davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
Expediency in Home Rule

Beginning in 1948, the Senate has
passed four so-called home rule bills
and there is little reason to believe it
will not pass the latest one, which may
come up for vote tomorrow. If so,
Senate passage will be victory Of
expediency. That victory will have
very little to do with the principle Of
representative self-government.
Expediency influenced the Senate
District Committee to report the Morse
bill, rather than the bill which had the
support of the President, the Budget
Bureau, the District Commissioners and
the organized home rule advocates. The
Morse bill can be more quickly disposed
of, with Senator Morse speaking in its
favor, than the other bill, with Senator
Morse prepared to speak at some length
against it.
1t will be expedient for Senate
leadership to get the home rule business
out of the way, knowing that its chances
of House passage are remote. 1t will
be expedient to give those Senators
who wish 1t the opportunity to talk on
democracy and its blessings in the abb
Stract without having to get down to
brass tackS on the many questions left
unanswered by particulars of this bill.
Among such questions are the future
status Of coming, with the Zoning Com
mission abolished and the controversial
subject of coming in this Federal City
thrown into the political arena of an
elected city council; what sort of utility
regulation there will be with the in
dependent Public Utilities Commission
abolished; what will happen to urban
redevelopment, so urgently needed and
just getting started, with the Redevel-
opment Land Agency abolished There
are many questions relating to the flu
ture of the Metropolitan Area which
were not even considered in drafting
the present bill
And it is highly expedient-time
being of Importance in the affairs of
the Senate-to omit from the bill any
definite commitment by the exclusively
governing Congress as to future flnan-
cial participation in the maintenance of
the National Capital. That is avoided,
too, and under the terms of this bill the
taxpayers of this city-still unrepre-
sented in CongreSs-would find them
selves with an obligation they could not
hope to meet.
The Senate'S passage of the home
rule bill may be expedient for the SEN
ate. But not for the people who would
have to live under it in Washington.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12

Although it is one of London'S great
tourist attractions, century-old Big Ben
seems to be getting on the nerves of
more than few EngliShmen. Over the
long course of years, with few interrupt
lions, it's bells have been ringing every
is minutes, day and night, from the
Clock Tower at the north end of the
Parliament Building next to WeStmin-
ster Bridge. Naturally enough, this has
impressed most visitors as something
enchantingly characteristic of rich Brit
1Sh tradition, but certain people working
and living within earshot of it have
different feeling.
One such person is Frank Allaun,
1aborite member of Parliament. Rising
Indignantly to his feet in the House of
Commons the other day, he attacked
Big Ben as an insufferable nuisance
whose terrible ding-dong ding-dong
every Is minutes through the night" is
seriously disturbing the sleep of all too
many weary LondonerS, including 1000
patients at a nearby hospital across the
Thames River Apparently, far from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
Eyes on Alexandra

Virginia Democrats will vote Tues
day in primary election which, without
a doubt, will be critical for the future
of the States public school system. And
nowhere will the crucial nature of this
contest be more evident than in the
Alexandria race between State Senator
ArmiStead Boothe and his opponent,
Marshall ]. Beverley. This is a contest
that will be closely watched throughout
the State.
The issues, real and phony, have
been threShed and Refreshed. The kerr
nels of fact have been winnowed out
and there is nothing to be gained by
rehaShing the old claims and counter
claims. The voters, we believe, are
quite capable of distinguishing between
the wheat and the chaff.
So the campaign at this stage comes
down to matter of opinion-what, and
who, can best serve Virginia's schools
and Virginia'S school children in the
years to come?
Massive resistance has been tried
and it was failure. Those who sup
ported massive resistance now say that
they do not favor taking the State out
of the public school business, but that
they want to maintain a segregated
school system. They talk in vague terms
of "three-School" System-one white,
one Negro and one integrated. AS a
practical matter, we doubt that such a
system would be workable, and, in any
event, it is of very questionable legality.
AS with massive resistance, it probably
would be held unconstitutional by the
courts.
For our part, we think that the pro-
gram devised after careful study by the
Perrow Commission and strongly sup
ported by Governor Almond offers by
far the best hope for public education
in Virginia. This plan will permit some
indignation in some schools. It also
makes it possible, where public senti-
ment so DEGREES, for localities to close
down public schools and go over to
system of private education. This may
not be ideal. In our judgment, however,
it is far superior to and much more
workable than anything suggested by
those who oppose it.
Mr.. Beverley is against the Perrow
plan. Senator Boothe is for it, and,
indeed, his vote was decisive in the 20
to-19 margin by which the State Senate
approved the proposal.
1t is not our purpose to attempt to
'tell" anyone how he should vote. That
would be presumptuous and, quite prop
erly, would be resented. We merely wish
to express our sincere belief that the
future of public education in Virginia
will be significantly influenced by the
outcome of this primary, and that, if
public schools are to be maintained,
Governor Almond will urgently need the
support in the Legislature of men like
Senator Boothe and the others who
have fought for the Perrow plan.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12

The prosecution is over
looking an important law that
not only applies to robbery
where there are two or more
involved but could apply to
union leaders who use funds
and threats to accomplish
illegal results. The law of the
land which is in force follows:
IF two or more persons
conspire to injure, threaten
or intimidate any citizen in
the free exercise or enjoy
ment of any right or privilege
secured to him by the Consti-
tuition or laws of the United
States, or because of his hav-
ing exercised the same, or if
two or more persons go in
disguise on the highway or
on the premises of another
with intent to prevent or
hinder his free exercise or
enjoyment of any right or
privilege so secured, they
shall be fined not more than
$4,000 or imprisoned not
more than ten wears mr. both
(Statute 241, Conspiracy
against right of citizen.
United States Code, page
2348.)
Here in the Nations Cap
ital young hoodlums go in
groups and prey on the citi-
zens, mostly elderly people.
1t has gotten to the point
where you are not safe on the
streets.
Emory & Avant
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12

tinkling or Misunderstanding in a sweet
and soporific way, the bells boom and
thunder, or so 1t seems to the complain
ing insomniacS.
In championing the cause of these
unfortunateS, Mr.. Allaun has proposed
that henceforth Big Ben be Silenced at
least from midnight to am, and pref
erably for longer period than that.
At this distance, of course, 1t is difficult
for an American to judge the merits of
such tradition smashing idea, but one
can be sympathetic. Bells, 1t seems,
are not unlike certain of our feathered
friends, about whom a disgruntled poet
has written: "A bird that wakes fellow
p/Should have been a buttercup."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
Objects to BohIen

1t may indeed bode i'll for
this republic if President Eli
senhower undoes the good
work Of John Foster Dulles
and returns Charles "Chip"
Bohlen from the Philippines
to become top adviser" on
Soviet affairs.
An effective opponent of
Soviet appeasers, both in and
out of the State Department,
Mr.. Dulles pulled Ambassador
Bohlen out of Moscow and
consigned him to the Pacific
islands because allegedly he
was attuned to the baleful
thinking Of Dean AcheSon.
President Eisenhower may
serve his country well if he
leaves Mr.. Bohlen in the
Philippines.
Charles p. BeazIey.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
All Gummed Up

A recent article in a pub
LEGATION of the American
Chemical Society informs us
that the people of the United
States consumed more than
80 billion sticks of chewing
gum last year.
I hate to question the &C
curacy of that report. but 1
believe that it greatly under
estimates our gum-chewing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
22d Amendment

There is significant oppo-
sition, including former Pres
ident Truman's, to the Twen-
ty-second Amendment to the
Constitution, the presidential
two-term limitation. Jeffer-
son favored some such limi-
tation, for. without it, he be-
lieved that the Office would
degenerate into life tenure
and become hereditary.
The national political par
ty, at its quadrennial conven-
ton, dominates the candi-
dates who become President
and Vice President. Upon
their Inauguration, members
of the party-an extra-con-
stitutional organization-uSu-
ally assume the ranking Of
fees Of the administration.
Accordingly, the Twenty-sec-
ond Amendment acts as a
safeguard against perpetual
ton of an "entrenched" adj
miniStration.
But repeal of the Twenty
second Amendment would be
desirable if it is accompanied
by repeal of the constitutional
provisions establishing and
enumerating the functions of
the electoral college, and by
adoption of an amendment
empowering the voters or the
people, say. through the in
strumentality of political par
ties Estate and nationaD, to
make the nominations for
President and Vice President
and to elect the President
and Vice President directly
through a national election.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
Defends Bus Drivers

1t is, of course, unfortunate
and tragic that there have
recently been two deaths in
public transportation, but it
does not seem just to make
a complaint against all bus
drivers Except a livery few")
on that account.
\ Personally I do not like the
buses, but / have been riding
them ever since they were
put into operation in Wash
lngton, and I have found the
careless and uncaring bus
driver to be a rarity. On the
other hand, I have seen al
most daily the unconcern
with which pedestrians cross
on red traffic lights, not sell
dom taking with them chill
dren, children whom most of
us like to warn against walk
ing against the lights. Any
one with sufficient contact
with children knows it is do
as I do" and not do as I
say" that most influences
them.
/ can't feel that anyone's
business or pleasure is so
important that he cannot
wait a minute for the chang
ing light. And how about the
drivers of automobiles who
crowd after the car ahead
even though the line of cars
before them has been stopped
by a red light? They fill up
the crosswalk and the pc
deStrian must squeeze in be-
tween cars or walk back of
the last car into the line Of
cars in motion across the
street below.
I believe a look at the
record of fatalities in the
District would not put an I'M
fair amount Of blame on the
transit company.
Faith Bradford.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
100 Years AGO

washington was having
budget problems 100 years
ago. The Star, on July IL,
1859, reported: THE unfor-
tunate taxpayers who have
been so nipped by the Corpo-
ration screws this year, and
who have been advised to
grin and bear it, on the score
that their children'S children
will be benefited. at least, by
the great 1859 wiping out of
the city debt, will perhaps
be denied even that source of
satisfaction. In fact it is
whispered that although the
Corporation account is over
drawn some $4,000 at the
Bank of Washington, yet a
swarm of hungry creditors,
who cannot afford to wait,
are cooling their heels about
the Hobbies of City Hall, try
ing to get the money due
them. Some of them, we
hear, are about to enter suit
against the Corporation"
Police here we're becoming
a bit jaded with duels a CEN
tury ago. On July 10, 1859,
The Star reported: 1.-THE
Richmond papers state that
the preliminaries have been
arranged for a duel between
o. Jennings Wise, Esq, of
the Enquirer, and Patrick
Henry Ayleft, of the Exam
liner. 1t is supposed that the
offense was given in an ar
ticle which appeared in the
Enquirer on Friday night :.
II is also announced that the
parties have left Richmond
for this city Some of the
officers this morning were
very decidedly opposed to in
terfering with them, we sup
pose being a little tired of
running up and down to ar
rest belligerent gentlemen
who come here to settle their
difficulties. . :"
The Star 100 years ago
issued a bit of a warning to
careless workmen. The story
on July Is, 1859, said: ION
Wednesday night last, on the
roof of the new Treasury
Building, the high wind blew
into a glowing heat a guam
tity of charcoal left in a
furnace used in soldering,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
Fantastic News

If that man from Mars"
had visited Washington on
July 7 and glanced at the
front page of The Star. he
would have been convinced
mo reflection on The Starr
that we on this earth were
truly loco,
One headline read "Sena-
tors Vote $40 Billion for De-
fense," while another stated
that Housing Bill ($1.375
billion or about 81 per per-
SOM Is Vetoed as Imitation
ary."
Is it not fantastic that,
without a murmur, we can
appropriate the biggest sums
of money in the entire his
tory of our planet for de-
Struction and bemoan the
piddling sum of $1.375 bill
lion for the most urgently
needed housing to replace
our slums and take care of
our swelling population?
The Saddest part of the
story is that there are so few
protests against this amaz-
ing waste of our tax money
on war and the failure of
our Government to use some
significant portion of our
taxes for health, housing,
highways, schools and other
necessities of life for a grow
ing nation.
A flood of letters to some
of our legislators land to the
White House, might help
change this sad situation!
C. G.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12

remains is to translate our
beliefs into reality"
Walter Raushenbusch, truly
a modern prophet, declares,
Religion in the past has
spent a large proportion Of
its force on doingS that
were apart from the real
business of life, on sacri-
fees, on endless prayers,
sacred stones, bathing in
sacred rivers, visits to sacred
cities, climbing sacred stairs,
and a thousand things that
had at best only an indirect
bearing on the practical So
cial relations between men
and their fellows"
1t was long ago that Sam
uel Rutherford remarked Of
a certain individual whose
conduct did not conform to
his creed, 20, he's a miSer-
able cur! For 80 years he
has listened to sermons about
supernatural things until he
really thinks that super
natural things are everything
and meanness is nothing"
In these testing days taunt-
ing voices are reminding
Christian Americans that
while ours is a beautiful
creed, for its genuine fulfill
ment there is yet a long way
to "all that remains" before
injustices, inequalities, de-
mails and betrayals cease to
spoil the American dream.
Let us confess now, as the
crumbling pillars of our Ma
tional Capitol are being re-
stored, that this necessary
project is a parable that out
of the very ground of our
democracy there must be
constantly fashioned stronger
and fairer columns of reli-
giouS faith, of moral integ-
rity, and of white principles
that Scorn expediency.
There is much in our Ca
thedral of Freedom which
needs to be rebuilt and re-
stored as we face, with our
Christian creed, an awakened
East. Our creed demands
that our supreme mission is
to identify ourselves boldly
with all just and humane
purposes. We often declare
that a part of our American
creed is that we desire moth
ing for ourselves that we do
not covet for the whole world.
Now is the time to demon
Strate our concern for the
deprived people of the world.
Fair words are not enough.
What remainS-and the time
is SHORTS for us to demon
Strate that we have the I'M
derstanding and the deter
mination to make the West
the friend and counselor of
the stirring nations of Asia
who are now on the march
toward the goal of a better
life.
In our multifold organi-
cations proclaiming utopian
creeds, in our politics, in our
religion
knowledge We ask not
knowledge Thou hast
lent
But, Lord, the tDill-there
lies our bitter need,
Glue US to build Gboue the
deep intent
The deed, the deed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
FROM THE STARS FILES

weeks left in which to COM
plete his official tests. Orville
Wright went into the air at
Fort Myer yesterday after
noon and made a flight of 16
minutes and SO seconds. 1t
was the best flight that had
been made in the trials this
year. The machine showed
more, as it was expected to
do, before the brothers came
to Washington for their I'M
expectedly long drawn out
battle with adverse condi-
tiOnS. ="
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
Is Years AGO

Virtually everything came
to a halt in San Francisco
rs years ago. The Star, on
July Is, 1884, reported in a
story from that city: Com
pletely paralyzing the Metro
politan Area with a popula-
ton of more than 1.3 million
persons. the general strike
called by labor unions be-
came effective at 8 am. to-
day. All business and street.
car traffic ceased and the
National Guard moved swiftly
to prevent violence. Tanks
were en- route to the city,
bearing machine guns and
l-pounder guns. The Ma
tional Guard here was in
creased to 1000 men, 5000
troopers being moved quickly
into the city. :"
Radio communication for
Washington policemen was
getting increasing attention
Is years ago. The Star, on
July Is, 1884, reported:
Washington may have the
finest police radio system in
the country. under plans an
nounced today by Supt.
Ernest w. Brown. At least
10 additional automobiles and
all the precincts will be radio
equipped. greatly increasing
the efficiency of the depart
ment, according to Brown.
The Police Department
has at its disposal $1,000 for
broadening the radio system.
an increase for radio having
been granted by Congress
after the Importance of radio
had been emphasized by po-
lice officers. :"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12

capacity. There are at least
80 billion gobs of used gum
firmly adhering to the side
walks and asphalt of F and
G streets. OF course this
count does not include the
fringe areas, such as the I'M
derSide of restaurant tables
or theater seats, the steps of
the Water Gate, the corri-
doris of the Pentagon, or the
platforms Of the New York
subway system.
Considering the fact that
second hand gum in its plas-
tic or ase-hardened state is
indestructible, it is only a
question of time before all
of us, including the American
Chemical Society, will be hip
deep in the stuff.
Angus Sinclair.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
Price of Progress

I was pleased to see the
letter from "Just a Customer. "
The customer may not be
damned but he might just
as well be.
So far as I know, my bank
has not yet installed the
dipseat plastic chairs in the
safe deposit box room, but
they did recently change their
name. And who, you may
ask, is the more concerned
with such a change-the
customers or the stockhold-
ers? Right! And do you think
they consulted the customers?
They did not. They even re-
fused to consider it.
I, too, dislike the new milk
bottles, but my chief objec-
ton is to the diminished
metallized caps, which are
hard to get off and are not
tight when replaced; also not
as sanitary. l wrote the dairy
and had a call from a pleas
ant representative, but my
opinion remains the same.
Another example: Some
years ago there was on the
market an excellent hand
brush with close-set animal
bristles and a wood back. 1t
was replaced, I presume in
the name of progress" by
a brush having sparse syn
thetic bristles and a plastic
back. I had some correspond
ence with the manufacturer
with the result that the
president sent me one of the
old type brushes, out of a
stock that he had set aside
for his own use!
We must have progress at
all costs, and since we can't
progress without change, the
product must be changed no
matter how good or satisfac-
tory it may be. That seems
to be the ruling principle
today.
George D. WatrOus, Jr.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
so Years AGO

Daylight saving time was
under discussion here so
years ago. On July Is, 1909,
The Star reported: Shall a
more daylight bill be adopt
ed for the District of Column
bia? That proposition will
be submitted to the business
men of the city for serious
consideration. If a majority
of the replies are in favor of
the plan, it is not unlikely
that it will be adopted by the
Commissioners for the Ma
tional Capital. The scheme
is to advance the hands of
the clock in the District l
hour May l and move them
back l hour october in
order to give more daylight
working hours E"
Washington was interested
in getting more of it's resi-
dents to enjoy the great out
doors of Rock Creek Park so
years ago. The Star, on July
Is. 1909, reported: Extern
sion of Streetcar lines to
make Rock Creek Park, par
ticularly the upper part.
more accessible, is the object
of legislation the Commits
sionerS are considering for
presentation to Congress next
winter. With the exception
of persons owning vehicles,
few Westinghouse frequent
the far end of the park.
Engineer Commissioner judi
son two months ago took up
the work of drafting a bill
which would allow the extern
sion of the Fourteenth street.
car line from its present
terminus at Fourteenth and
Kennedy streets along Ken
nedy street about two blocks
into the park near the
Brightwood reservoir. :"
After many disappoint-
ments, the Wright Brothers
finally got their airplane into
the air for a demonstration
for the military at Fort Myer.
The Star, on July 10, 1909,
reported: With just two
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-12
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Thus not only would politi-
cal parties be given constitu-
tional existence, but they
would be made the servants
of the people. Today the vot-
ers simply confirm what the
party, or its leaders. have al
ready decided, whether it be
candidates for Office or pro-
posed legislation. This is the
reverse Of the democratic
procedure.
Julian Fahy.