davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
a Change for the Worse.

Among the reorganization" bills
which the year has produced at Albany is
one By Senator Sage terminating the
official existence of the members Of the
Bill Drafting Commission at the time
of appointment of their successors, re-
ducing the salary 81 900 and making
other changes in the law regarding these
officers. The net effect is to put couple
Of desirable jobs and some attendant pat
ronage at the disposal Of the majority
party in the Legislature. And this net
effect is likely to destroy whatever value
exists IN the Bill Drafting Commission.
The plea on which this commission
was provided for in 1913 was that legis-
tive experts were needed to gather in
formation on subjects under consdera-
ton by the Legislature and TO act as
bill drafters, Investigators and advisers
generally to the lawmakers II was to
be modelled on the legislative reference
bureau which has done such excellent
work in Wisconsin. The appointments
not of character, however worthy the
individuals, TO carry out this scheme, and
this high priced commission has been
little more TO the Legislature and the
state than the less expensive bill draft
ing bureau which used to do odd jobs of
bill preparing for incompetent legis-
lators.
Now, under the Sage bill, these places
would be made, openly and frankly,
party patronage. Under its provisions
there could be 10 continuity Of service,
consequently little hope of experience in
the members and deiinteness and conti-
nuity of policy. There would be no likeli-
hood of making the commission clear
ing house for information Of real value
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
NOMINATIONS BEING IN ORDER
One of Our Readers Proposes for Presi-
dent Ebert Fl. Gary.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The first half of President Wilson's
disastrous administration is now completed,
and it is time to think about his successor
If we are governed BY the maxim that "one
good turn deserves another" then 1t IS
certain he should not be reelected. No
previous administration ever made such
complete failure as the present.
II business is now free, then We prefer
bondage II this is psychological adver-
sity," what would be the effect Of real ad-
versity? President Wilson says he is not
a business man. No one can deny this
fact. As a politician he is failure; as
schoolmaster he teaches false doctrines;
as President his appointments. are parti-
san and are made solely to advance him
self personally and to perpetuate his own
marty. All his writings and speeches show
that he has one fixed idea, and that is
that the people are composed Of two dis
tirct classes who are directly opposed TO
each other. He thinks that when the classes
have prosperity the masses must have ad-
versity. He entirely fails TO see that both
nrosperitv and adversely affect all classes.
high and low, rich and poor, just the same.
In selecting candidate for President
the united Republican party should choose
man directly opposite to the present In
cumbert We need a genuine business man
to revive buslness-a a man with JudlcIal
mind, one who believes that the American
high standard of living and the high stand
ard of wages are inseparable, man who
believes that America should have the pref
erence in her own market.
As an able, broad minded, liberal man:
who "flls the bill" | suggest the name OF
Ebert H. Gary, chairman OF the United
States Steel Corporation.
EDGAR J. DWYER.
Bayonne, y. j., March 3, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
OLD MAN ADAMS SAM.

That man Sam Adams is sure some Gink,
Who's making the takers sit up and think;
For whatever he writes he's giving the
goods,
Whether It's hats or dresses or red woollen
hoods.
He's waging warfare that's bold and
strong,
Against fake advertising Of things that are
wrong,
Things that in business have gone too far
For truth in publicity he's wsging war
We commend his spirit and courage aud
grit.
We commend The Tribune, for it's making a
hit;
For people who read and ponder a while
All say: I'VE adore old Sam Adsms's style
Go to it. old boy, we'll stand at your back,
Give the takers a drubbing just hit 'em a
whack:
Stand up for the Square Dealer, right to a
man.
You're doing great work, Old Man Adams
SAM"
WILLIAM GOODALL YOUNG.
New York. March 3, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
The Western Rate Case.

Forty-one Western railroads are now
arguing before the Interstate Commerce
Commission for an increase in freight
rates. Their case does not differ greatly
from that of the Eastern railroads
which obtained relief from the commits
sion last December. The Western roads
have not been as hard hit by industrial
depression as the Eastern roads have
been. But they have the same story to
tell-increased investment in plant and
equipment, larger cost of operation and
steadily falling income. Moreover, the
financial arrangements due 10 the Euro
pean war compel all carriers which bor-
row money to borrow it at higher rates.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
brought itself reluctantly to the point Of
recognizing in the Eastern freight rate
case that regulation must work both
ways. The authority Of the commission
had been used for years to lower rates
and restrict earnings. Wage arbtra-
tons. higher state and federal taxes and
safety first legislation were all working
TO The same end, and when hard times
and the European war came along the
carriers were left struggling against
ruinous combination of adverse in
huences. The commission, after refus-
ing the Eastern increase, yielded to pub
lie opinion and reversed itself. 1t is on
the right road now in admitting that the
unjust balance against the carriers must
be righted, not alone in their interest,
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
Peace Through Disarmament.
Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: have noted your editorials say
ing that the advocates OF disarmament are
mistaken, but there are evidently. even in
this wartime, many more such advocates
than ever before Roman Catholics, Prot
estants and Jews have united TO say that Il
is time such terrible return TO the darkest
heathenism by so-called Christians should
stop. and there is no way 70 stop IT but by
ceasing TO get ready for Il. You want
larger guns to protect New York. you say.
Since unfortifed towns are not be bonn
barded in time of war. and as matter
Of fact. are not bombarded, why protect
with guns AZ all? You can save the city
from danger OF destruction and no lives
will be sacrificed If you simply take away
your inadequate safeguards.
Every American is proud OF the 100
years peace record for our unfortfed
northern boundary Of 1000 miles, and If We
do not arm and tram soldiers against the
world the world will not do SO against US.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
Three Cheers for Gomez |!

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Who is ex-President Jose Miguel
Gomez? This question can easily De an
swered: One OF the greatest politicians
Of Latin America.
Is il probable that he will become Cuba's
next Chief Executive? Yes! General Gomez
is extremely popular with the people Of
Cuba. He knows exactly how to please
them; he thoroughly studies their needs,
their ambitions. their desires. In short, he
is "the man Of the hour"
Why j. he loved by the people OF Cuba
Because he is democratic in his ideas Be
ceives and talks to the laborer with the
same courtesy and interest that he would
speak TO king. He has a kind word and
emile for friends or enemies. II you
once meet him you will like him; if you
once converse with MIN you will like him
better.
At the expiration of mis- Presidential term
u1hesitatingly and gladly he turned over
the relns OF government to his successor.
General Menocal; following the dictates of
his own intellect, without having TO con-
suit any one.
And ir is not ex-President Gomez who Is
desirous of occupying the Cuban Presl-
dental chair again. The people OF Cuba,
his beloved countrymen. knowing him as
they do, arc tho ones that approve every
thing he does; it is they, repeat. who are
constantly urging him to become President
ONE more.
VIII he accept the Presidency Of Cuba
again? Not unless he truthfully feels that
his native land wants him-needs him; not
unless he really believes that his country,
men cannot get along without his services.
Then, and only then, will ex-President Jose
Miguel Gomez become Chief Executive Of
the Island OF Cuba. JORGE GODOY.
Washington, March 3, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
The Insolence Of Office.

From The Westminster Gazette.
A gentleman is bold enough TO write to
"The Times" giving his name and com
planning Of the "hgh- handed" methods OF
the Passports Department at the Foreign
Office. His grievance is that on the form Of
application for passport he described his
face as "intelligent," but that the passport
when he got il made his face "oval" We
have called this bold complaint. because
after all it is just conceivable that the
high handed official might defend himself
by asserting that he altered an incorrect
description 10 true one. We hasten TO
add that we do not know the gentleman
with the face variously described as intel
ligent" or oval" so that we take no sides
in the controversy between him and the
official.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08

TO the states lawmakers, able to speak
with authority on the important. .ques-
tions of session. IL the commission
cannot be just that kind of body there
is little excuse for its existence. The Re-
publicans should either make it better
and more important piece of machinery
than it was under Democratic control of
the Legislature. and take steps to keep 1t
out of partisan politics, or else they
should abolish it altogether and save the
state the considerable sum which it costs.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
Some Words with the Telephone Co.

Tic the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Now that there is a general discussion
of telephone rates and an investigation into
the workings of the New York Telephone
Company We consider it an opportune mo-
ment TO mention one of the features OF
this concerns work which is well worthy
Of consideration.
We have been repeatedly troubled by this
company with requests to increase our
number of trunk lines because, as 1t
stated. the wires running into our house
are not sufficient 10 take care of the bust
ness. and there are many busy" calls
every day owing to this. We have tried TO
get n check on this. and in consequence
have frequently called up numbers which
we're reported busy" and which upon in
vestigaton have proved not to have been
busy" but owing 70 the laZiness, in
capacity or whatever it may have been OF
the operators, have not been properly at
tended to.
rhe complaints to the telephone com
p1ny as TO this were made verbally or In
writing, and IN every case its answer
has been verbal. A written answer seems
unobtainabe for obvious reasons.
We have one instance in view where we
called up certain number seven times
in the morning and this number was re-
ported "busy" six times, although we know
that the person called up was positively
not busy during that period. HOW, IN
tho face of such circums tances and condi-
tons, is one to believe that "busy' calls
are occasoned by an insufficient number Of
lrps?
II seems to us that as the telephone
company charges for each individual mes
sage il is its business 10 furnish suffi-
cient facilities 10 make satisfactory trans
mission of messages possible.
Whenever arguments come up TO the
telephone company the first point brought
up is its infallibilty, with the positive
statement that mistakes are impossible, as
it's whole system Is run on a mechanics
basis As a proof TO the contrary we would
like 10 mention that formerly We had con-
siderable trouble with the company on ac-
count Of overcharges and eventually com
PEELED il 10 make a refund on 5000 calls for
overcharges. although il firmly stated that
those mistakes could not possibly have oc-
CURED. on account Of the absolute me-
chanical accuracy Of its apparatus.
Another instance is the case of a mem
ber OF our firm whose house was closed
during the summer. and whose service was
shut off. who received bills for service per-
formed during this period for out OF town,
local calls, etc, which eventually were can
celled. as il had to be admitted that the
service had been cut off and consequently
the telephone could not possibly have been
used.
HENRY HESSLEiN.
New York, March 3. 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
Rordeau.
The Boss's incandescent wit
Enraptures me, | must admit.

The Boss's incandescent wit
Enraptures me, | must admit.
His poems have a sprightliness
That mine have not Mine are depress-
I've: his are gay. He has bit
On me, fear. have to split
Long words to make my poor rhymes fit.
Because, alas. don't possess
The Bosss inc
Andescent wit. If could sit
Around for hours on end, and knit
Ny brows and calmly think, Success
know, would smile upon me. Yes
And | should not so often hit
The Boss's zinc
r. W. II. l..
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
The Coming Towe,
THE GRAND TOUR
COLORADO SPRINGS. cor

SSSOtN$hiDO - 'N'A'pI, ALJl.
Colorado Springs is thousand i.e.
higher than Denver, the Mile High Cit,
had heard stories OF the sudden exhil,,,.
ton experienced by visitors Something !.
wrong. with either me or the stories. I,
was Just like any other town, including N.
VARYING and conflicting reports about n.
population.
Damon Runyon used to be city editor Of
the Colorado Springs Gazette. The n,.
tives. who have The Finest Town in The
World, envy him his New York job.
Towns seem to be composed OF folks who
are trying-though they don't all admit !.
to get to New York. And TO live, too.
They say that New York is fine place to
visit, but they'd hate to live there. Most
of them would like TO try it, however.
see no reason why | should not say
tnd[ L ike , Il cdhp DCNduoN uO, ye1v
much. 1t does not irritate the throat, or
dry on the face It-but see Encycl Britain,
Pixies Peak.
The girl who handles the telephone
switchboard at the Colorado Springs Ga
zette Office has the finest and longest hair
in the state. (Contrbs desirous OF pointing
out the amusing connection between hair
and switchboard, please save stationery and
postage) Also, one OF the best heads and
most courteous manners in any state. She
knew what time everybody would be in,
where the editor was in Denver, wha,
papers came to the exchange table, who
wrote which editorials and who were on
the staff of the Rival Sheet. She would be
worth anything the manager OF New
York office wanted to pay her.
And those, think, are all the things !
have on Colorado Springs.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
Not His Sort Of Neutrality.
the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Please accept Germans deep felt
thanks for your luminous editorial "Neu-
trality Fortified" In spite of the fact that
the new decision, which has passed both
houses. does not interfere at all with Amer
lean shipments TO the Allies. some fool
might have thought that there was some
thing really neutral" in the law passed
Your editorial makes il clear even TO the
most unsophisticated that the law was
passed to make II impossible for the few
German ships still on the high seas to get
the things they need from this country and
so to play into the hands OF the country that
Is treating the United States as they de-
serve il. SIEGFRIED JAC0BSSOHN.
New York, March 8, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
Hunting for Trouble.

Two vices stand out in the seamen's
act, which President Wilson signed on
March 4. The first is economic. 1t IS
admitted that the American merchant
marine is handicapped in competition
with other merchant marines by higher
overhead charges and higher cost of
operation. Our flag has almost disap-
peared from the high seas because vessels
fying other flags have been able to carry
freight on cheaper basis. For that rea-
son a good deal of American capital was
O. invested in vessels of foreign register.
Last fall Congress passed law
authorizing the President to suspend
various provisions Of our navigation laws
in order 70 induce owners of such vessels
to use the American flag. Transfers to
the amount Of half a million In tonnage
were secured. Now, in what looks like
an exhibition Of petulance at the failure
of the government ship purchase scheme
(which sought to enlarge the deep sea
feet still further at the direct cost Of the
taxpayers), the President has approved
measure more than revoking the benefits
promised TO those who had accepted the
recent registry law in good faith, and
penalizirg more heavily than ever the
American owners who have made a gal
liant fight for years past to keep our flag
flying on the ocean trade routes.
It is no solace to American ship owners
to know that the administration is also
going to try to increase the cost Of opera
ton for foreign owners. That ill-ad-
vised effort is the other great vice Of the
seamen's law. Congress committed the
grave diplomatic blunder of assuming
that because it chose to harass the
American merchant marine for the bene-
fit of a small body of sailors it was justi-
fed in trying to impose new standards OF
operation on all other merchant marines.
The United States is a minor factor in
the ocean carrying trade. Yet in the La
Follette-Alexander act it undertakes TO
make scraps Of paper Of our treaties OF
commerce with the great maritime ma
tions and to compel them to adjust their
navigation laws to ours.
Had we made brilliant success Of our
own deep sea commerce and thus won the
moral right to give advice and instruc-
. ton to others, there might be some ex-
cuse for this programme Of universal
regulation. But nations which far over
top us in the development Of deep sea
shipping can hardly be expected to take
dictation from us in good part. Their
natural impulse will be TO protest and to
retaliate if their protests go unheeded.
The seamen's bill, with its vexatious
and unprecedented demands on foreign
ship owners, is a foolish bid for diplo
- matte friction and trade reprisals. In
the present state of international rela-
tions it is piece of stupid bravado. This
is the worst possible time for us to be
hunting for trouble with the rest of the
world.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
"TEEPERARE."

BY OUR OWN T. A. DAILY
Irish boss ees talla me.
"Dere ees war across da sea
Dat ees sure for change da map.
Germany ees have da scrap
Weeth da Eengleesh an ds Franch.
Eengleesh soldier cen hees trsnch
He ees sit an sing all day,
Weeshing for be far away.
He no care for Peecadeel,
Leicester Squar', eet max heem eell'
He ees long for Ireland
An hees pretta lady-frand:
Teeperare, da town ees CALI.
Where dere ees no war at all
Ees no tranch cen Teeperare'
Ny, weesh dat was dere'
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
The Happy Ending.

The Victorian era, responsible for red
plush furniture, for mansard roofs and
cast-iron deer, must answer also for the
novels "happy ending" The latter was
a part of the pretence which would JUS
tify a middle class world fashioned for
the private accumulation Of wealth. 1t
was an opiate to freshen the tired busi-
ness man, to still the questions that youth
asks, to provide vicarious but discreet ro-
nance for the married and settled.
"Why should one not make ones heroes
and heroines happy and have everything
end well?" asks Mrs. Williamson. The
answer is: One should, if one wishes, so
long as the Victorian era continues to
project its shadow over the twentieth CEN
tury.
But not few novelists have read the
abundant signs of this shadows paling,
among the most conspicuous of them
being Mr.. H. G. Wells. Mr.. Wells has
dubbed the counterpart in England Of our
tired business man the weary giant"
Both fiction and criticism to-day" he
writes, ARE in revolt against that tired
giant, the prosperous Englishman.
So far from the weary reader being de-
Gently tired giant, we realize that he is
an inexpressibly lax, slovenly and under
trained giant, and we are all out with one
accord resolved to exercise his higher
ganglia in every possible way"
Hence the problem novel," child Of
questioning age which no longer approves
of the "weary giant" or his weary, re-
spectacle world, and hegrudges him
transportation to the Islands of the
Blessed" The islands" themselves have
come under criticism, like certain concep-
tons of heaven-all Sunday and stiff
clothes. And the revolt is undoubtedly
growing.
But when the weary giant has re-
formed-can we hope then for the
happier ending" for t Its TO islands
that have become more blessed for their
neglect and overhauling? Can we hope,
in other words, that this metamorphosis
of the novel will itself have happy end
ing?
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
A Public Service Commissioner for Queens

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Here are a few reasons why Gov
ernor Whitman should not ignore the Bor.
oush of Queens in selecting Public Service
commissioners for this district:
First The Borough of Queens is the
largest of the five boroughs, comprising l12
square miles, and destined in time TO be
the most populous borough.
Second-1he net increase in real estate
valuations in 1914 in Queens was more than
$lS00o,00O, exceeding by sl2 100000 the in
crease in Manhattan.
inIrd-"ltn the exception OF Richmond
the Borough of Queens is the smallest tax
eater.
Last-The Public Service commissioners
picked from other boroughs have proved
only near successes in dealing with Long
Island evils. CHARLES II. GEORGE.
New York March 5 1915
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08

The money which can bring so many bless
ings to the people, will not be wasted at
the rate Of s7,000,OO0 a day, as with the
Allies now.
"No man can serve two masters" and 1t
is useless TO teach heather of Him who
said, Love your enemies" if We call a sys-
tenn Christian which says, "Starve your
enemies" It is time that all Christians
united to disarm and stopped preparing to
fight, and The nation that first adopts that
policy will become the most prosperous on
earth by leaps and bounds. A. F. SWIFT.
Millbrook, y. Y, March 4, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
Let Them Clean Il Up.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: As to the spit and Splendor" let.
ter in to-day's Tribune, why not have a
rule forcing the offender to clean from
pavement or floor the matter thus elected
Few people care TO incur the annoyance in
cident to complaining Of such offences, and
the fine does not undo the evil. The Of
fender once forced by police or guard to
remove the evidence OF the offence would
not offend again-nor would the witnesses
New York, Feb. q, 1915. Il. d.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
Pasted Jewels
LAST RESORT.

LAST RESORT.
When nothing's left to talk about,
What may the working poet do!
OF course, dear love, have no doubt
You think that one might write OF You;
But what to say? 81 love you? Nay!
That's very DID, though it is true
Our reader knows, dear, that you're far
For have said so oft Of yore;
He's heard about your raven hair
Till he don't want to any more.
To me it's nice to rhyme it twice
To him, it's something of bore.
When nothing's left TO talk about,
We're up against it, just as now;
Since you, dear Love, have given out
'Tis tough, as even you'll allow
(And yet, ! think hear you wink
And say you've done it anyhow"D
Ted Robinson in The Cleveland Plain Dealer
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08

James MscPherson Belts, aged eight, who rs'e'
al the home OF his parents, 1903 Plat ~. ~ -
had toothache the other morning II vas w"
severe toothache, at that, and Jimmie Ch "s %"
be familiar as TO call him thus. let the sns'',
neigh borhood know about IL. His motnet CO.. 80.
his father u. on the phone and asked sdV'e'' '"
was given.
When Mr.. Belts got home that evening me wv
was calm and seemed at peace.
"Has your tooth stopped aching Jimmie
quired James
"I don't know" replied the kid
"You don't know" squesled the father.
do you mean you don't know :!
ats out."-Ted Robinson, in the ClsTsaoa
Dealer,
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08

You can purchase merchandise advertised
In THE TRIBUNE with absolute safety-ior
N dissatisfaction results in any case lhb
TRIBUNE guarantees TO pay your none!
hack upon request. No red tape, no Qulb-
bling. We make good promptly If the ad-
vertiscr does not.
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08

The Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty
to Animals killed ten thousand cats last
month without disturbing the back fence
chorus
New-York tribune., 1915-03-08

The famous Krupp guns evidently do not
bear transportation TO Turkey.