davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
The IniUuity Of Holding Companies

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr; In
discussing the subject OF holding com
panies" it is contended by their advocates
that there are good holding companies
as there are also bad" holding companies.
They argue that Congress ought not To
pass any law that Will make the good
suffer with the bad" | will not offer
any argument on that point, because |
will not deny that there may be a few
cases where that method of organization
has been used by innocent parties
But | do assert that the original pur-
pose OF their device was wholly iniquitous.
They were introduced for the purpose of
evad!ng legal responsibilities and for the
purpose of covering and hiding the ndi-
vduality Of controlling influences. They
are used for the purpose of duplicating or
otherwise multiplying the issues of cor
porata capital stock whore there are no
increased assets to warrant it.
In the interest Of business gencrall,
and Of the public At large the holding
company should bc abolished, as has been
suggested in the Congress
The comparatively few good holding
companies can easily hud other and
much better forms OF organization than
tho ono thus condemned which will serve
any legitimate or equitable purpose.
j. H. +. IIIpsoH.
New York. February 10,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
The Fight Against George III. AMI the
Fight Against King Alcohol.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuS--Str. While
visiting the historic scenes OF Lexington
and Concord last month was interested
TO see for the first time one OF the anti
alcohol posters" which are being used by
temperance" advocates in the State of
Massa chusetts.
II seems to me that there is a striking
significance about the use Of such posters
at this particular spot. Is Il too much
to say that history does repeat Itself. and
that Lexington and Concord are to be for
the second time the scenes OF the opening
Of war for Independence?
There can be little question that alcohol
IL the greatest evil existing in this country
to-day. Those who doubt the statement
will find II am -ult to name a greater. At
its door may bee lal' the majority Of all
the crime. all the misery. all the poverty.
Insanity and disease with which this ma
ton Is cursed Is there not inspiration
FOR patriotic men, therefore. in the fac. that
the birthplace OF American independence
is again to become the scene Of conflict
aGains; this monstrous and expressing
evil" q. r NJ
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, February 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
The Repeal Of . Treaty Breaking Pro.
vision.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Pres
ident Wilson's determination to secure
the repeal Of the Objectionable features
OF the Panama Canal tolls act. namely
the exemption OF American coastwise ship
ping from the payment OF tolls. is most
Commendable and should be very graft
Tying to all Americans who desire TO see
our treaties observed and our national
honor maintained. 1t IL to be hoped that
the Presidents desires will prevail.
II Is most unfortunate that such a con-
troversy as this should be allowed 20 ex-
ist in the centennial year of peace among
English speaking countries and We may
confidently hope that reason and Justice
will prevail over the whims Of limoges and
peanut" politicians. II the foreign policy
OF the present Administration Is produc-
tive OF nothing else it will deserve lasting
credit for removing this stain from our
international relations.
II the Democrats are sincerely de-
s!rous Of building up the American mer-
chant marine let them So lend their aid
that II will BE- open and unconcealed. in
stead OF the round about method OF grant
ing n subsidy through the violation OF a
treaty. THE Sun deserves all praise for
repeatedly calling attention TO this mat
ter. r. q. L.
RipGEFiELp rARK, February Q
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
TIE PERFECT BOARDING MOI Sc
Hon TO Make O Good LiyinE by Giving
Dainty Food and service.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuS-Sir: The
p,ucky letter signed Reader" goes
straight to my heart and l feel I must
do The only thing at the present moment
In my power. suege st remedy for the
writer's truly tragic situation.
Since she is in a neighborhood OF well
10 do homes, and since there is always
a dearth of any sort OF cooks, why
shouldn't she shake herself free OF the
clerks Of large appetite and small purse
and set about Systematically 10 the ca
terlng for people willing 10 pay for n
really good table, The boarding house
Is very rare indeed where for 81 II week
one can obtain three truly satisfactory
meals each day for seven days In the
week. and yer II careful marketing is
done a fair margin OF profit should re-
suit on that basis. especially IL six or
more people can be obtained as patrons.
| should say TO the lady: Wash your
mind free OF all boarding house tradition
and never. never Offer any one choice
Of NANCY bananas or stewed nrunes for
breakfast, The best stomached individual
IN existence wants humoring in the
morning \ nice red apple or an orange
or even half "A grapefruit daintily served
with q fruit knife and finger bowl. cup
Of piping hot drip coffee, a dish OF oat-
meal cooked in double boiler slowly
and long the night before and served hot
with cream. and a few slices OF hot, crisp.
curly bacon with n poached egg served
on hot plate. would make even a mis-
eynist love the cook and waitress.
Nothing expensive IN the whole OUTFIT
Who ever obtained in a boarding house
a nic" light yeast roll fresh from the
Kitchen oven2 Yet there Is nothing much
less expensive. \ little forethought and
a modicum OF skin are the only essentials.
What about creamed Goldfish baked in
ramekius or home cooked baked beans
or decentiy cooked corn meal mush. o.
pain soft gingerbread one could write
little notes 10 all nerhhors likely 10 he
Interested In table board and so save eN-
pense ~ advertising.
| should suggest also just so soon as
the number of guests warranted II two
good natured co,ored girls. ore for the
dining room and one for the kitchen. AMI
Immaculate white tub suits for the host
S. who will then be dressed at all
times for parlor or kitchen. Indian Head
IL IL cents "A yard and looks nearly as
well as linen Also flowers on the table
when obiainable without buying. and a
small plant at least in the winter, and
always. always, always clean linen.
knew woman who made "A great
success OF Just such venture. and she
had small children and no husband. just
left pennlless. Had to borrow hundred
dollars TO set necessary equipment
SYMSATHETiC.
Upper MOSTCLAIE y ] February 10
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
THE FREEDOM or THE PRESS
AND UNLAWFUL MONOPOLY.

Svor' the complaint o. the Sun PRINTING and
Publishing ASSOCIATION 10 TIE Atfornev. General
Our constitutional system is based
upon the freedom OF the press, and to
this end there should be given to the
great organs OF public opinion every
facility to present all the news; and q
monopoly which seeks to shape and con-
troll the news into one standard form.
and that form determined by its govern
ing body through its executive officers,
~ peculiarly Objectionable monopoly.
Thus considerable part Of the newr-
paper press Of the country has been
compelled to print only such news as
the said Associated Press sees At. 10
transmit to its several members. and
II has been for many years a matter Of
complaint that by such control OF the
news partial, unfair and partisan
statements have been given to the pub
lie at large. Even II the Associated
Press has not thus abused, as so many
citizens have believed and openly
charged. It's dominating power over the
transmission of intelligence, yet II Is
prejudicial to the public that It should
be ir''hm rs po,cer TO determine In
what form and to what extent the news
OF the world shall be given from day to
day To the average citizen.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
DRINK QUESTIONS IN COURT.
Inaccurate Use Of AdJcctives Relating
TO klng Alcohol.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr. Why
do the great legal luminaries Of the New
York bar allow such loose English to
creep into the record books of the courts
OF Justice? Lawyers and Judges pride
themselves on being men OF elaboration
and precision. They try to employ the
finest shades of distinction when they
analyse the words. the acts and the mo-
lives of men. And so they should do.
Truth and Justice demand exactness in the
use of terms. Hence we cannot pardon
the misleading English of the printed
form of questions which the clerk OF the
court Is obliged to put to a condemned
criminal. according to the report of a trial
held yesterday and mentioned In to-day's
Sun The question reads:
Are you temperate. Incorporate or mod
crater
In the original Latin. as well as In all
dictionaries of English, temperate" means
moderate" and moderate" means tenn
perate," else both words mean nothing at
all. temperate man drinks moderately !.
a moderate man drinks temporarily. Both
| men take the same old stun In the same
old way
Strictly speaking. then. a temperance
society Is a body Of men who know when
to take a drink and when to let II alone.
A total abstinence society is body of
men who know when to take II, but al
ways let II alone.
The question put by the court record
intends to inquire OF the criminal which
one of three habits he has in relation to
/ the use OF intoxicating drink. He must
be total abstainer or moderate
dr,nker or an excessive drinker. He can
have only one of the three habits at one
time. though he may have had all three
habits at different times. as every drunk
ard in the world has had.
The question means to ask three
things. In reality II asks only two and
leaves the other untouched. The authors
OF this kind OF English cannot excuse
themselves on the plea that they used n
popular phrase to be better understood
by unlettered people. The interests OF
clearness would have been better served
had this triple question been framed en-
tirely In words OF one syllable. The in
quisitor meant to ask:
Do you dring strong drink at all. or do
you drink q little tsome). or do you drink
TOO much?
Here we have what the record is seek
ing after. three classes instead OF two.
persons who practise total abstinence or
temperance or intemperance. This Ques-
ton says what II means and means what
IL says. IL is inclusive and exclusive. II
the court demands precision of statement
from the prisoner and the witness in
order to arrive at the real facts of case
how can itself AFFORD to ignore exactness?
RURAL THEoLoGiAN
STAFFORD SPRINGS. Conn. February 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
screened. General sanitation was alike
stiDpryi cod In both N rooo

screened. General sanitation was alike
supervised In both areas.
The result was indeed striking. In
the protected area the ratio Of cases of
summer complaint (the fatalities are
here omitted) was ns one In the pro.
tected area to three in the unprotected
and the duration OF Illness among the
Inter was % per cent longer.
While this control experiment in
volved comparatively small number,
1t has the merit Of careful exclusion Of
fallacious factors that would vitiate
deductions. The lesson Is clear that
the fly must be pursued with unreent-
ing vigOr. How this warfare may he
successfully conducted has been re-
peatedly pointed out bv TIE Sun.
The success of DR.. ARMsTRONG's
method lies in the systematic pursuit
Of the object In view. precisely the
course that made DR.. GoRoAs's war
fare against disease In the Canal Zone
n complete success.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
The Charges Against COmmissar,
Burke.

Until JOHN T. BURKE, purchasing
agent Of the Panama Railroad and
manager OF the Commissary Depart
ment In the Canal Zone, was charged
with accepting money from lirns that
had sold supplies required by the 18TH
mian Canal Commission for the use
and consumption Of its employees, the
great enterprise, ON which many mill
ions OF dollars nre spent annually, has
been absolutely free from scandal.
The charges against BURKE are yet
to be proved, but to Colonel COCKTAILS
the report made by Special Agent NYE
seemed so compromising that In spite
Vt BURkE's protrstations OF innocence
he has been suspended, and Licutcnant-
Colonel EUGENE 4. WILSON, Chief of
the Subsistence Department, ana W.
T., SHIPLEY, lts chief clerk. have been
relieved from duty Tor being negligent
and incompetent. and not because there
Is any cloud upon their Integrity. 1t
has been necessary to reOrganizc the
Subsistence and COmmissary depart
ments. Colonel COCKTAILS acted In
stantly upon tho receipt Of the report
Of the Governments special agent.
As tho original charges against
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
Another Indictment Of the House
Fly.

Exact observation on sanitary sub
jects in which medical problems are In.
volved Ia So uncommon that n practi.
cal demonstration may serve us n les
son In the prevention OF some fatal
maladics. Typhoid fever and menin.
gifts are the chief diseases that have
been charged to the pcstiferous house
fly with more or less energy but with
out actual demonstration.
\ recent number of the journal OF
the American Association contains an
experimental demonstration OF the In.
Equity Of the house fly by Or. D. s.
ARMSTRONG unelualled by previous
Investigations In n neighborhoOd In.
hahited entirely by Italians in The
Bronx and presenting the typical CON
ditIons associated with Overcrowd,hg.
filthy streets, refuse Uttered lots, wa ste
strewn roadways, unsanitary stables,
&c. comparative or control expert
mcnt was made on the influence Of tho
fly in the causation Of disease. pspe-
cally the summer complaint of chill.
dren. An area inhabited by 1,725 indi.
vldunlS with 800 children under 3
years, was selected, and within this
area every effort was made to ellml-
nate the house fy and to break the con.
tact between filth and food which the
fly was suspected of making, Another
area containing the same number Of
families, under approximately similar
conditions, was permitted to continue In
Its usual mode Of life. Careful records
were made by trained nurses every
week from July II to September ~,
lo13, In both areas. In one the pernl
cious activities OF the fly were depleted
by oral instruction and literature IN
English and Italian, together with free
moving pictures representing the dan
gers from unrestricted flies; with the
assistance Of hoy scouts large fly traps
were placed In courtyards and stables,
and LOO windows and doors were
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11

BURKE were made as long ago rs last
June by an employee Of the Commits
sary Department and publicity was
given TO the matter at different times
until 1t eliminated two months ago In q
somewhat sensational story Of differ
ences between Colonel COCKTAILS and
Commissioner METcALFE about the In.
tegrity of BURKE. which turned out not
to be true, an impression has gone
abroad that a great scandal was being
suppressed on the Isthmus. The fact
was that the Burke charges were
being investigated by secret service
agents. and Colonel COCKTAILS could
take no action or talk about the case
until the report was In his hands. 1t
seems To be true that he was lonth to
believe that the COmmissary manager
could be involved, and he SO expressed
himself.
What seems to have been brought
out IL that BURKE, whose salary since
1905 was $4,000 a year. has acquired
property to the value Of from $50, 900
to $4,000. To clear himself he will
have to account for 1t and to explain
why certain deposits were made to his
credit In banks In the States by firms
with which he did business. As the
Attorney General has ruled that EN-
ployees of the Panama Railroad are not
employees Of the Government, In spite
Of the fact that the stock IL held by the
Government. proceedings against BURKE
must begin In II State court II the evi.
dence warrants prosecution. At least
one Of the firms that sold supplies to the
Commissary Department on the Zone
has Its offices in New York, and the
state law forbidding the giving and
taking Of bonuses. commissions, dis
counts. &c, I'm commercial transactions
by agents and dealers can be invoked
apparently.
II the matter can be called q scan
dial 1t Is one Of minor character so far
as the Canal Commission Is concerned.
At the worst there has been careless
ness In supervising the routine of the
Comnissary Department. and the Gov.
eminent suffers no pecuniary loss that
can be calculated.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
The Llama and the Grand Lama of Chau.
tatiutIN,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN--Sir,
Among the commoners OF that profession
from which our present Secretary OF
state graduated and to which he ha,
since gravitated there Is no prouder boas,
than that the boaster Is "a swell dresser
on and on"
Knowing this. does IL not seem obvious
that the Mayor OF Bucnos Ayres in send
ing Secretary Bryan n llama accompanied
by valet stands self-conviCted as one
OF those CoNsprators who arc banded to-
se,hcr for the sole purpose OF heaplug
odium upon the greatest American states
man since Daniel Webster?
Is II not plain to all that the MAYOR
by furnishing that valet wishes to imply
that our hlstronic Secretary OF State Is
neither "a swell dresser on or off D.?
All this, too. when II Is known that
Marcel cot the Inspiration FOR his for
tune making wave" from studying the
wrinkles IN certain pprsonase's gar
mcnts. not 70 say pants"
FrANK \. EGAN.
NEW YORK, February 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
FEWER INFANTS DIE HTEI
Lower Mortality Last WccL--In.
creased Death Among til. AGED.

There were l,5o3 deaths hero las, IS
The death rate Vas l40i per 1000 0.
population There were l,56S Gcl'N.
rate OF 1873 in the same period
year. The figures for tho pas; week
decrease IN the absolute ujmu.r
deaths OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 20 .
crease In the relative number u Gcat
l2i--and or liz points IN the w'.
rate.
Tho following causes showed
creased mortality: Lobnr rreu'N
hroncho pneumonia, whooring Cr..
diarrhTal diseases under ! years - t-
Hrght's disease and ncrh'ii,s, diseases
the nervous syst m, ana violence
Viewed from the no!u. OF LCr tho r.-
tality under one year showed dcgr' .-
of sixteen deaths. that OF chilG'cu Et
years Of age n decrease O, forty
deathh. between the ages 81 5 anA
years II decrease OF sevonty-orc deE
while on the other hand. among tive o 20
there was an increased mortality OF IN p
two deaths
The death rate for the rrst s,N 1000
of l9l4 was ~ 80 por 200 e t.o '.
latiOn, AZ against rate O' II q. '.
corres0nndina period " '34a
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
EXCESSIVE TAXATION.
Induces Graft and Withtiraws Money From,
Productive Channels.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sfr: A
plain ordinary garden politician, whether
Attorney-General OF some State. tax col
lector or Judge. can command the lime
light by suing. soaking" or filming some
person or corporation for a record num-
Der of millions OF dollars Judge Lands
iared up notably when he fined the
Standard Oil Company $4,000. 600. The
Attorney-Generai OF Missouri has sued
the railroads for $4,000. 900. Last but
not least. a pair of tax collectors In Ohio
have sued Mr.. John n. Rockefeller for
S12,O00.000. claiming that he IL tax
dodger and has failed to declare his per
sonal property as required by State
law. Nobody imagnes that this sum OF
money will ever be collected, or even a
1.-THE Of IL the only result of this sensa-
tional coup will be some temporary
notorlety for the tax collectors. a large
fee for Mr.. Rockefeller's lawyer and a
profitable change of residence By Mr.
Rockefeller himself
a Western newspaper recently remarked
that paying taxes was n patriotic duty
and that all right minded citizens should
find pleasure in 30 doing. ] fail to see
any element OF patriotism In the joyful
handing over OF a lot of money to the
politicians to be wasted in graft, pork
barrels and highway steals. n by chance
the State Of Ohio should collect sl2.-
100000 from Mr.. Rockefeller. would II
result in lower taxes for the other cit-
zens OF that much uplifted State? Ger
tainly not but II would bring about a
reign of graft and decentralization which
the state would not recover from for
many years.
Excessive taxation In furtherance of
state socialism is one OF the most in
sidious forms of legallzed robbery and
leads to universal insolvency. Mr.. Rookie
fellers vast surplus income liz continually
invested In productive enterprise and
gives employment to an enormous num-
Der of wage earners. The benefactors
of the race are the founders and directors
OF successful private enterprises.
The most unwise expenditures on the
part OF our very wealthy men are those
most applauded by an unthinking public.
The public cheers when IL reads of some
largo private contribution to n peace
foundation, missions or an institution en-
gagged In giving expression to the per-
verted activities OF some socioogizing
faddists. 4 lot of statistic experts and
professional reformers make a living out
of It, but the public Is the loser and It
foots the bill. ALBERT X. GALLATIS.
ATLANTIC CITY, n. j.. February 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
Oh Venerable Dr.. Joll,son.

TO THE EplToR or THE SUN-Sir: II
i now nay chance to grid at YOU When
In THE SUS OF to-day YOU hcadlined n
letter "The Right TO Make Money" had
not YOU the fear of the shade of DR. John
son in your heart
If YOU viii refresh your learned memory
by opening your boswell you will md
how he denounced the expression make
money" To make money, he affirmed,
and | think correctly Is to coin, print or
fabricate IL and the only correct expires
sion is to earn" acquire" or get" II,
VIII YOU agree with the Great Cham OF
Literature and with mo? Y. y, J.
New YORK, February 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-11
purchase sc5. 100000 of bonds a year.


which would mean n total Of $780,.
OOO,OOO a year for the maximum mum.
Der OF reserve banks. The limitation Is
more defective than that. however. The
provisions Of Section IS referred to are
apparently intended to relate chiefly to
bonds already bearing the circulation
privilege. Section 4, us already shown.
authorizes the Use OF any bonds Of the
United States" as basis for note circu.
lation. whether or not the bonds In
question were put out bearing the cir
culntion privilege.
Furthermore. Section has nothing
to do with the acquisition OF Govern
ment bonds. and the reference thereto
In Section IS Is utterly meaningless.
Under Section "a. to which no allusion
is made In Section 1S. the Federal re.
serve banks have an unlimited fran
chlse to buy bonds of the United States !;
and there Is nowhere in the act any
restriction on the right conferred in
Section 4 to take out note circulation
on any Government bonds. whether
bought or borrowed.
All Of this, In our opinion, goes to
prove. as does every careful study of
the Federal Reserve law. Of what vital
Importance II is to the welfare Of the
country that the new Federal Reserve
Board should have a majority Of able.
experienced men Of affairs equipped
with n plentiful stock Of courage to
make the sound and right interpreted
tons Of the act. which 1t will be the
first duty Of the board to render.