davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-03-16
This and That

few families. just three, on the north
side Of the block, and just one On the
south side.
The Jones family had lived in q
fine two-story house with broad porches
all around. In the English style the
kitchen on the front. with a 'afge
sewing room with built-in cabinets
half way UP the steps, and library
on the back. on the ground teve, with
bookcases TO the ceiling all around t'
As Shep Nelson and Temp Jones
ran out to this neighborhood. sireacy
part of it, was gone, but in their
hearts they could see the old places,
they thought.
The long black car slowed UP as 1t
got to the corner. @
sA There" cried Shep, pointing ex-
citedly, was where the old judge lived.
Look at 1t now!"
Templeton Jones sighed.
''And where" he asked. els your old
house?"
: ''our old house isn't here any more
said Shep. 1T used to stand where
that apartment is
Templeton Jones suddenly cried,
"Slow downl There is our old home"
Sure enough. there 1t was. the same
porches, the same yard. but thu latter
now hemmed in by row houses to
both sides. 5s
1t was at this juncture thar three
squat, thick men with hats pulled
down over their foreheads detached
themselves from house and came
over 70 the stopped car. . ..,,. .--.
Shep Nelson and Tempieton Jones
Evening star., 1955-03-16

Shep Nelson and his friend Temple
ton Jones recently entered time lock,
as the science fiction boys call 1t. and
took swift trip back to their childhood
homes.
To the average eye, the time lock"
was nothing but an automobile. one OF
these old-fashioned black cars "a block
long" to use the famous phrase
Shep and Temp might have been
boys together again as thev set out
gaily on their trip backward,
What they hadn't stopped to realize
was Just how much the old neighbor-t
hood. in what fifty years ago was
suburban Washington, had changed.
and the residents with It. A
Maybe 1t was just as well they hadn't
quite kept UP with the growth of their
city, because urban growth Is often
backward. too, 80
From high-class residential Sec
ton, when the Jones and Ne,sor- fam
lilies had lived there. 1t had run down.
and now was no better that 1t should be.
Communities run down. not at the
heel. as people do, but at the houses
at the streets. at the very drab ap-
pearance.
They become too crowded. Where
one family lived, stretched out COM
fortably, "a families now reside verti-
cally. in tail, narrow apartment house
This was the sort of place Jones and
Nelson of today were going back to.
actually. but what they had in mind
uoe cor,aoff,iy, alec T1tav r,iNf,r an A.
Evening star., 1955-03-16
By THE HASKIN SERVICE

@. Is any one season Of the year
better than others for beginning Q
.weight-reducting diet?-L. c. E.
A. Nutritionists have pointed out
that ordinarily the time to start dieting
is during spring, summer and early
autumn. when people generally are less
hungry than in winter, and when colds
and influenza are not so common.
@. Is the ladybird used by farmers
to keep down crop pests a special va
riety, or will any kind do?-P. w,
A. Not every ladybird viii serve the
purpose. For shipping to farmers 1t
must belong to species which hi,
bernates in colonies. OF the. $50 spe-
cies in the United States the most
suitable one is the convergent lady
bird, Hippodamia convergens. which
hibernates and is also inactive during
the summer.
@. Does rock salt damage concrete
sidewalks when it is used to melt ice
and snow?-T. w. p. n.
A. The National Bureau Of Stand
ards says that both sodium chloride
and calcium chloride may have del
eterious effect on concrete. One pro-
cedure that is being used to protect
concrete roads is to sprinkle an oil on
the surface. This will prevent absorp-
ton Of the salt solution by the con-
crete. and in this way prevent further
deterioration.
Evening star., 1955-03-16
BY Charles E. Trocewen

didn't know it, probably they never.
will find out, but the three men were,
reputed to be big time" gamblers q !
What are you guys doing here?..
asked the ugly one, he with scar on
his right cheek. fA
Jones bristled, but dear old Shep
was not offended in the least.
why" he grinned, cheerfuliy, I'VE.
are looking over the old houses where
we lived when we were boys" S
"And where" asked q tail fellow.
might your house be?"
"Its gone," said Shep. They tore
1t down and put in that apartment"
'tAnd your house?" asked Scarcheek,
turning to Templeton Jones.
There 1t Isl" said Jones. Fright
there. and / kept guinea pigs in the
back yard"
The evil one suddenly grinned from
ear to ear.
Guinea pigs he said, as II they
were beautiful words. Say, fellow
kept guinea pigs when was a kid,
and you know what. happenedp J got
SO many
you got so many" roared Temple
ton Jones, that your father made you
get rid of them alll'
You're right, fellow" said the other.
stepping back, and waving his arm.
Take your time" he said. land look
1t over. But guess you won't see any
guinea pigs" he grinned: and as the
three squat men turned away. he said
to the others. Guinea pigs" as II
they were somehow the most beautiful
things In the world.
Evening star., 1955-03-16
Some inadequate System

4 1t was Just q year ago this month that
q garg OF Puerto Rican political extremists
invaded the House gallery and sprayed bull
lets over the congressman in the chamber.
Two Of the more seriously wounded legis-
lators, Representatives Bentley Of Michigan
and Roberts Of Alabama, now have called
public attention to the hard-to understand
fact that Congress still tolerates the same
inadequate security system which failed to
prevent the shooting affray last year.
The two victims Of the vicious attack
have introduced legislation to reorganize
the Capitol Police Force along merit, as
opposed to patronage, lines..&A similar bill
was passed by the House last year, but IT
died on the Senate side-presumably be-
cause Of reluctance of patronage dispensers
to give up any of their prerogatiyes. A
study Of the need for better policing of the
rather than fitness for police work was the
dominating consideration in selecting men
for the guard contingent.
The only noticeable improvement in the
old system was made recently, with the ap-
pointment Of an experienced police officer.
Inspector Robert Pearce, as head OF the
Capitol Police Force. Inspector Pearce had
served for many years with the Metropolitan
Police Department here, with frequent spe-
ciai assignments at the Capitol. But Inspec-
tor Pearce cannot fairly be held responsible
for another shooting incident or other dis
order If Congress refuses to give him quail
fied personnel for the big job. And there
viii be no assurance of better force until
a reorganization of the sort proposed by
Representatives Bentley and Roberts has
been completed.
Evening star., 1955-03-16
Give!

Wearing the small red cross she stands
once more
With hand outstretcted: oh. friend.
close not the doorlt AZ
1t could be sons OF ours that she might
To help; her uoice might be the one to
Their fears, her hand the one to ease
their pain. ;@s
To lorite the letters home; to do again
The many things that she has dlicdys
done, rsc -
on through the night and after rising
sun. altEN
True mother OF the world Is she; all
creeds Aa
All nations one ,oithin her arms; her
deeds -
OF mercy free to all; help her today;
1t is so small thing she asks. pray
God grant us understanding OF her
north, 3 8v e 80
Who teaches a true brotherhood on
earth. eG .g -. -
Eva Grent ManheIl
Evening star., 1955-03-16
Letters to The Star =.

the District income tax to catch the.
families with incomes down to $1,000.
This would raise another one-fourth Of
the revenue. And. In addition. they
have, proposed increasing sales taxes
on food and drugs-the very necessities
Of every family's living.
The one source they have not sug-
gested Is raising the rates on the in
come tax In the higher income brackets
which would raise the money from
those who can best afford to pay it.
We hope the District Commissioners
win be sufficiently representative Of all
the people to send the experts" back
to do their work better.
Mrs. Todd Duncan,
President, Washington Chapter.
Americans for Democratic Action.
Evening star., 1955-03-16
Victory in the Senate

The national welfare prevailed over
party politics in the Senate yesterday, as the
tax bill was passed In that chamber follow
ing the defeat, by vote of so to "A, Of the
so-called Democratic substitute.
It is necessary to qualify the description
of the substitute because 1t was finally de-
feated, not by the Republicans alone, but
with the indispensable help Of five Demo-
Gratis. Senator Byrd played the leading role
with statement which devastatingly ex-
posed the fallaciousness, one might almost
say the disingenuousnesS, OF the substitute
proposal. To him, 1t is only fair to say, must
60 the major credit for good days work
But he was firmly supported in the critical
test by his colleague from Virginia, Senator
Robertson, and by Democratic Senators
George, Ellender and Holland.
The measure now goes to conference for
reconciliation with the House-approved
credit of $40 for everybody. Our political
system being what it is-both parties, after
all, frequently play politics with taxes-a
stiff fight may be in prospect. But with this
country facing an uncertain future in a
dangerous world, most members Of both
House and Senate know in their hearts that
this is no time to be angling for votes with
a phony tax measure. It Is one thing to
try to make record; something else finally
to vote for any scheme that is inimical to
the national interest. For this reason, the
Senate action should prevail, and the
chances are that 1t will.
Evening star., 1955-03-16
Security Risks

In the issuance of various reports Of
the. number Of security-risk firings, the.
administration has managed to create
q demagogic din which has succePded
in almost completely drowning out thed
facts hehind the flgures-sucll as thee
faint voice OF the, Civil Service COM
mission telling us that the variable
January security-risk list Of: 8,0e6
includes. also the names of those en-
ployes who may have resigned for one
reason or another which had no bear
ing on security even in its vaguest2
Interpretation. &aa
If the Civil Service Commission will,
once and for all, tabulate the actual
number Of those who have been fired
as security risks, we shall at least have
a start in the right direction Senator
Humphrey has proposed bipartisan
commission to review all security pro-
grams. This sounds like the nucleus
Of the establishment of group which
could help to formulate a clarification
Of those existing rules which are the
determinants of security evaluations.
- Jessie B. Solomon.
Evening star., 1955-03-16
'Dupes' and Geneties

Judging from his column in yesterdays
Star, David Lawrence needs to read up
little bit more on the question of whether
or not there are possible long-range genetic
hazards hazards affecting the reproductive
health of the human race-in the prospect
of ever multiplying tests OF atomic hydro
gen weapons.
For Mr.. Lawrence has been much too
sweeping and dogmatic in what he has writ
ten. He may be right, OF course, in declaring
that Soviet propagandistS are exploiting the
subject lin an effort "to scare the American
people in order to force the Government
here to abandon all further tests" But he
has gone of into wild blue yonder of his
own with the assertion that "some we'll
meaning scientists" together with other
Americans who have voiced concern over
this matter, "are being innocently duped"
and "are playing the Communist game url-
Willingly by exaggerating the Importance
of radioactive substances known as fall
out" @
Mr.. Lawrence thus has suggested that
some of the worlds leading geneticists, out
standing members of the American Federa-
tion of Scientists and numerous other quail
ified individuals and groups have been hood-
winked by the Kremlin into talking through
their hats about the possibility that future
accelerated H-bomb tests-by several pow
ers-may reach radioactive level that
could be a major threat to the genetic
safety of peoples everywhere. Mr.. Lawrence
has pooh-poohed the idea that such a possi-
bility exists. According to him, there isn't
a shred of truth in any Of it." And to
bolster his contention, he has quoted from
the recent statement in which Chairman
Strauss of the Atomic Energy Commission
declared that all nuclear detonations to date
ours Britain's and Russia's combined
have caused only thoroughly inconse-
ouential increase In radiation received by
Americans and that the Aces experts "dO
not believe that this small amount OF addi-
tional exposure is any basis for serious con-
cern at this time.
But now let us see. Has Mr.. Lawrence
given sufficient weight TO the phrase "Gt
this time? Has he mulled over the fact
that Mr. Strauss, In the same paragraph
of the same statement acknowledged that
conclusive data is not available at present
on which to base an incontrovertible fore
cast" regarding the effects that additional
test-created radiation might have on fu-
ture generations? And has he paid ade-
uuate attention to the significant qualiflca-
tion made by the Aces experts in their
otherwise reassuring report on the "fall-out"
problem2 The qualification is this: "At
our present stage Of genetic knowledge"
(which is relatively scanty) there Is a
rather wide range of admissible opinion on
this subject" and the entire question there
fore remains 'ify" enough to call for con-
tinuing and thorough study.
Clearly, in these circumstances, even
Evening star., 1955-03-16
Breach in the Fifth Amendment

The Supreme Courts 5-to-3 Endorsement
of the gambling tax law ends the argument
as to the constitutionality Of that statute.
But it does not dispel the impression that
the dissenting judges have taken the
sounder position.
In masterful exhibition of word Jug
Cling, the majority of the court concludes
that the law is valid exercise of the taxing
power rather than penalty under the guiSe
Of tax, that it does not cut across the Fifth
Amendments ban on standardization
and that it does not contravene the Fourth
Amendments prohibition against unreason-
able search and seizure.
In other words, the court says that this
law, born of the Kefauver crime investiga-
tion, was designed as revenue measure, not
as a weapon to break up gambling. man,
according to the court, is not compelled to
testify against himself when he is required,
If he CANDLES, to pay registration feeoand
fill out form In which he discloses to the
authorities his place Of business, the names
OF his employees, the identities OF those who
receive wagers for him or for whom ne
receives wagers, etc. Finally, in this test
case, the court refused to examine the con-
tention that to pay the tax and exhibit the
required stamp in place Of business would
provide probable cause for issuance of a.
search warrant. The ready answer, the
court said, is that the gambler in this case
had no stamp, and therefore no standing
to raise the question. @
This in its totality, is view which can
be arrived at only by closing ones eyes to
the realities. AS practical matter, the law
does the things which the court says it does
not do. And experience will show that the
dissenting judges have good reason to say
that the law is violative Of the Fifth Amend
ment, that gamblers, like others, have a
right to invoke the amendments safeguards,
and that "it should not be forgotten that
breaches opened to get lawless gamblers
remain to jeopardize the liberty Of the law
abiding"
Without contending that there is any
exact parallel, 1t seems strange indeed to
the layman that the Fifth Amendment.
which serves TO protect one man from possi-
bly, discriminating himself as Communist.
cannot serve to protect another man from
possibly discriminating himself as gambler.
Evening star., 1955-03-16

Of American Marines on islands Of the
Pacific and how the petroleum powered
japanese planes which wrecked our
naval forces. ,4a
For those tragic losses surely much
responsibility rests on officials in WASH
ington who then permitted the ship
ments. How ironical it is, and perhaps
it will be tragic again. that there are
those in the Capital who would permit
cargoes of jet fuel like that on the
tanker Aruba to reach Red China
there to be pumped into Macs Jets to
enable them to write another chapter
in the story of American folly.
Norman S. Cooke.
Vero Beach, Fla.
Evening star., 1955-03-16

noon lambasting the Democratic Party
chairman because he said Mrs. Eisen-
hover was not strong physically. CALI
Ing him Hscoundrel," or worse, is one
Of the silIiest things I've witnessed in
my 40 years in Washington. And I've
seen both parties do some pretty silly
ones.
I understand that one Senator said
that flr. Butler evidently didn't want
Mr.. Eisenhower to become the Republic
can candidate in 1856. 1t seems to me
that any one ought to know that we
Democrats wouldn't be too eager to
have as good vote-getter as the Presi-
dent proved himself to be as the can
didate of the opposition party. If Mr..
Butler didn't feel that way, it would
certainly be time for us to look for
new chairman.
believe that most Americans have
enough romance in their. hearts to
thoroughly enjoy seeing the devotion
OF the President and his wife. and that,
it seems to me was what Mr.. Butler
had in mind when he made his remark.
e L. HI.
Evening star., 1955-03-16
Third-cIuss MoiI

Your correspondent. James NJ. Cow
ington, has novel idea for solving
the postal deficit. He suggests that
third class mail advertising matter)
be eliminated from the postal service.
arguing that 1t is handled at q loss
and that 1t is unwanted.
Postage paid by third-class users last
year was $3.50 million. This covered
132 billion pieces. The annual cost Of
creating this advertising material
(printing, paper, etc. IS 81 billion. ]
think we can discard Mr.. Covingtcn's
thesis that nobody reads or responds
10 third -class mail. Businessmen Just
do not spend d billion and half dollars
without some return. In fact the
amount Of goods and services sold by
direct mail is wen over SIS billion.
since third-class mail gets deferred
service that Is. It need only be handled
when postal workers and facilities are
idle-we can cast considerable doubt on
his other contention, namely, that
money will be saved If third-class mail
Is eliminated.
The Star might resolve this doubt by
asking the Post Office Department: IF
third-class mail were eliminated. what
would the savings be?"
II is the contention Of this writer
that $252 million In revenue would ne
lost without reduction in costs total
ing anywhere near that amount. Eighty
per cent Of Post once Department ex-
penditures are for salaries. Fifty thou
sand postal employees would have to be
fired to save $252 million.
Like customers making night tele-
phone calls and attending afternoon
movies. attracted by low charges. third
class mail revenue is almost pure profit
for the department Mr.. Covington is
probably one of very few Americans
who have not bought Christmas Seal
reaching him by third-class mail or
any of the countless American-made
products offered through this medium.
Sparkless indeed is the person who.
upon receiving the latest nursery or
seed catalogue. casts 1t away. Rare in
deed is the fellow who blindfolds him.
self when the color folder showing the
latest car model reaches his mailbox.
We Americans are, suppose, q pc
culiar people. We make more Of the
good things of life than any other
nation, and we manage to sell them
to each other. Direct mail is only one
way of selling what labor produces,
but it is an important method. Both
major political parties are agreed that
Americans can produce more, thus
creating an expanding economy But
a selling job has to be done II we are
to prevent unsold inventories.
There may be honest disagreement
over the rate of postage third-class
mail should pay, but there is no deny
ing the healthful impact direct mail
selling has on the American economy
The several million Americans whose
livelihood depends on direct mail will
attest, to this. The canard that third
class mail is discarded by all who re-
ceive it should once and for all be
buried.
Harry J. Maginnis,
Executive Manager, Associated
Third Glass Mail Users. III
Editors Note: According to Post
: ONCE Department statisticians. the
handling Of third-class mail last year
cost sl47 million more than 1t paid in
postage. Meanwhile. first-class mail
paid some S63 million more than it
cost to handle)
Evening star., 1955-03-16

though A and H tests are Of vital imper-
tance to the Nations security, and even
though further inquiry may prove them to
be genetically harmless, there is no justi-
.fication for describing as Communist
"dupes" those reputable scientists who sus-
pect that there may be real danger in such
experimentation. Accordingly, at very least,
Mr.. Lawrence and others who have ex-
pressed similar views would be well advised
to be no more dogmatic about this matter
than the Acc itself isa
Evening star., 1955-03-16
Auto Tue Focts and Figures

On March 8, 1855, the undersigned
phoned the Department Of Motor We
hicles and Traffic, District government,
for some information on auto tags:
specifically, If should purchase 1856
tags for my present auto tat fee OF
$23) and later on, say In May or June.
decided to sell my present auto and
purchase another, could transfer my
tags to my new car. ! was told that
could not transfer my tags to another
auto. and further. that ] must reapply
for tags for the new auto and pay the
full fee tS23) thereby bringing the
cost of 1856 auto tags to total Of $46.
thought perhaps the clerk to whom
had spoken had made mistake or
had misunderstood me. so phcned
the department again the same day
and received the same information from
another clerk. who said this was based
on the new law.
Therefore. If this be the case, any
District motorist who sells his present
car and buys another between April l,
1855. and March |, 1856. must pay the
staggering fee Of $40 or in the case
Of heavier cars $66 for 1855 auto tags.
This of course does not include sales tax
or title fee. si
knowing the reputation of your news
paper for gathering factual information,
would appreciate your checking my
source of information in this matter;
and If you find that ] have been mis-
informed. please SO inform me. But
If the information is correct, I'm sure
youll agree that it would be in the
public interest of all District motorists
20 publish such information prominently
in your newspaper as soon as possible.
F. J. Creamer, jr.,
Editors note: Traffic Director George
e. Keneipp says Mr.. Creamer not only
can transfer his license tags, but that
1t would be automatic. He will, how
ever, have to pay the $23 fiat fee twice.
under the city's new Public Works Act,
but will not have to pay the personal
property tax formerly charged, Mr..
Keneipp says. ALI told. a comparison
indicates. Mr.. Creamer may save money
under the new system. Mr.. Keneipp
offers this illustration: To register his
car for the current year under the old
OycVCA1, NNl. NLCdlNcI WUUlU nave IIhO
to pay a weight tax of IS, 81 inspec-
tion fee and 2 per cent of fair market
value in personal property tax. II the
Blue Book value of his car was $500,
he would have paid $16 in property tax,
and the total would have come to $22.
On his new car. he would have had to
pay 81 to transfer the tags, a 81 in
spection fee and per cent of fair mar
ket value in personal property tax. That
tax dropped lil2 each month through
the license year, so his property. tax
orla $4,000 car in May would have been
$40.34. Total cost on the new car
S42.34. Total cost on both cars-$64 "a.
Now, however, under the new system, he
pays $23 to register his old car and
another $23 on the new car. Total cost
on both cars-$46, a savings of 1884.
Mr. Keneipp points out that the $23
fiat fee actually is $22 fee, plus 81
for inspection. The fee, he says, drops
SO per cent each. October /, half way
through the license year, r4,,..e,