Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 60, Decatur, Adams County, 11 March 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 60.

WAS NOT REPEALED Three Mile Gravel Road Law is Only Amended GOOD AMENDMENT Adams County Will Rejoice That the Law Remains The three mile gravel road repeal is after all not a repeal, but simply an amendment in which a remonstrance signed by more freeholders than the petition, would predominate and the petition would be dismissed at the cost of the petitioners. How this bill happens to be known as a repeal bill comes from the fact that the original bill was actually a repeal, but it was amended and the original bill was killed, nothing surviving but the amendments. The amendments are as follows: When all matters in respect to damages have been determined finally, as hereinbefore provided, such board i cf commissioners shall examine the reports and profiles made hy engineer and viewers, and if they find and adi judge the same to be in due form and sufficient, they shall make an order requiring the auditor to give notice by : publication for three consecutive weeks in a weekly newspaper of general circulation, printed and published , in said county, that on a day to be . named by the board the polls will be opened at the several voting places in S each township named in the petition and report for the purpose of taking the votes of the legal voters thereof, whether the proposed new highway or highways named in the petition and Teport shall be laid out, established, graded, drained and paved, or the public highway or highways named , therein shall be graded, drained ahd paved, and that said petition and ref port and all records and matters per- [ taining to said matters may be found ' at the office of said auditor, and the , auditor shall publish such notice as required by the Provided, That l said publication shall contain the ref port of the viewers and engineer, exI cepting the plats and profiles: And, “ Provided, further, That if any petition | filed as provided in section 63 of this • act calls for the building or improve- ; ment of a road three miles or less in length connecting at each end with an improved free gravel or macadamized ; read either within said township or 1 townships or at the boundaries thereof or connecting a free gravel or ma- ; cadamized road with a boundary of said township, the board of county \ commissioners may, in their discre- ; tion, if they find said petition otherwise complies with this act, establish and order the construction of said road without submitting the question of building the same to an election of the voters of township or townships concerned: Provided. That if, within twenty days after the day set for the t hearing of said petition, there shall *he filed with the board of commissioners, a remonstrance signed by a greater number of the freeholders and voters of the township or townships, j -to he affected hy such petition, than appear upon said petition, asking that said highway, three miles or less in length, shall not be opened and improved, or improved as therein asked, then said boagd of commissioners shall not order said road improved and said petition shall be dismissed, at the cost of petitioners. But if no such remonstrance is filed, as above provided, said board shall proceed to have said road constructed in all other respects as if submitted to an election and voted as hereinafter provided: Provided, further, That any taxpayer of the county, aggrieved by the action of said board, may appeal from its decision to the circuit court of said county within ten days in the same manner as other appeals are taken from the action of such board, and said cause shall by said circuit court be tried de novo. Sec. 2. That section seventy-two (72) of an act entitled “An act concerning highways.” he amended to read as follows: Section 72. If all the roads described in the report of the engineer and viewers are connected with each other so as to form one system, the ; whole may be voted upon as one road, if the petitioners so pray in their petition. If two or more petitions respecting roads in the same township

J shall be pending at the same time, they shall be voted upon at the same election. No street in any incorporated town or city shall be improved under the provisions of this act, without the consent of the trustees of said town or the common council of such city, by resolution duly adopted, a certified copy of which resolution shall be filed in the office of such auditor and entered upon the records of such board before such improvements shall be ordaredc Provided, That if any street of any incorporated town or city is improved under the provisions of this act, and the expense of improvement of the roads in the township outside the corporate limits of the cities and towns in such township, then the extra expense for such improvements shall be paid by the city or town to the township in which such streets are improved and the common councils or boards of trustees of such cities and towns are authorized to levy a tax "upon the whole property of the city or town or to assess the amount as benefits against the abutting property in the (Continued <** page 4.) ADAIR IS AT HOME He is Spending the Week at His Home at Portland RETURN SATURDAY The Special Tariff Session Begins on Next Monday Congressman Adair is home from Washington, and is spending the week among his constituents. During the regular session of congress he held up his well known reputation of doing much for those whom he represents at Washington. He is perhaps the most independent member of that body voting on all measures not from a party standpoint, but from what he thinks is right, regardless of party. As a result he continues to stand well with his people at home, even if party usage and discipline is cracked at times. His work in the departments has been heavy, but having learned the ropes of getting things accomplished, at the quickest possible speed, and this session has been much easier than the last one was. He will return to Washington Saturday in order to be there for the opening of the special which will begin on Monday, and will last until the new tariff law is completed by congress and approved by the president. The eighth district member is looking well, having stood the rush of Washington life real well.

WENT AS DELEGATE D. E. Studabaker is Attending the National Tournament AT PITTSBURG, PA. Will Help Decide Where # Next Meet Will Be Held As a representative of the Fort Wayne city bowling club, D. E. Studabaker of this city left yesterday morning for Pittsburg, Pa., where he will perform the duties of a delegate at the national bowling tournament now In session. He along with the other delegates will decide where the tournament will be held next year. The cities which are no* under consld- ' eration are Washington, D. C„ and Detroit, Michigan, the latter being the preferable of the two, according to early reports. While gone Mr. Studabaker will participate In a number of bowling contests, the results of which will cause the transfer of large sums of money to the winners. He will remain until next week and will probably return with the local club which leaves Sunday night for the Pennsyfvania city. The local club will bowl on alleys number seven ; and eight Monday evening, and‘they ; expect to make a good showing in.] the Elks’ contest for the trophy. |i

CLASS OF EIGHTY The Scottish Rite Meeting to Be the Best Ever THE LARGEST CLASS Hon. E. G. Hoffman Toastmaster at the Banquet The last rites conferred by the Fort Wayne Lodge of Perfection in the present Masonic Temple at the convocation on next Tuesday and Wednesday will be upon a class that is expected to be nearly twice as large as the “cornerstone” class of September, th# largest so far in the history of the order. Eighty-seven petitions have been filed for membership and until these are acted upon Saturday evening U will be impossible to state the exact number. Three classes ranging in the forties have been taken in by the Lodge of Perfection, but there never has been a class larger than forty-four. While all those who have filed petitions will not receive the rites next week, it is fully believed that eighty of them will be made Masons. All the arrangements for the reunion of the Scottish Rite bodies have been perfected. It is expected that the usual number of out of town Masons will be here and the banquet on Wednesday evening, which will conclude the two days' meeting, will be one of the more important features. Hon. E. G. Hoffman will act as toastmaster at that time.—Fort Wayne Sentinel. VIZARDISATHOME He Came in From Indianapolis Last Evening GREAT EXPERIENCE The Adams County Colony is Getting Home Dr. J. W. Vizard arrived at his home in Pleasant Mills last night, having completed his work as chief clerk of the house of representatives and said goodbye to official life for the time being. Dr. Vizard was a busy personage during the time the legislature was in session, being at the head of the clerical force in the house. It was an important place, and as a matter of fact he filled it completely, and gave universal satisfaction to every one concerned. The doctor has already entered upon the practice of his profession, a great number of the inhabitants in and near Pleasant Mills being more than glad that he has returned to his first love, and will be with them again. John H. Heller, the last of the Adams county colony at Indianapolis, during the legislative session, has written that he will be home either Friday or Saturday. Hfe has also concluded his duties as file clerk, having in his custody all the bills receiving an action of the house. The place was one bearing great responsibility and he came from under it with the congratulation of his friends. The experience will no doubt be invaluable to him and the associations will linger forever. With 'Mrs. Heller he is spending the week in a social way, resting from the arduous dutes involved during the heat of the last few days, when everybody was walking on eggs, and wondering what was coming next. —o KEALING GETS MARRIED. Leaf River, 111., March 11. —Joseph B. Keaiing, of Indianapolis, was married'here yesterday to Mrs. Lenora E. F’.anken, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Meyers. They have .gone south for several weeks and on I their return will live in Indianapolis. . Ah .s' »

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, March 11, 1909.

THEY ASK FOR TWO WEEKS Geneva and Linn Grove Promise to Raise the Glue. Two weeks more and the citizens ! of Linn Grove and Geneva promise to have subscribed the $75,000 in stock asked of them by the promoters of the Illuffton, Geneva & Celina traction company. If this is done the promoters of the company in this city promise that the line will be built 1 without any further trouble. L. C. Justus, president of the company, received a message from the people of 1 the two towns last night. They asked him to wait for two weeks when they promised that they would have sub-, scribed for the amount of stock asked ot them Mr. Justus is very confident that the line will be built this summer and is going along with all the plans. As soon as the members of the company know here that the $75,000 in stock will be subscribed for they will start the financing of the line. The majority of the stock will be owned by business men in this city.—Bluffton Banner. o ■ BOOM FOR LANDIS Talked Os as Governor of Porto Rico—Moore May Get Something NEW QUESTIONS Economy in Taxation to Overshadow Trust and Railroad Questions Washington, March 11. —Friends of termer Representative Charles B. Landis have started a boom for him for office of governor of Porto Rico. Mr. Landis is in Lansing. Mich., to deliver an address before the legislature, but is expected to return here soon to close some of his congressional affairs. It is known that President Taft is considering his name in connection with several others for that important insular post. It is believed that before long President Taft will offer an appointment to Merrill Moores of Indianapolis. To Indiana congressmen who have called on the president recently he has spoken of Mr. Moores in away that led them to believe he may invite the Indianapolis lawyer to become a member of his official family. i ■ Washington, March 11. —Many public men believe they see with the passing of the Roosevelt administration the outline of approaching new national questions that were most prominent during the recent years. Said one United States senator whose tendencies are toward radicalism, but who is a keen observer: "I am willing to predict that within a year the trust question and the question of regulating the railroads and corporations doing an interestate business —these questions that have held the attention of the people for several years—will scarcely be heard of. They will be crowded to the background by the question of economy in taxation and frugality in expenditures. Washington, March 11. —President Taft has decided that the white house shall remain the "white house” for official purposes during his administration. It had been rumored in Washington far some days that President , Taft would return to the practice of President McKinley and change the ; official title of the white house to i “executive mansion,” but it was an- ] nounced today that the title used by ] President Roosevelt will be continued \ on the official stationery and docu- ] ments emanating from the president. i o , OIL DRiLLER MARRIED. ; l All the mercenary marriages ever j pulled off. all the oonquests of cent- < less coroneted counts and badly busted banks barons for the bank books of fair daughters of United States 1 aristocracy appear like circus shell I games beside the little matrimonial < flyer taken in Oklahoma by Charles : Raymond, an oil driller formerly of Geneva. His was a master stroke, though he departed from his awn race in choosing a bride, he won the hand of a descendant of America's first family, and wisely did not permit hir, scruples to interfere between < himself and a snug fortune. —Portland < Sun. : ''if"* C ' ■ ( *■’ ;

NEVER HIT THEM Standard Fared Better Before Judge Anderson OUT OF COURT The Indiana Branch Not Guilty as Charged Chicago, March 11. —Judge Anderson yesterday decided to instruct the jury in the Standard Oil case to find the company not guilty. The decision of the court was announced at the close of a long argument by Assistant District Attorney Wilkerson and the jury was immediately summoned and instructed to return a verdict of not guilty. This means that all but two o' the pending indictments against the Standard Oil company of Indiana, are void and will be abandoned by the government. The two cases not affected by today’s decision are cases involving the shipment of 1,915 car loads of oil from Whiting, Ind., to Evansville, Ind., via Dalton Junction over the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad. Here is where the famous case in which Judge Landis made his celebrated entrance into fame, by giving the Standard a fine of $29,240,000. It al' went up in wind, after traveling through the higher courts and being reversed and sent back for trial. There is perhaps more merit in the last decision than the first, as It is generally conceded that Judge Landis made a great bobble, and was playing for favorites with the then president. TARIFF 0? CRUDE Independent Operators Are on the Anxious Seat N O REDUCTION It Would Be Good for the Standard But Not the Independents Letters, telegrams and other evidences of disapproval are whisking Washingtonward opposing the reduction in the tariff duty now maintained on crude oil. The independet operators are the ones that wll get it in the neck, should President Taft and hir tariff congress see fit to either reduce or remove the tariff on crude oil. The Standard would be benefitted, and as a matter of fact they are not tearing their shirt to have the duty retained. Were it otherwise they would be sending their mighty lobby and other influences to head off the j breakers. It is the history of this industry that it is the indepedent operator who discovers and develops new territory, and in fact takes all tne chances of loss and failure. After a good thing has been assured the Standard usually gets in and helps themsflves. So it has always been and likely always will, but the greatest card of all is the fact that ail the oil production is sold to the Standard, so you see that when the price lowers on the crude product, the Standard is benefitted. They could buy cheaper, but their prices to the trade would be the same old song. This section of Indiana has in times past been great in oil production, and as a consequence they appreciate all the fine points that a reduction on this commodity would mean. The Indiana senators and congressmen are hearing from this part of Indiana. o Tom Miller has ■ started work on a new residence in the M. & M. addition. Several new houses will be erected in the addition the coming summer and work on some of these will be commenced in a few weeks. — Bluffton Banner. The three weeks’ old infant of Mr. and Mrs. William Weber, living three miles west of here, died from convulsions and other ailments at eleven o’clock yesterday morning. The fun-1 eral will take place from the home I a: one o’clock Friday. I

HAVE YOU GOT A SKATE ON A Big Skating Meet Will Be Held at Indianapolis, March 16. Beginning Tuesday night, March 16th, a monster roller skating meet which will last far three weeks, will be held at the Washington Skating Rink in Indianapolis, Indiana, and three world’s championship events will be carded. Pittsburg, Cincinnati and St Louis have conducted successful meets of this kind this winter and the Indianapolis meet will bring together one of the greatest aggregations of speed skaters in the country. The one-mile, three-mile and fivemile skating championship of the world will be decided at this meet and eighteen or twenty of the fastest stars in the skating world have already sept in their entries. Manager Keller is desirous of having as many western skaters as possible represented at this meet and invites the entry of all speed skaters in the west. There will be no entrance fee and cash prizes amounting to $500.00 will be awarded. Entry list closes Monday, March 15th. BOTH WERE FINED Henry Gerke and James Drague Found Guilty IN MAYOR’S COURT For Operating Cars at a Speed Exceeding Six Miles Per Hour i Before an audience of representative citizens of the city, including enough curiosity seekers to tax to its capacity the mayor’s room of the city offices, the trial of Messrs. Henry Gerke and James Drague who were ; charged with operating interurban cars too rapidly in the city limits, came off subsequent to their plea of not guilty. The trial began this morning at nine o’clock and a large number of witnesses were examined who testified that the cars were being operated at a rate of speed exceeding six miles per hour as provided for by a city ordinance. Attorney C. J. Lutz represented the defendants and L. C. Deoss cared for the interests of the city. The case was bitterly fought by both sides. Mayor France took the case under advisement and promptly imposed fines of five dollars each, together with the costs which amounted to $7.50 to each of the defendants. The witnesses for the prosecution consisted of residents along south Second stret. InIeSSIOiTtODAY Fifty Interurban Stockholders Hold a Meeting THE EXTENSION Os the Road is the Object of the Meeting Today About fifty stockholders of the Fort Wayne and Springfield railway company assembled in the directors' room of the station today in response to the issaunce of a call for a special session and the body proceeded to transact business which was necessary preparatory to the' extension of the line southward to Berne. About twenty stockholders from Ohio arrived early his morning and at eleven o’clock they and a number of local interested parties boarded a speccial car, which conveyed them to the power house. After looking over the plant, they returned to the city and repaired to the directors’ room, where a number of the wives ot the stockholders served delicious dinner, consisting of all the delicacies of the t I season. The dinner over, they got i down to business. The selling of t stock for the purpose of creating a J (Ooetfntiod on page 4.) p *■*'' ‘'• ‘ ' ' A

Price Two Cents

IN CIRCUIT COURT The Gallmeyer Case is Called for Next Tuesday CASES DISMISSED The Will of Daniel J. Schenck Was Probated Today The next jury trial is that of Conrad Gallmeyer trustee vs. Edward Gallmeyer et al, which is scheduled for next Tuesday. The case will be bitterly contested and is for quiet title and damages. The will of Daniel J. Schenck was duly admitted to probate. Millard MeGath et al vs. Mary E. McGath et al, plaintiff asks leave to dismiss affidavit of non-residence filed which was ordered returnable May 1. Continental Insurance company vs. John J. Summers et al, cause dismissed and costs paid. Union Savings Co. vs. Elley Raser, cause dismissed and costs paid. Union Savings Co. vs. Clinton W. Hunt, cause dismissed and costs paid. The last will and testament of Daniel J. Schenck provides that debts be provided for, and gives to John W. Schenck S2OO, Ida M. Fishbaugh S2OO, Harry Schenck SIOO, Dove Schenck SIOO, the remainder to go to the surviving widow, and at her death to be divided between the children named. Maggie M, Campbell, Grace C. Schenck, Charles D. Schenck and Rollo Schenck, share and share alike. A marriage license was issued to Thomas W. Sullivan of Jay county, sixty-one .years old, and Matilda Donovan, twenty-nine, of Geneva. Martha Pogue to Luella Sullivan, inlot sixty of Berne, S7OO, is reported upon the transfer books at the recorder’s office. Judgment was rendered on the verdict in the Meibers-Kintz horse case, the plaintiff getting one dollar. The defendant the benefit of the costs. o CUT OFF THEIR REVENUES Local Option in Ohio is Reducing the Revenues. Columbus, 0., March 11. —Largely as a result of the operation of the Rose county local option law the revenue derived by the state from the SI,OOO Dow tax on saloons for the semi-an-nual period ending December 20, 1908, known as the January settlement, show's a net decrease of $370,885.28 as compared with the settlement for the preceding January semi-annual period. At the beginning of the period just closed 7,909 saloons had the half year tax of SSOO, from which the state received $1,026,415.44 as its share. For the same period of the year before there were 9,418 saloons, from which the state received $1,381,060.22. This comparison shows a loss of 1,505 saloons and a decrease of $354,655.78 for the beginning of the period just closed and the one of the preceding year. The state must refund $16,240.50. o HENRY THOMAS IS HOME. Was With Fenn Comedy Company for Seven Weeks. Henry Thomas returned today from Gibson City, Illinois, where he left the Fenn Comedy company with which he played heavy parts for seven weeks. Mr. Thomas was manager of the company, and under his able direction the show was most successful. “Hickory Farm” which has been revised by Mr. Thomas, was presented as a glowing success in the form of a musical comedy. Decatur people know the worth of this play, for it has been shown here. Mr. Thomas will remain here for several weeks, fluring which time he will make arrangements to open a summer show, which will start on the road in May. Mr. Fristoe will also be with the company. • ••