davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-12-14
ConstontIne Brown:
Won't Yield to Any 7 truman Board
Senate and House Leaders Will Push Probe Of Agency Scandals
Regardless of Any Big Names in New Investigating Body

side the Government. 1t will
resume it's hearings after jan
uary Is when some real head
liners will be recalled to tes-
tify. These are expected to
throw new light on the entire
problem of Communist infiltra-
ton in the United States.
Senator John j. Williams, Re-
publican, of Delaware, has
worked quietly and painstak-
ingly on a number of income
tax evasions allegedly condoned
by some high officials. He has
a large bundle of documented
facts which he is now ready to
offer to the Senate and de-
mand a full investigation. These
are said to involve no new mink
coats or pleasant, free vacations
in the sunny South but really
substantial profits to the per-
sons involved. Some of these
profits are said to be so large
that the recipients will live
happily ever after, even if they
have to serve a term in jail with
time off for good behavior. The
Armed Services Committee has
already produced a number of
facts involving at least gross
negligence on the part of
administrative officials in han
ding public funds. For the time
being, only extravaganza and
carelessness in administering the
taxpayers money have been
brought to light. But it ap-
pears that more serious develop
ments can be expected after
Congress reconvenes.
There will be an attempt to
hush up these disclosures. of
course, through pledges that
the past mistakes will not be
repeated. But the committee
members are not likely to be
appeased by such promises and
will insist that the guilty be
removed from their positions
and punished.
Congress feels that when the
Nations expenditures are as
high as they are today ex-
travagance and carelessness, to
say nothing of favoritism. at the
expense of the taxpayer are as
much crimes as treason or in
competence in handling mill
tary operations. History minded
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Fletcher KnebeI:.
Potomac Fever

college presidents that no more football
"boww games played. The is, they're still playing
football weeks after the first college basketball has been
sent to the grand jury.
he's always acted quickly to oust
wrongdoers continue The President has fired
many officials skuduggey that fellow hardly
keep track of them with the thumbs of both hands
Disable begins his second the Nations price
Friends of the beeaved requested to omit flowers
Internal Commissioner Dunlap orders tax collectors
take time off Government jobs for outside business At
all times they're expected to be within reach OF subpoena
Counsel DeWind of the House tax investigating committee gets
Charles Ophant resigned internal counsel admit he
about Ophant is the newest
toner of that best seller. "Gone With DeWind"
Democratic Senator OMahoney SCOTS that Republicans
only President they think
Democrats hgh-mnded Their last presidential
with the distinct understanding he would be good
loser,
President Truman declares that wrongdoers have house
with me- That's probably why had to search out free
uuar in the
Evening star., 1951-12-14

discuss tax cases or anything
else.
But it is, of course. improper,
and, where there is a question
of. failure to prosecute where
wrongdoing or tax frauds have
been involved. neglect OF duty
is plain. Inefficiency and stu
pidity, however. and even fall
ure to do a duty are not in
themselves a violation of law
that can be proved in a court
and conviction obtained. These
cases call for removal or dis
missal, but they do not neces-
sarily permit prosecution.
So when Mr.. Truman talks of
setting up a special agency with
a board or commission of PROM
inent men, he is thinking no
doubt not only of some way to
bring about prosecutions where
there has been wrongdoing but
of a way to ferret out the much
larger group of persons who
have been engaged in unethical,
though lawful conduct.
Such an inquiry. if applied to
the whole Government. would
take months, If not years. to get
going. What is important to
the Democratic administration
is that something be done to
offset the bad impression being
created daily by the headlines
and dispatches reporting the
testimony before the congress
sional investigating committees.
When Congress. through the
House Un-American Activities
Committee, exposed Commu-
nism inside the Government.
Mr.. Truman set up a loyalty
review board and departmental
loyalty boards in response to
congressional mandate. He has
limited that he has something
Evening star., 1951-12-14

lures made a long time ago by
Representative Hays and, before
him, by Senator Russell OF
Georgia. As the author of the
controversial civil rights plank
in the 1948 Democratic plat
form which he helped largely to
put over in a floor fight. the
young Minnesotan is a key
figure and symbol In the
South of Northern DONNA
ton" of the Democratic Party.
Senator Humphrey said he
did not believe the party ought
to retreat as q party from the
civil rights goals set forth in
1948. He appears to feel sin
cerely, however, that congress
sional action is not only desir-
able next year but possible.
He said that he had great re-
spect for Representative Hays
and was entirely convinced Of
his honor and sincerity.
1t may be that President Tru-
man. who is in an all-or-
nothing mood with respect to
Congress, will prove cool to a
Humphrey Hays compromise on
civil rights. His opposition or
even chilliness could probably
kill it: too many politicians in
and out of Congress have no
real convictions on the question
but prefer to leave 1t unresolved
so they need not be counted yea
or nay on an indelible roll-call.
The administration must face
up to the fact. however. that its
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Constantine Brown:

Congressional Investigations
will take short holiday but will
be resumed vigorously soon after
Congress reconvenes early in
January.
Senate and House leaders are
not in a mood to yield their
present probings to any COM
mittee or board President Tru-
man may appoint. regardless OF
what distinguished names may
figure in them. They remem-
Der the results of, for instance.
the Pearl Harbor investigation
headed by the distinguished
jurist, former Supreme Court
Justice owen J. Roberts.
They also recall that the
Chief Executive described the
investigation Of Communists in
the Government as a red her
ring and that of the Fulbright
committee into the extra-cur-
ricular activities of some RFC
officials as asinine. Thus, they
argue, whatever board Mr..
Truman may appoint will be
one responsible to him person.
ally and it might be difficult
for him to change his previous
strong convictions now that so
many agencies of the Govern
ment are under fire.
The fear of another attempt
to whitewash is strong among
influential members of both
Houses. This Is heightened by
the fact that the President has
refused to yield in full the files
requested by the Ways and
Means subcommittee headed
by Representative Cecil King.
Democrat, of California. who is
investigating the misdeeds Of
some of the top officials in the
Justice Department and Inter-
nal Revenue Bureau.
1t is the King committee
which holds the limelight to-
day. Other investigations al
ready under way but suspended
during the recess and some
brand-new probings are expect
ed to develop soon after jan
uary 8.
The investigations of the Nc
Carran subcommittee promise
spectacular developments. This
subcommittee has been active
since last summer probing sub
versive leanings inside and out
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Doris Fieeson:

Senator Hubert Humphrey OF
Minnesota says he will be glad
to sit down with Representative
Brooks Hays Of Arkansas and
try to make progress in the civil
rights field during the congress
sional session starting next
month.
Senator Humphrey named
anti-lynching and poll tax legis-
lation as areas in which he
believed he could reach a large
measure of agreement with
Representative Hays.
"Any agreement that we
reached would probably go too
far for some people and not
far enough for Others" the
Senator conceded. But prog
ress Is better than the inaction
Of the last few years"
He emphasized also that any
limited agreement would leave
all parties free to make pro-.
nouncements on the things they
believed and the steps they
would not consent to take. This
indicates that he will not re-
treat from his fight against
segregation and for a Fair En-
ployment Practices Commission
and that he does not expect
Representative Hays to retreat
from an opposite position.
Nonetheless. Senator Hum
phrey's willingness to assume
some leadership in a step-by-
step approach is the first real
administration response to over
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Dovid Lowrence:

President Truman had an OPP
portunity to strike while the
iron was hot-to reflect the
indignation of the country over
the tax scandals. But he chose
instead to adopt at his press
conference q defensive mood
the same attitude which he
has exhibited often in the past
toward charges Of wrongdoing
leveled at his appointees.
The President has promised
a new cleanup" plan. Until he
was ready to announce it. he
would have been better advised
not to argue the merits OF the
criticism that has been directed
at various persons in his ad-
ministration. The hint he has
given that he will set up a spe-
cial agency to ferret out cor
ruption in the Government and
that 1t will be an agency of the
executive branch of the Coz
ernment reporting to him will
inevitably arouse suspicion that
Mr.. Truman wants to control
such an investigating and pros
ecuting process.
But in all probability what
Is bothering Mr.. Truman is the
difficulty Of Furnishing wrong
doing when there have been
indiscretions and improprieties
that are not actual violations
OF law.
It isn't a violation of law for
an official Of the Government to
have as his friends persons OF
questionable character.
1t isn't a violation Of law to
mingle socially with persons
who ask favors from the Gov
eminent. In fact, it isn't un-
lawful to let persons Of infiu-
ence come to Government Of
fees and give them time to
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Doyid Lawrence:
President Misses an Opportunity
Adopts Defensive Mood Charges Leveled at His Appontees
The Same Attitude He has Exhibited Often in the Past

Of the same kind of machinery
in mind with respect to recent
scandals.
But the Congress will have
something to say about all this
If the proposal is not satisfac-
tory to public opinion. It would
not seem plausible for the, Presi-
dent to appoint a commission
with power to investigate the
White House itself, for instance.
nor does it seem likely that
such a commission would want
the Job of examining all the ac-
tivities of officials with access to
the White House and how they
have performed their duties.
So, all in all. the proposed
commission will probably have
a limited task. The President
evidently has determined to
fight it out as if it were just
another political battle and to
point to the proposed board or
committee or commission as an
answer to those who feel that
the administration should do
something to clean house.
Mr.. Truman is ready to pros
ecute any one who has been
guilty of law violation and he
is ready to fire any one proved
to be engaging in activities
outside the Government that are
of compromising nature. But
he isn't ready to fire political
associates just because Of the
innuendoes contained in con-
gressional testimony. Whether
he can get away with such an
attitude politically. and whether
he has taken the very course
that will insure headlines HARM
full to his party all through the
campaign months of 1852, re-
mains to be seen. But that's the
risk Mr.. Truman has assumed.
Reproduction Rishts Reserved.)
Evening star., 1951-12-14
Thonos |. Stokes:

The cross fire at President
Truman's first press conference
after his return to Washington,
which revolved about what his
inquisitors bluntly, called "the
tax scandals" tended to sub
merge a point the President
made toward the end OF that
session. 1t is important to lots
of earnest, honest, hard-work-
ing people in Government whose
service to their country is sub
stantial, and whose rewards are
not large.
It is important, too, for the
Nation.
In referring to the creation OF
some sort Of independent in
vestigative agency or commits
sion, the President said he
wanted the whole situation
developed in order to show that
the great majority Of Govern
ment workers are honest. He
does not want them to be
smeared.
Any one who has been long
about Washington and observed
the operations Of Government
closely knows this to be true.
knows Of the ability, loyalty.
and devotion to public service
that permeates the great ranks
# employees who carry on the
sxultifold duties of a giant
and complex mechanism that
touches the lives of the people
in so many ways. AS a citizen.
the longtime observer OF Gov
eminent resents the broadsides
leyeled at Government work.
ers en- masse when the few bad
apples" are brought to light.
That does not touch the solid
base and bulwark Of the Gov
ernment service.
This embraces the admins
traitors and technicians OF one
kind and another and their
stats and assistants who per-
form their Jobs in the various
departments and agencies,
through one administration
after another, without regard
to the political pull and tug in
the temporary crust above. They
are betrayed by the adven-
turers and the f1ash-in-the-pan
operators as much as are the
people, themselves.
President Truman obviously
had this permanent foundation
( of Government service in mind
when. in considering an investi-
Rtive commission, he thought
Chairman Robert Ramspeck
the Civil Service Commission
Evening star., 1951-12-14

as very helpful figure in the
task. The chairman, for many
years an able and highly re-
spected member of Congress
from Georgia. has supervision.
so to speak, along with other
members Of the commission. OF
the host of civil service en-
ployes. He knows of their role
in Government. their impor-
tance to the proper functioning
of Government and the impor-
tance of that to the Nation.
Recently. and more than once,
he has spoken out in their de-
fense.
All Of this naturally will come
within the purview Of an inves-
tigative commission or agency,
whether it includes Govern
ment representatives or is made
up entirely Of persons outside
Government. which has been
urged as the wisest course by
some called on for advice by
the President, including Chair
man Ramspeck, himself.
The investigative agency will
have two functions:
1. To carry along the task of
congressional committees by a
careful and exhaustive inquiry
to find out any officials guilty Of
questionable conduct and prac-
tices and effect their elimina-
ton from Government.
2. To show. as will be shown,
that the great body of Govern
ment employees are honest and
earnest public servants.
An investigation is necessary
in view Of all that has happened
in recent weeks and months.
Public confidence in our Gov
ernment is essential from the
Evening star., 1951-12-14

Senators and Representatives
know that empires have crum-
bled from within as often as
they have under the impact OF
military defeats. AS matter Of
fact. the latter has generally
been the effect of the former and
this was the sequel of dishon-
esty. incompetence and malad-
ministration of public trust.
Regardless of what board the
Chief Executive may appoint To
report on conditions revealed in
recent months by Congress and
regardless of what headliners he
may name to that board. the
Senate and House will continue
their probing of the activities
of Government agencies.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-03-30
INCORRECT MAPS MAY COST
U. S. 264 VILLAGES PLENTY

Here's one job for a chamber of
commerce that is on its toes. A re-
gional highway map of the South
eastern States issued by the Stan
dard Oil Company of N. J. and
which has wide circulation in the
south Atlantic states, both north
and south of North Carolina, and
which is now given out by filling
stations may be costing Hyde
County, Manteo, Columbia, Manns
Harbor and the Belhaven area an
enormous amount Of tourist trade
This map shows no existing road
of any kind between Engelhard
and Manns Harbor and between
Columbia and Sandy Point and
East Lake and Manns Harbor, nor
any ferry operating in between
This despite the fact that road
has existed many years between
these points, and a paved road fo1
two years. Naturally, a tourist
studying this map south or north
of the state, would be kept from
travelling through this area, as in
either event, whether north OF
south-bound he would be travel
ing to a dead end.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-03-30
BASKETBALL SQUADS
HONORED AT BANQUET

Manteo high schools basketball
teams brought their highly sue
cessful seasons to an official end
Tuesday night at a banquet spon-
sored by the parents Of the play
ers at Wise's Cafe.
Robert Balance was toastmas-
ter for the occasion. Mrs D. A.
Rogers, who headed a committee
of parents in charge of prepara-
tions for the banquet, gave the
speech of welcome. The response
was given by Betty Rae Sander
lin, captain of the girls team.
Mrs. Hal Ward offered a toast
to the teams, TO which Capt. Jack
Cahoon of the boys team made re-
spouse. Reviews of the seasons for
the boys and girls squads were
given by Coaches Ayers and Fry.
The girls team won the Rur-
al AlbemarIe Conference cham
piOnship for the full seasons
play. The boys won both the
season and tournament titles in
the Rural Albemarle Conference
and won runnerup awards in the
Ahoskie and Plymouth tourna-
ments. 1t was one of the most
successful seasons in recent
years for both squads.
Evelyn Marie Dowdy sang a So
10 for the entertainment of the
group, and the entire assemblage
Joined in'singing "Take Me Out to
the Ball Game" before the ban
quet came to formal conclusion.
Dancing followed.
In addition to team members, the
high school faculty and referees
for local games were present for
the banquet.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-03-30
ASSEMBLY MAY CUT NE.
DISTRICT SENATORS

Northeastern North Carolina
may be on the way to losing rep
resentation in the Senate at Ra-
leigh. One bill had already been
introduced to deprive the section
of two senators before Senator
Carruthers of Guilford introduced
second one Monday of this week.
This one, he says, will have a far
better chance of passage than the
first bill.
The earlier bill was based on a
study made by a group of college
professors at the request of some
legislators. 1t assigned two Sen
ators each to Guilford, Mecklen-
burg and Forsythe, chiefly at the
expense of the Northeast District
The bill went to committee and
remained there.
The new bill which Carruthers
says will be "much more favorably
received" would change the pres
ent senatorial setup in these
! ways:
1. Take BERTHE out of the First
District and reduce the number of
senators in the district from two
to one.
2. Take Martin out of the Sec
ond District and reduce the num-
Der of senators in the district
from two to one.
8. Put BERTHE and Martin in the
Fourth District.
A. Add one senator to Guilford
and one to Mecklenburg.
i S. Combine the 18th and goth
Districts with two senator's, the
same number the districts now
have.
In theory, at least, there is one
senator for each $1,000 residents
Guilford's. population is 10000
plus, and Mecklenburg's 10000
n1us
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-03-30
SERVICES WEDNESDAY
FOR MELVIN C. TILLETT

Funeral rites were conducted by
the Rev. w. j. Freeman at the
Austin Cemetery at Kitty Hawk
on Wednesday afternoon for Mel
vim c. Tillett, 43, who died at his
Kitty Hawk home on Monday, two
days after suffering a heart at
tack.
Mr.. Tillett was veteran of
1715 years service in the Coast
Guard; he retired from the SER
vice in 1915; he had attained the
rank of Chief Machinist's Mate.
He is survived by his wife, lola
Beacham Tillett of Kitty Hawk;
one son and one daughter, David
C. and Betty Lou Tillett of Kitty
Hawk; three brothers, Pennel A..
Tillett of Kitty Hawk, Vernon H.
and Coulter L. Tillett of Virgin
ia Beach, Va; and one sister, Mrs.
Esther G. Beacham of Kitty
Hawk. Melvin C. Tillett was the
son of the late Theocanus and
Florence Dowdy Tillett.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-03-30
MAINS HARBOR WOMAN
FOUND DEAD THURSDAY

Mrs. Sarah Eliza Mann, rs,
died in her sleep Wednesday night
at her home in Manns Harbor. She
was found dead by members of
her family at $3.50 am. Thursday.
She had been in failing health for
long period.
Mrs. Mann was the wife of Lee
r. Mann for nearly so years; was
the daughter of the late Willis
and Nancy Tillett Of Manns Har-
Dor, where she was a lifelong res
ident. She was a member Of the
Manns Harbor Methodist Church.
She is survived by five children:
CASTOR Mann of Mays Head, Guy
Mann and Mrs. Calvin Beasley Of
Manns Harbor, Harry Mann of
Oklahoma City. Okla, and Mrs.
Ina M. Waterfeld of Washington,
D. c. One brother, Charles T. Til
lett Of Norfolk, and a sister, Mrs.
Guy F. Hudgins of Elizabeth
City, survive. There are seven
grandchildren and four great
grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were not
complete at the time the paper
went to press.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-03-30
AVON YOUTH CENTER OPEN
First Such Project Lower Banks Brought to Reality
by Hard Work of Many Adults of the Community.

In spite of the pouring rain the
Avon Youth Center opened Mon
day night of last week, to launch
the first recreational program for
the young people below the Inlet
Miss Mary Kirby and Bob Smith
were on hand to direct activities
which consisted of relays and a
variety of other games. From
now on, the Center will be open
every Saturday night for all chill
dren and young people from
school entrance age through 81.
Due to the inspiration and eff
forts of Mrs. Mabel Meekins,
principal of Avon school, a
much-needed program of recre-
alton will be carried out after
much planning and with the alb
lie assistance of many of the adj
ults of the community.
Goodrich Williams and John
Scarborough were instrumental in
getting the repair work done to q
small building on. the school
grounds which will serve as the
meeting place each week. Assist
ing Mrs. Meekins with the pro.
grams and chaperoning are: Mrs
Ruby Price, Mrs. Margaret Hay.
wood, Mrs. Willie Austin, Mrs
Percy Williams, Mrs. Willard
Gray, Jr., Mrs. Dallas Miller ant
Mrs. Bonita Williams. These vol.
unteers, recruited by Mrs. Meek,
ms, have plans afoot for decorat.
ing the Center and making it at
tractive for the meetings as vel
as taking an active part in carry
ing out the programs. The posi-
bic total membership in the Cen
ter is so.