Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1901 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat

SI.OO Per Year.

Still it’fl cool. The Democrat is all home print this week. 1 < Don’t fail to read the big 2-page ad of Laßue Bros. New pensions: Morris E. Rogers, Kentland, increase, sl2. Mrs. George Dunn, of Wichita, Kan., is here visiting her parents. A string of keys picked up a few days ago await an owner at this office. # Wm. H. Coover started for Oklahoma Tuesday on a prospecting trip. Lessie Bates’ place in the City schools will be filled by Miss Lillie Nowels, The advertiser who wishes to reach the people places his ads in The Democrat. Albert Overton is thinking of locating in Oklahoma for the benefit of his health. Eugene Saylor has moved to Cullum, 111., where he will superintend an electric light plant. Benj. Niel and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ott of near Kniman, were in the city Monday on business. The Ladies Literary society held its annual banquet last evening, at the home of Mrs. S. P. Thompson. V-Chester Zea got his foot quite badly mashed in a machine shop at Hammond, where he is employed. Geo. Mitchell will move into the Makeever house on South Division street, lately vacated by Mrs. M. B. Sherman. J. F. Erwin was called to Carpenter tp., again Saturday by the serious illness of her aged mother, Mrs. Ravenscroft. Clara Biggs of West Lebanon, returned home Saturday, after a week’s visit with her cousins, Misses Leona and Laurel Biggs. A 1 Keister of Jordan tp., sawed up 90 cords of 4-foot wood last week, probably the biggest pile of word ever sawed at one time in Jasper county.

.a Mr. and Mrs. B. Zerdan and daughter, Mrs John Healy, were called to Chicago Tuesday, by the death of the former’s daughter, Mrs. J. Powell. The Democrat wants good, regular correspondents at Fair Oaks, DeMotte and Wheatfield. • Let some one take the work up; we furnish stationery, etc. All the old postmasters in the tenth district, who care for another term of office, are being recommended for re-appointment by Congressman Crumpacker. New subscribers to The Democrat this week by postoffices: Francesville, 1: Rensselaer, R-D-l, 1; McCoysburg, 1; Rensselaer, 1; Monon, 1; Kniman, 1; Virgie, 1. Jeptha Parker, aged about 85 years, died at the home of his son J. C. Parker, in Barkley tp., last Saturday. The remains were taken to Boone county for interment. The county commissioners of Marion county, have begun suit to recover $9,000 from ex-Treas-urer Schmidt, which an expert examination showed he had wrongfully pocketed. A. Leopold’s “Daylight” store is rented to Ransford & Frank of Harvey, 111., who will open business about the 15th of June. Their line will be principally notions, we understand. A Chicago woman offers SI,OOO for an honest man. Well, there’s a party on Eaßt Washington street who might fill the bill, providing, of course, the lady would take his unsupported word for it. The salary of the Monon post- ' office has been reduced from $1,200 per year to $l,lOO per year; Knox, Starke county, has been raised from $1,200 to $1,400; Remington reduced from $1,400 to $1,300; Lowell raised from $1,200 to $1,300.

""W DR. MOORE, Specialist, PRIVATE DISEASES, HBMORHORDB, WO-.,. Office First Stairs West ol Fendlg’s Drug Store. Phone 351. RENSSELAER, IND.

Geo. Strickfaden is again able to be about. Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Nowles are here from Lamar, Colo., for a short visit. Mrs. Chas. Yeoman and children of Dana, Ind., are visiting relatives here. Kersey, one of the new stations on the Gifford road, has been platted as a town. M. J. Costello of Remington, was a pleasant caller at The Democrat office Thursday. T. J. Gray, one of Goodland’s pioneer merchants, was in the city a few hours on business Thursday. Fair Oaks is the only town in Jasper county thus far heard from that will let the eagle scream July 4th.

Knox is to have a heating and waterworks plant, franchises having been granted Kankakee parties for the same. Jackson tp., Newton county, will hold an election July 27 to vote aid of $7,200 to the proposed east and west railroad. Monroe tp., in which Winamac is situated, will vote July 9 on the proposition of giving subsidy of 2 per cent for the proposed east and west railroad. It is reported here that H. C. Goldsberry, who recently moved his family to Augusta, Okla., has since moved them to lowa. —Wolcott Enterprise. Maggie Lohman, a German dom estic in the Halleck home at Pembroke, was badly burned Monday morning from her clothing catching fire from the stove. Today’s Rensselaer markets (all top prices): Wheat 65; corn 38; oats 25; rye 42. One year ago today the prices were, wheat 65; corn oats 21£; rye 45.

In our obituary of Truitt P. Wright last week we stated that he was named after his father. It should have read that he was named after his grandfather. "The county commissioners, J. F. Major, John Eger, M. F. Chilcote and Editor Clark were the guests of Superintendent T. F. Clark, at the poor farm for dinner Tuesday. Harrold, the little son of Editor Clark, who has been attending the deaf and dumb institue at Indianapolis, returns home to-day for the summer vacation. W. B. Austin has been appointed administrator of the estate of the late R. B. Good rick. Deceased left about SI,OOO in cash, and a one-third interest in 90 acres of land in Warren county. A special meeting of the common council was held Monday afternoon at which the only business transacted was the granting liquor licenses to August Rosenbaum and Conrad Kellner. J. F. Warren did not return to Oklahoma last Tuesday as expected, but was called to Hartford, Conn., by bis firm, and left Monday night for that city, instead. He will leave for Oklahoma next week.

SL A fine 10-pound girl arrived at Jtme home of Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Maloy, at Englewood, 111., Wednesday last. Grandpa and Grandma Maloy are quite proud over their new titles but the latter is somewhat disappointed that it wasn’t a boy. Vjft’he State Court of Catholic Order of Foresters will hold its biennial convention at Elwood next week. State Chief Ranger Honan and several others from Rensselaer will attend. Jas. E. Walters, is delegate from Willard Court; Joseph Nagel, Alternate. By the way, what has become of that ordinance to let legal printing to the lowest bidder, introduced some months ago in the city council and passed to second reading? Better call it up, gentlemen, and show your constituents how you stand on economical matters.

Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, June 8, 1901.

A Blow To Municipal Ownership and Street Improvements.

One of the bright acts passed by the late lamented legislature is that fixing a minimum wage rate for unskilled labor on public work of state, county, cities and towns at twenty cents per hour. The complete act is as follows. Section X. Be It enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That from and after the passage of this act, unskilled labor employed upon any public work of the State, counties, cities aud towns, shall receive not less thau twenty cents an hour for said labor, which may be enforced in a proper action, and in case a suit shall be necessary for the recovery of the compensation herein provided for. and where the compensation is recoveted, the persou suing shall recover also a reasonable attorney’s fee. together with a penalty not exceeding double the amouut of wages due: Provided, That Boards of Commissioners, Common Councils of towns or cities are prohibited from making contracts with such luborers by the week or auy definite length of time wherein a price is agreed upon at a rate less than as provided herein. Sec. 2. Any contractor or other person in charge of public work of the State, counties, cities or towns, whose duty it is to contract with, employ and pay, the unskilled labor on such public work, who shall violate the provisions of Sectiou one of this act shall lie deemed guilty of a misdeumor, and upon conviction thereof shall be lined in any sum not exceeding ten dollars, to which muy be added imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding thirty days. Sec. 3. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.

Under this act every person employed in any capacity on public work is entitled to 20 cents per hour, and the man who mows grass along the streets, carries a chain for the surveyor, digs a sewer or drain, or performs any other public service for any corporation above mentioned comes under the provisions of this law. This act will n<? doubt apply to town and city marshals, court house janitors, the employes of municipal heating, lighting and water plants, as well as to all street improvements hereafter made. If so, it would increase the salary of our marshal, sls per month, assuming that he puts in only ten hours per day; the court house janitor sls per month; court house heating plant engineer, S3O; superintendent of poor farm, sls, and all other employees of poor farm at the above rate of 20 cents per hour. Each of the engineers and fireman at the light and water plant, who put in about twelve hours per day, nearly S3O per month, or a total increase for the five men employed of $l5O per month, making the pay of each about $75 per month. Also the salary of the sexton of Weston cemetery, about S3O. It increases the cost of all street improvement at least J for the nec essary labor. As Rensselaer is about to improve some of her streets this increased cost of labor must be taken into consideration by the contractors and added to the bids for such improvement, thus giving us a taste of the law and its effect upon public improvement at once. This beautiful piece of legislation took effect at the time Gov. Durbin issued his proclamation putting the laws in force, May 15, 1901, and every person who has since performed any public work for any county, city, town or the state, is entitled to the wage rate fixed above. Its effect would not be so damaging were it not for the fact that private corporations and individuals can employ unskilled labor at from 12| to 15 cents per hour.

There Are Other Editors.

A Columbus editor printed a warnin'? that the man who was hugging his hired girl had better stop or his name w >uld be published. In the next 'ew days about 25 prominent citizens paid up their subscriptions and told the eaitor to pay no attention to foolish stories.—Rensselaer Republican. We once heard of a gray-headed Rensselaer editor who had an au-burn-haired hired girl, and one time when she was in the kitchen stirring up a cake, the editor attempted to do a little hugging on his own account. The auburnhaired damsel objected to “Bluebeard’s” embraces and “basted"’ the gray-headed editor square in the kisser with the big iron spoon she was using in stirring the cake.

Advertised Letters.

Mr. E. B. Hannah; Mrs. Mattie Hill; Mr. Martin; Mrs. Ada McDaniel; Mrs. Lillie Smith: Ora May Wilson; Miss Winnie White.

F. B. Meyer. P. M.

Commissioners’ Court.

The regular June meeting of the county commissioners convened Monday, and following is a ieport of their proceedings as appears on the docket: In matter of Keener tp., gravel roads; no bids for completion of road filed and cause continued. Old claim of Geo. E. Marshall of $4.71 for printing for County Superintendent was continued pending filing of an opinion by counsel. Ezra C. Switzer et al petition for ditch; report of viewers filed too late for service; Auditor directed to give notice for July term. Liquor licenses were granted Daniel T. O’Connor and John M. Johnson, both of Remington, to J date from June 10 and 19, spectively. Bond of James Clowey as superintendent of Range Line gravel road approved. Petition of Angeline Walters et al for highway; continued. John Kimble et al petition for highway; Sylvester Gray, S. T. Comer and James McClanahan appointed viewers, to meet June 17. Petition of Conrad Kellner for change' in date of issuance of liquor license granted at May term was granted, and said license was dated June 4, instead of July 12th. In matter of levying tax for aid of the Gifford road; ordered that tax be levied, $31,800, but auditor directed not to place same upon tax duplicate until further action of Board. Same order made in Barkley tp., tax. In matter of special election in Marion tp., for voting aid of 1 per cent, for the construction of the Toledo & Chicago Transfer Ry.; petition granted and July 8, set as the date for holding said election. Said tax will raise $21,335.

Following report of fees collected for quarter was made and approved; J. F. Major, ex-sheriff’s fees collected. $237.25; Same, exclerk’s fees, $36.15; Same, present clerk’s fees, $487.85; A. G. Hardy, sheriff’s fees, $304.60; R. B. Porter recorder’s fees, $800.05; W. C. Babcock, auditor’s fees, $89.35. Requisition of T. F. Clark for poor farm supplies was approved. C. M. Blue, trustee Marion tp., granted permission to extend aid not to exceed sls per quarter to the following persons: Mary Peyton, Sarah Platt, Frank Ramey, John W. King, Cora Morlan, Mattie Morlan, Billie Watson, AlbertChaffine and Richard Stone. T. F. Clark was re-appointed Superintendent of the poor farm for the two yearsbnding August 31, 1903. Jennings Wright was appointed Coroner to fill out the unexpired term of T. P. Wright, deceased. Report of poor farm Superintendent was examined and approved. The report shows 10 inmates, 8 males and 2 females. Receipts for quarter were $601.78, expenses $596.50, $4.00 of which was for tiling. BRIDGE MATTERS. Two old bridge petitions for Carpenter tp., also 1 for Walker and 1 each for Jordan and Marion were continued. Contract let to the Canton Bridge Co., for one new bridge in Gillam tp., at 1869; same, 1 new bridge in Marion tp., to American bridge Co., at $1,081; Same, 1 new bridge in Newton tp., to Attica Bridge Co., for SBB9, anti 2in Union to same company for SBSO and $425, respectively, all to be completed by August 5, 1901. Elias Arnold, petition for 2 new bridges in Barkley tp., continued Lewis P. Shirer petitioned for 3 new bridges in Walker tp.; causes all continued. The following claims were acted upon and allowed for full amount unless otherwise noted: T F Clark, trees for poor farm $ #OO Same, expense same 4 00 City Rensselaer, lights April 19 27 J H Tilton. 4 young fox scalps 4 00 R A Park Ison, aoct female prison 40 75 W H Robertson, public printing M oont’d K A Parklson aoct. hospital $16.49 ail'd 10 42 L PShirer, enumerating voters. S', ail’d at #B. when funds are approplated by oounty council. W C Hallihan, meals election 1900 2 45 R W Spriggs, Janitor, examination.... 600

W C Babcock, postage auditor’s office. 500 Poltx, Spltler A Kurrie, atty fees in Burford case 89 35 HoldridgeClark, Keener grav roads.. 18 70 E R Hopkins, exp et house 2 00 John Hordeman. same 75 D E Hudson, election meals 7 35 Wallace Sayler. witness Schaffer ditch. 165 Andrew Sayler, same 1 65 Jasper County Democrat, public print’g 2 00 John H Tilton, 4 young wolf scalps 12 00 R A Parkison, Gallagher ditch 138 35 Same, salary as treasurer 300 00 Robt. Parker, rep Range Line grav r.. 48 12 A G Hardy, serving road precepts 11 30 John Moorehouse, 6 young wolf scalps 18 00 Same, fox scalp 2 50 Chas. Ramp, oil boiler house 3 60 M B Price, exp. surveyor’s office 1 00 Same, postuge 1 00 Geo. Stalbnum, allotting ditches: 1 50 Abraham DeKorker, same 2 25 Chas. Ginder. same 3 00 Scott Cooper, same 3 00 Wm Cooper, same 150 Leslie Clark, public printing 2 00 Sunie. notice letting Keener gruv.ad7, 00 M B Price, allotting ditches 69 00 Warner Bros, exp ct house 13 75 Same, jail - 2 35 Same, gravel roads 50 Same, poor farm 75 Thos Blake, rep Range Line grav rd.. 10 76 J F Major, sulary as clerk 487 85 M L Hempill, rep Marion grav rd 1 00 Ancil Woodworth, same . 250 T F Clark, exp. poor farm 400 00 Calvin Cain, labor same 20 00 Clara Schultz, same 12 00 I Harsliburger, same ...., 20 IK) T F Clark, sal supt. same 162 50 A G Hardy, postage 2 00 Same, sulary ........ ...... 637 40 T F Clark, pd labor poor farm 10 00 Fleener A Carnahan, aee't omitted taxes collected. $26.55 rout'd T P Wright, holding inquest 6 50 E C English, medical witness, same ... 575 Blanche Hoyes. reporter same 4 00 Harry Gifford, witness same 75 Mrs. Mae Gifford, same 75 L B Huett, same... 75 Lizzie Callahan, same 75 Phillip Blue, truant officer serv 2 00 J R Phillips, Co Assessor serv 72 00 Bales Lumber Co sewer ct house 2 70 Same, fuel ct house 39 06 A Woodworth, Muriou grav rd rep .... 13 75 New Castle Bridge Co. 1 steel bridge.. 1098 00 Albert Wolf, mowing court h yard 1 50 Chas Morlan, ct house janitor 45 00 Same, laundry ct house 75 L H Hamilton. Co supt per diem 100 00 Same, postage 5 05 Jesse Nichols, Marion grd rep $3.75 ail’d 13 75 R B Porter, postage 8 44 J C Thrawls, allotting ditches 13 50 J D Adams A Co. 1 steel culvert 60 00 Same, same 60 00 WC Babcock,salary as auditor 500 00 R B Porter, sal recorder 410 41 Indianapolis Journal, adv Keener tp grav road letting 5 40 TOWNSHIP ASSESSORS’ BILLS, Wm. E. Culp, assessing Hanging Grove 70 00 J R Mallatt, same. Union 92 00 Hattie Mallat, same 28 00 Thos. Ward, same, Jordan 90 00 S Freeman, same, Gillam 98 00 Chas. Walker, same Barkley 98 00 J Q Lewis, same, Barkley (deputy) 16 00 WmGrube, same. Wheattield 94 00 C H Armstrong, same, Walker 102 00 C A Hopkins, same. Marion 102 00 R B Harris, same, Rensselaer 100 QG Mildred Harris, same, Rensselaer 20 00 F M Hart. same. Keener .. 92 00

“Justice” As She’s Worked In Jasper.

As an example of how the eyes of Justice are sometimes “covered” in Jasper county, we mention a little circumstance connected with the Haliigan cattle case. On the morning of the day the case was set for trial, two interested parties in the case drove to the country quite early. Later they were seen driving out of the yard from a well known republican farmer’s residence. Still later the well known farmer is said to have left his work and sat about the court room all the afternoon until finally called to sit on the jury to take the place of one of the regular panel, who was excused. He was accepted and sat in the case until the jury was discharged last week. Perhaps the illness of Andy Yeoman was a blessing in disguise, as his illness resulted in the jury being discharged and now if tried in this county it will be by a new jury.

Dance at Warner Hall.

Another grand ball will be given at Warner Hall. Rensselaer, Ind., on Saturday night, June 15, 1901. Good music will be in attendance. Come and bring your lady. Bicknell & Bowers, Mgr’s.

Sells His Lafayette Property.

W. B. Austin of Rensselaer, who owned an interest in the Poweis Block, West Lafeyatte, yesterday disposed of his holding, the purchaser being C. M. Homer of Monon. The price paid for the interest held by Mr. Austin was sll ,000, and Mr. Homer is now owner of the entire property. It is one of the best pieces of property in West Lafayette, and Mr. Homer has been fortunate in securing it.—Lafayette Journal.

v Vol. IV. No. 9

About the Court House.

The Board of Review is called to meet, Monday, June 17. —o — The wolf scalp business is still flourishing in Jasper, county. The amount of unloaned school funds on hand June 1, was $2,315, —o — In the release of A. M. Bushongf the county jail is again without an occupant. —o — Under the act passed by the late legislature, all the laborers employed to assist in the construction of the new bridges just contracted for will be entitled to not less than 20 cents per hour for their work. o The two crates of vault furniture for the recorder’s office, which have been given storage room by the county for the past 2£ years, still occupy their old position near the south stairway in the basement. —o — The county council is called to meet in special session Monday, June 17. At this session, we understand, it will be asked to appropriate money to pay the Burford stationery claim, also more bridge money, etc., etc. —o —

Marriage licenses are few and far between nowadays. The only one issued since May 25th was issued Tuesday to Mr. Fred Arthur Hicks and Miss Hattie Belle Y"eoman, both of Remington. The groom is a prominent young merchant, a son of Andrew Hicks of Remington, andJhe bride is the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs, Ira W. Yeoman, well known here, and who has been a teacher in Carpenter township schools for several years.

—o— Bids have been advertised for twice for the completion of the Keener tp., gravel roads, and now the attorney employed by the county to look into the legality of issuing more bonds for its completion has decided that it is impossible to issue bonds for the purpose, and the Keener people will be obliged to do without the balance of the 16 miles of gravel road which they anticipated they would get several years ago and for which they are paying. —o —

With the big attorney fees, witness fees and other costs connected with the Burford stationery suit, it looks as if the county would have been considerable money ahead to have paid Mr. Burford’s claim in the first place. The officers who, without any authority whatever, ordered the supplies of Burford at a time when the county had a contract with another firm to furnish all such supplies, and were paid in full todo so, should be compelled to reimburse the county for all of the expense it has been to in this matter. —o—

In response to the “invitations’* sent out by the auditor, as a result of the tax-ferret investigation, quite a number of the 6olid men of the out-townships have called to explain matters regarding alleged omitted property from the tax duplicate. One widow lady residing south of town, is alleged to have paid SSO which the investigation disclosed that she or her husband’s estate was owing. By the way, this tax-ferret investigation contract is beautiful, tinanchilly, for Jasper county. Under its terms the ferrets get one-half, or 50 per cent, of all that is collected as a result of their investigation. As only about one-fourth of tho tax levied belongs to the county proper, and the county cannot bind the state, its institutions or the townships by this contract to give one-half of its tax to the ferrets, the county must pay the 50 per cent, out of the county fund, and Jasper county is therefore out about 25 cents on every dollar collected.

Sunday School Picnic.

An all day’B picnic will be held by the Sharon Sabbath School in the grove near A. G. W. Farmer’s residence on Sunday, June 16. Come with well filled baskets and enjoy the interesting program.

Comm itt ek.