davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-03-31
Landlords Get q Breuk

Although far different from the rent
control measure sought by President Tru-
man, the rent legislation finally adopted
by Congress represents an earnest and
praiSeworthy effort to meet the needs of a
diminishing emergency. That the rental
emergency is on the wane nationally there
can be no doubt. Housing Expediter
Woods testified that there are hundred
areas where controls no longer are needed
and that he would decontrol them If he
had the authority to reinstate controls
as needed. The authority to decontrol now
will be vested in the local communities,
which, after all, are better qualified to
appraise their individual needs than the
Federal Government.
The President says the law will be q
crushing defeat for the real estate lobby"
Whatever he means by that, particularly
encouraging thing about the new measure
is that it recognizes that property owners
have rights as deserving of Federal pro-
lection as those of tenants. At the height
of the housing emergency the rights of
landlords were given little consideration.
The paramount objective was to stabilize
the rental market in the interest of the
families Of servicemen and war workers.
Now that conditions are changing for the
better, it is only fair that the Government
should give some thought to the plight Of
many landlords under rent control. The
legislation would give landlords break by
requiring that rents be fixed at level to
insure "fair net operating income"-"so
far as practicable" This somewhat am
biguous language may be susceptible of
varying interpretations by rent admins
TRAITORS but Congress has made 1t plain
that it believes in the profit system for
landlords, even at the risk of some increase
in rents. And the chief goal of the So
called real estate lobby" has been a fair
deal for property owners.
The unwillingness OF Congress to apply
the et-income-operating rule to the
District is, in effect, tribute to the local
administration of rent control. Rent
Administrator Cogswell has made q good
impression at the Capitol with his records
showing that 90 per cent of local landlords
have been granted increases OF varying
degrees. The average increase here has
been above per cent. The local law and
its enforcement have been such as to
justify the temporary extension proposed.
But rent control here as well as elsewhere
should be discarded as soon as gradually
improving housing conditions permit. The
new local option" rent legislation is a
step toward that long elusive goal.
Evening star., 1949-03-31
Frunco-ItuIion Pact

The accord JuSt signed by the fTencQ ana
Italian Foreign Ministers provides specifi-
cally for a customs union between the two
countries within the coming year and calls
for a full economic union In six years
time.
Following as 1t does the "Benelux" agree
ment for economic union between Belgium,
the Netherlands and Luxembourg, the
Franco-Italian economic treaty represents
another important step in co-ordinating
the economies of Western Europe. That
should be especially gratifying to Ameri-
cans, because the promotion OF inter Euro
pean trade, together with the removal Of
fiscal and exchange barriers, Is q prime
prerequisite for that European recovery for
which we are making such heavy sacrifices
under the Marshall Plan.
The signatories recognize the practical
difficulties involved in the uniflcation proc
ess and provide the means to alleviate or
minimize them. Although the French and
Italian economies are basically complement
tary rather than competitive, marked
differences exist In wage rates, living
standards, taxation, and currency values.
Such difficulties are taken care Of by q
number Of temporary measures during the
process Of read1ustment. For instance,
although customs duties are to be abolished
within the year. special taxes upon goods
received may be imposed by the country
at disadvantage. Thereby price dineren-
tials will be passed on to the consumer by
the application of a tax upon the cheaper
foreign product. In like fashion, currency
exchange rates will be constantly revised
so that the values of the franc and lira
with respect to the dollar shall not be out
of line with each other However, all such
measures are considered temporary, to be
done away with as soon as the economies,
fiscal systems and production costs of the
two countries have been sufficiently CO.
ordinated.
Over and above these economic aims
stand far-reaching political implications. A
project for economic union would be i'm
practicable If the basic policies and out
looks of the signatories were not In
accord. The treaty is, In fact sign that
the friendly relations which existed be-
tween France and Italy previous to the
latter's nationalist and imperialist aberra-
tion under the Fascist regime have been
resumed
Evening star., 1949-03-31
Letters to The Star
A Statement From Major Barrett

A Statement From Major Barrett
To the Editor Of The Star:
In the final edition OF The Evening Star
of March 20 there appeared, under a two
column heading at the bottom Of column 2
and on page l. story in connection with a
proposed report to be issued by this depart
ment with respect to gambling. In the lead
paragraph Of the story, under the bulletin,
there appeared the following statement:
Police Supt. Robert j. Barrett said today
he expected forthcoming report on gamb-
ling suppression to reveal that the Police De-
partment has accomplished more in a month
than the special grand jury has in 10
months"
In the two-star edition Of The Evening
Star on March 80, 1949 there appeared in
column 8. page l, story with respect to the
gambling inquiry. The fourth paragraph Of
the story reads as follows:
Maj. Barrett had announced yesterday
that he will give out tomorrow or Friday.
statistical report proving, he said that the
Metropolitan Police Departments war on
organized gambling has been far more effec-
tive than the investigation conducted by Mr..
Fay's office during the past 10 months
I wish to advise you that the story in the
Wednesday edition accurately gives the sub
stance of my interview with your reporter.
In the interview given by me to the press on
Monday March 20, stated. in response to
an inquiry, that the forthcoming report
would probably reveal that the Police De-
partment has accomplished more than they
have in 10 months" I did not use the words
special grand jury" I am unable to under
stand how the reporter could interpret the
word they to mean special grand jury;
because all the prior questions were with
respect to the relations Of this Office with
Mr.. Fay's Office.
I regret that my statement should be
interpreted as referring to the grand jury.
I would be appreciative if you would do
what you can to correct any impression that
may have been conveyed by your reporters
Interpretation of my statement.
ROBERT j. BARRETT,
Major and Superintendent Metropolitan
Police Department.
Evening star., 1949-03-31
CrystuIIizina Europe

It is a truism that external pressure is
the most effective promoter of unity
amongst individuals, groups or peoples.
This is again exemprfed in the strong
unitary trend developing throughout the
nations of Western Europe.
The benefits accruing from union that
would Danish warfare between Europe's
numerous sovereignties have been set
forth for many generations by forward
looking thinkers and statesmen, and con-
crete plans have been drawn up ever since
the Grand Design" of King Henry Nv OF
France, more than three centuries ago.
But conflict has persisted, eliminating in
two cataclysn1ic wars which have robbed
Europe of its former world primacy and
which now threaten 1t with subordination
either to a Communist Eurasia or to the
hegemony Of the United States.
In this extremity, the nations Of Europe
still free to choose their destiny are NOV
ing purposefully toward effective union on
q number of fronts. Economic co-ordina-
ton has already engendered group agree
ments among the BeneIux countries and
France and Italy, while an overall plan
Is shaping up through siyteen-nation
Organization for European Cooperation.
Military defense is being elaborated by the
West European Union which has already
created a common organization that will
be joined by the United States and Canada
when the North Atlantic Security Pact
goes into effect.
The politico diplomatic side of the prob
lem has been given notable impetus by
the current meeting in London of ten
European nations whose representatives
are putting the finishing touches on a
draft constitution logically heralding
European government. In London, the
original members of the West European
Union-Britain, France, and the BeneluX
trio-have been joined by five other
nations-Denmark Norway Sweden Italy,
and Eire-in the unificatory task.
This draft project falls far short of
the federal union envisaged by Winston
Churchill and other proponents of full
hedged European Union. The projected
association would have less effective
authority than the framework Of govern
ment under our Articles of Confederation
which preceded the adoption of our Fed
eral Constitution. Yet the bases for true
federal union are provided. There Is to
be an Executive Council charged with CO.
ordinating national policies, though subject
to the veto of it's members. There is like
wise to be Consultative Assembly, con-
sisting of delegates from the member
nations according to population.
Here, obviously, we have the embryos Of
European Cabinet and European Parlia-
ment. The Assembly, in particular, though
at present able to make only recommended
tions, will inevitably become the Voice of
Europe, expressing public opinion and
bringing moral pressure to bear on gov
ernments or special interests clinging to
traditional nationalisms and orthodox
sovereignties. II all goes WELL the first
European Assembly will meet at Stras
bourg, France, this summer, to begin its
deliberations.
All this is, to be sure, beginning Of
Evening star., 1949-03-31
By THE HAsKIN SERVICE

BY THE HASKIN SERVICE
@. Please name the dogs which were
especially dear to Byron, Pope, Cowper and
Scott. D. w.
A. The dog for whom Lord Byron wrote
the famous epitaph was Boatswain. Upon
the death Of his dog, Alexander Pope con-
sidered erecting monument bearing the in
scriptien, "Oh, rare Bounce!" A favorite dog
of Cowper's was a spaniel named Beau.
Sir Walter Scott was devoted to dog which
bore the name Of Mazda. In the latter days
Of his life Lord Byron's only recreation was
playing with his favorite dog, Lion.
@. What was the first invention patented
by George Westinghouse? How many pat
ents did he receive?-C. NJ M.
A. The first Westinghouse patent was for
q rotary engine. A total of 36l patents was
granted to the inventor, the best known OF
which II the air brake for trains, patented in
1869.
@. Please state the Federal income tax
exemptions for a single person from 194O
to date.-H K. -
A. Under the 1910 law exemption for a
single person was $500; in 1941. $3.50: in
1912, $500; in 1948, 5000.
@. How long did it take Audubon to COM
pile THE Birds of America"?-C S. c.
A. "The Birds of America" by John James
Audubon was IL years in the making. It
contains 435 life-sized colored pictures Of
birds painted in their natural surroundings.
@. In what order are colors recognized by
a baby?-J. OBJ.
A. Usually, yellow, red. white, gray and
black are first recognized in the order
named, after the sixth month
Evening star., 1949-03-31
Billy MitcheII's Popers

The widow Of the late Brigadier General
William L. Mitchell has rendered a public
service by presenting to the Library OF
Congress the personal papers OF the one
time stormy petrol" of military aviation
Billy Mitchell was prophet without honor
in general military circles of his time
because he was far ahead of his time in his
concepts of air power. It will be of interest
to historians to compare General Mitchell's s
estimates and predictions of the potenti-
alities Of military aviation with the record
Of aerial warfare to date.
Contained in the trunkloads of letters
uscripts undoubtedly will be found many
Of the prophecies which got him into hot
water with many of his less far-sighted
contemporaries and which led, indirectly,
to his court-martial trial for insubordina-
ton. Yet many Of those fantastic" fore
casts have come to pass even his most
explosive one Of the peaceful thirties that
our next war would be with Japan and
that therefore our air defenses In the Pa
ciflc should be greatly strengthened.
America was slow to adopt Billy Mitchell's s
theories of the superiority of air power,
but his persistent campaigning on his pet
topic stimulated debate and helped to ia
cilitate change In military thinking re-
garding str power. And World War II
brought complete vindication OF his belief
that victories Of the future would be won
by the nation with air dominance over its
adversaries. The Mitchell papers will be 4
lasting reminder Of the dangers OF COM
placency in q world of changing military
strategy and tactics.
Evening star., 1949-03-31
Russian" Methods Charxed
the Editor of The Star:

RuSs1an" Methods Chafged
70 the Editor of The Star:
Congratulations on your excellent article
and editorial on the Dorothy Bailey case
It Is tragic situation when an admin
istration, dedicated to civil rights permits
the usenof Russian police state methods in
this country. And particularly. as demon
strated 80 clearly in this case, by the use Of
unidentified, unsworn witnesses" who re-
fuse to face the accused-completely con-
trary to all American tradition
MIR. AND MRS. LEFT GuSTAD.
Glencoe, H.
Evening star., 1949-03-31
Wants Accusers Named

Wants Accusers Named
To the Editor Of The Star:
I'm sure your article of Sunday, March ~,
on the case of Dorothy Bailey, discharged
Government employe, has made irate people
out Of many of your readers.
I take exception to the unfair considera-
ton given the accused In that her accus-
ers have not been made known to her. 1t
always has been one of the sound virtues
In America that q person is not guilty until
he has been proven so before a just court
in which his accuser, under oath, brings
charges against him. In this and similar
cases the Loyalty Board and its associated
agencies negate all justice. while they &C
quire damaging information from sur
reptitious informers, who have not the cour-
age Of their convictions or they would make
their accusations public.
Such anonymous or secret disclosures
should not be countenanced by any good
American citizen as just cause for the dis
missal Of an otherwise loyal Government
employe.
I am not defending Miss Bailey, as have
no knowledge Of her alleged guilt or inno-
cence However as loyal Government en-
ploye who subscribes to our democratic proc
esses firmly believe the present system of
judging the loyalty Of Government employees
should be revised so that it conforms to our
traditional ways Of justice.
AN IRATE GOVERNMENT ENPLOYE.
Evening star., 1949-03-31

what may be lengthy evolution, fraught
with difficulties and complications. But
the stern compulsion of common perils
provides dynamic which could drive the
peoples of Europe faster and farther than
many now anticipate. Unless free Europe
is to perish, there would seem to be no
alternative
Evening star., 1949-03-31

If big league ball ever was interstate
business, it must have ceased with the
passing Of the mighty Ruth, as you never
see an outfielder these days back up over a
State line.
Evening star., 1949-03-31
Articles Objectivity Praised
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Congratulations to The Star and to New
bold Noyes, jr., for the thorough and
objective treatment of the Dorothy Bailey
case, which appeared in last Sundays issue.
1t is indeed a strange and disturbing pro-
cedure which convicts an individual Of the
serious charge of disloyalty in seeming dis
regard for the rules of evidence and the
principles of due process of law which are
firmly established in American jurispru-
dence. Your paper is performing real
public service in bringing this whole matter
to public scrutiny.
GERALD r. PARRISH.
Evening star., 1949-03-31
Questions and Answers

reader can get the answer to any question Of
fact by writing The Evening Star Information
Bureau, 316 I street NE. washington 2. D. c.
Please nclose three (3) cents for return postage.
Evening star., 1949-03-31
Condemns Secret Informers"

Condemns "Secret Informers"
To the Editor Of The Star:
Az Federal employe have read with
interest your article THE Story Of Dorothy
Bailey; also The Sunday Stars editorial.
'The Dorothy Bailey Case"
Since I have never talked with Dorothy
Bailey, have never known her, do not pre-
sumo to pass upon the honesty or falsity
Of the disloyalty charges. But as an Amer
lean citizen raise my voice in deepest pro-
test against the FBI's use of secret in
formers" and for the following reasons:
l. believe the use of secret informers is
as undemocratic practice as 1t Is possible
to find in a democratic nation.
2. believe that If the secret informers'
were compelled to face the accused, their
testimony would either Immediately be
proven false by the accused or the accused's
guilt would be further substantiated The
Stars editorial contains the following COM
ment: ITO make available and to submit
for examination its secret informers would
mean an end to their future usefulness" 1t
would appear from this statement that the
FBI is willing to use secret informers with
out regard to their integrity for while the
secret informerS may appear to the FB1 to
be honest. to possess integrity. perhaps the
accused Is the only one possessing factual
evidence to the contrary, and is deprived of
his or her right to give it because of being
kept in deliberate ignorance Of the identity
of said secret informers. in which case the
FBI would be placed in the do say the least)
unenviable position of shielding one or more
persons with libelous, If not criminal. in
tentions.
3. believe that many undemocratic. If
not unconstitutional, practices are allowed
to be carried on in the name Of good.
S. M K.
Evening star., 1949-03-31
For democratic Processes"
a Hdifaf At Tha 9kar.

For democratic Processes"
To the Editor Of The Star:
The story Of Dorothy Bailey reminds me
OF this statement by that great philosopher,
the late Morris R. Cohen: THE important
service in the cause Of liberal civilization is
to develop spirit of genuine regard for the
weight Of evidence and power to discrim-
mate between responsible and irresponsible
sources Of information, to inculcate the
habit OF admitting ignorance when we do
not know, and to nourish the critical spirit
OF inquiry which is insHarable from the
love Of truth that makes men free"
Perhaps this intellectual objectivity which
Dorothy Bailey seems to have was beyond
the capabilities of the Loyalty Board to COM
prehend-at least that is my impression
from the testimony as given in your paper
Let us hope that the result of your article is
the settlement Of this and other similar
cases, according to our democratic processes
CARLISLE NORWOOD.
Evening star., 1949-03-31
Dangers to Innocent Feared

Dangers to Innocent Feared
To the Editor Of The Star:
believe The Star has made an important
contribution to public understanding of
vital issue Of today In its Sunday article
presenting the ease Of Dorothy Bailey"
The facts presented in the case do not seem
to warrant the decision of the Loyalty Re-
view Board that Miss Bailey is Communist
and therefore UNIT for Government service
Also by judging q person guilty. instead of
innocent until proved guilty, it seems to
reverse the accepted principle of justice as
we know 1t in this country
What is this thing we have created in our
attempt to ferret out Communists who would
undermine the Government? Is the remedy
more vicious than the disease 1t is designed
to cure? II an innocent person can be un-
Justly convicted and publicly branded on the
basis of unsworn and unidentified statements
from persons unknown to the accused, then
no one In public service is safe from the
same kind Of violation of rights and personal
damage. O.S.
Evening star., 1949-03-31

"One Is Judged by the Company"
70 the Editor OF Tho Star:
started reading the story of the Dorothy
Bailey case with my mind very much in her
favor but concluded with an opposite
opinion
She rose in Government service from a
81 400 clerk to q salary Of $79l1 in 10 years.
In all those years there Is no evidence that
she associated with important people, or
persons well placed in political life-which
her position. her salary and her education
justified
Instead, she gave her time to membership
In various unions that were questionable
from the standpoint Of communism. In so
doing she showed poor political Judgment,
with the result that when brought to the
bar Of inquiry she stood alone, without
friends Of importance who might have
cleared her. Making devious answers to
important questions put to her also showed
poor judgment. At the last with frankness
she might have saved herself.
The old saying that one is judged by the
company one keeps seems to fit her case
very well. c. A. SLOANE.
Evening star., 1949-03-31
The Dorothy Bailey Case
Varying Reactions Sunday Article Loyalty Hearing
Reflected in Letters From Readers

Tor many serious crimes could be reached
and inflicted by means Of an administrative
process which at no point provided any OF
the constitutional rights or safeguards to
the accused. The allegations or accusations
with respect to Miss Bailey were made by
persons unknown to the Loyalty Board. The
accusations were just that. They contained
not an iota Of supporting evidence on any
point and no scrap Of evidence was even
discussed by the board In the conduct of
the hearings. The allegations Of the anony-
nous accusers were not even made under
oath. At no point was the accused or her
counsel given opportunity to confront or
cross-examine the (unknown accusers. The
hearings Cor triaD at both the Regional
and the Review Board level were secret, yet
the widest possible publicity was given in
each instance to the damning verdict. In
the second instance. the verdict of the
panel of the Loyalty Review Board was
in the headlines Of the Washington papers
IL hours before Miss Bailey received by
registered mail her notice of the verdict
The article by Mr.. Noyes is the first time
that anything but the cold and deadly
wording of a finding tantamount to tnat for
treason has reached the public from q
neutral source.
Personal friends Of Miss Bailey's, among
whom I number myself. enjoy an advantage
NOC possessed Oy MI. NOyeS. we KNOW CnaC
the charges made are not true. If there
were the slightest basis for them in fact, we
could not have been unaware of it. We
fully share with Mr.. Noyes the bewilderment
and the incredulity which he SO well ex-
presses that this ugly travesty could take
place behind the bland exterior Of an ad-
ministrative process. All that Miss bailey,
or Paul Porter, her counsel, ever asked
or all that her friends ever wanted was for
her to be provided the simple basic rights
to which any citizen is entitled under such
circumstances. If they had been so pro-
vided. she would have had no difficulty in
removing this tragic and unjust blight on
her good name.
think that Mr.. Noyes has, indeed, per-
formed valuable public service in his anal
ysis and reporting of this case. It is to be
hoped that 1t will aid in bringing about the
much needed correction of the Loyalty
Boards methods and practices. which most
certainly deny fundamental principles and
rights which Americans have long held to
be inviolable. ROBERT L. THOMAS.