Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 39, Number 190, 20 June 1914 — Page 1

EE RICHMOND P ATX AW AND SUN-TELEGRAM Vol. xxxix. no. 190 RICHMOND, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 20, 1911 SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS Tax lie SOCIETY BEAUTY OBTAINS DIVORCE THRIFTY CHILDREN CULTIVATE PLOTS OF GARDEN TRUCK PaHaiinin letalis IFreii Water fUw A Aincralfiirail Expeirtt

PITT

IJM

6AVIS EXPOSES TAX DODGING PLAN Board of Review Powerless to Reassess For Valuations Which Were Made For Property in Previous Years

"County board of review cannot Jnake original assessments of property for taxation for previous years, nor can current year assessments be increased because assessments have been omitted for previous years." This law was cited by County Auditor Bowman at the board of review meeting today as the reason why the board could not comply with the request of Alfred liavis, president of the Richmond board of public works, for reassessment of the property of the Richmond City Water Works company lor previous years. Mr. Havi3 made the startling statement before the board that the water works company in sworn statements it had made to the Indiana Public I'til ities commission as to the valuation of its property, year by year, during its life, had convicted itself of failing to list, during that period, twenty-six years, a total of $9,500,000 of taxable property, thereby avoiding, during that, period, the payment of $J00,446 for taxes. Legal Authority Missing. Members of the board of review expressed the opinion that if it could act on its moral right .Mr. Davis' request could be complied with, but that, unfortunately, it has no legal authority to take such action, citing the statute quoted above as proof of their contention. Thursday the Indiana Public T'tilities commission in its decision on the Richmond water rates case placed a valuation of $75(1,00(1 on the property of the water work company. In previous years the company has never listed its property valuation for taxing purposes more than $215, ((. although in a brief filed with the state commission it listed its property, for rate making purposes, at a valuation of nearly $1.0o0,noo, which inconsistency drew forth caustic comment from the commission. Taxing officials of the county say lhat it has for years been customary to tax property at from fifty to sixty per cent of its full valuation, but the assessments of the water company's property has been less than that percentage. Several years ago Kngineer Maury fixed the valuation of that corporation at over JSOO.000, but this had no influence in increasing the company's assessment. Board Is Powerless. There appears to be no doubt that the board of review is powerless to reassess the water company's property for previous years, as the board contends. If it was vested with such authority it is believed it would now be in the mood to re-assess other corporations believed to be paying too low taxes. City Attorney Bond, however, is of the opinion that although no action in the case can tie taken by the board of review, the county assessor, county auditor and county treasurer can act in the matter. He cites the fact that the power to tax is one of the sovereign rights of the state and even though an assessment has been formally approved by Ihe county board of review and the Hate taxing board, the state, should it ascertain it has been deprived of a full tax return in anv specific instance, ha:th right to collect such tax. Bond Takes Issue. It is the custom for corporations to fib with the county board of review a list of its taxable propertv. When such a list is approved by the board the corporation is taxed on this basis. Mr. Bond holds, however, if any taxjibles are omitted by the corporation, or the statement sworn to is otherwise untrue, then the taxing officers of the county have the authority to compel the offending corporation to make full tax returns. "The state utilities commission, in its rate decision, allows the water Works six per cent return on its plant valuation," Mr. Bond said, "but I do not believe the commission would enforce this rule should it be determined that the corporation has in previous years evaded paying its full phare of tax and be required to make a settlement for the same. "On the other hand. I do believe that in the future if the corporation's lissessment is fixed at too high a figure it will be injurious rather than beneficial to the interests of the taxpayers of Richmond. I mean that if the corporation's tax is fixed at such a figure as will prevent it earning its Fix per cent, then the state commission will permit it to increase its rates. In its ruling on the water rate case the commission includes as an item of fixed charges $10,000 per annum for taxes, or not quite half more than the taxes paid by the company last year. City's Share $4,950. "If the company is assessed this year at a valuation of $450,000. which is sixty per cent, of the valuation fixed by the commission, taxes on this $450,000 would amount to $14,310. the city's share being $.4,950, or $2,5X5 more than received from this source last year. But this total tax on a $450,000 valuation would be ?4,310 in excess of the $10,000 tax item in the corporation's list of fixed charges. Possibly that increase might be instrumental in preventing the company making its six per cent, return, in which event it could appeal for a rate increase. Personally I do not believe such a thing would result from increasing the company's assessment to sixty per cent, of its valuation, but I am no familiar enough with this phase of the case to make any positive statement. "I do want to call attention to the fact, however, that this matter should Receive careful attention from the tax-

ing officers before any action is taken, for under the system the company now operates the rule holds good that any radical increase in the fixed charges must be paid for by the company's patrons in the shape of increased rates. I advocate the assessing of this company on the same basis other properties are assessed." $6,000 Increased Cost. City officials while greatly pleased with the substantial saving in expenditures for water service obtained by the people of Richmond, especially the domestic consumers, keenly realize that the $6,000 increase the city government must pay for its water service is a serious question. Should the company's assessment be fixed at $450,000 the city's revenue, through the addition tax paid by the company, will be increased $2,rs,j, but at that its expenses for 1915 will be increased $3,415, a sum apparently insignificant but in reality of large proportions as viewed by Mayor Robbins and members of the board of public works. Mayor Robbins has flatly declared that this increased item of expense will not be cared for by an increase in the city tax rate, which is now $1.10 and, he says, it will have to be provided by reduced appropriations for other expenses. Economy Necessary. With the revenue the city now has the strictest economy has to be practiced at all times and not more than one-third oi the necessary public im

provements can be provided for. Hut the city has other things to ! worry about besides this increased expense for water service. Officials today received the unwelcome report that the assessment on personal proptry this year had fallen off $98,000. If this loss is not overcome by an increase in the assessments of corporations then the city faces a loss of $1,000 in revenue for next year. BOARD TO INCREASE TAX ASSESSMENTS T Reviewers Act When New System of Assessing Shows Alarming Decrease in Valuation All Over County. Sweeping increases ranging from ten to twenty-five per cent will be made on all personal property assess ments except corporations and banks ' in eight of the townships of the conn- ; ty, following a hearing set for 1:30 ' o'clock Monday afternoon of the m;- ' sessors of those townships, beore the ! board of review. j This important announcement was made today in the board meeting. Most of yesterday's session of the j board was spent in coming to this de- j cision and fixing the probable amount j of increases to be made in each town- j ship. Auditor Bowman made a trip i to Indianapolis Thursday when he ap- j pea red before the state board of tax i commissioners and presented Wayne county's case. The alarming decreases in the assessments resulted from the new method which was used this spring for the first time in this county. Assessors were instructed to assess all personal property at its full cash value and deduct twenty-five per cent. In former vears the assessor assessed property at what he could and it re- j mained at that figure unless altered for some good reason by the board of reviews. Expect Attacks. The announcement will undoubtedly create a sentiment in the county that will result in the board of review being stormed with disapproval. The members expect to be the objects of general attacks from tax payers in the eight townships to be affected. The hearing of the assessors will be the first one on record in the county. What the assessors say to the board members may or may not have any effect on the lists and increases made up yesterday by the board, but the board will demand certain information before ruling finally on the changes. The townships and the amount of increase contemplated will not be made public until Monday afternoon when the assessors are brought before the board. The assessors were instructed to act under the new system of assessing at a tax meeting held last February in the court house when the three members of the state tax commission were the speakers. This plan was turned down in 1013 but was used in manyother counties of the state. The purpose of the system was to increase the amount of assessments and its result is said to have been a decrease in the county of between $350,000 and $500,000. Injustice to Few. The result of increases under this system will mean that an injustice will fall on a small per cent of the tax payers. The board does not have power to discriminate in the townships and select the tax payers who listed their property at its true cash (Continued on Page Three.)

IN E H

TOWNSHIPS

MRS. WILLIAM E. CARTER. A decree of the common pleas court of Philadelphia, formally divorced the William R Carters. Mrs. Carter brought the suit. The trouble between the versatile and vivacious Mrs. Carter and her multi-millionaire sportsman husband was first noted shortly after their escape with their two children from the sinking Titanic in April 1912. They were rescued in J. Bruce Ismay's life boat. SECOND OUTBREAK HINDERS RESCUERS IN ALBERTA MINE Men in Oxygen Helmets Drag Fifty Bodies to Surface From Burning Ruins at Hillcrest. HILLCREST, Alberta, June 20 Mre broke out again today in mine No. 20 of the Hillcrest collieries where 197 men met death in an explosion yesterday and rescuers were forced to abandon their work and flee to safety. Only fifty-two bodies including those oi James Quigley. mine superintendent, and Thomas Taylor, fire boss, had been recovered up to the time that the rescue work was stopped. Owing to the fierceness of the flames fears were expressed that the bodies of the victims would never be recovered. The coroner's inquest into the cause of the disaster opened at ten o'clock today but because of the serious condition of many of the forty-one miners rescued alive only a few could be questioned. All night long and today until the ..re broke out again rescuers wearing oxygen helmets silently disappeared into the earth to reappear later with mangled and burned forms wrapped in blankeis which were conveyed to the wash house of the mine where a temporary morgue had been fitted up. There the bodies were prepared for burial and laid out in long rows, while along the aisles women wandered fearful lest they should come upon familiar features. Many of the bodies were bruised and torn showing that death had resulted directly from the force of the explosion. Several hundred coffins were received here today from Winnipeg and other cities. As fast as the bodies could be identified they were removed to the home of their families. BEGGAR IS RICH. NEW YORK. June 20 Joseph V'ono. a one-legged beggar, arrested for plying his trade, had three bank books showing deposits of $12,000. He maintained a well furnished apartment in a fashionable section.

U Will be Lonesome Without Us On Your Vacation Trip This Year

Keep posted on all local news by taking the Palladium with you on your vacation. Telephone 2566 before you leave, and for 10 cents a week you will have the benefit of the Palladium's efficient news gathering force. . Jhe Palladium Is Easy to Read and Dependable.

Mrs. H. L. Monarch Reports Forty Youngsters Raising Produce on Vacant Lots Donated by Owners.

More thrifty children is a product expected to grow out of the summer gardening idea which was developed by Mrs. II. L. Monarch, and which is now in full progress. The plan is interesting city officials and many good people of the city who will extend the work to a much larger scale next year. There are between forty and fortyfive lots under cultivation as garden plots. Many more were offered by willing citizens, but because of the lateness and the drought, they could not be accepted this year. A report was submitted to day by Mrs. Monarch. Mrs. Monarch names all gardeners and upon whose lots the gardens are located. Not. all of the gardeners are children of poor families, but a number are thrifty school children who do not wish to waste their spare time. However, the first name on the list Mrs. Monarch presented is an example of the possibilities of the system. It is that of John Bankowski. 434 South Fourth street. In the Bankowski family are eight children. In March, litis, Mr. Bankowski was arrested for providing impure food for his family. He had been gathering fruit thrown out by grocers, and often found coffee, canned goods and other articles, he said. Now Cultivates Garden. Mr. Bankowski's family is spending its entire time cultivating the little garden which is expected to yield the staple products, especially potatoes, and furnish the family with good, substantial food for at least part of the winter. Thursday afternoon Mayor Robbins, Alfred Bavis, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Monarch and E. II. Harris went to all the garden plots. Mr. Bavis and the mayor spoke to the children. Next year gardens will be started earlier in order that the early products Continued on Page Six. NEWS BRINGS JOY TO M'KEE MOTHER Word of Boy's Safe Passage Makes Separation More Endurable. Expecting to wait until five-year-old Walter McKee had reached his destination at Los Angeles and a letter had come back to Richmond, his invalid mother was surprised and pleased yesterday when Miss Benner. visiting nurse, told her the first of a series of post cards from railroad employes had been received. Her face lighted up with joy when Miss Benner told of the youthful traveler's safe arrival in Chicago. The mother's heart throbbed with happiness when she heard of the kindly interest taken in her son by the passengers, all of whom were strangers to him. Knowledge that the child was making friends, was well and in good care made the separation easier. Watch for Picture. Neighbors, accustomed to seeing the little chap playing about with their children were almost as anxious for word from him as his mother and the visiting nurse. Hearing that a picture had been taken for the Palladium, they began looking for their papers long before time for the carrier boy to arrive. That Walter left Chicago at 10 o'clock Thursday evening is the substance of a postal card received from the district passenger agent of the Santa Fe, who met him at the station and put him on his train for the west. His card follows: "Walter arrived on Penna and made transfer to Santa Fe and left on our 10 p ,m. train O. K. H. L. Adams. D. P. A." While Miss Benner is taking her vacation Walter McKee's invalid mother will be cared for at the Reid Memorial hospital. She was removed there today under the visiting nurse's directions.

111 NEW MEMBERS

01

COMMERCIAL

CLUB IN CANVASS Membership Chairman Nusbaum Pleased With Result of Campaign and $1,100 Increase in Revenue. As the result of the concerted efforts of 100 members of the Commercial club. 111 Richmond men yesterday became affiliated with the organization, making the total membership 710 and increasing the annual revenue $1,110. Lee B. Nusbaum, chairman of the membership committee, expressed his satisfaction of the results but believes poor business and the great number of men who are out of the city now, is all that prevented the club from securing twice that number. The Reds were unable to gain on their competitor the Blues, the team under G. O. Ballinger, winning the contest by nine members. The Reds under Fred Kennedy brought in fiftyone new members at six o'clock last night while the Blues had a total of sixty to their credit. There is some talk of discarding the plans for a banquet which was to have been served the winners by the losers, and substituting some other reward. Some plan will be made soon. In case the banquet is held, it will be within ten days. The campaign will have a lasting result, is the opinion of Lee B. Nusbaum and Charles Jordan. Mr. Jordan is confident thirty-nine addition members will be added in the next few weeks as a result of the work of the committeemen, thus bringing the total up to 15u. If this is accomplished the club will have made its membership 750 and increased its income $1.3u0 a year to $7,500. It is believed this would place the club alone for commercial organizations in cities of the size of Richmond. This will be learned later from the national Chamber of Commerce with which the club is affiliated. r. Nusbaum in speaking of the campaign, mentioned the growth of the organization in the past six or eight years, said: "The Commercial club was small and struggling and apparently did not amount to much. The city officials and many business men were rather inclined to laugh at the efforts of the members. Rut through square dealing, with personalities absolutely excluded, the club stands at what it is now." REV, BERKEIDE SAYS FIRST MASS SUNDAY Impressive Ceremonv At- j tends Rite Read by Young Priest Tomorrow. Hev. Kdward Berheide, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kdward K. Berheide, who! was recently ordained into the Cath-I olic priesthood, will celebrate his first mass ;tt the services of the St. Andrews church at 9:3" tomorrow. Father Berheide is a graduate of the St. Meinrad's college, and will later become a member of the faculty of that school. A processional will be held from the personage to the church at 9:"0 o'clock immediately preceedir.g the services. The Knights of St. John and the children, of the parish will take part in the procession. Amnog the out of town clergy that! will attend are Rev. Dominick Barthel, president of St. Meinrad's collage; Iiev. Henry Brenner, of St. Meinrad; Rev. William Seibertz. New Albany; Rev. Richard Hoening. Knoxville; Re . Flavian Larbes. Cincinnati. Rev. Bartel will preach the sermon. Fathers W. J. Cronin and A. B. Fathers Ro 11 and Kabey, of the St. Andrew's church will be in attendance. NVITE CRADLE ROLL Central Christians Arrange "Babies' Day." In an effort to increase still more the lead of the Central Christian Sunday school of this city over the Marion church in the attendance contest, new R. C. Leonard has arranged for "Babies' Day" tomorrow. Special effort is being made to get members of the cradle rool and their mothers to the service. Prof. Hicks will give violin solos and Mrs. Roland will give a reading for children. At the conclusion of the service a group picture of the entire school will be taken in front of the tabernacle. In the evening the Salvation Army will have charge of the service. Adjutant Abbott, of Indianapolis, will speak. FAILED TO DEVELOP. CHICAGO. June 20 Of 245 defendants in the Chicago boys' court, examined in the municipal psucopathic laboratory, 207 proved to be of arrested mental development, according to Dr. W. J. Hickson, director of the laboratory.,

AGENT TO GIVE

Continues Good Farm Extension Work By Visiting Rural Clubs, Editing Special Page For The Palladium The resignation of A. D. Cobb as Wayne county agriculturalagent does not mean the cessation of his work to spread the gospelof good farming. The Palladium has engaged Mr. Cobb as agri- . cultural editor, with specific instructions to maintain in the county the work he began. Mr. Cobb will give one-half his time as agricultural editor, the other half will be given to prosecuting the work he began as county agent. Farmers will have the same opportunity to receive his advice and instructions as they did when he was employed by the county. When his contract with the county expires on July 1, he will' come over to The Palladium and begin the execution of his new work and the carrying out of the agricultural plans already set on foot among farmers by him. Farmers Seek Service of Cobb. Since his resignation, owing to lack of co-operation emanating from the township trustees, farmers have clamored for his retention. The county will not be able to secure an expert agriculturalist very soon, and without a guiding hand, the work now well on foot would receive a serious handicap or might be ruined. The Palladium obtained the services of Mr. Cobb in order that good farming might prosper in Wayne county, and that farmers, during the busy season of the year, when problems arise over night, might receive expert advice and instruction. He will conduct his work just as he did when he was still in the employ of ihe county. Mr. Cobb will write on farm topics for The Palladium and will also conduct a column in which he will answer problems that trouble farmers and fruit growers and truck gardeners. Questions which farmers may have, should be sent to The Palladium, care of Agricultural Editor.

Where personal investigation is necessarv to eive an intelligent answer, Mr. Cobb will make farm visits as he , is doing in his county work. In no

case will there be any expense to the : this does not satisfy the farmers. The farmer. As far as the farmers are demand now 1?-for the co-operation of , ., . . j the trustees of the townships in concerned, thev will receive practical- . . ... . . . , , .,,. winch Mr. obb carried on his work, ly the same advantage of Mr. Cobb's Purdue Praises Work, knowledge as they have in the past. j In spite of his retirement from ofMr. Cobb is much interested in the' filial life. Mr. Cobb is expected to rework and regrets that he will be una-j main a public figure in hi work. He ble to permit the consideration of his ! keep in dose touch with Purdue, name as a candidate for another ! T. A. Coleman, state agent and assistyear. He will keep in touch with his ; ant leader, and (J. I. Chritie. state

friends who have been co-operating I with him in the work and assist any others who desire to take up scientific farming methods. All organizations which Mr. Cobb was influential in organizing, which I practically includes every farmer's or-! ganizatioti started in the county in the I

past year, will receive the same inter- i work with him. tlo not look at the resest. Mr. Cobb will meet with the I ignation as a reflection upon the counmembers of the farmers' associations i ty agent, as some of the enemies of

and will attend meetings of the Better, Farming association of the county as a member. Cobb Pleased to Stay In speaking of his new work Mr. . Cobb said: "I am glad to be able to t carry on the work here and it is pleasing that The Palladium sees fit to conduct it in this manner. I consider that the men with whom I have worked, are mv friends and I shall be glad to co-operate with them as a staff j DECLINES TO PROBE OPTION FRAUD CRY Judge Fox Will Not Call; Grand Jury Without Good Cause. A grand jury has never been called in Wayne county in the past twenty years to investigate misdemeanors and will not be now. was the statement of Judge Fox in reference to the election probe invited by S Kdgar Nicholson, chairman of the Citizens committee. The judge agrees with the prosecuting attorney in ti.e controversy which arose when the Citizens committee submitted its final report about three weeks ago. He looks on the matter as a personal matter entirely but said that if there was any assurance that the public wanted the election probed or even had more than a passing interest in it. he would summon the investigating body. "I believe that the public is not interested in this thing," Judge Fox remarked. "The whole thing is the result of over zealous campaigning. It is easy enough to make charges through newspapers but when it comes to substantiating them, the complaintant is not often able to do it. "If these men are firm in what they say. let them come to me and tell me about it. If there is anything then that really warrants a grand jury in-: vestigation, I will see that the jury is I called. I am willing to listen to their charges and pass on them and it is to me that they should bring them." BISHOP TO PREACH AT ST. PAUL'S CHURCH The Right Rev. Theodore Irving Reese, D. I)., Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Southern Ohio, will preach In St. Paul's church Sunday morning. The Bishop will be the guest of the Rev. and Mrs. John S. Lightbourn while in the city,

FARMERS ADVICE

j writer for The Palladium, as I have one as county ageni. Mr. Cobb explained fully the cause l of his resienation. in a letter he wrote . to tnP oountv board of education, but leaner, win oacK Mr. i out up in me work in whatever way he attempts it. they stated recently. Purdue officials. satisfied that Cobb's work has been as much as it could have been in a county as big as Wayne and extraordinary considering the fact that the trustees refused to the expert have viewed it. In speaking of the resignation of the county agent yesterday. O. B. Hinshaw. of New Carden township called attention to the fact that the eounty agent work is costing each resident of the county lens than three and onehalf cents each per year. Wayne county's appropriation for the work has been $1.5m. The county has paid $1,000 for salary and the $50rt remained to draw upon for expenses. CITY IS TOO SMALL FOR MORRIS BANKS Officials of Loan Company Refuse to Establish Branch in Richmond. I'nless local capital can be Interested, it is probable Richmond will not have a Morris banking system loan company, according to word received recently by Secretary Jordan of the Commercial club. The officers of the Morris Banking system in New York believe Richmond is too small a city to make the establishments of an Institution profitable and successful. I'nder the Morris plan, money is loaned without security. A man's character is taken as ample Security that he will repay a loan with the usual rate of interest. The signatures of two friends, who are also honor bound, is all that is required. None of the parties are required to be property holders. The officers suggested that the club keep up its investigation of the popularity of such a bank. The proposition of operating in conjunction with some other local institution, might be accepted by the company, and wll be investigated. It is probable that committees will not drop the matter entirely. If enough interest is manifested in the Morris plan, local capital may be sought. WEATHER FORECAST FOR INDIANA Generally fair tonight and Sunday with rising temper, ature. TEMPERATURE. Noon 75 Yesterday Maximum 79 Minimum ....i. .. ......... 54