davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1911-01-25
Economy at Wrong End.

To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
have followed, line for line, all that
you and the many correspondents of
your ever estimable journal have said in
regard to proper remedy as to the aid
of clerks old and young.
In everything said, the proper and
only logical question has never been
propounded. 1t is this: Have you Wis
tied your Congressman and whistled the
query: Are you going to come to our
aid, you yourself having voted to in
crease your own salary, knowing full
we'll that the cost of living has in
creased fully 50 per cent in the past
twelve years.
Now, it is known throughout the coun-
try that in Washington every State and
Territory is represented in every depart
ment of the Government and that all
have relatives at home. A vast majority
have kinfolk who rely upon these same
Government clerks to remit part or
their starvation wages monthly: Well
what can be done TO aid tire clerks in
their effort without some action from
Congress?
gresham put that question to him point
blank CLERKS are not allowed to write
their Congressman asking for aldl. III
they refuse to help, then, with deter
mination to do or die, write your rela-
home papers to take up the cause, ana
when Mr.. Congressman returns to his
home follow him up and make him ex-
plain why it is that he cannot live on
less than $500 per year with six
months leave and more If Wanted)'
while the clerk, with a family to rear
and educate, must exist on from $500,
$500, $1,000, and 81 800 per year. Let each
and every clerk get to work now and
let Mr.. Congressman understand that
they have rights to be respected Dy
relegating him to the ranks of the has
beens' and get some one who has
conscientious sense of duty toward those
who keep the Government cog working.
Until the clerks get members of Con-
gress to recognize their wants, meet
ings, arguments, letters, and resolutions
will prove to be Only valuable time lost
The Washington Times has stood mo-
Ely by the department clerks, and all
should sing its praises. It's editorials
have been far-Feaching and convincing.
No one knows the wants of commun-
ity that its newspapermen~ are not
aware Of
The present economy plan that has
been inaugurated has undoubtedly been
started at the wrong end. Why should
the clerks and other subs be compelled
te labor at starvation wages when thou
sands, yea millions are spent in
worthless group of islands which are a
continual mensfce-too far to protect in
time Of war, too ignorant to become civ
The Washington times., 1911-01-25
Lawmakers Are Upset
By Senatorial Pie

The annual crisis in the affairs OF the
Senate rsfectoTy, otherwise known as
the Senate place to eat, has arrived, and
waves of protest are sweeping over the
north end of the Capitol because the
Senate refectory is not exactly up to
snuff. II begins to look as II new
National Progressive League would
have to be formed in order to right
things in the Senate restaurant.
Some are complaining that the pie is
not of the right consistency: others find
fault with the ham sandwiches, and
others bemOan that the soup Is not
what it was in the good old days. Also.
IL is said, the service Is not as swift and
accelerated as it might be.
Certain of the habitues of the Senate
restaurant have taken to walking over
to the House restaurant to escape the
Senate restaurant. Nobody has yet
any worse than the Senate refectory,
though the past gloTies of the Senate
pie have long served 10 cast the House
cafe partially into the shadow. On
the other hand, the House restaurant
has something of a reputation for the
high character of its Irankfurters and
sauerkraut.
The Senate restaurant is a Govern
ment institution. The fact that IL is now
being criticised has given handle to
those folks who oppose Government
ownership or control. They insist that
if the concern were privately owned
and managed the output would be bet
ter. Some think the trouble Is the anti
tipping rule in the Senate cafe, but as
this is habtually violated il cannot pos
sibly be the explanation.
The Washington times., 1911-01-25
CHARGES AGAINST BOARD
OF EDUCATION.

Washingtonians who hayH icen
watching the development of their pub
lie school system with satisfaction and
congratulating themselves on the edu-
cational advantages enjoyed by their
children, have been shocked at the
charges recently made against the
Board of Education. The tendency of
any citizen, upon reading the charges,
is to discredit them and rush to the
defense of the School Board.
As Il matter of fact, there is no oc-
casion for alarm. If the charges are
without foundation they will fall of
their own weight. If they are justi-
fed by fact, we should know it, in
order that we may apply whatever
remedies are necessary.
The charges, as they stand today,
rest upon a rather shaky foundation.
They are not the result of the investi-
cations of the school committee OF
the Board of Trade, as intimated, but
are rather individual opinions, filed
with that committee. This is explained
fully by the chairman of the commit
tee, who says that the statements in
no sense are the statements of the COM
mittee, which lie says has reached no
conclusions concerning the charges.
The result of renewal of the con-
fict between the Commissioners and
the Board of Education, however, is
bound to be wholesome The Board
of Trade committee must now under
take a thorough investigation of pub
lie school conditions. Besides this, we
are to have an investigation by the
public schools committee of the Cham
ber of Commerce. Whoever it was
who filed the charges with the Board
of Trade committee will be forced to
come into the open and prove his case,
if he can. The members of the School
Board will come forward with their
defense, if they have one
When the two Investigations are
concluded, the community should be in
possession of reliable information as
to just how the public schools are con-
Quoted; it should be able, then, to
decide definitely whether there is any
ground for the sensational charges of
extravaganza and whether it is de-
sirable that a change be made in our
method of public school control.
Thorough ventilation of any such
vital public question as schools can
not fail to bring good results.
The Washington times., 1911-01-25

ilized under nifty years, too treacherous
to be trusted, and of little commercial
value in any sense.
All Government clerks are liable to
extra work and must respond when
called upon under threats of being fired
The Government clerk only asks for
fair play; all he wants is a salary to en-
able him to live as a respectable human
and rear a family that will command
the esteem of the neighborhood and thus
be enabled to lay a few dollars aside for
old age and incapacity, which is surely
to oveCtake him unless grim death steps
in ahead.
Under the new rules for retrenchment
promulgated by President Taft and at
once taken up by all the departments,
clerks throughout the country are. eager
to get out" The rigid system of econ
omy inaugurated will result in some of
the most efficient men leaving the
service.
1t is known by sad experience that the
longer he remains in the service the
more unfit he becomes for other duties.
Many leave their homes in distant
States and after ten, fifteen, or twenty
years they return, total strangers to
their own relatives. In fact, he must be
born again, grow up, and reacquaint
himself.
With the constant changes in methods
of accounting in the many departments
of the Government it is, indeed, brain
racking task to keep up with the work.
Many go home sick and worn out. Let
a member of Congress go through the
department and notice the many wan
pale-faced, and care-worn faces of the
many clerks whose best days have been
given to the welfare of their country,
and they will realize at once that the
Government clerk is of their own flesh
and bIood-not brutes. If there IS a
spark of manhood or sympathy left they
will not hesitate to assist their brothers
and sisters under the yoke.
To The Times belongs the glory of the
fraternal "warm-up" of Congress, and
1 trust that your noble journal will take
up the cause If not for the present but
for the force to come. Any improve
ment will be appreciated by ali con-
ceTned and will result in renewal of in
terest on the part of all the employees of
the Government who are now on the
verge of utter discourag agement and de-
lection.
AS the vote as promulgated by The
Times plainly states the want of the
clerks, it is to be hoped that Congress
will come to our rescue. Our slogan is
increase our pay and give us pension
when we become unfit for other work"
Then, and only then, will all work in
harmony; but if treated as common
hirelings the Government must expect
poor work. Respectfully,
ONE OF THE COGS SINCE THE
DAYS OF '7S
The Washington times., 1911-01-25
Japan Too Wise.

To the Editor of THE TIMES:
The American people are too wise TO
suspect that the Japanese are fools
And fools they would be if they at
tempted any such crazily spectacular
feat as the capture of the Pacific coast,
even If 1t were feasible
The question is not how the war would
go at the beginning, but how 1t would
end. Even if the war began with the
loss of the Pacific coast, it would end.
If it took a hundred years and twenty
thousand million dollars, with the ruin
of Japan. A sane nation will not enter
upon war for the sake of dashing
success at the start, to be paid for by
national ruin in the end. If we did not
own a single warship the richest most
populous and most powerful nations
would dread to incur the undying ha-
tired of the United States. Japan-poor,
with an immense debt, watched by giant
Russia-will not dare to do so. We are
protected from unprovoked attack by
our potency for revenge better than by
our navy. PEACE.
The Washington times., 1911-01-25

of retiring ineffective workers would
be at least 81 100000.
So that there is a saving, at the very
start, of almost 100000 year.
Apparently, the only real reason that
can be urged against making that saw
ing is that it is such little one as
hardly to be worth while.
But such reasoning does not make
very good impression. Mr.. Gillett
shows conclusively that present con-
ditions of superannuation and ineftici-
ency in the service are surely destined
to become worse year by year, and to
involve the Government in greater and
constantly greater loss and waste
1t is a striking picture which Mr..
Gillett paints, of the impossibility of
reforming the service and getting the
highest efficiency, so long as aged men
and women occupy positions which, if
taken from them, would turn them out
to starve. He is exactly right when he
points out, as The Times has done re-
peatedly, that no executive is going
to do anything of the kind. 1t is not
within the possibilities of human ma
ture, cold bloodedly and heartlessly to
discharge these veteran employees whose
only offense is that they have been
faithful all their lives, and have worn
themselves out in the service. So they
are left on the rolls, paid salaries
which in many cases they do not and
cannot earn, and which in effect are
after all only pensions that would bet
ter be paid, frankly, openly, and di-
rectly as such, while avoiding the de-
moralization of the service which is
inevitable under present circumstances
The Times is only asking-and in
this it feels confident that it reflects
accurately the sentiment of the clerks |
that there shall be fair considera-
tions of all these conditions, and action |
reasonably calculated to meet those
conditions. Mr.. Gillett is forcing con-
sideration, which is the greatest service |
he or anybody else could possibly rem
der at this juncture.
The Washington times., 1911-01-25
WHAT IT TAKES
TO SEND LETTERS
Estimates for Postoffce Supplies Include Half Million
Pencils Ribbons for Typewriters, 6, 100 Gallons of
Muclage, and 300, 900 Pounds of Twine.

points, 725 pounds OF rubber erasers to
rub all that work out with, and S25
steel erasers to polish off with.
For the typewriters. bless their blond
little hearts, there are 1,O51 ribbons, and
to rub out all they print there are to
be Isis rubber erasers. There are 1,230
dozen notebooks. 1O,300 dozen scratch
blocks, 2,025 dozen memorandum books.
OF writing paper-1at-215.00 pounds
will be needed; 5000 pounds of i'm
preston paper, and of wrapping paper
219,SO0 pounds, with 2,30O000 pounds OF
twine to tie it with, the amount Il
twine used by the Postal Service in
tying bundles of letters being so large
that the Efforts at economy by improve
ment of tying machines are constant,
and occupy some of the most ingenious
minds In the department.
There are several small items like 1,6OO
pounds of pins; 2S0 dozen quarts of ink; /;
6,100 gallons of nucilage; 1,050 reams Of
blOtters. and 300 dozen thumbtacks.
Envelopes, 9,6O0.OO0 in number. make
the most majestic item in the list.
The supplies listed tentatively in the
statement do not include many sup
plies that are bought incidentally.
The Washington times., 1911-01-25
The Jingoe Theory.

To the Editor OF THE TIMES:
Between 1870 and 1885, when we had
practically no navy. no power threat
ened US, nor did the pale yellow jour
nails of that period shudder at the
thought of invasion. Now, after the eX-
penditure of hundreds of millions year
for decades Of years on the army and
navy, now when the canal which. you
remember, was to double the efficiency
of our navy is approaching completion,
nov we arc threatened by the jinGoes
with the loss of the Pacific coast. and
are expected to shiver at the possibility
of a japanese empire in California, la
the Moorish kingdom in Spain. unless
we again double the navy which, ac-
cording to the jingoes, was to be dou-
bled by the canal, and unless We main
tain an enormous standing army.
Hush! don't speak so loud. II We
really are so helpless, il our existing
navy plus The canal is powerless to
protect California from japanese inva-
The Washington times., 1911-01-25

that the nomination is their own ver-
dict.
This movement for the rule of the
people is the biggest thing in our ma
tional life today. Nobody can doubt
this, who will observe the activities at
score of State capitals where today
the Oregon plan of Senatorial election,
the short ballot, the initiative and
referendum, are being urged with great
popular backing. Nobody can doubt
it, who will read the messages of the
progressive governors of States, and
of many who were not considered pro-
gressives. This is true of Democrats
and Republicans alike; in both parties
the movement is taking firm hold and
making wonderful progress.
There is just as sharp division in
the Democratic party, over this set of
issues, as in the Republican. The Re
pubicans are fortunate in having
recognition of their condition forced
upon them early. They are going to
have their fight, and if they have it
early and decisively enough, they may
pull themselves together and win de-
spite the handicap under which they
now labor.
Whether it be found at work in one
party or the other, this peoples rule
movement cannot be laughed out OF
countenance. 1t is going to win, and
the party which first surrenders to
it will serve well its future.
The Washington times., 1911-01-25

sion, then, il Japan is really eager to
make unpfovOked attack upon our help
lessness, it might be well for the jingoes
TO De little less definite in suggesting
to Japan the very best ways in which
to do US up, for all jingoes are patriots
though all patriots are not jingoes.
But, of course, the iingoeS are not so
frightened as they profess to be- Some
of them are not even genuine jingoes.
They are jingoes fer revenue only.
These reason in this way: We shall soon
have a tariff for revenue only: Conse-
uuently il behooves US to increase our
expenditures so that we shall need so
much revenue that that national bless
ing, a high protective tariff, shall not
perish from the face Of the United
States.
Besides, IL there is a war the people
will stop investigating US, and will for
get to watch how we are working them: /:
Moreover, capital is usually earning dur
ing a war, while labor is doing the
fighting and the paying.
COMhON SENSE
The Washington times., 1911-01-25

When Miss Johanna Dough writes to
Richard Rough she seldom gives a
single thought to all the tidings the Gov
ernment's bought to make her letter
cough.
Yet runs the screed of postal need:
Pens and pencils, stamps and stencils.
pins and rubber bands:' steel erasers,
fine point tracers, ink and penstaff
stands: twine and glue. blotters, too;
and not only notebooks for the ste
nographers, but ribbons for the type
writer's, girls!
Isn't that just too lovely? There Is
nothing like a Government job! So
much is free-like air and things to
work with.
And there are millions of things TO
work with. In statement of the estl-
mated requirements Of the Postoffice
Department and postal service for the
fiscal year 1911 writing, scribbling, anno-
tating, marking and scratching are set
down as needing $3.50 dozen pencils,
] $50 penhoIders, and $50 gross of nibs or
The Washington times., 1911-01-25

Meeting of the stockholders of the Fire
mems Insurance Company OF Wash
ington and Georgetown, Seventh
street and Louisiana avenue north
west, u o'clock.
Lecture by the Rev. U. G. B. Pierce,
All Souls Church, Fourteenth and L
streets northwest, p. m.
Annual reception by the Indiana So
ciety to the Hoosier delegation in
Congress, Arlington Hotel, p. m.
Meeting OF the Brotherhood of the Ana
costa Methodist Episcopal Church,
church hail, tonight.
Celebration of solemn high mass In
honor of the conversion of st. Paul,
the patron saint of the School of Sa-
cred Sciences, Catholic University, 10:30
a. m.
Lecture by Prof. L. D. Bliss, Electric
ity," National Association Of Station
ary Engineers Hall, Twelfth street
and Pennsylvania avenue northwest,
SIS p. m.
Ranuuet by the Caledonian Club in cell
ebration of the 152d birthday anniver-
sary of Robert Burns, old Masonic
Temple, Ninth and F streets north
west, tonight.
Song recital by Mrs. Benjamin Lothrop,
Colonial School for Girls, afternoon.
Annual ball of the Bureau Bowling
Club, old Masonic Temple, Ninth and
F streets northwest, tonight.
Concert by the Fifteenth Cavalry Band,
post gymnasium, Fort Myer, p. m.
Concert by United States Soldiers Home
Band, Stanley Hall, $3.50 p. m.
The Washington times., 1911-01-25
WHEN THE GREAT AMERICAN
DRINK WAS NEW.

It's worth while being more n
seven" just to be able to hark back to
the timid beginnings of what we broad
ly call soda water, and try to realize
how great was the purchasing power
of a nickel in the open market OF
childish happiness. They tell us that
the grandson OF the man who first
pOpularized what is now the great
American drink has just gone into
bankruptcy, firm and all, and every
grown-up whose first twelve or four
teen years belong to the era of veloci-
pedes, "Peck's Bad Boy" and copper
toed shoes is downright sorry for him.
For the sake of his grandfather and
the Joy the old man gave us, John
Matthews deserved a better fate.
OF course the dappcr worldlings who
drop in at some crystal emporium and
make blase choice of anything from
a nut sundae trimmed with apricOts
to sherry flip or an oyster stew
could never understand what it meant
in the frcsher experience of childhood
and the soda water business to debate
between six sticks of barber pole
candy and the nectar draft dispensed
bv the grocer as a side line. OF course
the nickels were larger in those days,
but even at that they wouldn't so
as far as the dollar which the wags
in black stocks tell us George Wash
ington threw across the Potomac. And
even when soda water was resolutely
decided upon it was still problem to
determine whether it should be straw
berry, lemon. or vanilla. A longer
menu would have driven the average
boy to desperation, and as it was he
often compromised on mixture of all
three. Those marvellous creations in
Mexican onyx from New Hampshire
which look like the half section of a
mausoleum were nonresident. But
that simple little goose neck which
came up from some mysterious con
trivance under the counter yielded
more grateful fzz than any blushful
Hippocreme, with beaded bubbles
winking at the brim." The perfection
of its color scheme was rivaled only
by the rich red banana which the wise
West Indians and Central Americans
evidently keep, nowadays, for their
own eating.
The onyx sculpture is all very well
in it's way, and so are its strange, new
The world-including the
doctors, it may be-owes much to the
effected since John Mat
thews' grandfather's day. But some
how even the strawberry, that chef
d'oeuvre, has lost in taste and color
what the nickel has lost in size.
The Washington times., 1911-01-25
Title to Great Falls.

To the Editor of THE TIMES:
In reference to the title to the water
power of the Great Falls of the Poto-
mac, we find from record and history
that the last English hand in whom the
title was vested was Lord Culpeper.
When the Revolutionary War was over,
Culpepers title ceased and title to the
Great Falls of the Potomac attached
or fell to the United States, not Mary
land, nor to Virginia. and the United
States has never transferred its inter-
est in any direction.
We are told that Virginia transferred
the property to George Washington, but
We fail to learn how Virginia acquired
her title. The fact is, after the Revo-
lutionary War Lord Culpeper had no
title, and the United States had, and
has had from that time to the present;
and, in my opinion, all transfer of the
title to the property from the ceasipg
of Lord Culpeper's interest. that the
United States was not party in or
to, Is void, and the real title to the
The Washington times., 1911-01-25
Civil War LabOrers.

To the Editor of THE TIMES:
We, the Civil War Laborers' Union,
wish to know through your paper why
the Government has failed to pay US
bach the money they deducted from our
wages during the civil war
We were hired with the understanding
that we would receive $50 and $35 per
month for laboring work. We worked
faithfully Sundays and nights and all
the week long with the understanding
We would receive our wages, what We
were hired for. When paid we received
sl9. 10 and S2475, and we were promised
TO be paid after the war.
We ask through your paper isn't the
war over, and hasn't it been forty-five
years or more? The Government has
failed to give US our money as yet, and
If there is any debt the Government
ought to pay it is the money 1t owes
these old laborers. They are old and
decrepit and dependents on their chill
dren and grandchildren.
r. H. COOPER.
The Washington times., 1911-01-25
TAT BALKS SENATE
IN THE HUNT CASE
President Declares He Will
Give Recess Appointment
If Necessary.

Owing to the opposition in the Senate
Judiciary Committee to the confirma-
ton of Judge William H. Hunt, of Mon
tana, now on the customs court, as
Judge of the commerce court, an inter-
esting situation has arisen that may
prove embarrassing to the President
and TO Judge Hunt as well.
The President refuses to withdraw
The name of Judge Hunt, and at the
same time, the opposition to him in the
Senate is determined. 1t was Monday
that the Judiciary Committee failed to
report the nomination of Judge Hunt
Then, suggestion was conveyed 10
the President that he might relieve the
situation by Withdrawing the nomina-
tion. The President replied he would
not withdraw the nomination and init
mated that if the Senate failed to con-
firm, he would give Judge Hunt a re-
cess appointment. This would enable
Judge Hunt to enter on the discharge
OF his duties on the Commerce Court,
but 1t would mean continuation of the
tight against him into next session and
his possible rejection.
The subcommittee of the judiciary
Committee has decided not to take more
testimony, and the Judiciary Committee
on Monday will take the matter on the
record as il stands.
Senator Borah is one of those who are
actively fighting Judge Hunt. The op-
position grows out of the fact that
Judge Hunt is alleged to have favored
the Amalgamated Copper Company in
rulings he made in cases to prevent the
company's smelters from destroying
farm property adjacent. His rulings in
certain Western land fraud cases also
have been attcked
Judge Hunts friends are considerably
disturbed over the outlook. With but
six weeks left of the session they are
uncertain whether confirmation can be
forced