davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Rio Pact ImpIemented

The treaty of Rio de Janeiro, binding
nations of the Western Hemisphere to
mutual defense against any and all
aggression, is now in full force and effect.
This implementation occurred when Costa
Rica, through its Ambassador to Wash
ington, deposited its papers of ratification
before an impressive assembly, of officials
and diplomats gathered for the historic
occasion at the Pan American Union.
Costa Rica was the fourteenth of twenty
one signatory states to present its ratifica-
ton, thus meeting the two-thirds require
ment to activate pact which seeks to
end neutrality anywhere in this hemi-
sphere when there is an act of aggression.
To some, it may be surprising that a
treaty formulated nearly fifteen months
ago has only now become full-fledged
reality. The lag is explained by the neces-
sity for ratification by many states with
different constitutional provisions. There
was, however, never any serious doubt Of
affirmative action by all concerned In
deed, assurances from states not yet on
the ratification list that their conformance
was on the way render complete formal
unanimity almost certain within the near
future.
The significance of the Rio treaty is
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Discarded Love
By Thomas r. Henry

Autumn regrettully shuts and bolts the
door
Upon the unauoidably hurt summer.
Head boped on empty breast her heart
is sore
At being thus stunned by the,loper Dho
takes the neDcomer, 9sE
Cold and remote to his bosont,.r oh, he
has tricked her, 8, Is.ss
: Once more she has fallen, light lass, to
his brooding charms -.
Given her all like ash from his pipe
he has ficked her
Aside for the trtgid, eternalLy utrgtn
Neither pity her discard, nor, scorfs his
strange, male behavior,
In mesh they are held, each ,,oaAetng
verttcdl line, ,!.sss'
She, blir,dly tor,Dard to Spring, her yet.
unborn saDior; 't>ir.
He, tollo,Ding chalk-n,arks to sleep, though
still busted fine.
For even as he tDith sigh clasps his new
lODe near .s-..
She drugs him and rises, untouched, and
closes the year.
ALMA ROBERTS G1oRDAN.
Evening star., 1948-12-08

profound. It goes far beyond even pam
American mobilization for concerted de-
tense against aggression anywhere in the
Western Hemisphere, momentous though
that is in itself. The wider implications
are two-fold.
In the first place, it conforms with
Article 81 of the United Nations Charter,
which provides for regional pacts among
states for the maintenance Of their COM
mon defense and security. AS such, it
sets working pattern for the projected
Atlantic defense alliance now being nego-
tiated between the Brussels pact coun-
tries of Western Europe britain, France
and the Benelux trio) on the one hand,
and the United States and Canada on the
other. Furthermore, 1t is hoped that other
European nations will adhere to this
projected regional agreement, thereby
solidifying the democratic, peace loving
peoples on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean
into grand alliance against the threat
of totalitarian Communist aggression.
For the trainers of this vitality construc-
tive project, the solid realization of the
pan-American regional pact should log
ically be helpful and inspiring precedent
on which to build.
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Eoster Island Mythology

DR.. Werner Wolff of Bard College, An
nandale on Hudson, New York, has revived
interest in the mysteries of Easter Island
by attempting to solve them on folklore
level. His book, Island of Death" recently
published, approaches the riddles through
the legends which still are repeated by the
inhabitants as they heard them from their
ancestors, who in turn received them from
their progenitors many generations back.
Most other scholars disregarded this body
of material, preferring the archaeological
angle But the latter did not prove fruitful.
Until Dr. Wolff came along the questions
about Easter Island remained as much
unanswered as they were when they first
were postulated by the seventeenth CEN
tury navigators from England, who
brought news of the isle back to Europe.
Who were the pioneer settlers of the place?
Whence and when did they arrive? Why
and how did they carve and set up the
hideous idols which are their enduring
monuments? To what purpose did they
crown their five hundred statues with
ridiculous hats six feet high? How did
they raise on end stones weighing twenty
to sixty tons? What was the use of the
so-called burial platforms" of which they
constructed nearly three hundred? What
do their glyphs signify-the peculiar IN
scriptions cut into their idols and into
wooden boards?
It is the last mentioned of these prob
lens that DR.. Wolff has endeavored to
solve. He believes that he has found
translation key" which renders it feasible
to read the script and check it against
the oral legends of the Easter Islanders of
our own time. According to the traditions
he has collected, two brothers-Matua and
Machaa-nved on another isle, nearer
South or Central America. They loved the
same fair bronze maiden. She eloped with
Machaa, but Matua followed. Both BROTH
ers reached Easter. Their descendants
"long ears" and short ears"-developed a
devastating feud, echoes of which are
heard even now
DR.. Wolff thinks the stone images are
attributes of religion predicated on a
compelling fear of death. They seem to
have been offered to power unknown and
unknowable as sacrifices of sort. A rela-
lively few people chopped them out of
the quarries with only stone tools to aid
them in the work. Whether Machaa and
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Water Rates Are High Enough

As estimates of the cost of modernizing
Washington's water supply system continue
to mount, it is becoming increasingly
apparent that extraordinary measures Will
have to be taken to finance the urgent
construction program. There is one
extraordinary measure, however, that has
little to commend it. This Is the sug-
sestion, heard from time to time, that
water rates be further increased to take
care of the capital Improvements recon-
mended by the engineers.
Water rates were raised Is per cent
only last year. In order to finance even
the first phase of the proposed twenty
year $70O00000 expansion program
q phase calling for expenditures IN the
immediate future totaling from $l5,000,00O
to $4,000 ,000-the rates would have to be
raised to a wholly unreasonable level.
One of the anomalies Of the water system
Is that the more the number OF customers,
the higher the rates have become. With
most other utilities the trend has been In
the other direction. But water plant con-
struction costs have grown so rapidly that
they have become perplexing problem for
CQOSS WHO uluSt OCN1cC Woyo o1AA AAAS"AAS va
financing such projects.
Engineer Commissioner Gordon Young
was quoted as saying recently that the
alternative to increased rates Is borrowing
or possibly a combination Of both
borrowing and increased charges to water
consumers. Why should not the additional
possibility of q Federal grant to aid in
the construction program be seriously con-
sidered? The Federal Governments orig
inal $11,000,000 capital investment In
Washington's water system long since has
been repaid, through free water and other
BENEFITS. The Government has consumed
millions Of dollars worth Of free water over
the years. These millions could have been
used for many of the improvements needed
now. Not until last year did Congress
appropriate money to pay the Govern
ment's water bill. It provided 81 ,000, 900
for that purpose But this leaves nothing
for plant expansion. Yet the Government,
rs the largest user of water, should have
an interest in insuring an adequate supply.
Certainly it would be unfair to saddle all
of the cost of Improvements on the private
consumers of water, when the Government
stands to be one of the principal bene-
dciaries.
The first step, then, in any financing
program should be to see that the Fed
eral Government bears its proper share
of the burden. Whatever deficiency re-
mains should be met by borrowing so that
the costs may be widely and equitably
distributed The water rates should be
lifted no higher than is necessary to
operate and maintain the water system.
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Tribute to old Mary

To the Editor Of The Star:
While putting those modern, fancy steam
boats In their grave or wherever discarded
steamboats, 60, how about the good old Mary
Washington? The slowest, most comfortable
old boat on the Potomac
Anything could beat old Mary but Mary
didn't care. When the swifter McAllister
would pass her. Mary would just toot in dis
dain. She was always taking her time like
placid old woman with her wake wiggling up
from sides and back like that same old
womans hustle.
Mary never left on schedule; never left
Marshall Hall or other excursion stop without
blowing her whistle until the last happy galoot
was aboard.
Mary never had q serious accident. She ran
aground once In q while, but she did that on
purpose, for Mary had q romantic streak, and
she tarried so the moonlight riders could have
little more time for cuddling close and hold
ing hands they never necked in those days.
Mary was q very decent old lady, I'll have you
know And many romance was started with
the rhythm Of Mary's lingering padding.
The Captain never hurried. If he saw sonle-
one running from the horse cars to get to
Mary few minutes late, good old Mary would
just wait till that painting person came aboard.
And the captain always Joined in the spirit
of the nights. He joined in the singing and
always was right on the job with his footing
when the happy riders sang Pop Goes the
Weasel"
Many Washingtonian has fond remem-
brance Of the old Mary washington and would
like to know what became OF her. She deserves
statue on a pylon somewhere along the
waterfront May she rest in pieces
San Antonio Texas. d. M E.
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Need for SeIf-RequIotion

Decision of the National Automobile
Dealers Association to intensity its drive
against unethical practices on the part
OF some members Of the automotive in
dustry is justified by the disclosures
recently made by a House investigating
subcommittee. The testimony regarding
"tips" demanded by new-car salesmen,
unreasonable markups on traded-in cars,
the take-it-o -or-leave-it accessory racket
and similar trade evils tended to throw q
cloud on the whole industry although
only a few actual cases were cited at the
hearings 1t behooves the industry as q
whole, therefore, to do better job Of
housecleaning than seems to have been
done in the past.
The NADIA long ago warned members
of the industry to be on the alert against
questionable policies and practices. 1t has
contended that it Is just as important to
retain the good will of customers in q
sellers market as 1t is in buyers market.
This is a sound theory, for the good will
of his customers will be a valuable asset
to a dealer when competition again rules
the selling field
4NO OllC WALL SAld4Cll6C VAAC cedUCAAlOAV Va
NADIA officials that the majority of auto
mobile dealers are honest. But the offenses
committed by few have produced great
deal of unfavorable publicity and raised
doubts in the public mind that only the
reputable dealers can dispel. They can
dispel it by taking decisive action to
repudiate the abuses committed by some
dealers and to set up system of self
regulation. Car manufacturers can help
to enforce code of fair dealing through
strict franchise requirements and prompt
action to cancel franchises of dealers who
refuse to abide by the rules. Some action
along this line already has been taken as
a result of the Macy subcommittee's expo
sures. It should not require congressional
investigation to force the industry to clean
its own house, however.
Evening star., 1948-12-08
HobbIinq THROUGH

The women of the world have expended
a lot of time and tears in their fight for
freedom and equal rights Now having
won them, woman-wise, they have changed
their minds and seem to be turning them
in for mess of buttons and bows. The
latest instance of this voluntary cramping
of their style is the hobble skirt. Not only
does this echo of the suffragette era deal
a blow to the almost forgotten art of
walking, but 1t hampers woman in
getting on buses and impedes her pursuit
of men. The liberated lady of this season
minces along in six-inch steps, her head
tightly bound in helmetlike hat that
makes her head ache and her forehead
red. She has meekly submitted to the
return of the rat and the whalebone.
Bustles and hoop skirts tend to increase
the distance between the sexes gulf
which centuries of her militant sisters
tried to close. But the question Is how
far back will they 60 in their search for
new fashions, and will the customs of
yesteryear return with the clothes? Are
we in for another period Of fiuttering
lashes and smelling salts and rappings of
knuckles with fans and "Oh, la, sirs"?
Will wives resume the Victorian custom
of calling their husbands "Mr." and quail
ing at their command? It Is not likely, as
foreign. observers still 60 home muttering
darkly that American women are the most
overbearing bunch of girls since the
AmaZons. So this outbreak of shackling
fripperies probably will not fool any one
Women are not going to get there as
fast as they did last year in their ballerina
skirts and flowing coats, but they will
probably get there just the same.
Evening star., 1948-12-08
JudieiuI Deadlock

It is hard for a layman to believe that
the Supreme Court can properly take
jurisdiction of any aspect of the trial Of
Japan's alleged war criminals by an inter-
national tribunal. Even If this view be
correct, however, there is good reason to
believe, when all factors are balanced,
that Justice Jackson has done the right
thing in casting his vote with the four
justices who wanted at least to hear argu-
ment on the jurisdictional question.
In arriving at his decision Justice jack
son was influenced by considerations
which may be criticized on the ground
that they are not germane. He indicated
in his statement that he was Influenced
by the probability that deadlock in the
court on this issue would produce reactions
tisans of the condemned japanese would
believe that the United States gave them
less than justice. Assuming this to be true,
is it a proper consideration? On its face
1t seems to involve a political problem,
not any issue of constitutional law. One
is entitled to feel that once Justice Jack
son had resolved his doubt as to the
propriety of his participating in the case,
he would have done better to have cast
his vote solely on the basis of his own
opinion as to whether the court has or
has not Jurisdiction.
The fact remains, however, that four
members of the court, excluding Justice
Jackson, are in doubt on the jurisdictional
issue. The inference is that they are
inclined to the view that the court can
assert jurisdiction, and, having done that,
proceed to review some aspect Of the trial.
Because of the doubt which this casts on
the power of the President in the conduct
of our external affairs, factor also taken
into account by Justice Jackson, it seems
desirable to have the jurisdictional issue
resolved. And this could not have been
done if Justice Jackson had disqualified
himself in the case.
This leaves one more point, but very
important one. Justice Jackson's dilemma
arises from his active connection with the
prosecution of the German war criminals
at Nuremberg. He stated the matter in
these words: Il also indulge the hope that
argument (on the Japanese jurisdictionel
issue) will produce majority decision of
the court without further Intervention
from one (himselD who has been so iden-
tilted with controversial phases of war
crime law that he cannot expect others to
consider him as detached and dispassion-
ate on the subject as he considers himself
to be-"
That is a very candid statement. It is
also very revealing one. The business
of detaching justices from the court to
undertake special missions invites, as in
this case, the danger of acute embarrass-
ment to the court. It is practice which
flies in the face of the concept of the court
as an impartial instrument. Its continua-
ton can fulfill no better purpose than to
undermine that high public confidence
which has served for so long as the
Supreme Courts shield and sword
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Enlisted Mans Pay

To the Editor Of The Star:
I'd like to add few words to those of Just
an Ofhcers Wife"-a fervent and wholehearted
plea for a pay increase for all the services.
While she and struggle to make ends meet
on officers pay, think of the far greater strug-
gle facing an enlisted mans wife each month";
While Congress can draft enlisted men, it
can't force them into making the Service a
career, and more and more regular" enlisted
men and officers are resigning because they
find it impossible to support their families
these days ON service pay. Can the Service
afford to lose these trained men?
A NAVAL OFFICERS WIFE.
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Orchid Society
To the Editor Of The Star

TO the Editor Of The Star:
The National Capital Orchid Society wishes
to express its gratitude for your cooperation
in publicizing the orchid show in the American
Security & Trust Co. on December 8.
The show was success, from both the view
point of the exhibitors and the public, thanks
for which in no small part Is due The Star.
EUGENE GRIFFITH,
Chairman, National Capital Orchid Society.
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Letters to The Star

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
,oriter, although tt Is permissible for
a priter knoUn to The Star to use
a nom de plume. Please be brtet.
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Patronage a DANGER


However bad nay be other forms Of waste
in government, It seems to me that the root
of the evil is the power of patronage dele
gated to and exercised by the executive
branches of Federal, State and Municipal
Governments, which result not only in an
increasing horde of minor government
employees but appoints to higher office per-
haps thousands Of persons totally unqualified
by either education or experience to dis
charge efhciently and intelligently the duties
thrust upon them. The whole patronage
system exists for just one purpose, ie.. to pay
off political debts and it is unblushingly and
openly used for that purpose. While any
proposal to abolish this system would meet
opposition and create greater CONSERVATION
than the dropping of an atom bomb on one
of our great industrial centers, nevertheless
the results of such abolishment would have
far reaching results in eliminating many Ills
that arise from the present system.
Probably the dominant position of England
in world affairs from the time Of Elizabeth
to the beginning of World War II was in no
slight degree due to having an efficient and
well-trained corps of civil servants in all
parts of the far-fung Empire, men whose
appointments had nothing to do with their
political Affiliations but who were appointed
solely on account of their proven fitness for
the positions they occupied and who had
from boyhood received training to fit them
for the service which later became their
life work.
Governments came and went but the
Evening star., 1948-12-08

The soothing theory that Chinese Com
munist isn't Connie but only an
"agrarian reformer" has been referred to
the committee for examining unspotted
leopards.
Evening star., 1948-12-08

Matua were their original sponsors nobody
can be sure. The latest theory serves at
least to attract attention to them once
more.
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Peace at Christmas

TO the Editor OF The Star:
The Star Of Bethlehem beckons hopeless
mankind to the manger throne Of the Prince of
Peace. For q brief sobbing moment friend and
foe will pray: "Thy kingdom come" Then the
rejected infant Jesus will resume his endless
fight from the wrath Of King Herod.
Nothing has changed. Twenty centuries OF
futile slaughter, and Christmas finds our un-
sheathed swords awaiting the trumpet of doom.
Yet every heart is praying: Dear God, make
this Christmas different. Bring Thy peace on
earth and good will to all men,
On Christmas Day let hate-torn Berlin SYM
bolize the manger of the Prince OF Peace.
From East and West let conveys Of mercy bring
healing gifts of brotherhood to the cold, the
sick and the hungry.
There is reason to believe Generalissimo
Stain would not spurn another meeting with
our President Give sincerity an honest test
that all history can Judge its truth. Without
loss of face, each could lead his convoy OF
peace and mercy and meet in Berlin on Christ
mas Day. He who spurned the rendezvous
would confess his evil designs.
THOMAS E. MATTINGLY, M. D.
Evening star., 1948-12-08
Community Praise for MIR. Cappe

Community Praise for MIR. Capper
To the Editor Of The Star:
1t seems to me that all Of the civic organiza-
tions, as well as the citizens in general in
Washington, should get together and give
Senator Arthur Capper a rousing farewell. He
has worked faithfully for 80 years to better
conditions here in the Nations Capital
JACK SPRATT.
Evening star., 1948-12-08

British civil service was never troubled by
who was Prime Minister as long Is each
one in the service maintained his or her
ability to think and act clearly and with
initiative. But, today, from what we hear,
those vino want the government to do every
thing for every citizen from the cradle to
grave are succeeding in creating a situation,
in England, comparable to the situation here,
and let us not lose sight Of the fact that
England has almost overnight fallen from
the powerful position it once occupied.
In the last 1e years the trend has steadily
peen toward q bread and circus demand on q
centralized government and all we can say
is that. in spite Of protestations that "it
can't happen here" plenty has already hap
pened to warrant the hoisting of storm
signals. G. J. s.