New-York tribune. [volume], February 14, 1908, Page 5, Image 5

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

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DRUG FIEND SUICIDE.
DIES AT ASTOR HOUSE.
Buffalo Man Cams Here to Float
Business Scheme.
J. TV. Bosche, of No €1 Ketcham Place, Buf
talc. ueji found dead in his room at the
* ft— House. Broadway and Vesey street, short
ly after 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The man
had committed suicide by cutting the radial
artery of his left wrist with a razor and bleed
ir^ to death.
A H. Taurston, manager of the hotel, said
that Bosche -was connected with the firm of
Bcsche Brothers, of Ken. SIS and $20 Alain
'--'■• Buffalo.
No motive for the deed could be discovered by
the police or Coroner Shrady, other than that
the man had evidently been a victim of the drug
habit, which was mad« evident by two hypoder
—:- tyrinses and numerous phials of liquid
-c- m well ax by several boxes of different
kinds cf powder.
Mr. Bosche registered at the hotel on Febru
ary S. He had been in his room a great part
cf the time since then. On this account it was
last thought strange when the chambermaid re
ported that she could not get in the room to
dean it in the forenoon. When, however, a
second call, shortly after 1 o'clock, also re
trained unanswered, Mr. Thurston determined
to investigate. Looking over the transom he
saw BaaChe*a body.
Bosche had been dead, according to Coroner's
Physician O'Hanlon. about twelve hours then
Every detail of the act had been carefully ar
ranged for. and it si supposed that Bosche even
tent word to a friend in Buffalo of his Inten
tion. Shortly after the body was discovered Mr
Thurston received a telegram from the friend in
Buffa!o. telling him to send the body to the Na
tional Casket Company, at No. 4S Great Jones
street.
Letters were also found In Bosche's room ad
dressed to Mr. Thurston. in which he apologized
for the trouble he was causing the hotel, and
er.e to the coroner. in which he said that no I
autopsy or inquest would be necessary, M It
v. -? ■ simple case of suicide.
The only other open letter was an unad
dressed one. which was simply dated, -The Very
Lest." It contained the following sentences:
"I simply know this: If I wanted to live I
could show others how to live. This sounds like
£ crazy man. but as a man about to die I say to
you it is not."
Ir. addition there were several letters, which
were addressed, stamped an.! sealed, one of
which was to his wife, and these Coroner
Ehrady ordered posted as they were.
'Ft i« aacaaa i* la* Trlbua- ]
Buffalo. Feb. IP..— John W. Bosche waa a real
estate dealer and a member of the firm of
Bosche Brothers, carriage manufacturers. He
had lived in Buffalo only two years, coming here
fron Baker City, Ore., where he occupied
the position of -• - rrapbw in the federal court
* r aewual years.
According to his brother, Robert C, who with
Char.'es C. wa« i | wed In business with him.
Bosch lefi Buffalo ten days ajro to try to inter
est New York capitalists in an insurance bank
depoFir scheme which he was attempting to float.
Failing: to - ■•■-•■--. he needed, he ii be-
HerwJ to have become despondent and ended
h!F life.
Bosche was a victim of the morphine habit,
Ms brother Fays*, and although lar^e sums of
money had been spent In trying to cure him he
was unable to shake off. the habit.
Bosche r-a= forty-two years old. He leaves a
■wife. Mrs. Bosche only .- ,--...- from
a serious illness and tiie shock of her husband's
death ha? prostrated her.
OFF BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
Young Man. Only Slightly Hurt,
Fished Out of River. ■
S"vrz: hundred persons satr John Grant, an on
er^loypd pressman, escape Instant death when he
dropped from the Manhatten end of the Brooklyn
Bridge yesterday. According: to the police the act
■■■as deliberate, if Grant's intentions were suicidal
they f.e re frustrated by the crew of the bag Cas
tor, ■who fished him --.- at the end of a boathook.
Doctors at St. Gregory's Hospital, where Grant
VMM taker., said that he -would recovei.
Grant, accordinc to the police, anas rtdßStg across
tfce bii-ice on a track. Scon after they passed the
Marhartan tower Grant TTTTIIg from the truck.
ar.d affr a hasty jrlance around to see that no
cue was near climbed upon the railing of the
tri^g"?. He hesitated a moment and then toppled
over tr.e ra;\
Turning over and over in his downward course
Grant struck th<? river jjst above Pier 3 There
*v considerable i<~e. and it apr>eared to the sp'ec
tatrrs a? if Grant had been crushed tipon th» floes.
Tire crcn of the -rue: paw the man fall, and the tug
*"ap h*a<ie-d for the spot where he disappeared.
"When brought out Grant was unron?cinu3 and
was bruised about the ehe«t. evidently from st«i>
v:2 the Ice. Patro!n;ati Sehiep, of the Oak street
elation, who s^-n- the leao, ordered that I tract bo
held at the noFpital as a prisoner on ■ chars* of
attempting F-ieide.
- ■ ■- . '.'— of his lahu;
■ -
a for sense th ■ thxrtj
:
SUICIDE IN SHOE STORE.
Discharged Salesman Threatens
Murder, Then Shoots Himself.
L ' Brewer, a «al^sn;an, sent a bullet ;nto his
t"iir! yesterday afternoon in th«« wholesale shoe
fore of A. J. Bates si Co.. No. 170 Duane street.
after threafenlxuc to kill O. A. Burneii, manager
Of ;,-.e ytore. and firing a bullet into the floor to
emphasize r-.is threat. Brewer fell dead.
Member* «f the Inn toM the police the man
hsri hf«n employed by ••-.". Co. as a salesman,
bat v «« dis<?harir*»«i a fe w - weeks aro. Yesterday
ef'«rrsoon fcr- *rA*r**i the ■tore, apparently intoxi
caxed, ar.d b^gan flourishing a revolver, :it the
nine time declaring that h* •rotdd kill Mr. Burnell
if the latter came near him.. I»* left the store,
fco*t .*--. without firing the revolver.
At *i.on as he had gon* Mr. Burfjheii pent a clerk
to ih* Leonard strict police station for an officer,
?e*.-:rig that Brewer would coin*? aek and put his
threat into rxpeution. Tf.e clerk lost no time in
re*urr:np w:th Detective Fitzgerald, hi:* before the
M.'r reached tne *tor* Brewer had entered it the
■ecood rime. He again declared his intention "
ki'Jlnjr Bsrcei] and iired one bullet into the floor.
Zber« was a scampering of those within reach to
ft cut of danger. Brewer «>yed this for an instant
«ad then, lifting the revolver to his right temple,
Fulied the trigger.
He Jell dead just at Detective Fitzgerald and the
-e:k rushed In from the street. Brewer lived Si
Ke. a Weet :23th street with his wife and three
tfeildren. He was lUIU years old.
' - Mr Harb-jrger. who had the case, expressed
atfcjjßßttoa because the police did rot send word
t» tfce coroner's office until more than an hour
sfter Ere-n-er had hSaaf himself, the body having
» !i« en the 2oor where It IWI ad that rime. The
kroner declared he would make a formal complaint
-o Po!S-» ' ninmlaahirri Biugn-im.
ASK FOR MORE MARINES.
Wa«hinston F«"b. 13— The urgent '■*--= "' authori
mion by ._._■■■■ of three thou
»&/k! additional enlisted men ana about one hun
2r*^ oflicery lo bring the marine corps up to Its
r«jutr.sd quota was presented to-day to a nab ÜBBi
B3}ttM of the House Committee on Naval Affairs
oy General Elliott, commandant of the corps;
Colonel Denny, of «•£* quartermaster genera] a de
it.nzz.tr.;. axd Colonel Lauchhelraer. adjutant and
BOY KILLED IN FIGHT
j ,V^
Three Others Stabbed— Melee in
Randall's Island Reformatory.
From a stab wound, received In a tight In
which more than twenty boys took part. Meyer
Oshansky, fifteen yrare old. an Inmate of the
reformatory on Randall's Island, died yesterday
a-fternoon in the hospital on the island. Three
other boys are still in the institution suffering
from «tah wounds.
Following the evening meal on Saturday, two
hundred and forty boys went to the playroom
on th« second floor of the large building. In
the room were half a dozen officers. Without
any warning a fight started at one end of the
hall. The fighters were surrounded by their
friends who were urging them on. "With great
difficulty the officers pushed through the crowd
and found the four boys lying unconscious on
the floor. At their sides were two knives.
Word was sent to the coroner's office. The
Oshansky boy had received a stall wound over
the heart and the other three boys had received
wounds In their backs and shoulders.
Superintendent Byers immediately started an
Investigation, which resulted in the arrest of
Raffaello Sfonza, fifteen years old. According: to
the authorities, the Sfonza boy and Oshansky
were companions, and In fighting the other boys
young- Sfonza accidentally stabbed his friend.
Superintendent Byers says ' the knives with
which the stabbing; was done were those which
the teachers left on their desks and used to
sharpen pencils. He thought the boys had stolen
them on Saturday.
The dead boy was admitted in March. 1906.
He had been arrested for grand larceny and
had before that time, been in the Juvenile Asy
lum. His parents live at No. 1382 Madison
avenue.
The Sfonza boy, according to the authorities.
has confessed and -was Identified by Oshansky
as his assailant. The latter said that It wa?
purely an accident, however, as he was "his pal."
H« will be arraigned before Coroner Acrlteil!
thi3 morning;.
HAFFJEN IXQVJRi: SOON.
Will Be Made Before Resuming
Fire Department Investigation.
John Purroy Mitchel. Commissioner of Accounts,
told the Mayor yesterday that work on the books of
Borough President Hafifen of The Bronx had ad
vanced sufficiently to warrant the beginning of an
investigation of Mr. Haffen's office. It was ex
pected.; at th«» Ciiy Hall that pending the accumu
lation of data concerning the Fire Department,
which also will be investigated by the Commission
era of Accounts, the Mayor will order the Inquiry.
The taxpayers in The Bronx want to know about
the way the money has been spent for a new court
house, which up to the present has cost something
like laat.SJO and Is only one story high.
Commissioner Mitcnel said that the investigation
of the Fire Department will be resumed in March.
He has been corresponding with the Merchants'
Associatiin and the New York Board of Fire Un
derwriters about the experts to inquire into the
workings of the department. They are to be paid
by the two organizations, but will represent the
city. Captain Greely S. Curtis has been recom
mended by the Merchants' Association.
Commissioner Mitchel said that Commissioner
Bonne.- had expressed his willingness to co-operate
in making the proposed examination of apparatus
and generally In the current investigation of the
Fire Department.
REWARDS HIS SPECIALTY.
P. O. Authorities Saj) Man Defraud
ed Advertisers for Lost Articles.
' c. Q B. Rttskay. of the law firm of Ruskay &
X jskay. r.::ii oficea at No. 71 Nassau street, starr
ed yesterday ror Chicago, having been subpoenaed
postoffice authorities as a witness in the
prose, utiori of E- Whitner, who is accused of using
the mails to defraud persona who have advertised
to regain lost property
In the early part of November Mrs. C B. Ruskay
lost a valuable muff near o9th street and Third ave
nue and advertised, offering a reasonable reward
for its return. Two weeks later a communication
was received at No. 71 Nassau street, addressed to
Mrs. Ruskay, postmarked Chicago, and signed by
E. Whitner. The letter said in effect that Whitner.
while hurrying to get a train for Chicago, had
found a muff in New York and had taken it with
him. The writer said he had seen the notice re
garding its loss and would gladly return it. provid
ed the express charges and reward were sent him.
The fact that Whitner gave his address as the
General P"=toffice. Chicago, made Mr. Ruskay sus
picious, and he at once took the letter to th« post
office authorities in this city.
[t was agreed that the reward should be sent In
the form of a check in care of the postmaster in
Chicago, who bad Whltner brought before him and
examined. Whitner said be had found a muff, and
showed one to the postmaster which did not alto
gether correspond with the description furnished
by Mrs. Ru^kay. He was released but ti>- post
oftic* authorities did no: cease their Investigation
I^ast week Whitner was arrested in St. Louis by
a United States postoffice inspector, charging him
aril this and many other frauds of a similar na
ture. The trial will take place to-morrow The
police of St. Louis and Chicago believe that in the
arrest of WhHner they have one of a band which
ha? been realizing large sums of money by claiming
and obtaining rewards without returning property.
It is believed that not only did this band seldom
return lost articles, but never found any.
COUNTESS ASKS ALIMONY.
Wants Counsel Fees. Too, Pending
Counter Suit Against Yon Rodeck.
Justice Maddox, in th» Supreme Court, Brook
lyn, reserved decision yesterday on the appli
cation of Countess Anna yon Rode< k for coun
—; fees and alimony pending her counter suit
for divorce against Count Hugo yon Rodeck.
Yon Rodeck has named as corespondent in hi.<
suit Thomas Mannell, who was found dead with
a number of bullet wounds in his body at the
countess's horii* on January 22, 1907. The di
vorce case is about to open up the investigation
into the cause of his Aeatfa again.
At the time it was decided by the police and
the coroner that Mann-ii had committed sui
cide Bnfiu L. Perry, the negro lawyer, who is
acting for the countess, said yesterday that he
would request the District Attorney, on behalf
of bis client, to clear up the mystery of Man
ners d^ath for good and all.
The countess names two corespondents in her
suit— Josephine Glass and Lillian Schaeffer.
The count i- living at No. I.V. East l.V.th street,
Manhattan, according to Perry. The countess
is living at No. 1.488 East Oth street, Brooklyn.
Manuel! was boarding with her, she says, when
he met his death.
The countess wants f^U a week ailmony and
Perry wants $400 In fees. The count says he is
working as a chauffeur and is making only 525
a week
NORTH ADAMS EXPRESS HITS ROCK.
Bowlder Rolls Down on a New York Central
Tracks North of Purdy's Station.
The North Adams Express, which leaves the
Grand Central Station at 3:30 p. m. and runs
over the Harlem Division of the New York Cen
tral, ran into a bowlder Just north of Purdy 'a
Station last evening. The rock, loosened by the
thaw, weighed several hundred pounds.
The engineer applied the brakes, but the cow
ca-iftbtf cl u« t£f tat KM fiaiAiitd. > -
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1908.
CHILIAN PORTS SOON TO BE VISITED BY THE AMERICAN FLEET.
TALCAJIUAKO, WHERE THE TORPEDO FLOTTLiLA 18 DUE TO ARRIVE NEXT.
LOOKrN'G SEAWARD FROM VALPARAISO, WHERE THE BATTT.KSHIP SQUADRON IS TO
BE REVIEWED PY THE CHILIAN' PRESIDE NT.
by Harper A Bros i
ARM! AND M\ r Y NEWS
Plans for Joint 'Army and Militia
Manoeuvres.
[From the Tribune Bureau. 1
Washington, February is.
SENATE MAY PROVIDE BIG CAMPS.— As the
army appropriation bill stands at present, no pro
vision is made for the joint army and militia
manoeuvres which the military authorities have
been planning for. to be held at some six or seven
camps in various parts of the country, including
Pine Plains. New York, in the coming summer. It
was expected there would be some opposition to
this clause, which had been recommended by the
War Department and favored to some extent by
the members of the House Military Committee. At
the same time it Is appreciated that a point of order
is liable to be raised in the House against this item
as "new legislation." and those who are especially
interested in having these manoeuvres take place in
1303 hope to have the necessary provision included
in the army bill when it is reported from the Senate
Military Committee. It is the desire of the military
authorities to have these manoeuvres held every two
years at least, the Intervening year to be used in
less extensive operations. All the preliminary plans
for the manoeuvres have been made, and the state
authorities have been asked to take the initial
steps for the transportation of troops and camp
equipage. Of course, nothing will be done in a
practical way until the funds to defray the cost of
the manoeuvres have been assured by Congress, and
In any event there is no need of haste, since none
! of the encampments will be held before June 15.
SHIPBUILDING IX NAVY YARDS —The Navy
Department is receiving some information concern-
Ing the construction of the two naval colliers, the
Vestal, at the Brooklyn navy yard, and the Prome
theus, at th* Mare Island yard, and the two tug
boats under construction at Portsmouth and Nor
folk. The collier, which la being built at New
■ York, is a little more than half completed, while
the sister ship at Mare Island is a little more than
I one-fourth completed. This difference in progress
1 is due to the fact that the facilities tor construc
tion at Mare Island were not installed until some
time after the work on the colter was well under
way at New York. The two tugboats, according
to latest reports, were at the same stage of comple
i tion— per cent. There is not enough information
yet in the possession of the Navy Department to
show the cost of these colliers and tugboats and
i there is not likely to be any statistics which will
contribute to the settlement of the controversy re
specting the relative cost of vessels built at navy
yards and those constructed by contract. The
chief constructor has been looking into the subject
generally lately, with a . view ;to determining
whether or not new sea going tdjgs, for which It
Is hoped to obtain funds from Congress this year,
should be lilt at navy yards or at private plants.
In favor of the former proposition the Bouse
Naval Committee is in receipt of numerous
requests and petitions from the employes of navy
yards. The chief constructor, however, entertains
the opinion that It will be cheaper to build these
tiiETF by contract, while better work will be done
at the navy yards.
INSTRUCTION OF MILITIA OFFICERS.— The
War Department lias decided to make no recom
mendation to Congress which shall carry out the
plan suggested some weeks ago by an army officer
on duty with the militia who believes that officers
of the state troops Should have better and more
systematic training. He advised that militia of
ficers who desired such improvement should be
permitted to attend the military colleges which
are recognized by the government in the detail to
them of army officers as professors of military
si'ience. There are seven mi b colleges in New
York, in -lading St. Francis Xavler's, De l.a Salle
Institute, New York Military Academy, St. John's
School, at Manlius. and Cornell University. The
idea was that the militia officers should be allowed
to attend these schools under such condition! o; .
pay and allowances as attach to the status of of
ficers of the militia In attendance at army post- j
graduate schools and garrison schools. This r'--"r '--"- j
Urge cannot be extended under the law as it now |
exists, and while the idea is indorsed by the miii- '
tary authorities in Washington It is not deemed ;
advisable to ask Congress to change the law in j
this respect. Something in this line, however, may i
be done at the next session of Congress. ;
ORDERS ISSUED.— The following orders have j
been Issued: i
ARMY. j
Lleu'enant Colonel WILLIAM W. GRAY, deputy sur- I
awon general, '" :l1 Department of the Gulf to Philip- ,
pines.
Following promo? in coast artillery corps j
announced: |
(Vklone] JOHN R WILLIAMS. Lieutenant Colonel WILL- ■
C. RAFFBBTI. Mater- HENRY D TODD. Jr..
a- ••! THOMAS \\\ WINSTON "'aptains RICHARD C. i
M\R?HAI,L. Jr.. and JOHN <• BTBGER. Captain ;
MARSHALL UiipKd to 52d Company.
First Lieutenant HENRY W. BUXN, cowl artillery |
corps from ■■•■*■ Company, report to commanding of- :
Sear \-till*ry District of Tampa far staff duty. |
First Lieutenant HOLLO F. ANDERSON, from Sfith Com
.„„,; coast artillery i-orps, to ur.assipr.ed list, to Pa- I
ci«c" branch military prl.-on. Alcatraz Island, vice ;
Captain .TAMES 11. WHEELER, roast artillery con», j
who will report to commanding officer artillery dl»
trtct of Fan ta -isco i
Leaves of absence, with permission to go abroad: i
rv,inr»l CORVELITJS GARDENER. 16th Infantry, four j
00 month?, from Apr,: 20. Captain FRANK VV COE. j
coaat artillery corps, four month* from April 1. Cap- |
tain * ANDREW BREWSTER. 25th Infantry, two .
months, from February IT. ;
NAVY. !
ÜBcatenant C. V: FOREMAN, frem na\-«l he»pltal. ;
'" n»» Fort Lynn, '" Washington; examination for re-
AaxlVunt'^urgeon K. TF. BROWN, commissioned with j
rank of lieutenant (Junior grade).
MOVEMENTS oar tVAnSHIPS.— The following j
movements of vessels have been reported to the j
Navy Department:
ARRIVED. ''
Krb IS.— las CnleSSaa» at navy yard. Xi»*r York; tha '<
Albany at Magdalfna Kay. 'he Marietta, at Port ,
Tampa' in-- Porter. <!"• Ttaamr. th* Hlakcly, the
Da Long and the Thornton, at .Norfolk.
, HAILED.
Feb. 12. Ttic Hannibal, from navy yard. N>w York, for '
Bradford. R. I.; the Vorkt»n. from Acapuloo for '
rU Illll—l— the Taconu, fr"ni Hampton Reads, for '
Han Juan; the Chicago, from Valparaiso for Funta t
Arena*: the Porter, the T!njt»>\. the Blakely. i-,,. Da .
Long and tilt Thornton, from Hampton Ro&da, for j
Norfolk. .. : ~ •- J w.w- - w,i
READY AT VALPARAISO.
Preparations for Meeting the Ameri
can Fleet Completed.
Santiago. Chill, Feb. 13. — Everything is in
readiness at Valparaiso for a review of the
American fleet as it passes that port on Its way
to Callaa. President Bfontt, accompanied by a
large -number at government officials, has gone
to Valparaiso and will review the fleet from th»
training- ship. General Baquedano. The mem
bers of the diplomatic corps of the various coun
tries also will be on board this vessel, where,
following the review, a formal dinner will be
given. It is expected that the American fleet
will pass Valparaiso about 2 o'clock to-morrow
afternoon. It will be attended by the Chilian
cruiser Cbacabuco, which arrived to-day at Tal
cahuano, and later, in company with two other
Chilian ships of war, put out to meet the Amer
icans on their way up the coast.
Valparaiso, Feb. 13. — The American cruiser
Chicago left here to-day for the Atlantic sta
tion.
Washington, Feb. 13. — The Navy Department
has received the following cable dispatch from
Admiral Sampson, of the Chilian navy, on board
the cruiser Chacabuco, which piloted- Admiral
Evans's fleet partially through the Strait of Ma
gellan:
Talcahuano, Chili, Feb. 12.— Admiral Evans
requests me to inform the' department from the
fleet at sea, Tuesday, 4 p. m., bound for Callao
via Valparaiso:
"Everything going on welL Admiral Evans
much better in health."
Mr. Hick", the American Minister to Chill,
cabled to the State Department to-day that the
Chilian cruiser Chacabuco, presumably now at
Valparaiso, would sail south to-day for the pur
pose of joining the battleship fleet again with
two Chilian warships, one of which is the Es
meralda. The three vessels will convoy the
fleet to Valparaiso, where President Montt will
review it from a war vessel, and at the same
time salutes will be exchanged between the
vessels of the two navies. The Chacabuco con
voyed the battleships from Punta Arenas to a ;
point nearly opposite Porto Montt. when she left I
them and proceeded north.
FLOWER CLAD HILLS TO GREET FLEET.
\
San Francisco Will Scatter Seeds Over
Burned Patches to Enhance the Occasion.
San Francisco, Feb. 13.— With the scattering of |
seeds over the burn",! hillsides this week. San
Francisco will begin the first actual work for its ■
beautificaUon preparatory to the coming of the j
battleship Beet. At yesterdays meeting of the ex
ecutive committee for the fleet's reception It was I
decided to plant at once nasturtium, esehscholtzia
and shirley poppy seeds, bo that when May cornea
the slopes, now dotted with vacant spaces a -*,!
with bricks and ashes, will smile in gorgeous colors
of many flowers.
No time la to be lost, for the plants take almost
three months to flower, and whatever the seeds (
and their planting cost will be appropriated when
the amount is known.
I»s Angeles, Feb. 13.— The Lea Angeles Chamber [
of Commerce passed a resolution yesterday to ask I
various commercial bodies of California. Washing
ton and Oregon to pass resolutions and forward
copies to the authorities at Washington voicing
the sentiment of the people of the Pacific Coast in
favor of permanently^ maintaining a Sect of at |
least six modern battleships in these waters.
WILL INCREASE PAY, SAYS HULL.
I From The Tribune Bureau.]
Washington. Feb. !.'!. — Representative Hull, of |
lowa, chairman of the Military Affairs Committee, \
gladdened the hearts of army officer* and men \
to-day by practically assuring them that there is
to be a provision for an increase of their pay in
the army appropriation bill, which will be re
ported to the House in ■ fen days. Mr Hull said
to-night:
The committee baa not decided on the percent
age of increase for the different grades; that :
question we will have to settle before the end of j
the week As to the enlisted men there seems to j
be no opposition to giving them a good increase ,
of 36 or 35 per cent. The non-commissioned offi- '
cers will get still more than this, and there will
also be a provision for a substantial increase i
with each re-enlistment. The officers will also j
t>-- looked out for The situation of the army I
without men and the constantly increasing diffi- j
culty of keeping men in the ranks is so serious I
that we deem it not longer possible to deny them j
ralr consideration. We think we tan show the |
country that it will not cost more to maintain an
army on a better pay scale than it costs now by
reason of the difficulty of securing re-enlistments.
BELL URGES INCREASE OF PAY.
Washington, Feb. 13.— General Bell, chief of staff \
of the army, to-day recommended to the House ;
Committee on Military Affairs an increased pay !
schedule for enlisted men, along the lines laid down
in the Dick-Capron bill, but differing somewhat in
scale. His recommendation contained four feat- i
ures:
Creation of the grade of warrant officer, for the
promotion of deserving non-commissioned officers;
readjustment of initial rates of pa] so that they
shall range from US to 14-. as against the range
of from Sit) to $70 in the navy; cash bonus of three
months' pay for re-enUatmeni and an Increase of I
from $1 to IS in pay for high attainment In
marksmanship The corresponding Increase in the ;
navy is from £to Jio. .
It was estimated by General Bell that if these i
(schedules are adopted the average increase In pay I
of .misted men will b« 33.3 per cent, making the ;
average monthly pay $23 61 in the army, against ;
J33 in the navy. In conclusion, he said:
I cannot too strongly urge the adoption of this ;
schedule In its four essential features. If any one.
of these four features is omitted the whole plan j
will be very much weakened and the benefit* to
the service materially decrease*!. -.>•-.--- |
THE COUNTY FAIRS.
Need of Agricultural Awakening —
Politics in Appropriations.
To the Editor of he Tribune..
Sir: Governor Hughes' ■ message. urging the
abolition of racetrack gambling and the dlssvia
j tlon of the agricultural •ocletles from It In their
' participation in Us receipts. Is a much needed re
form that will call out discussion and an examina
tion of th« agricultural conditions of the state
that will prove of great value.
Th* original purpose of state appropriations for
agricultural fairs was to encourage local Improve
ment In livestock and general farm productions.
For several years a very active Interest was mani
fested and much good resulted to the farming- in
dustry from these appropriations, but In the later
conduct of county fairs there has been a wide de
parture from their original purpose.
In recent year* so largely has the money appro
priated, for the county fairs been used in the In
terest of racing associations that local Uarse breed-
Ing" has not been properly encouraged. For more
than a quarter of a century the majority of the
farmers of New York State have not raised the
horses needed in their business.
Over one hundred thousand horses are sold an
nually In New York City alone, and these are raised
mostly In the corn growing: states of th» West. A
New York or Pennsylvania raised horse haa an
acknowledged higher value of 30 per cent over
Western horses, because of the better water and
more nutritious grasses of the limestone sotla of
Eastern farms, which produce a firmer bone, better
muscle and sounder feet. •
During the last ten years horses have advanced
In value M per cent, and New York farmers. .-.
stead of being In a position to benefit by the higher
value, are large buyers rather than sellers of this
stock. The county fairs of the present time are
given over too much to horseraclng and show*
ami entertainments, most of which are of doubtful
character and of little value to agricultural com
munities, white the cattle shows as conducted are
of little Interest to farmers or to the public which
attend them. The few farmers who have attempted
to breed the trott.'ng horse have not Improved the j
breed, while most of them have lost their farms
by the mortgages put upon them to meet the ex
penses and losses in a business for which they had
neither capital nor adequate knowledge.
The great needs of the fairs are more educational
features. The managers should hold directors'
meetings In the winter, and Invite farmers to at
tend them to consider more fully their Interests.
More of a horse show should be attempted; prizes
should be offered for driving quality other than j
speed. One of the most valuable qualities In a
horse Is his walking gait. Another feature of
great value would be an exhibition of horsea
trained to meet automobiles, thrashing or trac
tion engines and other objects frequently met on
country reads
The pleasure and safety of country driving are
seriously affected because so few horses have had
Intelligent training such aa gives them confidence
in meeting unexpected objects in the public high
ways. Any agricultural society that will Introduce
such features and advertise them would find a new-
Interest on the part of a large buying- public, and
every horse or pair of horses bo trained or edu
cated shown In a class by themselves would be
quickly in demand at a premium.
Other educational lines of work should be taken
up by fair associations for the Improvement of all
kinds of livestock In more practical ways. The
standard of the dairy cows of the state 19 ruin
ously low. If a model stable were erected on
every fair ground with the sanitary conditions and
other Improvements provided that are so greatly
needed on most farms It would be Invaluable In
many ways, and particularly in the efforts that ara
being made to reduce the tuberculous conditions
so general and widespread among dairy cows.
New York needs an awakening and revival In
agricultural spirit, but this will not come until Its
great farming Interests are made less subject to
and removed from much of political domination.
There is no state In th« union that has greater ad
vantages for a highly prosperous agriculture with
markets and transportation facilities unequalled
It has a Department of Agriculture that Is ex
pending large sums of money appropriated by the
state annually: in the estimation of some of the
best agricultural thinkers too largely In the direc
tion of political fence mending rather than In giv
ing to the state a strong. leading and progressive
agricultural policy. While for years the Legis
lature has appropriated large sums for nursery and
orchard Inspection and for protective measures
against orchard Insect pests. New York State ap
ples, .from their generally poor quality and poorer
packing, have steadily grown in disfavor with the
best trade of our cities, which receives its sup
plies from the orchards of states three thousand
miles away. From the same cause our apples are
suffering in reputation In foreign markets.
Being the owner of a Now York orchard of ten
thousand apple trees and knowing that as fine
apples are produced In this state as in any part
of the world. I can speak with some authority on
this point. *
There are two institutions in the state to which
farmers should give- more thought and attention—
Cornell Agricultural College and the New York
State Experiment Station at Geneva. The former
sho",ill have the direction of ait agricultural edu
cational work in the state. including the farmers*
Institutes and educational features* to be estab
lished at the state and county fairs. The experi
ment station should have further equipment needed
for scientific investigation, which would enable it
to keep the agriculture of the state to the front
in every line of its best development.
The farmers of New York are helples-ly and
hopelessly without leaders, and until ttyev bring;
into the work more o* educational aid ane scien
tific methods their sons and daughters will con
tinue to desert the farm and the valuable markets
of our state will continue to pet from other states
horses, pocd fruit, poultry, eggs and other prod
ucts that should be produced from New York soli.
Governor Hughes in his message has done far
more for the agriculture of New York than to ap
peal to farmers to cease from being the recipients
of the gambling receipts of racetracks. He- has
raised the question of direct appropriations for
agriculture, and this should give rise to a vigorous
inquiry into the general condition and needs of the
agriculture of the state— Inquiry not only Into
the expenditure of money appropriated for county
fairs but into all expenditures for agriculture.
Farmers have large rower and Influence in public
affairs It is their opportunity, with a Governor
interested in having the best service rendered in
every branch of state government, to rise to the
occasion and co-operate and aid in a progressive
agricultural movement that shall put New York
State, with Its splendid advantages, to the front,
and demand that in the expenditure of the money
appropriated for agriculture more business and
less politics be put into it.
GEORGE T. POWELL
President Agricultural Experts Aaeociati
New York, F»b 10. 1908
YEARLY TAX ON DEPOSITS
Suggested That It Would Enable Govern
ment to Pay Depositors of Wrecked Banks.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: I read with much Interest the discussion in
your columns, editorial and correspondent, on the
subject of the Insurance of national bank deposits,
and regretted very much that the subject was
dropped before being thoroughly thrashed out.
One point seems to have been overlooked. It Is.
perhaps, not pressing, but still has an immense In
fluence. There are. perhaps. In the country thirteen
billions of bank deposits and some three billions
of currency. Now. If all trie deposits were guarded
by r. 20 per cent reserve, as require by the United
States, on an average there will remain only four
hundred million for circulation. IT this Is the case
now. what win be the res . • when the national
thrift has put by twenty billions of deposits? Can
we drain the world of sufficient gold to make up
the ■ per cent required? And la such reserve nec
essary?
The recent financial crisis appear* to have aSSB
caused by a very small percentage of the depositors
of this country withdrawing a little of our circu
lating medium and carrying It around in their
pockets, owing to a lack of confidence, and our
efforts seem to b» not to correct this by measures
that will Induce confidence, but by making more
money, or, rather, more evidences of debt, based on
other debt*. The average losses to depositors in
national banks are- not obtainable from present
reoords. It appears to be about on«-tw«ntleth of
1 par seat per annum. A Ub «f oa*-&«Uf at l per
CyanS'
Ale
TN the brewing of EVANS' ALL' an
A original path is followed, and the
result is as near perfection as can
be attained in ale making. Besides
there's the Brewery bottling.
cent per annum — deposit*, or a.« much taertof
• « might be necessary, would create a fond that
would enable every depositor In a failed bank '.»
be paid off by the governs**** as quickly as- ht»
passbook could be verified.
It would seem as though this assarasc* w»al«|
absolutely prevent panics among depositor* aa4
would bring Into the banks much of the enormous
quantity of gold that Is now hoarded by our for
e!*r. population. especially hero In the coal refifra
It would seem that with the danger of panic aasonsj
depositors removed the reserve could safely b« ro
dueed from 25—15 to 3>— lo. and finally to 19— "\
For It Is evident that without coafldesc* a bank
will fall with 35 per cent reserve, as sorely. as wtra
25 per cent, while with perfect confidence on tit*
part of depositors 25 per cent reserve looks Ilk* a
wicked waste of resources la Idleness. Saano years
since a movement was started to ascertain the re
serve of English banks outside of the Bank of
England. The Investigation was called off without
official report, but It was understood that the aver
age was about 3 per cent, and that th* whole
mighty financial fabric of the British empire was
practically carried by the reserve of th* Bank of
England alone In connection with the government.
It is hard to see Just what reasonable objection can
be raised to such a plan of Insurance or what •?»
terest can be Injured. On the other hand. |It la
evident that any emergency currency is sure to
awake all the old greenback and free silver
lunacies that were such a menace to our progress
In past years. C. E. ' I: 'TENDEX.
Scranton. Perm . Feb. T. 19«j«.
CEZW FIIGHTEKZD BY METEOK.
Steamer's Captain Said It Looked ' Like
' "Celestial Fourth, of July."'
Captain J. J. Maltby of the -Earner Roseda!e«
plrlng between Havana. Philadelphia and Tink
ers, «hfii th*» vessel arrived a' Its pier In Tonk
ers yesterday morning told of a giant meteor
that had frightened Us crew. The Rosedale left
Havana on January 31 and stopped at Cardenas
and Nue-vHas on Its Journey. When It was on*
day out from Havana th* meteor appeared. -la
rfaaaVfj It the captain said.
■ I never saw such a s!g-ht In my life. It was
like a great ball of Came !n the heavens, and It
moved rapidly westward. It was followed In it*
flight by a trail of sparks, and .4 can only liken
It to a celestial Fourth oJ July. It emitted x
pale green light am!, although It was In the dead
of nigh*, it lighted up the ship like a search
light. We could s<»e everything on the boat. Hal
faces of the watch and every spar and rope, of
the ship. We could even see to read.
"All at once the meteor burst Into countless
millions of atoms and fell Into the sea. It was
travelling about nine degrees above the horiioa,
and I fancied I could hear the explosion and
hear It sizzling as it dropped Into the water. Th«
peculiar green light it cast afound as most un
canny. Sailors are superstitious, you know, and
after It was over one or two whom. I approached
were -trembling a3 though they had the aan*.
The darkness was so thick you could cut It with
a knife." - ','''- '-•
The mate, who was on deck when the meteor
was seen, verlfled the story w>ld by the captain.
BEABDONS CASE ADJOTTRNZD.
The case of Detective Edward Reardan. of th*
District Attorney's ofH -e. charged with extortion.
was adjourned by Magistrate Crane in the Tombs
police court yesterday morr.ing on" request of Mr-
Levy, counsel for the defence. Mr. Levy then as*
a writ from Justice L*ventrltt. in the Supreme
Court, to review the evidence in the other twe
similar cases against Reardon. in which Reardon
was held in COO ball on each of two charges.
Shortly afterward Reardon appeared before Jus
tics Deuel in Special Sessions and said he wasted
to surrender himself. Justice Deuel toM him h<»
would have to have his bondsmen surrender him
and then he. Justice De::el, would order bias
looked up.
CITY NEWS IN BRIEF. _ /
Harry Levinsohn. of No. II East H3th street, was)
wa» arrested in Chicago and brought her* Wednes
day on a charge of stealing jewelry 'root Freuden
helm Bros * Levy. No. 54 Maiden Lane, where bj*
was employed, was held in $*.**• bail by Magis
trate Corrigan. la the Tomb? police court, ester
day. In default of bonds. Levtnsohn was lock»d on
in the Tomb*.
The French Steamship Line has just completed a>
contract with the American Taximeter Company
for the Importation of nine hundred tax: cab* with
in the next «lx months, at the rate of thirty .cabs
by each freight and passenger steamer from Havr».
Dr. C. C. Carrotl. former assistant to the Massa
chusetts and New York State Cattle Inspection
Board, will lecture on February 15. at 3 p. m.. he
his parlors. in the Lincoln Trust Building. No. 39*
West Bd street, on 'The Milk Supply of New York
and Its Relation to Tuberculosis; The Quarantin
ing of Cattle Versus Their Slaughter."
The Seligman Solomon Society. Alumni of thsj
Hebrew Orphan .Asylum, will srive its annual enter
tainment and ball at Terrace Harden on March 4.
Secretary Taft and Booker T. Washington ha««
promised to address the second annual public moat
ing of the Brooklyn Armstrong Association to
Plymouth Church on Monday evening. Ma-- It
The meeting will be held in the interest of thß)
Hampton Institute.
The,. New York Anti-Vivisection Society will hold
a public meeting at Carnegie Lyceum this even
ing. The list of speakers includes Senator Alfred
R. Page. Assemblyman Frank W. Johnston. th*
■jot Henry Frank, the Rev. A. Lincoln Moor*
and John De Witt Warner. Admission is free.
Bar; ■ Amer. a seventeen-year-old schoolgirl, who
was burned while attending one of the classes of
the Young Women's Christian. Association, at
Third avenue and Schermerhorn street. Brooklyn,
died late Wednesday night at the Brooklyn Ho*
pltal. She stepped en a match, which set £r» SS>
h-»r clothing.
Art Exhibition* and Sales.
This Afternoon at 3,
Coetinuiaf To-morrow Saturday . at the t*-n» aoaa,
AT THE
Fifth Aye.
Art Galleries,
SILO BCILDING.
546 Fifth At*..
Cor. 45tb St.
Mr. James P. Silo. Auctfosecr.
The Wills Collection
OF
Old Wedgwood
(PERIOD 1770-1795)
THIS IMPORTANT COLLECTION form.d by
MR. GEORGE WILLS, of St. John's Wood, Lon
don, England, and known to lovvra of c«ranttd£
as on* of th«
MOST COMPREHENSIVE IN
' EXISTENCE.
5