davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-10-20
Interesting Notes

Sugar, cost $2,75 a pound in
London in 1742.
The annual erosion losses in the
United States have been esti-
mated at $500 million.
The United States uses about
500 million fence posts a year,
enough to build 100000 miles
of fence.
Neither the Declaration of In
dependence nor the Constitution
of the United States uses the
term democracy"
Some early sailing ships car
rying immigrants to the United
States booked twice as many
steerage passengers as the Amer
lean law allowed, the captains
counting on the certainty that
many passengers would die on
the arduous Atlantic trip.
Evening star., 1947-04-20
Deadlock Over Austria

Already begged down in seemingly
hopeless stalemate over Germany,
the Council of Foreign Ministers now
apparently has reached an equally
unbreakable deadlock over Austria.
In both cases the immediate cause
of disagreement is the same-Soviet
insistence upon economic arrange
ments which would milk both Austria
and Germany dry for Russia's ben
eft.
In the case of Austria, Moscow is
using the question of German assets
there as the means of obtaining Its
end. From the very start, Soviet
diplomacy has interpreted the term
German assets" in way which in
cludes virtually everything converted
to German, use by fraud or duress
after the seizure of Austria and it's
Incorporation into the Nazi Third
Reich in 1888. Acting upon this
theory, the Soviet authorities have
taken possession of about everything
exploitable in it's zone of Austria,
which includes large section of
Vienna, the capital. And Mr.. Molo-
tov now demands that this exploita-
ton be extended to the whole of
Austria as the price of treaty re-
storing the independence of that
unfortunate country. The fact that
Britain and France agree whole
heartedly with the constructive pro-
posal put forward by Secretary Mar
shall does not abate one jot Mr..
Molotov's intransigeanee. In blunt
words, our Secretary Of State points
out that the Soviet scheme would
reduce Austria to "puppet" status,
and concludes: MY Government
could never cooperate In a treaty
which involved such a condition"
This provocative Soviet sabotage
violates every international agree
ment entered into by Moscow since
the Moscow Conference away back
in 1943, when the big Three" mu-
tually pledged that Austria, the first
free country which fell victim to
Hitler's policy of aggression, should
be liberated from Germany" and re-
established "free and independent"
Mr.. Molotov's cynical effrontery over
Austria has thus again surpassed
itself.
The harm resulting from break
down in the Austrian negotiations
is manifold. 1t perpetuates the des-
perate plight of Austria itself, reacts
to deepen Europe's economic con-
fusion and indirectly nullifies the
pending peace treaties with the for
mer Axis satellites, since Moscow will
insist on keeping troops in Hungary
and Romania to maintain its COM
munications with it's occupational
forces in RusSias Austrian zone. Ali
of which will strengthen the opinion
of those In America and elsewhere
who assert: You can't do business
with Stain"
Evening star., 1947-04-20

troubled with constipation, for example,
would shine magenta lights on the abb
dominal area, or If his heart was ailing,
would shine yellow lights on the chest.
DIR. Dunbar described at some length the
effort the Government made to check
this scheme and bring its sponsor to
trial. revealing that the expense Of the
investigation cost 100000, and the ex-
pense of the trial another $4,000.
"Mr Keefe. What happened2 We
want to get to the end Of this story be-
cause we must.
'Dr Dunbar. Judge Foreman, in the
first place, pronounced one of the most
eloquent sermons have ever heard from
the bench.
'Mr. Keefe. We do not care anything
about the sermon. What did he do with
this fellow on whom you had spent
sii7,ooog"
The sequel was rather articlimatic.
since 1t appeared that the eloquent
Judge imposed mere fne of s2o,ooo and
granted suspended sentence. It is to
be hoped that Dr.. Dunbar got his ap-
preparation.
Evening star., 1947-04-20
Chinu's New Government

In Chinese politics there Is apt
to be a difference between form and
reality. Therefore the announce
ment of a coalition government
should be taken with some reserva-
tion. Technically, China will hence
forth have central regime in which
the previous political monopoly of
the Kuomintang will be modified by
the inclusion of two other groups
besides a number of Independent
leaders. Those groups are the Young
China Party and the Social Demo-
cratic Party. Both are relatively
small. Outside the coalition stand
the more important Democratic
League and, of course, the Com
munists who seem determined as
ever to fight out their quarrel with
the Kuomintang.
The most hopeful aspect of the
new departure is the appointment
of General Chang Chun as head of
the Executive Yuan. post CORES
ponding to that of Prime Minister
in parliamentary regimes. Chang
has a good record of progressive
liberalism. He worked closely with
General Marshall in the latter's
efforts last year to bring peace and
stability to China. Indeed, Chang
Is believed to be one of those genuine
liberals" whom General Marshall
stated to be China's best hope. If,
therefore, Chang is given real
authority commensurate with his
titular Office. the new government
may spell turning point In China's
political evolution.
However, this is by no means a
certainty. Detailed examination Of
the new setup reveals not only that
the dominance of the Kuomintang
continues but also that control in
side the Kuomintang itself remains
in the hands of those leaders iden-
tilted with reactionary tendencies.
OF course, above all these elements
stands the figure of Generalissimo
: Chang Kai-shek. So 1t is presum-
ably he who will decide the course
which the new government will
pursue.
In official circles there Is no de-
NAL that this governmental change
was largely motivated by desire on
the part of Chang and his col
leagues to make favorable impress
sion upon the American Govern
ment and people.
It should further be understood
that the new government is pro-
visional and temporary. It's tenure
of Office Is designed to terminate
when the first general elections are
held under the provisions of the
new constitution. to determine the
beginning Of genuinely constitl-
Evening star., 1947-04-20

been In charge, preparing for some
thing Of an equivalent OF the Bikini
test.
Trained and skilled scientists
watched the results Of yesterdays
explosion from stations all over
Europe. After the gases generated
by the blast have been scattered, the
remains OF the island will be ex-
amined with care. Biologists, espe-
cially, will be interested to inspect
the effect Of such major detona-
ton on the white sandstone and
hard red clay of which Helgoland Is
composed. Such stun is sturdy. 1t
may not be so completely destroyed
as laymen might imagine.
Evening star., 1947-04-20
Helqoiond

Helgoland or Hehgoland. the Ger
man island fortress in the North
Sea, was blown up by the British
yesterday as scheduled. That means
that it has ceased to exist as a
dagger pointed at England. It's
significance in the role of an
Opposite number" to Gibraltar Is
over and finished and done with.
The original name of the little
Isle, less than half a square mile In
area, was Fosite, after a minor deity
of the ancient northern mythology.
'Forseti, son of Baldur and Mamma,
the god of justice. st. Willibrord
and st. Ludger preached there in the
eighth century, Later lengthy
list of sea rovers fought for posses
sion of "the Rock" until finally it
became fef of the dukes of Schles-
wig -Holstein. The Danes were in
control In 1907, when the English
seized the place.
But in 1890 Helgoland was traded
to Germany in exchange for Somali
and Vitu. Kaiser Wilhelm cere-
monlously occupied the island on
August 10 of that year. A program
OF defensive works already had been
authorized by the Reichstag. How
much eventually was spent on the
construction of redoubts, gun foun-
= dations, ammunition dumps, sub
marine pens, a radar station, bar
racks, storehouses. etc, probably
never will be known The expense
conceivably was justified in terms
of military strategy during both
World Wars, but that also is a sub
tect wrapped In mystery. What is
certain is the fact that British and
American air forces bombed the
fortifcations successfully in l945.
The surviving civilian population
voluntarily fed or were compelled to
remove to the mainland before the
Nazis surrendered. Since then, a
small British occupation detail has
Evening star., 1947-04-20
HekIu in, ERUPTION

It may seem incredible that a
mountain in Iceland should be of
any Importance to Europe or the
United States. Scientists, however,
are watching Hekla's latest eruption
with the very greatest interest. They
know from experience that the dis
turbance may have a depressing
effect upon weather conditions in
New England, Great Britain and
Poland. When the neighboring VOL
cano of Laki blew its top" in 1888,
dust from its crater clouded the skies
of the northern hemisphere for
months The interference with solar
radiation brought down the tenn
perature of thousands Of inhabited
areas.
A connection between the activity
of Hekla and long, cold winters In
countries as distant as France and
Spain has been realized ever since
1885. Frost which killed the grape
vines of Troyes on May II, 1894, was
attributed to exactly the same sort
of explosions as those which cur
rently are going on under the Arctic
Circle. Hekla's record for eruptions
of premier significance shows eight
cen separate and distinctive periods
down to 1845. The high winds which
prevail in It's latitude carried the
resultant debris around the globe
each time. Light and heat from the
sun were shut off" from the earth's
atmosphere by the blanket" of pull
verized rock and ash. Students spe-
cializing in such phenomena insist
that seasons of extended cold"'
inevitably have followed.
They also emphasize the fact that
the volcanoes of Iceland are related
to those Of Italy, Japan, Mexico,
Hawaii and other parts Of the planet.
A single seismic system accounts for
earthquakes, geysers and all other
evidences of subterranean move
ment. Eruptions OF Hekla therefore
may be coincident with eruptions
in Alaska or Sicily or the West
Indies. Or they may have the effect
of quieting disturbances which
otherwise might be rampant in those
places. What is especially note
worthy is the apparent correlation
OF events in the strictly natural field
as in human society. Nothing hap
pens anywhere without influencing
everything and everybody every
where. Man exists within q pattern
of circumstance friendly and hostile.
His business Is to comprehend his
environment as well as himself and
to make indicated adjustments
accordingly.
Evening star., 1947-04-20
No New Discovery

ine TACT tnat shocking" and
"disgraceful" conditions exist at the
Receiving Home for Children is not
an exclusive discovery" of the two
staff investigators of the House Dis
trict Appropriations Subcommittee.
Many individuals and groups before
them have been shocked by what
they saw there; shocked that there
could exist in the Nations Capital
for these many years a so-called
refuge" for children that is so
shamefully outmoded and made
ouate.
But it is not fair to imply that
the people of Washington have toll
Grated such conditions complacently.
Since as long ago as 1929 the cry
has gone up repeatedly for a new
building with which to eliminate
abuses resulting from overcrowding
and shortcomings of equipment and
staff. Most of the tragic delays of
the past have been caused by failure
of Congress to appropriate the funds
needed to provide the institution
with a modern home of its own
1t was Impossible to operate such a
home efficiently or humanely In
rented apartment house of the type
which was its headquarters for so
many years. 1t is just as impossible
to conduct the home as it should be
conducted in the antiquated, unsafe
building now assigned to it.
Not all of the delay in remedying
the situation can be attributed to
apathy at the Capitol, however.
Even after Congress belatedly au-
thor1zed new building, an exas-
pefating controversy developed be-
tween the Commissioners and the
Board of Public Welfare over func-
tional design of the proposed build
Ing. The boards plan for building
that would house both delinquent
and nondelinquent children, though
segregated, was bitterly fought by a
group of citizens who feared that
separation safeguards would not be
adequate. The squabble over what
type of building should be erected
finally was resolved only a few
months ago. Bids have been adver-
tised for new structure, but an
other eighteen months probably will
have passed before it Is ready for
occupancy.
Against this background, the re-
port of Chairman Horan's tnvesti-
gators Is somewhat anticlimactic.
The reports denunciation of condi-
tions is nonetheless valid. If the sit
uation can be improved by an i'm
mediate closing of the present home
and the redistribution of the inmates
among other District agencies, the
move should be made as soon as
practicable. This whole plan should
not be undertaken with too much
haste and too little study, however,
lest some of the children find them
selves transferred from the frying
pan to the fire. There is no real
solution of the Receiving Home
problem except a new building.
Until it is available, the institution
and its wards are bound to suffer.
Evening star., 1947-04-20

played wonderful skill in fighting herce
animals but magnificent black bull.
Porfirio Diaz. proved himself almost in-
vincible, and before he was dispatched
in the third fight, he caught Capt.
Garcia upon his long, slender horns and
ripped open the mans jaw. This
bull, stung to frenzy charged full
at the bullpen and rushed into ths
grounds surrounding the ampitheater,
which was full of people. Many were
injured. The roulette table, stacked
with gold and silver coins, was tossed
high In the air and the money scattered
in the dust" Obviously. something had
to be done to stop the mischief before
1t went further. Well, after a long
chase and hard work the bull was re-
turned" to the arena and slaughtered.
The Star on April II, 1897, discussed
"The airship craze" in an editorial
which said. 'It has
Air Navigation reached such proper
Hook tions that 1t must be
tdkcll ScIiOuoly LIlGO
account as curious commentary on
the credulity of folks in general when
the wonders Of science are concerned.
Time was, not many years ago. when the
great advances In mechanics and elec-
tricity we're hailed with dertsion at first,
and the history of invention is q record
OF continual rebuffs from the suspicious
public. But such marvellous advances
have been made. such apparently insur-
mountahle obstacles have been splen-
didly overcome, that large proportion
of the people may be said to be now
ready for any announcement, the proc.
lamation Of any marvel They have
awaited the airsf1ip as the next OF
these achievements" Certain citizens
finally were ready to declare that tbs
miracle had happened. Soma insisted
that they had witnessed II
Evening star., 1947-04-20
From City Hall
By John w. Thompson, Jr

The Supreme Court may decide any
day now whether 1t will take the appeals
Of the Potomac Electric Power Co. and
the Government from the rate case VIC
tory of the Public Utilities Commission
in the lower courts. All briefs are now
In. Distribution of some s3OOO,0OO to
consumers through rate reduction or re-
bate is involved. Bets at the District
Building are that the high court won't
take the case
Real reason behind the dup
pleading procedure adopted by the
Board Of zoning Adjustment Is to cut
down windy testimony. The board fig-
ured lay witnesses would take less time
If compelled to stand. and that 1t
wouldn't make any differences to law
yers. Apparently, too, 1t works.
School Supt. Hobart Corning drew
filters from the crowd at the teachers
pay hearing last week when he testified
that from 1s41 to 1916, there were 49,
100000 babies born when experts said
there should have been only 9,000.0 .00o
He also drew from Representative
Bates, Republican Of Massachusetts, the
observation that I'VE are getting into
very deep subject"
ut Is matter entirely beyond our
CONTROL finished DR.. Corning.
There is no vacancy yet, but the boys
have gotten off to an early start In the
derby for the job of police chief. With
out going into who has been left at the
post, 1t Is now pretty evident that Detec-
tive Inspector Bob Barrett Is way out
In front. Commissioner j. Russell Young
not only likes him but Barrett has i'm
pressive support in other quarters. To
others in the race: TT Is later than you
think
The Commissioners are expected to
send to the White House this week
recommendation for appointment to q
vacancy on the Redevelopment Land
Agency. The vacancy will occur when
George A. Garrett leaves for his post as
Minister to Ireland.
Evening star., 1947-04-20
Fifty Years Ago
Three great-nieces and a rreat-pran

-1uIee gTedL.meCeS ana q Rreat.grafld-
niece of 1t Col. William Washington,
according to The Star OF
Historic April 10, 1897, had given to
Floq the War Department litho-
graphic copy" OF the Eutaw
flag, "Tarlton's terror" The original of
the famous banner was the property of
the Washington Light Infantry of
Charleston, S. c. having been given to
that body by the widow of the colonel
soon after his death In 1910. It had
flown over the battlefield OF the Cowpens
in 1881.
Front page space in The Star for
April Is, 1897, was accorded the news
that Charles j. Bell,
Bonk Sold president of the
And Bouoht Americ a n Security
& Trust Co., and Jere
M. Wilson, executors of the estate of
the late George E. Lemon, ''have sold
majority interest in the National Bank
Of the Republic of this city to S. w.
Woodward of the firm of Woodward
president of the Columbia National
Bank. The capital stock of the bank
consists of 2,oo0 shares Of the par value
Of s100 each Mr.. Lemon owned 1,348
shares of the stock, and this entire
amount was purchased by the gentlemen
named. The price paid was 1921 share,
being total of $297 900 The result
of the sale will probably be a complete
rehabilitation of the bank, which is one
OF the Oldest in the District, and the new
owners will, 1t is expected, make 1t
live and progressive institution
James j. Storrow Of Boston, one Of
the Nations distinguished lawyers, died
suddenly while inspect
Distinguished ing the interior of the
Visitor Dies Library of Congress
Building on April Is,
1897, and The Star for the following day
paid tribute to his genius as "the FORE
most authority in the world on teleph-
onic patent laws" He also had won
fame as the counsel for Venezuela In
the arbitration proceedings between that
country and Great Britain. But hard
work made inroads upon his
health; too late he journeyed to Old
Point Comfoft for rest and recreation;
while briefly staying in Washington he
accompanied his friends, Malet Provost
and Marcus Baker, to Capitol Hill to see
the murals In the new Library edihce-
and there complained Of feeling i'll"
and collapsed. Mr.. Storrow was only
about so years OF age"
It Is not often that bull really dam
ages hts human tormentors in fair and
equal contest. One such
Bull Turns incident, however, is pre-
Tobles served in the files of The
Star under date of April IL,
1897, wherein it Is set forth by telegraph
from Yuma, Ariz.:: The grande fiesta
wound UP last night with wild west
sports : : which constituted crowning
feature of the hve days revelry. /.
The feature OF the show which drew the
crowds was the Spanish bull ngi1t,
headed by the renowned bull fighter,
Capt Carlos Garcia. : : His troupe
Of toreadors and picadors, including
La Carlota, . female bull fighter, dis
Evening star., 1947-04-20
The Tide Is Stronq

Critics OF the House e-approyed
labor bill are making the point that
most of the American people do not
know what the bill provides or what
1t may be expected to accomplish.
This probably is true, but 1t by no
means follows that the bill therefore
is lacking in public support.
Here is legislative proposal which
reverses what has been marked
trend in the direction of comforting
special favors on labor. In one
stroke, it would sweep away many
concessions won over the years and
which have come to be regarded
almost as inviolable rights" Never
theless, this bill was passed by a
vote of 308 to 107-almost three
to-one margin. Not even a majority
of the Democrats could be enrolled
against it, the Representatives from
the South forsaking In droves the
opposition stand taken by Minority
Leader Rayburn.
In the face of this, it is sheer
whistling in the dark for the oppo-
nents of the bill to seek comfort in
the assumption that a majority of
the people do not support the bill
because they do not know what is
in 1t. For the best evidence that the
people do support the bill is found
in the fact that such an overwhelm-
ing majority of Representatives,
seeking to please their constituents,
voted for it. And If it can be in
ferred that the public supports the
bill without knowing or caring what
is in it, that should be even more
ominous from the union point of
view, since it would indicate that the
tide of antilabor sentiment Is indeed
running strong and deep.
OF course, it would not follow from
the mere fact of public support, or
public indifference to details, that
the House bill is good bill. In its
present form 1t is not good bill,
although it contains some provisions
that are both good and urgently
needed 1t is to be expected, how
ever, that balance will be struck
somewhere between the severe pro-
visions of the House measure and the
decidedly less drastic bill which has
been reported out by the Senate
committee.
Because the picture is so badly
confused, there is little purpose at
this time In speculation as to the
nature of the bill which finally will
emerge. But one thing Is virtually
certain. Some bill, and probably a
relatively stringent one, is going to
be passed. If the President vetoes it,
it may not become law at this ses-
sion. That, however, will only serve
to postpone the day when new legis-
lation will be finally enacted, for the
temper of the people is such as to
demand action. This being so, it Is
unfortunate that influential labor
leaders persist in their blind oppo-
sition to any kind of legislation, for
the inevitable result will be a law
that Is less sound than might other
wise have been the case.
Evening star., 1947-04-20

This administration hasn't done
justice by Willard Duncan vandiver.
Surely, it ought to provide some sort
Of monument for the man who In
1899 first announced: Il am from
Missouri. You have got to show mel"
Evening star., 1947-04-20

tiona1 rule. Those elections are ten
tatively slated for the end OF the
current year. In the meanwhile.
much may happen; notably the
course Of the Kuomintang- Com
munist civil war, which continues
unabated.
Evening star., 1947-04-20
Livener-Ubber

Chances for action on the long pend
Ing nomination of Gordon Clapp as
chairman of the Tennessee Valley Au-
thority looked up when the Senate
agreed to vote Tuesday on the Greek
Turkish aid bill.
Interest In pending business began to
lag, as usual, after arrangements were
made for set voting time. The sena-
tors we're aware they could look forward
only to diet of set speeches. Hence
Senator Taft, Republican policy chair
man, announced he might try to work
in the Clapp confirmation question
Monday.
Evening star., 1947-04-20
SIashins Siashes

Some Senators are irritated with part
Of the deep slash voted by the House In
funds for the Labor Department and its
agencies. They agree that good hunk
of the sl4,ooo,ooo whittle voted by the
House must be restored or the already
tangled labor disputes machinery may
get worse.
At the same time, these Senator'S
Evening star., 1947-04-20
Italian Relations

RoME.-Alberto Tarchiani, Ambassa-
dor to Washington, advised that the &C.
onomic mission which win leave for the
United States next month "go with
plan that will convince American bank
ers and financiers."