davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-07-19

The feeling Of good viii
accompanied by good cheer
and near optimism" at Ge-
neva is not entirely shared by
congressional observers in
Washington. They are keep
ing their fingers crossed be-
cause they are looking with
realism at the political facts
Of life which are causing the
present world tension. The
fundamental cause for a pos
sihle conflict in the foresee-
able future Is to be found to-
day. more than in the past. in
the Far East. And a number
Of knowing personages here
believe that the change on the
surface in the Soviet attitude
toward the United States and
Western Europe is caused by
the Russians conviction that
If they can bring about q
'proportionate" limitation of
armaments. the Communist
drive for the conquest of Asia
will be easily accomplished.
According to sources which
work close to the White House
and the State Department, the
Muscovites would be willing to
meet us more than half way
on the matter of German
unity, which is tops on the
Geneva agenda. provided they
obtain our concurrence for
their limitation Of military
forces trap.
We have twice been lulled
into o feeling of security, with
costly consequences. In 1945.
soon after VI day. under the
impact of a public opinion
which believed that the war
was really over, our Govern
ment pulverized our armed
forces against its better judg-
ment. AT the time when the
USSR was reorganizing and
strengthening its military es-
adjustments and proceeding
with the development of the
A-bomb, we began to beat our
swords into plowshares. Ap-
propriations for planes were
Evening star., 1955-07-19
CONSTANTINE BROWN
Despite Experience. We Always Reduce
Our MHitory With Eoch Bit of Good News

drastically curtaiied: the bulk
Of our Navy was placed In
mothbails and the ground
forces were disintegrated to a
point where we had only q
nominal Army.
Then. in l94s, the Berlin
blockade occurred. We were
caught short but faced the
music. Congress appropriated
Immediately the necessary
amount for creating q 75-wing
Air Force. The USSR at that
time had not yet exploded its
first A-bomb. while we had q
sizeable stockpile and a lin
tied capability to deliver 1t.
Moscow yielded. Berlin re-
mained divided between the
four occupying powers. We
had achieved a military VIC
tory without the necessity Of
firing a shot. Shortly there
after we went once more to
sleep. The budget for the
military establishments was
pared down until. in 1850, it
reached a low of $13 billion.
Congress continued to appro-
pirate funds for a minimum
Air Force compatible with the
existing situation. But, as now
in the case of the Marine
Corps, the funds were i'm
pounded by the Executive.
The then Secretary of Defense,
Louis Johnson, announced un-
der proddings from the White
House that he was trimming
the fat. Actually he was cut
ting out the lean.
The American Air Force had
less than AZ wings. Things
looked so rosy in the eyes of
the politicians that on June 5,
shortly before the North Ko-
reans struck. President Tru-
man said in a speech that at
no time in the previous five
years was the world so close
to a real" peace.
On June rs the North Ko-
reans launched their offensive.
We had q lamentably weak
force in the Far East and at
Evening star., 1955-07-19
Same Old Words to New Music

the open where people can read
about it. Hence, for the So
viets to concede that there
could be really free elections
among the satellite states, as
urged by the allies, is to pro-
pose a loss Of control of those
countries by the Soviets. Con-
versely. the Bulganin sugges-
ton that NATo be dismantled
and. even before Q general
security plan for all Of Europe
becomes effective. that the de-
fense plans of the allies be
scrapped looks as If the So
Wet "summiteers" think Mr..
Eisenhower and his colleagues
can be easily deceived.
What Is amazing Is that
Bulganin made his proposal
seriously. He must have known
it would get nowhere. There
are diplomats in some Euro
pean capitals who see all Of
this as part of preconceived
strategy-to outline the diver
gent positions, to appear to
be trying to harmonic them
and finally to-. argue that.
since there is a virtual stale
mate. the thing to do is to let
matters stay as they are in
definitely.
This would mean acquies-
cence by the West in the
status quo. It would mean
leaving Germany dismem-
bered. 1t would mean main
tanning Soviet control of the
satellites with big armies Of
occupation. Maybe after q
week Of exchanging compli-
ments and lofty talk, the
"summiteers" will say: "Well,
after all, it's better than war
so why not drift along?"
The key to peace will then
revert to the peoples of Ger
many and Eastern Europe.
viii they accept the status
quo as a permanent settle
ment? Probably not. So, while
the crisis in. Europe may be
deferred for some time. the
fundamental issues causing it
will not go unresolved forever.
Reproduction Rishts Reserved)
Evening star., 1955-07-19
Mr.. Adams Role in Dixon-Yutes

dents prohibition on private
White House conversations.
With this clear indication
that at last they were getting
somewhere, the subcommittee
sent MIR. Armstrong home to
talk it over with the Attorney
General. The next day the
SEC chairman testified that
Mr.. Adams had called and
asked for the postponement.
Then he clammed up again.
The subcommittee didn't
mind that new dose Of at
tempted secrecy at all. It is too
happy to have reason to call
a presidential intimate. a man
closely identified with the
President in the public mind.
Washington at least knows
that Adams calling" rates
next to Eisenhower calling"
in the power to get action.
Mr.. Adams, charming So
cially and grun politically, has
not been tested as q congress
sional witness. The question
of how he will do in his bap-
tiszn of fire will crowd the
hearing with curious spec
tators.
He is in a difficult position.
He must know the whole story
of Dixon-Yates. II he takes
refuge behind the Presidents
prohibition as Mr.! Armstrong
first attempted to do, 1t will
produce an effect of secrecy
bound to be harmful politi-
cally. This is one hearing in
which both sides will be wary
and well prepared.
Evening star., 1955-07-19
POTOMAC FEVER
FLETCHER KNEBEL

The opening session Of the conference draw
Big -Four all made speeches to anoherbut failed to
put the opposition to sleep.
Russian delegation visiting farmers thinks
covering it, Obviously the comrades
only capitalists this rp-not proetaran oers
Democratic Chairman Butler says is the prisoner Of
selfish men, Yes Millions of Americans who have tasted
prosperity refuse let Ike leave the White House for another
four years.
Democrats the Russian American friendship
change should involve Democrats would like to trade
OF about 10 million United States housewives who voted for
Eisenhower
Ike q reunion with Russias Gen Zhukov in Geneva.
Privately zooky doesn't think Ike been very strong Presi
dent He's been 80 monhs-and hasn't yet iuudaed
the Democratic Party
Ike has made Vice President Nixon kind Of substitute
President while he's in Geneva Nixon though he
Presdenand take orders from nobody but Sherman
Adams.
Evening star., 1955-07-19
America on a Binge of Good Will?

home. Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur's four combat" di-
visions In Japan were merely
occupation" forces. For econ
omy's sake. on orders from
Washington, the artillery and
infantry regiments had been
reduced from three to two bat
talions. And even these were
kept at a reduced peacetime
strength. Some engineer units
had more officers than privates.
There was so little strength
available at home that after
the Reds struck in Korea and
the Joint Chiefs Of Staff wor-
ried about a possible attack
against western Europe. the
administration had to send
four National Guard divisions
to bolster the one and q half
divisions we had then as an
occupation force in Germany.
Meanwhile, the Russians in
creased and improved their
ground, air and naval forces.
The Bulganin-K Khrushchev-
Molotov trio, with Marshal
Zhukov on the sideline. knows
only too well that despite the
explosive situation in the Far
East the American leadership
is still more European than
Asiatic minded. Our policy
makers who are now at
Geneva believe firmly that II
the cold war in Europe can be
settled, the Far Eastern situa-
ton somehow or other can be
disposed of without involving
this country in any shooting
war.
If the Muscoyites succeed In
selling to us the idea that the
time is ripe for a substantial
reduction of armaments tthey
will keep in a "proportionate
limitation" more than twice the
number suggested for us), the
Far Eastern situation will be
settled to their satisfaction.
America, on a binge Of good
will. friendship and light.
might be willing to accept q
settlement OF the China sit-
uation" in accordance with
the views of the USSR and
Great Britain,
Evening star., 1955-07-19
At Last the Democrats Smell an Issue
That Reaches Right to Presidents Desk

ber of the House from New
Hampshire.
With Mr.. Adams. Senator
Kefauver hopes to break the
jinx which has marked other
Democratic efforts to put the
foundlings in the Presidents
lap. Parents worry about the
vaccine confusion, but they
blame Mrs. Hobby. Educators
are angry about inaction in
the school field but they blame
Mrs. Hobby, Treasury Secre-
tary mphrey and the
Democratic Congress. The
postal workers are mad at the
Postmaster General. Secretary
Dulles takes the rap on foreign
policy.
It is all very discouraging
1Of q party IN -bearCn OF al
issue.
The circumstances under
which Mr.. Adams entered the
Dixon-Yates inquiry were an
Investigators dream. The
chairman of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, j. Sin
clair Armstrong, was refusing
to tell the subcommittee why
the SEC suddenly cancelled
hearings on the financing of
the contract the day the House
was scheduled to vote on 1t.
Mr.. Armstrong said Attorney
General Brownell had advised
him this fell within the Presi-
Evening star., 1955-07-19
Are Price Increases Justified?

agreements with General Mo-
tors and Ford would be to-
tally unjustified and would
represent q gouging Of con-
sumers" and that the $7.3S o
ton price increase put into
effect by U. 8. Steel Is double
the actual cost Of the wage
increase and Is "profiteering
on wage increases"
The UAW board said that
the 40 to II cents an hour in
crease provided in the General
Motors and Ford agreements
represents less than 10 per
cent of the payroll costs in
the case Of each company,
adding:
"As q matter of fact. the
1862 millions set aside dur
ing the first quarter Of 1855
for bonuses to be paid to
General Motors executives was
equivalent to 1877 cents per
hour worked by all the corpo-
atoms paid workers In the
United States. The executives
bonus, in other words, was
equivalent to about three.
fourths Of the cost of our
recent contract gains"
The board also cited figures
to show that the Is cents an
hour increase granted to U. 8.
Steel workers would give the
company an annual rate Of re-
turn after taxes approximate
ing II per cent Of net worth,
as compared with q return Of
1874 per cent after taxes on
the basis of the corporations
profits in the first quarter Of
1855. As for General Motors.
the board declared that even
with the increase Of wages
and the increased price Of
steel. the company would make
o profit after taxes Of "a
still fabulous 32.S per cent
annual rate Of return on net
worth" on all GIN products.
It is time we got all the facts
and figures and it is up to
Congress to get them since
these giant corporations are
clothed with q public interest
and have a public RESPONSE
bility, considering what the
public contributes to them.
Evening star., 1955-07-19
Committee Seeks to Find if Wage Raises
Coll for Seeking the Consumer Again

poration books. Past expert
ence has proved this is difi1-
cult. The committee has only
a small staff as compared with
the covey Of lawyers and econ
omists at the beck and call Of
these corporate giants. 1t
might be assumed that a COM
mittee of Congress would be
able to get what it needs in
the way of information, since
this is a matter of deep public
interest.
But that cannot be taken
for granted. Walter Reuther
and the UAW-CIO have been
blocked, and that Is why they
are now coming to Congress.
You may recall the Reuther
experience Of nine years ago
back in 1946. The UAW. in
a 113-day strike for wage in
creases, contended their de-
mands could be met without
any price increases. and so
would not be infiationary on
the public The union Sub
mitted figures in an effort to
prove that no price increase
would be required. The COM
pany, it argued, could absorb
the wage increases because Of
its rate of profits. The union
challenged the company to
open its books and disprove
its claim. saying 1t would take
q smaller wage increase If 1t
could be shown that the wage
increase 1t was asking would
necessitate a price increase.
The union created q virtual
revolution. General Motors
raised q great outcry against
any such interference with its
business. and It was joined by
many other big industries with
q protest that It would be un-
thinkable for q corporation to
open its books to representa-
tives Of It's employees. So
the union made no headway
against this outraged company
front.
Now the union is trying
again. this time through Con-
gress, the representative of the
public. It Is to the interest
Of all OF Us as consumers to
find out whether claims now
being made by the UAW-CTO
board are true claims that any
increase In prices of automo-
biles on the basis Of recent
Evening star., 1955-07-19
Eisenhower Didn't Have to Go to Europe
To Learn What the Russians Are Up To

the Soviet schemes. They've
known about 1t in Washington
and have "briefed" Mr.. Eisen-
hover about it. But, with
characteristic good nature, the
President chooses to look at
the brighter side-he isn't 60
ing to frown and fume over the
Russian pronouncement. In
stead he's going to keep on
insisting that the conference
make some agreements that
viii be worthwhile. When the
conference is over, he wants
to be able to say that he tried
hard to be friendly and accom-
plish something.
Mr.. Eisenhower's opening re-
marks restated the Western
position firmly and with q we'll
defined outline on each point.
so that there was no chance of
misunderstanding. The Soviet
rulers should know the West
isn't going to retreat and sur
render-but they think Amer
leans are so anxious for peace
at any price that they are
ready to give up the defense
of Europe and take q chance
on the Russian bear.
So far as the British diplo-
mats are concerned, this kind
of conference may give them
an opportunity to try their
talents of versatility and
adroitness. They'll offer many
variations on the Presidents
plan and try every device in
diplomacy's notebook to see
If there isn't a common
ground.
It would be easy to say that
the Bulganin speech was de-
livered for public consump-
ton" and that privately there
may be some chance for a
withdrawal from fixed posi-
tions. But, curiouSly enough.
this Geneva conference doesn't
permit Of a double standard
in policy because 1t Is for the
most part being conducted in
Evening star., 1955-07-19
DAVID LAWRENCE

"The voice is Jacobs voice.
but the hands are the hands
of Esau."
This might well describe the
events at the outset OF the
Geneva Conference. For the
speeches have the same mean
ing as always-though the
tones are different.
Despite all the fanfare and
the publicity buildup. the pub
lie statements by each Of the
Big Four put the case exactly
where it has been for the last
10 years.
President Eisenhower didn't
have to go all the way to
Switzerland to find out that,
If the Soviet Union can "nego-
tiate" the withdrawal Of Amer
ican troops from Europe and
bring about the breakup of
the North Atlantic Treaty Or
ganization by cajolery and
nice talk in place of the blus-
ter and threats which have
proved futile heretofore, they
would do so and call it a "re-
taxation of tension"
Yet that's what Premier
Bulganin did in his opening
address. He says he wants an
overall security agreement for
Europe and, even before 1t is
an established fact. he sug-
gests that the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization be sus-
pended and indeed dissolved.
Not content with a program
designed to weaken the free
world militarily in Europe and
leave it at the mercy Of the
big Red armies. the Soviet
spokesman went further and
proposed that the allies sur
render in Asia. too. by turning
over Formosa to the Red Chi
nese, thus rewarding the ag-
gressor in the Far East.
All this isn't surprising.
They've known about 1t in
intelligence circles in London
for a long time and have been
warning the top diplomats Of
Evening star., 1955-07-19
THOMAS L. STOKES

Once again we, the con-
sumers, find ourselves caught
in a familiar infiationary wise.
and are frustrated and help
less.
A wage increase in two of
our basic industries - auto
mobiles and steel - is being
used as a basis to increase
prices. Such a boost will radi-
ate outward through our whole
economy in prices of many
things we use every day--be-
yond automobiles into which
the cost of steel also enters as
o price factor.
: The consuming public Is
handicapped because we never
have been able to find out how
much reason there is, If any.
for periodic price increases
that always follow wage raises
automatically. There may, in
deed, be reason, sometimes;
there may be no reason often;
there may be justification for
some price advances, but not
to the extent put into effect.
The thing to do, it would
seem. would be to find out.
That's what Walter Reuther,
CIO president and also presi-
dent Of the United Automobile
Workers, and the CIO-UAW
international executive board
want to do. They have asked
Senator Paul H. Douglas, DEM
ocrat OF Illinois, to have the
Joint Committee on the Eco
nomic Report, Of which he is
chairman. investigate price in
creases that are put into ef-
feet on the basis OF. recent
wage increases negotiated by
the unions with automobiles
and steel.
Senator Douglas regards this
as q reasonable and logical
procedure. Accordingly, he
has assigned the task to q
subcommittee headed by Rep
resentative Wright Patman,
Democrat Of Texas, who Is an
expert In economic investiga-
tions.
We need expect no imme-
diate results. Considerable
preliminary and exploratory
work will be necessary. The
subcommittee will need cost
data from automobile and
steel companies, and this may
require an examination Of cor
Evening star., 1955-07-19
U. S. Had So Gold Piece

In 1Sz9 Congress authorized
the coinage Of q double eagle
and q gold dollar. In 1853 O 90
gold piece was added TO United
States coinage.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-15
Hoffman City Builders to Post
$4,000 Bond for Sewers

the posting of a bond, although
1t is charged with supervising
the planning and inspection o1
private sewer systems.
The Attorney General will be
asked to rule on the agency with
which the bond should be posted
The board indicated that the
Prince Georges County commits
sion would be the proper body To
receive the bond.
The $3.50, 900 figure represents
the cost of building a sewage
treatment plant on the Hoffman
City tract and Of lines to carry
the effluent nine miles for dis
charge into the Potomac River
at Bryan's Point. the board was
told by NJ. William Addison
counsel for the utilities firm.
Mr.. Addison said the system
will provide for treatment Of
sewage from 1900 homes, al
though the outfall lines will be
built big enough to care foi
eventual disposal Of sewage from
6 900 homes. The treatment plant
will be readily expandable. hi
said.
Objections by the citizens as
ISOLATION over the discharge
point we're Withdrawn when the
firms latest plans showed ef-
fluent would be discharged into
deep water, rather than into
a shallow bay. as originally pro-
posed.
Mr.. Straus. however, insisted
that the bond be posted as "pro-
lection against unforeseen con-
tingenices."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-15
DR.. Eliicott Takes
New Health Post

DR.. ". L. Ellicott. who was
Montgomery County Health Of
ficer for % years. has been APP
pointed chief of the Bureau of
Medical Services and Hospitals
for the Maryland State Health
Department.
He was named yesterday at a
meeting of the State Board Of
Health in Baltimore.
DR.. Ellicott. who lives at 71l8
Glenbrook road. Bethesda. was
health officer of Montgomery
County from 1892 until last Aug
ust, when he Joined the staff of
the State Health Department as
acting director of the chronic ILL.,
ness program. He held that posi-
ton until the new appointment
was announced yesterday.
The bureau DR.. Ellicott now
heads is in charge of the States
home medical care program, the
program for aiding hospitals in
financing INDECENT patients. and
the distribution Of Hill Burton
funds.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-15
Hubbub Of Fire
Fails to Upset
Wonon's Report

sWe're having q fire." Mrs.
Arthur w. Shaw, Of Annandale.
va, told The Star yesterday by
telephone.
Unperturbed by firemen racing
through her house at 10 Franklin
street. Mrs. Shaw explained what
was going on.
She said her daughter Mar
ilyn, 4. and q girl friend. Molly
Fowden, 5. were playing In q
bedroom when Marilyn's vanity
lamp fell over and smashed.
Somehow. the broken bulb ig-
nited a chenille bedspread and
the blaze engulfed the bed.
/ Mrs. Shaw whisked the chill
dren to safety and called the AM
Mandate Volunteer Fire Depart
ment. She said firernen arrived
ut the house and put out the fire
almost before she hung up the
telephone. Mrs. Slaw's hus-
band. who was not home at the
time, IS Q paint salesman.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-15
Romance Of Girl Roommate
Grows Into Triple Wedding

and Frank and Wilma were out
dancing, Jimmie and Betty
stayed home and talked.
II didn't know whether he was
proposing or not" says Betty,
''but when he asked me If !
would like to be a farmers wife,
/ told him yes"
The next Monday afternoon,
Della told her that both Roger
and Jim had applied for mar
riage licenses that morning.
BETTY knew then she had been
proposed to.
Frank and Wilma decided to
make it q triple ceremony.
Roger, whose service time is
up now, will take Della to his
home town, Minneapolis. where
she'll get a job and he will enter
the University of Minnesota.
Donald apd Wilma will stay
In their new apartment in Wash
iilgtOn until his discharge from
the Air Force in July. Then he
viii return to the University of
Illinois, where he has one more
year of study toward his bachelor
Of arts degree in education.
Betty and Jimmie have been
elected to keep the Minnesota
avenue apartment. since his
service is not up until November.
After that. it's back to Marion,
Ind. where Betty will become q
farmers wife.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-15
By Q siar slatf cors.ponden.

BALTIMORE, Jan. 15.--The
r 81 s Construction Co. an
nounced today it will post a
$3.50, 900 performance bond to
guarantee the construction Of a
sewer system at Its 4.000-unit
Hoffman Homes project near
Brandywine, Md.
With this done, the firm will
shoot for March Is as the date
for beginning construction on
the first 500 homes in the de-
velopment, according to Jack
Hoffman, secretary Of the COM
pany.
The performance bond was
ordered yesterday by the Mary
land State Board Of Health in
a precedent-setting decision. The
order was accompanied with a
warning that similar bonds will
be demanded of developers who
plan mass housing construction
in areas lacking planning and
sanitary commissions.
Robert w. Straus. president of
the Accokeek Citizens Associa-
ton, requested the board to order
the performance bond. The ac-
ton came ct a hearing before
the board here on the applica-
ton of the Brandywine Utilities
Co. for q permit 10 build water
and sewer systems at the Hoff-
man Homes tract.
DR.. Robert H. Riley, board
chairman, said he win seek the
counsel Of the Maryland Attor-
ney Generals Office, since the
board never before had ordered