Hammond Times, Volume 14, Number 277, Hammond, Lake County, 12 May 1921 — Page 1

AMAZING

(CPU ni p.

THB WEATHEB. Generally fair tonight nod Friday I slightly cooler In north and central portion tonight. TI7 E COUNTY m XSeUrtred by TXJCM CrrUrs la Hammond ao4 West Kammond. BOo Tn Month. On Btraat ana Biwi Stand 3 Per Copy. HAMMOND. INDIANA VOL. XIV. X0.277. THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1921. 1ALLO. INTO

LAK iXimI lik. ,11. .j .

IMES

NS OF MILK POURED

SE

DEATH

PHONE CO. RATES ARE REDUCED

Public Service Commission By Action Admits Increase Granted Was Too Much. Announcement -was received from Indianapolis thla nomine to the effect that the Public Service Commission had made several change In its order which granted eharp Increases In rates of the Illinois Bell Telephone Co. In Hammond. Whiting-. Gary, East Chicago and other cltlaa of the Calumet region. The changes made are on the rates fixed for extension service which had aroused a road of disapproval even greater than the complaint against the charges for ordinary service. Attorneys for the telephone company realizing that something should be done to calm down the uproar, immediately filed petition asking for a modification of these extension service rates. The new rates are as follows: On business phones changed from $2 to $1.60. On residence phones changed from J1.5Q to $1.00. On "B" stations or terminals changed from i flat rate o J1.50. Attorney W. W. McMahon who has already filed a petition for a new hearing on the matter before the commission at Indianapolis had not been Informed of the reductions. Other cities of the region had promised to take action similar to that which he had taken for the city of Hammond but have done nothing as yet. He looks upon the changes which were mads at the suggestion of the telephone company as an effort to cause further delay on the part of the other cities. Hammond will go ahead singlehanded In the matter unless the commission refuses to grant another hearing. In this event other legal stops may be necessary, It is said. COM STIRS CROWD Speaks to Big Audience at the Parthenon j. Theaeter JCo matter how rich or poor you air It la your duty to pay to help lessen the number of "unfortunates." In a four-minute talk at the Parthenon theater In the Interests of the current drive of the Salvation Army 'n Hammond, Attorney Joseph Conroy appealed to people to give of their means. He said that even the man working at a small dally wage should contribute something to the fund. "Tou have been entertained here toright," said Mr. Conroy. "and you'have been Inspired 'by the architectural beauty of this theater and the music of this splendid orchestra. "When you leave and start for your home you may bump Into sorao poor bum. Probably he's to blame for being a bum. But remenvber that only a few years ago he waa Inspired as you are. He had hopes, ambition and comfort. "There Is only one organization that puts n gum boots and goes into the mire to rescue the outcasts of society and that is the Salvation army. It is your duty and my duty to help this work. Kvery dollar raised in Hammond will be spent In Hammond. We've uiven our help to the unfortunates of Europe. Now let's help our unfortunates at home." L CHICAGO PLACE IN POLICE RAIO A surprise raid of the Dallas and South Shore hotels, and a place at 503 Chicago avenue at East Chicago, was made early this morning and three couples found unable to give a leeat accounting of themselves, were given a free ride and allowed to finish their slumber at the station. The police started making the rounds about 12:30. First along Chicago avenue then .south on Olcott and back on Chicago avenue to the South Shore hotel. When they were convinced that the South Shore was thwrong place they made a detour to the Dollas and there made the cleaning up-

IN S. ARMY CAMPAIGN

WER

E. Chicago Co. Head To Have High Post Robert E. Tod. president of the East Chicago company, and business associate of Col. Walter J. FU!v and C. A. Westberg, the East Chicago bankers, Is to be appointed commissioner-general of immigration of the United States. Announcement that the East Chicago land executive is to be appointed to this post was made in New York by Charles D. Hilles, republican national committeeman for the empire state and former secretary to President Taft. Mr. Hilles announced that President Harding will make the appointment. AN" IMPORTANT PCST. As commissioner general of immigration Mr. Tod will occupy one of the most important posts in the Harding administration. The administration of the immigration office assumes more Importance at this time because of the vast numbers of imigrants who seek to enter America. It will be up to the commissioner-general to define, in accordance with the law, who shall enter America- Hundreds of families in Hammond, Gary, East Chicago and Indiana Harbor will be more or less affected by the immigration laws to be passed by congress. FOO'DDR OF EAST CHICAGO. Mr. Tod. who is now one of the leading financiers of America, was born in Scotland in 1867 and is a Princeton graduate. When he left college In 1SS8, Mr. Tod came west. With General Totrenca he built a belt railroad around Chicago and founded the city of East Cicago, and was responsible for thi Indiana Harbor ship canal. One of the greatest mediums of developing the Calumet region has been the East Chicago company, of which Mr. Tod is president. This concern has its offices in the First National Bank of East Chicago building, the directors including Vice President C. A. Westberg and Col. Riley. HIS WAR IlECORD. Although 50 years old Mr, Tod entered the war in 1917. He was appointed lieutenant in the naval reserves. Made navigating officer of the U. S. S. Corsair he went to France, served on Admiral Wilson's staff, and then was made public works officer for the navy for the whole of France. For his war services Mr. Tod was successively promoted to be lieutenant-commander, then commander. He now holds rank of commander, navy reserve corps. Commander Tod's services were recognized by the ward ot the United States navy cross, a citation by General Pershing, and the award of the chevalier of the Legion of Honor by France. Later the French government gave Mr. Tod the Officer of the Legion of Honor. In addition to being president of the East Chicago company Mr. Tod lias been president of two railroads. He Is executor and trustee of his uncle's estate, which amounted to $70,000,000. Tod avenue in East Chicago Is named after the new commissioner-general. RECOVERS HIS AUTO Because a safe was blown by yeggs at the little town of Franklin Grove, 111.. John Whitmer, 417 Plummer avenue, West Hammond, now has his automobile which was stolen Monday night. Monday evening George Gage, who had been rooming at the Whitmer home, was asked to take the Whitmer car and go after some groceries and ice. He departed but did not return that night. He was missing the next day and night also. Yesterday morning Mr. Whitmer was notified vby the sheriff at Dixon, 111., that he was holding Gage and the car. Chief Nitz of the West Hammond police went to Dixon yesterday and returned with Gage last night. The young man had driven to Chicago Monday evening and picked up two friends. Then they started for Omaha. Neb. Tuesday night a safe was blown at Franklin Grove. The report spread and the countryside was warned to watch for three men in an automobile. Along comes Gage and his friends. A farmer saw them and telephoned to the sheriff at Dixon who picked them up. The men had little difficulty in showing they were not connected with the robbery hut it was necessary for Gape to make some explanations regarding the car he was driving. This Ud to the notification of Whitmer wh informed the sheriff that the car was stolon. The Chicago boys were released and given their carfare home.

W. HAMMOND MAN

KILLED IN HER AUTO BY TRAIN LA F'CiUTK, Ind.. May 12. Miss Catherine Hernisrle. 29. is dead today of injuries received when her automoMl,, was struck by a train at a crossing near North Judson.

S IN LAKE CO UN

AU1 FRED, SON OF j. HILLMAN 8 KILLED Shocking Ending of Auto Ride In Which Five Hohart Young Hen Took Part. A night of joyriding among five Hobart young men terminated In a sad ending in Gary early this morning. Fred Hillman. married, and son of John Hillman. Jefferson street, Gary, county oil inspector, is dead in a Gary morgue and four others, William Fleck, Henry Claussen and Robert Moore suffering from minor injuries as the result of a shocking automobile acldent which occured at Madison street and Ridge road shortly after 6 o'clock this morning. The name ot the fifth occupant of the car was not learned. In a high powered Marmon car owned by Hillman, the party were returning to Hobart after a night's pleasure trip over the county. According to the information obtained by the Gary poice Fleck was at the wheel and the car was traveling east on Ridge road at a speed estimated between thirty and thlrty-fiva miles an hour. At Madison street another car turned into Ridge road and a collision was almost inevitable. Fleck swerved the t car to avoiu craariiiijj iniu mo uiui j car as it plunged into the curb on the north side of Ridge road, the car mined turtle. Upon recovering their senses the Hobart men found Hillman to be the most seriously injured and in a machine was rushed to the Mercy hospital. Enroute to the hospital he passed away and the body was taken to William's morgue. Fleck who was drivins the car was brought to the Gary police station and was booked for Coroner E. E. Evans who will conduct the inquest probably sometime tomorrow. None of the other four men in the machine were seriously injured, most of them suffering from brutsea and a severe shaking up. Mrs. Hillman, wife of the auto victim at Hobart. was notified of the tragedy following the accident. Mr. and Mrs. John Hillman father and mother of Fred who recently purchased a home on Jefferson street to take up their home in Gary were notified. Funeral arrangements had not been completed at noon today and will be announced later. Arraign Priest In Bond Theft INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE1 CHICAGO May 12. Rev. , Anthony Gerrlck. a holy settlement priest of New Chicago, Lake county, Ind., was under arrest here today in connection with the million-dollar postofflce robmery at Toledo, O. Gerrick was charged with conspiracy and possession of stolen government property. Liberty bonds, valued at $60,000 and part of the Toledo robbery loot, were found hidden in the coalshed at his home, Postal authorities declared they had evidence the priest had disposed of coupons on other stolen bonds in Chicago, Hammond, Ind., and Gary, Ind. He made a statement to federal authorities which they said completely cleared up the Toledo robbery. He was to be arraigned before a federal commissioner late this afternoon. Postal Inspector W. A. Walter ot Toledo, said Gerrick's arrest closed the government's investigation. WHITING TRUCK AND CAR SMASH SPECIAL TO THE TIMES1 WHITING. Ind.. May 12. The McNamara Brothers truck and a big Auburn touring car collided at 119th street and Oliver street on Tuesday evening. James MaN'amaPa driving was coming off Oliver street, turning east on 119th when the Auburn car, going west containing two women ran into the center of his machine, putting It out of business temporarily and injuring the driver, he having several bruises a." the result of the encounter. The Auburn car was evidently not damaged for the women did not wait to see. but drove hastily off. their number, S25129 111., being all that was secured.

JOY

How The Scandal Grew From a Whisper at Dyer

Refusal to Deliver a Can Of Milk To Orphans' Home At East Chicago Brought About Revelation.

Out of the village of Dyer came, gossip. From the general store to the barbershop and the lunch counter the story spread until finally an .excited parishioner went scurrying to the home of the kindly, old priest who can be seen every day plodding in his picturesque garden concerned about the welfare of the plants and buds. Farmers stopping on the road to pass the time of day carried the tale farther away each day until finally It found its way. as rumors will, into a newspaper office. The office was that of The Times. THE SECRET LEAKS OUT. "Thirty-five cans of fresh milk are hauled each day from Dyer to Indiana Harbor and dumped into the sewer." That was the tip on which a reporter went to Dyer. It was an indefinite rumor. Traced from lip to lip i1. seemed a mauverick until the reporter found that pretty g.rden with the kindly old priest In his black robe, smiling to himself as he packed the soft earth about the bulb of a plant. The reportir aiked to the housakeeper. "Is it true that when rne Father was told they were throwing the milk from Dyer Into the sewer at Indiana Harbor he appealed to them to donate some of the milk to the poor sick little girls at the Carmelite Sisters' orphanage in East Chicago and that they refused to give the milk to the orphans unless paid for It?" "That is partly true," said the housekeeper. "The father heard that there was more milk than they could sell and we asked Mr. Ehrsam to give a can of the milk to the orphans. He said they couldn't donate the milk but that he would deliver it for a small sum, thirty cents a can." EHRSAM MAKES ADMISSIONS. Mr. Ehrsam was the man the reporter had been told by several people to see. He was found at his home. "Are you the man who takes the milk to Indiana Harbor?" Ehrsam was STAND PAT Absolute refusal of mechanics of the building trades to recede in the slightest measure from the stand which they took early in the year on the wage proposition, is expected to result in a tie-up of buiiding operations in Lake county Monday. A general meetlr.gr of the Build. ng Trades Employers association was held last evening ;n the Hammond Chamber of Commerce rooms, it was the largest gathering of contractors whic.h has turned out to date. The men were Informed of the results of the three conferences which the association committee has had with representatives of different crafts and of the refusal of the mechanics to accept the proposed cut of wages from $1.15 an hour to $1 an hour. It was announced that Chicago contractors are holding linn in their refusal to go ahead with work until labor costs come down. The lockout there Is becoming even tighter day by day, having spread to suburban towns. Many lumber yards and trim mills have been forced to shut down completely because of the slump In demand for material. No hope was seen for a settlement of the differences in Lakp county before Monday and the contractors were unanimous in reaffirming the action taken at the meeting April 28. in which they decided to drop all work unless the $1 rate for mechanics and 70 cent rate for laborers Is accepted. "We are not trying to siir up trouble," said one contractor today. "Factory employes have accepted from one to three cuts in wages already and they seem to recognize that living costs have come down. There Is no reason why the building tradesmen should not do their share in helping put the building business hack where it should be. Where contractors had from a dozen to thirty men working a couple of years ago. they have been using only about a third that many this spring. There simply Isn't the work and people will not Invest in homes at present costs." BIG FIVE AT YOUNGSTOWN VoUNGSTOWN, O.. May 12 Fire, believed to be of incendiary origin, destroyed a lumber yard and ten other buildings here today, causing loss estimated at over $1,000,000.

BUILDING

TRADESMEN

TY

th asked. ' He answered In the affirmative. "About how many cans do you take a day.' "Thirty-five. Why do you ask?" "Well. I'm interested in milk. do you suppose I could buy this milk?" "I don't know, perhaps." "It's poured into the sewer at Indiana Harbor, itsn't it?'' "Yes, after the butter fat is removed." "Could be used for condensing, mak ing cheese, milk powder, ice cream or be given to the poor hungry kids over at the HarborT" "It certainly could." "How much do they throw in the sewer?" "Last month it was over 5?0 can. a day at Indiana Harbor. There's eight gallons to a can." "Do you take this milk to Indiana Harbor in a school truck?' "Tes." "Doesn't it appeal to you as ironical to haul good milk to a sewer in a truck built for kids to whom milk Is so precious? Did you eer stop to think that this milk flows into a sewer and passes under tlio homes in the tenement districts of Indiana Harbor where kids go to bed every night in these hard times with their stomachs aching for food?" "No it ain't right," Ehrsam agreed. ' "Who employs you?'' 'Tbe Milk Producers Co-operative Marketing Company." "How much are you paid?" "About $10 for gathering the milk from the farms and hauling it ;o Indiana Harbir.'' The officers .,f the company Ai"J they didn t k-ow Ehrsam. They said they had never refused to donate a can of skimmed milk to the Carmelite orphans. But Ehrsam was there yesterday, nevertheless. unloading his cans of milk and watching the, lifesustaining fluid flow into the sewer. It goes to show that gossip is not always evil. "It cries to heaven for revenge," cried the kindly old priest, "Bulletins (BUXiXiETXl?) (SPECIAL TO THE TIMES CP.OAVX POINT, Ind.. May 12. Judge E. M. Norton, appointed the two members of the County Board of Review here today, to sit with the County Auditor, Assessor and Treasurer They are John W. Dyer, Hammond republican and Wm. Fitzgerald, Gary, democrat. The board will begin work June 1. (BULLETIN) rSPEClAL TO THE TIMES CROWN POINT. Ind., May 12. Park Wood, driver for the Standard Oil at Hebron, was killed at the Hebron crossing today, whn h west-bound Panhandle train ran Into his wagon. (BULLETIN) (INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE XEW TOllK, May 12. John lieFadden tried to scratch matches on the sole of his shoe. I7Is other foot slipped. Today he died of a fracture of the skull extending from ear to ear. He was president of the Weehawkcn Board of Education.. (BULLETIN) f INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE CHICAGO. May 12. Three automobile bandits todal robbed the State Commercial and Savings bank of $7,000 in currency. The bandits halted a messenger, guarded by a policeman, outside the banw. They grabbed a big filled with cash and fled In their car. Automobiles filled with police "shotgun squads" are trailing the bandits. ( BULLETIN) (INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE! OOALDALE, Pa., May 12. Fire, causing a loss of more than a million and a half dollars today, totally destroyed No. 8 breaker of the Ic-high Coal & Navigation Co. here. The structure together with mucn valuable machinery, is entirely In ruins. (BULLETIN) (INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE) CHICAGO, May 12. Two. men and two women were under arrest today in connection with the slaying of Nathaniel Breakstone, a taxisab chauffeur. Breakstone waa phot to death beside his car which was standing in front of an apartment house. Police arrested four inmate3 of one apartment. Tliey blainc a love affair for the shooting.

CITIES

EVIDENCE ERE BY TIES Northern Indiana Dairy Farm Output Is Des troyed Here.

By HAROLD CROSS, Times Staff Reporter The Times today discloses an amazing condition that has existed for months in' Lake county, involving 17,000 members of the Milk Producers' Co-operative Marketing Company in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, and affecting five million milk consumers of Northern Indiana and the Chicago district. The evidence that is published exclusively by this paper was secured by a Times reporter during a week's investigation. ' Seventeen hundred and ten 8-gallon cans of fresh milk were poured into the city sewers at Garytend Indiana Harbor yesterday by the Milk Producers Co-operative. Marketing Company. This destruction of milk is a daily occurrence and has been going on for months. During the month of April, between 500 and 600 cans of milk were destroyed each day at Indiana Harbor alone. At the offices of the company in Gary yesterday it was admitted by the Indiana manager of the company that the average destruction of milk has been 1,400 cans a day. COMES FROM HIGH PRICED AND ACCREDITED COWS The milk that the Milk Producers' Co-operative Marketing Company dumps into the sewer is the output of dairy farms from the state line to South Bend, Ind.. including territory surrounding Valparaiso, Michigan City, LaPorte, Wheeler, Gary, Hammond, Crown Point, Lowell and parts of adjoining counties. The milk comes from high priced and accredited cows. The farmer is paid $1.75 a can for the milk. It is shipped by motor truck, interurban and steam train to the "surplus milk" stations at Gary and East Chicago, where the butter fat is removed and the milk destroyed. No attempt is made to convert the milk into cheese or other byproducts, or to condense and can it. The company's representatives declare that there is no profit for the company in the manufacturing of cheese. Fourteen hundred and fifty fcans of this milk were skimmed and destroyed at Gary yesterday. Two hundred and sixty cans were poured into the sewer at Indiana Harbor. . Reduced to gallons, quarts and pints, the total destruction of milk by he. had reason to believe that other

the Milk Producers' Co-operative Mar ketlng Company in Lake county yesterday follows: Gallons 13.680. Quarts 54.720. Pints 103,440. YESTERDAY AX A V Kit At. E DAY I.N' MILK DESTROYING BISINESS. Milk is sold to the consumer at the price of 14 cents a quart and 8 cents

a pint. The retail value or the milki did not bottle the skimmed milk an J destroyed yesterday, not deducting i offer it for sale to the public at n the worth of the butter fat that was' price less than that demanded for the saved, would be J7.660.S0 if gold In. regular milk. quarts and $8,755.20 If sold in pints.' "That would cut down the sale of The consumer must pay the bill. Some the regular milk." he said, way or another it is added into the Mr. Kane denied emphatically that cost of milk. the producers "trust" destroyed the The Times reporter watched the de-jmilk of northwestern Indiana in order struction of the milk from early to keep the supply low enough to morning: until evening yesterday. He maintain high prices. He said then' followed a truck load of milk from a I was no collusion between the MiK rural community to the "surplus milk" Producers' Co-operative Market Conistation where he gained admittance! pany and the retail dealers, by a ruse. He saw it stream from the j BOOKS OK ASSOCIATION separating tank at an estimated speed j SEIZED BY I". S. MARSHALS, of twelve gallons a minute. He caught As long ago as 1919. United States dippers of the milk before It flowed! District Attorney Clyne of the Chiinto the sewer. It was sweet, warm' cago district charged that the Ml'U and sustaining. It was all he ate Producers' associations, including tliv throughout the day and he was not! Milk Producers' Co-operative Marke'-

hungry at night. It tasted almost as nourishing as milk delivered by the dairyman to the consumer after it stands long enough for the cream to rise to the top and the cream has been removed. CAMOUFLAGE "SIRTLIS PLANT" AS DAIRY. The Milk Producers' Co-Operative Marketing Company's "surplus milk" plant in Gary is not listed In the telephone directory. It is located at loy Madison street on Gary's south side and the building is on the hack end of the lot. The cans are lifted from the automobile trucks onto a landing platform by a crew of workmen who remove the lids and dump the contents into a big vat. The milk passes through a drain in the bottom of the vat into an apparatus that separates a considerable portion of the butter fat and then flows out of a trough onto the cement floor and into the sewer basin. The Indiana Harbor "surplus milk" station Is located at 1718 One Hundred and Thirty-seventh street and a sign on the front of the building which is back from the street proclaims it to be a "dairy." There are two separators at this "plant" and the milk flows from two drains onto the floor and Is carried away in two catch basins. Next door to the Indiana Harbor "surplus milk plant" the Milk froducers' Co-operative Marketing Company maintains a retail dairy. It sella milk at 8 cents a pint and 14 cents a quart. Apked why the company charged so much for milk when it was apparently such a worthies?. commodity, Nicholas Kipcr, the mnnager of the Milk 1'ruduccra' Marketing Company's

i Indiana Harbor retail denot .aid ihatiria,lon maintains thirty-eight "sur-

he didn't dare sell it cheaper. He said

BAIL

1 P. C. ASSN. UNDER U. S. EYE BEFORE "Supply Too Great" Reason Given For Milk Waste By Trust. B "J ! O r . I 1 1 ' M,i!aa him it V a 1 a f V I cd the price. MANAGER FEARS RETAILERS WOILD DO VIOLENCE. "I'm afraid they would kill mc and blow up the plant," he said. Walter A. Kane, manager of th Milk Producers' Co-operative Mark-: -ing Company in Indiana with offices at Gary, was asked why the company ing Company and the Milk Producers' Protective Association, were in a conspiracy with the retailers to fix the price of milk in violation of the Sherman anti-trust act and the Lever act. District Attorney Clyne ordered an investigation by the department of justice. The books of the association were seized in simultaneous riu throughout Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. The federal grand Jury examined the evidence but did not return indictments. Will United States Attorney Clyne consider the wholesale destruction ot milk evidence upon which to base n new inquiry into the allaged combination In restraint of trade under the criminal section of the anti-Sherman trust act? FARMER ASSESSED TO PAY FOR DESTRICTION OF MII.K, Manager Kane said that the farmer Is paid 4 2-3 cents a quart for his milk, leaving the milk dealer & margin of 10 1-3 cents. The farmer receives $1.75 for a can of milk and the retailer will sell it in pints at 5.12, leaving him 1 3.3?, or more than it cents on each pint. The salaries and overhead expense of the Producem' association, including the cost of maintaining the "surplus milk plants" are met by the farmer, he stated. Lan month the farmer was assessed 10 per cent of his receipts for the upkeep of the association. The association only handles in I milk supplied by its members and therefore the farmers of northern Indiana knowingly or not are at least indirectly responsible for the destruction of milk. i.noo.noo lbs. of smri.is MILK IN THREE STATES. Manager Kane said that the ar(Continued on Pare Eleven)