davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-06-17
What to Do? Have q Survey!

All of the arguments in favor of
$4,000 survey of the public school system
are familiar For they apply to any survey.
We have had our share of them in Wash
ington.
In the case of the schools, the arguments
run something like this: We are facing
increasing school congestion. 1t results
from growing population, shifts OF popu-
lation, delayed constructions higher build
ing costs There are plenty of plans about
what to do. But there is very little money.
So what shall we do? All! Have survey!
Call in a big expert from the outside, let
him hire a lot of little experts and turn
them loose. Money for the survey can be
taken out the funds for teaching. The
"objective" appraisal may do some good
Then we shall know what to do, because
the survey will say thus and so, etc, ETC.,
etc
The arguments are familiar enough and
so are the surveys. They are all pretty
much alike Somebody is hired at fee
far in excess of the salaries paid to people
who direct work that is to be surveyed.
The field is combed for experts" who are
out of job. Questionnaires are prepared,
the statistics are assembled, the charts
are drawn, the text is written, the volumes
are printed and dumped in the lap of
those who ordered the survey. And there,
If history repeats, it will remain, while
those whose toes were trod upon make
survey of the original survey to show why
its proposals will not work.
We have every reason in Washington
to be allergic to surveys There have been
and producing little of value, except to
the surveyors. The school survey may be
worth while But the odds are that it
will not. If the people in charge of our
school system are SO incompetent that
college professor emeritus must be hauled
out of retirement and paid 81 800 month
to tell them what they ought to do, they
will lack the competence to do it when
told If one thinks there is disagreement
now over school buildings and admin
lstration, just wait until this survey is
completed!
In the Senate committee hearings which
decided to make this survey, Senator
DWorshak was asked by School Board
Member Sharp if the survey would include
curricula. He was assured by the Senator
that it would not, But as finally author
lied, It includes the curricula along with
everything else in the school system. That
Is mistake. In fact, the whole business,
in The Stars opinion, is a mistake, just
as any other form of wasting public funds
is mistake.
Evening star., 1948-06-17

navigation on the Danube. This great
river, which runs nearly 1900 miles from
its source in the German Black Forest to
its mouth on the Black Sea, serves as a
vital commercial artery for the south
central. portion of the European continent.
Roughly comparable to our Mississippi, it
flows through the territory of several
nations. But for nearly a century previous
to World War II, nationalistic difficulties
were avoided by an international conven-
ton insuring freedom of navigation and
impemented by a Danube commission
which regulated traffic and kept the river
in proper shape by improvements Of
various kinds. Since the war, this ar
rangement has been in allegiance, with
Soviet Russia and its satellites controlling
the river in whole or in part from the
German border to its Black Sea mouth.
Such trade as has survived functions at
their sufferance and is subject to strangling
regulations.
Until these handicaps are removed and
freedom of navigation has been restored,
the Danube cannot play its historic eco
nomic role. 1t is to be hoped that the
forthcoming conference will make this
major contribution to Europe's recovery.
Evening star., 1948-06-17
Cost of Funerals

The Court of Appeals, in decision which
will be of considerable interest, has ruled
that the executors of an estate cannot be
required to pay more than 5000 for a
funeral
When Frederick w Buchholz we'll
known Washington restaurant owner, died
two of his relatives arranged with Gawler S
for a funeral which was to cost 1888
This included a casket costing more than
$4,000 and selected by the relatives, but
when the bill was presented to the execu-
tors of the Buchholz estate they refused
to pay it on the ground that the cost was
unreasonable and that the arrangements
had been made without proper authorize
ton Later the executors decided that
81 900 was a reasonable figure, and that
sum was paid.
The undertaken brought suit for the
balance and was successful in the lower
courts. The Court of Appeals took a
different view of the matter, however,
and concluded that under District law an
executor cannot be compelled to pay more
than 5000 for a funeral.
This does not mean, of course, that a
higher price cannot be paid if the respon-
sble parties are willing to pay it. But
the appellate decision ought to serve as a
reasonable and useful check on any tend
ency to burden estates by arranging for
unnecessarily expensive funerals
Evening star., 1948-06-17
Shift in Paraguay

The ouSting of President Morinigo of
Paraguay by army pressure suggests an
elaborate double cross between Morinigo
and his designated successor to the presi-
dency. This man, Juan Gonzalez, was
Moringos hand-picked candidate in an
election" last February wherein only
members of the Colorado Party support
ing the government, were allowed to par
ticipate. All other parties had been out
lawed after their defeat in a fierce civil
war which ragged during most of 1947.
Morinigos choice of Gonzalez was not
pleasing, however, to large section even
of the Colorados. These objectors split off
as a dissident group and formed contact
with the outlawed opposition. 1t had
been freely predicted in informed quarters
that a revolution would be staged to pre-
vent the accession of Gonzalez next August.
Further to complicate the situation, all
was not sweetness and light between the
President and his President-elect Mor
nigo had been in power almost eight years
That is something Of record in Paraguay,
which has had no less than tWenty-eight
Presidents in the past half century, most
of them making a revolutionary entrance
into office and leaving by the same route.
Morinigo kept his seat by dictatoria
methods and had no desire to relinquish
the sweets of power 1t has been widely
believed that he picked Gonzalez as a
front behind which he would continue to
exercise effective authority. However, as
SO often happens in these presidential
chair warming arrangements. Gonzalez
showed signs of intending to take his job
seriously So the relations between him
and the President had become strained.
Into this scrambled situation entered
the army, which, in Paraguay, is apt to
have the last word in political complica-
tions. So Morinigo suddenly resigned as
he expressed it, "at the request of the
armed forces and the people" stop-gap
regime has been improvised, headed by the
chief justice of the supreme court, who
is slated to serve as provisional president
until August Is, when President-elect
Gonzalez is supposed to be inaugurated.
Whether that Inauguration will take
place is, however, moot point. The entire
political situation is so snarled up with
personal rivaries and group hostiiities that
almost anything may happen. The one
thing that appears to be certain is that
the people as a whole will not be able
freely and democratically to express their
Evening star., 1948-06-17
A Danube Conference

Soviet diplomacy is proverbially un-
predictable, and Moscow's acceptance of
an American proposal to hold an inter-
national conference on Danube naviga-
ton comes as a pleasant surprise. Our
Government has been pressing this issue
ever since the close of the war. But despite
a declaration indorsing in principle free
navigation of the Danube by the Big
Four Foreign Ministers meeting in 1916
and commitments to the same effect in
the Balkan peace treaties signed last year,
nothing effective has been done in the
matter.
The reason for this long delay has been
the nonco-operative attitude of Moscow;
which has raised series of objections to
American proposals. Chief of these has
been the question of Austria. We have
contended that Austria should participate
in a Danube conference, not only as a
country vitally concerned, but as a "liber-
ated" state whose independence and
sovereignty has been affirmed by the Big
Four, including, of course, Soviet Russia
itself. Moscow has rejected our conten-
ton on the ground that Austria's diplo-
IldliC Wouio liob NC pCIISSuCo uilClA
after the negotiation of a peace treaty
which Moscow has blocked by demands
that the Western Powers would not accept.
This difficulty has seemingly been by
passed by Russian agreement to let
Austria sit in on the conference in a
consultative capacity. Another surprising
feature in the Russian reply is its sugges-
ton that some other capital than Belgrade
be selected for the meeting place. Our orig
inal nomination of Belgrade had been
intended as friendly gesture to Moscow
and its satellite, Yugoslavia.
Moscow's conciliatory attitude naturally
raises the question as to what it means.
1t does not square with the rest of the
pattern of Soviet diplomacy, yet the pos
sibility that it may be the first indication
of change in Moscow's diplomatic policy
should not be excluded. A better appraisal
will be possible If the conference actually
is held and Moscow shows a cooperative
attitude.
Certainly, few matters are more i'm
portant for the economic recovery of
Europe than the re-establishment of free
Evening star., 1948-06-17
The House on Trial

Despite the earnest eHOTCS OF LIle Dlil )
sponsors, the House is giving wretched
performance in it's handling of the draft.
The legislators have already cut the
heart out of the bill through the process
of amendment. One of these would re-
duce the period of service from two years
to one, which would produce little more
than training program when the need is
for men who can be trained and who can
also serve in the armed forces. Another
amendment passes the buck to the Presi-
dent and requires him to wait IS days
after enactment before invoking the draft.
The effect of this is not only to delay the
recruitment of men needed now by the
services, but also puts upon the President
the onus of pulling the trigger" This is
political maneuver inspired by political
coWardice, and deserves to be branded
as SUCH
Since these amendments are tentative
there is some hope, but not much, that
they can be knocked out when the final
votes are taken. This will not be done,
however, unless the House leaders get be-
hind the draft bill in the form in which
it passed the Senate, and bring every
pressure to bear to get it through the
House
Beyond the amendment hazard there
looms the danger that no bill will be
passed For Representative Marcantonio,
whose voting record is hardly distinguish
able from the Communist Party line, has
served notice that he and those who play
his game are determined to resort to a
flbuster to prevent a final vote before
the scheduled Saturday night adjourn
ment date.
Mr.. Marcantonio says that 1--WE are
doing this for the youth of America" But
he is the same Mr. Marcantonio who was
chanting that Fthe Yanks are not coming"
when Hitler was overrunning Western Eu-
rope, and who changed his tune only when
the Nazis turned against Russia. In the
light of this mans record, the other
House members ought to be able to see
which way the wind is blowing. They
ought to realize that by blocking the
draft they will be playing the party line
game. Instead of serving the best in
terests of this country, they will be doing
what the Communists think is best for
Russia.
Most certainly the Republicans and the
Democrats do not intend to do this, but
that is what they will be doing neverthe-
less. 1t is no exaggeration to say that the
House is on trial in these closing days of
the session. and the members ought to be
made to realize it.
Evening star., 1948-06-17
Q. Why do scotsmen wear kilts9-s. p.
Pastoral for June

The dogwood yields her ,ohite deltr1um
TO crimson rdn1bler's petdled sea OF
flame,
And sudden rainbotDs of delphininm
Establish summers lately-chaHenged
claim.
The scent of lilac s1o,oly fades array,
While siluer btrches, In a fretUork, ledn
Their shadows on the sky; and epery day
Is IKE warm scarf cut from golden
sheen
Were eper sailed clouds as trim as
these
Like clippers skimming do1on the sea-
green hill?
And scuddtng do,1n the rainy winds NTH
ease, ..a-..-
Hare other days sho,pn such exquisite
skill?
No doubt young Pan first piped his merry
Mid nocks and herds In some Arcddtan
June, SARAH M. HOWARD.
Evening star., 1948-06-17
You ALP a Trife

10 the EDITOR Oh me star.
James F. Byrnes and The Star have come
forward to champion the users of the phrase.
you ALL This trife has generated MUCH
heat between Yankees and natives of Dixie.
To me the most significant aspect of the
dispute is that two groups can twist one another
so long without getting at the real point of
difference.
Northerners constantly are telling South
erners that the latter say you ALL to designate
only one. Southerners insist that they do
not. But they also insist they use 1t only
when it is grammaticaly appropriate. Mr..
Byrnes and The Star are among those who
say the expression is not abused.
constantly hear Southerners in Washington
say you all when referring to two persons.
That is dramatically incorrect. At least it Is
improper diction by standards accepted by the
country at large.
The plural form of the word you" is "you.'
1t is correct to say you all' to groups Of which
we would say ''all of them" if We were speaking
about them instead of to them. II two persons
are addressed it would be correct to say you
two" or you both but not you all The
Northerner ordinarily says you" for two or
more persons, although he may say "all of
YOU or even you ALL for three or more per-
sons and you two both of You" when
addressing two.
Usage determines standards of speech and
1t may be that in time you all" will become
correct nationally. I should say that it is
correct in sectional way now. 1t is true that
we need a plural form for the word you
to avoid occasional ambiguity. you all"
might serve, the purpose except for the inap-
propriateness of applying it to two persons.
Perhaps usage. in time, will establish you all"
in spite of that criticism In the meanwhile.
we have a splendid tri1e to quibble over.
J. MILTON STANFORD.
Evening star., 1948-06-17
Doing on Injustice

The only objection of any consequence
which has been made to the nomination
of Edward A. Tamm to the District Court
bench is that he has not had experience
in the actual practice of law as the lawyers
define that term.
If the Senate, impressed by this objec-
ton, had voted against confirmation, no
one could quarrel with its decision. But
the Senate has not voted, and apparently
is not going to vote, because the Judiciary
Committee will not let the nomination
get to the floor.
Mr. Tamm's nomination was sent up
by the President in February. subcom-
mittee held exhaustive hearings, listening
to every witness, pro and con, who wanted
to be heard. Then, after careful delibera-
ton, the subcommittee voted two to one
to recommend that Mr.. Tamm be con-
irmed. But nothing has happened since.
+ Chairman Wiley of the full committee
says that the nomination has not been
killed. But there are more ways to kill
a nomination than by vote against it.
And the committee, in this instance, ap-
pears to have fallen back on what can
be described as the equally effective
"pigeonhole" treatment.
When one considers the impressive array
of witnesses who appeared in Mr.. Tamm's
behalf, and his undisputed record of out
standing service with the FBI, it seems
evident enough that the Judiciary Com
mittee, in refusing to permit the Senate
to vote, is doing an injustice to Mr.. Tamm
and bringing no credit on itself.
Evening star., 1948-06-17
Jewish Citizenship and Israel

To the Editor Of The Star:
May be given an opportunity to comment
on an article in The Star for May u headed:
Council for Judaism Repeats That Jewry,
Israel Are Separator"
The part of the article which I believe needs
discussion is the statement that Jews who are
citizens OF other nations can in no way be
represented by the new state of Israel.
In other words, it is suggested that the
recognition of the new Jewish state by our
Government should not have happened and
is not recognition based on justice and
truth.
According to my understanding of the coun-
cils statement, one who is citizen OF one
land cannot serve in any way another land
and be honest about it.
Between the lines of the statement of the
council one may read that the council is
skeptical about the loyalty of American-Jewish
citizens and because of its fear it advises
American Jews not to participate in the up
building of q Jewish homeland.
I differ with the council. I believe that a
Jewish citizen Of the United States may not
only remain as good a citizen as before the
recognition of the Jewish state but that it
has been proved by history that religious
and observing Jew Is a more loyal and patriotic
citizen than nonreligious Jew. The American
Jew, as a citizen here, by all means should
uphold the laws of our land. However, in
matters pertaining to religion or Jewish educa-
ton, he may comply with the rules laid out
by the Chief Rabbinate Tribunal, seated in the
Jewish homeland and still remain the same
patriot as he was before. A Catholic who Is
a citizen of the United States is not less
patriotic because on church and religious mat
tiers he abides by the decisions Of the Pope.
Our Jewish sages say: "It is the duty OF
every Jew to pray for the well-being Of the
country wherein he dwelleth, its rulers and
lawgivers. To them be loyal and patriotic at
all times"
The Council for Judaism insists that no one
can speak in the name of all the Jewry OF the
United States Let me reply that while 1t Is
true that not all Jews are affiliated with the
Federation of American Zionists. the 5,000000
Jews of America. If ballots where placed In
their hands, would vote yes on the question:
Should the Jews OF the world have land OF
their own?" Since that would be the case,
then the zionists can speak in the name OF
the majority OF Jews.
RABBI MAURICE ABRAMsoN.
Los Angeles.
Evening star., 1948-06-17
Americans Only Movement

To the Editor of The Star:
According to the words of Representatives
Cox, of Georgia, and GosSet, Of Texas, re-
Gently spoken on the floor of the House, the
DPS are nothing but buns and loafers and are
composed of revolutionaries that would gnaw
away at constitutional government" I would
like to comment that this sounds like the
america for Americans Only Movement -
Supposedly, this country is the melting pot
of the world. People of all races and creeds
have strengthened the United States in the past
by their combined efforts. Have We reached
an era of perfection where novel ideas emanat-
ing from people outside the continental United
States will have lean pickings on the DPS?
The latter view seems to be more logical
reason for their statement, but Messrs. Cox
and Gosset condemn all DPS as class without
acknowledgement of individual merits.
WALLY WILES.
Evening star., 1948-06-17
u. n, Study of Palestine

To the Editor of The Star:
C.L. A. in his letter of June IL declared that
the Arabs seem to be taking fearful beat
ing on the propaganda front in the United
States. He apparently is not constant
reader of The Star On the day his letter
appeared, Constantine Browns column could
not have been more deftly written by John
Baggot Club Pasha. The news story on page
10 concerning Roy Farrans troubles should
have made c. L. A. a very happy man.
He seems to forget that the real issue in
Palestine is not whether the Arabs or Zionists
have better claim to the territory but whether
the Arabs, with their British allies. can sue
ceed in ignoring United Nations decision
democratically arrived at by vote of 80 to 13
in the General Assembly. Has c. L. A. for
gotten that this decision came after an i'm
partial U. N commission, composed of repre-
sentatives of IL small nations, had recon-
mended partition and after full hearing with
in the General Assembly?
To call the action of our Government with
respect to Israel "politicap is to call our
participation in and support of strong United
Nations insincere. BY recognizing Israel, we,
the United States, were recognizing an ac-
complished fact brought about through the
power of the United Nations. Unfortunately,
the Arab nations and Great Britain, members
of that great international body, are defying
its powers. Japan defed the League of Ma
tions in 1882 and was permitted by the great
powers to do so with impunity. We are all
aware of the results
protest C. L. AS calling the actions of the
United States selfish" l cannot believe that
1t is improper for our Government to strive
for world peace through stronger United Ma
tions. If any discord is being created between
the United States and its natural" ally, Great
Britain, that discord is result of Great
Brtain's foreign policy with respect to the
United Nations and not ours.
MRS WILLIAM H ARKIN
Evening star., 1948-06-17
Letters to The Star

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
,oriter, although it is permissible for
a 1uriter knotUn to The Star to use
a non, de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1948-06-17
Answers to Questions

Bureau, s1s Eye street NE, Washington 2. 3: {.
Evening star., 1948-06-17

preference. In backward, revolution
ridden Paraguay, democracy is word
honored in the breach more than in the
observance.
Evening star., 1948-06-17

Much talk among the boxing fans to
the effect that the 40-hour work year is
beginning to- tell on Champ Louis.
Evening star., 1948-06-17
Paw Bill Delay

TO the Editor OF Inc star: S-~....
The ION again. off again" Federal pay raise
legislation that is currently being tossed around
in Congress introduces a question of doubt as
to the real intentions of our lawmakers.
There seems to be little reasonable doubt
that few Congressman are making every ef-
fort to bring the bill before their respective
houses, but the top Republican leaders ap-
parently have no desire to bring the measure
to the floor for debate. Their feeble excuse
is that there are more urgent and important
matters to be considered first. This reason
would be entirely valid if it were not for the
fact that interminable debate, political jockey
ing. and other time-wasting procedures have
brought the Congress to the eleventh hour with
little to show for their efforts and great deal
left to be done.
Actually, there should be little controversy
over the pay bill and prompt action by the
party leaders could push the bill through
in part of a days session.
r. NJ WIDDICOMBE
Evening star., 1948-06-17

The Vandenberg position is still mo"
Whatever the backroom boys do at Philly
the Senator is not to be smoked out at
this time.
Evening star., 1948-06-17

The big brave census bureau, safe in its
anonymity, holds that "a housewife is not
a working woman"
Evening star., 1948-06-17

torturing helpless animals. There are
many things We can learn from them: fidelity,
for instance. Dogs don't enter into covenants
and tear them up. Dogs don't Cypress
and enslave their fellows. If humans would
think Of it and observe dogs, they might
possibly in time come to be as fine and true
and noble as the dogs"
What wonderful world this would be if
human beings were as kind and as friendly as
dogs! But, alas greedy men will continue to
grub for gold at the expense of their fellow
beings. Mesmerized by money and the desire
to accumulate more they ride rough shod
over less fortunate people. They forget that
some day death will beckon them and there
is no purse in the shroud."
EDMUND K GOLDSBOROUGH