davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Relief and Politics

The gradual unfolding of what is
apparently an administration inten-
ton to overhaul and set in order it's
work relief program is highly graft
tying development in the wake of
months Of mounting criticism of
present practice.
With the bulk of complaints di-
rected at alleged use of w. P. A.
funds or influence in politics, a re-
liable and revealing measure of the
extent of such practices should be
supplied early next month by the
Senate Campaign Expenditures Com
mittee. Although limited in per-
sonnel, time and other important
facilities, the committee has devoted
itself earnestly for many weeks to
investigating complaints and COM
piling a report on which Congress
probably will lean heavily in it's con-
sideration of relief legislation this
winter.
Without waiting for the committee
findings, however, it seems only log
1cal to urge that the basic safe
guards for proper administration of
public relief should be embodied in
law rather than left to the discre-
ton, so often based upon political
expediency, of individuals in whom
control of Federal funds is vested.
And while such a fundamentally
wise course was rejected by a slim
Senate majority last June in the de-
feat of the Hatch amendment to
prohibit political coercion by Fed
orally employed relief officials, there
is adequate reason to believe that
a new and more thoughtful Congress
will look with favor upon such a pro-
posal. Senator Hatch himself has
indicated he intends to re-submit
his amendment, perhaps broader in
scope than last years, when new re-
lief appropriations are sought.
At the same time, there can be
little to lose in giving sympathetic
consideration to such proposals as
that for the creation of nonpartisan
county boards to serve as clearing
houses for complaints and the prob
lens attendant upon fair admins
tration of relief. Although a Nation
wide system of such tribunals un-
douotedly would be marked by widely
divergent character and efficiency
among them, yet any remedial
achievements would be clear gain.
In short, as an instrumentality
supplementary to more carefully
drawn legislation, the setting up of
county complaint machinery is an
everything to = gain-nothing-to-lose
proposition unless it is advanced as
an alternative to the principle repre-
sented in the Hatch amendment. It
should supplement basic revision in
the relief statutes, but it should not
be substituted for such revision.
Evening star., 1938-12-29

seem only logical that It should be
studied by some one special group
which could coordinate the whole
subject; not by independent congress
sional committees and subcommittee
which probably would be pulling at
cross-purposes. Combined action by
the Military and Naval Committees OF
the Senate and House and possibly
the Appropriations subcommittee
might be indicated. It also has been
suggested that Congress might do
we'll to create new and powerful COM
mittees on national defense.
Obviously, this whole matter of ma
tional defense is too important, too
expensive, too much tied up with the
question of national financing and
national welfare to be treated hap
hazardly. Congress should have all
the facts and all the theories, pro and
con, before attempting to legislate.
The subject calls for sane, COOL
headed, realistic treatment.
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Chance to See President
Spoiled by Photographers.
To the Editor of The Star;

10 the Eoltor OF Inc star:
On Christmas Eve, 1887, some friends
and I decided to 60 down and see the
President light the community tree and
hear him speak. Being rather late in
getting down, we had no chance to see
the speaker, so this year we made up
our minds to be on time. And we were.
We got very good position facing the
speakers rostrum, so in spite of the rain
we felt quite pleased.
But our pleasure was short-lived, as we
noticed a dozen photographers climbing
up on stands and even in the tree
right in front Of the speakers stand.
Being rather optimistic we kept on
hoping they would take the pictures and
get down, but not they. Some of them
finally went, but four stayed right on
and spread themselves well over the
place. Now what I want to know is
this:
BY what right and special dispensation
are these men allowed to cut off the
view of hundreds of people who have
hear the President.
Perhaps Tor some OF us 1t is the only
chance in our lives, and all we get for
our effort is chance to study the pat
tern Of the coat on the backs of the
photographers. When get back to my
own part Of the country and sit by my
radio and listen to the Chief Executive,
and know he is lighting the tree, I shall
always remember those backs and the
color of the coats. LESLIE B.
December ~.
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Healthy Siqns

President Roosevelt, after consul
tation with Chairman Ross Collins
of the House Subcommittee on Dis
tr1ct Appropriations, has announced
that Washington's general health
condition is bad and has diagnosed
the trouble quite correctly as de-
ficiency of revitalizing appropria-
tions. The encouraging thing about
it Is that Doctors Roosevelt and Col
Inns appear to concur in the profess
sional opinion that the patient is
worthy of extensive and possibly ex-
penSive remedial treatment and that
they intend to collaborate in an ef-
fort to give it to him without un-
necessary delay.
IT there is anything organically
wrong with the health situation in
the District of Columbia, it is due
to lack of that lifeblood of any
rugged constitution, money, rather
than to any inherent fault such as
public apathy or official neglect or
incompetency. The District of Col
umbia Health Department has de-
monStrated its capacity to function
efficiently under tremendous handi-
caps-handicaps of insufficient per-
sonnel and of antiquated and in
adequate equipment. Health Officer
Rutland is just as keenly aware of
these needs as persons outside the
department who have inquired into
them. The United States Public
Health Service surveyed the local
field not long ago and recommended
a six-year program of improvement,
including additional units at Gal
linger and Freedmen's Hospitals,
especially for tubercular patients;
new building for the Health Depart
ment, three health centers to decen-
tralize the health work and increased
personnel, particularly in the nurs-
ing staff.
A start has been made toward
filling some of these requirements,
Soe SOAloAdC1 aO4C Sulllo lllUSU NC dU.
propriated over the next several
years if the minimum needs outlined
by the survey experts are to be met.
Generous appropriations also will be
needed to improve social conditions,
which have an indirect bearing on
the health problem. The Presidents
expressed interest, therefore, in the
National Training School for Girls
Is gratifying. Conditions there have
Improved markedly in the last year
but new facilities are essential to in
creased efficiency.
1t has been said frequently, and it
bears repeating now, that public
health is purchasable";; that within
limitations "a community can de-
termine its own death rate" Money
expended for improvement of public
health is money expended to save,
human lives. Such expenditures need
no apologies from any one.
Evening star., 1938-12-29
A Substantial World

One of the most certain guides to
the trend of popular thought lies in
the study of the reading habits of the
population. Not alone the events
which occur from day to day, and
from year to year in the life of the
Nation are reflected, but the manner
In which these events influence the
lives of those who read.
An interesting survey has been
made by the American Library AS
sociation of the reading habits as
shown by the use of public libraries
in thirty-f1ve cities, of which WASH
ington was one. The results for the
country at large turned out to be
substantially the same as for the
National Capital.
The survey showed great in
crease in general reading, in the
study of art through the borrowing
OF prints, and q doubling of the cir
culation of sheet music. Both the
reading of fiction and of non-fiction
indicated a greater interest in cur
rent political situations, with the
problems of the far corners of the
earth occupying an important place.
There was a decline of interest in
the field of economics and related
subjects.
Said Wordsworth: Dreams, books,
are each world; and books we know
are a substantial world, both fine
and good" The increased reading.
signitied by the greater use of pub
lie library facilities, may be credited
to various causes. DR.. George F. Bow
erman believes much of the gain in
Washington to be due to the better
stock Of books made available by
more careful selection by trained
STATS, and to better information
services on library facilities, such as
the Forum on Current Social Prob
lens conducted in the public night
schools. The results from other
cities would indicate that a wiser
and more planned use of leisure,
along with a general improvement in
distribution methods by the libraries,
have been the principal contributing
factors
Whatever the cause, an increase in
the reading of important books, espe-
cially those of the type which headed
this years list in popularity, is a
healthy sign. 1t indicates vital in
terest in, and definite desire to un-
derstand the problems, social, po-
litical and personal, which confront
the man of today.
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Shooting Stars
BY pHILANDER JOHNSON.
Clothes Make the Man.


If you feel disposition to be foremost
in affairs,
Remember that man is often Judged
by what he wears.
The way to fame is either very quick or
very SLOW
1t all depends upon the route by which
you choose to go.
The mighty volumes that you read; the
midnight oil you burn
1t may be many years before they yield
you return.
And on the other hand you may be
known. and even feared,
If you wear coat old-fashioned and q
hat that's rather weird.
The speeches that you make in dim
obscurity may rest,
But the world will think about you if
you wear funny vest
You mustn't be disheartened if you find
by any chance
That they talk more of your whiskers
than your views on high finance.
AS Shakespeare said, ''The world is all
a stage" And there you are.
Don't try to run the drama-be content
to be. star.
You can't depend entirely on your wis
dom or your wit
You've got to watch your makeup if you
want to make hit.
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Air Defenses

Congress unquestionably is going
to be asked soon to increase greatly
the Nations air defenses. Rumor
has 1t that President Roosevelt will
recommend in his annual message
that the Army air force be increased
to- 10000 airplanes, in addition to
the 5000 authorized for the Navy.
Any such proposal is liable to meet
spirited opposition; not only the
customary resistance from peace
groups which decry any expenditures
for national defense, but also oppo-
sition from those who sincerely be-
lieve in building up our defenses, but
who think an air force of any such
size cannot be justified under even
the most realistic concepts of the
situation.
There is obvious division of opinion
among the Nations military and
civil leaders as to our actual defense
requirements. Senator Clark of Mis-
souri, in recent address in The
Stars Radio Forum, characterized as
"exuberant" the proposal attributed
to Assistant Secretary of War john
son that we should proceed to build
10000 airplanes-obviously the basis
for published reports anticipating
the Presidents message to Congress.
Various proposals have been made
from time to time by other members
Of Congress, disclosing wide range
Of opinion as to the number of mill
tary airplanes this country should
have. No less an authority than
Major General Henry H. Arnold,
chief of the Army Air Corps, has said
that the United States does not need
many more than the 1920 aircraft
now authorized for the Army, pro-
vided that this force is kept thor
oughly up to date.
The only safe conclusion to be
drawn is that the whole subject of
national defense, including aerial
strength, needs to be most carefully
studied. And, since the matter
should be studied as whole, it would
Evening star., 1938-12-29
THIS AND THAT
BY Charles +. Trdce1peu.

Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, Haydn,
Brahms, Schubert, schumann, Wagner,
sibelius, Tschaikovsky, stravinsky, De-
busy, Verdi. Dvorak. Ravel.
It's great list, friends, but we didn't
make it-time and genius alone made It.
II we set 1t down now, we might be
inclined to substitute Cesar Franck for
Stravinsky. Who knows?
++&A
Here is another little list Of the mu-
sical great We would like to offer.
Onenbach, Bizet, Berlioz, Franck,
Vaughan williams, william Walton,
Johann Strauss, John Phillip sousa,
Victor Herbert, Prokofen, Jerome Kern,
Deems Taylor and Sergio Ala.
Bet you never heard Of Ala.
This music lover never did, either, until
he purchased disc Of Tino Rossi, the
great Corsican tenor, singing 1.-THE
Secret Of Your Caresses," tango
written by this man Ala. We now have
also fine orchestral version.
If this isn't one of the loveliest mel
odies ever written, then Sousa never
wrote unsurpassed marches, nor Jerome
Kern that masterpiece, Smoke Gets In
Your Eyes"
BY the way, how many heard our own
Deems Taylor praise Kern's wonderful
tune in his broadcast Christmas Day?
Mr.. Taylor said that 1t is one of the
loVeliest melodies ever penned, and that
Mozart would not be ashamed of 1t,
The light operas Of the late Victor
Herbert are filled with charming
things, tuneful, and constructed with
musical integrity.
And do you know the waltzes of the
great waltz king? Brahms, himself, ad-
vised a friend, when you come to
Vienna, you must hear Strauss. He is
great musician"
When we start to expand the lists
happily the choice is large.
We are confronted here with the oues-
ton, what makes a thing great or
greatest? And what is the difference
between what we call great and what we
dare to say is greatest?
fortunately Tor music lovers, the Diff
ference is often very small, so small that
in a certain mood. it doesn't seem to
exist at all.
The question, after all, is not between
decisions, but solely one OF listening.
The listening ear makes music.
X
We must play and listen more and
talk abou. music less.
That Is Why the list Of 1e greatest com
posers-one mans idea, what is yours?-
Is not important, but the love of music
is, and uion it hang all the musicians
and all the happiness and inspiration
Of music.
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Sees Housing Authority
Restoring Family Unit.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
The United States Housing Authority
through its low rent and slum-clearance
program hits at very significant social
readjustment. It is the re-establishing
of that basic communal unit, the family,
to its past level Of Importance in our
sociological pattern.
Russia deteriorated through the NAL
adjustment Of that unit and today we
can readily observe the progress being
made in the renovation of marriage and
the family in the Soviet Union. Dis
order in the housing conditions of Russia
much distressed Lenin, himself, who held
that the highest human elements entered
into the relationship between man and
his place of abode. Thus, on the most
advanced practical side, the housing
situation today presents an aspect hsr-
monious with that which It has long
Evening star., 1938-12-29
A Wife Will Live
Thanks to Community Chest.

To the Editor OF The Star:
Permit me, through your paper, to
publicly thank the Community Chest, its
workers and those who gave gifts to the
Chest. Recently it was necessary that
my wife be operated on for a serious
ailment and as have been unemployed
a long time could not pay for it. I
appealed to the Community Chest and
they Immediately arranged for her to
go to the George Washington Hospital.
Thanks to DR.. Novick and others at the
hospital the operation was success.
I only hope will have a chance to
make sacrifice to show my gratitude
for what has been done for me.
only hope that soon I, too, will get
a job so can earn and give.
I wish every one of you a happy and
successful New Year. A. G.. E..
December 26.
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Arlington, Va.

Dear Sir:
Music is matter OF taste and should
not, of course, lead to overcontroversy,
but in our home we were somewhat sur
prised that in listing the 16 greatest
composers in music you should have in
cluded Ravel or even Stravinsky and
have omitted such composers as those
we have listed below.
Sincerely yours, w. H. c."
The list our correspondent inclosed
consisted Of the following IA great
musical names:
Mendelssohn, Chopin, Strauss, Liszt,
Rachmaninoff, Saint-Saens, Rimski-
Korsakoff, Scharwenka, Won Weber,
Chaminade, Rubinstein, Paderewski,
Rossini and Flotow.
If we did not credit our correspondent
with the same sincerity we ask readers
to credit us with, we might be inclined
to think that he had taken names at
random from some history Of music.
Not even the greatest lover of Paderew-
skis sublime piano playing, or greatest
admirer of his mighty role in Polish
history, could list him as one of the
worlds greatest composers.
Nor can Rachmaninof1, solely as
composer, be listed among the greatest,
although he Is very fine within certain
limited sphere.
Mendelssohn, great as he was, In re-
cent years has fallen somewhat in dis
repute. The lovely little Songs Without
Words" are called trivial; it is only as
an oratorio writer, some hold, that he
still survives.
One might 60 on this way, but 1t would
prove nothing, for, as our correspond
ent truly says, music is too great for
controversy.
We are happy to add the IA names
submitted by Mr.. c. to our list.
1t was stated in a recent article that
the names proposed here constituted
"The considered Judgment Of one music
lover" and that was all the list attempted
to be. Inclusion In any list does not
make greatness, nor omission from it
in any way tear down the reputation OF
those left out.
Our intent was to help new owners of
modern Photographs have some real
plan of purchase of records in advance,
so that they would not make the common
mistake of acquiring mere hodge,
podge of discs.
1t was for this reason mainly that
we included Ravel. Time alone can
show his real place, but we think every
record collection should contain the
"Bolero." That great sensation is truly
fine, and makes especially effective
music for the phonograph.
X
Our list of l6 greatest included Bach,
Evening star., 1938-12-29
The Meaning of Limo

Inc an-Amerlcan Conference Just
closed in Lima, Peru, is no exception
to the rule that historic events
appear in their true proportion only
against the background of what
comes after as we'll as what goes
before.
To attempt to evaluate the historic
Importance Of the deliberations so
soon would be highly presumptuous,
chiefly because we are so utterly
incapable of divining the future.
Against the background of seven
earlier conferences, their innocuous
resolutions, unratified treaties and
petty chickering's, the Lima conference
stands out like shining light on a
dark night. What we have yet to
determine is whether the future
justifies the deliberate steps taken
there.
Four major resolutions were
adopted and not merely by majority
vote-which in any event is good
democracy-but unanimously.
Foremost, of course, from an
American political standpoint was
the Declaration of Lima, proclaiming
the solidarity of the American repub-
lies to resist any threat to the peace,
security or territorial integrity of any
one of them. A complete victory for
none, it emerged from the sessions
as composite of twenty-one differ
ent and varying ideas.
Dearer to the heart of the American
Secretary of State, Cordell Hull,
however, was the embodiment in a
declaration of his principles of peace
enunciated July 16, 1887, and which
he has expounded countless times
since then as the only true basis for
international order. He saw his own
doctrine Of peace made the doctrine
of an entire hemisphere, and return
ing home aboard ship can reckon
this personal triumph.
Akin to his peace principles and
second only to them in his sentiments
Is his trade policy, which he saw
adopted unanimously but with slight
reservations early in the conference.
In this respect, too, he has occasion
for satisfaction.
Finally, and worthy to be ranked
with the major accomplishments of
the conference, was the resolution
against racial and religious persecu-
ton, for its corollary is active as
Evening star., 1938-12-29

sistance for the correction Of condi-
tions at which the resolution is
aimed. The Americas remain the
one real hope Of refuge for oppressed
peoples.
Besides these more than a hundred
other resolutions, covering a wide
range Of topics, were approved, high
lighting the ambition which con-
t!nues to mark Pan-American Con-
ferences.
Out of half century of such
periodic meetings one begins to see
emerging the fulfllment of pan
Americanism as the most influential
international movement today, over
shadowing the rule by fire and sword
which characterizes the older regions
OF the earth-Europe and Asia.
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Says Controller General
Merely Obeys Law.

To the Editor of The Star:
Jay Franklin's article In last nights
Star makes one wonder if he has taken
the trouble to read the Budget and
Accounting Act of 1921, which created
the office of Controller General of the
United States. That Office was created
by Congress and was made independent
of all other branches OF the Government.
1t is responsible only to Congress and
among the duties prescribed is that of
determining whether or not expenditures
OF Federal funds or proposed expendi-
lures of such funds are lawful. There
is obviously only one basis for a de-
termination of legality OF an expendi-
ture or proposed expenditure and that
is the law as enacted by Congress. In
case a proposed expenditure is dis
approved, the matter can always be taken
to Congress and, if Congress intended
funds to be expended for the proposed
purpose, the law can be amended to
include such purpose.
1t is inconceivable that Mr.. Franklin
could have read the law which permitted
Controller McCarl to approve loans for
industrial purposes in connection with
early Resettlement Administration prof.
ects, or the law which required acting
Controller Elliott to disapprove the re-
Gently publicized Farm Security Admin
istration loans for hosiery mills.
If personal animosities are set aside It
must be admitted that Controller Nc
Carl creditably performed the duties of
his office as prescribed by Congress and
that acting Controller Elliott, his sue
cessor, is doing likewise. In the per-
formance of those duties it has been
necessary to tread on important toes
hence the present agitation to abolish the
office. In the end, the abolishment or
continuance Of the General Accounting
Office rests with Congress, which created
IL. K. w.
Arlington, Va, December q.
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Opposes Ban on
All Auto Parking,

To the Editor Of The Star:
I note you insist upon taking autos
entirely out Of parking places. don't
see why your paper, that is so fair and
reasonable, insists on such a step.
Prohibition of downtown parking not
only keeps customers away from stores.
but cripples honest merchants who wish
to park themselves longer than an hour
at time-in fact, need to do so.
Prohibition on uptown streets, say in
the early morning, would take effect Just
at the hours when there is the least
traflc and the least need.
j. T. SHADLE.
December 10
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Fovorite Hymns
OF All Creeds

Favorite Hymns is collection of the
best-loved hymns Of all denominations.
In this collection, prepared in response
to many requests, there are ISL hymns,
complete with words and music. Your
favorite is probably among them. The
book is six by nine inches in size, and
has an attractive durable colored cover.
Completely indexed. To obtain your
copy inclose 20 cents to cover cost and
handling.
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Cagey.

Cagey.
Remember" said the kind elderly
gentleman, that you may be President
of the United States"
eyes" answered the boy whose father
is connected with the race track. "But
look at the population of this country.
I've only got one chance in millions.
amt playin' any long shots like that"
Evening star., 1938-12-29
Letters to The Star

Letters to the Editor must bear
the name and address of the
'Dr'ter. although the use of a
pseudonvn for publication Is per-
missfb'e. Please be brieti