Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, May 1, 1908, Page 1

Bemld]l, Flks' State Convention s 2™ THE BEMIDJI DAILY PION E VOLUME 6. NUMBER 11. and 20, || | Bemidjl, July 27--fug. 2 Bemidji Bible Co BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA FRIDAY EVENING MAY 1, 1908. SUPPOSED BANK ROBBERS N GUSTODY AT EMERSON Five Suspicious Characters Who Are Believed to Have Robbed the Stephen Bank. Crookston Times.—Word was re- ceived at Stephen at a late hour this afternoon that five suspicious char- acters were under surveillance at Emerson, Canada, and they would be held pending advices from the authorities of Marshall county. ‘The five men came in on the Soo freight early this morning and from descriptions given it is believed by the people of Stephen that they are the men wanted for the sensational robbery. The sheriff of Marshall county is now on his way to the Canadian city, and has hopes that his search for the bank robbers is over. It has been stated that one of the men apprehended at Emerson had a peculiar cast in one of his eyes, and a man answering to his description had been seen about Stephen the day previous to the robbery. He wasa stranger in the town and did not seem to have anything particular to do and just before dark he disappear- ed. Nothing has been seen of him or heard of his whereabouts until the message from Emerson was received. It is believed that he was engaged in sizing up the bank and otherwise familiarizing himself with the ins and outs of the towns and that he was prepared to show his companions the easiest means of escape after the bold robbery, There is no doubt in the minds of the people but that the whole affair had been carefully plan- ned and the success with which it was carried through gives evidence of prearrangement. The people of the section spent all of yesterday and last night in trying to get some clue of the robbers. Six posses started out from Stephen and others were organized in the small towns surrounding. The country was thoroughly searched, but not a trace could be secured of the bandits. The information re- ceived from Strandquist to the effect that two of the robbers had attemp- ted to hold up a boy and relieve him of his horse and buggy, seemed prom- ising, but a thorough search failed to locate the robbers. There is but little doubt, however, that part of the gang at least, went in that direction. ‘The authorities paid particular at- tention to the Soo freight which pass ed through Strandquist yesterday. No one boarded it, however, at that town or in the immediate vicinity, It is believed that the men who were captured at Emerson must have gotten on the train further north. This would have been pos- sible and entirely probable. After the posses had been search- ing the neighborhood in the vicinity of Stephen, a report was recieved that a body had been found in some brush eleven miles east of the town. It was supposed that it was the body of the man who was thought to have | been wounded during the shooting at the time of the burglary. The report was investigated and was found to be without foundation. No body was found and nothing whatever has been heard about the wounded man. The reports of the arrests at Emer- son did not contain anything about a wounded man. Thomas Olson, cashier of the rob- bed bank, is of the opinion that there were but five men in the gang as stated in yestereay’s Times. He, states that was the number that had been seen and the people of Stephen are uniteP in giving this as the cor- rect one. It is understood that the different posses will return to Stephen tonight unless they strike a trail which gives some promise of success. It is felt that it will be useless to make a further search in the neigh- borhood, as the men would under no circumstances. remain this long in the vicinity of their crime. Cut Much Timber. The firm of Blake & Hawkins, who have been logging on Turtle river, east of Blackduck, will take a drive of 16,000,000 logs from Rebedew lake down the Turtle river to Cass Lake to be sawed into lumber at the mills of the J. Neils Lumber company. Both Henry Blake and Fred Hawkins passed through Bemidji this morning from Blackduck to Minneapolis to close up some busi- ness matters connected with the season’s logging. Mr. Blake stated that his company had cut and bankéd on Rebedew lake 9,000,00 feet of logs during the season’s running last winter. The timber was the prop- erty of the J. Neils Lumber company and is included in the drive with 6,000,000 other logs cut by other parties. Mr. Blake says that the season’s cut was a very successful one for his firm. Additional local matter will be found on fourth page. REQUES 7 MADE FOR EQUITABLE ASS * SSMENTS The Minnesota State Tax Gommission Listened to Some In- teresting Information, Last Menday, Concerning Bel- trama County Assessments and Some Proposed Changes. Commission Requested to Make Fullest and Most Complete Investigation Possible.---Would Cost a Fortune for Com- mission to Re-Assess Beltrami County. The following is a partial re- port of the proceedings had at the hearing of the representatives of the Beltrami County Tax Lea gue before the tax commission, on April 27th, 1908. These ex- tracts are taken from a stenograp- hic report of the meeting, and are correct in every particular, There were present at the meet- ing: Messrs, McVey, Hall and Lord, comprising the Commission; Hurd, their secretary; Messrs. McKusick, Swedback, Neil and Getchell, representing the -Tax League; and Messrs. McDonald and Eddy. - A general statement was made by Mr. McKusick coverirg the financial condition of the county and figures were submitted by him comparing the assessed value of certain descriptions of pine land with the value of these lands on a basis of ten dollars per thou- sand feet for the pine on an esti- mate made by Mr. Getchel. Mr. McKusick then proceeded to lay before the commission what he considered were timber towns and the total value of the same. At this point the following in- teresting colloquy took place be- tween Mr. Hall, Mr. McKusick and Mr. McDonald: Mr. Hall—Do you know how in the city of Bemidji. Money Cheerfully3R efunded Clothing Howuse This special sale of $20, $22 and $24 quality suits at $15, we con- sider the greatest values ever offered We back every garment with the broadest and most positive guarantee. There’s not a stitch in The House of Kuppenheimer clothes that isn’t thorough; not an inch of goods that isn’t dependable. We follow the clothes all through your use of them with “satisfaction guarantees;” your money back any time you think you ought to have it, Our shoe section this week displays a special lot of service comfort shoes that. lent values at $2.50 for $1.65, Box calf, vici, kid, velours, in 27 9165 single .and double are excel- Spring weight underwear at ridiculously low prices. Bon underwear, cotton, Porous Knitunderwear, the kind that you will pay 560c for in other places, we’re selling them at Bon Sea Island e 35¢ \over $13,000 of it. much of an investigation the as. sessors make to determine the character of the land up there, and the timber? Mr. McKusick—I think the assessors as a rule are wholly in- competent 1o perform their work, especially in the “timber towns. The men who are elected there as assessors are generally homestead- ers or somebody that has no knowledge of the value of timber whatever, and mcompetent to estimate 1t, even if they were so disposed, gy Mr. MfiDonald—-—Do you know Mr. William Austin of Nebish, Jacob Christenson of Durand, W. H, Neudick of Hagalli, W. C. Patterson of Kelliher, A. F. War- ner of Maple Ridge, or Mr. Huset of Frohn? Mr. McKusick—I do not know the gentlemen you mention in those timbered towns of that county. Mr. McDonald—Those are the town assessors. Where do you get your authority for the.state- ment that the assessors are incom- petent to perform their duties, if you do not know them all? Mr. McKusick—Why, by gen- eral reputation. Mr. McDonald—Where do you get your information that Mr. Getchel knows the county so well, from the same information? 3 Mr. Kusick—Well I am person- ally acquainted with Mr. Getchel and I think everybody. thinks he is an honest man and has been tim- ber estimating for a great many years and has stood very high, and has probably done more esti- mating than any one man in that county. I think that is all we can say. Mr. Eddy then gave the following statement: In the village of Bemidji of $23, 000 personal property . tax the Crookston Lumber Company paid In the county the Crookston Lumber Company paid over $40,000 of the tax, being over one-fifth of the taxable proberty of the county. So that you see it is as much to the interest of the Crookston Lumber Company to have a fair assessment made ‘as it is to anyone else. I bave had personal charge of the payment of the taxes of the Crookston Lumber Company for the last ten years, and to my knowledge, when we have bought claims, comparing the assessment be- fore we bought them and afterwards, in a great many instances, the assess- ment, since it appeared on the rec- ord that the Crookston Lumber Company owned the claim, has been double and in some places:tteble. When it comes to-a matter of aid: ing this Commission. or any other responsible body whose duty itis to look after the assessment of taxes throughout the state and in the county of Beltrami, to get a fair assessment of all the property on an equal basis ,you will find no 'one more willing to aid in such an effort than the Crookston Lumber Com- pany. Mr. Lord—It looks as if you all wanted the same. thing. Mr. McVey—You are simply ask- for a re-valuation of property in Beltrami county for the purpose of meeting the expenses of your cbunty? Mr. McKusick—VYes, that is all, exactly. Mr. McVev—I understood the other gentlemen that they make the point that the burden of the assess- ment has been thrown upon the Crookston Lumber company, and also that the expenses of the county | are too high. That it is not a mat- ter which should come before this Commission for consideration; that is a question for the people in youry own county. - Mr. McDonald—May it please the Commission it must come before you in some way, because your Com- mission has been asked to make the assessed valuation a_ sufficient amount to bear the expense of carry- ing on the county government. Now we object to your making that valu- ation sufficient to carry on an extravagant administration of our government. It will perbaps occur to you gentlemen that the first step ought to be to stop the leaks and to insure an economical, through a liberal, administration of our county government, and then take such steps as may be necessary to raise the amount of money to carry on that government. But_ the first thing, and important thing, is to take such steps as to make the expenses of carrying on the govern- ment what it ought to be, and on that point we do not care to present anything to this commission except to say that in our -opinion the expenses are altogether too high and always have been. If you will just consult the records fo this area here, (Consulting the map), you will notice it is mostly gov- ernment land, a few settlers, and the settlers have not proven up.yet and their lands are not taxable, and |- this is true of all these towns here. Of course these settlers can prove up in five years, but they wait seven years to escape ' taxation. ‘All the state land outside of this, thousand and thousand of acres, is not assess- able, but it goes to make a large acereage for Beltrami County. Now the matter which Mr. Eddy spoke about: I want to say to you gentlemen that it is not every citizen of Beltrami County that is asking for an increased valuation, because they realize this, and you gentlemen realize it, that the rate of taxationis not always lowered by the increase of the assessed valulation, it simply gives the men in charge of adminis- tering the county affairs that much more money to use, and from my personal experience and the chances I have had to observe the matter, the result ‘of incréasing valuation has been that the rate is never lowered, there is simply that much more money. “Now I am going te cnll your FORTY CENTS PER MONTH attention to this fact:—Mr. has referred' to it, but I want to refer to it. The personal property tax in Bemidji was $23,047 for 1907, of which the Crookston Lumber company paid $12,700, and the other tax-payers combined paid personal property tax of $9,270.10. The Crookston Lumber company paid more in personal property tax in Bemidji than all the other per- sonal property taxpayers combined, that is the situation. You ask what steps the assessors took to ascertain the value of the land and pine-and Mr. McKusick said he did not know, but he stated the assessors were incompetent to perform their duty. We have a territory that is unorganized terri- tory and the assessors for that dis- trict used to be appointed by the Continued on Last Page TR e S e e e L Civil Service “‘Exams.” Residents of Bemidji~ who are cruisers and scalers and accustomed to work in the woods are consider- ably interested in the civil service examinations which will be held at Cass Lake on May 20 and 21 for the purpose of securing certain employes for the U. S. Forest Ser- vice. The examination will be conducted under the direction of G. E. Mar- shall, supervisor of the U. S. Forest Reserve at Cass Lake. The exami- nation on May 20 is for the purpose of examining candidates for the office of Lumberman ata salary of $1800 per year; on May 21, the examination will be conducted for applicants for the position of scaler for the Forest Service at $1400 per annum. THE BRINKMAN FAMILY Eddy THEATER HAS FINE SHOW| All This Week the Brinkman Has Had| the Largest Crowds Since Opening. Shaw & Clyfton, the famous song and dance artists and comedy ex: ponents, have made a hit with Be- midji theater goers, and are drawing large crowds at the Brinkman Family Theater. * Manager Brinkman says: “I have had the largest crowds at the Brink- man Family Theater this week that I have ever had at any pertormances since I opened the theater. I cer- tainly appreciate the patronage ac- corded to me by the people of Be- midji.” Shaw & Clyfton are proving them- selves genuine comedians, and they hold their audience spellbound with admiration of their acts. Each night the crowd never tires of their performance, which is new and decidedly original, with special fea- tures every evening. They are not lazy but are always busy on the stage. Every minute of the time spent in their presence is a moment of downright enjoymeut and un- equaled fun. ‘Kippy, the German cartoonist, is simply a wonder. His stunts are above reproach, unique,unparalleled, unmatched. ~ Come and see him. He is without a peer. William McIntyre of Crookston has been engaged by manager Brink- man as piano player, and will play all overtures and accompaniments at the Brinkman Family Theater. . He comes highly recommended. Tunkat Vjae | “‘OLD BOYS” PREPARING FOR MEMORIAL SERVICES B. F. Wright of Park Rapids Wil De- liver an. Address,—Brainerd Helps Its Post. H. W. Bailey, commander of R. H. Carr Post, G. A. R., of Bemidji, and other officers and members of the local post, are already planning for the proper observance of Me- morial day, and enough has already been agreed upon to insure a fitting service of commemoration of these comrades who have gone before. The citizens of Bemidji who are not old veterans will co-operate with the post in carrying out the intents of the day, and eveiy aid will be given the old boys in blue. Commander Bailey recently ex- tended an invitation to B. F. Wright of Park Rapids to act as the orator of the day on May 30th, and last: night he received the following ans- wer from Mr. Wright: “Hon. H. W. Baxley, Bemidji, Minn.—Dear Sir: Your letter of the 29th inst. was received by me this a.m. I should deem it not only a pleasure but a great honor to de- liver the memorial address at Be- midji on the 30th of May. While I have never posed as an ‘orator.’ I will give'my best efforts in prepar- ing something fitting for the occa- sion. I shall deem it a great favor to hear from you definitely as soon as possible so that I may have as much time as possible in which to to prepare.” % The members of the post will prac- tically complete the program at the meeting to be held tomorrow after- noon. The following letter from A. E. Veon, past commander [of “Pat Thomas Post No 30, of Brainerd, shows how memorial day is celebratgd in Brainerd: “H. W. Bailey, Bemidji, Minn. “Dear comrade:—Yours of yester- day is before me. Replying to your ‘Memorial day’ inquiry. “The city council has donated to us, in cash, $50 or $75 at differ- ent times. - Sometimes the business men have raised the amount needed by collecting it for us, sometimes the comrades and the W. have raised it. The city . council refused us but once. “I have been told within the past few days that the Board of Trade will propese to us soon-to take charge of everything on that day and let the old boys take it cool as guests, as far as work and worry goes, and I think that will be the plan adopted this year. It is the right and proper thing to do as the cally,and are embarrassed financially, at least, that is the general case here. Freternally in T. C. and E., “A. E. Veon.” "School Play Will Be Given Soon. The senior class of the local high new play, ice Up-to-Date,” about three weeks. to be given in D. H. Congdon and son of Black- duck went to Redby today, where they have a contract to erect some new buildings. GET OUT AND VOTE. The legal voters of Bemidji (including the ladies):should remember - 7} hat today (beginaingl at 4:30 p. m.) an election ‘will be held for the ¢purpose of authorizing the school board to purchase a site for a new school ‘building, the site being the same that has been voted on at two previous elections. Now, it is high time that some provision was started whereby we may get enough school room that our chil next year, for lack of the opportunity to attend school. condition if some action is not taken Think the matter over, and come to the conclusion that you should " ‘get a move on,” and goand vote for Remember, that a simple ma;on and register your ballot by voting ' “Yes.” dren will not be running the streets Such will be the immediately. the purchase of the new site. ty carries this proposition, and go Don't let the fact that you do not like some member of the school board bias your best judgement in t hls matter. Yote for your own interests—which will be *‘yes.” " The Polls Will Not Be Closed Until 9 0’clock ’l‘onight. R.C - boys aré about all in now, ' physi-’ school is diligently practicing on a : “The Merchant of Ven- The proceeds:: will be used to purchase a‘memorial _ of the class for the assembly room { i |