davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-07-09
Objects to "Super-Tax"
On Married Persons.
To the Editor of The Star

To the Editor of The Star:
In the few community property States
the personal income of one married
person may be divided between husband
and wife in separate tax returns, result
ing in a total tax much less than is paid
on the same individual income elsewhere
This is an undeserved tax advantage
which similar family units throughout
most of the Nation do not enjoy; it is
the "leak" costing the Treasury several
hundred millions of lost revenue, and
is the abuse at which the proposed new
compulsory joint income tax return by
husband and wife is aimed.
On the other hand a sweeping require
ment that all married persons every
where file a joint return, even though
each has separate and independent
income imposes a new injustice on
which the United States Supreme Court
has ruled in a former case in the fol-
lowing words, ANY attempt by State
to measure the tax on one persons
property or income by reference to the
property or income of another is con-
trary to due process of law
If more revenue must be raised, why
unfairly overload a relative few beyond
the already heavy graduated surtax
rate? Require that all income earned
and received by any individual be re-
ported and taxed in one return, what
ever the place of residence, but do not
set up discrimination SO onerous as to
prevent future marriages between per-
sons of substantial separate income,
and cause many divorces among existing
happy couples. The writer and his wife
hope and expect to be together for life,
but probably will secure legal divorce
If the compulsory joint return becomes
law. "Sordid," material? So were
the early Americans who dumped tea
into Boston harbor rather than pay a
hated British tax. The next logical
step might be new investigative Sec
ton spying upon our private lives seeking
evidence Of common law marriage in
an attempt to enforce the super-surtax
on matrimony. M. D.
Evening star., 1941-07-09
THIS AND THAT
Bv Charles z. Trdce1oeIl.

1t is amazing how many slices of
bread they can consume at this time of
year.
The best way to use it is to moisten
1t with water
All birds. particularly robins, like it
this way.
Hold the slice under the spigot for a
second or two.
1t becomes the bird equivalent of milk
toast.
Milk toast. by the way, in restaurant
slang is called graveyard stew"
Just why the tribe of countermen
sneer at milk toast remains a mystery.
1t is a good food, at the same time
1t exactly fills the bill, upon occasion.
1t is moreover, food fancied by some
of the greatest "he-men" who ever lived,
but you can't tell restaurant counter
man that
He laughs at you.
Milk toast, to him, IS something no
sane person. and certainly no masculine
person, would eat. When he uses his own
peculiar slang term, well, he means 1t.
There is no real reason for not feed
ing the birds. if you like the sport.
The birds will welcome your food, but
If you withhold it, they will find it else
where. Plants are growing, insects are
flying. There is food everywhere for the
taking.
So there is no reason for not feeding.
really.
In winter. the need for putting out
food is increased. that is all.
Individual specimens will not be so
constant in their visits to individual
feeding stations at this time of year.
They repair to the woods several times
a week
After nesting, they take their young
to the forests, the first homes of all
bird life.
Flocks Of sparrovs, busy at a feeding
station, will disappear several days a
! week
This is because they, no more than
| humans are immune to the seasonal
/ urge to travel. They want to fly places
/ to see things.
| Ralsins and sunfoWer seed are the two
| prime foods to put out at this time Of
| year.
Catbirds are the first takers of the
| former, even more persistent than the
mockingbirds, during the hot weather.
! Sunfower seed is liked by all song
birds. but particularly by the cardinal;
and jays.
If slice of moistened bread is put out
occasionally, theshome owner will have
done al that is necessary to keep hi!
! friends.
When fall comes, they will act a.
decoys TO the migrating birds, causin!
them to drop down for bite to eat
! too
Evening star., 1941-07-09
America is a land of controversy.

america is land OF controversy.
We argue about everything, from
whether we should attack Germany or
wait to be attacked, to whether it is a
good thing to feed the birds in the
garden in summer
All persons interested at all in help
ing these prime helpers of agriculture
agree that fall and winter feeding Is
good, but there in no agreement over
the summer end of it,
why feed them when there is plenty
of natural food?" ask the ants.
Because it is still great fun for the
ready answer.
You will ruin those birds" comes the
prompt rejoiner. They will forget how
to find food for themselves"
Impossible" is the reply.
The real reason for continuing bird
feeding in the home garden during the
hot months is a very simple one.
Both birds and observers like it,
Ornithologists seem to agree, if am
ateur observers do not, that little il
any harm will come to the birds helped.
And the onlookers continue to have
their fun.
The amazing thing is how much the
birds continue to eat.
They consume practically the same
amount Of seed and grain in summer as
in winter, although there can be no
doubt that they eat insects and grubs
and worms and beetles and others in
vast quantities.
Whereas in winter they eat because
they must, to keep up their heat in the
cold. in the good old summer time they
eat because they like the taste.
In this they are very human. to put
it bluntly.
Many person with an inquisitive
turn of mind no doubt has wondered to
himself why he cannot stop eating so
much, when the weather is so hot that
there is absolutely no need of food for
fuel
Not an ounce is needed to keep up
ones internal heat. but just the same
one continues to eat meals fully up to
the quantity of winter time dinners.
It is an amazing and discomforting
performance. since it continues to pile
up fat in unWanted places.
Many person, with what he-or She
regards as extreme fortitude. has deter
mined now that it has gotten hot. to go
on a diet.
It should he easy and II would he
easy. If it were not for the old and es-
sential urge to eat and eat and eat.
Perhaps there is some consolation in
the fact that the birds refuse to go on a
diet. either.
They eat all day long and the same
seeds and grains and bread which they
took in such vast quantities during the
cold months.
Evening star., 1941-07-09
Member of the Associated Press.
Tax inequality

A breakdown for the first quarter
of this year of the tax receipts paid
into the Districts unemployment
compensation fund and the bene-
fits paid out reveals a glaring in
equality which convincingly demon
strates the desirability of some form
of merit rating system in the Capital.
The District Unemployment Com
penSation Board tabulateS contribu-
tions and benefit payments by in
dustry groups in which are included
ffty-seven classifcationS. OF this
total. excluding two clasSificatiOnS
which are approximately in balance,
forty-siX pay taxes in excess of bene-
fits received. The remaining nine.
or roughly Is per cent of the total,
are carried by taxpayers in the
classifcations in which employment
is relatively stable; in other words,
they receive in benefits more than
they pay in taxes.
This disparity is especially striking
IN the contract construction group,
which includes three claSSiflcatlOnS.
During the first quarter of the year
these fcations-general build
ing contractors, other general con-
tractors, and special trade contract
ors-paid approXimately $4,000 in
taxes and received benefits amount
ing to S216,000 Thus, the benefits
for 5 per cent of the claSSificationS
are paid in large part by the "a per
cent whose taxes exceed benefits.
This is a condition which should
be appraised against the entire back
ground of the local unemployment
compensation picture. The record
shows that there is a reserve at this
time of about S22 900 O00-enough to
pay the newly lioeralized benefits at
the present rate of disbursement
for from nine to ten years even
though nothing more we're to be COL
lected in taxes.
1t is because of the fantastic stu
dllOIl Wy GIlAO IdP4GIy
mounting surplus, despite benefits
well above the State average, that
Representative McGehee has intro
duced bill to reduce the local tax
rate from 2.7 per cent to one-half of
! per cent. Such a tax reduction is
highly desirable in that it would
tighten for the time being a wholly
unnecessary burden being carried by
local employers.
There can be no fair or permanent
solution of the local problem, how
ever, until some form of merit or
experience rating plan has been
worked out for the Capital under
which those taxpayers maintaining
the highest employment levels will
receive the greatest benefit in tax
reduction. Experience rating plans
for twenty-five States already have
been certified by the Social Security
Board, and the facts of the local
situation demonstrate beyond dis
pute that some such plan should be
inaugurated in the District
Evening star., 1941-07-09
Leuve-tukinu

His scrutiny is that OF one 1Oho knO1rc
He must remember through the COM
ing gears
Each field and n1eado1U of this fertile
farm.
Since EIen's death, he kne1D the day
1Uould come
When he must listen to the plans his
And daughters made for him. He
dared not hope
They might agree he could remain
alone
On this home place phere he had
spent his life.
"It's for your o1Un good, Father" they
had said,
And set the date they'd come for him,
1Uhile he
Had nodded uordleSSly his scant
reply.
His children'S lore for him had made
him glad
These many years When neighboring
offspring seemed
Ashamed of hometolkS and so seldom
came
Back to the country. Yes, life has
been kind
To him, and notU the time has come,
hen 90
Without backward glance. No uSs
to cause
The children CONSERVATION and
regret.
He'll sag goodbye today, because
tomorrow,
At his leaue taking, there must be no
sorroto.
BILLY B. COOPER.
Evening star., 1941-07-09
transportation Relief

Opening of the Memorial Bridge
and Constitution avenue to three
Virginia bus lines should provide well
come relief for large numbers of Gov
ernment workers who are confronted
with serious transportation diff
cultieS, due to inadequacy of present
bus service and an acute shortage of
parking space in the Mall area.
Patrons of Virginia bus lines who
work in the Navy Department or
other defense offices along Constitu-
ton avenue have had to walk from
five to nine blocks to and from routes
or terminals of buses serving Alex
andria, Arlington and Fairfax. Rath-
er than suffer this inconvenience,
especially in inclement weather,
many of the Virginians in the past
have preferred to use their own
automobiles, thus aggravating the
already congested parking situation.
With conditions rapidly growing
worse, Navy officials recently called
on Secretary of the Interior Ickes
to open sections of the parks for
automobile parkers, if no other
remedial measures were possible.
The National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and other civic in
terestS opposed use of public parks
for such a purpose, but the commits
sion has called conference to devise
practical means OF facilitating solu-
tion of some Of Washington's trafdc
Evening star., 1941-07-09

and parking problems. The COM
mission recommended as an i'm
mediate step that mass transporta-
ton service in the congested govern
mental area be improved and Sec
retary Ickes' action in permitting
buses to operate over the Memorial
Bridge and its approaches clears the
way for this logical step.
AS matter of fact, the three bus
lines serving the Virginia suburbs
had petltioned State and Federal
authorities months ago for permis-
sion to operate over the bridge The
Virginia State Corporation Commits
sion gave its approval promptly, but
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion sanctioned the plan only after
Secretary Ickes lifted the ban on
regular use of the bridge by bus lines.
Mr.. IckeS' obvious reluctance in
throwing the bridge open to heavy
commercial traffic of this kind is
understandable, in view of the
monumental nature of the Potomac
span, designed primarily as a grand
approach to Arlington National Gem
etery and the Mount Vernon Me-
mortal Boulevard. That the move was
deemed necessary is but additional
evidence of the need for another
bridge or tunnel across the Potomac
River. 1t is. S.aSSumed that when other
facilities for handling expeditiously
the increasing bus traffic between
Washington and Virginia are pro-
vided, the Memorial Bridge will re-
vert to its original restricted status
Evening star., 1941-07-09
New R. F. 6. Chairman

In elevating Charles B. Henderson
TO the Craftsmanship of the Recon-
struction Finance Corporation, to
succeed Emil Schram, who recently
resigned to become president of the
New York Stock Exchange, the board
of directors of the R. F. c. have made
an excellent choice. By training and
experience, Mr.. Henderson is we'll
equipped for his new responsible
tiles. Born in California in 1873, he
practiced law in Nevada for many
years, and served as District At
torney for Elko County, and as a
member of the State Legislature. In
addition to law, he was active in sew
eral fields of business, including min
ing, and ranching. In 1918, he was
appointed to the United States Sem
ate, to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Francis G. NeWlandS, and
In November of that year was elected
for the unexpired term ending in
1921. He then returned to his varied
business interests in Nevada.
In 1884, Mr.. Henderson was again
called to public service to accept
appointment as a director of the R.
F. C. His seven years with this Fed
eral agency have given him a first
hand understanding of the prob
lens of contemporary American bus
iness. His colleagues know him as
hard worker, and as an able and
conscientious administrator. He has
an expert knowledge of all phases of
the operations of the R. F. c. To his
other duties were added, in 1887,
those of managing director of the
Disaster Loan Corporation, and since
1910, as head of the Metals Reserve
Co, subsidiary of the R. F. c.,
he has supervised the accumulation
Of stockpiles of strategic and critical
materials essential to national de-
Tense.
Under legislation recently approved
by Congress, the lending authority of
the R. F. C. has been increased, and
It's powers broadened. In the pur-
chase OF strategic materials. and in
Evening star., 1941-07-09
Soldier SAYS Comrades
Are Given Generous Hospitality.
To -ba Fd,tor nf The Star.


To the Editor of The Star:
A week or two ago you published
rather surprising article based on
soldiers complaint, in which he made
number of statements about cold
shouldering of Fort Meade men on the
part of civilians in Washington.
We are at a loss to understand how
such remarks could be given so much
attention. Certainly this soldiers eX-
perience is in no way typical of the treat
ment accorded soldiers generally - in
fact. most of us agree that all our civilian
friends and even complete strangers,
are cheerfully accepting considerable in
convenience to provide us with every
thing we need-places to sleep. meals,
entertainment, etc. The fact that the
complaining boy was ignored in the
Capital is his own fault. Notices have
repeatedly appeared on every bulletin
board in every barracks of this canton
ment to the effect that if any soldier
wants to go to Baltimore or to Wash
ington to attend church, all he has to
do is to see his chaplain. Families OF
every faith have offered their homes to
these boys, and will take them to church,
to their homes for the noon meal, and
for an automobile tour of the city
in the afternoon. Notices appear every
week containing long lists of entertain
ments in the cities to which We are in
vited over week ends. Addresses, names
of organizations sponsoring, and full de-
tails of recreation offered are included.
I read your article aloud to number
of soldiers, and the general reaction
was one of irritation. 1t is perfectly
obvious that there is no foundation for
the alleged persecution. Everything Is
being done to take care of all the wants
specified, except that, of course, there
is no reception committee standing on
every corner Every stranger has a
smile Tor a selectee, and We all think
that the courtesies shown us in WASH
ington are extraordinary.
1 am sure that I speak for the great
majority of service men in saying that
civilians are doing their share and
doing it we'll. Most of us are being shown
more hospitality than we could have
hoped for. 1t is no easy job for people
who have worked overtime all week to
interrupt plans for the week end in
order to entertain us, and yet our
friends inconvenience themselves to an
extent which they would resent under
other circumstances, and they do it
gladly. You get to know lot of soldiers
in the Army and they all tell the same
story when they get in Sunday nights.
Morale is extraordinarily high here,
and this is due in large measure to the
efforts of friends at home We appreciate
it, and thanks lot.
GARRETT B. RATCLIFF,
Pvt, 29th Signal Company.
Fort George G. Meade, Md.
Evening star., 1941-07-09

Expresses Appreciation Of
Articles on Fiscal Affairs by Mr.. Kent.
To the Editor of The Star:
I read the editorials in The Star
regularly and find them instructive and
free of prejudice, and I also read the
various columns written by syndicated
columnists.
wish to congratulate you upon secur-
ing the column by Frank Kent. He is not
only a fearless writer but is telling the
American people the truth about the
status of the national Government. The
state of our. fiscal affairs Is . dry and
tiresome subject for any writer or
Evening star., 1941-07-09

financing the construction Of defense
plants, and in other ways, the r. F. C.
today is playing a major role in the
preparedness program. There is
every indication as the country
mobilizes its full war resources that
it will become even more important
than it is today. Election of Mr..
Henderson to the Craftsmanship pro-
vides renewed assurance that the
direction of the R. F. C. in the critical
months ahead will remain in COM
netent hands.
Evening star., 1941-07-09
Mr.. IckeS COrrects
His aluminium Figures.
To the Editor of The Star:

10 lhe EuItor OF The Star.
In my letter of July on the subject
OF aluminium published in The Star last
Monday, I inadvertently permitted q
typographical error to remain in the
text. Both the plant contemplated by
the Aluminium Co. and that being
built by the Reynolds Metals Co..
have an annual capacity of 60 million
pounds of aluminium. In my letter I
refer to this figure as so million tons.
HAROLD L. ICKES,
Secretary Of the Interior.
Evening star., 1941-07-09

Premier Rayfik Saydam, in a radio
speech meant to conciliate the Nazis,
said that the Turks understand the
true value of Germany's promises of
friendship" Berlin is undecided
whether to take this as a compli-
ment.
Evening star., 1941-07-09
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. HdSkin.

A reader can get the dnS,Uer to any
question of fact By tCrittng The EUe-
ming Star Information Bureau. Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please incloSe stamp for reply.
O. Is there any law against citizen
of this country bearing a title of nobility
conferred by a foreign government?--
R. w.
A. The Constitution expressly provides
that no person holding any office of
profit or trust under the United States
shall, without consent of Congress, ac-
cept any title of any kind whatsoever
from any king, prince or foreign state.
O. Where we're pens first made in the
United States?-F. M K.
A. Pens were first manufactured by
Richard Esterbrook, who in 1853 estab-
hshed a factory in Camden, New Jersey.
@. What is the most valuable fur
animal industry in the United States?-
G. T. A.
A. 1t is silver-fox farming, which
yielded 35O,OOO pelts in 1910.
@. What presidential candidate used
the expression, Tariff is a local ques-
tion"?-B. M
A. Winfield Scott Hancock, presi-
Dental candidate on the Democratic
ticket in 1880, used this expression.
@. Is the cod a prolific fish?-MBC.
A. The cod is one of the most pro-
life of all fish, a female 80 or 40 incEc,
long producing about 5000 900 eggs, and
one Of Al inches at least 100000.
@. Are armadillos born singly or il
pairs?-S. F.
are born at the same time.
Evening star., 1941-07-09

Hitler is said to have arbitrarily
chosen Prince Louis Ferdinand to
sit on the throne of Russia In Amer
lea no one can be sent to the hot
seat without trial.
Evening star., 1941-07-09

The founder of the National
Hitchhikers' Association has just
announced his marriage and his in
tention to settle down. There will
be no more hiking after his hitch.
Evening star., 1941-07-09

Flags of the United States-The
United States is the youngest OF
the great nations Of the world. yet
its banner is one of the oldest.
The history Of our Flag is con-
tanned in this publicat tion-also
included are the Flag Code, Flag
Legends, Pledge to the Flag, Salute
to the Flag. Flag Laws. Done in
true colors on heavy coated paper.
This patriotic offer should be in
every American home. To secure
your copy inclose 30 cents IN coin
wrapped in this clipping and mail
to The Star Information Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1941-07-09
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the ,Uriter, although the use OF
q pseudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters nth
UieU to condensation.
Evening star., 1941-07-09

@. How does the new Pennsylvania
turnpike compare with other route
between the same points?-C. o. T.
A On numbers II and 30 passin-
through the same termini as the ne,
turnpike there are 939 road and stree
intersections and u railway crossing
as well as 25 traffic stop lights, while or
the new turnpike there are none. Ths
latter is tunneled through the mountains
and is a smooth concrete pavement with
10 miles Of straight roadway and only
so miles of easy curvature.
G. What is the main feature Of
Corinthian column?-M. J.
A The characteristic of the Corin-
THAN column is the pattern Of rows Of
acanthus leaves placed one upon the
other with volutes above them, one a.
eacn corner, supporting the projecting
abacus.
c. Who was Moll F1anders?-R. L.
A The Fortunes and Misfortunes of
Mol Flanders" is a novel BY Daniel
Defoe G72D written in the form Of an
autobiography. The heroine is woman
of extraordinary beauty. She was born
in Old Bailey; was twelve years har-
lot, five years a wife twelve years
thief and eight years a convict in Vir-
ginia Ultimately she became rich,
lived honestly, and died penitent in the
reign of Charles II.
@. What was the American Customs
Act?-T. J. E.
A This was an act passed by the
British Parliament in 1854, levying
customs duties on goods imported into
the American colonies. These duties
were to be levied for the benefit of Eng
land and the proceeds paid into the
English treasury. The assertion of this
right to tax the colonies for the benefit
of the mother country was main cause
of the Revolutionary War.
@. Do flaminges build nests?-A. r. E.
A. These birds raise mud into small
hillock, made slightly concave at ~
top, so as to form a rude nest. In this
hollow, the female lays two eggs and
matches them by sitting on the nest
with her long legs doubled up beside
her.
The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1941-11-21
INITIATION Is
SUBJECT OF
NEXT FORUM

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. ls.-
With prices going up by leaps
and bounds, the most Important
subject of the hour is Imitation. =
How would imitation affect you?
Your savings, your life insurance
Your property, fixed income, an
old age pension? What should
YOU do to prepare for it2 Would
price and wage control by the
federal government stop the i'm
pending imitation?
These and many other aues-
tions will be discussed at the
next meeting of The Columbus
Community forum Sunday, No
yember s3 at 4 p. m. The speak
er is DR. Walter Egle, profes-
sor of economics at Ohio State
university. DR.. Egle. who is
trained economist, lived thru the