Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 34, Number 122, 10 March 1909 — Page 1
FA AM AND SUN-TELEGRAM. VOL. XXXIV. NO. 122. RICHMOND, INI.t WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 10,1909. SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS.
MICHMO
TLTM
. Secretary Harris Shows the Financial ; Condition of the City of Richmond
REPORT IS FIRST AUTHENTIC OWE ' ; PREPARED HERE .... ' - Hustling Young Club Official Gets the Credit for the Work Which He Devoted Much Time To. IS COMPREHENSIVE IN EVERY RESPECT fie Finds That During the Zimmerman Regime No Official Records Were Kept Report Approved. . -To Edward H. Harris, secretary of the Young Men's Business Club, belongs the credit of preparing the first authentic report of the financial department of the city's government, covering a period of the last seven years. The report was submitted by Harris to the club at its meeting last Slight. Harris served as chairman of the committee, which originally consisted cf three members. The other two assert they, had practically no time and not the greatest Inclination to make, the report, so that thanks must be directed to Harris alone: . Of Advantage. It is believed the report will prove of great advantage. The Idea of an investigating committee was promulgated by the club, after charges had been made in a newspaper to the effect the city's money has been wasted and that'the expenditures were excessive. The7 report is comprehensive in its details and was compiled only after a great amount of work. ?Th work Harris did as a member of the committee delving through records searching4 through the lodgers, running over the minutes of the city council's proceedings and here, thero and everywhere1 looking for memoranda of money- spent or money received, gave ' . him a thorough acquaintance with the finances of the city. He examined each separate account and his work acquainted him in a- thorough way with the manner in which the expenses of the city government Is defrayed. It is doubtful if the city controller or treasurer could give him pointers on these matters. His training as an accountant stood him in good and facilitated the result. He now is able to converse upon the subject of city finances with the ease of the expert accountant versed in the burdensome details of conducting a city government. t Most Thorough One. It Is believed the report is the most thorough that has been prepared1 in this state. By glancing over It, it is possible to see the comparison of the years in the amount of receipts and expenditures of the city. The city's greatest investment is the electric light plant. Harris has prepared a competent report, which shows that although tho plant was run at a deficit in the earlier years of its existence, it now Is making money. , This point argues for Its retention. . One of the most Interesting statements contained in the report follows: "In securing data, for this report, the committee finds that there are no official records on file, or anything on the minutes of council that shows the amount of money received or disbursed between the years 1808 and 1906. This period covered the incumbency of Dr. W. W. Zimmerman as mayor. Dr. Zimmerman is a candidate for reelection to the office. A Good Showing. The city's total Indebtedness is $43,OOO less than the constitutional limit This is regarded as a good ' showing. Many cities- of the size and class of Richmond have crowded their official limit to tho edge, or even have. exceeded it by circumventing the law by adroit ways of securing v money without charging it against the city. The old subject of depreciation in the value of the municipal electric light plant is evaded by the report. No reason was seen to bring it before the public, as it is one on which experts differ. The question is one that always foments arguments by friends and foes of the plant.. The report is found in an, adjacent column. v EIGHTY MEMBERS ' M ROLL CALL ' About eighty; persons attended the roll call meeting of Oriental Encampment of Odd Fellows last evening. A , banquet was served and a period of speech making was indulged in. .The tflafr war very pleasing to thoatr jrko
REPORT OF THE
To give a clear understanding exact condition of the finances of the City, the report has been divided mto two divisions. First, all receipts and disbursements relative to the City of Richmond proper, and second, the receipts and disbursements of the Municipal Light plant. The disbursements of the City of Richmond have been sub-divided into the following departments: General Administration, Street Department, Public Buildings and Grounds, Light, Fire Department,. Health Department, and Police Department. The disbursements of the Light Plant have been sub-divided as follows: Construction, Operation - and New Extensions. ' The accounts have been analyzed and separated into the various departments from 1002 to 1!X8 inclusive, giving a comparative statement of the receipts and expenditures of the city' during those years. In securing data for this report the committee finds that there are no official records on file, or anything on the minutes of council that shows the amount of money received or disbursed between the years 1808 and 1006. The data herein given was secured from printed reports published during those years. The committee finds also, that credit is due the present city officers for the progress that has been made during their regime, toward a uniform and systematic way of keeping the records and the accounts of the City of Richmond. ; The committee has been in correspondence, with the Government and State Departments, and National Municipal League and it is found that there is but one state in the Union that has compiled any late statistics' on the cost of city government, and that is the state of Massachusetts. A table giving a comparison of the expenses of the City of Richmond with the expenses of some of the largest cities of Massachusetts, will be found on the last page. The large increase in the Street Department in the last two years is duo to extensive Improvements, which having been postponed from year to year, became a necessity. Among these were the "West Side sewers and viaducts at West Second street. , The total indebtedness of the City of Richmond January 1st, 1900, was $231,000.00, or $43,0000.00 less than the constitutional limit. The, sinking fund Jan. 1st, 1900, was $13,748.20. LIGHT PLANT Tho total amount invested in the light plant to January 1st, 1900, was $515,691.94, and the amount received for light and power, including city arc lights at the rate of $75.00 per light, was $341,973.04, leaving a net investment of $173,718.90, without making any provision for depreciation. GENERAL REMARKS The only recommendation which the committee could make at this time, is to impress upon every tax-payer of the City of Richmond the extreme importance of having competent and efficient men at the head of every department of our city government, men who will conscientiously perform the duties intruster to their care and increase efficiency of their department. CITY OF RICHMOND NOT INCLUDING LIGHT PLANT.
R 13 1902
1903 . ....14 692.S2 1904 131,481.90 1905 .......... '.. ...15 ',768.49 1906 ............... 15 V764.07 1 907 .'. , ..19 7,373.47 1908 172,769.84 Valuation 1902 .........11,786,087.00 1903 12,062,788.00 1904 12,843,207.00 1905 13,626,68.00. 1906 r ...r.U. .13,306.515.00 1907 13,961,517.00 1908 13,699,525.00 TOTAL RECEIPT8 AND' EXPENDITURESPLANT. Expsnditures, 1902 121,002.41 1903 ; . . . ; . .......... ..... .V. . . .. .:13 7,161.51 1904 . . . . r . 12 1,647.18 1905 ............ ...'.157,151.68 1906 16),201.04 1907 193,557.34 1908 202,513.78
GENERAL EXPENSES OF THE CITY NOT INCLUDING - PLANT.
General Street Public Bldgs. Administration. Department. and Grounds. Light. 1902 14,036.97 37,971.21 . 2,870.28 , 17,776.59 1903 ................16,597.04 47,663.81 3.356.52 18,751.89 1904 ..' 14,367.74 31,274.07 2,691.25 23,234.52 1905........ 20,051.52 51,924.45 ,10,761.82 22,500.25 1906 T. ......28,658.65 4,095.72 10,419.52 22,659.94 1907 ....32,588.12 63,928.27 4,477.96 22,958.84 1908 ,...19,815.98 - 87,541.65 1,795.50 23,171.04 ' i Fl-e Dept. Health Dept. Police Dept. 1902 ... ..33,211.02 4.169.77 12,961.57 1903 31,482.56 7,317.47 12,992.22. 1904 2 ),169.96 7,578.70 13,331.04 1905 . ...2i,225.85 .- 6,571.51 14,116.28 1906 ......81,899.18 ' 7,087.75 14.380.28 1907 ..34,444.57 15.515.60 16,643.98 1908 ....36,830.35 15,746.69 17,612.57
$7,500.00 was appropriated for Hospital Maintenance. $6,000.00 was appropriated for Hospital Maintenance. LIGHT PLANT CITY OF RICHMOND
Construction $259,507.89 Operation ...... ...... 226,117.27 New Extensions ...... 30,006.78 Total amount Invested. .$515,601.94' Total receipts ....... . 341,973.04 Net amount invested. .$173,718.90
Construction. Original cost .. ....$158,582.29 IOOh 1SX4m.X 1 1 4 61 22 1904 .... 18,498.44 1005 ..... ... . . . .'. .......... 12,739.80 100(1 . 12.959.18 1907 .... 11.901.42 1908 12,000.40
Total ..............$250.5O7.89
Receipts. 1902 ....... . . $ 6.812.S9 1903 28,997.91 1904 ........ 38.004.10 IMS 56,267.78 1906 .... 1907 .... .. 63,188.78 72.956.94 1908 i... .... 75.694.64
Total .... .... .....$341,983.04 .................... ....$125,530.61 Records incomplete; impossible to obtain exact amount paid bj City. PER CAPITA EXPENSES OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND COMPARED WITH SOME OF THE LARGEST CITIES OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. PER CAPITA EXPENSE
Population. a ,( ...JOHJ21; ...131,518 . ...107.581 ... 99.168" ... 96.011 ...-78,691 ... 76,600 RICIITJOXR INI)., . Boston . . Worcester Fall River ... Cambridge ... Lowell, ....... Lynn . ... ... New Bedford Springfield ... 76.202 144 floffifirgjiia
INVESTIGATORS
From Other Txe Sources 108,7.14 24,709.69 122,939.23 13,207.33 121,274.57 24,753.59 134,432.59 17,335.90 127,331.56 28.432.51 169,437.52 27,935.95 152,362.98 20,406.86 c Rate 1.04 ' 1.04 1.04
ecipts ,',936.88 1.10 "?' 1.1'' J ' 1.10 1.10 NOT INCLUDING LIGHT Receipts. 132.936.83 147,692.82 134,481.90 151,768.49 155.764.61 197,373.47 172,769.84 Difference. 12,934.42 10,531.31 9,834.72 - "' 5,383,19 4.436.43 1,816.13 35,511.14 Lost THE LIGHT Against tni3 balance shown in sum of $173,718.90, it is questionable whether or not a depreciation should be charged; by some it is contended there should, and by others equally i well qualified to speak, that there should not. Your committee does not undertake to fathom this question, but rather leaves such to the consideration of each individual. New Operation. $ 11,472.8 30.30.0.67 30,415.26 31,330.41 ' S3.5S7.08 44,928.77 44.022.33 Extensions. $ 7.135.63 22,931.15 $226,117.27 $30,OK6.7S Amount Paid by City for Lights. 1903 .... ...$ 18,421.84 1904 .... 23,134.87 11105 15.184.08 1906 22.659.94 ,1907.... .. .. ..... .. 22.958.S4 1908 .. .... .......... . 23.171.04 General . $1.16 .84 .S4 " "1.13 1.27 ' 1.08 .91 .76 JStreet t $3.97 4.N6 3.07.; 3.12 4.08 3.28 2.93 : 2.18 4.25 2.3ft Protection of Life and Property. $2.47 5.95 3.09 3J2 3.15 3.04 2.80 2.80 3.20 -4
VELLER PROPERTY RJHIC RAZED
Change fn the Weather Ham pers Work. Workmen engaged in removing the debris from the site of the new St. Mary's Catholic church have turned their attention" to the Dr. Weller property. The windows have been removed and the interior fittings, such as plumbing have been taken ouL The structure will be razed to the ground. The change in the weather has hampered the work to a considerable extent. . - .. v JAIL BREAKERS WERE ARRESTED AT EARLY HOUR Baughman Brothers, Who Made Sensational Escape From Indianapolis Jail, Caught at Franklin, Ind. HAD ROBBED A STORE AND STOLEN A HORSE Desperadoes Are Charged With Being Postoffice Rob bers and Safe BlowersClimb Through a Shaft. Indianapolis, March 10. Robert and James Baugbman, postoffice robbers and safe blowers, who made a sensational escape from the Marion county jail yesterday, were captured by the sheriff of Johnson county today and are now in jail at Franklin. They were discovered at the Pennsylvania station-it 4:30 thiSirnoming.. During their flight they had? stolen a rig and had robbed a store at Providence, Ind., taking money and clothing. - Desperate Character.' Robert and James Baughman were arrested several weeks ago following a series of. robberies in 'Ohio and In diana. James Baughman was arrest ed at Anderson, Ind., charged with the robbery of a postoffice at Upland, Ind., and Robert Baughman was taken on the same day at Plqua, Ohio. The men were awaiting action by the grand jury. Alonzo Boyd, deputy United States marshal, took the men in charge at Marion and went to Muncie, where they were given a hearing before the U. S. commissioner, charged with rob bing the Upland postoffice. The men were bound 6ver to the federal grand Jury In the sum of $1,000 and being unable to furnish bond were taken to the Marion county jail to await the meeting of the grand jury. How They Esoaped. Last night while Sheriff Woessner and deputies were searching their cells to discover jailbreaking tools which it was learned they had in their possession, the two boys escaped by climbing through an air shaft, creeping along the eaves and sliding down a drain pipe on the outside. s The very Ingenuity displayed by the boys in their work made it a success. Coatless and hatless and without any money, the young men, once at liberty evaded all efforts of the police and de tectives to find them. An unexplained tip received by Sheriff Woessner from Lafayette on Monday is responsible for the escape of the prisoners, but may also have been the means of frustrating a whole sale Jail delivery. . : . Acting on the information that the two Doys were preparing to escape from - the jail. Sheriff Woessner Just after dinner time, ordered that they be put in a lower corridor of the jail while their .cells were searched. Watched only, if at all, by some of the prisoners in cells on the first floor of the jail, the boys pried off a pad lock holding a grating leading to a ventilation shaft in the northwest tow er of the building. It Will Take No Action on Police Board Matter for the Present Time. WAITS TO GET STATUTE Mayor Schillinger said this afternoon he has not received a copy of the act repealing the metropolitan) police law and until he does will do nothing in regard to local conditions. It is believed by some the mayor is acting beyond his authority In awaiting to receive a copy of the law before changing; the beard. Others say the present Bold office hiH :
DELAYED
JUDGE AUDERSGN
KNOCKED PROPS FROM UNDER CASE Government Given Final De feat Today in Its Effort to Prosecute Indiana Standard Oil Company. J JURY WAS ORDERED TO FIND NOT GUILTY. This Case at First Started Out as Victory for Government When Twenty-nine Million Fine Was Made. Chicago, March 10. Judge Anderson today instructed the jury to find the Standard Oil company of Indiana not guilty. This action of Judge Anderson followed his decision yesterday and that of today, in which he knocked the props from under the government's case on several material points.. Special , Counsel Wllkerson -today made a long argument in a last attempt, after which Judge Anderson an nounced that he still did not believe that enough proof had been adduced to support the allegations of the indict ments. Wilkerson then announced that in his opinion it was useless for the government to continue the pros ecutlon of the case. Attorney Miller, for the Standard Oil company, how ever, desired to have some kind of a verdict, whereupon Judge Anderson sent for the jury and instructed them to return a verdict of not guilty. Thus ends the famous case in- which Landis imposed a fine of $29,000,000. DRYS Will VICTORY III I0WU0IITEST House Passed Today a Prohibitory Constitutional Amendment BillPLANS OF ENEMY FAILED STRENUOUS EFFORTS WERE MADE TO SEND BILL BACK TO COMMITTEE, CALLED TH "HOUSE BURYING GROUND." Des Moines, la., March 10. The house of representatives today passed the prohibitory constitutional amend ment resolution. This was ' forecasted yesterday by a vote of 41 to 58, nine absent or not voting. Adjournment was taken immediately after the refusal of the house to send the bill to the judiciary committee. Strenuous efforts were made by temperance opponents to sidetrack the resolution by offering numerous invalidating amendments and suggesting that the lang uage of the bill was not clear, and that it should therefore be sent to the judiciary committee, which was branded by temperance advocates as the burying ground of the house. By a vote of 27 to 13 the senate yes terday afternoon indefinitely postponed action, on the Vanlaw bill giving cities the right to demand inspection of the books of public utility corporations and fix rates. The report for postponement was made by the committee on cities and towns. Senator Vanlaw immediately reintroduced the bill and had it referred to the committee on judiciary, where he expects to get it approved. Dr. Chapman Introduced in the sen ate a bill prohibiting newspapers and periodical! in Iowa from printing reports of suicides on their first pages, and from printing such news in any place under headlines larger than long primer type. The fine for violation of this law is fixed at $100. EGG SUPPER WAS HELD LAST RIGHT Whitewater Lodge of Masons The FeastersL Whitewater lodge f Masons Indulged in a good old fashioned egg supper last night A number of local friends of the lodge attended. : Dozens of eggs were cooked and eaten. Other kinds of provisions were served. The eggs were cooked in empty pasteboard boxes on top of a hot stove without the use of grease. THE WEATHER PROPHET.
SEEKERS MAKE
A W RALLY Succeed in Taking the Last Game. After winning two games from the Seekers, the Kings fell down in the third game and lost by two pins in the bowling match at the Y. M. C. A. alleys last evening. All the games were close and interesting. The team scores are as follows: Seekers. 7SS: 754. ' Kings. 8.25; 7 402. DEATH OE EDWARD SEVENTH REPORTED Oil WALL STREET Rumor Was Also Circulated on The Stock Exchanges at Chicago and St. Louis Early This Morning. , CONFLICTING TALES ARE IN CIRCULATION Reported the English Ruler Passed Away at Biarritz After Suffering Acute Throat Trouble. New York, March 10. There was an unconfirmed rumor on the stock: exchanges here and at Chicago and St. Louis this morning that King Edward was dead at Biarritz. An early morning cablegram from Biarritz said the King was being attended by his personal physician and also by a French Throat specialist, but later Inquiries have failed to bring Information Reports -from Biarritz , are conflicting. One early cablegram said the king was reported, "exceedingly ill. Til False, Says London. London, March 10. The first rumor regarding the death of King Edward reached here from the United States. It is baseless. TALES DON'T AGREE Conflicting. Testimony in the Mysterious Connersville Case." A REVELATION EXPECTED Connersville, InL, March 10. Conflicts In the testimony between John Wilson, the husband and ' Joseph Hauck, the brother, of Mrs. Wilson, who was murdered last,week featured the evidence in the coroner's court. The stories told by the two men were exactly opposite in some particulars. The police are in hope that this fact may lead to a disclosure of importance within a few days. A suspicion has developed to the effect that Wilson or Hauck may know more about the murder than they have told. The husband in particular is believed to have been concealing something. - PLAIIS COMPLETE FOR Ml ELECTION Henry County Will Soon Decide c?. the Question of The Saloons. EXPECTED TO VOTE DRY WITHIN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS ABOUT EIGHT HUNDRED MEN HAVE MOVED INTO THE COUN TY, TIS SAID. i New Castle. InL, March 10. Preparations are about complete for the local option election in Henry county. The election commissioners have been' named and the printing- of ballots has been ordered. Henry county now is dry ty remonstrance and ft is freely predicted the county will vote dry , under the option law. The dry are organized and will have officers at each poll. About 800 men have moved into the county within tie past five months from outside of the, state and these men will not be permitted to vote,. The majority of them is believcounty.- -
CITY TREASURER CANDIDATES ARE GIVEII IDE JOLT Under Terms of the Revised . Thornton Bill It Appears That Office in Richmon U Abolished. PUBLIC WORKS BOARD IS ALSO DISCARDED Strong Probability That In This City the Office of City Judge Will Be Abolished Soon.
Aspirants for the office of city treas urer will feel discouraged when , they read the revised Thornton bill and Its application to the cities and towns law. The measure abolishes the office of city treasurer in county seat towns, where the work of the city treasurer's office is done by the county treasurer. That is the case in Rieamond. and attorneys say the law will have local application. - Three candidates had declared they are in the race: Roy Fry. Harry Kates, and J. C. Thomas. Each, retains some hope that It finally may. be held the office is not abolished and' tbey will be permitted to continue In the race. A Point Not Clear. In Richmond, the county treasurer does the work of the city treasurer inasfar as the collection of tax is concerned. However. assessments against property for public Improvements, are paid to the city treasurer. This leaves a point that Is not altogether clear. It is claimed by those who contend the office will have to continue, that no provision Is made for the county treasurer to collect the public Improvement assessments and , no other officer Is dedicated to relievo the city treasurer of this work. The controller could attend to this business if he were so' empowered by the law. . .. Boards of public works now provtded for in fourth class cities are abolished. Provision is made for anoth er board to assume the' duties n6w cared for. This board will be composed of the mayor, the city engineer and one citizen appointed by the mayor, the latter being the only one to re- - -ceive compensation. - . -' City Judge May Go. There la a strong probability, atsa that in Richmond, the office of, city Judge will be, discontinued at the ei, piration of the term of the present Incumbent. The Thornton act gives the common council the right to determine whether or not there shall be s a city judge. , The present common council would like to see the expense of the clty'government cut down. It has been In favor, of the abolition of board of public works, citv.lnd and " - - offices that could a be 1li;tensed with. At one time a, resolution to this effect was considered s proper uui formal action ever was taken. The council also is empowered to abolish the office of city controller, if it sees f!L It .is not believed Jikely this action would be taken locally. IC is believed that if the city treasurer's , office is removed, there must be some body to look after the financial, tat err ests of the city. The controller Is th city's bookkeeper and. in reality 1 one of the most important offices of the. entire corps. The controller issues warrants upon the treasurer on all claims and the treasurer makes payments only upon the receipt of these warrants. This provides a double system of bookkeeping for the city that is regarded as a safeguard. Act in Ninety Days. One feature that will require 1mmediate attention Is in regard to the time of abolishing offices. The act provides that the council. If it selects to abolish the controller or judge, must do so at least ninety days preceding a city election. . The office of controller is appointive and that of judge elective. It is pointed oat that 1 If council should see flt to abolish the office of judge ninety days in advance of the next election In this eitr. that would be about the first of August, and If there be any probability of the office being abandoned at that time . it ought to be abandoned even before the nominating ejections -are held. This would do away with the Bead of . candidates making the nominating
race and later seeing the office aside.- , MAY BE ADJUSTED ; BBsawnasBsmi Plant May Be Abwcd to R sums Operations. There to a probability the aCatr of the Kramer . Mannfaetartax Cocrrtsy may be adjusted so .m to prenyl C3 sale of the property. "It i aBr3;r. gotiatlons now .'are being entered tr which would permit the rr!aat to rr tinne in operation.
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AFFAIRS