davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Government 10 Move
D. {. Floating Hotel
To North Carolina
Takes Over Amphitrite
To House Employees
Of Airplone Plant

Brought here some three months
ago to house District war workers,
the Amphitrite. Americas only
floating hotel, has been taken over"
by the Government for use by work
ers in North Cagolina, still un-
touched by Washingtonians, it was
learned yesterday
The War Shipping Board requi-
sitioned the floating hotel Friday.
1t was learned, to house workers OF
the Consolidated Aircraft Corp. In
Elizabeth City, N. c.
H. G. Bulkley, head of the AM
phitrite Corp, owners of the seago-
ing hotel, said today that the Fed
eral Government lust took it,
Il don't know what they are 60
Ing to do with it. l only know they
just took it. They said it was done
under the War Act
To expedite the chartering of the
ship by the War Shipping Board
and its subsequent use by the air.
craft corporation, the Navy stepped
in, but spokesmen emphasized this
was the Navy's only connection with
the move
Did Not Meet Fire Rules.
The floating hotel had as yet not
been opened for business because
it had not complied with fire and
other regulations. Robert H. Davis.
District building inspector, said a
sprinkler system had to be installed,
some stairways had to be inclosed
and other smaller Improvements
made before the hotel would be al
lowed to operate.
One official said. however. that it
presented the picture of a hotel
being moved to take care of an
overflow of war workers in North
Carolina when the housing situa-
ton was critical here in the Dis
trict.
The floating hotel, with all the
paiatial trimmings of an ocean
liner, is expected to begin the long
journey down the Potomac River
on its way to Elizabeth City, N. c.,
in few days" one official said.
No Papers" Are Signed.
The sea-going hotel probably will
be towed by commercial tug.
Elizabeth City is near the Virginia
border. Mr.. Bulkley insisted he
has signed mo papers for the
boats change of hands
Under the wartime laws, the
floating hotel could be chartered
as any liner or boat for the dura-
ton and either turned over to the
original owners or settlement
made after the war.
The craft was docked here at
Seventh and Maine avenue S.W.
1t had been brought from Fort Lau-
derdale, Fla, last September by Mr..
Bulkley. He was said to have done
thriving business there, but
brought it to Washington as more
lucrative field
The ship was built in 1862 as
the U. S. S. Tonawanah. 1t was
used in both the Spanish American
War and World War I. It's original
displacement was 1000 tons.
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Author of Questionnoires Says Writing Them
Is Much Harder Than Finding the Answers

plete with such questions as How
many miles are your present tires
good for?'
When the Statistical Standards
office released this questionnaire, it
was only half page long
They get some lulus," says DR..
Sells. Listen to this one: If status
of car owner changes with respect
to necessitous distance travelled, the
office of issuance mustf be informed
of such change What they meant
and what we finally said-was If
your right to a supplementary gas
ration changes, you must notify your
local board"
Looks for Right Approach.
DR.. Sells looks out for the right
psychological approach. 1t is pos
sible to suggest answers by the man.
ner in which you ask questions DR..
Sells tries to see that the OPA
missionaries induce people to tell
the truth
For instance, on the gasoline
QUESTIONABLE. there could have been
two questions like this: What is
Evening star., 1942-12-13
By ALFRED TOOMBS,


c. B. Lawrence is the man who's
in charge of writing questionnaires
for the OPA.
And if anyone thinks it's hard
to answer the questions, he says
they ought to try to ask them"
Mr. Lawrence is head of the Sta
tistical Standards Office of OPA
which is the quiz center of the
agency. He has on his staff a
psychologist. some statisticians and
economists and just enough stenog-
raphers to furnish an ideal proving
ground for questions of doubtful
clarity.
Half OF his job is to get question
naires out in an orderly. under
standable form. The rest of his job
is to keep questionnaires from COM
ing out. There are a lot of curious
people in the OPA and they pro-
pose questionnaires by the bushel
Mr.. Lawrence tries to hold them
down.
Must Be Understandable.
Writing questlonnaire is just
about as easy as carving the Gettys-
burg Address ON tine head of a pin
with post office pen, Mr.. Lawrence
says. You've got to avoid bi-modal
distribution. halo effects, statistical
stand -offs-and besides, the ques-
tionnaires must be understandable.
The psychologist on Mr.. Lawrence
staff is Dr. Sual B. Sells, who
has had experience i'll preparing in
telligence tests, ballots, question
nalres and the like. DR.. Sells has
to read all the questionnaires that
60 out of OPA.
There is a staff Of II men whose
job is to see that all OPA question
nalres make sense. They check
! over all the questions to see that
they are not ambiguous and to
determine whether they are neces-
sary. They cut out a lot of ques-
tions. simplify Others.
"The lawyers are t.le worst, 1t was
explained. They think that if a
question makes sense, it isn't legal
What we need is lawyers who can
write English
The first consideration in DR.. Sells
mind in studying a question is to
| determine whether it's written in
! the language of the man who will
answer it. Certain businessmen use
a language of their own. If you use
j their peculiar language in asking
questions, they'll get warm feeling
that you know what you're doing in
putting out questionnaire
Samples Tried Out.
. In questionnalres written for
ordinary citizens, DR.. Sells has to
make sure the language is under
standable to the average intelli-
gence. Sometime. he tries questions
out on the stenCgraphers. Other
times they send men out over the
country with sample questionnaires
which they try out on householders
selected at random.
On questionnaircs which they
want to be sure that every one can
; understand, they send samplers
down into the sl,,ms of Washing
ton.
When questionnaires are proposed
to us by operating units of OPA
there are some strange questions in
cluded. We try to cut them down
DR.. Sells produced a thick file
which contained four-page draft
of what was originally proposed as
the OPA questionnaire to be filled
out by every one applying for an
"A" card for gasoline. It was re-
Evening star., 1942-12-13
.Seryicemen Praise
Stuart Junior High
Leave Quarters
Gymnasium, Showers
And New Cots Enjoyed
By so Here on Leuve

Technical Sergt Ernest Flint of
Oakland, Calf, punched one of the
mattresses in the new servicemen's S
lodging at Stuart Junior High
School last night and beamed with
pleasure.
Its soft" he said. "Oh. boy
Then he walked into the shower
room and turned on the water in
one of the wash basins.
S. r. o. by Nine O'Clock.
ITS hot" he said. "Oh. boy"
Il guess this is going to be strictly
okay," Sergt. Flint said to Attendant
Dan Rosa as he laid his so cents
on the desk.
Fifty-nine other soldiers. seamen
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Two Deputies Named

ROCKVILLE, Md, Dec. IL (Spe-
cialD Sheriff Robert w. Farmer
has appointed Dorian F. Darne and
John H. Oldfleld special deputy
sheriffs for Montgomery County to
guard property during the war.
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Christmas Program

The Fairfax Methodist Church
Choir will present a program Of
Christmas and sacred music for
the benefit of the church organ
fund at 8 O'Clock tonight at the
church.
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Hospitality Committee.

More school gynasiums may be
opened to servicemen, according to
War Hospitality Committeeman
Winfree johnson. II the demand
continues as it did last night. The
committee, part of the Office of
Civilian Defense, arranged for the
use OF the school gymnasium. The
lodging is operated by the Welfare
Evening star., 1942-12-13

and marines decided the same thing
last night when they saw the rows
OF new cots, sheets and blankets
ready for them in the warm high
school gymnasium. An hour after
the Travellers Aid booth In Union
Station had started directing serv-
icemen to the school for a nights
lodging, all but 26 of the so cots
had been signed for. BY 9p.m. the
Travellers Aid booth had handed
out all Of its tickets.
Most of the boys did not come
to the school until they tired of en-
tertaining themselves in the down.
town area. A few, however, came
to the school early to sign up and
take shower before they started
downtown. Only four blocks from
Union Station, the school was de-
scribed by Seaman Frank Mady OF
Philadelphia, as "a dead cinch" to
find
Evening star., 1942-12-13

Laura placing a model of the German
battleship Trpz Davis 40 turning
out scores enemy ships the
the Taylor Carderock Md The miniature ships
and shore stations for identification study
-Of1cia U. S Navy Photograph.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-03-26
. BY NORTH CALLAHAN

pressed. Appearance, he Vas told, is
important in obtaining a job. AZ
ter this he was advised by a kind
official not to worry, that he would
be cared for. This greatly relieved
his youthful mind which, although
showing a lot Of bravado, was, as
the adviser well knew, perturbed
over what lay ahead. During other
talks, the boys background was
brought out. He was an orphan, had
little schooling but possessed honesty
and a personable eagerness which
greatly enriched his limited exper-
fence as a printer. Then, one day
Johnny was advised to look around
for q job and a suggestion given
him as to where to go. Of course,
in the meantime, officials of the
Boys Bureau had fixed things up so
that Johnny got his job, but he real
~ felt that he did it himself. He
worked there for several weeks,
staying at the "Y" and reporting re-
gularly to his adviser on his pro-
gress. They knew about it anyway
but wanted to hear him tell of 1t,
get his reactions and guide his
course. Eventually, this job in a
modern printing plant proved a little
too complicated for Johnny so he
asked to leave it. Knowing what was
coming, Boys Bureau officials in the
meantime had gotten him another
one. He was advised what to do m
the evenings for entertainment and
how to conserve his money. But
even though Johnny was feeling
much more like a man and 1ppreciat-
eded his new friends and associates,
he was also beginning to realize that
the way ahead for him was a long
one and there was much he needed
to learn before he really made good
in New York. Too, in spite of it
all, he was homesick. This was an
exciting and %glamorous big city. But
Il was not human enough to suit
him. He missed that walking down
20 the DIT drug store in the eve
ings and having a coca cola with
Bill or Jim or any Of the rest of his
buddies back in the old home town.
So Johnny told the men at the Boys
bureau he would like to go back
home. They understood. Soon at
EDWARDS, he was on the train bound
for the midwest, a much more serious
Young fellow than when he came. l
talked to Johnny before he left and
l feel sure that the Bureau did what
it should have for him. The effects
Of this kind treatment Of him were
plainly evident and sure to \be q
guiding factor j. his life ahead. To
top it off, the Bureau notified an
affiliated organization near Johnny's
home town to keep in touch with
him and see that he got along all
right.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-03-26

There is no more terrifying place
to a young newcomer than New
York City. OF course many of am
bilious youth upon first arriving
faces this town with a determined
smile, but nearly always this smile
is merely a bright covering for
fright. They must make
good, they vow over and over, until
the big city has beaten them down
and finally erased even this pleasant
countenance. When ! was a boy, l
eagerly devoured the Horatio Alger
books about New York. Hhe general
plot, as l recall, ran something like
this: poor Johnny Green, an orphan
has for some reason been left help
less in the Park by cruel guardians
OF k~idnappers who have brought him
here, far from his country home. He
shudders in the cold, under his
threadbare clothes, and with tears ir
his eyes, starts sadly toward the
nearest exit. Suddenly he hears a
noise, finds that just acros the
hedge an old lady is being attacked
by a bandit, rushes up and by his
boxing proves, drives off the bandit.
The old lady is so ecstatically CRATE
full that she brings the orphan to
her rich home to live, defends him
against the snobbish kids Of Park
Avenue, and gets him a job in her
nephew's big firm, where Johnny
finally becomes its president and
narries the boss's daughter.
But New York is not like this. /
doubt if it ever was. A newcoming,
homeless boy is a great problem and
there are many of them. Happily,
there is now an answer to this prob
lem. which l learned about through
actual contact with an example. A
young fellow in a mid-western town
decided he would quit his job as an
apprentice in a print shop and come
here - to make a name for himself
in the great city. So without much
ado, he did - and took off. He knew
nobody here, had only a couple of
names to telephone and when he ar
rived had exactly four dollars in his
pocket. His telephone calls brought
no results, so fortunately, he wen
TO the YMCA to stay. Here, officials
arned Of his plight and uncertain
future.
900
He was turned over to the Boys
Bureau of the Community Service
Society. This organization, which to
me Ia somewhat unhearalded, has
been helping homeless boys for ten
years. First, they told Johnny to get
a hair cut. then have his clothes
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-03-26

field wi, ha sizeable defense hous-
ing contract for q starter, as Lib
bey-Owens-Ford, the big glass firm,
had also Future license plates
will be merely "date tabs of four
square inches, fitting onto old
plates.
SOUND ADVICE-The 551-page
opinion in the famous aluminium
antitrust case, in which Aluminium
Company Of America was complete
ly cleared on a reported total Of
lao charges covering the firms So
year corporate lifetime, has just
come off the press, making it Of
ficial. Some things the trial judge,
Francis G. Caffey, had to say about
"stories people tell" bear quoting in
these days when loose talk can cause
so much damage. Witnesses who give
a judge trouble, the court comment
ed, Of what are sometimes called
wishful thinkers The. world is full
Of the type, and all Of as are fami-
liar with it. Where an individual -.
has a preconceived idea as to what
the facts are, he often testifies Sc
cording to his preconception rather
than according to the facts. Then.
again, We have had several wit.
nesses who yer extremely biased.
when we hear someone talking
loosely about the war. might it not
be a good idea to test what he says
against his Characterization by a
judge who has heard thousands testi-
fly under OATH"
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-03-26
BEHIND THE SCENES IN
AMERICAN BUSINESS

NEW YORK, March 23.-TAX-
WISE-While retail business buzzed
along at an even, but good, rate
GA per cent ahead of same period
last year for four-week's stretch)
and industrial production did like
wise. most significant new develop
ment was the attention given pro-.
posals that a retail sales tax be
part of the 1912 Revenue Act. Many
Of the 100000 Americans who
just filed income tax returns for
the first time-and many of the
10000 900 others to whom that ex-
%perience was no novelty but who
nevertheless got q jolt when they
sat down and figured out the actual
"tap"-now agree with those cong
ressmen who feel the income tax
rates already r pretty near the
saturation point. The solons are look
ing for some other means of helping
fill the war Golfers and at the same
time skimming off new purchasing
power. (The proposed 1912 Revenue
Bill, you recall, would APPROXIMATE
ly double income taXes.) The sales
tax idea most prominent now would
range from / to 5 per cent with
the smallest amount on major nee
e~ssities like staple foods and un-
fancy clothing, and moving up
through the higher percentages on
other goods in line with their de-
gree of 'non-essentiality." Washing
ton observers think a sales tax, in
whatever form, has a bare $3.50
chance of adoption.
ASSEMBLY-Exact statistics on
industrial production are coming
more and more under the head Of
strategic information" But Ameri-
can industry as a whole is producing
at a rate never before equalled.
Example of fast work: Iron Age
magazine reports that already the
low point in Detroit employment re-
sulting from the 100 per cent change
over of the auto industry to arms
manufacturing has been passed
At the SPRAYING. blacked-out. GRIM
ly guarded plant of Consolidated
Aircraft corporation near San
Diego, CAL, a button was pushed
set in motion the first con-
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-03-26
jackson, Miss,
March "a, 1912.

uoASAA q, AS4S.
Miss Hazel Brannon, Editor
The Durant News,
Durant, Miss,
Dear Miss Brannon,
Please let me extend my on
CALCULATIONS on the superb special
Food for Freedom edition Of THE
DURANT NEWS. 1t is a swell edi-
ton. n of the finest issued in
Mississippi. It is a credit to you and
a fine contribution to the Food for
Freedom program.
You did an excellent job Of edit
ing, reporting, and publishing. Sure
~ all of the people Of Holmes coun-
~ will be proud Of this edition. It
presents clearly, fully, and force
FULLY the whole Food for Freedom
program and to all who read it, it
must prove a real source Of inspira-
ton and information for achieving
the 1912 farm production goals.
IN behalf of the United States
Department of Agriculture and the
Mississippi USDA War Board, / want
to thank you for this fine service.
Likewise, we appreciate the splendid
support the business men of Durant
and OF Holmes county gave you in
issuing this special edition.
Very truly yours,
FRED J. HURST,
administrative Assistant.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-03-26

tinuous moving assembly line ever
10 be used in the fabrication of
giant four-engine bombers. Powered
assembly lines, of course, are moth
ing new in the aircraft industry, but
this is the first time that typically
American production technique has
been applied to a war-plane of any
such size as this one . it's bigger
than the Flying Fortress, contains
101,60 parts.
SIXTH COLUMN-Leading cam
didates for the label Of sixth col
umnists" are tire bootleggers and
chiselers, according to j. J. New
man, vice president of the B. F.
Goodrich company, who has sent q
special message to the public and to
nearly $4,000 representatives and
employees of the firm urging that
suspected violators. Of the rubber
rationing rules be reported immed-
lately to Federal or local authori-
ties. He said that illegal activities
Of this sort drain stocks of tires
and tubes which may be desperately
needed later for war workers and
actual fighting services. He exposed
several of the tricks Of the tire boot
legger's trade-such as smearing
treads of new castings with dirt and
grease so as to make them look
used, and putting phoney patches
on new tubes-and urged prompt
action by public and dealers in ex-
posing these cases, and stiff peanal-
ties for convictions.
BITS O. BUSINESS-Though the
squabble over s%uspending the 40
hour week law is subsiding,s don't
be surprised if there are some
changes in overtime arrangements.
Likely are: part payment of wages
above certain levels in war savings
stamps instead Of cash; elimination
of provisions in union contracts
for double pay on Sunday |
even when work done then does not
run the weeks total over 40 . Il
is a war-vital material pre-
serious supply problems.
Now the Government has advanced
funds to Freeport Sulphur company
Tor developing low-grade nickel ores
Cuba. where a subsidiary of this
'ame company some year has been
developing low-grade ores of man.
another vital strategic ma
crial Observation-Disclosures, the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES firm, is NOV
ng into the> prefabrieated house
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-03-26
DELINQUENT ADNALOREM TAXES
City of Duront, Mississippi

eiaa having beer made in the payment of municipal advalorem
M assessed against the hereinafter described property for the yea
= l. Mrs. .. W. Cresswen, Tax Collector Of the City Of Durant. Mis-
spp, vii within legal hours on the Goth day of April, 1912. {, the South
ssslpp, offer 10 sale, and sell to the highest bidder for cash. the fol-
door of the Mayors Office in said City of Durant. Holmes County. Mis-
lowing described lands, delinquent for municipal Advalorem taxes and
printers fee for the fiscal year, 1e4l, as the same appears of record
in my office, to-wn:
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-03-26

stitution says it is meant to do, then we would not have
the present system SO strongly entrenched upon us that
is exercising a strangle-hold on all American life today.
A great change is needed in Washington. Everyone
knows that. The only way to bring about such a change
without a revolution is the constitutional way as proposed
by Mr.. Swartz -. electing new Congressman.
It is to be devoutly hoped and prayed for that every
single congressman in the United States, up for reelection
this year, has opposition.
We need men in Congress who ore not afraid to stand on
their own feet, do their own thinking, forget politics and
everything else except winning this war.
We need to abolish the system we have now and
forget about it entirely. We need to let social gains and
privileges rest for the duration and until the war has
been won.
Our present Congress has lost its character in giving
a blank check and delegating its authority to one man,
becoming mere figureheads.
We need a new Congress.
The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-03-26

O0NWS TNeoVoN I'VE AIS MEN NAVE ecVeHT AND csgO
3 70 PROTECT THEIR HoAEs MEN AND WOMEN NAVE WORRIED
LONG ANo HARD 10 PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES -
TO GIVE THEM LovINe CARE WITH FOOD. cLoTles
MEDICAL ATTENTION. EoVcATio ON THE SECURITY
or LIFE INSURANCE, RECREATION
THAT GOES 70 MAKE a NOME.
Evening star., 1942-10-19
HELP MEN 3 WoMfN.
CONTINUED.

(Oontinued.)
TAILOR. colored or white. Apply Rig9s
ExCELLENTLY TRAINED household eou-
pie must be good cook. butler, etc.; ages
between IS and so preferable; must have
references and desire permanent home.
Excellent living facilities. Wages approx
Box 92-T, Star.
SPLENDID oPPORTUNITY for experi-
enced cook. counterman q positions): day
WORK. attractive salary, hours and work
TAILOR and finisher. Apply 4O2 9th
ST NV.
COUPLE coLoRED. 500 MONTH.
Experienced cook and general housework
chauneur- -houseman; D. C., references: live
in. Phone EN- 1875,
Evening star., 1942-10-19

AUTO MECHANICS
AND HELPERS
Needed at once for authorized service dept.
Ideal working conditions and hours. Must
See Mr. Peake, 45O5 Wisconsin ave. NV.
ROUTEMEN, FINE SALARY
AND COMMISSION. APPLY
IN PERSON, INDEPENDENT
LAUNDRY, 37OO EASTERN
AVE, MT. RAINIER, MD.
THE HECHT co. HAS EX-1
CELLENT OPPORTUNITY
FOR MEN EXPERIENCED
IN REPAIR OF CASH REG
ISTERS, TYPEWRITERS,
ADDING MACHINES AND
OTHER OFFICE MA
CHIMES. EXCELLENT SAL
AIRY. APPLY PERSONNEL
OFFICE, DAILY, $50 TO 6
Pm. AND THURSDAY, 1890
TO 9 PM.
LAUNDRY WASHMAN II
Steady job. Good pay. Dis
trict Linen Service Co., Sc L
st. Sc.
PERMANENT JOBS FOR
MACHINISTS OR MEN
WITH MECHANICAL ABIL-
ITY. MEN OVER 40 WITH
FAMILIES PREFERRED.
PHELPS-ROBERTS CORP,
1925 14th ST. NV.
MECHANICS, TO INSTALL
VENETIAN BLINDS AND
WINDOW SHADES. GOOD
PAY, PERMANENT POSI-
T1ON. APPLY MR.. GICKER,
AFTER II AM, THE SHADE
SHOP, $50 18th NV.
TRUCK DRIVER, white, for
long-distance moving; expe-
rienced in packing furniture,
$50 week and expenses;
steady position; prompt ad-
vancement;; references. Box
26-G, Star.
DRIVER, COLORED, EX-
PERIENC CED. APPLY
KAHN'S MARKET, SOL KEN
NEDY ST. NV.
BOOKKEEPER.
Fine mems wear store has
permanent position for an
experienced, draft deferred
man. Must be familiar with
retail inventory method of
bookkeeping. Executive abil-
ity and high degree of initia-
tive necessary. Excellent sal
ary and fine future. Apply by
letter in own handwriting.
LEWIS & THOS. SALTZ,'
INC,
1409 G ST. NV.
MACHINISTS,
1NCTPIINEEN1, READEDc