davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1961-12-19

EDITORIAL
N FESTIVAL, EAS
THE 1861 CHRISTMAS Festival should be a turning
point in these festivals.
WHEN THIS FESTIVAL series started there was great
hope that they would develop into one of the greatest and
most effective means of providing entertainment, and attract
ing visitors to our shores. They were supposed to bring back
much of the traditional touches of the old time Christmases
known in these parts.
THINGS WENT well for awhile, but then the stupid
utterly senseless, and devastating rivalry sprung up between
the towns, and today the Festival is turning more into a bat
tleground than into the true spirit of Christmas, and what it
used to mean to St. Croix.
TO OUTSIDERS, this matter Of two tiny towns fighting
each other must present the spectacle of the century. In a
let age, when the trip between two towns is but a drop in
the bucket. Yet, there are those who, perhaps for lack OF much
else to do, continue to fan the flames of rivalry.
THERE OUGHT to be N Christmas Festival for St
Croix, and it should be known as the St. Croix Festival
There should be N committee running the whole show, and
it should draw it's members from East End, West End, and
all the ENDS" and sections, including the estates, little and
big. What difference does it make whether a man lives in one
section or the other. Suppose he moves from one town to the
other within the year, does that mean that he must start all
over again, change his loyaltleS, ana PICK up ne Datue dne"
but from the opposite end? Ridiculous!
SINCE PUBLIC contributions go into the Festival cele-
brations, and the public streets and places are used, the Gov
eminent has justification for stepping in and lending sense
of control and direction, so that we maintain and develop
a festival of which all may justly be proud. After all, the
Christmas Festival is not a private house party, put on by a
few private individuals, for entertainment OF a few personal
friends here and there. The Festival is a public undertaking,
sponsored by the public, for the benefit and entertainment OF
thepublic. And that means the public of the ENTIRE Island
WE SINCERELY urge a complete about face in attitude.
Let us have a real Festival for St. Croir, please!
Evening star., 1961-05-24
Annual Drill Won
ByCodets From
Anucostiu High

Anacostia High Schools Ca
Diet Company C was winner Of
the 74th annual Company
Competitive Drill at Eastern
High School Stadium yesterday.
Cadet Capt. Robert Brumit.
company commander, was
awarded the Allison Nailor
Medal.
Second place was won by
Dunbar High Schools Company
C. under Capt. Edward B.
johnson, and third place went
to Eastern High Schools Com
pany C, under Capt. Armstead
P. Chambers.
In the Distinguished Nom
commissioned Officers Compe-
tition. first place was taken by
Sergt. Julius C. Brown, of Com
pany C, Anacostia High School:
second place went to Sergt. lIc
Ernest A. Lifts, Company C,
Bell Vocational High School,
and third was Sergt. Sylvester
B. Smoot, Company B, Car
dozo High School.
The Army and Navy Legion
of Valor presented its Legion
of Valor Medal to 1t. Col. Bar
rington D. Parker, of Mckinley
High School, as the outstanding
cadet in the city for the year.
The Principals General Ex-
cellence Award, given for the
best overall standing of a unit
for the year, was made to
Western High School.
Evening star., 1961-05-24
Virginia Issues
Rood Contracts
For $130 Million

RICHMOND, May "a (AP).
The State Highway Depart
ment says highway construc-
ton projects expected to cost
about $3.50 million we're
placed under contract during
1861.
That is about a 40 per cent
increase over last years awards,
when contracts totaling $751;
032, ,685 were let. The depart
ment said yesterday that 81
construction projects, totaling
$24, 4,462,371, were awarded dur
ing the first quarter Of this
year.
During the first quarter last
year, SO projects totaling about
$17.7 million were placed under
contract.
Twelve of the contracts
awarded in the first three
months on this year were for
major interstate highway prof.
ects. The department said the
increase this year is in keeping
with President Kennedy's re-
quest that the States accelerate
their highway programs.
Evening star., 1961-05-24
Senate Raises
District Share
OF School Aid

Senators shouted through a
fair share of Federal aid for
education in Washington last
night despite opposition from
Senator Goldwater, Republican
Of Arizona.
BY voice vote, the Senate
doubled the District allotment
of Federal funds otherwise
channeled uniformly to the
States in the school bill now in
its final day of debate on the
floor. Promised the Capital
City was $3.1 million.
In vain. Senator Goldwater
urged his Republican colleagues,
Bush of Connecticut and Will
liams of Delaware, to fight the
amendment aimed at alleviat-
ing an inequity in the District
alone. Like the District. Con-
necticut and Delaware were
slated to draw the least aid un-
der the bills formula giving the
richest States the least Federal
help, and the poorest, the most.
The amendment set the Dis
trict ratio at the median pro-
vided for all States, in effect.
raising Federal aid per child
from 1925 to $18.54.
The adjustment could reduce
the proposed cutback Of about
$50 million in school building
here next year.
Evening star., 1961-05-24

money, though it could con-
stitute a motive" was not by
any means the sole cause of
the holdup blythe youth.
Judge Jackson, after direct
ing the verdict, ordered MCGEE
committed to st. EliZabeths
Hospital. Under District law,
the youth must remain in the
hospital until he has recovered
his sanity and is considered by
the psychiatristS and the court
to be no danger to himself and
the community in the reason
ably foreseeable future.
McGee's parents, who have
remained out of the courtroom
during the entire trial, showed
their emotion when told of the
judges action. Mrs. MCGEE
had tears in her eyes as she
talked to Mr.. Sachs and the
father, Cushman MCGEE, said,
Wonderful, wonderful, Won
derful."
Evening star., 1961-05-24
Budget Hearings
Open Tomorrow

Crucial hearings on the Dis
trict's fiscal 1862 budget will
begin tomorrow before a House
appropriations subcommittee.
Representative Rabaut, DEM
ocrat Of Michigan, chairman OF
the subcommittee on the Dis
trict budget, said he expected
the hearings, held in executive
sessions. to continue through
the middle of June.
The budget totals some
$287.5 million and seeks an in
crease in the Federal payment
from SIS million to $36 million
The budget also carries a defi-
cit of SIC million, which Dis
trict officials had hoped to
raise through legislation now
pending in the Senate District
Committee.
Evening star., 1961-05-24

Serious crimes in the District
and Arlington, Va, increased
during the first three months
Of 1861 compared with the same
period last year, the FBI re-
ported today in figuSes indi-
eating a 10 per cent increase
nationally.
In seven categories Of serious
crime used for uniform crime
reporting, Washington showed
increases in every category ex-
cept forcible rape. The figures,
made available to the FBI by
the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment, showed 3,544 serious
crimes committed here in jan
uary, February and March COM
pared to 3.l09 over the same
period last year.
Here is a breakdown on Of
fenses committed in the District
over both periods:
Murder and non-neglient
manslaughter. "a in 1861 COM
pared to 10 in 1860.
Forcible rape, 81 this year as
opposed to AZ in 1860.
Robbery. 361 in 1861 COM
pared with 243 in 1860.
Aggravated assault, 678 this
year compared with 674 last
year.
Burglary. breaking or enter
ing, 1924 In 1861 compared
with 1,161 last year.
Larceny over $50, GIT this
year compared with 49S last
year.
Auto theft, 543 this year
against 472 last year.
Arlington County reported
these figures for the three
month period:
No murders in 1860, one in
1861; four rapes in the first
three months Of 1860 compared
with one over the same period
in 1861; six robberies last year
as opposed to seven this year:
II aggravated assaults in 1860
compared with 19 this year;
Evening star., 1961-05-24

out notifying the fire depart
ment. The next thing that
happens Is the fire gets out Of
control, the person is knocked
out by fumes, then burned by
the flames"
The time 1t takes to run
quickly through a home fire
drill-if only Just in ones
mind, or as part Of a family
fire prevention discussion -
Marshal Mullins says, can pro-
vide the added confidence and
knowledge needed to react in
the right way If a fire should
break out.
The District has had 27 fire
fatalities, two more than last
year. A new District building
code this year, provides more
stringent fire regulations for
the city's older buildings. Stud
les are now under way for ad-
ditional fire safety measures in
institutional buildings.
The Districts most recent
fire death occurred yesterday.
A retired Treasury employe,
Miss Dorothy w. McNaught.
81, was found dead in her bed
at the Miramar Apartments.
Fire officials said she was ap-
parently smoking in bed.
Code Being Revised
In Prince Georges County
with nine fatalities this year
against none last year, a COM
pletely revised building code
will come before the county
commissioners in a few weeks
A new regulation on inflam-
mable liquids has been added
to the fire code.
Montgomery County has had
1.-TWO fatalities, the same num-
Evening star., 1961-05-24

Seven aged persons at the
Districts Mount Vernon Nurs-
ing Home died in a four alarm
blaze last February. Investi-
cation showed that there were
structural defects in the home,
but panic and confusion, re-
sulting in a delayed report Of
the fire, are listed as prime
factors in the deaths, officials
say.
Prince Georges County Fire
Inspector Harry r. Webster
cites another example Of a
needless death:
Last month two sisters, 20
and %, returned late at night
to their one and a half story
frame house in the Oxon Hill
area. They went to their sec
ond floor bedroom, where one
Of the girls dozed off with a
burning cigarette in her hand.
Quickly Overcome
when smoke and flames
filled the room, one Of the sis
terS was able to dash down the
stairwell to safety. The other,
apparently confused, opened
the door to a closet. That's
where we found her body"
"It only takes two minutes" !"
Marshal Mullins says, "for
thick toxic fumes to overcome
someone, and without any pre-
vious thought to evacuation II
is no wonder we find people
who have dropped just inches
from a window or a door.
"The principal trouble with
adults is that they never give
a thought to evacuation. They
Immediately try to extinguish
10 fire when they find one, with
Evening star., 1961-05-24
Carpenters
RejectOffer
On Pensions

The possibility Of a crippline
strike by some 5000 area car
penterS Monday was increased
last night when union and
management officials failed tc
reach an agreement at a meet
ing called by Federal media
tors.
Representatives Of the Car
penters' District Council re.
jected a new management Of
fer-15 cents an hour-to be
applied to a union pension fund
between July / and January 1
1868.
Fred Zimmers' secretary
treasurer Of the carpenters
council, said the unions strike
vote last week was based on itS
request for a 15-cent-an-hour
increase earmarked for the
pension fund, with the total to
be realized by May !. 1862.
The hourly increases at is
sue would establish a carpen-
ters' pension fund for the first
time. The union has stated II
will employ a fund administra-
tor. but spokesmen for the con-
tractors declare the fund should
be jointly administered.
Negotiators for the contrac-
tors also have asked for a re-
duction in the number of men
on pile driver crews.
Nearly 10000 area construc-
ton workers affiliated with
other unions have been work.
ing for several works under ex-
pired contracts. Negotiations
for new contracts have been
delayed pending the outcome
of the carpenters contract
talks.
One union, however the
cement truck drivers in Team
ster Local 639 - M on d a y
night accepted a contractors
offer of a 10-cent-an-hour
wage increase.
Evening star., 1961-05-24

MR.. BARBOUR was born
at 420 Ridge street NV, one
Of IA children. AS a little
boy he loved horses, and
when he was o he got a job
on a huckster's wagon.
BY the time he was IL, he
had acquired two small carts
drawn by billygoats, and
hawked his wares on his
own. At II he bought a horse
and wagon.
He has owned teams ever
since.
Before the combination Of
trucks, supermarkets, and
Southwest Washington'S
housing redevelopment all
hit his markets, Mr.. Barbour
owned a fleet Of IS horse
drawn wagons, renting them
to other vendors by the day.
In the 192os he prospered
enough to buy two racing
thoroughbredS and entered
them at Bowie, Laurel and
other area tracks. But man
aging them proved to be a
headache. He sold them in
1928 and confined himself to
more reliable income.
From his profits as a door
to-door vendor, Mr.. Barbour
put his daughter, Erma,
through Howard University.
She taught in District
schools 20 years, and later
rose to be principal Of a
Gary, Ind, school, a post she
now holds.
Mr.. Barbour agrees that
the chances of the horse and
wagon making a comeback
in retailing are remote. But
he still finds it profitable
enough to make daily trips,
together with two helpers on
his wagon.
tits a living" he says with
a smile.
Evening star., 1961-05-24

TOBY is AN 18-year-old
Speekled gray horse with bet
ter manners than many mo-
toristS. He stops at red lights
without being told. He can
not be driven through an in
tersection until he sees the
signal turn green. And he
has a memory like an ele-
phant for his masters Gus
toner route.
II can reverse the route
start out at the tail end Of
it-and he still knows all
the right DOORS" asserts the
owner.
Unlike any car made, Toby
will make a loop down a dead
end street and come back to
his owner unattended.
The capital investment Is
small. Mr.. Barbour bought
Toby for $75 in 1858. Such a
horse may live to the ripe age
of 40 If he's well cared for,
says Mr.. Barbour. His present
owner Is the gentlest of men.
BY contrast, a light delivery
truck hauling the same
amount Of produce might
cost $4,000 and last q dozen
years with luck.
Toby's maintenance is about
$50 q month. In that period
he eats 400 pounds of grain
($16), half a ton Of hay ($1o),
lives in a stable ($25), and
needs a new set Of iron shoes
every four weeks ($9).
A blacksmith shoes Toby
the modern way. He drives
a truck, ironically enough,
has Toby's hoof size on rec
ord and brings pre-shaped
shoes to save time.
AS an investment Toby
has returned many times his
original cost. The first week
he began work for Mr.. Bar
bour, the owner netted
$175.S5.
Evening star., 1961-05-24
Seriouscrimes, Except
Rape, Show 81 Increase

1l8 burglaries last year. l73
this year; $50 larcenies over $50
in 1860. 1874 in 1861. and 81
auto thefts last year compared
with SO this year.
No figures were reported for
other areas around Washing
ton.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoo
ver'S report referred to the "re-
lentless" upward trend Of crime
in 1861 over the comparable
period in 1860.
Evening star., 1961-05-24


pSychiatrists were splittin &
hairs"
MCGEE, %, son Of a Larch-
mont IN. ". stock broker, had
been charged with robbery, as
sault with intent to kill, assault
on a police officer and carry
ing a deadly weapon. He will
be committed to st. Elizabeths
Hospital.
Evidence presented showed
that he held up the cashier at
the Apex Theater here on No
vember IA, taking $3.50 before
wounding Police Pvt. Alfred L.
Black. 26. in an exchange of
gunfire.
PSychiatristS Testify
Psychiatric testimony pre-
sented by the defense yester-
day-particularly the testimony
of a New York psychiatrist, DR..
Sam Parker-apparently moved
the judge to direct the verdict.
Judge Jackson told the jury
this was the first Of many cases
involving insanity where the
testimony was so coherent and
logical"
"All the experts say. Yes. he
knew, but that makes no diff
ference-the man had a mental
quirk without which the crime
would not have been COM
mitted.'" the judge said.
II am compelled to the con-
clusion," Judge jackson added
there isn't any room for diff
ference on the point that this
unfortunate young man was
compelled to commit the crime
because he was ILL.,"
Testimony from psychiatriC
experts showed that young
MCGEE, q former part-time stu
dent at American University
was living in q world Of fantasy
that built UP to his commission
of the crime the night of No
vember IA. All four psychia-
trists agreed that MCGEE was
mentally i'll for a long time be-
fore the holdup, though they
all did not agree as to the
exact nature of the illness.
Planning Indicated
One said that MCGEE proba-
bly, planned the holdup in ad.
vance, but expressed the opin.
ion that the very fact that he
did so was a symptom of his
illness.
All the experts said the youth
lived in a world Of his owr
where he pictured himself as
part OF the underworld. One
pSychiatrist declared that Nc
Gee planned the robbery "as a
child would play cops and rob-
bers."
In arguing against Mr.. Sachs
request for the directed verdict
Mr.. Lowther pointed out that
all the psychiatrists agreed that
MCGEE knew what he was
doing"
He pointed to testimony by
Lewis Sparks, of Ingster, Mich,
that MCGEE had once said we'll
before the holdup that he
wanted to commit a crime in
the District because he felt he
could claim insanity" here. Mr.
Sparks. %, testified that he
drove MCGEE from the youths
apartment in the 1400 block OF
Columbia road NV. to Phila-
delphia. taking a circuitous
route at McGee's direction.
Youth Needed Money
The prosecutor also argued
that the holdup was committed
because the youth needed
money.
However, one Of the psychia-
trists said that this need for
Evening star., 1961-05-24
Human Element Cited in Fire Deaths

ber as last year. The county
building code is being COM
pletely revised to include a
tightening of construction
regulations requiring a greater
amount Of fire-resistant ma
terial, and fire officials are
backing adoption of a regula-
ton requiring sprinklers in
county nursing homes.
Fairfax County. with two
fire fatalities. three fewer than
last year, is enforcing a re-
quirement for hazardous use"
permits for the sale and stor-
age of gas and inflammable
liquids.
Alexandria has had no IA
talities, against two last year.
The city building code is be-
ing revised to include more
stringent regulations for build
ing materials, and a new code
for convalescent homes is in
effect.
Human Element Blamed
Arlington County, with nc
fire fatalities, against one last
year, constantly reviews both
its building and fire prevention
codes. 1t is administering an
elementary school fire proven.
tion education program.
District Deputy Marshal Mul.
Inns enthusiastically support.
all these fire safety measures
but he also feels that anything
less than a sharp decrease ir
the number of fatalities mean.
that fire prevention procedures
are failing to reach the peo'
ple."
IF we could eliminate thu
human element in fires" HI
! says, I'VE could eliminate fires.
Evening star., 1961-05-24

lete by the truck in the 192OS
and dealt a finishing blow by
shiny new Supermarkets in
the 1930S.
Yet there it is, a stubborn
If lonely fact in the Wash
ington economy.
Mr.. Barbour is rs and has
been using horSe-drawn wag-
ons to sell fruit in the District
since he was 8 years old.
AS far as he knows, he's the
only fruit retailer still using
a horse.
Il wouldn't give you a horse
and wagon for the best auto
ever made" he declares.
With a truck you run over
the top of this trade. But you
get a good horse like Toby
here that's broken in, he'll
stop at every steady Gus
toner's door"
Evening star., 1961-05-24
Re|ief0rdered
Junior Village
Tukeover Of Home
Used by Veterans
Is Being Studied
By BETTY MILES
Star Staff Writer

Emergency action, to ease
overcrowding at the Districts
Junior Village was ordered to-
day by Commissioner Robert
E. Mclaughlin.
Mr.. Mclaughlin directed
Welfare Department officials
to see if some Of the youngsters
at the institution can be moved
to temporary quarters in a mu-
nicipal building in Southeast
Washington that now offers
beds and meals to veterans.
The action ordered by Mr..
Mclaughlin was prompted by
statements yesterday from
Gerard Shea, Public Welfare
Director, on the overcrowded
conditions at Junior Village.
Threat Of Tragedy Seen
Mr.. Shea said the city is lex
tremely lucky" that tragedy
hasn't struck at the institution.
Mr.. Shea, speaking to the Pub
lie Welfare Advisory Council,
said something must be done
at once to relieve this serious
condition.
Today, Mr.. Mclaughlin said
the number of youngsters at
Junior Village has reached the
point where emergency action
is mandatory. During a tele-
phone conference, Mr.. Nc
Laughlin asked Mr.. Shea to
check into the possibility of
moving some of the Junior VIII
lage children into the Tempo
rary Home for Soldiers and
Sailors, at 921 Pennsylvania
avenue Sc.
Under this idea, this home
would be closed to veterans for
an indefinite period.
Space for IS Seen
Mr.. Shea said the building
could house rs youngsters. The
home is operated by District
government funds but is ad-
ministered by a board of man
ayers made up Of representa-
tives from veterans organizar
tons. Permission from this
board would be needed to car
ry out the emergency plan.
Ground hasn't even been
broken for three new buildings
authorized at the village, he
said. And when these buildings
are ready they won't meet the
needs Of the growing popula-
ton.
Last Thursday, there were
$50 youngsters at Junior VII
lage, in an institution designed
for 240, Mr.. Shea told the
Advisory Council. About As per
cent OF the children are under
8 years old.
Fire Hazard Noted
Mr.. Shea said that in spite
Of sprinkler systems in the cot
tages, fire still is a real threat,
for 1t could create panic and
stampedes in the jammed, un-
derStaffed cottages.
The bulging institution is the
city's home for youngsters
whose own homes are insult
able. 1t is located at the foot
Of Nichols avenue S.W. in Blue
Plains.
Junior Village is SYMBOLIC Of
one Of the city's most corroding
problems-family disorganiza-
ton and deterioration, reflected
in indifference and neglect,
Mr.. Shea said. Large as the
population is, some youngsters
still at home should be there
too. he said.
j. E. Bindeman, council
chairman, asked a committee to
make a special study Of i'm
mediate means Of curbing over
crowding. He suggested the
committee explore renting
buildings and expanding cot
tages by attaching quonset huts.
Overcrowding generally is
plaguing department institu-
tions, though not as severely as
at Junior Village, Mr.. Shea
told the council.