davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
THE CLOSING OF THE MOSQUES.

Some crocodile tears have been shed over the
closing of the mosques in Constantinople TO tour
lists" Wen. good many genuine ones have In
the past been shed because they were ever opened
to them In the case OF ST. Sophia alone. the
damage done the sacred building by the tourist
has exceeded by far that done by the Mosle:ns
themselves when they took 1t over and adapted it
TO the requirements of Islam. They left ii i'll much
the same they found IL. Christian eftisies
and ALL and the only serious damage done was the
obIteration of the mosaics which oiSobsy I'd the
Koran by reproducing living forms Even this.
however. not done thoroughly
One of the things in ST. Sophia TO which the
Christian visitors attention is called by the guides
is effigy which tho Moslens supposed be a
vegetable. but which Is In reality fish The
omission stands defiant and unrepaired to this day.
Christian visitors to mosques have. of course. to
cover their feet with shoes to be hired from the
janitors and the process Of crossing the floor
sembes nothing much skating. To be duly
rcverert to the Moslem faith while executing
curves and figures has long proved a difficulty to
the dog of Christian" No longer will his risible
l do not suppose the tourist of decent stand
ing and genuine interest in architecture will find
any difficulty in obtaining from his embassy the
needed escor:-The Bystander.
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
UP TO THE MAYOR NOW

Now. the city budget for next year was framed
by the Board of Estimate in the midst or re-
cent financial panic. when 1t was apparent 10
every taxpayer that the condition of the civic
finances demanded rigid policy of retrench-
ment In municipal expenditure. Mayor Nc
Clellan apparently recognized this necessity
for he announced that all work upon perma-
nent improvements not actually unoer con-
tract at the time would have to be suspended.
Likewise, the heads of all the city departments
were informed by the Mayor that their appro-
priattons for next year would be cut to the
bone When the completed budget was an
nounced the Mayor defended it, although 1t
authorized an increase Of over S13OOO0OO In
the expenditures for the coming twelve months
Yet it turns out that there is serious ques-
ton whether q large proportion of the increase
of 100000 in the appropriation for private
charitable institutions is really required, al
though the Mayor included that amount in his
list Of mandatory increases that the Board OF
Estimate was compelled to allow. The item OF
S154 900 is declared by the Commissioner Of
Charities to be unnecessary for the legitimate
purposes for which it was allotted. Another
item of S17.500 to st. Agnes's Hospital was al
lowed though the Board Of Estimate must have
known from last years experience that there
was every reason to believe that 1t would not
be required.
But Mayor Mcclellan seems to have had some
new light shed upon the subject since he COM
piled his official defence OF the budget, a month
ago, for the Commissioner Of Charities says that
it was by the Mayors order that he had con-
ference with the chairman of the Finance Com
rnittee of the Board of Aldermen. at which he
declared that In his opinion there was no legiti-
mate necessity for the appropriation Of $154 900.
The whole situation would seem to indicate that
It is 'up to- Mayor Mcclellan to make a new
official statement upon the budget for next year.
But even this is not the whole story with
gard to this large increase In the appropriation
for private charitable institutions allowed in the
Among the budgetary increases classed as man.
datory in the official statement made by the
Mayor, because of the increased cost OF supplies,
are $4,000 for the Department OF Public Chari-
ties $4,000 for the Department Of Correction,
S150.0O0 for Bellevue and Allied Hospitals and
100000 for payments to private charitable In
stitutions for the Of the city's dependent
poor and sick Part OF the latter increase has
already been explained. But. dealing with the
actual necessity for these increases for the rea-
sons urged by the Mayor. Homer Folks, Secre-
tary of the State Charities Aid Association and
former Commissioner of this city's public
charities. says:
THAT there has been an increase in the cost
Of food and some other supplies in the last year
Is undoubted. and was urged by various depart
ments In submitting their estimates. However.
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15

mate upon the formal request of that institu-
tion which then expected to be able TO open
its doors in 1905. 1t is true that it has not yet
been opened though it is expected TO be ready
for work in the coming year. The appropriation
of $4,000 voted in this years budget has not
been used. The full amount has been returned
TO the city treasury. Likewise. not dollar
of the 81. 500 voted IN next years budget VIII
be paid to the St. Agnes Hospital until ii has
earned the money in the usual way. If the
money is not earned IL will be returned to the
city treasury in the same way the 10000 ap-
propriated for this year has been returned
II is true, as DR.. Potter points out, that none
of this money can be paid out unless 1t is
earned, but most taxpayers know that once
money is apportioned for specific purpose by
the present city administration it generally
manages to get spent somehow. Not only that,
hut the S40,000.000 or more OF outstanding spe-
cial revenue bonds. issued from year to year to
provide more money for the various city de-
partments than allowed in the budget, is
the best evidence that once an appropriation is
allowed in the budget 1t is almost certain to be
expended. The return of budget appropriations.
or any part Of them. to the general fund when
not used is something the general fund is not
accustomed to, and the shock might be serious
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
-Ths Bystander.

about town unhindered- / was Informed ehiS
week by the Superintendent of the Building De-
partment that somewhere near thousand No-
lations Of the building code by advertisers are
now before the courts. These violations are
cases in which advertising firms have erected
signs without permission. and the signs are
structuraly weak and dangerous.
IF II Is important that a commissioner should
pass upon the structural strength OF sign IL
is equally important that its color, shape ana
size should be made TO conform 10 regulations
The signs are tested for their strength in order
that the safety of the public may be insured
but the shock TO the eye is not even taken into
consideration. In the one case the assault upon
the passerby is accidental. In the other the
assault upon the eye is certain We spend large
sums Of money on teautifying parts Of the CITY,
building parks and driveways. and then turn
about and allow advertisers. for their own in
dividuaI profit. to destroy the effect created with
billboards. It is neither practical nor fair nor
inst
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15

bouss there is no rest from the constant stare
of these hideous signs. They are often the
last things seen when the curtains are drawn
at night and the first to appear when the morn
ing dawns many of them burning with
steady glare TO the last hour of darkness In
the innermost Businesses of the parks is about
the only place may escape them. and IL Is
due solely 10 the vigilance Of individuals that
signboards have not invaded even these bowers
of nature.
But the long suffering public is beginning 10
protest at last. and only in this city. but
in others Judge Wech's recent conclusion In
a California billboard case Is good reading for
New Workers just now.
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
a CALIFORNIA DECISION.

He says "A glarng billboard. advertising
for instance 'Budweiser Beer. set opposite
mans house in vacant lot. bordering upon
public highway fin u country town devoted TO
homes is just as offensive TO the immediate resi-
dents as would be the maintenance of a plgsty
giving forth offensive odors. OF the maintenance
Of a stonebreaking machine. or the chime or
hoarse bells. In principle there is no difference
between them It would be a singular result or
our law ~ relief could not be had against the
maintenance. for purely advertising purposes or
an uncouth billboard erected opposite my house.
having painted upon II grotesque advertisements
OF wines beers and whiskeys' ana constantly
hourly and daily. detriment 20 my property
and serious injury 10 the feelings of myself
and my family. Happily, there is strong cru
sade in full swing all over this country against
the further maintenance of bill and sign boards
a crusade that can end. all crusades looking
IN the betterment of mankind have ended only
in tho final downfall of this damaging klnd OF
business"
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
BUILDINGS DEFACED BY SIGNS.

Albert X. Shattuck believes that II the city
loses the injunction suit against the Fifth Ave-
nue. Stage Company, then New York can EXPECT
these huge placards every trolley car
and ultimately on every business wagon. He
said:
Our streets will soon have a Kaleidoscope
effect, made up of patent medicine ads. get
rich-quick pictures and signs for the cure of
all diseases. Everywhere the street signs seem
to be growing broader, higher and more ob,ec
tionabe. New York has great MANY beauti.
full buildings. but they defaced by thu era "a
for advertising things. Our law as now con-
sttuted protects the sense of SMELL If there ia
bad smell it can be suppressed on COMPLAIN
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
MAYOR SUGGESTS CONFERENCE.

Commissioner Hebberd after the statement
made by Dr. Potter was shown to him said:
'By direction OF Mayor Mcclellan had con-
ference with Mr.. Davies chairman OF the
Finance Committee Of the Board OF Aldermen.
with relation to the budget allowances Tor pri-
vate charitable institutions. At the conference
I told Mr.. Davies. what I repeat now. that with
as full and complete information as il was pos
eible for any one to have the subject, there
was no evidence which in my opinion showed
that any such sum $154.O00 would be needed
to meet any legitimate deficiency in the allow
ances to private charitable institutions for 1907
while I regret that this simple statement OF
fact, which appears In the official report OF the
Finance Committee Of the Board of Aldermen.
should have excited Dr. Potter to the use OF Ian
guage which you attribute 10 him. I do not think
that care to add anything to IT at the present
time
Personal abuse Is no longer regarded as a
valid argument, nor do believe that II will be
accepted as substitute for the explanation
which honest and high minded public officer
should always be glad to render OF his use Of
public moneys"
In the budget allowance OF the current year for
private charitable institutions there IL an item
Of $4,000 for the St Agnes Hospital for Atypi-
cal Children. This is the institution which 1t
was shown At the public hearings on the budget
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
SIGNS IN FIFTH AVENUE BUSES.

Encouraged by such words as these certain
civic and art associations In TINS CITY are
banding together TO check at least any tur'neI
encroachments of the signs ana blitpoarus Al
bert r. Shattuck, q resident or Flfth avenue
and a governor OF the Automobile Clnb OF
America Is the originator of the present local
movement This undertakes to suppress the
signs on the tops of the gasolene buses IN 'he
avenue. Securing the aid of the Corporation
Counsel's office. the stage coach company was
forced into an injunction suit. which is now
being tried in the Supreme Court: and plans
will be made to take the grievances Of the ctti-
zen bodies to Albany and lay them before the
LEGISLATURE The organizations interested In
this movement are the Municipal Art Society.
the Fine Arts Federation. the metropolitan
Parks Association, the City Club, the Women's
Municipal League. the Peoples Institute. the
New York Society for the Preservation OF
Scenic and Historic Places. and the Civic Club.
"Probablv of all forms of display advertising
on the streets" said Calvin Tomkins. president
of the city plan committee of the Municipal Art
Society that resorted to by the Fifth Ave
nue. Stage Company is the most Objectionable.
since Fifth avenue is generally recognized
the great display street of New York City The
signs tend to deprecate the value OF expensive
public and private improvements along the en-
tire extent of the avenue Not only is prop
erty deprecated and the dignity and reputa-
ton of the city impaired, but the signs them
selves constitute an attempt to sell the eyes
of the public. Their presence constitutes vu-
gar impertinence which should not be tolerated
1.-TWO years ago l personally brought a tax
payers suit and succeeded in obtaining a de-
cision from Justice Scott which caused display
advertisements and signs to be removed from
the fence around the new public library at 42d
street and Fifth avenue. / no reason
why a similar successful outcome of the ad
vertisng suit being forced by the city
should not be expected, il 1t Is energeticalIy
pushed to conclusion in good faith"
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
NUISANCE OF SIGNS
AND BILLB0ARDS.
MICH PUBLIC SENIIMEN1
AGAINST THEM.
R;ght of Community to Protect
Itself-Steps already Taken IN
This City.

To get away from the glare Of the bluooaros
is no easy task in New York to-day 1heS
line every railroad track entering the c'y' ''e
harbor front and the rivers. Take rloe OH 'iie
elevated and signs from the housestops slaie
one IN the face Drop into the subway ana
ncandescent lamps make llmelght iof thei'
In Fifth avenue the gasoiene buses roii ny
in a continuous stream OF fearfui coior' ino
distinguished visitor from abroad. When TAKEN
for a ride along Riverside Drive. is confronted
by colossal signs on the Jersey shore. ana
when he leaves Manhattan his last view OF the
citv is of a wonderful skyline narred by Dill
boards faunted from the tops of the highest
towers.
To the occupant of the fiat, hotel or apartment
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
BUSINESS TROUBLES.

Justice Greenbaum of the Supreme Court. has
sppoin,ed Harry Allen Mendeson temporary re-
ceiver of the property Of the Independent Con-
creting Cementing and FireproofnG Company. a
New York corporation, in a suit brought py De'
tamin F. Eigar and others, trustees Of the AT
lantic Cement Company, creditor for SSo-
The following petitions in bankruptcy were nled
Yesterday with the clerk of the United States Dis
trict Court:
Harris Goldberg No. 1870 Lexington avenue vol,
untary petition. showing liabilities OF $l3o'Y ana
no assets The prR&SPalr !. & T. crSdGFs T %urray are
ss'5f4 and George Dalton. s22o0.
gcPesshser OF No 81 West 4t street
and No. 80 West Hath street trading as FenecheI
asd no asses The @ has out
business number Of years IT is said, sal OF ., ne
total end soks is
81 600 is due ndorsed notes The principal cred
tors the Murtha & Schnede CGmpany, oa - se
cured; T c. Wood 1000 David c1hen' $2"S
eSs cOhsS hss sSess % Really comany
Corporate Realty Company. $4,000 Samuel Levy;
s Mason Building G9mpanyi SEQ Feneche e
Involuntary petition against Samuel Hecht.
claims follows: Bernard Click: LIES; crimmns
& Becker. ,sll3: Samuel slonim 1886 Preferences
Involuntary petition against Sparkling G. Freiman.
No. 67s Broadway. by creditors with claims as
featuring Company, si3i; George Nicoil, ss6.
Transfer of assets. is alleged. Charles s; Cohen
Involuntary petition against the Charles r. Proctor
Company, No 22l West 5Sth street, by creditors.
for shoeing horses Fred X. Bunge. si,T1; Wiley &
Every, HS36. the latter two claims being for car
are alleged Charles H Boas was appointed re-
ceiver, with bond of 5000
business h Of the Eastern Tithographing Company
with a bond of 5000.
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
ILLINOIS CENTRAL ARGUMENTS.
Fish characterized by Hartman Attorney as
Unfit for His Position.

Chicago. Dec. 14.-Mr. Herrick continued his ar
guuents in behalf of E. III. Hartman to-day In the
Illinois Central injunction suit before Judge Ball
He cited an act passed by the Illinois Legislature
IN 1893 authorizing connecting lines of railroads to
combine If each is mutually benefited. and argued
from this that the Union Pacific and Illinois Central
had right to work In unison provided neither
property was damaged by doing
In concluding his argument Mr.. Herrick charac-
terzed Mr.. Fish unfit for his position in
the Illinois Central. Mr.. Shaw for the defendants
followed Mr.. Herrck. He declared that Mr. Fish
desired to enjoin the voting held by ti.
Union Pacific and the Railroad Securities Company
solely because he knew that it would not De voted
for him at the annual election.
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15

this year had actual existence II was GA
planned at the time by the Controiier 'n"@ "
though this amount was included in the oudget
for the current year in expectation that the hoS-
nita, would omen its doors not dollar of the
money had been paid out by the city In inc
budget for the next year there is another appio-
priation for this institution OF sl''ooV'
which, the Controller explained at the time tiie
question was being discussed, would be palo pS
the city only in the event Of the hospitai oeiiis
opened the coming year
With regard to these two appropriations ioi
an institution which it is admitted has no act
uaI existence Dr. Potter was asked What oe
came of the money apportioned for its use last
year:
THE appropriation of S2ouo IN tne cufieli'
wears budget" said DR.. Potter. for the 81.
Agnes Hospital was made by the Board OF Esti-
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
WON'T THE MAYOR
TRY AGAIN ?
FIRST STATEMENT ABOUT
RTyDGET SEEMS SH4KY.
Mot All Those "Mandatory In
creases He Hid Behind Can
Stand Scrutiny, 1t appears.

when the so-called ECONOMY budget OF the
,,.,, fo- next wear was passed by the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment, more thah d
,o,+b ap, Nayor Mcclellan issued an ornciai
+.,er,e,t in which he defended the starting
,ronosai 10 increase the expenditure In the coiil-
ing twelve months by S13.15e, 100 over the eA-
penditure for the current year His explanation
was that $40 100000 of the increase was eilher
mandatory by statute absolutely necessary.
Now il anpears that among the increases IN
the budget for next year classed by the Mayor
as mandatory in his official statement is one iof
o-,e s1aoaoo in the appropriation TO pay pr1-
vate charitable institutions for the care Oh INC
c;tv,s dependent poor and sick. Outside the In
creases for the Board Of Education and the fo-
lice Department. this is the largest increase al
lowed in any of the city departments for next
wear One of the items that go TO make up TINS
increase in the appropriation for private charita
BILE institutions is the of S154ooo, said TO Dc
required to meet DEFICIENCIES in the appropriation
for the year just closing
When the budget was before the Board OF Al
dernen ten days ago the Finance committee OF
that body undertook TO inquire into the reasons
why so large amount was necessary Tor hek'
vear In make up deficiencies in the appropria-
ton for the current twelve months The COM
missioner of Public Charities. Robert ". Heb
careful examination of the bills rendered the
city by private charitable institutions for ten
months of the present year he was unable TO
discover any legitimate necessity for the item In
next wears budget TO provide for deficiencies IN
the amount apportioned for the current year.
Acting upon this evidence. the Finance Conn
rnittee recommended in its report to the Board
of Aldermen upon the ratification of the budget
that this item of S154,oo0 should be stricken
out on the ground that the Commissioner of
Charities had declared it was not required for
the purpose for which ii apportioned; but
the board was in mood to make any such re-
duction and the report of its Finance Committee
recommending that the item be stricken out was
regatived. Now, it would look if Mayor Nc
CleIlan had been fully aware of the fact con-
tained in the evidence given by Commissioners
Hebberd, for the Commissioner states that he
communicated the information 10 the chairman
Of the Finance Committee of the Board of Al
dermen at the request of the Mayor.
Controller Metz. whose department is response
bic for all moneys paid to private charitable in
stitutions. and DR.. Daniel c. Potter, who has
charge of the bureau of the Finance Depart
ment which expends the money, both declare
that Commissioner Hebberd is not in possession
Of facts which would enable him correctly to
make such q statement, and assert that the
S154,000 Will be required to make up deficiencies
in the appropriation for the current year.
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
RAILWAYS OF GREECE.

According to Consular Clerk Constantine NJ
Corafa, of Athens, the total mileage of steam
railways In Greece is S65 and their total cap
ftalzation S42,215,209. The railways are not
owned by the government, but built after
its permission, supervision and control through
the department of public works. railroad sec
ton. The state shares in part of the construc-
tion, and hence controls the passenger and
freight rates and other details The government
participates In the benefits and has the option
of buying over the roads within specified Pc
riod. while at the lapse of another period the
railways become the property of the state The
motive power of the first railway built in
Greece, and put into operation in 1863 running
from Athens to Pireus. e little over six miles.
was changed from steam to electricity about
two years ago.
New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
WONDERFUL VARIATIONS.

'It would SEEM therefore, that the Comnl1s-
sioner of Charities has upon this basis an al
lowance next year to meet the increased cost OF
supplies at the rate of 81 16 per capita, the
Commissioner of Correction at the rate Of SIT
per capita, and the private charitable institu-
tions caring for the least expensive class OF
inmates SIT II per capita.
"1f the Commissioner of Charities has had a
sufficient increase in his departmental appropr1a-
tions for next year to meet the increase in the
cost Of supplies have not the Commissioner of
Correction and the private charitable institu-
tions received far too great increases in their
departmental appropriations for the same pur-
pose?
OR If the private and penal institutions have
had only enough given to meet the increase in
the cost of supplies is not the conclusion un-
avoidable that the Commissioner of Charities
has been allowed less than one-third of what he
| needed for that purpose?
'Is II the intention of the Board of Estimate
that patients in the public hospitals and homes
for the aged shall next year be underfed. in
sufficiently clothed and inadequately warmed. or
| institutions more in their departmental allow
ances in the budget for next year than the In
crease in the cost of supplies warranted?"
If all the facts and logical deductions given
with respect to the so-called mandatory increase
In the budgetary appropriation OF next year for
private charitable instiutions-the third largest
increase In the whole budget-are correct. the
Mayor certainly to be IN a false position
in assuring the taxpayers that such an increase
could not have been avoided.