davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
Friend From Japan

Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu
the man who signed Japan's surrender
a decade ago-will be Washington's most
distinguished foreign visitor during the
coming week, and very welcome one as
well. He is good friend of the West in
general and the United States in par
ticular, and in the round of talks he is to
have here with Secretary of State Dulles
and other high officials, his main objec-
tive will be to promote the closest possible
cooperation between our Nation and his
AS he has put it, Our aspirations are
baSically alike, and so too are our funda-
mental interests" But there are certain
issues that need to be clarified. Our
Government, for example, has not been
satisfied with the pace of Japanese re-
armament, and there are number of
other matters of common interest and
concern, including Tokyo's desire for the
release Of war criminals, and questions
touching upon the possibility Of such
things as trade with Red China and a
peace treaty with Russia. Mr.. Shigemitsu
can be relied upon to make an effective
presentation of Japan's case, and he can
be sure Of receiving an attentive and
sympathetic hearing. AS he himself has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
Central American Bloc?

With the exception of Panama, all
the republics of the Central American
isthmus have now joined in an effort to
translate into action four-year<old
proposal to organize themselves into
cultural and economic bloc that would
ultimately become single political union
"a sort Of miniature United States. They
have long way to co. of course, and they
may in fact never be able to achieve
everything they have in mind, but they
have made at least some progrnes toYafd
1t Al their recent conference ihAntgua,,
Guatemala. ~ go
Thus, despite the threat Of SEEM
ingly hopeless deadlock caused primarily
by Nicaraguan and Costa Rican differ
ences, the countries engaged in this en-
terprise Gel Salvador, Guatemala, Hon
duras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica) have
arrived at compromise that should
enable them to put their long-range
project on solid foundations. Under the
compromise, Foreign Minister Trabanino
of FL Salvador has been chosen as the
first secretary general of what they en-
vision as the Organization, of Central
1ALuC1lCd DIdOCo, dI1O lllo lIl1L1dl G1oh WILL
be to work out plan for bringing them
together in a customs union, which would
be an impressive step toward economic
Indignation. At the same time, the
Antigua conferees have agreed to create
~ commission to unity the laws Of
the five republics and (2) council to
promote cultural and educational CO.
operation.
Considering the rivalries and strife
that have characterized the history Of
Central America, all this may seem to be
naively visionary But the fact remains
that the five countries involved are Gull
turally akin and economically compile
mentary, and even though they may find
actual political union as elusive as will
o'-the-wisp, they are moving in the right
direction when they strive for more and
more, integration. In any event, since
such Indignation could stabilize the entire
area and do much to make 1t prosper,
their current efforts to that end deserve
encouragement.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
The Silly Season

The old-fashioned way to cross the
English Channel is to go by boat. 1t
takes few hours and it is sometimes
rough. A quicker way is to go by air.
1t takes hardly more than few minutes
and requires practically no effort. In
recent years, it has been found that one
can cross by swimming 1t
takes long time-the record is just
short Of II hours-and sounds like lot
Of work If one makes it and even worse
II one doesn't. One lady who tried it
recently fell asleep and had to be hauled
out. Sleep-swimming is even more I'M
predictably dangerous than sleep
walking. But the latest conquest of this
once-proud strip of water has been
achieved on skis-by an English textile
worker in tow by speedboat.
Like fiagpole sitting, it all may prove
something. 1t would be interesting to
know what.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
New Look at BUDGET

Revised estimates that the Federal
budget may be brought into balance by
next June 80 have touched of new spec
ulation about the prospects for tax reduc-
ton In 1856. It is, Of course, premature
to conclude that lowering of rates-in
any category of individual or business
taxes-would be economically justihable
next year. At the same time, it would be
politically naive not to recognize the
temptations and pressures that will be
working In the next session of Congress
for tax relief legislation in an election
year.
The stage for current speculation
was set in joint Treasury Department.
Budget Bureau press conference this
week, on the subject of a midyear review
of the fiscal 1866 budget. On the basis
Of latest figures it was estimated that the
deficit at the end of the fiscal year will
be SIT billion, rather than $2.4 billion
as calculated last January. This improve
ment of $700 million in the deficit column
was explained by an upward estimate Of
$2.1 billion in revenues as against an
upward estimate of STA billion in esti-
mated expenditures. More significantly,
however, it was implied in the news con-
ference that the revenue estimate is
deliberately conservative one (that Fed
eral income actually may run higher
than the present guess of 1921 billion)
and that there may be further subStan-
tial reductions in expenditures. With
this prospect, Secretary of the Treasury
Humphreys careful spokesman on such
matters-said: Barring some unforeseen
development, we think that we should,
and that we can, balance the budget this
year."
AS principal craftsman of admins
tration policy in the monetary field, Mr..
Humphrey made two other revealing
comments In his news conference. One
was that he does not believe any SUBJ
stantial reduction can be made in the
Government debt until there is an i'm
portant change real lessening of ten
sions-in the world situation. The other
was that he always has felt the tax rates
are too high for the economic good of
the country. In the light of these opin-
ions, it was not surprising that he then
added that he would not hesitate to urge
tax reductions If the national economy
still is in its presently prosperous state
next January. There will at that TIME,
of course, be new 1855 budget review,
along with estimates for fiscal 1857.
In summary, the administration ap-
pears to be pinning its hopes on two
things: That business will continue good
and that the, world will remain relatively
at peace. Given these favorable circum-
stances, Federal revenues probably will
go higher than now estimated and pros
poets will be good for further control of
expenditures-without impairing military
security or decreasing Government sers-
ices. balanced budget, even with rea-
ssonable~tax reduction (Which might apply
more to fiscal 1857 than to 1850 may
then become reality.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
Widespread Infection

I see by The Star of August
81 that. so years ago, The
Star editorially Illuminated.
under the heading Scandal
Hysteria": These are the,
halcyon days of the talebear-
er, the bootlicker, and the toe
kisser," with special reference
to Government departments.
In those wonderful days of
rugged individualism and
T.R., the practice was consid-
erably limited. Today this
pernicious philosophy of sub
serviency and sycophancy has
infected all stratas and levels
of human activities, including
the press and the pulpit. and
unprincipled opportunism and
vindictiveness reign supreme.
And the deterioration con-
tinueS.
John ID, Michael.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27

avenue, Massachusetts avenue
and other thoroughfares and
have the police urge you to go,
even though everybody was
driving 40 miles an hour and
violating the speed limits. The
big city idea of moving auto
motive traffic is to move it
get 1t out Of the way-and
that's what Washington did
during the strike.
Too badl I guess those days
are gone forever, until there's
smother transit strike. From
now on. I suppose the Traffic
Department and the Police
Department and everybody
else around Washington that
has anything to do with con-
trolling automotive traffic will
go back to the old-time theory
of slowing traffic down and
stopping 1t. instead Of moving
it out Of the way.
CORTLAND d. Ferguson.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27

Please let me warmly in
dorse a recent excellent letter
In The Star about the impor-
lance Of preserving Washing
tons trees.
Those who have no esthetic
appreciation Of a tree for its
own sake, who regard trees
as merely something in the
way Of more parking space
let these remember that the
tourist trade is Washington's
leading industry. and that its
trees are the city's chief at
traction.
Tourists do not come here
to swelter along shadeless
sidewalks. to gaze upon park
ing lots and filing stations.
and to view the same kind of
sordid, ugly. treeless Main
streets from which they came
away.
Mrs. Charles E. Russell.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
He Had HGood

The transit strike has ended.
This is good for Washington
generally. However, 1t brings
to an end a few glorious weeks
as far as the motorist is con-
cerned.
Really, 1t was great For q
few short weeks. Washington
acted like a big city in its
handling of automobile traffic.
Driving out the main thor
oughfares, there were police
stationed at different corners
waving the motorist on his
way. AS a matter of fact. urg-
ing him to keep moving and
get out Of the way.
What q wonderful feeling 1t
wasl To drive out Connecticut
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
THE POLITICAL MILL
Eisenhower on Firm Fiscal Ground
BY GOULD LINCOLN

from the accomplishment OF
the Eisenhower administration
in Federal fiscal affairs. Nor
will it prevent the President
and other Republican CAM
paigners from claiming credit
for bringing about this great
Improvement in time OF peace.
The Secretary Of the Treasury
presented tables showing that
the budget deficit had ranged
from $9.4 billion In the fiscal
year 1953-the last OF the
Truman fiscal years-to the
latest estimate Of ST. billion
for the present fiscal year.
Also. expenditures dropped
from q high of STAB billion in
fiscal year 1858 to an estimated
1888 billion for the fiscal year
ending next June.
Pressures Never Cease
Obviously, II the Federal
budget is ever to be balanced
it should be possible to do so
at q period Of high produc-
tivity and employment such
as goes on today. Pressures
for big expenditures Of Fed
eral funds. however, never
cease. They are often difficult
to resist, for the projects adj =
vanced are sometimes admir-
able. The determination OF
the Eisenhower administration
to cut down and decentralize.
instead of expanding the Fed
eral Governments activities
has borne some fruit. It could
do more. It has been possible,
also, to make savings on ma
tional defense expenditures
without impairing defense. It
has been possible, too, to cur
tail expenditures by following
some of the recommendations
of the Hoover Commission on
Governmental Reorganization.
Also, the steadfast stand Of
Senator Harry Byrd, Virginia
Democrat and chairman of the
Senate Finance Committee,
against excessive expenditures
and for economy, has been Of
irnmeasufable value.
The tax take from the
American people and Ameri-
can business is enormous. The
estimate of the receipts Of the
Government from taxes in the
present fiscal year is 1921
billion. This is $2.1 billion
higher than the estimate made
by the Treasury Department
last January. Increases in
personal incomes this year and
largely increased corporation
profits have been responsible.
While there is no foreseeable
date for low taxes for the
American people-with a ma
tional debt of $276 billion
staring them in the face and
a constant need for maintain
ing large military establish
ments-every decrease in the
tax burden is highly to be de-
sired. Further, it will make it
possible for the people to spend
more Of their own money.
rather than have the Govern
ment spend it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
Man With q Plan

AS a longtime patron OF the
Capital Transit Co.. I was graf
ified to read in the Sunday
Star that an operating agree
ment had been reached be-
tween the employees union, the
transit company and the Dis
trict Commissioners. But as
usual the patrons Of the trans
1t system are being made the
goat by carrying the added
burden of more pay and more
security In the form of retire.
ment pay for the employees.
What is wrong with the en-
ployes footing their own re-
tirement bill? Again the bur-
den is thrown back on those
who are least able to pay with
out any future benefit what
ever coming their way.
1t appears to me that the
Commissioners chief concern
should be to see that the pa
irons are given as much con-
sideration as the company or
the employees. After all, the
number of transit patrons will
determine the company's prof.
1t and the transit drivers
steady employment. 1t is EVIL
dent that the agreement on
fares as published in The Star
will produce less patrons and
more private automobiles on
the streets during rush hours.
1t would appear that the com.
pany's problem at this stage
OF the game would be to hold
onto the patrons they had
prior to the shutdown" and
come up with a plan that would
be beneficial for the long pull. /
would like to make a sugges-
ton If I may? 1t might help
to reinstate the weekly pass
at $3.50 and allow six tokens
for 81.
Speaking of the long pull,
] would like to mention another
plan. According to the papers,
Wolfson has proposed the sur
render of Capital Transit's
franchise. II this is true, sell
the company to the union.
The parent union, the AFL, is
amply equipped to furnish the
local the cash (perhaps in
tereSt free) with which to pur-
chase the controlling shares
OF stock, or all that might be
for sale not owned by. Wolfson
and his associates. The local
in turn would handle the stock
subscription for the employees.
deducting the amounts agreed
upon from their pay, in the
same way the company handles
their union dues. This looks
as If it might be an oppor-
tune time for the District gov
eminent to test the good faith
OF these power hungry union
bosses toward the general pub
lie, or should I say the prole-
tariat. At least this should end
pickering every year or so, for
more pay and more benefits
for the membership. At least
they would find how easy it
is to ride their own horse.
A Transit pafron
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
Sees School Crisis

In last Sundays Star, E. B.
Henderson wrote: Most of
the Defenders Of States Rights
still send their children to pri-
,vate schools where they can
learn to live above the masses"
More than likely, he refers to
the Defenders of State Sow
ereignty," an organization of
which I am a charter member.
I know 80 per cent Of the mem
bership and can think of only
two families which use pri-
vate schools. The Defenders"
is an organization which dis
credited Mr.. Henderson and
his few PTA friends at the
Annandale workshop" when
they attempted to represent
thousands of Virginia parents.
Mr.. Henderson also attacks
the plan to abolish compulsory
public education. The stand
ards Of scholarship in the pub
lie schools have fallen so low
because Of progressive" edu-
cational teachings and the
continuous accent on world
citizenship" and "UNism" that
perhaps free education should
be reserved for those gifted
ones whose maximum capaci-
ties are presently limited to
the level of the mental ceiling
Of the substandard students.
Mr.. Henderson recently
boasted publicly of a Negro
conducted petition in which
2,071 Negroes opposed segrega-
ton. Then in the same breath
he wrote: after all, little at
tention should be paid to polls
of opinion secured by white
pollsters." I offer the above
to discredit this mans ram
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
ProdiguI Kitten

She called him and hunted
him, morning TIL night.
And grieUed till her eyes 1Dere
a Sorro,Dtul sight.
His boDl OF fresh milk tDdS set
out Just the same
As u he had come i0ben she
first called his name.
His pillo,0 DaB fu6ed, but for
no furry ball.
The playhouse all cleaned, but
for no purring doll.
One morning the cloud dis
appeared from her eyes,
For there, on the porch. to her
hedrt-SurpriSe,
As she had dreamed OF the
prodigdl one,
Her little gray tUorld lay curled
In the sun.
Angela Coll
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
A Bonus for Barter

Virginia's remote, yet renowned,
Barter Theater has just received another
award of merit that falls into the cate
CORY of the intensely practical. This is
a grant of 100000, at the rate of $4,000
annually for the next three years, from
the Old Dominion Foundation of New
York. 1t comes as a supplement to the
$11 900 donated every IL months by the
Virginia State Conservation Commission.
These appropriations, the one from public
and the other from carefully administered
private funds, are eloquent testimony to
the artistic worth of Bob Porterfelds
project at Abingdon, Va. Mr.. Porterf1eld
Is at once the idealist and realist in the
theater. This Is rare combination in
his chosen field and It's success in the
Abingdon venture recommends it more
widely.
1t was the realist Porterfield who
back in the depression days traded the
escape Of the theater for the produce,
the vegetables, poultry, ETC., of his hard
pressed neighborS. It attracted national
attention, especially from top-level per-
formers of the theater who had services,
affection and good counsel, If not money,
tosdonate to Barters cause. In time, this
changed. With the return of prosperity,
Barter's boxoffice went on money
standard without loss of its neighborly
attitude. What never has changed is
Barter's artistic standard It started high
and remains high, at home and on the
road to which the company takes every
autumn with the close of its summer
season at Abingdon. It's awards and re-
wards are honorably earned.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
"TAKOMA PARK.
Dear Sir:

Dear Sir:
Il like your thoughts about
books. To me it Is an amaZ-
ing thing to see people with
out the slightest appreciation
of them. The terrible thing is
not whether Johnny can read
or not, but whether he has or
lacks a love Of books.
IF there are booklovers,
there will always be reading.
The sports and other activities
of modern youth have a place,
but they can only be second in
mind. to support it and help
give it vigor.
IT saw a photograph Of a
boy the other day. and I
asked several people to guess
his age. The guesSes ranged
from 26 to 40 years. Actually,
he was just IL years old.
This is maturity, as we
have been taught, but what
about the intellect, the preci-
Gus mental age Of which there
has been so much talk? There
is nothing but study that will
give it, and nothing else but
books to study with, to help
the brain grow.
Recently ! was in a new
home, replete with gadgets. 1t
had about everything that the
mind has been able to dream
up in the way of electrical
conveniences.
"They did not impress me
too much. but when we got to
the attic. I drew in my
breath sharply, for suddenly
and at one step I had to re-
wise my entire idea Of the
owner.
HE had fitted his top floor
up as a library. 1t held a pro-
cession of implanted book
cases around the walls. There
was a fine aroma of wood, and
paper, and printing ink.
Here were some of the
most wonderful books of the
ages. Many of them were
without dust jackets. showing
that they were printed long
before the paper jacket be-
came popular in America.
II stood in wonder at this
array, mentally contrasting it
with the extreme gadgetry of
the floors below.
1.-THE owner said to me,
quietly, This is where I come
when want to escape and I
understood, as you would have
understood.
Sincerely, M. j. L."
X 49,
The problem of the small
library in the modern home is
not a simple one.
An amazing number of per-
sons, especially those who
make the motor car their god,
have no liking for books.
They rather seem to resent
that any one can like books.
Such people would not admit
it, of course. but they particu-
larly do not care for others
to spend their own money on
books.
They resemble the drunk
who not only does not want
others to criticize him. but also
wants others to drink with
him.
The friend Of books has his
own brand Of intoxication.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-27
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL
It. too, has a long history.

1t. too, has a long history.
1t runs back to the islands
off the coast of Ireland, where
the first monasteries were
founded.
Repeated invasion by bar
barian Danes and others would
have reduced books to powder
If they had not been hard to
find.
The bookmen Of the world
have always had to bear the
brunt Of the displeasure Of
others.
1t is still so.
It is better to hide ones
library in the attic. than to
attract too much attention
from the gadget lovers Of this
world.
Books have mostly become
mere addenda to the new
homes.
If there are any at all, they
occupy a distinctly inferior
place in the house, fourth or
fifth place. at best.
Old fashioned Washington
homes sometimes had book
cases built in with glass doors
beneath the mantel, when
there was no fireplace. This
was better than nothing.
The more modern open cases
ranged on either side of the
fireplace, in many homes, and
if they are filed, the average
owner today is very proud of
his collection, as he should be,
but actually this is only a
starter.
The real reason that hous-
ing many books is a problem
is that the modern home is
not designed, in the first place,
for books. In fact, some houses
we have seen simply have no
place for them. Books are or
phans of the storm. They are
motherless children in a cring-
ing new world of brass,
front" and indifference.
The amazing thing is that
at this very time in our coun-
try's history, book learning"
stands higher than ever.
Today it is almost impos-
sible to get a job without a
college degree, and many busi-
nesSes demand a masters de-
gree. and sometimes Pho.
Books do 1t.
So why give them up, after
you get your job?