davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-02-27

its strategic and economic needs.
First. we and our allies should set
specific rearming goals for the next
two or three years. Europe and the
Far East then could do little solid
planning.
We should then strive for eco
nomic stability during that period,
Mr.. Lubell believes, by letting tar
ifs alone. by encouraging con-
vertibility of the major currencies.
by expanding our foreign invest-
ments and by holding our own
economy on an even keel through
Government action.
If other countries try harder to
compete and if we hold the boat
steady, two or three years should
De enough to adjust the free world
TO the new economic conditions.
The House has already approved
a three-year try at the free-trade-
the Randall-approach. The odds
are that the Senate will follow suit.
If it does. and freer trade solves
the problem, then Mr.. Lubbell can
go quietly back to predicting elec-
ti0nS
But if free trade turns out to
oa an illusion, then MI, Lubell's more
difficult approach might be the
logical alternative.
Evening star., 1955-02-27
What's Being Done About the Housed Fifth of Nation?

is reimbursed for it's investment out
of proceeds. Tenants pay 20 per
cent of their income. and get what
ever quarters they require Dwell
ingS range all the way from one
to f1ve-bedroom apartments. Their
average cost to the Government is
$4,000.
Slum Clearance Link
Since last year, Congress has
linked its public housing projects
with slum clearance. Beneficiary
States and cities must show that
they are combating the slum prob
lem. This requirement has had
the effect of further restricting the
public housing program, because I8
States have no Slum clearance pro-
grams. In Maryland, for instance,
only Baltimore has such a project
under way.
Both political parties have been
sklttish about expanding the public
housing program. Real estate men
and builders still provide the bulk
OF opposition to public housing.
They have always considered 1t
subsidized competition But many
are now coming around to the view
that it does them no harm because
it reaches level of income they
would not find profitable anyhow.
And where public housing has re-
suited in Slum clearance. it has
actually raised property values.
Even if Congress and the Admins
tration were to decide on expansion,
however, 1t would be at least dec
ade before even a quarter OF the
United States substandard housing
could be replaced or improved. The
bottleneck would be training Of gov
ernment inspectors and development
personnel. Inspectors would be re-
quired, housing officials say, to keep
an eye on contractors and builders,
whose reputation for economy with
public funds the FHA scandals have
shown to be less than spotless.
While the outlook for significantly
improving substandard housing con-
tinues to be bleak, however, Kremlin
propagandists ought not be carried
away. AS is we'll known, the short
age Of peoples democratic plumbing
Is much more acute: and what there
u Of 1t II notoriously inferior.
Evening star., 1955-02-27

is estimated, will drain off $725 mil
lion. Another SIT billion will go
for public assistance, mainly social
security, relief, school lunch pro-
grams, and the like.
The big housing problem, of
course, is concentrated in the lower
income groups. Every year since
1850 more than l million private
nonfarm housing starts have been
made. but mainly for middle income
groups. Usually, close to half of
these homes are Government under
written. through the Federal Hous-
ing Authority and the Veterans Ad-
minlstration. which guarantees loans
made by private f1nanciers.
Postwor Experience
In 1854, for instance, IL million
housing starts were made. Among
these, 100000 we're built under VA
guaranteed loans and 276.000 under
FILA loans. In postwar years, this
private construction has been re-
sponsible for over 80 per cent of
home building in the country.
But it has benefited mainly the
people who were able to pay. And
because of population increases
there has been little abandoning of
the substandard housing for better
quarters.
Most Of the progress has come
from Government building for some
loW-income families. But under
neither the Democrats nor the Re-
publicans has the program made
much of dent on the 85 million
substandard units.
Democratic Congresses authorized
$4,000 housing starts year, but the
Government actually started con-
struction on only 18,100 in 1913;
$4,000 in 1949; 43,800 in 1850; H.
200 in 1851 and $500 in 1852.
Under the Republicans, public hous-
ing starts we're $500 in 1853 and
19,400 in 1854.
These homes built with Federal
money are aimed at families in the
$500 to $4,000 year income bracket.
averaging $4,000 a year. Local hous-
ing authorities take over the hous-
ing projects once they have been
planned by the national Govern
ment. Gradually the Government
Evening star., 1955-02-27

should doubt the conscious inten-
ton of the architects to achieve
this harmony, let him consider the
design and location of the Arlington
Memorial Bridge, for in those days
bridges were not built without re-
spect to the decent claims of civic
art.
This bridge might have been built
so as to continue across the river
the long axle that unites the Capitol
and the Lincoln Memorial 1t was,
in fact, built at an angle of 80 de-
greeS to this axis. In that position
1t announces definitely the termina-
ton of the central formalities and
takes its place as the southern boun-
Diary of a natural landscape whose
unity it defines and cit may be
hoped)-guards for all time.
This intention OF the architects
to develop the river Landscape as re-
lief and entourage-is made still
more evident by their proposal to
extend Roosevelt Island, southwark
as far as the bridge where it would
have been accessible as a public
park. The effect of this extension
on the scenic architecture of the
river might not have been fortunate,
but its purpose is unmistakable.
An Alternative Plan?
When We consider the solicitude
for the honor of our National Capt.
tai which these subtleties exhibit, we
ought not TO forget that this honor
Is not an exclusive possession of the
City Of Washington. The people of
that city have every right to de-
mand and receive convenient and
adequate transportation throughout
their city. but they do not have the
right-the moral right--to mutilate
civic design which belongs to the
people of the United States by a
right no less inalienable to those
future generations for whom we are
today trustees.
Evening star., 1955-02-27
By EorI n. Voss

One non-farm home out of five in
this land of the high living standard
is SubStandard according to Gov
ernment definition. Yet the Federal
Government proposes to spend only
$12 million net-out of total net
budget of 1924 billion-on housing
in the fiscal year starting next
July /.
Americas housing conditions un-
doubtedly will grow worse before
they grow better. Private construc-
ton is not making much headWay
against the burgeoning population.
And Congress is unwilling to spend
Federal funds fast enough to make
significant improvements.
When the Government speaks of
substandard housing, of course, it
has in mind a peculiarly American
definition. In this country, plumbing
sets the standard more than any
other single factor. According to
rather old u950l but still applicable
statistics of the Census Bureau,
there were".s.a million non-farm
dwellings lacking private indoor
flush toilets Another 80 million
dwellings were classed as dilapi-
dated but not as "substandard."
Much improvement Needed
That brings one to the shocking
conclusion that some II or IL mil
lion of the countrys 40-odd million
non farm homes - around Is per
cent - still need major improve
ments today. This proportion takes
into account the new homes built
since 1850 and what relatively few
substandard types have been reno
vated
According to housing officials, "all
kinds of residences from skyScraper
penthouses and mansions to tar
paper shackS and trailers" are in
cluded in these statistics.
The Republican Administrations
approach to the housing problem
stems from two statements of phil
oSophy which President Eisenhower
repeated in his budget message to
Congress last month. One was gen.
eral:
"A liberal attitude toward the well
fare OF people and q conservative
Evening star., 1955-02-27
In Freedom VS.. Protection Discussion
A Third Force Arises With New Formula
By Richard FrykIund

laissez-faire is possible in the world
today, he says.
Here is how Mr.. Lubell sees the
modern world:
Nations do not want to specialize.
Each wants to be independent eco
nomically so that it will no longer
be victimiZed by the dislocationS OF
war, the proflteering of processing
and manufacturing nations and the
vagaries of world price fluctuations.
And they are seeking this lndepend-
ence in a trade world steadily mar
rowed by the induStrialization Of
smaller nations and the wall erected
by the Soviet bloc, world compli-
Gated by wartime destruction. cold
war aImamentS and demands by the
people for better life.
Out of this new pattern will never
come free trade. Mr.. Lubell believes.
What will straighten out the trade
mess? First, he says, we must for
get the myth that reduction Of
American tariffs is the key to every
thing. He says that even if all our
tariffs and quotas were wiped out,
our imports would be increased by
only around $2.6 billion a year at
the most-not enough to provide
the dollars needed by our dollar
short allies
Actually, Mr.. Lubell believes, the
European nations can close their own.
dollar gapS-firSt. by cutting down
on the protected trade within the
non-dollar blocs they are building,
then by competing for dollars in
other countries. Many third" coun-
tries. such as the Latin American
states. have earned plenty of dollars
and would be glad to trade with any
dollar-short country which could
make them a good offer. '.
The United States. meanwhile.
should concentrate on co-ordinating
Evening star., 1955-02-27
Anti-Americonism
Conudion Politicians Make Much Capital
Out of Crticizing u S. Administration
By Gerald Worinq

OTTAWA-Criticism of the United
States. and especially of American
foreign policy. has become so COM
mon in Canada as to cause concern
to those who reject and deprecate
anti-Americanism.
This criticism appears in score
of newspapers, in the speeches OF
Socialist politicians, in Communist
propaganda, and in the comments
of not few ordinary citizens. Some
of it is honest and fair, but much
is snide, distorted and carping.
One columnist whom l know had
a latent anti-American prejudice
hardened into active antagonism
when he was fined in the States for
an alleged traffic violation. His
column appears in considerable
number of Canadian dailies and re-
fleets his dislike of almost every
thing American.
Another journalist, Charles Woods
worth. was fired recently as editor
of the Ottawa Citizen because Of
the allegedly Socialist tinge of edi-
torials which had criticized the de-
clSion of the NATO allies to rearm
Western Germany. Wordsworth also
has been sharply critical of the
United States in his editorials
speeches and radio commentaries.
OF the 265 members of the House
of Commons. only IL Socialists voted
against ratification of the Paris
agreement and the rearmament of
West Germany. Socialist Alistair
Stewart epitomized the attitude of
this Canadian Bevanite group when
he asserted In the Commons that
the decision to rearm Germany was
due to American pressure" and
"the pusillanimity among the West
ern allies in refusing to stand up
to the United States" Foreign
Minister L. B. Pearson fatty de-
MED there had been any American
pressure.
American Far Eastern policy is
subject to even sharper criticism by
the Socialists, who favor the ad-
mission of Red China to the United
Nations. For example, Socialist
Leader NJ. J. Coldwell recently de-
manded assurance from Pearson
that we are not entangled in any
of these Formosan adventures" of
the United States.
Canadians have always had a GER
tain amount Of suspicion and dis
Evening star., 1955-02-27

approach to the use of their money
have shaped this budget"
Mr.. Eisenhower has shown by his
programs that he puts rather more
emphasis on conservative spending
than on liberality in welfare, at
least in comparison with the Demo-
cratic regimes since Franklin d.
Roosevelt took over in 1882.
The other statement of philosophy
was more specific:
The basic principle underlying
budget recommendations for pro-
grams in the field of transportation,
housing, and business is that the
national interest is best served by
privately owned and operated indus
try, which is assisted by minimum
OF Federal funds and Federal basic
facilities operated at the lowest
feasible cost and financed, where
possible, by charges levied on the
users of the services"
income Offsets Expense
These Charges on the users" pro-
vide the means for skinning by on
the relatively infiniteSimal housing
expenditure of only $12 million IN
Fly 1856. Actually. the Government
will put up 1901 million for urban
development. veterans housing. pub
lie housing for loW-income families.
and other home building projects.
But the Treasury also expects to
collect $3.50 million through its Fed
eral National Mortgage Association,
the Federal Housing Administration,
and other agencies which will be re-
imbursed for past Government aids
to private housing. This income
varies from year to year.
In the 1855 fiscal year, by contrast,
the whole complex of housing pro-
grams will cost the Federal Gov
ernment $315 million. But that was
more than offset by the 1854 fiscal
year profit" of S506 million.
None of the other welfare pro-
grams approaches the cheapness of
housings Sl2 million price tag in the
administrations Fly 1856 net ex-
penditures budget. Even aid to edu-
cation, which some of our leading
educators consider inadequate, is to
get s237 million. Health programs
will cost $3.50 million. Highways. 1t
Evening star., 1955-02-27

trust of the United States. For .
hundred years they had reason to
fear that the larger nation would
conquer and annex Canada. There's
been little basis for such fears for
the last three-quarters OF CEN
tury. but there still exists what has
been described as almost A racial
memory of them. This conditions
Canadian minds to react to various
causes of envy and resentment OF
Americans.
1t may be that the Socialists
seek to use Canadian suspicious for
their political advantage. but 7
think there's a simpler reason for
their anti-Americanism. II is that
they blame the United States be-
cause socialism hasn't caught on in
Canada. AS Coldwell explained it
to me. the capitaliStic colossus
south of Canada authors demo-
cratic socialism, and American
economic tenacles in Canada make
this land barren for the ideas OF
Marx and EngelS.
1lldt may VI may iiOI bN n ecSN
thing for Canada, but it doesn't
endear the United States to the
$4,000 Canadians who voted Social
ist and the $4,000 who voted Com
muniSt in 1858 Taken together
they number only II per cent of the
electorate. but they are both more
vocal in their attacks on the United
States than are the Liberals, Con-
servatives and Social Creditors in
Americas defense.
A. D. P. Heeney, the Canadian
Ambassador to the United States.
recently took his fellow Canadians
to task for their anti-American
prejudices. He asserted that
Canadians "often draw wrong con-
clusions as to the course of United
States policy and miSjudge the mo-
tives and intentions Of Americans"
because they don't take the time
and trouble to understand American
points of view and the reasons for
them
It's quite likely Mr Heeney was
rejecting Canadian government
concern over the situation when he
urged Canadians to do more to
understand the Americans and
promised that the effort would pay
of in greater respect and affection
for them.
Evening star., 1955-02-27

the co-ordinates which the Mac
MILAN Commission laid down. The
Government buildings, many un-
imagined at the turn of the century,
are grouped about these pivotal
points in heroic symmetries. No
doubt the buildings and the plan
tations are somewhat excessively
monumental, yet the scheme as a
whole is justly admired for its noble
simplicities and the sense of per-
manency and power with which it
is informed.
PIon's Significance
Nor do these comprise all of the
plan of Washington or all Of its
significance. 1t was fortunate that
the Macmillan Commission had as
its moving spirit landscape archl-
tect quick TO apprehend, as did
L'Enfant, the natural facilities of
the valley in which the city lies
and the Importance of these as en-
tourage for the strict regularitieS
at its center. Washington is not
all geometry. Lie CldSSlCdl slSGdS
of its gardens and the seventies of
the buildings which stand around
them disciplined and rigid like SOL
dierS on parade are relieved on all
sides by informal plantations. grace
full waters and the more heterodox
beauty of nature. These are the
ulbanIties that lend grace to etl-
quette.
The basin of the Potomac River,
bounding the central progressions
of the plan at the western end,
forms the principal element IN these
enfoldings. Here the river. the dis
tant hills and the green shores
bring the march of architecture and
formal paintings to a serene ending,
isolating them from the anarchisms
OF the city, enshrining the Lincoln
Memorial as an ambulatory might
enShrine the altar at the end of a
cathedral nave. And If any one
Evening star., 1955-02-27


Nevertheless, these deformations,
however grave, would be of less con-
sequence than those deformations
which the Lincoln Memorial must
suffer il the new bridge is built. This
lovely and eloquent temple was not
meant to be seen merely from the
formal approaches that lie to the
east: the architect was equally So
licitous Of the views from the west.
The Lincoln Memorial was not set
by accident above the natural
reaches of the river and against the
blue hills of Virginia, nor was this
environment thought less essential
to the beauty than the rejecting ba-
sin that leads from the great obe-
lisk.
The river views are parts of the
design of the memorial and are as
integral to it's renown as is the
granite podium upon which it rests
or the wide steps that lead up to
its entrance or the wreath of green
cry laid out around its base. Archi-
lecture is not q matter Of plan and
proportion only or Of ornament and
Evening star., 1955-02-27

Whatever may be the opinion Of
experts, it is seldom necessary to
build our public facilities in the most
immediate and brutal manner. Our
engineers and town planners are
not SO bankrupt of ideas and tech
niques that they cannot design and
build whatever thoroughfares are
essential to the life Of Washington
without so serious an impairment of
its character as that which is prom
lsed by this new bridge And even
if We assume that this bridge as now
planned would be the most eXpe-
dent and economical thoroughfare
possible between the Virginia sub
urbS and the center of Washington
"a doubtful hypothesis the District
authorities might do well to weigh
against these advantages the value
to their city, if not to the Nation, of
those civilities of form which the
new bridge would obliterate.
If an alternative project should
make necessary some delays in the
completion of the work, even that
fearful meditation remembering
that we are building for 10000
years. might be briefly endured.
Nor would it be improper, consider
ing the role of Washington in the
national life, that the costs of a
more expensive project, or part of
these costs, should be borne by the
Federal Government rather than by
the people of Washington.
Motter Of Traffic
Our appraiSements in questions OF
civic design are too heavily weighted
by considerations of traffic. Amer
ican cities are too often eroded by
the mechanical torrents that flow
through and around them and which
too casually impair their well-being
no less than their appearances.
These are, unhappily. especially det-
rimental to whatever natural land
scapes are by chance or design left
within city'S boundaries. Boston
has laid a SiX-lane barrier of asphalt
between her people and the inviting
fringes of the Charles River. Chi
cago has shattered the peace of her
wonderful lake front with cataracts
of automobiles. New York has Or
namented the slopes along her
noble rivers and the most pleasing
OF riverside parks with concrete
fantasies of pretzel and cloyerleaf.
These vandaliSms are appallingly
permanent. That which we have
destroyed we have destroyed for
ever. But in Washington the river
is still ours to enjoy and to cherish,
to defend against the rage of our
machines.
How much do we prize the dignity
and beauty of our national capital?
Evening star., 1955-02-27

expression only. Architecture is a
large art. Architecture includes the
space in which a building stands,
the light that shines upon it, the
parade of terrace and esplanade
spread out around it, the changing
pageantries of hill and valley and
the still and quiet water and foliage
that lead up to and enfold it.
The new bridge would afford no
compensations for the architecture
it would destroy, the harmonies Of
site and structure which are the
essence of architecture. Together
with the Memorial Bridge, to which
it would be approximately parallel,
the new bridge would form at the
base of the Lincoln Memorial mar
row and rigid rectangle of water,
featureless except for the splinter
of Virginia at the western end. In
place of the gentle appearances of
the river valley we would have the
inexorable perspectives OF basin
trimmed in masonry. In place OF
the Potomac's stately professionals
we should have only the flow and
functional music Of the internal
combustion engine.
Brood Effects
1t may be thought that these dis
figurements of the beautiful river
and of the relics of our history that
lie around it will, even though they
occur at the center of Greater
Washington, affect only limited
area. People who think in such
terms are unaware of the Importance
of this river-design in the general
scheme of Washington. This design.
although arranged with less rig
orous artifice, is scarcely less essen
tial to the character of Washing
ton as a whole than is the great
Mall which extends from the Capitol
to the Washington Monument or the
tree-lined basin that continues the
line of the Mall to the Lincoln Me-
mortal or the diversified vistas that
unite the White House and the JET
ferSon Memorial.
All of these are elements in the
Plan of Washington" which in the
first decade of the goth century
was prepared by the Macmillan
Commission - officially the Park
Commission. This plan, a revision OF
one made IN 1890 by Pierre l. Enfant
and accepted by Thomas Jefferson
tthen Secretary of State, was
approved by President Theodore
Roosevelt and by Congress. 1t be-
came the accepted guide for devel-
opment of the city and has been in
part realized.
The Capitol, the White House and
the memorials to Washington, Lin
coin and Jefferson are organized on
Evening star., 1955-02-27
The Background

Congress last August after two of controversy
location Potomac River bridge to extend from
Constitution NV the Lincoln Memorial City high
proceeding with detailed plans for the
However the Federal Commission on Fine Artspropong
alternative the brdgehas lodged strong obec
ons to the esthetc impact OF such the monumental
by Dr. Joseph c. Hudnu professor
emeritus Harvard University and until recently
the basis for the eshec
sanctioned by the Fine Arts Commission