davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-04-08
Negligent Homicide

The Court of Appeals decision up
holding the validity of the Districts
Negligent Homicide Act may be ex-
pected to clear the way for more
effective use of this statute as an in
strument for curbing reckless driving
on the streets of the Capital.
Congress passed the Negligent
Homicide Act to provide machinery
for dealing with cases involving
traffic deaths in which the evidence,
while not juStifying prosecution for
manslaughter, was indicative of
more serious offenSe than mere reck-
less driving. In practice, however,
the statute has not been employed
with any marked success.
One reason for the relatively few
convictions obtained under the law
undoubtedly has been the reluctance
of juries to convict defendants where
the evidence shows only negligent
driving as distinguished from gross
negligence. Another factor has been
the lack of facilities for properly
working up evidence in these cases.
Still another probably has been the
doubts entertained by some judges,
as well as members of the bar, with
respect to the laws validity and pre-
else meaning
The appellate courts decision, of
course, can have but little if any in
f1uence on the attitude of juries. Nor
will it affect the preparation of cases
for trial, although improvement in
this respect may be looked for
through the work of the police acci-
dent investigation squad. With re-
gard to the third factor, however, the
decision is important, for it should
result in fewer directed verdicts and
fewer nolle prosecutions which
generally have resulted from doubts
as to the scope of the law in the
relatively weaker cases.
In this connection, it is gratifying
that United States Attorney Curran
has announced that all negligent
Evening star., 1941-04-08
Wife or Warden?

Speak of a strongly built shelter,
controlled by wardens," and the mind
instinctively leaps to embattled Lon
don, where the need of shelter is so
obvious that the government pro-
vides it, requiring no entry per-
mits. If, in the judgment of any
inhabitant, conditions get too hot
outside, he retires there informally,
with a CHEEKY word from the warden
and a cordial invitation to stay until
the heat is off.
1t so happens that even in America
there exist strongly built shelters,
controlled by wardens, but as Amer
lea is still short of war, SO are these
shelters short of instantaneous ac-
cess, as was shown by the bitter
experience of a graduate of the Kan
sas College of Penology at Hutchin-
son. Hardly had he received his
diploma, consisting of a ten-dollar
bill and a suit of clothes, when he
received the fearsome news that his
wife was planning to take him back.
In London, the warning would have
come in ample time; in Kansas, he
had to hustle around for a ticket of
readmission, which he obtained by
robbing a store.
That, at least, was the tale he gave
the judge. His Honor, highly i'm
pressed, recognized the justice of his
complaint so clearly that for years
he will be protected by stout bars
from his lesser warden.
Evening star., 1941-04-08
Seumstress

All day the little Spinster set0ed and
SeUed
On silk and satin, soft and gliSten,ng
stuff,
To leap In anstDer to youths trettul
gond,
Her fingers flying, needle-pricked
and rough.
With mouth set grim and straight
to hold the pins
She patiently arranged a ron OF trtlls
With stole face q stranger to
their sins,
Their gayeties their diSdppotnt-
mentS :. thrills.
At night a bridal goton ,oas hers
1Dhile,
A phantom, seanpstress knelt to pin
her hem,
She held snow-,Dhite lilies tOith
a sottened smile
Sato In the glass jetoeIed diddenl.
At night, she shares strange secrets
10ith the moon.
At night, she braDeiy huns bridal
tune. IDA ELAINE JAMES. \
Evening star., 1941-04-08
"WETHERILL ROAD.

Dear Sir:
For two years a family of bluebirds
has occupied our birdhouse which hangs
on our garage, and each summer we have
watched them raise two families.
"We have been amazed to see how in
dependent and seemingly able to take
care of themselves these birds are.
mo matter what birds came near their
house-bluejays, wrens, snoWbirds, mock
ingbirdS, even if they were just sitting
in the cherry tree which is near the
birdhouse, they we're Immediately chased
away.
This year the story is different. The
bluebirds appeared in January or Feb
ruary. Il think they we're in the neigh
borhood all winter)
ANY sunny day would find them in
the cherry tree watching their house, or
chasing other birds away from it. Then
one day to our dismay we saw sparrows
going into the house and the bluebirds
sitting calmly by allowing it.
Can you tell me whether we can do
anything to help the bluebirds?
Having watched them for two years,
I feel that If they really wanted the
house they would take it.
Shall we drive the sparrows out?
IF we plug up the house, then the
bluebirds couldn't get in. The bluebirds
are still around, but I am afraid they are
building some other place.
Il would appreciate so much hearing
from you.
Sincerely yours, M. H. S."
x X
The sparrow-and we suppose our cor
respondent means the English variety
is the arch-enemy of the beautiful
bluebird.
This gentle bird will not nest around
where these sparrows come.
Whether this is due to fear or Just
plain dislike, it Is difficult to say. Per-
haps the bluebirds are sensible, as well
as beautiful, and realize that they can
not compete with the English sparrows
for nesting sites.
This is because the harder birds are
more numerous and aggressive.
The beautiful things of this world, the
gentle things, have hard time of it in
competition with the hardy and the ag-
gressive.
There are some notable instances of
this, the world around, but we do not
have to go any farther than the garden
There we see the bluebird run away by
the sparrow, and the flicker by the
startling.
Each of these aggressor birds is 'go-
getter," term which until recently was
in high esteem in America.
The English sparrow simply makes the
best of conditions.
The startling does the same.
Since each, in its size class, is fearless,
it manages to drive away other birds
notably some of Americas favorite
songbirds.
1t is easy to place the blame on the
sparrow and the startling, but these birds
after ALL did not ask to be brought here
They were imported under the mis-
Evening star., 1941-04-08

@. What is the standard Of measure
ment for skis?-E. r. G.
A. The ski that reaches from the
ground to the wrist of the upStretched
arm conforms to standard measurement.
@. Where is James A. Bland who
wrote Garry Me Back to Old Virginny,"
buried?-G. r. D.
A. His grave Is in the Merton Gene
terry at Bala -Cynwyd, a suburb of Phil
adelphia.
@. Please explain the initials o. G.
P. U-M. P.
A. The Russian State Police are
called: Obedennoe (United) Gosudarst-
vennoe (State) Politichesko PoliticaD
Upravlenie administration.
@. How many springs are there at
Vichy, France?-G. w. B.
A. There are about IA springs. The
Source des Celestins is the most active.
giving out about $4,000 gallons OF water
a day.
O. Why was Cleopatra called the SER
pent of the Nile?-H H. R.
A. A serpent was the ancient SYMBOL
of Egyptian royalty.
@. How many trees and shrubs are
there on the grounds OF the united
States Capitol at Washington?-E. T. P.
A. There are approximately 1000 trees
and 5000 shrubs on the grounds.
@. Who is DR.. Emmett Fox, who wrote
THE Sermon on the Mount"?-R. M. j.
A. DR.. Fox is an Englshman and for
mer engineer, who, while still In Eng
land. became interested in the Unity
Group. He came to New York to lee
ture. At first his audiences were small,
but they increased to such an extent
that he was forced to move to the Hippo
drome, where he addressed congrega-
tions ranging from 5000 to 5000 persons.
O. From whom did Mrs. Roosevelt take
lessons In voice culture?-J. T. G.
A. Mrs. Elisabeth Won Hesse is Mrs.
Roosevelt's voice teacher.
@. What is the maximum swing on
center of the Golden Gate Bridget
w. j. M.
A, The maximum transverse defec-
ton. center span, of the Golden Gate
Bridge is 277 feet; the maximum down
ward DETECTION, center span, 1913 feet;
maximum upward DETECTION, center
span, So feet; transverse detection OF
the towers, 1911 inches; longitudinal de-
fection of towers (shoreward), %
inches; (channelward), 18 inches.
O. How tall Is the Bridal Veil Water
fall in yosemite National Park?-C. T. r.
A. The waterfall is $40 feet in height.
Evening star., 1941-04-08

homicide cases held up pending the
Court of Appeals decision-some fif-
teen in number-will be Immediately
set down for trial and prosecuted
vigorously. While the action of the
prosecutor in holding up these cases
pending an appellate ruling on the
law was proper, it is important to
remember also that the measure of
the effectiveness of any penal statute
is determined largely by the prompt
ness and vigor of prosecutions
brought under it.
Evening star., 1941-04-08
Frederic William Vile

In appraiSing the career of Fred
eric William Vile, it is not enough
to say that he was a brilliant news
paperman. For he was more than
that.
He had, it is true, all of the quail
tiles that go into the making of a
great reporter-an Unsuitable thirst
for the facts, fine ability to recog-
nize news when he found it, and the
skill to write his story so that it
would be both interesting and in
telligible to his readers. But Mr..
Vile was not content merely with
getting the news and writing it we'll.
His job, as he saw it, was not done
until the story was in the paper, and
the painstaking effort that he would
put into laSt-minute reviSionS to
keep his story, an editorial or his
column, as the case might be, abreast
of the latest developments was the
true mark of the master craftsman.
Unlike some reporters, who find
their way into the newspaper busi-
ness more by chance than design,
Mr.. Wile's choice of a profession was
made early in life. AS small boy In
La Porte, Indiana, where he was
born on November 80, 1873, he edited
the Vile Evening Journal, in which
was chronicled the activities of the
Vile family, one selected item being:
"Elsie returned from Chicago this
evening after months visit. She
has grown a little taller, no fatter,
and has improved much in the art
of giggling."
His first full-fedged newspaper
Job was as a cub reporter on the
Chicago Record in 1898 Soon there
after he went abroad, serving as
foreign correspondent for the Chica-
go Daily News, the Chicago Tribune
and the New York Times. During
this stay in Europe Mr.. Vile also
spent some time as chief German
correspondent for the London Daily
Mail. He was the last correspondent
with British affiliations to leave
Berlin in 1914, making his way out
of the German capital with members
of the British diplomatic staff just
before the declaration of war. Back
in London, he resumed his work for
the Daily Mail, and when this coun-
try entered the war he began his
service as a lieutenant colonel at
tached to the Intelligence Section,
General Headquarters, A. E. F.
Returning to the United States
after the war, he spent brief period
as a Chautauqua lecturer, serving
later as chief of the Washington bu-
reau of the Philadelphia Public
Ledger and as a pioneer radio COM
mentator. He came to The Star as
a columnist and editorial writer in
1928. 1t was from this varied back
ground that he drew the material
which went into the writing of half
a dozen books, the most recent being
his autobiography, News Is Where
You Find It," published last year.
His death, coming after a long
illness, takes from the newspaper
fraternity one of its ablest members,
but to those who had the good for
tune to know him the loss. is one Of
a deeply personal nature. Frederic
William Vile will be remembered,
not alone as an outstanding journal
list, but as a good companion and as
a friend who was never too engrossed
in his own affairs to extend a helping
hand when help was needed.
Evening star., 1941-04-08
Says American Intelligence
Has Not Realized Communist Danger.

To the Editor of The Star:
If six months or year from now we
should read that an American naval
squadron had been sunk in the Western
Pacific by the japanese fleet using new
weapon supplied by the Germans, what
would be the feeling here? In trying to
solve the problem of the new weapon
what help would those Communists be
who now receive encouragement from the
Government while they blockade fac
tories and beat up police and workers.
Communist Russia knows she is help
less before Germany because she cannot
match German technology. Britain Is
holding her own because she is capable
Of matching German technical advances
and the British people and British gov
ernment see to it that Communists do
not interfere with this capacity. No so
in America. Why should a technologist
rack his brains to discover anything new
when the chief aim of the Government
seems to be to pamper Communicated
labor? II inventions and designs are
developed, they may never be utilized
because Communicated labor is apt at
any time to disrupt plans of production.
German brains and German technol-
ogy cannot be defeated by radicals block
aiding factories and beating up Ameri-
cans who want to help their country
while politicians stand by and call it a
labor dispute" This is a war of intelli-
gence and the people of the United
States are not using enough intellect to
realize that. v. j. JOHNASSEN.
Capitol Heights. Md.
Evening star., 1941-04-08

Now that the Nazis' "gift" of food
to unoccupied France turns out to be
just a barter advantageous to Ger
many, it looks like forty million
Frenchmen can be Stung.
Evening star., 1941-04-08
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the ,uriter, although the use OF
q pseudonyn, for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters tUith
q u1e10 to condensation.
Evening star., 1941-04-08

The first Indian tomahawk was a
combination of peace pipe and
hatchet. The idea of combining
diplomacy and war in one super
weapon has since spread to Berlin.
Evening star., 1941-04-08

The Democrats, according to a re-
port of their national committee, still
owe $414,617 on the recent campaign.
That Is one debt they really do "owe
to themselves"
Evening star., 1941-04-08

will be the first considered by the
Joint meeting of the House and SEN
ate District Committees proposed by
Chairman Randolph.
Evening star., 1941-04-08

Appetizers-A 64 - page booklet
containing 300 tested recipes for
hors d'oeuyreS, canapes, soups,
salads and sandwiches. Something
different in food suggestions for
your spring or garden party. The
attractive, diversified and appetiz-
ing dishes will delight the modern
hostess. To secure your copy in
close Is cents in coin. wrapped in
this clipping, and mail to The Star
Information Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1941-04-08

which we have not been able to have
adopted.
A fair study of the record on the
proposals recently acted upon will show
that the industry (almost unanimously
is far ahead of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board, the District Commits
sioners, the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations and many others in seeking
restrictive regulations and laws in the
National Capital
The reason for this is obvious. Those
of us engaged in the industry realize
that it exists only on suffrance. We
know that without public favor our
entire investment and our livelihood
would be wiped out. We would be silly
to seek a petty advantage today at
the risk of destruction tomorrow.
The A B. C. Board may be wet" as
The Star says, but 1t is certainly not
compliant to what you describe as the
powerful local liquor industry"
If the board would comply with the
wishes of thoughtful men in the industry
we would have rigidly controlled trade,
conducted as a public service without
offense to any and the so-called liquor
problem" would disappear overnight.
In the program for such control I
solicit the aid of your powerful news
paper. MILTON 5. KRONHEIM,
Chairman, Beverage Industry
Committee.
Editors Note: Mr.. Kronheim speaks
for a majority of "off-sale" dealers,
does not represent an active minority,
nor does he speak for the "on-sale'
dealers who sell liquor by the drink.
Evening star., 1941-04-08

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to 1t not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
All rights of publica ton of special dispatches
herein also reserved
Evening star., 1941-04-08

@. Please give the dates of the OPEN
ing performances of Tobacco Road" and
"Hellzapoppin. T.
A. Tobacco Road" had its premiere
on December 4, 1888. "Hellzapoppin"
opened on September %, 1888.
Evening star., 1941-04-08

@. What is a monkey bag?-C. x. N.
A. 1t is a small money bag used by
sailors and hung around the neck.
Evening star., 1941-04-08
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hdskin.

A reader can get the ansUer to any
question OF fact by tCrtttng The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. HaSkin, director. Washington.
D. c. Please incLose stamp for reply.
c. What is the fastest transcontinental
railway run ever made?-K. M.
A. In October, 1885, the Union Pacific
Diesel-powered streamliner City Of
Portland made an experimental run
from Los Angeles to New York City, a
distance of 3,248 miles, in Sc hours and
IS minutes.
Evening star., 1941-04-08

Q. Who was the weeping philosopher
IT. r. T.
A. Heraclitus of Greece was so de-
scribed. He taught that there is moth
ing permanent except change, and be-
came so imbued with the transient
character of all things human that he
was characterized by melancholy.
@. Please give the date when the first
coast -to-coast radio network was estab-
lished-F. D. A.
A. The first permanent coast-to-coast
network was established on December
%, 1928, when the National Broadcast
ing Co. opened its transcontinental line.
@. When is Dominion Day observed?-
L. S.
A. This is the national holiday in the
Dominion of Canada. 1t Is celebrated on
July and commentaries the formation
of the Dominion.
Evening star., 1941-04-08

Q. Why is a certain type of British
dive bomber called a skua?-C. H.
A. 1t takes its name from gull found
in European coastal waters.
Evening star., 1941-04-08
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered as second-clsss matter post office,
Washington, D. c.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-08-04
Miss M. Douglass
 Honored Yesterday

Mrs. Jesta Young and A. William Douglass honored the latter's sis ter, Miss Marjorie Douglass, with a cocktail party yesterday frcm 4 to o'clock. Miss Douglass arrived on the Alaska over the weekend, and she and her brother plan to leave next week to visit their par ents in Aberdeen, Wash
 Miss Douglass studies voice un- der Prof. August Werner at the University of Washington. She is mezzo soprano, and is soloisr with the Greek Church Choir and with various male choir concerts in Seattle and Tacoma. She sang the lead in the cantata written by the Director of the Mems Glee Club at the University, accompanied by. the Seattle Symphony Orchestra two years ago. rs
 Now working on her masters de- gree at the University, Miss Doug lass formerly taught voice and pi- ano. She has just completed a tour of the Territory. [.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-08-04

Dressed in fur parka and possibly muk- -luks to satisfy the beliefs of Outsiders on what the well-dressed Alaskan will wear, Jerry Chapman, winner of the Juneau Soap Box Der by, will step off a fast train in Akron. Ohio, in several days to att tend the national contest of the affair and race his Alaska built derby car against those of boys from 48 States
 Tomorrow morning after a going away party and farewell breakfast that will be the epitome of boys perfection, Jerry will step up the gangplank of the southbound steam CT Princess Louise with Rotary mem Der Don Skuse who will accompany him to the East.
 Radiograms from the national headquarters asked Jerry to wear the fur clothing, and Yurman's Fur Factory quickly obliged with the needed articles. All friends of Jerry are invited to his home tomorrow morning at o'clock for a good- bye party and in spite of the early hour, a boys unsuitable appetite for hot dogs will be filled when he gets them for breakfast.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-08-04
TWO GA5B0AT
 SWEPT BY FIRE

Reports of the total loss by fire of two gas boats in the Sitka neighborhood last month were re- ceived today at the Customs office here. i4ss M sass5s
 One of the boats, the Musher Registration mum Der 2S2-31D burned between Old ,Sitka Rocks and Neva Straits in Sitka Sound on July sl3, according to a report by its owner and master, Charles McEwan. Fire started on the IA year old boat as a result of an ex- plosion in the cook stove, McEwan stated. The boat, was valued at $2.000 and carried no insurance.
 The other burning was an un- named gas boat .tNo, 31-B-123 owned and operated by Martin Van Masten, of Sitka. An engine back fire while the boat was in Katlena Bay, at Krozof Island. caused. the fire. Van Masten said He declared he battled the flames with Q fire extinguisher but,a gasoline which flooded the engine room was ignited and tiae fire, got out,sof control.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-08-04
FDR'} 5 1ax!
 Prop osals
 Turned Down
Committee Rejeefs Change in Income Tax Ex-.l
 empiions Law
Lffl-A- A

WASHINGTON. D. C., Aug. A. Chairman Robert L. Doughton, of North Carolina, announced today that the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee has turned down three suggestions of President Roosevelt for last-minute changes in the O,000, 900 tax bill designed to raise money from Am erican purses to help pay the de- fense bill. f S a :
 Those Rooseveltian measures re- jected by the committee included a proposal to lower individual income tax exemptions. a proposal for the modification of the requirement that all married couples file joint in come tax returns, so each spouse would have complete credit for his or her earned income, and the sub stitution of the Treasury Depart ment's excess profits plan in place of that approved by the committee.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-08-04
Nusuneinja Fined
 S75 and Cost of
 Rebuilding Bridge
*Aafk'

Ronald Nusinginja, Juneau, was arraigned before U. s. Commis- sioner Felix Gray late this morn ing and fined $25 and the cost of installing new corner post and three support timbers on the bridge on the Glacier Highway toward Juneau from the Juneau dairy.
 Nusunginja was charged with reckless driving by Dan Ralston, Alaska highway patrolman, as a result of the bridge smash-up yes terday. ar
 Nusunginja was driving a Reid U-Drive car at an allegedly high rate of spsed on the Glacier High way When the machine apparently got out of control, Nusin2inja left the road about SO feet from the bridge, missed slight curve and crashed into the bridge corner post, then into the guard rail.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-08-04
No-Host Luncheon
 Honors Miss Repp

Fifty women were present at a no-host luncheon today at l o'clock to meet Miss Ellen Repp, contralto, who is to appear in concert Tuesday and Wednesday. The affair was held in the Gold Room at the Baranof Hotel.
 Mrs. Ernest Gruening, who, as President of the American Women's Voluntary Services, is general chair man of Miss Repp's concerts, intro duced the singer to the assembled women. Miss Repp spoke briefly on her opera training during the past two years.
 Mrs. Carol Beery Davis, who will accompany Miss Repp. was in charge of the luncheon.