Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 15, Decatur, Adams County, 17 January 1917 — Page 1

■Volume XV. Number 15.

[TWENTY-TWO SHIPS SUNK BERMAN RAIOER SINKS TWENTY-TWO I MERGHANTMEN-ONE RELIEVED SUNK WITHOUT WARNING-SOUTH Os VIRGINIA CAPES.

(United Press Rervlcar I (By Chares J*. Stewart) ■ Buenos Aires, S. America. Jan 17HaSpecial to Daily Democrat) Twen.y ■Merchant steam, -rs ami two Frentb R. Schooners have been sunk in the Atlantic by a German raider aeMMrirding to dispatches reet ivcd hero today telling of the landing o: sutvfv Ors at Pernambuco. H|()ne nuwcago de. lan d a British ship had been sunk without warning wit it a loss of four hundred lives. wTwo hundred thirty eeven survivors Wfre landed at Pernom l uen disp.-it h es stated. They asserted that it was imi ossible to make out the name of the raider as it was painted a dead ltte> They said she was armed with ■else cannon and f< tir torpedo tubes. JjjjScme of tlie survivors mid been aboard i Jap 1 ■ inter for twenty days after their own vessels ■h' torpedoed. First news of the raider was carried in dispatches from Pernambuco telling of the landing of the survivors there by Japanese v-'s seis. Ships which are said to have fallen victims to the raider are the Brit ish steamers Dramatist. Voltaire and Radnorshire. Later dispatches add >d the names of others. London, Jan. 17 —(Special to Daily Democrat) -The British admiralty tdday announced the sinking of eight British and two French, mancluntmen by a German raider. The ships were sunk in the south Atlantic. The admiralty statement declared the Japanes. steamship Hudson Marti land'd the masters arid 23.7 men of the crews c.f the merchantmen wht.-h were destroyedd by raiders. • WWr.rf.dk. Va.. Jan. 17—(Special io ■Daily Democrat)—A German commtreo raider presumably the one r<por ed to have sunk a score of vessels in the south Atlantic is operating one thousand miles south of the Virginia Capes, according to a warning flashed broadcast by Allied warships at noon today. >..«piiris, Jan. 17 -(Special to Daily a <)—French pan ids jienetrated the German lines at several points on the heights of the Meuse and in Abreniont Forest the ar office anno>tn- ( «ted today. German attacks at several other points were repulsed. ■Petrograd, Jan. 17 (Special to the Daily Democrat (-Russian forces h ive ; Stormed and retaken the Roumanian I | cities of Vandeni todays official state-, merit declared. COURT House. NEWS A jury was impanneled this morn-. | Ing for the trial of the case in which, Hprt lia McManama asks that a guar-j feffldtan be appointed for Margaret Ja[■folis. who on account of old age and , Infirmity is deemed by her incapable , of managing her estate. D. B- Erwin Represents the petition, while Judson appears for Mrs. Jacobs. I The case of L, A Hollhouse vs. Mil. Kon 8. Hilpert was dismissed. I The case of Janies Ruiml et al vt. ■George Adams was continued. I Deputy Clerk j7hT T. Kelly returnid last night from Paw Paw, Mich., Kwh ore he served as a witness in a Rase against John Uhriek. who is VharKged with horse theft. Mr. Kelley took ■with him records of court showing Uhrlck had pleaded guilty to peSlit larceny case here many years ago, Band this was brought up in this suit Kgainst Uhriek. Mr. Kelley did Remain until the case against T hriek BBwas finished. | A marriage license was issued to »Wilbur Bailey of Willshire, Ohio born (■October, 30. 1892. son of John Bailey, ■to wed Jessie Ruby, born November ■7. 1893, daughter of William Ruby. j Lewis A. Holthouse was appoin’od ■trustee of the legacy given Alma Holt(house by the late John B. Holthou.>c. j,,’ His bond was $4,000.

DECATUR DA ILU DEMOCRAT

THE RATE IS HIGH District Schools Make Record in Attendance and Punctuality. * WHO THEY ARE Their Per Cent of Attendance and Names of the Teachers Given. The following schools are on the honor roll for having an attendance of 97, or better, for the third month of school, ending December 15. The attendance and punctuality are believWl to be above the average for this time of year. These limits of percentages are very high and schools are showing their apprecia- ! tion of the importance of punctual attendance by their high record: Union Township— Dist. 1, Lucile ■ Fleming, teacher; attendance, 87 per 1 cent; averude attendance, 15; Dist. 4. 1 Edna Fleming, teacher; attendance.!' 97.2; average. 20; Dist. 5, Sylvia I Beatty, teacher; attendance, 99; average, 13. I, Root—Dist. 1. Clara Boknecht. i teacher: attendance. 98.5; average.; . 39; Dist. 6. Helen Fonner, teacher; I attendance 98.5; average, 16. Preble—Dist. C. Morris Butcher. , teacher; attendance, 98.7; average. , 37.5. Kirkland —Dist. 2, Lydia Bieneke. teacher; attendance, 98; average, 22. . Washington—Dist. 1. Ruby Parrish, teacher; attendance, 97; average, 15. I Dist. 4, Marie Daniels, teacher; attendance, 98; average, 17; Dist. 7, Martin Hoffman, teacher; attendance,! 97.5; average. 29; Dist. 9, Zelna Stevens, teacher; attendance, 98; aver- j age. 19. St. Mary’s—Dist. 1, Ben Teeple. teacher; attendance, 99.5; average. 10; Dist. 3. Mary Ray, teacher; attendance, 98.2; average, 24; Dist. 4, Lucile White, teacher; attendance, 99, average, 14; Dist. 5. Job (’hamper, teacher, 99; avehage, 28; Dist. 5, H. iM. Crownover. teacher; attendance, | 98.6; average. 33; Dist. 6. Ralph Ful- ; per, teacher; attendance, 98; average. 23; Dist. 7. Mary McCullough, teacher; attendnee, 98.2; verage, 19.6. Blue Creek—Dist. 2, Otto Hoffman, teacher; attendance, 97.8; average, I 31; Dist. 3, Ruth Gilbert; attendance, J 97.8; average, 24. Monroe —Dist. 2. David Depp, teacher; attendance, 98; average. 31; Dist. '5, Clikton Striker, teacher; attend--1 ance, 99; average, 32; Dist, 8, Caro--1 line Lehman, teacher; attendance. 98.5; average, 26; Dist. 9, A. J. 'iHirschy, teacher; attendance, 99.7; average, 35; Dist. 10. W. H. Oliver, 1 teacher; attendance. 98; average, 37; j Dist. 10. Clyde Hendricks, teacher; at-j tendance. 99.4; average, 19. , French—Dist. 10, Mary Laughlin, 1 teacher; attendance, 98; average, 13. Hartford—Dist. 2, L. E. Opliger, ■ teacher; attendance, 98; average, 29; Dist. 2, Leota Bailey, teacher; attendance, 98.9; average, 11; Dist. 2, Minnie Aurer, teacher; attendance,' ’ 97.6; average, 39; Dist. 3, Cleo Horna-] I dy, teacher; attendance. 97.; average.] 19; Dist. 4. Kenneth Reiff, teacher; at-i : tendance, 98; average, 33; Dist. 7, A. ’ M. Stauffer, teacher; attendance, 97; average, 25. Wabash—Dist. 1, Harry Hoffman, t teacher; attendance, 97.5; average, t 41; Dist. 2, David Bixler, teacher; at- < tendance, 97.7; average, 42; Dist, 4, Catherine Fravel, teacher; attendance, 98.3; average, 23; Dist. 9, Left land Buckmaster, teacher; attendII ance, 98; average, 24. E. S. CHRISTEN, Supt. —oThats all its costs you to attend the dance atthe Masonic hall Friday d Plight and hear the concert given by t- the Chicago Troubadores. Its a dol- \ lar a couple or fifty cents single ticklets. Get them now or pay at the door.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening,.January 17. 1917.

WALKER’S BILL Provides for Teaching Military Science to Indiana School Children. — PLANS INSTRUCTION When Twenty-five Children Have Passed Examination by State. I Indianapolis, Jan. 17—(Special to] Daily Democrat)—Representative W-il ■ ker of Adams county, from Geneva, introduced a bill in the house Tues day afternoon, providing for military: training of school children in Indiana. Th^bill provides for the teaching "in till graded schools in the state of Indiana” of the science of military ( j arms, and further provides for suitable text books. It provides that ‘‘all students, who graduate from the common school course of study in the township, the town and city schools, after the year 1917-1918, shall lie required to successfully pass a nexamination on the subject of military arms; provided, that such test shall be made of those students who pass the said examination by a suitable list of printed questions made and sent 1 out by the state board of education, and tlie lists answered in writing by 1 the said students, and the manuscript graded and credits given as in the examinations of the other subjects given in the prescribed cours eof I I 1 study. The bill continues.; “Section 2. That as soon as there p are twenty-five or more students who are between the ages of fifteen years and twenty-one years, who have successfully passed the said examination . as referred to in Section 1 of this act. , in the township, town or city school corporation of corporations in this state, such school corporation or school corporations combined within tlie same county, shall, by and through its or their proper school officer or school officers, be authorized to ex- j pend from the special school fund of (Continued on Page 3.) i RELATIVES HERE: j 1 Death of Mrs. Anthony 1 i Kohne Occurred at i. Coupeville, Wash. i HUSBAND SURVIVES j i — Husband Was Brother of 1 1 Gerhardt Kohne and Mrs. -t < Elizabeth Heidemann. i Henry Heidemann and other rekt-i t r fives here have received word of the t death of their aunt, Mrs. Anthony j H. Kohne, which occurred at Coupeville, Washington. She had been in failing health for some time. Anthony Kohne, who survives, is a 1 11 brother of Gerhardt Kohne and Mrs. 1 I Elizabeth Heidemann of this county, and is well known to those here with! , I whom he associated in his youth. ; ( Mrs. Kohne was fifty-six years oR ! age. She was a native of Baden, Bo- . den, Germany, her maiden name be- , ing Madgalen Jenne. She was mar-|, ried November 17, 1881, to Mr. Kohne.! ( I Os two daughters born to them, one,' . Lena, wife of Frank J. Pratt, Jr. i.t j , living. ~ DENTAL 'INSPECTION Dentists from this city, Berne aadL Geneva were busy today making the 1 inspection of the children of the city schools. They visited the parochial schools and the grades and high school students of the central public school this morning, making the wards this afternoon. A report will be given later. o EVANGELICAL CHURCH The mid-week services will be held this evening at 7:30 in the basem'tit of the new church. It will be nice and warm. A good attendance is de- 1 sirable. Let the choir meet after the | service to rehearse songs for Sunday, j The public is invited to attend tlie I above meeting. •

LOVELY MARY. There is every evidence that little j'Mary Miles Minter will hereafter be known as "Lovely Mary,” since the release of the wonderful feature of that title on the Metro program. No I name could tit the "flower of the screen" more aptly, as in this feature ! she Is the embodiment of all that is | exquisite in feminity. Besides Miss ] Minter, tlie strong supportng emit in eludes such names as Thomas J. Car- ■ rigan, Schuyler Lail, Ferd Tidemarsh, i Frank DeVernen, Myro Brooks atid [ Harry Blakemore. "Lovely Mary” is | booked to be shown here at tlie Crystal tonight. SCHOOL SITE IS APPROVED New High School to be Located at Corner of Fifth and Adams Streets. WILL REDUCE TAXES If Plan Proposed by Board is Adopted by Council— Contract Let by June. The new high school building will be erected at tlie corner of Adams and Fifth street, northwest. Tlie .council held a meeting last night following the regular sessions and confirmed the selection cf that site and authorized them to proceed with the purchase. The purchase will be closed at once, the corner lot being owned by James Kocher, price $2400 and the next k t by the Old Adams County bank, price $2200. This includes the buildings which will be hold, reducing the net price of the lots several lars. Fite board also has an option on the Andrew Foos lot adjoining on the north and it is probable that this may be closed. The site is a splendid one and meets the approval of tlie great majority of our citizens. Proposal to Council. The school board made a proposil that the city aid them in building the; school building and the plan met ‘he approval of the members, though they! will not determine the matter until they have looked into the legal questions and given the matter further s study. In laying their cards on tlie ] table the board showed exactly how much money they have raised by tlie’ levy for a sanitary building and wli it ■ the borrowing capacity is. Their | statement showed that the fifteen cent levy for building purposes, levied for' four years past has given them a fund of $32000 and that they can borrow: a similar amount, making a total of $64,000. They asked the city to levy i an eight cent tax which in fifteen; years, the time asked, would raise for; them $15,000 making a total of $79,000. This with the price of the ground subtracted leaves a balance for the building of $75,000. Will Reduce the Tax. Strange as it may seem, the proposition as worked out by the board will reduce the tax. The levy for school!' purposes has for some time included 25 cents for refunding purposes and 15 cents for sanitary building pur poses. The board csan raise the $3?.-' 000, which is the limit, by a levy of 17 ■ cents for fifteen years, a reduction of 23 cents per year. In addition they I ask the council to appropriate $15,000 and to levy 8 cents per year for fifteen years, thus making a net reduc-i tion in the tax of fifteen cents per year and at the same time providing the funds for a modern school. The plan certainty looks good and the' board deserves credit for working it out so completely. They have an opinion from the state board of accounts j that the city has the right to thus assist them and it is expected that this action will be taken by the council soon. Plans For Building. The plans for the new building are ] now being completed by Oscar Hoffman, well known local architect who; has been working on them for some! time. The building will be built facing I Fifth street and will be 70 feet wide by 132 long, Covering the full lot along ' Adams street, will be two stories high' 1 with basement under entire building, I built of colored brick, with special [ attention given to the lighting and. i ~ (Continued on Pago 2;

BARBERS BUSY Several Barber Changes, I Effective Today—Fred Henchen Buys Shop 1 * — OF ELZEY & CARROLL Charlie Lose to Remain Here—Rabbitt Operates Wertzberger Shop. * Fred Heuthen, well known bather, this morning assumed ownership of ] the Elzey and Carroll barber shop located in the basement of the Odd Fellow block. The deal has been on f< r a couple of weeks but was cloiad this morning. Frank Carroll renurns in the shop. John W. Rabbitt who sold his shop i Monday to Ed L. Augenbaugh and Curley Close has opened up the Barney Wertzberger shop while Barney is in a Fort Wayne hospital. Mr. Rabbitt contemplates going to Indianapolis in the spring. Charlie Ixtse will remain in Decatur. ; A report current teday that he had sold his interest in the shop to his father and that he was going to Ohio was correct in one particular—in that the sale was made —but he said this morning that he was not going to Ohio. o ROYAL ARCH INSPECTION Members of the Royal Arch Chapter of Masons enjoyed one of tlie best meetings of the year last night, it being the occasion for inspection by John W. Glendening, state inspector of Royal Arch, of Indianapolis. Grand Scribe Fred Pocock of Fort Wayne and Bcrthers Cooper and Eade also cf that, city attended the meeting. Mr. GlendenUßg and the others ‘ T 1 " "'**** i jI xbo local men ' their excellent work on conferring the Mark Master degree. Phil Macklin being the candidate. Following the legree work an excellent luncheon was i served in the dining room, completing a pleasant evening. A STEAM ROLLER Republicans Try Steam Roller Methods to Rush Through Measures. A SENATE FIGHT Forced Republicans to Adjourn to Save BaconBush to the Rescue. (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Jan. 17 —(Special to! Daily Democrat)-A storm broke loose! in the senate today when senator Van Auken of Auburn made a motion that the bill for abolishment of tlie state oil inspection department be taken from the committee to which jt was referred and indefinitely postponed.! The moton was seconded by senator Culbertson of Vincennes. Senator Robison republican floor leader, led the fight against the ae-! tion desired by the democrats. Cnlbertson demanded a vote but lieutenant. governor Bush ignored his request and recognized Robinson. Robinson made a motion to adjourn 1 which was recognized over the violent protest of the democrats. The republican members immediately went into > a caucus following ad- ! journment. . Chiropractors would be barred from ! the state by a bill introduced by representative Read of Tipton. The ! bill requires that all persons who prae- ! tice medicine in the state must pass i an examination of the state board of medical examiners. The house today tabled a motion to ! invite Bryan to address the general assembly next Friday when he is in Indianapolis. The motion was defeated 54 to 33. At the afternoon session a motion j to invite Bryan to address the senate I was adopted by a large majority. Sen- ! ator Simmons of Bluffton made an adI dress in favor of asking Bryan.

f CAPTURE MURDER SUSPECT. Fort Wayne, Ind., Jan. 17 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—A man, suspected of having been the murderer of , Joseph Parrant, and who has been identified as the man who did the shooting by the deliverymaq who saw the tragedy, was arrested at noon today at Kendallville and rushed here. The man will not talk. Identification j by the deliveryman w«s positive, but no admisson from the man has been secured. I a-o TO HOLD BUSINESS MEET Tim young People’s Christian Endeavor Society of the United Brethren church will meet this evening after prayer meeting. Important business will come up. f -o— POOL ORDINANCE I I 1 Pool Room Proprietors Must Pay $3 Per Year for Each Table. PASSED BY COUNCIL City Health Officer and Fire Chief Make Reports —Annual Message. Next to rmportance to the annual, message of Mayor C. N. Christen to the city councilmen. who met in regular session last evening was, the passing and adoption of an ordinance compelling proprietors of pool rooms and billiard halls to pay the sum of $3.00 annually for each and every table operated in their place of business. The meeting opened with the leading and approving of the Mayor's, quarterly report, which contained an itemized list of the fees and licenses; collected for the past four months. The aitmial of Mayor Chrht-I ten was then read by the City Clerk. It was an excellent letter, full.of good recommendations and also containing! a report of conditions of tlie City I Light and Water plant. It is printed in full in another part of the Daily ! Democrat. Every citizen will do well; to read it. The street Commissioners annual report and inventory was of polls cd-/ lected and due and the amount of tools \ ' and machinery on hand was filed and approved. The requisition of Fire Chief, O. B. ' Wemhoff for 250 feet of fire hose was : referred to the Board of Safety. His annual report and inventory was read, accepted and placed on file. The Treasurers quarterly report ' ! ending with December 31st, 1916 wis 1 refered to the Finance Committee. I The annual report of the Secretary j of the City Board of Health was read . and a motion made accepting it and i 1 ordering it spread on record. , The names of the City Firemen was filed by the Secretary, J. E. Korte t-| ( brer and placed on record. As property owners along the Third Street improvement had signed a waiver in the amount of $2983.34 aski.tg for ten years time in which to pay for! same, a resolution was passed author-; I izing the City Clerk to issue Improve-] ment bonds to the contractor for that amount. The Electric Light Committee then! reported as having entered into a contract with the Allburger Condenser ] company for the purchasing and in- ■ stalling of a condenser at the Light and Water plant. The Pool ordinance was then placed on its first reading. It as first coni tained a fee of $5.00 for each table I operated, but on the third and final passage the fee was changed to $3.00] a year. The ordinance passed wi'h ! the unamious consent of the council. It goes into effect at once. The legal notice is printed in another part of this paper. Upon motion of the Chairman of t'tej; finance committee the salary of the i city waterworks superintendent was i increased $lO a month. 1 The finance committee allowed the ( following bills and the meeting ad- < journed: ' Addms Express Co. ? I- 17 I Callow & Kohne 2.35 < : McLeod & Henry Co 42.04 ] Wayne Belting & Supply Co. - 12.34 j: Charley Roop 60.17 ] i A. C. Foos pay roll 183.25 Police pay roll 70.00 ] s Chas. N. Christen 11.35 L. L. Baumgartner 37.50 ] (Continued on Page z.) |

Price, Two Cents

FAIR GROUNDS ■ AS GUY PARK I 1 Favored by Mayor Christen in Annual Message to the City Council. I . ■■ ' !■ READ LAST NIGHT City in Excellent Financial I Condition — Municipal Plartt Shows Earning. January. 1917. To tlie Common Council of tlie City of Decatur, Indiana: Gentlemen:—Complying witlt the law, which makes it the duty of the | mayor to make you a financial report and sucli recommendations for the coming year as he may deem expedient. I herewith submit tlie following: This being the last year of your term of office. I have reviewed the last three years' work of the city council to see what had been done and what left undone, so that all our work t could be brought to a close this year. I found very many things that you have done in that time which are ■ worthy of commendations and so few ! that should justify any criticism, that I believe this city has one of the best . <ity councils in the state and if you '•omplete the work begun or planned ! "or this year, you will have done more | for this city in the four years you have served ft. than any previous "ouncil in twice the time. Although the possibility of a larger city may seem very far in the distance to most people, the fact remains that we can have a better city ! f we so desire it and use our constant endeavor to improve what we now have. Improvements cost money, and money means taxes, which are the ■ great bugbear of the people and conI sequently it becomes the same for all officials whose duty it is to make a tax levy, but taxes are essential to all ! kinds of governments, and it only be- ■ comes a question of how much taxes should be levied for each division of the government. As the council has only the civic city to look after, it is to this levy that I wish to call your attention. There is such a diversified oprnon as to what amount of taxes should be levied for any city. This idea ranges from the man who thinks a city should be run without any taxes up to the man who wants all kind of improvements and is willing to pay for them. With so many ideas relatives to the tax levy, it would be impossible for the city council to make a tax levy which would prove satisfactory to ali the citizens. I wish to call the attention of the council to the changed conditions in this city as relating to a tax levy at this time compared to a tax levy of ten or twelve years ago. By the loss of income which was beyond the control of the council, it has been necessary to add to the tax levy, enough to cover this loss, and the people have been instrumental in having some improvements made, some of which have added a continuous maintenance charge and this has added to the taxes. The only saving so far made to offset these conditions, is the lowering of the amount of interest which he have to pay, and this will be further decreased when the notes on the ] city building are paid. As the city finances now stand, they are in the best of condition. We are paying tlie smallest amount of interest possible on the amount of our indebtedness and are paying part of the principal each year as it becomes due. There is only one item of expense which might be diminished and that is the I amount expended for public improvements. In the consderation of the ! next tax levy this aniount should be made as small as possible, yet suffi- ' cient to cover a reasonable amount. :of work, so as to keep this city up with other cities n our class. If the city council can in any manner get any information from the citizens, on how this city should be managed better or more economical, it is their duty to do so. Just as well as it is the duty of every citizen to give any information to the city officials which would lead to better conditions in city affairs. In my recommendations two years ago I presented the question of parks and at a later date, on the solicitations of the Civic Improvement society I appointed a committee from the city council to try and get conl trol of the old fair ground for park . (Continued on Taga I.)