davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
No 'Yok' for the Turks

The origin of the coffee break" never
has been firmly fixed, but the one place
in which it has been most widely prac-
ticed is Turkey. Neither business nor
social engagement could be complete
there without the small cup of sweet
brew with the gooey grounds in the
bottom. Although few Of the coffee
drinkers realized it, every cup was dipping
into the shortening supply of foreign
exchange-to the point where five
months ago the Ankara government de-
creed reduction in coffee imports. The
alternatives, at least to the Turks, were
horrible to taste. Bravely, they turned
to tea-until that imported commodity
also fell into short supply: after that,
milk, yogurt and water, and finally lemon
soda. One Ankara shop, formerly adver-
Using coffee and tea, repeatedly has
changed its sign to read ''yok"-meaning
nothing" and no joke either.
The Turks. Of course, are an. indomi-
table people-already proved by their
ability TO drink their own coffee in the
first place. Still, every nation has It's
breaking point. and surely the fortitude
Of any people would be sorely tried by
having to drink lemon soda day in and
day out In this season Of compassion 1t
may be timely TO divert some Of our own
coffee TO this ally in distress. or perhaps
70 start "tea FOR Turkey" program.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
Changing With Change

There is nothing surprising about the
Army'S plan to reduce the numerical
strength of its 10 divisions in being. For
the plan, which has been under study
for long time and which is expected to
receive the prompt approval of the Presi-
dent and the Defense Department, is
tailored to the realities of our supertech-
biological and ever-changing atomic age.
The biggest of these realities is the
fact that military advances since the end
Of the Second World War have profoundly
affected all past tactical and strategical
concepts in terms of land, sea and air.
So our Army must adjust itself accord
ingly. Guided missiles and nuclear
weapons (big and little) have enormously
increased It's f1repower within the past
ten years. At the same time, as result
OF other scientific and chronological de-
velopments, it has become potentially
much more mobile In such circurn-
stances, it obviously cannot stand still or
adhere to its older methods of operation.
Instead, 1t must reorganize itself-de-
fensively and oftensively-in keeping
with the great changes that have been
VohAA1S PAoOCs
This reorganization Is scheduled to
be carried out almost Immediately, but
It's completion will require considerable
amount of time. At present, our Army
numbers about l million men making
up IL infantry, armored and 3 air
borne divisions. According to the broad
outline of the streamlining plan, our
armored divisions will be subject only to
minor" manpower cut, but each Of our
17.100-man airborne divisions will be re-
duced by $500, and our current 17,455-
man infantry divisions will each be pared
down to about 1900. All told, some
$4,000 troops will thus be taken out of
our existing combat units, but they will
be assigned to other tasks.
In that sense, the projected divisional
reorganization will not reduce the over
all numerical strength of our ground
forces. Nor is 1t meant to. For its sole
purpose, in the Army's words, is to in
crease combat effectiveness "by exploit
ing to a maximum modern technology
for the improvement Of flrepower, mo-
bility and control" In sum, the whole
plan amounts simply to a common-Sense
adjustment to the facts of military life
In world that has revolutionized itself,
for good or i'll, by its own genius in such
fields as atomic science.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
BeIoted Controversy

1t is hard to understand how major
disagreement over such basic matter
as book value" could have arisen so soon
between the Public Utilities Commission
and the new D. C. Transit Company. If
an issue as vital to transit operations as
the base for calculating depreciation
could become so controversial now, why
was the wide difference Of opinion not
discovered during the long and protracted
negotiations preceding granting Of the
transit franchise? Certainly few busi-
ness transactions involving public service
have been the subject of more thorough
study and mutual discussion than the
understanding" which ended in award
of the franchise to o. Roy Chalk and his
associates.
The book value" dispute is more
than a disagreement over bookkeeping
practices. 1t involves choice Of bases
for figuring depreciation that will dras-
tically affect the economic structure of
the new transit company. In what the
p. U. c. describes as a change in book
keeping procedures, the company has
tentatively been ordered to base its de-
probation calculations on ST. million,
the net sum OF Mr.. Chalk's investment
In the old Capital Transit Company,
rather than on the sl8 million book value
Of the extinct company. But in its effect
on the company this would be far more
than mere bookkeeping transaction.
According to D. c. Transit, the change
would be totally unrealistic" and clearly
connscatory," since II diSregards the sin
herent value" Of the transit holdings and
would prevent the company from recov-
ering that long-recognized value OF the
former Wolfson properties. The company
regards the proposed accounting change
as so unjust and so damaging as TO war
rant an sn-out battle in the courts, II
the commission adheres to its plan.
The issue has to do with complicated
fiscal factors that well may require long
litigation 70 straighten out. Thus the
stage Is being set for what may become
another protracted battle In the courts,
tothe disadvantage OF transit operations
and Of the riding public. why AL Of this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
Vice President an Assistant President?

ity, under such circumstances.
could or should be delegated to
the Vice President. Nixon was
careful never to suggest or to
arrogate to himself any such
authority. This, too. may have
to be considered If any change
in the Constitution is made.
Should the Vice President be
made merely an executive,
with no duties as presiding
ofiicer of the Senate, the
Senate would. under the pro-
posal, elect its own president
and presiding ofhcer. Today.
the Senate elects q president
pro tempofe, who serves as
presiding officer Of the body
II the Vice President is absent
or II he is incapacitated or
should die.
Serves Legislative Purpose
The Vice President serves o
useful purpose. legislatively.
Should the Senate divide
equally. he is empowered to
cast a deciding vote. Although
this situation arises rarely. the
fact that q Vice President can
break q deadlock Is Of great
Importance. With the political
division Of the Senate as close
as it is today, and the possible
ity at any time of a tie de-
veloping between the Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. the
organization of the Senate it
self and its committees could
hang on the vote Of the Vice
President.
The very closeness Of party
strength in the Senate, how.
ever, raises another problem.
Should the Republicans and the
Democrats each have 48 Sem
ators. the election Of q Senate
president and the election of
the Senate committee chair
men might prove a real Stun
bling block and make it ex.
tremely difficult for the Sem
ate to function.
Senators who have consid-
cred the matter Of such a
change in the present setup
admit the proposal has merit.
They say it is obvious that the
President has a terrific burden
on his shoulders and that
turning the Vice President loose
from his Senate duties and
making him free to give all his
attention to the executive Of.
fee would be beneficial.
At least one Senator sug-
gested. however. when APP
preached on the subject. the
rather haphazard way Of Sc.
lecting vice presidential NOM
inees could place in that Office
a man not qualified as an
executive. Also, it was urged
that a Vice President, as pres
ident Of the Senate, can be Of
real benefit to a President
when the latter is trying to put
a program across. In fact. he
can be a valuable link between
the President and his party in
the Senate.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
Indonesion Revolt

Political and economic stability have
not been outstanding characteristics of
the young Republic of Indonesia and it is
apparent that another period of severe
trial is facing the country. At this point,
most of Sumatra-Second largest and
richest of the islandS-is under control of
army rebels who are demanding far
reaching changes in both personalities
and policies of the central government at
Jakarta. Their political target is the
coalition government of Premier Sastro-
amidjojo, former ambassador to WASH
ington whose "neutraliSm" most often
has been expressed against western i'm
perialiStS' and in favor of Communist
China. Their detectives are greater po-
itical representation for Sumatra and
other provinces outside Java, plus more
effective program for economic develop
naent of the country. They have asserted
loyalty to President Sukarno, but have
ignored his appeal that they end their
revolutionary movement. Up to now, the
Jakarta cabinet has refused to quit de-
spite the resignation of one of its
coalition leaders.
In the circumstances, there appears
to be no feasible solution other than a
negotiated one. The youthful leader of
the rebellious army faction, Colonel
Maludin Simbolon, is described as mill
tarily competent and politically popular
in Sumatra. He was leader in the fight
for Indonesian independence from the
Netherlands, and is both anticolonialiSt
and Communist. While his original
bid for power has been partially thwart-
ed, he has now moved his revolutionary
headquarters into jungle hiding. He has
declared his support for former Vice
President Mohammed Hatta, who recent
ly advocated revision of the government
on lines more like that of the United
States and similarly proposed new pro-
gram for economic development. BY con-
trast, President Sukarno has proposed an
end to political parties and constitution
which would reject capitalism and the
liberal democracy of the West" The
great personal popularity of the PreSi-
dent, however, seems to assure his own
position-leaving the alternative of a
negotiated settlement with the rebels as
the most likely end result.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
Looking Toward 1857

Secretary of Commerce Weeks, whose
consistently optimistic predictions have
proved generally correct during the past
four years, foreSees another record
making IL months Of prosperity for the
Nation. His forecast for 1857 is that en-
ployment, income and production all will
surpass their 1856 peaks. At the same
time, Mr.. Weeks includes some realistic
reservations in both his evaluation of
1856 and his optimistic view for 1857.
For the year just ending, the Secre-
tary estimates gross national product at
new top of SAP billion, an increase of
about per cent above last year. But
only half of this percentage increase, he
pointed out represents larger output,
while the remainder merely reflects
higher prices. Similarly, while individual
income will be up about per cent, the
same factor Of higher prices means that
real buying power rose only per cent.
For 1857, his first word of caution was
directed to this same trend of climbing
prices. His second was that the rate of
growth in 1857 may be slower than in
1855 because the economy is operating at
virtually full capacity today Plans re-
main high for industrial expansion in
1857, but the increasing cost of invest
ment capital already has prompted
modification of some of these programs.
Coincidentally, a similar note of
caution was expressed by former chair
man Of the Presidents Council of Eco
nomic Advisers, Edwin G. Nourse. Refer
ring to these expansion plans, Mr.. Nourse
warned that they should not be encour-
aged to level at which the demand for
labor and materials contributes further
to infationary pressureS, and might even
lead to new Government controls in
peacetime economy.
With only brief Interruptions and
few soft spots, the current boom has been
rolling along for several years. Mr.. Weeks
seems justified in predicting its continu-
ance into 1857, but 1t is well that there
is recognition of some of the counter
presSureS and potential dangers
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29

Should a Vice President OF
the United States be an ex-
ecutive ofiicer-a kind Of as
sistant to the President, or As
sistant President-and relieved
of his duties as president of
the Senate? This question
may come before Congress at
its session opening January
8. Any such change would re-
quire- a constitutional amend
ment. The matter might be
considered also in connection
with the Qualification Of the
method by which q President
is declared incapacitated-u
able to perform the functions
of his office. The Constitu-
ton is silent on this latter
problem, and It is believed 1t
will come up when the legis-
lators meet.
Former President Herbert
Hoover some months ago sug-
gested that it might be wise
to create the Office of "Execu-
tive Vice President" so as to
give the Chief Executive more
aid in handling the huge and
complex business Of the Gov
eminent. The proposition to
take the Vice President-the
elected Vice President--and
make of him an executive
officer is a variation.
1t might prove an effective
move. President Eisenhower
has made more and more use
of Vice President Nixon. Nix
on sits with the cabinet-as
other Vice Presidents in re-
cent history have done. He
meets. too. with the National
Security Council, of which. he
Is a member. And he has been
used by the President as a
good will a m b a ssador to
foreign countries, and for GER
tain investigative duties, as in
the case Of his recent visit
to Austria in connection with
the Hungarian refugee prob
lem.
Has Become Tough Job
Under the Constitution as it
stands, the Vice President is
president of the Senate and
is its presiding officer. The ses-
sions Of Congress in these days
are long and exacting. It's a far
cry to the times Of Vice Presi-
dent Thomas Riley Marshall,
who described himself. in a
brief speech to the Senate, as
"the greatest listener since the
Sphinx sat himself down in
the Libyan DESERT sphinx
because the Vice President
rarely addresses the Senate.
He is not a member Of the
Senate, as the Speaker Of the
House is a member of the lat
ter body. The Vice President
does not have the privilege Of
speaking to the Senate on i'm
portant matters that come be-
fore it. He remains a listener.
One Of the questions which
arose at the time President
Eisenhower suffered a heart
attack was how much author
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

was as colorful as a cinema
masterpiece, and twice as fun
n.y."
He held to this after many
hours.
No light Of day could take
away the fun Of his dream.
He tried and tried to remem-
Der. but it was a waste Of time.
because all was forgotten ex-
cept the primal fact. that 1t
had been the funniest dream
he or anyone else had ever
had.
In a way, 1t was not at all
necessary to know the subject.
Every waking soul knows
that good stories are good only
once, or maybe two or three
repetitions, at the most.
It was the triumphant sense
Of the comic which made this
dream unique.
What had you been taking,
Jonesey, old boy?" we asked
him.
His answer was, one Of these
new tranquilizers which are
now causing so much comment.
Not a whole tablet, he in
sisted. but just a fourth Of one.
Maybe that was what made
1t 50 comical. Maybe there was
q certain mystique connected
with the quarter Of a tablet.
Had he had any other COM
ical dreams. after taking his
fourth Of tablet?
Just one. slightly funny.
How did 1t 60?
Well" said Temp Jones,
1T was comic enough, per-
haps.
Il was walking along the
street, when I happened to
see q wedding party on a big
side porch. the kind one sell
dom sees nowadays.
The bride and groom were
at one end. and the guests
were all seated at the back,
along the wall.
THE preacher had Just en-
tered from Q door. center"
What made the dream 30
funny?
Nothing much" sighed
Templeton Jones. Everybody
started TO laugh. and the min
lister the loudest Of all.
THAT Is why / think Of II a.
the Merry Wedding.
1T was funny. all right, but
not as funny as the one / can't
remember"
And Temp Jones started 70
laugh again.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
Souvenir

Out Of a book I lifted doOn to
dust.
There fen a little message vou
had penned
And slipped into the Gift. I
guess I must
Haze overlooked u at Iove's
quiet end.
An OF our yesteydavsi" Is tChdt
u said
And, dustcloth In my hand,
there came 10 me
Those lifting. lovely moments,
as I read
Only the glad. none OF the
misery.
So long ago. 90 cerr long aooI
! sdw that Il tDds dtEsk--T
coHlbed my hair.
hit the Are and smiled into It,
olotb.
Prepared the meal, and
hEmmed q merry afr.
The MESSAGE hHtteyed from
tDheye Il had lain
TO let ne knosD the feel Of
youth GeotHf
Lee Avery
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29

Templeton Jones comic
dream left him laughing
heartily as he woke up.
The trouble was, as with so
many dreams. he couldn't re-
member what it was about
All he knew afterward, was
that it was howlingly funny.
and in the true and best sense
of the comic.
Something had happened. in
that dream, Of the very es-
sence of fun.
In contrast to the average
dream, all Illustration. this
one was all sunshine, happi-
ness and good cheer.
Something had been said,
something done, something
had happened. involving the
whole set of circumstances
which 60 to make up humor.
It was as American as
pumpkin pie, Jones was sure.
Every culture has its own
ways Of making fun.
The American way has
something to do with unusual
word usage, which suddenly
puts something into humor-
GUS focus.
Templeton Jones was sure
Of this, but beyond this he
could not 60. any more than
he could recall his dream.
But funny he knew 1t had
been, in utter distinction TO
one he had recently. where he
realized he was late to ONCE
and simply couldn't get there.
He could see the place q way
of. across the city.
And no bus would stop for
him, no car. no boat. If there
had been any boat. and there
might have been. because no
thing is impossible In dreams.
=
He couldn't get there, and
he knew he couldn't get there.
valiantly he started out
walking, TO do the best he
could, but all the time he
knew he couldn't make II.
One never does. in dreams.
II success Is achieved, one
wakes up Just at the trium-
plant moment.
49,
Jones funny dream was DIFF
ferent.
It was sufiused with light.
color, despite the fact that
some say there are no colors
in dreams.
stuff and nonsense" says
Templeton Jones. MY dream
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29

II was coming from outer
space. This was the beginning
Of radio astronomy. which be-
gan on q large scale after
World War II had brought
about development Of suitable
radio and radar equipment.
Q. What organization apon-
soEs Kids Day7"--L A.
A. This special day Il spon-
Bored BY Kiwanis Interna-
tional. The purpose u 70
focus attention on the prob
lems and accomplishments Of
young people. and 70 assist
underprfyileged children. Kidg
Day In 1857 viii BE- observed
On September -.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29

q. Are there any fsh In the
guez Canal7 Ell
A. The National Geographic
Society says that Ashes are ac-
customed 70 uBe the canal,
travelling back and forth be-
tween the Red Sea apd the
eastern Mediterranean.
q. When were radio signals
or noises from stars hrst heard.
m B.
A. In December. 1891. . Ben
Telephone Laboratories engi-
neer, Kari q. Jansky, first dis
covered . mysterious back
ground hisGing IN his radio set
while traeking down atmos~
pheric static. He proved THAI
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29

could not have been avoided in the pre-
liminary negotiations between the P. U. G.
and the Commissioners, on the one hand,
and Mr.. Chalk and his associates, on the
other, is mystery.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
Double Window

The general tenor Of the
newspaper accounts concern
ing the double window in =
Georgetown house. recently re-
modelled, has disturbed me very
much. It seems to be thought
somewhat smart" to make
humorous any incident con-
nected with the arts or esthetics.
due possibly to the fact that
everyone can have an opinion
on such matters which are not
in the class Of the exact
sciences.
/ think the fundamental
facts have been overlooked.
The owners in this case did
not disregard the wishes of
the Fine Arts Commission
but actually made a change
from the plans as approved for
the building permit by the
D. c. building authorities. 1t
happened to be a matter which
by law had previously been
reviewed by the Fine Arts Com
mission. But what if the owner
had changed an approved 10
inch beam to an 8-inch beam,
would he have said Good
gosh, all we wanted was a little
more light in our living
room? Or had he built the
rear wall a couple Of feet
farther back in his rear yard
than shown on the drawings
and thereby violated the zon-
ing regulations, would he have
said Good gosh. all we wanted
was a little more room in our
kitchen?
When ne discovered he
wanted more light in the hall
way than provided by the win
dow indicated on his approved
drawings he should have SUBJ
mitted his revision for APP
prevail by the Building Depart
ment. which in turn would
have referred the change to
the Fine Arts Commission. At
that time the owner and the
commission could have come
to some compromise rather
than now after the window
is installed. / feel sure the
owner made the change in
nocently but the public should
realize that a building permit
Is q permit to build accord
ing to the drawings submitted
when the permit was requested.
And this applies to the simple
little matters affecting esthetics
as well as structure or coming.
The three busy architects
who give one afternoon each
week without any compensa-
ton to act as a board Of re-
view. on Georgetown matters,
for the Fine Arts Commission
have no thought Of causing
hardship to anyone but. as
well know. many times have
made compromises in an eff
fort to allow an owner to
achieve his desires and yet
stay within their interpreta-
ton Of the requirements Of
Public Law 808 as passed by
the 81st Congress. It seems
to me that these men have
q right to expect from the
Washington press factual
presentations Of controversial
cases without the cute, sly
digs at the "sensibilities Of the
commission" In this way pub
lie respect for laws and their
enforcement might be built IN
instead Of undermined.
William Dewey Foster.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
Reel Pretty =. Hope | Can Afford Itv
LETTERS TO THE STAR

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letters are subject to conden-
SGtion.