Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 July 1916 — Page 6

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THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1916.

INDIANAPOLIS NEWS >ubllab«<l D»Uy. Except Sunday. News feutldinf, No*. SO and B W««t Waatilnfton Street. ■red at the Poetnffiee. IndlenepolU. Ind , gecond-Claee Matter.

I — Beth eompanlee. Prtrat# Call for The New* and wanted.

—

m TORK OmCK - Tribune Building.

Du A. Carroll. Repreeemotlve.

OPTICE—Firet Nation*] Bank Bldg. 17 and J. & Lota, Repreeematlvee.

BUREAU — Wyatt Building. Hornaday. Corrwpondent.

NEWS IN EUROPE velar* In Europe will find The I we- on fUe In the following 7, Trafalgar building. Northue; American Expre*a offlee. t; DaW* Staameh.p Agency. Charing Croee road, leverd dee Capueinee, corner American Expreaa office. II

'ST

VACATION

Newe leaving the city

nge to have reeeea will be

aa may be required

may be glron

Newe or eent to The Individual aubinvarlably payable In

rate*:

Domeetlc (including For-

...f 10 t *5 *60 ^ oo muat be entered for a definite . all inatruotlona to be effective ea of addreaece or order, to atop The be given In writing. The New* •w rwponaible for error* made if Inara given over the telephone.

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m DANISH WEST INDIES I Of th# island of St Thomas if not the ontira Danish West Ingroup. would be a profitable Investt a reasonable price for the The reasons are partly but chiefly political. The i He con rparativety near Porto They ai e small in else, but e superb Harbor facilities. From of theii discovery by Columbus important place In ocean opening of the Panama canal particularly St. Thomas, ial to a strategic rank, contain* Danish, German and a allng stations, and could as a naval base. Possess power might become a of coetlj regret to the United it in propoeed, in a treaty 1o the senate, that the par Denmark >28,000,000 for the islands. Shcjuld the treaty be ap- ’ proved by congress and the Danish parlia- | mentf the proposal wilt be submitted to J the people of the islands. It will probably meet with no serous opposition from the two national legislatures, and sentiment in the Island appears to favor the change, aa it would aaeun the Islands the capital bow so badly neided. The West Indies Company (Ltd.), backed by Copenhagen fi landers, began an ambitious scheme of Improvement of St Thomas a few yei rt ago. It was proposed te spend 17,000,000 in harbor works, piers, j coaling sUtions, etc., as the promoters were sure that ti e Panama canal would bring a lucrative 1 ustness. Lack of capital hae hampered tie enterprise from the start, and as a mult only about >1,800,000 worth of work hgs been completed. Both Denmark and the United States have recognised the value of the Islands to the latter country. Unsuccessful negotiations for them were made in 1888. In Grant's adminlsti atlon these were renewed. and again in 1902. The latter proposal, It Is said, uaa blocked by German operating through the Danish t. It has also been established fairly well that Germany, a short time the war, endeavored to obtain control of the islands for the purpose of creating a naval laea.

fen

ffl SHIPPING COMMISSION The fear that the British trade blacklist

t> deny to certain firms shipping privileges on has again turned pubadministration’s plans hip purchase bill no any euch purchase or as that Included In the One by one the alteraicepted, until now It Is is vital, not so much

for regulation, is determined to n of some sort

to make a clear

Those who La Follette

kr„'

. ,rv '' l ifl.nnltlon o, • b«. ham:

Vj ““ other restrictive marine lawa are

XT*.

commission, 'congress, th

t

in the proposal to centralise the of shlppini: in a merchant marine

Fall) ng to obtain relief from

they feel that they might gain of the co mmission, and in this

of ihe more difficult probbe worked out. The British fhloh Is a sort of high

for shipping, has

to the English mer-

it is argued, a

likewise prove of

mpplpilsi '.a ,_y

» decided on now is adopt a policy of ship ship building and

the policy is unmiasion to

It la a fallacy for

to hope to divide its conthat is, to net its own shipping lines

privately owned lines,

tjlme to attempt to reg-

There is in

aversion to governor operation than to and it ia this feeli contributed suprevised shipping bin. sub- ■ n does, the ship purchase

The

. is by bo

at ths

these lines by statute.

WBMHNlMI

that by the raer-

the war to Pleading that or some illegal

. are often pro-

Tplli* m ■.

likely to get credence and arouse a spirit of vengeance by which unoffending third parties are made to suffer. The Red Cross protest was undoubtedly made after investigation had shown that war prisoners were victims of retaliation. A tew days ago the Russian minister of foreign affairs was reported to have informed the Twkish government that hereafter Russia would disregard the principle of The Hague convention as far as Turkish hospital ships were concerned Supposedly, this was in retaliation for the sinking of the Russian hospital ship Portugal last March, when 115 lives were lost, and for the torpedoing of V peri ode on July 9 of this year. Turkey admitted sinking the Portugal, but alleged that the ship did not fly a Red Cross flag and was attacked by mistake. The nationality of the boat responsible for the loss of the second ship was not made known. As the situation now stands, Russia will not spare hospital ships, although it Is not clear that Turkey knowingly attacked a Russian hospital ship. The frightful possibilities of such measures, if carried far

enough, are apparent.

On the same day that Russia announced its policy an official statement from Berlin threatened reprisals against the French for the bombarding of towns In the Black forest outside the sone of field operations. "We shall now be forced,” says the report, "to use our strong battle squadrons for the purpose of reprisal. A great number of peaceful French towns outside the sone of field operations are within the reach of our air squadrons." Reprisals, of course, will lead to counterreprisals. All belligerents and ail humanity would profit by strict adherence at all times to the laws of warfare.

THE WATER COMPANY The Jammed-through contract with the water company and the request of Mayor Bell to be permitted to withdraw the petition of Corporation Counsel Pickens are now both before the public service commission of Indiana. That body announces that It will not be hurried, and that it will consider its own appraisement, the valuation of the water company of Its own property, and whatever figures the city authorities may have. If the water company officials know anything of the value of their property they are not sharing their knowlege with the public. The state board' of taxation has been making desperate efforts to get some light on the subject. But C. L. Kirk, president;'C. H. Hurd, vice-president and engineer; and Frank C. Jordan, secretary of the company, have all said, in their testimony before the tax board, that they did not know what the property was worth. Such igporance is as amusing as it is deplor-

able.

'But what reason is there to suppose that Mayor Bell, who jammed this contract through, without any consultation with Mr. Pickens, corporation counsel, knows anything more than the officers of the company? Yet he suddenly entered into negotiations, presented his precious contract, and almost immediately signed It And it la this agreement that the public service commisiso i is asked to approve. Every circumstance ii\ connection with this strange transaction is questionable. Bell signed this contract without any knowledge whatever of the value of the company’s property, the only basis for rate-making, as far as the public know*. He did not consult the corporation counsel, who has said that he knew nothing of the contract till he saw it in the papers. The officers of the company admit that they have no knowledge as to the value of th» property. The public service commission had no part whatever in the business. On the contrary, it was utterly Ignored by the city and the company, both challenging ita Jurisdiction. It was indeed the avowed purpose of the company to get out from under the control of the commission. One wonders indeed why the contract was submitted to the commission. It seems to us that this is a matter that gravely concerns the people of Indianapolis. Water rates In this city have been high. . The company has prospered and grown mightily. Values have been piled up out of profits that are to be believed to be excessive, and as far as the public knows these have been capitalised and made the basis for rates. And the people, whose servant the company ie suposed to be, are entirely in the dark. Their mayor, too, was In the dark when he made the contract. And the darkness In whiqh the officers of the company abide is apparently impenetrable. We think it is about time the people of this city were waking up. And the people in other cities in which the Geist Interests operate would also do well to bestir themselves.

A QUESTION OF INTEREST The state board of accounts has ruled that certified checks deposited by contractor* should be held exclusively by the board of public works, and that interest — if any — derived from them belongs, not to the city, but the contractors. While this is, of course, not the Judgment of a court. It seems to be sound law. The checks certainly are not the property of the city (much less of a city employe), and do not become Rs property until there is some default on the part of the contractors. There is, indeed, no reason why they should be cashed at all. They are simply a security against bad work or noncompliance with the contract. And the insurance is really not collectible until the happening of the contingency insured

against.

If this is true, it is hard to see what title the city can have to the interest. The effect of drawing it would be to give the city the benefit of a price for the work done for it that might be considerably below the price bid. If it be argued /that the payment of this interest to the contractors would result in their getting a higher price than that bid, the answer is that the city Is under no compulsion to put the money at interest at all — It can simply hold the checks, and return them If the work is satisfactory. Controller Sx^livan is not to be criticised for taking the contrary view, and accounting to the city for the interest, until a court rules on the matter. No one questions his sincerity and honesty. But we think it would be well if some contractor would sue for the interest, for thus we should get an authoritative ruling on a question that is of great and growing importance. If the city is, as Mr. Sullivan thinks, entitled to this money, Its claim should be established. It is now doubtful, to say the least, for the ruling of the state board of accounts is not without weight. It is at least as authoritative as that of the controller. As it is now the city Is drawing Interest on money that does not belong to It, In opposition to the ruling of the state board of accounts. By all means let us have a decision that will fix the measure of the rights of the parties to the con-

troversy.

ENGLISH PRISONERS IN GERMANY The American ambassador to Germany has been making an investigation of certain prison camps in that country, and finds them very bad. The report is made by Dr. Alonso E. Taylor, attache of the embassy, and was forwarded by Mr. Gerard, the ambassador, to Sir Edward Grey, through Ambassador Page at London. Dr. Taylor speaks with great plainness. He Aays: The barracks at Ruhleben are overcrowded, The Imperial authorities after two years of war have had ample time to provide for the accommodation of prisoners. It is intolerable that people of education should be herded six together in a horses stall and in some lofts. The bunks touch one another; the light for reading Is bad. and reading is a necessity if these poor prisoners are to be detained another winter. In the hay lofts above the stables the conditions are even worse. These prisoners, it should be borne in mind, are civilians. In one loft thirtythree feet wide by forty-seven feet long sixty-four men are herded. The ceiling is ten feet high in the center and four and a half feet high at the sides. There Is but one window, and that a small one, the light from which "is so faint that the prisoners’ eyes will be seriously injured, if their sight is not permanently lost" Dr. Taylor says that "this semi-darkness will undoubtedly cause depression and mental trouble.” The investigator found that heating facilities were inadequate, and that there were no facilities at all for drying the clothes of the prisoners who frequently have to answer to roll call In heavy rains outside their pens. Many things, such as soap, which are given to men in Jail as a matter of course, are withheld from the prisoners at Ruhleben. This report Is made by the American ambassador, and as such will be accepted by the American people as wholly truthful. It certainly'is a severe indictment of the German authorities at Ruhleben. The British blocksde can not here be pleaded as a defense. In the first place, it has been denied over and over again that that

blockade has had any effect. And In the second place, even If It has limited the food suply of the German people, that would not make it impossible to house these prisoners decently and to give them plenty of water, air and light. Whether Mr. Gerard can do anything to lighten the hardships from which these prisoners are suffering Is perhaps doubtful. But, in view of his abundantly proved courage and humanity, we think he may be trusted to exert himself to the utmost in their behalf. As guardian of British interests In Germany It is his duty to act. And duty is a word that has no terrors for Ambassador Gerard.

THE MANIPULATION OF MARKETS Produce exchanges or other organizations often complain that the public is unjustly suspicious of legitimate business enterprise. Doubtless there is unjust criticism, but occasionally there are revelations which convince the consumer that constant watchfulness is necessary to Keep down the price of food to the level established by normal demand and supply. An investigation undertaken by the New Yprk state authorities, with especial reference to the butter and egg exchange, was so vigorously opposed that the state supreme court was called on to decide its legitimacy. With approval from the bench, Attorney-General O’Malley examined the affairs of the Mercantile Exchange of New York city. His opinion Is that the market has been manipulated by a few powerful members. The report says that the object of the exchange, according to its by-laws, Is "to Inculcate Just and equitable principles of trade and to reform all abuses in general business.” Mr. O’Malley’s report shows that “the making, posting and publication of quotations of the dally prices or values of butter and eggs • • • have been manipulated and misrepresented in the interest of a few members of the exchange *. • • and that such manipulations and misrepresentations have been injurious not only to the producers and consumers of eggs and butter, but also to the independent dealers and many of the smaller dealers who are members of the exchange.” It Is charged that twenty dealers control almost B0 per cent, of the butter and egg business, and that abuse of the exchange privileges has been going on since 1903. The report is of interest to the whole country, Inasmuch as the butter and egg business is almost w’holly carried on through exchanges. The New York exchange has been Investigated four times and each time it was found that the laws of supply and demand had been Ignored. It is proposed to remedy the situation in New York through new legislation. BUSINESS AFTER THE WAR Speaking In the senate shortly after the allies reached their so-called economic agreement. Mr. Lodge said: “Whatever the political result of this greatest war, it must bring in its train enormous economic changes. • • * The only wise course for this country is to be prepared for any contingency in two ways, physically and economically.” Other senators representative of both sides of the chamber participated in the debate, and it appeared to be the general belief that this country must prepare in some manner for the shift in world business which is expected when peace comes. The problem that concerns the country most Is that of aiding American business to take the initiative in expansion. To this end the Webb bill has been introduced in the house, with the Indorsement of the federal trade commission and the department of commerce. It provides that nothing contained in the anti-trust laws "shall be construed as declaring to be illegal an association entered into for the sole purpose of engaging in export trade and actually engaging solely in such trade, or an agreement made or act done in the course of export trade by such association, provided such agreement or act ia not in restraint of trade within the United States.” This matter has been carefully considered by the trade commission and hearings have been held In many part* of the country. The United States can not be said to be responsible for Jhla "war after the war” agitation. On the opening of the war business felt considerable apprehension, but theae fears concerned trade during the period of hoetilitiee. The lumber manufacturers of the north-

west. facing ruin because of a cessation of foreign orders, were among the first to ask permission to organize for export trade. The war is now at the end of Its second year. For the last twelve months business Interests throughout the world have become more alarmed over the future. Initiative in the predicted "trade war” has been taken by the entente allies, somewhat foolishly many believe. In retaliation it is proposed that a “customs union” of the central powers be organized. These groups would not include the neutrals, and the United States should be on Its guard. There Is a disposition in congress to insist, through the state department, that foreign nations, on entering any world-trade agreement, consult the United States. Whether this is feasible remains to he seen, but the plan finds suppor oad, as shown In a speech by th.. Australian premier, which Senator Stone read in the senate. "I am profoundly convinced,” said the premier (Mr. Hughes), "with the idea that the United States should be consulted when great international treaties are being made affecting financial, commercial, transportation and industrial activities.” Were there this co-operation, the harmonising of differences, even between belligerents, would become easier.

THE CHILD LABOR BILL The Democratic caucus, in response to the expressed wish of the President, last night decided to pass the child labor bill at the present session of congress. There was opposition on the part of certain southern senators, who urged that consideration of the measure be postponed till December, in accordance with the vote of a former caucus. But the decision was otherwise, and the bill is now part of the Democratic program, and will no doubt become a law in the near future. As wo have said, it is probable that some of the southern senators who oppose the bill simply reflect the opinion of the manufacturers of their states. But it would be most unfair to charge that all are inspired by such motives. There are many people who honestly believe that the bill is unconstitutional. The President himself once held this view, as Senator Borah recently showed on the floor of the senate. There are others who still retain some glimmer of respect for the ancient doctrine of state rights, a doctrine which is still strongly held in the south. And, finally, many feel that the resort to the commerce clause of the Constitution as a means for controlling or regulating — not commerce — but production in the various states is fraught with grave danger. There are. therefore, many honest reasons for doubting the wisdom of this bill, though no one denies or even questions the desirability of the end sought. However, there is no doubt that it will pass. The Democratic caucus has decided that it shall be brought to a vote. And It will be supported by an overwhelming majority of the senators, without much regard to party lines. All we augiqst is that some credit for sincerity and honesty ought to be given to the men who oppose It, since it is not long since many people — President Wilson among them— believed that It was unconstitutional and dangerous.

According to Justice of the Peace Flscus, the constables who are enforcing the automobile speed law do not enforce It That Is, they allow a much higher speed before making arrests than the law allows. , This, of course, prevents them from making serious mistakes of one kind, but results in another kind. And It does not go a great way toward improving traffic conditions.

That prediction of the shoe men that we’ll all soon be wearing wooden shoes puts it up to inventive genius good and plenty. Both high wooden heels and high wooden tops will have to be devised. School taxes are also to be higher, but it Is easier to stand that kind than some others.

However, It is evident that the President is not going to let his ignorance of his nomination interfere with his pushing his campaign along. Another pleasant time was had at Toledo yesterday, percentagely speaking. Those Hens can surely be the model hosts (hostesses?) when things are right.

Judging from the current styles the candidate who could get the silk stocking vote this year would have a cinch.

Another interesting feature about the purchase of the Danish West Indies Is that we’ll have still more room to see America first.

The German Socialist party's definition of war as "the defense of country, a guaranty of political Integrity and liberty of economic development” sounds good enough to be put in the platform of any or every political party.

If congress continues obstinate and stays in session. It looks as If the election might have to be pulled off without the President’s knowing what was going on.

Unlese the underwater boat gives everybody the slip, she probably will be followed out by a big audience. — Norfolk dispatch. But that audience probably won’t hear much.

When Mr. Van Nuys declares that the elements of value for taxation and for rate making purposes are different, that, dear reader, is no idle jest It is a seriously truthful statement of conditions that help to make our cost of living what it Is. The city purchasing agent, having saved >136 in the purchase of asphalt, now has only >49,966 to save to make good on the >60,000 annual economy promise.

Another embarrassing feature of It is that those military geniuses who had It figured out that nothing more could happen after each of the belligerent forces had dug Itself in will have to revise their conclusions. Maybe if they get the dimmer ordinance to working right well on the lamps, somebody Will be able to devise a scheme to apply it to the accelerator. Incidentally, those little navy, men should not forget that there is to be an election in November.

That British blacklist might also have some unpleasant after effects, for, of course, the war has got to end some day. But by this time Villa has probably got so used to bring nearly caught that It doesn't make him at all nervous. In such weather as this np doubt we should all be glad we are not away on our vacation trying to get our money’s worth of good time.

THE DOCKS OF ST. THOMAS

A short time ago Luther K. Zabriskie, vice-consul at St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, sent to Commerce Reports a description of that Island. St. Thomas, he says, is commercially the most important of the three islands that constitute the Danish West Indian group. Charlotte Amalie, its only town, whose population of 10,000 comprises practically all the inhabitants of the Island, lies on the lower slope of the hills that overlook the harbor. The harbor, which is practically landlocked, is narrow (300 yards at its narrowest part), but it has no bar and, being open to the southward, is easy of ingress or egress night or day. The West Indian Company, Ltd., a joint stock company organized under the laws of Denmark on October 16, 1912, with domicile originally in Copenhagen, Is the largest concern dealing Intimately with the affairs of St. Thomas, and its new harbor works, coaling station and complements in Longbay promise to be when fully completed the finest of their kind in the West Indies. This organization might be regarded as an offspring of the East Asiatic Cr.mpany, Ltd., which established a successful business in the Danish West Indian in 1903. Its interests there now, however, are in the hands of the West Indies Company, which acts as its agent. The East Asiatic Company represents the interests of its St. Thomas successor in Copenhagen. The capital of this new syndicate Is 6.000. 000 crowns (>1,008,000,) divided Into 3.000. 000 crowns stock shares and 3,000,000 crowns 4 per cent, interest-bearing bonds, of which 2,291,300 crowns was paid in on December 31. 1913. Practically all of these interests are In Danish hands, the controlling stock being held by the East Asiatic Company, under whose auspices the preliminary surveys were begun in the year 1904. Serious work was started in May, 1913, and In the early part of 1916 announcement was made that the first large section of the extensive new harbor works had been completed, the depth of the water in the harbor and In Longbay Basin having been increased to thirty-one feet, while new quays and wharves. 3,200 feet in length, had been constructed. The wharf is provided with modern appliances for securing vessels alongside. The present work is a part of a gigantic project ^that its promoters, in anticipation of a generous share of the Panama Canal trade, planned to carry into effect in the island. This original undertaking, which would have required a capital of not less than >7,000,000, embraced the reclamation of the entire eastern corner of St. Thomas harbor, where there is a naturally spacious basin, and the erection there of piers, warehouses, oil tanks, electric light plants, water reservoirs, machine shops, a dry dock, and a breakwater, such as would have made the St Thomas port the best equipped of any In the Caribbean sea. Various obstacles were met with, however, principally difficulty in procuring all the necessary funds from Danish Investors, which were most desired, with the result that the original plans tvere pared down so as to accommodate themselves to the Danish capital subscribed. About $1,500,000 has already been expended by the West Indian Company in dredging, building warves, warehouses, oil tanks, and waterworks, erecting cranes, etc., and a further $500,000 will probably be needed to complete the work. There Is bunker accommodation for 180,000 tons of coal, two large electric conveyors being provided for discharging and bunkering, each capable of delivering 150 tons an hour. The coal is weighed automatically on officially adjusted weighing machines. The oil tanks have a capacity of 24,000 tens, and fuel oil is pumped on board vessels at the rate of 300 tons an hour. Fresh water is obtained from three nearby wells and can be delivered aboard vessels at the present time at the rate of fifteen tons (of 250 gallons to the ton) ah hour. Later on seven additional wells will be sunk, a filter station and reservoir will be built to handle 1,000 tons, and, when the business of the company demands, a second reservoir will be constructed. In addition to furnishing water to the vessels that come to St. Thomas, these reservoirs will be ample to supply the needs of the town, should future opportunities arise for such service. Upon the receipt of the necessary machinery, delivery pipes capable of supplying vessels with freth water at the rate of fifty ton an hour will be extended the entire length of the wharves. For the lighting and operation of the dock by electricity a power house (built on hardwood piles, and with a concrete foundation) has been erected, and here two Diesel motors of 300-horse power each have been installed. The lighting on the docks Is done by metallic incandescent lamps of 400-candle power.' A pumping house for sea water for cooling the motors, has also been put up and connected with the engine rooms. The lighting system, besides supplying all the needs of the dock, furnishes lights for the city Twhich up to recently has depended upon gas) and has facilities In readiness for the necessary power for operating a wireless station. In addition to its operations already Indicated, the company undertakes the loading and discharging of vessels, and for those anchored away from rheir wharves has provided four iron lighters (two having a capacity of 300 tons and two of seventy tons) and nine wooden lighters (one of ten tons capacity, and the others ranging between fifteen and twenty-five tons capacity). Besides these, the company owns one Iron water boat (of twen-ty-two tons capacity) and three wooden water boats (of eighteen to twenty tons capacity), and a lighter with motor attachment for pumping water.

Fewer Idle Freight Care [American Railway Association Bulletin] On July 1 the net surplus of freight cars on the railroads of the United States and Canada was 62,116, a* compared with 65.^4 on June 1. With the exception of the latter date, July 1 shows the largest surplus this year, these returns having shown a net shortage as recently as March 1. The following table gives thq total surpluses and shortages of all classes of cars as reported each month this year:

62,116 66,214 30,607 3.660 *20,651 21,465 46,953

1916.

Surplus.

Shortage.

July 1 ....

14,898

June 1 ....

12,344

May 1

59,657

29,050

April I ...

46,921

43.271

March 1 ...

62,275

February 1

52,449

30,S*«<

January 1

68,700

21,745

•Net shortage.

Waiting [People’s Home Journal] The man getting his hair cut noticed that the barber's dog. which was lying on the floor beside the chair, had hla eye* fixed on hi* master at work. ”Nlc* dog. that,” said the customer. "He 1*. sir." "He seem* very fond of watching you cut hahr.” "It ain’t that, ■Ir," explained the barber. "Tou see, sometime* I make a mistake and snip off a little bit of a customer's ear." Getting Shorter, Too [Brooklyn Eagle} W* formerly avoided any seeming of rudenee* by modestly dropping our glance, but now we don't know where to look. Maybe [Baltimore American] Am Villa will not stay dead they are now going to capture him.

AN ILLUMINATED HAND

If while driving at night the motorist sees an Illuminated hand thrust out of the car ahead of him, he need not jump to the conclusion that man has discovered the secret of the firefly, for it is likely that the driver ahead has simply applied to his own use a device which the Scientific American says was invented by a Milwaukee man whose purpose was to Increase the safety of night driving. He noted that while In the day it was natural for automobile drivers to thrust out a hand when turning a comer or slowing up. it was hard to arrange a system of signals on the rear of the car which would serve the same purpose at night- In order to be effective, any tuch system would have to be uniform, and to accomplish this w’ould entail much agitation for laws to govern it. He thereupon concluded that fhe easiest way to remedy the trouble was to apply the prevalent day system, now commonly accepted and understood by all drivers, to night driving. With this end in view he had a hollow celluloid hand, about natural size, made with a collar at the wrist which fit snugly over an ordinary cylindrical electric pocket torch. This he carried_conveniently near him. When he had occasion to stop or decrease his speed, he had, in order to inform those back of him of his intention, merely to press the button and signal as he would by day. He also went further and devised a special reflector for the torch so that the light was diffused uniformly Into the hand. It can be seen for 300 feet. It is said that oife of the Milwaukee city officials was so struck with the efficiency and simplicity of the devise that he has suggested its use by traffic policemen who in the evening sometimes experience difficulty in handling automobiles at band concerts and in public parks. CATTLE LOANS

[WalJ Street Journal] There 1* a paragraph In Section 13 of th* federal reserve act which permits the discount of six months’ paper secured by livestock. The aggregate value of the country's livestock is Cloee to $6,000,000,000. All of this is not available aa the basis of bank loans. But some banks of the west consider cattle loans as the most desirable of risks, and cattle form a third of the livestock value. The future development of this reservoir of credit, therefore, Is of national Interest. Recently, the president of the Union Stockyards Bank, of Wichita, made an address on cattle loans, In which he showed that we are In the dawn of a new ere. In the raising and feeding of cattle, and, therefore, of the evolution of this form of collateral security. He struck the nail on the head when he stated that the livestock industry le controlled by natural laws. Failure to recognise this fact has been the cause of much of the trouble in the past, when we were passing from the range to the farm. Success in any line of human endeavor can be attained only by working in conformity with the natural laws governing that industry. It seems to be the policy of the speaker, as well as of the agricultural college under whose auspices he made the address, to discover those laws relating to this industry, and put them in application. Both the speaker and the institution hold, as this newspaper has so often maintained, that agriculture is not the end, but the means, and products should be marketed Indirectly through the feeding of cattle. The Interest that finance is taking in the Industry Is beneficial in another way. A new type of steer is in process or rapid evolution. He comes to market at less than half the age of the old timer, of superior quality, and weighing 1,200 pounds. He coats less to produce and gives a quicker turnover of the investment. This new animal is coming on the market in increasing numbers every year. He Is no longer a theory, but a fact; and as his tribe increases there is a corresponding increase irt a safe form of banking security for the community honored by his presence. Further assistance by finance to hasten his development will add greatly to the country's credit.

THE WISHING WELL

The rest of the crowd wasn't crazy about going, for it was a three-quarter mile walk in a broiling sun—but I just couldn’t give it up! In the first place. I'd never seen any kind of cave, and I wished to sec this one. but really, that wasn’t the main object of my quest. I had plucked a yellow placard from the bunch that hung on a tree near the path. It was an enthusiastic advertisement of the cave, and among all the other beauties and wonders set forth it called particular attention to the wishing well. Of course I’m not getting childish, and I’m not superstitious—but what harm is it to wish for things? I’ve always been a great wisher, and of course I've always found plenty of opportunities—the first star of the evening, the new moon, and the pins_with points toward me—but this was more interesting and exciting. It sounded like the fairy wells of our childhood reading. To be able to drink from that well and wish for something, with the assurance that It would come true, would be almost as good as catching the Isprechawn and squeezing him until he granted the desire of your heart. So I persuaded my folks to go with me to find that wishing well. Of course there was an office, where you had to pay the price of admission. You have to pay the price for everything when you start out on your vacation, hut what did that little fee amount to compared with getting your wish granted? Well, anyway, the delicious coolness of that cave was worth all It cost. Including the long, hot walk. Down, down we went, on steep flights of steps between rock walla, then over wet, slippery rocks, and at last we came to the wonderful well! An old man with long, gray beard was In charge of the well. He dipped up the water with a tin dipper and handed it over the Iron rail to us. We took the precaution to pour it Into a sanitary cup, which I hope didn’t break the charm. I asked him If he was ^qulte sure that our wishes would come true. "Sure! Well I’d reckon so,” was his indignant reply. 'T ben here for forty-three year, and I never knowed it to fall. Why I’ve had post cards from as many as 800 folks, sayin’ that their wish come true In less'n a year!” I imagined I saw a twinkle in his shrewd old eyes, but maybe It was the electric light overhead shining beneath his old cap brim. There was too much hilarity in that crowd for me to be able to do any serious thinking. 1 knew very well what the other three were wishing, because of the laughter in their eyes, and because of the topic that had been uppermost In our conversation all day, but I couldn’t seem to think of a thing important enough for such a momentous an opportunity. It seemed ridiculous to come hundreds of miles to a wishing well, and then wish the same thing I’d wished over and over when I picked up a pin in the kitchen at home! But. after all, that same simple little wish seemed at that moment the dearest, most unselfish one I could make, so I drank my cup of clear, cold water and wished it. Of course we didn’t any of us tell what we had wished. That would have broken the witchery of the place. But after the others had scattered out, some to explore the upper chamber of the cave and some to the secret crevice where the discoverer of th£ cave had once hidden all his treasure, I slipped back and asked for another cup of the water. I had thought of a wish that seemed mighty important—In fact, it is always lurking In my mind and heart-asid I drank and wished it! I can’t think that it was wholly selfish, for it’s coupled up with hard work which I'm perfectly willing to tackle, if only, according to the gray, bid man's assurance, it’ll come true in less’n a year—and I do so wish it to come true.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

B. B. C.—Where doe* the line occur. "After life's fever he sleeps well”?—In Macbeth Act III, Scene 2. Fan*—Several fan* request the publication of Ernest Lawrence Thayer'* ba*eball classic, "Casey at the Bat.”—It w)ll appear under the heading "Poems Asked for by Reader*.” Reader. Martinsville. Ill.-How many years will it be before Chinese can legally enter this country to work?—The act excluding from residence in this country all Chinese except thqse who lived here previous to the passage of the law and diplomats, students, travelers and a few others, Is generally renewed every ten years, and there is no way of telling when public opinion will sanction the expiration of the law. (2) Who was or Is the worlds greatest poet ?-Perhaps Homer or Dante or Shakespeare or Schiller or Burns or any one of 100 others who have their own following. The question is too broad for a definite answer. (8) The song asked for Is popular and may be seen at any music store. Emma W.-Who wrote And the hand that rock* the cradle Is the hand that rules the world? -The lines occur in a poem entitled ‘The Hand that Rule, the World.” by William Ho** Wallace There are five stanzas, each ending Tub The hand that rock, the cradle 1. the hand that rules the world.” The closing one runs: Blessings rn the hand of woman; fathers, sons And fhe^cred long 0 is'mingled with the worMI„g)e h . lP where he T.o* tempest darkens, rainbows For mT hand "uV^k’s the cradle 1* the hand that rules the world. ' Old Reader of The New—Please give »ome information regarding the ’'freemen of the city of Oxford. England -Under English usage a person who receives the freedom of -an incorporated city, that is. the rights «"<* Pelages appertaining to a freeman 1* 80 The custom of extending the freedom of * city to individuals Is of ancient origin and is a subject of modern legislation It is now regulated by what is called the honorary freedom of boroughs act. under which the council of any incorporatecLborough may. from time to time admit persons of distinction not natives, or nonresidents of the borough, as freemen. The town clerk keeps a list of persons so admitted which is called "the freeman* roll. Oxford 1. a very old municipality and posseaae. fhifpower of creating ^eemen in common with other citle*. The government of the city of Oxford 1* partly in the h ^ ds of th ^ ““ ' vAFRitv located there. It coniists of a mayor, fifteen aldermen including three from the unL verslty and forty-five councllmen. of whom . ’ f rom the university. <2) I enjoy "•‘c^eTnd'comment," and, live, would ask who write* tt.-The editor or The New*. Militia—What peraons or cU«*e« of P* r *™* «re. exempt from militia duty under the new military law T—The law define* the militia as "The militia of the United States follows. t e male cltUens of ^ united 8tat« and all other able-bodied th *i h have or shall have declared their mention to become citizen, of th. United 8tl*e. who .hall be more than eighteen yeara r »ee and except a* hereinafter provided, not more than forty-five years of age. and raid militia -hall be divided three riorajj. the national guard, the navwl ^ nrcanixed militia." Following ia the provision SSS exemption from militia duty: The Vice-President of the 1 nlted States, th* ofll rer* iudlcial and executive, of the government of the United State* and of the several atate* and territorle*; per*on. m the military or naval service Of the United State*; cu*tom houra clerks' persons employed by the United Statee in the' transmission of the mail; artificers and workmen employed In the armorlee. arsenals and navy yards of the United State*, pilot*; mariner* actually employed in the eervice of any citizen or merchant within the United Stale*, shall be exempt from militia duty without regard to :• ge. and all persona who because of religious belief »hali claim exemption from military service. If the conacientloua holding of such belief by *uch p«r*on* shall be established under such regulation* aa the Preaident shall prescribe, shall be exempted from militia service in a combatant capacity; but no person so exempted shall be exempt from militia service in any capacity that the Preaident shall declare to be noncombatant.”

Mr*. J. H., Worthington—Copies of The New* of May 27, 1916, may be obtained by addrraalng the circulation department. Mrs. E. M. F.. M uncle—Business addresses are not printed here, but your local railroad agents will furnish Information about vacation resort*. Subscriber—Where ia the Massachusetts state penitentiary located?—At Boston; with a reft.rrpaiory at Concord and prison for women at She; born. M. J. O'B.—Please print a poem by Will Caileton entitled "The Funeral."—It would fill a column, more space than Is available for a single poem. J. D. 8., Bloomington—PleaseVprlnt a poem entitled “Jock of Hazeldean.”—It may be seen In any public library In the works *of Sir Walter Scott. C. E. A., Spencer-^Where can books be obtained listing the institutions for Insane In the United States?—Consult a good encyclopedia under different state names. Mrs. C. C., Rockville—The words to the song entitled “James Bird” have been supplied through the kindness of Reader, city, and will appear under the heading, “Poems Asked for by Readers.” Philip H., Greencastle—The old copper piece which you deacrlba may be a coin, originally issued as money, or It may be a token or medal. Issued to commemorate some particular event. In either case It would have hardly any value. - C. B. Who was It that said "Qod reigns and the government at Waehington still ll\es ? James A.| Garfield, then a member of congress, addressing an excited crowd in New York the morning after Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Ingall*—What, if any, is the significance of the letters which precede numbers on Indiana automobile license plate#?-M is the prefix attached to manufacturers’ number*, A I* the prefix car* licensed between 108,000 and 110.000 and B for ths next 10.000. (2> To what *rate official might one write about a disease of shade trees?—The state forester, atatehouse. Indiana poll*, Marlon—What is meant by the phrase "Immunity bath." sometimes used In criminal trials?—It means exemption from prosecution. The expression was first used several years ago when several defendants In a trust case were dl*ch«rged by the United States court on the ground that they bad secured personal immunity by furnishing the evldenc* upon which th* indictment* wer* based.. Kokomo Reader—Doe* th* increase in the number of West Point cadet* aa provided by the new army bill take effect this fall or next? —The new law doe* not provid* for any |nerqa** in th# number of cadets, except that from now until March 4. 192$ a new cadet may be appointed to succeed any cadet who ahall have finished three years of the regular four year*’ coura*. Th* rule still prevail* that each senator and representative ( n congress shall have one appointment at a lime. (2> 1* the age limit for a West Point candidate from the regular army the seme aa from civil life?— Yea. (S) Are cadet* admitted to the revenue cutter training school on certificate* from high schools or colieg** as I* the case at West Point T—It I* optional with th* authorities to consider such certificate*. Klsl# D.~Omi a high school graduate who t* not a normal or college graduate, secure license to teach in. the city school** (2) it m. hoa-7 (») To whom should one spplv for position to teach In township *eh<ml*? -Chari#* A. Greathouse superintendent of public Instruction. e*v* that th* qualifications for teacher*. a* fixed bn law, are a* follows A teacher without experience shall be a graduate of a high school or It* equivalent, shall nave had not leae than one term of twelve week*' work In a school maintaining a profession*! e«ur*# for th* training of teacher*, provided, that completion of one year or mote to a recognised coUegg shall be accepted In U*u of twelve week*' work In w school maintaining a prcf#**iona| ocura* for the training of teacher*; shall net have lees than k twelve months' Ureose. Ia order to obtain a license an appllraat la required to pass the teacher*’ examination and rmet all of the lequlremenu fixed by taw. An applicant for a position te tearh to toe township school rhouid roak* application to tbe township trustee.

The Wanderer Oh, I hare wandered far and wide and railed on every sea; On mountain- top and prairie trail the four wind* called to me; 1 ,c *' b ® un<J lakM *“<! HverO ° tt *vh!" n u£!£ N * iB 0,<1 Japan tb# mw » n A "' 1 • b °“ ' i "’'** •>» •• English hedgerow sweet, by *WMw and brown. » *l en * nd Irl »h vale I'v* seen th* sun go down, gf ot oli rom * nc * 10 cui« b o?V7^ of kJnt •• ** ^TrcVuft .frCd wh#r * th * 0, *% d u«t rt of h SSuty n,1 led inOUnt#lM *** mr * 0W mu* inreet ^ <J * vU>ua w * yg to *h4k had forgotten that my lilacs looked and smelled so sweet. And ^°w ^the^dandelion’s gold lay scattered Th * of b ^?e; ta my m ^ lr *** PIP* gaily aa Th* gnarled old grape-vine twines ita curling tendrils round Ihe door. * Hera, where the checkered sunlight fall* u beauty evermore! —Alice C. Rose. In Munaey’a.

SCRAPS

Cherry tree gum stiffens hats. Chile has two woolen factories. Lake Superior is as large as Ireland. Abyssinia is on Important cattle breed* Ing country. Montreal bakers must tramp their la* Rials on each loaf. Jir Winter temperature of Cuba, ranges from 60 to 85 degrees. > Holland is annually increasing Its pro* ductlon of potato flour. The United States alone uges 6,000,000,000 gallons of milk a year. The yellow poplar, or tulip, is the largest broadldaf tree in America. The cost of maintenance of the dykes of Holland is about >3*000,000 a year. * More than 37.000 tons of honey are produced by the American bee annually. Minnesota farmers In four years have spent about >20,006,000 for new buildlnga. Russian women predominate among for* elgn born students of their sex to Faria. Last year 6,000,000 frogs were placed on the markets of St Paul and Minneapolis. Mexico has two official names—"Estadoa Unldos Mexicanoa" and “Republlca Mexicano.” Electric „ locomotives gradually are replacing steam on the state railway* of Italy. Toothed tongs of much power have been patented by a Washington Inventor to~ pull weeds. Kentucky and Pennsylvania produce nearly all the cannel coal mined In the United States. Brazilian cocoanut palms are believed to live from 600 to 700 years, and the dat* frem 200 to 300 years. Twelve field parties will continue this year the government survey of the min* eral resources Of Alaska. A mammoth oil-driven harvester that is being tried on Australian wheat field* strips about sixty acres a day. The warfare Is spreading against the prairie dog. In Texas alone they annually eat enough grass to feed 1,602,600 cows, Japan is becoming interested In sheep raising. The imperial stock farm at Hokkaida has bought animals in Aue* tralla. The word “and” occurs 46,527 times la Holy Scriptures. 10,984 times In the Old Testament and 35,543 times In the New Testament Cyprus has revived Its former nattv* tobacco industry, producing tobaccos suitable for cigarettes of Turkish and Egyptian types. Paris yas opened an exposition of materials and methods of r#constructi|ig damaged buildings, farms, highways, bridges, villages, etc.' A swimming apparatus made of rubber cushions that can be inflated through an air valve and ao compact it can be carried In a pocket has been invented. A proeees has been Invented In England for coloring wool various khaki and orange shades with dilute nitric acid without the use of natural or artificial dyes. India Increased rt* rice production this year by about 21 per cent, to a new high record, although the acreage was increased less than 1 per cent from last year. Aluminum Is one of the most abundant of metals and ranks third among the elements which compose the crust of th* earth, being exceeded only by oxygen and silicon. The percentage of urban population in England and Wales has Increased and that of rural dwellers decreased every time that a census has been taken In the last half century. The queen of the Belgians Is personally distributing many of the gifts of tobacco and cigarettes being sent to her soldiers through the Belgian Soldiers' Tobacco Fund. ' Nearly $2,000,(KX),000 have been deposited In Russian savings banks since the war begun. Abolition of vodka is credited with causing this prosperity of the masses In war time. Cotton manufacturers of the Unlted-I States used more raw cotton in March than in any previous month l4i the history of the industry, the 600,000-bale marh being passed for the first time. William Rosweldt, a young farmer of Greenville, Wla.. has a suffragette cow. She will not permit a man to come within her stable. To milk her Roswildt (Its- | guises himself by putting on a mother hubbard and a bonnet. William H. Blaisdell, of Brockton, Mass., is probably the oldest stitcher in length of service in the shoe trade of Massachusetts. Mr. Blaisdell Is now | seventy-three and has been in the sho# business since be was thirteen. A dog belonging to Colonel Francis T. Maxwell, of Rockville, Mass., was missing for two weeks, when Colonel Msxwell found the Chinese Chow, in fair condition, In a closed oat bln. It Is supposed that the dog must have lived on oats alone for the two weeks. The United States Geological Survey reports that there was a marked Increas* in the use of petroleum as a locomotjv* fuel by the railroads of the United, States in 1915. The quantity, of oil fuel so consumed last year was 36,648,466 barrels, an Increase of 5,566,200 barrels, or 18 per cent, over the similar consumption of 1914. Business night, started by the merchants of Vernon Center. Mimt:, Is proving a great success. Each Thurtdajr night the movie theater to free to th* farmers and other visitors, the band plays 1 and the men’s quartet sings. Autos lino j the streets, and by the Increased business I In town the merchants are more than I repaid for the expense. | Four French prisoners of war In Germany. now in the camp at Stendal, wer* j married recently to their re»pectlv#| fiancees in France. The arrangement ware completed through the Spanish embassy in Berlin. Exactly at the time a#] which the wedding ceremony, with brides absent, was being performed the prisoners' camp at Stendal, at»oth< ceremony, with the bridegrooms absent, I wa* performed in France. I The Right Honorable Frederick Rd-F win Smith, attorney-general, conductor I of the case of the government again *t f Sir Roger Casement, has " ~ member of parliament tolnce 190k He] wan bom at Birkenhead In 187*. Hifi ed cation was obtained at Blrkf school and Wadham college, Oxf he has Been honored since by (Jxford in various w&ya In the service he subaltern In the .King’s Own Hussars. He to known as an many attainments, among his tions being “Inter foundland," and ! th* Far East."

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