Harrisburg telegraph., March 13, 1919, Page 12, Image 12

12
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH
A NEWSPAPER FOR THE HOME
Founded 1881
Published evenings except Sunday by
THE. TGLKGHAVK PRINTING CO.
Telegraph Building, Federal Sqnare
E. J. STACKPOLE
President and Editor-in-Chief
F. R. OYSTER, Business Manager
GUS. M. STEINMETZ, Managing Editor
A. R. MICHENER, Circulation Manager
Executive Hoard
&. P. McCULLOUGH,
BOYD M. OGLESBY,
F. R. OYSTER,
GUS. M. STEINMETZ.
Members of the Associated Press —The
Associated Press is exclusively en
titled to the use for republication
of all news dispatches credited to
it or not otherwise credited in this
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lished herein.
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burg, Pa„ as second class matter.
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The fexrer the voices on the side
of truth, the more distinct and strong
must he your oxen. — Channing.
THURSDAY. MARCH 12, IDI9
SHOULDER INSIGNIA
NEARLY everybody has been j
puzzled by the insignia of sol- |
diors returning front France, j
Distinctive insignia is now worn on j
the left shoulder by all members j
of combat divisions and by corps and j
army troops. During conibat the j
insignia assisted in identifying men j
of units which became mixed up, I
and often assisted in reforming j
them. It lias been a factor in de- ■
veloping divisional spirit, and it' also |
has its use painted on vehicles and j
other divisional army property.
There is an interesting story be- j
bind the adoption of almost every ;
design. State traditions, early ntili- I
tary achievements, symbolical i
beasts, all have furnished .inspira
tions for the insignia. The Telegraph, I
beginning to-day, will publish one \
each day. The skeleton histories of
front line activity and captures are
front official A. E. F. records.
Other drawings and histories will i
be printed in later issues until the |
list is complete.
The Kaiser wants to go to a warmer
climate, according to to-day's cables,
and we see no reason why he
shouldn't have his wish.
ANOTHER EPIDEMIC
THERE tire very distinct signs
that the influenza epidemic
will soon he a matter of his
tory entirely," says a well known
medical observer. Most assuredly;
it's not usual to have two epidemics
running at the same time and unless
all signs fail another is about due.
The germs appear to have been car
ried north by the bluebird and rob
ins and already the disease is get
ting in its deadly work. Down south j
they call it the hookworm. Up hero
it is simply spring-fever, and while
the season is still young the mild !
winter is responsible for the present I
violence of the outbreak.
.Spring fever is an old malady, j
Nobody ever lias been able to find a !
specific for it. About ttie time the j
dandelions and the maple buds be- j
gin to get awake and show signs :
of lite, man, bull-headed animal !
that he is, starts nodding over his j
desk and putting off until to-morrow i
what he should do to-day.
Unless one diagnoses the malady
correctly at once he is apt to find
himself depressed and fearful that
some of the Rightfulness of which
he has read in the old-fashioned
patent medicine advertisements
are happening within the nar
row confines of his own anat
omy. The mothers of a gener
ation back not only knew the
symptoms, but they had the date of
their annual appearance down fine.
Along about Gfound Hog day, say,
it was the custom in all well regu
lated households to hang around the
nock of every childish victim of
parental solicitation a little bag of
nameless drugs that made their
wearers outcasts among their
little comrades until the mothers of
all the other littlq boys and girls
conformed to the ivretched practice
and tagged their own youngsters
with similar abominations. Some of
these for whom the parental rod had
no terrors occasionally used the con
tents of these charm-bags as bait
to entice catfish and eels, which fish
are supposed to be particularly
charmed by Limburger-like odors,
and others conveniently lost theirs.
But that made little difference, for
what followed was worse than that
which had gone before, and there
was no means of wishing it on a
catfish or otherwise escaping per
sonal responsibility. We refer to the
cup of molasses mixed with sul
phur, a tablespoonful of which had
to be taken before breakfast every
morning. Some, stingy father must
have devised that particular form
of torture as a means of cutting
down the childish appetite; at least
it had that effect. But it was sup-
THURSDAY EVENING. HABHISBURG TELEGRItPH: rr " MARCH 13, 1919
posed to be very good for spring
fever and other complaints peculiar
to the season, and perhaps it was,
for it must have been a very hardy
germ that would have remained in
the same human system with such
a vile concoction.
But older folks partook of some
thing more pleasant, generally tak
ing the form of a "spring tonic" that
usually had concealed about Its per
son a "kick" that would have made
a beaker of Jersey Lightning re
semble by comparison a drink of
sassafras. Ladies who never in
dulged at any other time of year
used to key themselves up for the
housecleaning orgy that way, which
leads to the thought that may be
next year, with the country "dry"
and the old-fashioned spring tonic
toned down to the strength of strong
tea, women will not be able to get
up energy enough to liouseclcan
with the usual energy. If so. praise
be, and heaven bless the prohibi
tionists. Spring fever wouldn't be
so bad if it were not for the con- !
the honnors of house
cleaning that are one of its worst
pangs. •
MORE INCONSISTENCY
STRICTLY in line with the appar
ent purpose of the American
peace delegates not to hold out
for too severe penalties to be im
posed upon Germany, comes the
startling announcement from Paris
that if the Germans refuse to accept
the peace treaty as presented to
them America will not join with the
allies in enforcing its terms. There
is wide discussion among the allied
peace commissions as to what course
will be pursued in case the Germans
do not consent to the hard terms
that are being prepared for them.
It is admitted that in such a con- |
tingeney Germany will not attempt j
to renew the war, but will simply
defy the allies to compel disarma
ment, to recover loot stolen from
Belgium and France and to col
, lect the indemnities that will be de
| manded. If that situation presents
itself it will be necessary for the al
| lied troops to occupy the whole of
Germany, take possession of admin
istration centers, and direct the con
duct of affairs until the provisions
of the peace treaty have been satis
lied.
Now a special dispatch from Paris,
censored and passed by the officials
in charge of news items from the
Peace Conference, gives us the fol
lowing information: "American
delegates to the Peace Conference |
have again made it plain in re
newed suggestion that American
forces would not participate in any
such venture.'' Where, may we ask,
did our delegates receive their au- j
thority to say that the United States j
would not co-operate with its al
lies, or "associates" if you please, in I
forcing upon Germany the peace that I
we have assisted in winning at the I
cost of 100,000 lives and 200,000 j
maimed? It is stated in this inspired
cablegram from the French capi
tal that "the American people at
home never would approve of in
definite participation of American !
troops at the expense of billions."
By thus throwing responsibility up
on the "people at home" our dele
gates are doing their utmost to up
set any plans the allies may have
to impose terms upon Germany
commensurate with the enormity of
her crimes.
How preposterous is all this! The (
only satisfaction the American peo
ple will get from the war is to see
Germany suffer somewhat in propor
tion to the sufferings she has brought
upon other nations. We want no
territory or money indemnity ex
cept for property destroyed con
trary to international law, but we do
want to see Germany placed in a
position where her menace to civili
zation will be permanently remov
ed. A nation that has given of her
men and money as has the United
States is not going to stop .when
the fruits of victory are almost with
in her grasp, and the American dele
gates are putting their countrymen in
an entirely false jjosition by alleging |
the contrary.
And how inconsistent with the ]
proposed league of nations is the j
stand of our peace commissioners in |
this matter. Under the terms of the !
constitution of the league the United
States, if a member, will be required
to furnish troops, in conjunction with
other nations, to enforce, the decrees
of the league. Yet, in the very first
question of that nature to arise
among the powers that will control
the league, the United States flatly
refuses to be a party. If we are
not ready to assist in the enforce
ment of a peace already won, what,
may we ask, is to be our attitude
when America is required by the
league to enter upon a new war, in
the result of which we have no na
tional interest? "Consistency," sang
the poet, "thou are a jewel." And
a rare one, indeed, in the present
era of American international di
plomacy.
CONSTRUCTIVE REPORT
THE annual report of Commis
sioner Hassler, outlining the
needs of the city water depart
ment, should receive the early atten
tion of Council. His recommenda
tions for additional filter beds,
increased pumping capacity and
double mains in North street are
matters with which it will not do to
trifle. They must not be postponed.
The city is growing and the water
plant is not. Dr. Hassler has out
lined a series of improvements that
must be made if the department is
to meet the needs of the city. He
has made a careful study of condi
tions and it is for Council as a whole
to take up his findings soon as
possible, to the end that the city
may not suddenly find itself with a
water famine on its hands.
i :
A generation hence, small boys will
be asking; "Pop, what was a Bol
shevist 2" *
[j * -f
£ic
By the Ex-Committeeman
—Pretty strenuous efforts to pre
vent a clash over the Brady pri
mary election bill and its companion
legislation are being made by legis
lative leaders and they are indulg
ing in hopes that there will be some
agreement to have the bills go back
to the elections committee for
"study." The ruction which made
some of the members of the com-
I mittee late for supper Tuesday eve
ning is being made much talked of
throughout the State and the dis
position of rural members who be
long to the Legislative League to
assert themselves may have a big
effect in political matters this ses
sion.
—More of the administration leg
islation is being whipped into shape
and will be introduced next week
when various measures will be re
ported out of committee in the Sen
ate and sent along to the House.
No opposition to any of th% Gover
nor's bills has been heard of. On
the contrary there are expressions
of much relief that the "big stuff"
is coming along and that May 15
t.iay see the end of the session.
—The Philadelphia mayoralty
talk is going to have much effect on
j the State this year because the lin-
I ing up of the factions will depend on
how strong the Quaker City booms
are pressed.
—Allegheny county will have five
judges to elect this fall as the result
of the appointment of Senator
Charles H. Kline and Stephen Stone,
of Pittsburgh, to the Common Pleas
bench by Governor Sproul last night.
The terms of Judges John C. Hay
maker. John A. Evans and Henry
G. Wasson expire. Ten new Judges
were named under the act approved
by the Governor some ten days ago.
Ex-Senator Kline, who is a native
of Indiana county, was a member
I of both branches of the Legislature.
J Mr. Stone, a son of the former Gov
ernor, is City Solicitor of Pittsburgh.
It is understood that practically the'
whole Republican organization in
I Allegheny county will get behind
the five judges for election.
No liquor legislation was intro
duced by the "wet" forces in the
Legislature this week. It had been
announced that bills to permit tlfe
sale of beers and. wines would be
introduced in the House Monday
night. "Dry" members eagerly
awaited the introduction of the
measures and scouted a mystery
when they failed to appear. It, de
veloped today that the bills did not
appear because the liquor forces
could not agree on the provisions
'to be incorporated in the bills. The
wrangle among the liquor people
held up the introduction of the
measures. They will likely be put
in next week if an agreement can be
reached. As soon as the bills are
introduced a fight between "wet"
and "dry" members on the floor of
the House is anticipated. "Drvs"
confidently assert that they will have
a majority strong enough to defeat
any measure which would tend to
thwart prohibition. The "dry" bills
to provide for the enforcement of
prohibition are now being drafted.
These bills will likely be introduced
next week also. "Dry" leaders are
silent about the provisions of the
bills. But it is known that they will
stamp everything containing alcohol
as an intoxicant.
—lt is further announced on re
liable authority that the "dr.vs" will
make no effort to put a of
search and seizure clause iff the bill.
Considerable opposition would de
velop to such a clause which would
permit the constituted authorities j
to enter a man's home to search for
liquor and confiscate any intoxicants
found.
-—Thomas Rlaine Donaldson, de
signated for State Insurance Com
missioner. spent yesterday with
Charles A. Ambler, whom he suc
ceeded and who has been very ill
at Atlantic City. The two men are
warm personal friends, Mr. Don
aldson having been continued as
special deputy by Mr. Ambler and
being placed in charge of important
work, especially at Pittsburgh. Mr.
Ambler's appointment was among
those withdrawn by the Governor
and he has been waiting to be suc
ceeded. His greeting to Mr. Donald
son was especially pleasant. Sam
uel W. McCulloch, deputy for many
years, is another close friend of Mr.
Donaldson. In this city the new
Commissioner has a number of
warm college friends and many ad
mirers. Few men have come here
with more good wishes for success
than the new chief of the Depart
ment, whose ability is everywhere
recognized.
-—lt is an interesting thing that
each and every appointment sent
to the Senate by Governor Sproul,
with one exception, has been im
mediately confirmed. The single
exception was confirmed in a few
days. There have been times when
the senators have "thought over"
appointments for a day or two.
—Highway Commissioner Sadler !
seems to be making a more favor- ]
able impression by his refusals to
include routes in the State primary i
system or to look after some special
road than anything else. A number
of delegations have been here the
last two weeks with propositions
which were dead against the policy
as announced by the new highway
chief. In the language of one man:
"That new Commissioner can say
'no' and we can go back to our
people and tell them that there is
nothing doing. I much prefer that
'no' business than to be 'struac
along'."
—There'are signs that the Berks
county rural delegation in the House
is going to be heard from. The
ugual row over the way appropria
tions are made is to be made by
the Democrats for the sake of the
journal. It is not expected, how
ever, that any of the members will
refuse to take what is allowed in
the bills.
LABOR NOTES
The Carney Point (N. J.) plant of
the DuPont Powder Company,
which during the war employed
over 15,000 men and women, has re
duced its working force to less than
3,000.
The total cost of erecting the
American Federation of Labor head
quarters in Washington, which in-
the cost of the ground upon
which the building stands, was 3189,-
317.68. Of this amount 366,740 has
been paid off, leaving an indebted
ness of 3122,500.
In an effort to open channels for
jobs for discharged service men,
many of the shipbuilding plants lo
cated throughout the country have
opened schools where the soldiers
who lack knowledge of shipbuilding
are taught traces. The men are
paid at the rate of 46 cents an hour
during the study course. i
Wonder What the Orchestra Leader Thinks About By BRIGGS
PRETTY LUCKY THEY I THINK THE PEOPLE I SHALL AFFECT A NOW FOR A LL7 T L . <R 0
HAVE''MC FOB MU<s ic IN THE AUDIENCE ARE CARELESS EASY MAMNER FANCY WORK. ILL TSTI
DIRECTOR. BELIEVE IMPRESSED WITH MY LOOK "THE AUDIENCE S AUDIENCE WATCHES
ME I'VE PULLED THIS PERSONAL APPEARMJCE, OUER. - - NOT A BAD ' MUCH AS ANY OF
3MOW TOGETHER AND THAT TRAP DRUMMER HOUSE - NOT BAD. THESE BUM ACTORS
MADE IT A success OWES ME A PA<N- a
ill Smile at The it flatters Thh. i wonDcr who vjcll I've Pot That
PRINCIPAL ACTOR actor Too. hello - Camillc is flirting act OVER AGaiN. I
occaSiomally Just There's camille and wmyh in The AUDiewce. now'T Knouj what
So "The AUDIENCE 'LL ELLA BACK. AGAnd. ILL <3iue /-fM A NASTY T y .p vuithouT
realize I KNouJ'/m. Give. Theiw a Smile Too look and Sfiuetcn 'im. -
|T MAKES AfJ /MPRESS/OAJ. J<jST To SHOU U'EA* (
HAVEN'T FORSoTTeiJ 'EM,
OFFICIAL GOLF
[Philadelphia Inquirer Who's
Who?]
Capitol Hill is considerably inter
ested in whether golf will be the offi
cial recreation as it has been since
1911, when John K. Tener learned
the game on the links of the Coun
try Club of Harrisburg, and turned
half the men in the Slate Govern
ment into devotees of the driver and
the putter. Secretary of the Com
monwealth Cyrus E. Woods and
Colonel Edward Martin, State Com
missioner of Health, are the two
leading golfers of "The Hill." and
are trying to induce Commissioner
of Banking John S. Fisher to learn
the game.
A new claimant for golf honors is
presented in recently-appointed State
Public Service Commissioner Sam
uel M. Clement, Jr.. who. as a mem
ber of the Philadelphia Country
Club, the Aronimink Golf Club and
the Germantown Cricket Club, has
figured on thff links of the Quaker
City and vicinity and who following
the November election accompanied
Governor Sprout to Hot Springs.
Va„ where they spent most of their
time hitting the merry little ball on
the grassy swards of that popular
resort of statesmen from the Na
tional Capital and elsewhere.
Capitol Hill golfers are distributed
among three clubs in Harrisburg.
* •
j Howard M. Hoke, secretary to At
torney General Schaffer and author
of a number of shot stories and
poems which have been printed in
the magazine, has a rival for activi
ties in the arts on Capitol Hill. Mr.
Hoke, who is a brother of ex-Sen
ator John W. Hoke, of Chambers
burg. comes of a family which has
contributed to the literature of the
Cumberland Valley for generations.
Recently one of bis close friends and
traveling companions to Maine and
other northern places for years,
turned to music. He is Frank Ilall.
Deputy State Chief of Mines, who
has written four pages of a patriotic
nature, composing both words and
music.
Czeclio-Slovak Record
[From the New York Tribune.]
Aspersions on the Czecho-Slovaks
who fought in Russia are answered
by Mme. Catherine K. Breshkovsky,
the venerable "Grandmother" of the
Russian revolution. Mme. Bresh
kovsky came in close "personal con
tact with the Czechro-Slovaks at
Omsk, Ekaterinburg. Ufa, Samara
and other East Russian and Siber
ian cities. She testifies enthusiastic
ally to their discipline, courage and
kindliness and to the affection In
which they were held by the Russian
populations.which they rescued from
the clutches of I<enine's Red Guards.
It stands to reason that the
| Czecho-Slovaks were humane and
I considerate in their treatment of the
' Russian communities In which they
| operated. They were soldiers with
jthe highest military ideals. They
'were intense patriots, fighting for the
I liberation of their own country from
Austro-Ilungarian opression. They
could never have remained in Rus
sia—a handful of men, thousands of
miles from any base of supplies—-if
they had not won the confidence and
support of the civilian population.
They were not looters and mercen
aries, like the Red Guards. They
were not fighting for plunder or
power. They were not making civil
war. Lenine foolishly prevented them
from leaving the country. They stay
ed on and fought him because he
had sold himself to Germany. v
The Czescho-Slovak adventure in
Russia was one of the great rom
ances of the war. Only soldiers, with
clean hands and a spirit of chivalry
could have carried that adventure
through. The results of the campaign
.made by the Czecho-Slovaks speak
for themselves. Hardly 100,000
strong, they conquered Siberia and
drove the Bolshevists back to the
line of the .Volga. They contributed
more than any other one influence to
prevent Lenine's delivering Russia
Siberia into the hands of the Ger
mans.
Mme. Breshkovsky says of them:
"Everywhere and in all circum
ftances I found 'them the same
noble, unselfish, strong in their du
ties and faith * * I always found
them fine pien, beloved and es
teemed by all the Russians."
She means, of course, by the real
Russians, not the criminal and blood
thirsty followers of Lenine. Their
work is to be judged not only by the
friends but also by the enemies they
made.
Reform in Nebraska
While booze flows freely in Staple
ton the gambling places have been
reduced to three, we are told bv good
authority.—From the Eddyvilie En
terprise. _ i
Tax Free Covenant Bonds
• Ily JOHN G. HERNDON, JIL.
Tax Specialist
FROM the standpoint of the in
come tax law, bonds may be
i divided into four general
j groups; (1) tax exempt bonds; (2)
j United States obligations issued
since September 1, 1917; (3) tax
| free covenant bonds; and (4) other
; bonds. The first of these classes in
j eludes bonds issued by any of the
; States of the United States, or politi
j cal subdivisions thereof, all United
i States Government bonds issued
j prior to September 1, 1917, all bonds
j of possessions of the United States,
I and Federal Farm Loan Bonds. Lib
| erty 4 per cent and 4 ',4 per cent
i bonds, certificates of indebtedness
land war savings stamps make up
the classes of obligations of the
United States issued since Septem
ber 1, 1917. The term "tax-free
I covenant bonds" includes "bonds,
mortgages, deeds of trust, or any
other 'Similar, obligations of a cor
poration" which "contain a contract
: or provision by which the obligor
| agrees to pay any portion of the tax
| imposed" under the income tax law"
j upon the obligee, or to reimburse
I the obligee for any portion of the
j tax, or to pay the interest without
deduction for any tax which the
obligor may be required or permit
| ted to pay thereon, or to retain
therefrom, under any law of the
Unittvl States. "Other bonds" in
clude all bonds not falling within
one of the previously mentioned
groups.
Certificates of Owncrsliip
Certificates of ownership are not
required in connection with the col
lection of interest from tax-exempt
bonds and obligations of the United
States issued since September 1,
19i7. With all other bond interest
coupons or checks for registered in
terest, certificates of ownership must
|be tiled. Whenever a person pre
: sents for collection a coupon from
j a bond which does not contain a
tax-free covenant clause, he is re
quired to tile a yellow ownership
certificate, form 1001. Such a cer
tificate is to be used irrespective of
the amount of the income of the
taxpayer, and irrespective of |his
personal exemption. Whenever an
individual presents for collection in
terest from a tax-free covenant
bond, he should tile a white certi
ficate form 1000, if his income is
in excess of his normal credits. By
tiling such a certificate he gives no
tice to the corporation and to the
government that he does not claim
to be exempt from the tax and not
being exempt from the tax he looks
to the corporation whose bond he
I owns to live up to its agreement
| with him to pay, on his behalf,
1 the amount of the tax which the
[Government requires such
[ tions to pay over to it. This is what
is technically known as "withhold
! ing." If his income is less than his
I normal tax credits, he should file
a yellow ownership certificate, even
j when presenting for collection an
I interest coupon form a tax-free cov
i enant bond. For by so doing he
i gives notice to the corporation and
!to the Government that he is not
[ liable for income tax, and not being
liable he docs not desire the cor
poration to pay over to the Govern
ment any tax on the interest on
the bonds he holds.
One of the great difficulties ex
perienced by individuals is tto know
which ownership certificate to use.
This condition arise** from the fact
that they have been In the habit of
considering the claiming of an ex
emption to be a benefit. So far as
1 tax-free covenant bonds are con
cerned, the claiming of an exemp
tion by a person subject to the nor
mal income tax is a detriment to
him since such action relieves the
corporation from paying on behalf
of such bondholder a tax which
otherwise the bondholder himself
will be required to pay.
in all of the cases cited above it
will be seen that the' full amount
of the interest is received by the
taxpayer, of whether a
yellow or white ownership certificate
is filed. On the individual's incomef
tax return, however, credit against
normal tax is given equal to 2 per
cent of the amount of the interest
received on tax-free covenant bonds
with which white ownership certi
ficates were filed during the preceed
ing year.
Contract Bonds •
It is immaterial to the "Govern
ment how much tax a corporation
has agreed to assure. The Govern
ment will only look to the corpora
tion for the "withholding" of 2 per
cent. There are some bonds which
contain a contract whereby the
debtor corporation agrees to pay 4
per cent normal income tax. The
Bureau of Internal Revenue, how- j
ever, is concerned in such a case I
only with the calculation of tax)
equal to 2 per cent of the interest
paid. The enforcement of the pay
ment of the remaining 2 per cent
is a matter which lies wholly be
tween the taxpayer and the corpor
ation. Some corporations agree to
pay only 1 per cent in the bonds
which they have issued. If a tax
payer files with the interest coupon
from such a bond, a white owner
ship certificate, the Government will
collect from the corporation 2 per
cent of such interest. But since to
force the corporation to pay 2 per
cent when it had agreed to pay only
1 per cent would be a violation of
contract, not enforceable at law,
the usual procedure is for the bank,
at which such interest coupon or
check *is presented, to deduct ac
tually in cash 1 per cent of the in
terest due. By shch procedure the
corporation pays over to the Gov
ernment 2 per cent, but it has col
lected 1 per cent from the taxpayer,
resulting in a net 1 per cent tax
cost to the corporation on its bond
interest, in accordance with its con
tract.
Corporations owning tax-free cov
enant bonds get no allowance under
the income tax law for any part
of the corporation income tax, since
the withholding provisions of the
law relating solely to individuals and
partnerships.
Vast Waler Rower I'nlapped
[Arthur D. Little in the Atlantic
Monthly.]
The utmost energy of Niagara rep
resents but an insignificant propor
tion of the water power potentially
available on our estate, where the
possibilities of development attain
an estimated total of two million
horsepower. Five million tons of coal,
a day would hardly generate as much.
The water mow (lowing idly from
our highlands to the sea could turn
every factory wheel and every elec
tric generator in the country, oper
ate our railroads, and still leave
j much energy to spare for new de
mands.
We have developed scarcely 3 per
cept of its ultimate possibilities, and
only about 10 per cent of those
which are readily available without
elaborate provision for storage. We'
have common carriers for freight in
our railroads, for oil in pipelines, for
intelligence in our telephone, tele
graph, and cable systems. We neeil
now to develop a great common
carrier system for energy, which
I shall nationalize industrial oppor
< tunity now limited to favored and
restricted areas, and by eliminating
the transportation of unnecessary
coal, relieve our railroads of the ma
jor portion of their heaviest burden.
The integrated development of our
river systems is thus intimately
bound up with flood prevention
through storage, agriculture through
Irrigation, transportation, and the
generation and wider distribution of
power, which is the prime mover
of industry. Half way measures will
not serve. The prob'em demands a
broad constructive policy which shall
take due account of all its several
phases.
America's Bill
In view of the estimates that Ger
many will be required to pay an in
demnity of from fifty to a hundred
and fifty billion of dollars, the Amer
ican bill, which is the first to be
completely, seems extremely mod
est According to "The Press" cor
respondent's advices from Paris
America will ask only $750,000,000.
Save for American property seized
in Germany the American damage
by German "frightfulness" was al
most wholly sustained at sea. The
cost of torpedoed ships and their
cargoes makes up the largest items
of the bill. American lives thus
ruthlessly sacrificed are'assessed by
the government's expert? at $lO,OOO
each. —From the Philadelphia Rress.
Sir Wilfred's Successor
The members of the opposition in
the Canadian parliament have
choosen.Mr. D. D. Mackenzie as their
leader to succeed Sir Wilfred Lau
rier. His selection as temporary
leader for the session is subject to
ratification at a convention of the
Liberal party. Mr Mackenzie is the
fourth leader the Canadian Liberals
have had. The first was also a
Meckenzie. The second was Edwa'rd I
Blake, who was succeeded by Sir j
Wilfred Laurier. Like the present'
prime minister, Sir Robert Borden, !
Mr. Mackenzie is from Nova Scotia, I
the province that has furnished so I
many of Canada's leaders.—From I
the New York Tribune. . I
S. O. S. INSIGNIA
any other shoulder
insignia authoriz
optional tor all of
811 Bf doers, men, field
clerks, Army
n a The S. O. S.
B *JP marking will prob
■■■■ ably be
more members of
the A. E. P. than
I nurses and civilian employes in all
base sections and the intermediate
section and will be worn to the ex
clusion of all other insignia for or
ganizations within ]he organization
of the S. O. S. It will not be worn,
j however, by troops of the District
i of Paris or the Advance Zone,
j S. O. S. says the Tours order au
| thorizing the insignia, "is known
the world over as the call of assist
ance for those in distress. "When
ever called upon by our combat
troops," it declares "we never failed
to respond promptly and cheerfully.
The S. O. S. was the keystone of
the arch of the A. E. P. without
which the structure could not have
stood the enormous pressure placed
upon it." •
The colors in the design were
chosen for their significance, the
order explains—the red representing
"the sincerity of our endeavor and
tireless devotion" and the blue sym
i bolizing "the trustworthiness of our
I entire personnel."
"There being no independent unity
I in the S. O. S, teamwork being the
| prime of our success," says the or-
I der, "no other insignia will be
| worn."
j THE FIGHTING PRIVATE
I (James J. Montague, in New York
American.]
He has not come home with a Sam
Browne belt,
! Or a chevron to dress parade in;
He was out of luck when the cards
w'cre dealt
In the perilous game he played in.
I But he did the job ho was sent to do.
I Nor slacked for a single minute.
| And his squad kept on till it smashed
clear through
Because he was there —and in it.
Brimful of fight wer e the men who
led.
And. when you have read their
story.
And counted the names on their roll
of dead,
' You will know they have earned
j their glory.
: But when they drove that wedge in
the line,
I The lad that was sent to drive it,
I And went —with never a growl or
whine—
j Was the little old fighting private.
! With mud for a bed and slum for his
i chow.
I But plucky and eager-hearted," '
j He stuck It out to the end somehow,
And finished the job he'd started.
!He doesn't worry about his lot,
j His spirit is still undaunted.
Fame passed him by—but th e chance
he got
Was ail that he ever wanted.
Some heroes are puffed by the praise
they've had.
And they never will quite survive
it;
But we'll take a chance on this husky
lad-
Three cheers for the fighting pri
vate!
j Neutralize Rhine Provinces
Among the suggestions for the
i protection of the French frontier
which will come before the great
powers is that part of the Rhine
province on the west, bank of the
river be neutralized. Of course
France will get Alsace and Lor
raine—in fact she has already es
tablished civil administration there,
dividing the region into two judicial
districts, with centres at Strassbourg
and Metz respectively. But the
boundary of Alsace and Lorraine lies
open with not natural defences.
—From_ the New York Herald.
The Russian Situation
Experience with the details of
European politics is not indispen
sable to an acceptance of the general
I Parisian conclusion that the Russian
"problem" is more acute than ever;
Nor is saturation with diplomatic
methods -essential to an understand
ing why this is the case. If any
question needs to be put to the peace
delegates it probably would be as to
why the conference has thrown
away a program only recently
agreed upon to take up one of totally
different tone. —From the Pittsburgh
Dispatch, __ J
Ebfmttg (Eljai l
People* in this city have probably '
more than a passing sentimental
interest in the bill presented in the
House of Representatives yesterday
by a Sullivan county member for
repeal of the act of March 29, 1851,
incorporating that ancient and hon
orable institution known as the
Pennsylvania State Agricultural So
ciety. "This organization, whose
membership included some of the '
most prominent men of the State
for years and whose officers were in
Harrisburg until very recent years,
used to hold the State fair which
was the event of the year in this
part of the State. The fairs were
held in what is now a part of the
Tenth and Eleventh wards and many
doubtless remember the great gath
erings that marked the races and
the extent and variety of the fruits
and other things, live stock and
preserves assembled for the folks to
gaze up, talk about and then go
home to figure out how some indi
viduals won prizes. The society was
formed a year or so before the leg
islature incorporated it and held
shows until about thirty years ago.
It maintained an office in the Berger
building until about ten or twelve
years ago and elections used to be
held annually and a list of directors
who seldom attended even the an
nual meetings was solemnly handed
out. Now it is planned to repeal
the charter. The way it stands this
charter could be used for a revival
of the State fair in this city or
any place where desirable. The 1 act
of incorporation was signed by Gov
ernor William Framrne Johnston
and the men named as incorporators
are George W. Woodward, James Ir
vin, E. A. Thompson, Frederick
Watts and T. J. Bigham, all well
known men of the day.
Spring must be here. They have
started to take the coverings off.the
Hower beds and the hyacinths in
Capitol Park and when that is done
people can commence to think about
spring headgear. There are no gar
deners in Pennsylvania more careful
I of the beds than the men who look
j after Capitol Hill and this year they
expect to have patriotic designs in
bulbous plants that will be well
worth travelling to see. The tulip
display this year .will be fine.
< • *
E. B. Black, well known artist,
is responsible for the statement that
strawberry plants are farther along
now than they usually are at this
tin\e of year. Mr. Black put out a
largo patch at his Perdix summer
home last Fall and-they have made
wonderful progress, new green
sprouts appearing during the past few
weeks. This is the same experience
of Harry Rayburn, of York county,
who believes berries will be two
j weeks earlier on the average this
| year than they have been for some
| years back. The plants required
j little or no protection last Fall and
despite the lack of snow during the
winter few if any plants were frozen
out. "Bob" Walton, who has one
lof the biggest gardens in Pennsyl
vania, near Hummelstown, is also one
of those who believes vegetables will!
jbo early this year. He has hade
j planting of beets, lettuce and other
seeds out for weeks now and it will
not be long before his stands in the
- local markets begin to flourish like*
the proverbial green bay tree. Mr.
! Walton specializes on fruits, too,
land at last accounts the trees wore (
looking line, although that was the
year up to the very evening
when the April sleet storm smashed
down on the orchards and seriously
damaged the crops. 80 there is 110
telling what may happen between
now and May 1.
The long trains filled with return
ing soldiers are a source of never
ending interest to the youngsters and
while the crowds on the bridges and
along the railroads when tlje troop
trains go by are not as large as
they were last year when the sol
diers were going forth to war, but
the youngsters are there and cheer
the soldiers. Saturday every train
that, went by State street was greet
ed by boys who were out to supple
ment the cheer provided by their
older sisters of the Red Cross.
•• ■ •
Judging front appearances about
the Federal building a good many
people are going to have reason to
| remember Middlemarch who did not
do so before. The unpleasant dis
covery has been made by hundreds
that they are in the income report
ing class and as quite a few people
kept no accounts there arc some
estimates being made which require
hard work. Also the number of
persons buying account books is
rather striking.
Dr. J. M. J. Raunick, the city
health officer, is of the opinion that
if it is hot one thing it is another.
The chicken pox outbreak which
came along in the wake of influenza
is now going away, but the return
of influenza is making some people
j worry. A chart showing the num
j her of houses in Harrisburg where
sickness lias occured in the. last
year would be interesting and wide
I extending.
* * •
"People want to be careful during
the month of March because tliero
is always a condition during the
windy month which makes for low
ered vitality and in this particular
period it is likely to bring on in
fluenza again," said a doctor yester
day. "This has been a singular win
ter and it is well to see that we aro
in good trim when March begins."
| WELL KNOWN PEOPLE "[
—Harry L. Knapp, the new chair
man of the picture censors, is a
Philadclphian born and bred and
had theatrical experience before go
ing into newspaper work.
—State Fire Marshal H,oward
E. Butz is talked of for head of the
State Printing Department. 1
—State Game Commissioner John
M. Phillips, of Pittsburgh, was here
this week to talk game legislation.
He spends much time every year in-'
specting game conditions.
—William Farrell, here yesterday,
is head of the Scranton retail mer-,'
chants.
—Thomas Blaine Donaldson, the
new State Insurance Commissioner,
was one of the stars of the. Mask
and Wig Club when at the Univer
sity of Pennsylvania.
1 DO YOU KNOW
—Tlrnt Harrisburg used to be
center of liorse shoe making?
HISTORIC HARRISBURG
—Two State constitutions hava
been promulgated in Harrisburg.
The Lord Remainelh
~ 1' h " u ' 0 l / or<1 ' remainest forever;
thy throne from generation to genl
eration.—Lamentations