davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26
BY PAUL HOPE
star nian Writer

Fairfax County oficials are in
tensely interested In the attempts
being made ut the current session
Of the General Assembly TO pro-
tect the county from being cut
up through annexations and in
corporations.
Two approaches are being taken
10 the need for stabiliAng the
county's territory: Restrictions on
annexations. and authorization
for the county 70 adopt a new
form Of government which would
discourage annexations and pre-
vent incorporation Of new towns.
The Fairfax ofhcials feel that
changes In the law are necessary
II the county Is TO retain its pres
ent form. The alternative. they
fear. Is the loss Of parcels Of land
70 cities and towns until the coun-
ty government Is left with nothing
to administer but some corridors
between ether jurisdictions.
The annexation problem stems
from the State constitution adopt
ed In 1909. which provides that the
General Assembly shall provide
by general laws for the extension
and contraction. from time to
time. Of the corporate limits Of
cities and towns ="
Before the 1902 constitution.
the only method available for ex-
pansion by incorporated areas was
BY direct recourse to the General
Assembly. Annexation then was
considered exclusively q legisla-
tive function. However. the laws
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26

enacted after the constitution was
adopted delegated the annexation
function TO the courts.
Annexations generally are in
itiated by town or city councils.
which submit q petition to the Cir
cult Court for an enlargement OF
boundaries. A less frequently
used method is petition by 81 per
cent Of the qualified voters Of an
area marked for annexation.
Three Judges Decide
A court Of three judges. one of
them from an area remote from
the affected localities. hears the
petition charged with determin-
ing whether the annexation Is
necessary and expedient. the court
must consider the interests Of the
county from which the land is
being taken. those Of the city or
town asking for the new terri
tory and the needs Of the area to
be annexed.
One of the major shortcomings
Of the law. in the opinion Of many
officials. is the failure to allow
the residents of the area to vote
on whether they want to become
part Of the Incorporated area.
According to American Juris-
prudence" a legal reference pub
lication. 1t is well settled" that
State legislatures may authorize
annexations without the consent.
or even over the protests. of per-
sons residing in the annexable
area. However. 1t adds that legis-
latures usually do provide for con-
sent Of the residents as 3 con6i-
ton Of annexation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26
ECHO OF THE PAST
West Calls Moqinot Line Back Into Duty

The forts were carefully hidden
In hills and woods. Artillery tur-
refs rose from concealment to fire,
then sank back.
French officers insist that the
line was q victim Of its own pub
licity. It was presented as q kind
Of wall. when 1t wasn't intended
for that. Further. the German
forces swept around the line and
then its supporting troops were
withdrawn to other areas. Finally.
the troops in the line were ordered
o surrender by the vichy govern
ment.
Despite the surrender, one
group Of Frenchmen fought on
for q month from q Fort near
Strasbourg. In 1914 several Ger
man groups did the same thing.
despite the fact that the gun
emplacements were pointing the
wrong way. One German fort
literally had to be starved into
submission.
A Greet BIunder
One Of the great weaknesses. Of
course. was that 1t left Frances
border with Belgium lightly de-
Tended. France once started to
build more elaborate defenses
from Sedan to the channel. but
Belgium protested this might
merely be an invitation to Ger
many to violate Belgian neutrality.
SO the line ended near Sedan.
and when Hitler's panzers started
TO move. they simply swung
around the end Of the line into
France.
They we're aided by one Of the
great Allied blunders Of the war.
The 9th French Army Of Gen.
Andre Corap had been stationed
to protect the corner Of France
where the line ended. But he
moved north into Belgium to meet
German force headed for
Namur. leaving Sedan to be
covered by the Belgian Chasseurs
Ardennais division.
The Germans responded by
throwing an entire corps at the
lightly defended sector. In few
days they had reached the chan
mel at Abbeville. It was q disaster
which made the Maginot line use
less while still relatively untried.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26

number or bet on o horse. o BAN
game. or tomorrow's weather. and
then lose. you get nothing. But II
you lose to the Government, you
still get something In return in
the form Of services"
A. to the argument that Q
national lottery would turn Amer
lea into "a nation Of gamblers"
Mr.. Fino asks: did repeal Of
prohibition make US q nation Of
drunkards?"
Forty-three countries, including
Russia. Sweden. Holland. Den
mark. Switzerland. Australia and
England. have lotteries. and these
people haven't been demoralized.
argues Mr.. Fino. Sweden. he
points out. supports its cultural
activities - orchestras. theaters.
entertainment-with lottery funds.
and still has $40 million left each
year for its general fund.
Some Of these foreign lotteries
actually take dollars from our
shores, he says: The Australian
lottery brings in $500 million an
nually from Americans alone. Al
together. he claims. Americans
spend between "a billion and So
billion yearly on foreign lotteries.
He comments that almost every
government in the world can con-
duct q lottery on our soil. except
our own. and use the savings Of
American citizens to tighten taxes
abroad" He says that fully half
Of the Irish sweepstakes tickets
sold in this country are counter
feits.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26
Political Front:
Opening Guns

Our first obiectWe-seeuriiy end q
Just peoee--is not o pertisan Or po-
iticaI matter. Americans must never
and viii never let the issue Of security
and peace become q pawn in enyeae's
politieal chess game.
President Eisenhower
Jaasoy 20, 1858
-. the opposition ignored long,
rasse missiles from World War u uatiI
the country posed the reins Of Govern
meat 10 the Republicans in 1858.
-Shsrmen Adams
Jonusr 20, 1855.
Despite the apparent conflict
In the 1858 campaign kickoff
speeches Of the President and
his principal assistant. Mr.. Adams
bitter attack on the record of the
Democratic Party in Minneapolis
last week left his fellow Repup-
licans-for the most part-rejoic-
ing and the Democrats resentful.
Republicans we're beginning to
believe that, in Mr.. Adams. they
had q O. o. p. counterpart to
Harry Truman. The dapper New
Hampshireman. they reasoned.
would be a good man to lead the
give 'em he'll" type Of counter
offensive which many feel is q
real party need this election year.
Indignant Democrats were de-
claring angrily that Mr.. Adams
obviously had assumed the role
Of party "hatchet man" which
they had ascribed 10 Vice Presi-
dent Nixon In an earlier day.
Mr.. Nixon. meanwhile, was
carrying his assigned party duties
along the lofty high road being
traversed by Mr.. Eisenhower in
Chicago. With hardly more than
a passing reference to a return
to" deficit spending, higher taxes.
higher prices and economic con-
trolls. the Vice President urged
that the Government mobilize
every resource" to assure the
Nations economic health.
Whatever the Adams role Is TO
be or the motivation behind It.
his Minneapolis speech-and the
Juror 1t caused--underscored q
fact already apparent: There is
every reason 10 expect the ade-
quacy or inadequacy Of the ma
tional defenses To be a prime issue
in this falls bitterly fought con-
gressional campaign.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26

ground more and more 70 their
hottest commercial competition.
the truckers. Many roads md
themselves left with only the less
profitable items, the crumbs left
BY the trucks.
Here Is how the situation stacks
up. statisticaliyi Railroad employ
ment has been dropping at an
average Of 1000 per month over
the past I'VE years. Latest figures
on carloadines are the lowest
since 1889. Preliminary figures
for November. 1857. show net in
come 10 be about SAC million, COM
pared with nearly $50 million In
November. 1885. This is Q decrease
Of over 80 per cent In the space
Of two years.
While many consider $500 mil
lion IS the minimum safe net
working capital. in actually It
dropped TO about $576 million at
the end Of last October. compared
with $3.50 million in September.
1855.
Recession Hurt
Some Of the trouble. Of course,
can be attributed to the current
recession. Buyers are reducing
their inventories. When they do
so. 4, they often stop ordering In
carload lots. Much Of the smaller
movement Of goods goes in trucks.
The railroads underlying trou-
bles are so basic and fundamental.
however. that they are expected TO
last much longer than the cur
rent recession. And in the opinion
Of the roads they call for drastic
action.
The Association Of American
Railroads has told Congress Il
wants tax relief. the opportunity
to set some tentative rates without
undue restriction. the right TO en-
ter other fields Of transportation
through diversification. and free
dom to discontinue passenger
trains. stations and agencies that
do not pay their cost.
Senator Smathers. Democrat Of
Florida. chairman Of the State
subcommittee investigating the
railroads plight. predicts that
Congress viii legislate some sort
Of financial help for the industry.
Without this he predicts that
many lines viii go out Of business
and that the Government may
have TO take over a road or two to
keep the industry going.
Here IS what the Senator be-
heves IS needed from Congress:
Narrow the agricultural exemp-
ton for trucks In order TO increase
competition. Il Is said that the
exemption from ice regulation
intended for the benefit Of The
farmer. through judicial inter-
probation. now has been broad
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26
THE WEEK IN PERSPECTIVE

Continued From Page A-2l
q substantial labor surplus. or
disaster" areas. IS they have
been called. This meant that more
than 8 per cent Of the available
work force In Is Of the i49 major
Industrial areas was idle. In some
places. the list Of jobless reached
The highest levels since the recess
lions Of 1919 and 1853.
There was only q slight chance.
The Labor Department said, that
the rise In unemployment. now
two months old. might level OF
around the middle Of March.
Meanwhile. q Russian scientist
laid claim to q discovery that
could well end everybody's money
worries.
I. Bardin, writing for the news
paper Industrial Economies. said
that he had discovered a way to
turn lead into gold by nuclear
radiation. He did not. however.
outline his method in detail.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26

Mr.. Elmo carefully reminds any
one who shows an interest In his
bill that he, himself, Is opposed
to gambling-at least the wide.
open, Nevada type of gambling,
with slot machines in every busi-
ness place"
Cut Uncle Sam In?
Il haven't been, to q track in
years." he says. land II I could
stop people from gambling / would
do 1t. But 1t can't be stopped, and
since 1t can't, see no reason why
the Government shouldn't get the
big share that organized. illegal
gambling takes from taxpayers
every year."
Mr.. Ffno says that he has re-
ceived about 10000 letters from
all over the country supporting his
bill since 1t was introduced i've
years ago. and that, with the
Governments revenue needs in
creAsing and taxes continuing
high, the letters are coming in
faster all the time.
But he has no illusions about
the bills early success.
TITS not likely to pass this year
or next, but II we continue to need
every available dollar for national
security. the leaders In Congress
will be forced to at least take Q
look at my bill; after all, we've
reached the saturation point on
taxes"
"All we need to do ID Danish
hypocrisy" he says. But then
there are the hluenoses. :"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26

How seriously should one take
the warnings Of imminent finan-
cial disaster being voiced by rep
resentatives Of the railroad indus
try ct Senate hearings?
The railroads have been issuing
such warnings for years. Some APP
praisal Of the seriousness Of the
current crop Is necessary because
the Nations second largest indus
try and fourth largest employer Ia
involved. Here Is Q general ap-
praisal as voiced BY Washington's
top transportation experts:
b All roads are not in trouble.
Those handling mostly high-bulk
freight - the Chesapeake and
Ohio and the Virginian. Norfolk
and Western. for instance ARE
making out all right. But this Is
because they have virtually no
competition except each other. 1t
Is still true that no one handles
big shipments like coal as well as
the railroads.
. In passenger traffic and low
bulk items like refrigerated foods.
the railroads really are facing
serious trouble. Money lost annu-
ally on passengers is estimated
variously at around 5000 million
to $700 million. The roads in the
most serious trouble are those with
q high passenger percentage. Ex-
anlples are the Pennsylvania. the
New York Central. the New Haven
and the Baltimore and Ohio.
ketrenehment in Progress
Retrenchment by the roads Is
apparent. The Pennsylvania. for
instance, has sold its famous Penn.
oylvania Hotel In New York City.
The Baltimore and Ohio has petit
toned for permission TO discon-
tinue It's Baltimore to New York
passenger run.
That B&o petition. by the way.
points up one Of the problems faced
BY the railroads with passenger
trafic deficits. Many lines would
Ike to discontinue nonpaying
runs. To do so. however. they
must get permission Of all local
tiles through which they travel.
In addition to being time-con-
Stunning. such petitions usually are
futile; they run up against such
obstacles as local pride and poll
tics. The railroads want legisla-
ton giving the Interstate Com
nnerce Commission jurisdiction
over the discontinuance Of pas
:senger trains. The New Haven has
gone 50 far as to suggest that
local communities contribute to-
ward the support Of commuter
trains.
In the transportation Of low
bulk items the railroads are giving
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26
EYES ON RICHMOND
Annexation Law Is Big Issue for Fairfax

Maryland law provides that q
referendum must be held II 20
per cent Of the residents in the
municipality or the area to be
annexed protest. II also provides
that annexation proceedings may
be initiated only by circulating a
petition among residents who
want to be annexed. The petition
must contain names Of IS per cent
Of the registered voters and own
ers Of IS per cent Of the property
in the area.
In Virginia. although they can
not vote on the question. residents
Of the area involved can be rep
resented before the three-iudge
tribunal. However. the weight
given their views is limited. In
the 1852 annexation of Fairfax
County land by Alexandria, sol
residents opposed the annexation
in court, while 81 favored it. In
the recent annexation by the town
OF Vienna, approximately 400 resi-
dents opposed and some so favor
ed IL.
Attempts have been made to
give the people more voice in
their destiny. The latest bill.
which was introduced in the 1856
Assembly. would have required a
referendum in the area to be an
nexed. II died in committee.
Revenue Low Involved
One Of the major reasons coun-
ties oppose land takings by cities
is the loss Of reyenue-producing
property. In the case Of towns.
the county loses political control
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26

charged that members Of the
seven-man commission accepted
free hotel rooms. meals and travel
expenses from the television-radio
industry and then had charged
the Government for the same ex-
penses. Members. are paid $40. 900
q year each. also we're ac-
cused Of permitting the industry
TO pay for travel expenses Of their
wives. accepting gifts from the
industry. and constant fra
termination" with litisants before
the commission.
The subcommittee. whose chair
man is Representative Moulder
Of Missouri. refused TO release the
report. although excerpts were
printed Thursday In the New York
Meanwhile. the Times quoted a
spokesman for the Government
Accounting once as saying that
the GAO would check the CON-
missioners' expense vouchers, and
would try to recover any money
improperly paid by the Govern.
ment to the commissioners.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26
Labor Front:
a Program

Inc health, welfare ana pension
funds Of labor unions now total
13e billion. which averages out to
about $4,000 for each member Of
organized labor in America. The
ease with which these funds may
be raided by untrustworthy union
officials has been chronicled on
the front pages for Is months.
Last week. President Eisenhower
offered q l2-point labor legisla-
ton program which he said would
protect the interests and rights Of
union members, maintain the in
tegrity Of their unions. and safe
guard the public against unfair
labor-management practices.
There were no surprises in the
package. which actually had been
opened by Labor Secretary Mitchell
when he addressed the AFL-CIO
convention last month.
The President requested Con-
gress to enact laws requiring COM
plete disclosure TO members and
annual reporting to the Labor De-
partment on the handling OF union
funds. a guarantee Of the secret
ballot in union elections. annual
reports TO the Labor Department
on union constitutions. bylaws and
procedures, and additional re-
straints in existing law relating TO
secondary boycotts and jurisdic-
tiopal disputes. He also asked that
embezzling Of union funds and
bribery in. negotiations be made
felonies.
But the weapon that would
hurt the dishonest labor leader
most was a recommendation that
tax exemption be denied unions
that fail TO file true financial re-
ports. Such failure also would
lead to denying the delinquent
union Federal recognition as legal
bargaining agent.
Withdrawal Of tax exemption
status would cripple many unions
financially. especially the larger
ones. such as the Transfers.
Some Of the proposals met with
the approval Of the top AFL-CIO
officials. naturally those which
would guarantee the safety Of
union funds. But George Meany,
president Of the AFL-CIo. yoiced
some apprehension over the pro-
visions that would provide for q
policing Of the internal organiza-
ton Of unions. Mr.. Meany last
week warnad, as he had in De-
cember. that some Of THESE pro-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26

strategic storehouse for weapons,
fuel and ammunition.
The response from Gen. Esen-
howers command was apparently
favorable. The French started Sc
rious work In 1854 restoring the
line from Arlon. on the Belgian
frontier. 10 the Rhine. The sector
from there To the Swiss border got
attention later.
volus Still Argued
You can still get an argument
from French military tacticians
and engineers about the value Of
the famed fortifications. II cost
France about half q billion dollars
to build. 81 very big SUM In pre-
World War II days.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26

visions would open the door to
eventual licensing Of trade unions.
It Is certain that the congress
sional mood Is for remedial labor
legislation Of some kind In this
session. The task for labor. how
ever. win be to fight OF efforts,
already initiated. to make the new
laws considerably more restrictive
than Mr.. Eisenhower suggested.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26
Stricken Railroads PIeo for Help
Finds Sympathetic Senatorial Ear

ened m many instances TO the
benefit OF commercial Interests
and professional haulers. Exempt
carriers can make whatever rates
are necessary TO get business. They
do not have to make them public.
Regulated carriers have controlled
rates which must be posted.
Change ICC regulations by legis.
iation. The railroads are greatly
everregulated In my Judgment"
says Senator Smathers.
But some experts think that the
competition is underregulated.
ICC Commissioner Anthony =. Ar
paia declares: The basic problem
is that only q portion and q d.
minishing portion Of the trans
portation service Of this Nation
Use regulated"
Allow roads 70 set up construc-
ton reserve funds. Under this
proposal amounts deposited In this
fund would be deductible In COM
putting Federal income tax, pro-
vided that Osuch funds are used
for buying transportation equip
ment and facilities. or for reduce
ton OF debt incurred in such
acquisition.
Senator Smathers plans to re-
sumo his hearings on February II
and hopes TO complete them by
the end Of February.
Timing Is Bod
1t Is still too early to tell ex-
actly what will come Of all this.
For one thing. the timing IL bad.
At the moment Congress Is more
interested in missiles than In rail-
roads. Measures for relief are sure
to run into hot political opposition
all the way from farm groups to
other forms Of transportation.
Proponents Of legislation are ad-
vising against an omnibus bill.
Because Of the politics involved,
they see q better chance Of success
for any bill which takes up only
one measure. So 1t doesn't look as
II Congress Is going to cure the
railroads headaches In one fell
swoop.
Meantime the experts believe
that the roads can do much to
help themselves. They specifically
suggest these three ways Of i'm
proving the efficiency Of manage
ment: /. Standardize equipment.
2. Pool passenger trafilc and stop
parallel runs. 3. Bring about more
coordination with other forms Of
transportation like the piggyback
arrangements. (Under such ar
rangements trains haul truck
traileYs.l
Another suggestion frequently
heard Is that the railroads stop
crying the blues In public. This
is said TO havesthe effect OF UNDER
mining public confidence and hurt
ing the railroads bank credit.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-26

here. linking the command and
radar operations.
Across the frontier similar ac-
tivities are reported going on In
the old Siegfried line. which suf-
fered worse damage during the
war.
President Eisenhower played a
role In bringing the line UP to It's
present position Of readiness. The
French army put 1t up to him
while he was top European COM
mander of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization forces. At
that time the French wanted
money to overhaul the line and
they pointed out It's strategic
worth as being virtually invulner-
able to air attack and thus q fine