davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-03-08
THE WEATHER
River Bulletin.

The river will continue to fall south
iof Davenport for several days.
Weather Forecast.
For Keokuk and vicinity: Fair to-
might and Tuesday.
For Iowa: Fair tonight and Tues
day, probably becoming unsettled by
Tuesday night Warmer northwest
portion tonight.
For Missouri: Fair tonight and
Tuesday except probably rain or snow
west portion Tuesday. Colder south
east portion tonight.
For Illinois: Fair tonight and Tues
day. Slightly colder east and south
portions tonight.
Weather Conditions.
Last weeks storm has moved out
the northeastern coast, and generally
Rocky mountains eastward, with mod
sissippi river.
A field OF high pressure In the north
ern plains states is attended by cold
er weather in that region, and the
Temperature is below zero at Huron,
.. u, ILLS moTulnS anu Ac1O at ASoA ~
Platte, Neb.
A disturbance in the extreme south
west is causing snow in portions OF
the southern mountain region.
Conditions indicate fair weather,
with little change in temperature for
this section tonight and Tuesday.
Local Observations.
March. Bar. Ther.Wind. Weather.
II Z p. m. =. 1924 "a NV Cl'ly
is Z a. m. s. 30.37 26 NV Clear
River stage e. a. m.), It. a tenths.
Change in past "a hours, fall l tt.
Mean temperature, March Z, 81.
Highest, "a.
Lowest, %.
Lowest last night. 25.
FRED 2. GOsEwTsCH,
Observer.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-03-08
The nation. Daily Balance Sheet.

Chicago Record: Summary of the
statement OF the condition Of the Unit
ed States treasury at the close of
business on February 10. 1915:
Income Of fiscal year
to date $SS9,SlI,z4S
Income last year to
same date ........ 4s6, 1s1,o47s5
Decrease Of income. $ s6.21s.79s.7s
Outgo Of fiscal year to
date ............ s5o1 ,oe7, sos. AZ
Outgo last year to
same date .......... 4s3,167. 1889. "a
Increase OF outgo. 5 1900. 37O.os
Outgo over income this
year $1O1, 56,66o.26
Outgo over income last
year ............... 47,os6,4e1. 80
Decrease in surplus $ 54,12o,16S.s7
General fund balance
February 1S ........$ 1851, 217.37
General fund balance
February 10 ........ 45,034, 472.55
Days decrease in
surplus ............ 546,745.13
The senate committee has added
over $S,00O,000 to the navy bill as it
passed the house, chiefly for SUBJ
marines and airships. If this increase
is not justified by the international
situation it is an extravaganza. If it
may be SO justified it comes so late
as to saver of locking the stable door
after the horse is gone
While congress Is investigating,
seeking to control and run the bust
ness of the people," asked Levy MAJ
er at Peoria on Monday In the course
of public protest against so much
government meddiing and espionage,
what has it done about minding its
own"
Mr.. Mayer gave several illustrations
OF slipshod ways of the government
in doing its own business, citing re-
port to congress in 1912. He might
have, given one more recent and
pointed by simply referring to the
state Of the treasury after three ses-
sions of congress that have authoriz-
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-03-08
Y.W.C.A. NOTES
Basketball League.

The results of the first Of the bask-
etball league series on Saturday night
resulted as follows:
High school, 8, vs.. Clover Leaf, 0.
Purity Oats, 4, VS.. Presbyterians. 9.
Grammar school, 10, VS.. Baptist, T.
Geneva, IL, VS.. Advanced, 4.
Campfire Group.
Miss Rayburn's campfire group met
this afternoon at Ais.
The membership committee met at
900 o'clock last evening, with Miss
Eta Ayres, for supper, and business
meeting later.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-03-08

EAST ST LOUIS, March S--Cat-
tie receipts 1000; market steady,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-23
Striking Pictures and
Facts About the
Giant Cunarder

For nearly eight years the
Lusitania had been racing back
and forth between New York
and Liverpool. She was 100
feet long, with d beam Of IS
feet. and had a record Of I days,
II hours and ~ minutes. When
torpedoed, on May !, she car
ried ,254 passengers and a crew
of 500. OF the 764 survivors
462 were passengers and 3OZ
crew. More than one hundred
Americans lost their lives.
Evening journal., 1915-01-27
UNIFORMS As sAFEGuARps.

w IIMINGTON property and householders
wv cannot fail to laud the Board of Water Com
mission for It's decision TO have its meter inspec-
tors and meter readers uniforms well as
badges Il is precautionary action that will lead
to two desired results. One is that it will prevent
snoa-thieves and other crooks getting into business
houses private residences by representing them
selves to be Water Department inspectors. The other
is that IL there be any inspector who is disposed to
loaf his job it will be easy to identify such den-
quent by OF the uniform he wears.
We have no doubt that the Water Commissioner
felt that ample cause existed to warrant them in is
suing the o-der. It is no secret that in many sec
tons of the city men who represented themselves to
be inspectors and who flashed fake Water Department
badges upon cautious househoders have gained access
to houses in certain and in other instances
attempted to do so. As the official badges worn by
the legitimate inspectors had failed to protect water
against impostors, the most natural thing in
the world for the board to do to decide to put Its
inspectors in uniforms.
There three special meter inspectors and four
meter readers. In view Of what has occurred, they
should welcome the change, because, under the new
order things they will be able to approach house
without being looked upon with suspicion. On the
other hand If there be any member Of that inspection
staff who disposed TO the pubcs time, il will
be much easier detect him in his delinquences than
It has under the plainclothes system That fact
should serve to make those indusriousy inclined feel
much easier because it will facilitate the work of
placing the blame for such loahng whore il properly
belongs and not surround the entire inspection staff
with an atmosphere OF departmental and public sus-
picon and criticism.
Evening journal., 1915-01-27

law, is that of conducting real es-
tate transactions for investment or
otherwise, and various operations Of
a purely personal nature in what are
really speculative financial affairs. IL
the ruling of the Treasury Depart
ment remains unchanged a lawyer
engaged in this business cannot re-
duce his yearly income for purposes
of the tax law by any losses sustained
in such business. 1t is not at all
impossible that whereas his yearly
income from his law business proper
may be $4,000, and his losses on
outside OPERATIONS be several hun
dred thousand dollars. or such as 10
throw him into absolute bankruptcy.
the Government would still ask him
to pay a tax for the year on an
income of $4,000. The Government
would try to make out that he had
become rich during the year instead
of having been impoverished.
How long will this ruling stand?
Evening journal., 1915-01-27
The Country WAITS Thorough Debate
on the Government Ship Monopoly Bill
(From the New York Tribune).

The difficulties which the Senate
Democrats are encountcring in whip
ping the government ship purchase
bill into shape emphasizes the alb
surdity of the charge that the pro-
gross of that bill IS being improperly
obstructed by a filibustor. President
Wilson said at indianapolis on Jack
son Day that Republican Senators
we're seeking TO defy the nation"
because they asked for time TO dis
cuss a measure which the country
does not understand and has not the
slightest desire 10 see railrOaded into
law Since Mr.. Wilson's return TO
Washington five Democratic causes
have been held for the purpose Of
clarifying and improving the ship
ping bill. Nobody has been able to
discuss the administration plan in
tell gently because nobody has
known exactly what form II would
take after the Democratic majority
in the Senate had finished amending
IT,
The government ownership plan
represents nothing ever passed on 10y
the voters. II appeared in no party
platform in 1912. It can be said to
express the "will of the nation" only
b. a statesman who confuscs his own
mental operations with those of the
nation. The Democratic party n
self, which Is being prodded into in
dorsing government ownership and
operation of ocean freight lines. has
been committed for years TO an op-
posile policy. Il has fought all plans
for national aid to shipping interests
and has demanded free trade in ship,
as its remedy for stagnation in tho
American ocean-going merchant mar
inc.
II is no wonder that many Demo
cratic Senators are reluctant TO sup
port the administration project O
a government shipping monopoly
The theory which they are asked t,
embrace is anti-Democratic. and thu
experiment into which Mr. Wilson q
trying TO rush the country Is econo
mically unsound. as we'll as being. il
the present disturbed condition of in
ternatiOnal trade, politically hazard
Gus. We are having controversies
Evening journal., 1915-01-27

over the practice of the right OF
search on the high seas by the al
lied powers and shall continue TO
have them while the war lasts Why,
then, pile up embarrassments by
making the government itself an
ocean carrier? A citizen owner may
properly take risks carrying contra
hand or purchasing interned enemy
ships for use in trade with Europe
But the government cannot do either
without unwisely multiplying the
annoyances of the present interna-
ticnal situation.
The more natural Democratic view
ls the one expressed yesterday at
the meeting of the National ConVen-
ton of Foreign Trade by James j..
Hill, distinguished Democrat He
opposed the Wilson bill because It
aims to set up a wasteful monopoly,
which would quickly drive all private
ship owners out of business. II the
United States is going TO limit IT'S
investment in ships to S20,O0O,OOO or
$40 O000,0 ,000 then we shall have an
American deep sea merchant marine
just that large and no larger. If the
government should get tired of oper-
atng at a loss and sell It's ships VIC
should then have no deep sea mer-
chant marine at all.
Mr. Hill therefore insisted on a
return to the old-fashioncd Demo-
cratic policy of free ships and no
governmental regulation of deep sea
J trade. His remedy may not be prac-
( ticable. yet the fact that he offers
il shows that the Democratic party is
/ far from solid in support of the
Presidents plans and that even Dc
mocrats desire an opportunity 10
discuss at length the revolutionary
measure now before the Senate.
II is not the fault of the Senate
minority that tho debate on the gov
crnmcnt monopoly scheme Is just
beginning. Chambers Of commerce
and other shipping and mercantile
bodies arc studying the measure roi
themselves. and nearly all Of then
are entering protests against IT, II
| would he crime against public
opinion 10 try 10 rush the bill through
the Senate without the freest anC
fullest debate.
Evening journal., 1915-01-27
Our Rights and Duties as a Neutral
(From The Now York Tribunel .

and those who attack il merely at
tack the existing international law
code. AS Mr.. Bryan says. the cxecu-
tive would have no power to stop the
trade i'm munitions without an author
izatiou by Congress. The admins
tration has interfered to stop the sale
Of submarines. but that was on the
ground that the building Of war
ship involves the use of neutral ter
ritory as a base for military opera
tions.
A sufficient answer to the many
complaints that the state Department
has not stood up for neutral rights
in our trade with neutral countries
is the state Departments recent note
to the British Foreign Office. This
country has protested strongly
against some of the methods used by
Great Britain in seizing and detain-
ing American cargoes destined 10
neutral countries. AS Professor
Theodore S. Woolsey points out. some
of these methods are extreme and un-
justified. But the State Department
itself strongly holds that view. and
as TO the search of American vessels
on the high seas for German and Aus
tro-Hungarian subjects the depart
ment has given notice that "such a
procedure IS an unwarranted exercise
of jurisdiction over American vessels
in which this government will moi
acquiesce."
our neutral position in the pres
ont unsettled state of internationa
agreements respecting contraband is
more or less trying. But the govern
ment's attitude of reasonableness. ad
mitting the right of examination
without consenting to an abuse o
that right. promises to bring about
inst settlement. The State Depart
ments letter shows that the Unite'
States has tried to observe impartial
itv between belligerents and 10 trea
them all fairly. 1t is entitled to ex
meet from them correspondingly fai
! treatment
Evening journal., 1915-01-27

people do cannot deduct from the
amount Of his income tax his losses
sustained in closed and completed
transactions of this character during
the period covered by the return.
On tho other hand. If we correctly
understand the recent ruling of the
Treasury Department, he must add
TO his income for the year any and
all profits gathered by him in these
transactions. Or, in plain words, in
making up his income tax return ne
must take account of his profits but
not of his losses. unless he is a pro-
fessiOnal dealer in securities in the
same way that member of the Stock
Exchange is.
Can absurdity go any further? Let
us take one illustration of how the
law would work if enforced in this
way. As every one knows, there are
a great many lawyers whose business
In addition TO the regular practice Of
Evening journal., 1915-01-27
Ebert Hubbard on Scent Fares
From the Electric Railway JournaD

In summing up his article in the
Fra on 3-cent fares, Ebert Hubbard
said in part
"We cannot fool calves by giving
them whitewash instead of milk.
Any business that is depressed. sup
pressed and submerged until it is
hanging on by its eyebrows spreads
a depressing effect on the entire
community Rundown equipment,
unpaintod cars. shabby interiors, Nat
wheos. what the railroad men cali
Harry Thaws that u.s. loose nuts
these things all react to the disad-
vantage of every business man in
town. Cheap men. cheap equipment.
and cheap service all tend to put a
town TO the bad. A street railway
system has got TO be kept right up
to date. The whole thing should be
smart and have a look of prosperity
and well-being if the town Is going
to prosper and go ahead. Visitors
judge a town first by its ights. or
absence of them. next by it's transpor-
tGtion facilities.
Evening journal., 1915-01-27
Rn0rRLACKs AID SUNDAY CLOsING.

yTNtIERE is no valid reason why proprietors of shoe
shining and hat-ceaning establishments and
their employees and unattached bootblacks should not
have one day a week for rest Under existing condi-
tions in this city they work fourteen hours day on
every day except Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday
they work seventeen hours and on Sunday thirteen
hours. In other words, one hundred hours week.
That is living, living is understood in these
days of reasonable hours and decent
There is pending in the Legislature in Dover bill
prohibiting booblacks and hat cleaners plying their
yocations Sundays II is there because it has been
impossible to obtain any concert of action by the men
employed in such trades Those who felt that they
would like to live other men live and have their
Sundays off finally decided that the ,1ly way to OBJ
tain that condition through legislative action They
employed a lawyer, had bill framed sent Il to Do
ver and 1t introduced
AS is always the when such legislation is
proposed opposition developed The proponents and
opponents OF the bill will have a hearing tomorrow in
the State House
The opponents of the bill probably will rest their
chief objection upon the point that the public would
suffer great inconvenience through the Sunday clos
ing of such places That same point was raised in
1899 when the closing of barber shops Sunday was
up for consideration If the predictions the oppo-
nonts Of the BARRIERS bin had been verified. all the
men in town today would have hair reaching to the
waist and whiskers tickling tho knee caps Despite
tho opposition the BARRIERS bill went through and in
week or TWO inc pcope lealucu 10 get SndNcai
hsircuts and shampoos on the secular days of the
week
So It will be with the backing OF shoes and the
cleaning Of hats If the bill proposed be enacted
into law The public will accommodate itself to it,
and feel more respectable for having done so and no
doubt in few weeks those booblacks and hat clean
ors who arc opposing the pending bill will won
der why they were so short-sighted to have done
So II is a measure that makes for the sancy of the
Sabbath and the decency of living
Evening journal., 1915-01-27

Secretary Bryan's letter to Sena-
tor Stone, outlining what the govern
ment has done TO preserve IFS rights
and discharge IFS obligations as "A
neutral. is all the more convincing
because ii avoids generalizations and
answers in detail The various charges
OF inactivity or uneairness which
have been brought by more or less
excited partisans. There can be no
question about the governments pur-
pose to observe the strictest neutral
ity. basing its policy on the accepted
principles of international law and
on tho precedcnts which the United
States has set i'm the past, when II
was itself a belligerent. The trouble
with most of the people who have
made complaints is that they have
not been sufficiently familiar with the
laws and precedents on which the
government has acted.
The only absolutely new problem
with which the state Department has
had to deal in this war is that of COM
munication by wireless It was de-
cided to enforce a censorship of
wireless messages. while leaving
cable communication litts Ms VII"
elimination was attacked as incon-
sistcnt. Yet a belligerent, by cutting
cable. can prevent free cOmmuni-
cation between another belligercnt
and neutral The neutral is there
fore absolved from responsibility. In
the case of wireless no interruption
is possible, and a neutral permitting
the free transmission OF military in
formation may, in effect, allow base
for naval or other operations to be
set up in neutral territory. The
United States was therefore undoubt
edly on the safe side in prohibiting
the sending of any unccnsored wire
less messages.
A noisy protest was also mad'
against the governments policy o
permitting citizens TO sell munitions
of war. But the legitimacy of sucl
sales is beyond dispute. Every gov
ernment is committed to the practice
Evening journal., 1915-01-27

A new ruling regarding the income
tax law has just been made by the
Treasury Department which is SO
monstrously unreasonable and alb
surd that it seems as if it could not
stand for a moment. Il has, how
ever. stood for some time. but maiR-
.ly. as we think. because the attention
OF the public has not been emphatic
ally directed TO IL. II is high time.
however. that such attention was
paid. because IL the people do not
protest against the Interpretation Of
tic law which the Treasury Depart
n,cnt has sanctioned in this specific
matter the most serious Injustice
Will be consummatCd.
Among the claims for deductions
from the income tax that arc held
to be permissible is ono for losses
actually sustained during the year
incurred in trade" Il has been held
by the Treasury Department. we
think rightly. that q loss Of this kind
tu be dcductiblc must be an absolute
loss actually sustained and asccr-
tanned during tho tax year, and not
merely a iucluating valuation Of
Evening journal., 1915-01-27
An Amazing Ruling About fhe Income Tax
From the New York SUM.

continuing investment II must be
determined upon an actual COM
plciod and closed transaction.
But the Treasury Department has
now gone much further than this. 1t
has defined the term "in trade" as
being the occupation of an actual
CCaler. trader or manufacturer, and
not an engagement in a business
which is merely incidental TO the
main or chief business of an indivi-
dual. Particularly as concerns deal
ing or speculation in securities, the
Treasury Department holds:
by a recognized dealer. Is meant
one who buys and sells for others,
as we'll as for his own account. One
who buys and sells for his own ac-
count only is not considered a dealer
in stocks and bonds, or as engaged
/ in trade, within the meaning of the
[ income tax law. Losses sustained
with respect TO the sale Of stocks and
bonds cannot be allowed, except in
! tho cases Of recognized brokers in
such stocks and bonds"
That Is 10 say, a doctor. lawyer or
F merchant who occasionally buys N
Q sells stocks in the ordinary way that
Evening journal., 1915-01-27
THE CAPTAIN.

Whittier sails the Snip of State?
We can only watch and wait"
He wasn't a captain, although they
say
He captained a ferry down Jersey
way
Till Fortune took malicious whim
To make a sea-captain out of him.
She gave him command of a full
rigged ship
About to sail on a four years trip.
A noble craft was the good ship
State,
But difficult vessel to navigate.
His frame was spare. but his will
was strong;
His motto, Whatever is is wrong;
And he got him busy with all his
might
And the best intentions--to set things
right.
He manned the ship with motley
crew
Landlubbors many and sailors few;
While an acrobat from an inland
State
1t pleased his fancy to make first
mate.
And as for the rest of the captains
mess,
They were all of the same stripe,
more or less;
They hardly knew what a ship was
like,
Or could tell mast from a Marlin
spike
"Heaye hol" cried the captain. BE
layl Avast!
Run up the jib on the mizzen-mast
/ Change every sail on tho bloomin'
craft,
Tho mains1 forwardl The forests
aft"
And everything that would move, he
moved:
To line with tho system which he
approved;
The spars and the rigging were all
replaced
With others adapted to suit his taste
The maps in the chart room nc
scorned to use,
But drafted others TO meet his views:
And put tho land and the open sea
Where reason argued they ought t.
be.
II the old charts showed that a roel
or so
Lay right in the track whero h,
wished 10 CO.
He guarded his vessel from chanc,
mishap
BY leaving the obstacle off the map.
, Your only duty" he told the crew,
rs to sail the ship as / tell you to.
And no back talking or, by the Lord
I'll throw the mutineors overheard"
He posted the watch at the after-rail
Cast loose the hawsers and hoiste,
sail,
? With her rudder end where the DO,
should be.
y The good ship wobblingly backed L
{ sea.
S There's little remaining to tell about
e She went on the rocks a few day
S out;
Y The owners are anxiously waitin
v word,
l. She. was still on the rocks the las
} they heard
II RALPH LINN.