davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09

has in the past taken tens Of thousands
from the American merchant marine with
no suggestion that there was anything
wrong in it. The right to transfer vessels
from one flag to another has been un-
questioned, and England cannot af-
ford to raise such a claim
now. There is an intimation that the en-
rollment of the City of Paris and City Of
New York in the British naval reserve
gives the English Government special
hold If true this would be an additional
reason for making the bill general in its
character and letting the owners and the
English Government settle it between
themselves. But with the fact that the
rules of the English naval reserve provide
for the withdrawal of vessels, there is not
very much for the English claim to stand
on The alarm of Great Britain at the
general proposition is an evidence of its
value to the naval interests of the United
States. But that gives more point to the
question why it should be restricted to two
steamships owned by single company.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
NEwJERsEf.s NEW LIGHT.

The State Government of New Jersey
is, as will be seen from special telegram,
preparing to take hand against the Read
ing deal. That the leases violate the laws
of New Jersey by the weak evasion Of
setting up a shadow corporation as the
agent is quite probable. But that viola
ton of public policy is so trivial beside
the greater one of combinations to which
New Jersey has lent the aid of its legisla-
ton that this move is not likely to COM
mand much respect.
There is encouragement in the fact that
public indignation at the monopoliZing of
a great staple has forced the politicians OF
New Jersey to take some action. That
permits a hope that hereafter the legisla-
ton of that State will not make business
of furnishing broad gauge charters to cor
porations which desire that refuge from
the courts of other States. But inaSmuch
as the Governor of New Jersey, who
directs this move, was on the point of
signing bill authorizing the leases, and
committed himself to weak Endorsement
of the monopoly in his veto message, it is
impossible to feel that his attack contains
anv great terrorS for the corporate combi-
nation which had such narrow escape
from owning him.
To check such aggressions of capital as
these the public officials combating them
must be sincerely and incorruptibly
pledged to the interests of the whole peo-
pie. These New Jersey politicians have
not of late given any evidences of being
of that stripe.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
AcoMMoN poLIT1cAL PLATFORM

italy presents an illustration of the
great political principle that every politi-
cal class is desirous Of retrenchment and
reform In all departments of the public
service except those where they have ill.,
terests The statesmen who voted Rudini
out of Office were in favor of cutting down
expenses; but the Government positions
in which their sons and nephews DIR ew
more or less comfortable stipends must
not be touched. Rudini preferred to at
tack the bread and butter of the place
holders rather than to reduce the Italian
army and navy. Consequently Rudini
had to 60
Here we learn the variation of Cicero's
principle that while different climates
may arch over the spoils politician, and
he may urge his desires in varying dia-
lects, the mental constitution of the genus
is the same, whether he or we travel over
seas. In the same week, if not on the
same day, in which the Italian Parliament
was voting RGdini out for trying to cut
down offices the House of Representatives
of the United States was engaged in DEM
onstrating that the members of both par
ties, whether standing on the platform
of retrenchment and reform or swear
ing by the halcyon recollec-
tons of the Billion Congress, stood
shoulder to shoulder in defense of the
great programme of getting, individually
and collectively, slice of the pork. In
the coincidence we observe the fact that
the bond of unity might be extended, and
that the politicians of Italy and the
United States, lately thirsting for each
others gore, in a political sense can clasp
hands in their mutual support of the
principle that the soft snaps of statesman
ship must and shall be maintained.
In one respect, however, Italy appears
to be ahead of us. The approximate
bankruptcy of her Government induces
her politicians to assent that the army and
navy expenditures shall be reduced and
the Triple Alliance thrown overheard.
The sum of American craftsmanship in
the present Congress is that all expendi-
lures must be kept up until our Govern
ment reaches as desperate financial straits
as those Of Italy.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
TERMS OF THE DISPATCH.
MONDAY. MAY Q. 1892.
THE HEALTH REPORT.

The report of the Bureau of Health,
which is summarized in our local columns,
contains a large amount of interesting in
formation with regard to the vital matters
of the city'S health and mortality. With
out going into details, the fact that the
city's death rate remains tolerably low is
satisfactory: but the increase over last
year, and the large proportion of infectious
diseases raise the question whether the
death rate is not higher than it should be,
considering the excellent natural char
acteristicS of the city for sanitation. In
the same connection, the fact that deaths
from violent causes averaged IL per day
throughout the entire year, is severe
commentary on the care for human life in
this day.
The recommendations for improved Sani-
tarv precautions are, in most respects,
such as will gain public approval The
proposition that the municipal hospital
should have a separate building for the
treatment of other infectious diseases than
smallpox, simply points out something
that should have been done long ago. The
stand of the officers of the bureau in
favor of increased caution with regard to
the spread of infection at the schools is
to he warmly supported. The Superin-
tendent Of the bureau, however, stretches
his functions somewhat in undertaking to
recommend a policy of legislation to
Councils on the subject of garbage He
takes the increased cost of natural gas for
the garbage furnace as an argument in
favor Of the grant of privileges recently
proposed TO the new garbage company.
He omitS, however, to prove that among
tile fuels produced by Western Pennsyl-
Y. ia, neither coke, oil or coal will con-
sumo garbage. He also fails to take into
consideration the fact that, while the COL
lection of garbage and its transportation
outside the city for manufacture into fer
tilizers is legitimate business, so long as
it is not a nuisance, the proposition to
give a single company exclusive privileges
is simply to fasten monopoly on the
public.
The care Of the public FGt;Sliic health IS one of
the most important of public functions,
and every effort TO discharge that duty
thoroughly and well will receive warm
support. In most respects the reports
show that the officers have full apprecia-
ton of the importance of their work, and
are giving a good return for the very mod
crate appropriation assigned to their
bureau.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
THE EXTREME VIEW,

The platform of the New York Repub.
licans is compared by the Philadelphia
Ledger with that of the Ohio Republicans
to the disadvantage of the latter. This is
because the New York platform declares
the Republican party to be pledged to
keep every dollar sat par with gold,"
while the latter declares against free COIN
age "eXcept under conditions that would
reasonably insure the maintenance of the
substantial parity between the bullion
and mint or money value of the COIN -
The Ledger thinks that in the use of the
word "gold'' the New York platform
''renders all misunderstanding impos-
sible," while it considers the Ohio plat
form as ''paltering with the advocates of q
debased coinage"
In this the Ledger displays the gold
monometallic fever in its most rabid form.
To keep every dollar at par with gold it
must he redeemable in gold, and therefore
it becomes simply a silver representative
of gold dollar, just exactly as the legal
tenders are. Now, when the New York
platform declares that the Republican
party is pledged to this policy, it is
diSingenuous, because % Republican
legislation on silver does not any,
where distinctly place that pledge
back of the silver currency; and (2)
the silver bullion, which according to this
theory is simply useless stock in the
Treasury, must keep on accumulating un-
til it will become absolutely necessary to
resort to it for payments. On the other
hand, the Ohio platform tersely states the
condition on which silver can be used as
component part of the currency, namely,
substantial parity between the bullion
and mint or money value"
Those who stand on the gold mono
metallic platform, as the Ledger does, and
repe any suggestion of using silver on its
merits, with talk of "a debased coinage"
forget one thing: That it is just as bad to
increase the value of dollar as it is to de-
crease it. That man who contracted a
debt, say in 1876, must now pay it in dollars
worth 15 per cent moro than those in which
the debt was contracted may seem all
right to the Ledger. But its results are as
fully as unjust, and its advocacy fully as
as when the reduction of the
value of the dollar in the interest of the
debtor is proposed.
The conclusion is that both the gold
m monometallists and the silver monometal-
lists-which is the real status of the pres
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
SLAPS AT CONGRESS.

IT takes Democratic majority to empty
the Treasury.-New York Recorder.
IT might be a good idea to make sure of a
quorum by assembling Congress at the race
track Woukegdn Times.
For days in succession, with a ajority of
$50, they permitted their quorum to be broken
by a horse-race.-Ne,U York World.
THE best thing to be said for tho present
House is that its course is making Republi-
can votes every day.-&. Louis Giobe-Demo-
crdt.
THE manner in which the members absent
themselves from the House, illustrates, in q
conspicuous manner, the adage, whats
everybody's business is nobody's business"
- Washington Star.
If some of the members of Congress at
tended to their Congressional duties as as
siduously as they do the races, the business
OF the country would move along more eX-
peditiously and more satisfactorily
caster Era.
THIS session of Congress promises to be
the most protracted, with the least results
in our political history. 1t seemed to be the
understanding from the start that no i'm
portant legislation was to be accomplished.
Toledo Commercial.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
ANERICANIZING SHIPS

In its comments on the bill to permit
American registry to foreign-built vessels
which, according tC public reports, ap-
piled only to the company owning the City
of Paris and the City of New York-THE
DISPATCH suggested that it should apply
to all vessel owners impartially. A sum-
mary of the principal clause of the bill
since received shows that it extends the
privilege Of American registry to foreign
built steamers of not less than 5000 tons
and with not less than twenty miles an
hour speed, when engaged in freight
and passenger business, and sailing in an
established line from port in the United
States, and owned by foreign corpora
ton Of which not less than 80 per cent of
the stock is owned by American citizens,
provided that the American owners con-
tract for the building of an equal tonnage
in American shipyards.
This under a surface of impartiality
practically confines the operation of the
bill to a single company. If it is proper
to admit steamers already built on this
condition, why is it not advantageous to
extend it to ships that NAV be built in the
future? If it is good to have it
done in the case of foreign cor
porations owned by American capital,
should not American corporations and
even private owners have the same privi-
lege? And if the acquisition of two 5000
ton steamers to our merchant marine is
gain, might there not be some use in let
ting 5000 or {, 6,0O0-ton vessels come in on
the same condition? At present the bill
presents the fault of being special legisla-
tion for the benefit of a single company,
apparently as reward for the attitude
which it has maintained heretofore of
American capital owning and operating
steamers under foreign flag.
On the other hand, the best evidence as
to the effect of the general policy of ex-
tending American registry to foreign-built
vessels, on condition of building an equal
tonnage in this country, is that John Bull
is raising fuss at the mere mention of it.
Sir Michael Hlcks-Beach thinks the action
a strange one for a friendly Government
to take, evidently forgetting that England
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
HIGH ON THE LADDER,

Mr. HERBERT SPENCER, the philosopher
was p years old April q.
THE writings of Mr.. Gladstone fill %
pages of the printed catalogue of the British
Museum.
THE richest of Spanish noblemen is the
young Duke of Medina-Coeli, a youth of IL
years. His castles in Spain are very sub
stantial realities.
IT is related that when Ben Butler, in the
days of his youth, was school teacher in a
Maine village his pet "swear word" was "By
the great Gumphramagog!'
JUSTICE MONTGOMERY, of the Supreme
Court OF the District of Columbia, will soon
retire from the bench and return to practice
law in his old home in Michigan.
THE German Emperor's oldest son, the
Crown Prince Frederick William, was 10
years old Saturday, and, in accordance with
the long-established custom, became "the
youngest lieutenant in the army.
PIERRE LOTT is said to be great favorite
with the ladies, possibly because he writes
so entertainingly about birds and cats and
children. He is small man physically, and
not much of an Adonis in appearance.
GEORGE FORBES, the well-known cleo
trical engineer OF London, England, has ar.
iiNSu a. ->laSaih W IispeCt Iuo Sanhuidu
side of the river relative to the construction
of gigantic tunnel to produce electrical
power for transmission to large manufacture.
ing centers.
SENATOR SAWYER is said to have an in
fallible way of keeping straight on roll calls
I've got just before me-" says he. ga steady,
straight voting Republican, Senator San
ders. If he votes yes 1 vote yes too, and
If he says mo- follow his example and
ALWAYS feel safe"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
THE INSURANCE QUESTION.

While the criticisms of the insurance
men on the fire department are pertinent
and call for consideration, it is impossible
to avoid the recognition of the fact that
the insurance interest itself is not above
criticism from the public standpoint. Start
ing with the fact noted in these columns
the other day, that insurance rates here
were % to 33 per cent higher than in Phila-
delphia, the case is aggravated by an
nouncing an increase of rates this week
ranging from 25 TO 80 per cent more. This
is done on the plea of large losses and un-
profitable business. But statistics show
the losses in Pittsburg to average less in
proportion to population than in New
York, Minneapolis, Buffalo and St Louis,
while in Boston and Chicago the losses
have been about the same.
As to the unproftableness of the insur-
aDce business, perhaps little light might
be thrown on that subject by an examin-
alton of the reports to learn the amount
of income consumed in commissions and
expenses, which it is the policy of the un-
derwriters' organization to maintain.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
PRICES HAVE GONE DOWN.
Free Traders Proph ecies Fail to MatcriaIize
ns They Wish.

cincinnati T1meS-Sfar.1
The advance Of e5 per cent placed on for
eign dress fabrics by the Mckinley tariff has
not worked as free trade prophets insisted
it would. Prices have gone down, not up.
This may seem strange, but such is the fact
American manufacturers have been stimu-
lated to produce finer goods, and foreign
manufacturers have been compelled to
make heavy concessions or else withdraw
from the market. The Boston Advertiser
saws:
The Mckinley duty has been in effect
about one and one-half years. and already
American fine goods have been freely shown
in market that will compete successfully
with the fine grades made in France and
Germany. Instead of the foreigners being
able to force ms into paying the extra duty
for our fall supplies, they have been glad to
take orders Mt to 8 per cent below the price
they obtained year ago for the same fab
RIGS. Goods that cost sc cents per yard last
year have been booked for next fall deliv-
cry at 81 cents per yard, and others have
been bought In the same proportion.
The consumer now has the choice be-
tween finer American goods and foreign
dress fabrics al lower price than before.
The rise of the industry in this country is
cousing this change, which both makes and
saves money for the American workma n.
A 1udicious protective tariff is at the bottom
OF it,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
CONGREGATIONS AT WAR.
An Indefinite Bequest of Property Is
Setting Them by the Ears.

An Indefinite Bequest of Property Is
Setting Them by the Ears.
MYERsDALE, Pa, May s.-An interesting
fight Is going on between two congregations
of the White Oak Church, several miles out
in the country from here, that is liable to be
brought into court For many years two
different congregations have worshiped In
the White Oak Church. The region is but
sparsely inhabited, and as but one church
could be sustained the Reformed congrega-
tion and the Old Lutheran congregation
have alternated Sundays. Both congrega-
tions together only serve to fill the church
comfortably.
Things went along quietly thus for years,
and would probably have continued so
until the end, had not a rich parishioner
died and left the church and about 10 acres
of land surrounding to the church congrega-
tfon. Unfortunately the dying man failed
to specify the exact congregation. The Old
Lutheran people are rather more numerous,
and better Off in this worlds goods than the
Reformed, and slight differences began to
creep in. By and by it was noticed that the
line was being drawn and that both congre-
cations did not turn out, Us usual, to wor
ship together. This was explained when
the Lutherans announced their intention of
building new church on the property.
of the expense of the churh. but the Luth-
Grams said they were amply able to erect
their own ediflce.
The new church was finished but a short
time ago, and then the real trouble began.
The preten tious Lutheran ediflce was so far
superior to the old modest church which
still stood in the corner of the lot that the
Reformed congregation decided that they
would be able to worship to the best adj
vantage under its roof. To this the Luther
ans objected, claiming that the property
had been left TO them. as they were the first
on the ground, but they had no objection to
the Reformed congregation occupying the
old church.
The Reformed congregation now claims
the property was left to both churches in
stead of to any particular one, and they say
they intend to hold services in the new
church lust as thev did in the old. Thus the
matter stands, and a court will likely be
asked to decide it.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
RHYNKLEs AND RHYMELETs.

Florence-Is her husband college grad
uate!
AIice-Not exactly; but he lived in Boston four
| years.-PLck.
| Of the beauties of springtime reck,
| Nor heed rs rhymes we amass
| The insects that drop down ones neck
| After slngeing their wings in the gas.
| -WdsiiHgtOB Star.
He-Do you think your father is opposed
| to our union?
| She-I fear so. He told me when 1 met you that
he had selected you for my husband.-Jtet2e.
Jess-Ethel is very happy and all that,
but she realized from the start that George married
| her for her money.
| Bess-How do you know?
Jess-SE<slid she had never been sick of her bar
| eain-thaIB'e was satisfied when she married him
| she getting her moneys worth.-Ns,o York
| Lerdld
| When William was at college we
| For better fortune waited:
| We said he'll make us rich when he
| Is graduated.
And so he did, we're glad to say;
Each year we're growing richer;
He Joined a nine. and is to-day
famous pitcher.
-Ns1o York Press.
'It's such a give-away for fellow to be
refused by GIRL he said.
''Oh no. il isn't she answered. s'You aren't
| accepted. you know. ''-AStorid Times.
Tom--What would you do if, while call
| ing on girl she should excaim. Light out!''
Jack-Put it out, of course.-Smith, Gray & Co.'S
Monthly.
As the minister paused in his wild har-
angue,
A litter from pew to pew
Went round. as the sun shone through the rain.
And through a stained glass window pane
And coored his face pale blue.
-Brookiyn Eagle.
Husband-Our coachman wants q week
off TO get married.
Wife-Wen, you amt going to give it to him
are you?
Husband-Yes; why not3 don't see why he
should be exempt from suffering mIsery.-Tezls
ShVttnos.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09

George W. Baker the rights for New York
and Michigan for q patent Improved bed
stead fastening" In payment Baker got
two lots in Cochpanton. The purchaser
found that the fastener would not sell, and
that even its inventor did not use it in his
own bed-r1al1ing factory, and he tried to get
the lots back. The learned Court took occa-
sion to say that the plaintiff in error mad
no case, and added, mo doubt the plaintiff
parted with his property most foolishly. .
The representations of Baker were
not such as to entrap reasonably prudent
man into the purchase of a worthless article.
The plaintiff bought on his own
and IL is not for the Court to re-
lieve him from his foolish bargain" Isn't it
rich to think of this transaction and the
comment on one side, and the Standard Oil
Company and the greatest private fortune
in this country on the other. P. L. W.