Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 5, Decatur, Adams County, 4 April 1907 — Page 1

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Volume U

OVER MAYOR COFFEE’S VETO i —1 if ■ * Three Resolutions Were Passed by the | Council

IA STORMY SESSION, I Madison and Third Streets I Ordered Paved [■•CEMENT WALKS ON SECOND ST. ■ Contract to be Let For Entire lmi provement—Superintendent Fulk I Is Discharged. K| The city council met Tuesday evenHking in regular session at the Library Rebuilding, Mayor Coffee presiding and ■te every councilman present. The minilutes of the last meeting were read ■■and approved. The proof of publicaJaition in relation to giving notice of [jE|b/ iring objections on Madison and drd streets improvements, was read ; ■/ id the citizens and taxpayers along ■7 he routes of the said improvements ■ / were given an opportunity to be heard ■ by the council. The citizens present ■ who spoke against the improvement ■ / were Peter Forbing, H. S. Porter and F / James H. Stone, their most serious kJ objection being that the street as it |J is now is in good shape and therefore ■ should not be improved. Those talking ■ in favor of the improvement were A. R. ■ Bell and S. J. Laman. After taking S a five-minute recess, during which Bl the council talked over the matter nl among themselves, together with the K -engineer, a motion was made by ChrisF 'ten that the streets be improved as Kg prayed for in the original petition, this K being adopted by a unanimous vote, Eg .and a resolution was drawn directing Eg the city clerk to prepare his notice ■ ■ ! ior the selling of the same and setting E'-a time when bids would be received M.>iy the council. A water meter resolution calling for the use of a good, ■ reliable meter by every person using I water was read and adopted by the I -council and after July 1, 1907, those I not having a meter installed will be I •deprived of the use of the city water § ;■ until they comply with this order. The ■'■matter of the sidewalks along the feg North Second street improvement was B then taken up and John F. Snow, repR resenting thirty property owners, filed f a remonstrance against selling the ■t sidewalks to the lowest and most reH sponsible bidder, and made quite a ■ lengthy address to the council, showj|| ing why the sidewalk should not be sold and asking that each property |i owner be permitted to put in his own | walk. A. P. Beatty spoke in behalf | of the petitioner and showed why the I: sidewalks should be sold thus and the I , advantages to be derived therefrom. Bi Upon motion by Christen the petition ■•■ as prayed for was granted and the M sidewalks will be advertized and sold, ; the same as a street, to the lowest and IS most responsible bidder. James H. I Stone then filed a petition signed by l|j a number of property owners along IX Madison street, asking that the counI oil, when it came to building the brick If street, to use the present stone as a 3| foundation for the street, he claim- ■ 1 ing this to be a more solid foundation ■ than new stone thrown in and rolled. ■ it The petition upon motion was referred ■ L to the street and sewer committee 1/ who were instructed to talk over the I |*proposition with the engineer as to | I' the advisability of the same. A {statement showing the price that a iten inch well could be driven for at the waterworks was tendered by ■ ("J. F. Shellebarger and upon motion ■ was referred to the water works com- | *fmittee who were given power to act ■ ‘in the matter as they saw fit. A B*H>etition asking that the city cause to ■v be built a sidewalk along the east line ■ 1 of Mercer street from the Chicago Erie railroad south to the corpora- ■ tion line was presented by Daniel I V Haley and a number of other property | Lowners and was referred tothe street '■ ignd sewer committee for consldera- ■ Joon, ‘ The Mayor's veto on the George ■ McKean resolution, wherein the fi■/Wjnance committee had heretofore es- ■ -fected a settlement with Mr. McKean,

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for the sum of 1300.00, and asking the council to ratify the same was read, in which the mayor set out his reasons in a clear and concise manner, stating that it would be unlawful.to pass the resolution as the council had never been authorized to make a settlement and neither had McKean ever submitted a proposition for a settlement. At the conclusion of the reading of the veto, Christen moved that the resolution be passed over the mayor’s Veto, which was promptly seconded and the mayor was forced to put the question. Before doing so he made a speech in which he went over the entire case and showed again his reasons for vetoing the resolution. He then ordered the yea and nay vote called, which resulted in Christen', Burns, Martin and Van Camp voting yea and Chronister nay. Christen then moved that the resolution authorizing the discharge of Waterworks Superintendent W. E. Fulk, be passed over the mayor’s veto. This was seconded by Burns and the question carried.' The mayor had formerly vetoed this resolution, setting forth his reasons a,nd stating that the council had no power vested in them to discharge this man. The roll call on the adoption of the question was read and the vote resulted in Burns, Christen, Martin and Van Camp voting yea and Chronister nay. Thus passing the resolution. The resolution regarding the employment of Clayton N. Dorwln to fill the vacancy of W. E. Fulk which the mayor had also vetoed and given his, reason, was ’ read and Christen moved the same be passed over the mayor’s veto. This 1 motion carried. The mayor ordered 1 the roll call on" the passage, which resulted as follows: Burns, Christen, ' Martin and Van Camp voting yea and Chronister nay;,,' The motion was de--1 dared adopted. Thus the council has 1 hurled defiance to the mayor and by ' their actions that they expect to run ' the city’s welfare as they see fit and 1 will not listen to the dictations of ' anyone. The battle seems only to have • started and several more warm sessions are looked for in the near fut- ■ ture. Upon motion by Chronister, the ■ entire amount of bill No. 7211 be al--1 lowed, with the exception of that por--1 tion purporting to be the salary of W. ! E. Fulk, which was disallowed and in all probability will never be allowed. ’ The following bills were then read ! and allowed: ' W. E. Fulk ..$165.44 C. W. Bohnke ...... 5.00 1 C. W. Bohnke 2.70 ! D. F. Teeple 115 85 ’ C. W. Bohnke 2 50 1 Kirsch & Sellemeyer 224 92 Sam Frank 45 00 1 Wm. Geary 10 00 " G. R. & I. 17140 1 G. R. & I. . 92 30 r George Keiser & Company.... 45 72 ’ Fairbanks, Morse Co 6 08 ! Telephone Company 22 05 • Ft. Wayne Eectric Works .... 69 45 1 Henry Peters 14 70 ! George E. Garard 50 ’ National Carban company 92 50 1 C. Vogt ..." 70 00 • M. J. Mylott ... v 58 80 r . M. J. Mylott ...7 256 70 ’ Harry Bowserman ........... 5 90 ’ Fred Mills 2 10 k A. C. Gregory 15 00 1 Krick, Tyndall & Co 15 75 Krick, Tyndall & Co 6 75 1 Ft. Wayne & Springfield Co. 2150 • Dodge Mfg. Co >. 660 14 1 Old Adams County bank 172 50 ' C. W. Bohnke 240 ! No further business coming before ’ the council they adjourned to meet ‘ this evening. L « o r COMMISSIONERS’ SESSION OVER i " ’ Old Fair Grounds to be Rented— Contract to be Let for Coal. > s The board of county commission- > ers adjourned at noon yesterday, after ’ busy three days’ session. r . t Auditor Lewton was ordered to give ■ due legal notice that bids will be re- > ceived for the rental of the old fair ■ grounds. The bids will be opened - on Monday, May 6th and each must be , accompanied by a check for the full

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, April 4. I*o7.

amount of said bid. Notice was also ordered that bids will be received for eoal for the various county buildings, to include eight car loads, more or less of Hocking Valley, steam lump from deep mines or lump Pocahontas eoal. s , o SUGGESTS FINANCIAL AIB Pastor o ft he First M. E. Cshurch of Decatur is Well Acquainted With This Inrtitutien. Having been brought into elose contact'with Taylor University, when it first came under the present management; being thoroughly conversant with the high standard of morals upheld; knowing the opportunities offered for a good, broad, general education; appreciating the social atmosphere so clear from many of the breakers of present day college life; in hearty sympathy with Bishop Warren’s utterance' that “Taylor University is doing grand work on high lines,” and knowing the truth of the statement; being in hearty accord' with the standard of Christian life demanded of every member of the faculty; having watched the fruitage of this efficient school for the past ten years, and having witnessed her struggles as she has heroically stood by ttye church and her standard on “Bible Lines,” it affords me great pleasure to make this public endorsement of this mertorious educational institution and to say that I sincerely hope that the good people of Decatur, who have means, will carefully investigate the needs and the claims of Taylor University as presented by her financial agent, Rev. George C. Ulmer, now in our midst, and then see the way clear to aid this school financially, even to the extent of thousands of dollars. JOHN C. WHITE. o FOR THE APRIL TERM A New Case Filed —Remonstrance to the Werling Ditch—McGriff Appeals a Liquor Case. A marriage license has been issued to Emanuel Neuenschwander and Celina Sprunger, both of Berne. Jury commissioners, H. R. Moltz and L. L .Dunbar have selected the following men to serve during ths April term of court which convenes Monday: Grand Jurors —Ben F. Brokaw, Root township; Charles W. Yager,, St. Marys; Melvin Davis, St. Marys; William P. Barkley, Union; H. F. Diehl, Kirkland; Lemuel *O. Bears, Hartford. Petit Jurors —Herman Reese, Preble; David F. Fugate, Kirkland; John Voglewede, Washington; Euegen Lindsey, Hartford; Ed S. Christen, Root; E. W. Jackson, St. Marys; David Miller, Wabash; George Miller, Union; J A. Hendricks, Wabash; Abe Beabout, Jefferson; David Archer, St. Marys Barney Wertzberger, Union. % John W. Coffee has filed suit against John Brown, jr., to collect an account, demand $175. A. P. Beatty is attorney for the plaintiff. In the David Werling et al., petition for a drain, a remonstrance has been filed by the C. & E. railroad company, to the report of the commissioners. A motion for a new trial, was filed in the case of John H. Green vs. Rachael Dailey. Mike McGriff, who was fined S3O and costs for sellinfi liquors to minors, filed a motion for a new trial which was overruled and an appeal was. then granted to the appellate court, his bond being fixed at S2OO. Peterson & Moran are lawyers for the defendant. Peter Burk, guardian for Leßoy Burk et a., filed petition to exjend . S4O to repair buildings and fences, so ordered. E. X Ehinger, administrator of the Mathias:, Shaffer estate, filed an appraisemet of real estate. In the same estate John Shaffer filed an anewer. WELLMAN ARRIVES IN AMERICA —— N«w York, April 3. —The steamer Kaiser Wilhelm arrived today, twentyfour hours late, with Walter Wellman on board.. Wellman expressed himself confident of success.

THE FOGTAL INVBGTIGATION Work B«wlr» Next Week—-List es Feneisna aranted Net Permitted te tee PeteHehed. : Washington, April 1. — Senator Scott of West Virfinls, a member of the Repnbliean national eommlttee, in diseussing the presidential outlook, said today: “There is no doubt that the fight has begun. I ean’t'help IL but I regret it because it creates dissension which becomes more marked as the time of the convention approaches. It would be better to wait until after the holiday recess of congress next December, when some idea of what congress will do can be had before, opening up the fighting. Senator Foraker and Secretary Tass are both my warm personal friends and whatever happens I shall take no hand in their controversy.” Washington, April 1. —The postal commission, of which Representative Overstreet is vice-chairman, will meet ' in New York the first of next week to make plans for the general investigation of the postoffice department ordered by congress. The first step of the commission will be to employ several expert accountants to go through the department with the view of rec--1 ommending a new accounting system ' for the department. The New York 1 meeting will be only preliminary to the regular sessions of the commls--1 sion which will be held here at the ! capital from time to time during the ! summer. Mr. Overstreet will be the ■ active head of the investigation com--1 mlttee. i ■ '■ ' ■■■!■■■ / I ( Washington, April 1. —The commissioner of pensions Issued an ordeF today that hereafter lists of pensions granted shall not be given to the newsI papers of the country for publication. It has always been the custom for the newspapers of a state receiving new pensions to publish the names of per- ’ sons residing in that state receiving new pensions or pension Increases. The commfssioner is of the opinion that the publication of the information increases the correspondence of the bureau. I o ’ FIX CORPORATE ASSESSMENTS 1 They Also Hear all Appeals From County Boards of Review and Will be in Session Some Time. The state board of tax commissioners have convened in annual session ’ in the office of the auditor of state. The purpose of the meeting is to fix the annual assessment for taxation of all property of steam railroads, electric railways, telephone, telegraph, express, sleeping car, transportation and ’ pipe line companies, copartnerships and all associations upon which the state board is, by law, required to make the original assessment. The board will also hear all appeals and applications for revision of assessments as formerly fixed by the county ■ boards Os review and the state board of tax commissioners. The telephone companies will be first taken up, after organization of the board is affected. The first session of the board will continue fdr fifty days, ending Mon- , day, May 20. This session will be devoted exclusively to the hearing of statements of tiie corporationes and ; the assessment of their property. The second session will begin Tuesday, July 2, and will continue for twelve days. This session will be de- ! voted to the hearing of appeals from assessments made by the board at its first session. The third session will begin Monday, July 15, and will con- , tinue for twenty days, unless extended through necessity, for appeals from decisions of county boards of review and the equalization of the assess- . ment of all property, real or personal, [ and the final adjustment of all mat- , ters before the board. Statements from corporations will be heard at the first session in the fol- , lowing order: Telephone companies, April 8,9, 10, , 11, 12 and 13. Express and telegraph companies, April 15 and 16. Sleeping car, transportation companies and pipe line companies, April • 17, 18 and 19. " Electric street and interurban r&ill ways, April 22, 23, 24 and 25. ; Steam railroads, April 29, 30, May 1, 2, 3 and 4.

PARKER’S CHARGES TRUE? Mr. Harriman Lets Oat a Startling Secret

ACCUSE PRESIDENT Who in Turn Calls Harriman a Falsifier TO SWING NEW YORK STATE In Election of 1904—Effect of This Disclosure at This Time Baffles All Guessers. New York, April 2. —Not in years has such excitement reigned as today, when a letter from E. H. Harriman to Sidney Webster, was published, in which Harriman declares that Theodore Roosevelt appealed to him to save the country and the Republican party from defeat in 1904. Coming at a time, as it does, with the railroad situation in an acute stage and the eyes of the entire nation focused on Harriman and Roosevelt, the possible effect of the letter baffles the intelligent guessers. It will be remembered that on the night before the election Roosevelt answered Alton B. Parker’s campaign fund speech in which he declared that the trusts were giving to the Republican campaign funds for corruption,’purposes, by saying that Parker’s story was atrociously false. Harriman’s letter published tod£y says that Roosevelt’s letter to him was personal and he would therefore not make it public unless compelled to, but Harriman admits that it-was hi answer to this appeal that he collected two hundred thousand dollars to swing the votes of New York into the Republican column. All attention is now turned to the White House from where a statement is expected some time through the day. It is a question if the president can explain this ugly election snarl. Early today the Morning World got hold of the letter from a discharged stenographer of Harriman’s who had the notes of Harriman’s dictation. Harriman warned the World not to publish the letter. “It wiH do irreparable harm,” he said, “and besides you have not got a correct copy. That letter belongs to me and not you and if you print it, you will have to answer to the penal code for it.” When Harriman found out that his talk would not suppress the letter he telephoned to the Morning American telling them to come and get a real copy of the original. The American printed a copy of the original and now the word is expected to come thundering from Washington in answer and that Harriman will not sit idly by and have the president make any statement he chooses, is taken for granted. Washington, D. C., April 2. —A copy of the New York World witK Harriman’s letter and Interview, was handed to the president when he arrived at his office this morning. No statement had been given out, however, up to noon. At 10 o’clock the president went to his dentist to have a troublesome molar extracted. On his return he immediately went into session with his cabinet. It is intimated that a statement will be given out before the day ends. Washington, April 2. —Theodore Roosevelt has passed the lie to E. H. Harriman and the country has the spectacle of hearing its president openly defy the country’s greatest financier and call him a falsifier and to hear its president say that “By rights, a stronger and shorter and more ugly word should be used than the word falsifier.” Harriman wrote to a friend saying that Roosevelt told him (Harriman) that he would appoint Chauncy Depew ambassador to France in order to get Depew out df the way, and thus placate New York politicians. Harriman said Roosevelt was to do this, With Harriman putting up with the aid of financial friends, two hun- < dred thousand dollars, with which to 1 buy fifty thousand purchasable votes i in the market in New York City. Har- • i

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riman further asserts that he carried out his part of the bargain and that 50,000 votes were thus produced in New York City for the Republicans and that Roosevelt then quit Harriman cold and refused to appoint Depew. In answer to this the president gave the lie to all these assertions by making public a copy of a letter that the president wrote to Congressman Sherman of New York, last October. In this letter he said: “I understand you to say that Harriman alleged that I made this promise (referring to Depew as ambassador to Paris) at a time when he had come down to see me in Washington, when I requested him to raise $250,000 for the Republican campaign fund which was then on. Any such statement is a deliberate and wilfull untruth and by rights, it should be characterized by even a shorter and more ugly word. I never requested Harriman to raise a dollar for Republican campaign funds.” o WAS TRIED FIVE TIMES ■ ' ''l - fl ', Twice in This County and Appealed From Adams Circuit Court to the Appellate Court. The appellate court has affirmed a verdict given by a jury in the Adams Circuit court over a year ago. The case was brought here from Wells county and was probably the biggest law suit ever tried in either county. Judge Hadley’s decision covered 21 closely written pages and is a voluminous affair. When it is known that at least five distinct trials were had of the cate that; each one lasted at least a week, some idea of the magnitude of the case can be had. It involves the ownership of one hundred and twenty-four acres of land located just north of Bluffton and known as the Katy Faylor farm. Upon this farm Mrs. Faylor lived for a number of years and in her declining days she executed a deed to D. D. Studabaker for the farm. The conditions named in the deed were to the effect that Studabaker should care for the woman during the rest of her natural lifetime and to see to it that her name was carved upon the tombstone of her brother after her death. When the heirs ascertained that a deed of this character had been made, a suit was commenced in court to have Katy Faylor declared of unsound mind preparatory to having the deed set aside. The jury in this hearing disagreed and pending a further settlement of the point,,the woman in question died. This, of course, put an end to the appointment of a guardian or further proceeding along that line. The next step on the part of the heirs was a suit filed in court asking that the conveyance be set aside. This was tried in Bluffton courts and the jury disagreed. A third time witnesses were summoned and the case was commenced over. The trial was finished and a Verdict was found for the plaintiff. * At this stge of the game the defendants took a new trial as of right and a change of venue was also taken, the case coming to Adams county, where the fourth trial was held.'This time a disagreement resulted. For the fifth and last time, the evidence was marshaled before a new jury in this county, and the case was fought through again. The jury retired to deliberate and a verdict was returned in favor of the heirs.. An appeal was then taken to the '• appellate court and the decision has just been announced. This verdict entitles the heirs to possession of the land and to proper rentals during the pendency of the case. When the hearing was commenced Studabaker had possession of the farm and he has since retained it, having given a bond that whatever damages might be found would be paid. ' o-— — BIG FIRE AT SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, April 3.—One-third of the seven million dollar plant of the City Gas A Electric Company was destroyed by fire today. The loss is two and one-half million.

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