Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 35, Number 12, 19 November 1909 — Page 1

EICHMOND PALLADIUM Id 4KD SUN-TELEGRAM. VOL. XXXV. NO. 12. RICH3IOND, IXD., FRIDAY EVENING, NOVE3IBER 19, 1909. SINGLE COPr, 2 CENTS.

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"SPOILS" SYSTEM tlOW ELIMINATED III IOWA CAPITAL Introduction of Civil Service Examinations in Des Moines Removed Inefficiency and "Pull" Graft.

This method solves an ancient problem City Employes Are Compelled To Take Examinations, Which Has Bettered the Conditions in the City. (By Carl Bernhardt) ARTICLE 12. "I want to make application to take an examination for an Inspector in th"? health department." It was an unheralded man who was speaking to the mayor's secretary. "Very well," replied the secretary, taking down the books, "the examination will take place next February. "What is your name, please?" And he entered it in his books. There was no going to see Boss So-and-So before the jobs were handed out. There was no pull. The man walked out after he had made his application with a full consciousness that only his personal fitness and efficiency was to be considered. Great Improvement. Not the slightest improvements which has been made in the conduct of the affairs in Des Moines under the new plan is the improvement of the work done by its employes. Condi tions are by no means ideal even yet for It is well to know that men will not work as hard for the city as they will for private Individuals. But the plan employed under the new system of government Is after all the nearest ap proach to the management of private enterprises, which has been made In American. cities. . . , .. Elimination of Vard Politics. By the elimination of ward politics . In the very basis principles of the Des Moines Plan, the city officials are not embarrassed by the professional office seekers. Party plays no part in the selection of employes for the simple reason that party plays no part in the election. That is a prodigious gain in Itself. But the Des Moines Plan goes farther. Recognizing that the dangers of per sonal favors under the Des Moines Plan might in the end be just as dis astrous as party favoritism in the dis tribution of spoils to men who had aid ed In the election of councilmen, strin gent provisions for civil service have been incorporated in the new charter. The result has been most beneficial Under the charter granted, Des 'Moines, the council must select its em ployes from among those who have passed examinations proving them competent persons to fill their respect ive offices. Practical Examinations. The charter provides that these ex amlnatlons shall "be practical and shall fairly test the fitness of the per sons examined to discharge the duties of the position to which they seek to be appointed." After the examination the commission must prepare a certified list of double the number of persons who are qualified to fill the vacancies. The superintendents of the departments thus have a choice of the two men who have passed the highest examinations This allows the administration to pass on the personal fitness (such as ability to handle men. or the temperamental disqualifications) of those who have passed the examinations. Physical Examination. In order that the city employes shall not ne lined witn incapable men, a physical examination is required tesf Ing eyesight, hearing, mental condition, indications as to excessive use of intoxicants, etc., or any disease which would prevent giving efficient service and whether the applicant is capable of prolonged severe mental or physical exertion, and equal to the demands of the position he desires. ' The result is. that the men employed are not physically incompetent, addicted to Intoxication and are capable of giving the good service demanded by the position which they desire. Faithful Men Retained. And yet. the old and faithful employes of the city are not crowded out. The city has not been inhuman in Its desire to play fair. "In my department," said John MacVicar, of the Department of Public Improvements, "I put the old men who have faithfully served the city of Des Moines in a squad by themselves. It is practical, because the younger men do not lag behind and take pains to do no more than the old men. But bear in mind, that it is no disgrace to be. in the old men's squad. They are honored and many a man and boy raises hi? 4iat when they go up the street." A Suggested Change. The employes who do unskilled labor are not subjected to examination. Mr. Stipp of the legal firm of Bailey and (Continued on Page Six.)

As Mme. Stein he il

Mme. Steinheil, from an artistic sketch made in court during her recent trial in Paris. Mme. Steinheil's troubles didn't end with her acquittal on the charge of murder. Frederick H. Burlingham, the American, whose red beard led to a false identification, has brought suit for $8,000, and Remy Couillard, the valet who was also falsely arrested, says he will bring suit for $5,000.

BOND HOLDERS IN QUITE A QUANDARY Holders of Township Gravel Road Paper Wondering Where They Stand. BANKER HOLDS OUT HOPE E. H. CATES OF THE OPINION THAT A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL REMEDY DEFECT IN LAW. There are quite a number of people in Wayne county who are today wondering if the township gravel road bonds they hold in their possession will ever be worth more than the paper they are printed on. Two sets of such bonds have been issued in this county, one for the construction of a road in Washington township, and the other for the construction of South Li street, Wayne township. The former bond issue amounted to $16,600, and the latter to $16,000. It is believed that the greater part of these bonds are held by Wayne county investors, though some have been sold outside the county. Then there are a number of Wayne county people who have pur chased bonds issued by townships in other counties, purchasing, them from brokerage firms in Indianapolis and elsewhere. Cates Is Encouraging. Edwin H. Cates. of the Union Na tional bank, which institution never dealt in gravel road bonds for the reason that the law under which they had been issued, had never been passed up on by the supreme court which tribu nal yesterday declared the law uncon stitutional, stated to the Palladium this afternoon that there was a chance that the bonds might be legalized. "In my opinion. Governor Marshall will call a special session of the leg islature so that an effort can be made to redraft the law in a constitutional manner," stated Mr. Cates. These township gravel road bonds are held by some of the best people In the state, and some of the small banks throughout Indiana are congested w4th them. These bonds, as a rule, have been sold to the most cautious and conservative people ones- who would hesitate about purchasing good railroad securities as they believed them to be gilt-edged." Question Being Asked. The $16,000 issue of bonds for the South L street improvement were purchased by the Dickinson Trust Company, and the $l.0f. issue of bonds for the construction of the Washington township road," " were " purchased by Thomas B. Milligan of New Castle. The bonds were then sold by these parties to private individuals. The question is will the county continue to meet the payments of these bonds, or will the purchasers of the bonds be the losers. Different views are entertained by persons who have studied the decision of Judge Jordan. Some attorneys say that the bond holders will be the losers, while others claim that they will be paid in full, be-

Appeared in Court

cause they purchased the bonds in good faith. Given a Knock Out. For the present, two contemplated improvements under the gravel road law will be knocked out. One will be the National road west of West Fifth street, and extending to Asylum avenue, A , petition, has been circulwteed among the residents for the Improvement of the road by macadamizing the roadway. It was intended to make this one of the most beautiful roads in the county and by far the most substantial. Residents living on South Twentythird street, or rather its extension., were also Intending to improve it under the terms of this law. The agitators for the improvement had prepared the form of petition to be presented to the commissioners, and were intending to get the necessary number of signatures in a short time. AGED EDITOR DEAD (American News Service) New York, Nov. 19. Wm. M. Laf: fan, publisher of the New York Sun, died early today at his country home at Lawrence, L. I. Last Monday he was operated on for appendicitis. Mr. Laffan. who was born in Dub lin on January 22, 184S, was in the newspaper business in the United States for forty years. He was presi dent, treasurer, manager and a direc tor of the Sun Printing and Publishing association, a director of Harper and Bros., and vice president and director of the Lanston Monotype Machine company. TREATED HER BADLY Florence A. Shirkey, a resident of Jacksou township, has entered suit for divorce from Joseph Frederick Shirkey in the circuit court, alleging cruel and inhuman treatment, habitual drunkenness and failure to provide. She also asks the custody of two minor children. It is averred in the complaint that the separation between husband and wife occurred the first of this month, after living together since November 26, 1901. CONDITION IS SAME (American News Service) New York, Nov. 19. It was announced today at St. Vincent hospital that ex-Secretary of the Treasury John G. Carlisle, was very weak, though his condition was practically unchanged. WILL NAME LURTON (American News Service) New York, Nov. 19. The New York Evening Post this afternoon prints a signed dispatch from its Washington correspondent to the effect that President Taft has finally selected Judge Lurton of Nashville, Tennessee to. fill the vacancy in the Supreme Court bench caused by the death oX Justice Peckham at Albany, N. Y.

TWO THREATENING BLAZES

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CATHOLIC CHURCH ENDANGERED BY A DANGEROUS BLAZE Like the Fire at Earlham College It Was Discovered by Night Watchman and Departmeht Summoned. .;. . - ESTIMATED LOSS IS VERY SMALL AMOUNT Blaze at St. Mary's Thought To Have Started by Red Hot Furnace Pipe Igniting Some Dry Kindling. Fire, resulting from an overheated furnace, threatened the destruction of the St Mary's Catholic church at the corner of North Seventh and A streets early this morning. The blaze was discovered by the night watchman about three o'clock, who telephoned for the fire department. Only the auick response and strenuous exertions of the firemen saved the church from entire destruction. The estimated loss was between $40 and $50. It is thought that a furnace pipe became red hot and ignited the dry wood in the vicinity of the air shaft in the basement of the building. The flame spread rapidly and soon the entire structure was filled with dense, black smoke, making it particularly hard for the firemen to reach the origin of the blaze. A large hole about fifteen feet in diameter, was burned In the tloor and three of the news were totally destroyed by the fire dropping down Into the basement, where they were readily consumed by the raging flames. Metal Pipes Melted. So intense was the heat from the fire that three of the large metal pipe3 in the organ were completely melted and the organ was otherwise damaged. As much as was possible the firemen fought the flames with chemicals and thus the usual amount of damage by water was eliminated to a great extent. The cromo picture of the "Seventh Station" was totally destroyed and the "Sixth Station," another picture, was partially burned. Neither of the pictures were very valuable, however. The altar was not damaged, the fire confining itself to the north portion of the building. The fire this morning Is almost identical with that which occurred in the church on Feb. '2. 1907. The origin was the same and the destruction of property almost exactly similar. The damaged portions of the church will be repaired immediately, although not 3 any elaborate extent, in view of the fact that the new church which is being erected, will be completed by next spring, at least. DECISION IS MADE Supreme Court Rules the Three Mile Gravel Road Law Is Illegal. DISCRIMINATION IS SHOWN (Palladium Special) Indianapolis. Nov. 19. The supreme court has decided that the three-mile gravel road law is unconstitutional, and this will make more work for the next legislature. The decision was handed down yesterday by Judge Jordan. Under that law the county commissioners were required to order the construction of a gravel road not exceeding three miles in length on the filing of a petition signed by fifty or more freeholders and voters of any township, which includes any city or town having a population of less than 30,000, the cost of such road to be paid by taxation of the entire town ship. Judge Jordan holds that the act is special and local, in that it applies only to townships of a certain character instead of to all townships alike. The decision was made in a case sent up from Hamilton county. A great many three-mile roads have been built under this law, which was passed in 1905, and the Question of the validity of the bonds issued for them will probably cause much trouble throughout the state. SUIT ON ACCOUNT. Henry A. Beins and Emil Martin, tobacco dealers, have brought suit against William Drifmeyer in the circuit court on account, demanding $250.

NINE HOURS TIE

NIGHT WATCHMAN AT THE COLLEGE FIGHTS A BLAZE Sees Smoke Pouring Out of Lindley Hall, Calls the Fire Department, Then Battles Flames With Hose. A LABORATORY ALMOST DESTROYED BY FIRE But Watchamn Moore and the Local Firemen Saved the Building Students Cheer The Fire Fighters. Only the prompt action of Willard Moore, night watchman at Earlham college, saved Lindley hall from perhaps total destruction by fire last evening. At about 6:30 o'clock, Moore, who was making his hourly rounds of the grounds, noticed smoke ensuing from the windows on the third floor of Lindley hall. He rushed into the building and up to the biological laboratory where he discovered the room filled with dense smoke and the southern partition burning fiercely. Realizing that it would be impossible to fight the fire alone, he hastened down to the campus and turned in an alarm from box 512. Moore then, hurried back to the burning building and. seizing a hose, began fighting the flames, while he awaited the arrival of the department. By the tlme .tho. department had completed its long run the flames were under control and the fire was easily extinguished. Escaping Gas Ignited. It is thought that a rubber tube slipped off of the imbedding oven in the laboratory, allowing the escaping gas to ignite and caused the blaze. The imbedding oven is allowed to bum continuously. It is used in the preparation of biological specimens that would be spoiled if permitted to get cold. A large can of parafine which was ignited by the blaze caused the large amount of dense, black smoke which spread over the entire building giving the appearance of a very dangerous fire. The specimen cases were totally destroyed and a quantity of apparatus used in making experiments was consumed by the flames. The damage however was not extensive. A number of stuffed birds were partially ruined by water but it is thought they can be saved. It will require several days, however, to arrange the disorder in the labratory room and during that time the classes in that department will necessarily be discontinued, it is said. Firemen Are Cheered. The students were just finishing dinner when the fire department arrived, and immediately offered their assistance to the firemen. However it was not needed and the firemen were able to cope with the flames without any aid from the "rah rah" boys. When the fire was finally put out the college yells were given by the students for Moore and the firemen whose gallant fight prevented the destruction of the halL It was particularly fortunate for the college that night watchman Moore chanced to be passing in the vicinity of Lindley hall when the fire broke out. Had it not been discovered when it was or been permitted to gain more headway it is very probable that the entire building would have been con sumed. E. HALL IS GUILTY Embezzler Is Sentenced to the Penitentiary on Charge Preferred. QUICK VERDICT REACHED Earl S. Hall, with several other aliases was found guilty of embezzlement yesterday in the circuit court by the petit jury and Judge Fox sentenced him to Michigan City prison for an Indeterminate period, of two to fourteen "years. The jury was out but a few minutes, the evidence being conclusive that Hali had no defense of good excuse for appropriating the money. He is 51 years old. Sheriff Meredith will take Hall to Michigan City Monday, In .all probability. Hall secured approximately $110 from three local physicians and did a good business in other parts of the state.

HARRY THAW WHEN HE APPEARED IN GOTHAM

J 47 i lit IT? Harry Thaw as he appeared in a New York court the other day where he was taken from Matteawan to testify in a suit brought by one of his former alienists against his mother. E BODIES ARE TAKEN FROM MINE Four Are Now Recovered and Seventy-five Are Plainly Visible. FIRE IS AGAIN STARTED AT AN EARLY HOUR TODAY, BUT STREAMS OF WATER SOON CON TROLLED IT GRAVE DIGGERS BUSILY EMPLOYED. American News Service) Cherry, III., Nov. 19. Three more bodies of the St. Paul mine victims were brought to the surface from the first vein this morning, making four recovered. Two of the latest bodies were identified but afterwards identi fications proved erroneous. Fire broke out afresh at two o'clock this morn ing, dui streams or water soon brought it under comparative control. Eight additional bodies have been car ried to the ledge ready for raising and seventy-five others are in plain sight. of the rescuers. In all about two hundred bodies have been located but will require much work to extricate them. Thirty grave diggers were set to work at the Catholic grave yard today. BLOWS AT FOOTBALL Public Schools in New York And Washington Eliminate the Sport. REGARDED TOO DANGEROUS (American News Service) New York, Nov. 19. Football is about to receive a blow in the decision of the New York board of education to abolish the game. That the board will follow the plans adopted by the board of superintendents to do away with football is certain, according to those familiar with the situation, as a result of the several recent deaths. Fully 50,000 high school pupils are affected. TEAM WILL DISBAND. Washington, Nov. 19. The football teams of the public schools of Wash ington today took steps to disband. This was the result of the edict issued by the board of education, putting the game under ban because of the accidents and deaths that hare oc curred this season. THE WEATHER. INDIANA Partly cloudy tonight; warmer Saturday.

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ARMEO WITH GUI BOOKWALTER HOW AWAITC ENEMIES Mayor of Indianapolis Has Received a Letter Threatening to Transport Him to a Hot Place. THINKS DYNAMITERS AUTHORS OF LETTER Executive Offered a $10,000 Reward for Arrest and Conviction of Perpetrators of An Outrage.

(Palladium Special) Indianapolis. Ind.. Nov. la. Mayor Bookwalter is sitting at his desk In his office since yesterday, with a big revolver within easy reach, and he proposes to keep It within easy reach, at least for the prest-nL He has taken this precaution because he received a threatening letter, yesterday morning, in which some anonymous writer threatened to "send you and some more of them to hell. The letter was embellished with Bkull and rroasbones and another drawing which is supposed to represent a stick of dynamite. Reward the Cause. . The letter Is supposed to hare beeo w-ritten because the mayor, during the last few days had had an advertisement in the daily papers offering a reward of flO.nm for the arrest and conviction of the persons who blew tip several buildings with dynamite several weeks ago. The outrage Is a mystery and has been ever since it was perpetrated. Five thousand dollars of the reward money was appropriated by the city council, and another $5,000 Lwas made up among prominent buslunw men anu - manniacTurerg ana placed In the hands of Mayor Bookrwalter to be paid to the captor of th? dynamiters. One night a few weeks ago the entire city was shaken at exactly midnight by four heavy explosions in three different parts of the city. One explosion set fire to the barn and garage of Albert Von Spreckelson. a contractor. The buildings were destroyed, together with an automobile and one hors. Another explosion destroyed a part of Von Spreckelson's lumber factory a short distance from his home. Th third explosion blew out a side wall of the Central Union Telephone company's new branch exchange building In Irvington. 'and the fourth explosion damaged the new Carnegie branch li brary building In the west part of the city. The last two explosion! were lTve miles apart, but they occurred at exactly the same minute. Tried to Damage Him. Von Spreckelson. as contractor, was erecting the telephone building; an I the library building, so it was evident that the dynamiters were seeking to inflict all possible damage to him. He is also the contractor for the erection of the temple, being built by the Mystic Shrine at a cost of fOOO.OOO. and which is rapidly neariog completion. On this latter job Von Spreckelson had trouble with the structural ironworkers onion and a strike resulted. Since then. Von Spreckelson has been employing non-union men on the job. and it was the general supposition that the dynamiting was done either by some of the strikers or some of their acy to destroy all of the buildings was shown by the fact that all of the explosions toolc place at once. Evidently, the conspirators timed their work well. . The Ironworkers anion, of coarse. denied all responsibility for the outrages, and it is believed that If any of their members did the work, they were not local men. but came In from soma other citv. ' Mavor Bookwalter wtl out of the city at the time, but upon his return he took an active part fa the effort to run down the dynamiters. However, no cine nas Deen ooiainea. so far as Is known. Then he asked the city council to appropriate $3,000 to offer as a reward and the council did so. In addition, merchants and manufacturers put up another $5w)0. thus ran nip w tract the attention of some of the best detectives in tne country. t i n- ' derstood that several agencies have men workinr on the case. YonSpreckelson's loss was about (8.000. Contents of Letter. This accounts for the writing of the anonymous threatening letter to Slay, or Bookwalter. It read as follows: "Say. you better go a little slow. I have got some more of the big sticks and will send you and some more of them to helL No monkey." U.vn. Ttswilrwalta-r fa nn mnjK wi ried over the receipt of the letter, but he proposes to be on the safe side, and this is why he has the bis revolver in his desk where he can gej. it Instantly. VonSpreckelson has sent his family mil UL iu up, ii.ii us naa tcann that the dynamiters might blow up bis Von Spreckelson has sent his family the people of the city aa has the dynamiting of these buildings.