davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1894-06-17

graphical distortion that will produce play
on maple sugar.
Four hundred tons of coal broke from its
support in Washington yard yesterday and
fell several feet It's the first fall in coal since
our troubles begun.
The sugar stock must have been watered.
1t is getting stickey.
The sugar under investigation is granu-
ated. At the end Of the alphabetical e1-
animation it will be pulverized.
All the clerks under Ainsworrh who were
not killed In the Ford's theater disaster will
be discharged on July /.
Senator Proctor says IT may haye been
sugar that Cain offered unto the Lord. Why,
sure. Nothing more likely than that sugar
should come from cane.
The Baltimore Orioles are flying high in the
baseball race.
SENATOR ALLEN, Of Nebraska, wants to pay
all who served in the late war pensions of
$l2 per month, the same to be paid in paper
money. Paper money was good enough for
the soldies in war times, and it is certainly no
worse now. Who will be the first to object?
The Washington times., 1894-06-17
OTHER PEOPLES HITS.

That absconding bookmaker might be
brought back to face his victims If we only
had an International copyright law now.-
Chicago Times.
There is entirely too much sugar in Mr..
Cleveiand's medicine-that's what's the mat
ter.-Philadelphia North American.
There is hopeful news from many points,
but everything looks black at Pittsburg.-
Cleveland Plain Dealer
1t was the most natural thing in the world
for Croker to steal away.-Chicago Tribune.
A New York women had a surgeon trim 4
pair OF unshapely ears. Uncle Sam ought to
put up for a national corps OF surgeons for
his Senate.-Mlnneapol Journal.
The Senators who are Investigating them
selves refuse to plead guilty 10 themselves.
and consequently they have no evidence
against themselves and feel justified in de-
ciaring themselves innocent Of the charges
they have brought against themselves
Chicago Evening Post.
Senator Mcpherson made 81 500 clear profit
the other day because he had an educated
valet. Every statesman should have an
educated vaiet.-Atlanta Constitution.
The Washington times., 1894-06-17
OUR SENATORIAL caEAP-JoHN SHOP.

Tariff laws framed by argreement and at the
instigation Of interest ed persons are always
detrimental to public interests. contrary to
party principles, and necessarily unjust and
discriminating in their workings. and every
tariff law since 1861 has been enacted under
those baneful influences. Party principles
have been sot aside. party pledges unre-
deemed. and the welfare of the public lost
sight of in the scramble for tariff plunder.
1t is not necessary to enter into the de-
| tails of the framing of tariff laws. They
show for themselves, and their destructive
effects have sown distress, dIssension, and
discomfort throughout the land. But the
causes should be made known and removed,
and the will of the people carried into effect
without placing the markets Of the country
into the hands OF trusts and combines.
Nor is it absolutely necessary to refer to
the inclination OF certain Senators TO deal in
stocks and enter upon other speculations
that are liable to be influenced by Senate
legislation. These are really minor causes for
Objectionable tariff laws.
The main cause OF the trouble lies in their
unftness of Senators for their positions.
A majority of them are past ths prime
of lie and physically disqualified for
the task of thoroughly Investigating the
intricacies OF tariff schedule. They are
not capable of concentrating thought for a
sufficient length OF time. nor of applying them
selves 10 close study and research. both neces-
sary qualifications 20 satisfactory under
standing of tariff questions. And what is
the result? Instead Of depending upon their
own efforts and understanding. cur Senators
look to clerks and manufacturers experts for
information. and are almost always deceived
by preudiced ani biased statements, or il
they attempt to inform themselves. too much
time is exhausted in wearying deliberations
Another reason for the failure OF anything
but compromise tariff bill in the Senate is a
deplorable overplus OF senatorial courtesy,
which prolorgs debate and makes tie Senate
n cheap-john shop in which TO trade and
barter away the interests OF the country.
Politics and party principles cut little figure
when senatorial courtesy demands the protec-
ton OF special interests or the exchange of
sectional welfare, and the present Senate bill
is evidence of how both Democrats and
Republicans have We'd with each other in
extending senatorial courtesy.
Send younger. more vigorous. and better
mentally men to the Senate and
there will be more business, less senatorial
courtesy, and better laws enacted. .'oid men
for counsel and young men for war; may do
Tor 6eliberative bodies where questions are
acted upon without laborious research, but
it will never answer for modern methods and
modern legislative bodies. GIve us a Senate
moi. madeup Of retired nillionaires and super
animated politicians, and party success will
torial favors. And when Will We have such
a Senate? When Senators are elected by pop
ular vote.
The Washington times., 1894-06-17

and passed ostensibly in the interest of the
working people, have been especially unfor-
tunate when taken into court. Generally
when they emerged therefrom they appeared
emasculated of all that was calculated to be
beneficial. and thus 1t happened in many
instances that by judicial Interpretation and
construction apparently plain laws, that a
child ought to be able to read and compre-
hend, became vague and meaningless.
The Nebraska decision is the latest case In
point. Kansas also recently passed an eight
hour law, with about the same result us its
neighbor on the north. In several other
states the experience has been similar. In
fact, the broad assertion can be truthfully
made that not law has been passed in the
interest of labor during the last twenty-five
years, by either Congress or the legislature
of any state, that has not been Systematically
violated or evaded and fought from the low
est to the court of last resort.
Congress in 1868 enacted a law making
eight hours days work for all mechanics
and laborers employed by the government.
The history of that law and its impotency to
almost every one. 1t was a failure mainly be-
cause those whose sworn duty it was to en-
force it were not in sympathy with it, and
no penalty attached to its violation or eva
sion. The amended law of 1892 provides I'D
equate punishment for all attractions but al
though numerous charges of violations have
been made in various sections OF the country
we have yet to hear of the first conviction.
The laborinc people are iealously watching
the operation of this law, and men or parties
in any way responsible for its violation will
be held to strict accountability.
1t may be well to ask whether there ought
not to be more attention paid by the voters OF
the country to the character, antecedents, and
bent of mind of the men appointed or NOM
mated to judicial positions. A CORPORATION
lawyer elevated to the bench is very apt to
render decisions favoring the class which
lately furnished him profitable employment.
and a Judge with monopolistic tendencies is
not likely to place q liberal construction on
laws framed for the benefit OF artisans and
laborers.
The prime necessity. however. as it appears
to us, is that more honest, capable. and pro-
gressive business men and intelligen. me-
chanics, and consequently fewer of the at
torney species" should be sent to Congress
and state legislatures. Until this be done it
is hopeless to look for simp!i1cation OF the
laws and their honest enforcement.
The Washington times., 1894-06-17
nEFEcIIYE LABOR LAWs.


The last legislature OF Nebraska passed n
| law making eight hours a legal days work
! for all mechanics and laborers employed by or
| on behalf of the state. Considerable hostility
| was manifested toward the law from the
| moment Of its passage, and the boast was
made that certain provisions would render it
| imperative. Where administration officers
were in sympathy the law was enforced, and
where they were not some means for its eva
sion were found without apparent difficulty.
At last, however, a test case was made up
and the state supreme court WAS called upon
to pronounce upon the cOnstitutionality of the
measure. The opinion OF the court has just
been rendered, and it Is adverse to the law.
The text is not before us, and, therefore. we
are not informed as to the grounds upon
which the decision is based.
1t is somewhat remarkable. though. the
ease with which the courts can set aside or
render nugatory the plain intent of the law
making power. 1t is reasonable to assume
that members of Legislative bodies, most of
whom are composed of men more or less
learned in the law-cf the class termed by
Thomas Carlyle 1.-The attorney species
some little thought to the practicability and
constitutionality OF the measures they intro
duce, and aiso that the committees TO which
all measures are referred for consideration
and report carefully reflect rs to whether
there is likely to be any conflict between them
appear, too. that in the legislature itself some
one ought to be found with sufficient acumen
to foresee and capacity 20 remedy possible de-
fects. so that measures enacted into law might
safely run the gauntlet of judicial scrutiny.
In great many cases. however. it don't
work that way. Too frequently are loop
holes found, not only in the laws passed by
state legislatures, but by Congress also,
through which coach and six are driven
when some learned iurist holds the reins.
Various explanations are put forward to
account for these failures in legislation.
There is Il growing belief TINT gentlemen of
the attorney species" who enjoy practically
a monopoly of Legislative positions, national
and state, designed,y frame defective laws,
knowing them to be such, in order to bring
more grist to the mills of their guild; and
large numbers of the people are slowly but
surely reaching the conclusion that more
practical business men, with good, solid
"horse sense" and business methods, are
badly needed in public life. One OF these
days the people can be depended on to put
this conviction into operation in the halls of
legislation.
While it Is probably true that no one class
of laws has been altogether free from defects,
those known as ''labor laws"
The Washington times., 1894-06-17
Beer a Century Old.

Recently some beer nearly century old
was submitted to a chemical analysis The
beverage in question was brewed and bottled
by the well-known firm of worthington Il Co.,
of Burton-on-Treut, in 1898. Several bottles
of it were lately discovered BY accident, and
together with some Bottles Of ale not over
eighteen months old were subjected to an
analysis by prominent chemists. The differ
ence in the two liquids was very slight; their
specific gravity showed little variations save
that the alcoholic properties OF the older beer
were slightly higher. Under the microscope
the sediment showed shriveled yeast cells,
whose vitality at some period was plainly
proved; also a pretty strong development Of
carbonic gas What specially distinguished
the old beer was its remarkable bouquet, which
resembled that OF old Madeira, while it had
lost its peculiar berry character through hav-
ing been kept bottled for SO long time
The Washington times., 1894-06-17
Columbia Park Co..
623 STREET NORTHWEST, WASHINGTON, D. C.

offer to put in 100 boxes for $4,000 for one
year and for half that amount the second year.
II can readily be seen. therefore, how little is
needed to 90 right
decent regard for humanity should not
only prompt Congress TO immediate action as
suggested, but should inspire the passage OK
bill making the installation OF the best fire
alarm necessity in all educational institu-
tions. all places OF amusement and all struc-
lures where large bodies OF people congregate,
as in hotels. government buildings. boarding
and tenement houses. Seen thousand nine
hundred and eleven District children attend
private and parochial schools Are these
schools under public surveillance as they
should be! Burn down the stairs and what
becomes of the children?
Should Congress turn a deaf ear to this
appeal. 1t will be the duty OF the women Of
the capital 10 enter upon crusade in the
name of the little children.-Kate Fields
Washington.
The Washington times., 1894-06-17
FIRE ALARMS IN SCHOOLS.
Reasons Adduccd Why They Should is
provided and Without Delay.
ssurSc-oS N 100,

TO the Editor of TIE TINES:
Permit us the use of your paper for reply to
School Trustees Bower, Witmer, and Cornish's
report to the board, as reported in your paper
| to-day, which was adopted. The report is ad-
verse TO introduction CT FIRE alarms into the pub
&c Schools, and the reasons given therefor rec
ommend themselves to our minds as entirely
Inadequate to the necessities:
in tho hrst piace the ample mems of exit
anc res''ue woEld br OF no comparative service
10 rur children in case of fire Frequent fire and
panic drills are all light in themselves, and they
Work spiendiG.y III time Of peace bu. brave
men are sometimes confused in case OF fire. ana
should a Tire occ1r in crowded puui. school, I.
the danger was immnent self preservation is
ST; oag and it might prevail, and The panic drill
and .ire drillNyould be ieegated to times when
not needed for actual projection, and each in
oiridual adult and child would be LETT to take
cace cf themselves.
with direct communication with the fire de-
psrtmert in CT fire. brave cooi-headed,
trained men. with means oil rescae, are brought
to the s,ene instantly, and who will doubt that
tbs advantage alone is not sufficient to warrant
al expenditure cf $1,000 per annum for the pro-
lection of 900 children?
''Sccond. The committee says the rates of in
surgsce are very Tow, and il uses this as eyi-
dencc that the risks of lire in school buildings
IRE next to nothing. II is not considered tha,
all the schools in the District auged when
the sum total Of the insurance is made up:
that no scboo,nouses are side ny side, etc Ii
is more probable that one of these buildings
will be destroyed than all of them The insur-
ancN risk iS less on this account among others
j. seems Impractical to suppose that these
buildings are not liable to loss oy Ere
do We want TO wait until soiae dreadful ca
tastrophe takes place ana then protect against
another, or lay the blame with n few people
for not taking what WIS supposed to be proper
precautions to protect life? would any hardship
that might fsl! to them reduce the suffering ana
loss OF life, If it is wise and proper to have
schools at the expense of the public, in that ex.
pense should be included every advantage of
protecting lire and property. Ii is a duty that
should be made mandatory that 1re alarms
should be put in the PUBLIC schools especially
when the cost is only 81 ,0o0 q year"
Who is the man that will not favor a PROPOSE
ton of this kind?
The life Of one child In q casualty ia worth
more to save than several thousand dolara
Put the fire alarms in the public schools
F. NJ SMITH
II C. WOODEN
The Washington times., 1894-06-17
FIRES IN DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
Their Dangers and the Means for 1t
Certain Prevention.

Their Dangers and the Means for Its
Certain Prevention.
So many fires have occurred in the United
States during the last five years as to have
forced fire insurance companies to increase
their rates. in order to save themselves from
bankruptcy. Though fires are less frequent
in Washington city than in other large towns,
they occur oftener than is imagined, as can
be found out by Investigation. IT, Tor exam
pie, the parents knew that fire insurance COM
panies are constantly paying for damages In
CURED from fires In public schools they
would be more solcitous than they are now
about the safety OF their little ones. No fire
alarms are attached to these schools, not
withstanding that the lives OF 36. .9OS children
are at stake, to say not hing OF their teachers
and attendants.
There are abont lis sehoolhouses in the
District OF Columbia insured for more than a
million dollars. representing two-thirds of
their value. Some OF these schoolhouses are
in sorry condition, notably the high school
at Georgetown, where scholars are warned of
the danger of rushing up and down stairs
after the manner OF vigorous boys and girls.
This Information comes to me through one of
the cleverest and best OF women. who sends
four children to the public schools and who
is therefore more cognizant OF defects than l
can be. What would happen Il. that school
house il a fire broke out shudder to think
Some OF the brightest children in this or any
other town are running risks that would not
be tolerated if citizens were aroused as they
should be.
How can these risks be reduced to a mini
mum? So easily as TO make it a crime on the
part OF Congress not to act al once on sugges-
ton. An instantaneous fire alarm exists SO
certain In Its results rs to win the hearty ap-
proval OF the superintendent of the telegraph
and telephone service OF the District He has
thorough knowledge of its workings for the
good reason that it is attached as an auxiliary
to the regular tlre-alarm system under his
supervision. Under certain circumstances.
wherever this system is installed, insurance
companies make greater reductions in rates
than the cost OF the alarm. hence saving OF
money.
This important matter was brought before
the Commissioners of the District several
months ago. They replied: ave fully realize
the situation. No one is so anxious for the
safety of public schools rs ourselves. Gladly
would we introduce the instantaneous fire
alarm were we the umpires, but we have no
money Tor the purpose. Unless Congress
gives us an appropriation cur hands are tied"
1t should ba here explained that the rate of
insurance on public schools are so low US to
make it impossible to make further reduction
on the installing of lire alarms, hence an ap-
preparation is necessary.
The question then arises what sum is
needed to protect 81, SOS school children and
two millions OF pro yerty. So small sum as
to make the inaction Of Congress as great
bunder as it is u crime. l have jus; learned
that the instantaneous Fire Alarm Company
The Washington times., 1894-06-17
HIGHER EDUCATION aND HARD TrNEs

HIGHER EDUCATION GED HARD TIMES.
| The high schools of this city. with the ez-
| ception of the business school. will hold their
commencements next Thursday evening in
| Convention Hall, and a list of the young gem
tlemen and ladies who are 10 be presented
with diplomas has already been printed.
In the Central school, in both the third and
fourth year classes the female gradutes
greatly outnumber the males, and this is true
also. although not quite so one-sided, in the
Eastern and Western schools
Ordinarily and under normal conditions
these young people. and particularly the
males, would experience no difficulty in Sc
curing ConGenial and lucrative employment
on graduation; but it is not 50 now. Turn
whichever way we may, the same conditions
stare us in tie face. In many localities the
unemployed are almost as numerous rs the
employed, and the idlencss is not confined to
any particular class or occupation. There is
no line of industry-no avenue for human ac-
tivty-that is not overcrowded. The learned
professions and the skilled trades are about in
as bad shape as the men who work with pick
and shovel. From all come the same story
two or more people for every job
The young people who have just graduated
and are about to begin the battle OF life have
the best wishes of TIE TImEs Tor their future
happiness and prosperity, and it deeply re-
grets that conditions are SO unfayorab.e for
the exercise in /; useful and profitable way OF
their talents and energy. Most of these boys
and girls are the children of parents in mod
crate circumstances. and may not be under
the necessity Of seeking employment right
away. But their comfortable homes and
their parents care will not last forever, and
some day they must enter the field OF in
dustrial competition with vast thropgs who
have not been so fortunately situated, anG
then their struggle for existence will begin in
earnest.
In the meantime we advise these Young
people and all other young people to study
ard learn, if possible, the causes OF the pre-
yailing distress. A remedy must be found
soon, and the generation now reaching man
hood and womanhood are expected to find
and apDIy if
The Washington times., 1894-06-17
TIE PLATFORM DOESN'T COUNT.

1t may rot be amiss again TO call attention
TO the very remarkable statements made a
few days ago 10 the senatorial investigating
committee by Mr. Henry Havemeyer. the
ruling spirit Of the sugar trust. In order TO
appreciate the far-reaching significance of
these statements it is necessary to Lear in
mind the present aspect OF tariff legislation
in the Senate and the promises contained in
the Chicago platform respecting FREQ
raw material and the diminutinn Of
the burdens of taxation. IN reply to
questions by Senator Allen, Alr. Have
never declared without hesitation that
by reason OF the existence OF the sugar trust
the people of the United States were COM
PEELED TO pay tbree-eighths OF a cent per
pound more for sugar than would otherwise
be the case. The trust. he said, could not be
maintained if this advance were not charged.
With Mr.. Havemeyer's refreshing frank
declaration on the one side and the pledges
OF the Democratic party on the other, il what
position does the party frd itself TO-DAY
through the recent action of lis representatives.
in the Senate? In order TO enable a eoterie
have confessed, through 3Ir. Havemeyer,
that such is the purpose OF the trUst--the
Democratic majority IN the Senate has con-
scented TO tax the poor mans breakfast table.
Instead of making necessary household
article free. and thereby materially lessenilg
to the workinSman the COS: of maintaining
his family. it has preferred 10 put money irto
the pockets of millionaires superb illus
tration. indeed. OF promise and performance,
Il has been freely stated that the sugar
schedule is the keystone in the arch OF the
compromise" tariff bill. II such be really
the case. it should be pulled out without delay
or ceremony and a new structure reared, one
that is based upon the righteous claims of the
people rather than upon the grasping clamor
OF combine.
The Democratic party. in whose creed ab-
horrence OF trusts and rings has eyer been a
leading tenet. cannot afford to I've placed be-
fore the people Of the United States as their
sponsor and promoter.
The Washington times., 1894-06-17
HITS-OR MISSES.

Mr.. Morton continues MIR. Reeds remarks
on the civilization of the Democrat.
~ cannot tell lie,' as Washington would
say Senator Ransom.
"Brevity is the soul of wit, but I'm not try
ing 10 be witty. Matt S. Quay.
Apparently the most available site for the
Government Printing Office Is etill out Of
sight.
The Maple is stesming merrily. Mr.. Cleve-
land seems to be safe from any possible para
The Washington times., 1894-06-17

THE coming campaign in Florida has
opened with stirring speech from Col. Alex.
st. Clair Abrams who claims to be in posses
sion OF many facts and figures which show
that the people of Florida are being robbed
and crushed by the corporations in the state,
and that the trust and confidence which the
people had reposed in the Democratic party
as the guardian of their interests had been
grossly abused and violated.
Mr.. Abrams is n Democrat and q state Sen
ator. and is also connected with Florida
political reform movement.
The Washington times., 1894-06-17

THE Massachusetts legislature has passed q
bill increasing the capital stock OF the Bell
Telephone Company to s50,0O0,000. The
capitalization of the Western Union Telegraph
Company is now Sis, 900, so that these
two giant monopolies now exact tribute from
the people by way of interest and profit on
s165, 900, 900, three-fourths of which repre-
sents the value of the franchises and about
one-fourth actual cash investments. The tele-
graph and telephone are, like the postal ser
vice. means for the transmission of intelligence
among the people. and should be owned and
operated by the government at cost for the
benefit Of the whole people.