davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
NAVAL CRITICS NOT SHOOT
ING IN DARK.

Discussing the recent launching of
the battleship North Dakota at the
Fore river yards, the London Times
says ''there can be no doubt that in
the North Dakota and the Delaware
the United States navy will possess
two battleships Of the first class which
need not fear comparison with any bat
tleships of the present day"
However pleasant this opinion may
be, it does not distract attention from
the energetic effort now under way TO
reform the manner OF administering
the Navy Department. Tbs suppress
sion Of bids, to which notice was di-
rected a short time ago, is a matter of
minor Importance compared with the
question of efficient military service.
President Roosevelt himself has said
that "we need the establishment by
law of a body Of trained officers who
shall exercise a systematic control Of
the military affairs of the navy and
be the authorized advisers Of the Sec
rotary concerning It" The same thing
has been said by other naval authori-
ties-men speaking not cautiously, but
broadly and without personal or par
tisan feeling.
Up to the year 1912 the Secretary
of the Navy was advised and other
wise assisted BY a naval commission,
composed of three sea-going oficersj
but since the creation of bureaus au-
thority and responsibility have been
scattered hither and thither. The pur-
pose of che agitation now going on is
to get Congress to revive this commits
sion.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
WHATROOT WILLREPRESENT
IN THE SENATE.

One thing about Mr.. Root! If he is
elected he viii be United States Sena-
tor and no other kind. In that light
alone, New York viii honor herself in
sending him to Washington. But there
are other lights
He will not represent an express com
pany.
He will not represent a party
He viii not represent a machine, and
a defunet one at that.
He will represent all the people Of
New York.
H5 viii represent them more ably
and more squarely, if his ten years in
the Cabinet Is any Indication, than New
York has been represented for genera
tiOns.
It will be a good thing for the coun-
try to have Elihu Root in the Senate,
But it viii be a better thing for New
York-even if the new Senator shall
refuse to be an errand boy to hustle
appointments.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
Seeing Washington With The Times Guide
"UNION ENGINE HOUSE"

used. for few years. as a public
school.
In 1892 a petition was made To Con
gress asking that the building be given
to the Veteran Ffremen's Association,
which was done with the stipulation
that it be at the discretion OF the Com
miSsioneIs of the District. Starting with
a membership OF about 500. the assOcia-
ton has dwindled until there are today
but twenty members.
Filled with hundreds o. relics from
all the old volunteer companies the
building Is an old curiosity shop. In
1898 the association was fortunate
enough TO locate the engine which was
used by the Columbia Engine Com
pany. a company founded in 1891, before
IL disbanded. This engine, built in 1850
and found in an out of the way Vir-
ginia village, now stands in the Union
Engine house and is one Of the most
interesting of the relics On the wall
in a glass case is q uniform which was
worn in 1870 by Benjamin GTeenup, the
same uniform he wore at the time he
was killed under the wheels Of this en-
CINE while making the run TO one of
the biggest fires of that year.
In addition there are any number or
badges and medals. uniforms and caps.
everything curious and interesting
which could be obtained and which had
been owned at one time by the men Of
the early volunteer companies, and an
Afternoon spent here is one well spent.
II .sL EAR, at the suggestion OF some
Of u r smbers Of the veteran firemen.
a petition was made to Congress that
this old structure should go to the as
sOcis ION made up OF the oldest inhab-
itauts of the District of Columbia, but
It vas not passed upon by that body.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
WE MAKE GOOD ROADS, BUT
DON'T KEEP THEM UP.

When the American builds a good
road it Is a good road. But he doesn't
keep it up.
That is the substance of Logan ".
Pages unofficial report, after attend
ing the recent international Roads Con
gress in Paris as director Of the office
Of public -oads of the American Agri-
cultural Department. It may not be
pleasant to read. But every American
who knows our best roads from use
of them viii know it is the truth.
No better macadam roads are built
in France, says our delegate, than are
built in this country. The roads in
England are not of better construction
than the best We have here. But in
France woTkmen are steadily at work,
sitting a little binder" on exposed
stone here, rolling little cracked stone
into a hollow there, keeping the cutters
clean, watching against ruts, and main
tanning what in any other business
would be called a maximum of eff
cheney. In England al this Is done
and more-for England has made such
progress IN spraying her roadbeds with
bituminous material that she keeps
many miles of her suburban highways
as free from disease breeding dust as
the best city streets in the world.
What about the United Statesg We
build good road-honestly, let US say.
It cost MS as high as $4,000 a mile.
For six months, or one month, or two
weeks, everybody with a team or
car uses it to his great delight. After
that time the delight in it rapidly
diminishes. First, the @binder" is
whisked OFF the stone. Then the tires
begin to display the smaller stones.
Then hollows appear, then ruts, then
puddles Then-then the investment
ceases to yield anything like a fair
dividend.
We don't keep up cur roads because
The employment of men to do that
work would mean more places to be
filed; that would mean more spoils for
machine politicians; that would mean
more graft; that would mean higher
taxes, and we wouldn't have anything
10 show for our efforts in the end
Either that chain of circumstances is
founded in fact, or it isn't. If it isn't,
then we are negligent of our own pocket
books to ortinue this practice of build
ing a good road and allowing II TO go
TO waste. If it Is. then we have only
yourselves to blame for allowing grafters
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
CIVIL SERVICE POSTMAST-
Frs.

President Roosevelt hasn't always
been the most consistent of civil service
reformers, considering his early devo-
tion to that creed. As President he has
worked with the instruments at his
hand The patronage power was one,
and he has welded it at times with a
skill which was quite as astonishing
IS the inconsistency displayed IN
doing so. But down at the bottom
the President is a civil service reformer
as much as ever, and he proved it by
the order just issued, placing some
$4,000 fourth class postmasters in the
classified service.
This removes from the Congressional
patronage a most important group OF
offices. It IS presumed that if the ex.
pertinent now announced, affecting the
States north of the Potomac and east
of the Mississippi, shall be q success,
il viii later be extended to the rest
of the country. This IS one Roosevelt
policy which President Taft may be
expected to accept with enthusiasm.
The Congressman used TO grumble
ut having their pap and power cur
tailed; but they don't do it so much
now. They have discovered that the
business of distributing offices is apt to
make quite as many enemies as friends.
More Congressman have gone down on
the rock of Office distribution than on
any other, and the wise Congressman
has come to realize that If he could
shunt the whole business he would be
better off. There is hardly room for
doubt that the service would also be
improved. No good reason exists for
continuing any part of the spoils sys-
TEN. This country is still well back
in the political stone age, in this re
gard, as compared to some Others.
But there are other positions than
the postoffices. in which more fxIty
Of tenure, aud less liability to political
change, are desirable. There ought 20
be an executive head of the PostofTice
Department who would be independent
of politics and would stay during good
service. No corporation on earth would
change heads of such a business con
Germ SO often as does the Government,
The Postofice and the Navy Depart
ments have been training stations for
Cabinet members, and they are the
very two in which such conditions
ought not to be allowed. They demand
experience, experiences, confidence. They
have not had those helps. The postal
deficit and the constant quarrel over
navy reorganization give eloquent tes-
tiHaony to the wrong of the present
system.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
STAND PAT IS ADVICE
OF GEN. GROSYENOR
Former Member Star Wit
ness at Tariff Hearing,
Pleads for Wool.
Continued from First Page

suggested that the possibility OF BTy-
ans election might have been a factor
in lowering the price OF wool IN Ohio.
What else DC you suppose would
make an intelligent man like me fear
the election OF Bryan?" asked the gen.
erai
Because ] suppose he had pretty
good chance along IN July and August"
replied Mr.. Clark. you are the only
man have seen that has con-
fessed that he did not know. all
along that Taft would be elected
By an overwhelming majority. and
some Democrats that know Of
have been doing the same kind OF talk
ing since election day"
NOV" continued Mr.. Clark. IF We
are to hold the rates pat how can we
inClr ase the ra-enues and decrease the
deAcit2'
II ] were member OF Congress- - be-
gan General GrOsvenor, but Tn not, so
1 charge for what know now"
"Weu," said Mr.. Clark. heartily, 81
am in favor OF Taft giving you 3 good
job so that we viii have you with US.
and so We can get some % your valuable
Information and experience"
Only Has to Ask.
Just as soon as ask him for a job. 4"
said the general emphatically, '.he will
give il 10 me-"
Wen, I sincerely hope that he viii, %
returned Mr.. Clark, because we want
you with us"
W. p. Dana. Of the Shepherd Breed
er's Of New York said that the exist
Ing duty on wool was at the lowest point
that Il could remain consistent with the
continued prosperity Of the industry.
Theodore Justice, OF Philadelphia, ap-
peared to give some practical demon
STATIONS to the committee as to the
low cost Of manufactured wool in the
United States. He called attention to
the fact that the suit Of clothes he was
wearing was bought in Philadelphia yes
terday for the express purpose Of dem
onStraurg the superiority OF tile Amer
lean article in quality as well as in
price.
The suit fitted him like the product
Of q tt-th avenue shop, but Mr.. Justice
said that 1t had cost him but SI25 at
ready made house in Chestnut street
lie asked that the tariff on wool remain
unchanged
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02

shoe manufacture. They brought fig
ures TO prove IL, too.
And then it developed that the pack
ers were not Il unit in support OF the
high tariff on hides. a big delegation
came from Milwaukee in favor Of free
hides. Milwaukee Is both a packing
center and q tanning center The pack
ers had failed 70 control the local mani
festatiOn OF public opinion Report is
that there is a schism among the pack
ers, some of them don't care, and others
are said to feel that Il might be bad
policy to insist too far on the hide
tarim, less Il might lead TO embarras5-
ing inquiries about where the tariff
benefits 60
At any rate, report comes from the
tanners. ana from some Of the packing
centers. that the packers are not going
TO make a great night for retention Of
the schedule. If they don't, IL viii not
be made, according to the revlsiOnistg.
who are confident that the farmers re-
alize the situation. and, regarding the
hide as a by-produCt whose chief value
is TO the packer. win not interfere with
the prospect of cheaper leather, harness.
and shoes.
The Importance Of this unexpected de-
velOpment lies IN the fact that If the
farmer doesn't fight for the tariff on
hides. there Is small probability OF his
fighting for any Of the s0-called agri-
cultural schedules The farmers atti-
tude toward tariff has been much
changed IN recent years, declare the re-
visl0nists; he is not 20 be gulled with
the ancient argument about competing
with the pauper eggs OF Canada II IS
believed that II the steel and hide
schedules can be materially lowered. II
viii start the general downward move
ment and open the way 10 possibility
OF something like real revision.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
HELPING THE FARMER TO
HELP HIMSELF.

The Commission on Country Life ap-
pointed by the President TO inyesti-
gate and report TO him what is needed
to make country life more attractive
and more prosperous viii return from
its tour of the States III two weeks
and viii recommend, it is reported,
among other things, a better system
Of education, postal savings banks, and
a limited parcel post. The commission
has also sent out a circular suggesting
that country people themselves come
together at their district schoolhouses
next Saturday evening and discuss their
own problems, the idea being that un-
less they take an interest in the ques-
ton the agitation to improve the condi-
ton will not amount to anything.
1t hardly required a commission to
inform US that the country districts
need better schools and better roads.
The commission has done good work,
nevertheless, With people in cities suf-
fering for lack of food and shelter, with
children dying for lack of fresh air,
there are farms throughout the cOun-
INCAPABLE of supporting an indeti-
mite number of PeOple-going to ruin
for lack of men to work them. In a
great many parts of the country
farmers leave their horles and move to
town because their children viii not
live in the country. The question is
how to get the procession started the
other way. It is easy enough to talk
about the pleasures of the farm when
one has in mind r broad stretch of
acres well stocked, situated upon a
fine road where one has at hand many
of the conveniences of city life and
opportunity to get them all with few
of the disagreeable accomplishments.
But that is the exceptional farm.
In every State there are farms whose
owners live on in a half hopeless con
dition, making a bare living, and
hardly that. eager to get away from
the drudgerv of farm labor If a chance
presents itself. They are the ones
whose conditions it is believed can be
made more comfortable and satisfac-
tory by joint effort. That is the pur
pose of the commission, and that Is
why it urges the country people to get
together and lend a hand in remedying
the unpleasant features of their con-
dition 1t is not expected that the
commission can make every farmer
wealthy, healthy, happy, and wise, but
if 1t succeeds in getting a few here and
there impTegnated with the desire for
good roads, good schools, and for bet
ter postal facilities it may start to
work desire for better things that
will leaven the whole lump.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
MERRY WIDOW MISS
CHASED BY STUDENTS

WILMINGTON, Del, Dec. because
she wore a Merry Widow Of unusual
dimensions. a young Philadelphia WONT
an, who was a guest OF the family of
George c, SeIover, Of East Fourteenth
street, was mobbed by more than 100
boys and girls, students at Public
School No. "a, and the police had 70 be
summoned to save the big hat.
She was passing the school as the chill
6ren were leaving the building, and spy
ing her attire, they began to follow
her and uttered tauntfng and insulting
remarks. The girl ran through Brandy
wine Park with the children following
her and she was exhausted when she
reached the Selover home. The children
surrounded the house and would not
allow her TO come out when she wanted
10 reach a railroad station, and police
man had TO be summoned 10 dispense
the mob and escort the young woman
to the train.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02

II the removal OF the tariff on works
OF art is 10 be accomp4 ished. It IS ap-
parent that the decision Will be made
during the present agitation for tarIn
revision. to which the Republican party
IS pledged The ways and Means Com
mittee is now possessed Of sufficient ma
teriaI in the brief presented by the
American Free Art League, to act In
telIigsntly.
While the brief IS lengthy, its prep
aration goes TO the root Of the matter
the needs Of the public at large. Tarln
charges are paid by the purchaser. not
BY the dealer, and the demand OF the
public through its representative men
for a removal Of the tariff on art OBJ
jects. should not be passed careless:y
without serious consideration. The ar
gumeuJs advanced are based upon the
value Of works OF art as an educational
medium, and IL has been conclusively
shown that the revenue received from
the tarin on art objects IS so insignia
cant. that It should not be considered as
a source Of revenue or a means OF pro
lection
II the removal OF the present tariff
would emblrTass any class OF our citi-
zens, the American artists would be
the first TO feel the hardship OF such a
change. over 200 leading painters and
sculptOrs have presented brief argu-
ments in favor of the removal Of the
tariff. AS the remedial legislation only
affects such works OF art as were pro-
duced prior TO 1850, American artists
have no fear Of the free duty on these
products OF this earlier period. Such
art objects are confined to those Of an
ornamental character or educational
value, and subject 10 such reasonable
regulations as 70 proof of antiquity as
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
ARE SPLIT
ON TARIFF ON HIDES
Outcome Is Eagerly Awaited This Schedule Is Con
Sidered Crucial in Revision Scheme-MiIwaukee
Delegation Favor Removal of Duty.

A sharp split has developed IN the
ranks OF the big packing interests, 1t is
stated. concerning the tariff on hides
As this particular schedule seems likely
TO be crucial in the scheme of tariff re-
vision, the greatest interest is taken In
the development.
From the beginning OF revision dis
cussioD, the highly protected interests
have banked on preventing any very
significant reductions. by making the
old appeal 10 the farmer: the farmer.
whose corn and wheat and potatoes and
meats and hides are protected This
argument to the farmer has been losing
force year by year as the farmer real
lied that he produced little which need
ed protection But the hide tariff was
one thing on which the Chinese-Wall
People relied. they could talk Of the
danger OF letting in the pauper hides
OF Australia and Argentina, and by do
ing so they hoped to line up the farmer
States against real revision. Tariff
making being a game of you scratch
my back and I'll scratch yours they
would scratch the farmer by promising
TO keep the hide tariff.
But there IS the trouble. The packer.
nOt the farmer. gets the beneht or the
tariff on hides. The witnesses before
the Ways ana Means Committee proved
that TO evsTybOdy-s satisfaction It was
shown that she price Of hides bears no
relation whatever TO the prices OF
meats; hides go down when meat Is up.
and vice versa, without any reference
to the tariff.
Moreover. the tanning. leather and
shoe interests protested that II they
could have free hides they could soon
monOpolize the tanning business of the
wOrlc. the leather business, and the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
Removal of Tariff on Works of Art
Urged in Brief Presented BY League

the Secretary Of the Treasury may pre-
scribe.
The brie. Is not confined TO the argu-
ments OF artists Two hundred college
presidents and educators have Joined IN
this movement and have presented tOrCl-
bic personal reasons relating TO The
value OF art as an educational factor.
President Wilbur =. ThlTkiel1r OF this
city. states; AS one interested In the
education OF the whole man, including
his aesthetic nature am heartily IN
favor Of the American Free ART
League. It's aims and plans should ap-
peal strongly 20 all who would rep
their feuow-men into the larger life.
Last. but not least. in this CJmpTeheu-
slve document, IS the editorial comment
OF over 300 newspapers and magazines
advocating the removal OF tho tariff,
The list includes and Iz largely COmDOs-
ed OF the leading magazines and news
Pc pers OF this country II IS not sec
u5nal movement, either IN the support
or artists educators or journalists,
surely these various classes speak from
knowledge. and their combined voice
should give authority 10 the movement.
Artists know that with a wider ap-
probation or art. their iabOr5 wiz re-
Ceiye a larger commentator. EduCat-
Ors know that in sTeased art education
viii result In a more universally devel-
oped class Of students. Public men
recognize in the cultivation OF love
for the dne arts q higher type OF Cili-
ZeHship- Patrons OF public art muse
ums will by the removal OF the tariff
be enabled 10 provide more literally
than ever for the museums ~ which
they are interested.
The members eof the American Free
Art League residing in this city are
George L. Raymond, Charles j. Bell,
William T. Curtis. John joy Edison,
Maurice +. Egan, Charles n FfOulke,
Edward N. GSllaudet, Charles -. Glow
er, Frederick B. Mcclure George X.
McLanahan. Charles W. Needham. the
Rev. Wallace Radcliffe, the Rev. frank
Sewan, William A. Slater and Alpheus
II. Snow. The organization includes over
600 public men representing al Of she
States In the Union.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
No. CLXlX
,ON your left as you pass out H /
street. ladies and gentlemen,
~ and on the southeast corner or


street. ladies and gentlemen
~ and on the southeast corner OF
the intersection of that street with
%inteenth street northwest. you see the
engine house OF the Union Engine Com
many. one of the first volunteer COM
Danies established by the corporation Of
Washington
THE corporation OF Washing on au-
tborized in 1903 the formation OF four
volunteer fire companies and Of these
four. the Union Engine Company was
the only one TO continue under the old
name, It IT, not known to a certainty
where this company was qual.ered be
fore 1916, but that IL was organized is
shown by the fact that this was one
Of the companies called out at the time
washington was burned by the British
IN 1915 a resolution was presented TO
Congress that the people should thor
oughly organize their FIRE companies
and soon after 1t was passed the Union
Engine Company crops up again with
quarters at Twentieth street and Penn
sylvania avenue in the old Market
House, where It stayed until 1886.
"On thai date another act of Congress
authorized the government 10 build and
equip an engine house at twentieth
and II streets. and the RECORDS show
that Il was fully paid Tor IN lS5s by a
final payment Of $500
The company was sta toned IN these
quarters until July !. 1864, wher they
were disbanded TO make way Tor the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
POPE LEAVES BED
AGAINST ORDERS
Says Mass in Private Chapel Re
ccvery Apparently Not
Retarded.

ROME. Dec. 2.-Againsr the vigorous
protests Of his physicians. the Pope
left his bed for a short time today TO
say mass in the private chapel
After the mass, His Holiness returned
TO bed, but felt strong enougn to givs
an audience to Cardinal Merry del VAL
the Papal secretary.
The Pope passed a comfortable night
DR.. Petracci found him free Of fever to-
day, but there is still the well develop
I'd case of bronchitis. Owing to the
Pope's advanced age, there is fear that
his ailment may develop into pneu-
mOuia-
General audiences will BE- resumed
next Monday II the Pope's GONZALES
Cence continues.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02

to shut US out o the money-advantage
of good roads as well as good govern
ment in lis other relations to us. In
either case, we are road spendthrifts-
and we will continue to be until we
make It our business, as users of our
few smooth, hard highways, to see that
they are kept in repair.