New-York tribune. [volume], February 21, 1910, Page 3, Image 3

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

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TRTRUTESTOGILDER
GOFEBNOB PRESIDES.
Many of Note at Memorial
Meeting in Poet's Honor.
Richard Watson Glide's memory . was
hor.ored at a meeting yesterday afternoon
la Mendelssohn Hall, over which Governor
Hughes presided. It was held under the
s\is.piccz of the many organizations—lit
erary, social and philanthropic— of which
Mr. Gilder was a member. The tributes
paM to the dead poet, while recognizing
his genius, emphasized his citizenship and
poJSlte spirit, for. as Talcott Williams, or«
rf the speakers, remarked, "the morrow of
* poet's death is no time for judgment-"
It was with regard to Mr. Gilder's worth
*>r a citizen that Governor Hughes spob*.
In democracy w; should reserve our high
est honors for tno?e who illustrate, the.
•worth and the diimity of citizenship." ho
«dd. And h€ continued:
It this treat city we shall not fail of men
cf distinguished ability as financiers and
fodsfitrial managers, as leaders " the com
r^e-c'&3 world— or. indeed, as patrons, cf art,
or exponents cf literary talent, or illusTra
t^ of -inventive skill." Our very freedom
,-,~"opportur::v tr-in provide the ne*-ded stixn
otas for a" I these endeavors.
B" T the question is whether that freedom
rjjYDortonity s'^ail cultivate the designs
n~ ecifls.l-.-r.csi zr,z whether the heart of
dercoermey ■** T1 be eaten out because of its
own \ nrivfleges or trbetfcer - - shall have
T~, .-- Wiicitous'for the common right, the
comma) welfare &v.i devoted to the secur
i^sr of t*"c«e fousdattonfl in the recognition
afVtne equal * right? ol neighbors and In
the treatment cf the duties of fellowship
"•ithoV which 'reedem of opportunity will
roan depart and the name cf •'democracy"
N^ccrre a byword.
"We must walk in the footstep s of Ricaard
T v*tsCT- Gilder. The contribution which or>^
mi\-»s a? a citizen Is by no means to be
'-o^sid^-^d with particular regard to the
ho?£iz:z of public office, nor. indeed, with
respect to the discussion of public ques
tions The contribution wh'.cli one makes
sf a citizen Is in that influence which radi
ates firexD his i:fe in every department. It
Is determined In its extent by the whole
-Tneiiess, the purity of his life, the sound
-jees of his judgment, his effect upon h'.s
reichbrrs and the wider ......
v .e"~ay reach with regard to their point of
- lew, 'their aspirations their sanity and
their poise. Bo that the richer and fuller
« man's life is, the more that he can bring
r e it of literary skill, cf culture and ae
>- -air.tar.cc with" the best that has been said
wr written, the more powerful should t>e
'.is ir.Suence as a. citizen and the more
puKClful his contribution to the force? that
-r.ake for the good management cf demo
cratic institutions.
The Governor considered Mr. Gilder an
idealist, whose influence was great ber?>u?e
th* purity of his motives ras recognized.
HUGHES ON CIVIC REFORM.
"Those who art engaged in civic move
meets lo!=e the greater part of th"ir
power." he declared, "as soon as they a?k
srything for themselves. It should be
■^'rttten over eveiy organization devoted to
ovic reform: 'No candidates for office are
-r- - here' " He went on:
There was no alloy in his undertakincs
for improvement. He was th<? pure sold
of c:v;c righteousness. He was sensible.
~he vas- a man of vision and a poet, hut
hp tvas not a. man of visionary aims. How
rars it is to find such a 3 iappy combina
tion! K--«tv exrracrdinary u> iizii a py^t
~-ith practicability in bis measures— to lind
» literary critic and writer of distinction
devoting- himself, for #>xanipi*\ io tene-;
r.i«-nt house reform, instead of merely writ
insr poetry about the t* > n«? T nent house!
He was able to write the r*°^™ to de
- snv pan of our lifr-, and h*> also
} a<i tile snc<i fadgment and thf sound
Fense t C , point the way to improvement ana
to aid in the passage of statute* which
would r>rovvje for the correction of pre
rpntabte evils. ,
He couid scorn and hate, although lie
•was" born in a golden c!irn<? and was a
poet, with the Viatr ot hat*: and tho scorn
of =com. . . .;.■.■.*,
Wh«--n he thought of this city, with trie
mockery which from time to time it has
pree^nted of Institutions devoted* to equal
ity and of the crimes that were here per
r^-rfcte-j asrainrt public trust, he could
hardly eiprts?. with all hi? facility Oi.
■ir-o-an^. the indignation that he felt.
\t rueij a ... he would — I • calling
upon the .--pirit of pnng, the true, faithful
friend of his. to rive him adequate ex
nrfEHon. and he would say:
Rut t!o one iron s.-om for this hu^ torm.
WTiere tows of G<-i has tuttW to luf*. of sold.
And d-rle i^riOe i:i prtsmte grr*d crows cold;
Wtaere ."T^cuiatior! stains th» judge's gown, ari
t.v; rr- toacw-fcom broods foul beasts of iwey
i:av»sc the treasure bouse *•:•' r.isht and day.
Arid vet he loved New York. Probably
rw> one "of the citiz-ns of this imperial city,
of which "very American citizen is proud,
loved V«v.- York more than he. It was mu
sbvAo him— this, life with all Its hustle and
jr= a-TiVity of a pr<?at m-trt:.?olis. And it
■w-as because he loved New York— the real
Y<"-rk that ho was so indignant at tne
-D'j'-iou- N«=w York h«>l<i up to public con
tempt- So he would Bay. In voicing this
An 4 soft ai= the raindrops b^at'
Ari ih° fountain's lyric play:
Bm io rae no music is half co tnr*n
Afc tr>-T thunder or Broadway.
Stream of the li^^^!!c ■world.
"^li^re <2asii the biliows of Ktril*
One p'.'jnge in thf. r.iichty c-rrpnt i*
A >ear of tamer llie-
Crtv of glorious days of hop*.
■"JtoO of labor and of mirth;
Wtdi roam and to spare ir. ihy •^>lFr.iia Bay*
For the biupa of aU the earth.
The- rran that was capable of that aftec
♦;on for the city a.nd that hop* in the face
Of 'an'v depravity which nay for the time—
? ;,d happily. I beTieve. for a time gone by—
any depravity which may for a time exist,
and had that power of expression, wai< a
priceless gift to this community. So we
•nay not set bounds upon that influence.
VTe" may not point out th* extent to which
■a-e are "benefited by that l?f*»: but we may
»-sy. at: he said of one of the great rntn
of this town:
Tfci« iir chief aim :
Tc *■»*■». in *verr ir.a
7-j.r- stoJ to do That only t-ouran> tan.
He saw the e*M as th" -wise must se«:
p a . a.-^ ji:« fatth *n what th* world shall be,
FtoUowlac tic truth, h* I«*d bUi fellow man
Through vtars and virtues, the great citizen.
Governor -.:-.: introduced Jacob A.
VJis as "one who has labored as mg those
whom - .... Gilder have so truly
loved."
"Richard Watson Gilder 'ooked beyond
the miser:' of the Flum to a brighter day,"
r'zid -•- Rii£- "Italian. Greek, Hungarian
and refugee Jewr were all alike Americans
to him. The people loved him. the mothers
mourned him. A very knight errant was
Richard Watson Glider or the battlefield of
OS. As the prophet ssM "HI" feet were
beautiful on the mountains, for they were
thrift to mercy ever.* "
A GILJDER PARK UKELT.
Mr. Rii£ gave many instances of Mr.
Orders quiet philanthropy and self-sacri
fjcinj? work among the poor sad unforta
rlzt. He told of a Lincoln centennial meet
*r.s? itt an Institution for the blind, where
Mr. Gilder instructed his hearers in the
t*.r«o!i£li-:y ot the gre^t patriot, taking
with Hti, tie better to illustrate his ro
—.arV:; a bag of objects. These he passed
£rou!i2 IB lac audience for them to feel
that they caicM become more intimate with
the subject. Among these objects was a
death ma?k of Lincoln, and there was also
* copy to •eases* Lincoln's hand, which
sacs* blind auditor could grasp.
The speaker si.C that In recognition of
SEE WASHINGTON
THE NATION'S CAPITAL
his services in ameliorating congested tene
ment conditions It was hoped some day to
attach his name to one of the neighborhood
■■<*■ which he helped to establish.
The programme at tills point interpolated
» reading or two of Mr. Gilder's poems.
'He Came so Beautifully Clad" and
"Refuge." by Robert Underwood Johnson,
■who was associated with the poet on the
editorial staff of "The Century Magazine."
Talcott Williams, the next speaker, dealt
"with -Mr. Glider's Relation to Art and
letters." He did not attempt an apprecia
tion or criticism of his work as a poet, ex
copt to say that "he gave the best wine at
the end of the feast and not at the be
ginning." He considered that his elegy on
Saint-Gaudens marked a ripe and certain
genius. But most of his remarks were ad
dressed to ■ eulogy of his services as the
fditor of an influential periodical.
J. Forbes-Robertson, the actor, read two
more of Mr. Glider's poems, entitled "The
D«id Poet" and "Music in Darkness." and
then President Nicholas Murray Butler ef
Columbia spoke.
"This many sided man." said he, "was a
true American citizen, an exemplar of what
is meant by public service in private *ta
ticn. As "Wordsworth sang of Milton, 'His
life tvas like a star.* "
There was music by organ •■■-■ harp.
The room was filled with the friends and
associates of Mr. Gilder. Amonsr these in
vited to sit on the stage were Dr. and Mrs.
Robert Abbe, the Rev. Dr. Lymart Abbott,
Mr. and Mr«. Joseph H. Choate, Mr. and
Mrs. Robert Fulton "•■■ .- Mr. and Mrs.
Robert W. de Forest, Mr. and Jin. Cleve
land H. Dodge, Archbishop Farley. Dr. Si
mon Flexner, th« Rev. and Mrs. Percy S.
Grant, Colonel George Harvey, Mi. and
Mrs. Hamilton Holt, Dr. and Mrs. Edward
G. Janeway, Professor and Mrs. George W.
Kirchwey, Chancellcr MacCracken of Xew
York University and Mrs. MacCracken,
Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair McKelway John
Purrcy Mltcbel, Professor and Mr?. Henry
Fairfield Osbom. Dr. and Mrs. Henry S.
Pritchett. Mr. sad Mrs. William J. Echieffe
!in. Mi and Mrs Francis Hopkin^on Smith
and Egfr'on L. Wlnthr .
Plans f or a memorial of the poet"* life
are to be announced to-morrow.
iPV HAS 1 XFW THICK
Bronx Park's: Star Has Learned
How to "Skin the Cat."
Ealdy, the smartest ape m Bronx Park,
has scored another point over his associ
ates cf the primate house. He can "skin
the cat."' an expression that has nothing
to do with ...... veterinary surgery
or the dissection of a dead animal, but de-
a gymnastic f^at, as every boy
knows.
Having the largest Inclosun in the pri
mate hous« and the best trapeze, it is a
question whether 'Raldy's companions are
as enthusiast over hP row In tbls
lin<» as his admirers are
Only recently hes the iarpe ape added
any new ••stunts" to his daily programme,
ajid that he seems to have realized the
merits of his latent accomplishment was
apparent yesterday, when be entertained a
packed house all the afternoon. In fact,
Baldv .Mas grown so popular that spec
tators are permitted to main only s. few
minutes in front of his cagi so that all
may have a chance to se«? him.
Mary curious proposals liave come to
Curator Ditmaxs from individuals who
claim that they can prove Baldy in be
the missing link. One of these was from a
hypnotist, who says he - ... he can
hypnotize the ape. Baldye abilities were
tested lately when a psychologist tried to
teach lln to unlock a box. The ape could
not solve the problem and showed much
exasperation.
WRIGHT WAKES UP.
Orcille Has Something to Say
About French Sport.
Dayion. Ohio, Feb. 20. — Silent Orville
"Wright, whose public utterances thus far
chronicled are summed up largely in the
phrases "It's too windy,** "I thank you,"
and the like. let himslef out here last night
and showed what he could do in expressing
his opinion of the I rend nation. He vras
incited by a report that the Frenchmen
were afraid to some to this country next
summer for an Inte -■•:•.! meet because
they expected trouble with the Wrights
over patents.
"The story about the French planning a
competitive meet undoubtedly is true," said
Orville. making a good a ■•■• "It is char
acteristic of the race. When they are de
feated In anything — take automobile races,
for instance they do not come back next
time with an attempt to regain a lost cup.
They organize ■ new meet and gjet a new
cup. for which they compete on their own
grounds. We do not intend to try to stop
any international meet."
Referring to "the flights made at Los An
geles with machines divested of patents
claimed by the Wrights, Orville said:
"So will an automobile go a «=hort way
without an;-' hand upon the steering wheel,
but it will not go far."
AIRSHIP SUITS OPPOSED
French Constructors Decide to Send
Lawyer Here.
Fans. Feb. *X>- — The French aeroplane
constructors have decided Jointly to send
a lawyer to the United States to defend
French interests in the salts brought by
the right brothers.
PAULHAN FLIES IN HIGH WIND.
Houston, Tex., Feb. *Jo— Louis Paulhan
made one of the most daring flights in his
career yesterday, near Houston. The wind
was eating In from the Gulf in gusts at
the rate of twenty-ny« miles an hour. A!
though the biplane rose jerkily. Paulhan
brought it into the teeth of the breeze and
continued a flight for seventeen minutes.
GERMAN AEROPLANE RECORD.
Berlin. Feb. 20.— A successful flight -was
made here yesterday in a new biplane, the
Invention of the yacht builder Max Oertz.
Oertz himself made the flight, and he re
mained in the air for a considerable time
at a height of 450 feet, which Is a record
for German aeroplanes.
THROUGH PLATE WINDOW TO FIRE
Samuel Mahler. thirty-four years old. of
No. 1110 Washington avenue, was pain
fully cut on the leg last evening, when he
kicked In a plate glass window to get at
a small are which threatened to destroy
th- stock In the tailor shop of Andrew
Atken. at No. 511 East 156 th street.
Mahler was passing the shop when he
be discovered the blaze. He was removed
to Lebanon Hospital. The fire was out
when the firemen arrived.
Pennsylvania Railroad
tours
March 3. 21.
April 7, 21, and May 5, 1910
$12.00 and 514.5 D from Hew York
Covers all necessary expenses.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. MONDAT. FEBRUARY 2f. 1010.
ALIMOSY CLUB WAIL
WARXIXG TO WIVES.
Document Full of Heart
Th robs from Workhouse.
Thirty-seven husbands, all Hebrew*,
have been sleeping on Blackwell's Island
for several weeks on crooked beds. Tni*
fact did not become known here until yes
terday. The ponderous document an
nouncing their pitiable condition was pre
pared by the thirty-seven, who insist that
they themselves are straight. They say
the beds do not fit them.
The document discloses, a little further
along that though the beds had been of
down the complainants were in no mental
state to enjoy repose.
Cneasy lies the head that dreams of ali
mony. Thirty-seven wives had caused the
conviction of the sorrowing brotherhood
because of non-support. It was bitter for
the men to think of the power possessed
in America by women. If women without
the suffrage could send their husbands to
the workhouse "as easy as putting: on a
glove," it was awful to think of the possi
bilities If they ever got the ballot.
Poor because honest was their only
fault, according to their letter. They
might have endured even the beds without
a protest "with their hearts' blood," but
they also had cultivated a well defined
prejudice against the food on Blackwell's
Island.
They refuse to refer to the steaks except
in terms of derision. Everything consid
ered, their suffering has made them as one.
They could no longer bottle their ire; they
were "losing their faith in life." Each
would prefer to get back to working for
the same old firm— nine children and a
wife. But how to do this? Threaten the
wives. And this they have done in a long,
rambling statement addressed to the public
at large. The wives, it is said, have taken
alarm and are already preparing to plead
with the authorities tc release their de
faulting husbands at once, although the
husbands name "Passover" as the last ex
tension of time. It goes to prove once more
that in union there is strength. Individual
letters to individual wives were unproduct
ive of results. It also marks the formation
In this city of Alimony Club No. 2. No. 1
was organized sonic time ago in the Ludlow
street jail.
"The workhouse if not the place to better
the husbands." is one of the conclusions
arrived at in the statement that is signed
by Hyman Mishan. Essfdore Rappaport,
David Kazrnenbeigen, Joseph Bothwinniek,
Abraham Karikowsky ar>«l thirty-two oth^r
outraged husbai
"We will never return to our wives if
they do not get us out of here by Pass
over" is the ultimatum. "If our wives
think when their husbands come out after
six months in the workhouse that they will
eg id to them, they are far off the mark.
We send this to The newspapers to let
people know bow we suffer in the dirty
prison at Blackwell's Island.
"We thirty-seven In a bunch were put
together with the worst tramps and crim
inals for the only reason that we are poor
and cannot support our wives. V • Bleep in
crooked beds, and the steak we have to
eat, we eat leather instead of meat. All
this makes us lose faith in life. And for
why? For the only reason that we are
poor.
"And the women whose husbands does
not give her what she wants, she goes to
court and gets a warrant and we are sent
to the island. We all look lil'e skeletons.
There Is no country in the world as the
United States which are so good to the
women. It is as easy for her to get him
on the island as to put on a pair of gloves."
The statement says that charity organiza
tions are a bad thing for husbands. Once
again the query Is propounded: "And for
why?" It seems too patent to the writers
to require elaboration, but they proceed to
emphasize the disadvantages that result
from the activities of such associations to
husbands who would be free from work
house influences. Wives with an eye to ac
quisition of an honest penny soon learn
that when husbands are sent away kind
women from charitable institutions will call
and give them sympathy and a little money
each week, the disgruntled Hebrew- Bay
It is too much temptation for many women,
they point out. and ought to be stopped.
Less charity, more comforts at home and
Its.*? sedentary lives abroad are some of the
recommendations of the men on the island.
"As soon as the woman get! a couple of
dollars from the charity society she feels
pay and happy, and does not care about
her husband who is suffering in prison." is
the situation as put in a nutshell by them.
"Charities help manufacture orphans in
this way," is another conclusion in their
process of reaching the last analysis.
Everything pointed yesterday to a com
bination being- formed by the women in the
case to obtain the early release of their
rebellious mates.
DARING RESCUES AT FIRE.
Crowds Watch Brave Work as Third
Avenue Flathouse Bums.
Hundreds of persons thronging Third avf>
nue early last, night witnessed some thrill
ing rescues from a fire on the third floor
of a flathouse at bird avenue and 64th
street. On the ground floor of the building
ib ? saloon run by George McGivney.
Bef'T<~ the fire apparatus arrived the
smoke .and flames had spread on the third
floor, where they had Parted m a bath
room, and the stairway at that point was
cut off. Alfred Wooley, a lodger on the
Boor, was carried down an exten
sion Jurliler. Edward Bessinger, of No. loJ
Bast 54th street, one of the bystanders, and
a fireman ran up the fire escape to the top
floor, where lives Mrs. Bridget Curran. Me-
Givney'i mother-in-law. A moment lat^r
they appeared on the fire escape again with
Mrs. Curran, who is seventy years old. and
carried her safely to the street. All the
ethers in the building got out safely. The
fire wp-3 confined to the third floor.
RUNAWAY GIRL PENITENT.
Massachusetts Miss Appeals to Police
After Losing Purse. ■
A girl who said she as Ethel Prowse,
fifteen years old. of Everett, Mass., ap
pealed to Patrolman Miller, of the East
35rh street station, at 40th street and Third
avenue last night for aid in getting back
home.
"I ran away from home this morning."
she said, "and I haven't a cent of money.''
Miller took her to the station house,
where she taid she lived with her mother
at No. 30 Appleton street, Everett. Tester
day morning, she said, - ■•■■ had decided to
come to New York and look for work. She
knew her mother would not consent to her
coming, so she took a $10 bill from her
mother's pocketbook and skipped. She fell
asleep on the train and t-oin- one tool her
pocketbook. she said.
She was turned over to the Children's So
ciety and a telegram was sent to her
mother.
GERMAN CONVERT OF MRS. EDDY.
Miss Renata Hermes, a young German
convert to Christian Science, arrived her©
yesterday from Hamburg on the steamship
Graf waldersee. She is a Bister of Paul
Hermes, a writer for the "Kreuz SEeltung,"
of Berlin. The young woman said yester
day that Sb« had DM here to observe the
work of Christian Science In this country,
nd that after making a tour of the United
States would make an effort to obtain an
audience with Mrs. Mary Baker >; Eddy.
Miss Hermes met Ruth St. Denis, the
dancer, in Berlin and caused her to become
a, Christian Scientist S^
THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF THE
UNITED STATES
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 19. I9TO.
TO POLICYHOLDERS:
The following synopsis of the Annual Statement, as of December 31. 1909, js submitted for yoor
information :
1909 1908
TOTAL ASSETS $486,109,637.98 $472,339,508.83
TOTAL LIABILITIES - - • - - - 403,837,318.68 391.072,041.93
Consisting of Insurance Fund $393,223,558.00 and
$7,613,760.68 of miscellaneous liabilities for 19J9.
The Insurance Fund (with future premiums and interest)
will pay all outstanding policies as they mature.
TOTAL SURPLUS - - 85.272.319.33 81.267,466.90
With an increasing number of maturities of Deferred
Dividend Policies this sum will in tim; decrease.
NEW INSURANCE PAID FOR (including additions
$3,852,143 in 1909 and $3,540,621 in 1908) 110.943.016 00 "1.262.101.00
This is an increase for the year of 21 J* per cent, and was
secured at a lower expense ratio than in 1908-
INCREASE IN OUTSTANDING INSURANCE IN 190<* - 8.869,439.00
COMPARED WITH A DECREASE IN 1938 - - 13,647,814.03
An improvement of $22,517,253.00 as compared with 1908.
FIRST YEAR CASH PREMIUMS (excluding on additions) 3,774,321 27 2.724.976,59
This is an increase of 38;/* percent as compared with 1908
TOTAL AMOUNT PAID TO POLICYHOLDERS - 51,716,579.04 47,361.542.6^
DEATH BENEFITS - 20.102,31867 20.324,002^
97 per cent, of all De3th Claims m America wer> paid
within one day after proofs of death were received.
ENDOWMENTS - - 6.321,554 41 4.830.17010
ANNUITIES, SURRENDER VALUES AND OTHER
BENEFITS - 15,683,665.88 14.696.334.1*
DIVIDENDS TO POLICYHOLDERS 9,609.040 0* * 0 i 1,01578
1910 dividend* to Policyholders will approximat*
sll,ooo,ool
DIVIDENDS TO STOCKHOLDERS 7.000.00
This is the maximum annual dividend that stockholder; can
receive under the Society's Charier.
OUTSTANDING LOANS TO POLICYHOLDERS - - 59,954,933.10 57.053.555.28
EARNINGS FROM INTEREST AND RENTS 21.074,013.95 20,636.403.61
OUTSTANDING LOANS ON REAL ESTATE MORTGAGES 97,532,643.03 97,570,767.22
TOTAL EXPENSES, including Commissions and Taxes - 10.438.72^.64 9.75*447.46
The average gross rat? of interest realized during 1909 amounted to 4.50 per cent., as against 4 45 per
c*?nt in 1908. 4.39 per cent in 1907. 4 26 per cent, in 1906, 4.03 per cent, in 1905. and 3.^0 per cent in 1904
The condition of your Society is constantly improving. The growth of new business at a reduced
expense ratio and the increase in outstanding insurance manifest public recognition of the fact.
PRESIDENT
CITI FINANCE
Crtntinned from first page
curity of taxes levied that could not be
collected. Instead of facing the situa
tion, an effort was made to cover up
the facts.
"The practice of dumping the receipts
of the city treasury into a common fund
out of which payments were made
without regard to the specific purposes
for which the money was received has
resulted in the misuse of corporate stock
proceeds and the depletion of other
funds to pay off a portion of the tem
porary debt incurred upon budget ac
count in excess of collectible taxes. No
attempt has been made in the official
reports to show the true balance of the
city's accounts, for the reason that any
such attempt would disclose the pur
poses for which this money had been
used.
"Still, even this diversion did not suf
fice to keep the temporary debt within
reasonable bounds, and In 1906 the city
was compelled to authorize the issue
of $36,000,000 of corporate stock to re
coup the treasury for that amount in
taxes levied prior to 1905 that could not
be collected. Instead of issuing this
corporate stock and thus bringing its
revenue bond debt within the legal limit
the last administration allowed matters
to drift, with the result that the city
has since that time been issuing revenue
bonds against taxes which have been
declared uncollectible and have been
provided for by an authorization of cor
porate stock. These facts have been
clearly pointed out in the series of ar
ticles published in The Tribune upon
'Hidden Chapters in City Finance.'
"These are the facts as I understand
them. The sooner the situation Is
squarely and honestly faced, the better.
The temporary debt sHould at. once be
reduced to its proper proportions by the
redemption of bonds which are at pres
ent outstanding against taxes that can
not be collected. A gradual process of
refunding to corporate stock and other
funds of the money taken from them
should be begun, in order to restore
the proper balance of accounts. A clear
and ,-i- curate statement of the facts
made by the Controller would dear the
atmosphere. The city** crrdit would
benefit immediately.
PROSPECT OF REMEDY.
"There is every reason to believe that
this course will be followed by the pres
ent administration. The Mayor and the
other members of the Board of Estimate
have already shown a strong disposition
to economize in expenditure?. The Con
troller seems to be fully alive to the
great opportunity his position offers of
putting the city's finances upon a sound
business basis. I trust that before long
he -Rill be able to take the public into
his confidence and frankly state the
facts. This would mean -more than half
the battle, for he would receive the
hearty support of the public in his ef
fort to correct th* abuses that have
grown up"
"But will not the samp, conditions re
cur if what you call the fundamental
weakness in the system of financing the
budget is not corrected ">'' Mr Mills was
asked.
"Not necessarily, but there is a dan
ger that they might. And for that rea
son I am inclined to favor the doing
away -with the necessity for the issue
of revenue bond.-; altogether. That would
mean the gradual moving forward of the
date for tiie payment of taxes to the first
of the year, so that the city would have
its tax revenues in hand before the ex
penditures for the year commenced.
"I am of the opinion also that there ia
a great deal to say in favor of the view
taken by the Mayor and Tax Commis
sioner Lawson Purdy that the personal
tax levy should be eliminated. Personal
tax assessments have be^n the chief
cause of the present situation. Millions
of dollars of these taxes have been levied
that never can be collected. Besides,
the tax is a vexatious one and drive? de
sirable people away from the city. It
works an injustice upon people who can
ill afford it and allows those who can af
ford to pay to escape.
"These are very important problems
that require serious consideration and
careful action. But whatever changes
are made, the greatest care should be
taken to see that the amounts authorized
to be expended in the budget each year
are not in excess of the amount that can
reasonably be expected to come in from
collectible taxes. This silly business of
borrowing money year after year in an
ticipation of the collection of taxes that
cannot be collected ran only lead to
financial disaster. That is the factor at
the very root of the condition which ex
ists to-day."
TO BACK UP THE MAYOR.
Tax Reformers Tell How to Help Wipe
Out the Personal Property Tax.
In Its fight for the abolition of the per
sonal property tax the New- York Tax Re
form Association, through its secretary.
A. C. Pleydell, -has issued an appeal for co
operation, beginning with a reference to
Mayor Gaynor's letter to President Purdr
of the Tax Department, written "to open
up the subject for general public discus
sion." Mr. Pleydell says: "How soon re
lief can be obtained depends entirely upon
"the effectiveness with which the dissatis
faction that undoubtedly exists with the
present system is made evident to the
Mayor, to the Legislature and to the com
munity at large."
The appeal requests the co-operation of
business associations, suggests that all who
are interested write to the Mayor) mem
ben of the Legislature and. the newspapers.
and help in the distribution of literature on
the subject. The appeal calls attention to
the fact that collections from personal
property taxes have decreased constantly
for a number of years, while r<»al estate
values have risen rapidly.
CRITICISM AND THE FATTH.
Dean Matthews Urges Discrimination
in Bible Teaching.
Ann Arbor. Mich.. Feb. ».— "Higher criti
cism is not an enemy of the faith, as
many hold," said Dean Shailer Matthews,
of the University of Chicago, in an address
yesterday before th© conference of the
Religious Educational Society of the United
States and the Ann Arbor School of Re
ligion.
"It records th« fact that you should
teach the children the truths in the study
of the Bible, so that they will not have
to unlearn anything. Much of the Bible
li mythical, and those parts should not be
taught as truths to children, but an effort
should be mad* to show what these par*s
Oiean.' „
KAISE THE MAINE
«'.>ntinu«»d from first pagr.
ument to the Maine's dead. 166 of whom
are lying in Arlington Cemetery, 25 in
Key West and bo in the hulk of the ship.
The scheme is to start with a dollar
membership, and It is hoped to get sub
scribers in every part of the country.
Another speaker was Representative
William 'Sulzer, of the 10th District.
who has worked for eight years to get a
bill through Congress authorizing the
raising of the ship.
•What is being done here to-day will
stir up the dry bones of the Bourbons on
the Naval -Affairs Committee in Con
gress, and some of the members of that
committee need to be stirred up with a
big stick," he said.
"What restrains us from raising the
Maine?" a man in the gallery asked him.
"I have been often asked why Con
gress refuses to pass this bill. I can
only say I do not know," he answered.
"The board of inquiry thai made the in
vestigation at the time certified that the
Maine was blown up by an external ex
plosion. I believe that, and I have
studied the matter very carefully. But
whether eke was blown up from within
or without is immaterial. W« want the
truth to be known to all the world in
tlie cause of history. Patriotic America
Id not afraid of the truth."
Seven survivors of the explosion
turned up at the meeting. These were
Frank Rosen, Arthur Rau. John Hef
fron, Charles Lohman, Joseph Lota Jo
septa Kane and Gnstav Dreschler. With
them was Captain "Tom" Conley, an
old school harbor pilot, who took the
Maine on her trial trips.
FAST TRAIN LEFT TRACK.
Pennsylvania Express for New York
Jumped, but No One Was Badly Hurt.
Fittsburg, Feb. ?>. — The Pennsylvania
train (No. 30) which usually makes New
York in twenty-four hours from St. Louis
was seeking to regain about thirty min
utes lost time by a fast run over a l*vel
stretch of the Pan Handle division, whm
five of its six cars jumped the track a mile
■west of Scio. Ohio, at I o'clock to-day.
The twenty-nine passengers aboard, most
of whom were enjoying a late Sunday
morning sleep, were rudely shaken from
their berths, and some suffered from shock,
but none was injured seriously enough no
inquire surgical attention. Two hours later
they were transferred to a westbound train,
which ran back seventy-five miles to Pitts
burs, whence th«*y took another train to
New York.
Traffic M delayed about three hours.
The railroad officials believe that a. broken
rail caused the wreck. Neither of the two
locomotives nor the mail car Ml the rails
and the other cars fortunately remained
upright after their piur.ge from th- track-
PASTOR TO SEE FOR HTMSF.LF
Will Include Wall Strset in His Re
form Itinerary.
In his new. church, UM Bedford Presby
terian, at Nostrand avenue and Dean street,
Brooklyn, the Rev. Dr. S. Edward Young
announced yesterday that, he intended to
visit th* 5 New York Stock Exchange, the
East Side and various labor organizations
with a view to becoming more familiar with
city conditions. He allied m»mt«ra of the
Do You Drink
Olive Oil?
Four health would be better,
your complexion clearer and
your digestion perfect if you
took a I iWi igMMßif ill of
Chiris Olive Oil
(pronounced SHERIS)
before or with each meal.
Physicians of ail schools recorr*
mend Chiris Olive Oil because of
its purity and flavor.
An interesting leaflet. "The Me
dicinal Value of OHvr Oil." sent
free. Add 10 cents and we mail a
sample bottie.
Where Chiris is not easi y ob
tained through dealers we supply
direct.
C. G. EILER
Dcpt. C. H P^att Street. New Vsrk.
CKX><X><X><X><><>CXX>OO<X>
g Union Dime 'Savings Bank §
0 flaw Removed Its Place of {)
a • Business and Is Vf/'.v At v\
S7O i 6th five. ,N, N 40th St.
O r..nt ins Kr« »ni Park. C>
CK>o<><><><>o<><><><><><><><>o<>
congregation to assist him in mriktnc and
carrying out his programme.
Dr. Young said in hia sermon that -Ne*»
York needs four t*eorji» Was'iinstons dc
votetl to th*> cause of reform — one IS fight
politics corruption at Albany, another to
mak«- war on thr gambling oonrinirencT. »
third to champion the best direct primary
law and one to deal \*ith the liquor prob
lem
"The que;tio!-.? at issue." *.i I Dr. Toons,
'are serious, golr;:r to the core of popu'ar
government— morality and religion. Where
as in the Revolution Tories and Whig.*
usually declared Bsnlves openly an<l
Benedict Arnolds -were tevr. m this strug
gle nobody can certainly know who la to*
and who is friend until the battle is on. I*
not th » the auspicious moment? la not
'''•» whole state aroused? T* not New York's
Mayor setting a standard fir ahead of that,
which thousands expected?"
19