davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-14

BALTIMORE, Nov. IA P.-
Back in 1913 the Baker Com
mission found some weird dis
erepancies in Maryland's per-
sonal property taxes, such as
one county taxing chickens and
another not taxing cars at all.
Today. chickens and cars
have given way to bicycles and
Siamese cats. but another study
group finds administration of
those taxes in wild disorder. :"
A committee of the Legisla-
tive Council, making study
authorized by the 1856 General
Assembly. has recommended "a
careful but drastic revision of
our outmoded system of taxing
personal property"
"Odds and Ends" Opposed
The Committee on Taxation
and Fiscal Matters yesterday
mailed a 70-page report drafted
by Delegate Blair Lee III, Dem
ocrat of Montgomery, to mem
bers Of the council, between
sessions arm of the Legislature.
The first step recommended
would eliminate IAN inconse-
quential variety of odds and
ends" being taxed. which the
committee said including "a
boys bicycle, jewelry not habit
ually worn and a Siamese
cat"
The report said one of the
biggest problems in recent years
has been the very stable ex-
emptions" granted, varying
from county to county. 1t cited
one hypothetical case.
County A has exempt $40
million worth of manufacturing
machinery and inventory from
its tax rate Of $1.62 per 500
value. The report said the
county has deprived itself OF
$162, 900 in county revenue "but
it has enabled itself to advertise
far and wide that industry gets
a break in dear old County A.
County A also "retrieves
$81 900 in additional State add
which it wouldn't have received
without the exemption, the re-
port said.
The committee said the per-
sonal property tax has, for the
most part. degenerated into an
inconsistent tax on business
which also includes scattered
remnants of the old household
furniture tax in four counties
Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick
and Queen Annes.
For the 1858 legislative ses-
sion which convenes in Feb
ruary. the committee said IL
was recommending only "a
sort of cutting away of UNDER
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-14

Bonnell, chairman of the COM
mission.
Mr.. Bonnell, Commissioner
Edgar T. Bennett, Chief En-
gineer Norman M. Pritchett
and District Engineer E. G..
Duncan met yesterday MORN
ing in La Plata with the Charles
County group. Then in the
afternoon the Bonnell group
came here for conferences with
the st. Marys County COM
miSsioners and legislators.
The conferences are part of
the commissions program to
win commission county agree
rnent on Statewide basis for
proposals to revise the 12-year
road program. The proposals
will go to the Maryland Gen.
eral Assembly in February.
The revisions, described as
modest" will be based on a
study now under way on the
sufficiency of all roads in the
State IS determined by a mile
by-mjle survey.
Both Charles and St. Marys
Counties can anticipate heavy
road construction programs
next year. Mr.. Bonnell said.
The Roads Commission is
one year behind in its work on
the 12-year program and will
not wind UP the first four-year
phase until the end of 1858.
Two Counties Lag
Both st. Marys and Charles
are tagging behind the State
average of 70 per cent compile
ton on the first four-year
phase, the roads official con-
ceded.
BY the end of this year "a
per cent of the mileage sched-
uled in the first phase in
Charles County will be under
contract or completed. Mr..
Pritchett said. Charles County
with IS miles in the first phase
was second only to Prince
Georges County in total mile
age to be built during the pc
Rod. St. Marys County will
have 81 per cent of its mileage
completed or under contract
by the end Of the year, Mr..
Pritchett said.
This means that Charles
County will have 80 miles and
st. Mary's County % miles of
roads put under contract next
year.
Route 30l is the main north
south link cutting across
Charles County. Mr.. Pritchett
said bids will be asked by the
end of this year on a Smile
stretch from LYONS Corner to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-14

about two miles north of Bel
Alton. The remaining eight
miles to the Potomac River
Bridge will be put under con-
tract next year, he said.
Next year Charles County is
planning a big celebration
marking the 300th anniversary
Of its founding.
Also slated for construction
next year is a final link of the
dualization in the Upper Marl-
boro area.
Bids will be sought this year
on the construction of Route
22S, Berry road, from Route 301
to a point S miles west of Wal
dorf.
st. Mary's Residents Angry
Attending the Charles County
session were Commissioners
John l.. Sullivan, w. Edward
Berry and Lemuel Wilmer; Sem
ator Thomas B. r. Mudd and
Delegates John T. Perrin. jr..
and John w. jenkins.
At the st. Mary's County
meeting were Senator Joseph
Mattingly, Delegates Frank
Coombs and j. Frank Raley and
Commissioners Ernest Stone,
Leonard Alverly and Byron
Guy.
The sharpest criticism heard
by the roads group was in st.
Marys County where commits
sioners reported residents were
angered by right-of-way TAX
ings of $50 feet.
Mr.. Pritchett defended the
practice and said that an aver
age of 108 feet is needed to
provide a 24-foot pavement,
12-foot shoulders and addi-
tlonal space Tor slopes ana SIDE
bitches. He pointed out that
several roads in the country
had to be rebuilt and addi-
tional right-of-way purchased
at least three times in the last
80 years.
A smile stretch of Route 249
between Valley Lee and Piney
Point will be put out on bids
this year. Mr.. Pritcheett said,
Five other projects in St.
Marys are slated for contract
next year. They include:
! l. Route 237 from Chaptico
to Clements.
2. Route 234 from the
Charles County line to Chap
tico.
3. Route 242 Milestone to
Cotton Point.
4. Route 235 from South of
Lexington Park to Ridge.
] 5. Route 242 Clements to
Milestone.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-14

area had protested the eastern
location.
Mr.. Fugate said the project
is expected to be advertised for
bids around the first of the
year. The overpass. which will
cross Arlington boulevard. is
expected to cost about $1.6
million.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-14
Charles and St. Morys
Briefed on Road Plans
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN
star star corresuondent

LEONARDTOWN. Nd Nov Rehabilitation of Highway
sol Baltimore City the Potomac River Bridge in
Charles County will be fully under contract by the end Of
1883 the Maryland State Roads Commission said yesterday
Charles County commissioners and members of the countys
legislative delegation received this from Robert O.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19

Is the iron curtain slowly
descending over the free
world because Of the over
optimism Of our leaders who
have allowed the USSR to
sprint ahead Of US in missile
power?
Washington policy-makers
are preparing to 60 through
the motions Of consolidating
the Western alliances at q
spectacular NATo meeting
in Paris. They hope to dis
sipate the optical illusion
that Uncle Sam is shrinking
in stature.
Under the present circum-
stances. due to the unex-
pectedly tragic mishandling
Of the Tunisian arms affair,
it is hard to conceive that
anything constructive can be
achieved in Paris next month,
even with President Eisen-
hower's attendance.
Governments in countries
still blessed with the demo-
cratic processes Of electing
their leaders are by necessity
unpredictable. The declara-
tions Of undying love and
strong unity uttered by prime
ministers and foreign secre-
taries are meaningless when
they do not reflect the views
Of the people themselves.
The confidence Of the people
must be gained to make the
alliances Of the free world
going concerns. Otherwise,
diplomatic moves are as
meaningless as the proverbial
churning Of water to make
butter.
The Russian coup Of
launching its space satellites
ahead of us has merely gall
vanized the uneasy feeling Of
the free peoples that we are
floundering and do not know
how to handle the Com
munist drive toward world
conquest.
During this reporters re-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19
The Federal Reserve Lets Up

1t might then appear as .
measure of sheer desperation.
It is known that in the
Federal Reserve Bank In New
York the latest change up
ward in August was approved
somewhat reluctantly. It is
known also that businessmen
have been pleading with per-
sons versed in central bank
ing procedures and philoso-
ply to urge the chairman Of
the Federal Reserve Board to
reverse his policy. It is re-
ported that some Of the ar
guments became persuasive
with Mr.. Martin only when
the statistics Of the business
indexes generally revealed Q
trend downward.
Psychology" is q much
used term in discussing re-
cessions and depressions. but
the Federal Reserve Board
must have been impressed
with the fact that the recess
sion Of 1854 was based on
inventory accommodations.
whereas the readiustment Of
1857 has come from difficul-
ties in capital formation.
This has been attributed to
lack Of SUFFICIENT savings at .
time Of unuuestioned demand
for money for long-terrn in
vestment.
High money rates have
discouraged borrowing, but
this has also brought unem-
ployment and q drop in
profits. It has shown signs
Of doing serious damage to
the economy, such as hap
pens when businessmen be-
gin to consult their fears
and start to curtail their OPP
erations drastically. Inciden-
tally, by misinterpreting the
Federal Reserve Board move
Of last week as q signal to set
in motion again the spiral Of
wage-price increases. labor
union leaders can undo all
the good that has been done.
This would be calamitous,
and perhaps the time has
come for the President to
make another appeal for re-
straint.
The Federal Reserve Board
has acted wisely and oppor-
timely. It has not given the
green light to imitation, but
it has said that deflation has
gone far enough for the time
being.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19
DORIS FLEEsoN
The DuIIes-Stevenson Talks

saved from the Sunday
drought enforced here by
the liquor laws only by a
happy accident.
The President has still to
speak with Mr.. Stevenson and
his brief note to him was
written only after the press
stressed that fact.
The tip-off on the, situa-
ton, indeed, came early with
White House Press Secretary
Hagerty's bowler. Mr.. sHag-
erty had his facts regarding
Mr.. Stevenson wrong and had
to retract. Since Mr.. Hagerty
helps make White House pol
icy, it was clear that he
was briefed-inadequately-
by Mr.. Dulles Office and that
the President was keeping his
distance.
Perhaps the tentative ma
ture of the present accom-
mediation is Just as well. Mr..
Stevenson cannot commit the
Democratic Congress and
would not try. Furthermore,
as his initial statement made
clear. he has grave misgivings
about the administrations
commitment to the clear and
present danger posed by So
Wet achievements.
He does not want to asso-
cate himself with a program
designed only to get the Sput-
mix on the front pages. Un-
less he is satisfied that much
more viii be attempted, he
can be expected to bow out.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19
DOROTHY THOMPSON
Challenge of Soviet Education

their children land some
times do) are ferreted out by
the press and sharply repri-
manded.
Direct Communist indoc-
trination is not perpetual.
Young children are not
taught Marxism but the four
RS. A child becomes a mem
Der Of the Communist 'Pio-
neers." and an adolescent Of
the Komsomal (young Com
munists) only by test Of his
qualities.
And it simply cannot be
true that the system is so
rigid as to kill all free in
tellectual inquiry. If IL were,
Russia could not have taken
her leap ahead in the SCI
ences, which, above all else,
demand such inquiry.
This education favors
land rewards) the gifted,
Industrious. and unself-serv-
ing. Its purpose is to create
a large elite who will lead
Russia into the front rank
Of the great powers with
In the next generation.
I was told in Russia (by
Westerners) that SO per
cent Of Russian students
can't make the grade de-
manded of them and are
bumped out. But the num-
bers Of university and semi
professional students and
graduates do not support this
wishful thought.
This type Of education
made Prussia the leader of
Germany and Germany a
challenge to the world. It
created the leaders Of the
British Empire In its hey
day.
No one. and certainly not
this mnist, suggests
copying It. But we can
certainly take a new look
at our own education and
question whether It's own
avowed aims and claims are
being realized, one Of them
reiterated in the once Of
Education's report = being
"the fullest development Of
the individual"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19
DAVID LAWRENCE

What really caused the
Federal Reserve Board to
turn around q few days ago
and reduce its interest rates
on loans to member banks?
The story is significant, be-
cause the action may histori-
cally emerge as q step that
possibly avoided a "depres-
sion." and, in actual fact,
curbed Q recession"
For two and q half years
the Federal Reserve System
has been steadily increasing
rediscount rates and making
it harder and more costly to
borrow money. The purpose
was to fight Imitation" and
to arrest the boom" which
showed signs of Q runaway
character.
But the process was pain
full. Many businessmen COM
planned that needed expan-
sion was being prevented and
that natural growth was be-
ing blocked. To this the Fed
eral Reserve Spokesman re-
piled that postponement of
expansion plans was unavoid-
able and that the country
must be given time to "read-
just" Assurances came from
the Federal Reserve Board
early In the two-and-a-half
year period Of rate boosting
that. II the readjustment
went too far or seemed to be
getting out Of hand, 1t would
be reversed.
Last week the decision was
reached that the "defiation"
had gone far enough. BUSH
nessrnen had been complain
ing not only that current 1857
figures were of considerably
in many industries, compared
with 1856, but that they
couldn't see recovery ahead
even in the latter part Of
1858, and some have gone so
far as to say it would be
1859. The indexes from re-
liable statistical sources lately
have disclosed q decided
change downward. The Fed
eral Reserve Boards own
figures on the course Of in
dustrial production showed
an unfavorable downward
swing for October.
It was at this juncture that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19
Over Optimism on NATO Talks

ternational communism. The
succeeding administrations In
Washington have tried this
method Of catching birds
with q pinch of salt on the
tail for the last decade. II
has not been successful when
our enemies display q mill
tary advantage over us.
A little-publicized incident
occurred in Spain recently,
indicating what our loss Of
military prestige may mean.
Generalissimo Franco is an
avowed enemy Of communism
and has heretofore refused
to have any truck with Mos
COW, Peiping or their satel-
lite countries. He is rightly
considered one Of the most
reliable friends we have in
Europe. Yet, three days
after the first Sputnik was
rocketed into space he re-
marked. according to q dis
patch by Madrid correspond
ent Richard Mowrer: This
could not have happened in
old Russia; 1t was bound to
happen in the new Russia.
The achievement of great
exploits requires political
unity and discipline. Whether
we like it or not, this could
not have happened in coun-
tries which are divided and
without order"
AS q footnote, it is inter-
esting to remark that ale
though Spain and Russia have
no diplomatic relations. the
Russian Ambassador in
Washington attended the Co
lurnbus Day celebration ct the
Spanish Embassy and for the
first time since l949 q repre-
sentative Of the Spanish En-
bassy in Washington attended
the November Z reception at
the Soviet Embassy. This
should not be construed to
mean that Spain intends to
draw away from the defense
circle we have created around
the world. It merely means
that our dropping behind the
USSR In war missiles Is Fore
ing Franco to pause and con-
slider what viii ultimately be
the best for his people.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19
POTOMAC FEVER
FLETCHER KNEBEL


appears that Sherman Adams has appointed Adlai
Stevenson to help IKE in Americas first trial Of co-op"
presidency
Another Government economist says business is moving
dewise This may be the first history where
instead Of the bottom falling out the sides evaporate
The Senate rackets committee probes the Carpenters
Union Democratic investigators were the crossroads
They hardly knew which Republican union investigate next
*%
Eisenhower team defense slogan Lets all wake up and
forget who was asleep at the switch"
New rocket glossary: Supersonic flight = A man who
fees female conversation by tuning hearing aid
David needed five small stones to slay Goliath but Ike
slew the Republican Party in the South with one Little Rock
The State Department orders employees to reject m-
proper gifts proper gift is anything small enough to at
under Christmas tree - such as an ignition key
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19
DORIS FLEEsoN

Secretary Of State Dulles
brought Adlai Stevenson to
Washington to pick his
brains.
Mr.. Dulles is working
against q deadline Of Deem
Der 3. only three weeks away.
President Eisenhower fixed
it when he invited congress
sional leaders here on that
date to discuss plans for
meeting the Soviet space
challenge.
Mr.. Dulles clearly perceives
that in a very real sense the
President put a gun at Mr..
Dulles head. The chins-up
telecasts written by the chief
brain truster, Arthur Larson,
may do for general consump-
ton. but Congress is another
story.
It's senior Republican Sena-
tor-Styles Bridges Of New
Hampshire - has Joined
Democratic leaders In de-
manding action. other
Republicans are returning
here from the grass roots
with warnings that the public
is apprehensive and that all
members Of Congress will
want something positive from
the White House.
Thus Mr.. Dulles is desper-
ate for ideas. Ideas are, Of
course, a speciality of intel
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19
Rigor of Eory Schooling in Russia
Suggests New Look at Our system

In the opinion Of this
columnist, the worst thing
that happened to the United
States in the contest for
world leadership was when
the Soviets shortly after the
revolution abandoned pro-
gressive education originally
imported from America, and
reinstated a system very like
that which had been largely
limited to the aristocracy
and upper classes, and which
with some new gimmicks the
Soviets have made universal.
This system has now, and
for the first time. been ex-
tensively reported by the
United States once Of Edu-
cation.
This education, which be-
ginning at the age Of 7
continues for 10 years. with
out a break between primary
and high school, Is enor-
mously demanding. It as
sumes that school is a place
for work. not play, and
initially concentrates on de-
pertinent. Soviet school chill
dren are startlingly we'll
hammered in and out Of
school.
Before they enter school
they and their parents are
presented in writing with a
code Of conduct to which they
are expected scrupulously to
conform.
Those familiar with the
codes imposed upon the chill
dren Of the British and con-
tinental nobility when they
were still the undisputed
land uncorrupted) governors
Of their states and societies
will find them familiar.
Their children were always
given a sterner upbringing
than those Of "commoners,"
on the theory that nobility
obliges. They were educated
also to serve the state and
society instead Of their own
interests. What u unique In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19

Soviet education is the appli-
cation Of such codes and
training to mass education.
Soviet education concen-
trates on creating an atmos-
phere conducive to intense
concentration on studies re-
quiring the major intellec-
tual disciphnes. under be-
havior disciplines enforced
through teachers and stu
dents themselves by social
approval or disapproval.
The worst thing that can
happen to the schoolchild is
to be suspended or expelled
and that can happen either
for failure to keep up with
his studies or for repeated
breaches Of department in
which there is no passing
mark below excellent"
The Russian system as
sumes that children are nor
mally intelligent and that in
telligence can be improved by
vigorous training. If a child
shows himself to be mentally
deficient, he is quickly passed
into special schools, to be
trained in skills not requir-
ing a high degree of mental
capacity. And If he is alb
normally gifted, into even
more demanding schools.
The curriculum is not Sc
lective. Students attend
classes six days a week and
everyone graduating from the
l0-year course will have had
years Of study in mathemat-
les, the physical and natural
sciences. the Russian Ian
guage. Russian and world
history. and one foreign Ian
guage. and passed nationally
conducted examinations, oral
and written. Those who
graduate invariably 60 on to
further professional. semi
professional. or chronological
studies.
Education is the only road
to advancement. Commissars
who try TO exercise pull" for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19
Observation-Disclosures Balancing Explained
In Lowering OF Loan Interest Rate

the chairman Of the Federal
Reserve Board. William Nc
Chesney Martin - who had
all along been making state
ments indicating firm con-
tinuance Of q policy of high
money rates - saw the need
for a psychological shift.
Things began to look too
gloomy, for in America it is
possible, even without the
factual basis. to create a re-
cession based largely on fears
and reiterated misgivings.
So the Federal Reserve
Board here decided to call a
halt. It is true the change
was a minor one - only a
half-point reduction in the
borrowing rate. and this
brought it back to the figure
set last August. The Fed
eral Reserve Board can, If it
chooses, revert to the higher
rate two or three months
from now If its action Of last
week is misinterpreted and
another boom seems to be
emerging that could be
dangerously infiationary.
But the facts belle such q
prediction. Business has
taken q severe walloping,
and it is doubtful whether.
even with the stimulus Of the
Federal Reserve Boards
slight reduction in interest
rates, q substantial recovery
can be achieved in less than
six or eight months. Still.
with many businessmen, 1t Is
important to be able at least
to plan on somewhat lower
interest rates, even though
decisions to take advantage
of such rates may not be
made for several months
hence.
One important fact to be
borne in mind is that the
decision of the Federal Re-
serve Board last week brought
out some marked differences
of opinion within the institu-
ton itself. Some felt the time
had not yet come to reverse
the policy. Others believed 1t
was better to take q moderate
step downward in rediscount
rates now than to be COM
PEELED to make a drastic re-
duction later which might
lose its whole effect because
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-19
Secretary Working Against DeodIine
On NATO Plans for Congress Leaders

lectuals and Mr.. Stevenson
belongs to the elite Of that
breed.
It is by now clear that the
administration never had any
great desire or hope Of en-
listing Mr.. Stevenson in the
new effort in any role Of
real power or prestige. At
the State Department when
Mr.. Stevenson arrived for
his first huddle with Mr..
Dulles, the information Of
ficers had no clear notions
about anything except that
the conference was a fact.
Regarding his security
clearance, title or emolu-
ments they we're vague. 1t
was left to Mr.. Stevenson to
say how long he would be
in town and what time he
might spend at State. APP
parently, it was considered
enough that he would sit
down behind closed doors,
open his mouth and let the
words and ideas flow.
He was not met at the
airport Sunday night by any
administration ofhcial and
he was left to make his own
arrangements. He and his
assistant, william Blair,
went to the Metropolitan
Club where they have long
been members and were