davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26
LIFE INSURANCE.
Editor of The Tribune.

Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial on Life Insurance"
is aimed in the right direction, but that
1t may not stimulate undue prejudice in
the minds of those who delight in scor-
ing the regular life companies and their
business will call your attention to some
statements therein that should be toned
down and are misleading.
FlrSt-The life insurance business is not
the first IN magnitude. 1t is eNcelled by
the railroad business.
Second-As to the expenses of manage
ment, the item you mention as the ag-
gregate expense in the year 1895 of the
three giant companies includes taxes, re-
pairs and expenses on real estate owned
by the policy holders of these companies,
who are benefited thereby, as all real
estate holdings are In trust for the policy
holders, and amounts to many millions
Of dollars.
Third--ln the reference to lapsed insur-
ance in which you state that 'it shows
that new blood does not abide long
enough 10 be of any practical benefit to
the persistent policy holder" the infer
ence is misleading, in that the lapsed in
surance includes matured endowments or
paid-up policies, and policies that have
been in force more than one year. (See
the report of the superintendent Of in
surance of New York or Pennsylvania
In this connection I Aish to make sew,
eral statements which, VI challenged Ly
any one, | will prove. They are: That
the regular companies referred TO are fur
nishing protection averaging less cost
than i'm the past. That there has neen
a constant progress In this direction. That
considering the volume Of business, the
average per cent. of expense to the policy
holder is less than in any other business.
That II is very much less than In the
average assessment companies. That II
would be impossible to meet your sug-
gestion and reduce the expenses one-half
The business is now being conducted on
very conservative methods. When you
take into consideration the total amour,
Of premiums secured by the agents for
these companies they are the poorest
paid of any class Of solicitors
If l am correct the management of
these companies Is not "discreditable'
but very creditable TO the officers and
directors Of the companies referred TO-
Yours truly,
Charles l.. Rice
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26


titude our government will as
Il sumo toward Canada's latest
proposition for a settlement of
the Alaskan boundary dispute but if
the general opinion of those Ameri-
cans who have most carefully studied
the matter shall be considered the
reply of the United States will be
polite but emphatic negative
Bear in mind that when Canada Of
fers to concede skaguay and Dyea to
the United States in exchange for Py-
ramid harbor her proposition is eX-
actly as if she would say to the United
States: I'VE will not dispute your
claims to Buffalo and Detroit provid-
ed you let us have Sault Ste. Marie
and the American 500 canal" I'm
der the explicit language Of the eX-
isting treaty the United States, as
Russias successor to the title to Alas
ka, owns today absolutely, not only
Skaguay and Dyea, but also Pyramid
harbor and every other harbor or pos
sible harbor in the neighborhool.
MS wv sup ltSNS ilOl tlhIlt on the
unmistakable language of the treaty
of 1925, but upon seventy years of un-
disputed possession, the counter claim
having been born in Canada's anxiety
for a Pacific port to accommodate her
trade with the newly discovered Klon-
| dixie gold region. To be told, then,
| that we can keep two towns already
ours by every right known to interna-
tional law and custom provided We will
surrender a harbor equally ours, and
submit to arbitration the rest of our
land titles in the territory. which we
have paid for but which Canada now
wants, is, to say the least, an interest
ing experience, wei calculated to test
the tensile strength of American pa
tience.
The proposition relative to Pyramid
harbor is impudent to the point of
evaporation; but the demand for ar
bitration of title clearly ours is al
most equally as offensive. To a rep-
resentative Of the Philadelphia Ledger
a prominent official in the state de-
lpartment at Washington recently re-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

marked very pointedly that the Alas
kan boundary dispute would not be
submitted to arbitration; and the rea-
sons given for that remark were not
only that there was nothing in this
particular case calling for arbitration
but also that the close political and
family relations existing between the
monarchs of Europe, as demonstrated
in sad experience. would not permit
an unbiased decision in any matter
in which European interests came into
conflict with the interests of the Unit
ed states. 1t is charged that a con-
spiracy to defeat justice existed in the
Venezuelan tribunal. which was de-
foated in part only by the flrmness Of
Chief Justice Fuller. and gentleman
who was connected with the Bering
sea tribunal of 1898 has admitted to
the Ledger correspondent that he and
his American colleagues in that tri-
bunal underwent a similar experience.
He asserts that the arbitrators select
ed by the powers of Europe were sub
jected to personal, social and political
pressure in favor of England, which
was brought so strongly upon them
that they could not resist. and that If
it had not been for the firmness of
Senator Morgan and Justice Harlan.
acting as arbitrators on the part of
the United States, the decision would
have been much more one-sided than
it was.
These are phases Of international ar
bitration which do not receive much
exploitation in print, but they have
received careful consideration in off,
cial circles at Washington, where the
objection to jug-handled arbitration is
strongest; and it is believed that the
state department, in whatever reply
it shall decide to make to the latest
Canadian overture, will include a repe-
tition of it's former respectful refusal
to consider any proposition looking to
arbitration which includes as a con-
dtion the selection of adjudicators from
among the Inhabitants of Europe. To
this reasonable precaution should be
| added a postscript notifying Canada
that the United States is disinclined
to continue further the discussion of
American rights impregnably ground
ed in law and custom and therefore
gives notice that the dispute, so far
as it is concerned, is now at an end.
This is the frank way of putting the
dominion at once to the necessity Of
dismountlng voluntarily from it's high
horse or running the risk of a mighty
bad tumble.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

state treasury by adding the funded debt
OF certain corporations to the taxable
valuation of their properties. In many in
stances the funded debt was owned en-
tirely by non-residents. The Supreme
court of the United States decided in
1872 that bonds held by non-residents can
not be taxed In Pennsylvania, and that
In any event debts owing by corporations
cannot be treated and taxed as property
of corporations. The case may he found
reported I'm 18th Wallace, commencing at
page 300, and is absolutely conclusive.
EFFECT OF GREASY BILL.
In short, Mr.. Creasy's bill would have
reduced existing Wakes of the oil trust
and the great coal corporations, against
which he publicly inveighs, and would
not. and was not intended to, increase
the taxation of any of the Weather divi-
dend-paying corporations 1t was intend
cd to increase the burdens of certain
class OF the poorer smaller, non-dlvidend
paying corporations, but the character of
the tax imposed was plainly in violation
of the Federal constitution. as already
determined by the Supreme court,
Even had the taxes proposed by the
bill been constitutional and acuuiescec
in at once by all the corporations of the
state, her revenues would not have been
increased; but, on the contrary, largely
reduced. But the taxes were not consti-
tutional, and would not have been paid.
The bill repealed the entire corporate
system of taxation under which the state
Is now deriving large, sure and certain
revenues from corporations, in addition
to some which are still I'm dispute The
new system proposed would have thrown
the whole revenue into litigation, which
| 1t would have taken several years TO de-
| termine. Not only would the public
| schools have lost the half million dollars
which the governor vetoed, but for sew
eral years at least the state treasurer
would have been without funds TO pay
any considerable portion of the 50 900, 900
per annum which the governor approved.
| In an argument before the senate COM
| mittee ] opposed Mr.. Creasy's bill on
| behalf of certain poorer and smaller cor
porations, but it was defeated upon the
| showing, by the state officers, of its un-
| doubted damaging effect upon the state
| treasury. This was made so plain that
| a leading senator said that instead of be-
ing called the Greasy bill 1t ought to be
| called the "Decreasy bill"
| If Mr.. Greasy knew the effect and op-
| Grafton of his bill he is hardly sincere
In his statements upon the stump. If he
did not know, he is hardly the man for
| state treasurer
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26
Where Common Sense Fled.

~ HE NATIONAL convention of
the Women's Christian Tenn
a perance Union did not place
itself in q favorable light
when it adopted resolutions denouncing
the war in the Philippines. Mere de-
nunciation amounts to little at any
time unless there is substantial argu-
ment and reason back of it, but wnen
1t is put forth in sheer Impulse in
manner To embarrass the government
OF our country while the soldiers of
our country are in front of an enemy's
guns, the difference between it and
treason, the blackest of crimes, is more
in intent than in effect
The Women's Christian Temperance
Union has done a great deal of good
in this country, for which it will al
ways be held in grateful remembrance;
hut it would vastly increase its useful
ness and the respect in which it is held
if it would not try to go beyond it's
proper sphere of activities (namely, the
promotion of temperance in order to
mix into politics in various directions
often without understanding of the
issues involved and oftcner still in an
lmpulsiveness which betrays it into
illogical conclusions. There are few
agitators who are not likely at some
time or other to fly away on a tangent
from common sense, and we have OBJ =
served that this tendency is very
marked in the case of the worthy wo-
men who imagine that they have re-
ceived a special command to turn
things upside down i'm the interest of
political regeneration. Their intentions
are irreproachable but their equipment
for meeting practically the rough con.
ditions of every day political strife is
absurdly inadequate.
In the present instance we confident
ly assert that there is not a woman
among the delegates at the Seattle
convention or anywhere else, who can
offer a single substantial reason for
denouncing the war in the Philippines
That war. like all wars, is to be de.
plored and the conditions precedent
as well as the sufferings incident, to 1t
may properly be lamented But to de.
nounce a war which has for its chief
purpose the protection Of the wealth
the enterprise and the intelligence OF
the island of Luzon against the chaos
threatened in Aguinaldo's bandit up.
rising; and which, in it's highest sig.
nifcance is. as much as was any
struggle ever fought. a war for hu.
manity, for the salvation of the higher
against the menaces Of the lower ordel
of civilization, is to exhibit either al
Indifference to facts or an inability
10 weigh evidence and motives whicl
in either case units the national con
vePuon of the Womsns Christian TEN
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26
perance Union for the task of censor
ing the government.

Scranton is distinguished for num-
ber Of reasons besides the production
of coal and conventions. From pres
ent indications 1t rather appears that
in her list Of star performers will be
several of the best golfers I'm the coun-
try. In the years of the past this city
has scarcely had time to devote much
attention to anything but the most Sc
rious matters of life. While golf, to
cup winner, may be about the most
serious thing in the world. It is scarce
~ regarded with so much gravity by
the uninitiated spectator who watches
the efforts made to get n very small
ball into tomato can. However. II
Scranton awakens to the fact that
young men reared in its confines are
arousing the admiration of not only
the smart set in the chief cities OF the
east, but also the honest respect Of
people generally who enjoy athletics
and appropriate proficiency in health
ful outdoor sports, a due recognition
of the abilities put to a test this week
at the Country club links will be ac-
corded our players. who do other things
besides play golf
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26
OUR MUCH-ABUsED SOLDIERS
General Funston.

General Funston.
We hear talk about mismanagement in
the Philippines, and those who are doing
the talking know the least about 1t.
want to tell you today that our army over
there Is better clothed, better fed and
better cared for than any army that ever
fought in any country under any flag.
The hospital arrangements there are so
perfect that within two or three hours
after a man is shot, especially If along
the railroad, he is delivered to the hos
pital in Manila. Out of 1900 wounded
men sent to that hospital not a single
primary amputation was performed and
but three cases of ultimate amputation,
During the Civil war at least 800 men
among the 1,5O0 would have been subject
ed to amputaton and rendered perman-
ent cripples. This is an important fact
to bear in mind in face of irresponsible
criticisms of the campaign.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

The JOY Of people who are inclined
to crow over the victories of the Boer
will he short-lived. With everything
i'm their favor in regard to position,
and with,a force nf troops outnumber-
ing the British three to one, it would
indeed be surprise If the Dutchmen
did not make good showing in the
way of resistance. Things may be diff
ferent few weeks hence
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

Y " AVING WAITED until the
- election was only a few
IL days distant, the Philadel-
phia Record now proclaims
that Lieutenant Colonel Barnett was
a coward while serving with the Tenth
regiment in the Philippines. 1t con-
temptuously calls him "cold foot
and accuses him of having fingered
behind in the shelter of a rice dyke
when the men in his command took
their places on the firing line. 1t
brings these charges upon the anony-
nous authority of privates in the
regiment, neither revealing their num-
ber nor their identity.
The peculiar thing about this accu-
sation, apart from its maiignity is
that it was withheld until Colonel
Barnett was a candidate for political
office so near to election as to render
impossible a military investigation in
time to dispose of it ere the vote Is
cast. The average man. viewing the
matter without prejudice, Immediately
asks himself why it was, If Barnett
was a coward that his fellow officers
did not, at the time, call him to ac-
count, as it was their duty TO do, and
thus remove a gross reflection upon
the honor of the regiment. The rec
Crds of the Tenth regiment are not
cited to show that there was at any
time any official question raised as TO
Barnett's conduct as a soldier. 1t was
not until he had become a candidate
for political office that this. charge
was brought and then it was put for
ward simply IN the form of bitter
abuse, without a particle of sustaining
evidence.
Under these circumstances We ara
not surprised to learn that a wave OF
sympathy has arisen throughout the
state in behalf of the soldier thus ma.
ligned, which threatens to bear dowr
upon his accusers with crushing force
The people. regardless of party, hold
to the doctrine Of fair play even in pol
itics; and especially do they resen
with swift Indignation the dirty tactic!
| of the defamer who, thinking to gain &
political point, will circulate slandel
which does not bear upon political con
duct but seeks to rob it's victim Of tht
most precious part Of his reputation
as a citizen and a man.
Unless the accusers of Colonel Bar
nett produce in support of their gros
accusations proof absolutely final il
it's overwhelming establishment o
guilt. they will deserve to be refuted oil
election day by a majority in Barnett
favor including every Republican vot
in Pennsylvania and that also of ever!
decent Democrat in the commonwealth
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26
A Safe Guess,

"Why do you think this man who al.
most drove over you was Irsh?"
Because / threatened to lick him"
"Well?"
"Well, instead Of driving on about his
business he got down from his Wagon
and wanted to fight'-Chicago Times
Herald.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

Bradford newspapers are just now
in quarrel over the condition of the
county Jail. From descriptions by
those who advocate Improvement. it
would seem that the Bradford county
Jail is an institution that all good citi-
zens should try to keep out of.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

The special correspondents several
thousand miles removed from the seat
of the Transvaal war are liable to get
the map of South Africa tangled up TO
such an extent that a new survey will
be necessary when the trouble has been
adjusted
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

Some of the Pennsylvania antis
scream against the unholy war on the
Filipinos in one breath and in the next
find fault with Colonel Barnett be-
cause he does not return to Manila
and fight the Filipinos. This is char
acteristic of the party of unreasonable
OnpnSition.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

Anti-expansion, acco dirg TO the talk
of present advocates, means that the
government of the United States must
throw up its hands and back out of
Manila. leaving the country to anar-
chy, disruption and the devil. 1t is
scarcely possible that the most effu-
sive Bryanite would really like to have
this state of affairs come to pass.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26
County.

Commissioner COURIER NOR.
RIS. Of Scranton; JOHN PENMAE,
of Olyphant.
Auditors WILLIAM T.. JOHNS and ASA
+. KIEFER, both of Scranton.
Election day, Nov T.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

The Philadelphia Record is making
votes for Colonel Barnett rapidly by
throwing mud at his record as a soldier
We are surprised that the Record
should be so ill-advised
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

Mr. Markham of "MaE and Hoe"
fame has written another poem in
which words of encouragement are Of
fered to the man whose upper apart
ments are not properly illuminated. 1t
is entitled THE Muse of Brotherhood"
and comes
"To take the toler from his brutal fate.
The toiler hanging to the Labor-Cross. d"
If Mr.. Markham is the father of a
scheme whereby we may obtain a good
living without work, he is entitled to
a hearing
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

Some Of the British "aunties" act as
though they thought the victorious
dispatches from South Africa had
been censored by General Otis.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

General Funston probably thinks
that he will be in less danger in front
of the Filipinos than in the hands of
Kansas politicians.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26
REPUBLICAN NOMINATIONS.
State.

state.
Justice of the Supreme Court-J. HAY
BROWN, Of Lancaster.
Judge Of the Superior ConIrt-JOHN l.
MITCHELL, of Tioga,
State Trcasurer-LIEUTENA col
ONEB JAMES Il. BARNETT, Of
Washington.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

ing 20 malicious l!bel in
its attacks upon the Republican nom
inee for state treasurer, endeavoring
to spatter mud upon his record as a
soldier, for purposes ,r contras. 1t is
interesting to observe how the Repub
lican party is treating his Democratic
opponent, Mr.. Greasy. This gentle
importance In the last legislature. RE
was the ranking Democratic member of
the appropriations committee and he
held the same rank on the ways and
means committee. These two commit
tees largely determine how the rev.
enues of the state shall be raised ami
how they shall be expended; III Mr.
Creasys actions as a member o.
these two committees are proper sLb-
Jects for public inquiry and discussion.
Mr. Greasy is not attacked by any
Republican in his private character;
a monopoly of that form OF argument
is freely conceded to his Democratic
supporters. But he is asked by lead
ing NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Ohm
sted of Harrsburg-to explain some
dubious features of his legislative
career. We reproduce in another col
umn Mr.. Olmsted's letter coverin.'
these points and bespeak for it the
most attentive consideration of our
readers The letter is a proper and
privileged communication of deep
interest to every taxpayer of Penn
sylvania and unless Mr.. Greasy can
squarely satisfy its interrogatilns he
must stand before the people as thor
oughly discredited in his role OF poll
teal reformer.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

1t is reported that Ii Hung Chang
is back in power again. But he does
not seem to be working at it.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

The Beers evidently have an eye to
the distribution of prize money at the
Kimberly mines.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

Viewing the preparations made for the
war with the Beers it looks AS though
Great Britain was also making ar
rdngements to attend to any side issue
that may come to the surface during
the difficulty
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26

1t is unnecessary to elabo-
rate on what we have to show
you in this line. Will only
say that never before have
we had as choice a collection
of inviting and exclusive
things for the Baby as NOW,
and you do yourselves an in
Justice if you fail to see our
SPECIAL EXHIBITION
of them this week. We cor.
daily invite you to this OPEN
ing and as it is something
of special interest to tho
Little Folks" also, bring
them with you.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26
Time to "Call" +" Canada.

Y T REMAINS to be seen what at
titude our government will as
Il sumo toward Canadas latest
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26
Questions for Greasy.

":$ $$:s$S :: :.,' :. ;: {
ing 20 malicious libel in
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-26
Des sperate Tactics.

v " AvING WAITED until the
- election was only few
days distant, the Philadel-