Decatur Democrat, Volume 41, Number 37, Decatur, Adams County, 25 November 1897 — Page 4

THE DEMOCRAT EVERY THURSDAY’ MORNING BY LEW G. ELLINGHAM, PUBLISHER. 51.50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE. Entered at the Postoffice at Decatur. Indiana as Second-Class Mail Matter. OFFICIAL PAPER OF ADAMS COUNTY. THURSDAY, NOV. 25. Czar Reed will convene the first of next month. It is also said that he is in the field for president in 1900. Electric lights at a reasonable price, with or without meter at the option of the patron, is what the people want. The council will please take notice. The officers and the grand jury have unearthed the white cappers, who so unmercifully dragged James T. Earrish from his bed and lashed him. At least they have issued warrants for the arrest of six young men of this city, the names of whom will be found in our local news. While it is deplorable that some of these boys have been quite respectable, and their parents especially so, yet if they are guilty, they should be severely taught that the laws must be obeyed and upheld. The Journal talk* about A B. C. Ac controlling 200 or 300 votes, absolutely. Such assertions are silly, and as far from the truth as anything could be. No man in Adams county including the Journal editor, can control them, because the people of today read, think and vote tor themselves. The Journal thinks because every one in Adams county does not vote the republican ticket, they are controlled. They are, but they are self controlled. Incandescent electric lights at six y cents a month is unreasonable, and the electric light committee of the council should rectify their mistake, if it is a mistake. If it is a case of “bleed” the people for all they can, they should rectify it any way. The citizens of this place desire to use the light and receive some return for the high taxes to be paid tor the plant and its maintainance. The council should work in the interest of the people and put the price down.

HERE ARE VALUES! That no man in Adams county can afford to overlook, if you are m need of clothing. Our special sale of last Saturday was a very successful one, and we have been inspired to continue this sale until Dec. 1, 1897. These bargains' in fact, argue stronger than a volume of words. In this line you have the following goods to select from:— - Imported grey mixed W orsted, - - - - French Fancy Worsted Chevoits, ■ I A M ■ 8k Ml Fancy Scotch Chevoit Suitings, Wkl V M B W D« Scotch Plaid Suitings, iHL B Black Thibets, B w M ■ French Mohair Plaids, H A M M Scotch Bannockburn Chevoits, - - - - ; |||H Mg B gMp g Fine English Clay Worsteds, - - - - I 3 B 8 11 C W Hundreds of other styles too numerous to mention. g|iL You may have your choice of over 200 different patterns, cut and made in the very latest style for the small sum of §15.35. We employ none but skilled hands, and a guarantee goes with each and every suit. Ladies, you can make your husbands a Christmas present of a nice suit, and the price is in reach of all. Tkn Tailap Remember the time is limited to Dec. l,and ne i anor the d ° ty ’

It must be a play thing—that incandescent e'entnc lighting system. The democrats do not have to even go to the trouble of fighting Secretary Gage’s gold bond scheme; it is having the life thumped out of it by ns friends. Holiday advertising is now in order and the Democrat is in position to return you dollars upon the investment of cents. In fact it will he far more profitable than buying gold dollars for ninety cents. Plant your advertisement early and the results will be positive and surprising. The Journal, for its own edification wants us to inform them why it was that the grand jury at their November session one year ago, convened one week later than the usual time. It was election week. They would have been summoned in on Monday and then had to return home that night to vote the next day. Then it would have been a day or two before any business could have been done by them. To avoid this delay of time and expense, they were summoned one week later. Any objections? This is Thanksgiving, a day set apart by the high executive officials of our nation and state for public demonstrations and acts of praise and thankfulness for the goodness of our creator and the many blessings bestowed during the past 365 days. Many of our people are poor, sick and helpless and it is a duty and should be a pleasure to make them happy for one short day. It may take a little of your time and earthly means, but the returns will be far more than adequate for the time and money spent. Help the poor, the needy, the distressed. According to the Journal the cost of the waterworks and electric light plant was $95,000. an im mense sum of money. It could just as well have added that the city owes on those improvements §90,000, the administration having paid §5,000. The Journal also maVs light of former administrations because'they failed to pile up bonded indebtednessin thesame manner that the present “business administration” have succeeded. The people, however, will not appreciate the Journal's methods of calculation. Improvements are all right and necessary, but provisions should be made to pay for them, without I burdensome taxation.

TOO HIGH PRICED. The City Council Have The Incandescent Light Rate Out o' Sight. That Decatur is to have cheap electric lights needs only investigation. The editor has been investigating the cost of electric lights. At Bellville. Ohio, they cost 50 cents a month; Murphysboro, Illinois, 80 cents: West Point. Mississippi, 75 cents, and Columbus, Mississippi. 621 to 66t cents per light, all 16 candle-power. All these points are controlled by private companies and at several ot them the service rendered is scarcely as good as kerosene, and not to be compared to the excellent service this citv bad under Mr. Edwards. In several of the places the agitation for muncipal ownership is strong and without doubt this is the best solution of the lighting problem.— Journal. The Journal should go a iittle farther away from home in order to get rates upon which they can compliment the present council, and at the same time impress the citizens and taxpayers with the idea that they ought to pay an outrageous price for the privilege of using electric lights. The taxpayers have to pay for the plant now erected, but the Democrat don’t believe they should pay tor it twice, once in taxation and once in excessive and exhorbitant rates. The Democrat has also investigated the matter of rates somewhat, but instead of wandering to Mississippi and picking out a few towns that suit the rates declared here, we make our comparison with surrounding and neighboring towns of Decatur. E> ° DECATUR —CITY OWNERSHIP.

Arc lights, until 9:30 p. m., $4 per month. Arc lights, until 12 o’clock, $4 50 per month. Incandescent lights, any number, sixty cents each, per month. This rate on incandescent lights is based upon the average use of four hours per night, at the present meter rate charged by the council. WINCHESTER —PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. Arc lights, $3 per month. Two arc lights, $2.50 per month. Incandescent, first two, 50c per month. Incandescent, second two, 40c per month. Incandescent, third two, 30c per month. All over six lights, 25c each.

KOKOMO —PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. | Arc lights, $4 per month. Incandescent, 35c per month Patrons who use arc light are furnished the incandescent for 25c per month. HUNTINGTON —PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. Arc lights, 15 per month. Incandescent, business houses, 50c per month. Incandescent, residences, 25c per month. PORTLAND —CITY OWNERSHIP. First arc light, $6 per month. Second arc light, $5.50 per month. Third arc light, $5 per month. Fourth arc light, $4.50 per month. Fifth arc light, $4 per month. Incandescent, any number, 25c each, per month. BLUFFTON —CITY OWNERSHIP. Arc lights, $5 per month. Have no incandescent system. The above very clearly explains who is paying the fiddler in high and excessive rates for incandescent lights. In this city six lights would figure a monthly cost of $3 60, Kokomo $2.10, Huntingdon for residence $1.50, business room $3, Wiiichester $2.40, and Portland $1.50. The rate here is $1.20 more per month than the highest rate given, that of Winchester, and $2.10 per month more than the lowest rate given. The rate as laid down by the council, is excessive and unreasonable. The people want to use the light, but they don’t propose to pay a robber tariff for the privilege. Reduce the rate. Now then, let’s have a statement from the finance committee of the council. We would not think so much about the matter had notone member of that committee promised a report. Since the time of that promise at least three months has slipped by, and the silence is becoming embarrassing to the many friends of that gentleman. The benefits of the Dingley tariff are becoming more and more apparent, but the increase in the weekly pay roll of the wage earner does not corerspond with thetribute to be paid the trusts. The pledges of the republican party to organized wealth is being fulfilled, but it is about the only pledges which that party has or will redeem.

Stop! Think! See! And you'll know that this store will positively save you one-quarter (i) of your clothing bills for the entire family. We display this season the most extensive and magnificent assortment of Men's, Boys’ and Children’s suits, overcoats, hats, caps, underwear, in fact everything that belongs to man’s apparel. Look into any other store; note values and prices; then look at our superb stock, and you’ll be convinced that we are not telling stories. THERE’S NOT ANOTHER STORE in all this country where you'll be more /IWa likely to find just the overcoat you want, at just the price you want to pay. You don’t see such overcoats as \ ours every day. They re made of the richest and heaviest cloths; the linings are all specially tested and guar- mfr anteed. H. S. & M. overcoats are known to fit more perfectly and wear longer than fa/ those of any other make. They’re the kind sold to the finest trade in all the M-cf- * big cities - Wherever rfr you see this label: HART, SCHAFFNER & MARX. .I < J ... GUARANTEED CLOTHING. (wM there’s superior quality in the cloth and making. Pete ftoltholise 8c Co. Leading Clothiers and Furnishers.