davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

WASHINGTON. Feb. S.-Aliss Taft was enter
tanned at dinner tonight by Major General
and Mrs. Adolphus w Greedy and the
Misses Greedy, a number Of young people
being invited to meet her.
Mr.. and Mrs Edison Bradley, who leave
here tomorrow for New York and a two
weeks trip South, entertained at dinner to-
night the Belgian Minister and Nine. Have
NTH, the French naval attache and Nis-
countess Benoist d'Azy, Mr.. and Mrs. Julian
Little. of New York; Mr.. and Mrs. Preston
Gibson, Mr.. and Mrs. Hugh Legare, Mr..
and Mrs Horace Westcott, Niscount ana
Viscountess dc Sibour, Mrs. Alexander d..
II. Pratt, OF New York; Mrs. Herbert Ship
man. OF New York Miss Katherine Elk!ns,
DR., \. P!att Andrew, Mr.. de Bach, OF the
Russian Embassy; Mr.. Maugras, of the
French Embassy, and George Howard.
Mrs. Herbert Shipman, who has been the
guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edison
Bradley, will return to New York to-mor-
row.
Among the hosts entertaining dinner par
ties tonight were Mr.. and Mrs. Charles j..
Bell and Mrs. Reyburn.
The Representatives in Congress from
New York will hold a reception at Rau-
schcrs tomorrow night and have invited
4 large company as guests.
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy and
Mrs. Beekman Winthrop VIII go to Phila-
delphia on Tuesday and be entertained at
luncheon by Mr.. and Mrs. Charlemagne
Tower.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward T. Stotesbury were
entertained at dinner tonight by Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas T. Gaf. They will 30 to Bal
tlmore tomorrow to spend the day, and will
then 90 10 their home I'm Philadelphia.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
HALF RATE TAXATION
Professor SeIigman DISSeCtS the
SuIIivan-BroOkS Scheme.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.


Sir: In a communication in your ISSUE
Of February on the Sulivan-B Brooks oi.
/ am quoted as stating that In no pi"'o
where the lower tax rate on buildings "a5
been tried have they returned to the oiu
system Of uniform taxation" AS IL filb"'
be inferred from this quotation that am
in favor OF the bill, I ought to state tra'
the quotation in question, taken from MY
testimony before the Committee on Cohses-
tion, does not fairly represent my views
was careful in that testimony to point out
several facts: First. that in my opihloH'
the whole question Of taxation had put
very slight relation to the problem OF con-
gcston, and that congestion could not III
my opinion be appreCiably remedied py
any change in taxation Second, | pointed
out that, although the halving Of the rate
on buildings would, as a mattery Of theory
tend to decrease rents by increasing build
ings, that tendency might be countervailed
by other tendencies. Third, l pointed OUT
that while no community which has adopted
the higher or exclusive rate on land values
has given It up, yet testimony as 10 the
social results of the change is most con-
ncting.
As a matter Of fact, while I have the
highest regard for the gentlemen who are
uuSelfshly attacking the problems OF
congestion, and while, entirely apart from
the question Of congestion. I believe In the
dcsirability Of making the profits from land
values contribute to the public burdens 10
a greater extent than they do at present
am opposed TO the Sullvan-Brooks Dill Tor
the following reasons:
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09

or factional purposes, and 1t invites the
other powers TO adhere to that policy and
to sanction no loans to China save those
which may be approved by conference
Cf the powers
There can be little doubt Of the moral
propriety Of that course, but its prac-
tical fulfilment may involve some diff
cuties. Mr.. Knox suggests that the vari-
ous governments should agree to discour-
age their nationals from making unap-
proved loans 10 China. particularly by
letting It be known that they will afford
no protection for them. In many cases
II is probable that such moral suaslOn
would prove effective But If ii did not,
and bankers and investors declared the
intention Of lending money to one Of
the Chinese factions, whether their own
government liked It or not, the method
Of more e'fectually deterring them Is not
disclosed.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
PRIVATE LOANS AND PUBLTC


PRIVATE LOANS AND PUBLTC
POLICY.
The most interesting and perhaps the
most important part Of Mr.. KnOx's note
about China IS that which relates 10
the making Of fiscal loans to that coun-
try. The other points are scarcely CON
trOversial The Secretary Of State re-
afFlrms the established policy Of the
United states in strictly respecting the
integrity and sovereignty of China, in
maintaining the open door, and cOnsa-
Guently in intervening in the domestic
affairs Of that country only when i'm
peratite occasion demands such action
and in doing 1t then only through inter
national agreement and cooperation
All that Is q matter OF course, though it
is well TO have 1t repeated now and then,
"to encourage the others" In the pres
ent case, as in the strenuous and anxious
days Of the Boxer outbreak, IL Is to be
assumed that in this policy the European
powers will follow the lead Of the United
States.
the question OF loans Is invested with
Il certain degree Of novelty and presents
some features which will be earnestly
discussed. Both, or perhaps we should
say all. factions in China are almost des-
titute of the financial supplies which are
supposed To be necessary to the conduct
Of war. They must get money or they
cannot fight, save in dcsultory and in
effective fashion, and money in sufficient
quantity is to be obtained only from
abroad. II, therefore, the money lending
powers refuse TO let the Chinese have
loans the war in China must languish
and fail. The American government con-
sequently regards the making Of such
loans with disfaror, unless it has salts
factory assurance that they are to be
used for neutral and not for beligerent
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
GOTERNOR WILSON AND THE
VPTSTS

When Mayor GaynOr asked In his
speech before the National Democratic
Club last night why no Governor Of New
Jersey had sought the repeal of the New
Jersey statute under which most OF the
Country's great trusts have been incor-
porated he really wanted his hearers
and readers to ask why the present Gov
ernor Of New Jersey had not done so. 1t
is pertinent query. Governor Wilson is
supposed TO be radical, at least since
the scales Of Princeton fell from his eyes.
lie is untiring IN good works. His re-
formatory zeal knows no bounds.
Presumably he is opposed to the trusts,
but whether he Is opposed to them or not,
the New Jersey corporation law Is bad
law. 1t grants too much license. 1t
takes the lid off altogether too much.
Like the lax divorce laws Of some West
ern states it is and has been all along an
invitation to the wicked and 10 wicked
ness. And its intent was the base one
of profit
We wonder that reformed New Jer-
sey, politically as moral as Oregon or
Kansas, does not blush at that statute.
We wonder with Mayor Gaynor that Its
reforming Governor has never interested
himself In that statute.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
Peoofe and Social Incidents
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
fFrom TIE Tribune Bureau.

fFrOm Tie IrlDunC DuIS"N''
washington, Feb. S.-The Presiuei'
tirism is proving a source OF great en- Do.
agement to the members of his party :,
enite the fact that he has not touhu P0
tics q particularly congenlal subject 70
da,t taft Is now thoroughly arouseu' ~
e confident he will be renominated anu oe
elected over any candidate the DEM o..
NAV name, and his callers almost Wiz" VIM
exception come away from the "ii''
sharing his views. ..,o
Although many results OF stra" 'U''0
favorable 10 Colonel Roosevelt are Hh"ihs
their way into print, the White House 10 Al
daily receipt of the results Of similar Votes
which show a strong predominance Oh lal'
sentiment. One received to-day from Gan
FRANCISCO gives the President three 10 one
aver all other candidates. and another from
a Michigan town gives the PreSluen' O''
Mr. Roosevelt 20 and Mr. La Foilette .
President Taft spent most OF the oay III
his study considering matters whlCh i0
orircd that he be free from interruption
THE President announced to-day that ne
vouId make public his selections for the
irdiciaI vacancies, including that in the Su-
,ror,e Court after to-morrow's Cabinet
meeting.
The President has appointed the iolIoW-
ing representatives Of the government u
the eighth international congress OF ap-
nIied chemistry, to be held in this city d.
II w Wiley. Dr. G. +. Langworthy' FFo-
fe.sor W. w. Cook, Or. William l.. Han
DR. Frank X. Cameron, Professor W. j.
Humphreys. DR.. r. II. True. Dr. Marion
Duckett. all of the Department OF AgrIcuiI-
ure: Or. George Steiger, Of the Geological
survey: DR.. George +. Ely, Of the Patent
Office: Professor Nathaniel w. Lord, OF the
Bureau Of Mines; Or. Reed Hunt OF 'he
Marine Hospital Service, and DR.. a. s.
Adams OF the Internal Revenue Bureau.
Secretary Hules is experiencing the
strenuosity OF n Presidential year. but his
enormous correspondence is by no means
confined to politics. He hears from every
body who feels that some evil should De
corrected. lie received to-day a complaint
from a man who declares that bulls are
running loose on certain public roads In
Michigan and demands that Mr. HiileS
take the subject by the horns or else
send the writer the badge Of United
States marshal.
The White House callers included Sena-
tors Root and Crane, Representatives tos-
ter. of Vermont: Loud. Pickett, Madden
Mccall. Mondell, Campbell, Smith. of Michl-
gan, Head. Bates. Knowland, Lasher'
Calder, McCreary and Anthony and Speaker
Clark
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau.l

TFrom The Tribune Bureau.l
Washington, Feb. s.-The German Am
bassador and Countess Won Bernstorff had
as guest OF honor at a dinner tonight the
Austrian Ambassador, and invited to meet
him tho Spanish Minister and Sehora de
Riano. Mrs Richard II. Townsend, Mr.. and
Mrs Clarence Moore. Mr.. and Mrs. John p.
Story, Miss Cameron, Miss Patten. Oden
Horstmarn. Count du Monceau, Of the Bel
gan Legation, and the German counsellor
and Nine. Hanel Won Haimhausen.
Count du Monceau has recently been ap-
pointed attache Of the Belgian Legation
Senior Don Enrique Deschamps, appointed
secretary of the Dominican legation has
brought with him Sonora Donna Della T.
de Deschamps. They will make their home
at the Richmond
Lord Eustace Percy British attache, will
arrive in New York on Friday from Eng
land. where he spent several weeks on
leave Of absence.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
SOCIAL NOTES FROM NEWPORT.
LBy TeIegraph 70 The Trlbune.l

GBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.I
Newport, Feb. &-Mr and Mrs. William
Goadby Loew. of New York. who last sea-
son occupied Villa Rosa. the Morse estate
in Bellevue avenue. have leased for the
coming season the oliver Gould Jennings
estate near Bailey's Beach. Mr.. and Mrs.
Jennings are to spend the season abroad.
Julian Little OF New York. is here owing
to the illness of his father, Captain Will
lam McCarty Little. U. S. NJ, who was
recently operated upon. Captain Little Is
said to be improving.
Mrs. Ezra Gould. of Washington. is Wis
iting here.
DR.. Thomas F. Kenefck has returned TO
New York.
Mr. and Mrs. George Gordon King are
10 occupy the King estate In Red Cross
avenue next season.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
MR. WHITE on LAWLESSNESS.

MR. WHITE on LAWLESSNESS.
The exceedingly vigorous letter Of Mr..
Andrew d. White published In yester-
days Tribune ought to help check the
tendency toward mawlish sentimentality
regarding the punishment Of murderers,
to which Governor Dix has recently con-
trlbuted. Mr.. White makes an impress
sive statement as 10 the demoralized con-
dition of law enforcement in this cOun-
try, where homicide Is common and its
adequate punishment rare Ineffective
police work, 4 criminal trial system that
renders conviction difficult. sentimental
ism on the part OF juries, mawkishness
Of the public, the weakness Of executives
in the use Of the pardoning power, all
have done their part to make the taking
OF life ia this country comparatively
safe. although the statistics which Mr.
White employs in his striking indictment
Of existing conditions are open to some
question.
These statistics are no doubt the best
available, but even when they are Official
they are somewhat misleading, as is
shown In respect TO murders in this
county. Mr.. White relies upon the fig
ures in the Police Commissioners report
recently published in the press Mr..
Waldo spoke OF 14S murders" in this
county, but it appeared from the subse-
quent explanation Of District Attorney
whitman that those 14S deaths included
all kinds and degrees of hOmcldes. not
excepting those which juries pronounced
iustifable and some which in the opinion
of cOroners' iuTies were not homicides at
all, but simply natural deaths. What the
actual number Of murders In this county
during 1911 was cannot he told, for IL
you take the police reports Of homicides,
as Mr.. Waldo did, You have statistics
that are valueless because the facts
have not been sifted: while If you take
the figures in the District Attorneys Of
flee you have only the number Of muir
derers whom IL was possible TO convict
I'm the first degree 4 conviction in a
lesser degree or an acQuittal often means
not that murder has not been done, but
that there has been q partial or complete
failure Of justice
Statistics thus are defective and com
parisons with other countries are likely
20 be misleading. But neither statistics
nor comparisons are necessary to enforce
the truth Of what Mr.. White says about
lawlessness In the United States nor TO
add force 20 his warning as to the dam
age that sentimentalists are doing who
forget the deterrent and exemplary aim
IA punishment for crime. Mr.. White
says that "the just and solemn execu-
"fion Of the murderer is the very best
"use that can he made Of him. He
thereby becomes Of use as a warning" +"
What the whole administration of the
criminal law in this country needs Is
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
CIVIC BODIES TO UNITE.

Representatives of various organizations
will gather this evening at the College OF
the City of New York for the purpose Of
effecting joint organization in New York
City. The conference will be purely civic
in nature and will be non-sectarian and
non-political. The call was issued by the
following committee: Miss Amy Schussler
principal Of speyer School; the Rev. Hiram
r. Hulse, of st. Marys Church; the Rev.
]. ]. McCahlll. of the Church OF the An
nunciation, and Robert 5. Brewster. OF the
riverside district committee Of the Charity
Organization Society.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
THE "MONEY TRUST" INTESTIGA-
yJON

IHE HONEl ! hCSI ~ LHi i'-i
IION.
The Democratic majority in the House
Of Representatives has done well In vot-
ing not 10 let the sO-caled money trust
investigation fali into the hands Of radi-
calls and sensationalists Of the Bryan'te
persuasion. TO convince the country OF
the sincerity Of its purposes it must, how
ever. employ counsel at once able and
discreet, informed in finance but sober
enough not TO exploit the investigation
as a financial peepshow nor 70 use it for
the purpose Of advertising themselves.
Moreover, In conducting the inveStiga-
tion, if it is 10 begin this year, the Demo
Gratis must not yield TO the temptation
TO use it for the purpose Of making po-
litical capital. To do 50 would hope
lessly discredit it and lead the committee
into sensational excesses. 4 good deal
more poise, self-restraint and sound
Judgment are called for than It is rea-
sonable to expect from a Congressional
committee in the heat Of n political cam
paign. 1t is delicate topic with which
the committee has to deal, one inviting
a disturbance Of business and full of
danger to the Democratic party If it
shall prove that Organism has been re-
pressed now only to break out again
when the work Of investigation Is under
way. If conducted with prudence, honor
and high intelligence, an inquiry into the
concentration of capital and the use Of
the power that springs from It would be
Of service to the country. We wish an
inquiry Of that character were better as
surpl
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
Economic Dangers.

While the social results Of the bill would
thus be In some respects unfortunate. the
general economic results would certainly
be-. In part at least, bad l can understand
the advocacy OF a tax on uuearned incre-
mont. because in such a case the govern
mcnt IS taking a part OF the actual profits
og the land owner. But the single tax. or
It's forcrunncr. the Sullivan Brooks bill,
does not take the future. or actually real
Ted. profits. IL confscates at once the
property Of the innocent purchaser. Even
II land values i'm general I'm New York city
may be expected 10 increase, there are al
WAYS sections Of the city where they do
not Increase, or where, as in Union Square
to-day. they have actually been decreasing.
The higher rate on land values WILL pro
faHto. reduce the capitalized value OF the
lanG on what principle OF justice can We
defend the taking away not OF a part OF the
future increment Of value. but of a part OF
the existing value OF the land?
But entirely apart from these social and
economic arguments, | am opposed to the
Sullyan-B Brooks bill for fiscal reasons. New
York City is already very close TO the debt
limit. as We can borrow only up to a GER
tain percentage OF the assessed value OF
real estate. \ tax which will inevitably
decrease the value of the land will corre-
spondIngly reduce our margin Of borrowing
This. In the present state OF the city's
finances. would be suicidal
II, on the other hand we should be driven
into raising less money by borrowing and
putting more on tn" tax levy, reduction
in the value Of the land such as would be
caused by the bil would bring us danger
ously close TO the tax limit. which Is . per
cent OF the value OF the property. Thus
we should be hit at both ends.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
UNDERWOOD, FYTTYGUIsHER.

The Hon. Oscar w. Underwood Is
rapidly acquiring reputation as an ex-
tinguiSher Since he became the head OF
the Democratic machine In the House
of Representatives he has succeeded IN
wet-blanketing everything which lacked
his approval, the Sherwood S15,OOO,OOO
pension bill alone excepted. From the
beginning he las aimed at ParkerizlnG
Democratic poliCieS-that is TO say, ster-
ilizinC them to the extent Of killing off
all germs Of Organism. His latest tri-
umph in the Democratic caucus over
Mr. Henry and those who were bent on
hunting what Mr.. Bryan and Governor
Wilson call the money trust" to its
Wall Street lair only emphasizes the role
which he has played as a sealer-up Of
the cisterns Of radical and undiluted
Democracy. Mr.. Underwood does not
intend 10 have any one intrusted with
the hunt of the money octopus who will
not take orders from him as the head
Of the House organization.
In that resolve Mr.. Underwood has
only followed the course which he laid
out for himself in revising the tariff. He
started in on the wool schedule with the
explanation that Of all the schedules 1t
most needed revision. though now. when
the report Of the Tariff Board has
opened the way for a reduction Of wool
elements in Congress. Democrats, lnSur-
gents and Republicans. the last thing
which Mr.. Underwood thinks OF IS try
ing to secure the benefits Of such re-
duction to the consumer. Probably his
real intention was TO prove at the outset
that he had the House majority under
his thumb by bringing in a wool sched-
ule containing a duty on raw wool, thus
violating all the traditions and promises
Of the Democratic party. He knocked
both Mr. Clevelands and Mr.. Bryan's
theories OF tariff reform into a cooked
hat" and the ease with which he turned
down the free raw materials mandate
naturally encouraged him to believe that
he could play the game which he has
played ever since, Of simply juggling
with duties for political effect and avoid
ing doing anything which might lead to
actual tariff legislation.
Mr.. Underwood has now pretty nearly
extinguished Mr., Bryan as factor in
the shaping Of Democratic policies in
Congress. He has also dOuscd the flick
ering tallow candle Of Speaker Clark s
Presidential candidacy. In the caucus
on Wednesday night Mr.. Clark meekly
followed Mr.. Underwoods lead and thus
furnished to Ex-Governor Folk and Mr..
Bryan all the evidence which they need
of his conversion to the cause Of reac-
! ton. Out in Missouri the Speaker has
| promised to track down the money
trust" with tigers and elephants, if
necessary. But in Washington he finds
himself compelled to vote TO cOnfide the
direction OF the hunt to committeeman
certified 10 as safe and sane" by Mr..
Underwood.
When various speakers in the House
| Of Representatives protested the other
day against a change in the rules curtail-
ing the existing parliamentary rights Of
members they did not call the tyranny
sought 70 be established a manifestation
Of Ciarkism, but manifestation Of IN
derwOOdism. Poor Champ Clark! He,
too, knows now what it means to come
in contact with the Underwood extin-
guisher.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09

The year 1915 will be an appropriate
time for the next peace conference at
The Hague It viii mark the completion
Of q hundred years Of peace between
Great Britain and France and between
Great Britain and America. Ii Will marx
the completion of n hundred years since
the ending of the Napoleonic wars, and
therefore the completion of the first CEN
tury OF what we may regard as the mod
ern era Of peace as contrasted with the
ancient and medieval era Of wars which
found It's elimination in the almost un-
broken series OF conflicts from Valmy to
Waterloo.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
Would Not Lower Rents.

The advocates Of the bill advance 1t pri-
rarily for the reason that II will lower
rents through increased building. but they
overlook the countervailing tendencies
These countervailing tendencies are as foi-
lows:
(a) Houses are erected to-day In New
York on building loans. The amount that
can be raised on mortgage Is in propor-
ton to the value OF the land-the greater
the proportion the higher the interest rate.
Increasing the tax rate on land WILL OF
course diminish its value, but with low
or value OF the land the Intending builder
will have 10 pay higher rate OF Interest
for the money needed 10 erect the house
What he gains through a lower tax rate
nc Is likely 10 lose through higher inter-
est rate.
(b) The small builder who is Just able to
erect his house, through great sacrlhce
looks forward TO the future 70 recoup him
through an increase I'm the value OF the
land. n. on the contrary. he must look
forward 10 a continual increasing tax bur
den. coupled with Giminuton or lessen
Inc Increase OF his land, he will be likely
10 think twice before building.
(c) Many OF the groups Of small houses
are now built by companies that have in
vested capital IN the land. in the shape OF
paying for blasting. grading. sewcring and
roadmaking. They have thus created a
part. at least Of the land values. To the
extent that a higher rate on land means a
tax on the capital Invested in the land II
Will tend TO diminish these building oper-
ations.
II will thus be seen that halving the tax
rat, on buildings will not necessarily in
crease building operations In the outskirts
in the way fancied by the supporters OF
IN. scheme Moreover. the plan would have
other results which are plainly injurious
II '.ould be likely To Increase the tendency
10 erect high tenements In the slums, thus
helping 10 shut out more light and air
Furthermore II would have a most un-
fortunate result In those numerous sections
of the city where. as along Lexington ave
ma, and large parts OF the West Side OF
Manhattan. the value OF the land consid-
,rably exceeds that OF the old and modest
houses standing on II. The result will be TO
force all these home dwcllcrs who are now
on the margin out Of their homes and into
the apartment houses which would be erect
cd on their sites. The present day move
mcrt 10 substitute apartment houses for
modest dwelling houses would be consider
ably accelerated by the bill