davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
WHAT RATS DESTROY.
Millions in Damage Attributed to
Their RaVages.

Their Ravages.
F-o1- Van Norsen's Magazine
Common house rats in Washington and
Baltimore cost the merchants and house
holders about S1.IO9.O00 last year. accord
ing TO Federal biologists who spent many
months n tracing the depredations Of the
rodents. Merely IN the cities % the
United States Of over 10000 population.
rats ate or destroyed property worth fully
based on the result Of hundreds OF house
holders and merchants interviewed. scores
Of premises inspected and thousands OF
letters sent out and answers received.
The loss 20 Washington was S4e0003 and
10 Baltimore, S700-o00, thus proving q per
capita loss OF N5 A year, estimating
Washington's population at 10000 and
BaltimOre's at so. ESQ
II the figured PERCENTAGE holds good
throughout the country, the estimated SO
O00000 Of the Federal scientists falls far
below the actual figures, for New York
alone would be forced TO pay an annual
rat tax Of S5.000.000. Chicago. $3.50. 900;
Philadelphia. $3.50. coo; and Boston. St
Louis. Pittsburg. Cleveland. Detroit San
Francisco. Buffalo. and Cincinnati, al
least S7.000.0O0 more.
In the hundreds OF smaller cities and
towns. where less brick. stone. and con
crete IS used in construction than in the
great cities named. the percentage Of loss
must be fully as heavy. and # IS not i'm
probable, therefore. that the nation bears
an annual tax OF S100.000000 that never
appears on the books Of the assessors.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
The State and the Citizen

This IS a day and age Of much theOriz-
ing and speculative reasoning on the sub
ject OF the duties Of the state toward
thousands OF its citizens constantly in
creasing number ii many States-who are
out Of employment. The bread line"
which was established some years ago by
a philanthropic baker in New York, and
which until recent years was confined
alone 20 New York, has become a neces-
sary institution in a great many States.
NIr- Terence Y Powderly. formerly the
leader OF tae Knights Of Labor. is inclined
TO believe that the bread line" IS in
many cases an unnecessary institution.
Recently he disguised himself as a tramp
and stood in the bread line" for some
time. mingled with the men and became
part Of them. As . result Of this investi-
cation, he declares that the majority Of
these men who come 10 get free bread
and coffee are men who would not work
al honest employment, even If they had
an opportunity.
Nj Powderly goes further than this.
and declares that there should be a rem
edy for the idleness represented by the
force Of men IN the bread line, and he
has devised a rather comprehensive
scheme providing employment for these
men upon public works or upon farms
owned By the State He thinks that all
the men who are habitues Of the bread
line" should be arrested as vagrants and
put 70 work by the State. where their Ia
Dor would earn them food. shelter, and
clothing in proportion to the amount Of
work done. Those declining TO work at
the States behest are to be punished.
It is not too much TO say, perhaps, that
the mere annunciation of such a theoret-
cal plan as this a few years ago would
have amazed Us, because Of its social
istic, not to say paternaIistic, features.
But. as was said some years ago by
President Cleveland. in one Of his mes
sages on the tariff, 1T is a condition. not
a theory, that confronts US" And in
the face Of the stories Of starving men
and women in the larger cities all over
the country, We are inclined to think
that any measure, OF any plan. that
promises relief is entitled 10 respectful
and serious consideration.
OF course. one may well question to
what extent the state is under moral OBJ
Hgation TO provide for its citizens who
cannot provide for themselves. But. thar
no state can hope to be happy or pros
percEs while 1t contains within its bor-
ders thousands of men insufficiently
clothed and fed is too obvious to need
dwelling upon In other countries. nota-
bly, Great Britain. some such plan as this
devised by Mr. Powderly has already been
in operation for some time. That co1n-
try believes that it is the duty OF the
government to provide an opportunity to
earn a living for every man, and under
some such theory as that we, too. must
look for relief from conditions Of which
at present We cannot help but feel
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
The Trouble in an Auditors Office

Naval pay officers are described as en-
te-taining much discomfort with that rou-
tine OF government which has TO Go with
the settlement OF accounts for which
those officers are personally and hnan-
ciaIly responsible 10 the Treasury De
parment Every pay officer or board
q ship or At a shore station is IN
trusted with the disbursement Of public
funds must render san accurate and de-
tailed account Of such expenditures. Those
accounts are sent, in due tine. to the Au-
ditor for the Navy Bepartment.who allows
them OF disallows them. as the case nay
be II IS important. Of course, that these
accounts be settled al the earliest DOS
sible time after they are rendered. This
IS mainly because a navy pay officer who
makes a disbursement which IS not al
lowable must be reimbursed for his er-
roneous payment OF stand the loss OF
Il out OF his own pocket. Inasmuch as
navy pay officers make many dlsburse-
nents TO enlisted men. some involving
considerable amounts. It frequently hap-
pens. It is said. that these disbursements
are disallowed and the navy pamaster
turns TO the bluejacket. to find that the
latter has left the service and cannot be
located. OF, when found. refuses to rslr-
bUrse the pay officer
The situation is the more acute be
cause the Office Of the Auditor for the
Navy Department is some eighteen
months behind in its work. giving plenty
OF time for al sorts Of things TO han
pen calculated 70 place the navy disburs-
ing officer in a position which is anything
but agreeable and in some cases imposing
obligations TO the Treasury Department
The Office Of e,he Auditor for the Nav,
Department is behind in its work largely
because so many Of its competent and
specially trained clerks have resigned or
sought transfer to other Offices owing %
the fact that The head Of the Office is z
colored politician Of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Il is easy enough to figure out why
the Office OF the Auditor for the Navy
Department is demoralized. That need
not be matter which would cause much
distress outside Of that particular branch
OF the Treasury Department, but when
the effects Of the demoralization reach
ont into the Pay Corps. and 50 on
TO al parts Of the naval service. affect
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
STEEL TRUST SHARES PROFITS.
Corporation Pays Out S6ZI 900 to
Employees Who Bought Stock.

From The New YORK Journal & Commerce.
Under the prOfit-sharing plan OF the
United States Steel Corporation. under
which its employees receive special advan-
tages in subscribing 10 the corporations s
stock. and in addition to the regular dlvi-
dends receive certain cumulative bonuses
II the stock is held for FIVE years, the
corporation has paid out on Friday $751;
coo in making the first bonus distribution
The first offer TO employees 70 subscribe
70 the preferred stock was made i've
years ago, and this is the first year in
which bonus distribution has been
made The first issue OF stock 20 en-
ployes under the plan was 32,516 shares,
which they were allowed 20 subscribe
for at SO a share. During the succeeding
FIVE years. in which they have been COM
pleting payment on their allotments, the
steel employees have received per cent
on the amount Of cash paid in- The cor
poration. collecting as trustee the divi-
dends on the certificates as allotted. has
charged the subscribers per cent in
terest on their unpaid balances. which
deducted from the { per cent dividends
allowed. q profit Of . per cent on unpaid
balances to accumulate TO the credit of
the subscribers II is partly out OF this
fund that the bonus has been paid. which
amounts 70 $3.50 on each share. Since
the inception Of the plan the corporation
has paid out to IT'S employees about Si2,-
0G0,o00, and the shares which have passed
into the hands Of its wOrkme1 represent
par value Of S21.600.0o0.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
Assistant Secretary Of State.

John Callan O'Laughiin, who has been
nominated for Assistant Secretary o.
state. is well qualified to take Up the du-
ties Of that important Office HIS work in
newspsperdom has been largely in diplo-
matte lines. He is acquainted with inter
national affairs-made so by study and
travel and conscientious work for the
great newspapers he has represented here
at the Capital and as correspondent
abroad He enjoys the confidence Of the
diplomatic corps and the esteem Of states
men generally. Having kept in close
touch with departmental life for years
and informed himself thoroughly as to
the details and nlceties OF international
procedure, the duties Of the Assistant Sec
retaryship viii pass into the hands Of nc
novice.
In appointing Mr.. O'LaughIin to this
post the President eonpIimented the
newspaper fraternity as made up OF ef-
fcient, trustworthy. working newspaper
men-Tnen who achieve things and are q
credit TO the profession That prompt con-
frmation viii be given this nomination,
as well as Mr.. Bacon's as head Of the
department. should be. and no doubt IS
a foregone conclusion
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
Erring on the Right side.

From the Norfolk Globe
Chemists have beer known to disagree
before this on questions that are sus-
ceptible Of experimental proof much
more exact in its character than is ex-
pertinent by means Of the poison squad
Moreover. DR.. Wiley's error was on the
side Of the public. and If zeal can never
be regarded as an extenuatiOn OF scien-
tific mistake It is to be remembered thai
DR.. Wiley acted as something more than
a scientist in the Department Of Agri-
culture. that the circumstances Of his DO
sition, the intensity Of the pure food
and drugs agitation, and his own keen
spirit Of reform made him advocate and
champion as well And zeaI-even though
1t lead to mistakes-is usually regarded
as one OF the most essential attributes OF
the true advocate DR.. Wiley has taken
the bullets Of resistance 20 the new order
with hangIOg efficiency
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
Vase in Naval Expenditure.


The Navy Department is in for more
investigation. this time on the financial
side A magazine writer has brought for
ward some rather startling allegations
that is. startling If true-that there is an
enormous waste OF public funds in ex-
penditures for the construction and main
tenance Of the fleet. He asserts that the
naval establishment on land IS more ex-
pensive than that aaoat, that useless and
expensive navy yards are kept up. and
that the building Of battle ships in gov
ernment yards is a piece Of extravaganza
There is nothing new in these charges.
for they have been made in connection
with the warfare on the bureaucratic sys-
TEN Of the Navy Department Senator
Hale. however. appears to think them
worthy OF attention, and his resolution
Of inquiry appears intended to disclose
whether expenditures in the department
are made in the most useful and
economical manner We consider it i'm
probable that the Senator from Maine
expects a sensation to develop from the
inquiry thus provided FOR. It is more
likely that the real purpose OF the reso-
luton Is TO give the naval authorities an
opportunity to defend themselves against
asperslons believed TO be unjust.
Whatever may be the upshot Of Senator
Hale's investigation, II Is evident before
It begins that Congress shares responsi-
bnity with the department for the ex-
penditures alleged to be extravagant-
The political influences which sustain
navy yards in impossible locations are all
Congressional; the various plans for max
ing work FOR government employees are
strongly supported al the Capitol. So
that any inquiry directed exclusively 10
departmental methods will fau short Of
disclosing the whole truth. whatever else
it may discover. And when the matter
Of naval expenditure is considered in It's
broader aspect. it viii be seen that an
immense waste Of public money. not
necessarily an improper waste, is Insep-
arabic from the policy OF naval expansion
to which all civilized nations are com
mitted. The progress OF naval science
yearly converts costly war machinery
into useless junk: the life Of guns and
ships is brief; and the mad race Of naval
constructors to produce bigger and bigger
battle ships necessarily reduces the fight
ing value Of lesser vessels. In other
words. there IS nothing permanent about
the naval establishment Particularly is
it true Of battle-ship construction that
II is yet in an experimental stage. No
one knows the actual fighting value Of
our new Dreadnoughts. and for aught we
can tel a whole feet OF them may prove
pO1erless against COvey OF aiTships.
costing relatively a trivial amount
The whole policy OF naval expansion.
therefore. involves waste, Of necessity, for
war expenditure is unproductive and i'm
permanent and experimental Essential
it may be 10 national security. but so
costly is IL that every nation should cast
about for more economical means Of as
suring the worlds peace
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
Mr. ROoseveIt and Congres..

From the Chicago Reco1d-HeTzld.
It needs not the eye Of the wise man
to see-the eye Of the man in the street
viii answer-that every bit Of the
strength which Roosevelt possesses as
Executive comes to him simply and solely
because he has been the true and direct
representative Of the viii OF our democ-
racy. And the same eye can see beyond
a doubt that the weakness and the rage
OF Congress al this time are due 70 the
fact that Il IS not fulfilling the duties
which Mr.. Mccall theoretically says IN
here in il and that It objects to having
its degeneracy pointed out and brought
home to It.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
Secretary Roofs Work.

Secretary Root shortly Tetires from the
State Department, leaving q record Of no
table diplomatic achievement. directed IN
the main. as IS most modern diplomacy,
10 furtherihg that closer amity Of the na-
tions necessitated by vastly inproved
means Of INSTRUMENTATION and in6is-
pensable 10 the maintenance OF the grow
ing fabric OF international commerce
Twenty-four arbitration treaties stand tC
his credit. and the long existing disputes
with Great Britain and Canada over the
boundary and fisheries questions have
been placed in the way Of termination
The Hague Tribunal. and indeed all ef-
forts for the settlement Of international
differences by judicial means. have had
Mr.. Roots steady sympathy and encour-
sgemenr-
our relations with South and Central
America have been strengthened and i'm
proved during Mr.. Roots administration
and our policy in the western hemisphere
defined so as 10 remove all grounds OF
suspicion on the part Of our near neigh
bors. This happy result sIr. Root accom-
plished by his memorable tour Of South
American capitals and by engaging the
cooperation Of the pacific and prosperous
republic Of Mexico in negotiations for the
promotion OF peace in Central America.
IN the latter region has been set up an
agency for the determination Of interna-
tionaI5 disputes that carries out on q
small scale precisely what the advocates
Of an International court Of justice hope
70 see tried on a larger scale. The estab-
Ishment Of the Central American court Is
bit Of constructive diplomacy that
ought 10 give 1Ir. Root great satlsfac-
ton
Equally successful with his South
American policy has been his handling Of
the Oriental situation. which at times has
been one Of great delicacy. Our relations
with Japan have been placed on a sub
stantial and mutually agreeable basis By
an arrangement recognizing the Oriental
status quo and providing against any
change therein without consultation OF
the other party The immigration and
school questions, now Unhappily 10 the
fore again. NJ Root Strengthened out
with tact and patience L Is worth re-
membering that ii the japanese matter
~ D. -+,,l -----,-,g-- e,-- --.st-.----.-- -
our treaty obligations. for the supremacy
OF international covenants as the law OF
the land, and for the maintenance Of na-
tiOnal faith with our neighbors. Justice
has been the keynote OF his policy
throughout. ana at 10 time IN our history
have the affairs or the state Department
been conducted upon a higher moral and
juridiCal plane
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27

Forty-fOurth Congress. The people Of his
district could not see anything but Money,
and he was returned 10 the six succeed
ing Congresses Though elected in 1886 to
the United States Senate for the term be-
ginning in 1899 Hon. J. q. George. who
was Senator AT the time. died in 1857. and
Mr.. Money was appointed 10 Ill the unex-
pired term. He was ren0minated in 1903
by the Democratic primary 10 succeed
himself. Senator Money stands well with
bis party and the Senate
From past performances the new Sen
ator from far away Washington. Wesley
L. Jones. viii wear the toga well M
Jones IS not a man OF many words. nor
illumined oratory. but he IS a hard work
ct for his constituency. Such a man the
great West needs in the Halls OF Con
gress. Washington's interests viii be
looked after carefully BY Senators Piles
and Jones
The old custom OF a new Senator be-
ing seen and not heard IS no more. Sen
ator JEFF Davis knocked the custom 20
smithereens last session, when he had a
set 10 with the octopus. Now comes SEN
atOT Cummlns. the new Senator from
Iowa He is much interested IN the
postal savings bank bills. Monday he
contented himself with asking numerous
questions. and yesterday he took the floor
for q speech His tone and manner are
very much Ike Senator LafOllette.
Senator JEFF Davis took another shot
at the malefactoTs. trusts and others OF
ike fk His maiden speech last session
was made 70 a fun house and crowded
galleries. but this time hunger got the
better OF the Senators. and while Senator
Davis was eating up the octopi they
were eating their salads in the Senate
restaurant
Senator Teller with evident pleasure
at least he said it gave him great pleas
ure. presented yesterday the credentials
Of his successor, Charles J. Hughes. Sen
ator Teller's familiar figure viii be
missed. he possesses a parsonage diff
ferent from all the members Of the Sen
ate. His manner is quiet and reserved
yet when he has the floor his colleagues
give him respectful attention The IA
miliar tTiO-Tillman. Bailey. and Teller
viii be no more when Teller leaves The
I Senate. The three Senators sit side By
side. and each has characteristics De
cUliar 20 himself TiIlman ferv and sar-
castle. Bailey sarcastic. but every inch q
} forceful orator. and Teller quiet. firm
and methodical The new Senator
I Hughes was q visitor 70 the Senate. and
remained during nearly the entire ses-
( sion
The insurgents had an inning IN Tax
House yesterday. Young Victor Murdoch
went after the rules in great shape
/ With his buzz-saw voice he chased n.
rules up hill and down. but when h
I finished it was dollars 20 a Virginia pea
/ nut that he was more exhausted than tn,
rules Uncle Joe, from a seat on tht
I floor. cast plying glances at the Kznsan
I He felt SO sorry that such a likely youns
man should overtax himself buttins
/ against a stone wall.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
Disadvantages Of a Poll Tax.

RON ne DOsLO1 1TlTlSCTIpG-
The Democrats accuse the Republicans
OF seeking TO debauch the suffrage by
buying up the poor and unregistered, and
the Republicans retort in kind. The truth
seems 10 be. to judge from the Virginia
newspapers. that while both parties do
It the advantage is rather with the Dem
OcTats thus far, but with the imminent
probability that it is slipping away from
them Democratic newspapers are urg-
ing an amendment to the constitution TO
guard the suffrage against corruption. -
but are not specific as to ways and means
for attaining this end. The CALLED Jade
Of disfranChisemsnt winces. and winces
the more as the realization comes that
the Republican gain is not wholly due to
the prepayment Of poll taxes. but 10 the
spread Of Republican principles among
the independent minded and TO a grow
ing revolt against the risors Of e-party
ascendency
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
GROWING MILITARY BUDGET.
No One Knows What Our War Ex-
Penditure Really Il.

4
Pensions and the military and naval
budgets already threaten 10 exceed the
aggregate heretofore considered the rec
ord. The pension appropriation exceeds
S16o o00. 900, the naval appropriation bill
calls for S125.o0o 000: that for the army tusr
reported IS larger than last year and
passes SsS. .0O0.000- The total Of these three
items as they stand IS over $50 90. 600
but this IS not the possible aggregate OF
authorized military and naval expend!-
tures. The appropriations for fortihca-
tons and for the Military Academy are
carried in separate bills. The former last
year was IN the neighborhood Of N0coo.-
go; whereas West Point rarely costs more
than Sl.e00.0o0 for its regular mainten-
ance-
Again there are items legitimateIv milf
tary OF naval carried in bills the titles OF
which DO not suggest their presence. The
sUndry civil bill is often a catch-aH OF
this character. Taking all the possibilities
OF appropriation by indiUeclion into ac-
count il may be assumed that appropria-
tons at this session for wars past and
for preparations for wars that nav be-
viii surpass $4o0. COO To be sure all
this money viii not be expended the
coming year. for certain projects NAV
not attain the stage where payments are
IN order. On the other hand there are
many open accounts from which payments
are made steadily as obligations are pre-
sented or fall due, the records Of which
must be sought in the reports OF the
several auditors. One Of the auditing
officials remarked. when asked 70 give
an estimate Of the possible military and
naval expenditures. that the requirements
would demand his study and inspection
OF at least six appropriation bills If his
reply was to be such as would enlighten
a business man seeking 20 calculate the
scOpe OF his expenditures
The Washington herald., 1909-01-27
CALIFORNIA; Duty.

From the BsltirEoTe sun
While the state Of California may have
the constitutional right TO do these things,
il has no moral right 10 involve the other
States in foreign quarrel by legislation
which is not essential 10 the welfare
and the security Of the people Of that
State II trade is TO be sacrificed as the
result Of unnecessary Discrimination the
loss will fall upon all Of the States. And
IN any loss Of japanese trade the South
is especially interested, for Japan Is an
important customer for Southern prod
ucts. The other States VIII be entirely
willing to back I'D California in her
right TO manage and regulate her own
schools. But JGey VIII not be willing 70
be involved in a foreign difficulty or in
loss OF trade for any wanton or unneces-
saTy provocation TO one Of our best Gus
toners