davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1954-09-19
Virginio's Obligation

The National Capital Regional Plan
ming Council has cause to be concerned
over the problem Of financing further bridge
construction in the Washington Metropon-
tan Area. It has become increasingly evi-
dent that Virginia has no intention of
spending much highway money on bridges
across the Potomac River near the District.
1t was with the greatest reluctance that a
tentative agreement was made by Richmond
officials to assist in paying for some of the
approaches to the new Jones Point bridge
at Alexandria, No agreement whatever is
In sight on the proposed Cabin John bridge,
to link the Virginia and Maryland sections
Of the so-called outer belt highway around
the Nations Capital.
Under bridge legislation recently en-
acted, the Federal Government will pay for
the Jones Point structure, with the District,
Virginia and Maryland contributing to the
approaches. The District will pay for and
build the new central bridge The Cabin
John bridge, the exact location and design
of which are as yet undecided, will be prop
erly Virginia obligation, as En-
gineer Commissioner Prentiss stressed at a
meeting of the planning council. But the
Virginia State Highway Commission has
frankly said it has no funds for such a
bridge or for any part of the inner belt
highway Maryland, on the other hand,
apparently is prepared to put up It's share
for the project, both as to bridge and belt
highway
The Regional Planning Council is
good agency to tackle the problem of work.
ing out some sort Of an understanding with
both States on the financing of future
bridges, including the Cabin John span.
The Virginia representative on the coun-
Gil conceded that it would be difficult to
obtain the cooperation of the State High
way Commission on any Cabin John prof.
ect. But every effort should be made never
theless, to devise financing formula that
will be satisfactory to all jurisdictions con-
cerned. Virginia, like Maryland and the
District, has an obligation to share in the
planning and financing of traffic relief ia
cilities in the Greater Washington area. It's
State Highway Commission cannot evade
this obligation indefinitely.
Evening star., 1954-09-19
Getting Somewhere at Last

The prompt agreement of highway,
park and planning agencies on a tentative
layout for the new central bridge and ap-
proaches stands out in refreshing contrast
against the background of controversy that
has marked this project. While the role
which Constitution avenue is to play in the
bridge scheme remains uncertain, the spirit
OF 1nteragency compromise already ev1-
denced seems to assure a final accord Ger
ta1nly the avenue question does not have
the insuperable aspects that some previous
issues seemed to have.
Whether or not Constitution avenue is
to become a major, minor or part-time
connection with the new bridge, the
approved general design of the structure
and the pattern of its approaches on both
sides OF the Potomac hold great promise to
harassed motorists crossing the river. With
or without the Constitution link, the new
span would provide long-overdue relief for
the congested Fourteenth street, Memorial
and Key bridges. Implicit in the under
standing reached among the interested
authorities is the determination to use
Memorial Bridge to its full capacity during
morning and evening rush hours-a neces-
sity If the new bridge is to serve its purpose
as bottleneck reliever.
The plan shows that the major tie-in on
the District side will be with new express
way along the line Of Twenty-f fifth street.
This carefully engineered highway will be
the western link in the inner belt around
the Washington business section. Thus,
traffic from Virginia will be offered not only
means of entering the downtown area but
of skirting it, as may be desired. Motorists
not wishing to contend with downtown con-
gestion may use the inner belt to reach
other parts of the District or to enter Mary
land. On the Virginia side, the approaches
are designed to channel weStbound traffic
onto Arlington boulevard, No. / highway
and the George Washington Memorial park
way.
Constitution avenue poses a traffic
problem that has led Highway Department
officials to oppose use of that avenue as an
approach to the bridge. However, the widen
ing plan proposed by the National Capital
Planning Commission, If feasible, would
seem to solve most of the difficulties Since
the plan emissions the razing of the tenn
porary Federal Offices on the Mall, it has
special merit that should be weighed against
disadvantages, including cost. The central
bridge will prove to be a real blessing to the
city if it should lead to removal Of the un-
slightly tempos from the Washington land
scape.
Evening star., 1954-09-19
Spires Of the Spirit
The Cult Of the Muckroke By szsssssk s:exs or
BY Frederick Brown Harris
Minister, Foundry Methodist Church
Chaplain, United States Senate.

the elements in our national and per-
sonal life Of which we are ashamed,
it is not Righteousness to remind
ourselves of the vast number of Ameri-
cans whose honor is bright, of the vast
number of American homes where
loyalty and tranquility reigns, of the
vast majority Of American youth whose
promise is not marred by delinquency.
How many there are who have moth
ing but the muckrake in their hands as
they gaze at the church! OF course, in
her unhappy divisions and contending
creeds there is much to criticize as she
stands amid the perplexities Of q di-
vided world. But, as very moving
prayer puts it, I'VE remember with love
the nurture she gave to our spiritual
life in its infancy, the tasks she set for
our growing strength, the influence of
the devoted hearts she gathers. the
steadfast power for good she has
exerted. When we compare the church
with all human institutions we rejoice.
for there is none like her."
If those obsessed with the muckrake
point of view could but be persuaded to
look UP from the unlovely long enough
to read just one story, it might make
them conscious of something else in
the picture-the white angels Of things
high and holy which are also to be
taken into consideration. There was a
farmer who, having lived all his life
on the same farm, grew bored and des-
perately craved a change. He looked at
everything on the farm with his own
blind and merciless criticism. He
poured walls of discomfort on every
thing from the old oaken bucket which
had hung in the well to the old porch
overlooking the monotonous country
side. He decided to sell the farm with
SO many faults and buy another more
to his liking. He listed the whole prop
erty with real estate agency, which at
once prepared sales advertisement
for the newspaper. Before giving pub
licity to it, however, the realtor read
over to the farmer the very flattering
description of the acres and of the
old house. He talked of the farms ad-
vantages, its ideal location, its up-to-
date equipment, its fertile acres, it's
well-bred stock, its vistas of woodlands
and meadows. "Wait a minute" said
the farmer. Read that again. and take
1t slowly!" Once more the description
was read, as the farmer closed his eyes
and saw his farm in new light. II
have changed my mind" exclaimed the
old man, I'm not going to sell. For
years have been looking for a place
like that!" His discomfort had grown
out of the fact that he had held the
muckrake too close to his eyes.
Evening star., 1954-09-19
Fifty Years Ago in The Star

Politics was bitter business half a
century ago. A speaker at banquet
of Democratic editors at
Roosevelt the Waldorf "A storia
Criticized Hotel in New York was
quoted in The Star of
September 8, 1904, as follows: "Inevi-
tably. the personality, the character
and the performances of Theodore
Roosevelt occupy the foremost place in
the public mind. They will constitute
the chief horn of the peoples dilemma
in the coming campaign I admit
that he is as sweet a gentleman as
ever scuttled ship or cut throat
Does not his whole career, illus
trated by his writings, his sayings and
his doings-his needless criticisms, his
spectacular explorations, his broken
promlSeS-reveal to us self-willed ad-
venturer upon the high seas of public
lie, having no rudder or compass ex-
cept his own ambition, no principle or
rule OF conduct save that of decking
the machine with the flounces and fur
bellows of civic righteousness, while vio-
lating the spirit end sacrificing the
actualities Of the civil service by line
OF partisan appointments to Office
never surpassed during the worst times
OF the spoils system he has so stigma
tized and exemplified?" The map who
thus described the 26th President was
Col. Henry Watterson, the famous
"Marse Henry" of the Louisville Cour-
ier-Journal.
The Star Of August IS, 1904, said: !:
Nearly year ago the Government
gave attention to some
Bonk Note chemical experiments
Experiment that were designed to
soften paper to such an
extent that bank and Government
notes would be soft and velvety instead
Of crisp. The experiments demon
strated that the chemical would pro-
duce soft condition Of bills, but after
Evening star., 1954-09-19
Helen NicoIoy

This Capital City of the United States
lost one Of it's great personalities when
Helen Nicolay died at 88. Though she was
born in Paris, Washington was her home
through all but her infant years. Here she
served her father, Abraham Lincoln's Sec
retary, as faithful literary aide. At the
Art Students League here she learned to
draw and to paint. In the First Presby
terian and All Souls Unitarian Churches
here she developed her natural skill for
religious and ethical teaching. For local
children she reverently reWrote the Bible
and produced interpretive biographies of
national heroes which eventually had
readers around the world. Here she found
expression for her enthusiasm for music
and the drama. In the Washington Lit
erary Society she improved her powers Of
constructive criticism. Here she discovered
the joys of friendship with Florence Spof-
ford, Elisabeth Winship Tibbott, Frances
Downes, Julia Green, Fay Pearce Beij and
her devoted household retainers, Sophie
and Janey. Her famous partieS-unforget-
table occasions of wit and merriment-were
given here at the Woodward and the Ken
nedy- Warren. She was legendary figure
in Washington through eight colorful dec
AIDES, giving of herself with unlimited gen.
eroSity and receiving in return the tribute
of general popularity and affection.
basic principle Of American civiliza-
ton appears to have been demonstrated in
Miss Nicolay from first to last. She lived
and worked within tradition Of service.
In small things as well as in big things,
she contributed to the welfare and progress
of the entire national community. Modest,
provoked and offended by praise she was
tireless in deserving of responsive good will.
A few hours before she died she was talking
with her secretarial companion about re-
commencing new book to be entitled "The
Children That Lincoln Knew" In that
regard as in many, many others, she was
a link in chain reaching from the remot-
est past into the most distant conceivable
future and thus perhaps unwittingly q
bright example for her contemporaries,
Evening star., 1954-09-19
Background on Cyprus

September Z presents certain argu-
ments in connection with the question
Of Cyprus which. I believe. require
a reply.
The first of these arguments ad-
vances the Singularly untenable premise
that because "at no time has Cyprus
been part of Greece" the Cypriots
have to be denied the right of self
determination. The fact is, Of course,
that Cyprus has always been a part
Of the Hellenic world and is recognized
as historically and ethnologically Greek
by even some of the most vocal op-
ponents of Enosis (union with Greece) {.
The important point, however, is that
Greece does not seek annexation of
Cyprus, distinction that good many
people fail to make, but that Greece
is merely seeking for the people of
Cyprus their right to determine their
own political destiny.
If, as Mr.. Brown writes, there "exists
grave doubt in the minds of many OBJ
servers familiar with the situation in
Cyprus" that the Cypriots themselves
are concerned about Enosis, then one
must conclude that these observers"
have remarkably short perception in
view of the overwhelming vote in favor
Of Enosis on Cyprus in the plebiscite
of 1850.
In any event, if there is conviction
abroad, either in British circles or
among those who support British CO.
lonial rule over Cyprus, an obsolete
Evening star., 1954-09-19
Letters to The Star. j..
Pen-nan1es may be used If letters carry
1Driters' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.

the patient is in dictatorial control of
the healing arts. Second, you may not
have such system Of socialized medi-
cal care Estate owned and operated
without regimenting the doctors. State
medicine always has meant treadmill
of exhausting paperwork and jungle
Of red tape for the overworked physi-
clans. Whereas a patient can't fire or
discipline a state doctor, the doctor can
get his revenge by serving meanly and
grudgingly. We doctors are against the
Legion's program because all of us will
lose our freedom.
Thomas E. Mattingly, MD,
Evening star., 1954-09-19

especially the youthful ones whom she.
loved.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
House Group Studies
Rewritten Works Bill

House District Committee Of
ficialS today checked over a final
draft of tahe city's public works
financing bill. rewritten to in
clude amendments voted by a
joint House Senate subcommit-
tee.
Only purpose of the writing
was to put the measure into
such form that it can be in
PRODUCED in the House as a clean
bill" The new draft was sent to
Capitol Hill by District officials
yesterday.
The bill probably will be in
troduced tomorrow or Friday,
most likely by Chairman Simp-
son of the full House District
Committee. Mr.. Simpson indi-
Gated he wanted first, however,
to discuss it with Representative
O'Hara, Republican, of Mime
sofa. chairman of the joint sub
committee.
The subcommittee last week
voted major changes in the Com
missioners' proposals to pay for
the $305 million in works pro-
jectS.
Most important were moves
to eliminate $40 million in long
term Understanding Federal
loans to help pay for general
fund projects, and to add SIS
million to the local tax boasts
proposed by the city heads.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
Baltimore 10 Lend
Traffic Expert TO D. {.

Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro Of
Baltimore has agreed to permit
Henry A. Barnes, director Of
traffic engineering of the Mary
land city. to help the District
work out a plan for mass trans
portation here.
Mayor D'Alesa ndro made
known his agreement yesterday
in Baltimore, but he has not yet
notified the District.
Mr.. Barnes may use his spare
time to help solve the traffic
problems here. the mayor said.
He will serve as an unpaid con-
sultant. purely as a patriotic
gesture" according to Mr., Dale
sandro.
Washington officials already
have before them a report on the
traffic problem here compiled by
Leslie Williams. former Phila-
delphia traffic engineer and. un-
til recently. Mr. Barnes deputy
in Baltimore.
The Transit subcommittee Of
the Senate District Committee
has given District officials until
March 8 to present specific
plans for dealing with the prob
lem.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24

saves the lawyers and the court
lot of time. Lawyers in Wash
ington would find this sort of
thing beneficial. can't con-
ceive how it would hurt their
practice. To think it would hurt
is a false fear"
Frank III. BOOs: Il have
watched the system grow from
one man and one stenographer
to its present proportions 1t
serves a useful purpose but it
is not without its faults. Like
everything else, 1t is both human
and political. The principal
problem is getting good person.
mel for rather meager remnuera-
ton.
But, by and large. they do a
fine job. This system. in some
respects. is the best in the coun-
try. Sometimes. to be sure, it
becomes sort of catch-all for
other types of cases thrown to
IL py the Judges. But 1t is good
in that it lightenS the work of
the court"
Henry A. Montgomery, preSi-
dent of the Detroit Bar Asso-
citation: I'VE like the Friend of
the Court system. It has no
adverse effects
Harry S. Bennett: Our firm
has appeared IN over 1000 do
nestle relations cases. We find
it excellent. especially where
property is involved. In at least
two-thirds of the cases, We are
able to reach settlements. .
They have competent personnel
IN the Office. They have helped
me considerably. they help a
lawyers practice and they save
the court lots of time"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
U. 5. Workers May Hold
Fairfax Non Partisan Jobs
By the Associated Press

The Civil Service Commission
announced yesterday that Fed
eral employees who live in the
town of Fairfax, Va. are now
permitted to participate actively
in "non-partisan elections" for
local Offices.
The Government workers
may hold such Offices and may
be appointed to "local nom
partisan posts" the commission
said.
The Hatch Act forbids active
political participation by most
Federal employees. but the COM
mission is authorized to waive
the act for local elections in
communities where large num-
bers of voters are Federal work.
ers. Most of the rest of subur-
ban Virginia and Maryland
around Washington has been
exempted. the commission said.
The Fairfax elective officers
are the Mayor and six council
men. Appointive posts are town
attorney and members of the
Town Planning Commission,
Board Of Zoning Appeals and
Board Of Fire Appeals.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
SWAY Transit
Study Proposed
By Magruder
Virginia, Maryland
And District Urged
To Join in Probe
By Alex R. Preston
Sfor StoH Correspondent

RICHMOND, Feb. "a. = The
General Assembly today had q
new proposal that Virginia,
Maryland and the District of Co
lumbia conduct a joint study Of
transportation problems in the
Metropolitan Area Of the Ma.
TONS Capital.
Delegate j. Maynard Magruder
OF Arlington said he was commu-
nicating the plan to Montgomery
and Prince Georges County rep
resentatives in the Maryland
General Assembly.
Mr.. Magruder ives Joined by
Delegates Harrison Mann and
Kathryn Stone, also of Arlin gton,
in introducing a resolution yes
terday creating a three-member
Virginia commission to take part
in the joint investigation. The
measure invites the Maryland
Legislature and the District
Commissioners to designate
groups of three members each to
meet with the Virginia repre-
SentativeS.
Would Include Rates.
They would go into the whole
Metropolitan Area transportation
situation including passenger
carrying facilities and rates.
The group also would be d.
rected to investigate whether
joint action by the three juris-
dictions is necessary or desir.
able to regulate the transit facil-
tiles so as to provide "nondis-
criminatory and uniform serv-
ice"
This in no way commits US
at this time to the idea of a
single regulatory body" Mr.. Ma
gruder said. THE representa-
tiveS of each State and the Dis
trict would report back to their
own legislative or administra-
tive bodies with recommenda-'
TONS"
! Virginia members would in
clude a member of the House of
Delegates. a member of the
State Senate and a person desig-
mated by the State Corporation
Commission.
Gas Tax Bill RecOmmitted.
F. Meanwhile, the Senate sent
back to committee Gov. STAN.
ley's proposed l-cent gasoline
tax increase bill. After holding
up action for three days, the
bills supporters agreed yester-
day to send it back to the f.
nance committee when they
were convinced they could not
muster the necessary 81 votes
out of 40 Senators to pass the
bill.
/ The Senate approved, 81 to Is.
a resolution by Senators Charles
r.. Fenwick of Arlington, and
John A. K. Donovan of Fairfax,
calling for annual sessions OF
the Legislature, similar to the
plan now followed III Maryland.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24

liaison with all public relief
agencies. AS service to the
attorneys. the office keeps brief
book on all cases decided in
the State of Michigan.
Mr.. Kunz estimates that only
per cent of all divorce actions
are contested. But whether there
is a contest or not, his staff
makes sure the record is COM
plete and all necessary pro-
cedural steps are taken before
any matter is presented to the
court.
Each time a judge orders a
defendant to make alimony or
support payments, the Friend of
the Court sets up new account.
He Immediately charges the
account a SIS fee to help defray
costs. Additional IS fees are
added each year during the life
of the account.
Last year the Office handled
80.548 accounts.
$12 Million a Year.
Alimony and support pay
ments are made through the
cashier in the Office. Last year
receipts totaled almost exactly
$12 million-an average of 81
million per month.
| Each working day the staff
prepares between $500 and 5000
checks, distributing the money
collected to the parties to whom
it is due.
With the aid of a ticker" sys-
tenn, a close check is kept on
all accounts. The Office last year
received 1886 alimony. COM
plants in person and another
1855 by mail.
What happens in the case Of
delinquents? The Friend of the
Court Immediately gets busy.
His staff assemblies al pertinent
information and prepares an Or
der which is then issued by the
court requiring defendants to
show cause why they should not
be cited in contempt of court.
Promptly at 2 pm. every Fri
day in each of Is courtrooms
a lawyer representing the Friend
of the Court arises before one
of the circuit judges. He pre-
sentS every case in hand, keep
ing the floor until through.
With complete information be-
fore them the Is judges can pass
upon 500 or 500 contempt cita-
tons and motions for temporary
alimony in a matter of 60 to 80
minutes. The efficiency of this
procedure is astonishing.
700 Sent to Jail.
Last year there were 1854
show cause orders. There we're
1895 arrests and TOO men were
sent to Jail. OF these 1913 paid
up and were released. The
judges here frequently give the
maximum of one year if they
decide upon confinement.
The Frinde of the Court has
a contract with the House of
Corrections, so those who are
jailed work on the county farm,
in the laundry or creamery.
Their wages revert to the friends
Office.
Some Of the results obtained
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
Commissioners Approve
Maternity Care Rules

The Commissioners have APP
proved new regulations, recon-
mended by the District Health
Department governing the care
of maternity cases and newborn
babies in hospitals.
The regulations. which become
effective June /. set up medical
and nursing care ano provide
that at least one nurse must be
on duty for every IL newborn
babies.
The new regulations have been
approved by the District Medi-
cal Society and the Hospital
Council.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
House Member Gets
Teeth in Dog Biting:
Asks Federal Study
BY the A,soeiosed Press

Too many dogs are biting
too many people, Represen-
tative Sheehan, Republican,
of Illinois told the House
yesterday as he introduced
a bill providing for Federal
research in the field of
rabies and related diseases.
To support his claim that
the dog-biting problem is
becoming serious, he cited
these statistics:
In 1853 there were los
million city dogs, SO million
farm dogs and So million
rural non-farm dogs. Be-
tween them they bit 100000
people, of whom more than
$4,000 received PaSteur
treatments.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
Cancer Control Award
Scheduled March II

The st. George Medal for dis
tinguished service in the control
of cancer will be awarded March
II. the District division of the
American Cancer Society an
nounced today.
Frederick P. H. Siddons, pres
ident of the local division, will
present the award at a meeting
of the board of trustees at IL
am. in the Kellogg Building at
Garfield Memorial Hospital. Re-
cipient of the medal established
in 1913 will be announced the
day of the presentation.