davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-03-15
Investigating Accidents

Surprising and puzzling is the rec
ommendation of special police COM
mittee that the Police Departments
accident investigation unit be abol-
ished and that the job of checking
on traffic accidents be returned to the
precincts, subject to the under
standing" that the unit is to be re-
established on squad basis IF and
when personnel becomes available"
1t has been rumored for some time
that move was on foot to do away
with this important unit, but, in view
of the fact that traffic accidents are
on the increase, with fatalities run
ming far ahead of last year. and
because the need for investigation
is correspondingly greater, it was
hard to believe that any serious at
tempt would be made to interfere
with the creditable work which In
spector Arthur E. Miller's group has
been doing.
The committee seeks to justify dis
continuance of the unit largely on
the ground that the units record of
performance has not been COM
pletely satisfactory" Presumably
this was in reference to the fact
that the unit has not been able to
investigate more than about two
thirds of the accidents which occur
In Washington This has resulted,
of course, in incomplete statistics
and analyses for use in prevention
studies. But when it is considered
that the rapidly growing city of
Washington has fewer officers and
less equipment engaged in accident
investigations than some comparable
cities-leSs than half as many men
and a third as many squad cars as
Cleveland, Ohio, for example-the
handicaps under which the local
unit has operated become apparent.
Despite these handicaps the rec
ords show that traffic convictions
have increased markedly since estab-
nshment of the unit and that espe-
cially meritorious service has been
rendered in hit-and-run cases. Sci
ence and intelligent detective work
have proved effective in solving
number of difficult hit-and-run cases.
With adequate personnel and equip
ment the unit reasonably might be
expected to improve its commend
able record OF service to the COM
munity. II, as the committee ind-
Gates, the accident investigation unit
Evening star., 1942-03-15

An author has taken the above caption
for the title of an engaging book. Back
Pastures" Is reminiscent of a few years
we spent on q farm in our early youth.
1t was common to the farmers of that
day to regard back pastures as the least
desirable and attractive parts OF their
properties. Frequently these spaces were
partly wooded. sometimes they were
stony and marshy in part and not sus-
ceptible to cultivation, or the soil itself
was unproductive except for sparse parts
where grass grew. hence 1t was given
over to pasturage. Now and again more
enterprising farmers would, with much
sweat and toll, redeem portions of this
neglected property and ultimately bring
1t under cultivation.
Doubtless there are millions of acres
over this broad land that today are
neglected and unused and that bear no
produce of any kind because no one is
willing to work for their redemption Re-
Gently We visited such place, a
property Of some 300 acres, and on ask
ing the farmer how much was under cul-
tivation, he told us that there was less
than hundred acres. The major part
OF the land was wooded or was used as a
back pasture. especially for sheep. The
early pioneers were less prodigal than
their modern descendants They hewed
down the forests, restored waste lands
and in due course made them fertile and
caused them to blossom as the garden
Of the land
We find in these neglected back pas
lures an analogy of much of life. The
scientists tell us that large areas of the
brain are uncultivated and unused; that
our thinking, rationalizing faculties are
used only in part. The athlete in train
ing undergoes stern and exacting dis
cipline that he may fit himself for a
given contest. His diet, his every habit
Is supervised and directed with only one
end in view. complete fitness. The same
Is true OF the men in the services. They
come to their tasks soft and weak in
muscle with much of physical impair
ment, but the exactions and regimen of
camp life soon effect amazing results.
They learn under hard discipline to be
ready for the most exacting service.
Economy in the use of life is a hard
lesson to learn. With most of us there
are faculties and talents that are un-
Evening star., 1942-03-15
The MeIIett Controversy

The controversy over Lowell Mel
let's proposed information center,
when brought down to It's essentials,
revolves around two principal ques-
tions.
First of these is whether the new
building, planned to house Mr.. Mel
let's Office Of Government Reports
in its entirety, should be constructed
at all. The proper answer to this
question certainly would seem to be
in the affirmative. Whether occupied
by the information bureau or some
other Federal agency the more than
$4,000 feet Of floor space which would
be provided undoubtedly will be
needed by the Government. Since the
structure Is to be temporary in char
acter there can be no valid objection
to the site chosen for it. and appar-
emily 1t Is not contended that the
cost-$600, ,000-is excessive for the
size Of the building, which under the
contract must be built in thirty days.
AS to the second question-whether
the proposed information center is a
legitimate undertaking or simply a
waste Of time and money-there Is
room for honest difference of opin-
ion. 1t seems, however, that there is
one consideration which should con-
troll this phase of the matter. The
information center, like anything
else ultimately subject to congress
sional control through the power Of
appropriation, can be tested by the
trial and error method. If, after a
fair trial, it should prove unnecessary
and wasteful-as its critics contend
would be the case-it need not be
continued. The cost Of such a trial
would be slight, for the building could
be used by another agency. On the
other hand, the proposal may live up
to the claims Of its sponsors. 1t may
prove to be an important factor in
saving money and in saving time
both for Government officials and
the public. If that should be the case,
the sooner 1t is started the better.
At his press conference Friday the
President put himself on record in
this respect. He said that the build
ing is being constructed in good faith
as an information center, but that if
it does not work out and is shown to
be unnecessary, the space will be
given to one of at least ten other war
agencies now clamoring for addi-
tional office room.
With the President-the sponsor of
the plan-committed to this sensible
attitude, it is difficult to see why the
information center should not be
given reasonable trial.
Evening star., 1942-03-15

States in two years can do what Germany
did in seven or eight and what Japan did
in ten. Then, If bases Of operations re-
main, some powerful blows can be re-
turned to those who gained their ad-
vantages by attacking unprepared foes.
In the meantime Japan probably will
be harassed by American raiding efforts
and a start may be made in occupying
some of the outposts from which the
japanese now operate to cut supply lines
in the Pacific. 1t would not be surprising
If Japan received some rather heavy air
assaults. And if Russia comes in. the
whole strategic picture may change to
Japan's disadvantage, providing this
country can find way to supply the
Russians with war materials.
What the Japanese almost surely will
discover in the end Is that while they had
an easy time conqueIing an empire, they
are to have q dificult time holding it.
An American victory will carry with 1t
an end to that empire.
Evening star., 1942-03-15

sidering desirability and suitability,
it is to be hoped that full weight will
be given to Federal investment in
the Mall. to safety factors. to avail
ability Of other publicly owned or
privately owned sites and to avoid
ance of needless encroachment on
carefully planned park areas. Wash
ington has not forgotten that it took
from ten to fifteen years to remove
most Of the dormitories and so-called
temporary office buildings left over
from World War I.
Evening star., 1942-03-15
Capital SideIights
By Will P. Kennedy.

With dates announced for State nom
mating primaries for the coming con-
gressional elections. there Is special in
terest In a new publication compiled by
H. Newling Megill under direction of
South Trimble, clerk Of the House. Con-
tanning regulations Of the various State
Legislatures prescribing congressional
districts m accordance with the Appor-
tionment Act based on the 1910 census,
this booklet soon will be revised to in
clude Pennsylvania which has just taken
action, and possibly New York State,
where action is pending These regula-
tions are effective for the approaching
Seventy-eighth Congress. Thereafter
there will be automatic reapportionment
The first of the State primaries is sched-
uled in Illinois April IA; the four States
Of Alabama, Florida Indiana and South
Dakota will have their primaries May S,
and the others run along until Septem-
Der IS.
Mr. Megill. now in his 22d year Of serv-
ice for the House, has just had unique
distinction. in that he signed by author
ity of the House. in the absence Of Clerk
Trimble, the largest appropriation bill
ever passed, approximately 331a billion
dollars. Harry came to the Capitol as a
page boy. and promptly was taken un-
der the wing of William Tyler Page. the
outstanding veteran and mentor of Cap
itol Hill.
"A Vermonters Philosophy" was given
the other day by Representative Charles
Plumley, former college president, gen.
eral counsel and tax attorney for one Of
the biggest tire companies in the world.
When asked why he didn't reply to GER
tain attacks on him with respect to his
attitude on defense legislation, he said:
II always try to remember what my
father once said to me: Charlie, no one
but gentleman can insult you. and no
gentleman ever will That saves me a
lot of breath and time"
The distinguished elder statesman who
recently has attracted much attention at
the Capitol with his snow-white hair and
dignified bearing is not recognized by
the younger members, who were born
since he served in the House. There is in
Congress today no man who served with
him. The dean OF the House Represent
ative Adolph j. SABBATH. came in four
years later and Senator Ellison D. Smith
Of South Carolina came two years after
that. SO Joseph A. Conry, who volun-
tarily retired from Congress In 1908, and
who later was Consul of Russia, and SUBJ
sequently served as director OF the port
Of Boston, was agreeably surprised when
a gray haired veteran Of many years
service at the Capitol introduced him.
self and thanked Mr.. Conry for his as
sistance AZ years ago in getting him a
job just after he graduated from college.
Mr.. Conry has been living for about
year at the Cosmos Club, is engaged in
research and is especially interested in
civilian defense
Evening star., 1942-03-15
Allied Naval Defeat

There is no use blinking the fact
that the naval forces Of the Allied
Nations suffered a major defeat in
the engagements fought with the
japanese off the Java coast on the
9th and 28th of February. Accord
ing to the communique issued yester-
day, the Allies lost five cruisers and
seven destroyers, including the
U. S. S. Houston and the U. S. S.
Pope. There was no reference to
damaged Allied ships. On the other
side of the ledger, it is only claimed
definitely that the japanese lost one
cruiser and one destroyer. Six more
enemy warships, cruisers or destroy
erS, were said to have been damaged,
but they may or may not have been
sunk. In terms of relative losses, this
is japanese victory Of the most
decisive character, and it is easy to
understand why Java should have
been overwhelmed so quickly after
the naval engagement had been
fought.
AS a result of the battle in the
Java Sea it is only reasonable to
suppose that the japanese are in
undiSputed naval control of the
Southwest Pacific. What this may
portend for Australia and India re-
mains to be seen, but there is little
reason to suppose that the Allies
have sufficient naval strength left in
that area to engage the enemy on
India should be attacked, the burden
of the defense may be expected to
fall on the air and ground forces.
In reviewing this heavy blow to the
Allied cause, there is some consola-
ton to be derived from the fact that
the American, British, Dutch and
Australian units unhesitatingly en-
gagged superior enemy forces. From
the long range standpoint it might
have been wiser to have avoided the
engagement. assuming that the
Allied units could have escaped from
the trap in which they seem to have
been caught, but In any event it
cannot be said that the Battle of
Java was lost as the result of any
defense complex" The Allied force
sought out and attacked the enemy,
apparently with some success in the
initial stages of the fight. Accord
ing to the communique, 1t was after
the enemy had broken off the early
engagement that the Allied fleet
suffered serious losses, presumably
at the hands of japanese submarines.
Here, evidently, is further proof
that battles are won by the side
which is able to bring superior force
to bear at the critical points Of COM
bat The japanese should be given
credit for the skill with which they
seem to have conducted their opera
tions. but the fact remains that the
Allied fleet, on the basis of the COM
munique. was the weaker in fire
power and in total number Of ships
when it steamed out to give battle.
If we are willing to pay the price
we may whittle down the enemy's
strength by these tactics, but 1t is
futile to expect victories until we
can reverse the existing order Of
things and deprive our enemies Of
the superiority which they enjoy in
ships, guns. planes and tanks.
Evening star., 1942-03-15

is worth re-establishing in another
form when more men and cars be-
come available, the proposal to abol-
ish the present system even tenn
porarily is lacking in logic. All in
all. the natural conclusion would
seem to be that the units activities
should be considerably amplifled, not
curtailed or abandoned.
Evening star., 1942-03-15
Little Toxpoyers Needed
Prom the Cleveland Press.

On basis Of our normal budget for the
year-leaving out the billions for war
If every income over s1o0. 900 a year were
conflscated land that includes the Du
Points, the Rockefellers, the Melons and
all the other fat ones), the amount col
lected would run the Government only
10 days. II every income above $4,000
were condscatsd-i10d days.
Evening star., 1942-03-15

The War Production Board an
nounces that limitations being con-
sidered in women's wear deal mainly
with setting maximum lengths and
sweeps of garments. Any ruling as
to maximum length could not come
at a better time than this, thank
goodness!
Evening star., 1942-03-15

General Forrest said that strategy
was "gitting thar fustest with the
mostest men" Yet General Forests
side eventually lost war by reason
of the fact that the enemy got there
second, but with still more men.
Evening star., 1942-03-15

Mr.. Henderson says that imitation
would be the greatest enemy" Of
the United States. Leon might have
added that it also starts its wars
without declaration.
Evening star., 1942-03-15

II the Axis powers should, by any
chance, conquer us, would it not be
appropriate If the last remaining
American institution destroyed by
them were q picket line?
Evening star., 1942-03-15

The smell of gasoline is never very
attractive, but these days Americans
will do we'll to use it almost as spar
ingly as they do perfume.
Evening star., 1942-03-15

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to it or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
AL rights OF publication of special dispatches
herein also reserved.
Evening star., 1942-03-15
Member Of the Associated Press.

Entered as second-class matter post offic
Washinston. D. C.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-13
Copper Penny
Goes 10 War

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. II CUP).
Leasing J. Rosenwald, director OF
the War Production Boards con-
servation division. said today all
copper pennies in circulation would
he reclaimed 10 put their vital
metal to war needs and the coin
would be replaced by a zinc.coated
steel substitute. The Senate YES.
terday completed action on legisla.
ton permitting the coinage Of
scent pieces and pennies from
STEEL
The pennies soon will be steel
In a zinc coating" he told fed
eral war agency officials and
newspaper publishers az a lunch
con. "All the copper in the coins
now In circulation will be re-
claimed, remelted and sent 10
war"
RoSenwald also said the nations
steel mills would produce "proba-
bly, IN excess Of 9OOO0OOO tons in
1913 anti that salvage campaigns
must hc continued TO build up an
inventory Of scrap totalnc al least
GOuO,pHO tons by January I.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-13
NeW and Powerful Drug
Helps to SaUe Wounded
Photo by International News Photos
ny UnIversal Service

virtual rivers Of which have been
donated by patriotic American
men and women. II has proved
useful in cases OF
shock due TO wounds.
Ambulance planes. some large
enough 10 accommodate 40 patti.
ents, with complete facilities for
advanced first aid, are in use at
sea and on land.
Flying jeeps with one or two
patient capacity and with ability
10 land and take off from a pocket
handkerchief are the front line"
first aid stations Of World War IL
Both in the air and on the
ground army and navy doctors are
in the thick Of every fight. The
medical service had the highest
proportionate death rate of any
branch in the armed services in
World War l.
Every parachute unit has its
flying doctor who drops to earth
carrying kit Of shining instru-
ments instead Of a tommy-eun.
A doctor crouches with grim.
faced troops in commando
barge. Soldiers Of medicine leaped
to. shore with the first doughboys
10 set foot on North Africa.
Some Of the barges, in fact,
carried red crosses on top and
sides Before advance hospitals
could be set up ashore hospital
barges we're ready to ferry
wounded back 70 cleaning operat-
ing rooms and sick bays aboard
ship.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-13
n 0 or II P. M. Curfew
Advocated for Girls

l' = 'o ?. m or IN ID p m. ~
? n.dniG5- cNticw FOR girls under
.. io' example, the way 70 com.
hai tho p na u = ASSOCIATION oi
adoi' scent : us win o.4cr mcn7
VIII 70 hcu prevent park 'r0-
names WIN their frequently
tragic at'cnr5'h' viii 2 haI' 't.
crimua assaults ard ,.ayIngs o.
Young girls. VIII n S'cm 're rise
NJ tide OF runaway girls so eager
for adventure and excitement IN a
time Vbc1 adventure excitement
and dangerous living mark the
tempo Of tho ra'lou7
WthIn recon, months ,he tide
O. violence has risen 70 flood pro-
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-13
Tip Puts Toronto
On Nazi Fugitive Hunt

TORONTO Dec - CUPD-
Toronto police hunted Siegfried
Schmidt escaped German prisoner,
today on word Of several citizens
who said they had seen a man
resembling Schmidt buying ciga.
rcts In downtown cigar store.
The suspect FASTENED out OF the
store vs. hen the proprietor st.
tempted 20 question him. Schmidt
with six other Nazi prisoners
escaped from Gravcnhurst prison
camp last Tuesday night His CON.
psnions have been recsptured.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-13

y, \ & II Y y 8 T @ ~; Dec Ia
United States soldiers. sailors and
marines are safer from death by
wounds and illness than ever be-
fore in history
Those modern miracle workers,
tho medical men have seen 10
that.
Backed by native skill. an ex-
cCparN and thorough training
an organization without a peer IN
any other army nr navy. and with
new scientific discoveries AZ their
command they have reduced the
mortality rate 10 a figure aston
ishinCly low
Surgeon Gen. Ross r. MCIntire
OF tho navy recently revealed that
loss than I per cent Of the men
wounded M the Solomon Islands
failed -receNnr--
Sickness in the army and navy
is at an all-time low and is stead
lily decreasing. Not a single cpl
dcmlc has swept through the enor-
mouSly enlarged army at home or
abroad
Responsible for this superb rec
ord arc years Of study. research.
development and fsr-sighted prep
ara'ion
But now drug. which is ap-
parcnily 100 times more potent
AZ A Eerm-killer than the sulfa
group. is being employed with in
crcasing frequency.
Called Pencillin II is effective
In dilutiouS as great as one part
IN 100 millions,
Furthermore, the new drug is
free from many If the harmful
or distressing qualities of the sulfs
drugs
Thousands 81 soldiers and sail
or- owe their recovery 10 tho
~peody TRANSMISSION n blood plaSma
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-13
GiIIies 10 Install
Masonic Officers
Photo by international Kew, Photo.

Don Giles outdoor editor ~
Thc Detroit Times and ~orshipul
master % KHwinr0c Masonic
Lodge wll install inc 1913 off
Gers of has lodge 4, a public cerc-
mory IN me Commandcry Asylum
AZ tho Masonic Temple. TUESDAY
December 10. The event is SChcd-
4,cd for : 30 p. m
officers to ue installed arc Ar
thur Byron Brooks j.. WoI>hpfli
master Haro' J G. NaGrl senior
warden: John r. Gibson IuHior
TUnS T. SfiNSON, =. ~
trcnsIrcr Albert II Miller. Sccrc-
tary Arthur ". Barker. senior
deacon Michael Nackay junior
deacon Roy r Riggs senior stew
and William r Campbell junior
steward Arthur VI Cooper =. "
chaplain Edward c Smell mar
Shan and Gene Martin tiler Al
'ar~a;o stewards 20 hc installed
aro joH0 r N4rdotto Robert =
Stewart William 6. OgE and Harry
Col.art
Assisting in 'ho~-irs'a,laoo0
rrre~or5o- Nel ho William g.
Kemp p " Frod = Nchrtr. p
~ and GUY G Powell. 'h'rty-'h.rd
degree
THo Banner quartet and Mss
s
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-13
Women, Children
Saved in Torpedoing

OTTAWA, ont. Dec y lJP1
Tho officers and crow Of the Ca
madam corvette NOrdCn rescued
19i mon. women and children from
q merchant vessel torpcdood and
sunk IN the Atlantic without q
single loss of life, u was revealed
today. Thr name Of the ship and
tho tmc and location Of The sink
ln- were not disclosed
Among the passengers was z
7-month-old baby. Susan AleNau-
Ger. tho first person taken aboard
f70 corvette whom IL reached The
sinking merchantmen
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-13
Absence Of Elders
b8Iamed for Crimes

Dr. Alexander Red Martin
consulting psychIa'rist IN 'hc Chi
dren'S AID Society sums up the
Wartime confusion of living CON
ditions thus
ct il not 80 much now prob
lens a. an intcnS:riCation ~
old problems connected with
broken homes, absence of older
brothers and fathers, the sud
den increase of responsibilities
and demands upon unprcparcd
younger children, especially with
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-13
Up
To Principals
NY Mayor Hts Teachers
Plea for Police Aid

NEW YORK. Dec = GNS).-
New York C'y teacher groups
demanding police protection after
What they termed "A series a
incidents which vary n gravity
from outright murder % moro
threat today were told by Mayor
Fiorc.o II L7Guard.a that princl-
pals alone arc responsible for
public school discipline.
The mayor branded tho clu-
pa IN for police aid "A drive by
pressure group, whose statements
hc described az "eNaEccrations and
even ViTTTlT misS'atcmen'S
II want 10 make il clear"
sad the mayor, chat the policy
Of my administration is not 20
permit the use Of poliCemen'S
night-StickS for the disciplining
Of children in our schools"
LaGuarda said charges con
tanned n y ploH by tho New York
Teachers Guild 10 Police Commits
lonor Lewis Valentine FOR police
aud do nor represent tho view
POM 81 'Hc overwhelming number
of principals md teachers n our
school system nor existing con.
dluuns n our schools
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-13
Sees Big Benefits
In II P. M. De a dine

There's no question in my
mind that " wc keep children
under rs. unAccompanied nv
parent or responsible adult. of
the streets after II p. m. Z
would he highly beneficial Ia the
moral. physical and general wei
fare of such children.
"But II this law were enforced
hv the police, IL might require
the appointment ~ 40 MANY ad-
ditional officers a. II mako
complete enforcement prohibi-
tive.
The general result might he
tragicaIly similar IN that We had
N the prohibition era"