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

':\" b Al s Rimr e il B clh S S o B oot il ot VOLUME XV. NO: 115. SCHOOL BUILDING; ACTON DEFERRED Figures for General Contract and Plumbing and Heating Are Remarkably Uniform. PLUMBING AND HEATING IS PROBLEM; PRICES SKY HIGH Figures More Than Doubled and Quotations Are Subject to Change at Any Moment. With the opening of the bids for the nmew Fifth’ ward school building by the board of education last eve- ning the members were nearly speechless at the- figures- submitted and everybody “backed up” and took a long breath. Result was, the mat- ter deferred to an adjourned session next Saturday evening and in thel interim there will be some “tall” fig- uring in order. The bids on the general contract were not the cause of the astonish- ment so much as the figures of the plumbing and heating, the prices having more than doubled and one of the bidders was frank enough to state that under ordinary circum- stances the plumbing and heating could be done for around $7,000, whereas at present the bids ran all the way from $16,500 to $17,800. Biddine Was Uniform. Remarkably uniform was the bid- ding of the several firms, indicating that there was no combination and; no attempt at collusion in getting away with something, and every firm that bid was one of standing and reputation. For the general contract the bids were as follows: Lawrence Const. Co....$29,300 Edward Jackson . 32,840 Adolph Wartz . 28,859. Hill Construction Co.... 29,574 George A. Kreatz...... 29,266 Plumbing and Heating. For the plumbing and heating the figures were: Stock & Co............ $16,500 Charles Wilkins & Co. 16,875 John. D. Roberts. . 16,900 L. P. Eckstrum . 17,800 J. J. Doran ....... .. 17,483 Perplexing Problem. Kt the recent bond election for the erection of the mew school the sum of $40,000 was voted by the people, a part of this to be used for the site. The plans call for ten rooms and with the money voted there is not enough to build the structure as planned and pay the high cost of plumbing and heating. The board has no desire to cut the size of the building nor detract from its erec- tion as called for in the plans and does not intend to, but is going to figure it out some how, which must be as soon as possible, as plumbing and heating material prices are sub- ject to change any time and no fig- ures are quoted on material for any length of time. “INVISIBLE GOVERNMENT' AUTOCRATIC NEWS GAG VIOLENTLY OPPOSED (By United Press) ‘Washington, - May: 9.—The auto- cratic news gag proposed by Secre- tary Lansing to shut off discussion and critieism-of America’s-war policy ‘has met with violent denunciation in all government gquarters. Congress has about reached ‘the bredking point on the censorship question. While representative today aired their views privatély, senators took the floor and ripped into the so-call- ed “invisible government,” for its ef- forts to keep the people in the dark as to developments on the war. RUMOR V0! GEST SHIP The world's biggest steamer i8 the German ship Vaterland, which has harbored at Hcboken, ... J., since the beginning of the war. It has now been taken over by the United States government. See how it compares with the steamer St. Louls of the American line. $25,000 SET ASIDE TODAY BY STATE NORMAL BOARD FOR PRELIMINARY NORMAL WORK HERE POSTOFFICE PHONE TO COME OUT ON JUNE 1: EMPLOYES ARE HAPPY Just about the happiest bunch in the city is Postmaster Ritchie and his assistants in the postoffice, for after June 1 they will not hear the familiar: B-r-r-r. Busy clerk leaves duties and goes to phone. “Hello, Postoffice? there a letter there for Blank?” Few moments wait. “There isn’t? Why there surely must be. Is the mail in from———? Well, what time does the next mail come in? Are you sure there isn’t a letter there for me? Well, if there is one on the next mail please call me. It is important and I want it as soon as it comes.” And the disgusted clerk hangs up the receiver mutter- ing his opinion in subdued breath so as not to offend any Well, is Mrs. one who might be in the office, while a bunch of mail seekers are cussing the poor clerk for not waiting on them promptly, etc., ete. All this, then, for the simple reason the phone is to be taken out under a new order re- ceived oy Postmaster Ritchie and if he desires a phone he will have to pay it out of his own pocket. Will he? Not on your life, and if anything like it was attempted chances are he’d be lynched by the post- office force. “KEEP OFF THE GRASS” IS S. B. 0. WARNING At a meeting of the Student Body Organization of the high school yes- terday afternoon a resolution was passed delegating each and every member of the Student Body Organi- zation a committee of one to see that both students and citizens keep off the lawns and boulevards through- out the entire city. The organization intends to “begin at home”’ amnd ‘requests and expects the citizens to fall in line to help the good work along. The fence has been taken down .around the high school yard and the students MUST kéép off, while ‘the citizens are requested to co-operate in this, also. The students say it is all for the good of “The City of Enterprise.” Farmers Auction Sale is Attracting Much Attention An innovation for Bemidji is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, when E. J. Willits holds a public auction sale of farm stock, equipment and whatever is useful for farm pur- poses, the sale to be conducted at the foot of Third street. Already the sale is attracting considerable atten- tion and several farmers have noti- fied Mr. Willits they will be here with offerings for sale and it is also certain there will be many buyers attracted to Bemidji on that date. If the first sale warrants, others will be regularly scheduled and it is the opinion of many interested that in addition to the benefits derived by both buyer and seller merchants of Bemidji will be benefitted by the presence of many successful farmers on sale day. One man has written Mr. Willits that he is about to remove and will bring to the sale his entire outfit including horses, other farm stock, new farming machinery, ete.,, and this will serve to illustrate what such a sale means. The sale begins at 11 o’clock in the morning and will be personally conducted by Mr. Wil- lits. A~~~ Sum Available After August 1;' Board Says All That Could Be Done This Year. MOTHER’S DAY SUNDAY: WEAR WHITE CARNATION TO HONOR HER MEMORY A. P. WHITE HOME FROM ATTENDING BOARD MEETING Next Sunday will be Mother's day throughout the land, a day to let mother know you are thinking of her, to make her heart glad with word or mes- sage that yvou love her. You may think that goes without saying-—and, truth to Action Taken Today Will Be Wel- come News to the People of Bemidji. tell, it generally does—but try it, and see what happens. See 3 mother’s face light up with (Bulletin) =] joy; or, if you are far away. send her a letter and then do a little imagining as to what it will mean to her. . Wear a white carnation next Sunday in honor of your mother, if she is dead, say the promotors of Mother’s day, now a national institution, or a bright flower if your mothes ic living. Right vow, with America en- tered into the big world war and the young men of the na- tion about to be drafted ‘into service, the hearts of the Awmer- ican mothers are sad and weighed down with sorrow and grief. If ever there was a time for a real whole-hearted observance of Mother's day it is right now. And best of all is the send- ing of flowers to your mother. In this way she will know what vou are thinking about, even if you have forgotten how to ex- press it since you grew up. By United Press St. Paul, May 9.—The state nor- ma] school board today set aside $25,- 000 to be used after August 1 for preliminary construction on the Be- midji normal. The board stated it was all that could be done this year under the appropriation allowed. The outlook for active operations for the start of Bemidji’'s new nor- mal school as soon as possible seems roseate, according to A. P. White, member of the board, who returned last night from St. Paul where he at- tended a session of the board. The matter was up to the board of controi to say what should be done, and Mr. White expressed him- self as confident it would receive all proper consideration promptly. The mooted question as to the probable fate of the initial appropria- tion of $25,000, which was never used and which under the law would revert to the state August 1, was con- sidered and the request made that this sum remain intact. Mr. White stated that everything looked . favorable and this will be welcome news for the people of Be- midji. TAKE OFFICERS QUIZ Roscoe Kaiser, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Kaiser of Bagley, has gone to Fort Snelling where he will take exam- inations to become an officer in the WILLIAM DUGAS JOINS BEMIDJI ELECTRIC CO0. The Bemidji Electric company will hereafter be known as the Bemidji Electric Supply & Battery Co., and the firm is composed of A. W. Stott and William Dugas. The office, which was recently gutted by fire, is heing remodeled, most of the work A basement is al- army. He has attended Carleton |being completed. college at Northfield for the 'past|so being put in and much new stock three years. added. Boy Burns to Death While Starting Fire “Like Papa” (Special to Pioneer) Jesus. The whole community deep- Debs, May 9.—Last Saturday|ly sympathizes with the parents in morning about 10 o’clock little James |their sad bereavement. Peterson, the six-year-old son of Mr. _ and Mrs. C:;-ll Peterson, was burned N to death while playing with fire on U ARBER their farm one-half-mile north of PAO IN B S“op Debs. In some ingenious way the little fellow had’ obtained matches HAS NEW OWNERS and with an armful of hay had gone out into the field to start a fire as S he had seen his father do the day hefore. It is supposed that his over- Paquin brothers, who have con- alls ignited at the bottom and from |ducted a barber shop on Beltrami ;lt:erehfll!e bfl;mes quickly enveloped |avenue, have felt the call of the farm s whole body. i His brother Jalmer, who is a year and have sold their shop.. laid aside or two older, and was nearby, ran the razor, shears and clippers and to help him, but they were not able|taken up the hoe, shovel, rake and to put out the fire. Their cries at-|plough. tracted the attention of Mr. Peter- The new proprietors are William son, who was at the house about 60 Clish, who for the past two years has rods away, but before he could reach |been associated with the Crothers them the poor boy's clothes were en-|shop, and Ray Dennis, who owned tirely burned off. He was conscious|the shop before Paquin brothers. until death which occurred about 12 Both are well known and their many o'clock and he told his parents not|friends are confident they will do to feel bad, for he was going to|well. ZURICH EXTR 6 Americans Fully Armed MarchinParis (By United Press) Paris, May 9.—America's first arm- ed force for the French front march- ed through the streets of Paris to- day. It consisted of six men clad in khaki, carrying rifles and the Am- erican flag. It was the first detach® ment of the newly created munitions branch American ambulance corps. DR. M’CANN TO TALK BEFORE STUDENT BODY Dr. McCann will give one of the series of talks in the First Aid in- struction course at the high school Thursday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock to which every one interested is cor- dially invited. These lectures are entertaining and valuable and Dr. McCann will speak upon an interest- ing topic. NO “HARD TIMES” IN WAR TIME THRIFT (By United Press) Washington, May 9.—*“There is no . ground for fear war time thrift will ibring hard times,’” declared the di- rector of the National Council of De- fense today. ‘“War time thrift means readjustment and not g cessation of expenditures. It means that less money will be spent on unnecessary things and more on necessary things,” he explained. WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR AGITATION IS NOT JUSTIFIED BY REPORT (By United Press) Minneapolis, May 9.—“The agita- tion for the use of whole wheat flour and bran flour and other byproducts instead of the white flour is not jus- tified by the wheat outlook as re- ported by the department of agri- culture,” said G. Afl Thomas of the ‘Washburn-Crosby mills today. “The present crop will not neces- sitate drastic measures to reduce consumption,” he added. ‘“White flour is the cheapest food and agita- tion for use of entire wheat flour would take feed from cattle and re- duce beef production. Whole wheat flour would not stand hot weather and shipment to the tropics.” SLAUGHTER GOES 0 (By United Press) London, May 9.—The presence in Berlin of Bavarian Premier Hortling i8 reviving rumors in Germany that he is to be named successor to Chan- cellor von Hollweg, according to Hol- land dispatches today. A Zurich dispatch, unconfirmed, states today that Chancellor von gollweg has tendered his resigna- on. Troovs Being Sacrificed. Paris, May 9.—Staggering losses have been inflicted on the Germans in their repeated assaulting waves of soldiers in desperate attempts to re- take the French positions on Chemin dea Dames. The attacks have failed. Haiz Regains Ground. London, May 9.—Some of the ground around Fresnoy, which the British troops yielded yesterday to tenacious German attacks, was won back today by General Haig’s men. More Plotting Discovered. Washington, May 9.—The state department has evidence gathered re- cently that Germany is continuing plots in Central America. What countries the plots affect or how ex- tensive the intrigues is not stated. England’s Dailv Expense. London, May 9.—England’s daily war expenses are $34.560,000 Bonar Law, chancellor of the exchequer, told the House of Commons today. LUCY BROOKS NAMED PRESIDENT OF S. B. 0.; BOYS GO FARMING A very important council meeting of the Student Body Organization was held at the high school yester- day afternoon. Nearly an entire new set of officers were enrolled to fill the vacancies of those who have either gone to the front or to the farm. Owing to Herbert Warfield's “larg- er crop” enthusiasm, Miss Lucy Brooks will succeed him as president of the organization, and Maurice Witting will succeed Miss Brooks as vice president. Using her power, as president, to fill vacancies by ap- pointment, Miss Brooks named Miss Francis McManus secretary of the organization to succeed ‘Walter Denean. who has also gone to farm- ing. The president also appointed Howard Palmer chief of police and Daniel Gainey chairman of the pub- licity committee. Minutes of the Meetine. By-laws passed by council, giving the president power to fill all vacan- cies by appointment. Money voted for the payment of bills for lumber used in the con- struction of flower boxes. Money was voted for the purchase of signs asking people to keep off the lawn. Money was allowed for a new foot- ball to be purchased under the di- rection of Captain-elect Pierre Gray. Plans were discussed for the for- mation of several literary societies to facilitate the staging of programs at the opening of mext fall's term. The council voted a request to citizens not to cross the high school lawn and that an announcement to that effect be published. A request was made that students of the high school keep off lawns and boulevards on their way to and from school. Ibertson is Game; Prepares To Erect New Building M. E. Ibertson isn’'t holding back in his intention to erect his contem- plated handsome brick business building, to be two stories and re- place the present frame structure on Beltrami avenue, just north of the postoffice, for he has sold his fur- niture stock to T. N. Rode in the 0dd Fellows’' building, preparatory as the initial preliminary. The frame structure will be moved, undoubtedly to the rear of the lot, to make way for the new brick structure. The building will be modern in every detail and on the second floor will be offices. The steel for the new building has been purchased and is scheduled to arrive soon. When completed, the | building will have involved an ap- proximate outlay of $10,000 and will be a welcome addition to the busi- ness district.