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Show The Star Spangled Banner FETEr vs I ' & ? it attention. Makes News 0ne of these was probably as courageous a position as any group of senators ever has taken. The other action by majority of the house was shot through with the utmost cowardice and selfishness. Lately, a group of senators, nearly all Democrats, took their political lives in their hands and delivered to the senate a report from its Judiciary committee advising defeat of President Roosevelts proposal to add six new justices of his own choosing to the Supreme court of the United States. In my time In Washington, I believe I can say without qualification, there never has been a committee action In the house or senate in which the President, as the leader of the dominant party, received such a castigation on a legislative proposal as was given Mr. Roosevelt by Democrats who constituted the majority of the senate judiciary committee. They did not mince words in any respect. Whatever may be the merit of Mr. Roosevelts proposal to add six justices of his own choosing to the highest court, the majority report of the judiciary committee left no stone unturned in disclosing objections to the proposal as opponents of the court reorganization scheme see them. Almost on the same day that senate Democrats were, in effect, breaking or revolting from the Presidents leadership, the Democratic majority in the house killed off a proposal for new taxes in the District of Columbia that would have resulted in taxing the salaries of representatives and senators and their office staffs. They were brazen about it. They were not going to vote an income tax upon themselves and they made no effort to conceal their reasons for refusing to accept the recommendations of a special tax subcommittee which was acting for the permanent committee in the house on the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia committee, examining the budget for the seat of the federal government, was confronted with a deficit in the district finances and instructed its tax subcommittee to develop new sources of revenue in order that the District of Columbia might not get into debt. Among the taxes proposed was a tax on income of residents of the District of Columbia, which is synonymous with Washington, and it provided for taxing earnings here whether the person who earned the income was a resident of the capital city or not. That was too much. The majority in the house of representatives just could not take it. They voiced their objections openly and, being superior in numbers to those who believed that income in the District of Columbia should be taxed, they forced the tax bill back to the District of Columbia committee for revision. Indeed, they went further. The line of criticism of an income tax that would touch tire sacred salaries of congressmen and senators was such as to have the effect of forcing the committee to bring in a tax bill that would increase the tax on property in the federal area. Now, it is a fact that few members of the house and a very small number of senators have bought residences in Washington. They usually live in apartments or hotels or lease homes for the period that congress is in session. Consequently, a real estate tax will not concern most of the representatives and senators. nary The indictment brought against the Presidents court plan by the s e n a t e judiciary Court Plan committee was Quite unusual in Report many Robinson. It appears that the President Is going to be badly defeated on this piece of legislation, but it is too early to be sure. Mr. Roosevelt is a powerful figure and he has political knowledge that must be described as remarkable. He has with him in the senate some exceedingly able political strategists. It is thus a battle of wits. Mr. Roosevelt has said several times that he will accept no compromises. There is a very definite feeling at the Capitol, however, that the President will be glad to have a compromise if he can get one and save the bill from complete wreckage. On the other hand, Senator Wheeler and his strategy committee have announced in no uncertain terms that they will de-:- J feat the bill or any compromise that is offered. Time alone can answer the question of what will come out of the Presidents proposal. At this writing, the odds certainly are against the President on the proposition. NRA bill, s $? ; ...I ,w.- - Grnyere Cheese Is Stored for Ripening. dark-bluPriparpil bY National Geographic Society. jackets with short, puffed-ou- t Washlneton, T) C WNU Service. sleeves, white shirts clean as dons festive new snow, and tiny skullcaps like GRUYERES Fourthfirst.of ItJuly,is those of college freshmen, only made of straw. and colorful ceremonies are Every Man Has His Big Pipe. the order of the day. At dusk bells begin pealing joySome of these men come dowm ously as you climb the steep path from the high pastures to attend to the towm. the fete. Each has his inevitable As you listen to the melodious pipe, huge and cumbersome, with a tones you consider how much these lid to keep the sparks from flying bells mean in the lives of the peo- on a windy day. ple. They toll for funerals and naBehind their lords cheerfullymarch tional tragedies, clang out the time, the maids and matrons, summon to church, proudly ring out models of the infants. d of the glad tidings victory, political hats with black velvet and or military, and sing hymns streamers set off the good looks of old airs at the whim of the these blond Swiss demoiselles and a distinctive has call Each their brilliant dresses. tone. Bells have spoken thus for You turn to your Swiss friend, centuries. who has brought you here to his But this excited paean means on- favorite village and knows his naly that some great event is about tive land like a book. I always to take place. It Inspires in you understood that costumes were nevas you hurry along with the stream er worn any more in Switzerland. of laughing, singing country folk, You see them only in picture postthat same expectant thrill that you cards models dressed up in mufelt as a boy when you chased the seum clothes and posing for the whining calliope of the circus photographers! parade. Oh, no, he says, the people of You crowd through the narrow Gruyere take pride in their cosfrown-ing arch of the ancient tower, a tumes and cling to them. Once the pile, gray and forbidding, which garments were practically abanonce barred the way to the indoned, but patriotic societies for vader. Now it serves the peaceful preserving costumes delved into recpurpose of framing the old gate and ords and drawing of early days and these are the treasure-trovsupporting the arms of Gruyeres a silver crane on a gules shield, They are Gruyere. surmounted by a crowm and held by Women don the bright dresses two savages, clubs in only on fete days, but the men wear hand. theirs daily, even when herding catWhat a scene bursts upon you as tle in the high pastures or making the famous Gruyeres cheese. you pass out of the entranceway and walk into the towns cobbled The joyous parade meanwhile circourt! Throngs of people, dressed cles the fountain and comes back in gorgeous Gruyerien costumes, up the street, children toddling, are gathered in a medieval setting. their fathers and brothers still stern All seem exalted, as are you, by and solemn in military formation. the constant dingdong of the scores It is to the village shrine beneath of bells, some loud and clear, others an overhanging eave that the profainter and farther away, perhaps cession winds. Here they gather, miles dowm the valley. young and old, in a circle and sing The scene Is like an animated the chorals and rollicking folk balamphitheater, in which the central lads, as their forefathers had before floor forms the arena, and the high them. gabled houses, with lace - capped Suddenly, as the last note of the heads craning from each Gothic last song dies away, a terrific bang window, make the tiers. is heard far down the court. All eyes turn, to sea a rocket bursting Flowers and Flags. in the air, the sparks falling into The backdrop is a veritable rainthe gay crowd. This is the signal bow of color. Every sill flaunts a box the youngsters have been awaiting. of brilliant geraniums and nasturForgetting their lace and silk cosof a the tiums, making kaleidoscope tumes, they rush toward blood-re- d pastel houses. the man with the fireworks. flags of Switzerland stretch beFireworks and Feasting. tween the houses and flutter from Soon all are swinging sparklers, poles. Above most doors waves the scarlet flag of Gruyeres with a Roman candles, and red flares to white crane strutting across its make a fantastic sight in that ancenter. Nature, not to be outdone cient courtyard. Arched windows, by the efforts of man, tints the gilded coats of arms hanging from billowing clouds with the rosy glow house fronts, and bright flags stand out brilliantly in the glaring light of an Alpine sunset. s If some old came Gradually, you work your way to life and poked his head out of up the arena, past the central fountain with its washtubs and wooden a window, the ghostly scene and boards worn smooth with much popping din may have made him scrubbing, to the courts upper end. think the counts army was defendLike a stage before curtain raising, ing the town from a night attack. Is this Switzerland? That staid it is the focal point of all eyes. d The peal of the bells ceases, the land of mountains and echoes die away in the mountains. winter sports, where folk never wear From afar the faint notes of an ap- costumes or perform the old dances? A whirling cartwheel, on a post proaching band come through the hush. The music is that stirring above the fountain, is the mad climax to the fireworks spectacle. song, Le Ranz des Vaches. While a sea of shouting, Tradition says King Louis XIV forhappy bade his bands to play It, for the youngsters watch, a daredevil climbs up gingerly and steals the lilting tune made his Swiss merframe as a souvenir. cenaries so homesick that they still red-ho- t You go into the hostelry for dinner. would weep and desert the colors when they heard it Even today, Entering, you pass the large kitchen with cooks and kitchen maids when a Swiss is far from heme, the refrain brings tears to his eyes. scurrying around with their array It produces that same tingling of shining copper pots and pans. along the spine that a United States The delicious aromas that come Naval academy man feels when from that spotless kitchen are tan"Anchors Aweigh is played. talizing appetizers. Your charming hostess, matronly Soon you see emerging from beneath the arch a file of tots, gay in in her colorful costume with a dainty Gruyerien costumes. At once a Swiss lace shawl thrown over her chatter begins in the audience, as shoulders, Insists that you come out mothers and fathers recognize their on her terrace for a moment. You offspring. A vivacious litvie bride go rather reluctantly, for it is nine and handsome young bridegroom oclock and you are hungry. You are astounded by the view, lead the parade. So small and neat do they seem that they might have as you step out onto the gravelly been animated dolls paddling along balcony, perched on the brink of a a Swiss edition of the Chauve precipice. A ring of jeweled lights, Souris. sparklirg from the mountains, you. Each doll looks scarchingly at What are they?" You ask your the spectators. Every now and then one breaks into a blushing smile hostess. Huge bonfires built by the herdsand shyly turns away; rerhaps a parent had been glimpsed in the men to celebrate August the First. You mean all of those twinkling throng. The happy children pass on, the lights, some dow n low in the valley eldest and tallest bringing up the ami others high on the mountains, rear. Arranged in steps, they re- are specially built fires? What for? escalator movsemble a brght-lnicOriginally the Swiss used bonfires as a sort of medieval wireless ing down the path. The men of the tllnge and near by to (.ass news cf a victory quickly fiom one Milage to the next. Now dury farms, young blades and sires, follow the cluldten, they celebrate great events in their solemn and m step, mindful, perhistory, especially battles and alliances, by building the fues on anhaps of their many months of military service. They a ear traditional niversary days." e full-sca- Broad-brimme- cafil-lonneu- r. e. semi-nake- d pell-me- White-crosse- Speaking of taxes and the selfishness that was evident in the house action, as tioned earlier, calls to mind the Evaders investigation by the joint house and senate committee that is now under way. This committee, made up of five representatives and five senators has begun a search to find out how taxpayers avoid taxes or reduce the amounts they would otherwise have to pay by various trick schemes. The committee has been given fifty thousand dollars with which to make the investigation and It is receiving able assistance from Under Secretary Roswell Magill and other Treasury experts on taxation. men-HuntT- Contrary to the outlook when Mr. Roosevelt released a vicious attack on tax dodgers and tax avoiders, this committee is getting down to real business and there is every reason to believe it will be able to recommend to congress changes in the law that will stop some of the schemes and tricks to which large taxpayers have resorted. I have sat In on a number of the hearings thus far, including the opening session when Secretary Morgenthau made the opening statement and disclosed to the satisfaction of everyone that he was not conversant with the problem at hand. Like the President, Mr. Morgenthau attempted to place the tax problem conftonting the government on moral grounds. His statement did not click with the committee at all. With two or three exceptions, the committee members recognized the problem as purely a question of law and Senator Tat Harrison, Democrat of Mississippi, vice chairman, said that there was no point in making the investigation "a Roman holiday. Therefore, tiie thing settled down very quickly to an earnest study of cases where men have resulted to various kinds of subterfuges of law, to reduce their tax liability. In tins connection, it seemed to me tliat too much credit cannot be given Under Secretary Magill who apparently is anxious to get to respects. In the first instance, it was approximately fifteen thousand words m length; being in that regard probably the longest and most comprehensive analysis that any congressional committee ever has made of a piece of legislation. Certainly, it is the most extensive examination to be included in a committee report in the last quarter of a century. Every argument advanced by the administration in support of the plan was picked to pieces and held up to public gaze; every possible reason for expansion of the court by the addition of six new justices was scrutinized and denounced and. than, the committee put forth some of its own ideas. It applies force to the judiciary, the committee said in a sentence that constituted one paragraph and then by was emphasized. "The only arg"nent for the which sumves analysis, the congress npoit add.11 d, is that so as to should on! go the couit make the polities of this adimnutra-t.ul- l the botlom of Die problem till clue. Ik W riU iiiNi ip.iper Union, as drawn by the Shean of the and Gallagher administration, Messrs. Corcoran and Cohen, is more sweeping than was the original NRA. . r The bill was found by the seven Democrats and three Republicans who constituted a majority of the senate judiciary committee, to be a needless, futile and utterly dangerous abandonment of constitutional principle. It charged that the of independAmerican system ence of the courts would be violated and that if the bill were to be enacted into law, political control over the judiciary branch of the government would pass into the hands of the President. With the presentation of this terrific attack on the bill to the senate, a second unusual circumstance developed. Those Democrats who were opposed to the Presidents proposal decided to go about the job of fighting the measure on the floor in a manner seldom seen in the congress. These opponents from the Democratic ranks got together and chose Senator Wheeler of Montana as leader of the Democratic opposition to the Democratic President's court revision program. They gave him full authority to act, including the selection of a steering committee, a committee on strategy, to aid him. Thus, in the senate now we have three major leaders. Senator Wheeler will speak for the court opposition; Senator Robinson of Arkansas as the leader of the Democratic party in the senate will lead the fight for passage of the court bill; and Senator McNary of Oregon will head up the Republicans as usual. Since all of the Republicans and Independents excepting only Senator La Follette, Progressive, of Wisconsin, are opposed to the court revision plan. Senator McNary and Senator Wheeler are working hand in glove against the regular Democratic line-u- p headed by Senator y MONICA, CALIF. do say the new SANTA y Two actions of secWashington. tions of the congress lately deserve more than TNDER the tarry flag that Te4 over this fair land, every citizen u a Mil'll end there u no avenua to wealth and fame, position and power that U not open to every child of the IV. A. Republic, Protsner, The New NBA Bill. i SMS I about: man-at-arm- snow-cappe- gray-bearde- d ll li S it 111 XI Even Gen. Hugh Johnson, once as conversational as Mrs. Astors parrot, but lately exiled amid the uncongenial silences, crawls out from under a log j In the woods with v lichens in his hair, t but the lower jaw pei ;r .i stillo o working t h I In the sm y ' to tell how drastic a thing it is. k Critics assert this legislation will cov- fe er business like a irvln S. Cobb wet blanket over a sick pup, and point out that the number of sick pups benefited by being tucked under wet blankets Is quite smalL However, these fussy persons belong to the opposition and dont count. Anyhow, they didnt count much at the last election except in Maine, Vermont and one backward precinct In the Ozark mountains. ,Sf 1 socket, :s - Friendly French Visitors. wrong ITinSEEMS we were cruellymotives ascribing mercenary to those French financiers whove been dropping in on us lately. They came only to establish more cordial relations. Of course, theres a new French bond issue to be floated, but these visits were purely friendly and altruistic. Still and all, I cant help thinking of Mr, Pincus, who invaded the east side to invite his old neighbor, Mr. Ginsburg, whom he hadnt seen in years, to be a guest at Mrs. Pincus birthday party. He gave full directions for traveling uptown, then added: Vere we lif now its von of dose swell valk-u- p flats. So mit your right elbow you gif a little poosh on the thoid button in the doorjam downstairs und the lock goes glick-glic- k und in you come. You go up two floors und den, mit your other elbow, you gif one more little poosh on the foist door to the left und valk in und vill mommer be surprised! Vait, exclaimed Mr. Ginsburg. I could get to that Bronnix. I got brains, aint it? But ulso I got fingers und thumbs. Vot is de ,'tt ') je it! iYi as the national anthem by an Act It was written by Francis Scott Congress, had the British witnessed bombardment he of Fort McHenry in after Key Baltimore, in lpjt. The words of this stirring song were sung to the tune of "Anacreon in Heajren and immediately became popular and it was regarded as the national anthem though it was not made legally so until 1931. tio. Whats more, every one of these lovely places is lived on by one of Leos cousins. He has more kinfolks than a microbe. They say the early Carillos were pure Spanish, but I insist there must have been a strong strain of Belgian hare in the stock. When it came to progeny, the strain was to the Pacific coast what the Potomac shad has been to the eastern seaboard. Its more than a family its a species. And a mighty noble breed it is producing even yet the fragrant essence of a time that elsewhere has vanished and a day when hospitality still ruled and a naturally kindly people had time to be mannerly and the instinct to be both simple and grandly courteous at once. Privileges of Nazidom. German commoner may be on the food rations and have some awkward moments unless he conforms to the new Nazi religion. But he enjoys complete freedom of the press or rather, complete free dom from the press. And lately another precious privilege has been accorded him. He may fight duels. Heretofore, this inestimable boon was exclusively reserved for the highborn. But now he may go forth and carve and be carved until the field of honor looks like somebody had been clean- THE ing fish. This increase in his blessings makes me recall a tale that Charley Russell, the cowboy artist, used to tell: The boys were fixing to hang a horse thief, Charley said. He only weighed about ninety pounds, but for his heft he was the champion horse thief of Montana. The rope was swung from the roof of a barn. Then they balanced a long board out of the loft window, and the was out at the far end of it, ready for the drop, when a stranger busted in. Everybody thought he craved to pray, but that unknown humanitarian had a better notion than that. In lcssn a minute he came inching out on that plunk and there wasn't a dry eye in the crowd as he edged up behind the poor trembling wretch and slipped an anvil in the seat of his pants." IR IN S, COBB. Son ice. NU ;rg .de zCl las znt chi u ref LIBERTY, one of two treasured BELLS The Orator of the Revolution I .,s k stuff? Visiting Ancient Ranchos. UNDER the guidance of of Leo all that most native native sons, Ive been visiting such of the ancient ranchos as remain practically what they were before the Gringos came to southern California. You almost expect to find Ramona weaving in a crumbly pa- i 3 poosh-mit-elbo- Murmured Mr. Pincus gently: Surely you vouldnt come empty-hande- . Banner wat designated THE Star Spangled Voproved on March 3, 1931. TWO roles in early history pealing warnings or glad tidings during the nations battle for survival are treasured by Philadelphia, observes a Philadelphia United Press correspondent. Most valuable of the two from historical standpoint is the world-fame- d Liberty bell, which was tolled when first public announcement was made of the Continental congress adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The bell had pealed for anniversaries and festivals until 1833, when it cracked while being rung for the funeral procession of Chief Justice John Marshall of the United States Supreme court. Other bells identified with Americas struggle against foreign encumbrances are the chimes in the steeple of Old Christ church. During the Revolutionary war they were removed and secreted to block possible attempts of English soldiers to melt them for ammunition. FiagJVas Betsy first F'ORBID it. Almighty God! ;tIe F thundered Patrick Henry in Je c the Virginia Convention at Rich-,az- a mond, in 1775, in a speech typical, c!li of the explosive temper of the iS0( I know not what course time others may take, but as for me, il0ts give me liberty, or give me death!-.!' The orator of the Revolution had yeai been found. It was Patrick Henry on who established before the Ameri-ncan people that government was aja contract between King and people jan and that the violation of such con-- , tract by the King was truly! an e f am illegal act. ; - e( Hit atn DECLARATION Jefferson Thomas NEITHER Hancock was the rec penman who transcribed the Dec- "or laration of Independence. The ac- CD tual work of transcription was nt done by Timothy Matlack. j TRANSCRIBED First American ade Her a W.K Ross House In Philadelphia, where the American flag was made, is being restored to its colonial condition, through the generosity ol A. Atwater Kent For many years this house has been visited by thousands of tourists annually. Falling rapidly into ruin, the dilapidated condition of the patriotic shrine was brought to Mr, Kent's attention through a newspaper article which pictured the falling plaster, the leaking roof and general condition of disrepair. , The shown, still has the gorgeous fireplace with white mantel framed with the original blue Dutch tile. The room was originally decorated in blue. ' Give Me Liberty or Give Me Patrick Henry, i Death. of the bells which played Wimre. i M i Jr""'?1 t! mv. Wf 71 , I p i f y living-room- i - - i. . ' S as Wvsw If II M '4,1 fi , I i,1' ...... X 4 (S A 11 - if I 'lari , .J h i mr rn 'k |