Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-07

Ripples on the Current of Life In
the MetronnIla.


the Metropolis.
Not since Coney Island closed its summer
thrillers have the Knickerbockers received
such a shock as when former Mayor Low
sent In his check TO the city treasurer for
81, 1926. In payment Of back taxes. The
sensation caused by this paroxism Of hon
esty on the part Of a New Yorker will be
understood by the simple statement that
the event was featured by the newspapers.
Not because Mr.. Low was the central
figure in the astonishing event. Simply
because New Yorker set an example
which would cause an epidemic OF heart
failure II followed by the millionaires OF
the city Mr. Lows check represents the
tax on a real estate mortgage assumed 10y
the former mayor in 1901, which, through
an oversight, he neglected to pay at the
time. Accompanying the check we're copies
of several letters on the subject which
have passed between Mr. Low and Mr..
Shepard Controller Metz. in discussing the
matter, declared that Mr.. Low had shown
rare honesty in paying the amount, since
1t was really uncollectible and the former
mayor would have been wholly within the
law had he refused to pay.
1T does a man good" said Mr.. Metz,
Ito discover a citizen now and then with
the kind of honesty shown by Mr.. Low.
II everyone were like this the personal tax
law would be good thing and the city
would be vastly improved"
Establishments having in their windows
the legend Tipping prohibited" are cpl
demic in East Twenty-thlrd street, in the
short block from Madison to Fourth ave-
nues. restaurant proprietor started the
nd q orlna ubn In ha
building, which is that Of a large life in
surance company, followed suit. Another
"tonsorial parlor" on the ground floor of a
skyscraper opposite, to meet competition,
put up a sign. mo tips here" A second
restaurant man is thinking Of putting a
stop to all gratulties, and a knight of the
razor in Fourth avenue is gravely consider
ing Joining the procession.
How does 1t work." exclaimed the pio-
neer restaurant man. well, I've been
here a year and a half now and all my
walters have been with me ever since and
not one Of them dissatisfied 1 give them
about 81 more wages than they would be
able to get in other places of the same
kind where tips are permitted. If anybody
passes dime or quarter to them their
actions depend on circumstances. II the
man who offers 1t has apparently not seen
the sign and they think It would insult him
to refuse they let the coin be where he
put 1t and say Thank you 1 let them
take 1t later, but with the distinct under
standing that l do not sanction tipping.
The second time that customer comes in he
has seen the sign and has taken hint"
A novelty in the way Of the sandwich
man" has been seen around Times square
the last week. The professor" as he
calls himself, parades Broadway in evening
clothes and an opera hat His dress shirt
is celluloid affair. which shows a spotless
white bosom when at rest In a crowd,
however, the professor presses a cuff but
ton which shoots the power Of several cleo
trio batteries into an electric sign in red
which shows through the shirt bosom.
Twelve hundred negroes will be given
employment in a large department store
and bank that will be opened in New York
City next spring. White persons will I've
permitted to do their shopping and banking
at the big institution but the race is
tabooed as far as the matter Of employment
goes. The Metropolitan Mercantile and
Realty company has purchased a building
at Forty-sixth street and Eighth avenue
and plans have been formulated for opening
the store and bank in May 1t will be the
first enterprise OF the sort ever started on
a large scale north of Mason and Dixons
line, although the company is now opera
ting a small store at Plainhed N. j., as
well as In Baltimore and Savannah, Ga.
The Metropolitan Mercantile and Realty
company has capital stock of 81, 900 900 and
has nearly 5000 stockholders all over the
United States. It's officers are some Of the
best known men of the negro race. Among
| the stockholders-and some Of them are
officers of the company-are practically all
the colored ministers in Greater New York
and eminent preachers from other sections
of the country 1t is the policy of the cor
poration in all its operations to employ
only those of its own race 1t is a bust
! ness proposition with philanthropic and
| sociological features. The prominent men
in the company are stockholders mainly in
| an effort to better the conditions of their
/ people, and the chance Of drawing divi-
dends is but incident. The company
has had Offices in this city for several
years. Its operations are In many parts
Of the country. For instance, 1t has a
| bank in Savannah, operates the Mercy hos
pital at Philadelphia, has two large tracts
Of land at PlaInheld and Orange, N. j..
| "h0Ie Hioie IMAM elBhly MONIES TOT stock-
| holders have been built and sold on the
installment plan; owns two hotels and now
employs more than 800 colored persons The
Afro-American Realty company OF this city
during the last three years has
purchased many blocks OF residential prop
/ erty in the choicest districts OF Harlem
and hundreds OF fine apartment houses In
the section are occupied by colored
| families.
There are so many foreigners who come
to this country friendless and almost PEN