davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-03-16
MARYLAND Teachers

Backed by many civic groups, a
bill to increase the minimum pay
Of Maryland teachers is before the
General Assembly. Need for such
legislation is apparent to all who
take the trouble to note the States
present minimum teacher pay scale,
which, in many counties, is the
maximum.
Under that scale elementary school
teachers receive $3.50 a year for the
first year. Slight increases are pro-
vded as the teacher gains expert
ence until, at the end of eight years,
the pay reaches a maximum Of 81 ,250.
Some counties pay slightly more,
Prince Georges, for example, setting
It's scale about $50 year higher
than the State minimum.
In lieu Of this scale the pending
Evening star., 1939-03-16

believe, what is meant by the question.
There has never been a proposal that
the Treasury pay for silver out of
general revenues or out of borrowed
funds. Aside from this, the issuance of
silver certificates has no bearing what
soever on the interest burden.
Your last question is whether the
issuance of silver currency increases the
interest earning capacity of the banking
system.
There is no connection whatsoever
between the issuance of silver and the
interest earning capacity of the banking
system. The only connection under
present conditions is highly indirect and
exactly the opposite of that implied in
the question. The issuance of silver
certificates adds to excess reserves, and
this in turn would tend to reduce
interest rates were it not for the fact
that they are already at the lowest
level on record, and for short-term
paper are at the vanishing point.
Il hope that these explanations will
be of help to you.
Sincerely yours,
IN. S. ECCLES.
Honorable John G. Townsend, jr.,
United States Senate,
washington, D. c."
The foregoing letter from Gov Eccles
disposes Of the arguments raised in the
letter which you published some time
ago.
JOHN G. TOWNSEND, Jr.
March 13.
Evening star., 1939-03-16
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles +. TraceUell.

in 4 growth Of trees and shrubs near his
home.
Most suburban residents are glad mere.
ly to see q bluehird once a year.
1t is a treat, really, even to see this
beauty. It possesses a calm, steady de-
meanor, q sweetness of character well
fitting its beautiful colors and CHEEKY
song.
So much has been made of the idea of
the bluebird as happiness that 1t is no
wonder most people want bluebirds in
their gardens.
Few, alas, will have them. They are
timid, retiring birds, at least at this
stage; maybe in past years they were
bolder, but the hand of time has rested
heavily upon their tribe.
Today, when they deign to visit an
average garden, they are extremely
suspicious.
They do not like sparrows, for one
thing.
They seem to resent any movement in
the yard. If nice house has been put
out for them, they will poke their heads
in, and look around, but they are hard
to please, and will leave overnight, and
usually do.
The bluebird house has a slightly
larger door than that for the wren,
which will be here almost any day now.
This slightly larger opening permits
the English sparrow to get in.
AS for color of birdhouses, almost any
color will do, but there is strong belief
among bird friends that only the green
house will attract wrens.
In our experience, this has proved
true. A neat wren house in natural bark
finish, atop an arch, has remained empty
for four years, whereas a green one OF
asbestos roofing has had tenants for the
same time.
Birdhouses should have been put up
long time ago, but If they have not
been placed 1t is never too late to put
them out.
The birds do not care for fancy ones
made in the shape of human habitations
with chinneys, etc. That is all foolish
ness, in birds eye. They want them
to have the right size entrance, above
all, and to be free from nails and the
like inside They want the roof thick
enough to keep out the heat of the sum-
mer sun. Nor do they ask for perch
at the door-such a clawhold simply
allows an enemy to stand there and peck
at the eggs or fedglings.
1t is one thing to put up house, quite
another to get bird family into it to
stay. Never set your heart on any par
ticular species. then you will not be dis
appointed. Take the bird which comes,
even If it is an English sparrow. Here.
as elsewhere, man proposes, but God
disposes.
Evening star., 1939-03-16
ROCKVILLE, MD.

Dear Sir:
"Your recent article on seeing the first
robin in your back yard, March l, has
prompted me to write you concerning
the bluebirds and robins here.
These first warm days have brought
our heralds Of spring. The bluebird's
CHEEKY calLnote is like sweet strain OF
music which soon enough will turn into
chorus Of song.
Their sky-blue coat and rusty vest
seems to be the first gay color of March.
II saw a number Of bluebirds in our
garden March 5, and each Of them flew
from fence post to fence post, each time
pouring forth melody. The blueness of
their wings seemed to blend with the sky
as they flew away.
'"The robins too have come on time
from the South, and hop and fly around
in businesslike manner.
"The first robin saw this spring al
most took my breath away. 1t was early
in the morning as the sun was rising, and
Mr.. Robin was perched on telephone
wire, singing away.
II have been following with keen in
terest your articles and discussion on
the mockingbird. One Of your readers
has classed him as an Objectionable bird,
but to me 1t is far from such.
Il enjoy its friendliness and trills, as
walk to my work here. often stop to
listen to its charming neyer-the-same
song 1t sings in the yet leafless maple
trees. Rockville has had many mocking-
birds this winter as steady companions.
your articles are vastly interesting to
nature lover.
Sincerely yours
M. c. p"
1t is strange thing that the bluebird,
which seems to be as vigorous bird as
the robin. has not profted by protective
legislation.
The robin family has benefited by
laws aiming to safeguard bird life, but
the bluebird is a steadily dwindling
group.
Since to the eye the bluebird is as
sturdy bird as a robin, it is also strange
that great storms in the '90s took such
toll.
Yet it is believed that following one
such sleet and ice visitation. hundreds
of thousands of bluebirds were killed.
~
Since that day this bird has been
rarity, almost.
At the same time, there are certain
places where they still abound.
There seems to be "bluebird belt"
across Northwest Washington, beginning
on the west at Wesley Heights and ex-
tending east across the city.
Bluebirds winter in this belt. One
resident of Wesley Heights reported as
many as eight of the. birds seen daily
Evening star., 1939-03-16
A Primo Fucie Case

The serious situation that would
confront Washington in the immedi-
ate future if Congress passes broad
new District tax bill and leaves the
Federal payment resting on the
shaky foundation of an arbitrary,
annual lump sum, was pictured
clearly at the opening of Senate
hearings on the Overton fiscal rela-
tions plans.
Only a few of the salient points
from the testimony need be cited to
demonstrate the increasing injustice
OF continuing the unscientifc lump
sum practice. Consider these factors:
First-A Board of Trade spokesman
showed that from 1920 to 1898 the
actual revenue raised from local tax
payers has increased from $23 to
$66.53 per capita, the result of q
growing total outlay for upkeep Of
the city, with diminishing Federal
share. Confronted with estimates of
an annual increase of 100000 in
the city's expenses until 1947, the
Trade Board rightly concluded that
1T will be almost impossible to raise
the additional revenue which will be
needed without creating great hard
ships for the taxpayer, unless a more
equitable adjustment can be made in
the basis Of Federal payment"
Second District Auditor Donovan
emphasized that, with the repeal of
the 60-40 ratio from substantive law
In the last tax bill, the District is left
for the first time in sixty-one years
without any permanent fiscal legisla-
tion, which means even the present
inadequate lump sum is dependent
on it's being written into each annual
appropriation bill.
Third-Senator Overton of Louisi-
ana, author of the pending plan to
return to fixed percentage ratio,
based on the acreage of land required
for national purposes, brought out
the point that definite knowledge of
what the Federal share is to be is an
essential factor in determining what
the local tax program should be.
without any advance knowledge
of what the Federal contribution is
to be, it is difficult to determine the
amount Of revenue that should be
derived from the tax levies in the
District" the Senator said.
A preponderance of supporting
testimony was given as to the serv-
ices the National Government de-
rives from the local government, and
the high standards Of municipal de-
velopment required in a National
Capital.
But the three factors cited above
make out strong prima facie case
in support of the fairness and COM
mon sense OF Senator Overton's plea
for equitable settlement of this
problem.
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Shooting Stars
By PHnANDER JOHNSON.

Woodman Ignored.
'Woodman, spare that tree!"
We sang it long ago;
But just the same the woodman came
And laid the giants low.
We turned them into tables,
We chopped them into pegs
And things unique in styles antique,
With queer unsteady legs.
We swept them from the hillside
And from the mountain stream,
And lest the ak our arms might tax
We sawed them up by steam;
And even art got busy
With geometrlc marks
To ease the nerves that shrank from
curves,
They cleared them from the parks.
Across q sterile plaza
The winter wind blows free;
On summer days the suns hot rays
Beat fierce as fierce can be;
All, spare that tree"-the echo
Falls on the desert air.
But such Is fate. IT'S all too late
There are no trees to spare.
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Beethoven

The world knows everything about
Ludwig van Beethoven; yet it knows
nothing of him. Like Shakespeare
and Dante, Da Vinci and Michel
angelo, he is too great to be measured.
A hundred biographers have brought
together all the facts of his life; twice
or thrice that number of commenta-
tors have essayed to analyze his
genius. But he escapes them. In
deed, he was a stranger to himself.
His famous will" is a confession of
the puzzle. He survives f1fty-seven
years of bewilderment and dies de-
manding that physician discover
the answer to the riddle-in vain.
Born at Bonn on December II, ITO,
he was the son Of a greedy, shiftless,
irresponsible tenor singer at the
neutrality-suspicious. court. His
mother gave him the only love he
ever knew. Mozart was his deity:
Haydn endeavored to teach him with
scant success; he was his own in
structor and critic, isolated, lonely
and miserable from his childhood
onward. Friends sought to help him,
smoothed his path as best they could.
Beethoven simply did not know how
to compromise with his environment.
He was Titan, with his heart and
his mind, his very soul, at war.
Poverty and pride, a consuming pas
sion for affection and a prodigious
capacity for rudeness, the most
majestic musical gift ever assigned
to any individual and weird incom-
potency to find even the shadow
Of peace-these were the elements
Of his Gethsemane. He suffered in
tolerably, especially as he lost the
power of hearing and, particularly,
the power to be philosophic about his
affliction. The end, the release which
came to him on March 2e, 1927, was
pathetic.
But even his death furnishes no
explanation to his mystery. The
secret Is locked in his work. He was
what he did; and there are no words
meaningful enough to describe his
achievement. Humanity approaches
him timidly at first, with growing
courage and increasing gratitude as
time makes him more familiar. The
grandeur, the nobility of his en-
deavor is Olympian, yet not appalling.
Beethoven, 1t seems, is Man; and the
ratio Of public comprehension of him
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Food Surplus

Within few days the Department
Of Agriculture will select the half
dozen cities which will be proving
grounds for the newest innovation by
which it is hoped to feed persons on
relief more satisfactorily, aid the sur
plus ridden farmers and prime the
pump Of business. The food stamp
plan is a variation of the two-price
commodity proposal, with some of
the original objections overcome and
some adroitly hidden.
Two kinds of stamps are to be
issued, one orange and the other
blue. Orange stamps will buy any
kind of food, but not liquor, candy,
and few other things, in any store.
Blue stamps will buy only commodi-
ties Of which there is surplus. The
proportion Of each relief family's in
come which is needed for food will
be determined, and that amount will
be allowed them in orange stamps.
In addition, for each dollars worth
of orange stamps fifty cents worth
of blue stamps will be given free.
The grocer trading food for the
stamps will cash in on his receipts
at his own bank, which in turn will
collect from the Government.
The method undoubtedly will assist
great many families in getting
enough Of the proper foods to keep
them in health. It will assist the
grocer, professor and other factors in
the distributive system. But the is
suance of scrip, which must be re-
deemed in cash, carries with it in
f1ationary dangers. The cost must
be covered by some means. This
means higher taxes directly due to
relief, or more borrowing with the
national debt nearing its legal limit.
The announcement of the plan
pointed out 1t is to be financed by
the customs receipts from imports
competing with surplus foods in this
country. This will do perhaps for the
six-city experiment. But all customs
receipts are only about four hundred
million dollars a year. Until the
cities have been selected, and their
relief populations known, the cost of
the experiment remains uncertain.
But should it be declared success
and extended to the rest of the coun-
try, 1t would necessarily cover the six
million families receiving public as
sistance and increase the amount
paid to them by about seven hundred
and twenty million dollars a year.
There are some ten million families,
though, who are living on the equiva-
lent of w. P. A. pay or less. If these
are all included, as in justice they
should be, the new costs would rise
to nearly billion and half dollars.
The encouraging factor is the ex-
perimental basis upon which the plan
has been placed. Perhaps through
judicious study Of its actual workings
in a few cities, some of its benefits,
shorn Of its dangers, may be ex-
tended. But in any event, the course
chosen is much wiser than to have
included the entire national economy
in this new experiment..
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Suggests Restoration Of
Francis Scott Key House.

To tho Editor Of The Star:
The restoration of the old Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal is being watched by
Washingtonians with great pleasure and
approval for it will add greatly to the
picturesque charm as we'll as the recre-
ational facilities of the Nations Capital
In connection with this work may I
suggest that the National Parks Service
might very suitably include the restora-
ton also of the historic Francis Scott
Key house. which borders the canal near
the Washington end?
The lower stories Of this structure are
still intact and undoubtedly antiquarians
could supply the necessary drawings for
the reproduction Of the rest of the former
dwelling.
This would make a logical terminal
building for the canal. to be used as an
historical museum such as has been
established in Williamsburg, which would
add immeasurably to the interest of the
project.
Tourists go by increasing thousands
every month of the year to visit the re-
stored buildings Of Williamsburg and to
other communities in which they can
find tangible links with the past to
make our history real.
Washington has been deplorably slow
to realize the intrinsic value to the city
as a whole as well as the sentimental
appeal Of historic dwellings Thanks to
the vision of Representative Edith Rogers
bill has been introduced in Congress
to preserve the Decatur house.
1t is to be earnestly hoped that the
possibilities Of the Francis Scott Key
house will not be overlooked
March IL. THERESA H. RUSSELL.
Evening star., 1939-03-16

Is criterion for the appraisal Of the
struggling, striving race Of Men.
The Star music appreciation cam
paign offers the Fifth Symphony.
Listening to 1t, an undismayed spirit
glimpses the only reality worth
troubling about.
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Senator Takes Issue With
Silver Program Defender.

Silver Program Defender.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Some days ago you published q letter
from q defender of our silver program
in which certain assertions regarding
the supposed advantages to the public
of silver currency vs.. Federal Reserve
notes were described.
Below quote letter on this subject
from Mariner 8. Eccles, chairman,
Board Of Governors, Federal Reserve
System.
March 10, 1899.
MY dear Senator: (Townsend)
II acknowledge receipt of your per-
sonal letter to me of March in which
you quote remarks of Congressman
White of Idaho and ask certain ques-
tons.
your first question is whether Fed
eral Reserve notes involve the payment
of interest on the part of the public
using them and to the benefit Of the
banking system.
"The issuance Of Federal Reserve notes
as such does not involve interest pay
ment any more than the issuance of
any other kind of currency. A person
who has q bank deposit can withdraw
it in currency and does not haye to
pay interest; person who has no de-
post and has to borrow must pay
interest on his loan, regardless Of the
kind Of currency in which he withdraws
the proceeds, or whether he leaves them
ON deposit and checks against them.
'Your second question is whether the
issuance of silver certificates reduces the
interest burden on the general public.
1.-THE issuance Of silver certificates
in payment for silver purchases by the
Treasury in no way diminishes the
interest burden on the general public.
It Is true that II the Treasury paid
for silver purchased otherwise than by
issuing silver certificates 1t would have to
increase the public debt by the amount
Of these payments. but that u not, I
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Would Eliminate politics"
From Government,

sVVuASA AAAAAAAAASS VAtACS
From Government.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Politics is the root of all evil and will
result in the destruction of this country
If it is not itself destroyed. If President
Hoover had had an independent Con-
gress We would have been out of the
depression, with balanced budget and
without turmoil and strife Cor strike),
long ere this. Why cannot We have an
Independent Congress, such as the House
of Commons and the House of Lords?
The majority of voters are Republicans
of the better class and would be true
to their convictions If there would be
no corruption or inducement to change
them for q reward
What Is politics? Party manage
ment or control. There is little differ
ence between the present political
parties and II politics could be eliminated
from government there would be no in
centive to build up political machine.
It IS an expensive and dishonorable ad-
venture. Men of merit would then be
chosen as representatives and could
be depended upon to legislate for the
good Of the country and its people.
March 13. FRISBEY GILBERT.
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Letters to The Star

Letters TO the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the 1Driter, although the use OF
a pseudonyn for publication is
permissible. Please be brief!
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Says Uncle Eben.

Now de sun Is shinin'
An mex he's hid away
An we Is lef' a-pinin'
On . bleak an wintry day.
Flowers started bloomin',
Robin birds awoke,
De norf win come a-boomin'
1oh 10 ny TWAS Ill q Joke.
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Craving for Novelty.

80 you think Government ownership
would efIace all dimculties3"
mo-" answered the statesman, but it
would at least give US some new ones to
talk about"
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Appreciated Discomfort.

Appreciated Discomfort.
"How did you enjoy prohibition?"
'First rate" answered Col. stilwell. II
had several neighbors that voted for 1t
that didn't think much Of and posi-
lively enjoyed seeing them 60 thirsty"
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Says Recovery Should
Have Preceded Reform.
To the Editor Of The Star:

10 Cne EuIIUE UI NC clGT
When President Roosevelt was elected
the country was afnicted with q multi
plictty Of ailments, which no one viii
deny. Attempts were then made to ere
form" the sick, suffering Nation and, as
. result, recovery was indefinitely post
poned. Now, some six years later. the
administration experiences a sudden
change Of heart and decides that recov-
cry should precede reform after all.
In placing reform" ahead of "recov-
cry" hasn't the New Deal been guilty
Of incredible stupidity.
3. K. dOLDSBOROUGH.
March IL.
Evening star., 1939-03-16

Some of my friends" said Hi Ho, the
sage Of Chinatown, have such happy
dispositions that they never get angry
when they owe me money, no matter
how often ask them for It."
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Soda Water Covhovs

AS vvSsoA SV"UVyos
And now the soft drink squad draws near,
Made up Of subjects plucky
From all parts Of this hemisphere-
Except perhaps, Kentucky.
Evening star., 1939-03-16
Two VsrietieS.

What we have been suffering FROM"
said the constituent. "is lack of conf
dence."
what some Of us have been suffering
FROM" answered Senator Sorghum, "is
misplaced confidence"
Evening star., 1939-03-16

Member Of the Associated Press
The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to
the use for republics ton Of all news dispatches
credited 70 + or not otherwise credited IN this
Al rights Of publication OF special dispatches
herein also reserved
Evening star., 1939-03-16

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Main once: 11th st. and Pennsylvania Ave.
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Chicago Once: 436 North Michigan Ave.
Evening star., 1939-03-16

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Evening star., 1939-03-16

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Evening star., 1939-03-16

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Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1939-01-26
Swim Champs

by FAR the most remarkable de-
- velopment in water sports dur
ing 1888 was the irresistible rise of
Danish girl swimmers to a place
Of supremacy.
Miss Ragnhild Hveger, greatest
feminine swimmer of all time, and
her Danish fellow star, have to their
credit the fastest long marks
for 100 meters, free style, 1:06.2
and 1:06.8. Miss Hveger again tops
the field at 400 meters, free style,
with an almost unbelievable long
course world record of 500.
Miss RE Van Veen, Holland mer-
maid, navigated the 100 meters, free
style, with 1:18.2. She was second
only to Miss Hveger in the 400 me-
ter stretch, followed by Mrs. Kath-
crime Rawls Thompson, winner Of
our national 440-yard championship.
At the British Empire swim meet
Canada scored 40 yards in 4:48.3,
with Australia second in 4:49 and
Britain third in 4:5O.3. Results in
the United States indicate that our
four leading naiads can do about
4:40 for the 400 meters over long
course, good enough time to give
Holland hard run for second laur-
els, but not to threaten remotely the
Danish quartet.
O Western Newspaper Union.