davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Choosing the Best

If the debate over reorganization
of the municipal government is to
develop into fight over whose plan
is worse, with incidental argument
over which plan is best, there will
be plenty of dust but a minimum of
progress toward shaping reorganiza-
ton legislation.
In advocating their own plan Of
municipal government reorganiza-
ton the Commissioners have criti-
cized several features of the Griffen-
hagen plan. In defending the
Gritfenhagen plan against this criti-
cism Representative Kennedy has
ascribed selfish motives to the
municipal officials.
Sound procedure in the interest of
changes in the municipal govern
ment structure would be to consider
all plans without prejudice and to
select from them the features which,
translated into proper legislation,
seem best and most acceptable to
Congress and to citizens of Wash
ington.
The fundamental change In the
plan proposed by the municipal off,
cials over the Griffenhagen plan is
retention of the present commission
form Of government, the Board of
Commissioners to be assisted by an
administrator The Griffenhagen
plan would abolish the commission
form, but one source of skepticism
by local citizens has been the uncer-
tainty over how the substitute city
council and the municipal adminis-
traitor, or city manager, would be
selected. Until this point is made
clear, citizens whose constructive
comment is sought cannot speak
with any authority for the simple
but very effective reason that they
do not know what they are talking
about. AS long as such uncertainty
prevails, many citizens will argue,
with the municipal officials, for re-
tention Of the commission form Of
government with such changes as
appear desirable.
Evening star., 1939-03-10
THIS, AND THAT
By Charles E. Trace1pell.

Mrs. N Of the 1900 block Of 1ngle-
side terrace NV. and Mrs. B. of the
800 block Of Twenty-third street NV
have never met, but they have arranged
a meeting.
1t Is all because Mrs. N lost a pet
English sparrow and Mrs. B found it, but
Mrs. B didn't know that Mrs. N
had lost 1t, nor did Mrs. N know that
Mrs. B. had found 1t. Until
Well, here's the way 1t was. The bird
simply new out of the 1ngleside terrace
home that warm afternoon, disappearing
among flock of sparrows feeding In
the yard.
Mrs. N adopted the sparrow III
North Dakota swo years ago, later
bringing it to Washington, where it lived
in her s.2me, without benefit of cage,
going outdoors in summer, but always
returning in the evening.
~ ~
This time Tommy didn't come back.
Mrs. N didn't despair. Once be-
fore he had flown away and had been
discovered sitting on . school child s
shoulder
She left the window open day and
night and kept on searching the neigh
borhood for friendly sparrow, but it
was no 60, as the expression has it.
In this dilemma she called this COL
umn, in which has appeared considerable
material about birds.
Would Tommy come back? Would
he survive?
An Affirmative answer was given.
~
Four days later Mrs. N called up
to say that Tommy had returned"
An article to this effect appear ed here.
The next morning Mrs. B called
up.
She was properly excited, as well she
might be-, for she had, evidently, been
hostess to the missing bird for all the
time he was gone.
The moment she read about it in the
paper she was sure 1t had been Tommy
she had found almost frozen, that cold
morning after the sudden drop In tenn
perature.
Nursing the bird back to health. she
had found it intensely friendly.
One OF its traits was to perch ia
miliarly on peoples shoulders.
The moment she had read about
that
4 =
On the afternoon of the fourth dav
the sparrow had seemed restless. flying
against the window from inside.
So she decided to give it freedom, al
though all the family hated to see the
little fellow CO.
"Good-by," they all cried, as the little
bird flew up over the trees and disap-
peared.
Now she had read in the paper how
an English sparrow had been lost and
had returned. and she was sure it was
the same bird they had nursed back IN
health.
Everything she said checked with
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Neutrality on the SPOT

Neutrality legislation is definitely
on the spot as Congress prepares to
consider its repeal, extension or
amendment on approach Of the date
for expiration of the "cash-and-
carry" provision.
FroWned upon, in its present form,
by the President and growing body
In and out of Congress, the present
law is already the target for bitter
attack, its only defenders being the
mandatory neutrality bloc which
rallies around Senator Nye to pre-
vent recurrence of events which, he
insists, drew the United States into
the World War.
If the United States, following the
opportunities of President, Secretary
of State and long line of official
and unofficial advisers, is going to
play an influential role in world
problems, throwing it's weight into
the balance against war and the re-
sulting danger that we would be
drawn into the conflict, neutrality
legislation such as we now have Is
not only obstructive but positively
injurious to American interests.
Such legislation should be preserved
only if amended so as to permit the
President, alone or in conjunction
with Congress, to withhold from
aggressors, or nations at war in vio-
lation of treaties with the United
States, all kinds of American re-
sources which strengthen them to
continue their illegal conflict.
In the absence of such a change to
put the United States definitely on
the side of law and order, the Neu-
trality Act would best be repealed
and the conduct of foreign relations,
including the maintenance of neu-
trality in time of conflict, be left in
the hands of the President.
Four bills on the subject of neu-
trality have been introduced in the
Senate so far Senator Lewis pro-
poses repeal of the act and substitu-
tion for it of a declaration that this
country's policy in time OF war is
neutrality, leaving to the President
the means of putting it into effect.
Senator Kings resolution proposes
simple repeal. Senator Nye has pre-
sented a resolution to forbid export
OF arms to any nation at any time,
peace or war. Senator Thomas Joint
resolution seeks to amend the law
to bring 1t into accord with President
Roosevelt's purpose of withholding
sinews of war from aggressors.
Disposition in some quarters of
Congress to evade the responsibility
for settling the country's foreign pol
Icy by action on neutrality, because
OF the political dynamite involved, is
deplorable. Such an attitude is as
dangerous to American peace as
permanent entangling alliances.
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Wants Old District Deeds
For National Negro Library.

DR.. w. J. Thompkins Recorder of
Deeds OF the District of Columbia. has
announced in the press that the files of
his ONCE are crowded with l 500 600 land
deeds which he holds subject to the order
OF the present owners. These deeds. DR..
Thompkins says, are Of great historical
value as throwing light upon the his
torical development of Washington.
These deeds extend from the BEGIN
ming OF the government, in 1892, to the
present time. Prior to 1862. slavery
existed in the District of Columbia
which at first included cessions from
both Maryland and Virginia. Most of
these deeds necessarily involve the pur-
chase, sale, and transfer of slaves.
1 wonder If some feasible plan might
not be devised by means of which these
documents bearing upon the institution
OF slavery might not find their wav into
the National Negro Library and Museum
at Howard University. Here they would
form an invaluable storehouse of source
material bearing upon the history OF
slavery IN the National Capital, and
would be available to research scholars
interested in this important field of So
cial inquiry. The National Negro Library
and Museum hopes to collect as expe-
ditlously as possible all available public
documents bearing upon race relations
now scattered through various bureaus
OF the Government. There is no material
/ can think of more essential to the
success OF this undertaking than these
human documents which portray the
intimate workings Of slavery in the
National Capital.
March 7. KELLY M1rIrR
Evening star., 1939-03-10

The more far-sighted merchants of
Arlington realize that the Lee Boule-
ward and other projects of the Fed
eral Bureau of Public Roads have done
lar more to create customers for them
tnan anything done by small, selfish
interests. The tremendous growth of
nearby Virginia is due mainly to its ease
OF access to Washington. Destroy that
ease OF access and the County Board
Will md prospective home owners from
washington we'll willing to locate instead
IN nearby Maryland.
Fortunately, the democratic procesSas
ultimately must prevail in Arlington as
well as elsewhere in this country, and a
well-wisher of the county can only hone
too much damage has not been done
before the electorate has an opportunity
to voice its feelings at the polls.
mafch o. P. w.. F..
Evening star., 1939-03-10

British plan, with its prospective per-
manent condemnation Of the Zion
lists to minority role, Is entirely
comprehensive, even making allow
ance for Britain's imperial necessi-
ties and the urgency of not alien
ating her vast Moslem community
in the East
In light Of the unrelieved gravity
OF the refugee situation in Central
Europe, it will be a calamity for the
Jewish victims Of oppression if the
British plan, which is about to be i'm
posed, blasts the hopes of Israel in
this hour of It's supreme tragedy.
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Britain Cuts the Knot

When the Palestine Conference
convened in London last month. the
British government warned both
Arabs and Jews that If they proved
incapable of composing their differ
ences, Britain would cut the Gordian
knot by imposing her own final
plan" for control of the Holy Land.
The impasse has been reached.
The Chamberlain cabinet, taking
formal cognizance of the confer
ence's breakdown, has Informed the
Arab and Jewish delegates that the
British plan will be submitted next
week. They must take it or leave it.
London, patience exhausted, will
brook mo major changes" in the
Forthcoming program.
Details remain a matter of sur
mise, but the solution" is expected
to provide for an Arab state in Pales-
tine, with Jews constituting a per-
manent minority. At present there
are 100000 Arabs and 100000 Jews
in the country. Since their inflltra-
tion under the Zionist movement,
the Jews, though in numerical in
feriority, have achieved undeniable
economic superiority. Palestinian
national well being today is admit
tedly their creation.
But the Holy Lands moderniza-
ton, industrially and agriculturally,
has been matched by a rising tide
OF unrest due to irreconcilable Arab
hostility to Jewish immigration and
Arab fears that, If this were not
checked, Jewish political domination
would be inevitable. That is the
alpha and omega of situation,
which has been marked since 1896
by incessant strife, often bordering
on civil war, as the Arabs offered
armed resistance to the forces of the
British mandatory power.
Britain has found herself on the
horns OF progressively more insol-
uble dilemma as she sought to live
up to her obligations under the Bal
four declaration and at the same
time not offend Arab susceptibilities.
The British government, too, has rec
ognized the established interest of
the United States in Zionist aspira-
tions and has been reluctant to
adjust the Palestine problem in any
manner which would offend either
the American Government or Amer
ican Jews, who have contributed so
substantially to the fruition of the
national home ideal.
Jewish resentment of the proposed
Evening star., 1939-03-10

Tommy's disappearance and triumphant
return.
The bird apparently has flown from
the vicinity Of the Zoo to the Twenty
third street neighborhood, remained
there four days and when released had
flown straight as an arrow back to the
1ngleside terrace address.
That is why Mrs N and Mrs
B are arranging a get-together, at
which Tommy, the English sparrow, will
be the guest of honor.
IL Is not often that people who lose
q pet animal Of any kind, and then get
1t back, ever know where the creature
wandered.
Dogs and cats disappear in this way,
sometimes never to come back sometimes
10 appear again, but the owners never
know where they had been. Always
thereafter 1t is great matter for specu-
iatlon and talk. Suppose Bozo was 10
miles away. Oh no, he probably wasn't
more than few blocks away all the time.
ihen why did he stay away so long?
Well, think he must
And so 1t goes
In the case of Tommy, the English
sparrow, we have an authenticated case.
ana know almost to a block where he
went.
Why did he go South?
Ihe answer, we believe, is plain.
He followed Rock Creek.
Ar currents there would attract a
nlrd on the wing, on the wing for the
nrst time in his life.
It had been grand sprinplike dav
when he took his little fling at freedom
NO doubt he flew Immediately to the
Zoo, and wandered around there happily,
at last losing his bearings.
IN trying to get back, probably he lust
flew along the bed of the creek, droppinp
ooWn every now and then to sample
wild food.
When night overlook him, he was far
down in the city.
he may have come out at the K Street
Bridge. and from there it was lust y
step to the 900 block of Twenty-third
street.
Cold and disillusioned, as any house.
bred sparrow might have beer after
such a night of it, he struggled to some
mousse and was forced to the sidewalk.
where he was seen by another bird lover,
fortunately for him.
- Il
1t is easy to believe that after he got
back on his feet, and felt all right again.
ne became restless, longing for the place
that always had been home to him.
he got his bearings, as it were, and.
once out, shot into the air and straight
over the homes and trees to his Ingleside
terrace home.
NO homing pigeon went straiehter
than Tommy did that afternoon. we are
convinced. 1t is an epic of the air which
is unsurpassed in all the history of Eng
lish sparrows.
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Reorganization

The new Government reorganiza-
ton bill is far less Objectionable
measure than the one that died in
the last Congress, which explains
why 1t passed the House with a safe
majority despite the reduction in
Democratic ranks since the 1898
bill was defeated.
1t contains no threat to the BIZ
partisan Civil Service Commission,
nor to preservation of an independ-
ent controller generals office. It
also leaves in Congress the oppor-
tun1ty to stop presidential regroup-
Ing plan If both Houses are against it.
The main issue in the bill, as it
awaits Senate action, is whether the
Presidents orders should take effect
automatically unless disapproved
within sixty days, as proposed by
the House, or require definite ap-
proval OF Congress before they could
be carried out, as embodied in the
Byrd substitute.
Offhand, the difference between
making the congressional veto
negative or an affirmative action may
not seem vital, since both proposals
would limit debate to prevent fill
busters. Yet, there are important
differences the Senate should weigh
carefully, and no doubt will, be-
fore 1t acts.
First, the House limitations on
debate are rather drastic-twenty
minutes in committee on a motion
to force out the resolution to dis
approve presidential plan (Which
motion could be made after ten days.,
and ten hours of debate on the floor.
Under the Byrd bill it would not be
necessary for the resolution of ap-
proval to go to committee, but in
each branch twenty days of discus
sion would be allowed to precede
the vote.
If the President should submit a
far-reaching order, consolidating
many bureaus, the time allowed by
the House bill would seem Inadequate
to develop fully the merits or de-
merits of the proposal.
With 435 members, the House must
limit debate in order to function.
Down through the years, however,
unlimited, or at least liberal, Senate
debate has been regarded as a safe
guard against hasty or ill-consid-
cred legislation.
AS to the basic aim of reorganiza-
ton, to bring together agencies
whose work can be co-ordinated,
there is virtually no disagreement
in Congress.
While reorganization is directed at
both economy and efficiency, it Is
Evening star., 1939-03-10
The Hotel Strike

The promptness with which both
sides in the current hotel labor con-
troversy accepted an invitation of
the Labor Department to discuss a
possible settlement of the strike
which has affected thirteen local ho-
tells for several days is a distinctly
hopeful sign. J. R. Steelman, director
OF conciliation of the department,
moreover, sounded a note of official
optimism when he announced the
departments firm belief that fur
ther joint conferences between the
disputants may not be unavailing."
The walkout of employees and
picketing of hotels is the outgrowth
OF demands Of the Hotel and Res
taurant International Alliance for
union shop" agreement, under which
all hotel employees would be required
to join the union. The hotel man.
ayers want to maintain a "preferen-
tial shop" under which plan they
would call on the union for employees,
but would reserve the right to hire
non-union workers il they thought
1t desirable. They oppose any re-
quirement that present non-union
workers be compelled to join union.
The hotels also have declined to
agree to review by the union of
any dismissal action directed against
an employe.
The merits of these issues now can
be discussed fairly and frankly in an
atmosphere of official calm, thanks
to the Intervention of the Federal
conciliators. In such an atmosphere
1t is possible to resolve issues and
solve problems that otherwise might
appear to be insurmountable bar
riers to peace.
AS Mr.. Steelman pointed out in his
telegram to the opposing groups, the
strike has become a matter of con-
siderable public interest. While, for
tunately, there has been no serious
disorders, the general public has been
inconvenienced. Many prominent
patrons of Washington hotels, in
cluding Government officials, have
been confronted with the necessity
OF passing through picket lines in
order to enter or leave their places
OF residence. A large banquet at
which President Roosevelt was to
have been guest of honor tomorrow
night has been Cancelled. Other
meetings and social functions have
felt the effect of the strike. 1t is in
the public interest that every effort
be made by participants in the con-
ciliation conference to bring about
a quick return to normal conditions
in the Capitals hotel industry.
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Wants Immediate
Tax Revision. 4.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Actions speak louder than words and
unless immediate steps are taken to re-
duce taxation the geese that were laying
the golden industrial eggs will shortly
expire. And Harry Hopkins recent
friendly gesture to business will prove
meaningless. Moreover, until Messrs,
Roosevelt and Hopkins abandon the TN
sound theory that I'VE must spend In
order to save" the tides of commercial
confidence will continue to recede.
Taxation is the only thing holding
everything back" writes Alfred E. Smith,
"The industries of this country are not
going 70 pour their money into enter
prises that take out most of their money
in taxes. Outside Of an insane asylum,
I have never met any one who would
put up 500 to win $10-and that's what
1t amounts to now. = = If you win it's
all right, but II you lose all you get is
cheers for the red, white and blue"
March 3. Elk. GOLDSBOROUGH.
Evening star., 1939-03-10

safe to predict that If the pending
regrouping plan becomes law, its
chief accomplishment will relate to
efficiency. Some savings undoubtedly
would result from eliminating over
tapping, but they are likely to be
insignificant when compared to the
total budgets Of recent years, under
the spending program.
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Discusses Background Of
Lee Boulevard Dispute.

~ ue GoltoT OF Inc Star:
May commend your policy of giving
full publicity to the present controversy
over the rezoning to business use of a
portion OF Lee Boulevard by the Arline-
ton County Va) Board, and also point
out few considerations which I believe
have been more or less overlooked by
both sides.
! I believe none will dispute the fact that
the Lee Boulevard was planned and
financed by Federal and State funds to
provide speedy access over a beautiful
parkway to the Nations Capital for
all of Northern Virginia and tourists
from the West and South It was never
intended to be merely local highway
for the exclusive use Of Arlington resi-"
dents.
The County Board understood this
condition thoroughly and tacitly acknowl-
edged 1t when the members .zoced for
residential use the property along the
boulevard in August, 1887. The argu-
ment that failure to rezone property on
the boulevard to permit construction of
a hotel amounts to connscation Of the
property seems to lose validity when It
is realized that the belief the boulevard
was to remain residential was thoroughly
understood long befo-e the present owner
allegedly acquired title.
The argument that the "gent,emans
agreement with the Federal Govern
ment should be broken because a hotel
would provide the county with about
$500" annually in taxes, particularly
seems to lack merit in that the county
has already proflted in tax revenue from
construction directly resulting from the
boulevard to an amount many times
greater than could be realized from a
dozen hotels in the hitherto restricted
area.
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Corroborates Statement Of
John Charles Thomas.

Although the published statement Of
John Charles Thomas, that he sang
God save the state" and not the king,
at the Capitol exercises Saturday, needs
no corroboration, it seems appropriate
Tor some one of the doubtless great ma
jority who heard him say state" to come
forth and so declare.
listened attentively to the anthem
ana as he approached the end Won
dered what the last word would be, and
although the last note is low one, the
word state was quite clear.
March 5, g. W.. q,
Evening star., 1939-03-10

The rattan palm" is a tough sea-
weed growing off the coast Of Cali
fornia and sometimes reaches the
incredible length of 900 feet. Why
does not the Government harvest a
crop and use it as red tape?
Evening star., 1939-03-10

The Census Bureau has a snappy
new question for 1910: Where were
you ten years ago and what were
you doing?" Well, wherever we were,
none of us were listening to those
speeches beginning my Friends"
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Says Uncle Eben.
Poor little fishes

says uncle EDen.
Poor little fishes
Swimmin' in de stream
Don know muffin tall about
De sunshine's warmin' gleam.
Dey can't hear de robbin
A singin' in de tree;
Dem pore little fishes
Mus be lonesome as kin be.
How kin I keep workin'
'Roun' de house all-day
Known dat dem critters
Is sufferin' dat-a-way.
Gwinter do my duty,
Std O. hangin' 'roun' about,
Gwinter get . hook an line
An help dem fishes outl
Evening star., 1939-03-10

A tick can fast for five years, SCI
entists have demonstrated, and still
retain unimpaired its power to
spread relapsing fever. The Demo-
Gratis could do the same thing after
a fast lasting twelve wears.
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Rate by Mail-Payable In Advance
All Other st,te. and c.nad.
Member of the Associated Press

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to it or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein
All rights of publication of special dispatches
herein also are reserved.
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Shooting Stors
BY PH1LANDER JOHNSON.

The Long Road.
From far away through the wood so still
Comes the sobbing note of the whip
poorwill;
The moon that rises so cold and white
Stares at the world with look of fright,
And the trees In the shadows toss and
moan
When you're trudging the weary way
alone.
Another time, what a friendly note
Has the whippoorwill with the tireless
throat!
The moon has jolly face and round,
AS jolly face as could be found,
And the sigh of the wood is a TRANQUIL
song
1t some one with you is trudging along
Evening star., 1939-03-10
First Family.

what" inquired the frivolous person,
was Adams last name?"
II don't know" answered the circus
man. Judging from his fine collection
OF animals in the Garden of Eden, 1t
might have been Forepaugh"
Evening star., 1939-03-10
Letters to The Star

Letters to the Editor must
oedr the name and address of
tne 1cr1ter, although the use OF
a pSeudonym for publication is
permissible. Please be brletI