Miscellaneous Mentions

Some time ago Representative Ogden L. Mills of New York, suave cosmopolite, one of the ablest financiers in the House, sponsored a bill for returning German property held by the Alien Property Custodian to its owners and compensating American claimants against Germany by a U. S. bond issue to be retired out of German reparations payments (TIME, Dec. 21, CABINET). Last week Representative Garner, the Democratic leader, attacked this bill and Secretary Mellon defended it. The New York Herald Tribune (Republican) promptly attacked the bill, saying that the German property should be sold to pay the American claims. It so happens that Mr. Mills is a large minority stockholder in the Herald Tribune.* He wrote a letter explaining his stand. The Herald Tribune promptly printed his letter in full, and the same day, entirely ignoring his stand, reiterated its arguments with force on its editorial page.

Judge Marcus Kavanaugh of the Chicago Criminal Court announced the completion of a murder survey. His finding was that 170,000 murders had been committed in the U. S. in the last 20 years; that 34,000 murderers have been executed, 18,000 are in prison, and 118,000 are enjoying life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Zebulon M. Pike rests in a military cemetery at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y. Last week the El Paso County (Col.) Pioneers' Society requested the Secretary of War to permit the removal of his remains to Pike's Peak. In 1806, as an army lieutenant, Pike went out to explore the new Louisiana Purchase, scaled a neighboring mountain, looked upon what is now called Pike's Peak, and declared it "never could be scaled by man." After the Pioneers' Society has shown him, he will not be so incredulous.

Last week Chauncey M. Depew was 92.

In Massachusetts the campaigns of Senator William M. Butler and former-Senator David I. Walsh for election to the U. S. Senate were simultaneously opened. Hanford MacNider, onetime National Commander of the American Legion, spoke for Mr. Butler, praising his "leadership--strong, virile, unafraid" in expelling Senator Brookhart*. Governor Albert C. Ritchie opened for the veteran Mr. Walsh, dispraising prohibition.

* Ogden Mills Reid, his relative, is editor and holds the controlling interest in the newspaper.

* "Leadership . . . unafraid" it was, since Mr. Brookhart is now preparing to oppose his former colleague, regular Mr. Cummins, for reelection, and the latter may lose on that account.