davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28
I Always Stund SquureIy Behind President!
LETTERS TO THE STAR
Spare the Rod and Spoil the (SchooI) Child

Carl r. Hansen was respon'
sible for the 'if I don't
admit 1t, It doesn't exist" at
titude toward school prob
lens. Now 1t is quite evident
that this myopia is that Of
the school board. It's time to
throw them out; it's time we,
the residents of the District
Of Columbia, get the oppor-
tunity to choose those who
control, to a large degree,
the destiny of our children;
it's time to stop calling a
spade q rose or an uncon-
trollable pupil q "malad-
justed" pupil.
Children are little Diff
ferent in their behavior mo-
tivation from adults in that
most will behave properly
Cor "adjustO in most sit
uations simply because they
consider 1t right. while a mi
nority will behave properly
only If the alternative is rea-
sonable certainty of immedi-
ate punishment. Admittedly,
q very small group will never
be persuaded to behave prop
erly. Isn't 1t a pathetically
warped view that the few
uncomfortable must be ed
ucated" alongside the well be-
haved? Is 1t fair to the over
whelming majority? I think
not. It's amazing what lad
juStment" q child will make
when faced with the prospect
of reform school.
1t should be clear by this
time that more money, of
itself, will no more solve our
school problems than It has
solved our welfare problems
or our foreign aid problems.
Until we authorize q teacher
to protect his life and limb
by whatever force is required
1--WE don't have to call 1t
corporal punishment when
he is physically attacked by
the "untouchables," we can
not attract more qualified
teachers by further expendi-
lures. ! still believe dignity
and self-respect are greater
incentives than more money.
Norman C. PaulsOn.
The current commotion Of
comment on Superintendent
Carl F. Hansen's proposal to
rescind the corporal punish
ment ban is another example
of the tempestuous teapot.
To be sure. the school ma
chinery should include means
adequate to any problem -
even to the extent Of a con-
trolled procedure Of corporal
punishment.
1t is my fear. however,
that the community, with its
penchant for exploiting and
exploding over the sensational,
will fail to heed the superin-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28

Association, are fearful that expense
account lunches will nosedive because
clients feel they must talk business"
with their guests If "the tab" is to be
deductible. Actually, the IRIS claims it
has a more sensitive sort of approach to
this matter, and 1t refers to "the excep-
ton for the quiet business meal (where)
you don't have to talk business, but the
person who is your guest must be the
one who is the natural object Of your
business attention"
1t strikes us that this is little bit
complicated in itself. Why not talk
buSiness2 For example, why not "how's
business?" for a starter, and then just
get on with other things-like cocktails
and lunch. All right, Mr. Caplin2
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28

service and have completely
wasted their efforts, except
for the special personal pub
licity which attached to this
dramatic one-day cleanup.
II newspaper accounts
were complete, this work
party" accomplished only
very minor repairs to shacks
that are still shacks and re-
moved rubbish from the back
yards. I am sure the "slum
lords" owning this property
are grateful for any addi-
tional rent this project will
bring them.
The question that comes
to mind Is. first, why should
a Senator and volunteer. or
anyone for that matter. per-
form any jobs that clearly
are in the financial and
physical capabilities OF the
low income occupants Of
these dwellings,"
II these people do not want
to live with rubbish In their
back yards and with unsafe
stoves. they will clean It UP
and repair II themselves. To
perform these services for
them will further perpetuate
their willingness to let sole-
one else do their share OF
LIES work, and should be
carefully avoided. The solu-
ton is to find a way TO re-
quire people 10 perform the
services for repair and up
keep Of their housing that are
within their physical and H.
nancial capabilities.
II is my personal feeling
that II the people Of Northern
Virginia are TO eliminate the
remaining substandard
dwellings and provide for
low-income housing that II
will come only from long
hours OF hard work toward
an overall plan TO provide
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28
THE POLITICAL MILL
JFK's Overdose for Congress
BY GOULD LINCOLN

The Seth Congress has
gone through many weeks Of
organizational growing pains
since 1t met last January,
but the Kennedy admins
tration has had no such re-
straints. President Kennedy
has sent to the Congress a
round dozen messages and
bills Of major Importance.
starting with his state-of-
the-Union message. And
there are still more to come,
including a civil rights mes
sage. Whether he will ever
send q message dealing with
labor management rela-
tons is still a question. He
will not do so If 1t can be
avoided. II the 88th Con-
gress is to deal with all the
Kennedy legislative propos-
ais during its two years Of
life. 1t is likely to 60 through
many more pains-and
greater.
In addition to the state
of-the- Union message, Con-
gress has received from the
White House the budget
message proposing appropri-
atoms and authorizations Of
$98.8 billion; the Economic
Report, the message propos-
ing tax reduction and re-
form, the message on Fed
'eral aid to education, a mes
sage on agriculture, a youth
program message. the medi-
care message, q message on
general health protection, q
message dealing with the
mental health problem, q
proposal for the establish
ment Of q new government
Department of Urban AZ
fairs, an urban mass trans
portation bill, and other less
important proposals.
Wants Tax Cut
That the Congress can d.
gest and legislate all these
Kennedy proposals at this
first session Democratic
leaders on Capitol Hill do
not believe. They will, how
ever. make their best efforts
to get some of the Presidents
pet measures through be-
fore there is an adjourn
ment, probably next fall.
And the administration, II
disappointed because of the
failure to deal with some Of
these measures, may console
itself with the thought that
next year is an election year.
If these measures have voter
appeal, they probably will
have a better chance In the
1864 session of the 88th Con-
greSS. And even If some Of
them fail during that ses-
sion. they may become ex-
plosive issues in the presi-
Dental and congressional
campaigns just ahead.
The President has put his
greatest emphasis on tax re-
duction. He wants reduction
even If his proposals for tax
reform are side tracked, or
put into a separate measure.
He wants tax reduction, he
frankly has said, because II
1t is delayed there is ikeli-
hood of an economic recess
sion. Tax reduction has q
pleasant and recession a ter
rible sound. The juxtaposi-
ton of the two by the Presi-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28

The timid and belated dis
cusSions and proposals for
discipline and punishment in
the District schools are pa
thetically absurd. DR.. Ham
sen in one breath advocates
punishment and in the next
speaks of parental approval
for such action. It would seem
obvious that such approval
will not be forthcoming. If
parents disciplined their chill
dren In the first place, the
school situation as well as
the increasing number Of
crimes in the city would be
considerably less alarming.
One can only pity the
teachers who are obliged to
cope with these gangs Of
juvenile monsters one con-
Stantly sees creating disturb
ances in drug stores, bullying
younger children on the
streets and roaming about
late at night when they
should be at home. This
points directly to stupidity or
criminal laxity on the part Of
parents and since these young
people are obviously not dis
ciplined at home, 1t is up to
the school to take action, In
self-defense If nothing else.
At the two private schools
my sons attend, there has
never been any question of
parental permission to disci-
pline the students. Unruly
students are whacked,
cracked and smacked and any
complaint from parents over
this bullying" and "humili-
alton" Of Junior quickly re-
suits in the demand that he
be removed from the school.
From personal observation,
/ may add that the behavior
OF these students Is excellent.
They are polite and while
they may not "like" their
teachers, they are respectful
and have a sense of respon-
sibility in doing their work so
as not to incur the displeas-
ure Of the school. Further
more, they have no time to
prowl the streets after dark,
terrifying and attacking in
nocent people.
DIR. Hansen doesn't have to
look very far for the solution
to the deplorable situation
now existing although 1t Is
extremely doubtful that he
will be supported In any eff
fort to punish school children,
even If he should take q firm
stand.
This Is particularly I'M
fortunate IS the solution is
so simple. The veracity of
the age old axiom Spare the
rod and spoil the child" was
never so apparent as 1t is
now. +. ID. Simpson.
Now I'm convinced.
I had believed that supt.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28

dent might be expected 10
give great impetus to an
early consideration Of the
tax bill. It certainly may stir
the interest Of many tax
payers and their Represen-
tatives In Congress. Which
is undoubtedly what the
President had In mind. But
the problem is not as simple
as that. Especially when the
rest of the Presidents pro-
gram, calling for more Fed
eral expenditures and more
taxes as In the case Of the
medicare bill, is taken into
consideration. And further,
when the Federal deficit may
become greater than the al
most $l2 billion already esti-
mated by the administra-
ton for fiscal year 1864.
Economic Stimulant
The Presidents idea Is that
a reduction of taxes for in
dividuals and business will
put money into the hands Of
the consumers to purchase
goods Of all kinds and into
the hands of industry for
plant improvements and ex-
tension Of production. All
this will result in greater
employment and In greater
revenue-through taxes-to
the Government. The House
Ways and Means Committee
will write the tax bill after
1t has completed extensive
hearings. 1t may not have o
bill ready. 1t Is said, to pre-
sent to the House until next
June. The Senate Finance
Committee will not start
working on the measure until
1t has passed the House-not
even begin its hearings on
the bill. While all this con-
sideration Of the tax bill Is
in the mill. Congress will
have to deal with the an
nual appropriation bills for
the operation Of the Gov
eminent and its many serv-
ices. 1t will be lucky, in
deed, If 1t can get all these
appropriation bills passed by
the end Of the present fis-
cal year, June 30.
Special groups will be
pressing too, for the pas
sage Of other parts Of
the Kennedy program. The
school bill, for example, the
medicare bill. the urban
mass transit bill, the farm
bill. Foreign aid will consti-
tute a problem all its own.
There will be strong de-
mands for passage of civil
rights legislation. depending
on what the Presidents mes
sage, or even going beyond
that message, shows.
With this mass of legisla-
tive proposals In their laps,
the 535 members Of the New
Congress will have plenty on
their minds, and the Demo-
cratic leaders of House and
Senate a terrific Job to get
the program moving. The
administration, beset by for
eign problems, must still
concentrate on domestic af-
fairs. the most important Of
which Is the warding off. II
1t can, Of a recession" For
that 1t will have to depend
on both business and labor,
as well as on its own pro-
grams.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
Many Causes of Retarded Infants

MOLC tIldH zUU causes OF
mental retardation in infan-
cy now have been identified
through scientific research.
This has been announced
by the United States Chill
dren's Bureau. which is con-
Quoting a special campaign
for mentally retarded in
fantS - about three out Of
each 100 in this country. The
rate probably is much higher
elsewhere.
Based on population esti-
mates" says the Bureau re-
port, "the number of ment-
ally retarded In this coun-
try is expected to increase
from $500. 1000 to 6,50O,O00 by
1910. This estimated increase
assumes that improved and
extended prenatal, obstetri-
cal and pediatric care will
prevent some damage to in
fants which might have re-
suited In mental retardation.
At the same time such i'm
proved services probably also
will result in a number Of
damaged and retarded in
fants surviving who would
not have survived without
improved care.
Some Positive Advances
Among positive advances
noted In the program, one
Of the most helpful has
been the discovery that
phenylketonuria, an inherent
mental retardation, can be
controlled by q special diet.
II started early.
This disorder occurs once
In every 10000 births and
one In every 10 persons can
transmit II genetically. Last
year Is newborn we're de-
tected and put on this diet.
with a potential saving Of
about So million II they had
been left entirely to the care
OF the communities.
The new test thus far has
been used TO screen about
5000 babies In New York
State. The test uses a few
drops of blood from the
baby's heel and shows
whether the retardation con-
dition Is present in four or
five days after birth.
This year II will be given
TO about 100000 newborn. II
this mass screening is sue
cessful, says the report, II can
result not only in huge finan-
cial savings but in the
prevention Of untold human
suffering. Now, according TO
the report. IS States have
developed special clinical
programs TO combat child
mental disorders.
The doughboy Of tomorrow
will carry quite different
weapons than today's infan-
tryman.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28

tendent's constant claim that
the systems needs are far
deeper and broader than the
matter of meeting the present
disciplinary disturbances. As
he maintains. constructive
attention to the former will
be most effective in the long
run in solving the latter.
J. w. Haywood, Jr.
DR.. Hansen's report on the
problems of our public
schools is an erudite treatise,
a shining example of a mind
and heart and soul at work,
tangible evidence that higher
education and ivory tower
dreaming are not necessarily
synonymous. On the other
hand, DR.. Euphemia L.
Haynes response to DR.. Han
sens recommendation that
the ban on corporal punish
ment be removed, to-wit, II
believe in the force of law.
not in the law Of force" is
woefully lacking in compre-
henSion.
DR.. Hansen is q fortnight,
dedicated pioneer casting his
pearls before impractical the
orists; a Titan In the edu-
Gator market; an independent
thinker in an era of be safe
in the crowd" naturalization.
Personally, I'd rather stand
alone beside wisdom than be
lost in the safety Of medioc-
rity.
By what quick and effica-
ciouS means does DR.. Haynes
propose changing our laws to
remedy the school disciple
nary problem - urgent now,
hopeless a few years hence?
School Board President
Williams comments on the
same report were equally dis
heartening and a sample Of
the garden variety of safe
thinking" which pervades our
city.
Children need discipline,
children respect discipline,
children want and are crying
out for discipline. Discipline
is a moral bastion whereto the
chaStened are consigned,
where they may assess their
offenSes and think upon the
path they will take at life's
next crosSroad. II We deny the
children these extra chances
to reappraise their behavior
we are doing them a grave
disservice. When my dog gets
cocky and obstreperous. I
spank her and she thereupon
settles down. She loves me
none the less because I ad-
ministered necessary punish
ment. Is the discipline OF
children less important than
the discipline of dogs?
He that has ears to hear,
let him hear.
Lucille Raiche.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28

InlS Is revealed by Lieu
tenant Gen. Dwight E. Beach,
chief of the Army's Research
and Development Division,
which now is at work on
$500 research projects with
approximately $4,000 military
and civilian scientists and
engineers. The projects cover
almost the entire field of war
activities.
Starting with small arms,
reports Gen. Beach, I'VE are
working on concepts which
will give the individual SOL
der the point target capa-
bility Of the rifle combined
with q high explosive area
fire capability. all In one
weapon. This new shoulder
fired weapon fills the gap
between the hand grenade
and mortar. 1t fires q 40 mil
limeter high explosive gre
made out to a range of about
400 meters.
"A new light l06 mil
hmeter howitzer and a COM
panion, unarmored self-pro-
PEELED weapon are being de-
veloped to replace the los
millimeter howitzers We pres
emily have in the hands of
troops. They will be more
accurate, more lethal and
much lighter than the weap-
ons replaced.
Other Improvements
Next come anti tank
weapons. The new anti-tank
rocket Is q lightweight
weapon which fires q highly
effective anti-tank round
which viii defeat the majori-
ty Of tanks likely TO be en-
countered at close ranges by
a small infantry unit. II will
replace the familiar bazooka.
There is also the shillelagh,
a lightweight surface to-sur-
face guided missile. II Ia de-
signed TO provide ground
combat forces with q highly
potent capability for de-
struction OF many types Of
enemy targets"
The infantryman no
longer will be left helpless
against high air attack. One
new weapon is the Redeye,
q man transportable,
shoulder = fired bazooka type
weapon for use against low.
flying aircraft. II utilities In
frared. homing all the
way guidance and viii give
the front line soldier q real
sir defense capability. Next
Ia "Mauler" which will be
used TO defend forward COM
bat elements against short
range missiles and high
speed, low-flying aircraft. II
will consist OF missiles and
fire control equipment
mounted on . self-pfopelled
carriage.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28
The Case of Mr.. Powell

Some members Of Congress have
raised question of considerable impor-
lance to our form of Government. 1t is,
in brief, the necessity for public respect
for our political system and for the
individuals who are elected to offices Of
trust and responsibility.
The question has arisen because of
the conduct in office of Representative
Adam Clayton Powell, New York Demo-
crat and chairman Through the SEEM
ingly inviolable workings of seniority
of the House Committee on Education
and Labor. 1t has, in a limited way,
centered upon Mr.. Powell's journeys,
his absences from his own committee
sessions and from the floor Of the House
itself, upon the partisan ratio of COM
mittee members and staff personnel,
upon what is claimed to be an unreason-
ably high budget for the committee, and
also upon many of Mr.. Powell's activities
and interests outside the duty of
representing his constituents. In these
respects, the case against Mr.. Powell
has been well documented and well
publicized.
But the more basic issue has been
raised, unintentionally perhaps, by Mr..
Powell himself. In news conference
following an initial public airing of the
charges against him, Mr.. Powell made
two points. One was that what he had
been doing-and he denied very little
was only what others or most of the
membership of Congress also did. The
other point he made, in response to a
question, was that the charges against
him were motivated by the fact that he
is Negro.
Because of the generally accepted
rules of congressional courtesy, members
of the Congress do not ordinarily attack
each other verbally on personal basis.
1t was Senator Williams, Delaware Re-
publican, and a member of the Joint
Committee on Reduction of NoneSsential
Federal Expenditures, who first dared
to deal publicly with the Powell record
But since Mr.. Powell's own strange
defense, some of his colleagues in the
House itself have risen to speak on the
deeper issue involved, namely, that of
the need for public respect for the
legislative body.
Representative Ashbrook, Ohio Re-
publican and a member of Mr.. Powell's
committee, has spoken at length, not
only on the committee record and its
budget but on Mr.. Powell's counter
charge that, IN effect, his behavior is
no worse than that Of his colleagues.
Mr.. AShbrook says this is not true, and
that the accusation places the reputation
Of Congress itself at stake. Several
House Republicans rose to indorse Mr..
Ashbrook's remarks, including Repre-
sentative Curtis Of Missouri, who said
that the House, and particularly its
Democratic leadership, have a RESPONSE
bility to establish and maintain a
standard of acceptable ethics. No DEM
ocrats spoke for or against Mr.. Powell
We do not think there is any basis
for the charge Of racial bias. And 1t
certainly does not reflect creditably on
Mr.. Powell that he should seek to raise
this phony issue.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28

l read with interest news
paper accounts Of Senator
Harrison williams one-day
home-improvement program
for Negro families In the
Gum Springs area Of Fair
fax County. Va. I hope that
Northern Virginia's housing
problem for ow-income fami-
lies will continue to be Of in
terest to the Senator. In the
future. however, I believe his
efforts TO find q solution to
this problem will be more
beneficial II he applies them
with more thought to the
underlying cause and with
less dramatization and pub
licity.
The permanent residents"
OF this area are deeply con-
cerned about the welfare Of
all Of its low-income citi-
zenS. With this in mind the
Fairfax County Board Of Su-
pervisors appointed. in June.
1862. the Fairfax County
Housing Committee. This
committee published a report
and recommendations on
February 10. 1868. This re-
port OF conditions on low-in-
come housing for Negroes
and white citizens was &C
complished only after many
hours Of hard. detailed work.
The problem has been we'll
outlined In this report and,
with this as a starting point,
II will be much easier 10 pro-
coed to q solution to the
problem.
II is my personal opinion
that when a group Of volun-
teers led by a Northern Sen
ator. come into a slum neigh
borhood in Virginia and do
one days work 10 accom-
plish only q perpetuation Of
the Stun condition. that they
have done this area q dis
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28
Senator Roked Over for SIum Cleanup

the housing in such q way
that there will be a desire
of the people to help them
selves as much as possible.
and not to rely on the char
ity or misguided efforts Of
well-meaning citizens.
Thomas n. Williams.
The picture Of Senator
Harrison Williams pounding
a few nails and generally SUI
pervising the cleaning up Of
three shacks In Gum Springs
is a little late. Why hasn't
something been done long
ago2 These conditions have
existed and have been dis
cussed as long as I have
lived In Fairfax County
about Is years. There are
other such areas close by.
How can a place that has
been condemned as unfit for
human habitation be made
habitable in a few short
hours and then be torn down
in four or six weeks7 What
will happen TO these people
then2 Does the Senator have
a solution2 Or was this Just
a publicity stunt2
The Fairfax County Super
visors can appropriate $780,
900 or more Of the taxpayers
money for drainage prob
lens In areas OF $4,000
homes because II was con-
sidered a hardship case" Why
don't they allocate some Of
this money that has gone
down the drain" 10 clean up
areas OF substandard hous-
ing7 Our politicians have
lost their sense OF values.
l will be interested TO see
what type housing is placed
on this land after the
"shacks" are torn down.
Virginia Moore.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-28
How's Business?

Our daily journals are reporting
something like breakdown in commu-
nications between the Internal Revenue
Service and the business community on
exact Interpretation Of the new regula-
tions on deductible expense account
items. Some segments Of the business
side, such as the National Restaurant