davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1908-01-15
ON Motion OF Counsel.

On page 52s of the City Record for
January "A, under the general heading
Proceedings Of the Public Service Com
mission for the First District, this entry
will be found:
Now. on motion of GEoRoE $. COLEMAN. Esq.
counsel 70 the commission, Il Is
Ordered. That tho said paragraph numbered
C) OF said order No. 90. dated November 10, 1907,
as amended BY said order No. iSS. be and the same
hereby Is modined SO as to read as follows"
Then follows the order and the record
OF the vote, which shows that Commits
sioners WILCOX, MCCARRoLL, BAssETT,
MALTBIE and EUsTIs voted in the affirm
atiVe, it appearing from this that each of
these $4,000 a year officers was in his
place attending to business. It there
fore seems odd, at least, that the motion
should have been made by counsel, to
say nothing Of the curious and unusual
method OF procedure which permits any
person not a member Of the commission
TO offer a formal motion at one Of its
regular meetings.
Its notworth while TO raise the question
The sun., 1908-01-15
ConressIon. Of a Tneodorophlllst

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Su In
view Of the appointment Of a medicus a.
commanding officer Of the hospital ship
Relief. would il not be perfectly appropriate
to have a schoolma'am placed in charge of
a schooship: a coal miner named as supreme
in command on a collier. or an experienced
female grocery clerk flor example. one OF
those to be found in New York department
storesj put on the bridge OF a provision ship
Of the Arethusa classl
This would at least save some OF the eligi-
bic males OF the country for active military
or naval service
admire your stand upon this question.
and as a firm believer in the major portions
Of Mr. Roosevelt's principles Though Social
Democrat personality I am amazed that
our President was, for once at least, doni-
mated and inspired by friendship for his
family physician. to be swerved from a step
so palpahy just and honorable in giving due
recognition and conscientious consideration
to the advice and counsels Of one Of our very
best Of splendid naval men. Why. TEDDY
was actually tied to his mothers apron strings
when BroWnson was laying the foundation
for his future unassailable record.
Verify. Roosevelt can be small. oh, so veT7-
small. I fear twill not be long before ths
"How are the mighty fallen" will be heard
hero and there Wonder II Rixey will be-
able. ia such an event. to supply the needed
elixir for restoration Of political animation.
or he able to subscribe the proper recipe for
furnishing the tarnished political halo hover
ing o'er r. RS caput? r. n.
NEWARK, y. j.. January II.
The sun., 1908-01-15
Mr.. Bryan's Donkey.

Why should Southern Democrats wish
TO control the party's Congressional
campaign committee" when they are
almost unanimous in confessing their
unfitness TO furnish a candidate for the
Presi~ 10y? There is every argument
against the first proposition, every argu-
ment in favor Of the second. The Con-
gress campaign is foregone conclusion
at the South. II does not need local
talent for its successful conduct. The
circumstances of the case admit OF no
vicissitude. II the Democrats are to
increase their strength in Congress they
must do so through the conquest Of
Northern and Western fields. Is 1t not
reasonable to suppose that Northern and
Western men know more about condi-
tons in their own sections than even
such a gifted Georgian as the Hon. JIM
GRIGGs or such an inspired Mississippian
as the Hon. Z. A. BOWERS possibly can?
1t seems to us that either Of these gen.
tlemen, after thirty years of enervating
familiarity with what is known on the
frontier as the dead cinch, should be
peculiarly susceptible to bewiiderment
by the spectacle OF a difficulty however
simple.
IL is from these very Southern states
men that we hear the confession Of South
ern imbecility in national politics. The
Hon. jim GRIGGs himself is on record
as saying that his party must 60 to Ne
braska for a leader or forever part COM
pany with hope. No less a wiseacre than
Senator SIMMONS of North Carolina has
disgOrged the oracle that it is "too soon
for SOutherners to aspire TO the domina-
tiOn of political organization of which
they constitute the nucleus. the strength,
the courage and the brains. One and
all. with rare and uncomfortable eX-
ceptiOns.. they surrender to the super
stition Of timid self-disrespect and crook
a foolish knee to BRYAN. Upon what
theory, then, can they aspire to con-
tinued control Of the Congressional
campaign committee? II has been
proposed that this control shall be trans
ferred, that some Northern or Western
man acquainted with people and the
issues in debatable neighborhoods shall
succeed the Han. JIM GRIGGs and bring
20 bear upon the conflict an immediate
intimacy of knowledge which no South
eTner could by any conceivable con-
catenation possess. Still we hear from
Southern sources no enthusiastic well
come for the bright idea. The GTiggses.
Simmonses and so forth see nothing in
a plan which is manifestly informed bv
practical good sense. and all The while
have nothing but protest and obiurga-
ton for a plan which is AZ least a. sen-
sible. According To present appearances,
in fact, they extend cold favor If not
actual hostility IN the submission of i'm
portant details 90 those best qualified
10 understand and utilize them. at the
same time surrendering the issue If
chief Importance 10 futile and incom-
petent hands.
Apparently Mr.. BRYAN spoke with full
assurance Of his fav9rite donkey. Any
doubt that may have been harbored in
conservative minds touching the infinite
patience and humility of the Democratic
ass must now be abandoned TO the con
temptuOus winds.
The sun., 1908-01-15

ment Of any right or privilege secured
70 him by the Constitution or the laws
of the United States 70 A provisO which
grants to ono clement in the community
an exclusive right to prevent the en-
plOyer from exercising OF enjoying his
constitutional and legal rights makes a
farce Of both law and Constitution.
amendment proposed by Mr.. SMITH
Of Missouri was very properly rejected;
but the fact that the vote stood 116 to 70
indicates the probable reappearance Of
the question. It may be that the section
should be stricken out entirely, but If it
is TO remain it should not be limited by
such an amendment as that proposed by
Mr.. SMITH of Missouri.
The sun., 1908-01-15
Does England Regret Her Treaty
with Japan?

/ According 10 a telegram from London,
the assertion il current there in official
quarters that Ambassador BRYCE's visit
TO England will be made in pursuance
of his Governments desire to consult
him on several questions affecting Anglo
American and Anglo-Japanese relations.
The inference is drawn, we are told, that
one Of these questions is the expediency
Of insisting on an immediate modifica-
tiOn Of the Anglo-Japanese treaty, which
would not expire by limitation until
1915. We shall not be surprised il the
inference turns out to be well founded.
We have suggested from time 10 time
that the drift Of events since August II,
1905, when the treaty mentioned was
concluded, has been of a kind to cause
some disquietude in the British Foreign
Office concerning the possible conse-
quences Of its agreement to cooperate
with Japan in the event of the latter
country's finding itself involved in war
with even a single power. 1t is safe TO as
sumo that when he m.de the agreement
Lord LANsDowNE never regarded colli-
sion or even serious friction between
Japan and the United States as possible,
at least during the lifetime Of the treaty.
The preamble Of that document con-
fines the operation of the agreement to
certain areas, viewed as the respective
spheres Of influence pertaining TO the
signatOries in Asia, thus excluding COM
pliCations that might arise in Europe
or on the American side of the Pacific.
There iS no doubt, however, that the
Philippines, which are near Formosa
and form geographically an extension
of the LOo-Chow archipelago. fall within
the sphere in which England is bound
by the treaty to assist Japan.
Awakened lately TO the fact that Brit
aims great self-governing colonies in
North America, Australia and South
Africa are as desirous as are American
citizens to exclude Japanese laborers, and
foreseeing that not only the colonials
but the British people themselves would
protest with vehemence against the
despatch Of British feet to the Pacific
for the purpose Of supporting the Jap
anese navy against that Of the United
States, the Zimmerman Government has
striven to escape from an awkward pre-
dicament by strenuous endeavors at
Toxic and Washington TO avert a rup-
ture, or sven any grave, tension, Of Jap
anese-American relations. Up To the
The sun., 1908-01-15
The Parker BuIldInS Fire.

To TIE rDrToR oP THE SUN--SIr: Il would
appear that there are at least one or two vali-
able lessons 10 be derived from the recent orc
In the Parker Building. one OF these lessons
Is. discontinue the building OF unnecessarily tai
structures. rightly called -skyscrapers." They are
not only menace 10 health, cutting OF the air
supply In the city streets but also a danger to
human life In event OF nre when, In the case Of
the Parker Building there is q constant danger Of
such high structures falling into the streets and
endangerlng life and limb.
Another question deserving OF attention. HcA
about this rotten hose now being Used IN IN.
cltys nre department. What a shame what
disgrace. that such conditions should be tolerated
This matter has come IN before. but IL seems N
have been considered OF not enough importance 10
warrant a thorough Investigation. I know from
personal observance and on good Adthorlty--hAv.
ing been told BY more than one man prominent In
the department-that some OF the hose now being
used Is very old and not DC for use which was con.
clusvely proved on last Friday night.
nrnly believe that New York has yet 10 contend
with . fre which will put any OF the past to shame
and possibly then the Building department will
realize the Importance of erecting -cOnservatf,
structures instead OF the ridiculous height NJ
forty SIX stories. such Is the case OF one nOS
under construction. PRH
NEW YoRK, January 10.
The sun., 1908-01-15
Delicate Case Of Tart and the COlOred
Voters.

To THE EDIToE oF THE SUN-Sir: Please
allow me to say that on the day before Mr.
Taft's Cooper Union speech two Of his printed
speeches had been placed in the hands of
every cOlored voter in this city.
The longest contained forty pages In
neither Of these speeches was reference made
20 us by the Secretary Of War except to say
that he hadn't time TO discuss the race issue
nor was II proper for him to talk on Browns
vile" at this time.
II ne wished TO emphasize his attitude on
the race question. why did he not circulate g
his two Southern speeches. one made at
Tuskegee, the other at GreensborouRh
N! C.? As one who has contributed hundreds
OF articles on the race question and Is known
throughout the country by his own lpeople
and a lifelong Republican. let me say that
the two questions propounded TO Secretary
Taft by Bishop Walters at his Cooper Union
speech are brimful OF significance II the
Republican party is wise it will accept those
two questions as a signal OF alarm.
II Mr.. Roosevelt thinks that the black man
has no rights that this Administration is
bound to respect. then let him bring Mr..
Taft out as the nominee OF the national
convention II he daresi Our people will
never forget him nor Mr.. Taft for their posi-
tion on the Brownsville affair while memory
holds lts Ownl GRANVILLE MARTIN
NEW YORK. January II.
The sun., 1908-01-15
THE OLD SOLDIER.
DO Changed Conditions Require Retire
ment After n Years Service?

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: Ia the
old soldier thing OF the past. whom the Gov
ernment tolerates because Of his long and
faithful service? As an old timer myself,
aud one who has gone through the various
grades and changes incident to the require
ments of the service. l must. though very
reluctantly. admit that both on q theoretical
and practicable basis he is. The old soldier
has twenty-five years or more continuous
service to his credit, not counting double
time. and during this period he has seen and
endured hardships In Cuba, the Philippines
or China. 1t must be admitted that he has
become physically. and perhaps mentally.
unfit for the strenuous lie OF a soldier to-day
in all branches OF the service.
Nowhere is this more apparent than on the
drill ground. where one sees the old timer
endeavorilg to do stunts" with his younger
and more energetic comrade in arms: often
to their intense amusement and ridicule.
General Order 10 philippines DvisiOnJ
spells the old soldiers death warrant He
jump around in athletic exercises. prac-
tice march OF any duration is a torture to him.
if II ne r. gritty; and be generally is. he puts
fOOtsore and weary. covered with dust, with
goes on the sSk report or az often ne eSSsr
on a protracted spree. which ends in court
Yes, the old soldier with TWENTY-FIVE wears
service or more to his credit, II he is not on
y. q. q, or stan duty, is a sorry figure. DO
as he may to please his superiOTs, generally
speaking, young officers, who are keen, alert
and full OF enthusiasm for the service, he
knows that he Is a conspicuous misilt, that
every time he takes his place in the ranks be
II as y; &. D. or private. the ever watchfui
eye OF his company commander notes with
dlsapproval each and every move. He feels
this incOmpetency all the more as the ex-
igencies OF the service require a greater tax
on his fast falling energy. He reviews his
past life as "A soldier. He remembers sadly
the good old army days when conditions
went for contentment. lie regrets the loss
Of the fatherly. COnsderate Captain with his
Intelligent sympathy his counsel and his
admOnttlOn. Then there is the uncertainty
Of completing his thirty years service which
entities him to retire and enjoy a long needed
rest. lie breads the expiration of his term
of enlistment and the consequent physical
examination for reenlistment II ne fails
II the old horse is no longer fit for the harness
what then?
discharge on a surgeons certificate of
disability is the only balm of Gilead" for his
wounded feelings. Now. I contend that
after twenty-five years of faithful service
he old soldier has more than repaid his coun-
try and Government, and he cannot be rea-
sonably expected to meet conditions a. they
exist to-day. He should he retired, for he
is only In the way, stumbling block and
source OF worry 10 his superOrs.
ONE or THE OLD SOLDIEEs
NEw YoRK. January IL
The sun., 1908-01-15

The Proposal or Good Party Man.
Governor-elect FORT of New Jersey,
who sees splendid things in government
ahead, and is an uncOmprOmising be-
lever in party organization and fidelity
to party although he declares that the
days Of secret political action are over, y
proposes that citizens who fail to vote at
any election shall be subject to penalty.
Tho idea is not new. This is how Judge
FORT thinks it could be realized:
Possibly as good way as any would be to,im-
pose poll tax Of say SS or SO upon every voter
10 the sats with the proviso that In case he voted
a certificate OF that fact by the election officers
should be a receipt for his tax. The money paid
by those who failed to exercise their ghS Of citizen
Shlp could be used toward the expenses of the
election
II is plain that if the prospect of fine
Of s. or SO were to have the effect de-
sired by Judge FORT there would be little
or no money coming from derelict citi-
zens TO apply TO election expenses. But
how could fines be collected from those
who refused 10 vote? Would Judge
Fort proceed to extremities and have
them torn from their dependent fami-
lies and sent to Jail until they paid up?
Imagine man out Of work. or even
day labOrer, condemned for not voting
TO give the State S. or SO or to be con-
fined in the county jail until he found the
money.
There will always be stubborn people
who refuse to exercise the privilege Of
citizenship which Judge Fort values 50
highly that il is a wonder 10 him how
any man "can fail TO desire to vote. 4"
Not even the threat Of taxation would
alright them. Like THoREAU, who
declined TO pay taxes because, among
other reasons, the American Govern
ment supported slavery, they would
rather GO to Jail than either vote or pay
a fine for not voting, What could be
done with these eccentricS if their num-
bers increased to thousands because Of
dissatisfaction with the organized par
ties which Judge FORT believes in so
inflexibly? If they were determined not
to vote and were ready TO go 10 Jail with
misdemeanants and felOns, how could
they be housed. fed and exercised by
the turnkeys, guart and TRUSTEES
authorized by the State and county
governments?
We are inclined to think that the aver
age citizen wants to be as free not TO
vote as free to vote, and that he would
resent fines and a prison cell for wanting
TO have his freedom unimpaired. Under
some circumstances. as he sees them, a
man may actually deem it his duty not
TO go to the polls. The policies or can
didates Of no party may suit him and
he may decline to be responsible for any
of them. What would Judge FORT do
with or TO a good Republican party man
who refused either to support a bad
Republican candidate or to vote for a
Democrat who stood for a principle
odious to a good Republican? Would
the Judge fine him $40 and in default of
payment deprive him Of his liberty for
as long a period as he remained obdur-
atep We have heard of high browed'
reformers who wanted TO lock up people
who wouldn't vote, but coming from a
consecrated party man like Judge FORT
it is a New Idea.
The sun., 1908-01-15
MIR. smith of Missouri.

The House of Representatives IL engaged
in a review Of a revision Of the Federal
criminal code II is a work of great inn
portance and has been in process for a
number Of years.
Section 10 of the new codification pro-
vides for punishment in cases where
two or more persons conspire 10 injurc,
oppress, threaten, or intimidate any Citi-
zen in the free exercise or enjoyment
Of any right or privilege secured 10 him
by the Constitution or laws Of the United
States, or because Of his having so exer-
oised the same This is a repetition of
section 550s Of the Revised Statutes, which
inits original passage formed part Of the
Civil Rights act Of 1872 II was designed TO
meet certain conditions then existing in the
South as a result Of the civil war Those
special conditions have long since passed
away, but the law remains: and il has
bean used for purposes other than those
for which it was originally intended In
It's use for those purposes it has been
upheld a number Of times by decisions
Of the Supreme Court.
This law is now regarded as of use
in cases OF dispute between wage earners
and wage payers in which the strike or
boycott appears. It is held to be in
effect a protection against labor con-
spiracies, although in no way limiting the
right Of men TO quit their jobs or 10 re-
fuse a job If they 80 elect. Because it
seems to impose certain restraints on
proceedings which labor has been dis
posed to regard as among its rights and
privileges, labor and some Of its friends
In Congress object to the law. Mr..
SMITH of Missouri is one of the objectors.
He precipitated an active and interesting
discussion last week by submitting an
amendment declaring as follows:
Nothing In this section shall embrace any agree
menb made BY labor trade unions that shall re-
aunt 10 or effect the declaring Of strike or boycott
nor any efforts in the exercise Of tree speech made
by snoh labor trade unions after such strike or
boycott has been declared; provided such Efforts
arc made In a peacehble manner; and provided
further that they are made for the purpose OF in
sucinR non union persons 70 act with them and
against the company or corporation against which
the strike or boycott has been declared even though
sucA company or corporation be Injured thereby
In property rights"
That is, a special exemption shall be
made which will enable labor unionists
10 band together for the definite pur-
pdse OF injuring an employer In his
property rights so long as they do their
work in a peaceable manner To one
whose property rights are imperilled or
whose property is injured it probably
makes little difference whether the acts
by which he suffers are conducted riot
os,sly or IA q peaoeable manner" The
law As it stands does not deprive labor,
individually or collectively, Of any of
ia proper rights. 1t does protect the
employer in the free exercise or enjoy.
The sun., 1908-01-15
Flre Hose.

These paragraphs open the report Of
the National Board Of Fire Underwriters
committee on fire prevention, under
date OF December 10, 1907, to the COM
mittee on water supply and Fire De-
partment, transmitted to the New York
Board Of Fire Underwriters under date
Of January IS, 1905:
AT the request OF ths committee on Fire De-
psrtment and water supply OF the New York Board
of Fire Underwritcrs. the committee on fire pre-
vontion assigned It's nre department engineer TO
examine the condition Of hose in the New York
Fire Department.
"A conference was accordingly held BY the CON-
mlttee's representatives with Fire Commissioner
FRANCIS J. LANrRT and Chief EDWARD r. CRoKHR.
resulting In permission being granted to visit each
engine company and the repair shop. Testing Of
the hose under pressure was not permitted, as the
department. Ofnoials were apprehenslvs lest large
amount would burst when subjected 10 q suitable
testing pressure. nor has the department. made Its
regular yearly test at $50 pounds pressure for tho
past TWO years for the same reason
The fire in the Parker Building, at
Nineteenth street and Fourth avenue,
disclosed, the rotten condition Of the
Fire Departments hose to the public a
month after these words we're written
and three days before they were pub
ished TO the members of the New York
Board of Fire Underwriters.
The sun., 1908-01-15

Some PhIIOsOphiC ana EdlfyinS Rofioctlona
by an Esteemed COntampOraRy.

AAAeGAAAaNM @NAAN8NAAlNNA@AA
FROM he EssRiRO Post Of vsstsrdaU.
AZ the close OF the Presidential campaign
OF 1904 the Democrats. including Judge
P9rker. loudly accused the Republicans
Of extorting money from the corporations
In order to elect Roosevelt. These charges
were believed By many people. partly be-
eauns the alliance between the Repnbli-
can machine and the largs corporations
has long been notorious. But q day or two
before the election President Roosevelt came
out with q ringing declaration OF political
purity. 1t had n tremendous sifeot. Yet.
after net many months. the insurance lnves-
ttgation showed that II the Republican COM
mittee did not extOrt money it At least man
aged 10 set 600 apiece from che three big
Insurance companies-to say nothing OF many
smaller contributions from smaller corpora
tiOns Stlll later we have learned that the
President himself had persuaded Z. II. Harri-
man to raise some s2OO. 900 tebO.O0O from Har-
rimans own DOclSetl to save New York. That
money was solicited and paid at the eleventh
hour. when. as the President well knew, it
could be used for nothing but the corruption
OF voters at the polls How are we to explain
this affair and still hold up President Roose-
Welt as the shining example OF political virtueP
Why did Mr.. Hartman lend his AidP What
promises did he suppose the President had
made to himI What did he tell his friends
the President had promisedP Why did they
give Mr.. Hartman SlSO.OOOP Why were not
the promises. II there were any, keptP Why
has President Roosevelt finally ceased to
pursue Mr.. Hartmann We do not know.
Perhaps no one can now lay hands on all the
facts In this tangled affair. But some day
from letters, dinries and other documents
the whole truth will be laid bare We remain
In ignorance. but our grandchildren will be
able to form fairly Just judgment.
This looks ike q wise and sensible con-
clrsion. the more so since Mr.. Hartman
has grown so ashamed Of his personal asso-
citation with Mr.. Roosevelt: that nothing
will induce him ever again to divulge any
connected with Il.