Daily Democrat, Volume 1, Number 9, Decatur, Adams County, 21 January 1903 — Page 1

VOLUME 1

AS ANNOUNCED. Elm Street Sewer Question Decided at Last. Council has no Power to Change Records of Former Administration. The Elm Street sewer question has been decided and the outcome is precisely as announced in the Daily Democrat o( Saturday evening. Summed up in a few words this action is that city council has no power to rescind an action of a former council. At last night’s regular meeting of the body after the roll call and a little preliminary business the big sewer question, which has so long been a burden, was taken up by Councilman Teeple offering the following resolution: “Be it resolved by the common council of the city of Decatur, Indiana, that the following resolution adopted January 7, 1902, by the said council to-wit: ‘Resolved that the Elm Street sewer and its branches be accepted as completed according to contract’ be and the same is hereby set aside and vacated and declared of no force and effect for the following reasons: 1. That after a thorough investigation and examination of said sewer we find that the same was not and is not at this time completed according to contract, plans and specifications for the same. Be it further resolved by said common council of of said city of Decatur that the report of W. E. Fulk ia relation to the said sewer and branches be and the same is hereby declared vacated and set aside and of no force and effect; and that the order to the city engineer, if any such order has been made, instructing and authorizing him to make a final estimate of the total cost of said sewer and branches according to the provisions of section 4293 of the statutes of 1901 of the state of Indiana be and the same are hereby vacated and set aside and declared of no force and effect for reason that said sewer and branches are not at this time and never were completed according to contract and plans and specifications for the same.” A discussion followed in which Teeple and Peterson explained their reasons for voting for the resolutions. Mayor Coffee made a short talk in which he stated that “the oath of every official should be faithfully kept and though Ones duty is often hard to do it is best to do right and he who does so deserves no criticism. Should we oppose the opinion of the city attorney and re scind this acceptance, we impose upon the tax payers of Decatur a big law suit and while law suits and surgical operations are all right in their place, they should be allowed only as a last resort and if we can compro mise the matter by doing our duty it seems far better to do so. Gentlemen of the council do your duty as your conscience directs.” The city attorney then expressed his opinion in a clear and concise manner that the council has no power to rescind an action of a former body and the question was put, resulting as follows: Aye, Peterson, Teeple, Weaver; nay Corbett, Stettler, Fordyce. It was then up to Mayor Coffee who after again stating his reasons voted nay and the action to rescind was lost. The record was made to show that the mayor cast the deciding vote as he did for the reasons that the law plainly states his duty. The only remaining question on the sewer now is the matter of assessments which was disposed of by the adoption of the following resolution: “Resolved, Thatthematter of the reports of the engineers and the committees appointed by said council and the objections filed thereto by the property owners, all now on file before said council will come before said council on Monday, February 9, 1903 at 9 o’clock a. m. and thereafter continue from day to day until all and final assessments for the oonatruetion of Elm street sewer and branches have been made and adopted at which time the council will make all adjustments to the contractors for construction of said sewer including final settlement for said improvement as laws of Indiana direct.” WANTS HIS FEE. An Ohio Man Sues a Union Township Farmer. Squire Worden’s court in Union township is in session this afternoon, the case in question l>eing a suit on account wherein an Ohio real estate man will endeavor to collect the sum of $l5O as a commission for the sale of the farm of Mr. Stevenson, the latter one of the oldest residents of his township. Judge Heller of this city is appearing for the defendant and the case was called at one o’clock.

The Daily Democrat.

GOOD INDUSTRY. Cigar Manufacturers Employ Many People and do Big Business. Perhaps our readers scarcely realize the magnitude of the cigar industry in this city, and we are forced to admit that we didn’t until we l>egan an investigation. There are three factories, being respectively those of T. U. Corbett, Charles Berber and Frank Gast. Each institution is a thriving one and each employs a number of people. A representative of the Daily Democrat was shown through the Corbett factory today, and a few facts of interest were ascertained. He employs fourteen people, each of whom makes good wages. They manufacture ten different brands and grades of the smoking weed, and turn out an average of 12,000 cigars per week. Mr. Corbett has been established in business for six years, and his trade is increasing constantly. The other plants likewise do an excellent business and the industry is one of the best in the city. PASSED THE HOUSE. Representative Derkson gets in His Work on the Legislature. The bill introduced by Representative Dirkson regulating the time for holding court in this county, has passed the house under suspension of the rules. The regulations specified are that one week be taken from the tail end of three of the four court terms. As it is now one term ends on Saturday and the next one begins the following Monday, and in this time the clerk of the court has no time to get out fresh court dockets and per-' f- _a the million and one other duties incumbent upon this official. Besides, the lawyers and members of the bar have no time to prepare their cases before they are compelled to be in the thick of the fight in the circuit court. | The new change will remedy the evil mentioned, and cause the Adams circuit court to run as smooth as a greesed pig. SIX NEW SENATORS. That Mauy United States Senators Elected Yesterday. The legislatures of six states elected members of the United States senate yesterday, and two states, Delaware and Colorado, are deadlocked. | In Arkansas, James P. Clarke was elected over the present senator, James K. Jones, the former receiving nineteen votes and the latter fourteen. Retiring Senator Jones was chairman of the democratic national committee in 1896. The republican candidate for the toga was the Hon. H. L. Remmel, formerly a Fort Wayne business man. He received two votes. The other senators elected were: New York, Thomas C. Platt, reelected; Connecticut, Orville H. Platt, reelected; Illinois, Albert J. Hopkins, to succeed William A. Mason; Utah, Reed Smoot, to succeed Senator Raw-i line; New Hampshire. Jacob H. Gal-! linge, to succeed himself; Michigan,' General Russell A. Alger, former secretary of war. to fill unexpired term of Senator McMillan, deceased;North Dakota, H. C. Hansbrough, to succeed himself. A NEW RULE. Senator Hendee wants Taxes Paid at the Office. Senator Hendee introduced a bill last week that is not meeting with much favorable comment. It provides that county treasurers shall collect all taxes at their offices in the court house, and nowhere else. For violations of the law, it provides a fine of SSO to SSOO. Hendee is from Madison county, in which there are several thriving towns besides Anderson, the county seat. There are Elwood, Alexandria, Summitville and Frankton. At present taxes are collected at the banks in each of these towns, and the system, it is said, is a great convenience. Hendee’s bill would do away w’ith this, and would make.all taxes collectable at Anderson EXECUTOR DISCHARGED. In probate court this morning Perry L. Ayers was discharged as executor of the estate of Dayton M. Ayers. Proof of publication and posting of notices was filed, final accounts examined and duly allowed.

DECATUR, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 21, 1903.

REGULAR BUSINESS Routine Affairs as Transacted by City Council. Allowance of Bills and Adoption of Resolutions Take up Time. At the regular session of the city council Tuesday evening Mayor Coffee presided and every member answered present. The judiciary committee made a report on the claim of Mrs. Isaac Peterson for injuries received by her son by a fall caused by defective side walk. She was allowed S3O which claim was duly paid by the Logansport & Wabash Valley Gas company. The resolution for the recinding of the acceptance of the Elm street sewer was lost. A resolution to hear objections to assessments was adopted and the same will lie heard February 9. The following bills were then allowed. Sunday Creek Coal company, coal, $210.51; A. E. Rose, labor, $5.75, C. & E. Ry. company, freight on coal, $94.28; C. & E. Ry. company, freight on coal, $56.36; W. J. Archbold, express, $9.92; W. J. Archbold, stamps, $3; Charles Hobrock, labor, $1; John D. Hale, labor, $1; Jacob Eady, labor, $1.25: Chicago Hose company, goods, S3OO, G. R. & I. Ry. company, freight on coal, $34.80; S. Spangler, rent fJr council room, $8; L. C. Helm, pay roll fire department, $28.50; J. G. Smith, pay roll electric light plant, $17.25; J. G. Smith, pay roll street, $2.25, John Coffee, pay roll street commissioner, $11.25. The matter of $211.50 for delinquency of electric light rentals of two business men was referred to the electric light committee with orders to enforce ordinance to collect the amount due or shut them off the I lines. It was ordered that the city electrician establish office hours from 12:30 to two o’clock each day at which hours he remain at his office \ that he may be found by business men. Council adjourned to meet in continued regular session next Tuesday evening. AFTER DUDLEY. Governor Durbin to put a Finish to the Sullivan County Sheriff. Governor Durbin’s fight against Sheriff Dudley of Sullivan county will be carried to the legislature and a bill will be introduced under which it will be possible to remove Dudley without any further delay if the governor so desires. The measure is not designed especially against Dudley, it is claimed, but is intended to supply a long-felt want of giving the state the right, through the attorneygeneral, to bring proceedings through the filing of information with the supreme court as a court of original jurisdiction to uphold the laws in cases of usurpation of office, where corporations violate their statutory or common law duties, or where individuals or firms exercise the functions of corporations. Under the proposed law it would be possible to start a vigorous investigation of the coal fam- I ine and bring suits which would result in punishing under order of the I supreme court anyone found guilty of ; criminal conspiracy to increase prices ! or any failure on the part of the railroads to fulfill their duty in the way of handling coal. CORN DEAL. A Contest that is Very Interesting Now on. Some time since the real estate firm of J. H. Hall, Son & Fulk advertised for samples of white and yellow corn, offering a first prize of two dollars and a second of one dollar on each of these grades. As a consequence their office in the new Studabaker block begins to resemble the corn department at the Great Northern Fair. There are so far fourteen separate exhibits, each containing six ears of corn and everyone of them a prize winner, anywhere but in Adams county and even here it is going to be a d.ffi'ult matter to declare a winner, though this duty will certainly fall upon the committee after February 7, on which date the contest closes. In the exhibit may be seen some extraordinary corn, as there are six ears which together weigh nearly nine pounds, three ears twelve inches in length and with grains three-quarters of an inch long. The contest will continue two weeks yet and no doubt a number of entries will still come in.

SAVED HIS SCALP. I Senator Beveridge got in his Work for Canada. It is reported that Senator Beveridge’s power and influence in administration circles have saved the scalp of W. W. Canada, consul at Vera Cruz. Canada’s home is at Winches- ; ter, Ind. A few weeks ago a movement was on foot to secure Canada’s dismissal from the service. Two or three {lndiana republican congress men piled sticks of dynamite under Canada’s seat, thinking that when they touched off the fuse Canada’s political personality would be blown to atoms. Instead of a mighty explosion, however, there was only the weakest kind of a fizzle and Canada was not even lifted out of his seat by the explosion. In looking about for i the cause of the fizzle the designing I congressmen find that Senator Bever ! idge exercised his magic wand and that through his pull with the administration Canada can go on drawing pay and giving his enemies the horse j laugh. STILL AFTER ’EM. Citizens of Berne Continue War Against Liquor. It seems the people of Berne, some iof them at least, are determined to . wipe entirely out of their town not I only saloons but the illegal selling of liquor by any one. “Is liquor being sold illegally in Berne’” The Berne Witness said yesterday : Opponents to the remonstrance often said that there would be more liquor sold in Berne if licenses would be refused than if said license were granted. To assist in demonstrating the matter, SIOO has been deposited with the undersigned to be userl as follows: $lO to be paid for the first 15 for the sec ond, and $25 for the third conviction of any one party by the Adams circuit court. Money to be paid by the undersigned to such parties that file the complaint. All complaints must be filed in the Adams circuit court. Fred Rohrer. PRESIDENT FAIRBANKS. That Would Please Many Indiana Republicans. The recent developments in the national political situation are bringing the presidential boom of Senator Fairbanks prominently to the front again. A report that Senator Hanna will not seek the nomination for himself, but will assist Senator Fairbanks, is causing a great deal of quiet satisfaction among the Indiana senator’s friends, who, however, do not need any stimulus of this kind to prompt them to look after Mr. Fairbank’s presidential fences. Nevertheless they appreciate fully the mighty force that would be behind Senator Hanna should he attempt to use what strength he possesses for the Indiana man. STILL IN PROGRESS. Good Work Going on at the Bobo Revival. We are in receipt of a communication from Bobo which says the revival meetings|arestill in progress at Claak’s chapel and are the best ever held in that house of worship. There have been twenty two conversions and the same number of accessions to the church. The watch cry of these earnest workers is, “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away tho sins of the world.” The meetings will continue as long as such interest is manifested as at present, and no doubt much good will still be done. PASSED AWAY. Rev. Christian Augsberger of Berne is Dead. Rev. Christian Augsberger, of Berne, died at his home Monday night. Mr. Augsburger was quite an aged man, and the direct cause of his death was a fall which he received some time ago. No serious results were expected at the time of the accident, as the only apparent injury was a bruise on the hip, but he seemed to grow gradually worse until death came. His funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.

GRAND SUCCESS. Dinner at Niblick Home an Elaborate Affair. The Society Event of Last Evening a Most Enjoyable One. All that could possibly have been anticipated was the dinner party given last evening by Mrs. C. S. Niblick, David Studabaker, R. K. Allison, and W. H. Niblick at the home of the latter. About fifty guests were present including ladies trom several nearby cities and each has no doubt expressed herself as delighted, at least all do to whom we have spoken of the affair. The guests began to arrive at three o’clock and were received by the hostesses. Until five o’clock the guests were entertained in various ways including vocal and piano solos by Miss May Niblick. At that hour dinner was served on lap boards, it being an elaborate affair in two courses and included every delicacy of the season. A delightful evening followed, the fish pond furnishing an hour of amusement enjoyed by all. Each guest took her turn at fishing and each drew a souvenir of some kind, well selected to make the occasion funny. The visitors were conveyed to their train in cabs, accompanied by a number of the Decatur ladies, Good-byes and promices of moresuch occasions closed the eventful day. WHACKING UP. The Commissioners Making some Macadam Road Payments. The board of commissioners are in session allowing general claims and settling with the contractors of the Geneva, Ceylon At Wabash towuship and Kirkland township macadam roads. The oontract price on the former road was $26,950 and extras to the amount of $627.26. The board had previously paid $27,153.98 and the balance of $423.28 was paid today. The contract price on the Kirkland township road was $9,779, with extras to the amount of $370. The board had already paid $8,887.07, which left a balance of $1,261.93 for settlement Both roads have been completed for sometime and the work done complied with the specifications governing their construction. NEW ONES. The Knights of Pythians Dealing in New Furniture. The Knights of Kekionga lodge are brushing up a little. They have ordered some new chairs of a handsome and late pattern, and the same will be along at an early date. They are also having some painting done, and a general air of brushing up is apparent thereabouts. This popular secret order is doing a land office business right now, three more candidates to brave their secret portals tomorrow evening, being how the program. Their numbers have been greatly increased during the past few months. ONCE AROUND. The County Superintendent Visits the Public Schools. Irvin Brandyberry, as county superintendent, will soon complete the task of visiting the schools of the county. With three more trips the work will be done and then the county superintendent will confine himself to office work, the examination of manuscripts, making out reports and so on down the line. Not many, people perhaps know it, but the office of county superintendent is a busy one, and usually keeps that officer pegging away about 365 days in the year, with in the meantime not much room to play. VERY LOW. Harry Bunner, of Bobo, who has been sick for several months with consumption, was reported this afternoon to be sinking, and his death is believed to be a matter of but a few hours. He is quite well known here.

NUMBER 9

PROSECUTOR’S BILL. Their Salaries to be Increased to an Even SI,OOO. The bill prepared by the prosecutors over the state to increase their salaries will be presented to the legislature this week. The bill will provide for raising the salaries of prosecutors from SSOO to SI,OOO a year and for allowing them the same fees they now receive. Some of the legislators are in favor of putting the prosecutors on a straight salary basis and taking away their fees altogether, but this the officials in question object to. They think the state’s interests can best be served by allowing them to continue to receive fees, as that offers an inducement for them to work to secure the conviction of prisoners. They do not get enough at present, however, they say, and think they should be allowed the additional $509 they are asking. CAPACITY DOUBLED. Peninsular Cement Works to Double Their Capacity. The Decatur coutingency who at tended the stockholders' meeting of the Peninsular Cement Works at Jackson, Michigan, came home at aa early hour this morning. Those wha were there were J. E. Moser, J. W. Tyndall and W. H. Niblick and ths latter was again elected one of the eleven directors. All three marveled in the greatness of the cement factory and say it is well worth going I,oo* miles to see, whether financially interested or not. The capacity of the I plant is simply immense and at that they fail to manufacture it fast enough to supply the demand. The product for the coming season is already sold. At the meeting yesterday it was officially decreed that the capacity of the plant be doubled at a cost of $350,000. OIL THE RAGE. Detroit Capitalists will Help Test Adams County Field. Ed H. Andrews of New Baltimore. Michigan, is leasing land just east of town for Detroit speculators. He will lease 1,000 acres and begin drilling just as soon as the weather permits. Andrews is a renowned oil man and is well impressed with the territory. He knows the Adams, Jay and adjoining counties’ fields thoroughly, and is greatly impressed with the territory east of town. He is one of the many oil men who prefer a clay hill for the site of an oil well. Others try to get down at the bottom of lowland and so it goes. We guess it is ail a matter of luck any way. MONEY TO BURN. Anderson will Offer Some Handsome Purses. The Anderson Fair association has arranged its speed program for the fair next September, and announces that the premiums for the stake events will aggregate $7,800. There will be two SI,OOO purses, two S6OO purses and others ranging upward from S3OO. Other gas belt cities have announced that they will offer larger purses this year in an effort to attract some of the horses away from the grand circuit. STRANGE MALADY. Young Man has Suffered for Months from Sprain. Charles Shackley, a son of Daniel K. Shackley, is affected with a rather peculiar trouble and his friends are considerably worried about his condition, which though not exactly dangerous now, is serious, because he gradually grows worse. He has been working in Chicago and seven months ago wrenched his leg severely. It was thought he would soon recover and no anxiety was manifested. He came home and has since been confined to the house a greater part of the time. Late developments prove that tuberculosis of the knee 'bone has set in and his entire system is affected. He is now unable to be about at all and hie friends are very much worried.