davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-25
Warning for Town Meeting.

In addition to the routine business, the
warning for town meeting contains the
following articles:-
"To see IL the town will vote to exempt
from taxation the tannery plant with all
the capital, personal property, machine
~, appliances and buildings used in and
in connection with said tannery plant, OF
the r. &. Fisher Co., in said town, while
in operation, for the remainder and bal
ance of q period Of ten years from the
commencement OF business by said E. Q.
Fisher Co. in said plant in the year A.
ID. 1908; to wit, to the year A. ID. 1913.
Said exemption TO cease January 1, 1918,
or in case said town will not so vote to
see il the town will pass any vote or take
any action relative to the exemption from
taxation Of said property OF said e. G.
Fisher Co.
"To see IL the town will vote to appro-
PIRATE money to pay the expenses Of free
open air musical entertainments to be
given by the Bethel Cornet band at such
times and places as the selectmen may d.
rect, and II so, how much"
By the new law, one selectman is to be
elected for three years, one for two years
and one for one year, and the same provi-
sion Is made as to the three listers.
Couldn't Stand in Slippery Places.
The adventures OF Andrew and George
Goodwin aud Leonard Fish last Sunday
afternoon are the most thrilling of any
heard yet. The sleet had frozen and pre-
sented an extremely slippery surface, as
we'll as hard. The boys started out in
the afternoon for walk on the crust.
They passed around the hill that lies west
Of the village and then thought they
would come over it 50 as to strike about
near their homes. Soon after passing
over the top, they lost their footing and
went skating down a steep and rough
place. Andrew was ahead and he went
through wire fence and his hands were
badly torn. Leonard and George caught
on to some projections and hung for dear
life, not daring to let go.
Help was summoned from the village.
Rev. Mr.. Goodwin was the first to start
and not knowing the situation fell into
about the same scrape the boys were and
was badly torn on barbed wire, incident
ally taking a slide of about twenty rods,
most OF the way on his stomach. Mean
while, the Sunday evening congregation
of Mr.. Goodwin were patiently waiting
4 for their pastor and he was perched on a
high hill, cheering up the boys above
him. a second relief party followed
with lanterns and axes and after being
held about an hour and a half the boys
were released. The scene Of this adyen-
f ture is laid in the Adams or Kidder pas
ture about one-half mile westerly Of the
+ village.
Elroy Kittredge broke his nose while
sliding last week.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-25

Special oIer-WiII send New York
Tribune Farmer one year for Soc. until
April LIST only. Best farm paper pub
Iished. l. B. johnson, Randolph.
Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-25
Bethel Local Intelligence
GuY W1Lsox. Local Editor.

so gold watches to be sold IN next SO
days, cash or 81 per month. Write for
catalogue and prices to d. NJ. Strong
Bethel. VI. ae II
The women OF the Methodist church
will serve dinners at Cushing hall on
town meeting day, beginning at Il
O'Clock. Price, zoe. ae
To rent until paid for:-25 pianos and
organs. Instruments little used, one-half
price. Write for catalogue and prices to
ID. NJ. Strong, Bethel. ae II
Sewing machines, nearly all kinds, sl5
up, cash or 81 per month. No money
down. Write for catalogue and prices to
ID. NJ. Strong, Bethel, VT. ae II
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
Postage Rate
Too Low on
Periodicals

cellaneous periodicals LIPS miles.
Thus, the average haul of the maga-
zine is three and half times, and that
of the miscellaneous periodical nearly
four times the haul of the daily news
paper, yet all of them pay the same
postage rate of | cent pound. The
statistics of 1907 show that second
class mail matter constituted 63.91 per
cent of the weight of all the mail, and
yielded only 5.19 per cent of the reve-
nue..
The figures given are startling and
show the payment by the government
of an enormous subsidy to the news
pa pers, ma gaines and periodicals, and
congress may well consider whether
radical steps should not be taken to
partment caused by this Discrepancy
caused by the actual cost of transporta-
tion and compensation eXacted therefor.
A great saving might be made.
amounting to much more than half of
the loss. by imposing upon magazines
and periodicals a higher race of post
age. They are much heavier than
newspapers and contain much higher
proportion of advertising to reading
matter, and the average distance of
their transportation is three and a half
times as great.
/ commend the whole subject to con-
gress, not unmindful of thefspread of
intelligence which a low charge for
carrying newspapers and periodicals
assists. | very much doubt. however.
the wisdom of a policy which consti-
tutes SO large a subsidy and requires
additional taxation to meet it
The total deficit for the last fiscal
year in the postoff1ce department
amounted to s17.5o0 000 The branches
of its business which it did at loss
were the second class mail service. in
which the loss. as already said, was
500, 100000, and the free rural delivery.
in which the less was s2S,000.000. These
losses were in part Offset by the profits
of the letter postage. and other sources
of income 1t would seem wise to re-
duce the loss upon second class mail
matter, at least to the extent of pre-
venting a deficit in the total operations
of the postoffice department.
The second subject worthy of men,
tion in the postoffice department is the
real necessity and entire practicability
of establishing postal savings banks.
The successful party at the last e1ec-
tion declared in favor of postal savings
banks, and although the proposition
finds opponents in many parts of the
country am convinced that the people
desire such banks and am sure that
when the banks are furnished they
will be productive of the utmost good.
The postal savings banks are not con-
stituted for the purpose of creating
competition with other banks. The
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
PRESIDENT WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT

subjects to the attention of the con-
gress.
NV predecessor transmitted to the
congress a special message on January
II, 1909, accompanying the report of
commissioners heretofore appointed TO
the district of Columbia, in which he
directed attention to the report is set
ting forth vividly, 1.-The really out
rageous conditions in the workhouse
and jail
The congress has taken action in pur-
report and of the president to the extent
of appropriating funds and enacting the
necessary legislation for the establish
ment of a workhouse and reformatory.
No action, however, has been taken by
the congress with respect to the jail.
the conditions of which are still an
tiquated and insanitary. l earnestly
appropriation to have a thorough re-
modelling of that institution made
without delay. 1t is a reproach to the
national government that; almost under
the shadow of the capitol dome, pris-
oners should be confined in building
destitute of the ordinary decent appli-
ances requisite to cleanliness and sani-
tary conditions
The deficit every year in the post
office department is largely caused by
the low rate of postage of l cent a
pound charged on second class mail
matter, which includes not only news
papers, but magazines and miscella
neous periodicals The actual loss fol-
lowing the transmission of this second
class mail matter at l cent a pound
amounts to about S63, 100000 a year.
The average cost of the transportation
of this matter is more than 8 cents a
pound.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
Navy Reorganization Among
Changes Favored by
the President
Legislation Relating to Issuance of
Injunctions Is Urged in
Message to. Congress

production in foreign countries. l
have therefore appointed a tariff board
consisting of three members and have
directed them to perform all the duties
above described. This work will per-
hapS take two or three years, and l
ask from congress a continuing annual
appropriation equal to that already
made for ITS prosecution. L believe
that the work of this board will be OF
prime utility and Importance whenever
congress shall deem it wise again TO
readJuSt he customs duties. IT the
facts secured by the tariff board are
of such a character S to show gem
orally that the rates of duties imposed
by the present tariff law are exces-
sve under the principles of protection
as described in the platform of the
successful party at the late election L
shall not hesitate TO invite the atten-
tion of congress to this fact and to
the necessity for action predicated
thereon. Nothing. however, halts busf-
prosperity so much as the threatened
revision of the tariff and until the
facts are a hand, after careful and
deliberate investigation upon which
such revision can properly be under
taken, it seems to me unWlse to at
tempt it. The amount of misinforma-
tion that creeps into arguments pro
and con in respect to tariff rates is
such as TO require the kind of investi-
cation that / have directed the tariff
board to make. an investigation under
taken by il wholly without respect to
the effect which the facts may have in
calling for a readjustment of the rates
of duty.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
Congress Is
Urged to Pass
Ship Subsidy

establishment of lines between our AT
lantic seaboard and the eastern coast OF
South America, as well as lines from
the west coast of the United States TO
South America, China, Japan and the
Philippines. The profits on foreign
mails are perhaps sufficient measure
of the expenditures which might first
be tentatively applied TO this method
of inducing American capital to under
take the establishment of American
lines of steamships in those directions
in which we now feel 1t most important
that we should have means OF trans
portation controlled in the interest OF
EXPANSION of our trade A bill of this
character has once passed the mousse
and more than once passed the senale
and 1 hope that at this session piiI
framed on the same lines and Win
the same purposes may become law
The successful party in the last elec,
tion in its national platform decIareu
in favor of the admission as separate
states of New Mexico and Arizona ana
1 recommend that legislation approprl-
ate to this end be adopted urge,
however, that care be exercised IN tne
preparation of the legislation anectlng
each territory to secure dellDeratlon IN
the selection Of persons as members OF
the convention to draft constitution
for the incoming state, and L earnestly
advise that such constitution a1ter
adoption by the convention shall be
submitted to the people or the terri
tory for their approval at an elecll0h
in which the sole issue snan De tiS
if the constitution is defeated Dy pop
ular vote means shall be provided IN
the enabling act for a new convention
and the drafting of new constitutiotn, "a
I think it vital that the issue as 70
the merits of the constitution should
not be mixed up with the seiectlon OF OF
state officers, and that no election OF
state officers should be had until after
the constitution had been fully ap-
proved and finally settled upon.
With respect to the territory or
Alaska. 1 recommend legislation which q
shall provide for the appointment Dy
the president of governor and also OF
an executive council, the members OF
which shall, during their term OF ONCE;
reside in the territory, and whlcn shall
have executive powers sufficient 70
enable it to give to the territory local
laws adapted to its present growthI,,
strongly deprecate legislation LOOKING
to the election of a territorial legisla-
ture in that vast district. The lack OF
permanence of residence of a large part
Eof the present population and the
small number of the people who either
permanently or temporarily reside IN
the district as compared with its vast
expanse and the variety of the inter
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
White Slave
Trade Grow
ing Menace

urgent necessity for additional legis-
lation and greater executive activity to
suppress the recruiting of the ranks Of
prostitutes from the streams Of fmmi-
grafton into this cOuntry-an evil
which for want of a better name. has
been called the white slave trade"
believe IL to be constitutional to forbid.
under penalty. the transportation of
persons for purposes of prostitution
across national and state lines. and by
appropriating a fund of $50, 900 TO be
used by the secretary OF commerce and
labor for the employment of special
inspectors it will be possible to bring
those responsible for this trade to in
dictment and conviction under a fed
eral law.
movement has been gathering strength
especially among the members OF the
medical profession in favor Of a con-
centration OF the instruments or the
national government which have to do
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08

estimates of last year and the request
for new naval construction is limited
TO two first class battleships and one
repair vessel.
purposes, and there has been large
need in the department of a military
branch dealing directly with the mill
tary use of the fleet. The secretary
of the navy has also felt the lack of
responsible advisers to aid him in reach
ing conclusions and deciding important
matters between coordinate branches
of the department. To secure these re-
suits he has inaugurated tentative
plan involving certain changes in the
organization of the navy department
have been found by the attorney gem
eral to ~be in accordance with law L
have approved the execution of the
plan proposed because of the greater
efficiency and economy ii promises.
The generosity of congress has pro-
vided in the present naval observatory
the most magnificent and expensive as
Economical establishment in the world.
1t is being used for certain naval pur-
poses which might easily and ade-
quately be subserved by a small divi-
sion connected with the navy depart
ment at only a fraction of the cost of
the present naval observatory. The Of
fetal board of visitors established by
congress and appointed in 1901 ex
pressed its conclusion that the official
head of the observatory should be an
eminent astronomer appointed by the
president, by and with the advice and
consent of the senate, holding his place
by a tenure at least as permanent as
that of the superintendent of the coast
survey or the head of the geological
survey, and not merely by a detail of
two or three years duration. l fully
concur in this judgment, and urge a
provision by law for the appointment Of
such a director.
1t may not be necessary to take the
observatory out of the navy depart
ment and put it into another depart
ment in which opportunity for scien-
tific research afforded by the observa-
tory would seem to be more appro-
pirate. though ] believe such a transfer
in the long run is the best policy.
am sure however, / express the desire
of the astronomers and those learned
in the kindred sciences when l urge
upon congress that the naval obser-
vatory be now dedicated to science,
under control of a man of science who
can, if need be- render all the service
to the navy department which this
observatory now renders, and still fur
nish to the world the discoveries in as
tronomy that a great astronomer using
such a plant would be likely to make
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
Laws Delays
Have Become
DepIorabie

state bar associations, as Well as
the thought of Judges and jurists.
In my judgment a change In judi
cfal procedure, with view 10 re-
ducing its expense TO prlVate utl-
gants in civil cases and facilitating
the dispatch of business and final de-
cision in both civil and criminal cases.
constitutes the greatest need in our
American institutions. / do not doubt
for one minute that much of the law
less violence and cruelty exhibited in
lvnchings is directly due to the uncer-
tainties and injustice growing out of
the delays in trials, judgments and the
executions thereof by our courts OF
course these remarks apply quite as
well to the administration of justice
in state courts as to that in federal
courts and without making invidious
distinction 1t is perhaps not too much
to say that. generally speaking, the
defects are less in the federal courts
than in the state courts. But they are
very great in the federal courts. The
expedition with which business is dis
criminal side of English courts under
modern rules of procedure makes the
delays in our courts seem archaic and
barbarous. The procedure in the fed
eraI courts should furnish an example
for the state courts. 1 presume it is
impossible, without an amendment to
the constitution, to unite in one form
law and proceedings in equity in the
federal courts. but 1t is certainly not
impossible by a statute to simplify and
make short and direct the procedure
both at law and in equity in those
courts 1t is not impossible to cut
down still more than it is cut down the
jurisdiction Of the supreme court so as
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
Special Mes
sage on Trust
Legislation

commerce law and It's amendments
The developments in the operation of
those laws, as shown by indictments,
trials judicial decisions and other
sources of information, call for a dis
cussion and some suggestions as to
amendments. These prefer to embody
in special message instead of includ-
ing them in the present communication,
and / shall avail myself of the first
convenient opportunity to bring these
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
photo Copyright, 1909, BY J. Knowles BishoT

to confine it almost wholly to statutory
and constitutional questions. Under
the present statutes the equity and ad-
miralty procedure in the federal courts
is under the control of the supreme
court, but in the pressure of business
to which that court is subjected 1t is
impossible to hope that a radical and
proper reform of the federal equity
procedure can be brought about. |
therefore recommend legislation pro-
viding for the appointment by the
president of a commission with au-
thority to examine the law and equity
procedure of the federal courts of first
instance, the law of appeals from those
courts to the courts of appeal and to
the supreme court, and the costs i'm
posed in such procedure upon the. prl-
vate litigants and upon the public
treasury and make recommendation
with view to simplifying and expe-
ditfng the procedure as far as possible
and making it as inexpensive as may
be to the litigant of little means
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
Frauds in Gus
TOMS COHec=
fiOnS Found

ploves in the weighing and other de-
partments were directly concerned, and
In which the benehclaries We're the
American sugar refining company and
The frauds consisted in the payment
of duty on underWeights OF sugar
The government has recovered from
the American sugar refining company
all that 1t is shown to have been de
frauded Of The sum was received IN
fun OF the amount due. which might
have been recovered by civil suit
against the beneficiary of the fraud,
but there was an express reservation
ip the contract Of settlement by which
the settlement should not interfere
with or prevent the criminal prosecu-
tion of every one who was found TO be
subject TO the same.
Criminal prosecutions are now pro-
ceeding against q number of the gov
ernment officers The treasury depart
are exerting every effort to discover
all the WrongdOers, including the Of
ficers and employees Of the companies
who may have been parties to the
fraud. It would seem to me that an
investigation of the frauds by con-
gress at present. pending the probing
bg the treasury department and the
department Of justice, as proposed,
might, by giving immunity and other
wise prove an embarrassment in Sc
curing conviction Of the guilty par
Two features Of the new tariff act
call for special reference. BY virtue
OF the clause known as the maximum
and minimum clause. II is the duty of
rhe executive to consider the laws and
practices of other countries with ref
erence 70 the Importation into those
countries Of the products and merchan-
disc of the United States, and If the
executive finds such laws and prac-
tices not 10 be unduly discriminatory
against the United States the minimum
duties provided in the bill are to 60
into force. Unless the president makes
such a finding then the maximum du-
increase of 25 per cent ad valOrena over
tile minimum duties, are to be in force.
Fear has been expressed that this
power conferred and duty imposed on
the executive is likely to lead to a
tariff war / beg TO express the hope
and belief that no such result need be
anticipated
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
Military Prog
reSS Suspend
ed for a Year

ed tor a Hearlthe estimates OF the
WAR department for
coming fiscal
year. which brings the total estimates
down 10 an amount 10 millions less
last year This could only be ac-
compllshed by cutting off new projects
and suspending for the period OF one
year all progress In military matters.
For the same reason / have directed
that the army shall not be recruited
up 10 its present authorized strength.
These measures can hardly be more
than temporary-to last until our
revenues are in better condition and
until the whole question of the eXpe-
diency of adopting a definite military
policy can be submitted TO congress,
for l am sure that the interests of
the military establishment are seri-
ously in need of careful considerable
I by congress. The laws regulating the
organization OF our armed forces in
the event of war need to be revised,
! in order that the organization can be
i modified, so as to produce force
which would be more consistently ap-
portioned throughout its numerous
branches. To explain the circumstances
upon which this opinion is based
would necessitate a lengthy discussion
and / postpone it until the first con-
venient opportunity shall arise to send
to congress a special message upon
this subject.
The secretary of war calls attention
TO number of needed changes in the
army, in all of which / concur but
emphasis is the need of an elimi-
nation bill providing a method by which
the merits of officers shall have some
effect upon their advancement and
by which the advancement of all may
! be accelerated by the effective elimi-
nation of a definite proportion of the
least efficient.
There is in every army, and certainly
in ours, a number of officers who do
not violate their duty in any such
way as to give reason for court
martial or dismissal, but who do not
show such aptitude and skill and char
acter for high command as to justify
their remaining in the active service
to be promoted. Provision should be
made by which they may be retired
on certain portion of their. pay, in
creasing with their length of service.
at the time of retirement There is now
! a personnel law for the navy which
itself needs amendment and to which
/ shall make further reference. Such
law is needed quite as much for the
army.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08

The jurisdiction
|of the general govl
|ernment over in
|terstate commerce
has been left to the
passage of the so
c a | ! e d Sherman
|anti-Irust law" and
the 81 n t ers I a r a