davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-06
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS.
Hearing Begins to Adjust
Taxes Frop Annexed Land.
TROOPS OFF FOR BORDER
Members Of Light Infantry Com
pany Will Be Assigned to Duty
at Brownsville, Tex.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va. July "a test
suit to determine who is entitled to the
taxes from the recently annexed terri
tory, formerly a part of Alexandria and
Fairfax counties. is being heard today
in the circuit court for this city before
Judge Henry W. Holt of Staunton. Va,
the hearing being in progress in the
Office of Judge J. X. NJ Norton.
The case will be taken to the state
court of appeals for final settlement.
The total amount of taxes involved
from the annexed territory for the year
1915 is approximately $500.
The suit is styled David G. Grillbort-
ger against the city council of Alexan-
dria and the amount mentioned in this
particular case is s202.4O. Mr.. Grillbort-
GERS property is in what was formerly
a part of Fairfax county.
Attorneys Judge J. h. NJ. Norton and
S. p. Fisher represent the city of AL
exandria. Alexandria county is rep
resented by Attorney Frank l.. Ball and
Fairfax county is represented by At
torney Thomas r. Keith.
Sues Insurance Company.
the Agricultural Insurance Company of
WATERFOWL, y. Y, the object of which
is to recover damages in the sum OF
$500 is being heard before jury in
the corporation court today, Judge L.
C. Barley presiding.
The suit is the outcome of the de-
struction by fire of two houses belong,
ing to plaintiff. known as Nos. 2oS ana
co91a Queen street. the night OF NO
vember 10. 1915. The insurance COM
pany alleges that the houses were un-
occupied ten days previous to the nre
without the usual permit for Vacan-
eies. Plaintiff carried policies totalins
500 Oh the two houses
Attorneys Samuel G. Brent and ROD
inson Moncure represent the plalntlH'
aud the defendant company is repre-
serted by Attorneys Mumford, Huntoh'
Williams and Anderson
lanes E Johnston, Louis Bendheim'
i NICK Baldwin, Harvey Z; Gentry'
G. Bryan Pitts and Edward L. La"ief
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-06

Two other changes have been sug-
gested as Accomplishments of the cleo.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-06
ELECTRICAL ROLL CALLS
FOR CONGRESS-.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

Into the more or less dignified. at
times orderly and always slow, pro-
cedure of the House of Representatives
of the United States is about to be in
jected an element of modern mechan-
ical efficiency. Quite literally a jump
spark is to be applied to the delibera-
tions of the lower House. 1t will be
in the form of an electrical voting de-
vice, which will be capable of recording
and adding the vote of the members
present in about thirty four seconds
The average time occupied in calling
the roll as done at present by the
House reading clerks is about forty
minutes, for the name of every mem
Der must be read twice A congress
man with a head for mathematics esti-
mated that ffty-sx days were spent
calling the roll during the sessions of
one congress. 1t seems quite within
the probabilities that this machine, if
installed and successful. will save the
House about one month out of every
year. Senator Underwood believes that
it would save $4,000 a year in light
heat and telegraph service
AS for the machine. it is the inven-
ton of B. L. Broboff. native of Rus
STA, a citizen of the
Already in Use United States and a
resident of Milwau-
In Wisconsin. kee. wis. 1t has al
ready been installed and successfully
demonstrated in the hall of the Wiscon-
sin state legislature at Madison. Wis
and Mr.. Broboff has also demonstrated
it on small scale in Washington.
Many members of Congress have al
ready expressed themselves as favor
able to its installation. Representative
Howard of Georgia has introduced a
bill providing $3.50 for the purpose
and Mr.. Brobof has appeared before
the committee on accounts and made a
statement about the work
ing of his machine and the need for it,
He declares that it will speedily save
its own cost in time. light and heat;
that it will last a couple of centuries.
never get out of order, and
that one man without any electrical
training can care for and operate it.
In the last analysis, the success of
this machine in speeding up the House
will depend upon the members. 1t can
seconds. but not unless the voters are
there. OF course, a vote might be taken
with only one member present, but the
question which remains unsettled is
this new method will really
ia cilitate the gathering of quorums.
Mr.. Howard. who introduced the bill,
and other members who want to see the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-06

Two other changes have been sug
gested as accompaniment of the cleo
trical device. One is
buo mas rborros the adjustment of
Made Possible. which now an
nounce every vote and disturb every
body on Capitol Hill. The other Is the
restoration of the desks. which were
replaced not long ago by long benchs,
much like those in a railway waiting
room. 1t is argued that If the repre-
sentative has a place in the legislative
hall where he can work he is more APP
to remain there. 1t Is certainly true
that the benches now in use offer the
representative little in the way OF
either comfort or opportunity for work.
One somewhat revolutionary effect of
the electrical voter will be the aboll-
ton of the revered filibuster. ThiSton-
sists in delaying business by repeat
edly making the point of no quorum,
the calling of the roll and
delaying the business of the House
forty minutes. Then, before much
progress is made, the point is repeated.
In this way one member can interfere
with the work of the House, while a
may even force a compromise
from the majority.
Notwithstanding that the filibuster is
a terrible waste of time, it has gener-
ally been regarded as one of the rights
of the minority. The hearing on the
bill brought out some interest
ing side lights on the subject.
The chairman of the committee re-
marked that "a man who makes point
of order does it out of some pique. A
man who wants to speak is not allowed
to speak, and then he makes the House
pay for it, and he can do it very read
ily.' he explained.
That is generally the gist of a fill
buster in the House. The filibuster is
like the little boy at the back-lot base
ball game who wants to pitch, and
isn't allowed to, so he runs off with
the catchers mitt.
The Broboff device. if installed. would
consist simply in a big board. or per-
haps two of
Plan of Procedure them, much
With Voting Device. trica1 seor.
board where each congressmans name
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-06
Must Do the Work
or Lose Their Jobs.

time doing little things for individuals
and counties and towns.
They give a small fraction of their
time to national affairs. The leaders
who really give most of their time to
national legislation spend a great deal
more than the government allows them
for clerk hire. and they are veterans of
many sessions experience. whose seats
are very secure.
There is one young representative
who saws that he never misses a session
of the House. He explains that he die
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-06

machine installed, believe that It will
do SO. A certain time will have to be
set for the taking Of the vote-say, five
minutes-and all members who haye
not pressed their buttons for yea or
nay and flashed a red light or a white
one on the recording board will then
be considered absent. 1t is the hope
and belief of those who want the sys-
pei members to stay on the floor of the
House il they are interested in the bill
or II they want to avoid making a rec
ord for continual absence from roll
calls.
And that brings to the fore the big
gest problem in the present-day DELHI
erations of the
Brings to the Fore House. Ora d
Biggest Problem. perceptiblv It is
changing from a deliberative body.
where legislation is debated and
and agents, who appoint committees to
draft laws and leaders to tell them how
they shall vote. and spend their own
time attending to multitude of details
for various individuals.
Formerly the House was a great deal
smaller: there was no House office
building: the members had their offices
scattered all over Washington. They
nearly all attended every session OIL
Congress.
Now the Office building is right across
the street from the Capitol. During
the ordinary sessions of the House a
few of the leaders and some others
will be found upon the floor, earnestly
arguing A vote is desired. Electrical
bells are rung that resound through all
the corridors of the House Office build
ing. The congressman whose names
begin with A, B and c leap to their
feet and depart for the hall Of legis-
lation. The KS and LIS. however. be-
gin debating another letter, while the
Ps and Qs and KS merely glance at
their watches. 1t will be at least half
an hour before their names are reached
on the second roll call. They go right
on studying pension claims, dispatching
garden seeds and year books of the
Department of Agriculture. drafting
laws to donate condemned cannon for
the city park in Podunk, or permitting
John Jones to build bridge across
Frog creek in Summersquash county.
Mo-. or appropriating hundred and
fifty thousand dollars to erect a post
Office at Watertank. New.
l,-o tboco
Middletown transcript., 1916-05-13
PHONES ORDERS TO
WARSH|PS At SEA
Wireless DemonStratiOnin0 Office
nf Secrnfarv Daniels,
FEAT HAS NO PARALLEL
Communication With All Naval Sta.
tTons Inauqursted BY Wire.
less In Few
Minutes.

Washington.-A working system of
wire and wireless communication said
by army and navy experts to be I'M
equaled by that of any other nation
was effected by the Navy Department
as an adjunct to the preparedness pro-
gram.
1t was inaugurated by a wireless
telephone conservation, the first of its
kind ever held, during which Secretary
Daniels, seated at his desk in the Navy
Department, gave instructions 10
commander on the bridge of warship
operating against a theoretical enemy
far off the Virginia Capes and received
reports from him.
simultaneously other officials of the
department were in telephone COM
munication with all the navy yards
and stations in Continental United
States.
The plan represents more than
year of continued labor by naval Off
GERS, and experts of the American
Telephone and Telegraph Company,
who have been cooperating with the
department on the invitation of Secre-
tary Daniels.
1t was pronounced a thorough sue
cess by officials who witnessed its exc
cution this afternoon.
Secretary Daniels was the first to
converse with Captain Chandler, of the
New Hampshire. He told the Captain
to get under way by 10 o'clock Sun
day and talk to the department again
then.
ut will not be very long before the
Secretary of the Navy can sit in his
Office in the departments" Mr.. Dan
iels told the Captain, "and communi-
cate verbally with ships all over the
world"
in brief address, which marked the
opening of the tests, U. N. Bethel,
vice-president of the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company. re
ferred to the patriotic satisfaction"
which his company took in co-operat-
ing with the Navy Department and ex-
pressed the sentiment that none of the
public enterprises would be found
wanting should the time come when
the Government needed its services.
Secretary Daniels replied, telling
how the country's industries were be-
ing modified.
Middletown transcript., 1916-05-13
MERCHANTMEN
AS WARSHIPS
Germany's Contention In Her Former
Memorandum and Her Warning
To NeutraIs.

The German memorandum of Feb
ruary 8, was addressed to neutral
nations and declared that after Febru-
ary 29, Germany would consider all
armed merchantmen belonging to
countries at war with Germany as war
ships, and that such vessels would be
treated accordingly and sunk without
warning.
1t is charged that before the out
break Of the war the British govern
ment had given British shipping COM
panies an opportunity to arm mer-
chantmen with guns for protection
against dangers threatening under
certain circumstances from auxiliary
cruisers Of other powers" The British
Admiralty, it was added, published in
January, 1914, list showing that 29
steamers of various English lines car
ried stern guns.
Germany established soon after the
outbreak Of the war, the memorandum
said, that English liners were armed
the steamer La Correntina having
been captured carrying two four
FOUNDER seven-inch stern guns and
German submarine having been fred
upon in the channel by an English
yacht,
The memorandum said the British
government for its own merchantmen
had taken the standpoint that armed
merchantmen maintained the charac-
ter Of peaceful mercantile vessels so
long as they only carried armament
for defensive purposes, but that in the
case Of armed ships under other flags
it had adopted the principle that they
were to be treated as warships.
"The German government" the
memorandum continued, has no doubt
that merchantmen acquire a belliger.
ent character through arming with
cannon, no matter whether the guns
shall serve only for defense or for at
tack. 1t considers every warlike
activity of enemy merchantmen as con-
trary to international law, although it
takes into consideration the opposing
views, through the fact that it treats
the crews 'of such ships not as pirates.
but as belligerents."
The memorandum said that numer.
GUS cases had come to light from re-
ports Of the German naval forces Gin
which British merchantmen not only
offered armed resistance to German
warships, but, on their own part, pro.
ceeded without further ado to attack
them, in which attacks they frequently
made use of false colors."
The manifesto was issued in order
that the neutral powers might warn
their subjects from further entrustirs
their persons or property to armed
ships Of the powers at war with Ger.
many"
Middletown transcript., 1916-05-13
MEXICANS RAID
U. S. TERRITORY
Two Soldiers and Boy Killed
BY Bandits.
MAY LEAD TO NEW POLICY
Americans At EI Paso In Doubt
Whether the Marauders Were
Villa Bandits Or Men AffiI-
lated With Carranza.

Alpine, Texas.-Villa bandits, some
20 in number, forded the Rio Grande
and, sweeping Is miles inland on
American soil, raided the little settle
ment of Glenn Springs apd attacked
detachment of American cavalry, con-
sisting of nine men of Troop A, Four
teenth Cavalry,
Three troopers and a 10-year-old boy
were killed, two cavalrymen were
wounded and another IS missing. He
is believed to be prisoner of the ban
dts, who are now fleeing southwark
into Coahuila, Mexico.
Two American citizens, J. Deemer
and a man named Compton, according
to reports received here, were carried
across the Rio Grande, and reports
have it that their throats were cut.
The missing trooper is Private Ros-
coe Tyree. The little boy is the son
Of Compton. He He was deaf ard dumb
and bandits are thought to have killed
him because he could not answer their
questions.
u0 IWO WOuuuCu IIOOp6ISs II1NoSSS
]. Brick and Frank Defree, were
brought here badly wounded. Bricks
body was filed with small brass pieces
Of tacks fired from a shotgun. Defree
was burned about head and shoulders.
Nine Fought Against Seventy.
In a little abode house nine cavalry
men made their fight for life against
the 70 or more Villista bandits at
Glenn Springs. A hail of shot poured
for more than two hours into the sin.
gle window of the adobe house, but the
cavalrymen kept up a steady rifle fire
in defiant answer Then the Mexi-
cans leader ordered fire balls to be
thrown on the roof, thickly thatched
with candalaria.
The blazing weed tortured the sol
diers below and burned their heads
and bodies Smashing the door, the
troopers broke for the open, nring as
they ran. Two were shot and killed
as they fed. One is missing and it is
believed he is dead. Another was kill
ed as he tried to climb through a
window.
Middletown transcript., 1916-05-13
MEMORIAL Of
THE LUSITANIA
Hundreds Met Death BraVeIy
A III &n4nd c4oomnr
Vn uU-I0tOU OtVWH'VT'
CUNARD LINER TORPEDOED
Sinking OF the Big Liner Was Pre-
n1editated, Is Opinion Of Many.
The American Rights Commit
tee Abandons the Memorial.

New York.-Sunday was the first an
niversary of the sinking Of the Lusi-
tania. On May Z, 1915, the enormous
Cunard liner was plowing through the
sea in broad daylight off Old Head of
Kinsela, Ireland, when the German
submarine U-39, without any attempt
at warning, sent two torpedoes into
her Fifteen minutes later the vessel
disappeared, carrying to their death
1915 persons, of whom 107 were Amer
leans and $50 babies and small chill
dren.
The submarine made no attempt at
rescue.
The Americans killed included many
persons of note = Charles Frohman,
Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Lindon Bates, Jr.,
Justus NJ. Forman, Elbert Hubbard and
wife, Capt ]. B. Miller. Herbert G..
Stone, DR.. F. S. Pearson, Charles Klein
and Lothrop Wilmington.
In the year since then the Germans
have killed several score other Ameri-
cans by torpedoing passenger vessels,
but has given no satisfactory apology
and disavowal of the Lusitania's de-
struction.
Sinking Premeditated.
The Lusitania sinking was premed-
itated, for many Of the passengers had
received warnings not to sail on her
before she left New York. An adver-
tisement containing a similar warning
was inserted in American newspapers
by the German Embassy at Washing
ton.
The British Admiralty has been
criticised for not protecting the vessel
more adequately. Although the Lusi-
tania carried 1000 persons and was
worth with her burden S1O,0OO,0O0 she
was steaming at only 18 knots through
the danger zone when attacked.
The Lusitania took on such a great
list a few moments after the second
torpedo struck that many of her life
boats could not be launched. This in
creased the loss Of life.
Capt w. T. Turner went down on
the bridge of his ship, but was picked
up alive after swimming four hours.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was last seen when
he started down companionway, say
ing: Let's so down and see if there
are any kiddies left"
Drowned Hunting Children.
Mr.. Bates also was drowned while
i
met DR.. and Mrs. F. Warren Pearl, of
New York City, desperately striving to
find two of their four little ones.
Mr.. Frohman, lame and Ill, did not
try TO escape. He said to a woman
who lived to tell it:
why fear death? 1t is the most
beautiful adventure in life!"
Middletown transcript., 1916-05-13
against Illegal methods adopted by Ger
many's enemies.
e.I:. A.. r. Ena,,aw

against Illegal methods adopted by Ger
many's enemies.
Supplies Arms To Enemy.
Moreover, the German people know
to what considerable extent their
enemies are supplied with all kinds OF
war material from the United States.
"It will, therefore, be understood
that the appeal made by the Govern
ment of the United States to sentl-
ments of humanity and principles OF
international law cannot under the cir
cumstances meet the same hearty re-
sponse from the German people which
such an appeal otherwise always Is GER
tain to find here. If the German Gov
ernment, nevertheless, is resolved 70
go to the utmost limit of concessions
it has been guided not alone by the
friendship connecting the two great
nations for over 100 years but also by
the thought of the great doom which
threatens the entire civilized world
should the cruel and sanguinary war
be extended and prolonged"
'The German Government, con-
scious Of Germany's strength, twice
within the last few months announced
before the world its readiness to make
peace on a basis safeguarding Ger
many's vital interests, thus indicating
that 1t is not Germany's fault if peace
is still withheld from the nations Of
Europe
"The German Government feels all
the more justified in declaring that re-
sponsibility could not be borne be-
fore the forum of mankind and in his
tory If after Il months Of the wars
duration the submarine question under
discussion between the German Gov
ernment and the Government of the
United States were to take turn seri'
otfsiJ threatening maintenance nt
peace between the two nations.
Would Limit Operations.
GAS far as lies with the German Gov
eTnment, It wishes to prevent things
from taking such a course. The Ger
man Government, moreover, Is pre-
pared to do its utmost to confine opera
tions Of the war for the rest Of its dura-
ton to the fighting forces of the bel-
ligerents, thereby also insuring free
dom Of the seas, a principle upon
which the German Government be-
lieves, now as before, that It is in
agreement with the Government Of the
United States.
Order To Naval Forces.
''The German Government, guided
by this idea, notifies the Government
Of the United States that German
naval forces have received the follow
ing orders: In accordance with the
general principles of visit and search
and the destruction Of merchant YES
sells recognized by international law as
such vessels, both within and without
the area declared a naval war zone,
shall not be sunk without warning and
without saving human lives unless the
ship attempt to escape or offer resist
ance.'"
Middletown transcript., 1916-05-13

me German government has assured
President Wilson that merchant YES
sals shall not be sunk without warn.
ing, or without visit and search, and
that human lives shall be saved unless
the ship attempts to escape or to offer
resistance.
IN effect, this Is q compliance with
the demand made by President Wilson
IA his vigorous note to Germany sent
to Berlin three weeks ago last Wed
pesday.
President Wilson will accept the as
Eurance of Germany in good faith that
the German government will abandon
the present method Of submarine war
rRre. torpedoing defenseless ships with
out warning, and that he will regard
The German pledge as an acceptable
compliance with the American de-
m&nd.
In such case, the United States
might not reply to the note and would
await evidence of the actual abandon
ment of Germany's present practices
Of submarine warfare which is de-
Glared.
Middletown transcript., 1916-05-13

precedent is established and British
doctrines in regard to the seizure of
individuals of hostile nationality on
board neutral ships will be safe
guarded.
The State Department at Washing
ton has contended that the facts in the
case are similar to those Of the famous
Trent affair, but while it is not known
what attitude the British reply win
adopt toward this argument Lord Rob.
ert Cecil gives it as his personal opIn.
ion that the two cases present wide
differences.
Middletown transcript., 1916-05-13
TWO AUTHORS KILLED IN AUTO.
Former Stage Manager Badly Hurt
When Car Upsets.

Los Angeles, Cal. - Malcolm w
Strong, playwright, and Clinton H
Stagg, an author of New York, were
killed when an automobile driven by
Stagg overturned on a country road
near here. George Foster Platt, for
merly stage manager at the New The
atre and the Little Theatre in New
York, another passenger in the ma
chine, was seriously injured.
Middletown transcript., 1916-05-13

the reasons given by the Foreign Office
for their detention.
The formal document in reply to the
final American note on the subject is
not yet ready, but according to Lord
Robert Cecil, Minister Of War Trade,
it will be carefully framed so as not
to admit the general right of belliger-
ents to enjoy the protection of a neu-
trail nag.
In the present case Great Britain
admits itself in the wrong in regard to
the facts outlined in the American re-
monstrancs. but the reply will be
oouched In such terms that no general
Middletown transcript., 1916-05-13
COUNT RoNI LOSES AGAIN.
Marriage To Anna Gould Held Valid
BY Cardinals.

Rome.-The validity of the marriage
Of Count Boni de Castellane to Anna
Gould, now Duchess Talleyrand, was
confirmed in a decision by the Com
mission of Cardinals appointed to con-
slider the claim of the Count for annuI-
ment of his marriage.
Count de Castellane has appealed
several times to the Vatican for a r1ll-
ing that his marriage was invalid, His
last appeal, which has now been de-
cided against him, was filed in Jan
uary of this year.