davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
Only the Beginning

The series of public hearings Just
concluded by the Corps Of Engineers on
Potomac River dam proposals was only
the beginning phase of long battle
between opponents of the dams and the
Army'S experts on water supply and
flood control. That the battle will be
acrimonious was indicated by testimony
at the preliminary hearings up and down
the valley. Many more hearings and
many more skirmishes may be expected
before the final decision in the contro-
verSy is rendered by Congress.
A majority of the private groups
and individuals heard during the eight
hearings opposed some or all dams be-
cause of the seizure of thousands of
acres of improved and unimproved land
involved in the water impounding
plans. Witnesses supporting the engi-
neers' program were in the minority.
However, the Corps of Engineers has
received numerous letters and state
mentS indorsing the proposals and these
will be Incorporated in report on the
initial hearings. Later there will be
hearings on the detailed plans-yet to
be released-with governmental repre-
Sentatives of all the Jurisdictions con-
cerned invited to testify. And there will
be more hearings when Congress receives
the final proposal from the Army.
So there will be plenty of opportunity
for all concerned to make their views,
pro and con, known to the Government.
And more than the flooding of huge
areas on both sides of the river at and
beyond Seneca will be at stake Involved
also will be the health, safety and gen.
eral welfare of those who live in the
Nations Capital and in other areas
which depend on the Potomac for water
supply. In the end, Congress must base
its decision on what is best for the gen.
eral public, rather than what may best
serve special interests.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
A Better Year

AS this school year comes to an end,
the Southern Education Reporting Serv-
ice says that public schools in the
Southern States, for the first time since
1854, have completed a year free of
violence over desegregation. 1t was
during 1854 that the Supreme Court
ruled that compulsory segregation in
the schools was unconstitutional and
the resulting record of violence-mob
action, boycottS and bombings-has
been tragic one. Acceptance of deseg-
regation is far from complete, but it is
at least long step toward civil peace
and responsible public restraint that
school yards and adjoining streets have
not been battle grounds in the 1961-1962
season.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
Dangerous Days

In these days OF Specula-
tom When the present gen.
eration/ OF Hedging buyers
form in line IT'S pleasant
for the seller But to me
a simple "feller"/ 1t recalls
those hectic days of Twenty
nine.
New words like "electron-
ic"/ Are now a potent tonic
And fire the blood like heady
wine Tho I hate to throw
cold water On lambs so ripe
for slaughter I cannot help
but think of Twenty-nine.
Human natures much the
same For any date you
name Go back to seven
teen twenty-you will find
That the famous South Sea
Bubble Caused a lot of fuss
and trouble So did our
market crash in Twenty
nine.
Y, E, Booker,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
Defense Turnobout

Secretary of Defense Nc
Namara's withdrawal of his
previously recorded support
Of legislation intended to cor
rect the discriminatory in
justice to military retireeS
imposed by the 1858 Pay Act
upon those of us who retired
prior to July /, 1858, as re-
ported in your paper, is, to
say the least, one of the
meanest double cross ma
neuvers foisted upon military
personnel in a long, long
time.
Senators Smith, Goldwater
and Symington are entirely
correct in questioning the
motives behind the Secre-
tary's actions. The Star is to
be commended for its airing
OF the injustice and its edi-
torial support of the correc-
tive legislation.
The legislation now in the
Senate Armed Forces Com
mittee will correct the injus-
tice still borne by those of
us who retired prior to the
1858 Pay Act; what assur-
ance do we have that Secre-
tary McNamara's complete
revision of all military pay"
to be proposed for considera-
ton you will note that I
do not say "action") by the
next session of Congress will
include any provisions for
the recomputation necessary
to correct the inferior re-
trees" pay status?
I'm too old to seek return
to active duty for a year and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
Rental Subsidy

Walter E. Washington, the local
director of public housing, has been
trying for more than two years to sell
a new concept of rental subsidy as a
means OF providing decent housing for
large low-income families Commend
ably, the Federal Housing Administra-
tor finally has authorized a $l94,47O
grant to test his idea in Washington.
Under the plan, the National Capt.
tai Housing Authority will negotiate
directly with the owners of large private
homes to rent the properties for occu-
pancy by families eligible for public
housing. The families will pay portion
OF the rent equivalent to the amount
they would pay the NCHA if they moved
into conventional public housing units.
The NCHA will make up the remainder
OF the rent as direct subsidy.
Its primary advantage, if all goes
well, will be to provide housing quickly
for families the NCHA has been unable
to place in its conventional units
largely because of the size of the fam
lilies. Currently, for example, there is
a waiting list of about SOS families who
have priority eligibility for public
housing by virtue of their displacement
by urban renewal, highway, or other
public programs About 80 per cent of
these families, according to Mr. Wash
ington, require dwellings with three or
more bedrooms.
Apart from the immediate need,
there may be other benefits in the new
approach. Mr.. Washington is hopeful
that the net cost of the subsidy may
be less than If it were necessary to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
SLABS Slabs

1t is incomprehensible why
Mr.. Francis Biddle continues
to work so diligently to force
those monstrous FDR memo
rial slabs on an unwilling
community. Surely he could
find some better way to &C.
cupy his time. If he expects
to wear down opponents. he
may need to invoke more
than the sacred word of that
blue ribbon panel Of archi-
tects."
1t is heartening that, dur
ing the intermittent battle of
the past year, so many peo-
pie have had the courage to
call a monstrosity a mon
strosity, no matter what the
blue ribbon panel" may say
from atop Olympus. 1 am
glad many Of the opponents
prefer green open spaces in
stead Of huge monuments.
I do agree with Mr.. Peder-
son that the design lis a
product of its time" Only
a confused and hagridden
age could produce such a
thing and call it art.
Violet Palmer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
Good Show

Certainly the performance
by the Fairfax Republicans
recently must have eroded to
some extent the commonly
held picture of Republicans
as cold. stuff-shirted parti-
sans. No political group with
in my memory has staged a
better show at any price.
AS usual, the issues suf-
fered. 1t does not seem i'm
portant to me that if more
Republicans stood for local
public offices that Congress-
man Broyhill's position with
some high Democratic ma
chine politicos would be COM
promised thereby. 1t does not
seem important that If more
Republicans were sent to the
Richmond government that
for the time being at least
they might be only slightly
more welcome than a bat
talon of Union infantry
camped on the Capitol lawn.
The fact that almost all of
the present representation
from the 10th district have
been also persona non grata
for years is almost too OBJ
vious to mention. Certainly
men like Broyhill, Thomson,
Smith and B urklund are
elected not because of any
party utilization but rather
because of their conservative
positions, very popular in this
area. Perhaps what worries
the machine politicians is the
fact that they doubt, and
quite rightly, that such an
electorate would take a second
look at local 10th district can
didateS, other than those
mentioned.
The refreshing thing is that
here at least voters forget
party labels and very wisely
elect conservatives of this
stripe. The fact is that if
the electorate had a chance
to vote for more of this
kind they would do so at
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
Speaking of BurioIs

1t has been IL long years since
American troops were rushed to South
Korea to help stem the Communist in
vasion. Many were killed, many more
were wounded and the cost in dollars
has been staggering. Yet we are still
stuck there. It has even reached the
point where the South Koreans, through
the familiar and obnoxious tactic of
student demonstrations, are insisting
that American soldiers be tried in Ko-
rean courts Our answer, we hope, will
be an emphatic MOI, and that we will
pull out our troops rather than accede
TO any such demand.
In Southeast Asia we are enjoying
something of breathing SPELL The
agreement in Laos, while a very Shaky
affair, at least tends for the moment
to ease some of the pressure. But no
one should delude himself. We are still
heavily committed in Southeast Asia,
especially in Thailand and in South
Vietnam, and the end is very far from
being in sight
During the past decade we have
sunk something like So billion in South
east Asia. Yet the situation there, If
anything, has deteEorated rather than
improved. This leads to basic question,
discussed Sunday by Senate Majority
Leader Mansfield in commencement
address at Michigan State University.
What is the real nature of our in
tereStS in Southeast Asia? Are they
basic and enduring2 Or are they tran
STORY and peripheral? AS we read the
Senator's remarks, he thinks our true
interests are in the latter category. Yet
from an original policy of minimum
involvement we have moved in the past
decade to policy Of very deep involve
ment at enormous cost and grave risks.
If this change, says Senator Mans
field, is to become a permanent part
OF our foreign policy we must, at best,
be prepared to carry heavy burdens for
years to come in terms of troop COM
mitmentS and dollar OUTLAWS. And at
worst, we must be prepared for ga
possible conflict of indefinite depth and
duration, dependent largely on our
forces for its prosecution"
OCldIOL MdIlSIlelu l1QlCdIeQ he QOeS
not believe our real and enduring in
tereStS in Southeast Asia justify the
adoption Of such a permanent policy
Certainly, at the very least, this is a
matter which should be discussed more
fully, more openly and more frankly.
For If there is to be permanent COM
mitment to an expanding policy such
as we seem to be following in Southeast
Asia, the American people ought to
understand that this is what we are
doing and, also, what it can be expected
to mean for the future.
Some time ago Mr.. Khrushchev, in
that genial way of his, promised to bury
US. But this may not become necessary.
II we are going to snatch up the gaunt-
let in every corner Of the world, we
may save him the trouble by burying
ourselves.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
Sees Gun Registration as Threat to Liberty

ords." This organization is
already overburdened with
far more important duties. A
new bookkeeping chore of
such magnitude would reduce
its effectiveness in other,
areas.
If the handgun registration
bill is passed, it will set a
frightening precedent. When
its basic ineffectiveness is
manifest, the bill might be
repealed. But more likely it
would be amplified by unin-
formed legislators to eventu-
ally include all firearms. The
next step after the door
would be opened by the pas
sage of this dangerous bill
would be to confiscate fire
arms entirely! This would be
in direct violation of Article
w of the Bill of Rights
which reads: "a we'll regu-
lated militia being necessary
to the security of a free state,
the right of the people to
keep and bear arms shall not
be infringed."
Such bureaucratic red tape
would inevitably wipe out the
popularity of arms for sport.
In this event, consider the
loss of revenue to States for
annual hunting licenses, to
municipalities, counties and
States, and the Federal Gov
eminent for taxes now COL
lected from arms manufac-
turers and retailers of guns
and ammunition.
AS with much proposed
legislation, the Federal Pts
toll Registration Act" sounds
innocent enough on the sur
face. But like an iceberg,
only one-ninth of the danger
is visible. This letter en-
treats you to cautiously ex-
plore below the waterline.
Tom SiatOs,
Editor, Guns & Ammo Maya
zine.
Los Angeles, Calf.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13

H.R. 613, the Federal
Pistol Registration Act" is
annoying, unsound, and po-
tentially dangerous.
Introduced by Congress
man Victor L. Anfuso, Demo-
crat of Brooklyn, this pro-
posed legislation would re-
quire that all handguns be
registered with the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
Your reaction may well be,
why not?" There are a
number of good reasons,
why not"
Before I elaborate on the
"why-nots," let us take a
look at H.R. 613. The giSt
of this legislation reads:
THE Congress hereby finds
and declares that Cd the
unrecorded possession of piS-
tolls imposes a burden on
commerce because it facili-
tates the use of pistols to
carry out crimes involving
goods in commerce; co in
the event of a future war in
volving the United States, in
formation as to the number,
location, and types of pistols
in the United States would
to indispensable in the pro-
secution of such a war. 1t
is. therefore, the purpose of
this act to establish a Fed
eral program for the regis
tration of pistols which shall
be administered by the Direc-
tor of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation"
This law is purportedly de-
signed to keep handguns
from being used for criminal
purposes. It is my opinion
and that of law enforce
ment officials to whom 1 have
talked-that it is impossible
to effectively enforce such a
law.
If a criminal needs a pis-
toll he will procure one, either
by stealing it. or by purchas-
ing 1t "u n d err the counter"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
Speedy Reader

must Sympath1ze with
William Goldberg who, in his
letter appearing in The Star
of June 8. mentions that his
boss does not permit him to
read a single newspaper on
the job, while President Ken
nedy, on the other hand,
reads som e thing like IL
newspapers a day. My in
formation is that President
Kennedy does not read these
on the job but rather while
he is eating breakfast. This
is not surprising, he is a
speed reader.
Thomas M. Clancy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13

Requirement under the cur
rent laws. a method by which
I know a very few inferior
retirees" have been able to
secure adjustment of their
retired pay to the rates to
which we all are morally en-
titled.
Col. Edwin S. Van Deusen,
U. S. Army (Ret.0, Inferior
Grade"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13

The following statement is
from Page l, The Wall Street
Journal, June IL, 1862:
Tax reductions to be pro-
posed by President Kennedy,
to take effect January l,
1868. might produce a tenn
porary deficit in the coming
fiscal year, said Chairman
Heller of the Presidents
Council of Economic Advis-
ers. He contended, how
ever, the tax cuts would slim
ulate the economy so that the
budget deficit would be a
down payment on future
surpluses.'"
What did the man say?
Gilbert v. Tribbett.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13

He obviously will not use a
weapon registered in his
name. Even if he does, and
he is prosecuted for this vio-
lation under this proposed
legislation, the maximum
penalty is a $500 fine with no
possibility of a jail sentence
for the offender. This would
be a travesty of the law!
In order to demonstrate
how anemic this proposed
legislation would be, if
passed, let us examine the
effectiveness of New York
City's Sullivan Act:
Records show there has
been no appreciable reduc-
ton in the crimes in which
firearms play a role in that
city as compared with other
large cities yet this law
prohibits the ownership of
pistols except under the most
stringent and difficult to-
obtain police permits. The
Sullivan Act has been in eff
feet for more than so years,
and crime is still on the up
surge.
It is my contention that
H.R. 613 would fail to &C
complish its intended pur-
pose: Reducing the use of
firearms in committing crime.
But the why nots" go fur
ther than this.
What about the staggering
cost and complex mechanics
of registering the millions of
handguns owned by Ameri-
cans, and of maintaining
such records? The funds will
come from your taxes and
mine.
If an increased tax rate can
reduce crime. Guns & Ammo
magazine is for it. But we
are steadfastly against pay
ing more taxes for programs
which are ineffective.
H.R. 613 designates the
FBI as keeper of the rec
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
A BOOK FOR TODAY
Norfolk, Historic Southern Port
By DONALD MINTZ

he guides the reader through
the complex problems Of the
British West Indies trade in
the post-Revolutionary peri
cd and the Importance of his
city to eastern North Caro-
lima.
But he has not forgotten
more homely matters. We
learn when this or that creek
was filled in, when the
streets were paved and when
and how they were illuminat-
ed.
Prof. Wertenbaker'S gift
for clear exposition does not
desert him in the face of the
complexities of the Civil War
or the growth of the great
railroad networks.
THEN THERE ARE SEC
TIONS ON THE poSt-Civil
War recovery of the city, it's
problems during the depres-
sion and World War II, and,
finally today's questions Of
urban renewal lin which
Norfolk has been an hon.
ored LEADER and school de-
segregation lin which the
city has kept its head.
All this is expounded in
the sonorous style of the last
generation of historians.
Culture has not been for
gotten either by Prof. Vert
enbaker or Mr.. Schlegel,
though both strain to make
much of what seems rela-
lively little. In addition
there is an interesting chap
ter on yellow fever in Nor
folk.
Mr.. Schlegel is moderate
and objective in the discus
sion of school desegregation,
though like many he seems
to think of token" desegre-
cation as a magical solution
to everything. The tone of
the last chapter is in strik-
ing contrast with the earlier
parts of the book with which
the editor has not inter-
ferred. For Prof. Wertenbak-
er exudes a calm and courtly
assurance that all humans
are Caucasian and that even
among this select group, the
attribute of humanity is di-
rectly proportional to wealth.
This attitude limits the
scope OF the book which ig-
nores the daily life of all but
the most privileged classes.
In this sense it is already q
part of the history of his
tory though not yet three
decades old. Mr.. Schlegel
might have modernized the
book but only at the risk of
destroying its integrity and
style. Doubtless his forbear-
ance is correct.
Though Norfolk" shows
its age, it is nice to have
this handsome version of an
important work of local his
tory.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
WATCHING THE WORLD
Soviet Fights Common Market
BY CROSBY S. MOVES
Foreign Correspondent Of The Star

the unreal OF cOlOnlallSEn
in some form or other is
practically a political neces-
sity.
If no such threat exists, it
can always be invented. And
attacks on the Common Mar
ket are a good case in point.
At the same time, there is
plenty of room to doubt how
effective this kind of propa-
ganda will be in the long run.
BY no means are all Afri-
can leaders parroting the
Kremlin line. And by no
means are all of them blind
to the very real economic adj
vantages that development of
the Common Market offers
them over the years to come.
A Strong Current
In fact, Mr.. Khrushchev
and his African friends are
fighting a rather strong cur
rent. Altogether, is African
states Including Mr.. Meita's
Mali) which we're colonies or
trust territories when the
treaty of Rome was signed
five years ago already are
assured of special privileges
with the Common Market
group.
Guaranteed access to Eu-
ropean outlets, tariff pref
erences and price supports
for tropical products are
among the solid bread-and-
butter kind of advantages
the Common Market can
and does offer new African
states.
Even among the Casa
blanca group, Mr.. Nasser's
campaign against the Com
mon Market is likely to run
into serious trouble. OF the
six nations Egypt, Morocco,
Ghana, Guinea. Mali and
the provisional Algerian gov
ernment) Guinea, Mali and
Morocco are at best luke
warm to warnings Of this
new threat to their indie
pendence.
But the key TO the forth
coming affair in Cairo could
well be the attitude Of the
Algerian delegation. Up to
this point, the leaders Of the
government in exile have
been UNDERSTANDABLE re-
served in their official state
ments on the future asso-
citation Of Algeria and Eu-
rope.
But there is reason to be-
lieve that these leaders at
tach great significance to the
role the Common Market will
play in Africa. And that this
evaluation was a very impor-
tant factor in the settlement
Of the Algerian war.
In short. whatever colo
nialist labels may be at
tached to it in Moscow and
elsewhere, the Common
Market seems likely to proT
vide a strong pole of eco
nomic attraction through
out much of Africa. =
It is a reality which Mr..
Khrushchev naturally finds
unpleasant and which he
must try to resist. But it is
a reality all the same.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used il
letters carry tDriterS' correct
names and addresses. All let
tiers are subject to condenSa-
ton, Those not used DiH be
returned only iDheH accom-
panied BY self : addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13

their earliest opportunity.
In this way good representa-
ton at the national level
would be supplemented by
good representation at the
local level. This is the issue,
this is important, this is
worth working for.
Owen Allen Keen.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-13

NORFOLK, HISTORIC
SOUTHERN PORT by
Thomas j. Wertenbaker
second edition edited by
Marvin w. Schlegel. 417pp.,
illus. Durham, Duke Uni
versity Press, hardbound
$3.50, paperbound 81.
Writing local history is a
difficult affair. If the his
torian keeps vigorously to his
subject, his only readers will
be those who want to know
where old Judge Jones got
the stone for the family man
sion put up in 1874 on what
used to be Main street. If on
the other hand, he tries to
view his locality as part of
the larger scenes of State,
nation and even world, he
may lose his entire raison
d'etre.
In Norfolk" Thomas J..
Wertenbaker steers a neat
and true course be tween
these dismal extremes. This
is deliberate. Although his
torianS are becoming con-
SciouS of their neglect in this
matter" he writes, 1.-THE To-
cal history which shows the
relationship of the commu-
nifty with State and national
history is still comparatively
rare" But at the same time
national history is founded
on local history"
OF course, the subject it
self has been Of no small aid
in reaching this balance.
Norfolk is no backwater, aft
er all, and the fortunes of
any great port are closely
tied to those of the larger
world.
PROF. WERTENBAKER'S
BOOK ORIGINALLY ap-
peared in 1881. Marvin w.
Schlegel, who is responsible
for the new edition. has re-
written several pages in the
earlier chapters in the light
of new information that has
appeared since the first
edition was published" and
written parts of the last
two chapters" AS it now
stands the book takes the
city's history up to the end
of 1859.
Until the last part of the
l0Ch century, ocean - going
vessels navigated the Vir-
GINA rivers up to the fall
line, taking on cargo here
and there along the banks. In
time, the increase in the size
of ships made this impossi-
BILE. Norfolk'S real growth
began when a deep water
port was essential to sea-go-
ing vessels.
Prof. Wertenbaker's dis
cussion of Norfolk's role and
complete destruction in the
Revolution is marvelously
clear. He is just as sure as