davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05

which appoints them. Three OF
the nine school board members
terms expire in June.
Judge Kirkland told The Star
he would like to make a fresh
start" this year on assembling
a list of possible appointees.
I'VE want more nominees"
the jurist said, adding that he
would particularly like to have
some businessmen, and also
some candidates from the South
east and Southwest, two sections
not represented on the present
board.
He set a deadline Of May /.
Has Sought Citizens Aid
Judge Kirkland. who has been
chairman of the courts school
board selection committee since
1949, has sought several times
in the past to encourage citi-
zens to submit more names for
the judges consideration.
At times the Judges have had
difficulty in finding qualified
persons willing to accept APP
pointment. For the last several
years. the complications of race
segregation and desegregation
have increased this difficulty
Judge Kirkland said today the
committee has some names
ready for consideration and that
he thought the total was about
so.
But the majority are lawyers,
and many Of them have been
considered and rejected in years
past. Judge Kirkland said.
The jurist said he feels
lawyers should not dominate the
board and that it is important
for the board to be more broadly
representative of the community
in other respects.
Can Be Reappointed
Col. West A. Hamilton, Miss
Mary H. Parker and Walter N.
Tobriner are the board members
whose terms will end June 80.
All are eligible for reappoint-
ment.
The court often has reap
pointed board members. When
the above three were named
three years ago, however, the
court passed over three incunl-
bents. One Of them, Adelbert
w. Lee, had publicly stated he
would be willing to stay in Office.
Judge Kirkland said that of
course he does not know what
the court will do this time.
The jurist emphasized that the
court has definite standards in
mind IN making its selections.
BY statute, the nine member
board must be made up of bona
fide District residents. It laso
must include three women and
by custom three of the members
are Negroes.
Judge Kirkland said he in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
Questionnaires Mailed
In Area Chest Study

The Community Chest Fedora
ton yesterday mailed out 5000
queStionnaires to key workers
as part of an area-wide study
of Chest operations.
The QUESTIONABLE asks for
comments on the present fed
Grafton structure which COM
bines six different chests in the
area and asks If workers favor
a united fund movement" here.
similar to those which have be.
come increasingly popular across
the country since 1850.
The QUESTIONABLE was pre-
pared by a citizens evaluation
committee of 40 members, rep
resenting all the area chests and
headed by DR.. Hurst r. Ander-
son, president Of American
University.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05

Of the Merchants & Manufac-
turers' Association raised the
question Of a tax on commits
saries.. Mr.. Spencer said that
would be a national affair.
Gross earnings: Mr.. Striner
said he had supported this, but
as a substitute in lieu of other
taxes. He said that when we
start piling tax upon tax. would
be opposed to it at this time"
Income taxes: Mr.. Addison
said he thinks the $4,000 present
exemption unreasonable. Mr..
Martin pointed out the law was
computed to insure passage of
the sales and use taxes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
Mechanic Is Burned
While Replacing Fuse

A "a : year old refrigeration
mechanic was burned on the
chest. face and hands today
when an electrical panel burst
into flames as he placed a fuse
in a fuse box, police reported.
Norman A. Rathbon of 1904
Hathaway drive, Silver Spring,
was working IN the basement. of
the Transportation Building, BIS
Seventeenth street NV, when
the slight blast occurred.
He was taken to Emergency
Hospital. where his condition was
reported good.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
Trade Board
Opposes Sick
Benefit Plan
City Heads Told
Bill Would Cost
So Million q Yeor

The Washington Board Of
Trade today asked the District
Commissioners to oppose a Labor
Department bill which would set
up a sickness benefit law to cover
off-the-job injuries in the Dis
trict.
Francis J. Kane, president Of
the board, told the Commission
ers that such a measure would
cost Washington employers So
million a year, In addition to
other legislation backed by the
Labor Department to increase
benefits under the District I'M
employment compensation law
and the Federal Longshoremen's
and Harbor Workers Compensa-
ton Act.
These other proposals, he said,
would cost "a million O year
alone.
William H. Press, executive
vice president Of the board,
warned that "old firms are ready
to move out of the District when
1t becomes improbable to do
business here"
Cites Revenue Search
Citing the Districts current
search for more revenue, includ-
ing some $6.5 million in local
taxes. Mr.. Press said, ''the cumu-
lative effect is just enough to run
some more fellows across the
line"
Commenting on the Board of
Trades campaign to bring mope
business here, Mr.. Press said,
I'VE are unable now to convince
many types Of business that this
is a good place to operate. The
proposed bill would make our
sales talk even less effective"
Edward j. Schmuck, general
counsel Of the Acacia Mutual
Life Insurance Co., also spoke
for the board, said the sickness
benefit law would impose through
taxes a fringe benefit" which
many unions and employers have
agreed upon through collective
bargaining.
The measure would grant q
maximum of $26 a week for 30
weeks to workers injured of the
job and unable to work because
OF the injuries. It would be
financed half and half by em-
ployers and their workers.
Hits Coverage
MFR. Schmuck said the measure
would provide compensation for
workers hurt in Sunday driving
accidents or in SATURDAY. night
brawlS and asked, "Why are EN-.
ployers compelled through the
tax medium to subsidize this
type of injury?"
He said the measure would
force upon the District "a pat
tern OF taxation which would
further burden the city under
a fringe benefit for which there
seems to be no strong demand
and would prejudice a strong
trend to achieve it through COL
lective bargaining"
Mr.. Press noted recent indi.
cations of declining population
in the District and warned that
a third of the city's tax revenues
comes from business.
The demand for municipal
services is increasing, he said.
but the base to pay for such
services is vanishing.
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
urged the Board of Trade dele
cation to confer with Labor De.
partment officials and point out
their objections to that agency.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
3 Young Children
Are Rescued in Fire.;
6 Other Persons Flee

Three young children were
rescued today from their burn
ing home at 1909 Eleventh street
NV.
Eliza Turner, 8, and her
nephew, Anderson Jones, jr., 3.
were trapped on the third floor
of the building. They were car
ried down a ladder by Fire
Sergt. D. S. Hardin, of No. Is
truck company. They are in seri-
Gus condition in Children's Hos
pital suffering from smoke in
halation.
Peggy Pendergast, 18 months.
was carried from a basement
apartment by her 19-year-old
mother, Mrs. Gertie Mae Pend
ergast. The child, who was al
ready i'll, was hospitalized for
observation.
Five other children in the
fire-swept home ranging in age
from S to 9 years, ran from
the second floor into the street
without help. AL the residents
of the home are colored.
Policeman Pulls Alarm
Credit for averting a near
catastrophe was given Second
Precinct Pvt. William L. Green.
While walking his beat he
noticed smoke pouring from the
house. He pulled a nearby alarm
box and then kicked in the
front door.
AS he went through the door,
Pvt. Green said, he was passed
by the five children on the Sec
ond floor, who had just noticed
the blaze. Pvt. Green said the
heat was so intense he was UNI
able to get all the way UP the
steps.
Meanwhile, firemen threw up
a ladder to take the Turner child
and her nephew to safety. The
Jones boys uncle, James E.
Jones, 10, colored, acting as baby
sitter for his nephew and sister,
climbed down the ladder un-
aided.
Cause Not Determined
Tenants of the house said no
one was on the first floor when
the fire broke out about 1880
am. First Battalion Chief Alex
Whiteman said the fire appar-
emily started on the first floor
near the kitchen. He said the
cause and amount of damage
were undetermined.
Pvt. Green. and fireman. Pvt
George Healy of engine COM
pany No. 8, were treated on the
scene for cut hands.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
D. {. Seeks Candidates
For teacher Exams

The District public school sys-
tenn is looking for candidates to
take teacher examinations next
week.
Assistant Supt. Thomas j.
Holmes said yesterday more ap-
plicants are wanted for senior
and vocational high school tests,
to- be given next Monday and
Tuesday.
Candidates should apply by
this Friday at Webster Admin
istration Annex, Tenth and H
streets NV.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
The Financial Crisis We Face
Heavier Sales Tax Considered
ToRoise DC. Needed Revenue

Are heavier sales taxes one Of
the major ways out of the Dis
trict's financial maze created
by rising operating costs and
impending increases in city
workers pay?
Eleven proposals along these
lines have been outlined for CON-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
Stanley Coils on Guard
To Cooperate in Test

RICHMOND, April 5, R.-
Gov. Stanley urged all Virginia
National Guard units yesterday
to cooperate fully in a test
mobilization to be held ma
tionally sometime about mid
April.
The statement followed an
announcement from Washing
ton that the Nationwide test
alert was to be held to gauge the
speed with which the $40. 900
men can 60 into action In the
event Of an enemy attack.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
BY RICHARD RODGERS

Clockwatehing is already one
of Washington's major paStimes.
It should grow in favor this
month.
The Nations timepiece indus
try opened a month long exhibi-
ton in the Commerce Depart
ment lobby today and it's some
thing to watch.
The hundreds of Textbooks
displayed there do not. it is true,
read the same ON the face. But
in all fairness it should be
pointed out that some are so old
they can be excused for hardness.
Take the heart-shaped number
Napoleon is alleged to have given
Josephine. It may not be as
accurate as the electric jobs that
tell hirelings when it's safe to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05

Senator Nicely, Democrat, OF
West Virginia, who told his COL
leagues "I'd rather be caught
stealing sheep than voting for
the sales tax"
Arguments Against
Arguments against sales levies:
That it hit hardest those least
able to pay.
That there were better means,
such as increases in income and
real estate taxes and in the Fed
eral payment, or loans or bonded
debt.
Last year, under the necessity
to provide for the public works
program. groceries were taxed
at per cent. Also, the ex-
emption on restaurant meals was
cut back from SIPS cents to so
cents, keeping the rate at Q per
cent.
At the same time, the tax on
transient hotel rooms was raised
from 2 to 3 per cent and the
tax on cigarettes was doubled.
to make the rate Q cents a pack.
An even tougher sales and
gross receipts tax now is sug-
gested among the long list of
possibilities.
If all the suggestions were
adopted-and city officials have
listed practically everything in
sight--city revenues would rise
by at least $50 million.
This would be achieved by
raising the tax on groceries to
the general rate of 2 per cent
and by decreasing the exemption
on meals from so to 10 cents.
Other Levies Considered
And as they surveyed the
whole field Of possibilities city
tax officials also outlined what
could be achieved by adopting
other sales measures:
Remove exemption of medi,-
cines, 100000; establish a 2 per
cent tax on theater and amuse-
ment admissions, $500, 600; adopt
a tax on communications, $780,
000;- remove exemptions for sales
Of clutches, eye glasses, Wheel
chairs, false teeth, hearing aids
and the like, 100000.
1t is not a direct sales tax, but
also proposed is a higher tax on
beer. from $1.25 to So q barrel.
The Maryland rate is 90 cents
and the Virginia 1910, plus a
10 per cent alcoholic beverage
sales tax.
Tomorrow: What are the
prospects Of a bigger income
tax In the District?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
lnent is that the

cpae in bringing sound Christian values into the councils
of Lacking such participation can we escape
personal guilt for wrongdoing in high places?
Maryland State constitution acknowledges that
grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious
liberty Should not this Of gratefulness to God be
expressed by being active force for goodby giving
consent that is informed and powerful that supports
right principles and right candidates for public oce; and
thus nsuring that the temples Of government shall be
kept clean?
All of this resolves itself into the simple trus that at
better light candle than to the darkness"
Tomorrow-The Rev. De Loss M. Scott
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
Benson Becomes
Grandfather for
Second Time
BY the Associated Press

by tne ASSociateu FEeSS
Secretary of Agriculture
Benson proudly announced
at a news conference today
that he is a grandfather for
the second time.
The new grandchild is the
daughter Of his son and
daughter : in law. Mr.. and
Mrs. Mark A. Benson. and
was born last night at
George Washington Univer-
sity Hospital. They also are
the parents of the other
grandchild. a son.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
Suffrage Bill Offered

Representative Langford.
Democrat, Of Maryland intro
duced q bill yesterday which
would permit the residents with
In the boundaries Of the Naval
Powder Factory property at In
dian Head, Md. to vote as resi-.
dents Of Maryland.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05

rights of man come directly from
God, that "all men are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalien-
able rights" Since these rights have
been bestowed upon US by God, have
we not personal and direct re-
sponsibility to protect them? And
how do we protect them except
through our government, which de-
rives its Just powers from the con-
sent of the governed? We are the
governed, we must consent and
through that consent protect what
God has given to US. Each individual
in this Nation has the duty to mar
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
Commissioners Gef
Public Reaction 10
Higher D. {. Taxes

Citizen leaders faced tax. in
crease proposals with little en-
thusiasm during a talk with the
Commissioners yesterday. after
first looking at the chances of
cutting expenses and of a higher
Federal payment to the city.
The city heads called the citi-
zens in to get their views on
what should be done about the
Districts financial plight, includ-
ing their reactions to q list Of
tax increase suggestions drawn
up by a committee of top city
officials.
There was virtually no show
ing of solid support or opposi-
ton by the group to the specific
tax proposals. Mention Of a
suggested increase of the grocery
sales tax from l to 2 per cent
did bring a few spontaneous cries
Of Against It'll" and Opposed"
Invites Ideas by Phone
The Commissioners ended the
two-hour session by asking the
citizens to telephone them their
ideas on the possible conse-
quences Of any Of the suggested
taxes which might be detri-
mental to the city's health.
At the outset of the conference.
F. G. Addison, jr.. Of the Dis
trict Bankers Association, ques-
toned the size of the city pay
roll.
If the District has a population
of some $50, 900 and $1,000 city
employees, there is, roughly, one
employee to every 80 residents
and to every IS families, counting
three to a family, he suggested.
He inquired how this compared
with other cities.
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
said he would be receptive to
suggestions from the citizens on
how to cut municipal expenses
but that this is hard to do. He
said he thinks most of the ex-
penditures involved things the
public wants"
Prefers Moratorium
Benjamin Striner of the Fed
Grafton of Businessesmen's Asso-
Citations said the city. with its
swiftly growing budget. had
reached "the point of diminish-
ing returns" last year. He said
his organization would prefer a
moratorium on any tax increases
this year.
Mrs. John F. Latimer, presi-
dent of the District League Of
Women Voters, told the hearing
she thinks the chief emphasis
should be put on getting an
adequate Federal payment.
Mrs. Henry A. Bartlett, presi-
dent of the Federation of Citi-
Gems Associations, said there
are some expenses the city can
not talk about diminishing, such
as those for teachers. policemen
and doctors.
Some Of the specific tax-rais-
ing prospects brought these re-
actions at the conference:
Higher real estate taxes: Mr..
Addison questioned whether
present assessments are satisfac-
tory. Mr.. Spencer said Assessor
James L. Martin reports he could
use three or four more assistant
assessors, so that there is some
work to be done along that line,
but he added 1t would take a
year or two to get assessments
to where they should be.
James E. Scott of the District
Chapter of Frontiers of America
suggested the Commissioners
might take an overall / per cent
increase in assessment and make
the tax rate $2.25 per 500 valua-
ton. rather than a suggested
$3.50. The rate is $3.50 now.
Mr.. Spencer pointed out this
y the Commissioners safety
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
A CHANCE TO SERVE
Citizens Urged to Offer
School Boord Nominees
BY JAMES G. DEANE

Federal Judge Kirkland said today he wishes
Washington civic groups and interested citizens would nominate
candidates for the District Board Of Education.
Judge Kirkland heads committee which school board
the u District Court the District Columbia
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
Cement Firm to Expand

MARTINSBURG. w. Va.
April 5.-Standard Lime q
Stone Co. yesterday announced
construction Of new facilities
which viii increase cement pro-
duction by about / million bar.
rels per year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05
A UhnnDht fnr Tnhay
Lenten Reflections by People You Know
BY MARGARET C. sCHWEINHAU

Membe Assembly
Since spending most of the lenten season in the
capital city of Maryland my mind glanced back for
moment to ask why am there?
Our fundamental concept Of government is that the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05

Sixth Of o Series
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-05

Tomorrow: What are the
prospects Of a bigger income
tax In the District?
Evening star., 1955-09-18

One good example IL the licensing
Of plants, both at home and abroad.
to produce or use fashionable ma
terials. Another involves safety
regulations, some Of which may bs
promulgated by the Federal govern
rnsnt and others BY the States. A
third takes In the special difhcul-
ties to be overcome IN issuing
patents.
Up to now. problems such a. the
foregoing have not intruded them
selves into the everyday life Of
United States citizens. One reason
was that the atomic energy industry
was q Federal monopoly and oper-
ated In q highly restricted sphere.
Another was the extreme caution
exercised by the Government in
running nuclear plants and its gem
erous settlements made in the few
cases where injury happened.
But that was before" This Ii
"after." And who can say what
difficulties may arise In the future
that no one has yet thought Of?
Evening star., 1955-09-18

controlling insurance investment
are changed. It may be that the
Federal Government win have TO
take over at this point.
The disaster described By nuclsar-
reactor men O. o ''burn-up" has
not yst occurred n TIE Omitted
States. A huxn-up happens when
somsthing goes wrong end the re-
actor speeds 10 IA IL activity 10
the point that technacianS cannot
control Il. THIS happensd ct Chalk
River, Ontario. in 1862. and the
Canadian government had to place
. hurry call for experts from the
United States TO get the reactor
under control again.
The mere fact that such o thing
cdn occur Is enough TO make pri-
vate operators wonder what the
legal consequences would be II q
privately-operated reactor started
burning UP.
AA
A large number Of administra-
tive problems are also apt TO arise.
Evening star., 1955-09-18
BY ROBERT T. PATTERSON

One Of the important tax prob
lens that Congress failed to solve
during the past session il the anorn-
alous tax position Of cooperative
business organizations.
Most co-operatives are corpora
tions, but they are not subject to
the corporate income tax as other
business corporations are. What is
more, their earnings can be allo-
Gated to members In such o way
that they are not taxable as indivi-
dual income either.
Co-operatives have become big
business, especially farm marketing
and purchasing co-operatives and
city consumer co-operatives. They
have also grown extensively In such
diverse fields as housing, rural elec-
tricity, insurance, medical and fu-
neral services, cold storage, credit
unions. production credit and farm
loan associations.
The latest data, compiled by the
Department Of Agriculture for
1888, show over 10000 farmer CO.
operatives In which some 3 million
individuals held memberships, and
which had transactions Of sos BILL
lion. Data for other types Of CO.
operatives are incomplete, but 3l3
billion seems fair estimate Of total
annual business for all eo-opera-
tives.
Perhaps as much as half O billion
dollars is lost to the Government
each year because co-operatives are
not taxed on the same basis as other
corporations. That amount Of added
revenue would, Of course, be o sub
stantial help toward balancing the
Federal budget or tightening the
burden Of other taxpayers by max
ing tax reduction more feasible.
Double Escape
Co-operatives escape the cor
porate income tax In two ways.
Some, which qualify under the
rather strict requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code, are COM
pletely exempt. Others, under O
long established Treasury ruling,
are allowed to exclude from their
taxable income the amounts that
they allocate as patronage divi-
dends." In this way they can re-
duce their taxable income to q
very small amount yet retain a.
much of their earnings as they
please merely by crediting "divi-
dends" to the ACCOUNTS Of their
patrons.
Augmenting the tax favored
status Of the co-operattves them
selves is the tax advantage of their
members. Under present judicial
Interpretation Of the revenue law
patronage dividends" can be dis
tributed in such form that they are
not taxable income for the mem
bers. This double escape from
income taxes is in marked contrast
30 the tax situation of private
corporations and their dividend
receiving stockholders.
The ordinary business corpora
lions with which the co-operatives
compete must pay up to 81 per
cent Of their income to the Federal
Government. Most of the dividends
they distribute 10 their stockholders
are then subject 10 the individual
income tax.