Decatur Democrat, Volume 41, Number 19, Decatur, Adams County, 22 July 1897 — Page 4

THE DEMOCRAT EVERY THURSDAY MORNING BY LEA G. ELLINGHAM, PUBLISHER. 11.50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE. Entered at the Postoffice at Decatur. Indiana as Second-Class Mail Matter. OFFICIAL PAPER OF ADAMS COUNTY. y ;m—-v -w—M—u-^z—v—vr—ir -w—v—v v -u—ir—ir-u- -u w -v —w j,. ,x- H, poor pointing Pf¥YS ——d POOR PROFITS. We get out a class ot print ng J t that is superior tn the 'general If run." (food printing pitys. J S DEMOCRAT < LB 'OK AND JOB S PRINTBRY. _n—n__n_n__A-ji_ a—a. a--a—a. -a_a Jt. ■n—A—n— n—n- -n—n—nJ THURSDAY, JULY 22. Give us light. We are not all favored with cat eyes. We need more light and less trifling with official authority. By wav of resolution ought not Erwin, Peterson and Andrews be touched up a little. They all “fit” us, durn ’em The mills of justice grinds slowly sars Mayor Quinn. He believes in a government by resolution, and that d—n quick. Turn on the tights. The council should quit making brass monkeys of themselves and transact the public business like men. The public will commend the change. Paul Hooper was the second victim of the council’s official wrath. Now bis character is blackened, his reputation ruined and his chances for being the next postmaster of the city materially slackened. Government by resolution is the order of things at the council room. The council can find time for most, anything except passing a resolution ordering the officials of the j city to publish a financial exhibit. The publication of the financial standing of Decatur would please ninety-nine taxpayers out of every hundred, and yet the council sees not the signs of the times. Whether they want to or not, is another question. The street e< .mmissioner’s pay roll of #166.15 was allowed Tuesday evening This represents a whole lot of labor and should like wise represent some noticeable ini provements on the many thoroughfares in this city. The latter is not so noticeable as the former. The Decatur Democrat insists on the city council making a financial statement for the benefit of the taxpayers. The citizens of tha' : town ate in total darkness as to i where and how the funds are dis- ; posed of. All they know is that the city is terribly in debt.—Portland Sun. Cat fights are numerous among the various heads of the city government and the leader and chairman of their party, Paul Hooper. The people only hope they will get mad enough to turn on the electric lights and order a published statement of the city’s financial re sources. It is the duty of the Journal to jump on Paul Hooper’s neck and ride him rough shod from Ato Israel. The mean old thing to say that “ours” was the rotten°st kind of a rotten administration, while he occupies that exalted position of chairman of the republican county committee, and holds the postoffice in bis vest pocket. Now that everything is so peacefully harmonious among the republican brethren, we hope the council won’t further delay that longed for exhibit of Decatur’s financial standing. Let’s drown our sorrows by resolution, and get together. We think Paul Hooper would like to see such an exhibit, and a request from him can’t be refused by the council.

We print in full this week the long and interesting decision rendered by Judge Heller in the injunction suit of J. H. Vogelwede vs the City of Decatur. Knowing the interest manifested in the case in question, we reproduce it in full, that all our readers may study it from all their varied standpoints. It no doubt represents the law, and that is the principal matter to now be considered. According to its provisions the injunction is dissolved in whole and in part. Many members of the bar assert that it is perhaps the most able opinion handed down by the present jurist, which is saying much, for Judge Heller is becoming widely known throughout Indiana for hie keen insight into the law and its proper interpretation.

Senator Teller, one of the braiuest republicans in the senate sftvs of the new tariff hill, "In my judgment it is the worst tariff bill* ever passed, i hi- rates are exceedingly high; it takes care of all the I trusts in the country, and I say I without offense, the trusts and combinations and syndicates have bad too much to do with the preparation of the bill.” The expected has happened. The republicans of the tariff' cor.lerenc | committee have agreed to cut out 'he senate sugar schedule and insert the house schedule wi'h several j changes, of course in the interest of 'he sugar trust. It is heralded as a defeat of the sugar trust, and the agents of the trust are doing their best to look desappointed, while they are entirely satisfied, as the amended Dingley schedule gives them a little more than they expected to get, although, of course, not everything they wanted. They want the earth and the fullness hereof. In the olden days if a man starting in business had sufficient capital. had sufficient industry and had sufficient integrity, you might expect him to make a success in business. Not necessarily so today. A man may have sufficient capital; a man may be industrious; he may be honest; he may have business experience; yet in a moment be may find his capital dissipated, he may find himself a bankrupt. Why? Because the trust will come to him and hold out before him two propositions—either ask him to become a member of the trust, a conspirator against his fellows, or threaten him with bankruptcy on the other hand. If he prefers his independence, he is given death, it means s rvitude to the trust to which he attaches himself.—William Jennings Bryan. The contention existing among our republican brethren regarding the city administration and the Building of an electric light plant, <fee., has stirred the animals among the aspirants for the postoffice. The list of candidates that is laying persistent claims for the honor, are P. L Andrews, Paul Hooper, R. 8. Peterson, B. W. Quinn and D French Quinn. In case Andrews can have it, Hooper will make no contention, otherwise he is after it w.tb both feet. R. S. Peterson’s soldier record and long and devoted service to the ctuse embodied in republican sm is a strong claim, while Mayor Quinn wants it, no doub’, in order to succeed a brilliant record as head ot the city administration, by being postmaster. French Quinn, no doubt, has the best recommendations and if they count for anything he will get it. Bu nevertheless, peace don’t dwell very harmoniously in the republican | ranks.

The money received on tbe July settlement has already been paid out by the city treasurer, and owing to tbe objections of certain parties who apparently wish to em harass tbe city government, no money will be borrowed from the special funds to meet the orders on tbe general fund. as has been the custom heietofore. Those holding unpaid city orders can thank the critics of the city administra’ion for the suspension of a system wtiich, while perhaps a little irregular, allowed the working people to receive prompt pay ment tor their accounts —Evening Journal.

The above, while truthfully ex-' plaining the condition of the city j treasury, is insulting to the many taxpayers and citizens of this city. Who are the critics of the city government? There are none, units- , the asking of a report of the city officers can be called such. If it is criticism to want to know the con dition of the city's finances, then the honest taxpayers of the city can | be called critics. If it is criticism to want to know whether the city | is beyond the two per cent, limit of indebtedness, then a few of our taxpayers can be called critics. But is this embarassing to the city government, and is it asking anything | unjust or improper? Is it asking anything any taxpayer hasn’t a right to know? Is it asking anything that any common council aonld object to, if their purpose was solely an hon Bfone?8 f one? We think not. The majority of the council should be ashamed of such silly acts, and the J< ur >al should be better employed than sanctioning them. Last week the city drew their June settlement amounting to $9,706.43. That money was seemingly all spent before they received it, or it wouldn’t be necessary now to refuse payment of orders. This spendthrift manner of transacting the city’s business will surely be appreciated by the city’s taxpayers. To think that before the installment of taxes has been collected, the amount thus derived has been estimated and the money spent. On top of this they seek to insu It the people who has paid this money by telling them that they would have borrowed the monev to pay orders had they not been criticised. By all means, never cross a city dad.

ONLY A JOKE. That the citv should be left iu darkness is a lani“ulable condition ot affalis and some me.ms of ending the present uncertainty should be adopted Tlir citv needs light. Whether or not ii would be proliiab e tor the city to secure an electric light plant is a disputable question that can only be settled by a ciieful examinat.on of the figures showing the cost of urn iug one and the receipts. It is possible, as some assert, tbat in a ew veins the city would own the plant and be securing its lights tree ot all c.iarges. Could this be done the advantage is apparent. but we must consider th- pos sible mismanagement under a future incompetent administration which is always possible when a business is ibrown into politics, especially when less pains are taken tp secure men o business ability than to reward politicians. For the above reason, arid tor this only, we are inclined to think that the council should nego iaie with responsible private parties for securing I'gilts at as re-isonable a cost to both city and individuals as is possible, but whether they are to erect works to be undei tbe management of the city or private individuals no valuable time should be lost iu ending tbe period ot darkness which the quarrebbet ween the council and others has involved tbe city.—Evening Journal

As the Journal well says, the present period of darkness is lamentable. It is not only lamentable but disgraceful, so far as the common council is concerned. That body of business dispensers annulled the contract of Electrician Edwards in order to gratify a petty and selfish motive, and that is the t est you can say for it. While they are ei joying the gratifying effects ol “getting even” with Edwards, every citizen of Decatur is blindly stumbling through darkness, chancing a brok en leg on the many God forsaken | stnet croS'ings—some of them the fruits of a street commissioner who has bad eye sight—and making their homes and business houses a rendezvous for midnight thieving and plundering. This is the beautiful illustrated souvenir allotted the taxpayers of tbe city by the present administration who were put into power to open the books and revolutionize the official manage- i ment of the city. Whether or not the city intends putting in a plant, or having a company to do it for them, does not enter into this part of tbe controversy. The fact that the city is now in darkness and the additional fact that in one night the contract was annulled and his business ruined, is all the people have to deal with now. It doesn’t require much of a stereopticon to disclose the regard the average \ councilman has for other men or I the businessthey may represent. Mr. Edwards has furnished light for the city for a number of years. The price paid is no doubt enough, but ■ because the city has paid it, is no fault of Mr. Ed wards. There is no person in the city better qualified to furnish estimates upon such a. plant as the city proposes to build, than Mr. Edwards. Furthermore he was deserving of decent treatment from tbe hands of the council. It doesn’t cost ant thing to do that. Ihe action of the council in this matter has branded them as personal avengers, rule or ruin, and the Lord only knows who the next victim will be. The joke of the Journal’s pat-’em on tbe-back article, lies in its timidity and fear ot building an electric light plant on account ot a possible ‘‘future administration of mismanagement.” Now isn’t that lovely. Will the Journal please inform us what be would call the present administration, if he fears the next one will be mismanaged. Is there any word in Webster’s vocabulary of learning that will define it. Surely not. If city affairs get any worse than they are at present, the people w.ill rise enmassand smite them the same way the council smote Edwards jon the question of electric lights. It is a cheap way for the Journal to commend the present city ad- . ministration, and at the same time I clear the way for its successor, which the Journal well surmises will be democratic. There is room for missionery work with the present’administration, and the Journal would better point out a few errors to them, instead of worrying its ; brain about the yet unborn. Turn on the light.

The Delphi Times is correct ini s y ng that when the democrats de- i dared for the free and unlimited coinage of silver at 16 to 1 they meant it. But they didn’t mean repudiation and anarchy, and that’s ! what the gold bugs said they meant and, unfortunately, they made a great multitude of voters believe them. This “wrong construction” of a platform, which was not only innocent, but remarkably frank and bold, was singularly enough accepted by a multitude of honest voters. Most of them, we think, realize now that they were victimized and will not allow themselves to be duped again.—Sentinel, The council for once should remember that an anxious public demands light on the street. The citizens of this place should not be the dumping ground for the councils vengeanc on Edwards.

Clothing and Furnishings FOR HOT WEATHER. Our stock is still complete with latest novelties in Crash Suits nW/ Double breasted Serge Coats, XjW Single breasted Serge Coats and Vests -Black Alpaca Coats and Vests, ' Fancy Duck Vests, &c. Negligee and fancy Shirts, starched bosoms, in prevailing colors We have about 150 odd Coats and Vests and odd Pants left, which we have marked down to onehalf price. This is without a doubt the greatest cut in clothing there ever was made in Decatur. Come in early before they are all picked over. P. Moltholise # Go.

I ▼ ALI ATION IN AI>AHN. Abstract of A*seM»ment as Compiled By Auditor ilang'old. — UNION TOWNSHIP. Acres 15.825 79 Valueof lands * 2J8.115 ' Vaiue of improvements 54.n$Ow i Value of lands and improvements.. 341.685,00 Average value of lands 18.14 I Average value lands and impro’m’ts _ i Value of personal property 71,735.00 i Total value of taxabies Polls 191 ROOT. Acres 22.108 IMOO I Value of lands S 479,485.00 ■ Value of improvements 69,910 00 | Value or lands and improvements.. 549.395.0 • Average value of land 21.68 : Average value lands and impro’m’ts _ 24.85. Value ot personal property 105.615.iU Total taxables 657,09x00 ; PREBLE. Acres 15,060 74-10!) ! Value of lands I 285.930 00 Value of improvements 92.675,00 Value of lands and improvements.. 378.6 *5.01) , Average value of lands j Average value landsand impro’m’ts 25 15 Value of personal property 123.330 On I Total taxables 507.955.(0 i Polls.. .f 196 I KIRKLAND. Acres 15,185 88-10* • | Value of lands * 286,655.(4) Value of improvements 71.905 (u , Value of lands and Impr vements . 358,560 .uo Average value ot lands. 18.87 Average value lands and impro’m'ts 23.61 j Value of personal property 64.815.00 Total taxables 425,145.00 Polls WASHINGTON. Acres ■ • .22.036 38-100 Value of lands $ 540.835. CU Value of improvements 96.u20.00 Value of lands and improvements.. 626 855.00 Average value ot lands 24.08 j Average value lands and impro’m'ts 28.45 Value of personal property 100,(«3 ”.U0 i Total taxables 728,255.* 0 ' Polis 220 . ST. MARY’S. Acres 15.20174 10 I Valueof lands f 301.125,00 Value of improvements 81.96" 00 Value of lands and improvements.. 84,960.00 ■ Average vaiue ot lands 19.80 I Average value lands and impro’m'ts 25 39 I Vaiue of personal property 60,365.00 . Total taxables 456,820.0 u Polls 196 , BLUE CREEK. Acres 15.121 52-100 ; Vaiue of lands 4 274,110.00 I Value of improvements 74,160.00 i Value of lands and improvements.. 348.270. CU I Average value of lands 18.13 I Avera^'value landsand impro m’ts 23.03 ; Value of personal property 48.750.0*3 I Total taxables 397,595.00 ; | Polls 177 | MONROE. 'Acres 22,5801-00 I ! Valueof lands I 463.625.00 | i Valueof improvements 129,085.00 i Value of lauds and improvements.. 592,710.00 ■ Average value of lands 20.53 j Average value lands and impro’m'ts 26 24 i Valueof personal property 139.360.00 I 1 Total taxables 745 240 <io i Polls 39s FRENCH. ' Acres 15.242 76-100 Valueof lands I 259.295 00 i Value of improvements 80.655.00 Value of lands and improvements.. 369.950.00 Average vaiue of lands 18.97 Average value lands and Value of personal property 96,(1*5.00 Total taxables 465.955.00 Polls 168 HARTFORD. I Acres 15.271 66-100 Value of lands I 301.650.00 Value of improvements 72,680.00 Value of lands and improvements.. 374,330.00 i Average value of lands 19.75 j Average value lands and impro’m’ts 24 51 ! Valueof personal property 253.770.00 Total taxables 642,35u.00 i Polls 289 WABASH. Acres 12.223 62-100 Valueof lands * 452.545 00 Value of improvements ... 88,215 0G Value of lands and improvements.. 540,760.00 Average value of lands 2»'.3r | Average vaiue lands and impro’m’ts 24 33 ' Value of improvements 123,000.00 Total taxables 667,500 00 ’ Polis 325 JEFFERSON. Acres 15.277 83-100 Valueof lands I 262.425.0 u Value ot Improvements 62.200.00 Value of lands and improvements.. 324,625.00 Average value of lands 17 17 Average value landsand impro’m’ts 21.26 Value of personal property 58.326.00 Total taxables 382.950.00 Polls 201 DECATUR, Acres 490 74-100 Value of lands ? 38.525,00 Value of improvements 9.M0.Q0 Value of lauds and improvements.. 48,365.00 Average value of lands Average value landsand impro’m’ts 98 55 I Valueof lots 415,720.00 i Value of lots and improvements ... 797,010.00 j Average vaiue of lots and impr’m’ts 531 40 Personal property 530.485JJ0 totall taxables 1375,860.00 S umber town lota 1 500 Polls 715 GENEVA. Acres Vaiue of lands 3,795 oq Valueof improvements 4.6*5*00 Value of lands and improvements.. 8.48 J .T 0 Average value lands and impro’m'ts ’ 77*u9 Value of lots 38.TBs’oo V alue of improvements 097.350.00

I Value of lots and improvements ... 136.115.00 1 1 Average value of 1 ns 87.11 Average valueof lotsand impr’m’ts _ 305.87 | Personal property 125.000.00 i Total taxables 269,595.11) Number of town lots 6 45 Polls 287 BERNE. Acres 315 Valueof lands ? 19.485.00 Valueof improvements 7,540.00 Value of lands and improvements.. 27.025.00 Average value lands and impro’m'ts 85 79 Value of lots 38.395 00 Value of improvements 92.485.00 Va lue of lots and improvements... 130.880 (X) Average value of lots and impr’m’ts 349.00 Personal property 186.895.00 Total taxables 344.800.00 Number town lots 375 Polls 184 TOTALS. Acres 212.051 84-100 Value ot lands $4,276,600.00 Value of improvements 999.100,00 Value of lands and improvements.. 5,275,700.(0 Average value of lands 20.16 Av» rage value lands and impro’m’ts 24 87 Value of lots 503,820,00 Vaiue of improvements 613,535 00 Value of lots and improvements .... 1,117,1355 00 Average value of lots 176.59 Average vajue of loisand impr’m’ts 391.64 • Personal property’ 2.056 320 00 ■ Total taxables 847,937 00 Number of town lots 2.853 1 Pods 3961 Governor Mount has issued a proclamation designating October I 29, s Arbor Day. He asks that the day be generally observed. The full effects of the new tariff , law will soon be apparent. Then j it will be that everything we conI same will be higher in price. The trusts must be protected. In less than two days the capital • stock of the sugar trust advanced ■ *5.000,000. It is a mistake about; the republican party being the | friend and advance agent of the trusts, and especially the sugar | trust. — = Bro. Evarts was severely taken i ’o task by a member ot the council. This isn’t right. TbeJ council; should have some regard for the Journal’s present embarrassment, in their frantic effort to carry water ; on two shoulders without confiic- ! I tion. Senator Jones of Arkansas, esutimatesthat the people will have to • ■ pay $150,000,000 a year more for ’ their cotton and woolen goods un--1 der the new tariff law than under • i the old. This enormous tax is imI posed that the treasury may be benefitted $9,000,000 a ’ 1 year. >r > It is a good idea occasionally to ■ recall certain facts persistently ig- ' nored at Washington but quite as persistently remembered by the people. First—The last time the tariff i issue was submitted to the people j’ McKinleyism was rejected by an electoral plurality of 132 and a , popular plurality of 380,810. It carried ou'right only five of the j seventeen states east of the Mississippi and north of the Potomac and s the Ohio. Second—The republi’l can national platform last year disj avowed Kinleyism in the words “we '; are not pledged to any particular o! schedules,” in order to remove the fearsand win the votes of demoj crats. Third—Such old-time republican protection states as Kansas, » Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, i Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Nevada and Washington deserted the repnb--0 lican party last fall, and McKinley " was elected on the sound money iao sue alone by democratic votes in § the democratic states, Connecticut, o New A ork, New Jersey, Deleware, o Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky ,[ and Indiana, and the doubtful ° states Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio. 9 Is it not high time to stop talking o about the exploded and rejected myth—“the crime of ’73”—and • take up the living, winning issue—e the crime of ’97.

DECATUR DIRECTORS: CAPITAL P.W. Smith, SIOO,OOO. JH. Hobrock, J, B. Holthouse.’ NATIONAL : St’KPLCS $5,000. OFFICEBS: 11 nll K ■ P-W. Smith. President, lor fll I v It I J. B. Holt house. Vice-Pres. C. A. Dugan. Cashier. E. X. Ebinger, Asst.Cash'r A general banking business is transacted. Foreign drafts issued. Interest given on time deposits. ED. COFFEE, apd Justice of ROOM 3. OVER POSTOFFICE. Decatur, ludiana. Capital $130,000. Establlsheil IH THE OLD ADAMS COUNTY BANK Decatur, Indiana. Does a general banking business, makes coli lections in all parts of the country. Buyi I town, township and county or and domestic exchange bought -na. interest paid on time deposits. Ofilcere-W.H. Niblick, Preside i —tude- : baker, Vice President; R. K. A > n. 1 .shier, and O. 8. Niblick. Assistant Cashier J. D. HALE DEALER IN Grain, Seed, Wool, Salt, Oil, Coal, Lime, Fertilizers. ; Elevators on the Chicago & Erie and I Leaf railroads. Office and n tail store soutn* east corner of Second and Jefferson street. Your patronage solicited. I R. s. PETERSON ATTORNEY AT LAW, DECATUR. INDIANA. Rooms 1 and 2. In the Anthony Holthouse Block To Asheville. North Carolina. »n<i return for SB. Saturday, August ~ The Southern railway has decided to offer every one an opportunity to visit Asheville in the “Land of the B®' the beautiful and picturesque region of western North Carolina n Saturday, August 7,1897, round trip excursion tickets will be se d ro Louisville for SB, tickets good return ten days This is the lowest rate * ,e made to Asheville, which is world renowned all the “year round" for heg and pleasure. If you desire to yisi most beautiful mountain reg.on America, including a day-light 1 along the famous French Bros-, 1 Asheville with its beautiful hote 8 8 handsome residences and the no points of interest in that P>c turesqU . region. Do not fail to join this' e -_• sion. Every arrangement wil ' class, including through parlor coaches, Pullman palace sleeping _ and fast schedules. For oooxa on trip to the “Land of the ' other information, call on o. City Ticket office Southern ra 219 Fourth Ave., Louisville, - v WM. H. Tayu’JAsst. Pass. AP- u The Chicago & Erie railroad w', excursion tickets to Buffalo. - „Au K u« 21.22 S „ "“L.,. low raw ol one cent per <n . jltip rir>' Good for return to Augus ■ p lege of extension to S * ptrDQ ( . ba u t auqu» over will b. .110—d « Lake on return trip. Fo r IDlu 19 -4 call or. J. W. DeLong, Agent-