Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 40, Number 131, 15 May 1915 — Page 1

RICHMOKB TP A IX A TDTTTTVir VOL. XL., NO. 131 Palladium and Sun-Telegram Consolidated. 107 RICHMOND, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, M AY 15, 1915. SINGLE COPY, 2 CENTS

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GARDENER SAYS TRUST "FIXES" MARKETJRICES His Refusal to Conform to Demands Brings Covert Threat to Overbid His Stall May 24.

POINTS TO INSTANCES Owners of Stands, He Alleges, Agree to 3oost Produce Prices at Stated Times. Claiming that he is the object of an attack by marketmen who have formed an alleged combination to uphold prices on garden truck in the city market, a gardener has made pointed charges. The gardener, who is spending his first year as an occupant of one of the stalls in the city market, asserts that his competitors in the sale of lettuce, spinach, cabbage, onions and other garden truck, are led by three or four ringleaders who dictate prices i-.nd are conducting a rule or ruin propaganda. His refusal throughout the winter to conform to their wiil has led them lo make prepar." ions to overbid him in the auctioning off the stands on May 24, to prevent him from renting a stand for the ensuing year. Keeps Name Secret. For fear that a stronger and more aggressive fight will be forced upon him, he desires his name to remain secret until after the stalls are rented this year. The gardener cliams that practically every grocer in the city is supporting the practice of maintaining high prices by patronizing only the marketmen who are in league in selling garden truck. The grocers, according to ;hp gardener are almost given the tu-rk since most of the retail marketmen do wholesale business in conjunction, and at the same time a high price is held in the market. A raise of prices, he says usually is m:ide whenever a scarcity of the produce is prospective. And on pa6t occasions dates have been set in the future, he claims when all were to ;nake a general advance. In listing examples of the differences between his prices and those set by his competitors of the so-called combination, he said that while he was selling onions six for a dime the o'hers were soiling them five for a Tells of Inflations. During the winter lettuce was sell--r for ten cents a pound. He claims :-t two or three of the marketmen ho are acting as the leaders ap- ; roached his wife who had charge of ua ctanH at the time and told her to rsk 12i'- cents a pound and on the ' " - . . ill lU.i following Saturday to doosi iun i.ir-o tn is rpnts a nound. At the present time he says that he i.. selling lettuce 101 uve vrui a pound and all of his competitors are iisking ten cents a pound. On such garden truck as spinach vhich has no extraordinary sale, he says his price agrees with that of the other dealers. He asserts that the ringleaders come to him periodically and seek to have him to raise his prices to meet those maintained by the others, through insinuations and covert suggestions ather than with open and straightforward requests. Fixes Own Prices. Since he is alone in his determination to fix his own prices, he says that he has no proof which he could offer the prosecuting attorney that a combination exists in restraint of trade other than the supporting evidence of his wife. He is willing to make affidavit to whatever valuable testimony he and his wife possess. The gardener heartily endorses the suggestion that, the present method of bidding for the stalls in the market, be eliminated and a different way of renting the stands be substituted to permit of tree and open competition. He says that because of the present arrangement, one marketman has three stalls and two have two stalls each because they were financially able to overbid prospective tenants at the last auction. On May 24. when the stalls are auctioned off for the following year he expects his competitors to make every effort to dispossess him of his stand. YAQUI INDIANS KILL AMERICANS IN MEXIC9 WASHINGTON. May 15 Enraged by the land concession granted to American colonists in the Yaqui river valley of Mexico, the Yaqui Indians are now engaged in a pitched battle intent on w iping out the foreign element in their territory. A delayed cable dispatch from Admiral Howard, commander in chief of the Pacific fleet, brought this information today. Admiral Howard confirmed the report of the death of J. J. Donnovan and Jack Wilson, who were killed the day the fighting commenced. The following day, May 1. W. A. Say, another American lost his life. The dispatches also confirmed the report that C. O. Stocker, of Atlanta, had been seriously wounded. Immediately upon the receipt of the cable it was referred to the state department. Officials said no marines or bluejackets would be landed from American ships to go inland io aid the Americans unless the state department so advised. KING IMPROVES. ATHENS, May 15. The condition of King Constantine, who is suffering from pleurisy, showed improvement today.

ITALIANS RIOT TO INFLUENCE WAR DECISION

Military Authorities Assume Civil Jurisdiction of Prefects in Many Parts of the Country. DENOUNCE THE KAISER Marcora Forms New Cabinet Including Members of All Political Parties in the Kingdom. ROME, May 15. War preparations in Italy have reached the final stage. Following an urgent council of the government today orders were telegraphed to all the prefects throughout Italy to hand over their power to the military authorities, if deemed necessary and in most instances, it was done. This was a virtual declaration of martial law and puts the kingdom in a state of siege. Anti-German and Austrian demonstrations continued throughout the night, despite the presence of soldiers who patrolled the streets with bayonets fixed on their rifles. A crowd of 20,000 made a hostile demonstration in front of the German and Austrian embassies, crying: "Down with the kaiser." In spite of the military guards around the embassies, it looked for a time as though the buildings would actually be attacked. Forms new Ministry. Giusepp Marcora, president of the chamber of deputies, who was entrusted by King Victor Emanuel, to form a cabinet to succeed the Salandra ministry, announced that, if he was successful the new government would include representatives of all the opposing political parties. BERLIN CRITICISES NOTE PUBLICATION BERLIN, May 15 Criticism of the American government's breach of "diplomatic etiquette" was voiced in official circles today because it had allowed publication of President Wilson's note of protest before the document was formally presented. The text of the note reached Berlin from unofficial sources on Friday, thus coming to. the notice of the foreign office and officials of the government. Ambassador Gerard was in communication with the foreign office and the belief was widespread that the note had been handed in. The confusion attending the presentation of this important document has led to many and various reports both in and out of official circles. FRENCH MAKE GAIN IN ARRAS REGION PARIS, May 15. A gain of 500 meters for the French north of Arras is reported in an official statement issued today. An artillery duel of the utmost Ivinlinpo ic rnpincr in tho cortinn Timth of Arras each side using its heaviest artillery. The French gain was made toward Souchez in the direction of a sugar mill which the Germans occupied and fortified. MUFFLE CHICKENS. BAYOXXE. X. Y., May 15. Householders here have demanded that mufflers be put on chickens to stop their cackling and crowing. GENERAL WOOD BEGS MORE U. S. VESSELS "Undoubtedly we have a great fleet and an efficient one," said MajorGeneral Leonard Wood, U. S. A. Commander of the Department of the East, -at a recent dinner to the high naval officers now visiting New York, "but there is not enough of it. This country has 20,000 miles of coast lines where Great Britain has 2.700, and Germany only 800. The fleet is intended to guard the coast, but it would take a few larger organization than we have to present to safeguard the country against invasion."

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New Equipment of Italian Army

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It is said that Italy would long since have intervened In the war on the side of the Allies had she been prepared. During ;the past nine months she has been spending all her energy and it is reported that she is now bring about strangevconditions, and cause the forming of many strange companionships. . The photograph shows ready as her army is fully and newly fitted out. The pictures show the field equipment of both the officer and the infantryman in the new Italian army.

ASKS ARBITRATION TO SETTLE TROUBLE WITH UNITED STATES BERLIN, May 15. The Vossiche Zeitung in an article which might be inspired states that Count VonBernstorff w-ill probably be instructed to suggest a court of arbitration to decide the question at stake between the United States and Germany. If such a request is made, Germany is expected to abandon her torpedoing of merchant ships until a decision is reached. The destruction of the Lusitania by a German submarine was defended in the Vossische Zeitung today: "The Lusitania could not be mistaken. She had no idea of being mistaken. She had no need to alter her course because of German submarines. Her protection was a living rampart of American passengers who were there to insure that 4,400 cases of ammunition in the liner's hold should not be touched. That they were being made use of in this way was concealed j from Americans. That must be the point from which the American government must start in going to the Lusitania case. It has to consider whether one can allow a belligerent state to stake the lives of innocents to secure the safety of contraband." L, H. & P. OFFICIALS BRING PROPOSITION Vice-president George B. Tripp and General Solicitor George H. Olney of the United Gas & Electric company, the corporation which owns the Richmond Light, Heat & Power company, arrived in this city from New York this morning and will meet this evening with the directors and members of the public service committee of the Commercial club. At this meeting the proposed purchase of the electric plant of the Light, Heat & Power company by the city will be discussed. Wilfred Jessup, local attorney for the United Gas and Electric company, admits that the company has a proposition it intends to present for the approval of the Commercial club officers this evening but he says he is not at liberty to discuss the nature of the proposal. It has been rumored that the company will propose that the city lease its electric plant on a profit sharing basis, 'but the details of the plan are not known. CLOSE POSTOFFICE The Bethel postoffioo was discontinued today and mail for Bethel residents, about thirty in number, was delivered by the carrier from the Richmond office. The Betbel postoffice patrons said they are satisfied with the new arrangement.

DICKINSON TRUST CONTRACTS

Three of the seven contracts for which bids were submitted to the Dickinson Trust company for the construction of its new bank building, Eighth and Main streets, have been awarded, President Hiatt announced today, two of the three going to Richmond firms. The contract for the exterior stone and steel construction was awarded to Meiling & Company of Chicago. The contract for interior plastering was secured by J. H. Schroeder of this city. The contract for interior cabinet work was awarded to the Louck & Hill company of this city. Use Local Labor. Within a few days contracts for excavating, heating, plumbing and ventilation will be awarded. Written into all contracts is the provision that so far as is possible only Richmond workmen shall be employed. The new bank building is to be constructed of Granite Mountain granite and will be the first building of its kind ever erected in Richmond. The Dickinson Trust company has not announced what the cost of the building will be, b .t it is believed it will be in excess of $60,000. Work on excavating for the foundation will start week after next. Fire Proof Building. The structure will be absolutely fire proof only steel, concrete and wire lathing being used, with the exception of wood floors in the offices of the company's law firm, these floors will have concrete bases. The offices will be in the rear of the building on the second floor, which will be directly over the immense vault. Over the law offices will be the quarters of the directors. The front of the building will be only one story but its heighth the same as the three story section of the building at its north end. The Main street front of the building is to be particularly imposing. Its BATTED BALL KILLS YOUNG SPECTATOR CHICAGO. May 15. Vincent Curica, 9, captain and manager of the "Curica Giants," was at bat in a game for the world's championship of the alley back of his home. Freddie Drehr, aged 4, stood near the batter to get a good view of the contest. "Get back, you're th bleachers," said Vincent, prodding F'eddie in the ribs with the stick that served as a bat. The opposing pitcher wound up and sent a fast one over the plate. Vincent swung with all his might, missed the ball, but struck Freddie's tossled head. Freddie died a few minutes later.

COMPANY LETS FOR NEW BUILDING

base is to be of polished granite About the entrance there will also be polished granite, and on each side two immense corinthian granite columns. The rest of the granite used in the exterior construction will be hammered finish. Use Marble. The, vestibule leading from the Main street entrance into the lobby will have walls of Alabama marble while the floors of the vestibule and lobby will be of Tennessee marble. In the front of the building on one side of the vestibule will be the farmers' rest room, finished in mahogany. This will be used as a rest and reading room. On the other side of the vestibule will be the women's rest room with toilet facilities. In the rear of each of these rooms will be a consultation room for public use. The women's waiting ioom will be finished in French grey. On the west side of the big banking room will be six tellers' cages but the familiar jail-like bars will be conspicuous by their absence, plate glass being substituted. The section reserved for tellers will be finished in beautiful imported Tavernelle marble and bronze. On the east side of the banking room will be the offices of the officers, also finished in the same kind of marble and in bronze. Entrance to the safety deposit vault will be gain by a circular door eightyfour inches wide. There will be a small vault for books and records. In the rear of the banking section will be five coupon rooms. The heating system will be the most complete one ever installed in the city. It will be a h'ot air system. Air will be brought from a high stack to the basement, passing over a water cleanser then over heated coils, the warm and purified air finally being blown through devices fixed into the floors. A large, concealed exhaust fan will carry the impure air out of the building through the ceiling. BECK TO CONFIRM LUTHERAN CLASS During the services of the Trinity Lutheran church Sunday morning, the following class will be confirmed by the pastor, Rev. Joseph Beck: Norman Koehring, Robert Sudhoff, Walter Meyer, Leroy Turner, Ralph Grund, Barguerite Koehring, Pau'ine Turner, Clara Daub, Jeannette Kemper and Bertha Karcher. TRAIN CRASH FATAL. SCARBOROUGH. N. Y., May 15. One man was fatally injured, another seriously, possibly fatally hurt and a score of others thrown from their seats and bruised here today when an electric locomotive on the New York Central crashed into the rear of a local New York-Albany train.

KAISER'S REPLY NOT EXPECTED WITHINJT DAYS Germany Expected to Discontinue Submarine Attacks If Passenger Boats Do Not Carry Arms.

SITUATION IMPROVES Unofficial Text Reaches Berlin Before Wilson's Note Is Handed Foreign Office of Germany. WASHINGTON, May 15. Up to 7 o'clock last night the president's note to Germany had not officially reached Berlin. Notification to this effect reached the state department from Ambassador Gerad today. The congestion of the telegraph lines from Rome to Berlin is said to be responsible. The state department learned that the note had been sent from Rome at 3:45 o'clock yesterday. Efforts are being made to discover at what point the transmission of the communication has been held up. It is certain that the text of the note will reach Berlin through Copenhagen from England before the official version can be delivered to the German foreign office. The secretary of state was extremely anxious to delay the publication of the note in this country eighteen hours after it was sent in order to make sure that the first intimation of the purport of the president's message received in Berlin would be through official channels. Speculate on Reply. With the publication of the text of the president's note to Germany de manding that submarine attacks on neutral shipping be stopped, official Washington turned its attention to the probable contents of the German reply. With the realization that this government's action is now irrevocable and committing the United States before the world, a feeling of relief was evidenced in all official quarters. It is appreciated that Germany's reply can hardly be looked for within a shorter period than a week. Probable Offer. Counter proposals which Germany may make to the United States are being widely discussed in Washington today. The proposal which is receiving greater consideration in responsible quarters is that Germany will agree to discontinue her submarine attacks on belligerent merchantmen provided the United States refuses to allow any passenger ships leaving American shores to carry munitions of war. This proposal might appear to the American government a reasonable one and might become the basis of an agreement between the United States and Germany. It is pointed out that Great Britain could not reasonably object' to this course of action on the part of the United States without alienating sympathy for the cause of the allies. Situation Improves. "The situation looks much better today than it did yesterday," said a prominent government official today. "I do not think that Germany will reject the American demand in toto, but will send a reply that will make a favorable impression on the American public." The attitude of Germany seems to be one of not taking seriously the ex alted appeal of President Wilson on the grounds of humanity and civilization. The German notion seems to be that such portions of the note can be disregarded and the matter reduced to a business basis. Notice has been taken in German quarters of the expressions by public men in this country to the effect that Americans really ought not to have embarked on the Lusitania, and the belief seems to exist that by appealing tto this view held by many Americans the real issues and a break will be avoided. ASSESSORS RETURN REPORT TO HOWARTH Reports from assessors of personal property and dog tax collectors w ere received today by Township Assessor Howarth who was not prepared however to give out figures comparing the new assessment with last year's assessment. Most of the assessors said they believed a slight gain will be shown in the personal property assessment for Wayne township and Richmond, the larger gain being in the city. The dog tax is believed to have fallen short of last year's collection and a long list of names of delinquents will be turned over next week to the township trustee who will try to collect the tax before reporting the cases to the prosecuting attorney. Monday a report on the personal property assessment will be made out to be submitted to the county assessor Tuesday. On May 25, the report of real estate assessors will be made. ASKS $5,000 DAMAGES An accident at West Third and Main streets January 15, when an in terurban car and city street car backed together, resulted in a $5,000 damage suit against the interurban company today in circuit court. The suit was brought by Joseph t Moore who was the only one seriously injured in the accident, Moore claims the accident was the result of carelessness on the part of the street car company employes.

COUNTY BRINGS SUIT TO ENJOIN NEW CAR FARE Hoelscher-s Complaint Alleges T. H I. & E. Forfeited Franchise Rights to National Road Right of Way. EXPECTS DEMURRERS

Traction Line Issues Commu ters' Tickets to Western Wayne Towns at Unusually Low Rates. Suit, enjoining the Terre Haute. Indianapolis and Eastern Traction company from charging more than oneand two-thirds cents per mile fare and alleging that the traction company has forfeited its franchise rights of using the National road as a right of way by the act of raising fares to twe cents a mile, was filed in circuit court today by County Attorney Hoelscher for the board of county commissioners. The county commissioners unanimously accepted the report of the complaint made by Mr. Hoelscher against the traction company and offered tc employ the best obtainable lawyers in the county to assist the countv attorney. Mr. Hoelscher refused assistance for the present, declaring the suit would never come to trial but probablv will be decided entirely by demurrers. The second paragraph to the suit is regarded as the most important and is the one Attorney Hoelscher expects to win out on. Asks for Injunction. This paragraph asks the court for a perpetual injunction against the traction company, enjoining it from owning, maintaining or operating interurbans and carrying passengers as a common carrier over th Vatirmoi highway from the west city limits of Richmond to the west boundary line of Wayne county. This is asked on the grounds that Section 14 of the franchise, which follows, has been violated: "Sec. 14 This franchise and the rights and privileges herein granted shall be in force and effect for a period of sixty years from and after the adoption of this resolution by said board of county commissioners and the acceptance in writing of all the terms hereof and the giving of bond hereinafter provided for by the grantees within ten days of date of such adoption. Provided that the failures of the grantees their successors and assigns, to keep any one or all of the above obligations shall work a fo-feiture oi all the rights and rriv ileges herein granted." Means New Route. This was one of fifteen conditions on which the franchise was accepted April 24. 1900. by John Lontz and Perry J. Freeman who later transferred it to the traction company. 13 the county is successful In this pari of its suit, it will mean that the tract ion company must purchase a new right of way across the county anc move its tracks from the National road. The section fixing the rate, the suit says, is plain. The part in effect since 1902 follows: "At the expiration of two years from the time that said railway is completed and running its cars regularly the said grantees, their successors and assigns, shall not charge more than one and two-third cents per mile for each nasseneer for one continuous trip, the minimum fare to be charged to be five cents." "I believe the interurban company cannot be enjoined from charging two cents a mile." said Mr. Hoelscher to the commissioners. "I believe that th company can be forced to leave the National road or reduce the rates to conform with the franchise. To move the tracks would be such a great expense, the company probably will look deeped into the case before taking such action if the court sustains my beliefs. The traction company did not have to charge two cents a mile but was merely granted the privilege by the public utilities commission." Issues New Tickets. Mr. Hoelscher did not ask for a restraining order because such procedure would cause immediate cessation of interurban traffic and in eaa the county loses the suit, it would be liable for damages, he said. For this reason, no action will be effective against the company until the final judgment of the court. The traction company has now issued commutters tickets good for twenty rides which must be taken in one month. These tickets are cheaper than the former rate. The round trip rate to Cambridge City was fortyfive cents and has been raised to sixty cents. The round trip thirty day commutter tickets cost thirty-eight cents. The round trip rate on these tickets between Richmond and Centerville is less than fifteen cents. The 1.000- rate good any tiem. is $17.60 or approximately one and three-quarter cents a mile. WeatherForecast FOR INDIANA Unsettled tonight and Sunday. Probably showers. Warmer tonight in north and central portions. Cooler Sunday In southwest portion. Temperature. Noon 5 Yesterday. Maximum 75 Minimum Zi General Conditions The cool wave of the past 36 hours is moving eastward and warmer w eather is approaching from the middle west. Unsettled weather may be expected for the next 36 hours. A storm is cow central over the middle west. W. E. Moore, Weather Forecaster.