davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28
By Gerald Worinq

and replaced it, when the railway
another railway.
8. Hired horses and put them on
the payrolls of government contrac-
tors as day laborers.
4. Illegally disposed of $4,000 bags
of cement.
5. Sold government stores to con-
tractors without authorization.
6. Stolen linoleum. pulpwood and
lumber.
7. Arranged for overpayment to
contractors
8. Signed false billings for goods
purchased.
9. Converted army material to
private use.
10. Accepted employment on pri-
vate contracting jobs and let private
contractors use army equipment.
II. Built a $500 concrete dam,
repeatedly to improve sport fishing
for officers.
TrioIs Shed Light
Most of these occurrences had come
to light during the trials last sum-
mer of four soldiers and eight civil
ians who were convicted and SEN
fenced to prison. C. D. Rowe, trade
minister in the Government, seized
upon this fact to describe the Currie
report as "a rehash in lurid language"
of matters with which the Defense
Department and the courts already
had dealt.
However, Mr.. Currie listed the ir-
regularities to point up the need for
reform in "the generally lax admin
istrative situation" He admitted the
total financial loss was not large, but
added that "a general breakdown in
the system of administration, super
vision and accounting" throughout
the Works Services across the country
would give rise to waste and inefici-
ency far more costly in loss than that
covered by actual dishonesty"
He said the Army's accounting
system didn't work because soldiers
ignored regulations, lacked admin
istrative training, shirked administra-
tive responsibility and were imbued
with "the war psychology with its
emphasis on speed with resultant
wastefulness and extravaganza"
Responsibility Needed
"If this spirit permeated the lower
echelons of the army" Mr.. Currie
wrote, lit is more difficult to condone
the same attitudes higher up. There
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28
By Frances Williams BROWN

Some 80-odd years ago. before the
City of Washington had achieved
its present high level of sanctity.
there were those who considered 1t
modern Gomorrah. Among these
viewers Withdrawn was the Rev. DR..
John B. Ellis. Blazing trail for
such ostensibly clinical studies as to-
days Washington Confidential" he
conducted personal investigation
of the grim prospects awaiting young
persons who were so misguided as
to accept employment with the Gov
eminent.
Not a man to Shirk duty, however
distasteful, he conscientiously forced
himself to inspect conditions which
shocked his finer sensibilitieS, then
FASTENED to put his dismal findings
on record in a book called THE
Sights and Secrets of the National
Capital" published in New York in
1869.
Superior Air
Government employees" reports
DR.. Ellis, ARE made up of all sorts
of people. You may know them, as
rule, by their affection of supe-
riority to the townspeople, their gen.
eral Seedy appearance, and their
imitation of the airs and styles of
the first men in the Government"
What he has to say elsewhere
about the airs and styles of the first
men in the Government is enough
to make even the most dolorous
present-day reformers look to their
laurels. These first men, not content
with bending to the slightest wish
Of the whisky ring, going openly
to denS of infamy, and making reck-
less grants Of great tracts Of land
to the railroads, even sink so low
as to use their ranking privileges
for the purpose Of sending their
laundry home free Of postage.
The first mems imitators in the
lower ranks find that their spare
moments hang horribly upon them,
and they are eager for any means
of driving of the blues Low and
disgusting 'canterburies' and concert
halls abound. well patronized by de-
partment clerks. The company is
hashy, and decency, law and
humanity are nightly outraged.
'It is commonly supposed through
out the country that Washington is
the most immoral place in the land.
The sum total would not be so great
were not the city so much overrun
with 1dlers from other parts of the
country. Washington is the paradise
of gamblers, and contains many
handsome and elegantly fitted-up
establishments. Houses of i'll fame
are numerous, and are scattered all
through the city. A few of these
houses are conducted in the most
magnificent style. The women are
frequently beautiful and accom-
plished. They come from all parts
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28
Canadian Government Suffers From Scandals, Too

0 Prime Minister St. Laurent adj
mitted under questioning that Dep
uty Defense Minister G. M. Drury
edited the Currie report before it
was presented to Parliament. The
Socialists obtained an unedited copy,
and proved that Mr.. Drury had
softened Mr.. Currie's criticism.
Q Mr.. Claxton told Commons De-
cember that he had not heard from
Mr.. Currie, whereas the report said
interim suggestions" by Mr.. Currie
had been "seized on and important
reforms are already being carried
out" The opposition cites this as
proof that Mr.. Claxton misled the
House, serious charge.
Government Charges
Mr.. Claxton was in Paris attend
ing NATO meetings when the storm
broke. In his absence, Acting De-
tense Minister Ralph Campney &C
cused the opposition of attempts
to indict the minister and en-
barrass the government by playing
up a relatively small matter by
exaggeration and by irresponsible
statements and unreasonable deduc-
tons. They appear to be en-
deavoring to play politics with the
Currie report"
The opposition's attacks are par
ticularly damaging to the govern
ment on two scores.
First. fragrant dishonesty is vir-
tually unknown in the federal adj
ministrative sphere in Canada. Con-
implications are bound to shake
public confidence in the Liberal
government at a time when the
government is preparing to seek re-
election.
Second. the voters resentment of
high taxes and big spending ($2,175,-
100000 for defense this year, will be
whetted by evidence of waste. Thus
it may be politically impossible for
the government to budget for higher
defense appropriations next year.
Mr.. Claxton, back from Paris. is
preparing to address Parliament
when it reconvenes January r.
Meanwhile, the Christmas holidays
of hundreds of servicemen have been
virtually ruined by the Currie re-
port. Orders went to all army, navy
and air force depots a week ago to
take inventory and get the books in
shape Immediately. just in case
Petawawa blows up into full-dress
probe of the Defense Department.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28
Will Eisenhower Find Room for Improvement the Goodeghbo Policy

What is the outlook for economic
aid to Latin America under the
Eisenhower administration?
A dense fog of mental, emotional
elements and political factors hangs
over this issue.
On the Latin American side the
view is dimmed by charges that since
the war the United States has let
its good neighbors down. Within the
United States deprecatory state
ments from critics of the admins
tration's hemisphere policies have
acknowledged and even bolstered the
Latin American charges.
At the same time the picture has
been darkened with countercharges
from other interested groups. Most
of the Latin governments, these re-
examinations run. have been increas-
ingly inhospitable to American pri-
vate investment, or have failed to
make the advances expected OF them
toward democratic political govern
ment. A few have threatened or at
tempted appropriation Of American
owned property. All this. it is con-
tended, proves that Latin Americans
are insufficiently grateful for the
very considerable benefits extended
to them by the economic aid pro-
gram, whatever its deficiencies in
detail.
Ike Cites DISBURSEMENT"
President-elect Eisenhower HIM
self, at least for the duration of the
campaign, Joined the self-depreca-
tors. With the coming of war we
frantically wooed Latin America" he
said in a speech at New Orleans on
october 13.
Then came the end of the war,
and the (Truman) administration
proceeded to forget these countries.
-. Terrible disillusionment set
In throughout Latin America. There
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28

a higher degree both Of intelligence
and responsibility is essential. 1t was
not always present in the degree re-
CURED.
Currie disclosed that over period
of years the Defense Departments
own chief auditor had reported an
nually that unsatisfactory conditions
existed in works services.
The deputy minister in each case
had directed the quartermaster gen.
eral to investigate and report. Lack
of adequate action at this point had,
however, caused a progressive de-
terioration in the situation" Mr.. Cur
RE said.
The three minority parties fayed
the government numerically on the
basis of the Currie report. The Con-
servatives particularly regard the re-
port as. complete vindication of all
their charges of waste and inef-
ficiency in the Defense Department.
Their case boils down to this:
. The government admitted it knew
IA months ago about irregularities
at Petawawa, yet Mr.. Claxton failed
to take effective action. Therefore,
the Tories argue, he was derelict in
his duty.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28
By Duncon Aikmon

loan granted shortly will expand this
100000 tons.
Brazil has received other large
loans for building tin mines-to-the-
sea railway to the Bolivian border;
for water storage and power develop
ment along the San Francisco River.
and for undermining her Anticipated
rail and port facilities. In all, Brazil
has received almost $425 million since
1899.
More on the Way
More is expected to be forthcoming
both from the Export Import Bank
and the International Bank for Re-
construction and Development as a
result of surveys of Brazil's basic
needs now being conducted by the
Joint BraZilian-American Economic
Development Commission. Still fur
ther financing should be available
when and if Brazil gets around to
finishing negotiations for supplying
a maximum output of manganese and
monaZite sands for American steel
and atomic industries.
Mexico has received authorization
for loans. approximating $40 million
since 1899, including $50 million for
railway improvements, an equal sum
for agricultural developments and $50
million for power development. Other
major aid projects include $50 mil
lion for the Falcon Dam, now being
constructed in cooperation with the
United States in the Rio Grande VAL
ley and an even larger power and
water development in the state Of
Sonora; and So million to increase
the capacity of an iron and steel mill
at Monclova from $1,000 to 100000
tons of pig-iron and $4,000 tons Of
steel. However. Mexico has used only
about half of its authorized total so
far.
Chile has been granted $158 million
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28

was no mutual working out Of long
term economic problems.
LAS result, buying spree on
the part of Latin America rapidly
liquidated their dollar balances. Re-
sulting economic distress was followed
by popular unrest skillfully exploited
by Communist agents. Thus good
neighbor policy has become by drift
and neglect a poor-neighbor policy.
THAT, too, will be changed after
you give the command on next No
vember f."
How much Latin American hope of
enlarged aid programs may have been
aroused by this statement remains
to be seen. Grounds for expectation
are admittedly shaky in any case
until the new Republican State De-
partment is in operation, with its
own Assistant Secretary for Inter
American Affairs on the job, and
has had a chance to take stock of
what it considers to be the long-term
problems of Latin Americas economic
development.
Administration Side
Meanwhile. Mr.. Truman's State
Department contends that these
problems of long-term development
are being taken care of. Latin Amer
lean complaints of insufficiency, State
Department officials say unofhcially,
are chiefly due to the fact that the
Communist menace in this hemi-
sphere is not so great as it is in
Europe, where the Marshall Plan was
principally operative.
AS matter of fact, current Amer
lean contributions to the basic eco
nomic activities of most of the Latin
republics are not only impressive but
record-breaking. Mainly through
Export-Import Bank loans begun
during wartime. Brazil, for instance.
has built a steel plant at Volta Re-
donda with yearly production ca
pacity Of 100000 ingot tons. A 1851
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28

and doubtfully literate populations
rushing to live in the cities. Out Of
the problems. still largely unsolved,
have come the waves of nationalism
which have produced the Peron re-
gime in Argentina, tin mine eXpro-
priations in Bolivia. threats of cop
per mine naturalization in Chile
and frequent outbursts of anti
American sentiment even in so
friendly a republic as Brazil.
With these repercussions the Eisen-
hover Administrations Latin Ameri-
can policy-makers must grapple. So
far the question of how the graphing
will be done has not been clarified.
But two lines of action are fairly OBJ
vious possibilities.
What to Do
/. The placing of economic devel-
opment programs for Latin American
countries on a long-term rather than
year-to-year, somewhat hit-or- miss
basis. A five, 10 or even 20-year
plan for Brazilian industrial expan-
sion. developed by Joint Commission
methods, might work better, for in
stance. than extending loans for new
industrial projects independently on
their own merits.
2. A firmer and more adroit propa-
ganda line is needed to persuade the
Latin Americans that the vast out
lays of Marshall Plan aid in Europe
and Asia are for their protection as
well as ours.
There is no present likelihood, how
ever, that G. o. P. diplomacy will
either discontinue or sharply curtail
the aid programs. For none of the
problems which the past Is years
have brought about could be solved
by sending Latin Americas newly
urbanized masses back to the peas
antry, or the new industries back to
grass.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28

by the two banks. The largest item
is $50 million for a steel mill with
30o,000-ingot-ton capacity. Another
$28 million has been provided for
electrical equipment, which has
tripled power consumption in the
Santiago-Valparaiso area. Relatively
small sums have been used to estab-
lish copper wire, cement, tire and
ferro-manganese plants and to begin
an irrigation project for the arid
mining regions in Northern Chile.
A pending project is for $25 mil
lion loan to establish wood pulp
paper mill in the republics southern
forest belt.
Colombia is the next largest bene-
ficiary of the two banks, with credit
extensions Of approximately $135
million. These include $25 million
for railway improvements in the Mag
dalena River Valley. granted by the
International Bank last August; $40
million from the Export-Import Bank
for developments of cotton-growing
and manufacturing, $12 million for
electrical machinery and sos mil
lion for highways.
Other Credits
The rest of the accounts are some
what simpler. Uruguay has received
$68 million; Bolivia has been adj
vanced $374 million: Ecuador has $28
million: Peru, $246 million; Haiti,
S14 million. and Central America q
total of $26.8 million.
Paraguay has $6.4 million Export
Import money for highways and S.
million from the International Bank
for farm machinery. Venezuela has
Export loans of sos million
for housing, cement plant and cleo
trical equipment, and through priv
ate investments of the United States
and Bethlehem Steel Companies is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28

On New Years Day the Navy will
reacquire jurisdiction over two islands
now operated by the Department Of
Interior as part of the far-flung Pa
cif1c Trust Territory.
Seldom mentioned, and rarely
thought of, the Trust Territory never
theless has way OF constantly CROP
ping up in the news. The far-hung
territory is made up of 2.141 islands
which are scattered over mil
lion square miles of Paciflc-an area
larger than the United States. About
$4,000 persons live on these islands.
Today, the two making news are
Saipan and Tinian, islands of bloody
World War II memory. A few weeks
ago. Eniwetok atoll was on the front
pages, as it has been off and on for
several years. Bikini is another head
line island.
Headache for Us
AS a matter of inclination most
Americans probably would be quite
content to have the United States
Sct OuG VI Vic lSldIlOS dIlu OIOp us
commitment to the United Nations to
administer them. After all, such
commitments cost money and cause
headaches. We have enough prob
lens without shouldering more.
But it would appear that we are
stuck with our commitment-and
with the Trust Territory Of the Pa
cific. Our high commissioner for the
Trust Territory, Ebert D. Thomas,
says the territory holds an extreme
ly important place in Americas line
of interests and defense"
Its Importance as a gateway to the
Orient was early recognized by Spain,
which claimed the islands after Ma
gellan landed at Guam in 1921. CMa-
gellan dubbed the island group
'Ladrones" for thieves
because of some unfortunate expert
ences he had there. After Spain
waned as a world power, the Ger
mans took over the Ladrones Cor
Marianas). The United States got
Guam in 1898. and the japanese
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28

ought to be summed by women who
can obtain honest employment else
where.
1.-THE suspicion which rests upon
these clerks, as a class, is most I'M
just and unfounded. You will hear
it said in Washington that the accept
ance of Government clerkship by a
woman is her first step on the road
to ruin. If she is young and pretty
she is surrounded by men who seek
her moral destruction. Again, 1t is
said that a woman's virtue is made
the price of such appointment. It is
impossible to tell how many of the
female clerks are pure women. or how
many impure. The black sheep are
greatly in the minority, but are still
believed to be numerous. Strong eff
forts are made by devils in the form
of men to increase their number, and
will, in many cases, be successful"
Countless UnwoY
Yet despite the degradation in
store for them, DR.. Ellis finds count
less unwary men and women vying
for the opportunity to travel the
road to ruin by working in the Dis
trict of Columbia. cat the beginning
of each new administration" he says,
"there is an overhauling of the civil
list of the Government. Over $4,000
positions of various kinds are to be
filled, and for each position there are
scores of applicants. Changes are
constantly made, and the struggle
for place goes on from years end to
years end. AS appointments are
not made upon the merits of the APP
plicants, their capacity forms no
ground for retaining them in Office.
No one knows at what moment he
may lose his place. Men fawn upon
and flatter their superiors in the most
sickening manner. Naturally enough,
such a life takes all the manhood
out of a man, and transforms him
into an object of contempt.
"To the thousands of persons who
display such eagerness to secure ap-
pointments under the Government,
we would say: Turn your attention
to some honest pursuit, and let Gov
eminent clerkships alone. To young
men of ambition Government clerk
ship of any kind is a positive curse.
and is generally the ruination of a
promising career
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28

OF the country during the congress
sional season, but they rarely return
more than two seasons in succession,
for their fearful life soon breaks
down, their beauty and robs them
Of their attractions. Then they go
down to those awful depths of sin
and suffering from which death
offers them the only means of
escape"
Perhaps even worse than the ulti-
mate destiny of these frequently
beautiful and accomplished" women
is the dire fate Of that pitiful scat
tering of females whom DR.. Ellis OBJ
serves earning their poor livings by
working for the Government. Stand
ing in the doorway of the National
Theater a few nights ago." he re-
lates, watching the audience leave
the building, we heard a young snob
near us eXclaim to his companion:
Let us go now. Tom! We've seen all
of the ladies. The rest of these women
are only Treasury clerks!' The re-
mark affected us unpleasantly, and
We could not help asking ourself:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28

on the way toward becoming the
home of a half -billion-dollar IRON
mining industry.
The grand total of Export Import
and International Bank loans to
Latin America since 1889 runs, in
fact, to somewhat more than STA
billion as against approximately twice
as much for Europe, and less than
half as much for Asia and Africa
combined. In addition, $50 million
in congressional appropriations is
now available for military supplies
to seven republics ratifying or about
to ratify military agreements. Again.
$22 million matched, and in many
cases multiplied, by contributions
from the beneficiary governments, is
now being expended in point-four OPP
erations in 10 epublics-Argentina
alone excluded. These programs are
doing the spadework toward modern
izing public health, sanitation and
educational systems and agricultural
production methods at the Latin
American grass roots.
LII COLIlpdI loOIl Will Vic 943 UIl1IOI
spent by the Marshall Plan in West
ern Europe on economic rehabilita-
ton projects alone, these loans and
technical aid operations inevitably
look to many Latin American OBJ
jectors like so much chicken feed.
Nevertheless, they have advanced in
naturalization by huge strides in
countries capable of supporting in
dustries, and are revolutionizing agri-
cultural methods and living condi-
tions for tens of millions.
New Problems Posed
Necessarily, changes on such scale
are producing new sets of domestic
problems for many Latin American
governments: Problems of wage ad-
justments, Of currency mutations. Of
living costs and conditions for vast
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28

OTTAWA. - The contagion of
American Government scandals.
which Canadians have been eying
this year with a mixture of interest
and horror, appears to have spread
across the border into normally pris-
tine Canada.
Disclosure of theft, graft, pilfering,
waste and inefficiency in one branch
of the Canadian Army has snowballed
into demands for top-to-bottom
shakeup of the armed forces. Guam
titatively the scandals add up to pea
nuts. Qualitatively, however. they
have cast doubt on the probity of the
Canadian government at time when
high taxes and large defense budgets
are irking many Canadians.
Political opponents of the Liberal
government demand not only the
broadening of an inquiry which ex-
posed dishonesty at the army's camp
Petawawa, only 100 miles from here.
but also the immediate resignation Of
Defense Minister Brooke Claxton.
Mr.. Claxton has stated he will not
resign, and Prime Minister St. Laur-
ent has indicated he won't fire him.
The comments of government min
listers on the Petawawa snafu tend to
belittle it's seriousness. There are no
signs the government will accede to
the demands for full-dreSs inves-
tigation of its administration of mil
itary matters. Instead, it is expected
that, as in other years, the only air.
ing of that phase of the governments
activities will be in the House of
Commons Committee on Defense Ex-
penditures, on which the Liberals
have majority.
Caught by Own SIeuth
It was report of the governments
own investigator which precipitated
the liveliest debates in Parliament in
years. Last spring Mr.. Claxton hired
G. S. Currie, Montreal auditor and
former deputy minister of national
defense, to investigate deficiencies
and irregularities" at Petawawa and
elsewhere.
The Currie report, which reached
Parliament two weeks ago, said "a
handful of crooks" in the Works
Services Company at Petawawa-a
unit composed mainly of engineers
had:
/. Sold 500 tons of metal as scrap,
pocketing the proceeds. Much of the
scrap" consisted of Serviceable
kitchen stoves, shower stalls, heaters
and sinks.
2. Sold q railway siding as scrap,