davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

OF the councils is hanging fire. Whether
the plan will ever be adopted is mat
ter Of great doubt. Until labor is set
tied nothing can be done, but coupled
with the labor arrangement is gigan-
tic scheme of housing. 1t is stated
that there is a shortage of about 400
600 workers houses in England and
Wales and nearly 100000 in Scotland
London, Liverpool, and, in fact, all the
large cities contain many unsaritary
dwellings and considerable slum areas
During the war the government, aiding
the local authorities, has put Up many
substantial dwellings, and it is now
proposed, both in the interest of the
national health and because it is held
to be the duty of the state, to carry
forward the plan until every worker
has decent place in which to live and
all slums are wiped out
Another direction taken by group
Of fifteen committees, and which
aroused some CONSERVATION in other
countries, was the announced intention
to make Great Britain self contained d
and to import nothing but foodstuFs
and raw materials. 1t was great
shock to the people here to find that
many of their everyday articles had
come from Germany. For instance, it
was found that most of the iron and
brass ware had come from Germany,
likewise paper making machinery;
that agricultural machinery had come
from the United States, Sweden,
Belgium, and so on. Therefore it was
decided to make these and many other
articles after the war, and bureaus
were set up to give advice and selling
fields in hundreds of articles. Mate
rials were released for experimental
purposes, but, SO far as I can learn,
really very little has been done in the
country as a whole. After | have been
out among the factories I shall know
more on this point, but the hitch now
seems to be to get capital to finance
new and untried lines. Then there are
also many questions about financing
new industries, such as the coal tar
dyes.
Finally England was going to nation
alize its foreign trade, and to that end
the Board of Trade appointed an in
formation department which is expect
ed to examine and report upon all for
eign markets and to keep trade scouts
throughout the world. A further de-
velopment was to market products
through government agents and in vast
cartel fashion.
The point to bear in mind about most
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

of experts being sent to South Amer
ica, to the British dominicns, to the
European countries, to investigate the
markets and to report back. 1t
should be understood that this is not
haphazard or fragmentary, but is a
movement with the whole commercial
ard financial America behind it,
I have heard that same sort of
speech delivered no end Of times in
America, with the single exception that
there it is the British manufacturers
who are wide awake and stirring!
AS matter of fact England is not
at all prepared for peace; she is no
more and possibly somewhat less pre-
pared than are we and the number of
scarcely as great as the number Of
our own who are ready. And as far as
the two governments are concerned
they are at standoff--neither has
lish have the initial disadvantage of
having through the Ministry of Recon
struction and a dozen other agencies
promised to do something. Those tales
which have come to US of great doings
are tales of hopes and not of facts;
perhaps the hopes are we'll founded
perhaps they are not. We have taken
England at the time when the
successes of the troops abroad inf1amed
the martial spirit of the men of COM
merce, and they, too, thought they
would conquer the world. They have
taken us at our own estimate, when our
troops were fighting so splendidly. Now
both sides are seeing that there are q
number of practical difficulties stand
ing in the way of commercial and in
dustrial perfection, but each considers
for the time being, that these diff
culties are purely personal and that
the other fellow has no difficulties at
all. Unfamiliarity is the enchantress
which has made our commercial people
afraid of England and England afraid
Of us. That is all there is to the actua
readiness. And the larger men on both
sides of the Atlantic know it.
This is not to say that England is
not very strong in the same way that
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Women's Chance Among
Meagre Opportunities

Inevitably, therefore, the war has
added new aspects to the woman prob
lem, not merely because of the men
that are dead, the home fires that will
not be lighted, the children that will
not be born, but also because of the
millions of women that, spnstcr
doomed, must now enter the struggle
for a separate maintenance. But it is
not entirely inevitable-in some part
it is merely stupid and cruel that this
struggle the women now have to face
in world that has never more than
grudgingly and partially STARED it's
opportunities with them. ans that now,
debt ridden, has only medgre oppor-
tunites to share.
(Note-This is the last of series
Of articles By Professor Dducnport--
Financial Editor.)
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
And England Thinks We
Are Prepared for Peace

Now, that story may be true, but it
has since been given to me in the
ssrictest confidence by seven other
men, and each of them has told me that
there is no use trying to get at the
facts, for no one will disclose the state
secrets. | cannot say that the tale is
untrue, but I can say that I have
trailed it up hill ard down dale and
have yet to find anything at all which
even points to corroboration. I am
still on the trail, but becoming more
and more convinced that I am follow
ing bag of anise seed and not a fox.
So much for that. But what is the
government doing through its several
departments of reconstruction and ex-
tension of foreign trade? Let me here
digress to remark that our iGea that
our own governmental departments had
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Want to Make New
World a Better Place

The Ministry of Reconstruction. until
the elections presided over by DR.. Addi-
son, but now in the hands of q much
stronger man-Sir Auckland Geddes-
is purely an advisory body, and has
something of the position of our Ad-
visory Board Of the Council of Nationa.
Defence. 1t can suggest anything it
likes, but it has not the slightest power
to put any suggestion in force. 1t has
made many recc lamentations, and the
general policy as stated by DR.. Addi
son is:
"Thus the idea of reconstruction, OF
a simple return to pre-war conditions
has gradually been supplanted by the
larger and worthier idea of better
world after tie war. The experience
through which the country has passed
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
By H. ]. Davenport

Professor Of Economics IN Cornell
University
II He effect Of war-debt taxes will
L be to make living conditions for
the laboring masses of Europe less
'olerable, with the more marked effects
as monetary policies may attach great
er burdens to the debts through the
lowering of general prices. 1t is in
this aspect that the war must tend to
promote emigration from Europe to
the countries of relatively less un-
promising conditions-to the United
States, for example, where the war
Durdens Will be comparatively light; to
soutn America, where there are none.
Europe, 1t is true. will have plenty Of
york to do Ill poor countries have,
ana 20 81 .e the laborer is to be able
70 1--we a. all but it will not be work
under appreciably better opportunities
- product, and the product will go in
mailer share to the producers of it.
regard it, therefore, as clear that the
aoorers CT Europe will emigratc in
increasing numbers if only they are
permitted to get away at all.
But shall we admit them? Shall we
need them Can we make places for
mem see nc appreciable economic
0arm in their coming, and-for the
population already here-not the
snshtest good. There will, however,
DC great good to those that come. But
our level Of wages? It is an error to rea-
COZ directly from more laborers to lower
"ages Or to higher profits. If there
are more people to produce there are
more people to consume. With larger
Aumbera there is more work to be done.
me human family occupied in pro-
e1e'hg for itself is larger"
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Population Growth
Harmful to No One

In any case, no one who perceives a
financial loss from the deaths of those
that die will easily accept the view that
immigration or higher birth rates can
hide great harm. If, as Artemus Ward
asserted, "it would have been $40 in
jeff Davis's pocket if he had never been
born" neither you nor | need thereby
have been any the richer or the poorer
The truth is that there is little in it
either way for those who, having been
born and remaining in life, see one
generation in gradual disappearance
and another slowly moving up to take
its place. nor does a change in po-
litical boundaries make redistribu-
tions of wealth. Each mans earning
power is not the less his own. The
Philippines are not impoverished by
belonging" to America So far as I
can see, the growth of the population
of state benefits n9 one but the land
lords-and in no appreciable degree
hurts any one else.
The fundamental principle in the en-
tire case is that wages are derivative
from product. If the women work, their
wages will merely represent the in
creased product that comes from their
work. No family income is greater by
the fact that the daughter-any more
than the son--is not permitted to work.
If women are not herded into a few
industries, congesting them relatively
if all occupations are open to the wom-
en-the wages of men in the large need
not suffer. Society does not prosper
by having little work done. But it is
hard on the out-of-works and hard on
those that furnish the maintenance.
Workers in any particular trade may
prosper by being relatively few
harmed by the few workers in all other
trades-but neither helped nor harmed
by many workers in all trades.
Thus, to prevent women from work
ing can be to the advantage of no one,
but to the direct and cruel loss of the
excluded women-to the aggregate loss
of society also, since, till the women
have starved to death, they must count
as human beings and be kept alive
as n charge on others production.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

husbands income will in any way per
mt the wife must have help in doing
the little that there is still left in the
home to do. 1t becomes even more rig
orously point of honor with the hus-
band that the wife be little more than
an item of decorative furnishing.
But the children, that require atten-
tion and time and care? They grow
fewer and fewer. The European wom-
en- rear two or threefod as many, with
all their work to do. The most lei
surely of our women are the most in
fertile of our women; the more time
and strength they have to spare the
less they spare for the essential bust
ness of the home-the ultimate bio
logical meaning of marriage The chill
dren are in reverse ratio to the size of
the house. And still the home grows
more and more expensive, is increas-
ingly luxury, as the children are
growing fewer But as a luxury the
home becomes neither an expedient
nor practical thing excepting for
those who are we'll to do enough to
afford luXuries. 1t is the economic
futility of the home that increasingly
explains and imposes the increasing
celibacy in American life. Without
economic functions in the home and
without access TO economic functions
outside the women become fewer and
fewer that can marry into homes.
More and more they must shift for
themselves, by virtue of the very fact
that if they marry some one else must
undertake to shift for them. So far
from longer being helpmates, economic
assets, they have become liabilities. It
is, then, the American home that more
and more is making American men and
women homeless. Our problem of the
economic status of women is funda-
mentally, therefore, the problem of the
non-eCOnOmic home
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
By Samuel Crowther
NeU York Tribun~
E,tf.f,nrnn p,t~

European BureL1
oo,yrisht. 1919. New York Tribune Inc)
ONDON, Jan. So - The second
night after I reached London I
dined with man who was sup
posed to be rather we'll up on indus
trial topics. | asked him what the
Great factories were doing to make
physically ready for the peace trade.
"Let me give you just one incident"
hs answered. 81 went into the Mid
lands seven months ago to see some
oId customers who had turned over to
making munitions. | asked for one of
the partners. He was long time COM
ing in, and he apologized: we heads
have our offices in another part of the
building now The munitions business
runs itself with a junior in charge.
We are giving all our time in getting
ready for peace trade"
Certainly it was impressive, although
thoroughly un-English, to envisage
these manufacturers withdrawing them
selves from the world so that their
souls might commune freely with the
spirit of the world that was to come
with peace. 1t caused me to think what
a marvellous change had come about
in English ways when q group of
healthy Britishers could sit hour after
hour and day after day propounding
and solving questions of world trade.
One might imagine Germans doing that
sort of thing, but not the English. But
here they we're planning their trade
campaigns, just as the Germans plotted
to destroy thcir foes. The "war after
the war" was on in truth.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Credits Computed
in Special Gases

The Senate bill provides further for
the computation OF the credit in two
special cases:
'll If the corporation had no net income
lor the pre-war period if the amount
computed as provided above without the
specific exemption OF $4,000 is less than
10 per centum of its invested capital for
the taxable year, and
% If the corporation was not in exist
ence during the whole of at least one cal
endar year during the pre-war period.
In the first case the credit is the
sum of an amount equal to 10 per cent
OF the invested capita! for the taxable
year and $4,000. IN the second case
the credit IS the sum of $4,000 and an
amount equal to the same percentage
OF the invested capital of the taxpayer
Tor the taxable year as the average
percentage of net income TO invested
capital for the pre-war period Of cor
porations engaged III trade or business
OF the same general class as that CON
Quoted by the taxpayer. Sucn amount.
however, IN no case is to be less than
10 per cent of the invested capital of
the taxpayer Tor the taxable wear. The
assessment In the latter instance is
dependent upon the determination. by
the Commissioner Of Internal Revenue,
OF the percentage of representative
corporations. If such determination,
however, is not made within thirty
days prior to the time fixed for filing
return the credit is to be computed on
the basis Of 10 per cent of the invested
capital of the corporation for the tax
able year and an adjustment will be
made when the average percentage has
been determined by the department.
In the methods prescribed for the
computation of the war-protits credit
it is apparent that corporation NOT
III existence during the pre-war period
is treated more favorably than cor
poration which has increased its capital
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Small Corporations Protected
Against Excessive Taxation
Ne" Revenue Bill Limits the Amount Collectie on Incomes
From Moderate Capital Inv observation-disclosures Made i'm
System for Computing War Profits Credits

period consisting of the years 1911. 1912
and 1919, or 100000, plus
tb' 10 per centum of 5000, 900 (the diff
ference between 100000. the average in
vested capital for the pre-war period and
) 100000, the invested capital for the tax
able year.. or $4,000. and
ic) The specific exemption of $4,000
amounting to $123,00
If, in the foregoing case. the c.pital
for the taxable year should have been
lower than the capital for the pre-war
period the waf-profts credit would
have to be reduced by 10 per cent of
the amount of the decrease in capital
An important change was made in
the House bill by the Senate, in con-
nection with the change of the amount
of the credit due 20 an increase or
decrease of capital in the taxable wear
The House bill provided that the aver
age net income of the corporation for
the pre-war period should be increased
Or decreased, as the case might be. bv
10 per cent of the invested capital.
added or withdrawn since the close of
the pre-war period. This provision was
contrary to the fundamental principles
OF tax based on profits, inasmuch
as the invested capital on a particular
day, that is, the end of the pre-war
perlod, would determine the amount OF
the deduction, whereas the amount OF
income which was being reduced or in
creased was based on the average fo1
the 0re-war period. The Senate, conse-
oh 4 l.
that the average net income for the
prc-war period should be increased OF
diminished by 10 per cent of the diff
ference between the average invested
capital for the pre-war period and the
invested capital for the taxable year.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Bull, Also Unreay for Peace Is Fumbling Rehabilitation

hired all the press agents in the world
is quite unfounded. The English poll
ticians have nothing to learn from US
in this respect. They have none of our
crudeness of statement. They do not
come out fat-footed and ingenious, as
did our aircraft people. They let you
draw your own conclusions. And
whereas l was previously sure that
something very much like the millen.
mum was waiting around an English
corner, am now equally sure that the
Angel Gabriel has not even looked to
see if he owns horn, much less made
ready for a toot.
England is just as prepared for
And the astonishing side of it all is
that she thinks that we in the United
States are all fit and primed for peace
and she is holding us up as an eX-
ample of what an efficient government
might do in england. Sir John Foster
Fraser, who has just returned from a
tour in the United States, has this to
say:
"Whatever effect this great move
ment will ultimately have on British
overseas trade, we must admire the en-
thusiasm Of the Americans. Of course
there are rivalries between big con-
Germs, but | was tremendously i'm
pressed with the prevailing unity tow
ard making 3 big, bold effort to secure
commercial supremacy for America.
The spirit was that they were not only
doing something for themselves, but
much for tho glory of America.
"The United States Chambers Of
Commerce are much more real and live
things than are our own. Their manu-
facturers are much more generous in
throwing money into a common pool to
provide them with information about
the needs of foreign markets. Being
shrewd and practical men, they know
that the war has disorganized the trade
of European countries; they assume it
will take years before it can become
stable again; they are aware how the
shipping of the Allies has been de-
stroyed by the U-boats. Therefore
they realize this is the hour for them
to make the jump.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

of these schemes is that they involved
a control by the government; England
is presently enmeshed in probably the
largest bureaucracy the world has ever
known, and the people in charge are
immensely fond of the power that they
exercise; they do not want to give it
up, and spend considerable part of
their time devising attractive schemes
for not giving it up Most of the plans
for reconstruction, can say with en-
tire confidence, are but efforts to keep
Jobs intact
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Calls Wives Items
OF Furnishings

In long pull of resources and of
endurance the economic futility of
American women might easily, as | be-
lievc. have lost us the war. | impute
no individual fault anywhere. Whether
and how far the women would have
filled the places had they been opened
no one can know But it was not the
less strange fatuity of futile blum
dering that actually the places were
not opened. The enormous reservoir
of productive power went almost un-
tapped.
But why?
The answer is that, especially in
America, the factory system has dis
placed the old domestic industry.
When the work was in the home the
women did it, together with the men.
Now, however, the work has left the
home. But tho established social ira
dition requires that the women still re-
main at home, despite the fact that
nothing in the way Of really serious
"ViN 10 IeiJ 10 De OOHe tHcIe. lie
woman has not followed her job-and
has lost it. Labor union policies also
oppose her entry into the factory
whittier the work has gonc-evcn
though she may have no home to re-
main in. Both restrained and repulsed
the women Of America have tended to
abdicatc their economic functions and
TO sink-or rise into economic de-
pcndcncy. This divorce from economic
activity goes, indeed, soSsar that II the
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Reconstruction and Beyond
War Has Added Many New Aspects to the Woman Prob
len Leaving Spinsters to Fight for Living in DebtR
den World, Economist Says; immigration Not Harmful

Are they to be allowed to work? Hus-
bands are lacking even for the women
that we already have. Fewer mar
riages and later marriages arc ilicreas-
ingly the American rule. Our woman
problem was already serious enough.
The praise that has been lavished on
the women of America for the part
they took in the winning Of the war
strikes me, | confess, as grotesque
nonsense. Instead, take the degree
of their non participation to have been
q national blundcr and an institutional
reproach. The German women and
the French women always did work.
and during the war they worked more
and harder. The English women count
ed for much less-and yet for much
in the great emergency. Our women
did relatively little Out of the thirty
seven millions Of males in America be-
fore the war Of so-called working age
above ten years-thirty millions were
breadwinners; out of the thirty four
and half millions of females, eight
millions. There were, then, something
like twenty-siX millions of emergency
reserves in this great reservoir of
leisured or semi-leisured women. Pre-
else data are unavailable to determine
how many women out of these twenty
six millions were actually set newly
at work; but till toward the end of the
war not much more was accomplished
than a shift from other occupations
domestic service, etc.--into the war in
dustries. Probably for the average of
the war period the net increase in the
number of women workers fell short of
Cne million