davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Credibi|ity Of Budenz!
Attacked in ChrisfoffeI
Defense Summation

The credibility Of Louis Budenz,
former magazine editor of the Daily
Worker who resigned and renounced
communism, was attacked today in
closing arguments at the perjury
trial of Howard Christoffel in Dis
trict Court.
The case against the former Mil
waukee labor leader on charges that
he lied to the House Labor Com
mittee last March in regard to Com
munist connections was to 60 to the
jury this afternoon.
Mr. Budenz, now an author Of
anti-Communist books and an as
sistant professor Of economics at
Fordham University, was described
by Defense Counsel O. John Rogge
as a professional testifier" whose
quick political turn-around casts
serious doubt on his sincerity.
Asks Disregard of Testimony.
Asking the jury to disregard the
Budenz testimony that Christoffel
conspired with officials high in the
Communist Party to bring about a
political strike at the strategic
Allis-Chalmers plant in Milwaukee,
Mr.. Rogge declared the witness now
makes his living going about testify
ing for the Government.
Look at the record of this man
and what do we have?' Mr.. Rogge
asked. "At some time during this
quick turn-about, this man was
serving two masters. How can you
believe him now?"
Mr.. Rogge also insisted that the
House committee which took Chris
toffel's sworn testimony was not
legally constituted body because it
lacked quorum.
Calls Witnesses Rehearsed.
In summing up the evidence,
Frank H. Patton, special prosecutor,
charged that the six defense wit
nesses. obviously had been "re-
hearsed" and repeated in a parrot
like" way that, during their associa-
ton with the former union official,
they had never known him to do or
say anything to indicate he was a
Communist.
Christoffel was president Of the
United Automobile Workers (CIO)
local at the Allis-ehalmers Manu-
featuring Co. plant in West Allis,
Wis, during two pre-war strikes.
Government witnesses testified
Christoffel associated with known
Communists.
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Joe Gordon Called
Alert by Pleased
Woman Customer

Joseph M. Gordon, II, a soda
clerk in the Peoples Drug Store at
Fourteenth and H strets NV, Is
the first person nominated for q
prize in the Courtesy Campaign Of
the Greater National Capital Com
mittee of the Washington Board Of
Trade.
He is a native of the Southwest
section and lives at 1341 Fourth
street S.W.
H was nominated by Mrs. Mary
e. Shaw, TIT Twentieth street
NV, an editorial assistant with
the AFL. Mrs. Shaw, who is from
Washington, N. c., recognizes cour-
tesy when she encounters 1t.
She wrote The Star:
"If tourist in our Nations Capt.
tai were to drop into the Peoples
Drug Store at the corner of Four
teenth and H streets NV, and a
clerk at the soda fountain named
Joseph M. Gordon took his or her
order, they would be treated with
so much courtesy that the customer
would feel that they had found a
real friend. When Washington
ian drops in, Joe, If he has ever
taken an order from them before,
knows what they want and fills the
order before they can give it.
II drop in every morning for my
coke on my way to work, and before
I can even find a seat, Joe has
made my coke and has it ready
when look his way. I have a shot
of ammonia put in and he never
forgets that. I have been asked
many times how the clerk knows
what I want before I order, and I
always answer that he is on the
job and wants to make every GUS
toner happy.
He never has much to say, but
his quietness and his alertness makes
a person feel that they are getting
very personal and special attention.
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Soda Clerk Is First Nominee
For Courtesy Campaign Honors
Courtesy Contest

A courtesy contest with valu-
able prizes to be announced
later will be conducted during
the courtesy campaign which
started Sunday and will end
March "a.
The Star is cooperating in
this contest and entries mailed
to the Courtesy Editor" of
The Evening Star, Washington,
4, will be forwarded to the
judges.
All that is necessary is to
report an act of exceptional
courtesy occurring during the
campaign and give the name
and address of the courteous
person.
If the judges select the Incl
dent as outstanding, prizes will
go to both the courteous person
and the one reporting the in
cident.
Reports should be mailed be-
fore midnight March IT SO that
the winners may be announced
at the mass meeting at Con-
stitution Hall, March "a, end
ing the campaign.
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Lucas Sees Politics
lin 6. 0. P. Forecast oI
Biq Trim in Tax Cut
by the Assoeiotsd Press

Senator Lucas, Democrat, Of
Illinois today labeled as pol
itics" a Republican forecast that
the Senate may trim $4,000, ,000,-
900 off the House-passed tax
cutting bill.
The prediction came from Chair
man Millikin of the tax-writing
Senate Finance Committee. He said
he believes the committee probably
will vote to reduce the $500. 600 900
House figure to somewhere between
$4,500, ,000, 900 and 5000 ,000, ,000."
Senator Millikin expressed his
view late yesterday as the commit
tee heard more testimony on the
House bill.
THE only reason the Republicans
are talking about a tax cut of less
than $500 900 900 is that they be-
lieve such strategy would win them
enough Democratic votes to over
ride a presidential veto," Senator
Lucas told reporter.
Undecided on Substitute.
"They are not interested in the
merits of tax reduction. Their bill
is simply one OF political expedi-
ency," he said.
Senator Lucas Is a Finance Com
mittee member and assistant minor
ity leader of the Senate. He said
he is still undecided whether to
introduce substitute bill which he
said would reduce taxes "a little
less than $4,000, ,O00, ,000."
Senate Republicans have con-
tended that a sizable tax cut is
needed to relieve the burden on in
dividuals, as well as to spur pro-
duction.
But they have said frankly the
House figure must be reduced to in
crease chances of overturning an
expected presidential veto.
Hanes Askes Good, Healthy Cut"
A former New Deal Treasury
official, urging a tax cut before the
Senate committee yesterday pointed
to England, France and Italy as
examples of "stagnation" caused
by too-high taxes.
He warned it could happen here.
John w. Hanes, Undersecretary of
the Treasury in 1889, and now a
New York corporation executive,
told the committee he favored q
good, healthy" income tax reduc-
ton.
He said the cut should be general,
and not just for low income brack-
cts.
A cut in taxes for those in upper
brackets, he said, would "revitalize
risk capital, help maintain employ
ment, and through increased pro-
duction, lower the cost of goods
and services to the consumer"
Evening star., 1948-03-03
President Takes Of
) Pounds on Vacation
By Joseph A. Fox
xfor Sfof{ CofrsspondsNf

KEY WEST, Fla, Mar. 3.-Prea.
dent Truman Is in excellent condi-
ton" after his southern holiday
his physician, Brig. Gen. Wallacs
Graham. reported today as the
President made his plans for "a
turning to Washington Friday.
The President has dropped thres
pounds since leaving the Capital
February 20 and now weighs 17a,
which is considered a good figure.
Mr.. Truman decided today to take
of from Boca Chica Airport at 9
am. Friday. This will bring him
back to Washington around 2 pm.
He had contemplated later de-
parture, but Eben Ayers, acting
press secretary, said Mr.. Truman
had some work he wanted to take
care Of.
A courier plane today will bring
mail from the White House and
beyond attending to that and TAX
ing his daily swim, nothing was on
the schedule. Rough water washed
out tentative plans for a fishing
trip into the Gulf.
The President still is graphing
with the problem of filling the COM
plement OF the Civil Aeronautics
Board.
Word today was that there were
no appointments in sight to replace
Chairman James M. Lands, who
was ditched by the President. and
Clarence N. Young, who resigned.
A third vacancy in the five-mem-
Der board Is in prospect, as Harllee
M. Branch has resigned effective
May !.
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Steel Price Increase
Is Invitation 10 Paw
Raise, WoIcoH Says
by the Asseeietsd Press

The steel price increase in the
face of coming wage talks
brought fresh Republican criti-
cism today.
Representative Wolcott, Republi-
can, of Michigan, vice chairman of
the joint congressional Economic
Committee, termed last months in
crease "the worst thing that could
have happened psychologlically."
"The companies are seemingly in
viting their men to come in and ask
for more money" Mr.. Wolcott said.
His comment came as he and other
members Of the joint committee be-
gan studying testimony OF three
steel company executives at one
day hearing yesterday.
Senator Taft, Republican, Of Ohio,
committee chairman, said this study
will determine (a) whether further
hearings are to be held and CD
whether the committee will have
anything to say formally about the
price jump.
Taft Warns Of Wage Demands.
Senator Taft first brought up the
matter of prices and wages during
questioning of the steel men at yes
terday's session.
Told that the price Of semi-hn-
ished steel was increased about IS
a ton because of rising costs, the
Ohio Senator commented that this
argument lis the same one that
could be made for labor and for
all sides"
Senator Taft said the inevitable
result" will be to spur wage de-
mands.
Mr.. Wolcott said he is not yet
convinced that the increase was
justified.
Under the former pattern Of
price increases after wages are set"
he commented, they (the COM
panies) might have been able to
Justify price increase. In my
opinion, they certainly haven't jus
titled it at the present time"
Timing Called every Bad"
But in any event, Mr.. Wolcott
insisted that the timing was very,
very bad"
I'VE are doing everything we can
to balance the economy" he said,
land commodity prices had even
started down when this came" Mr..
Wolcott did come to the defense of
the steel companies on one point,
however.
"I don't think there was any COL
lusion," he said.
President Truman last week
ordered the Justice Department to
look into the price increase to de-
termine whether there had been any
violation Of the antitrust laws.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
agents visited the executive Offices
of 16 steel companies as part OF
that inquiry. No findings have been
announced.
But Mr.. Wolcott said:
There certainly hasn't been any
case of collusion made yet. 1t was
Just a strange coincidence"
Those who testified yesterday were
Benjamin F. Fairless, president OF
the United States Steel Corp; Ar
thur B. Homer, president of the
Bethlehem Steel Co., and Hiland G.
Batcheller, president of the Ale
gheny Ludlum Steel Corp.
Evening star., 1948-03-03

will be determined by Congress
these employees feel. And they be.
lieve they have Jared better in the
past by having their wages adjusted
by Federal wage boards than by
Congress.
MISREPRESENTATION - De-
spite the Southern furor over Presi-
dent Truman's civil rights program
White House insiders say the Presi.
Dental directive barring discrimina-
ton in Government jobs will be
issued shortly after Mr.. Truman
returns from Florida.
The finishing touches to the Or
der, which is expected to forbid
Federal agencies to discriminate
against Government employees OF
job applicants because Of race OF
religion. are now being applied at
the White House.
In his recent civil rights message
to Congress, Mr.. Truman said such
an order would be forthcoming.
4 \ 4
STRICT-The House Appropria-
tions Committee always has been
the tough appropriations commit
tee in Congress for Government
officials to deal with. Generally
speaking, the Senate Appropriations
Committee has been more liberal In
voting funds for Federal agencies
But this year things may be diff
ferent. The House group has done
very little job cutting in. its ap-
bills thus far. but the
Senate Appropriations Committee
suddenly has started paying serious
attention to the personnel requests
Of the various agencies.
Operating with a large investigat-
ing staff, the Senate group is ana
Lying closely each agency's employ
ment figures for the last 10 years.
The committee also Is closely ana
lying personnel costs, which, to-
gether with personnel, have risen
sharply during the last decade. 1t
appears that Federal officials will
have to do a good selling job when
they appear before the committee to
avoid having their House-voted
funds chopped by the Senate.
4 4 II 4
CAPITAL ROUNDUP-The Civil
Service Commission, which is pre-
pairing the booklet explaining the
new retirement benefits accruing to
employees, says there
will be some delay in printing the
booklets. However, our readers who
sent in their requests for the booklet
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Mississippi Senate Votes
To Abolish Secret Police
BY the Assoeiated Press

JACKSON. Miss, Mar. 3.-The
Mississippi Senate has given the
States secret" police law another
shove toward extinction.
It voted yesterday to do away
with the Mississippi Bureau OF In
vestigation, already disbanded by
Gov. Fielding L. Wright. The bill
now awaits action by the House,
which is expected to give quick pas
sage to the measure.
The MBI. set up three months ago
to combat strike violence, was
termed gestapo by its critics.
Meanwhile, the Senate tossed ad-
ditional support to the Southern
revolt against President Truman.
In a resolution adopted at the same
session which approved abolition Of
the secret" police, 1t passed reso-
luton praising the State Democratic
Executive Committee for its grass
roots" movement to block presi-
dental nomination for Mr.. Truman.
Evening star., 1948-03-03
u. 5. Studying Policy
On Military Alliances
With Western Europe

Undersecretary Of State Lovett
said today that a policy decision
is being made on the question OF
American military alliances with
Western Europe.
He told a news conference, how
ever, that the policy cannot be firm
ly set until the Government sees
what the Western European coun-
tries do about a possible union
among themselves.
Mr.. Lovett said he could not dis
cuss the Governments possible atti-
tude at the mment, and could not
predict what its position would be
in possible discussions with Euro
pean Nations.
He denied reports that the ques-
ton had come up in current Lon
don conference, among American,
British, French, Belgium and Meth
erlands representatives on German
economic problems.
The United States has welcomed
a suggestion by British Foreign Min
lister Bevin for a creation of Western
European Economic Union which
would amount to an anti-Communist
bloc.
Mr.. Lovett indicated that the
United States would be disposed to
take measures to support such a
union, but emphasized that any dis
cussion of specific steps would have
to await action by the European
nations themselves.
He told questioners that they could
take for granted, however, that all
aspects Of. the Western European
position, including the possibility Of
alliances promising those countries
American military support, were
being given careful study in the
State Department.
Evening star., 1948-03-03

Civil Service Commission exam 1or
the job.
Usually. in the case of such large
post Office as Washington's the post
master nominee is selected by the
President without having to take
any examination for the job. If
this procedure is followed again, 1t
seems that T. r. Talbert, the city
post Offices finance chief, will have
the inside track. Another city post
Office official under consideration is
w. Gordon Bell, now acting post
master.
But If a competitive exam is held
it's expected that Mr.. Talbert and
Mr.. Bell, as well as some others,
would compete for the top job in
Washington's post Office. The
Washington postmastership has
been vacant since Vincent c. Burke
was promoted to the Job Of First
Assistant Postmaster General.
EVERYTHING'S HIGH-The Per-
sonnet Administration magazine,
which is the official publication of
the Society for Personnel Admins
tration, tells the story about one
of the largest departments in town,
which recently issued some instruc-
tions to its field stations.
Among other things, the bulletin
covered provision for q cost-of-
living increase for wage board en-
ployes in Puerto Rico. But through
a typographical error, the bulletin
ended up by providing increases to
cover "the high cost of loving"
1t wasn't long before the depart
ment got letter from one of its
young lady employees in Texas.
II am glad to see that you recog-
nize the realities of the present.
day situation" she wrote. II hope
very much that you can see flt to
extend the same differential to the
continental United States"
LOUD PROTEST - Speaking OF
wage board employees, number Of
them are complaining about being
left out of the Federal pay raise
bills now before the House and
Senate Civil Service Committees.
These employees, most Of whom
are engaged in skilled trades in the
Navy Yard here have their wages
fixed by wage boards in their areas.
The wages are determined largely
by salaries paid in comparable jobs
in private industry. f
But some wage board workers
complain there has been trend to
freeze" salaries in private indus
try, and consequently they also are
denied pay raises.
There is another group Of wage
board employees who hold a differ
ent view on the subject. Although
they are anxious for cost-of living
pay raise adjustments, they don't
want to be brought in q bill with
the rest Of the Governments en-
ployes.
Once this is done, It will set q
precedent whereby their wage raises
Evening star., 1948-03-03

And, Joe knows there is no reward
in store for him for this pleasant
service, except a smile from a
pleased customer. If he happens to
get an order from a crouch he never
seems to be the least disturbed but
goes along with the order as if the
customer had ordered pleasantly. I
have never known his name but
asked the manager of the store to-
day to give it to me. Joe doesn't
know.
II think Joe deserves a word of
commentator for his ever ready
courtesy. Don't your"
Mrs. Shaws letter Is being for
warded to the judges. All you have
to do to nominate someone for the
courtesy prizes valuable prizes,
which will be announced later-is
write the Courtesy Editor of The
Star. .. ...,
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Congress in Brief

S6ndte.
Continues debate on European
Recovery Program.
Finance Committee considers
amendments to House-passed tax
cut bill.
House.
Considers appropriations for
State Commerce Justice Judiciary
Departments.
Foreign Affairs Committee hears
Secretary of State Marshall on
Greek Turkish military aid.
Administration Committee con-
siders request for more money for
Un-American Activities Committee
Evening star., 1948-03-03
John K. Robinson Dies;
CottIemon and Author
By the Assoeioted Press

PASADENA, Calf, Mar. 3-John
K. Robinson, So, former Wyoming
cattleman and author, died here
yesterday.
He wrote Pony Trails in Wyo-
ming" and wyoming Cattle Trails
and was a member Of The West
erners," a group of so persons in
terested In the history Of Western
pioneering.
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Virginia Tour Ended
By National Symphony
Special Dispotch to The Stor

BRISTOL, Va.-Tenn., Mar. s.
The National Symphony Orchestra,
under the direction of DR.. Hans
Kinder, concluded its tour of Vir-
ginia by playing a concert here
last night.
The major work on the program
was Brahms Symphony No. l in
c Minor" Other selections offered
included the Richard Strauss tone
poem, Don Juan; the little-known
short symphony by Mozart, mo. 20
in A Major" and the prelude Of
Fugue," by Handel.
A capacity audience turned out
for the concert.
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Iowa Democratic Club
Asks Trumun Not to Run
By the Assoeioted Press

by rHe ASS0cIdT6u P16Sx
IOWA CITY, Iowa, Mar. 3-The
University Of Iowa Young Demo
Gratis passed resolution last night
urging President Truman not to seek
the party's nomination in 1948.
Instead, the University Democratic
Club, which claims a membership OF
about 100, urged that vigorous
champion of the liberal movement
which forms the hard core of the
Democratic Party be nominated"
The resolution further asked
Young Democrat Clubs throughout
the Nation to suggest "such likely
candidates.
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Critics Forum Opens Tonight

The Critics Forum will open its
ninth year of meetings at $50 to-
night at the Mayflower Hotel. The
meeting was incorrectly listed in
yesterdays Star as being scheduled
for last night. The Rev. Joseph B.
McAllister, professor Of philosophy
at Catholic University. will review
Agnes Sigh Turnbull's "The Bish-
o~'s Man 4" at tonight's meeting.
Evening star., 1948-03-03
Russiu's Trade Minister
Ousted as Unsatisfactory
BY the Asseciofsd Press

LONDON, Mar. 3.-AlexandeI
Lyubimov has been relieved as Rus
sia's Minister of Trade, the Mos
COW radio said today, because of
his unsatisfactory work." It did
not explain.
The broadcast said Vassili zha-
voronkov had been appointed TO
succeed Lyubimov. Some industries
in Russia have been under fire Of
the Communist Party newspaper,
Pravda, recently for turning out
ShOddy products.
Evening star., 1948-03-03
30-Doy Bon on Export
Of Heating Oil Urged
By the Assecioted Press

A 30-day embargo on export OF
heating oils from East and Gulf
Coast ports to help meet domestic
shortages was recommended yester-
day by the House Commerce Com
mittee.
The proposal was made in a reso-
luton by Representative Heselton,
Republican, Of Massachusetts. 1t
would become effective the day after
its passage by the House and Senate.