davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1909-01-14
THE VENEZUELAN SITUATION.

WASHINGTON. Jan. IL. The present
position OF Juan Vicente Gomez In ven-
ezuela is that OF vice-P President acting as
President during the temporary absence
OF the President. Provision is made for
this state Of affairs In venezuela's Consti-
tuition. thus
ARTICLE II. In case OF temporary or absolute
vacancy OF the Presidency the place shall be
filled by the nrst or second Vice e.President sc-
cordng to the order Of their election.
ARTIct = rs Powers vested In the PresdentJ
Section 7, To leave temporarily the capital OF
the Republic when so demanded by the public
interest. also To withdraw temporarily from the
exercise OF his functions, In which case he shall
call the person auaned to do 50. under this Con .
stltutlon, TO take his place, II being understood
that when the cause Of his withdrawal ceases
he shall again take charge Of the once with no
other formsllty than giving notice thereof to the
oficsl who Is acting as President
There is no good reason to doubt that
Mr.. Castro went to Europe for necessary
medical treatment which was impossible
in Venezuela. nor is there good reason
to doubt that It was and probably still is
his intention to return and resume the
control Of his country II his physical con-
dition should permit such a course. Don
Cipriano is not q second Guzman Blanco.
The meteoric career Of Blanoo is still re-
membered IN Europe. but for various
reasons It would probably be quite i'm
possible for Castro to give even a feeble
imitation Of that experience. He is in
no sense man OF the world. Probably
few men enjoy life as he has enjoyed his
life in Venezuela. His work In the official
palace in Caracas is in it's way as keen
a delight to him as are In their way the
orgies at Mirahores. The orgies are
possible In Europe, but while they would
doubtless bring him occasional pleasure
he would be a restless and unhappy man
for the remainder Of his time. Venezuela
Europe can never satisfy him.
What he will do IL he lives and regains
his health Is beyond guessing. BY the
terms OF the Constitution he can return
and demand his place at the head OF the
nation. What would happen il he should
return is equally beyond guessing. We're
Gomez to use physical means to oppose
the landing OF Castro he would by that
act become a usurper, with whom no for.
eign Power Gould deal. Article - OF the
Venezuela Constitution declares that -all
'isurped authority is inefficient and its
acts are null and void That the steps
thus far taken by Gomez for the restora-
ton OF diplomatic relations with foreign
Powers and for the establishment Of
new conditions at home are duly author
zed and lawful there can be no question.
ntil Castro's return. should he return be-
lore the expiration Of his term Of Office in
1911 Vicente Gomez is the lawful President
of Venezuela. Castro's return and re-
Of Office might undo in week
Ill that Gomez has done. 1t might cause
revolution and lead to international war. !
That he could return and resume his post
without disturbance now seems to OBJ
servers here at Washington most inn
probable.
The sun., 1909-01-14
The EmbezzIer OF Public Property.

To TIE EDITION OF THE SUN-Sir The
Constitution has something to say about TAX
ing private property for public use without
paying just compensation, but nothing
to say about the taking OF public property
by public agents for their private use with
out warrant OF law.
TEE suns comments on Tillman's UNDER
taking to send free through the post office a
typewriting machine under his frankine
privilege as Senator and Roosevelt's illegal
use OF property Of the Navy Department
are pertinent and Illustrating.
There Ia often heard here in the cantaI
mention OF other uses OF public property
which II true are scandals in Government
service. They, to be sure. are paltry and
twopenny Affairs. but petty larceny Is some-
times even worse than grand larceny.
The uses are OF appropriations by Con-
gress for quite other purposes than the law
has specified. as for example uses made in
the White House OF household servants
toftentimes changing the seS), OF laborers
in the White House grounds or clerks In the
departments. Probably the stories are
scandals. but II so the falsehoods should be
exposed.
Congress intends perhaps TO nav for ALI
household servants In the White House. but
II so II should so enact In a straightforward
way. IL appropriations for other purposes
are misused. with the necessary aid and
connivance Of Treasury auditors, then the
proper appropriations committee should
put stop TO the practice. II II is the practice
Assigning TO the White House az household
servants clerks or out Of door laborers, au-
thorized by Congress- AZ such and pajd for
as such. and service falsely certified M tbs
Treasury TO have been performed as Con-
gress enacted are not creditable or nice.
even II custom. There must he misren.
resentation somewhere on the payroll
WASHINGTON, January is. FRIPpERy
The sun., 1909-01-14
The spies Of Augustus Divus.
From the Indianapolis Nsvs.

From the Indianapolis Nevs.
The President of the United States en-.
ploys the Government secret service. In.
tended to ferret out frauds against the Gov.
ernrhent. to find out the private lives Of his
enemies, and this he holds a. threat over
their heads.
We should like to see the President use
this sort OF material. Such a shock would
shake the country that men would ask
themselves what kind Of tyranny they we're
living under. The answer 10 not far To
seek. IL is that kind that Augustus intro
duced at Rome to strengthen his grssping
of all power in fact. while he permitted the
Senate ostensibly to perform its duties
But his spies tracked the members and
when any fash OF independence was shown
the rash man was informed that Augustus
had evidence Of this or that in his life, and
II he did not want TO be exposed he had
better crook the knee. Has the American
republic come to this? There are appear.
ances OF it,
The sun., 1909-01-14

With communicating oficisliy only In the ordl'
nary channels, a. through the Secretary OF the
Treasury Mr. Speaker. theisttsr Of the Secretary
OF the Treasury mentioned by The President and
printed With bis message 10 dated April 20. 1905
the letter TO the Speaker. April 80. ieos. The
sundry civil appropriation bill In which the pro.
vision mentioned is contained, was reported TO
the House on Aprii IS, 1909, four days before
either letter upon which the President relies was
written.
Had any one other than the Presid ent himself
suggested that his ordinary channel OF oommuni.
cstlnT with Congress was through the Secretary
OF the Treasury or through the head Of any other
Department he would deseryedly have been soored
by all intelligent men. The ordinary method
this President has usod TO communicate with
Congress has been by message. During the last
session he sent exclusive OF vetoes, nfty-fo
messsres TO Congress-"
These impeachMents of the veracity
OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT do not rest on
opinions, surmises or deductions. They
are matters Of official record, open to the
inspection Of any person who cares to
obtain q copy of the Congressional
Record Of Friday last. They convict
him OF suppreesing, distorting and con-
cealing those facts and records not
available for his purpose, of misrepre-
senting the attitude Of public officers, Of
putting before the country an official
document untrue in fact and likely,
even II not intended, to produce an ut
terly false impression on the minds of
the people.
The sun., 1909-01-14
Healthier New York.

For several years prior to 1908 the
mortality rate in this town remained
practically stationary despite notable
extension Of public sanitary supervi-
sion. The waste of life continued un-
checked although new and important
functions looking toward its abatement
were taken up by the Department OF
Health. Thus in 1905 system OF
complete physical examination of school
children was instituted. Since then
the department has undertaken the
sanitary inspection Of farms and dairies
which supply milk to New York. The
death rate a thousand Of the popula-
ton, which was 1882 in 1905, rose slightly
to 1885 in 1908 and to Is.4s in 1907.
These figures certainly conveyed no
promise Of any decided improvement
in the public health in 1908, yet last
years death rate Of 1882 thousand
Of the population, announced by Health
Commissioner DARLINGTON, is not only
the lowest in the history of the city but
marks the sharpest falling of in NOR
tality during any single year since
the consolidation OF Greater New York
Such decrease in the number of deaths
naturally excites distrlst as to whether
1t might not be attributable to loss Of
population rather than to Improvement
in vital conditions. The doubt, how
ever, is dispelled by comparing the sta
tistics furnished by the Health Commis-
sioner with those supplied by the Com
missioner Of immigration at New York.
The latter prove that the heavy. emf
grafton Of last year was chiefly con-
fined to alien laborers unaccompanied
by families. The number of children
taken abroad was small, while the chill
dren under fourteen who arrived here
comprised 1877 per cent. Of the 80, ,S9i
immigrants landing at the port Of New
York. as against percentage of 10. SO
in 1907. when the total arrivals num-
bered 1,l70,295. In all probability,
therefore, the families living here were
not fewer in 1908 than in 1907 conclu-
sion supported by the years birth rate,
the highest recorded in New York.
The child population Of the city was
evidently not materially il at all re-
duced. Now, it was with reference to
this population that the saving Of life
was most conspicuous. Thus, one
third Of the decrease in mortality ap-
piled to children under FIVE years of
age. As infant mortality is accepted
by vital statisticians as the best index
to general sanitary conditions it may
be assumed that the lowered death rate
Of the city last year denotes a genuine
advance in public health.
The sun., 1909-01-14

TAFT, is not TO be President Of the Dis
trict of Columbia. He is TO be Chief
Executive Of the whole nation. The
"citizens of Washington" have no moro
concern in the solemnities Of his install
lation than have the inhabitants Of Palo
Alto or Kalamazoo. The real trouble,
however, is that the dimensions Of the
inaugural procession and Of the ridicu-
lous inaugural ball which rounds of
the occasion have so expanded that
they have become unmanagoabie 80 lar
az they relate to the country or the
Presidency. Everybody wants to march
clubs from Cleveland and Chicago,
companies from Richmond and else
where, veterans" Of all kinds and con-
ditions and titles to existence-and
everybody wants to go to the ball, from
Maine TO Louisiana and from Florida
TO Oregon, until the procession becomes
almost endless and certainly grotesque
and the "hop" takes on the character of
. merry-go-round.
Congress has just refused to lend the
Pension Office to the uses of the ball,
and no wonder. Last time the ~com-
mittee' promised that the legitimate
business Of the Government should never
again be threatened by a renewal of the
request. The National Museum is still
unfinished, and even IL it were finished
it should not be devoted to the purposes
OF a local jollification. THE citizens"
have no hall Of their own. and their
willingness to borrow that or any other
public structure, thereby delaying Gov
ernment work and disturbing Govern
ment processes for at least week, il
not more. is entitled to no sort OF con-
sideration. IL Washington wants to
celebrate by all means let it do 80;
but the President-elect's retinue on his
journey from the White House to the
Capitol and on his return TO the mansion
he is to occupy for the next four years
ought to be arranged and regulated by
the Government and divested OF every
thing in the nature Of irresponsible and
heterogeneous parade. There is moth
ing beautiful or impressive in the pro-
cessions that have been arranged by
"the citizens" during the last twenty
FIVE years. end as for the balls the less
said the better.
The Government ought TO take charge
Of the whole thing, as is already the case
with most it. Let everything be done
simply, decently and in order!
The sun., 1909-01-14

Ii seems a fit time to take notice OF a
significant yet unregarded happening in
the field Of art-the passing OF the song
Everybody Works But Father Most
music hall songs are an unconscionable
time a-dying. As New York wearies OF
them they are just beginning to receive
consideration in Chicago and Seattle;
months later they die in the rich sky that
overarches the rural districts. But the
song under consideration, having passed
beyond the three sophisticated centres
just named. went out like a candle in a
tempest; we beheld. and lol 1t was not.
An inquiry for the reason is a profitable
essay in criticism.
Popular songs, no matter how homely
the words or how bizarre the Incidents
selected for treatment, usually follow
the classical models in their choice OF
themes. Little Annie Rooney" ditty
which some Of us are old enough TO recall.
is founded upon a phase OF that love
which produced MAUD, ia Vita Nuova-
and 'Annabel Lee "McGinty' Ia worthy
OF even closer scrutiny. shot through with
the mystery Of the mighty deep:
Down went McGISTY to the bottom Of the sea;
We haven't seen him yet, and VIC think he must
How poisnautly pei susssalve. how re.
strained! II is like the close OF the Ger
man legend: And since that day the
Tunnhduser has been seen no more by
the dwellers near the venusberg." But
greater perhaps even than this ia that
matohless lyric "The Cat Came Back
That Fate which overshadows Greek
tragedy works here; hero ring the bells
OF the Polish jew, here sits the Ghost of
Rdnqbo at the board Of the guilty Thane
OF Cawdor.
The cat came back; we thought II was eoner
But the cat came back the very next day
But We make bold to declare that
Everybody Works But Father is not
art. There Is nothing in a sordid and
shiftless old man that could ever inspire
a line Of real poetry In the locker on.
The man who having such a parent
could sing about him has no music in his
soul. He 10 not worthy TO share the rap
The sun., 1909-01-14
The Closing Scenes OF the MeIodr.m..

To THE EDITOR OF The SUS-Sr: In the
audience with others watching the melo-
drama which has run successfully for ASS
days on the stage at Washington feel as
others must feel who have sat through the
unprecedented performance. undergoing
seismic thrills at each successive exploit
Of the villain.
The tense excitement attending the long
deferred despatch Of the villain grips one
a. the small boy In the gallery is gripped
Just before his gratuitous contributions OF
hen fruit The natural sequence to so spec
taculsr a production demands a climax
fitting and appropriate. such as will provide
an exit for the villain to meet the approval
OF the spectators.
The acting has been going on too long.
tho scenes have been shifted too often. and
tho audience now waits In suspense for the
hero or heroes to give this villain wallop
commensurate with the wrongs he has in
nicted, the tortu he has directed and the
lives he has blight ed. II they fail OF tri-
umph In the last act OF the play the funda-
mental principles OF playing to the gallery
will be perverted and we shall see villains
while the small boy will save his
hon fruit for the heroes. &, ~. :.
ALBANY. January II.
The sun., 1909-01-14
Plain Words From g Republican New.
paper.

From the Providence Journal.
II is intolerable that o President Of thu
United States should use his once for ths
qualification OF his private grudkes. :
Mr.. Roosevelt may have done something
to raise the standards Of national morality.
but he Is now doing much. alasl to lower
the tone OF public life. His reckless de.
nunciation Of every one who ventures To
question the wisdom of his utterances or
the propriety OF his acts IL Injurious to the
country as we'll ss to himself. In these last
days OF his admin strstion he seems to bs
throwing aside even such restraints rs hays
hitherto guided him. II he keeps this up
until the 4th Of March he will 90 out Of
office remembered. at least Immediately,
for his faults rather than his virtues and
leaving bad taste, 80 to say. in the public
mouth
The sun., 1909-01-14
Inaugurating Mr.. Taft,

There is no doubt in our mind that the
Inauguration ceremonies Of March 4
ncSt At Washington should be taken in
charge by the Government, and above
all things reduced TO convenience and
simplicity. Little by little custom
e1s b'cn established in this respect, =
ciS,om that perhaps had some standing
in proprlety long ago, but which of late
years has tended to nothing so much as
T." ahsurdty and ef1lorescence, if not
vlllSarlty Washington has outgrown
this custom, if indeed there was ever
any reason for it, and the Inauguration
Of Presidents has developed the propor-
tons of an aff1iction.
The incomer. the Hon. WILLIAM II.
The sun., 1909-01-14
The Speed Limi, In New Jer,.,.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--.sir: II wou,-,
be sensible thing for the LEGISLATURE Of New
Jersey to raise the speed limit on motor cars from
twenty 10 thirty miles an hour. To hold motor
car. easily and quickly controlled, To a rate NJ
progress under that not infrequentIy attained by
horse drawn vehicle is obviously foolish. The
scientific method OF controlling vehicular tr.f,o
would be 10 allow conveyances OF all kinds 20 "a
as fast as they could with safety and Furnishing
severely those responsible for driving al unsafe
speeds, regardless OF any arbitrary rule or stand
ard. There are places where sixty miles an hour
Is not dangerous. and others where one tenth
thatspecd would imperil the lives OF pedestrians.
AosrciAih. N. j., January -. - DLAL.
The sun., 1909-01-14
Too Late for Impesc chment.

To TINE EDITOR OF TIE SUN-Sn, For a
long time from an all around view Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt have endeavored to get a
limo In the peoples part Of the press de-
mandlne his impeachment. In to-day's
baltimore Sun In a quotation from you I
read these words: 1T is an abuse OF offlcial
power fairly deserving impeachment" Ex-
actly! You are right
Considering President Roosevelt as a
whole. the American people are irresponsive
to their manhood and neglectful Of the duty
they owe to themselves II they do not, even
at this late date, call for his Impeachment.
FRANCIS B. LIvEsEY.
CLARKsoN. Md, January IL.
The sun., 1909-01-14
Suppression, Distortion and Con-
cealment.

cealment.
The methods by which the President
sought in his message to the House OF
Representatives to support and justify
his statements in his annual message in
regard to the secret service legislation
Of 1908 were exposed pitilessly in the
debate in the House on January s. The
members, displaying at once high re-
gard for the Chief Magistracy, personal
dignity and admirable restraint, in
dulged In no Characterization. The
facts were sufficient The manner in
which the President misrepresented the
attitude Of Mr.. TAwNEY of Minnesota
was explained by that gentleman thus:
IN this connection wish to call attention TO
two statements Of a personal character In the
message OF the President In answer 10 the resolu
ton OF the House, as presented 70 the House OF
Represent stives January L. 1909, In that mesa 70
the President uses this language:
"'Ar. TAwskY In the debate stated that he had
in his possession "a letter from the Secretary OF
the Treasury received few days ago. In which
tho Secretary Of the Treasury himself admits
that the provisions under which the approprla.
ton has been made have been violated year after
year for q number OF years 10 his own DEPART.
nent"'
And then, for the purpose OF proving that my
statement, thus quoted from my remarks upon
the noor OF the House during the consideration
OF this provision, is not true, he sppends TO his
message the letter OF the Secretary OF the Treas.
ury TO which he referred and says
"'t makes no such admission as that which
Mr.. TAwSrr alleges"
Mr.. TAwNEY declared that by not
quoting all he had said the President
in this passage had sin fact misauotedv
him, and cited the Record thus:
"'Mr TAwSKI tsfter answering a question by
Mr.. PARsosS-why. I have In my possession A
letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, re-
ceIved a few days ago. In which he has pointed
out 10 me the practice OF tho Treasury Depart
ment Whereby he himself admits that the pro
visions under which this appropriation is made
have been violated year after year for a number
Of years In his own Department
% You will observe that II the President had
quoted without omission the words contained
In my statement-'n which he has pointed out
to me the practice OF the Treasury Department
Whereby he and had then continued with the
words he did quote. my statement would have
read as follows
lin which he has pointed out 10 me the
practice OF the Treasury Department ph.r,bv he
himself admits that the provisions under which
this appropriation is made have been violated
year after year for number OF years In his own
Department"
The Importance Of the change thus
effected is obvious. Mr.. TAwNEY con-
tinued:
The omission by the President OF the word
whereby whether intentional or not, entirely
changes the purport and meaning Of my ststemen,
The sun., 1909-01-14
Andrew johnson.

To THE EDITOR OF THF SUS-Sir: Refer
ring TO your diaphanous editorial article
in to-days 'paper. Article Ten." an,
reminded OF a speech heard Andrew John
son make after his retirement from the
White House, In the spring OF 1890.
He was on his way to his home, and when
his train reached Charlottesville, Va. a large
crowd OF citizens and college students
greeted him. From the steps Of the old
Central Hotel he spoke briefly. and in re-
ferrins to his troubles with the Congress
he advised the youngsters before him 10
The sun., 1909-01-14
Saving an Ancient Fresco.
From me London GLOBE.

FFOW NC IONdOW FTTOOf,
II is not only In this country that church ~
storers are allowed to do much as they like An
Interesting story comes from Hal. The church
Is under restoration, and the workmen csmo
across traces OF fresco. Its existence had been
unknown, and according 60 the plans the plaster
was tn come away. Fortunately a townsman
knew a process by which the plaster could he
taken on intact on canvas He obtained per
mission to mako the experiment. and IL has been
carried out with success. He Is said 20 be now
the possessor OF valuable fifteenth century
painting. The Brussels museum authorities have
learned OF the existence OF the painting and they
arc endeavorng 70 prevent the alienation OF this
interesting work OF the Middle Ages.
The sun., 1909-01-14

lures of ANNIE RooSsY's JOE. 10 60 down
with McGNTY In the sudden rashness OF
heroic resolve. even to have his unworthy
legs rubbed by the faithful cat who
through 80 many vicissitudes returned
ever and anon to the scene OF her former
adventures with undiminished interest In
that which q day might bring forth.
An unworthy lyric has found just OBJ
livion
The sun., 1909-01-14
Mr., Tuckerman's picture

To TIE EprIoE or THE SuS-sfr: In the pub =.
lished report Of the trial and verdict OBJ taned by
my client Mr.. Fleming Tuckerman against the
Calumet Club for the restitution OF an oil paint.
Ing belonging 10 him your issue OF Saturday
stated that defence made by the club vas that
the picture had been presented by Mr. Tuckermsn
In liquidation OF lnde btedness
As this statement is without foundation In
fact and was expressly disclaimed By the clubs
attorney In open court. will ask that In Justice
70 Mr.. Tuckerman you kindly make the proper
correction by the Insertion OF this letter.
EUGENE N. ROBINSON,
Attorney for Fleming Tuckerman.
YOnU January
The sun., 1909-01-14
Indifferent to Law.

From the Springfield Reprbhcdr.
The President has made the country 'rinr
with his denunciations and prosecution,
and efforts at detection Of offenders against
the law In as we'll ss out Of Congress. And
now he himself appears as quite indifYerent
to law when II stands In tho way Of the pr
suit Of his own purposes and his vindics-
tions.