Evening star. [volume], October 30, 1913, Page 6, Image 6

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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THE EVENING STAB,
WWft Bultr Morning Stittoa.
WASHINGTON.
THURSDAY October 30. 1913
THEODOBE W. NOTES Editor
Tta* Ertalnf Star ITtvipipw Company.
n-*iac?? OBcp, xithst. and ? nn?rT^ntiia Arcane.
Nw Ten lYlKmw RmIMIbc
rulrago Office: Flrat National Bank BT-l:d1??
>u-cpcan Ofllc?: t Ref?n; St.. London. England.
lie Rv?nlna Star. with th? Sondav morula?
?IIHea. la delivered by rarrlera trlthls !fci> city
?t ?.% c< nt* per month; dally only. 2B rents por
Tortb: Sunday only. 20 rent? per mnnth. Or1?r?
may l>? sent by mall, or telephone Main 2*4<l.
roJ'ectioB Is nidt by carrier at the ??Pf! of ?acfc
month.
'?"a'sbl." In ad?anre? b? mall. po^fase trepan.
T)al'y. Konday iBcluded. on? month. Co cents.
OallT. Sunday excepted. one month. 40 cants.
Saturday Star. SI ynt; Snnday Star. year.
Entered as aeeond-claas mall matter at the post
?See at Waahtngtoo. D. 0.
CTIo order to avoid delay* on acconat or
r>iTKonal ahaence. Wt.-rs to THR STAB ahould
BOt tie addressed to any Individual < onn.-cted
"?1th th? office, hnt ?lnip1y to TI1K STAR, or to
(he Editorial or Buflueis Department, according
to tenor cr purpose.
The Proposed District Survey.
The District of Columbia has been so
thoroughly surveyed. Investigated and
probed from a hostile instead of a sym
oathetic standpoint, and with hurtful and
destructive rather than helpful and con
structive results, that it Is now shy of
further surve3*lng, and naturally shrinks
when the proposal is made that It be
made the subject of a comprehensive and
thorough study of local social conditions
and government organization methods.
The survey that Is now proposed by the
bureau of municipal research in New
York, however, promises better results
than usually flow from such undertak
ings. Good of some sort or measure
should be derived by the District from
n study of its administrative organiza
tion with a view to its betterment
through the more systematic adoption of
business principles and the application of
the best known practices of city govern
ment.
I"he proponed survey would deal prima
rily with the business administration of
the District, with no tendency whatever
to interfere with any program of ma
terial constructive work which tnay be
:n view for the District by the Com
missioners or by Congress. Such work
should be done with as little delay as
possible, and on the broadest basis, look
ing to the future as well as to the present
welfare of the community Meanwhile,
there is an ample field for inquiry and
reform in the strictly administrative or
ganization. costing the District almost
nothing, and presumably when effected
yielding a large profit in increased effi- \
ciency and lessened ratio of cost. ]
The District can learn with advantage (
how organizations are formed and busi- -
ness matters are handled elsewhere, and
how the municipal administration may be
perfected to yield the best results. It <
s true that municipal conditions are i
different here from elsewhere, and yet, |
regardless of such differences, certain 1
principles obtain in all sound business or
ganizations where economy and efficiency
ire the watchwords. It is the object of
the proposed survey to strengthen those
principles in the District's municipal
system. Already a beginning has l?een
made by the local otficlals in the working
out of a budget proposition, to place the
iinancial legislation affecting the Dis
trict on a systematic basis. This budget
proposal is the very essence of the main
principle of municipal government which
the proposed survey seeks to establish
here.
The fact that Congress has not ap
proved of the budget plan for the Dis
trict may discourage expectation of its
approval of the proposed survey, and yet
it Is desirable to press the matter for
consideration In the hope that the spirit
of constructive Inquiry may succeed thkt
of Inquisition. Washington should obtain
benefit from a mere discussion of the
plan. It is true that many of the 1,500
questions outlined by the bureau of mu
nicipal research will not apply to Wash
ington. owing to the fact of the exclusive
legislation exercised by Consress, and
at til their consideration cannot fail to
indicate the possibilities of helpful
eiianges. If, however, Congress re- ,
i n sen to appropriate for the proposed
survey the District officials themselves
?an do somewhat in this direction by
pursuing toward all the departments of (
the municipal government the same
course that has been pursued with refer
ence to the budget plan.
These possibilities for good should suf
i: -e to overcome the sensitiveness which
the District naturally feels in respect to
m11 manner of investigations, a sensltlve
n-'ss born oi unmerited Injury and not
of any consciousness of faults which It
.s not willing and even eager to correct.
Superintendent Davidson.
it is to be hoped that l)r. W. M. David
sun, the superintendent of .the District
public schools, will not be tempted by the
offer which It Is said Is to be tendered him
uy the city of Pittsburgh to assume
i urge of the educational system there.
Dr. Davidson has been In Washington
only a short time, but has proved himself
in all respects a satisfactory school ad
ministrator. lie has Identified himself
w.th the community, entered heartily
ir.to Its activities and has won the con
Idence of the people. .He has shown
himself a capable school official and an
durator cf high ideals and practical
?uallflcations. Washington has suffered
severely lr. the past decade from school
\ ;rmoll and changes, and il would view
with apprehension the resignation of the
present superintendent from his position
n order to accept a better offer. Un
fortunately the school appropriations
hare do not suffice to hold Indefinitely the
educators who conspicuously prove their
"ffldency. as against the competition of
other cities which more liberally provide
*unds for this vitally Important public
work. But there is unquestionably a
more or less compensating satisfaction in
working to the advancement of the public
chools of the capital city, which Is be
lt<x icreaslngly and more definitely re
srded as the national educational center.
in New York politics "How did you get
d of It?" becomes as Important a ques
on as "Where did you get It?*'
Ilu'rta has been having one of the long
est struggles with a resignation rumor
?;nown to history.
Mr. Bryan in His Element.
Ur. Bryan is again in his element. It
s the closed season for entertainers un
der tents. The autumn air Is too nip
- n'.ng and too eager for that sort of thing,
it is the open season?although that
>^ason approaches its close?for stump
> rs, and Mr. Bryan is a-stumptng. He is
stlil bis party's star stumper. Sixteen
ears have not produced his equal anion*.
! autocratic spellbinders. The largest
rowda are still bis. The greatest
enthusiasm ts stlU aroused by him. lie is
Mill the man relied upon and called upon
to go out end pot ginger Into the situs
m
tlon at periods of lethargy and In places
of danger.
It Is the fashion to lecture Mr. Bryan
for lecturing now that he is in commis
sion as a member of the administration.
He is told that it Is bad form for him to
continue his connection with the amuse
ment world at such a tim?\ His place is
at his chief's side helping to sa*'e the
! country. lie should put the country
above gate receipts.
But Mr. Bryan is open to no such ?
cism in his present activities In stump
ing New Jersey he is. In effect. at his
chief's side nr.d helping to save the ad
ministration. Gov. Fielder's candidacy
is largely in Mr. Wilson's interests. Suc
cess will be construed as &n Indorsement
of the President; defeat w!li operate as a
rebuke. Naturally both Mr. Wilson and
Mr. Bryan are much ccnccrned. and the
lattT, as the orator pur excellence of
both the administration ^r.d the party,
goes to the rescue.
Do we not see In this :i good, if not
the principal, reason for Mr. Bryan's
presence In the cabinet? Did not Mr.
W Hson foolc ahead and note the necessity
of having such a mouthpiece near when
explanations became due? For every ad
ministration needs to explain something,
and some a great deal. This adminis
tration is seven months old, and, with the
aid of Congress, has been making history,
and portions of that history are In dis
pute. So Mr. Bryan goes before the
people and defends the history. As a
partisan and adviser of the President he
Is well and properly employed.
It Is most unlikely that any business in
the State Department suffers by reason
of this arrangement. If Mr. Bryan's
signature to any paper becomes neces
sary lie Is close at hand; and a mes
senger can be dispatched to him, or he
ckn run Into town on a fast train, sign,
and then return to his mutton. As to
Mexico. Huerta can wait a little. Gov.
Fielder cannot. The New Jersey election
Is fixed for Tuesday next, and Mr. Bryan
must do his part over there now. Besides,
Mr. Wilson and John Bassett Moore have
the Mexican matter In hand.
The Commissioners and The Star.
The question lias been raised and dis
cussed In the public prints: Is The Star
for the District Commissioners or is it
hostile to them? The Star is neither a
thick-and-thin supporter nor a chronic
faultfinder. It is for them when it thinks
their action or policy Is for the com
munity's benefit; and against them when
their action or policy in The Star's
opinion injures Washington. Help or
hurt to the District determines its sup
port or opposition in any given case.
It was apalnst them, for example, with
remonstrance and critical suggestion
when In the making mid in the manner
of making certain District building ap
pointments they (together with the
excise hoard) failed to give due con
sideration to the protective statutes and
approximate home rule political pledges
which preserve for the District the few
vestiges of Indirect representation in its
own government which the law and the
politicians have allowed 1t and guar
anteed it, and which the District has al
ways In the past Jealously maintained.
It was for them, for example, with
hearty commendation when in connection
with the preparation of the estimates
they announced a wholesome and pro
gressive general policy, which The Star
was glad to support.
The Commissioners have a difficult and
lellcate task. They are the local execu
:ive representatives of the President, with
mportant and complicated administrative
functions. They have direct legislative
responsibilities in framing police and
building regulations. They participate
Indirectly in District legislation by frajn
ing. submitting, explaining and urging
the estimates of appropriations, in con
nection with which the most Important
District legislation has been enacted.
They are the District's voteless delegates
In Congress, speaking in committees
though not on the floor of the House.
They are the buffer between a sometimes
cantankerous Congress and a restless,
illssatlsfled community. In performing
their varied and trying tasks they are
entitled not merely to fair play but to
earnest, sympathetic support from loyal
Washlngtonians; for upon the success of
their labors the welfare of the District
in a measure depends.*
While the Commissioners, being human,
may be expected to make mistakes, The
9tar has confidence in their character,
ability and public spirit. It wishes them
full success In their municipal labors, and
In the interest of the District desires to
co-operate with them to that end.
It should be the easier for England
to refrain from interfering with this
country's Mexican policy' when it is
considered that the policy has not yet
arrived.
There are fears that Mrs. Pankhurst
has been misled by stories of the ease
with which large profits may be derived
from American lecture engagements.
It should not be many years before the
wire-tapping swindle can be relegated to
forgetfulness along with bunko and the
greengoods same.
It must be observed that Col. Roose
velt has been in South America a re
markably long time without shooting
anything.
It may be suggested that Europe
should attend to its Turkey before
worrying about America's dove of
peace.
The New Haven road expects to have a
complete modern equipment of rolling
stock by December 31. Happy New Year!
It seems like wasting the time of a busy
man to ask Charles Murphy to keep track
of a bit of small change like 925,000.
A safe and sane Halloween celebra
tion may be regarded as another mark
of advance in civilization.
Notoriety Is easily attained, but cash
ing It in at the box office is another
matter.
The Bed Cross Memorial.
So encouraging Is the present state of
the fund for the Red Cross memorial
building In this city that hope' is high
that this work may be undertaken with
out much further delay. Under a late
act of Congress the United States will
appropriate ?400,000 toward the construc
tion of this proposed memorial to the
horoic women of the civil war, provided
the Red Cross raises $300,0U0. A con
siderable pcrccntage of the organiza
tion s subscription has been assured.' On?;
individual has given ?1(M.0U0 io the fund.
Four cities. New lork. St. Louis, San
Francisco and Washington have raised
their assigned ratios of the totai. With
success so nearly In tight there should be
no doubt of the completion of the fund
In short order. The plans for the
memorial building which Miss Boardmrn
has Indicated In The Star promise a
monumental addition to the attractive
features of Washington. A site is in
contemplation which falls Into relation
with the general capital development
plan. WasliJngton has done lit chare
toward the consummation of this project,
and now hopes to see the other cities
of-the United State* do as much and
thereby attest to the universal appre
elation in which the National Red Cros*
is held as an ever-ready agency of succor
in tlmtts of distress, while contributing
to a memprl.il to the women of the war
whose sacrlflclal services were in value
and in spirit far beyond the range of
possible repayment.
Checking the Spoilsmen.
Some measure of reassurance is afforded
by the letter just sent out to collectors
of internal revenue by the commissioner,
by direction of President Wilson, notify
ing them that the new provision of law
regarding appointments does not justify
any return to the "spoils" method of
filling public places, and instructing them
to furnish* the department with the names
of persons whom it is desired to appoint
to vacancies, together with statements of
qualifications and records. This may
serve as a check on the patronage use
of tliest otRces as a result of the relaxa
tion of the civil service rules. Neverthe
less, there will continue to be anxiety on
the part of friends of the merit principle
lest changes may be brought about
through a desire to increase the chances
of partisans for obtaining government
appointments. The President is showing
good faith in the premises by directing
the admonition of the collectors that they
are not free agents of spoils distribution.
Steamship companies arc taking pre
cautions which make It appear that no
further terrible examples such as those
provided by the Titanic and the Voi
turno will be needed.
There will be a disposition to attach
more importance to Julian Hawthorne's!
reflections on prison discipline than to
any theories he may evolve concerning
finance.
The elegance of the Chicago criminal
is attested by the fact that policemen
in that city mistook Mr. J. Hamilton
Lewis for a bank robber.
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PIIILANOKR JOHNSON.
Seeking Escape.
"Was it a runaway marriage?"
"In a certain sense," replied Miss
Cayenne. "They were marrlaged at j
the bride'8 home. But he has been'
trying to run away ever since."
Militancy and Suffrage.
"Militancy is a terrible thing in con
nection with suffrage." said the man.
"That's right," replied the woman.
"A person who has any doubt about it
has only to look at those men down in
Mexico."
The Hen.
Oh, build the hen a bungalow
And have it nicely heated!
A spacious comfort let it show,
In style ornate completed.
And treat her like a favored guest,
A rich aunt or a cousin. I
Since fresh eggs, warranted the best,
Are 50c per dozen!
Pursuit of the Picturesque. J
"Did it relieve your mind to con
fess?" asked the attorney. !
No, replied the abandoned person. |
"The brain fag of thinkin" up some o'
those crimes so's to make the confes
sion more interesting was somethin' I
terrible!"
An Endless Interest.
"Is base ball season over?" j
"The base ball season is never over,"!
replied the enthusiast. "The fact that
they are not playing the game leaves j
more time for conversation about if I
An "efficiency" expert without tiraskc
In his soul is figuring out how many
nails a base drummer could drive with
the same expenditure of energy.
Fascination of the Unfamiliar.
My Uncle Jim, he isn't much
When talkin* 'bout the farm.
The subject doesn't seem to touch
His special sense of charm.
He's busy plantin' every spring, j
An expert without doubt;
Yet farmin' seems to be one thing
He hates to talk about.
He'll talk for hours about the way
A tariff should behave. i
On currency he'll have his say j
In accents long and grave. !
And that is how it is, I s'pose.
With men throughout the land; j
The interestln' things are those
We don't quite understand.
Flaws in the Bails.
From the Baltimore American.
Rail flaws have been the cause of a
majority of the great and small railroad
accidents since the era of high speed
and heavy trains began. The fact has
been absolutely established that the
wreck of the Gilt-edged express of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford,
near Westerly, was caused by a defective
rail. The tests show that the bad break
ran the length of the rail and that by
dropping It from heights upon another
rail it would break with a readiness that
showed its perilousness and demonstrated
the cause of the accident. With this dem
onstration there goes one practical lesson,
and that Is tlu? necessity for government
supervised tests of rails at the place of
their production, with severe penalties
for the discovery of rails sent out from
the mills unapproved. The tests made
upon the New York, New Haven and
Hartford could as well be made In ad
vance of an accident. ]
By instituting advance tests the num
ber of accidents from defective rails
could be greatly reduced and the accident
nnnals be made much better. j
? ??P' ? ?
The Tango Issue.
From the New York Ermine Post.
Rapidly the tango is becoming a great
social issue. Mayor Harrison of Chicago
has appointed a committee of ti?e coun
cil to frame a tango ordinance, after
careful observance of what Is going on
!n various dance halhs. Judge Anderson,
In Cleveland. Solomonlike, had the tango i
performed before him. and then gravely
decided that it was a moral dance. A
clergyman in New Jersey is organizing a
dancing school to teach the modern
dances properly to the young people of
his parish?and so the news runs. Pri
marily, there is a confusion of terms In
tiie public mind. Very few people can. or
ever will, dance the tango, which, being
a highly elaborate dance, requires a good
deal of practice, grace and skill; but the
name "tango" is being applied to "tur
key-trottlng," which can readily be made
highly objectionable. Various forms of
this have Justly aroused public protests.
Appreciation of a Park.
From the Charleston NVwy-Courior.
One of the things for which Charie?
tonlans should be grateful is Hamp
ton Park. Its value to the people ot
this city can scarcely be overestimated, i
That public appreciation of it Is increas
ing as the park itself gains In beauty
with the passing of years should en
courage those who are in charge of this
beautiful pleasure ground to continue
and to extend the good work which they
have done, and which is now beginning
to bear such splendid fruits.
High School Strikers.
Fnem the liaffaio lvxpre?>.
High school pupils who go on strike arc
usually above the ugi_- lor eouipu>sory
sehool attendance. They should be taken
out of school and set to work until they
appreciate that high school attendance is
a privilege, secured for them at !arg,
public expense, not a service to the
teacher*. -
?? vv r %
, 6 P.M.
HUB FURNITURE GO.
[Saturday. 9 P.M.=
nr~
We'll Help You Keep
the Promise You Made to That Dear Little Wife
The door of opportunity swings very wide for the fall bride 'icre. todjfy, tomorrow and all the tomorrows to come! \\ ill you
two come alone and enter the home that's to be all your own for the asking? Lack of ready money need not stand in the wav or act
as a bar to fulfilling the promise you made to "love, cherish and protect" her. What she wants most of all i-* exactly what vou can
give her right straight away, namely, a complete and attractively furnished home. Simply USE YOUR CREDIT and'get what you
need here and settle the bill at your convenience. ^ T ~ - ?
II
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Including Large Colonial-style Crotch Mahogany-finish Dresser, with Chif
fonier to match, and Massive 2-inch Post, Guaranteed Lacquer Brass Bed, all
for v.
$43.75
1 :
r
?1 III!
m!so HeatSrag
Stove
This Exact $113.50
Leaded Glass '1
A Well Built Nickel-trimmed I
Heating Stove, large Isinglass
door, the best lieater you can i
buy.
till
?' It
T h i t- exact
I ?ome, made of
heavy opal
$ l n k n . y- 14 h
I' f r'J iigui
and massive
r-h&llt:
fitted for ciia. .or
electric light.
Both useful niid
una menial
A Com=
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Including Massive 2-inch Continu
ous-post "Porcelain" White Enam
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WOVEN-WIRE
Spring and Soft
Cotton-top Mat
tress, for
? THIS EXACT $32' THREE-PIECE
PARLOR SUITE
? \ I
Handsome 3-piece
Parlor Suite; heavy
crotch mahogany-fin
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cushions, with silk
tassels.
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\\ ith every cash or credit purchase amount
ing to $25.00 or more we give ?i beautifully
decorated 31-piecc Dinner Set absolutely free.
J
7th and D Sts N.W.
With ever y
cash or credit
pu r e h a k e
a ro o u nting to
?>> or more we
jive a. hand
tome 'JC.-piece het
of Wnu Roger*
?' Otiarartfeed
.stiver. .
v jTbsolu^-'-'
? ''free. ?
* * T " \
- / ? > 1
j 1 . ? * v./