davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-01-02
Eisenhower Held Likely to End
White House Press c Conferences
Hugerty Won't Comment on Indications
Thut New President Won't Meet Newsmen

general practice was to hold news
conferences twice a week.
James c. Hagerty, Gen. Eisen-
hoWer's press secretary. has de-
clined to say in advance of inaug-
|uration day-January 20-what
the new Presidents policy will be
with respect to news conferences,
although Mr.. Hagerty hints that
the policy to be followed already
has been determined.
Won't Comment on Report.
Mr.. Hagerty refused to COM
Iment on a report published in the
Baltimore Sun that Gen. Eisen-
hover may abandon the traditional
question and answer sessions in
favor Of periodical reports to the
Nation by television and radio.
| The policy will be announced
after the general has taken ONCE
land not before. Mr.. Hagerty said
Gen. Eisenhower's advisers re-
lportedly are divided over whether
he should continue the custom OF
frequent news conferences, reg
lularly held.
Some of the advisers are said
to favor discard1ng that practice
altogether. Others are said to
have urged a return to the Her.
bert Hoover policy of having
newsmen submit questions in
writing and letting Gen. Eisen-
hover answer those he cared to
also in writing.
One key Eisenhower aide had
indicated that he looks for the
general to hold the traditional
type of news conference, but per-
haps not as frequently as once
a week.
Little Contact With Press.
Gen. Eisenhower himself had
very little direct contact with the
press during the presidential
campaign. He held a few news
conferences during the early days
OF his bid for the White House
sessions at which reporters de-
tected some traces of irritation on
the generals part when he was
pressed for elaboration of replies.
Gen. Eisenhower also held a
flew off-the-record sessions with
Inewsmen during the campaign.
That, however. was practice vir-
tually all of them regarded as en-
tirely unsatisfactory.
Since the election two months
ago. tn general has held no news
conferences although reporters re-
peatedly have tried through Hag-
erty to arrange q session.
The general repeatedly has
taken the position that he has no
Authority until he takes Office and
is not going to speak out before
Inauguration on the scores of is
sues which newsmen would raise.
Evening star., 1953-01-02
By the Associoted Press

NEW YORK. Jan. Frequent
regularly held presidential news
conferences-an American Insti-
tuition under the Truman and
Roosevelt administrations - may
become a thing of the past when
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower moves
into the White House.
There are indications that Gen
Eisenhower as President may not
hold such conferences as regularly
as his predecessors.
With some exceptions, Mr.. Tru-
man has met the newsmen once a
week at no-Question- barred con-
ferences.
So did Mr.. Roosevelt. whose
Evening star., 1953-01-02

the entire Senate, was secretary
to the Republicans while they
were in the minority.
A three-man committee headed
by Senator Martin of Pennsyl-
vania was appointed to supervise
patronage jobs at the Senate end
of the Capitol, including police
men, elevator operators and pages.
Senator Butler of Nebraska was
reelected chairman of an II.
man committee on committees.
The Republicans put of a deci-
sion on the size and makeup Of
the new committee.
Senator Millikin said there was
no discussion today of the status
of Senator Morse of Oregon, who
bolted the Republican Party to
support Gov. Stevenson, the Dem.
ocratic nominee for President.
and declared himself an inde-
pendent. Senator Millikin said
Senator Morse got a notice of
the Republican conference, but
did not reply.
johnson Minority Leader.
Meanwhile the Democrats unan.
imously selected Senator Lyndon
johnson, of Texas to be minor.
ity floor leader. The Democrats
also avoided any party discussion
OF the rules fight, on which their
members are sharply divided.
Senator johnson made a plea
for harmony wherever possible
both in party ranks and in the
Senate as a whole.
Senator johnson said he realized
I'VE are in a new era. There will
be times, I am sure, when as mi-
nority leader, I will be in the mi.
nority in my own party. But there
are many more things on which
we could unite. and II we look
for those things instead of the few
(See CONGRESS. Page A-20
Evening star., 1953-01-02
AFL Unions Cautioned
About Price Index
By the Assoeioted Press

AFL unions have been warned
to use caution in tying new wage
agreements to the Governments
revised price index.
The warning came yesterday
from the AFL itself. which said
that cat best the consumers price
index is an incomplete and ap-
proximate measure. It does not
provide an exclusive basis for
adjustment of wages"
The federation said the Bureau
of Labor Statistics should publish,
in addition to the regular index.
one showing the effect of increased
taxes on workers purchasing
power.
Under escalator clauses in labor
contracts. providing for adjust
ments based on the cost of living,
wages Of about three million work.
ers are now keyed to the two old
indexes computed by the bureau.
A revised index Is to 60 into
effect this month.
Evening star., 1953-01-02
CIemency for Rosepbergs
Foyored by Rabbi Silver

CLEVELAND, Jan. 2 P).-Rabbi
Abba Hillel Silver. nationally
prominent clergyman and sup
porter of Gen. Eisenhower and
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
says he favors committing the
death sentences of julius and
Ethel Rosenberg, convicted atom
spies.
He confirmed he had written a
letter to Emmanuel H. Bloch
counsel for the two, agreeing to
add his name to clemency plea
should it be made to the Presi-
dent.
DR.. Silver, spiritual leader OF
The Temple, said the letter was
written October % in reply to a
request from Mr.. Bloch.
In his letter, DR.. Silver said
he accepted the verdict of the
courts in the conviction, but 81
believe that the death sentence
which has been imposed is un.
precedented in the legal annals
of our country as punishment
for espionage in peacetime.
Evening star., 1953-01-02
hreeSnla|I BOYS
Admit S5OO,000
School Blaze
One Dropped CondIe
In Robbing Safe
At Newport News
By the Associoied Press

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. Jan. q
Three boys-the oldest I3-ad-
mitted to Newport News police to-
day they fired the Newport News
High School IN ransacking ad-
ministrative offices last Sunday
night.
The Oldest boy confessed having
pulled hinge pins from the schools
safe while an accomplice. II years
old, held a candle and a third
member OF the party. 8. stood
watch, police said. When the 49,
Iyear-old thought he heard some
one coming. he said he tossed the
lighted candle into the auditorium
and ran away.
$500,OO0 Damage.
Initial estimates of the fire
damage at the high school have
been set in the neighborhood of
100000. The school and contents
was valued at 50 million. Hard
est hit was the auditorium. where
the fire was centered on the stage.
Charged with arson and burg
larry. the youthful trio will be
heard in Newport News Juvenile
Court.
The boys. all residents Of the
vicinity of the high school, also
admitted setting another fire.
This one. they said, was a delib-
crate act last night at a Chesa-
|peake & Ohio Railway warehouse
that was leased to a storage con-
|cern.
Put Kerosene on Floor.
The youths said they poured
kerosene over the floor of the
building containing a large guam
tity of furniture and then struck
a match to the fluid. Slight dam
age was reported to the building
which contained an automatic
sprinkler system.
Later, last night, they led police
to a downtown hardware store
which they confessed entering but
with no arson intent.
The boys denied consistently any
part in a paint store fire the night
Of the high school fire. a case also
given attention by police as to
arson aspects.
Cleanup work on the school con-
tinued today in an effort to put
the building back into service by
January IL, the delayed opening
date after the Christmas holiday.
Evening star., 1953-01-02
10000 East Germans
Fled 10 West Since June
BY the Assoeiated Press

BONN. Germany, Jan. a.
Ninety thousand East Germans
braved the Communists frontier
death zone" to win freedom in
West Germany in the last six
of 1852.
/ Over $4,000 others fled to be-
leaguered West Berlin.
This illegal migration may swell
to even more fantastic figures this
year, increasing the heavy eco
nomic burden on the west and
|heightening its security problem.
With the Communist wise tight
|ening on the Is million East Ger
mans. officials ofethe Bonn gov
|ernment forecast tens Of thou
sands vii bolt to the west during
1853.
Evening star., 1953-01-02
Gen. Preniiss Swornlr
AS Commissioner 10
Succeed Robinson
Both Engineer Officers
Suluted at Ceremony
Greeting New Member
By John w. Stepp

Brig. Gen. Louis w. Prentiss to-
day was sworn in as the Army
engineer member of the District
Board of Commissioners. He is
the 62d in the city's history.
The ceremonies were attended
by nearly 200 Government Off
cials, friends and relatives. 1t.
Gen. Lewis A. Pick, chief of Army
Engineers, was among those pres
ent.
The new board Of city heads
promptly retired to the Office of
Commissioner F. Joseph Donohue
for its closed organization session.
Commissioner Donohue was re-
named president, with Commits
sioner Renah F. Camalier as vice
president.
Against a backdrop Of potted
palms and a huge bouquet of red
and yellow gladioli and chrysan-
themums, Gen. Prentiss was laud-
ed by his colleagues as a worthy
choice to replace the departing
engineer commissioner, Brig. Gen.
Bernard L. Robinson.
Comes from Picks Staff.
The new commissioner comes
from the staff of Gen. Pick where
he was assistant chief Of engineers
for personnel and administration
Gen. Robinson leaves the post he
has held for 10 months to join
Gen. Picks staff.
Commissioner Donohue publicly
thanked the engineer chief for
his appointments.
I'VE are exceedingly grateful
for your having selected a man of
the high character and outStand-
ing ability of Gen. Robinson" the
Commissioner said. and for "giv-
ing the District of Columbia an
officer of the background, ability,
experience and exceedingly pleas
ant personality Of Gen. Prem
tiss."
Appointment of the new Com
missioner augurs well for the Dis
trict, MIR. Donohue went on. "As
large as are the shoes of Gen.
Robinson, Gen. Prentiss is the
man to fill them," he declared.
Robinson Praises Workers.
Gen. Robinson greeted his sue
|ceSsor with the assurance that he
will have fine colleagues on the
Board Of Commissioners. and "the
finest body Of employees in the
world-people who viii stand UP
|and fight for you. And they know
how to do it."
Gen. Robinson continued that
(See PRENTISS, Page A-4.)
Evening star., 1953-01-02
Low Bid Withdrawn
As Injunction Bars
Housing Contract
AIexundriu Restrained
From Awarding Job
To Union Shop Firm
By Tom Burke

The low bidder on an Alex
andria public housing project
Withdrew his bid at noon today
shortly after open-shop firms wor
an injunction preventing him-ol
any other union-shop contractor
from getting the contract for al
least 10 days.
Victor r. Beauchamp. Inc, o1
Washington, Withdrew its bid al
noon, the dealine it set several
days ago.
The Beauchamp firm retracteo
it's bid while the Alexandria Re-
development and Housing Author
Iity was discussing the explosive
contract at a closed session.
The Injunction was signed by
Alexandria Circuit Court Judge
Paul E. Brown. It was obtained
by Southern Iron Works, Inc.
an Alexandria steel fabricator
through its attorney Oren r
Lewis of Arlington.
Also ordered by the court not tt
take any action with respect to the
contract award were two officials
of the Public Housing Administra-
tion, Charles L. Levy. Richmond
regional office director, and Johr
Taylor Egan, PHA Commissioner
Labor Law Involved.
The To-day injunction specifi-
cally prevents the authority from
awarding the contract to any firm
having any agreement with the
Washington Building and Con-
Istruction Trades Council in viola
ton of the Virginia right-to-work
law or any Federal law.
With respect to the Public Hous-
ing Administration the court order
specifically prevents any official
of PHA from taking any action
until further order of the court in
regard to funds already allocated
the Alexandria project.
The authority has been the
center of controversy since the
bids were received November 6
Southern Ironworks protested be-
fore the bids were opened that the
bid should not be given to any
contractor having labor agree
ments with the building trades
council because non-union sub.
contractors would be prevented
from bidding on sub-contracts a:
a result of these labor agree
ments.
The Beauchamp bid had beer
rejected earlier but the authority
was foiled in it's attempt to make
the award to the second low bidder
Eugene Simpson & Bro. of Alex
andria. when the PHA, who will
fSee I40TISTNC pooo A.SN
Evening star., 1953-01-02
g. 0.P. Senator'S Study
Move 10 Cut Size Of
District Committee
Case Heading Group
To Consider Plan and
Make Recommendations
By Don S. Worren

A reduction in the number of
members Of the Senate District
Committee will be considered by
the Senate Republican conference,
Chairman Milliken announced to-
day.
Named chairman of a special
committee to study and make rec
concentrations was Senator Case
Republican of South Dakota
prospective chairman of the Dis.
trict Committee.
The question is tied in with
proposals to increase the size o1
some of the major committees
such as Appropriations and ArInet
Services. If this is done it woult
|give more Of the newer member
Iof the Senate a chance to serv'
on. the bigger and importan
groups.
Plan Previously Blocked.
Similar suggestions were con.
sidered several years ago, but were
mot adopted. .
Serving with Senator Case or
the special group are Senators
Taft of Ohio, Jenner of Indiana
and Butler of Nebraska.
There may be a considerable
change in the membership of the
District Committee with or with
out a change in its size.
There are 13 members at pres
ent on the Senate District Com
mittee and Is on the House Dis
trict Committee.
Senator Butler, Republican, OF
Maryland said he probably would
give up his place there to take q
place on a national committee,
Today he was named a member
of the Republican Committee on
Committees, which will recon-
mend committee places for Sena-
tors.
Senator Hunt Leaving.
Also, since the Democrats on
the District Committee will lose
one Of their national committee
assignments in the new Congress
iii they keep the District post as
one of their two assignments, at
least several Of them are expected
to go.
Senator Hunt, Democrat. of
Wyoming has advised the COM
|mittee he Is leaving. He now is
IA member of the Armed Services
and Commerce Committees.
Senator Nicely, Democrat, OF
West Virginia. retiring chairman,
also probably will give up the Dis
trict assignment so that he can
keep places on the Labor and Civil
Service Committees.
Similar situations are faced by
some other Democratic members,
including Kefauver of Tennessee,
Johnston of South Carolina and
Pastore of Rhode Island.
In view of these circumstances,
Senator Case postponed until later
any plans for his conduct of the
District Committee. Likewise,
Representative Simpson Republi-
can of Illinois, prospective new
chairman of the House District
Committee, withheld plans.
Evening star., 1953-01-02
Loveif Sees Flaws
In Joint Chiefs Sefup;
Asks Congress Action
Need for II Carriers
Of the ForrestoI Class
Reported by KimboII
By John A. Giles

Defense Secretary Lovett today
called for changes in the organi-
zation of the Joint Chiefs of staff
so that each member will cease
being both a claimant and a judge
of his own requests"
The Secretary. in semi-annual
report to President Truman, said
this fault also was common to
the Munitions Board and the Re-
search and Development Board
under present legislation and
would cause their unsatisfactory
operation during a period of seri-
GUS shortages in manpower, ma
terials and money"
The Joint Chiefs organization
is composed If a non-voting chair
man and the Army and Air Force
Chiefs Of Staff and the Chief of
Naval Operations. The Munitions
Board and the Research and De-
velopment Board are composed of
a chairman and representatives of
the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Mr.. Lovett declared that such a
membership setup makes ex-
tremely difficult, if not impossible
the effective discharge of the as
signed functions.
Details Of Plan Undisclosed.
He said he had reported the
situation to the President and
added the time had arrived when
Congress should take corrective
measures. Mr.. Lovett did not dis
close how he proposed to change
the memberships. DR.. Vanneva1
Bush has proposed the Joint
Chiefs be divested of their opera
tional duties in the services.
In a Navy report in the same
volume, Secretary Kimball de-
lclared that. based on current
world conditions, the sea arm
needed a minimum of dozen
60, ,000-ton Forrestal class super
aircraft carriers to carry out its
mission.
Heretofore. Mr.. Kimball ha.
spoken of plans for 10 such war.
ships-one to be built annually
Two big carriers-the Forresta
and the Saratoga-are now under
way. and the Navy included fund.
for the start of a third in the 1885,
budget.
Experience has proven that IL
order to provide these ships tt
the fleet in an orderly fashion ane
because of the particularly Ions
lead time required, increased con
struction should commence i'm.
mediately." Mr.. Kimball said. TIL,
Navy estimates 80 months will bt
required to build each ship.
Problems will Increase.
Mr.. Kimball also said "the Nav.
recognizes that we are today wit.
Messing merely the dawn Of thu
atomic era" and added "as futur,
weapons are developed the Nav!
will adapt them to shipboard use
as it has the useful weapons of tn,
past including the gun. the air
plane and the atom bomb"
Mr.. Lovett reported the problem
of requirements would 'becom
increasingly serious in the year
ahead" and said continuation o
Selective Service would be required
for an indefinite period.
Although no substantial change
in force requirements are planne.
for the immediate future, call
for military service will remain q
Ia high level to replace the In
creasing number Of men who vii
II (Sno TfNTNTr7 rSryTErC noon AC
Evening star., 1953-01-02

SYDNEY, Australia. Jan. 2 (P)
The Tasmanian freighter Meri-
no, which ran aground off the
east coast of Tasmania on Christ
mas Day with a cargo of French
paintings valued at $3.50. 900, was
hauled off safely today and sailed
for Hobart. The paintings were
undamaged.
Evening star., 1953-01-02
'NATO Radio Center
Begun Near Naples
BY The Assoeioied Prsss

I NAPLES. Jan. Construction
lof q radio center for NATO's
Southern European command was
begun today just north Of Naples
The center will have two units
Ia transmitting station costing
$64.0 and q receiving station
worth $4,000.
Both units are to be ready for
service by late spring. They are
being built on land controlled by
the italian government.
Evening star., 1953-01-02
The Big Show Opens
On the Hill Tomorrow

OPENING ToMoRRoW--At the
Capitol business is proceeding 10 get
everything reody for the opening Of
Congress tomorrow. Numerous house.
keeping chores ore olmost done. Some
veterans ore preparing to Ieove. New
eomers ore everywhere. Story and pic.
lures on paee B-l.
Evening star., 1953-01-02

LONDON. Jan. q. fP.-Former
Prime Minister Clement Attlee
left today by plane for the Far
East. The Labor Party leader will
Ibe the guest Of Pakistan's Gov
ernor Ghulam Mohammed and
win visit India's Prime Minister
INehru. He will then attend the
n-Socialist conference in
IRangoon.
Evening star., 1953-01-02
President Lunches
With Riffle and Is
Others at Capitol

President Truman went to the
Capitol today to have lunch with
retiring Senate Secretary Leslie
Biftie and 13 other friends.
He arrived at the Capitol
shortly before pm. and went
directly to Mr.. Biffle's Office for
what may be the last luncheon
Of its kind while he is President.
Evening star., 1953-01-02
Federal Judge
Denies Appeal
For Rosenberqs
Only White House
Cun Stuy Execution
Of Atom Spies Now
BY the Assoeiated Press

NEW YORK, Jan. 2.-Federal
Judge Irving r. kaufman today
denied an appeal to save the
atom spy team of Julius Rosen-
berg and his wife Ethel from
death in the electric chair.
They are in Sing Sing Prison
scheduled to die the week Of
January IL.
The Rosenbergs' only appeal
now is to the White House. If
President Truman should stay the
execution, the case might become
PreSident-elect Eisenhower's re-
sponsibility because of the Janu-
ary 20 Inauguration.
Judge kaufman, who sentenced
the couple to death, said in his
opinion:
Il have meditated and reflected
long and difficult hours over the
sentence in this case. I have
studied and restudied the record
and I have seen nothing, nor has
anything been presented to me, to
cause me to change the sentence
originally imposed. I still feel
that their crime was worse than
murder"
Convicted in 1851.
The Rosenbergs were convicted
by jury March 20, 1851, for con-
spring to transmit atom bomb
data to Russia.
The United States Supreme
Court already has refused to in
tervene. Earlier this week their
attorney went before Judge Kauf-
man and made an impassioned
appeal for clemency.
Judge Kaufman added in his
opinion today:
Nor have l seen any evidence
that the defendants have expert
enced any remorse or repentance.
Unfortunately. in its place, this
court has been subjected to a
mounting organized campaign Of
vilif1cation, abuse and pressure.
This court, however, is not
subject to such organized cam
paign and the pressures which
have been brought to bear in the
case, nor does it require such tao
tics to make it cognizant of the
human tragedy involved"
Communists Spearhead Drive.
The Communist Party has
spearheaded a "Save the Rosen-
bergs" campaign. Numerous per-
sons not connected with the party
also have pleaded for the reversal
of the conviction or for commu-
tation of the sentences.
Judge kaufman wrote in his
opinion:
1.-THE court has had a solemn
trust placed in its hands by the
people Of this land, and I am con-
vinced that any change of these
sentences by this court. in the
light and the evidence adduced in
this case. would be a violation of
that trust.
1--WE are dealing with the type
of offense which is a crime of the
mind and the heart. While the
law under which the defendants
Rosenberg were convicted does
not recognize degrees of their Of
fense, the court may, upon SEN
fencing, take that factor into
consideration.
Their traitorous acts were of
the highest degree. They turned
over information to Russia con-
corning the most deadly weapon
known to man, thereby exposing
millions of their countrymen to
danger or DEATH"
Evening star., 1953-01-02
Banker Active at 1O2

NEWBURYPORT, Mass, Jan. 4
(P).-Henry Bailey Little expects
to be reelected to his 55th con-
secutive term as head Of the In
|stitution for Savings Monday
two days after his 1920 birthday.
He still works every banking day.
Evening star., 1953-01-02

(See JOINT CHIEFS, Page AS.
Evening star., 1953-01-02

(See LONGSHORE, Page A-3.)
Evening star., 1953-01-02
Ship With Art Curqo. Sufe

(See HOUSING, Page A-60
Evening star., 1953-01-02
AttIee Heads for Far East

tsee PRENT1ss. Page A-4o