davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02

They are cities in their own name
and in their own right. challenge
the validity of the Federal City
concept. It no longer exists in fact
but remains bad fiction which
serves a bad habit.
Recently there has been much
discussion locally about the great
Metropolitan Toronto experiment.
the FEDERATION of communities in
the metropolitan area. Nashville
and Davidson County, Tennessee,
now propose a first United States
attempt at metropolitan govern
ment.
Washingtonians have listened to
discussions Of these ideas and have
shrugged them of sorrowfully. Ours
Is too complex a problem. Why? Is
there any reason why the Nations
Capital should not have the best
government in the country? Why
shouldn't it lead the way for other
urbanizing areas?
l propose the creation Of a
federation of metropolitan COM
munitieS Of Greater Washington
to be called The Potomac Fedora
tiOn. The area Of this metro
pOlitan city would encompass
what Is now the District of CO.
lumbia, which would become the
City Of Washington, Maryland,
and would serve in partnership
with all adjacent built-up areas
in Virginia and Maryland and
those additional expansion areas
as are to be determined.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02
The Problem Grows

The Potomac will be spanned by
many bridges, long after the battle
Of the E Street Bridge location is
forgotten, for the Potomac is no
longer q divider, but rather 1t Is
an urban river like the Seine or
the Thames.
And with each new bridge and
each new superhighway and ring
road. our huge convocation Of peo-
ole grows both interdependent and
dispersed. At the same time. the
urge for central high densities will
continue to grow. When this pat
tern is clearly understood, and we
shape our government to 1T. only
then can we spell out our detectives
in a valid plan.
What do we want Washington
to become? The real Washing
ton Of tomorrow Is not in our
hands today. Remember that
sound general planning with zOn-
ing as one part Of such = plan,
backed BY the total community
and fully understood by the total
community, II . statement Of COM
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02
VIRGINIA
Segregation Low Upsets
School Financing Plans

1--WE feel that any bill which pur-
ports to close or threatens to close
any school building would create
such q feeling Of uncertainty in the
minds Of prospective purchasers
that new school bond issues would
be virtually unstable. In express
ing this opinion we are fully aware
that the taxes to provide for the
payment Of principal and interest
on school bonds are levied at the
local level and are not dependent
upon State appropriations.
Prospective bond purchasers
must view with alarm any legisla-
ton which would, in effect, shut
down any part Of our system Of
public education or close any school
building used therefore. It must
be enviSaged that some taxpayers
may well refuse to pay taxes for a
school or system Of schools which is
not IN operation. A default, even
in one isolated school district,
would inevitably impose q blight
upon the credit of every political
subdivision Of this great Common
wealth."
Solution Sought
AS Of this writing, the State
Treasury Board was to meet with
Gov. Stanley on the problem.
Among other things, they were to
consider the possibility Of investing
money in the State Retirement
Fund in school construction bonds.
Largely through a lack Of infor-
nation, Virginians two years ago
defeated q constitutional amend
ment that would have permitted
counties to borrow directly from
the retirement fund without hold
ing a local referendum. Many
cities already have this power
under their charters.
A problem here, Of course, is that
the retirement fund, which
amounted to 1862 million on Sep
TENDER 20. is invested In securities
yielding the highest rate Of in
terest, consistent with safety Of
investment. The localities, on the
other hand, try to sell their bonds
at the lowest rates.
Another attempt to amend the
State constitution has been started
by Mr.. Mann. The General
Assembly passed a resolution this
year and must approve it again in
1858 before the question again II
submitted to the voters in Novem-
Der Of that year.
Shortly after South Norfolk's re-
lection Of its bond bid, Mayor w.
Fred Duckworth of the adjoining
city Of Norfolk, said the Stanley
plan to preserve segregation at all
costs lis definitely a major factor"
in high interest rates.
"Our city can't build new
schools at such rates." he said.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02
A Proposal for Area Federation

Carl Fetss. president of the Dis
trict Chapter OF the American
Institute of Planners, has pro-
posed that the District of Column
biG be made part of Maryland
and that an dreG-tUtde fedora
ton be set up to SolUe Washing
tons metropolitan Development
problems. He unueiled his pro-
poSGl at planning workshop of
the District League OF Women's
Voters last Wednesday tn this
speech.
During the past year our heads
have been buzzing with proposals
for changes and improvements in
the physical character of the
rapidly changing central city of
Washington and its vast metro
poliCan region-an area which in
creased in population by nearly
half a million people between 1910
and 1850 and is urbanizing at an
incredible rate, rate that defies
our most skillful map makers.
Estimates now claim the region
may reach 2la million by 1865
and at least 31a million by 1880.
We recognize certain inevitabilities
in all this-more need for decent
residential areas. more need for
schools and colleges and parks and
shopping areas, for more business
and industry, for more hospital
beds. water and sewers, electric
power. police and fire protection.
and all the things which normally
make up a decent, modern and at
tractive, healthful community.
We must conserve open spaces
for future needs. We must rebuild
our worn out and obsolescent areas.
We know also that with all of this
will come more intraregional prob
lens unless we can prepare in adj
vance to prevent them, problems Of
conflict and speculation between
landowners with differing objec-
tives for their land. problems con-
nected with the Federal search for
more work space, increased traffic
and needs for mass transit, prob
lens Of water supply and further
river pollution, increased costs Of
local, county. and municipal Gov
eminent. and increased conflicts
between the Federal Government,
States, counties, municipalities. and
special authorities that all have
fingers in the Washington metro
politan pie.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02
How to Do 1t

To accomplish this objective, /
propose the establishment, by Act
Of Congress, of a special ad hoe
Commission on the Potomac Fede-
ration, this commission to be en-
powered to survey the problems of
metropolitan government in the
Washington metropolitan region
and to recommend to the Congress
a program directed toward the es-
tablishment of a bistate fedora
ton Of the metropolitan municipali-
ties Of this portion Of the Potomac
Basin. Further, it would be the
responsibility Of this commission
to recommend both the constitu-
tional amendments and the neces-
sary reorganizational procedures
which would make it possible to
convert the District Of Columbia
to the City Of Washington, Mary
land. with a home rule municipal
government.
It would be the purpose Of this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02
BY MIRIAM GUTENBERG

A Washington boy in a stolen
car crashed head-on into q Mont
gomery County police cruiser.
seriously injuring two policemen.
Then he stole another car for his
getaway.
1t happened here last week. It is
happening. with variations, every
day all over the country.
Auto theft by teen-agers has
emerged as probably the No.
national problem in juvenile delin-
uuency. certainly the costliest juve-
nile crime.
The rise in arrests of juveniles
for car@stealing has come suddenly
and sharply. According to the
Federal Bureau Of Investigation in
1850 juveniles represented 21.4 per
cent Of all offenders arrested for
auto theft throughout the Nation.
Last year. 62.2 per cent of those
arrested for auto theft were iu-
veniles.
Equally alarming to law enforce
ment offlcials Is the age of the car
thieves. OF the juveniles arrested
for auto theft in 1850. about rs per
cent were under Is. Last year. 81
per cent were under l6.
Nationwide. juveniles represent
q larger proportion Of those ar
rested for auto theft than any other
serious crime
Washington Follows Trend
Washington hasn't escaped the
national scourge. Auto thefts have
been on the rise here steadily for
the past IS months with no sign
Of q let-up. and the number Of
juveniles arrested for stealing cars
has followed the same upward
curve.
Police. FBI and training school
ofilcials agree on these points:
. The boys who steal cars don't
consider 1t q crime.
. They blame car owners for put
ting temptation in their path.
. They are dangerous drivers who
either don't know or don't care
about trafic regulations.
. They panic easily In their
frenzy to avoid capture. they may
kill themselves or anyone who gets
IN their way.
. Unless they are desperate to get
transportation, they viii not break
into a securely locked car. They
usually don't have TO.
Gear stealing has become the
Juvenile breeding ground for adult
crime.
Last year. the Warrington area
Uas shocked By the climax Of q car
SEALING story. Vincent Z. Aareion-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02

songs official presentation, Except
for several performances at the
time. that was about the last that
seems to have been heard Of It.
An also-ran in the same contest
was Mr.. Dixon's District Of Co
lumbia." which he says lis Just
taking hold now--just beginning to
take on" BandmaSter Benter says
he even now Is rescoring II - q
march, changing the tempo from
90 waltz time 10 2/l time.
Mr.. Dixon insists he wants 10 let
his song stand on IT, own feet. II
it can't, let It 90 down the drain"
Is II UnsinoobIe?
The latter Is exactly what Com
missioner David B. Karrick. a prom
inent symphony supporter and
music lover. mas indicated he wants
70 do about II. This. he said, may
be because he heard Mr.. Dixon sing
the song. and also because he be-
lieves that any song containing the
words District Of Columbia" IL IN
Singable.
While Mr.. Karrick may not be
happy with Mr.. Dixon's song.
others are equally unhappy about
Mr.. Dodd's song.
Paul y. Gable, supervising direc-
tor 81 musie for the public schools.
says fatty e y too Tin Pan Ailsy-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02

Commission on the Potomac Fede-
ration to define the boundaries Of
the area to be federated. It would
be empowered to negotiate with the
sovereign States Of Maryland and
Virginia to encourage the necessary
State-enabling legislation and the
interstate compacts essential to the
establishment of a uniform struc-
ture of government, proper repre-
sentation Of each jurisdiction in the
Potomac Federation; an equitable
tax structure; uniform application
Of the police power through COM
monty adopted codes and ordi-
nances; balanced school system
designed to meet and assist popula-
ton shifts; a Potomac Federation
Planning Board with proper au-
thority and responsibility not only
for general plans but also far uni
form coming procedure, highway
planning, public works program
ming, and capital budgeting for the
area.
Stream pollution, water supply,
port development, soil conserva-
ton, recreation, and the preserva-
ton of scenic and historic areas
would also be included in the func-
tons of the Potomac Federation
Planning Board.
For the central city of the Poto-
mac Federation and the brother
urban areas in it, such as Arling-
ton County, Alexandria, parts of
Fairfax County, Silver Spring, Be-
thesda, Rockville. College Park, Suit
land and others, special uniform
urban renewal and housing and
subdivision control legislation is
now imperative. Our new local
cities have grown without plans
even as good as Major L'Enfant's,
made 100 years ago. Study of such
legislation would be the responsible
lily of the commission.
Further the Commission on the
Potomac Federation would be en-
powered by Congress to negotiate
with all Federal agencies on prob
lens connected with the organi-
zation and location of Federal
buildings. to recommend procedures
for the development Of a concise
and practical plan for needed
agency expansion and dispersal. the
elimination Of temporary and other
obsolete governmental structures.
and the integration of such q plan
for Federal agency development
with general plans for the Potomac
Federation area
Who then will petition the Con-
gress for a commission for a Poto-
mac federation? Or do we muddle
deeper and deeper. forever play
acting with shadow plans and little
spot projects that can only tantal-
ize us with suggestions as to what
we might become?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02

A 17-year-old boy drove to Pa
ducah, KY, to answer charges Of
illegally transporting q stolen car
In interstate commerce. While the
hearing was in progress. FBI agents
conducted q hasty investigation
Of the auto he had driven to court.
They found that one. too. had been
stolen.
The FBI's indianapolis ONCE re-
Gently investigated a case in which
the stolen auto was so new that
the mileage indicator read is miles
at the time Of the theft. The
youngest of the four thieves turned
out to be IL years old.
The Modern Urge
Why do they do It? DR.. Louis
Jacobs, superintendent Of the Ma
tional Training School for Boys,
where 70 per cent Of the non-Dis-
trict boys are in for auto theft,
says these boys have an urge to get
behind . wheel ~ powerful a. the
urge used to be to own . horse or
. rife.
He Is speaking Of the older boys.
Car stealing BY the younger boys
he believes stems from the same
fundamental causes a. the other
acts Of juvenile delinquency.
DR.. Jacobs believes that both
parents and the schools can help
channel the auto-driving urge into
legitimate pursuits.
Parents" he said, must see to It
that the youngster who wants to
drive will have some legitimate con-
tact with automobiles. This Is q
terrtfcally powerful thing with
boys. II q boy is old enough to get
q permit, he ought TO have some
restricted use Of the family car.
He might be encouraged to save
money for his own Ialopy."
DR.. Jacobs. the FBI and WASH
ington police ofiicials are all In
favor Of more driver-training
courses In the schools. At pres
ent there are driver training
courses in all Washington high and
vocational nigh schools. but the
classes are limited to so q semester
In each school.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
takes the view that no amount Of
good Law enforcement Is going 70
reduce the auto theft problem un-
less the public co-operates.
"A tremendous decrease could be
Effected in auto thefts and arrests
Of juveniles for that crime" he
said, III every driver would simply
lock his car when Il Il left un-
guarded. Preventing an auto theft
also prevents other and more seri-
Gus crimes IN many eases"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02

organization proposal q rather cool
reception. But 1t Is understood that
the professional staff Of the COM
mission favors 1t.
Would Extend Jurisdiction
Another Segoe recommendation
Of great import to the future de-
velopment Of the two counties ID
the extension Of the planning COM
MISSIONS Jurisdiction throughout
all Of Montgomery and Prince
Georges At present it covers only
the close-in urban area.
Planning should anticipate
growth; growth should not force
planning" the report comments It
points to the confusion" caused by
relocation Of several Federal agen-'
cies outside the planning COM
Missions regional district as one
Of the chief reasons for extension.
Segoe also urges extension Of the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission Jurisdiction to county
boundaries.
Another important recommended
ton would require two-thirds vote
Of county governing bodies TO over
rule coming recommendations Of
the planning commission.
The commission is now overruled
in a surprisingly high proportion
# cases." ,Segoe concludes.
The Segoe firms final report L.
lue to be completed before the Leg
stature convenes next month. II
could provide the legislators with .
practical guidebook for streamlin-
ing the commission In q way that
would satisfy virtually all interests
and perhaps end these yearly AM
napolis tugs of war.
II, however, the legislators are In
terested only in grabbing some more
political patronage. the 1857 reor-
ganization scheme IL apt TO get no
further than it, predecessors.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02
MARYLAND
By GENE GOODWIN

For the past several sessions of
the Maryland Legislature, a prime
concern Of Montgomery and Prince
Georges County members has been
proposed reorganization Of the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission.
A lot Of suburban Marylanders
have been vaguely unhappy about
this planning and zoning agency
for a number of years and this I'M
happiness is reflected in various
attempts at Annapolis to change
the basic structure of the commits
sion.
Somehow. though, the commits
sion has always weathered the
storm. It remains basically the
same organization it was 20 years
ago when 1t was founded.
In the past. the reorganization
schemes have been deeply grounded
in politics-aimed chiefly at chang
ing control Of the bicounty agency
from one party to the other-and
politics helped Illustrate them.
Before 1854, the planning COM
mission was Democratic and was
able to call on Democratic majori-
ties in the Legislature to block To-
cal Republican attempts to abol-
ish the commission and recast it.
Since 1854. the commission has
been Republican, and Republican
Gov. McKeldin's veto power has
stymied reorganization plans Of the
now Democratic legislators from
Montgomery and Prince Georges.
Politics Play Big Part
Politics undoubtedly will play a
big part again in Annapolis this
winter in the inevitable umpteenth
attempt to redo the planning COM
mission, whose six members are
now appointed by the Governor.
But something new has been
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02
VIRGINIA
By ALEX r. PRESTON

Virginia's chickens, Matched at
last September's special school seq
regation session Of the General As
sembly. are beginning to come home
to roost in q most unpleasant way.
A crisis is developing in the
school construction bond market.
Last week. Hopewell failed to re-
ceive a single bid on proposed 81
million bond issue for schools.
About two weeks earlier South Nor
folk got only one bid on a $780,
900 bond issue. The city council
quickly rejected it as excessive be-
cause the interest would have cost
the city an additional 100000.
It is becoming increasingly ap-
parent from these developments
that bond buyers are alarmed over
Gov. Stanley's new legislation be-
cause it will automatically close
down and withhold State funds
from any locality whose schools
may be forced to integrate as a re-
suit of a Federal court order.
Bad Situation Is Worse
Financial specialists report that
the municipal bond market gen.
orally is in a bad state everywhere.
But, as Delegate Harrison Mann Of
Arlington, said, Virginia's threat
of withholding funds or closing
down public schools makes q bad
situation worse"
Mr.. Mann believes in preserving
segregated schools as long as pos
sible but felt the method should
have been more nearly in line with
recommendations of the Gray Com
mission, Of which he is member.
Investors are worried about two
aspects Of the Stanley plan:
. The risk is increased under the
threat by the State to withhold
certain funds with which a locality
may meet its obligations. It's true,
Of course, that in Virginia the
States share is for operating the
schools while the actual construc-
ton costs are raised through local
taxes. But it all adds up to a
financial obligation by the locality.
. The risk also is increased If the
school is closed down. How long,
for instance, would a community
continue to pay school taxes" if
the classrooms are padlocked by the
State? Immediately after the Gov
ernor announced his plan there was
talk of a taxpayers rebellion" in
the nearby Virginia area.
There Was q Worning
Unheeded went the expert advice
from Walter w. Craigie Of the re-
spectacle investment firm bearing
his name in Richmond. In re-
Spouse to q request from State
Senator Eugene B. Sydnor for an
opinion Of the Stanley bills, then
pending, Mr.. Craigie wrote:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02
YOU CAN HELP

Car owners can help reduce
car thefts, FBI Director J. EdEar
Hoover says. By taking these pre-
cautions:
I. Avoid leaving the keys IN the
Ignition while the car In unat-
tended-even momentariIy.
2. Take the keys with you.
Don't hide them in the car.
3. Lock your car every time you
leave II. Never make an exception.
4. Close all windows. ventila-
tor openings. and wind wings
when you park your car.
5. Under no circumstance
leave = car unguarded with the
motor running.
6. Avoid leaving . car parked
on . deserted, unlighted street.
J. Packages, luggage and cloth
Ing visible in an automobile are
an invitation 70 break In.
8. Avoid leaving valuAblss IN
the glove compartment
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02
Time for q Break?

Are we certain that the time has
not come to break with outworn
tradition? Is the District of Column
bia any longer valid concept?
Can we get through our heads the
fact that the Nations Capital
goes beyond the Mall? Where is
the Pentagon located? Where will
the CHA be located? Where will the
Acc be located?
London is more than the Houses
Of Parliament and Buckingham
Palace. Paris is more than the
Chambre de Deputies and the In
valides. The great capitals Of the
world are wonderful and exciting
cities which their national govern
ments neither fear nor control.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-02
DISTRICT
BY HECTOR MCLEAN

The burning question Of an off,
cial song for the District Of Column
bia was put of last week until
Tuesday or Thursday Of this week.
Whenever the Board Of Commits
sioners decides 1t can take 1t. Adj
ministrative Services Officer James
l. McCallister Is ready 10 produce
. record player with two extension
speakers and stage q concert.
On hand at the moment are three
selections. The number may have
increased. however. BY the time the
Commissioners are ready TO become
music critics.
The issue was raised at this time
by Procurement Ofiicer Roland NJ.
Brennan. who is retiring at the end
Of the year after more than 40
years service with the District gov
eminent.
He has asked the Commissioners
to adopt before then as the oficial
song OF the District a piece OF music
BY James L. Dixon. Washington real
estate man, entitled The District
Of Columbia Il Ny Home Town"
How About NWoshinston7
The problem appeared ct nrst
10 b compounded b. the fact that
the Commissioners i've years ago
had proclaimed . Song for wash