Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 20, Number 2, Decatur, Adams County, 3 January 1922 — Page 1

Volume XX.. Number 2.

A BIG FINANCIAL CRISIS IS AVERTED BY MERGER FORTDEARBORNBANKANDTRUSTCQMPANY IN CHICAGO TAKEN OVER BY THE CONTINENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BANKTODAY.

Chicago. Jan. 3.—(Special to Daily | Democrat). —Nervous tension in fin ' ancial circles of the infcUlewest was referred today when the Continental I and Commercial nation*! bank absorbed two banks with! <ombined assets of 160,000.000. • The banks taken overbore the Fort Dearborn National Bank nd the Fort Dearborn Trust and Savings Bank. Employes of all institutions worked all night on the books of 'lie Dearborn concern; The absorption makes the Continnental and Cominercla. one of the largest banks in the matter of deposits in the country. It is nova $500,000,000 concern. Difficulties of the Dea-born banks were attributed by members of the Chicago clearing house Association as due to over extension of credit to man ufacturers, who were hit by the business depression. Officers of the banks carried their troubles to the clearing house. George M. Reynolds offfored to take the banks over and pay depositors it full. The only ones who are I kely to lose in the transaction are tie stockhold ers of the Dearborn basL. who may, it was said, receive about seventy-five cents on the dollar. The Continental and Commercial agreed to assume the $60,000,000 liabilities of the two bank? The Con tinental also guaranteed arainst possible losses to clearing' louse banks to the extent of $2,500,"X) and the Dearborn stockholders further agreed to put $1,250,000, in additon there is a surplus and undivided >rofits of at least $8,000,000 this is un ugh, it was said, to take care of th $12,000,000 in frozen assets of the Durborn institution. George M. Reynolds, pre ident of the Continental and Commecial bank; ; James B. Forgan, pregi ent of the Chicago clearing house; md John M. Mitchel, all multimillionaies had been in constant conference «ii?e Saturday noon. They grabbed thgii meals at a one-armed lunch counter letween conferences. Complete staffs of both banks were called from their New Ynr's celebration to make ready that bti iness might be carried on as usual. > Chicago’s financial wold took the 1 situation easily and wihout great ( flurry. It was regarded as the best way out of a dangerous ituation. The Chicago Tribune said editor-' tally: ’ The Fort Dearborn ®nk incident is not a pleasing event wth which to start the new year. The rank's weakness was not the result of any gen- , era! weakness in the baiking situation. They are the rei of the improper conduct of one tunk and it is especially encouraging th realize this ‘ conduct is exceptional.’! ( 1? * f IN POLICE COIRT. I I Horry Martz, arrested list week on . an affidavit filed by Heu-y Cottrell, and charged with driving : motorcycle without license plates, w IS acquitted 1 by Mayor De Voss yesteday after- 1 noon. Martz testified tha the plate was loosened in a collisloi with Cott- i' rell’s buggy and the plaiatff could not ' see it. His testimony fctuld no t be disapproved and the jaquittal followed. Martz was re-arr> s ted, however, on an affidavit fililby Cottrell, ; befnirsfharged with dr>i lg hj 8 m a- I chine oh the wrong the street. 1

To Tesl the Registration Law Bluffton, Ind., Januarjjfc—(Sp ec i a i to Daily Democrat) —The validity of tlie registration law will le tested in a suit filed here by Abram Simmons, former state senator, wio brings suit against the county council, commissioners treasurer and addi or of Wells county and chairmen of the democratic and republican partes. He avers the law is contrary to article two .of the state constitution Wich states that if a man is of legal age and has been a resident of the stat six months, township sixty days and precinct thirty days he is a legal pter and the law enacts hardships. The complaint ja.ys the registration cout Wells county $2,000 and the state $200,000, a peedless expense. Simr.ifcs gays he Is appearing for the voters. Judge p'rank Gordon will hear th case. I —•

DECATUR DAIRY DEMOCRAT

LANDMARK IS BEING REMOVED First County Court House is Being Torn Down on Fire Marshal’s Order WAS ERECTED IN 1839 And Served as Temple of Justice Until 1873—John Reynolds, Builder. The razing of the old court house building, located on First street, on the rear of the lot south of the Decatur Horse Sale barns owned by Eli Myers and others, brings to mind reminiscences of the organization of Adams county, and the construction of the first temple of justice on the site of the present court house in the year 1839. The tearing down of the old building, which has been a landmark for a number of years, was ordered recent ly by the state fire marshal, as it is situated within the fire limits of the city, and is considered dangerous to property in close proximity In looking over the records and his tory of the county we find that the old frame court house was constructed in 1839 at a cost of but a few hundred dollars. At the May meeting of the board of commissioners in 1839, the board of commissioners, composed of Joshua S. Rhea, Samuel Smith and William Heath, Jr., awarded the contract for the construction of the build : ing—a two-story frame, forty feet long ' and thirty feet wide, to John Reynolds , then the county treasurer. The contract specified that the boards next to the street should be planed, that the down-stairs, or first floor room to be used for court purposes, and the sec-ond-story in several rooms to be used as the occasion demanded. This with the log jail which was erected in 1836, at the enormous cost of $325, served tile county until 1872, when the present court house was erected at a cost of $90,000. Among the older citizens we hear many stories of the happenings in the old court building, and many incidents enumerated as happening at the old jail, its first prisoner being Joijn W. Williams, who was released by some one boring off the thicknesses of two logs. Williams had been arrested and jailed for some misdeameanor and within a very short time Lafayette Riley was jailed for aiding the first prisoner to escape. When the contract was let for the construction of the present court house in 1872, the old frame building was removed to the lot where Mrs. Christy’s home now stands, at Third and Madison streets. It remained there for several years, and finally found a home at the rear of the First street lot, where it has been used as an apartment house many years. Its removal marks the passing of one of the oldest structures in the county. REBECCAS, NOTICE! All members of the Rebecca degree staff are requested to meet at the I. O. O. F. hall this evening for initiation.

THE COMMITTEES • Mayor DeVoss Names Members of Various Committees on Council KOCHER IS CHAIRMAN Os Finance-Krick and Beavers on Electric Light and Water. At the special session of the now council held last evening Mayor Huber DeVoss named the members of the various committees on the council. J. F. Kocher, heading the finance committee, E. A. Beavers, street and sewer, A. R. Ashbaucher, public safety, George Krick, electric light, E. A. Beavers, water works, James Kocher, purchasing. A. R. Ashbaucher, public improvement and George Krcik the Judicary committee. Mayor DeVoss informed the councilmen that it would be their duty to look after the business coming under their juricdiction and to take I whatever action was necessary to dis . pose of it. The members of the dis- ' ferent committees are. the first named acting as the chairman of the com- J mittee: Finance Committee —J. F. Kocher, ■ F. A. Peoples and George Krick. Street and Sewer—E. A. Beavers, George Krick and A. R. Ashbaucher. ' Public Safety—A. R. Ashbaucher,' James Kocher and F. A. Peoples. Electric Light—George Krick, E. A. Beavers and A. R. Ashbaucher. Water Works—E. A. Beavers, Geo. Krick and James Kocher. Purchasing—James Kocher, F. A. Peoples and A. R. Ashbaucher. Public Improvement—A. R. Ashbaucher, F. A. Peoples and E. A. Beavers. Judicicary—George Krick. E. A. Beavers and F. A. Peoples. The committees will make their first report at the regular meeting this evening. A PEACE DOLLAR First Issue of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Was Begun Today By THE U. S. TREASURY President Harding Given First Dollar Struck OffCoinage Ceased in 1904. Washington. D. C„ Jan. 2. —(Special to Daily Democrat). —The new silver dollar of the 1921 design—the peace dollar —was ready for distribution today, it was said at the treasury de-1 partment. Coinage of the new dollar is being ; rushed by the Philadelphia mint, and the first dollar of the new series struck off has been presented to President Harding. The new' dollar has the head of Liberty on one side and on the other a dove on a mountain top, clutching an olive branch, struck by the rays of the sun, with the word "peace” beneath it. This design so the dollar will remain for twenty-five year unless changed by legislatfbn, as the coinage laws prohibit any change in the design of the standard silver dollar more often than once in that period (Continued on page two)

/ ' Adams County’s First Court House, Now Being Razed. I"" ___ , ..j. 'W»I>P ."-■J-'l ■ ■ SBWr— Erected in 1839.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, January 3, 1922.

++*♦+♦♦♦♦+♦+*++* ■F FISHER FIRE CHIEF + + + ♦ Mayor Huber DeVoss read to «$• <• tbe council last evening the ap- + + pointinents he hail made, the * <• last one. being a fire chief, Amos <• ♦ Fisher, well known citizen and + ♦ a member of the volunteer fire- + 4> men being appointed to the ♦ F place, his term beginning Janu- * ♦ ary 1, 1922. The past four years, + ♦ Henry F. Dellinger, captain of + ■F the tire department was the + ♦ chief, he playing a double role + ■F in that respect. The appoint- + + ments made by Mayor DeVoss 4•F have been published heretofore. ♦ MOWO + + + + •?• + + + MAGLEY IS THE SUPERINTENDENT Charles E. Magley of Root Township Named .Highway Superintendent DR. VIZARD APPOINTED Harry LaFountain Reappointed Superintendent of County Infirmary. Charles E. Magley, well known resident of Root township was appointed highway superintendent of Adams county this morning, Commissioners Einst Conrad and B. F. Breiner vot ing for him, but one ballot being necessary. Mr. Magley’s term will be for tour years beginning with January 1, 1922. He succeeds Jim A. Hendricks of Monroe who has been the county highway superintendent since January 1, 1914. he being the first highway superintendent in the county. During Mr. Hendrick’s eight years of service he has been a faithful public servant and has seen that the pub lie highways of Adams county were kept in good repair. Today he turns I over to his successor over 625 miles of improved roads and highways ami the job of looking after each and I every mile of road is one of the biggest of any county official. A dozen or more of deputies are appointed by tire road superintendents for the various districts and hundreds of men are employed to assist in the repair and upkeep of the roads. Through him over $190,000 is annually expend ed for road repair and upkeep, the ap propriations this year being about $115,000.00, a twenty-three cent tax levy on the hundred dollars being levied on the county’s valuation of approximately $50,000,000.00. The last legislature passed a law fixing the term of road superintendents at four years, the appointment heretofore being for only two years. This year the sum of $695,770.00 is | available in the various townships ■ for road building and in view’ of this - it can be plainly seen that the office of road superintendent is and will (Continued on page two) ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ THE WEATHER FORECAST ♦ Indiana—Rain in south and rain or snow in north portion late tonight or Wednesday; colder. Lower Michigan—Snow late tonight and Wednesday; colder Wednesday and extreme north portion tonight; fresh shifting winds becoming north and northeast late tonight or Wednesday morning. lipper Michigan — Snow flurries probably tonight and Wednesday; ’colder, cold wave.

JBERNE HAS FIRE I . Berne Studio and Augsber--1 ger’s Five and Ten Cent Store Are Damaged : BY FIRE AND WATER . Loss is Covered by Insur- • ance-Sol Bowsher Makes the Discovery. >1 Berne. Ind., Jan. 3. — (Special Corre- • spondence) Most of the stock and turn- ’ ishing of the Berne Studio owned by J. ; Gerber was damaged by fire, smoke and water at about 10 o'clock Mon- . day evening. The fire is thought to have originated from an oil stove • which was being used by Mr. Gerber is his studio, which is located on the second floor over the 5 and 10 cent store, owned by David Augsburger. The fire was first seen by Sol ■ Bowsher, while on his way home from church. The blaze could not be locati ed at first on account of smoke, therefore water was thrown from all direcI tions thus doing considerable dam age to pictures, some of which were very valuable to Mr. Gerber. His I camera, an expensive one was also lost in the conflagation. Mr. Augsburger’s loss was from water which soaked about half of his stock. The loss suffered by Mr. Ger--1 her and Mr. Augsburger has not yet • J been estimated, as Mr. Jones, the ad- >' juster, has not yet arrived. The loss i to both, however, is mostly covered by ; insurance, most of which Is carried by i insurance companies represented by i Amos Hirschy. RETURN TO SCHOOL. Misses Alta Teeple and Helen Dugan left this morning for Poughkeepsie - N. Y„ where they will return to their studies at Vassar college. The young ■ , ladies have been here spending their -1 holiday vacation with their parents ! Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Teeple and Mr. and ■. Mrs. C. A. Dugan and other friends •. and relatives. IS A LIVE BUNCH 1 ■ Auction School Has ‘Peppy’ I Lot of Students for Annual January Class EVERYONE IS HAPPY Col. Iglehart Will Arrive Friday--Glee Club Has Been Organized. A telegram from Col. H. L. Iglehart, Elizabethtown. Ky., received this morning at the offices of the Reppert School of Auctioneering, said he would arrive here next Friday, January 6th, to assist in the school work. ’ Col. Iglehart is considered the great- ’ est auctioneer of pedigreed hogs, the world has ever produced, is a real Kentucky colonel and a natural orator. The class is looking forw’ard to ■ his arrival with much pleasure. ’ Students continued to arrive last evening and this morning, seven new ones being added to the roll. The class is now getting under a full head of steam, the boys are full of pep and go and it looks very much as though they will excel the record class of a year ago. They have organized a glee club and will have a press representative, a complete class organization and will step (Continued on page six)

'MAYOR DEVOSS ASKS FOR ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY I FIRST MESSAGE TO NEW COUNCIL FULL OF SOUND BUSINESS ADVICE-REC-OMMENDS REQUISITION FOR SUP- : PLIES---DUTY ONE OF SAVING.

r —— — ----- .. = RELIEF FROM ” THE WAR TAXES 1 Removal of Many of the e Luxury Taxes by Recent Act of Congress Came „ WITH THE NEW YEAR s Statement Concerning New t Act Will Answer Queries Now Being Asked. s ■■ >” With the ushering in of the New ' Year, the removal of many of the soy called luxury taxes paid by the American people the past several years because of the late war, will be good n news to all. Many pennies, nickles and dimes will thus be saved, as will ' also an endless amount of red tape t and voluminous reports made out by r persons and corporations in computating the funds turned over to the gov- , eminent monthly. The revenue act of November 23, s went into effect at midnight Saturday. it benefits are many, not the I least of which is the escape from be ing constantly supplied with pennies to pay the extra toil demanded as the government’s share of each purchase of so-called luxuries. It will ’ be several weeks before the public receives full benefit, as many cases will probably be referred to Washington for decision. z In tabloid form the majority of the benefits of the act are as follows: Railroad fares or a cruise on an in- - land or coastwise steamship will no longer cost the traveler 8 percent, of the fare and 8 percent, of the cost of a seat, berth or stateroom. Shipments of freight will not be ] assessed an additional 3 percent, of i- the cost. Packages shipped by exe press or parcel post now exempt from i- “war tax.” No more will stamp taxes be levied upon purchasers made at the corner 8 drug store of tooth paste, toilet 1 preparations and the like. Frequenters of soft drink parlors D are no longer required to pay in additional cent for each 10 cents or 1 fraction paid for a drink or dish of ice cream. Those who have been taxed for ’ buying shoes costing more than $lO i 1 will be saved the extra sum, while it 3 will no longer be necessary to pay an ‘ added mite for a shirt, costing more I than $3. These and all of the so-' 1 caled "luxury” taxes on clothing 5 umbrellas, trunks, parsols, sun- : 1 shades, picture frames, baggage,! pocketbooks, etc., have been discarded. Theatre Tickets Still Taxed. Theatre admissions of more than I 10 cents will be assessed at the pres-1 * ent rate of a cent for each 10 cents or fraction. But movie shows chraging not more than a dime for admittance have been freed from collecting an additional copper. Heads of families will chuckle gleefully when informed a reduction in their income tax of $8 for each dependent has resulted since exemptions have been raised from S2OO to S4OO , on account of dependents. (Continued on page six)

Get Your License Plate This Month Automobile owners are urged to secure their new license plates for the year 1922 during the month of January. Mayor DeVoss stated this morning tiiat orders to enforce the law regarding license numbers and plates would not be issued until the last of this month giving every one the opportunity to secure them. Just at this time there is a big rush on and many who have applied have not yet received their plates. The administration wishes to be absolutely fair in the matter and will give every one ample opportunity to obey the law. If they do not. do so by February Ist there will of course be no other course open for the officers but to insist that the law is obeyed and this will be done. Apply for your license at once so you and the officials can avoid embarassing results.

Price 2 Cents

Efficient business management, economy, a check on purchases and that all business should be done in the name of the “City of Decatur”, were the keynote recommendations made by Mayor DeVoss in his first message to the new council in special session last evening. He declared: — “You will readily see that the concern of this council during the present year will not be directed to the raising of funds by taxation but that the major part of your efforts should be directed to the economical expenditures of the funds already provided by the tax levy and income from the municipal plant.” —"I would recommend that before any expenditures are made, aside from the indebtedness already created, that a requisition be filed with the city clerk of the department requiring same and that said requisition contain a statement of ail such articles required and that the same be signed by the head of the department requiring same and that the chairman of the purchasing committee, endorse his rejection or approval thereon and if necessary order such purchases made.” —"Some confusion lias heretofore resulted from the fact that a portion of the business of the city has been transacted under the name and style of ‘The Decatur Light and Power Company.’ I would recommend that all of the business of said city hereafter be transacted in the name and style of ‘The City of Decatur’ and that all receipts, orders and statements be issued and purchases be made under the name and style as above indicated.” —“And finally gentlemen I would recommend that the committee to be hereafter appointed give particular attention to the various departments coming under their management and that the affairs of our city be conducted in an economical and efficient manner." Such was the sound business advice contained in Mayor DeVoss' message to Councilman A. R. Ashbaucher, James F. Kocher, George Krick and E. A. Beavers last evening. Councilman F. A. Peoples being unable to attend the meeting for reason that he is out of the city. For the first time in the history of Decatur a woman. Mrs. Katherine Kauffman acted as city clerk and when she called the roll the men answered, in a very gentlemanly way. Mrs. Kauffman took down the proceedings of the meeting and disI posed of her work in a very efficient I way. The certificates of election were I read by the clerk as were the appointi ments by Mayor DeVoss, the council i approving every one of them. Mayor DeVoss read his own mes- ! sage and first gave a report of the i financial condition of the city showing the total bonded indebtedness on January 1, 1922, was $109,500,00, that the other liabilities such as unpaid bills, etc., amounted to $26,619.15 making a total debt of $136,119.15 and that the amount of cash in the treasury on January 1, 1922 in all funds was $42,188.66. His report also showed bow and when the bonds would be paid, the percent of interest they carried, a total of $13,775.00 including bonds and interest becoming due and (Continued on page twol