davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-10-09

BUICK '53 Riviera; hardtop S2,245
HORNER'S CORNER
9th and Fla. Ave. NE. Ii. 6-6464.
BUICK '52 de luxe 4-door- 81. 1896
HORNER'S CORNER
9th and Fla. Ave. NE. II. 6-6464.
DE SOTO 81 Gust. club cpe 81 ,495
HORNER'S CORNER
Evening star., 1953-06-10
Background for the Coronation

Sitting in my living room watching
the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
on TV, in company with millions all
over the world-the achievement of
science within my own limited lifetime
the f1oodgates of memory opened
wide on an unforgettable pageantry.
My childhood was tutored by my
Scottish mother in the evening glow of
Victoria's reign. On cycling tour in
my student days through the highlands
of Scotland in 1905, stopped at Bal
moral to join in the annual conclave
of the Scottish clans for the highland
games. The climax of the gala day
came when the entire royal household,
guests of Balmoral Castle and the Duke
of Fife, assembled under a canopied
marquee. On that day saw King Ed
ward VII, his son George v (then
Prince of Wales). his wife Mary (the
Queen lately deceased). Edward the
heir-apparent subsequently Edward
Wild, his sister Mary, the Princess
Royal, George Qater George VII and
the two younger boys, the Dukes of
Gloucester and Kent. The four chil->
dren did sword dance for the amuSe-
ment of the. gathering.
And now-the beautiful Elizabeth II
and the innocent bystander who, in the
providence of God, may one day be
King of England, carry on the royal
strain. All these add up to quite q
spot of royalty in one short lifetime.
Albert Joseph Mccartney.
Evening star., 1953-06-10
mo Conflict of Interests

Virginia's Supreme Court, in upholding the
right of Federal employees in Washington de-
partments to serve on school boards in the
State, has reopened subject that needs care
full attention by the General Assembly at its
next session.
Overturning an Arlington Circuit Court
ruling Of last January, the high court unani-
mously decided that the AsSemblys granting
of an exception to 1888 conflict of interests"
statute was valid The exception, the court
commented, shows that the General Assembly
has determined that there is conflict of
interests in the service by clerks and employees
of the Federal Government engaged in the
departmental service in Washington and their
service on county school boards" The question
naturally arises. then, why any such conflict
is involved when Federal employees serve in
other county Offices, including county boards.
Yet this broader field has been closed to Federal
workers by the old law.
The State Supreme Court has drawn a
distinction between two exceptions made by
the Legislature to the 1888 Federal-employe
ban. The exception which for some years per-
mitted Government employees to serve on the
Arlington County Board has been knocked
down on the ground that it was special legis-
Evening star., 1953-06-10

lation" for the benefit Of one political unit
Arlington County. However, the exception re-
lating to school boards contains no language
restricting it to Arlington or other nearby
areas. Although the Arlington court had held
that the school-board exception nevertheless
was invalid because it lifted the ban only for
Federal employees in Washington, the high
court saw nothing unconstitutional in this
limitation
AS the law stands now, the integrity of
Virginias government is endangered if Federal
employees are allowed to serve on county boards,
but not If they serve on school boards. But if
the Assembly can see no conflict of interests"
in the latter case it is hard to understand how
it could find any conflict in the other type of
public service Clearly, the 1888 statute is out
moded and in the light of present-day condi-
tions. utterly absurd. To retain the ban is
disservce both to the taxpayers affected and
to counties which have found Federal employees
to be good citizens and valuable public servants.
Evening star., 1953-06-10

Solini and Tojo-we went blithely along
with no defense worthy of the name
and we felt perfectly safe.
Now, with three of these enemies
licked and Russia badly battered, we
suddenly want to spend more than the
rest Of the world in armament.
We simply refuse to recognize the
fact that we will not have to fight the
Russian Communists alone; and that
altogether the Commies are not as
tough as the Axis was in 1941 after the
fall of France. The British, who stood
alone against the Germans, Italians
and Vichy French, for IL months, are
on our side. Beside, if we are going to
have standing Army, Navy and Air
Force second to none, forever and day,
we had better adjust our budget &C
cordingly. We should at least try not
to spend our money for military fool
ishness-like 50,0O0-ton aircraft car
riers-juicy sitting ducks for enemy
subs, planes and guided missiles.
John Dominic Michael.
Evening star., 1953-06-10
Let Traffic Decide

Various reasons have been advanced from
time to time for not building Potomac River
bridge in the central area, between the Memo
rial and Key Bridges. There is only one per-
suasive reason for putting an additional span
there, namely, the demands of traffic. The
special origin and destination survey conducted
today by the District Highway Department
should settle the question as to traffic demands
The check caused showdown that was incon-
venient to motorists but, in the long run, they
should benefit.
The National Capital Planning Commis-
sion would prefer to have two fringe" bridges,
one at Alexandria and another above Key
Bridge. The theory is that these crossings
would enable through traffic to bypass down.
town Washington and that this would greatly
relieve the bottlenecks at the Fourteenth street.
Memorial and Key Bridges. The commission
also opposes any structure across Theodore
Roosevelt Island. The proposed street bridge
would cross one end of the wildlife sanctuary
The questionnaires that were distributed to
incoming motorists from Virginia will reveal
just how many through cars are using the
present bridges and whether their diversion to
some other crossing would solve the present
bridge congestion during rush hours The data
will bring up to date trafhc-load figures previ-
ously compiled by the Regional Highway Plan
ming Committee. These figures indicated the
need for another bridge to serve the downtown
section of Washington and the nearby residen-
tial areas Of Virginia. If the new study confirms
the previous figures, the weight of evidence
calling for another central-area crossing will
be hard to resist,
Evening star., 1953-06-10
By Charles E. TroceweN

"The fifth house he painstakingly
covered with strips of bark to lure the
downy woodpecker. and put it up last.
Shortly afterwards, two little birds
spent the day carrying straw and grass
into the special downy house.
"They weren't downies. but English
sparrows, and my husband at first was
annoyed.
"The next day he went out with
thermos bottle cork, and put it in the
aperture and then opened the hinged
roof to peer into the house.
when he saw the neat, completed
little nest and the two sparrows watch
ing him from a nearby tree, he didn't
say a word but took the cork out and
tossed it off into the long grass.
THAT was month ago, and the
English sparrows. the only pair on our
farm, are very much at home. enjoy
ing their rustic downy woodpecker
house and sharing the seeds with the
other birds at the feeding stations"
Fortunately for the English SparrowS
in America, such spleen as quoted
above seldom exists any more, except
here and there.
It is realized that our native birds
are not such dullards. after all, and
that if they do not nest one place.
they nest another.
We are all, men, animals. birds, one
great family, taking many if not all
of our characteristics from the soil we
live on, the air we breathe. the water
we drink.
We are all together in the great
boat called America, and we must live
together, work together die together.
All the foreign birds are Americans,
Evening star., 1953-06-10
Toxes Down the Drain

Do the people of the District Of CO.
lumbia, who are being heavily taxed.
realize what has just been done by the
House Appropriations Committee? Con-
gressional approval has been given to
the total waste Of over 99.5 percent Of
the taxpayers money allowed for
fiuoridation of our drinking water. A
protest made before the House District
Appropriations Subcommittee, wherein
a detailed analysis of this waste was
made, has been brushed aside as not
worthy of consideration, and again
taxation without representation" is in
dicated by an unconSidered and un-
justihable act.
It has been estimated that from the
inception of the huoridation program
through 1854 the District will have ex-
pended close to half a million dollars
on this item. Estimates for the period
covering the next Is years, supposing
fluoridation were carried on so long,
are about $4 million. Thus is the peo-
pies money being used, without their
consent, for system of mass medica-
ton for the whole population which has
been literally forced upon them, and
to which a large cross-section of our
citizenry is unalterably opposed as un-
constitutional and dangerous.
This waste Of over 99.5 percent works
out as follows: Only about 10 percent
of the residents Of the District can
possibly benefit, in reduction in tooth
decay, lie. children under eight years.
The proved benefit averages well below
so percent for this limited section of
the population. Only one-f1fth of one
percent Of the total volume of water is
used for drinking, the balance being
devoted to all the other purposes of
city living, including flushing city
streets, washing autos, windows. floors,
dishes. etc., and for laundry work, bath
ing, Sprinkling lawns, air-cooling sys-
TENS, etc. In the meantime, absolutely
essential services are being curtailed for
quate street lighting and police pro-
lection, sufficient room for full-time
education for our school children, and
proper teaching force with humane
pay scale, proper maintenance of our
Capital City and its public and govern
ment buildings and reservations, civil
defense needs, etc.
There is still hope that the Senate
may open its eyes to the wrong of tax
ing the voteless residents of the District
for absurd waste. Let all those who
consider this waste unjustif1ed make
themselves heard. Vera E. Adams,
President. Citizens Committee
on Fluoridation, Inc.
Evening star., 1953-06-10
Financial Adjustment

In TV program May "a, Secretary
OF the Treasury Humphrey. when asked
what had been done with the money in
social security and other similar funds,
said in effect that the money had been
replaced by Government bonds. He
justified this by citing the action of
large business concern which had re-
placed similar money in it's own funds
by Government bonds. The great point
Of difference which the Secretary quite
carefully overlooks was that in the case
Of the Government, funds of the same
organization were used, as would have
been the case had the commercial con-
Germ replaced the money in it's fund by
stocks or bonds of that same company.
am very sure Mr.. Humphrey would
not approve of that. A true parallel
would have been had the Government
replaced the money in its funds with
bonds of another country. say Canada,
whose money, incidentally, is sounder
than ours.
G. r. SimcOx.
Evening star., 1953-06-10
This and That .

family, he says, with quiet contempt,
There was a time when in America
it was not only respectable but even
honorable to be a sparrow. but during
the last ten years the doings of this
one alien species, most unwiSely in
troduced here. have tended to bring
the name into disrepute. How our
native species must hate the inter-
loper!'
"But when he finally arrives at his
chapter devoted exclusively to the
English sparrow he really explodes with
fury. Let me dip my pen in blue
vitriol, for my temperature rises at
the thought of writing the name. Daily
we see the unclean little wretches
grubbing in the filth and microbes
of the street where no American bird
will humble himself to feed. The Eng
lish sparrow is not beautiful either in
form or plumage and cannot sing
note. It's tastes are low and vulgar. The
faster these interlopers are killed off
the better for all other birds. They
can be made to serve we'll as sub
jects for dissection in the school room
and as food for captive hawks
Poor little creatures. to invoke such
hate from such a famous man!
Thank YOU, E. van D from the land
OF the English sparrow, for your kind
words.
Sincerely, B. L. c."
AS If to answer her own letter, our
correspondent adds:
My husband built five bird houses
this spring. They were quickly in
habited by bluebirds, chickadees and
two pairs Carolina wrens.
Evening star., 1953-06-10
Mandatory Sentences

Reflected in the House debate over manda-
tory minimum sentences for certain serious
crimes was an outraged public opinion over
leniency toward criminals. Many persons have
been shocked at disclosures in The Star of past
tendencies to punish multiple offenders only for
picked few of their crimes And frequently
sentences have been made to run concurrently
instead of conSecutively. Fortunately, there
are indications that the judges voluntarily are
taking steps to insure more adequate sentences
here. Indeed, it should not be necessary to
compel Judges by law to assess effective pen
altieS. In sense the proposal in the House
approved omnibus crime bill to limit discretion
of the courts in fixing some penalties is reflec-
ton on the competency of the bench in general
Yet 1t is to the credit of number of the
judges that, as a rule, they have used their
discretion wisely.
Congress is justified, therefore, in hesitating
over the mandatory-Sen provision of the
Davis bill. Such an infexible mandate to the
judges leaves no room for consideration of
humanitarian or other factors in the SEN
fencing of a@onvict. To exclude such consd-
erationS in certain cases could work hardships
on prisoners or their dependents that might
impair the quality of justice expected from our
courts. But, regrettable as such straitjacket-
ing of justice might be, it would be no more
regrettable than rise in assaults robberies and
other grave crimes because of an unwillingness
of some judges to mete out proper punishment
to habitual offenders. If Congress should finally
decide to approve the mandatory sentence plan,
which The Star hopes will not be the case,
1t will be because few members of the bench
IN the past have failed to meet their full
responsibilities in protecting the public.
Evening star., 1953-06-10
Foirfux Water Dispute
Reader.

AS subscribers to The Star we have
been interested in several articles re-
Gently published with regard to the OPP
position of the City of Falls Church
to our application for public service
franchise to provide water in the por-
tion of Fairfax County near Chain
Bridge.
May we present some thoughts on
this subject so that you may have more
complete information in the event of
future articles:
On the witness stand at the hearing
June /, 1858, before the Virginia State
Corporation Commission in Richmond.
I characterized the activities of officials
of Falls Church as pure socialism" I"
The fact adduced by their testimony
clearly raise the question as to whether
their conduct represented that type OF
Socialism by bureaucratic encroach-
ment" which has so undermined the
initiative and free enterprise of our
economic institutions and people.
Falls Church officials stated. accord
ing to sworn testimony and in the
presence of most of the members of
the council, that they were in the
water business in competition with free
enterprise. They would use their public
powers to try to gain exclusive rights
to serve an area outside their city linn
it's almost ii times as great as their
present city limits.
The residents of this outside area
would have no legal method of recourse
against unfair rates, exorbitant profits,
failure to give service or improper &C
tivity. Fairfax County citizens would
be as helpless as voteless residents Of
the District of Columbia to influence
the governing body Of the water de-
partment.
If Falls Church were legally and A.
nancially in position to provide water
to the large area it is trying to dom
mate, some good might come from it
despite the socialistic procedures. But
this is not the case.
Although we have become accus-
toned to municipality providing util-
ity service for it's inhabitants even
though private enterprise is ready to
do the job, can conceive of no set of
circumstances where any governmental
agency should be permitted to use pub
lie funds to operate tax-free enterprise
and make up losses with tax-collected
money, where free enterprise is avail
able to do the job.
Edward l.. BlincOe, Pres,
Northern Virginia Water
and Sanitary Corp.
Evening star., 1953-06-10
Apathy Toward Annuitunts

You see many comments these days
about Federal retirement. "Annuitant"
asks in these columns why some relief
In the form Of cost-of-i living increase
is not given to $2,16O man. "The
Committee" looking into the system" 4"
says no answer until 1854. Everything
points to delay. No action is to be
expected until 1855. The answer to this
whole question is. in the opinion of
this soon-to-be retiree. one Of apathy.
No one Is interested. Who cares?
Those who have the power of life
and death, that is the vote, over this
system, and are in on it Gas of 1946)
are not interested in giving any one
else break. Why should they be-?
They are voted in at 21a per cent. Let
the rest of them sweat at Ia per cent.
Sure, let 'em starve. Keep delaying.
ALB.
Evening star., 1953-06-10
Montgomery School Budget

The proposed Montgomery County
School budget does not reduce taxes any
appreciable amount. The rate would be
about SIG per year on an assessed value
of $4,000. In exchange for this small
amount of reduction we would forgo
the adequate-barely adequate-plans
for future building, be behind in the
competitive market for teachers, and
ignore maintenance of the facilities we
now have.
The proposed revision of the budget
for which the P. T. A. and other citizen
groups are working does not increase
taxes at all. 1t keeps our plans for new
classrooms, gives small raise to teach
ers and to maintenance workers so we
can compete for the best available in
this area.
Those citizens so short-sighted as
to vote on the petition against the
maintenance of the taxes at their
present level (not raising of them as
so many seem to have assumed be-
cause they have no children in the
public schools are courting community
Evening star., 1953-06-10
A-Weopons and the BUDGET

The United States is turning out A-weapons
80 fast that it is running short of storage space
for them. 1t is also making highly significant
progress toward the production of hydrogen
bombs. Despite these and other gains, however
Chairman Gordon Dean of the Atomic Energy
Commission warns that the situation does not
warrant the slightest degree of complacency.
This warning is contained in the just
released testimony that Mr.. Dean gave last
month to a House Appropriations Subcommit-
tee. In his own words II have been going over
the Russian program lately. {. =. They have the
highest priority for it. {. They have unlimited
means and unlimited manpower. I think 1854
is going to be very important year in our
program, and tremble to think that we might
Slacken Off"
Accordingly, although he has testified that
President EiSenhower'S proposed cut in the
Aces budget will not seriously affect weapons
production, he has cautioned that the reduced
appropriation (almost $500 million less than
the sum recommended by the Truman admin
iStration) "iS, in our sincere belief not only
pared to the bone but one which takes a cal
culated risk" The risk rests in the fact, as he
sees it, that the reduction rules out funds for
essential things which developments during
the fiscal year might otherwise permit"
a number of noteworthy points. Because of the
cut, for example, uranium ore deliveries may
be greater than the funds available for them,
and the development of power reactors will be
slowed down. BY the same token, work on
building an atomic-powered plane and an
atomic powered surface vessel will have to be
shelved, and full exploitation of promising
paths of inquiry" in general nuclear research
will be impossible.
With these and similar factors in mind,
Mr.. Dean has made clear that the Acc, while
agreeing with the Eisenhower cut as de-
fensible calculated risk" would regard fur
ther slash as dangerous. He and his fellow
commissioners have a pretty fair idea of what
Russia is doing, and they are as one in agreeing
that our atomic arsenal-great and growing
though it is-cannot safely be subjected to
excessive economizing. Congress should heed
their counsel.
Evening star., 1953-06-10
A Prayer on Breaking Ground

Dear Lord. 1De tDing a Uery special prayer
Because this day. 10ith high hopes, ne
break ground.
Bless crattSmen's hands that tDork NTH
skill and care
To shape our house OF dreams, four
square and sound.
Let the torn earth knoW 1Oe are but
planting
Brick, frame and glass to orow
home, and then
A picket fence and gardens quite en-
chanting
SO mdy the earth be comtorted again.
Calm little birds that fly in trenzied fear
When lumber crashes and the ham,
merS ring
Assure them there wHl be a hdDen here
For them to build their precious nests
and sing.
Bread blest and broken-so may this
0roODld be
Blest to our use. the breaking in His
The Master Craftsman. in humility,
DtDeH in a small house, too. where
loved ones came.
Nell c. Westeott
Evening star., 1953-06-10
WINFIELD FARM, Va.
Dear Sir:

Dear Sir:
"As an amateur ornithologist and
animal lover I was interested to read
in your column q few weeks ago some
material in defense of the maligned
English sparrow. I'm sure there were
others who appreciated E. van DIS
loyalty to his small compatriot.
IT have a rather old nature book
written by a very impressive titled
gentleman. He was man, evidently.
whose blood turned to lava each time
he wrote the name of the unfortu-
nate English sparrow.
HE first refers to the bird when he
describes the bluebird: Here in the
East the bluebird is a thing of beauty
and a joy until the abominable
English sparrow drives it away. Un-
fortunately the bluebirds are not good
fighters and the English sparrows,
harrow them shameleSsly.'
when discussing the great North
ern shrike, the righteous scientist says:
1t is known to kill % species Of birds.
some of them valuable insect destroy
ers and none of them to be spared
without losS-except the English spar
row.
Later, in his chapter on the purple
martins: And then came Ahab, the
English sparrow, homely, quarrel
some. low-minded and utterly unin-
teresting little wretch, q gutter rat
among birds. Unless coerced with
gun. he steals the nesting boxes Of
all other small birds, driving before
him the martins. bluebirds and many
others who used to love our COM
pany.'
when discussing the sparrow
Evening star., 1953-06-10

There's plenty of war work for those
now on the public payroll, and there
should be much more available for them
since there is little doubt of an eventual
conflict with Russia. Those who are in
efficient should be fred but the able
and intelligent should be retained.
One thing that could be done is to
eliminate Civil Service entirely. and all
the red tape that goes with it, giving
agency heads complete authority to
hire and fire. In this way, business
methods that are efficient rather than
governmental red tape would result in
great economies. Reader.
Evening star., 1953-06-10
Tuxpuyer's Loment,
G. r. SimcOx.

What seems to be wrong with our
District Commissioners? With our city
deep in debt they now approve raise
for policemen, firemen and school
teachers. What I would like to know
is. how high is up? When will this in
crease business stop?
The transit company wants to raise
their fare; the gas company and power
company want to raise their rates; the
phone company will be next, and then
the city will want to raise taxes, and
then drive more of the Washingtonians
out of the District.
Reader