davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1958-07-07
Not a Pork Project

House debate indicated that larger
appropriation for the Potomac River
Basin survey was rejected because 1t
was regarded as type Of pork barrel"
project criticized by the President and
the press. If this was the reason for
disapproval of a $500,000 fund needed
by the Army Engineers to carry on the
vital watershed studies, the House acted
on the basis of misinformation. For
there is no pork barrel" aspect what
ever to this undertaking. On the con-
trary, it is an urgent preliminary step
to river control measures which the
engineers declare are essential to the
health, welfare and safety Of the WASH
ington Metropolitan Area.
It is true that the Budget Bureau
recommended an appropriation Of only
100000 for the next fiscal year-but
the Army Engineers have made it plain
that at least $500,000 will be needed to
catch up on lost time. The delays have
resulted from inadequate funds. Repre-
sentatives Hyde of Maryland and Broy-
hill of Virginia explained fully the ur-
gency of speeding up the survey. Mr..
Hyde warned of the dangerous pollu-
ton in the river and the possibility
of water shortages unless immediate
remedial measures are taken. Said Mr..
Broyhill "ThiS Potomac River matter
has been referred to as pork barrel
project. consider the Nations Capital
as the capital of all the people. This
so-called beautiful Potomac is ceSSpool
of filth. 1t is national disgrace and
Is getting worse every day. 1t has been
estimated by experts that unless some
thing is done before 1870 there will not
be sufficient water in the river to pro-
vide water for the Nations Capital"
Both of the Congressman are right
1t is utterly silly, therefore, to classify
the Potomac survey as a pork barrel"
project. The Senate ought to insist on
appropriation of the full $500,000 sought
by the engineers-in the interest OF
safeguarding the Capital against Seri-
ouS pollution, flood and water shortage
threats in the foreSeeable future.
Evening star., 1958-07-07
The Atom and France

Judging from both of1cial and un-
ofilcial evaluationS in Paris, Secretary
Dulles has not exaggerated in declaring
that his weekend meeting with Premier
de Gaulle did much to provide unity
and harmony of thinking" between
France and the United States on wide
range of vital international issues. These
include mass of complex problems
bearing upon East-West relations, de-
velopmentS within the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, events in the Mid
die East and preparations for possible
summit conference with the Soviet
Union.
On at least one question, however,
American and French thinking still ap-
pears to be far from identical This is
the question that has to do with Frances
desire to become a nuclear power, with
help from the United States. Mr.. Dulles
has not been able to make any real offers
on that score. Instead, he has been
obliged to point out to General de Gaulle
that our Atomic Energy Act, as recently
amended by Congress, authorizes our
Government to share certain atomic
secrets and materials only with allies
that have themselves achieved "subStan-
tial progress" in developing A and H
weapons which in effect limits the
sharing to Britain at this time.
Nevertheless, as one of his SpokeSmen
has declared, Premier de Gaulle has "let
no doubts remain as to the intention of
his government to raise France to the
rank of the nuclear powers, rank she
has right to claim for many reasons"
In short, with or without the aid of our
country, the French are resolved, even
though it may put heavy strain on
their economy, to become part of that
grinly exclusive A and H club whose
only members at present are Russia,
Britain and the United States. AS a
matter Of fact, in that respect, Frances
scientists have already progressed to
point where they see the possibility, If
not the probability, of being able to stage
their first military atomic tests within
period of months
All this, of course, may greatly COM
plicate the task Of seeking to work out
an EaSt-WeSt agreement on a policed
suspension or limitation of nuclear tests.
And by the same token, if the A and H
club is to have yet another member,
the task of making progress toward
general disarmament is likely to become
more difficult than ever. Yet, as a
sovereign nation naturally determined
to be as strong as possible in danger
Gus world, France can hardly be censured
for wanting to be armed with the atom.
Evening star., 1958-07-07
National Flower

On the whole ] agree
thoroughly with George
Frederick Miller about the
movement to select q nation
al flower for the United
States.
But I regard his suggestion
Of the dandelion for that
honor as a most unfortunate
one. The color Of the flower
is beautiful but most people
regard the plant as an un-
mitigated nuisance. Further
more it is not a native Ameri-
ican flower but was brought
from Europe to this country
where it has made itself
thoroughly at home. tSee
paragraph at top Of page
1853 Gray's Manual of Bot
any. 9Th Ed
AS a substitute / would sug-
gest our native wild rose. q
delicately beautiful and COM
pletely charming little flower.
Frank B. BristOW,
Evening star., 1958-07-07
IiberoI' Becn

The Star article by Sam
Eastman June 20 sums UP a
misuse Of words all too preva-
lent in the press since Lee
Bean was appointed to the
Arlington School Board.
What is q conservative" and
a liberal" and q middle of
the roader"? Nowadays most
any Interpretation can be
placed to suit the conven-
fence Of the person who would
so desire to be classed ac-
cordingly. However, perform
ance is what indicates what a
person in public Office is do
ing. Anyone who believes
from his performance that
Lee Bean is q conservative"
has missed reading several
pages Of the book. Mr.. East
man correctly reports the
thinking of the ''liberal ele-
ment" regarding Lee Bean.
II Bean is such a conserva-
tive, then why would Stock
ard and Joy be for him? Yes,
q moderate" or q middle Of
the roader"I Well, I have
heard it said that a middle
of the roader" or a ''moder-
ate" is one who sits on the
political fence, watches both
sides and then falls on the
side he believes to be expe-
dent.
And speaking Of "sides, "
Mrs. Lane is not affiliated
with any political group.
AIM, ABC, Republican or
Democrat. At q recent Coun-
ty Board meeting Chairman
Kaul stated that Mrs. Lane
had only been recommended
by me, while his candidate
for the post was sponsored
by many civic groups. He APP
parently believes in popu-
larity contests for these po-
sitions, rather than q study
of ones qualifications. Ichal-
lenge Mr.. Kaul. Messrs.
Stockard and Joy to match
the qualifications of Mrs.
Lane, with an excellent coll
lege background. and experts
ience as a teacher and an
administrator in government
and business administration.
This should be the test for
a person holding public Of
fee.
Mr.. Bean has certainly ac-
quired in his short tenure on
the school board a vast
knowledge of school affairs,
particularly a difference be-
tween progressive education
and that which readied our
present generation and those
before for the fine perform
ence as a teacher and an
affairs and the building Of
this Nation. Sure, the lib
erals want Bean-and as
chairman of the school board.
Karl o. Spiess, Sr.
Evening star., 1958-07-07
Piide of Arlington

WaShington-Lee High Schools teen
age crew returns home from England
t0-lorrow, still proud credit to its
S~rool and community. There was no
loss of prestige in its gallant effort in
the Royal Henley Regatta, truly the
world series of rowing. Indeed, Hen
ley title would have been phenomenal,
in view of the tremendous competition
of older, more experienced crews, racing
over distance greater than that to
which the Schoolboy champions were
accustomed The Arlington youngsters
Evening star., 1958-07-07

pie" have made up their
minds, like the Medes and
Persians.
Mr.. Friede, chief Of the D. C.
Division Of Electrical Engi-
neering. admitted that his
assistant correctly told me
that PEPCO's income will be
increased because Of the in
crease in service costs for
mercury vapor.
Mr.. Friede told me the ex-
tended-arm, pendant type
street light was recon-
mended by the Illuminat-
ing Engineering Society,
an International organization
which recommends lighting
in cities all over the world. I"
Mrs. Charles M. CIegg.
Evening star., 1958-07-07
Arlington Elections

The idea of. biennial elec-
tions for the Arlington
County Board got its start
after last falls strenuous
campaign. Many people on
both sides were weary Of the
continuous pickering and
constant turmoil that such
campaigns seem inevitably to
involve. Biennial elections ap-
peared to be q step in the
right direction.
It is easy to understand
why people involved in elec-
ton campaigns, especially
those on the losing side,
would feel that annual elec-
tions are not worth while.
But this is an emotional re-
action, not q reasoned con-
cluS1on.
Recent election campaigns
for the Arlington County
Board have been vigorous,
and usually bitter. precisely
because important issues are
involved and because there
are pronounced differences Of
opinion on the issues. But
these differences are not GO
ing to vanish Just because
people are weary of them,
nor can they be eliminated
by making the elections less
frequent.
A healthy interest in good
local government is, In fact,
best maintained by annual
elections. The present system
allows the voters frequent ex-
pressions Of their views on
the conduct of county gov
eminent. They will not be
satisfied with anything less
however tired or disgruntled
the defeated politicians may
be. For responsive govern
ment in Arlington we must
vote mo" on July Is.
Reed =. Pend
Evening star., 1958-07-07
Defends President

Quincy e. Demarest, in his
letter, mot Good Enough" I"
roughly and rudely criticized
President Eisenhower for al
most everything under the
sun.
Some of his remarks about
President Eisenhower make
my blood boil. ! respect him
and feel safe as long as he is
at the head of our Govern
ment - almost an unknown
sensation for me while the
two slickers who Immediately
preceded him were in Office
one forever doodling with
his long cigarette holder;
the other flicking poker chips
hither and yon.
A short verse written by
the poet Lowell, which / came
across in the culinary section
of The Star, sums up for all
of US the character Of the
man who is now in the White
House. President Eisenhower's
chef quoted it as being the
Presidents guiding light:
Life is a sheet Of paper white
Whereon each one Of us
may write
A word or tWo-and then
comes Night
Greatly begin, though thou
has time but for a line
BE it sublime!
Not failure but low aim is
crime"
1t might not hurt any Of us
If we could measure UP to
this.
E1l.S,,. NJ. AIIs.Ao,
Evening star., 1958-07-07
Conflicting Probes

In April, when the Justice
Department began its gang
busting" program, aimed at
the Nations top criminals.
public notice was given in
the form of newspaper
squibs. Now that the Senate
Labor Rackets Committee
has started its own probe,
one that was not supposed
to conflict with the Justice
Department probe, we have
daily feature articles on
progress. or lack Of it, in the
hearing room.
Senators Mundt and Curtis
directed criticism toward all
lawmen for being slow to
prosecute the big gangsters.
I recall reading that when
Malta members at the "crime
convention" in Apalachin,
N. Y, were arrested, all were
eventually freed because no
strong charges could be
placed against them. I also
recall that the Justice De-
partment quickly set up a
group of well-picked men to
study all records Of the
crime leaders. All efforts Of
that group are aimed at get
ting discriminating evidence
that will either put those
gangsters in jail or on de-
portation boats. They can't
get convictions without evil
dence, but at least the JUS
tice Department officials are
trying. They are not using
their Government-paid time
to criticize other Government
officials.
I have faith and conf
dence in our Federal and
local law enforcement offi-
cials.
RAeina Kane.
Evening star., 1958-07-07
YISTAS IN SCIENCE
By THOMAS R. HENRY
Navy Makes q Machine That Thinks

BILE Of perceiving. recognizing
and identifying It's surround
ings without any human
training or control"
The account continues: 1T
does not recognize forms,
shapes or other items BY
matching them against q
stored inventory Of similar
images previously fed into 1t
by an operator. or by per-
forming q mathematical
analysis Of characteristics.
Instead the recognition Is d.
rect and essentially instan-
taneous. since the association
by which q perceived stimu-
lus Is identified Is derived In
the form Of new pathways
through the system. rather
than from 9 coded represent
tation Of the original stimu-
lus."
In other words, one Of the
previous electronic machines
might recognize q cat on q
hot tin roof II q previous con-
cept Of o cat on a hot tin roof
had been built into II and 1t
was correctly set for that pur-
pose. Under such circum-
stances 1t could, of course,
recognize such a cat quicker
than q man could since its
electronic impulses are fast
er than nerve impulses. But
the ability to recognize a cat
does depend on built-in
mechanisms or specific set
ting In the new machine.
1t is built, DR.. Rosenblatt
said, essentially on a model
Of the human brain. But "it
appears to be the first and
only electronic concept which
has the proven, inherent ca
pability Of spontaneous or
ganization and symbolization
of its own environment along
lines which bear some def
mite relationship to the hui
man concept Of similarity.
This is in marked and ad-
vanced contrast to the exc
cution of q logical program
which has been previously
fed into one of the conven-
tional electronic computers
we use nowadays"
Almost a sneer, it would
seem, at the antiquated
brains which can only cal-
culate a few thousand times
faster than a man.
The Navy is primarily in.
terested in military applica-
tions. DR.. Rosenblatt says it
most certainly has such inn
plications for automatic
landing systems. automatic
pilots, recognition system Of
almost any variety. He sees
even greater civilian uses for
data gathering Of almost any
sort.
The Army, it is only fair
to say, apparently is playing
around with something Of
the same sort. There was a
hint of it in a Signal Corps
release the other day. The
present writer had a mali
cious impulse to write a coll
umn about how the major
generals of the next war
might be really ''braSs." 1t
would have pleased some GIs.
But after all. one grows mel
low with years to the point
of neither hating nor fearing
major generals any more.
The same goes. In the pres
ent case, for rear admiralS.
The actual mind" was not
displayed. It still is about Q
year away from completion,
DR.. Rosenblatt said, but all
its functions can be demon
strated with a model.
The ultimate potentialities
hardly can be predicted.
Evening star., 1958-07-07

can think or simulate the
basic operations Of think
ing, was demonstrated by a
Navy psychologist here to-
day.
II Is almost q mechanical
mind. as distinguished from
q mere mechanical brain. Ap-
parently it falls short Of the
capacities Of the human
mind, at least potentially.
lacking only in volition.
As such It may well con-
stitute one Of the great
break -throughs" in the his
tory Of science. Great as are
its practical implications.
even greater are its philo-
sophical.
The PERCEPTION" demon
strated By DR.. Frank Rosen-
blatt, research psychologist
at the Cornell University
Aeronautical Laboratory and
developed under auspices Of
the Once Of Naval Research
is "the first neurological
system capable Of perceiving,
recognizing and identifying
its surroundings without any
human training or control"
Marvels of the postwar
era have been the so-called
brass brains, the electronic
calculators. which have con-
tinually increased in capaci-
ties and efficiency. They are
modelled, in general. some
what after the pattern Of the
human brain. Some Of them
can carry out mathematical
calculations literally thou
sands Of times faster than
any human brain. 1t has
been said, in fact, that no
mathematician could expect
to live long enough to carry
out some Of the arithmetical
calculations which some Of
these machines. like one in
operation at the Naval Prov
ing Grounds at Dahlgren,
Va. which was described in
this column q few days ago.
can complete with unchal-
lengeable accuracy in a few
hours.
But DR.. Rosenblatt's appa-
ratus, even in its present
stage of development. goes
far beyond this. It enters
realms hitherto imagined
only by writer's of the most
fantastic science fiction. 1t
can read and probably, with
q little more development,
write. It can respond to
spoken commands. It prob
ably can act as an automatic
translator of one language
into another.
The electronic calculators
of the past have, after all,
been nothing but brains. The
brain is a physical system. It
operates by electricity, after
a fashion. All its intricacies
can be duplicated, given
enough patience, by the elec-
tronic engineer.
Mind is something else
again. It has seemed above
and beyond mechanics. Phi
losophers have disputed end
lessly about relations between
brain and mind. About all
they have agreed upoFl--and
even then not always-is that
there could be no demonStra-
ton Of mind without this
mechanical, material brain"
The brass brain. it often
has been stressed. could op-
crate only with material fed
into it by a man, could carry
out only calculations the for
mulae for which were first
devised by mathematicians.
Says a Navy account Of the
PERCEPTION: 1T is the first
neurological system capa-
Evening star., 1958-07-07
Fight
Gladys McAIIister.

A letter by William E. Shep-
herd, president, Georgetown
Citizens Association, stated
that the new type street lights
being installed in the Dis
trict "are not in conformity
with the character of George
town architecture"
These people don't seem to
know progress means "ad-
vance, improvement. moving
forward, getting better, ETC."
There's an old saying
where there is light. there is
hope" The old-style lights
don't offer much hope to
women who nightly have
their purses snatched, and
others who are yoked, or
worse.
Who do these Georgetown
people think they are-dicta-
tors. those who run the D c.
government?
George e. Warder.
On a matter closest to the
well-being of Georgetowners,
street lighting, THE Com
misSioners decide how the
lighting will be increased,
not the people" So said En-
gineer Commissioner We'll
ling's office when I inquired
the reasoning behind the de-
cision to inflict m ercury
vapor, pendant type street
lights on 107-year-old Bridge
street ON" street NV, in
GEORGETOWN.
1.-THE Commissioners are
well aware of the difference
in opinion" on the type Of
street lighting suitable for
Georgetown. said the young
man in Col. Welling's Office.
The businessmen on M
street requested increased
lighting" when the street is
repaved.
According to Col. Welling's
office. the Commissioners.
without public hearing, have
decided that the only type Of
street lighting they will per-
NIT to be installed anywhere
in the city from now on is
the extended-arm pendant"
type. Therefore. when resi-
dents or business firms re-
quest additional street light
ing they viii perforce get the
extended-arm light, complete
with glaring mercury vapor.
The present lighting on our
streets is by nonglare in
candescent light at the top
of q straight pole. Some Of
these poles were designed by
eminent architects and the
Smithsonian is making eff
forts to acquire the original
Of one such pole now treas
ured by q Takoma Park
family.
Commissioner Welling's Of
fee admitted that the soft
incandeScent light could be
used on the extended arm
and also admitted that ''in-
creased lighting" could be
provided by increasing the
number Of poles. But. the
Commissioners, not the peo-
Evening star., 1958-07-07
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry urtters correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
sntton.
Evening star., 1958-07-07

Temp Jones, whose seren-
ity seldom deserts him, must
have got up on the wrong
side Of the bed, as the old
saying has it.
When he stepped into the
empty bus, as the first in
line, the driver threw UP his
arms and barred nis way.
"Step down." said the
driver.
mo I WON'T" said Temp
Jones without hesitation or
comma. mo ! WON'T" just
like that.
The busman didn't throw
him out on his ear.
"All right" he said. II just
wanted to put my foot on
that seat to change the
sign"
A slightly Modified Jones
reached into his pocket.
Nov, may I put my fare
in the box?" he asked, sar-
castically.
The driver, well taught,
said nothing further.
Jones retreated to his seat
in good order, but he felt
slightly ashamed Of himself.
The silent men Of the buses
are his friends.
Over the years, they have
conveyed him here and there
around Washington and en-
virons without injury. except
once, and that was not the
conpany's fault.
Jones always has q good
word to say for bus drivers.
and even comes to their aid
with the organization, If
necessary.
He would not willingly
speak harshly to a one Of
them, even If deserved.
They do, indeed, have q
great deal to bear. in an
average days work.
Not all Of them can be as
kind about 1t as Shorty was.
Shorty was the only name
he ever heard for this kind
man, who gave up his sport
ing dogs when he got reli-
gion, and became q real
churchman
Shorty's conversion became
a real factor in his life. and
probably even in the lives of
his roughest associates, who
respected his convictions.
We do not believe that this
change in his life had any
The Arizona post., 1958-09-05
By SAUL CARSON
(J.T.A. Correspondent at the
United NatiOnS)

United NatlOnS)
AS WE CELEBRATE the
birth of a new year, it is fit
ting that We extend heartiest
greetings to one group of
Jews to whom "L'shonoh
habaah b'Yerushalaim" is not
only a wish but a deepest
prayer. They are the Jews
imprisoned in the Soviet I'm
ion, as well as the Jews in
other countries behind the
Iron Curtain.
From the vantage point of
the United Nations, it is pos
sible, from time to time, to
peek behind the Iron Curtain.
The Soviet delegation pro-
vides some material. Now
and then, one obtains infor-
nation from a delegation
member, or from another Wis
itor hailing from one of the
Soviet bloc countries.
Reports stemming from So
Wet or Communist sources
must be subjected to very
careful scrutiny, to make
sure that the informant is not
leading the reporter down the
garden path. Nevertheless, it
is poSSible-With due caution
and with allowances for the
motivationS that lead a Sus-
pect source to talk with ap-
parent candor - to analyze
the in nforma a tion thus
amassed and arrive at close
to an objective report. Here,
then, are some elements of
such a report.
SOVIET RUSSIA - There
are 100000 Jews in Russia.
The Soviet Union is one big
prison for its Jewish inhab-
itants. There is freedom of
religion in Russia-and free
dom of atheiSm-aS far as
the Constitution is concerned.
But, when it comes to Jews,
there is a tremendous gap
between constitutional theory
and day-to-day practice. Rus
sian, and Communist Party
officialdom is anti-Semitic.
There are few syn
agogues functioning in the
Soviet Union, including one
in Moscow. There is also a
yeshivah in Moscow. But ele-
mentary education in Jewish
religion is forbidden in all
public institutions of learn
ing. The few Jews training
for the rabbinate at the Mos
COW Yeshivah serve, perhaps
unwilling, as mere window
dressing.