davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
Capitol Police 'Poyoffs'

It is time to name names in the
"payoff" charges which three sight-see-
ing guides have made against members
Of the Capitol police force. For while
this business, If the charges are true,
may be a minor racket, it ought not to
be tolerated.
The complaining guides have said
that they will give the names of the
offending policemen to Capitol Police
Chief Sullivan on Monday. We hope
they will do this, and that Chief Sui
Ivan, If he gets the names, will take
appropriate action. If the names are
not Forthcoming, or if appropriate &C
ton is not taken, Senator HenningS,
who heads the committee which has
jurisdiction of the Capitol police, should
move in. Any policemen who have been
exacting fees for steering Sight-SeerS to
particular guides should be removed
from the force. And If the charges are
false, or if the guides are not willing to
name the officers, it seems to US that
their licenses should be lifted.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
Bowinq to Reality

United States military authorities In
NATO are being completely realistic in
the decision to shift 200 American
fighter bomberS, equipped to carry nu-
clear armament, from French to British
and West German bases. For as long as
there are barriers to Stockpiling the
atomic weapons on French soil, effective
utilization of the aircraft from French
fields obviously is reduced to a minimum.
If war comes under today'S conditions,
any idea that the airborne fighters could
afford time for arrning en- route to COM
bat is evident nonsense.
Whether, or how much, the alterna-
tive disposition of aircraft may affect
NATO's defense strength are questions
for military determination. 1t was indi-
Gated in connection with the NATO an
nouncement that the majority of the
planes, probably two of the three wings
involved, would go to British fieldS-Some
distance farther from the source of po-
Sential enemy attack-while the remain
der would move to the closer West Ger
man bases. Present plans call for leaving
one Canadian air division to supplement
French air power operating from French
fields.
5 AS NATO bows to the requirements
Of military reality, however, the circum-
stances leading to this action remain
stalemated. 1t was President de Gaulles,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11

decision that nuclear weapons could not
be based on French soil unless control
of their use is placed under French COM
mand, But 1t is our Atomic Energy Act
that prohibits such delegation Of custody
over our nuclear weapons, and our mill
tary representatives In NATo have no
authority to modify this prohibition.
There are, however, other issues involved
In the overall France VS.. NATO impasSe
among them General de Gaulle's de-
sire for greater voice, to be recognized
as equal to that Of Britain and the
United States, on international political
and strategic questions. In large part,
therefore, the resolution Of the dead
lock depends more upon diplomatic
than military negotiation. 1t could be
dangerous to all, however, II an end to
this impasse is not sought and found
before the defense alliance suffers fur
ther limitation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
A Law Above Politics

When the Treasury Department
announced this week that 1t would pay
a near-record 4.728 per cent interest
rate on $2-billion issue of one-year, or
short-term, bills 1t was not setting" the
highest rate in 38 years for the benefit
Of the Nations bankers. Instead, 1t was
borrowing money at the lowest price 1t
could fnd-by competitive bidding in a
free market that is governed by the nom
political law Of supply and demand.
There is no rule in this market which
says that the owners of money-hun-
dredS of thousands of investors and
lenders represented through the banking
system-must lend their money to the
Treasury Department at any Govern
ment-flxed return, high or low. Only
in totalitarian state, where there is no
free economy, can there be such rule.
And even though investment in
United States Government securities is
the safest in the world, its attractiveneSs
still is affected by the rate Of return,
compared with that available through
other investment Of money. Along with
bOo bcsA 1AlCOAAIC, tAAC 1OVC44A41lC1IU AACCAo q
continuing large supply Of borrowed
money-obtainabl only in competition
with other borrowers such as State and
local governments, private business,
mortgage programs and the like. In this
competition, the Government already
has found a dangerously declining in
weston interest in its bondS-obligation
running more than f1ve years with 4,25
per cent rate ceiling and the smaller
denomination savings bonds with 1926
maximum rate. AS consequence, the
Treasury has been forced more and more
into the Short-term markets where there
is no statutory rate ceiling. Excessive
reliance on the short-term market is
inflationary and hazardous in the mas
Sive reflnancing operations needed to
manage a $685. billion public debt.
The House Ways and Means Com
mittee has voted now, in partial compli-
ance with an administration recommen-
dalton, to give the President authority
for a two-year period to set aside the
outdated long-term rate ceilings when
found necessary ''in the national In
terest." This is an issue which has been
made into a political football by adj
ministration critics. Nevertheless, it
clearly is Gin the national interest" for
the Treasury to have greater fexibility
in its debt management, and greater
access to long-term money would help
provide it. Congress should promptly ap-
prove the recommendation Of the House
committee.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
Old Russian Hand

SIC 1t has been a little more than two
years since Charles E. Bohlen left Mos
COW, having finished a tour of duty as
our Ambassador to the Soviet Union.
An expert on Russia, "Chip" Bohlen had
done an outstanding job, and one Of
those who knew it was Nikita Khru-
shchev, who paid this tribute to the
departing American:
= We hate to see you go and we don't
understand why they are taking you
away from us. We like q competent
Ambassador because if he is competent
he can come to correct conclusions and
send a correct estimate of the situation
to his government We understand you,
and you understand us.
> The two men parted on this note,
and Mr.. Bohlen came on home. In due
time he was sent to Manila, as our Am
baSSador to the PhilippineS-an impor-
tant post, but hardly a post in which
his specialized training could be used
to best advantage.
{ Now the word is that Mr.. Bohlen
is planning to retire from the diplomatic
service unless some assignment can be
found for him in the State Department
in which he can put his knowledge as
an old Russian hand to good use. Sec
rotary Herter says he has "a real ad-
miration" for Ambassador Bohlen; that
he hopes he can be induced to stay on
and give the Government the benefit
of his talents, but that he is not sure
Mr. Bohlen can pass up the financial
benefits of retirement, supplemented,
we suppose, with income from an out
side job.
To us, this means that Mr.. Bohlen
would like to stay on in some suitable
job and that Secretary Herter would like
to have him on his team. If this is so,
1t should not be too difficult to work
something out. Certainly, the present
state of things, we can make good use
OF man who, according to Mr.. Khru-
Shchev, understands the Russians, and
who, in turn, is understood and re-
Spected by them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
Hands Across the Aisle

Senator's DirkSen and Johnson, eS-
timable gentlemen both, have demon
Strated on numerous occasions their
compatibility as rival leaders in what is
sometimes known as the worlds greatest
deliberative body. Seldom have they
joined in more touching and eloquent
harmony, however, than on their recent
oratorical excursion into fantasy-land
where everything would be scented by
the sweet spirit of armistice.
For the Republican Mr.. Dirksen, such
a to-be-desired state Of affairs might
mean an armistice between the Demo-
cratic Advisory Council and the Demo-
cratic congressional leadership; between
the executive and legislative branches
of government; between the embattled
Secretary Benson and the congressional
committees on agriculture, and even
between "all the intensive contenders
presumably he meant Democratic) for
the presidency in 1850" For the Demo-
cratic Mr.. johnson, it inspired the vision
of an armiStice on politics, on political
speeches, on people who foment ferment,
on Madison Avenue propaganda and even
on obstinacy presumably Republican,.
It is late now, perhaps, to submit
to the Congress whatever far-reaching
legislation would be necessary to imple-
ment this bipartisan program Of price
less peace. Let it not be said, however,
that the fair words have been wasted
ION the desert air" of warm July in
ITac hi
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11

nationalism. Kassem Of Iraq,
Hussein of Jordan, Bourguiba
of TuniSia, among other Arab
leaders, would certainly chal-
lenge your assumption. The
fact is that there are many
Arab nationaliSms, and their
supporters are not nearly as
quick as you seem to be to
accept Nasser.
In the United States last
spring. King Hussein Of
Jordan stated emphatically
that "NasSerism and Arab
nationalism are not the same
thing"
The implication Of your
editorial that NasSer really
wants to be on the side Of the
West but has sold out to the
Communists only because we
treated him badly is COM
pletely wrong and dangerous.
1t is dangerous because 1t
ignores the fact of his basic
anti-Westernism and all our
experience in trying to save
him from the consequences OF
his own folly. 1t is NaSSer who
must come to terms with the
West if he wants to save his
neck from the Communist
moose. His apologists in this
country do his cause no good
by trying to make it appear
that we must come to terms
with him.
G HauSAP
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
Cornerstone HossIe

Recent letters and stories
in The Star and other papers
indicate resentment on the
part Of the knights Of CO.
lumbuS at the participation
of Freemasonry in the lay
ing Of the cornerstone Of the
Capitol's east front on July 4.
The primary objection was
that FreemaSonry is a re-
ligion and would be offensive
to Catholics and other faiths.
A second point was that
Masonic bodies should never
have been given any such ex-
elusive privilege.
Freemasonry never has been
a form of religion" nor has
it the remotest resemblance
to any system of theology. 1t
admits worthy men Of good
repute, be they Christians,
Jews, Moslems or any other
faith. 1t has many Roman
Catholics in it's ranks.
In the past, Roman Catho"
lies have co-operated gladly
and without objection in pub
lie ceremonies Of this kind.
In 1893, at the laying Of the
original Capitol cornerstone
by George Washington. Fed
eral Lodge of Washington,
D. c., participated. James
Hoban, supervising architect
of the Capitol and the White
House, was the first master Of
that lodge. He was a staunch
and active Roman Catholic.
born in Ireland. Later he
and a number Of other Ro-
man Catholics who worked
with him on the Capitol and
White House and who were
also m 9 m bers Of Federal
Lodge, formed the first Royal
Arch Chapter in the District
Of Columbia. Documentary
evidence supports these state
mentS.
A Norman S. Meese.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
The Beotnik Beet

Like many other VoteleSs
Washingtonians, I was in
dignant when the ABC Board
tried to get the art work out
Of Harrigan's, and when the
police captain tried to keep
Coffee n Confusion" out Of
his precious second precinct.
These were two examples of
the kind Of bureaucratic
idiocy which makes voteless-
ness particularly CALLING.
Since then I have read Of
the incident where a police
man ordered Is people to
move on from in front of
Coffee n Confusion" and Of
the arrest Of Bill Jackson,
poet, by a virtuous officer. So
I went to see for myself, in q
party including my wife, an
ordained Methodist minister
and a friend from Salt Lake
City whose exposure to the
sinful ways Of the big city has
been minimal.
We heard some poetry,
ranging from incredibly bad
to pretty good. We soaked up
atmosphere. We formed a
clear impression of police
haraSSment. This we resent.
The entrance to Coffee n
Confusion" stands a good 20
feet of the sidewalk. Fifteen
people standing there would
not constitute an obstruction
to traffic. 1t is reasonable to
suppose that the policeman
was acting under general
orders to harass. On Saturday
night, when we were there, q
policeman stalked in several
times, a wagon parked out
side. If the second precinct
has such a surplus Of police,
I suggest some be transferred
to areas of greater need.
The whole question Of
censorship needs to be looked
into carefully. Who are the
corrupters? TV programs
daily tell our kids that killing
is a noble business. News
stands are full Of magazines
I wouldn't have in my house.
Newspapers with tremendous
circulation have truly hor-
rifying comic strips. The news
is redolent of corruption in
high places, from kept" Con-
gresSmen to the scandals of
the Transfers Union. At this
point, need our police chase
poets? Do the men in blue
really believe that the highly
literate audience at Coffee n
Confusion" is likely to be
further corrupted by four
letter words every kid learns
in the streets by the age of 8?
We need less moralistic
nonsense, and more morals.
Warren w. Morse.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11

that the President was CIV
ing the people ice cream
bars instead of leadership"
The bitterness OF this at
tack on Mr.. Eisenh hover
seems to grow out Of the
real resurgence Of the Ma
TONS economy, which clearly
is getting under the Demo-
cratic skin. So the Demo-
cratic high command is loos-
ing new offensive against the
Republican President, his adj
ministration and everything
1t has done. The attack, how
ever, has a hollow sound, a
warmed over facsimile Of
earlier criticisms.
Surprises for Democrats
A poll on how the people
feel about the Democratic
Congress and its handling Of
its job, at the close of the
present session, might pro-
vide some surprises for the
Democratic high command.
Apparently no such poll-on
such a direct question-has
been taken. Polls have been
taken on whether people
would vote for a Democratic
or a Republican Congress.
But this is a different ques-
ton. Just as some of the
people who express approval
of the manner in which Mr..
Eisenhower is doing his job
might vote against him in an
election to ONCE, some Of the
people who say they would
vote for a Democratic Con-
gress may readily express
disapproval of the way in
which this Democratic Con-
gresS has been acting and
handling its job. Such a poll
on what the people think Of
the handling or lack of han
ding of labor racketeering in
a three-year period of revela-
tions of incredible corruption
on the part Of some labor
leaders by the Senate COM
mittee headed by Senator
Mcclellan of Arkansas might
severely jolt Democratic COM
placency. Or a poll showing
how the people feel about
the handling Of the nominal
ton Of Admiral Lewis L.
Strauss to be Secretary Of
Commerce might give certain
Senators a cold chill.
OF course, there is an ef-
fective poll of the voters on
Congress every two years.
The Democrats take great
pride in such a poll - the
election of 1858, when nearly
everything seemed to go
against the Republicans. 1t
is only fair to remember.
however, that the Democrats
always go into such an cleo
ton with a great big ace in
their pocket-the vote in the
Southern States. In congress
sional elections this vote has
scarcely wavered at all. The
race or civil rights issue has
kept it almost solid for the
Democrats. The IL States Of
the Confederacy elect a total
of LOG members of the House
or this total, SO chosen in
1858 are Democrats and only
7 Republicans. In five So
called border States-border-
ing North and South-where
the same issue is effective
usually, 81 more members of
the House are elected. Thirty
three are Democrats and four
Republicans. If this old issue
did not operate, the Repub-
licans might expect an even
break-and they could in that
section of the country-even
in 1858 the Democrats would
have had a thin time holding
a majority of the House.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
Pentoqon Fire Blame

There is q great to-oo
about the cause of the recent
costly fire at the Pentagon.
The direct cause of the blaze
is not the important item.
OF paramount concern is
why, in a fireproof building,
interior partitions of inflam-
mable material were allowed.
Your photographs show
the damning evidence Of fire
Quilted wood studding. The
combustible covering had
been completely burned of.
Had fireproof partitions been
in place, the havoc caused
by this fire would never have
occurred.
Who is to blame for the
millions of dollars Of loss due
to allowing use Of nonflre-
proof partitions in so impor-
tant an area?
Edward o. Shaner.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
THE POLITICAL MILL
Is Congress Doing Good Job?
By GOULD LINCOLN

Congress has been in SEES
sion since last January "a
matter Of six months or half
q year. A mere guess is that
1t will have finished Its work
for this year and gone home
within another two months.
Its record will have been
made for the general public
to Judge. The people will then
have an opportunity to de-
eide for themselves how the
Democratic controlled Con-
gress has done Its job, and
compare that estimate with
their estimate Of Republican
President Eisenhower and the
job he has been doing.
The ordinary people and
the Democratic National
Committee. its adjunct the
Democratic Advisory Council
and certain Democrats in
Congress differ widely in
their views on how the Presi-
dent Is doing his job. They
differ widely, too, in their es-
innate Of how the Democratic
Congress has performed. For
the Congress still has q num-
Der Of important issues to
handle.
For example. the Congress
has not yet dealt with the
problem Of racketeering and
corruption in labor unions
and their dealings with man
agement. 1t has still to do
something about civil rights
legislation. And it seems
hopelessly begged down so
far as any real remedial leg
islation to clean up burden
some farm SURPRISES is con-
cerned. Indeed, on the last,
the general opinion is that no
farm legislation worthy the
name will be forthcoming at
this session.
There are other issues with
which the legislators either
have dealt or should deal.
One is the question of Gov
eminent spending, a bal
anced budget and imitation.
Attack on President
Public opinion polls have
been taken recently and over
the years on how the people
think the President is doing
his job. A most recent poll of
this kind, the Gallup poll,
showed that 81 per cent of
the people believe President
Eisenhower is doing q good
jobs handling his job we'll
and only % per cent dis
approve, and Is per cent
have no opinion. This repre-
Sents q 10 per cent increase
in popularity for the PreSi-
dent since November, 1858,
when the score stood 50 per
cent approving the PreSi-
dents handling of his job,
with 80 per cent disapprov-
ing and 10 per cent unde-
cided. The country had been
in the midst of an economic
recession, with much unem-
ployment in various sections.
Since then the economy of
the country has rallied
greatly.
The Democratic Digest, or
gan and spokesman Of the
Democratic National Com
mittee, just about the same
time as the poll showing the
increased popularity of the
President, carried a lead ar
ticle entitled THE Good
Humor Man in the White
House" 1t ridiculed Mr..
Eisenhower. charged that he
was spending his time issuing
glowing statements Of good
times here and on the way,
when he should be exercising
real leadership. It commented
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
18th STREET.

18th STREET.
Dear str:
Just recently we moved
into an air-cooled building,
and I do not like it at all.
Am I just an old fuddy-
buddy, UNIT for the modern
pace. or am I right in be-
lieving I feel worse now than
I did before?
ut seems to me that when
I come out into the heat !
feel limp. I do not recall
ever feeling this way before.
do you know if there is
any scientific reason for
this?
Il wonder If other people
feel the same way about it?
I heard an old man on the
new air-cooled bus one day
giving a lecture to all who
would listen.
HE was arguing against
the GOODNESS, while at the
same time enjoying it.
Get amt natural he kept
on saying.
II do not know whether
air conditioning is natural or
not, but 1t is enjoyable -
while you are in it.
1T is the coming out that
botherS me.
Every truly yours. H. H. j."
y 4
Experts have said that
every one, on coming out Of
an air-cooled place, should
stand perfectly still for at
least two minutes.
This is one Of the hardest
pieces Of advice in the world
to follow.
We have tried it, and we
always start moving in IS
seconds.
That is the American way.
No matter how much one
disagreeS with the American
way, in some of its phases. it
has a most powerful grip on
US.
Because, forsooth. as they
said in Shakespeare's day. we
are Americans.
y \ \
To be an American. If 1t
means anything, means to be
restless.
So. If you come out Of an
air-cooled place. after hav-
ing been in 1t for half an
hour or more. stand still for
at least two minutes.
II the period is extended to
four minutes, that won't be
too long.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-11
Veteran Pensions

How can Congress JUSTIFY
taking away a veterans PEN
sion if the combined income
of the veteran and his wife
exceeds $2,700 a year? Or if
he is single, he is limited to
earning $1,400 a year! Who
can live respectfully on this
income today?
Veterans over IS, especially
if in any way disabled, find
it hard enough to find work
of any remuneration, with
out placing a statutory limit
on productive ability and
earning capacity.
Other Government officials
are not so penalized. EXPIRES
idents receive $4,000, tax
free, and their widows $l0,-
not! These folks and other
Government retirees are not
penalized by virtue Of their
age, and can write books or
conduct newspaper columns
or otherwise earn large in
comes, and still get their pen
sionS or retirement.
The retired veteran. who
made it possible to maintain
our independent democratic
government free from foreign
domination and possible
slavery, is penalized if he is
lucky enough to survive and
earn a decent compensation
in addition to what the Gov
eminent condescends to award
him for what he has contrib
uted to the survival Of our
Nation!
DR.. John Henry Lambert,
Vice Commander, George
Washington Post No. /,
American Legion.
Editors note: The pend
ing legislation referred to in
DR.. Lambert's letter applies,
according to the Veterans Ad-
ministration, only to pensions
for non-Service connected dis
abilities. Those with service
incurred disabilities receive
compensation" not pensions,
and are exempt from the
bill.)