davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-01-20
Compton Elects 80 Days in Jail
In Beating of HyuttsviIIe Wife

Howard Compton, 43. a District
ieweler charged with assaulting
his wife at their Cottage City
(MdD home Tuesday night. yes
terday elected to go to jail for
80 days rather than pay a $5C
fine for committing the offense
The decision in Hyattsville Po-
lice Court left Mrs. Selma Comp.
ton, AZ, and IL of her. 13 children
without means of financial sup
port during that period. A daugh-
ter. Airline. 10, is attending the
Maryland State Teachers College
and does not live at home.
Louis Lebowitz. attorney fol-
Mrs. Compton in a maintenance
suit she filed Monday against he,
husband in District Court, sale
after yesterdays hearing that
he may ask the District Court tc
appoint a receiver for his jewelry
business in the 100 block of G
street NV.
Mrs. Compton alleges that hel
Evening star., 1950-01-20
Building Contract Let
For White Oak Lab

A contract for $399,4 has beer
awarded the American Construc.
ton Co. of Washington for 6
group of. buildings and facilities
to be erected at the Naval Ord.
nance Laboratory at White Oak
Md.
Construction of the three build.
ings, five hillside magazines, roads
and utilities, will begin immedi-
|ately in the laboratory's explosive
research area.
Evening star., 1950-01-20
Maryland Legion to Start
Membership Drive

A weeks drive to enlist every
veteran in Maryland in the Amer
lean Legion will begin Sunday.
The Maryland department now
has an enrolment of about 49,
900 Of Maryland's 265. 900 veter-
ans. A house-to-house canvass is
planned by every post in the
State, according to Alton Vann,
State membership chairman.
Evening star., 1950-01-20
Maryland Democrats
See Election Victory
AT Party Banquets
By the Assoeiotsd Press

Maryland's top Democratic Of
flce-holders whose jobs are al
stake in this years elections heard
predictions of victory and high
praise for themselves at party
banquets last night.
In Baltimore, the keynote OF
Lane, Lacy and Hammond-a
great ticket"-was sounded by
Philip Perlman. United States
Solicitor General. He was one OF
the main speakers at a testimonial
dinner for State Controller James
j. Lacy.
Gov. Lane Attends.
Gov. Lane and Attorney Gen
eral Hall Hammond were among
the hundreds of Democrats at
tending.
Many politicians felt last nights
dinner was to pave the way for
another Lane, Lacy and Ham
mond" ticket this year. Following
their triumphs in 1916. Gov. Lane
and Mr.. Lacy have had many
political disagreements. Last
night, though, everything ap-
peared to be very chummy with
both Gov. Lane and Mr.. HAM
mond praising the way Mr.. Lacy
has conducted the State Control
ler's department.
Tydings in Cumberland. -
In Cumberland, Senator Tyd-
Iings, Democrat, Of Maryland was
in the spotlight. The featured
speaker at a Jackson Day dinner,
he was introduced by William C.
Walsh, former State attorney gen.
eral, who predicted that Mary
lands senior Senator would be
reelected next fall without oppo-
sition. Mr.. Tydings has not yet
announced his candidacy.
Mr.. Tydings. chairman Of the
Senate Armed Services Commit
tee, devoted his talk to praising
the Marshal Plan and the admin
istration's foreign policy in Eur
Ope,
Evening star., 1950-01-20
College to Hear Symphony

| FREDERICKSBURG. Va, Jan
20. - (SpeciaD The National
Symphony Orchestra will be pre-
sented in the Lyceum series Tues
day evening at Mary Washington
College of the University of Vir-
ginia. The program consists OF
Purcell's Suite for String, Rich
ard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier
Suite and Beethoven's Symphony
| No. 7 in A major.
Evening star., 1950-01-20

POAAOoAA CJoUClls
But he pointed out that Mary
landers could hardly be expected
to consent to being included in
an area where there is no self
government. And the State Gov
ernment in Annapolis would be
certain to block the move.
Problem in Silver Spring.
A fifth alternative would be the
much-discussed proposal to in
corporate Silver Spring. DR.. Ray
cited several objections, however.
One, he said, is that such move
still would not give the commun-
ity jurisdiction over its own
schools or the health and welfare
programs in the area.
Problems affecting these func-
tions, he explained. still would
have to be settled in the county
seat at Rockville.
Another objection, he asserted
would be an increase in govern
mental cost for Silver Spring tax
payers. The county tax rate
would continue and the residents
also would be taxed to maintain
their own government, he claimed
For example, he said, the COM
munity would need its own city
hall, municipal council, a finance
establishment and a duplication
of election, street. police and other
functions now performed by the
county.
Would Have Debt Share.
In addition, according to DR..
Ray, the new city would have to
accept an appreciable share of
the county's $23,000,000 debt"
Although the city would obtain
relief from the present 2o-cent
suburban district tax, the Accent
library tax and the 10-cent fire
AK, DR.. Ray explained the munich
Evening star., 1950-01-20
Prince Georges Hard Pressed
To Provide Adequate Schools

Although embarked on the larg
est school construction program
in it's history. Prince Georges
County still cannot see daylight
in it's efforts to provide adequate
educational facilities.
The county is committed to a
program of building which will
cost an estimated $8,643,800; but
school authorities doubt that
they'll have enough classrooms
to meet needs when the last
project is completed. This is the
picture:
Additions have been built to
five schools, a vocational unit
has been completed at Bladens-
burg and construction is under
way on six new schools.
Emergency Measure.
AS an emergency measure, 20
field buildings have been pur-
chased from government war sur
plus and erected at a cost OF
$2,700 each.
Yet, so rapid is the increase in
population that Thomas S.
Gwynn, jr.. county director OF
school planning, predicted every
classroom in the county, new and
old, would be crowded even after
current projects are finally COM
pleted in 1851.
Census figures gave the county's
population as 89,490 in 1910. To-
day the population is estimated
to nearly 10000. In the 10-yeal
period the county's total assess
able base jumped from sos, ,000,-
900 to $210,000,000.
Projects Discouraged.
So. swift has been the growth
that the commissioners discour.
aged large-scale housing project.
until adequate school facilities arr
available. Mr.. Gwynn said thu
county is faced with the neces.
sity of building 80 to 100 new
classrooms each year.
Enrolment in the 95 schools
now total 28,400 or 1857 NOR,
than in January, 1949. An en-.
rollment of 30,500 is expected
when schools open next Septem.
ber.
Overcrowded conditions have
made it necessary to place 2,60t
pupils in II white schools and ont
colored school on a 'part-tine at.
tendance basis.
When schools open next fall, Mr.
Gwynn said, the county will b,
short 166 classroons, even though
principals will use libraries. halls
cafeterias, auditoriums and Office
space for instruction.
Based on New System.
This figure, however, is based or
a new system the county plans tt
inaugurate. Under it, none of thu
$50 teachers would be required tx
instruct more than 80 pupils at 6
time. At present, several class.
rooms have more than so.
New senior-junior high school.
under construction or are abou
to be started in the Bladens
burg. Hyattsville and Suitlant
areas. An addition is bein,
built to the senior Junior high
school for colored at Fairmount
Heights. New elementary school.
are in the Mount Rainier-Br
wood area and at Langley Park
near New Hampshire avenue anc
University lane. The elementary
schools will be ready in September
and the high schools are sched-
uled for completion in 1851.
Additions have been completed
or will be within the next few
weeks at Ager road, District Heights
and Suitland white elementary
schools and at the Lincoln ane
Oxon Hill elementary schools fol
colored.
Construction bids on six prof.
ects were lower than anticipated
so arrangements have been made
Ito build . 100000 elemertar,
Evening star., 1950-01-20

0UItdfnG.
pality would continue to pay the
county levy plus its own city
tax, making the total tax almost
prohibitive."
Finally, he said, taxpayers of
Silver Spring would be paying
county taxes to provide services in
other areas while being forced to
pay separately for their own
functions.
At this point, he undertook to
answer the question why Takoma
Park and Rockville have continued
their incorporated setups in view
of the disadvantages.
THE answer" he explained,
lies in the fact that these two
cities existed as such long before
the county began to perform mu-
nicipal functions. BY the time the
county undertook municipal &C
tivities, the political and admin
istrative pattern in the older cities
had become set and the idea of
abandoning corporate status never
was considered.
He said the two cities also were
Impressed" with the value of
their Incorporation because of the
understandable tardiness with
which the county government has
approached new municipal func-
tions." @s-
But he said the tendency to in
corporate has declined in recent
years as q result of the adoption
by the county of a 'more forth
right attitude" toward it's mu-
nicipal responsibilities.
County Setup Involved.
During his survey, DR.. Ray said,
he found the county governmental
setup so involved and complex
that the establishment of an ad-
ditional local government would
complicate matters still further.
I'm general he contended,
democracy works better If the
governmental system can be SIM
plified and the confusion sur
rounding it diminished.
Even those who opposed the
recent charter movement" he
continued, must concede that the
intelligence and industry which
have been applied in recent years
and months to the solution of the
county's governmental problems
will inevitably bring even better
government to the county.
"The resident of Silver Spring
need not shudder at continuing to
cast his lot with the government
of Montgomery County. The
county is, and was before the
charter, one of the best governed
counties in Maryland. His obliga-
ton as a citizen of the county is
to work for the continued i'm
provement Of his government"
Suburban Districts Hit.
DR.. Ray took occasion in his
report to criticize the so-called
suburban districts in Silver Spring
and Bethesda.
1.-THE assumption on which the
suburban district is based" he
said, is that the persons in that
district receive special services fol
which they should pay extra taxes
What is overlooked is the fact
that the taxpayers within the
suburban district actually pay
more in taxes to the county gov
eminent than they get in serv-
ices"
In other words, according tc
DR.. Ray, the rural area "is being
carried by the more populous area
even for the ordinary functions
of government, and without re.
gard to special services main
tanned in the suburban area.
Justice to suburban taxpay-
ers," he claimed, would thus in.
Evening star., 1950-05-09
This and That

Fencing, to a gardener, doesn't mean
a foil and stab.
It means what goes around the place.
It requires forethought, money, time and
work.
Perhaps it iS-becauSe of these four that
many homeowners refuse to sanction
fence. They do not believe" in them.
they say.
Actually, they do not want to spend
the money. 1t is too much trouble. too
much work, and requires too much
thinking to put up fence.
Even bad fence is better than none
at ALL
A fence is both a protection and an
ornament.
No fence can actually keep people out,
especially active youngsters. In fact, to
the latter, fence is what the law calls
an attractive nuisance. 1t lures them
to try to get over.
A fence is more of reminder than
anything else a reminder that thus far
to go.
In some countries, violation Of fence
is the same as HOUSEKEEPING.
In our own country, the fence Is sign,
asking politely that one stay out.
A fence says, Here, inside, are little
flowers you know nothing about. To
you, they may look just weeds. But they
cost So apiece"
A fence says. '"This is mine, not yours.
The public streets and sidewalks are for
Evening star., 1950-05-09

you-they are community property.
This is my property"
A fence means liberation in reverse, it
means law and order, 1t means owner
ship, it means many Of the dear and
good things we are all in danger of losing
if trends keep on. Communal property
has no use for fences.
Fences go with the state of mind that
believes in the reign of law. It was
Napoleon who said that he would rather
live wild in the woods than in COM
munity without law.
AS to what kind of fence, that is
left to the owner.
Broadly, fencing is divided into two
kinds--the ornamental and the useful.
Then there are fences that combine
ornament with use. These are the best
sort; they tend to keep unwanted per-
sons out, as well as set off the house
and grounds.
The picket fence, so long beloved in
America (because we so long had plenty
of wood, can be put up with the pickets
inside or outside. On Poe's old cottage
the pickets are inside Most homeowners
today put the pickets outside, the upper
rail inside.
This fence traditionally is painted
white Stained brown or dark green
is still very nice. During the war, only
very poor wood could be found for this
purpose, so most wartime fences rotted
out
Corner posts are best sunk In con-
crete. This applies particularly TO the
Evening star., 1950-05-09
The Niagara Treaty

There seems to be no good reason why the
Senate, in keeping with the Presidents message
on the subject, should not promptly ratify the
new treaty between Canada and, the United
States to govern the future uses of the Niagara
River
The treaty-Signed last February 27-would
establish between our two countries what the
President has described as definite and perma-
nent ALLEGATIONS" of the rivers surging waters
for domestic, scenic, navigation and power
purposes While preserving and even enhanc-
ing the beauty of the surroundings it would
promote the economic advance both of the
United States and Canadian obviously desir-
able objective.
Thus, as far as the development of hydro
electricity is concerned, the pact would make
available to the Canadians several hundred
thousand kilowatts of additional power and it
would give to us another 12500 kilowatts We
undoubtedly can use this extra source of energy
to good advantage Indeed, according to the
President, New York and adjacent States are
so much in need of it that they can put all of
1t to use just as soon the necessary works
can be constructed.
In requesting ratification, the President has
frankly stated that he strongly adheres to the
view that the additional facilities should be
publicly owned That fact, however, ought not
to prejudice the treaty in the eyes Of those
who favor private power development. For the
Evening star., 1950-05-09
By Charles &. TroceweN

wire fence with metal posts. Proper
bracing is essential.
What may be termed fancy fences
are the split rails and the type used
around paddocks. Both are most prop
erly used around large places. But If
painted in some dark hue, or stained
they can be FUSED very well around
smaller places too.
Perhaps the best fence of all for
the small place is the chain link. It is
good idea to get fencing with very
small space between the wires, especially
the up and down ones, so that no foot,
however small, can be placed between
them.
After all, the fence that merely sug-
gests that it not be climbed is not as
good, everything else being equal, as
the fence that cannot be climbed.
Spaces between the loops at the top
also are best IL too narrow to insert a
foot.
Painted dark green. with posts sunk in
concrete. this fence is excellent for the
small suburban place. 1t is soon almost
lost to sight If shrubs and flowers are
planted by 1t. In this way it becomes
a veritable part Of the scene. This is
good. The tendency the other way. to
the fence that sticks UP like sore
thumb, is one that must be overcome.
II the best effect Is to be achieved.
A good fence Is good investment. an
ornament to any property and neighbor-
hood, and IN keeping with the best ira
ditions Of real Americanism. What
more can you ask
Evening star., 1950-05-09
1t Is About Time

Over two months ago. at hearings suddenly
called by the Davis subcommittee investigating
crime In Washington, numerous officials and
members of the Metropolitan Police Department
appeared to testify under oath regarding Incl
dents connected with the transfer of Captain
Anthony Richitt from No. to No. precinct
After two days of testimony, in which the
Police Department spread some of its soiled
linen on the line for everybody to see, the hear
ings came to an abrupt close. About the only
thing that had been proved was that somebody
was lying. Chairman Davis said that future
disposal of this dirty wash was up to the Com
niSsionerS.
Another month passed, with Assistant Cor
poration Counsel Daniel B. Maher putting to-
gether a report, based on investigation of the
testimony, for the Commissioners He submitted
the report April g. In the course of its prepara-
tion Mr.. Maher said he had evidence indicating
that perjury had been committed.
Another month has passed since then. Yes
terday Commissioner John Russell Young ex-
planned that the press of other business had
delayed his getting together with Commissioner
Gordon Russell Young for decision on what to
do with the report. But he indicated that the
report would be made public Soon
1t should be. And if Mr.. Maher is correct
as to his evidence, immediate disciplinary action
should follow and in a manner that will clear up
once and for all the nature of the mess only the
outlines OF which were indicated in conflicting
testimony before the Davis subcommittee.
Evening star., 1950-05-09

in fact, rebuilt. A new tower. costing
$167,000, was completed in 1870. At 1913
feet. it was the tallest lighthouse in the
world. 1t still is. The light itself, 191
feet above the water. could be seen 20
miles.
The old tower, which was about ready
to fall anyway. was blown up In 1871.
A perpetual danger to the continued
existence Of any lighthouse is beach ero-
sion-the washing away of sand and
stone under constant pounding by the
sea. A Lighthouse Service report for
1869 expressed the opinion that the new
7ape Hatteras tower was 80 far removed
rom the water line as to render it safe
from the encroachment of the sea-" But
the years rolled by and the waves rolled
in-and little by little the beach was
Clipped away. BY 1919 the high water
line was 800 feet from the tower base,
and the experts began to worry. BY 1885,
despite frantic experimenting with dikes
Evening star., 1950-05-09
Pie-Poem

She is poet singing tpith her hands
Who tucks bananas into creamy pie.
She gestures, and merin0ue appears that
stands
TrtumphGntly-aS pleasing to the eye
As any sonnet to the listening ear.
But beauty OF expression, tDeu she
kn0DS.
Is not enough: Her poem" must be sheer
Delight as to its content, and she clotns
With pride II it's delicious to her taste.
But she Is only sure iDhen she has placed
A t0edoe of 1t before her Judge. and he
Hands IdotDH the rerdtct. presently. u
quite
SuTpGsses epery other pie that she
Has made. and huTrtes to his second bitsi
ELAINE v. EhGANa.
Evening star., 1950-05-09
Treasure at Tobermory

Associated Press dispatches from Tobermory
on the Island of Null, off the west coast of
Scotland tell of the finding of the remains of q
Spanish galleon supposed to have been sunk 1852
years ago. The wreck, according to local legend
contains treasure valued as high as $93 million.
Modern techniques of search have been used
in the search for all this wealth. A Royal Navy
expedition was assigned to the task about seven
weeks ago.
The ship now reported found was one of
the units of the Invincible Armada which was
organized to conquer England in 1888. 1t had
survived the storms and the fighting of. the
Channel and was attempting to return home by
way of the Irish Sea when it reached Tobermory
Bay. What happened there is a matter of
debate. One story suggests that the galleon was
scuttled by a local merchant when It's captain
was slow in paying for supplies Another ex
PLANTATION of the sinking attributes the mishap
to the bad weather common in Null Sound and
vicinity. The name of the galleon gives clue
to it's value. It was called the Duque Florencia,
limiting at a connection with Ferdinand de
Medici I, Duke of Florence from 1887 to 1909
a great naval builder and organizer.
AS to how and why the ship was laden with
jewels and plate and large quantities of gold
coins, the supposition is that she was floating
bank of sort. Had the Armada defeated the
English and actually begun occupation Of British
soil, the riches she contained would have been
employed to win over the support of persons
susceptible to bribery and subornation. Thus far
all that has been recovered is a pair of silver
coins not in themselves worth much bother
If the work is to be carried forward it
seems the British government will expect Ian
Douglas Campbell, eleventh Duke of Argyll, to
finance it. He is well known in America, having
married a daughter of Henry Clews, the New
York banker and broker OF course, the whole
undertaking is a gamble. But interest in buried
treasure is rife everywhere today. Ken Krip-
pene, in recent book on the subject, estimates
that there are $3.50 billion lying around our
planet, just waiting to be salvaged.
Some families go in for housekeeping twice
year. and at the other extreme is local house
hold which recently found twenty-eight Easter
eggs out of twenty -four that had been hidden.
Decision Awaited in Plumbers Case" says
the Ottawa headline. You mean the Judge had
to 90 back for his law booksf
Evening star., 1950-05-09
More Bridges for Washington

Opening OF the new Fourteenth street bridge
across the Potomac River will provide some well
come relief from bottleneck conditions which
long have plagued motorists using the old High
way Bridge. But it is too much to expect that
the new bridge will end completely the congested
situation affecting all of the Potomac crossings
Still more bridges are needed to connect Wash
tngton with nearby Virginia-just as more are
needed over the Anacostia River
The plain fact is that bridge construction has
not kept pace with population growth across the
Potomac and the AnacoStia, and it will take
long time and many additional millions of dollars
to catch up. The new Potomac bridge should
speed up traffic to and from the Pentagon net
work OF highways and beyond-including the
National Airport, Alexandria and points south
on U. S. Route l. 1t has been impossible for the
Highway Bridge to handle satisfactorily the
heavy flow of traffic resulting from Federal Office
development and residential expansion in
Arlington during the past ten years. The bridge
was never designed for such traffic loads The
jamming of traffic at Fourteenth street has
caused diversion of cars to the Memorial and
Key Bridges, already crowded to capacity So the
opening of the new span should bring degree
OF relief to the other bridges.
The Fourteenth street bridge lob is but half
completed, however. A twin span has been
authorized, but construction has been indefinitely
postponed because of other bridge projects
deemed worthy of preferential consideration
The proposed East Capitol street crossing of the
Anacost1a has been given number one priority
But once the East Capitol task is out of the way
attention once more should return to the Poto-
mac bridge shortage. Not only is the twin
Fourteenth street span needed, but so also are
additional crossings. National Capital Park and
Planning Commission officials have suggested a
bridge between Alexandria and the Blue Plains
area, to bypass through Route traffic around
Washington Demands also have been heard for
new bridge between the Memorial and Key
Bridges. 1t is obvious that WaShington's bridge
program has only begun, despite the opening
today of the fine new structure at Fourteenth
street.