davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1959-06-26
Good Place to Start

Representative Sheppard Of Cali
fornia has hit upon the best idea yet for
getting rid of the Governments many
unsightly and dilapidated temporary
buildings. He suggested to a House
Appropriations subcommittee that the
"tempos" left over from two world wars
be bulldozed out of existence-or burned
down. He was referring particularly to
some termite-ridden barracks and Offices
at various nearby Army and Navy posts.
But If there is going to be any bull
doing or burning of such eyesores, the
place to begin operations is right here in
Washington. No ramshackle leftovers
from World War or II are more ripe for
razing than the ones which still mar the
Mall and Potomac Park. A nice bonfire,
with appropriate official ceremonies,
would be an occasion for celebration not
only by those whose misfortune it is to
work in the tempos but by all who
resent the staying power of the shacks.
Evening star., 1959-06-26
Why Not Play Safe /?

AIIer LnorOugnly confusing ana
inconclusive debate, the House has
voted 225 to 1872 to adopt the Smith bill
prescribing standards to guide the Su-
preme Court in determining whether
certain State laws must give way to
Federal laws.
The bill is an outgrowth of the
courts decision in the Steve Nelson case,
which held that State could not prose-
cute for sedition against the United
States because Congress had pre-
empted the field" A similar bill passed
the House last year, but lost out in the
Senate by one vote.
Much of the current debate was
excited, irrelevant and designed to
becloud the issue. When the opposing
arguments are boiled down, however,
two basic conflicting points Of view
emerge.
The advocates of the bill say that
it is intended, actually, to do one thing
to overrule the court-created doctrine
of implied pre-emption." BY this they
mean that the court would be forbidden
to hold that an act of Congress was
intended to override State law unless
such intention is expressly stated or
unless the State law is in such direct
and positive conflict with the Federal
law that the two cannot be reconciled
or consistently stand together. They
argue that this is necessary to prevent
a continuing erosion of States rights
through the process of judicial inter-
probation.
Most of the opponents Of the Smith
bill deny that the court is engaged in
any such process. They base their main
case, however, on the claim that the
Smith bill, as it passed the House, would
be retroactive in effect. They say that
any past act Of Congress, If it applies
to an area in which State law is also
effective, would be exposed to doubt
and fresh litigation If the Smith bill
should finally be enacted.
1t is very difficult to judge the
merits, pro and con, with respect to this
claim. The debate shows that able and
responsible members of the House are
on both sides of the proposition. The
uncertainty on this point could be
cleared away, however, If the bill were
to be amended so that 1t would apply
only to legislation enacted in the future.
There is no assurance that the bill in
any form will receive Senate approval.
But If 1t Is to be adopted in the upper
chamber, it would be wise, we believe,
to make certain that 1t applies proSpec-
lively and not retroactively. If such an
amended version should prove made
quate, it will always be possible to go
back to the original form of the bill.
Evening star., 1959-06-26

cies. Efforts Of supporters Of govern
mental economy to include In several
appropriation bills a provision for such
accounting have met with rebuffS either
in committee or on the floor.
However, Congress has last chance
to give the plan test, although in a
rather small way. The Senate has voted
to provide for such tryout In the Pan
anna Canal Zone. The authority was
included in the Department of Com
merce appropriation bill, now pending
before a conference committee. We
hope the conferees will approve the
provision.
Why Congress has been so reluctant
to adopt the new accounting method as
a general policy is mystery. Usually
Congress is quick to seize any oppor-
tunity to exercise better control of Fed
eral spending. And the Hoover proposal
would give Congress firmer grip on the
purse strings of the Federal establish
ment. AS Senator Kuchel succinctly
put it, Congress then could tell the ex-
ecutive branch: $50 much you may
spend next year and not one cent more"
Evening star., 1959-06-26
Leave Him to Heaven

IL Dr. Klaus tucnS naQ COIHLllIteu
and been found guilty Of his heinous
crime as an American, he almost GER
tainly would have been sentenced to
death by our courts. But he happened to
be a naturalized citizen Of the United
Kingdom, and the softer British law (the
Off1cial Secrets Act) made it mandatory
to limit his punishment to maximum
of IA years in prison.
SO today, less than a decade after
having been convicted and sentenced,
Fuchs is "free" man. Having met all
the requirements of good conduct in
Jail, he has been released in keeping
with the laws majestic dictates IN
Britain, and he has lost no time in
flying to East Germany, behind the Iron
Curtain. In that respect, as he may
realize in due course, he has entered
a prison far worse than the one he has
Just left. He has gone home to politi-
cal dungeon where people Of his kind
can at best do little more than brood
bitterly, If they think at all, over the
meaning of lost honor and the betrayal
of human decency and liberty.
1t is not easy to take a compass
sionate view of man of this type. A
genius in nuclear science, young Fuchs
found a British refuge in 1888 as
German Communist in flight from Hit
ler's tyranny. He vowed loyalty then,
as a new citizen, to the United Kingdom,
but his higher fealty-his secret, poison
Gus allegiance to the Kremlin-per-
Suaded him from 1943 onward, both in
our own country and in the too-trusting
land that gave him succor, to conspire
against the West and reveal to the
Soviet Union many of the innermoSt
secrets Of the joint Anglo-American-
Canadian atomic project.
There can be no doubt, as his sem
fencing judge said in early 1850, that
Klaus Fuchs, despite his splendid mind
and his immense indebtedness to the
free world, committed a Judas-like
crime-a crime that did "irreparable
harm" to the West-of almost un-
believable ingratitude and treachery.
Let us leave him to Heaven for the final
judgment. Meanwhile, in his bleak new
retreat behind the Iron Curtain, he
himself must know that he carries with
him the boundleSs contempt Of free men
everywhere.
Evening star., 1959-06-26
Last Chance for a Test

Congress has one more chance at
this session to test an important budget
reform it approved less than year ago
but so far seems to have almost for
gotten. This is the Hoover Commits
sion's plan for an annual accounting by
Federal departments and agencies of
all appropriations carried over from
previous years.
Senator Kuchel OF California re-
minded the Senate this week that moth
ing has been done as yet to comply with
President Eisenhower's request that the
so-called notwithstanding system be
tried out in six departments and agen-
Evening star., 1959-06-26

wood becomes dry. The hold
ing power of nails is also
greatly reduced If the wood
splits even slightly when they
are driven in.
@. How much did old
time country doctors charge
for their Services?-W. j.
A. Fees were not stand
ardized. An average country
doctor might charge Is to
so cents for a local visit, or
81 for ar all-night vigil with
a patient. Small-town doc
tors sometimes set a scale
such as 81 for a daytime
visit, 50 for a visit not over
4 miles, and so cents for
each additional mile.
@. When was the nrsv IN
delible pencil made?-P. B.
A. On July 10, 1866, Ed
son P. Clark Of Northamp-
ton, Mass, obtained a pat
ent on an indelible pencil.
Its filling was made up Of
silver. black lead, calcined
gypsum and lampblack or
asphaltum."
Evening star., 1959-06-26
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
Soviet Astronomers One Up on Us

power. The STAFF totals 400.
Of whom $50 are scientists.
With such a staff full use can
be made Of all the observa-
tional data gathered whereas
at the largest observatories In
the United States far more
data is obtained with the
large instruments than can be
reduced by the small STATS.
Just a tip for detective
story writers hard UP for
ideas
A new line of evidence in
cases Of disputed paternity
the kinds Of ear wax of
mother and alleged father
now is being used in Japan.
It will not convict the
guilty but 1t can absolve the
falsely accused. That is
about all that can be said
for blood type tests now ap-
piled in American courts.
The technique has been re-
ported to the International
Congress Of Genetics by two
Japanese biologists, Drs.
Tanemoto Furuhata and
Norio Hayashi Of Tokyo
Medical University.
Wax Type Hereditary
Throughout the human
race. they reported. two dis
tinct kinds of wax form in
the ears. One is grey, brittle
and dry, and the other
blackish-brown, sticky and
wet. The type in any individ-
ual, it was found, depends
strictly on heredity. The Jap
anese doctors investigated dis
tribution of ear wax types in
more than 5000 persons in
the Tokyo metropolitan area.
They present statistics to
prove that the second type,
at least, is a So-called
"Mendelian dominant" due
probably to a single gene. or
unit of heredity.
In theory, at least, II the
"wet earwax" was found in
an accused man and not in
a baby of disputed parentage,
the alleged father would be
certainly innocent. Japanese
courts are accepting this
evidence, especially when
supported by other findings.
Ear wax heredity, the
Japanese reported, also may
prove Of value in identif1ca-
ton of victims Of aphasia
and possibly in various
criminal Investigations where
determination Of identify Is
important.
Evening star., 1959-06-26
ScoLds Us

Paul McIlvaine's letter
quoted a question asked by
Representative Leo E. Allen
OF Illinois. as follows:
"Why should the Govern
ment continue tobacco price
supports on one hand and
spend money on cancer re-
search on the other?"
In the same issue of The
Star there was a tear-jerk-
ing account, under the head
ing Send a Kid to Camp" Of
a little girl whose parents
go on spreeS, leaving her and
the other children to fend
for themselves. The item
says:
Periodically, both parents
get drunk and disappear for
days at a time"
Is it possible that they take
the advice contained in an
advertisement / saw in The
Star a few evenings ago,
occupying at least a fourth of
a page and suggesting, in
box-car letters, It's Fun to
Have a Vodka Party? In the
same issue was a large ad of
Four Roses.
l have always admired The
Star as being one Of this
Nations greatest newspapers.
I greatly admire its news
gathering and publishing
ability. 1t has the reputation
of being a very wealthy paper,
1t was once the only news
paper in Washington that
did not accept liquor advertis-
ing. 1t is too bad it felt that
it must accept booze ads.
You may print this letter
or not, as you wish. 1t Is
merely a little private scold-
ing / am administering, TAX
ing advantage of my age and
the fact that The Star has
been a welcome visitor in my
family and my fathers family
since " way back when" Mr.
Dooley and Mr.. Hennisey
conducted debates. which
were much more interesting
than the efforts of the Con-
gress of the United States.
]. Chester WilfOng.
Evening star., 1959-06-26
Urges City Center

/ read with real distress
The Stars article on the end
of the brilliant career of the
Shubert Theater. This was
magnificent reporting.
If this were New York
there would have been such
a public outcry. A citizens
committee would have been
formed, money would have
been raised to buy the the
ater for civic purposes. All
this happened in New York
and the glorious result was
and is the New York City
Center-which has contrib
uted immeasurably to New
York's cultural status. Why
can't the D. C. Commissioners
be equally clever?
Here the Washington Board
of Trade has stars in its eyes.
1t talks grandiloquently about
1862 and an Arts Festival
which will cost approximately
81 million. 1t is too bad there
aren't some practical, hard
headed businessmen in the
Washington Board of Trade
who are deeply versed in the
money end of the arts like
Sol Hurok and Pat Hayes. If
there were. they would seize
on this golden opportunity to
create a City Center for the
citizens of Washington. We
can expect no help at all
from the d. c. government,
which has never put a penny
in art.
1t will take at least five
years, perhaps more, to raise
the $25-$35 million for the
National Cultural Center,
and an equal period of time
to build this center-10 years
in all. Here is an unequalled
opportunity for the D. c. gov
ernment to grow up cultur-
ally" 1t could lead to a drive
to make the Shubert a nom
profit cultural center for
everyone.
The citizens of Washing
ton pay taxes to the Federal
Government. Here is where
$150-$200 thousand of our
tax money could be spent to
advantage.
Ida BrOdenOva.
Evening star., 1959-06-26
Police Docs

I learn with apprehension
that two German police dogs
are being used for duty with
mounted police in Rock Greek
Park.
Citizens should stop for
(and expect to be questioned
by police upon occasion-but
not for dogs. Any dog that at
tempts to attack or stop me
when going about my own
business, such as strolling in
the park. is in danger Of its
life. ! shall carry a heavy
cane hereafter. I should be
permitted to carry a re-
volver. Clarkson ]. Beall.
Evening star., 1959-06-26
Northumberland Folly

The Senate adopted a head-in-the-
sand attitude last night in failing to
face up to the fiscal crisis which
threatens to bring the much-heralded
interstate highway program to halt
1t refused Ito face reality"-a term used
last year by President EiSenhower-in
rejecting the Presidents proposal for a
gasoline tax increase. It also rejected,
very commercially in this instance, an
ill-advised plan to dig into the general
fund OF the Treasury in order to meet
the highway deficit. When similar pro-
posals to tap the Treasury were made
last year, President Eisenhower cor
rectly described them as 'unsatiSfac-
tory" They are just as unsatisfactory
and unrealiStic now.
The logical - although politically
unpopular-solution for the highway
fund crisis is to return to the pay-as-
you-go system written into the law in
1856, but suspended last year against
the advice of the administration. That
would mean, of course, an increase in
the Federal gasoline tax-not pleasant
prospect for legislators with an eye on
the 1860 elections.
Congress can blame no one but
itself for the predicament in which it
finds itself in connection with the
Nationwide road program. Last year,
as an antireceSSion move, Congress
decided to speed up the interstate high
way allotments by releasing more money
to the States than the pay-aS-you-go
policy would have permitted. The Pres
ident's warnings of a future deficit
unless means were provided to make
up the deficit through increased gasoline
taxes were ignored
His predictions of trouble have come
true. The far-ranging interstate pro-
gram faces the possibility Of virtual
shutdown within two years unless more
money is poured into the Federal aidto-
States fund. Ten States would have to
halt the letting of new contracts by the
end of this summer. Fifteen others and
the District of Columbia would have to
stop contracting for new work by the
end of this year. Eleven more would
have to suspend operations by July Of
next year. The remaining States would
be affected later.
The President recently made an
other appeal to Congress for gas-tax
increase of ~ cents gallon, thereby
restoring the pay-as-you-go formula.
The national highway crisis ought to be
met squarely and courageously through
such a gas-tax increase. The Senate's
killing of a gaS-tax rider on the excise
tax extension bill should not be taken
as final action on the proposal to raise
the Federal gas tax from to Az cents
a gallon. We hope that Congress, before
this session is over, will face up to the
realities Of the problem and adopt ap-
propriate legislation to meet the high
way revenue need.
Evening star., 1959-06-26
Qualification

with reference to my remarks
at the annual meeting of the
Virginia Citizens Planning
Association in Danville has
caused some of my good
friends in Fairfax some con-
Germ. May I clarity my posi-
ton so that both sides in this
controversy viii at least know
where ! stand?
This letter should in no
way be interpreted as a criti-
cism Of the story by your
Mr.. Barron. He gave me the
courtesy Of checking with me
before the story was filed
and I would, under no cir
cumstances, blame him If
some misconceptions have
arisen.
Too often in trying to solve
the problems created by a
rapidly expanding population.
we have permitted our think
ing to be dulled by holding
fast to the old adage that
what is. is good" My per-
Sonal opinion vis-a-vis metro
politan problems in general
is this: No local unit of gov
ernment in Virginia is sacred;
no local boundaries. as they
now exist or as they may exist
in the future, are sacred; no
local unit Of government has
any inherent right TO con-
tinue to exist. This. in es-
sence. is what I said at DAN
vile. That Fairfax County
was named at that meeting
was caused solely by the fact
that my good (perhaps erst-
while) friend, DR.. Don Lar
son. was a member of the
panel that discussed metro
politan problems at that
meeting. I could just as easily
have used the name of any
county or city as my ex-
ample.
When Mr.. Barron asked me
to comment on the Alex
andria annexation proposal.
I refused comment on the
grounds that it would be pre-
sumptuous of me to comment
since I knew none of the facts
in that particular case. I did.
however. reiterate my posi-
tion. which I do now, that by
all the rules of logic. the
question should be settled on
the basis of which govern
mental unit can best perform
those services desired by the
residents of the area con-
cerned, without becoming too
concerned at the antiquity of
the units involved. This in
no way should be interpreted
as meaning that I think Alex
andria should be given one
square foot Of the territory
now within the boundaries Of
Fairfax County. I refuse,
categorically, to say that the
City of Alexandria. or any
other city, should. in any par
ticular case, be given any
part of a county's territory.
Just as categorically, how
ever, I refuse to say that a
city should not be given
county territory. These are
questions that should be set
tied on the basis of the briefs
submitted by the contending
parties in an annexation pro-
ceeding. Frank Gibson,
University of Virginia,
Evening star., 1959-06-26
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

his match at last, because
such a victim of fear Is in
durable. in any ordinary
sense.
Perhaps he or she might be
improved enough to show no
outward fear. but the inner
fear-and this is the worst
kind-would still be there.
Live insects are food for
lizards and salamanders.
If a collection Of these
delicacies is placed where
the creatures can catch them.
maybe they can be shooe6
out and kept out.
The big question then Is:
How do you keep live in
sectS still?
And here. too, the answer
is plain: You do not.
Live insects have no desire
to feed lizards, no matter
how pretty the lizards are.
The insects have other, and,
for insects. better ideas.
II n n -
If people with stray lizards
in their houses forget about
the creatures, the creatures
in their turn will mind their
own business.
AS stated, they will prob
ably die shortly anyway, so
there is no need to grow ex-
cited.
A lizard seeking a house
is not using the best lizard
sense, after all. A lizard
does much better outdoors,
where he can find the feed
he wants.
So be sure a lizard indoors
is an unhappy lizard, one not
living up to the best lizard
instincts and training.
Maybe it is a confused.
mixed-up lizard, and the
people in the house 1t has
selected should feel sorry for
1t and try their best to over
look its rapid entrances and
exits.
Too, they might undertake
to get a new viewpoint them
selves.
Some people would give
anything to have a lizard
visit them.
Just think of the fascina-
ton a nature lover might get
from watching a fine lizard
without moving from his easy
chair!
Evening star., 1959-06-26
Boss of Fairfax

Annexation by Alexandria
has its brighter side. 1t would
take over the bailiwick of the
paternaliStic Cor should ! say
"maternalistic"?) boss of
Fairfax County, Mrs. Ann
wilkins. 1t should shed the
light of day of democratic
government on this benighted
county, and give Fairfax
people a chance to have what
they want. not requiring
them merely to be satisfied
with what Mrs. Wilkins
wants.
It's an i'll wind that blows
no good. Annexation?-
hmm. Tom E. Moore.
Evening star., 1959-06-26
Russian aStronomers AL

Russian astronomers al
ready are probing the far
heavens with an electronic
image converter attached to
q telescope device which,
1t is predicted, eventually win
extend mans penetration Of
the universe as much as 100
fold beyond that Of the most
powerful existing telescope.
The device is essentially a
combination Of telescope and
television tube. It has been
the subject Of considerable
experimentation both in the
United States and in France
where the concept originated,
but few Of its potentialities
have yet been realized.
With 1t the Russians are
taking pictures in the invis-
ible infrared light which
would be impossible with
other equipment. Such is the
report Of DR.. @. F. w. Null
ders, astronomer Of the
ONCE of Naval Research,
after a tour Of Russian OBJ
servatories.
u. s. Well Ahead
His observations, he says,
convince him that while this
country still is well ahead in
the field of astronomy the
USSR could well overtake us
in 10 years. They have en-
phasized development Of the
image converter due to lack
of the most powerful optical
telescopes.
THE Western world still
has by far the largest instru-
ments," he reports. "The larg-
est optical telescope in Rus
Sia is a 50-inch reflector.
taken from Germany after
the last war. located in the
Crimea near Simferopol. This
is exceeded In size by about
a dozen reflectors in the rest
of the world. up to the 200
inch in California. It must
be remembered. however,
that a small telescope
equipped with an image con-
verter becomes as powerful
as a large telescope. Visitors
were shown infrared spectrs
or air glow and aurora which
would be impossible to obtain
with reasonable exposure
times by ordinary photog-
raphy.
THE Pulkova Observatory
near Leningrad. which was
completely destroyed during
the war. has been rebuilt and
now is probably the largest in
the world in terms of man.
Evening star., 1959-06-26
"ACCOKEEK, Md

"ACCOkEEk, Mo.
Dear Sir:
"At our house we have q
problem of major proportions
and one that has the house.
hold in an uproar. especially
the feminine members there
Of.
Somehow, q small lizard
has gained access to the
house, and, despite our best
efforts. eludes US at every
turn.
rs there any method.
short of vacating the house
and calling in an extermi-
nator with poison gas, to rid
ourselves of this unwelcome
guest?
Sincerely. @. W."
-
Lizards and salamanders,
the former with scaled skin,
the latter with smooth skin,
offer no harm to people in
this latitude.
So our correspondent and
family need have no fear.
The creature is simply
after a cool place to live.
We would advise watching
him 60 out, some time. and
then closing up the exit place
so he cannot get back.
That will do it.
1t will be much better than
poisoning him.
If he is a lizard, he prob
ably will die shortly, anyway
since he must be looking fol
food and water.
The straight salamander-
type seeks water, too. usually
entering around a water pipe
Cementing up the hole will
keep him out.
y \
There is no harm in these
creatures, but 1t is true their
darting ways make some per-
sons afraid.
How do you educate this
fear out of people?
The answer is easy:
You don't.
Those who fear snakes and
things they class as snake
like, even many insects, are
incapable of being changed
We would like to see a
really high-class psychiatrist
try something with such q
case.
We imagine he would meet
Evening star., 1959-06-26
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry Urtter'S correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
Sdtion.