Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, April 16, 1915, Page 1

4 e VOLUME 13, NO. 92. BEMIDJ], MINNESOTA, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1915. TELEPHONE %S INU.S.HIGHER ', OTHER NATION. Postalization of Telephone and Tele- graph is Aim of Congressman Lewis—Successful Abroad. RANK FIRST IN USE OF LETTER But Thirteenth in Use of Wire--Rates in Foreign Countries Compared With Those in America. By BURTON K. STANDISH. ‘Washington, April 16.—Whenever any member of the House of Repre- sentatives wishes to know about pos- tal affairs, wishes to bolster up an impending speech with few facts, and hasn’t time to get in touch with the Post Office Department, he has al- ways the alternative of asking Repre- sentative David J. Lewis, of Mary- land. Lewis is a simple and sure remedy for ignorance concerning the post office, if taken in time and in sufficient doses. He is as full of in- formation regarding the mails as Rep. James R. Mann is regarding parliamentary proceedings or Sena- tor Lafollette regarding the rail- roads. Right off the bat he could tell you, if you wanted to know, how much it would cost to send a dozen China eggs from your home in Bluefield to your aunt in Billings, Mont., and if you asked further, he’d tell you just how much profit the government made on the shipment and how much the railroad made. Congressman Lewis is a great be- liever in the possibilities of the post offiice and his pet idea is the postali- zation of the telephone and telegraph. Commenting on the advocacy of this move by Postmaster Burleson, he said the other day. Means Reduction. ‘‘Mr. Burleson’s preaecessors for 50 years have given like counsel. The principal countries of the world, the United States alone excepted, have already postalized these agencies. Why? Briefly, because the postoffice alone has the motive and the faci- lities to make rates low enough: to render service to all the people. Be- fore the parcels post we had the high- est parcel rates. They are now among the lowest in the world. We still have the highest telegraph rates. ‘They run from 25 cents to §1. Where the post conducts the telegraph they run from 10 cents to 24 cents for the longest distances. “The result of our high rates is that we use the telegraph little. New Zealand with a 12 cent rate shows 9 telegraph per capita, the United States only 1. But with the lowest letter rates we show the high- est use, 101 letters per capita, as against 93 for New Zealand. While our telegraph rates run from two to over four times as high as countries like Austria, with distances as long and wages as high as our own, our toll or long distance rates are even more immoderate. They run from three to seven times as high as the postal telephone rates of other coun- tries. ““The average rate for 100 miles in nine countries of Europe is 20 cents, as against 60 cents here; for 300 miles, 37 cents, as against $1.80 here; for 400 miles, 39 cents as against $2.40; for 500 miles, 46 cents, as against $3; for 700 miles, 53 cents, as against $4.20. Pay More Than Europe. “That is to say, for 100 miles we pay three times as much as they in Europe and for 700 miles, we pay eight times as much. ““It costs the American as much to ship his long-distance conversation over the wires as it costs him to ship his freight over the railroads. The railroads get on an average 7 mills a mile for moving a ton of freight. The charge for carrying three-minute conversation a mile is 6 mills. 'Con- versations weigh about a ton on the long distance wires. “The effect of the rates is to re- duce the traffic to a point as abnorm- ally low as the rates are abnormally high. Combining telegrams and telephone messages we find that other countries use the wires from two to four times as much as we do. Den- mark shows 17 such messages per capita—we show only three. We rank first in the use of the letter, but thir- teenth in the use of the wire. More- over, our companies maintain but one telegraph office to every seven post- offices. The postal institutions main- tain an average of two telegraph of- fices to every three postoffices. This is the penalty our country pays for permitting a private monopoly to con- duet this part of the postal service— the highest rates and the poorest ser- vice among the nations. “Second only to the letter in im- portance is the local telephone call. Perhaps it would be first if its cost permitted its use by all the people. In countries having postal telephones BOATING SEASON IS ON. Warm Weather of Past Few Days Causes Ice to Break Up. “e boating season has begun. A '%» the first to be placed in the W this year, was pressed into use on Lake Bemidji this morning. Warm weather of the past few days has caused the ice to break up consider- ably and it will be but a short time before it will leave the lake entirely. The ice in Lake Irving, which usually disappears about two weeks before that in Lake Bemidji, has just begun to break up. Captain MacLachlan is planning to begin navigation May first and he is placing the “City of Bemidji” in readiness to begin opera- tions on that day. MINNESOTA BOYS LEAD Summary of Results in Thirty-three States Show Gopher State Lads Ahead in Corn Growing League.: MANY PASS 120-BUSHEL MK If Minnesota’s boy corn growers were scored for results ‘as batting averages in baseball are compiled— by the number of safe hits per sea- son, not the number of home runs—- then the Minnesota boys would come out at the top of the government av- erages in the corn-growing league. The United States Department of Agriculture has issued a statement’ of the club work of boys and girls in 33 states done in co-operation with state educational institutions. . It shows that the highest corn yield of Minnesota last year, 131 bushels on an acre, was surpassed by boys in Oregon, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylva- nia and Washington. But in number of boys who pro- duced more than 120 bushels to the acre, Minnesota leads with 15, while Michigan is a poor second with five. In number who produced more than 100 bushels per acre, Minnesota again leads with sixty as against Mich- igan’s second with eleven. In num- ber who turned out more than 80 bushels per acre, Minnesota leads with 310, while Iowa is second with 42. In number who grew more than 60 bushels per acre, Minnesota, tops the list easily with 710 while Iowa is second with 166. ' One_Minnesota boy is said«to-have made $118 net profit for the season with nine pigs and an acre of corn. DUTCH GOVERNMENT SAYS SUBMARINE SUNKKATW YK (United Press) The Hague, April 16.—The Dutch government this afternoon officially announced that it was convinced a submarine had sunk the steamer Kat- wyk, but the nationality of the sup- marine was not mentioned. It is further alleged that the enemy re- fused to tow the boat into port. Newspapers, however, say that it was undoubtedly a German subma- rine that did the work. One news- paper demanded that a sharp note be sent foreing an apology for the inci- dent and stated that a repitition of such an attack would mean war with Holland, Other newspapers stated that the situation is serious. NO. 92 IN LEAD. The lead in the Huffman & O'Leary free piano contest is now held by No. 92, with a vote of 8,579,815, The standings of the other candidates fol- low: 1, 339,864; 2, 104,414; 3, 122,896; 8, 307,000; 9, 172,000; 10, 192,000; 13, 207,000; 19, 317,000; 22, 200,- 414; 23, 239,000; 25, 292,749; 28, 192,000; 33, 252,749; 34, 279,896; 36, 277,325; 40, 327,698; 48, 227,- 645; 67, 164, 345; 74, 194,435; T8, 221,885; 86, 449,461; 90, 313,414; 91, 102,000; 92, 8,679,815; 97, 317,- 530; 112, 172, 685; 115, 169,965; 117, 243,000; 123, 102,415; 125, 240,675; 130, 8,267,480; 131, 220,- 000; 133, 312,000; 134, 272,000; 136, 282,000; 138, 269, 414; 155, 127,845; 159, 186,745. L. J. Gleason, of the Minneapolis office of the Crookston Lumber com- pany, is in Bemidji for several days. MANY OBSTACLESIN - TRENCH FIGHTING Field Marshal French’s Report Shows Why Blunders Were Made by | British at Neuve Chapelle. ENGLISH DEMOCRACY WINNING Incompetency Among French Officers Explains Ease With Which Ger- mans Succeeded in Belgium. By J. W. T. MASON. New York, April 16.—Field Mar- shal French’s report on the blurnders committed by the British at Neuve Chapelle clears up much' that was obscure in that engagement, and em- phasizes anew the almost insuper- able obstacles that prevent a major victory from trench warfare. Since the entrenched fighting be- gan in France and Belgium, it is cer- tain that many incidents not unlike the mismanagement at Neuve Cha- pelle have occurred to all of the bel- ligerents. Otherwise, the annals of the last six months would show more victories won by the Germans or the Allies. But until the British com- mander-in-chief made public his frank avowal of the blunders of his army, all details of failures have been suppressed. Géneral - Joffre has permitted it to be announced that incompetency of the part of the Krench commanders was responsible for the success of the German drive through Belgium and northern France. The Germans, too, have publicly criticized the Austrians in general terms. But-the British re- port of the Neuve Chapelle battle is the first one to give particulars of an unpalatable character. Is Winning Fight. The British democracy, apparent- ly, is winning its fight against the Kitchener censorship. Four primary reasons are stated by Field Marshal French to be respon- sible for the meagerness of the gains at Neuve Chapelle. First, the failure of the Twenty-third brigade to prop- erly cut its way through barbed wire entanglements; second, the delay of the Fourth corps in getting its re- serves into action; third, the difficul- ty of reorganizing the various units after.-they-had charged-through' the enemy’s trenches; fourth, the im- proper control of the artillery, which swept the field over which the Brit- ish themselves were advancing. Would Miss Lesson. It would be easy to set down these mistakes to British blundering and to remark on the similarity of the present report and those issued dur- ing the Boer war. But criticism of this nature would miss the prime lesson of Sir John French’s analysis. Every mistake committed at Neuve Chapelle is a representative one. If if were not for these and similar dif- TELLS OF OWN CONVERSION Evangelist Beynolds ‘Was Traveling When He Began Present Work. (By Rev. C.'W. Gilman) Much interest is’being taken in the evangelistic meetings which are be- ing held in the Methodist church by Rev. Frank E. Reynolds and each meeting is well attended. Yesterday afternoon his subject was: “Crucified With Christ.” He:said the old na- ture must be crucified, which means to be put to death; 8o thé Christ life | can live. Then if:the old nature is dead there is no need of constant repression, for the old man has been crucified, and the life we then live is one of freedom::. Last night Rev. Reynolds talked on:the theme, “God’s Pleading.” His text was “God’s Spirit will not always strive. with man.”. He said that'a man could re- sist the pleading. of: the spirit until that pleading would cease, and leave forever. A man in this condition has no hope. Rev. Repnolds told the story of his own conversion. - He was on the road as a trayeling man. The spirit had béen striving with him for two weeks, even while he was tryl_ixg (Continuea on st page). UNIQUE HOUSES SHOWN ‘Work of School Students-on Display at Schneiders’ Attracts Much Atten- ; tion—(?luflj: Provided. - TO ANNOUNCE CONTEST WINNEES Thirty bird holises, all attractive, of unique destgn.:and showing new plans in architecture of the kind, are on display at Schneider Brothers, be- ing the work of pupils of the Bemidji scfiools.” The houses were construct- ed in connection with the contest which has been in:progress during the past month and in which $15 in prizes are to be distributed. Bird houses of all kinds are shown, some being built for one.certain bird and others for another. There is one house three stories high in which there are thirty rooms. A large number of the houses are for sale, the prices ranging as high as $1.50. Accompanying the houses are charts which tell of bird life.. One tells of the colors of different birds; another tells of- perehingdbirds and.another: tells of the kinds'of food preferred by various breeds. A list of useful birds includes the following names: Robin, myrtle warbler, chicadee, screech owl, nut latch, yellow-billed cuckoo, red-eyed vireo, downy woodpecker, brown creeper, marsh hawk, king bird, sparrow hawk, meadow lark, Mary- land lark, cedar wax wing, blue bird, warblers, house wren, barn swallow, song sparrow, mourning dove, boh- white and killdeer. Anfong the doubtful birds named are the following: Cat bird, crow, blackbird and blue jay. - The injur- ious birds are the hawk, sapsucker ficulties, modern generalship would not be so impotent before the enemy’s entrenchments. There is no reference in Sir Jehn French’s report to a belief that such errors will not happen again. In fact, five weeks have passed since the Neuve Chapelle battle, and-as yet no effort has been made to redeem the blunders committed last month. He says such losses as those at Neuve Chapelle must be expected in the fu- ture unless he has a “most efficient and powerful artillery force and an almost unlimited supply of ammuni- tion.” i Cannot Pay Price. There is no reason at present to believe any of the belligerents has “an almost unlimited supply of am- munition.” Neither side can-afford to pay the price of Neuve Chapelle victories without unlimited ammuni- tion, which cost the British 13,000 lives for a gain of 1,600 yards along a front of about two miles. The les- son of Sir John ' French’s report, therefore, is that no present hope ex- ists of breaking the deadlock along the western battlefront. Cass Lake Chief Here. George Deidrick, chief of police of Cass Lake, spent today in Bemidji on official business. An apple eaten before breakfast serves as a natural stimulant for the digestive organs. and English swallow. The judges in the contest are Mrs. C. E. Battles, Dr. E. H. Marcum and Dr. G. M. Palmer. The selection of prize-winning houses will be made this afternoon. $400,000 DAMAGE DONE BY MINNEAPOLIS FIRE (United Press) Minneapolis, April 16.—Wheat to the amount of 260,000 bushels and damage done to the extent of $400,- | 000 resulted from the Huhn elevator fire this morning. A concrete tank protected 100,000 bushels from the flames and switch engines hauled 50,- 000 bushels more to safety. NYMORE MAN- ARRESTED Frank Johtigon, giving Nymore as his place of residence, was n;reated this morning by Special Officer Brandt on a charge of introducing liguor into Indian territory. John- son was taken into custody on the ar- rival of the Soo Line passenger this morning. A grip containing quan- tities of beer, whisky and alcohol, ,the property of Jghnson, who is now in the county jail, was confiscated. OMNIBUS BILL " MADE SPECIAL ORDER TODAY Measure Carrying $4,77§,000 for State Institutions May Be Reached at Three 0’clock This Afternoon. CHAIRMAN MAKES NO COMMENT Not Known for Certain Whether Ap- _propriation ~ for - Bemidji Normal School Building is Included. (United Press) St. Paul, April 16.—The bill car- rying $4,772,000 appropriations for state institutions, those governed by the board of control, was made a spi- cial order for 3 o’clock this after- noon. This amount is $800,000 be- low that appropriated by the legis- lature of- two years ago. - An effort was made to ascertain whether an appropriation of $50,000 for the building of a normal school at Bemidji was included, but . the committee chairman refused to make any comment. Boxing Bill Special Order. The bill permitting boxing in the cities of Duluth, St. Paul and Min- neapolis, which recently passed the house, was made a special order for Monday morning in the senate. Governor Hammond today signed the roadhouse bill, prohibiting the operation of saloons outside of or- ganized towns and cities. " The bill providing for the teach- ing of deaf children in the public schools was advanced to the calen- dar and the judiciary committee this afternoon recommended for passage the new amendments to the abate- ment law, substituting them for the Von Hoven proposed amendment. NEW BOATS ADDED. Viking Company to Improve Service This Summer—Provide for Fishers. Several new boats have been built during the winter by the Viking Boat company and will be added to those which were’in use last year. Many improvements and repairs have been made at the dock and boat house of the company and better service than ever is the aim of the proprietors. Material for fishermen will be pro- vided as during former years. One gasoline launch will be operated in connection with the boat house. COAST GUNS OF GERMANS FORCE BRITISH T0 RETIRE (United Press) Berlin, April 16.—The following bulletin was issued by the German war department this afternoon: Brit- ish destroyers standing in near the coast assisted allied land forces in a heavy artillery attack upon the Ger- man positions between Nieuport and Ypres. The Germans trained their heavy coast guns upon the warships and forced them to retire. HANGMAN’S CARNIVAL. Sacramento, Cal.,, April 16.—What was the inauguration of a month of hangings in California history was scheduled today with the execution on the scaffold of Charles Oxnam and Glenn Witt, murderers. Oxnam was to be hung today at San Quentin peni- tentiary and Witt at Folsom prison. Two more hangings are scheduled next Friday and another the follow- ing Friday. BUNNY REPORTED DEAD. (United Press) New .York, April 16.—It was re- ported in the newspapers here this morning that John Bunny, the noted actor was dead, but he is yet alive, al- though in a very serious conditions. John Bunny is one of the stars of the “movies” and is considered as one of the funniest in the business. _ SENATOR ALDRICH DEAD. (Unitea Pross) New York, April 16.—Nelson Al- drich, former United States senator, dropped dead here this morning. SCOOP Hbits REPORTER the rate averages about a cent a call, or half the letter rates, while in our (Continued on last page). LUMBER: u’fll R ) A e ssacamn 10 8 350, NEORSOITY OF BOND Bemidji Postoffice to Be Provided With Clerk and Carrier. J. M. Shoemaker, secretary of the civil service board, has that an examination will be held in Bemidji on Saturday, ‘April 24, for applicants for clerk and carrier in the Bemidji postoffice.. 8: A. Cutter of thig city will have charge of the examination. Applications for the examination must be made in regular forms provided fer that purpose. COURT TERM NEARS END But One More Jury €ase Remains for Trial, Being That of{fllfie of Min- nesota Against England. — ‘ JURY EXCUSED UNTIL TUESDAY ISSUE EXPLAINED announced | Questions Asked by Bemidji Citizens Concerning Proposition, Answered —Election Tuesday. $60,000 IS AMOUNT INVOLVED Money to Be Secured by State Loan— Means Placing of City on Cash Working Basis, As the day of the special election, which is to be held for the purpose of voting on a bond issue of $60,000, approaches, taxpayers of Bemidji who are not familiar with the propo- sition are asking many questions, But one more jury case remains for trial at the adjourned term of district court which has been in progress here since Tuesday, being that of the state of Minnesota versus Call England. There are several court cases which will be tried between now and the first of May. England was indicted by the grand jury in February on a ' charge of grand-larceny in the second degree. The case will be called for trial next Tuesday morning, the members of the jury. having been excused by Judge Wright until that time. _The defend- ant will be represented by Attorney Henry Funkley, while Graham M. Terrance, county attorney, will ap- pear for the state. The case of Kate Jones against Dr. E. H. Marcum has been dismissed on the request of plaintiff. The jury in the suit was secured yesterday after- noon and several witnesses had been examined before the case was dis- missed. 3 Several other cases were to have been tried but because of the absence from the tity of counsel they will go | over to the fall term. MORE ENGLISH TOWNS VISITED BY ZEPPELINS / (Unitea Press) —~London, April 16.—London is ex- pecting another Zeppelin raid with- in a few hours. A special meeting of the admiralty was held this morn- ing, presumably to effect a plan of defense against the air raiders. A number of Zeppelins, thought to he three in number, made an attack on Essex and Suffold this morning. Damage was done to the amount of $50,000 and a woman and girl were injured.. The raiders crossed the | Thames river eleven miles from Lon- don and twelve towns and cities with- in 70 miles of the city wére visited. The admiralty is convinced that Ger- many is attempting to get a route to London for the Zeppelins. London, April 16.—Count Zeppelin has arrived at Cuxhaven, the German Zeppelin base, for the purpose of per- sonally directing the expected aerial raid upon London. Several Zeppe- lins have been transported to the some of which the Daily Pioneer herewith attempts to answer in as complete a manner as possible. The special election will be held next Tuesday, the polls being open from 6 o’clock in the morning till 9 o'clock in the evening. This date was named by the city council at an adjourned meeting held Friday eve- ning, March 19, when the report of a committe¢ comprised of a member of the Commercial club, a member of the Merchants’ association, a mem- ber of the city council and a repre- sentative citizens from each of the wards of the city, recommended that a bond issue be passed, following an investigation. Questions are Answered. Following is presented a series of questions heard repeatedly and an- swers which have a direct bearing on the passing of the bond issue of $60,- 000: What makes a bond issue necessary at this time? Anticipated revenues last year from sources other than tax levy, fell short $10,000 on account of the Fed- eral closing. Anticipated revenues from this source for this year approxi- mating $22,000 are also lost on ac- count of this closing. This combined with-outstanding warrants makes an issue of this kind advisable. ‘What is the bond issue for? For the purpose of picking up out- standing warrants. Does this tend to increase our in- debtedness? No. For -instance, the city ' has from $50,000 to.$60,000 outstanding warrants for indebtedness that exists, and these warrants draw 6 per cent interest. The arrangements for a state loan merely would provide the cash to retire these warrants, and such a loan is made at 4 per cent. You see it does not increase the in- debtedness, but reduces the interest on such an amount from 6 to 4 per cent. The City’s Indebtedness, ‘What is the actual indebtedness of the city? At the beginning of the fiscal year it was approximately $98,000. Now this may seem high, but when you consider that of this amount $60,000 is for bonds for the water system, and ‘which is never considered as an actual city indebtedness, it being strictly a public utility, or a commer- cial enterprise and self-sustaining, it is not so very high. This then bases at Emden and Cuxhaven and|} leaves approximately an indebtedness the enemy’s ships are displaying the Of $40,000 for what is called the greatest activity. The report that three Zeppelins city proper. ‘What offset has the city for this participated in the recent attack upon | indebtedness? English towns is firmed. apparently con- It has every bit of the eity prop- erty that can be given a physical While a conference was progress- | aluation, such as real estate, build- ing here to devise ways and means |in8S, equipment of all kinds, that is of meeting the.anticipated Zeppelin |0Wned by the city, and in addition to attack, a dispatch was received trom |this it represents every bit of perman- Chatham announcing that German |ent improvements made, such as aeroplanes had attacked Faversham |Pridges, grading streets and roads, and Sittingbourne, forty miles south- | Street and alley crossings, walks, pav- east of London, early this afternoon. | iNg sewers, septic tank and so on. The first aviator appeared at Mar- gate on the English coast, westward, passing near the famous ‘Will the indebtedness be greater at fiying | the end of this fiscal year? It will be less, because there is a bie Canterbury cathedral, but attempting | bond issue of $25,000 due and payal 20 damage. - The ralders then bomb.|October first this year, which will be ed Faversham and Sittingbourne and |Paid and retired, money helng avail- were pursued by British airmen. Two Purchase Buicks. Two Buick 35-horsepower five- passenger Buick automobiles, pur- chased through the Bemidji Automo- bile company, have been received by Dr. J. T. Tuomy of this city and Dr. Delbert F. Dumas of Cass Lake. The machines were delivered yesterday. i Do ective Page T »H'v count. able in the sinking fund for that pur- pose. , ‘What rate of interest do these out- standing warrants draw? Six per cent. ‘What rate of interest will the bonds draw? Four per cent.. Are these warrants taken at par? No. They are usually discounted at 6 to 10 per cent—at the present time 1¢ per cent is the rate of dis- “Who Pays Disoount? ‘Who stands this discount? The individual to whom the war- rants are issued. o Are all the expenses of the city paid by warrants on over-drawn funds? Yes, and have been for -the past -« [two or three years. Who holds these warrants? Banks, business houses, contractors and private citizens. ‘What share of the $60,000 is held by ‘the banks? | About $11,000; the balance is held _ by the others. f ‘Will the issuance of the bonds be apt to make the taxes more or less? (Continued on last page.)