davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
NORTH DAKOTA ROADS
ESCAPE STATE TAX
Increased Valuation in 1878
Held Illegal.

FARGO, n. D., Dec 3o.-Railroads
operating in North Dakota and the Gov
ernmert Railroad Administration are
freed from liability for the payment OF
Approximately s1.s00,ooo Of taxes levied
against them In 1917 and 1918 by the
State In a decision announced to-day by
Judge ]. w. woodrough of the United
States District Court.
Judge woodrough held that certain
increase OF Is percent. In the assessed
valuation of the railroads. made by the
Board OF Equalization in 1917. was IL
legal and unjustifed. The decision re-
lieves the railroads from liability for all
taxes levied against them on the basis
of this increased valuation.
BY virtue of the decision, which Is
made I'm the case of the Great Northern
Railway Company against the state and
against county officers charged with the
collection OF taxes. the valuation OF all
railroads, fixed at approximately SI0.-
600 900 in 1917 is pared to about $751;
0OO. 900.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31

Walter Damrosch sat in Carnegie
Hall box yesterday afternoon and heard
the orchestra of the Symphony Society
OF New York as 1t sounds to people IN
the auditorium. And yet II was not pre-
cisely the same thing. because Albert
Coates Of London, a guest-conductor.
directed the concert. The historical
cycle had to be speeded up so that MI
Coates could present q programme OF
English music before its time and hasten
back to Britain to attend to his duties
in Cockaigne.
The music which Mr.. Coates selected
as representative OF his country con-
sisted of suite for strings from operas
of Henry Purcell. arranged by the con-
ductor, Sir Edward Cigars Enigma"
variations and Vaughan Williams's
London Symphony" The last work was
performed for the first time In this coun-
try. Tho speculative philosopher might
pause to ponder the problem of which
should be accorded the position OF inn
portance, the visiting conductor or the
arriving symphony. II one could be GER
tain that either had arrived TO stay 1t
would be easy to determine the order of
precedence
Mr.. Williams. who was born in ls72
and studied under Parry. Stanford. Max
Bruch and Maurice Ravel, has shown a
penchant for music of places. He has
written "A Sea symphony" three Nor
folk Rhapsodies.'' "Harnham Down
and ''Boldrewood. Later than any of
London life. -Four movements in the
conventional order (slow second and
scherzo third are used to embody mood
pictures of the streets. their life and
the underlying spirit of all
Big Bon tolls of course. The Thames
rolls its sombre current along just as 1t
did In tho days OF Rogue Riderhood
and Will q thousand years hence. The
Strand rattles and roars and cachinates
with busy existence. Turn off a mo-
ment into the quiet Adelphi. We must
have a contrasting passage. Back to
the Strand with riot and roar to finish
the movement.
bloomsbury, melancholy, shabby, with
an old fiddler playing before pub.
gives US an elegiac second movement.
The Surrey side. of Saturday night.
makes a devil-may-ca scherzo. Lon
don as seen by the man down and out
ia the last movement. but there Is
short epilogue that hints at the great
soul of the metropolis underneath.
Mr. Williams's symphony is well
made, has character and is music. The
composer Is no lyric Dickens nor even
Laurence Hutton, but his symphony
deserved hearing and may haze an
other. It was splendidly played. and for
this achievement the praise must go
principally to Mr.. Coates. The orches-
ira was a certainty: the conductor an
unknown quantity. In the symphony,
as in the Eigar work. he showed con-
clusively that he understood his duties.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
Fewer Laws, More Law.
Reasons for Leaving Sunday Observ-
ance TO the Individual.

To THE NEW York HERALD: Your
correspondent Raymond Vernimont puts
his finger upon the essential issue in
voived In the proposal for Sunday
blue law. The question is not what
is the right and proper manner OF OBJ
serving Sunday which is purely mat
ter of personal conduct and individual
conscience The question is solely as
to the advisability and propriety OF leg
islating on the subject.
1t Is true that law is a rule OF action
or conduct Commanding what Is right
and prohibiting what is wrong. But the
made law is limited to the regulation
of the conduct OF members of the COM
munity or state only In relation to the
rights OF other members and of the
state itself--not the regulation of the
personal. private conduct and conscience
of the individual citizen.
The latter is not rightly subject to the
jurisdiction of the law of man but OF
God Therefore such laws not only tres
pass beyond their own province but also
they are no more nor less than vain
and impious attempts to amend and
forestall and improve upon the workings
of the divine scheme.
This too. Is why all laws of this
kind sooner or later fall of their IN
tended purpose, and. moreover, why
most Of them in the meantime create
other and greater evils and abuses than
those which they were designed to cure.
1t is also the fundamental reason why
the proposed law In question should not
be enacted, We already have too many
such non-enforceable laws.
What we really need is fewer laws
and more law.
GEORGE WEsTERvELT.
MoNrcIAR, N. J., December 80.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
Crime Wave of Long Ago.
DIR. Samuel J0hnson's Picture OF
London Conditions i'm 1873.

To THE New YORK HERALD: What
DR.. Samuel johnson said of London in
his poem London written in 1898.
which is in imitation of the third Satire
of Juvenal, would seem to apply aptly
TO New York of to-day:
Here malice. rapine. accident. conspire.
And now a rabble RACES, now a fire:
Their ambush here relentless ruffians lay.
And here the fell attorney prowls for prey /;
Here falling houses thunder your head.
And here a female atheist talks you dead.
London! the needy villains general home,
The common sewer of Paris and OF Rome 4,
With eager thirst. by folly or by fate.
Sucks In the dregs of each corrupted State.
4 change Of n word or two here and
there pictures the carnival OF crime. the
saturnalia Of spoliation of which we are
now in the clutches, making New York
city veritable Aceldama.
B. b. VALENTINE.
New YORK. December 80.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
Barcelona Bank Suspension.

Serious as it is in one aspect, the
suspension of payments by the Bank
of Barcelona is an indication OF eco
nomic strength rather than weakness
in Spain. This may seem like par
adoxical statement. But the Spain
of pre-war days is no more like the
spain of to-day than the America or
the Japan of to-day is like the Amer
lea or Japan of 1914.
Spain in June, 1914. had only S106.-
100000 in gold TO secure $37s,000,OO0
in note circulation. In June, 1920,
she had s40O,00o000 gold against
S769, 100000 in notes. Her reserve
ratio had risen from 2S per cent. to
G3 per cent, figure exceeded only
10y Japan and Argentina and not
equalled by the United States.
The trouble watch involved the
Bank Of Barcelona is the same as
involved the financial and industrial
world Of Japan and Is upsetting the
,alculations OF American business.
The end of the war found Spain
practically bare of raw materials
which she had been accustomed to
import In large quantities. 1t also
found her with new industries. such
as olive oil refining. cotton manu-
featuring and other finishing proc
csses. which made her a competitor
in foreign markets.
To replenish her stocks large or
ders were placed In America by
Spain as soon as the armistice was
signed for practically everything
from needles to railroad equipment.
And to work Off the manufactured
articles she extended liberal credit
10 foreign customers This active
buying and selling lent itself natu-
rally to a speculative craze, which
appears to have been carried too far.
The sudden cessation in buying, made
Still more acute in Spain's case by the
depression in the Spanish American
countries, left Spanish merchants and
banks with large quantities Of paper
collateral representing merchandise
greatly deprecated in value. On the
other hand the huge commitments for
supplies applied pressure from the
other side, compelling merchants to
liquidate every possible item in their
inventories TO meet their pressing
obligations.
This NJ itself would have created a
stringent condition In the money
market. but an additional difficulty
vas imposed by the necessity for Gov
rnment borrowing on short term
treasury bills. Only recently another
.frering was floated and cable to
New York invited subscriptions from
this country.
These are familiar phases OF defla
t'on. Spain, the circumstances con
sIdered, has conducted her monetary
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
Indians With Lances.
Fraser's Statue Correct as Regards
the Customs of Prairie Tribes.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: | read
with interest big Chief Scouts" criti-
cism Of Fraser's statue 'The End of
the Trail and his assertion that he
never heard Of an American Indian with
a spear have never heard OF plains
tribe Indian without a lance, which Is
what Fraser's Indian undoubtedly car
ries. See Smithsonian Handbook Of
American Indians" Bulletin No, 80, as
follows:
"As an implement of the chase or
war the lance had wide distribution
among the ancient and modern tribes
OF the United States.
Though none of the objects OF
clipped stone called lance heads that
have been found in numbers on wid.iy
distributed archaeological sites are at
taohed to shafts. there Is reason 10
believe that many OF the leaf shaped
blades were lance heads The only sur
yivals Of the use of the ancient lance
are found among the Hupa of California
and the western Eskimo. but earlier
writer's have mentioned their existence
among various tribes.
"Lances for the chase were used oc-
casionally in war by the Eskimo, but
the plains Indians, whenever possible.
used two distinct varieties for war and
for hunting, the hunting blade being
shorter and heavier. The lance appears
TO have originated through the need
OF striking animals from some distance
In order to avoid personal danger and
TO produce surer results than were pos
sible with a stone knife.
'The plains tribes. as rule, living
in a region conducive to warfare and
aggression through its lack of physical
boundaries. made more use OF the lance
| in war than did coast. woodland. desert
or mountain tribes. Since the general
occupancy OF the plains appears to have
been coincident with the introduction Of
thA horse, the use OF the war lance has
been associated with that animal. but II
is evident that the tribes that occupied
the plains were acquainted with the
lance with the stone head as hunting
implement before they entered this vast
region. Kiowa lance in the National
Museum is headed with part OF sword
blade and Is reputed TO have Killed SIX
teen persons.
I'm accord with the tendency OF OBJ.
jects designed for especially important
usage to take on a religious Significance
the lance has become an accessory Of
ceremonies among plains Indians Elab.
orately decorated sheaths were made
for iances, varying according TO th'
society or office OF the owner. At home
the lance was leaned against the shield
tripod, tied horizontally above the tip
door. or fastened iengthwise to an up
right pole behind the tipi
"In both earlier and recent times Of
ferings Of lance heads were made tt
springs. exquisitely formed specimens
having been taken from sulphur sprins
At Alton. oklahoma" w. S. GAvEY.
NEW YORK, December 80
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
EVENTS TO-DAY.

The fifteenth annual entertainment and
distribution OF presents to the poor children
Of lower Manhattan by the New YORK froo-
uce Exchange win take place in the Ex-
change at p. III.
There will be a meeting of the Board Of
Education in the hall OF the board. Park
avenue and Fifty-ninth street. II :15 A. M
Everett Dean Martin will speak on Met
zsche, the Social Psychologist, Cooref
Union, Il. NJ.
Members OF the Advertising Club of New
York win have n New Years eve party n'
the clubhouse, ~ East Twenty-fitth street,
this evering.
Universal Film Company. dance ana sue-
pey Hotel Biltmore, this evening.
The Supper Club. supper, Hotel Asts~
+. NJ. -
Marquette Club, dance and collation.. Wa
dorf-Astoria. s p. NJ
Mermen Club. supper and dance. Hotf.
McAlpin. IL =. NJ.
Eleanor Markell will lecture on Recon
struction In Italy," Hotel Plaza, II ;SO A.: NJ
Unity Society. meeting, Hotel Astor. ESQ
Z. NJ
The New York herald., 1920-12-31

The Judges of the Court of General
Sessions are preparing to appeal to
the Legislature for revision of the
Penal Law by which the maximum
penalties for several crimes would be
heavily increased. Thus they would
make burglary in the first degree pun
ishable by Imprisonment for life in
stead Of for ten years, as is now the
case; assault In the first degree they
ask to be made punishable by twenty
years Imprisonment instead of ten
years; and so on.
We do not oppose the authorization
of severer penalties for lawbreakers
but we feel it ls important when the
Penal Law is revised to bear In mind
two facts.
One Of these Is that no statute for
the punishment of .l9wbreakers can
be effective in deterring the crimi-
nally inclined from criminal acts un-
less it Is rigidly, impartially and con-
sistently enforced. The lave TO pun
lsh criminals are not so enforced In
this jurisdiction now, nor have they
been so enforced for many years.
1t is n notorious fact that men and
women taken into custody charged
with felonies are allowed, in many
cases encouraged, to plead to misde-
meanors. It is n notorious fact that
men who have been indicted have fire.
quently been allowed to plead guilty
TO offences less serious than those set
forth in the true bills. These prac-
tices are defended on the ground that
they result In quick disposition OF
cases and prevent congestion in the
criminal courts.
The other fact ia that public senti.
ment, while IL may sustain for n mo.
ment the imposition OF unusually sc.
we're sentences, will not uphold their
execution. The immediate excitement
Of the present occasion having sub
sided, there will arise strong public
demand for revision of exceptionally
heavy sentences, which is not unlikely
70 result I'm letting loose n lot Of male
The New York herald., 1920-12-31

with great dexterty, and 1t was their
chief weapon In buffalo hunting.
The great mounted tribes, among
whom were the Kiowas. Wacoes and
Comanches, regarded the lance as one
oe the indispensable weapons OF their
armament. II is possible they learned
its use from the Mexican Ciboleros or
buffalo hunters. The Comanches. like
ancient Greeks, measured their courage
by the shortness of their lances. In
the hands of these well mounted, ex-
pert horsemen the lance was deadly.
CLARENCE Il. MULFoRD.
BROOKLYN, December 30.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
So Long, 1920.

1927, you were full of throbe and thrills :
ls. y, you were full of aches and ciflls
1920, YOU have much to answer for.
But. 1920. you had one day pure ore
1920 saw the cost of living mount
1920 saw the dollar no account.
1920. we won't weep 20 see you go.
But 1920, you had one day far from
slow
1920. you will soon be OF the paet
1920, we are glad you couldn't last.
But. 1920, you had one day Wen remem-
ber
And mark II with white stone--thats >
the second OF November!
MAURICE MORRIS.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
The Peace of Allah.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD "E. Il.
W." protests against Christmas card
bearing the message May the peace of
Allah be with thee"
Doubtless "E II. w" viii agree that
there is but one God and that when man
utters his prayer for peace and turns to
Him. be II an Indian addressing the
Great Spirit. an Arab or Turk who turns
to Allah or the plain practical Christian
who prays to God. It is all one and the
same thing. CHARLES s. ALLEN
NEW YORK, December 80.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
Daily Calendar
THE WEATHER.

For Eastern New York-Partly cloudy
to-day and tomorrow moderate to
fresh shifting winds
For New Jerscy-Fair to-day; tomorrow
cloudy; moderate temperature; moderate
winds mostly southwest
For Northern New EngIand-Cioudy nnc un-
settled to-day and tomorrow; probably light
snow; colder In New Hampshire and Yer
mont to-day and In Maine tonight: modor-
For Southern New England--Cioudy to-day
and tomorrow; somewhat colder tonight
moderate TO fresh shifting winds
For western New York-Cioudy to-day; to-
morrow unsettled; probably snow or rain;
not much ohange in teInperRture: moderate
shifting winds
WASHINGTON. Dec se.-Pressure was
high to-day over the southeastern States
other sections. It was abnormaliy low over
the far Northwest. Rain has fallen within
the last twenty-four hours In the northern
plateau region and in the Pacific States
from central California northwnrd and rain
and snow in the northern lake region and
the extreme upper Mississippi Valley Else
where general fair weather prevailed.
The temperature was considerably nbovs
normal tonight except in the Pacific states
ard the east Gulf and south Atlantic States
The outlook Is for generally fair weather
IN the States east Of the Mississippi River
Tomorrow except that snow is probable In
north New England and in Mishgan. Cloud
mess VIII Increase Saturday. and rain :s
probable IN the Ohio Vailey. Tennessee and
region OF the great lakes und snow In north
New York and north New Engiaud.
Tho temperature will riss somewhat In
the southeastern States Tomorrow. ard Il
all sections east OF the Missinsippi River
except north New England until Saturda y
night.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
The City's Health.

In the first eleven months or this
year there were 87,693 deaths in this
city, against 6S,72S. in the correspond
ing months of 1919. The improved
health of the community was among
persons over 5 and under 50. The
Board of Health's report says:
Among infants under one year OF
age there were 697 more deaths THAN
in the first eleven months OF 1871,
which is partly explainable by the
considerable increase in the number
of births reported during the eleven
months OF the year. When reduced
to a death rate. sc infants died out
of every 1000 born during the eleven
months of the year as compared with
SO deaths in the corresponding period
OF 1919"
Taking the other end of the scale,
the declaration is made:
'.At the other extreme OF life we
find that the Increased mortality was
due almost exclusively to the increase
lin the deaths from the so-ealled de-
generative diseases, such as organic
heart and kidney disease, cerebral
apoplexy and arteriosclerosis. which
showed an Increase Of 7sS deaths dur
ing the eleven months. Cancer also
showed an increase of 1856 deaths.
which deaths occur chiefly at s5 years
of age and over"
For the ages between and 60 a
more encouraging record Is revealed,
"there having been decrease Of 8,540
deaths at this age group" comparison
being made with eleven months OF
1919. We have had mild but not
enervating December and the health
conditions should be about the same
for the year 1920 as they were fol-
eleven of It's twelve months.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
Fran the London chroniole


Laid up for her final rest at Port Stan
ley. IN the Falkland Isles, the old Great
Britain. seventy-seven years of age. and the
first big screw steamer to 10 into deep
waters. had TO submit 20 a short detention
on account OF bad weather In the year that
saw the opening OF the Crimean War. Re-
turning TO liverpool early In 1884. the Great
Britain was taken for an advance guard OF
a Russian invasion. and for an hour or two
caused a greater sensation locally than tho
famous Russian troop trains early in the
great war. She was at that time. according
world.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
Bubbles.

1920. bubble priekor,
Now Is going quick and quicker
An our rainbow tints he shattered.
All our empty beauty scattered.
Great the service he has rendered
Yet our thanks are grudglng rendered
1921. we greet you.
Eagerly we run 10 meet you
Bring us, pray. another shipment,
Bring us pipes and full equipment
We are tired of truth and trouble.
we would blow another bubble.
Mc1sANppupdu wrror.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
Traffic Squad Manners.
Commissioner Enright Asked to Sub
ject Himself to n Test.

To THE NEW YoRK HERALD: was
very glad to read the letter signed by
Law Abiding" who demonstrates with
the traffic squad against the habit of
calling down In loud and harsh tones
citizens who don't happen to catch a
signal instantly. Recently I wrote to
Commissioner Enright and told him that
II he would ride incognito and receive
one of those 'bawlings out" II would
very likely cause his American blood
to boil.
I heard a policeman who wasn't born
in this country bawl out man who
was born here over fifty years ago.
The citizen attemp TO turn corner
in front Of the policeman instead of be-
hind him--and many policemen signal
that they want to have you pass in
front. KAYLINE.
RRooKLYN, December 30.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION ELECTS

.pouoHKrEPeIE, Dec. 3b.--William a.
Howard. professor OF German at Har-
ward University, was elected president
OF the Modern Language Association or
America at the annual session held to-
day at vassar College. Chauncey b.
Tinker. professor OF English at Yale !;
Gordon Hall Gerould head or the Eng
llsh department at Princeton. and Ray
mond Weeks, head OF the French de-
partment at Columbia, we're chosen as
vice-presdents. Professor Carleton
Brown OF the University of Minnesota
was reelected secretary-treasurer
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
Gives Costume Recital.

Miss Bobby" Besler. soprano, eavo a
costume recital OF songs "for young and
grownup children" yesterday afternoon
ar the Princess Theatre. In pleasing
and varied list, including negro songs,
she showed real talent for Interpretation
rather than vocal gifts. Miss Adele
Beattys was a charming accompanist at
the piano.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
WAR RELIEF UP IN SENATE.
United states and Public Asked To
Ala Europe's Children.

WASHINGTON Dec. 30.-Under reso-
luton introduced to-day by Senator
Sutherland, Republican. Of West Vir-
Rinia, the Government would fndorse
and the public would be asked TO con-
tribute TO the relief movement ior the
children OF central Europe headed by
Herbert Hoover and the European Re-
lief Council.
The resolution was referred to the
Foreign Relations COMMITTEES.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
TO ASSURE VOTE TO WOMEN

WASHINGTON. Dec. 90.--A penal stat
ute for the enforcement of the Woman s
Suffrage Amendment 10 the Constitution
Is proposed in bill introduced to-day
by Senator Jones. Republican (Wash.l
All state registration and election ON
GERS who discriminated against women
seeking to vote would be subject 70 fins
and Imprisonment
The New York herald., 1920-12-31

Brother CHAPLIN. tho prohibition en-
forcement chief in Ney York, will not
tell what he intends to do TO vio-
lators of the dry laws tonight, but
promises news OF general interest to-
morrow. when he has acted. This is
a pleasant reversal Of the procedure
customary among public officials. Let
us hope MIR. CHAPLIN will have an in
teresting New Year tale TO tell.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31

Because tickets for the dance were
to have cost S5 each Governor-elect
DIXON of Montana has cancelled the
Inauguration bali proposed in his
honor. Apparently the high cost Of
dancing has not yet impressed itself
on Governor DrxoN's constituents.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
Holiday Task for EtymoIogists.

To THE NEW York Herald: What is
the origin of the following expressions:
TO double cross person:
Talking through ones hat?
Or. SYNTAx.
NEW YoRK, December 80.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
p.r.o,a, journalism In Kep,uct,.

Choppers Cop nc,os in Stanford Journal
johnnie Jackson has n serious case OF
mumps. / hope they won't come around
here. for my children haven't had them.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
The Lance Deadly Weapon Of Ex-
pert Indian Riders.

To THE NEW YoRK HERALD: In re-
gard to the Indian and his spear the
rrairfe Indians. especially those ~ the
The New York herald., 1920-12-31
No Vacation.


The Coal shovei-Irs no use; II there isn't
any coal, I'll have TO shovel snow.
The New York herald., 1920-12-31

The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled
10 the use for republication OF all news des-
patches credited 10 II or not otherwise
credited In this paper and also the local
All rights OF republication OF special ass-
patches herein are also reserved.