davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31
U|tro-High Frequency
Three Bidders Vie for TV Channel 20,
But 1t May Take Years to Iron Out
BY BeryI Denzer

high frequency television
is in the works for Washington. But
it may be years before it is success
from the standpoints of both opera
tor and viewer.
What is UHF? It's a new group
of wavelengths for television to sup
plement the IL established Wifi
(very-high frequency channels,
the kind Washingtonians can pick
up on their sets today. Aside from
additional television service, UHF
offers no advantage over WIFI and
one distinct disadvantage: People
can't get UHF programs on their
present set unless they invest in
special converters.
The future operator of channel 20
the only commercial UHF channel
assigned to Washington by the Fed
eral Communications Commission
will face additional difficulties. In
the District, four Wifi stations nave
been on the air for nearly six years
and two of them still are running
in the red. (Which two is trade
secret.
All local Wifi stations are affili-
ated with networks. WMAL-TVs
network is the American Broadcast
ing Co., WTOP-TV's is Column
bia, WNBW's is the National chain,
and WTTG's is Du Mont. Net
work affiliation is good for a station
because it affords access to top
flight shows. Since there are cur
rently no other networks, a fifth
station would have to produce shows
of comparable excellence to win
viewers. And excellence in "
more than in other media-coStS
money. Or the network would have
to cater to a specialized audience.
Add to this the fact that it will
be at least two years before the FEC
can schedule hearing on channel
20. and the feasibility of applying
for the frequency is open to ques-
ton. Yet the fact is that there are
three experienced radio broadcasters
in this area who have filed appli-
cations for the channel and expect
to fight to the finish for it. Each
thinks he has the answer to the
overwhelming competition provided
by Wifi stations here. Television
experts emphasize that the candi-
dates all have "savvy'' in the COM
munications field and could Sue
coed eff any one can"
The three local bidders for chan
mel 20 are Capital Broadcasting Co.,
which now operates radio station
WWDC; Washington Metropolitan
Television Corp. (WGMS) and Ar
lington- Fairfax Broadcasting Co..
Inc. (WEAND.
WGMS President M. Robert
Rogers is counting on color TV to
help lick the problem of conversion
to UHF. He predicts that when
color television is approved set man
ufacturers will start pushing color
equipped sets. And these, he is
sure, will have UHF reception
built in.
George Oleson, WEAM station
manager, believes that by the time
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31

channel 20 is assigned, improved
films will make TV operation much
more economical"
Ben StrouSe, WWDCs general
manager, said he would have to see
the possibility of fifth TV network
entering the picture.
All three agree that If the COM
mercial station can wait out WASH
lngton'S promised educational chan
mel 26 there will be this advantage:
Some sets will be already converted
to UEF by parents who want their
youngsters to catch the TV classes.
The educational station. however.
may not come in time. The District
OF Columbia Board of Education has
applied for 1t and President Essen
mower has asked Congress for
100000 to start operation of the
station. But Congress has not vet
earmarked the funds and the FEC
mas shelved the boards application
until 1t can show q sound financing
plan.
What inducements are the three
commercial UHF applicants pre-
pared to offer viewers? MIR. Strouse
Of WWDC says his station would
concentrate on the Silver Spring
audience in an effort to produce
some incentive to convert (from
WIFI to UHF). Mr.. Oleson SAYS
MS station planned special event
forums OF interest to Arlingtonians.
Both think more sports coverage
would win viewers.
But Mr.. Rogers has another idea.
He would go after the highbrow
market to which WGMS is currently
pitched. 1t couldn't be all music
on TV, Of course. For instance, in
daytime he would air children's
programs with minimal gun
play. At night. half-hour Of the
stations best time would be devoted
to adult education. Such a COM
mercial UHF operation, Mr.. Rogers
feels. along with the educational
station. a specialized segment on
the dial"
The Washington Television Cir
culation Committee estimated in
April that about 100000 sets were
tuned in on local nv stations. It
is too early to forecast how many set
owners will invest in converters.
which range in price from S. for
the single-channel match box" va
riety to $75 for universal tuners.
Some people, of course. just won't
bother and TV manufacturers pre-
dict no mad rush to convert"
Nevertheless, there is a three-way
fight here for one channel in a town
where only half the existing stations
are making money. Likewise, in Los
Angeles and New York (Which have
seven channels each) a total Of nire
stations are losing money. and there
are similar scrambles for UHF IL
cenSeS.
Considering that it would cost
between 100000 and $500. 900 to get
started, the prospective operator Of q
UHF station must have not only the
courage of his convictions, but pot
full Of money as well.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31

acts largely as "caretaker," however.
Routine business goes on as usual in
each Ministry. but no major deci-
sions are made. No new policies are
launched.
Legally Rene Mayer, the Premier
whose Cabinet just fell, could repre-
sent his government at the forth
coming Bermuda conference with
President Eisenhower and British
Prime Minister Churchill, if a new
French Cabinet had not been formed
by that time. But in practice such
an action would be "unthinkable,"
say experts on French politics. The
purpose Of the three-power confer
ence is to make major decisions on
major issues. and tradition would
bar M. Mayer from doing this.
1T would be like the United States
sending a lame duck President to
the conference" the experts say.
THE President might still be in off,
ice. But if he was going to be sue
ceeded soon by another President,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31
By lsobeIIe Shelton

any commitments he made wouldn't
mean very much"
The only people whose jobs are
affected when French cabinet falls
are the Prime Minister and the
members of his cabinet. plus each
cabinet minister's small personal
staff of ten or so (basically secretar-
iaD.
Actually, the faces around the ia
BILE when a new cabinet meets are
pretty much the same faces which
were there in the old cabinet, and
perhaps in several cabinets before
that. Prime ministers come and
go. But many of the other men,
bers go on from one cabinet to the
next, year after year. The top
cabinet posts are shuffled back and
forth between a relatively small
group of men, who are the leaders
of the various political parties.
z Ministers, II Cobinets
A man may be Minister Of In
terror in one cabinet. Minister of
Defense in the next. Either Robert
Schuman or Georges Bidault has
been foreign minister in each Of the
II postwar cabinets. This obviously
has helped to maintain continuity
in the conduct of the nations for
eign affairs. Retention of the same
ministers in some other departments
further minimizes the impact Of q
cabinet upset.
The size Of the cabinet Is likely
to change each time. too. The
Mayer Cabinet had 80 members.
That Of Antoine Pinay, who pre-
coded Mayer. had 20. One Premier
may name one man minister Of ma
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31
Federal Poyro||s.
Achieving Even q Cut of 24O, 900,
Through Attrition, Will Be Hard
By Allen DruN

mittee for Aeronautics enough
money to hire about 1,400 extra
people. And a flock Of independent
agencies such as the Tariff Commits
sion. Securities and Exchange Com
mission, Federal Trade Commission
and General Services Administration
have received enough to retain pres
ent employment levels.
David F. Williams, chief of the
Civil Service Commissions budget
and finance division, told the COM
mlttee during hearings on the indie
pendent offices appropriation bill
tnat the commission estimates 240,-
600 employees leave Government
service through normal attrition in
the next year. Representative Phil
lips, Republican. of California de-
manded to know whether that was
all that would be done in one
years time Ito reduce this ant hill
OF Government employment and
bureaucracy"
Phillips BIost
Certainly this committee can
take that as the minimum reduce
ton and something less. we hope,
than the minimum" Mr.. Phillips
said.
Whatever Mr.. Phillips may think,
however, it looks at the moment as
though the Civil Service Commission
may be right-unless both houses of
Congress will agree to bone-deep
cuts in appropriations. If the
House trims and the Senate restores,
the administration will do we'll to
hit the commissions 100000 esti-
mates on the nose.
That Mr.. Phillips and his point
OF view may find an echo in the
Senate despite its traditional gen.
erosity has been indicated in the
last 10 days as the upper house
has begun serious work on money
bills. A group of economizers led
by Senator Douglas, Democrat, of
Illinois has succeeded in winning
moderate cuts in the independent
offices bill; these will inevitably
bring some reductions in personnel.
But there are lot of measures
still to come. The Senate has long
way to go before it can satisfy those
who believe the only way to bring
the Government payroll back within
bounds is to grab an ak and start
swinging.
Dirksen's Attack
Many Republicans still seem tc
agree with Senator Douglas coll
league. Republican Senator Dirksen,
who took occasion the other day to
make a bitter attack on the admin
lStration's SlowneSs in bringing about
promised economies. Senator Dirk
sen Is obviously out for blood, and
so are many of his fellow party
members.
In spite Of these pressures, how
ever, administration officials say the
process will probably be gradual.
whatever cuts are made. Under the
Stop-order on hiring which was put
into effect in February, jobs are
not being ref1lled as vacancies oc-
cur and many employees are pre-
sumably making plans to move else
where. The method is less violent
than Senator DirkSen and others
on the Hill would prefer, but the
administration believes 1t will &C
compliSh the objective in the long
run.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31

world, more or less, on a few ounces
of uranium? True, but was it
American scientists who produced
these things?
Money and Plumbing
Americans supplied the money and
the plumbing" Certainly the
greater part of the basic science
involved was European. Both, of
course, were essential. The trend
in this country, however, has been
to underestimate the Importance of
the latter.
There is just no denying that
scientific achievement in the United
States Ia is over-rated and CD is
bound to deteriorate If it continues
along present lines.
The problem affords no easy solu-
ton. Fellowships, of course, could
be increased. That would be, after
all. a matter of very little money.
It would make no really consequent
tial difference in the Federal budget,
even with the present economy pro-
gram.
But the major difficulty is. not
financial. It lies in the mind and
the ideals of a generation and a
culture. Boys and girls must start
in college better grounded in the
basic elements of all learning-even
If it is a little too much to hope
that many will leave high school
in their late teens, as did DR.. Guten-
berg, able to read and write four
languages and having mastered diff
ferential calculus.
Moreover, American education at
the college level probably must be
reoriented away from Superflciality
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31

and toward fundamental research
toward planting in the minds Of
students that mathematics is more
than stepping stone toward a
degree but something far more sig
nificant.
The National Science Foundation
is doing what it can to increase the
interest in science. College students
must be inspired to a new devotion
toward certain sciences. Their
teachers must be able to inspire this
devotion. The foundation is sup
porting two colloquiums for college
physics teachers this summer, one
at the University of Iowa and one
at Minnesota; one for mathematics
teachers at the University of Colo
RADIO and one for biology professors
at the University of Oklahoma. The
idea is to reinspire these men who
must inspire others and who too
often have found their own interests
growing dull.
The Big Problem
The even more important Sec
ondary school problem, as one staff
member of the National Founda-
ton expresses it, els so big one
hardly dares start thinking about
it,"
The basic task is to turn pleasure
loving young Americans away from
some of their pleasures and toward
the basic sciences which will unlock
new secrets-and probably lead to
new pleasures and conveniences-
for future generations. Right now
the need is not for more gadgets.
The need is for increasing scientific
superiority over an enemy dedicated
to subjugating us.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31

titled to the honorary greeting.
II found the safest way to get
along was Just to call them all
Monsieur lie President" says one
former official at the American
Embassy in Paris. Its like calling
a colonel general Even if you're
wrong, he loves it,"
Bureoucrots Roll On
The French bureaucrat (using
the word "bureaucrat" to include
just about everybody who works for
the French government except the
members of the National Assembly,
from whose ranks the cabinets are
choSen is little concerned about the
recurring cabinet "crises."
He can afford to be serene and
unflurried because there is no
French counterpart Of the situation
in this country, where a Govern
ment workers job may be in jeop-
ardy If he isn't a member of the
new team"
THAT seems to be an American
phenomenon" another experienced
observer of the French scene COM
mented dryly.
you can't operate a spoils sys-
tenn in a country with an eight
party system. especially with fire.
quent cabinet shakeups," he added.
THAT really would be chaos"
The Frenchman in the street. a
philosophical fellow. is equally un-
ruffled by the frequent cabinet
shakeups. He has a dim feeling
which has been growing in recent
years-that this is not the way to
run q country. But he has seen so
many cabinets fall that he figures
his government will weather this
crisis just as it has all the others.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31
Root Of Our Scientist Shortage Is in Secondary Schools

Recent concern over a prospective
shortage of scientists in the United
States was emphasized anew re-
Gently with release of the National
Manpower Commissions report. The
country must provide more financial
aid to education to avoid the Short
age, the commission concluded.
It is easy to demonstrate how i'm
portant the problem is. Another
war will be, above all else, war
of scientists, and the United States
is now reported to be tagging be-
hind Russia in "stockpiling" Scien-
tif1c talent. The Soviet Union al
ready has manpower superiority. If
1t also achieves industrial superiority
through high scientific achievement,
the end would be clearly in sight.
Part Of the trouble, of course, is
that scientific educational facilities
in this, the most induStrialized of
nations, are limited. But this is
only part Of it. More fundamental
Is the fact that students who enter
the institutions are nl-prepared for
what Is offered.
Dr.. Gutenbere's Cose
The case Of DIR. Beno Gutenberg
is good example of how American
education deviates from the ideal.
A professor of geophysicS at Caltech,
DR.. Gutenberg recently won the
Bowie Medal, about the highest
honor a man in his field can re-
ceive.
In his acceptance speech, DR..
Gutenberg reviewed briefly how he
got Phi. D. from the University of
Goettingen when he was %. A poor
German boy, he did it with very
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31
Italy Doomed to Dependency by Its Population Problem

by engaging in all kinds of business
on the side.
Rent and fuel costs, while they
have less relative weight, have also
moved up substantially in recent
years, as the government reluctantly
had to permit successive increases
In controlled rents and utility
charges. About the only relief to the
Italian housewife has resulted from
a downward trend in clothing prices
since the middle Of 1851.
AS in some United States cases,
industrial workers are best pro-
tected against continuing imitation.
as basic wage rates in most cases
are tied to the cost-of-living index
through "escalator" clauses. One
has also to take into account that
most workers and salaried employees
are given a 18th month pay at
Christmas time.
Vast Discrepancy
A vast discrepancy In standards
Of living Is still apparent in the
verious regions of Italy. In indus
trial and relatively prosperous Milan,
for example, the average person is
much better fed, clad and housed
than in Naples and other South
Italian cities with their stark look
Of poverty.
The land reform program and
long-range public investments, par
ticularly in the south, are beginning
to gain momentum. Tangible re-
suits have become more apparent.
To supplement these. more basic
programs, the government also has
adopted number of emergency
measures to provide work. Never
theless, the capacity of the country
to absorb its growing population
and at the same time to raise
significantly the average standard
of living depends in great part on it's
ability to develop and exploit its
resources at a much faster rate
than has prevailed in recent months,
competent observers hold.
A good deal of controversy has
been raging in the italian press
lately about suitable measures, other
than ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS prof.
ects, designed to expand the ma
tional volume of production and to
raise the general standard of living.
Turin Rotory Club
Here are some interesting remarks
recently made by a speaker to the
Turin Rotary Club, as reported
(not without some derisive hoots)
in the newspaper II Mattino Of
Naples March 10, 1889:
There still exist many sectors of
production capable of substantial
expansion. Consider, for instance,
the number of apartments which
still lack heating, sanitary facili-
ties and modern utilities; or the
many cafes and restaurants that do
not even possess a Mushroom.
There could also be substantial
increase in automobile traffic, which
now is hamstrung by bureaucratic
and fiscal letters; and If all those
who can afford it sought to supply
themselves with refrigeratorS, wash
ing machines and other modern
household equipment, there would
be work for all"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31
By Joachim Joesten

NAPLES.-n the proud 10th
century motto, ITALY will manage
on her own" ever has had any
validity at all, it certainly no longer
holds good today. The best-in-
formed observers here are con-
vinced that italy never will be able
to stand entirely on its own feet.
It's basic economic problem appears
to be insoluble, at any rate on a
strictly national level.
Apparently Italy's leaders real
ize this full well. For they are
among the most enthusiastic spon-
Sors of the federation-of-Europe
idea to be found anywhere on the
continent. In fact, just about the
only determined Italian opposition
to this new concept comes from the
Communists, who are. Of course.
guided by interests unrelated to
the welfare Of Italy.
In the nationwide elections next
Sunday the voters of Italy will
have a chance to show whether
they agree with their leaders ap-
praisal of European federation's
benefits. One of the important
things which will sway the voters
Judgment, Of course, will be the
state Of their own individual eco
nomic positions.
The oft-heard question whether
or not the average italian is better
of materially than in the days
of MuSSolini cannot deciSively be
answered one way or the other.
One probably comes closest to the
truth by saying that the Italians
in some respects never had 1t so
good economically, but that in some
other respects they were better of
under the Fascist regime.
Same Old Problem
By and large, however, there has
been neither substantial improve
ment nor worSening in the complex
OF Italian ills resulting from over
population. Her population and en-
ployment problem is as pressing
today as 1t was at the turn of the
century or in the '30s. One impor-
tant element has changed radically,
though. Italy is no longer a country
with high birth rate.
Italy's birth rate since prewar
days has declined from a high Of
1877 per thousand inhabitants to a
present low Of ITO per Thousand.
AS a result, Italy, which once led
almost all other European countries
In this respect, now ranks with the
least prolific nations on the CONT
nent. Even Frances birth rate
currently exceeds that of Italy by
q substantial margin.
In spite of this marked demo-
graphic decline, the national econ
omy, though expanding-briskly in
some lines-iS quite incapable of
absorbing the natural increase in
job seekers. In particular, it is
noteworthy that the nOn-working
sector of the population is excep-
tionally large. Of a total popula-
ton of 47.2 million September,
1882, only 1914 million were gain
fully employed, while 27.8 million
were listed as dependents. Actually,
the disproportion between the active
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31

A1CnOugu Lne EISENHOWER AQm1n.
istration is steadily whiting down
the Government payroll, it still has
not made the deep slaSheS in person.
mel which many Republican officials
and members of Congress would
like to see.
In spite OF an apparent sincere
determination to cut stats as fast
and drastically as possible, biggest
reductions to date have come in such
special agencies as the National Pro-
duction Administration, the Office
of Price Sterilization and the Wage
Sterilization Board, ordered to 60
out Of business by June 80. Cuts in
these agencies. totaling more than
5000, have been automatic. But re-
auctions elsewhere have not been so
easy. The Civil Service Commission
reports an estimated decline of
$4,000 employees in the first three
months of the administrator
but many more have left through
normal attrition" than have felt
the bite of the economy ak.
To date, departmental reductions
have been Spotty. Interior has an
nounced cut of 1922 by June 80
in it's Reclamation Bureau staff. The
Office Of the Secretary Of Defense
dropped from January 81 peak of
2,249 to 2,205 on April 80 and the
Defense Department as a whole re-
ported decline of 624 jobs in the
Washington area between January
81 and March 81. State has lost 954
since January /, 365 in the WASH
ington area. A handful have been let
go at Commerce. a few have been
removed at Agriculture as the re-
suit of reorganization plans which
are under fire on Capitol Hill. Aside
from routine changes. most other
departments have remained at ap-
proximately the same level as they
were when the Democrats left Office.
Proposed Cuts
It is true that the House Appro-
priations Committee is doing its best
to remedy this situation. But there
is a saying on the Hill that when
it comes to appropriations the House
proposes and the Senate disposes.
If the House committees wishes pre-
vail, the changes will include:
. Elimination of more than $500
State Department jobs, approx
mately $50 of them in the Washing
ton area.
. Reduction of about 300 at Com
merce, including a few each at the
Weather Bureau, Civil Aeronautics
Authority, Census Bureau and the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce.
. Reduction of 1000 jobs at the
Public Housing Administration, in
Guiding 300 here.
. Elimination of 1900 Washington
jobs at the Housing and Home
Finance Agency.
. Reduction of TOO at the Civil
Service Commission, 800 Of them in
Washington. a.
Proposed Increases
At the same time, however, the
committee in appropriations bills al
ready sent to the floor has approved
increases in the Justice Department,
particularly FBI, Bureau of Prisons,
Immigration and Naturalization
Service and the administrative office
Of the Attorney General. It has also
voted the National Advisory Com