New-York tribune. [volume], December 19, 1914, Page 8, Image 8

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

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? Jfao Doric ?ri?roiu.
Pirat to Last the Truth: News, Editorial?, Advertise
menta.
BATTKHAT. DWEMBF3 10, 1S14.
Owat? anS ?aut>i?*?i.??l ?1al.j b? Tb? Tribuna) AawrtaUam. a f*a?
Tsrt enml M H*M. Praartdanl ; <? "? ?roor Kofara
ttmmlAry and 1rra*.-.r , lUd I I I :'t Nsassu
s*.. Naw fi r?
BTJOBCai! TION RATX8--R?? Mall. Posit?* P?M. ?JtaJSs ?? Oraat?
N?v York
D?n? a.,??. Bravata? I month | :j Par.?, ool?. 1 moath.IM
Dalla s-.1 h. 'a' ?. rw.?? a 4 ?'.. . only, 6 mftnths. IJ*
bal ? a< : - . . ..- 1 r??s. ? M
Su.?.!.; . ? - I ' ?>? ? ? -?
FOREIGN' KATTS ? ANADIAN' RATE?
DAILY AM? 81 M'AT- DAILY A.VD BU>'i>AY:
pa* raon-h . It 14 On. mm.'fi .t. ??
Oca |?ar . UM I ? )?ar ..^aa.a.-aaa. ' ??
PfNDAT " DAILY ONLTt
Els raontr?. I MiOr.a month . -M
a? fit (Mi '.a >?*r , ..... .... ??w
I-AILY CM?, Ht*VDAY ONT.*'
Oa? aaonth . . 1 _?? ?>na monta . ?*>
On? 7??f II OJOM >?*r . * B?
Ent#r?*J at th? Pur.??--? a? N.? Tor* ?a F?vor.4 Hsas ?all Msttar
Yon can purchase merchandise advertised In THE
TRIM'NE with absolute safety?for If dlssaMsfac
tlon resulta In any rase. THE TKIBI'NE fuarantees
to pay your money back upon rrgueat. No red tape.
No quibbling. \\> make good promptly If the adver?
tiser does not.
Public Opinion Won a Big Victory
in the Rate Decision.
The Interstate Commerce Commission's back?
down in the railroad rate case is a notable victory
for public opinion. The commission reversed it?
self because it realized that it had lost the confl
donee of the country. Its decision of August 1
last refusing the request of the Eastern rail?
roads for an n?vance of ?T> per cent in freijrht
rates was n gigantic blunder. It came at a mo?
ment when the economic disturbances of tbei great
war in Europe were accentuating the difficulties
of the railroads, already hard hit by the oppres?
sive policies of the commission. Unlike the com?
mission, the public had changed it? mind about
the desirability of starving tho common carriers.
It saw that general prosperity could not be won
back if governmental action continued to deprees
nnd disable a basic national industry like trans?
portation. Apart from the aggravations of tho
European war, a sufficient case had been made
out in the popular judgment for an increase in
revenues which would revive the earning power,
efficiency and credit of the railroads.
The commission, misled by pride of opinion and
the evil counsel of professional railroad baiters,
could not see this. It could not even see it when
the crash of war came, making the plight of the
railroads as borrowers of capital even more des?
perate. On the very day when Germany declared
war on Russia the commission published its rate
decision, blandly ignoring all the obvious effects
?>f that declaration. Although all the stock ex?
changes of the world had closed in panic, the ma?
jority of the commission waved that fact aside
of no consequence to the immediate future of
the railroads.
Buch a mockery of a decision could not last.
Within a few weeks a demand for reconsid?ra?
nt was made, and after s?. ie delay the com?
mission praciously announced that it would take
I nizame of the fact that war existed and was
i fTtvting economic conditions the world over.
Once it had consented to come out of its bomb?
proof of self-delusion it? decision was never in
doubt. It simply could not resist the pressure of
public opinion, grounded on unassailable facts.
In trying to palliate its blunder of August 1
the commission weakly say.?-: "When these cases
were originally submitted, as also ichen the
original report wa$ prrparrd, the revenue and
expenditure account for June, 1014, and the prop?
erty investment account of the fiscal year were
not available, the war was unforeseen and the
results of our order were, of course, yet to come.
Collectively they present a new situation."
Yet the railroads had been on a semi-starvation
llowance for more than a year, and the monthly
reports up to June, 1.114, had shown that condi?
tions were steadily growing worse. The same
newspapers which printed the decision of August
1 carried accounts of the outbreak of the war.
which had been threatened all through the pre?
ceding week. And at the hearings in September
various commissioners expressed through their
?luestions the nonchalant view that the European
war was an accident entirely outside the sphere
at American economics and should not be taken
into account in the regulation of our railroad
rates. The most reactionary members of the
commission, Mr. Harlan and .Mr. Clements, still
cling obstinately to that parochial view.
The main point on which the country can con?
gratulate itself is that the majority of the com?
mission has now broken away from the fetters
of an obsolete policy. When it says that "if we
aro to set rates that will afford reasonable re?
muneration to these carriers we must give con
ideration to the increased hire of capital as well
\.s to other increased costs," it has turned back
into a new path of economic sanity. Its old rate
programme was punitive and destructive. Its new
programme shows signs of constructivenes.?-.
If the railroads are to be restored to a normal
condition of prosperity and efficiency (which will
be to the interest of the community at large as
well as to their own interest) the commission
cannot afford to stop short with yesterday's de?
cision. More aid will be needed to put the com
ion carriers on their feet. Every other great
industry will have to adjust its credit to the high
e. interest rates of the near future. The govern?
ment would be unjust and tyrannical if it tried
to make the railroaili shoulder more than their
fair share of the general burdens and losses of
the war. Transportation facilities must be im?
proved year by year, and the only way to im?
prove them is to ?give the railroads the revenue
they actually need in order to maintain their
financial stability and to do their work.
Turkey Vanishes from Africa.
The work that Lord Cromer did in Egypt comet
to a sudden fruition through Turkey's interven?
tion in the great war. By a stroke of the pen
Turkish suzerainty over Egypt is ended and a
new British protectorate springs into being.
The loas to Turkey is not only the stoppage of
an annual tri!"jt*-. It mark?! the *nd of Turkish
a. vereignty in Afr.ca. What Italy began at
Tripoli England completes on the Nile. So far
as Egypt itself goes, the transfer in authority is
largely in name. The Hntiah financial adviser to
the Khedive grew in power until every activity of
the Egyptian government stood under his hand.
The Egyptian army is English trained and Eng?
lish equipped. Protectorate ia a mild word for
the sort of rule which England ha? for years im?
posed on Egypt. The present change gives final
dignity and permanency to an occupation that
could hardly have had any greatly different end?
ing, bo long as the British Empire had the ships
and mem to stand its ground. Turkey will be the
only loser hy the chango.
Lions at Large.
The Jungle ond our effete civilization met face
to face in the aisles of the Yorkville Theatre, and
it is hard to say which got the better of it The
poor lions were exceedingly frightened and non?
plussed. They had never ambled around so loose?
ly before?had never seen human beings perform
M amazingly. A? for th? human beings, nobody
can blame them for not caring to remain. Tue
one man who thought he knew how to en?
tertain a ?ion?by playing 'possum?had his face
.scratched for his pains.
That Is the trouble with our very marvellous
day and city. We are most wonderfully In?
structed; In our motion pictures we see every?
thing from lions up; the whole world, at 6econd
hand, lies at our feet. Never did so many people
have a casual acquaintance with so many things.
Hut in first hand information are we a bit better
tiff than the narrowest provincial that ever dug
in a kitchen garden? We do not suggest that
every one ought to have a handshaking acquaint?
ance with lions and know just how to address
them in public. What we have in mind is the
failure of our smattering to prepare us for any?
thing. We trot through our occupations, getting
for refreshment superficial glimpses of kings,
minaret? and armies, passions and adventures.
But have we really extended our circle of living
one fraction of an inch?
Too bad that the opinion of Alice, the Hones?,
dead from a dozen bullets of terrified pursuers,
cannot be obtained on this interesting point!
Mr. Daniels's Severest Critic.
The testimony of Rear Admiral Bradley A.
Fisko before the House Naval Affairs Committee
leaves the naval Let-Good-Enough-Alone opti?
mists not a leg to stand on. It stamps as rubbish
the confident assertions of Secretary Daniels and
the "wo have not been negligent" protests of
President Wilson. Rear Admiral Fiske is the
Secretary's Aid for Naval Operations and he
makes his emphatic dissent from Mr. Daniels's
care-free policies no more of a secret than Assist?
ant Secretary Roosevelt and the members of the
General Board do.
Tho admiral's testimony contains the most
sweeping indictment yet brought against our con?
dition of naval unpreparedness. He says that it
would take five years to get the fleet into condi?
tion to meet an efficient enemy, and that it would
take three years to bring the personnel up to the
desired standard. He says, furthermore, that the
navy is deficient in battle cruisers, scout cruisers,
destroyers and all other auxiliaries, and that it is
behind in gunnery. The greatest shortcoming of
all, however, is the lack of a general staff, with
sufficient authority to prepare and carry out a ra?
tional scheme of naval development. The Trib?
une has been trying to impress upon Congress the
need of an inquiry which will show exactly what
our military deficiencies are. We have had to
vork from the outside. With full inside knowl?
edge Admiral Fiske now lays bare a condition of
unpreparedness even worse than our exposure?
! ad hinted at.
It is within the power of the administration
leaders in the House to clamp the lid down
on the half-hearted investigation which the
Naval Affairs Committee has been conducting.
They may refuse to let other witnesses be heard.
But it is now too late to try to pull the wool over
the eyes of the public. The country knows that
the national defence has been neglected and that
if we are to heed the lessons of the European war
we mu6t set to work at once to make up for recent
negligence.
The most pressing reform, ns Admiral Fiske
well says, is the creation of a real general staff.
which will introduce system into the navy and
take each unit and auxiliary do its work in ac?
cordance with a common plan worked out far in
advance. The General Staff should have real pow?
er and a free hand. Its activities should not be
exposed to interference from a bungling layman
iike Mr. Daniels. We must have a modern naval
policy if we are to have a modern fleet. Expert
knowledge and a realization of the facts must re?
place ignorant assertions that the navy doesn't
need to be modernized because, under the watch,
ful care of a great naval educator like Mr. Dan?
iels, it is necessarily "all right."
Mr. Whitman's Look Ahead.
Mr. Whitman's speech at the Republican dinner
was admirable. He does not "misinterpret the
*| message" when he believes that the public
?tas trusted itself to "the pledges made by our
party and by its candidates." He is equally
accurate in saying thnt "the party is on trial in
this state before the whole nation." The Repub?
licans in the Empire State swept back into power
in a fashion to compel the country's attention*
The political happenings of the next tun years in
this state may easily determine the party's future
in the nation, with a state administration of
promise about to Ivegin and a constitutional con?
vention to indicate the party's attitude on the
great questions of industrial control, political re?
form and social service. It is no wonder that
the Governor-elect says solemnly that there is no
hope for the future of the party if its perform?
ances do not measure up to its promises.
Though long years of control made the Repub?
licans believe they were ordained to he blessed in
New York State, more recent years have shaken
that notion. The Whitman administration will be
judged on its performances, just as the Glynn ad?
ministration was. The Democrats were turned
out because, speaking fair, they lived foul. They
fostered a period of graft, corruption, waste and
inefficiency. They governed the state for what
there was in it for them.
The state is sick of that kind of hypocrisy,
from any political organization. Mr. Whitman
and his associates will go into office pledged to
a real reorganization of the state's business for
efficiency and saving, no matter whose pocket is
hit. The state will expect of them a full meas?
ure of realization of the need for political and
social reform such as the Democrats showed when
they passed the direct primary law and the work?
men's compensation law. Mr. Whitman's mani?
fest understanding of this spirit on the part of
the public speaks eloquently for the likelihood of
his party's making its performances harmonize
| with its promises.
I
The Apartment House Agent
MODELED ON JOHN WOLCOT'B "THE RAEOR-Sn.UX."
A fellow In s growing town
Alluringly called "Houses!" up and down;
"Apartments." he appealed, "to Rent."
And Hodfre (the name's from Wolcot's pome)
Said "I am looking for a home,
And 1 have seen your fine advertisement."
"Gaze." said the agent, "at our golden hall!
Twelve uniformed attendants, that is ill!
Look at the lovelv ru?s and hangings which
Fill up this gorgeous entry-way! Observe
Von first assistant hall-boy's scornful nervel
Your country visitors will *n? you're rich.
"Before we let vou sign a lea?e with us.
Your references mint be perfection plus?
We have to be particular this year."
"] don't." said Hodge, "know anyone In town,
But once 1 nearly met Three-Fingered Brown."
?That's quite enough," the agent said. "Sign
here."
A month elapsed. In Hodge's costly flat
The ceilings leaked, the casements warped so that
The poorest peasant in the lowliest slum
More comfort had than Hodce. whom all his gold
?Could not protect from rain and wind and cold* !
S?? sought he the agent, whom he'd rented from.
"Mv fiat." quoth Hodge. "Is built of ginger-cake,
You city builders are a fraud, a fake!
How could you dare to rent me such a flat?
The walls are paper and the floors are thin,
Whenever it rains the water rushes In?
What ire apartments made for, tell me that:"
"Made!"' quoth the agent, In astonishment,
"Why, bless your silly soul, they're made to PENT."
Some dsy there will be no trained snimsl acts.
Krery snlmal set, without exception, as the late
Maurice Kirby once proved In an article In Every?
body's, means considerable cruelty to the animals.
And as for Interest, we'd as soon nee a slack
wire set._
The Chicle School ef Flnsnee.
R!r- fan vou sugj-est an easier way of malting
-nonev than by having chewing ?rum alota In tha aub
tvay station? with no chewing gum la them and have
poopts drop th-lr pennlee In with no result?, at the rat?
of three per five mlnutea, which waa the case this
morning? Do you realize that this Is winning gold at
the rate of 3?c per hour, ?129.??) In a 38 day month of
'.2 hour days. ?16f.6.20 per year. $15.5*2 In ten years
Hnd right on until you have accumulated a million on
each empty a!ot?
TaoitAi 3 Cvn
"If they are allowed te do It en the night of
December 81," observes the Evening Mall, "it" mean?
ing to set like "savages In the desert," "they will ,
get It out of their systems and be able to behave
decently the rest of tha year." We are no more un?
tamed than our neighbor, hut beginning on the night
of Dec. 81, even we wouldn't mind behaving decently
until the year expired.
. . . Michael could scarcely cheek the impulse
he had to mount the ?tpps and, knocking at the door,
inform whomsoever should open it that he had once
lived in this very house. From "Sinister Street," by
Corr.pton Mackenzie.
Well, whom opened it?
IF.
If I should come upon you unaware,
Curled up at ease within the spacious chair
We know so well; if In our favorite place
1 caught you napping; and if o'er your lovely face
I bent, and lightly as the flow'r-moth sips
I ?.tole a kiss from your unconscious lips . . .
My lover-heart the imagined picture charms;
Ah, and if you should clasp me in your arms
And, with closed eyes, each lid a pallid lily
You clung to me and softly murmured "Willy,"
If that ehould happen?if it ever did
YOUR NAME AND MINE WOULD LEAD
THE HEADLINES, KID:
J-UTKENN.
Yivienne is in Dr. Henry Noble MacCraeken's
English class, at Smith College. She had the answer,
she said the other ? y, on the tip of her wit's tad.
the M*nr ann o'Byrne cmristmas fund.
Previously S'.kntwladfstl. $28 25
Anonymous . j 00
Coop . j 00
Slndbad . 5 00
Jira Rabbit . . 2 00
Ch.op?, . ?00
I- S. R . ?00
H. M. P. 200
Jlrnmla . 2 00
J. t. D . I oo
W. w. Evsrstt. 100
Nal Brovtn . 104
Lsult A. KSffllf . 104
M- L . 100
"? F. L . I0S
Burl H. wlnchettsr. , M
H. H. P . , M
Dudla? WMIcs? . 100
"? H. P . . . | 00
Brr
I 00
Alfred A. Kn-M . ,M
frtih .*. too
P- c. S . ,o?
Rdxl . If*
Csralln? Ot?ii . jq
MB 73
Contnbs who think they can get their names in by
sending l?c, ?c, le, 4c, 3c or 7c t. the funl know
now how wrong they were. Miss Byrne will get tl.:
32c, but she won't know who sent the money.
"Why not," suggests Kim, and the no'-on is not a
bad one, "threaten your parishioners with more
Watervliet stuff .f they fail to come across?"
ADDRESS TO CRITICS.
TBt MJs* M?7 Ar.a O-Byrr.a. of War?n:i*?. N T 1
I hnve been told that 1 should sfidy grammar,
Itefore I eommeti<-ed to write,
? ' were blessed with a good edu-atten,
I wold then bo out of sight.
But 1 tff\ quite confident.
That I some good can do.
With the plain, unpolished language
That I address to you.
And as I never had the privil?ge
To apend much time In s'-fio.
I certainly have no leisure now.
To go under such a rulo.
Neither will I give my writings.
To any one to Insfert,
For I have heard aome of the most learned people
Si> thlnga that wa? not correct.
But whether you eat of plain or eipensive dishea.
It will no difference mako.
lVovid^d th^ food Is rl?an ?and hr?!th>,
of whi'-h \ou do f T*t*>l*t
What a ?hower of dollar bills for Mi;s O'Byrne!
Looks like s green Christmas for her.
THE LORD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER.
THE PEOPLE'S COLUMN *?&? ?22 ?0*
Public Debate.
A STIRRING APPEAL BY
MRS. EDITH WHARTON
She A?k? Her Fellow Americans to
Aid New Belgian Relief Work
in Pari?.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Not long ago I ai4ked yon to
publish an appeal for my Fans work?
room for women thrown out of employ?
ment hy the war. Now I come with a
more urgent appeal for another cnuse.
1 am told that a pamphlet called "The
Truth About Germany" has been a
circulated in the I'nited States. Here
;n Paris we do not need to read that
pamphlet. We see the truth about Ger?
many in the daze?! and stricken
of the homeles.4 handled? pouring in
?fell** from Belgium and North ei
France, and the heertreeding eight hai
impelled a number of Americans to or?
ganize a group of American hostels for
refugees.
The work wa? started a week ago
in connection with l.e Foyer Franco
Belge*, a centre of Belgian rescue work,
and already we have had two hi
and about |}0 beds given us. But w
need money to run these houses, an.!
He BOed II at once, for the homeless
and hungry cannot wait.
France is doing all ?he can to help
the heroic nation that haa helped lier.
In". France is burdened with the et
of a terrible and exhausting war and
With the eleiflU of her own poor and
wounded. America is rich and free and
-i.ff, end it behooves Americans, above
all other?, to be generous. We who
live here in Paris know what we are
it-king and why we ask it. We -..
daily and hourly need of mor? he'p
and ever more help. We hear
our ears. ?-,. teed i tk "-?r head
cruel and compl?cate.I sufferings of this
t?te sad i Job ibla people. An.I
va appeal te rea, our compatriot?, to
our aid in relieving them.
Wa know you have already been mag?
nificently generous, and we ask you |
be so once again. Whatever si :I ?
heve gtvea 'o. give 'o our Araei
hostels to day It I? an American char?
ity, run on "the American plan," and it
depend? on you whether are ran keep It
Dp i r not. Do make it possible fi
to do sol Don't sap you can't afford
it Belgian* did no* ley that to France
(live whether you think you can ?
i' m no;; give up something for your?
selves to give to the Belgians instead;
fries even if it is so little that you
thin? it won't help. Every penny ?rill
help, and will he carefully expended
hy i he compatriots who appeal to you
to aid thern in this urgent task.
Donations may he sent to Messrs.
Meares & '"o., 4 Rue Veatadeor, i'ir .
i.r to Mr?. Wharton. U Rue de Varenne.
Paris. EDITH WHARTON.
Paris. Nor. It, 1M4.
STOP THE WAR IN 3 MONTHS
The Only Way It Could Be Done, as a
Critic of Germany Believes.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: May I be permitted to sa-.- |
it seem? to me Messrs. Bsrtholdt, I o
licck snd Vollmer protest too much*
it looks as though a guilty German
conscience required very little accus?
ing.
If the government of the I'nited
States wishes to take a hand in trymc
to atop any fu"her performance? of
"the great suicidal adventure" of Gar?
many it could do nothing more effective
than to atate quite plainly that r.
plies of any kind would be ?old t.
many. Of cour?e, tins sounds like a
prejudiced remark, when we know |
impossible for the Fnited States ?..
do it. Nevertheless, it would I
only way to ..top the war in th.e?
month?. On the other hand, it would
be a very good thing if it won ?
selling ?upphes to the,Allie? as well.
That would be almost equally effective
in stopping the war. It would take
lr.rV,7.., ,yr,.? ,r f ,,_ ^I>n,h, ,on,.rr
I United States know?, as well
as tht- allied power? knew, that the re?
sources of Great Britain, France and
a arc Inexhaustible, and the more
they are thrown upon their t.wn re
?oureea tht- greater their resources
will become they will develop Where
men** has no resources; she ?3
now cut off from getting anything ex?
cept what Fhe has within her borders.
Bo why not listen to these three Ger?
man representatives that we have :n
Washington and refuse to 'sell sup?
plies to any of the belligerents? I
think it would end the wur quicker
than anything else. W. CROZIER.
Now roth, Dae. it, Itld.
GRAPEJUICE AND TAR WATER
What German Raider? Could Do to
American Coast Town?.
To the Fditor of The Tribune.
S r: What Germany has just done to
three English coast towna she can do
at any moment to a dozen cities of our
?
And still Micawber sticks to grape
juice aad ter water.
P teh them into the gutter and put
ard ram or Kentucky
on .11 the Cabinet.
Par-fetched theories, the cowardice
o* arbitration and reliance upon peace
' on against Ger
? r-.-rk-.-r rnge.
Cur people are loath to enter into
wiir. I.ut "by the splendor of God" they
will know how and when to crush the
Incompetent? who new invoke dis
nbjagation. The cyclone of
l.cawber's policy II
lee He a 'nan, Mr. President, or
get into your cellar.
A VIRGINIAN.
Brooklyn, Dec. 17. l'.M-l.
NOBEL PRIZE FOR MR. DANIELS
That Is the Last Suggettion of an Ad
miring Reader.
To 'he Fditor af The Tribune.
Sir: I have just read with great sur?
prise that the Nobel peace prise <*om
? Anally decided yeeterday there
would be no peace prize a?
Ol e ran readily understand that at
pre
IB honor, but the com
? BOt looking I. r\
far ?
ihree candidate? here on whom it
might be moat appropriately bestowed.
altogether peecefnl
..ni.i weai its lanrela most
committee pre
11 furi her, behold our
? .
it oar inore than peaceful Seeretarv af
the Navy! Never in the instory of our
t)Ci,..p |i,.. n as stren ;
exploited, ar d lv rack ardent adro?
and it i?. indeed, a most lament?
able overaight on the part of the com?
mittee to ignore their obvious claim?
for the great award.
A. If. RARNARD.
New York, Dec. 10, 1914
WAVING THE T. R. BANNER
An Admirer Paint? a Picture of What
Might Have Been.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
"sir: 1 r.t- matest misfortune that
ever befell thl? eoaatTJ we? the defeat
of T. P.. in the leal I're Idential elec?
tion.
With thi? st'irdy American in the
"?Mine Utilise this country would own
-trip of land between the Texas
the
? I..iin.'rv
I'.-.ur hours
? applied with the
? i that includes
they are able to pay
for in c
As for Smith America, those markets
would belong to us fur ..H time
\? ' ' -.i ? ? - . . ?nd
Germany, T. R. would be found In the'
\anguani waving the Stars and Stripes.
A DEMOCRAT.
New York, Dec IT, 1914.
RESPECT FOR THE FLAG
A Case Where a Presentation Banner
Wat Scantily Appreciated.
To the Fditor of The Tribune.
Sir: If our present form of govern?
ment is to continue it is essential that
our citizens thoroughly understand ami
appreeiato American ideals and tra.li
arid that our glorious flair is the
symbol of a nation "conceived
? r'.y ami dedicated to the prop >
that all men are created equal."
and as such it is to be loved ami
? I. <H:r association WAS Organ?
'??>? tie purpose of promoting sach
? e sro ^, am! WS ipoad our own,
timi- ard money, but our experienc?
? ??me of our officials is, to say the
?rtoninjr, where we meet
wi;h i instead of encour
ag? ment.
1 ? ? me cite briefly a case in point.
At the t'.ni.? of the installation of
> antr officers, in the
irt House, no provision had
i, flag for said building
Tllis sras brought to our attention, and
we presented the city with n |60 last.
The ?lay preceding the ceremonies it
was discover. .1 that the halyardj on
the flagstaff were broken and unu
It heir : toe la'n to go* an order
through official channel?, and so that
could be carried
through as planned, we or.?.red hul
jrardi placed on the staff. After the
sios the bill for the halyards
tod to the official in < '
? ? WON referred to '.he ("ommis
?ionor of Public WorV? of The Bronx,
who curtly informed us that if we .lo?
to present ttV.gs we shoald
- the halyards- whieh we sah?
?!v d ! Proa want of care the
hafyai parted, and for
IS the flag was missing fr?n:;
building, ar.l on In?l.[ ? iy, the
?lay Of all ?lays on which thi
shoold Oilding was wthout a
although the Commissioner of
Public Works was the chairman i
i Fourth of July
C <mr ? \V. V. OI.PP.
Soerotary MeKinley S.iunre I.
Pole and Klag Association.
New York, Doe. '.'. 191 L
A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
Tha Suggestion of a Reader for the
Drilling of Civil Service Employes.
Hon. Woodrow Wilson, President of
tho United
n, !>. C.
Dear .Mr. President: Your las
. .
nercasing our n->
guard. Permit me as a eiti'en :
mit for your c I
whereby your \l\e^ may he carried out
for the benefit of our nation an?!
out In any way tending towar I
tsrism.
We have in the federal government.
U w-el! as -in the different state bt d
large city governments, several hun?
dred thousand civil service employes,
both male and female. These employes
derive their livelihood from the dif?
ferent governmental departments of
this country and receive therefor ample
compensation.
Wi nld it not be proper and advan?
tageous to us under the circumstances
ve these employes sufficiently
trained in military affairs by in SOBS?
way or other requiring all civil Ml
empli.. out the I'n.? .?.1
to join the national guar?! for a period
up to their fortieth year at ISMMtl The
different ?!.'p;;rt; ?? ? ?hese peo
pie in their employ would ai'?...y? M II
touch with ?hem in case of
A statute or some other provision
could be enacted or adopted in our
civil service law? making it man?!atory
for all future applicants for civil ser-1
..., t,> anHswH avssof ??? ? ?
ser-.-!.-' :. for
wh icii a en i i lence
should be given.
A? to the ?..men employes, a course
in (trat aid to the injured and other
duties should .n lome way be provided
for and made a I precedent in
the tiling of applications for examina
fJredit ai ace ?hould
al?o be given for I
Bf ndoptit.^' the above mentioned
methods a higher standard of employes
would be obtained.
AHTIU'R A. HENNING.
New York, Dec. 17. 1011.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
A Doctor Finda Much to Criticiie in
Its Activitie?.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
B r: The warm feeling of satisfac?
tion which the - .fe?sion o
New Yt.rk is e- m rending
your articles against pu'ir.t medicine
evils hi- receivt i a ?odden chill b:
\our etiitonal this morning on the
work of the Health Department. W
. -, 4 the fOO'i
work which the Health Department u
r than the doctor? of *M
m. ami 1 hare :
meet one who kaa ever i
?lightest tendon ."? J!
tne or manner with its legit:
mate function?.
The writer 'orial evident ?
two particulars. ? fo''
lowing up and chcc?.ing of all cases oi
tuberculin.s reportt d Ph>"
: leiana. There would be no obj.
to this were the work dOM hy the at?
tending physician's peers, hut aimo?
Invariably e physician attending ? cate
of tuberculosis finds that a r.urse r-as
been at trie house, who has not oni>
i y more or
of the do?'or <
work, but >ih- also practised mi
by diagnoeing and prt 'u*r'V
to her head
the la* ?nd
form? a It ground tor con
plaint or. th- doctor's part. The secor.u
all comer
by B< ,n*- , . .
'The : -hould have -
that then*, t**> ajan
!l per^
. weald co-operate 'i aaon
ai i weal l - riffr m*">
to 'hem, bot it m ? mattet *"
common knowledge that in m
? clinics is any attempt made u>
rtaia whathof ? patient i? ?r- ?
on to pay any fee whatever; way
raply run with a view to ?**?s
statistics. The fact that many Of tee?
M sre run at night is proof po-'"
tive that I -' '^/"?/i,
laytime. and. ?f *nl9 ''
anmker make no effort i?
pay for treatment.
These ' ''* arp ,*lten *.r0?
many which may le cited to ?-hiex
tloctors feel that they have a ngni w
tiociors t.-i-i ...... ...^.. ..-.^ .iior
object, not only as physicians au.no
i..- ? ite to practise BBOfJ
citizens, and whose ability has at*
certified to. as It were, by the '*'u?'l5;
of a state license, but siso on in
ground that thev are taxpayers ?n
that money which they help to ?upP'>
is being u?ed to their detriment.
PHILIP EMBURY, M p
New York, Dec. IT, 1914.
The Prutsian Sword.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: To those of your reader? wh"
aatifieation of the A'.lie?' ?*'*"'.
i .r ar.d who aie anyway <l' *v
e-i.-d because of the inroad? (?*""'(i
,_-. ?!?? mem. Iboee {"**'.
-raifleaaee m pi??.
lag that was prevaleel during s rro
Brer over three eeatartea *??Br(!
run. "Other nations may have ? ,0 JT.
?word than Frussia. but none can u?
?heath it so soon." ??..,
THEODORE MICHEL
Prrt^Vt,^ tl - |1 toil