davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28

the requirements. He also as
serted that not all youngsters
retarded in reading are ''unedu-
cable" Many may have phy-
Geological or other blocks that
can be corrected. he said.
He also asserted that the
present range Of achievement
scores among the city's tenth
graders, which he said extends
from third to 18th grade. lis
not uncommon"
Same Experience
at had that same experience
when I was principal of a high
school in Omaha, Nebr.." he de-
|clared.
Chairman Davis asked:
Don't you think you ought to
have more honor students than
you have?"
THAT is difficult to answer"
DR.. Hansen replied. II think for
our urban situation, in which
many families have moved to
the suburbs, this may represent
Ia fairly acceptable per cent"
Mr.. Davis then asked:
do you mean your best pupils
have moved out Of the city Of
Washington to the suburbs?"
DR.. Hansen said q similar OUT
ward movement is going on In
many urban centers over the
country, and he asserted:
81 would like to suggest this
lis not b question Of race"
Later. under questioning. he
conceded that some of the NOV
ing was a result of indignation,
but that he was mot at all sure
Iall or what part"
Questioned on Home
DR.. Hansen's own outlook
about where to live came into
question when Mr.. Williams
asked him how he happened to
buy a home where he did. DR..
Hansen replied he bought when
he found a house he could af-
ford and where the neighborhood
seemed desirable. with schools
close by.
The house is at $50 Quesada
street NV.
Mr.. Williams asked whether
he would have bought a home in
Ia colored neighborhood.
mo-" the school official re-
piled. But he added:
"As ! mingle in school gather
|ings / have learned to respect
those people and their customs. /"
Miss Edith A. Lyons, assistant
superintendent in charge of ele-
Imentary schools, told the COM
mittee yesterday she wanted to
correct any impression that the
school system Including the for
mer colored divisional any
time had automatic promotions. I"
THAT is not true" she de-
Iclared.
The Negro school oficial
admitted to the investigators,
however, that I'VE should have
detected" the promotion Of UNI
derprepared children.
I'VE should not permit q child
Ito get promoted to the third OF
fourth grade unless he has
reached a certain standard" she
said.
Uncertain on Similarity
She said she was not able to
SAY whether standards in the
eity's former white and colored
divisions were the same.
/ Asked by Mr.. Gerber whether
she considered 1t sound prac-
ltice" to integrate the schools here
lso quickly, she replied:
Eyes, believe so. It was not
dome without preparation"
She testified that overcrowded
CLASSES contributed for many
years to the retardation Of many
Iof the city's colored school chill
dren.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28
Street Scenes

A man in = letter carriers
uniform stopping his car In
front Of the Ben Franklin
Post once to deposit a letter
n the mail box there.
A man to a woman as
they stood IN line for a tour
a. the Bureau Of Engraving
and Printing: Il wonder If
they give out do-it-yourself
kits7-
A cocker spaniel enjoying q
ride in q r0wboat being t0ved
cONE Maine avenue S.W. on
q boat trailer -.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28
By In MOND LEBRETON
Associates Press star writer

william. Z. Gerber, the con-
troversial counsel Of q House sub
Icommitte. investigating WASH
ington's racially integrated
schools. has q way Of fixing
gentle bpyWn eyes on Q witness
and excls inning softly:
mol You don't say"
With q pause. q lowered voice,
q bit Of testimony Is underlined.
Has Mr.. Gerber, as some
critics say. been building I'D q
lopsided picture Of the results
Of racial iningling IN the WASH
ington schools as he marshals
and questions witnesses before
the predorninantly Southern sub
committee?
The col Insel shifts his cigar
and fires some questions right
back at any such suggestion:
Have yoli ever seen me brow
beat q witness? Put words in
his mouth? Do you know that
not q sirigle witness has been
called before this committee
against his WHIP"
Mr.. Gerber's early activities
in the Memphis political orgaui-
zation Of the late Z. H. Boss
Crump included some flsticuffs
But here he Is courteous to wit
nesses and has been known to
drop q Lire Of questioning that
seemed K be embarrassing the
man or woman on the stand
A Limit on Witnesses
As to the selection of princi-
pals and teachers called to give
the subcommittee their views on
the effect integration had on
studies ard discipline, Mr.. Ger
Der said. You can't put 1000
people on the stand"
Il feel IS though I have worked
up this case with honest wit
nesses whe say what they think, 4"
aEr- Gerber continued. From
the very beginning I relied on
records furnished by the school
administration. We had prelim-
mary interviews with about SOC
of the personnel. picking them
at random. I didn't even know
at the time whether each per-
son we asked in was white OF
colored.
Il didn't see those we called
to testify publicly again until
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28
Probers Hear Dr.. Hansen Advocate
More Attention to individual Students

DR.. Hansen observed that the
decision was made by a majority
vote Of the board. Mr.. Sharpe,
as presiding ofiicer. did not vote.
Mr.. Williams wanted to know
whether there had been outside
pressure from the White House
or other sources to speed inte-
grafton.
mo, not to my knowledge, I"
the school oficial replied. He
said the question should be adj
dressed to School Supt. Hobart
M. Corning.
The school official said he be-
lieved the school board took
steps necessary for Washington. "
DR.. Hansen admitted that "the
preparation Of our teachers for
Indignation did not include a
complete understanding of prob
lens Of integration."
This he blamed, however,
partly on segregation itself. This
he said caused an "insularity,
which impeded interchange OF
information between the city's
two former school divisions.
He said he didn't get into
Division 2 and they didn't get
into Division l."
There was q lack Of sharing
the know-how." he asserted.
Chairman Davis asked If he
thought there was a lack Of
|know-how" because white teach
|ers had not shared experiences
with colored teachers.
Lack Of Communication
maybe I shouldn't have
raised this issue before the COM
mittee." DR.. Hansen replied
what I said was a lack OF
CULhlALlukllCdGlOl.
THE colored people failed to
learn what they could from their
white neighbors. The colored
teachers and parents were de-
MED the opportunity of learn
ing what they could from US.
This / say in all humility"
Mr.. williams wanted to know
how far DR.. Hansen thought
there should be cooperation be-
tween races.
ANY pocketing Of a group"
DR.. Hansen said, will result In
submersion."
Mr.. Williams countered. how
ever. that he doubted that would
place q group In an inferior posi-
ton. especially If both races were
given equal. separate educational
opportunities and facilities.
Under questioning, DR.. Hansen
gave a racial breakdown Of pupil
in the city's new
"four-track" high school course
of study.
Tenth graders this fall have
been divided into four groups
in general according to ability.
50 COlOred at Top
The breakdown showed that
only so Of 365 students enrolled
In the top track, an honori
course, are colored. On the othel
levels the totals were:
College preparatory. S03 white
$50 colored; general. GAS white
1.453 colored. and basic. Isl
white. 1919 colored.
The general course includes
students specializing in business
trades and similar subjects who
do not plan to continue educa-
ton after high school. The basic
course is for retarded or slow
learning students.
DR.. Hansen said the basic
program is compulsory fol
youngsters entering high school
with sixth-grade reading achieves
|ment or lower.
He stressed. however, thai
youngsters viii be able to move
upward from one track to an
other II they manage to meet
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28
School Inquiry
Useless
Butler
Ruyburn Refuses to
Join Discussion Of
District Politics

National Democratic Chairman
Paul Butler today challenged the
usefulness Of the congressional
probe Of District schools.
In a letter to the local branch
|of the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored
People, Mr.. Butler said his views
on the current hearings are iden-
teal with those Of Adlai Ste
venson.
Replying to a telegram from
Eugene Davidson. president of
the local NAACP branch, Mr..
Butler said. I fully agree with
Gov. Stevenson in this matter. /"
Mr. Stevenson had said he be-
lieves the hearings "are serving
no constructive purpose"
House Speaker Rayburn yes
terday refused to be drawn into
any public discussion about the
Committee investigation.
During a press conference
Mr.. Raybufn was asked about
a local matter" Immediately
and without hesitation he said +:
"I'm not going to get into
any question Of District Of
Columbia politics.
The question was raised be-
cause 1t was understood one or
more groups or individuals had
sent wires to the Speaker ask
ing a halt to the House school
hearings or suspension Of the
school subcommittee counsel,
William Gerber.
Some Absent
Hearings Of the subcommittee,
which Chairman Davis Of Geor-
gia has indicated may come to
a close next week, are continu-
ling without the presence Of sew
eral members.
Representatives Hyde OF
Maryland and Broyhill Of Vir-
ginia, Republicans. yesterday
tried unsuccessfully to have fur
ther sessions postponed until
after the November 6 elections,
Both are actively campaigning
Also absent is Representative
Miller. Republican of Nebraska,
Representative Jones, Democrat
of North Carolina. who attended
1earlier sessions, was out of town
yesterday, leaving only Mr.. Davis
and Representative Williams
Democrat. Of Mississippi. or
lhand.
ADA Protests
The District chapter Of Ameri-
leans for Democratic Action yes
lterday made public q resolution
protesting the subcommittee in
fvestigation.
It called the conduct Of the
investigation "disgraceful." II
Isaid it supports the demand OF
Representative Wier, Democrat
of Minnesota. for the dismissal
of Mr.. Gerber as subcommittee
counsel. It. described Mr.. Ger
Iber's conduct as arrogant and
lprejudiced."
/ The chapter said it is apparent
1.-THE inquiry is being conducted
for the purpose of discrediting
lintegration everywhere and to
arouse resistance to the Supreme
Court decision.
! School Supt. Hobart M. Corn.
ing, who testified only briefly
last week. said yesterday that
Testimony so far should stimu.
late the city to do more for it,
school system.
DR.. Corning said the need fol
additional school teachers espe.
cially has been made plain.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28
Water Rate Boost
In Suburbs Studied
Tx Switch
Will Protect
Average User

The Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission today is
studying a proposal to increase
water ratd to suburban Mary
land users, but decrease the
commissions share Of the real
estate tax.
The net effect on the average
consumer would be no increase
in his total bill and if anything.
a slight decrease, a commission
spokesman emphasized.
The proposal to boost water
rates and lower ad valorem taxes
came to light yesterday as the
commission instructed key star
members to study means Of get
ting Federal and State agencies
to pay a greater share of the
cost Of supplying water and
sewer services to its estimated
100000 users.
Federal and State agencies are
now exempt by law from paying
the ad yalorem and front foot
benefit taxes levied by the sam
itary commission. However, they
pay the same water and sewer
rates as other users.
In order to make UP for the
loss Of revenue from this exemp-
ton of ad valorem and front foot
benefit taxes. James j. Lynch,
sanitary commission treasurer.
proposed increasing the water
rates and decreasing the ad
|valorem tax.
Average Seen Static
AS far as the average con-
sumner Is concerned, his total bill
to the sanitary commission
would not be increased by the
Lynch proposal, Commissioner
Willard A. Morris explained.
However, the Federal and State
agencies in the sanitary district
would be paying more.
Nicholas Orem, jr.. general
counsel to the commission. sug-
gested that the proposal might
be legally impossible.
The commission. however, de.
cided to instruct Mr.. Orern, Mr..
Lynch and Chief Engineer Harry
B Shaw to look into the Lynch
proposal and any others it de-
sires and come back with rec.
Communications for meeting the
deficit caused by Federal and
State agencies.
1T is not the intention Of the
commission to increase the total
bill to the average consumer"
Commissioner Morris said.
Mr. Lynch said the deficit In
the front foot benefit account
caused by exemption of Federal,
State and municipal agencies
lanounts to about $751; 900 q
year. Most Of this is caused by
the Federal agencies. specifically
the National Institutes Of Health,
the Bethesda Naval Hospital, the
Naval Ordnance Laboratory and
the Census Bureau, which use
about $50 million gallons of wa
ter year.
The Current Rates
The sanitary commission now
charges ~ cents per 1000 gall
Ions of water and an additional
IA cents per 1000 gallons for
sewer usage. The ad valorem
tax is 10 cents per 500 Of as
sessed property valuation in
Prince Georges County and
8 cents in Montgomery (the addi-
tional penny in Prince Georges
goes to finance part Of the
Anacostia River Flood Control
program.
Front foot benefit charges,
which pay for the bonds fioated
ito finance new water and sewer
Lines, are set by the commission
each year, based on the total
cost Of new lines installed that
year. An average front foot
benefit rate is rs cents per front
foot for water and rs cents for
sewer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28
Chase

A lady who doesn't sign
her name writes:
while walking on Seventh
street NV. near the Mall
at about $50 pm, 1 OBJ
served q flock Of sparrows
1iighting to feed on the
grass seeds"
with them were three
parakeets. So I guess that
b where your lost loved
pets 60 ..
7 am tempted TO quit my
Job and 90 fitting over the
Mall to try TO capture them,
and maybe earn the fancy
rewards that are being
offered
OF course, the sight Of a
fat woman chasing after
them with q butterfly net
might add a eomieaI note to
the scene"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28
Continued From First Pag

-~~'----@
in which they live, REGARDLESS of
race-and the handling Of spe-
eial transfer requests were ques-
toned cloaelg.
Counsel William Gerber. re-
terring t. the school systems
refusal to grant special transfers
ON the sole grounds Of race, asked
whether Tlr. Hansen could point
to any other city with the same
strict rules.
DR.. Hax.sen replied he could
not.
Mr.. Gerber asserted that the
school superintendent in newly
integrateti Louisville. KY, DR.
Omer Carmichael. had told the
public children could be trans
ferred at will. He also contrasted
District rules with those in
Baltimore, which integrated the
same year as Washington.
Choices Prevail
I'm Baltimore. they permitted
whites To go wherever they
wanted to 60. and colored to
go wherever they wanted to go,
he said.
The Investigators also sharply
questioned the inclusion of Q
psychiatrte referral in the Dis
trict's transfer procedure.
Representative Davis. Demo
crat Of Georgia. subcommittee
chairman. asked whether this
procedure did not impose on q
child "ths stigma Of having his
mentality questioned"
Mr.. Gerber asserted that tc
be granted a transfer. "a child
almost has to file q plea Of
present insanity"
Mr.. Williams asked:
DO yol think Il Is fair to
child to put him in q school
predomimlntly Of the other
racer"
1T depends upon the child
and his adjustment" DR.. Han
sen replied He said the COM
mittee charged with approving
transfer requests has tried II
be humane. He did not state
how many transfers it has
granted.
Questioned on Tracks"
DR.. Hansen was questioned al
length absut the background and
operation Of the city's integra-
ton plan. as well as about the
new -four track" division Of stu
dents introduced this fall in the
city's high schools. His personal
outlook On racial matters also
came unCler scrutiny.
DR.. Hansen told the investiga-
tors he regarded Washington
integration as "a miracle Of ad-
justment."
He said he did not believe tht
integratien program was hasty
''in the light Of conditions" al
the time It began In September
1854.
There was great tension in sew
eral areas at that time becausl
of crowding IN colored schools
and empty seats In some whit
schools. he said.
He cited the area Of the Blu
chanan Elementary School. Thir,
teenth ard o streets Sc. ther
IN the white division and onl,
partially occupied. There. h
said. tension had mounted to tn
point where parents Of pupil
patrolled the streets while theil
children 'Tent TO and from school
The o1ly reasonable answer.
he said. was to permit the chill
dren to get together" N
Majority Decision
Representative williams notet
that c. hGsivin Sharpe. president
OF the Beard Of Education. test,
fed last seek he felt integratior
would hive succeeded better I
1t had go1e more moderately.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28

Hank Leader says this one
vas passed along to him as
true:
A man was hurrying to a
sam appointment in a down.
town once building.
He got into the lobby lust
as the operator was about to
close the doors Of the crowded
elevator. He squeezed inside
and the operator shut the
doors It was so crowded he
couldn't turn around.
He stood there looking at
The other passengers as the
elevator started up, and they
stared back at him. It was
decidedly embarrassing, the
man reported later, but he
decided to pass it on noncha-
lantly. He addressed his ele-
vafor audience:
I suppose you're all won
dering why I gathered you
together here this morning.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28

No4eke N1eU orlVe, silver
Spring. Nd. says an interest
IN baseball was spanked in
her 5-year-old son for the
nrst time this summer.
what can We use for
bases." he asked his father.
Mr.. Field suggested the
three trees in their back
yard might serve admirably
~ first. second and third
h1seA Home plate. he said,
eoaId b q piece Of scrap
lumber.
Several days later, Mrs.
Fieid vent cut to call her
son in from play. She noted
that the young team had
picked up home plate and
Moved 20 = neighb0r's yard,
which. she says. IS "a junior"
forest-' And. quite Iogi-
eaIly. they we're using trees
fer hrst. second, third,
fourth and fifth bases.
Mrs. Field says she stayed
around a little IOnger-just
long enough to hear the
jubiliant shout Two and a
half Oufs.'"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28

Representative williams noted
that c. hEsIvin Sharpe. president
OF the Beard Of Education. testi-
ned last 'Eeek he felt indignation
would hive succeeded better II
lit had goae more moderately.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-28
II
Rambler
Good Somoritcn
30 Hep Ct Al

spEke DrusAn. visiting from
ON. says he's convinced
Washington people 60 al out
% b helpful. even II they
sunetimes don't know what
they're dung.
EnrOute from Frederick. "
~ says. i got lost on Massa-
chuxetts avenue and wound
ID On the corner Of X street
and some other avenue.
I pulled 20 the curb and
Ezked q gentleman 70 direct
ne hack % Massachusetts,
avenue 50 ! could find my way
% the Mall and the Smith
s1nian Institution The old
gent vas very courteous and
said he was going Just that
way
! let him in the car and
q ne vent We wound up
three-quarters Of an hour
later. somewhere near the
White House. and I found out
TIE Old gent didn't know where
ne vas Scing. either.
He ap0logized for his stu
pidity. got out Of the car, and
vent his way"
Smyrna times., 1956-11-29

thumb for Barbara Messick OF
Bridgeville to win state honors
in the All Garden program. She
not only learned to make her
garden grow, but also how to
market the products. A Club
member for four years, this in
dustrious 16 year-old, sets a fine
example in all-around All Club
activities.
Barbara's special project was
raising strawberries. From 10
rows she picked and sold 81
quarts. She realized net profit
of $136 this year from all of her
garden produce. On 16 county
fair exhibits she won six blue
ribbons. Her local All leader is
Mrs. Virginia Nelson.
This is the 18th year that Allis
Chalmers, Tractor Group, has
provided awards which include
the Congress trip.
Winning an award and having
fun doing it is the experience of
Peggie Vaughn, Is, of Houston.
A Club member for six years, she
was chosen to represent the
state in the All Recreation pro-
gram. U. S. Rubber Co. provides
for her stay in Chicago.
Peggie was secretary and
treasurer of her Club. She
coaches younger members in
projects and plans all dances for
charity. She is also one of the
four junior leaders, and a men,
Der of the junior council of Kent
County where she was elected
recreation leader for this newly
formed organization.
AS mistress of ceremonies for
the Milford Century Club she
gave the history of All Clubs.
She is a song leader, teaches
music and plays for church serv-
ices. She receives encourage
ment from her local leader, Mrs.
Martha Benson.
All these programs are con-
Quoted under the direction of the
Cooperative Extension Service.
Smyrna times., 1956-11-29
The National Bank of Smyrna Provides Modern Banking
Services To Community, Including Savings and Checking
Accounts, Safe Deposit Boxes, And Banking By Mail

The National Bank of Smyrna,
Main St., Smyrna, is the only
local independent bank in Smyr-
ma, serving the community and
the surrounding area with all
modern banking methods and SER
vices.
Founded in 1912, The National
Bank of Smyrna has kept pace
with the growth of the commun-
ity and its assets, which now ag-
gregate $3,300,000, are a refiec-
ton of the community's own
growth.
The National Bank of Smyrna
Smyrna times., 1956-11-29
Poultry Growers Tour To New
York City Markets Planned

Delaware poultrymen are plan
ming their annual tour of New
York City's marketing centers
next week, reports Willard It. Nc
Allister, University of Delaware
farm marketing specialist. Dates
for the 2-day visit are Dec. 4
and 5.
Present plans call for the Dia-
mond State delegation to talk
with poultry buyers at the Wool
worth and Macy stores or Tues
day, and then to visit several
poultry barbecue stores and diff
ferent retail markets. They'll al
so see the backstage operations
of chain store food market and
will visit the kitchens of the AS
tor Hotel.
On Wednesday, the tour takes
in the l4th Street poultry whole
sailing area and the Mercantile
Smyrna times., 1956-11-29

Exchange. The group will meet
with the president of the Mer-
camille Exchange who will show
them the background of how the
commodity futures market works.
Price reporters from the Urn
er-Barry Service will discuss this
phase of poultry marketing with
them and federal government
graders and inspectors win dem
onstrate their part in the market.
Poultry promotion groups will ex-
plain to the visiting poultrymen
how they keep the name of Del
marva poultry before the public.
McAllister said that the tour
ing group will leave Wilmington
from the Pennsylvania railroad