Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1909 — Page 1

VOL. XLL

EARLY MORNING FIRE DESTROYS BUILDINGS

Frank King’s Blacksmith Shop and Ike Glazebrook’s Front Street Buildings Go Up in Smoke.

Mrs. Chas. W. Rhoades, wife of the assistant chief of the fire department, discovered flames Issuing from the roof of Frank King’s blacksmith shop, on Front street, just opposite tho Rhoades’ residence, at about 15 minutes before 6 o’clock this Thursday morning. She promptly turned in a fire alarm and the shrill notes of the whistle piped out clearly on the crisp morning air. The fire had a good start and the dry timbers furnished opportunity for the flames to spread rapidly. The fire company made quick response to the alarm and before 6 o’clock had three hose streams playing on the flames. But the flames were stubborn, and as the rooms we e not plastered but simply cased with shiplap the fire soon enveloped the entire frame structure which extended backward to the river bank, a distance of almost 200 feet, and also the frame building which adjoined the blacksmith building on the north. The firemen faught valiantly with well-directed efforts, but the flames were not conquered until the roofs of the buildings had fallen in and much of the side walls were destroyed, 1 The buildings belonged to Isaac Glazebrook and only the sma'l whl e building north of the blacksmith shop was insured and it for only S4OO. The buildings probably cost in the neighborhood of $2,500 and while seme of the lumber can be saved, it will probably be worth about what it is worth to get it out Mr. King had about $2,000 worth Of stock and tools and carried S3OO insurance. The extent of his loss can not be ascertained at this time. His stock was largely iron and this will practically all be saved. His chief concern was about his ledger and account books which were in his safe. He was certain that he had locked the safe before he went home Wednesday evening, but when acc.ss was made to the safe after the fire it was found to be unlocked and the door open. The floor under the safe had partly given way and the safe was thrown forward in such a manner that had the safe not been locked it would have come open. Mr. King thinks it possible that the heat

EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS AT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

EVANGELIST HERBERT YEUELL.

The Christian church considers herself most fortunate In securing the services of Evangelist Herbert Yeuell, of Washington, D. C., to conduct their evangelistic metlngs. Rev, Yeuell Is one of the most successful evangelists of the present time. He is an Englishman by birth, buti an American citizen. He was educate 4 at the Queen Elizabeth College, London; and t|ie Cincinnati Law school. He Is a young man very little over thirty. At the age of ten he decided to be a minister. He was first a pastor but for six years has been an evangelist. His work has been wonderfully blessed by God, having led, in this time, over 15,000 people to Christ He Is an evangelist of the new school and does not resort to th old time emotion arousing methods.

THE RENSSELAER REPUBLICAN

sprung the door enough to cause it to open. As he had no money in the safe and there was no evidence of attempted burglary that theory is quite unlikely. The books were considerably scorched and burned about the edges, but it is probable that all of the accounts are still legible and that no loss from that source will ensue. In the small building E. J. Christman, a printer employed on the Jasper County Deipocrat, had his household goods stored. He had rented the house which Joe Jeffries is vacating on Vanßensselaer street, and was temporarily boarding at Mrs. Mattle Grant’s. His things were taken out of the room and not damaged except by water.

In the rear of the large room on the river bank several buggies were stored and also about 50 of the canvas covered coops which belong to the poultry association. These were all saved. The association owns about 100 other coops, which were rented to the Lowell association for their exhibit this week. The cold was bitter and the fire fighters had a difficult time. They wore their long rubber coats and rubber hats and the water froze as soon as it touched them, and they suffered intensely from the exposure. Mrs. C. W. Rhoades made coffee in a large pot and went from one to another serving hot coffee, and later Mrs. Grant Warner did the same thing, also serving hot egg sandwiches. These thoughtful and charitable acts mitigated the suffering and before the firemen left their work they had taken all the equipment to the engine house and hung the hose up to dry. This was necessary to have things in shape in case of later emergency. The fire company were up against a hard proposition as the buildings were all frame and a trap for fire. But the company did fine work, and again, proved its efficiency. The origin of the fire is a mystery. It probably started in the blacksmith room; possibly from the stove and possibly from a spark that had found lodgment in some flamable substance and had smouldered for hours before breaking into flames.

Evangelist Yeuell has been secured first, because of his splendid Christian spirit Second, because he is competent and successful, third, because he bears the reputation of being free from personal glory or possessing even a taint of sectarianism. Fourth because we believe he is the best evangelist for Rensselaer and Jasper county that can be secured. We take great pleasure in presenting him to the public and heartily Invite every one to come and hear him. The meetings will begin on Sunday morning.

G. H. CLARKE, Pastor.

About the Factory.

The copy for the contracts, pass books and large posters for the lot sale have been sent to the Republican and as soon as the large cut of the platted suburb arrives they will be printed. Snice the visit of one of the factory owners here President Warren Robinson has had some correspondence with him and with the Industrial Company concerning the proposition. They do not feel ready to make a bona fide proposition to come here until they are able to secure from the Monon railroad a promise of some things In which they are both much interested, viz. relating to side tracks, freight rates, etc. This matter is now being considered between the railroad company and the manufacturers and the proposition from the latter must await an adjustment between the two. Heavy winter, underwear In unions and two piece suits at exceptionally low prices. Be sure and Invest in some of these garments as you will save a great deal. _

DUVALL & LUNDY.

ISSUED TWICE A WEEK—TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1909.

Banker Dies in Poor House.

Laporte, Ind., aJn. 4.—Thomas W. Loomis, aged 75 years, at one time prominently identified with banking interests in Philadelphia, Pa., and Painville, Ohio, died Sunday in the Laporte county poor house. He dissipated a large fortune in drink and then became a public charge to spend his last year as a pauper.

Judge Gillett Retires.

Valparaiso Messenger: Judge John H. Gillett, of Hammond, who has served as judge on the Indiana Supreme Court bench for the past five years, retired on Saturday being succeeded by Q. A. Meyers. Judge Gillett will practice law at Hammond. His son, Gerald Gillett will be associated with him.

County Assessors to Meet

“ Assessor Lewis has received a letter from John E. Reed, recretary of the state board of tax commissioners, announcing the date of the annual meeting of the county assessors of Indiana with the state tax board. The meeting will be held in room 12 in the state house on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday January 12, 13 and 14. The Republican for your sale bl’ls.

STANDARD OIL FINE DOES NOT STAND

Supreme Court Refuses to Review the Case and the Decision of Court of Appeals Holds.

Those wl^e s people who are in t' e habit of saying “1 told you so” can. now come forth and spring the selfpraising sentence, proclaiming their early knowledge that the big Standard Oil fine would not stand. They were right. The fine failed and while the Standard Oil company is given no coat of whitewash by the decision, the government in its efforts to punish that monstre us. corporation for its action in accepting rebates from the Alton railroad and thereby stifling competition, has signally failed. The case is not necessarily out of the courts, but gees back to the very place of beginning In the district court of Chicago, where it may or may not be tried again. From our personal way of thinking the court of appeals and the supreme court were both practically right and Judge Landis was largely wrong. The Standard Oil company was guilty and should have been fined, but there was no just reason for fining it the maximum limit on each count The courts are not established for the purpose of persecution but for reformation and the interests of the country and the welfare of all concerned would have been as well or better served had the minimum fine been imposed. The rebate system was one that was being Indulged In by not only the Standard Oil company but by every other corporation and about every Individual that could get In on the ground floor and secure some advantage over a competitor that was denied the rebate by the carrying company. The Alton railroad company like every other freight transportation company In t’ e United States was required to publish a tariff showing Its freight rates, which were to be alike to all shippers. The testimony proved that In more than 1,400 shipments the Standard Co. had been rebated a part of the r freight, while presumably compe Ing oil companies were required to pay the schedule price and were not rebated. The practice was Indulged In by other corporations shipping large amounts of their product We are of the opinion that If some Rensselaer merchant could have in-' duced the Monon railroad company to haVe refunded half of the freight paid by him he would have taken the money without regard to the fact that his competitor was placed at

a disadvantage that the law aimed to protect him In. Judge Landis evidently did get only wish to break up the rebate system but to put a kink Into the Standard Oil Co., a thing that should not have entered Into the merits of the case. If two persons in Rensselaer are arrested for some offense

Mrs. Shedd's Operation Successful.

Mrs. 8. S.' Shedd was operated on at St Luke’s hospital in Chicago Tuesday and withstood the surgeon’s work very nicely. Less than an hour was required to perform the operation. One gall stone about the size of a hickory hut was found firmly imbedded in the cystic gall duct and the rail bladder was removed. It is quite certain that Mrs. Shedd will entirely recover from the operation and that her health will be restored.

Crown Point Has a Romance.

Crown Point had a romance tjjis week in the way of an elopement of a married woman who left her home on Court street with another man, and they were captured by Marshal Young and the husband who followed with an automobile, last Tuesday, to the neighborhood of Roselawn. They were brought back and it is reported the runaway man is in jail, charged with abduction. The woman in question is said to be “skittish” and has run away before.—Lake County Star.

If j you want a good dairy cow or a good horse, see the C. G. Hammond sale list. The sale takes place Thursday, Jan. 14th. The Republican for your sale bills.

and each Is proven guilty there is no trial should fine the rich one the 1 maximum fine and the poor one the minimum fine. If it Is the first convicted offense for each the alm <f the court should be to reform them and this could best be done by as e sing the minimum fine, and common court practice has established that rule. Judge Landis had no pre edent for assessing the maximum fire, and his eagerness to assess it seems responsible for a miscarriage of justke. In the trial before Judga Landis ho refused to hear testimony that showed , knowledge and Intent on the pait cf the company and In figuring up the fine be assessed it against each case of shipment. The court of appeals | held that he should have admitted the evidence in the first case and that ! the company was guilty not in the case of each shipment but In each time that settlement was made on rebates. For example, If three or four shipments were made, and after the last was made the oil company ■ would be given a check for the agr ed rebate on four shipments it would be 1 guilty but one time, but if settlement was made after each shipment the ■ company would be guilty each time. I Another error of Judge Landis, as voiced In the opinion of the court of appeals, was his action In investigating the ability of the Standard 01 Co. to pay the fine after the trial. It is the duty of the court to prescribe the punishment but not to exei cute It, and Mr. Landis again was re- ‘ sponsible for the reversal of the decision because of his ardor In seeing It enforced. All of these reasons by the couit of appeals are technical and do not j effect the guilt or Innocence of the .company being tried. They do ssrve to illustrate the faults of our higher courts, who should be empowered |to rectify errors of the lower courts without annulling the action of the court in* Its entirety. Thus, threourt of appeals should have been able after establishing that* the Standard Oil Co. was proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, to have Imposed the smaller fine and in the reduced number of cases. Then the supreme court could have passed on it and If there were other corrections to be made that tribunal could have made them and the rebate system would have been broken up. the lower courts would have had a guide for their future action and a guilty corporation would have received a just fine. The Standard Oil Co., stands convicted, clearly and undeniably go, and yet it Is not punished. A brash judge would have persecuted It; a higher, court abuses the public. The told you so" fellows are having their innings.

COUNTY COMISSIONERS HOLD MONTHLY SESSION

Board Orders Expert Examination of Books for Adjustment of Accounts of Former Treasurer Nichols.

The board of county commissioners held their regular monthly session this week and among the knotty problems they had to settle was an adjustment of the disputed settlement with S. R. Nichols, former county treasurer. Mr. Nichols’ term of office expired a year ago and he made settlement according to the records he had kept The auditor had him charged with $5,026.48 more than he paid over to his successor. Since that time errors in Nichols’ favor have been found to the amoun of sl,525, and believing that there are other errors sufficient to cover the protested amount Mr. Nichols asked the board to direct an examination of the books of the treasurer and auditor and this was done. Mr. Nichols then paid into the treasurer the sum of $3,549.47, the full amount with which he was charged and it was agreed that any errors either in his favor or in favor of the county would be. settled as equity may require. The proceedgins of the county commissioners show the following record of the proceedings: In the matter of settlement with S. R. Nichols, ex-county Treasurer. Whereas the treasurer’s books now show that 8. R. Nichols as ex-treas-urer has not made full settlement and should pay pie balance as shown on the books, to-wit $5,026.48. On examination of the records the following facts are shown:

That claim number 6044 allowed June term, 1907, for bonds and interest on Knowlton stone read, amounting to $3,460.83 was allowed $2,460.83, there being a clerical errer In addition as shown by claim. Asmunt due Nichols $1,000.00. That the Interest coupons falling due May 4, 1904, amounting to S4OO on South Barkley gravel road were paid by said Nichols, as treasurer, but were never filed for by claim. Amount due Nichols S4OO. That the spring collections for payment of bonds on South Barkley gravel road, 1906, amounted to $948.34. That the figures were transposed and Nichols, as treasurer, was charged with $984.34. Amount due Nichols $36. That the spring collections, 1907, for payment of bonds on n ditch amounted to $1,725.94. That Nichols, as treasurer, was charged with $1,754.95. Amount due Nlcho's $29.01.

That at the December settlement, 1904, at number 266, Carpenter township tax collected was $17.13. That Nichols, as treasurer, was charged with $77.13. Amount due Nichols $69. It- Is further found that there hs been an error made in amount of claims filed by S. R. Nichols, as treasurer, for bonds and Interest coupons on Nissius ditch. Amount of ‘bonds and coupons dde, $4,944.00; amount paid Nichols, $4,972.00; amount due Nissius fund, S4B. Amount due from Nichols on settlement, $5,026.48; amount due from Nichols on Nissius ditch, S4B 00; total amount due $5,074.48. Amount due Nichols—Knowltcn bonds and interest, $1,00000; South Barkley gravel road bonds, $400.00; South Barkley collection, $36.00; Garrison ditch collections; $29.01; error

1967 Law Makes Jasper County $2,745.41.

County Treasurer Jesse D. Allman has figured up the amount of Interest paid to Jasper county by the various banks In which the county funds have been deposited the past year. The law that provides for this interest was passed at the last session of the state legislature, and the results are proving very satisfactory. The gross amount of Interest was |3,845.7L but the law also provided for extra recompence for the treasurer and auditor, amounting to |l,loo, so the “ net amount of interest that comes to the county Is |2,745.7L All the township, city and town and school corporation funds are also deposited after blds have been made and all draw Interest The law is a good one and works to the benefit of every tax payer.

Carpenter duplicate, $60.00; total 525.01. Amount due from Nichols, $3,549.47. It is therefore ordered by theboard that 8. R. Nichols pay into the county treasury the sum of $3,549.47, as provided by law. It is further ordered and agreed that in case thereshould be errors found on further examination that in such case the difference shall be adjusted as equity may require. The board also transacted the following business: Final report in the John W. Humes ditch filed and approved, excepting: claims of B. D. Comer of $27.90, Mrs. Ollie M. Garriott of $30.00 and Lawrence Garriott of $9.50. Cause continued for report of payment of approved claima B. D. Comer and & T. Comer except to finding of board, and pray an appeal to the Circuit Court Final report filed in D. 8. Makeeveg ditch and same is approved and superintendent is discharged. Superintendent of construction of Mary M. Potts ditch directed to make final report on or before Ist day. of February term. Hearing of S. £. Sparling ditch continued by agreement of parties. The S. P. Thompson ditch dismissed and costs taxed to petitioners. The board inspects the Knowlton stone road and finds same completed in accordance with plans and specifications and it is accepted, and the balance of contract price, amounting to SI,OOO, ordered paid to contractor. ■ Estimate of $207.69 allowed D. H. Yeoman, contractor of lateral No. 5 to Iroquois ditch. | John J. Lawler et al file petition for gravel road in Union township. Notice found sufficient and board appoints L A. Bostwick engineer and R. A Parklson, W. V. Porter and R. B. Harris as viewers, who are directed to meet and qualify January 9, 1909, at auditor’s office, and make and file their report by the February term, 1909.

John J. Lawler et al file petition for gravel road on county line between Jasper and Newton countiew. Notice found sufficient and the board appoints L. A. Bostwick engineer, and R. A. Parkison, W. V. Porter and B. Harris, as viewers, who are directed to meet and qualify Jan 9, 1909, and meet Jan. 11, 1909, a* Toland & Hillis’ ranch and proceed to view said proposed gravel road, and to file report by February term, 1909, and the auditor is directed to mall notice of same to auditor of Newton county. Petition of S. B. Moffitt for refund of taxes dismissed. Contract for class 4 of supplier for county officers awarded to Healey & Clark, as per their bld of Dec. 23, 1908. All supplies to be printed on 20 pound linen Strathmore parchment paper. Remonstrance signed by 108 legal voters of Wheatfield township filed, same found to be a majority of voters of said township. Trustee of Carpenter township fke» petition for additional aid, same granted to amouut of sls per quarter to W. T. Stedman.

The Rensselaer Poultry Show.

The Rensselaer Poultry Show promises to be the beat and largest show ever held here. * A special feature of the show will be the baby show on Saturday, Jan, 23. In addition to the prizes offered In our premium list a fine go-cart will be given by W. J. Wright, Furniture Dealer, for the handsomest baby between 12 and 24 months of age. If you have a baby, bring it to tbs show, if you haven’t borrow one and come anyway. Admission 10 cents. In the armory. Jan. IS to 28. 1909

Remember the C. G. Hammond sale Thursday, Jan. 14th. 9 head of horses, 32 cows and heifers and a good list of farm Implements. The Republican for your sale bills.

NO. 34.