Evening public ledger. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, October 07, 1921, Night Extra, Page 10, Image 10

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EueninQ public le&acr
PUBLIC LEDGER COMPANY
' CYllUll II. K. Cl'llTlS, l'KMiniiNT
Jehn C, Martin, Vlc rreldnt and Traiurr;
Charles A. Tyler, Secretary! Char'es II. I.inlln.
ten. Philip B. Ceiling. Jehn B. Wllllami. Jehn J.
ftpurwen. deeraa K. Goldsmith, David K. Smiley,
Director.
OAVID K. RMIt.KT Editor
.101 IN C. MARTIN Oentral nuilnese Manager
Fubllehed dally at PcaLie Lideeb Butldlnx
Independent bQii-e. Philadelphia.
ATtANTIO Citt Preti-Vnlen nulMlnr
. Nkw Tonic .184 Madlnen Ave.
Bmieir 701 Ferd Building
r. Leuis 013 OloluDetr.eerat llulldlnc
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NHW3 Ol REAL'S.
TOsniNOTes Dcacir,
Jr NAK. Oer. Pennsylvania A. 'id 14t, S'
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te the carrier.
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Philadelphia. 1'rlJ... October 7. 121
STATEMENT OF THK
OWN HUSH 1 1 . MANAGEMENT
OmciTLATTON. ETC.
of the
icucning public Ulcibgcc
AS OF (""It'LlKR I. n '1
1'ublldTieO Uail; iveept .-.iinday .it l'i .l.ul-l-Iilila.
1'r required by the act of Ausju.-t
z, mi:.
Frliter Uah E. Smiley. rinlutteliii.
Managing Editor Merris M. Lee. Philadel
phia. Oeneral Dullness Manager Jehn C. Martin.
j'hlladcluhla.
Publisher PUBLIC LUDC.EIt COMPANY,
Philadelphia.
Owner PUBLIC LKDGEIl O O M P A N T
.Stockholder holding 1 per cent or morn of
total amount of stock Cyrus II. K. Cur
tis, Philadelphia.
Known bondhe'ders, mertgagees ard ether
Security holders holding 1 per cent or
mere of total amount cf bends, mort
gages or ether impurities Pennsylvania
Company for Insurances en Lives and
Granting Annuities, Trustee for Estate et
Antheny J. Drcxel, deceased.
Average number of copies of each lsue of
this publication sefd or distributed, threugn
the malls or otherwise, te paid subscribers
durlntr the six months prceedlne: the date
Of this statement Dally. 154. 31S.
Tite circulation figures in this report are
absolutely net and represent the actual
number of paprft selil bv the PL'HLIC
I.EDGEU COMPANY for cash All dam
aged, unsold, free and returned copies
have be i d' ducted from the totals given
In this statement.
Jehn r. mautin.
General Ru'Icchs Manager
Bwem te am subscribed before me this
alxth day of October l!:i.
. . Charles E. Johnsten.
fSeall Notary Public
(.My commission expires January' ", 192".)
A CARD INDEX WON'T DO IT
Till' only Impnrtanr tunctien of the In
employment (.'einmittee in this city will
hv its conference with employers for the.
purpose of (indin-; plnces for men ami women
out of work.
The representatives of business and trade
organizations who authorized the appoint
ment of the cemmitte? voted that it should
register the unemployed and classify tliee
registered ns voluntarily and inveluntiiiily
idle, nnd obtain information reganllng the
-involuntary which wili enable the committee
te place them at work.
This bookkeeping i. de-.irab!. but it if.
net of the tir.t iiiijHri.t!i c. Kery employer
of labor knows hew nmnj men and women
he has discharged, lie knows where they
Hte und he can readily reach them. If he
is disposed te cai-c the burden of unemploy
ment be can rehire a part of the men without
the Intervention of anv committee.
The committee cat: accomplish nothing
unless the employers ,m disposed te hire men
out of work. The most perfect card index
of the unemployed that experts can prepare
will net give work te nny one save these
engnged in making it.
Jf the local business men will act upon
the recommendations of the Washington
conference thousands of workers who are
npw earning nothing will set a pay envelope
rery week.
It was suggested that the manufacturers
no far as possible turn out goods for future
sale; that they increase the number of hands
Ity; reducing the number of hours a day or
(lays n week during which nny individual
may work, und that they take advantage of
the present slack times te make repairs t..
their plants or make such enlargement- .is
may be needed.
'I'his plun cannot be carried out mtheut
the co-operation of the men already at wurkfi
But it is better that a hundred men be
employed part time than that seventy -tie
Ji employed full time while the ninainin
twenty-five are Idle.
. BEHIND THE SCENES
WHILE, most of the world is talking of u
Conference for the Limitation of Anna
inents anil hoping almost against hope that
Borecthing will come of it, a conference for
the revival and expansion of armament seems
te- be working overtime and with dazzling
bUccess somewhere behind the scenes in
Europe.
frhe Balkan States are apparently en the
cdpe of uuethcr conflagration. This time
Heme of the Balkan rulers seem te be mys
teriously involved with the extreme aspira
tions of the Poles and with the fantastic
lream of a new Slav corridor down the
middle of Middle Europe.
Marshal Fech Is pretty generally recng.
nled as the enthusiastic godfather of the
ltrtver Polish militarism. The French pee
jilt outside of Paris are caid te be bewil.
flereil by the increasing signs of their (iov (iev
ttnjiment's activity i.i the new zones of
trouble.
-1'ech neu- rules tue most powerful nrmy
in Europe, and he. ibn't afraid te beast of it.
lie is te be one of the chiefs of the French
delegation at the Conference for the Limita
tion of Armaments, and a formal announce anneunce
jnnt fresh from Paris implies that he is
coming ;iet te talk against militarism, but
te -"prove that It Is necessary."
f , THE BIG BROTHERS
"fTUlE acceptance by President Ilnrdnig of
Ji the honorary vi ( presidency of die Jlig
Brether Federation calls uttentieu te one
efl the most beneficent philanthropies in the
t:mintry.
frhe Big Brether Associations in the vari
ous, large cities- there is such an association
lk Philadelphia. are eiiRnged in the work of
tawing boys te society who otherwise would
tidceme incorrigible criminals. They work
through the Juvenile Courts, through which
tljeir nttentien Is called te bejs who have
Jutt begun te go wrong.
jllew they operate is illustrated by n
tfpicul case from the 'ecerds of the Phila
delphia usboclutieu. It is that of a hey ten
7ars old who wns taken te the Juvenile
Jurt by his parents as nn incorrigible. The
life was sent te the Glen Mills Scheel. lie
.stored Ills time, but "as full of resent men t
ifiatnst bis parents for sending him awar.
lie bfcaiim really Incorrigible and was sent
' te the tlfceel1 a secenjl tin. He was sent
WHY NOT A REAL CUT IN THE TAX RATE?
Commissioner Stetesbury and Controller Hadley Can Help, as Well as the
Mayer and Council, if They Will Release Unnecessary
Reserves New Isolated in the Sinking Fund
By GEORGE NOX McCAIN
TT IS conceded there is te be n reduction in the tax rnte for the coming year.
Fer once there is unnnimity of purpose between Mayer Moere and City
Council.
After consultation with his Directors, the Mnyer hns issuftl instructions for
n budget of the most rwd economy in the various departments. When presented
te Council the budget, it is believed, will represent ultimate safety in the city's
operating expenses.
As it was an "Organization" Administration that boosted the tax rate te its
present level, the "Organization" majority in Council is only doing the consistent
thing in making an effort te case the burden it imposed.
It has been intimated that the reiterated premises of the majority in Council te
reduce the tax rate is a lure te attract public attention away from a contemplated
manipulation of the new gas contract.
It is a reflection en the intelligence of the people of Philadelphia. It is a. crude
intimation that it is net possible for them te fellow the reduction of the tax rate
and at the same time keep an eye en Council's action en the gas lease whereby
they stand te win or lese millions of dollars en their gas bills.
Controller Hadlcy has set forth in an alluring and attractive form the possi
bilities of a reduced tax rate.
He points out that it is possible by soul-paring economics te reduce the tax
burden of the people anywhere front twenty-five te fifty cents for the coming year,
that is te say, reduce it frdm $2.15, the present city rate, te .$1.90 or even $1.65.
Hut why does Controller Hadlcy fail te point out where it is possible te reduce
the rate at least seventy cents te $1.40 instead of a paltry twenty-five or fifty cents?
Mr. Hadlcy is the chief fiscal officer of the municipality. He i3 presumably
the watchdog of the Treasury. Is it possible that Fide has gene te sleep?
It has been pointed out by this newspaper en several occasions recently where
the Sinking Fund Commission, the majority members of which arc E. T. Stotcs Stetcs
bury and V. B. Hadlcy, holds large exces reserves of city money.
Mayer Moere is also a member of the Sinking Fund Commission. He would
undoubtedly indorse any suggestion te lower the tax rate, even if it went se fari3
te take a few unemployed millions from the sacrosanct Sinking Fund.
Fiscal experts figure that for every million dellnrs saved te the city the tax
rate of the people is thereby reduced five cents.
Several years, back Councils compelled the Sinking Fund Commissioners te
release their grip en a million and a half dollars or se. The tax rate was thereby
reduced seven cents. That is a matter of record.
Controller Hadlcy, even at the command of Council, has declined te reveal the
mysterious secrets of the Sinking Fund.
It is estimated, however, that there is at the present time between $4,000,000
and $5,000,000 of excess surplus, which means money in the fund that is net work
ing except te draw a low rate of interest from some of the favored banking
institutions.
If Commissioner Stetcsbury and Controller Hadlcy would only release this
fund and turn it ever te the City Treasury for the general running expenses of the
municipality, sec what would happen ? It would be the same as money saved.
The tax rate for next year could be lowered an additional twenty-five cents.
Instead of the rate being cut down from $2.15 te $1.65, it could be brought down te
$1.40.
Cannet Council pause from its amusing pastime of learning hew te make gas
long enough te beseech Commissioner E. T. Stetcsbury and Controller W. B.
Hadlcy, majority members of the Sinking Fund Commission, te aid in reducing the
people's tax te $1.40?
Mr. Stetesbury is recognized as an imposing figure in Philadelphia finance.
He is a member of the firm of J. P. Morgan & Ce., of New Yerk. He is the titular
and actual head of the Philadelphia firm of Drcxel &. Ce.
It should require no special pleading te point out te such an eminent authority
what a financial advantage would accrue te every property holder in Philadelphia
from auch a material reduction in the tnx rate.
Mr. Hadlcy, the Controller, is an expert accountant, tic is familiar with
municipal finance. He will coincide, as he always does, with Commissioner Stotcs Stetcs
bury in any action that may be taken, en this tax-relief measure.
la there any reason, therefore, why the tax rate for the ensuing, year should
net be reduced from $2.15 te $1.40?
It can be done if the Mayer, Council, Commissioner Stetcsbury and Controller
Hadlcy will get together and de the right thing by the people.
home en parole and the attention of a 131g
Brether was directed te him. The man
secured a job for him at work that inter
esiej him. uud he kept track of the youth.
The latter was surprised and grateful te
discover that any one cared about him, nnd
he responded iuickl. He became contented
with his work, at peace with his family and
at the last report was in the way of becom
ing a useful citizen.
The liig Brethers are kind-hearted men
Mho are willing te put themselves te the
trouble of looking after a boy who needs a
friend. The President is tee busy te find
time te leek after any wayward boys in
Washington, but his acceptance of an office
in the feilerutien ought te be followed by the
volunteering of a large number of kindly
men te co-operate with the Big Brethers in
every city where they are active.
MORE JUDGES NEEDED
IV CONGUL'KS fails te pass the bill pro
viding for eighteen new Fcd ral Judges
it will net be for the reason that the new
Judgi- are unnecessary.
Chief ,Iutice Taft has urged the Senate
Judici.iry Corumlttee te make n favorable
report en the bill, and his recommendation
Hi- been seconded by the Attorney (rencrul.
.ledge Sate, of the Southern I'istri.'t el
i ili'.. chairman of a special committee of
Ic(eral Judges and United States District
Attorneys te consider the congestion of the
Federal courts, told the committee that it
would take ten years for the present Judges
te clenr the calendar in ew Yerk ami five
years te clear it in Chicago. He said thut
men new have te stay in jnil from six months
te n year before their cases can be renched.
Part of th" congestion of the courts is
due te offenses against the wartime laws
and part te violation of the prohibition laws.
But since 1000 Congress has extended the
jurisdiction of the Federal courts se rapidly
that '"O r""1 rent of their business arises from
this enlarged jurisdiction. When the of
fenders against the wartime statutes nre
disposed of there will remain mere business
than the present Judges can handle ex
peditiously. It would be far better for Congress te
authorize the appointment of three or four
mere Judges than are needed at the present
time than te permit the existing conditions te
continue, for delayed trial of n cause fre
fluently works greater harm te the litigants
than the original efftiiise.
SENATE VAUDEVILLE
POLITICS Is beiucliines responsible for
curious distortions of logic. Senater
Sheppard. of Texa's, has been arguing
voluminously against the separate treaties
en the ground that the only honorable
ceur.-e for die I'nited htates is te ratify the
Treaty of Versailles and join the League of
Nations."
As n matter of fuel, the pact between the
Allies and Germany ifl repeatedly respected
und many of its most important previsions
are adopted by the ('tilted States in the
Ilre-el-l.ering iigieeim tit negotiated under
the Harding Administration. There is noth
ing in this document which forbids this
country from becoming a League member
whenever sufficient pepulur sentiment sup
ports the assumption of such a role.
On the ether hand, Senater Moses, of New
Hampshire, rejoices in the new pacts ns
guarantees of isolation His chnmplenshlp
of this Instrument, which Is inevtricnbly
bound up vitli Versailles accomplishments.
Is, it is true, n bit clouded by fears of thy
reserved privilege of participating in the
lleparatiens Commission and alarm ever
Secretary Hughea' alleged advocacy of dls
patiVng a representative. But en the whole
MrJlMeses delights in what be considers
EVENING PUBLIC LEDCiEll PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER '7,
American emancipation from Old World in
famies. Is cither the Democratic Sheppard or the
ftepubliciin Moses actually nware 'of the
contents of the new pacts, or are they con
sciously discounting tacts in their zeal for
staging n tepsy-tury turn in the vaudeville
of partisan politics?
A DISASTER AND A LESSON
TUII necessity for electric traction in long
tunnels is poignantly demonstrated In i
shocking railway disaster in Paris. The
underground section of the State railroad
leading te the St. Lazare Station is low
vaulted and ill-ventilated, nnd in times of
heavy traffic, as during the commuting hours,
smoke clouds perilously limit the vision of
engineers.
Tunnels of the cramped, restricted type
are commoner in Europe than in this coun
try, where most of the railways, originally
hastily and cheaply built, have been flt some
time reconstructed. There are, however,
especially In the elder sections of the United
States, subterranean survivals vapor-choked
and badly lighted, potentially almost ns dan
gerous us the specimen se horribly discred
ited In Paris. Baltimore, with its electric
engines, was n pioneer in a reform which has
been conspicuously carried out elsewhere in
under-river tubes and urban subways.
The lessen of the Paris tragedy will net
be adequately learned until steam locomo
tives are excluded from all tuunels of any
considerable size. Ne system of bignals,
however expertly operated, is proof against
the confusion that can be wrought by dense
billewb of meke confined in a narrow pas
sage. ELKTON MARRIAGES
STOHIICS of hasty murriages and bitter
regret unfolded monotonously from day
te day in the Demestic Relations Court end
tee often with the acknowledgment of the
disillusioned that "they were married in
Elkton."
Llkten marriages sometimes turn out
happily enough. But the marriage mill that
has made the little Maryland town famous
has an extraordinary number of miner do
mestic tragedies te answer for. C'ertnlu
marrying parsons in Likten have frankly
commercialized their calling. That has al
ways been plain, llul the udmissien of one
clergyman that he euf-red into nn agreement
te share the profits of his ehupe with taxicab
drivers who brought him business i)Ils u
most unpleasant sound.
This particular marrying parson, the Rev,
Mr. Westrcn, was ordered deposed by an
ecelesinstlcal Jury at Wilmington after he
admitted the performance of IJOO marriage
ceremonies time he set Un m "the wedding
business" last August.
But Klkten will remain. It has become a
filed Institution. If marrying pursens are
kept in check there will be justices of the
peace ready te go Inte partnership with
the taxi men. The churches can de most
te put the marriage mill out of business by
robbing it of the prestige which it ,ns
gained by a guarantee of chapel ceremonies.
lCvery marrying parson ought te be squelched
ns the church jury in Wilmington lias just
squelched Mr. "Westren.
In a race with .laclf
Peter. Peter, Frest cranberry pick-
Piinliln Kater eis in the begs of
New Jersey are hav
ing some juicy pickings. Twe and three
dollars an hour is what some experts are
making. We'll all get official notice of the
fact before Thanksgiving Day. And at that,
there is little likelihood that cranberry prices
will fly high enough te meet the incoming
turkeys. Oh, well. Some of. us will com com
premise en liver nud onions. And pie
maybe. '
AS ONE WOMAN SEES IT
City Doesn't Loek Hair Dad After a
Season In the Country, Though the
Country Has a Charm All Its Own
By SARAH 1). LOWRIK
COMING buck te town after a long vaca
tion I wns struck by three changes
which marked this coining back as unique.
The streets actually looked clean. The
taxicabs seemed new and were measurably
less expensive te drive In. And the police
force, represented by the traffic officers at
all events, hud nn air of ml'itiiry spruccness
thnt was what you might call convincing.
That is, It convinced me that the advent
of Mnjer Warburton en the Mnyer's staff of
commissioners wns becoming visible te the
naked eye.
If tinder nn efficient officer nnd a City
Trooper the Slate Constabulary could get a
snap and spirit that made It an honorable
body te work in and n splendid model for
ether States te copy. It would be reasonable
te expect that, an officer of as wide cxneri-
ence ns Mnjer Warburton could bring a new
impetus te the reorganization of our city
police force that would be as much te the
liking of the men themselves ns te the rank
and file of the citizens.
THKRI2 Is no reason why a policeman
should net be ns honorable as a Judge.
He enforces the law: se de they. His pay
nnd bis power entitle him te as much re
spect as a clergyman or a school teacher.
He receives better pay te begin with thnn
a clergyman nnd has n chance of earning
mere In the course of his promotions than
most college professors. lie can establish
himself quicker than most business wen, for
he receives within n few-months of his ap
plication for membership en the force n
salary higher than an ordinary beginner
can aspire te.
His traluing is n very manly one. He
must excel In physical tests, and he must
display quickness of action, bravery and
judgment if he is te forge ahead. He has te
be an out-of-doers mini, nnd it is part of
-J'8 duty, te dress well and carry himself
finely. .Mere than te any class of American
citizens It Is te his class that the newly
arrived weuld-be American must leek for
direction. It Is his duty te arrest law
breakers te be sure, but It Is also his duty
te protect helpless or wronged or lest or
foolish people. Better than most can he
even protect feels nnd sinners against them
bclvcs. Any man who can come up te the reason
able requirements of police regulations nnd
who is between twenty-ene nnd thirty-nine
years of age and a citizen In geed standing
in the community can apply nnd stands a
ceed chance of being ncccpted en the force
After passing the by no means severe ex
aminations nnd taking the three months'
ifie:Slinary ,raln'R' "" officer's salary of
$1825 n year is his. His steps of prefer
ment, if he makes geed, will be from police
man te sergeant, and from sergeant te lieu
tenant, and from lieutenant te captain. The
city department chief under which he serves
Is the Director of Public Safety, an np-
peintce of the Mayer. Directly ever the
pel ce force is the Superintendent of Police.
t'ndcr h m is nn assistant superintendent or
commissioner.
rpHE city is divided Inte five police divi
.r7fii?Ils' ver which nre five police captains.
M thin these districts ure forty-two dis
tricts eyer which are forty-two lieutenants,
hnch district has three sergeants, with n
varying number of men under them. The
rule Is new te divide the twentv-feur hours
into three shifts se thnt ench group of men.
after being en duty, can go home for rest
and recreation.
The highest salary In this climb upward
is nbeut S4500. iVlth each promotion the
responsibility increases nnd the hardships of
the profession decrease until the duties nre
principally office work The force is no
hanger dependent en the generosity of the
citizens for old age pensions that is. it Is
against the Jaw for them te held up the
householder for sick and old age benefit
entertainments. The city new arranges a
schedule te provide n pension fund.
NOT long age. I remember, a very rheu
matlc policeman, who could net have
chased a cat successfully, let alone a thief,
used te appear regularly twice a year with
bunches of tickets for the householders en
our block. It happened that we employed
n private watchman in our neighborhood te
protect us, besides, of course, paying tnxes
for police protection, and that twice yearly
assessment for the pension fund, disguised
as bright-colored tickets te a show toefar
away for nny one te attend, was hert of a
last straw. Or, nt least, I uncd te think
it was until one day I received a bunch of
tickets in a letter with nn unstamped nnd
directed envelope. The letter I saw te my
astonishment was apparently from mvsclf.
I., nddressed en unknown police captain ns
Dear Sir. and asked him te find inclesed
my check for the amount due en the tickets
und was signed "Yours respectfully." with
my tiiune spelled wrong typewritten be
neath it.
THAT was tee much! And the tickets
and the letter and my pretest went back
te some one higher up who wasn't quite
en his job.
I fancy the men did net enjev getting
their pensions and sick benefits t'hat way.
nnd nre thnnkful that that peer makeshift
practice has been abolished.
Much that is mere agreeable than begging
for own pension has te be abolished for the
sake of practicality in this grewingly bigger
town. One regrets the garden patches of
bpring Garden street having te go en the
bcere of safety first, hut when one considers
that this city was designed for some .'100,000
Inhabitant and thnt It has new some
2,000,000 living "In it, and another million
and a half pusslng in nnd out of it every
weekday. It is small wonder that some
charming old obstructions meet the same
fnte ns some ugly ones-.
It is net se much the two millions who
live In the town who jam the approaches
of Bread street from Spring Oarden street
us the million and a half meter commuters
who live out of town uud who come in every
day for business or pleasure at about the
same hour, and then speed out nt about the
same hour.
IT IS almost an amazement te me the way
these country people cannot stand the
daylight hours In the country. I have been
.visiting in the country this week, and every
morning my host and hesiers nnd nil their
offspring iiiaile n bee-line for town. They
regarded me ceiiiiiiiseriitliiKly when I sug
gested staying out In the country by myvelf
nnd enjoying the late splendors of the gar
den, and a book In the mellow sunlight of
the vine-cevered perch
"What iUl you de with yourself nil day?"
said my hestuss in such a bewildered and
Had tone that I actually felt in n panic and
clapped en my hat and went with her te
town et the last moment. Having nothing
vital te de there, I shopped for things I
did net need and lunched in n crowded, het
place, and bought tickets for a show, and
met nil the ether people from the country
doing the biune thing, and slopped nnd
talked with them und agreed that it was
very depressing ueather for this time of
year.
Se I de net te superior or blame any
ene for crowding into the-town, where there
is already tee much of a crowd, anil se
muking It necessary te make Spring (inrden
street as much of a misnomer as Spruce
or Pine street, for I've dene it myself. But
I de think ilie people who live in town
nre mere logical. They knew they nre fend
of it, and se they live in It and arc at home
net only ut night hut part of each day,
which is a great advantage te the home and
te themselves.
They, tee, enjoy the city streets, but in a
different way unil with mere gaycty, Last
hummer ItO.OeO of them used te dance twice
u week en thu bread asphalt bpaces before
the bandstand when the City Pqllce Band
plfcyed for them en summer evenings under
a Warllt and1 moonlit' sky.
9
NOW MY IDEA IS THIS
Daily Talks With Thinking Philadclphians en Subjects They
r Knete Best
GEORGE W. ELLIOTT
On Fire Prevention
"C1IRE -PREVENTION DAY should
be
X made one of the most important days of
the entire calendar, according te Fire Mnr
nluil Ocerge W. Elliett, because if Is a day
which, if properly observed and its lessens
taken te heart, will have a bencficlnl Influ
ence upon the lives, and the pocketbooks of
the whole American people.
"Fire-Prevention Day," said Marshal
Elliett, "falls en October !) each year, but
this year, as the Oth is oil Sunday, it will
he observed en Monday, October 10. The
date was fixed in order te commemorate Hie
anniversary of the greut Chicago fire of 1871.
"The day is each year becoming mere and
mere generally observed. The President of
the United States, the Governors of many
of the States, including our own, and the
Mayers of most of the great cities, again in
cluding Philadelphia, have issued proclama
tions calling upon the citizens te observe the
day, in nn endeavor te get the citizens te
co-operate in fire prevention.
"The annual fire losses In the United
Stntcs hnvc grown te such n tremendous ex
tent that nt last there seems te be an
awakening of public interest in this mo
mentous problem. The 'National Ash Pile,'
as it has been well termed, has new grown
te $,"00,000,000 a year.
"Of tliis enormous total, Philadelphia's
contribution last year was $8,000,000, re
sulting from 4055 Arcs, ns against $3,918,e45
in 11110 and $.'1,0)1 ,1150 in 1018.
Most Fires Preventable
"Of the 4055 fires in Philadelphia in the
Inst year, it is conservatively estimated that
the causes of fully 00 per cent of them were
easily within the control of the householder,
the business man and the factory owner. Of
the remaining 40 per cent, there is net the
slightest doubt that a qoedly number may
be classed us 'crooked' lires; that is, where
there was a deliberate fraud practiced upeu
the public.
"Fire prevention nlms chiefly at the pre. pre.
ventlen of these fires which result from
carelessness en the part of the citizens rather
than these which are caused by design or
intent, and nt the enforcement of lnws and
ordinances in the matter of building erection
and occupancy. Then, tee, an effort which
may net be entirely within the scope of fire
prevention is new being made in order thut
every citizen of the United States may be
brought te realize the enormous per capita
cost of the tire waste.
"In Philadelphia, based en a population
of 1,825.000, the per capita less Inst year
was $4.77. and this, it must be remembered,
is a less In created values which hnd te be
replaced. This less of $4.77 per person in
this city does net include the per capita cost
of fire protection or suppression, by which I
mean the cost of maintaining the fire de
partment, the cost of water and the many
ether items which entei into the extinguish
ment of fires.
"This per capita lire waste is a direct tax
upon each of our citizens, nnd If the Phila
delphia less Iff very heavy the cost Is felt by
the citizens of the whole United States as
well.
"When I say a direct tax I mean that
everything we use, everything we eat and
i very thing we buy Iiiih figured into it ns u
part of the cost of production, this amount
te cover the cost of fire waste. Therefore
the matter of fire prevention has come te be
an economic problem which must be con
sidered seriously In the economic life.ef the
Natien.
Must Pay the Price
"The citizens of Philadelphia must
awaken te tlir fact that they cannot have
Jlfll fires a year resulting from the careless
use of cigars and cigarettes, 811 (ires each
year resulting from the cureless use of
matches, 212 lircs every year caused Jjy mis
chievous boys and 1(10 fires each your re
sulting from rubbish, without paying the
cost of them, and that cost Is high.
"As direct evidence of the carelessness
which is usually manifested in our everyday
life ami the huge pail which It plays in the
great national fire waste, reference need
only be made te the tabulation of the origin
of the various fires in this city.
"Tills table shows very cleurly the part
which soot iu chimneys and uncleanly Hues
play In the year's tire record. It shows that
fires from soot Increase month by month,
from one iu the month of August te twentv
live In the month of January, and that,
similarly, fires from defective chimneys in
crease from one in the mouth of August te
sixteen in the month of January. Prem this
It is easy te recognize thut if the chimneys
were cleaned properly, as they .should be
during thb wnrni weather, a large propor
tion, It net all, of tut fires would hare
Len prevented.
'Fire always lias Its erhdn at some par-
1021
"SINCE NOBODY LOOKIN'!"
T
ticulur place and for sj;ne particular reason.
In order te prevent them it Is only necessary
for each citizen te learn that the rubbish
pile, the bonfire, the careless bundling of
matches, the carelessly used cigar or cigar
ette, the oily fleer mop stored in a closet,
the putting of het ashes into woellen boxes
nnd similar everyday conditions cause fires
which contribute very largely In a seemingly
small way te the great waste that is caus
ing n heavy direct tax upon every individual
in the country a tax which Is unheard of
nnd unknown in nuy ether great civilized
nation of the world.
"It tnkes a very little thirfg sometimes te
start a very big fire, and it is this fact
which Firi. Prevention Dny seeks te in
culcate into the minds of the citizens of the
Nutleu. An ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure in nlmest nny case, but In
the cube of fire above all ethers.
"American resources have been taxed te
the limit within the last thirty years te
replace the property destroyed by fires.
And In these figures the less by forest tires
is net included. This, tee, Is a very heavy
less, and in many cases results from entirely
preventable causes. The Government Is nlse
put te very heavy expense te guard against
forest fires and te maintain a force sufficient
te fight them when discovered.
"The only way in which te reduce this
enormous less is te hnvc fewer fires. And
the best way te de this is for every citizen
te learn care en Pire-Preventlen Day nnd
te practice the lessen then learned through
out the entire yea. Cure in the small things
is the greatest of all, especially in the care
ful bundling of fire in all Its forms und the
preventing of the accumulation of lurge piles
of rubbish of any kind. This is the best
und, in fact, the only, way te reduce the
absolutely useless and unnecessary fire waste
which is "becoming u staggering lead upon
the Natien."
Today's Birthdays
Geerge P. McLean. United' States Sen Sen
aeor from Connecticut, born at Slmsbury.
Conn, sixty-four years age.
Frederick Hale, United States Senater
from Maine, born in Detroit, Mich., forty
seven years age.
Jeseph K. Rnnsdell. United Stutes Sena Sena
eor from Louisiana, bem at Alexandria,
LiH.; sixty-three years uge.
Patrick II. Kellcy. representative in Con
gress of the Sixth Michigan district, horn
in Cass County, Michigan, lirtv-feur venra
age.
What De Yeu Kneiv?
QUIZ
Hew many poet laureates of Kmrlnnd
have followed Tennyson and w'he were
-. -W hut is meant by the "pens nslnerum"?
. Name two of the most celebrated sleaes
of the American Civil War S
4. Of what
nar party Is the present Conserv.i Censerv.i
tlv. Party of Kuitliind an outgrowth"
w many planets nre there In the solar
n tit fill ,
E. He
system
6
who v.-an Klnrr of France .it
of the Amerlciin n..wV.v,-.
the
time
-. s,.i.. . -'- -f..-w---.
,' ...."'" " 'eeani ny :i '7.i
.-r?rt-t
e. nui is piumlian-j"
0. W here and what wvt-c
'hary bills'.'
10. What is u myrmidon'.'
ScjilR
ai.2
Answers te Yesterday's Quiz
Alfonse d'Albuquerque. the celebrated
Portuguese navigator, conqueror an
founder of the Portuguese Kmplre
', :'.ri!;V w" k"vn us the l-ert.i
guesn Mars. II.i n
horn In
about M5 and died
in lf.15.
In Cen.
I.ISIIOII
India,
"The far.-..' tli.it hunk a thousand i.IiIi.h"
was lh.it of Helen of Trey, uiestm-
P uzeii u,us in I'liilsteu her MuH,,,.,,'.,
Play, "Pr.
Kaustus": "Was ti.u ,f,
..w,.wW ..Miiuii'ii in C HIM HTM Ijurl
Themas A Hendricks w, Vice I'ris , Li t
el the I titled Stliten during th llre
Icrm of (irever ClevKlmc Var" .'J SI1
liri it iijf 1 1- i. ,i, (1.. A. I t . . it.. ....
Alcaics Is the name given te several 1,1 ,.i'
cf
Vr rrtmi A !. .... i. ''(
llrV im.l tl...l.. - ..,.". """'Ill
. ... ., ., (iiuirun. iiii
,. .. v ". ... ii-jiiw-ii inventor
h. Senater kenyen from Iowa '
7. The first convention te consider ,
American colonial confederacy '.''
held In Albany en June 19, i7-f ,V"
Hampshire. Massachusetts, lthede Is
land, Connecticut, New- Yerl' i
syhanla and Maryland were tin- cut !"
iiIck represented lu"
8. The invention of tbe hydre-alrnlain. i..
li.ll I, ascribed te Ulenu 11 ' c'iV ,a's
cricket a " ' ll BruBf,hel'I'tr or
10. 'tre'Mllterally.reaepn te be) U
ftit eSSunU ter or usfifl' '? SP'SgP.
1
Inally caused a thing's existence.
hurlil the teples.-i towers of 1 1 1 ,,,"""
u. .Malabar oust Is a rianni often given i
' ihe western coast of Urltlsli l, ,
bordering en the Arabian ,. "J "8
i:iiii iii.ii uiiiiii i. ii.. i
-'"rttimmfcl
SHORT CUTS
It isn't generally known, but lets of
things happened In the world yesterday be
sides baseball.
The strictness with which Japan ketps
aliens away from her possessions robs her
plea for social equality of much of Its force.
,
The Shipping Beard has apparently net
yet made up its mind whether the Leviathan
is a whale of a ship or just a white ele
phant. The endocrine balance may be check-fall
of interest, but said Interest (save te a
savant) lb net quite se evident as that of a
bank balance.
j
The resignation of the Prohibition Di-'
.rector of New Yerk State betokens a Hart
bowed down by weight of wee. The job is
distasteful te him, he says.
There is little comfort for business and
small encouragement for its revival in the
declaration of, Sinuler Penrose that the
pending Revenue Bill Is merely a temporary
measure.
One unexpected thing the Limitation of
Armaments Conference may bring about li
American recognition of the fact that thera
Is in existence a body known as the League
of Nations.
It Is, of course, yet tee early te decidt
whether the prophet who picked a Peckln
paugh for popular approval picked a peach
or a prune. There arc still several games
te be played. 6
Vi
France will defend her present army at
the Limitation of Armaments Conference,
und Hindcnburg, Ludcnderff and Stinnes
hnsten te brenk into the news te furnish her
with geed rcusens.
Sylvia Pankhurst, expelled from the
Britisli Communist Party, is said te have
joined the (jcrmnn Red group. And once
upon a time we hail u notion that nil Sylvia
wanted was the vote.
If the man who had monkey glands
transplanted in his innards could, as a tc
suit, pitch winning baseball in a World
Series he would have no difficulty In keeping
en the front page of the newspapers.
i
Scientists at Celd Spring Harber, L. L.
have developed a coal-black chicken. Which
prompts one te quote the kid whose father
has just concluded a successful game of soli seli
taire: "What are you going te de new,
pep?"
The latest bloc is composed of "Baby
Congressmen" members young in service
who are out te down the "ruling oligarchy.
They have pep; the country will stand for
them till they ask for imp. Then the bloc
will pep oil like ii pup with the pip.
Ilindcnburg's demund that Germany
keep up her fighting spirit takes en the as
pect of n hope capable of fulfillment when
taken In conjunction with the French
declaration that every Ocrmun regiment al
lowed uu.lei the Versailles Treaty has three
tiundrtti nun -commissioned ettlcers, two
hundred of them serving ns privates.
Funs urc said te have been fooled en
the day of the opening game by reports that
it was impossible te get into the Pole
(IreuudH, but the fact that there were 6000
empty seats at the opening gnme would seem
te show that It was the management that
was fooled. Alse, the enthusiasts who
waited in line through a long, cold night.
I.erd Net'thelilTe wns Indulging in no
idle dream when he told Australians that if
they wished theirs te remain a white man fl
country they would better get busy nt "nee
end promote immigration. Occupation would
se obviously solve Japan's prebleni of over
population that the seMng of England s
problem of the same nature in the same
way seems the only possible course for them
te take.
Mike Marien, u New Yerk manager et
freaks, announces the forthcoming marring
of the champion middleweight lady wrestler
and the champion free-style eater of hard
feed, including carpet tacks : and in an open
letter te the president of the Eugenics so
ciety of (ireat Britain he wants te knew if
such a union should net result in some of
(hem there new what you call 'em super
men. Sure, Mike! the kind of superman
Hint throws a tit when his wife .asks him
te wrestle with a carpet. Tins champion
lady wrestler uf the next gcncrntlen m7.
be the offspring of nn anemic carpet weaver
and a neurotic novel, writer. Dan Cupw
loves te threw the hoekolnto eugenics every
once In a while.
-JL
amm
Kaami