davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Calls for More Equitable
System of Taxation,

To the Editor Of The Star:
1t was ABOUT so years ago that a noted
American philosopher, observing the
tendency toward unjust legislation, ut
tered these prophetic words: Unless its
foundations be laid in justice, the social
structure cannot stand, Since then
unjust legislation and unjust methods of
government have steadily increased so
that at the present time every large
nation is either actively engaged in war
or is impoverishing its people by expen-
slve preparations for war. The pity of
the whole matter rests in the fact that
abundant prosperity might be enjoyed
in every country if the simple demands
of justice. were recognized and satisfied.
The primary wrong has been imperial
ism, the subjugation of one people for
the enrichment or the glory of nation
that Is more powerful. Before our own
good name can become untarnished, we
must relinquish all title to Colonial pos
sessions; this must then be followed by
the abolition of all special privileges,
including tariff protection and subsidies
to agriculture granted at Washington,
and the substitution Of a system of tax
alton which penalties neither capital nor
labor. The single tax will do 1t.
HENRY WARE ALLEN.
Wichita, Kans.
January 30.
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Economy Test

Congressional economy advocates,
criticized by the President for re-
ducing farm appropriations and
threatened with possible drive for
liberalized pensions for veterans and
their dependents, are facing criti-
cal test during the next few weeks.
The major trial will come when
the Senate begins consideration of
the farm bill, at which time there
will be determined effort to restore
cuts made by the House in the budget
recommendations and an effort to
add some $212,OOO 900 for parity pay
ments to farmers
Unfortunately, the Senate is more
vulnerable to farm pressure than the
House, and in past years economies
made by the latter have been over
ridden in the upper branch of the
National Legislature. This year the
House, undoubtedly influenced by an
increasing public appreciation of the
perils inherent in chronic Federal
deficits, has shown more determina-
ton in welding the pairing knife,
but greater measure of public sup
port will have to be forthcoming if
the progress which has been made
is not to be lost when the spending
drive gathers momentum.
There is no escaping the simple
fact that it is easier for Congressman
to spend than to save-particularly
when an election is at hand and they
are not under the immediate neces-
sity of raising enough revenue to
match their generosity. This danger
Gus but politically beneficial trend
has gone unchecked for seven years,
and it will not be reversed now un-
less the public demand for such
action is articulate and strong.
There is urgent need at this time
for prompt and vigorous expression
from all advocates of economy, and
the more directly their sentiments
are brought home to their congress
sional representatives the better will
be the chance of placing an effective
brake on governmental extravaganza.
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Capitals Shore Line

While much of Washington's water
front is devoted to park and recrea-
tional purposes, areas upon which
such tremendous progress has been
made during the past sixteen years,
attention is called to a most impor-
tant feature of the city's river facili-
ties by the suggestion of the Com
mittee of One Hundred on the Fed
eral City that comprehensive sur
vey be made by Army engineers to
provide co-ordinated development
plan for the next decade.
At present the rapid progress be-
ing made on the new airport and on
the yacht basin facilities along Maine
avenue furnish a definite glimpse
of this feature of the Capital of the
future. Nearing completion is the
second years program east of the
Municipal Wharf, and within COM
paratively short time modern land
ing facilities will be provided for the
steamship lines. Other projects OF
the Committee of One Hundred
which will near realization within a
few years include the continuation
of land acquisitions for the George
Washington Memorial parkway and
the completion of the development
of the sections of Anacostia Park
which straddle the Eastern Branch.
But, although man shall not live
by bread alone" there is one serious,
practical problem concerning the
water front which should be def
nitely settled within the life of the
current program of the committee.
This relates to the necessary indus
trial development of a part of the
rivers shores It is natural that the
section bordering the channel near
est the heart of the city and opposite
East Potomac Park should be devoted
primarily to pleasure and passenger
traffic To do this, however, means
the ultimate removal of the penal
and freight Wharves to other areas.
NSoA 5SOo"4l OilO4C 1AllO OCioW my
Bridge is filled to capacity, and
the only remaining accessible indus
trial strip is in the vicinity Of Buz-
yards Point.
For several years the Board of
Trade has sought means to provide
a suitable development which would
enhance values and provide city-wide
advantages. It's plans have met with
strong opposition from certain groups
of citizens. Although the need is ad-
mitted by all, dispute over details is
at a stalemate. The only hope for
proper solution lies in the suggestion
for survey which will furnish firm
basis for civic study leading to the
adoption of a sound and comprehen-
sive program having the interests of
the whole community as it's guide.
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Preface to Spring

Who, seeing only summers trees, could
know
Their beauty, yielded to the wind and
snow?
Who, seeing them replete with bloom
could guess
So strange austerity Of loveliness,
A beauty wrought in hlagree design
BY branches drained of color, sharp in
Some trees, in three parts spreading from
the bole,
Are like to mana spirit, mind and soul.
In trunk and branch and in the twigs
I see
Father and Son and Spirit-Trinity.
Stripped Of all living leaf and fruit, all
bare
The very entity itself is there.
Only the softly falling snow may veil,
Only the setting sun with lacquer pale
May dip the curving bough in molten
gold,
Preface to spring in winters barren cold.
n sOPHRON1A FULLERA
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Discusses Need
For Sales Tax Legislation.

10 lHe EultOE Oh ne otdr.
The Supreme Courts decision grant,
ing the City of New York the right to
levy taxes on imports into that city not
only placed judicial approval upon the
practice, but probably will aid in making
the excise tax or sales tax permanent
institution in the national economy.
Sales taxes, you will recall, were i'm
posed upon the people of most commu-
mites as mere temporary expedients. to
relieve some then current grave need
such as unemployment relief, ETC. Now
1t is becoming more evident that this
form of taxation is here to stay because
the fiscal problems of government and
the need for revenue are increasing
rather than diminishing.
With the introduction of this form of
taxation into the various communities
1t became necessary for the States to
create media for its payment, which
have taken the form of scrip and
medley of tokens. 1t is obvious that this
is an infringement by the States on
the powers Of Congress "to coin money,
regulate the value thereof, and of for
eign coin, and fix the standard of
weights and measures" For there can
be no doubt that the tokens or scrip
function as money. are so valued, and
are so regarded by the people in the
States. There is only one important
exception and that is that the scrip or
tokens of one State are not inter-
changeable or valuable In another.
Is it conceivable that such a simple
thing has escaped all the "constitu-
tionalists" in Congress? Hardly. But
one can only Judge the situation by the
results, which thus far have not pro-
duced single bill to correct an evi-
dent evil. Not only is such law i'm
perative under the Constitution, but 1t
will meet specific need, for it will
enable the buying public to pay / and
2 per cent taxes, as the laws of the
States specify, instead of the 10 and 20
per cent which they sometimes mean in
practice. Moreover, tokens will then
become interchangeable in the various
States.
Since there is a need for coins to
facilitate the payment of this type of
taxation as well as equalize the taxation
between very small and other purchases,
the cent should be divided into its con-
stituent mills, which should be coined,
and perhaps at the same time the Treas
ury will find a use for the silver that is
now somewhere reposing in the ground.
CLARENCE A. BROWN.
February 2.
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Orchestra Drive Cancelled

The annual campaign for sub
Scriptions to sustain the National
Symphony Orchestra was scheduled
to be started today. Instead, the
drive has been called off. The Board
of Directors of the orchestra asso-
citation, it was announced on Sat-
day, has decided not to attempt to
raise the sum demanded by the
Musicians Protective Union. Players
in the orchestra, organized for COL
lective bargaining as they are, in
sisted upon "a season four weeks
longer than the present one and also
ten dollars more per week per man."
The cost of operating the orchestra
enterprise would have been increased
by f1fty-four thousand dollars had
these requirements been accepted.
Efforts to arrange compromise hav-
ing failed, the collapse of ''the
premier musical institution of the
Nations Capital" appears to be in
evitable. The orchestra will give the
concerts already announced through
the middle of April and then dis
band-"unless some unforeseen cir
cumstance turns up in the mean
time"
Washington music lovers, natural
ly, are disappointed at the news.
They have supported the orchestra
generously and Loyalty for nine years
past, and they were willing to con-
tinue to support it to the limit Of
their resources are limited In 1899
they could give only one hundred and
five thousand dollars. To the musi-
clans union that may have seemed
too small sum; to those who solicit
ed the money, however. it was a
large amount.
Certainly, no one questions the
right of the players to seek longer
employment and wage increases.
Neither can the right of the orchestra
association to cancel the campaign
be challenged. What is deplored by
the public is the fact that the differ
ences between the two bodies cannot
by adjusted. The attitude of the
association, as an outsider views it,
has been more reasonable than that
of the union. 1t has been the choice
of the latter to imperil the existence
of the orchestra rather than yield,
to sacrifice the employment they
have had rather than compromise
their present demands.
Evening star., 1940-02-05
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trncewell.

Perhaps many persons who have
heard the starling's song at Its best
never suspected in the least that it
came from the syrinx Of this particular
bird, but attributed 1t to many a more
colorful species.
Sometimes these same notes are ut
tered, in abbreviated FORM at other
times Of the year. n
A correspondent wants to know what
was that song Of two notes" he heard
the other morning, just at daybreak.
1t awakened him, 1t was so loud and
clear. There is some chance that it
might have been startling, tuning up
for the spring. Despite the snow and
bitter cold, the birds know that spring
Is only around the corner.
1t might have been a purple finch,
come to think. of it. A few of these are
around, and they, too, have clear, sweet
notes.
1t might have been some migrating
bird, forced out Of the Southland ahead
OF time by the excessive cold there.
Truly one must feel sorry for the mi
grating birds, in such topsy- -turvy sea-
son as this. They must not know which
way to go.
The pleasure which the humble STAR
ling can give an observer is quite as
much as any other and rarer bird can
give, provided the watcher is really in
terested.
Nothing quite takes the place Of in
terest, in this world
With interest, the humblest man alive
takes on aspects of true royalty.
With interest, the sometimes despised
bird assumes fair feathers, at least in
the eyes of those who look because they
find something interesting in him.
There is an old saying, "You don't
get any more out of anything than you
put into it."
Surely this applies to bird observation.
The person who is determined to find
something interesting in everything
that happens at the feeding station, who
does not take sides, but welcomes one
and ALL is bound to get more out of this
combined indoor outdoor sport.
Starlings and English sparrows, grac-
kles, pigeons-yes, we might wish they
would stay away, but come they will,
led by the universal urge of hunger.
Here We have three really interesting
birds, and one bird villain-the grackle-
but each one imbued with life, and in
teresting as all life is.
1t is a pleasure to watch the birds,
If you find pleasure in the watching.
Any symptoms of hate will mar it. Do
not hate, in your garden A little hate
may be necessary, elsewhere, now and
then, but 1t should not be admitted to
the garden.
Evening star., 1940-02-05

he does not want delegations pledged
to him.
Nothing that the President has so
far said indicates in any way that
he will not impose upon himself the
same measure of self-restraint as
Washington, Jefferson, Jackson and
other illustrious predecessors. In
deed, many believe that he will
observe the third-term tradition,
even those who now proclaim their
willingness to renominate him.
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Wichita, Kans.
January 30.
Welcomes Proposal to
Watch Motorists.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
In your edition of January 30, Robert
Ralston has an excellent scheme for
curbing jay drivers-an organization of
secret police. The howl that I'm sure
would arise from the motorists, if such
spy" system were inaugurated, would
prove the need for it.
In my case, it has reached the point
where distrust all motorists because Of
the large percentage of drivers who seem
to look upon pedestrians as merely worms
to be brushed aside so as not to delay
their lordly progress.
Now, I know that there are lots Of
considerate drivers, for meet them oc-
casionally, but 1t is a case of some casting
suspicion on all, so that it's necessary to
examine the whole lot and Gull out the
bad ones. GREEN LIGHT WALKER.
January 81. n
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Free Trade

At union agricultural meeting in
Worcester, Mass, a practical example
was given of what happens in the
case of free trade on a hundred per
cent barter basis, with the addition
of a few typically German details.
A Mr. John Hamlet exhibited a pack
rat from the Black Hills of South Da-
kota which takes watches, buttons
and other small objects. and later
returns with goods in exchange,
usually pine cones or twigs, in
variably getting the better of the
bargain. Mr.. Hamlet, strong ad-
vocate of protection, admits having
lost three watches in that fashion,
and believes there is something rot
ten in South Dakota.
The pack rats disagree completely.
They insist that they must have a
place in the Dakota sunshine, and
assert their inalienable right to
maintain it by trade. They pooh
pooh the notion that their exchange
products are inferior, and resent
fiercely any attempts to blockade
their one-way commerce. They in
sist that their neighbors take what
they offer, either with or without
liking it, and not be surprised If a
new ratio is established between
pine cones and gold watches. The
Prime Minister of South Dakota as
sures the world that his State will
win out eventually, and that it will
not be necessary for neighboring
States to give up their neutrality and
come in on his side.
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Suggests Fund Campaign
For Finnish Aid.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
One OF your correspondents made an
excellent suggestion regarding aid for
Finland, namely, that as large q number
OF people as possible donate days wages
to that worthy and gallant country. If
q national campaign were carried on
q great sum could be realized. From the
tone Of its editorials, The Star evidently
wants to help. It is In touch with pub
licity agencies and could do a great
thing by heading the campaign. Con-
gress. obviously, will do nothing worth
while. Anyway, gift would be ever 50
much better than q loan. In any large
scale movement, my days wage will be
forthcoming whenever wanted.
February 4. w. L. McATEE.
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Honest observers Of bird life find
much to admire In the startling, no

Honest observers Of bird life find
much to admire in the starting, no
doubt about 1t.
Consider the following, from q cor
respondent living in the deep city:
Dear Sir: live In two-room, bath
and kitchenette apartment and have
all the longings for birds and flowers
and the small beasts Of the woods and
fields that a city dweller and country
lover usually has.
And I am sure that there is no one
in Washington who has greater liking
for the despised starting.
ITO me they are little clowns, very
versatile and entertaining.
This morning when the snow was
deep cleared my third-foor window
sill and placed upon 1t row Of sliced
bread.
I'm a short time I was amazed and
delighted to see the sill full Of my little
clowns, greeding, cheating, and best of
all fighting over their breakfast.
II like the little starlings,
And give them scraps to eat,
But they are greedy darlings,
And I often see them cheat.
"It's fun to feed the starlings
And watch them as they eat:
The horrid little starlings
Know no better than to cheat.
II like to feed the starlings.
On snowy morning bright,
But they are fussy darlings
And I often see them fight.
IT like the naughty starlings,
Though I see them fight and cheat:
They are such funny darlings
They may have my crumbs to eat"
Sincerely yours, E. Y. c."
And here's another one who finds this
bird interesting and intelligent:
Dear Sir: 1t interests me so much I
thought I'd write you.
II have been watching, from my living
room window, starlings perch on the tin
gutter to our shed and catch the drip
ping melted snow as 1t runs off the roof
into their bills.
How is that?
THE sparrows see bathe and drink
in the gutter, too. While the snow is
on the ground. 1t is a pleasure to see
them. I always read your column
Very truly, B. p"
X
Starlings are scarcely "darlings," of
course. One may suspect that our cor
respondent used that word because it
rhymed so nicely with the name of the
songster. Yes. the sometimes despised
startling is songster, too. Any one who
doubts it has never heard this bird s
spring song, when its low, f1utelike notes
blend SO well with the greening land
scape
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Correspondent Urges Prompt
Help for Finland.
To the Editor Of The Star

10 Inc Gultof Oh Inc StAf:
Finland! Is she not the keystone in
the arch of Christian civilization in the
chaos of the world of today? That beau-
tiful world of such limitless opportuni-
ties and such infinite possibilities-alas,
so rapidly reverting to the jungle! II
Finland goes, all goes, and we turn the
clock back to the Dark Ages-those ter
rible years of mans spiritual and phys
ical enslavement. We cannot so break
faith with our children as to burden
them with such heritage. Will not
the newspapers of America conduct q
Nationwide campaign to procure for
Finland the money and credit which she
must have for military supplies and
men? Her hour of need is nowl Clean,
honorable, courageous. sublime little
Finland-America salutes her! Let US
give her help before 1t is too late.
January 2s. MRS. J. D.
Evening star., 1940-02-05

The American Dental Association
proposes a scheme of tooth insur-
ance" for children. Could a young
ster collect If he lost a couple Of i'm
portant items right at the beginning
of the corn-on -the-cob season?
Evening star., 1940-02-05

If shippers will heed warnings from
both German and American sources,
they will not be able to use that old
excuse, IT zigged when should have
ragged" ....7
Evening star., 1940-02-05

policy of the future, declared: "The
highest ideal that I can look forward
to in the future of my country is that
the time may come when we may be
admitted into the American union as
States in one great federation"
January %. F.F.
Evening star., 1940-02-05

A Dutch physician claims he was
summoned to Moscow to examine
ten "Stalins" who all looked alike,
and two of whom had high blood
pressure. Seems to be another case
of a lot of guys named "Joe."
Evening star., 1940-02-05

General Marshall, chief Of staff,
says that our Army is just under
twenty-five per cent ready for i'm
mediate action. For peacetime, is
not that about a top record for this
country?
Evening star., 1940-02-05

=. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
All tights of ton of special dispatches
herein also are reserved.
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the Urtter. although the use OF
a pSeudonym for publication is
permissible. Please be brief!
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Member of the Associated Press

Entered as second-class matter post ONCE.
Washington. D. c.
Evening star., 1940-02-05
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.

Bsy Bsy o5la s1S sunday VI sssoS mo- 81 go
Sunday only-------1 yr.. $500: l mo-, SOC
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-20
Livestock Rate Parity
Heorinq Is Continued

ATLANTA, July 19.-R-South,
ern representatives seeking rate
parity in livestock hauling arranged
to send 3. L. Hart of the Atlanta
freight bureau to the witness stand
today as an Interstate Commerce
commission hearing continued.
ICC examiners, who opened the
hearing Monday, were told yester.
day by Harry L. Sparks of East st.
Louis, ILL.,, that he could ship hogs
to Bangor, Maine, a distance of 1,40C
miles, cheaper than to Tampa, Fla,
1000 miles away.
The witness who asserted he of
fered his testimony because of COM
plants he had received on high rates
in the South, declared that the cost
has caused hogs to be trucked as
far as Tuscaloosa, Ala, from his
home town.
Another witness, Thomas T. Tray
wick, president of the Orangeburg
S. c., County Cooperative Livestock
association, said that since the frs
of the year much livestock from
that section had been moved cas-
by truck because of prevailing
freight rates.
He said he would rather bu!
western livestock but as a result O.
freight rates, he purchased stool
from Alabama.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-20
HARRISON TELLS
OF DEFENSE PLAN
Training Will Be Offered
Business And Profess
sional Men

RALEIGH, July 19.-P-Col. J.
w. HARRISON, civilian aide in North
Carolina to the secretary of war,
said today that the Military Train
ing Camps association had recon-
mended a series of. voluntary, spe-
cial military courses for professional
and business men during September.
HARRISON, dean of administration
of N. c. State. college, had just re-
turned from a meeting of the asso
citation in Washington.
The courses would be offered at
regular army posts where Citizens
Military Training camps for young
recruits are now under way, and
would likely include Fort Bragg,
Harrison said. The government
would pay expenses including trails.
portation.
One such course is now being Of
fered at Fort Mcpherson, Ga, but
the volunteers are paying their own
expenses. Federal agencies are max
ing "a great deal of progress in
speeding the national defense pro
gram, HARRISON reported.
The association is sponsoring the
Burke Wadsworth bill calling for
compulsory military training through
%selective service, HARRISON asid.
THE major item now seems to be
trained men," he commented.