davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
JAMS IN THE SUBWAY.

In +he bindrsnces which beset local transpor-
tation yesterday the public had familiar expert
ence. Such combination of light precipitation
with a temperature now below and now above
the freezing point occurs at least dozen times
a year-much more frequently, indeed, than
really heavy snowfall. 1t is in order. there
fore, to ask whether any part Of the resulting
inconvenience is avoidable.
Most of the delays in the subway-robbing
something like one hundred thousand persons, or
their employers. of from half an hour to an
hOur-were attributed by Mr.. Hedley to short
circuits" If due inquiry it should appear
that some change in the electrical equipment of
the Interboroughs cars and track would dimin-
ish the trouble from this particular source the
! Public Service Commission would certainly be
/ warranted in insisting upon improvement.
Has the possibility been overlooked?
/ For running past stations after traffic has
! been imperfectly resumed there seems TO be an
excuse. To skip station or two when in the
! ordinary course Of events there has been de-
: lay Of four or five minutes is not an uncommon
practice, and anything like a return to the nor
NAL interval between trains seems to make it
/ necessary. Besides, when trains over
/ crowded. valuable time may he wasted in stop
ping for more passengers.
However the overcrowding OF station plat
forms. IL not open to direct condemnation, is
/ certainly q source Of danger and It is not alto
/ gether clear how best to correct the evil. If
the sale of tickets has ceased temporarily the
/ fact is not discovered until would-be passengers
/ have gone downstairs If a barrier were inter
/ posed at the head of 4 stairway exit as we'll
/ as entrance would in some cases be prevented.
It was asserted yesterday that at some stations
persons desirous of reaching the street found
/ their way barred By the thrones trying to go
/ in the opposite direction, and this may easily
! happen where only a single stairway has been
/ provided. At many Of the downtown stations
| separate stairways available for entrance
and exit. Further uptown-at 79th SSth and
! Dist streets for instance-such accommoda tons
do not exist. Traffic having proved 10 be heavier
than was anticipated when the subway was
! designed, there would be much propriety in a
| fresh consideration Of the wisdom Of construct
! ing more stairways.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
The DIPLOMATIC CORPS.
IFrou4 The Tribune Bureau.


Washington. Dec Ia-The British Ambassador
and Mrs. Bryce gave the OF the ballroom at the
embassy this afternoon for a musical to benefit
St Roses Industrial Home Nine Jusserand. wife
of the French Ambassador, at the head of the
affair. and obtained the services of a number Of
notable amateurs Mrs. Nicholas Longworth. Mrs
Letter and Mrs. Mclean were associated with Mrs
Bryce and Nine Jusserand The Minister from
Norway and Mime. GUIDE, Nine. de BIanpr4, wife
of the French naval attache; Representative Nicho
Randolph. Miss Boyle. Miss Brosdhead and several
OF the bachelor diplomats rendered the programme
which lasted over an hour.
The new German Ambassador and Baroness Won
Bernstorf are expected 20 arrive in Washington
Sunday.
Mr.. Vogel. the Swiss Minister. entertained small
dinner party at the legation tonight The Swedish
Minister and Nine. de Lagercrantz, Baroness Mon
cheur wife of the Belgian Minister: Representative
and Mrs. j Van Vechten Olcott. Mrs. Brouwell.
Mrs Benedict and Mr. Fahnestock being in the
company.
The British second secretary and Mrs George
Young entertained small dinner party tonight IN
compliment TO Sir George Young the father OF the
former. who Is their house guest. In the company
were Countess Moltfe wife Of the Danish Minister ;
Rear Admiral and Mrs. William Sheffield Cowles.
Representative and Mrs. Augustus Peabody Gard
ner and the British second secretary and Mrs
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
From Tho Tribune Bursau.l

From Tho Tribune BuTsau-l
washington. Dec. 1S.-Mr and Mrs. Joseph Letter
arrived in Washington to-day from Chicago, and
will spend the Christmas holidays with the former ;
mother Mrs L. T. Letter at her house in tI)u Pont
Circle. Mr.. Letters mother has planned a number
Of enterta inments in compliment to his bride
Dr. and Mrs. Fremont Smith gave another OF
their series of small dinner parties tonight having
as guests the German military attache and Frau
Won Livonius, Mr. and Mrs Francis B. Crownin-
shield Mr. and Mrs. Legare. Mr.. and Mrs Arthur
Lee and Mr.. and Mrs Charles J. Bell.
Fully a hundred people in society went 10 Fort
Nfver to-day to witness the fancy cavalry drill and
be the guests of Major General and Mrs J. Frank
lin Bell at q buffet luncheon.
Mrs Stephen B. Elkins has returned TO Wash
ington from New York where she went for several
visits and TO be hostess a morning musical
Miss Elkins who has also returned town, will so
to Philadelphia where dinners will be given il her
honor by Mrs. Webster Dougherty December
80 and Mrs Drexel on January 2.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
Il mMSements.
lh-Tha Eei Msll.

ACADgNY-2-s:I5-The Red MIL
Af-EA EAA6BEA-2-S-Nau
aSFSSF--e:Is-s :I5-The from Hens
IsF-f Devil
RI5CT5-a.Is-E:I5-A Gentleman from NlsslsSlFPN-
Fs.aNE,N'S-o-S-Naudsyill
BROA WAY-2-IS-S- S-2o-Aialis-
CARNEGIE BALI-2-5e-Soncert
SASfNSCl-2.l5-sI5-N Mischief ,,- p,-~n
l=--A Queen OF tne AaoN'-- A9
rOIONIAI-a-S-Vaudevflle
CRITERION - --,..
f)ag.vsS-2. 2.au-Ss0-The world and His VIE
rNfPIF - s-Sa-Jack Straw
rsTFTY-o- -Is-s-l5-The Travelling Salesman
GARDEN -I5-Mary Jane Pa
Parrot
- 4 -Se-Salyatton NelI
~ gk4TNT1- I-,--S I 5--Nsudcyitte
xyrT' y n S6I- ATr-o.Ia-S:T S:T5-Tfree Twins -
TTPpOpRONE-2-S Sporting Days-Batue /" 'I0
SszEes-I8sct Of B-dlan6-
r7T-r0SON- -.3A-S.3o-Lsdy F-ecerick ~.
sTSc1~l-T-y2F2rer- L a:la-S-15-The Prirns bontA
tTFFPTY-2l5-S-I5-Ns Wireless
> TN-S Watches
I,YR1C-c Is-S:l5-TEe Blue Mouse ,, W.
gADTSo% SQUARE GARDEN-il r. m 70 II p IL
s rr-s7-1r- -s.16-The P.ed PiFeT. ... $50
MANHATTAN OPERA HotISE---i'T-D
The .JuEEie- % NoTre Delre
-rr-NTr>- SSfiFTN ! -S:l5-~oncert :,
Nr-TPCPoTITAN OPERA FoCSf----I'1c'a O. Ian
- ,--l1,-s9 .rAnFN7Y OF DE1sIGN-1o to e-s 70 10
- ,,fSTFBr T, AMIR -s:1o-Iittle Neno-
Srrzz- vrr7-- e-75-s .IS-Niss Innocence
esF-a-- 90 .an-The Ser-ant in tire liouse-
ST NICHOLAS RIe-K-S:So-raceS. 49,, ~.
wzTrAC+1.S- 2..a-S.1s-The Boys and Betty
zz-rTsT-r-S-o- so s.S0-The Stronger Sex
VS. FN,7N-a:15-s -I5-The WitchinE Hour
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
THE SUFFRAGE IN HUNGARY.

There is some cause for regarding the new
Hungarian franchise bill as calculated to keep
"the word Of promise to our ear and break it to
"our hope" The promise Of the government
some time ago was 10 grant universal suffrage
The ingenious and elaborate measure which has
been framed by Count Julius Andrassy does in
deed provide for universal suffrage, in a sense
But that sense is radically different from the one
in which the phrase is usually interpreted. Any
thing approXimating 10 the zone man, one vote"
system is foreign TO the Magyar intention In
stead, the confessed purpose Of the government
IS to establish a system Of gross inequality
which, under the guise OF q franchise, shall IN
fact largely disfranchise the nom Magyar peoples
and secure TO the Magyars continued control Of
public affairs
The entire population is TO be divided into two
classes, the literate and the illiterate The lit
crate Will be subdiVided into three sections The
first Will consist Of those who can read and
write but cannot answer various other tests,
and will contain 1,534O0O persons, who Will
have one vote each. The second will consist Of
persons who have passed a certain grade at
school, who pay certain tax who employ labor
who have at least three children or who have
certain other qualifications, and they S66 267 In
number will have two votes each. The third
will consist OF those who have attained still
higher grade in school, or who pay q still higher
lax. and they, numbering 217,791 persons, will
have three votes apiece. As for the other major
class the nliterate, they will have only one-tenth
Of vote each. That is 10 say, ten Of them will
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
4 SANTA CLAUS TRUST.

The little believers who write their christmas
desires to Santa Claus and intrust them to the
United States mails will doubtless beslndlsnant
when they learn that the Postmaster General
has refused TO deliver their messages this year
If was pretty sentiment the order to forward
these letters to charitable institutions, but the
discontinuance of Nhe practice was perhaps in
evitable We hasten TO say, however, that we
can't and won't sympathize with the ant-Santa
Claus propa gandsts who are rejoicing III ME-
Meyers order another step toward the
destruction of childhoOdS Illusions.
Here is a chance for some person Of wealth, sen
timent and a penchant for eccentric charities to
step into the breach and make himself santa
Claus by profession. He could found ana en-
dow an Associatio for Promoting the luletide
Felicity of Deserving Children, and establish
convenient sub-statiOns around the country. IN
deed what could be more fitting and proper
than that Santa Claus should follow the ten
dency of the age and organize himself into a
trust TO meet modern conditions? Possibly that
is the only way in which he can defeat his
enemies
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
TTnFyY WARNING.

The warning which was given by the Forest
Fish and Game Commissioner Of this state at
che New York Historical Society on Tuesday
evening was timely and not exaggerated Its
snosr direct and-to this city+mpOrtant appli-
cation Was 10 the Adirondack and Catskul
Forests for the protection OF the water supply
--l,icb the city is now securing at great cost
vTba f,;oentjc reservoir at Ashokan will give
., Ne7y York aII the water 1t needs, provided it
,an he kent full. But its being kept full de-
,,or5s nor rpon the reservoir itself, nor upon
sts great dam. nor upoH the aqueduct which
VIII connect II with the city. but upon hun
.7reds Of square miles Of surrounding country
oyer which the Board Of Water Supply has and
will have no control. If those e1panses Of noun
tain and valley are denu6ed Of arboreal growth,
rainfall will quickly evaporate or flow away,
snd jnnumerable tiny springs VIII be dried up
and DESTROYED. With the drying up Of the
eDriDgs riIls and rivulets will be diminished or
entirely dried, brooks will shrink 10 rils and
rivers TO brooks, and TIE great reservoir may
lack q supply TO ill It.
There was nothing speculative in the warn
tng which was given It rested upon an i'm
prexnabIe basis Of facts, ascertained and de
rnonstrated We need not cite the examples of
China and Persia and Southern France and
Spain 10 emphasize the disastrous results Of
forest destruction. Our own land affords enough
examples TO convince ail but the Intentionally
tlncenyincea bic. Mr.. WhippIe recalled the facts
that last summer there were only two inches of
water IN the upper Hudson River, and that
Lake George was two feet lower than it had
ever before been known TO be We know what
has been the plight Of Western Pennsylvania
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
coyDEyyATIoy SYSTEM CHANGES.

II is annsrent from the Cassidy committee
Investigation that the. substitution Of perma-
nent court or bureau Of condemnation tor Ihe
present condemnation commissions would not
aloDe Cut off waste in the city'S acquisition OF
land: it would end dlstory practices and eX-
cessve fees but it would not necessarily afect
excessive awards except in SO far as such per-
manent body would not he susceptible TO lnhu-
ences and actuated By considerations 10 which
the present commissions are responsive. 10 op-
tain fair awards it viii be necessary TO have not
only better arbtrators, but experts for the city
who feel more zeal for the citys interests. Ana
the excessive amounts awarded by condemnation
! commissions have been greater source or
waste than the excessive fees which they have
secured
The nrespnt practice is for both the seller or
tbe land and the city as the buyer to be repre-
sented at condemnation hearings by experts who
testify IN the value of the land in question. The
city's experts consist usually of real estate
brokers whose business centres near the prop
ertv to be condemned and who are supposed to
have knowledge of local conditions which fits
them To appraise its value This is excellent in
theory. But it not infrequently happens that
such local dealer has reasons for keeping in
favor with the seller of the property. He per-
hans and certainly his clients in general, nave
an interest in keeping UP the price, not letting
il make a record" below the figure which they
think is right for property in the nelghborhood.
The result is that condemnation commissions
seldom receive an unbiased estimate Of the
value Of property under consideration, the expert
for the seller putting as high price on it as he
can. and the expert for the city, too, fncning to
place liberal estimate upon its value How
far from being unbiased experts for the city
often are was shown by the testimony that in
one instance the city's expert had personal In
terest In the property as to which he was en-
ployed TO testify. Perhaps with the feed COM
missioner should also go the feed expert, and the
new permanent condemnation bureau when it is
created should have a permanent salaried staff
OF appraisers
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
TFrom Tho Tribune Bureau ]


Washington. Dec. 1s.-The President directed tne
preparation OF material for a reply 70 the Houss
of Representatives resolution relative 70 the Sc
cret Service to sent to Congress after the
holiday recess
The President began conference. which VIII De
continued tomorrow. respecting the reimburse
ment by the government to the Southern Pacinc
Railroad for money expended in the Salton Sea
inundation in California
All the members were present at the semi-weekly
meeting OF the Cabinet but Secretary Root was
called away to hll engagement with a Phiia-
delphia medical expert regarding his injured knee
The President has no idea Of going to Augusta
next month.
Among the White House callers were Senators
Carter. Flint, Beveridge and Gamble; Representa-
tfves Gaines, of Tennessee; Davis, Townsend. Bur
ton of Delaware: Ferris, Porter, Foelker. Bennett.
Fairchld, Parsons and Davenport Frank b. Kel-
IogE George ". Perkins. e. II. Gary and Maxwell
Evarts.
The President went horseback riding in the late
afternoon.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
CELESTIAL RANGE FINDING.

The recent announcement that the Lalande
prize has been awarded by the French Academy
of Sciences to three Yale astronomers viii eX-
rite an interest by no means limited to profes-
sionaI star gaZers. Many of the problems which
the devotees of stellar science seek to solve
possess a fascination for thousands Of educated
persons but none of them has provoked more
eager curiosity than the probable distances of
the stars.
Two general methods have been employed in
the inquiry. One resembles that used by mill
tary men to ascertain how far away an enenly's
troops or ships are. The parallaX or apparent
displacement Of star seen from widely
separated points in the earths orbit supplies
the material for this first kind of calculation.
Many stars are so distant, however. that they
have no paraIax Help in solving the problem
is then afforded if it can be discovered that
they change their relative positions as compared
with their neighbors. In mea assuring proper
motions" an instrument called the heliometer
is brought into play. For long time the only
device of that character in the United States
was the one in the Yale observatory. Dir. Will
lam L. Elkn has for years been distinguished
for the application he has made of it to the task
of computing stellar distances It is upon him
and two associates, DR.. Frederick L. Chase and
Mr. Mason Smith, that the Lalande medal has
now been conferred. Since the work done by
these men is practically unsurpassed in its deli
cacy, their fellow countrymen may well feel
keen satisfaction in the compliment paid them
One of the conclusions which measurements
of this class warrant is that far greater diver
sity exists in the brilliancy of the stars than
would otherwise he supposed What was long
considered the nearest star IN the northern
heavens (61 CygnD is so far off that its light
takes from seven to nine years to reach the
earth. Multiply the distance travelled by
ray Of light in a second C1S6,00O niles by the
number of seconds In a year (365X24X60X6O)
and you have the distance traversed by
ray of light in a single year Now, some Of
the estimates based on hellometer observations
make the distance of Arcturus about one hun
dred and fifty Eight years. It must therefore
he several thousand times brighter than either
81 Cygni or our SUN That still other Orbs are
many hundreds of Eight years" away IS consld-
cred probable by sane astronomers. How ut
terly beyond comparison must their radiance be!
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
ANDovER SEMINARY REMOVAL
Board of Visitors Say 1t Is Not Contrary 70
Founders Intention.

Boston Dec. 1s.-IJ is the opinion cf he =
tori,y OF the board % visitors % the Anao'7 I,
logical Seminary that the action of the u~S'Se
removing the institution from Audover 70 =
bridge was not contrary 10 the Intention - "a
founders Of the seminary The visitors asse- a.
reserve the right 10 examine and pass ~ uP-t
practical working scheme OF afhliaUon VIZ ~
University when II shall fully develop -
This opinion was announced to-day by ne -, -
Henry A. StIuson Of New YORK.. chairman - -
board. and Judge William G. BasSe'' 'l ~ :
ampton a member Of the board The re s.,-s
V Cole OF Norton. the third member on ''e .,,5
gave out dissenting opinion 10 Is - a.
that the majority opinion represents the ''
ticn I'm the matter
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
MRS ROGERS wEDs HER ATTORNEY.
Widow Whose Husband Was Nephew OF Head
of Locomotive Works, Ill in Mississippi.
rBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.

IBy Telegraph to The Irlouhe-l
Ntsco, Miss Dec 1S-Whie lying I'll in a hotel
here Mrs Iucrece Goodwin Rogers. OF Bear
snrinrs Del widow OF the late Theodore Rogers
neDbew OF the head of the Rogers LOCOMOTIVES
Works was married to-day 10 her attorney
Charles u. Stockley. Of Wilmington, Del
The two came south few days ago to look ai'e'
Mrs Rogers's land holdings. They had been en-
gagged for several months. and because or the III
ness of Mrs. Rogers it was decided to delay the
ceremony no longer The brides wealth Is esu-
mated al s1OCOCoO. She has country home near
philadelphia, with a golf course and stable OF
blopded horses
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
THE CABINET,
rFro1 IN. Tr,buns Buresu. :

lFrom This Tribune Bureau
Washington Dec. 1s.-Mrs- Root wife Of the
Secretary Of State. has gone TO New York for a
visit of few days
The Secretary OF the Navy and Mrs. Truman II
Newberry entertained at dinner tonight the Sec
retary Of Commerce and Labor and Mrs Straus.
Senator and Mrs William Alden Smith. Major
General and Mrs Sanger. Lieutenant General and
Mrs. Corbin. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Henry Butler,
Mrs. John Rogers and Rear Admiral Capps
James Wilson, Secretary Of Agriculture. will give
his annual dinner in honor OF the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt at the New Willard on February Is.
The Secretary Of War and Mrs Wright en-
tertainng Mrs Voorhs. of California.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
TRANSATLANTIC TRAVELLERS.

Among the passengers who will sail to-day for
Europe
THE PHILADELPHIA FOR SOUTHAMPTON
M and Mrs ~ ] Fiske Robert Nynne
Mrs r. 4. Hashrouck.
NJ yViUion1 Or Hugo Hagen
Davidson
THE CELTIC FOR LIVERPOOL
II J.. Bell MT ana MIS- z % Nor
- : Come T.
Rufus Fleming. hunter sroNh
W. Parsons. MI ana MIS- j w MOI
Mr. and Mrs. I. ". Post son
THE MINNEHAHA. FOR LONDON.
Mrs r. w Barry. Mrs Percy smith
George calvin ]. ".
Mr. Mrs. Frederic { Anthony Gross.
Thomas.
THE PATRICIA. FOR HAMBURG
2. Hamilton Goodsen, T, " Wtllismk
Mrs Alfred Heller. Joseph Blank
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
MAKING TRAMPS WORK.
BOSTON Advertiser

From The Boston AdNerUser-
A state farm for tramps is proposed by Joseph
C Baldwin jr., of the New York State Board of
Charities, and he intends TO place the matter be
fore the Legislature. His plan is to have tramps
detained for long period and made 10 work.
dering the Institution self supporting Baldwin be
eves tramps Will eventually leave the state rather
than work. The basic idea IL soInd. whatever Is
be said for the state farm detail OF the plan
The only way to meet the tramp evil is by making
hours It is a problem in this state quite much
In New York
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
ITALY AVID HER PARTNERS.

Recent official utteranCes IN the Italian par
lament make clear the attitude of Italy toward
her partners in the Triple Alliance and the pol
icv which she intends to pursue in relation to
Balkan affairs She does not mean nor wish TO
break up or withdraw from the Triple Alliance
but neither will she permit herself to be made
the tool or the victim Of her partners, nor will
she of necessity approve all things which they
do. Thus, she does not approve Austra-H Hun
gary's seizure Of Bosnia and Herzegovina, or
that powers pretension that 1T is matter which
concerns only herself and Turkey. Italy holds
that the violation Of treaty directly concerns
all the parties to that treaty, and she is ready
10 cooperate with the other signatOry powers
for the enforcement of that principle even with
powers outside Of the Triple Alliance against
member Of that alliance
Concerning her partners, Italy regards them
as her equals, but not as her superiors She
gives to them IN the alliance much benefit as
she receives from them. She will not admit that
she is in the alliance through cOmpulsiOn or fear
but insists that she is there through her own
free choice She does not regard the condition
of her army and navy as leaving her in
ferior to placing her at the mercy Of her
northeastern neighbor; but even If that were so
she would consider it her duty not TO cringe for
safety but TO increase her military strength
until she was able to stand alone even to stand
against her present ally.
This policy, or the frank expression Of II, ma Y
not be welcomed with favor at Vienna and Buda-
pest II is not expected by Italy that it will be
1t was not particularly intended that it should
be- Yet there is no good reason why it should
be received with either surprise or resentment.
The real strength and merit of the Triple Alliance
must reside IN the prevalence among It's mem
bers of precisely such principles as those ex-
pressed by the italian government. 1t must be a
voluntary and mutually benefcent alliance of
equals, not relationship Of suzerain and vassal
We have no idea that Italys declaration of pol
icy will dissolve the Triple Alliance, but If it
should do so, that would indicate that the alli-
ance had been based on false grounds and was
not worth maintaining.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
STILL MORE UP-ro- DATE TRAVELLING
From The Phlladelnhia Record.

Parlor many railroads have long been
equipped with electric curling iron heaters and
other devices for the comfort and convenience of
women who travel, and at last mere man is to
get something in the way of personal attention
This new 'knk" is an electrical device for creas-
ing trousers and pressing other garments, and II
is being installed some of the fast trains Be
sides having his shoes shned while he sleeps the
fastidiouS travelling man will in the future
md the wrinkles pressed out Of his outer gar
ments when he awakens in the morning The
porters expected 10 kick, but the opportunity
OF earning extra fees will console them for the
added labor.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
FOR MUSEUM ADDITION. s5oo'Oo0

Controller Metz at the meeting ot me n--,.S.sG
Estimate and Apportionment yesterday .or,i
a resolution asking for issue OF S'V'v' S ,rs.
OF bonds to build wing TO the MeuoPCl NJ
s.u,, o. Art 10 house a valuable eouec'l.,. -. \,
~ d.,,srea the collection VAS worth millions
dollars 10 the city and should be properly ,ss
president Coler withdrew his ooleeuoA
resolution was passed