Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 38, Number 252, 30 August 1913 — Page 1

MOOT) JLJLJ1JA AND SUN-TELEGRAM VOL. XXXVIII. NO. 252 RICHMOND, IND, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 30, 1913. SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS A C0NVENT1YN FOR NOMINATING LOCAL Who Would Command U. S. Army of Invasion Critical Crisis Now Confronts the Local City Lighting Plant WILSON'S ADVICE TO TICKET OF G. 0, FLEE Fl .1 Only One Candidate for Each$3ffice, So the Primary Is Called Off. There Have As Yet Been No Threatened with Cut-Throat Competition with the Richmond Subsidary of the Rich and Powerful United Gas and Electric Company, New York Corporation. Outbreaks Against Foreigners.

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CONVENTION SEPT.

Committee Issues Statement Will Reorganize a Republican Club. Declaring a popular primary unnecessary, since only one candidate has been announced for each of the places on its city ticket, the Republican city committee voted last night to call off the primary election, which was Bet for September 8 and to call a convention for September 5. The committee's action follows the failure of more candidates to announce themselves before the time set for the closing of the entries, which was Thursday night. The following statement of the situation and the call for a nominating convention is made by the city committee: Committee's Statement. "A Republican city committee, elected by a Republican mass meeting on May 7, 1913, selected the eighth day of September for a primary election for the purpose of nominating Republican candidates for mayor, city clerk, eight ward councilmen and four councilmen-at-Iarge. "The limit for entry of candidates for the proposed primary was August 28. The limit having expired, the Republican committee finds this situation: But one candidate for each office 'has presented himself. This makes a 'popular primary unnecessary, and a ; convention is called for all the Republicans of the city for September 6, at 8 o'clock, in the council chamber of the city building, to name a ticket.. Who Candidates Are. "The following candidates officially announced themselves for city offices before the proposed primary election: For mayor, W. W. Zimmerman; for city clerk, George L. Thornburg; for councilmen. First ward, Charles C. Mcpherson; Second ward, John E. White; Third ward, Benjamin B. Myriek; Fourth ward Edgar J .Weidener; Fifth ward, Elmer King; Sixth ward, Frank M. Jones; Seventh ward, Clarence i Hoff man - Eighth ward, James E. Har-i

ris; councilmen-at-largo, Ed Thatcher, i and ascertain if the city can legally ! Labor Day demonstration. The memEdward Stein, Harvey Brown and Co- pass an ordinance limiting rents to a j berg of the local delegation have cor-

lin Schaeter. "These names probably will be pre-; nented as candidates for nomination , before the mass convention to be held at the above time and place. "EDGAR ILIFF, Chairman. t vi-.it MAULvYiN, e.. : COniluem or victory, t,iep

tafcen by the committee toward the;al iimitation councilmen say. !

re-organization of the Republican ciud, 'with headquarters in the Colonial 1 1 T .1 .' A tnnMinir IVlll tCk M O ! 1 1 in the near future to elect officers of j the l., Aa snnn ns this is tone the headquarters will be opened. RECORD CROWD FOR SUNDAY EXPECTED Will Marklosing of City's Most Successful Chautauqua. Sunday, the closing day of the Chautauqua, the officials hope, will establish a record for paid attendance at the gates. Up to the present there has been a total of more than 14,000 paid admissions, making an average of 1,000 a day. More than 3,500 paid admissions are expected tomorrow. This year's session has exceeded all others financially in the quality of the program, and in the numbers of campers. More than 1,200 persons have been members of the white city during the cession. 250 tents having been in use on the grounds. Last Sunday was the biggest day, knd it is estimated that 5.000 persons were on the grounds. Of this number S,B00 were paid admissions and almost 2,000 were season tickets. Prior to the opening of the assembly, 1,500 tickets t $1.50 and 300 tickets at $2.00, besides more than 200 children's tickets ere sold. The talent which has been on the 7 . . . . Uifj iue lai Rf i row us. i nursuay mgui was tre record night in attendance at the assembly tent wnen the Ojibway Indians attracted almost 4,000 persons. Famous canine and ' owner in a wreck , Charles Jordan, secretary of the Commercial Club received a telegram at 2 o'clock this afternoon from Mr. IdcCormiek, who with his trained dog. ! pronte, is to furnish the evening pro- j feram at the Chautauqua, saying that j he was in a wreck near St. Louis. ; fCfithr Mr M iPnrTmrU nr RrAnto i tarere injured, but wil be delayed In Reaching Richmond. Mr. Jordan said that McCormick and pruaie WUuiu ue i usueu 10 uie .nau - tauqua grounds as soon as they arriv - d and would cive their complete nro - a i J -1- a i -ii i " Fiau1' .

COUNCIL TO PROBE LOCAL RENT RATES To See If Rentals Are In- ' creased Because of Oiling Assessments. As the result of a wave of indignation on the part of many renters against property owners, who it is said, are using the public street oil ing assessments as an excuse for increasing house rents, several council-j men will consult City Attorney Bond tair per cent or the property s vaiuation. The councilmen claim that ward residents are protesting their vigor-! I ously against having their rents in creased from $12 to $60 a year on account of a $2 or $4 oiling assess m..t TIlfr demand for fl rfinf. . reeenrlv had a number nf 1 strec ; iled under public contracts, According to state law, only resident ""'"'"' . ...v.. monstrate on street oiling, as in the case of improvements. Renting property owners who receive no benefits from the street oiling and who can not remonstrate against it, are the cause of the present rent increase movement, councilmen say. Several councilmen have talked with prominent real estate owners in j order to hear both sides of the ques tion. One man who rents a number of houses is reported to have said: "I can make money by renting a house myself. There is nothing in owning your own property in this city any more, since there are so many improvements to be made." The councilmen will discuss informally at the meeting Tuesday night, a means of investigating the alleged high rentals to receive authentic and reliable information regarding house rentals and profits from renting houses.' However, if it is found that the council can not regulate house rentals it is probable there will be a discussion on the advisability of having a resolution introduced at the next legislature asking for a law regulating

rentals- j Other cities which will be repreI sented by delegations are Marion, im rcAn nr Tynunin!Muncie'KokomMiddiet 111 riHli Mr I rnlllll jdria, Logansport, Kokomo, Peru, NewIll I Lilll Ul 111 IIUIU jca3tief etc. The Glasa Workers union, i which will be represented with 300

The development of a few cases of!mfmrs

typhoid fever is predicted by City Health Officer Dr. T. Henry Davis, who stated today that with the return or citizens from watering places ana cum resorts, combined with the .act that the autumn is the season when typhoid fever is most prevalent, the people of this city will undoubtedly be subjected to the disease unless evflrv nmndutinn i e iotan f r T" its nro. puuon. resorts where crowds of all classes of frm ov.rvwwo nr thrrPd rfrml. from pvprvwhr arp eathered are always unhealthy to a great de - gree,' said Dr. Davis this afternoon. "We may expect a number of cases of typhoid to develop, and there probably will be more of it this fall than any other disease. This Is usually the case, as it is brought here by returning tourists and vacationists." Thwo harp hn miv frmr ras of J tTphoid this vear. The city is in a I I narticnlarlv healthful condition now.! j the doctor stated. Scarlet fever has .beea entirely stamped out, but a few jcageg of the disease are expected af - 1 ter the public schools have been in ;sssioa a short tima. .

ALL ARRANGEMENTS OF TRINRE MADE Local Union Delegation to Anderson to Boom the Fall Festival. With the holding of an enthusiastic session in the Labor Council hall last night all arrangements were complet-

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ed preparatory to sending the delegallu" "l to" n"-umuuu uuluu w ; Anderson Monday to attend the- bis-j dially invited all laboring men of this citv whether they belong to a union or not, to accompany them to Anderson on this occasion. Anderson unionists sent a letter to j the Richmond Labor Council which was read at the meetlQS lt night. It informed the local delegation that a band would meet their train upon its arrival at the Anderson station, and uuiu uiiuuu eticcia of that city before dispersing to go to Mound park. Leaves Early in Morning. The special train which will convey the Richmond men to their destination leaves the Pennsylvania union depot at 6:25 a. m. The Fall Festival committee of the Commercial club has ar ranged to have decorated canes and patriotic badges distributed among the members of the delegation at the depot, as an advertising medium for the event. Anderson has signified her intention to send a large delegation to this city to attend the Fall Festival. The Labor Council of Anderson, with the assistance of the merchants of that city, have made elaborate plans for the reception and entertainment of visitors. Aeroplane flights, motorcycle races and horse races, a balloon ascension and many other events are on the program. It is probable that a speech of welcome will also be given at Mound park where the demonstration will be held after the big parade through Anderson. The Richmond del egation will be one of the most important to attend this event. will be one of the largest delegations to attend the event. j RECORD HIDE SALE FOR RICHMOND WAS TRANSACTED TODAY I representing the: c . Sons, of Dayton. Mr. Milton Rauh, ifirm of K. Rauh & was in the city today and bought the , , ... , of hides from the Stolle! - Packing company that has been ship- : Ped from this city for several years.. ;The vall,e ot the shipment is $2,500 The firm to which they are shipped is one of the largest hide dealers in Ohio and buy all of Stolle's hides. THE WEATHER ' '. STATE AND LOCAL Fair and warmer tonight. Sunday fair. TEMPERATURE Noon TS ; Ye.-ery. ! Maximum S2 Minimum

Major General Leonard Wood, Chief of the General Staff Corns of the Unitpf1 statPR Armv t, tnn to hnttnm. ' r ' at leu, isngaaier uenerai ugn l.. Scott and Brigadier General Tasker H. Bliss. In the event of intervention in

Mexico by the United States, General conditions, but because of contemplatWood would be in supreme command ed action on the part of the United of the troops. General Bliss is in com- 1 States

mand of the Southern Department, with headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and he would probably lead the first army of invasion. General Scott i3 in command of the Second Cavalry Brigade at El Paso, under General Bliss. TRUANT- OFFICER'S IS George Bishop Expects Difficulty Under New Attendance Law. f As a result of the compulsory attendance law recently enaeted by the legislature the duties of Truant Officer George Bishop will be greatly increasedyand truancy will be hard to control. Bishop declares. The work of the county truant officer for the past few years has been practically confined to Richmond, a letter to the parents of most pupils living in the rural districts being sufniat . ,o,. ficient to have delinquent children re - tujned to school. (Heretofore the law has permitted children to quit school at the age of fourteen. Thu year the children must attend school until sixteen years of age, unless they obtain a letter from the county or city school super intendent stating it is necessary for them to work to sustain themselves l 1 . . c . ' -. ; r : i . """"J- t ine manuiacuirers wno emn nv children without this necessarv lette'r 1 are he'd liahlo fnr rhir nt,-" t,J penalty for which is a fine. The truant officer believes there will be a large number of parents and teachers iwho nrp nnfamUia with the law who will disregard it. .,,, , . .. , Bishop will speak at the first town- . ln lnQtUl,t. tn W, . , me ia, explaining us importance and , , uu " ln ule law31E1CU U Kl DKOPS TO 4 c TV XT' T? c TAntvl The coolest weather Richmond has enjoyed for a long time was expert-: enced this morning about daybreak. ; i when the thermometer registerd 46 1 i degrees. The entire was was remark-! ably cool, the temperature reaching its ; maximum shortly before 11 o'clock. !

WORK

DOUBLED

when the mercury stood at S ). to fall steamship EI Obi went ashore off Okrihalf and hour later to 78. This is a ca. Africa, in a thick ros today. Her very noticeable ccntraci with the position was reported to be very danweather Thursday, when a tempera-1 gerous and tugs were rushed from the

46ture of 91 degrees was registered,

LIND AT VERA CRUZ

Will Not Wait on Huerta's . New Proposals After Thursday. (National News Association) MEXICO CITY. Aug. 30. Advices from Vera Cruz today gtated that Special Envoy John Lind would not wait longer than Thursday for develop ments to bring him back to Mexico j City. If conditions at that time are such that the pacification negotiations cannot be resumed he probably will wait no longer but will return to Washington. Foreign Minister Gamboa indicated that the negotiations are ended so far as his government is concerned, that there will be no definite move on the part of the Mexican government to resume the conversations. I However, Senor Gamboa said that j Fresident Huerta is open to any furj ther suggestions that President Wilj son cares to make A Boom For Huerta. Contrary to his purposes President Wiisor's repeated demands that Huerta resign have started a presidential boom for the incumbent of the national palace. Although Huerta cannot legallv succeed himself, he can follow the course adopted by Porfirio Diaz, of resigning on the event of a presi- ! dential election and then being re-el-j ected. In official circles resentment against I President Wilson's advice to Amerl- : cans to flee from the country is growing. It was pointed out that under the treaty of 1848 Mexico is bound to pro- , tect all Americans within her border, j This treaty likewise governs interi national disputes between Mexico and ' United States. Through disuse it fell j into obscurity and this is the first time i mention has been made of it. Presi- : dent Huerta is preparing to have the ' attention of Secretary Brvan called to j tvig tI.ntv j ine suggestion nas oeen maue mai i President Wilson gave his advice to I Americans "not on account f'jresent The railroad line to Laredo was opened today after having been closed for months. Rebels have burned a number of bridges along the line and dynamited the tracks. The government will attempt to keep the line open for the transportation of troops and ammunition. BRYAN IS LECTURING. WASHINGTON, Aug. 30. Between lecture engagements Secretary of State Bryan made a flying visit to Washington today, and being informed that everything was quiet in Mexico, left shortly after noon for Oxford, Pa., where he will speak late today. The secretary will also lecture at Belair tonight, returning to Washington tomorrow. State advices today from Mexico reported all quiet. Former Governor Lind at Vera Cruz has advised the department that he will not leave ; there today and that his movements in the future are decidedly uncertain. Consular agents in all portions of Mexico are reporting the departure of large numbers of Americans who have taken President Wilson's advice to get out of Mexico in a hurry. No anti-foreien outbreak had been report- . ed for the past four days and there ; appears to be a general lull in the situation south of the Rio Grande, Cunsul Letcher at Chihuaha informed the state department today that K. . , . . . ... ! thirtv-six Americans will remain at j Madera in spite of the President's ! warning. FIFTY LET OFF AT THE LOCAL RUMELY FACTORY SATURDAY j Between fifty and sixty men of the i diffrat departments were let off yes'terday evening and at noon today by the Rumely company, because of a policy "hich- il is expected, will put the operations of the plant on a firm- ; er foundation by the - first of next ! year and enable it to work with full i ' force at that time. The plan is to re- , tain only enough men to fill the presi ent orders and tbus not rstk the plant. In some of the departments the , , . I number of men let off was greater i eat than in others, but according to the statement Gf these men. they are not ;w n orrying. but are expecting that the ?w administration of the company will soon put the factory on working basis The work on which the men who have been retained will be employed, is for the most part South American orders and repair work. A STEAMER ASHORE (National News Association) BOXI. Africa. Aug. 30. The Eritith nearest points to assist the liner.

GAGE OF BATTLE WAS HURLED DOWN WHEN CITY PLANT PRODUCES RATES

Threat of the L., II. & P. to Reduce Its Rates Cannot Be Placed in Operation Without It Cuts Below Its Cost of Producing Electricity Up to Commission.

Richmond's municipal light and power plant is facing: anothef very critical period in its history. It is threatened with cutthroat competition by the Light. Heat and Power company, the local subsidiary of the rich and powerful United Gas and Electric company of New York. Unless the new state utilities commission acts in the interests of fair competition, the way will be open foi the utilities' trust that owns the local competitor of the municipal plant to try to overcome and smash the city's plant by the mere weight of its enormous resources. Since Mayor Zimmerman has provided in the budget for next year, which will be administered under the next administration of the city government, that the city shall pay for the electricity it uses for street lighting and other purposes, a reduction in the price of power and current furnished by the municipal plant has been announced to take effect at the same time the city begins to pay its lighting bills. The announcement that the city plant would reduce prices was followed by a similar announcement by the Light, Heat and Power company. And the latter company states that it may cut prices even lower than the municipal plant. Therein lies the threat of a price cutting war of extermination against the city's plant by the wealthy organization that controls its local competitor. Reasons For City Reduction. I edge as to what action the commisThe city plant's reduction in price is ion "M take in the matter, based on the fact that it is now to be 11 ,s Pointed out that the electrical paid for its entire output, that it is no P,ant of the an,d V P"y

longer to be "milked" to the tune of fifteen or twenty thousand dollars a year Ly the city. The reduction is fur ther possible because the cost per unit of service to the municipal plant has been steadily decreased as its volume of business has increased and new and more efficient machinery has been added. The reduction has also been possible of accomplishment because there is no "watered stock" outstanding, the fictitious value of which dividends must be paid from exhorbitant profits. The Municipal plant and the Light. Iltfut n T-Vtmrr pnmnanv hava twhth filed statements about their business with the state utilities commission, These statements .how that the municipal plant during its last fiscal year

produced 3.323,670 kilowats at a cost uled to & ,Dto effect Janper kllowat of .0H3 cents. During the "The purpose of the commission la same period the L.. H. and P. company j to see that the people get honest, efproduced 1,889,980 kilowats at a cost , ficlent service with the lowest cost per kilowat or .0277 cents. j compatible with a fair return on a i ,rrf. th m.,irinai ntant 1)01,3 fide investment. It would most

i according to these figure.!, producing

electricity for almo.t one-half what it . creation, should it permit a pmate costs the L. H. and P. company. There-1 corporation to undersell a municipal fore, the municipal plant is in a posi- j enterprise with the Intention of maktlon to reduce its prices without cut- lng resultant loss by later obtaining ting below the cost of production. The j "eld '" 'rom competition with an L. H. and P. company, however, can I opportunity to again place It. busiaes.

not reduce it. rate, without cutting below the cost of production. And that I. where the question of maintaining fair competition or of countenancing unfair and cut throat competition become, a question for the state utilities commission to settle. A Question For State Commission. The statement made yesterday by J. B. Wharton, manager of the Light, Heat and Power company, that his company would meet the rates of the municipal plant or it might go even further and cut under the announced rates, has brought up the question as to what action will be taken by the state utilities commission in case the Light. Heat and Power company attempts to supply electricity below what it costs to produce it. It is pointed out that the real duty of the commission is to act as a judge between the citizens and the corporation, allowing the corporation only to earn a reasonable amount on a reasonable valuation and at the same time prevent cut threat competition. Duty of Commission. Members of the commission have ! stated privately that 6 per cent would ! be considered a reasonable profit and that it would be the duty of the com mission to regulate all rates so that j the corporations would approximate i this amount. It is also claimed to be ! the duty of the commission in case any corporation is cutting rates such las is proposed in Richmond by the !L. H. and P. company, that the com - ; . . ' . . ; mission step m and prevent such a re - , . . ... duction, where such competition will Iruin one or the other of the concerns i in the rate war. . , . . I Owing to improved machinery in Ithe local municipal plant. Superintend - j ent Johnson claims that the city can : manufacture current at .0143 c?nta per i kilowat. If the statements of the two companies are correct the municipal j plant can profitably reduce rates to a j point that cannot be met by the L. H. i and P. company if the commission will i prevent the latter company from cuttin below cost. I Superintendent Johnson. Manager ! Wharton and City Attorney Bond ! have all been before the commission. I None of these has any definite knowl-

ucru upriavfu ui a luss anu lull I is 9

iosi in Richmond has been made trp by the profit on artificial gas. Sow that the gas rates have teen reduced j it is argued that the company cannot anord to continue to supply electricity City Attorney Bond's Opinion. "If the public utilities commission will permit a private corporation to undersell a plant owned by the people, with the expectation of making up a j resultant deficit, through raising its rates In other places or a subsequent increase in rates when its action has forced the public plant out of business, it has most certainly failed in Its mission." said City Attorney W. A. Bond thi" "jornlng. when discussing there ed intention of the Light Heat 1"1 th 1 decreases of the city light plant achedMainly go beyond the spirit of iU P""" mailing nasi.. From the statement of the Light. Heat and Power company on file with the public utilities commission, N. II. Johnson, superintendent of the City Light plant, declared that the private corporation cannot meet the cut in rates proposed by the city public plant without sustaining a loss. Statement By Wharton. "The statement that we cannot further decrease our rates and still show a profit is not based upon the facts," said J. B. Wharton, manager of the ! Light, Heat and Power company. The company showed a nice profit last year and will probably be able to do ao again this year. "A decrease in our present rates baa not yet been decided upon, so of course I cannot state just what de creases, if any there will be. It i. not yet known wbat rate, will be offered by the other company. Further action of the Light. Heat and Power cor pany will be determined by the announcement of the future rates of thi city planL" "Of course if the other com pan j does decrease its prices for electrie current we will be compelled to da the same "The statement that we are Benin below our average coft of productloa . A")?? i. i t . , mean" 8w we must taw i foreh "rily be losing money o. SUCh V ? " i manufacture and distribution of cur 1 rent is distributed among contract! ... . , 5 " j Which MtB11', " money because S w not charge thIr ac,aal cort 'ana other contracts that pay a Ten j . v 1 1 j Tor instance. If we spend consl j erafcle money in installing cocneo I tions. keeping account, and making collections for a customer who uses only a small amount of current, it can be very readily seen that the overhead cost of such a supply I. proportionately several hundred time, higher than it would be in the account of a larger user of current, purchased at a lower rate. The average cost of production cannot be need ia thi. coaneo-