Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 38, Decatur, Adams County, 13 February 1923 — Page 1

Volume XXI. Number 38.

TH REVISION MEASURE DIES IN HOUSE TODAY Home Rule Plan debate: is WARM House Favors Three Cent Tax on Every Package of Cigarettes Halted rre»« Service.! Indianapolis, Fob. 13-(Special to Daily Democrat)— -The democratic platform measure to revise the tax laws of Indiana and restore “home fn matters, of taxation was HUM in the house of representatives today by strictly a party vote. Fifty republicans voted solidly to accept the majority committee report recommending that consideration of the bill be indefinitely postponed. Forty six democrats lined up solidly op the other side of the question. The bill carried these major provisions: 1— Establish a 12.50 maximum tax levy in each taxing unit 2 Renew the power of fixing the' state tax rate from the board of tax commissioners and restore it to the legislature. 2— Abolish the office of county assessors and confer the duties on the auditors. 4—Confer the power of making horizontal changes in valuation of property on the county board of review. This power is now held by the ax board. Warm debate of a political nature preceded the vote which killed the bill. Following this action whidh occupied much of the session the house passed to second reading the Brown bill which would establish a tax of three cents on every package of cigarettes and one cent on every package of cigarette papers sold in Indiana. The Freeman bill which would have dissolved the highway commission and conferred its duties on the ]iei(ttnant governor' treasurer and auditor of state was killed by the house. The Moorehead bill which would put motor trucks and busses under i control of the public service commission and make them subject to condi i|wis under which public ‘utilities operate was approved in committee . and the senate adopted a report recommending that the bill be passed. The vote on the question was 30 to 14. The longest debate in the session in the senate proceeded the vote. Senator Batt charged that Senator' Moorehead was a tool in the hands of provides heavy penalties for violation interurban companies. The bill requires heavy liability insurance and Morris Company Buys Another Five-and-Ten Bluffton, Feb. 13.—The local John A Morris company added the twenty fourth five-and-ten-cent store to their string Saturday evening when a deal was completed in which they bought a variety store at Owsosso, Michigan,' of J- C. Gallagher, who is administrator of the S. 8. Gallagher estate.

We Realize the Need; Just Give Us Time Bluffton Citizen Attempts /to Poke Fun at .Decatur About Telephon® System in Use Here

Someone in Bluffton is trying to kid Decatur citizens about the telephone system here. However, that Person evidently has not heard about 'he proposed $45,000 system which is be installed in Decatur Berne, and surrounding community in the near tuture, providing the people want it ' is thought that a majority of the r, sidents of this city recognize the 111 ed for a modern telephone system as We “ 118 the Bluffton writer does, dD >l that they will havj one in the "’ ar "ttttfo. Following is a story which was contributed to the Bluff ton Ba nncr last week: ■n the Tuesday issue of the Deca"t Democrat an article appeared in * i( h Bluffton was sadly put to 8 ante on its gymnasium, our Decallr triends boasting of a “real gym" hl ‘'l telling tn glowing terms the great d( vantage of this new addition to the ams county seat. On top of this, tm rP » ( ' in a Chicago paper under the e > oightythree basketball teams in

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

CARD GAMES MUST STOP Police Order Stopt Games in Public House in Indianapolis Indianapolis, Feb, 13.—Card games in pool rooms soft drink parlors, cigar stands, restaurants and other public business houses were prohibited in Indianapolis by police order today. , "We won’t bother private games in homes and clubs" said Mayor Lew Shank, "But the other fellows hml better witch out. Even such games lead to gambling." In this connection Chief of Police, Rickoff said that Indianapolis needs fifty more policemen to bring the city up to the standard maintained by other cities or equal size. BERNESOLDIER RETURNS HOME Henry Kertz, Jr., Is One of American Soldiers Re turning from Germany The Henry Kertz family, in Berne, is anxiously awaiting the return of their son and brother. Henry Jr., who returned last week to this country ' froiy Germany. Henry is one of the American soldiers who has been with the army of occupation on th Rhine. Kertz is one of the few American soldiers who was married in Germany. He has written his parents that he is accompanied by a German bride. Her name was Susanna Heins of Coblenz, Germany Mr. Kertz met his bride while at Coblenz. That Mrs. Kertz Jr., was anxious to come to her new horrte was evidenced by a letter written to her husband’s family here In her letter she wrote that she wti.-. very anxious to come to this country and that she was already able to speak some English. The American soldiers and their wives arrived at Savannah, Ga., last Wednesday. There they were given a great reception. Some of the troops disembarked at Savannah, while others were taken to Charleston, S C. The remainder of the troops were taken to New York City and disetn barked there yesterday. It is thought that Kertz and his wife went to New York. The married men are being given first preference in discharges. A postal received from Henry was written at Savannah and stated that he expected to be home ..this week,..,.. Henry Kertz enlisted in the army on January 9, 1919. He has spent the greater part of his three years in the army in Germany. He was with the signal corps and has become quite an eipert in wireless tele graphy. While in Germany, young Kertz frequently visited his relatives in that country. He himself was born in Germany and came to this country with his parents, when only a small boy. summer while Clifton Striker and F. D. Huff were on their trip through Europe, they sent two days with Kertz. The American troops have been given great receptions everywhere they have stopped. In Europe they were given a great send off, both in Germany and Belgium and in this conn--1 try they have been welcomed with i great honors.

Indiana town of 5,000” that our 'friendly enemies are working the gym daily from noon to midnight. Well Decatur far be it from us to begrudge you the new gym. as we readily admit that you needed it and will probably put it to good use, but Bluffton has some things too, and things that probably are of much more material benefit to its inhabitants. Without going over a long list of these important things may we ask you to compare your telephone system to the one in Bluffton? Oh boy, if you know all about a Ford, you probably can arouse Central between haircuts. Bluffton justly and proudly boasts of a “real modern telephone” system, which to the busy business man, professional man, and in fat t everyone in the community, is, we think slightly more important than a "modern gym.” What do you think Decatur? Call us up, but start “cranking” the day before.—(Contributed.)” • |

TREASURES FROM TUTANKHAMEN’S TOMB i *"'* ' 1 '■ I l» !!.» I ■l' —, —— — L< ' '■ J 1 ' Rm, v Vu. wHLa k At I, \ i : Bringing white casket from the recently discovered tomb of Tutankhamen, king of Egypt, who ruled Egypt 3,500 years ago. The excavations are being conducted under the direction of Howard Carter. American archaeologist, and Lord Carnar von near Luxor. The casket shown contains valuable fabrics. The relics already foundare valued at $15,000,000. The inner chamber is still to be entered, in jvhich it is expe ted to find the pharaoh's mummy.

Misses Work First Time in Eleven Years James Stults. well known court house Janitor, was unable to be on the job yesterday for the first time durins the last eleven years. Mr. Stults is confined at his home with a severe cold. He was unable to do his work today. John R. Porter is taking care of the court house during Mr. Stults’ illness. preachersTno TEACHERS PLAY Benefit Game Announced for Monday Night in New H. S. Gymnasium Members of the Decatur Ministerial Association and Father Otto Peters of the St. Joseph Catholic church, have challenged the city school teachers to a game of basketball to be played on next Monday night. The tachers have accepted the challenge and the game will be. played in the new high school gymnasium. The proceeds derived from the game will be turned over to the Woman's Club to be used in the playground movement next summer. An admission of ten and twenty five cents will be charged. It is said that tiie ministers have b een holding a few practices and that they have great hopes of defeating the pedagogues. Further announcements of the lineups and other features will be made soon. VAN BUREN IS COMING FRIDAY High School Team, Coached by Linn Kern, to Play St. Joseph High Linn Kern, Decatur young man who tie coaching athletics in tine Van Buren high school will bring his team to Decatur on Friday night for a game with the St. Joseph Catholic high five. The game will be played in Athletic hall and should prove to be a very interesting one. The St. Joseph team , which is coached by 'Lank' Linn, was defeat ed by the Van Buren quintet at Van Buren earlier in the season by a few points. Coach Kern’s team has been traveling pretty fast recently and are favored to win their sectional championship. The local team has not had a game for a few weeks but the players have been practicing regularly and are said to be in good condition. They go to Fort Wayne tomorrow night to play the Central Catholic high team of that city. There will be a preliminary game on Friday night starting about 7:15. BARN BURNED TODAY A barn on the farm owned by Christ Beery of this city which was located near Middleberry, Ohio was destroyed by Are of an undetermined origin at 3 o’clock this morning. The farm is occupied by Fred Beery, 1a son of Chris Beery. All of the contents including hay, a tractor and farming implements, were destroyed.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, February 13, 1923.

TWO GAMES IN I NEW GYMNASIUM Portland Boys and Berne Girls to Play 1). H. S. Teams Friday Night Portland high school comes to Decatur on Friday night for a return game with the D. H. S. basketball I team. This “will be the second game I in the new gymnasium and another■ large crowd is Expected. Portland . won the other game between the two teams this season, which was played at Portland. However, Portland's victory was by a narrow margin and the locals are out to revenge the defeat. The Berne high school girls have been scheduled to play the D. H. S. girls in a preliminary game. The Berne girls have a good team this season and last week they defeated the Bluffton high school girls. Both games should be exciiting. ANNUALSENIOR PLAY TONIGHT ‘The Tailor-Made Man to be Presented in High School Auditorium The second scene of the high school seniors' play, “The Tailor Made Man,” to be given in the auditorium tonight, is said to be a very pretty one.. The scene is laid in a reception room and the members of the cast appear in full dress evening clothes. Several costumes have been rented from Fort Wayne firms, it is said, and the characters are expected to make a very fine appearance in each scene. The play will begin at 8 o’clock. A number of features have been planned and will be given between the acts of the play. Among the features will be songs by the high school quartet. WILL ORGANIZE BASEBALL TEAM American Legion Post to Put Team in Field Here Next Summer At the regular meeting of the Adams Post No. 43 of the American Legion here last night it was voted to put a baseball team in the field next summer to play under the name of the American Legion. Hubert “Hex” Cochran is chairman of the athletic committee which is making the necessary arrangements. A meeting of the committee will be held tomorrow night at which time more definite plans for organizing and equiping the team will be made. It is the intention of the Legionnaires to organize the team from local talent as far as possible. The players will not be required to be members of the American Legion however. A meeting of all local baseball players who are interested in the team will be held within the next two weeks, it was stated today.

Ship Subsidy Bill Is Sidetracked Today Washington, Feb. 13—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The administration I ship subsidy bill was side tracked lin the senate today in favor of the I British debt settlement bill. This i action was taken after party leaders j had conferred with President Harding and then revamped the program announced yesterday of considering the two measures concurrently. HENS MAKE A GREAT RECORO Decatur Man Realizes Profit of $505 From 40 Hens in Two Months H. J. Conway, of North Ninth street, has a flock of forty Ancona hens. During December, 1922 and J January 1923, sixty two days, the hens averaged forty-eight eggs apiece which is a remarkably good record for this time of year. The cost of | the feed for the two months was ! $28.32 and the total amount received from the sale of the eggs was $88.27, [ whiijh leaves a profit of $59.95. Does it pay? Mr. Conway says that it anyone has a flock of poultry that has a record that can compete with his he would like to hear from him. Mr. Conway has followed the instructions sent out from Purdue University, regarding care and feeding of hens. WELLS COUNTY HAS Forced to Order Bond Issue of $50,000 to Meet Year’s Expenses Bluffton, Feb. 13 —As the result of the order of the state board of tax commissioners last fall, cutting the county revenue levy from 35 cents to 30 cents, the Wells county council and commissioners, in joint meeting I Saturday, were forced to order a bond issue of $50,000 to meet the year’s expenses. The bond issue will mean an actual loss of about $12,000 to the county in interest. The bonds are issued at four and one half percent, the first to mature in 1927, and to be then retired at SIO,OOO annually. The officials went carefully through the years budget and found that there . was no way to meet expenses but through the giving of bonds. The deficit in county funds came from the order of the state board which resulted in an actual decrease in the county revenue fund of $21,230. 06. This came on top of a cut in appraisement values of $9,456,180 or trom $51,917,380 in 1921 to $42,461,200 in 1922. This meant a cut in taxes from S9O ,837.35 for 1922 to $856,642.78 for 1923, a total decrease of $45,195.57. Mrs. J. H. Burroughs will go to Bluffton tomorrow to spend the weekend with her mother, Mrs. Mary Ashbaucher.

OLDEST DENTIST DIES ——— Ligonier Dentist, Who Practiced 64, Years, Dies in Rhode Island Rev. H. S. Thompson, pastor of the Christian church is in receipt of a telegram from S. L. Gants, of Providence, Rhode Island, telling of the death of the latter’s father, Dr. A. Gants, which occured yesterday. Dr. Gants was a dentist and was the oldest ’practicing dentist in the country. He closed his office in Ligonier, Indiana, last fall to go to Rhode Island ami spend winter with his son. Before closing his office last fall he had been in active practice for 64 consecutive years. The funeral services will lie held in Ligonier Thursday morning the Rev. Thompson, officiating. o T. P. A. MEMBERS ENJOY BANQUET Annual Event of Post X Well Attended Last Night; Fine Dinner The annual banquet given last evening at the Masonic hall by Post X of the Traveler’s Protective Associa tion was an enjoyable affair and was I attended by a majority of the members and their wives or sweethearts. At six-thirty o'clock the guests were invited into the dining room where a delicious chicken dinner and all the "fiixin’s" was served by the Eastern Star women, with Mrs. Maud Dorwin in charge of the cooking. The tables were neatly decorated and every available seat was occupied. Rev. Dr. Bridge, pastor of the First Methodist church, said grace before the guests were seated. H. R. Moltz, president of tile Post, presided as toastmaster and announc that because the local T. P. A.’s had a number of excellent orators and after dinner speakers within its mem bership an out of town speaker was not engaged for the evening, and called on O. L. Vance as the first speaker. Mr Vance entertained the crowd with his witty sayings and jokes and he was followed by French Quinn who made a few remarks on world conditions ami offered a toast to the memory of the immortal Abraham Lincoln and the crowd arose and stood at attention for a minute as a mark of respect to the martyred president. Rev. Bridge was then called on and in his pleasing and entertaining man ner delighted the crowd with his wit and humor and thanked the T P. A officers for extending an invitation to him to attend the banquet Dancing and cards was later enjoyed and Donald Farr and his orchestra furnished the music. J. S. Peterson who has been secretary of the local T. P. A. Post for a number of years, looked after the details of arranging for the banquet. A ROTARY RADIO MESSAGE Tune in. Time 9:45 this evening. A message to Rotarians from Mere dith Nicholson, author, playwright and one ot she best known writers in the country will be broadcasted over the country from Indianapolis this evening afid those who have radio receiving sets are invited to "tune in” and hear his wonderful message. ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ + WEATHER 4 • Snow tonight followed by fair! weather Wednesday. Strong northwest winds. 1

Sheriff’ Arrests Own Cousin at Bluffton Sheriff Frauhiger Caught Cousin Helping Himself to Confiscated Liquor in Wells County Jail

Bluffton, Feb. 13 —Caught in the I act of procuring wine from a supply! of confiscated liquor at the office of Sheriff Frauhiger, Sunday afternoon. Ijouis Frauhiger, aged about 30 years, was charged with drunkenness and fined $5 and costs by Justice of the Peace M. W. Walbert. Frauhiger was released at seven o'clock last night after spending two hours in the county jail, and returned to Fort Wayne. He promised to send the money to pay the fine as soon as the could obtain it. Because several persons have been stealing wine from the confiscated stuff in his office Sheriff Frauhiger placed a watchman on the job. About 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon Louis en-

Price 2 Cents

FRIENDS FIND LIFELESS BODY OF S J). WOLFE Aged Resident of Bl ii e Creek Township Found Dead in His Home LIVED BY HIMSELF Think Death Was Due to Tuberculosis; Was Last Seen on Friday The lifeless body of Solomon C. I Wolfe, age about 61 years was found lying on the floor under the bed in | his home near Salem, in Blue Creek township yesterday evening by a party of men who called at his home to investigate his whereabouts. Mr. Wolfe was last seen on Friday evening. Coroner L. L. Mattax, of Genevt was called and he stated that he believed death was caused by consumption. Mr. Wolfe had been living by him self for the last several weeks since his son Sherman left to begin work in Fort Wayne. He had been afflicted with tuberculosis for the last, few years and recently had appeared to be in very poor health. On Friday evening Mr. Wolfe called to a few school children who were passing his house to come and bring him some water as he felt badly and did not wish to go outside the house. The children carried in a quantity of water and left the house. Neighbor Calls At House Yesterday afternoon Stanley’ Dailey, who lives one mile from the Wolfe home, went to make an investigation as Mr. Wolfe had not been seen since Friday evening. He tried the door but it was locked from the inside. Fearing that something was wrong there, Mr. Dailey went to a neighbor’s house and that neighbor called to the Lynch Brothers’ store which fs situated near, and a number of men there went, to the Wolfe homo Break Door Down Unable to receive a response to their raps on the doors, the men battered down one of the doors and entered the house. They did not find Mr. Wolfe’s body at first but a little dog. which was in the house, ran to the body of his dead master and licked him in the face. The<e was a cat locked in the house also. Mr. Wolfe’s body was lying on the floor almost entirely under the bed with his head sticking out. His body was ■pmi.Tauy andte-ssed. H—is the opinion of Dr. Mattax that M r . Wolfe suddenly became worse and fell to the floor. In his death struggles, it is thought that hip body rolled underneath the bed. Dr. Mattax said the man probably died Saturday evening. Following the coroner’s investigation, the body was brought to a morgue in this city to be prepared for burial. Lived There Many Years Solomon C. Wolfe has resided in the Salem neighborhood for many years. At one time he owned a grocery store in Schumm, Ohio. He has also worked at farming and for some time was a porter in the interurban station at Fort Wane. Three sons and four daughters stir vive. The sons, Sherman, Clifton and Curtis reside in Fort Wayne. Two daughters reside in Fort Wayne and two in Indianapolis. Funeiral arrangements have not been made. Dan Niblick went to Ft. Wayne this I morning to attend the Tri State Mor .chants Association meeting at the Anthony Hotel today. 1. Bernstein 1 went at noon.

I tered the office, went to a barrel and ! started syphoning a bottle full. When asked by the watchman what he was doing, Frauhiger said that ho was a cousin of the sheriff and had permission to take the stuff. The watchman called the sheriff, who filed the charge at once. While the sheriff was enroute to the office, Louis had left the place and was not stopped until he had gone part way home. The prisoner was still under the influence of liquor when he was brought before Squire Walbert. He testified that he had taken two "good shots of whiskey" while in Fort Wayne and didn’t know whether he was drunk or not, but he "felt awful good.”