davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Group disqualification
Studied by Senator'S;
Hearing Due Monday
Longer Says Participation
By Federal Workers
Is Primary Interest
By George Beveridae

The Senate Civil Service Com
mittee is investigating operations
of Group disqualification, Inc,
which enrolls 375,0O0 Washing
ton residents in its hospital pre-
payment plan, it was learned
today.
Chairman LANCER said the COM
mittee will hold a hearing on the
organizations activities at 1890
am. Monday.
OF primary interest to the COM
mittee is how Federal employees are
faring under the hospital plan and
a new surgical prepayment program
open to CHI members and for which
100000 persons have subscribed.
To Study All Aspects.
Ofhcials said between 45 and so
per cent of the 375,000 CHI par
Elephants are Government workers.
George Riley, committee staff
chief. said the committee would
look into all aspects of GHI's fnan-
Gle! and service activities. The
hearing was scheduled Monday, he
said, to make certain it Is reached
before the next session of Congress
The committee will have a new
leadership at that time.
Chairman LANCER said he did not
know how extensive the hearings
would be, but that I'VE are inter-
ested in the whole question of how
Civil Service personnel are affected
by the plan"
Mr.. Riley pointed out that CHI
was chartered by Congress in 1899
as a nonproflt corporation which
doesn't pay taxes. Since it is a
charity organization, the question
is what charities have they per-
formed and how are they getting
along" he added.
Reserve Funds Are Down.
1t was indicated that the commit
tee will look into hom much Gov
time is spent by employees
who make monthly collections from
Government workers for participa-
ton in the plans. The Government
has not approved payroll deductions
for such payment. Another question
which probably will come up is
whether the services of CHI are
available to all Government en-
Evening star., 1948-12-21
More Dutch Troops
Landed in Sumatra;
Java Towns Seized
Indonesion Republic Coils
For 'Scorched Earth
Tactics in Retreat
By the Associoted Press

BATAVIA, Java, Dec. 21.-New
Dutch forces landed on Sumatra
today and the Dutch pressed
their advantage in Java. The
Indonesian Republic broadcast
an appeal to its people to carry
out scorched earth tactices "to
the utmost"
The Dutch landed forces at
Bagan Siapiapi on the northern
coast of Sumatra, directly opposite
Bukittinggi Fort de Kock), the re-
public's most important city in Su-
matra. Bukittinggi is on the south
coast. Bagan Siapiapi is 200 miles
east of Medan.
In Central Java, Dutch troops
occupied several more towns, in
Guiding Kalioerang, where 18 United
Nations workers, including several
Americans, have been unreported
since Saturday.
Transport Lines Slashed.
The Dutch appeared to be slash
ing methodically across Republican
transport lines in Java and Sumatra.
The Republican broadcast orig
Evening star., 1948-12-21
2 International Groups Figuring
In Spy Case Got Curneqie Funds

eminent have been among the
groups supplying it with funds.
The president was Laurence Dug.
gan, killed last night in a plunge
from his 16th-floor office Just oil
Fifth avenue. The House Commit
tee on Un-American Activities said
Mr.. Duggan had been mentioned in
testimony before it as a member of
a State Department Communist
group.
The endowment, founded with a
view to "the speedy abolition of
international war between so-called
civilized nations" is very broad in
scope.
1t has published more than 100
volumes on the causes Of war, and
has made extensive studies in the
fields Of international law, economies
and history.
f.. The endowment has had two pres
idents besides Mr.. Hiss-Elihu Root,
1see CARNEGIE, Page A-z.5
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Bob Hope Coming
For inaugural
Gala Jan. 7Q

Bob Hope will come to Washing
ton to take part in the inaugural
gala the night of January 10, it was
learned from Hollywood today.
Bing Crosby, his opponent in a
continuing battle of banter, is re-
ported to be an almost certain per-
former at the big inaugural event.
Numerous other stars of stage,
screen and radio also will be on
hand, but Carter T. Barron, in
charge of the big event, thus far
has released no names of those
coming here.
The gala, to be held in the Ar
mory the night before the formal
inaugural ceremonies, will be open
10 the public, but tickets have not
yet been put on sale. They will
cost from $3.50 to $40 each, 1t has
been announced.
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Capital Has Most
Rainfall Since 1882:
Record Is Possible

Washington Is coming to the
end Of its wettest year since
1889, the Weather Bureau re-
ported today.
With II more days left in the
year, 56.18 inches of precipita-
ton already have been meas
ured at the National Airport
station, the fourth greatest
amount in II years of Weather
Bureau records.
The record of 61.33 inches in
1899 was preceded by 5000 in
1878, and 58.17 in 1886. The
average annual rainfall is 4l.18
inches.
Normally, the District can
expect 1.18 inches more of mois.
ture before the year ends. But
the way things have been going,
the chances for q new record
were not being ruled out by
observers.
Evening star., 1948-12-21
turkeys Priced at 6 to IS Pct.
Above Thanksgiving Figures

Christmas turkeys went on sale
today in Washington area stores at
prices ranging from to IS per cent
higher than at Thanksgiving.
Lowest price was 65 cents a pound
for New York dressed tom turkeys
over 20 pounds. This figure was
posted by a grocery chain, which
also offered smaller birds at rs and
79 cents a pound.
Another large chain, which ad-
vertised hen turkeys at 83 cents q
pound, offered eviscerated turkeys
at SO cents a pound. This type is
dressed, drawn and ready for the
roasting pan.
A third chain store was selling
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Allies Establish
Berlin Regime
Without Soviet
U. S., Britain, France
To Exercise Powers Of
Old Kommunduturo
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

BERLIN, Dec. 21.-The United
States, Britain and France an
nounced today a three-power
government for Berlin without
Russian participation.
The French commandant, Gen.
Jean Ganeval. read a three-power
statement saying:
IF Soviet authorities either now
or at some future date, decide to
abide by the agreement to which the
four powers are committed, the
quadripartite administration of Ber-
lin can be resumed.
During their abstention the three
Western Allies will exercise the
powers of the Allied Nomenclature,
although realizing that owing to the
Soviet obstruction, 1t will only be
possible for them to carry out their
administration in the western Sec
tors for the present
The Western commandants re-
called that the Russians disrupted
four-power government by with
drawing from the Kommandatura
last July /. They said the Komman-
datura "can only be altered or abdi-
Gated by agreement of all the gov
ernments which set it up."
Since the Russians set up a pup,
pet government in Eastern Berlin
and refused to cooperate in the
four-poWer government, it has long
been expected that the West would
set up its own military government
structure.
The German administration elect
ed December S in the West urged
the West to set up a government
and do away with sector borders
in Western Berlin. At present the
United States, Britain and France
each govern a sector independently,
issuing independent orders to the
German administration.
Russian troops blockaded the road
between Berlin and Stolpe, q little
German farming village which
France has promised to return to
the control of the Russians.
The 600 inhabitants of Stolpe
watched a Russian patrol erect a
barrier across the unpaved lane
which had linked them with Ber-
lin, q mile away.
A Soyiet-appointed German ad-
took over at Stolpe an
estate Of $50 acres belonging to the
Berlin Municipal Government.
The Russian road-block apparent
ly trapped a rural policeman, Kurt
Hoeher, who had been left tenn
porarily in Stolpe by West German
police to watch over the village.
. He still was on duty this morn
Ing when Soviet troops arrived. The
West Berlin police had promised to
transfer him to a post inside the
city before Stolpe finally changed
hands.
Diversion of Produce Charged.
The Soviet army newspaper Taeg-
liche Rundschau charged operators
of big village farms have been di-
verting all their produce to black
markets in Western Berlin. which is
occupied by the United States, Brit
ain and France.
1T is high time the situation Is
cleaned up and reliable relation
Evening star., 1948-12-21

turkeys weighing up to II pounds
for 80 cents a pound. Turkeys over
II pounds sold for rs cents a pound.
These prices were to 10 cents
higher than at Thanksgiving.
Dealers reported they were fairly
well supplied with turkeys, but cau-
toned housewives against expect
ing many of the smaller weights.
In fact, turkeys under 10 pounds
were said to be a rarity with most
dealers.
For the family that decides it
can't afford one of the large and
expensive birds, there was a good
supply of baking chickens in some
stores at prices considerably below
turkey prices.
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Pope 10 Broadcast YuIe
Message in 70 Languages
By the Asseeiaisd Press

VATICAN CITY. Dec. 21.-The
Vatican radio station said today
that the Christmas Eve message of
Pope Plus XII will be broadcast in
20 languages.
The Pope will broadcast his mes
sage in italian at II am. Is am,
EST December "a on wave lengths
of 1887 and 3106 meters.
The English translation will be
broadcast on the same wave lengths
at $50 am, EST.
The Vatican radio will broadcast
on wave lengths of 3106 and 5026
meters the Christmas mass service
at which the Pope will of1iciate at
HAS pm. (5:45 pm, EST Decem-
Der "a.
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Grant Says Segregation Report
Attacks Planning Board
Errors Of Measurements on Population
And Housing Conditions Charged

number Of points concerning the
Capitals population and housing
conditions.
He denied the charge of the o.
member committee sponsoring the
report that Negroes are herded into
"ghettoes" marked by set bounda-
ries. Actually, he declared, "the
colored population has been extend
ing into land formerly occupied by
whites in nearly every part Of town" Z"
Gen. Grant termed patiently con-
trary to the facts" an assertion in
the report that Negroes ARE forced
by Government policy behind racial
lSee SEGREGATION, Page A-4l
Evening star., 1948-12-21

Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III,
chairman of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission,
today criticized the recent report
Of the National Committee on
Segregation in the Nations Cap
ital as a special plea" contain
ing unjust implications and
references" to the planning COM
mission and "misinterpreta-
tions" of statements made by
him as it's chairman.
Gen. Grant, in a five-page state
ment on the report. accused its au-
thors of error or misstatement on a
Evening star., 1948-12-21
81 GuerriIIus Killed,
Greek Army Declares
BY The Assoeiofed Press

ATHENS, Dec. 21.-The Greek
General Staff announced today that
62 guerrillas had been killed in q
fierce battle for Sophades in .
heavy snowstorm two days ago.
The communique said the battle
for the town of 1000, only a few
miles east of Kardista, went on
for "a hours, but the guerrillas were
beaten of.
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Indonesions Reported
Planning Refugee =
Regime in Manila
BY the Asseeioted Press

MANILA, Dec. 21.-Indo-
nesian Republican leaders are
planning to set up a refugee
government here, the Manila
Evening News reported today.
Ranking government off,
cials" were quoted as the source.
The Philippine government
temporarily is holding $4,000
worth of silver bullion which
arrived by air from Jogjakarata
last Friday without the proper
permit.
NEW YORK, Dec. 21 R.-
The New York Times quoted
authoritative sources here as
saying the Indonesian republic
is to announce the establish
ment of a government-in-exile
today.
Where the government will
function was not specified" the
Times said, but there were
strong indications that its seat
would be India"
Evening star., 1948-12-21
BY the Associated Press

" He @sScSioIeQ rFesS
NEW YORK, Dec. 21.-A for
mer State Department official,
listed in congressional testimony
as one Of six persons in the de-
partment who allegedly handed
out secrets for Russian spies.
died last night in a 16-story
plunge.
Laurence Duggan, 43, an expert
on Latin American affairs who
served in the State Department from
1880 to 1914, dropped to death from
window of his Manhattan Office as
espionage investigators planned to
question him.
The medical examiners Office said
the circumstances of his death were
Undetermined pending further in-
vestigation.' Police said Mr.. Dug
gan either jumped or fell"-the
usual preliminary report pending in
quiry.
Representative Mundt, Republican,
OF South Dakota. acting chairman
Of the House Committee on Un-
American Activities, revealed In
Washington that a witness had
named Mr.. Duggan in secret testi.
mony as one of six persons In the
State Department who another per.
son had said passed out confidential
information.
(The death of Mr.. Duggan oc-
CURED exactly two months after
w. Marvin Smith, 34-year-old
Justice Department attorney who
testified before the House COM
mittee last August, plunged to
his death in the Justice Depart.
ment Building.
Mr, Smith was called by the
committee August "a to identify
an automobile assignment title
bearing his name as o notary
public on a document apparently
signed by Alger Hiss. The docu.
ment transferred title Of a Ford
car to the Cherner Motor co.
here.
(Mr. Smith told the committee
the signature was his. He said
he had no recollection Of having
notarized the document. He ex-
planned he and Mr.. Hiss worked
in the same Office in the Justice
Department in 1886 and that he
notarized so many papers he
could not remember having done
so for Mr.. Hiss in that instance.)
Headed Education Institute.
Mr.. Duggan died on the eve Of
the scheduled appearance before a
spy-hunting Federal grand jury Of
Francis B. Sayre, former Assistant
Secretary of State, whose Office Sc
crets allegedly were filched, accord
ing to testimony in another phase
Of the inquiry.
At the time of his death, Mr..
Duggan was president Of the Insti-
tute of International Education.
The institute, devoted to promoting
international understanding and
the exchange of students among
various nations, was founded with
aid from the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace.
The president of the Carnegie
Foundation, Mr.. Hiss-also former
State Department official-was in
dicted on perjury charges recently
on the ground that he lied when he
denied before a Federal grand jury
Evening star., 1948-12-21

years in China. In 1887 he and
his mother figured in a dramatic
evacuation episode in the Yangtze
River off Shanghai.
A group of Americans was fleeing
the fighting between the Japanese
and Chinese around Shanghai. A
small boat in which Mr.. Roosevelt
and his mother were crowded with
(See ROOSEVELT, Page 'A-41
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Winter Here Officially,
Colder Spell on Way;
Is Injured in Traffic
Ice Horosses Motorists;
Little Chance Is Seen
For White Christmas
DR.. ZAHM, 86-year -old aeronautical
engineer, struck by taxicab.
Page AS

engineer, struck by taxicab.
Page A-6
Winter arrives officially at 5::34
pm. today, bringing along a
touch of warmer weather which
the Weather Bureau said is due
to vanish tomorrow evening.
Sundays snowfall of 5.4 inches
figures to shrink rapidly by night
fall under the influence of tempera-
lures expected to reach the middle
40s today. The lowest tonight
should be about 80 degrees, but late
tomorrow a cold blast will push the
mercury into the 20s, the forecaster
said.
Slippery patches of ice continued
to harass motorists. Police reported
% accidents over a 24-hour period,
sending 13 persons to hospitals, one
in a critical condition.
Several Injured In Falls.
Several persons were admit
ted to hospitals with fractures,
cuts and bruises after they fell on
icy streets and sidewalks.
Chances of white Christmas ap-
peared none too bright. The Wealth
er Bureaus five-day forecast issued
today called for rain or snow the
latter part of the week, but the
probable amount of precipitation is
only 0.4 of an inch and slowly rising
temperatures are expected Christ
mas day and Sunday.
The average temperature for the
flve-day period was estimated at
degrees below normal, which at this
time Of year ranges rom a mini
mum Of % to a high Of 43.
Injured Man Unidentified.
The critically injured traffic
casualty was an unidentified man
about IS years old. He was struck
in the $500 block of Sixteenth street
NV. by an automobile which, police
said, was driven by Comdr. Robert
A. Hayne, U. S. NJ. attached to the
Atomic Energy Commission.
The man is in Garfield Hospital
with head injuries, a compound
fracture of the right leg and numer-
GUS cuts. He is 6 feet tall and
ICeo yXYE, A rTJE1D No. q
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Seven Raj Flyers Killed
As Plane Hits Mountain
By the Assoeioted Press

MANCHESTER, England, Dec.
21.-Seven Royal Air Force men were
killed early today when their Lam
caster bomber crashed into a 1900
foot mountain near here. The plane
burned after the crash.
The bodies of the men were
brought down from the hills this
morning by an Raj rescue team
that climbed miles through cold
and rain to reach the crash scene.
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Post Office Handles
5,564,000 Pieces in
Day TO Smash Record
OfficioIs Believe Worst
F.. Is Over; Tree-Liehtine
Program Completed

The District Post Office all but
dethroned Santa Claus as the
busiest Christmas figure yester-
day by handling 5,564, 900 pieces
of mail, the greatest number
ever pushed through here in one
day.
Acting Postmaster Gordon Bell
said the new record far surpassed
the 4,842 900 pieces handled Decem-
ber 18, 1946, and was nearly 1000, 900
above the highest mark of last year
AS preparations continued else
where for the Yuletide, the program
was completed for lighting of the
National Community Christina,
Tree.
viii Be Decorated Thursday.
The District Recreation Board
one of the sponsors Of the tree OF
the south lawn of the White House
said two ministers once active IL
the work Of the board had beer
named to offer the invocation arat
|benediction At the ceremony.
President Truman will light the
tree from his Independence, Mo.
home at Sis pm. Friday, after 9
program Of music by various organ
izations grouped around the tree.
The Rev. Ralph Orme OF the
Rosedale Methodist Church will
give the invocation and the Rev
Thomas NJ. Brew of Annapolis will
pronounce The benediction.
Workmen tomorrow will erect the
scaffolding necessary to decorate the
tree. and representatives of the
Electric Institute of Washington will
decorate it on Thursday.
Gates to Open at $3.50 PM.
To improve television reception
of the ceremony, the tree will be
decorated with white as well as red
and green lights this year.
The southeast gate Of the White
House will be opened to the general
public at $3.50 pm. Friday. The
program will begin an hour later
with concert by the United States
Marine Band.
This years printed programs, to
be distributed to all guests, feature
a cover picture of the tree, with the
White House in the background.
The City Post Office predicted that
"the worst is over" as far as Its holi-
day burden is concerned.
Predicting this year will be the
biggest in Washington's Christmas
history, Mr.. Bell said that during
the first 20 days this month his de-
partment handled 81, ,685 900 pieces
of mail. Last year, 60,60l 900 can
cellations were recorded during the
"a days before Christmas.
Schools Dismiss Thursday.
Dismissal of all District public
schools on Thursday afternoon will
quicken the round of Christmas
parties, with scores of organizations
presenting holiday celebrations. A
listing of these is in The Stars
Christmas calendar.
The Central Library and all
branches will close at / pm. Friday
and remain closed all day Christ
mas.
Boy Scouts of the National Capt.
tai Area Council are collecting toys
under a program sponsored by the
Christmas Bureau of the United
Community Services. The youths
also adopted overseas Scouts for
(See CHPTSTMAS pace 40
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Six Serum Deaths Reported

TOKYO, Dec. 81 (P,.-The Tokyo
newspaper Yomirui reported that
six more infants died today from
injections of faulty anti-diphtheria
serum. This brings total fatalities
from the governments inmuniza-
ton program to sc. The Welfare
Ministry was reported considering
halting its program pending an in
vestigation of injections used.
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Free: Republic Of Fire
Created as Last Tie
With Britain Is Cut
President O'KeIIy Signs
Bill; independence Day
Will Be Proclaimed
BY the kssocioied Press

DUBLIN, Dec. 21.-Eire be.
came a free and independent
republic today.
Ireland's centuries-long and OTTER
bloody struggle for freedom came tt
peaceful end as President Sean T
OKelly signed Fire out of the Brit.
ish Commonwealth.
Mr.. O'Kelly approved bill of the
Irish Parliament repeating the Ex.
ternal Relations Act, which had EN-.
powered the British King to accredit
Irish diplomats.
The act was the last slender con.
stitutional tie between Fire and the
British crown and Commonwealth
The repeal actually becomes effec-
tive on an independence day
which Prime Minister John A. Cos.
tello's government is expected tc
proclaim early in the spring.
New Alignment Likely.
The delay will give the two ma
tions time to work out a new align
ment Of economic and political re.
lationships.
The English conquest Of ireland
began with an invasion In 1169 ano
was helped by a rift among Irish
chieftains. But 1t ran into stiff
resistance.
The Irish fought for freedom ir
1898, 1641, 1649 and 1890. Then the
rebels went underground for more
than 100 years. They rose again ir
1903, 1848 and 1867.
But it was the bloody rebellion o.
1916 and the guerrilla war of 1919.
1921 which finally broke British au.
thority. The rebellion was planned
by the citizen army and the left
wings of the volunteers and Sinr
Fein. The actual fighting, which
was chiefly street fighting in Dublin
lasted a week after it broke out or
Easter Sunday in 1916. Fifteer
rebels were executed.
Guerrilla War Followed.
In the guerrilla war that followed
Britain used the hated Black-and.
Tans in an effort to hold her posi-.
ton. (Their name came from the
color of their uniforms). In 1915
Britain passed military service
bill which applied to Ireland. II
was never enforced but it rekindleo
independence fervor.
The Irish fought against British
authority wherever it raised Its
head. The counter-terrorism ano
activities of the Black-and-Tans
greatly helped the revolutionaries
for they created hatred of British
rule where it did not exist before
and strengthened it where it did.
The Sim Feiners won the 1916
election, and, meeting in Dublin as
the Dali national assembly,, passed
a declaration of independence.
British public opinion forced
Prime Minister David Lloyd George
to enter into negotiations with the
then President of the Dali, Eamon
de Valera. In December, 1921, q
treaty was signed giving Fire the
political status of the Dominion OF
Canada.
For 20 years Fire pondered the
Evening star., 1948-12-21
Saws
Duggan Did Not
Give Him Papers
Ex-Stote Department
Official Is Killed
In 16-Stoy Plunge
BULLETIN
BULLETIN

NEW YORK R.-Whittaker
Chambers said today he never
had received any State De-
partment papers from Lau-
renee Duggan, who plunged to
his death here last night.
Earlier, Acting Chairman
Mundt of the House Committee
on Un-American Activities said
Mr.. Duggan had been named
by Isaac Don Levine in this
connection.
Evening star., 1948-12-21

(See CHI, Page A-6.)
Evening star., 1948-12-21

(See ERE, Page A-6.)
Evening star., 1948-12-21

(See BERLIN, Page A-6D
Evening star., 1948-12-21

(See WEATHER, Page A
Evening star., 1948-12-21

(See CHRISTMAS, Page A-4.
Evening star., 1948-12-21

!. (See DUGGAN, Page AS