights..