davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
THE CABINET.
frrnm The TrIhnn. Rureau. |

from The Tribups Bureau.l
Washington, Jan. 5--'rhe President and
Mrs Taft were guests at the first Cabinet
dinner of the season given I'm their honor
tonight by the Secretary Of state and
Mrs. Knox Invited to meet them were tho
French Ambassador and Nine. Jusserand.
the Mexican Ambassador. the japanese
Ambassador and Baroness Ucbida, Senator
Bacon, Senator and Mrs. Crane. Senator
Root, Mrs. Eugene Hale. Mrs. John Hay
and Miss Hester Singer, OF Pittsburg The
home Of the Secretary and Mrs. Knox pre-
sonted gaia appearance, with profuse
arrangement Of American Beauty and pink
roses in the French library. Ia France
roses In the drawing room and white and
yellow orchids In the dining room. low
centrepiece OF orchids occupied the middle
Of the ia bic. leaving the view Of the guests
wholly unobstructed q plan Mrs. Knox
always observes.
James MacVeagh, who has been the
guest Of his parents for A week past, left
here this afternoon for Chicago.
Th. Attorney General and Mrs Wick
ersham were hosts for dinner party given
tonight in honor OF their daughter, Mrs.
-.
house guest. Others present were Major
and Mrs. Spencer Cosby. Miss Marion
Wise. Miss Julia II. Shepey, or Boston;
Miss Noyes Miss Mary Carlisle Miss
Marion Crosby Miss Sophie Johnston. Miss
Harriet Vinsiow. Miss Hinckeley. Prince
Koudscheff. Russian counsellor. and Mr.
NabokofY. Russian first secretary; Alfred
Mitchell Innes, British counsellor. and Lord
Eustace Percy. British attache Sehor Don
German Bule Mexican second secretary
Seior Don A. Algara, Mexican secretary:
Mr.. Christie. Captain Johnson. Lieutenant
Palmer. Frederick Faust and Mr.. Dennl-
son. Of the Department Of Justice.
Mrs. Wickersham is recovering from an
indlsposltion from which sfe has suffered
for two weeks. and which compelled her
10 retire from all social affairs. She will
probably ne able 10 hold her official recep
ton next "Wednesday.
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
rFr,m The Trihun. RuresuI

From The Tribun. Bureau
Washington. Jan. 5.-Mss Helen Taft was
tho guest of honor at dinner-dancs given
to- night by Miss Patteu.
Justice and Mrs. Mckenna were hosts at
a dinner party tonight and on January II
will entertain dinner company in honor
Of Chief Justice and Mrs. White.
Speaker Cannon was the guest of honor
at dinner tonight. with ex-Representa-
tive and Mrs. Henry Rirk Porter as hosts.
Senator Kean, Mrs. Joseph c. Audenried
and Mrs. T. De Witt Talmags were other
hosts entertaining dinner parties. Mrs.
Talmage's guests were invited to meet the
eirce. Mr.. and Mrs. Hennen Jennings
also entertained guests at dinner.
Miss Marion oliver entertained a number
OF young people at luncheon to meet Miss
Ethel Roosevelt. having among others in
the company Mrs. Albert Akin, Miss Marion
Leutze and Miss de Smirnoff.
Miss Hiidegarde Nagel was the guest for
whom Miss Ernst invited guests TO luncheon
to-day.
Miss Louise Cromwell and her house
guest. Miss Suzanne Carroll, were the
guests for whom Miss Hinckley entertained
at luncheon. and they were entertained al
dinner by Miss Alice VandegrIft, who in
yited a number of young people to meet
them. Miss Marion Leutze, the house guest
of Miss Cromwell. was also a guest.
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
A WHOPPER.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Referring 20 the letter in your paper
last week from Fitz Nigel about the flying
fish and whale in Noahs ark, the incident
happened SO long ago and SO far away that
possibly there ia some mistake about It..
But there Is no mistake about tho follow
ing. as il haprened recently and near by:
In October last Professor Adam Bigscl. OF
Harvard. went to Cuttyhunk bass fishing.
and while making cast from the rocks
there he saw a mallard duck with It's
brood, swimming about. when all Of a sud
den q large bass jumped up, sra bbed and
quickly swallowed one OF the ducklings,
and the professor soon after caught the
fish. and, taking it home. placed it In a
largo tank. where about six weeks later lie
discovered q duck swimming around, which
the bass had evidently coughed up. the duck
having 50 increased in size by feeding on
the nshs roe that It was impossible for the
bass TO keep II down any longer.
The duck fattened up very quickly, and
soon tho professor saw it In the very act of
dissorging a lot Of little fish. and, all these
transactions being so remarkable, he wrote
an account Of them to The Boston Her
aid" which was seen by the president OF
the Fish and Game Association here, and he
Immediately bought of Professor Bigsel the
tank, with its contents. and placed II on
view AT the Sportsncn's club, IN Fifth
avenue, whore II will remain for public In
spec'ion until tho clubs annual dinner at
Delmonico's on January 10.
New York, Jan |. 1911. PISCATORIAI.
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
70 MORE PEONAGE.

The system OF peonage which various
Southern states have attempted 10 oulId
up under the guisc OF laws regulating
labor contracts has received its death
blow in the decision of the United States
Supreme Court. delivered by Justice
Hughes. The law declared unconstitu-
tional was that Of Alabama, but the de-
cision strikes at all similar legislation
in other commOnwealtbs. Much annoy
ance has undoubtedly been caused In GER
tain parts Of the South by the tendency
of shiftless and irresponsible laborers
10 default on contracts which they nave
signed and on which they have received
money in advance. To discourage the
breaking of such contracts laws have
been passed declaring the assumption of
all obligation to labor without an inten-
ton to fulfil that obligation a misde-
meanor and making the quitting or en-
ployment primd facio evidence OF an IN
tent TO defraud. Under sytsem OF that
sort an ignorant labOrer could be held
TO n contract by the threat of criminal
prosecution. whatever the intent with
which originally he accepted IFS condl-
tions. The law gave the employer 20
course far beyond his rights. for If ne
could not prove n purpose to defraud
his legitimate remedy was a civil pro
cceding for breach of contract.
Justice Hughes held that the Alabama
statute was invalid because It set up
presumption of fraud in every case OF
default on the laborer's part and put m
INSTRUMENT Of oppression in the bands or
the employer easily used against the lg-
norant and weak IT violated the prin"i-
nle of freedom of contract and MADE
a new crime out of tho mere failure of
an cmploye 10 work out his debts, The
labor conditions which exist in some
parts of the South are unfortunate. but
they cannot he remedied by denying
even tho most Shiftless lahorer MS
constitutions rights. Peonage may seem
to some Southern employers practlca-
bic and beneficial arrangement, hut the
Constitution absolutely forbids its rec
ognition within the limits Of the United
States.
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
THE TALK or THE DAY.

In An address at the Harvard Medical
school ON "Infantie Paralysis, Dr' H.
" Iovett said that while 1t was not yet
certain how the germs Of the disease were
communicated TO healthy children. II was
n foct that birds or domestic animals had
been found I'm a large proportion OF the
families where infantile paralysis had oc-
curred and there was good reason for be-
lieying that such pets in the house were
resnons,ble sometimes for the appearance
OF the disease.
81 called a prize fighter a liar to-day
"Gee yhizi What did he do?
"I don't know--i hung up the receiver.
Toledo Blade.
There IN much criticism in Austria or
the Yearly increase in the cost OF sup
nor,ing the national lawmakers. the es-
timate for 1911 being nearly a million dol
LAYS Nenbers Of the lower house re-
ceIyc ahout a "A day. \ correspondent or
"Tbe Pail Mall Gazette points out that
"the fact that seventeen different tongues
arc ronresented in the Vienna Parliament
has much IN do with the increased expend-
itnre. Petitions. interpretations and reso-
Iu,ions in these various languages have to
be translated into German for the common
benefit reoutring tho services OF a regu-
lar Translation bureau. Besides this. the
shorthand reports and printing OF all the
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06

trio wires charged with powerful cur
rents has also increased the danger that
the signs themselves will become the
starting points of fires. while making
them more formidable barriers 10 the
movements Of tiremen so that the pro-
tests which were made years ago seem
TO be still more pertinent and forceful at
this time.
II might be profitable for the lesis-
lativc investigating committee or some
efficient authority to look carefully into
the matter. to consider the relationship
between these towering structures ana
the laws and ordinances Of the Buildings
and Fire departments. and TO determine
whether the signs do not materially in
crease the danger of fires and the din
Guilty Of eXtinguishing them. The chiet
Of the Fire Department and the head oi
the Buildings Department would surely
be able TO give interesting testimony ana
opinions on the subject. The sign dis
playing business is doubtless Il highly
profitable one. and so far as it is legiti-
mately conducted and compatible with
the public safety it is entitled to exist
encc, like any other. There are cities
however. in which It would not be
deemed legitimate so to disfgure the ap'
pearance of streets and buildings, and
nowhere, we should say. could it be re
garded as legitimate to increase the
risks and pcrils of fire.
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
TJRE PERIL ~ SIGNS.

Objections 10 the huge sky signs which
dsfigurc the city have often been made
from the architectural and artistic point
Of view. and are sufficiently strong 20
warrant their condemnation and re-
moyal. or. at least. IL marked diminutiOn
of them There is another still more
practical ard formidable ground of OBJ
lection which seems worthy Of careful
attention from those who are investi-
eating municipgl affairs. and especially
the efficiency OF the Fire Department and
the security OF the city from destructive
cOn6agratiOns.
II we are not mistaken. the chief of
the Fire Department some years ago
protested against these signs, declaring
that they might offer serious obstacles
10 the effective direction Of streams OF
water upon fire. themselves facilitate
the spread of the flames and cause scrl-
ous injury and even death 10 fircmen by
falling upon them. Indeed, we believe
that some such miSbaps actually bc-
CURED Since that time. however. ihe
number and size Of the signs have Ia
creased. and the use Of networks Of eloc-
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
AT The WHITE HOOoe
lFrom The Tribune Buresu

lFrom The Tribune bu'D'"
Washington, Jan. 5.-The Presideht helu
an extended conference this AFTERNOON VIZ"
the Secretary OF the Navy senators mn
and Perkins and Representatives Hawley
Knowlsnd. Humphrey. HAYES ana hnsIe-
bright They discussed a plan Tor the pro-
lection Of the Pacific Coast IL cohgre"
is not willing 10 make appropriations io'
the construction OF several torpedo boats
or submarines for the coast Secretary
Never is willing that the 100000 appro-
nriated last session for colliers be used for
that purpose.
President Taft acted to-day in the role
of mediator. He urged Senator'S Curtis ana
BrIstow to forget their differences and 70
work in harmony. They have so far re-
fused TO make up" Each Kansan mas
recommended different candidates for four
important Offices in their state. The Presi-
dent Is hopeful Of peace and OF settling the
patronage question by compromise.
Representative Smith. OF Iowa, is belnS
considered for the vacancy IN the Stn 'u-
dicial Circuit, and Representative Bouteh
Is mentioned as the successor OF Juoso
Hunt on the Customs Court.
Representative Dawson urged the Presl-
dent to use his influence in getting through
the Senate the bill passed by the House
AT the last session Of Congress providing
for the transfer Of the Naval observatory
from naval to civilian control.
Governor Forbes OF the Philippines
cabled President TAFT to-day: You wiz De
glad to know customs increased s5o'''o' ana
internal revenue s3sl,s25 for the last SIX
months OF the calendar year.
Postmaster General Hitchcock, after
conference with tho President, SAID the re-
rorts received from the postal savings
banks now in operation were most encour-
aging. Mr. Hitchcock will make report
| 10 Congress within the next few weeks ann
| urge a material increase in the appropri-
| ations for tho extension Of tho system
President Taft. accompanied by Secretary
Norton and Captain Butt. called at the
home Of Senator Elkins 10 express his
| sympathy TO Mrs. Elkins.
President Taft will deliver an address OF
Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial
Day. having accepted the invitation OF the
! District branch OF the Grand Army OF tho
! Republic.
Isham Randolph. Thomas d. Knight and
Harrison NJ Parker OF Chicago, invited
the President TO attend the National lrri'
CATION Congress, the United States Land
and Irrigation Exposition and the 1nterna-
tional Live stock Show in Chicago next
| December. Mr.. Taft accepted.
| Among the Presidents callers were thf
Secretary Of the Interior Speaker Cannon
Senator'S Burkett, Stone Jones, kean
Curtis and Root and Representatives La
fean, Hinshaw, Calder. Prince, Hill. Young
Steenerson, woodward. Crow, Kinkead
| Lowden, Dawson, Morehead and Ellis.
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
THE SUMNER CENTENARY.

There is food for reflection in the re
minder that to-day marks the one hun
dredth anniversary Of the birth f
Charles Sumner, and that not many
weeks hence will come the siNtleth ann
versary Of his stormy election to Inc
United States Senate. dany men now
living have vivid recollectlons Of Ills
personality aud Of their own associa-
lions with him. and yet in spirit and III
manner he seems almost rs remote as
men or the classic age, 20 which. In iact'
no seemed to belong So far have We IN
q single Generation moved from the CIR
cumstan,,s and the issues of his day.
and perhaps also from their principles
and methods. We still have scholars
and men Of exalted moral principle III
public life. including those who In
either parlic,llar would compare not an
favorably with sumner, but it is rare
indeed for men 10 display the deliberd-
tion and the leisure which marked the
long prelude to bis public services, and
at last through the Irresistible con
straint Of a great princiDle, 10 give
themselves with so much fervOr and
completencss 10 work which had been
rermcrant 10 them and for which they
had pcrsistently expressed extreme dis
taste.
In these DAYS when international ad-
Indication is being 50 much and so
proftaby exalted, it Is well 10 turn
from the more obvious and familiar
features Of Summers temperament and
achievements 10 the fact which. per
pape. was second to none in determining
The whole bent of his career. that he was
Conspicuously and supremely n student
and exponent of international law. II
was that which first led, we might say
forced, him into political controversy
and political life. Despite the intense
anti-slavery zeal Of his father and MS
own natural inclination toward the SIDE
of freedom. he manifested no active III
terest in the issue which WAS then be-
ginning 10 cOnvulse America until there
arose the question Of Englands legal
right TO overhaul American slave ships.
Drawn into that question as an inter
national lawyer, he was led straight to
the leadership of the anti-slavery party.
But more than once in later years MS
amplitude Of knowledge and general
sanity Of judgment IN international M
fairs despite his extravagant error IN
the Alabama Claims dispute-made him
as useful 10 the nation In It's foreign re-
lations as he was otherwise 20 the cause
Of emancipation
Massachusetts does we'll to commelno'
rate her distinguished son to-day. aud the
whole nation may with profit cherish
some sympathy with the centenary ana
with the thoughts which II suggests.
Moral forces are strong in America but
they are not and never will be 80 strong
as 10 make it undesirable to confirm
them In every possible way. Ana sum
ncr. with all his limitations OF vision
and occasional inhrmilics Of judgment,
was undoubtedly great moral agent In
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06

of War In 1891. and on West Nlrginia's
turning from Democracy TO Republican
ism I'm 1894 he was elected 10 the United
States Senate for the term beginning
March 4, 1895, and was reelected In
1901 and 1907. In the Senate he exhib-
tied characteristic energy and capacity.
and though seldom heard in debate WAS
influential in framing legislation OF the
first importance-esp especially that relat-
ing TO the regulation of interstate COM
MERGE TO military affairs and to the i'm
provement OF waterways. For many
years lie was chairman OF the Interstate
Commerce Committee, and it was large
" due to his tactful and concllistory
methods that the Senate was able to
pass in q satisfactory form the railroad
legislation of the last session. In poll
tics he was always resourceful and dip
lomatic. and in his personal relations
genial. considerate and open hearted.
He seldom lost friend or made an
enemy.
West Virginia owes a special debt 10
his life to improving conditions In that
state. aiding in opening up isolated Sec
tions and putting them in communica-
tion with one another, creating indus
tries and giving profitable employment
10 labor. He was one Of group of men
who made West Virginia industrially a
| miniature Pennsylvania and opened the
way TO the states rapid growth in the
last two decades in wealth and popua-
ton. West Virginia has pushed rapidly
ahead. It no longer consists of sections
! cut off from one another by mountain
ranges. with different interests and
ideas, but is beginning to be n homo
geneous commonwealth, all parts or
which are making gratifying progress.
| In a true sense Mr.. Elkins was a stale
builder. and his work in that field VIII
be his most impressive and lasting monu-
| mcnt.
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
this nation at n time when such aee"'''
were most valuable.
ALIEN LAND OWNERSHIP.


The action OF the government VI
Panama in the matter of the oWho' '"'p
OF land by aliens will probably n',.
marked effect upon the material "e''"'o
of that country. We may also eHp.,'
that effect to be upon the whole uec'''
edly beneficial though unquestlohaol' 1t
viii be necessary 10 guard oi0.uis
against abuses OF the generous pri'hese
which the isthmian government nas
granted. Settlement ard investment
ought TO be encouraged and the re-
sources Of the country ought thus 10 Do
developed more rapidly and efhcientIy
than they probably could be under pure
~ Panaman exploitation. Nature mas
provided inducements I'm the form OF
land of exceptional richness ana re-
sources OF vast potentialiiy, deliShtiul
and salubrious climate. and s'rate-
gic position relative 10 the commerce III
the world so commanding as to JUSTLY
Louis Napoleons likening OF II to tnat OF
Byzantium OF old.
The privilege Of realty ownership mas
at last been granted 10 aliens, aItcr
much delay and consideration. ana WIN
reluctance which Is easily understood
and which is by no means devoid oi ti-ie
TO sympathy. Panama is small touh-
try, not much larger than some Euro
pean Kingdoms. Its population is scanty
and It's wealth is not great There mas
therefore been some fear not, we trust.
well founded, that Americans II per
mittcd TO acquire land would hock IN
and monopolize the country. Such an oc'
currence might easily prove detrimental
and even disastrous to Panama. Ii would
not re well for any country in the world
70 have most Of its land owned by aliens.
The alien landlord system in ireland
has been a real grievance to the king
dom
II Is 10 be noted moreover, that THIS
action Of Panama Is not reciprocal IN
dor the old law aliens could acquire
land there IL their countries granted the
same privilege to Panamans. This new
law extends the right TO aliens from
countries which. like the United states
do not grant IT, SO now an American cltl'
zen may own land in Panama. but a
Panaman cannot own land in any terri
tory Of the United state. nor in the Fed
eral District. nor I'm some OF the states
of this Union. This circumstance, fol'
lowing the recent action Of Japan upon
the same subject suggests the possibiI'
ity that some day oil nations Will agree
upon uniform rule and practice
There are few. If any. countries in which
unrestricted alien ownership would he
likoly 10 become so extensive as to do
pcrceptible harm. while there arc some
In which it might he OF vast advantage
10 the countries as well as 10 the allen
investors.
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
4 iHnSHncntS.


ACADEMY OF MUSIC-2-s-Children OF the
Ghetto.
AMERICAN so -T:30---Naudcville.
ASToR--2. .20--S :20--The Aviator.
BERKELEY THEATRE-s:ao-Man Mankind
REbtsCo--s 3e-Thc Concert.
BROADWAY -si5~The Equaw Man.
CASINO-S-MarriaEe 10 Carte.
CJRCLE-s:l5-The Midnight sons
COLONIAi-2-S-Nau
cTIfERIoS@ s:sc-secret Service.
DAJY's-S: :30-Raby Mine
EMPIRE--s:f5 Trelawny OF the wells
FIFTH MISUNDERSTANDING. -,,,,..s
GAIErY-S:l5-G Rich Quick WalnSioru'
GARRICK-S :2o-The Impostor.
GLoRB-s 1.-THE slim Princess.
HERATD sQUARD-s:l5-Ths Girl and the
gIpPopRoME-2- International Cup
Ballet OF Niagsrs-The Earthquake
EACKETT-s:l5-Over Night.
HrDSoN--s :S0-Nobody's Widow
IRVING PIACE-s:i5-Auf kocniss beteh! "''
JOE HSsSIss WEBER : RS So s.15-Alma Where DO You
xNIeKiERBocKER--s $50 -The Fooush Virgin.
f1BERTY-sf5-The sprins Maid. s.,o
1.YRIcMs@Two SSs~-sHe women.
MAJESTIC s:3o-The Blue Eird .s
MANHATTAN OPERA HoUSE-@-s--Nsuoe-
MAxiNE Yr1Icrrs-s:sO-Th Gambler
METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE - SSo -
oVA'S-S:l5-Wo can't BE as Bad AZ
NEW AMsTERp s:15-Madsme sherry.
NEW THEATEE-3:3o 80 Concert - $50 - i"'
Nrw YoRK~s:ls s--Naashty Marietta.
PLAZA SQ-1:3o--NaudcLiLc. ,..,. r-srr,
wFST EMS :ih-Judy Forget.
New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
THE TRANSIT COMMITTEES RE
DOPv

THE TRANSIT COMMITTEES RE.
PORT.
1t would be unfortunate if the major
ity Of the members of the Board OF
Estimate and AppOrtionment felt as
Messrs. Prendergast and Mitchell feel,
that they were elected on n platform
which committed them absolutely ITO
"the construction of new and physical
ely independent system OF subways
and that the mandate Of the people
made the consideration of the Interior
ough proposal virtually impossible. II
would be unfortunate because the mem
bcrs of the board should be free to eXer-
else their judgment of what the best IN
terests of the city require This Is
question which could not he settled
wear in advance by popular mandate
or in any other way. Now that consld-
Grafton of the subject has passed from
the Transit Committee TO the whole board,
it will he taken up by men who do not
feel that they are practically bound
beforehand 10 reject II.
As 10 the faults Of the proposal
Mcssrs. Mitchell and Prendergast IN
their report make some telling points,
as. indeed it is easy 10 do in respect to
any plan which involves the operation
of all the subway lines Of the city, prob
ably for an indefinite period. by cor
poratiun having the reputation OF the
Interborough Rapid Transit Company.
But in no other way than through the
acceptance OF substantially the propose
now before il can the city obtain
comprehensive system capable of con-
slant development and of bringing
rapid transit TO all parts of the city ior
n single fare Moreover, the construc-
ton of an independent system would i'll
volve heavy drain upon the cilys Dor
rowing capacity. and this proposal
relatively light one. The advantages or
n comprehensive system outweigh those
thus far assured by competition, even
if competition should not prove in any
degree disappointing as a stimulus to
better management.
The subject deserves open minded con
sidcration by the Board Of Estimate ana
Apportonmcnt. and the plan which II
has adopted of comforting with the Pub
lie Service Commission in its further
consideration of the plan is emlnentIy
fitting and desirable. There should be
entire cooperation between these two
bodies in order 70 leave the least posi-
BILE room for such delay as might resnlt
from misunderstanding and cross pur'
noses