Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 35, Number 57, 4 January 1910 — Page 1

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4JNI SUN-TELEGRAM. VOL. XXXV. NO. 57. RICHMOND, IND., TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4, 1910. SINGLE COPY, 3 CENTS,

MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT HAD

Not Only Did the Plant Pay Back to the City the Last of Indebtedness, Incurred by Borrowing Money to Meet. Various Expenses, But the Sum of $1,050.29 Was Tucked Away in the City Treasury to the Credit of the PlantIncreased Profits for Each Month Over Year Previous.

A $12,500 GAItl IS SHOWN III REPORT Which Was Submitted Last Evening at the Council Meeting by Retiring Supt., Chas. H. Rogers. FIGURES CAST BOMB IN KNOCKERS' CAMP Doubtful If a Single Private Corporation in the City Can Show Better Per Cent of Increase. rhe Municipal Light Plant had the banner year of its career during 1909, for not only was the floating debt of the plant, $50,000, owed to the city, finally paid off. but a sun of 1,050.20 was placed in the general fund of the city treasury. In addition to this, the receipts of the plant for the year were much larger than in 1908, and the profits accruing were even greater than during the corresponding period of 1008. The receipts for the year were $45,3tfl.SC in excess of operating expenses, which is the best showing the plant ever made. Last evening Charles Rogers, the re-, tiring superintendent of the plant gave his yearly report to council. By way of showing what the plant has done in the past two years the following comparative statement of monthly receipts Is given : Comparison of Receipts. Month. 1000. 1008. January, .. $ 8,583. 45 $-7,400.97 February 7,938.82 7,516.55 March 7,506.34 7,183.10 April 7,080.44 6,326.92 May 6,912.78 5,820.17 June 6,223.04 5,756.00 July ti ,257.109 5,233.53 August 5.S42.55 5,255.60 September ... 6,327.26 5,605.00 October 6,647.91 5,946.85 November 7,917.07 6,275.28 December 11,032.51 7,407.81 Total $8829.26 $75,818.78 Big Business Gain. The gain in business for the year was $12,510.48. In reviewing the foregoing comparison it will be seen that there was not a month during the past year but what the business was greater than for the corresponding month of . 1908. The gain in business is truly remarkable and it is doubted if there is a private enterprise in the city which can show any better per cent of business increase. In view of this statement, the camp of those who have contended all along that a municipality can not run its business with the same degree of business perfection that an individual can, will be cast into gloom. In 1909 the expense for pay roll was $16,060.08 while in 1908 It was $16,877.69. Coal to operate the plant dur-' ing the past year cost, $15,061.43, as against $14,772.67 in 1908. Last year oil cost $342.91 and the year before $459.94. The item for interest and commission was the same in both years. It was $5,767.20. Insurance premiums on the plant and equipment during 1909 cost $405.68 as against $540 in 1908. The office expense during the past year was $788.02 but no account of this was made in 190S, it being included in the miscellaneous account, which for 1909 was $2,429 as against $2,934.56 in 1908. The total operating expenses in 1909 were $42,967.44, and $44,022.33 In 1908. or a reduction of $1,054.89 In favor of the last year. Other Expense Items. Transformers cost $1,423.02 in 1909 as against $2,252.03 for 1908. Meters cost $4,857.22 last year, and $4,111.67 in 1908. The purchase of wire in 1909 amounted to $2,635.10 and to $3,495.32 In .1908. The expense account listed as purchases for sundry equipment for 1909 were $1,578.38 and to $2,216.38 the previous year. The total equipment expense was $10,493.72 in 1909 as against $12,069.40 in 1908. The total disbursements for the past year were $53,461.16 and in 1908 the disbursements amounted to $55,091.73 or a reduction of $1,630.67 In favor of 1909. In figuring out the excess of receipts over the expenses, the expenses incurred for items of building and equipment are not considered, because It has been the opln-

BUSINESS

THE BANNER YEAR OF CAREER

ion that as articles of building and equipment were added, that the value of the plant was being enhanced just that much. All business firms follow this practice. The excess receipts over operating expenses in 1909 was $45,361.82 and for the benefit of those who believe that the expenses of building and equipment should be figured along with the operating expenses, the report shows that even then the earnings of the plant were, $34,868.10. In 1908 the excess receipts over operating expenses amounted to $31,796.45. In connection with his yearly report, Mr. Rogers also made his regular monthly report for December. It is in part as follows: Receipts from street lighting, $3,854.37; receipts from light and power, $7,178.14; total receipts, $11,032.51; disbursements operating expenses, $3,602.49; building and equipment, $307.44; total, $3,909.93, and excess of receipts over operating expenses for month, $7,430.02. mm hi DESTROYS HOUSE Frame Dwelling on New Paris Pike Was Burned to the Ground Today. PLACE WAS NOT OCCUPIED ONE OF THE LOCAL FIRE COMPANIES WAS SENT TO BLAZE, BUT HOUSE WAS DOOMED BEFORE ITS ARRIVAL? Fire, believed to have been of incen diary origin, totally destroyed the frame residence owned by Daniel Goins, colored, which is situated on the New Paris pike just beyond the city limits. The fire occurred this morn-j ing at about 5:iiO o clock. A telephone call was sent in to the fire departments but In view of the fact that the fire was outside of the city only one company responded and by the time it arrived on the scene the flames had gained too great headway to be extinguished. Loss Is About $1,500. The loss was about $1,500, it is said. The house was burned entirely to the ground. Had it not been for the fact that the house was vacant at the time, the property loss would have been much greater. The fire presented a spectacular appearance, the flames shooting high in the air and lighting up the country in that vicinity for a distance of several miles. The police have several reasons to believe that the fire was of incendiary origin and are working on several clues which will probably result in arrests later. MOT COME Governor of Ohio Regretfully Declines Commercial Club "Bid" HAS TOO MUCH BUSINESS E. M. Haas, secretary of the Commercial club, is in receipt of a letter from Hon. Judson Harmon, governor of the state of Ohio, in which he states that it will be impossible for him to at tend the annual banquet to be given by the local Commercial club in the spring, owing to the fact that the legislature will be in session at that time, and his time will be occupied. .Governor Harmon expressed regret at being unable to attend the banquet, declaring that he always liked to attend such occasions, but that "business before pleasure" should be the maxim of all public officers. SICK MEN CREMATED New Florence, Pa, Jan. 4. Two brothers, both old and helplessly ill, were burned to death in their home this morning. They were John S. U tale r, aged eighty-five years, formerly a prominent farmer and Daniel TJtsler, aged eighty, a veteran of the Civil war. The latter had just completed arrangements to enter the soldiers home. Origin of the fire is a mystery. THE WEATHER, INDIANA Fair tonight; rising temperature Wednesday.

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CITY OFFICIALS ASKED TO BRING THE QUESTION OP Fire Protection Committee Says There Should Be No

Delay in the Waterworks Proposition Now. NO SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED BY PROBERS Committee Members Say That They Do Not Desire to In fringe on Prerogatives of City Officers. One of the Commercial club' com mittees on fire protection in its re port declines to take any stand at the present time on the question of municipal ownership of the water works. The committee states that it does not wish to infringe on the prerogatives of the city government, by taking such action, but stands ready to aid the city authorities at any time. The committee, however, does take the positive stand that the administration should take up the water works question immediately, so that the matter can be brought to a prompt focus. The report of the committee, after refering to the inspection of the water works plant by Mr. Maury, is as follows: Report of Committee. Just what the attitude toward the proposition will be by the "new administration has not yet fully developed, but whatever it may be the necessity still exists for better fire protection and your committee would recommend that a conference with the new officials be had at an early date to lay before them the importance of securing these improvements in the Vater works plant. It has developed since the negotiations have begun on this matter that there is quite a sentiment in favo of the purchase of the plant by the city, but this phase of the question has not been developed, as many questions of law are involved wfiich will have to be examined, and as thus far no definite proposition has been evolved by which the city could lawfully purchase, your committee, therefore, does not at this time make any recommendation for or against the purchase, but it does urge that the new administration take up the whole question at once so that an early settlement of this matter may be had, with a view of obtaining the much needed improvements as early as possible. The present contract of the Water Works company has more than two years to run and if the matter is deferred until that time it is probable that four years would pass by before these Improvements could be installed. Should Start at Once. Since the company has shown a disposition to negotiate at this time, we urge, for the general welfare of the city, that the city authores proceed with negotiations at once. Your committee 'does not wish to infringe on the prerogatives of the city officials, and therefore, has at this time no suggestions to make with reference to the character of the negotiations, but stands ready to aid the officials in any way possible to consummate a deal that shall fully safeguard the city's interests. Your committee will use its influence as in their judgment they feel justified In bringing to bear, either upon the city officials or the Water Works company, to obtain as speedily as possible consistent with the magnitude of the proposition, a solution of the matter that will be just and fair to all parties concerned. Respectfully submitted. S. E. Swayne. Henry Gennett. E. F. Hiatt. Lee B. Nusbaum. A. M. Gardner. W. K. Bradbury. S. E. Jones. l- W. S. Kaufman. HARMESEII IS HURT While Albert S. Harmesen was driving a team of horses hitched- to a heavy wagon in the field near his residence, 401 South Fourteenth street, yesterday afternoon, the double tree of the wagon broke and he was thrown forcibly to the ground. His back was badly sprained and it will be several days before he will be able to resume his work. The injury is not at all serious, however.

GORMOli PLACES LARGE FOOT DOWN Oil FALSE ROMORS

In an Address to Members of Police Force He Tells Them That There Is No "Wide Open" Policy. RICHMOND MUST BE ORDERLY COMMUNITY And the Laws Will Be Observed Without Fear or Prejudice Patrolmen Pledge Chief Support. Superintendent I. A. Gormon of the Richmond police force, read his first official communication to the police force, including both day and night members, when they assembled last evening for the 6 o'cIock roll call. He promised the force that Rich mond's reputation as a city wherein gentlemen'only lived would be upheld by him as superintendent. There will be no wide open policy introduced in this city and he also stated that even the slight tipping of the city's lid would not be tolerated. As the citizens generally have been pleased with the conduct of the police in the upholding of the laws, this po! icy will continue. Congratulate Officers. At the roll call, the patrolmen took occasion to congratulate the new of ficers, Chief Gormon, First Sergeant Ed McNally, and Second Sergeant Scott Winters. After the reading of the chiefs communication, the officers collectively and individually promised the superintendent their best efforts to uphold tbe laws. There can be no question aj)out the service which the men wiii render, as all who have had the pleasure of serving under Mr. Gormon in previous years give him credit for be ing "as an efficient a chief as ever served the interests of this city. Mr. Gorman's communication is as follows: Gormon's Address. "Officers and Brethren: I have been chosen to act as your superintendent. I realize the responsibility and I want your assistance, respect, ! efficiency and energy, so that we may keep this department up to its standard and if possible improve it. "Beginning with the new year and the new administration, let new ideas be with you; let your aim be for the better. None are perfect The peopies' minds have been prejudiced and they have tried to have you believe in case Dr. W. W. Zimmerman was elected that Richmond would be a wide open city. He was elected. I do not think there is an officer on this force who would care to serve as an officer in a wide open city. Allow me to state, as superintendent, that if there are any of our citizens who are clinging to that faith, they had as well abandon the idea, for as long as I am superintendent of this force and have control of this department, it will not be. Wants Good Service. "If there are any of you who can not co-operate with me in this respect or any of you who can not be a policeman, and be a respected citizen, I hope you will give way and let some other person take your place. I have no ax to grind; they have all been ground. I like my friends and my enemies I will try and forget. "We, as officers, are the peoples servants, but we are not to be imposed upon, nor as officers should we impose upon any one. Let our aim be for the betterment of our city. We have the best regulated city of its size on earth, and it would do for many better larger ones to pattern after. I am familiar with the workings of many of the larger cities. I do not know of any city where the laws are enforced as rigid as in Richmond. City Well Served. "I came to Richmond in IS 66. I have been personally acquainted with all of its chiefs and most of the officers since that time and Richmond has been blessed with some good ones. My wish Is that the present force will be as good and if possible, better. I will be -held responsible for your deportment and work and I win hold each of you responsible. I will sot allow you to be better to me than I will be to you. I will not allow any favorites; I want none. "Your conduct and efficiency will guide my feelings toward you. My aim will be to conduct myself so that you will have no cause to regret my appointment as your superintendent. I will ask you to be careful and courteous and when you have a duty to perform, be firm and dignified as an officer and careful of your temper. Study your book of rules. Any order I give will be for the best Interests of the city, or at least that will be my aim and any orders emanating from the police board, you will refrain from commenting upon, at any time. If any officer has any complaint to make. (Continued on Page Two.)

English Law Effects Rich Yankees

Rich Americans on whom England hopes to draw death duties, and two of their castles. They are J. Pierpont Morgan and Battle Abbey, the English home of M. P. Grace. Andrew Carnegie and Skibo Castle, his Scottish domain, and below is Henry Phipps. The house of Lords sitting as the highest court in Great Britain handed down a decision denying the appeal of the heirs of W. L. Wlnans. of Baltimore, for a return of $982,000 death duties. By this ruling the United Kingdom will 1 receive many mllMons of dollars from - Americans should they end their days in the British Isles.

PLANS SUBMITTED EOR INSANE HOME Arcnitect Kaufman Turns Over Drawings to County Commissioners. NO FINAL ACTION TAKEN BEFORE ACCEPTING THEM THE BOARD WILL CONSULT COUNTY COUNCIL, JUDGE FOX AND THE CHARITY BOARD. Plans, which architect W. S. Kaufman was ordered to prepare, by the old board of county commissioners, for the insane institution, which will be constructed, either at the county farm or on the site adjoining the county jail, for the care of the insane patients, which state Institutions can not provide for, were submitted In detailed form to the new board of county commissioners yesterday afternoon. Inasmuch as the commissioners wish to obtain the approval of Judge Fox of the circuit court, the county board of charities and corrections, and the county council, before accepting the plans, the board simply reviewed them and placed them on file, in the meantime others, who are also interested in the proposition of new insane quarters will be consulted by the commissioners. Estimate of the Cost. By the time of the meeting of the county council in special session, about January 15, the commissioners will have determined whether or not to accept the plans. Mr. Kaufman, in explaining the plans to the board, stated that a building, such as the plans called for. could be constructed for approximately $10,000. The matter of appropriating money to meet this expenditure will be considered by the county council at Its next meeting. Equipment and furnishings would be additional. Mr. Kaufman's plans call for a building approximately 65 feet long with sixteen rooms for patients. Eight of these rooms will be on the lover floor, which will be used for. quartering male insane while the other rooms will be located on the second floor for use of women patients. The general plan of the ward is the same as that for tbe cottages for Insane at state institutions. The building will be brick and two stories high. No dining room Is provided, for in ' the event the ward is located at the county farm, the patients will be taken to the large dining room of the infirmary building.

PREPARE TICKETS EOR All ELECTION

Commercial Club Last Evening Prepares Its Directors' Slates. MCCARTHY WAS HONORED PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB THE ONLY ONE WHOSE NAME APPEARS ON BOTH OF THE TICK- . ETS IN THE FIELD. - At the meeting of the Commercial Club last evening, two tickets were selected for the election of members of the board of directors.. John F. McCarthy, present president of the club. was the only man named on both tick ets. The tickets were as follows: Ticket No. 1. John P. McCarthy, E. M. Haas, 8. E. Swayne, Nettleton Neff, Sharon E. Jones, George H. Knollenberg, Howard A. Dill, E. W. Craighead. Ticket No. 2 John P. McCarthy. A. W. BlickwedeL Frank I. Reed. D. I Mather. H. C. Hasemeier, C. C. Com mons, E. G. Hill, W. K. Bradbury. The board of directors m ill be elect ed at the regular meeting of the club. the second Monday in February. The new directors will be elected for a term of two years. The old directors, or the "other hair who were elected last year, will continue in office until January, 1911. Gas Franchise Case. A committee composed of Henry Gennett. Edgar F. Hiatt and A. C. Lindemuth, known as the standing committee on Public Service Corporations, was selected last evening to investigate the franchise sought by the Richmond Natural Gas company, to manufacture artificial gas. The franchise was approved by the old board of works and was put up to council. That body refused to take up the matter and the proposition was held over for the new council to decide. At the meeting of the new council last night, no action was taken in regard to the franchise, the matter being deferred until tbe next regular meeting, in two weeks. HER NAME CHANGED Mrs. Eva Druley Rife who, since her husband was granted a divorce last summer by Judge Fox, has been trying to have her name restored to Eva Druley, has been successful. This morning the petition was granted and entry made of the decision.

PLEASE PITY US RAILROAD CHIEFS ASKED PRESIDENT

But Their Soulful Entreaties Failed to Bring a Single Drop of Moisture to Eyes Of Executive. PICTURE GREAT WOE IF LAW IS CHANGED Was Painted at the White House by Skilled Hands of Six Railroad Magnates Only One Plea Heeded. Washington. Jan. 4. For more than two hours yesterday the executive heads of six of the greatest railroad systems of the country conferred with the president on the subject of his railroad policy. The men who went to the White House were Presidents McCrea, of the Pennsylvania: Lovett. of the Union and Southern Pacific; Baer, of the Reading: Finley of the Southern: Brown, of the New York Central, and Mellen of the New York. New Haven and Hartford. Attorney-General Wlckersham alsn was present In his capacity as an official of the administration. The result of this conference can not be said to have bee--i entirely satisfactory to the railroad chiefs, although they derived some comfort from it. But in respect to the most vital fundamental principles of the plan to amend and strengthen interstate commerce act they they found the president unchangeable. In other words they discovered that there was something adamantine beneath the jovial exterior, the pleasant smile and hearty laugh of Mr. Taft Cannot Stop Regulation Plans. They were convinced. If they bad any doubt about it before, that he could not be swerved from his resolution to urge congress to carry Into effect the Roosevelt policy, which embodies a closer regulation and control of com-, moo carriers. The railway presidents were given an opportunity to enumerate their principal objections to the administration bill, amplifying the present law. which were specified In the press yesterday. As explained, one complaint of the transportation chiefs related to the provision containing the inhibition against a railroad acquiring an interest in another road which is in any way competitive. Stripped of its legislative and superfluous verbage this section reads as follows: No railroad shall hereafter acquire, directly or Indirectly, any interest in any capital stork of any railroad which competes or Is naturally competitive in any way: provided, however, that nothing in this section shall operate to prevent such corporation which, at the date of the passage of this act. owns not less than & per cent of the entire Issued and outstanding capital stork of any other corporation, from acquiring with the previous written approval of the Interstate Commerce Commission, all or any portion of the remaining outstanding capital stock of such corporation. Will Have No Bomb Effect. The president was told that this section should be modified so as to avert a disastrous upheaval in the finances of most of the great railraods of tbe United States. Evidently be was .Impressed by the arguments of his visitors, for after they bad gone he took occasion to explain that the section would be recast so as to make it perfectly clear that the administration. In Its seal to bring tbe railroads under closer Federal control, did not intend to set them topsy tnrvey and cause unnecessary and unjust hardship to either majority or minori ty Interests. This would be done by making: it plain that a railroad which now has a minority Interest in another road, competitive or not. would be permitted to retain that interest, though not to . increase it. also a road which owned a majority of stock in another would be allowed to increase such holdings subject to the approval of the Interstate Commerce Commission. LIKE A MEL Jealous Man Kills Sweetheart. Then Goes Back to the Scene of Crime. BLOWS OUT HIS BRAINS (American News Service) -Akron, O.. Jan. 4. Charles Schmidt, an automobile worker, who shot and killed Mrs. Teresa Bernhardt, a boarding house keeper In front of her home on Chestnut street last night, and escaped capture, returned to the exact spot where the murder occurred and committed suicide early this morning . by shooting through his brains,' Schmidt was Jealous of the woman. 7

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