davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Foundation of Civil Rights

In his message to Congress on civil
rights, the Presidents reference to the
District of Columbia iS marked by his
advocacy OF voting rights for Washing
tonians Given such rights, the President
says, "they themselves can then deal with
the inequalities" associated with segrega-
tion in the schools and other places of
public accommodation.
Surely he is right in this respect Laws
changing local custom that are imposed
from above, without the participation of
those who are to be governed by such
laws, will never have the same acceptance
or attain the same results as decisions
reached by the people themselves. AS the
greatest denial of civil rights in Wash
ington is the denial to its people of the
right to vote, the restoration and amplifl-
cation of such rights should be the first
step in any local program in this field
The President gives his unqualified in
dorsement of local self-government and
couples with it recommendation for
constitutional amendment ito extend Suf-
frage in presidential elections to the resi-
dents of the District" 1t would be in
LereSLlng W hIlOW IL tIie AAcSAACAe AAoo
deliberately suggested here an amend
ment limiting national suffrage to presi-
dental elections and excluding representa-
ton in the Congress. If so, the limitation
would be most unwise.
The purpose of constitutional amend
ment should be to extend to Congress
power it now lacks-the power to give to
the people of Washington the degree OF
representation in the National Govern
ment which Congress decides is suitable
for the people of the Federal City. 1t
would be grievous error to limit the
extension of such power to a grant OF
representation in presidential elections
alone. For while the District Is not
State, should never be State and should
never have aspirations for statehood,
there is no good reason to deny to its
people a form of national representation
both in Congress and the electoral college
which would not conflict with the status
of Washington as the seat OF Government.
But there is no argument with the broad
principle which the President has stated
in reference to the District, It's Just
application presents no unsurmountabie
dificulties. The Star believes that the
greater the discussion and examination of
such home-rule measures as the Auchln-
Gloss plan, the clearer becomes the need
to couple it with amendment of the
Constitution to give Congress the power
to grant representation in their National
Government to the people of Washington.
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Worrino for Minds

The Communist dominated Warsaw gov
ernment is reaching out now Tor the CoCdl
control and conquest of the minds OF all
the Polish people. What it is seeking TO
establish is a system essentially the same
as the one long in effect in Stains Russia
and only recently uprooted In Hitler
shattered Third Reich-a system OF lnooc-
trination and RECOMMENDATION calculated TO
make the masses think and act as sheep.
To that end, wholly apart from its secret
police, its suppression of political opposl-
ton, and its dominance of the press, radio
and other means of expression, the krem-
lin-serving Warsaw regime has recently
taken these important steps: % The
establishment of a special section in the
Ministry of Arts and Culture to censor,
doctor or prohibit foreign literature trans
lated into the Polish tongue; ca the for
nation of Supreme Council for Learning
in Higher Education to tighten the grip OF
communism on the universities; ana 10
the preparation of law to make 1t COM
pulsory for all boys and girls up to the age
of 20 to become members of new organl-
zation to be called I'm the Service for
Poland"
The third step seems by far the most
significant. 1t is aimed at the greatest
nossible domination of the mass mind and
spirit Under it, every Pole-male and fe-
male-would spend the most formative
and impressionable years of life being In
doctrinated by the state in Communist
ideology, with the young men undergoing
compulsory military training at the same
time The new organization-Whlch ap-
parently is to have the secondary function
of offering instruction in the trades and
professionals supposed to operate at first
in conjunction with already existing
groups like the Peasant and Catholic youth
associations. There can be little doubt
however that all such associations are
slated to be absorbed eventually by the
projected system of totalitarian party-lne
compulsion.
In a land as predominantly Catholic, as
Poland, the government is likely to run
into more than few difficulties before it
can hope thus to regiment the Poles into
robot-like mass willing to obey any die
tate Even so, it would be a mistake to
underestimate the power OF the kremi
Inns warsaw puppets to succeed even
tually, chiefly through the incessant in
doctrination of the pliable young. In addi-
ton to being repugnant, this internal
aggression against the freedom and dignity
of the Polish people and all other peoples
behind the iron curtain is potentially a
thing too dangerous for the democratic
world either to minimize or ignore. Il
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Reckless Drivers and Slow

To the EDITOR of The Star:
Commenting on the editorial, THE Slow
Drivers it may be of interest to consider just
what constitutes slow driving in the District.
Theoretically slow drivers are those who
keep too we'll within the established speed
limits-driving Is or 20 miles an hour, for
example, in 25-mle zone Practically, they
include all those who drive at materially less
than the prevailing traffic speed-say at the
full legal limit but where most cars are going
5 or 10 miles faster.
Perhaps there are good reasons why traffic
authorities establish speed limits which quite
tainly not peculiar in this respect. But there
will always be a considerable proportion OF
drivers who more or less carefully obey speed
regulations. Whether they do so out of prin-
ciple or out of fear of being caught, they slow
up traffic to a certain extent and, on the street,
are likely to be regarded as SLOW drivers" 1t
seems impractical to legislate against slow driv-
ing in the District without first setting up
realistic, generally enforceable speed limits. In
this writer's opinion, D. c. drivers who operate
at much less than allowable speeds are so
uncommon as to present no serious problem.
To the driver with the "old-gray-mare" COM
plex the car ahead is always slow-moving. No
matter how fast it's going, he is never satisfied
until he passes it. 1t would seem that the
Traffic Advisory Council should concern itself
with restraining reckless drivers. rather than
with trying to speed up apparently slow drivers.
P. C..
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Blames FEC for Noises


To the Editor Of The Star:
Can't something be done to curb radio
activities of our Federal Communications
Commission?
Only yesterday we of the Washington area
were more than adequately served by four
reliable radio stations Then the commission
got into its stride and two more stations were
added. That seemingly was but starter
Now new stations come by twos and threes,
until currently our Metropolitan Area Is
served-perish the thought!-by 13 so-caled
stations, with more on the way.
Not so long ago a newcomer to qualify had
to show, first, that there were need and room
for it, further, that its activities were undeni-
ably in the public interest Under the present
set-up all applicants for licenses are given the
Go" sign, whether not they intend TO
perform q public service.
Trv to tune in on one Of our still depend
ables and your ears are greeted with squeais
and souawks and background noises Try one
of the newcomers and we get cheap recordings
and blatant and irritating commercials ii
that is radio progress, I for one want none
of 1t.
There is general agreement that the COM
mission directly Is responsible for the radlo
mess that comes to us over the air waves
Therefore something in the shape OF remedy
ought to be in evidence. Just now, IL Will DC
admitted, radio is at very low eoo, ana we
know the responsible governmental body Let
the FEC get busy with something ike reiiel'
II it Is competent to do it.
SAMUEL sALoMAN
Evening star., 1948-02-03
UntimeIy Tax Cut

The temper of Congress-and presum-
ably of the people-being what it Is, any
protest against tax cut this year probably
is futile. Nevertheless the protest should
be made, for this Is not the time to be
cutting taxes.
With a margin of more than enough
votes to override a veto, the House again
has called for tax reduction. This latest
measure would take 100000 people off
the tax rolls and reduce revenues by
Sc, 500 100000. This is accomplished prin-
cipally by increased exemptions, sliding
scale percentage cut in the tax rate and
by adoption of the community property
principle.
In normal times this would be good
tax-reduction program. But these times
are not normal.
One of the reasons for the present
imitation is that the supply of dollars in
the hands of consumers is greater than
the supply of goods. The effect of this is
to force prices up and the addition OF
SC, 500 900 900 to the volume of purchasing
power is almost certain to drive prices
still higher. The national debt stands
at $256, 900 100000. 1t is imperative that
this debt be reduced and a maximum
reduction ought to be made when the
national income is high, as it is now. The
Republicans hope that they can provide
for tax reduction and still reduce the
debt this year by $2,600,O00,00O. That Is
an optimistic estimate, but even If 1t
should prove valid, the fact remains that
at this rate it would take ninety-nine
years to pay the debt and this Is without
any allowance for the lean years that are
bound to come.
Finally there is the fact, largely ignored
when taxes are under discussion in cam
paign year. that this country Is more at
war than at peace. With international
conditions as they are we cannot afford to
take the chances that might be taken in
TRANQUIL world If we have any margin
of revenue over and above q proper debt
reduction that margin should be used to
strengthen our defenSeS and to finance
the counter moves we are making in the
face of Russian expansion. This Is field
in which there can be no certain cost fg-
ures, but we would be wiser to plan on
spending more rather than less than the
current estimates.
These considerations point to one con-
clusion Any tax reduction now is inimical
to the best interests of the Nation. But
if, for reasons of domestic politics. some
tax reduction is inevitable this year, then
the cut should be held to the lowest figure
possible. There are members of the Sen
ate, where the bill now goes, who share
this view, and they should be given every
support.
Evening star., 1948-02-03
City Snowfall

Feather on feather, .no,o silently copcrtn0,
Catching unguarded, things mundane
and trite;;
Quiet as breathing of louer, IN siunlbertng,
Fairylike furries come houering tonight.
Hushino the swttt feet Of time IN It's
stiffness;
Silently shppered, the Dastness OF do,on
Folds all the city in ,oeb dream OF eertness;
Lull, to a dro,osiness noise Of the toton.
Fi1aoreed petals more perfect than star
dust
DRIFTING to city or Village remote:
Btddinq man pause as he bnrro,0s through
loneliness; '<
See all of heduen on the sleeve Of hts
coat. JULIA COLLINS ARDAYNE.
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Mr.. Eccles for President


To the Editor of The Star:
The reader will certainly not mistake the
proposition put forward here aught but
grass roots" development uninspired by par
tisan considerations.
Holding no brief from Mariner Eccles, but
as an ardent student of his field which is so
vital in world problems today, and as a reg
istered Democratic voter of Jeffersonian pro-
clivities, the writer enters his personal nomina-
ton of Governor Eccles for President on the
Democratic ticket
No one else in public life today is SO fitted
by knowledge and experience, and by a record
of public candor in fiscal and monetary matters
to deal with the dominant issue of world wide
imitation.
With him as President every situation with
which we are confronted in the multifarious
disputes over economic and monetary prob
lens, particularly as they involve the Soviet
charges against western bourgeois democracy"
for financial Imperialism. would come within
the scope of his understanding. This is q virtue
sadly lacking in the present occupant Of the
White House and also In any of the numerous
candidates so ardently engaged in the current
COP scramble for the pfivilese of turning
the rascals out"
It is submitted that Mr. Eccles, by both
ability and experience, could give them all
run for their money, which no one else in the
Democratic Party, certainly no one In, the mill
tary group or In the pink fringe. Is capable OF
doing He knows the field Of finance as few
other American citizens do and yet has no
record of subservience to it's traditions or its
vested interests of reaction such as are sure to
involve us in endless conflict, if not war; with
Russia ALDEN A. POTTER.
Evening star., 1948-02-03

all want a showdown with the Moslems
a repression of low-caste aspirations, and
the imposition of Hinduism as the state
religion and way Of life under Brahmin
leadership and authority. Such extremists
are quite capable of plotting the assassina-
ton of all those leaders who reject their
intransigeant aims.
Incredible though it may seem to us,
the evidence points to the fact that these
militants are not mere 'lunatic fringe"
but represent strong elements. The change
is therefore a real one.
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Durrant Innocent of Murder?


To the Editor of The Star:
In The Sunday Star Of January rs you re-
ferred to an account of the execution of San
Quentin Prison of Theodore Durrant which ac-
count was carried in The Star for January 7.
1898. You stated that Durrant was convicted OF
numbering one young woman and believed to
have been responsible for the killing of
second; that both girls were members of the
Emanuel Baptist Church in San Francisco;
that the bodies were concealed on the premises
of the church; that the evidence against Dur
rant was mainly circumstantial and that a
fatal point against him was that he had gone
out" with both the dead young women and.
so far as the record went, nobody else had.
At the time Of the trial the evidence was
published in full In all the San Francisco
papers. That evidence showed that one OF the
bodies had been found in the pastors study
In the church and that the other body had
been found hidden in the church belfry. The
evidence further showed tnao prior to the mur-
der charge Durrant had borne an excellent
reputation and had been a devout christian:
that while he had gone out with the girls on
various occasions, on all or nearly all OF those
occasions he merely had accompanied one or
the other of the girls to affairs given by Or at
the Emanuel Baptist Church of which Durrant
also was q member.
Had your writer gone farther into the case
he would have found that number OF years
after the execution Of Durrant the pastor OF
the church on his death bed confessed that
he had murdered the two girls and that Durrant
had no knowledge of the crime. At the time
Of the pastors confession the press generally
referred to this case as one Of the most tragic
miscarriages Of justice in the history OF our
American courts. I feel sure that you do not
wish to perpetuate the injustice and that after
further research In the matter you will tell
your readefs Of the subsequent development in
the case. FREDERICK A. GARGES
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Tuition in Our Public Schools

Superintendent of Schools Corning has
inherited a row over tuition fees for out
of-town public school pupils that began
long before he ever thought of coming to
Washington. For many years 1t was
fought out annually between the House
and the Senate. The House would insert
a proviso in the District appropriation
bill, comparable with the one that is now
law, to the effect that no money for schools
could be used for the free education OF
children not living in the District OF Co.
lumbia When the bill reached the Senate
that provision would be stricken and re-
placed by one admitting children OF
members of the armed services or Gov
ernment officials living outside the District.
In conference the Senate provision would
prevail.
The principle at stake Is clear. Residents
OF Maryland and Virginia do not contribute
in local taxes for the support of District
schools. Why should they receive public
school services without such contribution?
Last year Chairman Horan of the House
Subcommittee on District Appropriations
was able to make the tuition requirement
stick-as, of course, it. should. And DR..
Corning is catching the brunt of the row.
He is being attacked in court and he Is
being forced, under Interpretation of the
statute, to expel children whose tuition is
not paid He cannot do otherwise and the
members of Congress who have advised
parents to disregard the tuition require
ment have not worked to the best interests
of their constituents in the avoidance of
a payment that is fully justified in return
for services rendered,
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Maryland Residents Also Complainin,

To the Editor of The Star:
Why does not some one come to the rescue
of the Government workers who have the mis-
fortune to have to live in the State Of Mary
land?
Quite a number, including myself still pay
taxes and vote back in our home States
where we have every intention and hope of
some day returning to live.
Due to the housing situation and the present
policy of the Government in locating number
of its buildings just over the District line, some
of us are forced to live in Maryland.
Here we have a sales tax that even taxes
our electric light and gas bills that we would
be spared in the District of Columbia, plus, of
course, our added transportation cost.
Then to make us feel very much at home,
the State of Maryland about this time OF the
year, mails us its State income blank to fill out
1t allows a personal exemption dncluding
United States Government taxi Of $1,000 a
person and tax computed at the rate Of per
cent
The Supreme Court ruled last year that
Government workers in the District who in
tend to return to live in their native States
are not required to pay the District income tax
A Government committee already has found
the cost of living higher in Washington than
in any other city in the United States. Why
does not some Congressman Or Government
committee determine the added cost for those
who live just over the District line in Mary
land? A. A. EDWARDS.
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Letters to The Star

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
,0riter, although it is permissible for a
,oriter kno,Dn to The Star to use a
nom de plume Please be brief.
Evening star., 1948-02-03

A third round of wage boosts probably
will come to nothing. as no way has as
yet been found for one horse on the merry
go-round to overtake the other horses.
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Nv THE HAsKIN SERVICE.


@. How much oil was pumped through the
Big and Little Inch pipelines during the war9
IN. r. o.
A. A total of approximately 26o. 600 bar
rels of crude oil was pumped through the Big
Inch up to VI day. The Little Inch, which
handled finished petroleum products. delivered
a total OF lot l25,0O0 barrels to the Eastern
Seaboard
O. What is the correct way to inscribe
wedding ring?-J. H.
A. The wedding ring Is marked with the
initials of the bride and groom As we'll As the
date of the wedding The bridegrooms initials
come first since he is the donor.
9. Did Old Ironsides have q nsurehead7-
T. A.
A. The famous ship carried hve different
flgureheads during her long career. the most
notable that OF Andrew Jackson. In 1909 the
Navy Department ordered ngureheads TO be
removed from its fighting ships.
@. Where is the Golden Triangle H. u. B.
A. The Golden Triangle is n section OF land
in Pittsburgh Pa, where the Allegheny ana
Monongahela Rivers meet to form the ONO.
The area is noted for its skyscrapers and large
department stores.
O. How many white and colored actors are
there in Manhattan?-S. Z.
A. According to O compilation OF the Greater
New York Urban League, In nid-ls4o, there
were in Manhattan ,s72 white actors ana
1O7 Negro actors.
Evening star., 1948-02-03

The late Chauncey Depew seems to have
covered this community property tax thing
nicely, in his toast to women-"once our
superiors, now our equals"
Evening star., 1948-02-03

A marine monster In two parts is re-
ported by awed mariners. This Is be-
lieved to be new; the through sea serpent
with 4 second section.
Evening star., 1948-02-03

A survey of the eyesight of Eskimos
shows more than half of those examined
are under par. Reading in bed till half
past February will do it.
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Questions and Answers

reader can get the answer to any question OF
fact by writing The Washington star 1ntermanon
Bureau 316 street NE. washington q D. =.
Please inclose cents for return postage.
Evening star., 1948-02-03

the old D. c. stories by John Clagett Proctor
and the sermon column by the Rev. DR.. Fred
erick Brown Harris.
The story last week Of Pushmataha, cele-
brated .Choctaw Indian chief (who died in
D. c. waiting for action by Congress on the
debts the Government owed him) and his
burial in the Congressional Cemetery was worth
many times the price We pay for the paper.
Also helpful was the sermon by DR.. Harris
on the force of human fellowship
SAMUEL w. IRWIN.
Evening star., 1948-02-03

A nonswelling wood is announced by re-
search chemists, and may in time super
sede the tree that keeps on growing after
being made up into storm sash.
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Praise for a Cheerful Newsboy

:, Praise for a Cheerful Newsboy
To the Editor of The Star:
To often we human beings are quick to
criticize and slow to praise. l am not one who
often writes to newspapers, but there is an
exceptional newsboy in our neighborhood to
whom should like to call your attention.
Each evening without fail (even during our
recent heavy snow, he comes down the street
on his bike, on the front of which is a big load
of Evening Star newspapers Children his age
all over the neighborhood are playing and hay
ing good time, but "our newsboy" continues on
his route without stopping to join his play
mates. Should it be raining or showing and
especially when a strong wind is blowing, he
puts The Star inside the screen door and raps
on the front door before leaving. He always
brings the paper to the doorstep, never throws
it from the sidewalk.
Also he always has smile on his face when
ever he collects the money for the paper and
q CHEEKY greeting when ne meets you on the
street His name is Roy Hurst, and ne de-
livers in Patuxent Park, Md.
MRS. NORMAN E. YEUTER.
Evening star., 1948-02-03
Paying for, Library Service

To the Editor Of The Star: >-...
In answer to a letter which you recently
published urging increased taxes to support a
library in Prince Georges County it seems to
me there are two important questions:
First, will the increased facilities really be
beneficial? The bookmobile services will be
available only at stated times each month. This
is during the day when most people cannot
take time from their work to meet the book
mobile The condition of the weather and the
limited time which the bookmobile will be
available will prevent Its proper use. The best
time for the libraries is in the evening and the
services of the Prince Georges Library are not
conveniently available in the evening to many
residents and the bookmoble does not answer
the purpose.
Second, is it intended to put the increased
taxes on the real estate owners? Real estate
taxes already are very high and now Is not the
time to increase them. II necessary, some way
should be worked out so that the library pa
irons could defray at least part OF the cost
of upkeep of the library by fees.
HAROLD F. LARKIN.
Evening star., 1948-02-03

ruthless and relentless enough, it can
work. For proof of that, we have only to
remind ourselves of Nazi Germany and
Soviet Russia