Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 38, Number 189, 17 June 1913 — Page 1

THE MCHMONB PAJL3LADIUM

ANO SUN-TELEGRAM VOL. XXXVIIL NO. 189 RICHMOND, IND TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 17, 1913 SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS

LIGHT, HEAT, -POWER ENTERS A PROTEST ON A COMPETITOR

Five Representatives of Company Attend Meeting Today to Make alight. DEMAND "FAIR PLAY" Say They Negotiated For Natural Gas With Company Asking Franchise. A meeting was held this afternoon at the Commercial Club rooms to con- j eider the terms of the proposed fran-1 chise submitted by the Allegheny Gaa j company to sell natural gas In Rich-! mond. A delegation of representa- j Uves of the Richmond Light, Heat and j Power company attended the meeting, i and Attorney Wilfred Jessup stated that they were there to "protect the company'B rights." He also stated that the Light, Heat and Power company had been negotiating with the Allegheny company for natural gas j service, but these negotiations have been dropped by the latter company, and it was now seeking to enter the local field to compete with the Light, Heat and Power company, which action he termed unfair. It was stated at the opening of the meeting that the representatives of the Light, Heat and Power company, who included vice president G. H. Olney, Wilfred Jessup, Fred G. White, R. S. Ashe and local manager J. B. Wharton, would be asked to state their case and then withdraw as their presence was not required. Summary of Franchise. A summary of the, proposed franchise submitted today by the Allegheny Gas company, a corporation of the state of Indiana, follows: Section 1 Grants the company the right to lay mains and pipes in the city to distribute natural gas, and the right to lease or purchase any mains and pipes now in use in this city. The grantee shall not charge or demand for natural gas furnished under this contract a rate to exceed the sum of flfty (50) cents for the first five thousand (5,000)) cubic feet used thereof per month, subject, however, to a discount of ten cents per thousand (1,000) cubic feet per month thereon to each Consumer who pays or makes tender of payment thereof on or before the 10th day of each calendar month for the gas consumed by him during the preceding calendar month; forty-five (45) cents for the next ninety-five thousand (95,000) cubic feet used per month thereof per month to each consumer who pays or makes tender of payment on or before the 10th day of each calendar month for the gas consumed by him during the preceding calendar month, and thirty (30) cents net per thousand (1,000) cubic feet for all gas consumed in excess of one hundred thousand (100,000) cubic feet used per month, provided, however, that there shall be no charge less than fifty (50) cents per month to any consumer ror readiness to serve, all of which gas herein mentioned shall be measured by meter, which said meter shall be furnished and regulated by grantee free of charge; and the grantee Is given the right, authority and power to go on tie premises of the consumer at any and all reasonable times for the purpose of inspecting, r"ulating and reading of said meter.'-!; Extension of Lines. Section 3. The grantee shall construct Its said mains and pipes to the property line of the consumer and the consumer shall construct, maintain and keep in good order the service pipes and connections on his own premises; provided however, that street mains or pipes shall be extended only where a consumer is assured for each one hundred (100) feet of such extension of mains or pipes. Section 4. Provides that construction work will be under the supervision of the city. Section 5. Gives the company power to enforce necessary rules with reference to the distribution and furnishing of gas. Section 6. Gives the city power to purchase the franchise rights of the company, subject to the approval of the state public utilities commission at a price not less than the highest bona fide offer received by the company for its property. Section 7. Provides that the company cannot transfer its contract without the approval of the city. MRS. SARAH PENNY DIED LAST NIGHT Mrs. Sarah Fenny, 86, aunt of Harry Penny, former clerk of Wayne county, died at her home, 13 North Fifteenth street, last night. Mrs. Penny v.as well known in this city, having lived in Richmond for a number of jcars. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Mattie Albertson, and a nephew. The funeral will be held Thursday morning at 10 o'clock at the home. The Rev. Arthur Gates, of the Grace M. E. church, will officiate. Friends may call at any time. Burial will be In Earlham cemetery. FRACTURES AN ARM EATON, O.. June 17. Dr. W. W. McQueen, well-known Camden physician, suffered the fracture of his right "arm Monday while cranking his automobile. The break is just above the svriat.

WE1SGERBER GIRL RETURNS TO HOME Pretty Music Pupil and Teacher Is Reunited With Parents At Newcastle.

(Palladium Special) NEWCASTLE, Ind., June 17. Miss Stella Weisgerber, pretty nineteen-year-old music pupil and teacher, who I disappeared March 18, two days before ! Catherine Winters so mysteriously dis- j appeared, returned to her parents here I yesterday. Her coming back was as I mysterious as her going away. Miss Weisgerber had no statements to make concerning herself for publication, further than to say she had been employed in the music department of a very large commercial house in Philadelphia. She said she was paid a large salary, which she i used in further educating herself in ' music. j Miss Weisgerber left her home on March 18 for Indianapolis, to take her ; usual music lesson. From that day to this the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Weisgerber hard no direct tidings from her. The reunion was a happy one. Frank Weisgerber, 903 North. D street, of Richmond, is a brother of Stella Weisgerber. $5,000(000 MORTGAGE On Ohio Electric Line Is Filed Today. One of the longest mortgages ever filed at the office of the county recorded was filed today in which the Fidelity Trust Company took a mortgage on the property of the Ohio' Electric company for $5,000,000. The mortgage contains 17,000 words and covered seventeen record pages on the recorder's books. The cost of having the document recorded was $17.40. CITY STREET CAR HITS AUTOMOBILE In trying to avoid a west bound interurban last night at Ninth and Main streets, the automobile of Dr. Richard Schlllinger, 118 North Eighth street, was run, in front of an east bound city street car and badly damaged. The automobile was driven by Thelma Schlllinger, 13, and Dr. Schilllnger was the other passenger. Neither was injured. The automobile was being driven north on South Ninth street and when it reached Main street, a west bound interurban was approaching. The machine was stopped In the middle of the car tracks on the south side of Main street, waiting for the interurban to pass when the city car struck the machine. ATTENDING STATE S. S. CONVENTION Approximately twenty delegates i from Wayne county left yesterday from Richmond and various other parts of the county for Evansville to attend the annual convention of the State Sunday school association which opened this morning in that city, and will adjourn next Thursday. E. M. Haas was selected to represent Wayne county at the convention at the recent county convention held in Boston. Judge Boggs will represent the city association. From 1,000 to 1,500 delegates are attending the convention.

Glad Tidings Issued Today by Washington Weather Bureau

Slightly Lower Temperatures For Upper Ohio Valley Severe Electrical Storm in Ohio. (National News Association) WASHINGTON, June 17 Widely scattered thunder showers this afternoon promise to bring some relief for sweltering residents of the middle Atlantic states and the upper Ohio valley, according to the weather bureau. Slightly lower temperatures are predicted for tonight and tomorrow in the middle Atlantic states, upper Ohio valley and the southern sections of the lake region. Elsewhere east of the Mississippi river there will be little change in the temperature and clear skies will prevail. NEW LOCAL RECORD MADE. Yesterday was the hottest day Richmond has experienced since the. summer of 1911, the mercury reaching as high as ninety-five degrees at the weather observatory station located at the pumping station of the Richmond City Water Works Co., east of the city. The maximum temperature was recorded between two and three o'clock. Last summer was an unusually cool one and the maximum temperature was ninety-four degrees which was recorded July 15. On July 4, 1911, the maximum temperature was 100 which was the highest temperature recorded since July of 1901, at which time the iaaubacatuxa. ?w 102. The latter was

ROOSEVELT MAKES

T SPEECH ON BATTLE FIELD Leads Brass Band and Big Crowd Up Slopes of Famous Bunker Hill. WOMEN ARE ALARMED When "Movie" Flashlights Explode Colonel Talked About Arbitration. (National News Association) BOSTON, Mass., June 17. Midnight speeches by Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and United States Treasurer John Burke, and a charge up Bunker Hill with Roosevelt at the head of a brass band and a large crowd of celebrators in the face of a battery of moving picture flashlights, featured the "night before," which preceded the booming of cannon and singing of bells in celebration of the 138th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. When the flashlights went off, many women screamed, "He is shot, he is shot," and caused considerable excitement, but the former rough rider waved his hand and shouted, "I have faced worse than that." His Policy of Peace. In his speech Colonel Roosevelt favored a peace policy combined with a big navy. "I will never," he said, "consent to arbitrate national questions of vital honor and national interest. What is more, I know my countrymen will not consent. Uncle Sam will never arbitrate a slap in the face, and in the last resort the navy is Uncle Sam's punch. "It is not necessary for us to appeal to supreme arbitrament of war, but it is necessary to show in times of peace the qualities which men showed who won our independence for us and founded thiB government. INCREASES SHOWN 111 SCHOOL FUNDS Annual Report Filed By Auditor Shows Amount to Be $232,582.32. The annual report of the Wayne county school funds filed by County Auditor Bowman and the county commissioners with the state superintendent of public instruction indicates the usual good condition and increases of the fund here. The amount on hand May 31 was $232,582.32, of which sum $176,325.75 was in the common school fund, $45,697.15 in the congressional fund, and $10,559.38 in the permanent endowment fund. The total increase in the past year is $2,386.66, of which $1,961.90 is in the common school fund, and the remainder in the congressional fund. The sources from which the increases were made were from fines and forfeitures in the court of the mayor, justices of the peace and the county clerk. From the clerk's $541 was received; from the mayor's court and justices of the peace, $1,333. Fron transient merchants' licenses $45 was received. the highest temperature ever recorded in Richmond. A SEVERE OHIO STORM. SANDUSKY, O., June 17. Lightning struck the dinner bell on the kitchen of the farm home of James Morrow in Milan during a storm early today and woke Stanley Morrow, a son and Bert Scott, a farm hand. They found the house afire and escaped in their night clothes after being severely burned. The building was destroyed. At Upper Sandusky the family of Joseph Shively was stunned and all are in a serious condition as the result of their home being struck by lightning three times during an electrical storm early today. The English -Lutheran church was damaged, a dozen buildings burned and over fifty head of cattle killed. At Waldo, O., near Madison, Henry Nenzeler, aged 20, was found dead this morning, having been struck by lightning. The electrical storm was the most severe in the history of the state. CHICAGO COOLING OFF. CHICAGO, -June 17 Following 48 hours of the most intense heat of the season, Chicago today was cooled by a breeze off Lake Michigan. Nine deaths were attributed to the torrid weather of yesterday and a dozen serious prostrations were reported. The mercury reached the maximum of 98.4 at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Fifteen minutes later it had dropped 11 degrees. An electrical storm followed the heat and several boats in Chicago harbor were blown from their moorings. The weather bureau promised cooler weather for the next few days.

MIQNIGH

GEN, SMITH FAVORS CUBANJNNEXATION Michigan Solon Says Sugar Could Then Be Admitted Free Into the U. S.

(National News Association) WASHINGTON. June 17 Senator L. B. Colt of Rhode Island told the Overman lobby investigating committee today that he was unable to give any Information about a lobby in Washington. He said that his uncle, Daniel Colt, was the inventor of the revolver of that name, but that the senator personally had no interest in the factory. Senator Colt told the committee that he had no Interest whatever in any interests affected by the nriff bill and gave the committee a short list of persons who had called oii uim to talk about the tariff. Senator Smith Witness. The annexation of Cuba by the United States and the admission of sugar and other products free of duty were advocated by Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan. He said he had always been opposed to Cuban reciprocity but after the annexation of Cuba he would favor the free admission of her products on the theory that eventually a large consuming population would exist in Cuba, which would give the island economic independence from the consumption of sugar in the United States. Senator Smith said he meant no criticism of the present government there, but said he would vote for annexation tomorrow if he had a chance. "There always has been a lobby in Washington, and always will be, and I think there ought to be," said Senator Smith. He insisted that everyone has the right to attempt to influence legislation if he is respectful and honest. He said he had been lobbied all his life and mentioned John Norrls as representing the newspaper lobby, advocating free print paper. "I own a newspaper and am opposed to free paper," he added. "I guess I am more of a protectionist than a newspaper man." FURTHER OUTBREAK IN WEST VIRGINIA COAL FIELDS SOON Reports From Affected Districts Meager As Phone Wires Have Been Cut. RIFLE PRACTICE IS ON Union Organizers Try to Check Strike Until Senate Probe Is Finished. (National News Association) CHARLESTON, W. Va., June 17.Continued reports of uneasiness among miners in the Kanawha and New river coal fields reached here today, and on Cabin creek additions were made to the list of men not working. Details were meager because telephone wires had been cut. A report from Crown Hill, between Paint and Cabin creeks, stated that a large number of miners had gathered there with guns, and that many shots had been fired. Asked the meaning of this, a miner replied, "We were having target practice. We want to learn to shoot straight." Before the senate committee today operators produced witnesses to testify as to sanitary conditions. A tilt occurred between Senator Martine and former Attorney General Watt of counsel for the operators. Dr. Ashby, a witness, had stated that the sanitation at certain mines on Cabin creek was. the best that could be had "under the circumstances. Martine Wants Some Sun. Martine insisted that it could be better. Watt charged the senator with attempting to intimidate the witness. Martine declared that he wanted to let God's sunshine into West Virginia, and ! that he appreciated the dignity of the United States senate. Emphatic denials that the operators were responsible for the reign of terror in the coal regions were made today by many witnesses called on behalf of the owners of the coal fields. These witnesses placed the blame on the miners and insisted that guards had not been brought into the district until thousands of dollars worth of property had been destroyed by the strikers, and none-union workers, beaten and shot at. The committee is doing everything in its power to complete its inquiry before another general strike is called throughout the Paint and Cabin creek districts and along New River. A district convention has been . called for the New River field for Wednesday to vote on a strike on all properties which have not signed up with the union. Sixteen union organizers are at work in Cabin and Paint crook districts trying to keep the union men at work until the senate inquisitors leave. The situation, both sides agree, is even more critical than it was at the suspension of work over a year ago. THE WEATHER STATE AND LOCAL Generally fair tonight and Wednesday not so warm In north portion tonight.

AN EXECUTIVE OF

LABOR DEPARTMENT Louis Free land Post, noted author and editor, who has just taken up his new duties as assistant secretary of the new department of labor. Mr. Post is a well-known author and editor and is famous as a political economist and an advocate of single tax. Mr. Post is from Chicago, but was born in New Jersey 64 years ago. TREE KILLED A BOY Falls on Indianapolis Lad Arrest Made. (National News Association) INDIANAPOLIS. June 17. Freddie McCall, aged 12, was fatalyy injured today while riding his bicycle in Seventeenth street, when a huge tree being chopped down fell on him, crushing his head, breaking an arm and fracturing his right leg in two places. Witnesses say the boy received no warning and William Hlsler, who was in charge of the work, waa placed under arrest. When the boy dies a charge of manslaughter will be placed against him. GORDON CONDEMNS KEYSTONE SITUATION That political conditions In Indiana are as a rose garden to a briar patch compared to the situation In Pennsyl vania, is the opinion of J. Bennett I uoruon, lormer nicumona newspaper man and now managing editor of Frank Munsey's Philadelphia Times, who arrived In Richmond yesterday. "The legislature at Harrisburg recently was considering a bill safeguarding the conditions surrounding women workers. Among the provisions of the bill was one that made it illegal for women to work within one month after child birth. The textile manufacturers of Philadelphia, the greatest center for textile manufacturing in the world, one of the heaviest protected industries in the country, succeeded in killing this section of the bill," said Mr. Gordon' In explaining the shortcomings of the legislature that rules over the destinies of the Keystone state for the bosses. Livestock Treated Better. "Why, a farmer," he continued, "wouldn't work a brood mare for two months after it had foaled a colt. Yet these unthinking manufacturers seem almost to expect women to become mothers at the machines In the factories and not allow the fact to interfere -with their work." Mr. Gordon will be in Richmond for the next three weeks, as' he: Intends to spend his .vacation here with relatives. ARKANSAS FACING DREADED EPIDEMIC (National 'News Association) ' DEQUEN, Ark., June 17. Ten children have died here of infantile paralysis in the last 48 hours. State health authorities arrived today and took charge of the situation, enforcing a quarantine to prevent further . spread of the disease. COUPLES GIGGLE WHEN ASK LICENSE TO WED Why applicants for marriage cannot transact their business with the official who issues the license in a business-like manner instead of giggling and simpering is more than County Clerk Matthews can understand. - - Most of the applicants for marriage licenses fail, to Irealize' that the work is routine at the office of the clerk and the occasion should not- be one of affected simpleness, says the. county clerk. So idiotic do some of the applicants act that the clerk is often in doubt as to their eligibility, he says. It is a rare occasion that men and women sign their names to the application blanks in a businesslike manner. After some hesitataion they affix their signatures which are often written irregularly indicating nervousness.

'4 -A-V vj. - - jr ;-

Johnston is Sleeted To The School Board; Fair Play Triumphed Insinuations Against His Record As a Public Officer Made in Attempt to Defeat Him But Unwarranted Actions of His Few Opponents Were Promptly Refuted By Friends.

H.

H. Engelbert and County Superintendent Charles O. Williams Took the Leading Parts in Unsuccessful Effort to Discredit Dr. Johnston Atorneys Robbins and Jessup, L. B. Nusbaum and Others Defend Him.

Last evening at the spiciest council meeting held in years, Dr. M. F. Johnston was re-elected a member of the school board. He defeated the only other candidate for the office, George W. Seidel, by a vote of 8 to 3, one councilman, Harry Kauf f man, being absent. The three who voted against Dr. Johnston were members of the school committee, Oscar Williams, H. H. Engelbert and William Bartel. Engelbert led in the attack on Dr. Johnston by casting insinuations against the latter's actions as a school trustee. While these insinuations practically amounted to charges, he several times displayed great indignation when other members of council saw fit to construe his utterances as charges.

Engelbert Was Riddled. After Engelbert's statements had been thoroughly riddled by several of the Johnston councilmen, and Dr. Johnston had made an able defense of himself, county school superintendent, Charles O. Williams, came to the rescue of the greatly befuddled representative of the third ward. Williams first read at length figures attempting to prove that there had been inefficiency in the administration of school finances prior to the reorganiza tion of the board last year. He then employed the same weapon used by Engelbert, insinuating that he knew something of the charges which had been gossiped about Dr. Johnston, concluding with the statement that what he had learned of Dr. Johnston's record he would not state in public. , Then came the deluge in which the county superintendent was engulfed. Attack Upon Williams. Attorney Wilfred Jessup was recognized and he vigorously denounced Williams for the unfair methods he had employed in seeking to defeat Dr. Johnston. He also showed that Increased expenses of the schools had been brought about by building operations and inforced additional remuneration for teachers. Lee B. Nusbaum followed with a tart defense of his record as school treasurer, incidentally absolving Dr. Johnston of the charges made against him by presentation of irrefutable facts. Dr. Johnston made another brief address showing that the report of the state board of accounts' agents would show the local school finances were in an excellent condition. The attack on Superintendent Williams was concluded by a Bharp arraignment of him on the part of Attorney John F. Robbins, following which the vote was taken, although Oscar Williams, chairman of the school committee, made an ineffectual attempt to have the election postponed another week. Von Peln Opens Fight. . . Dr. Johnston was nominated by Councilman Von Peln who said, "Richmond has been peculiarly fortunate in securing good members for the school board. In no other city in the state are the schools run better than here and all over the state other cities are demanding new school laws to " assist their school board members who are unable to meet perplexing situations themselves. It has been rumored that the members of the school committee will try to elect another man to the school board by charging Dr. Johnston with irregularities In his connection with the board. Dr. Johnston has proven himself thoroughly competent and because another man wants the place should be no reason for not re-electing

the present member. tho members. The school board does Councilman Oscar Williams, chair- not haTe to report to oouncU. The law man of the school committee, immedi- reqUirA that the school board report ately nominated George W. Seidel and j to the county superintendent and stated that three-fourths of the citizens j therefore the board reports to me evhe had spoken to had expressed them-,ery year OQ tbe flm of August," Wllselves as in favor of a factory man be-1 llama gid Then he added that it had

cause of the vocational training which is to be extended In the schools. Councilman H. H. Engelbert. a member of the school committee, indorsed Mr. Seidel and stated that charges that the school committee was "framed up" to defeat Dr. Johnston were false. Engelbert's Statement. He said, "The members of the committee never thought of any other man for tbe office than Dr. Johnston until citizens came to us and asked us to put on the board a factory man. Many names were suggested and when George Seidel's was presented to us. we immediately said that he was the man for the place. In fact we thought that council would grab at him. We had no malice towards Johnston and we made no charges nor did we hold any secret meeting to elect our candidate. This charge is a rotten line. T know of no irregularities in connection with, the management of the school board finance. But threefourtha of the teachers were opposed

to Johnston and I heard talk that the board is $25,000 short in the money for paying it he teachers. We were told that the school board spent money galore. I believe these things should be investigated although I do not mean to say that Dr. Johnston is a crook." Both Engelbert and Williams asked E. H.. Harris, who was sitting at the press desk to tell council where the Palladium secured the information about a secret meeting of the school committee. Harris replied by saying that he did not know where the information came from but if he did it was not customary to disclose the name of any Informant. The mayor then advised Engelbert to take all newspaper criticism with a smile, as he did.

A Denial By Bartel. Will Bartel. the third member of the school committee also denied that a secret meeting had been held by the school committee to plot against Dr. Johnston. He confirmed Engelbert's statement that three-fourths of the teachers of the city were opposed to Johnston. Von Pein asserted that if this fact was true it should not enter into consideration in voting for a member of the board. "It is only natural that a man with backbone like Dr. Johnston b'aould be opposed. Because be refused " to stand up for the teachers pension, law and because he did what was fair to the citizens of Richmond, many teachers do not want him.' "The teachers do not want him because of the irregularities." retorted Engelbert. "The newspapers knew of these irregularities more than a year ago but would not publish them. It there were any irregularities any place else, for instance in council, the newspapers would be full of it. Wants An Invtttigatlon. "In face of these charges which havebeen made I think it no more than right that there should be an Investiga- -tion. Let a committee from the Commercial Club run down these charges against the board and see to what extent they are true." Engelbert Apologizes. Engelbert, who asked why Nusbaum had resigned, denied that he insinuated Nusbaum was a crook." If my rej marks were interpreted that way, I . now a8k hig Dardon he said. County Superintendent Charles O. Williams, who was held responsible for the insinuations made against Johnston and the members of the board advanced to the front of the council chamber and asked that he be given permission to speak. C. O. Williams Takes Floor. "I don't like the tone of Dr. Johnston's remarks," be said. "It Is true that he has taken me into his confidence and I have taken him' into my confidence. It is false, however, that I have tried to 'frame up' anything against him. I have tseen none of the conncilmen In regard to this election." Williams then said that in the last eight years there bad been a large Increase in the expenditure of school funds and as a taxpayer he wanted to urge upon council to take that matter into consideration before It Toted for a school board member. "Council has nothing to do with the j scnooi board beyond the election of been necessary for the board last year to draw $25,000 on this year's funds to meet a deficiency in the teachers pay fund. "I know something of these charges which have been insinuated against Dr. Johnston and the other members of the board. What I have i learned I will not reveal in public Such things shouc be taken up at a secret session and not at a public council meeting. "He refused to say anything further on the charges." Williams concluded. Jessup Heard From. Wilfred Jessup, speaking as a tax payer, arose and rigorously demanded that if charges were to be made by Williams that they be made in public "Any insinuation that the members of the board have covered up $25,000 should not be heard In a star chamber session but in a public meeting. Tbe accountants of the state board of accountancy have found In the examina- ( Continued on Pace Blxj