davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1942-01-15

Consumers Union has rated 40
brands Of muslin and pcrcalc
sheets. basing its judgment on
laboratory tests which show the
wear the sheets will give Best
Buy. and highest quality OF all
the muslin sheets tested. was
Wards Treasure Chest. at Sl24
plus postage. Next Best BUY was
Sears Guest Chamber at the same
price.
MECHANICAL PENCILS
Twenty-Five cents will buy you
good mechanical pencil, Con-
sumcrs Union found in recent
tests. SO or 81 will buy little more.
except for better appearance The
inside mcchanisms are about tho
same.
Whether YOU spend 25c or So.
you should buy with care Try out
the pencil to make sure there Is no
play at the tip. that the lead fits
we'll and is held firmly in the
movement. that tho entire length
NJ the lead can he expelled. The
movement should he easy to OPP
crate. Loading and unloading
should be simple.
II there's guarantee. read Il
carefully. Evcrsharps lifetime
guarantee for instance means
that you pay Csc each time the
pencil is to be repaired.
Best Buys OF the 20 models by
GU were: Wcarcvcr. 20c-25c;
Leeds. American and American
Supcrthin. each CSC. Most OF the
Toe pencils on the market are ac-
ccptablc only IL you are satisfied
to have no space for extra leads
MOTOR OIL
Motor oil does not wear out.
says Consumers Union. and does
not need to be changed every 1000
miles as the oil companies urge
For the average driver. complete
oil changes twice year. AZ the
beginning and end Of cold wealth
or. are adequate
The quality OF motor oil de-
ponds mainly on its viscosity
Those whose viscosity. rate Of
flow. changes least with changing
temperatures are the best In it's
laboratory tests Of % popular
brands. which covered viscosity.
flash point. gravity and volume
Gu found that a number Of 2oc-
CSC oils were better than others
selling as high as 35c a quart
Best Buys were Travclcne 20c per
quart in 2-gallon cans: Sears
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1942-01-15
YOURDOLLAR
BY Consumers Union
SHEETS: GOING IP

You're likely much in this wears
White Sales points Consumers Union January Prices
II muslin sheets have spite Of
big surplus Some brands have higher
Of the manufacturers who raised prices
Town quality the time This you
know something about quality before you buy.
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1942-01-15
WIN BIG RAISES

LONG ISLAND CITY. y. Y. 49,
ZIP - Raises totaliug $4,000. 900
annually for 10000 employees Of
Brewster Aeronauticsl Corp. are
provided IN new closed shop
agreement signed by the United
Automobile Aircraft Il Agricul-
tural Implement Workers. Go.
The boost is in the form Of a gem
eral Toe hourly raise. an additional
Sc increase next April and raises
In the minimum scales.
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1942-01-15
WHICH WAR:

The Thompson Products Co. OF
Cleveland advertiscs that its COM
pany union policy will help win
the war.
Somebody should explain to
Thompson that the war Is against
fascism, not against labor unions.
And what did q company union
ever win, anyhow:
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1942-01-15

NEW YORK. - FP 49, The first
two states to suspend application
Of labor laws to defense plants
for the duration Of the war were
Massachusetts and New York.
Other states ere expected to fol.
low suit.
The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1942-01-15

NoN'R DOLLAR Is regular
monthly feature 81 THE VOICE
nF LABOR The facts and opin-
tnus given are based on Consum-
err i'uiou Reports. the monthly
magazine Of consumers Union. II
Union So West. NYC. non
profit organization whose main
oni.,t is Ia safeguard BUYERS hy
testing and reporting on con-
sumter goods Note especially the
inform ion nu labor conditions
t'.d'r which products are made.
Evening star., 1942-05-13
Surfeit of Green

What shall do Uith all this green
that spreads
Across the awakened earth and
oUer trees
Which shake their boughs and raise
their loUely heads
ToUard the sky in every Ddgrant
breeze?
OUer the ground the grass is far too
rich,
And runs in silent pride, ,pith
coDerinq
OF lordly pelvet, uhere,pith to be.
mitch
Bare spots to beauty, for the eyes
OF Spring.
I had longed for the green, out non
cannot see
For all this dazzling emerald on
the face
OF earth, that is as strong a.
memory.
What ioas it last year gaze to green
ne,0 grace?
I call to May, for I am sure she
knoUs,
And, 10. before me Is a crimson rosel
MARY WILLIS sHELBURNE.
Evening star., 1942-05-13
Free Water

In recommending the discontinue
ance of free water allowances to hos
pitfalls and similar institutions and a
heavy reduction in the free allow
anceS for churches, District Budget
Officer Fowler presents a question
for public consideration which is not
unlike that involved in the proposal
to place hitherto exempt real estate
holdings of hospitals on the tax lists.
The recommendation with regard
to free water, as was also the case
with the tax proposal, is based on an
Interpretation of law which seems to
be correct if a strict construction is
to be made, but which contradicts
the Interpretation of the law applied
for many years. 1t Is certainly ques-
tionable, moreover, whether the pub
lie interest as a whole would be better
served if literal effect were given to
Mr. Fowler's recommendations.
In the case of churches there
would seem to be sound reason for
the proposed reduction in free water
allowances. The amount they are
authorized to receive was fixed at
time when water motors were used to
pump church organs. This need no
longer exists, however, and it is diff
cult to see why churches should be
authorized to receive free water
which they do not use, although the
question, in any event, seems highly
academic. But the case with nom
profit hospitals, for example, is diff
ferent.
They render definite and neces-
sary service to the community. Since
they are not operated for profit, any
increase in costs, such as a require
ment that they pay for water used,
would have to be borne by the resi-
dents of the community in one form
or another. The cost of free water
in such case Is, in effect, a subsidy.
What is the practical advantage to
be gained from eliminating the sub
sidy in it's present form if it will have
to be supplied in some other way?
If Mr.. Fowler is interested in OBJ
tanning clarification of existing law
to remove doubt as to the city'S legal
right to furnish this free water serv-
ice, then there is much to be said for
his proposal. But if his objective is
simply to require hospitals and COM
parable institutions to pay for water,
the proposal becomes a dubious one
at best.
Under previous interpretations of
District statutes, churches and hos
pitfalls have been tax-exempt. This
exemption extended to water taxes
as we'll as other taxes. The broad
question for determination is the
amount of tax exemption they are
to enjoy. Free water" is incidental
to this main consideration.
Evening star., 1942-05-13
Requiem

Those who attend the first preSen-
tation of the Choral Society OF WASH
ington Cathedral tonight never will
forget the occasion. They are to
hear magnificent performance of
the noble Requiem" which Giuseppe
Verdi, greatest of Italian composers,
wrote in 1874 to commemorate the
life and work of AleSSandro Manzoni,
the famous Milanese poet and novelist
who was his beloved friend. Glorious
in itself, the music to be offered is
assured of completely appropriate
setting. The score was written fer
the architectural majesty of Gothic
church. 1t is to be played by the
National Symphony Orchestra and
sung by soloists and chorus skillfully
trained under the leadership of Paul
Galloway. Cathedral choirmaster and
conductor. The ensemble probably
never has been excelled in Wash
ington
But this evenings program has yet
another significance profoundly
worthy of mention. 1t was arranged
by the Very Reverend ZeBarney
Thorne Phillips, dean of the Cathe-
dral and for many years faithful
friend to musical enterprise in the
Nations Capital, himself singer, a
pianist and an organist. The Choral
Society was organized under his
patronage, and naturally he had ex-
pected to be present when the Verdi
Requiem" was given. On Sunday
evening last, however, he suddenly
died His funeral is to be held at
Mount Saint Alban this afternoon,
and his ashes are to be enshrined
in the Chapel of Saint Joseph of
Arimathea. The threnody to be per-
formed tonight, therefore, in par
ticular sense will be memorial. One
to whom melody was supremely dear
will listen in spirit as it's beauty
| unfOldS
Evening star., 1942-05-13
BIuckout Flows

Last nights blackout was not with
out its flaws, and the greatest of
these was the breakdown of the
centralized communications system.
This was not the first time that
serious defects had been noted in
the emergency communications set
up, but it was the first time that
there seemed to be general agree
ment that something must be done
about it. After the initial total
blackout several weeks ago, Civilian
Defense Director Landis pointed out
that the present central clearing
house method of reporting sectional
disasters" had begged down hope
lessly and declared that communica-
tions should be decentraliZed in
city as large as Washington. This
view In favor of decentralization was
not shared by some local officials,
however, and the blackout last night
was intended largely as a critical
test of the message center
From the reports of official observ-
ers, national and local, there seems
to be little doubt that the existing
plan is wholly unsatisfactory. AS
the afraid rehearsal proceeded,
the control center soon became
jammed with urgent" messages
waiting to be cleared. Until they
could be cleared, action in the field
Of simulated rescue work, fire pro-
lection and disqualification could not
be started. In time of actual attack,
such q situation could have catas-
trophic consequences. Mr. Lands
says that experience in other cities
has shown that where large and
congested areas are involved, the
message control system must be sec
tionalized, just as police patrol work
Is divided into precinct operations.
Certainly no time should be lost in
reorganizing the local communica-
tions system so that it will be able
to function effectively under fire"
The fatal injury of a man in
Takoma Park, Maryland, by a car
driven by an auxiliary fireman
served to focus attention on the fact
that no uniform rules prevail re-
garding dimming or shielding of
automobile headlights during
blackout. Without presuming to
place responsibility for this first
serious blackout accident, an oppor-
tunity is afforded for study of the
headlight problem. According to
reports, the fireman was not speed
ing and was driving with cowl lights
on, Cowl lights were used on many
other officials cars last night. Others
had improvised shields or screens. A
few cars were said to have used no
special dimming or screening de-
vices at all. Civilian defense author
tiles say they have failed in efforts
to obtain an official ruling from
national headquarters on headlight
shielding, apparently because of
non-completion of tests now under
way. Priority difficulties with re-
spect to materials for shields also
have been encountered. Since hu-
man safety in practice as we'll as
actual blackouts is at stake, it is
to be hoped that this situation will
be cleared up promptly.
Evening star., 1942-05-13
From Gasoline to GirdIe

The conversion of the civilian
worker in the automotive industry to
the war worker has been drastic, but
the path usually has been clear
enough. If man formerly worked
on motors for pleasure cars, he still
builds motors-for jeeps, tanks and
planes. The outstanding exception
Is the filling station employe With
few tires to repair and mere trickle
OF gasoline to sell, how can he sur
vive?
The answer may have come from
st. Joe. A filling station manager
there, after suffering from blues in
the night, solved his problem by set
ting up as girdle repair specialist,
and is doing an expanding business.
Using the tools of his craft, he vul-
canizes patches, charging seventy
five cents for simple job and more
for a complex one involving expert
diagnosis. AS the rubber shortage
grows, so does the list of his Gus
toners. In fact, so successful has
he been that dozens of proprietors in
other towns have written him asking
how they, too, may stretch their in
comes. 1t is earnestly hoped that in
the interest of the profession he will
release any trade secrets he may
have, so that in time all filling sta
tions, regardless of other restrictions,
will be able to guarantee more smiles
to the gal.
Evening star., 1942-05-13
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trnce,UeH.

"A pair of cardinals, however, come to
the feeder at the front porch, and yes
terday Jenny and Johnny Wren took pos
session OF their own particular little
house outside the dining room window
We can't be sure they're really settled,
however. Is it another pair of wrens in
the pear tree house, or are Jenny and
Johnny trying to hold down two houses
at once?
Anyhow, they are behaving exactly as
YOU said they would scolding and fussing
about no end, carrying straws both into
and out of the houses, with great air of
accomplishment, very amusing.
And, by the way, several times have
noticed the male cardinal feeding the
female by mouth, or I should say, beak
to beak, with scraps from the feeding
shelf
rs this an ordinary custom?
Madam Cardinal seemed too tirnid to
come to the feeder, but stayed nearby,
and her spouse very CALAMITY took her a
generous helping.
Most interestedly yours, M F. P"
q
This communica ton shows very we'll
how helpless the bluebirds are in the face
of any aggression.
Often the tendency on the part of per-
the decline in the number of bluebirds
to the activities of English sparrows
The sparrows. it is asserted, drive the
bluebirds out of the houses put up for
them.
Our correspondent shows that other
birds also have a hand in this
The actions of the lone robin were
quite ungenerous, because no robin ever
uses a bluebird house.
Robins do not use man-made bird
houses, but only bird shelves. These
usually are constructed with three sides
open to the weather.
The robins build careless nest on the
shelf, and are able to fly into it from
any one of three directions.
They are not hole-nesting birds, in
other words, and would not use a blue
bird house We doubt If a robin could
get through the entrance of such a
house. At any rate, these birds never
nest in inclosed houses. They naturally
build in the fork of a tree, and so a
shelf is acceptable.
We imagine our correspondent has
two pairs of wrens.
When the male cardinal feeds the fe-
male. that is sign that the spring court
ship has begun.
A few other birds do this One is the
blue jay, but he is not nearly as gallant
about it as the cardinal
The female cardinal is not timid but
is merely allowing her mate to feed her
At all other times of the year she is first
at the feeding table Mostly it is the
male cardinal which is hesitant about
entering the shelf of feeding station
Often he perches on the roof a LONG
time before he gets up enough nerve to
enter, but his pretty mate flies straight
into the food.
The birds, and not human beings,
settle just how much living space" each
pair is to have. 1t is interesting to watch
how this is worked out In each yard.
Evening star., 1942-05-13
ALEXANDRIA,, VA.

Dear Sir.
1T is quite easy to believe that all of
your readers who have seen their own
contributions printed in your column
have enjoyed the experience very much,
especially because your own answering
comment was printed alongside. Such
was the case with me, but it must be
couple of years now since I had that
pleasure.
Our nome environment is rich in bird
life, and We all take much interest in
what goes on. We seem to be a way
station for stopover privileges for mi
grating bands of birds. We usually see
the robins in February or early March,
but this year for some reason they were
late, the bluebirGs arriving first.
"One afternoon we looked out to see
our large yard fairly carpeted with blue
birds 1t was impossible to count them
all. They kept fitting here and there,
flying up into the pine trees their blue
ness flashing in the sunshine.
Il wish every one could have seen
the sight. I counted Il in one small
patch alone. and am sure that there were
at least 40 in the flock, by conservative
estimate.
They STAYED but day or two, leaving
perhaps dozen lingering with us. We
hastened to put up birdhouSes, which
the boys made from odd bits Of lumber
and roofing We hung eight or nine
among the trees where we could watch
them from indoors, and tried to leave
a fair share of territory about each
house. remembering your advice in this
matter.
ITO our delight three pairs of blue
birds began making tour of inspection,
and two houses appeared to give satisfac-
ton, the bluebirds going in and out and
lingering near them at all. times.
The third pair couldn't seem to set
tie down and left us after few days.
Then one lone robin arrived on the
scene. I first saw him as motionlesS
lump sitting on a branch close to tree
trunk just below one of the occupied
houses I watched until he few to the
ground, then up into nearby sumac
bush
LAS he sat there, one of the blueblrds
popped out the door of its house, and
flew across the yard, friend robin giving
chase From then on that robin gave
the bluebirds no peace, but chased them
hither and yon from morning to night,
or so it seemed.
Il could scarcely believe it. Have you
ever heard of a feud between robins and
bluebirds? Both such friendly and
charming creatures, so we've always
thought.
Perhaps two weeks later a large
flock of robins came to the yard We
counted 35 of them. no mistake! There
must have been one without a mate.
They stayed but a few hours, leaving
a small number behind, who appeared to
like the locality. The last of the blue
birds finally disappeared, we don't know
just when, but alas, we miss them.
"At this date ore pair of robins seem
to be in possession of the whole yard.
holding it against all comers of their
own or the bluebird tribes
Evening star., 1942-05-13
Unlimited Cos

In time of war especially, when
all citizens are under obligation to
surrender cheerfuly their possessions
and their privileges to aid the war
effort, 1t is important that there be
no show OF discrimination as between
various classes of citizens. Thus the
fact that many members Of Congress
have applied for and received "X"
gasoline ration cards. emitting them
to unlimited amounts of gasoline, is
Immediately subject to the suspicion
of the ordinary citizen who cannot so
qualify.
CongreSsmen receive *" cards
under the proviso that the motor
vehicle in question is used For the
official business of Federal State,
local, or foreign governments or
government agencies" In other
words, a member of Congress is not
entitled to an *" card because he
happens to be member of Congress.
He is entitled to an * card If his
car is used for the official business
Of the Government. Under the sys-
TEN adopted for issuance Of gasoline
ration cards, the applicants word is
usually enough. If the member OF
Congress states that his car is being
used for official business of the Gov
ernment, he is plainly entitled to an
Anlimited supply of gasoline.
Many of the cars owned by mem
bers Of Congress are so used. And
before there is general criticism OF
members of Congress for making use
OF special privilege. they are to be
given the benefit of the doubt and 9
clear understanding Of the regula-
lions. For q member with an *
Evening star., 1942-05-13

draft reflections. A generation ago it
was almost truism that candy caused
dental carries. Now it is recognized that
the problem is far more complex.
Still it is suspected that a major
element is the formation around the
teeth of an acid film due to sugar
in the mouth This helps. at least, to
break down the dentine and allow what
ever bugs" are responsible for the
disease to feed freely. There is much
dispute over the whole problem but,
DR.. Koppanyi points out, recent study
has shown that the incidence of bad
teeth throughout the world Is almost
exactly proportional to the local con-
sumption of sugar.
Another frequent warning a genera
ton ago was that too much sugar would
cause diabetes. 1t now is recognized
that this is true only quite indirectly,
If at all. The disease is an excessive
accumulation not of sucroSe but of
blood sugar into which 1t is transformed
in the body due to some disorder of the
pancreas so that not enough inSulin,
the hormone essential for burning sugar,
is released.
The body has its upper limit of sugar
consumption and fat conversion and
storage. Any excess, consumed despite
the barriers of a failing appetite, simply
is spilled out by way of the urine. This
probably does little harm so long as
there is enough insulin to burn the nor
NAL supply. Still 1t is entirely possible
that long continued excess coupled with
slight pancreas hypofunction, will
have vicious circle effect and even-
tually bring on diabetes.
Evening star., 1942-05-13
Explosive Situation

The public has been given various
versions-all disturbing-of the tes-
timony submitted to closed session
Of the House Ways and Means Com
mittee Monday by Price Admins
traitor Leon Henderson. And since
Mr.. Henderson was talking about in
flationary trends-a matter in which
the country as a whole has a vital
interest-it is safe to say that by no
means the least disturbing aspect Of
his appearance before the COM
mittee was the creation of an i'm
preston that it would be better for
the people not to know his views on
this subject at this particular time.
No doubt there are good reasons