davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-06-02
Annuitunt's Ends Won't Meet

Federal annuitants. receiving 50, 16O
or more annually received no cost-ot-
living increase under the last Congress.
chiefly because of the opposition of the
then chairman of the House Post Office
and Civil Service Committee, Tom Muir
ray, who apparently thought that such
annuitants were getting enough.
Mr.. Murray didn't know the facts,
evidently A Federal annuity is not a
pension. Nor is it charity. It is addi-
tional salary. payable after retirement,
which is an inducement offered to one
when first entering Government en-
ploy. An annuity is an obligation OF
the Government.
A cost-of- Living increase should be
given to annuitants receiving $2,160 or
more yearly for the same reasons as
an increase was granted to annuitants
receiving less; that is. because their
annuities are paid in dollars with
lowered purchasing power. Payment of
more dollars to an annuitant getting
$2,160 or more. to make up for the loss
in the value of the dollar, is not an in
crease in his annuity at all.
Press reports indicate that Congress
men may be given cost-of living boost.
Evening star., 1953-06-02

numerous unofficial and informal meet
ings and conferences, particularly
when a grave national issue, like the
question of security and defense, is up
for debate, as now. In addition to the
tremendous task of obtaining full in
formation and arriving at policy de-
cisionS on such questions there is the
continuing responsibility of being
present and participating in Senate
debates on a wide variety of legislative
subjects. not to forget attendance at
meetings of still other Committees of
which a Senator may be a member.
In comparatively recent years we
have lost, prematurely, three of our
active Senatorial leaders, Vandenberg
of Michigan. Mcmahon of Connecticut
and Wherry of Nebraska. If Senator
Saltonstall chooses to make the burden
of his responsibilities slightly more
bearable by depending on his staff to
help in furnishing constituent services
he is acting sensibly and in the national
interest. It is extremely doubtful if
he will be very severely penalized po-
litically for doing so. More likely, he
will be rewarded.
B. H. Patterson.
Evening star., 1953-06-02
Tuft Speaks Too Lute?

The latest statement of Senator Taft
is almost direct antithesis of one made
after Gen. Macarthur returned from
Tokyo.
However. correct evaluation is i'm
possible until the Senator clarifies it,
viz: Was it written before or after the
present offer to the Reds? One wonders
because, in the present offer, there is
no greater cause for his outburst than in
many other concessions already made.
Even though, in the present offer, the
U. N. has conceded much, the Reds
may not accept. Remember, they turned
down the Indian plan. The Reds have
had the U. N. on the down grade from
the beginning.
When the U. N. yielded the place of
negotiation from neutral hospital ship
to territory held by the Reds they
started list of concessions to the
Reds that has led to almost groveling
before them.
From the mistake Of winning side
Evening star., 1953-06-02
Accounts for Senator's Time

Charles Coulter diSagreeS with Gould
Lincolns optimistic views with regard
to Senator Saltonstalls chances of re-
election Mr.. Coulter feels that the
Senator is hurting his prospects by not
making himself more available to his
constituents.
AS one who has acquired some
knowledge of Capitol Hill, it does not
seem to me that this argument has too
much validity. Constituents do expect
great deal of their Senators and
Representatives. But if their requests
are reasonable and the services which
they seek to have furnished properly
performable, the average constituent
is just as well pleased to have staff
member meet his needs as the Senator
or Representative himself. If the re-
quest is not reasonable and the service
cannot be rendered he will be no less
diSpleaSed whether the boss gets in on
the matter or not. What he wants
is results.
Actually Senator on the majority
side, having major Committee Chair
manship. like that of the Armed
Services, headed by Senator Salton-
stall. is compelled to depend great
deal on staff. There are not only the
official Committee meetings, which he
must arrange for and conduct in a
manner indicating close familiarity
with the subject matter, but there are
Evening star., 1953-06-02
Policy-or Lock of 1t

Armageddon, like a storm on the
horizon, seems to be coming closer.
There is no one anywhere who even
thinks he knows how to prevent it, and
as our fears grow they are beginning
to uSurp our reason in determining
what we do.
Surely this must be why the Senate
Appropriations Committee voted to end
our financial support of the United
Nations if it decides to admit China
is ruled by the Peking instead of the
Taipeh government. And Senator
Taft's go-it-alone speech may have a
similar motivation. Because the Eisen-
hover administration is now repudiat-
ing most of its election promises (i.e,
taxes and expenditures and losing
popular support. because it is depend
ent upon a Republican congressional
leadership which has mind of its own,
and because the President would rather
be popular than strong President.
the Congress is more and more deter
mining our craftsmanship or the lack
of 1t.
Our craftsmanship is based upon the
premise that the best the free world
can hope for is a long period during
which each side will ceaSelesSly try to
exceed the others military might. In
stead Of seeking to create diScord and
disunion in the Communist world, as
they are trying to do in the free world,
our craftsmanship is uniting China
and Russia together into a mighty
power against us.
This disunity of our Government
and it's lack of wise, strong leadership
is creating confusion in the free world
l hope the administration will do some
rethinking about our free world lead
ership and where we want to go.
Mr.. X.
Evening star., 1953-06-02
SILVER SPRING, Md.

Dear Sir:
do you know that the thrushes sing
all night out here in Silver Spring?
II happened to be awake the other
night from about II o'clock to am,
and all during that time there were
one or two thruShes singing in the little
wooded area nearby:
II thought ! must be mistaken, for
I've never heard that thrushes make
like nightingaleS. so I awakened my
husband to ask him if he heard it, too.
He confirmed the singing, but he was
outraged. He doesn't like birds much,
and he thinks it's bad enough to be
awakened by a crying baby. but to
have to hear birds singing in the
night is too much.
"A few years ago my small son
put up house for blue birds, he said.
He placed it on top of very high,
rigid pole, and had the opening so
large the StarlingS could (and did go
in and out. but he did get family of
blue birds to hatch out their eggs in it.
incidentally, we never saw those
baby blue BIRDS leave their nest, though
a few weeks later they all came back
to our yard, parents and their three
youngsters.
I'VE seldom see blue birds any more.
Sincerely yours, w. L."
Let this letter stand as a sort of
memorial to that wonderful Friday
night, when not only thrushes (per-
haps) but all the mockingbirds In the
Evening star., 1953-06-02
This and That

greater Washington area sang all right.
And so did the millions of cicadas.
1t was the only all-night perform
ance "seventeen-year locustS" had put
on to date.
The temperature was just right tor
them. about 70 degrees, and there was
more than the usual amount of light
1t was one of those luminous nights,
celebrated in song and story, but Just
whether the moon was shining or not,
we dc not know.
There was light. evidently, and plenty
Of it, and the merry cicadas made the
most of it.
Old Man Mockingbird celebrated,
too. The famous Southern mockingbird,
as he Is sometimes called, made q night
of it.
He sang and sang, and sometimes
initiated the woodthrush, and that
is why there may be some doubt about
our correspondent really hearing the
thrush.
There can be no doubt. however. that
many species Of birds do sing softly on
such nights.
Inc mOckSr, tnaC OlQ 1nlCatCr, can
be determined mainly by his insistence
on trying his vocal chords at the songs
of other birds but at the same time
seldom doing them quite right.
He makes the cardinals song sound
slightly "od." and we are sure he can
never do a wood thrush to fool listen
ers who know their wood thrush notes.
So if our correspondent knows her
thrushes, and IL sure Of them, then
Evening star., 1953-06-02
The Coronation Of Elizabeth II

Not only is a jeDeled coronal
Besto,Oed on En0land,s shining Queen
today
As high, triumptGl strains of music tail
on those enrdptured throngs that line
the Day-
Not for today alone the pdoeantry,
The pomp. the bursting JOY. the
ringing cheers
This is symbol OF the loyalty
OF great kingdom. steddtdst through
the years.
A symbol of endurance in a Dorld
Proud to rejoice sOith those ,O'to noO
rejoice,
That sees sister nations tags unturled
And gladly halls her Queen NTH
reUerent Uotce.
Never UiH royal gems nor storied throne
Tempt the neO Queen to hold herself
apart:
Her zeal to make her peoples cause
Burns NTH too pure radiance In
her heart.
oh, may st. EdDGrd's crotDn. Elizabeth.
Be not too heavy for young brotcs
to bear,
And may you Uedr. unseen, through
life and death
That greater croDn Of Gods untailing
care.
lnez BoreIoy Kirby
Evening star., 1953-06-02
The Coronation

Millions of words already have been written
spoken and printed concerning the crowning
of Elizabeth Of Windsor, seventh Queen regnant
of Great Britain and the associated lands and
peoples thereof. Nothing altogether new or
novel can be added to the record Of the event.
But it is possible to repeat with useful purpose
the fact that the coronation is a proceeding
of profoundly spiritual significance. The cere-
mony in the abbey church of Westminster
unites Her Majesty, the British Commonwealth
of Nations and the world at large in an un-
dertaking of vast implications for the future
as well as for the immediate present. 1t also
relates the new Queen and her millions of
subjects and still more numerous millions OF
neighbors in covenant with the Creator Of
us all. The rites of induction performed today
mean nothing if they do not mean dependence
upon God, reliance upon the principles of right
eousnesS, justice and mercy in practice.
Elizabeth II is being inaugurated in the
sight Of the whole of civilization. Even the
enemies of the democratic society to which she
belongs must be aware of the power of the faith
she SymbolizeS the trust she embodies, the high
hopes to which she gives herself. The Queen
is a woman like other women, as human as they
and as sensitive to the demands of destiny. She
comes to the throne through no choice or effort
of her own. Behind her are marShaled not
only the long line of the sovereignS of England
but as truly those of Christendom entire. She
speaks for universal history when she pledges
her life to the common good. In this, however
she does not cease to be representative of the
British race and indirectly of all mankind
The crown does not rob her of her natural
status as daughter, sister, wife and a
devoted mother. Neither does it separate her
from the least of her subjects nor from the
most distant of her fellow citizens of the planet
Earth.
All the free portions of the globe are
watching Westminster today not simply be-
cause of the crowning of Elizabeth II but as
definitely because of the idealism of ordered
and orderly government implicit therein. The
philosophy of constitutionalism finds noble
demonstration in the coronation festival. Her
Majesty accepts the scepter and the orb and
the sword of state and the Bible in the role of
a ruler under law, wearer Of the royal diadem
under tradition as living force The world
in turn accepts her as the servant of peoples
similarly pledged to legal processes established
upon experience.
America and particularly the residents of
the Federal City of Washington witness the
making of this dynamic compact with interest
and sympathy proper to the occasion We join
in the general prayer for long, richly useful
and happy reign for Elizabeth of Windsor, a
modern Queen whom it is pleasure to hail.
Evening star., 1953-06-02
Still No Answer

The Pentagon's latest air-power statement
is to the effect that this country will have rs
more combat planes by the end Of next year un
der the Eisenhower budget than would have been
the case under the estimates of the Truman
administration
This is interesting, but not necessarily
relevant. For the real question is not whether
we are going to have rs planes more or less,
but whether we are building an Air Force
capable of meeting the Soviet threat.
1t is understood that the Joint Chiefs of
Staff estimate that the Russians are ahead of
us in modern planes on hand and in their
rate of production of modern planes. If this
is true how can one justify the retreat from
the 14S-wing goal, which General Twining, the
Presidents own choice as Air Force chief, only
last week described as the minimum force
essential to our national security? II this is un-
Evening star., 1953-06-02

true, why does not some responsible administra-
tion spokesman say so, and thereby end the
controversy?
The essential question, to repeat, is not
whether we are going to have strong Air
Force. OF course. we are. The question is
whether it is going to be strong enough in
relation to the air force that the Russians will
have two, three or four years from now. If our
Air Force is not going to be strong enough in
this relative sense, it will be of little help to
us should the Communists elect to strike at
this country.
Evening star., 1953-06-02
Adding to the Teacher SHORTAGE

A relatively obscure item in the District
school budget has become of major Importance
as result of an ill-advised economy cut ad-
ministered by the House Appropriations Com
mittee. Unless the provision is restored by the
House and the Senate, serious teacher short
age will be inflicted on the public school system
here during the next term.
The committee eliminated from the school
budget request for funds for teacher and
administrative pay raises These raises are
mandatory under the law Unless Congress
grants funds to pay them the money must
be taken from the general appropriation for
teachers salaries. A similar situation arose
during the past year as result of an made
quate appropriation for the mandatory raises.
The result during the past term has been that
26 teacher vacancies caused by designations
and retirements could not be filled and two
teachers had to be dropped last February.
Next year the shortage will be even larger
unless Congress reverSes the stand of the House
committee. School officials have estimated that
46 or more teaching positions would have to
be left vacant next year to Scrape enough
money together to meet the mandatory pay
increases The colored schools already are suf-
fering from the shortage of teachers. The
action of the committee would make a bad
situation even worse If funds should be shifted
from white to colored schools, the white schools
would be hard hit. The ultimate victims of
this unwiSe economy of course, would be the
pupils.
The Star believes the committee was fully
justified in knocking out the Board of Educa-
tions 100000 provision for District-built and
operated educational television station because
a satisfactory alternative is available, viz,
proposal for privately owned and operated
station. There is no satisfactory alternative for
teachers, however. Congress owes it to the
children of Washington to see to it that the
schools have enough teachers to 20 around.
Evening star., 1953-06-02
Mr.. Humphrey Testifies

Secretary of the Treasury Humphrey made
fortnight and persuasive plea to the House
Ways and Means Committee in asking six
months extension of the corporate excess
profits tax
The Secretary made it clear: O) That he
dislikes the tax, (2) that he thinks it is a bad
tax 90 that it should be done away with at
the end of this calendar year "once and for
all" Meanwhile, his position Is that the
financial lfactS"-inhuenced most greatly by the
expenditure requirements for national security
are such that to allow immediate tax cuts
would simply increase the deficit, again build
up inf1ationary pressures and further postpone
the time when sound economy, sound money
and balanced budget can be attained" If
the excess profits tax should be allowed to ex-
pire on July l, as present law provides, and
other tax reductions also scheduled for the next
IL months should take place, the Secretary fore
sees deficit of $3.50 billion in fiscal 1854 Exten-
sion Of the excess profits levy until the end Of
the calendar year would bring in an estimated
additional $500 million.
Mr.. Humphrey repeatedly impressed the
committee somewhat with his argument that
the damaging effects of this unliked tax would
remain through the calendar year even If it
dropped of the books on July /. Since a major
ity of companies keep their books and COM
basis, the question Of whether they have had
"excess profits" for the first six months would
be determined by the showing for the full year.
Letting the tax expire in mid-year would have
the effect Of cutting in half the rate on the
full years margin of So-called excess profits
but would continue for the entire year the
premium upon waste and ineficiency which has
been one of the evil consequences Of this par
ticular levy
Although it is regrettable that circum-
stances have brought the administration to the
conclusion that no tax reductions should be
supported at this time, Secretary Humphrey did
sound optimistic and frank in his references
to what can be done next year. Aside from
making it clear that the administration wo'.ld
object to any more than six-month extern
sion of the excess profits tax, he supported the
reduction of individual income tax rates in
January and spoke most hopefully of the devel
opment by next year of better overall tax
structure. These are objectives fully worthy
of pursuit.
Evening star., 1953-06-02
Replies to Mr.. Yune

A letter from the defeated candidate
for president of the Columbia Pike
Citizens Association, Boris S. Yane,
contains a statement questioning the
propriety of my participation in its
recent annual election meeting.
For many years have been a men,
ber and at times an officer of the
organization. The bylaws of the
organization contain a provision en-
couraging membership on the part of
those living outside its jurisdiction who
have genuine interest in the affairs
of the area. own both residential and
commercial property in the area.
Although I recently moved to another
location in Arlington, I still have
vital interest in Columbia pike affairs.
1t comes with something of shock
to me that Mr.. Yane, who himself
urged that I continue my membership
and interest, should take exception to
my attendance at the most important
annual meeting. am also surprised
that he should make the charge that
the organization was captured, when
he received only votes of the 21 cast.
Marie Dresser.
Evening star., 1953-06-02

at this session, of $4,000 per member:
also that the administration, although
against consideration of retirement an
nuities for ordinary ex-employes of
the Government at this session, has
no objection to the swift passage of
an act to raise the salaries of Congress-
men, who (Tom Murray please note)
now get considerably more than $2,16O
per year. They will also probably get
the $4,000 boost without roll call.
Just whom is meant by press reports
that the administration" decides these
things? Does the word mean the boys
in the back room" who tell the higher
ups what to do? Or does the admins
tration" mean those who gather daily
to say prayers (aimed in the wrong
direction or to play golf while ordinary
Federal annuitants try the acrobatic
stunt of making both ends meet?
Federal Annuitant.
Evening star., 1953-06-02
| etters to The Star .

asking for an armistice, an act without
precedent in the history of warfare. the
U. N. has gone on making concessions.
The U. N. is now in the jaws of a nut
cracker Having yielded so much the
Reds may tighten the pinch and get
them to yield all or be branded before
the world as warmongers. If they yield,
the U. N. is discredited organization
It's prestige is gone and the prestige of
the United States with it. The Reds
will have won complete victory. Sena-
tor Taft may have spoken too late.
Cynicus.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-28
British Use Geese
To Warn of Mofoyu
Red Intruders
BY the Assoeioted Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaga,
Feb. 28.-The British high COM
mand today announced a new
ally in the war against Com
munist guerrillas in Malaga
geese.
Thirty-tWo pairs of geese will
report for duty in the next few
days to patrol village near
Segamat. Johore state. They
will be placed in pens around
the village boundaries to warn
of intruders.
Gen. Sir Gerald Templer, the
high commissioner, has given
his official blessing to the
scheme-perhaps mindful of
the classic story of how Rome
was saved from the sacking
Goths by the cackle of wakened
geese in the middle of the night.
If the scheme proves sue
ceSsful, many hundreds more
geese are to be recruited.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-28
Last of Prussiuns' Buried
In Simple Rundstedt Rites

color Of a cavalry regiments
World War I veterans associa-
ton.
There could not have been a
greater contrast with what might
have been-a Strutting, goose
stepping state funeral Of the
Hitler era.
Two field marshals, Albert
Kesselring and Hugo Sperrle.
sent wreaths but did not attend.
Most of the so wreaths were from
ex-servicemen's groups, including
the SIS elite Guard.
Once the nation would have
mourned, but there was nothing
from the government and no rep
resentative from Bonn marched
in the short funeral process
sion, watched by about 1000
curious bystanders.
At the simple church service.
the preacher said.
eve are burying the last Of
the PrusSians."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-28
Cruiser Los Angeles
Joins in She||inq
Al Wonsan Harbor
Heavy Bombordment
Follows Attack by
BottIeship Missouri

SEOUL. Feb. 28.-The heavy
United States cruiser Los An
geles steamed boldly into Won
san harbor today and began
what the Navy described as a
heavy bombardment" of the
battered Communist port on the
northeast Korean coast.
The Nays brief announce
ment of the continuing lombard
ment said Navy planes were
Spotting guns and storage tar
gets for the eight-inch guns of
the cruiser.
(There was no explanation
Immediately as to whether the
action was significant. How
ever, Far East naval head
quarters rarely reports on a
continuing action.
(The United States battle
ship Missouri and American
carrier planes walloped the
charred port Thursday but
that was not announced by
the Navy until yesterday.
Wonsan has been shelled daily
by United States and allied
naval units since February Is.
1951-the longest seige in
American naval hiStory.)
Late tonight a naval public
information officer in Tokyo re-
ported there was nothing to
add to the announcement.
Ground Clashes Scattered.
Only scattered clashes were
reported along the battlefront.
On the western front 43 Reds
were slain in two patrol fights
one near Panmunjom, site of
the suspended truce talks. Patrol
fighting broke out east of the
town, with both sides calling in
reinforcements.
An allied patrol fought off a
Chinese raiding party, killing
80 Reds and wounding 10.
A midnight patrol-reportedly
checking on a mystery woman"
who paraded along the Com
munist western lines yesterday
afternoon-was attacked from
(See KOREA, Page A-3.)