davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-07-16
SenseIess StuIemute

The stalemate in conference which
amperils the vital bill to enlarge the
judiciary is not only unfortunate but un-
necessary The stalemate Is unnecessary
because it has arisen over an issue which
never should have been injected into the
legislation The issue is whether to write
into law certain restrictions which would
drastically narrow the field for presidential
appointments to the Federal bench. The
House conferees are justified In holding
out against limitations on the Presidents
constitutional appointive powers. 1t Is
hard to understand why the Senate has
insisted on such restrictions, in view OF
the fact that all presidential appointments
to the courts must come before it, anyway,
for final approval.
Originally the Senate amended the
judgeship bill to require that the nominees
for the about e-created three addi-
tional District Court judgeships must have
been actively engaged in the private prac-
tice of law for at least three years prior
to appointment. Two of them must have
been practicing five years. And none OF
them must have been in the employ OF
the Federal Government for the three years
preceding appointment. The amendment
had the desirable purpose of insuring
selection of judges familiar with practices
and procedures of the local courts. But
It's effect was to exclude from presidential
consideration men who might be eminently
fitted to serve on the District Court bench,
and who might be thoroughly familiar
with the local courts but who, through
technicality of recent employment, would
be ineligible to serve. This would be un-
fair to the men involved and unfair to
the judiciary, which needs the best men
available-even though they may have
happened to accept Federal Job within
the past several years.
In conference the Senate restrictions
were laid aside in favor of an extraor
dinary proposal the effect of which was
to question the propriety of any Federal
Judge sitting in case involving any Fed
eral department in which he was employed
during the ten years prior to appointment.
Under this compromise plan, judge who
did not disqualify himself in such a case
would run the risk of reversible error" in
the high courts. But, under existing law,
o Federal Judge can be automatically dis
qualified If challenged for prejudice for any
cause, including prior Government en-
ployment.
Thus, it should be evident that the con-
ferees have been wasting lot of time on
proposals that are ill-advised and that
could hamper, rather than improve, the
administration of justice. 1t is right that
the Senate should be concerned about the
qualifications of Federal judges, but the
proper time to manifest that concern
and to act upon its when the nomina-
tions come before 1t for confirmation.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Alexandra Bicentenury

Two hundred years ago this week, the
City OF Alexandria was getting started as
a separate, independent community. The
General Assembly Of the colony had au-
thorized the establishment of a town for
Fairfax County "at Hunting Creek ware
house" It was to be named for family
of Scots who once had owned the site
John West jr., county surveyor. assisted
by youth later known to history as
George Washington, laid out the streets
and "a half-acre lots Among the pur-
chasers were Lawrence Washington OF
Mount Vernon and his brother Augustine.
The place fiourished from the beginning.
Soon it was busy port and terminus
for a stage line In 1852 Alexandra was
designated the metropolis OF the county.
Wheat added to the wealth Of the settle
ment. Flour moved through 1t on the way
to England and the West Indies The
trade survived the Revolution. So did the
social significance of the city. Planters
built fine houses IN or near its center.
Parties were frequent-and stately. The
populace amused itself at fairs, political
meetings and horse races. It was no acci-
dent that "the Father of His Country" was
a steward of the local jockey club.
Washington's first military command,
similarly a natural neighborhood develop
ment, was drilled in Market Square before
marching against the French in 1854. Ill
fated General Edward Braddock sat In
conference with five Governors in Alex
andria on the eve of his departure for
Western Pennsylvania. His lieutenant and
successor in command presided over the
election of delegates to the first Virginia
convention when the Boston port bill was
protested. The Fairfax Resolves, drawn up
by George Mason, set forth the COM
munity's as we'll as the Commemorative
position on taxation without proper
representation.
Such is the background of the current
celebration. Alexandria always through
out two centuries has had q particular
value among American municipalities. The
native spirit has characterized 1t. No one
needs to explain the meaning of its name.
It spells dignity, self-sufnciency, q high
sense of honor and responsibility. Even
casual strangers, walking or driving
through its streets, seeing It's beautiful old
churches, schools apd homes, catch the
congenial contagion OF It's atmosphere.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
ThorvuId SoIbero

If the property of authors and composers
is safe from theft nowadays, the credit
largely is due to Thorvald Solberg, first
Register of Copyrights, dead at 81. He
was the occupant of that important office
during third of a century, recording the
legal protection of hundreds of thousands
of publications. His free-fowing signature
was known to a worldwide public on
acknowledgements of applications which,
when systematically listed, had the au-
thority of equitable law His name, in
effect, was synonymous with the ownership
of the fruits of talent by those who had
produced those fruits.
How Mr. Solberg achieved his unique
position and his universal fame is story
in itself. He came to his work through a
great natural love for the printed word.
Unlike some professional librarians who
prefer merely the science of their occupa-
ton, he was a confirmed bibliophile. Read
ing was delight to him, not task He
cultivated number of photographic
hobbies-compiling, for example, a cata-
logue of titles relating to the Balearic
Islands. Perhaps it was his Viking ancestry
that prompted his affection for travel. His
studious attitude toward foreign places,
however, was his own. Other individuals
crossed the Atlantic more than 38 times,
but few, If any of them, deliberately de-
veloped so vast a photographic acquaint-
ance with the countries on the farther side
Mr.. Solberg taught himself half dozen
languages with which to pursue his chosen
objectives of inquiry. His linguistic skill
likewise was of service to him in the many
international conferences on copyright
matters which he attended He drafted the
legislation passed by Congress in 1909,
conceding exclusive right of property in
any intellectual production" to the sponsor
thereof for % years, with renewal privilege
OF the same duration. From him also the
technique Of copyright routine was derived.
He governed the whole field of copyright
activity as long as he remained Register.
The benefits to all concerned were incal-
culable.
Few of his contemporaries met so many
literary folk. Mr.. Solberg during his long
career was In personal contact with some
OF the most eminent creative minds of his
generation. His friends found him in
var1ably helpful. He was a delightful
companion, trustworthy adviser, useful
and, consequently, happy citizen.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Why Europe's Trade Longuishes

American observers tend to be critical
Of European countries for their failure to
stimulate trade between themselves. Some
Of this criticism Is justified. But the lag
n intra-European trade is largely due to
difficulties which the countries concerned
cannot cope with, either individually or
cap is the lack of an international system
Of monetary exchange.
This is q highly technical and complex
subject. But specific instance may make
It easier for the layman to comprehend.
Take, for example, the current difficulties
In ItaloSwiss trade. Switzerland is en-
phatically a hard money" country, the
Swiss franc being as good as the American
dollar. But, In order to protect its financial
position, Switzerland has to be strict In It's
foreign commercial transactions. ITALY, by
contrast, Is "soft-money" country; and,
IN addition, It does much of its business
with the sterling area. SWITZERLAND cannot
accept sterling, of which 1t already has q
plethora. So trade between Switzerland
and italy is done basically on barter
arrangement.
That, however, involves many complica-
SsoAAS' &2oSAA 4VolO- III dUC OCdl ulFOktCS
four parties: One Swiss importer, one
italian exporter, one italian importer, one
Swiss exporter Each OF these four must
want to buy or sell goods to approximately
the same amount at the same time. This
way of doing business is not only highly
complicated but likewise slow and costly.
Middlemen must be found and paid well
10 bring all four parties together. One
chronic factor Is the rate of exchange ut
which such swap deals take place. Mere
fears that q currency upheaval might
occur before any deals are completed will
often upset a transaction at the very last
moment.
Recently, in order to ameliorate these
handicaps, the Swiss government permitted
Italy 10 maintain a moderate trade surplus
with Switzerland. But. during the past few
months, the balance Of trade has swung
in favor of Switzerland, thereby depriving
Italy of the opportunity of earning Swiss
francs. And at the same time Italy's ex-
ports to the dollar" countries are declin-
ing, whereas its exports to the sterling
area are increasing. Thus, italy has
nothing to offer Switzerland except sterling,
which the latter will not accept. The
upshot Is. that Italo-swiss trade slumps,
with prospect of further declines owing to
Evening star., 1949-07-16

the current crisis OF sterling and Britain's
discrimination against hard currencies.
The lesson of all this Is not far to seek.
Obviously, neither Switzerland nor Italy
are at fault. They both want to do business
with each other. But they are alike caught
in the meshes of an exchange imbroglio
that transcends even Europe, and which
the sterling crisis can only accentuate.
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Favors Legislation Aimed
At Smokers as q Class
To tha Editor of The Star:

The bill to determine the effect that smoK-
ing has on peoples health and efficiency,
which was introduced recently by Represen-
tative Granger of Utah. is timely. law
(this means, Of course, enforcing the law
that would result in better health. the loss
Of fewer lives. and less destruction OF prop
erty and forests should be given priority.
This bill, which also provides for an In
yestigation. OF certain claims made by to-
bacconists, ought. therefore. to receive the
full support Of all people who are interested
IN seeing the situations mentioned above
brought under control.
Evening star., 1949-07-16

deficit spend
ing has been
! n c re a S e d
from $38.000,-
100000 in the
early 1930s to
two hundred
and twenty
five or tw o
hundred and
thirty billion
dollars at this
time. The way
to judge a
pudding is by
the eating of
it.; and I do
not know of
any p olicy
W h ich has
produced bet
t er p u b lie
benefits than
Evening star., 1949-07-16
First Tux

This ,uas an epoch "a. ForeUer putting oy
The dancing school blue serge OF Junior
high
(For tourteen-year- freshmen good
enoughJ,
He donned the braid-strtped pants
deuoid OF cuffs,
The sno,oy shirt, its pleats hts secret pride,
The neat black bop (t0tth DADS
assistance ted,
The fgured-satin, fancy -buttoned pest,
Slipped on the Jacket Mother held;
thus dressed,
Feelinq-us frankly he confesses since
Something betpeen penguin ana
princei
HAROLD WILLARD GLEASON.
Evening star., 1949-07-16

l say that
the fiscal pro-
e r a m a n
nounced b y
the Pr re S | =
dent Is t h e
certain roa d
to ruin. Un-
less the Con-
gress and the
people can de-
feat This pro-
gram. we will
60 er t h e
precipice OF
financial dis
aster.
Six months
ago the Presi-
dent ad vo-
Gated a bal
anced budget
and $4,000.-
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Questions and Answers

reader can get the answer to any question Of
fact by writins The Evening Star; WsshinstSSn. on
inston q D. C. Please inciose three CD cents for
return postage
Evening star., 1949-07-16
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

O. Why was Martin Van Buren nick
named "the Little Magician"?-H. T.
A. This sobriquet was given to Van Buren,
because Of his shrewdness. and also because
of his skillful handling Of political affairs
Evening star., 1949-07-16

to put up with enough unavoidable hard
ship to make welcome any improvement
OF their lot Getting rid of the bull chains
will be one step in this direction.
Evening star., 1949-07-16

That Hollywood round table on the
movies never asked for suggestions from
an old-fashioned outsider, but here they
are anyway: Fire the makeup man, and
put another fifteen pounds apiece on the
girls
Evening star., 1949-07-16
rressional Record,)
By Senator Pebber

There have been from time to time COM
ments made regarding the vices of deficit
spending. I think it should be emphasized
that the national income under policy of
Evening star., 1949-07-16

@. What breed Of horse is Roy Rogers
Trigger?-L. " E.
A. Trigger is the offspring Of Morgan
stallion and a quarter mare Ia fast ranch
hOrse),
Evening star., 1949-07-16

O. Are motion picture screens made OF
fire. resistant material9-W. T. B.
A. At present the great majority OF
screens in motion-picture theaters are either
slow-burning or fire resistant. They are
made so by properly selecting materials and
by flame -proof1ng the base fabric. Most
screens employ fabric as base. although
some use metal.
O. What warships were sunk to form
part Of the breakwater of the Mulberry
used in invading France in World War
u?-C. A.
A. In addition to merchant ships three
warships were sunk in order to help form
the breakwater Of the Mulberry. They
were HMS Centurion of the British Navy.
the French battleship Corbet and the Meth
erlands cruiser Sumatra.
@. What is the medical name for Spring
fever"?- l.. @.
A. Neurasthenia Is shown by general
fatigue and inability to concentrate. It
is commonly experienced as spring fever
Evening star., 1949-07-16
Pros and Cons of Deficit Financing
Byrd Sees 1t AS Policy Leading to Financial Disaster
Pepper Thinks 1t Creates Wealth and Prosperity
"a Digest 1
BY Senator Byrd

BY Senator Byrd
The President of the United States said
that those who are attempting to curtail
public spending and establish a balanced
budget are committing great blunder."
Evening star., 1949-06-23
,Foreiqn Officials Are Given Hint
mot to Discount Mrs. Mesto

her time between society and the
halls Of Parliament. Her close
friend. Opera Star Rosa Ponselle,
then was the toast Of London. and
the two were frequent compan-
ions.
Mrs. Mesta never has visited
Luxembourg. but she will feel at
home in the steel-producing coun-
try. She early learned to speak
the language of the workers in her
husbands plant.
Il took great interest In the
families" Mrs. Mesta recalls. Il
talked to them. studied labor
problems. Sometimes. even sided
with them In the controversies.
Mrs. Mesta appreciates the
power Of drawing room diplomacy.
but she also plans to visit with
the steel workers. get to know
them in the plants and villages.
Friendliness and understanding
represent the best personal equip
ment for o diplomat. in the opin-
ion of Mrs. Mesta. She will not
be bound by lot Of stuffy proto-
col and precedence. Not that she
will bring any real revolution to
Evening star., 1949-06-23

the drawing rooms Of Europe. She
knows how TO handle rank. The
biggest names Of the world al
ready have enjoyed her hospi-
tality.
Mrs. Mesta remains unaffected
by her new honor. II don't want
TO be known as a fabulous host
ess." she complains. lingering q
newspaper clipping.
Mrs. Mesta would prefer to
stand on her record in business
and politics. In civic and charity
work. The daughter Of a South
western pioneer who built @ for
tune in oil and real estate. she
learned much from early observa-
Evening star., 1949-06-23
By MoIvino Stephenson

N6ffU %mSflC6N I*cWbPopUf StHf0is<N
= Wealthy, likable Perle Skirvin
Mesta has been tagged as Wash
tngton's stellar hostess. but she
& will be no giddy cookie pusher in
j the diplomatic field.
! She focuses on the response
bilities of her new assignment as
Minister to Luxembourg. instead
! of the opportunities for a social
fling on the international stage.
How could I be anything but
serious with the world In the con-
dition 1t Is today?" Mrs. Mesta
exclaims. II look on this as
chance to do something construc-
tive, to do some good in the world.
I'll do the very best can, give
them everything I've got"
Mrs. Mesta firmly supports the
Truman foreign policy Of inter-
national cooperation and aid.
,sShe has the feminine urge for
peace, but she Is no pacifist. Mill
tary preparedness, in her opinion,
offers the best guarantee for in
- ternational stability.
" Heart Big As Pocketbook.
Mrs. Mesta has a heart as big
as her pocketbook-she is push
over for a friend with a cause.
And, although her parties have
mainly publicized her as hostess
for the Truman administration,
the fetes have aided everything
and everybody from the National
Symphony Orchestra to the Cap
ital's juvenile delinquents.
Mrs. Mesta has supported many
causes In her time, but dearest to
her heart is the promotion and
tprotection of women. Her role In
the feminist movement has been a
dominating force.
Women all over the country
want to be represented by a wom-
an in the diplomatic field" she
explains. That's the main rea-
son I want to CO."
The late Mrs. Stephen Pell, ice
company heiress. first got Mrs.
rMesta interested in the National
-Woman's Party. This led to her
first role on the international
stage-as chairman of the COM
~mittee opening the headquarters
Of the World Woman's Party at
Geneva in 1889.
Lobbying for the equal-rights
amendment took Mrs. Mesta to
Capitol Hill. There she got &C
quainted with a Senator from
Missouri who liked this plain
spoken woman from his native
Middle West. The two hit it off
from the start.
Close Friend of Trumans.
Mrs. Mesta's close friendship
with the first family already is a
part of history. She gave Mar
garet her first big Washington
party in the spring of 1946. She
stuck Loyalty to the Trumans
through the discouraging 194S
campaign. raising funds and
chipping in herself at critical mo-
ments. Now, the President is CIV
ing her a chance to make hitsory
as the third feminine diplomat in
United States History, the first
since the war.
While this means brand new
assignment fer Mrs. Mesta, she
has spent much time abroad. She
had made % trips to Europe. She
lived in London six months. when
shes was presented atsscourt hin
1891. SHE occupied a town house
in fashionable Mayfair. dividing
Evening star., 1949-06-23

ton. This background helped her
operate profitably o large cattle
ranch In Arizona In later years.
Mrs. Mesta did not Jump At the
chance to go abroad. With char
acteristic caution. she considered
all the angles. She studied much
but said little. Hence. the pro-
tracted speculation. the long de-
lay in an announcement from the
White House. Finally. Mrs. MeSta
got all the answers and then she
gave hers.
So. warning 10 foreign ofhcials :
Don't discount Mrs Mesta as a
ftighty socialite-you might lose
your shirt.
Evening star., 1949-06-23
Conferees Meet Todoy
On District Supply Bill

House ard Senate ccs.wrw~s AZ
scheduled TO sre<s St4a at{rrga1sss
10 seek Al Agreement o. ia< ,znx
o. ihs DSsrtr1 kuyrly esa se- l.as
year e~ssrarsIEg o seek .yVssss -
.Tc=rcw
Aei4nx sass March hwfcr~ ;sar
Eew revenue bill was eaarir<a tfss
HOUSE eut the suzsrs 10 a .sl;ar
-ss than SO asc oce, b.; the SER
ate has raAsee this - slas .&eGAg
Evening star., 1949-06-23

caused O condition s-n.lA- &c
eclArpS2A - r-~grars rata T1ns
1lsass. . tcxlc co1csi3on aSwet-
!ng different cEgRrs ot TIE BODY
occurs usually n late pregnancy
The An4lnS cs-csals sad, .sa6.-
Gates that eclar1ps2A Is related -
faorIcsac CT sc6oc- ne lsnS&lAnees
opening The way for specific re
search IN sAoes fields
Dr.. Synecnacls had found pre-
vloalSly that prog increased
TIRE ocs1fnce O. breast c&ncrs
IN pregnant nice, and he vas
studying other e..eS2 O. Tire
ho-mcslt on Tire experimental
anInals
Evening star., 1949-06-23
Cancer Research Uncovers
Clue in Maternal Deaths

Results Of q cancer research
project At the National Canee-
Institute In Bethesda may Eire
scientists O clue 70 the cause al
eclampsia. q disease which Ae-
counts for a large numhe- Of
maternal deaths.
The clue came when Dr.. Alex
ander SymeonidiS. an institute
pathologlss. found that infection
Of the hormone progesterune
Evening star., 1949-06-23

sirste isst rAftA frttrzs4ss ga-&as Aats
sNa-gsggsr sW
The Nome nugget., 1949-11-25
Locomotives To Get Taste of Alaska
(Continued from Page One)

Continued from Page One) contract for the Alaska Railroad. The contract includes conversion of 23 army hospital cars to pas senger coaches.
 The locomotives had been gath ering rust in yards at Camp Hola- bird, Md, and Bethlehem, Pa, since the end of the war when they were acquired from the army by the department of the interior as port of a multi-million dollar rehabilitation program for the Alaska Railroad.
 The conversion includes com plete overhaul of the power plans, boosting output from $50 to 1000 horsepower, installation of elabor- ate insulation and temperature control equipment and shrouding the engines with s-inch steel plates. A snoWplow will be affixe- ed to each locomotive.
 When the engines reach Alaska, they will be operated under direc- ton of the same man who ran them in Iran.
 John P. Johnson, general man. ager of the Alaska Railroad, as a wartime colonel, commanded the army transportation troops that manned the lend-Iease railroad.
 The general superintendent at the marine yard commented: "We bid against the biggest locomotive builders in the country for this job, and they said we couldn't do the job at the price we fixed. But we are. There's nothing about this that a good crew of marine work CTS can't solve"
 The first locomotive is sched- uled to be launched" by the end of the month. It's expected to do up to 60 knots.
The Nome nugget., 1949-11-25
Will Open Land Near Anchorage For Settlement
C(P) Special Washington service)

((4) Special Washington Service
 WASHINGTON, (R)-The inte- rior department said today it is going to open 2,0O0 acres of pub lie land southeast of Anchorage. to settlement early next year.
 The land has been part Of the Fort Richardson reserv | l n Homesteads and business sites will account for 86O acres of the offering.
 Most of the remaining land will be divided into tracts of five acres or less, for sale or lease as sites for houses or cabins. In answer to the peoples request, 20 acres of land along Campbell Creek will be used for the public recreatiOnal area" assistant secretary Of the interior William E. Warne said in a news release.
 The small tracts area is east and southeast of Anchorage postoffice and most of it accessible 10 the Campbell airport road. The other lands will become accessible upon completion of the Potter road.
 "The land is generally level to gently sloping," Warne said.
 Soils are silt or sandy loam, shallow and incompletely devel- oped."
 Veterans will receive preference in distribution of the tracts. Prices and rentals will be nominal. Win ners of land units will be deter mined by public drawing al An chorage after all the units have been classified.