New-York tribune. [volume], August 27, 1906, Page 3, Image 3

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

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RAILWAY RATE LAW.
EFFECTIVE TO-MORROW.
Rebates and Other Favors Pass
■Axsay To-day — Provisions of Art.
IFrom The TrltroEa BureM.)
Washington. Aug. 26.— new railroad rate
law will go Into force automatically at "midnight
on Monday night, and all Its essential principles
and features will be omtkmv.. throughout the
United States when busin-s. wins early on
Tuesday morning. There will be no blowing of
locomotive whistles all over the land in salute
to the statute such as ushers In New Tear's Day.
nor any Jollification by officials of the railroad
companies or by the federal authorities clothed
with the vast rate making power, but absolutely
without formality tha sweeping measure which
rausad on© of the longest and hardest debates
ever held in Congress will begin to exert Its
influence on all interstate commerce by land, and
the hypothetical question* whi,.h have been
puzzling everybody concerned for tho last Urn
months will pass to th« experimental and prac
tical stage. It was the first Intention of. Con
£ress that the new law should become effective
on the day of Its passage and approval by
the President, which was on June 29. but such
a hue and cry was raised about the impossibility
of starting so ponderous a mechanism suddenly
that the House and Senate on the following day.
ju*t before adjournment, adopted a Joint resolu
tion extending its enforcement sixty days, and
this period expires with to-morrow.
The absence of funotion or celebration at the
birth of the new order of things is due In part
at least to the vacation season, which Is just
now at Us height for government officials and
the highest railroad officers, the latter having
left to eubordinates largely the duty of obeying
the law and carrying out its details.
The Interstate Commerce Commission, whose
membership was Increased from five to seven
by the new law, apparently in recognition of the
Insufficiency of time granted to the railroads to
make euch radical changes In their rate making
an-i bookkeeping as the law contemplates. Is de-
Isrmined to proceed slowly and cautiously In
exercising Us powers, and will not hold Its first
meeting under the law until September 7. At
that time It is expected that all the members
will he In attendance and that Martin A. Knapp.
of X«-w York, chairman of the present commls
elon. will be chosen chairman of the new com
mission. Not until then will the work of carry
ing out the< law be divided among the commis
■laners, and only after that time will the com
mission listen to complaints or act formally in
interpreting portions of the law regarding which
differences of opinion have- arisen, or to hear
complaints, of which a number have already ac
cumulated under the old law.
The members of the commission expect to be
fairly overwhelmed wtth petitions from railway
men and shippers, begging for rulings on various
features which Involve marked departures from
old practices; but it is doubtful if they consent
tf> cross any bridge until they reach it. or at
tempt to render any decisions until violations of
the law are reported, when they mean to act as
promptly as practicable after deliberate investi
gation. A new and elaborate system of account
ing by all the railroads is made obligatory under
the new law. but the commission does not ex
pect to provide uniform blanks for this purpose
for a month or more, preparation of the neces
eary forms having been delegated by the com-
BfcMtofl to its former statistician. Professor
H> nry C. Adams, of Michigan University, who is
now busily engaged in drawing them up. An
gther feature of the law, that relating to the pro
biiiiion of passes, does not become effective
until January 1 next, but many of the railroads
are anticipating its enforcement, and it is
thought that after to-morrow "complimentary
transportation" will be rare or valueless on most
of the lines oi the country. I
Th© new commission is clothed by the Revised
Statutes with considerable discretion regarding
(he. ricid and immediate enforcement of many
regulations which it was recognized in the course
of the debates In Congress might prove too de
nv.raUzing if suddenly imposed upon existing
methDds governing interstate commerce, and in
these .atters the commission will probably exer
cise Its control leniently at first and with grad
ually increased severity. One of these clauses
Is that which prohibits tne alteration of any
rate, either for freignt or passengers, without
thirty days' notice. Should this be literally and
rigidly enforced at the outset every rate in the
Unite-i States in effect to-morrow wcfuld have to
stand unchanged until September 28. and no ex
enratons or large movements of any kind, either
[night or passenger, no matter what the special
occasion, could occur for a month. Problems of
this r.ature will be among the first to receive
consideration by the commission, but confidence
is felt that regulations will be made to fit all
such occasions, and that the law, if found to act
Injuriously to .he interests of the public which
it Is designed to serve, will be liberally inter
preted until Congress has an opportunity to
remedy any injustice or anomaly in its provis
lone.
MEMBERS OF XEW COMMISSION. (
All the members of the old commission, includ
ing Franklin K. Lane, of California, who did not
cnti r upon the work until last week, have been
rear-pointed by the. President to the new com
mission. They are Martin A. Knapp. of New
York, chairman; Judson C. Clements, of
Georgia; Charles A. Prouty, of Vermont, and
Francis M- Cockrell. of Missouri. The two new
numbers are Edward E. Clark, of lowa, and
James 8. Harlan, of Illinois. None of the mem
hen of the oew commission have been confirmed
by the Senate, as the law under which they are
i.;>i>oimed is not in operation until August 28,
and their commissions are ineffective until that
date, but there is no doubt that their acts will
be legal in the Interim under recess appoint
ments «nd that tho Senate immediately upon re
assembling will confirm the President's nomina
tions.
ill t_ae members of the new commission who
•Old be reached by interested parties in the last
tew v.eeks have been besought to give the rail
roads leeway in the matter of complying with
**tails of the law, but have thus far denied all
'Attests. "We cannot answer any hypothetical
Q'JWUor.f.." is the position of the commissioners.
"It w« did the roads would accept our construc
tion just so far as it pleased them, and then do
a» they chose. Our advice to railroad men Is to
6tt the best advice their lawyers can give them
about the new law and its meaning, and then fol
low it. \\> will not construe it; we will simply
undertake to enforce it and let the courts in due
tlnifc do the construing."
for instance, the express companies have
claimed it to be- utterly Impracticable for them
to file with the commission, as demanded by the
act. a complete schedule of all their chances
betwfcf-ri each point and every other point served
by them. One company asked an extension of
frenc\ M*r\tcls
French; and Italia^
Ar\<Kron& Tn-t-Scrtter^ Efc
W?H Jackson (&ißwr
.Ur\ionSg. North , . I
. 2.9 E 17fc ST.
time to January l, to comply with this provision,
and another wanted sixty days. Ar, the ■■- -rm.,*-
*l"n which has to act on. this request ha* no legai
fcxlstenco until Tuesday, and will not formally
organize until September 7. the- impossibility o£
making any promises at rr-s-nt is obvious. By
'hr- time ths commission organizes, the com
panU* will b« amenable under the law for failure
to file/ their schedules, and if they are called to
account for their shortcomings it will then be in
order for them to demonstrate to the satisfaction
Of ih- commission that H was physically impos
sible to comtiy The commission may then bo
able to decide whether It should exercise its pre
rnicatlv* and grant ' a reasonable extension of
time. if It is convinced tho petitioner Is maklns?
earnest effort to comply with tho law at the
earliest practicable moment.
The law for the last two months has been ex
haustively studied under the midnight lamps of
lawyers, trafllo men. operating men., shippers,
manufacturers— everybody In the land. in fact.
Recently tho commission had 50,000 copies of the
amended law. together with the Elklns and ro
lated acts, printed. In a few days all were gone.
Bvery big system of roads asks from 600 to 2,500
BJ i.g The 'commission could not supply tho de
mand for copies. Mi private establishments In
Washington havo made a good thing by produc
ing a little booklet which Is simply a reprint of
the commission's book, and It is sold at a rea
sonable price.
The work of the secretaries and clerks of the
commission has been heavy in anticipation of
the eniorcement of the n<;w law. The mall sent
out In July weighed five and a half tons. The
record for one day, In what was ordinarily the
dullest season of the year was COO letters re
ceived and 9.144 letters sent out.
FEATURES OP THE LAW.
The most Important provision of the new stat
ute confers on the Interstate Commerce Com
mission the authority, on complaint, to examine
Into any charge or practice of a carrier alleged
to be unjust, and when such allegation Is sus
tained to prescribe what shall be a just and rea
sonable maximum rate or charge, regulation or
practice.
, The act defines as common carriers owners of
pipe lines engaged in the transportation of oil
or other commodity, except water and natural
or artificial gas; also sleeping car and express
companies, and all forms of private cars, ter
minals, switches and spur tracks.
Carriers must print and post in conspicuous
places all tariffs and charges, and such charges
cannot be changed without thirty days' notice
to the public and to the Interstate Commerce
Commission, except where the commission
waives such notice. They are required in time
of war or threatened war, on demand of the
President, to give preference and precedence to
the transportation of troops and munitions of
war. Every person, company or corporation,
whether carrier or shipper, Is prohibited from
offering, granting , giving, soliciting, accepting or
receiving any rebate, preference or discrimina
tion.
Carriers are also required to issue bills of
lading for all shipments accepted, and shall bo
liable to damage for the loss or injury of any
property for which a bill of lading is given, and
no contract, receipt, rule or regulation shall ex
empt the carrier from liability.
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.
Heavy penalties, and In some instances im
prisonment, are prescribed for violation of the
provisions of the act. Individuals and corpora
tions alike to be held guilty of misdemeanor for
any violation wilfully committed, and the cor
porations and individuals are held responsible
for the acts of any agent. Failure to publish
tariffs entails a fine of not less than $1,000 and
not more than $20,000.
Granting or accepting of rebates or kindred
discriminations entails a fine of not less than
S 1.000 and not more than $20,000, and the indi
vidual guilty of such act is liable to imprison
ment for not more than two years, in addition
to the fine, in the discretion of the court.
Any shipper who wilfully accepts a rebate on
discrimination must, in addition to the above
penalties, pay to the United States three times
the value of such rebate or discrimination, and
the Attorney General is required to bring civil
suit to recover this penalty whenever he believes
such violation of law has occurred.
The authority of the Interstate Commerce
Commission to fix maximum rates refers not
only to single but to Joint rates, and applies
where one of the parties to the Joint rate is a
water line.
For failure to obey an order of the commis
sion the carrier forfeits to the United States
$5,000 for each offence, and each day of a con
tinuing violation is deemed a separate offence.
Where the Interstate Commerce Commission
orders a refund to a shipper and the carrier
fails so to refund, the shipper may Institute civil
suit to recover; the finding of the commission
constitutes prima facie evidence of the facts, and
the petitioner is not liable for the costs In the
court or at any subsequent stage of the proceed
ings, and If the petitioner finally prevails a rea
sonable attorney fee is allowed him.
COAL ROADS AND PASSES.
Corrunon carriers are prohibited, on and after
May 1. 1908. from transporting across any state
or territorial line any article or commodity other
than timber and the manufactured products
thereof, manufactured, mined or produced by it
or under Its authority. They are required to
construct and operate ui-on reasonable terms
sidetracks and switch lines and to furnish cars
for the movement of traffic without discrimina
tion, and to furnish equally good accommoda
tions to all persons paying the same fare.
The Issuance of passes or free transportation In
any form to all persons, except employes of car
riers and their families and certain exempted
Classes, after January 1. 1907. is forbidden, and
a penalty of not less than $100 nor more than
$2,000 is provided, not only for the person issu
ing such free transportation, but also for the
person applying for or accepting it.
The commission I* authorized to require the
most comprehensive s-tatistlcs from all common
carriers regarding their business, under a pen
alty on the carriers of $100 for every day In de
fault.
The commission is authorized to prescribe the
form of all accounts kept by carriers, shall con
stantly have access to all records, accounts and
memoranda kept by them, refusal to grant such
access entailing a penalty of $500 for each of
fence or for each day such refusal Is maintained.
False entries made by any person keeping the
books of a carrier are made punishable by a fine
of from $1,000 to $"..000, or imprisonment for
from one to three years, or both.
Authority conferred on the commission to pre
scribe- practices, etc.. includes not only switch
ing charges and similar services, but Icing
charge* and any other practice which may be
rendered as a part of interstate transportation.
COURT REVIEW CLAUSES.
Tho Interstate Commerce Commission or any
person injured by failure of a c»^"ler to com
ply with an order of the commissi^. other than
the payment of nru.ney, may apply to tho Circuit
Court, and If the case is established the court
sha.ll Issue a writ of Injunction, mandatory or
otherwise, to restrain such carrier from further
disobedience, and from such action appeal %ihall
lie direct to the Supreme Court of the United
States, where the case shall have priority of
hearing and determination.
The act provides that, in suits brought against
the Interstate Commerce Commission, the venue
to enjoin, set aside, annul or suspend any order
or requirement of the commission shall be In the
Circuit Court of The district whero the carrier
has its principal operating office, and jurisdic
tion to vested In such courts. The provisions of
the Expediting act of February 11. 1903. are
made to apply to such suits. Including hearings
on application for preliminary Injunctions, which
may be granted only on hearing after five days'
notice to the commission. Appeals from any in
terlocutory order or decree are to toe made only
to the Supreme Court of the United States.
READY FOR RATE BILL.
Pennsylvania Officials PPtU Carry
Out Its Provisions.
Philadelphia. Aug. J«.-The Railroad Rate Mil
passed by the last Congress becomes a law on
Tuesday. Something of the amount of work re
quired of a railroad corporation in arranging to
rnmply with its provisions will be seen from th«
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, MDXTiAY. [AUGUST ZT. IHOfi
following^ prat«mf>nt auth<->rtz«*l to-day "by - the
FVnnsy'.vania Rallroa.l Company:
In furtherance of, the xrell settlM p'.irpos'i and
policy of the J'enn«vU-nnla Railroad Company In
good •-„;•. to observe an.l comply with all *ub-
Ftantial requirements of the recently enacted rate
bill. Its principal traffic and transportation offlcere
and othpr officials,' Ir. conjunction with Its counsel.
have, since the pas.*^* of the bill, been diligently
a:..1 rilmr.s- continuously engrossed in the onerous,
exacting and complicated work necessarily required
to accommodate •' •- situation.
While the •■•••!. and practice heretofore pur
sued by the company in. respect to the filing of
tanfr with the Interstate Commerce Commission
generally accord with the letter and Intent of the
rate bill, there are. nevertheless, now required man
ifold modifications and additional specifications of
the company's numerous and voluminous t.-iriff
on ; -■> -with the commission, and also eupplementa
covering and -» islng all such switching charge*
of the company as relate to Interstate commerce,
most of which have heretofore been regarded as
essentially local '.: character, and not. under the
provlelons of existing legislation, so related to in
terstate movements as ..to constitute an element
thereof. . . -_,' "-••- •>- h
This work of formulating and preparing needed
changes and modlflcatlons in -•.ls'.lnK tariff sched
ules and additional supplemental schedules has
been so voluminous and expensive as to require
the continuous and exclusive service of 200 clerks
during the last three weeks. Fortunately, this
work was begun so early that most. If not all. the
tariff schedules will have been approved, printed
and In the hands of the local agents for posting,
and also filed with tho Interstate Commerce Com
mission by or before August 2S, when the rate bill
•will become effective. : ■ : .
TO SEPARATE FAMILY.
Wife Will Be Deported to Buenos
'Anrcs After Long Trip.
There Is a woman under charge of the immigra
tion authorities who will be sent back to Buenos
Ayres as soon as the British steamship Wtmttm,
now at her pier In Brooklyn, departs for South
America In a few days. She is Mrs. Rosa Las
lafskey. twenty-two years old. Buenos Ayres Is
as strange a place for her as If she never had been
there. Her home Is In Russia, and her husband
Is a prosperous tailor in Providence, and sirs.
Laslafskey was only long enough in Buenos Ayres
to wait for a. steamer to bring her to the United
States after her arrival In the South American city
from a steamer upon which she had been placed
by a man who had taken all her money.
She must go back to the port from which the
Hilarlus took her because the surgeons of the
United States Marine Hospital service declare that
she has trachoma. Her husband Is trying hard
to set his young wife's release. But ho Is not yet
a citizen of this country, so the chances are that
Mrs. Laslafskey will have to sail on the ship for
Buenos Ayres again. Over four months ago th«
woman's husband sent for her. he having estab
lished a good trade In Providence. She left St.
Petersburg for Hamburg, and In the latter city met
a steamship agent who agreed to look after her
transportation to America. For SOO rubles he
gave tier a steamship ticket and 70 pesos In Argen
tine money. Then he put her aboard a steamer
which he said would take her to New York.
When two weeks out of Hamburg she learned
that her destination was Buenos Ayres. When she
found this out she was nearly distracted, and sev
eral times tried to Jump overboard. The other
passengers tried to pacify and comfort her, and she
finally landed In Buenos Ayres.
For a month she was taken care of by some Jew
ish families In Buenos Ayres. and finally, not able
to stand the suspense any longer, she pawned what
little she had and boustht her passage on the Hl
larius for New York. The steamer was bound for
roston. making New York her second stop. This
pleased Mrs. Laflaskey, for she was told that Bos
ton was but an hour's ride from Providence, where
her husband was.
When the Hilarlus arrived In Boston the Immi
gration physicians were unable to agree on the
woman's case. She appeared to have a bad case of
trachoma. She was ordered to remain on the Hl
larius. and was brought here, where the Marine
Hospital physicians decided that she had the dis
ease.
BEETLES FOLLOW SHIP.
Black Pest Undismayed by Changes
of Temperature.
The British steamer Anselma dl Larrlnaga, which
arrived yesterday, consigned to the sugar refineries
In Long Island City, had a peculiar pest to deal
wlfh on her long Journey from Probolingo. Soura
baya, Tegal and Colombo. She sailed from Soura
baya on June 20. after taking on a cargo of sugar
and cane. Black beetles, which abound in the East
Indies, are attracted to all the ships that carry
sugar cargoes, and make the lives of those on the
sugar ships In port In the Far East almos; unbear
able. But they generally disappear from the ships
after they have put a few Hundred miles between
them and their ports of departure.
On the Anselma dl Larrinaga. however, the big
b+etlee. some of them almost as large as a man's
hand, continued passengers, and no amount of bat
tle on the part of the British steamers European
crew seemed to do any good, so far as driving the
Insects from the ship was concerned. Contrary to
precedent, the black beetles stood the changes of
climate and continued to hover about the Larrinaga
until she was well up the Atlantio and nearlng
Delaware Breakwater, where the steamer was to
await orders. Even then there were nome survivors,
and when the steamer arrived at this port yesterday
the officers and crew related their experiences with
the "black plague" and showed some hardy speci
mens of the East Indian bugs.
While the fight of the crew against the black
beetles was In progress the latter part of last
month and the steamer was making her way
through the Red Sea, the Larrinaga was doubly af
flicted with a visitation of the locust swarms that
were reported by two Far Bast steamers last week.
The- locusts and the black beetles d«d not seem to
agree, and First Officer Rous of the Larrinaga
gave a vivid description yesterday of how the two
bug armies fought battlos over the Larrlnaga s
decks and finally made the human beings on the
steamer their common foe. Shovels from tne stoke
hole were brought in requisition on th« Larnnajra
to get the locusts and beetles over tho slae, and
even then the insects, which had crawled Into nocks
and corners, remained on board to make occasional
forays In tha main cabin and the crew s quarters.
MLAITX TN BRONX WITHOUT WATER.
Supply Cut Off All Day During lowering of
Big Main.
About a hundred and fifty thousand residents of
The Bronx were without water all day yesterday
except for such supply as they had been able to
gather into washtubs, boilers, pots and pans be
fore, the water was cut off at 6 o'clock in the
morning.
The stoppage was due to the lowering of a 36-inch
water main into a tremh. The n aln that was
lowwred was a section about four hundred feet long,
from Pelham avenue to Pelham Boulevard, which
has been' suspended above the street for some time
because of grading operations. A six-foot trench
was dug to receive the main as soon aa the grading
in this section was finished. a *^^
Yesterday mornlngat 6 o'clock Charles M. Steers,
one of the Water Department engineers, with a
gang of fifty men. began the task of lowering the
hhr pipe By 6 o'clock in the evening the pipe was
in place, arid a few minutes later the water was
'Vhere had been some apprehension among the res
idents of the district of the result In case of a big
fire, but none occurred, and the whole change was
made without a hitch.
DETECTIVE FALLS INTO AREAWAY
Tries to Climb Into Flat Window on Plank.
WhKh Break*.
In trying to arrest a woman on a charge of grand
larceny. Detective McAuley. of the West 30th street
station, placed a narrow plank between the win
dows of two houses in West 27th street last njght.
As he was climbing across the plank broke and ho
dropped about fifteen feet. He was not Injured.
Joseph Ramponelli. of Englewood, JN^ J.. whUe
riding in a 23d street car. got into conversation
with a mulatto woman. They alighted at Seventh
avenue. an<? spent some time In the rear room of a
saloon. When she left him the Jerseyman dis
covered that his gold watch and 135 were missing.
He went to the West 80th street station, and De
tective McAuley was put on the case.
The two went to No. 141 West 27th street, where
the detective thought the woman lived. She locked
herself in her room on the first floor. McAuley
then went to the next house and placed a plank
against the window of the rooms occupied by the
woman. In climbing over the plank broke in two
and he fell into the areaway. The woman, tried to
get away, but McAuley ran after and arrested her.
Sh« gave her name as Emma Wlldman.
HIGHLANDERS VISIT DREAMLAND.
The members of the New York Scotch High
landers' Fife and Drum Corps were th« guests of
Major Roderick MacKensle. of the Second Bat
talion of Gordon Highlanders, at Dreamland on
Saturday night. Their visit was due to the friend
ship existing between Major MaoKensle and Major
Roe, who fought side by side In the recent Boer
war The Highlanders went to Coney Island by
boat. A dinner was given by W. A. Ellis, of "Tho
End of the World," who took part In the Boer
war on the Boer side. The corps will again visit
Dreamland next week, when a concert will be
given on the grand plasa.
ARMY AND NAVY JVEWS.
IFrem The Tribune Bureau.}
Washington. August ■
N:.V NAVY PAYMASTER GENERAL.— There
has bean no contest In the naval service which
SM attracted more attention within the navy and
led to greater rivalry among the numerous candl
dates for the plaoe than the flgbt (or appointment
as chief of the bureau of supplies and accounts, to
succeed Paymaster H. T. B. Harris, who is serv
ing In that capacity, although on the retired list.
The appointment would probably have been filled
soms time ago If It were not for the activity
■hews, by the friends of the twenty-five or thirty
candidates, comprising most of tho officers who
occupy the grades of pay director and pay in
spector. The present paymaster General has rec
ommended no one for the place, and the tnlluence
of the bureau with the Navy Department, which
might be expected to count for much in such an
acute situation, has been thrown to none of the
numerous rivals. A list of the candidates will
practically comprise nearly all of the pay directors
and pay Inspectors, but the most prominent, from
among whom It now seems likely the selection
will be made, are Pay Director John N. Speel. the
general storekeeper at the navy yard at Brooklyn;
Pay Director Charles W. Littlefleld. the general
inspector of the pay corps; Pay Director Mitchell
C. McDonald, on duty at the Naval Home at
Philadelphia, who has served much on the Astatic
ccast and established the storehouse at Cavite;
Pay Inspector T. J. Cowle. the general storekeeper
at the Naval Academy, the oSlcer who prepared
the omnibus bill for the Increase of pay of every
officer of the army, navy, marine corps and reve
nue cutter service: Pay Inspector Livingston Hunt.
the fleet pay officer on the Maine, a New Tterk
man; Pay Inspector John A. Mudd, the general
storekeeper at the Portsmouth (N. H.) Navy Yard;
Pay Inspector George W. Simpson, the disbursing 1
pay officer at Washington, also a N*w York man.
at one time assistant to the paymaster general
here, and Pay Inspector Frank T. Arms, on duty
at the New York Navy Yard. No one undertakes
to say who will get the place, which is one of the
moat Important In the naval administration, since
under this offlrer comes the expenditure of a great
sum of money annually in contracts for naval sup
plies. •
ARTICLES OF WAR REVTBION.-It Is proposed
by the President to have the articles of war
amended. His attention has been called again to
the antiquated character of the articles, which,
save for some minor changes made from time to
time, are practically the articles of more than a
century ago. He Is especially interested in changes
in the articles which relate to trial by court mar
tial of volunteers in time of war. The existing
articles provide that In such an event the court
must be composed of volunteer officers entirely.
During the employment of volunteer regiments In
Cuba and the Philippines some of the offending
volunteer officers and enlisted men were tried by
courts upon which sat regular officers. The courts
decided that the findings and sentences in such In
stances were Illegal, and those sentenced bad the
right to claim redress. This has led to the desire
to have the condition changed so as to remove the
restriction from the proceedings of the courts sit
ting at a time when volunteers are in service. It
will probably be Impossible to do this, since there
is an enduring sentiment in Congress against the
trial of volunteers by a court composed, even to a
limited extent, of regulars. There is the fear that
something will happen to the volunteer, and there
Is no hope that only a slight modification of the
existing situation will ever be effected. As for the
rest of the articles of war. It is proposed to have
them generally overhauled and brought up to date.
The draft of such a general amendment was made
at the time the General Staff was organized. Colo
nel E. H. Crowder. now the acting judge advocate
general of the army, was the author of the pro
posed amendments, but it has been considered that
the time has not arrived for attempting the change.
which will require action by Congress. The Presi
dent's Interest in the subject will probably serve to
have the draft submitted to Congress in December.
SUBMARINE BOATS IiMPROVED.— The effect
of the changes which were recently made at the
New York Navy Yard on the submarine boats
Shark and Porpoise have been under observation
at Newport while those vessels were put through
their paces. The changes are found to have In
creased the efficiency of the vessels, principally In
iho way of adding to their greater facility in
manoeuvre. They can be turned about in quicker
time and are otherwise more prompt In responding
to the wishes of the navigator. This Is an im
portant consideration, and adds greatly to the
radius of action. It has been decided to extend
these alterations to other submarines, and It is pos
sible that each of them in turn will be brought
later on to the navy yard at Brooklyn in order to
receive this installation. The plans showing the
changes have been sent to the contractors at
Quincy, Mass.. where are under construction the
new submarines, to which will be extended the
features which have been of such decided advan
tage on the Shark and the Porpoise. There still
remains, however, the great pi tblem of navigation
while the boats are in a submerged condition. The
next experiments will probably be with a view to
directing the submarines by means of the periscope.
Of which no entirely satisfactory device has been
furnished.
FORBIDDEN INSIGNIA.— The War Department
is having much difficulty in convincing makers of
the uniforms of the militia. In regard to the In
signia which wearers of such apparel may employ.
Numerous decisions have been rendered within the
last year or two on this subject without convincing
those most Interested or settling the question of
style and decoration. The uniform for the militia
Is not prescribed by the War Department, this be
ing a matter which Is wholly within the control of
the state or territorial authorities. There Is no
authority of law. however, for placing the United
States coat-of-arms on either caps or buttons nor
for the use of the letters "U. S." or the national
coat-cf-arms on the coat collar.
RESTORATION OF "OLD IRONSIDES."— The
files cf the War Department have recently been
ransacked to some purpose in the discovery of the
original specifications relating to the United States
steamship Constitution, which Is now to be re
stored to something like her original appearance at
the navy yard at Boston. The naval constructors
have been busy with the designs In the hope that
they might obtain something which would be of
value as relating to the construction of the ship aa
she was originally planned. They have bo far suc
ceeded In getting what they believe to be an au
thentic copy of "the original plans and model of the
old ship, and now these specifications, which relate
to internal construction, are not to be used In the
work contemplated on the ship, as it is not neces
sary under the law to have the reproduction exact
so far as the unseen portions of the vessel are
concerned.
WARSHIPS TO COAL AT SEA.— The plans for
the new colliers for the navy have been fully com
pleted, with the exception of the mechanism for
the handling of coal. The vessels will be equipped
so as to take on the fuel with the least possible
expenditure of time, and will havo appliances
which will enable them to coal at sea, The latter
constitutes a problem. There are two or three sys
tems In the world, and the naval experts are not
entirely satisfied with them. It Is probable the
naval constructors will make some special effort to
get up a system of their own, which will be applied
to the naval colliers later when they have reached
the stage of construction when the appliances may
be installed. It Is appreciated that an efficient sys
tem of coaling naval ships at sea -will add to their
efficiency on the firing line. It will save time and
represent economy In other respects If they can
replenish an exhausted bunker supply from the*
colliers without going far from the scene of opera
tions.
DASHED AGAINST POLE BY HORSE
Senator HcCarren's Secretary Stops Buna
way in Surf Avenue.
A runaway horse almost dragged to death Chris
topher Dalton, secretary to Senator Patrick Mc-
Carren, in Surf avenue. Coney Island, yesterday.
The horse, attached to a carriage occupied by
Morris Lowenski, a real estate operator of Ham
burg avenue, Brooklyn, and his two children, be
came unmanageable when it turned from the
Ocean Boulevard Into Surf avenue.
With the children shrieking and the driver mak
ing frantic attempts to regain control, the animal
plunged into a crowd of vehicles in front of the
"Creation" entrance to Dreamland. Dalton caught
the animal's bridle, was lifted from the ground and
hurled against a pole as the horse swerved. But he
hung like an anchor for several yards until Patrol
man Green, of the Coney Island station, caught the
animal, which had almost been stopped.
Dalton's lnjurif* were no severe that he was
taken Into the Dreamland emergency hospital.
where he was attended by Dr. Frank Smlty and
later sent home.
RETIRED POLICE CAPTAIN MISSING.
John M. Bobbins, Said To Be Demented, Not
Seen by Friends Since Saturday.
The police of the Wtlllamsbridge station sent out
a general alarm yesterday for John M. Robbing, a
retired police captain, who has been missing from
hi* homo. No. 141 Pleasant avenue. Wtlliamsbritlge.
since Saturday. Captain Robbing is seventy-eight
years old. and is said to be insane. He> stands five
feet ten. has dark complexion and gray hair, beard
and moustach*. He wore at the time of his disap
pearance a black suit, straw hat and black shoes
Bobbins was one of the old time captains of the
New York police force, whose service dated back
to the time of the first Metropolitan Police Depart
ment. As a captain he had command of the Tre
ttont and Fordhain police for many years after
what is no« The Bronx was taken over from West
ch«-*ter County by the old clly of New York. He
was retired on a pension with a good record, on ac
count of ace. more than a dozen years ago.
Store Close* at 5 P. %. Saturdays at 12 o'clock-
Business and Education
The saving of time, thought and money that would follow the use
of good English clearly written, and plain figure* amirately computed,
in the ordinary transaction.^ of life cannot be i-aleulated. Success at
this point would begin the Golden Age. Economic reasons alone
would compel us to insist upon accuracy in writing, spelling, expres
sion and arithmetic on the part of employes. Thus in a sense our
stores arc schools perhaps universities. Educational institutions in
which we admit with regret the work is principally undergraduate.
The I.oudon Chronicle says: He who controls the printing press
governs spelling." Relieving this to be correct, we fall into line with
the Government of the Tinted States and adopt the standards of the
Simplified Spelling Hoard. Such power as our advertising has will be
given in aid of the reform.
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."
This contains more fact than metaphor in our advertising. We aim
at fit words to express business facts so that advertising may trans
late business price margins into currency with a reliable basis. And
mi we hope for a mutual result: We will help spelling reform while
we expect spelling reform to help us.
Fall and Winter Hats
Xewest Models
Fashion's latest fancies in Millinery have been drifting- in for many days,
each bit of headgear prettier than the last, each a new revelation of harmony, ,
and grace. Our Millinery Salon is bright with the colorful beauty of lovely I
hats. They answer that ever-recurring question, asked eagerly by -women 4
each Autumn. -What Are the New Styles?"
Special Prices, $10, $12, $14, $15, $16
Some of these hats are. models by our own designers, others are copies'of
imported hats. Not questioning for a moment the piquancy and charm- of
Parisian art, we say— and others say, too— that our hats are fair rivals in .J. J
smartness, sesthetic understanding of color values and jaunty grace, of the
fine hats from over the sea ; though you will notice that ours fall far. below the.
French ones in prices.
Among the hats greatly admired, is a smart black felt, trimmed with the
new shade of green velvet, with perky quills tilted at a fetching sngle, a :
brown uncut velvet adorned with a soft, cog's feathers whose exquisite
mingling of brown tones Dame Nature supervized, so it i 3 perfect. Our,
designer was equally successful in placing the feathers in jnst the right place
under the brim. And there is a hat of blues and browns, without a single
jarring note.
However, we are proud of them all, and invite you to share our admi
ration. Millinery Salon. Second Coor. Stewart Building.
\
Fall DRESS FABRICS
— -
At Special Prices
We have brought forward a good collection of Fall Dress Fabrics that
were late arrivals last season. Many are almost identical in design* and
colorings with those produced for the coming season, which will arrive after
September First. You can probably find just the fabric you wish for a am
Fall gown in this excellent collection, and save quite a tidy sum, while get
ting just as handsome a dress as will be made from the newer materials.
Some descriptions follow:
At SI a yard, from $1.50— Wool Taffeta Suiting:. In pla: and iMpsfl formed by
mixtures of white-wtth-brown, green, olive and navy blue; 60 Inches wida.
At S1 a yard, from — Imported Shadow-check Batiste, In brown. gr?»ri and Ms>
net; 42 Inches wide.
At $1.25 a yard, from $I.7s— Fancy Plaid Suitings: 45 Inches w*.
At $1.50 a yard, from $2— Self-colored Fancy Check Suiting, la brown, sjssl cs-d«t
blue and plum; 46 Inches wide.
At $2 a yard from $2.50— mixt. check Suitings. In gray. Oxford, cadet blue, navy
blue and brown with hair-line in color contrast forming checks: 45 Inches wide.
Also a fine collection of black figured Silk-and-Wool Eoliennc. at 50c a
yard, worth $1.25. This is one of the most popular fabrics for the making
of dinner, carriage and house dresses. The designs are small round 4Wta\
cluster dots, leaf designs and other figures, in a rich lustrous black. 42 inches
wide Just fifteen hundred yards to sell at less than half price, 50c a yard.
R ■ .- -1 Stewart Bu!!dln«.
Brocade Satins
For Coat Linings
We have on display a beautiful col
lection of new, heavy Brocade Satins,
specially woven for lining furs and
heavy cloth wraps. They are guar
anteed for two seasons. Colors are
made to match the various kinds of
furs, such as seal brown, beaver, and
eight shades of gray to match the
lighter color furs and covert cloths.
There are ten different designs to
select from in the various colorings.
27 inches wide, $2, $2.50, $3 and $350
a yard.
Second floor. Ninth street.
Stewart Building.
Boys' School Suits
At Special Prices
Handsome Fall Suits for boys of
8 to 16 years ; newly made up in the
most attractive Autumn styles. They
were made from mill-ends of all
wool mixt cheviots, which accounts
for the liberal savings in price.
Double-breasted jacket suits with
knee trousers, regularly worth $6.50.
Norfolk jacket suits with bloomer
trousers, regularly worth $750 and
$8.50, at $6.50 a suit.
Main floor. Wanamaker Building.
JOHN WANAMAKER
Formerly A. T. >tr>*art »C* Co..
fir.i.?rfu-.iy. Fourth Avrnue, Eighth to Tenth Sfrrefs.
ACCUSED OF THEFT REACHING $10,000
Driver lor Grocery Firm a.nd Alleged Re
ceiver of Goods Held
William Conolly. a driver employed by Francis
H. Leggett & Co.. wholesale yrocers. sj West
Broadway and Franklin Ptreet. was hsM In J!.W)
ball by Magistrate Breen la the Tombs police court
yesterday on a charge of grand larceny. At the
«am« time Taadoro Uppman, of No! 174 PmsjbJm
Separate Skirts
for Girls — Fall Weights
New, nobby skirts, such as girls I
like. Some with smart straps and i
buttons, the latter one of the newest '
wrinkles in trimming. Just right for
coo! Summer and early Fall days. '
Variety of fabrics and colors suggest
ed below:
At Blue «r Black OMM Skirts: j
plaited.
At $7.50 — Mixtures la brown cr green
skirts: plaited.
At W— Chiffon fIMMM MM la black.
At $8.50— Fancy invisible hrosm check
Serge Skirts; plaited.
At $10.50— Chiffon Broaddoath ST-drts. In.
black or brown: plaited.
Second floor. Ninth street. Fourth sjbj
Stewart Build!-?
Handsome
Hand Bags
Reduced
A good hand-bag is a daily my
These are practical, beautiful bags,
up-to-date in style and firv.-h and
they will stand the test of wear ex
cellently. They are sure to look wmM
with your new suit.
At SI, worth $1.50 — Hand-ba^- of <ra4n i
pin s«al. Mack, brown, green, and b'-i*. 7- ■
Inch gilt cr gcn-xnetal finish! frames; ,
moire-lined: fitted with fUMI
At $1. worth $1 Bags, of black .*t
seal; 10-lach frame: moire- line Mil
with parse.
At $i 75. worth $?.5C — Bags, of MMJMI
matt seal: S-lnca frame: motre-lined; flttM
with purse.
At $3. vorth $4.50 — Bags, of genu!-- bjsjH
seal; -Inch frame: deep style: ft>M ■ «
bottom: leather- lined; fitted wtth purse.
Broadway. Stewart Building.
street, was helci !r. I^CVO ball on i chir« o; *».
cehrlng stolen goods.
Warrants vtr« Ml i« sued for six cth*r mbl -«-&o
It is alleged, bay* b«a nm>lved «Mj th» tw« M»
oners In tha theft from the Le&reti company oi
Srpcerlrs valued at isore than fcQJW. Tt\&s+ iu*r
will probably «•* arre»;*d to-cuy-. LippAvTa.
cn*rsr» atrrpifltnt agains: Conolly Is Ci« Ureeny ct
ten cases of s.u'mon. ■» hU-h had b*?n given Into his
care :ar fieliveiv i 0 the >{av erS icaw toil on 3*tur.
.ay .t is nld that tf-.« "•-arrant-* io be ♦»eout««;
iS"^ £' er l!* BM S,v who Jlt ci *rr*»ted o« su*
Jo-eph rJreenVxrer. a froy -who -»-ms uttmMil om aua*
chargVj Vsterdajf 1 of lippraan 1 • immt. w%m c?i»
Charge 1 yesterd^y.
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