davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-12-12
War on Rats.
From the Providence Bulletin.

From the Providence Bulletin.
England celebrated rat week last
week by killing a million rats. e. G.
Boulenger, curator of the London Zoo,
estimates that there are approximately
80, 100000 left. Here in the United
States We have twice that number,
though 1t isn't exactly something to
boast Of.
For the rat, as Mr.. Boulenger points
out, has become q terrible menace,
destroying annually through its vari-
Gus activities millions Of dollars worth
Of property.
For 900 years Europe has been fight
ing rats to the death-fighting some
times in sport, often in civic earnest
ness and often in terror. 1t was AN
i'll day for the Western World when
the first brown rat left Asia to follow
returning Europeans home. They've
been spreading pestilence, ruin and
death there ever since. sN
Some Of them undoubtedly made
their first voyage to America with CO.
lumbus. They got an early start in
Australia, too. But the Australians
have way with animals. They've got
q scheme now with rats which "a said
to work wonders. They capture great
numbers OF them, kill the females and
iet the males 60. The liberated males
then Kill one another. Mr.. Boulenser
recommends this branch Of cannibal-
ism highly.
Evening star., 1934-12-12

ing at low rentals in the place
novels, which are expensive, howe
low their rents may be-" Making
comparison between Messrs. Ickes al
Moffett. the Elkhart Und.) Trut
notes that ''the differences between tt
two schools of thinking, one wantir
Uncle Sam to do practically every
thing and the other wanting the com
munities and the private financif
leaders to assume responsibilities s
far as possible, are fundamental" Th
Macon Telegraph remarks: "Presiden
Roosevelt has made it clear that tn
Government intended to help thos
whose pocketbooks were too slender
build their own homes. His announce
ment was interpreted to mean, how
ever, that Federal funds would not b
thrown into competition with privat
capital. Thus Secretary Ickes an
Mr.. Moffett will be kept from collidin
with one another"
Analyzing the proposal that "th
Government undertake to spur hou
building through a 20 per cent dire,
subsidy" the Philadelphia Inquirt
offers the criticism: THE Cover
ment subsidy, in theory, would
another pump-primer for indust.
However, some billions of dollars 6
ready have been spent to prime Il
industrial pump without measurab
impressive results. The housing sui
sidy would be straight gift, withou
any self-liquidating feature. Their
may be reasonable doubt ss to how
long the Government can afford to put
out billions without prospect Of return
But it is along lines that might be
termed social that the housing subsidy
plan seems to hold most serious impli-
cations. With its inducement tc
building on q shoestring,' 1t Is not
difficult to visualize the subsidy plan
as enrolling a vast army of those
whose ability to maintain a home, pay
taxes and carrying charges and all
the countless expenses incident to such
an undertaking falls pitifully short of
their enthusiasm and optimism"
Evening star., 1934-12-12
No Day in Court?

The hearings on the 1895 budget,
which open today before the House
subcommittee on District appropria-
tions, are unique in that the budget
under examination has not been re-
vealed and nobody. outside the COM
mittee members, the Bureau of the
Budget and perhaps the Commits
sioners, knows what is in 1t. These
are bound to secrecy.
Usual practice has been for the
committee to begin its hearings some
time after the formal presentation of
the budget to Congress, a day or SO
after the session opens. Publication
Of the budget enables local taxpayers,
whose money and interests are at
stake, to know where they stand in
respect to budget recommendations
and to prepare their arguments be-
fore the committee accordingly. The
citizens this year may be placed in
the anomalous position, later on. OF
being invited to give their views to
the House subcommittee on a budget
of which they know nothing. This
would practically complete the various
budgetary processes through which
local citizens have been denied the
right OF participation in the busi-
ness of raising and spending their
tax revenues-even to the extent OF
informed discussion.
The hearings now beginning are
informal, inasmuch as the commit
tee appointments are not made and
have no real standing until after the
formal organization of the House. A
great deal can be accomplished, of
course, through these informal hear
ings. The bill can be reported within
a short time after the House is or
ganized, and put through. as Chair
man Cannon has indicated it will be,
as one of the early measures.
1t has been hoped that the Presi-
ident would undertake his inquiry
into fiscal relations with the aim of
making his resulting recommendations
applicable to the pending District bill.
Such procedure would be facilitated,
Of course, if the House delayed ac-
ton on the District BILL as Senator
Thomas has indicated the Senate
would do, until the Presidents pro-
posed inquiry is completed and the
recommendations made
While the Presidents recommended
tions for ending what he termed the
'hit or miss" policy of appropriating
for che District might be considered
independently OF House action on the
pending bill, is it not possible for some
understanding to be reached now be-
tween the legislative and executive
branches on this subject which will
assure the un1epresented local tax
payer not only the thorough investi-
CATION promised by the President. but
an opportunity to be heard on a mat
ter vitally affecting his welfare?
Evening star., 1934-12-12
The States and Crime.

As long as the American nation
consists of forty-eight sovereign States,
each guaranteed by the Constitution
q republican form Of government,
there can be only an approximation
Of uniformity in the laws. This Is
especially true of the definitions OF
: crime and the procedure of correction
and punishment. It Is true also in
the matter OF the enforcement Of
those laws. The present situation of
confusion, delay and ineffectiveness
in law enforcement in the States is
due to this fundamental condition.
The Constitution goes to the extent
Of declaring that "full faith and credit
in every other State shall be given to
the public acts, records and judicial
proceedings of each State" Only
when the Legislature, or the executive
when the Legislature cannot be con-
vened, requests can the Federal Gov
ernment protect the State against
domestic violence. BY domestic
violence" Is meant riotous uprising,
not individual law-breaking.
In the course Of the conference on
crime, now in session in this city,
the suggestion has been advanced
that the United States take over the
police powers of the States as against
certain categories of crime. This can
not be done under the Constitution as
it stands. Nor should it be done so
long as the present system of Fed
eral organization exists. The re-
sponsibility for the enforcement of
its own laws rests with the State
and should rest there. The United
States may by enactments Of Con.
gress make certain definitions of
crime where State boundaries are
srossed by the lawbreakers, either
by communication or in transit. 1t
has done so recently in respect to
The crime Of kidnapping, and under
this enactment much headway has
Evening star., 1934-12-12

been made against this abomination,
at least in the capture of offenders.
To extend this interstate 1urisdic-
ton Of the Federal Government In
respect to definition OF crime would
be contrary to the fundamental prin-
ciple of the Union Of States. The
responsibility for the maintenance OF
order, except in extreme emergency
of uncomfortable disorder, must rest
upon the States, upon their police
and their courts. II they are nef-
fective or corrupt the people Of the
States have their remedy ia reform
and reorganization, with the punish
ment of those at fault. Public opin-
ion must be aroused to the danger
Of tolerating administrative and Judi
cial failures. The crime conference
should serve this purpose effectively.
Evening star., 1934-12-12

II it does not come to pass, then
you have worse than wasted it.
So why worry?
It Is q good argument, as far as 1t
goes, the only trouble with it is that
it does not 60 far enough, especially
into that cavernous depth, the mind
| of man.
There are dark secret things hidden
there, even from the self, so dark the
eye cannot see them, so secret that
the mind fails to reveal them even to
itself.
Yet these things do exist, and one
does not have to study Freud to know
it. They have their being, and they
| will out, at times.
If in no worse form than worry,
one Is fortunate.
~
Worry, then, may be regarded as
distinctly the lesser of two evils.
II accepted for what 1t is. most
often 1t ranks as nothing much.
Why worry about worry?
Let the small, everyday worry take
care Of itself, which it will do without
any particular aid from any one.
It is a sort of safety valve Of the
nervous temperament, and he or she
who would take it away from another
human being would be depriving him
Of O real help to inner tranquility.
Small worries cannot be taken away,
as q matter of fact; they only can be
suppressed.
When allowed full play, they are
Just so much mental steam, blowing
away sometimes with powerful noise,
but doing all the more good therefor,
perhaps.
Words are things, some one has said,
and unspoken thoughts are things, too.
II you think at all, you worry. at
least other people would be inclined to
think you do.
Every thought would be, to the crit
les. q worry thought, since 1t perhaps
involves something in the future.
Many Of our unspoken ideas, as
they ferment within us, are about
time to be, which is natural enough,
since that is the unknown quantity.
The past is over, and the present
is here. While We may worry about
the past, and often do, we are. as
race, more inclined to worry about the
future. The present can more or less
| take care of itself, or shortly will be
past.
1t Is the future that counts, per-
haps more than it should. Man never
is, but always to be, blest, the poet
| tells us.
Normal worry helps many a person
better to meet the unknown when it
| becomes known.
| 1t Is not such surprise to him, for
one thing. and then he may have per-
fected plans that really are worth
something.
There is fine line, after all, be-
tween worrying and planning.
Which one does. depends upon
whether 1t is you or the other fellow.
You plan, Of course; he worries, the
| fool!
The line is very fine, so fine that
only in that problematical thing, the
| famous last analysis. can one be diff
ferentiated from the other. Perhaps
there is no need to make the effort.
Worry is as helpful as eating. A
great many persons worry a great
deal about their eating, but no one
| gives up eating on that account.
Evening star., 1934-12-12

York City. Under his Craftsmanship
merry program was produced by
Ed Wynn, Rudy Vallee. Frank Crumit,
Fred Waring and other stars of stage
and screen for the entertainment of
thousand Of Manhattan's bohemian
elite. The F.. H. A. chief is a veteran
member of the Lambs.
y y X
When Senator Carter Glass was in
Washington the other day friend
said to him, Senator, I hope you're
well and happy" The veteran Vir-
ginian replied: I'm we'll" His looks
prove it and foreshadow that the Sage
OF Lynchburg will be his militant self
in the Senate this Winter, If and when
conditions require him to stand up for
his uncompromising views on the sub
ject of sound money.
Uncle Sans representative at Bel
grade, YugoSlavia, Minister Charles
Stetson Wilson, is expertly qualified to
observe and report on conditions in
the Balkans at this troublous hour.
He has had the better part of 80 years
experience in that turbulent region,
beginning with his first post as a
secretary Of legation accredited to
Greece. Rumania and Serbia in
1901. A veteran career man of the
foreign service, he became charge
d'affaires at Sofia. Bulgaria, in 1918.
From 1921 to 1928 he served as Min
ister to Bulgaria; for the succeeding
five years he was Minister to Ru-
mania, and in 1888 was appointed
Minister to Yugoslavia. Sixty-one
years old. native of Maine and Har-
ward graduate, Mr.. Wilson easily ranks
as Americas foremost diplomatic au-
thority on the Balkans-the right
man in the right place just now. Be-
fore being stationed there he had seen
service in Cuba, Argentina, Spain and
Italy.
New Dealers will keep weather eye
peeled in the direction of White Sui
phur Springs, w. Va. next week, when
leaders Of the United States Chamber
of Commerce and the National Asso-
citation Of Manufacturers will put their
heads together in a recovery confer
ence." The precise nature of their
deliberations has not been disclosed
beyond statement that they will con-
slider various suggestions for a con-
structive program to accelerate recov-
cry from our existing economic condi-
tion." Cooperation with the admin
istration is still the keynote of both
bodies, but at White Sulphur Springs
it's expected they will get down to
brass tacks on unemployment insur-
ance. taxation, the 30-hour week. dol
lar devaluation, the Roosevelt spend
ing program, Government competition
in business, and reorganization Of
N. r. A. and A. A. A. Despite the CO.
operative spirit. business is far from
united in its views on these various
themes. To what extent and how it
should make its influence felt during
the coming session of Congress will
probably be decided at the forthcom-
Ing council Of war-or peace.
(CopyriEht. 19343
Evening star., 1934-12-12
More Debt Defaults.


and 1t Is Asnalized by another crop
Of notes from our European war
debtors indicating that the. semi
annual installments due this week
will remain unpaid. Finland Is once
more the honorable exception. As
usual, she will pay on time. Great
Britain, which is in default for a
total Of $379,461 .776, has already
formally communicated her non-pay-
ment intentions to the State Depart
ment. The French cabinet on Mon
day decided to ignore the 500 900, 900
installment due from Paris, and Rome
dispatches indicate that with respect
to the s3O,57O,ls6 payable by Italy,
she will follow the default lead Of
Great Britain and France.
Because the principal debtors ap-
pear to have an unwritten under
standing that the British thesis for
default shall be the criterion for
them all, 1t is valuable to observe the
reasoning to which the London gov
submitted in Washington the British
say they have "again most carefully
reviewed the position. but regret they
have reached the conclusion that the
considerations which governed their
decision six months ago apply with
equal force today" In June last
Britain announced that it would sus-
pend payments under the funding and
moratorium agreements pending the
final revision of the war debt settle
ment." No circumstances having
arisen to alter the situation that then
existed, the British feel that it
would be useless, and therefore un-
wise, to initiate negotiations at pres
ent," though they will continue to
watch for any effective opportunity Of
taking steps in that direction"
When the debt issue was much more
alive, in December, 1888, the British
declared that the transfer Of the sum
involved could not be made without
dislocation of world trade and finances.
Payments to America, it was contend
ed, would reopen the reparations ques-
ton and require Rritain's continental
debtors to pay debts which have prac-
tically been Cancelled as a result of
abandoning financial war claims on
Germany. On this attitude the British
stand pat and the other European
debtors stand with them.
For the United States there is but
one policy that commands any con-
siderable volume of support in this
country. That is a policy of permit
ting the debtors to shoulder, as long
as they find it proper, the onus Of de-
fault. There is slight sentiment among
the American people in favor Of can
collation. They look upon the war
debts as honorably contracted obliga-
tons which should be carried on the
Treasury's books as such, in the hope
that some day, however remote, they
will turn out to be collectible, if not
in whole, at least in substantial part,
The United States considers the debts
as assets-frozen though they be
doomed to remain for an indefinite
period-which We cannot afford to re-
linquish. In ways now invisible they
may yet turn out to be exceedingly
valuable assets.
Evening star., 1934-12-12
Clash Over Housing Program
Brings Plea for Compromise

Although hostilities have ceased in
the clash over housing between Ad-
ministrator Moffett and Secretary
Ickes. Congress is expected to de-
termine the full program for the
future. 1t is pointed out by the press
that slum clearance is a factor in
the program. but Mr.. Moffett's sup
porters assert that he is in q position
to understand the needs Of business.
Congress Is apt to have the final
say" comments the Columbia Is. c.
Record. because Congress will have
to vote the necessary fund. Admin
iStrator Moffett does not have to
get any new sanctions from Congress,
for his insurance plan is included in
the national housing act"
With q eulogy Of Santa Claus, the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin de-
ScribeS thus the latest development
in the housing field: The new houS-
ing subsidy plan, by means of which
anybody with $1,000 in cash can buy
>
mortgage 1t to the Federal Govern
ment for $1,000 and live happily
forever after, is part of the picture.
Presumably, families who have less
than $1,000 in cash can buy cheaper
lots, build more simple houses and
live just as happily under the new
plan. Or, perchance, it will be
adaptable to the higher brackets of
possession and aspiration. as well.
UnquestiOnably it is generous offer
an outright Federal grant of 20 per
cent Of the cost to every home builder
and Government mortgage loan at
5 per cent of 80 per cent of the
remaining cost CT the house It is
assumed that other cash and credit
services will provide for the furnish
ing. AS to the job and the wages,
or other income, which are to guar
antee the carrying charges and pay
on the mortgage, there is less as
Sllrance. Rugged individualism has
not been entirely abandoned and will
have to be relied upon for that Incl
dental"
Printing the pump" appears to the
Providence Bulletin thus far to have
failed as the means Of reducing un-
employment" The Bulletin observes
that private enterprise has been
hoping that the President would give
direct encouragement to business"
The Santa Monica (Calif) Evening
Outlook believes that private enter
prise cannot compete with the Gov
ernment, and II the Government
wishes to revive the building industry
it will not be done in any permanent
fashion by the Government entering
into competition with private enter
prise"
It is emphasized by the st. Joseph
(Mo) News-Press that "the ultimate
objective Is to stimulate the heavy
industries" and that paper offers the
judgment: Material dealers are en-
titled to fair profits and craftsmen
to reasonable annual earnings. Capt.
tai Is not begrudged an adequate re-
turn on It's investment. But, as Sec
retary Ickes says, both capital and
labor can help by fair adjustment Of
prices and wages which, by reducing
costs, will increase the total amount
Of work to be done as well as the
ultimate returns to both material men
and building labor The situation
seems to suggest q bit Of wholesome
persuasion in these quarters by H. O.
l.. C. and F. H. A."
What is needed" according to the
Raleigh IN. Co. News and Observer,
"is Q program to provide decent hous-
Evening star., 1934-12-12
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

Impression.
When I am seriously perplexed
About some public scheme
There comes to soothe my feelings
vexed
Some sweet Utopian dream.
I listen with enraptured ear
To phrases SO profuse
Which serve to soothe my sense OF
fear
And charm my brain obtuse.
Ger me a spell the spotlight filings.
Perhaps I'll take command
And, looking wise, tell lots of things
I do not understand.
Evening star., 1934-12-12
Life Begins at Sixty,

DR.. F. E. Townsend, author of the
5000 a month pension plan for per-
sons sixty years of age or more, has
come to Washington to give PreSi-
dent Roosevelt opportunity to accept
and adopt this recovery plan. If
the President fails to fall in line,
then the Townsenders are prepared
to lobby at the Capitol in the hope
of enlisting the legislators in behalf
of their program.
The estimates made by the author
OF this Utopian plan are q tribe stag
gering. For example, he figures that
there will be paid out in pensions an
nually to the men and women who
have reached or passed the sixtieth
milestone of life about $l8.20O.-
00O, 1000. This estimate Of cost Is
based on another estimate made by
the doctor, which puts at 100000
the number of persons who would be
eligible for the pension. Almost, 1t
seems, in the light of increasing signs OF
sanity returning to this country along
economic lines, that the doctor has
put forward his plan year too late.
Nevertheless, the Townsend plan ap-
pears to have proved . remarkable
bit Of bait in California and some
of the other Western States. And DR..
Townsend is convinced that it will yet
appeal strongly to the Eastern part
of the country. Indeed, it has been
reliably reported that Cow Merriam
Of California, running for election
against Upton Sinclair last November,
clasped the Townsend plan to his
bosom.
If the Townsend plan actually
should be adopted life would begin at
sixty for a lot of people. That is, life
would begin on q very different scale.
For each person sixty years old in the
United States, willing to forego the
pleasures of work and not an habitual
criminal, would be paid 5000 month
with the requirement that every cent
of it be spent within thirty days. A
man of forty or fifty, working for half
that amount of money, or less, might
well look forward to the sixties as the
glorious, golden age of life.
What would the 0ldsters do with
this money each month? Would their