davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
A PLEASANT. SURPRISE.
Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In your esteemed paper of Tuesday
last you said editorially: IF kerosene oil
of good quality can be sold in North caro-
line for IL cents gallon, at handsome
profit we must wish that Old North State
conditions prevailed here"
Would it be too much to ask you to pub
Iish the fact that, without the preliminary
of rubbing your oil lamp in the manner OF
Aladdin you have your wish? At the pres
ent time of writing the Standard Oil Com
pany's tank wagon delivery price in New
York City for water white oil, l50 degrees
test is 6 cents a gallon.
In the petroleum business low prices are
reached for the company's products that
seem incredible even to aStute editorial
minds CHARLES 7. WHITE,
Assistant Secretary, Standard on COM
pany CNew jersey.
New York, Dec. 90, 1910.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
NEW JERSEY UNDERSTANDING.

The Hon. Robert Davis, of Hudson
County \. J.. is frank and outspohen,
as is his wont, in confirming The Ir1-
bunes account of the manner in which
the late Democratic campaign in that
state was organized and conducted. We
said that Mr.. Davis, Mr.. Smith and the
other leaders of the party organization
had selected DR.. Wilson for their can
didate for Governor with the hope and
expectation that his popularity would
sweep into Office d Democratic majority
in the Legislature which would return
Mr.. Smith TO the United States Senate,
and suggested that the latter attainment
might to some persons seem more inn
portant and desirable than even the
election of DR.. Wilson as Governor. The
plan worked. and both DR.. Wilson and
n Democratic Legislature We're elected.
And now Mr. Davis amply confirms our
view of the case by declaring that away
hack. early last summer, he promised to
su,,port Mr.. Smith for the senatorship.
which. TO the cogn0scenfi OF Hudson
County politics, meant that he would see
If that the tuuiils %h''SAi
blymen voted for Mr.. Smith.
Two additional points are now sug-
gested by Mr.. Davis's plain talk At
the time when that compact was made
between Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Smith the
law nroviding for the indication of the
nonular choice for Senator at the pri-
y,aries was on the statute book. 1t was
known that certain Democratic candl-
dates would have their names placed On
the tickets in order to seek popular sup
port. 1t WAS do~btless known by Mr.
Smith. and probably also by his friend
Mr.. Davis. that Mr. Smith would not
uermit his name TO be thus used. SO
here was practically an understanding
that the law was to be ignored and
that n candidate who WAS unwilling TO
let his candidacy be passed upon by the
neonIe was TO he elected if possible by
the methods of the machine. 1t was i'll
effect a compact in advance to nullIfy
the party will as it might be expressed
at the primaries. In connection with
that If is TO be observed that there was
q particularly full primary vote i'll
Hudson County. and tnat III s!plte Oh
aIr. Daviss strenuous efforts i'll line
with his promise to Mr.. Smith large
majority OF the Democratic voters e1-
pressed their preference for another man
than AIr Smith for Senator.
The other point is equally interesting.
II has been stated that DIR. Wilson WAS
not a party to this understanding. but
that. Oh the contrary. he consented 10
become a candidate for the governor
ship only on the condition that Mr..
Smith should not be reelected 10 the
Senate Indeed, ii has been said that
Mr.. Dayis's chief lieutenants and
trusted friends. who might be regarded
az his personal representatives and en-
voys. gave that assurance TO DIR. Wilson
or to his friends, and that Mr.. Smiths
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
FEWER NEW LAWS.

OF the making of new laws there has
seemed TO be no end in recent years.
Governor-elect Dix. therefore, sounded
q popular note when in his speech at
Montreal he promised TO reduce the num-
Der If he could. 'The people OF New
York this year elected business man
Governor" he said; heretofore they
''lave had lawyers. and too much atten-
''tion has been given to new legislation.
This year and next. so far as / can con-
''troi the situation, there will be fewer
s'new laws and all th~se now Oh the
books will be enforced"
We assume this to be a pledge 10 keep
down the number of laws. and no ques-
fion can exist as 10 the desira bility Of
its being carried out. The question IS
as 10 the possibility. II is to he feared
that Mr.. Dix may find himself little
puzzled when he faces the legislative
erist as he has confessed he is likely
10 be when beginning to reduce ''Repub-
lican extravaganza" The last legislative
session produced 705 new chapters Of
the laws OF New York State. out Of
1895 bills introduced. IL wasn't a very
good year for laws, either. I'm fact, it
hasn't been for four years, because Gov
ernor Hughes used every effort TO keep
down the number He won the i'll will
of more than one legislator who had
worked hard for some cherished local
measure by vefoing it and pointing out
that its purpose could be accomplished
under existing general statutes or
should he expressed ia the form of q
general statute 10 cover all cases of the
sort
laws is chargeabie 10 the lawyers them
selves. Scarcely a day of the Legislative
session passes without the Introduction
OF a few lawyers bills making
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
,PESS AND THE HOLIDAYS.

CONGRESS- AND THE HOLIDAYS.
Now that greater efficiency is getting
TO be a watchword. or catchword. III the
worlds of business and politics. why
doesn't Congress try TO put itself in
better condition to do its regular work
by abolishing the useless holiday recess
The two houses adjourned on December
81. TO meet again on January ), 1911,
thus taking fourteen days out of short
session which by law can last only nine
ty days ali told.
The holiday recess of Congress is a
survival of times when the volume OF
legislative business was small and there
WAS little necessity for ass1duous ana
constant attention to it, The earlier
Congresses spent more time on poiltlcai
discussion than Oh routine Legislation
But the ordinary appropriation pllls OF
one session now require greater labor to
prepare and pass and involve larger
expenditures than did the appropriation
bills of half a dozen sessions two genef-
ations ago The cbairmen OF the Appfo-
priations committees of the House ana
Senate have repeatedly testified that
there is not enough time at the short
session to put the money bills in proper
shane and that much vicious legislation
slips through in the hurry and confu-
sion of the last week of all expiring
Congress. The second session ought 10
be extended by constitutional amend
ment TO April 80. But so long as Con-
cress refuses to sanction that sensible
change in our political calendar it
should be willing to make the most u
fbe present time allowance for the short
session. instead of devoting nearly one
sixth of it to holiday rest.
Congress takes much longer vacations
than any other department of the govern
ment. 1t is in recess about twelve months
out of every twenty-four. Vacations
for the higher officers of the executive
department are largely nominal, includ-
ing in theory one or two OF the sum
mer months The higher courts take
summer recesses which do not exclude
incidental work Congress alone matches
every working day with another day OF
rest. vet it is also the only department
of the government which shuts down at
the Christmas season for two weeks
Formerly Senators and Representatives
were s,lnposed to go home for Christmas.
As q matter Of fact, large majority
OF them now remain in Washington
Most Of those who do go home could
lust as easily make that visit if the two
houses should adjourn before Christmas
and assemble again before New Year s;
Day. In view of the great pressure OF
work at the short session a recess of
fourteen days seems TO he declded
misapplication of valuable time and
hindrance TO greater efficiency in the
discharge Of public duty.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
THE NEWS THIS MORNfNG.

FOREIGN--Witnesse in the trial at
Tours, France, of Count and Count
ess" d'Aulby de Gatigny, charged with
. sEindling the Duchess de CboiSeul-Pras-
lin, formerly Mrs. Paine. of Boston. testi-
fed that the accused persons were the in
carnaticn of honesty and charity. -
The Spanish Chamber of Deputies passed
the paddock bilf' by vote Of 10S to
20; the measure prohibits the creation
of further religious orders for two years.
A cable dispatch from Lisbon
stated that the plan of government for
the Portuguese republic was based upon
the systems of the United States and
France At the opening Of the
japanese Diet. in Toxic. the Emperor
emphasized the necessity for the main
tenance of peace in the Far East
Ramon Barros Luce was inaugurated
President of Chill before a great con-
course. - The Pope received the car
dinals at the Vatican, in Rome: they
presented their Christmas greetings
DOMESTIC.-The Navy Department
at Washington detailed Lieutenant The
odore q. EllySon to take course in
practical flying under Glenn Curtis.
= 1t was reported at New Orleans
that coincident with the sailing of the
former gunboat Hornet presumably for
Honduras. Manuel Bonilla General Lee
Christmas and other former revolution
ISIS disappeared from the city -
The number of dead in the Chicago
packing house fire was placed at TWEEN
tH-four; start was made in collecting
S250,o0D relief fund. A foreigner
who said he was John Carnego surren-
dered in Philadelphia. saying he set the
fatal leather plant fire: the police said
they did not believe him. == The Ma
tional Red Cross sent 5000 for famine
sufferers TO China. - Broome County.
N. V, voted in favor of establishing a
tuberculosis hospital - A robber
held UP the West Shore ticket agent at
Highland. N. Y. and secured S113.
CITY-Stocks were dull and firm.
- An anonymous gift of s1,300,000 to
the Presbyterian Hospital made possible
q working alliance with the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia
University. More trains in non
rush hours and the running of all local
trains 10 Dyc5STnan street were ordered
in the subway by the Public Service
Commission. - The Stock Exchange
celebrated Christmas with high jinks and
distribution of gifts by Santa Claus.
- Controller Prendergast practically
abolished three bureaus Of the Finance
o Department in his scheme of reorganiza-
ton. A student from Bogota was
killed by gas i'm his room in a hotel.
- A state school to teach fire fighting
as a reform measure was suggested to
the legislative investigating committee.
The State Charities Aid AsSocia-
ton held q public meeting to open the
campaign for the prevention of insanity.
THE WEATHER.-Indicatio for to-
day: Rain or snow. The temperature
YESTERDAY: Highest A degrees: low
est y.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
CUTTING RED TAPE.

Government red tape is harder to cut
than Harveyized steel wire. That things
have been done in certain way for Il
generation or two is considered an un-
assailable warrant for continuing to do
them in that way, although altered con-
ditions have entirely removed the orig
inal reason for the practice. Secretary
MacNeagh is now trying to get rid Of
the antiquated law which compels the
Treasury Department to demand coin
or coin certificates for customs duties,
internal revenue and other federal taxes
There may have been a good reason
forty-eighf years ago for insisting that
customs dues should be paid in coin,
there being at that time no coin certifi-
Gates. During the War Of the Rebellion
the government needed gold to pay the
interest OH its bonded debt and was glad
to have one source of revenue which
could be employed without shrinkage for
such a purpose But since the resunp-
tiOn of specie payments all the forms of
Treasury currency have been at par
with one another, and it could make no
practical difference in what way duties
were turned in at the custom houses
Yet the government still insists on coin
or certificates representing coin, and will
not take certified checks, thus incon-
veniencing these who have To make the
payments and burdening itself with the
extra labor of handling large quantities
of specie and currency.
Merchants in this city will be glad to
know that Secretary MacVeagh has rec
commended the passage Of q law permit
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
AN AUTOMATIC DIRECTORY.
Consular Report from London.

OUfISUIdT INtpUTl ITOIu LUfluOH.
Quite new idea in automatic publicity
has been conceived. By this device free in
formation is available to the public in OBJ
tanning instantly the names and addresses
of business houses, shops, hotels etc IL
consists of large case, having a circular
aiphabet set of disks. BY pressing the
disk Il. for instance. and keeping 1t pressed
down. large sheet tunder giass) rolls up
before the inquirer, containing the names
and addresses of firms whose business
would be classified under that letter such
as butchers, bakers, boarding houses. etc.
This service is free to the public the cost
and profit being derived from a small an
nuai fee Isl 30 charged to firms desirous of
having their names thus placed at the pub
lie convenience For the sum named the in
formation is contained in twenty machines.
1t is proposed to inaugurate the idea IN
every city and town in the United King
dom. the machines being placed In proni-
nent public places.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
PRAY FOR MoRsE's PARDON
Prominent Citizens of Bath, Me-, Send
Dispatch to President.

Bath, Me-, Dec. 23-A telegram to
President Taft asking for the pardon of
Charles w Morse, who is confined in the
federal prison at Atlanta, and signed by
Mayor John S. Hyde and six former may
ors, two members-elect of the Maine Leg
islature and two former state Senator'S.
was sent to Washington this afternoon.
1t read as follows:
''All the citizens of this. his home city,
are praying for the pardon of c. w Morse.
Good news at this present season would
cause great rejoicing"
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
From The Tribune Bureau.l

From me lTlbuHc buAo"N'J
washington, Dec. 23.-Major General ana
Mrs Greely entertained company OF
sixty Young people at a dance tonight IN
honor of Miss Helen Taft, who. with Rob
ert Taft and company of ten, was en-
tertained at dinner preceding the affair.
Adolphus w Greely. jr.. a student at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
ioined his parents to-day and brought with
him as holiday guests two OF his schools
mstes-Stephen Crawford, OF Philadelphia,
and Bruce Brownly. of Boston.
Two hundred and fifty guests attended
the first large hop given at Fort Myer
this season. Christmas decorations oo-
tanned and the 18th Cavalry band furnished
the music Mrs. Leonard Wood and Mrs
Joseph Garrard received the visitors, as
sisted by Mrs. Foltz and Mrs Whitesde
and CAPTAINS Barnhardt, Bailey, Newb1n
and Lindsay.
Major General and Mrs. Wood. Colonel
and Mrs. Joseph Garrard. Captain and Mrs
Barnhardt and Mrs. Whiteside were among
those entertaining dinner parties at Fort
Myer preceding the hop.
Bishop and Mrs Mackay-Smith were the
guests for whom their son-in-law and
daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles l.. Mar
latt. entertained twenty guests at dinner
tonight
The Chief Justice and Mrs. White will en-
tertain a dinner company in honor of the
Bishop and Mrs. Mackay-Smith, Decem-
ber q.
Mr.. and Mrs. Philip H Mcmillan are the
guests Of Mrs. Nicholas Anderson for the
holidays.
Mr.. and Mrs. Beekman Winthrop have
gone to New York to remain until Tues
day. Mrs Winthrop entertained at luncheon
to-day before departing Mrs. Charles T.
Hutchins, Mrs. Edward Qualtrough, Mrs.
Walter Mclean, Mrs A. f. F'echteier. Mrs
Charles c. Marsh. Mrs. r. c. Bulmer and
Mrs. Walter r.. Gherardi
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
AUTO ACCIDENTS IN GERMANY.
From a Consular Report

From Consular Report.
Interesting statistics have just been given
out relative to the Increase in the number
of automobiles in Germany The total
number of machines in Germany per canita
Is far behind that in the United States
there being. for example, about one-naif
as many automobiles in Germany with n
population of over sixty million, as there
are in the state of New York. What Is
known in America as the high power car.
Is not popular here: there We're only i27
cars over 10 horsepower I'm Germany in
Accidents are relatively less frequent each
year. although the traffic is greater This
Is cited as proof that the stability and
RELIABILITY or the present day machines are
OF high order In January 1908 there
were Sbo22 licensed automobiles and for the
year ended the previous September there
We're -,al9 accidents 6.12 per cent? and IN,
deaths coz per cent?. January 1910 10 etj
autolopies were licensed. and for the wear
ended me previous september there were
deaths 0.SS per cent?. ~
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
THE CABINET.
rEro,, The Tribune Bureau.


rr.sbineton Dec. 23-The Secretary OF
state and Mrs. Knox will leave here to-
morrow to spend the holidays at their es-
tate at Valley Forge
The Secretary of the Navy ana MIS-
Never will have as guests for the christ
mas holidays Miss Elise Ames, daughter OK
Mr.. and Mrs Oliver Ames; MISS Lillian
Sears. Mr. Cutler, Mr.. Jaques ana Mr.
Harding. of Boston, and Mr. cutting anu
Mr. BealI, of New York. Secretary meyer
and his son, George Won L. Meyer, 1r' VIII
return to washington the first OF the week
from a few days outing in the South' anu
he and Mrs. Meyer will entertain iaIse
dinner party on Tuesday and on lhursuaS
they will give dance
T M. Dickinson, jr.. has arrived from Yale
to snend the Christmas holidays with his
narents the Secretary of War and Mrs
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
GERMAN DRIFT TO CITIES.
Berlin dispatch to The Chicago News.

Berlin dispatch to The Chicago News
Remarkable evidence of the rapidity with
which Germany is being transformed from
an agricultural into an industrial country is
furnished by the new census estimates.
The figures show that the cities of the EN-
pre are making great strides at the ex-
pense of the rural districts. In 1900 the EN-
pire had thirty-three municipalities with a
population of 100000 or more each. There
are now forty-seven such cities, and the
number of towns with a population of 500.
900 more has grown from two to seven
The combined growth in population of
forty of the larger towns Is alone about
half the increase recorded for the entire
empire, which is expected to be about A.
800 900. The rapid progress of the industrial
centres has an important bearing on the in
ternal situation. as the governments po-
Iitical support has heretofore been largely
drawn from the agrarian districts
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
CHILI'S NEW PRESIDENT
Ramon Barros Luce Inaugurated as
Chief Executive Of Republic.

Santiago, Chill, Dec. 23.-Ramon Barros
Luce was inaugurated President of Chill
to-day with the usual ceremonies and be-
fore Il great concourse. Argentina sent a
delegation of diplomats and military and
naval officers.
President Luce was elected on October Is
to succeed President Montt. who died in
Europe on August 16. Following the death
of Sehor Montt Vice-President Albano as
sumed the duties of Chief Executive He
died on September 6. Since then the Min
lister Of Justice, Senior Fisueroa, had been
Acting President.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
JAPAN FOR PEACE
Emperor Speech to Diet Emphasizes
Its Necessity in Far East.

Toxic, Dec 23-The Diet was opened to-
day. The Emperor, being indispossd. was
not present, and the speech from the
throne was read by Marquis Katsura. ths
Premier and Minister of Finance.
Referring to the annexation Of Corea
and the convention with Russia. the throne
emphasizes the necessity for the mainten-
ance of peace in the Far East The
houses. after voting replies, adjourned 70
January 20
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
A NARROW ESCAPE.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: While on the subject OF nat pms
permit me to call attention to announcer en-
ample of careless as well as danselo"s
handling of this weapon. Last SatuiuaS
night, while attending the theatre IN NC"
York 1 saw a hat pin thrust thfousn 'he
back of an orchestra chair ana in.o
eentIemans back, causing MIN hot oiii'
O. sudden start but considerapie aiee'
trouble. timely warning may save
like occurrence.
A RELATIVE OF THE SUFFERER
Asbury Park, Dec. q. 1910.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
RHODES SCHOLAR CHOSEN.

Concord, y. H.. Dec 2S--The Rhodes
Scholarship Commission for New Hamp-
shire to-day selected Maurice c. Blake. OF
Brookline. Mass, as the Rhodes scholar
at Oxford from New Hampshire. B1ass
was graduated from Dartmouth College u
the class of 1910 and is teaching in the
Thatcher School. in Nordhofr. Cal
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
NEW YORK SOCIETY.

Mrs. Edward d. Adams gave a dance
last night at Sherry's for her daughter,
Miss Ruth Adams, who made her debut a
year ago. A seated supper took place at
midnight, after which there was more
dancing, during the course of which num-
ber of Christmas trifes were distributed
among the guests, including Louis Seize
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
A MARRIED MAN WROTE THIS.

From The Rochester Democrat and Chroni-
Gle.
One woman's college has added a course
in making over hatS-anOther accomplish
ment that will be dropped and forgotten
when the college girl marries and has
home of her own.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
sToRK VISITS PRINCESS LOUISE.

Madrid, Dec. GA daughter was born TO-
day to the Princess Louise, wife OF Prince
Charles of Bourbon-SiciIes- Princess Louise
of Bourbon-Orleans, daughter OF the
Countess of Paris. was born at Cannes 0n
February a. 1852. and married Prince
Charles at woodnorton. England. NOvern-
ha,- 7S
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
NIAGARA ICE BRIDGES.
From The Niagara Falls Gazette.

From The Niagara + ais Gazette
The first ice bridge of the winter has
formed in the Niagara gorge 1t comes
at an unusually early period and so far
as existent records show is the earliest ice
formation of the kind in the last quarter
century. The Niagara ice bridges to-day
are not the great, formidable jams of ante
tunnel days, because of the wash of the
tunnel flow, which keeps the river open at
the point where the bridge was won't to be
strongest The tunnel stream has a ten
dency to create ice jams above it. but they
are weaker and shorter lived now
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FOR POPE

Rome. Dec. 2.-The Pope received the
cardinals. who presented their Christmas
greetings to-day. In conversation the
pcntif expressed satisfaction that the
question of the first communion in France
had been settled happily He announced
that the new year probably would see the
first volume of the new codification of the
canon law as being prepared by Cardinal
GaSparri.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
Nem-laors Gribn;ae.
SATURDAY. DECEMBER p. 1910.

This neicspaper- as oached ana pHb-
Hshed on The Tribune Association, q
cipal place of business, Tribune Build
ing No. i54 Nassau street, AeiG York !;
ogden MiIts. president: Ogden H. Reid,
secretary; James II. Barrett. treasurer.
Tie address Of the officers is the office
Of this newspaper.
New-York tribune., 1910-12-24
STILL "A LOCAL ISSUE"

From The Pittsburg Dispatch.
The newly elected Senator from Louisi-
ana is pledged to protection to the states
Industries. And yet some of the Demo-
Gratis at Washington are talking about a
tariff for revenue only.