davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-10-16
William (. Richardson

IL mas been nearly ten years since
William E. Richardson, speaking as
the president of the Society of Ma
tlves of the District of Columbia.
said: I'VE feel that one of the needs
OF the District is that the local ad-
mlnlstration of municipal affairs
should be by people who were born
here or have lived here so long they
really are residents" His own career
has served to confirm the wisdom of
that observation.
Mr.. Richardson was born in Wash
ington on January %, 1881, a de-
Scendant of the William Richardson
who came from England in 1877 to
settle in West River, Anne Arundel
County, Md. After his graduation
from the old Central High School.
Mr.. Richardson studied law at Co.
lumbian College, receiving his de-
gree in 1900. For more than forty
years he practiced law in the Dis
trlct, having been identified with
numerous important cases and in
the work of the District Bar Asso-
citation. He was also active in civic
affairs and had long been an ad-
vocate of national representation for
the District.
In the summer of 1912 the late
Presis ent Roosevelt nominated him
to be chief Judge of the newly
formed Municipal Court of Appeals
for the District-a post in which he
was to have an exceptional oppor-
tunity to demonstrate the sound
ness of his belief that the admin
istration of municipal affairs should
be intrusted to people who live in
the District and who understand its
special problems.
The Municipal Court of Appeals.
functioning as the appellate court
for the merged Police and Municipal
Courts, was in the nature of an ex-
periment-a tribunal that was to
Evening star., 1945-10-16
Arch-Truitor's End

Pierre Laval has met the fate he
SO richly merited. Yet, as so often
happened during his tortuous career,
he tried to circumvent the course of
justice; this time by taking poison
cleverly concealed about his person
rather than endure formal execu-
ton by the firing squad Quick
action by prison doctors foiled his
scheme and got him in shape to
undergo the prescribed ordeal. Ap-
parently he met it boldly, which
tends to show that cowardly panic
did not inspire his suicide attempt.
This seeming paradox may be ex-
aplained as a last, effort to discredit
the processes of justice; just as he
did during his trial, when his CAL
culated provocation snapped the
tense nerves of judge and jury, re-
sulting in most unjudicial conduct
on their part which beclouded the
character of the trial itself, no mat
ter how equitable the verdict may
have been.
All this confirms Laval's sinister
reputation of besmirching every
thing and every one with which and
with whom he mad in any way to do.
1t is an oblique tribute to the mans
innate ability that he was able to
play so prominent and so successful
role in French public life long be-
fore his country's subjection to a
foreign invader gave him a supreme
opportunity to display his evil
genius. Laval's trickery, venality
and unscrupulous egoism were COM
mon knowledge, alike among his
political colleagues and with the
general public. Indeed, his very out
ward appearance, extremely unpre-
possessing, warned of the baleful
spirit which lay within. Notwith-
Evening star., 1945-10-16
End of q World Power

1here was time when Japan
could be numbered among the major
nations of the world, but as General
Macarthur made clear in his ad-
ress last night, that time is now past
With the complete demobilization OF
It's armed forces-a process in which
some 100000 men have been dis
armed with historically unique speed
this once formidable empire is so
shattered and PROSTATE that it no
longer counts as power either large
or small, and if it is to survive at
all, it must follow the ways of peace.
In General MacArthur's words
From swagger and arrogance the
former japanese military have
passed to servility and fear" Nor
does he overstate the case when he
uses superlatives to describe how all
this has been brought about-since
the time of without firing
a shot or shedding a drop of Allied
blood, and without leaving any
ground for the building of future
myth that the enemy armies yielded
only because of Hirohito's orders
They yielded, he says, not because
OF an arbitrary decision by authority,
but because the strategical and
tactical operations of the Allies had
so thoroughly disintegrated and de-
teated them that further resistance
would have meant mass suicide.
The most significant factor in the
achievement of this tremendous
victory, according to General Mac
Arthur, was our unified command
exercised by the joint chiefs of staff
through himself and Admiral Nimitz
over all ground, sea and air forces.
In this connection, although he is
noncommittal on the proposal for
merging the Army and Navy in a
single department of national de-
tense, ne speaks eloquently and un-
qualif1edly for continued unity in
peacetime, declaring that the great
lesson for the future is that success
in the art of war depends upon
complete 1ntegration of the services"
This may not mean that he favors
an absolute merger, but quite obvi-
ously he has thrown his weight on
the side of those who are determined
never again to accept the separate
ness prevailing in prewar days.
AS for the future of Japan. when
General Macarthur says it is fin
ished as great power, he seems to
mean that it is finished permanently.
But he holds out hope to its people.
In time, he declares, they should be
able, through evolution, to attain
freedom and dignity. In this respect.
ne points to one of the most i'm
portant aspects of our occupation
namely, the fine and perhaps un-
paralleled restraint and good will
displayed by our soldiers. This has
taught a lesson to Hirohito's sub
1ectS; they have seen free men in
action for the first time, and the
example is bound to stimulate whole
some new thoughts among them. All
things considered, General Mac
Arthur has given a very good account
OF his stewardship.
Evening star., 1945-10-16
Letters to The Star
Teacher States Case for Prompter
Pay Checks
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star
When the Districts school teachers
we're paid yesterday lis days had passed
since they received their last pay
checks.
School teachers are paid In 10 checks
annually. For at least 20 years up until
l941 they were paid on the last school
day of the month. That pay date was
satisfactory and we arranged our finan-
cial obligations in accordance with it.
There was then lapse of about SO days
from the last school day in June until
the last school day in September.
In 194l, when the Government pay
days we're staggered, our pay date was
moved up to october and the I'd
of subsequent months. At that time we
protested that it was a hardship and
tried to be returned to the old date We
were not successful.
During the past year the date has
been moved later into the month. In
June we were notified that our pay date
would be October 10 and the 10th of
subsequent months. That made prom
ised lapse of 10 days between our
final check in June and our first check
in the fall Actually lis days passed be-
fore the checks reached us.
We are urging an immediate recon-
sideration of our pay date by the D. C.
Accounting Office and any other
agencies involved, so that we may be
paid our 10 checks on the last school
day of the month, the last day of the
month, or at least one of the earliest
days of the following month.
We feel justified in asking special con-
sideration because:
1--we are the only group paid in 10
checks annually.
2. The pay checks of more than 5000
persons are involved
3. We have lapse of about SO days,
even under the old last school day of
the month" pay date, between June and
September checks.
4. Other pay groups serviced by the
Accounting Office are for the most part
paid semimonthly and never have such
lapse.
S, Our pay roll is relatively stable,
once 1t is set for the year. We have no
overtime. Our only deductions are pen
sion fund and withholding tax.
8. 1t is impossible for us to keep de-
laying payment on taxes, insurance, rent
and other vital obligations.
Does it seem unreasonable to request
a return to the earlier pay date and
positive assurance that we receive our
pay on the date it is promised us?
PUBLIC SCHOOL, TEACHER
Evening star., 1945-10-16
DeCentralize Germany?
By Raymond Molep

The French proposals for the western
frontiers of Germany, under discussion
by the Council of Foreign Ministers,
once more raise the question of the old
French desire to break up Germany and
to decentralize her politically and eco
nomically. France still holds to her de-
sire to internationalize the Rhineland
and Ruhr, presumably under French
management The French proposal
does not press for a decision now
but its general import is that nothing
be done to make later decentralization
impossible, That means, according to
the French, that decentralized admins
tration should be continued and that
no decision to centralize GERMANY
should be made at this time.
The French position is understandable
and very old. France has been simple
and direct in her policy toward Ger
many for rs years. Her policy has been
and is that whatever weakens Germany
favorS French safety. The memory of
three great invasions keeps that policy
alive.
The basic French idea is to set up
several genuinely independent German
states, such as Bavaria, Saxony, Han
over and Baden
The opposition to this idea makes
convincing case.
X X ~
Modern Germany came into being
because economic unity became so ap-
parent that political unity followed as
a matter of course. The chief event in
this early economic unification was the
Customs Union of German States, which
went into effect in 1884. Long before
the German Empire was proclaimed in
Versailles in 1871. Germany had grown
% be an economic unit. Every element
in economic, chronological, and cultural
life made political union inevitable.
The fact is that modern Germany,
even with reduced industry, is inter-
dependent. The strong agricultural re-
gions of the east provide the food, while
the heavy industries of the west provide
the iron, steel, chemicals and coal es-
sential to every part of the nation
Since Upper Silesia is gone, all the fuel
necessary to life must come from the
west, except for small amounts in Gen.
trail Germany.
Since so much food production Is al
ready under Polish control, moreover,
it is still more essential that free. inter
change OF what food is left be provided
Evening star., 1945-10-16

islands than all the other western colo
nial powers.
The easy-going Dutch were satisfied
with handsome profits from the rich
islands and governed them through a
representative OF the crown, the COVER
nor general, assisted by consultative
native council The reform brought
about in 1925 divided Java and Madura
into three autonomous provinces with
local government exercised almost ex-
cluslvely by native civil servants. Had
1t not been for the war and the defeat
OF the white man" throughout Asia the
nationalistic movement would have pro-
gressed only slowly and by agreement
with the ruling power.
In the three years of Japanese occu-
patton the natives learned that the
white man" whom they had considered
mVinc1ole, could be defeated by Asiatics
and that guerrilla forces which had been
organized in the Japanese occupied ter
rltories could fight for the independence
Oh their land against any alien power.
u X
According to information reaching
Washington, there is no indication in
Java Of ''subversive" propaganda or that
the rebellion of the Indonesians has been
1oStered from outside American
off1clals conversant with the situation
regard the troubles as an inevitable de-
Velopment of this war. Moreover, they
believe that 1t is only a preliminary to
otner more important developments
which will embrace not only the Neither
lands-controlled territories but also
lndo-China and probably India.
In this light. American political OBJ
servers are hopeful that the United
Nations Organization meeting scheduled
Tor December will take place in an at
mosphere of better understanding
among the major powers than was the
recent London meeting of the Council
of Foreign Ministers. The question of
trusteeships will have to be discussed in
an unself1sh spirit or the 450 900 900 in
habitantS OF India, Indo-China and the
Netherlands Indies may decide to take
their destinies into their own hands
Under the present troubled. conditions
OF the world, neither Great Britain.
france nor the Netherlands has the
means they possessed before 1889 to
"handle troubled situations" in their
respective colonial areas.
The Inhabitants of India and the
populations Of Indo-China are looking
with interest to the developments in
Java, which they consider as a test for
tnelr own struggle for complete self
government.
Evening star., 1945-10-16
This Changing World
By Constantine Bro,on

The rebellion against the Dutch gov
eminent in Java and the less spectacu-
lar but equally significant troubles in
Indo-China are providing food for
thought for the western colonial powers.
When the Atlantic Charter was
drafted in August, 194l, Prime Minister
Churchill purposely omitted Asia from
the benefits of that charter, impreg-
mated with liberalism which was to take
care of the freedom and happiness of
the European nations.
The fact that Asia was not included
has not, however, affected the national
ist leaders in any of the countries which
for centuries have been under the tute-
lage of the European colonial powers
The Netherlands Indies have been
ruled by the Netherlands government
probably with more consideration of
their national rights than the colonies
and protectorates of other nations, in
cludlng India, which has a degree of
self government
The troubles in Java are regarded
here As being only preliminaries to
greater disturbances on the part of
populations which for the first time
have seen the white man Inundated
and defeated by an Asiatic power. The
fact that the japanese had to surrender
eventually and accept unconditional
terms has not greatly changed the shock
which the surrender of the white men
in Malaga, Singapore and the Nether-
lands Indies caused among the native
populations
The government of Queen Wilhelnina
is attempting to deal wisely with the
Indonesian nationalists. 1t can do MOTH
ing else, since 1t realizes that the old
method of using force will be of no avail,
1t is true that troopships laden with
metropolitan soldiers are now on the
way to the Java Sea to reinforce the
authority OF her majesty's government.
& y
But 1t Is hardly conceivable that the
government at The Hague can hope to
restore the ''old order" by sending SOL
dierS
The population of Java and Madura
Is estimated at about 100000 In the
past relatively small force composed
OF metropolitan troops and native police
was able to keep order.
The Netherlands Indies were taken
over by the Dutch in 1902 when the East
India Co. was formed The Neither
lands government dissolved that eX-
plotting company in 1893 and took over
the islands formally A combination of
paternalism and firm handling created
a situation whereby the Netherlands
government had less trouble in those
Evening star., 1945-10-16
Acorn BOYS

/ al,pdys think OF little boys OF three
As small broton acorns, part OF ptnd
and sun,
With cropping roots, NTH young shoots
lifting free
And laughter that Is green leaf.
rustic spun.
On small brotDn boys. limbs flourish
strong and true,
The mind In slotD embodiment. like
a leaf,
Lifting tree-,oise. brightness into blue.
Though these green and gro,oing days
are Uery brief,
So one can scarcely mark their passing
span,
Till an acorn boy becomes tnH oak
man.
ALMA robson HIGBEE.
Evening star., 1945-10-16
Not Wholly AItruism
From the Providence Journal

TRViI bIIe FIUVIutHCt JUuTnaI
When 1t is said to the American peo-
pie that the United States is engaged
In this prodigiously costly undertaking
OF the reconstruction of Europe without
thought of advantage to itself, it is
probably wise to add that there is for
us, as people, compensation enough
for all the expenditure of our effort and
money in securing, if it be possible, q
stable and a peaceful Europe as the KEY
to, stable, peaceful and prosperous
world. 1t Is that objective which would
serve us BEST not the pursuit of any
special interest in any European coun-
try.
Evening star., 1945-10-16
No Time to Waste

Mayor La Guardla is assuring new
Workers that their current traffic
congestion is a good, wholesome
sign of good business and prosper
ity" and that some of the worst
features of the situation will be re-
lieved soon by new regulations,
strictly enforced by the police
1t would be gratifying if we could
receive in good faith some such
assurances from our own traffic
authorities regarding conditions in
Washington. But that would be
false optimism, indeed. Representa-
tive Hebert of Louisiana was COM
planning the other day about the
lack of parking space downtown.
What he said will be mild in COM
parison with other comment along
the same line when we begin to feel
the full effect of population growth
along WITH the resturning availa-
bility of new automobiles.
The only favorable thing to be
said about our approach to some
fundamental solution of traffic con-
gestion and the parking problem in
Washington is that it has been
begun in full realization of the con-
sequences of failure. In February
of 1912 Congress pushed through
legislation to establish the Motor
Vehicle Parking Agency, with au-
thority to work for provision of off
street parking facilities, especially
fringe parking areas. The urgency
of the problem then was reflected in
Representative Randolph's appeal to
the House for unanimous approval,
which was given. Yet, year later,
the appropriations for the agency
were eliminated on the ground that
nothing could be done during the
war.
So we have come through the war,
which temporarily alleviated the
traffic problem, with nothing more
tangible than the legislation and
with no visible accomplishments by
the agency which was set up to give
1t effect. In the meantime, very
excellent survey of the problem in
It's broader aspects has made the
dismal yet logical forecast that un-
less steps are taken soon toward sub
way construction and other means
OF separating automobile from
streetcar traffic, together with high
way treatment and provision of
adequate off-street parking, the city
will suffer from declining real estate
values and a trend toward decen-
tralization which will leave It's
blight on downtown Washington.
No program of this sort can be
undertaken here without rather
sweeping legislation and as Congress
possesses sole legislative authority
1t Is high time that the whole prob
lem Of handling our future automo-
bile traffic be made the business of
some adequate committee of Con-
greSs, preferably a joint committee
which, representing both standing
legislative committees, can under
take the necessary review of what
has been proposed and recommend
steps which seem most advisable.
The situation so clearly calls for
decisions which affect the future
welfare Of the city that the means
of reaching them should be sought
now.
Evening star., 1945-10-16
Fat? Walk!
From the Detroit News

From the Detroit News
Did you ever see fat postman? If
you did, he was probably riding in car
on rural route. These dependable,
spry lean citizens who trudge hundreds
OF miles a year, carrying their loads of
mail for delivery and picking up other
loads from mail boxes, are living ex-
amples of the fact that while you can
starve off your fat, you can eat, keep
lean. At and happy by just taking good
long walk every day.
Evening star., 1945-10-16

If anybody wants to find out how
long eternity is, all he need do is to
stand on a street corner and wait
for a bus.
Evening star., 1945-10-16

The war won't really be over until
you can walk into any drugstore and
buy No. 120 film without knowing
the clerk.
Evening star., 1945-10-16
Opposes Rent Control

To the Editor of The Star:
Alexander Sumner of the National
Association of Real Estate Boards, says
Many properties are standing idle be-
cause their owners do not care to rent
them at financial loss"
That statement is true right here in
Washington. The Government should
not expect one group of citizens to
house another group of citizens at loss.
Until ceilings and restrictions are lifted
from new houses and the unfair D. C.
Rent Control Board is discontinued, the
housing shortage will remain with us.
The war is over. so there is no excuse for
the Rent Control Board.
A PROPERTY HOLDER.
Evening star., 1945-10-16
Housing Definitions Criticized


A PROPERTY HOLDER.
Housing Definitions Criticized
To the Editor of The Star
1t is alarming to see how easily many
people can be weaned away from prin-
ciples they long have fostered by the
simple. means of changing the title.
For years many of us have been deeply
concerned about slum clearance and
have studied way and means by which
a satisfactory program could be put
into operation. Certain fundamentals
were found to be ne essary to any legis-
lation, If the resu.1s are to obtain our
desired objective. This apparent let
down might be due to Legislative
fatigue plain disgust or satisfaction
over the termination of the war. What
ever the cause, it is to be regretted.
The McCarran Burton Capper bill
Is. 1426) which is now on the calendar
OF the Senate has received support that
1t does not merit. An analysis of this
Dill will reveal certain weaknesses some
OF which seem to be almost vicious. The
hrst of these is the definition of public
housing which so limits public hous-
ing as to restrict it to serving families
whose average incomes are so low as to
virtually preclude operation under the
limits of the USHA rental subsidy for
mula. In other words, there would be
no public housing but relief housing
This would leave a greater gap between
those who would be served by public
housing and those who could pay pri-
yate enterprise rentals. Consequently,
dangerously large segment of our
population would still remain unhoused.
Secondly, the land assembled at public
expense by the Land Assembly Agency
Is to be bid on in every proposed de-
velopment first by private agency be-
fore public agency can touch it and no
such assembled land can be turned over
to public agency except at a price
higher than that bid for the land by
private agency. Why does the private
agency have to bid on all assembled
land first and then pay less for it? All
the private builders have to do is pur-
chase land and let it remain idle ad
lnfinitum, since they are not limited
IN anyway. This, of course, stops pub
lie housing completely and makes it
more expensive even in the limited areas
IN which it could operate
Land assembled and written down to
use value at public expense should not
be subsequently cluttered up with re-
strictive covenants based on race, reli-
gion or national origin, whether sold
or leased
1t should be mandatory upon the
building agency to see that adequate
provision of semipermanent housing is
made for the families to be displaced
by redevelopment projects If this is
not done, our housing chaos will con-
tinue. The Wagner -Ellender bill in
cludes statement on this point. Ger
tainly there should be no conflict
between the two bills and hearings
should be held and the public given a
chance to speak.
c. HERBERT MARSHALL. M. D..
Chairman, the Emergency Committee on
Housing in the Washington Metropoli-
tan Area
Detroit evening times., 1945-03-25
Sorority


At the annual meeting of the
Detroit alumnae ch apter Of
Delta Gamma, held at the resi-
dence of Mrs. T. d. johnson of
Longfellow avenue, Mrs. Will
liam F. Solms retired as chap
ter president and Miss Laura
Bertram was chosen to succeed
her.
Other new officers are: Mrs.
Milton Rueger, corresponding
secretary; Miss Lucy Suly,
social secretary; Mrs. F.. s.
Meyer, treasurer; Mrs. +. +.
Denny, magazine correspondent;
Mrs. Philip Buckminster, vice
president, and Mrs. John r.
Mann and Mrs. w. j. Solns,
Panhellenic delegates.
Detroit Alpha Phi afumnae's
regular meeting will be held at
the house Of Mrs. Robert Whit
worth in Warwick road March
20 at $50 p. m. Janet Unrue
will be the hostess.
A regular business meeting
Of Delta Gamma alumnae will
be held at 1880 p. m. Monday,
April 2, at Mrs. J. D. Plekker's
IN Merriweather road, Crosse
Pointe.
Assistant hostesses are Mrs.
Henry II. Hubbard and Pauline
Lockwood. Reservations must
be made before Friday. Bring
books for merchant marines.