davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17

remote conCroi OF nlgn-Speeo city
traffic were proposed today by
two Detroit engineers.
The novel proposal. designed
to master the instantaneous
Four Read Experts Receive Hishwoy
Group Awards. Paee A-l6
buildup Of congestion" on fast
city expressways, was made ct
the 35th annual meeting Of the
Highway Research Board at the
Sheraton-Park Hotel.
The two engineers. Traf1ic Di-
rector Alger r Malo and Michi-
gan Bell Telephone Co. Engineer
Roy s. Head Of Detroit. report
ed that q major trial Of the
television highway control sys-
tenn in Detroit has shown II
win work. Details Of the ex.
pertinent will be reported in full
Ito the convention tomorrow.
Tested ON Expressways
The test was conducted on two
LOT Detroit's famed six-lane
sunken crosstown expressways.
The need for extraordinary
methods of control on these
|high-speed routes, the engineers
said, stems from the fact that
any minor accident during rush
hours causes congestion Of stag
|gering proportions" In a matter
OF seconds. without rapid con-
troll Of such trafilc Jams, asizable
Isegments Of the expressway sys-
tenn quickly become imperative.
For the test. television cameras
were set up on towers at van
tage points. Operators in q re-
mote-control center could make
the cameras rotate horizontally
or vertically in order to aim at
any section Of the road within
range.
Could Analyze Situation
Analyzing the situation from
the television picture. the OPP
orators could then order police
fire or rescue vehicles to the spot
by. radio. In addition operators
could close OF ramps or access
roads pouring new trafiic into
the area and open UP others that
would help drain on the conges-
ton
The cameras were equipped
with q battery Of special devices
to make them work under all
conditions.
They had auto zoom" tele-
|scopic lenses. such as those
which put teleyision baseball
fans alongside the outnelder
when he catches that long fiy
ball. to bring distant scenes ur
close.
They had automatic irises q
compensate for changing con-
|dition Of light.
They had automatic elevators
to raise the entire camera high
on a tower for bird's-eye views.
They had remote control To-
cusing.
Even Windshield Wipers
And for rainy days, they even
had windshield wipers for the
lenses.
Under most conditions" the
engineers reported, I'VE had an
excellent picture. and under the
worst conditions we had q disable
picture"
The two said they are pro-
posing an even more extensive
test, covering many miles Of ex-
lpressways for two years. They
suggested the system could be
even more effective II 1t were tied
lin with major radio stations.
Since. they said, two out of
every three automobiles are
equipped with radios. the con-
troll system could issue warning
bulletins to drivers that would
materially reduce congestion be-
fore 1t built up.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
Rambling

A parakeet got loose a few
days ago in Murphy's F street
store, fitted over to the art
counter, and peered longingly
at the outdoor scenes on dis
play. -.
At the sixth police precinct
station there's q door labeled
18th Police Precinct, Detec-
tives." Beneath the label
some wag has pasted a clip
ping reading, "I'n give you q
solid metal casket with q
complete funeral for $780," ;.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
Parents Fight
Teacher Slash

PTA leaders were banking on
Congressional help today in their
efforts to stave on q teacher
slash in District high schools.
Spokesman for the District
Congress Of Parents and Teach
|ers and several separate school
organizations told a House.
Senate committee yesterday they
would willingly pay more taxes
to avert a teacher shortage In
the city's schools.
A teacher slash, witnesses said,
would aggravate school condi-
tons which one called already
shameful"
John B. Gillilland, president
Iof the PTA congress, led a group
Iof parents who appeared at q
hearing being conducted by Rep
Iresentative Smith. Democrat Of
Virginia. on District tax pro-
Iposals.
Voices Concern
Mr.. Gillilland, who last week
told the same group that budget
ing by the District Commission
ers isn't providing for the schools
adequately. said yesterday his
Organization is greatly con-
Icerned about plans to cut back
junior and senior high teachers
in order to provide more teach
Iers for elementary schools.
Mr.. Gillilland and other wit
nesses branded the cutback plan
as "robbing Peter to pay Paul"
They urged that Congress revise
the Commissioners revenue es-
Inmates in order to provide more
teachers at all levels.
Mrs. Samuel Bigio, of the
home and school associations al
Coolidge High and Paul Junior
High Schools, told the commit
tee the District school system Il
now in a "morass" of crowdine
and undertaking because Of re-
ipeated budget cuts.
The recent poor showing Of
Washington high schools in q
national scholarship test is evil
dence Of BADLY lowered educa-
Itional standards" caused by
slashed budgets. Mrs. Bigio
added.
Tagging Achievement
Mrs. John Steele, representing
III Northwest PTAs. also cited
the problem OF tagging achieve
ment. Noting that tests last
spring showed pupils failing to
meet national standards In read
ling, arithmetic and other basic
subjects, she said school made
lquacies were leading to juvenile
delinquency and making Wash
ling AN undesirable place To
choose to live"
Mrs. Steele said her groups
would not support the Commits
sioners' plans for higher taxes
unless these have Significance
flor the schools"
Mrs. Norman Becker, presi.
dent Of Shepherd Elementary
School PTA, said the Commits
sioners aren't allotting enough
of the city's revenue to schools
She also argued strongly for q
bigger Federal contribution to
city expenses
Problem at Hand
James Rogers, Of the Hard!
Home and School Association
said Hardy has mixed first-sec'
lond, fourth-fifth and fifth-sixtl
grades because Of q teacher
shortage, asserting:
I'VE think It is shameful tina
a condition Of this kind exist
In the Nations Capital"
He said Hardy parents woult
support enthusiastically ANY to,
program necessary to provide
Isufficiency Of teachers" for tn,
city's schools.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
DC. May Seek Loan
From U.S.. for Transit
$40 Million Plea Studied;
Congress Waits Details

The Districts transit authority legislation may Federal
borrowing in the neghbohood of $40 million trans
poraon service started August when the Capital
CO. franchise dies.
The funds would be used buy equipment put
public transit system In business
This appeared to be the thinking of District officials they
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17

SOA@s AOANAAAS AAANW 0b0AO
the statue, and had Just
picked up some additional in
formation.
II had a telephone call just
after l talked to Mr.. Thorn
ett," he said. "But it's not too
clear Just who does own the
statue.
franklin Square - that
triangular piece of property.
where the statue isis owned
by National Capital Parks.
But it's one of those freaks.
We (the DISTRICT own that
part Of the land directly be-
meath the statue.
Nov you'd think from that
that we owned the statue IT
self. But there doesn't seem
to be a record of the owner
ship anywhere. I doubt If we
can find a clear title to it
anywhere"
Well, Poor Ben's clean, any
way, bright and shiny for his
birthday celebration.
The statue was presented to
"the people of Washington"
in 1889, and features the Dip
lomatic dress Franklin wore
at Versailles.
There's another big statue
Of Franklin not far away, in
the Post ONCE Department
Building, just inside the door
on Pennsylvania avenue,
which the Post once is proud
to call its own.
That one got its due less
than year ago, when 1t was
moved down out of the attic,
so to speak, to a place Of
prominence in the main lobby
Of the Benjamin Franklin
Station. Before that, 1t had
been in a dark corner near
the Postmaster Generals
Office.
And there's Hiram Powers
heroic statue of Franklin in
the east corridor Of the Sen
ate at the Capitol, belonging
to the Capitol, Of course.
But nobody's claiming Poor
Ben, standing down there at
Tenth and D streets.
National Capital Parks just
goes on taking care of him,
year after year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17

WILLIAM A. XANTEN, who
runs the Districts Sanitation
Division said the statue was
not quite a street cleaning
problem, and that he thought
it might come under Trees and
Parking.
mo, I think Archie Hutson
would be the one to handle
that" Jimmie Latham, who
works in Trees and Parkings,
said.
Mr.. Hutson is in charge Of
Buildings and Grounds.
I'VE handle a lot of things, I"
he said, "but that's not one of
them. We have charge of
buildings and the grounds adj
jacent to buildings, and l
don't know Of any building
adjacent to that statue"
The only thing to do. OBJ
yiously, was to go higher.
G. NJ. Thornett. secretary to
the District Commissioners,
was pretty sure the statue
belonged to National Capital
Parks.
But I'd better check" he
said.
He checked.
"It seems we do own it," he
said. lit. Col. Thomas B.
Hunter, in the Engineer Com
missioner office knows q lot
about that statue, II you need
some more information"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
1T WAS LOVELY WHILE 1T LASTED

The overnight sketchn pattern the S3 West
street Chevy Chase Nd hod after warming came up on
street address The OF which expected late tomorrow
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-17
Engineers Offer
Remote ~ 10
Control Traffic
Detroit Expresswoy
Tests Show Curb Of
Congestion BuiIdup

Robot teleyision cameras for
remote control Of high-speed city
trafiic were proposed today by
two Detroit engineers.
The novel proposal. designed
to master the instantaneous
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03
DORIS FLEESON
Legend of the Big City Bosses

and bear the heat and burden
Of the day. The time is past
when a boss McCooey could
spend the day at the races with
a solid phalanx of New York
City commissioners, leaving a
stooge at city hall and ward
heelers doing the necessary.
The man Stevenson has got
to get along with in Chicago
is Mayor Daley. who had to
wage a hard primary fight to
get nominated and out-promise
a reform Republican to win the
election. King David" Law
renee has worked hard as May
or Of Pittsburgh for 10 years,
and a newspaper critic says
of him: He is far too shrewd
to put up for Office anyone
likely to prove a misfit. d.
he is enormously respected by
friend and foe"
In New Orleans an editor
says, 1.-THE big city boss is ex-
tinct. We have no citywide
or even ward boss whose con-
troll Is such that he does not
have to care what the uncon-
trolled voters think" Here
again the principal politician
is described as the Mayor him.
self, "Chep" Morrison. His
machine is said to be new,
created strictly to handle local
problems. The comment is
made that it would be most
surprising to find the Morri-
son organization function well
nationally.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03
Bills in Capitol PigeonhoIes Could
Have Lessened Flood Damage

million from Congress for this
purpose
For another example, there
is the Kaweah River in the San
Joaquin Valley which dealt
heavy damage to Visalia and
other towns. A dam there was
authorized by Congress over
10 years ago, in 1914, but no
money ever was appropriated.
There is. however. a silver
lining to the California story.
This is for people who escaped
because rivers in their areas
are controlled by dams built
by the United States Reclama-
ton Bureau which pointed out
that happy circumstance in a
statement issued here. This
shows what can be done, and
is thus a guide for the future.
For instance, Shasta Dam
helped to regulate flood waters
Of the Sacramento River in
CALIFORNIA; Central Valley and
to prevent a flood stage which,
the bureau said, would other
wise have reached that Of 1910
before Shasta Dam was built
when 635, 900 acres were in
undated.
AS for the Yuba City and
Marysville disasters. the bu-
reau also explained that in
1910 1t had made surveys for
dam sites and laid out designs
for other works which were
embodied in a comprehensive
report on the development of
the Central Valley. But the
State never has approved
them, nor has Congress au-
thorized them. In this over
all development the State is
to bear the major share, with
Federal help projected for
flood control aspects.
Recently we have had the
California and New England
tragedies. We may be sure
that, in time, we will find
them repeated elsewhere. The
problem affects nearly every
part Of the country and is a
part Of the bigger problem Of
conservation Of our resources.
including our water, our land,
and our people.
The answer Is selfishness of
powerful private interests and
the human instinct to protect
ones own area. In the latter
class are the disputes that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03
Ingredients Capable of War

and the Soviet tacticians are
trying to make it less strong
every day. Unfortunately on
this point some misguided
persons In Britain. France and
the. United States are every
day being duped into playing
the Russian game.
Thus the admission of Red
China into the United Ma
tions. for example. Is not in
itself going to change the
actions of the U. N. But in
moral and military signif1-
canoe 1t would be a terrific
loss to the United States. It
would mean that two big ar
mics IN the Far East - the
Korean and the Chinese Ma
tionalists - would be melted
away by such a surrender to
the Red Chinese.
Moscow controls the Far
East with a tight rein and can
start or stop a war in Formosa
or Korea or in Southeast Asia.
America and her allies are not
bellicose. So while, theoreti-
cally, for the time being a
stalemate does exist, this is
only another name for the
so-called balance Of power"
doctrine which in past history
has been upset by incidents"
that flare into war. Today the
number of areas where lin
cidents" can occur stretches
from East Berlin to Israel to
Wet Nam to Formosa and to
Korea. In 1914 and in 1899
armies were not modified. but
war broke out. Today they are
already mobilized and air
power is on a 24-hour alert.
The Kremlin rulers could
make the same mistake Hitler
did-they could assume the
West viii not fight and will
not take action II the Red ag-
gression is extended either by
military force or by infiltra-
ton. The Red rulers are TAX
ing chances every day-and
that's why 1856 starts with the
biggest number of ingredients
capable Of bringing on the
world war nobody wants.
Reproduction Rights Reserved.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03
Stocks of the Old Machines
Appear to Be at Lowest Ebb

welt found big city bosses at
a certain climax of their
power due to the depression
when any kind Of job was
above rubies in value. He re-
peatedly held out one hand to
them while just as consistently
using the other to dig their
graves with a New Deal spade.
Hague's death suggests the
question of how the boss leg
end actually stands today.
Could Stevenson or Hartman
or some dark horse make
deals Of the old style with ma
chine bosses who could posi-
lively deliver the goods at the
national convention and in
November?
A spot check of cities long
Identified with political ma
chimes and colorful characters
like Hague says they could not.
The evidence is unmistak-
able that today the only politi-
cal boss worthy Of the name
lives by consent. He can sur
vive only as he has candidates
or policies which suit the pub
lie temper. He is not really a
boss but a political manager
who has to cater to his stock
holders perhaps more than If
he worked for General Motors.
Amazingly often he finds it
best to run for Office himself
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03

either in industrial produc.
ton or military capabilities.
The Soviets and the Chinese
Peoples Republic would have
challenged us long ago had
they felt that they could win.
But while their talk is loud
their top military men are
urging Khrushchev and Chou
En-lai to go easy and not
push matters to a military
showdown.
The Chinese Communists
took a chance in sending their
forces into Korea, because
they had been informed
through diplomatic channels
that there would be no Amer
can retaliation against their
own land. Our European allies
and we ourselves are impressed
when 1t is mentioned that
the USSR has some ITS divi.
sions ready for combat. But
1t is seldom pointed out that
a Soviet or satellite division
is only 10000 men strong and
the lines of communication and
supply are still very deficient.
We are oVerawed by the fact
that the USSR has up
ward of 10000 planes-mostly
OF modern types. But the So
Wet high command knows as
well as our own that the ex-
perience and quality of the
American or British fighting
airman are far superior to the
Slav or Oriental.
For the sake of a misguided
decorum-we must never ap.
pear willing to fight lest we
lose our position as the carriers
OF the peace torch-the world
is not told that if the Chinese
Communists seek a showdown
in the Far East they would be
badly defeated despite their
large numbers and the pres
ence of some 1000 Soviet
planes on their air bases.
For 10 years we have tried
appeasement and this has led
us closer to a choice between
war and surrender. It might
be worth getting tough with
the DULLES. 1t certainly could
not produce worse results than
the course we have followed
since the war.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03

What would happen to the
world II the United States de-
cided in the coming year to
change It's policies and get
tough? Suppose we were to tell
the Red pack bluntly: You
have gone too far already:
from now on we won't stand
for any further nonsense from
you and your phony asso-
GATES"
The first reaction to such an
unlikely attitude would be, of
course, an avalanche of vio-
lent criticism from our major
allies, particularly the British
and French. There would be
powerful editorials "deprecat-
ing" the American stand. in
the London Times. Manchester
Guardian and lie Monde in
Paris. There would be strong
speeches in the House Of Com
mons demanding that Britain
break away from the American
adventuresome alliance.
There would be loud blasts
from Moscow, Peiping and the
satellite capitals.
And there would be violent
criticism Of the Government
from many h h-pow cred
American newspaper and radio
commentators. to say nothing
of the Democratic headquar-
tiers.
But after the din had died
down and the dust settled the
United States would be far
better of than it is today.
We have followed a policy Of
appeasement toward the Com
munists ever since we became
their wartime associates after
Pearl Harbor. We have adopted
a policy Of near servitude and
almost continued apology to-
ward our Western allies since
the end of the war. We have
fallen, hook. line and sinker,
for every phony peace bait the
Communists have dangled be-
fore us only to discover that
we have been sadly deceived.
A declaration of independ-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03
DORIS FLEEsON

Frank II Am the Law"
Hague died New Years Day,
10 years after his political
eclipse. Yet the legend of the
big city bosses lives on as he
typified it. principally identi-
fed with the Democratic Party
and useful to the political OPP
position and reformers.
It is already appearing in
the 1856 presidential cam
paign. Adlai Stevenson is &C.
cused of catering to the bosses.
Gov. Hartman of New York
is aSsailed for his associations
with the Tammany boss. Car
mine De Sapio. Senator Ke-
fauver's amateur supporters
holler against the bosses with
almost more righteous indig-
nation than Senator Gold
water turns against Walter
Reuther.
The two most recent Demo-
cratic Presidents certainly had
boss connections.
Harry S. Truman received
his first senatorial nomina-
ton as virtual largesse from
Boss Pendergast of Kansas
City. Pendergast later went
to jail but Truman, then Vice
President, went to Fender
CASTS funeral to show he had
not forgotten.
In 1882 Franklin D. Roose-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03
BROWN
U. S. Change in Policy Might Work
Where Appeosement HIS Failed

ence in international affairs
would not result in our being
isolated: quite the contrary.
The free peoples In Europe and
especially in Asia are worried
because not a single free power
has the intestinal fortitude to
stand up to the Communist re-
gimes in Moscow and Peiping.
In the years since vi day
they have seen the Commu-
nists making enormous strides
while the West seems to sit
down. apparently willing to &C.
cept whatever the future has
in store.
There has been much talk
in official quarters about the
NATO and its defensive capa-
bilities. But the rank and file
in Europe do not see it in
the same light. We don't want
to admit the fact that we lost
the war in Korea-diplomati-
cally, not militarily. But the
Asians know this only too well.
We give the world the impress
sion that we are scared.
No publicity is ever given
to the views of qualified mil
itary men that the combined
Soviet Chinese might does not
unduly worry them. That
would sound like jingoism and
warmongering. Actually. it
would have a reassuring effect
on millions of free men
throughout the world who are
reluctant to rally around us
because they have been given
the impression that we are
frightened by the spector Of
an atomic war, while the Rus
slams have the initiative.
These competent military
men whose names cannot be
publiciZed maintain that in
the next war, as in the last
one, industrial know-how and
competence will be the final
factors. The Russians and
Chinese, despite their great
efforts, continue to be far be-
hind us. They certainly have
the numbers but not the skill
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03
THOMAS L. STOKES
Practicable Natural Disasters

arise over distribution Of
water. both between geo.
graphical regions and between
small farmers and big land
owners. In the former category
are private utilities, still so
influential politically. which
are determined to forestall
public development of hydro
electric power, either by State
or Federal Government. The
controversies created by these
conflicts drag on endlessly
through legislatures and Con-
gress-and so the development
and protection of our water
resources are blocked and
some gloomy morning we wake
up to see the water creeping
up about our door. Then it's
too late to cry:
River, stay way from my
door"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-03
POTOMAC FEVER
FLETCHER KNEBEL

The second round of the saith Congress The first
round fight between the two parties thriller Luckily the
taxpayer saved by the bell
French elections triumph for the moderate anti
rightists will form coalition with the extreme anti
centsand the season by throwing out the first cabinet
One member of kes party he can't shake of haunting
reminders Fair Deal Key West Every time for
walk either Truman avenue-or bump into Milton
Eisenhower"
mark Of a strong the ability to a
versation from the who started it,
Gov knight Of California would be honored"
to be President It's honor just be mentioned-even
fellow has to do the mentioning himself.
Democrats in the Congress will investigate everything
but the Capitol dome Unfortunately that hasn't been returned
yet from the last Democratic administration.
Swedish Actress Anita Ekbergs srapless evening gown
unstched at London hotel party About the only thing
that wasn't revealed the OF her publicity agent