davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
CLERK RAPS SERENO PAYNE
FOR ATTITUDE ON SALARIES
Declares That Civil Service Examinations for Promo
tons Are Out of the Question for All to
Receive Increase.

To the Editor OF The Washington Times;
Having read with much interest the
article in your paper headed thus:
Most Clerks Paid Enough and sup
posed to be the well-digcsted and long
thought-over remarks from one great
statesman hailing from New York.
would say 1t Is fortunate that Congress
is near adjourning. or many of our Jaw
makers would have brain fever or ner-
vous prostration from wrestling with
just such tasks as the Hon. Serene
Payne has put upon himself He need
not investigate very far into the merit
or business OF a raise In about two
thirds OF the clerks salaries-that u.s..
II he Il looking 20 reward merit; hut
merit is a word long since cousigu ed
to the graveyard Of lost hope. The poor
ly paid clerks do the general work OF
the departments. and efficiently. too.
Mr. Payne also says the clerks can
be promoted and our statesmen cannot. q"
All. II that was only true il would re-
move half the bitterness felt and en-
dured by the under-clerk. but Congress
has made a little law TO the effect that
these same clerks could not be pro-
NOTED or transferred without taking a
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
Why Not Settle 1t?

This Panama canal INDIGESTION is
rather exasperating TO those who
would like to see some certainty
about the manner in which the work
is 20 be done. 1t is a species of
vacillation not quite characteristic
of the Administration.
The latest reason attributed for
the delay is said TO be the deter
mination of Engineer Stevens to
have the United States build the
"big ditch" itself, while the Presi-
dent and Secretary Taft prefer the
contract system. Indeed, matters
are said TO have reached such n
pitch that If one of the bids for
canal construction is accepted, il
will mean that the Administration
has determined TO dispense with
Mr.. Stevens as the director of the
canal construction.
With these differences of opinion
the American public has little con-
Germ. IT does not care very much
about the "honor" which Mr.. Ste
VEINS wishes to he his alone. 1t
simply demands that d settled pol
icy be adopted for the digging of
the canal and that the work proceed
without any more Of the pickering
and lack of determination that has
thus far distinguished it. Wallace;
Shonts; Systematically has Yet
succeeded in even making more than
Il start. We do not assume TO place
the responsibility for this; we mere
ly repeat that the citizens of the
nation are DESTROYS of a new deal.
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
AMAVI.

loved, and in the morning sky
A magic castle upward grew!
Cloud-haunted turrets pointed high
Forever TO the dreamy blue;
Bright fountains leaping through and
through
The golden sunshine; on the air
Gay banners streaming-never drew
Painter or poet scene more fair.
And In that castle I would live.
And IN that castle I! would die;
and there, IL curtatned bowers would
give
HearJ-warm responses, sigh for sigh;
There, when but one sweet fact was
nigh,
The hours should lightly move along
and ripple. as they glideed by.
Like stanzas OF an antique song.
o foolish heart! o young romance
That faded with the MONDAY sun!
Alas, for gentle dalliance.
For lifelong pleasures never won,
o. for a season dead and gonel
A wizard time. which then did seem
Only a prelude. leading on
To sweeter portions OF the dream.
She died-nOr wore my orange flowers
No longer, In the morning skies,
That magic castle lifts its towers,
Which shone. awhile, so lustrously,
Torn are the bannerols, and dry
Inc silver fountains in its halls:
But the drear sea. with endless sigh.
Means round and DER the crumbled
walls.
Let the winds blow, Let the white surge
Ever among those ruins vail!
Its moaning is a welcome dirge
For wishes that could not avail
Let the winds blow, A fieTCer gale
Is wild within mel What may Quell
That sullen tempest I must sail
Whittier. whittier, who can tell!
Edmund Clarence Stcdman.
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
Protect Engineers.

Another death of a locomotive en-
gineer at the throttle, which was
caused by some obstacle striking his
head as he leaned out of the cab
window, has been recorded. This
time il was Engineer Joseph Toms,
of the Congressional Limited on the
Pennsylvania road. Only through
the bravery of the fireman was the
express prevented from dashing into
North Philadelphia at frightful
speed.
\ great many engineers have met
instant death in this terrible man
ner while looking from their cab
windows for signals. 1t is absolute
~ necessary for engineers at times
to lean far out of their cab win
dows on the watch for signals at
curves and other places. The per-
son or persons responsible for the
distractions that have from time TO
time killed engineers while they
were doing their duty and protect
ing the lives of their passengers by
leaning from the cab windows
should be dealt with exactly the
same as the men who mistake sig
nails, leave open switches. wreck
trains or do other things that cause
the loss OF lives on railroad trains.
While in most instances only the
engineers have lost their lives. the
entire trainload is endangered. The
most rigid Investigations always
conducted by the railroads should
he followed by the severest of PEN
alties for causing death, to be inn
posed by the law.
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
New Primary Laws.

The determination of the people
10 get closer to the management Of
their politics is manifested on all
hands. In many States the Legisla-
lures are considering primary cleo
ton legislation, and in most Of
those where it has been made an
issue something viii be accom-
pished this winter.
Southern States have led the
North in this reform; and the
Western and Middle Western States,
in turn, are leading the East. The
South has some excellent primary
laws, while the far Western Com
monwealth of Oregon has. perhaps,
carried the primary idea farther
than any other State, effectively re-
ducing the election of Senators to
the basis of popular vote
In the Legislatures OF Michigan,
Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska, both the Da-
kotas, and many other States, this
problem is commanding the atten-
ton of the Legislatures. 1t is true
that no ideal primary has been yet
devised; but the Statewide plan of
simultaneous Pollings for all parties
is gaining ground because the tests
that have been made of it have
shown it on the whole most satisfac-
tory.
Wisconsin has done away entirely
with the State convention. This idea
is not becoming popular. The State
convention is social occasion. in
most States, that will be appreciated
only in case it shall pass away. It
has utilities, among which is the OPP
portunity for men to meet and be-
come personally acquainted who
otherwise would never know of each
other. II has likewise its disadvan-
tages. the possibility of manipula-
ton being the most serious.
The most likely solution of the
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
AUTOS HARMING ROADS
BY STIRRING UP DUST
Director Page OF Agricultural Department. Experimenting
With View to Remedying Serious
Conditions.

Automobiles are destroying the roads
Of the country.
80 declares Logan +. Page. director
Of public reads of the Department Of
Agriculture. So far the department has.
according to Mr.. Page. been unable to
md anything that will remedy. tenn
porarily or permanently. the destruc-
ton which the rubber-tired vehicles are
working.
Mr.. Page says ,he problem is n most
serious one. and that IL is the best and
most expensive roads that are suffering
more from the automobiles than those
which are cared for to a less degree
The road-making experts OF the bureau
are making continual experiments in an
effort 10 remedy the evil which IS
termed ''ravelins." and which promises.
If not soon mended, TO destroy some Of
the most beautiful roads in Washing
ton and other cities. Various kinds Of
oils have been used, and crude tar
and other materials have also been used.
but so far. Mr. Page asserts, these have
not been satisfactory.
Director Page said TO the committee
that irOE-tired vehicles do not harm the
roaos, but. on the contrary. 90 much
10 improve them. This Is accounted for
In the fact that the iron-tired wheels
wear of the fine dust covering, grind
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
Weeks Exports, $40. 5000
DIVORCED OFTEN,
FORCE OF HABIT

CENTRAL CITY, Neb. Feb. II.-So
frequent has divorce entered into the
Pagan household that il is no longer
a subject of scandal or even comment,
among the friends or neighbors- Four
times wed TO the same man in three
years. three DEGREES Of divorce from
him within that time. and one divorce
suit now pending, is the record Of Mrs.
Patrick Pagan.
Three years ago the couple married.
Three months OF welded bliss was
enough. and Mrs. Pagan obtained a
divorce. Three months later they made
up and were married the second time.
A year later they Quarreled. and an
other divorce followed This time they
were separated almost a month before
they made up and were married FOR
the third time. After q UtOpian marital
existence OF several weeks the domestic
affairs or the Fagans were again torn
with storms, and the usual divorce was
applied for and obtained. TRANQUILITY
was finally restored. and soon there was
another wedding between the two.
Now there comes the appeal for the
fourth divorce There has been an
other quarrel. Both sides charged
cruelty
The Washington times., 1907-02-11

civil service examination. which so many
are not able 10 do. They are good clerks.
punctual, faithful and efficient, but
many have been out Of school twenty
years, and the examination which has
no more bearing on their work than II
has on digging the Panama canal. IS too
much for them, under certain circum-
stances
If our lawmakers could observe some
OF the clerks who are widows and
mothers with families 10 support and
educate, trying TO struggle along on
$50 and so per month, and keep up a
respectable appearance, which her in
domitable viii and pride demand, and
also live honestly and virtuOusly we
doubt II they would not throw up their
hands and cry quits.
By one stroke Of the pen our law
makers VIII receive an increase in sal
aries which will give them a monthly
income amounting To a years salary Of
third OF the paid Enough Clerks
and 50 to spare. VIII our friends feel
on the adjournment of the last session
Of the Fifty-ninth Congress, that they
have made good fight. won fame and
glory and return home 20 bask in the
sunshine OF their laDOrs and enjoy this
extra $3.50, or will they refuse TO &C
cept the extra salary, and return il 20
the Treasury for a more judicious dis
Jribution. A CLERK.
Washington, Feb. II, 1907.
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
RIVER MIKES Up
STATE BOUNDARIES
The Missouri Cutting Up
High links With Iowa
and Nebraska.

LINCOLN. Neb.. Feb. 1.-THE Mis-
souri, river has been making trouble
again, and as a result the Iowa and Ne
braska Legislatures are being asked 10
appoint a commission 10 negotiate a
swap OF land so that the river may
again be the actual boundary line be
tween the States.
SchoOlchildren are taught that Iowa is
bounded on the west by the Missouri
river The maps bear out this state
ment, but the map-makers have not
been on the ground lately.
II they had been, they would have
discovered that in the last year the
Missouri has been busy adding some OF
the State OF Iowa 10 its west bank and
a part of the State Of Nebraska TO its
east bank.
Every few years the river forsakes a
part of it's old channel and seeks q new
one.
Four years ago Nebraska and South
Dakota had TO DO q lot Of reconstruct
ing Of the State line. and Nebraska lost
several hundred citizens and some fifty
farms. but il came near getting the city
of Yankton in return.
little time before that Nebraska
and Missouri got into the Federal SUI
preme Court aver a question of iurisdic-
zion over an island in the river opposite
Nemaha county, Neb.
The river cut OFF section Of the
county and made an island Of II. placing
il close to the State Of Missouri line.
The newly made islanders protested
against being SO suddenly transformed
into Missourians, and persist yet in vot-
ing in Nebraska.
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
MAI. HARTMAN PASSES AWAY
IN GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR

Friends in this city of Major John a
Hartman. L. S A, resigned, have re
ceived cable advices announcing death
in GuayaQuil, Ecuador. Saturday. Major
Hartman was a son Of Col. A. W Har-
man, or stanton, Va, who was con-
spicuous for bravery in the Confederate
army. Major Hartman graduated from
West Point in 1877. and was a first
lieutenant in the Sixth cavalry. at the
battle OF San Juan. For bravery there
he was promoted 10 major and chief
ordnance officer of volunteers. lie re-
signed his commission in 1900 to be-
come chief engineer Of the Guayauuil
and Quito railway. and later was made
gene raj manager, which position he has
since held. He was a member OF the
Army and Navy Club, and well known
in this city.
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
a." Do 1t Now. "

If Congressional is, the upper
branch thereOf-desires 10 court
popularity by process which will
in nOwise justify criticism on the
ground that it is demagogical, it can
DO so by hustling along and getting
a its business closed out before
March 4, so that there will be no
excuse for an extra session.
The DOMINICAN treaty can just as
well be ratified before as after
March 4. Its ratification before that
date would be a satisfaction to the
President, the public, and especially
to that very large and worthy sec
ton Of the community that has got
exceedingly tired of reading about
the subject.
Do it now,
The Washington times., 1907-02-11

IL in, with the result that Il resolves
itself into cement. and helps TO harden
the rOddbed. Instead Of wearing off the
dust in this way, the automobiles scatter
what has already been worn off, and
the roadbed soon becomes loose ard
'ravels.' The motor cars 20 al high
rate Of speed. and the increasing use Of
these machines is working vast havoc
with the roads.
In addressing the committee, Mr.. Pase
said:
"One OF the most difficult problems
which road builders have to meet now
due TO the greatly Increased autOmO-
bile traffic on the roads II Is affecting
the States which have spent the most
money on their roads. because thew have
the creates number OF automobiles on
them With al ideally constructed stone
road there is just enough wear. or. in
other words, the qualities II the rock
should be so adjusted TO the traffic 10
which It IS subjected that just ePOush
dust is worn of 70 cement the large
Il agments OF stone together.
The automobile does not wear of
any fine dust The wind and rain are
taking away the original binder. and
mat derived from irOn-tlred vehicles
that 20 over IL, that is washed or and
blown OF. and the automobile loOSens
the surface Of the road"
The department has concluded that II
this condition is 10 be improved and the
good roads maintained, the sur sice mus
be treated with somet material TO keep
the dust down and cement II so that
II VIII form a binding for the roadbed-
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
MANY DANGEROUS DERELICTS
IN AMERICAN WATERS

Even II our merchant marine is
languishing we still seem able 10 lead
the world in derelicts. The great pro-
portion OF them are American vessels
abandoned In American waters. Few
are reported west Of the siXtieth degree
of longitude or south of the Bahamas,
the Caribbean Sea being very free from
them. The reports to the photographic
Office last month allowed no fewer than
seven OF these menaces afiOat off the
coast. There was one OF the New Eng
land coast. two on the coast OF the Car
olinas, one each of the Virginia and
Florida coasts. and one still farther out
at sea.
Lumber laden derelicts are the most
troublesome. 1t takes them a long time
10 sink. One such reported in the early
O's drifted over several thousand miles
in $50 days She WAS sighted thirty
eight times during that period, showing
that she was frequently putting herself
in the way Of chartcd ocean travel
Boston Transcript.
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
GAME Of PINOCHLE
ENDS LOVE DREAM
Girl Takes Poison When
Sweetheart Refused to
Quit Play.

NEW YORK, Feb. Hilary Click
wanted TO play pinochle with his friend
Nanny O'Brien. but Miss Agnes Kern.
his seventeen-vear-oId sweetheart.
thought IL would be far better FOR Harry
to chat with her in the front parlor.
When Harry ignored the invitation
Agnes threw milk bottle az Nanny.
and told him IL was time to 90 home.
Harry slapped his fiancee. and she is a
prisoner in Bellevue, charged with hay
ing attempted suicide. while Harry Will
be arraigned as suspicious person i'm
the Eorkvllle police court
Click boards with Mrs Kern and her
daughter. Agnes. at n9 Third avenue.
When M. as described. slapped the girl
she began 10 cry and ran out OF The
room. Going TO a medicine chest she
got a bottle OF chlorofOrm liniment and
returning 10 where the men were pIav-
ing cards. drained it
. Brten found Police man ShifTer. who
turned IN call for al ambulance and
DR.. Cudaback responded from Bellevue
where the girl vas taken. She will re-
cover.
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
CHINESE STUDENTS ALLOWANCE

Owing TO the frequent complaints sent
to Picking by the Chinese ministers in
the various capitals OF Europe and
America concerning the irregularity Of
fees granted 10 government-supporte
Chinese students abroad, and on the rec
Cheng, X. G. NJ G., the Chinese minister
to the United States. for a uniform al
lowance 10 these students, the Chinese
government has. after due investigation
into the matter, drawn up rules fixing
their fees, including medical expenses
and all: Students / nEngland, Glg2
I'm a year; in the United States.
$3.50 gold in a year. Students in the
preparatory schools will only receive
four-fifths OF the above grants.-Chinese
Times
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
AMERICA DISCOVERED AGAIN.

Until few years ago one might have
supposed on glancing at British news
papers that the United States was
tucked away in an old corner or the
world. whence a few lines by cable and
few paragraphs by mail would suffice
to give their readers all the news that
was worth gathering. Aside from poll
tics Of international concern vast com
mercial and financial interests mutually
bind the countries to each other in a
business way; the social intercourse be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States is great. and 600 Americans
with money TO spend-are annually Wis
ltors TO England and the continent.
There has been journalistic awakening
10 these and kindred facts. and English
newspapers of late years have been Civ
ing special attention to American af-
fairs.-New York Herald
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
A Manifest Injustice.

About fifty local high school
teachers are now suffering from an
Injustice which the Senate subcom-
mittee considering the current Dis
trict appropriation act can and
ought to correct this session. They
are the instructors in cooking. sew
ing. millinery, drawing. physical cul-
ture. and music; and they represent
for the girl students. and some of
the boys, precisely that phase of
public education in which the Presi-
dent and Congress have manifested
the greatest interest.
Under the provisions of the pres
eut school law, high school teachers
generally serve at a minimum of
$1,000 year and are advanced at
the rate Of 500 a year for eight
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
FRIENDS AND OPPONENTS
OF PROHIBITION LINE UP
Personal Liberty League
Protests Vigorously Against
Proposed Legislation.

More than 2.OOA enthusiastic and earn
est men and women crowded the main
auditorium OF the Masonic Temple last
night 10 participate In the mass meeting
Of the Personal Liberty League, 20 pro-
test against the passage OF the Weber
prohibition bill.
Simon Wolf presided and opened the
fight in a vigorous attack on the DrO-
hibitionists. He declared that where
ever prohibition has been tried q has
failed miserably. that the abolition OF
the cantcen is responsible for the out
break at Brownsville, and the total abo-
lition OF liquor from the Capital will
mean the sight Of crimes as great as
that. The keynote OF all the speechez
was that prohibition Is an attempt to
abridge the rights OF the people Of the
District OF Columbia by foisting on them
an ill-advised. undesi-ed, and ruinous
prohibitory liquor law.
The other speakers were Mrs. Phoebe
Cousins. the woman sufragist; Samuel
De Nedrey. secretary Of the Central
Labor Union; Rabbi Abram Simon.
Rabbi Loeb. Charles w Darr, and J. W.
Mitchell.
Each of the speakers made strong ar
suiA4S4-IS TOR Gle principles OF personal
( liberty. which. they asserted. the prohi-
Dluon bill OF Congressman Weber
sought TO deprive the people OF Wash
lnSton Of. They were earnest. and what
( they said was received with close at
tentiou
The meeting was a representative one
and the fact that two ministers OF the
gospel, representative OF the Central
Labor Union, and other representative
citizens We're there 20 speak for the
( liquor mems rights gave 70 the mass
meeting weight and Importance as q
, factor IN the fight between the PrOhibi-
ton Crusaders and the Personal Liberty
League
The Washington times., 1907-02-11
SUE GOV. SHELDON
At HIS REQUEST

LINCOLN. Neb.. Feb. u.-Gov Shell
don is defendant in a suit fled here
by encouragement Thompson in which
the State demands 500 from the govern
or for the rent Of the executive man
sion for one month.
The governor holds that the consti-
tuition provides that the salary. OF the
governor shall be $500 a year and no
perquisites, and that as he has taken
a stand that all laws must be inforced
IL would be Inconsistent for him TO oc-
cupy the house rent free. The suit is
brought at his own request IL Is under
stood TO be Governor Sheldon's desire
that the State sell the mansion. which
is estimated to be worth $4,000
Former Governors Mickey, Savage.
and Dietrich may be asked to pay rent
for the time they occupied the mansion
II the State wins the present suit.