Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 42, Number 30, 16 December 1916 — Page 1

PALLADIUM HOME EDITION VOL. XLII., NO. 30- SRJ?itT,lwRICHMOND, IN P., SATURDAY EVENING, DEC. 16, 1916. SINGLE COPY. 2 CENTS nn JV UvJ u

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NEW DRIVES PUT FRENCH FAR AHEAD AT VERDUN

9,000 Men and 80 Guns Lost by Germans in Two-Mile Advance by General Nivelle. DUMA OF RUSSIA VOTES ON OVERTURES Favors Categorical Refusal by Entente Governments to Enter Into Negotiations Under Existing Status. Momentarily the western front Is again the center of attention, with the French victory at Verdun occupying the chief place in the war news. General Nivelle's stroke has brought the French back, according to their reports, nearly to the line they occupied when the Germans began their great drive for Verdun last February. Today's dispatches report that the German crown prince's troops lost nearly 9,000 men in prisoners and eighty guns during the French advance which was affected to a depth of approximately two miles along a six-mile front. Petrograd advices carrying the report of the resolution of the Russian duma favoring a categorical refusal by the entente government to 'enter into peace negotiations under present conditions, quotes foreign minister Pokrovlsky as declaring in his address to the duma that Russia and her allies are at one in the conviction that the war must be carried on to a vic torious conclusion. Russian troops have repuisea an .Ausiro-uerman-torus which was attempting to advance in the Oitus valley , on the Moldavian front of Roum&nia, the Russian war office announced today. A successful bombardment of the Vulgarian Black Sea coast by Russian war ships also is reported. TUMULTY ANSWERS NOTE TO PRESIDENT ASKING SIGNATURE An answer from the White House has been received by the Wayne County Anti-Tuberculosis society to It request for the president's autograph. Evidently President Wilson was too busy with foreign affairs to write personally, but Secretary Tumulty answered and enclosed a letter ifrora President Wilson to Dr. Philip ;P. Jacobs of New York, a national ) antituberculosis worker. Secretary Tumulty's letter follows: "The White House. "Washington, Dec. 13, 1916. "Gentlemen:. The president asks I me to acknowledge the receipt of your , latter of December 11th, and to send you the enclosed copy of a letter : which he addressed recently to an official of the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, and which he trusts will be of service to you. Sincerely yours, J. P. Tumulty, Secretary to the President." The enclosure expressed the presi dent's hope that people would be gen erous In the purchase of seals. WHEAT GOES UPWARD CHICAGO. Dec. 16. Wheat leaped upward today in response to the Rus elan duma's rejection of peace terms and because of reports that the United ftates would not Intervene at present First sales showed "an advance of as much as 8 1-4 cents a bushel. July jumping to $1.40 as against $1.31 3-4 at yesterday s close. ELECTRICIANS ORGANIZE An Electricians' union has been or ganized in Richmond. The charter will be left open until next Friday. Weather Forecast For Indiana by United States Weath tr Bureau Cloudy tonight and Sunday. Probably snow." Warmer. Temperature Today Noon 1G Yesterday Maximum 13 Minimum 11 below For Wayne County by W. E. Moore Partly cloudy tonight and Sunday. Occasional snows and not so cold. General Conditions A storm crossed the la' -3 last night with great velocity and is causing snows over the Eastern states today. Great area of low barometric pressure over southern Canada will cause rising temperatures over the West Very cold in thtouth. Freezing temperatures over Mississippi and Louisanna. .

GERMANS UNABLE TO THWART SKILFULLY EXECUTED ATTACK

PARIS, (via London), Dec. 16. As a last act before assuming the chief commandre of the French armies on the western front General Nivelle today smashed the German line east of the Meuse along a front of six miles. The victory has advanced the French positions two miles and they are now within a short distance of where the Germans stood at the outset of the great Verdun drive. The military au thorities described the victory as com plete and crushing and carried out without a hitch. Assembles Men and Guns Since his last great stroke when the blood soaked ruins of Fort Vaux and Douaumont fell once more into the hands of Verdun's defenders General Nivelle has been quietly preparing to push his advantage by an attack on a larger scale. Men and guns had been assembled, shells piled and everything was in readiness for the moment when the General should see his op portunity. The blow fell like a thunderbolt. A terrific artillery preparation flattened the German defenses, the guns were elevated and threw a curtain of steel behind which the infantry from every trench from Pepper hill to beyond Damloup dashed forward on an enemy still stunned by the bombardment. Could Not Stem Tide In places the Germans gallantly strove to hold their ground but Gener PREMIER'S ILLNESS MAY PREVENT HIS SPEAKING TUESDAY LONDON, Dec. 16. It appears doubtful today whether Premier LloydGeorge will be able to go before the House of Commons on Tuesday next. Ho is making steady progress toward recovery but it is considered unlikely that his physicians will allow him to speak next week as his voice is affected. , At any rate., iti.fojaot. expected that "the government will be by that time in a position to make a statement regarding the German peace proposals. TAXES UP OVERTURES WITH SEG. LANSING WASHINGTON. Dec. 16. Count Von Bernstorff, the German ambassador, conferred with Secretary Lansing today seeking information as to the attitude of the United States toward the peace proposals of the Central Powers, to discuss the general subject of peace from this government's viewpoint and to give any information Mr. Lansing might desire on the attitude of the German government. MRS. WRIGLEY SEES THROUGH PROPOSALS Mrs. Sarah A. Wrigley, 42 South Fourteenth street, has her own ideas about the recent German peace proposals which she has tersely summed in the following verse, entitled "The Kaiser's Reason:" The Russian Bear is drawing near, The Kaier now trembles with fear; He Advocates a Polish throne To barricade and guard his own. ORDER STEEL BARGES PITTSBURGH, Pa.. Dec. 16. Contracts for 70 all-steel barges of 1,000 tons capacity and three towboats of 1,000 horse-power to be used in the coal trade on the Monongahela river have been let by the United States steel corporation. The fleet when completed will equal in size the present total of craft on the Monongahela. BARTEL ACCEPTING PARK FUND GIFTS Citizens of Wayne county have been given an opportunity to make substantial response to the appeal of Governor Ralston and Governor-elect Goodrich in behalf of the state park movement. Representative-elect William Bartel, jr., has been asked to accept donations for the park fund and to forward them to the central committee. SIX ASK FOR JOBS AS $6 DOOR KEEPERS Six Wayne county men want to be door keepers of the house of representatives at the next legislature. They have filed their applications with Representative-elect William Bartel, jr. The job pays $6 a day and offers an opportunity for a man to be "on the Inside" of plans of the legislature. BOY SCOUTS A8SIST POOR ON CHRISTMAS To make final arrangements for of fering assistance to various charity organizations in the distribution of gifts among- the city's poor on Christmas, all boy scouts of Richmond have been asked to meet in the council chamber, city hall at 7:30 o'clock next Wednesday night

al Nivelle's dispositions were so well made that they were generally powerless to stem, even momentarily, the tide. One after another Vacherauville and Louvemont villages, Chambrette farm and the Hardaumont and Besonvaux works fell without the defenders having time to carry away either guna or material and prisoners began to stream steadily rearward to pens prepared for their reception. The weather, according to hitherto accepted notions, was all against tho offensive. It was wet and misty and the French officers believe that the fact undoubtedly led the Germans to miscalculate the probabilities of attack. The wretched weather did not prevent also the aviators from rendering valuable aid to the attack.

NEW YORK EXPENDS $500,000 TO GLEAN SNOW FROM STREETS NEW YORK, Dec. 16. The first real snow of the winter will cost New York City about $500,000. A foot of snow fell yesterday between 5 a. m. and 7 p. m., and the street cleaning department will be busy for two or three days carting it away. The fall was the greatest here in any day since December 26-27, 1890, when fourteen inches fell in twentyfour hours. Traffic is still blockaded today owing to . the shortage of men to clear the streets. Two yearn ago 40,000 men were enrolled as emergency snow handlers. One year ago the rolls of the street cleaning department carried 15,000. Answer Emergency Call V: But this year only 6.000 emergency men are enrolled and only , half of these answered the call for work 'last night. These laborers were assisted by between 2,000 and 3,000 students of local, colleges who Went to work at ll' p, in. andrreceived thirty cents an hours. . . The storm in this vicinity caused comparatively little trouble to the steam railroads and the telegraph and telegraph companies. The ease with which the local telephone company now defeats a big snowstorm was pointed out last night at a dinner of the engineering deportment of the American telephone and telegraph company. It was said that in 1882 a small sleet storm put every telephone line in New York out of commission save ore, and that one was less than a block long. Since 1882 the telephone lines here have been placed under ground. NO -MAIL DELIVERY ON CHRISTMAS EVE A mistaken impression that the post office will do business Sunday, Decern ber 24, exists in Richmond, according to Superintendent of Mails Wilson. The office will be closed entirely Sunday and will ' observe holiday hours Christmas day. There will be no cessation in the package delivery on either day, but no schedules for. delivery will be observed. The official schedules follow: Christmas day General delivery, stamp window will be open until 10 &. m. Money order and register office closed all day. City carriers will make one business, and one residence delivery. No street box collection will be made in the evening. Rural carriers will serve their routes. Clerks in the office will dispatch mails as usual. The post office will not be open for business on Sunday, December 24, but a delivery by wagons and automobiles of parcels will be made. REFUSED LICENSE; TWO TO COVINGTON This was set for the wedding day and or course tne mere fact that a license could not be obtained at the Wayne county clerk's office would not be permitted to cause postponement of the event. At 10 o'clock a handsome young man led a blushing young woman into the clerk'3 office. A marriage license was the aim. But the "target" was obscured by that Indiana law which forbids the issuing of license where the woman has not lived in the state thirty days. She gave her home as Milwaukee, Wis. The problem was solved when the ticket agent at the Pennsylvania station informed the man that there was plenty of time to get to Covington, Ky., before the marriage license office closed. GAS STOPS FACTORIES WHEELING, W. Va., Dec. 16. Fif teen thousand workmen are idle here today as a result of a serious shortage of natural gas which has forced almost every factory and mill In the Wheeling district dependent , upon gas for fuel to close. The shortage is said to be due to the severe winter weather here

Xmas Fund

Seats Sell With Rush Demands for seats at the special vaudeville attraction brought here Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week by O. G. Murray and the Palladium to create a Christmas fund for dispensing cheer to all the children of the city, show that the house will be packed. Never in the history of vaudeville in Richmond has there been such an advance demand for . seats as is th case now. When the plat opened Thursdav. reservations be can to be made at once. This is taken to meanl that the houses will be sold out next week. If you want to be sure that you will obtain seats, make your reservations today. Clever acts have been booked and the performance is of high class. The proceeds will bring happiness to hundreds of children. The prices are ten. twenty and thirty cents. The usua' matinees will be given Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 14 PERSONS KILLED AT MUNITION PLANT COPENHAGEN, Dec. 16. Fourteen persons were killed and seventy-seven others were injured by a violent explosion last night at a munitions factory at Felixdorf, a village of lower Austria in the district of Wiener-Nu-stadt, says the Frie Press. RAIL COMMISSION MAY SERVE LONGER WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. Extension of the life of the joint congressional committee investigating railroad problems until January 1, 1918, is sought in a resolution prepared, for introduction in the house today Jby representative Adam son, vice chairman of the committee. The committee decided that its members had so much wort ahead of them during the short session, particularly in connection with proposed railroad legislation, that it could not give adequate attention to the railroad investigation at this time. Senator Newlands, chairman of the committee, said he believed an extra session of congress should be held if the railroad legislation is not enacted at this session. CONFIRM ACCEPTANCE PARIS, Dec. 16. An official telegram announcing that Greece has accepted unreservedly the conditions of the allies was received at the foreign office at midnight, according to the Petit Journal. ELKS SLIP TOYS IN SOME BASKETS Last Christmas Elks who distributed Christmas baskets filled with food found that in many homes Santa Claus had failed to put In an appearance and tears filled the eyes of the youngsters in these homes in conse quence. This year the Elks have arranged to distribute toys and some badly needed clothing to a number of chil dren, a list of whom has already been secured, in addition to the baskets of L foodstuffs. Only tne most deserving poor people will receive aid from the Elks and the Christmas list now numbers only 75 families. 400 ELK ARE KILLED LIVINGSTONE, Mont, Dec. 16. Hunters estimated today that 400 elk were killed just outside the northern boundary of Yellowstone National park during the last two days of the hunt ing season which closed last night. Heavy snow storms of the last week drove hundreds of the elk from tho mountainous regions of the park into lower altitudes where the hunters were waiting for them. BANKS SHOW RESERVE : NEW YORK, Dec. 16 The state ment of the actual condition of clear ing house banks an trust companies for the week shows that they hold $94,447,320 reserve in excess of legal requirement. This is an increase of $20 656,480 over last week. : INVOKES OLD LAWS , TO OBTAIN RECRUITS WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. A law passed more than half a century ago and in-operative since the civil war Is to be invoked by the war 'department to stimulate army recruiting. The old statute, unearthed by adjutant general McCain, provides for payment of $2 to any civilian for each man he persuades to enlist in the army. . REPORT8 GUNS TAKEN PARIS, Dec. 16. The number of guns captured from the Germans in General Nivelle's victory on the Verdun front, as counted un to the nreoent is eighty, according to the latest re.nor re&chinx Paris.

RAILROAD HEADS MEET EMPLOYES TO TALK TERMS

CHICAGO, Dec. 16. Hale Holden, president of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad, who was chairman of the committee of railroad executives which met President Wilson and the Brotherhood officials in Washing ton last summer, when a railroad strike was threatened, confirmed today that informal conferences had been held by railroad representatives with brotherhood officials concerning a settlement out of court of the controversy between the railroads and their employes. W. G. Lee, president of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen also announced at Evansville, Indiana, last night that negotiations are under wav between leaders of the four brotherhoods and operating officials of several railroads looking to a settlement of the entire controversy before January 1, when the Adamson law is to go into effect. Both Mr. Lee and Mr. Holden said, however, that the discussions had not progressed far enough even to suggest a basis for a permanent settlement. "I don't feel that I can say much more than that the conferences have been held between the brotherhood men and the railroad officials," said Mr. Holden. "The meetings have been of a purely informal nature." PUBLISHERS STUDY THE DISTRIBUTION OF PAPER SUPPLY WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. Newspaper publishers, news print manufacturers and paper dealers met here today with the Federal trade commission to work out a plan of equitable distrjbutlon'of the American and Canadian news print supply, and if pos sible to arrive at an agreement con cerning "prices ' and . an .. increase in production. The meeting was called by the trade commission and the suggestion of manufacturers. The trade commission is in no position to fix responsibility for the shortage, it was declared. Smaller publishers asked the commission to fix a flat price for news print in addition to planning equitable distribution. Jobbers denied any re sponsibility for conditions and declared publishers were panic stricken. They said there was no such shortage as reported, that Jobbers were not making any greater profits than in the last fifteen years and they were willing to co-operate in any way possible. MORE FUNDS NEEDED BY SALVATION ARMY Handicapped by Illness of two of the workers who had been counted on to make house-to-house solicitation for Salvation Army Xmas funds, Captain Miller today announced that only $58 had been obtained. The money will be used for the distribution of Christmas baskets which the captain will place in the homes. He has abandoned the idea of a dinner on the ground that many loafers and undeserving persons benefit from a public dinner while the suffer-, ings of the worthy remain unalleviated. Food and fruit will be accepted at the Rhoda Temple, 515 North A street. Money or checks will be re ceived at 37 South Fourth street. GREECE BOWS TO ULTIMATUM LONDON, Dec. 16. According to an Athens dispatch to Reuters, - Greece has replied to the allies' ultimatum by saying that it accepts the demands made on it as it is desirous of giving another manifest proof of the sincerely friendly sentiments which have always animated it toward the entente. The reply says that no hostile movements of troops have ever taken place or been projected and that the trans fer of material northwards will im mediately cease. 'Orders have already been given, it is stated, regarding the movements of troops and war material and will be carried out as rapidly as possible. v , MEAT IS CONSERVED BY ITALIAN HOTELS ROME, Dec. 16. A decree has been issued forbidding for two weeks the manufacture of candies or cake or their transmission by the post or rail roads. The decree further forbids hotels to serve meals containing more than one meat course. The decree will prevent the sending of an enormous number of Christmas dainties intend

ed for the soldiers at the front. ' ,

WILSON WITHHOLDS COMMENT ON NOTE PROPOSING PEAGE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. President Wilson's decision to forward the central powers' peace notes to the entente allies without any mediation offer by the American government, left today only the task of translation and revision of the phraseology to be finished before they are transmitted. The president's determination to have the United States government act only as a medium for exchange of the notes between the hostile belligerents was made after a prolonged cabinet meeting late yesterday. COUNTY ORDERS BONDS TO MEET BRIDGE EXPENSE County commissioners in session today ordered bonds Issued to cover erection of the South G and Main street bridges. For the Main street structure, county council this week authorized the Issuing of bonds amounting to $180,000 and for the South G street bridge, the council authorized the issuing of $100,000 worth of bonds to cover that part of erection expenses which can not be borne by the $85,000 sinking fund. County Auditor Bowman was authorized to advertise for sale part of the bond issue to raise money which will be needed immediately. . The exact amount which will be sold at first will be decided upon within a few days. Bonds Dated For Jan. 1 All bonds will be dated January 1, 1917, and will draw interest from that date. It was decided today that the bonds will be sold as the money is needed. AH bonds will be kept in the auditor's or treasurer's safe until they are sold. Thus the buyer when he pays for the bonds will also have to pay the accrued interest from January 1 to the county. In this way the bonds will not be costing the county any great amount of interest until the money for them is actually needed. Bonds must be advertised at least six weeks before they can be sold. Engineer Mueller will receive the first money obtained from the sale of bonds. When the contract for the bridges is let, he is to receive fivesevenths of his pay. His contract says that he shall receive two and onehalf per cent, of the contract prices of the bridges for drawing the plans. The county reserves the right of providing inspectors. County Surveyor end several assistants will have charge of the inspection. SETTLEMENT SHEET . DISCLOSES SHARE GHAMNESS OBTAINS Albert Chamness, county treasurer, will receive from the county, $1 038.57 for collecting $17,309.43 delinquent taxes between the first Monday In May and the first Monday in November, 1916. This was found today when the fall settlement sheet was made public by the county auditor. The treasurer is given the percentage to cover costs of collection. During most of the summer season Mr. Chamness had two special collectors at work gathering in this $17,409.43 delinquent taxes. Their salaries came cut of his six per cent Data on Spring Settlement The spring settlement sheet shows that Mr. Chamness received $756.88 for collecting $12,614.60 between the first Monday of November 1915, and the first Monday in May, 1916. This makes the total amount paid him un der law in 1916 for having collected delinquent taxes $1,795.45. Besides this, next June he will receive a per rentage for the several thousands of dollars which now being collected by special collectors. The contract under which the special collectors are working as a matter of business, has never been made public. Collects All Back Tax. Counting collections which have been made since, November 7, $95,000 delinquent tax has been collected by Mr. Chamness during his four years in office. This will be greatly increased by future collections of state depu ties now at work here. Mr. Chamness is the first treasurer who has ever cleared up all back taxes that could be collected. The way in which he has carried out his Oath of office will sejt a new precedent for treasurers who follow. As county treasurer, Mr. Chamnes? has received an anuual salary of $5,000. As city treasurer he has received during this time an annual salary of $1,300. Out of these salaries granted him by law, he has had to pay salaries of a deputy and two or three other ac countants. For collecting $95,000 delinquent taxes during his four years term, the county under law hac granted the retiring treasurer at least $4.750. Out of this he has had to pay salaries of special deputy collectors. The treasurer's office is the best paring one in the county. The county auditor receives an annual salary of

$3,900.

POLITICIANS WONDER IF GRAY PLOTS FOR REVENGE!

Dismissal of Civil Service Employers on Northern Indiana for Political Activity; Starts Speculation. ' . DURING CAMPAIGN SOLON MADE CHARGE Consistent Fight for Return of Spoils System Lends Foundation to Local MenV Fear. Four federal civil service employes in the northern part of the state bavins been dismissed from the govern ment's service as a result of the activities of some of the Democrats members of the Indiana congressional delegation; local politicians are won dering whether Rep. Flnly H. Gray of the Sixth district, serving his last term in congress. Is sharpening his ax for certain postal employes against whom he declared a feud during the recent campaign. In practically every speech made by Mr. Gray during the campaign last fall he made a bitter attack upon members of an association of postal employes, charging that because he had refused to support the bill which would have provided a pension system for postal employes the organization had, threatened to use its influence to accomplish bis defeat Gray Repeated Charges. - -" Although representatives of the organization absolutely refuted these charges of Rep. Gray he persisted in making his accusation. There is considerable speculation as i to whether Rep. Gray will follow the example of some of his Democratic associates of the Indiana congressional : delegation and prefer charges against a number of postal employes alleging undue political activity on their part. The four civil service men in Northern Indiana who have been removed frcm office are said to be Republicans and it is stated that their places have been taken by "deserving Democrats." Gray Opposes System. Rep. Gray during his congressional career has been a bitter opponent of the civil service system and at the laet session of congress was one of a group of congressmen who took an active part in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the merit system and restore the old spoils system. It has always been charged that he was the instigator of the movement which turned out of office practically every civil service rural mail carrier in Wayne county, a year ago. . REPORT OF VIEWERS FAVORS CEMENT ROAD IN CENTER HIGHWAY After much delay, viewers for the Dcnbar road that section of the National highway in Center township extending west from the central part of Centerville to the Jackson Hill school house turned In a favorable report on the improvement to county commissioners today. This means that two and one-half miles more of the National road in Wayne county will be cemented with in the next two years. Viewers estimated that the improvement will cost $48,185. Worst Section of Road. Surveyor Peacock said today that this is the worst section of the National road between Richmond and Indianapolis and that its improvement is badly needed. The other viewers were K. D. Cofield and Hiram Cook. Mr. Cofield said that be had held out a long time before consenting to the report because he cannot convince himself that the improvement is worth the money it will cost . Contracts were let last summer for cementing the highway through Jackson township and through the eastern part of Center township. When these improvements have been made and the Dunbar road has been cemented there will remain a mile of unimproved road extending east from the JacksonCenter township line. Because Center township is dangerously near its tax limit this mile cannot be improved for several years to come. CHICAGO'S MORALITY 8HOW8 IMPROVEMENT CHICAGO. Dec. 16. Statistics announced today by Charles C. Healey, chief of police, show that up to date In 1916 there , were fewer holdups. burglaries and larcenies In ' Chicago than in the previous year, but that the number of automobiles stolen was larger. The value of the year's loot was given, in round figures, at $2,000,000. In the year, he stated, 3,200 motor cars were stolen, of which 100

have not been recovered. :