davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
A Public Utilities Commission.

The statement Of Representative John
son, of Kentucky, the probable chairman
of the District Committee in the next
House, that he favors bill creating a
public utilities commission for the Dis
trict indicates the possibility of such
legislation. 1t is. evident, from asser-
tons already made, that the new Dis
trict Committee will devote some atten-
tion to local corporations, and it may
be that the proposed commission will be
the outcome OF its investigation.
There is room here for such a tri-
bunal. The District Commissioners are
already overburdened with the details of
municipal administration. and while a
Congressional committee can devise leg
islation along broad and general lines, it
cannot cope successfully with all the
minor, but none the less vexatious,
problems which affect the citizen in con-
nection with public utilities. The situ-
alton has become more involved, also.
through the action of the Court of Ap-
peals in vcsting the Interstate Com
merce Commission with complete juris-
diction over the street railroads here
The decision does not state whether the
authority OF the Commissioners is en-
tirely removed as to matters which are
purely within their police power. such
as disorderly conduct upon the cars,
the stopping of cars at crossings and at
fire engine runs, &c. or whether the
jurisdiction of the Federal commission
is restricted merely to the operation
and equipment Of the street car lines.
With the limit OF authority indef-
nitely laid down, there will be uncer-
tainty Of action. All this, however, can
be avoided by the creation Of tribunal
composed Of impartial and capable men,
who will consider all the problems in
connection with public utilities and rem
der Judgment that will be fair to both
the public and the corporations. There
is no doubt there ought to be some
where in our municipal system some
authority to which the individuals or
civic organizations can appeal for a bet
terment Of conditions. Investigation of
these demands would result either in
their rejection or in the necessary
remedy, Such a commissions could enter
thoroughly into the consideration of all
questions relating to gas, electric light,
and telephone rates, universal transfers,
all-night car service. &c, and its deci-
sion would receive the aoquiescence of
the community, especially if its personnel
was of high standard and its inquiry
impartial, patient, and thorough.
The work OF such a commission might
be saner and safer than legislation di-
rectly affecting corporations which Con
gress might enact.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
HUMAN NATURE IN WASHINGTON
BY FRED c. KELLY.

The greatest buffer in the State of
Minnesota, says Senator Nelson, was an
Indian up in the lumber regions, who took
great delight in walking up to people and
saying: Ugh: me heap big 1njun. You
scared o. me?"
And as he was an Indian of consider
able stature. with a face about as pleas
ant as a gargoyle's nearly everybody ad-
mitted to him that he was indeed big
Indian, and that they were sure enough
scared of him. This nearly tickled him
to death, and he kept up his habit of
putting his stock question to everybody
who came along. until one day he walked
up to a tall raw-boned lumberjack. who
had just come out of the woods after six
months of log rolling.
Me heap big Injun." said the big bluf.
You scared O. me?"'
The lumberjack replied by hitting the
nterrogator a lick between the eyes that
set him spinning for a moment like one
of those new-fangled revolving barber
poles.
That's how scared 1 am of you" re-
marked the Iumberjack. as he bit OFF a
fresh chew Of tobacco, you blamed
DOW-dnu-dTTOW SOn-Ol-a-SuH
Several months prior to the national
convention that nominated William Nc
Kinley for the Presidency New York
paper wired to its correspondents in sew
eral Western States for opinions from the
State Republican chairmen as to the most
pprobable nominee.
Willis Van Devanter, now a justice Of
the United States Supreme Court, was
then State chairman in Wyoming. But
he was seriously i'll from typhoid fever,
and the newspaper correspondents couldn't
see him. So the correspondent gave his
telegram to Van Devanter's physician, and
asked him to get an opinion from the pa
tient at an opportune moment il possible.
Van Devanter read the dispatch. asked
for a pencil, and. weak as he was, man
aged to scrawl the name William McKin-
ley. Six months later Mckinley was
nominated. The sick-bed incident had
served to prove Van Devanter not only
an accommodating citizen, but a political
prognosticator of some magnitude.
Former Representative Adam Bede
was making a speech at Grand Rapids.
hNIl' "uti senator " llllaIn Alden
Smith was a member of the House
You people ought to make a trip down
to Washington" remarked Bede. "and
see for yourself what a good Congress
man you've got. Your Mr.. Smith would
give all OF you cards for the House gal
lery just for the asking. and you would
have a lot of fun. Or. if Mr.. Smith
shouldn't be around. hunt me up. and
I'll give you cards for both the House
and Senate galleries; nothing cheap about
me-"
''Supposin' you're away, too?" yelled
some kidder in the audience.
Then" said Bede, hunt up the
Speaker; he'll give you cards-and
spades
Secretary Dickinson, of the Department
of War, is a great French scholar, and
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

he learned French in record breaking
time. He had been sent to school in
France, and on the bulletin board at the
school he saw a notice that certain
French pupils would exchange French
lessons for instruction in the English
tongue. Dickinson jotted down several
names and thought it over this way: IF
one French student can teach me French
in few weeks, how much more rapidly
will learn if I make trades with six or
seven French boys?" Without letting any
of them know that he was receiving other
instruction, Dickinson arranged with
six different boys to swap language les
sons-each one at a different hour. 1t
wasn't more than a month or two until
Dickinson had a pretty fair working
knowledge of French.
Human natures indeed a funny
thing" remarked Senator Hitchcock, OF
Nebraska, recently. out in my district
is man noted for having little to say
to anybody. He'll meet an acquaintance
in an elevator and if he feels like speak
ing he'll speak, but Usually he won't feel
like it,. He is regarded as crab, as
the saying is. A few years ago he came
out as a candidate for Office, and every
body predicted that he would be de-
feated. No man could go around speak
ing TO people just when he took a no.
ton. and cut much figure in politics, so
people figured. But strangely enough
the man was elected. One man who
knew him slightly was asked how it hap
pened.
Well he said, 4 never had much
use for the fellow, he was always so
curt and aloOfNin his manner. but the
thing that made a hit with me was the
fact that he didn't speak to any more
people after he started to run for office
than he did before. He hadn't spoken
to me when he'd pass me for several
months. and if he'd begun speaking after
the campaign was on, I'd have felt like
heaving a brick at him. But he never
changed his attitude at all. So l decided
that he must be honest, and 1 voted for
him"
Former Senator Carter was recalling
recently the remark of a once famous
Washington character whose wife did
something one day to displease a bust
ness caller at the house. The insulted
caller happened to weigh about 2lS pounds.
all OF it bone and muscular tissue, and
he decided to take out the insult on her
husband.
Your wife slammed the door in my
face" was his opening remark to the hus-
band when he had searched him out at
his office. and I've a good mind to slam
something in your face"
See here. my good fellow" replied the
husband. without looking up from his
desk. my wife is no blood relation to
me, and l can't be held responsible for
her actions. Now. she has two brothers,
both of them able-bodied men, that you
would enjoy meeting. and my suggestion
is that you go and talk it over with
them"
Copyright, l9r by Fred @. KcIly.)
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

vania road and its management. The
stockholders at the annual meeting next
week will be asked to grant authority
for more capital stock.
The report states further that the
Pennsylvania has largely increased its
holdings of New York, New Haven
and Hartford stock, thus disclosing its
policy of entering the New England
field with set purpose, witch we take
it has become necessary as {, sequel to
its new Long Island steamship terminal
plans Considering that last year was
far from favorable to the average COM
mon carriers of the land, Mr.. McCrea
and his board are to be felicitated upon
the results they>have achieved.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT wELLKNowN PERSONS

Canada She
born Toronto her stage Cleveland Ohio
Turke Sweden Persia Germany
and France.
J. a University Gottingen
He
o he n
the
Philadelphia
then a
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
No Need for Revolver..

Editor The Washington Herald.
am greatly astonished to learn of the
reign of terror which exists on this side
of the Potomac River, and which neces-
states that our commuters should carry
arms to protect themselves in going from
the cars TO their homes. Alexandria
County has law officers competent to cope
with any violations of the law-among
which we certainly hold the carrying of
concealed weapons-and is as law-abid-
ing a. community as may be found in the
State or even in the District of Column
bia- have Travelled through this county
at all hours, day and night. and have
never found 1t necessary to go armed for
fear of an attack. Can the same be said
of the Mall In washington?
R GORDON FTNNEY.
fY.rur5or z, h,rrA
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
The Lincoln Memorial.

Editor The Washington Herald.
Noticing your editorial in to-day's issue
on the subject of the Lincoln memorial,
and having Travelled extensively through
out Europe and other lands, and admired
many imposing monuments and memo
rails to the great ones of the world. 1
would suggest as a striking and suitable
memorial to the memory of Lincoln a
column and memorial bridge to be
erected in Potomac Park. overlooking the
Capital and Arlington, where so many of
Lincoln's soldier friends are buried. The
column should be on the lines of Admiral
Nelson's column on Trafalgar Square
London, and constitute the outlines to a
Lincoln memorial bridge connecting Po-
tomac Park and Washington with Arling-
ton. The column and bridge could be
erected and made one of the most i'm
posing memorials in the world for the
sum authorized by Congress
ROBERT CLARK GEDDES
Washington, March &
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
A LITTLE NONSENSE. q
YARIOES ACTIVITIES.

The poets twang the Tyre,
Have odes to sing,
Write verses by the Quire,
In spring.
The young men prate of love,
Gay blossoms bring
To lay before some dove 4
In spring.
The housewives paint and scrub,
Much whoftewash sling,
And feed us on cold grub
In spring.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

No name better aGorns the saints CAL
endar than that of st. Patrick, but his
memory has nothing to do with Ameri-
can history. Notwithstanding which there
is a bill before the New York legislature
to make March II a legal holiday.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
Might Advertise.

Il am learning to speak Esperanto. but
it is slow work learning from a text
book
why don't you hire some native to
converse with you? They say that's the
best way to learn a language"
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

Prom the Atlanta Constitution.
There has been insurgency in Europe
all aIong-only. they called it by another
name.
Prom the Boston Globe
Kansas has great scheme for short
ening the sessions of the legislature The
pay of the members stopped after
March ..
Prom the New York Herald.
While bank examiner was at luncheon
the officials of the crumbling institu-
tion are reported to have doctored the
books. We move that all bank examiners
be compelled TO carry their lunch from
now on.
From the Rochester Union.
Can't the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals do something to
prevent the United States Department
OF Agriculture from inficting It's dis
cOvery of a breakfast food for horses
upon the helpless members Of the equine
race?
From the Florida Tines Union.
II isn't just to accuse Mr.. Hobson of
not believing all this war talk ne pours
out so freely. He has proved his sin
certify by resisnins from the navy.
From the ST. Louis Republic
An imposing monument to commence
rate the 100 years of peace with Canada
succeeding the war of 1872 is planned
at Niagara Falls. Bun what better monu-
ment OF past peaceful relations and SYM
Dol of their continuance could be de-
vised than reciprocity?
From the Toledo Blade
Gov. Woodrow Wilson, of New Jer-
sey. says that the scholar must be radi-
cal in politics. Did he have Gov. Har-
mons conservatism in mind?
From the Boston Herald.
Now comes the news that nude pic
lures in public resorts at Albany have
been draped. Harrisburg and Albany,
two OF the least reputable State capitals,
seem conspiring to prove the natural
affinity of prudery and political cor
ruptiOn.
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The action of the Senate minority in
defeating the popular election amendment
is easily explainable. Just look at the
names
From the Indianapolis Star
The superior person who will never take
the trouble to vote is the very one, as a
rule. who is alarmed at the safeguards
OF registration laws.
From the ST Louis Republic
We would respectfully remind Senator
Beveridge that the Apostle Paul summed
up the wickedness of the entire heather
world in twelve verses of the first chap
ter of the Epistle to the Romans.
Frun the Topeka Capital
All the railway companies announce
they will have to practice the strictest
economy II rates can't go up. That's
what a good many people have to do.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
Can,t Freese Him ont.

From the Mlvaukee Sentinel
Reports from the East lead us to be-
iieve that Doc Cook Is a. frcst in vaude-
Vile But It win take a mighty cold re-
ception TO give him cold feet
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

A statistician has figured out that dur
ing last year alone 500 1000 was bor-
rowed upon life insurance policies and
the proceeds invested in the purchase of
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
WifeIv Hints

Hints of springtime are a bane,
Nothing less;
For they mostly appertain
To a dress.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
Plenty of Friends.

Most very rich men lead lonely lives,
but Mr.. Gotrox has lot OF friends who
speak well of him"
Yes: he never did anybody but the
public"
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

Whatever an unruly Reichstag may do
with the prerogatives enjoyed by the
Kaiser. he will not suffer from ennui as
long as they let him keep his thirty-odd
automobiles
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

proud father out in Oklahoma has
named his triplets Initiative and Referen-
dunn Jones for the boys and Recall Jones
for the girl.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

Having launched the ''jupe culotte"
upon womanlIind, his satanic majesty has
retired for forty days to watch the out
come.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
Only Way to Improve Them.

Prom the Atlanta Journal
1t is hard to see how Luther Burbank
could improve on the strawberry, as he
promises. unless he makes two grow
where only one grew before.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

My, how it pleases US to be assured at
last through the rate decision that we
shall not have to pay higher railroad
fare when we go on our summer vaca-
ton.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

At last that promising young Greek
playwright, Sophocles. is to be given an
opportunity in London.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

The New York alderman with a record
Of having married eight hundred couples
now has taken a wife unto himself
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

Judging from Earl Percy's feat the
other day in Canada, Hotspur OF the
medieval days has become Hotfoot Of
to-day.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
Cold Critters

In days of old the knights were bold,
and rescued girls they met: but those to-
day, of cruder clay, won't aid a suffra-
gette.''
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

There is one lot of men who fail to ap-
preciate good move, if tenants are in
arrears.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
Annuities for Aged.


"Canada's s system of providing govern
mert annuities for persons of the age
of ffty-fve years and over was put into
effect only a little over two years ago,
hut has proved its worth" said Walter
R. Norman. of Ottawa, Canada, at the
Raleigh yesterday.
Amy citizen between the ages Of
ffty-five and eighty-fve may purchase
an annuity. No annuity shall be pay
able before the age of fifty-fve, except
for special reasons on account of in
validism or disablement.
The annuities," continued Mr.. Nor
man, range from so to 5000. They may
be paid for in a lump sum at the time
they are purchased-by the year, by the
half year, by the quarter, or by the
week. II any payment is missed, the
man does not lose his other payments;
he may take up the payments again
when he is able, though the time when
the annuity will become payable will
be extended. There are no lapses. No
money is taken from the payments for
expenses, the Dominion government pay
ing all expenses. The money paid IN is
compounded at the rate of per cent.
and every cent inures to the beneht Of
the payer. II the man dies before all
payments have been made, or before
the annuity is due. the amount paid in
by him, with per cent compound in
terest, will be refunded TO his legal rep
resentative. Every post-offce savings
bank is authorized to accept payments.
No medical examination is required
1t seems somewhat strange to ]. L.
Harding. OF London, who was seen at the
Arlington. that many public references
to the temperance question should be
silent upon one feature which is of prime
Importance, namely the improvement of
public houses and their gradual trans
formation into public refreshment houses
of undoubted respectability and general
usefulness.
Temperance and total abstinence from
fermented or distilled liquors." said Mr..
ARE not one and the same
thing. The temperate use of fermented
and distilled beverages is steadily SUP
pressing the vice of drunkenness. In
these circumstances, the demand for the
prohibition of the use Of alcoholic bev-
erages, even II 1t ever had a jusahca-
tion-which is not admitted-cannot now
be justified.
Equally without justification must be
the effort to abolish or restrict to in
convenient limits the public sale and con-
sumption of fermented and distilled bev-
erages Such abolition or restriction is
not only an unjustihed interference with
personal freedom, and unnecessary for
the promotion Of temperance, but is di-
rectIy inimical to that cause Public
houses are not the only places where
strong liquors can be obtained. They
are equally available. even to the poor,
in private houses, and in clubs. where
drinking can, and sometimes does, take
place, in both cases unchecked by law.
and in the former case unchecked by
the restraint OF publicity
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

It is a surprise to travellers who have
patronzed railway dining cars to learn
that they are not money-makers.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
Very Swagger.

Il see your suburb is getting quite
fashionable Lots of gay people locating
there"
Yes; we've changed the name Of Low
ers' lane to- Affinity avenue"
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
1t is Rear Admiral Peary now.

brandt's famous painting, THE Mill,
for which one of our countrymen is said
to have offered $4,000, is not the picture
of a prize fight.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

An exchange wants to know how the
devil gels any dividends out of the big
business he does.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
The Slim Craze

Hips and curves have had to CO."
Yes; modern woman is pretty near
back to the original rib"
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
A Steady Young Man

That boy of yours must be pretty well
grown by this time
I'm his Junior year at college"
as he ever inclined to be wfld?"
NO; they say. he's the steadiest south
paw the team ever had"
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
clarendou, va. March 6.
where Frea.lea Finanee Fail..

From the Pittsburs Post.
Ice King Morse is still hopeful of a
pardon. These wizards of finance find ii
a great deal easier to get into prison than
to get out.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
job Cor Mr. Roe.evclt.

Frnm the New York World.
Why not select Mr.. Roosevelt 70 re-
wise the Ten Commandments? Didn't he
discover them7
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
VIE WS AND
INTERVIEWS
West Point Education.

Col. George c. Carter, of New York.
formerly of the army, but now engaged
IN business, when seen at the New Eb-
bitt last night, discussed the value of a
West Point education, and said: The
course of instruction at West Point pro-
videS an education OF which any young
man may feel proud. Few schools in the
world occupy sites which compare with
it in beauty, while the buildings, equip
ment, and historical associations stimu-
late enthusiasm and ambition. The train
ing of body and mind are both of the
highest order. The young graduate from
West Point commands attention and re-
spoct not enjoyed by those emerging from
colleges and universities. His services are
in demand, for he IS known to be strong
physically and has been taught how to do
things. and to do them promptly.
1T is, therefore. SURPRISING" continued
Col. Carter. that the West Point classes
are below their full quota. Not so many
years ago. scores of bright. ambitious
boys were bending every energy to secure
an appointment. and the few successful
oEes were the envy of hundreds. Evil
IDENTIFY the difficulty of securing the schol-
arship has in these days been overesti-
mated. or there would now be the long
waiting list of few years ago. The
numbSf of graduated cadets for twelve
years past has averaged 10 per year short
of the number required to fill ordinary
vacancies and IT. short of the number re-
quired to NIL all vacancies"
Agriculture Gaining in Favor.
That agriculture is again coming into
its own is the belief of Prof. L. H.
Bailey, formerly the head of the Country
Life Commission, who was recently seen
at the New Willard. According to his
views. agriculture was once the domi-
nant industry in America TN the days
of Mount Vernon and of the old Vir-
ginia planters" said Prof. Bailey, farm
ing was practiced by the best and
men that the country could
boast. The Prilgrims were farmers and
the majority of their descendants titled
the soil until about fifty years ago, when
a general movement toward the cities
set in. During the succeeding cycle the
and the merchant over
shadowed the farmer, and life on an ar
tifcial basis gained stronghold on the
1T has almost become the fashion now
TO own a farm" said the professor.
Whatever the extent and duration of
this outward movement may be, it will
have a permanent effect on public SEN
-iment. The most hopeful change. how
ever, is the pronounced rise in the agri-
cultural sentiment among the farmers
themselves. Appropriations of public
funds for agricultural purposes are no
longer stinted in amount or narrow in
policy. A liberal and general public az
probation of rural affairs again has
arisen. 1t is not to be expected that the
city-ward movement will
cease, but only that a sane selective pro
cess may arise, whereby it will be pos
sible and popular for a person to live
from the land"
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

Prom the New YORK Herald.
While a bank examiner was at luncheon
the officials of the crumbling institu-
tion are reported to have doctored the
books We move that all bank examiners
be compelled TO carry their lunch from
now on.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08
POLITICAL COMMENT.
atlanta Constitution.

Prom the Atlanta Constitution
There has been insurgency in Europe
all aIong-only. they called it by another
name.
The Washington herald., 1911-03-08

Prom the Boston Globe
Kansas has a great scheme for short
eninG the sessions of the legislature. The
pay of the members stopped after
March .