Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 35, Number 37, 14 December 1909 — Page 1

MLY PJ13LT QMIPIPIIM WAYQ QJNTBL GMEOQTSVJAQ. QMF BARE. Y

a EICHMONB FAIXABIUM 4kNI 3UN-TKLEGR AM. VOL. XXXV. NO. 37. RICHMOND, IND., TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14, 1909. SINGLE COPY. 2 CENTS.

REPORTED THE

It Is Alleged the Action Taken by the Richmond Light, Heat & Power Company in Reducing Rates First of Year Was Aimed to Forestall Plans of Its Rival, Which, It Is Rumored, Plans to Use Its Natural Gas in Manufacturing Artificial Product, Greatly Reducing Fuel Expenses.

HIBBERD

DEIS

THAT SUCH PLAN ISA PROBABILITY But It Is Known That Natural Gas Company "Felt Out" Board of Works on Franchise Proposition. FAILED TO RECEIVE ANY ENCOURAGEMENT But There Is a Possibility That The Matter Will Be Revived When New Board Comes Into Office. 't is generally regarded that the action of the Light, Heat & Power company, in its reduction of rates a; benefit to a small class, but of no real advantage to the average consumer is an effort to ward off a blow that the corporation expects from the Richmond Natural Gas company. Although the latter company enters a denial, it is a current report that it intends to enter the artificial gas field, and in the near future, providing the incoming board of works and council are kinder to the company than the present board of works proved to be. The entrance into the artificial gas fleld by the Natural Gas company would, it is generally admitted, be a blow to the Light, Heat & Power company, almost ps effectual as the one delivered by the city when it refused to sell t'ae Municipal Light Plant to its competitor. Whet the Purpose Is. If a well founded report can be believed it is the purpose of the Natural Gas company providing, as remarked before, the municipal powers-that-be are kind to use its supply of natural gas as fuel in the manufacture of the artificial product. It is estimated that by such method the company's fuel bills would .be $100 per month less than those of the Light, Heat & Power company, which has to use coal. For this reason, it is contended, the Natural Gas company could offer a rate even less than the new Light, Heat & Power company rate, which goes in effect the first of next year. Broached Proposition. It is known that this year, and not so very long ago, the Natural Gas company "felt out" the board of works in regard to obtaining a franchise for the manufacture of artificial gas, but, it is understood, the board did not show great cordiality to the proposition, so, for the time being, it was dropped by the company. ' However, it would occasion no surprise if, when the new city administration goes into power, the proposition would be revived by the Natural Gas company. The principal reason advanced for the Natural Gas company's reported intention of stepping into the artificial gas field is the fact that its natural gas supply has been decreasing so steadily that It fears an absolute exhaustion within a short time. This winter, especially during the recent cold snap, the supply was extremely low and there were many complaints made by the consumers. Denial by Hibberd. The reported action of the Richmond Natural Gas company- was denied in emphatic terms by Elgar Hibberd, president of the company, when interviewed this morning In regard to the matter. Mr. Hibberd stated that there was absolutely no truth, in the report. He declared that he had not even heard the rumor and that if it was the Intention of the company to manufacture artificial gas he was in blissful ignorance of the fact. He stated that as president of the company he would certainly know better than, any one else what the proposed plans of the company were. When told that it was understood that the Intended reduction in rates of the Richmond Light, Heat & Power company, the first of the year, was partially responsible to the alleged proposed change of the Richmond Natural Gas company, Mr. Hibberd laughed and stated that the opposition offered in that particular was of no consequence. Denies Any Benefit. ' He asserted that many small conumeravwho burned artificial gas of

NATURAL GAS

WILL ENTER ARTIFICIAL FIELD

the Light, Heat & Power company would not be benefited in the least by the proposed reduction in rates the first of the year. In order to prove his statement he showed bills from the Light, Heat & Power company on the Richmond Natural Gas company, for between 2,000 and 3,000 cubic feet which had been burned for lighting only and invariably the rate was the same, $1.00 per thousand cubic feet, whereas the Light, Heat and Power company claim the rate for gas used for lighting purposes alone is now $1.50 per thousand cubic feet, with a 20 percent reduction if paid before the tenth of the month, making the net price at present $1.20. Mr. Hibberd declared that the Light, Heat & Power company knew that his company used artificial gas for lighting purposes alone. He stated that there were other similar cases in the city and that the decrease in rates of artificial gas was more to the advantage of the large consumer. To Open New Field. Asked if the supply of natural gas was short Mr. Hibberd replied that it had been short for the past few weeks, but that a new pumping station was being erected at New Lisbon, which should be completed today and as a result Richmond would receive a more direct pressure and more gas. He said he thought that the supply would be greatly increased in a few days as the fifty or sixty wells at New Lisbon and also those west of New Castle were in good condition and far from being "dry." TIGHTLY PRESSED IS ZELAYAM ARMY Reported That Managua Is in Revolt and Rebels Are Victors. THREE TOWNS ARE TAKEN AND IT IS BELIEVED THE GOVERNMENT FORCES ARE BOTTLED UP -2 EL AY A MAY HAVE CAPTURED RAMA. (American News Service Vera Cruz, Mexico, Dec. 14. Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, is in revolt. Rebel sympathizers have arisen against Zelaya and threaten his stronghold, according to information received today. Apparently the Zelayan forces cannot be drawn into battle. ZELAYA BOTTLED UP. New Orleans, Dec. 14. A dispatch from Bluefields says that General Zelaya's forces are now entrapped by the insurgent troops, three towns on the Costa Rican border being captured. The rebel forces are planning to bottle up the government army at Rama. ZELAYA TAKES RAMA. Washington, Dec. 14. The state department has advices from Consul Caldera at Managua, which say Rama has been captured by Zelaya. WANTS AJEW TRIAL Petition by the Defense in the Hazlitt Case Has Been Filed. WHAT THE GROUNDS ARE John F. Robbins filed a motion for a new trial in the case of the state versus Mrs. Lida Hazlitt, who was found guilty recently of practicing medicine without a license by the petit jury and fined $J5 and costs. Judge Fox has not ruled on the motion. It is set forth in the motion that the evidence was insufficient for such a verdict. Counsel for Mrs. Hazlitt also holds that the court erred in not permitting certain testimony which the defense endeavored to introduce. OPERATION A SUCCESS. : Mr. and Mrs. William Rigsby have returned home from Indianapolis, where Mrs. Rigsby was in a hospital for five weeks, having undergone a successful operation. She is improving nicely.

CO.

STATE CHAIRMAN TO BE SELECTED AT THE MEETING Democratic Chiefs Will Gather At Indianapolis This Afternoon and Will Discuss This Matter. A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN WILL BE DECIDED ON Sam Ralston Mentioned for Chairman, But He Has His Eyes Glued on Chair Beveridge Occupies. (Palladium Special) Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 14. It will probably develop at the meeting of the democratic state committee in this city this afternoon who the next state chairman will be, for it is understood that the members of the committee will discuss in detail the plans for the campaign next year, and the chairmanship is one of the most important features of a successful campaign by any party. As has already been stated, there are several names mentioned for state chairman, but there seems to be a strong undercurrent in favor of some man whose name either has not yet been mentioned or whose name has been used rather sparingly. For instance, Samuel M. Ralston, of Lebanon has been talked of, but his friends say he will not take the place. Ralston has his eye set on something better than the state chairmanship. He wants to be either the next United States senator from Indiana to succeed Senator Beveridge, in ' case the state goes democratic, or he wants to be governor. Cravens Is Mentioned. Former Representative Joseph Cravens, of Madison, is mentioned, but he wants to go to congress some day. He doesn't want the state chairmanship, but he might be induced to take a place as direct chairman from the Fourth district and thus become a member of the state committee. W. H. Vollmen,- of Vincennes, is believed by some to possess the qualifications for a good state chairman, but he is now in the state political game, and no one knows much about him. He led the wets to victory In the local option fight in Knox county and showed that he is a fighter. Stokes Jackson, the present state chairman, is the only state chairman the democrats have bad in Indiana for years, who has won a big fight, and he won his last year. Therefore, Jackson believes he is entitled to another term in office, but there is considerable opposition to him. Pete Foley a Power. The man who is looming up stronger than anyone else just now with the powers that make or unmake state chairmen, is Pete Foley, of Terre Haute. Foley is a member of the state committee from the Fifth district. He has the backing of John E. Lamb, of Terre Haute, who is a power in Indianapolis politics and who was a candidate for U. S. Senator last winter. Foley also is a good friend of Crawford Fairbanks, and everybody is willing to admit that Fairbanks cuts some ice in state politics. The fact that Foley is close to John E. Lamb and the further fact that Lamb and Governor Marshall are very close friends. politically and personally, causes people to think that Foley may have the support of the governor, or. at least, that Foley would not be unsatisfactory to Marshall. Tom Taggart. also, likes Foley, and so do many of the other leaders. There is no man in the state who could bring more varied interests together for the democratic ticket than Foley, for he is a big corporation lawyer and stands well with them. If it turns out that Foley is a real candidate for state chairman there is every reason to believe that he will give the rest of the candidates a horse race. WILL MEET TONIGHT The West Richmond Improvement association will meet this evening at the Baxter school, at 7:30 o'clock. Several matters of importance will be taken up. THE WEATHER. INDIANA Wednesday fab

HEMEtlWAY IS MAN OE MUCH MYSTERY AT PRESENT TIME

Former Senator Gives Up His Job at Washington and Politicians Are Wondering As to His Motive. HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN GOVERNOR'S RACE And It Is Also Rumored That He Will Set His Lance Against Beveridge for the Senatorial Job. (Palladium Special) Indianapolis, Dec. 14. The fact that James A. Hemenway, fromer senator from Indiana, has resigned his place as expense expert for the senate committee on public expenditures and that he will come back to Indiana and take an active part in politics is causing a good deal of talk in this city among the politicians. They do not quite understand the move. Some time ago there was talk of Hemenway as a candidate for the nomination for governor, and it was learned that he had a large 'following that would stick to him in case he decided to go after the nomination. But Hemenway himself has not said a word about it. The talk about him as a candidate found its way into the columns of the Politician, a weekly political paper issued in the interest of the Lincoln League, and that paper said some very complimentary things about him. Another rumor since it has been announced that he has resigned at Washington, is that Hemenway is coming back to take the field as a candidate against Senator Beveridge for United States senator next year in case the republicans control the legislature. But this- story has not. received much attention, for the reason that it is ad mitted that no one will run against Beveridge. On that one proposition the party is united. More credence is put in the theory that Hemenway will run for governor, or that he will train for the senatorship to succeed Senator Shively when the latter's term expires. In any event, Hemenway's resignation and his coming back to Indiana "to take an active part in politics is arousing a good deal of speculation. Wilson Very Modest. J. Wood Wilson, of Marion, is out in a statement in which he says he does not wish the place of chairman of the republican state committee, but it is noted in his statement that he does not say he would not accept it. He merely says that for him to accept the place would mean a heavy sacrifice on account of neglect of business, and that he does not feel that he can afford to make the sacrifice. However. he is the only man talked of for the chairmanship now since Harry S. New flatly declined to run, and there seems to be little doubt that Wilson will be elected. John C. Billheimer, auditor of state, one of the cleverest politicians in the state, sounded the keynote when he made this statement in regard to the necessity for harmony in the republican party next year: "Every republican should put his shoulder to the wheel and all push together. If there were differences of opinion in the past we should be all of one mind now. The only way to win is to let the dead past bury its dead and all stand together in the present for the future. Billheimer formerly was prominent in the old state machine, but he is now working along with all the rest of the party leaders for a united front against the enemy next year. Outlook in Districts. There is much speculation as to the make up of the republican state committee for the next campaign, but one close observer has figured out that the committee will be made up thus: First District Edgar H. Durre or Daniel Ortmeyer, of Evansville. Second Will H. Hays, of Brazil. Third M. Burt Thurman, of New Albany. Fourth Albert A. Tripp, of North Vernon, or Jacob Bauer, of Lawrenceburg. Fifth Thad Peck, of GreencasHe. Seventh Henry W. Bennett, of Indianapolis. Eighth C. J. Bratton, of Alexandria. Ninth George Palmer, of Sheridan. Tenth A. J. Hickey, of LaPorte. Eleventh Francis I. Stults, of Huntington. Twelfth James M. Henry, Fort Wayne. Thirteenth D. D. Bates, of South Bend. Haas Out in Sixth. No one seems to have any idea as to who will be elected district chairman in the Sixth. E. M. Haas, of Richmond, the present chairman, has been selected for postmaster at Richmond and this takes him out of the eligible class. An effort was made to (Continued on Page Seven.)

Has a Weakness

; ''tV'M- ;4tii -

Mrs. Sarah A. C. Murtagh. a New York woman with a weakness or fondness for lawsuits. In the one just started she accuses her husband and three lawyers at once. She has been plaintiff in as many as fourteen cases at one time in Jefferson Market court. The accusation against the lawyers is that they conspired with her husband to manufacture false testimony in a divorce proceeding which she has established.

CIIICIHIIATI FIRE EARLY TODAY WAS TERRIBLE AFFAIR Seven Sleeping Inmates of a Tenement House Burned to Death and Three Are Fatally Injured. AN OVERTURNED LAMP - STARTED THE BLAZE Frenzied People Fought Madly To Escape and One Woman . With Her Child Leaped to a Terrible Death. (American News Service) Cincinnati. Dec. 14. Mrs. John Henderson, aged forty, and her three children, ranging from sixteen down; Tommy Watson, four years, Isaac Rucker, thirty years, and William Grout, lost their lives and Mrs. Laura Wilson, Mrs. Emma Tiel and an unknown girl, were probably fatally Injured in a tenement house fire in East Third street early this morning. The upsetting of a kerosene lamp on the second floor, of a veritable fire trap, cut off the only escape of the sleeping tenants on the third and fourth floors. Home of Twelve Families. The building was occupied by a dozen families. All the occupants were asleep, and before they awoke all egress was cut off. The frenzied occupants crawled out of windows or climbed to the roof, whence they jumped into blankets held by firemen. A woman clasping her 8-year-old son, sprang from a third flooc window to the sidewalk. Both were instantly killed. The loss of life Is attributable to the panic of the tenants, who were so overwhelmed by fear that they rushed into the flames. The fire loss was f.",000. Ill PRINTERS HANDS The new city directory and county gazetteer, which was soclieited under the direction of R. L Polk and Company, is now In the hands of the printer, and will be issued within the next ten days or two weeks. The directory is very complete and, it is claimed. ia better in every aetail than those prepared previously.

For Law Suit

A LIMITED TRAIN COLLIDED WITH A PASSENGER TRAIII Early This Morning at North east Pa., Resulting in the Death of Four, and the In jury of Eighteen. CAUSE OF ACCIDENT HARD TO DETERMINE The Flyer Ground Its Way Through the Rear End of the Boston Special Happened At Early Hour. (American News Service) Eric, Pa, Dec 14. rwr persons were killed and eighteen were Injured on the Lake Shore division of the New York Central railroad at North east, Pennsylvania, when train No. 10, the Boston special, was plunged into by the second section of the Twentieth Century limited, which was composed of SL Louis and Indianapo lis coaches, and sleepers. The dead are: Francis Bernard and Jack Clair of Cedar Point, Kas.; Anton Lund, from California, bound for Co penhagen, and one unidentified for eigner. All were in the rear car of the Boston special. Passengers on the other train were badly shaken up. None of the injured were from Indiana. A blinding blizzard prevailed, which delayed several trains and the collision resulted from confusion as to which train should take the siding. Four of the injured will probably die. Send Relief Train. A relief train was made up in Erie, and filled with doctors and surgical appliances, was rushed to the scene of the wreck. The Boston special was stalled by a freight just this side of Northeast. Pa. The first section of the Twentieth Century limited, running behind time for some unknown reason, crashed in to the rear of the train ahead. The flyer ground its way through the rear coach of No. 10. telescoping it like so much timber. The smoker on the Twentieth Century was also demolished, although there were no passengers in it at the time. Cries of Injured. Willing hands immediately set to work to aid the Injured, whose pitiful cries for help could be heard for a Ions distance around. The dead and dying were borne to the coaches, which had not been damaged, and (Continued on Pag Seven.)

SEEDING COMPANY

BUYS ADDITIONAL BUILDING SPACE Biq Drill Concern Takes in th - - ww eiw Starr and the C. & W. Kramer Properties as Space Is Required. STARR COMPANY WILL" MOVE FROM THE CITY But the Big Local Corporation Will Put a Much Larger Working Force in the Plant Than Now Employed. Announcement was made this morn in by James A. Canr of the American Seeding Machine company, that dea'a had been consummated whereby the company becomes in possession of the building occupied by the William C Starr and company, manufacturers of names and chains. North Thi th street and the railroad; also the prop. ny oeiongins to the C. & W. Kramer Manufacturing mmiunv iw.ti Thirteenth and North B streets. Th consideration was S37.O0O for both Pieces of property. It i An of K a largest real estate deals which had laKen place in this city for several months. The American Seedinr pany was compelled to inrr. . working capacity, as every foot of floor space at its factory is occupied. The piant piactlcally covers the entire space from Thirteenth and th n between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, and from thj railroad to North T E street, and Including In addittnn th building on North Fifteenth street, for- " meny occupied by the Westcott carriage company. The plant's working force la nearly TOO men. according to me lasi pay rou statement, and addi tional workmen are being put on as fast as possible. Annllcant w turn. ed down now simply because they can not be nut at wnrlr mm t m u. m room to accommodate them. Starr Factory to Move. Possession of the Star Hum anif Chain factory, will not be given until Juiy i. 1'Jiu. Horace Starr, the present owner, will move the factory to Indianapolis, which city he has made his home, and desires to make his place of business, also. The company employs a large number of men, but its rorce does not compare In else with the one the American Seedlnar Machine company will place at work In the building. The property purchased from the C. & W. Kramer company. Is now utilised for lumber storing purposes. A new building, similar to the modern addition made to -the American iia. chine works, a few years ago, win be erected. Mr. Gut stated this morning that he did not know Just what the new building would be utilised for. The plans have not been completed by the architect. Start New Building. The new building will be a very large one. Joining the Hum and Chain factory on the north. "With the completion of the new building the company will be employing, a year from sow, over 1,000 men, unless some unforeseen condition arises. The local branch of the company. Is, with all its large force, unable to keep up with new orders which are coming In daily. In fact, Mr. Curr stated, the company was behind In Its work. In addition to covering the United States and the principal portions of Canada thoroughly, the company has opened a large amount of new territory in European and South American countries. A BAIIOUET FOR MED It was decided at the regular monthly meeting of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Y. XI. C A. yesterday afternoon, to give a men's banquet some time between the first and fifteenth of January. The exact date will be announced after a meeting of the T. M. C A. board. ft MONTHLY MEETING The West Richmond Friends church will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday night at 7:30 o'clock in Undle halL A large amount of busineaa will be transacted. All who are Interested are cordially invited to attend the meeting. , BULLA VS. PIERCE Dr. R. J. Pierce has uuMaaeed fell candidacy for the nomination of county coroner. The only other candidate, in the race la Or. Mora Bulla.