davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
THE MUNICH Al ELECTION IN
NEW YORK.

the nltl-Iammany elements In New
York city are getting their organiza-
tion started, in anticipation Of a great
fight at the coming municipal election
10 oust Tammany from power. 1t has
been increasingly apparent for some
years that the grip of Tammany has
been weakened by the annexation of
the outlying boroughs. and that New
York is not the solidly Democratic
town 1t once was. Tammeny has fail
cd to capture Brooklyn Democracy, and
the fight in that borough has weakened
Democracy there. Meanwhile the rapid
growth of business in Manhattan has
been driving population to other bor-
oughs, so that the preponderanee of
the old city in the politics and affairs
of the greater municipality is constant
~ waning.
Thus Tammany faces a fight which
looks like one of the great crises in
the organizations history. It is not
EASY TO be confident that Tammany is
up against its last fight" for Tam
many has for generations had a way
OF rising stronger than ever from de-
feat. And yet there is certainly grave
menace to it in the fact that the city
Is so fast outgrowing its scope of
power.
There arc various views that may be
taken of the relation of New York
city to national politics Tammany has
been a poor asset Of the national
Democracy since 1896. It is unlikely
ever TO be useful asset of a
radical Democracy. It's affiliations
are such that it cannot give sincere
support to party whose creed, if APP
piled in New York's administration,
would make such an institution as
Tammany impossible. Yet Tammany's
influence, and the national party's need
of real Tammany support, have been
powerful arguments in favor of max
ing the national party conservative
enough to bring Tammany back to its
old allegiance.
II Is not easy TO believe, after what
happened at Denver last summer and
what took place at the election last
November. that the Bryan Democracy
viii give itself grave concern in behalf
of Tammany Rather, it is to be ex-
pected that the advices from Lincoln
will bring little of cheer to the Murphy
braves. Mr.. Bryan has tried to be
good party man, in the main; but it is
not apparent why he should be anxious
for Tammany to win just now, or how
he could expect TO hold his sincere fol-
lowers to the Tammany banner if he
should decide to make the effort.
And the idea of Roosevelt as the Re
publican candidate for mayor is GER
tainly thriller. IT woald arrest the
whole national attention. It would
mean that Roosevelt would be instant
" plunged into the whirI of national
affairs once more. 1t would mean
Roosevelt domination of the Empire
State for an indefinite time, and would
seemingly open the way for gratifica~ =
tion OF any further ambitions the late
President might have in the way -of
public service.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

ager has under mis- direction the super-
intendents in each Of these departments
he oversees-he does not himself exc
cute.
Manager Has Power
Of Purchasing Agent.
The power 20 make all contracts ard
buy all supplies Is that Of a purchasing 2
agent; the manager is buyer for the
city, and as such examines materials
and prices with the same sharp eye as
the man who buys for any large busi-
ness concern. Is there lubricating oil
TO he bought for the lighting and y ater-
works engines? In former days tire su-
p7rinteHdent of waterworks purchased
the oil needed for his pumping outfit,
and the superintendent of lighting the
oil for his engine, though the two en-
gines stood side by side in the same
| building.
For this cylinder oil they used to pay
% cents a gallon, 3 cents for freight and
l cent for draya ge-79 Cnts in all. Now
II costs % cents a gallon, delivered at
me plant according TO the statement Of
the chairman of the common council:
city teams do the hauling, saving the
dravage.
Is there granolithic walk to be laid?
Cor the city lays all the sidewalks.)
Work for which the city used to pay
the contractors S1.75 a square yard is
now done for less than a dollar. Is
there waterpipe to buy?. A saving of
half cent or cent a pound is worth
making.
In the execution of municipal work a
great Improvement is noticeable in the
coordination of the city's forces, during
! the brief year in which the plan has
oeen in operation. Teams which stood
idle in the city's stables because the
street department had nothing to do,
though the waterwoTks superintendent
was hiring his waterpipe fauled from
deoot TO trench. now are on hand
promptly to move that same watcrpipe,
as soon as the manager telephones
The line man for the electric light de-
Dartment. who could nOl work on the
| FIRE alarm system because it was under
the fire department now busies himself
on any electrical work which the city
needs to have done.
The street gang not only makes streets
and repairs cutters for the street de-
partment. but digs trenches for the
water works system and sets poles for
the electric light superintendent. All
along the line, the various forces work
together. The single business head has
( brought unity, where before there was
none. Who can expect a half-dozen
council committees to get together and
coordinate the city's workers as can a
single head2
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
CADETS GET READY
FOR ANNUAL DRILL
High School Companies Will Com
pete Next Tuesday and
Wednesday.

The annual competitive drill of the
Washington high school cadets will take
place Tuesday and Wednesday next at
the American League park. Companies
A, 3, z, f, G, and II will drill Tues
day and Companies c, D, X, L, and NJ
viii face the judges Wednesday. On
Wednesday also there will be a regi-
mental parade and the prize will be
awarded.
The judges for the drills, It IS under
stood. VIII be selected among the Off
GERS of the army on duty here.
The first of the invitations to the an
nual commencement exercises of the va
riOUs high schools were sent out last
evening. The exercises of the academic
departments viii be held in Convention
Hail June 3 and Of the Technical and
Business schools at the National Thea
ter June 2 and q, respectively.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
GEORGETOWN BOYS
HONOR CANTWELL
Classmates at Law School Give
Baseball Pitcher Watch
Fob.

Tommy Cantwell. captain Of the
Georgetown baseball team, is today the
proud possessor Of a watch fob. an
evidence Of the esteem in which he Is
held by his classmates OF the George
town Law School.
The presentation exercises were held
last night. Andrew A. Hickey called
the meeting to order and introduced
Charles a. Douglas. a member Of the
faculty and of the local bar. Mr..
Douglas congratulated Cantwell .on his
entry into the big league and touched
on his qualities as a student and prov
ess as an athlete. In reply. Cantwell
thanked the members OF the class, and
assured them Of his intention to make
good with the Cincinnati team.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

fiscal year the finance committee and
the manager confer as TO what funds
must be raised and by wheat means ;
and the manager is the best informed
OF them all.
In these four respects. therefore. in
the administration, supervision, and CO.
ordination of municipal work: in the
advising Of council committees; In at
tention TO all complaints, and in the
saving IN cost OF supplies and labor.
due to single business head. the new
plan might logically be expected to
prove strong, and has actually done so.
Saving Estimated
At $4,000 Per Year.
While not absolutely demonstrable. in
the absence Of figures for former. years
of cost Of administration, it. is stated
by a member of the former and the
present city councils that the saving
in money has amounted to more than
the $1,000 which the managers office
has cost the city for the past year
The S2.Oo0 paid as salary to the man
ager, the assistants salary, the office
expense, with stat. merry. books. and
report BLANKS, all very simple, are more
than offset by the saving in money, in
the time Of city employees. formerly
wasted, and in the knowledge that the
city knows what is money is going
for.
1T is worth something each year
said John c. Crosby, Ito be able TO
know just where we stand; to have all
bills paid promptly, and 10 be able TO
tell. every evening, just the condition
of each city fund; and to be able to
forecast beforehand just about what
each improvement will cost
The manager Is subject TO the cOun-
ell, which authorizes every expenditure
over 800. This is a valuable and neces-
sary check. The manager gives his
whole time to ~c++zties He furnishes
a bond for 5000, and his term Of Office
is one year.
The manager does not enforce the Do
lice regulations. II is not his duty 20
close saloons at midnight or abolish
gambling; he does not enact ordinances.
He has no hand in the assessing or re-
ceiving of taxes. Certain financial and
managerial duties are his. His powers
are always subject TO the council. While
not nearly so extensive as those of the
commission in Galveston or Des Moines,
they yet partake both of a legislative
and an executive nature.
As adviser Of the council he assists
In determining the policy of the CITY
along many. but not all, lines. as head
of the executive side Of the government
or the city he carries out the policies
determined upon. We are beginning to
doubt whether it is possible to abso-
lutely Gissever the legislative side of
government from the executive: It IS
likely that we may have to draw our
line of division somewhat differently IN
the future.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
Commission Plan
Is Decided Upon.

So. after much discussion and confer
ence, after correspondence with Texas
cities and others. it was decided that
the method of having municipal direc-
tors, or the commission plan, as it is so
often called, had worked so we'll else
where that it merited a trial in Vir-
ginia Only then did they discover that
the constitution of Virginia rigidly pre-
scribes the form of government for
cities of the first class and as this in
cluded Staunton and made the commits
sion form of government impossible,
they were driven to adopt another plan
The State code allowed and their
charter specifically permitted (Section
3O the council to appoint such other
officers as it deems necessary, and de-
fine their powers, prescribe their duties
and fix their compensation" so the two
chambers passed an ordinance creating
the office of general manager for the
city Of StauntOn, which went duly into
effect in January, 1908, and provided for
the appointment of the manager by the
council.
Upon the general manager devOlves
entire charge and control of all the
executive work Of the city In its va
rious departments entire control OF
the heads Of departments and employees
of the city" the carrying out of "all
of the administrative and executive
work now performed by the several
standing committees Of the council eN-
cept the finance, ordnance, school, and
auditing committees" (SectiOn y.
This broad and comprehensive aUthori-
cation places in the hands Of the gen
eral manager large powers. chief of
which are: % To make all contracts
for labor % To buy all supplies. lSl
To hear all complaints Of citizens. "a
To advise council committees as to eX-
Denditures. 90. To supervise the exc
cution of the work intrusted to the va
rious departments Of the city-water
works. streets, lighting, the park, the
city poor. In this latter field the man
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
Quarterly Report Made
By General Manager.

A most important feature is the quar-
terly report Of the general manager.
Every three months he must set forth
in a plainly worded. clearly printed
pamphlet, the work done and the money
spent during that quarter. This, in It
self, is a great check. Every citizen,
as well ss every councilman, can read
it. When city reports are stil further
simplifed so that every voter may de-
termine at glance what has been
done and at what cost, then we shall
develop a municipal fair judgment
which viii support the good and ef-
hcient administration and refuse the
'wastetul or corrupt
Here, thens we have A variation on
the Galveston plan, but patterned as
near II as the constitution Of Virginia
allowed, and afforded a great improve
ment over old methods. Legally it is
not greatly different from the former
government, being only an added city
official; actually the city government.
has been decidedly altered. The city
council has paid adviser. a business
expert, a manager, to assist it; and
having Suf h a one. does not hesitate
TO make tUn use of his services, which
are maiEly executive but have also
legislative aspects. While a wear IS too
short a period of trial OH which to base
a final judgment, so far the expert
ment IS a success.
The student Of municipal affairs who
watches with interest every. experirnenf
in municipal government Will not fail to
note the progress Of this plan of hav-
Ing business manager for the citv
It should be remarked that in this in
stance, also, the tendency toward great
er power IN fewer hands is evident.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
DUKE MAY START
COLONY IN FLORIDA

ROME, Nay S4.-The Duke di Litta
today sent an Italian inspector of emil
grafton to his big estate on the Mana
tee river, in Florida. to study the
economic and hYgienic conditions with
reference to the proposed colonization
there of 500 earthquake sufferers
The duke made his offer to the gov
ernment shortly after the earthouake
devasted 0lesSina and Reggie. He owns
great tracts of land in southwest Flor
ida, which he proposes to permit earth
quake victims to farm on shares.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

Carrie Nation intends TO raise chickens
row. II she is as successful with them
as she is raising-well, what she's
been raising-she ought to put aside a
little nest egg for her older age. Which
is not pun either for she is reputed
TO be worth $4,000.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

with branches or spring blossoms ana
clusters OF wild flowers
-
Mrs. Swanson, wife OF the governor
or Virginia, who has been spending sew
eTal weeks in Atlantic City and Phiia-
uelphia, viii arrive in Washington to-
RlorroW 70 be the guest OF Mr.. and
-dIs- s- A ". Dunn for several days before
returning TO Richmond.
=
The The Counselor OF the German EN-
9assE ana Countess Won Wedel viii leave
y ashington Monday for New York.
from where they viii SAN tuesday for
'Sernany
Dinner AT Brazilian Embassy
The Brazilian Ambassador and Nr,e
Nabueo were hosts at a dinner party
last evening at the embassy in ccmpii-
ment 20 the Secretary of State ana
Mrs. Knox. The guests invited to meet
them were the French Ambassador ana
Nine Jusserand. the Russian Ambassa-
dor, Baron Rosen. Senator and Mrs.
Depew. Senator and Mrs. William Al
den Smith, the Argentine Minister and
Nine Portela, the minister from Peru
AIR PardO, the Minister from Uruguay
and Nine. LafinuT. the Minister from
Chile and Nine. Cruz, the Cuban Minis
ter and Nine Garcia NeIez, the Assis-
tant Secretary OF state and Mrs Hunt
ingtOn Wilson. Representative and Mrs
J. Breck Perkins, Mrs. John PbiIiins
Mrs John 3. Henderson, Mr. and Mrs
Gordon Cummings. hIr. and Mrs. Frank
In Ellis. Mr. and Mrs. Gan. Nfr. and
Mrs. J b Scott Mr.. and Mrs James
Harlan. John Barrett, RinaldO de Lima
Silva. Lieutenant Commander D. r.
Marques de Azeyedo, and Gustavo de
Fienna-kelsch, Of the embassy staff.
White House Garden Party.
The second Of the series OF garden
parties. arranged by Mrs Taft for Fri
day afternoons in May, VIII take place
this afternoon at the White House.
Mrs. Taft viii receive her guests on
the lawn back OF the south porfzco
and the President viii probably be with
her for the most of the afternoon The
Marine Band viii furnish a musical
program and the tea table VIII be laid
under a large marquee
Senator and Mrs. Elkins entertained
a party informally at dinner last even
ing IN their home on X street.
=
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Cleveland Per
kins, of Connecticut avenue. entertained
a party at dinner last evening.
Guests Near Philadelphia.
The Swedish Minister and Nine. de
Lagercrantz. who left Washington YES
terday for Philadelphia, are the guests
for a week OF Mr.. and Mrs. Van Rens-
seiaer, in their country place near Phil
adelphia.
Miss Winifred Davis entertained a
party of young people at bridge last
evening, followed by a buffet supper n
the apartment of her mother. IN The
Highlands.
Saheh Club Entertained.
The Saheh Club was entertained
Thursday evening by Miss Helene Stern.
Of the CIinbourne apartment. The
members are Miss Fannye Altschu, Miss
Leona Hechinger, Misses Gussie and
Helen Hanlein. Miss Irene Einstein, and
Miss Rena Solomon
=
Joseph Scherr. OF Newark. N. J.. spent
a few days IN town the early part Of
the week with friends.
Mr. and Mrs Max Fisher left town
this week for Atlantic City, to remain
ten days They are registered at the
Hotel Rudolph.
Mrs. Simon Lyon left town to visit
relatives in Indianapolis, Ind.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph c. Kaufman,
who have been spending several weeks
in Atlantic City, returned TO their home
yesterday
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

The last sOcialistic candidate for gov
ernJr Of Ohio thinks the doctrine IS
being carried too far when his wife
handed him a few wallops for scorch-
ing the coffee. He is socialist
enough TO get up and make the fires.
but when it comes to taking a licking
for not doing the cooking TO the queens
taste he wants q divorce.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

The bareback seems 10 work in the
Iimelight business as well. Investigators
should question that Mr.. Caldwell who
sought 10 oust Secretary Knox and is
row a divorce defendant.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
What Congress Did
IN THE SENATE.

IN THE SENATE.
Senator Beveridge attacked the To-
bacco trust and urged legislation To
prevent the trust from selling SAort-
weight packages of tobacco to the
people without paying taxes accord
ingly.
Senator La Folbctte presented various
memorials from the Wisconsin Legis-
Iature In favor Of tariff commission,
for investigation of stock exchanges,
for a caJldren's bureau. and for eX-
cIusion of Asiatics-
Consideration Of the tariff bill was re-
sumed at the close of routine busi-
ness
IN THE HOUSE.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
GENERAL MANAGER IN STAUNTON
GIVES CITY GOOD GOVERNMENT
Shenandoah Valley Municipality Finds Evolves
Another Scheme-Responsbiihe8 Put a Trained, Hired
m Execuhve-ReuIt Gratifying

the fifth with
and
South of
discussion for the
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

sun, Il Will be observed that when
fourteen Republican Senators desert
when they have no possible chance of
winning. the outlook for revision Is
improving a biz
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

A parade of the militia. public speak
ing at the town hall in the morning.
and lots of things going off in the air
at night. is about the kind Of a program
TO frame up FOR the Fourth. gentlemen
Of the celebration committee
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

It is possibly an indecent observation.
but the insurgent Senators would seem
10 have had a chance TO learn the
meaning Of the phrase about the iron
entering mans soul
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
LAUGHTER.

sAian is the only animal that laughs, -
observes the Philosopher Of Folly, and
ne only does It, as "A rule. TO avoid
offending the fellow who told the story"
Cleveland Leader,
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

The ministers OF churches where pews
sell for S3OOO must use a lot Of mental
reservation when they preach about sal
walton being free
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
White House Callers

Senators Scott Of West Virginia.
Nixon of Nevada
Representative A. p. Gardner Of AIassa-
chusetts-
Lieut.. Gov Louis \. rockingham OF
Massachusetts
Gov. .Tohn A. Johnson Of Minnesota.
The Cabinet met at II o'clock.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

And just to think Of that seventeen
inning game coming Off ia Chicago, on
a day when the weather was hrst-class
here!
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

Mr.. George Browne. late OF Chicago,
has suddenly become our leading out
door sportsman.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
Capital Tales

n ENATOR LODGE of Massachu-
setts was giving the Senate what
he considered was a conclusive
demonstration of the fact that
the imposition of a duty lowers the
price Of the article. He was illustrat-
ing his remarks by the case Of sac
charm, which he said had declined
under the protective tariff from $5.05 to
p cents per pound
Senator McLaurin Of Mississippi was
in a cOIlOquy with Lodge and was
about to divert to the VoOlen schedule.
I want to ask this Senator from
Mississippi" spoke Up the Dlind Sena-
tor Gore of Oklahoma, mot 10 direct
the attention of the Senator from Mas
sachusetts to the wooden schedule until
the Senator from sachUsetts states
how high the duty would have to be
on the article to which ne has re-
ferred until the consumer would get it
for nothing. That seems to be the
tendency OF his argument"
WhereupOn the galleries took a few
minutes of and laughed, and even the
Senate ChuCkled.
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

tt lOE or the general man
ager Of the city of staun-
ton," is the sign upon two
windows Of a substantial
business block on Main street, in Staun-
ten, Va. One scans the words a second
time. What corporation is this? Can
II be that the city has 81 business man
ager! And one turns his steps TO the
office.
Yes" replies a keeh-eyed young man
within, tine city of StaUuton has a gen
eral manager. His dut $? The manage
ment Of all the city business, except
police, fire, and school matters"
Are the mayor and council abol-
ished?"
No"
What is their relation to the Office
Of city manager"
Then he begins to tell you all about
it in crisp, clear-cut fashion and you sit
down to ask questiors Tor a couple OF
hours. Afterwari you - out and inter
view business men, and when you are
through YOU wonder why no one hit
upon the plan before. 1t is alH so sim
pie, so sensible, and so businesslike.
The city is a corporation and why
should it not have a manager, like other
corporations
Staunton is = prosperous city of 1000,
at the southern end of the Shenandoah,
in the heart of a thriving farming re
gion, and the center of some manufac-
turing. The city wanted a better gov
ernment. not that its municipal admins
tration was markedly corrupt, or that
the city was in a particularly bad way
financially. There was a general feel
ing that the City's funds were wasted;
that taxpayers were not getting their
moneys worth; that more streets could
be paved, that more r-ectric arcs could
burn and better conditions prevail gen
orally for the same money. Galveston
and Houston, Des NOiHes, and Topeka
had secured better municipal conditions
why NOT StauutOn"
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
J. J. Hill, Farmer.

j. J. NH, dIm6I-
James J. Hill. the railroad magnate.
gets his intimate knowledge Of crop
conditions at first hand. He has two
farms in the great Northwest, one Of
them of 10000 acres AID the other Of
5000 acres When leaving the White
House recently a correspondent sought
to catechize Mr.. Hill on his intimate
knowledge of the farm and asked him
about fertilizer Mr.. Hill was right
there with the statistics and told to a
pound how much should be used, how
much it would cost. and the best market
in which to buy it and the length of
time it would last.
=
Senator TiIlman Cf South Carolina is
marveIoUsly quiet these days. But rare
" does he take occasion to jump into
the Senate debate on the tariff When
he does. his tongue is just as stinging
as il ever was. But his health does
not permit him TO engage in the rough
aud-tumble discussion the way he used
TO. Senator Tillman says ne has no
large gobs of speech that he wants 20
turn loose on the Senate anent the
tariff but the betting is odds in favor
of the proposition that before Congress
adiOurns he will break forth with one
of his old-time speeches,
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

IN THE HOUSE.
The House will convene Monday noon
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

'FICE Of the general man
ager Of the city Of Staun-
ton, is the sign upon two
windows of a substantial
The Washington times., 1909-05-14
Guests Near Philadelnhia-

The Swedish Minister and Nine. de
Lagercrantz. who left Washington yes
terday for Philadelphia, are the guests
for week OF Mr.. and Mrs. Van Rens-
seiaer, in their country place near Phil
adelphia-
The Washington times., 1909-05-14

The Counselor OF the German EN-
2assy and Countess Won Wedel viii leave
from where they will sal T1Iesdav for
Germany