davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
Misdirected Charities

The Prevalent Association of Boston has been making general survey of the financial trends in the oity's charities over five-year period ending in 1928. A feature of that survey has been tabulation of legacles to char ities. It has been found that the four animal protective societies have had steady increase in bequests. They have been receiving dis proportionate amount of money from wills written 25 to 40 years ago when agitation in behalf of horses on Boston's streets and pets in Boston homes was at its height.
 The situation has changed completely in this period. Horses have practically vanished from Boston's streets The few that are left are well cared for and protected from abuse. The attitude toward cats and dogs has changed. too, and those small animals are no longer in need of the charity extended to them In those wills made generation ago and being pro- bated now. Here is another example of the folly of the dead hand directing the use of money. Much better to have community funds or foundations to which bequests may be made with the assurance that expenditures will change with changing needs.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
Busiest Airport

The United States now claims the worlds busiest aviation field. The Newark Airport, only three years ago a dreary waste, now has more traffic daily than Croydon, Le Bourgot or Tempolhof. Europe's three biggest and busiest ports. It is recorded that more than 100000 pounds of air mail passed in and out of the New Jersey terminal in 1850. There were 34.058 interstate passengers. and additional thousands who flew from the air. port on local sightseeing flights. There are 62 daily scheduled take-offs and landings by passenger planes at Newark. compared with g at Berlin at the busiest season of the year. and less than 50 at Paris.
 Apparently commercial aviation in this country is more firmly and successfully estab- lished than most Americans have realized. We know that our records of mileage flown were high. because our distances from coast to coast are so great that merely carrying domes- tic mail by air meant good deal of flying. It is a pleasant surprise to learn that Tn scheduled flights of passenger planes aviation here is doing well. The Newark Airport serves the nations metropolis, but there are other busy arports all over the country which must raise the total flying figures high.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19

Governor Cross will confer with leg islative leaders this week prior to the reconvening of the general assembly on the question of reor- ganizing the state government Such plan was stressed by Governor Cross in his in- augural. It is not the first time it has been mentioned. either. As far back as 1921 bill was introduced to provide for just such a scheme. It failed to pass however on the grounds that too much centralization was contemplated On the hope that the legis- lature will regard it as emergency measure and take it up immediately Governor Cross intends to defer all appointments requiring senate sanction until after March l. As the reorganization plans would eliminate certain state officials the governor seems to have the right idea. Why appoint them if their jobs are to be junked? Under the 1921 bill there would be state departments agriculture. banking, education, highways, insurance. labor, public health, public welfare. public works, revenue and taxation, and motor ve- hices A commissioner would be appointed by the governor with the advice of the senate. All would form the governors council. We wouldn't be surprised to see some of Cover nor Cross fellow democrats. as well as many republicans, baking at the proposed simpli- fled government plan, no matter how effi- cent it may be.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
TO=DAY'S SELECTED POEM
THE ICE MAIDEN

(By Anne w. Young in The New York Timcs) Snow -white is her bosom of the hour frost em-
 pcarlcd GIcam- -silvcrcd her lOye-iOcks the North Wind
 hath curled: GIides ghostIikc her chariot down the dark
 world, Drawn of swans from her garden the infinite
  Sculpture strangely; from bowers of lily and
 rose, Blooming dcathlcss, unfragranccd, where ncver-
 more flows Living water, by streams of crystal. So stilIy, Wrapt close twist her curtains, white the
 lily, She floats like the pale mists of night OCT the
 valley. And she bears her cold breast n gift for us An! Bride, bar your easement, your radiant
 portals, Lest withercd at her touch be your heart meath
 it's myrtIcs! Fey chariot! halt wonder at turn of the road Where fOrlOrn, one is lying, though all the world
 crowd With dark garIands a-wccping, to deck her fair
 shrOud.
 lightly Meath gra".stoncs your gems warm shall Iie
 chosen htIy To grace that still bosom where peace rests SO
 whitcIv.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1881
Faulty Charters Common

For some few years, or to be exact, ever since critics of the form of government in Wa terbury started their attacks, we have con- sistently maintained that this city wasn't any worse than the ma Jority of American towns Our predicament. if you wanted to call 1t that. was no worse than that in which other cities found themselves. A week or so ago we actually had the temerty to state that If the truth were actually known Waterbury IS no worse off than any other large city in the country. Most cities have been living be- yond their means for years Some we're more fortunate than others.
 Glancing at the Hartford Courant Satur- day we noticed that its editor had been read- ing the 991-page report of the Waterbury Charter Commission. Among other things the Courant says "Of Waterburys present government, its form. not its personnel the commission says that if it had been developed with the deliberate intention of going con- trary to the fundamental principles of good organization. as far as was humanly possible. it could hardly have been more successful in attaining that result. Of course there was no such deliberate intention. What is called the anomalous. many headed and poorly CO., ordinated machine probably has its counter part in most of our American cities A crit ical examination of the government of Hart ford probably would reveal quite as much complexity. quite as little coordination and fully as much cumbersomeness as has been found to exist in Waterbury. -
 Changing conditions make changes in city charters necessary. And there are very few cities with such model governments that they keep their charters free from the barnacles that can collect in number of years As the Courant goes on to say. There is scarcely city that has carried on government for many years under additions to its original charter that cannot show about the same type of hodge -podge government tk-t now stands revealed in Waterbury as horrible example. .' And Waterbury is asked to believe that the only solution of this terrible mess is the substitution of the counoil-manager form of government for the present mayor-council type. After the example of what Mayor Hayes and his associates accomplished in 193O we think the recommendation falls rather flat. After all it is the officials and not always the machine that produce the best work.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19

imposed upon such products by statute shall be paid to the exporter. in the shape of de- bentures so-caed which shall be legal tender at face value at the Custom House for im- ports of whatever character Hence. they negotiable on the market. since the demand for them will readily absorb them as issued.
 If for example Farmer Jones exports pro- ducts dutiabe if imported at one hundred dollars, the government will issue him an export debenture for fifty dollars which Farmer Jones can discount to Importer Brown at the market rate. Brown will turn it to the Customs officer who will give him credit at its face value for import duties due from him to the government This is in effect a bounty to Farmer Jones from the Federal Treasury upon his export of farm products and payable from revenues collected on goods imported. whatever their character. Since it is charged against a treasury balance. if there is one 1t reduces the balance to the sum of the total bounties paid.
 The importer IS thus taxed for the farmer instead of the government, which collects and disburses the bounty, or subsidy or whatever the transaction may be called. Its legality is very doubtful its proprety much more SO. As a precedent, 1t is most dangerous. and subject to the gravest of abuses For if by such legerdemain the farmer may profit at the ex- pense of the importer. the income taxpayer may be required to pay an additional per- centage for distribution to the artisan unem- ployed or otherwise; or revenues collected from the tobaeeonst may be used to subsidze cab drivers or impecunious lawyers. It is not surprising that fear is expressed in the Ma tional Capital that we are heading toward system of raeketeering at the expense of the ultimate taxpayer. since should the taxing power be diverted from its legitimate and es- sential purposes it will become the sineeure of the classes powerful enough to secure.
 It is urged against this proposal that it imposes unjust and unequal burdens on tain classes, and confers special advantages on the benefeiaries of the scheme. One of its opponents has said that it is subversive of free government. because it violates safeguards to property and perverts the fundamentals of equal taxation. That 1t is ohampioned by men high in our legislative councils. and de- fended by lawyers of conspicuous ability is surprising. This fact makes the subject of serious present importance, and emphasizes the extent to which political pressure and interest will chloroform public opinion and influence the judgment of officials dependent for their places upon the demands of an ire sponsible electorate. How far will the tax limit be carried before the barriers will be closed?"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19

of 80-cent whisky sell at $52. Believe
 government should take over the
 booze business and put it in dispen-
 saries, selling same so cheap It
 would put bootleggers out of busi-
 ness. It is the chief commodity of
 ganglanI; millions of dollars squan- dered in trying to enforce law. The prohibition leaders appear to be backing the dry law in order to hold fat jobs."
 Pleas for state control and sale of liquor are voiced by many edi- tors. Typical is the following from Nebraska: we are advocating an amend
 ment to the 18th amendment, if
 necessary, to the end that the gov
 ernment may contract for the manu-
 facture, and itself distribute to the consumer, In limited quantities,
 much after the Swedish system, such liquors demanded, for the reasons that the present premium on crime will be removed, the cause of real temperance advanced and govern
 mental costs reduced" ar Wants Government Sale A Wisconsin editor agrees: Favor modification for it's prob able effect in lessening rackets re- SuILdHL lICIH llcSc ocllCNS'
 manufacture and distribution of commodity of volume reached in il- l licit liquor consumption should be under government supervision" Complaints that prohibition has been harmful to youth, are occa- sionally voiced; as in this, from a Minnesota editor:
 "A fair trial of the dry laws
 has proved flat failure, leaving
 trail of debauched youths, cor rupt public servants, countless moon joints, speakeasies and vii cious night clubs, an increasing
 crime wave and powerful gang and racket rings"
 A Florida editor cites these
 reasons for opposing the dry laws: Universal use of intoxicants by American youths of both sexes.
 Diversion of capital. in millions of
 dollars into the hands of rumhead.s B
 Ineffective enforcement. Through
 rum activities, capital falling into
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
Export Debenture Explained

The export debenture scheme of farm relief is again attracting attention in Wash- ington as one of the reasons urged in favor of m extra session of congress. The exact mean ing of the name by which this scheme has been christened has always puzzled the pub lie. and those who have brought about the defeat of the scheme thus far claim that it IS say another way of robbing Peter to pay Paul - that what it means in plainer Eng fish is that for all agricultural products ex- ported fifty per eentum of the import duty
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
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k. F. LEES BIRTH.

On Jan 19, 1907, Robert E. Lee, commander -in-chief of the Confed- crate armies in the Civil War. was born in Westmoreland county, Va, the son of a Revolutionary War vet eran.
 At IS, he entered West Point, graduated second in his class and received commission in the engin- eer corps. After the Mexican War, in which he was repeatedly pro- noted for distinguished services, he became superintendent of West Point. .sts .
 His next service was a cavalry commander on the Texas border. He was recalled to Washington in March 1901, when seven states had formed the Southern Confederacy. A month later Lee sent in his resig- nation, and, within two days, was made commander-in-ch chief of the military forces at Richmond.
 After successfully leading his forces in the early days of the war. Lee finally yielded to the superior armies of Grant, surrendering his army at Appomatox courthouse, ,Vir-, ginia. ], Lee then accepted the presi-I dency of Washington college, now Washington and Lee, at Lexington, Va, in which post he remained until his death in 1870.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
At The National Capitol
 DAILY WASHINGTON LETTER
A Digest of Who's Who and What's What
 By RODNEY BUTCHER

be made secretary of the treasury and perhaps really control the White House and that anything of the kind would be pretty awful. A great deal will be heard about the Raskob plot to seize the government. And much about the. Raskob plot" to upset the 18th amendment.
 On the other hand, Rascobs friends will depict him as a noble soul, full of taltrulsm and devotion to the public good. Although he is an ex-republican wao took the democra- tic chairmanship through devotion to that he is now splendid type of democrat of whom all hands ought to be proud.
 Did Relish Defeat
 Of course there is another possible explanation of Raskob. No millione aire business man with Raskob's res cord of success would relish the democratic defeat of 1928.
 The personal attacks for which Raskob came in, partly because he was Q Catholic, might have caused him to quit in disgust after the cam paign. And they might have imbued him-perhaps did-with a grim de- termination to fight on to 8 democra- ! tic victory, if only for the intense5 personal satisfaction of 8 big hard job done well. Men have spent mil i: lions for more frivolous and useless purposes than the success of the, democratic party.
 But Raskob's position can become much more delicate than it is. Al-s ready there are fears and predictions that the democrats will have to take his hand-picked candidate. There have been some indications, though not unmistakable, that Raskob would seek the nomination of Owen D Young of the General Electric. Z. Yopung would be acceptable to many democrats but anathema to many others who worry about the pow CT trust" and the domination of big business in politics.
 Spirited Fight Looms ,
 There will be widespread roar If Raskob tries to jam through the nomination of5a purely Raskob can- 5 didate. And if Raskob, who has so far pursued strategic policy of modest self-effacement from the pub j, lie eye, should become regarded as < would be dictator with large person. al ambitions 1t is easy to see how the benefits from all that Raskob money could be quickly neutralized. Whatever the mans motives, he will have to display Q great deal of discretion and tact. He may OWL the party organization, but he does- mt own the party itself.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
NEA Service Writer

NEA Service Writer
 Washington - MT John J. Ras- kob again will find himself poli- tical issue in 1882. The republicans will make the most of him, as they did in 1928 and tried to with less success in 1880.
 Nevertheless, it does seem as if the democratic national chairman were unlikely to prove as big liability to his party as he has been an asset. Or anywhere near it, unless Raskob makes himself a bigger issue than he now is.
 Mr Raskob is the partys nice big sugar daddy. It is he who has been putting up nearly all the money which has enabled it to operate with an able, effective all-the-year-aroun party organization which has func- toned so well in hammering away at the administration and in waging the congressional campaign last fall. He both created and financed that organization. Only $15,000 in, contri- buttons to the party were reported for 1880, whereas the receipts were $619,000.
 Party Owes $82S, 1000
 The party now owes $62 5000 of which $225,000 is due MT Raskob and $403,O0O to the County Trust company of New York in which Ras- kob and Alfred F. Smith are heavily interested. Raskob advanced $780, 900 in 1880 and also contributed $2O,000 directly to congressional cam paigns.
 We'll. you see how important Ras- kog has ben to the dem ocrats. While providing 1t with new sinews of war he has also cut down it's deficit sub stantially. No party has ever been so indebted to a single angel" No wonder that you never hear any more audible criticism of Raskob within the democratic party.
 But the republicans are going to remind you of it. Last fall they whooped up the fact that in three summer months MT Raskob had 'lent" the party $40,000 while other contributions totaled $15O.
 Charge RaskOb Owns Party
 The Raskob financing gives them the chance 10 say that Raskob has bought the democratic party and now owns 1t. They will shout to the country that it Is a very bad thing for one man to own a politi- cal party, that MT Raskob is espe- cially unfitted to be owning a party and the republicans are the party of the people. All of which will not do the democrats any good, but they can still afford to be thankful to MT Raskob.
 It will be charged that Raskob. in return for his financing. expects to
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19

Democrats of New York state are willing to cooperate with their republican legislators in securing an adequate reapportionment of representation in the general assembly. If such plan can be adopted this year it will be based on the state census of 1925. Gov ernor Smith and also Governor Roosevelt vetoed several republican bills calling for re- apportionment on the ground that they simply created solid republican districts where democratic ones now exist. If New York thinks it is badly off for reapportonment we don't know what Connecticut's situation might be termed Our senatorial districts are far from equal. There is garing example of this right here in Waterbury. The 18th district is given 60.340 population. while the 5th has only 33,934. Those figures are based on the 1920 census and are probably more unequal now. Greenwich and Stam- ford are served by district, the 27th, with 62, l90 population. Is that far'
 It was proposed in the house last week that Nick" Longworths brand new blue limousine be auctioned off in the interests of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19

hands of persons of bolshevistic' ideas and a threat to safety of na-. ton. One of leading causes of fin- ancial condition of country at pres- ent."
 Cites Causes of Graft
 {. A Massachusetts editor complains of prohibitions:
 "It has brought about wide- spread corruption in police depart ments and practically every law en- fOrcement organization. It has like wise developed more corruption in municipal government than we have experienced for many years"
 A disillusioned and perplexed Vermont editor writes that his paper is neither for nor against prohibi- tion, adding:
 Am advocating no policy. The old systems of saloons under' local option was misfortune. The present system under prohibition is a calamity. Am in favor of try ing something else, hoping for im- prOvementS.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19

B. Parks democrat. of Arkansas proposed the sale. but we'll wager he didn't offer it with the approval of Jack" Garner of Texas Representative Garner has high hopes of rid ing in that limousine after the 72nd congress convenes. If the democrats can control the house Garner will get the car as he is now the democratic whip and would be the next house speaker. And Mir Garner has his eyes on the big car.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19

should proceed rapidly this year. Not only are cities and towns seeking permission to send crews of men. temporarily out of work. into the state forests. but the department in charge has been given S7,000 appropriation to carry on this vital work. If forests are going to flourish they must be weeded just as carefully as the choicest garden.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
Cites Prohibition Defects

EDITORS NOTE-Tis the last of four showing the prohibition the nations conducted NEA analysis Saturday NEA Service Democrat prohibition;
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
Personal Health Service (By William Brady, M. D.

Signed letters pertaining to personal health and hygiene. not disease diagnosis or treatment. will be answered by Dr Brady. Ad- dress him, care of the Democrat, sending stamp and addressed envelope.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19
OIIaYIGOSH.

Evcrybody's happy,
 Evcrybody's gay. Prosperity is coming
 That's what the bankers say.
 o-O--o After listening to hot air speech es and attacks by United States sen- ators. we're beginning to know what really makes the Red Cross cross
 o--O-o
 Instead of an extra session, what the country really needs is scssionless congress.
 o-O---o The man who thinks he knows it all would soon change his idea if placed in charge of an information bureau.
 The man who handles a two edged sword probably figures he can do double the amount of business.
 o-O-o
 It's an i'll snow that doesn't do some good. Manufacturers of tire chains certainly have been given q break thus far this winter.
 The chap who leaves for Palm beach without bathing suit should chum with the man who goes on a visit to Alaska and forgets to take an overcoat along.
 O-O-o
 The trouble with some peo- pie is due to the fact that they never have trouble enough.
 o-O--o Cheap booze is generally con- sumed by people just as cheap.
 o-O-O
 Some people want to be the whole show when they're not fit to put on a single act.
 o-O-o Don't forget that family life is all ways the life of the family.
 o-O--o Traffic cops are heard as well as seen.
 o-O-o This completes our opening pro- gram of the week. II came to you over DBD. owned and operated by the Evening Democrat. We are signing off at this time, to be back on the air again tomorrow evening at the usual hour.
 o-O-o Good night.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19

What this country wants is prophets who will prophecy profts
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19

The hard part isn't to make the car last, but to reconcile yourself to keeping 1t when it looks like that.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-19

All vehicles must be lighted not later than 522 o'clock tonight.