davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
In Fairness to ArIinqton

One OF the key recommendation of
the Arlington Advisory Council on pro-
posed legislation is for modernization of
the formula under which such heavily
populated counties as darlington and
Fairfax have been shortchanged in the
ALLEGATION Of State highway funds. The
Arlington County Board has approved
the councils suggestion that hereafter
traffic density be considered in allotting
road funds. This would mean a larger
and fairer ALLEGATION than Arlington
and Fairfax have been able to secure
in the past.
Under the outmoded formula used
by the State Highway Commission, road
mileage rather than trafic demands of
the counties is primary factor in
distributing highway money. This has
benefited the rural counties at the ex-
pense Of counties where traffic has in
creased far beyond the capacity of the
roads Travelled. It will take an amend
ment Of the highway laws to rectify the
error, according to officials who have
studied the problem. The General As
sembly, in justice to the built-up coun-
ties, ought to change the formula along
more realistic lines.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
Round the World

:.here is much merit, even If at
tended by certain problems, in the posi-
billy. that President Eisenhower might
extend his expected trip to the Soviet
Union later this year to visit India and
perhaps other countries in the Far East
Pacilic area.
He has, first Of all, expressed de-
size to travel in that part of the world
to. revisit places already known to him
and to see others which he has never
yet visited. He talked Of this wander
lust. at recent news conference and
mentioned the Indian Ocean area as
one where he would "love to spend lot
of. time" This was, as 1t happens, in
the context of what he would like to do
when his tenure at the White House
ends, but there seems no insurmount-
able. reason why even earlier travelling
should not be both satisfying and useful.
Mr.. Eisenhower's recent trip to
Europe, for example, not only served
official purposes well but provided the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
Civil Rights Critic

Now we read that the in
eptly named Civil Rights
Commission has recommend
ed that the last shred Of con-
stitutional States rights be
wiped out to give the Federal
Government complete control
Of all elections.
Our founding fathers spe-
officially protected the States
in the control Of the voting.
qualifying to vote, etc., with
the knowledge that once con-
troll Of the voting got into
the hands Of a centralized
government, totalitarianism
would not be far behind.
Moreover, such a provision
would necessarily alter the
ng-standing and tried and
proven provisions Of the Con-
stitution-which means that
action by Congress without
providing for a constitu-
tional amendment would be
unconstitutional and illegal
abridgment Of voters rights.
Indeed, I can see no pur-
pose for the so-called Civil
Rights Commission except to
circumvent or evade specific
provisions Of the Constitution.
Arthur ]. Schneider.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
Foolish Mistake

1t is dif1cult to understand the rea-
soning which led Nicholas Petrulli. a
lifelong resident of the United States.
to renounce his American citizenship
and to petition the Soviet government
for the right to live in Russia. The pic
ture which emerges from the press re.
ports, however, is one Of a thoroughly
confused individual who, never quite
able to make success Of his life in this
country, felt that new environment
might somehow help. It is obvious that
his action was hasty and ill-considered.
Mr.. Petrulli arrived in Russia month
ago, and announced his decision last
week. He said he bore the United States
no Ill will, but that it seemed to him
the Russians "try to do things right
and put square pegs in square holes"
Now, less than a week later, he
says his action was Stupid" and that
he has no desire to become q Soviet
citizen. The mental processes which
got Mr.. Petrulli into this fix are matters
for pSychiatrists to argue about, but
there probably is strong clue in his
statement that there's no one here to
look out for me. At least at home,
have friends and relatives"
The question of whether Mr.. Pc
trulli will be able to come home appar-
emily is now in the hands Of the State
Department here in Washington. II
they wish to, these officials probably can
find way to let Mr.. Petrulli come home.
We hope so. Foolish as his mistake
was, he hardly deserves the fate of a
man without country. And his ex-
perience may make him better citizen
of the United States.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
Victory for Motorists

Inc cOnBreSSl0nally approved Dill
for one-cent increase in the Federal
gasoline tax, which President Eisen-
hover is expected to sign quickly, effec-
lively removes the shackles which had
threatened to halt the Nations vast
Interstate highway program. For the
President, the legislation is clear-cut
victory. He rightly insisted, against
strenuous political opposition, that the
tremendously expensive highway aid
program not become vehicle for fur
ther unbalancing the Federal budget by
Siphoning of general Government reve-
nues. The new bill properly keeps the
program on a pay-aS-you-go track,
financed by the highway users who will
benefit from it,
1t is true that this solution is not
as adequate as it might have been, had
Congress granted the 11a-cent tax raise
requested by the President. Instead of
an ALLEGATION of aid totaling over 50 bill
lion to States, as had been authorized
for next year, the Bureau of Public
Roads is expected to announce soon an
apportionment of about $1.8 billion.
This, however, is enough to insure
quite reasonable continuation of con-
Struction. State highway departments,
in fact, already are beginning to release
contracts which they had to put on the
shelf when the prospective fund short
age emerged several weeks ago.
Actually, the national highway trust
fund, from which the Federal aid money
comes, will be in a precariouS position
for the rest Of this fiscal year. AS a
stop-gap measure, the White House has
asked Congress to transfer $3.50 million
to the fund before it adjourns, to insure
that State vouchers for the aid funds
can be promptly paid during the next
several months. This money is to be
repaid as increased revenues roll into
the fund.
To salvage something in return for
yielding on the gas tax boost, Democrats
wrote into the bill one provision strongly
opposed by the President. This calls for
transfer of about $500 million worth of
excise taxes annually from the general
fund to the highway fund, starting
July I, 1861. This is no immediate
threat to the administration, however,
since Congress already has planned to
review, and possibly drastically revise,
the entire financial structure of the
highway program early in 1861. There
will be added impetus for such a review
In the fact that the new one-cent-a-gal-
lon tax increase will expire in mid-1961.
In the meantime, highway construction
can resume, to the qualification of
everyone.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
Soviet BuiId-Up

The propaganda organs in Moscow
are busily engaged in building up Pre-
mier Khrushchev's trip to the United
States as step toward peace. And it
Is interesting to read in the New York
Times that the Communist newspaper
Prayda has received more than thou
sand letters in recent weeks from Rus
sian farmers and workers who wrote of
their fondness for Americans and their
hopes for peace.
The techniqueS Of official propa-
ganda in Russia are not quite the same
as in the United States. It is easier for
the party bosses to turn it on and turn
1t OF. Still, propaganda line which
encourages the Russian people to hope
that something good will come from Mr..
Krushchev's trip will have its impact.
Once it has been created, it is not easy,
even for the Kremlin, to cancel out a
hopeful public mood. OF course, II the
Khfushchev trip turns sour, the United
States will be blamed. The Russian
people will be told that their Premier
did his best, but that the capitalists
would not listen to him.
we SuSPeCI, HoWeVeI, CnaC IL is
becoming bit more difficult for the
Kremlin to spoon-feed the Russian
masses with propaganda which runs
counter to that which they have been
led to believe. And we think there is
at, least some reason to suppose that
the, Soviet propaganda machine would
not now be raising the hopes of the
Russian people unless Mr.. Khrushchev
himself thinks that his visit to this
country will do something to improve
the international climate.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13

impression that there was a mutual
exhilaration--to the President himself
and to the multitudes who welcomed
him enthusiastically. If there was an
air that he was on new crusade-one
in the interests Of peace and Of friend
ship-in Europe, 1t would undoubtedly
seem likewise in the countries of Asia
and the Pacific Ocean. AS for the prob
lem Of what friendly countries he could
not At into such tour, there might be
some comfort at least in the fact there
would still be places left to visit when
he undertakes his post-presidential
travels.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
rs Years AGO
Washington was having 9

washington was having q
wet September rs years ago.
On September IA, 1884, The
Star reported: Although
today's heavy rain brought a
new all-time rainfall total
for September, the end is not
yet in sight. The Weather
Bureau forecasts more rain
storms for the week end.
During the early hours today
another 1.42 inches of rain
fell, bringing the September
total so far to l1.37 inches.
This not only is an all-time
record for September, pass
ing the 10.81-inch record Of
September. 1873, but 1t also
is an all-time record for any
other month in the year ex-
cept August. :"
The League of Nations had
a new member rs years ago.
In a story from Geneva on
September l6, 1884, The Star
reported: THE Union Of
Soviet Socialist Republics to-
day formally accepted an invi-
tation extended by some 30
countries to join the League
Of Nations, and was expected
to become a member early
next week. At a special ses-
sion Of the League Council.
Russia at the same time was
allocated a permanent Coun-
Gil seat, thus gaining the same
Importance among the select
powers of Europe as coun-
tries like England, France
and Italy. :"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
Aid for Refugees

After reading the melan-
choly story Of the San Saba
refugee camp of Trieste. Italy.
Sunday Star. August 30)
some Of your readers may
wonder II there is anything
that they as individuals can
do to relieve the plight Of
these wretched mortals. These
people are part Of a so-called
"hard core" or residu. as they
are technically designated BY
the UN refugee authorities.
who are not eligible because
Of age, infirmities, and other
conditions Of unemployability
for immigration. There are
some 100000 persons making
UP this hard core" Pere
Pire, the Belgian priest who
was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize In 1858, has provided q
partial answer to people who
wish to help these unwanted
refugees.
Pere Pres program b help
the refugees who cannot emf
crate is known as Aid to Dis
placed Persons and Its Euro
pean villages. The program is
comprised Of three parts -
homes for the aged, parrain-
age or godfathering, and ref
ugee villages. There are to-
day six villages. the most re-
cent Of which is appropriately
called "Anne Frank village.
located in Dusseldorf, Ger
many. But 1t is through god.
fathering that your readers
can most conveniently and
appropriately aid in the work
Of salvaging these seemingly
hopeless people.
In addition to providing q
roof and food, and. when pos
sible, useful work to do. the
Aid to Displaced Persons pro-
notes communication be-
tween the refugees and other
human beings. When one be-
comes godfather to q refugee,
one provides something that
the organization cannot give
- friendship.
AS q sponsor you are the
refugees spiritual parent.
You cannot support him or
her financially but you can
provide those intimate things
in life that are important only
when they come from a per-
son who is personally and
freely extending the hand Of
friendship. A letter, a card
on birthdays, a personal gift.
an inquiry as to some small
personal need - these are the
outward manifestations Of
friendship.
If you are interested In
participating in parrainage.
send a postcard to Aid to Dis
placed Persons. IS rue du
Marche, Huy. Belgium.
Mrs. Elhert r. Siss0n
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
New Fronts in Prospect

THE wreckage Of our Capitors east
front, now so complete and desolate,
will be repaired by January of 1861
when. a new President of the United
States uses it as the majestic backdrop
for taking the oath Of office.
That will be sooner than the people
Of the District of Columbia have the
privilege of adding their own votes to
those cast by their fellow citizens every
where else for his election, and that Of
his running mate, Vice President.
But that privilege has been brought
closer to attainment by the heavily
weighted vote of Senator Kefauver's
subcommittee in favor of a constitu-
honal amendment, permitting real vot-
Ing rights to the people of Washington
In national elections. And the hope for
congressional approval has been made
brighter by proposal Of a comparable
amendment in the House by Repre-
sentative Celler, chairman of the House
Judiciary Committee, with the prospect
Of early hearings when Congress recon-
veneS next January.
The subject of such hearings will
not be new to Mr.. Celler. AS ranking
majority member of the House Judiciary
Committee some 20 years ago, he sat
through series of hearings on essen
tally the same proposition. And he was
member of the Judiciary Committee.
which, in 1910, without hearings, IA
vorably reported such an amendment to
the. House, where it got snagged in the
Rules Committee and was lost. Senator
Kefauver, incidentally, whose Senate
subcommittee has just reported the res
olution, was another member of that
House Judiciary Committee of 1910.
I'VE doubt that there will be oppor-
tunity for further action at this session
on. the constitutional amendment. But
In 1864 we shall have not only new east
front for the Capitol, but bright, new
front on the practice Of representative
government in the United States, re-
placing an ugly defect Of long standing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
AppreciotiYe
Crime Overstressed?

Recently ] found time to
sit and watch TV-a rare
opportunity for me-but to
my disappointment and dis
gust there was not a single
program in the guide for that
evening which did not men
ton robbery. shooting or
murder. I am aware there are
many excellent TV programs.
but why can't there be more
Of them and less Of those in
volving crime? e. Eckles.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13

lures increase as the humber
Of school-days per student
increases. That statement
hardly needs proof.
The same reasoning would
conclude that current dollars
are better" because there are
more dollars per ounce Of gold
now than In 1900.
n0naId Garl0ck.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
Schools Now and Then

Schools may be better now
than in 1900. but your article
from the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Com
parison Puts Schools Ahead
of Good Old Days" in SUM-
days Star certainly does not
prove it. The statistics shakily
prove that school expendi-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13

is convinced. in these epochal
days Of dread and danger,
that as the dictator sees and
feels. our America some Of
his erroneous. preconceived
notions may be modified, as
he realizes that we are all in
the same boat now in the
swift rapids, with the thun-
der Of Niagara Just ahead.
The President. as he deals
with this man with such
enormous power in his hands,
deserves the fervent prayers
Of the millions under the
Stars and Stripes who be-
lieve in the God the Kremlin
denies.
We can rest in confidence
that our elected leader who
faces the unelected Soviet
spokesman has often declared
that our democracy does not
even make sense without
God and without a deeply
felt religion.
To the visitor who In these
September days will be an
swering, in his pronounce
ments, the question who
goes there" America will be
saying at every turn: We
believe that the American
Revolution was tremendously
more significant than the
Russian Revolution. and that
the inspiring exemplar Of the
possibilities of the common
man is not Lenin, but Lin
coln-the Lincoln who said:
Our reliance is In the true
love Of liberty which God has
planted in our bosoms. Our
defense is in the preservation
Of the spirit which prizes lib
erty as the heritage Of all
men-in all lands-every-
where"
And so. without any illu-
sions as to who goes there,
with eyes wide open we say
to our President, with the
plaudits Of Europe ringing in
his ears. May God empower
you as you face this noble
gamble!" Let us remember
that even Paul the Apostle
approved the murder Of
Stephen and counted it q
stern duty to deal out threat
enings and slaughter. and to
make havoc for the early
church. But Paul, as he was
then. the high-handed perse-
cutor, became Christ's de-
voted bondservant. Across
the centuries his name stands
next to the one he perse-
cuted. Could not that miracle
of transformation happen
again?
Who goes there? One who
If he could but see, like Paul,
the light, and repent. and
change his attitude, could go
down In history as a great
benefactor Of humanity in
this age on ages telling.
But as matters now stand,
for loyal Americans, while
there must be, Of course, no
jeers, there must b. no cheers.
This visitor must be received
not as a friend-for he Is
an enemy-with correct and
dignified formality. If this
avowed foe Of the precious
things we hold nearest our
hearts should be received with
fulsome welcome, or as o
conquering hero, We would be
doing something terrible to
ourselves. To receive him.
thus, America would be cruci-
flying her own principles. Any
applause will be to toll the
bells Of hope for all the cap
tive nations who will be
listening.
Courtesy does not even de.
mand that we lend our physi.
cal presence. It is possible to
look and listen by way Of the
radio and television. In any
event, to be true to ourselves
the reception accorded should
be politely regular. Anything
else will be a vote to sell the
soul of America to the devil
of TYRANNY.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
so Years Ago

The District was stream
lining its government SO
years ago. On September IA,
1909, The Star reported:
with the object Of elimi-
mating unnecessary red tape
and increasing the efficiency
of the District government
administration, the Commits
sioners in board session to-
day decided to hold a regular
weekly session Of the board
Wednesday mornings at 1890
o'clock, and to allow heads
of departments to handle
correspondence which does
not require consideration by
the board. This action was
based on the report Of the
committee appointed to sug-
gest changes In the methods
of handling THE correspond
ence and records Of the Lis
trict government. -"
Plans were being laid to
pipe natural gas to the Dis
trict from West Virginia so
years ago. The Star, on Sep
TENDER 20, 1909, reported:
Washington will be given
an opportunity to use rat
ural gas of West Virginia for
heating and lighting pur-
poses If the plans of the In
terstate Natural Gas Co. of
that State are carried out
as reported. This company
will run a 14-inch main to
pipe natural gas from Min
eral County, w. Va. to Bal
timore, a distance of about
lao miles. The pipe line will
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
100 Years Ago

A new seating arrangement
for the House Of Representa-
tives was getting a jaundiced
look a century ago. The Star.
on September Is. 1859, re-
ported: 1.-THE Hall Of the
House Of Representatives
presents rather a singular
spectacle in its new arrange
ment Of seats for the mem
bers. The red-cushioned fila
gree-carved chairs and desks
which ornamented the floor
last session Costing. the
chairs $50 and the desks 500
each) have been spirited
away. and their places are to
be supplied with rows Of
benches, much like in shape
to the pews Of Wesley Chapel.
How the arrangement
will work remains to be seen.
A few Of the proposed
benches have been made and
placed in the Hall for the
inspection Of Capt. Meigs,
who, 1t is said, does not par
ticularly admire them. -"
The Star 100 years ago was
seeking q home for a foun-
ding. The story. on Septem-
Der II, 1859, said: "a few
mornings since, some person
found, lying near the gate Of
a private residence in the
second ward, a newly born
female child, nicely swaddled
up, and apparently indiffer-
ent as to its parentage or
the opinions Of the world re-
specting it. The person i'm
mediately took the little
stranger to the residence Of
Father O'Toole, who chris
tened her Mary Gates, in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used q
letters carry Driters' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
sdtion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
FROM THE STARS FILES. !.

pass through the northern
section Of Montgomery
County, Nd, from where it
is planned to tape it by a
line less than 80 miles long
to this CITY
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13

honor of the place where she
was picked up. Can not
some humane lady who is
childless see fit to adopt it?"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13
Against Home Rule

Amid the controversy over
home rule for the District,
1t is important to keep in
mind that the District of
Columbia was created a sep
arate territory, to become the
seat Of our Federal Govern
ment.
Since its creation and
under control Of Congress,
Washington has grown to
greatness and become a most
beautiful city, representing
as 1t does the ideas and ideals
Of people from all parts Of
our country. Each year mil
lions visit their Nations Cap
ital to, enjoy its beauty and
to learn more about the func-
tons Of their Government.
The interest shown by these
millions is proof Of the appeal
which this city holds for all
Americans.
To grant home rule for the
District would tend to defeat
the purpose for which 1t was
created and 1t certainly
would become Of less inter-
est to all. who through their
representatives In Congress
past and present-have had
a part in the creation and
building Of this great city.
Congress must never sur
render control, but rather
strive to make our National
Capital even greater and
more beautiful for all to look
to and upon with justifiable
pride. Melvin L. King.
Appreciotive
The District of Columbia
Recreation Board wishes to
express appreciation for the
excellent publicity given by
your newspaper to the public
recreation program during
the summer months. Reports
and photographs of the ac-'
tivities conducted by our
department were especially
helpful in our efforts to in
crease the interest Of children.
youth and adults in whole
some recreation.
Elinor H. Mcclure,
Secretary. Recreation
Board, District of Co
lumbia.