The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], April 14, 1914, Image 1

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| THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD —|
"‘- iy0LUME XXXXITI_______BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1914 12 PAGES NUMBER 343
1 UNDUE INFLUENCE
. USEBINEFFORTSTO
j GET RATE INCREASE
—SENATOR CUMMINS
Iowa Senator Speaks on
Request of Eastern
Railroads
L —
CHARGES EFFORT TO
U AROUSE SYMPATHY
1 -
Public Being Mistreated by Incorrect
and Misleading Statements, Says
(Senator—Declares Merits of
Case 'Are Vital Issues
■ Washington, April 13.—Senator A. B.
Cummins of Iowa charged on the floor
1 of the Senate today that a persistent and
widespread campaign was being conduct
ed to arouse public sympathy for tha
request for a 5 per cent increase in freight
rates on eastern railroads now pending
before the interstate commerce commis
sion.
% The senator expressed confidence that
. the commission would decide the ques
tion on its merits, but said the public,
was being mislead by innocent and ex
aggerated statements.
, ^ Senator Cummins compared the rall
j road, situation with the Panama canal
tolls question, declaring that an advance
' ‘in railroad rates of 6 per cent will aggre-1
gate in one year to more than all the
tolls paid by all the ships that will go
through the canal in 12 or 15 years and,
| more than American coastwise ships if
they paid full tolls would be charged in
half a century.
Comprehensive Progress
‘In connection with the proceedings
before the commission,” he continued,!
‘ there is in progress the most eompre-1
hensive, energetic and persistent cam
1 paign that I have ever witnessed to make,
the people of the country believe that the;
effort of the government to regulate rail
f| ways, railway rates and railway practices
has resulted in dismal, disastrous failure;
that the government In its endeavor to
piotect the people has impoverished the
transportation companies; that it has
driven them to the very abyss of bank
ruptcy and ruin; that it has destroyed
their credit and rendered them incapable
of performing the service which com
merce demands; that it has outlawed
them from the confidence of capital and
. .exiled them from the field of the in-:
” vi stor.
“This extraordinary campaign has filled
the newspapers with headlines, with dls- j
patches, with letters and with editorials.
*jT~m “It has taken, possession of the maga
m sines, out of which, week after week,
issue appeal* for justice to the decadent
■ i f broads and to despondent railroad man
agers. It gives dinners and holds public
i% banquets where the eloquence of orators
* paints lurid pictures of empty treasuries,
of worn out tracks, of railing bridges and
A dilapidated equipment.”
Quotes Magazine
Senator Cummins quoted from several
magazine and newspaper account giving
views of how different railroads had been
forced to discharge number of employes
and retrench in Jheir expenditures, and
asserted “that the movers of this cam
paign are trying to mislead and pervert j
the judgment of the people.”
“They are trying to awaken sympathy I
by false pretenses,” said he. “They are
trying to deceive the country with ex
, aggerated cries of suffering and distress
in order to escape the control which ex
perience lias demonstrated should be im
posed upon all corporations which under
take a public service.”
The senator did not doubt that there
were some rates which should be in
creased and some which should be de
creased, but recalled that substantially
all the railroad rates now prevailing
were made by the railroads themselves.
He believed the physical condition of
the railroads Is better now than ever be
fore in their history, and added that “all
the declamation about railroads passing
‘into decadence and becoming unsafe, or
inefficient, is the rankest, baldest non
sense.”
"It is beyond doubt,” he continued,
“that the railroads are now experiencing
a somewhat severe depression.”
The senator said other industries are
suffering as well as the railroads, ami
that this passing fluctuation in trade
cannot be given as a reason why railroad
rates should he increased.
He then took up what rate of return or$
9 n investment of the railroads which the
senator said have earned enough to pay
7 per cent upon all their capital stock,
hut generally pay no more than 5 per
cent.
The senator concluded by reading ta
bles. These showed the quotations of
railroad stocks In recent years. He said
these demonstrated stocks from 1890 to
1914 not only were higher, but stabler than
the industrial stocks or any other securi
ties.
(Captain Amundsen Wants
Gigantic Sum to Equip
for Trip
V Washington, April 13.— Private reports
from Christiana were received here to
night that Capt. Roald Amundsen, the
Korweigian explorer, must have $200,000
before he can equip his proposed polar
expedition. Explorers and scientists here
expressed the belief that it would be
U practically Impossible to raise the re
quired sum.
| The reports from Christiania said that
| Amundsen’s ship, the Fram, after com
pleting repairs at Montevideo, Uruguay,
| would sail for Norway, the plan being
> for her to leave there and pass through
5 the Panama canal early In 1915, pro
V vided that $200,000 can be raised before
Athat time.
-* The National Geographical society here
recently decided to appropriate $20,000 for ;
the Amundsen expedition. According to j
announced plans, the expedition is sche- j
duled to leave the Pacific coast next '
year, *to explore the polar basin. The vast
tract* between northern Canada, Alaska*,
and Asia, including the north pqld, is!
contemplated to be traversed by the ex
plorer and, it is expected that tha voyage
would require at least four years work
la the polar lco
-fl - ‘ •
TAMPICO FEDERALS
MUST SALUTE FLAG
OF U.S. SAYS WILSON
Upon Probable Action De
pends Immediate Develop
ments in Mexico
^k
LIND CONFERS WU*©'
SECRETARY • S^N
Special Envoy I ncommunicative, But
Acting as Military Advisor—Lull
in Diplomatic Side of
Problem Expected
Washington, April IS.—l pon wheth
er the commander of the Huerta force*
at Tampico salute* the American flag
in apology for the arrest of American
marines last Thursday depends Imme
diate developments In the Mexican sit
uation.
President Wilson declared unofficial
ly today that he expected the federal
commander at Tampico to fire a salute
to the stars and stripes as demanded by
Rear Admiral Mayo, and he spoke with
a confidence that implied insistence.
The navy department still was unad
vised tonight as to whether or not the
salute had been fired. It is understood
that instructions have been sent to
Charge O'Shaughnessy to represent to
the Huerta government the feeling of
the administration here over the affront,
blit there has been no announcement on
the subject.
The presence in Washington of John
Lind, President Wilson's personal rep
resentative in Mexico for the last eight
months, gave the Washington govern
men an adviser with special knowledge
of the military situation at Tampico.
Mr. Lind reached here from Vera Crux
aboard the presidential yatch Mayflower
early today and spent several hours
with Secretary Bryan. Tomorrow he will
see President Wilson, accompanied by
Secretary Bryan for an hour just before
the cabinet meeting. Authoritatively it
is said that Mi*. Lind’s reports on the
general situation was so comprehensive
and complete that lie really did not have
to come to Washington to supplement
them.
i.iihi i ucummunicaiive
Mr. Lln<l himself was uncommunica
tive. saying merely he had sought a va
cation and was at the orders of the gov
ernment. While he has kept the Presi
dent and Secretary Bryan Informed con
stantly about developments, his pres
ence here at this time Is considered
opportune, should any unusual situa
tion arise out of the demand for a salute
at Tampico.
Direct communication between Tam
pico and the cable end at Vera Cruz,
which Is the only means whereby news
of what is going on at Tampico can
reach Washington, can only be had by
wireless, and owing to the prevalence
of storms of hurricane proportions tills
communication has been exceedingly
difficult and slow. The Huerta govern
ment itself, it is understood, has been
obliged to communicate with Tampico
by messages sent on steamboats, and
it is suggested by naval officers that
If It becomes necessary for General
Huerta to send instructions to the fed
eral commander at Tampico in a very
limited time he might have to resort
to the use of the radio outfits of the
American battleships, even In dealing
with a subject so delicate as the de
mand for a salute. ,
Hope for Salute
Administration officials are hoping that/
the salute will be fired and the Incident
closed. Their optimism is such that Sec
retary Bryan, who has been In ill health.
Is planning to go tomorrow to Miami,
Fla., for a rest, while President Wilson
will leave here again on Thursday night
for White Sulphur Springs, W. Va„ to
bring Mrs. Wilson back to Washington.
Mr. Lind is understood to have told
Secretary Bryan that there would be a
lull in the diplomatic side of the Mexican
situation while the contending forces in
the north fought for supremacy. The
former Minnesota governor took the op
portunity to come to the United States
while there seemed to hint to be little
prospect of the Huerta govgfrnment yield
ing. He Is known to believe that only the
conquering armies of the constitutionalists
can force General Huerta to retire at
present.' The defeat at Torreon of the
federal forces is unknown as yet through
out the greater part of the territory con
trolled by the Huerta government, and a
rigorous censorship both within Mexico
(Continued on Pace Nine)
STRIKE ISAT AN END
Men Will Be Given Posi
tions on Renouncing
Labor Union
Houghton, Mich., April 13.—Tlie strike of
the copper miners In upper Michigan
came to an end today as a result of a
referendum vote taken yesterday among
the members of the Western Federation
of Miners. The strika had been in ef
fect since last July, when 13,000 men, ac
cording to the figures of the federation,
demanded better wages and working con
ditions and recognition of the federation.
Managers of the mines have announced
that they will re-employ all men who
have not been guilty of violence as soon
as they give up their'membership In the
Western Federation of Miners and places
can be found for them. The present
wc rktng forces are nearly equal numer
ically, mine managers say, to what they
were before the strike. At the time the
strike began there was a shortage of
miners, and it Is said that most of the
strikers will be employed as rapidly as
they renounce the union and underground
working conditions permit.
V,.vvs-' ••
[paid DEATH PENALTY IN CHAIR YESTERDAY
"LEFTY LOUIE" SAGO " WH1TIE " HARRY
ROSENBERG FRANK LEWIS ’OROWlTZ
The tour gunmen who yesterday paid the highest penalty of the law f or the murder of Herman Rosenthal
...
CHAS. BECKER HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
MURDER OF ROSENTHAL. SAYS “DAGO FRANK”
Gunman Makes Statement Before Paying Penalty in Chai^ for Gambler’s Murder—Says Harry
Vallon Fired One of the Shots. But He Himself Was Absent—Death
Scene Proves Horrible Spectacle
Albany, V., April IK.—Shortly be
fore “lingo I'rank" Ciroficl went to the
death clialr In Sing Sing prison early
today he fold Warden CInnccy flint
'•(•yp the lllood** Horowitz, “l.efty
I.oule” Hosenherg and Harry \ nllou,
an Informer, fared the shots uhlcli
killed llermiin Rosenthal, for which
crime the four gunmen paid tlielr live*.
“So far as l know, Becker had noth
ing to do with this case,’* the gunman
also declared. “It was a gambler's
fight." Ciroficl averred he was five
miles away at the time the crime was
committed and that "Whitey Lewis”
Seidenshuor, although present at the
scene of the shooting, did not lire an\
of the shots.
Ciroficl made no attempt, however, 1
to deny that he was included in the
original plot to slay Rosenthal, even
admitting that two nights before the
gambler was slain he went with other
gangsters to look tor their intended
victim. They were frightened away
from from Rosenthal on that occasion
by men they thought were detective.;.
The condemned man also admitted that
early on the night of the actual l-cill-.
ing he was in the gre> “murder car"
with t ho gunmen, but in* insisted that
be left them before they shot the
gambler, lie did not explain precisely
why he left the other gunmen just prior
to the shooting, but two reasons are
advanced. One is that he became
frightened and the other that he de
serted in order to bail out bis sweet -
heart. Jean Gordon, who had been ar
rest ed.
The statement, which was made, ver
bally in the principal keeper's office
about I a. m.. today, was the result of
the insistent plea on the part of (Mr
oliei's mother and his sister for the
truth. They had been here and made
an unsueccssful appeal to the gover
nor to save the prisoner’a*-lift\ Return
ing to the prison near dawn, they were i
met by the warden and taken to tlio |
office where they met Giroflci.
Mr. Glnneey came to Album today I
and told ids story to Superintendent i
John It. Riley of the state prison ile
partnient and Governor Glynn. The
warden first Issued a formal state
ment rehearsing a part of what Clr
ofiei told him and later added details
which included Glrofici’s admission |
that he was in the "murder car" two
hours before the slaying.
The formal statement of the warden j
follows:
"About s o'clock Sunday night, Ros- !
(G’outlniied <m I’age ldghi i
SENATE TAKES OP
ECONOMIC SIOE
OFTOLLSPROBLEM
Question of Treaty Obliga
tions Virtually Excluded.
Witnesses Appear Be
fore Committee
Washington, April 13.—The economic
side of the Panama canal tolls con
troversy occupied the Senate inter
oceanic canals committee today to the
virtual exclusion of the treaty obliga
tions involved and neither aspect was
In evidence elsewhere about Congress.
At tho.White House, however, President
Wilson reaffirmed his belief that re
peal of the exemption from tolls grant
ed to American coastwise ships would
not constitute an interpretation of the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty, but merely
would indicate the unwillingness of
this country to bring up the question
of discrimination.
The President agreed with tKe views
recently expressed by Secretary Bryan
that no amendment was necessary to
the pending repeal bill reaffirming the
sovereignty of the United States over,
the canal.
Before the canals committee E. T.
Chamberlain, federal commissioner of
navigation, and Prof. S. S. Huebner of
the University of Pennsylvania/ dis
cussed the economic question of tolls
exemption in a general way. Professor
Huebner for two years was employed
as an expert by the House merchant
marine committee and data which lie
compiled as to the coastwise ship
ping at that time was laid before tiie j
committee today for its information.
_ n; a - e _. •
▲ vi uav m|/wun
Commissioner Chamberlain declared !
his belief that the United States had ]
no right to exempt any of its shipping
from payment of tells unless it spe
cifically provided that the government
should meet the expense of passing the
exempted ships through the canal and
that the exemption should not add In
any way to the burden imposed upon
foreign shipping.
Professor Huebner expressed no 1
opinion on the repeal issue, confining1
himself to the economic discussion
growing out of the statement that the
House committee investigation had
shown over 90 per cent of the coast
wise ships on the Atlantic coast and
50 per cent of those on the Pacific
coast were ubntrolled by railroads or j
"conferences” of steamship companies, j
so far as rate making is concerned.
The only other witness heard w'as
Walter Wood, representing the Phil
adelphia Chamber, of Commerce, who
presented resolutions adopted by that
body. The sense of the resolution was
that inasmuch as the navigation laws,
of the United States imposed upon
American coastwise ships burdens
greater than those known to foreign
shipping, equal use of the canal should
be granted to both: but with the pro
vision that foreign ships carrying to
American ports should pay a fee equal j
to the excess in cost of operation and i
construction under American law. He |
estimated this at IS cents a net ton j
and said members of the British Board
of Trade in personal conversations with
him had expressed willingness to have
such a fee imposed in order to equal
( Continued on Png* Bight)
-
FALLS FIVE STORIES
THROUGH SI1AFT AN 1 >
“COMES UP SMILING”
_
Boston. April 13. After fulling five
stories to the botto inof an elevator shaft
In a Pemberton square office building,
John Mclnnis, a painter, was picked up
smiling. He calmly smoked a cigur as
he was rushed to a hospital, where it
was found that bis injuries were limited
to a Ijrokeh ankle and several bruises.
Deposed Executive Again to
Seek Gubernatorial
Honors
Albany, April 13.—A movement to
bring about the nomination of William
Sulzer as an independent candidate for
governor this fall took definite form
here today In the incorporation of “the
American party.” by friends of the de
posed executive.
“There will be a complete* state ticket
headed by Governor Sulzer,” said Col.
Alexander S. Bacon, one of the incor
porators, in a statement tonight ex
plaining the purposes of the new' party.
“Anti-Tammany democratic assembly
men, senators and congressmen will be
selected, together with a complete anti
Tammany state committee and antl
Tammany county committees.”
Mr. Bacon added that the former
executive probably would be a candi
date in the regular primaries, but that
many of his friends favored the plan
to nominate him independently. There
is nothing to prevent an independent
candidate from being a candidate in the
regular party primaries also, Mr. Ba
con explained.
Meet in Paris to Select
Typical Figure for All
the World
«■
Paris, April 13.—The International
Academy of Dancing Masters discussed
at their annual meeting today various
dances from which it is hoped to select
one which may serve as a typical figure
for all the w -.id during the coming year.
Forty-five dancing masters from the
United States and Europe attended the
congress.
The delegates debated at length on the
desirability of the tango. Finally It was
decided that the tango might he danced
on condition that it be purged of certain
objectionable features.)
Parties Join in Cheering the
Alabamian as He Appears
on Floor of the House.
Hobson Absent
II y C. E. STEWART
Washington, April 13.—{Special.)—It was
about 20 minutes after noon today when
Representative Underwood stepped on the
floor of th»* House. Representative Ulaude
Kitchen, who will succeed Mr. Underwood
as the democratic floor leader, was
watching for Mr. Underwood, and as he
appeared at the door gave the signal and
instantly the House rose to Its feet and
gave Its leader the greatest ovation yet
tendered him.
All business of the House was suspend
ed for at least 10 minutes while demo
< rats, republicans and progressives alike
cheered and crowded around Mr. Under
wood, congratulating him upon his great
victory.
Representative Hobson was not on the
floor. Mr. Hobson is at Tuxedo Park,
New York, tuking a rest of a few days.
It is said at his office that he will be
in the city Wednesday.
With the return of Senator Bankhead
and Representative Burnett and Taylor,
the entire Alabama delegation, except
Representatives Heflin and Hobson, are
now in the city.
WILSON TO SPEAK
AT PRESS LUNCHEON
Washington, April 13.—Announcement
was made at the White House today that
President Wilson had accepted an invi
tation to speak April 21, at a luncheon
at the annual meeting of the Asociated
Press in New York city. Secretary Tu
multy said the President had not yet de
cided what subject he would discuss, but.
that he wmdd make an important speech.
It Is the first invitation the President
has accepted for a speech outside of
Washington since he went to Mobile last
October to attend the Southern Commer
TODAY’S AGE-HERALD
1— “Dago Frank" says Becker was not
implicated.
Cummins speaks on rate increase.
Federals must salute American
flag.
Wilson opposes curtailment of trust
programme.
General strike threatened in Italy.
2— Rival candidates for governor at
capital yesterday.
3— Vail is convinced separation was
mistake.
4— Editorial comment.
6—Comer opens second campaign to
morrow.
Civic bodies join in effort to boost
attendance.
Audltoiium matter to be taken up
by commission.
Six million Birmingham brick to be
used in Florida.
6— Society.
7— Sports.
8— Bessemer man robbed.
9— Old method politics is passing
away.
11—Markets. I
.A**"** •• ■>
WILSON OPPOSES
CURTAILMENT OF
_
Urges That Programme Be
Put Through at Earliest
Possible Moment
1OPPOSITION TO
PLAN DEVELOPS
—
I
Senate ami House Democrats Dis
approve President's Idea—Con
sideration ot' Single Measure
Will Be Hurried
Washington. April 13. -Unqualified dis
approval was expressed by President Wil
son today of the proposal in Congn - ^ to
curtail the antitrust legislative pro
gramme for this session. Later members
of the House Judiciary subcommittee, who
had conferred with the President on the
subject, declared that an effort would be
made to report out quickly u single meas
ure embodying the substance of all the
separate tentative trust hills, and that
legislation also would be pressed to meet
the demands of labor for restriction of
the injunction power of the courts.
That opposition to carrying out the full
trust legislative programme Is growing
among Senate and House democrats con
tinued in evidence during tin* day. not
withstanding determination to revive the
cffo.Mt to perfect measures affecting inter
locking directorates, holding companies,
price discriminations and other evils.
Expect. Report Soon
Senator New la mis, chairman of the Sen
ate interstate commerce committee. snUI
his committee expected to report a gen
eral trustedII soon, though the members
hail not agreed upon details. Before thu
committee dtermlnes finally upon its
course, however. It will pass upon the
amendment already prepared to preclude
action at tl\|s session upon anything hut
a bill to create an Interstate trade com
mission with broad powers and express
direction to investigate the whole prob
lem of big business and to recommend
to tin* next Congress that legislation sup
plemental to the Sherman law should be
enacted.
Unless this plan is agreed to the com
mittee will proceed to perfect the tenta
tive measure It has worked out in four
sections. The first section would create
a commission to regulate corporations;
the second would prohibit forms of Inter
locking directorates in competing con
ferns; a third would regulate holding
uompanies; a fourth would deal with
stock watering ami the issuance of rail
road securities, and a fifth would at
tempt to eradicate price discriminations
which affect competitions.
Besides the members of the House ju
diciary subcommittee, President Wilson .
conferred with Representative Webb of j
North Carolina. After the conference,
the subcommittee determined upon the
following programme:
Speeding up of committee consideration
or the antitrust legislation with a view
to reporting as quickly as possible a
singh* bill comprising the principles of
the Clayton hills on trade relations, in
terlocking directorates, holding companies
and definitions; inclusion of the anti
injunction plan in this bill or in a sepa
rate measure, to regulate issu*- of in
junctions and restraining orders in strikes
and other labor controversies, to provide
due notice to all parties concerned and
jury trial rights in contempt proceedings
for violations of Injunction decrees.
Chairman Clayton of the judiciary com
mittee said tonight he hopes to have
the antitrust hills out of Ids committee
and reported to the House within a foil
til n ilt
Prevent Injury
A section of the Clayton bills, which
will be offered by the committee as basis
for the anti-injunction measures, would
estop any restraining order or injunction
in any case “Involving or frowning out of
a dispute concerning terms nr conditions
of employment, unless necessary to pre
vent Irreparable Injury to properly or
>to a property right of the party making
the application," and these rights would
have to he sworn to by the applicant
“with particularity."
The Interstate trade commission bill
was reintroduced In the Mouse today b\
Representative Covington of Maryland,
for the interstate commerce* committee,
with some minor changes. The principal
change in the bill, as already made pub
lic. is an amendment to provide that in
any equity suit brought under the At
torney General's direction under the anti
trust law. the court may on the considera
tion of the testimony, refer the suit to
the trade commission to ascertain ami re
port an appropriate form of decree, and
that upon such Report exceptions may
be filed. The court may adopt or .reject
the trade commission report, In whole
or in part.
Mrs. John B. Humphrey
Huntsville. April 13.—(Special.)—The
body of Mrs. John B. Humphrey, former
ly of this city, was brought hero from
Atlanta yesterday uml Interred In Maplo
lllll cemetery. The funeral whh conduct
ed front the home of Prof. W. J. Hum
phrey.
iE. P. Holcombe Shoots and
Kills Himself in Room
at Washington
Washington. April 13.—K. P. Holcombe,
chief supervisor of the Indian bureau,
late today allot and killed himself in u
room In a downtown hotel here.
Holcombe's associates believe he was
led to take his life through despondency
over his physical condition, of which he
had continually complained recently.
Officials of the Interior department, with
whom Holcombe had been associated for
20 years, said the affairs of his office were
In perfect shape.
Among the papers which littered the.
room when the police Entered, following
the pistol shot, was a letter requesting |
the authorities to Inform his wife and I
children at Denver, Col., of his act.
The dead official was u0 years old and '
was said to have been a native of Vtr- J
ginla. He had no relatives ill Washing* |
ton so far ua is known.
'RAILROAD STRIKE
THROUGHOUT ITALY
j HANGS IN BALANCE
'Government Holds Troops
Ready to Act in
Eventuality
STRIKE LEADERS HOLD
SECRET MEETINGS
Increased Pay and Roller Hours De
manded by I nion—Strike May Bo
Tailed Suddenly Results
May Be Far-Reaching
Home. April 13. Tlie question of a strike
of the railway men throughout Italy still
hangs in the balance, but the government.
In order to be ready for any eventuality*
already has occupied certain stations with
detachments of troops./ Arrangements
have been made to replace with bluejack
ets the sailors on the postal steamers ply
ing between tlie continent and tho islands,
while tlie engineers and stokers of tho
warships will, if necessary, assist the
military engineers to carry on the train
service.
in several coses damage has been done
to the engines, and those responsible have
been dismissed. The leaders of the tall
way men have been holding secret meet
ings. but what they liavn decided upon Is
not known. It Is thought, by some that
the strike may be suddenly proclaimed.
Tin* operating forces of the Italian state
railways number about 115,000 Individuals.
They are joined Jn a league which has
been pressing for increase of wages and
dimunitiou of hours of work.
Tlie meir’s chief demand Is for a mini
mum wage of 60 cents a day. Some get
only 34 cents a day. Twenty cents extra
per night for night work is demanded.
Engine drivers and firemen want to work
not more than 10 hours by day and eight
hours by night out of the 24 when work
ing slow trains, and ask that their hours
be diminished as tho speed augments
until they are reduced to a minimum of
five hours daily and all men to have a
34 hours rest weekly in tho town where
I hey reside.
Ask Better Honrs
Traveling officials, according to tho de-*
mends, are not to work more than Id
hours, with a 34-hour rest weekly, while
station agents are not to work more than
10 hours or less than eight, with one hour
for luncheon, tin* maximum of night work
to lie 20 nights a month and men to have
a 36-hour rest a week.
Tho guardian* at the flag stations and
j the grade crossing women are to work 10
' hours a day with one day of rest a week,
the latter having no night work and no*
work when maternal duties interfere.
Pensions arc demanded for ail employes
who are obliged to leave the service
through infirmity caused by their service.
A minimum pension of $100 Is asked.
There are sotn eemployea who, after 30
years’ service, only received $80 pension
a year.
•fl’lie government asserts that thess
claims cannot possibly no accepted, as
they would Involve a yearly expenditure
of over $20,000,000, which tho budget of
the country cannot stand.
• ii 1885. when the economic und financial
condition of the klgdom was very pre
carious. the government ceded the con
trol of the railways to three private com
panies for a period of 20 years. Tide
fret d the government from the large ex
prnee connected with the working of the
lines and insured a participation In the
profits, which, in 1906, when the railways
were taken over again by the state, hud
reached $17,ot«>,ooo yearly.
riX pi*nil 11 u re 11 i*avy
The private companies, howo\ir, had
managed the railways almost exclusively
as as speculation, so that their system
won a failure from a permanent point *>f
view. When the government took back
the 10,000 miles of railways heavy ex
penditure was necessary for the purchase
of rolling stock, for the laying of doublo
tracks, for the enlargement and rebuild
ing of stations and for the increases in
v ages, su la lies ami pensions. All tills
brought about an improvement in the
service, hut also a decrease of profits, .so
that the railways now bring In a net
profit of about $1,000,000 a year- an In
significant sum considering that they
represent a capital of $5,000,000,000. Since
the government took over the railways
$13,600,000 has been spent in raising the
economic condition of the employes, who
art also entitled to participation ranging
from one-tenth to one-fifth of 1 per cent
In the net profits. By the law of 1011 tho
employes are allowed to choose represen
tatives who meet, and discuss with tho
director general of railways all questions
connected with their material, profes
sional and collective interests. These
meetings are popularly given the name of
the "railway parliament.*’
The grave faults of the present situ
ation are said to come from the bureau
ciatic organization of the railways and
the too numerous personnel.
Date Selected Tentatively
for White House Wed
ding—Will Be Quiet
Washington, April 11—Although there
has been no formal announcement from
the White House as yet for the date of
the wedding of Secretary McAdoo and
Miss Eleantr Wilson, youngest daughter
of President and Mrs. Wilson, friends
who are in position to know say May
h, has been ’tentatively selected. The
affair is expected to be private, Mr. Mc
Adoo's colleagues In the cabinet being
practically tho only guests outside of tho
two families.
During the hist few days Washington
society has come to accept as settled
that the wedding would take place dur
ing the first week in May. and also that
the invitation list would be very small.
is taken for granted that whatever
preparations are made for the event will
not require the time and busy activity
which preceded the Wilson-Sayre wedding
last November. Miss Wilson's trousseau,
it is said, practically is completed.