davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
IN the Riqht Direction

-. In view OF the Stalemate between
the House Ways and Means Committee
and the House Public Works Committee
over the interstate highway financing
Dbl the former committee is justified in
using its authority to bring the issue
directly before the House. The Public
Works Committee, as matter of cour-
tesy, had been consulted by the Ways
and Means group in an effort to present
united front on the gasoline tax issue.
But, despite the commendable efforts of
Speaker Rayburn to effect compromise.
no agreement has been reached - and
continuance of the stalemate would
bring the highway construction program
to halt.
~ AS President Eisenhower stressed
before leaving for Europe, there is cur
gent national need for legislation to al
low the interstate highway program to
proceed at steady rate" It would be
uncomfortable" he said in message to
Congress, that construction would be
permitted to stop. The President, while
favoring 1h-cent increase in the Fed
eral gas tax, described the ways and
Means Committees proposal of a one
pent increase for two years as "a step in
the right direction" The Public Works
Committee, on the other hand, has in
sisted on one-year limitation for one
cent increase, supplemented by diver
sipn, beginning July next, of part of
the excise tax on automobiles and auto
motive supplies. The excise provision
would mean dipping into the depleted
general fund of the Treasury during the
next fiscal year-a move vigorously OPP
posed by the administration.
The House, in the interest of saving
the Nationwide highway program from
collapse this fall, should accept the Ways
and Means Committee proposal as vital
"step in the right direction"-and the
Senate should add its approval with a
minimum of delay.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
Parity on Judqeships

Inc principle CnaC Judges SnOulQ De
selected on the basis of their qualifica-
tons for the bench rather than for
political reasons is an eminently sound
one. There are times, however, when
political considerations must play part
in judgeship nominations-and the ad-
ministration is confronted with such
situation right now. In making conces-
sionS to the Democrats, therefore, At
torney General Rogers is only seeking
a practical way to break the logjam in
Congress over legislation to create As
badly needed Federal judgeShips.
While docketS in many Federal
courts continue to pile up to a degree
seriously impeding justice, the Demo-
cratic Congress has shown no interest
In passing bills to relieve the congestion.
1t Is no secret that the main objection
is to giving Republican administration
such a wide opportunity to appoint Re-
publicans to the judiciary. Yet Demo-
cratic as we'll as Republican Presidents
have made no bones about favoring
members of their own party for the
court "plumS."
IaKlng cognlzance OF the political
aspects of choosing judges, the Ameri-
can Bar Association at its recent Miami
meeting called for a balance between
the parties in the filling of court vacan-
cieS. 1t was at the same meeting and
In reference to the bar resolution that
Mr.. Rogers announced the Presidents
Willingness to give Democrats and Re-
publicanS an even break If Congress
passes the legislation for IS new judges
In thus facing political realities as
they exist at the Capitol, the Attorney
General made it plain that neither he
nor the President intended to abandon
the principle of selecting men fully fitted
to administer even-handed justice, ire
spective Of their partisan Affiliations.
There is no doubt as to the availability
OF well qualified men for the posts in
both of the major parties. If the Selec-
ton is made carefully, with fitness the
paramount consideration, justice will be
well served. We hope Congress will do
its part by enacting at this session the
legislation so vitality needed to keep the
machinery of justice moving at a rea-
so1ably effective pace.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29

hospital financed out Of tax
dollars, the supervisors would
act wisely and In the interests
Of the constituents by ex-
tending the inquiries until
such time as Is required to
determine the exact addi-
tional cost and who is re-
sponsible.
The hearings brought out
lack Of coordination between
the architect and the con-
tractors caused the hospital
stoppage. Therefore, the
architect or the contractors.
whoever is responsible, should
pay.
The taxpayers are the ulti.
mate financiers Of the hos
pital and should not have to
pay the extra expense in
volved apparently through
mism a n a g EN- emit by the
builders.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

Even squirrels will invest.
gate such a house, and with
their sharp teeth make the
doorway just a little larger.
We have always thought it
unfortunate that birds, as a
group, seldom seek the ref
uge of bird houses in the
cold.
Now and then you will
hear of some Carolina wren
or other taking over a bird
house for sleeping, but it
happens so seldom that most
of us have never seen it.
+ = =
This would seem to be .
waste in housing.
Sometimes in winter, it 10
true, a sparrow will seek ref
uge in a martin house. This
comes about because they
are friendly with the purple
martins in summer.
Probably most of these
elevated structures. contain
ing eight or multiples there
of of individual boxes, have
one or two sparrows nesting
in them. There never seems
to be any difficulty about
this arrangement.
This tolerance by the beau
tiful birds of the plain Jane
sparrowS speaks well for the
latter, we think.
AS does the excellent care
the mother sparrows give
the larger baby birds of
other species. 1t is a common
sight to see a mother SPAR
row feeding a larger baby
of some other species.
y + 4 +
Despite the fact that the
bluebird house deserted by
the two bluebirds was paint
ed white, with neat green
shingle roof, this combina-
ton is the best, we think.
The deserted house was
allowed to remain for 20
years, without takers.
1t was then painted all
over.
It still has no takers.
Probably the color has lit
tie to do with it.
Height from the ground is
believed more important.
Experts recommend 4 feet,
which seems very little.
We would like to know
from our correspondents
what color was their sue
cessful bluebird house, and
how high it was placed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
More Local ToxExemptions

Every off1ceholder who lives in
Washington during his term Of office,
from the President on down, should pay
a District Of Columbia income tax-with
the usual credit for taxes paid to his
home State.
In enacting the present District in
come tax, Congress did remove some of
the scandalouS exemptions which pre-
viously existed. But it retained a great
many. It exempted from the tax it's
own members, together with their office
STATS; the President and his cabinet,
and other Senate confirmed appointees.
The House has approved bill add
ing numerous off1ceholderS to the ex-
empt list. In fairness, such exemptions
do seem to follow pattern already
established. The new exemptions at least
are logical extensions of that pattern.
But the Senate District subcommittee in
charge of the House passed bill has
really run wild. 1t has written into the
bill exemptions which follow no logical
pattern, unless there is logic in picking
out some deserving officeholder and de-
Gliding to put him on the tax-exempt list,
too.
Many individuals thus exempted,
under the law as it is or as the House
and Senate committees might change it,
live here, send their children to school
here, benefit from all the services for
which the tax helps to pay. The only
fair rule to follow is to tax everybody
who lives and works in Washington, with
credits designed to avoid unjust double
taxation. Every new exemption creates
new inequities. The amount of money
lost to District revenues by such exemp-
tionS is really not the important issue.
The important issue involves matter of
principle, and the extension of local in
come tax exemptions is fundamentally
unprincipled and should not be tolerated
by Congress merely because it has the
power to write tax exemptions into the
law as it sees At. >a,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
Virginia Unsporting?

The action of Virginia
game wardens in checking up
on District of Columbia and
Maryland residents who have
cheated" the Old Dominion
out Of $4,000 a year in hunt
ing and fishing license fees
by falsely registering as Vir-
ginia residents is a conse-
quence of Virginia's discrimi-
natory licensing system.
If a District of Columbia
resident wants to fish Just
once in Virginia, it will cost
him a $40 license fee. If he
wants to bring his young son
along, he must pay another
$40. No provision is made by
Virginia, as it is in States
bordering Virginia, for the
out-Of-State fisherman who
wants to f1Sh one day, or
three days, or throughout q
two-week vacation-it's q
fiat $40 to fish one day or
1855 days.
All five of the States sur
rounding Virginia offer nom
resident fishing licenses vary
ing from ON day to 10 days,
at lesser rates than annual
nonresident licenses. Mary
land and West Virginia also
charge a nonresident $40 for
an annual fishing license, but
Maryland also offers a 3-day
nonresident license for SO
and West Virginia six days
nonresident for the same
sum.
Does Virginia just want to
keep weekend and vacation
ing fishermen out of the
Commonwealth?
~
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29

powerhouse Of his State, has
raised his voice in demand for
Mr.. Buffers political scalp.
So has State Senator Edgar
A. Brown, Democratic Ma
tional Committeeman from
South Carolina.
Their protests were raised
over Mr.. Buffers latest dec
laration that free delegates"
from Southern States will be
challenged and perhaps de-
MED seating in the national
convention. Five Southern
States-Louisiana Georgia,
Mississippi, Arkansas and
Alabama-either by law or by
action Of their Democratic
State Central Committees al
ready have provided for So
called free delegates" II
Virginia and South Carolina
should fall in line, this would
mean a revolt by Z Of the IL
States Of the old solid
South"
Pressure Move
The maneuver by these
Southern States is recognized
as an effort to put pressure
on the Democratic National
Convention to name candi-
dates for President and Vice
President and to write a party
platform acceptable to the
Southern Democrats. Chair
man Butler is firmly con-
WINGED that the best chance
for Democratic success in the
national election next year
rests on the nomination of
so-called liberal Democrats
men committed above all
to the support of civil rights
enforcement, by law and adj
ministration. He is believed
strongly opposed to any COM
promise which would name
middle -of-the-road or con-
sentative Democrats for the
national ticket. Such action,
he believes, would be playing
into the hands of the Re-
publicans.
This 1959-60 version of the
Dixiecrat movement differs
from that of 1913. 1t leaves
their presidential electors
free to vote for anyone they
prefer, rather than commit
ting them to vote for any
particular Dixiecrat candi-
date, like Gov. Strom Thur
mond of South Carolina. Un-
der the new plan. they could
vote for the Republican can
didate if they wished, or cast
their electoral votes for any
Democrat they desired.
In 1948. the Dixiecrat re-
volt split the South, but the
split was not sufficient to pre-
vent the election of the then
President Harry S. Truman.
In the election next year, the
revolt could be more sizeable.
1t could throw the presiden-
tial election into the House Of
Representatives, should the
division between the Demo-
cratic and Republican candi-
dates be so close as to pre-
vent a majority for any
candidate.
Each State has but a single
vote in making a choice for
President. In other words 26
States, a majority of the so
now in the Union, could elect.
Some Southerners feel this
would be to their advantage.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
Good Show Window

Overshadowed at times by the
attention given such special exhibits as
those staged at Brussels and Moscow.
the program of United States participa-
ton in international trade fairs opens
a, new fall schedule next week with a
snlonth-long small industries" display
at Madras, India. During the autumn
alone this form of American salesman
ships promoting our culture as well rs
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
Our Timing Off

Your August 23 editorial
about the play "Rashomon"
said:
Nearly one thousand years
ago in Japan, he Ryunoke
Akutagawa) wrote two sharp
ly inquiring short stories
which have re-emerged in
the goth century as q movie
and a play called 'Rasho-
mon.' In his bristling moral
istic way, Akutagawa asked
the world the large ques-
ton: What is truth?"
In the interest Of truth. I
would like to take the liberty
of pointing out that Ryuno-
suke correct spelling) Akut-
agawa, one Of Japan's FORE
most modern writers, was
born around 1892 and died
in 1927. His short story I'm
a Grove" from which the
play is taken, was written
less than a half century ago.
Sheldon M. Lift.
= 4
Your placing Akutagawa
and his THE RaShomon" in
the 10th century would be
tantamount to putting Mark
Twain in about the same
period because he wrote "A
Connecticut Yankee in King
Arthur's Court"
Akutagawa wrote THE
"Rashomon" in 1915 while
majoring in English at I'm
perial University in Tokyo.
AS a first effort, the story was
widely unknown and would
have remained so Except in
Japan had it not proved
adaptable as q remarkably
good movie.
He was perhaps the best
and certainly the angriest Of
a group Of japanese satiristS
Of the early Taisho era (19l2-
1920, and were he alive and
writing today, he probably
would be called a beatnik.
Even so, Akutagawa'S works
are memorable and are fire.
quently compared to Flau-
bert, although putting them
into any tongue other than
Japanese is like trying to
copy Hiroshige's color prints
in oils.
Unable to do anything
about the seeming hopeless
ness Of japanese society, he
wrote a final piece called "A
Fools Life" then-in his own
mind, at least-solved all his
problems and the worlds with
q healthy dose Of veronal,
July "a, 1927, age IS.
Chester r.. Venemann.
Editors note: We stand
properly corrected. The
time" of Akutagawa's stories
was 1000 years ago.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29

MOVING lnCO your own new
home. putting out a new
home for bluebirds, and hav-
ing them move in and raise
three broods-
This has been the happy
experience Of Mr.. and Mrs.
rem. Of Lincolnia Hills,
Va.
Not all persons who try to
attract bluebirds are so sue
cessful.
We can recall one house,
holder who put up q neat
house, complete with shingle
roof.
Two bluebirds appeared
as if by magic.
They spent an entire day
going in and out the pretty
little bluebird dwelling.
Everything seemed to suit.
This was just what the books
had said would happen.
Even the bluebirds seemed
happy. = = 4
The next day
There were no bluebirds.
They never appeare d
again. Just what chased
them away. or how, is I'M
known to this day.
But the people behind the
big house window have an
idea that their four pet cats
had something to do with it.
Some species Of birds re-
sent cats more than others.
Among these must be
classed the beautiful blue
birds, regarded by some OBJ
servers as the best of all ma
tive American birds.
4
The bluebird is fond Of
small trees even saplings.
At one time there was a
veritable bluebird belt ex-
tending from Wesley Heights
to the east.
A range Of young trees
lured them.
These beauties have APP
peared in an irregulS pat
tern in various parts Of
Chevy Chase.
Observers in one block will
have two or three pairs for
years, whereas those just to
the south or north will never
see q bird.
The bluebirds are immune
to the lure Of the ordinary
foods put out in feeding sta
tions. Now and then, in win
ter, they will seek some suet.
They like raisins, but are
gentle and affectionate crea-
lures and do not like to
wrangle over much except at
nesting time when they can
become quite belligerent..
+ q y
Often enough the bluebirds
If they take over a house
have to fight to retain it.
Common sparrows and
sometime starlings like blue
bird houses since the en-
trance is large enough for
them to get in.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
Answers to Questions
BY THE HASKINS SERVICE

@. Can bursitis occur in
other parts of the body than
the shoulders?--D. Y.
A. Yes. The human body
has over lao bursae, or sacs
filled with fluid, which are
set in places in the tissues
where friction would other
wise develop. Bursitis can oc-
cur in any of them. but the
shoulders are most frequent
ly affected.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
Too Much for Him

And how can any patriotic
American swallow the idea of
$l50,000 for the competition
to determine the design of a
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memo
rial plus whatever millions it
will take to construct it, and
q limit of $4,000 for one for
James Madison?
Fred Z. Rick.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
1t Can't Happen Where?

Jakarta, the capital OF lndoneSia, Is
a city of approximately three million
residents. A mixture Of modern and
primitive, it is in normal times a busy
and buStling metropolis major CEN
ter of commerce and banking for the
republic of IS million persons. AS gov
eminent city, 1t may have some resem-
blance to Washington. AS business and
banking capital, it may have even closer
resemblance to New York.
On a recent day, however, the nor
NAL hustle Of Jakarta was stilled. All
Of its banks and most OF its shops were
closed. So-called security forces were
patrolling the streets and guarding the
locked entrances to the stock exchange,
the banking houses and the larger buSi-
ness establishments Military police were
checking automobiles leaving the city.
Why? 1t was because Indonesia for
months past has been drifting steadily
and inexorably into what its own edito-
rialiSts refer to as financial mess" It
had become victim, in the traditional
sense that has prevailed in other coun-
tries before it, Of imitation. And without
advance warning, at the close of an
earlier and normal business day, the
government had announced drastic steps
which it hoped-and probably no more
than hoped-would arrest this progress
toward complete fiscal disaster. 1t was
the government that ordered the banks
closed and foreign-eXchange transact
tions suspended. 1t "froze" 80 per cent
n oh tot Va
deposit f1gure-not only those held in
individual names but those Of business
establishments with payrolls and costs
to meet. 1t set an arbitrary new rate at
which the rupiah would be exchange
able into foreign currency when it
would be eXchangeable again at all. And
in one appalling stroke it decreed that
all bank notes Of 500 and 1000 rupiah
face value henceforth would be worth
only 10 per cent Of these specified face
values.
1t was implied, at least, that these
steps would strike hardest at "profteers"
or In any case at those who had so much
money that they would not suffer unduly
by losing 80 per cent of some Of 1t or
getting along indefinitely without most
OF it. It was interesting, though, that
nongovernmental commentators eSti-
mated that 80 per cent of the adult
population would be Immediately and
personally affected" Even the leading
Communist newspaper expressed concern
that many more working people than
estimated by the government would be
hurt by this severe treatment for a
severe ailment.
This may, perhaps, be the only way
left to combat imitation in Indonesia--
and it may work, though at deep cost
to many. It does not, however, encourage
support for the head-in-the sand prattle
that imitation is only scare-word en-
ployed by political "reactionaries" who
advocate prudence and responsibility
in governments policies Of fiscal
management.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
HospitoI Inouin

I am thoroughly disguised
with the action of the Board
of County Supervisors of
Fairfax County in not voting
to continue the inquiry into
the Fairfax Hospital situa-
ton. Who is afraid of the
truth? The taxpayers will
not accept a whitewash and
public confidence can be re-
stored only by q full inquiry
that will get to the bottom
OF a very serious situation.
Mrs. J. H. Harrison.
The Fairfax Board Of Su-
pervisors is proving Donald
wilkins right-it lacks
CUTS" When it was con-
fronted with the proposition
of continuing inquiry into
the hospitals work stoppage
and prevent further costly
delays, the board knuckled
under to wilkins defense
strategy.
Typically, Mr.. Wilkins car
ried the fight to the board.
He threatened that the in
quiry into his basic RESPONSE
bility would hurt the prog
ress Of the hospital. And he
succeeded, by this offensive,
in diverting attention from
the fact that lack of archi-
tect-contractor coordination
amounting for over four solid
. monthsD has stopped hos
pital progress over which Mr..
wilkins himself has prime
responsibility.
1t is tragic that the Board
Of Supervisors acts wishy-
washy when confronted with
the need for courageous de-
cision.
Mrs. Mary GulIedge.
\ 4 4
On September 2, at 8 pm,
the County Board of Super
visors in Fairfax will meet
with the Hospital Commits
sion and the Board of Inquiry
to decide whether to extend
the hearings on the Fairfax
Hospital delay.
The Hospital Board of
Inquiry has reported that an
undetermined additional cost
will be involved and that the
hospital completion date will
be postponed for another "a
months or possibly q year.
Since this Is q aaublic
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-29
THE POLITICAL MILL
Butler Still in Powerful Position
BY GOULD LINCOLN

The Democratic National
Committee, when 1t meets
here September 16. is ex-
pected to settle the vexing
question Of what to do about
delegates to the 1860 Demo-
cratic National Convention
from States which by law or
by party rule decline to place
on their ballots sets Of cleo
tors committed to support OF
the presidential and vice
presidential nominees of the
convention.
Democratic National Chair
man Paul M. Butler says he
will lay the matter before the
national committee, which in
turn will make its recommen-
dations to the convention and
its committees on rules and
credentials. He declared his
confidence that the national
committee will 60 along with
the compromise rule adopted
in the 1856 convention that
challenged the seating Of
delegates from States which
fail to give the voters q
chance to vote for the nomi-
nees Of the national conven-
ton or fail to nominate presi-
Dental electors pledged for
mally or In good conscience
to vote for those nominees in
the electoral college - the
body which finally elects or
fails to elect a candidate for
President.
Mr.. Buffers confidence re-
garding the attitude of the
national committee seem s
firmly based, notwithstand-
ing the cries from some of the
Democratic leaders Of the
South.
Civil rights-the integra-
ton Of public schools, etc
is at the bottom Of the con-
troversy. And on this issue
it is expected that Mr.. But
Ter will have the support Of
a majority Of the committee
MEMBERS substantial ma
jority at that. Committee
members from the North,
East and West far outnumber
those from the Southern
States. And while some of
the big city Democratic lead
ers have not been friendly to
Mr.. Butler Gov. Dave
Lawrence Of Pittsburgh and
Col. Jacob Arvey Of Chi
cago, for example-they are
scarcely expected to line up
with Southern members Of
the national committee on
such an issue.
Unless something now I'M
foreseen occurs, any effort to
throw Mr.. Butler out of the
national Craftsmanship is ap-
parently doomed to failure.
Furthermore, it is doubtful
that such an effort will be
made in view of the likeli-
hood Of failure.
Southern Protests
This does not mean that
the feeling among the South
erners does not not run high
against Mr.. Butler who has
been charged with constantly
batting the Democrats from
that section and telling them
they must conform or get out
Of the party. Senator Harry
F. Byrd Of Virginia, political