davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
A Splintered "Yardstick"

The Tennessee Valley Authority recent ly issued press release, according to which IVA paid six states and 126 counties Gin lieu of taxes" a total of $2,168,824 for 1914, the fiscal year end ing in 1914
 The statement indicated this amount greatly exceeded former taxes paid by privately-oWned utilities. The report did not say it was comparing TWAS last years payment Gin lieu of taxes with the taxes paid by private ownership nine years ago. Nor did it mention the fact that if IVA had not monopolized electric power development in it's territory, the private companies would have continued to expand and pay increasing taxes.
 But the principal fact which it failed to mention was that, compared with some per cent of it's gross income which IVA pays in taxes, privately-oWned power util- ities in 1943 paid approximately 24.5 per cent of their gross revenue in all forms of taxes, according to the Federal Power Commission. So figure for yourself how many millions in taxes IVA fails to pay which private companies are forced to pay In other words, IVA and all similar government-oWned power plants, are not bound by the tax laws which apply to every private industry and private citi- zen in the land.
 No matter how they try to dress the picture, as government acquires more and more property and eliminates pri- vate business, with tax-exempt govern ment competition, the tax drain on the private citizen will get heavier, until the laws are changed so that government business ventures are taxed the same as private business with which they compete.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
Arming the French

General Brehon B. Somervell has sent the encouraging word from Paris that there is not at present any supply short age on the Western Front. But this IS not a signal to relax efforts to improve our manpower supply and utilization, or to think that supply problems are defi- nitely licked.
 They cannot approach solution until we have made good our commitment to equip and supply large force Of French troops In the last war the bulk of American munitions and much of our equipment was provided by the French. Now the procedure must be reversed III the same interest of mutual help.
 The rapid equipment of a French army will relieve the American load ln the west, and surely make the war shorter and less costly The French are ready and impatiently willing to fight. Their part in Germany's defeat is an obligation of honor and national pride. By every consideration of sympathy and realism, we should help them meet that obliga- ton.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT Congress And John O. Public

the Claims Division in the Depart ment of Justice for all claims of under 5000. For bigger claims, re- lief could be sought through the U. s. Court of Claims.
 To relieve Representatives of the necessity of running for office so frequently that it amounts to all the time, 1t has been proposed that their terms of office be heightened from two to six years, like Senators It would take Constitutional amendment to put this over, and the chances are slim. It can be argued that forcing Representatives to run for office every other year makes them watch their step and behave better, keep in closer touch with their districts than if they were cut loose for Six-year terms.
 Other ideas for improving the re- lations between Congress and the people range all the way from hay ing Congress hire a press agent, to doing a much better editing job on the daily Congressional Record and putting Congress on the radio.
 CONGRESS ON THE AIR
 This last is particularly intriguing. To watch visitors come into the galleries, finger 8 few moments, then leave in disgust gives faint idea of how fast listeners might spin the dial if they happened to tune in on the Congressional frequency. At the other end of the scale, there is the thought of how Congressional spellbinders might be tempted to make political speeches for home consumption, if they knew they were on the air and 1t wasn't costing them anything.
 The whole question of improving relations between Congress and the people really boils down to a prob lem for the electorate, not to prob lem for Congress. It is the matter of choosing better Congress len. It has been proved time and ag.in that most people don't know who their Congressman is. Too few good men want to make public service career considering the risks too great.
 There are many able men in Con- gress in spite of this situation, and 1t is the opinion of some of them that Congress could be made much more efficient, even under its own antiquated rules and procedures, if only the voters would elect better Congressmen. And that puts the responsibility for the primary Con- gressional reform right where it be- longs-on the people who cast the ballots.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
German 'Innocents'

An official Nazi publication, Heinrich Himmler's "Das Schwarze Korps," has finally said what many citizens of Allied countries have been saying for long time. A recent issue, according to OWL, states that actually there are no inno- cents in Germany" Of course the Nazis' point in saying this is different from ours. They want to put fear of the Allies in every German heart. They want to make every German believe that he is equally guilty with his leaders. They want to create the idea that the Allies will show no mercy, and that all Ger mans mus now fight and die, if need be to postpone defeat and prolong their leaders stay on earth. They want no rebellion or easy surrender.
 The Germans conquerors will treat them more kindly than the Ges- tapo. But they are not going to consider rmany as race of blameless lambs led astray. As "Das Schwarze Korps' points out, the Germans now pulling an innocent face and point ing to the other fellow did not refuse such benefits and gains as National Socialism Offorded them.
 Too many Germans cheered and worked for Hitler's war when it was go- ing well, and discovered the Fuehrer's faults only when defeat was imminent. They are the ones who surely will pro- test at some future date against the oner- ouS terms of their country's surrender. And when that time comes they might have cited to them the record of their leaders own words: Actually there are no innocents' in Germany.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
Views Of The Press

war has been felt on the great sheep ranges of the West, particularly in Wyoming. There is an acute short age of sheep herders. Through the efforts of Senator O'Mahoney and the Naturalization and Immigration Service, it has been arranged to im- port Basque herders from northern Spain under a waiver for the alien contract labor lafs. Ranchers and wool-growing associations can get their Basques by application to the State Department. And why Bas- ques in particular? Well, 1t seems that the sheep raisers have already had much experience with them, and have found them excellent. They understand sheep, they are dependable, and they do not seem to mind the loneliness which is the lot of the herders on the vast, sparse areas of the West. Hrdineg sheep in Wyoming may not be the most lonesome job on earth, but it must rank pretty high. The herders get so they talk to themselves in order to reassure themselves that they have not lost the power of speech, and for this reason they have achieved a reputation for eccentri- city which may not be wholly de- served. Moreover, the social stanG- ing of the sheep herder is not what might be called high. But the Bas- que doesn't care about such mat ters. Turn him lose with cooking outfit, a few provisions and a dog and the sheep are safe.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
There Is No Benevolent Despotism

The chances of getting our labor laws amended at present so as to make them fair to labor, industry and the public, seem very remote Instead of creating labor harmony, our laws have pitted labor against industry, when as mat ter of fact, labor and industry are as dependent on each other as the heart and the stomach.
 So-called 'labor laws" are as much misnomer as would be the term indus try laws". Law is law, and it should apply to all alike. One of the menaces to future democracy in this nation are pressure groups which claim to control blocs of votes and, with this as club, intimidate lawmakers into passing class legislation.
 Members of Congress are interested m preserving the liberty of all labor ana all the people, rather than in building up leaders who have shown their de1l- ance of government and our armed forces by their repeated disregard of no. strike pledges, and the earnest pleas or the President for uninterrupted produc- tion.
 The American working man is now con- trolled by what may at first seem to be benovelent labor disposition, which per- haps temporarily gives special groups ad- vantages. But this despotiSm is becom- ing an evil force that is destroying the independence of American labor. AS the Reverend Norman Vincent Peale, DID,, says. wage earners are being used to furnish subServient backs upon which ambitious men may climb to power over their fellows"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
Save Your Own Bacon

Knowledge of fire causes and of condi- tions which permit a small fire to become serious, is very essential to fire proven tion. Without such knowledge, inSpec- tions are valueless. A simple report that a cellar contained rubbish, or store was selling cotton batting in the basement area, means little. But if this rubbish Is beneath the stairs or the cotton is open on a table at the boot of the main stir way, any experienced fireman can Vls- 1aliZe the inferno he would have to go through to reach fire in the basement.
 Study shows that large percentage of fires endangering life and property orig inate in baSementS and cellars. Such fires may result from an accumulation Of paper and boxes, or the improper use of spigotS instead of pumps for discharge of oil from drums, or the continued use of defective StovepipeS, or any one of several causes which, even though cor rected, could develop between inspections.
 Repeated fires of this character em- phaSize the inaccessibility of fires in eel lars and baSements. As a result, the i'm portant facts to be considered in control- ang such fires, are the location of stair ways and other entrances, and providing means of fighting fires in baSements from other than an interior stairway.
 Many baSements are bound to remain q serious fire menace unless they are pro- Nided with sprinkler system which, if nOt supplied by a connection to street
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
Minority Rule

It will take a good deal more than the wait of political wandS to insure 60 mill lion jobs, which is the number President Roosevelt estimates must be filled. The farm population at the beginning of the war exceeded 30 million - that's by all odds the largest group of workers. There is no part of our population more rooted to their homes and their jobs than farm folks. Evidently the President included these 30 million in his job estimates. That's all right-but this classification are not job-hunters.
 The CIO and AFofL claim to speak for more than 12 million members and UNIV shows up with solid blocs of coal miners every time new wage agreements are made between employers and employees. Assuming that we have 13 million Union members in the three groups, the statis- tics show union members in the manu- featuring industry in normal times are far below 13 million. Where are they? Or, are they?
 Then, why repeal the Smith -Connally Act? Why raise the "Wage freeze" of the National War Labor Board, simply be- cause AFof L objects on the ground that "the Government finds that it's own rigid regulations are obstructing the war effort" The AFof L recently stated that it had appealed to President Roosevelt sto issue an Executive order revising the Little Steel formula, so that wage rates can be restored to equitable relationship with the increasing living costs"
 Apparently the big labor unions repre- sent large minority of American work CTS, but their situation should not over shadow every other consideration, with the management of the principal indus tries taking the raps.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10

bend. Once Q man has learned to walk on this temporary un- bending leg, it is difficult to re- adjust himself to the perman- ent leg which is articulated at the knee.
 LOW-PRICED LEGS
 Veterans make no complaint of the permanent legs issued by the Army. If a Serviceman is in -combatant service and Is to go back to clerical work in the Army, the Medical Corps gives him an excellent artificial leg supplied by the country's most experienced manufacturers.
 But the veteran who is going back to civilian life gets his ar- tificial leg not from the Medical Corps but from the Veterans Ad- ministration. And the Veterans Administration so far has refused to pay for the best artificial limbs. Whereas the Army pays from $225 to $275 for willow and alum mum full legs, and from $15O to SITS for the best quality half- legs, the Veterans Administration refuses to go above $2O5 for full legs, buying most of them for about $185. Half-legs purchased by the Veterans Administration are priced from $110 by $125.
 As a result, servicemen fre- quently discard the leg supplied by the Veterans Administration in order to buy their own.
 Result of all this discomfort and insecurity regarding both the temporary and permanent legs is that the men are far from their best during the difficult re- adjustment period when they should be getting used to normal life.
 Another difficulty is the scar city of Army technicians trained to handle artificial limbs.
 The situation got so serious last summer that the Adjutant
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
TRAIL DRIVERS OF THE
 STEPPES
(New York Herald Tribune)

(New York Herald Tribune)
 Since last May the Slavic equiva- lent of the old American cowboys song, Get Along, Little Dogie," has been heard along many road in western Russia. The Russians have just completed what was probably the geratest trail drive in all his tory-greater even than any of the drives accomplished in a similar period during the gerat days of the Chisholm Trail. During the Ger man invasion the Russians saved all the farm animals they could by shipping or driving them eastward ahead of the invaders; when the Germans had been chased back the farmers wanted to return home with their herds. Railroads were needed by the Army, and there was only one thing to do-take to the trail. A million cattle, sheep and goats were driven back westward. The drive was carried out over twenty three routes that totaled 25,00O miles, and most of those who did the driv- ing were not in any way like the traditional cowboys. vaqueros or gauchos; they were women, chil- dren. and men who had been partly disabled, and only tenth of these had had experience in driving stock. Yet the great drive went off well. Seven hundred veterinarians cared for the 2.40O herds, and $40 supply depots made things easier Many hundreds of calves and lambs were born along the trail, and the drivers found (the old trail drivers of our own west often had this same experienced that the stock had actu- ally gained weight while travelling Yippeet
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10

ernment were taken away from CongreSSmen and given to some other agency, there is possible dan- ger that the whole system of repre- sentative government would be weakened. After all, Congressmen are elected to represent the people of their district in Washington and look out for their interests. If Con- gresSmen don't look after the inter ests of their constituents, they don't get reelected. Most of the would be reformers of Congress forget that.
 Yet 1t is seriously proposed that all routine requests for information sent by voters to their Congressmen be turned over to an Inquiries Service" set up in the Library of Congress. That might ruin one of the Congressmans best contacts with his people.
 CLAIMS COMMITTEE
 SWAMPED
 Since the Federal Government can't be sued without it's consent, anyone with a claim against the government must have his Congress- man introduce private bill for his relief. These private bills make up about half the number of acts pass ed by Congress each session. Some are reintroduced year after year. The Claims Committee which ham, dies them is usually swamped. To remedy this situation it is proposed that the Claims Committee be abol- iShed and this work turned over to
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
Current Comment

They (the Japs) would regard the complete destruction of Tokyo as flea bites. It wouldn't cause rip pie in the organization of the Japa- nese military system, even were it possible.
 Spanish missionary, in Sweden
 after seven years in Japan.
 It is the hope fthis nation that the people will discover that 1t is not necessary to have political ma chimes to make democracy operate. If we are to see our way through the present war crisis and to make the most of postwar opportunities we will have to set our own house in order.
 Jasper McLevy, Socialist mayor
 of Bridgeport, Conn.
 When this war ends, we must im- mediately prepare to defend our- selves, particularly to make sure that our enemies realize that if they dare to strike again, they'll lose again.
 Harry Hopkins, presidential ad-
 wiser.
 Adult education must literally place itself in the path of the adult if it is to kep democracy intelligent and purposeful.
 -Dr. Paul Klapper, president
 Queens College.
 Business needs to be free from that violent form of nationaliSm that persists in the error that for. eign trade is a One-way street anC that a nation can prosper at the expense of its fellow nations. Henry J. Kaiser, shipbuilder.
 We shall not have enduring peace unless we educate our youth to tn, full responsibilities of citizenship and we cannot do that while ignor. ing the problems of peace. -Dr. Everett Case, president Col ~ - --. ------.---.-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10

Generals Office had to send out a special directive to find Ser- vicemen who had been artificial limb technicians in cviian fife. Some were found driving trucks, some in the infantry, some in the artillery. Meanwhile these high ly skilled jobs were being per- formed in Army hospitals by men with very brief training. Now, however, more skilled men have been brought back to this highly important job.
 CAPITAL CHAFF
 The U. s. Government has be- come the largest merchandiser of goods in the world. Bargains ahe going diret cheap in a dozen surplus depots located through out the country At Wash ington, D. O., you can buy 5,426 pajama coats. At New York you can buy 3.067 brassieres; also 187 spreads; 6,112 pairs of gloves, and 782 canvas folding basins At Chicago the Government is ready to sell 42,496 nurses neckties, all brand new, together with 42,333 used nurses neckties At Louis- vile, Ky, anyone who wants them can buy cheap 128, 100 eye shields. Or if you don't want the eye shields at Louisville, another A. 999 eye shields are located at Toledo. At Chicago, you can buy 12,446 brand new cases to hold flags At Fort Worth, Texas, 28O pairs of sandals are for sale; also at Fort Worth, 35,998 cotton butchers aprons .. Those who make it business to follow Government sales are getting all sorts of goods at dirt cheap prices. But the average public doesn't know anything about Uncle Sam's bargain counter. Up until recent ly it was conducted under Jesse Jones.
 Copyright, 1945, by
 The Bell Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10

Dewey's little squadron in the dark of that May morning of 1898 when dor and through the mine fields to it slipped by the guns of Corregi- destroy the Spanish warships. The grim and dogged courage of Lieu tenant General Jonathan M. Vain wright's defenders of that same Corregidor who fought on without hope of rescue during the black days following Pearl Harbor And now the 100-mile encircling dash by veterans of the First Cavalry Division to the Santo Tomas inter ment camp to forestall any banzai slaughter of the prisoners by the Japanese while the main body of General MacArthurs forces closes in on the already doomed city.
 But the capture of Manila will have more than 8 symbolic signi- ficance. Politically, it should give heart to all resistance groups in the Far East, for 1t demonstrates that the Allies can ami do carry out what they promise. Strategically, it will provide magnificent major operating base for further naval and amphibious blows against Japan.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS Most Be Old, Old Doc

I've read your column daily since I've been in the hospital and en- joy it very much. I'm preparing for coming event and this time I don't want to play the role of stooge. Please send my wife copies of Preparing for Maternity and The Brady Baby Book. (, EM, 3/c U. s. Naval Hosp. ..
 Answer-The booklet are free to any service mans wife, ten cents each to others. Inclose stamped en- velope bearing the address to which they are to be mailed.
 Irritated, Dry, Scaly, Itchy Eyelids
 Physicians and a specialist call 1t ezzena of eyelidS due to allergy seven months now. CMrs. P. O.
 Answer - Unsuspected cause of such a condition in some instances is mild arsenic poisoning, from ex- posture to arsenic sprays or from ingesting spray residues on greens, fruit. Another cause sometimes ovedlooked is ribofavin (vitamin B2), formerly called vitamin c, de- ficiency, from too little milk, cheese, greens in diet.
 Aren't They All?
 I believe I can tell you what h the matter with the young lady 62 inches tall weighing 118 who wants to lose eight pounds. It is MOTION PICTURES-the mp. lovely must be a mere shadow, so all the female moronS. (H. M0
 Answer-Something like that - it explains also the squeals of the bobby-sox public at the precise point in the program that the stars manager designates; and the way the moron section of the popula- tion in the army and in the pam- pered deferred class whistles or otherwise plays the monkey role whenever the manager of Grable'S sweater calls for whistle.
 Copyright 1945, John F. Dille Co.,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
By PETER EDISON Waterbury DemOcrat-NEA Wash. ingtOn Correspondent

Washington, D. C., Feb. 10 - Of all the proposed reforms of Con- gress, those which would seek to change the relationships between Congress and the people are most controversial.
 Basis for the belief. that some change is needed is the fact that Congressmen have to run too many
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10

erranQS a II q OO too many petty chores for their constituents. This is s oppose d to keep the c on- gressmen so busy they don't have
 time to legislate in the national interest. Yet if all these tasks like helping their peo- pie get jobs, pen- sions, war con- tracts, or settle ment of claim s apainSt the pOV-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10

main, could be fed by hose lines from fire engine. The foregoing simple sug- gestionS will enable any person having the well-being of his property and com munity at heart, to safeguard his own premises at little or no cost, with possibly of great saving to himself
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
MANILA: THRICE FAMOUS
(Cnristian Science Monitor)

Christian Science Monitor)
 Perhaps in a global war 1t should not be surprising that he tide Of battle should sweep back and forth over places with names already made famous by victory or defeat. At that, Manila is almost unique.
 Three times in less than half a century Manila and Manila Bay have symbolized for Americans the bravery and intrepidity of their fighting men: The initiative and daah q CommAndcro George
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10
Selected Poem
WALKING TO SNOW

(Sara Van Alstyne Allen in The Christian Science
 Monitor) White words were made To speak of this remembered music Of the winter spade Striking the stone of sidewalks When the snow Has fallen in the interval of night. We who wake to hear that sound See with the sharpened inner eye The gentle ground The close, the secret sky The figure of the man Who clears the snow away Standing alone At break of winters day.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-10

Daily Almanac Sun rises at 7:53 a. m. sets at 6:2O p. m. (War time) Vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset