davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11
rErlclENT PuBLlc SERVICE

There was so much cause for fault
finding with certain departments Of the
former city administration that It is a
pleasure to commend the striking Inn
provement now apparent. Possibly the
Improvement thus noted is only an
other proof of the theory that "a new
broom sweeps clean" There is moth
ing. thus far, anyway, to suggest an
ultimate failure Of the broom, and The
Herald's confidence in 1t is strong.
The board of public works, which is
the most important department of ALL
in a general sense, has earned the con-
hdence of the community. 1t has been
Handicapped since the beginning of the
present winter by inherited drawbacks
and extraordinary natural conditions.
The public appreciates the difficulties
with, however and will
heartily back the board in the great
work it has undertaken to accomplish
The marked efficiency of the police
department since the beginning of the
year is pleasing subject Of public dis
cussion The general work Of the force
has been highly creditabe and some of
it has excited general admiration. Con-
the great area of territory in
charge of the meager force, the result
has been all that could be expected.
Greater general efficiency might be at
extent commensurate with the size of
the city.
The fire department, Also has earned
the praise of citizens by splendid SER
vice at recent fires The service
is greatly hampered, however. for
want of enlarged equipment in
keeping with the growth of the
city. While the city has doubled in the
number of structures within the last
five years the means of protection from
fire have not been extended in anything
near that proportion. The department
is doing remarkably well with the
facilities at it's command, and the
highest type of efficiency may be looked
for when the further equipment IS
added, as provided for in the proposed
special bond issue of $4O0,OUO.
All the departments of the municipal
government housed at the city hall
seem to be working faithfully in the
public interest. There has been less
cause for complaint with the public
service thus far, under the present nd-
ministration, than in any like period
within several years.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11
A VICIOUS BILL

II Is a vicious measure that has
passed the assembly providing for an
arbitrary minimum wage rate for labor
on public work. II enacted It will not
only tend to check all kinds Of public
improvements, state, county and muni-
cipal. but It will also operate TO the
injury Of honest and competent work.
ers It will practically put a premium
on inefficiency and laziness.
The proposition in question Is sub
versive Of all recognized systems Of
compensation for services rendered. The
value Of labor, whether skilled or un-
skilled, physical or mental depends
solely on the quality and volume of the
output. That rule prevails in all occu-
pations, in every variety of human en-
deavor No kind of service can be
measured by an arbitrary standard of
value. Such standard as the said bill
aims to establish would be as illogical
as an arbitrary standard OF height or
weight for workers In the public SER
vice.
The measure in question, as would
be suspected. is one of the many
schemes presented In the legislature at
the instance Of the San Fran DISCO trade
unions. AS often happens In the over
reach for plums. however, the rroposi-
tion involves more injury to the eager
reachers than to any other interest. As
the case Is correctly stated in the pro-
test sent to the legislature by the Los
Angeles chamber of commerce, ut
would entirely prevent the employment
OF any but the very strongest and r1ost
capable men, thus leaving the older.
weaker and less efficient men without
the opportunity of self-support."
In view of the bearing of such n
measure on public works of great mag
nitude there is some cause for suspi-
cion that the corporations opposing the
owens river water project are aiders
and abettors of the San Francisco union
labor leaders in this matter. or the
$2S, 900, 900 which the aqueduct and plant
are expected to cost. large proportion
will be expended for unskilled labor.
AS there may be scarcity of such
labor at times during the period of
construction it would be necessary to
round up the less efficient classes, in
volving a large increase of cost over
present estimates.
Los Angeles has vast public improve
nents in view in addition to the water
project. The good roads movement will
call for a large number of unskilled la
borers, and we are entering upon large
expenditures for sewers. street improve
ments, public buildings, etc.
Not a sane argument can be advanced
in favor of the three-dollar measure
aforesaid and it ought to be killed
sans ceremonie.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11
ACCURACY OF NEWSPAPERS

Accuracy is the watchword in every
reputable newspaper office. The impor-
tance of accuracy and reliability Is i'm
pressed upon every writer for the pa
per, for upon the accuracy of a news
papers contents depends it's character
and reputation. which are of more i'm
portanCe to it than to anybody else.
In spite of skill and training and pre-
cautions, errors and inaccuracies will
sometimes creep m. The wonder is that
there are not more. Hhere are yet a few
readers so poorly informed that they
honestly think newspapers capable of
deliberately misrepresenting facts or of
publishing as truth known falsehoods.
Life is too short to stop to argue with
such persons. Newspaper reporters
seek to be accurate, to be honest with
their paper and the public, and they
must be honest with themselves. A
greater difficulty is inducing corre
spondents to be accurate and impartial
in their reports. This comes from lack
of adequate newspaper training. AS a
rule, however. correspondents seek to
report the facts without bias. When
errors or inaccuracies occur 1t is usual
ly because some informant has been i'm
error or has endeavored to mlslead or
conceal 1t often happens that the in
dividual who is interviewed and cor
rectly quoted is disposed to deny his
own words when he reads them in
print.-Nashville American.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11
From the New York Herald.
WASHINGTON, Feb, 80 Senate

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-zrb Senator
Pettus Of Alabama SO years young, a
new ear-trumpet was given yesterday
by Senator McEnery OF Louisiana.
Senator Pettus was much pleased with
It, and before the session was over
every other senator present was inter-
ested.
Senator Pettus walked around, talk
ing with everybody he met, testing his
new hearing machine" as he called
IL. He even went over and talked with
Senator Beveridge of Indiana, who, be-
cause he is only As years old, was once
designated as an "impetuous youth"
by Senator Pettus.
Finally Senator Pettus went home,
leaving his hearing machine" in his
desk. He had been gone only a short
while when the senate proceedings were
disturbed by a strange buzzing sound.
Sounds like a humble bee" Senator
Culberson of Texas said.
Maybe it's Fairbanks presidential
bee buzzing about" suggested Senator
Spooner.
cor Foraker's" Senator Tillman said
The strange sound continued. Sem
ators who arose to speak were plainly
disconnected.
Maybe it's a hornets nest sonfe-
NHSlt Ill Out bullulIB lndI Jne warmth
has brought to life," Senator Aldrich
said.
Senator Hale came trooping in,
buster than anybody.
whats that noise?" he asked. the
minute he heard the buzz -buzz-buzz.
Have 1t stopped instantly" he told a
page.
The Wheels Begin to Turn
The page told the chief page, and
the chief page told the assistant SER
geant-at-arms, and the assistant SER
geant-at-arms told the sergeant-at-
arms, who told the engineer. who told
the electrician, who finally told Super
intendent Eliot Woods.
"Bumble-b bees in the senate cham
ber!" superintendent Woods said. hor-
rified. why, it's impossible. There
is no appropriation for supplying bum
ble-hees to the senate"
superintendent Woods soon had his
whole staff of engineers, electricians
and acoustic experts and pretty nearly
everybody else on a still hunt for the
mysterious buzzing sound. They
couldn't locate it, Conduits for cleo
trio wires were examined and steam
pipes looked over, and even the weather
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11
OUR NEED IN SOUTH AMERICA

Whatever you may read, the fact is
we are liked less in Latin-America
than any other nation, fiestas, demon
strations, subsidized writer's, consular
boomers to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. It Is not an active dislike, but 1t
is a dislike just the same the common
heritage of all races not Latin, but
which the German has smoothed by pa
thence and good humOr, and we have
somewhat aggravated by our flag way
ing, by OutcaSt Americans who have
found their way into South America,
and by the poor consular representa-
tion we have had in many parts of
the country. Apparently our govern
ment has believed any one good enough
to represent us in South America, and
not until President Roosevelt came
into office was a sustained effort made
TO raise the standard of our South
American cOnsus
Still our consuls do not compare fa-
vorably with those of any of the lead
ing nations, which Is a result OF the
spols system against which the presi-
dent Is struggling and which in time
win be rectihed through the civil SER
vice arm of the department. Poor
representation is deplOrable enough
anywhere, but it is very serious in
South America where the consul may
be the only' American the natives have
the opportunity Of knowing, or even of
seeing except at intervals; if, therefore,
the consul is not a credit to his coun-
try American reputation suffers in ma
tive esteem,
In other words, the average native in
his unfamiliarity with us or our coun-
try accepts the consul we send him as
a representative American; and so he
ought to be. Hence If we are really
serious minded with regard to deVel-
oping the relations between our south
ern neighbors and ourselves, the most
important step toward that end will
be to select a true American type to
represent us-a type of which we al
ready have considerable and a grow
ing class in the consular service.
which improves continuously and will
improve still faster II the politicians
leave the president unhampered.-The
Outing Magazine.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11
RAILWAY THIMBLERIG

Railway employees may resort to
strikes to enforce demands for higher
wages. Shippers have no means of re-
dress and are helpless if they consider
traffic rates too high. Ergo, why not
make ends meet by conceding the in
sistent demands of employees for in
creased wages and then mark up the
traffic schedules correspondingly?
Thus the great railway companies
seem to have solved a problem to their
own satisfaction which they have been
puzzling over for weeks. From Chicago
we have the report that the first step
has been taken in a plan to inaugurate
general increase in freight rates
throughout the country, in such a man
ner as to bring millions of dollars of
added revenue to the railroads." This
plan was adopted at a meeting repre-
senting 100000 miles of railway.
Herein we have the sequel to the
much lauded generosity" of the big
railway corporations in conceding ad-
vanced wages amounting to tens of
millions of dollars per year. BY the
simple process of shouldering the extra
weight of their expenses on account Of
employees and then dumping it upon
the shoulders of shippers they escape
a dilemma and save their cash. And
the shipper primarily the producer,
"he pays the freight" no matter what
it is, because Of his abject helplessness
against railway monopoly.
But this sharp practice of the rail-
way magnates merely furnishes another
example of the way in which the pro-
ducer and the consumer ultimately
bear the burdens of the intermediate
classes. The transportation monopoly
which enables the railway companies
to squeeze producers for the equivalent
of increase wages for their employees
is matched in the manufacturing in
dustries of all classes If the manu-
facturer comedies a demand for higher
wages he merely adds the amount to
the prices of his wares and the con-
sumner is obliged to make good.
Just now we have an example in
dwelling places. There is extraordinary
scarcity of houses and apartments for
rent, and the prices therefor are ad-
vancing at a rate that makes unfor-
tunate home hunters turn pale. And
the primary cause of this situation
exists in the far-away backwoods of
Oregon and Washington. The rich
owners of vast timber tracts have been
for months gradually marking up their
stumpage prices-the figures for lum-
Der in the tree. These advances cause
the mill owners to mark up the cost of
lumber fresh from the saw and the
transporters and local lumber mer-
chant DO the rest.
But as the distinguished political
boss OF New York once remarked, in
defiance What are you going to do
about lt9' The boss fetched up in jail
but thus far it is not a criminal Of
fense for magnates to use the public
as a financial pack horse.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11
THE THAw CASE

he MA" CASE
She picked the paper up; then flung
The sheet upon the floor;
Il never want to see the vile
Thaw story any more!"
She cried. Then read 1t every line,
Behind the closet door
'The Thaw case, said the careful man,
rs awful. | am quite
Disguised when | see it in
My paper every night!'
Then sneaked around the corner so
He would not miss a mite
you must not read that naughty screed
My daughter" said her ma
I'm sorry that you ever heard
OF it. or ever saw
A line about it. Give that paper
Here!" (she read it, rawD
MY son, contamination lies
Within that trial so bad:
No paper'd print a line of it
If my way eer had"
The youth gave up; the paper was
Perused thro' by his dad!
Oh. yes; we all condemn the case.
And blame the papers rough,
For printing the salacious and
Live details of the tough
Examination. But, aside.
How we do read the stuff!
w II O
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11
The FALTERINe YEAR

Again the sharp dry rustling of the
sedge,
And the ,sere sod risp-crackling
under heel;
Again dun clouds that swoop and
whirl and wheel
And the last bird-fiight like an arrow
wedge;
Again the spray down-leaping from the
ledge
Spun into fairy flakes; again the reel
or storm shocked pine boughs in a
vain appeal,
And the brave snow-birds twittering
from the hedge.
Again the blazing backlog, and the
cheer
OF singing flames. a melody that
makes
The threat of winter and it's keen
ing woes
But thin dream gossamer that strains
and breaks,
The while the music leads the faltering
year
Down its dim path benignly to the
close.
Clinton seollard in the January Bo-
hemian
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

will steal some of the society reputa-
tions of that town.
The wonder of it is that all the row
that has been raised about "Salome"
Comstock.
MEANS OF TRAVEL
Orange-I travelled miles in a dream
last night.
Lemon-On a nightmare. I suppose?
Not being able to find an earthquake
with an open date, New York was
compelled to content itself with being
shocked by "Salome."
A Pittsburg man died Immediately
after eating three eggs, guaranteed to
be fresh. 1t is always unwise for a
man to shock his system with abso-
lutte novelties.
Just to show it's disapproval of the
Thaw affair in New York the weather
bureau has been freezing things up
tighter than ever.
1t is announced that Governor SWEET
tenham's report about the Jamaica in
cident will be published in a blue book.
A yellow book would better match his
conduct.
JUDGING BY APPEARANCES
Palm-Theres good deal in him, aft
er all.
Pepper-Judging by his walk, too
much.
The Society for the Suppression of
Useless Noises will not be doing it's
entire duty if it overlooks Chancellor
Day.
Speaking of the irony of fate. the
prize donated to the Indiana univer-
sity by Colonel Bryan has just been
won by Filipino student in an effort
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

The Salt Lake Elks, now en- route
here will find tnat this is a famous
browsing ground, ind the weather is
ideal for such purpo ses. They are ex-
ceedingly welcome.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Anyone can now see that the San
Francisco school board was merely
playing peanut politics. SO soon as
Fiddler Mayor Schmitz has heart-to-
heart talk with the president, he takes
it all back.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Permits for 124 new dwellings have
been issued in Los Angeles since Feb
ruary 1. People are coming here so
fast that it is almost impossible for
builders to keep up ith them. Ev-
ery one of these dwellings, is contracted
for by a householder who merely
awaits it's completion to move in.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

San Francisco has built $40UOO,OUO
quake. If its loss was $5O0,0OOOOO, at
this rate it will take eight years to
complete it's rehabilitation.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Mr. Hartman now takes a long
breath and rests while the interstate
commerce commission probe is held up
temporarily. But the cay of reckon
ing is merely postponed.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Even Yuma, supposedly the earthly
entrance to Inferno, is not so warm
as is Los Angeles right now. Well,
If we must have heat, we prefer it at
this season rather than in midsummer.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

This city should be the natural out
port for all the gold mined in Nevada.
A smelter here will make it so. This
is the nearest point to tidewater and
the railroad connections are the best.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

81, ci Aere is a noticeabl rush here just
. n present Of wealthy fasteners who
pyeant to escape the rigors Of their
'climate, and who are buying homes
and business property in Los Angeles,
This makes not only for their own
good but for the betterment Of Los
Angeles
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Visitors from Merced are about to
make an excursion to Los Angeles.
Come on, good people; plenty of room
and welcome for all.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

The San Francisco school board will
not go to war with Japan; the presi-
dent has told its members that they
will have to do their own fighting, and
Of course they would never do that.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

1t is proper to add that the Lady
Cook who is Roosevelt's latest admir-
er. is no relation to the eminent Cook
Lady, of funny paper tradition. Not
mite
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

1t is very enterprising, of course, for
San Francisco to plan a worlds fair
in 1913. but wouldn San Francisco be
in better business planning its own re-
Mobilization first?
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Thaw is relying upon his will to
prove him insane. Lots of men who
make Wills are proved insane, but us
ually not till after they die and the
heirs begin to fight for the estate.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

There being no further graft in the
Japanese school question in San Fran
CISCO Fiddler Schmitz drops it like a
hot potato.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

The corporations are fighting the
shoestring annexation. Let them be-
ware lest they be snarled up in the
shoestring and hang themselves.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

After ALL says the Boston Globe,
congress might do a good deal worse
than talk" Surely. But then it might
also do a good deal better.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

General Loyna2 del Castillo of Cuba
cannot bear to look upon tie American
flag. The proper place for General del
Castillo is in deep, dark dungeon,
where the flags glories never penetrate.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Inerab6t'> n Of other large families
toi, conn " rs. Lewis Of Ohio, who ar
their uncle'arjs Angeles Saturday with
ing r. lhg%s and aieees 10 enjoy the
The me liv,Jinter, Other wealthy aunts
lated wamulate this good woman with
Shs T9F'nt results.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

A piano factory is promised for Los
Angeles. No better place for one could
be found; even the breezes are full
of harmony out here.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

The Y. w. C. A. has already raised
one-third of the fund for its new build
ing, and February is not half gone. 1t
looks very bright for success.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

BY all means. develop the city's
parks to the fullest extent possible.
They are the first places sought by
visitors and are in way an index to
the city They should be the most
beautiful in the world; climate, flow
ers ana trees are available which can
be found in combination nowhere else.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

The corporate interests are opposing
the city and county consolidation by
every means in their power. This
shows how desirable the move is.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Engineer Stevens says he is not go
ing to resign from the Panama canal.
Nobody offer him a bigger-priced job
vet?
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

New Yorks Chinatown is to be wiped
out by a park. Isn't there a hint in
this for Los Angeles?
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

The first thing the San Francisco
school board did or arriving in Wash
ington was to pose for a picture. OF
course: it's all pose, anyhow.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

When it comes to perfection in
weather, Los Angeles respectfully begs
leave to submit the last few days as
sample, and to rest on it's laurels.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Pittsburg society is rejoicing in the
possession of a Raffles, the joy of the
discovery being in the hope that he
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Count Boni has appealed from the
divorce court decision. How Boni does
hate to relinquish lis meal ticket!
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Roosevelt is greatly admired by a
certain Lady Cook-not the one in the
kitchen by the way.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

The coming Of the Shriners is only
three months off, All preparations
should be well in hand by this time;
s4aeir advent will be the biggest thing
%SS32 way of entertainment that Los
yt1e. &Aever undertook
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

That sunshine recorder up in VOL
laber's office is making Up now for the
time it lost month ago.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11
Population of Los Angeles. Isl, 1854

And this week begins a fresh in
stalment of the Thaw muck
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Certainly. demand good roads legis-
lation. But don't forget good streets
while at it.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

With "A huge smelter here the Ne
yada gold that must now seek am out
let elsewhere would naturally come
here as the nearest market
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Haven't seen any dirt fly on those
yet.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

In the east safe was successfully
opened by a boy no operated only
with a hairpin. This feminine ueces-
sity has been used for many purposes,
but it's new field of operations is hard
ly one to be commended,
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

If kisses were poisonous there would
be no one living but old maids.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11
R6aGEm!s97@(4p.44y hi Gm!!'!:! 7!!@!(!''!
%~ R00WDpYG00DS S10HE
235-237-23e SOUTH BROADWAY

opposing the government ownership of
railroads
Out of ninety-nine girls who were
asked by French statistican why they
wanted to get married, sixty-one of
them answered, Because
Cooking does not kill bacilli,' re-
marks a scientist. Some cooking is a
fair rival to the bacilli in the killing
business.
Like the celebrated DR.. Pangloss. the
governor of Jamaica has now been
honored with a new degree. It's SWEET
tenham, ASS.
The tribe of smart Alecs should be
rejoiced to learn that Governor SWEET
tenham's front name is Alexander.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

EDITOR REJOICES OVER IT
George Greed of Coitsville asks that
the announcement made Thursday that
he Is to be married in Coitsville Satur-
day be corrected, as he has no thought
of taking such a step. The correction
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

is gladly made-Youngstown (O.) Vim
dicator.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

If some restraining influence had not
been applied in time it is easy to fore
see how Mr.. Hartman and Mr.. Rookie
feller would soon have begun to crowd
each other off the earth.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

Speaking of the irony of fate, the
prize donated to the Indiana univer-
sity by Colonel Bryan has just been
won by a Filipino student in an effort
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

When a Russian official is assassi
mated his eulogy always appears to bt
a misfit.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

All things earthly must have an end
some time. The senate has fixed a date
for voting on the Smoot case.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-11

A subscription to buy Swettenham
lemon grove would prove popular.