Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-11-02

TINE credits your political editor, q.
Gould Lincoln, with adding substance
and SuStenance to one Of our most per-
sistent political myths.
The political fable of "a Democratic
controlled House of Representatives,
elected in 1890" which "cut former
President Herbert Hoover's throat" is
offered as warning that similar may.
hem will result on President Etsen.
hover. Actually. it is the truth which
has suffered violence.
No 1880 election resulted In any Dem.
ocratic congressional victory. II your
political writer had consulted the files
of The Washington Star, rather than
listening to political spellbinders at
$100-a-plate political dinners. your
readers would have been better in.
formed. 1t was more than a year later.
due to deaths in the House, that the
Democrats were able to organize the
House Of Representatives.
Another quick glance at the files OF
The Star would have told Mr.. Lincoln
that this Democratic" Tad Congress
gave almost complete cooperation to
President Hoover's request for higher
taxes" as well as for "a Federal f.
nancial reconstruction body to aid ousi-
ness" and his warnings against any
direct or indirect dole" or ANY re-
vision Of tariffs" This Congress did
earn a presidential veto in its efforts
to pass soldiers bonus bill, but so did
the rubber stamp" Congress of Presi-
dent Franklin .. ROOSEVELT
In his Memoirs, Vol. III, 1.-THE Great
Depression" Herbert Hoover blames the
failure Of his administration to cope
with adverse economic forces on the
more than 100 majority list Con-
gress. and its rejection Of my recon-
mendations Of much needed reform Of
the banking laws, and most other re-
FORMS" ID. J. Kelly, Jr.
South Bend. Ind.
Editors note: In the 1890 landslide,
the Democrats won 81 new seats and
the Republicans lost Al. The House
elected in 1880 was organized by the
Democrats. Their gains in the election
itself were augmented by deaths and
by-elections that occurred during the
long lame-duck session intervening be-
tween the election and the converting
of the 72nd Congress in December of
1881. Mr.. Kelly's statement that mo
1880 election resulted in any Democratic
congressional victory" is something less
than accurately
~ .n4utt. Al S-3 : 2.
Answers School Critic
In bis article on Montgomery County
taxes 1.-THE Star, october 28), DR..
Samuel n. De Vault has come up with
some constructive observations on mat
tiers in which he is supposedly compe-
tent. Unfortunately his judgments on
the school system Of Montgomery
County are so open to question as to
raise serious doubts about the validity
Of the rest Of his article. For the mo-
ment, am willing to agree with DR..
De Vault that our State and county
system Of tax administration needs
looking to. There is indeed something
wrong with the spread Of assessed
valuation as between the different
counties in Maryland. Nor do I think
it impossible for economies to be made
in the operation of our county govern
ment. For example, we ought to be
sure at all times that county funds are
spent with a view to economy and
quality rather than to the political
expediency Of purchasing or contract
ing with in-county rather than out-of-
county businesses
But along with many other long
time residents of Montgomery County
grow increasingly weary of the state
nent. "there are entirely too many
'frills' in our present public school
system" AS is so often the case with
such complaints Dr.. De Vault offers
no specific "frills" to be eliminated.
Since he is considerate enough to adj
NIT that the trimming shouldn't be
done at the expense Of the teachers
salaries, just where should we begin?
The county schools offer special serv-
ices for physically handicapped and
retarded children. Are these among
DR.. De Vaults frills? Or perhaps he
is concerned with public school music
and fine arts instruction. But If these
are frills so are home economics and
vocational agriculture, since DR.. De
Vaults criterion for "frill" is THAT
it is something taught in the, schools
that was formerly taught by private
teachers.
Not satisfied with hogging the dead