The Oregon daily journal., February 23, 1908, Page 30, Image 30

THE OREGON SUNDAY 'JOURNAL PORTLAND SUNDAY HORNING, : FEBRUARY 2 1903 ,v
5
Tbe Ooe-Sided Exchange of
' M
&
u
7
lis.
A.
i? M coronets purchased by Ameri-
can girls t with American gold, worth
r" thepricet
1 Whis subject has been discussed, with
more or less freedom and acrimonious com
ment, since the first foreign title was bought,
years ago. The discussion has been given,
stimulus by the recent capture of Miss Gladys
Vanderbilt by an Austrian nobleman.
At least one American thinks the title
Isn't worth the price. He is of opinion that
no insignia of nobility is better than the plain
'enrolment of a citizen of this country. He
objects to the impoverished nobility so-call-ed-of
other lands reaping the financial ben
efits accruing from American industry in
American enterprises through A merican
brains and the splendid possibilities of the
ii merkan business field.
Consequently, Representative Sabath, of
Illinois, not long since introduced in Congress
a bill imposing a tax of 2$ per cent, on all
dowries and other settlements made in con
sideration of marriage by citizens of the
United, States with citizens or subjects of
other countries. He asserts that during the
last dozen years or so no less than $goo,ooo,
ooo has been taken our of this country by for
eign owners of titles who have married rich
'American girls.
He wants a curb placed on this industry
of Europe.
AN ESTIMATE OF SOME FOR
TUNES GONE ABROAD
If ay Ooelet. married the duke of Rox
burgh Pauline Aator. married Cvptaln 6pender-
. Clay
Anna Gould married Count de Cutellane..
Mlra Bradley-Martin, married the earl of
.. Craven . -
Mrs. Marshall O. Roberta, married Colonel
Ralph Vivian
Gladya Vanderbllt. married Count
Sxechenyl
Sarah Phelpe Stokea. married Baron Hal-
ConauelV 'vanderbilt," 'married the duke of
MarlborouKh . . . A.. . v
Aire. Uvarmor O Brlen. married Baron
Sellliere
Mies Edith Collin, married Count Czaykow-
ekl i
Mary Letter, married Lord Oiirmn
Nancy Ieiter. married Captain Colin
Campbell
' "Daley" Lsiter. married the earl of Suf
, folk
tlla WiUon, married Bon. Michael Her-
bert
Cat oil ne Aetor. married O. Oull vy Haijf. . .
Miss Pauline Whitney married A! II. Panet
Mlaa Sharon, married Blr Thomas Heiketh
MiM - Bthel Field, married Captain David
MtaAdrla Kampeon' ' married' Duke de bi'no
Mie Elena Grace, married the earl of Doo-
ougbmore
Ml Helen Morton, married Comte Perlgord
Mi Amy Phlpp. married Frederick Quent
Marl gattarneld. married Count von
Moenlcn
Lily Hammeraly, now married to Lord
Befeaford
Mia Victoria Bonynge, married VUcount
Deerhufft
MIm Harriet' Gammell. married T. Shaw
' Saf . ...... .'-'-..'.
Julia Bryant Mackay). married Prince
Colonna
Mle Garner, married the Marquis d
Breteuil .
Florence Garner, married 8Ir Gordon-Cum-
ming .vi-
Claire Huntington, married Prince ron
Hatxfeldt vvv, V1--1L--
Minnie tfteven. married General Arthur
Beatrice 'w'lna'n'',' 'married the count of.
Beam "i : :
Belen A. Zimmerman, married tha duke of
f Manchester ,
Mln Flora Davl. married the marqui of
Dufferia
Ml Gwendolyn Caldwell, married Marqui
d Montlr-Melnv!lle .'.
Mlsa Caldwell, married Baron von Zedwltx
$40,000,000
20.000.000
17.000,000
15,000,000
12,000.000
12,000,000
10,000,000
10.000.000
7,000,000
6.000.000
6.000.000
6,000.000
6,000.000
5.000,000
6, 000, 00O
6,000,000
5,000,000
6.000,000
5.000.000
6, 000, 000
6,000,000
6,000,000
4.000.000
2.000,000
J, 000, 000
1,000,000
2.000,000
2,000.000
2.000.000
1000.000
2.000.000
2,000,000
2 000.000
2.000,000
2.000.000
2,000,000
2,000,000
MIM PlDchot. married Hon. Alan Johnstone
, , . Wfcate'er It be, It teem to m
" -;! ' "Tl only noble to be good.
- , Kind heart a. mort than coronet
And almpl faith than Norman blood.
Tennyson.
Y yATURAIXY. tb list riven ahove is not In
I V I . tended to be entirely authentic. For Instance
I Mlaa Gladys Vanderbllfs fortune is supposed
. to b at least $12,000,000. Just what part of
tbl she aettled upon her count husband is known
only to those Immediately Interested.
Rumor baa It that b is to grtt $5,000,000 of her
fortune abaolutely-or, at any rate, Is to have the in
come from that &rrfount. But, should th marriage,
turn out happily., no on doubt that in time even
jnore of the Vanderbllt wealth will go to the main
tenance and upbuilding of tbe count's estates.
In the liat given above tb women with fortunes
who hav been captured by foreign aristocrats num
ber only thirty-seven, yet the - aggregate of th for
tunes" they .are supposed; to : have taken with them
mouldy, to f-Ht.OU0.WO, and ther have been many
O
v4roencaiirisj
.ondMillioDS-
forTomw
Titles
-V, v
55 k
more such marriages within tba memory of this fen
eration. Congressman Sabatb believes that tha drain from this
source has been far greater within the last dosaa or so
years than the American peoplo ara awar.
He doesn't believe It can ba stopped. Ha doaa bold,
however, that this country, aa well as the enterprising
holders of foreign titles, should reap a financial bene
fit from such International marriages.
Not long- after he introduced his bill his colleague.
Congressman McOavln a bachelor, by the way made
an impassioned speech In the House of Representa
tives upholding- Mr. Sabatli's Idea. This encouraged
Mr. Sabath greatly. He thlnka that if the bachelors
of the nation can be interested in preventing- such
foreign alliances, such alliances will be checked, bill
or no bill.
Congressman McGavln's speech upon the subject
made quite a hit. He declared that too many Amer
ican girls are sacrificing their souls and honor "on
the altar of snobbery and vice," while samplea Of
them are traveling abroad, rummaging among; the
remnants of royalty that still Utter the auction
blocks, and shrieking, from tlm to time: "Oh, mam
ma, buy me that!"
WORTH LOOKING INTO
And everybody who heard the speech laughed.
Then, having laughed, everybody wondered
whether a little serious consideration would not be
more appropriate whether, with so much truth in
the thoughtful gentleman's reflections and so much
ground for the forensic gentleman's eloquence, there
might not be some real need for the bill propounded
by Sabath and eulpglzed by McOavln.
It seems to be worth looking Into.
Congressman Sabath, admitting that he had done
a "little figuring," said that foreigners, returning to
their homes In Europe, took with them last year the
tidy sum of 120,000.000; but the 1,200,000 Immigrants
who arrived last year, being required under the law
to bring In 225 each, at the lowest, added to the cash
resources of the nation at least 130,000,000. And no
one can tell how much more they brought.
The "poor foreigners," Congressman Sabath de
duced, are a gain to the country In cash, as well as in
their direct productiveness.
But those who come here to exchange their titles
for American money, he found, are a dead loss coming
fe900.000.000 Qrinpcdro
S $900,000,000 of
the wealth of
this country
held in check by
the clutches of econ-
a
y-Lj v(J Years ago Presi-
1 JJT CJr -X dent George B. Bob
0Lv 7 - rts, of the Pennsyl-
eerted that, during
periods of panic, of
financial scare or fear
of trouble, the, expen
ditures of the people
of this ( country de
creased on an average
about $10 a head. 1
There is no finan
cial panic' at present ;
last fall there were
lowering cltfuds of
menace, but they have
passed, happily. Certain evil influences in
great financial centers have endeavored, beyond
doubt, to bring about a panic, hoping thereby to
cover their own misdeeds and turn public attention
f ron themselves. ' . ' . ;
-'HJtha same time the masses . of the people the
countrjkoYer hare been taking in 8&U 60 far M
MS
I, '
J- '
mmmm
22372t
j a
s-" ? 7
and going. "The country loses money, and the girt
happiness, with an empty title as her only compensa
tion." Taking his main estimate on its face, $900,000,000
gone from the United States within a period of twelve
years, it would mean that the national resources were
transferred to Europe at the rate of $75,000,000 per
annum. He and his colleague aver that this vast
expenditures were concerned. - If, by keeping a
tighter clutch on the dimes and dollars they have
checked active circulation to the extent figured by
Mr. Eoberts $10 each and are thus retarding the
flow of $900,000,000 through the channels of trade,
the responsibility lies, men in active business as
sert, at the doors of designing persons, miscalled
high financiers.
- - 1 1
ARE the masses of the people striving to save
their dimes and dollars? Are they cutting down
expenses? If so, In what way?
Business men will tell you that there la an
era of economy on. In many families It la necessary.
Many employers of labor are curtailing expenses, and
many workmen have been laid off. This has hap
pened,, year by year, for a long time, but only after
a flurry, such as was experienced last fall, is general
attention' directed to it.
. But now the rich as well aa the poor are economiz
ing. The last decade has been one of almost headlong
expenditure; the reaction was bound to come. Why
call it a scare, a panic or bad times? Ask business
men.'
Possibly one of the most striking features of the
economical era has been the failure in New York of
a number of diamond brokers. According to a weekly
organ of the trade, the highest class of Jewelers in
New York city have been the chief sufferers. Th
rich patronize the big Jewelers.
"It 'la known that after every financial stir," de
clared a business man, "people begin to cut down
their expenses. . People with regular salaries, and even
those who are independently wealthy, begin to sav
money and buy a little of the luxuries as possible.
It is estimated that in this country there are 5,000,000
person who iiv en an average of f 800 m year. The -'
" v - v v til
N.
ft
v1
teste
wealth was literally made out of this land and this
people.
The mines hare lost so much coal, the forests so
much timber, the soli so much fertility, the body
politic so much energy, aa every factor has contrib
uted to the upbuilding of the various fortunes.
They are riches that can never be replaced. All
tbo nation had to show for them was the cash, which
Is tha concrete form of energy, the storehouse of the
nation's dynamics. In a steady stream that energy,
equal to 37,600 man-power estimating the modern
eash value of the average citizen at $2000 haa flowed
across the Atlantic to restore the ebbing vitality of
Europe In those especial spots where ages of para
sitic drain have exhausted It to the verge of penury.
Of that outflow Congressmen Sabath and McGavIn
would take a net toll amounting to one-fourth part,
as the rightful share of the American land and tha
American people, from the total of concentrated en
ergy which is being permanently lost to them by rea
son of the exchange by helressea of cash for titles.
BILL COVERS ALL MARRIAGES
And, lest the law have an application to the moral
right of individuals Instead of to the ethical rights
of the nation. It covers all marriages, and includas
those where the bridegroom Is Independent of the
dowry as well as those where he makes It an essen
tial condition of the marriage contract because he
needs It to relieve his necessities.
Such a tax. bringing in such annual returns as
$17,000,000 or $18,000,000. with only $2,000,000 or
$3,000,000 added from the national treasury, would
build a couple of first-class battleships; It would
help along materially the appropriation toward the
Panama canal; it would have so raised the pay of
our little American army that the men in the ranks
would have found much less the matter with It than
they do now.
The law proposed by Mr. Sabath, affecting as It
does the Individual right to dispose of Individual
property and treading dangerously close to an inhi
bition such as might have denied to William Waldorf
Astor the Jrlght to spend .his Inherited millions In the
capacity of a subject of King Edwrd VII, may never
come to the reality cf enforcement.
The American people are still too little envious
of individual prosperity and too greatly confident of
their private energies and their public resources to
grudge a dollar's worth of happiness to any girl
who is willing to pay for It, whether the "remnants on
the auction block" be royal or noble, gentle or vulgar.
But, however Americans feel regarding the wealth
the nation's daughters bear abroad, all have a pro
found Interest in the terse, American question:
"Are they getting the worth of their money?"
If any rule can be laid down, It would appear that
those who furnish the least money receive the most
enduring, sincere love. Scarcely a fortnight elapsed
after Congressman Sabath's reflections produced his
famous bill on the floor of the House when Baron
des Planches, the Italian ambassador at Washington,
had an attack of sorrowful Indignation over the pop
ular reprehension of International matches. It is not
people cannot afford luxuries, and cannot very well
economize without suffering. But you will find peo
ple with no excuse for cutting down their expenses
doing so; In many comfortable, well-to-do homes the
women do with last winter's furs, the daughters are
satisfied to do without the customary gifts of Jew
elry, and they loso interest in bric-a-brac and tapes
tries. "No doubt If one could ascertain the truth, many
of the very men who brought about the recent diffi
culty and who expected to make money out of It hav
economized In their household expenses. It eemiithat
the Wall street people themselves are taKlng"the
initiative In economizing. B, -
"The man who works for irages does nolaye
much; usually his income is taxed to the utmost to
meet his actual needs. But the people who have no
cause to tie up their purses follow In line at such
times and cut down expenses. Thua business suffers.
There Is no reason for it."
The decrease In imports recently ha been noTlce
able. People are consuming nearly aa much food,
but they are not buying as much art. While tho sal
of pianos has not decreased, there has been a flunk In
the market for automobiles. According to the last
report of the Department of Commerce and Labor, the
value of automobiles imported In November, 1907, wa
$316,769, against $418,035 In 1906.
FEWER GEMS IMPORTED
There was a falling off In'tho value of art works
in November of $100,000, compared with the aam
month of the previous year. During November, 1906,
the value of uncut diamonds and other gems Imported"
was $771,882; last November the value fell to $385,376.
and of cut diamonds the monthly importation fell
from $1,299,910 in November. 1906, to $342,56$ last
November. The value of imported diamonds and pearl
received at New York last January waa more than
$3,000,000 less than in the corresponding, month of
1907. - A
EconoroyjClakbej?
tni. b vrrd. that moat of fhtra turned out u
fortunate. And h proodd to prov It ' ! i
H Jnstanoed Lillian, Langbarn, f Louisville, th
cbrishd wlfo for whos band Baron I Spook, voa
Sternburg withstood th' command pt Imperlou Wll
hlm;rMm. Jusserand. wboao husband, t A French
ambaaaadot, . la dorotad , t bar; Cbarlotto Clayton,
now Baron Monehaur, wlfo of tho Belgian mln la
ter; MIm aiover. wtf of Van Swlndoran, tbo mlnlator
, from tbo NatberlanJ; . Alloa .Ward, narrlad to Juan
Rlano, Spaalab mlnliter In Bruaaala. and Martba Hoy,
daughter of a navy paymaator, tbo wlfo of Plena
Rojaatvanakjr, wboao unola loet tha Ruaalan flaot to
promptly.
Tbasa wonion, tbo protaatlnv baron obaarvad, ara,
aa wall lovad and aa happy In thalr married Ufa aa
thoy could poaalbly bavo been with tbo tno'at da
voted of American apouaea. and. ao far aa tba world
knowa , to tba contrary, ba apoka with eomplata
knowledge.
But nona of tbam brought to tbelr anltora any
'A)
S7
V-
dowry worth speaking of. Many brought nothing at
all. The busbanda had the assets, and the sol lur
that won them waa the charm of face or nature In
the bride.
When, however, one casts the critical glance upon
any list where the brides have brought dowries or
have been In position to embark In Its entirety some
considerable fortune, name after name appears that
tells the bitter story of divorce, or carries the remi
niscence of separation, alienated affection, or affection
craved and consideration asked which th endowed
husband makes haste to declare were never In tbo
bargain.
For the felicity of Lord and Lady Curxon there la
the shameful offset of mercenary Bonl da Castellane
and the Oould millions; tor the unknown, and, there
fore, supposedly blissful wedded life of May Ooelet
with her duke of Hoxburghe, there Is the grotesquo
misery of foolish Alice Thaw and her recreant earl
of Yarmouth; for the pretty romance of unassuming
Pauline Astor and her gallant Captain Spender-Clay,
there la the tragedy of the daughter of Levi P. Mor
y ton, formerly Vice President of the United States.
If an emphatic public opln!6n, supporting the two
ardently patriotic and economical .congressmen from
th sovereign state of Illinois, should urge the dowry
tax 'bill to that xenith of glory where tho Supremo
Court must try to find out whether or not It is un
constitutional, all Europe from the impecunious no
bntty that is willing 'to pay Its debts with American
money to the hordes of harpies and Shylocks that
howl for the payments before the marriage contracts
are signed will emit a shriek of chagrined wrath
over the miserly Jealousy of the sordid American
people.
Not a few of the foreign owners of title might
contend, with some degree of truth, that the fortunes
they have received with their wives have been de
voted to good purposes. The duchess of Roxburgh,
It la said, has done a great deal with her money to
Improve the condition of tenants on her husband's
estates.
It is understood that the duchess of Marlborough
wished to make a similar record of philanthropy, and
to a great extent did so, dospite the selfish objection
of the duke. '
Perhaps, now that Alice Thaw's marriage to tho
weak earl of Yarmouth has been annulled, she may
be able to rescue much of tho family fortune that ha
doubtless had grown so fond of. Rumor has It that
she allowed him to continue the enjoyment of th
original settlement of $40,000 a year. In consideration
of his failure to fight her battle for annulment of th
marriage. But, one asks. Is even tha; comparatively
small sum worth a few years' wearing of the coronetT
Congressman Sabath may not succeed In having hi
bill passed by Congress, but he says he has been
greatly encouraged by the favorable sentiment that.
has reached him.
State Lotteries in foreign Lands
- TATE lotteries add to the Incomes of foreign govern-
rnents. In Italy they bring tho government In a
' sum of nearly $12,500,000 a year. In Prussia th
profits of the public lottery amount to no less than $21,
250,000. The Dutch government gets the nice little sum
of $250,000 profit out of Its lottery. Portugal makes about
$360,000 In this way, and Denmark a profit of $29,000. In
wraaii. wnere me government does not itseir run tne lot
tery, but collects a tax on the receipts of private lot
teries, the amount realized Is $85,000.
There was a decreaso in the value of Imported
hats of about $250,000, while gloves fell from $924,118
to $683,452. There was an increased Importation of
toys, but a decrease in the value of clgara and cigar
ettes of mora than $100,000.
This would seem to Indicate, as has been claimed,
that tho people who are economizing are those who
are not ooiigea to economize, but peoplo who oono
mlze merely as a matter of policy. 1
How long the era of economy will last i a Ques
tion. Manufacturers and merchants say the sky is
brightening. Vanity Fair may refrain from buying
new silk dress while her husband is sweating over tho
ticker and .reads losses In stocks, but as soon as he
begins to recoup the order goes to tho fashionable
mouiste. - .
Part of the recent Jailing off In the consumption of"
liquors is believed to be due to the prohibition wave that
is sweeping the country. Announcement Is made that th
so-caiiea w ruHny i rusi nas aeciaea to cut aown proauc
tlon 25 per cent., and has reduced the price Of grain
spirits. The price of champagne has been reduced $3 a
nam vt tha I f m a nH Yin a fn Wun riff
6t the wage workers of the country It is estimated
hat 21,000,000 earn only enough to support them
selves comfortably, without an opportunity to lndulg
In luxuries. Silks, Ivories, diamonds, automobiles arc-
rarely, 11 ever, puronasea by this great army, and
hard times, so far as they are concerned, would not
affect tho big Jeweler or automobile dealer. Thera
has been little decrease In rent, provisions, clothing
and fuel. But the sales of luxuries have and It 1
said unnecessarily suffered.
Large business concerns have, followed suit in
economizing. According to labor leaders, from 120,000
to 120,000 persons have been thrown out of employ
ment recently. Among these are said to be 60,000
maker of clothing, 20,000 ladles' WaistmaKers, 15,000
nlo-a rmakrH 8000 ranmakera.
Qa that when An m nf Ainnnmv n n matt-i. wim f
its cause, grips the country,, the home is the first
place to feel it. The meat bill is cut down, less cloth
fng la bought; luxuries are dispensed with.
During the last week or so however, a great many
Industrial enterprises that shut down wholly or In part -have
been resuming, and thousands of workpeople hav
been benefited thereby.
It Is thought th general belief that gripping oon
OmyT Is, necessary will apon pass. Crop have not
failed, ther is every demand for tho employment of
money. Th days, far-sighted men assert, are bright"
nlng, Just as they ar lengthening at thla Mason. -
V.'