davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1911-04-22
CHEAPER GAS PROMISED FOR
WASHINGTON.

Announcement is made today by the
Washington Gas Monopoly that the
price OF gas in Georgetown is to be re-
duced from 81 to s5 cents OH or before
July l. Previously it had been an
nounced the price in Washington
would be reduced from S5 to so cents
on January |.
Coupled with today's announcement
is the statement that new plant, to
cost 100000, is to be installed by the
Georgetown company, and that it is
ultimately to-supply gas for the whole
District and adjacent suburbs. If the
companies themselves are not merged,
their business will be.
Georgetown has been entitled to
cheaper gas for several years and has
recently been making such vigorous de-
mands for it that its rights have at
last been recognized. The companies
are controlled by the same interests,
which, in fact, hold monopoly of the
gas business in this community. In
making the price uniform throughout
the District-which is declared to be
the monopoly's Observation-Disclosures
gas is merely effecting a tardy arrival
at position it should have assumed
long ago.
The Washington public is not vital
ly concerned over the interior trade
relations between the Washington Gas
Light Company and the Georgetown Gas
Light Company. II doesn't care whether
the gas comes from two companies or
from one company, nor whether it
comes from one plant or a half dozen
plants. But the Washington public is
vitally interested in the price of gas.
1t will welcome the reduction to so
cents in Washington, and to So cents
in Georgetown. 1t will give more en-
thusiastic welcome when other reduc-
tions are made and will be satisfied
only when the price of gas in Washing
ton is put on a parity with the price
of gas in other cities comparable with
this.
There is no reason why Washington
should not have gas as cheap as any
city in the country. There is every
reason why it should.
The Washington times., 1911-04-22
ENGLISH SPARROW FINDS
ANOTHER ABLE CHAMPION

To the Editor of THE TINES: .,
space to saw few words in defense of
the much maligned and not half ap-
preciated sparrow? Those who lived In
Washington before the Introduction of
the sparrow surely have not forgotten
the caterpillar nuisance of those days.
when you could not walk along the
streets without having the ugly, woody
things dangling in your face, promenad-
ing over your clothes, getting down
your shirt collar, even invading your
homes. Most of the trees were denuded
of leaves before midsummer. l have
seen them denuded of leaves so early
that many took on a new crop of leaves
and blossoms before fall. Where, then
were the so much lamented song birds
that the sparrows are accused of hav-
ing driven away? There are, in fact,
nearly as many of them now as there
of this caterpillar nuisance that induced
General Babcock, who was then in
charge Of the public buildings and
grounds, to Introduce the English sDar-
row in Washington, and as soon as they
had become established here the cater
mum, and has been kept SO ever since
There are exceptional years, like last
summer, when caterpilars seem cpl
demic, and they become too numerous
for the sparrows to keep down, but they
are exceptional years.
All the talk of the sparrow driving
away the other birds is not borne out
by the facts. The pugnacious robin, the
blackbird, the cardinal, and others are
abundantly able to hold their own
against the sparrow. 1t is not the SPAR
row that drives them away, but the
The Washington times., 1911-04-22

then repeating the dose when an extra
session is called?
AS the fearless exponent OF right and
decenCy and the champion of all that is
good, ] hope The Times will make 1t
clear to Congress that economy at the
other fellows expense is one-sided, and
that members themselves should con-
tribute something as a sacrifice to a
principle that we all stand for and a
practice that all fair men indorse. Let's
he economical all the way down the
line, and then fair to those who deserve
to be helped.
A Congressman has $500 salary, 8, ,5G0
secretary allowance payable to him.
self. 20 cents a mile travel allowance,
and SIS for stationery, averaging df he
employees a secretary, about $500
year When Congress Is convened in
special session, as now, he votes himself
an extra travel and stationery allow
ance.
The department clerk averages about
81, 100 year. AS a class, they are faith
ful and deserving OF better pay. The
country would applaud Congress for
giving chem mere. If the total items of
$l0O,000 for mileage and So, 900 for station
cry. which Congressman vote to them
selves in fragrant abuse of their power
and of, decency and right, were appro-
priated to increasing clerks salaries,
the Treasury would never feel the strain
of liberal salary advance in every de-
partment of the Government.
Respectfully.
JAY c. JOHNSON.
The Washington times., 1911-04-22
CIVIL SERVICE INQUIRY
SEEMS ASSURED.

Chairman Goodwin, of the House Com
mittee on Reform in the Civil Service,
has taken hold of the Governments
civil service problem vigorously and
gives every indication of a determine
tion to line up the Democrats behind
an honest effort to solve il. The an
nouBcement of his plans in last even
ing's Times has the true ring; it can
hardly fail to appeal to the House ma
jority and to bring from that body
the action necessary to launch Mr..
Goodwin and his committee in their
proposed investigation.
The Democratic party, now in control
of the lower branch of Congress, can
not escape responsibility for the un-
economical ana inefficient condition of
the civil service if that condition is
permitted to continue. 1t must be
fearlessly faced. The House, through
Mr.. Godwin's committee, must find
out what's the matter with the civil
service. and must do all in its power
to apply the remedy. Economy and
efficiency are impossible as long as the
service is encumbered with superan-
nuated employees and as long as it is
impossible for younger employees to
gain the promotion and increased COM
pensation which their services justify.
Real reform of the civil service must
be the foundation upon which economy
and efficiency in the administration of
government is builded. Efforts direct
ed toward any other end are mere
makeshifts. Lasting improvement
must be accomplished by beginning at
the bottom, not at the top.
Mr.. Godwin's resolution, directing a
searching inquiry into the civil service,
should pass the House by unanimous
vote.
The Washington times., 1911-04-22
Baked IN HIS SEARCH FOR
SHEOL.

Detectives Berman and O'Brien halt
ed man at the corner of d and Sew
enth streets yesterday morning, who
vouchsafed the information that he
was going straight to hell"-and
didn't want to be detained. The rec
ord will not be complete until we know
whether he was headed in the direc-
tion of Capitol Hill or coming away
from the same. Opinions differ as to
which would have been the proper route
as a means of reaching the desired des-
tination. At all events he was dressed
for the journey when he started out.
1t was his lightest summer underwear
Prudently fearing, however, that in
this great moral center he might never
win to his wish at all, he had the fore
Thought to slip on his overcoat. Thus
he was arrayed for whatever bourne
destiny and the police might decree.
He was first shown the police sta
tion, but his protests clearly indicated
that it was not the place he started
out to seek, or else the pen pictures of
hell had been greatly overdrawn. He
found nothing more fiery there than
little burning zeal for the safety of
the community, nothing more sui
phurous than a few vigorous phrases
let fall by the other prisoners.
They have taken him over to st.
Elizabeth's to let him look around
bit The chances are that he will still
feel unsatisfied. He'll is place where
one finds it difficult to get. The board
ers are not. consulted as to whether
they like hot biscuits or cold bread.
According to the best testimony, they
are not allowed to have anything to
drink worth speaking about. The lone
wanderer will have to continue his
odyssey few parasangs further
And then where will he go? Here
is at least suggestion. Let some kind
friend take him to the baseball park,
when the team returns, blindfold him
The Washington times., 1911-04-22
PASSAGE OF RECIPROCITY BY
THE HOUSE.

We have said repeatedly that the
action OF the House on the reciprocity
measure would be poor index of the
character of tariff legislation likely
ultimately to reach the statute books
In view of the passage of the reciproc.
ity bill by 264 against SO, that opinion
is no whit changed.
Only five of the men who year age
were classed as insurgents voted for
the measure. Twenty-Five Republicans
who were insurgents in the last Con-
gress, or who secured seats in this Con-
gress by reason of convincing con-
stituencies that they were insurgents,
voted against the bill.
1t was the tariff session that gave
insurgency its birth and baptism as a
great political force insurgency de-
manded downward revision of the gen.
uine kind, not fake revision. 1t made
itself so strong in the country's conf
dence, by that insistent demand, that
it received a tremendous Endorsement
at the hands of the people in the cleo
tion last autumn.
Realizing that the present Canadian
pact is largely a sham and bluff; that
it seeks to make the agricultural in
terests pay for concessions in favor of
some other interests; that the Cana
dians get most of the real benefits-it
is still difficult to Justify the position
of insurgents who have opposed this
measure. Our Fluctuations go out to
Messrs. Cooper and Cary of Wisconsin,
to Mr.. Hubbard of Iowa, TO Madison
and Murdock of Kansas, who by vot-
ing for this agreement have indicated
intent TO keep their course consistent
and their record straight.
The measure goes to the Senate.
The best calculations indicate that
about forty Republicans in that body
will oppose the measure if it ever
comes to vote in anything like its
present form. Seven Democratic votes
added, will defeat the bill. Those Dem
ocratic votes would likely be secured,
in such situation.
But more likely, the Senate will
amend the measure extensively and
finally bring out a bill much more am
bilious and inclusive, subject to gen
eral amendment on the floor-and very
likely at last to be defeated
At time when overwhelming public
opinion favors some effective beginning
in the direction of revision, the out
look continues unpromising. The in
surgents of Senate and House, stand
ing solidly together and with the Pres
ident and the progressive Democrats,
could have assured such results. They
are not doing that, but instead are as
Stunning a grave responsibility for pos
sibly blocking the whole revision
movement at this time.
The Washington times., 1911-04-22
WHAT'S on the Program, In
Washington Today.

Twentieth Continental Congress Of the
d. A. R., Continental Memorial Hall,
sessions at 10 a. m.
Concert by United States Marine Band.
Potomac Drive, p. m.
Minstrel show. banquet, and dance by
Flagg Council. No. 256, United Com
mercial Travellers, Pythian Temple,
1912 Ninth street northwest, tonight.
Meeting of Patriarchs Militant, Canton
Washington, No. l, /. o. o. F., drill
and social session, tonight.
Meeting of the Missouri Society, Pyth-
ian Temple, p. m.
Town caucus, Takoma Park, Presby-
terian Church, p. m.
Bird study class, Franklin School, Thir-
teenth and K streets northwest. to 5
D. m.
Reception for the Republican members
of the Sixty-second Congress at the
National Republican Club, 1347 Penn
sylvania avenue northwest, to Il
d. m.
Reception by members of the Mississippi
Society of Washington to Hon. John
Sharp Williams. Pythian Temple, $50
to 10 p. m.
Davisons' assembly dance, National
Rifles Armory, G street, between Ninth
and Tenth street northwest, tonight.
The Washington times., 1911-04-22

squirrels. the crows, and cats. that are
destroying all kinds of birds, the spar
row included. The squirrel especially IS
voracious destroyer of young birds,
taking them out oil their nests before
they can fly. | have watched them do
II. All the other birds leave us at the
first few cold days, but the sparrow
stays all winter. and 1t is then he gets
in some of his most effective work by
destroying the cocoons. larvae, and eggs,
and every one Of these destroyed means
thousands of caterpilars less to be
Matched out in spring. oh, ye lovers of
nature! have you ever thought what the
world would be like without birds and
just seriously think what our streets
would be like in winter without the
handy. saucy, cheerful, noisy sparrow?
Why, II would be like home without
babies. Do not destroy him until you
are ready to put in a better substitute.
but | am sure our beautiful parks and
shade trees would he impossible with
out the cooperation of the malieGed
sparrow. Far better put up with the
little annoyance of the sparrow than be
subject to much worse nuisance;
l. P WILD.
The Washington times., 1911-04-22
CRUSADE ON WASHERS
MIGHT BE REVIVED
To the Editor of THE TINES:

To the Editor of THE TINES:
ways been open to the discussion of
both sides of questions. I wish to
make reference to the conditions re-
ferred to by Mrs. T. B. Kates as to the
liability of a respectable woman be-
ing insulted in the streets of Wash
ing. The remarks of Mrs. Hates in re-
gard to the churches being respon-
sible for such condition are too alb
surd to be considered, but as to the
fact that such conditions exist Mrs.
Hates probably used an extreme term,
If she is properly quoted, in saying: No
respectable woman can go on the streets
without being insuited,' but If Mrs
Kates had said that any lady walking
certain streets in Washington was
liable to be insulted, We would be COM
PEELED to sanction her accusations
The conditions are very much i'm
proved over those existing in the sum-
mer and autumn of 1909, but there is
much to be desired m the way of i'm
provement at present.
Take for instance, the section of
Pennsylvania avenue from Sixth to
Thirteenth streets, and Seventh and
Ninth streets for five blocks north of
Pennsylvania avenue. and there are
times when there are numbers of young
boys and rough men waiting on the
street corners to raise their hats and
smile at young ladies and girls who
happen to pass them unescorted by
male companions Some people may
not consider this an insult, but most
people do. when we take into considera-
tion the motive which prompts such
behavior.
If the lady spoken to takes offense,
why. 1t is simply case of mistaken
Identity"
This is a common occurrence, espe-
cially in the neighborhood of the several
moving pictNe places on Pennsylvania
avenue in the section from Ninth to
Tenth streets. 1 speak from personal
observation. as well as hearsay, and l
know full we'll that the offenders do not
always wait for any sign from the lady.
and the fact that Mrs. William Hamil-
ton Bayloy, president of the z. W. e.
A.. has appeared on the streets at the
most unconventional hours" and never
been insulted is no proof whatever that
such conditions do not exist, nor are
the statements of our chief of police
capable of such convictions, and the
fact that there are 1900 more women
The Washington times., 1911-04-22
ENTERS STRONG PROTEST
AGAINST OVERSPEEDING

To the Editor of THE TIMES:
In the course of human events the
general inhuman finding of unavoidable
accident. in killing, manning. and Grip
pling people by running over them with
automobiles has had altogether toe
much license.
man may shoot another on the
street, and the Mortified people unhes-
itatingly pronounce Il murder, but the
same man MAJ Iun down ard kill a
man with an automobile. and the ver-
dict of unavoidable accident is assured.
An automobile running on the street,
controlled by an irresponsible boy, who
thinks he is doing something, or by a
liquor-soaked chauffeur, at a speed five
times as great as the. fastest horse
could run, claims immunity from all re-
straint in his speed.
He may toot his horn when he doesn't
fog ct il, as a weIninS, that his right
of Nsy is sup 'rme, and people run Tor
their lives t. get out Of his way or he
TIN down.
If the pedestrian cann:t outrun the
machine, he may be killed under the
ruse, of unavoidable accident. If the
machine was run at even race horse
speed the probability of escape to the
pedestrian would be greatly enhanced.
People running those machines SEEM
ingly have no thought or care of the
criminally negligent speed they are
making.
A street car making good time, on a
six-minute schedule, is passed by the
machine like the pun of gale of wind.
Under the present speed allowances
1t is positively dangerous for a person
to be in the street on foot because of
careless automobile driving.
What the chances will be later, with
the increasing conditions of speed un-
checked, will be answered at the
morgue and the sepulchre.
1t is high time that the limit of de-
cent speed was set within reasonab BILE
rates; the flying speed in the streets is
uncalled for.
A. NJ. BROWN.
The Washington times., 1911-04-22
LET REPRESENTATIVES
CUT OWN PERQUISITES

! To the Editor of THE TIMES:
/ have real with much pleasure and
full approval the outspoken and Wig
orous utterances of The Times at all
times WHEN public good is involved. I
approve of its fight for the Government
clerks and it's criticism of Congress
when the actions of that body are open
to criticism.
1t should be so. 1t Is the province
and duty of a good newspaper to es-
pouse the good and expose evil.
AS a sojourner in Washington I have
spent considerable time at the Capitol
and in the galleries listening 70 the
solons The Times tells me every day
all that fail to hear and see. Through
II I became interested in the clerks and
as a partisan citizen of the country
take an INTEREST," in the doings of
Congress. I am not concerned even re-
motely in the welfare of any clerk or
employe but I believe in "a square
deal"
I am a Democrat, a regular yellow
dog" Democrat from Illinois who votes
'er straight" and wants to be proud
of his party.
I have watched the new House ad-
ministration make a start and every ex-
pectation thus far has been met: but
am growing apprehersive. When I
note and read about the cheese-paring
economies that are proposed along
some lines I am fearful.
Every good citizen approves of econ
omy in public affairs and is ready to
sustain his Representative in what he
urges in that direction. But the ques-
ton arises, what duty does the Repre-
sentative himself owe to his country and
his constituency in contributing to that
economy? Do members of the House
see no farther than the adjustment of
a few sinecures-chiefly held by small
salaried employees? Isn't there some
thing else-other sinecures-which they
vote to themselves that need abolish
ment? How about 20-cent mileage and
the stationery allowance of $125 a year.
both of which are a species of graft and
open to the severest condemnation.
Travel allowance to members had Its
inception in stage coach days when the
salary was 5000, when there was no
secretary's allowance, and when 20
cents a mile was not in excess OF the
actual cost ofItravel to the seat of Gov
ernment. Again. what Congressman
uses his s125 worth OF stationery in
year? Usually he gets his supply
from his different committees and the
cost is nothing, but never more than
about one-tenth of the allowance.
A member of Congress has an office
of dignity and honor and the salary at
tached is commensurate. Is there any
good reason why the taxpayers should
bear a dollar of his expense of travel,
let alone an. excessive 20 cents a mile;
The Washington times., 1911-04-22

II the policeman does not happen to
be in a communicative or informing
frame of mind, the visitors simply have
to keep going up the line of police Of
ficials until they get satisfaction, even
IL the trail leads to the private eff1ce
of Major Sylvester on the second floor
of the Municipal building. For the
major has made up his mind that all
visitors who come TO Washington on
sightseeing trips shall not be deprived
the privilege of seeing everything there
is to see In the sightseeing line.
Among his other numerous duties, the
major has taken ii upon himself to look
after the tourists. The other day A
crowd Of visitors complained that they
wandered aimlessly around the streets
of Washington for several hours, en-
deavoring to see the sights. asking
questions of pedestrians. policemen,
motormen. and ditch-diggers, but failing
to find any one who could give them one
iota of real information.
Naturally. this delegation went back
The Washington times., 1911-04-22

to Four Corners, VT. not very well i'm
pressed with Washington as a Capital
City. Towering above all the buildings
they saw the peak lof the Washington
Monument. and set out to find the base.
Elusive circles and avenues and car
lines that turned unexpected corners
kept them from reaching their desti-
nation, and there was no one to direct
them.
But Major Sylvester never heard 81
their grievances. II he had, there would
have been no grievance. Far be IL from
the jor, who is exceptionally strong
on civic pride, to let any one leave
Washington in any such frame Of mind.
All that any delegation of sightseers
need do to make sure of seeing every
thing in the public building line is to
get the chief of police of their home
town to write them a few well-chosen
words addressed to the Superintendent
of Police in Washington.
The first delegation to arrive with a
credential Of this kind appeared at the
The Washington times., 1911-04-22

The death CT Major George z. Pick
ett, son of the famous Confederate
leader, recalls the story Of his birth. as
told by his mother, now resident of
Washington: "It was while Lee and
Grant were facing each other in the
Wilderness, that my son was born, and
in celebration of the event bonfires
were lighted all along General Pick
ett's lines.
Grant saw them and sent scouts to
learn the cause. When they reported,
he said to General ingalls,:
Haven't we some kindling wood on
this side of the line? Why don't we
strike a light for the young Pickett?'
In little while bonfires were fam
ing from the Federal line A few days
later there was taken through the lines
a baby's silver service, engraved:
To George L. Picket, jr., from his
fathers friends, U. s. Grant, Rufus
ingalls,. George, Suckley.'"
The Washington times., 1911-04-22

tnan men in Washington Is no excus.
Whatever for less diligence on the part
OF the police force. for which Major
sylvester Is responsible. Furthermore.
10 deny the existence of a weII-knoun
eNiI amounts to covering up of same.
ana though 1t is with shame we admit
the truth, yet publicity is a good rem
edy sometimes, ana Washingtonians
WI wosi remember that in the autumn Of
1903 The Washington Times waged var
on the mashers," and so did Major
sylvester through his efficient police
torce, and several were arrested and
hned as result. Though conditions
were and are now much improved. they
are not completely remedied.
am not criticising the efficiency Of
Washlngton's police force, vet in some
respects they may not be in all re-
spects perfect nor will II add anything
to their efficiency to DENY the existence
OF an evil they daily should observe.
AN OBSERVER