davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
LONG TRIPS TO CITY OFFICES.

It Is a hindrance to New-Yorkers in the trans
action of public business that many of the
municipal offices are widely scattered. In and
near the City Hall considerable number of the
departments are clustered but journeys of no
mean length must be taken when the heads of
certain important parts of the administration
are to be consulted. For many years the Police
and Health departments occupied adjoining
rooms between Mulberry-st and Mott-st., but
with the purpose of helping a few influential
politicians in a real estate investment the
Health Department has been transferred to
Fifty-ifth-st. and Sixthave. The Board of Edu-
cation for a long period was established at the
intersection of Elm and Grand SITS. 1t will soon
move up town, to Fifty-Dinth-st, on the East
Side but when it takes possession OF its new
home ii will not be in close touch with other
branches of the municipal service. The head Of
the Fire Department is in East Sixty-seyenth-st
and the parks Of this borough are governed
from offices in the Arsenal, on the east side of
Central Park Citizens who have occasion to
look into matters in various subdivisions of the
local government are often compelled to waste
time unreasonably, and are put to grave ineOn-
venience when they wish to call upon officials
whose share in the regulation of affairs in this
borough is of weight and substance. When the
Commissioner of Charities is to be conferred
with, for instance. trip must be made to
Twenty-sixth-st, on the edge of the East River.
Not only in the Borough of Manhattan, but in
the other boroughs over which the city extends,
a similar scattering of offices and similar vexa-
tious conditions are found,
As In the lamentabe lack of foresight con-
spicuous for generations in the sacrifice of fran
chises, which have been disposed of for sums
pitifully trivial in comparison with their value,
the rulers OF New-York have brought about con-
fusion and damage TO the general welfare. Wise
and farseeing members Of the local government
Of fifty years ago might have conferred upon
the New-Yorkers Of to-day benefits of ines
Unable consequence If they had foreseen that
this metropolis would become the second city of
the world before the close Of this century. 1t
would have been practicable in the iftes to
prepare a majestic scheme of public improve
ment to be carried out year after year at an
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
VARIOUS KINDS OF VOTES"

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: observe meetings OF German and Irish So
cieties for the purpose OF expressing sympathy
with the Beers It gives rise to reflection or two
We hear much OF the Irish vote and the German
vote as factors to be reckoned with by the poll
tcian Such terms the Scotch vote, the Eng
lish the British vote would sound strange
ears. The inference is that the latter class
Ga word to be avoided by all Americans as much
as pozsible) does not vote en- masse. The Irish
vote would indicate that certain citizens are Irish
first and American afterwaTd. The first thought
of such people Is to the American power for
the purpose of satisfying race hatred-not an
American hatred-in harassing friendly people
All Irishmen and Germans not of the material
to be massed at the polls In support Of green
ticket or one colOred by foreign prejudice. II IS
not the Irish of it or the English OF II, as such,
that object to. but the desecratton or the Amer1-
OF IL.
is American vote If 1t Is cast on American SOIL
The only meetings that are patriotic meetings are
American meetings. IL conducted under the pro-
lection of the Stars and Stripes. We want no
Catholic vote Protestant vote, no class nor
sectional vote. in these United States Of America
When a German becomes a citizen he throws on
his allegiance to the Emperor. When an irish
man becomes a citizen he throws off his allegiance
to the Queen and to Ireland too, and to all other
foreign entanglements. The quicker we discourage
class legislation and class recognition, the better.
George Washington. the defender Of the foregoing
sentiments first of all an American although
his blood English. JOHN KENNEDY.
sherman Penn. Jan. e. 1900.
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
asppork DaiIp Gribn,re
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 81, 1900.
THE NEWS THIS MORNING.

FOREIGN.-Strict censorship over South
African dispatches prevented the Transmission or
late news; General BuHer sent anotner Ispore SnI
Of the killed and wounded in the battle of Spion
Kop, and Lord Roberts reported the situation
unchanged; the impression prevails that French
Gataere, kelly-kenny ana possibly Metnuen
will join forces in an advance on Bloemfontein
from the southwest; the Dutch shell factory at
johannesburg was destroyed. - Both houses
Of the English Parliament were in session; the
Queens Speech was read; attacks on the lack
Of foresight of the Government were made but
the tone of the legislators was in favor OF con-
tinuing the war. - Russia, through the
Loan Bank Of Persia, has guaranteed loan of
% 100000 rubles to the Persian Government
CONGRESS.-Senate: Mr.. Bacon spoke in
favor of giving the Filipinos self-government;
several bills of minor importance were passed
- House: The session was brief and no i'm
portant business was transacted.
DOMESTIC5Senator William Goebel, the
Democratic contestant for the Governorship
OF Kentucky, shot and probably fatally
wounded at Frankfort; the Contest Committees
OF the Legislature voted in the evening to seat
Goebel and Beckham as Governor and Lieu
tenant-Governor, respectively, and to report to
General Lawton and Major Logan arrived at
San Francisco and were landed from the trans
port Thomas to be brought East by special
train. - Republican members of the Ways
and Means Committee decided to treat Puerto
Rico colony and to impose tariff on trade
with the island.
CITY-Stocks strong and more active -
1t was said that Andrew Onderdonk, the unsuc-
cessful bidder for the rapid transit contract
was likely to help John B. Mcdonald in carry
ing out the tunnel contract - In an attach
OF insane fury, an Italian slew his roommate
with an axe because he would not wake up
- steamer supposed TO be the Ethiopie
was sighted off Fire Island. but the State OF
Nebraska had not been heard from. TIL,
eleventh annual show Of the New-York Poultr,
and Pigeon Association opened at Madison
Square Garden.
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for to-day: Mucl
colder with snow furries. The temperature
yesterday; Highest, 81 degrees; lowest. II; av
erage, 2012.
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31

outlay which would not impose excessive bur-
dens upon the taxpayers, and which now would
be of such benefit to the community that the
memories of the public spirited citizens respon-
sible for the plans would always be held In the
highest honor Even quarter of century ago
the holders OF office were amazingly short
sighted with regard to the development and ex-
pansion which were inevitable on Manhattan
Island, In the territory above the Harlem and
in the counties which make UP the western
part Of Long Island. Improvements are now in
progress, and others are certain to be taken up,
which will involve n far greater expenditure
than would have been required If the initial
steps had been entered upon In the seventies
How petty was the scope of the projectors OF
the Brooklyn Bridge when they made no earnest
effort before the towers on either side Of the
East River were set up to obtain spacious ap-
proaches at each end of the structure! The
narrowness and negligence of the earlier gov
ernments are costing, and will cost, the people
Of New-York sums which run up into appalling
figures. Nevertheless, our present rulers appear
to be wellnigh as straitened in their ideas as
were those who came before them. Considera-
tions of personal and party advantage are con-
stantly allowed to stand In the way of the
The dawn of better day does not yet brighten.
NewYork in the last year of this century Is
troubled with many things, and vast changes
must be accomplished in the early years of the
twentieth century, the city will not deserve
to hold Its place as the greatest municipality of
the two Americas.
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
BoER SHOUTING AND "FRIENDLY OFFICES"

BOER SHOUTING AND "FRIENDLY OFFICES"
1t would be difficult to conceive of a speech
less suitable for Senator of the United States
in discussing the alleged criticism of the GOV
ernment by a foreign Consul, than that of Mr.
Mason. As this Nation is bound to a position Of
neutrality, its Senators in public session cannot
with propriety their high official position for
the exhibition of personal hostility to Great
Britain or a liking for the BOer; certainly no
more than a British Consul can talk abusively
of an officer of the Government to which he is
accredited.
The enthusiastic crowd which gathered IN
this city on Monday night was delighted with
enough ranting against England to call out the
widest Irish excitement. AS Tammany meet
ing is "agin the Government" whether in the
Philippines or South Africa, the carefully dis
trbuted circulars in favor Of free silver, Bryan,
"Oom" Paul and Agulnaldo probably repre-
sented the actual purpose of the gathering bet
ter than such of the speeches as were confined
to its professed object But when individual
citizens. wish to express their sympathies,
whether Dutch or Irish or any other, they in
volve no one unless themselves. The Govern
ment is not thereby exposed to a suspicion OF
false and fraudulent neutrality.
How rarely men think of one legitimate In
ference from such special meetings in behalf of
sundry foreign causes Out of half million
voters In this city, all invited and urged and all
within few minutes ride of the place of meet
ing possibly six or eight thousand attended and
the performance Is called great success. If it
proves anything 1t is that over ninety eight out
of every hundred voters in the city refused to
take any part in the business. Whether they
were hostile 10 the objects of the meeting or
thought it unbefttlng their position as citizens
of neutral Nation, or had not enough interest
in the matter either way to go out Tor an even
ing's free diversion, anybody is at liberty 10
guess The thing proved is that less than TWO
voters out of a hundred professed to speak for
the rest and hoped that i'll far or lands they
might be reckoned as 1.-The people OF New-York
City" This is on level with the assertion by
Mr. Mason in the Senate that 80 per cent or
the American people were in sympathy with
the Beers and hostile to England.
What a curious thing 1t Is, moreover, to
propose that the United States shall first de-
clare its intense sympathy with the Beers and
then tender its friendly offices to Great Britain
as a peaeemaker! What fine practical concep-
tions some people have of the way to get things
done. to be surel Or must one believe that the
get anything done, but to secure notice in the
newspapers and a shallow sort OF popularity
with those who hate England or love the Beers?
Only on the supposltion that the fiery orators,
the movers and organizers do not want any
thing under the sun except to satisfy private
ends of their own can the proposed tender Of
friendly offices be reconeiled with the public
performances.
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
A FAMINE FUND FOR INDIA.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Since the official declaration OF famine In
India by Lord Curzon three months ago the dis
tress has increased by strides ana bounds Inc
famine has increased that. instead OF 5QtV'-
OO0 now 100000 persons involved Three
months ago 10000 relief works no"
3,50O.OO0 The emaciated and ''livng skeletons
were only occasionally seen then; they are now
by the thousands. The number OF such VIII
rise to the hundred thousands. The terrible
suffering of childhood has become common
Can America not raise fund similar to the Lon
don Mansion House fund to show our sympathy
with India in her great suffering? Millions of dol
lars needed to save her people until the rains
in July The Government Of India, though doing
noby, cannot do everything, and outside help Is
needed to save thousands OF persons from dying.
1t may Be that some would prefer to give TO
fund that is not connected with any mission board
but which, however has the guarantee OF being
used honestly and effectively Such tund Is IN eX-
istence in Bombay, called the Bombay presidency
Famine Fund Ii organized by the leadlng
Hindoo. Nahometan. Parsee and European cltizens
of Bombay. Sir Lawrence Jenkins is chairman or
the Executive Committee. and the Bishop or bonn
bay is Vice-chairman. 1t would be an act or great
blessing to India. and great bond OF union, II an
American fund for Indian famine relief could be
started, and contributions showing our sympathy
be cabled to this committee in Bombay.
New-York, Jan. 60 1900. J. r. ABBOIT.
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
TAXATION IN THE TRANsvAAI@

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: / have heard during the last few days some
very random statements as to the supposed wealth
Of the gold mining industry IN the Transvaai ana
the consequent ability Of that community TO pay
the enormous burden OF taxation. The taxes
levied in Sweden amount TO Il per capita per
annum In England to e. and in the Transvaal 10
f22. The annual wealth production Of Great Brit
ain is according to Sir Robert Gifen, about tfo per
capita or. roughly, fl 600 OOOOO0 some per cent oi
which is the amount absorbed by taxes
In the Transvaal the amount drawn In salaries
by mere handful of Government officials would' II
distributed among the entire Boer population men.
women and babes. pay each one OF tnsn oveI
f2O per annum may add that In lrelana .tne I MaI
tonal per capita income chat is to say, the ahhud
wealth product divided by the total popuiauoh) Is
only ia per annum.
The product of the gold mines in the Transvaaal
In 1897 less than f12OO0000; the total dlVIdeLS
paid aggregated e. 29O00 and the revenue coliects
1885, 402. And 20 per cent of the Transvaai
revenue is paid directly or indirectly by the Boi9
mining industry II follows that the gold mines pad
more to President Kriiger than diyidends 20
their shareholders For the last financial year Ins
total revenue collected in the Transvaal was oV3I
f4000O0O. and the dividends paid by all the goid
mincs less than f4.250o00. -
New-York, Jan. 90 1900 MORETON FttE4N EN-
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
amnsemrnis.

AcApEMY OF MUsIc-2-s:Io-way Down East
AMERICAN TIL T5BATRE--2-s'lo-Shiine OF Norii3AN''
BiJOIJ-S.l5-Sister Mary.
CASINQ-2-S:i5-The Belle OF New-aork. ..
CRITERION THEATRE -I5-S2o-Ihe Iltue 2inister
nzfy7c TTIFATRf3-2 Maneuvers of Jane:
FrrS MI-SEF,-9 a. m. IL p. m.-Naxwor&s. Grano
Concert and Cinematograph-
EMPIRE TE TEEATRE-2s15-S :20-3rotner OIncers,
FIFTH AVENUE THEATRD-2-s;lo-lhree Ltue
Lambs ..---- ro..n..
GARDEN THEA TRES. .ao-The Desenerates
GARRTcK NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Holmes
GRAND OPERA HoUSE-e-S-The Floor walkers
HLMMERsTEIN's VIcToRIA-s:so-chris and the Won
HARfFM OPERA HoUsE-s:ls-Maks Way for the
HERALD SQUARE s:2o-NauEhty An
IRVINE PLACE THEArRD-s-Am spietsch des
Iehers The Game OF IJfe).
KEITH s-Continuous Performance.
KNICKERBOCKER THEATRE -sIo-The COWBOY and
rzr,sTF,R q BIAI.S=-2- -s:i5-vaudevine.
IYcETTM THEATRE-s:30-The Surprises OF Love
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN-9 q. m, TO 1880 p M
Poultry and Pigeon Show, o,~ o.o xvh..
MADISON SQUARE THEATRE-2:l3-s:3o-W
MENpEJ1ssoHN HAII.-3-Iast Hamburg Piano Re
aFsTRoPoIIrAN OPERA HoUsE-7:4b-pie waikure.
NIrRRAY HIII-2-S-Captain Lettarblair -,
NFVv-YORK THEATRE-2- Broadway TO TOXIC
PASTOR Continuous Performance.
WALL,ACE'S-Closed
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
BRITISH PLANS AND RESOURCES.

Indications multiply that the British cam
paign in South Africa will hencefOrth be con-
Quoted according to military principles, and not
as heretofore, in response to assumed political
requirements. The foe will be attacked where
he is weakest. not where he is strongest The
advance will be made in the quarter most ad-
vantageous to the British. not in that selected
by the Beers as most advantageous to them
That. we take it, is the meaning Of the activity
of General French General Gatacre and Gen
eral Kelly-Kenny. These commanders are now
in touch with one another the Orange
River about one hundred and thirty miles
south of Bloemfontein. General French is at
Rendsburg, commanding two passages across
the river at Norval's Pont and Colesberg
Bridge, twenty-five miles away. General Cat
is at Sterkstroom a hundred miles to the
southeast, on the road TO the crossings at Ali
wal North. General Kelly Kenny is at Thebus
midway between the two How many men they
have is not reported, but they have enough to
maintain an unbroken line a hundred miles
long. 1t is probable that they are at least equal
to the Beers who are confronting them.
They will need to be reinforced, no doubt be-
fore they attempt to cross the river, break the
BOer line of defence, and advance upon the
Orange capital. RenfOrcementS, happily for
them, are at hand. Within the last fortnight
more than $4,000 men, 1000 horses and 81
guns have been landed at Cape Town or
at Algoa Bay. These have not been sent
either to General Butler or to Lord Methuen
and the inference is that they are being
marshaled for the campaign up the cen
tire. In addition to these there were shipped
from England, down to Saturday last, 1900
men, {, 300 horses and 93 guns. These are now at
sea- or are daily arriving in Cape Colony. The
latest of them will be landed within three
weeks But without waiting for the last of
them, Lord Roberts ought to be able this week
to send up to the three generals near the Or
ange River force of 10000 men, 5000
horses and 80 guns Such an army, united with
as many more men who are now with the
generals, ought to be able to do some effective
work
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31

foreteIling the weather for sixty years, and he
declares with modest pride that he never failed
but once, and he only failed then because some
irreverent wag had given him a gander bone
instead of a goosebone. AS everybody knows, OF
course. a gander bone has prophetic qualities
whatever. while at the same time 1t looks very
much like a goosebone. But the keen eyes OF
Mr.. Hartz soon detected the fraud. and his
standing as a prophet was preserved.
On Monday last Mr.. Hartz gave out another
prediction, In which he declared that the re-
mainder Of the present winter will be especially
severe on some days and especially warm on
other days In fact. the weather will be vart-
able, and spring weather need not be expected
until the season OF spring has arrived. There
will also be blizzards and storms, but they will
not be continuous Summing up the whole mat
ter Mr.. Hartz declares that we shall have all the
winter we want Thus the goosebone. And yet
there be sceptics who say that we knew all that
already. VIII they have the hardihood to set
themselves up against a man who has been ex-
amining goosebones for sixty years? And are
they going TO tell us that his uniform success in
predicting the weather is due simply to chance?
If Mr.. Hartz informs US that the winter season
will be variable and that 1t will last until
spring. ought to be grateful TO him and the
goosebone instead OF meanly calling in question
his remarkable powers Of dvinatlon
In candor, however. we must admit that
something to be the matter with the
goosebones this winter. for each tells
different story. Has this variation been brought
about by Nature In order to try the faith Of
mortals? Or are malicious sceptics playing some
tricks on the geese-we mean. OF course, the
geese whose bones are examined-which so af-
feet their bones to destroy the value Of
their message to the world? We cannot under
take to pierce this mystery. But we again urge
on the goosebone prophets the desirabity Of
holding a general council of the faith, in which
this and all other moot questions may be settled.
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
PERSONAL.

King Humbert of Italy has sent to Baron saverio
Fava, the italian Ambassador Washington, the
grand Gordon of the Order of la Corona dItalia as
evidence of his appreciation and esteem.
The Royal Astronomical Society of London has
elected as foreign members Professor George E.
Hale of Yerkes Observatory; Professor Robert
Helmert, of Berlin University; Professor h. F.
Ktistner of the Bonn Observator and DR.. Juan
NJ. Thome, OF the Argentine National Observatory.
The Duke of Norfolk is noted for his kind heart
and for his utter disregard for his personal ap-
pearance. So far is he from proud and naughty
disposition that he is known by the tenants on his
estates as Uncle Henry" Because OF the poor
clothes which he wears he has been the victim OF
some curious and amusing adventures. On one
occasion he had engaged to distribute the prizes
to the pupils at a convent, Instead OF riding TO
the convent in state he walked, and was met In
the grounds by OF the Sisters. who. judging
from his appearance that he was an applicant for
distributed that day. Il know. Sister said
the Duke 'but you do distribute prizes, and have
come to distribute them for you"
Professor Henry NJ. Whitney native OF North
ampton has resigned his position professor OF
rhetoric and English literature at Belolt College.
Wisconsin He is of a remarkable family of
brothers including the late William D.. philoogist
OF Yale; the late Josiah D., geologist, of Harvard
and James L.. librarian of the Boston Public IL
brary. Professor Whitney had been at Beloit for
twenty-eght years. He has done important work
and has written several books literature and
many magazine articles. He is a veteran OF the
Civil War and a member of the Grand Army, and
has been in frequent demand for Memorial Day
head librarian and manager of the Blackstone Me-
mortal Library at Branford Conn.
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31

The Beers are not to be congratulated upon
the conduct Of some of their sympathizers in
this country in trying to identify their cause
with free silver or any other issue in American
politics There may be some who think 1t would
be smart practice to make the South African
war a club with which to belabor their political
opponents here But imagine nothing
more abhorrent to the sound sense Of the Amer
lean people in general than any such attempt.
Only in history did foreign politics play
a leading part in our domestic politics, and the
outcome OF that episode was not such as TO in
vite repetition of 1t.
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
THE GoosEBOYE AGAIN.

Some time ago we called attention to the vary
ing and contradictory predictions of the goose
bone prophets of the country, and suggested that
they settle their differences by calling general
council Of the prophets. This, unfortunately, has
not been done, and the schsm continues to grow.
with the result that some believers in the goose
bone are becoming backsliders. But In spite Of
everything Elias Hartz, the eighty-five year old
goosebone prophet OF Reading, Penn. continues
to do business at the old stand. He has bean
New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
MAY SETTLE SUIT AGAINST FAIR ESTATE

San Francisco. Jan SO-'The Examiner to-day
SAYS that a speedy settlement OF Mrs. Nettis
Cravens litigation against the Fair estate Il is be-
ueved would follow a decision by the supreme
Court annulling the trust clause by which the ate
Senator James G. Fair attempted 10 put the oulk
- bts estate bevond the immediate control OF his
children Charles L. Fair. Mrs. Hermann oeirienS
and Mrs w K Vanderbilt Upon represents tlotlS
that such n result might be brought about, ~ ths
event Of decision by the supreme Court lnyaIldat-
ing the trust Judge Trout has pos tpoilS0 untll
Fabruarv IL the trial OF Mrs. Cr4Vefs 5 cta4sN ~
family allowance the widow or Senatot Fair'
Sttornevs FOR the Fair children assent TO the sas-
gestiOn that they would listen 70 pfcposlUoa ler
= comDromise The attorneys for Mrs. raven say
,hst Sbs would expect to receive One-third OF the
eafQf