davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-09-16
Urges Official Check
OF Tire Mileage.
TO the Editor o

TO the Editor of The Star:
The Baruch rubber report is something
that should have been done last May.
not put off until next January. Why
gas rationing shouldn't have been de-
creed for the entire United States last
May on account Of rubber shortage is
something I probably never will know.
II 5000 miles is set for the maximum
passenger car essential driving, just how
is this to be regulated? Surely it is not
going to be on the hypothetical Is miles
per gallon which Mr.. Henderson has set.
A small car gets so many miles per
gallon in the open country or a small
town and less than half that amount in
cities-probably very much less in COM
plicated city like Washington.
A large car in Washington might get 6
miles per gallon-in Manhattan it could
get 10 miles per gallon Il am speaking
from experience).
So the only equitable way would be
to check cyclometers. This could be
done by having every gas station mark
on an owners ration card the cyclo-
meter reading every time gas was ,pur-
chased.
That would be fine, except that every
car owner has screw drivers and 1t
wouldn't take long for every owner to
learn how easy it is to disconnect that
instrument on the dash board
Since there are supposed to be instru-
ments which can tell you how many
miles are left in your five tires, why not
have every car inspected and checked
for this mileage? Then set time 1914,
1945 or 1916, when civilians could have
new tires. Ration each car meanwhile
according to its rubber mileage.
Those cars that are necessary trans
portation to war jobs could be allowed
recapping or new tires, according to
their needs
In many States cars are inspected.
These same stations could estimate tire
mileage. In States which do not have
inspection certain places could be desig-
mated for tire examination.
II Mr.. Baruch knows of better plan
would be interested In knowing about
l. MANHATTAN.
Evening star., 1942-09-16
A Dose of Youth

Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute has
made startling discovery BY giving
rabbits a certain chemical, they
cease to grow old; that is, they look
young and feel young, no matter
what the calender says. The trick,
it seems, is to keep the cholesterol in
their systems from getting waxy.
Waxy cholesterol, say the expert
menters, means old age. When Uncle
Remus' Brer Rabbit addressed the
Tar Baby and "axed him how his
copperosity was segashuatin," he
should have inquired how his choles-
terol was waxing.
In time, no doubt, the experiment
will be extended to mankind. Then
we can all be young indefinitely and
Brooklyn will receive great honor as
the home of the new life. Right now,
however, Brooklyn would gladly
trade all that future glory for one
little immediate dose of youthful
feeling. Brooklyn is in a pitiable
state. No slur at New York is in
tended-the state referred to is a
state OF jitters. Ask the average
Brooklynite how old he feels, and the
answer will be at least $50 years.
Some last-ditch remedy is needed
right now. The time is short, but it
may be just barely possible to have
Dem Buns call at Polytechnic Insti-
tute for an emergency treatment be-
fore they lose the pennant.
Evening star., 1942-09-16
Two Small Thinqs

There Uas a 1DeH and q oourd, I
remember
And silDer-yelIoD beeches that Sep
tember.
You raised the brimminq cup, the
pine -oropn cup,
And small drops spilled as you lifted
it up.
Then your mouth Uas net and uour
mouth tDas cool
And your lips 1uere as fresh as a
Woodland pool.
had not intended to kiss you at all
Before you drank. Hop breath
takingly small
Was the chance By Which you came
to be Kissed
on Loue, the gears that ,pe might
haze missed!
There Das a UeH and d gourd,
remember,
Just taoo small things In that far
September.
LANCE DELANEY.
Evening star., 1942-09-16
Getting in the Scrap

AS the President said yesterday, the
Government yet may be forced to
conflscate metal in order to get the
scrap it needs for manufacture of
steel. But there is still vast and
virtually untouched reservoir of val
liable scrap metal in homes and on
farms, readily available and cheer
fully surrendered if means are fur
nished to haul it away.
A major difficulty in Washington S
past scrap campaign has been that
normal collection agencies, over
whelmed as they are by the demand,
have been unable to make individual
trips to homes unless the metal to be
collected was valuable enough to pay
for the trip. This difficulty will be
eliminated under plans announced
by the Commissioners committee.
Next Sunday all residents living in
the area east of North and South
Capitol streets and east of the Ana
costa River are requested to place
their metal scrap at the curb by 8
o'clock in the morning. During the
day trucks will call for it and trans
port 1t to designated depots, where 1t
will be assorted and hauled away to
the professors for loading on railroad
cars. On the following Sunday resi-
dents in the areas west OF North and
South Capitol streets will do the same
thing.
Following this quick collection ef-
fort, the machinery set up by the Dis
trict Salvage Committee will resume
its functioning, with school children
and others "mopping up" the terri
tories and collecting what has been
left over. In this respect, the Presi-
dent recalled yesterday that the first
search OF the White House yielded
enough scrap to fill three trucks. But
later on a second search revealed
enough leftover materials to fill still
another truck. Private homeowners
will fnd themselves repeating the
Presidents experience on a smaller
scale. For there is a valuable assort-
ment OF usable scrap in almost every
home, If only the search for it will be
made.
Here is splendid opportunity for
every one to make valuable contri-
button OF material vitality needed in
lighting the war.
Evening star., 1942-09-16
A Strunqe Doctrine

"A 1CCcIiG report ITOm WEI LaOOT
Board panel recommends that an
employer with plants in Chicago and
Elizabeth, N. j., be ordered to sign a
union shop contract despite the fact
that he has been operating on an
open shop basis since May, 1941.
Apparently this panel recon-
mendation poses difficult question
for the full board, which, in promul-
eating it's so-called union security
formula, has taken the position by
implication If not in express terms,
that 1t would not order the union
shop. The union security clause is
intended to enable unions to main
tain their membership to the extent
that workers desire to retain their
union status, but the board has rec
ognized that it ought not to use its
authority to compel all employees to
join union, which is the case under
union shop agreement. In these
circumstances, it is difficult to see
how the board could require an en-
ployer to restore union shop agree
ment which expired sixteen months
ago without going dangerously far
af1eld from the principles it has laid
down under the maintenance of
membership formula
There is another aspect OF the
panels ruling, however, which seems
strangely out Of line with the reali-
ties OF our military requirements, and
which should interest the board
members and the American people
as a whole. One of the reasons cited
by the employer in explanation of
the refusal to extend the union shop
agreement was the inability of the
union (CIO) to provide a necessary
supply of skilled craftsmen. To meet
this difficulty, the panel, with the
industry member dissenting, pro-
posed that the company be permitted
to hire AFL members, who would be
exempt from the union shop, when
the CIO group could not supply
skilled help, or when it was impos-
sible to find non-union men who
would agree to join the CIO union.
Thus, the panel apparently is of
the opinion that half union loaf is
better than none, and that non
union men should not be permitted
to work in these plants even when
the union in question is unable to
supply necessary help from among
Its own members. This is very
strange doctrine for panel of the
War Labor Board to be preaching at
time when the President and DON
aid Nelson, war production chief, are
deploring the inadequacy Of our
Evening star., 1942-09-16

the application seems to me unseemlv
and grossly unjust. Substantial in
creases in wages and the price of ma
terlal are already in effect and firmly
established In this process no one has
suggested that taxes of any kind should
be disregarded. However, it now is pro-
posed, in complete disregard of logic, to
shut the door against any increase in
the price OF what public utility has
to sell. The proposal is not only unjust.
1t is completely unavoidable, unless its
purpose is to drive the utilities out of
business and turn their properties and
operations over to the Government.
The price administrator and Senator
Norris are not the only persons who
think queerly on this subject. Recently
the chairman of the Federal Communi-
cations Commission expressed the opin-
ion that in view of the great necessity
OF efficient telephone service at this
time there should be no increase in tele-
phone rates, that Congress should inter-
pose to prevent it.
The 5000 stockholders of the gas COM
pany and the 100000 stockholders of the
American Telephone & Telegraph Co.
are all experiencing the hardships of in
creased living costs, but they are not
expecting any increase in their dividends
to Offset declines in the purchasing
power OF their dollars. On the contrary,
they are only ardently hoping for such
enlightened treatment as will permit
continuance of their present dividends.
And, of course, they expect to pay war
taxes on the dividends, whatever they
may be.
EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL.
Evening star., 1942-09-16
Discusses Proposed Gas Increase
In Terms of Stock Holders Concern.

AAA ASA"Ao OA otuSN IIOluCIS concern,
To the Editor of The Star:
This writer owns five shares of stock
OF the Washington Gas Light Co., on
which the annual dividends are s22.52,
return of "A per cent on the invest
ment. He also pays gas bills, amounting
last year to $55.02. Being thus inter-
ested, he desires to comment briefly
upon the pending proceeding before
the PUG In which the company seeks
an increase in its rates for service.
The rates for period of years have
been determined under a process or
formula known as the sliding scale"
the operation of which has resulted
heretofore in annual reductions in rates
for service. Under the impact of rapidly
rising wages, taxes anu cost of material
present results of operation show a
return less than that specified bv the
sliding scale method as fair. Hence
the application. Opponents of the pro-
posed increase now urge variously that
the valuation of the companys property
Is too high, that the compensation of
It's officers and directors is too great and
that in computing its income only pre-
war taxes should be considered Sena-
tor Norris proposes bill depriving all
regulatory commissions of authority to
grant any increase in public utility rates
without the permission of the Once OF
Price Administration.
This scramble for something 10 defeat
Evening star., 1942-09-16
Denies That Union Faults
Are Justified by Other Rascalities.
To the Editor Of The sta,

To the Editor Of The Star:
S. Retug, in his letter to The Star of
September II, indulges the usual union
ist habit of drawing red herrings across
the trail whenever union leaders and
their practices are subjected to criticism.
He points to the misdeeds of others as
an excuse for greater misdeeds on the
part of organizedelabor. He argues, in
effect, that two wrongs make right,
that the existence of rascals in one group
justifles the limits of rascality being
greatly expanded by another group.
EDNA M. COLLARS,
Evening star., 1942-09-16

in the not-too- distant past. But it
cannot be argued that they are
popular in Germany, Italy or Japan
today, Indeed, it is evident that
they could not be offered unspoiled
under any dictatorship. They are
product OF the greatest mind of the
Anglo-Saxon race, and that mind
Is unclaimed in the nations arrayed
against the aggressor powers. Curl
ously. perhaps, the poet anticipated
the prevailing crisis. Let any skeptic
read Macbeth" in the light of the
fires lit by Hitler and he will be
convinced. Also it is Hamlet" born
again, who symbolizes most per-
fectly the spirit of determination
to set the world right.
Evening star., 1942-09-16
Protests Plan to Tax
Incomes of the Poor.
To the Editor of The Star

Curb imitation, yes! But start In
washington. Reduce salaries of Con-
gressmen that of the President and those
OF h1gh-salaried officials generally.
Where else is there much imitation?
Is 1924 an imitation" salary? Is even
$1,000 an imitation" salary? Do Con-
gressmen have the unmitigated nerve to
assess non-subsistence wage earners In
order to pay their own generous sal
aries?
We must be in very bad way, indeed.
II were finding it necessary to tax-to
withhold-any part Of incomes as low as
1924. IRENE BOILING.
Evening star., 1942-09-16
Injurious and PointIess

Cavalrymen used to say that each
trooper thought his own mount the
best in the regiment. The idea was
never discouraged by the officers. It
helped morale. 1t was psychological
offset to actual defects in horsefesh
Some OF our Congressman seem to
be taking the opposite course in their
criticism of American airplanes. Os-
tensibly hitting at the brass hats
generic term applied in derogation
OF military leadership-what they
actually are accomplishing is to tear
down civilian morale and the morale
OF the pilots. At least the pilots who
are yet to fly in combat and who,
when they do, will take off handi-
capped at the very outset by the feel
ing that they are armed with inferior
weapons. That, in itself, is a dam
gerous handicap.
We cannot hope. nor would it be
desirable, to stifle criticism of the
war effort in Congress. But it would
be far less dangerous sort of crit
lclsm II 1t were made specific and if
generalities, in relation to leadership
and equipment, were abandoned en-
tirely.
There is a tendency in Congress to
speak OF airplanes indiscriminately
Comparisons Of this nature are ut
terly without meaning. You cannot
say, and be accurate or informative,
that British airplanes are better than
American airplanes, or that German
airplanes are better than British
planes You cannot say that the
japanese Zero fighter is better ship
than an American fighter. Such
comparisons are irrelevant-as if the
comparison were between the eff
cheney Of plough horse and race
horse, without specifying the field in
which the efficiency were to be ap-
piled.
Rapid specialization in aircraft, de-
signed for particular areas of combat
and the performance of definite
tasks, no longer permits of general
lied comparisons of merit. Planes
superior in one respect are inferior
in others. The japanese Zero has
gained speed and maneuverability
and altitude at the sacrifice of arma-
ment. Which is, in the long run,
preferable-these qualities or arma-
ment and armor? The British Spit
fire was designed and developed to
fight the Battle OF Britain. In some
respects superior on this battle front,
1t is definitely inferior on others.
As everybody knows, military avia-
tion in this country was disgracefulIy
starved until Just before we entered
this war. We have had to design
planes without knowing where they
were to fight. We have had to stand
ardize to get rapid production. We
doubtless have emphasized qualities
which, under important conditions,
are less valuable than others. Ger
tainly we will not gain air superiority
overnight. Yet actual battle reports
indicate the high quality OF our
planes and Of our pilots.
What purpose, then, is being served
by generalized, loose talk in Con-
gress, based on secondhand infor-
nation anonymously supplied, the
purport of which is that we are
manufacturing inferior, second d-rate
airplanes? Is this criticism helpful
to the war effort? II it is not, there
should be an end to it.
Evening star., 1942-09-16

Everybody's Coin Book-A 32-page
publication treating of the origin and
development of coins, of famous co J.
lections, of rare, curious and valuable
pieces, of strange customs that sur
round their use, of how values and
prices are established, and how to
start a collection. 1t Is an interesting
and most Informative booklet on the
subject, and beginners will find ft in
valuable. To secure your copy in
close 10 cents in coin, wrapped in this
clipping, and mail to The Star Infor-
nation Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1942-09-16

Hedy Lamar took a bite out of
the lunch sandwich of a Philadel-
phia shipfltter and he plans to pre-
serve the -indented edible
as family heirloom. Good thing
it was not Joe E. Brown who took
the nibble.
Evening star., 1942-09-16

military output and are urging that
every EFFORT be made to increase it.
For the full board to ratify the
principle involved would be to put the
fostering of unionism ahead of our
military necessities. This war will
not be won that Way.
Evening star., 1942-09-16

An ostrich egg, equivalent of
twenty-five hen fruit" is said to
make an excellent omelette. That
Is about the only way one could be
cooked. Only the late Paul Bunyan
could have possessed q skillet capa-
bic ef poaehtng Gna.
Evening star., 1942-09-16

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 1Driter, although the use of
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters Nth
a Ute1O to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-09-16

@. How did slogans originate?-P.
We.
A. The earliest slogans were war cries
or gathering cries of the Scottish clans.
@. How many airplanes were being
used by the Allies and Germans at the
end of the First World War?-C. T. H.
A. On July 30, 1918. the combined
Allied planes numbered 5,528, while en-
emy planes numbered 3,309 On Novem-
ber H. 1918, the figures were 67S4 and
1852, respectively.
Q. Why Is Latin used in church serv-
ices?-E. L. A.
A. Latin was used in liturgy because
1t was the only language OF culture until
far into the Middle Ages From the Sd
century Latin became the ordinary Ian
guage Of the Christians In Rome and
gradually displaced Greek in the west
ern church.
Q. How large Is a newborn bear?-
G. M.
A. A newly born bear is unusually
small, no larger than q rat.
@. When was the Big Ten Football
Conference organized7-C. Men
A. On February 8, 1896, representa-.
tives Of the Universities OF Michigan,
Wisconsin, Chicago, Northwestern, Iln-
nois, Purdue and Minnesota met at the
Palmer House in Chicago and drafted
a set of rules that formed the basis for
the present Big Ten intercollegiate
Conference.
@. Who was the king who crocheted
to pass idle moments?-D. A.
A. The French King, Louis XVI, Is
said to have been fond OF crochet work.
@. Who was the general ordered by
President Hoover to clear Washington,
D. c.. of the bonus marchers?-O. r. A.
A.. Gen. Douglas Macarthur, while
holding the office of the Chief of Staff
OF the Army was ordered by President
Hoover to clear the Capital of the bonus
marchers on July %, 1882.
@. What famous book was sold to pay
a landlady?-G. E. D.
A. When Oliver Goldsnith's land
lady had him arrested for falling to pay
his rent, he sent for Samuel Johnson.
johnson asked him If he had anything
that would discharge the debt, and Gold
smith handed him the manuscript Of
THE Vicar of Wakefield" Recognizing
its merit, Johnson took it to bookseller
and sold it for so pounds.
@. What kind of tree Is the smallest?
F. K. I.
A. A dwarf variety of willow is the
smallest tree. 1t grows l inch or less
IN height and is found only at high alti-
tudes in the Rocky Mountains, in Idaho,
Montana, and in a limited area in the
White Mountains of New Hampshire.
@. How old is the story of Cinderella?
j. F. N.
A. Long before the Christian era. a
version of the story was known by the
Egyptians, and it was familiar also to
the Greeks. 1t may be found among the
German folklore tales of the 18th GEN.
tury and in the delightful collections of
fairy stories of the Brothers Grimm,
The various English versions are adap-
tations of the narrative by Charles Per-
rault, famous French writer of fairy
tales.
@. Who was the first surgeon to wear
rubber gloves in the operating room?-
S. S.
A. DR.. William S. Halsted, noted
professor of surgery who died In 1922,
is said to have introduced the practice.
Evening star., 1942-09-16
Letters to the Editor
CriticiZes Gross Income Tax
As Most Unfair" to Payers.
To the Editor of Tho SfoY.


As Most Unfair" to Payers.
To the Editor of The Star:
have been reading reports in the
newspapers Of the proposed so-called
victory" taxa tax of per cent on in
dividual gross incomes lover $624.
This really is double income tax. 1t
is most unfair method of taxation The
whole system Of gross income taxes is
wrong, and its iniquity may be best illus
trated by an exaggerated example of its
operation.
Suppose a man has an income of
s50000 year, but after discharging
heavy mortgage interest liabilities, taxes,
etc, and after paying the regular net
income taxes including surtax, he has
left to live on and support his family
only $4,000. The per cent gross income
tax-amounting to $2,500-would leave
him penniless!
The foregoing illustration also demon
strates that the gross income tax bears
no relation whatever to the ability of
the taxpayer to pay it.
Although for many of us our gross in
come is now frozen, we are asked to buy
War bonds, to change furnaces wherever
possible from oil to coal burners at our
own expense, to insulate and weather.
strip our houses-also at our own ex-
pense-and now 1t is proposed to tax that
frozen gross income per cent.
Such tax should be rejected and a
sales tax enacted in it's place. A sales
tax has two great advantages: l. It is
fair to all, and each pays according to
his means. He who spends much pays
more than he who spends little. q 1t is
far less burden to pay little at time
than to have to pay large amount at
once. 1t is strictly pay as you go"
tax. take it no one would like to paw
the tax on the gasoline he uses for
year, in one lump sum. hope the gross
income tax never will be enacted.
Bethesda. CHARLES L. FRAILEY.
Evening star., 1942-09-16
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
Bu Frederic J. Hnsktn.

reader can get the dns,cer TO any
question OF Jnct by writing The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hosktn, director, Washington.
D. C. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
Q. How long has Reuters News
Agency oeen in existence?-B. I.
A. Julius Reuter-, Prussian, organ
lied his first news agency in 1849. based
upon pigeon post. In 1851 he removed
to England and became a British sub
ject. Reuters is one of the principal
newsgathering agencies in the world.
@. Which is the largest city In Africa?
&C. N. .1
A. Cairo, Egypt is the largest and
most populous city in Africa. 1t covers
an area Of about 8 square miles. with
1907, ,422 inhabitants.
@. What was the favorite character
in Alice in Wonderland" of the original
Alice?-M. S. A.
A. Mrs Hargreaves, the original Alice.
said that she always had a special fond
ness for the Cheshire cat.
Evening star., 1942-09-16

@. Who was the first surgeon to wear
rubber gloves in the operating room?-
S. S.
A. DR.. William S. Halsted a noted
professor of surgery who died In 1922,
Is said to have introduced the practice.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-06-18
J D a ] 5!sI1.sIIA:ls.9

Whether you realize it or not,
war nerves are affecting you
and the members of your
family. Don't add to this
strain the added burden Of
eyestrain caused by poor
light. Equip your home with
modern l. E. s. lamps, the
lamps that give clear, strong,
but careless light, scienti-
flcally correct for easy seeing.
A floor lamp such as the one
pictured above gives ample,
safe light for reading the
newspaper or knitting for the
Red Cross. Its diffusing globe
screens out harmful glare;
its Wide-spreading, w hit E.
lined shade let's the soft light
spread about the room. It
gives ample light for two peo-
pie to read or work by. Other
models include table and desk
lamps, junior floor lamps, pin
to wall lamps, and ceiling fix
lures. Be sure to look for the
|. E. S. certificate of COM
pliance when you buy lamps
and fixtures.
MONONCAHELA
SYSTEM