WASHINGTON – In answer to one of the numerous protests which have been received at the White House against the new gold coin which have been coined without the words “In God we trust,” President Roosevelt has written a letter which he today made public. The letter follows (in part):

“When the question of the new coinage came up, we looked into the law and found there was no warrant therein for putting “In God we trust” on the coins. As the custom, although without legal warrant, had grown up, however, I might have felt at liberty to keep the inscription had I approved of its being on the coinage. But as I did not approve of it, I did not direct that it should again be put on. Of course, the matter of the law is absolutely in the hands of Congress and any direction of Congress in the matter will be immediately obeyed. At present as I have said there is no warrant in law of the inscription.”

50 years ago, 1957

OKLAHOMA CITY – President Eisenhower, cautioning that “there is danger ahead for free men everywhere,” told the nation tonight America must spend substantially more money on weapons of the future to meet Russia’s challenge.

WASHINGTON – The Treasury reported today that the last time it counted all its loose change, which was last Thursday, we were in hock for $273,814,422,925.13.

25 years ago, 1982

• “Cost shifting” could be costing your family money, says the Health Insurance Association of America. It occurs when a hospital charges some patients more because others pay less. This happens because the government does not pay the full cost of services hospitals provide to Medicare and Medicaid patients. Since they cannot sustain such losses, hospitals must make up for them by charging private-paying patients more.

• Some Lewiston pedestrians may be surprised come the first big snowstorm, but the city’s public works director thinks they will approve of a change quietly OK’d by the City Council to reduce sidewalk plowing by almost 60 percent.