davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25
VaMgllan--~Jones.

Especial to The Richmond Virginian.
NORFOLK, VA, Oct. 25.---Thos. A.
Vaughan, of Franklin. and Miss Mar,
Jones, also of Franklin, were mar
ried to-day in the parlors of the
Monticello hotel here by Rev. Dr.
George F. Booker. Of Epworth NJ. q,
church. Mr.. Vaughan said they came
to Norfolk to he married In order to
get away from the crowd that would
have attended the ceremony had ii
occurred In Franklin
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25
HONE co. is SUED
BY DIR. L. J. MOSELEY

u IA suit of I,r. r. ] Mossley xsi1st
~ southern Bell Telephone and Tel
Aph company viii he heard In the
tt 81 Ian and Equity Wednesday,.
MOseles claims damages rs a
f4 81 alleged violation Of contract
Hrdtnx the furnishing of telephone
3r8 on the part OF the defendant
case win be heard before a jury.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25
HEARS ARGE MENTS
On A DEMURRER

Arguments on demurrer in the
case of Persinger and others versus
the American Finance Company are
being heard before Judge Ingram IN
the Court Of Law and Equity The
main sase Is now ',efore the cairs -
Appeals,
The plaintiffs afe seeking 10 hold the
defendant company Liable Cor certain
fands alleged " haye bseA dapoeited
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25

idan and Eugene Willis OF Ligi1nan
survive him besides his children. He
was also an uncle OF Mr.. NJ q, Willis
and Mr.. W. r. Willis, of this city.
His body will be carried to Orange
and inferred at Woodland Services
by q. W. Hurt.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25

trial will be argued before Judge
HAnckel on Friday. but Common
wealth's Attorney Tilton expressed .
belief to-day that there was nothing
upon which 4 new trial could be
based. and that Smyth would have TO
90 TO the chair.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25
sMYTH MIGHT HAVE
SAVED HIMSELF
Frieds Believe Wife SLAYER Would
Not Have Been Convicted Had
He Taken Stand.

Especial to The Richmond virginian. J
NORFOLK. VA. October 25.--It
Is said to-day that John J. Smyth,
convicted late yesterday afternoon OF
numbering his wife, thinks he could
have savsd himself had br gone on
Inc stand II II generally thought.
however. that his counsel a. r.
Thom. Jr.. Moa right Ii not st9tftn1
- - -!
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25
IAsesa Ccasaa FSgsrea.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 2s.--rhe can.
sus offce to-day announced the 1910
enumeration for the following:
Jefferson county. KY. 2s2.s2o. ta-
creAse 3O.37l.
Cornwall village. n. n. 2,s5s.
Cornwall towrk n. II. s.sSo.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25

Lula Lockett, the colored woman who
was arrested In Richmond last week
and held for the Powhatan County au-
day on the charge OF killing her infant
child. The woman was takenRrOm the
Ilenrico county Jail last saturday.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25
Mems Fixings for Fall

Mems Fine Merino Medium Weight
Underwear, in white and grey; per IN
Mems Athletic Ribbed Underwear; en-
per garment ...-......... .,..,..,.. JUG
Al Pure Wool Red Flannel e. m
Underwear, per garment 01.VV
Everwear Sox for men sold e. en-
here 8 pairs for .....4.,..s... - Nv
Guaranteed to wear six months.
Mems SlG0 Outing Night Robes, ~
trimmed with silk frogs ....s.. &c
Mems 81 80 value Palamas, made Of fine
outing trimmed with silk frogs e. m
sale price ,......,... .,,..e... 0x.VV
Mems 75c Night Shirts, in outing En
or muslin, plain or fancy; sale price JUG
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25

Mems New Fall Styles In New Columbia
Shirts Now on Display.
Best Shirt sold in Richmond 81 m
Just received another shipment Of those
Pretty Black and White Anchor Brand
Shirts; large variety; best Shirt sold Sn
in Richmond for ....s... OVC
Mems Fine Unlaundered White en
Linen Bosom Shirts, double served, for OUc
Phoenix Mufflers, in all colors and IN
all styles. 80 and. ...s,...... OVc
Mems Fine Wool Sweaters. coat - CT
style; worth 81 co. here, - 0x.OS
Mems Persian Four-in-Hand Ties. 0c
look and wear like Soc ones for 49,, ZOc
Mems 3oc l.. 4 NJ. Suspenden, in 1e
extra lengths II preferred; sale price Zoe
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-25
FIX FOR FALL

Junior and Misses Suits in smart
mixtures and serges, all stylish colors.
box effects, with touches OF color on
cuffs and collar, at C1E m
$3.50 and ..=.=.=.=.z.-. UxO.VU
Diagonal Worsted Suits, in smart
short coats, we'll tailored, new skirts;
these come in all shades; CIT E0
special .....-....-.#.-. ~ Nv
Fancy Grey and Brown Mixtures
in Strictly Tailored con M
Suits. new skirts, at UAU.VV
Strictly Tailored Suits, in al lshades
of fine boucles. smart straight coats,
with y il Il plain gore re. skirts %25 00
A large selection of Fine Broadcloth
Suits, in all new shades, handsomely
| braided in self tones, all cor M
new cuts. at $50 and OOO.UV
High-class Tailored Suits, in basket
weaves and diagonal, new shades,
| 26-inch coats and new COT IN
three-piec skirts, at VOe Nv
Exclusive models in Fine Suits OF
broadcloth and rough effects, smart
touches OF braidins, at CE0 M
| $500 and ..=.#.... sOOV.VV
Velvet Suits. in black, navy and
brown, tailored and
dressy styles, at $500 Ccc m
and 1O0.UU
Arizona republican., 1910-02-20

and troublesome conditions of muni- cipal contracts.
 Political and usually incompetent
 inspectors and inexperienced manage are the rule on public contracts while private corporation. from the
 necessity of conserving It's capital
 must have competent men 10 manage : it's work and avoid losses due to mis-
 takes Of Judgment or errors Of iu- experience. Time and cost alike are essential clements of private corpora f tions. because returns are sought for
 at the earliest convenient date, while
 public enterprises are usually con !, ducted with small regard of time and
 less regard of cost.
 ! Losses from lneompetsncs and Ex. travassnes.
 As personal conviction l think the less the larger municipal corpora
 tions engage in lines of business
 which can be conducted by private
 corporations, the better 1t will be for
 the public at large. There is more
 need of coffee and sugar iIi u rnuni-
 cipality than there is of trolly cars and electric lighting. But no one
 nor even our most aggressive derna-
 gdgues. has proposed to establish q
 municipally owned and operated
 grocery store, hut it may come to
 this in time. when the men who pur-
 vey our real necessities of life will he political partisans imbued with the spirit of political success, rather than with the desire to cultivate and secure the good will of their patrons
 IL is proper that the bent of an empire or monarchy should be pater- nal. because. as a sentiment at least. everything and all avenues of pro- gress- start from a common center at the head of the government Pa ternalism. however. is neither desir- able nor possible in a republican form Of government. where the off 'cial from the President downward in the scale are chosen for brief time as executives of public will. and with an opportunity too limited toi admit Of permanently fixing the stamp of individual ideas on public affairs.
 Tine best service is rendered when there is hope of reward, and the ] best commodity produced where there i is hope Of profit. Where reward and i profit are lacking. service and com 1 nOdity depreciate in value. The re- wards of political life are dubious ! and ephemeral. and the profits are i not forthcoming by honest ways. All f these things so to make municipal ownership of public utilities an undc- sirable end. The losses due to ex- and misdirected efforts of | bodies will represent enor- nous dividends on properly applied capital. and when it Is considered 1, that any municipal work can be built and operated at less cost by private corporations, it is marvel now intelligent people can be hood vinked into the support Of the popu- ar and irresponsible clamor for thei ,onduct of public utilities by mu- licipal ownership.
 A case in point on one of the inn ,ediments to ar award of municipal contracts Is worth consideration. In f' city contract involving nearly eight hundred thousand dollars worth of york and materials, the lowest bidder. thoroughly responsible party, was omewhat ambiguous in stating his T
Arizona republican., 1910-02-20

experience becomes a valuable work. I lsfr a<ssstf or the corporation. which can not readily be replaced on shor notice. No such conditions prevai 1 in public affairs. because the man al
 the top ifs himself q creature of q
 chance CT. capriee. ,and his tenure i. ! subject tn the -whims or the people who elevated him to office. He car
 nor gnarantee a term to his subordi Enates, because Of political expediency Eznd his own. uncertain base. and tn. Fidelity of service which comes from respect for vested authority. and the
 skill and command Of his superior can rarely be inspired in employees on municipal work.
 s Lesses in Making Contracts. I In making of contracts and pur-
 chase of supplies for public utilities
 the private corporations have de- cided advantage The usual restric- 5 tions. hindrancee. drcumlocution and { indirectness of methods forced by
 law and ordinances in public con-
 tracts and purchases or materials are swept aside in private enterprises. and the. object, whatever it is. is sought by. direct methods guided by intelligence of purpose
 Contracts for. public works are so
 hampered by ''safesuards' and By restrictions. that an experienced and lconseientious contractor is bound to protect his. interests by demanding prices above those he would ask for
 the same kind Of work from indivia- uals and private corporations. F.
 The exercise Of judgment and sense
 or fair dea1inS which prevails be- tween men Of honor and mental abiI-
 fly. can. notfpreyail with the municipal officers and the contractor. The mu-
 niclpal contract is an inflexlble in- strnnent, open to only one constrnc-
 ton, and that the. construction put upon 1t by the officer himself.
 Contracts made by private corpora tions go direct to the three mate rial points: l. Kind and quality of work :. Time of performance. ,. Price and terms Of payment
 Contracts with private corporations are treated. as they should be. as commercial transactions, subject to their laws and customs. and free from the taint of political or any sin ister. influence. Differences between , the bnyer and seller on quality and price of work are quickly and fairly compromised, and as a rule work on the private contract is in progress i before the municipal contract has its travels around the of ] fees which by law are required to | in its execution. The red tape connected with the letting and l award Of public contracts involves i delay and expense which the bidder is bound to consider in making his price for the work.
 Private inspection and measure nent of work is usually exact. with ,ut being captious. and the delay due 0 the list of officials who must be 'een. before difficulties can be met ind overcome in public work are not in private work. because iome one in whom his employers have confidence is- vested with authority o act, and his acts are by law the Icts Of his principals. In public af-.i airs it is often matter for the ourts to decide as to who really has he authority to resolve disputed
Arizona republican., 1910-02-20

l than the service and rates of a mu. nlcipal corporation which attempts
 to perform the same work or furnish
 the same commodity
 If faults are found in the service or charges of private corporations ] the cause should be looked for In the i ordinances or laws granting the | franchises. rather. than in the man.
 ageIpent or operation of the private
 corporation. The 'city of Philadelphia for years
 owned and operated a municipal gas lworks. which eventually became an asylum for broken down political heelers, and for some who Were not broken down. The evils Of municipal
 control shown in the poor. quality of gas. indifferent and sioyenly ser vice. high prices. and large annual losses i'm the operation of the works. became so great that many of the people Of this truly good t?l town. prayed. that some one might be per f mitted to take the city gas works from municipal control. even if they
 had tn steal 1t. and thus get rid of an Incubus which political inef- EfIeieney and greed had fastened upon them. =
 in course or time. the gas works
 were leased to a great and powerful ceinpany; which shortly overcame the difficulties formerly surrounding the municipal gas works. and gave to the people better service at lower prices.
 in addition to making an annual pay
 nent to the municipal sinking fund of several hundred thousand dollars. in
 creasing ffoiu year to- year. which
 was used to extinguish the over -wheimIng debt created by municipal control of the institution.
 ;. A. certain city In the United States was about to-constrnct large and nee
 essary Improvements in its water works, after plans and estimates had
 been prepared by engineers not under
 municipal control. A syndicate of capitalists agreed to construct the, works within the estimate of.- cost and time. It was found however. that the. law would not permit of the construction in this way and that the works must. be carried out under the management of the municipality. with the natural result that the cost has been exceeded by nearly 70 per cent. and the time exceeded by loo per cent with the works unfinished today. The parties who proposed to perform the work were men who had driven railroads. over mountains. ] across broad. rivers and through the trackless wilderness, who know the ex- act value of materials and labor. and 1 how to obtain the best results at the 1 lowest prices. and could not afford | to tolerate extravagance or delay. be- 1 cause their profit depended upon luickness of action and certainty of 
 Extortion by private corporations should not be tolerated, and reason able appeal to the courts can be ! relied upon to prevent or remedy 1, .his Public utilities under private 1 control should be allowed an income l which will represent reasonable i profit on just capitalization and hon sst and efficient management. and ! nore than thls cannot be obtained. f the people are alive to their in-
 erests. It is always possible to .ompel satisfactory service at reason IbIe prices from private interests and
Arizona republican., 1910-02-20


 Reprinted from The World Today. ''
 All the arguments that can be
 made for municipal ownership and operation Of public utilities can be made against it. with the additional argument that the very highest meas ure Of success In business manage ment has been attained in private or quasi-public enterprises; and this will always be so. SD long ss we live under q form of government subject to frequent elections. spasnodic re- forms and the lifting Into office of many men. often unified to conduct with Success- the eommonest affairs Of life. Municipal ownership means the conduct Of public utilities by men whose chief and sometimes only claim To consideration Is the fact that they received more votes than their op- ponents at the last election.
 Unless all men are capable of man. aging public utilities, municipal own ership and operation in principle is bound to be failure because any man by the votes of his friends may be suddenly thrust into an office which win require him to assume the man. asement of enterprises calling for technical skill and experience, and herein lies the danger to public inter- ests because the staff can not he any better than its head. and under the >witherings and degrading influ
 ence Of partisan politics is often worse than the head.
 Political appointments are tn he condemned. because they ARE politi- cal appointments and not because of inherent objections to the man appoint
 ed. for no matter how great his tai ents. or how evident his fitness for the work assigned, the knowledge that his appointment is due to po- litical influence rather than to recog- milton Of merit. will clog his efforts and weaken bis ambition, and the { constant feeling of insecurity connect ed with public office will chin his [ ardor and shorten his reach. s-,'~-
 civii servies oees Not Work. An public utilities begin with plans 1 and construetion/work. and here arises | the first economy. in favor of pri- ! vate ownership. In organizing the staff to design and build. merit and alone are considered, po- litical considerations do not enter and each man is selected and each move made to secure the largest, quickest and safest return for the money expended. In private enter prises. promises for efficient service ran be made and the incentive to Ictive and successful, effort can he Civil service rules which. lre often bar to high achievement ; md practical ability in municipal en- L' erprises. seldom find place in. private york competent official is recog- ! lized and rewarded even though his { ,newledge of Greek and grammar is !
Arizona republican., 1910-02-20

no one appreciating the value of his property can afford to antagonize the people upon whose good will and patronage his success depends.--Advt,
 dS
Arizona republican., 1910-02-20

prices on certain items. and |,
 guard against error he was aske, to explain the intended scope of thu doubtful prices written in his pro posal which was satisfactory. to writ ing his proposal was accepted.
 | A disappointed competitor praye, for an order Of court restraining th' director. of public works from exc cuting the contract because of ir' 1 regularity in making the award The prayer was granted and the al
 rector ordered to reject all bids ant i readvettise the contrdet. causing sev.
 erai weeks delay. during which in. I terval oi time prices of nateriaii were advanced and the cost of thu
 work Accordingly increased. ! The court in this case held thal ! the director had no right, prieI : to award of contracts. to-. confer : with the lowest and apparently best {, bidder upon the contests of his pro- posal. as to the amounf of labor and material embraced. in the price 1 of one or two of the many items: that ! it. gave the bidder an unfair advRn-
 tage over his competitors. notwith- standing under the law and GUS toms of the department he was the lowest and best bidder The court held that tte award or .. public con | tract was not subject to the business and dommon- sense Judgment of the director, but Was 2 simple problem os arithmetic which could be solved by nny clerk ir the directors office. The opinion of the court cost. the city many thousands of dollars and weeks of delay. and was thought by the director and his advisers to be unsound in law and logic But it was the opinion Of court. ard as such had to he respected s
 Favers Arbitration and Regulation. !. So such ,foolishness could arise in disposing of la- list of tenders or, a private contract for only such people would be invited to bid as could certainly comply with the requirements of the contract. Personal interests would have no weight in making the awarLs Quality of s~ork. guarantees. and time of performance and price alone. would be considered. and no reasonable ground would be afforded ici Souipisiint son tHe part or the ulS- appointed bidders. The. buyer would seek the best. article at the lowest price. unrestricted by the usual mu- nicipal conditions calculated to ham, per his decision and thwart his judgment Ee The faults of municipal contracts are not due so much to misman- agement as,ro the multitude of condi- tions to be met before contract can be made. and the troublesome re- strictions placed upon it's performance after it is made.
 It. cannot be gainsaids that the pri- rate corporation can buy the same thing at a better ,pfics and upon bet Ter terms. and can adjust disputed points of performances more quickly md satisfactorily than can munich | pal corporation. The parties can go l 1t once to the gist of the difficulties md adjust them according to the | judgment of intelligent and experienc- | ,d arbitrators.
 While. private corporations are or Ianized and operated for profit. and llways have profit in view the ser f ice rendered should be better and | ates. charged be more reasonable
Arizona republican., 1910-02-20

| n1ent of the members Of the work
 ing staff to the positions of great
 est usefulness is sure and easy un- ! der private management
 1 The writer at ones time had.uc.
 oaslon to. seek the services of couI-
 petent traHsitnan in tunnel work:
 several candidates were highly rec
 commended for the place by the city Clyll Service Commission, who, when {, put 10 work. succeeded Indifferently well, Finally man of large practical iexperience in coal mine surveying. ! but with poor record from ff1e ciyIl service examination. was em- pioyed for the duty. with, marvellous results in the speed and accuracy of his work. This man had grown
 up in the coal mines, had learned
 to handle transit and level as for ester learns to handle an axe. with only the rudiments of trigonometry at command and wholly unable to ef-
 plain on paper the usual adjustments of field instruments. but he was as sure of his work underground as if tit was second natute. He made good. notwithstanding his failure to
 show satisfactory record on civil service examination, but 1t was only by violating the civil service rules
 with regard to appointments in the city service that his talents became
 available. In q private enterprise
 hls record of past experience and
 Recommendations would have se-
 cured q place for him.
 
 Politicians Must ss Catered To.
 Freedom of action in choosing ones assistants seldom prevails in the con
 duct of municipal bureaus. Eminent talents are rarely known and seldom sought for among the employees Of. municipalities. because the term of office is short or uncertain and the encouragement to lofty and persistent effort correspondingly lacking.
 Tn organizing q municipal staff the first consideration is political service and availability for future political ends A ward captain will nsually rank higher in the estimation Of ap- pointing power than an experienced mechanic engineer. clerk or account ant, and utility and fitness for the task assigned is a secondary, con and too frequently not d at all Under such con ditioiis public service is perfume, tory. dilatory and inefficient. the cost 1 of service is enhanced. and the coni- | fort and convenience of the public i'm l paired. G [ s- rss-s |
 This Is not necessarily due to in herent defects or incompeteHcy in the individual appointee. but to. a pernicious feature of American nu- nicipal government, which makes merit and fitness for service take second place to influence and patron. sge Under such conditions any Pari ,f public service which depends lpon manual labor or human skill niist be obtained at an yinereascd :ost over the. same service from. a ysteim which knows neitbe--s"flu- 'uce nor patronage. and which mar hais it's employees according to merit md fitness for the duty assigned. ,'
 In organizing working staff for,
 private corporation. the fewest men { consistent with the work to be per- ormed. are selected, and effort is al- : rays made to bind them by feelings 1 f self interest to the enterprise. and ( etain them indefinitely, because their {
Arizona republican., 1910-02-20
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
 0f PUBLIC UTILITIES

By John.W. Hill. formerly chief en- sineer (lnnniclpaD waterSorks: mem ber American Society Of Civil Epgin- eers etc.
Arizona republican., 1910-02-20

Reprinted from "The World Today