davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-12-09
Rationing Gas Through Taxes


To the Editor Of The STAR
Instead Of returning to the rationing Of gas
oline why doesn't Congress raise the Federal
tax on gasoline by cents a gallon?
This would have number Of favorable ef-
fects simultaneously. 1t would eliminate the
need for rationing. It would eliminate the
black market in new automobiles by tending
to bring demand in line with production. 1t
would tend to help the railroads by reducing
competition from buses and trucks. It would
bring in large amount Of revenue in taxes
from those able to pay. It would reduce "joy
riding" and other unnecessary driving, thereby
reducing the present congestion on our roads
1t would tend substantially to reduce our dis
graceful list Of trafnc deaths, since these are
caused largely by those driving for pleasure
over the week ends. Finally, 1t would tend to
conserve one of our most valuable natural re-
sources.
In fact, the arguments in favor of high tax
on gasoline are so overwhelming that it. seems
strange that such a tax has not been passed
long ago. believe that the United States is
the only country in the world which does not
have sufficiently high tax on gasoline to re-
strict pleasure driving.
HENRY G. PARKER.
Evening star., 1947-12-09
Curious Lack of Improvement

In March of 1899 and again in the fall
of 1943, congressional committees investi-
gated Gallinger Hospital.
1t is interesting to note that in 1899
DR.. Joseph L. Gilbert, In charge of the
psychopathic division, was complaining of
conditions beyond his control which re-
quired him to resort to types of care that
are not acceptable"
One of DR.. Gilbert's complaints was that
the then recently enacted law creating the
Commission on Mental Health was sending
to Gallinger many patients previously sent
direct to st. Elizabeths. Gallinger was not
equipped to take care of that class of
patient AS a result of DR.. Gilbert's testi-
mony the law was amended. Perhaps the
amendments were not broad enough.
Again, in 1943, DR.. Gilbert was defending
himself against charges relating to the
handling OF patients. The Senators con-
ducting the hearing were using as charges
against Dr. Gilbert some of the practices
of which DR.. Gilbert himself had been
complaining four years previously. .
Now, in 1947, following articles in The
Star concerning conditions in the psyche
pathic ward, very much the same type of
explanation is being given that was given
four and eight years ago. The facilities
and personnel are inadequate; the COM
initial law should be amended regarding
patients who should go direct to ST.
Elizabeths. recommendations for i'm
provement of facilities, with estimated
cost, have been submitted by the Health
Department.
The Commissioners will have to be pre-
pared to make some explanation to
Congress in January of why the psyche
pathic division Is the source, in 1947, of
the same sort of complaints that were
being made in 1899 and again in 1943.
For Congress has been anything but mig
gardly in appropriations for Gallinger.
In 1948 the appropriation for operating
expense at Gallinger shows such increases
as these over what was made in 1914:
Total appropriation, up 81 per cent; au-
thorized personnel, up u per cent; admin
istration, up IS per cent; dietary, up SO
per cent; personal services, up los per
cent; nursing service, up 287 per cent;
treatment service, up 223 per cent. As
between 1914 and 1948, there has been no
increase in the patient load for the hospital
as whole.
Some of the increases in personnel costs
were made necessary by such innovations
as the forty-hour week, time and half
for overtime, double time for holidays,
night differentials in pay. But 1t is obvious
that one reason the Commissioners have
referred to Budget Oficer Fowler the
Health Departments recommendations for
additional expenditures is to determine
whether the trouble in the psyehopathic
division is to be cured by spending more
money 1t is important to find out
Evening star., 1947-12-09
Hopeful Turn in India

The announcement that a financial
agreement has been reached in principle
between the governments of India and
4Akistan Is welcome news. Down to
fortnight ago, relations between the two
regimes had been deteriorating into what
looked like a hopeless impasse involving
the most catastrophe possibilities
The turn for the better appears to have
begun with a visit of the Pakistan
Premier, Liaqat Ali Khan, to the Indian
capital of New Delhi for confidential talks
with the Indian Premier, Jawaharlal
Nehru. The outcome of these CONVERSE
tions is rather complex series of ar
rangements on such vexed financial and
commercial problems as apportionment OF
the old Indian debt and British sterling
credits, railways, military equipment and
excise levies When this agreement Is
formally signed, many of the perplexing
economic complications that have arisen
over the political severance Of the former
British India into two states technically
Independent of each other may be on
their way to solution.
It should be understood that this sever
ance was made according to the pre-
dominant religious complexion of the
various regions.
That, in itself, has been troublesome
enough, leaving on both sides of the new
frontiers recalcitrant ninorities of Hindus,
Moslems and Sikhs, and giving rise to
bloody struggles and mass migrations that
have deepened mutual hatreds and fears.
But, in addition, those new frontiers dis
regarded economic realities in the most
fragrant fashion The result has been a
crop of troubles, financial, fiscal and COM
mercial. British India had evolved as an
interdependent economic unity. The rude
severance of that intricate economic pat
tern had somewhat the same effects as
would follow the fracturing of our own
national union along noneconomic lines.
To be sure, settlement of the most acute
economic Embellishments does not, in
itself, touch the still more explosive prob
lens of religion and the princely domains.
But the same spirit of accommodation
appears to be implicit in the news that
other meetings are scheduled at Lahore,
In Pakistan, both between the Prime Min
listers and the Joint Defense Council
presided over by Earl Mountbatten, rep
sesentative Of the Crown, since both India
Evening star., 1947-12-09
Damage to the Nation

The 6oItOf
It is encouraging to note that justice is
finally catching up with Maj. Gen. Bennett E.
Meyers Words cannot adequately describe the
damage to the Nation as whole as q result
Of the actions Of this one individual. refer
not to the dollars and cents that may have
been diverted from the public treasury or to
the damage to regulations Of those involved
BY his actions, BE has provided grist for the
propaganda mills Of unfriendly foreign powers.
Think Of his ofIense In terms Of its possible
effect upon the mental attitudes Of young
Americans who may once again be called upon
to defend their country. How can the fight
ing man be inspired to make the supreme
sacrifice II, In the back Of his mind, there
turks the suspicion 81 countless Benny Meyer
on the home fronts STUDENT.
Evening star., 1947-12-09
Frunciis

And Francis tDent and toalked amongst the
foDers;
Sparrotos came t,1itterinp dotDn to
Delcome him,
on arms and shoulders perched and tried
to sing,
Secure and confident as on a limb.
The shy things came, the tyttue and the
1oild,
Nestled against his robes and licked his
hand,
BetDeen the spiritual and animal
There pas language each could an-
derstdnd.
The roadside blossoms lifted deto-pSt
faces;
Rabbit and doe pushed bold for his
cnressing;
Francis, uith Gods opn Hight about hts
head,
TO primrose and to field mouse odus hts
blessing.
Evening star., 1947-12-09
Truth Hurts Them

Wnen ne spoke IN chicago on the eve
OF his departure for the current Foreign
Ministers Conference in London Secretary
Marshall hit hard at the violent untruth-
fulness of the Soviet Unions anti-American
propaganda. But the world behind the
iron curtain was not allowed to read what
he said. If any part Of his speech got
through, that was no fault of the Russians.
They did their best to suppress it.
good example Of this has just been
reported from Leipzig in the Red Army
zone of occupation. There the Russians
seized twenty-five thousand German copies
of the Marshall address They claim to
have withheld them only temporarily, but
there is doubt about that-another OF many
cases illustrating why there is great gulf
between us. When Foreign Minister MoIo-
tov or some comparable servant of the
Kremlin says anything important, we do
not try to prevent anybody from knowing
about it. When the situation is reversed,
however, the Soviet Union spares no effort
to rob US of an audience wherever it is
in position to exercise censorship or black
out the truth.
This refusal to permit the free circula-
tion of the other fellows viewpoint, the
free circulation Of honest fact and opin-
ion, does more than indicate that the
men of the Kremlin are thin skinned
1t suggests that they do not feel strong
enough to let the Russian people and the
satellite peoples know what Is really going
on: They have to resort to an incessant
propaganda barrage of colossal distortions
and misrepresentation and they have to
take the crudest kind of measures In
what seems to be an almost desperate
determination to keep the true story from
being told.
Such policy can be explained in only
one way: The Soviet government is afraid
OF the truth, afraid of what might happen
within Russia and Russia's satellite empire
If the truth were allowed entry. Every
time the KremAn acts as it has in Leipzig,
1t is betraying basic weakness, confessing
It's inability to operate in the clear light
OF day. Here is the best reason possible
for an untiring effort on the part OF Amer
lea and the rest of the democratic world
to keep pounding away at the iron curtain
with vigorous and intelligent information
programs.
Evening star., 1947-12-09
By THE HAsKIN SERV

Please inciose cents for return psstsse.
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.
Q. When were balloons first used in war;
A. S. w.
A. The French were probably the first to
use the balloon in war. Balloons were used
for accommodating in the French campaign in
Italy in 1859. BY 1883 most Of the great ma
tions recognized the balloon as essential army
equipment.
Q. What is the relationship Of words in .
doublet?-M. T. B.
A. A doublet refers to one Of two or more
words in the same language which have come
into the language by different routes from
the same source such as: Abbreviate and
abridge. extraneous and strange. guarantee
and warranty, lobby and lodge.
O. Was the question Of motion picture CEN
sorship ever referred to the Supreme Court
H. B.
A. In 1915 the Supreme Court of the United
States upheld the constitutionality Of motion
picture censorship.
Q. Has the rattlesnake any enemies7-B. j. d.
A. The kingsnake. detected by odor rather
than by sight, will overcome and devour the
rattlesnake whenever opportunity offers.
Evening star., 1947-12-09
Bus Rates and Bus Revenues

TO the Editor Of The star:
In recent public statements Capital Transit
ofdcials have stated that an increase in tho
District transportation fare is necessary to
provide additional revenue to meet rising
costs. 1t is my belief that these officials are
pursuing the wrong policy and that O higher
fare would only result in smaller total
revenue.
The average Washington family has two
wage earners who must go to and from work
each day. This family owns car and thus
has choice of public or private transporta-
ton, At the present transit rate 1t is cheaper
for both wage earners to use public transpor-
tation than to use their own cars. At the
proposed new rate public transportation would
cost these people as much or more than it
would to drive themselves. In this case they
would naturally use their own cars in pref
erence to streetcars and buses. Thus the
number of public transportation passengers
would be reduced and would result in q lower
total revenue for the company.
Since 1t costs the same to transport q half
load Of passengers as it does to transport
full load, the best price policy would be one
that would insure the largest passenger load
at all times EDMUND H. LONGEN
Evening star., 1947-12-09
Letters to The Star

Letters for publication. must bear
the signature and address OF the
,ortter, although It Is permissible for a
turtter knoDn to The Star to use a
nom de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1947-12-09

Now however, he moves into the national
pantheon and takes his place with the
great educators of the past. His name,
1t Is evident, will survive with those Of
Horace Mann, Mark Hopkins and Charles
w. Eliot.
Evening star., 1947-12-09

woman is some one who has to look
like other women, and expects to be
recognized so yards away in crowded
union depot.
Evening star., 1947-12-09

hope. with your support. that we will win
this fight"
We are asking all churches regardless Of
faith, to pray for us. that we may succeed
in our efforts. JOSEPH LEE WILLIAMS.
Evening star., 1947-12-09

No electrically heated blankets were to
be had back in the home town, but a boy
could pull up shaggy dog or two if the
night was bitter.
Evening star., 1947-12-09

! Germs of all sorts are on the run, and
this new insecticide should dispose of the
insects. Then, according to current head
lines, the people will have nothing to fear
but people.
Evening star., 1947-12-09
Questions and Answers

. A reader can get the answer to any question
Of fact by writing The EVENING Star fnforms tion
Please inciose 3 cents for return psstsss.
Evening star., 1947-12-09

To the Editor Of The Star:
Senator Sparkman Of Alabama says, IF the
Republicans don't like the Presidents program
let them give us one Of their own" May
comment here that the Republicans offered
tax reduction bill which the President vetoed?
This bill would have helped to keep prices
down and also money in our pockets. The
Presidents program to pull down prices with
controls seems to suit the administration and
the CIO, but it will not satisfy many people
who know that controls can never be separated
from q wartime condition. The CIO intends
to make wage increase demands If prices are
not lowered or controlled and this will prob
ably add the threat OF strikes and black
markets to an already serious condition. The
scheme really Is to put the squeeze on Repub-
lcans. II they don't go along with the
President on controls. We are threatened by
labor and If they do advocate controls the
threat comes from the rank and file who do
not think controls on prices are as important
as limited Government buying and limited
exports to Europe, both Of which have already
created shortages and price rises.
INDEPENDENT.
Evening star., 1947-12-09
Prohibiting Christmas Carols

To the Editor of The Star:
With reference to an article appearing In
the December 5 edition Of The Star headed
twenty three Brooklyn Schools Bar Nativity
Carols" reply: It seems incredible.
With the world in state Of moral and ma
terial turmoil, with atheistic communism
spreading its antireligious tentacles throughout
the world, with the goddess theories of Nazi
propaganda still seething in Europe, we see
In this bulwark Of freedom and democracy the
United States, an effort to suppress one Of the
most cherished and inspiring Of American ira
ditions-the singing, in public schools, Of
Christmas carols honoring Jesus Christ.
Has the Brooklyn assistant superintendent
OF schools lost sight of the meaning of Christ
mas or does he also write Xmas" 10 that he
does not allude to its religious significance?
Christmas is not a pagan festival, tinseled and
enameled, and Christmas carols have not for
their purpose the materialistic end of fun and
jollity which he would give them. Christmas
is joyous event, not because 1t is q holiday,
which is subordinate, but rather it Is holiday
because it is Christmas and the appropriate
time to honor the birth of Christ, q Joyous
occasion. To divorce the Nativity from Christ
mas Is to mock and defle the glorious event
and make of it another secular holiday.
GEORGE r. DALTON.
Evening star., 1947-12-09
How to Cut Taxes


To the Editor Of The Star:
We talk Of tax reduction as though it could
be done with mere turn of the hand But
1t Is folly to reduce our taxes without first
reducing the high cost Of Government opera
tions. The Government is collecting $52,-
.000, 100000 year from the taxpayers and
Is spending every dollar of it In operating our
Government. The root cause OF high taxes is
the high cost of Government operations, and
there seems to be little disposition on the part
OF our statesmen and Government admins
traitors to reduce the high cost of Government
either at home or abroad.
The American people need to lay the axe
at the root of the tree and first demand the
reduction OF Government costs, before demand
Ing tax reductions. Otherwise the Government
will become financially bankrupt just as are
many OF the European governments that we
are aiding while bringing crisis on our own
heads.
We do not allow the conquered people Of
European nations to develop their own re-
sources which are great We subsidize them
to appease them while holding them in the
serfdom Of an economic leash. We have Gre
ated sinkhoe into which we are pouring our
surplus money and food, and thus preventing
tax reductions. Let US cut out our waste at
home and abroad, and conduct our Government
business on . sane and sound basis.
Why should Government costs, run over
$4,000, ,0000 900 . year two years after World
War II is ended, when 1t took only about
one-tenth that amount to operate our Govern
ment before World War I? It seems that no
responsible administrator in our Government
has the courage to tackle the problem OF
reducing the high cost Of Government and its
unneeded working force and stopping the
leakages. G. s. LONGACRE.
Evening star., 1947-10-08

, rangement of related activities,
greater attention to pleasant views
and consideration of privacy.
Particular examples can be seen in
the open type of planning which
combines kitchen, dining and living
room arrangements and in the pro-
vision of service counters between
kitchen and dining areas.
Particular attention is being given
to larger closet and general storage
areas for family possessions. Spe-
cially designed storage walls" COM
bine functions of storage space and
partitions between rooms.
Other examples of considering
family convenience and preference
can be seen in the trend toward
removal of laundering from the
basement to the light, air and con-
venience of a first-f1oor location,
and the effort to increase the size
and number of bedrooms to provide
needed privacy for various family
members, and adequate space for
furniture.
The interest in family require
ments has extended from the house
itself to the site and neighborhood.
1t has stimulated planning of
neighborhood units which provide
a safe, convenient and attractive
environment for the family home.
Opportunities in Rental Housing.
One of the most fruitful avenues
for progress lies in the field of
rental housing-where the need is
great for well designed accommo-
dations at moderate rentals.
Because rental projects frequently
have many units, and the jobs are
quite large, they offer possibilities of
obtaining really substantial savings
in construction costs through appli-
cation of new techniques. However,
their size and the large financial
risk involved has tended to make
Evening star., 1947-10-08

terial due to recutting or refitting
on the job.
Individual companies and industry
associations have been cooperating
on development Of the engineered
house plan" in which materials and
construction systems are integrated
so as to reduce costs through use of
standardized parts and assemblies.
Developments in Design.
A significant development in
dwelling design is occurring in the
United States. with the application
of the applied-research approach to
design problems. The work has
taken two main directions: Studies
of family requirements and prefer
ences so as to substitute facts for
guesswork and custom as the basis
for design and the development OF
designs aimed at fitting the house
to family needs.
A dozen surveys Of major i'm
portance have been conducted by
magazines, manufacturers and re-
search organizations. These studies
have supplied information on family
activities and possessions which is
essential in determining the amount
and arrangement of space for dwell
ings. Further concentration upon
this approach to rational design for
family living is vitality needed.
Progressive technical develop
ments in materials, equipment and
construction methods require this
type of design research in order to
define the kind of housing needed
as guide to further technical ad-
vances.
This interest in family require
ments and preferences has already
influenced dwelling design. Incrcas-
ingly. residences provide for hexi-
bility in the use of space, close ar
Evening star., 1947-10-08
FILA Plan at q Glance

Under the FILA plan of home ownership, the buyer
makes down payment of 10 to pur
chase price and the mortgage the lending institution
nearly equal monthly nstaments 15 years
the loan
These instaliments principal interest," ca
mortgage insurance 90 taxes and assessments and "a hazard
Misunderstanding except property maintenance.
Mortgage insurance decreases year, the
year monthly balances Of unpaid pn-
cpal.
Taxes and hazard insurance widely Payments to pr
cal interest remain the throughout the life Of the
most of the going interest and
most of it going to principal
amortization table for monthly payments principal
only different interest given
Years Number of
Evening star., 1947-10-08

use Of any but the tried, traditional
methods difficult.
There has been sufficient practi-
cal experience in this country and
abroad to indicate that progress
can be made in cutting rental hous-
ing costs.
For example, steel or other rigid
framing can be used more ex-
tensively in combination with pro-
cessed or precast panels. Recently
some promising new proposals have
been made and definite efforts are
Evening star., 1947-10-08

walls. It is installed piece BY piece
and offers a number Of color combt.
nations and designs. The tile 1,
claimed to be watertight because It
Is applied on the wall with water
proof mastic base which remains
soft except at the joints. which cry
glasshard.
The tile literally floats upon an
elastic surface that makes it safe
from buckling and cracking and Is
easily cleaned.
Evening star., 1947-10-08

site and factory
assembly meth
ods which speed
fabrication and
erection, more
efficient utilities
and consolidated
home equipment
cores, design
and construction
techniques util-
iAng panels,
wall and roof
sections, and
modular sys-
TENS. are a few
of the signif-
cant trends in
Evening star., 1947-10-08
al being expended to bring them into

being expended to bring them intt
use.
They include systems using con-
crete panels and large metal-sur'
faced units with lightweight cores
which are applied to widely spaced
framing.
Increased attention to the tech
biological possibilities in housing
design and construction, and ex-
panded developmental research can
benefit both the public and the
housing industry. In the work
Evening star., 1947-10-08

ahead, there is both opportunity
and challenge to put sufficient
housing of good quality within the
reach of a larger number OF Ameri-
can families.
Evening star., 1947-10-08
THE EVENING STAR washington, D. c.
WEDNESDAY ocIoBER
New Materials and Techniques
Point to Lower Home Costs
PIywood, Aluminium, Steel, Concrete Used;
Site, Factory Methods Show Progress
By Leonard 6. Hoeaer

Director Technical Office Home
Denne being both housing
design and construction technques This
to builders who
production and the public looking
in BODYBUILDING housing
Evening star., 1947-10-08
Aluminium Wall Tile
Floats on Mustic

Aluminium wall tile, available In
IL colors, may now be applied on
new or old bathroom or kitchen
Evening star., 1947-10-08

important problem facing both
builders and the buying public today.
Developments in the field of new
materials and housing components,