davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
The BeneyoIence OF Trust.

Probably the coal miners will
look askance upon Mr.. J. Pierpont
Morgan S avowed purpose to share
the pr ofts Of his proposed bi.lmin-
Gus coal trust with them. "Share"
is a word oi very elastic meaning
"a very useful term to persons
who think that the 6lchIng Of mil d.
ions is atoned for by the disbursal
OF a few thousands in charity.
According to the New York
Herald, Mr. Morgan's plan in
wolves an advance in the rate OF
wages paid to the miner every time
the price of coal 10 the consumer
is increased. One great advantage
Of this early announcement is that
the trust will not be able to plead
that it has raised prices to the
consumer because wages are
higher. 1t will raise the price Of
coal simply because, being trust,
it has the power so to do. Its
employees may get share Of the
swag, but it will be mighty little
share and will be charged up on
the companies books as expended
to affect public sentiment.
1t is curious that this benevolent
idea of dividing profits with miners
did not occur to Mr.. Morgan be-
fore. He has a very we'll deVel
oped and effective anthracite coal
trust now, and it is not understood
that the miners are overpaid.
1t is possible that the profit shar-
ing promise is put forth by this
patriotic gentleman merely to
make the public forget the tact that
a new trust goes with it9
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22

CRAzED BY AN ANsoNIA CLOCK ion.
"A curious example OF the effect of
monotonous and unchanging work on
the brain OF a workman has been gwen
recently in the local clock factory. In
the construction OF clock mechanism
there are MANY delicate and particular
operations which require skill and
judgment but do not inure the brain OF
a mechanic. On the other hand, the
most simple operation in the factory has
in the few years driven three successive
operatives to insanity. In each instance
the malady was first noticed in the
family concerned, and the victim has
been a robust. athletic man, seemingly
in perfect physical health. The work
consists in rivetting the sides Of the
metal case which holds the works OF the
clock, 1t is light and easy, but the
strain is constant and never changing.
Frank Hetteck did the work Tor years.
He gradually became moody and siler t,
aud by degrees the disease developed
until he was unable to work After a
short time his bodily health gave way,
and he died without recovering his san.
ity, His case was a mild one-the kind
described by the gamins as 'silly."
The job was given to Patrick Burnett,
member OF the local baseball team,
and hearty, ambitious man. Burnett,
after a time. became respondent,
avoided his haunts and friends and at
last gave up his work and would not stir
from his home. At home he noticed
nothing, and for days would not speak,
He became violent at times, and was
removed to the Middletown Asylum.
Robert Healey succeeded him on the
"Hoodoo job" as the other workmer
called it. HealeY was also an athlete
playing on the same team as Burnett
and being a happy-go-lucky who never
worried about anything or any one, il
seemed extremely improbable that ne
would be seriously affected. For a timS
he appeared to enjoy his work, bu
gradually he began to talk queerly, anC
IN few weeks he, too, was in the asylum
A young boy is now doing the work
and thus far with no i'll effects. The
physicians are much puzzled at the
three cases, and San give no explanation
other than the monotony Of the work.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
AFaIIenIuJs.

All the news from the great
prosperity" strike is interesting,
but the news from Lewiston has an
awful fascination.
Lewiston is the seat OF the
mighty scientific tariff thinker and
tinker, Nelson Dingley. 1t is also
the seat of very considerable part
Of the cotton industry Of New Eng
land. The cotton workers of Lew
Iston, having got the gospel of
"opening the mills" hot from the
lips Of Dingley himself. naturally
expected great things Of the cotton
schedules. And many were the
golden assurances and reassur.
ances from Dingley to his fellow
to Vnsmen while those schedules
were "in the works"
Now 10 and behold! The mills
which were open and gave steady
employment under the wicked
Wilson law are closing or giving
precarious employment at pauper
wages, as low as those oI the
wretched workingmen Of Britain
whose free trade miseries Dingley
dotted to dwell on.
The Dingley disaster is spread
over all cotton manufacturing New
England. And there is talk Of a
trust-a trust under scientific pro-
tective schedules" when Mr.. Nc
KinleY assured us in the campaign
that "free trade is the parent oi
trustsW But while the rest of New
England is very angry over wage
reductions ranging from I3 to so
per cent, Lewiston is stunned,
crushed.
1t has not only seen its hopes oI
high wages and plenty OF work
vanish like "the baSeless fabric oi
a vision" 1t has also seen its idol
come tumbling down in ruins.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22

OLD PlNN New PRIcEs.-The new
Pennsylvania liquorlicense law increases
the license of retail dealers as follows:
In cities OF the third class, from $500 to
$3.50; IN boroughs, from $50 to s2oo; in
townships, from SO to SIoo. The addi'
tional license goes to the State
Brewers were formerly required in
cities OF the third class to pay license
fee ofS5oo and in boroughs Szoo. Under
the new law all are compelled to pay in
proportion to their annual output for
the preceding year. i heY must file an
affidavit with their application stating
the number OF barrels produced az their
respective breweries during 1897.
The license is as follows For less
than 1 900 barrels, $3.50; for more than
1000 and less than 1900 barrels, $500;
for more than 2,Coo and less than 900
barrels, $500; for more than 5000 and
less than 5000 barrels, $500; Tor more
than 5000 and less than 10000 barrels,
$3.50; for more than 10, 900 and less than
10000 barrels, 81 900; and so on. Those
whose annual production is in excess OF
800, 900 barrels must pay an annual
license tax Of 80 900.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
Wages, Strikes and Southern Com
petition.

The cotton mill strike in New
England brings out the tact that
the average wage paid there is only
SO week tor a grown man.
The employers want to cut this
wage by 10 per cent. This is the
origin OF the strike.
1t is urged that the competition
OF Southern cotton mills is so
sharp that wages must be reduced
in New England, or New England
cotton spinning must end.
1t is probable that all this will
be true after a while, but it is not
true now. The South with the
cotton fields at hand, with easy and
cheap access to markets. with
cheap labor which is destined to
remain cheap because OF the land S
fruitfulness and the consequent
cheapness oi living, will undoubt-
edly usurp New England's place
after while ac the cotton spinning
part Of the country.
But as yet there is not enough
spindles or looms in the whole
South to rival those of a single
great manufacturing State in New
England. And the South has not
yet even begun to compete with
New England as to the finer fabrics.
In 1890 there were only ,S5Aooo
spindles in the whole South, against
s,S24,5I8 in Massachusetts, alone.
And no Southern mill has yet made
a print cloth or any other of the
finer cotton fabrics.
The wage question at New Bed
ford is still, therefore, one to be de-
termined upon its merits, without
regard to any possible Southern
competition that may come in the
future but has not yet come. The
New England mills are paying
from to 70 per cent. dividends and
their wage controversies must be
judged accordingly.
Whether or not SO a week is an
excessive wage, it is certain that
Southern competition has no part
in determining the matter.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
Veterans on Pensions.

Encampment No. /, OF the Union
Veteran Legion of Pennsylvania,
is composed Of genuine old sol .
diers-the sort that heard bullets
whistle and shells burst.
These men have adopted resolu.
tions denouncing the pensic n
act of 1890 as one unjust to the
Government and devised o pad
the pension rolls with undeserving
names.
Moreover, they have struck at
the very root Of pension fraud bv
denouncing all special pension"
acts Of Congress.
Every special pension bill is a
bill TO give pension to somebody
whose claim has been rejected as
unworthy by the Pension Bureau
under laws more than liberal.
A President mindful of his duty
would veto every one of them,
each as an obvious wrong to the
taxpayers and an insult to the old
soldiers. ---
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
S iaNaayG-London January S.

Events in the Far East cannot be ex.
pected to march rapidly, But enough
has happened to produce a very marked
change in the temper with which CONT
mental critics discuss the position Of
Great Britain. Whether we turn today
to the expressions of opinion IN Berlin,
or St. Petersburg, or Paris, there is per
Ceptible everywhere an unqualified
recognition Of the weight OF this country
as a factor determining the future Of
China, But under the special
circumstances of the crisis, political
calculations must largely affect the be-
havior OF the great chiefs Of the money
markets. Ordinarily, we suppoge, the
accommodation would be forthcoming
no matter what the particular bank or
syndicate might be which contracted tor
the loan-by an arrang gement of a more
or less international character. The
great establishments in the different
centres Of finance would help one an.
other on terms mutually advantageous.
But az present political jealousies stand
in the way Of such method, Whoever
agrees to provide the necessary millions
must almost inevitably become closely
concerned with the internal affairs Of the
Chinese Empire; and the question which
Russia, Germany and France are now
considering is whether the influence
thus accruing would not be cheaply pur-
chased by mourning a certain amount Of
financial risk. China would Inquestion-
ably prefer aid from Great Britain TO aid
from any other country, because she has
no reason to suspect the honesty of our
motives, and knows perfectly well that
we have no ish to break the empire to
pieces.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22

BUILDERS OF THE MONITOR. Repre-.
sentative Sperry. OF Connecticut, is
probably the last survivor Of the gentle
men who we're closely associated in the
construction OF the famous Monitor that
fought with the MeTimac IN Hampton
Roads. The three builders of the
Yankee cheese box" where John
Ericsson, a Swede, known the world
over as the inventor; Cornelius S Bush
nell, of New Haven, and John A Girls
void, OF Troy, N. Y, the last two being
interested with Mr., Ericsson as part
owners. Mr.. Bushnell! and Mr.. Sperry
we're close friends. and the latter went
on Mr., Bushnells bond tor $500, 600.
1t should be borne in miud--what is
not generally known by students Of
American hstory-that the Monitor
was owned by private parties, and
not by the Government when she
fought the historic battle. The three
gentlemen named were authorized by
the Government to build the Monitor,
and il she was able to do what was
promised, the Government had agreed
to purchase her. There was a great
deal OF skepticism about the craft, but
the Government advanced some money
for her construct on, and for that reason
the builders we're required 60 give bond
for the retnrn OF the money il the boat
was failure.
Mr.. Sperry remembers vividly the
day of the battle, for the failure Of the
Monitor meant more to him than dis
aster to the Federals. 1t would have
taken every dollar of his property to
satisfy the Government bond.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22

The RsichSaR=eigey Berlin. January
S publishes tn hs following According
to a telegram received to-day the Ger.
man and Chinese Governments have
concluded an agreement whereby China
leases Kiao Chau to Germany Tor a long
term of years. The territory leased
embraces the whole Bay of Kiao Chau
including the adjacent islands, the coast
line as Indicated by high water mark,
and the promontories north Of the en-.
trance to the Bay. The territory, which
is bounded on the land side by a range
of hills, covers several square miles, and
is surrounded by a neutral zone greater
in extent than ITSELF wherein China cam
not undertake anything without Ger
many's consent. All rights Of sover-
eighty are ceded to Germany. Should
KiaO Chau prove unfit for German pur-
poses, China undertakes to permit
Germany to select another point upon
the coast and to take back KIao Chau,
reimbursing all funds spent upon the
place by Germany.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
THE FRENCH ON THE UPPER NILs.
Times London, January 6.

After prolonged period Of retlcence
and mystery, ihe French newspapers
are suddenly teeming with letters from
individuals connected with Major Mar
chand's expedition. OF that expedition
the objective point at present is Fashoda
on the upper cou sc Of the White Nile,
but its avowed aim Is to stretch hands
across the continent from the French
possessions in Senegambia and on the
Congo TO those at ObOk, on the Gulf of
Alden. The Temps, which has occa-
sionally affected TO be ignorant ol the
proceedings Of Major Marchand, is ap-
parently somewhat chagrined at revela.
tions which, it remarks, are more likely
to be for the advantage OF rival countries
than for that of France. We do not
know how this can be the case, unless a
hope was cherished that Great Britain
might be lulled into security by the
concealment OF the French advance
towards the Upper Nile till our statesmen
were confronted with a fat acr0WbH
At any rate, there is no longer any lack
expedition, and there IS a good deal Of
information ccessibe-though some.
what disconnected and not altogether
consistent-as to its progress. The
publication Of these documents IN some.
thing like a patch has an air Of con.
certed appes to public opinion, though,
Of course, it may be merely accidental.
There is a reason, apart from politics,
in the Natural reaction Of feeling after
the rumor, which was circulated a few
weeks ago in a geographical journal at
Brussels connected with the Congo Free
S ate Administration, that Major Mar
chand and his companions had been
massacred in the Bahr el Ghazal region
This report is now declared to be en-
trely without foundation. and the letters
referred to show that IN August and
September last the expedition was dong
well. y
The further NJ jor Marchand advances
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22

in making himself understood. 1t
went to his head aud into his knees,
and but for the timely return Of the
host and his son he would have
collapsed entirely. They got him
into the bracing air. where he could
pump ozone in his lungs and
gather his scattered thoughts.
On returning to consciousness,
he delivered himself as follows:
"Zat es we're strange, Eat temper
aimee questione. Sacre! l cannot
comprehendre. You may not get
drunk at re table, but he may get
so drunk as lie diable in my lady's
boudoir. Eat ees we're strange. l
cannot comprehendre. st. LontS
Republic.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
Stop the leaks.

There would be no deficit in the
postal service and no need for lop-
ping off a carrier here and another
there from the inadequate delivery
forces ofthe great cities if some Of
the yawning leaks in the accounts
ofthe department were stopped up.
The worst is perhaps the heavy
rate paid to the railroads for car
rying the mails. This is a matter
entirely within the control oi the
Government. The railroads are
obliged to accept such compensa-
ton as the Government allows. By
reducing the price to a business
basis the deficit would at once dis
appear.
Another immense leak is the
abuse OF the franking privilege by
members Of Congress and Govern
ment officials. This combines with
the other tor the spoliatiou of the
public. Members of Congress not
only send free carloads of matter
for which the Government has to
pay eight cents a pound, but they
often arrange with their friends in
the railroads to ship them at the
times at which they will be counted
in making up the average weights
on which the roads will collect for
the next four years.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
MakionaL Zefknng--BerIln

The last move Of the British Korean
policy-viZ., the arrival of British war.
ships off Chemulpo-could not be fore.
seen. We believe, on the contrary, that
II is welcomed by the multitude with
vague approval, as at Toxic, and that
it will be regarded with a certain distrust
by farther seeing politicians. England
stood indifierently aloof during the
Russo Japanese negotiations. This
policy OF renunciation lasted until very
lately and appearances were so well
kept up that 1t was believed. probably
in more quarters than one, that Korea
had long been painted Russian" in the
inmost thoughts of Lord Salisbury
This opinion will now be recognized
everywhere as premature; but even
after Englands last action we adhere to
the opinion that the appearance of the
British flag on the Korean coast may be
regarded as less suspicious than the
recent movements Of the Daphne in the
waters Of Port Arthur, that it is not a
harbinger of sinister events in East
Asia, and that, especially, the Conflict
between the elephant and the whale"
will not br, ak out on Korea's account
This latter eventualItY is extremely
improbable even if England still further
strengthens her squadron off Chemulpo,
as she Of course can do, Only one thing
We can state with certainty, nd this is
interesting enough-that Lord Salisbury
continues to regard Korea as a valuable
card in England's hand, and that the
two Powers that are generally regarded
as the only legitimate heirs in that
country have to take into account A
third, which, even if il should not ann
at gaining any territorial advantages for
itself, can nevertheless exercise a para
lyzing influence on the movements Of
the main claimants, either as friend or
| foe.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22

A letter from a petty officer attached
to Marchand's expedition named
Nicholas is published in the L0yyafn, a
Metz journal, and is reproduced by the
Temps. It IS dated Semio. September
H. and 1t M. Nichols says that h-
has had a great zeal ct trouble with his
carriers WHO constantly ran away (fnto
the bush, abandoning their loads. 4The
track" the letter continues, "is very
bad at this time of the year. It is now
the height OF the rainy season the
grasses are very high, and fall right
across the path, bindering the carriers
progress The watercourses are full,
even overlooking, and form morasses
on both sides ofevery channel"
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22

eastward the more impossible will It be
for HIM to leave any representative of
France behind him on the long line OF
his march from French Congo to main
tain those "rghts ofsovereignty' which
he IS said to have been exercising for
months in these remote and unknown
parts OF Africa. A very small body of
white and few hundred ofnative levie,
cannot afford to plant garrisons at every
step in its advance, but if nothing OF the
kind is done the expedition is likely to
leave no greater permanent impression
behind 1t than an arrow which has been
shot through the air.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
ENGLAND.
THE PARTITION OF CHINA.
IimeS-London, January s.

The partition of China in the terrific
rial sense is probably a long way off,
though on the other hand we must not
forget that in the north Russia has
already effected not inconsiderable dis
memberment, and that in some German
circles partition is not thought chimer-
ical. But there is another and more
insidious partition, which consists in
obtaining monopolies Of such things as
railways, waterways, or mines, or in
obtaining a protectionist control Of Gus
toms which might have disastrous effects
upon our trade. II IS at least worthy OF
serious consideration whether the more
efeCtual combating Of measures of that
kind does not justify the incurring Of
reasonable financial risks which might
once have been properly regarded as
outside the scope of Governmental
action. 1t is not irrelevant to point in
this connection to the familiar but some.
times forgotten fact that we alone among
the nations establish no monopoly where
we have political power. From which
It follows that no nation can acquire
such rights as we refer to with less
offence to the world at large or less
injury to the general interests.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
sZsikAng -Beflin.

England's action abroad assumed
new character during the last days OF
the old year. After the occupation Of
Kiao Chau Bay, the British Government
showed no special interest in the matter,
but since the Russian ships entered Port
Arthur its attitude has undergone a
striking change. Since then it has
stepped into the arena, and endeavored
to make England's naval power ielt. 1t
it is certain, in the first place, that seven
British warships have lain for some days
in Chemulpo Roads, to show the parties
concerned that England means to have
a word in the settlement OF Korean
affairs. and is not disposed to admit that
Korea lies entirely outside of her sphere
OF interests, In China also, she has
taken action during the last few days,
having officially declared that two Brit.
ish warships are lying alongside OF the
Russian squadron in Port Arthur This
fact is the less ambiguous as Port Arthur
is not an international treaty port, but a
Chinese naval port, and as it has hith-
erto beer believed on all hands that the
peninsula Of Lao Tung and the portion
OF Chinese Manchuria bordering on
Siberia would tall, in the long run, into
the exclusively Russian sphere, BY
sending warships to Port Arthur. Eng
land has shown that -hs> --f" u alloy
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
Daily NeUs-London, January s.

According to German paper, nego-
tiations for a Chinese loan--a subject
which we discussed yesterday-are now
proceeding IN London There is no
reason on the face Of things to suppose
that the report is inaccrate. China is
quite able, il she cares to do so, to give
proper security without any of those
territorial sacrifices which some Of her
financial friends seem to desire. Sir
Robert Hart, if he were asked, would
have little difficulty, we fancy. in indi.
eating possible sources Of revenue which
are still almost untouched, and which
might be placed under foreign control
without raising any very formidable op
position. If Lord Salisbury has been
approached on the subject, and sees his
way, by means of British credit, to
strengthen the position Of Sir Robert
Hart in China, his policy will, we be-
lieve, be generally approved.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22

Russia to take a permanent footing
there until she has herself acquired
some counter concessions in China. It
follows that International diplomacy
will soon have difficult problems to
solve. Fortunately, the general politi
cal situation and the grouping of the
European Great Powers are such that a
peaceful, though perhaps not speedy,
removal of all the present difficulties
may be confidently expected.
Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22

SENSITIVE LIVERPOOL POLICEMEN. -
A firm Of brewers having licensed
houses in Liverpool sent as a Christmas
box a case Of champagne to each Of the
Police Superintendents who have the
supervision ofthe FIVE divisions in which
the firms licensed houses are situated.
The presents we're returned through
the Head Constable, with the expression
OF opinion that there had been some
mistake. ~ VerbSof POST