ITEMS OF INTEREST May 1, 1909 Issue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

There is no longer any necessity for polluting American cities with volumes of smoke, as practical smoke-consumers can be obtained at reasonable prices and operated with economy. Such is the assertion of the technologic branch of the Geological Survey. The experts assert that in their experiment station at Pittsburg they are successfully operating a smokeless plant and making steam economically with a coal heretofore regarded as refuse and delivered at the station for eighty-eight cents a ton. They declare further that they have found similar conditions in a number of mercantile establishments, and that the belief that smokeless plants cannot be operated on a commercial basis is without foundation. The experts say that bituminous coals high in volatile matter can be burned without smoke; that large plants can be operated without smoke, and that by the use of proper appliances great pecuniary saving will be effected.

Senators Cummings of Iowa and Bailey of Texas have each introduced bills in the Senate for the taxing of incomes. The bill of the former provides for a graduated tax from two to six per cent upon individual incomes exceeding $5,000, and lays no tax upon the net incomes of corporations as such. Incomes of $100,000 or more would pay a tax of six per cent. This would raise a revenue of about $40,000,000 a year. The bill of Senator Bailey, which would raise about fifty million dollars, specifically exempts incomes from federal, state, country, and municipal securities.

The action of the Burlington Railroad in announcing a two and one-half cent rate in Missouri as a compromise rate, is regarded as a diplomatic move which will end the litigation between that state and the railroads, all of which are expected to follow the Burlington's lead. The state two-cent fare law was declared unconstitutional, whereupon the railroads announced their intention of resuming a three-cents-a-mile rate. The state secured a temporary injunction restraining them from this action, and the roads have since continued to operate at two cents a mile.

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