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THE^ EVENING ^STAB, WASHINGTON, FRIDAY July 25, 1913 THEODOM W. NOTES Editor The ZTMiaf lt*t >t?ip?p?r Company. Bjtltna Office. llth St. and Pennsylvania Avenue. N?w York Office: Tribune Building. Cbl-a*o OIB<h?: First National Bank Building. Europeaa Office: 3 Begent St., London, Eoglsnd. The Evening Star, tvith tb? Sunday roorntnt r-ii'lon, la delivered by <-arrlera with'.o tbe city at it cents per monfb; dally only, 25 cent* per laooffc: Jsumlay only. 'JO cents per mouth. Ordera rnuy bfl sent by mall, or telephone Main 2440. Collection la made by carrlac at tba fad of escfc tUOBtk. PsyaMo fc advance?by nail, pnetafe prepaid. Hally. Sunday Included. one month. flu cents. E>ully. Sunday excepted, one month. 40 eeots. Saturday Star, $1 year; Sanday Star, IS.40 year. Entered aa second-claaa mail matter at the post office at Wcsbington., D. C. mo order to avo'd del ay a oo a croon: of neraawal abaerco, letters to THE STAB should ?jt b* addreaaed to any iodirldual connected *1th tbe office, but pimply t? THE STAR, or to Editorial or Business Department, according .o tenor or purpose. An Inquisitorial Inquiry. The House District committee reopens its Inquiry into the question of assess ments and taxations In Washington In a spirit that suggests that it Is to be a prosecution rather than an investiga tion. The examination of Assessor Rich ards yesterday was conducted with a show of hostility that cannot fall to establish the Impression that It Ik the purpose of the members of the committee to demonstrate that property in the Dis trict of Columbia has been deliberately underassessed In certain instances in dis crimination. In thi_? circumstances it would be only fair for the committee to admit to the sessions In capacity of an attorney some one qualified to represent the District government who can insure the full disclosure of the facts and pro tect witnesses from the consequences of their own embarrassment or from the hostile cross-examination of the inquis itors. If what the committee. wants is Urn trjth. and that only, it can l?a\c no objection to the presence of such an at torney. who can be of service to it as well ah to the District in preventing mis understandings or the Incomplete develop ment. of the facts. Two points were nmdc plain at yoster <:*: session of th~ committee. One r. a.< that in 11,?? minds ot uuestionera on the committee tiere is no warrant of law for | ihe practice of assessing r< al property in J Hit District of Columbia on the basis of j two-thirds of actual \alue. The other was that the findings and recommenda-'; lion:) of the George subcommittee of some ! time ago should be regarded as tanta niuu.it to lu\^ and that in disregarding t'.u. in officers of the District have been dercliet In duty. AKalr.st both of these suggestions or contentions an emphatic protest should bo 'entered at the outset of this investigation. It has been the uniform practice in i tne District of Columbia for many years, j >hicn has for Ire past ten years hiul ! tho authority ot a statute which has \ never been repealed or amended, to a? >c?s real property here on a two-thirds basis. Under the terms of the organic act ihc District tax revenues are sup posed to conform in volume to the extent to which Congress approves the cstl ? mates of the Commissioners. Thus In j theory. witii the estimates approved to the intent of $1U.CUU,0?A? in the aggregate. ' the District is to provide by taxation S5,- ; ?W.Ouu. and those taxes arc- to be raised i at the rate of Sl.oO per ?l??o of valuation. Thus Congress practically determines the > amount of money which the District j must raise by taxation and. the rate be- : ing ,ixeu. the assessment may vary*. It ! foliov a ti;ai the oasis of assessment can- j not be a lixed factor In the equation ii ; Congress scrupulously observes the terms ? of the organic act itself. But In prue-! tice the terms of litis act ale not observ ed rigidly. The District has proceeded for a long period with the ?aia i>k of lunda on the assumption that Congress would appro priate all of its taxation product to gether with an equal amount of money from the federal funds, a theory that has been frequently proved false through infractions of tne organic act by Con gress without Justification. Thus thc basls of two-thirds of true valuation has btcoire established in practice and has proved ample for all purposes of Dis trlct maintenance, inasmuch as Congress has always shown a reluctance to appro priate to the full extent of the District revenues plus an equal sum of federal money. Unless the rate of taxation were lowered an increase of the basis from two-thirds to full value would yield a local tax revenue far in excess of the amount which Congress has of late years '?een willing to match on th< half and half basis with fede-ra! cash. It Is unfair ar.d actually not at ail ?to the point for the present inquisitors to drill upon the ques tion of whether the District asses sors have or ha'.v 2101 obeyed the law in making the ass? ssiueatb on the two thirds basis. They have, in fact, obeyed J the law and hav conformed with aa es tablished praptic., and incidentally have) maintained at. as scssmviit basis upon which the District ha.s produced a per .apita tax levy which compares with the per capita levy of othor American cities of comparable size. It Is inconceivable that members of the District committee should seriously contemplate the report of a subcommittee aa having the equivalent of a legal di rection upon the officers of the District jfovertiment. If the municipal authori ties were to shape their course in ac cordance with the findings and recom mendations of subcommittee's and com mittees they would be In an inextricable tangle in short order. The present Inves tigation loses dignity by this claim, and it is to be hoped that opportunity will oe taken soon to withdraw the conten tion that the lindings of a committee are ? u any sense binding upon the municipal officials until they have been written into law by joint action of the two houses of Congress. popular tast? has moderated in some reapects. Coast resorts that once de nanded sea serpents have becomc con tent with an occasional whale. iiuerta may be the choice of an al' ectionate people, but nobody sees any loving cups going in his direction. Mr. Soot and the Currency. The departure of Senator Root for Eng land would appear to indicate a belief ot. ?is part that there will be no currency egislation at this session of Congress. New York ia greatly Interested In the subject, and should be heard through N}th of her senator* when it comes up for action by that body. So far as the tariff is concerned. Mr. Root's absence will not be of conse quence. He does not figure aa u tariff authority. Besides, the program for tariff revision is made up. and approaches rati fication by the Senate. Had he remained on deck he could but have added his ob jection to the program, and elaborated his views in a speech. But aa the head of the New York bar, f?In for year* nMk Mf capitalistic Y enterprises and a!! forms of business, the j senior New Tork senator should bring much information and many suggestions into a formal discussion of the currency, and render valuable aid In shaping new legislation. The country should hear from him on the subject, and benefit from his contributions. The currency program is not yet made up. In fact, discussion so far has shown so many different opinions, both in Con gross and out. as to what should be done, the situation is little better than chaotic. In the House committee on banking and currency metiers In particular change from day to day. and there is 110 telling what a day may bring forth. Now a proposition is voted in and now out Now a member of the committee jumps the reservation, and now returns. Now there is a deadlock, and now a movement. But nothing has taken place as yet in dicating with definlteness what the demo cratic program-Is to be. or whether the program when submitted will be a "feel er" or not. Only one thing seems cer tain at this time, and that is that what is called the political feature of the ques tion?the control of the central currency board by politicians In office by presi dential appointment?will be subjected to very severe attack In the last analysis of the measure. There are democrats as t well as republicans who doubt the wis- ! dom of that provision. Even If the Senate passes the tariff bill as early as August 25, that will be a late day for it to take up the currency ques tion unless it is willing to sit at least two months longer. For there are great possibilities for debate In a question of such vital conccrn to the whole busmcs3 world. Mexican Mediation. The proposal for the United States to mediate In Mexico is attractive in spite of the obvious difficulties in the way of succese. If a basis could be found for ef fective mediation between the contending factions, leauing to the restoration 01 peace with some assurance of stability, the prestige of this country would be de cidedly advanced. But the responsiDllitics ; of the United States would be corre spondingly augmented, for a mediation such as that now proposed almost neces sarily involves a supervision over the proceedings subsequent to the suspension of hostilities, virtually an American guar anty of a national election participated in by all the people and free from frauds I of all kinds. <"an the United States guar- | an tec tucli an election? It is notorious that Mexican elections for many years j have been tainted by fraud or conducted j under Uderal coercion. Is it possible at > this time to hold an election which all <ho people will attend and where all the votes will be fairly counted? But mediation is by no means assured of success in the llrst stages. It is stated with emphasis by representatives 01* both the Wuerta regime and the so-called con stitutionalists In opposition that no such Intervention will be accepted. It may be that iluerta is afraid that under media tion he will lose his present position of j advantage, while the constitutionalists are increasingly confident in his early I downfall through the failure of his funds end the steadily rising tide of revolution. Yo offer mediation unasked by one or the other of the belligerents is a delicate un dertaking. To propose it in the face of the known unwillingness of both sides would seem Lo be an invitation to repulse ihat may only add to the present em barrassments of the United States It lias been proposed to send a commis sion to Mexico, headed by an eminent American?Mr. Bryan's name is suggested In this connection?for the purpose oi as certaining whether mediation will be ac- , ceptable if tendered. Is not this a round about method, possibly lull of danger? Tl.ls possibility is likely to be discussed when the President and the ambassador from Mexico meet tomorrow for a con ference, which it is hoped will clarify the ideas of the American administration relative to this difficult matter. .Vo inclination to go into hiding has been shown by l>av<d Lamar. Having done what be considers some rather clever work, he insist* on having full crcdi? for it. Yet Dr. Cook, who was under suspicion of far more innocent deception, goes into permanent obscurity. Governmental investigations of a beef supply from South America probably would be facilitated if access could be had to results of investigations made by meat packers with a view to extending their interests into that territory. Secretary Bryan canceled three lectures on account of the Mexican situation. 'that means a lo.ss of another evi dence of Mexico's disregard of the rights and property of American citizens. Drawing a big salary and responding to the plaudits of lar?;e audiences,- Jack Johnson doubtless regards himself as linding in Paris the vindication which he could not sccuie in this country. While there are ?reat principles in volved In the Balkan disturbances, the danger of war Is always most acute when it comes to a question of dividing up the real estate. Tli** "infernal machine" addressed to , Andrew Carnegie did not amount to enough to entitle the man v. ho opened it to a hero medal Any comment fron\ California on a! pu mber 0f the present cabinct is more i or le?B likely to be tinged with dia- i pleasure. j Ambassador W ilson is expected to make ! an attentive auditor at a lecture, whether he responds with a chautauqua salute or not. Trouble at Sing Sing. A serious state of affairs exists at Sing Sing prison, N. V., which has been recently condemned as a place of in carceration on the score of its lack of sanitary facilities and general inade quacy. a change of wardens has been lately effected and some of tho con victs, who include New York city's most desperate gangsters now eerving sentences, have seised upon the coming of the new Incumbent as an oocaslon for a strike. For several days a reign of terror has existed within the prison walls, two tires have been set and one of the convicts has been murdered by fellow inmates. Workers in some of the shops have refused to handle their tools and at all hours of the day and night a terrific clamor has arisen, the convicts yelling and cursing and beat In? upon their bars with utensils, shoes and sticks of wood wrenched from their cots. This morning a large squad of sccond term men, including some of the more desperate characters, were removed from Sing Sing to Auburn penitentiary, in order to relieve the congestion and to lessen the danger of effective revolt. A striking phase of this situation is that for two or three days the town of Ossining has been filled with strangers from New Tork city, carrying hand baggage filled with clothing for their friends within the prison walls, to be used la case of a general jail delivery. These men, mem bers of New York gangs, have openly boasted that the prison would be "rushed" and they were on the alert to help their comrades- It is fnffckly e 1 ? asserted that there is a Tammany in fluence behind this outbreak, which is aimed against Gov. Sulzer's appointee as warden, who replaced a man who enjoyed the confidence of the New York city machine leaders. In the present condition of affairs in Xew York state everything: that happens seems to have a political aspect. The Governor of Missouri is to wield a pick and shovel in order to set a good example in road improvement. Ho will be fortunate if he does not invite resent ment for defacing public property and obstructing the highway. The value of a tariff commission would depend, of course, on whether its purpose was to help or to hinder. There might bo good and bad commissions, just as there are good and ba<i trust*. The history qf public entertainment: Mr. Bryan likes to talk; the public likes to listen and only the critics are dis satisfied. The big yacht race is tar enough ahead to allow Sir Thomas over a year m which to enjoy the pleasures of hope. SHOOTING STABS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Illustrative Dances. "Dances used to originate from tribal customs." "Well, doesn't it seem possible that some of these popular dances tend to il lustrate the movements of persons dodg ing a flock of motor cars?" The Holiday, He took a day off and in quest of fresh air On the railway he started to roam. He scarce got the cinders combed out of his hair When he had to turn 'round and go home. Literary Symbolism. "Why do so many lines of poetry be gin with -o:*" "Because," replied Mr. Growcher, " 'O ! stands for nothing and that's what most poetry is about." Remarkable Exhibitions. "Did ,<uu ever see a man jump a mining claim?"' asked Tenderfoot Tim. j "Yes," replied lialtlcsnake Bete; "jump- ; ing a claim isn't anything much. I've j seen a man swallow a mining prospte- j tus" The "end seat hog'' isn't liappi. He wishes he had an automobile and couid ! take up the entire street. Ups and Downs. "That piay we are rehearsing," said the j leading man. "may be good literature, but ; it is exceedingly gloomy." "Yes." replied the producing manager; i "unfortunately, moat attempts to elevate the stage result only in depressing the j audience." ? Voice of the Sluggard. "fwas the voice of the sluggard: I heard I him remark: "It's me for a bench in the cool, shady park. 'Tis not that I fear a judicious display Of well advised industry, day after day, But the habit of thrift, once incuicated. seems To lead to Sume rather distressing ex tremes. Suppose I should toil till my profits amount To enough to establish a large bank ac count, And suppose?Just suppose?I should final ly pass By financial degrees to the billionaire class. Oh! what shall' 1 do when 1 struggle some day For a method of giving my surplus away ? Shall I sit up at night in an effort to show ! That the wealth is not tainted which 1 would bestow? Shall I scan the geography, seeking to find A spot unto gratitude freely inclined? Shall 1 pant in the eager philanthropists' race With expert accountants all over the place? Nay! Nay! When kind hearts scatter benefits free Some one to encourage tho cause there must be. So I sit where it's breezy and shady and warm, A subject for uplift, a mark for reform." The Sacred Glove. From the New York J-uu. When Amcrica has a past that is a past worthy of the name, when our children's children ure sulficienily aris tocratic to state that their grand fathers were "fans," original tans, the real article, like Medfora rum, or Pit grim fathers who actually slept on the rock, tne test question that will be put to these proud descendants ox ours win be: "i>ia your grandslrc see Honus Wagner play?" There is no douoii about it. Has not tne Carnegie Museum ] asked for hia palmless glove when he j retires from the diamond? Keep Swatting. Fr_>m the Chicago Journal. It' you started swatting flies early in j the spring, this is no time to relax your j efforts. If you delayed taking part in that war for the babies, now is a good time to enlist. The fly is one of the great est enemies of mankind in the temperate zone. He is an enemy which breeds in filth, thrives In tilth and carries filth wherever he goes. Tho way to defeat him Is to cover and disinfect all garbage and stable litter, screen all food and then stand ready with the flapper. The Senate and the Tariff. From the Houston Chronicle. The country has no objection to a rea sonable discussion of the tariff bill in the Senate. A reasonable discussion however, should not inciudc seven-day filibustering wind expositions, nor six hour screeds which are generally read Into the record for no other purpose than to be used in campaign textbooks at some later date. This, in Ohama? From the Omalia Be*. To enjoy city life to its full, one should live in a bucolic neighborhood where the crowing roosters, the cack ling hens, the bawling cap.es and tho barking dogs begin to make it inter esting about daybreak. Sensible Warfare. From tie Topeka Journal. If Europe had a base ball league in stead of a Balkan league perhaps It wouldn't have so much trouble. Prominent Family. From tbe Grand Rapids Neva. Of the Johnson family. Walter of Washington seems to be the consistent winner. A Universal Evil. From tfce Knor*lU? Journal and Tribua*. Mexico la cursed with politics, but there axe others. I1111111111111 III The Busy Man At Play During his vacation the business man re lies upon the Bell Telephone. He is free from care, for he knows he can be reached by telephone should important matters require his attention. The Bell Telephone reaching practically everywhere makes it possible for him to en joy his vacation with out worrying as to bus iness matters at home. Why not use the Bell Telephone and pro long the enjoyment of your vacation time. Wke? yea tciepkuc?mile The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company Drink $2.50 TO PHILADELPHIA $2.25 "? Chester $2.00? Wilmington AND RETURN SUNDAYS July 27, August 10, 24, 1913 SPECIAL. Ml AIM Lts. WASHINGTON (t a'.nn Station), < .20 A.M. RKTIUM1VG Lvs. PHILADELPHIA (Broad St. Sta.). 7.15 P.M. ?' WEST PHILADELPHIA 7.1? P.M. '? CHESTER 7.35P.M - WILMINGTON 8.00 P.M. Tickets s<mx1 only or. S|>ecial Train in each direction. Children, 5 year* of age and under 12, half fare. No baggage checked. Shle of tickets tw-jrins rtay preceding eactt excursion. See Ticket A?ent* PENNSYLVANIA R. R. GROGAN'S When a young couple come to our store for the fur nishings of their new home they are able to buy jtist what their fancy and judg ment may dictate. They go through the store and select Furniture and Carpets that will harmonize in color and pattern. There's no occasion to buy " outfits ' with a blanket price, for the articles of their own selection will cost no more, and these will be charged 011 an open account with the very easiest of terms. Now is the time to buy, fur prices during our present sale are far below the usual costs. Peter Grogan & Sons Co. Si7 to 8.23 Seventh St. i Your Home** ?as well as your office should be provided with Electric Fans -W e have the makes that | give most satisfaction and ! consume least current. Special value at $7 National Electrical Cnnn1 v Cn 122S-1330 y. Ave. : ^UPPiy V'O.jPhone ^ M00 I & Pennsylvania Avenue. Smlts $c CmrcpmtB We close at 6 P.M. tomorrow evening. Seventh Street. 1 Continuing the Pre-Inventory Clearance Sale of small lots and broken sizes. You'll find much to interest you? and only a fraction of the regular prices remaining. The only thing to keep in mind is that the lots are small and sizes are broken. The probabilities are you can be fitted; but the enormous reductions must com pensate for a depleted assortment. Men's Mohair Suits. We record the quantities and sizes exactly that there may be no misunderstanding of the opportunity which is provided. In "regular*," 2-88's, 3-84's, 11-35's, S-36 s, 4-37's, 2-38's, 4-44's and 1-46. In "stouts." 1-36, 1-38. 3-39's, 2-4?'a. 3-42's and 8-44*s. In "longs," 1-33, 2-34's, 2-35's, 1-36, 1-40 and 1-42. The colors are well assorted; the models are popularly conservative, and the making is guaranteed by our label. $15, $18, $20 and $25 values, Choice, $12.00. Men's Serge and Unfinished Worsted Suits. Sizes are broken, of course/as you'd expect them to be now?some Blue, some Black?cut on the conservative mod els consistent with staple weaves like these. Suits up to $25.00, Choice, $12.75. For the Boys? CANCY Cassimere, Norfolk and Dou ble Breasted Suits ? that sold at $2.50, $3.00 and $3.50. REDUCED to. CANCY Cassimere Norfolk and Dou ble Breasted Suits?that sold at $4.00, $5.00 and $6.00. REDUCED to. \MASH Norfolk Suits, in Linen color; Single Breasted, with box plait. REDUCED to ALL-WOOL Blue Serge Suits; fast color; Norfolk style; none larger than 12 years. REDUCED to \)WASH Sailor and Russian Blouse Suits: plain and combination ei fects. 75c, $1.00 and $i.qo grades. REDUCED to I^HAKI and Crash Knickerbocker Pants?full cut and strongly sewed 75c grade. REDUCED to p?OAT Shirts, with soft collar and cufifs; neat patterns; $i grade. RE DUCED to \1 AINSOOK and Balbriggan Under wear; Athletic shirts and Knee drawers. REDUCED to. $1.95 $2.95 $1.48 $3.98 50c 59c 59c 19c it.'! All Separate Trousers. Every pair of the Summer-weight Fancy W orsteds? and any number of pairs left from Suits. Collectively there's every size. Separate Trousers sold at S5.00, S6.50. S7.50 and $9.00. Suits Pants arc out of Suits that sold up to S35.00. Choice, $3.95. ? 1 Outing Trousers. Striped Serges?in several different stripe effects?cut narrow in hip and leg; belt loops and cuff bottom. $5 and $6 grades, Choice, $3.75. Two Lines of Men's Shirts. Both arc strong in pattern assortment. a>- well a- qual ity-value. In one lot are Shirts that originally sold at ?1.50?with soft cuffs: Choice, 85c. 3 for $2.50. In the other lot are Shirts that, originally sold at Si.25. Choice, 69c. 3 for $2.00. Men's Athletic Undershirts. In sizes just as the season's selling has left them. Regu lar Athletic cut: but properly fashioned to fit comfortably. Choice, 3 for $1.00. Men's Wash Scarfs. Manhattans?which means the fabrics are special and the patterns exclusive. Regular 50c grade, Choice, 29c.-?4 f?r $1.00. Women's Shoes. \X/HITE Canvas Low Shoes; Pumps and Colonials; covered or leather heels: welt and turned soles. S3 and $3.50 grades. REDUCED to $2.35 a tew Men's Pajamas. There's a wide variety of patterns; and styles?but only few Suits of any one lot. One of the best known makes. Regular $1.50 grade, Choice, 95c. Men's Straw Hats. Go right to the center tables?you'll find them all there together?Split. Sennit and Rough Straws; in all the varying proportions and practically all sizes. Regular price up to $3.00, Choice, $1.15. 1 ?i Men's Shoes? WHITE canvas OXFORDS? Blucher and regular lace; the popular shapes of the season. $3.00 and $3.50 grades. REDUCED to.... RUSSIA CALF OXFORDS: with Red Rubber Soles and Heels: Blucher cut and regular lace. S3."' grade. REDUCED to. 1 1 $2.35 $2.85 Qe?BiiaBBiuoianaau4BasBS6a3&"(;sc32iiQ^ ? I -SPECIAL ?SUMMER ?PRICES i M ( ?now prevail here. Every desired variety of choice ?FRESH-CUT ?FLOWERS ?The most artistic FUNERAL DESIGNS. Blackistone. i4th&H. Phone M.3707.H EMBLEM OF PURITY AND EXCELLENCE SINCE lttl Duffy's Pure Malt Whiskey is an absolutely pure distillation of malted grain, and as none but sound, clean grain can be malted, it is made from the most carefully selected grains. It is a predigested liquid food in the form of a medicinal whiskey; its palatability and freedom from injurious sub stances render it so that it can be retained by the most sensitive stomach. DrtVi Pure Malt Whiskey ta the ?revn. mr allevlatloa of diatreulH ?ommer romplalats. Get the genuine; sold by druggists, grocers and '*?*** a *arge bottle. If your dealer cannot supply you write us and we will tell you where it can be bought. Medical booklet and doctors advice free on request. The Duffy Malt Whiskey Co, Rochester. N. X. "Weather-test' MONUMENTS, Made from the Heart of the Granite. The Rupprecht Co., xa7-*33 Are. Buy the wagon ?bow and profit by our remarkable lxu galu price*. T. E. YOUNG SESVPrS!*'' Burchell's "Bouquet Coffee, 30c Lb. Morning, noon, night, housekeepers DEPEND on its unvarying excellence. N.W. Burchell, 1325 F.