Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 22, Number 3, Decatur, Adams County, 3 January 1924 — Page 1

Volume XXII. Number 3.

MOTORISTS MAY GET REBATE ON LICENSE FEES Attorneys, Say That “Paid Under Protest” Should Be On Application FEW GETTING PLATES Local Issuing Branch Office I Experiences Stump In Number Issued — Motorists who do not designate on their applications for automobile license plates that they pay “under protest." will be unable to collect a rebate in case the supreme court upholds the decision of Judge L J. Our*. rendered in St. Joseph county superior court last Saturday, declar inc the automobile license law unconstitutional, in the oplniou of several attorneys. Miss Nova Yost, who is in charge of the local branch office of the Hoosier State Automobile Association, stated today that she had received no word from the secretary of state nor from state office of {fee auto association regarding the matter. Two persons have written “paid under protest” on their application blanks here. Miss Yost stated today. Meanwhile, there is a great slump In the number of license plates being Issued at the local office. Yesterday there writ eight passenger car license plates issued while a year ago yesterday there were 74. Shortly foie noon today, a total of 512 license plates had been issued here, while a year ago today. sl6 had be.-n issued Last Saturday nnd Monday were the only two days since Miss Yost start ed issuing 1924 license plates that she has been kept busy. Many mot mists ask her what she knows nbo it the new law and then say they ar.going to wilfuntil a fltrat dwcf<lnn Is Made. If such Is the case, and the decision is not made before a few weeks yet. it will be impossible for nil to get their license plates before February 15. the last date set by th state. U. S. Lesh, attorney general <>'' Indiana, announced that the supreme court will be asked to take action < n the rulinit and also said that Judge (lares' decision does not effect the registration under the new law. un lens It is affirmed by the ouprem ■ court. In the event Judge Dare's de vision Is upheld, registration under the new law. which Increases the coat of automobile licenses fees from f>o to 200 percent will cease, the at torney general said Jndge Oare's decision c ame as the result of a suit brought by the South Bend Motor Bus company for a man date to compel Secretary of State Ed Jackson and his deputy. Rosetta R Nye. at South Bend, to issue licenses to the bus company under the old rate. The state filed ade murrer and this was overruled by Judge OMe. in rendering hl» decision, the court held the new law unconst tuitions' for the reason that two bills were combined under one law, a clear violation of that nnction of the constitution which was framed for the purpose of guarding against log roll Ing” legislation. This section pro video that each net of the assembly ahull embrace only one subject. Judge Os re held that the act com bines a bill for the transfer of Inherllauur taaes from the state highway fund with another fixing increased automobile license fees. Several prominent attorneys In Ft. Wayne hare ggprea»<<l themselves us considering the law "loosely written and likely to be h»ld one (institution al." ■I **—■- ' ■'■■■ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ 4 CONGRESS TODAY ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (United Frees Hef’lrc) Senats Resumes fight over chairmanship of interstate «Mnmvr<.. committee House Routine bt«ln*»s sad speeches Ways and means committee begins real work on Mellon tax bill Immigration, committee centinu')* bearing* «m new Immigration legfsla tIM. Appropriation** committee conUnites work on annual supply bill*.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Fire Destroys School House Near Monroeville Monroeville, Jan. 3 -The interior of the Potts school in Madison township was destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. The* floor of the building had been oiled yesterday and it bursted into u blaze, while* n fire was being started in the school stove. 11 was soon beyond control and practically everything in the building was ruined. The walls of the building were left standing and it is though that it will be possible to restore the interior without tearing down the walls. Mirs Irene Youse is teacher at the school and Martin Hoffman is township trustee. o — FIREMEN ELECT NEW OFFICERS Volunteer Firemen Name Officials For Year 1924 Last Night Members of the Decatur Volunteer Fire Department held a very interesting meeting at the city hall last night. Officers for the year 1924 were elected as follows: Assistant chief. Joseph Smith; treasurer. R. E. Smith; secretary. Erve Elzey; delegates to convention. Oscar Sprague and Charles Fisher. Fire Chief. Amos Fisher, .who was appointed by Mayor DeVoss, has re-appointed Jack Frefdt as foreman for the year. Mr. I’reidt will be the captain and he will make the other appointments.’ Walter Wilkinson was elected a member of the company last night. A large number of the members wen* present at the meeting. The next convention of the Northern Indiana Industrial and Volunteer Firemen's Association will be held in Fort Wayne. "o — — .lames Stults Purchases _ North End Grocery Here James Stultes. for twelve years custodian of the Adams county court house, has purchased the North End Grocery of George Steele, and is now in charge of the business. It wps slated that Mr. Steele Is cittemplatIng going to Roanoke. Mr. Stults invites the former patrons of the grocery to call and also extends an invitation' to his friends and those who need groceries to trade at the North End Grocery. Army Recruiting Officer Is Stationed In Decatur Sargeant C. A. Malcoln. U. S. Recruiting officer, ha- been stationed in Decatur for an indefinite length of time. Vacancies exist in all branqh** of service and those who enlist will receive good pay, go* si clothes. good medical attention, have a chunce to Havel and a chance to learn a trade. Sargeant Malcol nwlll lie found at the local postoffice between tSt* hours of 9 am. and n*«>n eac h day while here, and will he glad to give information to all Interested in joining the service. — 1 ' 0 ■■ -■ (’rittenberjfer Announces His Candidacy Today (United Press Mtnff (-,irre*pondent > Indianapolis. Jan. 3—(Special tn Dally Democrat)—Dale J. Crittenberger. editor of the Anderson Bulletin and former auditor of state, today announced his candidacy for the democratic nomination for governor In the May primary. The announcement put an end to reports that Crtttcnberger would not ' enter the ruce. "la*** government and less taxes" was the keynote of his announce ment. He declared for "horn** rule" and the decentralisation of govern meat. c —' '— Great Britain Protests Washington-Great Brittan haw made formal representations to the * United states sgrinst the aeixare some weeks mo hy American count guard authorities of the Ttimiika out side the three mile limit It was learned today. . ._o——— — - - CHICAGO MARKET CLOSE | —f «eee | Wheat: May ILOTH; Jnlv . sept. lI.MH- corn: May 74%c; July 76Hc; Kept* WHc- Oats: May 4t»%<*; July 43kc.

'BELIEVE DRUGS PLAYED PART IN MOVIE SCANDAL Police Admit Narcotics May Have Had Part in Hollywood Shooting CHAUFFEUR QUIZZED Will Hays, Movie Dictator. On Way To Hollywood For Probe Los Angeles, Jan. 3 —Marcottes, enemy of more than one member of the Hollywood film colony, today entered the Investigation into the shooting of J Courtland S. Dines. Possibility of drugs playing a part in the tragedy or the events which J led up to Horace A. Greer, Mabel Normand's chauffeur attempting to kill the wealthy oil man axis ail mitted today by police seeking a motive for the crime. Greer was questioned at length re- ■ garding uny knowledge he might : have as to whether drugs featured I in the parties held by the principles : in the triangular affair. Los Angeles. Jan. 3—Will H. Hays. > whose movie family had been quite , faithfully avoiding ippleasant 'pulx - licity until the sensational shooting : of Courtland 8. Dines. Tuesday night . by Mabie Normand's chauffeur, was I reported today to have left his old home in Sullivan. Ind., and to be t speeding westward to investigate Hollywood's latest scandal. ' Assured by physicians attending 1 the Denver oil man. shot while enter--1 talned Miss Mabel Normand and ' ,Edna Purviance. Charles Chaplin's 1 leading lady, at a New Year's day party that Qlnes will recover, author! ties pr>*i>ared to press a charge of assault with attempt to commit murd i er against Joseph Greer, alia* Kelly, the chauffeur. - —e ■" Earthquakes In Italy . Rome. Jan. 3 Ci-ismographs today , registered strong earthquake shocks close to the city peruglt. a dispatch , frrttn ('aril su'd. The shocks lasted übout six seconds There was no ( damage. I ” — The Misses Celia Andrews and Naomi Meyers visited friends at Bluffton last evening. Ben Kohne, of Waslngton township, vas * business visitor in the city to day. William Rodnebeck. Jr. living in ( Root township, was a business visitor ; here yesterday. Mrs. C. C 8< hnfer and daughter. I Gretchen, spent the afternoon In Fort I Wayne with friends > FIELD MEN TO HOLD MEETING Conference Os Beet Sugar Men At Lansing. Mich., This Month , The anneal conference of the field men of all the heet sugar manutac- „ turltiM companies In the middle west. t will be held at Musing. Michigan, at * th* stat* agri 'ilturt* college, on r January 22. 2-1 and 24th The field men of th** HoHand St. n Umils sugar < -oMpany will attend, tnt!eluding th* twelve fl*ld men connected with th* local plant, John Car- '• mody. manager <»f the factory will att- tend also ” It Is expected that at lenst 40® i men. Interested in or concocted with the sugar jnctoriea will he tn attendance. The purpose of the conference is to give a "schooling" tn the field i men in the raising and care of sugar , heels, so that they can be of more II service to the growers. 11 Speakers from the United Staton department of agriculture and from .'states where they have agriculture I colleges and make a study of b*vt» will lie present at the big mOdlhq. The field men are acquainted with th* raising and cultivation of l»e*t* ; and all sorts or questions are asked ; and advice given by th* instructors, y All of the Imai field men are plan nlng to attend the OMferMCC.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, January 3, 1924.

ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE Wabash, Jan. 3—Winter may | come and winlei' may go but swimming goes on forever. So It is with Homer Showalter and John Morrow, two of Wabash's leading citizens. Yesterday the two men | hied themselves off to Silver Lake and despite the zero temperature and the fact that the lake was fringed with ice, yu- two men took the first dip of the new year. Charles Pearson who operates the Myrtle Glen park at Silver latke was called on by the two men to witness the aquatic stunt. Pearson obtained a photograph of the two men in the water to attest the fact that they were in swimming. MH COUNCIL WILL MEET SOON Several Apuropriations Are Insufficient To Pay Claims The members of the county council will be called into session some time i this month. County Auditor Martin Jaberg announced this morning Several of th • funds and appro . priatiors for the year 1923 were ex- • haunted before all hills were paid by the county commissioners on ; December Ist. It is thought that the : county council will be asked to api propriate lietween »'x and seven I hundred dollars from the general • fund to certain other funds or de ■ partments. Among the funds that are exhaust • ed and where claims have not beer - paid for the want of funds, are th« I Board of Children's G iardians. co'in ty farm, bridge superintendents, r changes of venue and special judges i The money dervied from the opera f tton of the county farm is placed in I the general fund and used for all pur , poses and a specific appropriation must b- made to pay all claims outgrowing from the operation of this institution. The county also re < elves much money from other conn ' ties for court cases venued to this ’ county, but this money also diverts 1 to the general fund and separate I appropriation must be made to pay ' the other counties. The county council has not been it session since last September, when • the 1924 budget was prepared an-' • adopted and the tax rates were fix ed Auditor Jaberg will notify the . membera of the board as to the ex- - a< t date. ' Grand Jury To Probe Muncie Police Squabble . J Muncie, ipd , Jan. 3.—Muncie's po t lice squabble will be investigated by the grand jury daring the session now on. it was indicated today when inemhers of the board of safety were called before that Inquisitorial itody. It la understood that the Investigation k Is being directed at the action of Ma ■ yor John Quick in appointing a hu mane officer over the head of the board of safety and thus forcing the .resignation of the three board mem hera. o Police Asked To Help Locate Miairing Youth ■ The local polite department has j been asked to h*-lp Incat llrrahtd i McKinley. ag>al 15, who diaappeuri*d from hia home In Alexandria on the night of D>-ct-mber 2» When he left home, the hoy was riding a grey horse with a large saddle, nreompanied by an airdale dog. A reward of 325 is offered for the return nt the boy ||i* is dtwrllted as fol Iowa: ( "Age 15, but has th* appearance of t a hoy la years old, 6 feet 9 ln<hca In eyes and tffi-dlutu brown hair; was wearing a grey cap and brown shirt. go<*s with top button open until I brown checked under coat, woolen kakhi riding i>anta, tan shoes, brown leather leggings. Hack gauntlet and hrown sport overcoat. ■' .!' " '■LJBB— LL.. 'U JL 1 —'i ll . L 1 ( Weather • j ■—"■■■ ■ I | Indiana Fair and tolder tonight; i; cold wave In the east and south por- . | tiops with temperature nesr aero In I north portion and five to ten above . lu smith portion; Friday fair and ton • tinned cold, prnhahly followed hy un nettled Friday night.

CONGRESS BACK IN WASHINGTON AFTER HOLIDAY Senate Faces Progressive Fight; House Tackles Tax Reduction i 1 FIGHT IS RESUMED Progressives Resume Fight Over Election Os I. C. C. Chairman iPy Paul R. Mallon I il T . I . Staff Correspondent) Washington, Jan. J -Congress tame back tod/y from its holiday—the senate to face a r* j ivenated progressive fight anil the house to tussle with tax reduction. Senator LaFollette. practical "dictator” in the upper house, with his balance of his power, plans to make his first appearance ana bolster the progressive stand against election of a regular republican as chairman of the interstate commerce committee. The progressives plan to take up balloting just where they left off before Christmas. Senator Robinson, democratic lead-' er. assured the progressives enough democrats will be presented to prevent election of Senator Cummins, candidate of the administration republicans. The democrats for the most part, however, are anxious to set aside the fight over t hnlrmanship of the comIttee and move to other business if no solution inn be reached early. It is MFollette'a idea to stick behind Senator Howell, Nebraska, republican. or Senator Couzins. Michigan. republican, anil if neither can win. to elect Smith, the democratic candidate. River Seine Flooding City Os Paris, France Parts. Jan. 3—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The rising river Seine burst through dikes at the Billan Court gate at Paris today ami poured in a torrent over the Moats and fortiflcations above the capitol i The situation became critical in the suberbs Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate. —— ———o— Typhoid Fever Victim Known In This City Miss Dora Mathilda Atx. 38. daughter of Mr. anti Mrs. Albert Atx. of Kendallville, died in Fort Wayne, where she has been employed, at 9 o'clock last night, following an Illness of typhoiii fever. Miss Atx was a niece of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Atx. formerly of Decatur anti now of Goshen. She was known by sevt*ral local people. Funeral services will be held in Kendallville Friday, WOMEN VOTERS MEET JAN. 8 Will Meet At Hospital On Invitation Os Miss Emelic Christ; To Sew On Tuesday afternoon. January 8 the Decatur League of Women Voters will accept the Invitation of Mis* Emilia C. Christ, superintendent of the Adams County Memorial Hospital nnd hold Its meeting at the hospital. Th* committee is charge of the meeting will be Mesdamen J 8 f*eterson. Ed. Ahr. Thomas Durkin. Charles Dtignn, William Butler and J. L Kocher. Ihirltia the afternoon, while th women do hand sewing for th* I hospital there will be a dint tiashm of a number of question* under gt*n*riil topic, "Know Your Town." Thia plan will bo followed mil during the meetings which th* League expeota to holtl at th* hoapitnJ on th* ffr« Tto—day afternoon •»( each month Mis* Christ and th* committee tn charge ol th* meeting hop* that all m«mb*ra of the M**au* will make a apecial effort to be nt th* hospital at 12 o'rln* k In ihe afternoon. Tu*»dny They also tnrdlally Invite alt women of the t Ity who wish tn do their hit for th* new hospital to he present at th* meeting and become affiliated with th.* organisation, whit h la plan nlng to combine h-*lpfuln.-aa with the study of citlxcnnhlp.

Largest Snow Os Winter Fell Last Night; Cold The first real snow of the present winter fell last night. Between four and five inches covered the ground when tile people of Adams county awoke this morning. The ground was frozen solid beneath the snow ami tin* cold weather today caused it to re main on the ground without melting u bob-sled was put into use today by th* express company. | Zero weather Is forecast for tie night. Tlte prediction for northern Indiana is temperature near zero and from five to ten above in the south portion of the state. Friday It is predicted, will be fair and told. The temperature today was about 20 above. TESTING CATTLE IN THIS COUNTY I ' Federal Inspector Testing Cattle For Tuberculosis Dr. George W. Hamilton, of Ft. Wayne, Federal Inspector of this district for tuberculosis in cattle, was in Adams county Monday and. accom--1 panietl by the county agent began the test for tulterculosis in several herds of cattle located in the neighborhood of Berne anti Decatur. Another visit wil he made to the herds Thursday at which time it can as(Prtalned whether or not the cattle are infected with the disease It Is said theie are more than eighty herds in the county Whi.‘'i have received cerilfhates of accreditation front th.- I*. S. Government which certify the herds are free from the disease The testing is done free of charge by the Government and State men and any reactors which are found are slaughtered under Federal supervision. Owenrs of infected cattle are reimbursed for the lossAnumber of herds of the «onnty are on the wafting list hut tfhl* W the fact Dr. Hamilton has charge of several other counties it is doubtful when they can be tested. T'lO.-te wanting herds tested should ob'ain lietails at the county agent's office. Cloyd Gephart \ ery ill Cloyd Gephart. teacher in the Central a.-hools here last winter, i* very critically ill at his hot.ie near Wren, Ohio. Mr. Gephart had a very bail night last night ami was suffuring much this mornin? He Is suffering fu.in a ct.iuplication of diseaaea. Man Freezes To Death Chicago. Jan. 3.—The second death thia month from th* cold was ret ord *d by police today. , The body of John J. Quirk. 4.1. was j found on a south side Itcach Last night. Police believe the man was taking a walk, and succumbed to the cold Along the beech front the tbeermo meter stands at or beli>w zero ii aim ♦ - —-urns TRUCK DRIVER FINED Frank Miller, local drayman, who : was arrested last week for driving a ' truck without lights, pleaded guilty In city court yesterday anti was fined II anti costs by Mayor H. M. DeVoaa ( Miller was arrested following a col Halon between hi* truck and a car driven hy Elmer Darwaehter. Perry Saunders, who was arrested a few Idsvs ago for wife and child d*»*rtfon, , has not b**n given a trial yet. a* h* la working nut of th* city. ll* will , be notified by th* court to appear nt a later flat*. .r—, 01 ■! ■——ma SUGAR MARKET x New York Sugar Market lower. Jan. I4:«4 tn 34 97; Match 3t t» to 34 .in; May 14 57 to 34.18 Angola 11. S. Trains Play Local Quintets Th* Decatur high school hots' and girls' hasketlMll teams will play ih« , Angola high »• henl iMm« in th* new ' high school grmna*lum her* tomorrow nigh* Angola has strong teams this year nnd th* gam** her* tomorrow nt«b» ar* *xpe< l*d io piov* very I interesting The Decatur boys have ahnwn g»*at Improvement recently 1 and they are expecting a victory over Angola.

Price: 2 Cents.

EXPLOSION IN STARCH HOUSE KILLS SEVERAL Fire Follows Causing Loss Os Half Million At Pekin, Illinois 30 MAY BE DEAD Three Bodies Recovered; Many Workmen Severely Injured tl'n't-il Pr*as Scvlcet Pekin. 111.. .lan. 3 (Specinl 1 1<» Daily Democrat) Eight are known (lend in the thy dust ext plosion todav in the dry starch plant of Ihe Corn Products * company I’nclory here, the chief of police announced nt noon. Thirty-four tire missing. Approximatclv fifty were injured, st i’»c fatnlly. he snid. Eight hotlies were removed from Ihe blazing debris. More mac be in ihe ruins. What appeared likely to be bodies of two men can be seen n Ihe ruins. Twenty tis the missing may be entombed In the baaement of the plant. These men were known to nave gone to work in the basement fifteen minutes before the explosion. Plant officials said that approximately 250 men were at work in the building when the explosion occured. It may be several days before the real casualty list is compiled. The plant is a blazing mass of ruin r-outlning search to the edges. Pekin. 111.. Jan. —(Special to Dally Democrat) —From three to thirty dead, more than fifty injured and a fire loss of more than a half milHon dollars Is the story in brief of the explosion in the dry starch house of the Corn Products company in this 7ff»y "fftSd fhht morning. At in a. m it was impossible to gain accurate information owing to the wild confusion that surrounds th* monster )>latit. where scenes beggaring description are being momentar 'ly witnessed as wives and children seek traces of husband ami father who entered the building on the 11 o'clock shift ami have not been s**n or lieaitl from. At I<> a. tn. but three bodies hail l>e*n recovered. These were <aken out immediately utter th* explouhm un<l have been dentffled as l.w Harding, foreman of the plant; George Harm* and William Humler all residents of Peoria. Think Several Prriehed Workmen who succeeded In escaping the double fury of fire and explosion agree that (Mmsibly a score of otbeta must certainly have periab*d. for they declare it wu* a physical Im imsHihlllty for many of th* 3M employes at work on the tour doors of the starch hou«e to have escaped. Dozen* of workmen were terribly Injured Some of them managed to tank* their way to the open air with their clothing literally burned off them Others emerge,l through the floors with clothing torn to shreds while still other* wej-o dragged forth with leg* anil arm* broken and eyes loin out hy th* force of th* explosion. Th* March house I* a unit of the mon«t*r plant of th* Corn Product* company, it* wall* of brick and con ett-te and th* Interior of wimhl. Fire Fallows Explosion Following th* cxploHltm dam** broke forth ln*tnntly anil quickly were surging through th* entire four door*. The Corn Product* company hu* Its own firisfizhtlttg force, which quickly responded from other building*, The Pi Mu* Hr* department was call t-d but there was nothing their com liftosl I*l7oxl* could do toward curbing th* fir* hi th* starch house and they eoni<ni*d th*m»ylvoa with saving oth*r liutld'ng*. Tlte starch hou«e was totally df**troy*d. only imrtion* of th«* walla r< multtlng Ho httense la th* heat that nothing can y*t h»* done toward searching th* I ruin* for hmlle* of (hone who at - * believed tn have perished In the blast Prorta Sends Aid i Penrla was appealed tn for aid and ' th* Hinhiiluntea of that , Ity fe*pniid . *d The proctor and Si Frutict* hos t pit tl* of pent I* both sent detach tn*nt« nf num** tn this Evety - phvahtan tn P>*kin . ..ill for atrt I her* " jf* nW of fl,, ui !.. . . lot al) the !»'• ' i | Pt.innW r ' z