Indianapolis Times, Volume 33, Number 187, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 December 1920 — Page 9

CABLE SERVICE TO U. S. ABROAD AIRED IN QUIZ Senate Committee Witnesses Sa/ France and England Censor Messages. MIAMI CASE IS HEARD WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—American precedents and tMditlons were upheld by the State Department in refusing to permit the Western Union Telegraph Company to land a cable at Miami, Fla., without a permit, Norman H Davis, acting Secretary of State, told a Senate committee today at the beginning of hearings on the whole c#blc situation. Davis, in answer to questions by Senator Kellogg, chairman of the committee, told the history of the South America cable business; how the Western Telegraph Company, a British concern, has a monopoly in Brawl and the rest of the eastern portion of South America, and has refused to share this business with the Ail-Amerioan Cable Company, whicn operates on the western coast and has land lines to Rio and Santos. He told of the controversy over the ex-German cables, showing how France and Great Britain having seized the Atlantic cables, have shut the United States out of direct communication with central Europe andßcaudinavla. He declared the Unit-sd States is standing firm for a restoration of the service which obtained before the war and also adheres to its claim to put ownership of the cables. CHALLENGED AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENT Kellogg first took up the controversy over the attempted landing at Miami. The Western Union, Davis said, first asked for a permit to land at Miami, but later challenged the Government’s authority to require it to get a permit. Efforts were made to get the Western Union and the Western Telegraph Company to agree to certain conditions which would have been of benefit to American business men. It was also suggested, Davis said, by the All-American Cable Company that a traffic agreement be made between it and the Western Telegraph Company to permit the All-American to serve eastern South America, but this was turned down by the British Company. Davis agreed to give the committee copies of all landing permits granted by the Government to cable companies. KIGKT TO ROUTE OWN MESSAGES. Walter S. Rogers, who like Davis, was an American delegate to the international communications conference, declared the important condition of the j three, the Government sought to impose j on the Western Union before allowing the cable landing at Miami, is the one, giving the sender the right to route his j cable as he pleases. Rogers went into the controversy over the iiisml-Barbadoes cable. n said j the Barbadoes legislature songht to pass : an act providing among other things ! that any cable station on that island 1 should be permanently manned and con- j trolled by British subjects, employes of' the Western Telegraph or some other! British company. He declared the censorship of com- : mercial messages Is a great disadvan- ! tage to Americans. Rogers said he had often heard that the British and French j had gone so far as to turn over to their i r-wn nationals, certain cable messages between American and foreign business men Both Davis and Rogers assorted j that the United States should have di- ; reet cable communication with foreign lands even if it has to build the cables ; itself. POSITION SINCE 1914 IS TOLD. In discussing the controversy between ! the United States and the other powers j over the former German cables, both J Davis and Rogers confined themselves to ' explanation of the history of the cables , end to stating in the most general terms the position of the United States Government. Davis told how since 1914. the United State# has had no direct cable communication with Central Europe, because the British and French cut two cables from Emden which landed on Long Island. The British diverted the European end of one cable to Penzance; the French took the other one to Bre.-t. Late in 15*16, the British cat the Penzance cable 6TO miles oat of New York and took it to Halifax. Davis also told of the situation in the Pacific concerning the Yap-Guam-Shanghal cable and other German cables there. At this afternoon's session of the committee officials of the All-American Cable Company will be heard, and wlli be followed by Newcomb Carlton, president o' the Western Union. Mexican General Dies MEXICO CITY, Dec. 15.—Gen. Benjamin Hill, secretary of war, died today. He was in command of the anti-Carranza troops In Sonora when the May revolution broke out.

SAVED FROM THE FIRE JAP BRASS RUGS 9X12 = These rug3 were made to sell at $13.00. They are beautiful, finely woven rugs with Gretchen borders and attractive patterns. They are new and absolutely undamaged. Heating and cooking stoves, all makes and sizes. Some as low as 98-50. Gas ranges in several popular models. Well built stoves, priced $9.50 up. All guaranteed. Oil stoves are fine for cold mornings and for use in rooms that are hard to heat; $4.50 up. New brass beds, $8.85 up. New davenports, in several finishes, $12.50 np. Slightly nsed brass beds, full size; price, SG.T>O up. Used iron beds, in good condition, $3.2 5 up. A number of used dressers are priced $7.50 up. New dressers in finishes to match your suite, , priced fir.rs vsl &LAZEB 444 L Washington St

GAS COMPANY ASKS RATE BOOST (Continued From Page One.) j us n consequence it haR become lncreas- ! ingly difficult for utilities to sell their | securities. During the past four years (with the j exception of the first nine months following the armistice when thero was a business depression, and with the exception of the past month, when anew ; business depression has set in), there ' has been an active demand for coke and j the by-products of petitioner’s manufac- ! ture. almost the entire market for which, other than the sale of gas, has been ! outside the city of Indianapolis. By reason of the profit made from such transactions the consumers of gas in the city' of Indianapolis have been able to receive gas as a by-product at a price far below that at which it t Could be produced but for such conditions. So that it lias been literally true that cheap gas i in Indianapolis has been provided, not !*■ the people of Indianapolis, but b.v business interests throughout the country, which have purchased the coke and hy-products other than gas from the petitioner. WATER GAS ONLY ! CAN BE PRODUCED. The only gas which can be produced by petitioner other than that resulting from the carbonization of coal into coke is what is known ns water gas and for which it has capacity to produce more than- 4,000,000 cubic feet per day. The actual cost of the production of water gas during the last year, without any allowance whatever for depreciation, repairs, overhead expense or returu on capital, has been much lu excess of 60 cents ■ per 1,000 cable feet, and with the above i items included, tvuuld bo in excess of $1 | per 1,000 cubic feet. That the prime expense in the prodne. tion of water gas is the element of gas oil, of which nearly four gallons are necessary to produce 1,000 cubic feet of gas with the required heat standard and the cost of such quantity of gas oil In the last year has been approximately 50 cents. The constant demand for gasoline! for automobile and other purposes has brought about a condition in the market where cheap gas oil cannot be expected I in the near future, and, therefore, it will i be impossible to provide water gas at; an expense even approximated 0> cents per LOGO cubic feet. The production of gas, other than water gas, is an Incident to the manufacture : of coke, and unless a sufficient quantity of coke can be manufactured to give off as a by-product enough gas to meet the j requirements of consumers, the only alternative is the manufacture of water gas to meet the deficiency. This exact con- i dition existed In the month of November, : 1920, when as a result of the diminished demand sos coke the operation of the ovens were reduced, thereby reducing the amount of by-product gas produced, and ! more than 52,000.000 cubic feet of \#ater gas were produced at an actual lon* to ! the petitioner of many thousands of j dollars. NO AVAILABLE FUNDS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. The estatdished relationship of cheap j gas to prosperous times with a large demand for coke and the consequent neces- 1 sity of producing wafer gas at a cost , much in excess of till cents per 1,000 cubic feet, when times are not prosperous and the market for coke good, creates an i inherent weakness in petitioners' securi- i ties so long ns a maximum rate of 00 cents per 1,000 cubic feet for gas pre- ( vails. Petitioner has no available funds or j income, under present condition. with j which to make such Improvements or to meet such general mortgage bonds at thetr maturity, and such means must be i provided through the sale of additional stock of petitioner and additional ohli gallons in the forgot collateral notes or bonds. Petitioner has made inquiry of in-; stitutions stinding high in American financial circles, and wan are familiar with petitioner's history and present condition as well as the genera! condition j pertaining to the industry, an I has been advised that in the spring of the year 1921 it will in all probability be possible to sell petitioner's securities at an expense for interest and discount more favorable than that which now -prevails, but that it will not be possitde so sell such securities unless an increase in gas rates can be obtained a* an assurance that the interest on such new obligations will be met and a substantial portion. if not ail of the principal thereof, j be paid at maturity. Such opinion corresponds with and confirms the belief of petitioner and which has been expressed by petition-r in a public way to the city of Indianapolis, the public service commission and the consuming public of the city of Indianapolis on various occasion- during the current year. That the most urgent of ail the improvements required to be made to petitioner's plant and one which if has agreed with the city of Indianapolis to make in the year 1921. Is anew storage hoider with a capacity of 5, (At i.000 cubic feet; It will require at least one year fro rnthe date an order therefor is given to secure the manufacture an A erection of such holder. That the ex-

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Landlords to Oust Striking Janitors CHICAGO, Dee. 15.—Six thousand jaultors scheduled to strike Jan. 1 unless they are given a wage increase will be evicted from their home#-' if they carry out the strike, according to plans' announced today by tho landlords. "Occupation of the premises ceases with his employment and he is a trespasser and wiil be treated as such,” said John Carroll, representing the landlords.

pense of such holder will be more than $300,000 and this petitioner cannot enter ; into a contract therefor without having reasonable assurance of the means wherewith to meet the cost thereof. Mortgages and outstanding debts i against the company which must be met in 1921 amount to $1 ,560,000, the petition states, and to meet these obligations, ; with the improvements thar must be made, will entail expenditure of about I $4,500,000. I “Other improvements to the plant of the petitioner are quite as urgent as the providing of the new gas holder,” the petition states, “but the same conditions I prevail with reference to entering into a contract therefor as are se;: out with reference to the gas holder.” Wherefore, Petitioner show) that an emergency exists requiring the making of additions and betterments to the plant of petitioner in order to meet the requirements of the consumers of the city of Indianapolis; that such emergency cannot l>e met and Jurh Improvements made without sale of petitioner's securities ; that such securities cannot be marketed under present conditions with a basic rate of 60 cents per 1.000 cubic feet for gas; that an increase la said rate from 60 cents to p 0 ceuts per 1,000 rtibic feet is necessary to, and will if granted, enable petitioner to finance the coat of making such improvements. Wherefore. Petitioner asks the Public Service Commission of Indiana, inquiry being first made Into the matters and facts herein set forth, to issue Its order authorizing this petitioner to increase Us charge to consumers for gas from 60 cents per 1.000 cubic feet to 90 cents per 1,000 cubic feet, such increase to continue during the emergency and until the further order of the commission. The company is represented by Smith, Remstcr, Hornbrook and Smith. The petition was signed by John R. Welch president, and J. D. Forrest, secretary of the gas company. With the filing of the petition the gas company issued the following petition to the public: Every citizen of Indianapolis should know the history of the Citizens Gas Company and the features of its organization adopted for tho protection of the public. In ordinary corporations a person holding a majority of ths stock can elect directors of his own choice and thus control the company. The stockholders In the Citizens Gas Company have no voting power. All the stock is placed in the hands of five men who were selected as citizens Interested in the public welfare and entrusted with the power of electing the directors from year to year. These trustees are Thomas L. Sulllvan, ex-mayor of Indianapolis: Thomas IT. Spann, real estate dealer; Lucius B. Swift, lawyer; Henry Kuhn, manufacturer, anil G. A. Schnull, wholesale grocer. The present board of directors, most of whom have nerved for more than ten years by appointment of the trustees, are: John It. Welch, president, real estate and insurance; Alfred F. Potts, vice president, lawyer; G. A Efroy luson. treasurer, president H. F. Wnsvn l° • J. D. Forrest, secretary and general manager; Franklin Yonnegut, Vonnegut Hardware Company; Henry Bennett, president -State Life Insurance < nmpany , IT. H Hornbrook. lawyer; Robert Llet**r, If Lieber A Cos., and J. 11 Hooker, president .Slnger-Davis Company. . '1 lie company was orgunlaed in i-fiD through a popular movement inaugurated In the Commercial Club, now the Chaw bor of Commerce. Scores of public-spirited citizens umjcrtook tha great task of financing the company by securing subscriptions which totaled $690,000. There wero more than 3.000 subs-riptlans ranging from $23 upward. Not one cent was paid to any person for aiding in th* promotion of the company. Theie is not a doiiur of water ; In its stock. Tlie company was financed by our people and in fact belongs to them. More than 2,50<> person* are now Wilder# of Its slock. Tho efforts of the directors of the Citizens tins Company have been and nro now being directed toward holding and perpetrating ths situation for the public we! fa re. Special features of organization peculiar to the Citizens Gas Company are;

INDIANA DAILY TIMES, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15,1920.

Stock is beyond chance of manipulation through being held and voted by the trustees, in the public Interest. * Unlike any other public utility or private corporation, no dividend beyond 10 per cent per annum can be paid, no matter how much the company may make. Any profits above 10 per cent go into the gas properties. All stock after the original Issue or $1,000,000, has to be sold at auction to the highest bidder and all premiums thereon, above par value, go Into the treasury and no dividends can be paid thereon. • The premiums thus received up to this date have amounted to the sum of $418,711.28, all of which has gone into the gas properties. The stock issued amounts to $2,000,000. for which the company has received $2,418.711.28. Dividends of 10 per cent per year lire paid on the face value of this stock, which is only a fraction above 8 per cent paid by the company for the use of this canital. SPECIAL PROFITS NOT DIVIDED. No "melons” can be cut or special profits divided. The success of the company’s management is evidenced by the fact that tt has furnished gas for nearly twelve years at 60 cents per 1,000 the lowest rate of any city in the worl<\ /When the 60-cent rate was fixed ana the company began operations in 1900, its coal was purchased at the mines at 90 cents per ton with a freight charge from /West Virginia to Indianapolis of $1.55 per ton. This same coal in 1920 has cost from $5 to sll per top. at the ’.nines, with a freight charge of $2.88 per ton. Labor at the gas plants, on the distribution system and In other lines ranged from 12Vi to 18 cents an hour. The range is now from 33 to 75 cent* per hour. All clerical and office wages and salaries are from 50 to KM) per cent higher. All materials, such as gas piping and other supplies have advanced from 100 to 300 per cent. ( Taxes have increased 300 per cent. Interest rates have advanced from 5 per cent to 7,8, 10 per cent. Las Is still at OO cents. With the closing up of factories, furnaces and mills using coke there wlli be an inevitable drop in the price of coke with no means of checking It. With coal and labor there will be no proportionate decrease. To Ignore this inevitable situation and go on blindly in the hope that gas can be furnished at 60 cents would be to demonstrate that the directors of the Citizens Gas Company have no foresight. IMPERATIVE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENTS Recognizing that in a rapidly growing need for constant enlargement and improvement in tne gas company’s equipment to enabie it to keep apace wltn the city’s' growth, the directors have adopted a program of building and improvements covering a period of three years and requiring an expenditure in excess of $2.750.000—51 000,000 of theso improvements are to be installed a* rapidly as the company can raise the necessary funds and completed lu 1921. These Improvements will embrace an additional gas holder with a capacity of 5,000,000 cubic feet of gas; equipment for a large increase of ga* made from oil; coal and coke handling machinery to facilitate gas making operations; alterations in the old ovens to Increase their output and many other features which. It is believed, will enable the company not only to improve its service to its present consumers, but, as far a* posalfde, to take care of the rapidly increasing population. It is hoped to Ristall some of the most Important of these improvement! in time to provide against any further inconvenienees provided the public will purchase its normal coal supply and not attempt to us*‘ gas a* a temporary substitute for coal. To carry through the proposed program of improvements and enlarge rnents requires an expenditure In excess of $2,756,0-u. which must be raised by the sale of the corajlßny's stock and bonds. Tlie directors have postponed this necessary work in the hope of txHter prices on material and labor, but the situation seems to force the company to proceed with the work without further delay. HEAVY PRKMII MS BRING CAPITAL. As is well known it Is only possible to satire capital at this timo bv paying heavy premiums for money and investing banks able to finaine such an enterprise look very critically Into all the circumstances that confront the borrower. It must be demonstrated that the income of tho company will enable it to carry its interest charges on tho new capital. The trustees and directors have stood out against making this appeal not only in the hop* of itetter prices, but because of the pride they have taken In keeping Indianapolis at the front as the only CO-celit gas city In the world. This sentiment will have to yield to the fieecs s'lb-s of the situation until the return of normal times. What we s*ek by this communl'-atlon Is to refresh the memories of tho people ns to the history and character of tbis organization and what has been aecoin-

* Dry* Movement Hits Paris With Force TARIS, Dec. 15.—The first official prohibition movement in Paris, sponsored by the government, is under way today. The military governor is organizing fifty “dry” meetings which will be addressed by army doctors and others on the evil effects of alcohol. Moving picture companies will be ask *V to cooperate.

plished by It. We wish the people to realize that the trustees and directors are trying to serve the public and have no personal nor political interests to seyve. Wo trust thut the public will cooperate in the effort to keep the company apace with our growing city. Fnally we wish to emphasize tho fact that every dollar which may be realized from an increase of rates goes back Into the improvement of the service and that nothing beyond tho fixed limited dividend can be paid to any stockholder. *'" " ✓ CROSSTOWN CAR ORDER HELD UP Tha board of public works today decided not to order the Indlapapolls Street Railway Company to establish a crost; town car line connecting the Virginia avenue line* with those In Kentucky avenue for the time being. The decision was based upon a showing of officials of the company that present traffic between the southwest and southeast sections of the city, as shown by a check of transfers Issued between Oct. 24, and Nov. 6, is not sufficient to permit the operation of even one crosstown car lino without a financial loss. Dr. Henry Jameson, president of the board 6f directors of the company, brought the report of the transfer check I to the board. In a discussion of the company's affair* br. Jameaon declared that it may have difficulty In obtaining ten rebuilt cars, which a Dayton com- | pany has announced will be ready for I shipment next Tuesday or Wednesday ! because the street railway company may be unable to meet a cash payment of approximately $50,000 demanded by the Dayton Company before delivery. The traction head aaid every effort la being made to raise the money. The cars are part of a consignment of thirty-five summer cars sent to the Dayton concern for conversion into closed cars several months ago. SHOWS HOURS OF MOST TRANSKRS. The transfer check showed that most of the transferring from the Virginia avenue to tho Kentucky avenue lines and from the Bouth Meridian and Garfield lines, it done between the hours of 6 and 7 in the morning and 6 and 6 in the evening. 1$ would be a good idea, the board members thought, to establish cross town service at these hours only when cross town travel sgaln becomes heavy enough to makt U possible to operate such service without loss. It was pointed out that ths present traffc between the south sections is not as heavy as formerly for the reason that so many of the Industries are not operating with their full personnel. The check showed that between Oct, 24 and Nov. 6, a two weeks period, tne dally average number of transfers from the Vlrglisja avenue line# to the stockyards and West Indianapolis lines, which operate for short distances over

whYiT STORE Sensible Gifts Ns>v — —IVE a man a useful gift, £ : ' and you may be sure 'twill iM \ be welcome. That, of course, means making wit \ selections at a man’s store; for something n \ that he can wear is sure to be useful. S^lfllllllP^i For Convenience , Check the Items on This List Which Interest You Siffede Dress Gloves Beautiful Silk Shirts /MwMm \ Cape Dress Gloves Rich Silk Neckwear V Heavy Silk Gloves Beautiful Knitted MM / I Warm, Lined Gloves Neckwear /J| ' N Ut ht <^ ai £ ntletS Silk or Linen HandPajamas (all prices) Initial Handkerchiefs Good, Warm Sweaters Hosiery—Silk, Cotton Velour Hats or Wool jfi** Umbrellas or Canes Smoking Jackets Woven andslmported House Gowns Madras Shirts * 'Bath Robes • Men’s Jewelry, Collar Bag-3, Bill Folds, Safety Razors, Eversharp Pencils and many other novelties, or we will issue Gift

| Kentucky avenue and are therefore i termed “Kentucky avenue lines,” was 1 197. The number transferring from the i Kentucky avenue to the Virginia ave- ! nue lines was 188. Had these transferlng i passengers traveled on a cross town line running through South street, as has been proposed, the average daily revenue would have been $19.23. The average annual revenue on this basis would be $7,026.23, the company's report stated. The report also pointed out that the average daily number of transfers from the Minnesota line to the Garfield, South Meridian, Stock Yard and West Indianapolis lines for tho period checked, was 55, and those Issued In the opposite direction, 71, making a total of 126. The total revenue from this source if a crosstown line were established, would be $6.30 per day. or $2,25*9.50 a year. From these figures it was concluded that the total annual revenue the company could expect from a cross-town line of ths nature suggested would be $9,325.75. Dr. Jameson stated that the average nnnual cost of operating one car Is $12,600, Indicating that the loss from a south side, cross-town line under present conditions would be more than $3,000 per vear. A letter from James P. Tretton. superintendent of the street railway company, in whlft it was pointed out that service on the. stock yards and west Indianapolis lines was very poor in November because trains of the Belt Railroad held up cars for long periods almost every day, was presented to the board. Clerk W. F. Cleary was instructed to request officials of the Belt Railroad to remedy the evil. The board confirmed a resolution for the resurfacing of Morris street from West stret to Madlsoii avenue. * Auto Deaths Increase WASHINGTON. Dec. 15—Deaths from automobile accidents continued to show an increase during 1919, with a total of 7,969 for the census bureau's registration area, comprising abtrht 80 per cent of the country's total population. The total itt- ; eludes 8,808 deaths in sixty-six of the I larger cities. OUCH! ANOTHER RHEUMATIC TWINGE j Get busy and relieve those pains with that handy bottle of Sloan’s Liniment. WFIAT Sloan's docs, It doss thoroughly— penetrates without rubbing to the afflicted part aud promptly relieves most kinds of exterI nal pains and aches. You'll find it clean and non-skin-staining. Keep it handy for sciatica, lumbago, neuralgia, overexerted muscles, stiff Joints, backache, pains, bruises, strains, sprains, bad westher after-effects. For 39 years Sloan's Liniment has helped thousands the world over. Yon aren't likely to he an exception. It certainly does produce results. All druggists-av, 70c, $1.40. Sloans Liniment —Advertisement

Town of Macy Suffers $40,000 Loss by Fire PERU, Ind., Dee. 15. —The little town of Macy, north of Peru, suffered a $40,000 fire yesterday afternoon. Fire broke out in the Edward Wood Grist Mil! and rapidly spread to adjacent buildings. The local fire department was unable to cope with the flames and a call was made on the Peru fire department for assistance. The loss to the Wcod mill is estimated at $35,000. The origin of the fire is unknown. BANQUET FOR MACHINISTS, A banquet in honor of striking machinists formerly employed by the American Can Company was held at Machinists’ Hall. 39% South Delaware street,

_ mm iltli ' EVANS’ ' I ilisjajvgsJ B* FLOUR/®* Made by Master Millers . in Modern Mills Soft, rich Indiana winter wheat is scientifically blended by a SECRET process with, some of the hard varieties from distant sections to produce a flour *ood 1(1 for every purpose to which flour I \ I can be put in-the home. We could tell you that the v'Vl /ft big electrically operated A Acme-Evans Mills turn out ' 1 3,200 barrels of wheat flour, (ff\\ 500 barrels of corn products, \ 350 tons wheat dairy 6tock / / |rj y *and poultry feeds and still { • ’ (F*7-R A ITf i S you wouldn’t know just how qfjb NIT / DAiVLI* ’ good and reliable EVANS’ j\\ m V. < E-Z-BAKE FLOUR is. I ll\ 0 ■£[ I* n\ ■ | V k LM < Go to your grocer—ask for / S 1 r U-,IEEa-r S a sack of EVANS’ E-Z- I *1 1 BAKE FLOUR and leam U PLJ FI by actual test Just what it pTA] / t-ma \ ....

last *i ght, at which twenty men were present. Albert Lehman acted as toastmaster. Among those who took part In the festivities were William Stumph, president of Machinists’ Union No. 161; M. E. Alexander, business agent for the machinists, and George Doyle, organizer of the Intern’.tional Association of Machinists of Washington, 'D. C. EXHIBITS ARE MAKING HITS. * Considerable interest is being evidenced by Indianapolis men in the exhibits of made-in-Indlanapolis goods in the chibroonis nl uie IndiauapoUs Chamber of Commerce. * The exhibit which ha3 Just been removed was by the Leedy Manufacturing Company. The exhibit now In is by the International Printing Company, an Indianapolis concern which makes packages for manufacturers over the entire country.

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