davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
PANAMA ROUTE MILEAGE.

The recent publication Of statistics by
the "Hansa" newspaper, Of Hamburg,
should serve to correct a too common
and quite incorrect impression concern
ing the Panama Canal and its relation
to the trade routes of the world. That
it will greatly shorten the sea route
between the two coasts of the United
States is obvious. So is it that it will
bring us into much more direct inter
course with the west coast Of South
America. But there has been notion
eXtant that it will offer few advantages
to commerce to other parts Of the world,
and that shipping between, for example,
England and Australia and England
and New Zealand will continue 10 go
by way of the old routes through the
Suez Canal or around the Cape of Good
Hope.
The error Of this is seen in the Han
sa's" figures. which might readily have
been worked out by anybody before.
There will be eight hundred miles saved
by the Panama route Oh the voyage
from England TO Australia. On that
from England to New Zealand the saw
ing will be twice that distance. Still
greater will be the gain between England
and the Pacific ports of the American
continents. namely. 2.100 miles to Val
paraiso and 600 to San Francisco. Be
tween Europe and the ports of China
and Japan there may he little or 10 gain,
or even some actual loss: yet even that
does not prove that such commerce will
entirely shun Panama, for the reason
that that route If not always shorter,
is more direct and straightaway than
that through Suez, and that is no mean
advantage to some commerce.
The more the matter is considered the
more likely it seems that the patronage
of our canal will be much greater than
the critics If not the advocates Of the
enterprise have estimated. This impress
sion is deepened by the extensive prepa-
rations which nearly all other mari
time nations are energetically making
to improve the opportunity which the
opening Of the canal will afford. There
should be in it an irresistible incentive
to still more energetic preparations TO
the same end in this country and to the
encouragement thereof by the rules and
regulations of the canal i'm every proper
gave us the ideal of an American canal
under American control. 1t should also
he for American commercial profit.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
DIRECT PRIMARIES
A Plea for a System by Which the
Voters May Name the Candidates.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial relating to the ef-
forts making at Albany to obtain the best
possible direct primary bill which will pass
and meet the Governors approval is evil
IDENTIFY correct and cautious. Anything cam
not fail to be an improvement over the law
enacted last year. OF course, there are
many provisions essential TO practical bill
which will give the qualified voters the de-
termination and nomination Of candidates
TO be voted for on Election Day. This sys-
tenn has It's advantages. Both political
parties are committed to direct primaries
1t seems agreed that the enrolled voters
shall have the final decision as to who the
candidate shall be.
This is a great gain In some respects over
any other nominating system. but so long
as the voters are not permitted to name
the candidate whose name is to be printed
on the primary ballot the enrolled voter
simply has Hobson's choice-namely' 10
choose among candidates named. by others
This first choice is vital to any successiui
direct primary system. The key 10 the
completion Of any fair and just direct pri-
mary system Is to rest solely in the voters,
the first initiative OF naming the Candidates
for the primary ballot. As 1t stands county
committees or subcommittee OF the coun-
ty committee name the candidates for the
primary ballot In practice how would such
a system work? The present members OF
the county committee would name their sue
cessors for the primary ballot; thus they
become a self -perpetuating body The resi-
dent members of the present county COM
mittee In each Congress, Senate ana AS
sembly district constitute the nominating
power in their respective districts. They
select the candidates to be placed on the
primary ballot.
The only chance the enrolled party voter
has is to file petition for an independent
candidate This is not only costly, but IL
savors of a rebellion against the regular
candidate. ]. l.. MITCHELL.
Brooklyn, Feb. 2, 1912.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
THE PENSION LIST
Writer Thinks 1t Should Be Spread Be-
fore the Public.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: As a constant reader of The Trib-
une I desire to express my appreciation OF
your editorial on pensions in the issue Of
January 81. We like paper on which we
can rely for sound and fearless opinions on
great Issues. All American citizens not
personally Interested in pensions Will say
Amen 10 your words that "the govern
ment cannot afford to assume any more
pension obligations at present"
We notice the constant passing away OF
the veterans of the Civil War, and this fact
Is used as an argument for larger appro-
prlatlons. Nevertheless the annual pay
ments keep up amazingly near the very
highest amount. The coming fiscal year re-
nuires. we are Just told, more than $f52,-
600 900 In the ordinary course or events
there should be diminution, not increase.
Is Il not time for an examination OF the
pension rolls? Grave charges are made
that. AZ your editorial states. "a good deal
Of pension money now goes to persons who
do not deserve TO receive It," l advocate
the bill OF Senator Bryan for the publicity
OF the identity of the 100000 pensioners on
the government rolls. What is more rea-
sonable? II a firm pays out vast sums all
the members of that firm have the right
and exercise It, to know whore the money
goes Shall not the American people, to
whom belongs the money distributed In pen
sions. know that their funds are wisely and
honestly paid out? JOHN X. JONES.
Metuchen. ~ j.. Jan. 81. 1912.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
CANADA AHEAD or US.

They order some things much better
in Canada. The Canadian House of
Commons has just passed by a unani-
nous vote the following resolution:
THAT this House is of the opinion that
"the expansion or extension Of the par
"cels post system would be in the public
interest" Under the Dominion postal
act no legislation is necessary to extend
the parcels post system, but the action
taken by the House Of Commons will
be accepted by the Cabinet as war
rant for increasing the weight and size
of parcels carried and extending the
rural free delivery system.
The people Of Canada will therefore
soon be in a position TO benefit by a
modern parcels post, like that enjoyed
by most civilized nations. The advan-
tages of such service are obvious. 1t
tends to put producers and consumers
and sellers and purchasers into closer
relations and to eliminate one source
Of waste in distribution. The govern
ment is willing to- carry parcels at the
bare cost of transportation. 1t seeks no
profit. If, therefore, it undertakes to
maintain a parcels post Of the modern
sort it will encourage the producer at
one end of the line to deal directly with
the consumer at the other end. If the
farmer could send his less perishable
products direct TO a city purchaser the
latter could probably buy eggs, apples,
potatoes and many other vegetables at
rate which would seem cheap TO him
and vet give the farmer a larger return
than he now gets from the wholesaler.
Both producer and consumer would be-
come to some extent Independent Of the
Intermediates who now play the middle
against both ends. Conversely the
farmer could deal with the city producer
and avoid the drain of several landings
Of goods and of several profits.
The United States almost alone
among the leading countries of the
world still clings to an obsolete restlic-
ton upon the activities Of the postal
service. 1t is ashamed to treat foreign
ers as shabbily as it treats its own citi-
zens, for it will carry larger packages
at cheaper rates when they come in
from abroad or are marked for deliy
cry abroad. Congress should wake up
and follow the Canadian Parliament's
pexample Instead of talking about the
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05

that he has inside information tnat 'ne
minute this bill becomes law the large ~"
jority of mortgage holders will demand ''i''
they be paid. / challenge Assembly una.
Murray to show me any mortgage WIN"
has clause that 1t falls due when the hes
islature changes the rate of taXatloh ~,
other property than on mortgages. IL SUI"
were the case. Mr.. Murray. an astute 10"
yer, must know. mortgages would De caheu
every year, because the tax rate is cilaiieo'
every year. The Sullivan Brooks Dill uoes
not affect the rate OF taxation on mort-
cages.
Assemblyman Murray also claims tla'
the title guarantee companies ana all tn'
money interests are against the measure
because it will cause the value OF properly
to depreciate. Grasping money interests
wish congestion, because It Is proftaple u
them, and Assemblyman Murrays state
ment I'm this connection should be Drought
to the attention of his constituents VINO de-
sire relief from increasingly high rents.
WARREN c. EBERlIE.
New York. Jan. 81, 1912.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
HONEY AND BUSINESS.


Increasing bank reserves at this CEN
tire, while rejecting an absence of active
demand throughout the country from
mercantile and speculative quarters for
loan accommodation, suggest that when
the time is ripe for industrial expan-
sion on a large scale there will be an
ample supply Of money for the promo
tion and advancement OF the country's
business activities. Accumulation of
surplus funds in New York has made It
the cheapest money market in the
world. The extensive movement OF cur
rency from the interior has enabled our
bankers to place heavy loans abroad,
where rates are more attractive than at
this point, and with our constantly
growing excess Of shipments Of mer-
chandise over imports a situation has
been created that places the United
States in the first position as a credi-
tor nation, Our credits in Europe are
enormous. When the money represent
ed by these credits is needed here it can
easily be withdrawn, and that it will
be needed before the close Of the cur
rent year is the opinion of the best in
formed men i'm the financial community.
At the moment general trade as far
as forward commitments are concerned,
is disappointing, but at the Same time
large volume Of day-to-day business
is being handled, evidence of which is
found in the record of bank clearlngs
and railroad gross earnings in most
parts of the country.
Bank clearings for January present
an appreciable gain over the total for
the same month last year, the larger
number OF cities showing increases, al
though compared with 1910 the exhibit
is less favorable. owing to lighter spec
ulative movements in this city outside
of New York, however. the January re-
turns are heavier than ever before for a
corresponding month, exceeding the rec
ord Of 1911 by more than per cent
and that of 1910 by more than per
cent. Current business in the leading
lines is wholly for immediate necessi-
ties, speculation and actual operations
for the future naturally being light in
view Of tariff uncertainty, political
agitation against the corporations and
present and predicted unrest in labor
circles. Buyers for out-of- town houses
now visiting this city are operating
chiefly In small lots and are doing little
to anticipate future requirements. Sta
pie goods are in fair demand and the
prominent drygoods markets present
Improvement as compared with the con-
ditions noted at the close of the last
year Exports Of cotton are heavy and
well in excess of the shipments at this
time in 1911. foreign spinners showing
ii greater desire than the American
mills to secure raw supplies. Both the
spot and option cotton markets are
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
SPIRITUAL STIMULATION.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The letter in The Tribune Of Feb
ruary /, headed "Austerity Viewed as
Cause OF Slim Congregations" makes me
criticise the writer, who frankly admits that
he is not churchman. / am churchwom-
an. and find no week quite complete with
out the uplift OF at least one service when
we make our common supplcatlons." To
me the preaching Of the present day seems
to be that expressed by the Psalmist in
the Tooth Psalm.
I have not yet reached the years Of the
writer, but know that have lived long
enough-nearly fifty years-to realize that
while my upbringing was and is TO look
upon Sunday as holy day, it has always
also been as the happy day OF all the week.
Possibly IL the writer had chosen to avail
himself OF possible privileges he also could
say: IL was glad when they said unto me :
Let us go into the house of the Lord. "
A CHURCHGOER.
New York Feb T. 1912.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
~pERILOUS As 4 BATTLEFIELD.'

"PERILOUS As A BATTLEFiELD.'
The coroners find that life in New
York. especially upon the streets OF the
city. is almOa as perilous as life on
battlefield. Five thousand seven hun
dred and one persons met violent deaths
in Manhattan during 1911, an increase Oh
2g2 over the number for 1910. Ihe HsC
of deaths by confiacratiOn may be sald
10 give the clew to this appalling waste
of life. out If 161 persons thus dying
more than 40 were killed in the Wash
ington Place fire. They, at least, ana
probably many more of the 16l, were
the victims of unenforced law, of failure
70 take obvious precautions for safety,
of wanton disregard of human life.
The same causes are found operating
in almost every classification under
which the coroners list many deaths
OF deaths from elevator accidents-6o-
the coroners report that at least 20 per
cent might have been prevented II the
elevators had been equipped with proper
safety devices. In the majority OF cases
Of killing of people by automobiles the
coroners found evidence OF careless
ness" excessive speed and failure to
give proper warnings TO pedestrians
With regard to homicides by shooting
failure properly to enforce the Sullivan
law regarding the sale Of pistols Is re-
! ported.
So it goes through the entire list
LawIessness, the Inefficient enforcement
of law. the cheap regard in which hu-
man life is held, neglect TO use safety
devices, and, above all. the readiness 10
take chances where life is mt stake cost
/ New York a host of lives annually. or
the nearly six thousand violent deaths
last year it is impossible to say now
many were preycntable, but the proper
tion was undoubtedly large. In its cal
lousness regarding the needless waste OF
human lives this country has never got
far away from the spirit Of its frontier
! days.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
THE TALK OF THE DAY.

Farming at night Is an innovation intro
duced by T. ". Fowler. who lives twelve
miles west of Lodi. Cal. Fowler has two
crews OF six men each, and has been
ploughing night and day. Immense
searchlights," says THE Argonaut," "are
attached to the ploughs. and the laborers
declare that they can see at night almost
as we'll as during the day. An incongruous
feature Of the work IS that when the night
crew is eating breakfast at 8 o'clock at
night. the day shift is eating supper from
the same table. Fowler is planting two
thousand acres of barley, and has resorted
to the novel scheme of working twenty
four hours day. In order that he may get
the grain in before the heavy rains"
Collector-slr, this is the 25Oth time
called on you.
The Man-Thats a good score What's
game?-Cficago News.
Baglng his calculations on figures OBJ
talned through the marriage and death
records. Dr.. Joseph Jacobs estimates the
Jewish population OF New York at 90s, 400 in
the current number o. THE American
Hebrew" OF these about 10 per cent are ma
tive born OF native parents, as against 1913
another % per cent are native born OF
foreign parentage." The statement shows
further that two-thirds of the Jews who
came to this country from 1880 to 1905 we're
from Russia and that OF the population In
question five-ninths are Russian and two
ninths Austrian.
Hubbubs-So you don't agree that the
age OF miracles IL past en-
subbahs-NOt on your sss llfe had Theres The ssms
man out my way VINO has nau We s5ihe
ord.
"Al about the Inauguration OF george
Washington" loud-yoiced man called IN
front of a quick lunch place YESTERDAY
Nobody seemed TO be interested in the mat
ter. while the venders Of patent suspender
buttons, trick cards and fountain pens held
large audiences. Presently an elderly man
asked the price Of the "All about washing
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
NO SURRENDER THIS TINE.

1t is TO be hoped that the House Of
Representatives will stand firm in its
contention that the eighteen existing pen
sion agencies shall be consolidated into
one central agency at Washington. The
pension appropriation bill which passed
the House of Representatives last Fri
day went q little further than similar
bills in recent years have gone. Previ-
ously the House merely omitted any pro-
vision for the seventeen agents outside
Washington. being tied down by the rule
which prohibited general legislation Of
any sort on an appropriation bill. Under
the House code as amended last spring
general legislation on an appropriation
bill is permissible, If it reduces eXpendi-
ture, and the popular branch has now
taken advantage Of that latitude to re-
neal the statute under which the pension
agencies were established.
The Commissioner OF Pensions has
long been anxious to get rid of the cum
bersome and expensive machinery by
means OF which pension payments are
now made. He wants to be allowed to
nav all pensioners by check direct from
Washington and to save the payee the
fee which he has now to give TO notary
public for attesting his signature on a
voucher The check itself is to serve as
voucher, when indOrsed OIL the back by
two witnesses TO the pensioners sigma
ture. Much useless correspondence will
be thus avoided and the payee will get
his quarterly allowance about eleven
days earlier than he gets 1t now.
The Senate has stood in the way Of
this desirable reform in pension admins
tration because it has been unwilling TO
see seventeen useless offices wiped out.
Those Offices are treated as patronage,
and Senators have been extremely re-
luctant 10 decrease the outstanding sup
ply of federal appointees subject to con-
frmation. The House by non-partisan
vote has tried at least three times to get
rid OF ihe pension agencies, thus saving
the government at least S2O0OOO year.
But the Senate has resisted and won its
point by threatening TO let the pension
appropriation bill fail rather than sacri-
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05

stranger. and IL is quite evident the ~"
point for the season has been pasS
Now orders i'm the iron and steer MAJ
kot are moderately heavy, but the lli'uo
trv is far from the point that means Dig
rrofts for the companies. Prices l"r
finished steel materials will nave u M
considerably higher before tie N'''
facturers will be able to figure oil
margin Of profit, but the fact tlia'
tiore are low is encouraging liberal spec
i6cations and strengthening the theorS
that il is a matter of snort tliilo oIl''
when higher figures will develop i"o
Iron Age" says that the aggregate VI
January bookings by the larger '''',
CONFORMS was not far from the actul
sbinments. Although the Northern pig
iron markets are quiet, Improvement 10
reported in the South copper ihetal
conditions are unchanged, anu 'oh"
s,Imers apparently have large enough
stocks on hand to last for some time 10
cor,e hut this situation is not effective
I'm bringing about important concessions
in quotations. Coal is in good demand
and local dealers are working overtime
to supply the inquiries from individuals
and manufacturers. who fear the possi-
bility of a strike in the anthracite region
at the expiration on April 1 Of the agree
ment between the miners and the mine
owners.
General commodity prices show no I'M
portant change from the levels recorded
a week ago, wheat being an exception,
having advanced under tho influence OF
a good cash demand, active European
buying and a decrease in the world s
visible supply. notwithstanding indica-
tions that appear TO point to a strong
wheat market for months to come, buy
ers of -four continue to follow the policy
pursued so long OF dealing only for i'm
mediate requirements. In spite Of easy
money, speculation in stocks outside OF a
few issues, is light in volume, with no
indication of interest in the market on
the part of the public, although investors
show some inclination to take high grade
stocks and bonds that can be bought on
satisfactory income basis. Stocks are
in strong hands, and while there is an
aggressive bear party in the Street de-
clines I'm prices when made are easily re-
covered.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
THE suLLIvAN.eRooKs BILL.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. Assembyman Andrew f. Murray
is quoted in The Tribune to-day as oeing
against the Sullivan Brooks bill. gradually
to reduce the rate OF taxation on all build
ings in New York City to one-halr the tax
rate on all land. Mr.. Murray says: Iais
measure would impose an unjust burden on
the holders of unoccupied property''and tne
only effect it will have on the situation IN
New York will be to cause real estate
panic"
Mr.. Murray's statements must pe SUD-
stantiated n he expects to have any ere
dence attached TO them. The experience OIL
all cities which have tried the lower tax
rate on buildings than on land SHOWS prog
ress and development Professor EDWIN H.
A. Seligman OF Columbia University has
stated that In no place where the lower TAX
rate on buildings has been tried nave they
returned to the old system OF UNIFORM TAX
alton.
Assemblyman Murray also says: In
nearly every mortgage held In New York
City there Is a clause that the mortgage
falls due at any time that the Legislature
changes the taxation laws He claims too.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
PILGRIMS ELECT OFFICERS
William Butler Duncan Again Chosen
President of Society.

william Butler Duncan was reelected
president of the Pilgrims Society Of
America at meeting held on Saturday
at No. l65 Broadway Former Ambassa-
dor Joseph II. Choate. j. Pierpont Nor
gan. General Stewart L. Woodford and +.
Cunliffe-Owen were reelected vice-presi-
dents.
William Allen Butler, president of the
Lawyers Club, was elected to Ill the
place on the executive committee left va
cant by the death OF Colonel John J. Nc
Cook. Other officers elected were George
T. Wilson, chairman of the executive
committee; r. A. c. Smith. chairman of
the committee on admissions; William
Curtis Demorest, treasurer. and George
w. Burleigh, secretary.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
Nelu-Dork Gribnne.
MONDAY. FEBRUARY 5, 1912.

This newspaper Is o;oned and puo-
Rshed by The Tribune Association, q
Neio York corporation; office and prh-
cipaI place of business, Tribune Bu''d-
ing, No. 154 Nassau street, Neio lor6j
ogden M. Reid, president; Condo Ham
In, secretary; James II. Barrett, treas
urer. The address Of the officers Is the
office Of this newspaper.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05

fee the pension agents. This year the
House should have the~moral courage to
hold out for its contention. The issue
is one of economical and efficient admin
istration against the perverse theory that
IL Is the governments business to estab-
lish and maintain offices for the con-
yenience of politicians and their de-
pendents. This time common sense
ought to win against spoils.
New-York tribune., 1912-02-05
INCOMPLETE HOLIDAYS.
Edlior nf The Trlbune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
sir: The benefits to be derived from an
occasional holiday can hardly be overesti-
mated, and it is a pity that the few We
have are not more universally observed.
Tho fact that they are not Is due entirely
to the thoughtless practice of shopping on
those days.
The people who do not get holidays are
nearly always the hard working ones who
need them most. II you are off Lincoln's
Birthday you will find plenty of stores open,
but, in the name of justice and humanity,
don't shop. CONSlDERATE
New York Feb, 3, 1912