Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 215, Decatur, Adams County, 11 September 1923 — Page 1

Volume XXI. Number 215.

CITY TAX RATE REDUCED ELEVEN CENTS DY COUNCIL

(in DADS USE PRUNING KNIFE ON NEW BUDGET Mayor DeVoss Submits Suggestions For Big Reduction of Expense. SUPPORT OF COUNCIL Rate Adopted for Next Year Lowest In City Since 1919; Rate Is 76c. CITY’S RATE REDUCED. Reduction in expenses 192 4 110,163.40 i Reduction in rate per SIOO.OO -O City’s 1924 Fund Rate Rate Yield General 69 $46,265.04 Other rev. .. 1.500.00 ' Sinking 07 4.693.56 Total 1924 budget $52,458.60 Total of 1923 budget $62,622.00 Reduction $10,163.40 With their efforts devoted towards economy and a desire to lower expenses wherever possible, consistent good government, the city coif.ieil and Mayor Huber De Voss used the ‘knife" not an ordinary pruning knife but <jie of those big twelve Inch hotel Knives on the city’s proposed budget of expenses for next year, cut off a $7,375.60 slice from the tentative figures, reduced 1924 expenditures by $10,163.40 and lowered the city's tax rate for 1924. eleven cents on each one hundred dollars worth of property. Some plate to set before the taxpayers. Council Met Last Night The proposed levy for 1924 was the same as the one this year, 87 cents on the one hundred dollars, including. SO cents lor the general fund and (17 tents for the bond and interest fund, commonly known as the sinking fund The total of the proposed budget for next year was $59,834.20. However, only $58,334.20 of this amount was proposed to be raised by a tax levy, $1,509.00 of the amount being paid to the city for licenses, fines, interest on funds, etc. Submitted The Figures When the council met last evening, .Mayor DeVoss submitted suggestions of reductions in certain appro priations. including the following: street lighting, $8,000.00, reduced to $6,659.00; extra police, $1,000.00, reduced to $330.00; new fire equipment, $3,000.00, reduced to $989.00; water hydrant rentals. $8,100.00, reduced to $6,759.00; parks and improvements, $2,720. 64. reduced to $708.04; total reductions, $7,375.60. The council was quick to agree to the proposed reductions and upon motion the budget was placed on its first reading and adopted. It was also adopted on its second and third readings and final passage, all members voting “yea" on the matter. The ordinance fixing the tax rate at 69 ( <*nt on the hundred dollars for the general fund and .07 or. the hundred dollars for the sinking fund, a tota' rate of 76 cents on the hundred dollars was unanimously passed and adopted by the council. The budget °f expenses for 1924 is the lowest ’ince 1919. Compared with 1921 the total expenses are almost $32,000.00 lower. The Rate In Decatur bntil the state fixes its tax rate for 1924 and the proposed levies for the county, school board, and township a r e finally adopted and approved by the state, it is not known what the rate in Decatur will be next year. However, some idea can be obtained as the local taxing units, included in the city’s rate, have already fixed their proposed rates for next year. 1 sing the figures and estimating the state’s rates at 32 cents, and increase °f 5 cents, the rate in Decatur now totals $3.33.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Infant Fiechter Child Died Sunday Afternoon Justine Fiechter, the two-day-old daughter of .Mr. and Mrs. William j Fiechter, living in Adams counts*, southwest of this city, died Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The cause of the baby's death was stomach and bowel trouble. The mother was for- | merly Miss Slowa Aeschliman. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon from the Christian Apostolic I church, with burial in the church cemetery. K. OFC. OFFICERS ARE RE-ELECTED E. X. Ehinger Re-Elected To Third Consecutive Term As the Grand Knight. E. X. Ehinger. grand knight, and the old officers of the Knights of Columbus were re-elected at the anni ual election held at the K. of C. hall last evening. This makes the fifth time that Mr. Ehinger has been elected grand knight of the local knights of Columbus council, and the third consecutive term for him. Upon motion the old officers were unanimously elected.. The officers re-elected last evening were: Frank J. Schmitz, deputy grand knight; Julius Heideman, hancellor; Joe Lose, financial secretary; C. S. Niblick, treasurer; Jno Starost, recording secretary; August Heiman, worden; Charles Miller, inside guard; Tony Nesswald. outside ■;uard; John Loshe, advocate, Dynois Schmitt. H. J. Yager and (’. N. Christen. truestees. C. S. Niblick has been treasurer of the council since its organization about twenty years ago. The installation ceremonies will be held next month. The elevator is now being installed in the Knights of Columbus building. Ihe work being delayed to some extent for the reason that the car was misrouted to Decatur. Illinois. The Knights of Columbus are spending more than $10.00(1.60 in the improvement of the building purchased by them at the corner of Madison and Second streets and when completed it will be one of the most modern buildings in this city. The third floor is occupied as a lodge room and 'he second floor is being re-arranged into offices. The first floor is oc■upied by the Teeple and Peterson clothing store and the E. D. Engler dry goods store. Steam heat has been installed in the building, also. Columbus Day, October 12th may be observed by a program by the Knights of Columbus and a committee was appointed to look after the details. A large number attended the meeting last evening, the Holy Name society of the St. Mary’s Catholic church holding a joint meeting with the council following the election of officers. Fort Wayne Officers John J. Disser was re-elected grand knight at the annual election of officers held last night by the Ft. Wayne Knights of Columbus. Weekly meetings have been resumed and the attendance was the largest in several months. Alex A. Kartholl was elected deputy grand knight and Thomas A. Hayes, chancellor. Those returned to office include George Alter, recording secretary; Othmar N. Heit ny. treasurer; Charles M. Nierser, advocate; Arthur Shovlin, inside guard. Chester W. Keene was elected warden; Clarence Murphy, outside guard and Charles D. Nolan, trustee. Arrested For Speeding George Raver was arrested by Policeman Senhus Melchi this morn-' ing on a charge of speeding. The affidavit was filed against Raver by Sam Shamp, local agent, for the Nickle Plate railroad company, who alleges that Raver was exceeding the' speed limit on Winchester street last) Saturday. Raver was taken before j A. C. Butcher, justice of the peace, this morning, but the case was continued until a later date, as Mr. Butcher was leaving the city.

RELIEF FUND TOTALS $445 Contributions To Red Cross Continue; Rural Districts Not Reported. The Japanese relief fund, being raised by the Red Cross in this coun-' ty, now totals $445.34. the sum of $148.51 being reported to Miss Anna Winnes since the total published in last evening’s Daily Democrat. The Berne Red Cross sent $100.60 to Miss Winnes last evening and it is thought that other contributions will also be received from that place. As yet the contributions from Monroe and Geneva and the rural districts have not been received by Miss Winnes. It is important that the fund be raised quickly so that the total, amount can be sent to state headquarters within a day or two. If you did not give to the fund at the church | services Sunday, please send your contribution to Miss Winnes today. It is desired that not less than $660 he raised as the county’s quota. Act now. The contributions received since last evening are: Previously reported. $296.84. C. E. Bell. $10.00; Berne. $100.00; E. C. Clevenger, $5.00; Irene Steele. $1.00; Mrs. Sarah Fisher. $1.00; A Friend. $1.00; Lucille Pugh, $1.00; Ida Chronister. 26c; Mary Durr. 25c; Mrs. G. T. Burk, $2.00; G. T. Burk. $5.00; Mrs. M- E. Artman. $1.00; A Friend. 10c; Contributed $2.00; Don Teeple. $1.00; Mrs. Mangold. $1.00; John Engle. $1.00; Mrs. H. Schultz, 50c; Mrs. Hardsog. 25c; Christian church, cash $3.65; Golda Gay. $1.00; C. J. Lutz. $5.00; Delta Theta Tan, $5.00; Mr. and Mrs. E. Phillips, 50c; total to date, $445.35. — v— Planning Independent Basketball Team Here Plans are under way to organize a fast independent basketball team to represent this city during the fall and winter months. A meeting of those behind the movement was held at the office of the American Security company on Monroe street last night. Eight men. including Fred. Kolter of the Security company, attended the meeting. Another meeting will be held at the same place on Thursday evening, it was stated today. It is believed that a good independent team would be supported in a paying manner here and plenty of good players are available, it is said. Fast semi-professional teams in this part of Indiana and Ohio will be played. o ■ — CHICAGO MARKET CLOSE Wheat: Sept. $1.02%; Dec. $1.05%. May, $1.10%. Corn: Sept. 85%c; Dec. 68%c; May 68%c. Oats: Sept. 37%c; Dec. 39%c; May 42%c. D. U.S.TO PLAY NEXT SATURDAY Catholic High To Open Season With Game At Auburn Saturday P. M. Coaeh France Confer's Catholic high school football team will play its first game of the season next Saturday afternoon at Auburn, with the Auburn high school eleven furnishing the opposition. This will be one of the first games of the season in the state. The game will start at 2:30 o'cock Saturday afternoon. Athough this is the first season for D. C. H. S. in football and in spite of the fact that the candidates for the team have been practicing only one week, Coach Conter is enthusiastic about his players. They are learning the game rapidly and before the end of the season will be playing a good game. The team likely will iscrimmage witth Coaeh Howards second team Thursday evening. Signals to be used in Saturday’s game were given out this evening. The team will average in the neighbor ' hood of 155 pounds. i Communications are being exchang- ' ed between the D. C. H. S. and a few ( other high schools iu this vicinity and it is expected that four er five more games will be scheduled for this season.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, September 11, 1923.

WILL SPEAK HERE. wb* ■-if' - i . , 3F * ' I F ■ "* J■ ‘ A. R. Kroh, of Akron. Ohio, who will deliver an address on present day business conditions in the rooms of ■ the Decatur Industrial Association, on I Wednesday evening, September 12. at i 8 o'clock. The public is invited to I hear this address. THREE RACES ON CARD FOR OCT. 12 Races At Bellmont Park Include 40-, 25- and 10-mile Events; SI,OOO Purse. Messrs. Beery and Miebers this morning announced a second auto race program to lie held at Bellmont I Park. Friday, October 12th —Discovery Day. The total purses will be $1,600 and it is expected that the crowd will exceed that of Labor Dav when the cloudy weather interferred to a considerable extent. The program will include a 40-mile race for a purse of $566; a 25-mile race for $350, and a ten-mile race for nonwinners of the Labor Day races, for a purse of $l5O. The managers have arranged with a number of the local merchants who will give an adult ticket of admission with each purse of $12.50, and a child's ticket with each purchase of $5.00. These tickets will be distributed the latter part of the week and any merchant who desires to thus co operate with the race managers ma." secure them by making a request. A display advertisement will appear in tide paper Saturday, announcing the tree program and giving a list of those merchants who will give tickets with purchases. Spee'al rates are given the merchants and the race managers hope for the united co-op-nation of every one. They promise clean sport and a goal prograi.i JAPAN EMERGING FROM DISASTER Modern City To Spring Up From Ruins of Tokio; Barracks Being Built. (United Press Service) Tokio, Japan, Sept. 11 —(1 a. m. via radio frfom Iwaki, Janan) —(Special to Daily Democrat)—Order is beginning to emerge from the havoc wrought by earthquake and fire in Tokio. The ruined city has become a bee hive of industry with an army of workmen erecting temporary barracks to house the homeless thousands. Another workmen's army is engaged in removing the debris —and almost at every turn they bring forth bodies from the wreckage. Great numbers of these bodies still remain unburied and there probably are many more hidden in the wreckage. Reports received here are that the conditions in Yokohama are far worse than in Tokio as concerns care of the dead. The official count of bodies recovered it running high. By CLARENCE DUBOSE (United Press Service) Tokio, Sept. 11.—(By wireless from (Continued on Page six) Weather Increasing cloudiness with probably showers tonight or Wednesday; cooler in north and west portion tonight and in south and east portion Wednesday. I

KLAN TO PARADE HERE SEPT. 22 Organizer Informed Mayor DeVoss Yesterday: Not Violation of City Law. It is understood that the Ku Klux Klan will hold a parade In this city on Saturday, September 22nd. Yesterday a man by the name of "Showalter, who has been organizing the klansmen in this county, went to Mayor DeVoss’ office and stated that he represented an organization which stood for ’’certain" principles and dwelt on the “Americanism” of the members, and Informed the mayor that the Klan would hold a parade in this city a week from Saturday. Mr. Showalter stated that it was the custom of the Klan to inform the officials when they were going to parade and wanted to know if it was a violation of any of the city's ordinances. Mayor DeVoss informed him that it was not a violation of the law to parade as long as the laws were not violated. The city does not have an ordinance prohibiting a masked parade on the city’s streets. As far as known the Klansmen will not be stopped from parading as long as laws and ordinances are not violated. The parade will be the first of this kind to be held here. _ o —- ’ Accident Victims Are Showing Improvement i The condition of Mr. and Mrs. | Charles Tillinghast, of Newport. Ken- . tucky, and Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hoff- • man. of Hamilton, Ohio, who were injured in the automobile accident . north of the city Saturday, was re- ■ ported much improved today. Even ■ the condition of Mr. Tillinghast, who ■ was most seriously injured, was better and the attending physicians are i encouraged over his condition. Mr. > Hoffman and Mrs. are 1 aide to sit up a portion of the time i now. Bus To Operate Between Decatur and Bluffton Clyde Noble, who operates the motor Ims line between Decatur and Portland stated today tile Ims would operate between here and Bluffton, leaving here at 7:30 a. m. Returning, 1 the bus will leave Bluffton at 9:60 a. m. This will give the public an opportunity to make interurban connections at Bluffton for Indianapolis. Another change was made in the time table of the bus line, the afternoon bus going to Geneva at four o’clock instead of two o’clock. The changes were effective today. Mr. Noble announced this afternoon that beginning today a bus would leave for Bluffton at 3:45, returning from Bluffton at 5 o'clock. LARGE JUDGMENT DEMANDED HERE Lincoln Trust Co. Asks Judgment for $14,000; Want Foreclosure. Judgment in the sum of $14,000 is demanded in a suit on promisory notes and to foreclose a mortgage, filed in the Adams circuit court by the Lincoln Trust Company, of Fort Wpyne, against William and Elizabeth A. Trim. The mortgage was executed on an 80-acre farm in Kirkland township. The plaintiff also . asks that a receiver be appointed to take charge of the farm. The Lincoln Trust company alleges that there are taxes due and . unpaid on the farm and that the defendants are collecting the rents and proceeds and not applying them on the debts. It is said that the mortgage is probably insufficient to discharge the mortgage debt, and the plaintiff asks that a receiver be appointed to rent the farm and collect the proceeds to be applied on the debts. The suit was filed through Attorney Clark J. Lutz, of this city. Mrs. Henry Rodenbeck, who has been seriously ill at her home on North Third street, for the past week was taken to the Adams County Mem- . orial Hospital Monday afternoon, i Mrs. Rodenbeck will take a two weeks' treatment.

DIVERS SEARCH WRECKED SHIPS FOR DODIES TODAY

Comedian Is Sued i Chi. ago. Sept. IL—William T. Kent, leading comedian in "The Dan | cing Honeymoon." was served with notice of divorce as his show was about to go on last night, by a deputy sheriff who got into the theatre while posing as an understudy. Elsie Kent ,his wife, alleges he hurled a curling iron at her. She askes custody of their two children and a share of her husband’s $750 weekly salary. KLAN UNMASKS I IN OKLAHOMA No Masks. Robes or Other ‘ Regalia Worn On Orders of Gov. J. C. Walton. , Oklahoma City. Okla.. Sept. 11— (Special to Daily Democrat) —The Ku Klux Klan in Oklahoma unmasked today on orders of Governor J. C. Walton. No robes, masks or other regalia was worn at ceremonies and initiations last night. Orders were issued by N. C. Jewett ' grand dragon of the klan, for Oklahoma. that no masked parades or 1 ( meetings would be permitted. In ac- ' cordance with the governor's orders. Jew’ett’s action relieved a tense situation, with the governor prepared ' to send troops into every county where masked meetings were acheduled. Militiamen enforcing/ martial law at Tulsa were ready to move over to Bristow, where an initiation was held last night. Just as the meeting was prepared to get under way. orders were received from Jewett to unmask. Governor Walton today declared that the original of a photostatic copy of an application purporting to show that he had sought membership in the Ku Klux Klan, was a forgery. The copies were given out to newspaper men by Klan officials. The governor has made it plain that he is in the fight with the klan to stay until the finish. In a telegram to the chamber of commerce at Tulsa stating conditions under which martial law would be lifted from that city, the governor said: “There cannot be two governments in Oklahoma while 1 am governor.” He demanded that the chamber of commerce assist in "restoring the functioning of judicial and executive offices of your county impartially and in the. interests of all its citizens, instead of in the interest of a secret and invisible government.” America Efficient In Manufacture of Dyes 4 i. Milwaukee, Wis., Sept. 11. —America in six years has reached the same point of efficiency in dye manufacture as Germany reached in forty years. Dr. Charles H. Herty, New York, attending the American Association of Chemists here, told the United Press today. This was accomplished in the face of lack of experience and prejudice and adverse propaganda, Herty. who is president of the Synthetic Organic Manufacturers’ association, said. ! Dr. Charles E. Coates, head of the 1 Audubun Sugar school, University of Louisiana, declared that in time of war the domestic dye industry can be converted in a few weeks to the production of gases sufficient to equip a large army. Insurance Paid Mrs. Magley O. F. Gilliom, of Berne, district manager of the Lincoln Life insurance company ,of Fort Wayne, was in the city today and delivered a check for $2,560.00 to Mrs. Luella Magley. wife of the late Dr. L. K. Magley, the amount of a policy carried in this insurance company by Dr. Mag- , le. The check was greatly appreciated by Mrs. Magley. Dr. Magley died very suddenly last Tuesday after 1 noon and his untimely death came as a great shock to his many friends.

Price: 2 Cents.

SEEKING BODIES OF 22 SAILORS IN THE PACIFIC Only Three Bodies Are Known To Have Been Recoverd; Entombed. SEVEN SHIPS GO DOWN Ships To Be Abandoned In Sea; Capt. Watson Is Still In Command. Los Angeles, Cal.. Sept. 11.- Deep sea divers prowled today through the surf-battered hulks of the seven naval destroyers wrecked off Point Arguella, "graveyard of ships," for the bodies of sailors believed entombed there. A detachment of navy men along shore and five tugs standing off the dangerous rocky point every effort o recover the bodies of twenty two eamen reported dead or missing in the wreck. So far only three bodies are known to have been recovered. Two bodies have been identified as Fireman S. Van Shaak of the United States destroyer Young .and Fireman R. A. Conroy of the Delphi. Most of the missing men are believed entombed within the underwater line compartments of the capsized Young. The seven ships, best of the navy hornets, are to lie left to die on the rocks. The navy men hope to salvage only a portion of valuable apparatus. Captain E. H. Watson, wiio was in command of the miniature fleet when it dashed upon the rocks in tlie Saturday night fog, is still in command. He will continue to hold his position until the findings of the naval board of inquiry fix responsibility for the disaster. The general belief of navy experts is that responsibility for tlie crash should not be laid to human fault!bility but rather to unusual tidal conditions and a radio jam. Fi ance and Germany May Reach Agreement By CARL I). GROAT (United Press Service) Berlin, Sept. 11. —Sources close to the interallied commission here tolay said H. Haguenin, chief of the French delegation discussing a basis for a reparations agreement, departed for Paris this afternoon with “diplomatic: feelers" gleaned from his consultations with the German government. The belief persisted that a basis for serious negotiations soon may be reached. Germany is ready to conclude an agreement with France for delivery of potash, wood and coal and to arrange for close linking of the French ore-producing districts to the German coal mining regions, according to a semi-official agency report published here. — • Rioting In Dresden Berlin, Sept. 11—(Special to Daily Democrat) — Violent rioting started by a demonstration of unemployed has broken out in Dresden, a dispatch from that city said today. Five persons were killed in the first clash between police and the demonstrators. . Fighting continued at the hour the telegram was filed this afternoon. — » BULLETIN (United Press Service) Franklin, Ind., Sept. 11 — (Special to Daily Democrat) — Suffering from a nervous breakdown. William G. Oliver, former state auditor of Indiana, hanged himself at his home near here todav. Members of the family found the body hanging in the barn. Oliver was elected in 1920 and was defeated by Kobert Bracken, present auditor in the election of 1922.