So numerous were the "inventors" that the first prize court was unable to determine to whom the prize money should be awarded, and a second hearing has been ordered to hear evidence in relation to the claims of a Capt. Bentley. Even the _slowmoving British War Office was aware of the idea embodied in the main principle of the tank, but, as a recent official announcement " emphasized, the award was intended. for the man or men who devised the specific plans used for the first tanks. Though many improvements were added to the. weird machines og they finally appeared on the field, the principle had long been worked out into the mechanics of modern engineering. The idea is seen in the tractor, but if you take an agricultural tractor and build an armoured body around it, it is no means a modern tank. Countle: improvements were added and very considerable experimentation was carried through before the Bi tank became-the entirely formidable weapon the frightened German troops remember.
"Pity the Blind!"
If they keep the pace, the beggars of Chicago will soon be as strong a guild as the beggars of China. Already the blind beggars of the metropolis of the Midele West are defying the police, refusing to accept assistance from welfare agencies, and have organized themselves into' the Fraternal Order of Blind Men militantly to Support their right to seek alms fon the city streets. Several have been hauled into court, but, because of typical American' sentimental objection, they have not been punished, which makes them naturally, all the more determined to carry on their begging? They find, moreover, that the public is giving more freely than ever before, a result of the peculiar publicity thus secured.
"We can make $25 a week," they say, "and welfare agencies cannot provide this. They want to teach lus to work. Well, we don't want to work, for if we do we cannot earn asmuch as we can get from begging. Begging gives the one fective opportunity for the depen-lent."
And there the matter is likely to rest, public opinion scerning. rather to favour the "poor blind."
the Fraternal Order is gaining power, and will soon doubt. Jess be petitioning the city for their members to be granted privileges to take up regular positions on the streets, United Control of U. 8. Shipping Urged At a recent meeting of the United States Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Hoover made known his views regarding the needs of obviate divided responsibility in the Shipping Board's control of Government ship operations. It is an old snag. Referring to the Board's refusal to follow the views of President Coolidge by vesting operation authority in the president of the Emergency Fleet Corpration, Mr. Hoover declared that its present bect Personnel had "denied responsibility to the president, the one responsi bility, which every administrative officer of the Government should acknowledge under the spirit of the Constitution." He therefore, Proposed that in the exercise of such authority the Fleet Corporation head should be assisted by an advisory board composed of cabinet officers and the chairman of the Shipping Board.
Mr. Hoover unhesitatingly advised the maintenance of Government support, but was of the opinion that efforts shotild be made to enlist retional and community meet ing deficits, with the ultimate aim of getting' private ownership to assume the burden. This subject of U.S. shipping "is so vital to America's foreign trade that I will quote at some length the principal points in the Hoover speech. They are:
(a) It is vital that we provide " form of administration of the Government fleet that will reduce losses onthe routes. theat the Govers= ment must operate pending trade growth, and' to provide that' witt facilitate these Hines being disposed of to private enter. prise.
(8) The Shipping Board was eric It will, therefore, not be easy to determine who was the "inventor." Mr. Wheelock may have. worked out plans, in final detail, as he very necessarily is of the beat The whole fleet and other perty should be transferred tothe Emergency Fleet Corporation and the president thereof should. appointed by the President of the ited States, subject to confirm ion by the Senate, and should solely responsible' tothe President, For certsi major questions of policy Es Present and. cdordinate the Go Nernment departments, for they are largely involved in merchant' mare {ne questions. Such an advisory. board' should' comprise "the. secre. taries of the Treatury, War, Ni and Commerce, the Post Eencral, president "of the Eimer. gency Fleet Corporation, and hair man of the Shipping Board, These are the principal points in 4 speech which has caused some excitement in both Government and shipping circles in the country. So far as the duties of the Proposed advisory board are concerned, Mr. "Hoover claims that this board should be called upon for its approval or recommendation of the inauguration of new routes or abandonment of those being operat-to ed, l, or the sale of ships or routes. In order to facilitate operation and disposal, authority should be given to the president upon the approval of the advisory board to create subsidiary corporations for special ines and to offer stock in them to private operators or committees.
Many other points were brought out in the speech, which, if follow. ed, would doubtless greatly assist the merchant marine of the country. But as time goes on this vital national desideratum is as much of an enigma as it always has been, Though one often hears it said that "the Yank can run railroads, but. he can't run. ships," one would not care to endorse the idea; yet nly does cor appear that, with a few brilliant exceptions in the ease of private operation, there are still wanting signs that America's" merchant marine will be built up to a self. supporting condition for' some time to come.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.