davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1910-12-21
EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS
PUZZLING TOEEPERT
Tremors Recorded Today at
@. u. Observatory Sur
prise Father Torndorf.

What IS said to be the most peculiar
and irregular series Of earthquake
shocks or tremOrs observed at the
Georgetown University observatory for
q. number Of years occurred early this
morning and was recorded by both the
horizontal and vertical seismOgraphs IN
the ObservatOry-
According to the report Of Father
Francis A. Torndcrf. who has charge of
the machines which record the treuors
OF the earth. the 81 )Cks commenced at
u:52 last night and lasted until 1.52 this
morning, but 1t was the irregularity Of
the lines traced on the sheets In the
SeiSmOgraph which formed the distin-
gushing feature of the quake
In al the wears that I have been
here said Father TOrndOrf. Il have
never seen such an irregular tremor.
The shocks were comparatively light
and II IS impossible for me to say from
which direction they came, but il IS my
idea that they were part OF the after
. math OF a moro violent QUAKE recorded
some days ago. They were recorded on
both the horizontal and vertical ma
chimes"
The Washington times., 1910-12-21

The promise 70 them has not been
kept, although the cost OF living has
kept on increasing until at present many
OF Us have hard struggle 70 make
both ends meet and keep up our fam
lies. Now they would pass an act to
retire old men and women, and to do
It they wish TO still further reduce our
meager incomes, causing Us to give Up
life insurance policies that have run
perhaps for ten or fifteen years, give
uP homes on which We have had $4e0
or $500 and perhaps lose the major pOr-
ton Of that. neglect the education OF
our children, and instead Of living I'm
comfortable homes. i've Ike cattle.
suppose II ls necessary for the con-
tinued increased appropriations for our
army and navy that In time Of peace we
may be prepared for war. also the large
ways that commerce may be increased
and prosperity may come to those en-
gagged IN commercial pursuits, also the
exceedingly large appropriations for the
building Of the Panama Canal that prog
TCS5 may nOt be impeded. 7 DO not
Cr1uclse these expenditures, as ! could
not stop them auyhOws and in addition
DeueVe with al my heart In modern
improvements. But when such improve
meutS eat uD the income Of the Gov
ernEnent I do not think Il fair 10 try 70
ecOn0mize on the poor Government
clerk, reduce his salary. keep back part
OF that remaining 10 retire him In old
age, dispense with the services Of many
clerks and then when the reduced force
does not seem to be able to handle the
work attribute IL 10 increased business
and 10 overcome this feature, increase
the hours Of the clerks remaining.
Some say II you &c not ike u quit
Did you not seek 70 enter the Govern
uent servIce2 Yes, we did. and many Of
Us came TO Washington not knowing the
truth Of living Conditions here, moved
our families. furniture, etc, then finding
the longer we remained here the worse
our condition became, and after four or
i've years are practically stranded and
could not get out II we wished to Yes
we must Just stay, grin, and bear il IN
til the grim reaper calls as home Some
seem to know Of the existence OF these
conditions and take ADVANTAGE OF Us
again and again VIII there never be
relief, VIII we never get justice and fair
play where Is the great Christian Gov
eTnment OF ours. has Il lost the first
principles Of that Government. where
VIII it end7
a HARD AND HONEST WORKER.
The Washington times., 1910-12-21
Declares Congress
Should Raise Salaries

TO rhs Editor q The Washington Tlzess
VIII you kindly allow me space for a
few lines IN your valuable paper, which
Is certainly fighting hard for equity
and justice in behalf Of the poor Gov
ernment employees.
Time after time we read IN the papers
how members Of Congress complain
about their inability TO live on their
$500 q year. This, Il must be under
stood, is only g part Of their income;
the most Of them are independently rich
men. Why do they fight so desperately
for re-eIection2 Some spend thousands
and thousands Of dollars each cam
psIgn. They are not doing 1t only for
the honor connected with the position,
nor for the salary alone, but for other
gains and privileges combined with the
office
After their election they forget OF ac-
tCally refuse 70 recognize their con-
stituents, but they work for themselves
The poor Government employees are Just
Ike a piece Of metal II a wise at the
mercy Of Congress and their superior
economy operating On both sides, ike
the Jaws OF wise
I would Ike to have Illustrated how
a u1zo with family can live on less than
present condition Of prices for the nee
egsaT1es OF life2 he has 10 live with
MS family like a pauper at the very
gate 10 the POORHOUSE, because on
such q low salary he IS not able 70
save
It costs not less than 50 10 50 a
month for quarters in the city, or By
living in the suburbs, where rent IS
somewhat cheaper, he has TO make VI
the difference in paying car fare He
can positively not set the table for less
than 81 a day Clothing. doctor, medi-
cine, life insurance. and q number OF
other unexpected items are to be de-
as the balance Of the month salary.
Pleasure car positively receive no con-
sfdeTatiOn- After the days work IS fin-
ished, he can only sit down at home
ike q prisoner IN jail
It viii be remembe that a number
Of outside people who are compelled tC
work at low wages become at difTereni
times 81 piicants for help by the Asso-
ciated Charities, on account OF similar
conditions and circumstances as Illus
tTated above.
The rate Of salaries OF civil service
employees Of the Government IS practi-
caIly the same as established not less
lions are more matter OF favOrit5su
than Of merit The late United State
Treasurer. Charles H Treat, HlUstra- ed
IN his last annual report, NOvembe
o 1903 a similar condition OF af
fairs. demanding an Increase OF sal
eminent employees, as the nigh ON
Cfals have always been well provided
for. (See the published schedule OF Mr.
Treat-) Hoping for an early and favor
able adjustment Of the question,
A GOVERNMENT EMPLOHE-
The Washington times., 1910-12-21
Submits a Substitute
For Pension Scheme

To the Editor o. The Washington Times:
submit = draft Of bin upon which
all the Departmental clerks can unite,
which is but justice to them. fair to
the Government. and which viii obvfate
the ob5t ctiOnabIe civil service pension:
Be il enacted, etc
Section l. The salaries OF al United
States employees in the classified civil
service in the District OF Columbia be
and the same are hereby increased from
and after January l. 1911 100 per cent
payable to them in regular monthly or
sen-i-mOntnly 5nstalImeuts- Provided
80 per cent OF said increase shall be
Withheld from immediate payment and
paid to any Of said employees upon their
retirement from the service BY reason
The Washington times., 1910-12-21
Warship Guns Damage
Theosophical Home

San DIEGO, Dec. n--The Point
Iona TheosophicaI homestead is safe
from being totally upset BY big gun
practice CT United States warsEips-
Admiral Barry was fndulging in tar
get work Yesterday 1ust on the coast at
Point Loma when HIS wireless sputtered-
II was a message from inland informing
him that the windows OF the theosODhi-
cal colony were being shattered The
gallant admiral Immediately remedied
the situation by pointing guns the other
way when firing
The Washington times., 1910-12-21
All Escape Death
In Depot Explosion

BUFFALO. y. Y. Dec. z1-It was
definitely determined today hat there
were no fatalities IN the explosion at
the depot shortly before u1idn Eht- The
explosion was very much similar 70
that which killed and injured many al
the New York Central station n New
YORK on Monday. Several persons were
Injured OF badly shaken up- They are
r s Miller, OF C1evel and Henry
Rreah his wife and child. y North Ds-
kota- and several who refused 20 give
their names for fear or alarming their
friends and relatives.
The Washington times., 1910-12-21
EDUCATIONAL

The Berlitz School of Languages
u 18Th ST. y. W. coz New York ava
Telephone Main S21I-
Over 40 branches IN Leading cities
PUPILS travelling may transfer the
value of their lessons from one Berlffz
school to any other in the world
All languages by superior Native teachers.
Terms Reasonable Trial Lessons Free
Private lessons and classes School resi-
dence- GRAND PRIZES AT ALL RECENT !
EXPOSITIONS.
Catalogue mailed On application
The Washington times., 1910-12-21
ARMY WIPED OUT
BY MEXICAN REBELS
Reported That 900 of Gen
eral Navarro's Command
Have Been Slain.

e. PASO. Tex, Dec 2L-News OF the
practical destruction Of the entire
Mexican regular force fighting the revo-
lu.ionists in Chihuahua was received
here rom the capital Of that state
today
The report said that General Navar-
ro's entire command had been wiped
out az Pedernales and that 100 regu-
lars had been killed.
The Washington times., 1910-12-21

OF resignation. age, disease, or ether
disability not due 20 their own fault.
after having rendered twenty years
service as such employee when they
shah receive the balance Of their sal
ary withheld. In regular monthly pay
meuts from the Secretary OF the Treas
uTy at the rate Of $50 per month
Section 2 The sum Of 100000, or 50
much thereof as may be necessary Is
hereby appropriated out OF any money {
in the United States Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, &c carry this
act into effect
Section 3 This act shall take imnedi-
ate effect JUSTICE.
The Washington times., 1910-12-21
Gels So. .966 Verdict.

WILMINGTON. Del, Dec. 21--By YER
dict of the United States Circuit Court
ere Prof William Bullock Clark, Of
johns Hopkins University. Baltimore,
receives S72965 from the Ely Central
Copper Company for breach Of contract
He sued for 10000.
The Washington times., 1910-12-21
Mail Whisky Fatal.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. H-Guy
r Coleman and Stephen Strickland, two
Weil-known young men OF this city. lie
dead today as the result OF taking
drink out Of a bottle Of whisky which
one OF them had ordered by mail Their
deaths are being investigated.
The Washington times., 1910-12-21

Government employees N the Ddstri
Of Columbia viii be reflected in the r
turns
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25
Cold Storage Limit.

1t is unfortunate that the Moore bill to
regulate the cold storage of foods in the
District Of Columbia could not be prepared
in time for enactment at this session of
Congress. Enough was learned from the
into this subject conducted
by a subcommittee Of the House District
committee to demonstrate that food prod
ucts were held in reserve an undue length
of time. causing higher prices and possibly
threatening the public health. The con-
illusions drawn from the testimony ad-
duced before the committee have been
worked into the form Of a bill which pro-
hibits the keeping of meats, fish. poultry
butter. eggs, game or other food supplies
In cold storage for longer term than
six months. with a view to their sale or
distribution as fresh. In other words &C.
cording to this limit ation foods that have
been kept in cold storage for more than
six months cannot be rated as fresh"
This is the essence of the measure, the
remaining features Of which are designed
to render the prohibition effectiva. What
appears to be an efficient system of regu-
lation and supervision is provided The
bill Is necessarily an experiment ina smucb
an there has been no such system here in
the past. but there Is no reason to ques-
ton It's practical value as a protection of
the public against the frauds and dangers
OF overstored foods. AS far as the eco
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25
The Poetry Crop.

There's no such thing as poetry you'll
hear some cynic say.
The muse has had her fling: the Tyre is
warped and tossed away
No such thing as poetry! It's false! On
every hand
1t blossoms like the wild flowers in a
glad and fertile land.
1t gets into the speeches Of a statesman
great and grave:
The advertising pages with alluring
rhymes are brave;
The homeland mother poet. with his SEN
timental tear,
Walks arm in arm with base ball bards,
with phrases quantity queer.
1t summons us to peace or war: it shuns
no time or place.
'ris quoted by the lawyers in a breach of
promise case.
1t comes forth Unexpectedly our casual
smiles to win.
AS dainty oft as Columbine and spry as
Harlequin.
And some like Pantaloon. with feet that
tempt the dance in vain,
Comes hobbling to the front with kind
intention for a cane.
IT'S not the polished hymn of ancient
scholarship, in sOoth.
ton in its youth.
We find the greeting of a song, no matter
where We turn.
No such thing as poetry?-There's poetry
to burn!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25
Mr.. Watterson on the Tariff.

On the tariff question henry watterson
is the last of the old democratic guard IN,
Notion Col. Morrison. Frank Hurd.
tbram s. Hewitt. George G.. Vest, James
.. Beck. Thomas A. Hendricks. W. L.
Wilson and Grover Cleveland are dead
John c. Carlisle at seventy-fve and Roger
Q. Mills at seventy-eight are. and long
have been. in retirement. But Mr.. Wat
terson, at three score and ten, and young
for his years. is still on deck, as full OF
life and fight as at any time since first he
buckled on his armor. What was said of
the Stare Eyed Goddess OF Reform by the
Parsee Merchant may be applied to the
father of that ilIustrious lady: Age
cannot wither him. nor custom stale his
infinite variety"
Naturally, Mr.. Watterson is alive to the
present status of the tariff question He
has followed the discussion of the Payne
law. and noted the rise of democratic
hope respects the next House. He
shares II. He believes his party will con-
troll that body. and he knows that in that
event a bill revising the Payne law will
be In order.
Recently The Star inquired as to what
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25

shape such a measure might be expected
to take, and cited at the same time the
difficulties that had confronted w. L. VIII
son in the Fifty-third Congress. when.
despite his own opposition to protection, he
was forced to compromise on many sched-
ules and report a bill recognizing protec-
tion To this Mr.. watterson makes the
distinct reply that q democratic House
will be pledged to the democratic policy
Of true tariff reform, and that 1t must
steer clear of the rocks which wrecked
the democrats who gave the country the
Wilson tariff
Here is something worthy the attention
Of Mr.. Underwood of Alabama. who. by
the way, first saw the light and had his
early schooling in Mr.. Watterson's town
of Louisville. Probably his first political
lessons were learned from the columns
of the Courier-Journal.w which in that day
spoke with unchallenged authority In
Kentucky and throughout the south. The
eyes OF Mr.. Cnderwoods old mentor will
be upon him. and he should know what
to expect In case his work as chairman
of ways and means fails to square with
Mr.. Watterson's requirements.
Mr.. Watterson is sincere. and so is Mr..
Underwood. II the coast were clear Mr.
Underwood would write tariff bill after
his own and Mr.. Watterson's heart But
the coast Is not clear. 1t never Is clear.
Mr.. Underwood. If he leads the next
House, will be obliged to lead 1t accord
Ing to congressional and commercial con-
ditions, and they are certain to initiate
against such a measure as Mr.. Waiter
son has in mind Between the snug edi-
torial chair at Louisville and the uncom-
Portable chair of a representative in Con-
gress when the tariff is up is a difference.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25
The Tariff and Living Cost.

If political considerations actuated the
majority of the Senate cost of living COM
nittee in its recital of causes for the in
creased prices OF commodities, the exclu-
sion of the tariff may not be reckoned as
stroke of particular wisdom. 1t is in
evitable that the minority should accept
the opportunity thus offered to charge the
tariff with a part of the responsibility for
the advance in the price of the necessi-
ties of life The consequence of such a
conflict of opinion is certain to be the in
lection of the tariff question into the con-
gressional campaign of the summer and
autumn, with the majority report laying
a broad and substantial foundation of fact
and the minority report offering an in
genious explanation in terms of excessive
duties. 1t might perhaps have been wiser
for the majority of the committee to rec
ognize that in the public mind the tariff
and the cost of living are intimately asso-
ciated. IL may be that the public is
wrong Possibly the consumer who is
paying larger bills than ever before is in
delusion regarding the influence of the
protective tariff upon the retail markets.
But the conspicuous exclusion of the tar
IN from the imposing array OF causes
cited by the majority of the committee Is
calculated to increase rather than allay
this feeling. 1t would have been more
polite TO admit the possibility that the
tariff adds somewhat to the price of COM
modities, and to point 10 the need of
further revision to adjust the protective
system 10 the condition of the consuming
public of this country. That the country
expects further revision is plain as pike
staff and no Ostrich-nke hiding of the
head will lessen this demand.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25
From the Philadelphia Press.


One of the strong planks in the repub'
lican platform adopted at Harrisburg this
week is the one pronouncing for the abo-
lition of the tollgate. The full ccclara-
ton Is: THE republicans Of Pennsylvania
through their chosen representatives ir
convention assembled, pledge ourselves tt
endeavor to find ways and means to rio
the state of the toll roads, now SO grea'
a tax and burden upon the travelling pub
lie" There is no quibbling about this. II
means that the toilgate must go from
Pennsylvania. The great party which
controls the destinies and frames the
policies Of this state has SO declared. The
Press has labored tor this with zeal and
persistence. 1t has regarded the tollgate
as a blight on the state, a check to faC>ie
intercourse within its borders, survival
from medieval times and a heavy and III.
justifiab BILE tax upon the travelling public
The Press platform is. and has been. that
the highways OF the state should be free
This is now the platform Of the repub-
lican party of Pennsylvania, and this
means that In a very short time the toll
gate must disappear from this common
wealth.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25
The President and the Session.

The work CT the session shows the In
fuence of the President. His recommen-
dations attached to all of the important
measures that were passed. over sew
eral of them hard contests were waged.
and IL was necessary for him to keep in
the closest touch with the situation.
This he did He conferred with many
senator's and representatives. republicans
and democrats alike, and made his atti-
tude in every case entirely plain He
was not misquoted. Nobody attempted
to trade upon any exaggerated statement
Of his views. The result is a record
much to his liking and largely to his
credit, and he will profit by lit IN inc
estimation of the country.
There were times during the heat of the
conflicts when much criticism of the
President was heard. His patience was
condemned His amiability was described
as a weakness. There was a demand for
the big stick Some of his best friends
expressed the fear that he was not ris-
ing to the emergency. He was advised to
strike out and strike hard. Congress, he
was told. would not yield to soft words
and persuasion.
The President continued to go his own
gait. He knew his own qualities and
powers, and seemed to feel that success
could not be achieved by the employ
ment of any other agencies by him. His
experience with Congress was limited.
and he had never secured anything ex-
cept through discussion. So he discussed
matters with the lawmakers. giving his
own views and listening to theirs In
that way differences We're adjusted, and
very important measures licked into ac-
ceptable shape.
But. good as the record is. the Pres.-
dent as the leader of his party must
stand new criticism for campaign pur-
poses. Why, il is asked, did he not show
an equal activity last year in the tariff
contest? Had he exertcd himself then as
he has just done. the Payne law. 1T is
asserted, would present a different SIDE
to the public. He might have made
schedules which he did not like conform
10 his views, and thus have saved him.
self and his party many reproaches.
The public is not advised of how very
hard the President did work &c secure a
revision OF the tariff in keeping with his
own Interpretation OF the party'S PROM
ises. And he did accomplish much. Had
he been as idle and Indifferent as his op-
ponents charge the new law would today
be open to greater objection than it is.
He made the best of the most difficult Of
all situations. For, as a poser, a tariff
bill easily heads the legislative list
We see, then, that the Taft method
has merit. even with everybody on fight
ing edge. Patience. discussion, good ma
ture, have great uses even in warm
corner. Much depends upon the man.
Where there is confidence in him matters
work out. The confidence in Mr. Taft
saved the session. and has brought about
a brilliant ending.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25
A Ratified American.

Cincinnati man Of the name of Zim-
norman, the father-in-law of the Duke
Of Manchester. will quit America if Theo-
dore Roosevelt Is again called to the pres
idency. and make his home in England
He will constfue the election as proof
that democracy in this country is played
out, and the British form of government
will then appeal to him. He will cast
his lot where things are on a safe, sound
and sane monarchical basis.
Presumably, Mr.. Zimmerman will help
fight the third-term movement. He ought
to. He should throw his whole weight
against those AFFLICTED with Rooseveltitis,
and not despair until the last man and
the last dollar have been offered in vain
against the smashing Of the great Amer
lean tradition.
But even then should he despair? 1t is
question. indeed, if Mr.. Zimmerman
will not find his duty to his country in
creased by its new menace. The greater
its danger, the greater should be his cour-
age and service. A third term in the
White House might not mean a fourth.
At any rate. II a third is decreed it will
be the duty Of all who have opposed it to
renew the struggle. and defeat il possible
any effort to keep Mr. Roosevelt In office
for life.
In this matter he who fights and runs
away may find himself in a worse plight
another day. Mr.. Zimmerman has his
eye on England. But would England be
a safe refuge In such circumstances. If
this Roosevelt craze spreads and may be
In America, what shall be said OF the
Y Al
brand Of politics for Great Britain? That
is construed by many English statesmen
as a squirt toward socialism, and as
threatening the stability of the British
form Of government Jumping from
Rooseveltism in America to Lloyd
Georgeism in England might prove as
costly a change as that from the frying
pan into the fire.
Mr.. Zimmerman is probably very rich.
A poor American cannot afford a ducal
son-in-law. He may live where he
pleases. II America no longer attracts,
England il close by. II England pals,
there are other countries. But a man
owes much to the land where he has made
his pile. He should not for any light rea-
son. or even for one weighty reason, pull
UP stakes and scatter his coin among
strangers In a strange land.
But Mr.. Zimmerman is not as yet under
temptation. Mr.. Roosevelt has not even
been nominated. much less elected, for q
third term, and IN his heart may be as
much opposed to the extravaganza of
some OF his admirers as respects his fu-
ture as Mr.. Zimmerman. Never cross a
bridge until you reach it. Nor should this
Cincinnati man--at a long distance from
salt water-think too much about cross
ing the ocean until he comes to that.