Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, January 16, 1911, Page 1

THE BEMIDJI Hishorical Society, VOLUME 8. NUMBER 271. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 16, 1911, TEN CENTS PER WEEK. LIST FOR PAY BY STATE IS DISAPPROVED Opposition By Representative 0'Neil Due When Bemidji Sheriff's For- est Fire Bill Appears. SUFFERERS MAY NOT GET CASH Legal Objections Likely to Make Ap- propriation Impossible—Brief “Make Believe™ Session. (By F. A. Wilson) Bemidji Pioneer Legislative Burean St. Paul, Jan. 16.—“Nix, mo, never”, was the vigerous manner in which Representative D. P. O'Neil pronounced his disapproval of appro- priating money to pay Bemidji per- sous who gave assistance to the strik- en citizens of Baudette and Spooner following the forest fire of October 7, last. Sheriff Hazen, as previously an- nounced in these columns, had pre- pared a list of those whom he holds are entitled to remuneration for ser- vices rendered at that time. The attorney general has held that the claims are legal and the plan is to have the claims come from the house committee as a bill. Such a bill is not likely to pass: first, because the list as prepared by jected to sharp and severe criticism | as it does not include the names of | all the persons who went to Bau- dette on that famous special train on the memorable Sunday of October | 9. last, and, second, because such an appropriation is te meet with vigor-| ous opposition by tiie honse member‘ from this district, Representative| O'Neil. ‘ “Boquets for the heros from Be-‘ midji." commented Mr. O'Neil, “but money for the poor devils who burn- | ed out.” *ox 2ok % 3 It dosen’t look as if the Iegis)mure1 ‘were going to be able to appropriate any funds for the direct relief of the fire sufferers, It had been hoped by northern Minnesota members that | at least $25,000 could be set aside for the benefit of these striken set- | tlers. but it seems that to do so it| would dent the constitution. Repre sentative Donald Robertson of Argyle last week introduced a joint resolu- tion providing for a commission of | five to visit the burned over district, this commission to recommend the | It now appears un- likely that such a commission, even | amount needed. if the legislature authorizes its ap-‘ pointment, can do much good, as the feeling is gneral that nothing legal | can be done for the sufferers, unless| possibly it is to make an appmpria-l tion in a roundabout way. North-| ern Minnesota members still hopes. They say if it legal to give| money to needy persons—as often is the case have it likewise could dig up cash for the homeless. On the other hand, when money is set aside for in- dividual relief it usual is for persons | employed by the state. folly,” said a house member, “to have to spend hundred of “But isn't it | thousands of | dollars to get settlers and then lose | them because we are unable to spend | a few hundred dollars in order to keep them.” i I There will be both houses at 8 o’clock tonight, b“li a brief session of no business of importance will be The program is the same as last week.That is, adjourn- ment was taken Thursday until Tues- transacted. day, although the motion in each house was until Monday evening, as| the law will not permit more than a adjournment and the Monday evening session is simply two calendar days’ a matter of form, to comply with the law. There will present in either house. s s s s not be a quorum This week should see some definite steps taken towards reapportionment, although how many steps it will be is a matter of guesswork. Then, too, to have the bill slip and slide back, and then some. Its a slippery path. e s e In an informal conversation At- torney. General Simpson expresses the belief that "northern Minnesota has seen the last Indian treaty lid. The St. Paul brewers apparently hold the same belief for they are rushing trainloads of the amber fluid north. { 2ok o b % i The reporters have had a bad ;’time trying to spell the short and | simple name of the new labor com- missioner, William F. Houk. It has gone in every way from H-o-u-p to H-a-w-k. Houk is correct. dentally, he assumes charge of the office today. William E. McEwen, |the retiring commissioner will not Inci- go to his home at Duluth for several |days. His thirteen-year-old daugh- lter is seriously ill of appendicitis, but her recovery is now expected. | However, Mr. McEwen will be kept lin St. Paul in connection with the {"Employers’ liability bill, which as | 2 member of the state committee sent to Europe to investigate, he is in- | strumental in framing. This bill, Mr. McEwen expects, will be intro- duced this week. rr s Up to date there has been a total {of 113 bills introduced; 57 in the |house and 56 in the senate. Two | years ago at this time there was a a total of 221 measures in. sk % | Speaker Dunn, despite a cold which jkept him from the banquet given to the members of the legislature, has managed to cling to the heavy end | of the gavel at every sesion. Sheriff Hazen is certain to be sub-| R There are still a few more house | jobs to be given out, but as there are | more than a few waiting to hear | their name called, somebody is going to have to work for a living this winter. TEEEE Despite the opposition of Repre-| sentative Ferguson of Barker, a bar- ber shop has been established at the capitol. Over in the fifty-second district, it is said that they tell which way the political wind is blowing by Mr. Ferguson's whiskers. ADVERTISED LETTERS List of advertised Letters for week ending Jan. 16,1911. Unclaim- ed. Men i Adams, ). J. Bromley, Percy G. Bergel, Syver T. Cambell, A. E. Chetland, Erik, Dunning, Mr. Harry, Engebritson, Mr. Jobn, Gottermann, Mr. John, Heidahl, Mr. Hans, Heart, Mr. Sam, Henuney, John, Johnson Mr. Andy, Lee, Mr. Ole, Lealos, Joe, | McLaughlin Timber Co. Mattson, Mr. and Mrs, C. W. Notling, Mr. Otto, Olson, Mr. Willie, Olson, Kristin, Paulos, John, Paith, Mr. Sam, Ryan, Mr. E. J. Stube, Mr. John, St. Marie, Mr. Albert, Sieler, M. Wm. Scott, Mr. Chas. O, (2), Salonen, Mr. Kaarla, Thomas, Mr. William, Women Cook, Mrs. Merritts, Davidson, Miss Harriet, Hanson, Miss Soffie, O’Mailey, Mrs. John, Peckles, Mrs. Nora, Wilson, Mrs. S. C. Younemark, Miss Olive. ENTIRE PLANT IS TIED UP Ironworkers Strike Against a Reduc- tion in Wages. Milwaukee, Jan. 16.—Molders and coremakers to the number of 350 walked out at the plant of the North- western Malleable Iron company, striking against a reduction of 10 per ment in wages and in hours. The en- tire plant, employing 1,200 men, has been made idle by the walkout. The management claims that the reduc- tion is made to follow conditions gen- eral throughout the country in the a good many steps may be taken, only i iron trade. KANSAS CITY THRIVES ON COMMISSION PLAN Packingtown Finds its Income In- creased and Economics Made As- tonishingly Easy. MORE PAVEMENT IS PUT DOWN Other Improvements and Advantages Gained By Adopting Form Be- midji is Now Considering. L Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 16.—Kan- sas City, Kan., has rounded out her first fiscal year under the commis- sion form of government, and she is| well pleased with the showing. She has put herself on a business basis, has increased her income, lopped off unecessary expenditures, and in- creased efficiency in public service.| ‘When the commission went in last April, it found about $30,000 in the general fund, and $40,000 in the general improvement fund. ’ It costs $12,000 a month to fun the city. The commission got busy. They reduced the police force from 95 men to 56, and the fire force from 74 to 57, and by furnishing up the depart- ments got just as good protection as was secured under the old regime. Then they went after the money. They got all the money that was com- ing to the city. For instance, they | got for franchises last year $16,000,| whereas on the year before, under the same conditions, the city got but $9,000. This is the way the collections of last year and the year before look in | comparison: Occupation licenses, 1909, $38,- 885.14, 1910, $51,450.45; Police court fines, 1909, $6,228.75, 1910, $11,373.76; Dog tax, 1909,$3,084.25, 1910, $6,796.50; Interest on deposits in banks, 1909,$3,688.01, 1910, $10,- 971.07; Franchises, 1909,$9,000.00, 1910, $16,000.00; Motor car taxes, 1909, $......, 1910, $359.95. According to the report just sub- mitted to the comissioners this is the way they went about it to collect moneys due the city from franchises: The franchise given the Kansas City Western Railway Co. required the payment of 2 per cent of each 5c fare originating in Kansas City, Kan. This never had been collected by the city until the current year. The comissioners collected not only for this year, but for all previous years. Prior to this year the Bell Tele- phone Co. never paid to the city one cent for the rights granted it under its franchise, the only thing granted the city being eight free telephones. Without granting any additional rights to the company, the city now is collecting from the company 2 per cent of its gross receipts and receiv- ing the free use of sixteen telephones. This item amounts to about $5,000 for this year alone. During the past year the city has laid more pavement than in any other year, and has done it at a lower rate than heretofore. Brick pavement has been reduced from $1.70 per square yard to $1.50, and asphalt from $2.10 to $1.85. Furthermore the city is now build- ing two new fire stations and a new city hall. Altogether Kansas City, Kan., is well pleased with her experiment in the commission form of municipal government. CHINESE MENACE JAPANESE Widespread Plot Reported to Drive Latter Out of Manchuria, Peking, Jan. 16.—It is reported that the Chinese in Manchuria have organ- ized a secret society of large member- ship with the object of driving the Japanese cut of the country. Reports that the Japanese are strengthening their garrison in Man- churia have caused considerable un- rest in certain circles here, where rumors of Japarnese aggression are spread. Similar stories of Russia’s purpose to occupy Harbin and the in- termediate country from the frontier are circulated. The plague in Manchuria is said to GEORGE LEU LOSES $36 Buys Engine From Catalogue House Which is Not Satisfactory. Several weeks ago George Leu, a farmer living a few miles from Be- midji, ordered an engine from the house of catalogue - Chicago whicth was claimed by them to be a two horse power engine, and for which he sent them a money order for $36. Upon receiving the engine from Chicago Mr. Leu found that it was not of two horse power but was in- stead barely of one horse power, and it weighed nearly 100 pounds less than the weight which was stated in the advertisement. He refused to accept the engine and at once re- billed it to the company. He then went to the Northern National Bank of Bemidji, drew a draft on| the company and attached the; bill of lading, which he had secured, | and the draft was sent to a Chicago bank. Upon being notified that the draft was in t he hands of the bank the Chicago company refused to pay it, leaving Mr. Leu without either the $36 or the less than a Mr. Leu will have to institute a law suit to re- cover his money. GREAT WARSHIP TAKES TO WATER The Battleship Arkansas Is Launched at Camden. horse power engine. MONSTER JFIGHTING._SHIP Vessel Pronounced to Be the Most Formidable Vessel in Gun Power of Any Now Afloat—Governor Dona- ghey of Arkansas Not Present Be- cause of Controversy With Navy De- partment Over the Date of the Launching. Philadelphia, Jan. 16.—Splashed with the traditional bottle of cham- pagne the battleship Arkansas, the largest warship ever constructed in this country, was launched from the yards of the New York Shipbuilding company at Camden, N. J. Miss Mary Macon, daughter of Representative Robert B. Macon of Helena, Ark., was the sponsor for the ship. There was one unusual feature to the launching, the absence of an offi- clal delegation representing the state government of Arkansas. The failure of Governor Donaghey or other official Tepresentatives to attend was due to & controversy between the governor and the navy department at Washing- ton over the date of the launching, the governor wanting the launching post- poned so that the state could make adequate arrangements to send an of- ficial party. There was, however, quite a large delegation of Arkansas present. It included Representative and Mrs. Ma- con and other members of the Arkan- as congressional delegation all of waom had been invited by the ship- building company. The navy depart- ment was officially represented by Beekman Winthrop, assistant secre- tary of the navy, and a long list of rear admirals and other officers. There was also a large delegation of con- gressmen from other states. Guests Entertained at Luncheon. Following the launching the officials of the company entertained the guests at a luncheon spread in one of the big buildings of the plant. The principal dimensions of the lat- est and largest addition to the navy are: Length over all, 362 feet; beam over armor, 93 feet 2% inches; draft, 28 feet, 6 inches; displacement, 26,000 tons. The contract for the ship calls for a speed of 20% knots an hour. ‘When complete the Arkansas will have the greatest gun power in broad- side fire of any ship afloat. The main armament will consist of twelve twelve-incn breechloading guns mount- ed in six heavy armor protected tur- rets. For defense against torpeda boat attacks there will be a battery of twenty-one five-inch rapid fire guns. There will also be two submerged tor- pedo tubes and ten small guns. The total weight of broadside fire will be about 11,000 pounds. The armor belts will have an average thickmess of three inches. i3 The Arkansas will be turbine driven and will Lave 28,000 horsepower. The vessel will be fitted for a flagship and her complement will consist of eighty- five officecs and 1,030 men. The keel of the Arkansas was laid last January and at present the ship be under control. is about 60 ver cent comvleted. COMMERCIAL CLUB BANQUET FRIDAY Girls of High School Cooking Class, Under Direction of Catherine Grest, Will Serve Dinner. INVITATIONS ISSUED TO 300 Important That All Acceptances Be Handed to Secretary Reynolds By Wednesday Morning. On Friday of this week the Be- midji Commercial Club will give a banquet in the athletic quarters of the high school building for the members of the club, business men and property holders in and around Bemidji. The main object of the banquet being to discuss the future welfare of the city of Bemidji and surrounding country. The dinner will be gotton up and served by the girls of the high school cooking class, under the direction of Miss Catherine Grest. = The expense will be looked after by the Commer- cial Club. Secretary Harry Reynolds of the Commercial Club announced this morning that he had sent out 300 invitations for the banquet and that he had received 52 acceptances, 22 being members of the club, and the remaining 30 non-members. It is urged by Mr. Reynolds that the ans- ‘wers be sent in by Wednesday morn- ing so that those in charge of the banquet may know just how many to provide for. It is expected that not less than 200 will be present at the affair and so the managers have seen fit to an- nounce that those who do not send in their acceptance will not be al- lowed to be present at the banquet, it is therefore very important that every one who has received an invi- tation answer at once. Reverend Flesher Marries Couple. George Anderson, of Battle Lake, Minnesota and Amelia Clark of Pep- in, Wisconsin were married by Rev- erend Flesher Saturday evening at his residence on ninth street. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson will remain in Bemidji until spring and at that time will move to Pepin. Mr. Anderson is employed by the Crookston Lum- ber company in this city. Army Leaders To Be Here. “Colonel S. Marshall and Major Boyd, of Minneapolis, two leaders of the Salvation Army in Minnesota, will be in Bemidji Wednesdy and will speak at a meeting of the Army in their quarters on Minnesota Ave. DEBATE ON THE ARMY BILL Agitation for Increased National De- fense Reaches Congress. ‘Washington, Jan. 16.—The agitation for an increased national defense reached the floor of the house in the debate on the army appropriation bill when Representative Hull (Rep. Ta.), chairman of the house committee on military affairs, declared that the present strength of the coast artillery corps will be unable to man more than one-third of our present coast de- fense guns in war time. Hull made this statement in sup- porting an appropriation of $300,000 inciuded in the bill for supplying “dummy” guns and ammunition for coast artillery militia in the various states. The appropriation was retained in the bill. SAILORS PLAN BIG STRIKE Aim Is to Make It Worldwide if De- mands Are Refused. London, Jan. 16.—A strike of sail- ors, affecting every English port, is threatened, to begin next May. It is the ‘intention to make the strike worldwide if possible. The'men not only want more pay, but desire the establishment of a con- ciliation board to have complete charge of all disputes that may arise in the future. Batavia, N.'Y., Jan. 16.—H. H. Cade of Chicago died at a hospital here from injuries received in the collision on the New York Central This makes the death lst six. S e e ERICK ERIGKSON KILLED Sprinkling Tank Breaks Through Ice Catching Him in Manner That Death Followed. Erick G. Erickson, 23 years old, a lumber-jack, who has been work- ing for the Crookston Lumber Com- pany at their camp number 3 five miles out of Puposky, was killed Saturday afternoon, when the log- ging road sprinkling tank which he was driving, broke through the ice in a stream near the camp. Coroner Ibertson went to the scene of the accident early yesterday morning and returned with the body vesterday afternoon. Mr. Ibert- son said that death could have been caused from one of two reasons, one reason being that when the tank went down it did so in such a way that Erickson was caught between the tongue and the tank crushing him to death and that the other reason was that when found the face of Erickson was buried in the mud 80 that death could have been caused | from suffocation. Erickson has a brother living in Bemidji, who is employed by J. P. Riceberg, the shoeman. Erickson was born in Sweden. The funeral wil be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock from the Swedish Lutheran church. HOW BEMIDJI 60T MEETING W. L. Brooks Issued Imvitation.— Accepted Unanimously. When W. L. Brooks and A. G. ‘Wedge, Jr., of Bemidji secured the annual convention of the Minnesota State Bankers’ Association for this city, which is to be held in June, they did so in a way, which to say the least was rather odd. It is the duty of the executive committee to name the place where the annual conventions will be held and this was one of the reasons for the meeting of that committee in St. Paul last Friday. When the question of where the meeting place of the bankers should be in 1911, one of the members of the executive committee said that he and several others of the committee had decided that they would like to hold the meeting in Bemidji, but that they could not see their way clear to do so until they had re- ceived an invitation of some sort from Bemidji. This of course brought Mr. Brooks to his feet and he anounced that it was his inten- tion to ask that the 1911 convention be held in Bemidji. Mr. Brooks urged then that the bankers come to Bemidji, and he was so earnest in his talk that his invitation was ac- cepted unanimously, by the commit- tee. The meeting of the state bankers in Bemidji will mean that between 600 and 1000 of Minnesota’s finan- ciers will visit our city. Mr. Brooks said this morning that he intended to ask J. J. Hill to be present at the convention and ad- dress the bankers. Mr. Hill told Mr. Brooks some time ago that if Bemidji-succeeded in obtaining the 1911 convention that he would do all in his power to arrange his busi- ness affairs so that he could be able to be present at the meeting. NEGROES KILLED IN RIOT Two Dead and Third Dying Following Race Fight. Hot Springs, Ark., Jan. 16.—Meager reports received from Benton, Ark., say two negroes are dead and a third fatally injured as a result of a race riot there. The negroes are said to have been members of a theatrical €ompany. Gran¥s Body Servant Dead. Boston, Jan. 16.—George Lewis Grant, a negro, personal body servant of General Ulyses S. Grant during the Civil war, valet for “Boss” Tweed of New York, whom he held in his arms when Tweed died in Ludlow street jail in New York, is dead at the age of seventy-five years. Grant was born a slave.. BEMIDJI MEN DO NOT WANT REMUNERATION Believe that Proposed Bill to Legis- lature Would Be A Reflection On this City. SEVEN NAMES IN THE LIST Say They Went to Scene of Confla- gration For the Sake of Charity. Bemidji business men whose names were published in the Satur- day issue of the Daily Pioneer and also in several of the city newspapers as having sent in their names for money for services rendered at Bau- dette are up in arms today because they did not authorize any such bill to be presented to the Minnesota State Legislature and believe that such an action would be an outrage, and a reflection upon the citizens of Bemidji. The men whose names are given below were interviewed this morn- ing and all said that they went to Baudette for tne cause of charity, at their own expense, and that they ex- pect and want no remuneration whatever. P. M. Dicaire. Rev. S. E. P. White. W. C. Brandborg. G. L. Crothers. T. J. Burke. J. O. Haris. . F. Murphy. Council Rooms Repaired. Carpenters have completed the re- pairing of the council rooms and police headquarters and the painters are now at work. New floors and wainscoting have been put in both rooms and new wall paper in the council room. Painters are now at work putting on the second coat of paint. PUBLISH PERSONAL TAX LIST Bill to be Presented Requiring Co. Auditors to Submit Names. Complete publicity of personal tax lists is provided for in a bill drafted by Rudolph Lee, editor of the Long Prairie Lader, and chairman of the committee appointed by the North- ern Minnesota Editorial association at its recent meeting in Staples to draw up such a measure. The bill, backed by the editors in this part of the state, is one of much importance to all, that no difficulty is expected in getting the bill through both houses of the legis- lature. The bill is at the present in the hands of A. G. Rutledge of this city, secretary-treasurer of the Northern Minnesota Editorial assoc- jation. Mr. Rutledge is in St. Paul and will see to it that the measure is introduced at once by some mem- ber of the huuse from a northern dsstriet. The bill provides: “There shall be published in one regular issue in the official paper in each county of the state, between the first day of January and the fifteenth day of January in each year a list of all the persons against whom per- sonal property taxes have been levied for the preceeding year, which list shall be furnished the printer by the county auditor. Such 1list shall give the name of the tax payer, the town, the city, or village in which he lives and the total amount of tax against him. “Proof of such publication shall be made in the same manmer as the proofs of other legal publications are made, and the payment for such publication shall be made out of the county revenue fund at a rate not to exceed 75 cents per folio.” MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.