davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
Another Proaosed Narai Inouirr

The naval appropriation Dill. as reported
to the Senate. contains provision for an
investigation into the administration Of
the Navy Department. and also a
practical confession Of the waste involved
n the construction OF political navy
yards" This confession appears in the
clause contemplating an inquiry into the
best site for a naval base on the Pacific
Coast Enough money has been expended
on the Coast. IL 1t had been properly sp-
piled. TO have constructed a naval base Of
ample proportions and equipment That
money has been badly expended. for the
reason that battle ships cannot approach
and probably win never be able 10 enter
the Mare Island yard, upon which the
largest appropriations have been Isvished-
The result is that. after years Of politi-
cal diversion Of naval funds, it Is found
that the military necessities Of the feet
are stin to be provided for. new naval
base must be located on the Pacific. and
this means that there viii be more ap-
propriatiOns fer the politicians to scram-
bic for
It is high time that this sort Of naval
management should be inquired into. but
It is idle to expect that a commission
composed in part Of Senators and Repre-
sentatives viii deal very severely with
Congressional methods Of running the
navy. In fact. there is probably TO such
intention. for the naval bill proposes that
the commission shall investigate the
methods Of conducting business in the
Navy Department, with a view to the in
provement Of its organization and seeur-
ing the most economical conditions, and
nothing is said Of an investigation into
the actual conditions Of what one naval
officer has termed political administra-
ton That term may be employed in a
good or a bad sense, and in the good
sense it is an inevitable feature Of a
government ike ours. bat in the bad
sense it Is an excrescence that may be
reformed away by Congressional action.
As long as the construction and main
tensnce Of navy yards are locked upon as
the perquisites Of individual Senator's or
members. without much concern for mill
tary necessities. We shall have the waste
that is attendant upon that form Of ..po-
litical administration
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12

Considered as a general proposition. the
gas measure presented to the Senate BY
Chairman GsIlinger possesses real merit
It meets an imperative public demand
in requiring the Washington and George
town gasiight companies to substitute.
within limited period. coal gas for the
deadly. poisonous gas now furnished to
consumers. II also cuts the price Of gas
from 81 to 90 cents per thousand cubic
feet. Whether under the exceedingly lib
eral sliding scale arrangement as 70 divi-
dends and rates Washington would uIti-
mateiy get still cheaper gas IS decidedly
predetermined Confidence in that phase
OF the measure is less likely TO prove
misplaced by the stakeholder than by the
consumer
The excessive verbiage Of the bill is
objectionable. 1t is by no means clean
cut and clearly explicit in its terms. as
il should be
It IS perhaps wise that a valuation
should be placed upon the companies
properties. and their capitalization ad-
justed upon a workable basis that viii
not further necessitate the covering up
Of profits and eOncealment Of surplus
funds. That this valuation should be per-
mitted to embrace the franchises is a
disputed question. The House viii have
something to say on this point after
the Senate has acted. Indeed. the entire
measure is sure to undergo essential.
If not radical. changes before it becomes a
law
The thanks Of the community are due
Chairman GaIIinger for starting gas Iegis-
istion on the way. In the end it is 10
be hoped that the enactment VIII be
equitable toward the public and the
corporations alike-equaIly equitable. It
is quite important that an adjustment
be brought about that VIII stand for good
and ALL
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
Nerherrr IL Awake

From Washington letter TO Br0oklyn Eagle.
The other day Admiral Dewey wrote
a long letter 10 Secretary Newberry, com
planning that the pay Of the secretary to
the Admiral was only $500 year AG-
miral Dewey thought that was entirely
toe little money for the secretary Of the
highest officer in the navy, and ne stated
this fact in q very long letter. winding
I'D with q request that Secretary New
berry lay the matter before Congress so
as 10 secure favorable legislation al an
early date.
Secretary Newberry referred the sub
jet TO Congress. but in order to show
that he was not asleep he added the fol-
lowing note TO Admiral Dewey's letter.
4 beg to say that the secretary Of the
Admiral receives. in addition to salary
Of 300 per snnun. allowances amount
ing TO sS4I.e0. while the secretary to the
Secretary Of the Navy receives but fat
salary OF S2.5e0 per aunum"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12

The President is getting 50 used to
Congressional erebukes~ that this latest
one from the Senate anent the Secret
Service viii touch him rather lightly
The subcommittee which has been in
vestigating the Secret Service limitation
appears to have gone no further than
a rehash Of the Tawney theory that Con
gress was SO generous in appropriating
money for the suppression OF crimes and
frauds that a little restriction Of the
activities Of the Secret Service would not
amount TO much But why was il that a
Congress 50 literally disposed IN grant
ing money for the suppression and detec-
ton OF crimes should have wanted 10
restrict the operations Of the principal or
gsnized governmental agency for the run
ming down Of criminals? No convincing
answer to this question has yet been Of
fered- and ne apprehend that II II were
made. it would not be fattering to
those responsible for the Secret servi~.
Imitation
The Senate subcommittee report. hap
PLY for al concerned, seems 10 be in
eiined TO temper It's .rebuke Of the
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
The Retiring President.

ST DooIey. By wzy Of H. H. Mcclure Co.
Well, sir said Mr.. Dooley. "the iditor
" this Paper IS tn comical fellow. to be
sure
What's he say" asked Mr. Hennessy.
"He speaks IL Tid6y Rosenfelt as th'
retiTin' prisidint. Retirin'. mind ye A
good description. So was ne Uncle
Mike retirIu' whin ne stsindsd tn uaeetin'
~ tn longshoremen's union dancing class.
spilled tn leader IL tn grand march into
tn supper. carved his way TO tn dure
with q thrombone he'd boTrid firm a
mimber iv tn oTchestry, took a kick at
tn peiismsn on jooty there. an Eint
home with tn remark: 7 must rest afther
me intelleckchool efforts, but I viii re-
turn anon an ciane % what is left.
Tiddy Rosenfelt vad've been me Uncle
Mixes ideel prisidint If me Uncle Mike
had not been cut down in his prime at
tn age IL s. be Indignation at tn sight
iv a Swede poIlytikaI parade They
would've got on fine together Il they
cud've been kept apart.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS.
LincOIn's oratOrieaI Masterpiece, De.
Hvered November 10. 1863.

FourscOre and seven wears ago our
fathers brought forth upon this continent
a new nation. conceived IN liberty, and
dedicated 10 the proposition that all men
are created equal. Now We are engaged
IN a great civil war. testing whether that
nation. or any nation so conceived and so
dedicated. can long endure. We are met
On a great battlefield Of that war We
have come 20 dedicate q portion OF that
field as a final resting place for those who
here gave their lives that that nation
might 1--we. Il is altogether fitting and
proper that We should DO this. But IN q
larger sense We cannot dedicate. we can
not cousecrats, We cannot haIlOW this
ground The brave men, living AID dead.
VINO struggled here. have consecrated &
far above our power TO add or detract.
The world viii little note. nor long re-
member. what We say here: but It can
never forget what they did here It is for
Us, the living rather 10 be dedicated here
10 the unfinished work which they who
fought here have thus far SO nobly a3-
vanced. II is rather for us 10 be here
dedicated 20 the great task remaining be-
fore Us. that from these honOred dead we
take increased devotion to that cause for
which they gave the last full measure Of
devotion; that we here highly resolve that
these dead shall not have died in vain;
that this nation. under God shall have a
new birth OF freedom. and that govern
ment OF the people. by the people. and
for the people shall not perish from the
earth.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
In the Poor Weather Man /!

we regret 10 observe disposition IN
some parts OF the land to speak hsrshiy,
even unkindly and unreasonably. Of
Uncle Sans" chief weather expert.
now that Congress has it in mind 70 raise
his hard-earned salary trifle-
We note a protest from Macon. Ga, for
instance that deprecates the weather
mans services TO his country just be-
cause that city is slowly recovering from
the baneful effects ofss recent blizzard
thereabout. and numerous farmers report
serious damage 10 the liberia peach crop
From far-on Oregon comes another COM
plant that the weather doled out TO that
section has not been up 10 the mark at
ali this winter. and thar this. therefore.
IS no time 70 be talking OF advancing
the weather mans official emoluments.
We regard these criticisms as wholly
captious and quite beside the mark
They do not go to the merits Of the mat
ter in hand at all Rather DO they con-
cern themselves with selfish issues en-
tirely-issues. indeed, not directly in point
in the slightest degree. but only at best
collateral in their relations TO the subject
under consideration.
For our part We are firmly OF the opin-
ion that the weather man does the very
best he can by all sections Of the coun-
try. having in mind the full extent Of his
authority and the limits OF his personal
control. Why does Macon vrithe so in
the throes Of a blizzard? Why does that
precise condition bring such abundant
agony TO its soul? Only and precisely
because the weather man provided Ma
con with such a beautiful article OF In
dian summer last year that contrast is
extremely painful at this time. II Ma
con were provided with nothing but biz
zardy weather. it might complain with
some show OF reason. But as il is-bah,
Compartments should remember that il
Is practically impossible to work out q
perfectly adjusted plan Of weather dis
trfbufion contemplating nothing but sun
shine and roses in IFS makeup An eye
must be kept vigilantly at watch for IN
equalities and overbslances. High light:
here must be carefully Offset By low
lights yonder: shadows must be dark
ened ever and anon in order that the
monotony OF a Iong-sustained brightness
may not offend Il must rain, sleet. and
snow every little while in winter. OF
what would be the pleasure in these rare
and Junelike days that come in Janu-
ary and February now and then 10 bless
Us and make Us glad?
Nay; let's come 70 praise the weather
man. not bury him beneath nI-natured
grunts and unfeeIing censure. IN our
/ philosophy he is gentleman and q
scholar. and ne serves his country vel
and in fun patriotic spirit Let's raise
his salary, and II he can do any better
than he has been doing. Of course We
shall appreciate that. But lets coneede
ungrudglngIy that he is a good fellow
anyway. and deserves better pay.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
Providing for the census,

From the Pitts5urz P0st
Congress need have no hesitation in
providing for competitive examinations In
its census bill That is the crux OF the
whole matter. Noncompetitive examina-
tons would be Of little or no value They
violate the spirit as well as the letter
OF the Civil Service ss-stem. And Congress-
may as well acknowledge that selection
OF census employees Is best made IN ac-
cordance with Civil Service rules. The
people want an accurate census. They
want efficient enumerat0rs. They don't
want the slipshod. inefficient. laundering
costly results that are certain II APP
poinIments are made under the spoils
system.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
Lincoln.

We commemorate To-Day the centenary
II a unique and heroic figure in human
history. To those who believe in the
providentiaI order of the universe there
appears something bordering on the
miraculous in LincOlns upbringing from
the Iowly conditions Of pioneer life TO
leadership in a mighty national struggle
for existence. From another angie it may
seem as II some comic spirit, making
sport OF our poor humanity. md con-
founded the mighty By elevatiRg to
power this jocular mystic. this humorous.
pracdcaI-minded player OF a tragic part
All Of Lincoln's qualities went to 1T him
for the purposes 10 which he had been
destined. It IS difficult to imagine any OF
his contemporaries. though many able
men contributed 10 the great drama Of
The civil war. filing so well the role he
performed His very deficiencies. Of edu-
cation. OF birth and breeding. were
sources OF strength. while his difficult en-
vironment sehooIed him in the virtues of
self-rastery and ability TO struggle
single-handed with duty and responsible
ity. 4 character such as his repays pro-
found study, conveying the Old lessons OF
fidelity to conviction. fxity OF purpose.
and faith in the ultimate triumph OF JUS
jice and right. attributes wrought out OF
the common material Of human life and
made 10 serve the ends OF destiny
That Lincoln should have gone through
the trying ordeal Of a civil war without
having left behind him a single recorded
word Of bitterness or contempt that could
rise Up against him in the land over
which ne held the conqueror's power OF
life and death IS perhaps the nOblest fact
Of his career II tells so much Of The
mans spirit that TO enlarge upon It is Il
GID refined gold. It throws a rsdianci
upon his soul that time cannot Gin. I
suggests the vast national loss accrued
by reason Of his untimely death. II
that tragedy disappeared compassion and
understanding and infinite patience.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
Wnitinr for Admf..ion.

From the Louisville Courier-Journsi.
Statehood IS not garment 10 be lightly
bestowed. It's significance IS profound. 1t
extends 20 fundamentals OF citizenship
and OF life Il gives votes to persons who
have not had them before Il admits
great communities TO the prodigious
American fellowship II extends the Fed
ersl Constitution over new ground. It
gives new forces voice in the govern
ment Of all the people. And IN applying
for the great benefit it is TO be hoped that
New Mexico and Arizona come with
minds conscious of the bigger and higher
life they seek and of the responsibilities
it brings.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12

President by an acceptance Of his prof.
ect for placing the Secret Service under
the control Of the Department OF Justice.
It is proposed to increase the apprOpria-
lion for the Department Of Justice so as
10 provide means for the establishment OF
a Secret Service division there. II the
work OF this division were correlated
with that OF the Treasury division, so
that they wonId have a common head and
common aim. the President would
doubtless be satisfied. It should be re-
membered that the important thing is
the efficiency OF the Secret Service. not
the xsstness Of the sums appropriated for
the detection and punishment Of crime.
and this efficiency, attained, as every
one knows, in the Secret Service division
Of the Treasury, is what Mr.. Roosevelt
is DESTROYS OF maintaining and utilizing
in al departments OF the government
under the direction OF the Attorney Gen
eral
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
NOT A SAFE ASSUMPTION.
Mr. Lodges Condemnation of Sena-
tOrfaI Primaries Criticised.

NOEAaA N4A-AGAHE1s
From the NsS York Tribune
No one viii question the value OF per-
manence and continuity in Senatorial
service, II that service happens 10 be of
excellent quality. No one VIII greatly
desire. on the other hand, 10 perpetuate
IN power Senators whose contributions 20
good government are almost negligible
Mr. Lodge seems 10 argue that the old
system was more certain 10 extend
worthy service and cut short unworthy
service, and that the new system is ike
" to produce reverse results. But are
there any data yet available 10 prove
that contention? Has the new system. so
FAR As II has been applied. furnished
contrasts with the old on which II can be
summarily condemned?
We said yesterday that Mr.. Lodge
illustration vas not convincing. Ar. Al
lis0n was elected under the old method.
and was also designated for continuance
in Office under the new. He carried a Re
publican primary in Iowa in 1865 the
voters there fully apr.ecisting the value
Of his experience and equipment as a
Legislator. Other Senators elected under
the old system have been reelected under
the new Mr. Morgan. OF Alabama. was
sent back for his last term BIZ a primary
vote. SO was his venerable colleague. Mr..
Pettus. Mr.. McEnery has been returned
by the voters OF Louisiana Mr.. New
lands. OF Nevada, has been elected twice
under the legislative caucus system and
once by a popular vote. Mr. Tillman,
Mr. Clay. Mr. Bacon. Mr. Money, Mr..
Daniel. and Mr.. Martin have all won re-
nominations at the polls. In fact. the
Senator OF longest service and ripest ex-
perience 10 90 back TO private life on
March next, Mr. Teller. Of Colorado.
was retired not by primary test. but
through the workings q the old-fashioned
party caucus. II any system Is 10 be
charged with his defeat Il is the old sys-
TEN and not the new
II is not logical. however. 20 attribute
one positive and universal effect TO one
method and the reverse TO the other.
There viii be Interruptions OF service IN
der both methods. and continuous Te-elec-
tons under both. II Is a mere assump-
ton 10 say that the great leaders in the
Senate in the past have owed their con-
tinuity in Office TO the circumstance that
legislatures elected them without the aid
Of instructions Why should Senator's like
Morrill, and Edmunds. Blaine. Frye Hale
HOsr. Plstt lof Connecticut. Sherman
Morton. Zachary Chandler. Ben Hill
Thurman. Hendricks. Lamar, Beck, and
Vest have feared to ask verdict of the
voters on their characters and records
II is hardly conceivable that any one OF
them would have been defeated in a pri-
mary by q second-class man.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
IN FEBRUARY.

Msideas fair with syes do7ouf
pea their reils and hurry oui.
soft, What can they be abou,
In FetUsTT1
Never ask them To delay
n they run % kreei and pas.
II they seek rev hearts tins day
In FebrgsTy-
Follow noW tiieiT fying feet.
Who is this they mn 70 meet;
Who The stranger laughing greet
In February;
Are these roses on the snow
That they gather ss they gos
Nsy-they'rs picking hearts, 7 troT.
In February.
VITO. then. : this peddier Jscs.
Crying 1lsidsHs. what dye isck,
Scattering hearts from out his TecS
IN Febuafys
Have sou guessed. sweetheart 81 nias.
That they welcome Valentine
Thief. he stole your hear and nine
Last FebTusry,
-Tousues Benjamin. Il A;asies's
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
THE BOOK OF JOBS.
How Census Patronage Was Served
Up Under Old Regime.


ID Under Old Regime.
From Circnisr iszued By The National CiFL se-scs
Reform League
In former eensuses Congressman we're
advised Systematically Of the number OF
positions al their disposal. The Director
Of the Census, ike the secretary OF the
patronage OK England In former days.
kept regular books OF account, charging
each OF the Congressman with the num-
/ Der OF appointments made at his request.
Our chairman has examined some of
these books In one OF them the sp-
pointrents were classified according 20
States. and in another they were charged
10 the particular Senator OF Representa-
tive who solicited them.
At the head Of each page appeared the
name OF TIE Congressman charged with
the appointments. In the left-hsnd col
umn were the numbers Of the files con-
tanning the recommendations and creden-
tisls Then followed the names OF the
appointees. and then the grades and sala-
res. BY means OF this book the relative
rights OF members Of Congress could be
aUlLSIeU- ana COuAu De seen a 2 kl1Qce
whether any particular member had over
drawn his account Some OF them had
I done So
In this ledger, following the accounts
kept with existing Congressman "a page
70 EACH. was the list o. the appointees OF
ex-Congressmen ali thrown together, as
though to be the subjects Of early decapi-
tstiOn.
II would be hard 10 find better Illus
tration Of the working OF the patronage
system than IS presented by this book
where apPointees were classified as in q
live stock register as the property OF par
ticular Congressman, but without refer
/ ence to their records and individual quail
ieations-
The salaries. however, were specified,
so that the proper proportions, not only
I As 10 appointees. but as 10 the people S
money. might be observed IN the dis
I tribution among Senators and Repre-
sentatives
There is a clause in the present bin that
clerks shall be appointed without regard
TO politics. which IS interpreted TO mean
I that they shall be divided among Con-
+ gressmen without regard 10 party IN
( the last census a Republican member re-
celved more than a Democratic member,
( but now the distribution is 10 be the
1 same 10 each
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
a lot or romance Of the plains Will be
knocked out when the cowboy turns
chauffeur The reckless skill of the horse
breaker the mad gailop across the plains.
the daring art Of cutting out, the fierce
race with the maddened herd. the pietur-
esque eostume-an these win De pushed
aside when the auto TIles the ranch Il
IS merely another inevitable example OF
the passing Of Outwcrn customs
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
wait,nr on Tarla Penslon.

Fruza the Milwaukee Wisconsin.
At the opening Of the year editors all
over the country were discussing TIE
Return of Prosperity at the present mo-
naent many Of them are engaged in ex-
planning why Business Recovery IS
Slow" Not all Of the commentators seem
10 realize the fact. but fact II is. that
whenever the prospect Of considerable al
terations ia the tariff inpeRds. business
stops its forward march, and puts its
hands over its head. as people in earth
quake regions. wien chimneys and cor
uices are falling about their ears. try TO
shield themselves from impending blows.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
Log-raIiing Delay.

From he ksnsss city Star
The bin for postal savings banks il *
peeted TO pass the Senate as soon as it is
certain the House viii not have time 10
pass it. and the House IS expected 10
PISS the New Mexico and Arizona state
hood bill as soon as q knows the Senate
win not pass t. Thus the grand and
noble work Of redeeming party pledges u
carried forward by Congress.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12

Prom tbs New York Trihvae.
The report Of the Peoples Gas Com
pany. Of Chicago. for the year ended on
December 81. 1905. shows earnings appIi-
cable 70 dividends Of S2.755.ss4 after de-
iucting SS7s.S5I for depreciation and
s1.ss4.seo for bond interest This is an
increase Of S2sss12 over 1907, and IS equiv
alent to SIS per cent earned on the out
standing 80 sSs 100 capital stock, eompar-
Ing with ss4 per cent earned IN 1851
Gross earnings Of s13.72S,e7o were larger
than in any year in the company's his
tory. showing a gain of s5e2.e0s over Is17.
Net earnings were S5.5l6.3s5, against s., H.
al in the year before.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12

We hear a good deal OF the pernicious
activity Of the vice president of Cuba
Cuba ought 70 get thai thing straighten-
ed out The speaker % the house is
supposed 10 be the chief Congressional
cuf-up