davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-03-02
Pontecorvo's Treason

DR.. Bruno Pontecorvo's identical letters
in Pravda and Izvestia do little more than
confirm what has been taken for granted
ever since his 1850 disappearance behind the
Iron Curtain. That is to say, they confirm
the fact that this Italian-born naturalized
British citizen is traitor who has revealed
vital Western secrets to the Soviet Union
and who has been over there for the past
several years actively helping the Kremlin
to develop atomic weapons and the hydro
gen bomb.
A measure Of the mans Importance in
that sense can be found in the Joint Con-
gressional Atomic Committees 1851 report
on his treasonous detection. For Ponte-
corvo, according to the report, is a first
class scientific brain" who carried with him
to Moscow a great amount Of knowledge
about Anglo American Canadian nuclear
projects and who therefore deserves to be
rated as the second deadliest spy in history,
ranking right after Klaus Fuchs-the Ger
man-born Britisher now imprisoned in the
United Kingdom for betraying to the Krem-
lin the most significant kind of restricted
data. Indeed in the committees judgment,
these two together, with their supremely
criminal revelations, enabled Communist
Russia to score successes in its A-weapons
and H-bomb program at least Is months
earlier than would otherwise have been
possible.
But Pontecorvo, needless to say, makes
no mention of all this in his letterS-which
may be designed, incidentally to serve some
Soviet propaganda objective in connection
with the current fivepower disarmament
talks in London. Instead, he merely repeats
lot of hackneyed old lies about how Anglo
American "imperialists" are preparing to
unleash a nuclear and thermonuclear war
and about how the "peace-loving" Kremlin
is primarily intent upon having Russia's
scientists including himself, concentrate
upon harnessing atomic energy not for mill
tary purposes but "for the welfare of hu-
manity." However, his pious prating on
that score rings hollow when compared to
Foreign Minister Molotov'S recent boast
suggesting that the USSR is well ahead of
the United States in arming itself with A
weapons and the Hbomb.
There is little reason, of course, to put
much credence in what Molotov has said
Actually, the truth of the matter seems very
definitely to be that our country, as Prime
Minister Churchill has just declared, is
overwhelmingly" superior to Russia in "the
knowledge and power" to make and deliver
nuclear and thermonuclear weapons. But
this superiority. which may last for another
four years or so, does not lessen in any way
the Nervousness of Pontecorvo's crime. For
his treason, together with that Of Fuchs and
a number of others, has greatly altered the
tempo of the atomic hydrogen race and
thus increased the magnitude Of the Red
threat to the free world.
Evening star., 1955-03-02
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE


@. Where did the art of topiary get
its name?-S. c.
A. Topiary, which is an ancient gar
den craft, derives its name from Topi-
arius. Roman gardener who was
skilled in trimming hedges to make
them look like animals or boats or
geometrical figures. For centuries the
art was popular among the wealthy and
fashionable, but when it was ridiculed
by the poet Alexander Pope and others
on the basis that it lacked taste, topi-
airy almost died out. Fine specimens
still exist. however. in the gardens Of
some Of the great homes OF Europe
and the United States.
@. What Is the annual cost Of all
advertising In the United statesp
w. p. T.
A. In 1854, $8.1 billion was spent on
advertising-a record figure. Newspa-
pers took nearly one-third Of this,
namely. almost $2.7 billion.
@. How many different models Of
aircraft are being built in the United
States?-F.I I.
A. At the latest count there were 65
military aircraft models in production.
ranging from light liaison types to
supersonic bombers, and 26 models of
civilian aircraft. All these are exclusive
Of pilotless aircraft, of which there are
many kinds.
Evening star., 1955-03-02
Acc Trying to Fool Public?

Those who attended the recent hear
ing on civil defense before the Kefauver
subcommittee of the Senate Armed
Services Committe witnessed rather
remarkable performance Of public pos
turing by Atomic Energy Commission
representatives.
The testimony Of DR.. John Bugher
reveals the hypocrisy of the AEC-FCDA
relationship. His every expression in
dicated that there was the freest inter-
change of information between the two
agencies and that Acc is simply burst
ing to tell all about H-bombs (many
snickers from the rear seats). He
even said that much of this was done
informally because I'VE are such good
personal friends" However, at Sena-
tor Kefauver's follow-up question, it
turned out that DR.. Bugher could not
even name his good personal friends
or say whether they are located in
Battle Creek or Washington.
Then Dr. Bugher was asked If the
Civil Defense authorities were informed
Evening star., 1955-03-02

as soon as possible about fall-out. He
stated that the information was not
available at once because the collec-
ton and Interpretation of the data
developed over days and weeks, but
that Civil Defense people were con-
versant with the picture as it devel-
oped." This is a great exaggeration,
to say the least; Civil Defense people
were briefed on fall-out in July-four
months after the Eastern Marshalls
we're evacuated. In fact, if the "For-
tunate Dragon" incident had not
focused world attention on fall-out we
might not have the story even now.
It's about time the ACC stopped try
ing to fool the public by withholding
non military information which is vital
to the protection Of our citizens. One
question for prospective commissioners
might be, Are you for us or agin us?"
william Newell.
The Star Is to be commended on its
excellent articles on the newly released
information about radioactive fall-out
and civil defense measures. To us, as
parents and citizens of the Nations
Capital, this underlines the immediate
and vital need for intelligent planning
for maximum protection for residents
Of the number one target" Of the
United States.
We feel that 1t is the responsibility
Of the local office Of Civil Defense to
see that more information on these sub
jects is released to the public as soon
as possible. And. as mothers Of school
age children, we are concerned first
with the lack of shelter and up-to-date
shelter planning for our children in
school; second with the lack of an ef-
fective warning system; and third with
the lack of adequate information on
the best and latest methods of self
protection in the event of an atomic
attack. It is our opinion that an aroused
and enlightened public can be power
full and a helpful force in making the
Civil Defense setup work more ef1ec-
lively.
Concerned Parents.
Evening star., 1955-03-02
Courage of Its Convictions

The Hoover Commission, backing It's con-
victions with courage, has ventured into
highly controversial area In its report on
Federal health and medical services. 1t Is
an area that needs continued exploration,
however, and the commission has found
much that needs correction. Since the re-
port treads on number of important toes,
including those of very vocal pressure
groups, the prospect of any drastic reforms
in this field may be discounted.
Impinging on jealously guarded bureau
cratic domains are certain of the commits
sions recommendations for consolidation
and coordination of medical and hospital
services rendered by the various military
branches of the Defense Department. A
task force found hospital and other services
being wasted through duplication of facilt-
ties and independence of operations and
control. But although the plan makes sense,
the services are not apt to be enthusiastic
over commission proposals for, creating
geographic regions where hospitals would
be integrated under the branch whose ia
cilities dominate the particular areas
And it would be gross understatement
to say that veterans organizations and
Congress will be less than enthusiastic about
administration of medical and hospital
services to veterans not suffering from
service connected disabilities. A howl went
up when the first Hoover Commission made
a eimilar proposal some years ago-and
Congress shelved the whole idea The fact
remains, however, that there are serious
abuses of the disqualification privilege, in
cluding what the task force aptly described
as d-bricking." For example, General
Accounting Office survey several years ago
disclosed that some veterans with nom
vice-connected ailments who had signed
statements that they were unable to pay
for disqualification actually were wealthy.
The commission made the reasonable
suggestion that such certificates of inability
to pay be checked, and that when veteran
was found to be able to do so, he be required
to reimburse the Government for treatment
and care received. And it also recommended
that some VA hospitals, retained in certain
areas in response to political pressures but
in spite Of small need for them, be closed
forthwith. This is retrenchment that
should be weighed without consideration of
political or other presSureS.
AS the Hoover Commission pointed out
in its good report, the Federal Government
now is spending more than 81 billion year
on health and hospital services for some 80
million citizens. This is being done under
"a cumbersome system which breeds in
efficiency and huge waste" The commits
sion's findings and recommendations de-
serve the most careful study both by the
executive and legislative branches, with a
view to remedial action. ~4a..,t
Evening star., 1955-03-02
For Whom the Bell Tolls

It is encouraging that our busy Com
missioners have decided to move to another
location the reproduction of the Liberty Bell
that cutters up the front entrance of the
District Building. It is discouraging that
they have not yet reached decision about
Evening star., 1955-03-02
For the Record

note that an item in The Star Of
February "a relating to my notiflca-
ton to the President and his deSigna-
ton Of q successor upon the expiration
Of my term, June %. states that was
registered as a Republican when /.
appointed to the bipartisan commits
sion in 1943 and later formally changed
(my) political afiliation to independ-
ent. -"
It Is perhaps natural that your
writer should have assumed that was
appointed to the commission as Re-
publican since, as o Democratic
member. I was then charged. In accord
ance with precedent, 10 the then Repub-
hcan minority.
The facts are. however. IS your
writer could have easily verified by q
call to my oflce or O check Of the
records Of the Senate Committee on
Interstate and Foreign Commerce, that
I have been oficially an independent
since 1897. This has been well known
in New Hampshire and Washington.
and the transcript Of the record on
my hearings before the Senate COM
mittee relating to my confirmation in
lS50 tJune lO, at pages o-J, spe-
cifically covers this point.
This is perhaps Q small matter, but
the suggestion that had somehow or
other shifted my political affiliation
during my tenure on the Federal Power
Commission carries some misleading.
and perhaps undesirable, connotations.
Nelson Lee Smith,
Commissioner, Federal Power Com
mission.
Editors note: The Star regrets
any misleading statements contained
in the story about Mr.. Smiths politi-
cal Affiliations. The Star story was
based on information made available
at the White House In connection
with Mr.. Smiths letter to the Presi--
dent.)
Evening star., 1955-03-02

thing to do with Alexander Hamilton. We
do not know what happened to the 48 other
bells given to the States. We do know that
there must be more appropriate place for
our own bell than jamming 1t in the en-
trance to the District Building,
Evening star., 1955-03-02
Separates Schools and Politics

May I, q mere Arlington County
taxpayer. add my feeble protest to any
probable expenditure Of school or other
public funds to further the election Of
any candidate for school, county board
or any other county Office? Further
more. offer that 1t is good business
practice for public officials to render
a full accounting to the taxpayers Of
the receipt and disbursement Of all
funds appropriated for their use.
All eligible voters, especially personal
property and real estate taxpayers,
should cast their votes for county off,
GERS as well as for those on the State
and national level. County officers
have much more influence on local tax
rates, assessment values and quality Of
local public services than State and
national officers.
Arlington Taxpayer.
Evening star., 1955-03-02
Congressional Ruise

When the dime-a-day increase IN
pensions for disabled nonservice-con-
nected veterans was being debated in
the House. Representative Halleck Of
Indiana was the wheelhorse who did
everything in his power to prevent its
passage. (The 10-cents-a-day increase
was passed despite Mr.. Halleck's oppo-
sition; 1t became effective November,
1954.) More recently, though, Mr.. Hal
leck was in favor of an increase to
$27,5O0 per annum for members Of
Congress-considerably more than 10
cents q day! 1t all goes back to the old
saying, 1T depends upon whose OK is
being gored." II. L. r.
Evening star., 1955-03-02
New Obstacle for Commuters?

I read with concern that one leg of
Route 24O is coming down the Potomac
River. Many of us Virginia residents
come across Chain Bridge and down
Canal road. Even now. traffic backs up
considerably from Key Bridge in the
morning and evening. If we are going
to e-to compete with passenger-car
traffic from Route 240, when are We
going to get to work?
John F. Burns.
Evening star., 1955-03-02
Questions and Answers

A reader can get the answer 10 any
question of fact BY writing The Evening
star Information Bureau. 1900 Eye st..
3 cents for return postage
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-03
Strenqtheninq u. NJ.

The fact that the U. N. Cen
eral Assembly recently de-
ferred action on revising the
U. N. Charter but asked for
further consideration of this
matter, suggests that every
American should consider
what sort of changes in the
Charter would make for a bet
ter world. From this stand
point ! would suggest three
items:
Cd For several years, many
important countries have been
kept out of the U. N. by Soviet
veto. It is not yet certain
whether or not they will be
admitted this year through an
agreement between Russian
and American representatives
in the q. N. In any event. it is
not unlikely that a similar
situation may arise in the fu-
ture. In order to prevent this,
the Charter should be amend
ed so as to provide that no
veto can apply to the admis-
sion Of a new member ap-
proved by a majority Cor some
definite percentage higher than
so per cent? of the Security
Council and the General AS
sembly.
(2) The use of the veto
should also be eliminated in
connection with measures for
the peaceable settlement of
conflicts between nations.
(This would of course not pre-
vent any nation from refusing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-03
AT Least 3 Killed
AS Freiqhts Collide

EBENSBURG, Pa, Dec. 8 (P.
Two Pennsylvania Railroad
freight trains collided head-on.
near here today, killing at least
three crewmen and injuring at
least four others.
The dead were: r. F. Knepp..
engineer; Anthony Villella. fire.
men: c. S. Dillinger, engineer.
all believed from the Altoona
area.
One of the trains was a steam
locomotive, the other a three
unit diesel freight. They carried
Ia combined crew of IL.
State police said rescue work..
lers were probing the wreckage
to determine if any other VIC
tins We're pinned beneath it. p
The crash occurred nine miles
north of Cresson between Ebens-
burg and Bradley Junction in
Central Pennsylvania. Ebensbura
is about 20 miles west of Altoona.
the Pennsy's main repair depot.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-03
Store Sales Rise
1870 Over Holiday

Department stores sales in the
Washington Metropolitan Area
during the Thanksgiving holiday
week rose Is per cent above those
of the previous full week ano
were 10 per cent ahead of the
comparable 1854 week, the Fed
eral Reserve Bank of Richmond
reported yesterday.
The last two days Of the week
which marked the official be.
ginning of the Christmas shop
ping season, added substantially
to volume.
Area sales in the four weeks
ended November 26 were 8 per
cent ahead Of those of a year
ago, and sales for the year to
date were up Z per cent.
Excluding suburban branches
sales Of downtown department
stores alone were 8 per cent
above figures for a year ago in
the week ended November 26
and also were IS per cent ahead
Of those for the previous week
Downtown sales In the four weeks
were even with those of a year
earlier. while those for the yeal
Ito date were 3 per cent higher.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-03
For Services Rendered

In the midst Of the letters
criticizing a multitude Of serv-
ices in the District, / wish to
present verbal orchids to the
D. C. Public Library, a tribute
long delayed for I have prof.
tied by their services for many
years. Their efficiency is re-
markable. Twice they have
identified for me. promptly.
books of which could give
only the content. Neither sub
iect nor author could ] give,
but in an incredibly short time
they had the desired book.
I find their service to me.
and ] observe it to all ages and
races, courteous, considerable.
painstaking, patient and kind.
Alice L. Wood.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-03

United States Commissioner
OF Education Brownell entered
a meeting of State school super.
Iintendents yesterday to give Q
friendly little talk on co-opera.
ton.
But the sweetness-and- ligh,
atmosphere soon was shattered
by an unscheduled barrage OF
criticism from the State officials
They accused Mr.. Brownell OF
trying to bypass them on an off,
Icial matter. Mr.. Brownell apol-
Iogized and left the meeting with
his aplomb a little shaken.
The clash occurred at the an
nual meeting of the Council OF
Chief State School Officers al
the Woodner Hotel. The coun-
Gil is made up of the heads OF
education departments in the "a
States, the territories and the
Commonwealth Of Puerto Rico
The meeting was held as an ad-
junct to the White House Con-
ference on Education.
Discusses Plan
Mr.. Brownell discussed the
plans his Office has for legisla.
ton, research and information
He emphasized repeatedly that
Ito the extent the Federal Office
OF Education is effective, 1t will
be effective through the work
it does with you. the State de-
partments of education"
He said he intends to see that
the services his Office provides
are toward Strengthening the
State departments of educa-
ton"
But as he was about to con-
clude he referred to q survey of
local school building needs his
Ioftice was making. He said he
had sent out questionnaires to
the private education associa-
tons, made up mainly of
teachers.
That brought on the criticism
why did you ask those peo-
pile about building needs?" in
quired DR.. Pearl A. Wanamaker,
Washington State school super
intendent. They don't know
the answers. They'll just come
to us for the information. You're
not expediting anything that
way. You're just making more
paper work for everybody"
Other superintendent said
the whole thing was news to
them. When had the letters been
sent out?
Mr.. Brownell said he regretted
NE hadn't sent copies of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-03
Senior Teacher Aides

AS others have recently said.
the obvious remedy for the
teacher shortage is to supply
qualified teachers with aides
who can take over the house
keeping and clerical chores.
We urge that school authori-
ties in Washington and near
by Maryland and Virginia i'm
mediately institute at least ex-
perimental programs Of using
teacher aides. And lest some
school people assume that this
would require a long period Of
preparation to permit training
of aides, and SO on. we point
out that there is available an
excellent source Of trained
people who would need only a
week or two Of training to step
in and serve as valuable help
erS to teachers.
The source is the long list OF
physically and mentally capa-
BILE retired professional and
clerical people in this area
people whose long training and
experience qualities them to
handle easily all the normal
clerical and housekeeping du-
ties involved in a teachers job.
BY taking advantage Of provi-
sions which permit employ
ment of older persons under
special circumstances. the
school systems could have
these people at work In a mat
ter of a few weeks.
We know of thousands Of
well-educated, mentally alert.
physically qualified people who
would welcome an opportunity
to serve the schools as senior
teacher aides, even at the very
low salaries that would neces-
sarily be paid under today's
tight budgets.
Reed Harris,
President, National Society
of Seniors. Inc.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-03
3Britons Die
In Train Wreck

BARNES. England, Dec. 8 up
"A train packed with home
ward-bound theater-goers
crashed into a standing freight
train in this London suburb last
night and burst into a soaring
mass of flames. Thirteen persons
were burned to death and IS
others were injured.
Two Of the dead were young
children. Twenty-seven Of the
injured were reported in serious
condition today.
The electric train carrying $50
passengers from London's West
End to their homes in the
Thames Valley ripped into the
rear of the freight train just
outside Barnes Station. Barnes
is 8 miles west of Central Lon
don.
The first coach overturned and
dug a path along an embank-
ment before stopping. The COL
lision shorted the cars power
circuit. There was a moments
silence and then the crumpled
coach exploded into flames.
Screams Rise Above Roar
The screams of the trapped
and injured sounded above the
roar of the fire as dazed pas
sengers from the rear coaches
sought to give aid.
Railroad workers and unin-
jured passengers tore at the
wreckage with their bare hands.
They hurried the injured they
could remove to houses along
the tracks.
| The accident occurred below a
highway bridge. Firemen fought
the flames from 20 feet above
the wreck scene. The fire
melted the asphalt roadway
surface about the firemen and
heated the steel bridge Orders
to a glowing red.
George Peters, a 55-year -old
of duty railway engineer, was
riding in the third coach. He
said his one thought was to cut
of the electric current.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-03

the Soviet objective by this
latest flasco it never will be.
The rest of us had repeatedly
been clarified" by the fire.
quent public announcements
of their determination to COM
munize the world. The results
Of these Geneva conferences
were accurately forecast "a
years ago by Russia's Dmitry
T., Manuiliski who, by the way.
was honored in 1949 by the
United Nations with the chair
manship of its Security Coun-
Gil. Comrade Manuiliski said:
war to the hilt between
communism and capitalism is
inevitable. Today. of course,
we are not strong enough to
attack. Our time will come in
20 or 30 years. To win we shall
need the element of surprise.
The bourgeoise will have to be
put to sleep. We shall begin
by launching the most spectac-
ular peace movement on rec
ord. There will be electrifying
overtures and unheard-of con-
cessions. The capitalist coun-
tries, stupid and decadent, will
rejoice to cooperate in their
own destruction. They will
leap at another chance to be
friends. AS soon as their guard
is down we shall crush them
with our clenched fist"
Time is running out.
Surely 1t should be evident,
even to Mr.. Eisenhower, that
conferences with the Commu-
mist bandits will get us no.
where In the quest for world
peace and tranquility.
,AH Old ReactiOnary.