davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09
A CONTRAST IN ACCIDENTS.

The remarkable report has just been made by
the British Board of Trade that on the steam
railroads Of the United Kingdom last year not
single passenger lost his life through accident
In only one other year has such record been
made. namely, In 1901. But in the last ten years
the average number of passengers killed in acct
dents has been only twenty-one. The number
injured in accidents last year was only 2S3 and
the average number injured in the last ten
years was 6"6
In the United States, the other hand in
the year ended on June 30 1905 there we're
lG' passengers killed in accidents to railroad
trains. and tn" average number thus killed in the
last four years was III. more than thirteen
times As MANY as in the United Kingdom Also,
there were in that year 1870 passengers injured
in American train accidents and the average in
the lasr four years WAS T.444. or nearly twelve
times as many De on the roads of the United
Kingdom.
That contrast is not Creditahle Ia tho United
States. But bad as il seems on the surface il is
really worse, for tho total number of passen-
gers carried on railroads in the United King
dom is 10 per cent greater than in the United
States The number i'm the United Kingdom. ex-
elusive of commuters. is about 1.275OOO 600 a
year while in the United States it is probably
less than SM,O00OOO, Surely there ought not
to be in proportion to the whole number carried
twenty one times as many passengers killed in
the United States as in the United Kingdom
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09
IS ANYTHING LEFT OF H[m,

Justice Gaynor has killed himself off as a
possible anti-Tammany candidate. All appear
Ia be agreed as 10 that. His judiciOus friends
must feel about his letter as 1.-THE Brooklyn
Eagle always friendly to him. feels--namely
that he threw away an opportunity. If he had
declared himself in the vigorous language at
his command as irrevocably opposed 10 every
thing Tammany represents there is no question
that the movement for his nomination would
instantly have acquired Importance. The
Eagle" thinks there would not then have been
much doubt about the result in the conventions
and subsequently at the polls. Certainly the
effect of such a declaration would have been to
charge the political atmosphere with electricity
and it is equally certain that the effect Of the
Judges actual utterance was 10 take what lit
fle electricity there was in that atmosphere out
Of it.
The question is whether the Judge has not,
besides making himself impossible as a fusion
csndid3te. greatly diminished his availability
candidate for any party. He had q repu-
tation for being 2 brave. outspoken man.
passionate advocate of certain principles. al
most regardless of the consequences of his own
utterances. In 3 moment he divests himself OF
his reputation and reveals himself IS timd
90 lculator. Juggling with words and hiding
political bideousness with euphemsmS The
direct outspoken msn must needs twist non
partsanship his former @gis So as to make
IL cover Tammany Hall. Nay, Tammany itself
Is too unpleasant a name to he permitted in the
vocabulary of non partisanship, The Demo
cratic City Convention is much nicer phrase.
But when did the Brooklyn Judge begin to pick
his way SO gingery among words
The public. accustomed to the rudeness Of his
tongue expected Justice Gaynor ~ call a spade
q spade. and was dumfounded 70 observe him
treading pussy footed along the soft ways Of
harmless euphemsm and quibhling equivoca-
ton II wants 10 know who is this new master
Of saying as much and meaning ittle as the
average political platform. What has become
Of the Judges linguistic seven league boots? Is
this the publicist who used 70 warm the cookies
of our hearts with the immoderateness Of his
expression? The man who feared nothing now
apparently fears nothing save giving offence.
The public ever ready TO go into a transport
when il thinks it has found its hero. has keen
sense of human weakness none the less and ia
saying I'm its ribald way that another on whom
il counted has exhibited his yellow streak. y
1t is hard to sec what is left now Of the Gaynor
legend that will he available even for Tam
manys use and purposes
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09

has been made that it is useless to stamp that
sort OF mail because the government would
have 10 pay for the stamps. and therefore
would simply lose the additional value of the
stamped paper and mucilage. But such an ar
gument does not take into consideration the
important fact that under the present system
there is no check on the carriage of free mail
matter. II the departments were required to
keep postage accounts and in the case of a
Senator or Representative i'm Congress a limit
for stamps We're fixed. just rs limit is fixed
for stationery allowances the outflow Of official
mail could be gauged and regulated. There is
great deal of waste at present. Many bulky
documents are transmitted as registered mail
when their value does not Justify such pre-
caution. The franking privilege has been scan
dalously abused. The Hon. Thomas A. Watson.
Of Georgia. not long ago averred that he saw
a piano being transported in mail car on
Southern railroad under the frank Of South
ern member of Congress Re that as il may.
the possession of a frank encourages, in the
majority of cases. an immoderate of the
mails. The Postoffice Department is also at
the disadvantage of not knowing what the cost
of the free service IS and the lack of a complete
accounting system prevents accurate calcua
tions rs n the normal cost Of the various
branches of the service.
The abolition Of franks would wipe out
a large portion of the present annual deficit.
Larger fees for registered mail and an increase
in the size of packages carried in the parcels
post would probably put the service on self
susta lining basis. No programme Of contraction
I'm the rural free delivery field is advisable. The
extension of rural free delivery has been one of
the Postofice Departments most henehcent
achievements. To the nation a whole the
facilitation of communication between the cities
and the country has been of enormous value.
The cost has been small compared with the
resultant economic and social benefits. In that
branch of tbe service liberal outlay will
bring ample returns in the future. As Mr..
Hitchcock sees, there are other and better
means at hand for overcoming the postal deficit.
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09
IN THE BERKSHIRES.

tBy Telegraph TO The TribuneJ
I4enox Sept. S-Miss Heloise Meyer, Miss Helen
Alexandra Miss Vera BlcodgOod, Malcolm d.
Sloane, Hayden Claiming Morris Kellogg. Gordon
Maynard and Chester G. Burden were at the meet
ing OF the Berkshire hounds this morning at Over
lea. the estate OF Mr.. and Mrs Samuel Frothing-
ham The chase led around Laurel Lake, and the
kill was at High Lawn. Mr.. and Mrs. Frothing-
ham were hosts at breakfast for the riders at
Overlea az Q O'Clock.
Edwin V. Morgan, Minister to Cuba and Mr.. and
Mrs Huntington Wilson, of Washington. are at
the Hotel Aspinwal.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard c. Dixey are entertaining
Miss Dorothy Jordan, Of Boston; Miss Edith Bird.
Kenneth Budd, Albert Hoffman. of New York, and
Theodore C'atlin of st. Louis, at TanglewOOd-
Mr.. and Mrs. J. ". Van WinCkle have returned
10 New York from Curtis's Hotel
MFR. and Mrs. c. A. Fowler, Of Pittsburg, at
the Hotel AspinWalI
Rear Admiral and Mrs Leutzs who have been
at Heaton Hall for several weeks. will start to-
morrow for Washington.
Miss Gertrude Parsons. Miss COTnelia Barnes and
Miss Kitty Lawrence took part in entertainments
in French at I.enoxdale last night.
Mr. and Mrs. George Westinghouse gave large
dinner tonight at Erskine Park Among their
guests were Mr.. and Mrs. II. Rieman DuvaI. Mr..
and Mrs. Frank X. Sturgs. Mr.. and Mrs. E w.
Creamer Mrs. Charles Carroll Jackson Chandler
Robbins. Grenvine Winthrop and Arthur Sedgwick.
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09
HENRY C. COPBTN.

The death of Lieutenant General Henry C.
Corbin will doubtless recall some of the contro-
verSeS. military and other, of the war with
Spain. In the conduct Of that war General COrbin
played a conspicuous and somewhat anomalous
part Though adiutant general of the army in
name. he was for all practical purposes its direct
ing chief. He was the trusted military adviser of
the President. and as such his influence in the
creation and mana cement of the volunteer army
and in the disposition Of the regular forces
was paramount. He was staff officer and did
not himself take the field But his was the
guiding hand. both in the recruiting and train
ing of the new troops and in the limited mill
tary operation undertaken in Spanish territory.
General Corbin was. in fact. the most avail
able man for the trying task of improvising an
army out of the unpromising material at hand
in 1898. The regular military establishment
was antquated. and its machinery broke com
pletely down when put to the test. The staff
departments were unprepared and unequal to
placing even the small force of regulars in the
field in proper condition of efficiency. To raise
the nations fighting strength from $4,000 to
100000 men without the machinery necessary
for such an expansion was the one serious
problem of the Spanish war. which ended too
soon TO develop strategic problems of equal i'm
pOrtance 1t is due to General Corbin to say
that he exhibited exceptional industry energy
and intelligence in meeting the situation which
confronted the War Department He labOred
incessantly TO produce an army fit for service,
and the magnitude Of that labor has probably
never been adequately appreciated except by
those who knew how complete was the collapse
of the old establishment. As a military organ
izer and administrator at a critical time he
showed marked capacity and power of initiative,
and Congress rightly recognized the value OF his
services by hestowing on him as adjutant gen
eTal the special rank of major general and thus
making possible his subsequent promotion 10 the
lieutenant generally. No fair history of the Span
ish war will fail to give General Corbin credit
for admirable and indispensable work
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09
PEOPLE and Social Incidents

Mrs. Robert Winthrop gave luncheon at Ethei-
Wyn to-day.
Hayden Claiming is guest OF Mr.. and NIrz
Samuel rockingham. at OveTIee.
Mr.. and Mrs Richard C. Dixey gave dinner az
TaugIewOod tonight.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Astor Bristed have returned
from Newport 20 Lakeside.
At the meeting Of the Laurel ETIl Association
these officers were elected President Alexander
Sedgwick: vce-Dresidents, Joseph H Choate DR.
Henry c. Haven and Dr. Charles McRuruey hon
Orary vice-president Frederic Crowninshield. sec-
retary. Theodore W. LunE. and treasurer DR.
Henry c. Haven.
Alexander Sedgwick presided at the exercises Of
the Laurel Hill Association On the platform vera
Governor Draper or Massachusetts. Ileutenans
Governor rockingham. President Harry 4. Car
field of Williams college Joseph H. Choate. Fred
eric CrOwninshieid and John r. Parsons. The prin-
cipaI address was by President GARFIELD.
Prior TO the meeting Ma. Sedgwick gave lunch
con for Governor Draper and party and President
Garfield. at the Sedgwick House There were
present Senator Allen T. TTeadway. Joseph "A
Choate, Daniel Chester French. Richard Watson
Glider William F.. Doane. Frederic CrowninshieId,
Silas 3. BrOwneI, Dr. l. Bolton Bangs. John
KohIsaat. r. r. BOwkeF and Robb De Peyster
Tytus. Richard Watson elders poem, Valley OF
Stars" read by the poet Tonight the Cow
ernor and his party entertained at dinner 5y
Senator Treadway at the Red Lion Inn.
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09
A niuSementS.


ACADEMY or MCsIC-S-Rroletto
ALHAMRRA- -s-VamdeNille
ASI0R-S:lS-The Man from Home
EELSOO-s-lS-ls Matrimony . Failure
EIJoU-Ss8o Gentleman from MISSISSIPPI
BRIGHTON BEACH PARk-Paiu's Firewoiks
BROADWAY 1.-THE Midnight sons
CASINOS i5-Havana.
CIRCLE-2:lS-s .l5-In Hayfi.
COLONIAL Vaudeville.
CONEDY-S :lS-The Melting Pot
CoNEN ISLAND Dreamiand. Luna Park
CRTTERION-siS-The flag Lieutenant
DATsg SIS 30-Riiy.
EDEN MCSEE- The World in Wax
EhfFIREc-S.l Straw
CATETN-S lS-The Fortune Hunter
fsARRICK-s:30- Detective Sparkes.
TTAcKETT-2.2l-s .2o-Such little Queen
HAMMERS TEN S-2-l5 -S.l5-Naudoville. s.
HERALD SoI-ARE-s:iS--A Broken IDOL -.
HIPPODROAfE- Trip 10 japan, INSIDE fh1 hei IT.
the Ballet OF Jewels.
AUTHORITARIAN American widow
JARDTN DE PARIS-s ID Folnes of ifas1
ENIgKERBOCKER-S-The Dollar Princess
1TPERTY-s:l :l5-The Florist Shop
LINCOLN SQUARES Ib-Girls.
rYCEUM-2 fs-s :i5-Arsene Lupin.
LYRIC-S:l5-The Motor Girl.
NAgESTIC-s15-The Bridge
MANHATTAN OPERA HOI'SE.-s-Ihe loves .,,-s
MASTSF FIIIOTT'S THEATRE-S-lo-Ihe hcNee's-
NEW DAM-S:lS-The Love cure
vF-W YOPK-s-The Sins of Society.
ETT-YN FSANT--s .Ib-The Easiest Way
rAIT.ACK S-s1S-The nollsr-Marh
HFsRFR' 'S-s sfB-The Climax
WEST FND-slS-T Blue Mouse
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09
WHO OWNS TIE POLEe

1t is not easy to imagine anything much more
prOftless than dispute over the national own
ershp of the North Pole. There is surely no
spot on the earthS surface which it would he
more impossible to utilize for any practical pur-
pose or Of which recognized ownership and
sovereignty would he of less value. Yet il ap-
pears that the question has been raised in
formal way. by member of the British Par
lament, and the theory is adyanccd-of which.
indeed, we have heard before-that the pole
belongs TO Canada Some time ago a Canadian
statesman protested against the trcspass on
Canadian preserves which he thought American
explorers were committing in Ellcsmcre Land,
Grant land and other hyperborean regions.
putting into the mouth of Our Lady of the
Shows the aspira ton of Swedish Charles. And
all be mine beneath the Arctic sky 1t is by
no means certain that such "A claim can be CON
sidercd valid, even though the great archipelago
north of Lancaster Sound he ScoCrap phcaliy q
continuation of Canada's part of this continent.
For the islands separated from tn" main
land by arms of the high seas. and they would
naturally belong like any other detached lands
10 those who discovered them and occupied
them. But even that shadowy claim could
scarcely he put forward for the North Pole
For il seems certain that the pole is so far
separated from this continent and from the
DoItnPrn dTcnlpelaSp as To De quite apart there
from, geographically as well as politically OF
course, if the North Pole is more than three
marine miles from land it is Il part of the high
seas, and therefore can belong to nobody If 1t
is land, or is within three miles of land and
that land is not an integral part of recognized
national possessions, it belongs to the dlscOv-
erer, as does any other newly discovered terri
tory. But title by discovery must be confirmed
by actual occupancy, or else it lapses: and as
occupancy of the North Pole is out of the ques-
tion we are inclined to think that 1t will re-
main generally. as it has hitherto been a No
Mans Land. At present we should say that it
belonged to the United States by virtue of dis
covery. But if now abandon It, construct
lively, by neglecting to take permanent posses
sion Of it and 10 occupy It, it may pass into
the possession of any other nation which sends
an explorer thither, only TO pass in like manner
from that nation to some other.
To revert for moment TO the Canadian claim
Of all lands lying north of the mainland Of
the Dominion: Even if 1t were tenabe and
valid il would not give Canada title to the pole
For it is ia effect that the nOrthernmost IN
habited country owns all the Arctic wilderness
north of it 10 the pole. But if Canada does
that every other northern land does the same
If Canada owns all between the 60th and 14tst
meridians, west. TO the pole then Denmark
surely owns sll between the i4th and the Goth
west, and Norway all from the 10th 10 the 31st,
east and Russia all from the S1st east. around
70 the list. west and the United States all
from the Hist TO the l41st, west, TO say
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09
NEW YORK SOCIETY.

Colonel John Jacob Astor. who has been abroad
the greater part of the summer, will arrive from
Europe Tuesday with his son, Vincent Astor'
who is TO enter Harvard this fall Mrs. Astor will
return next month. but may remain only short
time as the Astor house I'm Fifth avenue, which Is
undergoing extensive alterations. will not be ready
for occupancy until early next year. In cOnse-
quence Mrs. Astor will probably spend the greater
part of the winter abroad.
Mr.. and Mrs F. Burial Hoffman. who spent part
of the at Newport. now at their cot
tage at Southampton, Long Island. for the fall
Miss Maria de Acosta will be married to Andrew
Robeson Sargent. of Boston. November at the
home of her mother. Mrs. Ricardo de AcOsta, No.
IN Madison avenue
Alfred G. Vanderbilt arrived IN town from New
port yesterday and is at the Plaza
Mr.. and Mrs Charles A. Childs have arrived in
in town from Newport. where they were the guests
for few days OF Mr.. and Mrs Paulding Fosdiek
Mrs. James A. Burden, who has been abroad all
summer. win return to New York at the end OF
next month.
Lady Herbert and her sons. Michael and Sidney
Herbert. booked to sail for Europe Wednesday.
They have spent the greater part OF the summer
at Newport with Richard T. Wilson, who is re-
turning to toyn this week
Mr. and Mrs Willis Reese are travelling in the
Berkshires in their automobile. They will spend
the fall at Bernardsville. n. ].
Mr. and Mrs E. Francis Hyde will return to
town from Greenwich Conn, at the end Of the
month and open their house West 5sth street for
the winter.
Mrs Henry F. Dimock and her daughter, Mrs
Cary T. Hutchinson will leave Bar Harbor next
week for South Coventry. Conn. where they VIII
pass the autumn.
Mrs Morgan Dix and Miss Margaret Dix. who
have been spending the summer on Long lsland'
will pass the fall at Lenox. Mass.
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09

sistance Of trained Alpine guides essential to
their success. DR., Cook dispensed with such
help when he tried to climb Mount Mckinley.
and himself reported that during the last part
of his final attempt he was accompanied only by
his chief packer For this and other reasons
Professor Parker. Of Columbia University. who
was meplber Of the expedition Of 1905. but
who was obliged to come home before DR.. Cook
frankly avOws his disbelief in the achievement
To which Dr. Cook laid claim; and there are
other skcptics.
If the world should he convinced that DR.
Cook had not only made Il false report of his
own work. but had tried to rob another explorer
of the honor to which he was entitled an awful
Judgment would be pronounced against him. To
pronounce such judgment now would he un-
just and dangerous. The proofs incomplete
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09
POSTAL ECONOMIES.

Postmaster General Hitchcock is wisely at
tempting 60 introduce economies i'm the postal
service which will not materially decrease its
value 10 the public. The business of the Post
office Department is not intended 10 be done
nt a profit II has been the policy Of the gov
ernrnent to provide facilities little better than
Ii private corporation with eye 10 dividends
would be justified in providing. II is always
wilisig 10 take a loss in the present IN order
20 be ready for the demands Of the near future
But on the other hand, if II does work at less
than cost, there should be some very general
public interest served. II is not wise or fore
handed 70 spend more than the return expected
on postal activities which benefit only few
For instance the registry division has been
81 recent years burden the department. II
has not paid, and apparently il cannot be made
20 pay unless the fees for registry are in
creased The practice of registering letters
containing money is dying out. Ia the last
twenty years banking facilities have been vastly
extended. Small towns and villages now have
banks and funds can be transferred more CON
xeniently aud safely by means Of checks or
drafts than in the form OF currency. The postal
money order system also offers machinery for
transmitting small sums for smaller fees than
tbose charged for registry. II is obvious that
ne registry feature Of the postal service is OF
very limited value nowadays. IN would b.
sound pciScy therefore. 10 make il pay its own
cost Nothing is TO be gained any longer, by
trying tc develop Il
anether unnecessary source OF lcFs IS the
trznking privilege. The government undertakes
70 csriv free public docunAents and the GORE
.-,>,so,ce ~ ruhIic ofic.a.s The argument
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09
SOCIAL NOTES FROM NEWPORT.
IBy Telegraph TO The Tribune

81
Newport Sept &-The Duke OF Newcastle, VIII,
for the last two weeks has been a guest OF Mr.
and Mrs. Charles +. Hoffman here. viii depart
for York Me- tomorrow. He will go from thers
to New York. To-day was made busy for the duke
with a round Of entertainments Early IN ths
afternoon he was the guest OF honor at luncheoa
given by DR.. and Mrs J. J. Mason. after which hs
went the horse show. and this evening Mr. and
Mrs. Hoffman gave farewell dinner N his honor.
Mr.. and Mrs. H c. MeGrann gave luncheon
to-day for Mr.. and Mrs. Reginald C. Vsnder5It.
Alfred c. Vanderbilt. Mr.. and Mrs. Peter d. Mar
tin Miss Eleanor Sears, Dennie NJ. Hare, John c.
Fell and Henri de Sincay.
James ]. Van Allen was also a luncheon enter
tainer to-day.
Mrs. T. ]. Oakley Rhinelander. who has been
the guest Of Mrs. John R. Drexel, has returned to
New York
Miss Maria de Barrii and Mrs. Oliver H. P
Belmont, of New York. will close their seasons on
Friday. James suIlman and Mrs. William c.
Rockefeller. ir-. will depart on Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Eugene S. ReynaI Mr. and Slra
Nathaniel Thayer and Alexander 8 Cochran
closed their seasons to-day and returned TO New
York.
Miss Eleanor Sears. OF Boston. is a guest ct
Mrs. Belmont Marble House.
Miss Draper, of San Francisco - visiting Maior
John BigelOW.
Mrs Brainbridge spotswood. Of Virginia. Is ths
guest OF Mrs. ]. J. Mason.
Commodore and Mrs. Arthur CUrtiss James with
party of guests, sailed for New York late to-day
on the flagship Aloha, thus bringing their season
to close
Alfred C. Vanderbilt returned TO New York this
evening.
Arthur Johns, Mrs Sears y Hopkins. IT.. Herr
bert Shipman. A. Thornton Baker. NIr and Mrs
A. F. EstabroOk. Miss H. Alexander .'neoIors
Roosevelt jr.. Mr.. and Mrs z. NJ. Mock John
o. Green, B Percy Chain and Miss Adelaids g.
Chain registered at the Casino to-day.
Theodore Roosevelt jr. is guest of Mrs. Will
lam GrOsvenor.
John Gerken. OF New York Is visiting Reginald
c. Vanderbilt at Sandy Point Farm.
Beginning tomorrow. Miss Annie Leary will re-
sumo her Thursday afternoon receptions.
Mrs. Alfred c. Vanderbilt and son left here to-
day in their automobile for Chester. y. H.
Mrs F. Fl. Slater ana Miss Gvynn have gons TN
New York
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09

Colonel Joel B. Erhardt. whose death occurred
suddenly yesterday morning, had been for some
wears in practical retirement from public Ilfe In
which he long held an important place. He had
an honorable record of service in the Civil War;
and subsequently was Police Commissioner Re-
publican candidate for Mayor. and Collector OF
the Port He carried high ideas of honesty ana
Independence into politics. and while on princt-
pie a loyal partisan was firm in opposing the
misuse of party machinery Colonel Erhardt
was man of rugged common sense high moral
standards and genial disposition and he VIII be
respectfully and affectionately remembered by
a large circle as type of sturdy good citizen
ship.
New-York tribune., 1909-09-09

The suggestion that the controversy over the
further polIution of the Hudson River with
crude sewage from remote and alien drainage
districts should be compromised does not alto
gether successfully appeal to favor n settle
ment Of the controversy there should be, no
doubt and we should hope it would be amicaole.
But the proposal to pour all the raw sewage OF
the Bronx Valley upon the shore of the Hudson
from Ossining to Riverdale is so indefensioN
bad that its total abandonment and prohibitioh
should be the only ground of settlement