davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-03-14
THIS AND THAT.
BY Charles r. Trace,pell.


year. Now there are lots Of other things
I'd Like to write about to you regarding
birds, gardens and flowers. They are all
80 wonderful and beautiful and to those
interested seem to make us all kin, but
Z fear 70 bore you and this Is already
much longer than intended.
II am truly, E. L. M.
"P. S.-Would some time like to write
you my experience with the mocking-
BIRDS"
Come to think OF 1t, we can't recall that
we ever saw . cardinal taking q bath,
either!
1t Is one Of those things you never stop
to think about until some one happens
to call your attention to 1t.
Did you ever see q cardinal take q
bath?
Be falr, now.
If you just can't see him doing 1t,
the chances are that you never did.
This wouldn't necessarily mean that
cardinals do not take baths.
They may be shy bathers.
Robins and jays and sparrows splash
around in the public eye, but cardinals
may be somewhat timid, when it comes
to the daily bath.
They may 60 away to the woods, to
that famous "ole swimmin' hole" and
there wet their pretty feathers to their
rapid little hearts content.
X X Il
How fast the movements of all birds
are!
How their hearts must beat!
Most of them, undoubtedly, Jove to use
regular bird bath.
The only sorts they dislike are those
too deep, and those without water in
them The latter is, alas, all too common
in summertime.
Champion bathers of the bird world
are the starlings.
People who decry this clumsy bird
will have to think twice before they
brand it "a dirty bird" as many do,
because it really must be among the
best, if cleanliness is, indeed, akin to
godliness. Martin Luther, by the way,
was responsible for that phrase. It
isn't in the Bible.
4 X +
Let us assure the little girl mentioned
in our correspondents letter that the
redbird is not dirty bird.
We have seen them at very close
range, few feet, hundreds of times,
and feel quite confident that their
feathers are as clean as any birds.
The question is, how do they manage
it?
Is it water bath. a dirt bath, or how
or what?
This column does not doubt the cor
respondent who told Of giving cardinal
q shower. Nothing is palmer, in bird
observation, that not all of us see the
same birds in exactly the same way. 1t
is this eternal variation which makes
this sport so perennially interesting.
Evening star., 1940-03-14
Allied Plane Purchases

Disclosure that an allied purchas-
ing commission is seeking priority for
French and British orders at Amer
lean plane factories and is endeavor-
Ing to secure governmental approval
for release to the allies of certain
new types of Army and Navy planes
has stirred up a keen controversy
among legislative and departmental
leaders concerned with the shaping
of national defense policies. The
situation apparently was discussed at
White House conference yesterday
and special inquiry has been
launched by a subcommittee of the
House Committee on Military Affairs.
In the background of the agita-
ton is a strong difference of opinion
between administration officials and
some members of Congress over how
far the United States should go in
giving to France and Great Britain
the realistic aid which President
Roosevelt has advocated The isola-
tionists fear that continued CO.
operation with the French and
British in their quest for planes and
munitions of American manufacture
might Involve" us in the European
war. The administration, with the
backing OF a preponderant public
opinion, has discounted these vague
fears and has rendered effective,
although necessarily limited, assist
ance to allied purchasing agents. In
line with this policy the new Curtiss
P-4O pursuit plane, capable of max
ing four hundred miles an hour; the
P-39 pursuit ship, designed to mount
a small cannon, and other new types
have been released to France and
England
Since our interests, as democracy,
naturally lie with the European
democracies in their war to prevent
the spread of totalitarian aggression,
it is only logical that we should let
them buy, for cash, the war supplies
which they need to carry on their
worthwhile battle. To hold that
Germany would declare war on the
United States for permitting such
sales is absurd in the extreme. It is
just as fantastic as the argument
that an unrestricted loan to Finland
would have dragged us into that ILL
starred conflict, or that harbor i'm
provements at Guam would start
Japan on the rampage in the Pacific.
OF course, care should be taken to
see that our military and naval
secrets are guarded properly, lest
they fall into the hands of possible
future enemies. And foreign pur-
chases should not be allowed to
delay our own preparations for Sc
curity in a turbulent world. AS
matter Of fact, the allied orders
undoubtedly will benefit our plane
industry by speeding up production
methods-and the tests which our
planes receive under fire in Europe
could not be duplicated here.
Evening star., 1940-03-14
O'Mahoney Employment Plan
Draws Criticism.
To the Editor OF The ST.

To the Editor Of The Star:
OF all the wild and revolutionary
schemes SO frequently proposed, one of
the worst is that just attributed by the
Associated Press to Senator OMahoney,
Democrat, of Wyoming. who suggests that
Congress attack the unemployment prob
lem by taxing employers who make more
than average use of machine power, and
paying bonus to those who use greater
ratio of man power.
1t does not seem possible that the
Senator can have considered carefully
the many ramifications of such a pro-
posal or that he has consulted all the
business and other interests that would
be most affected. Moreover, to succeed
in enacting such a measure, he would
have to overthrow the theory, which
has been pretty well established, that
the introduction of labor-saving ma
chimes results ultimately in greatly in
creasing employment.
It has been characteristic of the New
Deal theorists in Congress and in the
administration, to advance proposals Of
this alarming character at the most
critical periods. The great urge now
is to increase private employment. Un-
less arbitrary, socialistic or communistic
governmental power Is used, increased
private employment can come only by
creating confidence in the minds of the
people who have the moneyed resources
to provide the various ways by which
such employment may be increased.
Surely this proposal Is likely to increase
the timidity and uncertainty of capital
and to discourage desirable new business
ventures, or the enlargement of existing
ones.
Another great urge, to promote which
the Government is expecting to spend
vast sums, Is that for promoting military
defense Of the country. Surely the
Senator cannot have considered the
probably disastrous consequences the
effectuation Of his proposal would have
on the Governments efforts in this di-
rection.
It is just another Of the many schemes
which have the effect Of robbing Peter
to pay Paul, of transferring money from
one pocket to another, Of further intimi-
dating capital and OF increasing the
apprehension of the flood OF such pro-
posals that would follow q third term
for the New Deal.
The New Deal has tried, Or proposed,
nearly every way Of solving the country's
present economic probl6iG1 except mlx-
cling It's radicals and theorists and free
Evening star., 1940-03-14
Use Of Public Buildings
Police Suggested.

To the Editor Of The star: = ,s..t
With crime so fragrant in our Nations
Capital, wonder If it wouldn't be pos
sible and good policy to utilize the
special police of our public buildings. /
feel that they could and would do
measure of good.
Would it not be possible for the Metro
politan Police Department to request
that these men (of whom I understand
there are approximately, 9OO carry their
badges and revolvers on their persons
as do the metropolitan police, "a hours
day, particularly to and from work?
These men are a high type, their
force being made up Of ex-service men,
retired Army men and men taken from
the prison guard register of the Civil
Service Commission. These guards are
all familiar with the caution and use of
firearms and would constitute a very
worthwhile supplement to our metro
politan department. A CITIZEN.
March H.
Evening star., 1940-03-14
Protests Dismissal
OF Procurement Workers.


Passage of the Ramspeck bill will be
OF very little assistance to hundreds of
employees being dismissed from Procure
ment Division of the Treasury Depart
ment, and from P. w. A. The current
layoffs place us in an anomalous posi-
ton in relation the bill If our notice
period and leave expire before the
agency with which we have worked is
brought under civil service by execu-
tive order, we will not be included. If
we join another agency and are not
there exactly six months before it be-
comes civil service; or, if we find
temporary civil service positions, we will,
again, be outside the scope of the bill.
The time element which involves not
only passage of the bill, but the Presi-
dents confirmation of each agency
creates harassing' situation. We must
decide whether to remain as long as
notice and leave will permit with the
old agency. hoping that it may be in
cluded before we are off the pay roll;
or whether to try Immediately for a
position with another agency, and take
chance on being able to complete the
required six-months' period.
A large proportion of us in the Pro-
curement Division have had from two to
four or five years service with the Gov
ernment as. undoubtedly, have similar
group Of employees in P. w. A. Failure
to receive status under the Ramspeck
hill uyny,1d ho inc
IT these years of service are applied
toward our civil service status, they
would mean for some of us the attain
ment of the security afforded by REIN
statement status; for others, advance
ment toward this goal. They would,
also. be applied toward old-age pension,
and would increase job-seeking op-
portunities with those bureaus now
under civil service.
The loss of these values is based not
on merit, but on sheer chance. En-
Dloyes with so many years OF service
surely deserve greater consideration than
this. 1t was necessary for us to pass
examinations to be hired by the non
civil service agencies, and, furthermore,
those OF us who were not good workers
could not have survived the budget
cuts and the annual appointment
systems which have characterized the
relief agencies. Cannot something be
done to assure us Of fairer treatment
than we are now receiving under such
uncertain conditions, to give us the ad-
vantage and security we deserve?
Those employees, also. who are from
States over their quotas even though re-
tanning their positions, encounter
situation just as unfair. The time to
have considered the quota issue was In
first hiring them. Now that they have
given their service to the Government
over period Of years, have they not as
much right to security as others?
PROCUREMENT ENPL.oYE.
March Il.
Evening star., 1940-03-14

ing business from all trammels and re-
straints not absolutely necessary to Sc
cure honesty and fair play.
Why not try this before 1t is too late?
HENRY A. HAYWARD,
Jacksonville, Fla.
March II.
Evening star., 1940-03-14

4, 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 end also the local news published herein.
Al, rights Of publica ton Of special dispatches
herein also are reserved
Evening star., 1940-03-14
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the iDrtter although the use OF
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. Please be brtef!
Evening star., 1940-03-14
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered as second -class matter post ONCE,
washington. D. c.
Evening star., 1940-03-14

true composition was established by
Saussure Q80D and by Gay-Lussac
u815). Later Williamson explained .ts
formation and chemical constitution.
9. How many tons of coal per dav
are burned at the Government central
heating plant in Washington, D. or
w. I. H.
"A. The number of tons of coal burned
each day In the central heating plant
IN Washington, D. c., varies widely with
the weather. However, 1t may be said
that from 120 to 730 tons are used daily.
To date 1872 is the greatest amount used
in one day.
@. Please give the address of some
member of Henry w. Longfellow,s
family.-L. M.
A. The poets grandson, Professor
H. w. L. Dana. may be addressed at 10Sl
Brattle street. Cambridge. Mass.
@. Where was the first fireproofI
building in the United States?-J. M. 81
A. The first building OF fireproofl
construction was erected in 1929 on|
Meeting street in Charleston, s. G.
@. How many towns In the United
States are named Chicago?-E. r.
A. Chicago, H., is the only place of|
that name listed In the United States
Postal Guide.
G. Did Col. Charles Lindbergh's father|
have any children by his first wife7-|
g. r.
A. Charles Augustus Lindbergh hadI
three children by his first wife, Mary
Lafond. vi
@. Are coffee blossoms fragrant?-~|
M. H.
A. They have fragrance similar to|
thst Of white honeysuckls, but ts5I
swsetsr. ~
Evening star., 1940-05-11
Eme''e,e'i'eyi!nospilis'!!!''. i ]
Expanded Services; 7
During Last Year
Chority Work Amounts
To About 500, 900;
Budget in Block

Expansion Of Emergency Hospital
services during the last year Is re.
vealed in the annual report Of hos
pital ofacials. More than SO 900 days
Of service were furnished to bed
ridden patients and both dispensary
and emergency room treatments In
creased over those in 1898.
Supt. B. B. Sandidge stated that
greater proportion Of this service
was given without cost to needy
suferers-amounting to about $780,.
600 for charity work. There were
3,675 ambulance trips, 1904 emer-
gency room visits and 26,150 dis
pensary patients. The social serv-
ice department cared for 4,348
cases.
Mr.. Sandidge reported that despite
the expansion of regular and chari-
table work the hospitals budget
ended in the black. Mrs. Myrtle
Larson, director Of the social serv-
ice department, declared, however,
that in spite OF the institutions re-
sources "the needs are greater than
we are able to take care of. More
money is needed for X-rays, lenses
and orthopedic appliances for the
older patients"
The year was closed, she said, mot
with SNUG satisfaction with what
has been done, but with a conviction
that while other nations are at war
the battle we are fighting is toward
peace"
Evening star., 1940-05-11
Sweeney Libel Case Put OH
Until After Primary
BY the Associated Press.


ELYRIA, Ohio, May 11.-Repre-
sentative Martin L. Sweeney, Demo-
crat, of Ohio was successful today in
efforts to escape making a deposit
ton in his $3.50 900 libel suit against
the Elyria Chronicle Telegram until
after Tuesdays primary.
I'VE are not making any further
effort to take his deposition before
the primary" said r. H. Rice, attor-
ney for the newspaper, but Wen
pursue the matter thereafter"
Mr.. Sweeney sued the Chronicle
Telegram and nearly 10 other news
papers as result of publication of
a Washington column which he con-
tends accused him Of racial preju-
dice.
He halted through injunction a
scheduled Cleveland deposition April
%. He said his presence in Congress
was a paramount duty" Mr.. Rice
sought to modify the order, but
Judge Homer G. Powell postponed
action until after May II because of
a proposed Washington hearing,
scheduled for today, and "the de-
mands" of Mr.. Sweeney's campaign
for reelection.
Representative Sweeney was de-
MED an injunction yesterday to pre-
vent depositions being taken in
Washington by the Chronicle Tele-
gram. Justice Daniel w. ODonoghue
in District Court indicated Repre-
sentative Sweeney should seek the
injunction in the Lorain County
(Ohto) State Court,
Evening star., 1940-05-11
Police and Fire Society
To Mark Mothers Doy

Members Of the Catholic Police
and Firemen's Society will COM
memorate Mothers Day tomorrow
by attending mass at 8 O'Clock at
st. Patrick's Church. The Right
Rev. John M. Mcnamara, Auxiliary
Bishop Of Washington and Balti-
more, will be the celebrant and
preach the sermon. The Rev. Thomas
M. Dade, assistant at the church and
spiritual adviser of the society, will
assist in the services.
The members will march from the
Knights of Columbus Hall to the
church, led by the Metropolitan
Police Boys Club Band.
A breakfast will be held later at
the Willard Hotel. District Attor-
ney Edward M. Curran will make
the principal address. The Rev.
Hirl Kester, pastor of the Congress
Street Methodist Church; Repre-
sentative E. j. Hart Of New Jersey
and Lewis B. Nichols of the Federal
Bureau Of Investigation also will
speak. Maj. Ernest w. Brown, chief
of police, will be among the guests.
Evening star., 1940-05-11
Pifman Thinks Allies
May Have Edge in Belgium

Chairman Pittman Of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee de-
clared last night that Great Britain
and France possibly" may have
the advantage in battles fought in
Belgium.
Speaking before $50 members and
guests Of the Inquirendo Club at
a Mayflower Hotel banquet, Senator
Pittman said In regard to the
strength Of the allies in the Low
lands fight:
There the navies are concen-
trated. There they control the coast.
There the great French Army comes
into action. These things are en-
couraging."
Calling for adequate" prepared
ness in this country, the Nevadan
asserted that I'VE are forced to
admit" that the system OF democ-
racy in the United States "deprives
us OF the same powers of quick
coordination, discipline and CEN
tralization Of command that gives
so great an advantage TO a totali-
tartan power In war" He added
that the restraints of q democracy
are what have caused Great Britain
and France Ito be a step behind
always in the war with Hitler"
The Senator went on to say that
regardless Of the defects of q
democracy" he would not have it
otherwise"
The United States will not send
its Navy or its soldiers to Europe
to engage in the present war, the
speaker said, and concluded with
the assertion that this country
will never be conquered"
Edgar F.. Goodrich was toastmas-
ter at the banquet. New ofncers
Of the club elected recently who take
Office today are Eugene F. Began,
president. succeeding Melvin T.
Harrison; Robert E. Freer, vice pres
ident; George Brabson, secretary
treasurer; Warren F. Wattles, chair
man Of the Membership Committee,
aand Richard S. Doyle, member OF
the Executive Committee.
Evening star., 1940-05-11
Women Settle $40, 900
Damage Suit for 81

A SIC, 1000 damage suit filed by Alice
E. Sammons, 1916 Shepherd street
NE, against Annie M. Cooper, 1924
Shepherd street NE, charging ma
licious prosecution, has been settled
In District Court for 81.
Justice Jesse G. Adkins entered
this Judgment in the case yesterday
by consent Of both parties. The
plaintiff said the defendant had
falsely and maliciously charged her
with disorderly conduct, for which
the plaintiff was tried and acquitted
in Police Court In October, 1888.
The defendant told the court tho
disorderly conduct charges were filed
after she had been threatened and
abused In public place.
Evening star., 1940-05-11
Nearby High Schools
Score in Virginia Meet

Three nearby Virginia schools
shared in honors at the 9th an
nual contest of the Virginia Liter
ary and Athletic League at the Uni
versity of Virginia yesterday, ac-
cording to the Associated Press.
Walter Bailey of Handley High
School, Winchester, captured the
Glass B high school spelling title,
and Charles Biondi Of George
Washington High School, Alexan-
dria, won the preliminary round in
the Glass A boys speaking contest.
The negative debating team of
Washington-Lee High School, Ar
lington, was listed among the pre-
liminary winners In the debating
contest. The team was made up Of
Albert Matlock, Charles Woodman-
see and Nancy Wilson.
The contests are being continued
today.
Evening star., 1940-05-11

todians Of culture and warned
them Of the danger of becom-
ing themselves trapped in the
flames of war in an age in which
Europe Is nearer to Santiago de
Chile than was the Macedonia of
Alexander to Persia, or the Rome
of Caesar to the wild hills Of Eng
land.
It was an impressive occasion,
as what had been intended as
a speech Of welcome and an eu-
logy Of the advance of knowledge
was changed to an impassioned plea
for continued search of truth, now
forbidden over so large part Of the
earth because "the truth might
make men free"
Minds Of Accomplishment.
Seldom has President Roosevelt
faced so distinguished an audience.
There were men there who had
added hours and days to the aver
age life span Of the human race,
others who had delved deep into
the universe of reality, upon whose
surface wars are like shadows on
a screen; men whose minds had
encompassed the farthest stars and
delved into the darkness of the
remotest antiquity.
The meeting started with an i'm
pressive ceremony, symbolic Of the
solidarity of the Americas. Girls
in white came on the stage one by
one, bearing the banners Of the 81
republics. AS each walked across
the stage the scarlet-coated Marine
Band played the national anthem
Of the nation whose nag was being
presented.
The flag bearers formed in line
across the front Of the stage be-
fore the distinguished company
there, including Secretary of State
Hull, Alexander Wetmore, secretary
general of the congress, and men,
bers Of the diplomatic corps.
Evening star., 1940-05-11
Advisory Group to Aid
Commerce Students
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
A plan to provide commerce stu
dents with practical business train
Ing while they are still in college
was being formulated at the Uni
versity of Maryland today.
A financial advisory council to
the College Of Commerce was Or
ganized yesterday, with John j.
Ghingher, president of the National
Central Bank, Baltimore, as chair
man.
Fourteen representatives of Mary
land financial houses are coun-
Gil members. One recommendation
to the college. was that tipping and
shorthand courses be incorporated
IN the college curriculum. Council
members said those subjects helped
young persons make "a rapid rise"
in finance.
Evening star., 1940-05-11

Of . 20-mile-deep zone Of heavy
Belgian Notifications.
Other German advances were
reported to have cut across the
Mas River at many points In Hol-
land and penetrated to the Ijsel
River east Of Anthem, East Gen.
tral Holland.
DR.. Fritz Todt, In charge Of Ger
man fertilization construction, di-
rected workers on the German West
Wall today to ''be ready to build new
Notifications for German soldiers, /"
and told them that the value Of
their work on the West Wall now Is
being shown.
This was taken to indicate that
construction crews might follow the
army advance to solidify its gains
with forts
The novel but historic Netherlands
defense stratagem of flooded low
lands was derided by the German
shortwave radio. which said the
waters had forced the Dutch to re-
treat, while the Germans, reportedly
forearmed with lS5, 900 rubber boats
overcame the obstacle.