anaheim-gazette 1933-11-16

THE ANAHEIM GAZETTE HENRY KUCHEL, Editor and Publisher ESTABLISHED 1870 ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY SUBSCRIPTION PER YEAR $2.00 SIX MONTHS $1.00 Entered at the Anaheim, California Postoffice as second-class matter. TEMPERANCE IS SELF-CONTROL When Utah sealed the doom of prohibition in the United States by becoming the thirty-sixth state to repeal the eighteenth amendment, she merely repeated history, if observations culled from Plato's "The Laws" are correct. Plato discusses prohibition — no new thing, even then — amusingly. It seems that even in his day worthy persons were opposed to it. In his dialogue, he contrasts the situation in ancient Greece between Sparta, with prohibition, and Athens without. The issue is discussed by Plato the liberal Athenian, who denies prohibition's moral efficiency. The Spartans defend their system on the grounds of military efficiency, their aim is to remove temptation. Plato argues that what is wanted is not prohibition, but temperance. He reasons that temperance is not police control but self-control; moderation in contrast to excess. This moderation can be taught and encouraged, and no virtue is more desirable, either in the individual or in society. Surely, the issue, in the light of our own "great experiment," is not police control but self-control. It is just as true today as it was thousands of years ago. GOOD LUCK AND BETTER JUDGMENT Anaheim, seeing scores of her sister cities threatened with bankruptcy through adverse decision of the state supreme court GOOD LUCK AND BETTER JUDGMENT Anaheim, seeing scores of her sister cities threatened with bankruptcy through adverse decision of the state supreme court on interpretations of the 1915 improvement act, reaps the reward of good judgment. Instead of adopting every new fad, especially showy, but expensive improvement districts, that California law allowed, the Mother Colony plugged along in a common-sense way, voting bonds when she needed to for needed improvements, but not flourishing gigantic improvement districts with the aid of high finance. The 1915 improvement act came along, permitting many cities to splurge. But the city fathers of Anaheim followed the better judgment of responsible citizens. Consequently, when improvements were needed, they were handled through the "good old" 1911 act. Now the city has reason to be thankful. The supreme court of California recently handed down a decision in favor of the American company, a corporation, petitioner and appellant, vs. the City of Lakeport et al, Sacramento No. 4623. The court held that Lakeport must take into account delinquencies under the act and levy a tax on the assessed valuation of the whole city to raise defaulted payments under the 1915 act. Consider the seriousness of the situation. Lakeport's total improvements under the 1915 act amount to more than 30 per cent of her total assessed valuation. Naturally, when persons with property in the 1915 districts learn that the city must levy a general tax to pay their improvement installments, they will default. In this case, Lakeport must raise in a lump sum through taxation one-third of her total assessed valuation. Or, a lot valued at $1000 would be taxed $333 in one year, probably more because normal taxes and provision for delinquencies must be added. Lakeport's only recourse, it appears, will be bankruptcy, unless the supreme court grants a rehearing and changes its mind. Anaheim's total bonded indebtedness as of October 15, is $590,750. Not a single dollar of that is under the 1915 act, and all but the Palm and Lincoln avenue acquisitions under the Mattoon act, are bonded under the 1911 act. Consequently, Mother Colony bonds sell at a premium, and there is no danger of this community being thrown into a serious financial disturbance. Anaheim thus reaps the reward of financial common sense. HERALDING AN ACHIEVEMENT Orange county's achievement in levying the lowest taxes in its history in the face of the greatest demands on record for public service should not go unnoticed by the public. Taxpayers who dipped deeply into their pockets for a number of years appreciate the lessened costs as bills for this year are based upon a 90-cent inside and a $1.04 outside rate. These rates reflect, with a small amount of minor juggling on account of demands on other departments, the mandatory county school tax shifted to the state under the Riley-Stewart plan for payment is the sound, understated and their confidence most amazing thing universal cheerfulness visitor from Europe on this phenomenon. The attitude of that of a crushed and pretty well, company known by all to be to come through on through in the past. We do not believe now in the saddle manent fixtures. We which of them they that the majority demand all of the or the doctrinaires woe abuses have crept in have been feathering brought to book. Be in human nature a statute. That is, fundam future. We have unties of the America In discussing E says that Uncle Sam as Germany or France States must keep in as the League of N row of pins if, for p It occurs to us history more carefulies the United State of Nations in every have gone as far as in foreign entangler can policy. We evocation was refused right to adjudicate. The two great Nations have been problem and with t instance the United HERALDING AN ACHIEVEMENT Orange county's achievement in levying the lowest taxes in its history in the face of the greatest demands on record for public service should not go unnoticed by the public. Taxpayers who dipped deeply into their pockets for a number of years appreciate the lessened costs as bills for this year are based upon a 90-cent inside and a $1.04 outside rate. These rates reflect, with a small amount of minor juggling on account of demands on other departments, the mandatory county school tax shifted to the state under the Riley-Stewart plan for payment via the two-and-one-half-cent sales tax. Inside county taxes dropped 65 cents, while the mandatory tax shifted was 70 cents, based upon last year's figures. Lowering of road taxes increased the amount of reduction for outside or county areas, while necessity for replenishing the reserve funds depelted through relief agencies and jobs for the unemployed required a five-cent slash of expected benefits on inside rates. Two factors entered into the taxpayers getting the reduction to which they are entitled. The board of supervisors succeeded in cutting county expenses enough to take up the slack caused when Assessor James Sleeper put it on the spot by cutting valuations an average of 11.72 per cent. Sleeper reasons, and rightly, that property valuations have decreased substantially because of financial disturbances. By reducing assessments, the board of supervisors, if it raised the same amount of money as in the previous year, would have had to raise the tax rate. Not only has the property-owner gained approximately the difference caused by shifting the school taxes, but Assessor Sleeper's reduction of assessments still further reduces the amount actually poured into the county's coffers. Both Assessor Sleeper and members of the board of supervisors deserve our appreciation for their work in bringing the cost of county government nearer to the taxpayers' ability to pay. THE BASIS OF OUR CONFIDENCE Once more we think it timely to counsel patience. We realize that many are impatient because the tide of economic recovery has not yet reached them; but we believe that it has set in and is gradually rising. Whether it would have risen unaided as rapidly as it has, or whether the stimulants administered at Washington have accelerated it, we are not going to discuss here. Opinions differ, and the best opinion that can be rendered now is more or less guesswork. What we have faith in, above all politicians and their parties, SCHOOL DAYS — By DWIG WHAT! DIDN'T YOU NEVER TASTE A GRINDSTONE ON A COLD DAY? MY GOSH! WHY, IT'S SWEETER CANDY! THE COLD FREEZES THE STONESAP IN IT AND IT SORTO COZES OUT AND TURNS INTO SUGAR. PUT YOUR TONGUE TO IT. GO OH! ASK BUTCH. ITS SORTO LIKE SPICED INDIAN TURNIP. MAN IN THE MAKING OBSERVATIONS is the sound, underlying common sense of the American people and their confidence in themselves and their country. One of the most amazing things about our economic depression has been the universal cheerfulness with which we have faced the strain. Every visitor from Europe in the past two or three years has commented on this phenomenon. The attitude of Americans is not and has not at any time been that of a crushed and defeated people. We have, actually, fared pretty well, compared with the rest of the world, in what is now known by all to be a world-wide catastrophe. And we are going to come through on top of the heap, as we have always come through in the past. We do not believe that all of the social reforms which those now in the saddle are trying to put into effect will become permanent fixtures. We think the people will choose for themselves which of them they will retain, which reject. We have no idea that the majority of Americans are so ready to surrender on demand all of the old American rights and traditions, as some of the doctrinaires would have us believe. We agree that many abuses have crept in, and we are glad to see some of those who have been feathering their own nests at the expense of others brought to book. But we do not think that any important changes in human nature are going to be brought about by edict or statute. That is, fundamentally, the basis of our confidence in the future. We have undying faith in the high and enduring qualities of the American character. TAKE ANOTHER LOOK In discussing European peace, Roger Babson, the economist, says that Uncle Sam is as much to blame for the present situation as Germany or France, and he adds: "The people of the United States must keep in mind that no great step toward peace, such as the League of Nations and the World Court, can amount to a row of pins if, for political reasons, we fail to cooperate." It occurs to us that Mr. Babson ought to analyze his recent history more carefully. Under the last three or four administrations the United States has sought to cooperate with the League of Nations in every constructive effort that has been offered. We have gone as far as we could without involving ourselves hopelessly in foreign entanglements and violating every tradition of American policy. We even tried to join the World Court, but our application was refused because we saw fit to reserve to ourselves the right to adjudicate domestic questions. The two great failures which have defeated the League of Nations have been its inability to cope with the Manchurian problem and with the disarmament question in Europe. In each instance the United States has given as much cooperation as is required under common sense of the American people and their confidence in themselves and their country. One of the most amazing things about our economic depression has been the universal cheerfulness with which we have faced the strain. Every visitor from Europe in the past two or three years has commented on this phenomenon. The attitude of Americans is not and has not at any time been that of a crushed and defeated people. We have, actually, fared pretty well, compared with the rest of the world, in what is now known by all to be a world-wide catastrophe. And we are going to come through on top of the heap, as we have always come through in the past. We do not believe that all of the social reforms which those now in the saddle are trying to put into effect will become permanent fixtures. We think the people will choose for themselves which of them they will retain, which reject. We have no idea that the majority of Americans are so ready to surrender on demand all of the old American rights and traditions, as some of the doctrinaires would have us believe. We agree that many abuses have crept in, and we are glad to see some of those who have been feathering their own nests at the expense of others brought to book. But we do not think that any important changes in human nature are going to be brought about by edict or statute. That is, fundamentally, the basis of our confidence in the future. We have undying faith in the high and enduring qualities of the American character. OBSERVATIONS MUM'S THE WORD Ain't those newspaper reporters the awfulest things! One of them interviewing a charming young lady who had been seen in company of a married man, (who is seeking a divorce by the way) and she told everything and asked the reporter not to say anything about it, and he ups and prints the whole story, bigosh! LOTTA WATER HAS GONE UNDER THE BRIDGE The press agent says a certain actor after about 30 years before the footlights and camera is now at the peak of his career. MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG When you go to an automobile dealer and pay him $2000 for a car you want something that's worth the money, and not an old, worn-out, second-hand diviver. It's the same when you buy land, you want what you pay for. If land was appraised according to its earning power that would stop speculation. And speculation is dangerous—in great part it caused the depression. LEFT AN AWFUL HEADACHE Between 1886-1888 there was a real estate boom. It was hot while it lasted. Then the thing burst. It made tramps out of a lot of people, who before the speculation in town lots, were well to do and prosperous. YOO HOO! DID THE GHOST WALK? A wife who sued her actor husband for divorce said his income was $2000 a week, and she wants in on some of it. Whether it's just conversational money or the honest to goodness junior currency was not made known. BURNING CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS A husband (who has a wife) and a wife (who has a husband) in the amusement sector, met at a depot just before the ship took flight—the man was going away. A fond embrace and a kiss was knocked out by an ambitious cameraman. Just what the wife and the husband (of the second part) thought about this platonic pastime has not yet got into the papers. SEEKING NEW FIELDS TO the United States has sought to cooperate with the League of Nations in every constructive effort that has been offered. We have gone as far as we could without involving ourselves hopelessly in foreign entanglements and violating every tradition of American policy. We even tried to join the World Court, but our application was refused because we saw fit to reserve to ourselves the right to adjudicate domestic questions. The two great failures which have defeated the League of Nations have been its inability to cope with the Manchurian problem and with the disarmament question in Europe. In each instance the United States has given as much cooperation as is consistent with its place in international affairs. No more could have been accomplished had we been a member of the League unless we had agreed to furnish arms and money to wage war on Japan to compel it to leave Manchuria, and to furnish money and a part of a force for coercing Germany because she would not agree to the allied disarmament program. In all its dealings with the League and the Court, our government has had the support of both Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress. There is no political partisanship in the matter, and our failure to mix into quarrels in which we have no business has not constituted failure to cooperate for political reasons. Even if we had joined punitive expeditions against Japan and Germany, we doubt whether these would have contributed a great deal to the return to the peace and prosperity which Mr. Babson has been pleasantly and we hope soundly predicting for the past three and a half years. The most exclusive club in America is the one which limits its membership only to those who haven't lost anything in the stock market since 1929. Tightness of credit is said to be one of the things which is lengthening the depression. But so far as we are concerned it has always seemed tight. Thomas O. M. Sopwith, British sportsman, has challenged America for the Thomas Lipton cup. A sportsman with that name ought to challenge Huey Long for the dunking championship. The average wife would be a lot happier if she could mend her husband's disposition as easily as she mends his clothes. For a republican institution which the democrats were going to abolish as soon as they got in office the R. F. C. seems to be a pretty busy concern. BURNING CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS A husband (who has a wife) and a wife (who has a husband) in the amusement sector, met at a depot just before the ship took flight—the man was going away. A fond embrace and a kiss was knocked out by an ambitious cameraman. Just what the wife and the husband (of the second part) thought about this platonic pastime has not yet got into the papers. SEEKING NEW FIELDS TO CONQUER A man in the amusement sector has told an expectant and palpitating public that he is going abroad to make "pitchers" over there. Yet and still a lotta drugstore cowboys incline to the notion that he should stay here and let nature take its course. WHY NOT DO IT NOW! A protective tariff is needed now more than ever before to insure prosperity in this country. Home industries must be protected against cheap foreign labor. Products from other countries cheaply produced and allowed to enter this country free of duty makes tramps out of honest American workingmen. HIT AND RUN The best the copper miners in Arizona can do is to put their product on the market for 12 cents a pound. Copper from Peru, it is said, is landed on the Atlantic seaboard for 3 cents a pound. As a consequence the copper mines here are shut down and the workingmen get into the bread lines. FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES There's a man out there who suggests that money held more than 30 days you know, idle money, should be taxed until it gets out into business and goes to work. But he doesn't say what kind of work it should tackle. Might build caestles in the air, or might open up magnet factories to pull prosperity from around the corner. The man thought money should be on different colors of paper so you could tell it at a glance. Yellow would be good—that would remind a feller of gold. Crimson would be bad—that might bring red ink. THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON Even those who were impatient with Congress last Spring for remaining so long in session after the President had handed them their hats and told them the party was over, are looking forward with satisfaction to the reconvening of Congress in January. It is not impossible that the President himself will welcome Congress back. Not that he wants to get anything in particular from the lawmakers that has not already been handed to him, but he is too shrewd a politician not to recognize that some of the new bureaus and the men in charge of them are running wild, and that the whole recovery scheme, now that its purposes and programs have been pretty fully disclosed to the people at large, needs the sort of searching public examination and criticism which only Congress can give it. And will Congress examine and criticize? Roy, howdy! Of course, some members of both Houses will do more criticizing than examining. A lot of the criticism will be purely partisan in its purpose. Much of it will be based on a complete absence of facts. But the United States is still a democracy, and every member of either House is entitled to say what he thinks without fear of any comeback. The Congress of the United States is by all odds the freest forum in the world. Likewise, taking its membership by and large, it represents the most intelligent opinion of the general run of American citizens. A few blatherskites get into both the Senate and the House of Representatives; that has always been true. They get a disproportionate amount of attention from the newspapers, because violent and startling lies are always worth bigger headlines than soberly stated truths. And there will be plenty of steam let off by disgruntled and not too public-spirited members of both houses, which will be annoying to the President and his friends but not necessarily to be taken too seriously. What will be taken seriously, however, will be the sober considerationers who are known to be preparing their ammunition for a wide-spread barrage aimed at the New Deal, either as a whole or in one or another of its manifestations. Senator Carter Glass of Virginia is the leader of one such group. Senator Glass, who is a newspaper publisher, has steadfastly refused to sign the President's Recovery Code or to display the Blue Eagle in his newspapers. He is no enemy of the President; it will be remembered that Mr. Roosevelt wanted him in his Cabinet. But he will be a powerful voice in expressing the point of view of the "rugged individualists" who, while conceding that there have been grave abuses which ought to be remedied, under the old system, do not think that the way to do it is to scrap the system and turn over the Government of the United States to a group of doctrinaries to experiment with their unproven theories. Then there is Senator Thomas of Oklahoma, who will have a great deal of support from the Missouri Valley states and others for his program of frank inflation. He and his followers may be expected to criticize the President for not going far enough, while at the same time he is under fire from other sources for going far. It all simmers down to the fact that the recovery program has not worked miracles. That would be all right, too, if it were not for the Administration claims that it has done just that. The issue of fact was raised last week when the Federal Reserve Board published its monthly analysis of business conditions, showing that business in general had fallen off in September and October, just when the officials of the NRA were claiming that business was improving rapidly. That is only one illustration of the difficulty of sorting out actualities from rosy hopes. And Congress can be relied upon, on the whole, to sort out the facts from the claims. The President, after all, has to take his facts from his subordinates. He must believe that they are telling him the truth, or else he would have to dismiss them. No outsider can come TODAY AND TOMORROW By FRANK PARKER STOCKBRIDGE PRICES . . . up and going up Prices are going up. That is certain. They are already up, so far as the ordinary necessities of life are concerned. A good thing for producers of commodities. Eventually, in the natural course of things, a good thing for consumers, since better prices for producers will mean better prices for labor. But wages and salaries are lagging far behind the rise in prices. Everybody must look forward to a long period of hardship. I do not know why, but retail prices in country towns have gone up much more than in the big cities, at least in the East. Bread that used to sell for 6 cents a loaf everywhere is now eight cents in New York and eleven cents in Berkshire County. Mass. Other food products are up in proportion. If I knew the answer I would publish it. It seems to me that our Government has not moved far enough or fast enough with its public works program. GOLD . . . new valuations for most people in those days, when young American men and women cherished their independence above everything else. Nobody expected to get rich at farming, but it was a way to live one's own life and bring up a family comfortably and happily. And there never was any question of how to spend leisure time; there wasn't any leisure! The best characters and the most self-reliant strain in our American life came off that sort of farm. I think it would be a magnificent thing for our national morale if every boy and girl today had to live and work on the land for a few years, or part of every year. MACHADO . . . and our banks A friend of mine who owns a big New York hotel told me the other day that General Machado, the former President of Cuba, had applied to him for rooms by the year for himself and family; twenty people in all, including servants. My friend turned him down because his other guests would feel nervous, lest some Cuban bomb-thrower might take a notion to "get" the HEAT BOTH ENDS was a wife) and a and depot just before the man was gobrace and a kiss by an ambitious what the wife and the second part) autonomic pastime has napers. FIELDS TO ER ment sector has and palpitating big abroad to make Yet and still a years incline to the stay here and course. IT NOW! needed now more insure prosperity the industries must cheap foreign other countries allowed to enter but makes tramps on workingmen. RUN for miners in Arilise their product on its a pound. Copsaid, is landed on for 3 cents a sequence the copper down and the bread lines. NG BUBBLES there who suggold more than $0 money, should be into business and doesn't say what told tackle. Might dr, or might open to pull prosperity owner. The man will be on different could tell it at should be good—that of gold. Crimson might bring red ING BUBBLES every nation will be off gold within a few months. Then there will be a general world-wide readjustment of currency values on a new gold basis and the next generation will have forgotten that gold was ever as cheap as $21 an ounce. LAND a great teacher The announcement from Washington that the Federal Government proposes to spend billions in building homes for industrial workers, each with its acre or two of land to be tilled, takes me back to my boyhood, when I used to hear my mother sing a song that was popular when she was a girl, before the Civil war. The refrain was: "For Uncle Sam is rich enough To give us all a farm." Farming was the ideal mode of life I do not know why, but retail prices in country towns have gone up much more than in the big cities, at least in the East. Bread that used to sell for 6 cents a loaf everywhere is now eight cents in New York and eleven cents in Berkshire County, Mass. Other food products are up in proportion. If I knew the answer I would publish it. It seems to me that our Government has not moved far enough or fast enough with its public works program. GOLD Half of all the gold that has been dug out of the earth since Columbus discovered. America has vanished, nobody knows where, according to the Director of the Mint, who has been compiling statistics on the subject. A little more than a thousand million ounces has been mined in the whole world in 440 years, or about 2¼ million ounces a year. Only about half of the total is held by the national treasuries and banks. A lot of it lies at the bottom of the sea. Probably a third of the vanished gold is hoarded among the treasures of some of the fabulously rich Indian princes. Gold is worth more in dollars now than it has been since 1873. The United States has passed Canada and become the second largest producer of gold. South Africa ranking first. Yet with more gold available than ever in history, only France and three or four smaller European countries remain on the gold standard of money. This is my prediction. Every nation will be off gold within a few months. Then there will be a general worldwide readjustment of currency values on a new gold basis and the next generation will have forgotten that gold was ever as cheap as $21 an ounce. MACHADO and our banks A friend of mine who owns a big New York hotel told me the other day that General Machado, the former President of Cuba, had applied to him for rooms by the year for himself and family; twenty people in all, including servants. My friend turned him down because his other guests would feel nervous, lest some Cuban bomb-thrower might take a notion to "get" the General some night. Most Latin-American ex-presidents go to Paris to live when they retire or are forced out of office. Machado's predecessor, General Menocal, has been living in this country for many years and has lately gone back to Cuba, where he has friends who would like to see him back in the Palace. Judging by the recent disclosures of the amazing financial relations between New York banks and Cuban presidents, the people of that unhappy island seem to me to have been mercilessly exploited for the enrichment of their rulers and their banking allies. HELL! Mary Ellen's advice It takes a long memory to recall the time when Mary Elizabeth Lease of Medicine, Lodge was counselling the Kansas farmers to trade their cows for shoots and begin to raise "less corn and more hell!" Mrs. Lease and Kansas both leaped into national fame. Everybody called her "Mary Ellen," though her middle name was Elizabeth. That was when the Populists were demanding direct election of Senators, postal savings bank, government control of railways, federal supervision of corporations, the initiative and referendum, the income tax, woman suffrage, prohibition and free silver. Mrs. Lease died the other day, but she had lived to see them all come about except free silver, and I have a distinct feeling that if she had lived a few months longer she would have seen that, too. In view of present conditions among the farmers it would seem as if Mrs. Lease's advice had been taken and remembered. Sometimes it looks as if there were an overproduction of the commodity she advised Kangans to raise.