davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1916-11-28

The correspondent whose letter we
print in another column reveals the
misleading character Of the statement
made by w. s. CkRrER, head Of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen, that "in any arbitra.
ton of II controversy between railway
employees and their employers the
latter administer the award"
1t is shown that IL the men are dis.
satisfied with the railways admins
tratiOn Of the award they can aud do
appeal to the arbitrators, whose de-
cision Is final. In the recent arbitra-
ton on the Western railways the
board Of a%rbitrators was appealed to
In 312 cases. When Mr.. CARTER com.
pares railway arbitration to n "court
judgment enforced only by n Of the
iitigants" he dangerously misrepre-
sents the facts.
As for the amazing charge made by
Mr.. CARTER, TO which THE Sun drew
thu "ukU tNtCuFC utV
juggled into wage reductions by rail-
way officials" u correspondent
thinks that this refers to a reduction
in total monthly payments-not in the
rate Of pay-which may have &C.
Cured In "a very few instances" But
II 1t has occurred 1t was plainly the
result Of the br~otherhoods' own cry
for standardization" They have So.
lected n rule here. n rate of pay there ;
picking now from existing rules and
rates, now from awarded rules and
rates whatever rules or rates seemed
to favor them the more. In the proc.
ess they may occasionally have made
n bad choice. but they made every
choice themselves.
Mr.. CARTER had better adduce evi.
dence to support his assertions In
the future.
The sun., 1916-11-28

with every hour up to noon, that It IL
diminished after the noon hour and
again increases with the advance Of
the afternoon.
The lesson Of these accurately ascer.
tanned facts would be that working
people should not lolter within the
factories during their lunch hour but
spend 1t in the open air.
THE Sun has hitherto adverted to
the great value Of showers connected
with factory buildings. in which the
laborers may refresh themselves dur.
ing the noon hour or after leaving
their work. Fortunately the city OF
New York has provided public baths,
In which these showers may be had
free Of cost. Working people would
act wisely in resorting to them on
their homeward journey and thus re-.
store the lost energy OF which the
manifestation IL fatigue.
The sun., 1916-11-28
AGAINST AN EMBARGO.
Would Prohibition Of Food Exports
Result ~ Its Advocates BelIcyef

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The
question OF an embargo on foodstuffs is
going to be taken up soon. would like
to go on record as being opposed to n
such law being made. II ] would be
actment.
An embargo would produce temporary
results only. II these in the long run
would have the opposite effect from that
desired. To illustrate this we will take
the question OF labor on the farm:
In order to produce crops the farmer
has to employ labor. During 1914 the
farmer had plenty Of labor at a price
that made 1t possible to grow and har-
vest crops so that In 1915 we had a
bumper crop.
Then came the large demand for labor
in the mills and factories OF the cities
with the result of "A short crop for 1916.
Now prices have readjusted themselves
SO that We are in a good way for a
bumper crop for 1917.
II We place an embargo the price OF
foodstuffs will drop. The farmer cannot
and will not hire labor at the present
wage and plant crops unless he gets a
profit on his labor.
We shall then have a small crop In
1917 and prices will again advance, and
we shall be in the same position We are
to-day, only that We shall have lost a
whole years export OF the food that we
might have taken from the land.
ii. $, Powell.
UTICA. November -.
The sun., 1916-11-28

on II In that year they would have
yielded $7,21s,307, reducing the tax
rate by ~ points.
This great sacrifice Of revenues can
be Justified only on the ground that
the establishments benefiting from 1t
render public services essential to the
welfare Of the community. The work
Of hospitals, schools, Orphanages and
homes Is apparent: Columbia Uni.
versity with 1 100000 worth Of ex.
empt property is an institution whose
usefulness will not be questioned. The
public libraries, the Metropolitan and
Natural History museums, the Aqua
rum, the Botanical and Geological
gardens, the Institutes Of arts and
sciences are actually public, In the
that the city and State partici-
pate in their management; they are
not included In the compilation now at
hand.
The theory Of the law Is that no
property producing a profit should be
exempt from taxation. The affairs Of
certain cemetery corporations are I'M
dergoing scrutiny ut present, to dis
cover whether they conform TO this
condition. The property occupied by
churches and synagogues bears a valu-
alton Of STE. Osc, 900. constituting As
per cent. Of the total exempt property
owned by private institutions. This
great sum Is devoted to activities
whose results are less easy to gauge
than the performances Of a school or
a hospital; unquestionably many Of
the units whose holdings compose 1t
could not maintain themselves IL they
had to pay taxes. Occasionally move
ments to withdraw the privileges given
to them are announced: these do not
show great vitality. and seem to be
without strong popular support.
The churches declare dividends to
the city every day: a serious effort to
tax them Is not likely to be made for
years to cOme.
The sun., 1916-11-28
THE NATIONS FOOD.
Should Federal Laws Curb Speculation
in the Necessaries Of Life?

To III EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Coal
dealers make their contracts with the
mining companies or the producers at q
fixed price to supply their wants for
fixed periods, therefore IL the coal dealer
contracts for his supply at So a ton at
the mine the mine Is compelled to furnish
him with his coal The present high
price of coal is caused by one of two
things either the dealers have combined
To raiec the price. and II SO the Govern
ment should apply the remedy there. or
the reason many of them give is lack
OF transportation facilities. II invest!ga-
ton should prove this to he true then
the Government should step in. and IL II
has not the authority necessary national
laws should be passed. not state laws,
giving the Government the authority to
compel the railroads to haul coal and
food products to the exclusion Of any
other freight they may handle.
Is not the rapid and enormous in
crease In the cost OF all kinds OF food
largely the result of the ability OF dealers
to store their products in cold storage
warehouses and thus create a shortage
in all the articles they have IN storage.
enaDllng tnem 10 sell at Whatever prices
they may see At?
| believe that this is Mt the bottom
OF a great deal OF the trouble In our
food products. II is stated that one man
in Chicago has in cold storage $4,000. 900
dozen eggs bought at prices ranging
from is cents to II cents a dozen and
no doesn't intend to sell these eggs unit
he can dispose OF them at - cents a
dozen. What applies TO egg applies
with equal force to practically every
food used by human beings that can
he stored. The prime object OF the cold
storage warehouse should he to con-
serve food 50 as to prevent famine-this
broadly speaking. but when cold storage
warehouses arc used for the purpose OF
grinding tho public as they are now do
ing it would seem hat here too the
Government has the right to interfere,
and | should he glad to know from you
ar any of our readers why it would
not he perfectly proper for the Govern
, ment to enact laws absolutely prohibit
ing the storage OF any article for human
consumption in cold storage warehouse
FOR more than three months.
The wonderful wealth Of our country
our enormous resources and our bounti'
ful crops ought not 10 make il neccs'
sary to store any kind or provisions
! for a longer period than that, and II
such a law were enacted II would be a
great stabilizcr and keep prices at nor
maj figures.
The same national law giving coal tn,
| precedence in transportation should ap'
| ply equally TO all food.
II We have IN this country a states
man strong enough and big enough tC
take up these matters without fear o
imperilling his future political career and
pace them before M Government in tn,
proper manner | am quite sure "A remedy
will quickly be found that will put al
end to the terrible conditions now exist
ing, l." c. T.
New YORK. November -.
The sun., 1916-11-28
TRADE BRIEFS.

SPANS annual production Of cement
amounts to about $50 600 tons at the pres
ent time. II X planned to increase the
production to 800, 600 tons,
steel Ming csbln"ts should make large
sales In the Netherlands. Germany has no
competitor for this trade,
Peat was widely used for fuel In Nor
way during 1919 wins to the high price
Of coal. A patent peat fuel Is being manu-
featured for use on the Norwegian State
railway.
Firy per cent. Of MartinIaues imports
in 1918 were supplied by the United states.
France ranked next with 81 per cent,
Great Britain Was third with II per cent.
and all other countries only . per cent.
1t is planned to open a technical library
al Frankfort on the Main. Germany. This
library will he open to the public and will
be OF great beneht to the many industrial
workers OF the city.
Twelve thousand tons Of American coal
have entered the port Of Tcnerlnc, Canary
Islands. In the past nine montiis. Last
year there were no exports Of coal from
the United states TO the islands.
Machinery for making butter and cheese
is needed In Portugal.
\ fertilizer company in Spain has in
auired about prices on 800 900 bags suit
able for acid phosphate. An order may be
placed for 1000. 900 sacks.
The Governor Of the colony OF Trinidad
and Tobago, British West Indies, has rec
commended that the railways Of the colony
he improved. As some Of his suggestions
will he carried out. there will be a demand
for American supplies.
G~uatemala's I9l8-1T coffee crop viii
amount TO about s0, 900, 900 pounds valued
at $40. 600, 900. This is a normal crop,
OF 100 automobiles imported into Java
for the first half Of this year t,09 AN
from the United States. Italy was the
nearest competitor, supplying nfty-three
motor cars.
Inquiries have been received at the con-
sulate at Hankow. China. for prices on
American -four mill machinery. Catalogues
in English have been requested.
American pianos are popular In South
Africa. Germany and England. however.
sell q number Of pianos In this district.
7 Merchants In Holland are In the market
for American millinery supplies.
The sun., 1916-11-28
DEATH TO THE SPARROW!
A Thumb Turns Down for the Wicked
Little Gladiator.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SvN-Sir: The
English sparrow is a domineering and
bcilicose braggart. having none OF the
distinctive characteristics OF other birds
except wings and feathers none OF
their amiable and lovablc qualities. He
Is. to he sure, winged like the angels.
the bugs and other insects, That he
belongs in the ranks OF the angels none
will claim. and any bug with a decent
sense OF self-rcspect must feel a pro-
found humiliation that he. like the Eng
fish sparrow. has wings. This small
blight IN hire life has done his hest,
and with rcgrettable success. to make
miserable the lives OF our native birds.
which one rarely secs nowadays. for
they have migrated In d"iscouragement,
driven from their native heath by this
worthless intcrloper. T.. s. %STuIGIs.
BosroS, Mass, November 81.
The sun., 1916-11-28

Thanksgiving Day, II would appear,
Can visit us but once a year.
Kicksgivirg day comes to our door
Three hundred three score times and four
THANKSGIVING Day we eat q bird,
\ menu circumscribed. absurd:
Kicksgiving day with proper zest
We dilig ently eat the rest.
Thanksgiving Day we gather In
The far on cousins. distant kim:
Ki"ksg&vine day, 1t Is our boast,
We spend with those We love the most.
Thanksgiving Day too often ats
And leaves us proven hypocrites;
K~ieksRlving day we are sincere
And always make our feelings clear,
NcLANpsunoa WILSON.
The sun., 1916-11-28
The Original Intention - to Inter.
state Commerce.

1t has been brought out by testi-
mony before the Newlands committee
that under the present administration
Of Our laws II State Is In the posi-
ton to injure the communities Of
other States by yer and unjust
regulation Of interstate rail lines. One
State IL apparently ut liberty to in
f1lct heavy taxes, which the shippers
Of another State will be called on to
pay; one State, by imposing an un-
due fine for car shortages, may keep
its shippers supplied while the cities
Of other States endure famine; one
State, by restricting issues of stocks
or bonds, may deprive the people of
other States of necessary rail lines or
cars In which to travel or transport
their goods.
This is Il clear violation Of the in
tent OF the trainers of our Federal
Constitution. They knew from obser-
walton the evils of the commercial
warfare among the thirteen colonies,
They Incorporated In the Constitution
the following prohibition:
mo preference shall be given by an,
regulation Of m or revenue to
the ports of one State over those OF an
other IArticle l., section Q
paragraph 81,
Had there been rail transportation
instead of the word ports we should
rcnd here the words '%'Cities, towns OF
villages? Commerce was then pre-
IOnderanlly water borne; the lnten'
to have Interstate as well as foreign
commerce regulated evenly and with
out discrimination Is unmistakable.
The sun., 1916-11-28
Fatigue From an Economic stand.
point.

The subject Of fatigue among per.
IONS actively engaged in physical or
mental labor was discussed ut n meet.
ing Of the British Association for the
Advancement of Science. An English
surgeon serving in Serbia stated that
long continued trench strain gave rise
to breakdown, from which the pa
tients recovered after a period Of rest.
but that after their return 1t fire.
Quently became necessary to dis
charge these soldiers because their
work deteriorated. as shown by mac
curate firing and inability to time the
hand grenade fuse. 1t became a mat
ter of greatest urgency to conserve
the delicacy Of perception and alert
ness of the soldiers by interrupting
their service through replacement by
reserves.
Physical fatigue ms a cause Of acct.
dents in industrial occupations was
discussed by Sir THOMAS OLIVER, who
held that industrial fatigue was en-
tirely the outcome Of prolonged hours
Of labor; this was demonstrated In
munition workers and girls working In
factories during the night. A singular
difference Of opinion was manifested
by the statement OF the chairman Of a
large manufacturing firm that the mat.
ter Of industrial fatigue had been
greatly exaggerated. His experience
| showed that there are more accidents
Oh Saturdays, when the working day
was shortest. Th~irty-seven hours was
the average weekly working time IN
ship yards in ordinary times, cor
tainly not sufficient to cause excessive
fatigue. II was his observation. how
ever, that when u man worked hard
and drank whlskey also he became
greatly fatigued, and that those WHIT
worked the longest hours without re
sorting to drink suffered less from IA
tigue than the former.
In this country many investigations
of railroad and industrial accident,
have demonstrated that fatigue ant
exhaustion from nerve and muscular
strain contributed to ineficiency IL
the worker. Professor IRVING FIsHEI
says that about 5 per cent. OF all per
sons In this country are sufficient.
fatigued to totally impair their work
ing capacity. II this Is true grea
economic loss must ensue and a rem
edy should Ike applied. Some OF tn
German insurance tables offer a math
ematical demonstration Of the fact tina
the percentage Of accidents increase
The sun., 1916-11-28
Curioslties and PUSHES OF the In.
come Tax Report.

The income tax table for the FIRST
district reveals two curiOsities. The
number Of persons with an income
between sllO.OVO and $2OO,OO Is
twelve, but the number who make be-
tween S2OO.OOO and $25O.OOO Is thir-
teen. Aud while only seven persons
confess to earning between $3OO,OOO
and $4OO,OO annually, eight admit
making between 100000 and 100000.
10 Il easier to make, say. $22o.OO
tAan It Is to make $4,000? II not,
why do not the numbers Of individu-
els recede as the amounts increase,
- Is the rule? Yet 1t may be that
the seven are munitions makers while
the eight are of n more numerous
class, the motion picture stars.
1t Is interesting to observe, In the
same connection, that In this State,
1t least, 1t appears to be almost as
easy to get 5000 year as 1t Is to
have an income Of $4,000. The rec
ord In the State Is as shown here:
Prom $4,000 to $4,000.
From $4,000 to $1,000. ...........1l.511
There Is II great gulf between 5000
and $1,000. so fur rs comfort. per-
haps luxury. goes. In the absence or
o0icial figures the hyman might b
inclined to guess that there were
twice rs many $500 men as $4,000
men. That proportion Is not seen in
my of the tables for this neighbOr-
hood, but the figures for the first dis
trict. which includes Long Island. are
nearer To the ratio which might be
expected:
From $4,000 to $4,000. 5000
From $4,000 to $4,000. .?,4oA
Maybe n solution Of the seeming
puzzle Is found In the statement OF
incomes for the second district, which
takes In downtown New York:
From $4,000 to $4,000. .2,lsS
From $4,000 TO $1,000. .?,?72
There, In the haunt Of the money
devil, it appears to be easier to make
the larger income than the small. Or
Ia 1t that the Gold Demon pays big
money To his underlings. ~ that his
conscience will he quiet while he con.
tinues to outrage the Weak West by
forcing its farmers TO take 81 II bushel
for wheat when it is well known tina,
they are only strong enough to lit
a single dollar?
The puzzles Of the income tax re
turns are interesting. but not as In,
scrutable us the main puzzle: Why
should there be an undemOcratic in
come tax?
The sun., 1916-11-28
In suggesting n surface railway lo'

In suggesting n surface railway loop
through Eighty-sixth street has the
Franchise Committee fully considered
the peculiar status OF that thorough
fare. one OF the most beautiful on the
West Side? 1t Is our understanding
that Eighty sixth street was originally
laid out as a park street and was i'm
proved at private expense upon the
assurance that 1t would remain such.
Whether the subsequent transfer OF
this park street to the jurisdiction Of
the Borough President, In order that
the pavement might be taken care OF,
annulled the original safeguard against
The sun., 1916-11-28
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

President Menocal Of Caba States
Through "The San" His View Of Its
Significance to Latin American Re.
publlcs ~ Bond Of Intimate
Harmony with the United States.
The Monroe Doctrine Is one OF the
most prominent issues in the political
amount Of discussion or controversy
as to Its proper place In international
law can obscure Its real Significance
and Importance.
Formulated at a time when the most
powerful nations Of Europe. with the
exception Of Great Britain, were at
tempting to interfere in the struggle for
independence between Spain and her
colonies In South America, its princi-
pies have since been firmly upheld and
are now generally recognized as the
best guarantee Of the sovereignty and
territorial integrity Of the new States
and, as such, cannot but be viewed
with the deepest sympathy by the
Latin American peoples of the south
ern continent.
~ uiiuoupNVu NoOihhty ~
Of some OF these republics. coupled
with the ever increasing progress OF
every single one Of them. will neces-
sarily transform the Monroe Doctrine
In a greater or lesser scale. governed
by the circumstances in each case
from a protective policy or guarantee
into a bond Of intimate harmony
making for the closest solidarity and
reciprocal defence. The noble and
tr~anscendental declaration Of President
Monroe will continue to exert a health
full influence. greater and more bene-
fetal the further we strive and sue
coed in preserving its original sim
plicity. without %obscuring its meaning
by arbitrary interpretations.
So far as our w country is con
cerned. the friendly bonds uniting cuba
and the United States give to the prob
lens involved a special Significance
which is further enhanced BY a sim
ilarity Of commercial interests tending
toward the most complete identification
OF the economic policy OF the two ma
tons. NJ. G. MENocAL.
HAVANA, November IS.
The sun., 1916-11-28

IN the state to purchase "A United state.
nag and display il, upon o. near c,,ry
public school during school hours IT,"
Legislature OF 1918 went further u'l
enacted an amendment to the election
law al follows
Tho American nag shall hc display.
each polling place Of tho STAT, ,t loo
boards OF inspectors during IN. hpIr. %
boards are In session
1t is not believed that ary leg','7' a
would he necessary t. carry out ,'J- t-
triotic suggestion, II il can hc ur,lslt
TO the attention Of Judges. Thrp S.. Ia
gladly act. II is inspiring To- sr" 't:
displayed upon or near every llh.'
school. II teaches a silent lesson OF .n,A
or country, II gives assurau," 'N - oEr
children are being taught the Sig .H',"go
or the nag, II is encouraging 90 oN' y
intelligent voter To cast his ballot. N'.n
should he the seal Of citizenship, Hri'"
the shadow OF the Stars and stripes N"
feels an added sense u sc.ur'y 1.!
protection.
We certainly need education ~ d
matter. A few years ago a We .N
national educational officer Of W. 4
States, high in authority, declared
public address:
Afer all, tn" people Of he o.'
very little what nag they BIS,
nag means nothing. They rtn s
one combination OF colors a, co.
other.
rms is not an cucouragirE UC Hr
To u boys and girls who ain. t... a,
loyal citizens, ~ this Office l. '..f
denied or retractcd this unptt'.'.
tmcnt 1t has never come TO th,
edse of the public.
II was Miss Frances t. Villa. ''
paid this tribute to the nas
with its red for love and It's vA..
And Its blue for the hope thai ou 20.
saw
In a larger liberty.
Rather let us recall AT this t'I" N.''
there Is patriotism in the AIR 'Oo N'"'
of Colonel Henry He, shel Ad,H'. "h'
m OF a family which has gjN'u iN'
Presidents to this country, arlI "N' 49,
given many thousand silk 'lacs g. w' e'
and organizations. lie says; ~ a PAX
Of every mans education - k.a" ''"-'
the nag and 10 reverence i. W '.'o
Is "A flag In every household VIE y
family can see and love il, tins '".'E
will he we'll along toward the idrAi
CHArLEs II. SHI'>f"
, ALBANY, November .1.