davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-10-23
Fire Insurance Costs Cut
On Housing Projects

Savings of more than 60 per cent
in fire insurance premiums on "A
former p. w. A. housing projects
now owned by the United States
Housing Authority, including Lang
ston Terrace in Washington. were
announced yesterday by Admins
traitor Nathan Straus.
The savings" Mr.. Straus said,
will range from 10 cents to about
IS cents per tenant family each
month. a large saving for families
Of very low income whose rent bill
may be only $12 to SIS per month"
Represented in the aggregate, the
reduction is from $l82, 900 to $69, ,795
In premiums for three years on the
A projects. In line with policy
aimed at the reduction of housing
costs, it was announced that similar
steps were being taken to assure
equally low insurance premiums on
U. S. H. A. projects now being built
by local housing authorities.
To the 274 tenant families at
Langston Terrace, the old insurance
costs averaged $240 per family unit
per year. Under the new range it
will average 81 cents.
The reductions in premiums were
obtained when the U. S. H. A. con-
vinced insurance companies that
public housing projects are better
fire risks than the average dwelling.
Evening star., 1939-10-23
okiio
CONTINUED From First Page.)

convinced the United States was
prepared to lay general embargo
against Japan unless quick agree
ment were reached.
Business and industrial circles eX-
pressed particular alarm over this
possibility. Recalling the great gain
in national income as result of the
World War, the great commercial
firms are preparing for a similar
boom now. They feel an embargo
would cripple or destroy this pro-
gram. since Japan leans heavily on
the United States for raw materials.
Before comforting with Mr.. Grew,
Foreign Minister Nomura was re-
ported to be planning conferences
with Premier Gen. Nobuyuki Abe
and War Minister Gen. Shunroku
Hata, seeking means of more rig
idly controlling the japanese Army
in China.
Treaty Expires January rs.
japanese fears of an American
embargo are based on the assump-
ton that no new Japanese -Ameri-
can commercial treaty will be nego-
tiated before the present treaty,
concluded in 1911, is terminated
January 26.
The United States Government on
July 26 gave six months notice of
the treaty's termination. japanese
leaders have expressed willingness
to make a substitute accord before
January 26. Some japanese have
interpreted the American denuncia-
ton as preliminary to more dras-
tic action. possibly an embargo on
trade with Japan.
Evening star., 1939-10-23
Community Patriotism
Uroed in Crisis

Trust in United States Govern
ment officials and patriotism in local
communities are important In the
world present unrest, Gratz E.
Dunkum, member of the Board of
Education, said yesterday at the
flag presentation ceremonies at the
PetWorth Branch Public Library,
Georgia and Kansas avenues NV.
The American and District of Co.
lumbia flags were presented to the
library jointly by the PetWorth Citi-
Zens' Association and the Petworth
Woman's Club. Miss Charlotte
Clarke, librarian, received the flags
from George w. Potter, president Of
Evening star., 1939-10-23
Union Veteran Dies

CHARLESTON, S. c., Oct. % LP-
Leonard Lorenzo Billings, 96, of
Sharon, Mass, a lieutenant in the
Union Army during its occupation
OF Charleston died at a hospital
yesterday while on his first visit
here since 1866.
Mr.. Billings for years had ex-
pressed a desire to revisit Charleston
and nearby towns in which he
served as provost marshal for time
in reconstruction days. He arrived
here two weeks ago, and became
i'll four days later.
Evening star., 1939-10-23
Dies Of Rure Disease

BALTIMORE, Oct. % R.-Haver-
hill fever, a rare disease recorded
only three times previously in the
United States, proved fatal yester-
day to Joseph L. OFarrell, West
minister, Nd, antique dealer. Ply
sicians said the fever possibly re-
suited from a rat bite. Mr.. OFarrell
had been ill about five weeks.
Evening star., 1939-10-23
Conviction Of bishon
In Hammer Staying
OF Wife Upheld
Itineront Carpenter
Had Fair Trial, U. S.
Appeals Court Rules

Edward B. Bishop, 36-year-old
itinerant carpenter and automobile
worker, must die in the electric
chair December for the hammer
murder OF his wife, the United
States Court Of Appeals ruled today.
The appellate court sustained a
District Court conviction OF first
degree murder and the upper tri-
bunal held the trial judges charge
to the jury and his instructions
were clear, complete and fair The
appellate court said "the conduct of
the trial was free from prejudicial
error"
Bishop had claimed he had been
drinking the day of the Staying, July
%, 1888, and that he did not re-
member what had happened. The
appeals court said voluntary in
toXication will not excuse murder,
but it may negative the ability of
the defendant to form the specific
intent to kill, or the deliberation and
premeditation necessary to consti-
tute first-degree murder, in which
event there is a reduction to second
degree murder"
The trial court was within its
privilege to refer to the killing as
shocking and brutal" the Appeals
Court ruled, adding that this did
not prejudice the defendants rights.
Representing the Government in
the appellate court were United
States Attorney David A. Pine and
Assistant United States Attorney
Cecil N. Heflin, the latter having
prosecuted the case in the trial
court.
The trial was held at Criminal
Court No. 2, before Justice Jesse
G. Adkins.
Bishop may seek review in the
Supreme Court on a petition for a
writ of certiorari.
Evening star., 1939-10-23

the association, and Mrs. Frank M.
Stuart, woman,s club head.
The Rev. Frank Steelman, pastor
Of Petworth Methodist Church, de-
livered the invocation and the Rev.
G. E. Hawthorne, pastor of the WAL
lace Memorial United Presbyterian
Church, gave the benediction.
Evening star., 1939-10-23
Fuirfux to Get First
Apartment BuiIdinq
Srecial Dispatch to The Star.

Erecjal Dispatch to The Star.
FAIRFAX, Oct. 23-The first build
ing permit for an apartment in Fair
fax County has been issued by Com
missioner of Revenue James U. Kin
cheloe.
Permit to construct a two-apart-
ment 10room brick house has been
granted to z. B. Groves of Falls
Church, it was stated at the COM
missioners Office. The apartment is
to be located in Groves subdivision
of Great Falls street, near the town
of Falls Church.
Evening star., 1939-10-23
PIT. A. Meets Tomorrow

The Taft Junior High School Par
ent-Teacher Association will meet
tomorrow at pm. Speakers in
clude Mrs. Margaret r. Merritt.
principal: Miss v. M. Parton, art
teacher; Mrs. l.. D. Cook, homemak-
ing teacher, and j. A. Collins, gym
instructor.
Evening star., 1939-10-23
Homeberqer to Speok

DR.. Ludwig M. Homeberger, for
mer vice president of the State
owned German National Railroad,
will address University of Mary
land students here Wednesday on
Germany and the Last World
War"
DR.. Homeberger's visit will be
sponsored by the university's In
Evening star., 1939-10-23

A Dutch motorist arriving in
Singapore, Malaga, recently said he
had travelled 100000 miles in search
Of happiness, but had not found it.
Evening star., 1939-07-18
Patents and Trusts

Keeping rather we'll within the
bounds of the moderation which has
marked its official conduct from
the beginning of its public hearings
some months ago, the so-called
Monopoly Committee has submitted
to Congress set of preliminary
recommendations fully worthy of
legislative consideration.
In brief, the committee asks modi-
fication of the patent system to per-
NIT speedier disposition of patent
claims, particularly controverted
ones, and to prevent misuse of the
system as an instrument of restric-
ton; and it asks revision of the Clay
ton Antitrust Act to prohibit COM
panieS from acquiring the assets as
we'll as the stock of competitors, with
enforcement of the statute being
vested more extensively in the civil
courts.
BY those familiar with the work
of the committee it will be recalled
that pertinent basis for all of these
recommendation has been laid in
the public hearings and in the record
OF the inquiry. Particularly con-
vincing, perhaps, were the early dis
closures of how interminable litiga-
ton and interferences in patent cases
have been destructive of competition
and discouraging to initiative. With
out the slightest hint of criticism of
administration of the patent laws, in
fact with full cooperation of the
Patent Office, the committee showed
clearly that revisions might profitably
and fairly be made.
At the same time, it was en-
phasized throughout, and should be
again, that the patent laws have
been of incalculable value to the
Nation and that no efforts at further
refinement should be permitted to
break down the sound foundations
of the system.
Findings bearing upon the anti
trust law and the need for revision
in the directions indicated have been
equally pointed, and a reading of the
record bearing on both these issues
would provide Congress with in
formation of real value in determin-
ing its legislative course.
In according qualified Endorsement
to the suggestions of the committee
it might well be noted that, in the
Judgment of many, amendment of
the statutes affected is neither the
complete nor most urgent duty which
Congress might perform to stimulate
our stalled economy. Such might be
OF help, however, and in turn con-
ducive to further correction of law
and Government policies.
Evening star., 1939-07-18
Good Retirement Bill

Inc House has turned out good
measure in the Ramspeck bill to
llberalize the Civil Service Retire
ment Act, embodying many progress
sive features that long have been
urged by employe organizations.
OF major Importance are the
provisions for optional retirement,
particularly that under which an
employe with fifteen years service
may retire at the age of sixty-two.
The survivor annuity plan which
allows an employe the privilege of
taking reduced annuity, so that at
death, payments may be continued
to a dependent, is another worth
while innovation.
Still another is the opportunity
offered employees to purchase addi-
tional annuities by making larger
contributions-up to ten per cent
from their salaries, and hailed as an
advance also is the proposed change
in the law which gives a worker an
annuitable status after five years
service.
To finance these added benefits,
the employe contribution is being
raised from three and one-half to five
per cent of annual salary, and the
Government probably will have to
add about a half million dollars to
the regular appropriation for the
fund In both instances, the addi-
tional cost is justified. The Gov
ernment's bill for civilian retirement
is running above eighty-five million
dollars annually now, but that is due
to the fact that for the first eight
years during which the law was op-
erative it was financed entirely from
the employees contributions, and the
fhnd is now being built up to an
actuarially sound basis.
In addition to the uberalizing tea-
Evening star., 1939-07-18
A Safe Course

The House subcommittee consid-
ering basic changes in the District
government adopted the only safe
course open to it when it decided to
postpone the local reorganization
bill until the next session, at the
same time giving municipal officials
until December to analyze it care
fully.
Congress, approaching the end of
q long session, had submitted to it
only recently a measure covering
more than one hundred pages and
proposing far-reaching alterations in
the machinery of city government.
Irrespective of the merits of the
plan, that was large order to pre-
sent to the House and Senate District
Committees, with only a few weeks
at most, in which to give it the atten-
tion it deserves. While it is true that
House hearings were held early in
the session on the underlying prin-
ciples of the plan, the pending bill
containing the specific changes was
not introduced until July 6.
Wise laWmaking requires that the
exact terms of bill be weighed as
carefully as the general principles on
which it is based The bill would
transfer broad ordinance making
and appropriating powers from Con-
gresS to the Board of Commissioners.
In turn, it would take from the
board administrative powers and vest
them in new city administrator, to
be interposed between the Commits
sioners and the fourteen consolidated
departments.
Without entering into a discussion
OF whether this setup would produce
a better government than the pres
ent one, it should be conceded that
the specifications Of such an organic
change call for deliberate rather
than hasty action.
In the short time they have had to
study the wording of the bill, the
Commissioners and their assistants
have decided substantial amendment
of the bill is advisable. Although
civic organizations had the original
reorganization survey at their dis
posal when the congressional session
began, most of these civic groups
have been in summer recess since the
final and detailed draft of the bill
became available
Under these circumstances, it is
difficult to see how Congress could
have given the measure the atten-
ton it deserves in the twilight hours
of this session. On the other hand,
by December both the Commission
ers and the civic groups will have
had time to present to Congress in
detail constructive recommendations
In any event, no harm can be done
by going along for six more months
under form of government that
has functioned for sixty-one years.
Evening star., 1939-07-18
MCKINLEY STREET.

Dear Sir:
Although we've lived in the suburbs
Of several Eastern cities, we have never
found the birds and squirrels to be as
numerous and friendly as they are here
on the outskirts OF the District.
1--WE have attempted to make our
yard and garden rendezvous with fair
success.
Recently, we've been saving and
scattering cantaloupe and watermelon
seeds.
'"The squirrels and cardinals have
been noticeably appreciative.
1T occurs to me that others might
not be aware that these seeds are ia
vorite fare. We have profted by the
suggestions cleaned from your column
and find it entertaining.
Cordially, w. S. E."
The National Capital has been noted
for many years for its great bird popu-
lation.
About 80 some years ago a national
bird census was taken.
Observers in all parts of the country,
under strict regulation, noted down
not only the species seen but also the
number of birds.
Chevy Chase, Md, was national WIN
ner, with more species and more birds
than any place in the United States.
The District of Columbia got the over
flow.
There were two great reasons for
this. In the first place, Rock Creek
Park was all along the eastern border,
as it is today.
In the second, the entire community
was largely unbuilt.
The latter condition has vanished, but
the former is still very much in force.
Rock Creek Park is one of the Nations
greatest bird sanctuaries The adjoin-
ing National Geological Park likewise
harbors thousands of birds. English
sparroWS eat freely in the lions cages,
a sight that is often overlooked, even
by persons who are fond of the songsters.
Mr. and Mrs. Leo do not mind them in
the least.
A third contributing factor toward a
large and happy bird population here
apouts is the presence of thousands of
trees, not only in Chevy Chase, but all
over Washington and in nearby Vir-
ginia.
Birds love trees.
That's trlte, true statement which
must never be forgotten by bird lovers.
There is nothing your average bird
likes better than tree, unless it is a
shrub, and especially an overgroWn one.
tree makes a bird feel at home,
but 1t most often selects a shrub for
nesting purposes.
Practically all the nests built in sub
urban gardens are in lilacs, pussy will
lows, forsythias and so on.
Evening star., 1939-07-18
Representative Collins

The Star hopes that Representa-
tive Collins of Mississippi will recon-
slider his plan to resign from chair
manship of the House Subcommittee
on District Appropriations. His serv-
ice in the past has given him a thor
ough knowledge of the municipal
government, the loss to Washington
of which would be unfortunate. De-
spite his own characterization of the
responsibility of the position as
worse than the itch," Mr.. Collins
has handled it efficiently and the
community as whole has benefited.
No appropriation bill could possibly
meet the approval of all the various
groups concerned with District appro-
priations. The Star, as one member
of the community, has frequently
differed with Mr.. Collins. But The
Star has never feared that to tell
him so would mean personal feud
or produce, on the part of the chair
man, any reprisal in the form of
vindictiveness or spite in his handling
of District appropriations. Mr.. Col
lins does not do his fighting that way.
Mr.. Collins owes primary allegiance
to the people of Mississippi, of course,
who sent him to Congress and who
will doubtless keep on sending him
back to Congress. But as too few
men in Congress are willing to do, he
has really met his share of RESPONSE
bility to the people of the District and
performed his tasks with genuine
interest and ability. It would be too
bad to lose him and The Star hopes
he will not leave.
Evening star., 1939-07-18
The Adjournment Disease

The drive to get Congress out of
the Washington trenches by August
! is under way. There are important
matters that demand attention.
matters that will fail of consideration
and action if Congress adjourns.
Amendment of the Neutrality Act, for
example, and amendment, too, of the
Wagner Labor Relations Act. The
administration favors the first and
Is opposed to the second If adjourn
ment is forced, as now appears
probable, by the disinclination of
members of Congress to remain
longer in the National Capital, the
administration at least will not have
lost everything.
Action on proposed changes in the
Neutrality Act, of vast Importance to
this country, might have been had
If the administration had not delayed,
for reasons it thought to be good,
Its recommendation until a short
time ago. If these recommendation
had been formulated and pressed
upon Congress in February, as they
might have been, the picture would
have been vastly different.
But there was tendency on the
part of the administration leaders to
let things slide during the winter
months. They were apparently con-
cerned more with preventing certain
amendments to New Deal laws-the
tax laws and the Labor Relations Act
among them-than they were inter-
ested in getting things accomplished.
They were not desirous, either, of
serious attempts to change the relief
system-principally the w. P. A.
One important problem, however,
the administration did concern itself
with-the problem of more adequate
national defense in a world that for
months has been on the verge of war.
President Roosevelt's recommended
tions for a greater air force than
has ever before been projected in
Evening star., 1939-07-18

this country, for strengthening the
Army and Navy, have been written
into law, fortunately. This is an
accomplishment which not only
makes for peace so far as the United
States is concerned, but which also
gives the aggressor nations In Eu-
rope and Asia pause when they con-
template what may happen in the
event of a worldwide conflict.
So Congress has decided to take a
holiday. A holiday of five months.
That is pretty long holiday, par
ticularly when. it is recalled that
the members of Congress are paid
year. round salary. A five months
vacation when there are matters of
real Importance awaiting action! A
five months holiday when much of
the early period OF the present ses-
sion was idled away!
The "isolationists" prefer to have
Congress adjourn noW-or as soon as
possible-rather than to take the
neutrality issue to a final showdown.
The administration, presumably,
would rather have Congress adjourn
than take up amendments to the
Labor Act-although one of the
greatest deterrents to business i'm
provement today is found in that act
and its administration.
1t looks, therefore, as though the
adjournment drive will be successful.
The administration may demand the
passage of the Presidents new lend
ing bill, although there are signs of
stiff fight to kill or to amend that
proposal in many particulars. Once
the adjournment virus has entered
the veins of Congress, however, the
disease comes quickly to a head.
Evening star., 1939-07-18
THIS AND THAT
By Charles r. TraceWell,

But above are the trees, holding out
every limb and branch for the birds to
perch on.
A city which has trees will have birds
not only the resident songsters, which
stay the year around, but the migrating
pirds which come to us from the South
IN the spring and pass through on their
way South again in the fall.
When their sharp eyes light upon Rock
Greek Park, and see all the far-flung
leafy borders of our avenues and streets
they must give birdy sigh of relief.
Cantaloupe seed were mentioned here
the other day as good bird food, espe-
cially for cardinals.
Watermelon seed is also good. The
birds crack them open in the middle,
splitting the shell cleanly, and eat the
inner portion, which contains the germ.
Seeds of these fruits, with sunflower
seed, make an adequate diet for cardi-
nals above all For some reason the
members of this species like the water
melon and cantaloupe seeds better than
do most of the other familiar birds
hereabouts.
All species like sunhower seed, which
makes them the most important seed
to be placed in any mixture, either for
summer or winter feeding
Squirrels like sunhower seed, none
better, but our observation is that the
cantaloupe seed is more intriguing to
them than tasty.
That is, they are willing to try it,
but usually do not stick to it, but 60
back to sunf1ower Seed if available
If you want to have some fun, put
out a rind of cantaloupe, with some of
the stringy portion hanging to it.
A squirrel, in its anxiety to get at
the new seed, will grab up in it's paws
plenty OF strings, and these will hang
down from his jaws as he eats the seeds,
making comical sight, indeed Squirrels
are great clowns anyway, and they seem
to enter into the spirit of cantaloupe
eating.
Summer feeding, along the same lines
crease the bird population in any garden,
we feel sure.
This is particularly true of nesting.
The parents like to be near a good food
supply, and will settle down where they
find it..
This means that every evening they
bring their fledglings to the yard
This suppertime parade is one of the
finest sights in all bird watching.
Oftentime two cardinal families, three
robin groups and two song sparrow
families may be seen at one time.
The young stay in the grass and the
parents fly to the feeder and back to
stuff bits down gaping bills. or lead the
fedgllngs on hunt for choice insects
They are getting them ready for the
big world.
Evening star., 1939-07-18
Consideration Asked for
Domestic Workers,

To the Editor of The Star:
Why are they making all this fuss be-
cause w. p. A. workers have to put in 100
hours month, for that is only about 80
hours week? And they are mostly men,
too. We women who work in private
homes have to put in from IL to Is hours
every day except for one or two half
days of each week, and neither Con-
gressmen nor union leaders have ever
cared anything about U.S. If Congress-
men were as humane as they pretend to
be they wouldn't treat us with such cruel
injustice. They have never done thing
to shorten our hours I think most of us
would be glad to see some of these highly
privileged classes work for their money as
we have to do
MARIA SCHUMACHER.
Cleveland, Ohio.
July IL.