davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
Wrong Direction

President Eisenhower has accurately
described the plan to freeze farm price
supports at the 1857 level as "a 180-
degree turn in the wrong direction" It
is, in fact, complete reversal in the
course by which the administration has
been attempting to free the farm indus
try from rigid governmental price and
production controls and to remove an
unneeded incentive for the raising Of
equally unneeded crops.
For his part, Secretary of Agricul-
ture Benson has described the plan as
one tending to prolong the farm problem
rather than to solve it. There is evil
dence to support his view. The long
term record of trying to help "the farm
erS" through an inf1exible set of Gov
eminent regulations and subsidies is a
dismal one. Principal benef1ciaries have
been the big commercial farm operators,
not the family or individual farmers. A
direct result has been the accumulation
of gigantic SurpluSes-purchaSed and
stored by the Government, at high cost.
Efforts to dispose of them abroad have
created i'll will in other friendly produc-
ing countries. Withholding them from
the domestic market has helped increase
prices for the consumer, and the overall
impact of the program has contributed
to infiationary preSsures and to the
tax burden on farmers and nonfarmers
alike.
There is plenty of evidence, too, that
House and Senate approval of the plan
was prompted as much by politics as by
any other consideration. Principal sup
port in both branches was Democratic,
supplemented by some Translate Re-
publican votes. Their case was based
primarily on "doing something" for the
farmers, while continuing the attack
on Secretary Benson. Neither chamber
passed the legislation by margin large
enough to override a presidential veto,
but there was speculation that a veto
would "embarrass" the administration.
This may, or may not, be the case as
far as countrywide reaction is concerned.
In any event, we think the Eisenhower
Benson view is the sounder one and that
the President will have ample justifica-
ton If he should decide to veto the
legislation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
The End Was Dramatic

Mike Todd died as he lived, in the
headlines.
This, one is left to conclude, is the
only way Mike would have had it. The
fabulous Snowman and large, black type
were parties to kind of cheerful con-
spiracy that demanded the public's at
tention. Mike, who was on a first-name
basis with the world, made news and
news made Mike. :.
The Snowman who was born AKRON
Hirsch Goldbogen in Minneapolis, son
of an impoverished rabbi, represented
the quinteSSence of the American sue
cess story; at least one form of it. His
life was fairy tale as one might have
been written by Bernard Shaw, ironic,
sentimental, and unfailingly dramatic.
Only the most colorful adjectives
were applicable to Mike Todds career
and his way of life. He was delighted to
be called brash, braSsy, bold, wild, Won
derful and so many other things, both
more and less printable.
Mike Todd responded to his unkind-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
Person to Person

A recent criticism Of my
views clearly showed the fall
lacy Of quoting from context
only part Of a statement as
indicative of actual mean
ing conveyed by the full state
ment. The misleading criti-
cisln was in the nature of a
defense Of unconstitutional
and procommunist deci-
sions by certain members of
the Supreme Court.
In discussing the Jenner
bill IS. 2646) to limit appel
late Jurisdiction Of the SUI
preme Court, my full state
ment was: Actually accord
ing to Article III of our Con-
stitution, the Supreme Court
is merely the creature Of
Congress and whatever APP
pellate jurisdiction it may
have is granted by the grace
Of such regulation as Con-
gress shall make" It is,
therefore. quite clear that, as
regards its appellate juris-
diction, the Supreme Court
is the creature OF Congress
according to Article III Of our
Constitution. However. Sid
ney Koretz evidently chooses
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24

est critics by making them eat many
of their harshest words. In the great
test of his life, he produced beyond his
own most ecstatic boasts. This, of
course, took the form of his movie,
Around the World in 80 Days." which
almost surely will be the most popular
film ever made even though 1t may fall
short Of the 100 million dollars Mike
himself predicted for it.
OF the airplane accident which be-
came the climax of the act he put on
for the rest of us, it might accurately
be said it represents loss to both Mike
and the world.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
Too Weak as 1t Is

Senators Neuberger of Oregon and
Kuchel OF California, although on OPP
posite sides of the political fence, are
Joined in highly commendable effort
to prevent further weakening of their
jointly sponsored antibillboard legisla-
ton. The pending bill already has been
watered down discouragingly. 1t is re-
ported that pressure is being brought by
the billboard lobby to make the proposed
roadside controls still more limited in
scope. !.
But Senators Neuberger and Kuchel
are right in contending that the bill
board ban provision cannot be watered
down any further without risk that it
may become so feeble as to be decep-
ton to tthoSe who wantl a measure Of
roadside protection for the new high
ways" The two Senator's originally had
proposed an incentive plan" under
which States which acted to ban bill
boards on the interstate highway system
would qualify for bonus of "a of i per
cent or more in extra Federal aid. How
ever, the Senate Public Works Commit
tee has reported bill which would
reduce the incentive bonus to "a of
per cent. Moreover-and this is the
worst aspect of the revised measure
States which permitted "Small" sign
boards (up to 500 square inches) along
the new expressways still would be ELI
gible to receive the extra funds. Such
a provision could lead to erection of
many unsightly signs and would be an
opening wedge of drive to allow larger
signs. We hope Congress will resist the
pressures for weakened billboard law.
States which have not yet acted on bill
board legislation are looking to the
Federal Government for leadership. If
Congress sets a poor example, some
State Legislatures may lose interest al
together in billboard controls.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
Foreiqn Car Menace

A recent news picture
showed a group of foreign
cars parked on a State De-
partment lot with a sign
stating Reserved for Small
Cars Only"
Doesn't the State Depart
ment realize what effect this
has on our own American
made autos? Must our own
dealers continue to go out
of business? Where is our
patriotic duty to our own
people? What a wonderful
way to help our recession.
What a fine way to help
increase our unemployment.
Small cars made by Ameri-
can manufacturers were not
accepted by the public. They
had to fold and throw thou
sands out of work. Our
skilled workers are being laid
of by the thousands while
other countries enjoy pros
perity created by our stupid
desire to drive cars with the
foreign look"
Sigmund Friedman.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24

Our sacred Easter season is
fast approaching. Naturally
our thoughts turn to Christ.
So why shouldn't we ask each
Christian family to put a
cross in the window during
Holy Week. or at least on
Good Friday?
Let us make the cross a
symbol of Easter, as the tree
and the star are symbols of
Christmas.
Nv here can we buy
crosses?" If you cannot find
what you want in church
book shops-make your own.
I have found that people like
to do just that. Many church
groups are making a project
OF cutting out crosses and
distributing them to the con-
gregation on Palm Sunday.
Mrs. r. Y. Nicholson.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24

good. then we had better look
into ourselves, first of all, and
determine what is wrong with
all of us.
1t is the all-of-us, in a gen.
eral sense. that disturbs
tranquility.
In every Office there is a
disturbing force.
Sometimes it is q human
being, at other times a set Of
circumstances.
The same holds good for
the streets. and for the home,
and everywhere.
In the streets the disturbers
of our tranquility are traf-
f1c and crime.
To know about disturbing
elements is necessary, for we
cannot be tranquil in any
real sense If we hide our
heads in the sands of time.
Wherever we go, wherever
We stay, or whatever we read,
we run smack up against a
tranquility disturber.
Perhaps the grand state of
things determined in the be-
ginning that tranquility was
to be the reward Of settling
things right.
We must do it correctly,
or the tranquility is not suf-
flcient to do its work. whether
it is chemically induced, with
a drug. or through the mind
by way of the human heart
and soul.
Usually a chemical tram
quilizer, called by some fancy
name, induces the desired
effect in two ways, by relax
ing the muscles, and blocking
of a certain portion Of the
brain.
This ought to give all SEEK
ers Of true tranquility a tip.
We must try to take the
kinks out Of the muscles, es-
pecially those of the neck,
shoulders. eyes and mouth.
1t can be done. II one tries.
Then. we should try our
own method Of blocking out
the bad in life at certain
times. At other times we
must know what is bad, but
at our own special time we
must try to let 60 OF all
evil.
William James told about
1t many years ago. To for
get the bad. at times, and
remember the good-this is
real tranquility. the sort that
comes not out Of a bottle but
out of life itself
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24

@. Why is a raihcoat some
times called a macintosh?
Il. I.
A. Charles Macintos h
(Mackintosh) (1766-1843) a
Scottish chemist, devised the
first method Of waterprooflng
cloth, and garments made
from this cloth we're given his
name.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
Frank Discussion

The Post Office, the Patent
Office and the Copyright Of
flee serve the public at large.
They charge for their serv-
ice.- which is right. The Pat
ent Office and the Copyright
Office are self-supporting.
But the Post Office operates
at a loss year after year.
Why?
ecause a tremendous
amount of mail-and heavy
mail at that's handled at
less than the cost of handling
1t. / refer to the bulk rate"
mail-much of it Junk mail"
Now, someone has to make
good the difference between
the cost of handling and the
receipts from handling. And
that someone is the taxpayer.
But there is another class
Of citizens who get even
greater preferential treat
ment in regard to mail. Their
mail goes free. I refer to
the Thanking privilege. And
the chief beneficiaries of this
"free-loading" mail are Con-
gresSmen and other high
Government officials. Gov
eminent agencies also use
franked mail. However, Gov
eminent agencies can argue,
and rightly so, that to
pay postage on their mail
would be like taking money
out of one pocket and
putting it into another. Not
withstanding such a valid
argum ent, the use of
franked mail by any Gov
eminent agency, or by any
one for that matter, tends to
extravagant use of the mails.
Congressman cannot adj
vance so valid an argument.
The letters, pamphlets,
booklets, and even books
which Congressman mail in
"franked" envelopes go pri-
marily to their constituents,
or for the interest of their
constituents, in order to keep
on their right side in the
hope Of being reelected. This
"free-loading mail" is in the
nature of a campaign gift
from the American taxpayer.
On the other hand, it would
not be exactly fair for a
Congressman or other high
Government official to have
to pay out Of his own pocket
Tor expense account for all
the mail he sends, as some
OF the mail might be in line
with this public duty.
The Post Office could be-
come more than self-sup-
porting II: % Bulk rates and
ranking privileges are abol-
ished and a fiat rate charged
on every piece of mail; 90
the rate on all other mail in
creased slightly, for example.
the postal card raised from
2 cents to 3 cents, first-class
letters from 3 cents to 4
cents, and air mail from 6
cents to Z cents.
Ruth Miller.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
Quite q Turnout

The answer to Washing
tons crime problem is, of
course, proper law enforce
ment. The Commissioners
have stated this and all irate
citizens agree Fundamentally.
Proper law enforcement, how
ever, can come to Washington
only when the present police
force is built up with appro-
pirate manpower to handle
the deplorable present situa-
ton. Congress has been adj
vised that this is the only way
to make the Capital safe.
This has been so stated by
those who know and is
eagerly awaited by the fright
ened citizen.
However, after witnessing
some of Washington'S finest
in action on last Sunday
afternoon, here is one citizen
who is beginning to wonder.
1t seems that one policeman
found, on a park bench, one
docile, inebriated candidate
for Alcoholics Anonymous. He
called for help to remove this
man from the park, as thus
he should, and in response
came six Of the finest speci-
mems Of police manpower.
They went across Stanton
Park to apprehend this man
in such a manner as to make
one think that the command
Parade March" had been
given. When they reached the
point of the crime" two
helped the unfortunate up
and escorted him to the wait
ing paddy wagon while the
other five marched in back.
The sight was so impressive
that /, as witness. feel that
I should shout that if it takes
seven policemen to apprehend
one incapacitated inebriate,
how many would it take to
protect all the citizens from
the horrible crimes of vio-
lence?
Mary c. Richards.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
Preserving the Mall

I wonder how many peo-
pie who now interest them
selves in the projects for the
construction of an air mu-
scum or an art center on the
Mall across from the Ma
tional Gallery of Art realize
how much time and effort
have gone into the creation
of the Mall. For years and
years. and at the expense of
millions and millions, this
land was cleared and land
scaped from the Capitol to
the water gate on the Poto-
mac River. 1t is a magnificent
achievement worthy of our
great Washington heritage.
Hardly had the work been
finished when the first World
War struck and temporary
buildings were thrown up on
the Mall to meet the emer-
gency. Several of these
"tempos" still stand, 40 years
later.
1t is now proposed, and
there are bills in Congress, to
build permanent structures
on the Mall. An air museum
is projected in one bill and
an arts or cultural building
in. ! think. two others. 1 un-
derstand that there will be
built an air museum in con-
nection with the Air Academy
at Colorado Springs. and that
there is another at Wright
Patterson Field at DAYTON,
Ohio. There may be justifica-
ton for another air museum
in Washington. but why B.
SIS and companion aircraft
should be picked for poster
ity" on the Mall is difficult
to understand.
AS for an arts center.
which Washington really does
need. I cannot help but think
another site can be found,
and that such a building for
the performing arts would
be better placed of the Mail.
Perhaps a site just off the
Mall to the south of indie
pendence avenue between the
Mall and the railroad tracks
on land that is now mostly
in Government hands would
be a good place. If such q
building requires extensive
parking facilities. there is an
added reason for keeping it
of the Mall.
1t may be argued that
these new projected en-
croachments on the Mall will
be no greater. than that of
the National Gallery and
other buildings already there.
This is true. but it seems a
very poor argument indeed
If one generation owes
anything to another. I think
we owe it to our forebears to
preserve the Mall which they
so nobly conceived.
Stanley Woodward.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
WSTAS IN SCIENCE
Navy Devisinq Faster SiqnoI Code

The familiar click Of the
telegraph key soon may be q
thing Of the past, due to
experiments under way by
Navy scientists.
Telegraphic transmission
speed can be increased as
much as Is per cent by using
a two-color system of dots
rather than the present audi
bic dots and dashes, accord
ing to a report by Once Of
Naval Research scientists.
Signaling with the dot
dash code by blinker lights
in the past-necessary for
communication from ship to
ship at times-has been no.
toriously slow because Of the
persistence Of human vision.
The image Of a bright light
fingers on the human retina
for an appreciable time after
the light has gone out. This
phenomenon has effectively
limited the speed of flashing
light Morse biography to
eight to twelve words per
minute. Blinkers operated
any faster appear as mean
ingless fluctuating lights,
rather than as crisp dots and
dashes.
No Blinking Dashes
When DR.. Morse created
his system of dots and
dashes, according to the Of
fee of Naval Research report,
he wisely chose the shortest
combinations for the most
frequently occurring letters.
But a dash is still three
times as long as a dot and
If a message could be sent
all in dots the transmission
speed would be stepped up
considerably.
This would be possible,
however, with different COL
ored blinker lights-red for
dots and green for dashes
but all dots" in length. For
example, the letter A now is
a dot and a dash. In the
Navy experiments it is a red
dot and a green dot.
There admittedly is still
much work to be done before
the system will be ready for
adoption. The principle dis
advantages of the two-color
dot system lie in the intensity
needed for the signaling
light and the retraining of
operators.
Experiments have been
performed in the laboratory
using five subjects in inter-
preting dot-dash and two
color sequences. The results
are encouraging in that for
equal reliability in reading
messages the rate of trans
mission can be increased at
least a fourth with the lights.
Consideration has not yet
been given to the most suit
able colors.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24

A gun which fires a bullet
at a fantastic velocity Of
26.500 feet per second-close
to the velocity required to
escape from the earth's grav-
national field into outer
space-has been devised by
Naval Research Laboratory
engineers.
In the past a high-velocity
rife has been one with a
mlizzle velocity Of 5000 to
1000 feet per second. Various
super-velocity weapons have
been developed which shoot
up to 1000 feet per second.
The new instrument is
called the Eight gas gum"
It consists Of two barrels, one
in front Of the other. The
first is a 81 millimeter
pump stage" This contains
a floating. gas-tight piston
with q powder charge behind
1t and helium gas in front.
1t is connected with a collar
to the half-inch second stage
which contains the bullet"
a 6-gram projectile.
When the powder charge Is
fired it pushes the floating
piston forward, COMPRISING
the helium in front. When
the pressure of this gas
becomes stronger than the
collar connecting the barrels
can tolerate, this shears of
and the projectile is shot
through the smaller bore. It
comes out with about 10000
foot pounds of kinetic energy.
Only for Experiments
The gun is devised for ex-
perimental work, not as a
weapon or hunting piece.
1.-THE unique feature" says
the Naval Research Labora-
tory report, "is the inexpen-
sive disposable breech which
connects the two barrels. Be-
cause this breech is expend-
able, it is unnecessary to
stop the floating piston before
it reaches the end Of its run
in the large tube. Instead
the piston forces itself into
the conical throat, forming a
gaS-tight seal. Thus there
is no gas leakage. All the
energy Of the compressed
helium is used in propelling
the projectile.
AFTER leaving the gun this
projectile is shot through a
pacuum-an evacuated steel
tube 19 feet 5 inches long.
Velocities are measured by
the bullet breaking a wire
at the muzzle of the gun and
then striking a thin sheet of
aluminium just in front of the
target plate. An electronic
counter measures the time
interval between these two
events"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

One hears q great deal
about tranquility these days,
but it is nothing newt is as
old as the hills, and quite as
perfect.
Various religions and sys-
TENS Of ethics have been
working on tranquility for
centuries, with varying re-
suits and side effects.
To be tranquil is to be
sane. and to be sane is to be
in harmony with ones en-
vironment.
So nobody really has to
take a pill or capsule of any
kind to attain to a measure
of tranquility.
1t is something some people
are born with, something
others achieve, and some
thing many never know any
more about than the word
itself.
Tranquility may be called
peace Of mind.
1t comes at dawning with
a clean stomach and a clear
conscience.
Achieving the tranquil
state is a comparative thing;
what is one mans tranquility
may be another's halfway
house to the desired end.
Most people have an idea
in the back of the mind that
taking a tranquilizing pill of
some sort is all that is nee
essary.
The plain fact is that real
tranquility is a state of mind,
one which must be built UP,
not only over the years, but
moment by moment.
y ~
The hard truth is that
there is always, quite always,
some one or something to
disturb tranquility.
The better the modern
press is. for instance, the
more it disturbs our peace of
mind.
Sometimes kind and very
honest people do not think
quite far enough. and they
say, "Oh these terrible papers,
reporting all this crime!"
The papers tell US what is
happening.
If 1t were not for them, we
would not know.
II what they tell Is bad,
that is the country's fault,
not the fault of the press,
which holds up a mirror to
our world.
II what we see in It is not
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24

National Library Week is a
fine thing. Many Of the clas-
sizes are going unread due to
television.
More people would visit
District libraries If they were
open Sunday afternoons.
Many get no chance to book
browse during the week. If
necessary, the Libraries could
be closed Monday afternoons
to make Sunday hours pos
sible.
Elmer M. Thomson.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24


to criticize by unfairly quot
ing just the part of that
statement that is patiently
untrue; THE Supreme Court
is merely a creature of Con-
greSs."
Thus. whereas the full
statement is completely true
and constitutionally correct,
the quote from context by
Mr.. Koretz distortS and per-
verts the real meaning and
intent of the statement.
Franklin II Miles.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24

@. Did Warwick Deeping
write any novels after World
War II?-P. r.
A. Yes. This British author.
whose novels made the Amer
lean best seller lists of every
year from 1925 through 1882.
continued to write until his
death in 1850. Among his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
w. B. Covert.
Bad Way to Recover?

Mortgaging the future gen.
Grafton is not the answer.
This will be. however, the
exact and final outcome Of
the present-day cry for Gov
eminent sponsored work
projects and tax cuts.
Colleen FOgarty.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
Hardy Survivors

Belatedly I learn that The
Star the day after the Feb
ruary is blizzard carried an
item to the effect that traf-
flc was so paralyzed that
most organizations. "includ-
ing the hardy Last Man
Club" Cancelled their engage
ments. The Star must have
been misinformed. The Last
Man Club never cancels its
engagements. II holds its
annual reunion in honor Of
departed comrades as a SOL
emn obligation. The stormy
night Of February Is was no
exception. Though our num-
bers were small. we did meet
at the Continental Hotel and
carried on in the best tradi-
tons Of the club. I ought
to know. I was there.
w. b. Covert.
Editors note: The report
err who checked the meeting
was misinformed by a hotel
spokesman who thought the
reunion had been called OFF,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-24
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used If
letters carry tpriterS' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
SGtion.