davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-16
REFUSES TO BE SHUT OFF.


The wltness-Now. you have got this legislative
committee here. and they have got the remedy to
Mr. Moss-wat moment; >.
The Witness-By passing the law over again. II
was Republican Legislature that passed that
D Mr a Mo..L Ssp9os stop '0'e'"or 's"e' "
The Chairman-Mr Devery we get along
The Winess-He is going right ahead with his
questions ! want to answer ne ,9uess,t on tT July
The Chairman-That must be stricken from the
The Witness-It is in your hands TO change the
The Chairrnan-I understand that but you must
MT MoSsENow' Mr.. Chief. you have heard me
read the Interpretation OF that Horton law by the
outre you to stop every OF these contests.
Now you are talking about the Legislature. I re-
Supreme Court And the community will hold you
responsible from this point on. You have been no
,ed Now Sg wanted 10 put 6 Snper ON ON
, the O afer a ERt ?'' NOV one moment
say have been notified
Mr. Moss-This witness must get down 10 bust
The witness-I want to understand what he
Q,-Now, / ask you new question. A.-You ask
q No. | ask you a simple question now. and Z
you w wness 'eh for 70 o ss and ali
say TO you now. II you wanted TO throw damper
was 10 take place down at c0ney Island. why
didn't you want 10 throw a damper on the other
YewsYork at ' the Lenox Club A-Because this
hsht was heralded by all the papers as champion
in three or four rounds. and so on;
Q-You say Il was so heralded? A-The press
had IL that way. and ! went there 70 see that the
law not violated.
THE CHIEF MIXES 1T UP.
Q-You say you expressed your opinion as an In
o.UTha, L q hard blow was struck you would
The evening times., 1899-01-14
An Eligible Witness TO Hand.

To the Editor OF The Times:
have noticed in the papers for the past few
months discussions ON the food which was serv
ed 10 soldiers while in Cuba. | was acting
commssary clerk OF the Seventy first New York
Infantry in the field and know that the fresh
meat received not fit for anyone to eat
The meat came to US, and it part OF my du-
ty 10 serve it to the different companies Every
day we had 70 throw the best part OF it away
| know also that there was no sickness in the reg
iment to speak Of until got this meat /
know also of the canned meat received much had
to be thrown away We would find cans in al
most every box that had burst and the smell
which from these bursted cans was some
thing fearful. Some of the hardtack was also
musty, and we could not eat it, l have kept
quiet all this time, hut ii it should become nee
essary for Inc TO swear to this | viii do it.
EDWARD kEEGIN
Corporal Company L, Seventy first New York In
faGtry, late Commissary Clerk.
The evening times., 1899-01-14
Why AIgerism FIourishes.

One secret of Ayers strength with the
President was long ago exposed by The
Times 1t is now repeated by the New
York Evening Post. At the beginning of
the war with Spain it was agreed between
the President the Secretary of War and the
Adjutant General that there must be no
glory for Miles" To allow that officer to
carry the var to a triumphant close was 10
provide the country with a rival candidate
for the Presidency. All the scandals of the
war, from the selection Of an incompetent
regimental commander to mismanage the
Santiago expedition, TO the vituperative
statement OF General Eagan-and including
the confusion at Tampa, the lack of sup
plies at Santiago, the transport horrors. the
epidemics that rayaged the American
camps. the beef scandal and the personal
war on General Breckinridge-can be
traced TO this one resolve that General
Miles must win no glory. None of these
things would have happened if the Com
manding General had been permitted TO
conduct the war.
Therefore the President is bound to toll
crate and defend his Secretary OF War at
cost the country and the army dear The
deaths and suffering among the soldiers,
the ruin of the foreign market for Ameri-
can meat. the disgrace of the army by an
unprecedented, an incredible use of foul
and indecent language by a stan officer
against the Commanding General. are all
the effect of AIgerism. Another serious
consequence is the framing of an army
reorganization measure that perpetuates
the methods under which the costly and
disgraceful events were produced. The
President dare not. because of his part
nership with Alger in the suppression OF
General Miles, interpCse to save the ar
nay.
If Secretary Alger were man of differ
ent character he would relieve the Ad-
ministratiOn of its heaviest burden and
most serious danger by Offering his resig-
nation. He is not that kind of man. The
instant he lays down his office he falls
into absolute obscurity, except that the
term Algerism viii live as long as the
memory of his offenses, as a term of exc
Grafton Whether it is possible for public
opinion TO compel the President to un-
load Alger is a question, though the proba-
bility is strong against it, owing to the
power of partisan attachment That Sec
retary Ager should be allowed to main
tain al Government expense a personal
Commission to enable his underlings to
blackguard his enemies and to prevent an
honest investigation of his maladministra-
tion, has disgusted even the strongest of
Republican partisans. But they fear the
effects on the next election of an attempt
to force the President to dismiss Alger
There may be one method by which the
matter may be forced to an issue, although
the fact that not even the Eagan out
break has had that effect makes success
doubtful. The members Of Congress who
are not willing that the enlarged army
should be subject to the methods of Alger
have every warrant for obstructing the
progress of the Alger- Corbin-H Hull bill. A
The evening times., 1899-01-14
PLANS OF SPANISH
SWINDLERS EXPOSED
OWNERS OF AIRY ESTATES
Numerous Victims of Bogus For
tunes Found i'm America-EHOrts
That Come to NnuEht.

Railway, n. j., Jan. 14.-Silas H. Leon
ard, a former alderman OF this city, has
received letter from an unknown Span
lard, Nemesis Alladalle," written, it is
alleged, in Spanish prison, and which he
believes gives news of his brother. John
Leonard, whom he has not seen or heard
of in more than fifty years.
John Leonard, the lost brother, was
potter working at Peck slip when, in 1916.
he disappeared and was never seen again
by his relatives.
This letter, however, recalls similar let
ters written by band of Spanish swim
dlers who were exposed in 1897. Inc let
ter sent to Mr. Leonard incidentally refers
to niece whose father wants Mr.. Leon
ard to care for her, and to fortune or
$35, ,0GO which the young woman is alleged
to possess.
When the Spanish swindlers were ex-
posed two years ago. letter almost ideHti-
cal to the one written Mr.. Leonard was
shown by several prospective victims
set of clever rogues were engaged IN the
enterprise There was one party OF con-
federates in the United States, and an
other in Spain. The band in the United
States devoted their time to hnding Hkeiy
birds to be plucked. Letter writer's in
spa II WHO 'CUiIltutt lHt iIItt btA'4N'r NiA
the rest Thus hundreds of men and VIC
men were swindled.
William Baumgarten, of Baltimore, Nd,
was one of the prospective victims who
exposed the schemers. He received let
ter from Spaniard in prison who wished
to intrust a daughter possessed OF for
tune to his care. The daughter was "a
niece of Mr.. Baumgarten, so the prisoner
stated. Mr.. Baumgarten agreed 10 care
for the daughter and incidentally her for
tune.
Then came a letter saying the prisoner
was dying. A thousand dollars was need
ed 10 pay court charges on the viii, III
which all the orphan girls money had
been left to her American protector. There
were also charges ON baggage, one piece
of which contained the paper. on which
was written the secret hiding place OF the
fortune.
This letter was written by the priest,
who had been at the prisoners bedside
when he died. A touching letter from
the young and fatherless girl was also re-
ceiyed.
Mr.. Baumgarten was on the point OF
sending the money, when he consulted a
lawyer, and was advised TO cable an in
quiry to the Spanish authorities. This was
done and the gang was exposed.
The evening times., 1899-01-14
Scotch Simplicity.
(From the Youths companionJ


The Scotch are fond of telling stories which
illustrate the peculiar simplicity Of mind Of their
country people. This simplicity at least saves
them from wicked guile.
One OF these stories relates that an honest ma
son once had contract to build small house
OF stone. lie came early, and began from the
inside to lay the stone. working very fast. At
his young son brought him his dinner. peep
ing over the wall as he handed the basket to his
father. With honest pride in his eye, the mason
looked over to the hoy.
''Weel, Jock, hoo dye think I'm getting on?'
ne asked.
''Ye're getting on famous feyther" answered
Jock looking the solid wall, in which there
was no break: but hoo dye get oot2'
The mason looked around. Ii was true; he had
provided the house with door at all. and he
the inside. Tie looked kindly and veTy
admiringly at the boy,
mon, Jock. we've grand held on ye.'' he
exclaimed Ven be an architect Yet, as sure
as yer fathers mason"
Another story shows how unsuccessful as a
thief the rustic Scot may be. Two young plow-
men went into garden at night TO steal goose
berries. The bushes surrounded a plot of pota-
toes, and as one OF the lads CROPPED about he got
handful of potato plums, which he quickly put
into his mouth. Then he gasped to his cOmFade
"oh, Jock, I'm poisoned. For ony sake, shove
me through the hedge again, for | wouldna like
to. dee i the auld mans gairden.
The evening times., 1899-01-14
Confscation for Usury..

tfG0ill lnc thCiSO tnlonlCle.1
The Supreme Court OF the United States has
decided in Il uSnry that the law of Mime
sofa which renders void all usurious contracts.
is valid aS the courts will not interfere to set
aside the policy of the State the subject. \
trust company made loan OF $3.50 to Theodore
VI. Krumseig and wife, taking security ten
notes of $500 each and mortgage on property
in Duluth. After paying 81 ,23) the borrower re-
pudiated the debt, and sued for cancellation
of the notes and mortgage given to the trust
company.
1t pleaded on behalf OF the trust company
that suit to cancel the notes and mortgage
could not he maintained until the borrower had
rendered to the lender the amount of the bor-
rowed money with legal interest to date A,
the loan association was foreign corporation
the case went to the Federal courts, and was ap-
pealed to the Supreme Court of the United
States. II held by Justice Shras that the
rule of equity requiring tender of the amount
of the debt legally due before proceedings FOR
lisury could be commenced, abrogated bv
the State law providing for the cancellation of Il
usuEious contract, and sweeping away claims for
either principal interest. He said that il the
case had remained i'll the Minnesota courts the
lender. under the contract to pay usury, would
have Judgment rendered against him, and he
, could not, by removing the to a Federal
court, deprive the borrower OF any substantive
right. He significantly added: with the policy
of the State law the Federal courts have nothing
to do
The evening times., 1899-01-14
CHAIRMAN KNAPP's LECTURE.
Regulation of Interstate Commerce
Discussed Before Students.

Hon. Martin A Knapp, chairman OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission deliver
ed a lecture On the subject of the "Regu-
latiCn Of Interstate Commerce, before the
students of the school OF comparative iu-
risprudence and diplomacy. of the Column
bian University on Thursday evening.
He traced in a clear and concise way
the development OF the principles under
lying the laws governing the control and
regulation Of public highways by the
state. from the first primal path or pas
sage way from one habitation to another
tc the modern steam railway.
In substance he said that the doctrine
Of highway to be owned and used in
common by all the people and on equal
terms has been very gradually evolved.
but is now universally recognized, and is
an essential element of personal freedom.
The railroad is an agency OF the state
a purveyor of public privilege which ey-
cry Cne has a right to use in common.
We do not ride on the cars so much by
virtue Of a contract as by virtue of a civil
right. Railroads are bound to furnish
transportation facilities TO any one who
pays the requisite price
The railroads. although owned BY pri-
yate corporations are agencies OF the
state. fer the highways being the property
OF the state. 1t must furnish the best IA
cilities fer the transfer of persons and
property over them. and this it may do
directly. or through delegated agencies.
but such service must be rendered on
equal terms
The trainers of the Federal Constitution
showed extraordinary foresight in leaving
TO Congress the right TO regulate COM
mercs between the States. and the supreme
Court has shown great wisdom in giving a
broad and liberal construction TO the pro
vision.
The law passed by Congress to carry out
this provision has, however, proved made
quate TO prevent the evils which have aris-
en- through an abuse OF the privileges
granted to railroads. and problems of vast
Importance are awaiting solution as 10 the
best way 10 correct these evils. Mr.. Knapp
suggested that the railroads should be per
mitted 10 enter into pooling arrangements
under proper regulations, and be compelled
to make and publish uniform tariffs ap-
plicable TO every citizen and community
alike. without unjust discrimination. and
that the law should declare q violation Of
its provisions a criminal offense, punish
able with the same severity as any other
felony.
He stated that it was commonly known
that various large corporations were re-
ceiving rebates amounting to millions OF
dollars a year from the railroads, which
worked a great hardship on other corpora
tions and individuals and in direct viola
ton OF the law. Such a violation of a
positive law should be branded as hign
crime and should be punished with the
seyerest penalty known TO the law
Mr.. Knapp's lecture was listened to wit,
intense interest and he will deliver another
lecture before this school later in the
The evening times., 1899-01-14
The Mistake of senator Hoar.
CFrom the New York Trihune.J

FTom the New York Triiune)
senator Hoar recalls many facts from history
But he sccus to forget many more OF equal per
tincnce. He seems to forget that this continent
was once peoped with race of men known as
North American Indians, with whom the very
men who framed the Declaration of Independ-
ence dealt in a manner at striking variance with
the Interpretation which he now puts upon that
venerable document. He seems to forget that it
was AT 4 later date largely populated by a race
known rs African slaves, held as such by the
same men who framed the Constitution which he
evokcS. and sci free by the exercise of right
not expressly granted by that instrument lie
seems to forget that only few years ago a large
proportion OF our fellow comtrymen were what
were termed secessioniSis, and that they were
dealt with by the Government which he cor
daily supported by measures for which no lit
cral warrant may he found in the text OF the
Declaration or Constitution.
1t Is rot TO be argued that whatever has been
was right. But these things are part of the
history of the nation. They are to be remem-
bered and considered when the nations historic
policy is under review. And if Senator Hoar
recalls them. and reckons according to his pres
ent utierances, that the fathers Of the Constitu-
licn were themselves false To that instrument and
TO the Declaration. and that the greatest and
best of their successors have been similarly false
what will there be left Tor him to pin his faith
to? Or il those men right, is he prepared
to deny the right Of himself and his colleagues
10 follow in their footsteps?
The evening times., 1899-01-14

There seems to be such a w.ds spread
demand that Representative elect Brigham
H. Roberts of Utah shall be barred from
seat in Congress, on account of his alleged
polygamous practices, that we suppose an
effort will be made to exclude him. This
may be proper but it certainly would be
hard on Roberts. If it be accomplished.
why would it not be nice and merciful
thing to let him down easy by appointing
him commissioner at the court of or vas
sal, the Sultan of the Sulu Islands? The
Sultan-name not repo-ted-is a Mussul-
man, and to him Roberts would be per-
soma grata.
The evening times., 1899-01-14
Like Looting the Public Treasury.
Irom Ia Clevelanl Lsader.l }

The assessment OF civil officers of any govern
ment, national, State or municipal, for party
purposes. is equivalent to taking money from the
public treasury to support political organiza-
ton When the assessment is levied for the
and profit OF a faction instead OF party. the
is all the worse. Then il becomes the taking OF
money from the taxpayers for the benefit OF
minority OF the voters, noninaly, and in reality
for the and advantage OF few political
bosses or schemers.
To realize that this is ell true, one has cniy
to consider that the officehoders assessed would
be just well of and just comfortable in their
public places if they suffered an open and peTra-
reduction in their salaries equal to the
seSSments levied upon them, provided
that thec troubles should end with
such scaling down OF their compensi-
tion, and they should thereafter be freed
from all exactiens of the kind they have To
endure, in too many instances. Such regular and
lawful reduction of salaries would obviously ben
eft the public treasry by amount equal to the
present assessments Therefore the assessments
are equivalent TO taking much money from
the taxpayers Without the assessments lower
salaries could be paid for just as good work. by
the same employed.
The evening times., 1899-01-14
An Emperor In, Straits.
lFrom the Chieago Records


II would seem from recent Developments that
the Emperor of Japan finds difficulty in getting
along with an allowance of s., ,C00o0D per annum
As matter of both relief and gratitude. the i'm
perial diet has passed in both houses, with prac-
tical unanimity. resolution which, after re-
counting his maiesty's virtues and dwelling on
his prudent conduct Of the with China, adds
I've desire to express the sincerity OF our re-
spectful gratitude by including in the imperial
estates, as memento of the signal successes
achieved in the war. sum of 20,G)0 900 ven from
the indemnity obtained in consequence OF the
eountry's victories When this matter was
first broached il met with only slight opposition
on the part of few newspapers, and when it
was put to vote in each house the members
of ali parties almost tumbled over each other
in their zeal TO show their patriotism and loyalty
by voting for the resolution. The main point OF
the opposition was that in such critical condi-
ton in the national finances, SO large sum as
$40 900 900 should not be diverted from the public
uses His imperial majesty has acknowledged the
receipt of the gift. Some propiesied that he
would decline TO receive il: but he has accepted
the gift with the simple message with refer
ence to the transiF of portion of the indemnity
TO the imperial estates, we approve the reverence
and sincerity of the houses.
The evening times., 1899-01-14
The Only Godi,in Takes an Airing.

(FrOm the New VI crh Evening fpSt.
All the members OF the Cabinet have CON
tracted the habit when temporarily absent from
the smiles in which they bas& at the White
House. of taking their fellow-citizens aside 10
tell them, in "A voice loud enough to be heard
at Washington. how good and wise and firm
vet not too firm-the Great White Father is
But the practice OF this tattery is spreading TO
the non -office-holding ard even To the non-ofice
expecting class. Willingness TO leave it all to
Mckinley, TO trust him even where cannot
trace him, is getting to he TOO common virtue,
if it be virtue. Nothing like it has ever been
seen before in this country. The nearest approach
TO it in English history that we can recall is a
saying OF Bishop Warburton's, at the time when
George III was making scandalous appointments
The good man wrote to friend: LET us pri-
vate men preserve and improve the little we have
left of private virtue; and, if one infected with
the influenza OF politics should ask NE, What
then becomes of your public virtue?' l would an
swer him with an old Spanish proverb The King
has enough for us all -
The evening times., 1899-01-14
The Government of Aliens.

The experience Of England in the gov
ernment Of the heterogeneous population
which the fortunes Of war have committed
10 her care has been. on the whole sue
cessful. 1t is, therefore, worth our while
to Investigate her methods and see how
the thing has been done. One fact must
be patent to the whole American people
that we cannot afford 10 make political ap-
pointments 10 responsible colonial posi-
lions. II Cuba, or Porto Rico, or the Phil
ippines should be turned into political
plum orchard. the results in the end would
be far from satisfactory from any point of
The evening times., 1899-01-14

desperate opposition to any consideration
of that measure with the War Department
in its present degraded state-a steadfast
refusal to allow the bill to make any prog
ress until the destructive features are
eliminated-would be fully warranted, and
it might induce the President to unbur-
den himself of Alger to stop the exposure
of Algerism. A patriot leader in Congress
is sorely needed.
The evening times., 1899-01-14
ONCE PAWNED HIS WATCH.
Mayor Van WycI>'s Youthful Expert
cnce n Costly One.


New York, Jan. 14.-Mayor Van Wyck
declared yesterday that he had once
pawned his watch and that the interest
had cost him about $500. a pawubroker
had been brought before him on charges
preferred by the Pawnbroker's Association
that he had been guilty of fraudu ent
business dealings. The mayor told tn
pawnbroker he would not take his license
away from him this time, as there was not
sufficient evidence. Then he turned sud
denly to George w. McAdams. who repre-
sented the Pawnbrckers' Associat on, AMI
asked:
Did you ever pawn anything"
Not l." replied the lawyer very en-
phatically
We'll, l did" continued the mayor 1T
was when l was boy. l pawned SO
watch and the broker charged me % per
cent a month for the loan. | finally so it
out. but it had cost me something like
$500 in interest