davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-09-25
Turnover in Government

Civil Service Commissioner Flem-
ming considers failure by the Gov
ernment to apply the principle of
compensation for overtime work-a
principle which elsewhere receives
enforced recognition by law-as one
Of the factors contributing to the
astonishing rate of turnover in the
classified civil service. This rate is
now running about 7 per cent a
month, or "a per cent a year, and
reflects personnel conditions which
are discredit to the employing
United States Government.
But Mr.. Flemming would be the
first to deny that the matter of COM
pensation for overtime is the only
factor or even the chief factor con-
tributing to labor turnover. The
chief factor undoubtedly is the lack
OF trained or skilled supervisors. Stu
dents OF government administration
criticized this weakness in the Fed
eral service even before the emer-
gency aggravated it a thousandfold.
Supervisors in the departmental serv-
ice too often conhne their energies to
reviewing the work of suoordinates,
rather than exercising the qualities
OF leadership and administrative skill
which such positions demand.
A great many of the tens of thou
sands of young women who have
come to Washington for war work are
living away from home for the first
time in their lives and working at the
first jobs they ever held. They come
to Washington and are assigned to
new agencies, or rapidly expanding
agencies, where unskilled supervision
places them in jobs for which they
are unified or leaves them twiddling
their thumbs for weeks with nothing
to do. Too many stenographers are
doing clerical work and according to
a repeated complaint, too many
clerks obviously have been mistaken
for stenographers. And while lack of
overtime. payment may be a source
OF some justified complaint, a more
pressing complaint in the past has
been an inexcusable delay in some
branches of the Government in paw
ing them at all. Such conditions,
together with the confusion Of over
crowded Washington and a normal
amount Of home sickness, lead many
OF the young employees to give up
and 60 home on the first available
train. One of the most significant
figures given by Mr.. Flemming in his
recent testimony before the Senate
Civil Service Committee was that out
OF 10000 employees hired since Pearl
Harbor in the departmental service,
117,000 were to fill vacancies.
The Civil Service Commission is not
unaware OF these serious and unsatis-
factory conditions, not susceptible OF
remedy by legislation, and is doing
what it can to overcome them. Some
real incentive for the heads of war
agencies to strive for minimums in
stead Of maximums in estimating
their needs would avoid much Of the
confusion due to excess personnel.
There has not been any consistent
effort to supply such an incentive
since the war began, or any evident
desire by the administration to
eliminate useless work or superfluous
employees. Careful or skilled admin
1stration under such conditions is
doubly difficult to achieve.
Evening star., 1942-09-25
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BY frederic J. Hdskin.

A reader can get the ans,oer to snx
0xestion OF feet BY writing The 1Us-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Hasktn, director. Washin1ton..
DC. Please tncIoss stamp for return
postage.
q. Why IL . sailors collar creased In
three places?-N. 8. d.
A. The Navy Department says that
when at sea 4 sailor never folds his spare
clothing, but turns It inside out. rolls 1t
tightly and slows 1t away IN his locker.
When unrolled for use the collar Of the
blouse is then creased In three places
and the trousers are creased On the ssdes.
The rolled clothing n stretched tightly
and a. rule no pressing b done.
@. To what extent have war ecnAl.
tions affected ths holding Of oonvsn-
tions3--I. 3.
A. II y rsportsd that aboxt y rR
cent Of the usual numh9 VII b held n
the felds Of industry, tzsds and peo-
LESSONS. .s
Evening star., 1942-09-25
The Great Issue

The great issue before the Senate
today is whether the Congress will
continue to function as responsible
and respected partner in the Amer
ican form of government.
There are but two courses open to
the members of the Upper Branch of
the Legislature. Yielding to pressure
from the farm bloc, the House has
approved new parity formula
which, by giving weight to the cost
of farm labor, adds 12.5 per cent to
the parity price which farmers may
receive for their products. If this
were to become law, the Nation would
be committed irretrievably to diSas-
trous imitation. 1t is unthinkable
that we should take such a step.
Two choices confront the Senate.
One is to reject the House measure,
and to work out a satisfactory pro-
gram OF its own, possibly along the
lines suggested yesterday by Majority
Leader Barkley. The other is to
surrender to the farm bloc, as the
House has surrendered, and thereby
force the President by executive
action to override the Congress.
It is not doubted that the problem
OF farm labor is critical one, nor
that a failure to deal with it would
be a f1rst-rate disaster in It's own
right. But the House action affords
no real remedy. 1t merely exposes
all Of the people, including the farm
ers, to the perils Of imitation without
in any way overcoming the critical
shortage OF farm labor. Because the
administration has done nothing to
correct this condition, Congress is not
justified in tearing down the whole
structure of our economy. Senator
OMahoney, himself a farm repre-
sentative, went to the heart of the
question when he said: Though
equity and justice may be on the
side OF those who say farm labor must
be included in the parity formula,
this is no time to stand on that right.
This is the time for statesmen to say
they will make concessions to achieve
unity"
The farm labor question can and
should be dealt with Independently.
It should not be used as an excuse to
wreck the cost Of living program and
precipitate an open break between
the President and the Congress.
If, through failure of statesman
ship in the Senate, this break is per-
mitted to rnaterialize, the President
will have to act. The people will de-
mand it, and he will do it. 1t is of
little moment now whether the Pres
ident or the Congress is primarily to
blame for the deplorable state of af-
fairs which confronts us. The in
escapable fact is>that we are faced
with an internal disaster in time Of
war. If Congress, having last clear
chance to act within our democratic
framework, should fail in It's duty,
the President, in the national inter-
est, would be compelled to override
the Legislature.
There is no doubt that this would
give aid and comfort to our enemies.
They would point to the spectacle
within the United States and say
that democracy-thep proud ideal for
which we are flghting-has proved
itself unequal to the demands OF a
great emergency. And, should this
come to pass, who would there be in
Congress to raise his voice and say
that they were wrong?
Evening star., 1942-09-25
VAN NESS STREET.

Lear SlT.
IT have been interested in your ar
ticles about the cardinal bathing When
I lived in Audubon Park, Louisville. I
had very dark slate -colored bird bath.
The bowl, taken of the pedestal, We
placed on the ground. We always had
the hose running very slowly into the
bird bath during the summer.
The cardinals bathed almost as often
as the catbirds, some sitting upon the
hose awaiting their turn. Ny back lawn
was large, so the bird bath had plenty
Of space around 1t.
TN my small yard here in Washing
ton. have low bird bath but it is
almost white. have never seen a cardi-
nal take bath in 1t. though I have
many come to my feeding station.
Your column is a great Joy to me.
Sincerely, H. r."
We advise all persons who have not
had success with their garden bird baths
to consider this question Of color.
While 1t Is not . fixed rule, by any
means, that cardinals and other species
will not come to pure white bath, there
is some ground for this belief that they
prefer darker colors.
Even the whitest bird bath tends to
become discolored. The green stain of
algae and various small MOSES In time
will take away from the pure white or
cream Of an average manufactured bird
bowl.
These changes may not be enough to
make the birds feel at home. Then, too,
there are other reasons sometimes why
these is the "feel' which various sur
roundings give the feathered bathers and
drinkers. Just what these conditions
are it is difficult to say.
Sometimes the observer is impressed
with the idea that shrubbery may be
too close. but then again he may dis
cover that bath in q neighbor's yard,
though surrounded by tall shrubs, is lib
orally patronized.
Again, bath in the center OF a wide
space Of lawn may not have any takers
IN one yard, whereas q similar bowl in
the very next one will be teeming with
feathered life.
All this is just another way of saying
that birds, like men. are capricious crea-
lures, and that one can never be sure
about them.
We believe with our correspondent that
darker colored baths, even Of dark
green or red color, will be more likely
! to attract birds and make them feel at
home than similar dishes in white or
cream, the standard favorites OF most
builders Of such garden furniture"
There is shade, however, Of cream
or white at which the birds draw nc
lines. This may be the result simply Of
| aging and weather.
Bird baths Of startling whiteness are
often seen standing starkly In the very
| center Of yard. Sometimes these are
Of metal which gets unbearably hot In
| the afternoon sun. Baths Of. such con-
Evening star., 1942-09-25

they have q valid reason for opera
ton. II, on the other hand, auto
mobiles are going to be condemned
arbitrarily and ruled of the streets
now under the rules which prevailed
last year, public sentiment will not
support their operation.
Evening star., 1942-09-25
Stipulates That Proponents
OF Change In Teaching Be Heard.


To the Editor Of The Star:
DR.. Gannons recommendation Is to
the revision Of high school instruction
on alcohol and narcotics Is meeting with
objection from persons who apparently
wholly misunderstand the question at
issue.
DR.. Cannon does not propose to
weaken the temperance value Of instruc-
ton on the effects Of alcohol, narcotics
and tobacco. He simply wants instyuc-
tion to embrace all the facts that science
has discovered and not merely certain
facts that paint only part Of the whole
picture.
He knows-as we all know-that boys
and girls of high school age are begin
ming to make their own decisions as to
what they shall do and that this genera
ton OF youth is realistic in It's point of
view and is not going to be Influenced by
information which they strongly suspect
is biased and not entirely truthful. DIR.
Cannon proposes that instruction on al
cohol, ETC., be based upon facts that will
appeal to young people as Intellectually
honest and worthy of their considera-
ton and respect. A well-balanced pres
entation of the effects Of alcohol, mar
cotics ard tobacco, with due reference to
the evils resulting from their unwise use,
unquestionably would have more effect
in promoting future temperate habits
than instruction that a pupil knows,
from his own observation, is neither
scientific nor temperate nor factually in
structive.
DR.. Gannon's recommendation is based
upon sound psychology. The recon-
mendation deserves earnest considera-
ton and the wholehearted support OF
every parent who wants his children to
receive instruction that will help them
to form temperate habits as they grow
up, rather than instruction, which, be-
cause OF its exaggerated emphasis on
the one phase OF evil effects" leads
young people to suspect that an attempt
is being deliberately made to deceive
them for special, supposedly moral,
purpose-an idea to which youth, par
ticularly youth Of high school age, re-
acts with scepticism and ridicule.
The opponents Of DR.. Gannon's rec
ommendation have asked the Board OF
Education to have 4 public hearing at
which they may formally present their
views. The same privilege, Of course,
viii Be given to proponents Of Dr.. Gan
nons proposal. This hearing o6ess a
Evening star., 1942-09-25

@. What part Of church Is the
nave?-B. B.
A. The nave is the great aisle leading
up to the altar. 1t is so called because
of its resemblance to a ship.
Q. What is meant by the Japanese
term "Showa"?-C. L. M.
A. Upon the accession of an emperor
q new era Is inaugurated. When Hiro-
hito came to the throne in 1926 the new
era was named Showa, meaning light
and peace"
@. Which President held the most
Federal ofices before becoming Presi-
dent?-N. T.
A. Thomas Jefferson. He was q menu
Der OF the Provincial Congress, delegate
to the Continental Congress, United
States Senator. Minister to France,
cabinet member and Vice President.
@. How large are slnspots?-R. v.
A. There have been some spots with
diameter Of $4,000 miles. Astronomers
regard as small = spot that measures
less than 5000 miles.
Q. Should bride rehearse her we'd.
ding?-D. v.o.
A. The bride supervises her wedding
rehearsal, but does not take part IN It.
A friend usually is asked to b her
understudy.
g. How fast did Paderevsh play3-
L. z. n. s,t 80. -.
A. In the fastest part Of the Hun
garian Rhapsody Paderewski was timed
at 26 notes per second.
Q. When was "Gray's Elesy" writteni
Was it . success?-C. M.
A. "Gray's Elesy," written in coun-
try churchyard. was first published in
1750. It vas an instant success and
before the middle Of the 18th century
had appeared in II Latin, Greek, Is
Italian, Is French and 9 German
versions.
Q. Are any persons drawing pensions
arising from the War Of 1Sl22-E. A.
A. One daughter Of . veteran Of the
War Of 1917 Is still receiving q pendon
A1U1u tIlc SVFeIu1ucuts
q. In which Of the national parks
are the most geysers found?-E B. o.
A. There are more geysers and hot
springs in Yellowstone than In al the
rest Of the world together.
Q. How often is a refrigerator opened
In q day?-V. r. E. ~
| A. 1t Is estimated that the refrigera-
tor is opened, on an average, 4s times
= day.
Q. Do tires deteriorate when not In
| use?-M. N. E.
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says tires deteriorate when left In. one
position under 4 load.
| @. Is the making Of wills an ancient
practice?-E. N. B.
A. A will, written on papyrus, and
prepared about BIC. 1850 In Egypt is
the oldest one known. BY its terms q
| priest left his property to fellow priest.
Both Greece and Rome had manuscript
| wills. In the 7th century wills In parts Of
Europe were written on bark.
@. What are some Of the most pop
ular songs of all time7-J. A.
A. The following compositions have
been the best sellers in music: TIL We
Meet Again" silver Threads Among
the Gold" Rose Of No Mans Land"
Whispering Missouri Waltz" Mar
cheta," After the Ball." Three O'Clock
IN the Morning." "Alexanders Ragtims
Band" and INV Rlue Heaven"
Evening star., 1942-09-25
New TsetameaG-With al the words
spoken by our Lord painted In red.

New Tsstamsat-With all the words
spoken by our Lord painted In red.
Also includes . mass Of supplement-
ary material such as harmony OF the
gospels, great periods Of Bible history,
and . specially prepared section Civ
ing the names OF trees, waters
mountains, musical instruments and
birds that are named In the Bible.
1t gives many important facts such
as the longest book and the shortest
verse. Printed on thin paper and
bound in flexible black cover. To
secure your copy inclose IS cents in
coin, wrapped In this clipping. and
mail to The Star Information Bureau.
Name
--------------------
Address
Evening star., 1942-09-25

The Jap press is full of praise at
the excellence OF Nippon's jungle
tactics in New Guinea-and dis
creetly silent on her bungle tactics
at Midway.
Evening star., 1942-09-25

There may be shortage of paste
for domestic and Office use, but be
assured that the materials saved by
this curtailment will be used to paste
the Axis.
Evening star., 1942-09-25

Germany offers Turkey the gift
OF friendship" chronological note:
The word gift" in the German Ian
guage, means poison"
Evening star., 1942-09-25

A much bombed British hospital is
now operated entirely underground.
This ID cutting overhead the hard
way.
Evening star., 1942-09-25
Tells Of Difficulties
|. or" Retired" People.
To the Editor Of The Star.

VI 'hetlred People.
To the Editor Of The Star:
On September 10 you printed letter
by H. j. w.. criticizing the Senate tax
bill from the middle-class angle. Being
one of the middle class I desire to say I
agree with him.
We, my husband and myself, have
reached retirement age. Our retirement
has not been increased and we find 1t
necessary to stretch it out by eliminating
some Of the necessities Of life. We owe
interest due on a mortgage. Now how
are we going to meet 1t If 5 per cent
OF our check is taken out before We
receive it7
MRS. H wa
Evening star., 1942-09-25
Asks About Problem
OF Stray Animals.

To the Editor Of The Star:
The number Of stray dogs and cats is
growing In Washington and vicinity at
most alarming rate. Not only do these
poor strays suffer by going thirsty and
hungry; they become diseased, develop
mango and distemper, and by 20 doing
they cause disease to spread and many
valuable animals that are kept at home
become infected.
II people do not want their "pets," Why
don't they either have them humanely
destroyed or take them to . society whose
very existence is for the protection Of
unwanted animals?
Every dog lover knows the dreaded
disease distemper is.
Can't something be done about the
increasing number of strays?
A. w. M.
Evening star., 1942-09-25
Letters to the Editor

/ Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the 1oriter, although the use OF
a pseNdonyn1 for publication is
permissible. The Star reserDes
the right to edit all letters Nth
uie1C to condemnation.
Evening star., 1942-09-25

in the high schools, and 1t is greatly to
be hoped that parents and others In
terested in securing the best possible
education for the youth Of the city will
not permit DR.. Gannon's opponents to
win by default.
ELIZABETH LIVINGSTON,
President, Repeal Associates.
Alleges Mistreatment Of Protestants
In Spain and Urges Protest.
10 the Editor Of The star: .
was very much interested In the let
ter signed anglo American" regarding
the persecution Of Roman Catholics and
other denominations In the European
countries under NaH and Fascist control
But think "Anglo-American has for
gotten the plight OF Spain. Just the
other day In . little magazine called
Sign Of the Times I found an article
entitled Persecution OF Protestants" in
which 1t Is stated:
According to the International Chris
tian Information Service in Geneva,
Switzerland, the persecution Of Protes-
tants in Spain is open and finds express
sion in the following ways: Protestant
workers are denied employment and can
not obtain government help; Protestant
peasants 1ind it impossible to sell what
they produce; Bibles have been banned,
the reading OF the Bible has been pro-
hibited; Bibles belonging to individuals
have been confscated and, except in
Madrid and Seville. Protestant churches
have been closed.
THE time to awake the conscience of
mankind against the suppression of
Protestants in Spain is now. Spain is a
country with which tne United States
Is on friendly terms. We are supplying
the Spanish people with necessary goods.
And one Of the war aims enunciated by
President Roosevelt is freedom OF re-
ligion. These are reasons which ought
to prompt us to petition our Government
to intercede for our Protestant brethren
In Spain.
But there is still q better reason.
1t Is our tirm belief in the principle of
freedom Of conscience which was written
into the Constitution Of the United
States and without which there Is not
even the senablance Of anything that
may be called democracy.
IT we value this principle for our
selves we must value it for others, too
even to keep it for ourselves. For we
have learned that the lightning which
strikes against liberty today in one part
Of the world has 4 way Of striking
against it elsewhere In the world-and
soon.
Here Is . test for Christians and
Americans. We cannot dismiss this mat
ter BY assuming that 1t ID none OF our
business. 1t Il occurring In land which
Is only . days journey away BY clipper.
We have moral responsibility here. We
shall shirk 1t to our peril. We shall
undertake It to our advantage and for
the good Of man evsrywhars who love
liberty" An AMERICAN.
Kodiak mirror., 1942-07-18
".p. .Bat gopernnent of he people, by the people
 for e people shall not perish from he eartb -Lfnoon

them the way it pears to me We never bothered them at all;
 we just let 'em be, Course when Hitler bombed
 Great Brltian we began to help
 a bit,
 Guess it made him sorta mad,
 'cause he sure did have a fit. An the Japs were flghtin' China,
 the reason I don't know, Though I'm sure it was bad one;
 Pop says Japs are low, But ain't a bit afraid, we're
 gonna beat lem all, Mom says God is on our side,
 our nation will never fall! And our presidents smarter'n
 Hitler, he always does what's
 right
 But golly! The Japs were bomb
 ing us, we just had to fight, If brother has to go to war (Mom
 says she's sure he'll go) You can bet your life that all of
 us will be proud of Brother
 Joe.
 Brother Joe is proud of Bonnie Jeanne, too, and the poem she wrote and sent him, which would make anyone proud. Incident ally, Brother Joe" IS Joe Adair, well-known member of the Sig nal Corps, stationed here.
Kodiak mirror., 1942-07-18

for 6 'parachutesp reported descending in an area near Roose- velt's Hyde Park estate was re- newed at dawn, but the belief was expressed that they may have been festival balloons.
 A farm superintendent report ed sighting the parachutes late yesterday. A small army of mil itary and F B I police arrived at the scene, but postponed the search after townsfolk advanced the theory that the aerial objects were ballons sent aloft by a group celebrating a religious hol- iday.
Kodiak mirror., 1942-07-18
Kodiak Diary
(continued from page D

ested in knowing how easy it was to get. He applied for it one day and received it the next. We're still wondering why someone wanted something printed about Stan Nelson starting a "harem". A local clerk, going into his cust, omary salestalk describing an Identification necklace, told the negro customer he was showing it to that " it absolutely would not turn the neck black. The clerk didn't notice the break and neither did the customer, who bought. That cute baby picture Tn the window at Helsel's is of the progeny of the Basil O'Neils ...Jorgen Fredrickson, who had a front seat at the bombing of Dutch Rarbor, is back, but it won't do you any good to try to try to find out how he got here Kraft's Mems store has been en- larged by the addition of a new stock and display room at the rear of the store, .Christy's Bake ry IS getting a new facade and marquee via the carpental artist y of Henry Wolff and Norris Porter. Kodiak Jewelry has a newly-painted sign proclaiming it,. With 7 of Kodiak's school teachers quitting, where'll they get new ones?
Kodiak mirror., 1942-07-18
Finnish consUIs

Continued from page D land" American legation offices in Helsinki and Finnish legation in Washington remain un- changed.
 The announcement did not mention Finland participation in Germany's war against Rus sia. Finland maintains IA con- sular offices in the U. s. and ter ritories.
 Rhinecliff, N. Y. (R) Search
Kodiak mirror., 1942-07-18

MT. and Mrs. J. A. Brophy arrived here recently from the Imperial Valley, California, and MT. Brophy has already taken up his new position as manager of the Kodiak Cash Market, re- placing Vic Mathews, who left last week for Anchorage. Mrs. Brophy will be employed as clerk.
Kodiak mirror., 1942-07-18

The following poem was writ ten by Bonnie Jeanne Adair. 13 years old andis called "A Child's Version of War;:
 1 can't understand bout war n
 all that stuff, But 1 know the Japs n Germans
 are treatin' us awful rough, Now we were pretty good to
Kodiak mirror., 1942-07-18

Mrs. Vera Pierce this week sold her interest in the Kodiak, Bottling Works to H. c. Bett- finger, who will operate as a partner with Lee Bettinger and James Pierce, who have been connected with the company since it's inception.
 - Mrs. Pierce left by plane later in the week on a vacation trip which will include stay at Anchorage, Seattle, and Cor wallis. the Pierce's former home.