davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05
Time to Pick a Site

The long delay in choosing site for
Northern Virginia's authorized regional
detention home for juveniles should be
a matter of widespread public concern.
Officials of the participating juris-
dictions darlington and Fairfax Counties
and the cities Of Alexandria and Falls
Church) have run into community oppo-
sition everywhere they have appeared in
search of suitable location for the new
facility. While citizens generally are in
favor Of home where children can be
held, instead of being Jailed, as has
occurred in the past, they want the estab-
lishment put in some area far from their
own locale. Careful consideration should
be given to such protests, of course, but
unless the objections have lot of sub
stance they should not prevail over what
is best for the whole of Northern Virginia.
Surely there must be site somewhere in
nearby Virginia where such an institution
could be built and operated without detri-
ment to neigh boring property owners. n
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05
woes in Government

The use of industry specialists in
Government, on a temporary basis and
without compensation, invariably has led
to controversy and criticism. 1t did so
In World War 1, in World War II and in
the period Of the Korean conflict 1t has
done so again, with particular reference
to the Commerce Departments employ
ment of woes without compensation
personneD in its Business and Defense
Services Administration and in the ad-
visory group system within the depart
ment, The issue, basically, has been the
same in every inStance-the conflict OF
interest which may arise for an individ-
ual serving in public capacity while re-
tanning connections with related private
enterprise. The Democratic majority of
a House Antitrust Subcommittee charges,
In effect, that this conflict does exist
today and is being resolved too often,
under the Commerce Department pro-
gram, in favor of special interests rather
than the public welfare. The Republican
minority of the committee disputes the
conclusion.
In essence, the majority criticism Is
directed not at the practice of employing
WOES but at "a virtual abdication OF
administrative responsibility" by Secre-
tary Weeks in their utilization. AS ex-
ampleS, the committee levels its heaviest
fire at employment of woes in the tax
amortization program-allegedly result
ing in discrimination against some firms
and great benefit for others-and in the
reorganization of the National Produc-
ton Authority. The Civil Service Com
mission finally interviewed in the latter
case to correct improper personnel prac-
tees In these and numerous other
complaints the committee pointed to
specific abuses. It's recommendations in
brief, were for both legislative and adj
ministrative action to tighten controls
over VOC employment and utilization.
1t should be noted. however, that the
committee expressly disavowed any ques-
tioningSof "the desirability Of employing
the highly skilled abilities of industry
men on a voluntary, without compensa-
ton basis" And, in its report, 1t added:
1.-THE Government would be guilty OF
neglecting an important resource were
1t to ignore the readily available talents
of unSelfish and patriotic citizens OF out
standing experience willing to make sub
Stantial personal sacrifices for the benefit
of the Nations welfare" 1t should be
noted further that in early 1855 respon-
sibility for tax amortization decisions
was taken out of the hands of woes and
placed in those Of senior career officers
of the department. Corrective action has
been taken also on other committee
complaints.
The fact that the committee divided
on strictly partisan lines leads logically
no a suspicion that political considera-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05

In The Star of October II.
1855, there was an item about
a motorist who had toured
Skyline Drive to view the
changing colors of the beau
tiful foliage.
The National Park Service
rangers office said the traffic
was ''bumper-to- bumper"
The Virginia State Police
said, on the way home, Cars
were backed up for about 10
miles along Route 2ll from
Route 30 at Warrenton.
This condition exists in
peacetimes, when motorists are
out to enjoy themselves. Think
what would happen on this
road, and other roads leading
to our large industrial cities,
II a bomb were dropped on
Washington and people were
trying to get out Of the city.
Why doesn't Congress pass
road bill at once, politics or
no politics? Before we know
1t the lack Of sufficient roads
to take care of increased auto
mobile traffic will be a national
calamity.
w. Woodward Cook
Front Royal, Va.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05

Although described as "uncondi-
tional," the rab-Israeli cease fire agree
ments reserve to each side the right to
act in "self-defenSe. The right is as
broad as any Interpretation that the sig
natorieS might choose to give it in the
event Of some sudden new outbreak of
violence over such bitterly deadlocked
disputes as the one involving the River
Jordan.
Back in late 1858, in support of a
complaint by Syria, the United Nations
Security Council instructed the Israelis
to suspend operations on their project to
divert water from the Jordan for their
own use. They were told to hold up every
thing pending urgent examination of
the question" and they reluctantly COM
piled. Between then and now, however,
nothing has been done about the matter
either within the U. N. or outside, and
some of Israers spokesman have recently
threatened that the undertaking may be
resumed momentarily> Meanwhile the
neighboring Arab states have warned
against any such resumption and they
are reported to have signed the "uncon-
ditional" cease-f1re agreements only after
telling Secretary General Dag Hammar-
skiold that the agreements will become
inoperable, and that they will act in self
defense" if the Ben-Gurion government
starts working on the river again.
According to unofficial reports, Mr..
Hammarskjold has therefore cautioned
the Israelis against unilaterally resuming
the project, but he has not yet revealed
whether he has received any assurances
from them on that score. All along, of
course, their viewpoint has been that they
have right to divert the rivers waters,
the more so because the neighboring
Arabs have perSiStently refused to join
with them in the American sponsored
plan to harness the Jordan for power and
irrigation projects that would be mutually
enriching. Nevertheless, although the
Ben-Gurion government may sincerely
feel that it has legitimate grievance,
the fact remains that the Security Coun-
ellis 1858 resolution is still in force and
Israel cannot act counter to it without
flirting with the danger of another border
flare-up that could explode into full-scale
hoStilitieS.
In such circumstances, it seems OBJ
viouS that the Israelis will be making
grievous mistake if they decide to take
matters into their own hands as regards
the Jordan. For if that happens, if the
diversionary project is resumed in def
ance of the U. NJ, the unconditional"
cease-fire agreements will almost cer-
tainly be scrapped by the Arabs, and the
Ben-Gurion government will be held pri-
marily responsible by world opinion for
whatever grave consequences might then
enSue.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05

BALBOA, Canal Zone (By
MaiD More than four cen
turtles after Columbus, the New
World Islands where he made
his first landfall have been
fixed on maps of the Carib-
bean with real precision.
The positions of more than
1000 of these islands-some
namelesS. many uninhabited,
one inhabited almost exclu-
sively by scantily clad women
have been established by engi-
neers of the Inter-American
Geodetic Survey with extreme
accuracy and with use of the
most advanced techniques of
surveying which have been
available only within the last
few years. Without these tech
niques the survey would have
been nearly impossible.
More Than ISLAND Hopping"
At present. according to Col.
Robert r. Robertson, director
of the survey which is map
ping the greater part of South
and Central America, there is
an essentially complete map of
all the islands stretching in an
arc from the southern tip of
Florida to Venezuela. This arc
runs through Cuba, Puerto
Rico, Haiti, the Dominican
Republic, St. Croix. the Lee
ward and Windward Islands.
and Trinidad. 1t does not in
clude the British owned
islands of the Caribbean east
and north of this chain.
Specifically the job was one
of island hopping"-going in
United States Army landing
craft from one island to an
other and setting up signal
flares as points for the ordi-
nary techniques of surveying
by triangulation. This soon
proved quite inadequate. Most
of the islands were quite fiat.
In such cases sighting of the
lights often proved impossible
because of the curvature of the
earth.
This difficulty was over
come by Air Force planes
which dropped very bright
flares from 1000 feet at as
Economically determined spots.
Sights would be fixed on such
a fare by as many as eight
observers on two islands whose
distance apart was to be de-
termined. Radio signals in
dictated when all had observed
it and the flare became a fixed
point in the survey.
This island job required
use also of the "ihran" tech
nique, the latest word in sur
veying. Rather small dis
tances are determined by the
time required for electronic
impulses to pass between two
points. The technique is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05
THIS AND THAT
Bv CHARLES (. TRACEWELL

sons call hub caps. Some are
made of chromium.
All make nice little baths,
if a place is followed out for
them in the ground, and then
the metal pan is carefully
covered over with concrete.
smoothing out the outer rim
or edge all the way around.
Mrs. R. has a good idea
then.
She carefully places a spray
of raspberry leaves or other
leaf material around the edge.
When 1t dries, and finally
blows away, the pretty impress
sion is left to please all be-
holders. including the birds.
We feel sure that those
sharp little eyes do not miss
anything.
Some months ago this COL
umn carried an article on beef
bacon, which not even the
preference of the great could
make very good eating, at
least to many tastes.
Now some one comes along
with the statement that reg
ular bacon is now being served
two thin slices with eggs, the
bacon merely as decoration.
Bacon is food, the indignant
assertion goes, and if people
would serve more and thicker
bacon. the surplus of pork
would be overcome,
We think this idea mostly
hokum.
The truth. as we see 1t, is
that the reducing fad is re-
sponSible.
You can have your eggs. on
a reducing diet, but if you do.
you have to cut down on the
bacon. and we think that is
what has happened.
1.-Two slices"
You will find that, and MOTH
ing more. in every diet. so that
the great mass of reducers,
now millions strong. shudder
TO think of nice thick juicy
bacon.
They want it thin, because
somebody has told them to eat
it thin.
AS soon as some authority
tells EN- to eat it thick, they
will eat it thick
So the thing for the bacon
producers TO do is to get a
diet expert or two on their
staff.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05
Times Chance in USSR

Writing from London. your
foreign correspondent, Crosby
S. NoyeS, informs US that
the gruesome twosome, KhruSh
and Bulge, were bored by
wreath-laying, although in
London both were much more
on their best behavior than
they were a year ago during
their visit to Tito in Yugo-
Slavia."
At that time it was neceS-
sary to hide the public clocks
of Belgrade on the pretense
they needed repairs. because
Russians were then clock
watchers.
In September, 1858. Malen-
kov, as Premier. issued an ex-
plosive edict that officials were
to be on time in their work,
throwing the whole system and
everyone into fits.
Stain was a night owl. His
working hours set a terrific
pace for his subordinates, and
they passed it down the line.
Eccentric working hours also
were said to be part of the
Russian charm, keeping the
state from being utterly in
human. There was no such
thing as bedtime or bedrooms;
one just subsidized on a couch
behind a curtain when ex-
hausted.
According to Correspondent
Edward CrankshaW, Malen-
kov'S decree was IAN attempt
to instill a sense of time into
a people who have no sense of
time" If it could be carried
out it would mean a revolution
as big with consequence as the
question of whether time is
with the Lenin or Stain ico-
nolatry.
When Malenkov. denoted
from Premier, heard the news
about Stain while he was in
London. his first reaction was
to be two hours late for an APP
pointment.
But the Russians can rise
to great heights: they can rise
early in the morning when
deeply moved. The genuineness
of their repentance toward
Tito was shown by attendance
at 6 am. at a wreath-laying
ceremony. This was profoundly
anti-Stalinist.
Sidney KOretZ.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
A Precise Job of Pinpointing Islands
By THOMAS R. HENRY

much the same as that Of
radar, but of a much higher
order of precision.
The job now is essentially
finished, so far as all that can
be done with lights is con-
cerned. Some refined obser-
vations still are required and
all those made to be co-ordi-
mated. Could Columbus re-
turn to earth when the job
is finished he would know for
the first time precisely where
on the earth's surface he first
touched a shore of the West
ern Hemisphere.
Quite aside from providing
an accurate map of Caribbean
islands, the Surveys job has
far-reaching theoretical i'm
portance. The engineers make
precise observations of anom-
allies of gravity and mag
netiSm. There is still consider
able debate as to how the
Caribbean and the West In
dies came into existence. 1t
has been maintained that they
are a Sunken area once con-
nected with one of the
American continents. The sea
itself contains what is prob
ably the second deepest spot
in the ocean, the so-called
Puerto Rico Deep. Geologi-
cally the islands have been a
complex puzzle. Part, at least,
of the misunderstanding has
been due to the very scattered
observations, some of which
probably were far from &C
curate.
No Science Involved
A great many of the islands,
the engineers found, were no
larger than the deck Of an air
plane carrier. usually unin-
habited and often swept by
high seas. Some were quite
barren of vegetation.
Some idle curiosity may
have been aroused by a refer
ence earlier in this story to an
island of women. The name
and approximate location of
this island are in the writer's
notebook but no possible scien-
tific interest could be served
by revealing them. The Survey
engineers had enough trouble
with the place. considering
propensities of soldiers and
sailors.
1t is a small island inhabited
entirely by fisher folk. AT Ger
tain times each year all the
men and boys put out on fish
ing expeditions from which
they do not return for months
The result is community of
about 500 women with not
more than dozen men.
1t is far from an island of
AmazonS. The inhabitants
seemed quite friendly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05
Strosser's Strategy

DR.. Otto Strasser wrote The
Star Directing to mention of
his name in an article by Mar
garita Dobert about the alli-
ance of Nazis and Communists
in Germany. 1t seems he was
enormously described as a for
mer prisoner of war, something
which in Germany, where all
troops surrendered at the end
Of the war, could certainly not
be held against him. However,
his purpose in objecting was
not to try to clear his name
but to try to pass himself off
as an ardent fighter against
communism. In doing so, he
conveniently forgot to men,
ton the other. and equally i'm
portant, side which would make
him considerably less palatable
to the American public.
He and his brother Gregor
helped Hitler rise to power, In
1880 he broke with Hitler be-
cause he considered Hitler too
reactionary. What he wanted
was his own special brand of
national bolshevism. To &C
complish this he organized his
own party, called the BLACK
Front" They advocated. among
other things. complete nation
alization of industry and break
ing up of large estates. His
followers referred to themselves
as Revolutionary National So
cialists" and their symbol was
the hammer and sword.
otto went into exile in May,
1888. First he went to Prague,
then France and finally Can
ada. After the war, when he
wanted to return to Germany.
he was refused a German
passport by the Federal gov
eminent in Bonn. 1t was only
after he had appealed to the
administrative court that he
was allowed to return.
When he arrived in Germany
in March, 1854, he declared
that his intention was to fight
for a Germany independent of
the Kremlin and Wall Street"
He took over the League of
German Renewal and an
nounced plans for a new party
with branches in 500 cities and
a school for political officers.
He appeals to the radical
rightist dissatisfied splinter
groups in Germany by advo-
eating reuniflcation. armed
neutrality and by bitterly OPP
posing Adenauer for being
friendly to the United States.
Here is a typical statement by
him which appeared in the
Halifax Chronicle Herald on
September 3, 1854: 1T is only
the Adenauer setup in Bonn,
which in its own interests.
does the bidding Of the al
mighty dollar against the will
OF the German people"
Fortunately. UP until nov.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05

The course of world events is not
altered merely because Nikita KhruSh-
chew chooses to say that "little by little"
confidence can be re-established between
the United States and the Soviet Union.
The fact remains, however, that this at
best, Is going to be slow process. It is
going to be long time before we will
have any real confidence in the Russians,
and before they will have any real
confidence in us.
But things would seem to be moving
In the right direction when Mr. Khrush-
chew says that eventually we may reach
agreement on disarmament and have
normal trade and cultural relations with
the United States" This is q small but
hopeful development, not so much be-
cause Mr.. Khrushchev said it, but because
OF the circumstances under which he said
1t. The Soviet leader. Just back in Mos
cow from the trip to Britain, was address,
ing welcoming throng of 10000 people.
The press dispatches say that his remarks
were greeted with stormy applause"
TeleviSion and radio carried his words
throughout the Soviet Union.
We must remember that the about
face is familiar phenomenon in the
Communist world. Still, Mr.. KhruShchev
did not have to sound this note. Having
done SO before the eyes and ears of
large segment of the Russian people, it
will be little more difficult for him to
switch back to the old line that the
United States is vicious capitalist con-
spiracy bent upon the destruction Of
communism and all of its works. In short,
1t seems reasonable to believe that one
more item of proof has been added to
the growing body of evidence that the
Russian change of front is something
more than tactical maneuver.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05
Chicago.
For the Record

The Star of April 81. report
ing a proposal I recently made
for reforming the system of
payments to local governments
on federally owned property,
contained one-word error
which, I fear. made the pro-
posal appear highly confusing.
The Star quoted me as say
ing, THE Federal Government
should not receive more ia
vorable treatment from State
and local taxing authorities)
than any private property
owner"
This I do not believe. My
proposal would give Uncle Sam,
as a property owner, more ia
vorable treatment than John
Citizen. I proposed that Fed
eral property be made subject
to State and local real prop
erty taxes only in communities
in which there is an abnormal
concentration of federally
owned property. and that such
taxes be paid only on Federal
holdings in excess of a NOR
NAL" amount of federally
owned property in any local
ity.
Recognizing the danger that
local governments might at
tempt to impose an unreason-
able tax burden on federally
owned property, I offered some
safeguards against such at
tempts. 1t was in this context
that / made the statement
which The Star reported. What
l actually said was, THE Fed
eral Government should not
receive less favorable treat
ment than any private prop
erty owner"
This word makes quite a diff
ference. What I was trying to
say was that the National Gov
eminent, under any system of
payments on its property,
should not be placed at the
mercy Of local tax assessors
and tax collectors.
William B. Prendergast.
Annapolis, Md.
Editors note: Mr.. Prender-
CAST is a Republican candidate
for Congress in Marylands 5th
district. The Star regrets the
error
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05
COLLEGE PARK. Md.

COLLEGE PARK. Md.
Dear Sir:
For a long time we have
enjoyed your daily comment
on the birds that frequent our
lives in the Metropolitan Area
of Washington.
You recently had an in
quiry from Takoma Park of
particular interest to us in
College Park. Your column
started with, How can 1 keep
the starlings from eating the
raisins 1 put out for our pair
of mockingbirds?'
MY family has enjoyed the
mockingbirds for many years
and we have a pair we have
enjoyed above all others. At
breakfast, lunch and dinner,
the holder of the pair comes to
our feeding station Gust out
side the dining room window
There he stands on the clos
est edge to the window and
looks in. He remains there
until one of us gets up from
the table, opens the window
and feeds him raisins.
X
with patience we have sue
ceeded in getting both mock
ingbirdS to light on our out
stretched hands and eat four
or five raisins from the palm.
They show no fear or hest
fancy unless noises intrude,
such as the presence of a dog
or cat on the ground or close
by.
"A few years ago we man
aged to get a female cardinal
to come into the inner part
of the window sill for her.
sunflower seeds. Our present
pair of cardinals sit close by
as the mockingbird lights on
our hands but we have been
unable to get the cardinals to
do likewise.
TO yolr correspondent in
Takoma Park we say
Bring your feeding station
closer.
THE starlings will remain at
a discreet distance while the
mockingbirds will become close
friends.
I'VE have never had a star
ling disturb our feeding of
either the mockingbird or the
cardinals because We are al
ways close by with our dining
room feeding station.
Sincerely, S. J. T."
*
This is unquestionably true.
We were so busy, in the
article instanced, in seeing the
philosophy of the situation.
that we failed to think of this
very simple eXpedient.
Putting the feeding station
close to the window has many
advantages, and surely one Of
them is keeping the starlings
away. Just as long as there is
some human being close.
Otherwise. they fly right in.
Not every one, of course, will
have either the time or pa
tience to cooperate with the
Knockers as our correspondent
does, but, II they do. they will
receive the reward he does,
and at the same time keep the
starlings at a respectful dis
lance.
Another reward of the close
in station is the better view,
in fact the best view, one can
get Of bird life, because the
closest.
49,
Mrs. I. r. suggests that
readers use old discarded auto
rims for bird baths.
These are what many per-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-05
On Indignation

The Supreme Court laid
down a law for the land.
Hence, the Nation has a duty
to perform-painful in some
cases, perhaps, but just. never
theless. 1t is the South that
has openly defied the court and
Dragged that they will not per-
form that duty nor make at
tempts toward performing It.
Some concessions could be
made If 1t were not for this
attitude, but If the South is
not pressed to obey the law
now, we may as well claim
that the Supreme Court. law.
justice. and even Christianity
are null and void"
valeria HarFs.