davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
Pedestrians Taking Chances

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: At p. m. Tuesday I witnessed
an episode at Thirty-sixth Street and
Fifth Avenue that shows how neces-
sary it is to make law requiring
pedestrians to obey traffic rules.
A woman started to cross the ave-
nue., paying no attention to the yellow
light signal (although vehicular traffic
was crowded at the time), and she was
nearly run over, being rescued from a
periious position by the traffic officer
at great personal risk to himself.
Whereupon young man started to
abuse the traffic officer. telling him
and all bystanders that the woman had
the right of way and that all pedes-
trians had the right Of way over vehi-
cles at all times. In this he was backed
up by man who claimed to have
studied the law on the subject.
So far as the law goes, suppose the
woman could do as she pleased, but
she had no moral right to cross at that
time and showed little sense and no
spirit Of fair play.
What would be thought Of the card
player who claimed the privilege of
playing out Of turn or the baseball
player who insisted on batting all the
time? MABEL VAN vECHTEN.
New York, Dec. 8, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
Can Germany Paw"
70 the Editor of The Tribune.

TO the Editor of The Tribune,
Sir: For years we have been hear
ing the question "Can Germany pay 2"
When an individual OF a corporation
has inflicted damage on another and
suit is brought and Judgment obtained
and the damage and costs are not paid,
what next? Execution. The Sheriff is
directed to make of the goods and chat
tells Of the defendant so much money,
and if sufficient goods and chattels of
the defendant cannot be found, then
the debt or balance thereof must be
collected by selling SO much of the land
and real estate Of the defendant as will
be necessary to satisfy the judgment,
and any land or real estate belonging
to the defendant is seized, advertised
and sold to the highest bidder.
Germany did the damage, suit has
been brought and the damage reduced
to a judgment. She says she has not
sufficient goods to pay. Then why hag-
gle abous it? Issue execution and seize
enough real estate to satisfy the judg-
ment. Germany can pay, but won't
She has lands sufficient to pay with, SO
take these lands and satisfy the judg-
ment. Take sufficient lands to cancel
the debt and let the remainder of Ger
many have revolutions at its pleasure.
WILLIAM W. WELCH.
Paterson, N. j.. Nov. 80, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
Don't Blame the Autos

An incorrect and unjust inference
is currently drawn from the caption
Of a recent news item concerning the
deplorable increase of casualties on
the highways Of this state in the
present year. 1t is not true that
AUTOS grow more deadly" On the
contrary, every year, with the i'm
provements which are from time to
time made, they become less danger
Gus, or, rather, more safe, both for
those who use them and for the other
persons who traverse the highways.
The fault lies not with the auto
mobiles but with those who misuse
them, and also with pedestrians and
others who misuse the highways. The
genius Of man has never succeeded in
inventing thoroughly fool-proof
machine of any kind; and so, while
the modern motor car, with it's vari-
Gus appliances for control, is mar
vel Of safety, it is always possible
for reckless or criminal driver to
misuse it so as to endanger his own
life and the lives of others.
Nor are pedestrians, bicyclists and
others by any means free from
blame. Grossly exaggerating the old
rule that pedestrians have the right
of way, people in the cities cross the
roadway at all sorts Of places, and
even walk along it, often without the
least regard for vehicular traffic. It
is not too much to insist that they
should never walk along it, save to
get around an absolute obstruction
on the sidewalk, and that on the
much frequcnted avenues they should
never cross save at the intersections
of streets.
In the suburbs and rural regions
the case is worse. Within a radius of
fifty miles Of this city there are hun
dreds of miles of highways, even in
considerable villages and incorpo-
rated boroughs, with no pretense at
sidewalks. 1t is risky to all con-
cerned to wander along in daytime,
but at night, where there are few if
any street lights and lanterns car
ried, it is suicidal. Consider the
bicyclists who zigzag along ill-lighted
roads at night, themselves carrying
no lights. Yet every night hundreds,
probably thousands, of pedestrians
and bicyclists are doing such fool
things in and about this city.
The careless or law-breaking auto
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
The Vienna Riots

Austria weathered the storm Of
Bolshevism in 1919, when it was at
its greatest force and when Ba-
varla on one side and Hungary on
the other succumbed. That Austria
should at this late date fall a prey
to Bolshevism is therefore most un.
likely. This is all the more SO in
view of the fact that Austrians arc
thoroughly familiar with what
Bolshevism did in Hungary and
Russia.
The rioting in Vienna was OBJ
vlously due to conjunction Of
causes. There was a big strike in
progress in the suburbs. The first
cold Of winter had just come. Food
prices had risen sharply. Coal was
scarce. In the midst of all this
suffering lived few thousand for
eigners, many of them Americans,
in ostentatious luxury. Under the
direction of Tomann, therefore, one
of the leading Austrian Communists.
the toughest elements of the town
were induced to assault the hotels
and the homes Of the rich. Stores
We're robbed. Food and clothes
were stolen. No one was killed or
seriously injured. That the police
generally connived is apparently
untrue. The rioting started at a
moment when and in part of the
city from which the force was far
distant in the strike districts. The
casual remark Of one policeman
made to- a correspondent that the
police were tired of holding out is
apparently a personal and not an
official opinion.
Had the disturbance had no con-
nection with the Communist party
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
The Tumulty Barricade'
To tho Editor Of Tho rr,hur.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: I have read with interest vour
editorial entitled "The Tumulty Bar
ricadc." Tumulty takes himself 80
seriously that he is entitled to be
classified as what Artemus Ward called
"an amoosin cuss."
But there is another phase Of the
matter that is not amusing and might
have produced serious results. Even at
this late day, with the danger passed,
1T must arouse Indignation that Mr..
Tumulty and DR.. Grayson could for a
time assume the functions of arbiters
for the government and all the people
Of the nation.
1t speaks volumes for the stability
of our institutions and the good sense
OF OUR people that while constant
flow of Misrepresentation was issuing
from the White House the other
branches of the government were func-
tioning and there was no turmoil
among the people. A. F. F.
New York, Dec. S, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
You Know Them?
Words That Have Caught the Eye Of
An Average Reader

To the Editor of the Tribune.
Sir: The extent of the vocabulary II
the average business man, who is also
the average newspaper reader, has been
rated by various experts at q low level.
While l have no statistics OF est;mstes
on the subject, it seems to be agreed
among educators and the like that the
number of words at the command Of
the business man is small, that he
places a heavy load on each of the few
words in his quota. and that he rs-
trains from reducing the load by add
ing new words to his stock for fear
of appearing over-learned, impractical
and affected.
In this connection I have noted the
following words, the majority Of which
| have observed in the news and edl.
torial columns Of New York news.
papers. I wonder how many Of these
words are familiar to the average busi-
ness man? They are:
Shibboleth,. surtout, levee, eristte
savegely, perquisite, polemies, jeremia4,
otiose, concierge, vicinage, apse. SEN
tentious, menags, anhydrous, appanage,
apotheosis, egalitarian, moiety, ire
dentism, guerdon, diablerie, esotsra4
plethora, perspicuous, Regeneration,
troglodyte.
These words are non-technieal, and
yet I do not think that the large ma
jority of US Il. e., average newspaper
readers) could give an offhand dednis
tion of an appreciable percentage et
them. It would be interesting to nots
the standing Of those in this regard
who may have studied in high sehoel
or college along classical lines.
A. c. HAVEN.
Mount Vernon, N. T., Dec. 4, 1874.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
The Starving Patent Office
Salary of Principal Examiners Raised
$500 in Fifty-one Years

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The editorial on "The Starving
Patent Office" in The Tribune Of De-
cember l is very timely. The Patent
Office is indeed in a deplorable condi-
tion. For some reason or other. since
1870 at least, Congress seems not to
have taken the Patent Office seriously
in other words, Congress has failed to
provide for 1t as it has provided for
the other scientific bureaus of the gov
ernment.
While all patents are in theory
granted by the Commissioner of
Patents, they are in fact granted by the
corps Of examiners, which corps COM
prises certain number of principal
examiners and assistant examiners,
These men not only examine the in
vention with respect to the prior art.
which work is again done by the lawyer
when q patent is litigated, but they
are also required, upon the, completion
OF the examination, to officially decide
the same questions Of fact and law
which are presented to and decided by
the Federal judiciary in considering
the litigated patent.
For this work, which is a combina-
tion Of the work done by the patent
lawyer and the Federal judge, the ex-
aminer receives at the present time
only $2,7o0 a year. 1t is startling to
note that the salary provided for the
same office in 1870 (ffty-one years ago)
was $4,000, thus showing that the an
nual salary Of the principal examiners
has been raised only 5000 during the
past fifty-one years.
What Is more startling and astonish-
ing is the fact that in 1870 an as
sistant examiner upon entering the ex-
amining corps Of tho Patent Office was
paid $l,6oo year, and to-day the as
sistant examiner upon entering that
important corps Of scientific experts is
paid only $1,000 year. Since 1870,
therefore, the entrance salary of the
patent examiners has actually been re-
duced $100.
In the light Of all these facts, sup
plemented by the increased cost of
living and the increase in daily wage
and salaries everywhere, is it not sur
prising that the United States has
Patent Office at all? If something is
not done, and done soon, to relieve the
situation the Patent Office may ac-
tually "pass away"
CORNELIUS c. BILLINGS.
New York, Dec. 2, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
For German Export Tax

To the Editor Of Tho Tribune.
Sir: There has been q great deal
Of discussion as to whether or NOT
Germany can pay, many claiming shss
Germany should be forced to pay, 9TH
ers. with equal assurance, that sac
cannot, and that to attempt force
would mean financial disaster not only
to Germany but to the rest Of EuEcpA'
One thing is sure: so long as British
and American fnanciers issue state
ments to the effect that Germany can
not possibly pay there Is very littss
likelihood Of her making a serious e.
fort to do so.
The present depreciation of the Ger
man mark is the, cause Of great trouble
economically. AS result Of it Ger
many is producing at very low coss
goods of all kinds and flooding the
worlds markets at prices which admH
of no competition.
My suggestion is that the Allies
create and take charge Of German
export tax department. The failure =.
Germany to meet her acknowledges
debts to the Allies would seem to jus
tify this.
All goods exported from Germany
would be taxed the difference betwesa|
the face value of the invoice at tns
current rate of exchange and at -
normal value of the mark, or whstesss
proportion Of this difference is eco.
nomically correct. Germany wouie
then have to compete in the wcfias
markets on the same basis as other pss
tions.
The money 50 collected, after payi1s
the expenses of the tax department"
could be used partly to replenish sps
German treasury and so automaticslg
increase the value of the mark, sn';
thereby decrease and eventually ~
away with the export tax and psrtiy Y
pay the German indebtedness to "a
Allies. 2 -
New York. Dec. 3. 1saA I
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
served may include everything per-

served may include everything per-
taining to Kiaochau or Shantung.
You say in your editorial that in the
American view the Japanese tenancy
Of Shantung is unwarranted, being
based on force. Nothing could be fur
ther from tho truth. The Japanese
occupation of Shantung Is based upon
treaties quite as solemn as any under
which we hold rights from any foreign
nation, and the fact that the United
States Is not party to those treaties
can in no respect impair the legality
of the rights which Japan acquired by
virtue of her agreements with China.
What Japan, as a matter Of policy or
of good morals, should do in the future
regarding those rights, and how far
she is equitably bound by collateral
promises to renounce them, is total
ly different question, but let US avoid
confusing issues in the minds of the
people by making unfounded claims or
illegal assertions, when as a matter of
fact the rights Of Japan are founded
UPOAA CASdtaCo AACCiy M00V NY oSS-
ereign powers.
GEORGE W. WICKERSHAM.
New York, Dec. 8, 1921.
[Mr. Wickersham says that the
Versailles treaty was voluntarily
accepted by China and that the
Chinese government "also became
member Of the League of Nations
created by the First Article Of the
treaty" This is not the case. China
didn't sign the Versailles treaty and
made separate treaty Of peace
with Germany, as the United States
did. She didn't became d member
of the league by virtue Of the Yer
sailles treaty. The treaty of May 25,
1915, to which he refers, followed
the submission by Japan Of the IA
nous Twenty-one Demands, accom-
panied by an ultimatum. It was
notoriously made under duress.
Ed
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
Enter the Budget

The new Federal budget, pre-
sented yesterday, estimates receipts
for 1928 at $685. 100000 and
expenditures (including reduction in
the principal of the public debt) at
$S,5o5, ,0o0,0 900. These figures ex-
clude postal revenues and expendi-
lures, which practically balance each
other.
The sweeping reductions in taxa
ton and expenditure which have
been under way since the Harding
Administration came in are shown
by comparisons with the receipts and
disbursements Of 1922 and
1920-'21. In the year 1920-'21,
ended June 80 last, receipts were
$5,624, 1000, 900 and outlay was $5,-
538,O00,000. For 1922 receipts
are expected to reach $3,943,000,-
600 and expenditures $3,967 ,0O0,-
600. In the year 1922-'23, for which
approximations are to be made at
this session, the Director of the Bud
get Bureau anticipates receipts of
$3,33S, 100000 and expenditures of
$3,505, 100000. The deficiency of
$167, 100000 for 1922-'23 is to be
met, however, not by taxation, but
by bookkeeping reform, which will
make 500, 900, now unnecessarily
tied up in the naval supply account,
available and by additional economies
in government operation.
From 1921 to 1922 government
expenditure has fallen 81, ,570,000,-
600. From 1921 to 1923 it will have
fallen $2,O32, 100000. Congress
made the S1,570,000,000 reduction
without help from and over the pro-
tests Of the Wilson Administration
The second reduction of $462, ,00O,-
900 will have been accomplished with
the jealous cooperation of the pres
ent Administration and the new
Budget Bureau.
The agitation for strict account
ing and intelligent fiscal manage
ment at Washington was long in
bearing fruit. The shocking condi-
tions of extravaganza and irrespon-
sibility disclosed in the war period
made the reform inevitable. Con-
gress began to work from March,
1919, on in the spirit of budget
surveillance, although there was no
budget. Now we have the system
functioning with forethought and
energy. In two years a load Of
more than s2,O0O,00O,OO0 has been
thrown off the Treasury. How many
other billions were wasted because
such control was not established
years ago?
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
Health and Longevity

The report on health and longev-
ity which has just been made by Sec
retary Hoover's Committee on Elm
ination of Waste in Industry is at
once encouraging and disappointing.
1t tells us, in brief, that only
100000 persons are now on the
average continually i'll as against
100000 a dozen years ago. That
obviously means great economic
gain. This gain is estimated at
$1,520, 100000 a year, not counting
the abatement of suffering, the in
crease of happiness and other fac
tors which cannot be computed in
dollars and cents.
A dozen years ago there was an
average loss to wage earners
through sickness of thirteen days
each year. Now that loss is re-
duced to seven days. A dozen years
ago it was reckoned that AZ per
cent of illness was from preventable
diseases and that if that percentage
were prevented, as it could be, the
average Of life would be heightened
by fifteen years. Now illness has
been decreased by 20 per cent, and
it is calculated that the average of
life has been increased by five
years. All this is immensely graft
flying. It shows what has been
achieved through the advance of
medical and sanitary science, and
also to some extent to judicious
legislation and administration for
the public health.
The encouragement will be to
only few who have looked to an
increase Of longevity to some such
standard as that imputed, not with
entirely impregnable authority, to
antediluvian and patriarchal days.
The report holds out no such hope,
but, on the contrary, declares that
there is no reason for supposing that
the human race is thus advancing
physically. 1t is increasing its vital
ity, 50 that in each life there is less
OF illness and more of efficient
health and strength; and it is in
creasing longevity so that larger
proportion Of persons attain matur-
NJ And-even what we regard as old
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06

at all 1t would indicate a much
moro serious condition than exists.
Under those circumstances it could
be taken only az the first sponta-
neous outbreak of hunger riots,
caused by starvation and under
taken in desperation. 1t Is true that
by destroying what It has people
adds to its misery instead Of reliev-
ing it, but human nature under
pressure Is capable Of great folly.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
The New Session and the Tariff

Congress passed an unsatisfactory
tax revision law at the extra session.
This failure was due to the lack Of
q clear understanding Of the eco
nomic principles underlying taxation.
The Democratic minority combined
with the so-called farmer bloc to
perpetuate the Kitchin delusion that
Intellectual efforts to tax the rich will
appeal to and benefit the non-rich.
Mr.. Kitchin boasted of his intention
to make few Of the Northern states
pay the cost Of the war. He wrote
altitudinous excess profits taxes and
income surtaxes into his law. But
he forgot that excess profits taxes
could be passed down the line and
pyramid.d to the distress Of the
small consumer. He also forgot
that the higher income surtaxes
could be avoided through the diver
sion of capital from productive enter
prises into exempt state and munich
pal securities.
Congress faces somewhat similar
situation in completing the tariff bill.
Mr.. Fordney is theorist. He seems
to believe that no high tariff rate
can be bad and no low tariff rate can
be good. He is high protectionist
Of the school Of a generation ago.
when the country was eager to limit
imports in many lines for the sake
Of diversifying domestic Industries
and building up a home market for
them.
The bill which the House passed
didn't take sufficiently into considera-
tion the vast changes wrought in
our economic situation by the war.
We have become creditor nation
and great exporting nation. We
have huge loans and investments
abroad. Our concern Is divided be-
tween the home market and the for
eign market. In the worlds present
upset condition no one can say with
certainty what kind Of permanent
tariff would be best for US. One
that made moderate changes in the
present tariff would manifestly be
safer than one which made sweep
ing changes. For the vast derange-
ments caused by radical revision up
ward and the pains Of adjustment
to them might more than offset any
additional advantages given to
American producers.
The Payne-Aldrich tariff was
political blunder. 1t would be easy
to make a similar blunder now, if
Mr.. Fordney's ideas are followed. A
change in the basis of import valua-
tions, for instance, would be a haz-
ardous and hurtful experiment. The
Senate Finance Committee is more
moderate than the House Ways and
Means Committee. 1t needs to be
moderate and cautious. For a failure
to pass any tariff bill at all would
be less injurious than the passage of
one as out Of line with the times and
as neglectful of new conditions as
the Payne-Aldrich bill was.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
The 7'owcr
u. 8. p. o. pLUs U. q. M. c.

U. 8. p. o. PLUS U. 8. M. c.
I seen their beautiful pictures
With the lazy tropical sea,
And when stopped the recruiting
sarge
He up and says to me:
"Do you want to travel, me husky
friend?
Want to see them pretty scenes7
II you do, just sign on +he dotted line,
Try hitch with us marines"
So / took on Nth tho outfit,
Wondering when I'd sail
To sec them typical tropical palms,
But now I'm guarding tho mails.
Riding around in a mail truck,
Scooting down Broadway;
Or stuck in an Erie mail car
With ride till Judgment Gay.
Dreaming Of coral islands
And the jungle's vivid green.
With no place to go but the r. P. O..
Now that Pm marine.
Up and dot0n around tho toton,
Ovcr hill and pGtc.
Trovel? Well, I'H say 80,
Guarding the U. S. Moil. B. M.
We are notoriously good sailor,
and the undulatory motion Of ship
has found, finds, and shall find US un-
afraid; but when Mr.. Roscoe Arbuckle
says, "Why this great misfortune
should have fallen upon me is mys-
terry that only God can and will some
day reveal" and ~ have always rested
my cause in profound belief in Di-
vine Justice and in confidence in the
great heart and fairness Of the Amer
lean people"-when he says that, wo
know precisely how the less sturdy
passengers on a rolling ship must feel.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-06
Reason for Haste
fFrom Tho Kansas CITY STAR

Delegates to tho Washington con-
ference from Europe are anxious to
get home before Christmas and conse-
quently are pulling hard to have the
major agreements settled in time for
them to sail. Pressure Of that sort
often tends to shorten argument. It
is recalled that plague Of insects
in Independence Hall. Philadelphia,
hurried the delegates there present
into an carly issuing Of the Declara-
tion Of Independence