Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 9, Number 93, Decatur, Adams County, 20 April 1911 — Page 1

Volume IX. Number 93.

TO PROCLAIM ACTS Governor Marshall Will Probably Publish His Notice This Week. STATE TAX BOARD Is Still a Very Busy Place— Some Interesting Facts From That Place. Indianapolis, Ind., April 20 —Other big corporations who are appearing before the state tax board in regard to their assessments, is the Adams Express company, which owns stocks and bonds in excess of twenty-eight million dollars, and whose stock on the New York stock exchange is quoted at $240. Another is the United States Express company, which owns apartment houses, office buildings and other real estate in New York, besides real estate in St. Louis, St. P&ul, Toledo, Jersey City and Chicago, besides bonds, stocks and mortgages, the value of which exceeds ten million dollars. Nearly every one that appears before the board have both money and property in a sum that is hard for a country newspaper editor to contemplate. But they sem to have it all right, and of course they manage to control and operate such a gigantic business only by the combination of much wealth. Some of these companies are fair in their statements to the board, while others are absurd in their efforts to misrepresent. It is easy to detect those who try to protect their companies and are not open and frank in their statements, and following the rule of human nature, they naturally get less cosideration than do those who attempt to be fair and square. The last legislature passed a law making the stock exchange quotations and sales an important factor in determining the value of these corporations for taxation purposes, and every one who appears before the board ridicules this new taxation program. It is quite evident that it does not meet the approval of the big interests who like every one else, is compelled to do business each year with the tax ansessor. The telephone companies quite outdistance all other companies in numbers. In the state there are 419 telephone companies, 181 steam railroad companies, 65 electric companies. 39 transportation, 25 pipe lines, 7 express, 4 telegraph and one sleeping car companies, all of whom are investigated and assessed by the state tax board. At present writing the board is losing no time, but is rush-1 Ing work as fast as it can. When hearings are not being held, reports are being investigated and a rate of assessment agreed to. Frank M. Schirmeyer, manager of j the Citizen’s Telephone company, of j Decatur, appeared before the board on Tuesday and made a fair and impartial statement of the affairs of his company. He made a good impres-, sion with the board, all of whom wel-1 come the man that is not striving to pinch out of something. - IL F. Stuart, who was assistant sec- j retary in the senate of the Indiana general assembly during the recent j session, is just home from a two weeks' visit in Washington. He reports the Indiana delegation as being the same big fellows that they were in the last congress and that indications pointed to a good record by the lower house. The distribution of the acts of the recent session of the legislature have been sent to all the counties except! Marion county, and two days hence that county will have had their supply. Receipts have been received from all but fourteen counties, so it. looks that by the end of the week, the gov-, ernor's proclamation may be published. L - E ' I ATTENDS CONVENTION. Miss Nellie Blackburn, assistant li- ; brarian, went to Fort Wayne to at- ! tend the district librarians' conv.en-, tion which was held at that place this afternoon. Sam Shamp, the well known postal clerk, is taking a vacation, which hfc is spending with his sister at Akron, Indiana.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

GRANDMA GAFFER Was Down Street Today Looking After Business Matters. Grandma Gaffer, who has reached the advanced age of ninety years and past, and one of the most well known elderly ladies of the city, was down street this morning attending to some business affairs and renewing her acquaintance with friends. This was the first she had been down the street for some time, and although she has reached this ripe old age, she is as spry and able to assist herself better than many of her juniors. COURT HOUSE NEWS Evidence Being Taken in Blue Creek Ditch Case— No Witnesses HAVE BEEN USED Thus Far—-Mrs. Fannie Peterson Appointed Guardian of Minor Son. The Blue Creek ditch case is progressing nicely, the preliminaries having been concluded about two o'clock Wednesday afternoon, when the case was submitted and the evidence introduced. The evidence at present is being taken from the records and no witnesses have been used as yet. Prioh to the submission of the case and after the remonstrance was dismissed Wednesday afternoon as to A. P. Rumple and seventy-seven others, Burke and* other remonstrators made exception thereto, and thirty days were given them to tile bill of exceptions. Burke et al. filed request for special finding of facts and con elusions of law. The petitioners, George W. Gates et al., filed request for special findings of facts and conclusions of law. A petition filed by Mary Neader--houser, administratrix of the Fred Neaderhouser estate, for change of order for sale of People’s store and Union Telephone company's share of stock, was sustained, and the order of sale heretofore made was vacated, and the sale was ordered at public sale after due notice. Terms, onehalf cash and balance on six months’ time, or all cash if purchaser desires, sale to be for not less than twothirds of the appraisement. Relatives 'from Huntington of Robert Fetters, the young man who has been cared for at the county jail for several days, are expected today to care for him. He has been drinking too heavily and his mind is said to be deranged. County Assessor George Gentis is working under difficulties these days, is he is suffering from a very aggravated case of “pink-eye,” which has been affecting him since Sunday. His eyes are very badly inflamed, extending even into Ins face. Deputy Clerk Dan Roop is putting in his spare hours these bright spring days in making “complete record.” Fannie C. Peterson was appointed guardian of Richard W. Peterson. ■Real estate transfers: Frederick Scheuman to Harry C. Fuhrman, part of outlot 11, Decatur; $1 Andrew J. Sipe to Philipp Wendell, part of lot 16, Berne, S2BOO. TAFT WILL KEEP “HANDS OFF." Won’t Interfere in Mexican Border Trouble —Conference Held. (United Press Service.) Washington, D. C., April 20 —(Special to Dally Democrat) —Direct from President Taft this afternoon came the statement that the United States will keep “hands off," in the Mexican situation. Following a conference between Taft, Knox, Chairman Sulzer and representatives of the house committee on foreign relations, it was stated the president believed the situation could be controlled, although should there be a repetition of the Douglas affair. Obsolete neutrality I laws and inability to control irrel sponsible persons along the border j :aused the trouble, says Taft. Assurances have been received that the Mexicans will maintain a “restrictive ' policy.”

Decatur, Ind. Thursday Evening,

FORMEMORIAL DAV G. A. R. Will Meet This Evening and Appoint Its Committees FOR ARRANGEMENT Attorney John Moran Will be Speaker—Elaborate Celebration. The sixty-eight loyal members of the local G. A. R. are determined that honor to “our solider dead” should be far above the usual excellent standard this Memorial day, and Commander L. N. Grandstaff of Monmouth, who was, tn the city this morning, stated that at the meeting at the hall this evening, committees would be appointed for arranging in detail for the celebration. An elaborate program will be outlined and worked out step by step during the six weeks that intervene between this and Memorial day, May 30th. Attorney John C. Moran of this city, who is noted as a speaker of excellence, will give the Memorial address, but beyond this, plans have not yet taken definite form. In the beginning the local G. A. R. had three hundred and fifty members, of which number but sixty-eight are still living. Each year the number to be placed on the memorial roll, and the number of graves to be strewn with flowers becomes larger, leaving a less number of veterans to perform this sacred ceremony, and it is but fitting that the populace in general contribute more largely in asisting in performing this “labor of love.” During the past year taps have sounded for ten veterans of the local corps, two of whom have passed away since January Ist. LUTHERAN MEET Conference of Fort Wayne District Closed This Afternoon AT FORT WAYNE Adams County Represented —Synodical Conference in May at St. Louis. The various Lutheran ministers of Adams county are attending the annual conference of the Fort Wayne district of the Lutheran synod of Missouri at the St. Paul Lutheran church at Fort Wayne, the conference closing this afternoon. Rev. Ph. Wambsganss of Fort Wayne, the chairman of the district, presided and pastors and teachers were in attendance from Allen, Adams, Huntington, Noble, Wells and Whitley counties. Among other business matters the conference voted to give support to the plan of the enlargement of the teachers' seminary at Addison, 111. It is expected that at the annual synodical conference to be held in May at St. Louis $150,000 will be pledged to the erection of a new seminary building for this institution. The sessions of today were largely taken up with the transaction of business, a part of which will be arrangements to attend the synodical meeting at St. Louis. MR. BLOSSOM RECOVERING. Thomas Perkins is in receipt of a card from his nephew, Harry S. Blossom, a student at the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor, giving a very encouraging report of the condition of Mr. Perkins’ father-in-’aw, L. R. Blossom, of Willshire, who was operated upon at the hospital there for gall stones. The wound was dressed and the tube removed Tuesday. Mr. Blossom is getting along remarkably well. His constitution is very strong and no complications set in to retard his recovery. o— — —— ■ W. G. Spencer made a business trip to Fort Wayne this morning.

REAPPORTIONMENT BILL. Washington, D. C., April 20 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —A reapportionment bill, practically the same as the Crumpacker bill which lost in the senate last session, was introduced in congres stoday. It increases the membership to 433. Indiana represen tation is unchanged. BLUFFTON MEN GO TO PRISON. Bluffto, Ind., April 20—(Special tc Dally Democrat) —Judge Sturgis today sentenced three young men. 'Albert Meyer, aged 33; Harry Swartz, 21, and Tom Brown, 20, to prison for one to eight years each for petit larceny. Meyer stole chickens ant Swartz and Brown stole junk. ' o DOUBLEOPERATION Mrs. Martin Keifer of Preble Township Undergoes Operation. THIS MORNING Was a Complete Success and Will be Greately Relieved, it is Thought. Mrs. Martin Keifer, a well known lady of Preble township, who for several years has been in declining health this morning underwent an operation for appendicitis and rupture,, which was the only resource left for restoring her to her former health. The operation was performed by the Drs Clark, and tooK place at the home of Dr. D. D. Clark, which has been fitted up only recently for the carrying on of this work. The operation was quite a serious one, and required considerable time to complete it and owing to her weakened condition resulting from lack of blood, the surgical part had to be performed very slowly. She withstood the ordeal as well as could be expected, but was very weak, and owing to the period of time she was under the influence of the anaesthetic, she rallied nicely, and unless something unforseen by the attending physicians develops, there is no reason why she should not improve rapidly and enjoy the good health which she enjoyed previous to her late illness. o ■ LEASES BARBER STAND. Chauncey Andrews to Have Charge of Peiter & France Shop. Chauncey W. Andrews, who a few weeks ago returned home from Elreno, Okla., where he had been making his home for the past eight years, and who returned for an , extended visit with his parents, has decided not to return for some time at least. At' present he has leased the barber. shop in the cigar stand of Reiter & ! France and will be in charge of it for ■ the coming year or perhaps more. Mr. Andrews is experienced in this line, is a first-class barber, and will be glad to meet his old friends with ; whom he enjoyed an acquaintance I previous to his going west. He will ■ go to housekeeping and will make Decatur his home again. o HAS NEW JOB. Herman Johns has tendered his resignation as a clerk in the Club restaurant, to become effective Saturday night. He will leave next week for Dubuque, lowa, where he will accept a position as one of the representatives of a Chicago art company. He will travel through the country by motorcycle soliciting business in protographic work. —Bluffton News. Mr. Johns is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Johns of this city, and has been working at Bluffton for some length of time. - 1 HOME FROM COLLEGE. Clyde Baumgartner of Linn Grove, a former resident of this city, was here ioday looking up friends. He is fitting himself for the veterinary field and has already completed two years of a three years’ course. He likes his studies very much and the year which he has just completed was considered to be the most difficult of the three, and he finished with a high grade. He will remain at home until the coming September, when he will return to complete his third and last year. , ‘ i

April 20, 1911.

A GLADSOME [DAY Will be That of Next Sunday at Christian Church —ln New Attire. SPECIAL SERVICES In Honor of Redecorated and Improved House of Worship. The redecorating and improving of the Christian church which has been under way for several weeks, will be completed in time for the holding of the services there next Sunday and in honor of this event, the pastor, the Rev. J. M. Dawson, and his congregation are preparing for special services on that day, which will be in keeping with the event. Special cards of invitation have been printed and will be mailed to many, but this does not mean that all are not invited. A cordial welcome will be given to every one. The following cards are being sent out as persona! Invitations to all: “Dear Brother or Sister: Believingthat you are interested in the welfare of our chhrch. we wish to ask you especially to attend the services next Sunday morning and evening. As you know, the church has been redecorated and improved, and we will greet you In a house of worship, clean inside and outside. A special program has been arranged, including splendid music an we arnestly request that you worship with us on this occasion.' Come, bring your family and friends and mingle with us and assist in making it a gladsome spring day. You are also invited to attend our Bible school. Faithfully yours. J. M. DAWSON. “Pastor Christian Church, “Decatur, Ind. a nlw president J. H. Koenig Becomes Head of the Fort Wayne & Springfield Line. BOARD MET TODAY Mr. Fledderjohann is Secretary —Move Made to Expedite Business Affairs. At a meeting of the board of directors of the Fort Wayne & Springfield Interurban railroad, held at the offices in this city this morning, W. H. Fledderjohany, who has served as; president and manager of the com-j pany since its formation, resigned. 1 and J. H. Koenig, who acted as secretary. was elected to fill that place, Mr. Fledderjohann becoming the secretary. The change in the officers does not in reality mean any change in the business management of the company, as Messrs. Koenig and Fledderjohann have worked hand in hand always and will continue to do so, this change being made to expedite certain movements on foot for the betterment of the company and the line. Mr. Koenig will remain here until June 3rd, when the annual meeting will be held and when the regular election of officers will occur. The directors’, meeting adjourned at noon, no further business of importance being transacted. IT’S A BOY. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Scheiferstein, of Monmouth, on Wednesday, a big, nine-pound baby boy. Mother and babe doing well and the father better than could be expected. Even the grandfather, L. N. Grandstaff, was much rejoiced over the advent of the son today. M-a. Schieferstefn was formerly Miss Dora Grandstaff. John Bailey, the popular baker at the Schlickman & Girod bakery, was all smiles today over the arrival of his first-born, a bright boy. which has been named Doris Glen. 0 D. J. Schwartz, the State Life Insurance agent of Monroe township, was a business visitor here today.

FIRST BABE WAS BORN. To Mr. and Mrs. Ray Cross—Married Twenty-one Years. Mrs. Minnie Daniels of this city writes from Landis, Indiana, of the birth of a baby girl to her brother, Ray Cross and wife of that place, formerly of this city, the babe being named Hannah Lucile, for its great, great aunt. This is the first child born to Mr. and Mrs. Cross, who have been married twenty-one years, and the event is one of unusual happiness. Mrs. Cross was formerly Miss Nellie Wallace of this county. HE LANDS ANOTHER Fred Hoffman Secures Big School Contract at Oxford, Ohio. TO START AT ONCE Twenty-six Thousand Dollars Was Mr. Hoffman’s Successful Bid. Fred Hoffman, the well known contractor, who this summer has already been awarded several good contracts, has received another, at Oxford, 0., which speaks well for him for his success in this line, and which will be another added to his many contracts through this part of the country. The contract just received is a twentysix thousand dollar brick addition to an eight-roomed schol building, the contract calling for three rooms and a large auditorium. Eight bids were received for the contract, three from Cincinnati and two from Columbus, Ohio, and other nearby towns, but the one of Mr. Hoffman was the most satisfactory when the bids were opened on last Saturday as scheduled. Mr. Hoffman had paid but little attention at first, but on Tuesday of this week he received word to go to Oxford, and on arriving there was notified that after examining the bids offered his was the most suitable. In addition to the new structure the heating, plumbing, ventilation and other equipments will be furnished by Mr. Hoffman, ail of which was included in his bid. He will secure most of his help in Decatur and will commence work at once, it being necessary to complete it by September Ist, and which means much steady work until then. The contract is certainly an excellent one and one that the contractor is considering himself luck in obtaining. o A GOOD DINNER And Supper Served Tomorrow by the Ruth Circle. A good dinner and supper will be served tomorrow in the Bowers building south of the interurban station by the Ruth Circle and Loyal Women’s classes of the Christian church. Dinner will be twenty-five cents and supper fifteen, and the general public, as well as the many visitors at the oratorical contest, are invited to come. The menu follows: Dinner. Noodlo Soup Roast Beef Gravy Potatoes Tomatoes Cold Slaw Pickles Bread Butter Jelly Coffee Supper. Cold Meat Baked Beans Potato Salad Pickles Bread Butter Coffee o HERE FOR TREATMENT. Christ Bauman of Berne was in the city today to have his lower lip attended to, from which, over a week ago, he had a cancer removed by Dr. Clark. Since then he has been coming here for treatment. It was a complete success, the growth in its entirety being removed. FINGER IS CUT OFF. Lawrence Wertzberger, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Wertzberger, employed at the Ward Fence company's plant, met with a mishap this morning while engaged in his regular work in which the end of one of his fingers of the last hand was cut off. Dr. Clark dressed the Injured member and while it is quite sore, no serious trouble is anticipated.

Price, Two Cents

“LINE-UP” READY For Tri-School Oratorical Contest Friday—Everything is Ready. LARGE DELEGATIONS From Both Berne and Geneva—A Partial Program. . Everything is ready for the oratorical contest to be held in this city Friday, in which the Decatur, Berne and Geneva high schools will participate, and large delegations from these schools are expected to accompany their contestants to this city. As stated before, section one, including the freshmen and sophomore contestants, will give its program at 10 o'clock in the morning in the Bosse opera house and the second section, including the juniors and seniors, at 8 o'clock at the Bosse opera house in the evening. The athletic meet will be held at 3 o’clock at Steele's park. Admission for each event will be twenty-five cents. The literary and musical programs for Decatur and Berne are given below, the Geneva program not yet having been received SECTION ONE. Decatur Contestants. Discussion —Resolved, That Agriculture under the present conditions, furnishes the best opportunity for the young man of today—Negative, Fay Hammell. Oration —The Call to Peace —Estella Perkins. Reading—The Love Affairs of Tom Sawyer—Mark Twain —Ethel Smith. Vocal Solo—The Rose in the Garden —W. Neidlinger—Gladys McMillen. Piano Duet —Mid-Summer Night's Dream (Tannhauser) —Wagner — Erma Houk, Crystal Kern. Piano Trio —Lusta Spiel—Keler Belia—Dorothy Dugan, Crystal Kern Mid Erma Houk. Piano Sold —Polish Dance—Scharwenka—Dorothy Dugan. Berne Contestants. Piano Solo — Caprice Brilliant — Ella Welty. Vocal Solo—The Spirit of SpringLouisa Habegger. Piano Trio — Le Secret — Ella Sprunger, Mary Ann Sprunger and Eldon Sprunger. Piano Duet —La Chasse (Infernale) —Ella Welty and Louisa Habegger. Violin Solo —Silver Threads Among the Gold —Bernice Ray. Quartet —Song of Seasons —Louisa Habegger, Elizabeth Lehman. Esther Habegger and Elma Neaderhouser. Oration —The Uses of Adversity— Walter Hlrschy. Discussion —Resolved, That farming under present conditions is the best occupation for a young manHarry Sprunger. Reading—Little Carl —Dessie Kerr. SECTION TWO. Decatur Contestants. Discussion —Negative—Roy Jahn. Oration —Armenian Manhood — Clem Steigmeyer. Reading—Katrine's Visit to New York —Hulda Bauer. Mixed Quartet —Italia —Donizette — Gladys Kern, Edwina Van Camp, Greg Neptune, Sherman Beery. Piano Solo —Pathetique—Beethoven —Helen Fonner. Piano Trio —Anvil Song (11 Trovatre) —Verdi —Helen Fonner, Zelda Schnitz, Neva Brandyberry. Vocal Solo —Where Ripples Roll — R. DeKoven —Greg Neptune. Berne Contestants. Piano — Dancing Waves — Esther Bixler. Piano Duet—Morris Dance —Esther Bixler and Gertrude Hirschy. Piano Trio —Oberon —Wilbur Lehman, Grover Sprunger. and Lydia Sprunger. Vocal Solo —Come to Me Mavourneen—Kathryn Egley. Vocal Duet —Come to Me —Kathryn Egly and Lydia Sprunger. Quartet—Roses After Rain—Kathryn Egly, Christena Habegger, Eva Sprunger and Huldah Gilliom. Reading — Jephtah’s Daughter — True Gottschalk. Discussion —Resolved, That farming under present conditions is the best occupation for a young man— Clifton Sprunger. Oration—Stains on American Politics—Clarence Lehman.