davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
Recognizing a VILLAIN

1t Is hardly news to hear complaints
voiced about inequities in the Federal tax
system, particularly in the present struc-
ture of individual income tax rates. It
comes closer to news when high ranking
members of both parties on the House
Ways and Means Committee express sep
arate criticisms of the present rate spread
and direct their heaviest fire at the very
top brackets. The spokesman for this BIZ
partisan complaint are Republican Rep
resentative Reed of New York, former
committee chairman and now it's ranking
minority member, and Democratic Rep
resentative Mills of Arkansas, second
ranking majority member.
Mr.. Reed describes the excessive"
rates at the top-reaching to 81 per cent
as "the villain of the income tax prob
lem" in that they stif1e initiative and
encourage evasion Mr. Mills describes
them as largely fictitious" in that only
few individuals actually pay at this
almost confiscatory rate and that the
return to Government does not compen-
safe for the injustice. Both propose, of
course, that a readjustment in the rate
structure should apply to the entire scale
in effect, downward graduation of all
rates. In Mr.. Mills formula, he suggests
splitting of the present minimum of 20
per cent-r1ow applicable to the first
$4,000 of taxable income-to make the
first 81 900 taxable at a lower percentage.
1t is significant, however, that both con-
slider the income tax-if corrected in It's
inequities-as a practical and fair method
for raising essential revenue, and that
neither favorS the extreme proposal of
former Commissioner T. Coleman An
drews that the tax eventually should be
abolished.
An overhauling such as the two
Congressman propose is not a simple task.
To accomplish it's real purpose of cor
recting inequities without sacrificing
revenue calls for careful study at a time
when partisan political pressureS are at
a minimum. Both Mr. Reed and Mr.
Mills are agreed that tax reduction of
any kind may be unWise this year and
neither is proposing that revision of the
income tax rate structure be attempted
in this session of Congress- They have,
however, defined real need. It would
be fortunate if this bipartisan approach
could be carried over to a new Congress
and workmanlike job be done on this
problem.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
Try Try Again

Nobody should be surprised or
dismayed by the fact that the United
Nations Disarmament Subcommittee
France, Canada, Britain, Russia and the
United StateS) has once again failed to
achieve a meeting of minds. After all,
when the subcommittee resumed its dis
cusSions in London seven weeks ago, the
most that was hoped for was that the
Kremlin might adopt less intransigent
attitude, and there is some reason to feel
that at least q little progress has been
made along that line.
At any rate, Harold Stassen, the
Presidents representative at the talks,
has spoken rather encouragingly OF the
results. AS he sees the situation, the
Russians have retreated from some OF the
wholly unacceptable views they have held
In the past and the gap between them
and the free world has thus been mar
rowed-enough so to raise the hope tnaC
next year will offer good prospects" for
making a really noteworthy advance to-
ward a full disarmament agreement.
Certainly, if this judgment is not as wish
full as certain other Western experts be-
lieve, the old deadlock has become APP
preciably less unbreakable than it has
seemed ever since 1916.
Still, whether Mr. Stassen's moderate
optimism is sound or not, the fact re-
mains that the obstacles to an eventual
agreement are extremely formidable.
This is so primarily because the Kremlln,
If it has not rejected them altogether,
continues to offer only vague lip-service
to several preconditions that the West
regards as absolutely indispensable.
Among these are the following: (D That
general disarmament must be carried out
on stage by stage basis, with each stage
to be completed before the next is begun;
(2) that there must be at the same time
confidence breeding settlements of major
international political diSputes-settle-
mentS, for example, that would reun1te
Germany and Korea as genuinely free
lands and (3) that the disarming process
must provide at the very start for effec-
tive policing measures, including Presi-
dent Eisenhower's plan for reciprocal
aerial surveillance and ground inspection
AS long as the Kremlin holds out
against these and kindred ideas, or as
long as it is willing to accept them only
in highly diluted form, the West cannot
safely undertake to make. any substantial
reductions in it's ornaments or armed
forces. And that means that the arms
race must go on until Soviet policy is so
changed as to enable the world to call
the whole thing off and establish con-
trolls in which everybody can have conf
dence. Meanwhile, as Mr.. Stassen has
warned, other countries not now equipped
with atomic weapons or hydrogen bombs
may well begin to produce thenl-a de-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
They Had a Fair Trial

The cause of honest law enforcement
has been strengthened by the decision of
the United States Court of Appeals up
holding the conviction of two former
Metropolitan Police officers on conspiracy
to-bribe charges. The guilty officers,
former Captain John B. Monroe and for
mer Detective George c. Prather, had
appealed their conviction on technical
grounds. But the appellate tribunal ruled
that the District Court committed no re-
verSible error. In other words, it found
that these suspended policemen-and the
numbers racketeerS with whom they
plotted to bride a gambling squad officer
were given fair trial before the lower
court jury.
The appeal of the convicted officers
was based chiefly on the fact that there
was variance" between the conspiracy
count and the proof presented in District
Court in support of the count. Curiously,
the variance involved not too little evil
dence, but too much. Defense attorneys
pointed out that whereas the count had
to do with only one alleged conspiracy,
the Government produced evidence of
several conSpiracieS. 1t was argued, I'M
der previous court decisions, that this
additional evidence constituted surprise
tactics that put the defense at
disadvantage.
But Appellate Judges Miller, Fahy
and Danaher brushed aside the surprise"
contention with the assertion that 1.-The
scheme of Monroe and Prather extended
to all that was proved respecting the
conspiracy. They were not surprised, nor
were their substantial rights otherwise
prejudced by the alleged variance" The
judges also upheld the use of recorded
evidence against the pair. The unanimous
decision is gratifying to citizens who had
been shocked at revelations of police
corruption and who have backed Chief
Murray in his determined efforts to rid
his force of crooked officers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08

velopment that would seriously increase
the great dangers inherent in the present
uncontrolled situation.
However, as Mr.. Stassen has also in
Dictated, craftsmanship is not too poverty
stricken to find way out of this impasse.
The problem is tremendously complex and
difficult, but If the Russians progressively
modify their views for the better, the
West should be able, by trying and trying
again, to win their full cooperation
sooner or later. In any event, even they
must now be beginning to suspect that
such cooperation is vitality needed to
insure the survival of all nations in our
age of fastening and fusioning atoms.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08

@. How do the five biggest
American cities rank in the
number Of large banks each
has?-P. p. A.
A. Exclusive Of mutual sav-
ings banks, the American
Banker" list as Of December 81.
1855. showed that New YORK
City at %; Chicago, 10; Phils-
delphia, 8; Los Angeles, 5, and
Detroit, IL. Biggest bank in the
country, on the basis of deposits.
is Bank Of America in San Fran
cisco. with deposits Of neary
SO billion. New York has the
two next largest: Chase Man
haitian Bank, over $6.7 billion
in deposits, and First National
City Bank, over $6.3 billion
@. What are plant patents?
RE.
A. In 1880 Congress passed
the Plant Patent Act. which
provides that any person who
invents or discovers a new o.
distinct variety of plant shall
be able to obtain a patent on
it. giving him exclusive right
to propagate the plant By
a sexual reproduction: that is,
by grating, budding, cuttings.
layering. division. and so forth.
put not by seeds.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08

Congress cannot continue to
play politics with billions Of
dollars forcefully taken from
a deceived people. Social Sc
curity now holds $2l billion
In Government promissory
notes, with only about $500
million cash on hand. Most
people think that social secur-
ity is operated like an insur-
ance company, with their
money going into a special re-
serve fund, and when they re-
tire they simply get their own
money back.
II the real truth was publi-
cized they would realize that
social security is q fraud be-
cause ID the money goes into
the Treasury and is being spent
for other purposes; az it's
compulsory; 90 it raises taxes
and is inflationary; a. 1t COM
petes with private enterprise;
90 it is unconstitutional, and
90 1t tends to destroy the
faith Of the people in their
elected representatives.
o. r.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08

were blasted by the American
Bar Association as restrictions
on information and then aban-
doned by the Government, at
least for the present.
One of the effects of the
proposed amendment would be
to put a quietus on the Pink
Case (3l5 U. S. 203, 228 de-
cided in 1922 with Chief JUS
tice Stone and Justice Roberts
dissenting, and Justices jack
son and Reed not participant
ing, in which the court held
that an executive agreement
made in 1888 between Presi-
dent Franklin D. Roosevelt
and Maxim Litvinov, Russia's
Commissar for Foreign Affairs.
set aside the Fifth Amend
ment and superseded the law
Of the State of New York.
OF this holding DR.. Philip
Jessup wrote sharply in 36
American Journal of Interna-
tional Law 282 1942):
From the point of view of
our constitutional law, the de-
cision may well mark one of
the most far reaching inroads
upon the protection which it
was supposed the Fifth Amend
ment accorded to private prop
erty." ~
Professor Emeritus Edward
s. Corwin of Princeton, who
has opposed earlier texts of the
Bricker Amendment, comedies
that the Pink Case is a bad
construction of the Constitu-
ton, and that "if a constitu-
tional amendment is necessary
to this end. then the Constitu-
ton should be amended to
this extent, but an act Of Con-
gress would probably suffice"
Congressional Record, Janu-
airy 81. 1854. p. 82Sl.
On the preceding page of the
Congressional Record, Prof.
Corwin properly points out
that since the Judiciary Act Of
1889, passed by the First Con-
greSs, the Supreme Court has
jurisdiction not only Of the
construction Of q treaty or
statute, but of the validity Of
a treaty or statute Of the
United States; and that the
Supreme Court has said in
numerous early cases that the
treaty power cannot author
lie what the Constitutions for
bids )" This was generally
believed to be correct constitu-
tional law, as Prof. Corwin still
thinks 1t is. until 1920 when a
loose dictum Of Justice Holmes
in Missouri v. Holland put that
principle in doubt. The next
text will resolve that doubt
and restore the concept Of the
Founding Fathers.
Alfred J. Schweppe
Seattle, Wash.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08

many of whom will be strongly
opposed to the nomination of
Gov. Hartman of New York,
Gov. Williams of Michigan or
Senator Kefauver. If that
should happen and the con-
vention be deadlocked, the ulti-
mate choice for the presi-
dental nomination could 60 to
Senator Stuart Symington Of
Missouri.
Truman Role Considered
There are those Democrats
who still look to a Truman
nomination. in the event Of
a convention tie-up. But the
chances seem mighty slim that
the former President would
permit himself to be nomi-
mated. Truman will, 1t is I'M
derstood. be asked to play q
major part in one Of the ses-
Sions of the national conven-
tion-but not, 1t is said, as key
note speaker and temporary
chairman. The thought Of
those who foresee a Truman
nomination, is that he will set
the convention afire with one
of his hard hitting. give 'em
hell" speeches and the dele
gates will stampede to him.
Speaker Sam Rayburn has
been recommended already by
the Democratic National Com
mittee for permanent chair
man of the national conven-
ton. Truman at one time was
considered for temporary
chairman-an Office no former
President has ever performed
and the thought was he
should have q spot in the
convention for himself alone,
without the need Of presiding
over the early proceedings Of
the convention.
johnson Not Pressing
Senator johnson himself.
up to the present, has offered
himself only as a favorite-son
candidate for the purpose Of
party unity in Texas and to
insure a Texas delegation
which will be prepared to 20
down the line for the Demo-
cratic presidential nominee.
He has sought no delegates
from other States. But SEN
ator Russell of Georgia, the
South'S presidential candidate
In the 1852 national conven-
ton, said a month ago in the
Senate: IT cannot refrain
from observing that when his
(Senator Johnson's) name is
presented to the convention
as a favorite-son candidate
from Texas, it will be impos-
sible to prevent delegations
from other States from ADOPT
ing him as theft. favorite-son."
Shivers' defeat has been
heralded as a sure sign that
Texas will not again vote for
President Eisenhower as it
did under the leadership OF
Shivers four years ago. Much
may depend. however, on the
ultimate nominee Of the Dem
ocratic Party. The State
turned down Stevenson. It.
could do so again. 1t also could
vote against Hartman.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

IN this way. They do not know
that 1t Is very dangerous. often
resulting In fitness and some
times death.
$50
When We saw Mabel at this
hazardous occupation, we nut
out q big bowl Of wheat biscuit
and milk for her.
1t was necessary to keep out
OF the way. because she posi-
lively would not come up with
any one around.
But the milk disappeared
every night.
There was no doubt that
she was getting the food.
In q month she had become
noticeably fatter and sleeker.
but never any more friendly.
1t made no difference.
The important thing was
that she was getting somothing
to eat when she needed It.
The days vent by. and final-
~ Mabel disappeared.
She came no more, and
there was q feeling Of fr1strA-
ton, ut flrst. but later one Of
pleasure that 20 much help,
at least, had been given.
Instead Of picturing the
worst. 1t was better TO think
Of the good done, and turn
her over to the great reservoir
OF power in which we all
are bathed from illimitable
sources.
Years later. and only in
directly, we learned that she
came into a good home Of her
own. after her babies were
born.
She had received help at the
time 1t was needed, and that
was the big thing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
Slow Down and Live

Thanks to DR.. Steincrohn
for his recent article on high
way carelessness with it's grim
results. We are rather inclined
to think only in terms of those
killed and not about those Sc
riously MANNED. These need
less tragedies should certainly
teach us to show more COM
mon sense and courtesy on the
roads.
1 think ii is time we i'm
pressed upon every one, and
especially upon teenagers, that
it takes more courage to do
the sensible thing than the
idiotic. l grow so weary of
hearing young people explain
their foolhardiness with the
words, II had to do so and so
or my friends would think I
was chicken. What an over
worked phrase! Let us remem-
Der that the person who Is
really looked up to in this
world is the one who at least
tries to do the best he can In
his everyday dealings with his
fellow man.
There is too much exploiting
Of the gangster, the foolhardy,
etc. Let us for once give some
thanks and praise to those
who show a little intelligence.
It always makes me happy to
hear of afe-driving awards
and similar incentives for us
to strive for a more worth
while goal.
Why do most of us take to
the open road on weekends? I
am sure the answer will be al
most unanimous-"For pleas
ure!" Well, then. let us get a
little pleasure" from it by
slowing down so we may en-
Joy the wonders Of the coun-
tryside. 1t would be good for
our health, too. to take life
more leisurely. God has made
life full Of so much beauty
let us live to enjoy 1t.
Mildred Otto.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
THE POLITICAL MILL
By GOULD LINCOLN
Johnson q Man of the Hour

Senator Lyndon B. John
sons sweeping victory in the
Texas primary over Gov. Allan
Shivers has made him the man
of the hour in the Southern
wing of the Democratic Party.
1t could assure him second
place on the Democratic ma
tional ticket provided he
would accept a vice presiden-
tial nomination. The Texas
Senator will go to the Demo-
cratic National Convention as
head of the Lone Star States
big delegation and as the
States favorite-Son candidate
for President. He has just con-
cluded grueling, hard-fought
campaign. He is in good phys
ical condition, notwithstand-
ing the heart attack he suf-
fered last summer.
Senator Johnson's defeat of
Gov. Shivers has heartened the
Democrats throughout the
country-who had feared that
a ShiverS victory might be a
forerunner of another Dixi-
crat party in the South, with
dire results for the National
Democratic Party. They be-
lieve this danger has now
passed. The Democrats see no
other potential, strong figure
in the South to lead such a
movement, now that Shivers
has been turned down by the
Texas Democrats. Former Gov.
James F. Byrnes of South
Carolina and former Gov. Rob-
ert F. Kennon of Louisiana,
who with Shivers made up
big driving force against the
Stevenson-Sparkman ticket in
1852, are out of the political
picture, too.
3 State Primaries Ahead
If Adlai Stevenson wins the
Florida and California pri-
maries against Senator Ke-
fauver of Tennessee, and runs
ahead of the Tennessean in
the write in" race in Ore
CONS primary. he may well
go on to second presiden-
tial nomination at the hands
of the coming Democratic Ma
tional Convention. The con-
vention will then have to de-
eide whether it is better to
take a strong Southern candi-
date for Vice President, or
go North. Some Democrats,
feeling that Stevenson can
carry the Southern States
this year because of his mod
Grafton" stand, are urging
that a candidate for second
place from the North and East
such as Gov. Meyner of New
Jersey, Mayor Wagner of New
York or Senator John F. Ken
nedy of Observation-Disclosures
be preferable. Should the de-
cision be to go South. johnson
would be the ideal selection.
In the event that Stevenson
should not make the grade
and that danger still exists
Senator johnson, as Texas
favorite-son candidate, may
well become a rallying post
for the convention delegates
from the Southern States
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
BETHESDA. Md.

DE 1EOJA, Mo.
Dear Sir:
Il am glad you have taken
to writing some more stories
about dogs.
Personally, I like the cat,
but I think dogs have more
oomph. and q closer relation
to humanity.
II have had many Of them
in my life, and each one be-
came a part Of the family, and
was mourned when he left us.
To-day I have no dog. but
make all I see my friends, and
always find a response in their
eyes. SO beautiful and brown,
usually.
IT hate to see a red-eyed
dog.
Such an animal Is either
mean. or has not received good
care. or perhaps both.
Il recall seeing q fine Irish
setter in q vets hospital one
day. This was years ago. The
dog leaped at the wire when
I approached.
Il asked what was the mat
ter with him, and the doctor
said he was Just plain mean,
that his owner couldn't keep
him, and that he would bite on
approach.
Such a poor animal does
exist, now and then, just as
there are basically mean
human beings, but fortunately
they are few and far between,
and most of us never see them.
Dogs also come a dime a
dozen. and the fine thing is
that often the cheapest is the
best.
"One Of the best we ever
had was a mutt we picked up
off the street. He was our
friend for IL years, and you
can see he has never been for
gotten.
II pay this tribute to Bozo,
an absurd name which he dig
nified.
with best wishes.
Sincerely, H. L."
We would like to tell the
story Of Mabel, as we called
her, to make a point.
The point is that those who
like dogs should help them
when they can. and not worry
too much.
Leave the rest to nature, and
do not sorrow over the posi-
bilities that may come up.
No one, not even the great
est or wiseSt OF humans. knows
what will happen tomorrow.
We are all children OF the
same nature. and, man and
dog, must take things as they
come.
Mabel was a deserted Ger
man shepherd.
She was thin, and about to
have children.
She appeared at night only.
coming into the yard with a
wary look.
She specialized in upsetting
garbage cans and so getting
something to eat.
This is a mighty poor way
for any living creature TO get
food.
Some very fine and we'll fed
dogs love 10 get extra snacks
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
Death March

The facts behind the Paris
Island death march" have
been made public. Sergt. Nc
Keen is awaiting court-martial
on four counts. The Marine
Corps is frantically shutting
top brass to correct a laxity
that has crept into the super
vision of the recruit training
program. The families of the
victims are bitter and not
without cause. Some have
publicly hurled the charge of
murder" at Sergt. McKeon.
But are these charges cor
rectly aimed?
Sergt. McKeon must accept
his responsibility for the trag-
edy. of course, but must he
shoulder the entire burden of
a tragedy that can be blamed
as much on the decadent Sys-
tenn at Paris Island as on any
act by Sergt. McKeKon him
self?
Bart Green.
4 4 y
Late in 1854, John R. Han
nah, then assistant Secre-
tary of Defense for man.
power, authorized the sale
of bottled liquor on Army
and Air Force posts. Il
believe the Navy and Ma
rines already had secured this
privilege Shortly after this
bombshell burst in the news,
The Star carried a letter from
me. which read in part:
IT he rigors, discomforts,
and Illustrations of military
life are bad enough under the
most favorable circumstances,
but that officers and noncom-
miSSioned officers should issue
orders and exert controls over
enlisted personnel while serv-
ing as containers for narcotic
alcohol. is an unnecessary
hardship cruel to contemplate.
Parents Of the raw material of
war are entitled to say, I
didn't raise my boy to be a
soldier under bunch of al
coholics!' The safety of the
country is hazarded by such
dimwitS who approved the
order"
A couple Of purported serv-
ice people replied to the effect
that I had insulted brave men
or the American flag, or some
thing. Perhaps, in view of the
recent tragedy ut Paris Is
land. others Of like opinion
would like to Justify ex-Secre-
tary Hannah's order.
We are justified. I believe.
in putting John Barleycorn"
up for court-martial, along
with the the sergeant.
Richard L. Feldman.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
Daisies

I used to search for daisies
To ask nv questions Of /.
Would they say he loped me
not?
Would they promise loUe'
The fields shine Dhite Nth
daisies,
To find one is no task
Nom that I hare no question.
No thing at all to ask. .
Lee Avery
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry tDriterS' correct
names and addresses All
letters are subject to conden-
Sdtion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
Questions and Answers
By THE HASKN SERVICE

A reader can get an answer ny man
Evening Star Information Bureau.
1900 Eve st NV washington g.
d c Please incloae 4 cents for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-08
Anti-SocioI Security

Seattle, Wash.