The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-26

has helped the situation. It is cheerful to remember that this rate decision seems to show a change of heart On tho part of the national authorities. For years now the government has been harassing and disturbing business. or course this is not the way Washington puts it. There they say they have been regulating business for it's own good, but the effect of 1t all has been to dis turb, upset and demoralize business until things have grown so bad that the only hope that remained was that they could grow no worse. Now comes federal commission for the first time and holds out helping hand to the railroads. This seems to indicate the beginning of better times; at all events the railroads now are expected to show their gratitude by passing along tho help they have had by purchase of equipment and supplies. If they do this on a liberal scale they will. start something. If they don't do this they will show themselves singularly un- grateful and unappreciative.
 "One of the leading authorities in the trade has been urging the furnaces to not sell a ton of iron until after the new year. This in order to give the changed situation time to work out advantageously. But the furnaces have no cohesion, and this advice, good as 1t is, has not been followed. Sales, how ever, have not been of large volume owing to the holidays. The main fact Is that the whole trade is taking a more optimistic view of the immediate fu- ture. The belief is spreading that it will be happy new year."
 About Persons
 Otto Mooney, cashier of the Traders Ma tional bank, said that yesterday was particularly joyous Christmas for him. Otto. Jr., was born on Christmas morn- ing. The youngster weighed 9;a pounds. WHAT TO DO WITH THE CANNIBAL
 Writing of his visit to Papua, Norman Duncan, in Harper's Magazine for Jan uary, has some interesting comments to make on the cannibalism which still exists there.
 Well, what is one to do with a can nibal? It would not be fair to hang him. Upon reflection, as 8 matter of fact, 1t would be an outrage. He is obedient to the immemorial custom-not consciously breaker of any comprehensible law. And he is not hanged. He Is imprisoned for spell. And what is one to do with a murderer in a land where murder is very much of pastime and an exercise? A native who kills a white man is hanged as a matter of course. There is nothing else to do. But no expedition is dispatched-it is a remarkable thing, come to think of tito slaughter the half of his tribe. A measure of that sort is held by the present beneficenr administration to be the very extremity of injustice and unwisdom. Native mur- derers of natives are sent to jail for terms varying from 12 months to seven years. The fact that life has always been cheap in New Guinea-that to take life has not been in the native catalog of capital crime, and that the mysteries of civilization are new and difficult-is mercifully taken into account. In some cases a term in jail is a severe punish ment. In others, 1t seems, it is a form of relaxation. A few years in confine- ment, perhaps. is no great hardship except that it deprives the prisoner of the company of his village and it may be said, approximating general truth, that the prisoners cherish the import ance of their state-as on Rossel Island, for example, where the resident magis- trate does not find it necessary to lock up his prisoners Gncarcerated for minor offenses). but bids them remain in aa open shed until he gives them word to go. At Daru, native gave himself up to magistrate and desired to be sent to jail forthwith.
 What have you done?" the magis- trate inquired.
 The native replied ''Nothing."
 Why, then,' said the magistrate should I send you to jail?"
 ''The mosquitoes are so bad?' said the native.