davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
pENNSYLTANLA,S 2-CENT LAW

Tho Sunreme Court of Pennsylvania has just
affirmed the decision of the Common PIeas
Court of Philadelphia County that the 2-cent
fare law passed by the last Legislature is nm
constitutional. The lower court gave weight TO
the contention that the Pennsyl:an Ralroad
Company, which fought the enforcement OF the
law. was protected by certain charter rights
which constituted a contract with the state
and under which the rates of passenger fare
could not be altered by legislation. But 1t also
held the 2-cent rate TO De-as regarded at leaSt
a part of the company's passenger business
oppressive and cOntiscatory Ihls eSsenual
point in the decision IS sustained by the Su-
preIne Court which says that a fiat 2-cent rate
would prevent the companyS earning q lalr
return on some of the lines which 1t operates.
The notification of the 2-cent fare law IS vel
come because it will help to restrain the ten
dencv of legislatures 10 deal summarily with
general situation without inquiring into and
allowing for necessary inequalities in local con-
ditions 1t is absurd TO ignore variations III
the earning power Of railroad properties and to
prescribe the same maximum of passenger trans
portation charges for a trunk line operating
hundred or two hundred trains day ana
branch line with perhaps one train each way
daily Because the big stem line can ana does
reduce passenger rates it does not follow that
the branch line, owned by different interests,
should be compelled 10 90 DuSihesS dt d i"le
forbdding legitimate profit
There was no question in Pennsylvania OF
the ability of tie Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany 10 do the greater part Of its passenger
business at a maximum rate of cents mile
The company's suburban traffic charges aver
ace much less than cents and 1t offers 1,ooO-
mile tickets, good over all its lines, for 80
Yet il is not clear that it could make unlfor-l
2-cent rate on many of its branch or leased
lines for local as well as for special 1OOO-mile
ticket traffic. Undoubtedly on some such lines
the passenger would be carried at a loss, ana
if was a plain neglect Of duty on the part OF
the Legislature not to recognize the inequal-
ties in Gaining power between the different
corrcrations involved. What was practically
harmless perhaps for one was a positive dep
riyatIon of rights and property for another
Governor Hughes did a great service at
critical moment by vetoing 2-cent fare bill in
this state and thus calling halt on move
ment then sweeping the country. Generalized
legislation is easy, but Governor Hughes wisely
insisted that details should not be ignored and
that the case for each railroad should be judged
on its own merits. There should be no more
off hand guesswork and farcical fiat rate equal
izatlon in passenger fare legislation.
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21

company using its own credit, subject in that
case TO municipal purchase. There would De
three ways TO get subwayS built where no"
there is practically none.
The objection to amending the constitution Is
that il would take two years and New 1ork
ought not to be forced to wait so long before
beginning to build additional subWayS- IL
seems therefore that no matter what Is uohe
with regard TO a constitutional amendment Ihe
law ought to be SO changed us to offer more IN
ducements TO private capital to enter the field
The nresent laws were put upon the statute
books in feeling of irritation over the abuses
of rnrerulated private ownership. With the
STATES present provisions for regulating pun
lie service companies laws to protect the city
from such abuses by keeping private capital
ont of the field have no longer 4 Sufhclent fea-
son for existence
The city ought not to he forced 20 wait upon
the slow process of constitutional amendment
TO begin subway building. Within few months
capital will probably be abundant money rates
will slacken and the bond market will i'm
nroye. and under those circumstances the oppor-
tunity of constructing a subway system Id lhiS
CITY which would be great money maker from
the start is likely 10 prove attractive 10 capl-
tai. In the last few years, with business OK
handing and enterprises everywhere bidding
for money the inducements TO subway bulidlng
have not seemed SO great they will probably
soon appear. If events take their usual course
after srJch n setback to business as this country
has inst gone through the chance of interesting
canital in additions to the ciyS transit taclli-
ties will be the best in many years We should
have laws enabling us to avail ourselves or TINS
possibility laws making subway building easy
instead of hard We have now Il commission
To see 10 il that such laws shall not be abused.
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
from The Tribune Bureau-I


Washington Jan. a-The President helo coh-
ference to-day with Attorney General bonapdr'e 'e'
Senator Knox and Milton D. Purdy, assistant 10
the Attorney General The alleged merger oi INC
Union and Southern Pacific railroads is sdiu u
have been discussed.
Nine Indians. three of whom are chleis' repre-
senting the Cheyennes and Arapahoes or OKia-
homa shook hands with the President Ihey "erc
introduced by Commissioner Leupp-
Representative Campbell of Kansas caheo 10
tell the President that his state is for Taft In spite
of reports to the contrary.
Other callers at the White House included sec
retarv Taft, Senators Brown, Warren Ciapp anu
Beveridge Representatives Hepburn, Allen Gran
GouIden KnowIand and Pearre. Mrs John A Lo-
gan. NJ E. Ingalls, Civil Service Commissioners
Black and Marcus Braun. of the immigration ser
vice.
Mrs Roosevelt attended the morning muslcdi at
the New Willard to-day. having with her MIS-
Metcalf wife of the Secretary of the Navy anu
Mrs Nicholas LOngworth.
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
FRIENDLY AID SOCIETY REPORT.
Sixteenth Year Fest in History of the Set
tlement Work Organization.

The Friendly Aid Society, which carries on Set
tIement Work with the Warren Goddard House at
No 246 East 34th street its headquarters has
just completed the sixteenth year OF its existence
with increased work and more encouraging results.
according to the reports presented at the annual
meeting OF the society last night The Rev.
Thomas r. Slcer presided. and addresses were
made by several other Unitarian ministers.
Every week throughout the year more than 2.O00
children their mothers and fathers. frequent the
house according to the report OF the head worker.
Mr. Slicer announced that Spring Farm. the sum
home of the society. had been paid for in full
and the deed Of possession turned over to the so
ciety. The Rev. J. II. Holmes pastor of the Uni
tartan Church OF the Messiah. No. 81 East 34th
street. in speaking of the work OF the settlement.
declared that It a practical exemplifcation OF
the religion which has to do with the world II
Is now. He urged the workers and friends OF the
society to lose sight of the fact that poverty
is a disease which can be cured. and not which
will always exist this earth.
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
SERMONS SPOILED BY WoMENs HATS
Choir Leader Says Ministers Can't Talk
Through Frills and Feathers.

women's hats ere shorn OF their plumes, fig
uratively speaking. yesterday by Professor Tan
Esen Morgan. leader OF the choir in the Baptist
Temple Brooklyn who addressed the Methodist
preachers meeting at No I50 Fifth avenue Pro-
fessor Morgan said that the time fast APP
preaching when the ministers would take stand
against women wearing hats at worship hats that
were nothing but gorgeous things OF frils and
feathers
The ministers preach better. he said. II they
look into the eyes OF their congregations than
il they have 10 talk through a hat. Professor
Morgan also made a plea for better music in the
churches and rather startled his listeners BY say
ing that too often In evangelical churches tina
music supposed to be sacred was OF the ''ragtime'
variety and the words set to the music doggereL
He illustrated his remarks by playing the airs OF
many operas a small organ standing on tne
platform Then he played the Pilgrim Chorus
from Tannhauser and many of the clergymen said
that, despite the fact that the music was taken
from opera. IL should be classed sacred E1sic
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21

number of smaller parties have only about halr
tbe representation in the Landtag to winch
their share of the votes would seem to entitle
them On the other hand, the Conservatives.
who east only little mere than IL per cent OF
the votes for the ReichStag, nave more tnah 90
per cent of the representatives in the Landtag,
and the Free Conservatives, who cast only D.
per cent of the votes, have more than 15 per
cent of the representatives. The National Lib
erals with only 11.6 per cent OF the voters,
have more than IS per cent OF the deputies
Thus these three parties have only trlhe more
than so per cent of the electorate ON mahhood
suffrage basis and vet have more tnan o4 per
cent Of the representatives in the national
legislature.
1t is not TO be believed that in so enlightened
and progressive a country as Prussia one-third
OF the population will permanently be permit
ted to exercise two-thirdS of the voting anu
legislative power The demand of the partly
disfranchised two-thirds will become too strong
though not in the form of riOting-to De
longer denied. Even if it should not. the better
Indictment of the overendoWed one-third would
in time lead to a voluntary remuneration OF spe-
cial privileges and a consequent granting OF
enuaI suffrage to ali. That is what has nap
,.aned in the still more conservative and arlS-
tOcratic country Of Austria on the lntiatlNe
and at the strenuous appeal of the Emperor
himself 1t must happen in Prussia, ana
there as already in Austria, 1t VIII pe louhh
to he for the strengthening and not the weaken
ing of the government. and for the welfare ana
not the decentralization of the whole state
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
From The Tribune Bureau.


Washington Jan. Ex-senator and Mrs Depe"
were hosts for dance at their home to-nleilt
when one hundred and fifty persons selected from
the diplomatic corps. the Cabinet ard other
branches of the official set and a number from
unofficial society guests.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Crawford entertained dln-
ner party tonight in compliment TO Miss Campruoi'
of Madrid the house guest of Mr.. and Mrs. III
fany Dyer. Invited to meet Miss Campruoi were
the third secretary of the French Embassy and
Viscountess de MarteI. Miss Foraker, Miss kath-
crime Jennings Mile. des POrtes. Miss Constance
Hoyt, Miss Mary Brewster. Miss Gertrude VIII
Jams Miss Carol Newberry, Miss Shelby Converse.
Signor Montagna, counsellor of the italian Embas-
sy; Baron Demeter Hye. attache of the Austro-
Hungarian Embassy; Mr. Won Schubert OF the
German Embassy: Sefor Don Alberto foachaH
first secretary OF the Chilian Legation: Captain
Kelly Huntington Jackson. Jack Palmer, Donald
Cassell, Franklin Ellis. jr-, and others
Mrs Newberry, Mrs BulIner. Mrs Surlmerlin,
Mrs Hoyt and Mrs. Harlow received the guests for
the Monday night leap year dance at Rauscher's
tonight, before which number OF dinner parties
given.
Mr.. and Mrs William Corcoran Eustis Mr. and
Mrs. Pierre LoriIlard. Captain and Mrs Richardson
Glover and Mr. and Mrs. Beekrsan Winthrop were
among the hosts who entertained at dinner to-
night.
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
THE PRUSSIAN FRANCHISE.

The Socialists have apparently for the pres
ent defeated the movement for the much needed
reform of the electoral franchise in Prussia.
We have already seen that they played directly
into the hands Of the autocracy in Russia and
did more than any other force to defeat the
constitutional movement for popular and free
representative government in that country. So
in Prussia by their intemperance of manner
and excess of zeal they have really set back
greatly that cause Of popular rights which they
profess to have so much at heart. When or
dered liberty and equal justice come they will
come not because of but in spite of Socialist ex-
tremists and the rioters of Unter den Linden.
But the reform Of the franchise must come
not for the sake Of the raging Socialists, but for
that of the whole people, Of whom they are only
a minor part. The inequalities of the present
system are too glaring to be permanently toll
Grated by so thoughtful and practical people
as the North Germans. The contrast between
the votes cast for the Prussian representation
in the imperial parliament and the composition
of the Prussian parliament is a sufficient argu-
ment for the need of reform. At last years
Reichstag election the Social Democrats, includ-
ins the Socialists cast 2S.7 per cent of the bal
l"ts We may reckon them. then constitut-
ing that percentage of the electorate. But in
the Prussian Landtag they have not so much
as single representative. The Poles and
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
4 RtusementS.


ACADEMY OF MGSIC-S-The Rose O. the kancho-
AlHAsIBRA-2-S-Fa
ASTOR-s- -I5-Irene Wycherley
REI.ASCO-s:15-The WarTeEs o. virginia
BILIOUS .20-The Comet
BI.ANEY'S-2:l5-SI I5-The Heart OF MarFIah1
BROADwAY-S:I5-The Partisan MODE
-S:15-Funabashi
COLONIAJ-2-S-Aaud lie.
C-FsTTERION-sI5- Of Holland
pAI,YS-S-Society and the Bulldog
DFMFT-2-S-Kaudeyille
EDEN MCSEE-The World in Wax
.2e-The Testers
ca GARRICK-S:30-U nder the Greenwood 4t''
RNAN-s-tSoetz Berichingen-
NitChIng Hour.
FANAEHSTEIN'S-2 II -15-NauceYllle ,--,-..-
HERALD SQUARE-s15-The Girl BEHIND Ihe IS1I,r
lITppQDRONE- of Port AIlhur' Inc T0N
Seasons and Winter Carnival
Lectures .30-fler sister
X f[ecICECFRF3OC <ER-S-I5-The Talk Of New 10Th
I.TRETiTY-s -20-Polly OF the Circus
I.YCE-IJ ms :3o-The Thief.
EOsIIeTsholIl r-,,,oe{rior
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN to 1llrlsh ~,
MADISON SQUARE-e-la--ihe he fteohoii'e' f
The Literary Sense
NAJFSTIC-S .15-The Top o tn World
NFNDFI.SSOFIN HAL.I1-3-Piano Recital
NEW perry NiloN-
-I5-ISonesome Town
NEW YORF-s-The Soul Kiss
15-TNenty Days in the SHADE
ST NICHOLAS RINK-Ice Skating hfee s'ssl'ii9'
ST-gTYEF-S NT-s:T5-A Grand Army Man
WAII.ACK' K'S-S:I5-A Knight for Day --.. Nf.--z,
wFBFR-S MUSIC HALLs-S15-Burlesque OF Ihe 4"0-''
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS.

from The Tribune BureauI
Washington Jan. 20-The minister from Cuoa
and Sehora de Quesada have returned to the capt.
tai from a six months visit to Europe They Will
take possession of the new Cuban legation thiS
month
The military attache Of the British Embassy anu
the Hon. Mrs. James and the Hon. NINA na'
ShuttIeworth the sister of the latter nave re-
turned to Washington from a ten days WISH III
Virginia.
Morfz Won Szent-Ivany. secretary or the Ausuo
Hungarian Embassy. who has been promoted 10 d
place with the embassy at Constantinople mas gone
to New York preparatory to sailing for EUROPE
Viscount De Chambrun. attache or the ffeno"
Embassy who is Spending few weeks IN Fraiice'
will return here In March
The counsellor and charge dafaires 1of li'o
Iapanese Embassy and Mrs. Miyaoka entertalheo
at dinner tonight the military attache OF the Or
ish Embassy and the Hon. Mrs James. the non @
Nina Kay Shuttleworth Miss Ida Thompson Ml'S
sctdnoore Miss Enrol Brown. Mr.. Adee. third AS
sjstant Secretary OF State; Esme Howard cou,
sellor of the British Embassy Major Iahaha, mn
tarv attache and Masanao Hanihara secohu SCI
retary Of the Japanese Embassy
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
THE INCUBUS OF JEFF OAVlSiSM.

From The Atlanta Constitution.
without n doubt the Democratic party Is un-
fortunate in some of the burdens 1t has TO carry:
padojent with radicalsm, Senator JEFF Davis. OF
Arkansas looms in the spotlight as one OF theSe'
Old Atlas peStered -
Mr. Daviss latest ebullition before New 1ork
audience in which he talks of insanity stalking
abroad in the marts of commerce ana Calls alouu
for the absolute destruction of aSgregauons OF cap
itaI IS scarcely calculated to appeal to that pro-
gressve conservatism, that high sense OF equal JUS
tice. upon which Democracy must paSG lls hopes hopes
I'm one breath Mr.. Davis lauds William jennings
BRYAN as the foremost of Democrats, In the next
he his door advocacy OF policies or ueStruC-
tion at which even the conscientious socialist must
stand aghast. w., 49,, ~
Neither the Democracy nor Mr. Bryan has ever
demanded the absolute destruction of aggregatfons
of capital. They have sought and they Will con-
tinue to insist upon laws which will prevent op-
preston the people by these private interests
and they propose TO see TO 1t that these laws are
obeyed-
Mir Davis cries aloud for annihilation In that
he is not only undemocratic but In seeking TO sad
weichting Democracy and its candidate down with
a load which r. has proposed to carry and
y-ill
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
THE PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT.

The first report of the Public Service Com
mission indicates pretty c0nclusively that the
only hope of solving the rapid transit problem
lies in building new subways. The various
rapid transit roads Of the city are carrying
daily 3,560000 passengers. of whom 60 per
cent travel in the morning and evening rush
hours. During those hours the existing faci-
Ties are taxed 10 their utmost, and compara-
lively little be done 10 compel the rail
road managers to increase them. Some things
the commission has already accomplished to
expedite traffic. especially in the subway, dur
ing those periods and some of the other things
ii has in mind, particularly the proper repair
Of rolling stock, will contribute TO relieve con-
gestion; but the fact stands out with perfect
slearness that the problem of giving New York
adequate service during rush hours can be ac-
complished only by building new lines.
The suggestion Of legislation designed to make
the construction of additional subways easier
is therefore the most important part OF the re-
port. The building of roads is SO hedged
about with hard conditions by existing laws
as TO he practically impossible. On the one
hand is the Elsberg law, which makes construc
ton by private capital almost out Of the question
an6 on the other is the debt limit which for
the present seems TO forbid municipal construc-
ton. The commission suggests two ways
in which this situation may be relieved-name-
fy. by amendment to the state constitution ex-
empting subway bonds from the debt limit sec
:ion so long as the rapid transit lines pay the
interest ON such bonds and by modification of
the Elsberg and rapid transit laws so as to
make ii possible TO enter into contracts for the
operation OF subways for than twenty
years and also to allow of the construc-
ten and operation Of rapid transit lines by pri-
vate companies on proper terms, with the reser-
walton by the city of the right to purchase the
lines after period of twenty or twenty five
years. Through these changes in the law the
city would be able either TO construct subways
itself to have them constructed by a private
company using public credit or By a private
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
BRITISH MUNICIPAL POWEP
From Daily Consular Report.

prom Daily COnSuIdr Report
Consul Albert Halstead, at Birmingham writes
as follows in regard to the conduct OF the electric
light and power plant owned by that British in
dustrial city:
'The electrical supply committee of the Birming
ham City Council has been authorized to expend
f2O 900 ($97.330) for the purchase of motors. The
idea is TO increase the of electricity a
tive power among small manufacturers by permit
ting them to hire motors from the city for power
purposes This / believe. is departure In
municipal business activity. At the time
there has been a reduction of the scale of charges
for electricity for power purposes. Birmingham
has expended several million dollars in erecting its
modern electric power houses. 1t furnishes cleo
trictv not only for lighting and power purposes,
but for electric streetcars, which the city also
owns and operates An additional plant has 10 be
nroyided at an estimated cost of f231, ,2S5 (S1125-
54S) There is friendly rivalry between the cleo
tric supply committee and the gas committee of the
birmingham City Council for business. each
nittee endeavoring promote the of it's lighting
and power facilities. The rivalry is keen, and ii
would seem as If 1t should be of advantage to both
committees by leading 10 increase in the use OF
their supplies"
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
THE NEWS THIS NoRAfN" u

>-cDEcc Senate: letter was received
eroy, secretary Cortelyou explaining M lIiT co.
In transmitting financial inforIn8llon 14oi.
by Mr. Tilnan's resolutions E EI-o,,+ Itstton AT
,,;ll T,rovioing for new immigrant 9'''
Philadelphia was passed.
FoRETGN-Advices from Washington a al1U
Paris tended TO discredit the report Nc nart Of
sptracy haa peeIl ,o.5~.bjT f1eet - Haytian
-rorar1r1ept forces attacked ana recap GU
town of St. Marc, the Insurgents Closely
resistance. CIonaives is reported 10 pe N4os-s !Is
Invested The opposition party Is BS,1Iitils .ts
strength in Japan and fears are expTesstu ia
+s,a Cabinet may be defeated on the puuS -.
- ~ AdZ,ices from St Petersburg SAID Iha'
serious Silssenslon exists between the CoILsei % "a
tive and Liberal members OF lle nIiot inc
..nloz-oe Vrernva' published an article
,f7e Russian diplomatic service - Inc No
star liner Finland down and sank the 'Tree '
steamer Epirus in a fog off Terneuzeh' NO nv nv
80 lost. the Finland was not damaged =
Ten nersons were Killed and many were injured
in a railway accident near Milan - - i@4tr 81
Curzon was elected repreSen'd'iNe P
Ireland
DoNFSTIC-The Pennsylvania two-cent rail-
road fare law was declared unconstitutional by
the state Supreme Court. -= tederal JUDGE
Mcpherson. in a decision at Kansas CITY, upnelo
the s,Iprennacv of the national statutes against
state laws The Hughes League VIII pre-
sent its policies in an address TO the Governor
and ask his views in regard u MS cahuiudcE
and on national questions. == Arguments
were heard in the Court OF Appeals at Albany
.n regard To the right of the Legislature 10
powers growing out OF a suit over an order
fixing lighting rates in Saratoga by the former
State Commission Of Gas and Electricity -
Arguments heard IN the Court OF Appears
at Albany IN the suit brought by w p Hearst
10 stop the payment Of city lighting bills IN
10000 on the ground Of waste of public funds.
in which a motion for injunction was denied.
The New England Trust Company, of
Providence was placed in the hands OF re
ceiver as a result Of the financial depression In
October Of last year
CTTY.-Stocks broke at the close. - The
Parsons men proposed 10 have the county com
mittee indorse Hughes as first choice and Taft
as second - The grand jury took steps TO
investigate alleged crimes among financial in
stitutions - Important changes in the tran
sit laws Were recommended TO the Legislature
by the Rapid Transit Commission. - Cor
roration Counsel Pendleton advised Mayor Nc
Clellan that the Ashokan dam charges should
be dropped. - Neither the Mayor c +.
Murphy invited to the anti-Bryan confer
ence. - Argument heard the app-
cation for the confirmation of the report of the
referee regarding the accounting Of the receiv
Of the Republic Savings and Loan Associa-
tfon. - The ProVident Savings Life Assur-
ance Society issued a caustic statement IN reply
to the criticism of E. T. Rittenhouse, the Col
orado Insurance Commissioner. = The Ham
iton Bank took in nearly much money as
withdrawn when IL reopened
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for to-day:
Fair. The temperature yesterday: Highest Al
degrees: lowest q.
New-York tribune., 1908-01-21

Charles Emory Smith, editor of THE Phila-
delphia Press" who died suddenly in Philadei-
phia on Sunday. had been conspicuous for years
in the public life of the nation AS Minister to
Russia and Postmaster General he distinc-
ton. and a journalist his field OF influence
was by no limited to his adopted city
and state. He a forceful and cultivated
speaker as well as writer, with broad public
ideals and in his leadership always aimed at
betterrnent and progress. His death is a dis
tinct loss TO American journalism.