davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
The Gas Decision

The Supreme Court has sustained
Judge Hands decision in the local
Federal District Court that the
statutory 80-cent gas rate was con-
fiscatory in the years 1918 and
1919. A plain question of fact
WAS raised in this case. The master
who took testimony, the lower court
and the highest court all are in
agreement as to the fact. Consid-
ering general economic conditions
In these two peak years of war in
flation, there can be little difference
of opinion as to the inadequacy Of
the so-cent charge. The LegisIa-
ture intended to give the gas COM
panies so cents per thousand feet
The decrease in the value of the
dollar gave them in fact hardly
more than 45 cents.
This case illustrates the unfair
ness of fixing community service
prices by statute. Economic condi-
tions changed vastly between 1914
and 1918, but the legal rate didn't t
change. Legal rates are extremely
insensitive TO fluctuations in costs
Of production or operation
Relief by political action is REM
edy without much promise. APP
pealing TO the courts on the plea
of confscation is a tedious and
harassing process. Money fairly
due to the gas companies has been
impounded for the last three or four
years.
The S0-cent gas law ought to
have been repealed long before
this. We have Public Service
Commission here empowered to
regulate gas charges. 1t can vary
them to fit altered circumstances
1t can do prompt justice if the drift
of things is against either the COM
pany or the consumer. The Su-
preme Court has righted the wrong
done the gas producer under an in
flexible price standard. But it is
left open to the lower court and to
the Public Service Commission to
protect the local gas user against
an excessive rate.
Flexible commission regulation is
the true way to strike an equitable
balance. The gas consumers Of
this city do not want to profit by
strong-hand legislation. They are
willing to pay a reasonable non
confiscatory rate.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07

the tests have shown that it is DOS
sible for any one in home or an Of
flee to pick up the ordinary tele-
phone and converse with another
person upon a ship in mid-ocean,
without having to touch any cumber-
some apparatus or tinker with any
delicate controls.
Another remarkable fact cmpha-
sized by the tests is that it is pos
sible to "send and receive" at the
same time. In other words, the
speaker at one end of the wireless
Zine" can break in and interrupt
the speaker at the other end in case
he is unable to understand what is
being said.
The success attained by the expert
ments with the America shows that
it will not be long before telephone
communication with Europe through
combination Of land line telephone
and wireless telephony is in regular
use. 1t is merely question of
when the stations capable Of per-
forming this service can be put into
operation. The equipment already
exists.
Similarly communication with
passengers upon an airplane in the
air and with others on an express
train will also be possible by the
same apparatus, or combination Of
systems. The automatic central sta
ton which connects the ordinary
with the radio telephone will do all
the technical work. and the speak
ers will use nothing more than the
ordinary desk telephone.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
Better Than Indemnity

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The men in the army and navy
severed all home ties and risked their
lives for the good of all the citizens of
the country because they were the most
fit to do So While they we're away
many of those at home found that the
war presented all unparalleled oppor-
tunity to make money. which oppor-
tunity was avidly seized upon. The
men who fought offered all they had
they gave until it hurt. If the war had
been lost the country would have had
to pay in indemnities many times the
amount of any proposed bonus. Why
shouldn't the people of this country
now feel moral obligation TO give un-
til it hurts, too, but without risking
their lives, as small compensation to
the relatively small number of men
who fought for the good of all?
Five years ago would the business
men, of the country have chosen to be
saddled with an indemnity rather than
with bonus? If man should risk
his life in thwarting highway robber
attempting to steal st00 from you
would you hand him a dollar, pocket
the rest and tell him the glory of up
holding justice should suffice him?
II one feels that the results OF pay
ing bonus would be so economically
disastrous to the country that the eX-
service men as class would be abso-
lutte losers let that be the ground for
opposition. But one should not op-
pose the bonus because of solicitude
for the recipients who might sguander
what money they would get. In some
cases the money would be quickly dis
sipated, but in many other cases it
would enable men to pay debts in
Cured as a result of their low earning
power after the war, and in still others
it would enable the men to start in
business for themselves, which GER
tainly would not hinder prosperity.
feel certain that the men who would
receive the bonus have not brought up
the question to create 9seiiticsl issue
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
Anti Bonus Rubber Stamping


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: I wonder how many people re-
alize when they read a letter signed
by some well known company or corpo-
ration that the letter does not neces-
sarily reflect the true feeling of the
majority of employees of that com
pany?
TO illustrate my point: kilograms
concerning the soldiers bonus bill were
recently sent out to various concerns,
and the one sent to US reached first the
desk OF the vice-pre sident. This tele-
gram asked for an expression of opin-
ION from our company as whole CON
cerning the good or evil of the proposed
soldiers bonus bill, and our vice e-presi-
dent without consultation with any one
Immediately wired Washington con-
demning the bill in it's entirety, sign
ing the name of our company and not
his own name, thereby placing on rec
oYd that this big corporation stands
solidly behind the defeat of this bill.
AS secretary to this same vice presi-
dent | knew how he felt on this sub
ject, but | also felt sure that the con-
sensus of opinion in the corporation
was in favor of the bill, and that there
fore the telegram misrepresented the
corporation. Then | realized that prob
ably thousands of such kilograms were
flooding Washington, where one man
was allowed to speak for an entire Or
ganization, representing his personal
opinion as that of the company as a
whole. SECRETARY.
New York, March 8, 1922.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
The Death Penalty
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In one column of The newspaper
this morning there is an item which
says that Governor Davis OF Ohio has
announced that he will devote every
effort to bring about the abolition OF
capital punishment in his state, and in
an adjoining column there is the story
of the execution by the State of Tlli-
nois Of Harvey ". Church.
Will the time ever come, wonder
when people will understand that
capital punishment is not a deterrent
to crime. SO far as ! know, there never
has been murderer who considcre d
the punishment which might ensue by
reason of his crime.
Instead Of spending thousands of
dollars on trials and executions and
on prisons, if more money were spent
on psychological tests for children in
the schools and for the proper segre-
CATION of those with immoral or feeble.
minded tendencies, then we would be
doing some constructive work.
1T Is one thing to talk about hanging
a man or clectrocuting him. but, as
Governor Davis has said, "Very few
persons would be advocates of capital
punishment were they themselves put
to the necessity of turning on the cur
rent or performing some other act that
snuffs out the existence of a fellow
being" MARGARET A. SALOMON.
Brooklyn, March 4, 1922,
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
gers will smilingly congratulate
themselves for having pulled pub
licity "beat.'
The Tomb of Columbus
A Note on the Exhumation in Santo
Domingo Cathedral in 1877

A Note on the Exhumation in Santo
Domingo Cathedral in 1877
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir A portion of Washingtons Birth
day passed in foreign country is en-
ployed in submitting brief comment
on an editorial, "The Tomb of Colum-
bus,' which appeared in The Tribune
last Christmas Day. Perhaps what fol
lows may merit publicity for the pass
ing information of Tribune readers. in
view of the movement now under way
to carry out the Idea of "noble pan
American memorial" as it has been
described, in proper commemoration
OF the transcendent work rendered
by Columbus to the whole world.
Columbus died in the city of Valla-
dolid, Spain, May 20. 1906. A royal
cednla dated August %. 1889, con-
tanned a license to transport the re-
mains of Columbus from the monastery
OF Las Cuevas to Santo Domingo The
cxhumation occurred in the cathedral
In Santo Domingo on September 10,
1915 One Of the prominent and per-
haps most interested witnesses was
the Spanish Consul, Don Jose Manuel
de Echeverri. BY his side stood
Miguel Pou, the German Consul. After
hastily consulting him, Echcverri ad-
dressed the Bishop and Apostolic Dele
gate as follows:
"Sir, the contents Of the tomb just
discovered, being the veritabc re
mains of the First Admiral of the
Ocean, of which fact no doubt what
ever is admissible, you should agree
with me that the presence Of these
remains in Santo Domingo Is due
either to the preparation of hor-
rible crime or to an error occurring
in the cXhumaton of 1895 Alive to
the discharge of your duties, you
ought to conclude that nobody more
than yourself is compelled to return
to Spain the most precious remains
IN question, which belong exclusively
to her. In my position as the repre-
sentative of the adopted country of
the hero, | feel it my duty to claim
and to maintain if necessary that | |
should be one of the guardians of the |
said coffin containing his remains,
which, were they for moment per
mitted miraculously to speak, would, !
feel convinced, exclaim, Consul, let
us away to our own Spain.'
The above excerpt is taken from the
exhaustive research work, "Christophcr
Columbus, His Life, His Work, His |
Remains by John Boyd Thacher, Vol |
III, Page b74,
W. T. PULLIAM,
Receiver General Of Dominican
Customs.
Santo Domingo, Feb. %, 1922.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
Bonus Viewpoints
Further Comments and Suggestions BY Readers on the Vexed
Problem of Adjusted Compensation

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: am an cx-scrvicc man and
heartily agree with H. R. x. when he
says that the majority Of ex-service
men are not in favor of the bonus. BY
this | do not mean that all the ex-
service men are opposed to the bonus,
recently had reason to sound out a
number of men on this very point.
They all expressed themselves as not
IN favor Of the bonus, but when it
came to asking them what they were
going to do about it they invariably
said they would take it. They could
not allow 4 motive which they knew
to be selfish to push them into active
advocacy of the measure. but likewise
they did not see fit to oppose any
thing which might mean a consider
able sum of cash in hand. They ad-
mitted that they bad no pressing needs
for the money, but could use it,"
One man | talked to had the right
idea. In answer to my question he
said: 'Iake this measly bonus for
what did in the war? III take $780,,
900 or I'll take the gratitude of the
country, but the United States under
estimates her value when she thinks
she can get away with this obligation
for few dollars
Is it not possible to grant an appro-
priation for the relief Of the needy ex-
soldiers and cali in the old draft
boards to administer it in each local
ity rather than throw all this money
into petty luxuries? Z. P. B.
New York, March A, 1922.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
Hylan: Conservationist

Bitterly reproaching The Tribune
for its disbelief in his scheme to
flood the streets with municipal
busses Mr.. Hylan says: "The Tribune
chooses to ignore the vital differ.
ence between my plan Of bus opera
ton, which conserves the financial
interest of the public, and the pro-
posal of the state commission,
which serves the interests of the
companies that exploit the public" 4"
The Tribune comedies the vital
difference between Mr.. Hylan's plan
and that of the Transit Commission,
but its definition of "diffcrence' is
not that of Mr.. Hylan.
He would conserve the financial
interests of the public by investing
city money in busses which have not
been and cannot be operated sue
cessfully on q tive-cent fare. He
does not purpose running buses only
: outlying districts, but along con-
gested streets. Every experiment
he has made with a bus line has
proved financial failure. There
was time when Grover Whalen.
his Commissioner of Plant and
Structures, thought that he was
running bus line at a profit on
Staten Island, but as soon as he
counted all the costs he saw that he
was mistaken.
AS to the "commisson which
serves the interests of the COM
panies that exploit the public" it is
worth noting that the valuation
placed on the Interborough's plant
was not especially to the liking of
the companies Furthermore, these
same companies are now seeking to
cooperate with the commission to
the end that the transit lines may
be unified and extended, while MIR.
Hylan is doing all he can to pre-
vent anything of the kind being
accomplished,
Mr.. Hylan announces hopefully
that a bill providing for his buses
has been introduced into the Legis-
lature. He is, however, a sufficient
y astute politician to know that it
has no chance Of passing, and that
by insisting upon it he is only justi-
flying the charge that he is an
obstructionist.
He concludes by reasserting the
old buncombe about advanced fares
in the face OF the assertion of the
Transit Commission and the Inter
borough that five-cent fare will be
maintained.
For one SO sensitive as he is Mr..
Hylan is unusually productive of
opportunities to prove that he is ex
actly what his critics declare him
to be.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
The Sea-going Radio

The radio telephone tests which
have been conducted from this city
with the steamship America vividly
focus the future when nc section of
the earth, sea or air will be free
from telephone communica ton. The
tests We're concluded on SUNDAY.
when an unlimited audience. esti-
mated at more than 100000 persons.
listened in on the new party line. =
The audience was composed of en-
thusiasts who have installed the
io-phone TO listen to the daily
radio concerts.
This fact emphasizes what appar
entity is a great drawback to the use
OF radio telephony for commercial
comnunication--the lack of secrecy.
But there is remedy. As soon as
fadlo-telephony with ships at sea is
ready for commercial applica ton,
according to the radio engineers,
system of distortion will be applied
to the spoken words. This distortion
will be unintelligible to those who
listen in idly on the "esher party
line for chance gossip. Only those
stations equipped with the key modu-
lator will be able to straighten out
the distortion and reproduce in
telligible words.
from the practical point of view
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
An Enemy Party

Eugene V. Debs was sent to the
Federal penitentiary for seeking to
Interfere with the prosecution Of the
war. This was the act of an enemy
Of the country. His release from
the penitentiary was inspired by
pity rather than condoninS of his
offense. His utterances since prove
him to be unrepentant.
The Socialist party has. notwith-
standing, called Debs back to it's
leadership. This means that it
Stands where he stands-aeainst the
United States.
Some of the mere moderate Social
fsts deprecate the general belief that
they are against their country and
that their percentage of American
ism is negligible. The re-establisi-
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
A Substitute
, the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Rather than let the bonus
matter drop without offering any ma
terial recognition whatever for war
service, there is one suggestion that
might be advanced, which, while not
shackling the country with greater
financial obligations at this critical Pc
riod, would, nevertheless afford the
ex-soldier an opportunity to retain the
fruits of his industry and to repair his
shattered fortunes.
This would be for Congress to raise
the income tax exemption for war vet
erans for life--say, to $4,000 for un-
married men and $4,000 for married
men. Such plan would give the SOL
dier a chance to keep his earnings for
the maintenance of himself and his
family within very reasonable limits
under present living conditions, while
those who were not IN actual service
would be bearing tax burdens which he
otherwise would have to share.
Even If the above suggestion be a
useless one because of some objec-
tionable feature which has been over
looked. or if it be an impossible one
because of class discrimination in the
matter of taxation, nevertheless q
great many, perhaps majority, OF
those who served in the World War
would be far better pleased, out OF
considerations of selfrespect and OF
honor to the service, to have the VII ole
matter dropped rather than to see a
Wholesome patriotism commercialized
through political fears on the one hand
and through thoughtless selfishnexs
on the other.
ROBERT S. POLLARD.
Formerly of tho l25th +. A.
Newark, N. j., Msrch 2, 1922.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
On Behalf Of Women LAWYERS

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Assemblyman Aronson has in
tfoduced Dill at Albany to the effect
that women who are American citi.
zens should not lose the right to prac-
tice law by reason Of marriage to an
alien.
The urgent necessity and justice OF
such a measure is we'll illustrated by
my case. Though born in Hartford
Conn, and though law school gradu-
ate, my recent marriage to an alien
has deprived me of my citizenship and
the right to practice. am twenty
two years old and was just about ready
to commence real work, but find mvseli
handicapped in this fashion. bv q
mere technically.
IDA BIENSTOCK LANDAU.
New York. March 3, 1922.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
The Babes Bonus
Fifty times 500 is $4,000"

fiIly tlineS oOU is ,UOU -
In every town and village this
problem in multiplication will be
worked out to-day Fans and dubs
alike will stop to do some figuring
when they read that Babe Ruth is to
get $500 for every home run. Even
those who heretofore could not have
told how many runs Ruth made last
year will inform themselves so that
they may estimate the Babes bonus
tor the coming season.
Editors IN countless numbers will
compile observations and statistics
showing the relative earning power
OF college professors, ministers, pro-
tesslonal men and captains of in
duStry, thereby affording subjects
for endless speculation for those
who endeavor to measure achieve
ment in dollars.
Ten thousand serious-mjnded
moralists will shake their heads SOL
emnly and cry woe to the land
where players get more pay than
Presidents.
One thousand learned men will
point to the circus Of ancient Rome
and draw deadly parallel" be-
tween the present and the past.
One hundred youngsters dis
suaded by practical parents from
choosing professional baseball as a
career will seriously consider run
ming away from home and taking
up the game.
At least ten old women will echo
Bernard Shaw's famous query.
Whose baby is RUTH"
And in the mean time his mana.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
More Truth Than Poetry
By James ]. Montagu.
An Outline of History

When Bullneck, the son Of the
cave man,
Made coat out Of iaguar hide,
And strolled up and down through
the bowlder-strewn town
With naughty and arrogant
pride,
His father cried out in fury:
go take off those terrible
togs.
never wore clo'es so outrageous
as those;
You children have gone to the
dogs
But the kid merely grinned as he
hurried on past,
Observing, Poor father, he's
aging SO fast"
When Longhair, the cave ladys
daughter,
Invented dance step 20 try
At the Bear Baiter's ball down In
Old Cavern Hall,
Her mother observed with a
sigh:
Pm sure that never danced
that way;
What con- have come over The
child?
What aoiIl people say of these
girls of to-day?
They are getting so dreadfully
Wild"
And the daughter observed, W
she tried a new whirl:
Dear mother is way out Of date
poor old girl
And so, as each new generation
Has taken its light-hesrtsd
way,
Have parents cried out as their
kids larked about:
We never did that in oar day
Those dances! That paint and
that powder!
This striving to keep up the
pace.
The limbs that they show and the
things that they know!
What's going to become Of the
race?"
And the youngsters observe: "0h,
just let 'em rave
That's all that is left then,-this
side of the grave"
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07
A Gigantic Job

All that the Lockwood committee S
report says about congestion in New
York City is true. Six million peo-
pie are crowded into houses built
for five million people. The re-
sultant living conditions are a men
ace to the public health. A way
must be found to end them.
The building shortage began with
the war. Money that would other
wise have gone into new buildings
went into war taxes. Labor was
withdrawn for the army, for the ship
yards, for the muntion factories,
for the hundred and one new in
dustries made necessary by the
war. The building industry was
paralyzed. Meanwhile people by
the hundreds of thousands poured
into New York City, overflowing
residences, apartment houses and
tenementS alike.
High wages and high costs of
materials continued the building
paralysis in the years that followed
the wal To-day, as the committee
sets forth, conditions are worse than
ever and are growing steadily
harder to endure.
That this situation, which has
been four years in the making, can
be ended in eighteen months by the
extension Of the rent laws and by
adopting the other suggestions of
She committee as TO legislation will
be difficult for men of practical
business experience to believe.
Aladdin IS the only character. even
in fiction, who could cause houses
TO be built by the rubbing of lamp.
Only by heavily subsidizing capital
can the Legislature cause it to flow
into building investment in sufficient
amounts to end the present shortage
in eighteen months. And the COM
nittee does not recommend sub
sides.
The Tribune believes that the labors
of the Lockwood committee have been
valuable and have contributed
toward solution of the housing
problem 1t believes, however, that
us work in effecting an agreement
between capital and labor, which
will bring down building costs is
worth more than it's 25s pages Of
history and its suggestions for new
bills.
The Legislature is without con-
stltutional power to force private
capital into building or into any
other form of investment. CAPITAL
has the right to protect itself
against unnecessary risks and to
demand an adequate return. It will
go into house building when house
building is found to be sound and
profitable investment. Not before.
AouNS W the committee S cN-
posure of building graft and Illegal
practices, both by employers and
employees, much of this expensive
crookedness has been eliminated.
The productivity of labor has been
Increased with the consent of labor.
The cost Of materials has been de-
creased by the breaking up of COM
olnations to keep prices at an ab-
normal level.
II is by this achievement rather
than by its legislative program that
the committee has done most to put
an end to the conditions which are
responsible for overcrowding. If
the Legislature had devoted the en-
TIRE session to the passing of build
ing laws it could not do so much TO
promote the resumption of build
ing as the committee did when it
brought about general agreement
to stop graft and start building on
a sound business basis. But far
more than eighteen months will pass
before congestion can be ended.
New-York tribune., 1922-03-07

ment of Debs as the Socialist leader
ought to convince them that the
Socialists are not a freedom loving
political party, but band of govern
ment haters, who are not to be
trusted with Office and who are more
closely attached to Bolshevism than
they are to American institutions.