davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-03-04
The New Fire Chief

The Commissioners have broken
away to some extent from tradition
in their selection of Battalion Chief
Stephen T. Porter as the new chief
engineer of the Fire Department, to
succeed the late Charles E. Schrom.
They passed over several capable
men who are older in years and in
service in the department.
Fortunately for the District, there
were number of wellqualified men
of high rank in the department
available for consideration. Chief
Porter, who is fifty-one years of age,
is relatively young for the position
in comparison with some of his i'm
mediate predecessors, who won COM
mendation for their leadership.
Nevertheless, Chief Porter is a vet
eran OF tWenty-seven years of service,
and worked his way up through the
ranks
The Commissioners are represented
as having been motivated by the fact
that modern f1re-fghting has be-
come more and more a matter Of
co-ordinating man power with scien-
tific apparatus and methods. Chief
Porter drew their attention by his
splendid record and the unusually
high efficiency rating, ninety-fve per
cent, which he has maintained since
1881.
The District Fire Department long
has been known for it's good record
and the desirable position Washing
ton has maintained as to fire losses.
There is every reason to believe the
choice of the Commissioners will aid
in bringing about still further i'm
provement. Chief Porter merits the
congratulations and cooperation of
eu
Evening star., 1939-03-04

clouds of threatened wars which are
darkening the face of the earth.
Elsewhere on earth candles also are
burning-around the collins of demo-
cratic governments that have per-
ished young in the frightful epidem-
les of totalitarianism and Com
munism which have spread over half
the earth. They throw a pale, sickly
light over the funereal surroundings.
In the dark rooms where they burn
there is only wailing.
The contrast inspires the depth Of
the sincerity with which we extend
greetings to our own legislative body
and express our hopes that this will
be only the first of a long succession
of one hundred and fiftieth birth
day anniversaries.
Evening star., 1939-03-04
Shooting Stors
By PHILANDER JOHNSON.

In the Distance.
What is boom?" asked the curious
child
"A BOOM said the parent, in accents
mild,
''Is sometimes gift to nations pet,
Sometimes a promise and sometimes a
threat;
A lucious fruit that men strive to reach,
Sometimes a lemon and sometimes a
peach;
Sometimes pleasure by toll procured,
Sometimes an illness to be endured
1t may have beginning most anywhere.
Sometimes tbs substance and sometimes
air;
1t may be an earthquake with mighty
roar;
1t may be voice and nothing more.
Often it gayly fits about,
Shines like the swamp light and then
goes out.
And many boom It's sad to find,
Exists alone in some hopeful mind"
Evening star., 1939-03-04
CHEVY CHASE, D. c.

OVdA oA4
II hesitate to write what might be an
interruption to the interesting debate
which has been running in your column
concerning the mockingbird (than which
there is no greater vocalist in all bird
land, fighter though he may be-, but !
wish to ask you question that 1t is
hoped will not be too much out Of order.
Have you, or any Of your readers,
ever seen a white-crowned sparrow in
this vicinity? The bird manuals state
his occurrence in the District OF Colum-
bia as being rare
Since this bird is closely related
species to the white-t -throated sparrow
my favorite bird-I have looked long to
catch a glimpse of him, but to no avail.
Il wonder if he is ever seen here by
others, and if so, whether he has the
same appealing bird personality, and the
same, oh, so plaintive, yet lovable, little
song as the common white-throat?
Sincerely yours, G. M. r."
May Thatcher Cooke in her Birds of
the Washington, D. c., Region" calls the
white crowned sparrow "a rare migrant" -"
Two birds seen here, one in Brookland in
January, 1901, and another on Park road
in February, 1922, are given as the only
definite winter records. They have been
noted here from late March to May %,
and in the fall from October / to No.
vember %.
White-crowned sparroWs are not as
infrequent as these records would indi-
cate, perhaps.
No doubt many of them come to our
local gardens, but liking to mingle with
their relatives, the white-throated spar
rows, they escape detection by any
watchers except the experts.
They are not as numerous, of course
as the white -throats, and especially are
never seen or heard as often as the beau
tiful song sparrow.
All of these are the top flight of SPAR
roWdom, possessing a certain daintiness,
both of appearance and song, which sets
them apart from their humble relative
the English sparrow.
Birds of America" says:
by careless observers this sparrow
(the white-crowned is often mistaken
for the white-throat, though the differ
ence IN the coloration of the two is very
marked
In the first place, the white crowned
lacks entirely the yellow patch before
the eye, the white stripe over the eye and
the white patch on the throat, all OF
which are conspicuous markings of the
white-throat's plumage.
Then, too, the white -throat's head is
much more nearly fiat on the crown
than is the white-crown's which is def
nitely dome shaped
1t is stated that the song of the white
crowned has something of the plaintive
quality of the white-t -throat's outpouring
Both birds osten cheep at night
Evening star., 1939-03-04

police, prosecutors and the courts
and because Of an aroused public
opinion. Recent developments in the
Warning case have not tended to re-
store the peace of mind of local
racketeers, either.
Reasoning that a similar formula
should prove effective on the Mary
land side of the District line, Mont
gomery County officials have moved
to strengthen the countys gambling
laws along lines of the District num-
bers act and meanwhile to tighten up
enforcement of present laws. One
bill provides heavy. penalties for
direct or indirect connection with the
racket, with possession of lottery
tickets or other gambling parapher-
MALTA defined as prima facie evidence
of guilt. A second bill would make it
crime for any one to play the
numbers. This is step farther than
Congress has been willing to go in
putting teeth in legislation for the
District.
Montgomery County deserves COM
mendation for these efforts to rid
itself of form of racketeering which
the Hines trial In New York and the
Warning case here have shown are
corrupting influences in any COM
munity. Neighboring Prince Georges
County, where at least one notorious
gambling operator has found haven,
and other areas near Washington
would do well to ponder carefully the
demonstrated potentialities for evil
bound up in the numbers game" +"
They will find, perhaps not wholly to
their surprise, that venal politics and
official corruption usually follow in
its Shiny path.
Evening star., 1939-03-04
MuryIund's Racket War

Montgomery County has served
notice on Washington's harassed
numbers racketeers that they are not
welcome within her borders. The
notice took the form of bills intro
duced in the Maryland Assembly to
authorize county authorities to pro-
ceed against several lottery syndi-
Gates which have established them
selves in Montgomery County in an
effort to escape the drastic District
of Columbia numbers law.
1t seems that at least four gangs
which formerly operated with i'm
punity in Washington have quietly
moved their headquarters across the
District line. They found things
growing too uncomfortable for them
in the District, not only because of
the more stringent numbers law but
because Of accelerated activity by
Evening star., 1939-03-04
Doctor Discusses Control
OF Gallinger Hospital.
tn the Editor nf The Star.


Our municipal hospital is again the
center of much discussion. This time
the Health Department is being raided
by the Georgetown and George Wash
ington Medical Schools, in an effort to
gain control of the staff at Gallinger.
What right have these private institu-
tions to take charge of our one public
hospital? The present setup under the
control of the Health Department is as
it should be. Some argument has been
advanced that more efficient care is
given patients in teaching institutions.
the truth. AS matter of fact, the treat
ment is inferior because attention is
divided between the patients welfare and
the instruction of students. Garfield
Hospital is second to none in this city
when it comes to serving the patient,
which, after all, is the prime function of
a hospital. Students and instructors do
not infest the wards to harass the pa
tients to death with their frequent bed
side clinics and examinations.
With all of our hospitals stated by
schools, what happens to the very great
majority of medicos who are actively
engaged in their work, but have no
faculty Affiliations? Are they not en-
titled to clinical experience to help them
maintain the high level of efficiency the
Health Department and general public
most desire? Is not the municipal hos
pital the only and proper place for these
doctors, who serve IS per cent of the
people of our city, to receive this valu-
able experience? Could Gallinger Hos
Evening star., 1939-03-04
Describes characteristics of
A Modern Messiah

To the Editor CT The. Star:
Recently we have listened to talks over
the radio by fabbis and others, OCCASION
ally we have heard speaker from pull
pits. and often remarks from people dur
ing private talks-all expressink. III one
way or another. the need at this time
for the appearance of some Superior
Being, divinely endowed-in other words
q Messiah. just few days ago I was
intensely interested in beautiful talk
by rabbi. 1t was indeed inspiring to
me, as a Je1esS, to hear the rabbi's S
hopeful and optimistic opinion TO the
effect that out of the present world chaos,
the knowledge of Messianic era is ap-
parent, and through Messiah the Jews
will be helped from their present op-
pressed and insecure position.
Please permit me to ask what is meant
by Messiaha Surely not one with only
human and intellectual powers and pre-
cepts. Must not the Messiah of today,
as in the past, be a Divine Prophet who
comes as a spiritual channel through
whom God transmits his purpose and
remedy?
'Abdul-Baha, the expounder of the
Bahai faith, was asked how we are to
recognize the Messiah when He comes.
He answered:
"As to the coming of the Great Mas
ter: His appearance is dependent upon
the realization of certain conditions
Investigate the reality, and in whomso-
ever those conditions are fulfilled, know
We of certainty that He is the Great
Master"
Bahais all over the world have found,
and continue to find, certain definite
and necessary attributes in BAHIA llah
who revealed His mission many years
ago. Bahais recognize Him as the
Prophet of this age, and they believe He
fulfills the promise of all the ages.
Bahaullah brought plan for a new
order of world peace and brotherhood.
ETHEL MOSS HUNT.
February IL.
Evening star., 1939-03-04
"Hoppy Birthday"

To the Congress of the United
States on this, its one hundred and
fiftieth birthday anniversary, may
we offer with the most heartfelt sim
cerity the customary many returns
OF the day."
It was frail infant, indeed, that
blustery March day in 1889 when ten
10 fifteen Senators and Representa-
tives - nobody knows exactly how
many-assembled in New Yorks City
Hall as the legislative body of a new
Nation. They were a powerless and
confused group. The new assembly
had been born into chill and hostile
world. It's chances OF survival were
none too bright.
It has passed now through a lusty
infancy and boyhood. 1t has lived
through it's childhood sicknesses, it's
boyish quarrels, it's sulking, its spank
ings. Now, let us earnestly hope, it is
emerging into brilliant young man
hood, rather than into a premature
middle age, in which there will be
abundant fulfillment of all the bright
promises cleaned from it's past be-
havior. And may it enjoy very, very
long, honorable and prosperous life
In the world.
There are one hundred and fifty
candles lighted for Congress today
each candle nodded from the wax of
a year of its history and burning with
the clear, pure flame of democracy.
May they throw a light which will
dispel altogether the gloom caused by
the black shadows Of the storm
Evening star., 1939-03-04
Proposes Changes in
Amber Light Timing.
To IT,, Edito- of The Star:

To IT,. Edito- of The Star:
With view to assisting in the forma-
ton of an efficient control of all trs1fc
and pedestrians at street intersections,
I am wr.ing you and hope that if my
suggestion below has merit, it will come
to the attention of the proper authol-
ties.
propose that the amber light be ex-
posed on all semaphares in changes
from red to green as well as from green
to red as at present, and that the length
of exposure of the amber light be regu-
lated separately for each intersection
SO that generous time (by tesU will be
given elderly people, who Necessarily
move more slowly than younger ones, to
cross the street in the longest direction
if start is made when the amber light
comes on.
Pedestrians should be compelled by
ordinance to cross at intersections only,
in either direction and during the ex-
posure only of the amber light.
This proposal will mean that pedes-
trians caught between sidewalks by the
green or red light will have to be given
the same consideration. as most motor
lists give them now, but it will mean that
if pedestrian moves promptly in ethel
direction on time, he will not ke endan-
gered by concentrating traffic.
This plan, I believe viii speed the
movement of pedestrians due to the non
interference of corner turning traffic and
it will speed traffic because corner turn
ing traffic can more quickly get out OF
the way of straight-moving traffic be-
cause of non-interference of the pedes-
trian in the highway.
hope the above, offers new and
helpful thought.
CHARLES NJ ANDREWS.
February %.
Evening star., 1939-03-04
A Pope of Peace

AS was 10 De expected from the
ecclesiastical dignitary elevated by
the College of Cardinals to the ex-
alted station of the Vicar Of
Christ" Pope Plus XII devotes his
maiden pontiflcal public utterance
to worldwide plea for peace. With
in twenty-four hours of his election,
the Holy Father broadcast to the en-
tire Christian universe a special
prayer, "in these troublesome and
difficult hours" for those who guide
the destinies of nations.
1t is in no new role, except as to
his lately acquired rank, that the
former papal secretary of state ap-
peals for peace among nations,
through mutual, brotherly assistance,
friendly collaboration and cordial
understanding for the superior in
terests of the great human family
under the watchfulness and protec-
tion of Divine Providence" 1t is
familiar language that Plus XII
enunciates, for, as exemplar and
spokesman of his predecessor in the
Holy See, Cardinal Pacelli consist
emily and persistently raised his voice
for the same ideals he yesterday
espoused from the Sistine Chapel.
Because the Pope of Rome is the
spiritual head and leader of nearly
400,000,0O0 Christians who people
every land on earth, he necessarily
has great international influence.
Because, too, of the clash of ideolo-
gies which today menaces world
peace, the Pope's attitude toward
Communism and totalitarianism is
a factor of pre- eminent magnitude.
AS Vatican City's director of foreign
affairs, Cardinal Pacelli, voicing the
views of Plus XII, never left Red
Moscow, Nazi Berlin or Fascist Rome
in slightest doubt of his uncompro-
missing disagreement with the con-
cepts of pagan racialism, with the
deification of the state, and with the
ruthless suppression of the rights of
conscience, which Hitlerism in par
ticular typifies 1t was with compre-
hensible resentment that the Nazi
envoy to the papal court had the
hardihood on the eve of the election
OF new Pope, to herald the Reich's
objections to the choice of the cardi-
nal who incurred German hostility
because he condemned in devastating
terms the sophistries and barbarities
combined in the totalitarian phil
osophy.
Throughout democratic Europe
in France, Great Britain, Switzer-
land, Belgium, Holland, Scandinavia
and even in Central and Southeast
ern Europe, the identity and ideals
OF Plus XII are welcomed as harbin-
gers of conciliation and good will.
Some OF these nations have the ad-
vantage which the American people
enjoy, of having met the new Pope
face to face. Like ourselves, they
have cleaned from his benign per-
sonality, his enlightened liberalism
and his radiantly human qualities
that the priest whom a great church
acclaims as the successor of st. Peter
succeeds worthily to the august office
to which he has been called.
Evening star., 1939-03-04
Pedestrians "Club"
Approved Again.
To the Editor of The Star.

AZ Vie EultoT "a Inc SJdT.
Green Light Walker" your editorial
correspondent of February %, deserves
rank as present-day Bill Nye. He pos
sesses rich sense of humor.
Being in the minority-a pedestrian,
join whole -heartedly with him in his
CLUB" idea, or any solidified medium
which will guarantee practical punish
ment for non-considerate motorists.
For special nomination is the car
operator who, at the turn of the tratf1c
signal. has to start his machine instantly,
forcing the street-crossing pedestrian to
hop, skip and jump for safety.
Come on, devotees of the sole-the
more the merrier-let's have clubs" to
fight for the right to cross public thor
oughfares with serenity, security ana
personal comfort.
LOUIS v. WOULFE.
Biloxi, Miss.
February 26.
Evening star., 1939-03-04

Heath Department and the men and
women of medicine who do the bulk of
the work in the homes of our citizens?
I hope that our Commissioners will
stand firmly for complete control of GAL
linger by the. Health Department. in
order thai. finer service can be rendered
the thousands. of patients who must go
there and closer. and more cordial rela-
tionship established between the medi-
cal profession at large and our health
authorities
C. HERBERT MAPsHALL M. D., I'd.
February %.
Evening star., 1939-03-04
Lee Boulevard Zoninx
Editorial Commended.

AS president of the Lee Highway Asso-
citation and being closely affiliated with
DR.. Johnston, president of the Lee Boule-
ward Association, I thoroughly approve
of your editorial entitled Lee Boulevard
Zoning."
The objective of the Lee Boulevard
Association was to have road coming
into Washington that would not be made
q business boulevard, and I thoroughly
indorse your editorial.
ARTHUR CLARENDON SMITH,
President Lee Highway Association.
March z,
Evening star., 1939-03-04
Toxing and Spending

The alleged wisdom of Solomon
would be most helpful today to those
who seek to shape policy of spend
ing and of taxing for our Govern
ment.
Administration spokesmen, sud-
denly and commercially concerned
over the effect of public fiscal poll
cies on business, have made series
OF pronouncementS On the tax out
look, each going beyond the other.
Leaving for his Southern cruise,
President Roosevelt said business
need not worry about the danger of
new taxes. Some five days later Secre~
tary of Treasury Morgenthau declared
formally that no new taxes are con-
templated. Subsequently, by a mat
ter of hours, Secretary of Commerce
Hopkins suggested that levies found
to be freezing free flow of capital
should be amended. Yesterday, the
chairmen of the House and Senate
Tax Committees echoed the sugges-
ton for revision of levies oppressive
to business and pledged their full CO.
operation in any such effort.
All of this, of course, is encourag-
Ing to those who appreciate at first
hand how certain features of our ex-
tsting tax structure have had re-
pressive effect on the business activ-
ity so ardently desired by all. If
action is to follow it can be assured
of wide support.
But in the background are certain
pertinent and complicating circum-
stances.
The national debt was only few
dollars short of 100000 900 when
March came in like lamb. Spending
plans and commitments, balanced
against estimated revenues, made it
extremely likely that the end of the
fiscal year would find this debt we'll
over $4,000, 100000 and a longer
range view indicated it might pass
s45,000, 100000 comparatively early in
the next fiscal year.
To permit this, the statutory limit
Of the Federal debt, now fixed at
S45, 900, 100000, must be raised.
Some have suggested sudden and
drastic economy as an alternative
From practical standpoint, econ
omy does not seem a full and COM
plete answer. Arbitrary reductions
Of all appropriations on a percentage
basis, as proposed by some, is an un-
reasoning manner of deciding what
things should be done and what
should not. And whatever reduction
might be justified in certain specific
expenditures probably would not
prove adequate to combat the
problem.
1t seems, then, that with a rea-
sonable economy there must be COM
bined debt reduction, either through
greater tax revenues or imitation
Certainly every possible influence
should be brought to bear to prevent
the latter. For the former, the best
prospect seems to lie in a broadened
individual income tax or a general
sales tax, plus the helpful effects of
an improved national income which
might result from removal of some of
the present repressive levies.
Evening star., 1939-03-04
Resemblance.

"They call the lion the king of beasts" !"
said the student.
YES" answered the teacher.
"Yet the book says that in actual fight
ing lions are often cutters"
well, so are some kings"
Evening star., 1939-03-04
Cautious.

"Is he what you would call states
MANI"
Your question is not clear" answered
the vitriolic debater. What would call
statesman depends entirely on who the
statesman is
Evening star., 1939-03-04
Says Uncle Eben.

OF co'se its mighty pesterin'
To see de weather go
So suddenly from fair an warm
To rain sn' maybe snow.
But If dar want no climate
To keep us all in doubt,
What would a lot O. people do
Fob things to talk about?
Evening star., 1939-03-04
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles z. TraceUeH.

Maybe you have heard these little
notes and have wondered what they were.
The mockingbird, of course, is the
greatest Of all night singers In this
vicinity
After the weather turns warm for
keeps-the lilacs think it has already,
let us hope they are right-the mocking-
bird waits for real moonlight night.
Then he sings softly, no two notes
ever the same. This concert is not rare,
but neither does it come often here
abouts. One cannot hear it if a radio
Is running.
SIXTEENTH STREET.
Dear Sir:
For years I have enjoyed your COL
umn. and especially when you were using
your fine style in painting word pictures
Of natural wonders. Recently it contained
some rather caustic remarks by contribu-
tors with reference to the Objectionable
characteristics of mockingbirds in the
District of Columbia.
"One contributor stated that a lone
mocklngbird had driven all the other
birds in the neighborhood away. It
seems odd to me that under any circum-
stances single bird, of average size, not
a bird Of prey, is so fierce tnat other
birds Immediately retire from the scene,
especially with food distributed for all.
What bird!
However this may be, under the cir
cumstances one would assume a lack of
courage on the part of the other birds.
Sincerely, j. w. D., 3d."
ARLINGTON, VA.
Dear Sir:
Verify the mockingbird is upstage in
your interesting column these days and
mostly for his alleged misbehavior!
sympathy for his apparent victims
may be overly intense these bleak times,
but who will remember when, in moon
drenched summer night, his song land
1t is his own song) pours forth from tip
top Of apple tree or Virginia juniper or
even convenient telephone pole or CHM
ney pot? In any event, he is not
all bad, or, if so. he confines his evil
ooAA6o W tAlOoC O1 lllS OWll SlLS, OF 1dTReT.
why does he go to a neighbors lawn
In spring to nest and serenade them day
and night? Answer, catbirds. They
take possession of the plum about the
time the lilacs bloom and from then to
October they won't tolerate him.
Yours for better and more Knockers,
Sincerely, E. E. A."
y r
Mockingbird, song sparrow, white
throated sparrow, hite-crowned SPAR
row
These are few Of the interesting
beautiful singers which the person inter-
ested in birds makes his familiar &C
quaintances.
In them he has companions whose
every move and note excite and hold his
! continued interest