davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-02
Legislation Washington Needs.

needed by washington ID ulscloseo II
tee. G) The law arbitrarily limiting
the Commissioner. annual estimates
should be quickly repealed. II pro
sioners and the he's, sati ntaes ~ s.
trict. 1t prevents the nation. inevita-
bly,, from meeting fully its capital obli-
CATION It automatically insures IN un-
expended surplus Of District tax money.
no rood purpose whatsoever. Tho Com
missioners' estimates, in accordance
with the spirit Of the Joint committees
report, should disclose to Congress
both for current maintenance and for
permanent improvements; and the re-
sponsibiiity for appropriating all or
only part Of these estimates should
Gas II does> rest solely on Congress
joint committee 10 to vindicate In prin-
ciple the treatment Of the half-And-
half provision as not necessarily ap.
plying arbitrarily and separately to
average Of a series Of years. The joint
committee points out that District OK
penditures since 1873 have been in the
aggregate, though not In every year
viewed separately: on the half -and-hal f
belief that this fact Is evidence Of de-
sign, not OF accident, and that the ma.
ton thus not only intended to carry
out. but did carry out. its half-and-half
promise.
Under the present practice which puts
local taxation before congressional ap-
preparation the half-and-half provision
10 not and cannot be arbitrarily en-
forced and literally obeyed In any one
year. But in the long run. in the flu
ture as in the past. this provision can
be enforced and obeyed.
Why not 90 ahead in the future in
general conformity with this practice.
joint committse7 The only Legislation
necessary will be . provision to put
the surplus Of District tax money in
any year into the Treasury. not az
misesii.n n:"H., receipts. to be merged
District. but, a. the joint committees
report describes II. as "a trust fund for
the benefit Of the District Of Columbia
to be expended in the govern
ment Of the District Of Columbia and
for no other purpose"
Repeal Of the law limiting tho Com
missioners' estimates will permit Con-
gress to consider In appropriations the
full needs Of the District. ana the sur
trict tax money win thus BE- reduced to
q minimum. But any surplussA even
though large. which under the pro.
posed legislation will 60 into the Dis.
triot's trust fund. will clearly be
fund az to pay Distriot indsbtsdness,
fctitious or genuine. including the q.
legged ancient resurrsoted debts, based
on the blunders or neelects Of govern.
ment ofhcials in the seventies Of the
up in the House; (2) o'be accumulated
and later wisely utilized to meet the
possible emergency Of 4 District short.
age in some year in necessary tax rev.
eriue under the organic act. and (3) to
laA nfCtrfNtSQ ~ ~ -
of great permanent public improve
ments which. will call for the immedi-
ate expenditure Of more money than
can be spared from current revenues.
A Petition and Protest.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-02
Report Of Board of Trade
Committee Protesting Against
Repeal of HaIf-and.Half Plan

Yesterdays action by the House Of
Representatives in committee of the
whole in adopting an amendment to
the District appropriation bill virtually
repeating the half-and-half principle.
in effect, reproduces the situation of
two years ago, when the House, On the
mittee. adopted a precisely similar
amendment. With knowledge that
such an amendment was proposed. the
special committee on fiscal sfesislation
of the Washington Board of Trade pre-
pared a report proposing a protest
against such action and a petition to
Congress for repeal Of the law of 1909
restricting the estimates to twice the
estimated revenues and for the enact
mont Of legislation creating District
surplus revenues - a trust fund for
the benefit Of the District needs in the
future.
This report was unanimously adopted
by q largely attended meeting Of the
Board OF Trade held May Is. 1915. Its
provisions apply directly and exactly
to the situation of today and are here
with reproduced in part.
To leave undone the things lesisla-
tive which ought not to be done is as
vitality important as to do that which
ought to be done.
What Should Not Be Done.
What legislation then should not be
enacted on the basis Of the report Of
the joint congressional fiscal commit
tee?
There should be ~ No repeal out
right Of the half-and-half law on the
theory or in the belief that the Joint
committees report abo1ishes 1t or, on
the whole, recommends its unconditional
abolition.
(2) No repeal OF the half-and-half
| law by ride on an appropriation bill as
proposed by such amendment in tho last
Congress. This amendment raised the
issue between House and Senate which
led to the creation Of the Joint con-
Igrsssional comnnttA This Issue was
whether the half-and-half law was fair
to the nation. Hhe joint committee says
lit IL fair.
a. No repeal of the half-and-half law
IN any way which fails to substitute
for 1t carefully considered system un-
certain. and under which Congress shall
pursue a definite policy Of regular and
liberal appropriations for capital main
tenance and development.
a. This substitute for the half-and-
half law, If one is proposed, should be
thoroughly discussed by the District
committees and carefully considered by
both houses of Congress in order to be
certain that it protects the capitals
equities and provides the just safe
guards against excessive taxation which
the half-and-half law provides: and
without this thorough preliminary dis
substitute should be enacted. .
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-02
Mr. Cannon Defends Taxpayer.

Former Speaker Cannon raised the
question that an opening would be
given for gradually Increasing the tax
alton Of the property owners Of the
District. He said:
and-haif Principle was adopted M II was was
then stated after something Of an in
vestfgation that the government Of the
United States owned ons-half Of the
property in the District. and certainly
half now, and this law was made, a
I understand 1t. in order that the gov
eminent should contribute one-half.
Will 1t not result in taxing the prop
erty Of the citizens Of the District not
only to support the District govern
ment' according to the amount Of prop
erty. but In putting the whole burden
upon the property owners Of the District?
IF the policy is adopted that the
gentleman suggests. as Congress is
supreme touching taxation in the Dis
trict. 10 1t not likely that. without con-
District. the taxes will be increased
from time to time to raise the whole
revenue from the private property in
the District notwithstanding the large
amount Of property owned by the gov
eminent. constantly increasing. and the
Representative Gard in replying to
Tho United States does not now own
ene.half Of the property In the District
Of Columbia, or anyt alnG like It, nor
did II ever own half the properly In
the District Of Columbia, ana that
there Is no question Of increasing the
taxation against any resident in the
District. The only purpose Of this
amendment is to see to 1t that the
estimated revenues, which from the
District Of Columbia are now $0.204,372,
shall be applied toward the government
OF the District Of Columbia, and that
all Of the other expenses. no matter
what they may be-fhs balanoe-shall
be contributed BY the federal govern
thent; SO that there 10 no increase
against the individual taxpayer, and
there should be no increase. he should
be liable only for . Just and fair a..
sessment upon his property and for
taxes to be paid ~ the result Of Q faiS
tax rate made upon the assessment"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-02

fore me forty cities, twenty IIttle
larger in population than the District
Of Columbia and twenty just little
smaller than the population Of the Dis
trict of Columbia. The property tax
in the District of Columbia was less
than in any Of them. Now. bear in
mind one thing. you gentlemen who
have not heard the matter discussed
before: in the District Of Columbia
nicipal tax. The real estate is taxed at
thirds aluation, which make. it only
81 hundred. That IL the only tax II
pays. while In every other city Of the
United States there is q municipal tax,
county tax ana also . state tax.
Then 1t pays school and other special
taxes. Here they pay one TAI. which
makes It a very much less tax than in
any other city In the world.
II wish again to call attention to the
fact that during the entire controversy
in years gone by the editor Of Tho
washington Star, speaking for the Dis
trict, has insisted that the half-and-half
plan should not be abolished until a fair
commission had been appointed to de-
termine whether or not 1t ought to be
done. When this commission was ap-
pointed. consisting Of six mon, every
one Of whom voted against the abolition
It was z fair eompfs.ion; made up Of
Now, whom they have reported, the ad-
vocates Of the half-and-half piap wish
e Go aI selected i Il The way + have we
named, and which every one has said
WAS fair and impartial"
The sun., 1918-10-13
A Conscientious Director
BY II. A. Powell.

1t amt that want exemption for fghtin is my gait;
I did my bit in the Moro scrap way back in '9S.
But hate to be caught in this latest draft1l tell the
whole world fair,
That my principal objection is that kid O mine over
there.
I'll look right well in a privates suit with my hand
against my brow,
Salutn' this tow-head youngser who's eaptn
thin now.
I'm eager and willin' to do my share like any red
blooded Yank,
But hate to be led to the firm line by kid that
used to spank.
His mother will laugh when the boy writes home how
his much esteemed old man
Is doin police in the Kitchen in other words, "snin'
the PAM
While this fair haired son of ghtn dad is eonferrin'
with Pershins
And gurin out the next big in this astiPrussian
row.
Of course I'll admit that this boy o mine is some
unusual youth,
Brighter think than the run of boys-if you make
tell the truth.
But it don't seem right in this kind of fight that dad
who taught his kid
The principal points of milin' should abide by that
youngsters bid
I'm willing to go and I'm on my way, for I'm not
quite As;
I'll humble my pride for year two till We skin those
Huns alive;
But when get back to Three Forks-and this is
promise true
I'll captain" that kid I'm sautin now till hes red and
,' white and blnsy = a'z, Sass -. =
The sun., 1918-10-13
Gilbert K. ChestertOn's London Letter
Woman, War and Exile

just beyond the range of reason, and makes 1t rea-
sonable. 1t may be in mere detail Of description,
as in this line about the pattering of a shower:
1.-THE kind little feet of the rain ran by my SIDE
1t may be the direct paradox which belongs to the
very bewilderment of bereavement:
Il want thy strength to hold and comfort me
For all the grief had in losing thee.
The conception of The Tree UproOted, which
imagines it as dying in the desire to be moving
or even flying thing, is impressive In itself; and
especially since it not only strikes the keynote, but
gives the key word in the word ''exile." So 1t
would seem as if her own nature tore up its English
roots and died
Poetry, Philosophy and Old Proverbs.
1t would be absurd to judge poetry so true to
the emotions of the exile by the necessary opinions
of the citizen Nevertheless where there really is
poetry there is always philosophy; and unfortu-
nately there is not always good philosophy where
there is good poetry.
Stray suggestions carrying the weight Of imagi-
nation must almost be met like arguments; and
one or two of Dora SigersOn's may be used as
arguments on the wrong side. For instance, the
last lines called An Old Proyerb which apply to the
war the words: cit will all be the same in a thou
sand years. are often reproduced more prosaicaily
as pacifist thesis.
But it is very untenable thesis. Old proverbs,
indeed, are generally true; but, like old superstl-
tions, they are only true when taken lightly.
Things That Matter Thousand Years After.
The common form is call the same hundred
years hence; and Of nearly all our fsds and fash
ions it is strictly correct. Indeed, most Of the
things that worry us will have vanished in ten
years, and maAy in ten minutes. But if there Is
1bofIo llxy mott r1IQ
it is the great wars of history. They have not
become matters of indifference in thousand years,
or in two thousand, or in three thousand.
1t is not true that it matters nothing to us now
whether the Greeks or Persans won at Marathon.
We might as well say it matters nothing to man
at the age of 60 whether he was drowned at the
age of 6.
1t is not true that it mattered nothing to. the
people of Berkshire in the nineteenth century
whether the Danes conquered Wessex in the ninth
century. An Irishman might as we'll say it would
The sun., 1918-10-13
Copyright, 1918. al rights reserved.

Copyright, 1918. All rights rsserued
7 the debate about the political position of wOm-
L en-, it was urged by one side that woman would
the other that she might, for that very reason,
weaken the national effort in war. The one defect
IN both these arguments concerned the mere detail
of truth
1t was like discussing whether the fact that a
woman has wings will be convenient for carrying
the mails, or inconvenient through taking up room
in the tram ears
1t Is not the fact that a woman hates war any
more than man when he is not maniac. 1t
might well be maintained that the difference is the
other way; that feminine feeling in bulk is much
more likely to be wildly lingo than wisely or I'M
wisely Pacifst The intellectuals miss this by
merely thinking of their ideal woman and not of
an they have really met
A Poet Touched With Genius.
There are EXCEPTIONS and think they are ex-
ceptions that prove the rule. l happen to have
before me the example Of Justly admired and
widely lamented lady poet, only lately dead; a
poet who, if not Pacifst, was evidently chiefly
Impressed, and even overpowered, by the negative
or nihilistic side of war.
call her an exception because her last beautiful
book of poems has nowhere the merely military note
common in women's war poetry; its tone is summed
up in its title of The Sad Years Poems by Dora
Sigerson. New York: George II. Doran Company.
, And say that she proves the rule because those
years were really made sad to her. not through the
failure of an international but national indeed a
nationalist ideal The flags and frontiers troubled
her, not because she was cosmopolitan which
means little better than globetrotter but because
she was an exile Her poems not those of a
Paciist, or even Of Sim Feiner but simply of an
Irishwoman in England
The Fantastic Made Reasonable.
Dora Sigerson, well known in private life as Mrs.
Clement Shorter, was undoubtedly one of the most
genuine women of genius of our time. In almost
every poem in this book can be found one of those
effects, however quiet or even faint, that betray
real force in poetry.
Genius is present when poet attempts something
The sun., 1918-10-13

not matter to ireland in the nineteenth century
whether she had been sunk to the bottom Of the
Atlantic in the ninth.
1t is not true that we have now interest in the
Israelites having beaten the Canaanites, in the
Romans having beaten the Carthaginians in Aetius
having beaten Attila.
There is not a white man alive who has not every
private and practical reason to thank God, night
and day, for each of these battles, as for per
sonal escape from precipiee or dose Of poison.
When, therefore, the poet writes:
''And in thousand years
1t will be all the same.
Which of us was to blamef
What will it matter thenf'
the mood is hardly worthy of the mind. But the
paradox is that the mood itself is really embttered,
not by pacifism, but by patriotism the patriotism
of the exile.
These Were Fates for Ireland.
Nor do I believe for a moment that Dora Siger
son would have affected such detachment about the
lust wars of her own people; or that she thought
being true to Ireland or treacherous to Ireland
would be all the same in thousand years.
Nothing will persuade that she thought 1T
would ever cease to matter whether Emmett or
Castlereagh was to blame, or even whether Parneu
or Piggott was to blame. And her own country
Is solid example OF tne truth; lor ohy ny hoiu
ing to the tradition Of Emmett and the tenacIty Oh
Parnell has Ireland now become something hap
pier than she could possibly have been if her sons
had all been non-resisters.
The Forgetfulness of He'll.
It was the English tyrant who was always tell
ing the Irish patriot to forget. For the tyrant
always has a touch of the barbarian, and the soul
of barbarism is oblivion.
What makes the Prussian policy ultimately
atheist is its conception that the universe has no
memory 1t assumes that things need never be
forgiven because they will always be forgotten.
The cloven hoof will leave no footprint on the
sands of time for the shore is shapeless slime
washed forever by Shiny wave. Sad faneies may
iutter pardonably enough over river OF forget
But in this matter the truth remains that Lethe Is
a river in He'll; and it is blacker than Styx.
G. Z. CHEsTERToN.
The sun., 1918-10-13
0 Sister Nations!
America to the Allies-lol7

By Harvey Wickham.
D sister nations, have slept.
Why turn your faces, panied and eoldf
1 dreamed of some great tryst we kept,
With songs and gariands manifold.
But these be manned, and those be dead
Dark monsters glide throughout the sea.
And all your rivers run with red
While nameless horrors stare at me.
Whole villages beneath the chain,
And in each chamber some foul deed;
Cathedrsls torn, and women slam.
o Godi 1 slept while We had need.
waken slowly. Through the mist
| see my banners soiled and torn,
Yet not with battle. / have hssed-
Twas Judasl Now I mourn, ! mourn.
Ye thought loved but this, my goldf
Nay, take 1t then IN simple fee;
Spend, spend IN million milhonfold.
Not so-and still We turn from me.
Ny blood, then. Every drop shall flow.
When have grudged my lovef Ye fight
For Lberty-I did not know.
Forgive my blindness Of the night.
At last We smile. Ny banners soar
With yours, by no foe overawed.
That glorious shout: "Onee more, once more!
Colursia dr,ys the sword OF Ged@
The sun., 1918-10-13
Mere Mignolle
By Harold Willard Gleason

BY Harold Willard Gleason
Mere Mignolle.
Wrinkled and grayed,
In the shade
The great Arch made
Sold to all
Little knots of flowers gay
Symbols of happier day;
Lilies, violets and roses,
Hyaeinths-bright, cheerful posies;
"Pour deux sous peut choisr
LIE bouquet monsieur desire"
Mere Mignolle,
Bent, Ill fed,
Three SONS dead,
Sold, for bread,
Flowers to ALL
Then one day
Through the rain
Came a train
Filled with pain
On its way
From the front, the ambulances.
Mere Mignolle's all seeing chances
Note the lads from Ger the sea,
Wounded for her "cher pays"-
Straightway with her knotted hands
Full Of nosegays sweet she stands:
Gives them all.
"vie est courte-
Je suis forte!
Soupef GU importe."
Shrugged Mere Mignolle
Faces brighten;
Pain loads tighten;
Spirits heighten,
And they all,
From the ambulances slow,
Wounded soldiers, as they 60
Cheer for Mere Mignolle.
"For two cents the gentleman may choose the bunch
ne wishes"
'Life is short. am strong. Foodf What does
lat matter to mel" jftis1'zT i. ass5' 80
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-07-13
HUMORS OF RENT COLLECTING
Seeming Proof That Stern Gatherer OF
Landlords Tribute May Be
Human, After All.

A Bostonan, owning houses In a
neighboring city, received the follow
Ing stately letter from the collector OF
rents. We publish II to show that a
collector may be memorable, yet have
a vein Of humor in his iron constitu-
ton. The letter was written in Janu-
ary:
1.-THE soil-pipe, water pipes and other
apparatus in the cellar of the old
homestead are in their usual hibernal
state-frozen stiff; so Lemuel reports.
and adds that he offered to contribute
to Bill ton Of coal for the furnace TO
generate a little warmth and partially
overcome the deadly, gravelike chill Of
that subterraneous space: and Bill
tells me that Lemuel is a cheerful liar,
and made no such offer, and so I tell
both what the other says. and leave
them to fight it out. impressing on
them, however, that the rent must be
forthcoming just the same"
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-07-13
GOODBYE BACKACHE, KIDNEY
AND BLADDER TROUBLES

box of imported GOLD MEDAL Haar.
lem Oil Capsules. They are pleasant
and easy to take. Each capsule con-
tains about one dose of five drops.
Take them just like you would any
pill. Take small swallow Of water
IL you want to. They dissolve I'm the
stomach, and the kidneys soak up the
Oil like a sponge does water. They
thoroughly cleanse and wash out the
bladder and kidneys and throw Off the
inflammation which is the cause o6
the trouble. They will quickly relieve
those stiffened joints, that backacbe.
rheumatism. lumbago, sciatica, gall
stones, gravel, "brfckdust," etc. They
are an effective remedy for all dis
eases Of the bladder, kidney, liver.
stomach and allied organs. Your
druggist will cheerfully refund your
money IL you are not satisfied after q
few days use. Accept only the pure.
original GOLD MEDAL Harlem on
Capsules. None other genuine.-Adx.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-07-13

For centuries all over the world
GOLD MEDAL Harlem Oil has af-
forded relief in thousands upon thou
sands Of cases of lame back, lumbagO,
sciatica, rheumatism, gallstones, grav-
ell and all other affections of the kid
neys, liver, stomach, bladder and al
lied organs. 1t acts quickly. 1t does
the work. 1t cleanses your kidneys
and purifies the blood. 1t makes a
new man, a new woman, Of you. 1t
frequently wards off attacks Of the
dread and fatal diseases of the kid
neys. 1t often completely cures the
distressing diseases of the organs of
the body allied with the bladder and
kidneys. Bloody or cloudy urine, sed-
iment, or "brickdust" indicate an I'M
healthy condition.
Do not delay minute II your back
aches or you are sore across the loins
or have difficulty when urinating. Go
to your druggist at once and get a
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-07-13
Pay Little Heed
to War Clothes

New York.-The radicals are ct Il
again. They are agitating for the
Standardization of women's dress as u
war measure of equal Importance with
the conservation of food. Rumors of
frocks all alike, cut by the millions
and placed on the market for the col
onels lady and Judy O'Grady, so that
they may become sisters in their attire
as well as under their skins, COM
ments fashion authority, reach us
from time to time through the Sec
tons of the daily press devoted to
womens affairs.
Sometimes the arguments are quite
learned. Tho French revolution Is
freely quoted as being the event final
ly responsible for the Standardization
Of mems dress. To be sure, one of
the first things that Napoleon did,
when he reached the position of being
able to set the fashion, was to make
mems clothes as gorgeous and as COM
pick as they had been before the abo-
lition of the Bourbons. But the effect
did not last long. "Sans eulottism"
had taken too firm a hold on mems af-
fections. They soon went back to
that dignified but ugly garment, the
long trousers, and they have remained
faithful to them ever since.
Students of the history of costume
cite this as an example, and tell us
some hopefully, some regretfully-that
the present Armageddon will do the
same for women. But then come 9TH
ers-students, too, but students of the