davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
Service Pay Bill

The House has approved a $1-bil-
lion military pay raise, and we hope the
Senate votes nothing less Under the
House BILL military men with two years
service will get a pay raise October l
averaging about IL per cent.
This may be too little, according to
these figures compiled by the House
Armed Services Committee: Over the
past 10 years military men have re-
ceived pay raises totaling 1862 per cent.
In the same time, civil service salaries
have gone up 1913 per cent. Civilians in
private industry with jobs similar to
those held by officers have gained an
average of 40 per cent Jobs equating
with enlisted work have received raises
of 448 per cent.
Here is another interesting COM
parison. A colonel with 20 years service
makes about $13,500. A man with a civil
service grade Is, step four, makes ST.
210. We doubt if the average GS-15
civilian does work more important than
that of the average colonel.
The new bill will help correct the
inequitieS, but it will not go all the way.
OF course, military men get other bene-
fitS-a housing allowance, medical care,
commiSSaries and so forth. But no study
of comparative pay suggests that these
items close the gap.
1t is extremely difficult to set a
military pay scale that is fair" and
comparable" to civilian pay. Secretary
of Defense Mcnamara has ordered a
new study, however, to see if more
equitable pay adjustment is possible.
Meanwhile, Congress should approve the
pending bill.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
The Genie Out?

The moment of truth has come at
last in the nuclear teSt-ban negotiations
at Geneva. President Kennedy, as he
made clear at his news conference the
other day, is mot hopeful at ALL" And
Of course he has no reason to be.
This is so because every bit of hard
evidence, as disclosed at Geneva and in
the Presidents personal correspondence
with Premier KhruShchev, plainly indi-
Gates that the Kremlin has no intention
whatever-not now, at any rate-of &C
cepting the kind of international po-
Icing that would be indispensable to
a trustworthy agreement prohibiting
experimental atomic-hydrogen detona-
tions. The facts involved here are OBJ
viouS enough to make ban-the- bomb
movements like Women Strike for
Peace" seem guileleSS to the point of
utter fatuouSneSS
Actually, the Soviet delegation at
Geneva has within recent weeks been
intransigent, uncompromiSing and ar
rogant. In fact, there is some reason to
suspect that this course of conduct has
been deliberately undertaken to wreck
the talks and thus clear the way for
further Russian nuclear tests in all me-
diums. That is why Mr.. Kennedy has
taken a glum view of the outlook He
feels that another round of such tests
may soon be started by the Kremlin,
and then countered by uS-a competi-
tive process which he personally thinks
would be great disaster for the E.
interests of all concerned"
In any event, as far as the ever
elusive test ban is concerned, the PreSi-
dent has had this peSSimiStic comment
to make: 1--WE thought we were moving
towards it in December. Now we seem
to be moving away from it. If we don't
get it now, would think perhaps the
genie is out of the bottle and We'll never
get it back in again." That may well be
so, and our country must act accordingly,
with whatever testing programs may be
necessary, to guard against the immeas-
urable danger of becoming second-beSt
in the nuclear field.
The Russians, by their unbending
refusal to negotiate an effective agree
ment on banning tests, now have left
no room for doubt that all the tortuouS
and endless talking at Geneva must be
written off as sham and pretenSe AS
nation, let us get on with the work
that must therefore be done.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
Prophets of Doom

An editorial in The Star
May q opposes nuclear dis
armament.
Scientists know with math-
ematical certainty that I'M
less nuclear weapons are dis
m antled there will be a
nuclear war by accident, II
not on purpose. Sir Charles
Snow told the American AS
ISOLATION for the Advance
ment Of Science a few years
ago that he estimated they
would go off within 10 years.
An extensive study at Ohio
State University by the Mer-
shon National Security Pro-
gram showed a significant
chance Of accidental war
within 10 years.
They didn't say what our
chances are in 20 years II we
make II through the first 10.
Walter GormIy.
Mt, Vernon. Iowa.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
N. H. Sweepstakes

1t was somewhat disap-
pointing to read your edito-
rial, Sweepstakes, Anyone?"
Admittedly, your point is
quite logical. People do gam
BILE. They always have, and
probably they always will.
SO why not take advantage
OF it2
I am sure you know that
there are countries where
prostitution is legal-and
taxed. There are other coun-
tries where taxes on legal
opium are turned TO good
purpose. II is quite likely
that many people have prac-
ticed prostitution, and many
people smoke opium so why
not turn such taxes also TO
good purpose2
There was a time when
The Star would not carry
liquor advertisements - but
this is no morel
II is curious-and discour-
aging to note the way mo-
rality can be eroded. Usually
II doesn't happen overnight.
Just a little here, then a little
there, and then Sweep
stakes Anyone2"
/ will close with Just a
phrase borrowed from Isaiah
1912 tdo you still have a
Bible7): How art thou
fallenl"
ThOburn G. Lyon.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
See the Cow?

UrbaniteS who have never seen a
COW or would like to refresh their
memory of one, are being directed to
the Wheaton Regional Park, where there
is one. Although the animal is young
and healthy, and there would seem little
cause for haste, the rush to Wheaton
has been most extraordinary.
Fantastic? Only to the most literal
minded And not at all to the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, which carved out the 500
acre woodland a Jump ahead of onruSh-
ing land developers. Yet, who expected
that $4,000 people would visit the park
last summer, even before its official
opening?
They were not all gaping at the
COW, or the other domestic animals on
"Old MacDonald's Farm" The park has
many other attractions. But a signifi-
cant number of youngsters are getting
their first thrill of personal contact
with rustic scene, complete with a
Smattering of farm life, however syn
thetic. And it's quite a comment on
urban life today that a simple farm
the sort where grandmother used to
live-may become an attraction COM
parable to a zoo.
Perhaps the day will come when
students will visit Wheaton Parks
Nature Center for illustrated lectures
on the art of cow-milking, or the diff
ference between a Rhode Island red
and a leghorn, or how ponies grow up
from tiny foals. Even now this park
land has become bit of paradise, where
one may still see oaks and naples or
violetS and ragged robins and butter
cups, in their natural state, or even an
occasional fox or rabbit darting through
the brush
AS the megapolis pushes on and
on, it becomes increasingly evident the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
Modest Shelter

As a Nation. there can be
no question OF our charity.
our generosity. our philan-
thropy, our sharing with and
providing for other less for
tunate nations. But there is
a vital cross-section at home
that we have yet 10 consider.
There are in our midst an
alarmingly increasing num-
Der OF Rentlewomen whose
slim incomes cannot cope
with initiation. Their major
concern has to do with con-
stantly increasing rentals.
They are obliged 10 move
into less desirable neighbour
hoods.
They are too young for
homes for the aged. not ELI
gible for nursing homes. not
that they could afford them.
And they are OF a quality
that asks not charity. but
merely TO be able 10 remain
In an area where their friends
can find them and where
they can find their church,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
THE POLITICAL MILL
Voice of an Old New Dealer
BY GOULD LINCOLN

people. This trend In both
big government spending and
centralized government got
its first big start in the
early days Of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt's adj
ministration.
New Deal Plank
Senator Byrd, speaking at
the University Of Virginia re-
Gently, described himself as
one of the first New Deal
ers. Indeed, he said, he had
embraced with enthusiasm
the New Deal when it. was
proclaimed by Roosevelt in
1882, as a means of strength
ening our form of govern
ment and bringing us out Of
the big depression. He quoted
from the 1882 Democratic
national platform, which de-
clared: 1--WE advocate an i'm
mediate and drastic reduce
ton of governmental expen-
ditures by abolishing useless
commissions and offices,
consolidating departments
and bureaus, and eliminating
extravaganza, to accomplish
a saving Of not less than rs
per cent in the cost of gov
eminent"
There we old New Dealers
still stand. Admittedly there
is not much left to stand on;
but then, there are not
many of us left standing.
Just let me quote again from
what the platform said:
I'VE favor maintenance of
the national credit by a Fed
eral budget annually bal
anced and sound currency to
be preserved at all hazards.
He continued with a final
quote as follows: 1.-The re-
moval of government from
all fields Of private enter
prise except where necessary
to develop public works and
natural resources in the COM
mon INTEREST,""
I'm summary" he con-
cluded, 'let me say that
since the departure from the
pledges of that platform, our
system has been increasing
ly subjected to three sub
verting trends which must be
stopped: Increasing centrali-
cation with fiscal deteriora-
ton. increasing usurpation
of power by the Federal ju-
dietary, and increasing influ-
ence of pressure group lead
ers over Federal authorities"
No one is ever in doubt
over the position of Senator
Byrd on fiscal policies. The
inSistence of the Kennedy
administration on the con-
tinuance of big spending at
the same time Federal taxes
are cut is causing many 9TH
er members of Congress to
adopt a similar position.
Nevertheless, the desire of so
many for a tax cut, with a
national election in the off
ing will almost certainly
bring passage of a tax cut
bill, though in what form is
still uncertain.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
Minds at Peace

In observance of National
Mental Health Week, the
staff Of st. Elizabeths Hos
pital held an open house"
on Sunday, May 5.
Rabbi Chain William
owsky, the Jewish chaplain,
took the writer on a tour of
the buildings and grounds to
see the fine work being done
by this large organization
which is such a vital part
of the Washington commu-
nifty. This tour proved to be
a moving, instructive and
most encouraging experience.
One could see the tremen-
dous strides which have been
made in the past so years in
the care Of the mentally i'll.
Gone is the snake pit" Of
bygone days, and in its place
there exists for many the
open door" approach which
permits inmates a freedom
altogether unknown in ear
lier days and which results
in a return to normal living
for many.
One incident, in particu-
lar, had profound significance
to this observer. While tour
ing the mems geriatric Sec
ton. I saw q sight which
made me ponder: On a
bench in the mems recrea-
ton room, an aged. senile
white man lay with his head
resting in the lap of an
equally aged, senile colored
man. Both were peaceful
and quiet.
Time, the great leveler,
the non-respecter of persons,
creeds, or colors, had reduced
both, in the end as in the
beginning, to an undeniable
equality. The man-made
distinctions which set the
hands Of Shem, Japheth and
Ham, one against the other,
were invisible. Many miles
away in Birmingham, Ala,
men we're at one another's
Threats because their skins
were of different colors.
Here, in a ward in st. Eliza
beths. two men were as God
created them: Brothers,
knowing no color lines
seeking comfort, one from
the other. One might be
tempted to ask: Which are
the insane ones?
But to return to the work
done at st. Elizabeths: My
congratulations to the staff
on the wonderful progress
being made there despite the
shortages Of appropriations,
psychiatrists, social workers,
etc. Much remains to be
improved. May the good
work go forward!
Marcia ZuesSe.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
See editorial, OF the Boom

See editorial, of the Beom'
case involving the wanton,
brutal murder of the Rev.
Cleveland Weaver. Public CO.
operation is Of value in the
apprehension of the criminal,
and is not to be ignored;
however, 1t Is not the essen
tial solution to the deplor-
able prevalence of rampant
crime in the District of CO.
lumbia. The mitigation of
crime here, as elsewhere, is
predicated on one key factor
or deterrent: fear-palpable
fear of the reformatory or
the penitentiary. The local
criminal is we'll aware Of the
lackadaisical administration
of justice meted out by Dis
trict courts Especially the
Juvenile Court and perpe-
trates his crimes knowing
that. if apprehended, he will
receive, at most, a suspended
sentence or probation. AS an
example, a juvenile was
brought before Judge Mar
jorie M. Lawson of the Ju-
venile Court recently, and de-
spite having a record Of two
previous offenses was placed
on probation, and given into
the custody Of his mother.
The incredible reason? 1t was
pointed out to the judge
that: THE boy was receiv-
ing regular psychiatric treat
ment and was under good
care at home" On the same
day, and in the same paper
an article appeared stating
that a Baltimore judge SEN
fenced a juvenile delinquent
to 10 days for the same Of
tense: disorderly conduct in
volving riotous behavior at a
public park. 1t is obvious
that Baltimore has found an
efficacious solution to the
problem of juvenile delin-
quency.
nnhn.A n nnnLmRR
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
PEOPLE. AND PROBLEMS
The Need for Coming-of-Age Rites
By RALPH McGHL

pected to assume the burdens
of it,"
In looking at America, the
African scholar thought it
rather sad, and unwise. that
American boys are thrust
into long trousers as soon as
they are able to walk and
that young girls are made to
appear, by dress and man.
ners. much more mature and
sophisticated than their 10
to IL years would indicate.
1T seems to me-" said the
distinguished visitor, that
your children pass from
childhood into their teens
without any awareness save
of discomfort and a certain
excitement that they are
near the attainment of a
drivers license.
Release From Authority
Indeed" he observed, lit
appears that this is the only
indication to the young
American that he is a young
man or woman. The drivers
license, which the parents
dread and fear. unhappily
does not bring with 1t any
sense Of new responsibilities.
Indeed. to the scientific OBJ
server, 1t is a symbol of re-
lease from parental author
ity. 1t is an introduction TO
power. The youngster, after
years OF impatient anticipa-
ton, suddenly is given the
reigns Of hundreds OF power
ful horses. 1t is no wonder
that he or she too often
drives them at top speed -
sometimes with tragic re-
suits. But this is the only
puberty rite generally cele-
brated by Americans. No
where along the way is there
any milepost at which there
is a halt and a solemn cele-
bration Of the coming OF age
and the assumption Of re-
sponsibilities. This may be
the root OF some Of your trou-
bles with the problems Of
juveniles, including delin-
quency." he concluded.
The visitors comments did
set In motion a chai1-reac-
ton OF "reminiscences for
those who heard him. Men
present recalled that for gen.
erations the American boy
looked forward 10 putting on
long pants a symbol OF
manhood. new responsibility,
and status. Some remembered
the relatively tight pants and
long black stockings, others
the years OF knickers and
stockings. The first suit
with long pants was, indeed,
a time OF family notice and
celebration.
Today, alas, long pants
begin with toddlers. Toddlers,
teens and adulthood are one
blur OF time.
(An RIGHTS Reserved
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11

Three cheers for Senator
Humphrey! The public should
not have to be taxed more in
order to have a very neces-
sary child care center-nor
as stated in the newspapers,
press thousands of teen-age
children into making collec-
tions in order to make Chill
dren's Village habitable for
human beings-and what is
more important-safe. just
what are the powers-that-be
thinking Of. or trying to turn
our city into2 Merely a show
place. with no thought of the
natives or their rights, or
well-being2
The millions chat are TO be
spent on a cultural center
one Of the many things
Washingtonians do not need,
and which we. the taxpayers
are paying for-should be d.
verted into a practical chan
mel. such as this child care
center. Who would benefit
by this cultural center?
Surely not the lower or mid
die class-whose time and
minds are too filled up with
making a living. TO be con-
cerned about culture" Be-
sides, the admission fee
would In all probability be
prohibitive for the prole-
tariat, even II they were in
terested. The numerical mi-
nority Of upper-crust society
who might patronize II In
termittently, travel extensive
ly TO obtain their culture. so
how long would II be before
such an institution would be
In the red" II. L. II.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11
Trouble Areas

There are times when the
wisest course of action is in
action. The Organization of
American States, including
the United States, is cur
rently facing a situation to
which counsel of this sort APP
plies. I am referring, of
course, to the recent march
of events in Haiti, where the
Dominican Embassy was in
vaded by the Haitian dicta-
tors thugs and President
Bosch'S consequent threat
to teach Duvalier to respect
Dominican sovereignty, by
force if necessary.
In my opinion, the GAS
and our own State Depart
ment should look aside while
President Bosch effectuateS
his threat and Dominican
troops and tanks roll across
the boundary that separates
the two small countries. 1t
would be the SureSt way of
diSpoSing of Duvalier and the
corruption he represents.
Once he is out of the way,
the U. S. could resume its
subsidy to Haiti in an en-
deavor to raise its living
standards cat the time of
this writing the annual in
come of the average Haitian
is $6D. This subsidy, which
amounted to $25 million, was
cut off by our Government
some time ago because it was
being appropriated entirely
by Duvalier and his hench-
men and the President felt
it was like pouring water
down an endless drain.
Once Duvalier is eliminated
from the picture, every eff
fort should be made by the
GAS and our own Govern
ment to rationalize Haitian
life and its economy. Educa-
ton should be encouraged,
the literacy rate raised, etc.
Perhaps some inkling of what
the democratic way of life
is can be inculcated in the
average Haitian, although a
radical transformation of
this kind cannot be expected
to occur overnight.
A viable Haiti would be a
good piece of insurance
against the witches brew of
communism and dictatorship
in the guise of revolution
that Castro is trying to ped
die throughout Latin Amer
lea. L. M. Court.
\ &&
President Kennedy recently
officially recognized the new
Guatemalan regime of ex-
Defense Minister Enrique
Peralta. Being originally
from Central America my
self, I cannot help but think
that this signifies direct APP
proval by the United States
Government of the forceful
overthrow Of a fellow repub-
lie.
II only once the United
States refused to recognize a
Latin America government
Matched from some kind of
violence, I assure you that
the next time some materi-
alistic dictator thought of
performing a coup" he
would hesitate, fearing a
denial of American aid.
Joseph Urquia.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11

their doctor, their drugstore,
etc.
Why not a Government
project to aid such people!
st. Louis and Detroit are
tearing down ugly sections in
the heart Of the city and
erecting attractively land
scaped modern housing units
at low cost.
We have erected a costly
snake house in the Zoo and
$10,000,000 is being appro-
priated for an aquarium,
while mothers wander
through the streets seeking a
shelter they can afford.
Adele T.. Brennan
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-11

Do Americans thrust their
children into their teens
without any preparation for
new responsibilities or an
awareneSs of them? A Nj
gerian anthropologist and
scholar has been putting the
evaluating eye on American
culture and he thinks that
perhaps we have done so. We
long ago, he finds, aban-
doned all puberty rites, or
commemorations, of the COM
ing of age for our young
people. This, he believes, has
done serious harm. 1t is, he
thinks, productive of some of
the harvest we now are reap
ing.
I'm Africa" he said, I'VE
have learned that persons
torn from their tribal Gull
lures and thrust willy-nilly
into the midst of an indus
trial society suffer from a
lack of identity with the
values of their past. In the
tribal culture there was a
definite celebration of the
coming of responsibility for
young men. This was around
the age of a." he said, land
was of very great value. 1t
fixed in the youngsters mind
the fact that he was no
longer a child, but was NOV
ing into young manhood and
that more thereafter would
be expected of him."
The visiting anthropolo-
gist noted that in America
only the Jews have had the
good sense to hold fast to
this celebration of puberty
rites. The bar mitzvah is a
solemn and momentous occa-
sion for a Jewish boy arriv-
ing at the age OF 10. Family,
friends. and rabbi gather for
a dinner and a ritual. On the
following Sabbath the boy is,
or may be. called upon TO be
one Of the seven men TO read
the weekly portion OF the
law, or as the eighth man
to read the prophetic lesson.
In the more orthodox rituals
the youngster may be called
upon TO deliver a religious
address. After a bar mitzvah
the young man henceforth is
included among the 10 males
required for public worship.
A New Responsibility
The scholarly Nigerian, who
had been privileged TO attend
a bar mitzvah, was impressed.
While he himself is, In a
sense, "detribalized," he re-
calls his own exacting intro
duction TO manhood. This
required the tattooing OF trib-
al marks on his face. and
other physical enactments.
But" he said, II did not
doubt for a moment that l
had arrived at a new pla-
teau Of responsibility and
was, thereafter, entering In
10 manhood and would be ex-