The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, March 22, 1911, Image 2

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    THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MATtClI 22, 1011.
1
Each Man Carries a Weight
of Fifty-Four
Pounds
o
4 . -..- -----QO O
ONE of the chief values of the
present mobilization of one
fourth of the United States
rcgulnr army along the Mexi
can border, to military men at least, Is
the opportunity offered to try out the
more modern and lighter personal
equipment for the Individual soldier.
Ever since military experts began a
real study of conditions with the In
tention, If possible, of lightening the
Infantryman's burden the one foro
niost idea has been In lessening the
number of pounds of accoutorment
necessarily carried when under full
Held equipment.
Willie the officers hud In mind tha
reduction of the actual weight of the
outfit, it was figured that there must
he no deviation in efficiency. Under
the present United States army regu
lations the full Held equipment for
active service, Including the rillo and
ninety rounds of ammunition, weighs
lifty-four pounds. It is the hope of
the military experts to reduce tills
from fifteen to seventeen pounds, but
the ever present, idea remains in their
mind namely, that an equal efficiency
must bo obtained from the lighter ar
ticles. Hut it may bo said also that It
is hoped that greater worth may be
obtained from the lighter nccouter-
went, not only in strength suviug, but
also In actual wear and tear. The use
of aluminium plates, knives, forks and
spoons, together with haversacks, tent
halves, ponchos, tent poles, etc., of
lesser weight, it Is thought will bring
down the total number of pounds per
man.
The Soldier's Kit.
At present a soldier carries, be
Hides his piece, a Springfield maga
zine, which weighs nine and a half
pounds, and ninety pounds of car
tridges, which weigh four and a half
pounds; a bayonet, bayonet scabbard,
u rltle sling, cartridge belt,' a pair of
cartridge belt suspenders which tend
to lessen the weight by help from the
shoulders, n first aid packet, a canteen
and strap, a set of blanket roll straps,
a haversack, a meat can, one cup, one
plate, one knife, one fork, one spoon,
half a shelter tent, one tent pole and
live tent pegs Then, in addition to
that, comes his field kit, the weight of
which is Included in the total fifty-four
pounds, consisting of a blanket, a pon
cho and personal effects, such as a
comb, toothbrush, towel, extra under
clothing, soap, etc.
Rut besides the soldier's individual
load there nre Intrenching tools which
nre given out ami carried by company
and squad. A full company Is made
up of 108 men and officers In time of
war and sixty men and officers In time
of peace. A squad, the second unit of
a company, consists of eight men. The
Intrenching tools ate four hand picks
to he carried by a company, a pick
Regular Rations and Those
For Emergencies.
"Iron Ration"
OOQ"-
-Ooo
mattock per, squad, three shovels pcr
squad, three wire cutters per company
and a two foot folding rule per com
pany. These tools are In addition to
the regular fifty-four pounds, nnd the
soldiers take turns In carrying them.
Most of the troops in the Mexican
border "war game" nre equipped with
tho fifty-four pound outfit, but enough
are using the lighter articles to Insure
a thorough tryout. Tin plates, moat
cans, etc., Instead of aluminium ones,
arc the staple mess equipment carried
by the majority of the soldiers.
How Army Is Fed.
The different classification of rations
given out to tho regular army is an
other interesting point. In all there are
some six specific rations, the prlnclpnl
ones being the haversack ration, tho
garrison ration, tho travel ration and
tho emergency or Iron ration. The hav
ersack ration, such as dealt out to tho
troops In tho field, consists of meat,
coffee, hardtack, sugar, pepper and
salt. The emergency ration is com
posed of compressed food having
among its ingredients beef, sugar, salt,
beans, potato and wheat. Tho soldiers
arc supposed to keep it In tho sealed
tins until express orders are given for
its devouring. A small cake sufficient
for n meal Is broken into the regula
tion cup filled with boiling water, and
AMERICAN SOLDIERS ALONG MEXICAN
In a short time there is a palatable
mass ready. When tho novice tries his
first meal of the Iron ration he thinks
it Is a pretty small matter, but very
shortly ho has the opinion that af.ter
all it was a square meal. The other
ration which is of Interest just now,
called tho travel ration, Is served out
for troops traveling otherwise than
marching and without cooking facill
ties.
When pack trains are possible port
able stoves and ovens aro used, but
when a body of troops find themselves
In actual service and perhaps pushing
the campaign into tho enemy's terri
tory It is necessary to fall back on the
severe haversack ration, sometimes
with only wntcr as a beverage, nnd
then, again, In an extremity the Iron
ration comes into play.
Tho sanitary corps, practiced in the
science of keeping filth and conse
quent disease out of tho camps, is of
tho greatest Importance in field work
and has come to bo one of the princi
pal departments of tho army. Attach
ed to a regiment of 1,500 men nnd offi
cers Is a sanitary corps in command
of a major, the usual head of a bat
talion. Under him tho major has his
staff of assistants, who inspect tho dis
posal of refuse. Hugo pits placed as
far away from the camp as advisable
are Immediately dug and tho strictest
of orders given to see that nil waste la
put In tho proper place.
At certain times tho pits aro covered
with cloth and thoroughly sprinkled
with disinfectants, nnd whenever pos
sible the process of Incineration Is ear-
I
Khaki Reing Supplanted
by Cotton Olive Drab
Uniform
rled out. The old adage about preven
tion and euro has come to be greatly
realized In army circles. The Spanish
American war brought about the
change In sanitary regulations, for dur
ing that campaign a comparison of the
percentage of men killed by bullets as
against tho number dying by disease
was startling.
Olive Drab Uniforms.
The uniform worn by the soldiers
during actual service in hot climates
and tho change to the practical is of
considerable Interest. Once more It
was a case of tho war with Spain
showing the lack of up to date wear
ing apparel for the troops. To be sure,
there were khaki trousers, canvas leg
gings nnd the sun foiling wide brim
med campaign hats, but also there
were the blue flannel shirts, an excel
lent target for the opposing marks
men. Under the present regulations
the khaki uniforms have gone out en
tirely, while the cotton olive drab uni
form Is preferred. Olive drab shirts,
too, are now worn, while the tan log
gings and shoes to match make a body
of men well nigh invisible at a reason
able distance. In tho present mobiliza
Hon In Texas thousands of troops will
be seen' wearing the khaki uniform,
but the newest orders of the war de
partment have done away with that
dress and have placed the official O. K,
1lkMaftWsr 'ft x4
BORDER.
on tho more serviceable olive drab.
Overcoats, the regulation bell top hats
andblanket8 are all made of tho olive
drab. For colder countries the samo
clotli is used with a corresponding in
crease In weight. Tho blue, of course,
remains for the dress and full dress
uniforms. .
Tho nbsence of nil possible cere
monies, such as parades and reviews,
while in field service Is noticeable to
the veteran visiting a modern military
camp.
Tho units of troops In order of mag
nitude with their commanding officers
offer another subject of interest. Start
ing with tho company, theoretically
made up of 10f men and three officers,
the next unit Is tho battalion, headed
by a major. Tho organization of the
battalion, however, is very elastic, It
being composed of two, three or four
companies. Following that division
comes the regiment, which, having a
full quota of men, numbers fifty-one
officers, fifteen being mounted, nnd
1,500 enlisted men.
Theoretically three regiments, or
4,500 men, make a brigade of infantry
At the head of that organization Is n
brigadier general, who In turn lias his
staff.
The next organization Is the division,
composed of three infantry brigades, a
regiment of cavalry, two regiments of
artillery, a battalion of the slgunl
corps, an ammunition train, supply
train, four ambulance compnnles, a
field hospital and reserve supplies. A
major general commands and has
under him approximately 20,000 men.
TAX DECI
ON PRIVILEGES.
Interesting Points In Supreme
Court's Finding.
IS IT AGAINST INCOME TAX?
Holds That Congress Has Complete
Taxing Power Rather Than Courts.
Corporation Tax Is In the Nature of
an Excise on Privileges Granted.
May Become Precedent of Farreach
ing Consequences.
One of tho most Important infer
ences to be deducted from the corpo
ration tax decision is the apparent
sympathy of the court us at present
organized with tho decision that threw
out the income tax of 181)1 as uncon
stitutional. This expression, of course,
is indirect, but It leaves scarcely a
doubt As the proposed constitutional
amendment expressly conveying to
congress the power to levy an income
tax without regard to population is
having a rough road through the state
legislature, it is likely that when next
the subject of an Income tax is agi
tated in congress this decision will be
extensively quoted from. The distinc
tion is pointed out sharply that where
tho old tux was a levy on property
merely because of its ownership this
levy is an excise tax upon the privi
lege of doing business In a particular
way. On this point the court says:
"Tho tax under consideration as wo
have construed the statute may be de
scribed as nn excise upon the particu
lar privilege of doing business in a
corporate capacity 1. e., with tho ad
vantages which arise from corporate
or quasi corporate organization or
when applied to insurance companies
for doing tho business of such compa
nies. The requirement to pay such
taxes involves the exercise of privi
leges, and the element of absolute and
unequivocal demand is lacking. If j
business is not done in tho manner de- j
scribed In tho statute no tax Is pay
able."
That Is the heart of the court's an
swer to the plea that the tax is in ef
fect a direct tax and therefore uncon
stitutional. No cogency is allowed by tho court
to tho argument against tho right of
congress to impose an excise tax upon
franchises granted by the states.
"Tlie constitution contains only two
limitations on tho right of congress to
levy excise tnxes," says the decision.
"They must be levied for tho public
welfare nnd are required to be uni
form throughout the United States."
In affirming the federal power to tax
state corporations tho court holds
that "the revenue of the United Stntes
must be obtained in the same territory
from tho same people, nnd excise" tnx
es must be collected from the same
activities as aro also reached by the
states in order to support their local
governments."
Corporation Privileges Taxed.
Tho plea that the tax is not uniform
because it discriminates so sharply
against corporations in fnvor of busi
ness done by partnerships or private
persons tho cot rt answers simply by
stating thnt uniformity, in the sense
used ly the constitution, means only
geographical uniformity. The practice
has always been to levy on some occu
pations nnd to omit others, nnd this is
true of both tho stntes nnd the federal'
government. Besides tills, the ndvnn
tages to be derived from n corporato
existence are such as to make the
distinction very real and reasonable.
"Tho thing taxed." said Justice Day,
"is not the mere denling in merchan
dise, In which tho actual transactions
may be tho same, whether conducted
by Individuals or corporations, but the
tux is laid upon the privileges which
exist In conducting business with the
ndvnntages which inhere in the cor
porate capacity of those taxed nnd
which are not enjoyed by private firms
or Individuals. These advantages are
obvious and have led to tho formation
of such companies In nearly all
branches of trade. The continuity of
the business without interruption by
death or dissolution, the transfer of
property Interests by the disposition of
shnrcs of stock, tho advantages of
business controlled and managed by
corporate directors, tho general ab
sence of Individual liability, these and
other things inhere in tho advantages
of business thus conducted, which do
not exist when the same business is
conducted by private Individuals or
partnerships. It is .this distinctive
privilege which is tho subject of taxa
tion, not tho mere buying or selling or
handling of goods, which may be tho
same, whether done by corporations or
Individuals."
In holding thnt Insurance companies
cannot escape tho tax because so great
n part of their property Is Invested in
nontaxable municipal or state bonds
tho supreme court holds thnt "this ar
gument confuses the measure of the
tax upon privileges with direct taxa
tion of the estate or thing taxed."
Sucli a measure, says tho court, It la
altogether within tho power of con
press to choose; whether It has an im
mediate reference to tho business dono
or not.
"We must not forget," says the court,
"thnt the right to select the measuro
and objects of taxation devolves upon
the congress nnd not upon the courts,
nnd such selections nro valid unless
constitutional limitations are overstepped."
Sacrificing the Woman.
That Carlyle could contemplntc with
equanimity being unprnlscd. unmoney
ed nnd neglected nil his life, that ho
required neither the world's pudding
nor Its breath and could be happy
without them, was pardonable and per
haps commendnble. Thnt he should
expect another person to share this
unmoneyed, puddlngless and rather
forlorn condition was scarcely con
sistent with such lofty principles. Men
may sacrifice themselves, If they please,
to Imagined' high duties and ambitions,
but they have no right to mnrry wives
nnd sncrlfleo them. Exchange.
How People Die.
It is estimated that the average
duration of human life Is thlrty-threo
years. A quarter of the people die dur
ing the seventh year and half before
the seventeenth. Of every 1.000 per
sons one only reaches 100 years, six In
100 get to 05 and one in 500 to 80. It
Is further estimated that throughout
the world 50.000,000 dlo annually, 138.
000 a day, nearly 0,000 an hour, 00 a
minute; or three In every two seconds.
Discretion.
Wife (whose husband, the local
mayor, has Just been knighted) Have
you heard from tho man who offered
to trace our pedigree? nusband Yes:
he has found out more than enough.
Wife What did you pay him? Hus
band Fifty pounds to hold his
tongue! London Opinion.
The Desideratum.
"George, what do. you havo to do
when you draw some money out of a
bank?" asked an Innocent young wife.
"You have to put some money In the
bank beforehand." replied the bus
hand. "That's always been my ex
neriencn!"
tttTTTTtTTTtttI
SPENCER
The Jeweler
would like to see you if
t you are in the
t for
market
fJEWELRY, SILVER-;
WARE, WATCHES,:
CLOCKS, j
DIAMONDS, x
AND NOVELTIES 1
X
X
X
I
..t
"Guaranteed nrtjcles only sold
Take tho Citizen this spring.
Yl IT'S QOMQ TO RAMI
"The day Is cold,
It rains, and the
Rainy days are dismal days, cheerless and full of gloom; but they
are sure to come into the life of every person. You cannot hope to
escape them entirely, but you may
PREPARE FOR THE COMING STORM
By opening a savings account In HONKSDALK DIME HANK. Such
a "rainy day" protection Is better than an umbrella, for tho latter
will get old and fall to be of service, while the bank account, with
Its compound interest, will grow and grow and becomo a Joy and
comfort when you most need such factors of helpfulness. Come
In and let us talk It over. With a one dollar deposit, which will
belong to you, we give a Household Bunk free.
HONESDALE
TO
CALIFORNIA,
WASHINGTON,
BRITISH COLUMBIA,
OREGON
and
Points in West, Northwest and Southwest
TICKETS ON SALE DAILY.
MARCH 10 to APRIL 10, 1911. KKMW
FOR
RESULTS
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
Attorncvs-at-Lnw.
WILSON,
ATTORNEY A COUNHKI.OR-AT-LAW.
Ofllce ndldrmit til l'nit nnir-o In nimmlnV
office, llonesilaie, l'n.
M. H. LEE,
ATTORNEY A COtlNSEI.nn-AT-I.AW.
OlllceOVCr DOSt Olllrp. All IppiiI hllnlneaa
promptly attended to. Ilonesdale, l'u.
EO. MUMFOKD,
. ATTORNEY A COUN 8ELOR-AT-L AW
Office Liberty Ilnll bulldlnc, opposite the
Post Office. Ilonesdale. l'n.
HOMER GREENE.
ATTORNEY 4 COUNSEI.OR-AT-LAW.
Office over Hell's store. Ilonesdale Pa.
Charles a. Mccarty,
ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR- IT-LAW.
Special nnd prompt attention fiven to the
collection of claims. OUIce over Kelt's new
store, ilonesdale. l'a.
KIMBLE,
ATTORNEY ic COUNSELOR-AT-L AW
Office over the Dost office Ilonesdale. Pa.
Tr E. SIMONS,
1IX.
ATTORNEY A COUNSELOU-AT-LaW
Office in the Court House, Ilonesdale
l'a.
PETER II. ILOFF,
ATTORNEY A COIJNSKr.OR-AT-LAW.
Oltlce Second floor old Savings link
building. Ilonesdale. Pa.
SEARLE & SALMON,
ATTORNEYS A COUNSELOR8-AT-LAW
Offices Intelv occupied by Judse Scarle
CHESTER A. GARRATT,
ATTORNEY A COHNBEI.OR-AT-LAW.
Office adjacent to Post Office, Ilonesdale, P
Dentists.
DR. E. T. BROWN,
DENTIST.
ORlce First floor, old Savings Bank build
in::, Ilonesdale. l'n.
Dr. C. It. BRADY. Dkntist. Ilonesdale. Pa.
Office Ilonns 8 m to p. m
Any evening by appointment.
Citizens' phone. 33. Residence. No! 80-X
Physicians.
T B. PETERSON, M. D.
1120 MAIN STREET. HONESDALE. PA.
Eve and Ear a sneclaltv. Thp (It tin" nrnlnsn-
ca t;ivua uuruuu uuumiun.
Livery,
LIVERY. red. G. Rickard has re
moved his livery establishment from
corner Chuch street to Whitney's Stone
Barn
ALL CALLS
PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO.
FIRST CLASS OUTFITS. 75yl
KUII3 TRAINS.
Trains leave Union depot at 8.25
a. ra. and 2.48 p. in., week days.
Trains arrive Union depot at 1.8 0
and 8.05 p. ni. week days.
Saturday only, Erie and Wyoming
arrives at 3.4& p. m. and leaves at
5.60 p. m.
Sunday trains lcve 2.4 8 and ar
rive r,r 7.02.
Advertise in The Citizen?
and dark, and dreary.
wind is never weary."
DIME BANK
$49.50
ERIE RAILROAD
ADVERTISE IN THE CITIZEN