davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-10-31
Another 5 Per Cent Deal

{ The latest disclosed per cent commission
deal on Government purchasing contract lead
ing to dismissal Of Colonel Lawrence Westbrook
from the Democratic National Committee staff,
appears fully in keeping with the way certain
kind OF business has been done in Washington
recently.
Colonel Westbrook had friends in the
administration, he knew his way around WASH
ington and he knew what the Government
wanted to buy. He joined in the formation of
firm purporting to own or control Portuguese
mining properties, and he participated in the
negotiation of contract for purchase of tung-
stem by the United States Government. Colonel
WeStbrook was to receive per cent commission
on the transaction
On January S, 1852, Colonel Westbrook was
appointed to the staff of the Democratic COM
mittee. The contract for the tungsten became
effective on September II, 1852. General
Services Administrator Larson, who signed the
contract as head of the Defense Materials Pro-
curement Agency, said that he was informed
from London on Monday that the selling
company, Campanhia Atlantica, was buying
tungsten on the speculative market for resale
to this Government rather than producing it
from mines of its own. He considered this q
violation OF the contract and Cancelled it.
Democratic Chairman Mitchell dismissed Colonel
Westbrook from his committee post on grounds
that it was against policy for committee en-
ploye to engage in business with the Government.
It has not yet been established whether there
was any tllegality in the transaction. There is a
standard clause in Government contracts for
bidding payment of commissions to middle
men who are not bona fide employees Of a COM
pany engaged in Government transaction.
Mr. Larson said he would have Cancelled the
contract earlier if he had known about the
commission, although Colonel Westbrook claims
he had bona flde status with the company and
his attorney says copy of the commission agree
ment was attached to the contract. 1t is sur
prising, to say the least, that the Government
agency should have entered into a contract
without knowing the facts about the company's
ability to produce tungsten, or about the exact
status of the agent negotiating the contract.
1t is surprising too, that Colonel Westbrook
should have been appointed to the Democratic
committee post while engaged in business with
the Government He says he informed former
National Chairman Mckinney of his activities
but was urged to join the committee anyway.
The disclosures in this case resemble the
whole unsavory practice of influence peddling
and per cent dealing with the Government
that has been exposed in recent months Coming
at this particular time, and involving Demo-
cratic political agent, it may have considerable
impact upon next Tuesdays voting If it does,
the administration has only itself to blame for
permitting such practices to exist.
Evening star., 1952-10-31
Be PoIite-Don't Grab

The size of the District budget for any fiscal
year is based on the amount of revenue that will
De available for expenditure. Estimates of this
revenue availability are conservative. Over
optimistic estimates could mean an appropria-
tion bill calling for more money than the Dis
trict has collected
The result is that the estimates of revenue
availability usually less than the actual reve-
nue.. But the resulting surplus is more of book
keeping item than anything else. For the So
called surplus" promptly becomes part of the
estimates of revenue available for the next fiscal
year.
There was for example, surplus" of over
$40 million in the fiscal year 1850, which was
used in making up the budget for the following
year. In 1851 the surplus exceeded SIS million
and for 1852, $11 million. There is an estimated
surplus OF 50 million that will be available at the
end OF the current C53 fiscal year. But this
50 million has been used in the estimates on
which the budget for fiscal '54-to be submitted
to Congress in January-is based.
Our good neighbor, the Post, has added the
surplus" of $11 million for fiscal 1852 to the
estimated Surplus" of 50 million for fiscal 1858
and has come up with juicy and tempting 500
million surplus. It wisely admonishes the Dis
trlct departments not to grab at this surplus
That is good advice For we already are spending
last years $11million surplus in this years
appropriations, and the budget now prepared
for Congress includes detailed plans for spending
the $9-miIion surplus which, it is estimated, will
be available next June 30.
No use grabbing at something that isn't
really there. Furthermore, it is bad manners to
do so.
Evening star., 1952-10-31
Austrio's Shaken Coalition

The near-breakup of Austria's coalition gov
ernment has been caused by fiscal dispute that
will have to be settled by new elections. After
seven years Of excellent cooperation Chancellor
Figls conservative Peoples Party has approached
a parting of the ways with the Socialists because
the latter, fearful Of rising unemployment, have
insisted on an inflationary level of expenditure
in the 1858 budget-a defcit-fnancing course
that cannot be reconciled with efforts to stabilize
the country's economy.
Chancellor Figl, in keeping with conditions
attached to American aid, has sought to achieve
stabilization by pressing for such measures as
stricter credit controls and balanced budget
But the Socialists, who together with the Peoples
Party have given Austria one of free Europe's
steadiest and most durable postwar governments,
have refused to modify their position. AS a
result, although the two groups have patched
their differences temporarily in order to avert
crisis national elections will have to be held in
February to establish new regime capable Of
ending the fiscal impasse
1t is doubtful, however, that either side will
get majority. In the parliamentary elections
three years ago, the Peoples Party won n seats
and the Socialists g. followed by the Union
Independents (16) and the Communists (5).
Barring the unexpected, new national vote Is
not likely to bring about great shift OF strength
rightward or leftward. So there probably will
have to be another coalition and some kind OF
budgetary compromise. Fortunately, despite
having large part of their economy milked by
the Russians, the Austrians have done such
good governing job up to now that there is solid
ground for hoping that they will find a salts
factory way out of their present difficulties
Evening star., 1952-10-31
A Valid Complaint

The Hackers Board is an advisory agency
which is supposed to pass preliminary Judgment
on the qualifications of would-be taxi drivers.
And this board is justified in calling upon the
District Commissioners to explain why such
high percentage of it's decisions have been over
ruled or modified, and why the reasons for such
actions have not been given to the board
The board claims that it spends considerable
time and obtains great deal of evidence on the
individual applicants for licenses It's decisions
are then passed to the Commissioners for ap-
proval. The record, according to the board, is
that approximately Is per cent Of its reflections
of applications are being reversed by panel
consisting of the three administrative assistants
to the Commissioners. The board contends that
these reversals are determined without benefit
of full file on the cases, and that the board Is
not even being given an explanation Of the rea-
sons for the contrary actions
disturbing circumstance from the public
standpoint is that many of the cases at issue in
volve persons with criminal or bad traffic records.
The Commissioners are said to feel that some
of the boards rulings have been unduly severe. It
is conceded, however, that the courtesy of an
explanation in each of the reversed or modified
decisions might properly and proftably be given
to the board
If different standards are being applied by
the Commissioners Office and the Hackers Board
to license applications they should be reconciled.
Both are supposed to be functoning in the public
interest and single set Of ground rules should
prevail for determining the fitness of an appli-
cant to serve the public as taxicab driver. Fur
thermore when the board is overruled both that
agency and the public should be given the rea-
sons for the reversal.
Evening star., 1952-10-31
Reinforcement From Van Fleet

General Eisenhowers argument for euuipping
and training more South Korean troops to replace
Americans on the Korean front has been
strengthened by the letter he read from General
Van Fleet For that letter plainly implies a
disagreement as to increasing the number of
Korean divisions. General Van Fleet, the field
commander on the spot, wanted to double the
size OF the ROK Army, he says, increasing the
number of its combat divisions from 10 to 90.
He quotes himself as having said: "Give me six
and would release two United States divisions:
or. give me four and would release one United
States division" It finally boiled down, General
Van Fleet said, to two-division increase
1t is possible, of course, that there is no real
disagreement as to policy-that the only dis
agreement relates to ability and time. Deputy
Secretary of Defense William C.. Foster was
quoted from Korea recently as saying that $3.50
million worth of materiel is required to equip
Korean division. The equipment of 10 of them
would require 10 times that amount With our
commitments for equipment of our own troops
and allies in Europe, Italy and other places, it
may be that additional Korean divisions cannot
be equipped now without halting the flow of
supplies elsewhere The decisions on such allo-
cations of course, are not made by the field
commander in Korea. They must be made in
Washington.
General Eisenhower has already announced
that, If elected on Tuesday, he will 20 to Korea
himself. There he can learn firsthand about
the potentialities of training more Korean
troops and the availability of Korean inanpower
But one suspects that General Eisenhower will
have to determine here in Washington the ques-
tion of supplies and equipment-inc the
order or priority in distributing it around the
world.
If he finds that we have been following
the wrong policy in this respect, he will be in
position to change the policy. If he finds that
we have been following the right policy, he can
of course explain that in the heat of campaign
he was not able to make himself familiar with
all the details. He is, in other words, in sound
position-until after next Tuesday.
Evening star., 1952-10-31
For the Record

do not think a newspaper with the
fine reputation which The Star has for
fair and objective reporting should print
anonymous personal attacks, even on
political candidates.
Specifically. the letter signed o. M. B.
which you printed October 20 contains
a wholly false statement about me. I
did not say at the East Falls Church
candidates meeting. II certainly wish
had coat like that" Our publicity
representative for the Town Meeting
candidates for the Arlington County
Board took substantially verbatim notes
on what was said at this meeting.
What did say was that in my opinion
some of our Arlington doctors greatly
exaggerate the local tax burden they
bear. Under the Arlington business
privilege tax ordinance as enacted in
1949 none of our doctors paid more than
500 last year, even though his gross
income may have been to $4,000. This
works out to much less than ! cent for
each visit made by the average doctor.
The revised business privilege tax
ordinance which will go into effect jan
uary l, 1885, will require doctors, law
yers, and other professional men to pay
minimum annual license tax of $40
with the provision that the minimum
shall be included in the tax rate of IS
cents per $100 of gross receipts. In
other words, for $5 home visit by
physician. Arlington County will receive
3H cents. I do not believe that genu-
inely public-spriited and forward-look-
ing professional men will object to the
price Of one postage stamp going to
Evening star., 1952-10-31
The Presidents Role

Recently friend of mine was busily
engaged in fall house-cleaning with a
professional helper, when the latter
asked: 'Is President Truman running
again to be President?"
My friend tried to reassure the woman
but she concluded sadly: "Well, all my
friends think he is, and we don't want
him!"
No wonder there is confusion as to
who the Democratic candidate really is.
Gov. Stevenson may be the most con-
fused Of all of us.
Since the rumor started that Mr..
Truman has rented double suite at
Washington hotel, some of us are Won
dering if Stevenson's albatross is perma-
nently hung about his neck.
Perhaps the Governor may finally be
forced to cast his own ballot for the gen.
eral, in self defense!
Registered Democrat.
All Truman is doing is turning war
monument, with pedestal, back into
flesh and blood man seeking an executive
position.
John L. James.
Has Harry's status changed of late
From President to candidate?
And who has given him free rein
AS absentee in this campaign?
Should not his conscience give him pause
To spend our dough in Adlai's cause?!
John Bunyan, jr.
Evening star., 1952-10-31
Halloween

This Is the night of bGnshees. bats and
otDls--
A magic night. The low pind moans
and hotpls
And there are elues and COLLINS In the
streets
With baletM lamentations, Tricks or
treats"
They haunt my doorstep where the
porch light falls
On sheeted ghosts, witch In trailing
sltaDls,
Assorted beasts that leer NTH fierce
grinGceS
From pumpkin heads and startling
nightmare faces.
Then, Tricks or treGts!" the eerie pack
demands,
Each creature holding out its clawlike
hands
For nuts? For cakes? For apples?
Happy thought,
II so, my safety may be chedply bought.
They snatch my ransom, Ddnish In the
night,
But oh, another beuy henves In siohti
Inez BoreIoy Kirby j..
Evening star., 1952-10-31
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

BY THE HASkIN SERVICE.
@. What European king had the long
est wait before succeeding to the throne
of his country?-P. D.
A. In modern times, Gustav vi Adolf
of Sweden, who was heir to the throne
for So years. Edward VII of Great Brit
ain had to wait go years.
@. How did yankee Doodle" come to
be written?-K. N. c.
A. The origin of the song is uncertain.
One legend says that q British Army
surgeon, DR., Richard Shuckburgh, wrote
the verses during the French and Indian
War, as he watched the provincial
militiamen drilling in their motley
clothes in the well curb Of Fort Crailo
at Rensselaer,, N. Y. In Norwalk. Conn.
is "the Yankee Doodle House." so called
because it was the home Of Col. Thomas
Fitch, an officer of the French and In
dian War, who is said to have inspired
the writing Of the song.
@. Who was the first champion Of the
modern Olympic Games?-A. c.
A. j. B. Connolly Of the United States.
A student at Harvard. he had special
ability for jumping, and on the opening
day of the 1896 games at Athens, he won
the triple jump" Connolly was crowned
with an olive wreath while the band
played "The Star Spangled Banner"
Evening star., 1952-10-31

ing the dead, with the understanding
that fighting will resume after the truce.
Obviously, neither side in Korea is
asking for an armistice, because neither
side admits that it is defeated. Likewise,
neither side has agreed to a truce, al
though partial one has, in fact, existed
for some time. But. of what use is
truce if fighting is to resume on a
larger scale when the truce is over, un-
less both sides are so exhausted that
Evening star., 1952-10-31
Turn in His Toou?

In view Of the honorable course"
which led Senator Wayne Morse of
Oregon to indorse Stevenson and re-
sign from the Republican Party. will
those same honorable" principles lead
him to resign from the Senate, too?
1nasmuch as he was nominated in
Oregon's Republican primary and
elected to the Senate as a Republican,
does he agree that he has mo honorable
course Of action but to disassociate my
self completely from" the Senate and
permit the Oregon electorate to decide
whether they want him as their Sen
ator under his new label?
Gordon L. Hawk.
Evening star., 1952-10-31
Letters to The Star
POnderer.

pay for police, fire protection and other
public services provided by Arlington
County.
Martha Winters Cannon.
Town meeting candidate for Arlington
County Board.
Evening star., 1952-10-31

they must have respite from fighting?
Do we not stand to lose even more
from full truce in Korea than we
already have from the partial truce
now existing?
Does not Eisenhower understand bet
ter the meaning of such terms as
armistice and truce and know better
how to cope with the war in Korea than
does Stevenson?
POnderer.
Evening star., 1952-10-31
Questions and Answers

The stars readers can get the answer 70
any question Of fact. BY either writi1s The
Evening Star information Bureau. 100 I street
return postage or by telephoning st. 1868.
Evening star., 1952-10-31
Non-Votine Generals

Some newspapers have been critical
Of Gen. Marshall for his failure to vote.
Isn't it even worse that a 62-year- old
general, now the G. o. P. candidate for
President, voted. repeatedly for the
first time at the age of So? Actually
Gen. Marshall's attitude typifies one
who has been so long in the army
where men dwell in world Of their
own, quite unaware and unmindful Of
other problems in the whole world in
which they are contained And one
must remember that this, too, has been
Eisenhowers lifelong environment. How
can you reconcile this?
Gullible and Resentful.
All Together Democrats!
Rally up Democrats! Get behind and
push! Remember: There are more Of US
than Of them!
w. Clare O'Brien.
East Cleveland leader. [volume] (East Cleveland, Ohio) 1942-1970, 1952-10-02
City Sells Terrace
Road Property

City owned property on the south
side of Terrace rd. has been pur-
chased by Joseph Ditchman, 14026
Terrace rd., whose property il
abuts. There are two lots in ths
sale, for a 120-foot frontage anc
a depth of $50 feet from the center
line of Terrace rd. Mr.. Ditchmar
offered the city $4,000, and upon
recommendation of City Finance
Director, G. T. Apthorp and City
Manager Chas. A. Earran, the COM
mission accepted the bid.
Deed restrictions limit the build
ing of single family dwelling,
with a set back to conform with
adjacent building along the ridge
above the street. The rear, abuts
Forest Hills Park, Of which this
entire strip of land was once a
part.
This is the second time within
a few years that the city had
bid for the land. A few years ago
Kenneth Marvin offered $3,325, but
withdrew his bid when he learned
of the building restrictions. Mr..
Marvin had thought to erect two
dwellings on the ground.
East Cleveland leader. [volume] (East Cleveland, Ohio) 1942-1970, 1952-10-02
Disc Jockey To
Preside At The
Y Mothers Fair

The banners will be flying, the
doors will be wide open, at the
East Cleveland YMCA Saturday
evening, October 4th. It's the date
of that big fun fest, the annual Y
Mothers fair.
WSRS Disc jockey Don Evans
will be NC for the dancing with a
live broadcast right from the fair
for the big feature of the evening.
Booths will again be set up wher-
ever they can be crowded in .
booths for refreshments, baked
goods, gifts, white elephants, plants
and flowers. A pantry shelf will
interest the home maker, and a
fortune telling booth will lure the
younger folk.
Games a plenty will challenge
ones skill. There will be win-a-fish,
archery, shuttle board, horseshoes,
basketball, foul shooting and tether
ball and others for out-of-door
playing.
The fair opens at $50 and con-
tinues on to near midnight. Every
one is welcome to this ways and
means project tn It is always
packed with fun deserving of its
name: Fun Fair.
East Cleveland leader. [volume] (East Cleveland, Ohio) 1942-1970, 1952-10-02
Church To Open New
Canteen This Saturday

Sponsored by the congregation
and its pastor, DR.. M. Wayne Nc
Queen, a canteen for junior and
senior high school people will open
Saturday night, October 4th in
Windermere M h o d i S Church,
Euclid at Holyoke aves., at 700
p. m.
The canteen will be under the
direction of Rev. Leslie Cunning
ham, assistant to the pastor. 1t
will offer dancing, numerous types
of games, television ,and other
varied recreational activities
and be a place for the young peo-
pie to spend an evening doing the
things they like to do.
Young people having no such
recreation facilities in their COM
munity are invited to attend the
Windermere Methodist canteen.
Admission will be twenty-five
cents.
East Cleveland leader. [volume] (East Cleveland, Ohio) 1942-1970, 1952-10-02
Apthorp To Discuss Legislative City
Relations Before Community Council

Starting off another year of
service, the East Cleveland Com
munity Council will have home
town speaker present home town
topic at it's first meeting to be
held, as usual, in Shaw High School
the second Thursday of the month.
This brings the meeting night to
Thursday, October 9th.
Program Chairman DR.. Homer
Alexander announces that City
Finance Director G. T. Apthorp
will be the speaker. Mr.. Apthorp
will center his comments on the
general theme of "The Relation
ship of the State Legislature to
East Cleveland Municipal Affairs.
Under this theme Mr.. Apthorp
will touch on finances, highways
and home rule, three important
state functions which directly ef-
feet the operation and progress
of East Cleveland.
Since no agenda has as yet been
announced by the coming legisla-
ture, Mr.. Apthorp explains that
his comments will follow along
patterns already laid down by the
state as a guide as to what can
be anticipated for the future.
The Council will follow its usual
procedure of dinner at $3.50, busi-
ness, program at eight and half
hour ouestion-answer period, with
adjournment at 900 p. m.
East Cleveland leader. [volume] (East Cleveland, Ohio) 1942-1970, 1952-10-02
A Statement

"The City Commission has asked
me to release the following state
ment with reference to it's action
in continuing rent controls in East
Cleveland.
Reliable estimates indicate that
there are 5000 to 10000 families
in East Cleveland, representing
about 709o of our population, who
live in rental property. Studies
also indicate that average rentals
in East Cleveland are very similar
to those in Cleveland and are sub
stantially below those of many of
the surrounding suburbs. Further
the vacancies of rental housing in
the City of East Cleveland and the
City of Cleveland are only a frac-
tion of 10.
with the continuation of rent
controls in the City of Cleveland
the opportunity for the operation
of the law of supply and demand
is greatly limited and we, there
fore, feel that the sudden removal
of rent controls in East Cleveland
at this time would cause a very
serious problem for many of our
citizens, forcing them to seek rental
quarters elsewhere when no such
rental quarters exist at compar-
able rents. This situation would be
further aggravated by the fact
that children in these families are
already entered in school.
"On the other hand, we recognize
the fact that continued controls
are undesirable and that in many
instances landlords are not receiv-
ing a reasonable rental for their
property. We have, therefore,
passed a formal request that ad-
justments be made where equitable
to partially correct this situation,
pending the final removal of rent
control. 1t is the present feeling of
this Commission that all rent con-
trolls in the metropolitan area
should be lifted April 80, 1853"
CHAS. A. CARRAN
City Manager