davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
Meet The Middle West

Wiekham Steed, British journalist, speaking at a gathering of Americans and English people in London, made good sug. gestion to visitors coming here to get ac- quainted with the United States. He urged them not to enter through New York, as most of them do. By starting there, they get false impression which might be cor reetcd later if they travelled further. Too many of them, however make the jump from New York to the Pacific Coast with out ever becoming aware of the important interior,
 Mir Steed suggests therefore that they en. ter America by Canada, crossing into the, United States at some port on the Great Lakes, getting acquainted with people of the Middle West first. After that they can go East or West or South as they choose. New York, of course, won't like this. That city should not worry, It is literally such big attraction to travellers from all over the world that they are sure to visit it before they leave the country, and they may get better understanding of it if they work up to it gradually
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
Farm Wages

Wages, in city or country. are pretty good index to economic conditions. The present city workman may console himself for his low wage by considering wages in the, country The Bureau of Agricultural Economics at Washington reports that farm wages are the lowest in 34 years and only "A per cent of the five.year average before the war They range from 40 cents day with board in South. Carolina and Georgia 10 $l,75 day in Rhode Island
 In some of the North Central states farm hands get only board and lodging for their labor This may suffice for single men. during the winter, but is not of much use to man with family to support. On the whole. however there are corporations. With all the farmers misforunes. there IS far less real want in the country than in the city, because the basic essentials of life are more plentiful there.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26

must give up its debt claims on the Allies as the Allies have done with their repara- ton claims on Germany. or else all our fot. eien debtors will take the matter into their own hands and flatly refuse to pay.
 There is one other course which might be taken t we were willing, adds the Times. This is a change in our policy, which would enable the debtor nations to repay in goods and services what they borrowed in goods and services" lt is to be remem' bercd that these foreign loans in general were made not in money but in credits for goods bought from the United States And re- payment in goods would eliminate the pres ent difficulty of paying in gold. But the Times continues Tho one acquainted with American. conditions can regard it as even remote possibility" And this, in some ways is a pity. We don't want foreign goods driving our own products out of our own markets; but there are foreign goods that we do not produce which we might use to ad- vantage, through governmental barter
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
coNaREssIoNAL DIsThIcTs.
,I(Meriden Journal)

f(Meriden JOurnall
 Collection is made by Bridgeport to thel redistrictiiig proposal made to the. legislature for the purposes of providing for the sixth congress- man. The complaint. which seems to be justified. is that the towns of Fairfield county, now compris- ing one congressional district (thc Fourth) would be scattered into three different districts, dominated respectively by the cities of Bridge port, New Haven and Waterbury.
 Thus, Fairfield, Easton. Trum- bull, Westport and Stratford. would be linked up with New Havens Cheshire, Wolcott, Prospect, Nau- gatuck and Bethany In the new third district Bridgeport itself would be in tine fourth congress sionai district but practically every adjoining town would be in the third. Westport. Weston, Eaeton and Fairfield would be. in turn girdied by towns divided between the fourth and the fifth (Water-
 The proposal to link Meridcn up with West Hartford. Avon, Bur iington. Pennington, Bristol Piainviile and New Britain in the new sixth district shows Q similar disregard of county lines. H0w- ever, Meriden would still be linked up with Wallinsford and would
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
Amusement Trends

Among the interesting facts tucked away in that ponderous report of the Presidents commission on social trends are these; There are revolutionary changes occurring in American amuSmcnts. Baseball, pugilism. fraternal societies pool rooms and cabarets are declining in popularity. Goh. football lunch clubs, hunting, fishing and hiking are on the up and up. This information will rcassurc many who have wondered whether, in following their reercatonal yearninSs' they were doing the proper thing It will goods, but will help them earify their fu- probably be no news to dealers in sport turc policies.
 There is a big business stake, along with the personal enjoyment, in this realm of activity. The commission says we Ameri' cans spend $l000o 0o0,oo0 in normal years for amusement -- half of it in the use of automobiles for pleasure The movies get $l,500, GOO, 900 of our money, There should be a rapid increase in expenditures for fun with restored incomes and growing leisure.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
Sources Of Taxation

. Dr. George B. Clarke. noted economist < and tax expert at the Connecticut Agrieul- ' tural College is authority for the statement
 that there are thirty.five different sources
 of taxation in this state. In 1920 these, various sources brought into tbe state treas ury s total of something over $50, 900, 900.
 Motor vehicles and gasoline brought in the largest proportion of the total amount, ae- counting for exactly 3o,5 per cent, just as = taxes on property form the bulk of munich pal revenue. IL has been estimated that
 property taxes bring in 90 per cent of cty'S or towns income. That isn't quite
 fair everybody admits, but so far nobody
 seems to know just what to do about it.
 If we eliminate any of the sources ot
 taxation of the present day, we usually find something to take its place just as produe'
 tive of revenue This is due solely 10 one r reason. namely, the high cost of government.
 We have extended all branches of the gov. 7 er,ment nowadays We must pay the price { fer such service. But reduction of the cost of government IS the sole hope for the tax payer of the future, He or she can rave and rant about high taxes but as long as certain services and improvements continue to be demadned they will have to be paid for from tax money.
 Yc, in giving this nation good govern ment we are prone to very common fault. We forget too easily that public office is a public trust and declare ourselves huge div
 dcnds in public funds. This is done in an alarming number of ways, most of which could be eliminated. Tax surveys can only show that ihc dollar the taxpayer contributes to the treasury goes long ways, But un' : fortunately it doesn't always go for the D i.pose for which il was intended In times sG.h as those through which we are now : passing this is more than evident. IL also brings home the fact that high taxes may be overlooked in boom days, but when depres' sion strikes us taxes must correspond, Let our legislators take heed 10 this mandate and : act accordingly.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
So They Say

The salvation of the world cam not lie in science alone. With science there must be religion and work in other fields. -Profehsor Auguste Piccard.
 Swiss scientist, visiting U. s.
 
 Mussolini Is more interested in the United States than in any other nation except Italy because he considers America is young and dynamic.
 -Augusto Rosso, newly ap- pointed Italian Ambasshdor
 to the U. s.
 In a period when mel naturally turn to God, religion leadership appears to have been liquidated.. pr. William H. Leach, edi-
 tor of Church Management.
 
 Today when man feels emotion, he looks for God. but in 20S2 he will take a pill.
 Bertrand Russell. English
 radical writer and lecturer. I'm not ashamed to shake hands With any worker,
 Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt.
 wife of the president-elect.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
Millions For Defense

The good old United States still has
 millions for defense judging by the prodI' gality it is showing the War Department
 Although this is year when Stretest ceon- 70 omy in governmental expenditures should reign you would never know il judging by ], he size of rhc War Department budget
 which is now ready for congressional action.
 Thanks to the untiring service of Represen' tatvc Ross 4. Collins of Mississippi there : has been some check on moneys appropr- !, aied for the army, But if present plans are
 pushed through tbe House, the army appro- 2 priation bill for the coming fiscal year will
 be two millions greater than tha. adopted -.--a year ago,
 All of which is apt 10 make a poor little
 taxpayer wonder what kind of congressman
 arc down at Washington if they think SO
 little of militarZins the nation at tremendous
 costs, while half the nation is in dire want -IWhen the army appropriation bill originally !. came from the House Appropriations com 's mittce it was almost a million less than this .s years budget. But several enterprising leg ~ slators and few of the Army's successful 1. lobbyists got in some good work with the :. result described above Even if there is :. final slash in the budget it IS apt to be V greater-than the present one.
 :. For example. there is small item in the :. army appropriation of just SS2500. That !, would catch Representative Collins eye. If 7, there is a person in Congress who has fought 'p any harder for the meehanization of the < Army than Collins. he is hard to find. This !, S82.500 item represents the price of large ]. number of horses for the National Guard. {, If they are bought this unit will possess Y some 5000 horses, for which 1t has no ' practical use. for motoriZ5tion of several !. cavalry units will release more horses. Looks :. as if the National Guard might have to turn ]. to polo. as regular army officers at various ,s posts have done in recent years.
 [. Without deeryng the good purpose of < the Citizens Military Training Camps and !. Reserve Officers Training Colleges we do {. believe that the $2500.000 is slightly out !. of proportion with amounts that cities and '' towns are finding it hard to raise to keep !. their public schools open. If teachers in ], these schools are forced to take pay slashes. l, and if many schools are being closed every |. day. then it does seem as if Uncle Sam might 4 forego training the American youth to be 1. cannon fodder for a summer or two. Mlli- :. tsry training is fine thing for any young :. man to have. but it is more important today l, that the two major political parties re. I. member they promised substantial reductions !. in federal expenditures. Here's one place to !. start cutting expenses.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26

State Tax Commissioner Blodgett in recent report stated that state-aid to cities and towns should only be dispensed when the state can have some say or some control over the manner in which this financial aid is spent. Such curb would end reckless spending by our municipalities and some of our smaller towns says the commissioner. Maybe 1t woulds but what would the peo- pie of the cities and towns. where there is no such lavish expenditure say! Wouldn't they claim this was an eneroaeh- ment upon home rule just as all of us did several years ago when the Legislature named tax officials down in Bridgeport and set up charter correction commission in Water buryl We don't doubt but what some of our cities and towns should be brought up short. but it is moot question whether or not this should be by state interference. There has been So much of this of recent years. both on the part of the federal and state governments that the rights of.ihe indvid- ual are hedged all around with provisos. or course we don't expect the state. to play
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
A WORTHY SUCCESSOR
(New Haven Register)

When Captain George Fried of S. S. America fame and undying honor as a sea hero of all time retired to the less exacting rigors to lifo ashore. there was much wonderment over who could car " on in his place. Who would inherit his mantle as the rescuer among rescuers? Today 1t seems to be Captain Giles c. Stedman of the American Merchant.
 There is little need to expound on the dramatic qualities of his rescue of the Exeter City's crew, some fifteen hundred miles off New York. As the lead of the Associa. ted Press story put 1t, Stedman's liner, the American Merchant. fighting c violent storm of hail. rain, high seas and gale for hours, saved the crew of 22.. after the storm had battered the British freighter into Q wreck and taken the lives of foVr men," Then fol- lowed the snatches of radio com. munications, telling more in few words than many could describe. the story of men laughing at death while snatching others from 1t.
 Captain Stedman had proved his nerve before this. The story of his part in the Tgnazio Fforio disaster nearly eight years ago has been recalled. in which as chief officer of the President Harding he conn manded the life boat which brought 2s men off the doomed ship. Italian and American med als honored him for that need. He is New England .uative. one to he nr0ud of.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26

The rift in the Roosevelt families tha, has kept the descendants of the late Theodore and those of Franklin D. apart of recent years seems to be patched. Kermit Roose- welt. son of the former president, is to be a member of President-Eleet Franklin D. Roosevelt's yachting party sailing from Jacksonville February (, Kermit was not active in the November election, but bis brother, Theordors, Jr., governor-general of the Philippines, his sister, Mrs Alice Longworth and Theodore Roosevelts widow, all supported President Hoover. Although the two families have always been divided politically, it wasn't until 1920. when Franklin D. was democratic candidate for viee-president. that feelings on the sub. jcet were expressed in words. Teddy. Jr., got off one of his famous speeches in which ;,e called his cousin maverick. He probably regrets it today. Maybe Kermit can patch up the differences.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
If Insull Goes Greek

If Samuel Insul becomes a naturalized Greek citizen, as it is rumored he will do, he may solve some of his problems, such as how to travel without his United States passport - recently annuled and how to remain indefinitely in Greece without for ever asking renewal of expiring residence permits.
 Becoming a Greek citizen will not solve all his problems. however. It will not clear his name in this country where he refuses to face larceny and embezzlement charges. If he promotes public utilities in Greece as he did in the United States and as he has been reported planning to do. the Greeks them selves may come to regret their hospitality. Financial wizards are not as unmtIgated blessings to an investing public as used to be believed.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26

State Labor Commissioner Tone and his aides arc doing good piece of work in sponsoring series of forums in New Haven at which various phases of labor as it per. tains to the state are discussed Inasmueh as Conneeteiut is now in a position to cor. rect a number of it's laws outlining work ing hours conditions wages etc. these lectures should prove of as much interest to the ordinary citizen as to the person vitally concerned over the welfare of the laboring class. "Sweat-shops' in Connecticut are rapidly being chased out and with the aid of some legislation should be completely outawed.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
Our Daily Washington Letter
The Lame Duck Session Goes to History
BY RODNEY BUTCHER

iame duck amendment, assuring that it will be put in the. constitu- ton and removing all future dan- ger Of those several factors which now gum up the works.
 Then there will be no more short sessions, no more four month waits for a president-elect to take office - he will enter in January, no more fiiibusters - be- cause sessions will Do unlimited - and no more lame ducks. Con- gress. may even regain some of it's
 Some congressmen arc active in nll sorts of ways The other night q couple of them and an- other follow who Is not in cons gross were having c party in an apartment. Someone dropped q cigaret onto an awning below and the fire wagons arrived soon thereafter. So the congrossmen began to hollsr and accuse the firemen of peeking through win- dows to see ladies in their night les. Then they threw ice cubes down at the nremen. Policemen soon came to the apartment. Tho other fellow, meanwhile, had passed out from overstimulation. The congressrhen pointed to his recumbent form and whispered: 1: "sh-sh! That's Senator -" So the copper tiptotsd .uiotly out.
 One of tho two most .. tattoocd men in the Unitel States 1. is q widely known official in the gov- ernment services. He is tattooed all over except where 1t would show in street clothes. In his youth he ran away, sailed the seven seas and came back that way. Now he doesn't like 1t much. Hc says there's another man more tattooed than he, but won't tell who 1t Is.
 
 And remember that of every $f00 you pay your Uncle Sam in income tax 1t cost S2.17 to collect it. So don't go making 1t any
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
NEA Service Writer


 Washington --- The one sweetly consoiing thought which buoys up most of us during this amazingly futile session of congress is in the fact that 1t can never happen again.
 Otherwise, there would surely Do . louder cry for the Eascists, tho Communists or the Techno- ington.
 Even the favorite descriptive word of Congressman LaGuardia, to wit "lousy," 6 inadequate when applied to this short session. Con- gre@ has fioundered, wallowed, stewed in It's own juice, run around in circles, tied itself up in knots, stuck it's head in the sand and per- formed all the other tricks in the famous congressional repertoire except that of definite accomplish mcnt.
 If 1t achieves anything more than tho Philippine independence bill, which the Filipinos apparent iy are getting ready to Kill as quickly as possible, its admirers will be surprised no end.
 Taxation, major economies, unem. ployment, farm and debt relief, prohibition, repeal, banking re- form and the other Big ones ap- parently are to be passed - right along to the next congress.
 Several reasons may be given for this record in addition to the inadequacy or impotence of leader ship both in congress and higher places. Chiefly: i. short sessions 2 are short and always so damned that not much Legislation Is to be anticipated. 2. Imminence of the Roosevelt administration with its promise of action, it's popular man. date and its big congressional ma jorities presuades the politicians and tho less desperate citizens that they might as well wait. 3. The senate fiibuster and the threat of others Is both Q hampering and a dampening factor. 1. Lame ducks are cluttering up both houses and represent 6 definite hindrance.
 And the only pleasant fact, while everybody indulges in what has been called "fddling around while RQmc burns.' is that the states are rapidly ratifying the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
Here, There And EUeryOhere

The New Haven county problem Is thrown into clear focus at this time by the fact that within the next few weeks the board of coun- ty, y,commissioners must approve the budget for the ensuing biennlum. While effecting economies. these commissioners should display little reluctance. They will be acting in the best of official company. All Connecticut cities have accepted the inevitable and have made dras- tic changes; the state is now con. templatipg q full one-third reduce tion; and the. economy movement has already spread to the judges of the supreme and superior courts.
 There is of course no possibility of retrenchment in payments to widows and in appropriations for the care of homeless children. Hala. ries constitute, the major remain- ing item. Reductions hers should be facilitated by observance of the example set by Middlesex county. which has announced a ten per cent cut in personnel costs.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
NO OCCASION FOR HASTE
(EIartford Times)

Representative John D. Thoms of Waterbury, on Wednesday if- troduced in t..- house bill cali- ing for the repeal of the Counec- ticut prohibition amendment act. This bill, which has gone to the ju- dietary committee, should lie there without hearing until the matter can be taken up appropriately af- ter 1t has been determined whether or not to adopt the recommends. ton of Governor Cross.
 The governor urged that Con- necticut should take action similar to that which New York has now taken. Under the authority of the Legislature the governor of that state has appointed a committee to report upon what laws in it's Judgment should be enacted to pro vide for the sale of wine and beer in case congress shall iegitimatize these drinks.
 That congress will change the federal law within a few months is to be expected. The step called Tor logical. Exceptionally constructive minds should be put ct work upon the social and legal problems in- volved and at once.
 Connecticut did not ratify the 18th Amendment. Nevertheless this state has been ranking hlgh among those which have stood Loyalty for enforcement. The. record should not be marred by an declaration on the part Of q Connecticut icgIala- ture In favor 0f nuIIiflcatton. Re- peal of the enforcement act should not precede change in the federal law. s 4rn
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
A Book a Day
by BRUCE CATION
Philo Vance Is In Again

Tho incredible Phllo Vance has returned to tho wars again. and you'll And hiS latest adventures duly reported in. "The Kennel Murder Case" by 8. s. Van Dine (scribner's: $2).
 Tn this book we have an eccen- tHic collector of rare Chinese art objects done to death in his study. The door is boited on the inside, the winodws are all locked; the chap shas bullet through his brain and revolver lies on Q taL:o beside him. But 1t develops. presently, thas he had been dead for. some eight hours when he got shot; he had been first bashed over tho. head and then stabbed.
 In such Q case. obviously. the only thing to do was to summon Phiio Vance and to endure his pos- turings with as good Q grace as possible until he had run down tho murderer.
 Needless to say, he runs him down. and manages to air his knowledge of Chinese porcelains, the breeding of Scottio dogs and the books of German criminolo- gists in the process. Tho book has faint overtones of e couple of MT. Van Dine's earlier ones, and all in aIi it's middling thin stuff. But l4 ia pathar inRnDi0tia.
 Another current mystery is "Tho Nameiess Crime.' by Walter s. Masterman (Dutton: $O. This has to do with q mysterious mur- der in n London flat, followed ty an obscure ai,d not very bellevs- ble set of antics on tho part of q shadowy villain who abducts the heroine and tries to burn Q Scot land Yard inspector alive. If you cnh suspend, your critical facuI- ties, you might be able to kill q dull evening with 1t.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26
Three Debt Possibilities

The British government. though it paid it's last debt instament to this country.
 seems to be not at all in the mood to pay any more or 10 do any kind of bargaining
 The London Times issues sort of ultima ium. as follows: 'These ntergovernmentsl ---psyments are malignant ulcer in the eco. =. pomie system of the world which must be .so cut out at once and for all if the patient is ss to be saved The only practical alternatives
 are another Lausanne or general default" ~sIn other words either the United States
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-26

fairy godmother to any town and let it throw thousands of dollars of the taxpay. CTS money out the window. but when this occurs. it's time for an outraged eitizenrY to arise and take action. If that condition prevails in Connecticut by all means have the state step in and take charge. But # it is merely to exercise one more function, then we say let the cities and towns struggle along by themselves.