PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1949
Supreme Court Chamber Lacks Good Acoustics
Washington—(U.P.)—When a guest gets a pass to the awesome chamber where the United States supreme court decisions are handed down, he also is given a slip which says:
"Silence is requested."
Silence is requested. The request is hardly necessary.
The request is hardly necessary. There is little else but silence in the plushy room, with its marble pillars, deep crimson drapes and enough cubbyholes to keep a family of starlings happy for generations.
The plain fact is the acoustics are terrible in the 10 million dollar building, which was built in 1935 without thought given, either to acoustics or air-cooling.
The hearing part got an airing a couple of years ago when Justice Felix Frankfurter remarked at the end of a reading of a learned decision:
"The acoustics in this court room ought to be declared unconstitutional."
His remark was echoed by Justice Robert H. Jackson and others.
Tourists who beg and plead for passes into the small room on supreme court Mondays go away wagging their heads. They can see the dignified, black robed justices but can't hear much they say. Unless they are lip readers, they have to go out and buy the latest paper. <sup>48</sup> a matter of fact, some of the
As a matter of fact, some of the justices can't hear one another.
By chance, the two newest justices —Tom Clark and Sherman Minton— are at opposite ends of the bench. All they can do is wave.
A committee, comprised of Hugs Black, Mr. Minton and Mr. Clark is said to have been appointed to see what can be done about it. According to David Lynn, the architect of the Capitol, it will take a bit of doing.
The situation got so bad a couple of years ago, he said, that the bureau of standards — which can solve any problem—was called in. The experts installed the pretty deep crimson drapes with rugs to match. That didn't help.
The bureau of standards engineers were called back and called for elimination of many alcoves, which suck in the sounds. It was decided that would call for practically rebuilding a mighty expensive building.
Speaking of sound effects, the dignity of the building was jarred not long ago by a thump-thumping which seemed to come from :the third floor. It did. The original planners built a gymnasium on the third floor—thinking maybe the highest court in the land would want to relax by flexing a muscle once in awhile. No justice, so far as is known, ever did. But some law clerks got friskey. They had been playing basketball in the gym. They aren't any more.
The justices themselves aren't helping the acoustics situation much. Justice Black tips his swivel chair back so far he talks to the ceiling, Justice Stanley Reed has a soft voice. Mr. Frankfurther leans forward and puts out a staccato stream and Chief Justice Freed M. Vinson is hard to understand with his Kentucky drawl.
Vic Vet says
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Queen Victoria Has Anvil Chorus Salute
New Westminster, B. C. —(U.P)—This city uses good old-fashioned anvils, not sleek 25-pounder guns, to fire royal salutes when Queen Victoria's birthday rolls around.
It's an old custom dating back to 1872 when members of the original "Ancient and Honourable Anvil Battery" gathered to fire the first 21-bang anvil chorus in honor of their queen.
They really used anvils. New Westminster did not have guns then.
Westminster did not have guns then. It's an old Cheshire custom—that of filling the square hole in the top of the anvil with gunpowder, placing another one on top, and stitting the charge off with a red-hot iron. The resulting "bang" was loud enough to fool anyone. The novel gun is fired at one minute intervals, 21 times.
Kansas TB Rate At All-Time Low
Topcka,—(U.P.)—Steadly Kansas is beating down the tuberculosis death rate, the State board of health has reported.
In a monthly summary, the board said that the TB death rate now is nine per cent under the previous all-time low set for the first 10 months of 1948.
The report added that there is an excellent chance the final 1949 figures will establish a new yearlong mark of fighting back the ravages of tuberculosis.
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Thailand Replaces Siam Once Again In Asian Country's See-Saw Of Names
Siam is dead and Thailand is here again.
For the second time in a decade, this see-saw in a country's name has been completed. It became official only recently when the premier of the Southeast Asian kingdom decreed the change, although his state council had voted for it 10 months ago.
Thailand, or Muang Thai, is "free land." It was in 1839 that the government, under the king, Akhon, invaded the world to drop the foreign name Siam. favor of Thai, Thai, or free, expressed the spirit of the Siamese. It is the name they had always called themselves.
Thailand, or Muang Thai, means $ \textcircled{8} $
Under Japanese pressure, Thailand declared war against Britain nd the United States. It was an unpopular declaration, however, and one
Ironically, soon after taking the name Thailand, the people found themselves with less freedom than before. Japanese forces occupied the country for nearly five years, using it as a base for their conquest of Malaya and their thrust through Burma.
which the United States chose to ignore.
At the close of World War II, the kingdom repudiated its wartime leaders and resumed its first name. As Siam, it made peace with Britain at the beginning of 1946, and became the 55th member of the United Nations. In 1946 the young king was mysteriously shot.
A coup by the wartime premier was successful in late 1947 and reports of political turbulence persist as the name Thailand is resumed. Underneath though is a solid foundation for prosperity—a land of 17,000,000 people with an economy based on rice, teak, rubber, and tin.
Miss Martha Peterson, Y.W.C.A. advisory board member, told a meeting of the organization's cabinet Wednesday that the Young Women's Christian association should be a pioneer in campus activities.
YW Urged To Be Pioneer On Campus
Miss Peterson, who was president of the University's Y.W.C.A. as an undergraduate, also outlined the structure of the national organization and gave the functions of each division.
The Y.W.C.A. should start new projects at K.U., allowing other groups to adopt the new ideas, Miss Peterson said.
Australians Pay High Car Prices
Sydney, Australia—(U.P.) U s e d 1949-model American cars are bringing fantastic prices these days. Dealers are cashing in on the cut in dollar allocation for automobiles.
Distributors of new cars are being offered bonuses as high as $2,240 "under the lap" by private buyers who resell them to used-car dealers.
One leading American distributor said the car racket has reached unprecedented proportions since devaluation of the Australian pound.
"Buyers are offering us as much as A£1,000 extra for a new car selling for A£3,000 ($6,720).
One city dealer advised customers to lose no time because "It will soon be impossible to buy a car at a reasonable price."
His "reasonable" price included:
His 'reasonable' price included:
A 1948 Ford sedan, that had 1,100 miles,
for A1,6195 $3,796). Price when new, for A297 ($2.075).
A 1949 Hudson, driven 2,000 miles,
A2,700 ($6,050).
Officially, the high seas begin three miles from shore.
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