davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-07

Established 1910 the Awarding Contracts
~ Have Not Been Boosted Price Account Of European
Stu-Efcency Buyng-ow Contracts Are Md-he Great
Variety of Supplies Needed by Uncle Sam
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-07

during the idst nNe. years the gem
sral supply committee has materially
assisted Uncle Sam in saving over ST.
500 900. II is possible for them to OBJ
tain bargains that Will enable the
country 20 make even a greater saving
All contract prices range from 10 to 40
per cent lower than those quoted in the
open market
Buying for Uncle Sam is tremen-
dous task Supplies include every
thing from pickles to automobiles. from
sarsaparilla TO pumps The aggregate
cost amounts 10 several million dol
lars each year The general supply
committee contracts for articles by the
year. an estimate having first been
made TO the number or quantity Of
each particular item needed In all
there are some 100000 items The fiscal
year runs from July ! 20 June 30. new
contracts becoming effective July l.
Since the utbreak OF the E.uropea n
war. markets all over the world have
been SO disturbed that dividuals have
felt the rebound OF the universal up
heaVal- Uncle Sam. being In no way
lnfalibl~. has naturally felt the climb
% prices when war was declared in
1914 and prices shot skyWard at such
a dizzy pace. nrms having government
contracts were frantic lest Uncle Sam
hold them 10 agreements made before
which would spell their ruin. There
were $50 of these firms represented
Uncle Sam, however. being the
sauare-toed old gentleman every one
claims him 10 be. was not only reason
able. but lenient. thereby saving many
a corporation from bankruptcy. But
as the war has continued il has been
impossible to escape the ever-increas-
ing prices. and the general supply com
mittee has awakened to the fact that
the present increase in prices OF fed
eral supplies is prodigious. DR.. Briggs
states that drugs. medicines and chem
calls have increased in price from $50
to 1000 per cent. Photographic sup
plies have jumped to a 1000 per cent
increase. and increases run from 10 per
cent up in such things as clothes, tex
tiles, typewriter ribbons. hardware
pencils and all kinds of stationery.
The general supply committee has
prepared schedule OF supplies with
twenty divisions or classes. Class
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-07

10y an act of Congress commit
lDJ tee was established iii 1910 to
I'm prepare specifications, receive
~ the proposals of bidders and to
award contracts for government sup
plies. This committee is known as
the general supply committee and con-
sists of representatives from the ex-
ecutive departments and federal COM
missions. DIR. o. II. Briggs was made
superintendent OF the committee. His
duties are detailed and manifold. He
was formerly superintendent of sup
plies at the Post ONCE Department.
BY means Of the committee a wider
range of business is done than is han
died by amy other corporation in any
country in the world one Of the first
rules is efficiency. and efficiency in their
particular line means economy. Econo-
my for the United States government
means close buying.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-07

minor industrial activities. There are
also the hand looms, since the mills
have not yet entirely displaced this
ancient form of Hindu weaving.
Evening star., 1916-01-01
LABOR.

There was but one strike in local labor
circles during the past year. The work
ers in the local breweries went on strike
in April and declared n boycott on local
beer. The strike has not yet been set
tied For a time il was feared tnat a
strike might occur at the Washington
navy ward but wages were increase l ana
the men remained at work.
The Columbia Typographical Union cele-
brated its one hundredth anniversary IN
January. The annual meeting or the
steel Plate Transferrers' Association was
held January 8. The quarterly session Of
the American Federation OF Labor was
held January 49, The annual banquet OF
the Engraved Steel Plate Finishers was
held the first month of the year. Printers
Pressmen's Union, No. /, held memorial
services i'll February.
The eight-hour law in the employment
of females in the District of Columbia
was upheld by the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia in March. j. j.
Ryan was named editor Of the Plate
Printer in April. officers of the Column
bia Typogra phical Union were elected in
May President Wilson WAS made mem
ber of the International Brickldyers
Umon in June. The American Fedora
ton of Labor announced in July that a
home for that body is TO be erected al
9th street and Massachusetts avenue
northwest. and the building is in course
of construction.
More than 1000 machinists of this city
sought work at the Remington Arms plant
in July. Secretary of the Navy Daniels
September I announced that after October
there would be an increase Of wages at
the Washington navy yard. The annual
outing of the Plate Printers Union was
held at Chesap peake Beach in September
The District of Columbia and Mary and
state branches of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor met and elected officers
in September.
schools was favored by the Central labor
Union in October. The annual meet of
the American Federation of Labor vas
held at San Francisco. CAL in Move lher.
and Samuel Gompers. with the other pin
cipal officers. were all reelected. Me
mortal services were held by Columbia
Union i'm December.
Evening star., 1916-01-01
THE YEAR IN ART.

The year opened with the biennial eX-
hibition of paintings by cotemporary
American artists in progress in the
Corcoran Gallery of Art. From this
exhibition several paintings were add
ed to the Corcoran Gallery's permanent
collection. Other exhibitions of inter
est, though perhaps less note, have
been held in the Corcoran Gallery in
the last twelve months-for instance,
the annual exhibitions set forth by the
Washington Water Color Club and the
Society of Washington Artists. land
scapes by Ben Foster. portraits by
members of the National Association of
Portrait Painters.
Late in the year occurred the death
of Frederick B. Mcclure, for many
years director of the Corcoran Gallery.
Quite recently he has been succeeded
by c. Powell Minnegerode, for some
time assistant director
The print division of the Library of
Congress has lost its chief-Arthur j.
Parsons-who died in the autumn at
his country home. in New Hampshire
Under his direction the division OF
prints was formed and has grown to
Importance.
Daniel {. French has been chosen to
model the statue of Lincoln for the
Lincoln memorial which is helng erect
ed in Potomac Park on the axis of the
Capitol and the Washington Monument.
Mr.. French since has resigned as a
member of the federal art commission.
of which he was chairman. Charles
Moore of Detroit, a member of the com
mission since its inception, has become
chairman.
In May the American Federation or
Arts held its sixth annual convention
in this city, which was attended by
artists. museum directors and others
interested in art from all over the
country. At the same time. and con-
tinuing for three months. under the
auspices of the American Federation of
Arts, IA comprehensive exhibition of
American industrial art was held in
the National Museum.
The site for the building to house the
Freer collection adjacent to the Smith
sonian Institution building has been
selected and authorized.
Among sculptural works of note add
ed to the city's possessions may be
mentioned the sphinXes, by Adolph
Weinman. at the entrance of the Scot
tish Rite Temple. and the buffalos, by
Phimister Proctor, which mark the ap-
proaches to the new Q Street bridge,
designed by Glenn Brown. p
Evening star., 1916-01-01
BUSINESS AND FINANCE.

During the first half of the year the
business men of Washington found
little cause for f-congratulation and
more reason for complaint of dullness
Affected less by the large foreign
trade than other cities, where manu-.
featuring forms a large part of the
daily activities. Washington was, as
usual, self-dependent
1t was not until the end of the vaca
ton season and the beginning of the
return to the capital of the winter
colony. sa. about September /, tina,
business emerged from dullness into
great activity. and for four months the
excess trade brought the average foi
the year above the showing of 1914.
The holiday volume is said to have
been the best in Washington's record
On November 10. the last report
made by all banks, trust and savings
institutions, there were about sS5.-
100000 of deposits to the credit OF
Washingtonians.
The bank clearings for the year 1914
were s38S.447.432. For 1915, q few days
returns estimated, the clearings totaI
s411,57s.o00, an excess of s23.000,0O0 ir
favor of 1915.
This increase in clearings reflects
general business Improvement entirely
and not, as in New York city and ir
many other cities. revival in the Sc.
curity business, which Washington has
not enjoyed: nor yet munition, finan-
cial and loan operations. which have
been important factors elsewhere.
1t has been a year of easy money
and an abundance of it constantly
seeking employment, so that any one
who could show good cause for bor-
rowing and a credit standing was wei.
come to his needs.
This has been evidenced by the. diff
ferent attitude which the great trust
apartment buildings, being perfectly
willing to advance needed funds, where
"A year ago it was necessary to seek
building loans of this character else
where
The average loan rate Of the year or
important borrowings was per cent
There have been few Developments o1
interest in banking circles. The Riggs
National Bank suit against the con-
troller of the currency and other gov.
ernment officials and the attendant de-
velopments, still in allegiance, was
practically the one sensational feature
of 1914. There were no bank failures
in the District, and but one new bank
Bank.
Washington bankers have not par
ticipated to any great extent in the
large foreign financing in which New
York city inaHciers were the leaders
although they were represented In
these fotations They have. however
felt the effect OF the abundance OF
money caused by the great gold i'm
ports and the leSSenlng demand IRON
commercial lines.
The Washington Stock Exchange has
not enjoyed a broad. active market. or
the contrary, trading has been restrict
ed throughout the entire year.
Washington had two war stocks -
Mergenthaler and Laustou-which ad'
vanccd sharply in response to rumors
which, however. were not borne out
and reactions followed.
The stock exchange will soon move
Sat
ings and Trust Company's new build
ing: in the meantime the annual re
ports will be made public, and If the
iitneys have not injured the traction
companies' business worse than eX-
pected there should be "A revival OF
interest in these stocks. The pre-
Iiminary reports are said TO b. en-
couraginG.
Evening star., 1916-01-01
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Many happenings during the last
twelve months have tended to make
the latest calendar year one of the
most eventful in the history of the
public schools of the District No re-
cent move has caused such widespread
discussion in the schools. probably. as
has the recommendation of the Dis
trict Commissioners to change the sys-
tenn of school administration.
Earlier in the year differences of
opinion as to certain policies caused a
breach in the ranks of the board of
education, which. though it has not re-
Gently been in evidence, has not been
wholly closed. One of the policies
over which the largest differences
arose was that regarding the Miner
Normal School Certain faculty changes
We're advised by r. c. Bruce, assistant
superintendent, and supported by one
faction of the board, but opposed by
the other. The matter was finally
closed by a compromise, through which
the faculty of the school was admon-
ished to work in harmony in the
future
Two court actions were instituted
against the board of education. One,
that of Mrs. G. Hellman, who was
dropped under rule As, which auto
matically acts in the case of woman
teachers who marry, is still in the
hands of one of the judges of the Su-
preme Court of the District of CO.
lumbia. Upon this decision rests the
validity of the rule. The other case is
that of DR. W. Bruce Evans, who has
taken action to be reinstated s prin-
cipal of Armstrong Manual Training
School
The principal new regulation adopted
by the board this year, probably. was
that prohibiting any teacher Or officer
in the system from receiving more than
two salaries.
Through the act of Congress allowing
the wider use of school buildings.
many activities of the schools, as well
as social center work have received
Evening star., 1916-01-01
NAVAL BATTALION.

Earnest efforts to keep the organiza-
ton at its highest efficiency in order to
conform to the federal naval militia act
were made by the officers and men or
the Naval Battalion of the National
Guard of the District of Columbia dur
ing the year. Improved methods OF IN
struction were adopted, and the per-
sonnel kept constantly at work learn
ing the naval drills and exercises.
In addition to the fifteen-day cruise
aboard the United States battleship
Kearsarge. the officers and men OF the
battalion made several long cruises on
their training ship. the L. $. S. sylvia.
Manned only by naval militiamen this
little vessel cruised to Norfolk during
the winter months, where she was thor
oughly overhauled. She was brought
back up the Chesapeake bay and Poto-
mac river by the militiamen.
More opportunity to display initiative
was given the officers and men of the
battalion this year aboard the kear-
sarge than ever before. When the Off
GERS were sent on the bridge to per-
form watches they were placed in full
charge of the snip. and received no help
from the regular officers. In their tar
get practice they fired larger caliber of
guns than ever before. The enlisted
personnel were given regular stat -ons
aboard the ship.
The militiamen also put in greater
lamount of time on the river in small
boat drills Almost every Sunday dur
| ing the spring, summer and tall the
men were taken up the river under The
command of the officers and the hotilla
of small boats put through the naval
evolutions In order to get IN the great
est amount of work while the river
was open to navigation the regular
vacation period, which usually follows
the ending of the annual battleship
cruise. cut to two weeks, instead OF
lasting until october !.
Commissions were issued during the
year to Lieut.. Commander Randolph b.
William II. ODonoshue, w. +. Locklin.
Charles s. O'Connor and +. DevereauX
Johnston. The following officers were
promoted: Ensign Harold Crawford to
be navigator with the rank of lieu
tenant: Ensigns F.. l.. Nudge. William
X. Hoefer and Paul V. Thompson to be
lieutenants tjunior grade). Lieuts
(junior grade) Frank w. Sigourney and
Paul V. Thompson resigned their COM
miSsio ions.
A detail from the battalion was sent
to Colonial Beach, Va. with steam
launch, during the period of the annual
encampment of the National Guard.
transportation of regular army officers
who came down to the camp to deliver
lectures.
In addition to the Sylvia the militia
men also had the use of the United
States torpedo boat Barney during the
year. The vessel was in command of
Lieut. L. Anderson. and regular week
end trips were made, during which the
officers and men obtained much real
experience.
Evening star., 1916-01-01
DRT TANT EVENTS RECORDED IN WHICH TEENS

state of New Jersey. to confer suffrage
upon the women of that state.
Henry Ford began agitating peace in
Europe before the summer was over.
and September % made his first visit
to the White House, where he earnestly
discussed with the President his hope
that something might be done to end
the fighting. Two months later Ford
again visited the White House and told
the President of his determination to
spend his fortune, if necessary, to bring
with his preparations for sending the
noted peace ship and over a hundred
delegates to Europe.
With the inauguration of Ford's first
ideas as to peace, President Wilson be-
gan discussing with his Secretaries of
War and Navy the details of the pro-
gram he later submitted to Congress
for national defense on a large scale.
and shortly after Ford's last visit to
the White House the President deliv-
cred his annual address to Congress.
defense being the theme of the address
and in the course of which the chief
executive of the nation bitterly lam
basted hyphenated Americanism.
Wedding and Christening.
was born in the White House. Janu-
ary IS, and December 1S President
Wilson was married to Mrs. Edith
Boiling Gait, widow of Norman Gait,
of this city. The grandchild is Fran
els Woodrow Sayre, daughter of Mr..
Jamestown. Mass. The President at
tended the christening of the child in
Williamstown, in May. Immediately
after it's birth in the White House the
parents received odd presents from
friends throughout the country. Mike
Donovan, the veteran athlete and
boxer of New York. sent a miniature
pair of boxing gloves, and another ad-
mirer sent dainty little pair of over
alls. just large enough for the baby.
Adoo, was born during the year and
christened in the White House the
same day of the Presidents marriage,
the President standing as godfather.
The first public intimation of the
Presidents devotion to his present wife
came during his first visit to his sum-
mer home at Cornish. in July. Mrs.
Norman Gait had been invited to the
summer White House as guest of
Miss Margaret Wilson and Miss Helen
Woodrow Bones. The President fire.
quently went motoring with Mrs. Gait
and members of his family. The Presf-
dent enjoyed his visit to Cornish SO
much that, after a short trip to Wash
he returned there, getting back to
Washington in August. The first Off :
cial announcement of his engagement
to Mrs. Gait was made early in Octo-
Der. and his first public appearance
with his fiancee was in Philadelphia,
at the world series game, October 9,
between Boston and Philadelphia. After
that he made many trips with Mrs.
Gait, utomobiling being their favorite
recreation. The President also made
arrangements in October to- establish
the permanent summer home of him
self and Mrs. Wilson at Shadow Lawn,
beautiful seashore home near Ell
beron. n. J. 1t is expected that they
will go there in June.
Evening star., 1916-01-01

| added impetus. Again this year vaca-
ton schools were conducted with
great success Considerable work was
carried on in the way of dramatics,
| field days. pageants and similar fes-
| tivities. Two of the schools where es-
pecial attention was devoted to social
center work were the Cleveland School,
where the center was named for Miss
Margaret Wilson. daughter of the
| President. and the Wilson Normal
School, conducted by members of the
Parents League of the Third Division
| Work was started to put into erect
plans for broadening the activities of
the high school cadets. Last spring a
sham battle was held for the first time
| in several years, being staged at Rock
Creek Park President Wilson re-
viewed the cadets last spring. In the
sannual competitive drill Company NJ
of Central High was victorious among
| the white schools and Company c of
Armstrong won first place among the
colored companies. The enrolment of
| cadets this fall was larger than ever
before in the history of the military
| IorganiZa ton.
| Many buildings in nearly every sec
| tion of the city were overcroWded.
Partial relief from this condition is
| expected through new buildings. which
are in various stages of construction,
| or which are being planned. The burn
ed Western High School building was
| completely restored this year. Work
| progressing we'll, as is also the con-
/ struction of the new building, which
| is being put up near lst and o streets
northwest to replace the old NJ Street
| High School. The sixteen-room build
| ing at Park View is nearing compile
| ton and an S-room annex to the Powell
School is being planned. The corner
stone of the new Central High was laid
March last. The Commissioners re-
fused to pay the price asked for the
site for the new Eastern High School,
and the site, therefore. has not yet
been obtained.
| Through the death of Miss Elizabeth
/ V. Brown, director of primary instruc-
ton. the schools lost an educator whose
. work was known not only in Washing
ton, but throughout the entire United
States Her position has not yet been
filed. DR. II. Il. Cogswell was chosen
director of music Miss Edith {. West
colt resigned as principal of Western
High. DR.. Elmer S. Newton being ap-
pointed to succeed her. John B. Larner
| and Mrs Susie Root Rhodes were
named as members of the board of ed
ucation to succeed themselves. while
Fountain Peyton was the successor to
DR.. Charles fl. II. Marshall. Henry p.
Blair and Ernest II. Daniel were re-
| elected president and vice president
respectively, of the board.
| High school fraternities and sorori-
ties "as they are managed at present"
were condemned by the Eastern High
School Home and School Association
| Many organizations went record as
! favoring increased pay for janitors. Of
rficials and members of the board of
| education visited many cities in the in
terests of education. The Immediate
| Relief Association was formed and
plans laid for II social organization of
teachers.
Evening star., 1916-01-01
Years Weather Superlatives.

Highest temperature-a7 de
grees, August !.
Lowest temperature-1S de-
grees. January 3 and February 10.
Greatest twenty-four-ho rain
fall-3.09 inches, June | and -
Greatest twenty four hour
snowfall-32 inches, April ;.
Longest period of drought-66
days. March to May IL, inclu-
sive. In this time the total rain
fall was 1.03 inches. Normal rain
fall for the period is 7.72 inches.
Actual rainfall in the 66-day Pc
riod.. 13 per cent of norRel.
Evening star., 1916-01-01
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

President Wilson's year at the White
House was full of momentous events
international. political and personal.
Not since the war with Great, Britain
one hundred years ago has the nation
been SO close to serious trouble with
great foreign powers. and the danger
still hovers in the air
On the south was the constant irri-
tation of the Mexican revolutions. and
the menace that the United States
might be drawn into the difficulties SO
that interference might become neces
sary. With Germany arose the critical
issue over the sinking of the Lusitania
by a German submarine and the loss of
American lives on other vessels because
of the activities of these undersca
boats. With Great Britain and her
allies there is still pending the serious
question Of interference with Ameri-
can shipping and commerce on the
high seas. and with Austria there loom
ed up the sharp issue over the sinking
of the Italian steamship Ancona. by
which American lives were lost. With
all three of these foreign nations a firm
attitude was taken by the administra-
ton, and is to be continued, if neces-
sary. The details of the settlement of
the questions are still to be work ed
most tense. William J. Bryan. Secrc-
tary of State, resigned his position be-
cause of disagreement with President
Wilson over the manner of handling
the dispute. He was replaced by Rob
ert Lansing, who has since conducted
the administrations correspondence
with the foreign powers.
Evening star., 1916-01-01
Woman Suffragists' First Call.

January 6 the woman suffra gists be-
gan their first attack upon the White
House to induce the President to join
them in efforts for an amendment to
the Constitution permitting woman suf-
frage in every state. They kept up
their visits-the last one, in December,
giving them hope that the President
might change his previously expressed
view that woman suffrage was a ques-
tion for the separate states. The Pres
tdent voted in November. In his homo