davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-11-30
Temporary Housing
By Ray,n ond Moley

We have had no residential building
since 1912. A great deal Of normal
construction has been lacking for four
years. This, in itself. would cause
tremendous housing she. age. In addi-
ton, the rate Of marriages, as well as
of births, has gone up sharply. Three
anG half to four million CT families
are already looking for shelter and, for
the most part, unsuccessfully. In addi-
ton, better incomes are causing FAM
lilies to seek the expansion of their living
quarters. 1t is cold comfort for the
OPA to declare that "for the next few
years 1000, 900 families will have to dou-
BILE up." Since there are 35,000,0 900 fam
lilies and households in the United
States, this means that every ninth
family must double up.
That Is, they will double up If some-
thing is not done about 1t. But in the
face Of this dire need, the American
people will certainly do something about
it. We are not the sort Of people who
must walt for government to think
something up. For century and half
Americans sheltered themselves through
private enterprise. We have not lost
the habit Of building homes.
- 49,
The planless Government planners
have made no provision for this situa-
ton, in any event. Moreover, our war
housing legislation contains an ingen-
ious stipulation that 'war-emergency
housing is to be torn down within. two
years OF the end Of the war. This stipu-
lation originated in the belief Of those
who drafted and passed the legislation
that, after the war. labor and materials
would be abundantly available for good
residential construction and that flimsy,
makeshift houses would. In the nature
OF things. be empty.
Our housing wizards have forecast
that IN 1916 some 100000 to $4,000
dwellings Will be built. II WAS recently
reported that Mobilization Director Sny-
der and his assistant, Robert Nathan are
working fsvertshly 70 ct 100000 ,inita
Evening star., 1945-11-30
Reductions Not So Great

To the Editor OF The Star:
The letter of William w. Stafford,
suggesting that the pay cut" is respon-
sible for the tagging Community War
Fund and other campaigns, makes me
believe some rebuttal is desired. Sure
ly. every one knows that the recent
cut averaging 40 per cent" was pre-
ceded by q general increase averaging
almost the same percentage. In the
interest Of fairness, let's not blame the
wage scale for any lAg in the drive. z
Perhaps the abbreviated figures will
serve some useful purpose. They show
net percentage reduction In gross
annual pay from the 4s-hour week
effective prior to July /. After Ill, I
don't believe there is any honest OBJ
lection to such small percentage re-
duction in pay when 1t means eight
hours less work" per week-about le3a
per cent less time spent at the ONCE:
CAF-l, reduction 2A6T; cAF-2, 2.74ss:;
CAF.3, 34sH; CAF-4, 4.1l%; CAPS,
4s5%: CAF-e, $685.; CAF-7, 5.7s%;
CAF-s, 6.lsT; CAF-9, 4!s2Ts; CAF-1o,
$685.; CAF-ll, 29o%; CAF-l2, !92Ss
WARREN STONE.
Evening star., 1945-11-30
This Changing World !,
By Consfonfins Bro,UY

Had II not been for the spectacular
boubshell dropped on the State De-
partment last Tuesday by Maj. Gen.
Patrick j. Hurley the report OF Byron
Price, former chief of the now abol-
ished ONCE OF Censorship, would have
created much greater sensation.
Mr.. Price, an efficient newspaperman,
was entrusted with a special fact-find-
ing mission by President Truman to
report on why we are regressing instead
of progressing in the American-occupied
area in Germany.
After spending some time obtaining
first-hand evidence, Mr. Price reported
to the President that we have had the
wrong approach to the whole question
and unless drastic changes are made
we may have an insoluble problem on
our hands.
Mr.. Prices report confirmed the
sketchy information which has been
reaching this country in the last few
weeks telling OF starvation in the Amer
lean zone. Conditions there are said to
be worse than in the zones occupied by
the other Allies. The discomfort is
growing rapidly because of a narrow
minded policy which failed to take
realities into consideration. This policy
Is being described as having been for
mulated by former Secretary of the
Treasury Morgenthau.
Il 4
Today, according to Mr.. Price, Gen.
Eisenhower and other high-rankinp
military men, we are faced with a stu
alton which might easily be translated
into desperate open rebellion against
the American occupation.
This, OF course, can be suppressed
easily with the tanks, machine guns and
planes which are at the disposal of the
American commanders. But its ulterior
effects might be extremely unpleasant.
The few officers who suggested q miti-
cation OF our harsh occupation, or actu-
ally took steps at their own risk, have
been removed from their commands.
The State Department and the other
agencies which had hand in drafting
the American program for occupying
the former Reich have fallen down on
the job. While Great Britain, Russia
and even France-which until the last
minute did not know whether 1t would
be permitted to have a share in the
control of Germany-had a constructive
program, we were caught at the end of
the war with nothing but an theological
program. The army of occupation was
directed to enforce it.
The Army men, in turn, knew that if
they departed from the ideologies in
cluded in their directives they risked
reprimand or the loss of their Jobs. The
final disposition of Germany is still one
OF the most important questions on
which the Allies are nowhere near
agreement.
The Russians, after having done a
certain amount Of pursing in the areas
Evening star., 1945-11-30

police modelled on Hitler's own, against
q terrorized, yet Overwhelmingly hostile,
population and we accept the outcome
Of plebiscite which Is exactly As free"
as Hitler's were.
Both states have, as their rulers, men
who have been for years Soviet agents
like Birya, who leads the uprising" In
Persian Azerbaijan, under the protec-
tion Of the Russian armies
In China, as Maj Gen. Hurley at last
reveals. We play both the game Of colo
NAL imperialists and the imperialist
Communists, ana our own ranks Of po-
litical and military advisers are split
into factions. As Poland was looted,
not only by her enemies but by her
allies. who then compensated" her by
turning the Polish nnarAuders loose on
German loottns grounds, to smash also
the Potsdam Agreement, 20 Manchuria
is now looted by the same ally-and the
news about the wasteland left there by
the Russian armies carrying of every
scrap OF industrial equipment and even
household soods-is buried In a small
dispatch on the inside pages Of news
papers.
In the Middle East, the United States.
alone equipped to bring some relief and
hope to those impoverished, disease.
ridden peoples, is second string on the
British bow.
Nowhere do we uphold our own starry
banner, on our own great motto, Lib
erty and justice for all" Other great
powers break the strength Of the weak:
we, alone, break their hearts by betray-
Ing their trust.
A terror grips this great Nation. Let
any one speak up; let him try, withou,
comment. to state the facts, and he IL
drowned in organized cries of war
monger." II he criticizes colonial i'm.
perialism he Is called Soviet agent:
II he calls Soviet expansionism by its
true name, he Is an american imperi-
alist." What is America? A colony? A
Soviet satellite?
Must all mouths be shut from now
on, against injustice and even crime
lest the peace of the powers be en-
dangered? Shall our peace be secured
by lies, by skeletons in every cupboard
by shameful secrets that must not be
revealed. by appeasements - plus an
armament race?
Released BY the Bell Syndicate. Inc)
Evening star., 1945-11-30

east Of the Oder River, are now prepar-
ing to organize German government
IN their area on the Polish pattern.
Communist leaders such as DR.. PECK
and other younger men who had found
haven In Moscow since the rise OF the
Nazis are being groomed to take over
and replace the Russian armies after
they withdraw.
Because of the unsatisfactory politi-
cal conditions which prevail in the
western zones, they hope that a new
democratic" government established
in Berlin, Leipzig or Dresden eventually
will be able to impose itself on the rest
Of the Reich.
now ofhcially disbanded. But, accord
ing to available reports, two OF its most
important military leaders, Field Marsh
al Won Paulas and Gen. Won Seydlitz, are
living in utmost comfort in "datchas"-
cottages fol. the commissars-near Mos
cow, while their military organizations
Of former deserters or prisoners from
the Reichswehr are kept in units and
receive about the same treatment as
second-line Russian troops.
1t Is not excluded that this army at
an appropriate moment might form the
nucleus of military police which could
be placed at the disposal Of a regime
which would unity Germany as dem
ocratic, peace-loving nation
Great Britain has nothing as con-
crete as the Russians. But the treat
ment of the zone occupied by the British
Is far more liberal than ours. The top
Nazis in their area have been purged.
The British high command, however,
has taken into account the fact that
so many so-called members of the Nazi
party gave lip service to the Fuehrer
only to escape death, concentration
camps or starvation. These men are
being utilized, under good British intel
hgence supervision, In various key sery-
ices, and the results have not been
unfavorable.
The French frankly admit that they
want to organize q confederation con-
tanning a number OF newly established
German republics in the west. They
base their policy on the fact that his
tory has proved that the people in the
Rhineland and Southern German states
have been able to cooperate with the
Paris government. When Gen. Charles
de Gaulle addressed the inhabitants OF
some of the German towns under
French control in their native tongue q
few weeks ago he received q more gen.
timely enthusiastic welcome than he had
ever received in his own country.
Thus, while Russia, Britain and
France appear to have q determined
line of conduct toward the Reich,
America alone is still cropping in the
dark with makeshift policies which
change in accordance with the way the
theological winds are blowing In wash.
ington and New York.
Evening star., 1945-11-30
French Veto in Germany

The report on Germany submitted
by Byron Price to the President,
who sent the former director of
censorship on a special mission OF
investigation, is thought-provok-
ing document. A trained observer,
Mr.. Price paints picture OF con-
ditions in the Reich which is
challenge to American statesman
ship. He portrays country threat
ened with chaos, and ascribes the
chief reason for this lamentable
state of affairs to "the rigid opposi-
ton of the French" to the program
Of economic reconstruction planned
at the big Three" Potsdam Con-
ference last spring, between the
executive heads Of America, Britain
and the Soviet Union.
At Potsdam the unanimity rule
was adopted for decisions of the
Allied Control Council set up in Ber-
lin. France strongly protested not
being invited to the conference but
was subsequently admitted to the
council. Thereupon, the French
representative demanded the i'm
mediate fixing of Germany's west
ern frontiers, as the eastern borders
had already been fixed according
to Russian desires. Furthermore,
France made no secret of her deter
mination to sever both the Rhine
land and the Ruhr from the Reich.
The other Allies objected especially
to the severance of the Ruhr, Ger
many's industrial heart, holding
that this would render impossible
the economic reconstruction of the
already truncated and overpop1-
lated Reich. Baked in her demands,
France retaliated by vetoing every
economic proposal, although the
Potsdam declaration specifically
states that. during the Allied occu-
patton, Germany was to be treated
as IAN economic unit"
Mr.. Price advocates breaking this
deadlock by using the "full force and
prestige" of the American Govern
ment; In other words, by a drastic
diplomatic breakdown on France.
He declares that France by thus
using Its veto power is effecting the
economic dismemberment" of Ger
many, and that II this is what
France really wants, "she should be
made to acknowledge that policy be-
fore the world and not be permitted
to hide behind the opposite pro-
nouncements of the Potsdam dec
laration." a.
Unfortunately, France not only
wants Germany's economic dis
memberment but wants it perhaps
more than anything else, regard
less Of consequences. This por-
tends q tragic dilemma: either
chaos in Germany, perhaps spread
ing through Europe, or the embit-
terment OF a coerced French regime
with unpleasant possibilities in
other aspects Of world affairs. This
is not the least Of the acute prob
lens which contribute to the COM
plex diplomatic crisis confronting
the world today.
Evening star., 1945-11-30
DWIGHT F. Davis

AS sportsman, q soldier ana an
administrator, Dwight F. Davis con-
tributed to the progress Of the times
in which he lived. He was born to
the power which inherited wealth
gives to a man and might have
chosen a completely private career.
Even as youth, however, the in
stinct to public work was strong in
him. Coming out of Harvard in
1900, he already had made durable
mark for himself as a national
tennis champion and the donor of
the silver cup designed to stimulate
increased interest in tennis which
bears his name. Saint Louis, the city
in which he first saw light OF day.
held his unqualified allegiance for a
score of years. He was active in
many different fields of civic enter
prise, serving on library and mu-
scum boards, as q member of both
branches of the local Legislature"
and as park commissioner. Amer
ica's entrance into the First World
War took him to France as captain
in the Missouri contingent. He re-
turned with the rank of lieutenant
colonel and two citations for gall
lantry in the Argonne sector.
President Harding appointed Mr..
Davis a director of the War Finance
Corporation in 1921 and President
Coolidge named him Assistant Sec
retary of War in 1928 and Secretary,
when John w. Weeks resigned, in
1925. In each Of these posts he
distinguished himself for quiet,
methodical devotion to duty. He
did not attempt to be "colorful."
Even under provocation-as in the
Mitchell incident-he refused to be
ratified" The same observation
applies to him as Governor General
OF the Philippines from 1929 to 1882.
Nothing spectacular characterized
his endeavors at Manila. He stroye
Tor constructive results, and COM
monty he achieved them.
The final public effort to which
Mr.. Davis applied himself was that
OF organizing the Specialist Corps
for the Army in 1912. Through his
Office many professional and scien-
tific civilians were brought into
helpful cooperation With the mill
tary establishment. A heart ailment
shortened the psrjod e hia assign.
Evening star., 1945-11-30
Case History

In 1940-41 the municipal govern
ment and the Public Roads Admin
istration shared expenses of traf-
fic study, costing fifteen or twenty
thousand dollars, which resulted in
a number of recommendations. One
was for the creation of an agency to
plan the acquisition of land and
other facilities for off-street park
ing.
Legislation for this purpose was
passed by the Senate in January OF
1912, after former Senator Burton
and subcommittee had gone into
it thoroughly. In February Chair
man Randolph of the House District
Committee arranged to have the
bill considered under a unanimous
consent agreement and 1t was ap-
proved by the House after Mr.. Ran
dolph urged its passage as very
necessary undertaking which should
be no longer delayed.
The bill became law and the Motor
Vehicle Parking Agency was set up
and given the money to operate.
After ten months of existence, the
agency was deprived of operating
funds by the House Appropriations
Committee on the theory that such
activities should be suspended dur
ing the war.
Yesterday, when the deficiency
bill was under consideration, an
effort was made by Chairman Coffee
of the District Appropriations Sub
committee and Chairman Hebert
of the District Traffic Subcommittee
(who has been holding hearings on
the parking situation) to have an
item for $4,000 inserted in the bill to
finance the work of the Motor We
hicle Parking Agency. 1t was de-
feated, 53-17, on the contention by
Chairman Cannon of the House Ap-
propriations Committee that there
was no reason for separate park
ing agency; that William A. Van
Duzer was the greatest traffic ex-
pert available" and should be able
to take care of the parking situa-
, ton, and that the legislation was
merely the result of complaint by
a Congressman who could find no
place to park his car when he went
to theater one evening.
Mr.. Cannon's objections were
based on irrelevant inaccuracies
which had little bearing on the
question at issue. The important
thing, however, is that they were
enough to kill the amendment and
that Mr.. Cannon has given a very
good answer to the question about
why nothing is being done in Wash
ington to solve the parking problem
Evening star., 1945-11-30
Mr.. Romspeck Quits

The resignation of Representative
Ramspeck to become executive vice
president of the Air Transport As
sociation is cause for regret both in
and out Of Congress, for the coun-
try needs public officials OF the
Georgian's caliber.
In his long service as chairman of
the House Civil Service Committee,
Bob" Ramspeck has worked un-
ceasingly to strengthen the admin
istrative machinery of the Govern
ment by roofing out spoils policies
and fostering the merit system, and
he has been no less energetic in
seeking to improve the lot of the
workers themselves.
Representative RamSpeck's most
important accomplishment undoubt-
edly lay in the successful fight he
waged with Senator OMahoney of
wyoming to bring $4,000 postmasters
of the first, second and third classes
under civil service, and thereby take
long step toward divorcing the
Post Office Department from politics
1t was due principally to his
efforts also that most executive
agency positions were brought un-
der civil service few years ago,
for the Georgian has welded a
powerful influence in Senate as we'll
as House, in shaping Federal per-
sonnel legislation.
Mr.. Ramspeck was likewise the
moving spirit behind legislation
under which efficient employees re-
ceive periodic pay increases; he
sponsored valuable reforms in the
retirement system, and he worked,
too, for wartime pay legislation.
Withal, no member Of Congress
has had, greater regard for the tax
payers dollar, and the work of
his committee in the past couple of
years in investigating agency hiring
practices has been widely credited
with saving millions.
Three years ago, in recognition of
Representative Ramspeck's ability
the Democratic leadership of the
House made him party whip. That
office, in which he has been respon-
sible for the full attendance of
Democrats on the floor, has been
administered creditably.
In returning to private life, after
fifteen years in Congress, the
Georgian carries the good wishes of
all who know him.
Evening star., 1945-11-30
Reconversion Up to Now

AS lar as IL goes, the PreStdentE
report on the first 100 days of re-
conversion serves as a gratifying
refutation OF the gloomier pre-
dictions made last summer when
America began the gigantic task of
shifting back to a peacetime econ
omy. Substantial progress has been
made. Unemployment has been less
than anticipated; the job of recon-
verting our productive plant has
been virtually completed; all man
power controls have been lifted,
OPA regulations have been reduced
from a peak of $50 to a mere IS, and
other restrictions have been dras-
tically pared down. In addition,
most civilian goods are already in
production or ready to roll" busi-
ness. continues good, and the cost
of living has shown a slight drop
since VI day, though inflationary
pressures remain serious. As for
labor disputes, time lost through
work stoppages since last August
has been only a fraction of / per
cent of the total working time
available-a somewhat ambiguous
term.
All things considered, the Presi-
dents report, taken by itself, makes
encouraging reading. Unfortunately,
however, it must be evaluated
against background of events that
clearly do not promise comparable
progress in the second 100 days OF
reconversion. The labor manage
ment front-whose stability is es-
sential to Americas smooth transi-
ton to q peacetime economy-is full
of dark portents. There Is an auto
strike. A steel strike Is threatened.
The Maritime Union is going to
stage q one-day work stoppage on
Monday. There are any number of
other actual and potential disputes,
big and little, capable-if they get
out of hand-of checking or revers-
ing the hopeful economic trend
noted by the President as having
marked the period from vi day
up to now.
The. President himself has issued
warning on this score. AS he sees
it, despite the progress already
made. "preat Striken at this time
could upset the entire applicant,
impeding reconversion to the detri-
fhent OF our whole national econ
omy. The pessimistic forecasts of
the first 100 days have been proved
ill-founded, but 1t remains to be
seen whether there will be enough
Evening star., 1945-11-30
Letters to The Star
Cites Inconsistencies to Show
How Authority Is Uncorrelated

Cites Inconsistencies to Show
How Authority Is Uncorrelated
To the Editor Of The Star:
In connection with your editorial
urging more power for the District Of
Columbia Commissioners, l. contend
that the Commissioners have failed to
use and coordinate the authority al
ready vested In them and that the heads
of the departments are jealous and
buck-passing. To cite few instances:
"Tenements" are licensed as apart
ment houses" although passed by the
building inspector and partially regu-
lated by the health inspector as room
ing houses" This is like the way you
can tell twins apart. Put your finger
in Jacks mouth and, If he bites, he is
Bill. The corporation counsel's Office
(Mr. Norman and Mr.. Browning) con-
tend that the word tenement" was
uncouth and "a rose by any other name
would smell as sweet" The court held
the regulation void, but it is still enc
forced by threat of prosecution. The
the Commissioners had the power to
require automobiles" to be licensed
as boats" The only power they seem
to lack Is to make the automobiles
float.
The Zoning Commission regulation
provides that parking space shall be
provided for each new building, whether
the lot has an alley or not, but pro-
hibits parking space on the lot in front
of the building. Building regulations
also take bite at this cherry. The
parking problem is too important to
be solved by a crazy quilt of regulations
independently promulgated by the vari-
Gus departments.
Plumbing regulations prohibit the use
Of vents" for much needed toilets, al
though first prize was awarded for q
house so designed; and plumbing regu-
lations also prohibit running of pipes
in bay window areas. although no one
knows the reason for the regulation.
The assessors ONCE frequently values
residentially-zone property higher than
Immediately adjacent commercially
zoned property, although values obvious
ly depend upon use.
Garbage mixed with trash will not
be taken at the District incinerator,
cannot be dumped in the District or
Maryland, yet = privately operated in
cinerator cannot be erected in the Dis
trict Of Columbia and the Health De-
partment has not prosecuted those who
mix the garbage and trash.
The policy Of the District of Colum-
bia government Is not to serve the
people. but to make the people serve
them and obey archaic, conflicting and
illegal regulations. Residents should
be permitted to elect at least their
local officials. FRANK H. FULLER.
Evening star., 1945-11-30
Date in November

For some one dear whose birthday
comes today,
4 fashioned lovingly a tall bouquet.
Although Jack Frost had touched the
garden beds,
Stu. nldrigolds tossed hardy. brilliant
heads
Hardy chrysdnthemums OF rusty hue,
Wild 1sters NTH their fragile. tender
And then. to make the scheme complete.s
a spray
OF leaves and berries lent their color poy.
Bearing my gitt. to a green place
Ksocked at silent door. and breathsd
3 ndn1e--
Laid on the wditsng grass my bright
bouquet
Said: Happy birthday. dsarw An6
came dtrdy.
MAIZE v. cARuTHERS.