davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Tax Rates Here High.

lie told the committee that the latest
census report on municipal taxation
showed tnat the citizens of Washington
Were taxed per capita much higher than
arc the citizens in a large majority of
the cities Of this country. He showed
the committee that the citizens of the
District are paving all the national taxes
to as great an extent as are the people of
other cities
Finally Mr. Macfarland urged that if
the time should come when il was deem
I'd wise to review the present form of
government of the District as much care
should he given TO the matter as had
been given In 1s74-3 when three joint
select committees of Congress worked
for four wears on the problem He told
the committee. however. that the social
cd organic act OF 1873 has been consider
cd a permanent form of government for
the District. and lad been SO held by
the United States Supreme Court
Col Truesdeil urged upon the COM
r1ittec the need Of permitting the people
of Washington TO know at all times just
where they stood. what the value of
th"ir propt rty was. and what taxation
they were to expect To upset the half
aud half plan, he said. was to bring
about chaos.
The members of the Senate appropri;,-
fions committee already have expressed
themselves strongly in favor of the con
tiDuStlOn OF ti,e na11 -half principle,
and il Is expected that the eighth section
Of the bill will be eliminated when the
coplInittee reports to the Senate.
Advocate Gas Merger.
Howard s Reeside president OF the
Washington Gas Light Company and
BENJAMIN $. Minor. counsel for that com
pany. appeared before the committee to-
Gay TO urge the adoption of the proposed
Callinger amendment. which would ner
nit the merger of the Washington and
Georgetown Gas Light companies.
They told the committee that ii would
be to the interests of the people of the
District TO permit this merger. and par
tIcuiariy TO the people of Georgetown.
VINO roH pay 81 per thousand feet of gas
while the residents of Washington nay
only 81 cents. They promised that in
ease OF the merger. the price of gas In
georgetown would be reduced 10 s,
cents
Representing the Georgetown company
at the hearing We're William q. johnson.
counsel for the company, and Thomas
Hume.
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Originated in Texas.

The present storm had its origin in
Texas and moved northeastward. Snow
fell in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys,
and western Virginia was this morning
covered with it TO a depth of four inches
While the snow was falling here the
states along the gulf coast were having
heavy thunderstorms, and snow and sleet
Evening star., 1914-02-13

fell In the south Atlantic states. The
zero blanket covered New England, and
most of the north Atlantic states We're
in the grip of cold weather
Though the temperature was 20 degrees
below the freezing point last night and
was lower Wednesday night, no ice OF
consequence has as Yet made on the river
except on the fats. where 1t formed about
one-half an inch thick. Vessels can stl'
come and go without much difficulty.
the weather continues cold. the sno
falling into the cold water and not mel.
ing to any extent is lying on the surfac
ready to turn to ice on the slightes.
provocation.
cept the larger steamers and tugs that
are fitted with ploWs may have trouble
in getting through it Advices received
from the creeks tributary to the Potomac
state that with few exceptions they are
covered with ice varying from one-ha +
to two inches in thickness and the ice
on them is growing thicker hourly.
Lowest Temperature Last Night.
The lowest temperature recorded last
night. II degrees above zero. was reached
early this morning. This is said to be
three degrees warmer than 1t was w ed
nesday night.
The snowfall and biting cold wind
prevailing when Congress assembled to-
day reminded some of the veteran legls-
lators that it was the fifteenth annl-
versary of a blizzard that broke all rec
ords in Washington. Washngton's worst
snow storm in decades, in 1899. kept all
but fifty representatives away from the
Capitol broke up the House proceedings.
stopped all street-car traffic and piled
the streets with snow drifts.
To-day is both the 18th and Friday.
commented Representative Green of
Massachusetts. but the combination has
no terror for me. ! represent the thir-
teenth congressional district OF my state
and 1 was nominated successfully for
mayor of Fall River five times on Fri
day night The only bad luck | ever had
was when. although lived all my life
in the north, I froze my ears for the
first time in my life in the big blizzard in
Washington fifteen years ago today
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Miners Virtually Get Vacation.

The miners, it is said. during the ''sIut
down are virtually given a vacation
with pay. inasmuch their unions con
tribute to their support. at great expense.
The conference of the operators NOW
going on in Philadelphia is largely upon
the subject of :. proposed new wage scale
for the miners this year, AS in previous
Years. and 1t has been the custom to
shut DOWN during its discussion.
What tn. convention VIII do with ihe
paragraph in case the resolutions COM
mittee decides 10 report it, remains To be
seen this afternoon. but the subject, be-
cause of the possibility that il Will in
volve The. chamber in "a labor dispute. ha
l,eeu the cause OF grave anxiety TO "A
number OF members of the convention
for the last few days.
1t is also understood that the ftew
board of directors of the cllamncr Viii
hold a meeting late this afternoon o.
tonight to discuss successors to III. y.
Wheeler. retiring president of the or
ganization. tntier the constitution the
directors elect the presidSnt-
Evening star., 1914-02-13
To Receive Complaints at Night.

To accommodate persons who desire to
file information with the corporation
counsel of alleged excessive charges of
interest on loans Assistant Corpora ton
Couuses Stephens and Roger J. Whit
ford have arranged to be at their Office
in the District building at night
Mr. Whiteford will be on duty from
7:3O to 9:30 o'clock tomorrow night to re-
ceive complaints, and Mr.. Stephens will
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Human DereIicts and Unfortu-
mates Seek Refuge From
Zero Weather.
ST. LOUIS SUFFERING
IN RAGING BLIZZARD
Ten Inches of Snow Falls-South-
west Also Shivers-Many Fires.
in Cleveland.

NEW YORK. February 13.-The cold
wave claimed another victim here today
The death of Eric Nelson. an aged tai
lor, frozen on the streets, brought the to-
tai since the arrival of zero weather
Wednesday night to nine.
The municipal lodging house and other
charitable organizations overflowed with
human derelcts and unfortunates Pros
trations reported by the police are al
most continuous.
The lowest dip in the mercury today
was at o'clock this morning, when it
stood at one below zero.
Evening star., 1914-02-13
4 LOAN SHARKS" T0LOSE
AF0URTH OF PRINCIPAL
Corporation Counsel Advises Vic
tins of Their Rights Under
the Law.

Not only will loan shark" men who
try to force borrowers to pay an eN-
cessive rate of interest on their loans
lose interest on the loans. but will lose
one-fourth OF the principal sum.
1t is provided in the loan shark law
that any person contracting. directly
or indirectly, for. or receiving greater
rate of interest than that fixed in this
act. shall forfeit all interest so con-
tracted for or received and i'll addition
. thereto shall forfeit a sum of money, to
be deducted from the amount due for
principal. equal to one-fourth of the
principal sum-
In case a loan man who has charged
a greater rate of interest than prescribed
by law, and refuses to accept in repay
ment a sum equal to the principal less
one-fourth, it is the intention Of the cor
poration counsel of the District of Co.
luinbia. upon complaint of the borrower
to Immediately prosecute the loan man
Assistant Corporation Counsel Francis
II. stephens. who is in charge of the
work of obtaining information as to al
iesed illegal loans. stated today that, al
though the borrowers can refuse to pay
any interest at all and also only have to
repay threefourths of the principal many
Of those who have called at his office
have signifed their intention of repaying
the principal IN 1uil.
Sixty-Five Make Complaint.
Throughout yesterday and UP until noon
today about siXty-iive persons who
claimed they had been charged excessive
interest called at the office of the cor
poration counsel in the District building
In practically all cases, it was stated, the
interest was more than 10 per cent, and
i'll some cases showed that it ran up as
high as Is and so per cent.
One case was that of d man who had
borrowed money from loan company
when his wife was ill and needed hos
)ital treatment. The borrower showed
hat he had not only paid excessive in-
terest OH the notes. but had repaid more
than the principal. This man was ad-
yised to go to the loan company and
demand the immediate return of his
notes, upon a threat of prosecution by
the corporation counsel. The borrow
er's signatures on the notes We're cat
off by the loan man and they alone
returned to him.
The Joan shark law prescribes
upon conviction. punishment by fine
of not less than S25 and not greater
than $500, or by imprisonment i'll Jail
or the WorkhouSe for not less than five
nor more than thirty days, or by both
fine and Imprisonment.
To Receive Complaints at Night.
To accommodate persons who desire to
file information with the corporation
counsel of alleged excessive charges of
interest on loans Assistant Corporation
Couuses stephens and Roger J. Whit
ford have arranged to be at their Office
in the District building at night
Evening star., 1914-02-13
THE DAY IN CONGRESS.
Senate.

Met at noon.
Mines committee heard wit
nesses on Senator Walsh's radium
bill.
Smoot bill for codification of
mining laws amended to include
oil and mineral land laws.
Immigra ton committee con-
tinued work on the Burnett bill.
Met at noon.
President Van Hise of the Uni
versity of wisconsin testified on
the trade commission bill.
immigration committee heard
arguments for exclusion OF
Hindus.
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Presidential Possibilities.

In this connection il is understood that
there is discussion. as presidential pos
sibilities. of the names of W. d. S.m-
mons of St Louis. chairman of the cham
ber's committee on banking and currencS:
r c. Rhett director, of Charleston. X -.
who is a banker of that city: James T.
Cutler a Rochester. y. Y, business man.
who is chairman of the patent committee,
and John III. Fahey. Boston business
man who is now chairman Of the execu
tive committee. 1t is said that the choice
probably lies between these four men.
The chamber began its concluding aes-
sions at the Tan-Amcric1n building to-
,la. with q discussion of the inainte-
nance Of resale pyiccs, led by Joseph L..
Da1fes, federal commissioner Of corpo-
r:ttions.
..'rh. discussion today. said NJ
Davies lis addressed to the right Of the
manufacturer 10 establish at successive
stages the resale price of the GOODS
,1 his own manufacture which shall lie
binding through the various stages even
to the extent of being binding upon
the retailer III his iinal resale of the
goods to the consumer.
This practice has obtained in the past
with reference to patented articles.
well as to those nom yatented. and has
developed coucilent With the develop
ment of modern advertising methods.
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Faith Comes From Wisdom.

The mental condition for the existence
of that faith comes from wisdom gained
from the study of the Scriptures. and the
first responsibility of those who instruct
the young is. therefore. the making known
of the sacred writings, continued the
speaker.
There is no scientific discovery within
the last century that has not been at
the same time divine revelation. E,lec-
tricity, for instance, vas discovered
when it was revealed, and it was revealed
to man when lie was ready for it,
In discussion OF the proper grading of
Sunday schools. Dr. Morgan said he had
children at home. and knew all about
the needs of every one of these grades.
In Gods name. never let any one per-
suade you that nature stories can take the
place of Bible stories,' said DR. Morgan
in discussion of the instruction of the
very young.
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Blizzard Prophesied.

The local weather office prophesied a
dubious relief in the form of a blizzard
and a slightly rising temperature. At II
o'clock the mercury obeyed this forecast
by climbing to nine above.
All over the city water. gas and other
supply and feed pipes burst and plumb
ers got little sleep during the night.
All day yesterday and last night the
temperature hovered around zero. re-
ports ranging from two degrees below
to four and five degrees above.
In all sections of New York state and
New England and even as far down the
coast as Norfolk intense cold is reported
Fort Plain. n. y. the temperature yes
terday dropped to 80 degrees below zero
and in many other parts of the state re-
ports of 20 and 25 degrees below were
common
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Address Large Audiences.

An extremely large gathering heard
DR. Frank \. Palmer. the first speaker
of the morning. and DIR. William a.
Souper. who spoke at 10 O'Clock. The
only Christ we know is the Christ of the
four gospels, enshrinec for us III the
New Testament said the latter in his
talk on The Bible in Relation To the
Atmosphere and Conditions of Life
Nor should we be like those who fol-
lowed around the outskirts Of Jesus, but
rather like the small. brave band that
stood directly by Him. Too often We find
ourselves stragglers, said DR.. Souper.
The Bible. the word of God, he con-
tinued, lis the living instrument which
brings US the historical Christ the his
torcal Holy Spirit ana the true, living,
fertile conception of the church.. :.
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Recent Court Decisions.

For number OF Years it is allas ID
that the decisions handed down by the
lower courts We're generally favora bile to
resale price maintenance TO copy
righted and patented articles. In recent
decisions of the supreme Court of the
-nited States. however, the practice of
tixjng resale price has been declared IL
legal.
sboul be sanctioned by law, and that
An express statute should be enacted
TO give to manufacturers. under certain
restrictions, the right to tiN the price
al which articles of their manufacture,
respectively. should be finally sold to
the consumer.
THE bureau Of corporations is now en-
gagged in making an exhaustive study Of
the question from an economic point
of view. For this reason I express no
opinion upon the merits of the question
at this time.
"It be said, however. that this
question is not simple one. In the
matter of the cost of living il af-
fects very vitality the great body of
consumers in this country. 1t is a
statement of memorable fact that no
system of distribution that does not
ultimately and fundamentally conserve
the interest Of the great masses OF
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Personnel of Committee.

The committee from the Board of Trade
consisted OF Col. George Truesden, chair
man of the municipal finance committee;
Henry h. f. Macfarland, chairman of the
subcommittee on the eighth section of the
Distric: bill. and Adds Is. Browne and
Ralph P. Barnard
Mr.. Macfarland discussed the relations
of the national government and the Dis
trict of Columbia from the inception of
the District speaking particularly from
the point OF view of a citizen of the
United States. Col TruesdelI followed
him with discussion Of the whole mat
ter from the point OF view of citizen of
the District
Mr.. Macfarland. il was learned.
showed the committee that all the
official documents dealing with the
provision of the Constitution for a fed
erai district in which should be located
the national capital insisted that the
control of the federal government over
the District should be absolute. The
trainers OF the Constitution had vividly
before their minds. he said. the memory
Of the retreat of Congress from Phila
deiphia to Princeton in 1888 because
Philadelphia was filled with revolu-
rionary soldiers not Yet paid. who
threatened the government
Original Plans We're Clear
He decla ed that after the District
had been selected by George Washing
ton. Washington, L LEnfant and others
went ahead with the plans for the
capital with the distinct understand
ing that the national city was to be de-
Veloped by the federal government.
How else could it have been developed.
.ssked Mr.. Macfarland. when there were
30 inhabitants of Washington outside
u the nineteen original proprietors of
tl.e city. and some fftyfour employees
- The government, who came here
u-iief tie city was projected.
Mr. Nacfarland showed that when
,ieo-s. Washington worked out the plan
-oi- the National Caui.al there OBJ
.ained from the nineteen original proprie-
tors Gill acres OF this land the gov
ernnent took out $500 acres for reserva-
tiofiss and streets. and of the remaining
portion, one-half was to be taken by the
government and one-half by the original
prop:ietors.
air Macfar;and discussed the seventy
FIVE years Of comparative neglect by the
federal government which foIlowe! the
cstabliSh hment Of the National Capital
This was AL changed. he said. when the
act of 1873 was adopted and tine federal
government began to do its share for
the capital.
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Anxious to Avoid Labor Talk.

IT has been well understood that the
National Commerce Chamber has been
exceedingly anxious to steer clear Sf
labor talks. On the other hand. propon-
ents of the paragraph in the resolutions
to be passed on this afternoon point out
that big business men ought to do some
thing TO let the Pennsylvania coal opera
tors know that they hope the customary
shut down Of the mines, and conse
quent increase in price of coal, can be
avoided this year.
The language of the paragraph i'll qucs-
ton. it is said. is revety in its smooth
ness. in the effort hot to seem to he
attempting to interfere with what may
be regarded question between the
operators and the miners, but il is said
that Notwithstanding its diplomatic tone
it is believed to be effective in convey
ing the hope of the business men that
there will be no shut down and in
creased cost.
1t is pointed out by those who are in
touch with the situation in the conven-
ton that the operators would probably
pay close attention to such "A combiua-
ton of great business men as the cham
Der represents. especially as it is said TO
b. beginning TO he recognized that the
'ishrt down OF the mines serves no use
fui purpose for either the miners or The
operators.
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Meetings Open to Public,
Afternoon and Evening,
in the Program Today

Following the morning services, the
usual meeting open to the public at
Epiphany Church at 12:30 O'Clock was
addressed by Rev. Frank y. Palmer. The
speakers at gatherings this afternoon,
held in the First Church. We're $. D. Cor
don. Rev. Russell Conwell and Rev. John
Mcneil.
attending the daytime sessions of the
conference will have the opportunity of
hearing DIR. Conwell the pastor of Bap
list Temple of Philadelphia. at New York
Avenue Church at : O'Clock. The stimuli
taneous meeting in Epiphany Church is
to he addressed by Rev. John Mcneil.
Yesterday afternoon S. D. Gordon. in
his address at the First Congregational
Church, dwelt on the value of communion
as opposed to the more demonStrative
forms of worship Or. McNeill scored
the aInuselneuts of the day and the pres
ent standards of living.
Red Light" Law Discussed.
The ease of the women driven from
Washington's red light district received
special consideration by DIR. Campbell
Morgan at the New York Avenue Church
last night with the declaration that ref
ornation cannot be worked by legsa-
ton hut that the solution of the problem
lies with the church people themselves.
a large audience at Epiphany Church
was addressed by Rev Floyd Tomkins
ON the spiritual meaning of the Bible.
Last evening number of the prime
movers of the conference gathered at a
dinner AT the Ehbitt House. The chances
uf the conference meeting III Washing
ton again next year Were discussed and,
although il i understood that there is Il
slight deficit IN the funds up to date. 1t
was stated after the meeting that there
be repeated.
The following committee was appointed
TO settI. the matter: Rev. Dr. W. K. " ed
derspoon, representing the Methodist
denominations. Percy : Foster, Baptist
Rev. Dr. Earle Wiley, Christian: DIR. j.
r. Clark, Presbyterian; Dr. Henry
Anstadf Lutheran: Stanton j. Peelie
Presbyterian, and Col. George Truesdell,
Episcopal
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Heavy Snow in ST. Louis.

ST LOUIS. February 13-St Louis
was nearly snowbound today as result
of blizzard that started late yesterday
afternoon and which at 10 O'Clock this
morning was at its height. Street cars
on all routes We're blocked and persons
who usually take thirty minutes to get
from their homes to work We're on the
cars from an hour to an hour and
half. Every fourth or fifth car carried
men with shovels who were compelled
to get off frequently and clear the tracks
so the cars could proceed. At O'Clock
the weather bureau reported that ten
inches Of snow had fallen. More snow
tonight is predicted.
Three thousand men were employed IN
the terminal yards all night in an at
tempt to keep the tracks clear. but de-
spite these efforts hundreds of switches
were frozen this morning. Many through
trains We're held for hours before they
could get into the train shed at Union
station. To prevent accidents the pas
sengers on these trains were not permitted
to leave the ears.
For an hour the upper deck of Eads
bridge connecting st. Louis and East St
Louis was impossible. The schools of
Southwest Is White.
KANSAS CITY. February 13.-snow
from TOUR 10 Twelve IhcHeS ueep coNeTeo
all Kansas and western Missouri today.
Oklahoma had from one and a half to
seven inches. Temperatures over the
three states ranged from . degrees above
zero at Dodge City, Kan. to II above in
Oklahoma City. Reports to the local Of
fee of the United States weather bureau
said the Ozark fruit belt was under ten
inches of snow.
CLEVELAND. February 13.-Frlday.
the 18th. brought the coolest weather of
the winter to Cleveland and vicinity. At
6 O'Clock this morning the government
thermometer recorded 6 degrees below
zero. Suburbs reported IL degrees be-
low. With twenty-six fires as the record
for the tWenty-four hours ending at mid
night the department was busy with four
more blazes before = o'clock this morn
ing. Several persons were overcome with
cold.
Evening star., 1914-02-13
WEATHER.

Snow not quite SO cold tonight
and Saturday moderate northeast
winds, becoming southeast
FULL REPORT ON PAGE SEVENTEEN
Evening star., 1914-02-13
Resolutions Committee Asked
to Urge Coal Operators Not
to Shut Down.
FOUR NAMES ON LIST
FOR THE PRESIDENCY
Commissioner of Corporations Ad-
dresses National Chamber at
Pan-American Building.

nat may prove TO be the first ,lisa-
efeeinent among members of the
thamher of Commerce OF the United
states is scheduled 10 come up this after
noon at the closing session of the con-
Veiition OF the organization which has
heen IN progress AT the New Willard Ho-
tsi ana the Pan-American Union build
ing Tor the past thre. days
me resolutions committee is present
ing Its report this afternoon. and IL is
Understood that the committee has been
asked to bring in as part of its "A re-
quest to the Pennsylvania bituninous
coal operators now in session i'm
Philadelphia. to SO guide their de-
alterations, if possible. that there may
not be, this year. a shutdown of the
mines. which has been a bI-annusl
event for several years and as A no.
suit OF which. it is claimed. the price
of soft coal used for making heat
light and power has been Increased
to manufacturers and other large users
of this commodity.
1t is understood that such A parayrapi,
In the resolutions has been urged by j.
B. H. Joesting. secretary Of the Alton
tlllD Chamber Of Commerce. and that
some members of the resolutions commit
tee, if not all. have looked with favor
on the proposition. although they do not
feel at all sure that the convention, com
posed of great manufacturers and other
big business men as il is. Will approve
what some members may regard as an
merce Of the United States in what some
cal i.l
Atlanta Georgian., 1914-03-01
Yes, Billiards!
It's the Finest Home Pastime for Leisure Hours

the home
old
hearts