davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28

For several years New York has been discussing
IN a desultory way the question Of erecting a
municipal Office building to house those city de-
partuents that are now occupy ing rented quarters
al an expense the city Of hundreds of thousands
o. dollars year. bin IS before the Legislature
authorizing The erection Of such a structure over
tho new bridge terminal the Stats Zeitung
block. II is included. also. among the authorized
improvements IN the list which was made recently
by Nelson p. Lewis, CHEZ engineer OF the Board
OF Estimate and Apporuonment. the amount set
aside being s. 35G.00o
Not only for the convenience Of the public. as
wei of the departments. would . municipal
building be Of value. but its erection would give
an opportunity TO house many of tho important
records Il the city in 4 freproof structure. This
refers especially 10 the documents in the County
Clerks Office and those Of the Department OF
Finance
The monumental Hail of Records, recently com
pleted at cost Of about sS0J1Cao. was supposed
TO care for these. but for some reasons as plain
as the nose on ones face and for others not so
clear there does not appear TO be any room Tor
these in the building with the spacious Offices
and heavy bronze trimmings. According 10 the
act which provided this costly structure IL was
Intended to create suitable accommodation for
tho Office and use Of the Register Of the city and
county Of New York. and for the Office and use OF
the Clerk Of the city and county OF New York;
and for tho Offices and courts and for the Of
the Surrogate of the city and county OF New
York being the various Offices in which the records
affecting public interests required by law 10 he
kent IN said city and county. and for the Offices
and use Of the Law Department, the Finance De |
partment and the Tax Department
The Register. the Surrogate. the tax assessors |
and the Law Department ana some Of the old |
records Of the Finance Department are IN the |
building The Law Department occupying three OF /
the nine floors, but the important court and fnan-
cal records Of the city for the protection Of which
the many millions in part spent are in con- /
stsnt danger OF destruction by fire.
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28

regalia OF a viceroy. When he goes out in his
chair bishop has outrunners. umbrellas flags and
all the other fummery OF a Chinese governor. He
demands TO be received always In the state beit-
ing his rank Upon this point Chinese officials
nigh and low, have spoken to me with greatest
bitterness and so also have men in the consular
and diplomatic service
Regardless CT public opinion, the French mis-
sonaries have pressed 10 the limit their pleroRa-
tives. Columns could be written Of the manner in
which they have abused their power. Whole viii
lases have been forcibly impressed 10 work for
Them In the interior, a few weeks ago. I ran
a1toss case where they had imprisoned the head
mon Of village.
me most trivial offence against member OF
one OF the French churches must be heavily etone6
~. Ihis applies not only to the national land
missionary troubles but also 10 nett o,sl,b,o
hood squabbies. convert OF the French n-ies+
IS immune from the law C his OWL land. He ma,
De murderer. thief rascal OK any kind or a..
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
THE PRESIDENTS PLEAsANTRiEs.

As specimens OF the pleasantries which eniven
the ordinary conversation Of President Roosevelt
the following are taken from Washington reports.
me first Is apropos 20 the report that Secretary
Taft "a 10 succeed Chief Justice Fuller on the Su-
preIne bench. should vacancy occur there. Ias
President and the members OF his Cabinet we're
passing out OF the dining room one day. when tnsy
were guests OF the Chief Justice The Presiosns
stopped a moment 70 look at new and 49, 49,
striking portrait OF their host turning 10 ssel0
tarv Taft Mr. Roosevelt said:
'"faft tust look at that! Did you ever see saoh
VigOr and healthF
An understood the reference and broke INTO sI 50
PASSING enc day through the thronE az Iess9
tOn given by the Vice-FTesdent. Mr.. Roosevelt W.
sfOpOed by a lady who wished 70 BRING netSo'N
particularly 20 his remembrance. and sns $50 r,r.
IT am Mrs -, WIG OK tho gray ~"N0~
greSsman from - ,s.9 A.. y5-asi.
AAnf savvhoSe wife has Buoh pretty brown hs1r -
yolirs can have as much gray hair as hs ptSlsesss
OF ne need not have any haiF' WoilUS
MAGAZINE
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28

Surrogate. the Register the tax assessors were
provided for. Tammany hinted that as the
Mayor was tho head ~ Board OF Estimate and
Apportionment upon which deyolted by law tho
apporuonment OF space IN the new building 20
the departments for which II was built there
might te politics IN The Eight agains, Murphy
possibly was the cause. According 10 n copy q n
letter written by tie County Clerk application
made for space in the building IN Jane OF last
year.
At the Mayors Office it was stated that it was
not known why the County Clerks Office and doc
uments We're not in the Hall OF Records. II had
been suggested that the reason was the objection
where they could be reached al short notice with
courts. when appealed TO- replied shortly that ne
DID NOT know anything about IL. but the court
house was The place Tor them Mr. Ellison tho
reason 90 be that the courts wished The records
County Clerk wanted freproof place To- store tho
records there We're good Office buildings Ia the
nelghborhood whore 1t could hc secured.
bin has been introduced in the Legislature TO
compel the designation of certain amount of
space in the Han Of Records :or the use OF tho
Commissioner or Records. ". s Andrews This
place was created a year ago partly. it is saii.
for the purpose of giving Senator Grady job ard
partly 10 provide for the care of the old records
Of the city. Senator Grady dld not get the place
and Mr.. Andrews has not secured space get for
his office and the housing Of the records
II fire should sweep through the Stewart Build
ing structure classed as OF slow combustion"
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
by Interfering with the Admin
istration of Civil Law by
the Native Magistrates.
By William T. Ellis.

'~oPsflght 1907 by Joseph p Bovvles,
me most serious charge made against rnissior
ares IN china is that by their interference Min
cNI law they eXasPerate the natives 70 me ,,ol,t
oi upi7sings and massacres. This subiect deserves
me fullest investigation and most caref,l treat
fent Tor il is no light thing 10 accuse ministers s
pae Gospel OF being responsible for riot ana ro1,r
oef- Yet regret 70 write that find ground for
this widespread criticism
look az the setting OF the facts IS first raoos-
Hary. An alien in China is not subject 70 china.
ne KNOWS no law but that OF his own self-restrainr
or OF his -coUntry's consulate.
foreigner can do pretty much as he pleases ,n
China Instead OF being. as his friends st hor,a
Imagine him 10 be- terror stricken mortal ~
meEtaT1y AFRAID that the Chinese ogre will der,aa
ms lfe, he is more nearly an ogre himself
Tne race question in the Southern States is no,
half so serious as the race question in Asia r1,o
Eaiie mans sense OF superiority 20 The yellovy e
presses fselr In a harshness that would shook
America were il widely known. II a 'riclsha ms n
does not go fast enough. beat him with your sticl-
secretary OF the American Legation al Pek,rs
told me as joke that he broke his light cane on a
coolies shoulders II Chinese gets in your ,va,
shove him aside, kick him pull his queue when
] have seen the way the Chinese are freouentl,,
abused by white men 7 longer marvel AZ The
onti-foregn feeling which resides in most native
breasts. The wonder IS that the Chinese have en-
dured so much without reprisal. For IL does seen,
as II the natives have rights which the for
eigners are bound 70 respect. The present o,tcr,-
against the white man IN China has manifold
suefffnaffof,
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
ARCHIVES OF THE {

records which represent more than S2ooo9"no IN
cash 90 the city would be IN the path OF the flames
Eesifea this direct cash loss the city would bc
u" destruction ~ IT'S cash books and ledgers con-
tanning Tho current transactions.
Only through the records OF the Collector of
Assessments aud Arrears can the titles 10 a large
number Of plots ~ New York Ciiy real estate be
cleared up. The amount Of the uncolIected assess
ments upon real estate recorded in the Manhattan
office IS estimated AT $2coo0o00 At the present
time there ere duplicates of the records Of these
open accounts" Each assessment unpaid tax or
water charge upon piece of real property Is
Heh against H. The property cannot be trans
ierFed with a clcar title until the assessment is
paid Should these records be destroyed II would
he dA"c,At II not impossible 70 give a clear title
10 Thousands Of plots OF land In this city A
month ago a force Of sixty-two men was set at
Work making duplicate record of tie unpaid
assessments In a form which win mako IL more
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
INVALUABLE DOCUMENTS.

Among the visitors 10 the bureau the other day
was a troubled title searCher. He had discovered
that there assessment made in 1871 upon
the piece Of property which to be transferred
! There was no record in the possession OF tho
/ owner indicating whether It had been paid not.
II am morally certain that II has been paid" {"
! said Mr.. Moynahan. the Collector with reassur-
ing smile Get the cash book for 1877 and bring
] IL tc me-" he said of his assistants. and in
due time 1t revealed from the original record
that it had been paid. This illustrates the impOr-
! tance OF these papers.
Among the documents in the possession Of the
bureau also the city-s copies OF the franchises
of the public utility corporations. against which
taxes amounting to millions OF dollars have been
levied under the terms of the Ford franchise tax
bill. but not paid. The other day these were
contain them.
The maps OF street openings by which the city
esta bshes its ownership are in equal jeopardy
with the other documents
The records which are IN daily use and the only
piece OF city property on which Boss Tweed
laid his hands that he left to tho nunlcipal-
ity. n black walnut desk. are on the main floor IN
darksOme dungeon beneath. Scattered on tables
and stored In old closets arc the older records
which have 20 be at hand. but which ara not
referred to so frequently
Opening out OF this dimly lighted room Is a.
passageway running along the side Of the build
Ing under tho sidewalk on Feade street On the
other side OF this passage one sees an iron vault
door Behind II, under the sidewalk Is a dark
nreproof and burglar proof vault In this gloomy
hole. so large that two gas Jets are required for
Its illumination the officials say with a vin, and
smile that are intended 20 signify. 'WouIdn't YOU
like TO have had OF itP' A IT. Stewart used
to store his wealth
Recently soma steps have been taken 70 protect
the records or this bureau Metal ding cases have
been provided for a portion OF the books ana
papers The old records. far as possible win
eventually be stored In the dusky depths OF the
sidewalk vault There will stiil however hs mani,
or the older books in wooden cabinets
On the second ccoy q th> -suSittnx .,....-..
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28

gas flames Some dark that IN order 70
find documents the light n paper torch in
the nearest gas light and when the document is
found stamp the light out on the worn wooden
floor. There are many passageways that II
would require many additional men in the County
Clerks Office 10 prevent careless visitors from
working their Will with the documents and from
throwing matches into obscure corners. Tin boxes
provided for the protection Of the numerous papers
involved in certain prominent cases show what
follows inadequate protection and storage I'm a
place that drives away a sense of respect. Pad
locks are missing and in some cases the tin covers
have been bent back exposing the contents of the
boxes 70 The dus, and the chance hretranG. Tne
guide pulls down bundle Of papers from the row
close 20 the ceiling. The ends OF the papers have
the light cinnamon color Of slightly scorcEed paper
and when one of the documents is opened num-
Der of PARTICLES break of and drop 10 the floor
One takes hold Of the bundle and finds that fl is
warm 20 tie touch. The heat from the neishbor-
Ing steam pipes ard gas flames is doing its work.
The documents bear the date l7S7.
The attic reminds one ~ the carre.s in old
homesteads II has the waspish odor. The floors
are Of rough. wide boards, with wide cracks he
tween taem The windows are small Quantities
Of papers lie about on rouph shelves. At the ond
OF ore q the dinly liehted rooms on the floor are
sheave5 Of rolled parcnments some Of these date
back 70 the time OF George J. OF England.
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28

easy 10 trace them than at present It Is esti-
mated that II viii take this group OF cOpytsts two
years 20 make this compilation.
Records covering q period OF nearly ninety years
are kept In the rooms Of the bureau, II is often
necessary 70 refer 10 them.
No city official It is said. knows what the city
IS worth. what IS the amount OF its coI,ectble
bills its assets When Greater New York came
into being all the records OF assessments and ar
rears Of taxes in the scores Of communities COM
prising II removed to the Stewart Building.
To Controller Coier fen the task Of organizing the
consolidated city's bookkeeping system He found
out what the city's debts We're but the task Of
hudiRE out what il was worth one that. taken
with hts other duties. seemed too great 10 be un-
dertaken. Controller Grout concluded that he had
enough worries without trying 70 analyze tho ac-
counts hidden In the mass Of documents Up %
the present time no Collector OF Assessments and
Arrears has been able To secure release when
he gave up his office, because he did not know for
what he was liable. All these years the city's
bookkeeping has been incomplete. owing 10 lack OF
knowledge OF its assets It has been carrying on
its business as current account"
The documents showing the true condition OF
the assets Of the city In the Stewart Building
Should fire rage through its halls these papers
would be swallowed with the others. adding little
20 the glow on the sky. and wiping Out forever
the only evidence Of the existence OF these assets
Under the direction of Controller Metz a cOmpia-
ton is being made OF their contents. that ulti-
nateIy the city will be able store them in fire
PROOF quarters because they will not be needed in
the daily routine of business.
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28

gree: MS church membership is asylum, and
the law cannot touch him. The missionary, olono
Is his judge. No outsider can have anv redress
against him This has made the French churches
refugees for evildoers. and it has also caused the
rreheh th missionaries to be dreaded and hated by
Chinese, high and low
Matters are improving somewhat of late The
high-handedness of the French clergy has abated
since the troubles in France have deprived ,ba,,,
OF the privileges OF instant appeal To the French
Nlu4ster al Feking A new and better policy will
PROBABLY perforce. be adopted. The noble sacy,eca
OF the French priests and nuns. and their treless
selfiess labors may then have their reward IN tSa
affection ana esteem OF the paorIo " '
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
MISSIONARIES ABOVE THE Law,

Thus Il came % pass that the French treaty gave
civil rank and authority 10 French missionaries
Lhere are ugly reports afoat concerning the means
~ which this provision was put into the docu-
ment, but these 90 not necessarily concern he
present discussion. The American and British mis-
sOnarics. who would 30 entitled to the same rights
~ the most favored nation clause. promptly dis
aVoWed any intention of accepting them
Not 50 the French. They have been openly no.
hrcal agents. as have also. IN some cases The
CerHzns. The French bishop travels ia the fuu
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
TOO LoWI

A well. known sportsman had become very go
OF listening 70 a series OF shooting yarns thar s0le
friends had been spinning. AT last he launehso n'
first and only story that night i wen. -. -N,,
faiA one dav 10 have a shot, he said. ''The oniy,
game in sight was an immense fOcA Or baoSo11Iss
I should say there were ten thousand IN ne Ee1
] fred both barrels. and how many DO you tl-1N
kilIed?s' Different gIIesses were made. rfislIis
from twenty to one hundred BIRDS mot one -.
the stranger ''but went out 20 look Tor Ecst4.s
and picked up thirty bushels OF legs had shos
little too lOVv.''-Ths Tatler.
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
pIsGRACEFUL QUARTERS.

II Is orl, necessary 10 visit the archives Of the
County Clerk in the Tweed courthouse IN olIy
Hall Park 10 realize how great the need is for a
reproof place for the storage Of documents having
so much to DO with the happiness and welfare
OF the inhabitants OF Manhattan and The Bronx.
In the unventlated cellar and the dusty attic the
DEGREES Of the courts and the papers Of the ad-
5udicated cases. extending over period Of more
than a century, are piled up in seemingly haphaz-
srd fashion rude pine shelves. Documents set
ting family quarrels. determining the future OF
chldren's lives and breaking up homes, material
for a thousand tales as dramatic any contained
between the covers or books. lie covered with dust
where a careless cigarette smokers match might
destroy them. Judgments in cases affecting the
relations OF the city and the public service cor
porations at the mercy Of the yandal and the
flames
That the court records Of one Of the richest
cities on the face Of the globe should be housed
IN such place is the wonder Of the visitor. The
cellar where large portion of the records are
kept is reached by spiral iron stairway Behind
this stairway on the floor lie a number of dust
covered documents for which there is no room on
the shelves Near its foot is a set OF shelves for
the Of the binders. On one end hang five old
hats The relics Of five men who once worked there
hut who have died The survivors believe that
their deaths were hastened 5y working in the eel
lar. They tel over the names Of The former own
ers OF the hats. pointing to the worn and dusty
headpieces as they do With one execution.
they say, all were in the prime OF life. and they
add that ten out OF staff which averages twenty
I'VE have died within the last seven years They
comment on the poor ventilation because the ulsce
Is below The sidewalks and the windows csnn,t h.
opened Then there Is poor plumbire, This ,s sci.
evident 10 the visitor. for there is an oda- 49,
s-'-ios one Of the deadly operation Of RAT poison
ne sewage has SET back again." one Of the men
,slhly remarks One inagines that il would 10
ese"soine working in the company OF tho s-~,Dg
~ na's ana realizing that The conditions of ybf.b
phe mats are relic stlu exist and arv da-, -
add another 10 The list may
IN, me marrow narrow brick arcAway beside which the hats
--ls oIels INTO dim labyrinth whose boundaries
are rows OF pine shelves reaching e-,-, ~ a.
ne 70" ceiling. The passages would H. abs,-
No. osik We're it not for licke~.ng yellow GAS
- -, ".--1l partially illuminate them. From Zoo
. 70 oelIng are packages Of papers som. IL 80
- leslehuy used are covered 10y a gray cos-
ol oast literally an eighth Of an inc5 in ,7.r..r.
I'uho4es OF documents he ind!scrinoiaateI, -
noor. The passages are SO narrou, tis,
10, 10 papers escape catching IRE when t5a,
o'a"h out by contact with the llun-o,sc. -
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
Willy CHINAMEN's WAYS

As a rule. the American and RrItish ,,,.,.
aries have followed directly contrary policy as
the utteranees of the two ministers OF these ma
tons which shall later quote, viii show. rbe,.
seheEaI rule has been non-innterference in .,lvil
matters. Times beyond counting thav hav. 80
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
HUNT FOR THE REASON.

4 representative Of The Tribune tried TO ind
ont WHY il was that the Law Department, instead
Of the County Clerk, occupied the three stories
Of the Han Of Records which remained after the
New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
observation-disclosures In Perpetual )ANCERofFIRE

COUNT COURT HoYs5 dated 1857
The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-09
BLUEFIELD is REPUBLICAN.
Every Candidate Elected I'm NUM-
cipal Fight.

Bluefield, w. Va.3,ss May 8.-After
bitter fight the mUhfcipaI election
ended here yesterday-with the cleo
ton of the entire republican ticket
over the democratic reformers by a
majority of "a. The battle has waged
fufiously for weeks and much bit
terness has been injected into the
campaign, but election day passed
off rather quietly and? ended in a
great republican victory.
S. L. Ballange, republican, was
elected over @. M. Barger, democrat,
for member OF the Board OF Super
visors and Charles M.r.Mustard and
Phil S. Buchanan, republicans, were
elected over James T.iThornton and
David Morrissett, as counciimen at
large. The democrats made their
issue that Of reform, but the voters
remembered the actions of that party
when in power several years ago,
and administered rebuke at the
polls. A great deal or money was
spent by the democratshin a last
endeavor to elect their ticket but the
voters would not be corrupted.
The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-09
WILL ENFORCE LAW
Taxpayers Will Not
Return Blanks
: ASSESSOR MORRlN

- The negligence Of the taxpayers
In returning to Assessor Marshal
Morris their blanks property filed
out with a return OF their personal
property and paying their capi)HtiOn
tax has reached Il stage whore tho
assessor must TAX radical 1rjiNn ~
.Ecmpel those who nave failed to DO
$50, to return their blanks Thn wCrl
This year Is not near SO far advanced
It this time as it was last year and
4 the assessor aScribCs it to MS failure
Ito enforce the law which the statutes
says he must when the taxpayers re-
& fuse to return their blanks with
their personal property.
tsea With his assistants the assessor
has distributed Throughout the cit>
Z Something between 500 and 0O2
b Blanks; Of theso only about 200 hav,
been returned. Whom he assessors
q called at the house to collect the cap
q lbat1on tax and list the persona
8 property, they were very Obliginl
81 and when requested left the bianl
aS11t the home Of the taxpayer to have
stiae5 blank properly filed out, but i
ssRFefns that many have either neglect
ssea oE@fnrGnf4e the notice, ard thr
Il failure to take cognizance Of it ma.
q anss them dearly.
The statutes provide that blanl
The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-09

possible to play the game.
At d meeting Of the boarder5 at
Falone's smoke palace lastAsight it
was decided to play the game next
Friday afternoon and it is expected
that both teams will bein excellent
condition at that time, as morning
and afternoon practice has been i'll
dulgcd in by the players. Tho usual
amount Of wrangling over the selec-
ZION Of an umpire has Disguised
Louie alone to such an extent that
he has posted notices in his store
rSfusng to permit any conversation
III regard to the game.
Something unusual will be a5ke /
by the promoters OF the game ~ .ho
way Or admission. 1t has been decld-
cd that men will have to pay fee
Of exactly 500 matches or eight
""f"tE pins while ladies win be ad-
miit"d free, only whom they apply
for admission in punches Of six.
The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-09
BAD CONDITIONS
In Schools and Factories Cause
Much Consumption.

Washington, May 8.-Interest in
the session Of the National
Association for the study and pre-
vention of tuberculosis, centered in
the sociological section, which dis
cussed questions affecting tubercu-
losas in schools and factories. The
sentiment, as expressed by the dele
gates, educators and representatives
OF workingmen was unanimous that
crowded rooms, bad air, and poor
light were the causes OF the spread
Of the disease and that radical steps
should be taken to overcome this
condition Of affairs. While it admit
TED that an occasional "operation, :"
causes it to exist, lack Of proper
hygehtc conditions in school room,
and workshop are credited with be-
ing responsible for the development
Of the disease. The feature Of the
session was the address of Dr. sJiv-
ingston Farrand Of New York who
spoke on the question "The Cam
naign Against tuberculosis in the
United States"