Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, March 24, 1914, Page 1

>t - v S ) - ) § " | 1 i» | | j H & F | i i 1 i | | ) | | | | | | » VOLUME 11, NO. 279. PARDEE SHOWS HOW STATE TAXES GROW Says That Duty of Efficieny and Economy Commission is to Locate Leak and Recommend Plan RELATES STORY OF MERCHANT Place to Begin is to Organize Gov- ernment in Why That Someone May Know How Cash is Spent St. Paul, March 24.—(Special to The Pioneer)—Just then Mr. A. Mer- chant blew up with a loud report. He had received his personal tax statement showing that he would have to pay the county treasurer this year $185. Last year it was more than he could stand and this year it is that much more. Yes, A. stands for average. Something has got to be done about it. that increase in Mr, Merchant’s tax- es at this time when the high of living hits him in the small of his bhack and the mail order houses are Whoever is responsible for cost buzzing notoriously around him, is going to suffer from lis wrath. Well, who did it Mr, Merchant carries about $20,- 000 stock of merchandise on which his assessed valuation is $4,000, Of course, the law says it should he $20,000 but that carries no weight. The state tax commission has urged the assessors to make it $10.000. The assassor in his county agreed to pnt a valuation of $6,666 on it—that is they agreed to assess goods and mer- chandise at one-third—anq the as- s r actually did make it $4,000. ITereafter it will ‘be assessed at one- third of its true value if the asses- sor observes the new law. How- ever, the present valuation is $4,000, including furniture and fixtures, but not counting bills receivable because Mr. Merchant owes enough to offset what he has coming and then some. His village tax is the biggest item, a 12-mill tax, making a draft on him of $48. The . school district comes next with a demand of 8.75 mills or $33. There are places where the rate for local taxes is twice as high but this is Mr, Average Merchant. The county taxes him 5.64 mills or $22.56. And the state calls for 5.03 millg or $20.12 as his share of the cost of running the state rovernment. Total rate 31.42 mille, total tax $1256.68. And it's too ferociously much. Well, how about the state tax; for that is twice as much as it used to be when Mr. Merchant began busi- ness? The state tax includes a one-mill tax for the state school fund which is in the constitution, and a tax of -23 mills for the university which was there before Mr. Merchant can remember, He pays $4 into the school fund which is distributed back again to the common schools of the state, including his own. He contributes also 92 cents to the sup- port of the state university. For saldiers’ relief Mr, Merchant contrib- ates 40 cents. For building good roads in the state he chips in $4. The last legislature voted to put up a new building for the State Historical society anq the supreme court, Mr. Merchant gives that fund 4 cents, the first of ten installments. For new armories in various cities he contributes 12 cents, and that is to be continued in our mnext. For the new prison buildings, also in a ten- year series, he yields 80 cents, and for the new university group of buildings 56 cents on the same par- tial payment basis. Still another tax on the installment plan is for enlarging Itasca park toward which Mr. Merchant gives 8 cents this year. At the top of the list of state tax- es is the main item of 2.3 mills call- ing for a payment of $9.30 from Mr. Merchant. That goes into the state revenue fund to which Mr. Merchant and other taxpayers contribute about $3,000.000. Besides what Mr. Merchant puts into it, the railroads yield $4,500,000, other corporations maybe another million, kind gentlemen who die leaving large estates; perhaps half a million, and institution earnings bring a million more. Out of that comes all the ex- ‘penses of the state and a good deal that is not expense. For instance, the state gives more than $2,000,000 to the various schools for being good schools besides what it gives tvhem because it belongs to them. What concerns Mr. Merchant is: that a lot of his money is going for support of the state government and if it is .too. much it is too much. Somewhere, he firmly believes, a lot of that ought to be saved. That brings the subject round to the efficiency comtission. The ef- ficiency “commission is inclined to agree with Mr. Merchant. wihere a 1ot of money can be saved. Ang the lace to begin is to organize ; the govertment in some way 0. hhnt Some- | SENATOR GRONNA. Author of Bill Providing for Government Loans to Farmers. ARMY HORSES CREMATED Valuable Mounts Burned in Blaze at! Fort Riley, Kan. Fort Riley, Kan., March 24—Forty- one blooded horses belonging to the mounted service school on the United States military reservation here.were burred to death in a fire which de- stroyed the school stables. The mounts were being schooled as l‘mpers and some of them were being d fer the coming international ry ccuicsts in Madison Square NATION IN LOAN BUSINESS Novel Bill Introduced by Senator Gronna—Cheap Money Proposed for Farmers of United States TEND ON-— FIRST MORTGAGES, Washington, March 24—If a bill presented by Senator Gronna of North Dakota becomes a law farmers will be able to secure loans from the gov- ernment at a rate of 4% per cent on mortgages-to run from one to. twenty years. The Gronna bill provides for the or- ganization of a farm loan bureau in the treasury department, with branch- es to transact the actual business of loaning money to actual owners and occupants of farms in districts eaca of which so far as practicable is to in- clude only one state. The director of farm loans is to be a2’ presidential appointee, to be con- firmed by the senate. He is to receive $6,000 a year, and each of the district managers is to be paid a salary of $3,000 per annum. The director and each branch manager is to have an assistant at $2,500 a year. Organized by Committee. The farm loan bureau and the dis- tricts are to be designated and or- ganized by a committee to be com- posed of the secretary of the treasury, the secretary of agriculture and the director of farm loans. “No loan shall be made on any se- curity except that of a first mortgage, and no loan shall be made for a sum in excess of 50 per cent of the value of the property,” says the bill. “Not more than $15,000 shall be loaned to 'y one person or association of per- sons, and applications for loans of $6,000 or less shall have preference over applications for larger loans. “In no “case sHall a loan be made of less than $200, nor on land less than ten acres in area. Loans shall| be made only to actual farmers who are engaged in tilling the sofl.” A teature of the bill is prohibition against the use of political influence in obtaining farm loans. Attorney M. J. Brown returned to Bemidji this morning after having spent yepterday in Minneapolis on legal business. _ someone can know how it is being spent. What the state needs first of all is a general manager, or a system of gen eral management. That is some- thing it never had. If the legisla- ture will provide such an organiza- tion, it will be possible to talk about |the two prising tie city government; ipal court officers; Mm STUDENTS , Fuller Talked to High School | - Boy: and Girls This l?ommg During the twenty-minute period this morning the students of the high school ‘were addressed by Rev. M. D, Fuller, who spoke on. “Development from Within.” His talk dealt with educational and merchanical ad- vancement and held the constant at- tention of the large student body. Dr. Fuller’s.talk was instructive and the pupils were very appreciative and all look forward to another visit. NEW DIRECTORY SOON John H, Ley Begins Work on New Book—Will be Complete and Ready For Distribution Next June COMPLETE IN EVERY DETAIL John H. Ley of St. Colud, who has compiled two directories for the city' of Bemidji third, anq this morning he announc- ed that so successful has he been dur- has started work on a ing his first day of canvassing that |- hé expects to have the new book complete and ready for distribution some time during June. For a time it has been expectd that |E. M. Sathre would compile the new directory, but the Bemidji man has decided to allow Mr. Ley an open field. The St. Cloud man is of many years experience in the directory line and there perhaps is no other di- rectory, including those of the large cities, as complete. Several of the ¢hief features whigh will be found in the new directory, some of which were given space in previous ones, are, the wite’s name; names of the men com- muniei- board of health, board of education; water and light committee; library board; police de- partment; fire department officers, Commercial dlub officers; county of- ficers; bank items; churches; schools; postoffice employes; Building - and Loan officers; secret society officers; street -and avenue guide; street guide; classified~business directory; and a directory of Nymore. . “MUTT AND JEFF" PLEASES Bud Fisher’s Famous Characters Score Hit in Production Staged Here Last Evemng—stnge Small PLAY IN HIBBING TONIGHT “Mutt and Jeff in Panama,” was the offering at the Athletic club the- atre last evening. The show, which is one of the largest to ever visit Be- midji, was also one of the best. The stage accommodations at the Athletic club theatre are small and the scen- ery of the comany could not be used to advantage nor could the actors and actresses do themselves justice. But even with these handicaps the comedy was good and Mutt and Jeff kept the audience in good spirit dur- ing the entire three acts. The leading roles were all well ta- ken and the chorus did its share in making the play an enjoyable one. Tonight “Mutt and Jeff” will be staged in Hibbing and from there will go to Duluth. Advertised Letters List of advertised letters “UN- CLAIMED” for week ending March 23rd 1914. Men. Byrsen; Gust, Boyle; Mr. Joe, Burrow; Jr., W. A,, Cooler;- Mr. Claude, Doran; Mr. Ed- ‘ward, Davis; Mr. A. G., Habedack; Mr. A. J.,, Jones; Mr. W. E., Mark- ‘ham; P., McDowell; Mr. James, Ox- er; Mr, Clark, .Piersch; Mr. J. J., Robins; Mrs. Oscar, Roy; Mr, Phihas, Rosee; Mr. Algust, Reynolds; Mr. J. W., Revery; Mr. Jud, Soder; Mr. L. P., Trudean; Mr. Jerry, Thoresen; Tauler, Vogt; J. W., Valley; P. C. Women. “Arnestad; Miss Ragna, Campbell; Mrs. A. D. (2), Easley; Lilly, Fordie; Mrs. Jno., Holbrook; Jennie, Mike; Mrs. Rosie, Ohngrén; Miss Hilda; Sharpe; Mrs. Minnie. MAKE FlfiflT FOR Contmmm Who See a-lbfli.ty ol Hngim Bill Passing Benate Using Washington Mareh | #4—Contrac- tors in prison labor ‘hiave begun a desperate fight to def t the Hughes prison_labor bill in m, Senate. As the Booher bill, this ure pass- ed the House some days ago by an overwhelming vote, The'Prison con- tractors-apparantly did not awaken to their - danger ipj the House, but now all theirj forces are bearing down on the -‘Senate to prevent the enactment of ‘the legis- lation. 1 In passing the Webb-Keyon' bill last year Congress sepms to have set a precedent which 8 to be follow- ed by similar bills intended to pre- vent various abuses. Sfates may en- act various prohibitory . laws, ‘but there is nothing to prevent shipment of the prohibited articles into the state from other stat The state police authorities cannot molest such shipments so long as they are in tran- sit. Thus it becomes almost impos- sible to enforce prehibitory laws un- der present conditions. Congress took the firgt step in aid of the States when it passed the Webb-Kenyon_law, which: submits to state policing all shipments of Ii- quor. . Shipments of liquor, on cars, when entering a state, become sub- ject to the laws and policing of that state as if they were manufactured within the state. There are plenty who predict that this style of legislation will. eventu- ally be declarded unconstitutional by the supreme court. But, if these pre- dictions should fall flat Congress will have in its hands a mighty powertul legislative weapon, . "% ¥ -~ The principle is now being applied in the Hughes-Boolier bill. Many States today forbid the sale of con- viet goods made in their own prisons But when prison goods are shipped in from’ the outside, then they are pro- tected by Uncle Sam as part of his inviolable interstate commerce, and the state becomes powerless to pre- vent the sale, The result is, the more states which forbid this sale, the brisker is ‘business for the contractors in convict labor in states which still permit convicts to compete with free labor. It is commonly agreed that if ‘the Hughes bill is passed it will deal a death blow to prison competition. A Sweat Shop The iniquity of sellrlng prisoner’s labor at anywhere from 10 to 85 cents a day is apparent. It means a dead loss to everyboby concerned except the prison contractor. The prison is turned into a sweat shop turning out goods at a price with/ which free-made articles cannot com- pete, the tendency being to bring all wages down to the prison level. In the name of humanity it is ar- gued ‘that prisoners are thereby taught a trade. But many prisons manufacture, shirts, overalls and jumpers. In other words the pris- oner is taught a trade in which, up- on his liberation, he must compete with underpaid women workers. Country merchants are strong ad- vocates of the Booher-Hughes bill. The great distributors of prison- made goods are the mail order houses. By taking the output of the prison factories, these mail order businesses can sell goods at a price which' the local merchant cannot hope to meet, Federals Hang Nine Rebels. Eagle Pass., Tex., March 24.—Nine bodies .of rebel soldiers swing in the trees across the ‘Rio Grande where they “were strung up when federal troops returned to Las Vegas, which they had evacuated three days be-' fore, and killed the rebel garrbmn of ' fourteen men. saving money. THE CUB SCOO REPORTER GEE-B055 TAKE A SLANT AT THAT BLONDE BEAUTY AND YHEN TELL THAT CANT Pick ‘EML bnfinctive Paace This Argument Started Way Back In Eve's Time BUT- NOW THERES ONE THAT 1S CLass THERES | A REGULAR GIRL ID LIKE T0 CASH A FEW KSSES ; ifeature be passed up for_ one year. - IAYPANUKNWTYWEEK :—_'_ Taken by Commercial Club - ‘ Whether Bemidji will pass up Uni- versity week this year will depend upon the action of the Commercial Commercial club at its next regular meeéting which will be held in the Commereial Club rooms the first Tues- day-in April. The committee - in charge of the work last year waa re- appoined, but declineg * to act this year. After some investigation. the committee recommended that this MILL BEGINS MONDAY Log Cutting Operations by Crookston Lumber Company to Begin Week 3 Earlier Than Usual WORK DAY AND NIGHT FORCE The big Crookston saw mill which has been at rest during the winter months will open for the sawing next Monday morning and will -continue with a full day and night .crew until the ice next wm- ter prohibits the work. - The work_ of cutting an ice channel from the dock to the mill has been completed. The mill will employ about 450 men during the sawing season. This is one of the few years that operations have begun during the month of March, which is about ten days earlier than f{ast year. The logging operations will continue all summer, practically all of the logs be- ing shipped over the M. & I. and:-Red Lake roads. The logs will be taken onto the dock and dumped into the summer dake, from where -they will be taken by the channel route to the saw mill. SULLIVAN TO MANAGE TEAM High School Boys Elect—Name Cap- tain Later - At a meeting of the candidates for the high Behool baseball team held last evening, James Sullivan elected as manager, The selection of a captain was left for a later date. WILL RETURN TO BEMIDJI R. L. Given Formerly With the Given Hardware Company Again Becomes Member of Firm WILL ASSUME DUTIES THIS WEEK |. R. L. Given, who has been in busi- ness in this city as a member of the ‘well known firm of the Given Hard- ware for four years, up to last Sep- tember, and who since that time has sounded out the hardware business in Montana, will return to Bemidji sometime this week and assume his duties as a member of tne firm. Mr. Given will be welcomed to this city by an army of: business men and citizens, who much regreted to see him leave last fall. He was active in the Commercial club, Athletic club, Tennis club and other or- ganizations which are for the upbuilding and _boosting of this city. He is now in Virginia, Minnesota with his family but is expected to re- turn to Bemidji the latter part of the week and will ~ as soon as possible make arrangements to have his fam- ily return here. Bagley Closes Season Bagley high school’s basketball season has closed, the games with Akeley having been the last. Both Bagley teams, the girls“and the boys won from Akeley, the former winning by a score of 6 to 0 and the boys by a scofe of 58 to 4. The girls game ‘was rough and the guarding was a feature. On the other hand the boys game was fast and many -difficult shots were made. Larson of Bagley starred, scoring 14 fielq baskets and connecting for two fouls. SAY- SHE 'S SO SKINNY-SHE COULD TAKE A BATH W A FOUNTAIN PEN SHE COULD. 3) Action on Educational Feature to Be' wag HARRY THURSTON PECK. Educator and Writer of Note = Ends His Life by S8hooting. Harry Thurston Peck, a writer of note and a former professor at Colum- bia university, committed suicide at a rooming house at Stamford, Conn., by shooting himself in the head with a revolver. After serving twenty-eight years as professor of ancient languages at Co- lumbia university Peck left the institu. tion more than three years ago after a breach of promise suit for $50;000 had been brought against him by Esther Quinn, a stenographer. He had been ill for several years, but had hearly regained his (ormer health‘ PLAINTIEF GIVEN VERDICT I. L. Wright and Peter Kal Entitled to $160.70 is Decision of Jury— Railroad Case Now Before Court M. & 1 COMPANY BEING SUED ‘Shortly before 11 ©’clock this morning, the jury in the case of I L. Wright and Peter Karl against the Northern Cedar company, returned a verdict of $160.70 for the'plaintiffs, after having been in deliberation less than an hour, Immediately after the verdict had ‘been refurned the case of 'Edgar Rehnke; as trustee, against the Min- nesota and ' International - railroad company, was taken up. The plain- tiff is represented in the case by George Simpson, formerly attorney general of the state of Minnesota, while J. N. Searles, the well known Stiltwater lawyer, appears for the railroad. It is expected that the case will not take long in trial. ANXIOUS TO ©PUSH APPEAL Wilson Denies he Sought to Limit Tolls. Debate ‘Washington, March 24.—While President Wilson has no doubts about the passage of the administration bill to repeal the Panama tolls -exemption he is anxious that it be brought to a vote promptly. He has been advised that a vote probably will be taken as soon as. the rivers and harbors bill has been dis- posed of. The president denied a clm-ge made on the floor of the senate that| he had attempted to limit the tolls debate in the house. He let it be known that while he had no part in suggesting a rule to limit debate he hoped there would be one. The president referred to the con- troversy as a difference of opinion among Democrats and pointed out that a majority of house Democrats really never had voted for the tolls exemption and that the act was passed by a coalition of Republicans with a minority of Democrats. The president believes a number of Republicans will support him in his position to repeal the tolls exemption. Special Sleeper R. E. Fisher, union depot agent, an- nounced that the M. & I, has ar- rangeq for a special sleeper which will' be provided for those who wish to attend the Shriners’ meeting which is to be held in Minneapolis this week, The sleeper will be placed on the side track here. Thé car will return Saturday evening. IReservations are being made daily, only a small number not having al- ready been made. By ”HOP" . MOVE 0N Now BEFORE L HASYEZ BOTH PINCHED. /. FER MASHIN FIVE YEAR DELAY FOR POSTOFFICE dflngrulm Steenerson Writes That Crowded Conditions in Architect’s Office ‘Means l’png Wait CONSIDERING PLAN OF mm ’| Suggests That Effort Be Made in Two Years to Have Appropriation In- creased—No Report on Site Yet That Bemidji will not be provided with a Federal building for at least ‘|five years is the opiniom of Halver Steenerson, - congressman from this district at the time the appropriation for the $75,000 postotfice was voted. In a communication received from the Oongygssman today he says that unless some bill is passed providing an increase to ithe force in the office of the supervising architect, it will be four years and half before the ‘plans and specifications for the build- ing can be completed and placed be- fore the contractors for.bids. This would appear that there is little pos- sibility of the new postoffice being constructed inside of the five year mark. Even should the architects iforce ‘be increased it will mean two years before any action is taken. No Site Report Mr. Steenerson upon investigation finds that no report as to the selec- tion of a site has been filed. He sug- gests that in two years should the rosidents feel that the appropriation already made for the building not be large -enough that an increase be requested. Need Immediate Aid Conditions @t the postoffice are now over crowded and just what the clerks will be able to do with the daily increasing mail is a conundrum, Postal inspectors and Site Agent Robinsen complimented the Bemidji force on the manner in which the of- fice is conducted and marvel_ at the efficiency with which the work is done under the existing conditions. How the present postoffice can care for the mail, should it increase at the same proportion during the next five years as during the last, is a mystery. VANCE AT GRAND- Noted Hypnotist To Find Article Hid- den By Business Men “Vance the Great,” is the title by which the famous hypnotist who is appearing at the Grand this week is est known. Vance opened - an en- gagement of three nights at the Grand last evening and some of the feats ‘“pulled off” by him kept the large audience in laughter. Tomor- row Vance will perform one of his greatest tricks when he will find some article which is to be hidden by four of Bemidji’s business men somewhere in the city. Driving a team of horses the-hypnotist will tra- * vel the same streets as previously gone over by the business men, re- turning to the theatre with the lost article. The trick will be performed at 4 o'clock. REACH'S 1914 GUIDE Is the Thirty-second Yearly Official Hand-Book of the American League The 1914 Reach American League Guide—the official handbook of the great junior major league presided over by famous Ban Johnson—has made its ever-welcome appearance, thus ushering in one more base ball season; a function which it has ful- filled each Spring for thirty-two con- secutive years. This long continua- tion of publication alone has-served to make the Reach Guide the stand- ard annual publication of the base ball world, without considering the merits of the contents of the book. But, combining time and quality, it is a publication which simply stands alone in its chosen field in every way, including the literary contents, official records, {llustra- tions, quality of paper, serviceable binding and general typographical excellence. TEN AUTOMOBILES ARRIVE Korth.ern ‘Auto Company Gets Biggest Shipment to Reach Bemidji The Northern Automobile Com- pany today received the largest num- ber of automobiles ever shipped into Bemidji at one shipment. The alot- ment received comprised ten auto- mobiles the bulk of ~which have al- ready been sold. This is one of the first large installments expected -by this company during the coming sum- mer. Mrs. J. C. Cobb left for Foreston last evening, where she was called by the death of her niece, Miss Edna,