davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
The BANKRUPTCY LAW.

1t IS evident that the bankruptcy law IS
TO he forced prominently upon the consid-
Grafton of congress at its. present session.
Already no less than seven bills relat-
ing to it have been introduced. five of
them proposing amendments to it and two
asking for it's repeal.
Referring TO these schemes Of legislation
the Philadelphia Press, owned and edited
by Mr.. Charles Emory Smith, late post
master general, says:
lone of these bills was offered by Sena-
tor Dolliver prominent Republican. and
another by Senator Clay. who stands
equally high on the Democratic side of
the chamber k-,
An effort has been made recently under
the auspices of the National Bankers as
sociation to ascertain the consensus Of
opinion of business men in all parts of
the country on the operations Of the pres
ent law. but nothing like full returns of
thi9 poll have been received so far.
1t seems probable that the law will be
amended i'm some particulars by the pres
ent congress. 1t is. the first bankruptcy
law the country has had in many years
and even its authors and supporters adj
mitted that it. would be liable to ebjec-
lions. I@
1t may be amended ad2antageous1y, but
its repeal is not lobe. expected for several
years TO come.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

New York PFess.
Repentance is OF more concern than sin.
- Great deeds begin where petty acts leave
on
To be in love is to be out OF nearly every
thing else. ...
Women know better than men how not to
know too much.
Brain power and refinement Of intellect move
in inverse ratio.
Women fnd reflections OF themselves on
the stage; men in novels.
After YOU have learned to unlearn you are
in fair way OF learning to learn
IT is hard for a fat woman to think that her
thinner sister IT. not out OF pure mahce.
A woman always feels that the way to inn
prove her husbands health Is to make some
change I'm the weight OF his underwear
. II Is only in hooks that man loves q
woman 50 much he would be willing to let
some other man have her If it would make
her happier.
Every man thinks he can raise vegetables
TO be more eatsbe than his neighbors, ana
every woman thinks she can raise babies TO
be more healthy than her neighbors, ana the
man wishes she was as successful with babies
as he Is with vegetables, and she wishes the
same thing about him.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
scHLEYs SOUTHERN TRIP.

Admiral Schley will start on a visit TO
the south. going to Savannah first. where
he will be. the guest of General W. W.
Gordon. of that city.
Ii need not be said that the hero of
Santiago viii be heartily welcomed by the
people OF Savannah and those of every
other southern city that he may visit.
There is nothing sectional i'm the admit
ration of the southern people for Admiral
Schley. This feeling is not more general
or more pronounced I'm the south than it
IS I'm the west or the north. 1t is a very
moderate. statement to say that fully
nlne-tenths OF the people OF the whole
country share the conviction that he has
been grossly Hl-treated. and they esteem
him all the more highly because his enc
mics have been 50 persistent and reckless
IN their efforts TO rob him of honors
which are justly. his.
Winfield Scott Scliley, it is true. was
born on southern SOIL but he adhered to
the cause OF the north In the civil war
and fought for it with conspicuous cour-
age and ability. If congress, I'm which
the representatives of the south are i'm a
comparatively small minority, were polled
on the Schleys case the declaration of an
overwhelming majority Of its members
would be that he has been greatly
wronged by the navy department. So
strong is this conviction that We expect
to see ii asserted emphatically by con-
gress at its present session. The country
hopes to see such action and will applaud
ii enthusiastically. ..
Admiral schley needs the rest and recre-
IL.
we trust that his visit will be greatly
hapaRpfal tn him
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
A BISHOP UNDER FIRE.

Few preachers discuss public questions
I political. economic and social 50 frequent
! ~ iu.the newspapers as does Bishop Pot
/ ter. OF New York. He Is very active
! participant in current affairs and is US
uaIIy ready TO express his opinions con-
/ corning issues and movements Of almost
I any character.
/ His frank and forcible manner ofsdoing
20 makes II inevitable that he should
/ sometimes offend those who do not agree
/ with MIN.
I Al present Bishop Potter is In lively
/ controversy with the prohibitionists. He
provoked IL by a recent address in which
he contended that prohibition is not only
/ a failure. nat has done more harm than
good.
! The following i one OF his declarations
/ that mas especially srritsted the prohibit
/ ton papers. orators and organizations:
Whenever prohibition has triumphed IL
1 has educated race Of frauds and hypo-
/ critics IN Maine. New Hampshire and
I Vermont today by sctual statistics the
, consumption % certain preparations is
larger than anywhere else in the country.
. One OF these is "a sarss psrilla which has
! l. per cent. OF alcohol. another is a COM
\ pound with = per cent. of alcohol. anoth-
I er is a bitters with 81 per cent. OF alcohol.
! A good claret mas 10 per cent. or alcohol.
and great mult.tudes ~of people who are
sworn Prehibiiiouists are the consumers
/ %. these ,lings. We are going 10 persist
in this policy. 10 securely close all the
! front doors on Sunday and open the back
door: we are going 60 nurse a race of hy-
/ pocrites. 10 furnish an opportunity 20
party To exact a bonus and 10 close the
door To the manly and Christian method
Of dealing with intemperance Prohibition
is Al impudeai fraud and an imrudent
failure"
In the same address Bishop Potter con-
demned the habit OF speaking 81 every
drunkard as victim or martyr. He
said in substance that all the blame is
laid on those who make and sell strong
, drinks. while the man who makes a beast
Of himself Is held up 10 sympathy as II it
were the custom OF the liquor dealers TO
hold their customers and pour the stuff
down their throats. There is little truth
and less reason i'm such arguments. There
comes times. perhaps. in the life Of a
confirmed sOt when he is 10 be pitied. be-
cause he has reached a point where ne
has no power TO control his appetite and
Is drunkard because he cannot help it,
but intelligent. sensible men who start on
the downward road 10 "A drunkard's grave
do so OF their own free will. They are
not In any sense martyrs and they are
not victims OF anybody but themselves.
These and similar declarations have
called down a storm OF criticism upon the
bishops venerable head.
II has come IN the form u hot editorials
In prohibition and religious publications
in c0ndemnatory resolutions passed by
prohibition organization and in. great
stacks OF personal letters signed and
aa0nymoas
Bishop Potter has been through such
ordesls before and should be used 10 them
by now, but the present row is one Of the
liveliest ne has ever stirred up.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

The new secretary lof the treasury IS
confronted by a condition that imposes. q
plain duty upon aim.
/. The reduction Of the present enormous
surplus should be accomplished as soon
As possible and the country will be greatly
zratihed 10 see Secretary Shaw direct his
efforts early In this direction. .a-
During the first six months Of the pres
ent fiscal year the receipts OF the govern
ment exceeded its expenditures by about
slsO0,CO0.
The excess OF receipts will certainly be
much larger Tor the next six months and
the surplus for the fiscal year will proba-
bly reach the neighborhood OF s1OO.OOO.OOO
Secretary Gage has expressed his belief
that this result may be looked for.
II will probably be much larger for the
next fiscal year. unless some measure Of
reform shall be undertaken. II would be
a great injustice TO continue 10 collect
500 OoO co.. or more every year i'm excess or
the requirements OF the government on
the present very liberal scale Of expen-
diture.
Congress has q duty i'm this matter even
more imperative than that OF the secre-
tarv OF rhe treasury. The easiest and the
most welcome way 10 reduce the surplus
is by reducing taxation. ana the best
method or reducing taxation is 10 lower
;he tariff duties on the necessaries Of
life.
The secretary -of the Ereasury can con-
duce very much 10 this happy result by
the exercise Of his powerful influence ana
BY devising and recommending some
scheme OF just tariff reform.
It may seem idle. TO hope that q. congress
that il Republican iu both branches viii
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13

mensely superior to the old from both
an economic and a humane point of view.
The convicts are held. absolutely under
the control of the state. They are direct
~ under the management of board Of
penitentiary commissioners, much like
the one we have in Georgia. 80
In accordance with an act designed to
carry out the provisions OF the new con-
stitution the commissioners adopted a
plan similar to that which Georgia now
has. The s2oO0OO appropriated to inaugu-
rate the present penitentiary system OF
Louisiana seems to have been well-used
Lands finely located known to be health
full and adapted to agriculture. were pur-
chased Appropriate buildings were then
erected for the housing and care Of con-
victs.
Those sentenced for the graver offenses
and those not capacitted for outdoor
work were placed in confinement and put
under training for mechanical and other
occupations. The others were employed
in cultivating the soil. raising cotton,
corn. other food crops beef, hogs etc,
for the support of themselves and the con-
victs within walls
shown to have been remarkably profit
able.
The state realized a cash revenue from
it's two convict farms. The board has
still on hand 10000 bushels of corn. sew
eral thousand tons of hay. enough peas,
potatoes. etc, 10. carry the convicts and
stock until this years crops come in.
That the convicts were we'll treated is
shown by the fact that they caused little
trouble to the superintendent and guards
and the significant fact that the mortal
ity among them was reduced 80 per cent.
On one of the farms is a steam saw
mill which pays well. Three hundred
horses are used on the farms and are all
i'm fine condition.
Some Of the convicts are employed in
constructing and maintaining levees
against the river on which the farms are
situated.
Louisiana has good reason to be graft
fled at the working of it's new convict
system. cit is conducted upon strict bust
ness principles, as the results clearly in
dicate
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
PERSONAL NOTES.

When DIR. White. the American ambassador
to Berlin, presented to the late Field Mar
shall Won Motke as a man who had been born
al Homer. had taught at Ithaca and a resi-
dent Of Syracuse. the latter said: II suppose
I shall have to talk Greek to him."
Congressman Perkins. OF New York. is the
leader of the house easily in literary "a bility.
From 1890 to 1895 ne lived in Paris. engaged in
work on French history. "A Life Of Richelieu''
and France Under Louis XIV were. in part.
the result OF his labors during the period.
T. L. Glenn, OF Idaho, one Of the new men,
bers OF congress, says that whatever success
he attained is due TO having read when most
of his neighhors slept or while he wait
ing the preparation of his meals. he seldom
had the opportunity TO study during the day
time
Nine. Vialar. who has Just died. was pre-
miere cantiniere de France" title given her
by the minister of I'm 1855 for the care
she took OF wounded soldiers in the Crimea.
There will be established I'm honor OF the
memory Of General Frederick Townsend Ward,
leader Of the ''ever-victorious army of China,
who was Silled near Ming Pc. October 1862. a
Chinese library In the Essex Institute in
Salem, Mass. IL is the first Of its kind in
America. General Ward born in Salem in
1884. fought with the French in the Crimea.
with Garibaldi in South America and later.
the victorious army in China. which Chinese
Gordon afterward commanded.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
THE BIG CANAL ASSURED.

As was expected. the debate IN the
house Of representatives on the ship canal
question began early in the session. Mr..
Hepburn. who has the Nicaragua bill in
charge In that body. made a strong plea
Tor. its passage last Tuesday. ,..
RE was interrupted freqtIentlv and in
a manner TO indieate That his bin, will NOT
have entirely SMOOTH sailing In the house.
Several members wanted 10 know why
the Panama route is ignored by the Hep
burn bill and others injected inquiries that
suggest their reluctance TO vote for any
isthmian canal measure that is 10 be car
ried through under the new Hay-PaUnce-
fote treaty.
We have neve-. been able. TO see the
force Of the objections to this treaty that
have been urged by few members of the
senate and the house. We are sure that
the great maiori.y OF the people OF this
country consider these objections lacking
in reasonable support The, popular de-
mand for the passage at the present ses-
sion of congress OF bill re begin as
early as possible the construction of the
Nicaraguan 'canai is stronger Fnow than
IL ever was before.
The proposition to sell the Panama
canal property and rights TO our govern
ment has aroused absolutely no enthusi-
asm and IS generally regarded as an att
tempt TO unload an asset that is practicai-
~ worthless.
The trans-centinental railroads and
their dependencies are. OF course. very
active against the ship canal proposition
in any and all forms.
They are mainly fighting the Nicaragua
plan now merely because it is in higher
favor. They would be quite as active
against the Panama route ~ the prefer
ence OF congress should turn to il.
Senator Morgan does not overstate the
case when he says that there is a power
ful combination OF capital with an active
lobby in Washington arrsyed against the
whole scheme OF an inter-Ocean canal.
But this conspiracy viii not prevail.
1t mas been exposed fatally already. and
the motives that inspire it are we'll under
stood
The Nicaragua canal will be built. 1t
will be inaugurated by the present con-
gress. at its present session. and viii be
completed as fast as men and money Will
avail TO that effect.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
cuHA,s FfRsT PRESIDENT.

The result of the first election in Cuba
is encouraging to the hope that the peo-
pie of that island may prove capable of
self-government.
They chose as their chief executive a
man who is, perhaps. better qualified for
the Office than any other Cuban. Tomas
Estrada Palma has ability and possesses
also the firm conservatism that will be
required in the office he is to fill. The over
whelming majority given him indicates
that his sterling qualities are appreciated
BIZ his fellow citizens. That he realizes
the difficulties before him is shown by his
conduct and the tone of his utterances
since his election.
He has given the people OF Cuba sound
advice and has laid down excellent prin-
ciples Of government. the observance of
which will be Of vast benefit to the re-
public
His latest public utterance is That
country is not independent that has not
prosperity. Lasting freedom is secured
by prosperity and in Cuba peace depends
upon that condition"
These are the words of statesman and
embody a truth that the Cubans must
law 10 heart if they expect to make their
government successful, President-elect
Palma is said to believe that the ultimate
destiny of Cuba will be annexation to the
United States, but he is none the less de-
termined to lead its people as far along
the road to self-government as he can.
Only by cultivating the virtues that will
make them capable of ruling themselves
can they hope to win the confidence of
the people of the. United States or to
prosper under whatever form of govern
ment they may live.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
The Tauo Routes For An Isthrian Canal

three for the Nicaragua route. But COM
pared on the basis of time for all COM
merce, except that coming from or going
to the west coast OF South America, the
advantage is materially on the side of the
Nicaragua route.
ON this point the commission says; For
all commerce I'm which the United States
is interested. that between our Atlantic
and Pacific ports, European and American.
the Nicaragua route is shorter by about
one day. The same advantages exist be-
tween our Atlantic ports and the orient.
For our gulf ports the advantage OF the
Nicaraguan route is nearly two days"
For Atlantic trade with the Pacific coast
of South America the advantage is with
the Panama route by from one to two
days. according to its port of departure or
destination on the Atlantic side.
Thus we have condensed the vital fea-
lures of the Walker report which led to
the following conclusion:
After considering all the facts developed
by the Investigations made by the commits
sion and the actual situation as II now
stands. and having In view the terms Of
fered (s100, SOD by the Panama Canal
Company. this commission is OF the
opinion that 1.-THE most practicable and
feasible route" for an isthmian canal, TO
be under the control, management and
ownership of the United States, is that
In the entire report of the Walker
commission there is not the shadow of a
doubt thrown on the feasibility of either
OF the two routes. IT has been estimated
the cost Of both from absolute data and
with as near an approach to accuracy as
is possible upon work involving such stu
pendous engineering problems as the mere
figures Of cost suggest.
Both routes being practicable and cost
ing in round numbers $3.50, O00. 900, provided
the Panama Canal Company's property
can be had for $40, 900 or less. it only
remains to be seen whether the most ad-.
vantageous concession can be obtained
from Colombia or from Nicaragua and
Costa Rica.
1t is therefore up TO the Panama Canal
Company to name price of $4,000. 900 or
less for all its property and rights, and
also to the respective governments of the
three countries involved TO make PROPOSE
tions as to perpetual concessions. yielding
exclusive control. ownership and man
agement" 10 the government of the United
States
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

The Belgian government has fixed the period
OF service for the infantry at twenty months.
and thirty-six months for cavalry and horse
artillery.
DR.. Ferdinand kornfeld, OF Vienna, lectur-
ing on the prevention Of tuberculosis, Nester-
day recommended the universal use OF as
bestos on furniture, railway and steamshlp
commandments etc He declared that asbestos
is absolutely eficacious in preventing the dis
semnation of bacilL
Plans TO protect Galveston from another in
vaslon Of the sea such as the one which de-
vastated the city over a year ago are being
perfected. These plans provide for sea wall
to be built on the beach and to extend the
whole length OF the city limits. and for raising
the grade of the entire city.
Charleston. whose Midwinter Exposition has
one Of the oldest cities in the United states,
the first settlement having been MADE 2oe
years ago by English colonists. One hundred
exceeded only by Philadelphia. New York Bal
timOre and Boston.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
Chicago Record Herald.

Chicago Record Herald.
II will not do for the parties interested
i'm selling the assets and rights of the
French Panama Canal company TO dis
credit the feasibility OF the Nicaragua
route in order to make it appear that
theirs is the only practicable route for an
interoceanic canal. The question before
the American people is not as between
feasible and an impracticable route, but
between two routes both pronounced prac-
tica BILE and feasible by the self-same au-
thority.
That authority is known the Walker
commission. and was constituted OF as
able and impartial experts as the gov
eminent could select. After spending
two years and four months investigating
every phase of the subject. including
"other possible routes the Industrial.
commercial and military value of an in
teroceanic canal and the rights. privileges
and franchises pertaining thereto. this
commission made a report last November
so exhaustive painstaking and unbiased
that very little remains to speculate about
i'm weighing the merits and obstacles TO
the respective routes.
Put in the briefest possible terms. the
commission estimates that the physical
work of cutting canals by the two FEAST
Bile routes can be completed for the fol-
lowing sums: 10000.
Nicaragua route ...... .-.- .-$los'oo4'Uoz
Panama route -... -.-- la4.z5S'ooo
These figures include dams. locks, har-
bors docks etc. on both routes. but not
the cost OF acquiring the rights and prop
ertv Of the French company. upon which
the Walker commission puts the follow
ing value
Excavation already made ....... so .4i4.OSS
Panama Railroad stock al par. 6.S50.0O0
Mans. drawings and records 100000
Total -..- 1900 $50 - 80. 500 49,
To this sum the commission adds 10 per
cent TO cover omissions. making a total
vaIue OF $40 100000. which is the lump sum
which figures in the commissions report
of the value of what the French company
has 10 sell. This would make the cost Of
the routes practically the same. viz:
Nicaragua route. -.NISs'SS4 'o Iez
panama route . =. 49,. =. 1s4. 2S3. 35S
But up to the GATE Of the report OF the
Walker commission 0ast November the
price put upon the rights and assets of
the French company was Sl09.l4l.50O. max
ing the cost OF the two routes respec-
lively: -. -. .,.,
Nicaragua route. -.siSs' 10
Panama route. -. zoO'ot4'eSS
difference ..... 49,. e.. IS s.. $40. 7ss
I'm addition to the excessive price asked
for the Panama canal property. the con-
cessions from the government OF Colon
bia to the French company are limited
i'm time and defective in other ways. and
the United States would not be justified
i'm going ahead and completing the canal
under them.
Irrespective of the feasibility and cost
of construction of the two canals the
commission found that there were GER
tain physical advantages such as a short
err canal line. lower summit of level. fewer
locks less curvature and a lower cost
of maintenance in favor of the Panama
route,
The ess iinated time for a deep draft
vessel to pass through the Panama canal
IS about twelve hours against thirty
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-13
FOREIGN NOTES OF INTEREST.

Louis XIII could not grow a beard and In
compliment to the kings smooth face the
courtiers all shaved and. beardless faces we're
the fashion during his reign
There in Europe forty stations
equipped for wireless telegraphy and FIVE in
America. About sixty vessels have put in the
necessary apparatus.
The BedOin Arabs are small caters Six or
seven dates soaked in melted butter serve q
man a whole day with very small quantity
of coarse -four o. little ball of rice.
An employe in a French tobacco factory has
invented a machine which makes the head on
cigars after they rolled. and does the work
OF about dozen hands.
AS late 1880 there We're neither roads nor
coaches in any country district Of Portugal
Gentlemen travelled on horseback and ladies' In
sedan chairs, carried by men. or in mule lit
gers.
Generally speaking. Frenchmen not chew
Of the Indian weed. hut in the manufac-
turing district where men work twelve hours
a day and cannot smoke during that time
they chew