davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
The New Libel Law.

the vital clause in the new libel law
is that which specifies that in any
civil action for libel the plea of justi-
flcation shall be accepted as adequate
when it is pleaded by the defendant
that the publication is substantially
true in every material respect and is
proper for public information; and if
such plea shall be established to the
satisfaction of the court and jury, there
shall be no recovery. In no civil ac-
tion for libel shall damages be awarded
beyond just restriction for injury ac-
tually sustained"
AS the Philadelphia Times explains:
"a person who has been injured by Ii
bellous publication is entitled to resti-
tuition for any injury actually sustain
ed, but he is entitled to no more. The
punishment for the wrongful act is
provided in the criminal proceedings.
1t is under this wrongful system of
punitive and vindictive damages that
the shyster lawyers have fiourished,
melting people of no character or repu-
tation to institute suits against news
papers Tor preposterOus damages Tor
imaginary wrongs. The new act cuts
all this practice up by the roots and
places the law of libel in this respect
upon the basis of justice and right"
Heretofore there We're two form of
punishment for one offense; criminal
| action involving fine or Imprisonment
or both, and also punitive damages
The putting of the publishing business
on a footing with other defendants in
court involves no injustice; there is nc
| lessening of the just restraint of the
law upon wanton and malicious libel.
| AS the days go by 1t becomes clear
that Dingley's was the proper bill, and
that Dlngley's bill it will finally be,
daSnile the iinkers in the senate
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
GROWING DIFFICULTY.
From Medicine and Science.

From Medicine and Science.
The germ theory as first promulgated,
was delightfully."- simple. 1t amounted to
this: Every conta gious disease is due to
specific germ; no micTobe, no disease;
eliminate the microbe, cure the disease.
This was a plain statement which all
could understand, but further experience
proved that exceptions were continually
cropping out, and the conditions upon
which these exceptions depended were
found to be more and more complex and
perplexing. OF late Doctors Roux and
Metschnikof, and the Chemist Duc.auX,
successor to Pasteur as director of the
Pasteur institute, each of them working
separately, after many experiments and
much study, have all come to about the
same conclusion, which they have formu-
lated as follows: Cases in which the MI
crobe is found but not the disease are es-
pecially frequent, so that bacteriologists
have come reluctantly to recognize that
not the presence of the germ but some
peculiar virulent condition of the microbe
causes the disease. In other words, the
diseased condition seems to be common
to both the germ and the patient-the
germ does not cause the malady until 1t
itself first becomes diseased, and the pro-
blem which really confronts us is to lind
out what ails the microbe.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
Sensible and to the Point,

Because in the city of Reading, in an
examination of grammar school pupils
preparatory to their admission to the
were recently asked, a chorus of de-
rision is arising in some of our con-
temporaries:
Describe in detail the nomination and
election of O. president of the United
States.
State in outline the topics treated in the
different sections of Article /. of the con-
stitution of the United States.
What is meant by specie payments
When last suspended? Why? When re-
sumed? Why? What is money? Is a
five-dollar bill real money? Why? Is
confederate paper money of any value
now? Why? What gives value 10 paper
money? How dad Union victories and
defeats affect the price of the gold dollar
in paper currency? Reasons? What ad-
vantage has paper money over coins?
Discuss the silver question.
Treat two of these topics: Mckinley
bill, reciprocity, Wilson bill, Dingley bill.
Factory system. Labor strikes. Discuss
two of these topics (a) United states ami
the Hawaiian republic. Should II be an
nexed to the United States? Why? (bJ
Australian ballot system. (c) Arbitration
treaty with England.
State conditions that he'd to the adoption
of the thirteenth amendment 10 the con-
stitution of the United States and its pro-
visions. Same fourteenth amendment.
Same fifteenth amendment. State what
you know of any additional amendments
advocated in recent years.
1t is, for example, the belief OF the
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
that these questions merely indicate
that vast examining experiment has
been attempted. Children Of from hf-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
UNCLE SAM A MODEL.
From the Hazleton Sentinel.

From the Hazleton Sentinel
The convention to frame a constitution
for the Commonwealth of Australia"
will meet again in September at Sydney
The steps preliminary to union were taken
at Adelaide, before the representatives Of
the different states adjourned a few
weeks ago. 1t is of very great interest to
note that the Australians, when they
sought model for their new federal gov
ernment, turned to the United States.
With a view of satisfying the smaller
colonies each state, no matter what its
size is to have the same representation
in the Senate and not two but six mem
bers. The lower house Is to be consti-
tuted on a population basis. Quite in con-
formity with the American system of
nomenclature, the two chambers are to
be called the serate and house of repre-
sentatives Again, an American prece-
dent was followed when it was determined
to give the house the power to initiate
money bills. The convention has also en-
deavored to set up Federal Court of APP
peals, occupying a unique position similar
to our Fedora. Supreme court.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
Rotation In Legislative Office.

The Wilkes-Barre Times makes a
strong argument against rotation in
legislative office. by pointing out that
both at Harrisburg and at Washington
Nzerne county has suffered because
of the lack of experienced representa-
tives. The practice in Luzerne coun-
ty, especially as to the congressman,
has been to turn the legislative offices
over into new hands every two or four
years, on the principle that political
honors should be passed around Thus
by the time q member has learned the
ropes and gets in position to put his
knowledge of the ways and means to
effective use for his constituents, the
latter usually proceed to spoil the eli
max and sacrifice their own interests
by replacing him with a fresh and
unsophisticated man. To use our con-
temporary's language and illustration:
Half a dozen bills have been introduced
in many different sessions of congress
appropriating various sums for a public
building in Wilkes Barre. Every possible
argument has been in favor of these
measures. The age, size and importance
of our city entities Us to a federal build
ing. The government needs II by reason
of the amount of ITS direct business trans
acted In our territory, Yet these various
bills have never succeeded in getting fur
ther than one branch of the national leg
islature. Other towns of less size and
consequence have meanwhile received
large appropriations for buildings for
which there was much less need. Yet we
continue on in the same old rut stupidly
blindly making the election of a congress
man so difficult and expensive and threat
ening that his canvass for a denomination
and election shall be equally severe, or
refusing him hearing altogether, that
he is frightened off from a second effort
What is most needed In the Twelfth Con-
gressional district OF Pennsylvania is a
little more business sagacity and political
foresight. We should select some good
man Of ability and leisure, one who Is
possessed of some means and lots OF en-
ergy, nominate him without effort on his
part and elect him without compelling
him to surrender a kings ransom for the
questionable honor and keep him In con-
gress until he gets results, whether II
take three or five or ten terms. When we
do this, we will cut some figure at Harris
burg and Washington, but not before.
We have no expectation that argu-
ment like this will produce any change
in the situation. yet the advice offered
by the Times is sound. When a mem
Der OF legislative body has done good
work and behaved himself. he should
be reelected If he wants to be, and
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
To the Chief of Police.

There is an ordinance on the books
forbidding wheelmen to ride on the
sidewalks. Why is it not enforced?
The streets of Scranton, with very
few exceptions, are ample to accom-
modate all those who ride bicycles. The
sidewalks, as a rule, are so narrow
that If the wheelmen are permitted to
pre-empt them, pedestrians will neces-
sarily have either to take to the gut
ters or dart furtively through the back
alleys.
1t is true that the race Of pedestrians
is fast disappearing. Only few of us
are left. We don't want much. We
don't expect much. Just a crumb of
consideration will do. The wheelmen
can take the roads, the crossings and
the open spaces generally. But please,
Mr.. Robling, let us poor pedestrians
have an occasional chance to use the
sidewalks,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

An American Girl writes to La
bouchere's London Truth in protest
against the kind of peers now being
turned out by the knighthood works at
Windsor castle. Most of those slated for
titles are married, whereas the de-
mand, especially in America, is for
more unmarried peers, peers who are
eligible as husbands for our American
heiresses. American Girl suggests
to the queen that If she wants to bind
the two branches of the Anglo-Saxon
family more closely together she
should choose her next batch of knights,
barons and earls from among the
spendthrift guardsmen, pauper diplo-
mats and penniless younger sons of the
noble families of Britain, thus opening
up new matrimonial opportunities and
facilitating English ownership Of
American property. If Victoria is the
thrifty woman report says she is, this
wise advice will not fall on unheeding
ears
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

the native manufacturer. as the case may
be. Let us be reasonable; let US try TO
be just. Men cannot successfully be on
both sides Of a duestion-not even United
States senators. They must do the best
they can. They must be diplomats; they
must give something to Louisiana In or
der to get something for Pennsylvania
They must compromise. Interests con-
fict. They must be reconciled as well as
they can be. Nb one knows what thought,
what planning, what labor is required to
accomplish that. and yet we are more
ready to denounce than to thank those
who do IT, once more we say, let us be
reasonable. Let us try 20 be Just. No
senators among the entire ninety have
such hard row to hoe as our own-none
has so many interests to look after.
Often, n we know the true inwardness OF
the case we find fault with. we would be
disposed to praise rather than to blame,
as we generally do. when things don't
suit us.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

pass such an examination would be
prodigies ut to enlighten congressman
and editors. Perhaps Reading has an
ambition that her youth shall be fully
equipped for shaping the destinies of
the nation. Certainly, a good start
has been made so far as laying out the
programme is concerned. but probably
a brilliant success will not be record
ed when the returns are all in. Mean
while 1t may be depended upon that
many a young brain in Reading is
weary from it's cropping among subjects
that might well tax the capabilities of
mature and disciplined minds"
We do not share our Rochester ex-
changes opinion upon this matter.
The questions impress us as being in
no sense more difficult and much more
practical than the old-fashioned ex-
animation questions which dealt chiefly
with trigonometry, the map terms of
Patagonia, Greek. Latin and ancient
history. If young brains in Reading or
elsewhere are to be wearied at all by
examination questions we cannot see
why they should not be wearied with
subjects likely to fit in with their prob
able destiny when grown older, rather
than with tommyrot never heard
outside the school room. 1t is
not to be expected that the
opinions of grammar school pu-
pills will be final on the questions
propounded above, but the study of
them affords just as good discipline as
the study of much of the pointless
truck that encumbers the old-fogy cur
riculum, and is moreover calculated to
be of some advantage in after life.
When a similar line of studies was
introduced in the Scranton schools by
superintendent Howell two years ago
there was in certain quarters the same
attempt to be funny; but we are pleas
ed to observe that this has since ceased.
The fact is dawning upon the public
mind that it is quite as desirable to
have school children educated concern
ing everyday problems and duties as
it is to have them stuffed full of a par
rot-lke memorization of textbook
stuff of which their brains have to be
summarily unloaded as soon as they
complete the school course.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

that reelection shouldn't cost him so
much as to drive him into bankruptcy
or dishonesty. Length of service counts
nine points where natural ability
counts only one. The men who govern
legislation are men who have been re-
tained in office by their constituents
term after term until they have at
tanned the broad experience requisite in
the successful parliamentary leader.
These remarks, we may add, are not
offered with an eye to any particular
individual or any particular district;
they are simply the deductions of COM
mon sense.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

over in Canada the senate is COM
posed of members who are appointed
for life. The body is now Conserva-
tive, although the house OF representa-
tives and the popular majority are Lib
eral. The other day the senate killed
a government measure and now the
Liberals talk of abolishing it. Things
at ottawa are in a pretty muss, but 1t
all goes to show that the life tenure
plan is incompatible with popular gov
ernment
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
The Legislature.

If the legislature had only got down
to a serious and sober business-like
mood earlier in the session, it would
have spared itself much opprobrium.
1t wasn't half so bad legislature in
actual performance as 1t was in sur
face symptoms. The quarrel over the
senatorship divided 1t at the very be-
ginning, suspicious were engendered,
leadership was distrusted, and until
stern necessity toward the last whipped
it in line, it acted until that time like
a rudderless ship or an uncommanded
army, frittering its energies away,
tumbling over itself and actually do
ing nothing.
Individually the character and ability
of the session were above the average.
Most of the men in it were men Of
standing at home and comparatively
few were drones or rogues. But for
the confusion into which factionalism
drew it 1t would doubtless have made
a new record for intelligence and in
dustry. The circumstance supplies a
forcible lesson that to accomplish cred
itdpIe tSSultS IL 10 hSSSSSaiS IASSC hiS D
to have leaders and leadership, and the
will of the leader must be obeyed. Be
cause it refused TO follow leadership
and scattered out like a flock of sheep
minus the bell, whether the legislature
which adjourned yesterday earned a
contempt from the people which it
might easily have averted and fell into
bogs that were dug for it by it's own
obStinacy.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
A SORRY SPECIMEN.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
The Pennsylvania senate has passed an
act to make voting compulsory. Anybody
who believes in the power of legisla-
tion to make men wise and good and att
tentive to their duties as citizens is at
liberty to epprove law for compulsory
voting But it is a sweet sort of citizen
that has to be lugged to the polls TO cast
his vote, not in the fear of God and the
love of his country, but to escape paying
a fine or being shut up in the ca9aboose.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
SCRANTON, JULY 2, 1897.
Because Senator Hanna said in hi!

Because Senator Hanna said in his
speech at Toledo in reference to the
civil service laws that many persons
now in Washington regard as unjust
President Cleveland's manipulation of
them to foist Democratic appointees
upon the succeeding Republican ad-
ministration, the sensitive Mugwumps
are in a tremor. They are calling
Hanna spokesman and are hurting
anathemas at him. Yet didn't he speak
the truth?
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

Announcement is made by the New
York Sun that not within the last fif-
teen years has it's circulation been so
great as it is now. Not within the last
fifteen years has the Sun better merit
ed this prosperity. 1t is indeed an in
stitution of which Americans should
feel uEOud
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
FIN LEY s
Special
Sale of
Shirt
Waists

To enable us to close out
our entire line i'm short
order we have cut prices
to the lowest notch and
will offer every Shirt
Waist i'm stock cheaper
than the cost of manu-
facture. Remember, we
carry no low priced or
trashy goods at amy time,
and those mentioned be-
low comprise the cream
of the two most popular
brands ON the market,
viz, the "King" and
"Derby" Waists:
One lot reduced to 69c.
One lot reduced to S5c.
One lot reduced to $500.
One lot reduced to $I.3o.
One lot reduced to $3.50.
One lot reduced to 81. 90.
I'm connection with Shirt
Waists, we are showing
the finest stock of Belts,
and at the right prices.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

Thus, while Luzerne's allotment was
smaller this session by $4,000 than it
was two years ago. Lackawanna's
was $1,000 larger. This was one of the
very few counties in the state which
received more state aid for charities
from the session of '97 than from the
session of '95.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

'I would" writes a correspondent of
the Sun, like to see chair of Ameri-
can patriotism endowed in every col
lege in the land" There are not as
many members of the present facul-
ties of our colleges who could accept
ably fill such chair as there ought to
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
LUzERNE COUNTY.
LACKAwANNA COUNTY.
Dinercrce in favor of Luzerne. =. =. .ssl, ,oO

Major Roberts asked for $4,000 for the
Wilkes-Barre hospital and succeeded IN
getting more than cne-third of it, while
Lackawanna asked for SlS0000 and got
only sixth of It Luzerne got about dou-
be the percentage of Lackawanna of
what was applied for. In the nature of
things this year it was not possible that
any liberality should have been shown in
any direction n.--Wilkes-Barre Times.
The fair way to go at this thing is not
to contrast what was asked for with
what was got, but to compare what
was got this session with what was Sc
cured two years ago. On this basis the
account stands:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
TOLD BY THE STARS.
Daily Horoscope Drawn by Ajacchus,
The Tribune Astrologer.
Astro,abe Cast: 800 a. m, for Friday,
July g 1897.

VE q SS
A child born on this day will rejoice that
the Pennsylvania legislature adjourned
yesterday.
Harrisburg vii, now disappear from the
map until the next state convention as
sembles.
Speaking of the ball club, some one must
have stuck a peg in the toboggan slide.
Lumber dealers are not great eaters.
but they usually have to pay large board
bills,
Ajacchus' Advice.
DO not indulge to excess in summer
drinks unless some one else pays for them.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
LnckaMannn at Harrisburg.

We have heard 1t said that Lackawanna
county is more successful than Luzerne
in securing state appropriations for her
charities, particularly her hospitals. This
year at least such is not the case as can
be seen in TIE following summary of the
money appropriated for the hospitals in
the two counties by the present legisla-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

California has passed law which
will take effect Jan. l. 1900, making
compulsory the use of wide tires on
heavy vehicles. A state may with pro-
priety do this after it has spent it's
good money to improve the roads.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02
NOT FAIR.
From the Syracuse Post.

From the Syracuse Post.
A number of newspapers have been
criticising President Mckinley for his re-
cent appointment of a son OF Senator
Quay to the position of assistant quar-
termaster with the rank of captain In the
army. Lieutenant Quay GRADUATED from
West Point in 1888 and the presidents
critics assert that In appointing him cap
tain he was jumped over the heads OF
one hundred and twenty lieutenants IN
the cavalry, seventy-five lieutenants in
the artillery, and seventy-eight lieuten-
ants in the infantry. of this criticism 1t
may be said, as it is said Of much So
called news, it would be very important
II true. But in their eagerness to rebuKe
an assumed favoritism based on the pa
ternal pull, the critics show their ignor-
ance of the facts in the case.
The appointment of Lieutenant Quay
is not to a captaincy in the line, but on
the staff. Therefore he does not jump
over the heads of any Of his associates in
the army. A young man who is appoint
cd to a staff position in the quartermas-
ter's department is given the rank of cap
tain, but that is the lowest grade of COM
missoned officer In the department. staff
appointments in the quartermaster's pay
masters end commissary departments are
sometimes made from private life, some
times from the regular army. President
Harrison appointed his private secretary,
Elijah Halford, a paymaster, but he did
not thereby jump over the heads of any
score of hundred officers of the line. Lieu
tenant Quay is appointed from the line to
the staff, but to the lowest grade in the
staff service In the quartermaster's de-
partment. The young man has proved
his ability and worthness, and that being
so, why should he not be appointed II the
president has a vacancy to fill?
The fact that he Is the son of United
States senator a former chairman of the
Republican national committee, and one
of the leading politicians Of the United
States, ought not to disQualify a young
man for an attractive staff appointment
provided he is competent for and worthy
of the place.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

AS the days go by 1t becomes clear
that Dingley's was the proper bill, and
that Dlngley's bill it will finally be,
despite the tinkers in the senate.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-02

All these varying industries have gone
to Washington and have interceded with
our senators for what they want The
maker OF iron wants a low duty or none
at all on foreign ores; the domestic iron
ore producer wants a prohibitory tariff
on the same material. Both cannot be ac-
commcdated IL resolves itself into a
question OF give and take and then our
senator's are denounced as having voted
I'm favor Of the foreign producer or against