Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 38, Decatur, Adams County, 21 November 1907 — Page 1

MLL the news ALL TKE TIME

Volume LI

THE MAYORS VETO Again Plays a Very Important Part in the Program of the Evening. THE FIGHT IS BITTER C. J. Lutz Employed as Assistant Counsel —Mayor to File Charges. The council met In regular session Tuesday night,Mayor Coffee presiding, and every councilman being present, and before the same closed it proved to be the warmest session ever held by this body. Immediately after the reading of the minutes, which were approved, the council got down to business and started to grind out what was before them. The proof of publication giving notice for the hearing of objections to the assessment roll on the Erwin sewer was filed and the Mayor asked if any present desired to object in any manner and as none responded the resolution ordering the same to be certified to the city treasurer for collection by the I clerk was read and adopted by the council. The mayor then refused to sign the resolution and instead filed his veto to the same, alleging that A. Van Camp had disposed of five sewer covers to the contractor, which were used in the completion, which was in violation of the statute, as no councilman had a right to sell goods to the city he was representing. City Attorney L. C. DeVoss then read for the benefit of the council and mayor the recent decision of the supreme court in relation to the mayor’s veto power, which specifically states that the mayor has no right of veto except upon matters of legislatives nature, and that as laws are made by the city by ordinance the mayor would have no right of veto in this case. This did not seem to please Mayor Coffee, as he declared- Mr. DeVoss out of order, and informed him that he had no right to enlighten the council unless so requested by the members of that body so to do and emphatically declared that the case read had no bearing upon the actions of this council.

The city civil engineer then filed his assessment roll upon the Myrtle Chronister sewer and a resolution ordering the clerk to give notice for the hearing of objections was read and adopted. Water Workfs Superintendent W. E. Fulk filed his estimate upon the newly proposed water line extension on Decatur and Walnut streets, fixing the cost of construction at $315.00 and upon motion by Martin the city civil engineer was ordered and instructed to construct the same as soon as possible. The finance committee then filed their reports upon the clerk’s and treasurer’s reports for the months of August and September, which were favorable and the reports were ordered spread of record. At this same time the reports of the above named officers were filed for the month of October and were referred to the finance committee. The judiciary committee, to whom the charges against the mayor were referred some time ago, filed their report on the same, asking that the charges be withdrawn and dismissed from the council, deeming it for the best interest of the city in general. This report was adopted by a unanimous vote. Christen then moved that Lewis C. DeVoss, city attorney, be and is hereby ordered and directed for the best interest of the city of Decatur to at once file in the Adams circuit court a complaint to remove David D. Coffee from the office of city mayor. This motion was seconded by Burns and carried and the mayor then refused to put the question. Christen appealed to the council over the mayor s head and put tne question himself, which carried by a vote of three to two, Chronister and Martin voting against the action of the council. Mayor Coffee at this time was raging and in a speech that was full of sarcasm and pent up feeling, he flayed the members of the council who supported the measure in an unmerciful manner, and during his speech informed Councilman Christen that he was the presiding officer of the council and that unless he ceased in his ’•nsulting manner, that he would have k 'm ejected from the council. Chris-

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ten listened very attentively to the abuse heaped upon him, but in the end carried his point and seemed contented. Christen then moved that the city council employ Clark J. Lutz to assist the city attorney in filing and prosecuting the complaint against the mayor of the city of Decatur. This motion was seconded by Burns and the mayor refused to put the question declaring it out of order and for the further reason that all charges had been dismissed. Christen again appealed to the council over the mayor’s head, putting the question himself, which carried by a vote of three to two. Mayor Coffee then recommended to the council that city attorney Lewis C. DeVoss be dismissed from the pay roll of the city, and stated that he would at the next meeting file his written charges against Mr. DeVoss. The following bills were then read and allowed: ' Wells Fargo Express $ .70 C. O. France 4.00 Butler and Butler 36.75 D. F. Teeple 7.00 W. A. Durbin 1.93 Brooks Oil Co 41.00 J. Hudson 12.52 D. W. Myers 33.95 B. Pike 6.91 J. Metzger 9.20 Wm. Stevens 7.28 J. Haugk 8.80 Perry Elzey 12.25 j. Beery 88 H. Stevens 8.00 J. Swift ' 7.88 F. Boyers 10.68 F. Spuller 18.23 I. A. Bainber 13.20 Fort Wayne Printing Co 13.00 Globe Oil Co 14.95 G. R .and 1 159.37 J. D. Wisehaupt 12.00 Jno. Sprague 103.80 D. F. Teeple 2.25 Smith Bros 41.5,0 D. F. Teeple 21.35 Smith Bros 104.15 L. G. Ellingham 10.40 C. W. Dorwin 28.00 B. Middleton 2.60 J. D. Stults 45.83 Lagonda Mfg. Co 17.45 Ft. Wayne Elect. W’orks 128.39 Bourne Fuller Co 263.74 Sunday Creek Coal Co 324.83 M. J. Mylott 19.75 No further business coming before the council they adjourned, to meet at their next regular meeting. THANKSGIVING NIGHT Under the Auspices of Shakespeare and Historical Clubs for Library. Tickets are out for “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch” which will be presented by a local talent company under the auspices of the ladies of the Shakespeare club and Historical club Thanksgiving night at the Bosse opera house, for the benefit of the library. When Mrs. Alice Hagan Rice first published “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch” it made an Instantaneous hit with the reading public and attracted such widspread notice that about two years ago it was dramatized for Liebler and company and has been drawing crowded house in all the big cities and it was only after a great deal of trouble and expense and through the courtesy of the owners of the copyright that the club ladies were able to secure this greatest of all modern comedies. “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch” is delightfully old-timey and tells a sweetly simply story of human love and sympathy. The proceeds of the show will be turned over to the library board by the club ladies and will be used to meet the expense of putting lights in front of the library, an improvement that has been sadly needed since the building was first dedicated. The club ladies are to be commended for giving local show patrons an opportunity of witnessing one of the latest big' city successes at a nominal cost and deserve the patronage of the public. The wholesome atmosphere, financial and otherwise, of the present week has caused a number of persons to discard their lists of proposed Christmas purchases through which many lines were drawn recently. The present prospects for Christmas cheer and all that goes to make the greatest annual festival joyous, never were better. There II be presents for every one and Santa Claus will be busier than he's been before in a hundred years.

Dcatur, Indiana. Thursday, November al 1907.

EXCELLING OTHERS Bryan Says Democrat Party Were Right and Saw far Into the Future. Lafayette, Ind., November 19. —Over 3,000 people attended the Jackson club banquet nere last evening, when William J. Bryan and many other democratic leaders were guests of honor. The full program was as follows: Toastmaster, James K. Risk, Lafayette; address of welcome on behalf of the city of Lafayette, Mayor George R. Durgan; address of welcome on behalf of the Jackson club, President Thomas J. Barnes; “The Preacher in Politics,” Rev. T. H. Kuhns, of Richmond, Ind.; “Confidence as a Political Asset,” by M. B. Lairy, of Logansport, Ind.; “OldFashioned Democracy,” Albert J. Ven neman, Evansville, Ind.; “Indiana Democracy,” Senator L. Ert Slack, Franklin, Ind.; "Public Conscience,” Congressman J. A. M. Adair, of Portland, Ind.; “Centralization,” John Eggeman, Fort Wayne; “The Man of the Hour,” Congressman J. Thomas Heflin, of Lafayette, Ala.; “Our Duty,” Micnae’ E. Foley, Crawfordsville, Ind.; “Aggressive Democracy,” J. W. Kern, of Indianapolis; “Is the Democratic Party an Old Fogy Party?” Thomas R. Marshall, Columbia City, Ind.; address, Arch Stevenson, Rockport, Ind.; “Local Self-Government," Samuel L. Ralston, Lebanon; “The Laboring Man’s Duty in Politics,” Fred L. Feick, Garrett, Ind.; “State Committee,” S. N. Stevens, Plymouth Ind.; invocation, Rabbi Nathan Krass, Lafayette, and address, the Hon. W. J. Bryan, of Lincoln, Neb. Mr. Bryan began by saying that the democracy of Indiana is in splendid hands. “As near as I have come to announcing any position is that after serving in two campaigns I did not feel that I ought to volunteer again, although I will serve if I'm drafted and I won’t desert if I’m in again. I’ve been called a dreamer, but I do not deserve so great a distinction. Thomas Jefferson was our great dreamer. While a dreamer lives forever the toiler dies in a day. Every great dreamer had a vision of a self-governing people; he spoke into the subject’s heart and gave him the prospect that he would be a sovereign standing among his peers. I shall be content if it can be truly said of me that I’ve been a faithful worker. ( “Even republicans admit that our party saw farther into the future and discerned the influences that were at work and the influences that were needed. I am not the creator of this moral movement; I am but its preacher. The hosts of people are more open to ethical ideas than they were when they were engrossed with getting the almighty dollar. There is something more to this world than money. The democratic party viewed these questions from the standpoint of the common people. In the next campaign instead of measuring our prosperity by that of the few we are going to measure it by the prosperity of the average man.”

A Few Noltes from the Meeting. There were several men here who “look like Bryan." See Richard K. Erwin, of Decatur; Gilbert H. Hendren of Bloomington, and a few others. J. Fred France, the best story teller in the Eleventh district, and former mayor of Huntington, was present with a few remarks. A few suspected candidates for governor mingled in the crowd unmolested. Among them were Jim Cox, of Columbus; Richard K. Erwin, of Decatur; the Rev. T. H. Kuhn, of Richmond; Thos. R. Marshall, of Columbia City; C. K. McCullough, of Anderson; “Billy” O’Brien, of Lawrenceburg; Samuel M. Ralston, of Lebanon; B. F. Shively, of South Bend, and John W. Boehne, of Evansville. Stephen B. Fleming, of Fort Wayne, enters a strong denial that he hopes to return to the state senate. Once was enough for him. W. S. Wells, of For Wayne, is willing to have every one here know that is is a candidate for joint senator from Adams and Allen county. Mr. Wells was one of the busiest men in several Indiana legislatures.

SAFETY IS NEAR People of the Country are Acting Wisely and Recuperation Will be Rapid. New York, November 18. —The New York banks, strengthened by deposits of government funds, by new circulation taken out and immense receipts of gold from Europe, have loosened up their hold on the funds of the interior and are shipping currency to their clients of the south and west. The engagements of gold abroad have gone away above expectations, and up to last night were 365,000,000 in aggregate, of which about one-half is already in hand and doing duty in the present emergency. With more than 330.000,000 to come in during the week and runs upon financial Institutions ended, the last week of November will see the banks and trust companies in fairly comfortable condition. It is surprising the comparatively few failures that this continuous decline in security values, this tightness of taoney,the excitement of investors and of the populace has caused in commercial and manufacturing circles. Mad panic is liable to shake the soundest institution if encountered suddenly, and two weeks ago there was grave danger, but, happily for every one, it was promptly and courageously met and overcome. The moneyed institutions, the majority of those interested as either stockholders or depositors, the great masses of the people, have recognized the difficulties of a dangerous situation, and, simply refusing to be stampeded, have set heartily to work to remedy it in the speediest and safest manner. They are making great progress now to absolute safety and once that is surely attained recuperation will be rapid. The full extent of the currency shipment to the interior last week was 317,800,000, the heaviest of the season to date. 313,455,000 having been sent through the subtreasury, and 34,325,000 having one out direct. Offsetting this drain from New York was 315,960,000 received from the assay office for gold arrivals. Returns compiled by leading banks of this city, through which a large percetnage of the currency shipments are handled, show the following currency movement for the week: Received from interior institutions, 31,700,000; shipped direct to interior institutions, 36,025,000; net shipments, 34,325,000.

MAY GO FREE AGAIN Brother-in-law Goes His Bond at Portland, But Advises the Jail at Bluffton. Frank Cotton is once more a boarder with Sheriff Lipkey at the county jail, and he probably will remain there until some disposition is made of the case pending against him in circuit court here in which he is charged with issuing a fraudulent check. Hamar McKinney, a brother-in-law of Cotton, was on his bond for 3500. Last week McKinney went to Portland and went on Cotton’s bond there for 3500 and brought him back to this city, where he was also on his bond for 3500, but he called on Sheriff Lipkey Saturday with Cotton and informed the officer that he would remain on the bond no longer for the case here and the sheriff accordingly had to lock Frank up. It is said that the reason bond was given for Frank at Portland was that, he did not like to lay in jail there where he was unacquainted and grew too lonesome, but after bringing him to Bluffton relatives thought it would be better for him to remain safely behind locked doors until he was released from the charges pending against him. It is said that McKinney feared Frank would get with some of his old associates here and get into further trouble if he should become intoxicated. It is believed that Cotton stands a good chance of never having to stand trial on the perjury charge 'and it is claimed that he has a defense that will release him from the charge here of issuing the bad check, and If this is true Frank may soon again be a free man. —Bluffton News.

SOME NEW ONES Mary Debolt Asks for a Divorce from Chauncey Debolt—Other Items. Judge Erwin appointed members of various county boards Tuesday morning as follows: County board of charities and correction, Mrs. Dora Lower, Henry Lankenau and Simeon B. Fordyce, to serve three years from June 30, 1907. ’City library board, Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Ellingham and Mrs. C. D. Lewton, appointed for statutory period from June 30, 1907; county board of children guardians, Lewis Fruchte and Mrs. William Beachler, appointed for term of three years from June 30, 1907. Attorney L. C. DeVoss filed another new divorce case, Mary E. Debolt being the plaintiff and Chauncey A. Debolt the defendant. Cruel and inhuman treatment in various stages is the principal allegation. Cora Knepper vs. William H. Knepper, divorce case, dismissed on motion of plaintiff. Catherine Crayle vs. Henry P. Crayle, divorce, default of defendant, rule against prosecuting attorney to answer. Louis Conrad, guardian for John L. Conrad, filed a report of sale of real estate and a deed was ordered. Cora M. Archbold, guardian for Jonathan Archbold and others, filed a report of sale of real estate and the deed was reported and approved.

WANT SAME FAIR DATES. For the Indiana State Fair of Next Year. Indianapolis, Nov. 19. —The state board of agriculture, at the coming session of the American Association of state fairs and expositions, to be held in the Auditorium hotel, Chicago, Dec. 5, will make an effort to secure the second week in September for the Indiana state fair next year. This was the week in which the fair was held this year and the board is satisfied that a better week could not be secured. The purpose of the coming meeting is to arrange the dates for the various state fairs so as to provide proper circuits for the horsemen and exhibitors. The Indiana fair has been held during the second week of September for several years, but each time the state board has been compelled to put up a fight in order to secure that week, inasmuch as it is in demand by other state fair associations. Charles Downing, secretary of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture, is secretry of the American Association of State Fairs and Expositions. F. L. Eaton, of the lowa state board is president of the association. An effort is being made to get ail the members of the Indiana board to attend the coming meeting. Mr. Downing says that many subjects relative to the Improvement of state fairs will be discussed at the Chicago meeting.

A FINE ORCHESTRA The Stetson-St. Clair company played to a fair sized audience at the Bosse Opera House last night in the “Moonshiner’s Daughter,” the play was well received, the strong features of the bill was the work of Miss Freck and Mr. Darrell. Harry Stetson came in for his share, as Rastus, the colored man. “Daisey” was well taken by Miss Selden, and the entire cast was good. The specialties were fine and the juggling specialty of Mr. Williams was extraordinary, as good as you will see in any of the large cities. The company will present a new bill tonight. “Mad Love” is a society drama, where the ladies of the cast will have an opportunity to show their wardrobe, especially designed for this bill. ' Remember, the prices remain the same —10, 20 aiid ->0 cents. You should not miss seeing this company throughout the week, as they are certainly the best ever in the city at these prices. The orchestra alone is well worth the price of admission, as they give a fine musical concert each evening.

•UtCULATW* 2»QB WHKLY

GREAT CARE USED Congress Must Forget Radical Legislation—Panama Bonds Soon Ready. Washington, November 18. —From this time on the administration will do everything In its power to bring the country’s finances back to a normal condition. After two long night conferences at the White House, secretaries Cortelyou and Root were able to convince the president that it is the duty of the governmen to assist in every way possible In the restoration of confidence. Much is expected from the issue of 350,000,000 of Panama bonds and of 3100,000,000 of 3 per cent interest-bearing certificates. But other helps are to be applied. The presiednt’s message is being almost entirely re-written. All of that part of it dealing with corporations and the counry’s finances is being recast. From a document that sounded a war cry against predatory wealth it is to be made over into an appeal for confidence in the financial institutions of the country. It will enlarge on the thought expressed in the letter of the president to Secretary Cortelyou made public today that the business conditions of this country are fundamentally sound. Congress is to come together impressed with the same idea that this is no time for radical legislation of any kind. Unless conditions speedily mend, the legislators will, as soon as the session opens, look about to see what they can do to help restore confidence. As the president points out in his letter of today the legislative leaders arS already considering what sort of currency legislation shall be enacted. There is a wide difference of opinion as to what shall be done. Whether the many conflicting views can be so harmonized as to open away for any legislation before the Christmas holidays, remains to be seen. The Panama canal bonds are now in the treasury vaults and will be ready for distribution upon the acceptance of bids after Saturday November 30. The treasury certificates will not be printed and the ink sufficiently dried to permit of their being handled for some time, but temporary certificates will be ready for distribution within a day or so. Secretary Cortelyou is confident his action is wise and fully justified by circumstances. The issue at par of treasury certificates bearing 3 per cent interest is expected to bring to light practically all of the currency that has been withdrawn from the banks by small depositors during the last three weeks. Secretary Cortelyou has decided to provide for the registration of the new treasury certificates, and when registered, to receive them as security for circulation or deposits.

EXTRA CLAIMS ARE FILED. Huntington County Court House Will Cost More Than Expected. Huntington, Nov. 18.—Under an agreement to be reached this week P. H. McCormick and Co., contractors for the new court house are expected to complete the building early in December, turning over to the county for the finishing work by other contractors. The commissioners originally appropriated $260,000. The bid of McCormack and Co., however, was nearly $240,000. McCormack and Co., however, are paying claim for extras, calling for more than $15,000; the architect will get SB,OOO, and there are other bills to be met from the original appropriation, so that litigation will follow, the defense relying ion the proposition that contracts are illegal unless backed by appropriation from the county council. George S. Cobb, trustee of Elkhart township at Goshen, is in a funny condition. He wants to resign and can’t. The county commissioners will not accept his resignation, although he is charged with being unfit to remain in office and impeachment pro-’ feedings sere pending against |iim. The reason that Cobb’s resignation will not be accepted is because the commissioners Insist on a settlement report and Cobbs is unable to make one. Some of his records and effects are under lock and key and he cannot get them.

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