davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-09-30
WAR TIME LIFE IN A LITTLE FRENCH VILLAGE

France there is not a family that has
not suffered privation, ruin or loss of
a member, mostly the breadwinner.
Someone goes to Paris with the inten-
ton of returning home the next day,
and is just swallowed up. A week
passes apd nothing is heard of him."
Angell\ recited with much amuse-
ment sotne of the rumor current
daily. "For instance he said, If the
train service stops at the chief town
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-09-30
ORRESPONDENTTELlS OF
THE BURNING OF TERMONDE
BY i. N. KETTLE.
international News Service.

Termonde,-Here is the story Of the
w~recking of Termonde, told by a
dozen different inhabitants and con-
firmed from dozens Of other reliable
! sources. Is &C.
Following the German entry into
the city the commander demanded q.
levy OF 1900, 900 francs. The money
was not in the public treasury, and
the. burgomaster was not there to save
his town as Braun saved Client.
General ~Sommerfeld had chair
brought from the inn into the center
OF the grand palace. He sat down
on it, crossed his legs and said:
1T is our duty to burn this town."
The inhabitants were allowed two
hours to clear out and then the sol
diers went TO work. !.
By Use Portable caissons.
Their apparatus consisted of .
small portable pressure caisson filled
with benzine and fitted with q spray.
Other witnesses said that there also
we're great caissons on wheels. With
this they sprinkled the floors and
ground stories OF the houses and set.
fire to the buildings. Others used q
sort Of phosphorus paste with which
they smeared the object to be de-
stroyed. They completed their work
by fiinging hand grenades and pre-
pared fuses into the infant flames.
Remembering Louvain, General
Sommerfeld had evidently given d.
rections that the public and monu.
mental buildings were to- be- spared.
Thus the museum and the city hall
both remain standing, but right be-
tween them his petroleurs destroyed
a hotel.
PiIIased Everything.
General S~ommerfeld's soldiers stole,
pillaged and drank everything on
which they could lay their hands,.
Witnesses on this point are maryland
unshakable. Their moderation must
impress anybody who talks to them.
A citizen OF Termonde, who him
self had been held as hostage. said
to me while standing amid the ruins
OF his town:
Monsieur, there is human nature
among the Germans. 1 saw many
officers in tears. A German lieuten-
ant came and shook me by the hand,
crying, 1t is not our fault"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-09-30
Jabbed Himself.

"Why, Mr.. Newrich, what is the mat
ter? Have you been in a fght?"
mo, them marks around my chin
was made with a fork. I've had to
Quit eatin' with my knife"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-09-30

"I would, only I'm afraid my friends
would think. IL gave up the gay nt4
that I must be getting old"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-09-30
Some Men,.

Some men are naturally so dishonest
that they regard it as a triumph whe1
they cheat themselves. -
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19

adequacy OF revenue.
Tile inevitable result ~ tho com'nls-
s!on's action viii he to rcmove ,hr pres
sure which otherwise would exist upun
the Stotc authorities 20 apply the right
remedies The supplement II report UNI
lawfully shifts the burden OF the carriers
troubles upon the interstate shipper.
This should frankly he recognized as
one OF the results that will follow the
action now approved hy the majority OF
the commission An endeavor 10 stimulate
commerce and 70 bolster up the credit of
tn" carriers A. commended AZ the further
hearing. by an increase i'm rates will
simply result In perpetuittou al recur-
renee NJ the financial distress OF the
carriers,
Il cannot but think that general IN
crease in the Standard rates of this
country, while tho rate structures OF
these carrier, remain full OF Inconsistent
c.'s, Determinations ana wrongful prac-
| tees that icplror their revenues, Is NOR
| ally WRONG that the placing OF add
| t.uual burdens on Interest te commerce
! that ~ not also placed upon State COM
,u"rCc Is also wrong and that the course
approved In the supplemental repor, will
ultimately Ia" rs disastrous to the car
ricrs themselves a. it will he harmful 20
TIA general interests"
Commissioner Judson G Clements, dis
lscnting from the majority view, said in
part:
III the basis Of the conclusions of the ma
iority uf tho commits sion sanctionug these
rates in trunk line territory Is sound and
points 10 the rule of action for the future,
tho burden placed by the law upon the ear
rlcls to Justify Increases IN rates is in
deed made light and easy To- carry, espo-
Cially when ny concerted action group
81 carriers some strong and some weak,
simultaneously propose To Increase the
great body of their rates
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19
Mr.. IIurIau's Dissent.

Chairman Harlan in dissenting said in
part;
1.-THE further hearing In this case added
nothing substantial 10 the relevant facts
before us when the original report WAS
handed down. II served only 20 confirm
the soundness of the finding then made
that the railroads in official classification
territory. taken as "A whole ought TO have
additional net income.
"My own opinion of the record has been
and is that the carriers in that territory,
considered collectively, arc IN need of
more additional net income than the
amount. 10000 900. which they estimated
the proposed per cent Increase N rates
would yield
II can readily agree therefore to the
reiteraion in the supplemental report OF
the finding of the original report that
those railroads need additional revenues,
and TO that extent what is here said may
be regarded rs concurrence wholly
dissent however from the course now APP
proved hy the commission for permitting
the carriers To augment their revenues
THE supplemented report. in seemingly
relieving the carriers distress. removes
the spur of obvious necessity which would
have been the most potent factor in
eliminating the abuses ), ,,ch the records
show are the cause Of the existing In
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19
Why not take it easy?

Why not take it easy?
A mans store is the place to
buy a man 5 Christmas present
to best advantage you save
your time and temper.
Besides such always accept
able gifts as fur lined gloves,
house coats, dressing gowns,
walking sticks, silk scarfs, silk
muffers, scarf pins
Unusually attractive novel
ties in leather and metal, such
as smokers sets of bronze,
silver mounted; ash trays,
nestled; cigar and cigarette
cases. desk clocks, travelling
cases. manicure sets, wallets.
Roller skates, ice skates,
cameras and everything else in
the way Of Sporting Goods.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19

"1he like may be said as to the recent
ENLARGEMENT OF expenditure upon roadway.
We cannot view with favor any attempt
10 obtain an increase in net revenue
throueh unduly restricted expenditures
upon maintenance.
To whatever extent recent increa sed
provision for depreciation or expenditure
FOR maintenance may initiate against n
fair comparison Of supposedly comparable
statistical Items for various wears we
cannot say ON this record that such
charges ~ at present returned by the car
rers are excessive. viewed either from the
standpoint of proper accounting or Of
safety of operation.
The testimony shows that while some
maintenance * being deferred other MAIN
tcnance deferred during the last fiscal
year is now being made and that the en-
pcnditure therefor during the months OF
July and August measured Ip to the level
of recent years. The testimony also shows
that transportation expense is being re-
ducsd through the laying off OF employees
and cancellation Of train service.
ct was urged on behalf OF the carriers
and the investment bankers who appeared
at the hearing that the war in Europc has
created condition which renders the
diWluution OF the carriers net income a
menace to the prosperity OF the country .
that the war has placed an aGded strain
upon the credit OF carriers; that rates Of
interest VIII rise that large volume Of
railroad securities is held abroad: that
III" denial Of the increase in freight rates
would IN view OF the diminished net In
come he followed by dumping OF foreign
securities upon the American markets;
mat our markets would not he able 10
hpsorb these securites---at least without
great lal IN price that disaster would
result not only to the railroads but to in.
NHrance' banking and Industrial concerns,
s"i That FOR these and other reasons ex-
'"naiug tar beyond the direct needs of the
'aril'rS th"lu'"lFc- We should now allow
the proposed increase ia rates.
Ni'h som" Of these considerations we
hr\e as commits sion nothing To- do Onr
powers ana functions So" those, and only.
Sn"se, conferred hy Congress. As was
sald IN the advance rate case:
we must not regard too seriously,
however the effort Of railroad counsel to
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19
DccIsfon VIehIy EncOurNEInR, ~nys
". q. Van NntMrrp.

W. .. Van Antwerp Of the governing
committee ut the New York Stock Tx
change said "Thr decision IL highly ell
cour9ging ard will no doubt be approved
by tho higher @. uit ~ public Silnon.
which appears Z, have decided upon 4
policy Of fair PLAY ior all honestly COM
Quoted business J am hopeful that thu
fun text ~ ;he commissions ruling viii
leave 4 way omen tor a further cnnsidcla-
tlun OF bitum'n us .oal rates. Tn, lake
and rail features os the decision must
'lSp be carefully considered when tne
full text Is available. beciuse these rates
are Of great import1LCc."
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19


commission. a. IN It's order Of Jull -. has
exercised all the powc.s that the railroads
claimed we're vested .u II iu that u has
permitted "A general ard horizontal adj
vance iH many Thousand, o. rate. FOR
this reason the logic uudcr'N Ing the COM
missions refusal To I.yause rates ON
bitumlnous coal and coke L. not very
clear The present rates on these COM
moditieS were fixed about two years ago
on the basis OF Nhat are known a. lake
cargoes' and presumably were reasonable
when the carriers made their application
for a general Increase On the ground ~
their necessities. The presumption OF
.casonableues> however. was just as
strong in the case OF all tie other cN.s,.u-
tariffs which had not been recently e&-
amined by the commission
The carriers offered Their necessities in
general satisfaction OF the so-callcd bur
den OF proof a. AGAINST tho entire struy-
ture OF freight rates. They took the
ground that II this entire .tructure were
reasonable before their application II ne
came reasonable plus the increase required
to meet the carriers necessities Il is
difficult to soc Why this ar-uneut Is not
just as valid AGAINST the hitumiuous coal
and coke rates NJ Il has been admitted 10
Ice AGAINST the general structure OF claSsi-
lied rates Furthermore, failing definite
evidence Why lake and rail rates We're
unrea- ouahly high at the time OF tho
carriers application It would seem That
the carriers ease should have been just
a. good AGAINST this as against any other
part Of the structure.
"Of course the real Importance OF the
decision is in it, recogniIion, first, OF the
fact that carriers revenues are inaduqultc
and second, In it, application--pdrt'al as
that application is--of the principle OF
horizontal increase AZ the natural method
of meeting inadequacy OF carriers % -
cuu"s. Both OF these principles are APP
piled for the first tim, in this case
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19
Action on Coal Disappointing. says
u. o.. HuttrrHeId

-. '. But'ogteld, general solicitor O,
The New York Central system. Who pre-
pared the presentation ~ the C,utril's
case for thr h,lrng. said. From VIVA,
iaN" learned the effect -" th- decision
docs not permit lake and rail advances.
and This. ia our view, = very serious
drawback, The lake and rail rates have
tendency 70 control the all rail- rates.
Therefore. We may not be able To take
advantage OF the all rail rate advances
1T is disappointing that the advances
did not include bitumuous coal and iron
ore. ] should Judge that this traffic
would be fully IN 10 % per cent. OF total
traffic on tho New York Central system
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19

granted an increas,
on perhaps . little
mere than half of the
tonnage. but 20 the
extent that the in
ease hasbe q n
granted 1t VIII help
the railroad situa-
ton. I. should also
promote general pub.
IT, confidence tor the
+. gr,.
The cominlss on
has recognized not
only tine need - the
railroads. but tho
effect upon the rail-
roads ~ the peculiar
conditions generally
at the present time.
The iNcrcds, now
granted cell not
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19
IA, orabIe on the whole, says New
man Erb.

Newman Erb, president OF the Mime
apolis and ST Louis and of the Ann Arbor
railroads said: II am inclined to regard
the findings favorably on the whole. On
an average, ] should say that the roads
affected by this decision directly vii.
realize an Increase of from 3is to per
cent.
The exceptions made in the rates on
b.tuminous coal. iron ore and in other
spec itc cases where the rates have al
ready been suspended. involve approx
mately 40 per cent. of the tonnage of the
railroads affected and In the nelghbor-
hood of 80 per cent. OF their revenue, as
nearly as / can calculate roughly. The
Increase will he less 10 the Norfolk and
Western, Chesapeake and Ohio and Baltj-
more and Ohio. FOR instance. than the
other roads In the territory affected gen
orally. No advances in anthracite coal
rates could reasonably he expected. They
are pretty well up already"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19

...,.. 10,
ne commission "a! 20 W ~ s,,h-
w men tn'sc ''ses w W s '"''| -
nltteu' a. 49, "," - Vs. - x,oIt-
WIS WcP'Ie"' ~ - ,o,a a,,d ,bo
ture account .oI 'u'e, o., a.,
properly "N's'''.t. ,Li ~. -
ns'ai year were no' HN"'.,." ,,,, '' o,,r
"as uuloi'9ee" anu Wv 80, 90.
cruer NcIt w ,'"'e ~. ~ t,.,t,,
I'ctIvely they presont . ne" sl."'','Un
me C'I iIeIs oie'.u ~, Nv, 80
o. thelr nnau,I1' cn ,o ~ ,e,,,,s
nscaI year eI'ue' 'u'' w. =
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19

was what the commission ought 90 have
done" said Mr.. Lorc.. 81 have not had
time TO read tn" entire decision. uut nave
received The early reports Indicating that
the railroads will get large part II
what they asked for.
81, Will relieve the distress OF the rail-
roads. as u WI nh hole In their earn
irgs. hut I DO TO. believe il vii give
them any additional purchasing power"
Nj. Lore" WI, asked II be i!iut think
the industrial companies would reap ma
;,i.ai Avaoit from tno Increase lie an
sWer-d IN the negative.
1T remains 20 Doe seen how the decision
Will u" viewed 10y the labor uu ous,' con-
t!uu,i NJ. Lore.
President stone n the Brotherhood OF
L'comot VI Engineers has been quoted AZ
saving thar "a soon As he gpt IN, IL ppr
cent. iHn-et~" IN wages how being asked
for In the West he was coming East 10
demand another increase hero.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19
The Exceptions.

For various reasons We shal, eNcept
from the proposed increase the following
rates.
." Rai-lakc-and-raN lake-and-ra!l
and ra!l-and-lake rates Il Is shown on
the record that since the rail carriers nc
CURED ownership and control Of the Ike
lines successive Increases have been made
IN the rates Via lake tending to lessen Tho
differences between them and the all rail
rates.
-. Rates On bitumnous coal and coke
Not long since these rates were in esti-
gated and the maximum rates were pre-
scribed by the commission. The key rates
upon the bitmunous coal--the rate from
the Pittsburg district TO Youngstown and
the rate on lake cargo coal 10 Ashtabull
have been fixed In the light Of the
various factors which enter into the
transportation OF such coal The prevail
ing rates are remunerative, and the hnan-
c'al condition of the principal bituminuuS
coal carriers is in marked confirms; with
that OF many Of the other carriers In Of
ncial Classification territory. Twice in
the not distant past the rates on
b!tumlnous coal have been increase
cents ton and would seem
now to be as high as may fairly be nj
lowed II must be remembered also that
the carriers are not seeking general in
creases In rates on anthracite coal and
both kinds of coal are used I'm competitive
markets AS to coke the rates controlling
the volume now moving in official classi-
hcation territory have recently been set
ny the commission upon basis which
was specifically designed to guard against
shrinking the carriers revenue iherefrom
and which really resulted In substantial
additions 10 their earnings on that
traffic.
"3. Rates on anthracite coal and iron
ore largely because they are before us
Tor review in other proceedings
-. Rates held by uneNpired orders by
the commissions.
I'm our original report We declined for
reasons there stated to allow increased
rates In central freight association ter
ritory on cement, starch, brick, tile, clay
and plaster. ON further consideration in
the light of the existing situat ton these
rates may be increased throughout DILL
c'al classification territory under the lni-
tatiops herein set forth.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19
extent necessary to maintain said differ. |,

extent necessary to maintain said differ
entails.
Except as otherwise above specified.
rates IN ofiicia! classification territory
may he increased b. not more than j.
per cent. hut rates increased since July
20, 1914, may not now be again Increased
50 aS 20 exceed those then in effect ny
an aggregate Of more than per cent.
of the intraterritorial rae or of the por-
ton or division OF The intrlterritoriil ra:e
accruing 10 the road or roads In official
classification territory, as the case may
be.
III fractions in excess OF ouc-haIf a
mill are rounded upward fractions less
than onehalf mill are TO be discarded,
"In some instances, and in part be-
cause of the pendcnCy of this proceed
ing. We have recently suspended proposed
increased rates in this territory. Car
ricrH may II they 50 elect now cancel
such tariffs 20 suspended and file In lieu
thereof tariffs which conform to the limi-
tations az specified II that is done such
suspensions Will be vacated
ITO the extent above indicated We now
modify our previous finding and carriers
affected may iile, effective on not less
than ten days notice, such tariffs as do
not offend against the restrictions above
stated"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19
TWO MONTHS TO FILE TARIFFS,
Railroad Men say Benefits Won't
Come Before Nnrrh.

pnILApELPHlA, Dec. lS,--AcCording 10
statements by officials of the Pennsylvania
and the Philadelphia and Reading rall-
roads. the preparation of the new freight
traffic to he hrd with thr Interstate
Commerce Commission viii take at least
two months,
This means that it will be after Feb
ruary | and probably approaching close
To- March !, before the railroads will be-
gin To receive any benefits from tho IN
creased freight rates,
To-day's decision makes useless the
tariffs Med on October IS, lcte.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19
Revenues Too Low.

"Fr1m a comparative standpoint the ret
opera ing revenues of the last fiscal year
must he regarded as unduly low. Operat-
ing costs and operating revenues fail to
SHOW the tendency to such concomitant
variation as should prevail IN the trans
poltat.on industry. While the gross
revenue in that year declined only about
"a per cent. the net revenue shrank ap-
proNimately Ia per cent. as against thu
previous fiscal year. The indication is
that some important items Of cost have
become relatively iuelastic and tina: fall
in gross revenue leaves an increasingly
narrow margin Of net revenue.
The situation Is different when an at
temp, : made to estimate the decline in
the rate of return. The properly in
vestmcnt accounts as now standing on the
books of the carriers cannot be accepted
rs accurately representing the fair value
OF their property devoted to serving the
public
objection was raised TO the increasing
amounts charged in recent years 10 addl-
lions and bettermerts, particularly be-
cause the carriers n presenting a financial
review of their operations for series OF
years failed 10 indicate the relative effect
upon their accounts Of outlay for 6ddi-
tons and bettermonts as compared with
allowance for depreciation, it being con-
tended that this caused an unwarranted
dimiuution in the resulting net income
tr ~ operation.
The fac, nevertheless remains that IL
fhc increase In depreciation and better
nleut accounts In the last fiscal year over
the average of similar allowances for the
FIVE year period were added 10 their net
operating income for the last fiscal year
the results OF operation would still fall
below fair return upon the amounts
carried upon the books an investment in
property.
larged expenditure for maintenance OF
equipment it Is clear that ii has not been
sufficient to restrict to proper limits the
number OF cars and locomotives needing
repairs The carriers In the past have
not known how large an expenditure to
figure upon tor the maintenance Of the
newer type OF steel freight cars and APP
pear now 10 have discovered that such
expenditure must be greater than was
anticipated.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19

Joint rates between official classified
ton territory on the one hand and South
eastern territory, the Southwest and points
on or east from the Mississippi on the
other may he increased not to exceed to
. per cent. OF the division of the rave
accruns to the carriers in official classl-
hcation territory. If these increases in
NolNo "A change in the relationship under
the long ana short haul rule between in
tcrmedlatc points and more distant points
outside of official classification territory
relief from tho fourth section of the act
must first be secured on regular appll-
cation.
Interstate rates to and from New Eng
land from and to points in trunk line or
central freight association territory where
necessary to preserve established relation
ships between points or ports in New
Ehsland ana points or ports In trunk
lIhe territory may he increased not to
exceed . per cent.
Subject To- tho maintenance of the es-
iah!!3hod Atlantic por. d!rorCnt,diE. r,t,s
to and from New York may be Increased
not to exceed per cent, and rates To
and from Portland, Boston, PhiladeIphia
and Baltimore may be increased TO the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-19

The railroads expect 10 proceed I'M
mediately to put into operation as soon
as the commission grants the authority
those specific rate advances of more than
per cent. which the commission previ-
ously pointed out should he made on CONF
modties ON which the rate was obviously
out OF proportion to other commodities.
Among these are packing house Commodi-
ties. grain and grain products. Schedules
had been filed on these and the rates were
to go into effect on December Is, but all
were suspended pending further hearing"