davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
The Deeds Are Whut Count

In his interview with the Associated
Press, Russian Ambassador Panyushkln
has made certain points with which most
Americans will agree. 1t is desirable, as
he says, that relations between his country
and ours improve and that trade between
us be developed ION conditions OF normal
business practice" He is on sound ground,
too in declaring that fundamental differ
ences in forms of government ought not
to prevent the United States and the
soy : Union from getting along together
economically, politically and culturally.
All this is sensible enough, but the trouble
with it Is that it can have little substance
as long as the Kremlin adheres to policies
that seem deliberately calculated to make
cooperation impossible
Actually, Mr. PanyuShkin's views do no
more than echo what Generalissimo Stain
himself has said from time to time. The
words are all right in themselves, but
they have worn thin to the point of mean
inglessness Soviet actions have not lived
ND to Soviet talk about the desirability OF
cooperating. Instead, they have Knocked
such talk 1t is deeds that count in a
matter of this Sort and as far as deeds
are concerned, it can only be said that the
Kremlin has done the exact opposite of
the good sentiments it has occasionally
expressed since the end of the war. The
record is clear on this point. 1t is the
record of dictatorship whose actual
operations have made its procollabora-
ton announcements kind of bitter joke
consisting of equal parts of absurdity and
hypocrisy.
In the circumstances, for Mr.. Panyush-
kin or any other Russian to talk about
improving Soviet-American relations is to
give voice to nothing but windy verbiage.
1t can have no meaning until the deeds
begin to match the words. When the
Stain government puts an end to its truth
butchering propaganda against the United
States and the democracies in general;
when it gives up trying to wreck such
projects as the European Recovery Pro-
gram; when it abandons its ill-disguised
aggression against Greece; when it works
with the United Nations for an indie
pendent Korea; when 1t stops frustrating
the desire of the overwhelming majority
for effective atomic control; when it begins
10 lift the iron curtain at least little bit;
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
White Children's Hardships

To the Editor of The Star:
/ have seen considerable comment in the
papers about the hardships encountered by
the Browne Junior High pupils in getting to
their classes at the Blow Webb schools, but to
date have seen nothing about the difficulties
of the white children who were transferred
from those schools.
These children now are located at Kingsman
Elementary School and ut Eastern High School,
Children of elementary school age living In the
neighborhood of Seventeenth or Eighteenth and
M streets NE. have to walk to Fourteenth and
ENE, or Seventeenth and East Capitol streets
In the case of kindergarten child, too
young to 60 alone, the mother would have two
round trips, within two or three hour period,
of as much as Is or IA blocks each way.
The children of Eastern High School have
their recess period in the stadium, at such
times as it is not in use. They are located in
section of the building to themselves-ex-
cept that the band practices there!
The drawbacks in the exchange OF schools
do not lie on the side of the Browne School
children AS matter of fact, white children
have used the Blow School for many years
without hot water and hard-top playground
some of the recent conveniences.
AN EX-TEACHER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
REIGN of Terror in the Schools?

Is it necessary that discussion OF the
need for better courses on American
ideals" and the Constitution be held be-
hind the closed doors of a congressional
subcommittee room so that teachers may
testify in secret and thus avoid retaliation
at the hands of the Board of Education
and school officials?
Certainly not. The proposal is not only
absurd it is a gratuitous reflection upon
the patriotism and good faith of members
of the Board of Education and the school
administration. The irony OF linking
American ideals with such proceeding is
obvious enough. 1t is precisely the sort OF
mischief that works to the disadvantage
of those most deeply concerned, IN this
day of fright and fury over communism,
about the preservation of American Ideals.
Many Washingtonians will remember
with modification the last episode involv-
ing an attempt by Congress to NEEDLE with
the public school curricula. 1t took the
form of the notorious red rider"-an
item slipped into the District appropria-
ton bill-whlch in effect made suspect
any teacher who so much as mentioned
Soviet Russia to her pupils: Congress
later repealed it, after the rider had be-
come the butt of ridicule. But the pattern
of thought behind the red rider" and the
book-burning psychology with which Rep
resentative Miller's subcommittee has got
itself involved are very similar.
The community respects its fine corps
of public school teachers. Members OF the
Board of Education are our nelghbors,
Washingtonians of standing, who enjoy
the confidence of their fellow citizens. DR..
Corning, the superintendent, continues to
exhibit the good qualities which led to his
selection. The men and women among the
administrative and teaching staff who
direct use of textbooks are known to all
of us. Who are the numerous teachers
In our school system who so fear their COL
leagues, the members of the Board OF
Education or their superior officers that
they are unwilling to discuss "subversive"
matters unless protected by secrecy?
Where does such an implication lead?
Who is suggesting the existence of this
reign of terror In our schools?
The Star does not believe that members of
DR.. Millers subcommittee, members OF the
House District Committee or the members
of Congress as a whole are prepared to
assume the responsibility for local school
administration or selection of textbooks.
That being the case, they should be will
ing to rely upon the judgment and pa
triotism OF those to whom such matters
have been entrusted Certainly, nothing
has been developed in this tempest over
textbooks to indicate any shortcomings
on the part of the school authorities or
any justification for the evil thoughts
prompted by the suggestion OF secret
hearings in order to protect teachers from
vengeful members of the Board OF
Education
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02

half an hour while Federal, State and
local authorities debated the question OF
jurisdiction. The road Is part OF the Fed
eral network in the Pentagon area, but
neither military nor park police authori-
ties took charge. virginia's State and
county police organizations disclaimed
authority to act
This was but one of numerous incidents
that have arisen to puzzle the various po-
lice agencies in the nearby counties. The
uncertainties over jurisdiction would be
ended for good by the Smith bill. Under
its provisions the park police would have
full authority to enforce Federal traffic
and general public-safety regulations on
Federal roads and other property in the
adjoining States. They would have the
power of arrest In these areas-somethin
they now lack. The proposed legislation
is badly needed as q result of the ex-
pansion of Federal holdings in nearby
Jurisdictions in recent years. It should
eliminate all possibility. of a recurrence
of any such shocking episode as the Ar
lington Farms case
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
Lootinq at Dresden

Through the iron curtain news comes
from Dresden to the effect that the Rus
slams have taken some of the prize paint
ingS of old masters" from the famous
Zwinger Gallery. Among the treasures
removed are mentioned Raphaels cele-
brated "Sistine Madonna" Correggio's
equally beautiful and popular Holy Night"
and almost all" of the Durer and Rubens
pictures. The selections were made by
trophy commission" whose members said
nothing about any intention of returning
the precious canvases. Judged by their
record, the Soviet agents are not likely to
restore the loot they have seized
1t was largely because such invaSions of
the museums of Germany were anticipated
that the American military conservation
lists brought to Washington the two hun
dred and two paintings rescued from a salt
mine at MerkerS in April, 1945 Those
masterpieces belong to the German people
and the honor of the United States is
pledged to their restoration when condi-
tons warrant" Yet ninety-e eight leading
art authorities protested the salvaging
and safeguarding of the pictures in
resolution sent to President Truman in
May, 1916. The procedure of the Army
the critics said, could not be justified ION
technical, political or moral grounds"
1t has been proved wise, however, by
developments of history. If the Kaiser
Friedrich paintings had not been removed
to Washington, they almost surely would
have been removed to Moscow. exactly as
the Raphaels and Correggios of Dresden
have been. Meanwhile. Americas promise
to give back the pictures to Germany when
it is safe to do SO stands as a solemn cove
nant witnessed by the world. No such
commitment has been given by Stain and
his henchmen. The misguided ninety
eight leading art authorities" who de-
manded "the. immediate return" of the
rescued masterworks twenty months ago
look thoroughly foolish
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
Authority Should Be Fixed

House Public Lands Subcommittee has
given it's approval to bill that would
end the disgraceful no-man's-land situa-
ton which exists with respect to law en-
forcement in certain Federal areas out
side the District The bill, introduced by
Representative Howard w. Smith of Vir-
GINA, would empower park police officers
to make arrests on Government highways
and reservations in nearby Maryland and
Virginia.
Testimony given to the subcommittee
about the case of Miss Genelle Huston,
young Government worker who was IA
tally injured in 1946 in a traffic accident
on Arlington Ridge road, should be enough
to convince any one of the need for rene
dial legislation. Struck by an automobile
in front of her Arlington Farms dormitory
residence, Miss Huston lay in the rain for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
National Air Museum

The House Appropriations Committee
has made an encouraging move toward
realization of long-nurtured plans for q
great National Air Museum in Washing
ton. 1t is to be hoped that the House
recommendation for an appropriation of
s152,04S to proceed with the planning of
the museum and the actual assembly of
exhibits.
The suggested appropriation is to sup
plement $4,000 appropriation of last
year for preliminary studies. These studies
have resulted in report by officials of
the Smithsonian Institution outlining the
proposed scope Of the project Under the
tentative plans the museum would occupy
approximately SOC, 900 square feet OF space
in the Mall area, possibly on independence
avenue between Sixth and Tenth streets.
The nucleus for a historic collection al
ready exists at the institution. Among its
thirty exhibits are the famous Langley
machine, storm center OF controversy
between the late Orville Wright and former
of the flying crate" period and Lind
bergh's transatlantic Spirit of st. Louis.
The National Air Museums collection
would not be complete, of course, without
the original Wright plane which first car
ried man aloft at Kittyhawk In 1908.
Orviile Wright sent this relic to England
some years ago in protest over the mis-
labelling of the Langley plane. Smith
sonian ofhcials in recent years have made
earnest efforts TO accomplish the return
to America of this historic craft. Their
efforts should be continued with a view
to making the ultimate exhibition truly
representative of the course of American
aviation from It's very beginning.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
A Harmony of Bells

To the Editor of The Star: aes stz
Toward the end of January there is observed
a season called the Unity Octave-eight days
of special prayer for unity in the church that
all may be one. H.
Having this in mind, 1t Is pleasing CO.
incidence that at st. Matthews Cathedral. as
one sits in meditation, facing the altar or
kneels in prayer any day at noon, one hears
the sound OF bells. There are first the chimes
and at their ending, a full pause for perhaps
a minute, and then there follow the solemn
and measured strokes Of great bell, such as
traditionally is used in a church belfry to call
the faithful to worship.
The chimes that we hear and the sound Of
the great bell that brings us to our feet to re-
peat the Archangel Gabriels salutation to
Mary-The Angelus-strangely enough is COM
ing from the belfry Of the nearby Covenant
First Presbyterian Church. Well, and why not?
One recalls the mandate of Middle Ages
Pope who ordered the ringing of the church
bells three times daily throughout Christen-
dom in honor of the Incarnation.
1t is indeed heartening to hear the chimes
and the solemn ringing of the great bell. Hail
Full OF Grace! JOHN B. ROONEY.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
SeIf.Government Is Basic

To the EDITOR of The star
Several opinions recently expressed in your
letters column on home rule display curious
attitude for Americans to take. The authors
OF the letters state that the present commits
sion form Of government is the most efficient
type in the United States and that taxes are
lower here than anywhere else. Then the ques-
ton is rhetorically posed. why in the world
would any one In Washington want to change
to home rule and let bunch of politicians
run the city,"
The essence of our American heritage is
that governments, local, State and national,
with all their defects and virtues, are con-
trolled by the people over whom they exer-
else Jurisdiction; that they derive their power
and authority from the consent Of the gov
erned and that, in the end, they are respon-
sible to each citizen through his use of the
ballot. mo man is good enough TO rule an
other without the others consent" said Abra-
ham Lincoln, and American soldiers have
fought and died for 10 years to preserve
this principle. Yet citizens of the Nations
Capital justify the denial of every mans funda-
mental right to seif-determination by point
Ing to supposedly economic and efficient serv-
ice rendered
These same people ignorant Of the actual
practice OF sell government IN their own COM
munity, have evidently built up store of fears
as to what resi- democracy in Washington
might mean. Having heard exaggerated tales
Of dishonest bosses and ward heelers running
corrupt political machines In other cities they
fancy that this would eventually happen in
Washington also. 1t is self-evident, fact that
such politicians are permitted to exist only
where the people as whole are too lazy Or
too disinterested to vote them out Of power, and
that such people, by Sinking their response
bilities rs citizens OF a democracy, receive just
what they deserve. I for one would rather
have dozen corrupt bosses in power than
one scrupulous commissioner, because, in the
former case, the community could, If it wanted,
exercise its constitutional right and turn the
rsscals out"
Home rule, am convinced will give the Dis
trict Of Columbia a sorely needed shot in the
arm Despite few minor points which need
correction. the Auchincloss- Ball bill Is a good
one and should be passed Immediately. 1t
would not only grant us justice but would
also 60 q long way toward removing the apa-
thy inertia and fear of democracy which has
grown up in Washington through seventy
years Of political starvation.
w MALONEY, JR.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
Homeless Hero

Upon the cold slate of the bay
Homecoming boats NTH guHs Dere
draUH,
He matched WITHOUT a Dord to say
Til all home-ea0er things ,Oere gone.
He kept his dark thought coiled and stil
To see neU rood upon the tide.
A lamp that blossomed on q hill
Turned head and heart and hope asids
Night into night on Itoo's ground
He'd been lizard and stone.
Room after room, the shades are doomed
House upon house, not one his o1pn.
PAULINE KINNER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02

II q rent control law must be passed. certainly
the small man should be exempt.
2. The administration Of rents in this area
has been VIGOROUSLY unfair and inefficient.
Apartments of three rooms or less and bath
rent for anywhere from $45 to s92 a month.
The $45 apartments are better than many
higher priced ones.
No oficial has taken any steps to correct
this inequality that can find. The substantial
hardship palliative is farce hereabouts.
3. The present law has been declared uncon-
stitutional in the recent Cleveland. Ohio, case.
1t is definitely opposed to Article v Amend
ment: Nor shall private property be taken
for public use without just compensation"
The present law imposes type Of slavery on
every landlord as he is not allowed to close
his house If he chooses to do so unless his
desire comes under one of the i've clauses for
obtaining possession Of his own property. Yet
under the Federal Constitution, Article XIII,
Section l Neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude, except as a punishment for crime,
shall exist within the United States"
1t also implicitly violates Article l. Sec
ton 10 of the Constitution: mo State =
shall pass any law impairing the obligation
Of contracts" HERBERT F. MITCHELL.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02

when it comes forward with concrete evil
dence OF a genuine willingness to CO.
operate-then, and then only, viii 1t be
possible for our two countries to get along
we'll together.
This is what is most urgently needed in
the world today. There can be no lasting
peace without Soviet-American co-opera-
ton. Yet, true as that is, the fact remains
that we cannot have such cooperation
until the Kremlin can be relied upon not
to voice a pretty sentiment one day and
then blast it away. the next with an ugly
deed. The point must be drearily obvious
even to Mr.. Panyushkin.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
Articles on Home Rule Plan

To the Editor OF The Star:
have read with much interest the articles
in your paper by Don 8. Warren on the reor-
ganization bill for the District of Columbia
known as the Auchincloss bill. You are to be
congratulated on having one Of your stan so
able to present this bill to the citizens OF the
District of Columbia in such q comprehensive
and concise manner. Several members of the
Senate District of Columbia Committee have
commented favorably on these articles and the
work of Mr.. Warren will frequently serve as a
reference when this bill Is under discussion
before the Senate committee.
c. DOUGLASS BUCK,
Chairman Senate COMMITTEES on District of
Columbia.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
Frances Free Gold Market

Passage by the French National Assem-
bly, OF the Schuman governments bill
creating free gold market completes the
series of drastic moves taken In a supreme
effort to halt the domestic infiationary
spiral and end the paralysis which was
strangling foreign trade. 1t was accom-
panied by two other measures of an
emergency character. One of these was
the freezing of 5000-franc banknotes. The
other was a tacit legalization of privately
held unreported foreign securities through
the imposition of Is per cent tax on
such holdings.
1t should be understood that the bank
note freeze was not part of the original
government program. 1t was the price paid
for Socialist support of the free-gold mar
ket bill, to which the Socialists had been
opposed. Certainly, this freezing of more
than one third of the currency in circula-
ton produces much confusion and incon-
venience alike for business and the general
public. A 5,000-franc bill sounds like lot
of money, but it is the equivalent of only
about SIS, and it Is the largest French note
in circulation 1t is easy to imagine what
the effects would be here in the United
States Of temporarily suspending the legal
tender quality of everything above our $40
bills. French criticisms of the measure
range from predictions of a domestic trade
slump to a sharp loss of public confidence
in the currency. The bittereSt critics are,
of course, hoarders and black marketers
whose cash holdings will now have to be
revealed. This will enable the government
to conduct a sort of census of liquid
wealth, since no time limit has been set on
the suspension of the legal-tender quality
Ut the 5000 franc notes.
AS for the free gold market the govern
ment hopes thereby to entice out of hiding
the stores of gold in private hands, which
are estimated to amount to as much as
$4,000, 900 900. 1t should be understood
that private possession of gold is not illegal
in France, as it was made here by the
Roosevelt administration in 1888 Whether
this hidden French gold can be brought
into the open remains to be SEEN
The entire Schuman sterilization pro-
gram is, OF course, an experiment whose
success depends not merely on what
happens in France but also upon develop
ments in Western Europe as a. whole.
Furthermore, these developments far tran
scend the monetary field. They include
proposed tariff unions coordination of
tax systems, and political coordination.
More and more, far sighted Europeans are
coming to realize that close cooperation
all along the line between the countries
outside Moscow's Iron Curtain" is a pre-
requisite alike of economic recovery and of
safety from the aggressive march of COM
munism. The Schuman program, unilat-
eral though it may be, has emphasized and
dramatized the sense of urgency which is
in the European air these days. II even
measuraby successful, its larger roper.
cussions will perhaps prove its most
valuable feature, in the long run.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
Charge for Doctors Listinss

To the Editor OF The Star:
The Medical Society of the District of Co.
lumbia maintains an agency known as the
Medical Bureau which Is great accommoda-
ton to the public. 1t supplies information re-
garding doctors, nurses, hospitals and ambu-
lances to anybody who desires to call Republic
6l00 on the telephone. Many doctors pay =
regular fee to the Medical Bureau in order that
they may be traced by patients who are in
urgent need of their attention.
When the doctor leaves his Office phone un-
attended, he notifies the Medical Bureau Of
his itinerary and he can be located by the
Medical Bureau in a matter of minutes. This.
of course, affords great comfort and conven-
fence to relatives Of patients who have become
suddenly i'll. 1t is real public service.
For years the listing of the Medical Bureau
under the doctors name in the telephone d.
rectory has been done by the telephone COM
pany as a matter of course and with no extra
charge. But beginning next month there will
be a charge of 81 month-$12 a year-made
by the telephone company against each doctor
who desires to continue this listing. There
are $50 doctors whose names appear under
this listing in the telephone book, which means
that $500 must be paid by this group of doc
tors each year il order to extend this neces-
sary service to the public.
understand that the PUG ruled In Decem-
Der that the telephone company may make =
charge for all extra listings in the telephone
directory, thus adding its contribution to the
higher cost of living. But. was the ruling
intended to take $500 year from . group
of doctors who are already paying to the
Medical Bureau s2S,6o0 for this accommoda-
ton to the public?
am hoping that this letter will be read by
some one in authority in the telephone COM
pany and that he will take steps to correct
this nequity.
JAMES A. CANNON, M. D.. F. A. C. s.