Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 29, Decatur, Adams County, 3 February 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

'Volume VII. Number 29.

FIFTEEN BIDDERS Many After the AdamsWells County Line Road BIDS RUN CLOSE Wheat and Sisk Are the Lucky Bidders on Road The members of the board of commissloners with the county attorney. Clark J. Lutz, went to Bluffton this morning, where the commissioners of the two counties opened bids and awarded contracts for the nine miles of county line road, which was let there today. The contract was bagged by [ Wheat & Sisk, the Jay county -contractors, who have done considerable work in this county. The bids -were as follows: ■Byheat & Sisk $22,180 ■Samuel Yost 23,466 gljtichael Miller 25,854 L. O. Bears 25,199 fflkfross & Johnson 23,908 S. A. Mason 26,320 □Frank Heller 26,475.50 C. S. Brinneman 26,130 John Asbleman 25,960 E. H .Faust 24,689 L. A. Hutsell 27,305 A. G. King 25,943 g’Turpin & Jackson 25,376 E J. N. Neff 23,731 David Meyers 25,460 Many of the bidders were from Adams county, and while they were -close, yet they were outside the mon■ey. The contract was a good one, owing to the fact that it was nine I miles long, it not being often that •a contractor gets a chance to bld on a road of that length. The bonds will also be in demand, and It is likely that much of the road will be built during the coming summer.

STILL UNCERTAIN of the County Option is Yet Uncertain ■need SOME VOTES BVant Three Republicans to Vote for Repeal E Indianapolis, February 3. —(Special gto the Daily Democrat)—The outlook Bio~ the repeal of the option law is HSbnce more uncertain. Unless the of three Republicans can be ■obtained tor the Kleckner bill, which *• t~will come up on a decisive test toHptnorrow, it now seems that the bill ■will be defeated. Representative ■Ratcliff, of Wayne county it seems, ■ will again be a deciding factor as Shr was in the special session. : The garnishee bill introduced in Bhthe senate, met death today by indefJdnite postponement on the floor of the ■senate. > a-— — I FATHER OF JAMES E. WATSON |H Winchester, Ind.. Feb. 3. —Enos L. ■"Watson, seventy-eight years old, fathB>er of Congressman James E. W atson, ■ was some better today, although his ■ condition is serious. There is little ■ hope of his recovery. He was taken ■ suddenly worse yesterday afternoon B about 4 o'clock and was unconscious M .until midnight, but rallied toward noon ■ today. Congressman Watson and his sSmtece, Mrs. J. A. Matthews, are on ■ their way here from Washington.

A FRIEND OF TEMPERANCEBut He Does Not Think Prohibition is Practical. Mark Twain is said to be responsible for the following: “I am a friend of temperance and want it to succeed, but I don’t think prohibition is practical. The Germans pievent it. Look at them. They have just invented a method of making brandy out of saw dust. Now what chance will prohibition have when a man can take a rip saw and go out and get drunk with a fence rail? What is the good of prohibition if a man is able to make brandy out of a shingle from his roof, or if he can get delirium tremans by drinking the edges off of the kitchen chair? THE ONE IDEAL Men’s Club of Presbyterian Church Enjoy Great Meeting SEASON OF CHEER Rev. Brand, of Bluffton, Inspires His Auditors With the one lofty ideal of advancing the interest of true brotherhood and irreproachable civicism, forty men, representative citizens of Decatur, gathered at. the Presbyterian church last evening, where in a discourse .replete with genuine logic, eloquence of language and forcefulness of delivery, the Rev. Brand, of Bluffton, injected into the veins of his auditors an inspiration which will find expression in the lives of those who were fortunate in imbibing the all-absorbing thoughts so picturesquely presented. Following the introduction given by Rev. Spetnagle, Rev. Brand immediately launched on a course of deep thought of which his theme, “The Times Have Changed,’’ is suggestive. Enlisting the thought of his hearers to the disparaging distinctions so often presented by peop’o who thoughtlessly state that conditions politically, religiously and in a business way have undergone a retrogression during the passing of the years, the speaker explained that these people compare the very best conditions of the past with the very worst conditions of the present, to the detriment of the latter. Particularly did the minister lay stress on the fact that the progress of religious organizations during recent years is unprecedented. He referred singularly to the undeniable fact that the men of the country are manifesting more real enthusiasm relative to church work than ever in the history of the country, and the success of the church, he attributes in a large measure, to the untiring efforts of the men. The conclusion of the address was a signal for demonstration which was indicative of the appreciation of the audience. Attor ney C. J. Lutz then gave a few minute address to the satisfaction of aJI, after which the men were invited to the parlors where a delightful social session ensued, and may it be said that every person irrespective of church affiliations, was entertained as only those who have the welfare of every individual at heart can entertain There was even more than social intercourse for those who were present. Elaborate refreshments, consisting of butter, rolls, pickles, ham, coffee, ice cream, and cake were served and the same done justice to, to which the write- can we 1 ! testify. It was a feast of good cheer in its broadest definition and one long to be remembered by all who enjoyed the /festivities of the occasion. o TO PROTECT THE TREES. Indianapolis, Feb. 3. —Senator Bowser introduced a bill yesterday afternon to prohibit the mutilation of trees. The bill would it unlawful for any person, co-partnership, firm or corporation to kill, injure or mutilate any trees along a street in a city or incorporated town or along any highway without having first obtained a permit from the common council of the city or the board of trustees of i the incorporated town, or the board of county commissioners in the <"ounty in which the higtway is situated.

TO TAKE A TEST I A Try Out for the Patent Chicken Picker ’ Machine r _. - — IT LOOKS GOOD i ’ Many Concerns Are Inter1 ested in Its Success Messrs. Welsh and Ryan, two of the leading electricians of the Fort Wayne electric works, will arrive in our city Thursday morning for the purpose of installing some electrical machinery at the Berling Packing house which will be used for the purpose of operating the newly applied for chicken picker patent which is owned by Messrs. Berling and Bainter. The I machine which Is said to be perfect in every respect will be a revelation in this line of work, if it can be successfully operated by electricity, and > means much saving of labor and time for those engaged in this line of work. The patent on the machine has ben perfected and Messrs. Berling and Bainter are now fully protected by the government and from what they are able to ascertain they have the only machine of this kind on 1 the market, and if the same can be successfully operated by electricity, • they have without question made their , fortunes. These men have for some time past been figuring with the Fort Wayne Electric Works to have them endeavor to perfect some kind of a motor that will operate their machine t with accuracy and speed and from ’ what they learned today this coml pany have unquestionably solved the ‘ mystery and the same will be thor- ‘ oughly tested tomorrow at the Ber- ■ ling plant. A number of the local electricians will be present to see the • test made as there is some doubt i existing in their minds as to whether ! the same can be operated successfully by electricity or not. Should the test (Continued on page 2.) o DIED AT TOLEDO r ' Arthur Hobbs, Son of Jacob t r Hobbs, of Rivarre, is Dead 1 . BORN IN THIS COUNTY i t ’ And Lived at Bingen During Greater Part of f b s Life f A communication from Toledo, 0., received this morning by Mrs, Fred r Hoenizen, of Bingen, brought the sad tidings of the untimely death of her > brother, Arthur Hobbs, son of Mr. and ' Mrs. Jacen Hobbs, of Rivarre. The ' deceased was born in Adams county f and lived at Bingen during the greater ’ portion of his life. When but a young 1 man he accepted a position as brakeman on the G. R. & I. railroad and was soon promoted to the responsible 3 position of a conductor on a local on ’ the north division. It was while en- ’ gaged in the railroad business that 3 he contracted lung trouble, and an aggravating case of consumption developed. He was forced to retire from r activity some months ago and has ’ since been practically helpless. He 3 was treated for some time by a Decatur physician. The remains will be transported to Lagrange for burial, that, being the home of his wife’s parents. The arrangements for the funeral have not as yet been made. The deceased was 28 years of age, ’ was the father of one child and is i. survived by a divorced widow, his - parents, a number of brothers and - sisters and a large number of friends r He was very well known in this city. Jacen Hobbs, of Rivarre, father of i the late Arthur Hobbs, is lying at f his home in a very serious condition, f A complication of diseases has devtlf oped and consderable alarm has been v caused among the members of the (Continued on page 2.)

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, February 3, 1909.

CHASED BY WRATHFUL MAYOR Driver Who Maltreated Horse is Overhauled. Elizabeth, N. J., Feb. 3—When he saw a horse belonging to an express company abused and overdriven, Mayor Victor Mravlag chased the outfit over three blocks through a business section in his auto and pocketed the horse against a fence in a spectacular 1 finish. The mayor had called in vain foi the driver to stop, and he daringly swerved hlw auto before the frightened horse. The driver jumped from his seat and ran. The mayor took charge of the horse and wagon. He preferred charges and continued on his way to where the dog-catcher was having trouble with a rabid dog. o THREE MORE DRY Huntington,Parke and Switzerland Counties Go Dry MAJORITIES LARGE Commissioners in Cass Postponed Action on Option Petition Huntington, Ind., February 3.—Every township in the county voted dry yesterday except Huntington, the one in which the city is located. Here the “wets” had a majority of twenty. Twenty-five saloons are put out of business, and the one brewery will have a hard time to keep going. The ringing of the church bells marked the opening of the polls and all day the bells were tolled every hour, sounding the death knell of the saloons. Precincts in the south side of the city showed a heavier vote than those on the north. There seemed to bra considerable Indifference among the men on both sides and although ■ strong efforts were made to get the vote out, many failed to exercise their privileges. Railroad men made no special efforts, not desiring to lose time. Rockville, Ind., Feb. 3.—The local option vote yesterday resulted in a decisive victory for the “drys” in Parke county, the majority against 1 license being 2.060. The voting was quiet, and the “yets” did not put up much of a fight, except in two mining precincts in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the county. One gave a “wet” mjaority of nine- . ty-six and the other a majority of four. Not a township in the county was carried by the “wets.” Adams township, which includes Rockville, . gave 617 for the “drys,” and the “wets” 183, the “dry” majority being 434. The last saloon (in Rockville closed its doors Jan. 21. This left Florida township the oi>ly one In the county, with fourteen saloons. This township gave a “dry” major- ■ ity of 168 with one precinct a “wet” ! majority, I Vevay, Ind., Feb. 3. —Switzerland ( county yesterday joined the list of dry counties of the state, their ma--1 jority being 908. Switzerland is a ’ small county, and according to her ■ voting population, this majority may ’ be considered strong. There was no disturbance, and the result is pleasI ing to a large majority of the people > of the county. - - Logansport, Ind.. Feb. 3. —The coun- '■ ty commissioners this afternoon post- ‘ poned action on the petition of 3.300 ■ temperance people demanding an eleci tion on county option until the next i session in March, alleging no funds s arc available without an appropriai tion by the county council. The I “wets” consider this a victory for ■ them. The “drys" plan a mandamus. I Q ! ROOSEVELT REWARDS BEAL. • President Appoints Frisco Graft Foe l to Assay Commission Berth. I Washington, Feb. 3. —President Roosevelt, who has been anxious for • some time, according to an official announcement made at the white house f today, to "recognize in suitable fasht len Truxton Beal’s signal services to • the community in which he lives,” has • appointed him on the assay cornmisi sion. Mr. Beal was prominently con- ; nected with the prosecution of the graft cases in San Francisco.

ARE IN THE HOLE National Treasury Conditions Causing Uneasiness SERIOUS PROBLEM Deficit of Current Year Estimated at $125,000,000 Washington, Feb. 3.—ln an effort to extricate the government from the financial predicament into which it has plunged by heavy expenditures, the ways and means committee is considering extraordinary means of raising; revenue. From behind the closed doors of the ways and means committe room it became known today that the Republican members of the committee are in possession of disquieting information in regard to the condition of the federal treasury. Several weeks ago the committee, to secure a basis upon which it could proceed intelligently in framing revenue measures, put at work a corps of treasury experts, who were charged with the duty of ascertaining and reporting to the committee the drift of the government's financial affairs, with estimates of future revenues. The report has been received. It shows a present deficit of $79,000,000, with a prospect that the deficit will grow to $125,000,000 by the close of the current fiscal year. How- to raise more revenue to meet the enormously increasing expenditure is a serious problem, to which the committee is now giving its attention. Washington. Feb. 3. —No single question is absorbing the interest and concern of the administration at this moment to the same extent as certain phases of the anti-Japanese agitation in California. The president has been in communication with many reputable persons who should be thoroughly informed as to the conditions on the Pacific coast. EIGHT TO FOUR Jury Was Hopelessly Divided in Bubb Damage Suit OUT FIFTEEN HOURS Balloting Favored the Defendant at All Times

Auburn, Ind., Feb. 3. —(Special to Daily Democrat) —After deliberating for more than fifteen hours, hopelessly divided at all times, the jury in the Bubb damage case finally agreed to disagree and made a report to that effect in court this morning, and they were promptly discharged. Several hours were consumed yesterday by counsel in their arguments to the twelve men, C. J. Lutz, of Decatur, making the final plea for the defense. The jury retired to their room at about six o’clock last evening and at once began the tedious task of balloting. The first ballot resulted eight to four in favor of the defense. Other ballots followed and at one time the men stood six to six. As the discussion continued, however, a number of the jurors returned to their side and the final ballot stood eight to four against the plaintiff. At one time nine of the jurors voting for the recovery of damages against the interurban company. The case will probably be re-tried in the near future.

i COOPER JURY BOX UNFILLED 162 Talesmen Examined Without Any Accepts nee. Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 3. —The second week of the trial of Col. Duncan B. Cooper, Robin J. Cooper and John D. Sharp was completed today and the jury box remains unfilled. Altogether 162 talesmen were examined. The very few who attempted to qualify were challenged peremptorily by state or defense. It is not improbable that the fourth venire of 500 men will be exhausted tomorrow, in which case the fifth will be drawn and summoned and the hearing of the charges against Juror J. W. Whit- | worth will be resumed. o A DRAINAGE BILL A Bill for the Cleaning and Repairing of Ditches SOME MORE BILLS The Doings of the Legislature as Recorded Y esterday Indianapolis, Feb. 3.—A bill introduced by Senator Mattingly yesterday afternoon is designed to simplify the , process by which drainage ditches , may be cleaned and repaired. The . bill provides that ten or more per- , sons whose land would be affected by . the proposed work may file a petition with the county auditor asking that such ditch cleaned or repaired. , If this petition is filed with the county auditor as long as ten days before the first day of the next regular ses--1 sion of the county commissioners, the commissioners may hear evidence in the case at the next regular session. Following the hearing of evidence the commissioners may go in person ‘ upon the ditch and examine into its ' conditions. At the next regular session they may hear additional evidence. and then if they deem it prop- | er may order the ditch cleaned. Members of the house put in most of the morning introducing bills. . Fifty-two new measures had been sent up to the reading clerk before the supply was exhausted. In the number were three bills dealing with the liquor traffic. Gauss introduced the German Alliance higher license bill and Tomlinson introduced a duj plicate of the Senator Proctor higher license bill, each of them containing repealing clauses for the county local option bill. Madigan introduced a bill to enact a township and ward local option law, wiithout (repealing) the county local option law.

Bills passed by the house yesterday were those to provide that tenants must return keys to landlords within twenty-four hours after vacation of property, by Maas; to authorize the governor to issue patents for Michigan road lands, by Faulknor, and to legalize acts of county auditors in advertising for bids without authority of county council, by Strickland. The bill vetoed by Governor Hanly restoring the in and out fees was passed by the house over the veto. Other vetoed bills were referred to committees. Among senate bills introduced were those to extend the privilege of city libraries to township residents, by Kistler; to empower cities of the third and fourth class to create park boards, by Lambert, and to require each voter to show his receipt for poll tax before he casts his vote, by McCarty. Thomas T„ newly otootod president of the United Mine Workers, was invited by the house yesterday to attend one of its sessions and to address the house. The resolution to this effect was offered by Hay, of Terre Haute, who, with Representative Gottschalk, was appointed to con-

vey the invitation to President Lewis. Stevens introduced his bill to place a cent bounty on rat tails. Murphy offered up another bill to prevent the tipping of waiters and others, his first effort of that kind having met with technical objections in committee. i (Continued on page 2) 1

Price Two Cents

LOTS OF BUSINESS The City Dads Held a Regular Session Last Evening A NEW MARSHAL Plans for New City Building Ready for Next Meeting The council met last evening in regular session, Mayor France presiding, and every councilman being present and answering to roll call, and immediately after the reading of the minutes which were approved, the council got down to their routine of work. The first matter that was taken up was that of ordering Electric Superintendent Mylott to place several lights on streets that are now in darkness, and at the same time ordered him to hereafter place these lights wherever he saw that it was necessary and would prove the best for the public good. Upon motion by Councilman Van Camp the water works committee was empowered to go ahead and make some necessary improvements at the water works plant In the way of changing machinery so that in case the water should at any time be shut off from one engine that the public would still .receive the benefit of the water and the plant would not be compelled to shut down as heretofore. This improvement has been needed for a long time and the council by their action last evening have taken a step in the right direction which in the end will prove a big saving for the city, and will also be a great benefit for the public. The cost of this proposed ynprovement will not exceed five hundred dollars and when completed the plant will always be in readiness to respond with a heavy water pressure in case of fire. It was also decided by the (Continued on page 4.) o CONTRACT MADE Huber Company and Wable Decide Matter Out of Court COMPLICATED CASE Traction Engine is Sold Back to the Com-

pany A contract was entered into this morning between the Hnber Manufacturing company and Jasper Wable, of Monroe, whereby the latter relinquishes claim to an engine bought of the above mentioned company and thus a big law suit has been averted,which wrr scheduled for hearing in the Adams circuit court. The transaction in which Wable and Tabor were involved in the purchase of the engine is a complicated one, and it was only after extended negotiations between attorneys for the Huber company and Wable, that plans for the suit were abandoned. According to the ‘erm* of the contract the engine reverts to the possession of the Huber and as far as W’able is concerned ho is free from any liabilities. The engine was first sold to W’able and after some time he sold a half interest to Tabor. The latter mortgaged the same to a Decatur firm and not knowing of this transaction W’able sold It back to the Huber company. In looking up the records this company ascertained that a mortgage had been given on the property and the deal was halted until the contract was entered into. ______—.— o —

Word has been received from Miss ■ Florence Sprunger from Oberlin, where she is attending school, of a recital to be given by Mr. Mullner. from Berlin, the greatest singer In the world. The soloist sings in German, and it is considered a rare privilege to hear him.