Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 40, Number 206, 11 August 1915 — Page 1

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1" f s VOL. XU NO. 206 .Tr"" RICHMOND. IND .WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 11. 1915. SINGLE COPY. 2 CENTS JV Kaiser's War Machine Rolls Over

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City of Kovno

GBilfJD DUKE 200 MILES

FBOGJ SEGOUDARY LINE

jKovno's Fall Makes Untenable Grodno and Brest-Litovsk

Line Teutons Now Within Striking Distance of War-taw-Petrograd Railway, Objective of Campaign

BAVARIANS ROLL BACK

PETROGRAD, Aug. 11 The evacuation of the Russian fortified city of Kovno has begun. Official announcement of the aban

donment of the city before the - made this afternoon by the war The government is being Southeast of Kovno. Kovno lies in the path of the

"Buelow which is sweeping eastward against the Warsaw-Petro-grad railroad. Kovno is the capital of the government of the same name. It is strongly fortified and for two days had been under the ' fire of heavy German guns.

Link In second Defense. Kovno lies on the Niemen river and upon the railway line running from .Vilna to Koenigsberg, in East Prussia. The city Is one of the principal fortresses In the second line of the de fense of the Russians. Its evacuation means that the Rus slan army of Grand Duke Nicholas will probably retire at least 200 miles . estward of Warsaw. It had original ly intended to retreat behind the fort ress of Grodno and Brest-Litovsk, but the evacuation of Kovno means that this line is untenable. With the Germans In Kovno the Russians will probably bare to retire far eastward from the Brest-Litovsk line for strategical reasons. Riga will also probably fall well, as Vilna. 4 . - The German forces In Courland and Northern Poland proved stronger than supposed and their seemingly inexhaustible supply of guns and ammunition have proved more than match for the Russians, despite the stubborn fighting qualities of the Muscovite troops. TEUTON MACHINE ADVANCES. BERLIN, Aug. 11. For the first time since the mighty Austro-German offensive opened in Poland the Teu tonic forces are now within actual striking distance of the Warsaw-Pet-rograd railway, one of the objectives pf the campaign. West of Bork, on the Bug river, the German troops are only six miles from the railway line connecting the Polish capital with Petrograd and it is being violently shelled to prevent its use by the Russians lying south of the Bug and west of the Liewiec rivers. Russian forts defending Novo Georgievsk and Ostrow are being subjected to a hurricane of shell Ire by the Germans. General von Buelow is again upon the 'Offensive on the Baltic coast and hard fighting is reported from the region southwest of Riga. General von Falcke's army, which captured Lomza, is driving southward toward the Bug river, compelling the Russian rear guard to fall back, although the Russians are fighting stubbornly. 1 East of Warsaw the Bavarian forces of Prince Leopold have rolled the Russians back twenty miles within the past two days. The Bavarians nave reached the highway between Novo Minsk and Stanlslawow. ZAPATISTAS DELAY BRAZILIAN OFFICIAL WASHINGTON. Aug. 11. Zapatista attacks on trains between Vera Cruz and Mexico City are delaying the arrival of Senor Cordoza, the Brazilian minister at Vera Cruz. Consul Silliman informed the state department today. A train just in advance of the one car(yirig Cordoza and bis family was stacked by a Zapatista band. The raiders were driven off after brief fighting. Silliman said he did not expect Cordoza's train to reach Vera Cruz before noon today. A train on the Interoceanic railway was destroyed near Portero and several Mexicans were killed. FELDHAUS IMPROVES. Samuel Feldhaus, who was severely burned on the feet at the Wayne Works, Monday, is resting comfortably at his home, 135 South Ninth street. Weather Forecast U. S. Report Partly cloudy tonight. Probably showers central and southeast portion. Thursday fair. Temperature Noon Yesterday 68 78 Maximum .....

Minimum .., . j.a iiiJiv

MAY RETIBE EASTWARD

FOE TWENTY MILES mighty Austro-German drive was office. removed to Bobruisk, 250 miles great cavalry army of Gen. von WESTERN ROADS LOSE ADVANCE RATE PETITION Interstate Commerce Commission Defeats Hundred MflT Hon Dollar Additional Tolls WASHINGTON, - Aug 11. The farmer and packing interests today won a big victory over the railroads. The interstate commerce commission handed down its decision in the west ern rate advance case, and granted out few of the 1 railroad's proposed increases. The proposed advances in grain, grain products, live stock and packing house products the biggest on tne list, were denied. mi . me western advance rate case the second big railroad rate case of the year involving additional revenues for the carriers estimated at from ten to one hundred million dollars annually came into being when the roads operating between the Mississippi river, the Rocky mountains, the Gulf of Mexico and the Canadian boundary last fall filed tariffs with the interstate commerce commission, naming increased transportation charges. These increases ranged from 2 or 3 per cent on some commodities to as much as 10 per cent on others. The principal items on which the increases were proposed include livestock, grain and grain products, packing house products and brewers' rice. All of these commodities move in great quantities not only in carload, but In trainload lots. Thus an increase of approximately 1 cent per hundred pounds asked on grain and grain products would run into, large sums in a year. BANK TELLER ADMITS TAKING $20,070 OF CEDAR RAPIDS BANK CEDAR RAPIDS, la., Aug. 11. Leo L. Perrin, paying teller in the Cedar Rapids National bank which was robbed of $20,070 on August 4, confessed today that his story of an armed bandit entering the vault and forcing him to open it was a fabrication, and that he, himself, committed the theft. Ten thousand of the amount stolen has been returned to the bank by him, $8,000 of the amount having been hidden in a building near his home. The remaining $1,070 has been used by Perrin in settling a portion of the debt he had contracted through realestate and mining speculation. Perrin had purchased land in Minnesota and the Isle of Pines and stock in various mines in Colorado and Mexico. His total debt amounted to $21,500. The interest on his holdings amounted to $11,000, and his total income was less than $41,500 a year. On the morning of August 4 Perrin was found locked in the vault of the bank by another employe. Perrin claimed, a bandit placed $20,070 In his pocket and .ran out of the building. Twelve detectives have been at work on the case. SOLDIER IS STABBED. SPRINGFIELD, 111., Aug. 11. Several men and boys were beaten in a race fight resulting from the stabbing of a negro soldier, member ' of the Eighth regiment at Camp Lincoln. Governor Dunne has -ordered an investigation. - - -

FRIENDS SPURN SECOND OFFERS

FROrnCIIOOLS North A Street Church Re fuses to Consider Disposal of Property Under Any Circumstances. CITY NEEDS SPACE Supt. Giles Says Board Planned to Condemn North Half of Block to Use for New Building:. Contemplating the condemna tion of the north half of the square containing the North A Street Friends' church, including the three private properties recently sold to individuals, members of the Richmond School Board, yesterday afternoon, made efforts to obtain the south half of the square on which the meeting house stands. The several trustees who were interviewed, unhesitatingly and absolutely refused to open nego tiations. Tne school hoard, which met in a called meeting at the instance of Su perintendent Giles, offered to trade the Garfield school site for the south half of the square , and t&t k,urch building or buy the ground and struc ture outright through the issuance of bonds. . George-Parry, one of the. trustees, to whom the offer was made, discussed the matter with, several other members of the church. The trustees declined to consider the offer. The renewed efforts of the school board to secure the property resulted from a keener appreciation of the necessity of finding means to eliminate the congestion in the Garfield school and in the high school. Would Condemn Rest. It was the purpose of the school board, if it succeeded in exchanging the Garfield site for the Friends church site, to condemn the private property on the north side of the square and erect in the center of the square a modern school building for pupils of the Seventh and Eighth grades and first-year high school students. The erection of a building such as the board has In mind would entail the expenditure of between $100,000 and $150,000. There is at present a $100,000 bonded indebtedness on the schools which could be increased to $300,000. Through the purchase or tne soutn half of the square, the board could condemn the north half for school purposes, and in doing so be within its legal right. The board declined to buy the north half of the ground some months ago when it was offered for sale, because it could not legally con demn the church property on the south half. One-half of the square only would be useless for the -construction of a school building. Anxious to Buy Lots. Superintendent Giles said today that the school authorities are anxious to obtain the property and would willingly go to extremes to secure it. Charles Moore, one of the trustees, in speaking for the official board this morning, declared that the refusal to consider any offer presented was final. The church board has no intention of selling, and will not under any consideration, part ' with its present ground and structure, he said. "The school board . will hear and investigate any plan which is apparently feasible to eliminate the congestion in the high school and Garfield school next year," said Mr. Giles in discussing the subject today. "We fully- appreciate the need of a new building. This year we will be equipped to handle. the situation, but the school term in 1916 must open, seeing us prepared for every contingency. "It will require a year's time to build a new school house, and the board realizes that it has no time to waste in finding a suitable site. We have nothing in mind since the church has declined our offers, but we will give much time to the matter in the following weeks and months." JAIL FUGITIVE CAUGHT IN OHIO After escaping from Ben Abbott, who has charge of a gang of prisoners working on the road between Fountain City and Hollandsburg, Charles Kiddwell, who has the reputation with the sheriff as the "dirtiest bum in Wayne county," was captured near Hollansburg last evening. He was found in a barn. He was returned 'to the. city jail and will append the: remainder of his sentence behind -.the bars.

BETS$250N$VAY TIGER WAGS TAIL

CHICAGO, Aug. lL It cost J A Kaufman of Guthrie,. Ia., $25 t6 bet on which way the tiger is the animal house In Lincoln park- would wave his tail. A tiger, two men assured Kaufman, nearly always waves his tall upon and down. However, owing to weather conditions, they declared they would give him $1 every time the Lincoln park tiger did so, if he in turn would , give them $1 each time the beast waved its tail to right or left Kaufman couldn't see how the weather affected a tiger's tail, and so he took their bets right and left. When the police interfered, the , farmer was betting his last fifty-cents. RESENTS U. S. INTERFERENCE ABOUT MEXICO Carranza Tells Secretary Lansing to Keep Hands Off and Not Force Government on Republic. U. S. ARMY IS READY Two Battleships on Way to Vera Cruz and Other Ships Prepare for Hash Southward. BULLETIN. , WA1HIE3TON, Aug. 11 Gen. W Carranza has -warned the United States to keen- hands off In Mexleo. Secret rv ef State' Lait. aing naa inn warning in nil por session when he met with the Latin-American diplomats In - New York today. The Carranza. agency announced this afternoon that Car ranza's message to Lansing denied the right of the United States to force a compromise government In Mexico. WASHINGTON, Aug. 11. The army and navy of the United States was waiting today, ready for instant service in Mexico. Meanwhile the diplo matic service was making earnest ef forts to bring order out of chaos and prevent an armed clash. Admitting that two battleships were steaming toward Vera Cruz, Admiral Be.ison refused to throw any light on the situation. Secretary Daniels, re called from his vacation by orders of the president, stated that he was without further information from Commander McNamee at Vera Cruz. He did not deny, however, that the entire fleet had been told to be ready for sailing orders if any outbreak takes place at tbat point. Elieso Arrendondo, confidential agent here of Carranza, made public the esentials of the text of the protest wired to the presidents of th A. B. C. powers protesting against interference in Mexican affairs. In them Carranza sail that the matter of settlement of Mexico's problem is the exclusive province of her people. ' Quiet has been restored in Vera Cri'z, according to Consul Silliman. In 4 dispatch to the state department this afternoon he reported that antiAmerican demonstrations have been quelled. CARRANZA CONDEMNS INTERFERENCE FROM AMERICANS REPUBLICS WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 The warning of Carranza on interference in Mexico was sent to Secretary Lansing in the form of a letter from Elisso Arrendendo, confidential agent of Carranza. Carranza and the persons who co-operate with him are of the conviction that if the American government would know the true situation in Mexico it would understand that the only possible solution would be to leave the revolution to follow its natural course until the complete victory of the party. "The Constitutional government represented by Mr. Carranza abstains from any comment on the conferences that are being held -because it has no knowledge of their character and the conclusions tbat have been reached, and that it does not want to give the Impression that they are tacitly : as-. sented to by it, but It considers It its duty to inform the American government, of the displeasure with which the Mexicans would receive any act which would tend to frustrate the sue-' cess against the reactionary faction by the Constitutionalist representing the hopes and ideals of the people." The Carranza agent added that similar letters had been sent to the Latin Americans . .participating - in the .- New York conference.

EXPERTS URGE NEW METHODS

IN CITY BOOKS Accountants Find Few Minor Discrepancies in Records of Public Funds Kept by McMahan. RECORDS ARE BLAMED Controller Says Board Failed to Heed Repeated Requests for Books Necessary in New System. Field Examiners J. W. King and L. F. Orr of the state hoard of accounts in reporting upon the result of their recent inves tigation of the records of the of fice of the controller of the city of Richmond, E. G. McMahan, take occasion to complain of the system of. bookkeeping in vogue in that office although only min or discrepancies are shown in the controller's records. For ex ample the report shows that the controller failed to make a rec ord of the receipts of 50 cents for a dog license and in another place sets forth the fact that the controller "beat himself out" of ont cant. "In part the report reads: "During thecourte of pur examination for the year Mir of , the "special (walvered) Improvement fund we were led to believe that there was a considerable shortage of funds in the depositories as of January 1, 1914, obtaining to the said special fund. Accordingly we persued our investigations of said fund back into the years 1913 and 1912, developing an actual shortage due to over payments on account of bonds and coupons to the banks in Decem ber, 1913, arising through duplications of bonds and coupons due and paid as per July 1 of that year." It is then shown by the field examiners that in December, 1913, the controller in calling in certain bonds and coupons duplicated those of the list called in in July of the same year. Continuing the report states: "During April, 1915, the monies were refunded to the controller by the banks, and he has corrected his records accordingly as directed by us, leaving no charge on account of same upon the filing of this report." Overpays AM Banks. Overpayments to banks referred to in December, 1913, amounted to the following sums: First National, $2,681.39; Second National, $1,008.58; Union National, $86.31; Dickinson Trust compnay, $169.36. Controller McMahan said today that the errors resulting from the calling In of bonds in 1913 were due to the Inadequate method of keeping bond records which obtained until a few years ago. McMahan also asserted that the bookkeeping system in his office which the field examiners complain of is entirely the fault of the state board of accounts. "Several times I have requested the board to supply me with books so that I could keep my records in the man ner they expect me to," he said. "I am always informed that this will be done just as soon as the board can get to the matter. Other Accounts O. K. The report states that excepting the special, or waivered, street improvement fund the controller's accounts have, been properly handled, "consider ing the system of bookkeeping employed." The report also states: "The record of receipts and disbursements detail ing the several funds are inadequate to the demands of the city of Rich mond. . In setting forth their audit of the city's general bank statement, the statement is made that a deficit was found in the bank accounts of the county treasurer, who is al6o the city treasurer, but adds that this deficit has been properly cared for. In a supplementary report on the special street Improvement fund, this statement Is contained: "Walvered improvement accounts have been separated since May 1, 1912, but as no cash book account of Improvements showing receipts, disbursements and balances or overdrafts In each, have been kept by either the controller or treasurer we were at considerable difficulty in the separation of same for the year 1914. As provided by statute it is mandatory that the accounts of each improvement be kept separate. Records kept In accordance with same would greatly reduce tne chance of committing errors in same and make an examine' tlon less difficult. -

CITY HELD RESPONSIBLE FOE) ACCIDENTS ARISING FROM WEAKENED BRID6E City Attorney Bond Tell City Administration County Cannot Be Held Accountable for Deaths and Accidents If the Structure . Gives Way.

TRAFFIC MAY BE ROUTED OVER DOBAN BRIDGE Mayor Bobbins, City Attorney Bond and members of the board of public works at a meeting this afternoon reached the decision to close the principal bridge in the city over the Whitewater

river, at Main street, to traffic for an indefinite period owing to the report of John Mueller, county bridge engineer, that the structure was absolutely unsafe.

"The entrances to the Main

afternoon and at 4:15 this afternoon the last street car will pass

over it," Mayor Bobbins said after the meeting. "People who use the bridge from this time on will do so at

their own risk. The city has no desire to court any court catastrophe and in ordering the bridge closed we believe we are servintr

the public's best interests. We 'safety first." t EXPECTS PLANT FROM HAMILTON TO LOCATE HERE Commercial Club -Believes Survey of the Gaar-Scott Buildings Pleased Officials of Foundry Company. MAY OBTAIN LEASE Concern Manufactures Lathe Beds and Stoves and Would Give Work to 100 Laborers. The proposition presented to the American Foundry and Machine company, of Hamilton. O., by Finley Mount, receiver for the M. Rumely company, for the sale or lease of the foundry building and engine room of the local Gaar-Scott plant, will prob ably be accepted, according to good authority today. Five members of the foundry con cern were in the city yesterday making a final inspection of the plant and engine room and they seemed to be favorably impressed with the possi bilities offered by the local plant. The party included Messrs. Jacobs and Dudley, two of the officers of the American Foundry and Machine company and also the foreman of the present plant, at Hamilton. It is understood that the terms pre sented to the Hamilton firm by Re ceiver Mount, which were received most favorably by the company at the present time, were as follows: The company to lease the foundry and engine room until January 1, 1916, when the receiver reserves the right to give sixty days notice to vacate in case an opportunity affords itself to sell the entire local property. It is also understood that the Hamilton firm would be 'given an option on the property to buy providing the property is not disposed of in its entirety. The foundry would employ about 100 men. The officials of the company said yesterday that local labor would be given first opportunity -providing the foundry is opened. The special committee of the Commercial club which is co-operating with Receiver Mount in the disposition of the property, believes that the Hamilton officials were so Impressed with the proposition yesterday that ; there is little doubt but that they will decide to accept the terms. The company has a foundry in Hamilton employing about 150 men and it is understood that conditions there prevent a further expansion. The foundry specializes in the castings of lathe beds. The company also manufactures a line of stoves and ornamental brie a brae. It has been located in Hamilton for sixteen years. Secretary Haas of the Commercial club believes that a definite answer will be made by company officials within the next week. ; , DIVORCE GRANTED Warner Pemberton was granted a divorce from Ada Pemberton this morning In circuit court. He alleged that his wife abandoned him and went to live with her mother. He said she refused to return to him although he offered her a. nice home.

street bridge will be blocked this

are following the principle of Held City Responsible. City Attorney Bond informed the mayor that unless the bridge was closed the city would be liable for any deaths or accidents resulting from the collapse of the structure. "Under the statutes the county gov. eminent would In no way be held responsible for any mishap to the Main street bridge." Mr. Bond declared. "The city would shoulder the entire responsibility." . The executive officers of the city also fear If the -bridge la. not closed, and some tragedy, should result, they would expose themselves to charges of criminal negligence. With the closing of the principal connecting span between Richmond and West Richmond, practically all traffic between the two sections of the city would be deflected to the Do ran bridge, which spans the river at North D street and Richmond avenue. How long this bridge, less powerfully constructed than the Main street bridge, but in much better repair, can stand the strain of heavily increased traffic is another question bothering the city officials. The heavy traction cars may be expected to do considerable damage to this bridge. Explains Legal Status. According to the opinion given by the city attorney today, the city is entirely responsible for the failure to keep the Main street bridge in a proper state of repair. He said the state law does not require the county to do more than construct bridges in incorporated towns. The county "may" provide for the maintenance of such bridges, but is not obligated to do so. He also stated that the county can not under the law, be held liable for accidents occurring on any bridges, while the city, on the other hand, is held strictly liable for such accidents. West Richmond people, it was learn ed today, are to get behind a movement to have the present Main street bridge replaced by a modern concrete structure, extending from a point near the corner of Main and Second streets to where the western end of the present bridge now is. They claim this will eliminate the slope of the present bridge, and will not damage property on Main street between Second street and the C. & O. tracks. Opposes Grade Crossing. City Attorney Bond is not favorable to this plan, because it would provide a grade crossing of the C. & O. railroad on the bridge. Although the county commissioners in session yesterday afternoon ordered the county attorney to issue an order to the Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction company to discontinue running cars across the bridge. County Attorney Hoelscher refused to issue the order. County Attorney Hoelscher was not present at the meeting of the commissioners. Receives Instructions. "The county has no interest in the matter legally," said Mr. Hoelscher today. "I received the instructions from the county commissioners, but have not acted in the matter, because it is beyond the jurisdiction of the county to close the bridge. All liability is on-the- city in this matter, for as soon as the bridge was completed all jurisdiction was turned over to the city, to become' a part of a city street. "I will consult with the commissioners, however, and will issue the order in conjunction with the city attorney, if they so desire," he added. Accordlng.to.the state law, the eotm- f ty is not responsible or can not be J held liable for any accidents on the ' public highways. Therefore, an order j to the traction company would be unnecessary in relieving the county of liability in case of accident. RUSSIAN BARK LOST LONDON. ' Aug. 11. The Russian ; bark Baltzer'has been sank by a Oer- i man submarine. The captain and sev- . en men of the crew were landed today.)