Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, January 9, 1917, Page 1

"BETTER FIRE PROTECTION FOR BEMIDJI: PLANT S T0 BE OVERHAULED :Six Points Are Ordered Purchased; Will Be Sunk Iinr ~The Pump House For Use In Gase Serious (Oeccasion- _Arlsls JCONDITIONS ARE DEGLARED T0 BE DEPLORABLE| {Batter Profection Recommended For the Business Section of Gity; Biue Prlm Pm of the Water System Is llrdlrll ‘The water system of the city of Be- -midjf ‘is to ‘be overhauled, put in proper condition and given a thor- wough-housecleaning—something that is -declared has long been a dire necessity. This was decided last evening at the meeting of the city fathers after the committee, consist- ing of Aldermen R. E. Miller, F. S. Lycan and P. L. Foucault, had made -a report of their findings concernlng ‘the plant as instructed so. to do:by the council, the report being received by the council. It was during the discussion of the findings of the report during which time: the condition of the plant was thoroughly gone into, that Alderman Smart moved that six points be pur- vchased, each point to be three in- ches, six-foot screen and a 70-inch mesh and sunk at the plant as an émergency and auxiliary to the pres- ent-plant ¢apacity.. The motion was ‘made-after Charles Warfield had ad- -dressed the council giving what, in ‘his belief, would be for the best in ihe improvement of the ptant. The council also went on record as -wanting the plant kept cleaner. Report in Detail. The report of the committee to the _ ~council is as follows: To Be Made never been used. this pump is of no use to the city but could be used for a purpose which At the present time The committee recommends the following: That the steam pump above re- ferréd to be thoroughly overhauled or a new one be installed in its place, should the cost of repairs be too great, and would further suggest that the council obtain estimates of the cost of overhauling the old pump and the cost of a new one. We further recommend that as soon as the steam pump is repaired and put in condition to furnish the necessary amount of water for the city, that a new cement foundation be put under the big electric pump. This can be done with very little ex- pense. We further recommend that all city wells be thoroughly cleaned im- mediateyl, believing that if this is done in the proper manner, a suffi- cient flow of water may be obtained for city use except in cases of lnrge fires. On January 3 the committee ap- “pointed to investigate the water sup- ply and pumping station eguipment visited the pumping station and beg leave to submit the report of their findings. The large”electric pump which supplies most -of the water for the city ‘was found to be in -fairly good .condition, it having been recently re- paired. The foundation on which it Tests, however, is loose, causing more ‘or less vibration and undue' stress and wear on the pumping machinery. “The engineer in charge informed us that this pump was running at about two-thirds of its capacity on account of poor water supply from the city’s “wells. The auxiliary pump or large steam pump is in very bad repair. This pump is an old one, having been in service more or less for the past fif- teen years. To repair the same would require new cylinder heads, piston rings and several other parts. The city has at the pumping sta- tion a 65-horsepower motor-driven centrifugal pump which was installed “BUFFALO BILL” IS NEARING END OF THE TRAIL OF LIFE £ More Fire Protection. We further recommend that as soon as practicable for the better fire protection in the congested down town. district an estimate be obtained on the installation of seven or eight blocks of fire mains of say, eight or ten-inch diameter, running from the lake through the closely built-up portion of the city and that the cen- trifugal pump now lying idle at the pump house be installed on the lake- shore to furnish water to the afore- said mains. We further recommend that all steam and water pipes in the pump house be cleaned and painted and that all machinery kept in better condition, and that the meter at pump house be put in good condi- tion. We further recommend that the city engineer be instructed to furnish the council a blue print showing lo- cation of all water mains, taps and sewer connections in the city of Be- midji and file a copy of same with the city clerk and clerk of the water board. the committee will recommend later in this report. Makes Recommendations. KEEK KKK KKK KKK KK WOULD SLOW CUPID * * x e ea— * (By United Press) * St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 9.— ¥ Applicants for marriage li- censes must wait five days & for legal publication of their < * * * * x x * ok Kk ok Kok bans, before they are mar- ried, according to the terms Denver, Colo., Jan. 9.—Colonel « of a bill slowing down Cupid, William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) “is & before the Minnesota state dying in Denver today, facing|¥® Jegislature today. :death in the same manner he faced|¥ ‘it many a time on the plains of the west in conflicts that made his name ‘famous. Colonel Cody heard the warning -words of the approach of the end -of his life from Dr. J. H. East, his physician and friend. Colonel Cody had summoned: the physician to his bedside. - When Dr. East walked in- to thé room, Colonel Cody said: “Sit down, doctor, there is some- thing I want to ask you. I want you to * answer me honestly. What are ‘my chances?” Dr. Eas; turned to the scout “There is a time, Colonel,” he said, “‘when every honestiphysician must commend his patient to a higher power.’ * Colonel Cody’s head sank. “How long?” he asked simply. “T can answer that,” said the physician,” ““‘only by telling you your life is like the hour glass. The sand 5,400= ARE CAPTURED BY TEUTONS, REPORT (By United Press) Berlin, Jan. 9.—The capture of ‘Galreaska, a Roumanian town, has been -captured and successful hand- to-hand night attacks have been successfully repulsed, is an official report today. The booty taken by the Germans yesterday was 95 offi- <cers,. 5,400 men, three cannon and #en machine guns. IS TR SRR S R &R R RS slowly—but is slipping, gradually, The soon the sand will all be gone. end is not far away.” Colonel Cody turned to his sister, Mrs. May Decker. “May,” said he, “let the Elks and Masons take charge of the funeral.” Then the man who made history in the west when it was young, be- gan. methodically to arrange his af- fairs. Dr. East today said death would come soon. RUSS CAPTURE SMALL ISLAND; TAKEN JAN. 4 (By United Press) Berlin, Jan. 9.—A Russian attack made in a dense snowstorm, resulted lin the recapture of a small island jof Glasdonm, north of Illuxt. It was | taken January 4 and renewed enemy attacks on both_ sides of the river were repulsed. Night advances by a Russian raiding detachment is said not to have been successful. DATE NOT SET. San Antonio, Tex., Jan. 9.—The date for the departure of the First North Dakota infantry has not been set. BEMIDJL. MINNESOTA, TUESDAY EVENING. JANUARY 9. 1017. sevex’al years ago and which has and Aldermen Brinkman and Tagley COUNTRY KNEW MURDERED MODEL Having posed treqnently for advertisers of national fame, Mrs. Grace Roberts, mysteriously murdered in Philadelphia, was well known to the pub- e pictorially. thoizh not by name. APOLOGIZE? WHAT Fl)R? (Editorial) At the last meeting of the city council, prior to the meeting last eve- ning, in the course of a discussion following the reading of the bills, Al- derman Lahr asked City Attorney Russell, who was present, if it was not illegal to allow bills and issue warrants when there was no money in the fund upon which the bills were drawn. Alderman Lahr also stated that the officials who so allowed the bills in question were responsible for. their payment, citing in substantiation of his statement a provision in the city charter of Bemidji. City Attorney Russell walked to his overcoat, hanging conveniently, and produced a copy of the city charter. He laid it on a corner of the long table, around which group the aldermen, and turned back a few pages, then took up the copy of the charter and walked away. \ o A representative of the Pionéer was present and heard the question | of - Alderman .Lahr; which no one+genies . was asked, and saw the result. Next day a copy of the city charter was secured and the section mentioned by Alderman Lahr located. The incident was recalled, and the question asked by Alderman Lahr, together with his statement, was again stated, the reason of its being asked and the salient point of the charter provision as mentioned by him was reproduced in the Pioneer. At the time the Pioneer made public the charter provision, it also stated that Alderman Lahr’s question was not answered, in other words ig- nored. The city attorney made no reply to Alderman Lahr whatever. THE QUESTION ASKED WAS MADE IN AN OPEN SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEMIDJL THEPIONEER PRESENTED IT TO ITS READERS AS BEING A PART OF THE BUSINESS SESSION OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE. THE TRUTHFULNESS OF WHAT THE PIONEER SAID IS NOT DE- NIED NOR DISPUTED. FOR GIVING THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF BEMIDJI A TRUTHFUL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL THE PIONEER IS TAKEN TO TASK. When City Attorney Russell finished the reading of his opinion last evening on the question raised by Alderman Lahr, Alderman Bailey inter- jected, “I think the Pioneer should apologize to the council.” “I think so, too,” added Alderman Miller. Just for what the apology was expected was not mentioned. The Pioneer is responsible for its utterances. The writer of this rep- resents the Pioneer at the meetings of the city council. He was present last evening. Personally, he has no issue with either Alderman Bailey nor Alderman Miller and he would be the first to offer an apology should he in any manner unjustly make any statement concerning them. But in justice to the Pioneer, in connection with the openly stated belief that the Pioneer owes an apology to the council we will offer the following: The writer will apologize if— He has made ONE STATEMENT UNTRUE concerning Alderman Bailey or Alderman Miller. He has made ONE STATEMENT UNTRUE concerning the aldermanic body of the city council. He has made ONE STATEMENT UNTRUE concerning City Attorney Russell. He has made ONE STATEMENT UNTRUE concerning the mayor, the president of the city council, City Clerk Stein, Chief of Police Ripple, Chief Doran of the fire department or even the latter’s bull pup or anyone IN ANY CAPACITY connected with the city administration of the city of Bemidji. WE STAND READY TO “BE SHOWN.” LAWSON THROWS MORE LIGHT ON “LEAK” IN NOTE Washington, Jan. 9.—The House rules committee, probing the “leak to Wall street” charges, themselves profited by the leak of the president’s note, is a report of Thomas W. Law- son, financier, to the House today. He refused to divulge the names of the men who he claimed had linked a cabinet officer’s name with the leak profits. CABINET RESIGNS. (By United Press) Madrid, Jan. 9.—The Spanish cab- were in their seats for the first time. |inet resigned today. SPENDS WEEK-END. William Chichester of Ball Club, Minn., spent the week-end in the city, a guest at the G. W. Cochran, | Sr., home. He returned to Ball Club at noon. CITY’S OFFICIAL FAMILY INCREASED BY TWO When the city council convened last evening it was the first time the city had been represented by eleven aldermen, ten from the reguar wards and the alderman-at-large, and Mayor Vandersluis beamed pleasant- ly over his increased official family. The addition of Nymore, the new Fifth ward to the city, added two more representatives to the council "\ 40 CENTS PER MONTE. “GAI.LEI]” S0 IS THE “PIONEER”, BY GITY ATTY. RUSSELL Mention of Legal Luminary's Not Answering Question of Alderman In An Open. Session Of the ity Gouncil Arouses Wrath VERBAL MACHINE GUN TURNED INTO ACTION Takes Walop At First Ward Roprossstatie and Pays Respects 1o “Plowsar” Editor; Gies Long Opinion Of the The session of the city council last evening was decidedly interest- ing and, in the language of the so- clety reporter, “everybody had a good time.’” The meeting was interesting in more ways than one—in fact many. It was interesting in that steps were taken to rehabilitate the city water plant, an opinion read by City At- torney Russell anent the proposition to, secure a site for anm armory, an exhaustive opinion concerning the much cussed and discussed subject contained in the city charter as to the right to spend money from funds ‘which contain none, and the city at- torney’s forcible expression of his opinion of Alderman Lahr, in which the editor of the Pioneer was coupled in the running and shared the same opinion of the city’s lggal luminary as did Alderman Lahr. All of which was much appreciated by all present. Cause of It All It was all occasioned, this feature of the city attorney relaxing his fa- cial anatomy and extemporizing in the manner in which he did, by a question anent the legality ‘of ex- pending money from funds in which there was no money and the liability of the officials for same in such event, the question being asked of the city attorney i open session of the coun- cil two weeks ago, and which was given space in the Pioneer, as will be remembered. . __ . Attorney Gives Opinion. At the time the question was pro- pounded it was not answered, but laat evening City Attorney Russell answered it and he went over the matter up one side and down the other, forward and backwards, and he cited authority after authority in substantiation of what he had to say. The opinion covered several type- written pages of’legalcap paper and was the most exhaustive analysis of the mooted problem that has ever been prepared for the city of Be- midji. It was interesting in the ex- treme and can truthfully be said to be a valuable asset to the city for future guidance and seems to once and for all settle the point raised frequently. Good Faith Questioned. In his preoration, City Attorney Russell referred to the question asked Mooted Point o - by Alderman Lahr and its mention and the citing of the charter section alluded to by Alderman Lahr by the Pioneer and he vehemently declared that the question asked by Alderman Lahr was “malicious, uncalled for and misleading,” and he questioned the good faith of the First ward rep- resentative in having asked the question and took a few verbal hot shots’ at the representative of the Pioneer who was present. Certainly “Went Some.” The city attorney uncorked a flow of the king’s English that went clear over the heads of many of those present. The electric lights shown in the eyes of some and they muffed what the attorney was handing them. He batted away over the .300 mark and finished eased up on the bit. There wasn't one fault to find with it all. It was certainly magnolious,. Yes, better than that —it was splendiferous. It was alone well worth the price of admission. Lahr Makes Reply. At the conclusion of the attorney's delivery, Alderman Lahr arose and stated that he had asked the ques- tion in good faith and expressed him- selg that as being utterly surprised that he should be attacked in the manner in which he had. He sald he didn't deserve the treatment accorded him by the city attorney ‘{and asserted such was out-of place. “I asked that question because I don't want to pay any more taxes than I am obliged to,” asserted Al- derman Lahr. “I am not questioning the legality of the expenditure for the new bridge. I know we are not up to our tax limit, but it was with the idea of saving the city's money I asked that question. We don’t want to spend more than our income. Do you want to pay more taxes? I don’t.” It was when Alderman Lahr had resumed his seat that Alderman Bailey remarked that in his opinion the Pioneer owed the council an ap- ology, to which Alderman = Miller voiced his assent. No one else seemed to have any- thing more to offer and a motion to adjourn was made and promptly act- ed upon, the hour having grown late. ASSOCIATION TO OPEN MEET IN NEW ULM New Um, Minn., Jan. 9.—Repre- sentatives of nearly every city in the Red River and Mississippi valley in the Dakotas and Minnesota are ex- pected to attend the meeting of the Tri-State Flood Control association here January 10. It is expected that the delegates will decide upon some plan of flood control to be presented to the legislatures of the three states. WIFE MURDERER TO HANG JANUARY 15 (By United Press) Ossipee, N. H., Jan. 9.—A verdict of “guilty with capital punishment’ was returned last night against Fred- erick L. Small, former Boston broker, who was charged with the murder of his wife, Florence A. Small. To- day he was sentenced to hang Jan. 15, by Judge Kivel. The jury deliberated three hours. Small staggered for an instant as he heard the words of the foreman of the jury, but at once pulled hlmfielf' the cmu-l together and maintained posure which, with few exceptions, | has marked his conduct from the mo- ment he was arrested. Turning to the newspaper after the formalities of ad]ourning the court were observed, he said: I know no more about it | crime. I am awaiting the next ' than you do. move.” AID TO SERVE LUNCH. An all-day session of the Ladies" Aid society of the Methodist church will be held Wednesday, January 10. A 15-cent lunch will be served at noon. The regular business meeting will be held in the foremoon. LEWIS EXONERATED BY SLAIN MODEL'S SISTER: PROBE ON (By United Press) Philadelphia, Jan. 9.—Bessie Col- bert, sister of Mazie Colbert, slain corset model, and Mayor Thomas Smith have joined efforts to force a complete solution of the death mur- der of the pretty model. It is the belief that when Bernard Lewis, son of a millionaire father, committed suicide the mystery was solved. Prominent society men, cafe fre- quenters and stellar lights of the gay night life are busy scanning headlines of the newspapers. Bessie Colbert has issued a state- ment declaring Lewis innocent of having committed the crime. The police are flooded with letters, the writers stating they have positive proof that Lewis is not guilty. The police are giving little atten- tion to these letters are the writers are prompted, it is asserted, solely nhy hopes of financial gain from the lrlch father of Lewis. ]EVERYTHING QUIET AT “Gentlemen, I am innocent of this | I.W.W.HEADQUARTERS There was nothing new this morn- ing in I. W. W. circles and the men who are out and at Bemidji are con- tenting themselves at headquarters playing cribbage, checkers, dominoes and cards. The situation is quiet and every- body seems content to let it remain so.