davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
THE SELELEXOKED CITY

40 Office under the city government has
grown more rapidly in Importance or usefulness
than that Of the Commissioners of Accounts
Up 10 few years ago these officials were sell
dom heard Of, but now they are practically
conducting continuous public investigations
into the city government They are sort of
permanent Lexow committee. and the city
''Lexows'' itself through them. In the hands
OF Mayor entirely resOlute and determined to
hold his subo-dinates up 70 the highest stand
ard Of efficiency they would DE potent factor
81 the municipal government and even in the
hands OF a Mayor whose purpose vacila tes
they have served 10 let great deal Of light
into the dark places of maladministration. The
knowledge and experience Of the defects Of
the city government which the present com
nissioners have acquired in their various in
vestigations should prove of great value to the
Charter Revision Commission, in helping it 10
frame a charter which Will remedy the ex-
listing Ills
Moreover, the practically continuous public
scrutiny which has been going on for the last
year has probably taught the voters a good
deal regarding the causes Of misgovernment
Extremely important investigations have been
held within that period First there the
Ahearn inquiry. It was followed by the exam
inatton into the Board OF Water Supply, which
resulted in confirming the general confidence
In its integrity and efficiency. This barely
over when the rotten hose scandal claimed the
commissioners attention. After the prelim-
mary hearings upon that they took up the
Eafen investigation, for which they had long
been preparing. and when that was concluded
the complete examination into the Fire De
partInent, in progress. was begun. This
is new development Of city government. for
though the Office has long existed the Commis-
sioners of Accounts have only recently begun
the practice of holding public Investigations
n the two years OF Mayor Lows admins
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
A IERY SIMPLE MATTER.

There are many ways of saying the same
thing. and the Hon William J. Conners, chair
man of the Democratic State Committee, only
varied the explanation which he gave TWO
weeks ago of the successful raid made on the
committee by himself and Mr.. Murphy when
he announced yesterday:
That the state committee should be appointed
bv the state convention the supreme authority
in the party, was rendered necessary oy recent
decisions Of the courts If power to discipline
traitors in the party organization and to pre-
vent its surrender to the Republican party were
to be lodged anywhere in the party between
conventions
This is entirely logical. The courts inter
fered last year to prevent the expulsion from
the state committee of the Hon. Pat Nc
Carren who, according to the ideas OF MI
Murphy and Mr.. Corners, had ceased TO be
Democrat" Democracy must be kept pure
and traitors must be disciplined Some OF the
members of the state committee were scandal
ouslv indifferent to the necessity Of expelling
McCarren and the delegations to the conven-
tion from their districts did not have lntelll-
gence enough to retire then from their posts
of authority and responsibility. Being short
on intelligence is, of course, crime in JET
fersonian circles and Mr.. Murphy and Mr..
Conners felt it their duty to the party not only
TO rebuke said criminals but to repair the evl
consequences Of their criminality. They acted
merely as casfOdeS nornm
Being the guardians of the party, why should
they not try to correct its erring members ana
bring them to a sufficient realization of their
unworthiness? Should not leaders lead ana
puardiaus p1Iard?
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01

tratjon, for instance there is no record that
single public hearing was held. The Commls-
sioners of Accounts were appointed after the
Tweed scandal. During the thirteen years from
1885 to 1897 only 254 reports were made; dur
ing the nine years from 1895 to 1906 eight
times as many-2.O54. During Mayor Van
Wvck,s four years of 102 city departments 40
ner cent were not audited; during Mayor Lows
two years so per cent were not audited; dur
ing the first three years of Mayor McClellan's
administration S5 per cent were not audited.
During the administrations of Mayors van
Wick Low and Mcclellan only five depart
ments were audited every year, and only
twenty-four out of 124 were audited even
once. The recent efficiency Of the commis-
sion has been due to its reorganization under
Messrs Mitchell and Gallaher. The braclng
up of the department and the widening OF lts
sphere of usefulness on the wnole as
creditable an accomplishment as any IN Mayor
McClellan's administration. The exploration OF
municipal affairs is wofully behind, owing 10
the inactivity of previous commissioners, SO
that now an examination Of the city's nnances
by the Legislature is imperatively needed; ou'
there is no reason why. with capable COM
missioners of Accounts, backed up by cour-
ageous mayors the city should not keep itseil
investigated for the future and the periodical
appeals to Albany to let the light into oio
abuses become unnecessary.
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
OKLAHOMA AS SCHOOLNISTRESS

Oklahoma the newest state in the Union
seems disposed to set exhausting pace for
the older and staider members of the federal
eral circle is not overpowered with a sense of
modesty. Its statesmen feel that they are
entirelp competent to reconstruct national
institutions after a new model. Ii will be re-
membered that the constitutional convention
which framed an organic charter for the forty
sixth commonwealth was restrained with diff
Guilty from inserting in that charter sundry pro-
visions revolutionizing the federal Constitution.
Fear that the President would disapprove the
work cf the .'cornfield lawyers in the con-
vention and return the instrument drawn by
them for revision compelled an abandonment
Of many startling innovations. Oklahoma
came into the Union under double pull and
the reforming energies of its politicians were
curbed By the conviction that 1t was necessary
to moderate their radicalism, at least tenn
porarily in order to secure the coveted op-
portunity OF setting up a permanent training
school for more benighted and laggard sister
states.
Now that the school has been opened, the
pupils are being put through their PAGES with
commendable persistency. The Oklahoma Leg
islature has pointed the way to the higher and
better life by considering legislation to force
recalctrant hotelkeepers to furnish uncracked
china Ia dining rooms and siI-foot sheets I'm
sleeping apartments. 1t has also considered
the advisability of adjusting the suffrage to
the requirements Of the grandfather theory, be-
lieving that a good citizen needs ancestors and
plenty OF them, and that his weight and value
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01

iect mildly to the wandering Of hoodlum clans
which might thus he encouraged, but the strong
est protest is directed against the extra cost Oh
running the ferries
A mind which can drag mere money mattefs
into an Issue concerning the happiness OF inpo-
cent and lovely children belongs to sordio
generation, now happily passing away. Inc
coming race has broader vision; 1t sees fnat
children must be amused and generally enabled
to have q good time because, after they nave
once attained sufficient maturity OF thought 10
grasp the New York method OF municipal
finance. all their Joy will be dead Therefore,
bring all the boys and girls to the recreation
piers, the lighthouses and the Fairgrounds at
public expense Take them all up to the Bronx
Zoo give each one liberal bag Of peanuts for
consumption and for largess at the monkey
cage let the government own all Punch ana
Judy shows all merry -go-rounds yea. even an
hurdy -gurdies, and work the same just as long
and just as often as any wee tot or half grown
rowdy wants any particular brand Of ecstasy.
Doesn't the Commissioner Of Docks and Ferries
feel himself shrink into insignifcance as ne
stands in the presence of the coming race which
he has barbarously rebuffed?
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
NOT A PRETTY PICTURE.

The uncomfortable position In which the
Mayor of Mattoon, ILL.,, found himself when his
fellow townsmen voted the saloonkeepers out
of business at the last election is by no means
an unusual one IN the regions where pronlbltloA
is being experimental with. And the continued
failure of many communities to extrcate them
selves from 1t suggests if it does not actually
indicate serious weakness of popular govern
ment- The Mayor of Mattoon. himself opposed
To saloons was nevertheless hostile TO the pro-
gramme Of stamping out the brood Of bartcnd
ers The Mayor thought that the wicked goose
laying golden eggs ought not TO be Killed untll
the town had secured virtuous goose capable
of producing the same delectable fruit. The
reforn1ers couldn't see the matter in that light:
there was only thing to do Danish the rum
shops and. that once accomplished, everything
would right itself automatically. SO Mattoon
went dry without worrying It's righteous soul
over the mere detail Of providing some means OF
raising the $4,000 which local saloonkeepers
will no longer contribute TO the municipal treas
urv And the Mayor. finding himself impotent
to carry out various necessary public improve
ments, has resigned.
Many other towns. notably In the South, have
put themselves in the same predicament- In
Alabama the teaching staffs of several cities
have been greatly reduced, while salaries have
been cut right and left. In some Instances
voters were guilty of nothing more tnan snort
sightedness and soon as the inevitable con-
sequences became apparent wiped out the
deficit caused by stopping liquor licenses. But
in other cases. Of which MattOon seems TO be
one the public has been unwilling 10 pay
for improvements which it had long enjoyed
at the expense of the liquor drinking class.
city whose voters and taxpayers allow otf-
cials to discharge school teachers and other i'm
portant employees for lack of excise tax funds
presents picture OF selishness thinly masked
by mock morality.
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
SONS oF REVOLUTION CONVENE.
Gavel Made from Hulk of Vessel Burned By
British Presented

Buffalo. April So-The national congress OF ths
Sons of the American Revolution began here to-
day About two hundred delegates representing
branches Of the organization In nearly every state
in the Union. were in attsnTance President GEN
eraI Nelson A McCIary. of Chicago. occupied the
chair
feature Of the session the presentation BY
General Riggs, of Maryland Of a gaveI mads from
the hulk of the Peggy Stewart which was burned
by the British in Chesapeake Bay
In an address to the delegates this afternoon
Mayor J. y Adam said the spirit OF IS was not
dormant IN this end OF the state although not
manifested by sword and gun I am sure II Will
do its part said he. in support OF our state
executive in his endeavor u uphold the corstfrI-
ton against those who would subordinate IT 10
bylaws
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
4nusemenfS.


ArADENY OF MISIC-s-I5-Mlle- Mcdisie
IEAMBRA-e-S-Nsudeville.
AST0RSscp-Faid in Full
BEIASCo-s-I5-The Warrens OF Nhsihia-
Bi5oJ--s:l5-Papa lie BonDard No.
BIsA>rrS S-S.l5-s15-The governor ano tne oses-
BROAIwAY-S:l5-A Waltz Dream
CsSYN0-s:i5-Nesrly Hero
ClRCLE-S:Ia-The Merry -eTo-fsoano
COICNIAIs-2-s-Nau
DAILY S-s:Is-Girls.
DFNFy-c-S-Nau6evi1e
ETsr-N MIrSEE-The World n Wax
ENPIRF-s.2 .2e-Father ard the Boys:
lsARRICK-s.f5-The Royal Mounted
s.20-Cespenster
EsCKETT-s:1s-The Witching boui-
n NNs ERSTEIN-S- N-S-2-S-15-NaudeNile
EFFaID SOTARE-s-ls-The Girl Behind sne n. I1e.
pPopRoNE-c-s-Battle Of Port Arthur n@ii'
Circus and Onaip
yzr--ScfSN-s-.N-The Of the Farniy-
ERBGCKER-s:i5-The YANKEE rfihee-
lIEFRTY-s. .2o-Polly OF the Circus
YsyCEJ-s-s:se-The Thief
MADISON SQUARE oiARDENx-sLSspes pe,nS
Mr-RoPcIJTAN OPERA HOUSE,
>rxSS .NsTFFI,AM-s:ls-The Merry Wioo"-
NEW YORK-s:29-T Soul hiss
sayoy-s -2a-The Servant IN the f1ouse-
aNT-s:1S-The Music MasiTl
wATIECKt KtS-s.ao-A knight for Dhs- -. r,e Merry
NT-STC EAIis-S:l5-Bar1eSoue "h A"N "
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
THE HRTTE!

What hard heart the Commissioner Of
Docks and Ferries must havei He has just
served a cruel answer to the recent request Of
the Board of Education that the city ferries
carry school children TO and from Manhattan
free of charge. The purpose back Of this peti-
tion was to enable the poorer children in Brook
lyn. Richmond and Queens to revel In the great
recreation centres of Manhattan. The Commits
soner of Docks and Ferries evidently is too
calloused to discern the lofty justice and sweet
altruism Of this scheme he growis back that
the privilege cannot be granted, and there's an
end of the matter What a spectacle in this
day of municipalized brotherly kindness .
What q warning to every young man against
becoming Commissioner of Docks and Ferries! !!
But the saddest thing about the whole sad cpl
sode is the amount of approval which this bru
tai official will command.
You may not believe 1t, but there are hun
dreds Of apparently intelligent, charitable per-
sons who feel sympathy with the suggestion
Of free ferry trips for all children. Their
theory is that Brooklyn ought to prepare vacant
lots for her own young, and that the open fields
In Richmond and Queens give the children OF
those boroughs no conceivable excuse for max
ing long pilgrinages to the already overcrowdcd
recreation grounds Of Manhattan. 1t is also
urged that large amount Of extra coal would
be consumed If the ferryboats had TO carry
three or four hundred million juvenile pleasure
seekers year. This estimate OF the probable
increase in traffic takes conservative account of
the number of Manhattan and Bronx youths
who would manage to use the free ferries in
their Saturday explorations of foreign countries
down the bay and darkest Long Island.
Some Of the Commissioners sympathizers OBJ
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
At THE WHITE HooSe'
from The Tribune buru-

o,s1
uo.nir.ton Apr,l so-The President sun'n,o"es
psrra.entat,ves Hepburn Townsend, Campoen go
suizer to-day to urge them TO obtain approp ,n-
m nrovide properly for the enforcement. VI ~
,,as.,vatinp section of the Hepburn rate Jaw
Secretary Taft made two visits NJ 'ne
House one In the morning to take up uep -.
ment matter. and the other in the afternoon De'''
he started for Panama. An.
Representative Olcott, of New YORK. haa % -
with the President about the child iaoor pi'
announced when he left the White House tna' t-o
900 ,,ro, would be raised from twelve to fourteen
years. ,.. s.,
other callers at the White House inciuded sen
ators Taylor, Dillingham;. Stewart. Fint' fIe' az
po-ah REPRESENTATIVES Graham. Gillett. Lanois
FULLER Hill. Hull Jones' Lloyd. Madden Games, oi
Tennessee. and Murdock, Lou +. Payn' OF we"
York and Clifford Pfnchot
Arsr the President finished his routine work ne
went for a walk In the suburbs. Although the ram
was falling rapidly and the mud In the neius anu
country, roads was ankle deep. he renamed III 'iio
oman for more than two hours not returning to the
White House until dark
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01

as voter increase with the length Of his line
age Oklahoma as a community boasts no long
descent, but the politicians who control It's
fortunes want to gloss over this accident OF
fortune by prescribing that a voter with
grandfather entitled to vote somewhere perore
1869 must have precedence over voter whose
ancestor did not acquire the suffrage until
after 1869 although that was years before the
State OF Oklahoma was dreamed OF OF even
the name of Oklahoma was known.
The latest novelty evolved by the Oklaho-
mans is the creation Of legal holidays for the
purpose of demonstrating to the other states
their lamentable lack OF grasp on the every
day principles Of government. Governor Has
kell has just issued a proclamation calling Oh
the people of the state to abstain from their
ordinary callngs on May and forego the
fruits Of that days labors in order to lnsuuct
the rest Of the country by resolutions on vari-
GUS matters Of public interest. Here are the
constitutional reforms which Oklahomans are
to urge on the people OF the more eHete ano
sluggish portions of the Union:
fa) Elect United States Senators by direct
vote.
(b) Legalize an income tax.
(c) Make constitutional an employers haoihty
law.
(d) Cease to interrupt the states in regulation
of CARRYING charges within the state ana tne
prohibition of merging OF competing common
carriers - "a.
(e) Leave to every state the right OF It's own
people to enforce morality and protection to
honest labor. without federal aid pelns given
the enemy of both.
This must probably be taken as only first
effort in pedagogy; for we are sure that the
genius of Oklahoma has further and more start
ling innovations in store for the Observant and
willing in other states. Why not give one
day month to these altruist1c demonstrations!
The field is large and the Oklahoma politicians
are capable. Youth and innocence may, arter
all. be the best teachers and the hardened elder
sisters may be eventually reached and con-
verted. Holidays are always popular, and the
Governor of Oklahoma seems to have given
them new and highly benevolent use.
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
MRS. COREY PLANS HOME THEATRE.

Mrs William Corey. formerly Miss MabeIe Gill
man. sailed for Europe yesterday accompanied by
her husband on the neutrality-suspicious. liner
Deutschland. Mrs. Cory confirmed the report that
she had planned 10 establish private theatre in
her own house In this city and give performances
of grand opera. Her Idea is 10 give three per
formances OF each opera she produces one per
formance for her friends, one for the critics and
one for the public. Mrs Corey started to tell OF
her plan. but her husband her side and
requesting her TO go TO her stateroom said ''rhere
is nothing in this talk at all"
Mrs Corey returned TO the deck later and told a
friend that her plans were formed and would be
a Co.. notwithstanding MIR. Corey's statements to
the contrary
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS.

IFrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington, April 8o--The Brazilian AniOa'S
and Nine Nabuco entertained tho new Norwegian
Minister and Nine Guide at luncheon to-day. IN
viting members of the diplomatic corps TO meek
them.
The British Ambassador and Mrs Bryce nave
gone to Pittsburg remain until Saturday
The German naval attache and Frau Heooins-
h,,, nv,r On IN tn. Ad,rondacks in May for visit
of some length to friends They will probably d.
vide the summer between Newport and Bar Harbor.
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01

Hammerstein, in London, Announces En-
gagement of Diva for Five Years.

London April 30.-Covent Garden reopened to-
night, La Travata' being rendered. A brilliant
audience filed the hall the Princess of Wales
being among those present. Nine. Louise Tetrazzni
in fine voice and a triumph The new
sion.
Mines. Patti and Alban and Oscar Han1mersten
were in the audience. Later Mr.. Hammerstein
nounced that he had engaged Tetrazzini for period
of five years.
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
SEWANEE ALUMNI MEET.

The alumni of the University of Sewanee Tenn ..
held their annual dinner Murrays. in 42d street
last night. At the dinner IL was announced that
all but s5oc0 had been contributed toward fund
of 100000 required for accepting offer by An
drew Carnegie of s6OCoo the university DR. G.
NJ. Polk. of Cornell Medical College. spoke on the
remarkable development made by the university
since II destroyed during the Civil War
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
ARGENTINA HoNoRs Mr.. sEAUPRs.

Buenos Ayres April 3O-Arthur NJ. Beaupre tho
retiring Minister of the United States TO the Argsn-
une 4Sepuolic, was entertained dinner last nixhe
at Government House by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs. Senior ZeballOs. MIR Beaupre will leave
here soon for The Hague. where he will succeed
DR. David Jayne Hill S American Minister This
was the first official farewell banquet rendered
TO retiring foreign diplomat in the grand rsceptQA
hall OF Government Hsuns.
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
DEADLOCK IN eALLoTINe FoR BISHOP.

boNer' Del, ApriI So.-The Episcopal clergymen
ana laymen OF Delaware a-e deadIocked over the
selection of Bishop to succeed the late Ief~hro,
Coleman Of Wilmington The banotiug began on
February 10. when twenty-seven ballots were
taken. and was resumed to-day. thlrty-one addi-
uonal ballots being taken without result Ballot
ing Will be resumed ar Wurolnsron IN nm
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01

The Emperor Of Japan has conferred the Order
of the Rising Sun of the Fourth Glass upon Pro-
fessor George William Knox, acting president OF
Union Theological Seminary. Consul General Nit
EURO of Japan here presented the decoration in
person to Professor Knox at the seminary yester-
day Professor Knox has spent several years in
Japan and is the author of several books on that
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
NINE. GOULD AND PRINCE MOVE ON.
Naples, April So.-Mme. Anna Gould and Prince
Hslie de Sagan left here this morning for Rome.

Rome, April 5o.-Mme Anna Gould and Prince
Helie de Sagan arrived here to-day from Naples
The entire party went to the Grand Hotel From
Rome Nine. Gould and the prince will go direct
TO the French Riviera
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01

This newspaper is oIcned and published oy
The Tribune Association, q Ne10 York corpora
fion Office and principal place OF business, ITfo-
une Building. No. Isl Nassau street. heU forE'
Ogden MiUS. president; Nathaniel 1HfHe. sec
-efcrp and treasurer. The address OF the oHl-
GERS is the Office of this newspaper.
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
AMELIA BINGHAM IMPROVING

MISS Amelia Bingham who underwent opera
tion for perttonits on Sunday was said last night
oy Dr- walter d Gilday. Of No 81 West SSth street
To have passed the critical stage Unless unrors-
seen complications ensued there was no reason Why
she should not recover he added
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
POL PLANcoN MAY NOT RETURN.

Pol Plancon, the basso, who has been singing
throughout the opera at the Metropolitan
Opera House. sailed for Europe yesterday on the
French liner La Savoe. He said he had made no
plans for next season. and was not sure that he
would return TO this countrA
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
DE cHIMAY ASKS ANNUIMENT.

Rome, April 30.-Enorts being made hv
Prince de Chimay obtain from the Vatican an
annument of his marriage with Miss Clara Ward
later Nine. Riso and now Nine Ricciardi
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01

London. April 30.-Mrs. Whitelaw Reid. wife Of
the American Ambassador accompanied by her
daughter Miss Jean Reid. whose engagement to
the Hon John Ward announced yesterday
left here to-day for Paris
New-York tribune., 1908-05-01
SOCIAL NOTES FROM NEWPORT.
- TeIeErarh Il q -

IBT IsIesTapl IrIoIne J
Newport. r L. April 3o-Mr. and Mrs George Z
Rfves arrived this evening for the season
Major Theodore X Gibbs returned Newport
this evening
Stuyvesant Leroy is visiting here for few days.