davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
Law School Debating Society Election.

Georgetown Law School was the scene of
a spirited contest Saturday evening. the oc-
casion being the regular election Of officers
for the ensuing term by the debating society
OF that school. The candidates for the
office OF president were James Carlyle
spottswood Of the District of Columbia.
John G. Price Of Ohio and Frank Drill Of
Minnesota. As the president during the
coming term will have an unusual prorni-
nent part to play in connection with the
intercollegiate debate between the teams
from Georgetown University and the Uni
verstty of Wisconsin. which will take place
April 30 at CASTOR Hall, the friends Of the
various candidates were very active, Mr..
Price received majority Of the votes cast
and was declared elected to succeed Re
firing President McMannus. who has pre-
sided over the society for the past term.
The newly elected president took the chair
after making a few remarks, and the so
ciety proceeded to the election Of the ne
naming officers as follows: Mr.. Donaldson.
Vice president; Mr.. Lochran secretary;
Mr. Miller. treasurer, and Mr.. Thomiades,
Great preparations are being made for
the intercollegiate debate by the commit
tee of which Mr.. Reagan Is chairman.
Georgetown University will be represented
by Messrs. Murphy, Bride and Erickson.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
Mr.. Gilmer's Insurance Problem,
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:


In your valuable paper of last Tuesday. I
noticed an article on the insurance problem
by Mr.. Thomas w. Gilmer that deserves
more light and I will thank you for the
space to bring out additional points in its
solution. The source of my information Is
the forty-second annual report Of the SUI
perintendent of the department of insur-
anee for the state of New York for the
year ending December 81. 1900. 1t being TIL.
latest copy oStainable at the Congressional
Library. The statistical tables therein pre-
scented show an array of information, pub
ltcity," as Bryan calls 1t, that Is startling!
| find that there were fourteen old-line
life" companies in 1859 and forty In 1909 a
gain of three-foId In forty-two years. The
gross as-ets increased from $40, 536, 0S4 in
1889 to SI.723. T37 .123 in 1900, a gain OF
nearly eighty-four fold In forty-two years.
The total receipts for the year 1859 were
$S92, OC0. COO. While the net excess of receipts
over disbursements was Sl3I,e00,30O. The
total disbursements for the year 1900 were
$261 .00O.OOW of which $f21. O0J coo were for
death claims. while $70O00.O00 were paid for
commissions and other expenses for en-
ployes! The total number of policies issued
for the year 1900 were 356.t00, of which
1Ss 600 iapsedi The gross assets leaped
from S6Sl000000 In 1850 to 81. 723 100000 In
1903!
The meat OF this problem consists In cali
ing public attention to the fact that after
Dayfng all manner of losses for forty-two
Years, their gross assets had Increased
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
Auxiliary Entertained.

The veterans Of Encampment No. Ill,
Union Veteran Legion. OF this city Friday
evening entertained the Ladies' Auxiliary.
No. 30. The legion was represented by its
past and present presidents, Mrs W. l.
Weis and Mrs Kathleen Temple and 9TH
ers. There were also present many friends
of the three organizations. The program
OF entertainment was a varied one. OPEN
ing with the song America" by the au-
dience. welcoming address was made
by Past Colonel T. J. Shannon, followed
by an address by Mrs M. E. 8. Davis.
president Of the auxiliary. The succeed
Ing program consisted Of songs by Burn
side Post G. A. R., Glee Club; recitation,
Mrs. 8. E. Pittman: piano accompaniment,
Mrs. Johnson: song. Battle Hymn Of the
Republic" by the audience; address on the
origin of Star Spangled Banner and
other old popular songs by Chaplain Henry
N. Couden; violin solo, by Miss Louise
Weieman piano accompaniment by Miss
Alma Weignan: comic recitations. by Com
rade w. w. Case: songs. by Burnside g.
A. r. Post Glee Club: violin solo, by Miss
Ruth Harvey. piano accompaniment by
Miss Grace Harvey.
All the foregoing numbers were enthus-
iastically encored. The entertainment
closed with the singing Of the Star Span
gled Banner"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
Hotel Keepers and Cab Stands.
he Editor Of The Evening Star;

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
While the average citizen has no personal
interest in the controversy now pending De-
tween the Cab Drivers Union on the one
side and the livery stable proprietors and
hotel keepers on the other, some OF US are
curiousto see what the board OF Commits
sioners Of the District will do in the case.
The argument is advanced that as there
is a public necessity for cab stands IN front
of or in the vicinity of each OF our notes,
therefore the regulations of the board OF
Commissioners which exclude the CAP ulN
era who are not in the employ or livery
stable proprietors from locations IN front
of or near hotels are In the publlc interest,"
that the arrangement whereby the space IN
front of or near hotels is farmed on. py tne
hotel proprietors to the livery stable pro-
nr,,tors is not obnoxious to the law or con-
trary to good morals and does not estaoiisn
a monopoly. The situation cannot be Cd
scured by such statements. II is proven
and admitted that the present regulation OF
the Commissioners has permitted the hotel
keepers to charge livery stable Keepers a
monthly sum for the occupancy OF puplc
snace. Does the board want other evidence
that its regulation Is unlawful, unjust and
Immoral: that 1t establishes an outrageous
monopoly. not in the public interest!
There should not be two opinions IN re-
lation to this issue. Nobody denies that the
public interest is sYbssryed Dy cap S Seaad +
n front
the legal authority for discriminating
against one class Of cab drivers! Especially
where is the legal authority for setting
anart street space for the use OF drivers
Who do not own the abutting property! No
one denies that the public interest requires
that our merchants should have the right
to space in front Of their business houses
for their delivery wagons. There Is. how
ever. not the least analogy In their cases 70
the one "at bar"-at the bar of public opin-
ion. The utmost that can. be rightfuiy
claimed for the authority OF the board OF
Commissioners in respect to restrictions
upon cab drivers who do not drive for the
livery stable keepers is that they may prop
erly, in the public interest demand that
such drivers shall attain and keep to GER
tain standard Of "up-to-dateness' IN their
rigs, as to horses. grooming, harness and
vehicles Those that make this standard
should have the same rights as the livery
cabs, and in assigning cabs to stands should
be given the same opportunities. Anything
else is the rankest injustice. to which they
should not submit.
II the board OF Commissioners continues
the present unjust regulation, advise the
Cab Drivers. Union to appoint committee
and spokesman and present their grievance
to the President. whose soul abhors in.
justice monopoly. or favoritism, and who
WILL unless all signs fail, quickly rectify
matters. w. J. MORRIS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
AGAIN IN ASYLUM.
James K. Fitzgibbon, Who Escaped
From st. Elizabeth's, Recaptured.

James K. Fitzgibbon is again a patient in
st. Elizabeth's Hospital for the Insane.
He escaped from the institution about a
week ago and was found in North Adams.
Mass, last Friday. Fitzgibbon left the hos
pital grounds about I o'clock in the evening,
but In just what manner the hospital at
tendants do not know The man was re-
garded as being harmless, and was permit
ted the freedom of the grounds. as he had
never made an effort to get away. When
he was first taken to the institution he OBJ
jected to becoming patient there, but he
afterward appeared to have become recon-
ciled, and for this reason was permitted
more freedom than he had heretofore en-
joyed.
He objected to returning here from North
Adams, and gave his two guards all they
could do to handle him. When the train
reached the station here yesterday morning
the patient refused to leave the train. Then
there was trouble for the guards, and as
sistance had to be summoned. Two rail-
road men rendered aid, and 1t was all the
four men could do to get the insane patient
from the train. On the platform he refused
to move and the four men placed him on
truck He was then exhausted and It
was an easy matter to draw the truck from
the station and put him in a carriage. His
attendants showed plainly the result of the
lively struggle. The asylum was reached
without trouble and FftZgibbon was placed
in a ward, from where he will probably MOB
be able to escape.
Fitzgibbon was the representative of the
United States Express Company in the
Treasury Department Tor a number of
years. and his close confinement and strict
attention to duty. it is believed. caused the
trouble which resulted in his being sent to
the asylum During his long service in the
department he handled millions of. dollars,
and his accounts were. always correct
When it was evident that he was suffering
from some mental trouble his employers
insisted on his taking "a trip abroad, think
ing the change would benefit him, but he
was sent to the asylum shortly after he re-
turned home. or 8
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
The Handful Nuisance.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
A dozen or more friends and neighbors
assembled have made me their spokesman
to thank you for Sour editorial on the
.'handIbill nuisance and to beg you to
keep up the agitation until ''the newly in
terpreted Law is given full effect by strict
enforcement" A short time ago 1 was
standing on my own doorstep. when one of
the bill distributors came up the street, lit
tering every vestibule on his way. As he
opened my gate said, pleasantly: PLEASE
do not leave one here He paid no heed,
and, thinking him deaf repeated my pro-
test. Then he replied: MY orders are to
he did, grinning defiance when l indig-
nantly demanded that he should pick up
the one he cast at my feet.
WOULD-BE SERENE HOUSE
HOLDER"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23

he was in possession of loaded revolver
and could hold the place against an army
Bicycle Policeman Williams and Police
man Holz, who heard Of the trouble. went
to the house and called on Williams to sur
render. which he refused to do. and was
only taken into custody after the officers
had forced their way in through the rear
OF the house.
Williams was given a chance to make an
explanation of his conduct when he ap-
peared before Judge Scott this morning but
his statement was not satisfactory. and he
will spend 300 days In jail, in default of a
fine Of $50 imposed by the court
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
IN your edition of March II appears a
quotation from Lesiie's Weekly, entitled
.Ilincoln's Strongest Attribute" in which
appears the following: When in the fever
ed tumult Of passion an angry north
seemed to voice a general demand for, the
inf1iction OF the death penalty upon JEFF
ferson Davis. Lincoln listened In silence
and waited for reason to resume its sway"
The facts are that President Lincoln was
assassinated on April IA and died on the
10Th, while JEFF Davis was not captured
until May 10, 1865, nearly a month after.
No doubt President Lincoln listened in
silence" for he was moidering In an un-
timely grave, having been put there by an
ASSASSIN who was the exponent of the doc
trine Of which Jefferson Davis was the
head and front. ISRAEL w. STONE
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
arocers' Statesmen oreanize.

With a view to effecting an organization
among the statesmen OF the several whole
sale grocery establishments Of the city, q
well-attended meeting Of men of that call
ing was held Saturday evening at the jolly
Fat Mems Club on D street After being
chosen chairman of the committee on or
ganfzation. Mr.. w. 8. Sammans explained
the purposes Of those at the head OF the
movement. saving that salesmen's asso-
Citations in other branches Of trade had
proved to be beneficial to both the employe
and the employer. Mr. b. M Mundell also
to be derived. and related the success
which has attended the efforts OF statesmen
already organized. Mr. James Harmon and
Mr.. William TIiDDett weEe chosen tenn
porary treasurer and secretary, respective
ly. A permanent Organization WILL it is
expected. be eIiected In the near future.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
Commissioners Of PHatmacy Organize

The commissioners afs pharmacy have
completed the organiza tim Of their board
by electing DR.. Fraik q. Henry president.
Dr.. Francis P. no ira treasurer, and Dr..
Henry A. Johnst9hq seasetary.- the other
members Of the beard being: DR.. NJ. G.
Motter and F. TH 4Iassifnger. Phar D.
DR.. Henry A. Johnston rendered his resig-
nation as presidentooftt the board to become
its secretary The cboard will begin at once
the preparation ella NEW pharmacy law,
the present one having been enacted June
10, 1878. ss iB s1ih
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
Entertainassd afssupper.

Rank. knights of she Maccabees, at sup
per recently. Those present were: Capt.
John c.. Gall. First Lieut.. Guy E. Padgett,
Second Lieut.. A. A. Burdsall, Charles Pick.
B. N. Ferman d. Greenberg, j. Cats, s. ".
Gusack. Paul Balterman Barnet Smith,
Henry Smith. A. Chairman. Joseph Murray,
w. J. Hall. A. A. Schultze, E. E. Persirsg, B.
Bass. Sol. Weinstine and o. w. Hammond.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
WIN End AMI, 4

The tour of duty Of ughtsdp No. a,
which has been warning mariners OF their
approach to the dangers Of Diamond Shoals
of Cape Hatteras, N. c., for the last three
months. will end April 1, ana on or about
that day iightsilip No. ~ win take her
place upon the station for three months Of
lonesome watchin~.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
explanation Was Unsatisfactory.

Horace f. Williams. a coiored resident of
South Washington. went to the home OF Jul
iia King. colored, 26s Willow Tree slley.
last night. and. after running Julia from
the house. took possession of the premises.
piiing chairs q table and other furniture
against the front door. He announced that
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-03
THE CAPITATION TAX.

Section 173 OF the constitution OF
Virginia, published elsewhere In our
news columns, in q communication
from ex-Judge John T. Goodrich, pro-
vides that the treasurer shall collect
the capitation tax OF $50, one dol
lar OF which shall go to the State OF
Virginia, and fifty cents shall be paid
by the state authorities to the city,
constituting the city cspitation tax
heretofore collectable by the city col
lector.
Section five OF the tax bill adopted
by the Legislature now in session, on
April 16, 1908, provides; upon
every male person, classified in sched-
nile A chat is, every male inhabisant
twenty-one years and over, except
those pensioned by Virginia for mill
tary services), there shall be tax OF
$3.50, OF which one dollar shall be
for aid of the public free schools, and
City cents shall be returned and paid
into the treasury OF the county or
city In which it shall have been col
lected.
This, 80 far as We are apprised, is
the only Legislative action thus far
had in connection with section 173
OF the constitution, and it therefore
seems to us that the city authorities
are 10 error In having levied and now
collecting the capisation tax OF fifty
cents through the city collector. The
city has assessed capitation tax OF
only fifty cents, and this the city will
receive from the state officers. Why,
therefore, is it entitled to the fifty
cents It is now collecting through its
collector? We fear our city council
has overlooked the city's fifty cents
collected and paid by the treasurer
and state authorities.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-03
THE GREAT OYSTER QUESTION
Views Of DE-. Frank Fletcher, Of Ae-
comac-Hs 10 Opposed to Break No
tho Baylor Survey.

Among those opposed TO the oyster
bill now pending 10 the General Assem-
bly is Dr. Frank Fletcher, OF Accomsc
county, former president OF the State
Board Of Fisheries, and by many re-
gsrded as an authority on the question.
Speaking of the report OF the Joint com
mittee DR.. Fletcher says. 1T seems to
me that much OF their reasoning in this
report is inconsistent. They say that
seed oysters are becoming scarcer each
year, and the planter cannot get enough
TO seed his grounds. Their remedy IL to
reduce by three-fourths the public rocks
that produce the seed. Ii seems to me
a rather novel way 20 increase the sup
ply OF seed oysters by reducing the rocks.
Will that make the one-fourth that Ia
left produce more seed, besides losing the
seed from the three-fourths?
"Our oystermen are doing better 10
Pocomoke Sound than last year. They
often now make from eight TO ten dol
lars day on bottoms they thought
were bare, and which would have been
go considered by any one some years
ago. Any rock will reseed itself, il let
alone.
Then, again, they (the joint commit
teemen) claim that all the land outside
of the Baylor survey in now taken up.
and the planters cannot get enough
planting ground | will venture TO as-
sert that there is more than three times
as much outside the Baylor survey and
suitable for planting purposes as is now
occupied by the planters. Look at Pc
comoke Sound. How many thousands
OF acres are there unOccupied and also
Tangier Sound? There is more 10 those
two sounds unOccupied and that could
be used than is now used in the whole
State. Ellenger, in POcomOke Sound,
has a thousand or two acres, but this Is
a mere speck az compared to all the
sound. The large planters do not want
barren bottoms; it cost too much TO seei
them. They want bottoms already
sseeded by nature
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-03

1t was published some days ago
shat the Washington Guards of this
city would probably be disbanded
because the company did not have
the required number Of men on the
rolls. This statement was received
with regret by our people, as they
feel that a well organized military
company is very necessary in a town
81 this size, and specially at this par
ticuisr time when we have so many
nonresident laborers on therailroad
near town, north and south. 1t may
be that the company will never be
called upon to maintain order or put
down disorderly gatherings, but II
such an exigency was to arise in our
usually quiet town, we would have
the satisfaction Of knowing that We
have an organized company, well Of
ficered, to meet the exigency and pro-
sect the lives and property OF the
citizens. 1t is a matter Of congratu-
lation that she company has been re-
cruited and now has the required
number Of men. We congratulate the
community andt the officers and men
- = ><<<v< ,,<r,x n, = <
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-03
THE POsToFFICE SCANDALS.

The report OF Mr.. Joseph l.. Bris-
tow, fourth assistant postmaster
general, upon the recent postotiice
scandal has been made public.
The report shows that outrageous
frauds have for years been practiced
in this department by persons whose
private and public records have been
considered beyond reproach, and that
the loss to the government, as a IT,
suit OF the corrupt practices OF these
officials, is so varied and great that
it cannot be estimated. 1t seems
strange in this day and generation,
when business methods have been
we'll nigh reduced to a perfect science,
that such corruption in public office
could extend over such a length OF
time without detection; and the facts
in these cases show conclusiyely that
there must have been gross negligence
on the part OF officials whose duty it
was to overlook the work and con-
duct of those who are now charged
with corruption. The laws regulat-
ing the supervision and inspection OF
accounts and transactions of public
officials entrusted with public funds
cannot be too rigid, nor can they be
adhered to too strictly nor enforced
too stringently.
The disclosures made in this report
show one OF two things conclusively /;
either that the laws governing the
supervision of the accounts and con-
duct OF the gentlemen charged with
corrupt practices In Office are not
effective in themselves, or shat those
charged with their execution are neg
ligent in their duty, or the frauds
charged could not have extended over
the period OF time which Mr.. Bristow
in his report alleges they have been
going on.
Business experience shows that men
whose lives and records have been
without suspicion or reproach some
times become the heaviest defaulters;
and no mans past honorable record,
when he is entrusted with the man
agement OF the affairs OF Others,
should exempt his conduct from rigid
and frequent accountability and in-
spection.
Mr.. Bristow says in his report in
reference so Mr.. Machen, general
superintendent OF the free delivery
system-a man who has always had
an honorable reputation, privately
and as an official, prior TO she expos
ures OF the postOttice frauds-that
"he (Machen) does not seem to have
considered a day of reckoning as
possible. Over nine years OF con-
tinued prosperity had given him con-
fidence,' which goes to show the
truth of our statement as to the ne
eessity of a change of the laws gov
erning such cases, or a stricter ex-
ecution OF those in existence.
1t is to be hoped that Investigation
and the punishment OF the guilty
parties will result in a change all
around for the better.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-03

The authorities OF Indiana showed
a commendable generosity when they
permitted a life convict in the peni-
Tertiary to attend his mother in her
dying hours. 1t should be remember
ed that there are many convicts in
prison who have not lost and never
will lose their love for mother and
their finer feelings for humanity, the
opinions OF their keepers to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. Such acts
as the above go far in making better
men of convicts.