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$10 in Prizes To tlie wives and daughters of the grocervmen and provision dealers selling \tith *s Provisions, as follow S5.00 for the best-lookijig plk>to of anv groeervman ?>r provision dealer that handles Auth s pro visions. S3.00 for the photo of the groeervman or dealer that sells the most of Auth's. goods. Si.00 each for the photo of the dealer selling the second -and third largest amounts. Notice.? The above amounts will only he paid to the women. If the men have no photos they can go to C'linedinst. the Photog rapher, corner 14th and II streets, and have one taken free of charge. "Say it's for The Star." Conditions,? Photos must be in by next Friday. February 7. The names will not be published unless so desired. Address: Photo Fdi tor, care The Star. Auth Provision Co. Stands at All Markets. Quick Delivery. Auth Provision Co., 628 Va. Ave. S. W. All Grocers Sell Auth's Provisions. S^CK WITH t\ TWE CCCK , e-iv AUTH US Imposition: Into liow many pieccs of various sizes is it possible to divide a loaf of Meinberg's bread with six straight cuts of a knife across any side? You niav cut across the top, bottom, side or ends, but use only six strokes altogether. In the event that mitre than one person given the correct solution tlie |iri/.e will l>e divided. Contest will enil February It ami winners will he published in Saturdays St nr. February I'.. Address ail answers to John Melnberg. ihe Kins Baker, Bo\ 22."., i-are The Siar. Every Good Grocer Sells Mein= berg's Bread=*=Ask for Meinberg's Notice to Gro'm: It is my intention to publish liie iiholos of the leading grocers selling my breail. Any grocer interested lu having a photo of his store published will kindly advise ine, and oblige, Address John Q. Meinberg, "The King Baker," 714 1 tth St. S.E. SUBJECT OF LITIGATION. Electric Railway Company Sues to Recover for Repairs on 1st Street. Th*> Washington Railway and Electric Company today filed suit in the District Supreme Court to recover $2.?1W.?from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for work done on 1st street northeast between Kast Capitol and B streets. The electric railway company informs the court that at the request of the defendant, between January ,11, 1907, and December lx. 1!H?7, it repaired 1st street and the street rail way tracks thereon, due to the sinking and settlement of the street by reason of the excavation and construction of a tunnel to the 1'nion station. The bill also includes the materials provided for the work. Attorneys J J. Darlington and Charles A. Douglas represent the plaintiff. A Pretty Bretelle Dress for a Girl. -1 ISm? One of the newest and prettiest j designs for lilile girls is shown in the. frock illustrated. It is very easy to J make, i lie slashed hretelles. decorated with straps .and buttons, forming the ! only trinimbig of the simple waist, which ' is bloused slightly at ill*' waist line. The j attached skirt is a two-piece model, the tw:? ? k ><'<tion being lapped over lite front re and fastened with buttons in an ! extremely (>iet!y effect. Straps a"tl but 1 tons also trim the cuffs, thus adding a no\.l finish to the becoming full sleeve. < a.ihmeic, wool batiste or any seasonable fabric may be used for making this little i dress. yards of JWJ-inch material being j i required lor the ei^ht-vear size. 4JS/0. Seven sizes. <> to I:! years. Tiie price of this pattern is loc. PATTERN ORDKR BLANK. Fashion Dept.. The Star. Wash., D. C. For to cents inclosed please send pat tern to the following address: Siz? Pattern No. 4290 | POINTS IN HOLMES CASE. ??? ? Former Statistician of Department of Agriculture May Not Be Retried. Edwin S. Holme*, jr.. former assistant statistician of the Department of Agricul ture, whose trial last spring: for conspir acy to defra>ud the government In con nection with tiie leakage in cotton crop statistics resulted in a disagreement, may not be retried because of technicalities raised by his counsel. Holmes' counsel yesterday tiled a motion to withdraw the plea of not guilty and asked |>erinission to llle a demurrer to the indictment on tlie ground tfiat it does not charge any crime. Justice Stafford stated that, as the ques tions involved were of great weight, he would take the motion under advisement. FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY. Central Union Mission Will Con tinue to Supply It. In addition to the Sunday morning free breakfast for hungry and homeless men and boys, provided b;> the Central I'nion Mission. Louisiana avenue between tith and 7th streets, tlie board of managers of that institution have decided to also provide a fft-e supper for the same class of wayfarers. It is explained that for a number of years the Sunda\ breakfasts have been furnished by the mission. They consist of a supply of sandwiches and ??offee. Mr. (). B. Brown, chairman of the directorate, said today: "This provision is not intended to en courage idleness, but to bridge over Sun day. when the woodyard is closed and all other opportunities for odd jobs are un available. The urgent need of an addi tional supply for the evening lias be come so pressing it has been decided to repeat iiie morning lunch at 7 o'clock Sun day evenings. "Many of the men availing themselves of this kindness would gladly work if work could be prdfcured. I.ast Sunday morning in an audience of about ^00 men more than half the number signified by an offered test that they were out of work, but anxious to obtain employment. "The cost of furnishing this extra lunch will be about $."? each Sunday." POUND BREAKS RECORD. More Dogs Captured Last Month j Than in Any Previous One. All monthly records for dog catching in | tlie District were broken last month. Ac* ' cording to the report submitted to the; health officer this morning by Samuel j Kinstein. the District poundmaster, 44H i dogs were caught and were killed. This increased activity on the part of j the District dog catchers is attributed to the recent report made to the Commis sioners by Dr. Alonzo Melvin, chief ot the bureau of animal industry of the De partment of Agriculture, to tne effect that there is an unusually high prevalence of rabbles am -ng the dogs in Washington, and who suggested that all dugs should be muzzled. Because of this alleged prevalence of rabbies and the unusually large number of "t;am.p" dogs running tiie streets, the Commissioners p it an additional wagou in the ?er\Ice of the pound. Mr. Kinstein reported that yesterday was the banner day of the mouth for his dog catchers. They succeeded in rounding tip sixty eight. The revenues from the pound during tiie month were (145.51). Connecticut Mutual's Exhibit. The sixt\ -second annual report of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance t'om pa:iy has been issued for public inspec tion. It shows that the company has made substantial gains in premium in come in the past year, despite all obsta cles; it iias aiso shown increase in Interest earnings and alotiK other lines. The ratio of lauses is declared to have been almost nominal. Tailor Files Petition in Bankruptcy. Charles T. Xeal. tailor, at Xo. 915 G .street nort<hwest. today filed a petition in ; voluntary bankruptcy. He schedules his assets at $1.310.57 and his debts at I $1.4-J8.::r>. At mrney Chapln Brown repre sents the petitioner. Commission of Experts in Favor of It. ONE DISSENTING VOICE Politics Must Be Excluded From the Management. LIMITS OF BECOKHENDATIONS ' * Only Those Affecting Public Health, Transportation, Safety or Perma nent Occupation Included. BY W1I.L1AM E. CURTIS. SpeHai Correspondence' of The Star uud tUe Chicago Record-Herald. NEW YORK. January 'JO.-The commis \sion of experts appointed by the National Civic Federation ?o investigate the sub ject of public ownership and operation has made its import, and. as its membership was composed of theorists and practical men in eijua) nuqnbers, it is quite remark able tiiai its conclusions are unanimous with one exception. Mr. Walton Clark, vice president of the United Gas Improve ment Company of Philadelphia, familiarly known as the gas trust, is the only mem ber who dissents. The other nineteen ob stinate persons decline to agree with him. and prevent thejeport from being unani mous. This investigation i* Die outcome of the contest between George B. McClellan and William R. Hearst for mayor of New York in 11HM. in which the issue was mu nicipal ownership, and Mr. Hearst re ceived a surprising number of votes in favor of that ?proposition.* The Civic Federation, composed of a large number of prominent men from all parts of the country, representing every industry. Interest and ( lass of society, rec ognizing tMe significance of that vote and realizing l>ow little the people of the I'tiited States knoff concerning the prac tical workings of municipal ownership, ap pointed a committee consisting of: Committee's Members. Melville E. Ingalls. chairman, chairman of the board of directors of tlie Big Four railroad. Albert Shaw, vice chairman, editor Re view of Reviews, New York city. Talcott Williams, editorial writer, the Press. Philadelphia. W. D. Mahon. president Association of Street Railway Employes, Detroit. <? Frank J. Goodno^r. professor of political economy, Columbia University, New York city. Walton (Mark, third vice president United Cms Improvement Association. Philadelphia. Edward W. Bemis, superintendent water [ works, Cleveland. John H. Gray, professor of political economy. University of Minnesota. Min neapolis. Walter L. Fisher, special ti-action coun sel, city of Chicago, and ex-president Mu nicipal Voters' League. Chicago. Timothy Healy. president International Brotherhood Stationary Firemen. New York city. ' William J. ("lark, general manager for eign department. General Electric Com pany. New York city. H. B. F. Macfarland. president board of Commissioners. District of Columbia. Washington. Daniel J. Keefe. president International Longshoremen's Association. Detroit. Frank Parsons, president National Pub lic Ownership League. Boston. John R. Commons, Wisconsin Univer sity. Madison. Wis. J. W. Sullivan, editor Clothing Trades' Bulletin. New York city. F. J. McNulty, president International Brotherhood Electrical Workers. Wash , ington. Albert E. Winchester, general superin ( ttndent City Electric Works. South Nor walk. Conn. Charles L. Edgar, president Ediaon Electric and Illuminating Companv Bos ton. Milo R. Maltbie", member public services commission, New York city. Leo 8. Howe. University of Pennsyl vania. Philadelphia. Edward A. Moffett, secretary, editor Bricklayer and Mason. Indianapolis, lnd. Mr. Parsons is one of the most promi nent socialists iu this country; Mr. Bemis is one of Tom Johnson's political lieu tenants: Mr. Healy is better known as "Tim" Ilealy, a prominent Tammanv leader in New York. Experts Employed. Having organized October 5, lftOri. the committee decided to employ a corps of experts to make a thorough investigation of the practical results of municipal own ership and operation in Europe, and di vided the Held between them according to their best judgment. This investigation continued until May. l?K?7. when the re ports of the experts, which nil three vol umes of five and six hundred pages each, were submitted. They have been sum ma rized in brief and a subcommittee was appointed to prepare a general report bet ting forth the conclusions and the recom mendations which cover gas, electric lighting and power, water, and street railways?the public utilities that have been municipalized to a greater extent than any others in this and in foreign countries. The expenses of the investigation were paid from a fund raised by August Bel mont of New York, president of tiie Civic Federation, and subscriptions were solicit ed from ail who are Interested in the sub ject of municipal ownership on one side or tihe other. At the recent investigation of the-finances of the street car lines of New York it was disclosed that a consid erable portion of the funds were furnished by the elevated and surface railways of that city. An attempt was made to create a scandal from this fact, but it afterward appeared that the railway companies made lip a. deficit in the funds necesaarv to pay for the investigation and report which was. in many respects, decidedly against Mr. Be'mont's personal views. There is no doubt of Mr. Belmont a honesty, patriotism and disinterestedness While he has always b?en opposed to every form of municipal ownership, he has been -earnest and sincere in his ef forts to obtain accurate information on that subject. Scope of Inquiry. Nor can there be anj question as to the competency and the honesty of the ex perts who were employed. Soon after the organization of the committee its mem bership developed a difference of pr^con cei\ed opinions upon whatever informa tion and experience had already been en joyed by them. The line was drawn be tween the pros and the untls. Hence tlie corps of experts was organized in pairs, one being nominated b>>the pros and the other by the a.iitis* with instructions to work side by side and prepare a joint re port. |n a few instances, where the pro? and the anils could agree upon a aingie expert.11 wo were not tiituieii The investigations were confined to Great Britain and Ireland, for tlie reason that conditions titer.) are more nearly comparable to those iu the United States than In other European countries. And the greater part of the work was done iti Glasgow. Manchester, Birmingham, Lei cester. Liverpool. Newcastle, Gateshead Sheffield, Dublin, Norwich, Bristol and London. ( The scope of the inquiry included the following: 1. Franchises of private companies. li. Public supervision by governmental authorities. 3. History of municipal ownership. 4. Effect of public and private manage ment upon: tat Political conditions. j 4 ib? Conditions of labor. tc> Character of service. <d? Price of service. lei Coat of service. <f> Economy of management. tg? Improvement* in service and meth ods. <h) Financial results. Principles Agreed On. In its summary report the committee I | Pay as You Go and You'll Never Owe. Furniture of the Reliable Kind, f 1 Now for a Week That Ail Odd Lots and Oinie=olf=a=kiinid to Be Cleared Out in Short Order. We have sold more goods during the last two weeks than during any other two weeks since we have been in business?this is saying a good deal, but it is absolutely true, and it will help you to realize what an immense business we have done. Of course, such rapid selling has left our lines somewhat broken, and now we have taken stock we can tell exactly what we have and what it will be necessary to dispose of to get our lines straightened out. We propose to cull out every piece of furniture of which we have only one of a pattern and all odd lots and incomplete sets. In order to make a quick clearance of them we are going to slash prices in such a manner that the coining week will be far busier even than the last two weeks have been. Come in early while you can choose from a big selection. In many instances you will find the goods marked to less than actual cost of production. r *? We have a number of high-class Dresser* in mahogany and quar tered oak. with regular piano polish finish. Tt?is !s o!ie of tile patterns. Fu!I swell front, with large mirror. They'll be snapped up in no time at No mail or 'phone orders will be accepted. Big Brass Red. with massive coh tlnuous posts and best quality lacquer. T-ball joints. A bat gain. indeed, at... No phone or mall orders will be accepted. $17.85 $11.85 $87.45 JACKSON BROS. 9115 to 925 Seventh St. x A few Rockers of this pattern In mahogany, with high polish finish. You could not buy them anywhere else undet $3.oO. While they last..' No 'phone or mall orders will accepted. You will also find many bargains in Parlor Pieces. Parlor Suites, Buffets, Sideboards. Dining Chairs. Extension Tables, China Closets. Wardrobes, Parlor Tables. Chiffoniers, Brass and Knameled Beds. Toilet Tables. Kasy Chairs, Couches. Writ ing. Desks, llall Racks. Bookcases, etc. * * t t t t ? * ?*> * ? i * <N ? * * t <*> M ?*? ? * | fh ? * * ? t SCENE AT THE VEERHOFF FIRE. unanimously agreed upon certain general principles, which are as follows: "First. We wish to emphasize the fart that the public utilities studied are so constituted that it is impossible for them to be regulated by competition. Therefor# they must be controlled and regulated by the government; or they must be left to do as they please: or they must be oper ated by the public. There is no other [ course. None of us Is In favor of leaving them to their own will, and the question is whether it is better to regulate or op erate. "There are no particular reasons why the financial resu'ts from private or pub lic operation should be different if the conditions are the same. In each case it | is a question of the proper man in charge ' of the business and of local conditions. ! "We are of the opinion that a public utility which conoerns the health of the Vitizens should not be left to individuals, where the temptation of profit migtht in duce disastrous results, and therefore It is our judgment that undertakings in which the sanitary motive largely enters should be operated by the public. "We have come to the conclusion that municipal ownership of public utilities . should not be extended to revenue pro ducing Industries which do not involve t?he , public health, the public safety, public i transportation or the permanent occupa tion of public streets or grounds, and that municipal operation should not be under taken solely for profit. "We are also of the opinion that all future grants to private companies for the construction and operation of public utili ties should be terminable after a certain fixed period, and that meanwhile cities should have tihe right to purchase the property for operation, lease, sale or pay ing its fair value." Four Recommendations. The commission recommends that the various states should give authority to their municipalities upon popular vote under reasonable regulations to build and operate public utilities or to build and lease the same, or to take over works al ready constructed. At the same time pro vision should be made for a competent public authority with power to require a uniform system of reports and accounts, which shall be published and distributed like ordinary official reports. In case tne management of public utilises is left with private companies, the commission, unani mously agrees that tlie public should re tain in all cases an Interest in the profits and the growth of the. future; and that no municipal operation shoulo be under taken that does not provide for: "First. An executive manager with full responsibility, holding his position during good behavior. "Second. Exclusion of political influ ence and personal favoritism from the management of the undertaking. "Third. Separation of the finances of the undertaking from those of the rest of the city. "Fourth. Exemption *10111 the debt limit of the necessary bond 'Issues for revenue-producing utilities, which shall be a first charge upon the property and revenues of such undertakings." Giving Away Bights. The commission calls attention to the fact that the people of the 1'nited States have heedlessly given away their rights and have not reserved sufficient power of control or regulation; and suggest that corruption in the public service In a large measure has sprung from such I From a Photograph Taken From Top of the Geological Survey Building. conditions. The greater danger of turn- j ing over public utilities to municipal gov- , ernments arisen from the fact that we are not yet up to the standard of govern- ! ment In British cities. "We found in England and Scotland a high type of municipal government," the commission reports. "Business men seem to take a pride In serving as city coun cillors or aldermen, and the governments of such cities as Glasgow. Manchester, Birmingham and others include many of the best citizens of those places. These conditions are distinctly favorable 10 I municipal operation. In tihe I'nited States, j as is well known, many cities are not in j such a favorable condition. It is charged , that the political activity of public service corporations lias in many instances been responsible for the unwillingness or ina bility of American cities to secure a higti type of public service. This charge we be- : lieve to be true. However, there seems i to be an idea with many people that the mere taking by the city of all its public j utilities for municipal operations will at 1 once result in ideal municipal government through the very necessity of putting hon est and competent citizens in charge. While an increase in the number and im portance of municipal functions may have a tendency to induce men of a higher type to become public officials, we do not be lieve that this, of itself, will accomplish municipal reform. We are upable to rec ommend municipal ownership as a po litical panacea." Conclusions. The commission sums up its conclusions under seven heads, as follows: "First. Public utilities, whether in pub lic or private hands, ate best conducted under a system of legalized and regulated monopoly. "Second. Public utilities in which the sanitary motive largely enters should be operated by the public. "Third. The success of municipal opera tions of public utilities depends upon the existence in the city of a high capacity for municipal government. "Fourth. Franchise grants to private corporations should be terminable after a j tixed period and meanwhile Mibjeci to purchase at a fair value. "Fifth. Municipalities should ha\e pow er to enter the held of municipal owner ship upon popular vote under reasonable regulation. "Sixth. Private companies operating | public utilities should be subject to public j regulation and examination' under a sys tem of uniform records and accounts and of full publicity. "Seventh. The committee takes no posi tion on the question of the general ex pediency of either private or public owner ship. The question must lie solved by each municipality in the light of local con ditions. What may be possible in one lo cality may not be in another. In some cities the companies may so serve the public as to create no dissatisfaction, and nothing might be gained by exprimenting with municipal ownership. Again, the government of one city may be go<5d and capable of taking charge of these public utilities, while In another it may be the reverse. In either case the people must remember that it requires a large class of sble men as city ofacials to look after these matters. They must also remember that municipal ownership will create a large class of employes who may have more or less political influence." Stumph A Lyford's February Sale commences Monday. B-'Ji-tWa Mass. ave. | ?Advt. TARIFF ON PAPER. Denounced by Representative John Sharp Williams, Minority Leader. During- general debate in tlie Houm yesterday Minority Leader Williams de nounced tlie tariff on paper. Addressing the republican side of the House, he said: "You ar?' doing your utmost to retard the humanlzatlon of the American peo ple."' What justification was there, he in quired. for taxing the man who read-* or the little girl who takes her catechism to Sunday school? From the viewpoint of civilization and the culture and rertne ment of humanity, Mr. Williams said could not see how any man could defen?t the tariff on those articles, even for th? purpose of retaining a seat in Congress He applauded President Roosevelt tor favoring "the untaxed spread of Intelli gence among men." He added that the President also had tried to read the re publicans a lesson on taxing works of art. Mr. Smith of California asserted that the high price of printing paper was due not to the tariff, but to a combination to uphold the price. Mr. Hitchcock characterized the price of paper by the International Paper Com pany as an "enormous robbery." and 1" differing from Mr. Smith about the tariff said that if the duty were to be removed Canadian paper would be admitted an<l force a reduction in the price of the American company. IMPOUNDING THE NILE. The Great Assouan Dam In Egypt. Charles M. Pepper. in Seriluier'i*. The twetuleth century adaptation of the ancient principles of Irrigation, surpass ing the skill displayed In the tilling in ?>f hollows and the creation of lakes by the Egyptian engineers of the twelfth dy nasty, is best exemplified in the Assouan dain. which may be said to have drawn on the constructive experience of the world and particularly of the new world, the west contributing to the east through ih'* Kngineer Corps of the I'nited States Army, whose plans for lock gates for ilie Nicaragua canal were utilized. The build ing of the dam at Assouan was deter mined by an international commission ?f eminent experts, which Included British, French and Italian engineers. Now thai plans for raising the dam are being car rled out. It is essential to know something of the mechanical and technical feature* of the construction It^order to have a f ill comprehension of the Influence which it exerts on civilization by increasing crop areas and the productiveness of land.* already cropped. Assouan is at the head of the first cat aract. 585 miles above Cairo, and the Nil-1 at this point is ;?5U fee! above the levl of the Mediterranean, having a fall of five inches per mile from Assouan to Cairo and of on* Inch uer mile from Cairo *o the Mediterranean It was here that tli* Nile gauge could be depended on ;o show with tife greatest accuracy whether fam ine threatened, sufficiency would satisfy, or plenty would rejoice the land. Th? dam. which Is also a waterway, as origi nally constructed was a granite structure, the granite being from the quarries which thousands of wars ago furnished the stones for the pyramids. It is one and one-quarter miles In length across the head of the cataract in a continuous straight line. As completed in llVC.' the highest point was l'M? feet. The width a: the top was feet and at the bottom 1<*>. The helsrnt of the water when tne reservoir is full is ?>7 feet and the - aoac ity is l,tKJ??,OOO.OCO tons Death of Mrs. Robert J. Walton. Word has been received here of the death of Mrs. Robert J. Walton at the home of her son. Charles C. Schiller. 17-1 Guilford avenue. Baltimore. Monday last Mrs. Walton was the daughter of a prom inent resident of Baltimore and was fifty seven years of ase. Her first husband was Charles C. Schillt^. After his deat i she resided In this city and was employed In the government service. She later married Mr. Walton or Baltimore, w . died about ten veurs ago. Prestige 1 The paper that carries tlie great- j est amount of puld c assified ad- j vertlsing is the paper tnat It most | widely read in the town in which it - is printed. Not every one can pfford to use big display ads., but no one is so poor that lie cf-.not afford to ij?? the Want columns of a newspa;>er not even the man out of a job. ?Pi inter's Ink. I -