davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-07-10
Government Urged
To Do lis Share in
River Pollution Fight

The Federal Government was
accused today of failing to as
sumo it's full responsibility to
correct pollution in streams in
the Washington Metropolitan
area.
The Interstate Commission on
the Potomac River Basin, at a
meeting here yesterday, called
on the Government to assume a
greater responsibility in clean
ing up the local streams.
The commission said a prelim-
mary report of a study commits
sion appointed last year, de-
clared that the situation is wor-
sening despite abatement pro-
grams now being slowly carried
out.
The commission said lack of
funds is the main handicap to
pollution abatement, aid called
on the Government to help f.
nance facilities to speed pollu-
ton control.
Should be Model.
'"The Washington area should
become a model for the entire
country" the commission said.
It added that "the Government
should assume its full RESPONSE
bility in seeing that the District
of Columbia takes the lead in
pollution abatement work"
The commission said the Gov
ernment also has a responsibility
to neighboring communities
Since Federal installations con-
tribute to the pollution load in
these areas, it said, the Govern
ment rightfully might be ex-
pected to help pay for abate-
ment facilities.
These Government inStalla-
tions, the commission said, con-
tribute nothing in taxes to local
communities.
Referring to the District
David V. Auld, District sanitary
engineering director, said funds
for additional abatement facili-
ties are included in a $685. mil
lion public works program now
before the Budget Bureau.
He said $40 million Of the total
amount would be earmarked fol-
storm and sanitary sewers and
treatment facilities at the Blue
Plains disposal plant.
If these funds are allowed by
Congress-, Mr.. Auld said, the Dis
trict by 1859 would provide 10(
per cent cooperation in the
program.
Would Ease Overload.
He said this program would
mean relieving overloaded lines
such as the Rock Creek Park line
which broke last year, and the
addition of secondary treatment
facilities that could remove up tc
80 per cent of the pollution en-
tering the Potomac.
The commission voted to con-
tinue a research program which
has led to a process that holds
promise of correcting acid mine
waste pollution.
The program will be conducted
by Floyd McCollum, who discov-
cred last year a chemical process
likely to stop formation of acic
waters in mines while he was
working on a commission grant
at Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore.
The commission announced
these changes in its membership;
j. r. Hoffert, Pennsylvania
Health Department chief engi-
neer, succeeds Gard Knox
former commission chairman, as
commissioner from Pennsylvania
John Rockwell replaces former
State Senator George Williams
as West Virginia commission
member.
Mr.. Auld replaces the late Har-
old A. Kemp as commission
member from the District.
Oliver Gasch. Commissioner
from the District, resigned to be-
come assistant United States At
torney for the District of Co.
Evening star., 1953-07-10

the franchise to all persons over
81 who have lived in the town a
year, and the other would repeal
a law granting a per cent dis
count for payment of town taxes
within 80 days of notice.
At present. only property
holders are allowed to vote in
the town elections.
Evening star., 1953-07-10

said, this commission will de-
scend on the roads men in a
body to demand it,"
Mr.. Watkins was sharply crit
tcal of the roads commission for
failing to, provide the informa-
ton he said the planners had
been promised. He scored poor
HaiSon between the two bodies,
and asked Planning Engineers
William c. Burrage and C. War
rem Giauque to seek closer con-
facts.
Interested in Structures.
The Maryland planners are
especially interested in all struc-
lures. fills and interchanges
planned in Rock Creek Park.
I'VE are entitled to know and
want to know everything
planned in detail" Mr.. Watkins
added.
The planners indicated they
had not been aware of the roads
commission plan to put two four
lane highways side by side for
Six-tenthS of a mile in the park
as first disclosed by The Star
yesterday.
Commissioner Donald E. Gin
gerry said the roads commission
itself has not had detailed plans
on these projects. He added the
commission did not know until
April that it would get the full
100000 requested for rights of =
way purchases for the belt free
way.
The result is, he added, the
roads commission has not had
complete engineering plans ready
TOR the construction.
RemOn Letter Released.
Mr.: Watkins yesterday also
made public a letter received
from John A. Remon, acting
chairman of the National Capt.
tai Planning Commission. The
national commission is opposing
the use of parkland for the
southeast leg.
Mr.. Remon, referring to the
Maryland planners support of
the roads commission, said he
understood their desire to work
harmoniously with the roads
men.
1T occurs to me that you may
now be in strong position to me-
diate the current issue, if it
should develop that any basis
exists for a mutually acceptable
solution" he said.
Mr.. Remon added, however, he
anticipates no solution material
izing "in the present atmosphere
Of power politics"
The national commission chair
man reiterated his warning that
his commission is ready to go to
court to block the road, If the
Maryland roads men proceed
with their plans.
Sees Damage for Future.
II believe that such litigation,
regardless of its outcome, would
have a damaging effect on the
future relations between the vari-
Gus parties and especially on our
requests for future appropria-
tions under the Capper- -Cramton
Act" he added.
Mr.. Watkins said his group
will continue to study the plans
for the controversial route, but
he added, he does not forsee
q change in the Maryland COM
missions stand.
The planning commission yes
terday also approved spending
$1,000 for 10 acres to be added
to Sligo Park. The purchase will
leave less than 10 acres to be
purchased for the park between
Forest Glen road and Old Bla-
densburg road.
The commission intends to
complete Sligo parkway through
this area.
Another $4,000 was approved
for resurfacing ia miles Of
Beach drive from Jones Mill road
to Connecticut avenue.
Evening star., 1953-07-10
Cupt. Dobson Resions

Capt. B. M. DobSon has retired
as secretary and treasurer of the
Navy Mutual Aid Association, a
post he has held for IL years. He
lives at 4706 Yuma street N.W.
Evening star., 1953-12-29
This and That
By Charles E. TroceweN

the proclivities of the class which sets
the pace in polite usage.
1.-The walking stick serves the pur-
pose of an advertisement that the
bearers hands are employed otherwise
than in useful effort, and it therefore
has utility as an evidence of leisure.
But it is also a weapon, and it meets
a felt need of barbarian man on that
ground.
'The handling of so tangible and
primitive a means of Offense is very
comforting to any one who is gifted
with even moderate share of ferocity."
There you have Veblen, an old man
who was more interesting than his
theories.
His idea, that one was not doing use
full work unless it abraded the hands, is
one that came to flower in 1888.
Though he was thinker, not doer.
himself, and although he wrote and
taught for a living. he was willing
to state that all who did so did no
useful work. It is an idea that then,
as now, was willingly and even glee-
fully accepted by thousands of per-
sons. No wonder the New Deal, which
exalted the worker" so called, found
the soil ready for it.
Veblen had his ideas, and they were
juvenile, in many ways, but they also
carried a bit of truth with them. as
most ideas do.
It may be that thousands of men who
never heard Of him, and certainly never
read any Of his books, or consciously
Evening star., 1953-12-29
Formidable Opponents

Not many people are likely to be impressed
by such name the Committee for Defense
of the Constitution by Preserving the Treaty
Power. John G., at least in the popularized ver-
sion, would very probably say: What-another
committee to defend this or to preserve that!
1t is much more meaningful to say that the
co-charmen of this committee John w.
Davis, conservative Democratic candidate for
the presidency in 1924 and one of our most dis
tinguished constitutional lawyers, and General
Lucius D. Clay, former United States Military
Governor in Germany and hero of the airiift
which broke the Russian blockade of Berlin.
These two men, and their fellow committee
members, are opposed to the Bricker proposal
for constitutional amendment limiting the
Presidents treaty-making powers. They say
that the Bricker amendment would seriously
weaken our bargaining position in dealing with
other nations
Senator Bricker, of course, will disagree.
But no one will suggest that men of the stature
of Mr.. Davis and General Clay are not formi
dable opponents, or that they would be whiting
or unwilling parties to any scheme or design
which might operate to subvert the interests
of the United States
Evening star., 1953-12-29
January ~ Is the Day

Despite the fact that the Korean armistice
agreement places a specific time limit on the
detention of prisoners of war who do not want
to be repatriated the Communists are doing
their best to impose indefinite captivity on more
than 10000 such individuals, all of whom have
adamantly refused to 60 back to their Red
homelands. This is inhumanity of a sort that
has become characteristic of the Peiping-
Pyongyang axis, and it should be answered by
a clear statement from the United Nations
Command declaring that every POW involved
on the U. N. side will be set free on January %
in keeping with the truce terms.
Those terms are plain. They provide that
within 80 days after the close of the 90-day
period for persuasion" sessions period that
ended last Wednesday-all unrepatriated pris-
oners are to be released to civilian status The
80 days will have come and gone by January %,
and nothing in the armiStice teXt-either in
letter or spirit-can justify detention after that
date In arguing otherwise, in insisting that
the POWs must be held in custody until their
fate is settled at peace conference that may
never be held, the Communists are displaying
callousneSS and bad faith of the worst kind.
From the legal and moral standpoint, the only
way for our side to respond to them is to see to
it that the liberation takes place as scheduled
in the truce agreement.
Evening star., 1953-12-29
Police Reserve Corps
j. C.. A.

The Metropolitan Police Depart
ment has in its setup group of volun-
teers known as the Metropolitan Police
Reserve Corps. They meet and train
in the various precincts throughout the
year to be reserve officers" Such
special members shall be eligible for
appointment by the Commissioners of
the District as special privates during
the contingencies set forth in Section
Abb. D. c. Code, 1910, i.e., during
any emergency of riot, pestilence, in
vasion, .insurrection. or during any day
of public election, ceremony or cele-
bration. and shall. during the existence
of a state of war between the United
States and any foreign country or
nation, be eligible for appointment by
the Commissioners as special police
under the provisions of Section 6-1OO6,
D. c. Code, 1910, Supp. VII.
The thought that the corps is just
a civil defense unit Is not correct as
the corps can augment the regular
force during the above situations and
occasions.
For an example of duty performed
by the Reserve Corps, the members
were officially commended for the sue
Evening star., 1953-12-29

The word delinquent" is not some
thing new.
1t appears in Thorstein Veblen's "The
Theory of the Leisure Glass;" as pub
lished by the Macmillan Company in
1899. The book is most easily read to-
day. perhaps, in the 35 cent Mentor
edition of the New American Library.
Veblen wasn't thinking of adolescents.
when he used the word. He spoke of
the lower class delinquents," evidently
meaning any criminals.
He is talking about the cane, or walk
ing stick, as it was called then.
To quote:
Taken simply as a feature of mod
ern life. the habit of carrying walk
ing stick may seem at best trivial
detail: but the usage has significance
for the point in question.
1.-The classes among whom the
habit most prevails, the classes with
whom the walking stick is associated
in popular apprehension-are the men
Of the leisure class proper. sporting
men. and the lower class delinquents.
ITO these might perhaps be added
the men engaged in the pecuniary en-
plOymentS.
THE same is not true of the COM
mon run of men engaged in industry;
and it may be noted by the way that
women do not carry a stick except in
case of infirmity. where it has a use
Of a different kind.
1.-The practice is of course in great
measure a matter of polite usage; but
the basis of the polite usage is, in turn.
Evening star., 1953-12-29

accepted any of his ideas, nevertheless
became slightly ashamed of the walk
ing stick. or cane, for short.
Certainly there was vast falling off
in the numbers of men who sported
canes between 1899 and 1910. let us say.
4
This even went SO far that a man
who worked for a newspaper called
himself newspaperman if he carried
no cane. and a Journalist if he did!
Perhaps it wasn't as simple as that;
men usually do what they want to do,
and maybe some carried canes because
they wanted to carry canes, that was
ALL
It doesn't take much to get oneself
used to certain articles, particularly of
clothing.
Many women practically feel un-
clothed if they forget their earrings.
1t would be very easy to say that this
is a savage inheritance; / am sure
Thorstein Veblen would have made
some such comment, and perhaps he
did. The man was more interesting
than his work. He was an outsider in
most things; he felt i'll at ease in
society, and that was why he had to
write about the leisure class. which
wasn't as leisurely as he saw it. 1t was
just different kind Of activity.
1t was curious, and indicative Of the
man, that he should have run across
the word delinquent" and used it
somewhat as we use it today, with an
age differential. it is true, but the idea
of carrying walking stick to hit some
one with was a true touch, then as now.
Evening star., 1953-12-29
Top Level Decisions

David Lawrence's recent biting COL
umn. "Cowardice of Today's Diplo-
macy" dealt with the 944 GIs held
behind the Iron Curtain. Why have we
not heard more about them? And are
they to be just left there?
But looking at the situation more
closely, we get into the vicious circle
which constitutes foreign policy today.
Since our allies would not approve" as
Mr.. Lawrence says, should we go it
alone or get tough'?"
Would this not indeed be folly? Could
We hope to win long war against 800
million Russians and over 400 million
Chinese without the aid of our allies
their bases. troops and materiel-little
as some of these may be in comparison?
We cannot fall back on outmoded iso-
lationism, for the Atlantic Ocean has
been reduced to pond.
Could it be that our allies are war
weary, reluctant to pay again the full
penalty of war?
We in America cannot afford to sit
back Smugly in judgment. our civilian
population, thank God, not knowing
the horror of war. If we use the max
Evening star., 1953-12-29
Costinq Less to Live

When the october Is cost-of-living index
was announced at a record high for the fifth
consecutive month, Commissioner Clague of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics ventured to say that
"the period of imitation appears to be ended"
His look into the immediate future, of that
date, seems to have been vndicated by the
November Is national index, which shows
slight drop The Government figure. for the
later date is lis per cent of the base period
measurement the 1947-1949 average The Octo-
ber Is index was 1855 per cent. In Washington,
however, consumer prices rose onetenth of
per cent between August and November
The breadth of the declines during the last
recorded month also tends to support Commits
Sioner Clague'S own conclusions. Retail food
prices, which have been in a gradual slide for
several months dropped IA per cent in the
October November period Transportation costs
were down one-half of per cent retail prices
for goods and services were down three-tenths of
per cent and clothing prices were unchanged
The narrow changes reflected in these fig
ures do not have great impact of course, on the
individual budget. Cumulatively, however,
consistent trend upward or downward makes
itself felt over period of months and the pres
sure of imitation and increasing cost of living
has been felt by the American public since the
outbreak of the Korean war in 1850. The ending
of that war; or at least the end of the shooting
last summer has contributed to halting the
price climb for many things. A reduction in
Evening star., 1953-12-29
Politics ut Nations Expense


Voters find it extremely distastful
to read that Democrats may throw
monkey -wrenches into President Eisen-
hower's 1854 program for purely po-
litical" purposes.
Peculiarly enough. it is the Demo-
Gratis themselves or writer's sympathetic
to the Democratic philosophy who are
responsible for these predictions. Ac-
cording to these "soothsayers," the
only proposed legislation on which
Democrats are expected to cooperate
fully is foreign policy, which they re-
mind us is substantially the same as
that practiced under the Truman ad-
ministration. Paradoxically, this type
of foreign policy" was one Of the is
sues upon which the Truman admins
tration took such resounding licking
in almost every State in the Union
in 1852.
We recognize and respect the right
OF our representatives in Congress to
demonstrate sincere differences of
opinions when based upon the merits
OF the individual case. But, surely, as
our elected representatives, they have
an obligation above and beyond party
politics to work for legislation which
they actually believe their constituents
want and that will be to the best in
terests Of the country.
AS voters. we are not readily inclined
to accept political expediency" at the
expense of needful legislation. Con-
gressional records of our representa-
tives put on display in post Offices in
the districts and States which they
serve might make interesting reading
in 1854.
Lila Douglas.
Evening star., 1953-12-29
Mr.. LiIienthoI's Appeal

David Lilienthals plea for beginning
with or without Russian participation--on the
atomic-pool proposal has a persuasive quality
about it.
Most of us, of course have no way of meas
uring the feasibility or the wisdom of going it
alone on such project as this AS first chair
man of the Atomic Energy Commission, how
ever, Mr.. Lilienthal should be in position to
form an intelligent opinion. Certainly, unless
developments subsequent to his departure from
Acc have fundamentally altered the picture
and this is not likely-he is at least in posi-
tion to express a point of view which deserves
earnest consideration.
When he laid his atomic c-pool proposal be-
fore the United Nations on December g. Presi-
dent Eisenhower very plainly spelled out one
reservation He said:
The United States would be more than
willing-it would be proud to take up with
others principally involved" the development
of plans whereby such peaceful use of atomic
energy would be expedited.
This clearly indicates that the President,
when he made his proposal did not feel that
the United States should embark upon the
project without Soviet participation. But it may
be that subsequent events have changed this
view
The first Russian reaction to the speech was
one OF ScOfn ana flQlcule. Wnen tney mad naQ
time for second thoughts, however, and after
noting the hopeful reaction around the world
the Russians announced officially that the
Soviet Union was willing to engage in the pro-
posed discussions.
Mr. Lilienthal seems to fear that the Rus
SLAMS will use the process of discussion to talk
the project to death. And he adds: "If we say
We won't take action at all until the discussions
with Russia are complete, we may have to wait
SO long for that agreement that the whole idea
will then be dead, perhaps beyond recall"
Certainly, there is real danger of this. And
If it should come to this end most of the benefit
and all of the hope in what Mr.. Lilienthal
rightly calls this "electrifying" idea will have
been diSSipated.
So the Eisenhower administration no doubt
will give the most serious thought to going
ahead with this project if the discussions with
Russia produce nothing more than the familiar
stalling techniqueS. To proceed alone, with
other powers but without Russia, could not pro-
duce a great deal in the way of achievement at
the outset. But it would light lamp of hope in
this Somber world which would have great
powers of attraction-even for the men in the
Kremlin. If we were to go ahead, it is hard to
see how the Russians could stay out for long.
Evening star., 1953-12-29
Gold Ornaments From Peru

new chapter in North American appre-
citation of ancient South American artifacts
may be opening shortly at the Museum of
Modern Art in New York. Don Rafael LARGO
Hoyle of Trujillo, Peru, has lent Director Rene
d'Harnoncourt a portion of his collection of
$4,000 Andean relics for temporary exhibition
starting in a few weeks. The display is to
include number of gold ornaments believed
originally to have been worn by pre-Columbian
kings and priests. These rare and costly articles
are regarded by certain enthusiasts as proving
an affinity with imaginative modernistic
design. much more obvious connection
appears to exist with Chinese and East Indian
art.
The problem which the forthcoming show
therefore is apt to revive is the intriguing
question: Whence came-and when-the peo-
plies of the New World found here by adventur-
ing Europeans in the 18th century of the
Christian era? Recent tests in New Mexico
have indicated that what now is the United
States was inhabited 10000 years ago. Cultural
evidence suggests that immigration came from
the Orient, but there are other theories which
likewise deserve attention. The Peruvian gold
souvenirs may be susceptible of comparison
not merely with moderniStic experiments but
with antiquarian productions of much greater
interest.
Ideas travel, and upon this principle new
biography may be developing. The Art of the
Andes" exhibition at the Modern Museum al
ready is attracting wide popular attention.
Evening star., 1953-12-29

imum power. as Mr.. Lawrence suggests,
might we not at some later date. amid
chaos and devastation, feel onerous
guilt, having cast the first stone?
But can we just forget the GIs behind
the Iron Curtain? This is high price
to secure our safety back home. Do we
realize the awful responsibility we have
vested in those of high office, and the
heavy burdens they must carry daily.
when we constantly malign them for
their decisions and management?
Indeed, prayer for their continued
wisdom and Gods help in each ensuing
move on this checkerboard of worlds
destiny would be more in order; for let
us not forget we are the pawns and the
future of our existence is in their hands.
Sheila Robertson.
Evening star., 1953-12-29
LoveIiest of All

All Christmas words are louely words.
Like gold and trankincenSe and
myrrh,
And carols, Sweet as singing birds
And inns lUhere sleepy cattle stir.
And 1Uhdt more louely than the star
or shepherds on the hills at night
or toiSemen coming from atay.
Guided by Christmas light.
Broton pine cones haze spicy scent
And alwdys there is silDer snoU
And lOten these dozen words are spent,
There are more lopely words to knoiU.
But loueliest OF all of them:
Christ not0 is born in Bethlehem"
Anobel Armour
Evening star., 1953-12-29

Government spending and other fiscal policies
which the Eisenhower administration has been
attempting to apply to the national economy
likewise play part, and their effects are just
now becoming discernible. Imitation Is most
often creeping disease" and the arresting of
1t also requires time.
: If the upward spiral has indeed come to
an end now-along with scheduled reductions
in the individual tax burden next year-spend-
ing power may be increased enough to be a real
factor in offsetting some of the depressing
effects in the threatened "leveling of" in
business.