davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-02-25
What's in q Name

In an address to the American
Society Of Newspaper Editors, made
some two weeks ago but just released
for publication, Director of Economic
Sterilization James F. Byrnes went
into the matter of name-calling, and
raised question which is deserving
Of little reflection.
What do you mean, he asked, when
you refer to the brass hats? Who
are you talking about when you
denounce the "bureaucrats"?
Actually. to most persons at least,
these are terms with little or no
precise meaning They have come
into popular usage as a sort of safety
valve, as a convenient means Of vent
ing ones pent-up irritation at the
Government or the Army or the
Navy, without going to the trouble Of
narrowing the criticism down to a
particular individual or particular
act. 1t Is human enough to do this,
no doubt, but, as Mr. Byrnes pointed
out, the trouble is that the constant
reiteration Of these blunderbuss
Evening star., 1943-02-25
Idea Mine

Hidden away in the fertile, seeth-
ing brain of many private lie un
suspected ideas on how the Army
should be run. Normally these "pri-
vate notions" remain private, If the
owner knows what is bad for him,
namely, the guardhouse; but at the
Fort Belvoir Engineer School he is
urged to make these ideas public
property, no matter how peculiar
they may be, and at no penalty. The
system Is intended to operate in
many respects like a gold mine; the
workers dig up their own thoughts,
put them into a suggestion box con-
stituting a mental ore pile and allow
a metaphoric blast furnace of search
ing inquiry to separate the Stag from
the gold. Figures to date show that
the yield is II per cent--not bad at
all. Nor are the submerged SO per
cent to be considered a total loss.
Presumably these are largely made
up of suggestions for fewer corporals
and more WAACS, capital punish
ment for mess sergeants, daily pay
days, the seventy two hour week
end, crap proof dice and other
idealistic pipe dreams apt to infest
the soul Of the soldier. They can be
saved for the millennium; and,
meanwhile, 1t must be a great relief
to the soldier to get them of his
chest.
Evening star., 1943-02-25
FALLS CHURCH, Va.

Dear Sir:
"As a result OF recent visit to sub
urban Baltimore l have few observs-
tions to report which I should like to
check with your authoritative informa-
ton
First. the presence of very large
woodpecker type of bird about 10 inches
or more. and his mate, both speckled
with light brown bars and interspersed
with white, a crescent at the throat with
brilliant coloring about the wings, which
feeds largely from the ground, as we'll as
at large piece OF suet tied around an
oak tree.
Another type of woodpecker which
I have never before seen except in the
books, about 7 inches long, with black
and white stripes, except an ALFRED head,
whereas my woodpeckers, both hairy and
downy, have but small patch at the
back of the head. Is this type common
hereabouts?
The subject Of the squirrels Is para
mount with me, since have been cater
ing to them for over month, and while
l have encouraged them to come very
near the house. yet I am warned not to
let them in the house, as they will tear up
the bed covering, etc This latter warn
ing by friend who has spent many years
in Army camps was needed by me until
my Baltimore hostess managed to en-
courage her squirrels to feed in the
kitchen. and I believe this disputes the
theory that they will chew up bed cover
tngs. 1t is my belief that they are inter-
ested only in the peanuts and not in
cloth.
The same line OF thought applies to
the common moth, which has been &C
cused Of eating all the woolens he can
get. AS matter of fact he Is interested
only in the food which may have been
spilled on the fabric, which should be a
lesson to people to have their wooden
garments cleaned before storing I have
had a number of imported and domestic
woolens peppered with small holes on
this account before learned the lesson,
which I should like to pass along for
the benefit of others who are concerned
about taking the best care of their
present clothing as patriotic duty.
Il am one Of your readers who has
actually heard the cheer, cheer of the
cardinal early in February, the serenade
of the screech owl on cold nights and
have watched the bluebirds take shelter
in the coconut shells, but only on the
coldest nights There are seven or eight
Of these handsome birds in the nearby
woods all winter.
Sincerely yours, O. E. c."
Our correspondents first bird is the
flicker and the second the red-bellied
woodpecker. The female of this species
has only patch of red at the back of
the neck, but the male has red reaching
from the top of his head to the back of
his neck
The flicker is one of the most hand
some birds in this locality.
One was in the yard not long ago.
Evening star., 1943-02-25
THIS AND THAT
By Charles T. TrdceUelI.

This fine bird likes ants and spends
many hours in early spring tapping them
up from crevices in sidewalks.
Some of them remain all winter, but
not all of them.
Some people mix up the flicker and
the thrasher in their own minds,
although the two do not look very much
alike
Probably the confusion is due to no
more than the slight resemblance in
names,
Flicker and thraSher-the names re-
mind one of one of these tongue-twisters
so popular with children and young
people, and to which their elders sue
cumb now and then.
Some friends who possess an old cat
named Tiger invented one the other
day when one member of the family
dared another to tickle Tiger"
1t was soon realized that this is a
good two-word tongue twister.
1t is easy enough to say tickle Tiger"
once or twice, but after that 1t becomes
increasingly difficult and often impos-
sible. II you don't think so, try it and
see.
Squirrels are all right, outdoors, but
not so good indoors.
One should be pretty sure that he is a
born squirrel tanner, before inviting these
active rodents indoors.
We do not believe they would harass
| H,,t
such an easy entry would have on their
active minds.
There can be no question but that a
squirrel Is mischievous, In the ordinary
sense of that word.
1t has no conception, Of course, Of
| property, as human beings understand
| the word.
| No doubt the warmth of the home
would appeal to it, Through that small
but active brain might go a certain long
| ing, obscure but none the less definite,
| for more of the same
After it got out, it might remember,
and seek entry again.
If it could not make it, at first, it
would try, try again.
That would be where the danger would
come in. Persons acquainted with the
squirrels tell us that it is best never
to tempt them to come in, as there is
| never any telling afterward when they
may decide to take you up on the invita-
ton.
The gray squirrel, the common sort
hereabouts, is born comic, but is seen
| to the best effect in the outdoors, where
it belongs
After all there is no happiness for a
squirrel without trees, and there are few
indoors which possess them.
Leave the squirrels outside, where
! they are happiest
They like it best there.
And pray that they will never take a
notion to come indoors of their own free
will. The amount of damage they can
do is known only to householders who
! have suffered from such invasions.
Evening star., 1943-02-25
New Dealers Accused
OF Partisan Politics.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The STAR
President Roosevelt said in his George
Washington Birthday speech that the
American people will have scant patience
with any one who attempts to play par
tisan politics at the expense Of the
national welfare.
This Is an example of an abstract
generality with which little fault is
likely to be found by any one. But
some new order spokesman should take
an hour off to reveal for the record
which administration has done more
playing of partisan politics, much of it
since war began and some OF 1t quite
recently, than their own.
Take the attempt to put ceilings on
farm products and wages, while spurring
to dizzier heights the already top-heavy
wages in industry, with consequent drain
from farm to Government-subsi in
dusrry of any labor not already absorbed
into the armed forces. Explanation:
The farm vote repudiated the New Deals
third term ambitions in 1940 and will,
even more emphatically, oppose fourth
term attempt in 1914. But the labor
groups, they hope, will supply the votes
so lost
From a New Deal source complaints
about disunity appear peculiarly out of
place. unless partisan politics Is con-
demnable only when played by "our
enenaies" WALTER BAHNsEN.
Evening star., 1943-02-25

would receive Is per cent fiat in
crease, instead of the 10 per cent now
paid. While there is seeming conflict
between the potential increase under
the liberaliZed overtime scale, and
the IS per cent standard set by the
War Labor Board in the Little Steel"
formula, there is an offsetting factor
to be considered, the Government
work week having been heightened
by 20 per cent.
Whether the proposed measure,
framed by Senator Mead of New York,
will come out Of the subcommittee
in its present form, is uncertain. For
the moment, as Chairman Randolph
explained, it is being used solely as
vehicle" for discussion. Something
along this line is to be expected, how
ever, as Congress recognized the ne
cessity of helping Government work
ers meet advancing living costs in
the temporary pay law which expires
April 80, and the administration has
been unwilling to consider any other
type Of war pay legislation.
Drafting of the new measure,
which would benefit classified en-
ployes of the District government,
serves to 'emphasize the plight of
local school teachers, fremen and
policemen, for whom no provision has
been made, although separate bills
for them have been pending for
weeks. Simple justice calls for &C
ton in their behalf.
Evening star., 1943-02-25
Grundfuther's DuIcimer

My grandfather played on his dulct-
r1er,
loued the liquid iDord,
And thought the music s,oeeter
Than any eUer heard;
S,0itt as the patter OF raindrops,
In the strains OF money Musk"
Or soft like mothers grooming,
In the fragrant hush OF dusk.
My grandfather made his dulcimer,
He liked to lUork in the shop,
And polish the shining t0alnut,
And measure each string and stop:
When at last it lay on the table,
We gather around elate;.
For zoe al1Uays chose yankee Doodle"
Just to celebrate.
My grandfather loued his dulcimer:
Perhaps he has one there,
/ kno,o little angels Mould like 1t,
As they ero,od the golden stair.
EMIR F. AMMERMAN..
Evening star., 1943-02-25
New Pay Bill

The outlook for passage of liberal
lied war pay legislation for Federal
and District employees has been i'm
proved by the announcement of
White House Endorsement of the
principles Of the bill on which a
House Civil Service subcommittee has
opened hearings.
The measure being discussed con-
templates continuation of the forty
eight-hour week in the executive
agencies, with overtime payable at
time and One-half for hours in excess
of forty, and on the basis of 800
day work year, would provide 80 per
cent increase above Classification Act
levels. This is 10 per cent over the
present scale, for while overtime
now is nominally at the rate of time
and one-half, 1t is figured on a 800
day work year, and in practical appli-
cation, consequently, the rate is only
time and one-quarter Employees
whose work does not lend itself to
an overtime schedule, including those
in legislative and judicial branches,
Evening star., 1943-02-25

criticisms tends to bring everybody
In the Government and all Of the
officers Of the armed services into
disrepute.
What is needed. especially during
the war, is more discriminating crit
tcism and less Of the sweeping vari-
ETY.. And this applies to those in
high places as we'll as the man in the
street. Happily, nothing has been
heard of the princes of privilege"
for some time. but their place has
been taken by the "pettifoggers."
Yet the latter is born of the same
human weakness for name-calling as
the bureaucrats and the brass hats.
1t would be good thing to put all
of them on the shelf for the duration.
Evening star., 1943-02-25
ment heads and their immedi,

ment heads and their immediate depu-
ties
The truth of the matter is that the
Congress, taking advantage Of this SEEM
ing mlsapprehension of its responsibility
Of confirming presidential appointments
has extended it's sphere beyond that
contemplated by the Constitution. The
Congress undoubtedly may require con-
flrmation of appointments made by the
President or any one else 1t is another
thing, however, to state, as Senator Nc
Kellar does so dogmatically that the
Constitution demands that the Congress
provide for Senate confirmation of all
positions characterized by it as inferior
officers"
Senator McKellar points to the long,
established practice of requiring Senate
confirmation of officers of the Army and
Navy as supporting his contention. He
apparently believes he clinches the
argument by referring to the long prac-
tlce OF confirming presidential post
masters and other similar 'dignitaries. >"
He falls to appreciate that Senatorial
confirmation is not constitutionally es-
sentlal for these latter officials; that the
Congress may, even in the absence of the
constitutional section referred to, re-
qulre Senate confirmation or House con-
hrmatlon of any appointments. These
are really not among the inferior officers
established by law" intended to be in
cluded in the constitutional concept.
The inclusion of these positions in the
confirmation sphere is a question of
wisdom rather than constitutional right.
Unless we are able to make the Senate
appreciate that the Constitution makes
continuation by 1t mandatory only in
the case of our most essential policy-
determining positions, and that the power
OF the Congress to place authority to fill
positions either in the President or his
heads OF departments or the courts gives
1t no exclusive right to require Senate
confirmation of all inferior officers"
We shall always be confronted with the
rather fallacious argument of our law
makers that the constitutional respon-
sibillty is theirs to control all appoint
ments above the higher clerical grades.
H. ELIOT KAPLAN.
Executive Secretary National Civil
Service Reform League
Evening star., 1943-02-25
Tuxpoyer's Dilemma

uAPuyeT Dilemm0
Failure of Congress to act promptly
on a pay-as-you-go program for the
payment of Federal income taxes has
left the millions of income taxpayers
facing serious dilemma. 1t Is we'll
understood that as soon as Congress
can get around to it, a pay-as-you-go
plan will be enacted into law. 1t is
even more clearly understood-be-
cause it is a fact-that on March Is
each income taxpayer must file a
return covering the income he re-
ceived in the calendar year 1912, and
must make payment on it.
The income taxpayer has the al
tentative of paying the entire tax on
his 1912 income on March IS or of
paying one-quarter of the tax due.
Or he may, if he desires, pay one
half or three-quarterS of the total on
that date. Obviously if he pays the
entire tax, and a new pay-aS-you-go
program takes effect this spring, he
current year out Of current income
the income taxes for the year 1943.
In other words he will be paying dur
ing this year the total income tax
on his 1912 income, and the tax on
his 1943 income.
1t has been suggested that If tax
payer pays his entire tax for 1912
income March Is, and new program
is set up by law, the Government will
refund or give credit for the sums
already paid, and so ease the burden.
The refund of tax money, however,
is not swift. 1t may be months be-
fore such a refund will reach the
taxpayer.
Those persons who have had the
ability and the prudence to lay by.
out of their 1912 income, the sums
needed to pay the entire tax on that
years income are naturally in a
favorable position. The great mass
of Americans, however, have been in
the habit of paying the tax on last
years income out of this years re-
ceipts. To take two years income
tax out of this years receipts would
be an impossible burden.
1t Is no secret that members Of
Congress themselves, now at work
on the new pay-as-you-go program
of income tax collection, are plan
ming to pay on March IS one-quarter
of their total 1912 income tax, or GER
tainly not more than one-half Of the
total. What Is good for the law
makers may also be good for the
run-of -the-mine taxpayer.
The taxpayers would be in better
position to chart their course if there
were any definite assurance what the
new tax plan Will be. The House
Ways and Means Committee is still
struggling with the problem. 1t may
be another week before definite
proposal emerges from the commit
tee, and it will be still longer-prob-
ably beyond the March IS date
before GQe mouse llldlly dCtS Oli VIC
measure. The Senate Finance Com
mittee will then begin work on the
bill. How soon that committee and
the Senate itself will give it clear
ance is anybodys guess. 1t is within
the possibilities, however, that many
weeks, If not months, will elapse be-
fore the bill becomes a law. But
when it does, the withholding of in
come taxes at the source out of cur
rent income will become effective
promptly.
Evening star., 1943-02-25
View Of "Exasperated"
Wins Endorsement.
To the Editor of The Star.

view OF ExaSperdted
Wins Endorsement.
To the Editor of The Star:
1t is my understanding that all laws
for raising revenue should originate in
the House of Representatives. Instead
they seem to originate in the Treasury
Department II we could vote-as-we-go,
the Ruml plan would win. No reasons
have been given for not adopting it
just dog in-the-manger excuses.
With reference to recent letter In
The Star, signed ''Exasperated," it
should not be necessary to have one
internal revenue official review the work
of another. And certainly the taxpayer
should not be penalized If reviewer No. 2
makes different Interpretation than
Official No. l. In the case of "Exas-
perated," 1t seems to have taken reviewer
No. a year to inform "Exasperated" that
= mistake had been made.
INDIGNANT.
Evening star., 1943-02-25
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the 1Uriter, although the use of
q pSeudonyn, for publication is
permissible. The Star reSerUeS
the right to edit all letters Nth
a Uie1D to condensation.
Evening star., 1943-02-25

c. What amount of money is likely to
be derived from the Victory tax?-N. B.
A. 1t is estimated that about S2o00,-
100000 will be realized from the Victory
tax returns.
Evening star., 1943-02-25
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdstin.

A reader cdn get the dnswer TO any
question OF tdct BY tprittne This
Euertnq Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Hnsktn, director. Wash
iroton, D. C. Please inclose stamp for
return postage.
Q. Which has the greater membership,
the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl
Scouts7-M BID.
A. The Boy ~"o,lts OF America number
over 100000 and Gun ov5->>- x.eariy
100000.
Evening star., 1943-02-25

O. Is the old-fashtoned country store
going out of existence?-F. J. r.
A. The last census reported only 10000
old-fashioned country stores in the
United States as compared with 100000
10 years before.
Evening star., 1943-02-25

Q. How many eggs day do birds
usually lay?-E. B. C.
A. With most birds one egg Is laid a
day, and at about the same time of day
Hawks, owls and geese lay one every two
days.
Evening star., 1943-02-25

Q. How was the measure of an inch
originally determined?-S. r. Z.
A. The inch was originally based upon
the thickness OF a mans thumb.
Evening star., 1943-02-25

Q. How long does 1t take to build a
bomber?-M. M.
A. 1t takes more than 100000 man.
hours to build modern American long
range heavy bomber.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-02-23
PEOPLES FORUM

/, How much simpler it would be
to put his money out on mort
gage at 6 percent where it should
be comparatively safe, and he
can get 6 percent despite what
your banker may tell you about
3 percent; go to your banker and
try to borrow some money at 3
percent and see what he says.
And when the war is oyer what
value has the investment then?
Do you think for one moment
that houses here will continue
to be rented 100 percent or even
80 percent? Don't you know
that. when the war is over hun
dreds of houses are going to
stand vacant and those that can
be rented will be at lower pric-
eS? You don't think the govern
ment is going to keep prices up
on the tenant, do you? Such be-
ing the case a landlord is Ger
tainly entitled to much more than
the same return a banker gets
on ''prime investment"
If this is no time ito squabble
over percentages" why do you
do it? l certainly mentioned so
percentages nor did l 'fume and
fret" against "strictures"-or did
you mean restrictions? re-
ported effectively that there
were two sources of dissatisfac
ton and explained each and you
have done nothing to disprove
my assertions; l did not assall
the Rent Board pointed out
their limitations; l did not "buck
the government, l merely dis
agreed with one of the Admin
istration's ideas; when and if we
reach the point when one can
not publicly disagree with the
Administration, then we will
have dictatorship.
l said Uncle Sam" is arbi-
trarily taking away from one
class Qandlords) to give to an
other class 0enantS) and the
landlords don't like it; is there
anything wrong with that state
ment? Or is there anything
wrong in making that state
ment?
Very truly yours,
GUY CARLETON.
Key West, Fla,
Feb. %. 1943,
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-02-23

leaning on somebody, and es-
pecially on our Uncle Samuel
Most folks don't want to lean,
but by just looking around and
listening to the harangue and
honey of the persons running
for office and to the ones already
on the payroll, it is easy to see
how Mr.. Washington and the
others could be misled and get
the wrong idea.
so far" says Henry. YOU are
saying words-what do you
mean, if anything" Alright,
l says, ''if you could see no
more than even across the street
and could bark back to the last
election, you could savvy that
the regular folks of the nation
have had enough. Also, that the
.U.S.A. psychologists who have
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-02-23

date School, Technician Johnson
had been assigned to the Supply
lSection here as record clerk and
had the rating of Technician
Fifth Grade. This rank CORE
spends to the Army's Corporal
Technician.
Technician Johnson has had
considerable experience in sup
ply work in civilian life, having
been employed in the Supply
Department of the Naval Ar
Station, Key West, Florida. She
has also held positions with Pan
American Anyways and N. Y. &
N. ]. Bakers Council, New York
City and at one time was secre-
tary to a representative in the
Florida State Legislature.
Her family is well represented
in beth the Army and the Navy.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-02-23

The CIrsxen vveleSmes express
siOns or the views OF its read
ers, but the editor reserves the
right 90 delete any items
which are considered libelOus
or unwarranted. The writer's
should he fair and cOnfine the
letters to 800 words, and write
on one side of the paper only.
Signature of the writer's must
accompany the letters and will
he published unIess requested
Other ~ faks
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-02-23
KEY WEST WOMAN TO
TAKE UP ARMY COURSE
Especial to The Citizen)

FORT OGLETHORPE. Ga.
Feb. 23.-Technician Fifth Grade
Maudie E. Johnson of 1880 Vern-
on Avenue, Key West, Florida,
left this week from the Third
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
Training Center here to begin
a six weeks course at the Off
Ger Candidate School, Fort DeS
lMoines, Iowa. If she successfully
re9mpletes the training, she will
be, commissioned alThnd Officer,
which Isl equivalent to End Lieu
tenant ia the Army.
Up until the time she was
selected to attend Officer Candi-
Is
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-02-23
Answers TO
YOUR WAR
QUESTIONS
Send Home-Front Queries TO
Regional oEM Information Office
In Care of This Paper

OIL am employed on a govern
ment job. Will this put me on the
non-deferable list under the new
draft rules?
A.-You should ask your local
draft board and the United States
Employment Service as soon as
possible.