The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, February 28, 1918, Page 3

(IY DECLINES TOACTINRATE ~ PROBE DEMAND come ‘ion 1 Refers hefers Pelttions Back to Bignors for Clearer Stato: ment of Factors YouNG CHARGES POLITICS Declares Effort Is Made to Make Council ‘Catspay—Brennan Sees Discrimination After .9 -heated argument between Attorney .€,. Li. Young,. representing, the Hughes Elec:ric Go., and Assistant Attorney General Daniel V. Brenn:.n, representing. some 237 Bismarck peo- ple who had filed: petitions requesting that.the commission refer capital city electric light aud power and heating rates to the railway commission for a review, the city commission Wed- nesday evening, by’a vote of three to two, declined ‘to act on the petitions presented on the grounds that they did not properly state the facts. “An impossible situation is alleged here,” said Commissioner Kirk in ex- plaining his’ vote on the petitions. “Anyone who knows anything at all about’ electricity knows that the cost of current cannot be increased by de- ee : PEE. a: : 1918, nor reason in'the way rates have been adjusted. There has been no adjust- ment of rates for some time, To an un: precedented degree here in Bismarck the rates are fixed from day to day |, at the whim of the manager of the Hughes Electric Co. The Hughes Hlec- tric Co., cannot be hurt by a hearing before the railway commission. The company alone has the right to appeal from the decision of the board, and to have the board’s rulings reviewed by the-courts if the company is not sat- isfied. For tho first time in the his- <| tory of the state we now have an ac- curate physical valuation of public utility plants available as a basis for rate making.” Brennan contended there were no grounds for an increase on the fuel proposition. “I am informed the com- pany is still getting its coal for a dol- lar the ton at the: mine,” “That's a lie,” broke in F. A. Hughes president of the company, ‘Well, what are you paying?” Brennan. “A dollar and a quarter,” replied Mr. Ilughes. Commissioner Pest again moved that the prayer of the petition be granted, and’ this time Commissioner Thompson seconded. Then came further dtscussion, Attor- ney Young branded the evidence on which Brennan based his ‘charges of discrimination as mere hearsay. He declared there was no discrimination between. consumers using the same emount of curent; that Bismarck’s low cooking rate was made possible by the fact that this current is used during the day time when there is no. con- sumption for light and comparatively little. for power. Why Hughes Objects. Commissioner Best wanted to know why the Hughes Electric Co. thought asked ficient’ voltage. ‘Had these petitions come in here charging that discrimt- nation jp rates exists, as hag been al- leged orally by Mr. Brennan, I would have been in favor of acting on them.” Commissioner Best’s motion that the railway commission be called up- on to review the rate situation was. seconded by Commissioner Thompson, but ‘before the motion was put Com- missioner Bertsch offered a substitute referring the petitions back to their signers “because the facts. were not properly stated.” Kirk seconded. On roll-call Kirk, Bertsch and Lucas vot- ed aye and Best and Thompson no. Petitioners Withdraw. When the subject first came up for discussion, the city auditor presented a counter petition from E. B. Klein and 32 others asking that their names be withdrawn from the original peti- tion, which they stated, they signed under misapprehension of the facts. Individual petitions of a similar na- ture were received from two other sources. R. L, Walton, by letter, advised that he had declined to sign the petitions, and that if his name appeared there it was a forgery and he insisted that it be withdrawn. C. M. Daal stated that he depended upon his qwn heat- ing plant and ‘that he was not. well enough informed on light and power rates to act in the matter. He asked that his name be withdrawn. C. M. Langum; -president-of- the Bismarck Business, College, wrote that he was thoroughly satisfied’ with the service, believed the Hughes Electric Co., en- titled to an advance in rates, and ‘ask- ed that his name be withdrawn from the petitions. Harry Allen, by letter, notified’ the commission that if: his name appeared on the petitions it was a fraud ;that he had been asked to sign and refused, and that he insisted that his name be withdrawn. Young Raps Langer. Speaking for the Hughes Electric Co., C.:L. Young said that of the 237 name appearing on the petitions many clearly were not “electors, Referring to the shorter of the two petitions, which contained 58 names, he’ express- ed surprise in finding thereon names of men “whom our attorney general | ¢; very recently, when these men peti- tioned for a gran@ jury, characterized so eloquently as blind-piggers, jail birds and worse. I am surprised that he should resort.to such men to obtain relief for the good citizens of Bis- marck,” said Young. He further re- ferred to the mensingled out by the attorney general as “denizens of the under world, a disgrace to the ‘city; blind-piggers, pootleggers, and, at least one, now under suspended sen- tenca.” “Of the 58 names ‘on ‘that ‘pe: tition,” he continued, ‘at least 40 are not consumers. What business has a gambler who sponges Nght ‘paid for by some one else, to sign’ this petl- » tion?” demanded: thé attorney. Of the whole number of petitioners, Young declared 96 were not consum- ers; that a number were not electors, and:that:a number of athers were not known: ‘Thirty-six: who-were known, he stated; had withdrawn their names. * He insfated that under the statute, if it be interpreted: as the attorney: gen’ eral evidently: intended in drawing7, these ‘petitions, that:20 percent of the qualified electors must sign the peti- tions, and he declared that ‘they aid not ‘contain 20 percent. “Whoever drew this petition had no. knowledge of the measurement of elec- tric: current,” said’ the attorney, who “ proceeded to éxplain how sq many. volts multiplied by so many amperes produced so many watts. “The petl- * tion in this respect: is absurd,” sald Young, ‘and the same term applies to > whatts said-of steam. “Politics Back of It.” ‘Back of-all this is politics—an at- tempt to make the city commission. a catspaw to-satisfy the political spite}: Par of one or two citizens,” said the at: torney, in conclusion. Commissioner | Best’s motion that; the Hughes Electric Co., be caused té appear before the railyay commission to, explain =fts*rates precipitated “fur- ther “discussion but earned'no second to at this juncture in the proceedings. Discrimination Charged. Assistant Attorney: General Brennan in speaking on behalf of the petition, insisted that the question of -20 per- cent of.the legal. eleptars, more.or less, being” represented on ‘the peti-| tions ‘Was immaterial; “That provis- fon,” said Brenan, “applies only: to municipally owned \pldnts: . Privately ed plants are subject to action on ~ their Bapaed from the’ city commisajan ikest kind of discrimination, a politics involved in the metter—how politics could affect the situation if a hearing were held before the railway commission. “Tl tell you why,” replied Hughes. “I was before the Nonpartisan state board of equalization a short time ago, and we were raised just 100 per cent, while no other utility was boosted more than 15 per cent. The same power that dominates the state board of equalization dominates the railway commission. We stand right here for conviction.” How the Matter Stands, As the matter stands, the commis- sion apparently has waived the ques- tion as to the percentage of signatures required, but tt demands a clearer or‘ better defined statement of facts. Only one or two property holders, visibly interested in the subject under discussion, attended the hearing, and none except Mr. Hughes, the compet- ing attorneys, Ed. S. Allen, who ex- plained that he had not been a party to the circulation of the petitiong—in which statement he was borne out by Brennan, who stated the’ petitions were prepared by Mr, Langer and cir- culated at his direction and then turn- ed over to his assistant—and the com- qnissioners participated in the discus- sions. Walton Explains. R. L. Walton, explaining his letter read at the city commissign last eve- ning, wrote today as follows: “To the Board of City. Commission- ers of the City of Bismarck: I wish to correct an unfortunate error made by me‘in'regard to the question of my signing a petition relative to the fix- ing of rates of the Hughes’ Electric Co, Such a petition was’ presented to me by Edward: G. Patterson and I signed'the same. It was hot present- ed by ‘Mr. Casselman: This was pre- sented to me along about ‘Dec. 1,°1917. Later’on, and quite recently, Mr. Cas- selman asked me to sign a petition for the recall’ of Commissioner ‘Bertsch.- I refused to sign the ‘last named petition.- A few days ago ‘Mr. E, A. Hughes asked me if Isigned the petition. ‘I supposed he referred to the petition recalling Mr. Bertsch, and I told him: that I did: not, ‘He statea that: my name was on that petition. I then said:it was a forgery, if it was on that petition. He then asked me to sign a letter stating that fact. He then presented me with the letter-now before you:in which I say my name was forged... | supposed from what Mr. E. A. ‘Hughes said that he-re- ferted to, and that the letter referred to the. recall petition. “Tl did sign the petition to regulate the lights and want my name to re- main on same. Mr, Patterson did not in ‘any way misrepresent the matte; to me, and if I have been decetved ar all it was by ‘Mr, EB. A. ‘Hughes. L. WALTON.” Bismarck, N: Dy Feb. 28, 1918. NO BAS. sis FOR PEACE IN NEW _GERMAN NOTES (Continued From P% Page One.) can ‘can. front, twenty ‘seven having” cross- ed. the line Wednesday. Aerial and Artillery Acitvity Aerial and artillery fighting on the British and French fronts: is most se- vere. .Eighteen German aeroplanes were™ brought ‘down by the French and British airmén ‘and guns, while Berlin ‘claims to have. accounted for fifteen, _entente. machines. German aerodromes, ra{tway junctions and other military targets continue to be bombed by’ Allied airmen. ; British shipping lossés for the week show ‘an’ increase ‘over the. previous period. “Eighteen merchantmen, four- teen ‘of ‘more: than 1,600 tons, were. sunk by subinarines-or mines,.as com- pared with fifteen including. twelve of the large tonnage the: week | before. France ‘and Italy. lost: no, ships of ‘the large tonage and France only one ves- sel: of léss ‘than 1,600 tong. Another Spanish’ ship, the Sariero, the sixth in‘five weeks, {8 reported to have been German submarine, WHAT To USE TO. > “PREVENT. APPENDICITIS: i Bismarck people <should” know: slin: ple*buckthorn: bark, glycerine, ‘etc. mixed in“ Adler-i-ka, ‘flushes the TIRE ‘bowel tract’'so' conipletely that appendititls “fs prevented:: ONE SPOONFUL: ‘Agler-i-ka’ relieves ANY CASE sour‘ stomach, gas or constipa-|" tion because it removes’ ADL foul mat- ter which clogged ‘andpoisoned your ystem. “The INSTANT action sur- “west. | tration fee, ARIA SANFORD CONFIDENT WE WILL WIN. WAR Memories of Distressful Days of the Rebellion Give Grand Old Woman Faith Now ee eS TO CITY HIGH SCHOOL Asks Students What They Intend to Make Out of Their Life-- Educator of 54 Years “L recall so well the dark and bloody: days of the Civil war, when, as Lowell | apuy said, a patriot took in his morn- ing paper with fear and dread, never knowing when it might reveal that he aio- longer had a country, that I look with much faith on the present situa- tion. My confidence in America is sa great that 1 have no doubts as to the outcome of this struggle,” said Maria LL. Sanford, the “grand old woman of ‘the northwest,” and “mother. of the University of Minnesota,” who arrived in Bismarck this morning for an ad- dress to the Bismarck high school this afternoon. Maria L, Sanford was born in Old Saybrook, Conn., in 1839, when mem- ories. of the War of 1812 were still fresh, and when the Mexican war was only brewing. She graduatied from the state normal school at New Brit- ain, Conn., in 1855, six years before the Civil war broke on this country, and ‘she began her career as an cd- ucator three years before her gradua- tion. In 1871 she became profesor“of histroy at Swarthmore college, in Pennsylvania, which post she resigned in. 1880 to become profesor of rhetoric and elocution at the University of Minnesota, which chair she had held 29 years when she retired in 1909. ‘She Has Never Retired President George Vincent, in intro- ducing Miss Sanford at/a recent jubi- lee of the University, spoke of her as a member of the faculty “who is retired and doesn’t know ' it.” Miss Sanford has not retired in any sense. Despite her 82 years, she is a wonder- fully active physically and her re- markable mental powers seem to have acquired new vigors with advancing years. She is now completing her second northwestern tour of the season. Oct- ober 12 she left Minneapolis on a cir- cult! of the North Dakota nori\al schools, which she extended into Mon- tana, returning home just before Thanksgiving. The tour which she completed with an address to the lo- cal high school this afternoon opened January 6 and again carried her into Montana. Her subject before the high school was “What are you Going to do with your Life?” Miss Sanford has been speaking twice daily at other points, delivering an evening patriotic address under the head, “What are we Going to do for our Country.” She will be unable to speak here tonight, but hopes to return in the near fu- ture. She is intensily in earnest in her belief that Uncle Sam, with the help of all his loyal citizens, must win this war. Her speaking tours are made under the auspices of her old students of the University of! Minnesota, of whom thousands are prominently identified with the developement of the nosth- In this state Dean Babcock, who has been acting president of the University of North Dakota, and Dean Kennedy, of the college of education, are former students of Miss Sanford’s, When she took up her duties at the University of Minnesota the total en- Yollment wag 300. When she retired her own classes numbered. 125, and she had 12 classes a week. HUN OPERATIONS IN RUSSIA TAKE NORMAL CQURSE Berlin, Feb, 28.—Germany’s military. operations on the northern Russian front are’ taking-their normal caurse, the Gernian general staff. announced | today. Another Esthonian regiment has placed itsélt under. command of the German staff,‘ In Minsk, the Germans captured 50,- 000 rifles and and 2, 000 machine gung. HOUSE TAKES RATE _ MAKING POWER FROM PRESIDENT WILSON Washington, D. C., Feb. 28—The house today amended the railway con- trol bill to place the rate-making pow- er in the interstate commerce commis- sion. : The ‘vote was 164 to 157. As reported by the house interstate com- merce committee, the bill reposed that power in the president. The senate made a similar‘amendment. 230 MILES OF ROAD The state highway commission has completed plans for 290 miles of fed- eral .aid highway on which work wih begi rly. this spring .in Barnes, Richland, Cass, Stark, Cavalier, Stuts- map, Eddy, Trail, Foster, Willlains, Grand Forks, _ Griggs: and’ Ransom counties. _ ARRESTED FOR SEDITION Sioux Falls,.§. Dy Feb. 28.—Federat authorities today announced the ar- rest of W: L. Darnell, radical socialist, living near*Eurk; on charges of viola- tion, of the esiponage act in an alleged S| disloyal ‘letter’ written by. him“recent- Iv. and ‘read ‘before the state Genet of. defense of. Nebraska. 15,500 AUTO TAGS The -eecretary of. state's :office ito date has, issued 15,500 automobile Ik: , ;eenses, equivalent to the -whole ‘nui ber,-sold’ up,.to-April:1.in)-1917.:-The receipts, ie almost Hed what: they. werd: Anti}! @ year-ago; owing to: the much higher; ‘graduated ‘Tegis- ¥ i Louise Huff and hiek | Pickford: willbe seen the Bismarck Theatre: this evening in the Lasky-Para- ‘“.mount picturization of Gene ‘Stratton Porter's “Freckles.” famous novel, at JACK PICKFORD AND LOUISE HUFF, FAMOUS PLAYERS STARS IN PARAMOUNT PICTURES. The happiest days of any man's life were those of long ago, when he could bow low, doff his hat and kiss the hand married the other fellow, but the days despite that fact. of the girl he loved,, In most cases she of “puppy love” were best and dearest, JOHN. HALEY BETTER Stricken Newspaper Man Writes Cheery Letter Home John Haley, veteran Slope news- paper man, who recently suffered a nervous breakdown while doing pub- licity work for the North Dakota de- fense council in, connection with its | ! war pictures, writes Bismarck friends from Jamestown, where he has been undergoing treatment, that he is fast recovering health and strength and that he hopes to be home again. This is good news for Mr. Haley's many friends throughout North Dakota, for at the time of his attack his condi- tion’ was considered very grave and his recovery seemed doubtful. Haley has always been an_ indefatigable worker ; he put the very best he had in him into his war. film publicity work, and he taxed his strength be- yond the limit. FRENCH SABOTS Wooden Shoes Sent by Bob Dohn at State Museum The state historical museum has on exhibition a pair of wooden sabots forwarded from France by Robert Dohn, a son of Mr. ‘and Mrs. W. H. Dohn of the capital city, who now is in federal] service. WM. S.c:HART IN PLAY OF KENTUCKY FEUDISTS AT THE ORPHEUM Tri- In “The Apostle of Vengeance,” angle feature which will be seen at the Orpheum theatre tomorrow, Wil- liam S. Hart is seen in a story of the umberland mountains. ee e & “The Apostle of Vengeance,” a. dra- ma from :the pen.of Monte M. Katter- john,.is a tale of Kentucky mountain feudists. and has been handled with the realism characteristic of. Triangle productions. Its'many tense scenes are framed in settings of. unusual pic- turesqueness, thus’ combining ‘two ‘of ‘the. most.important elements ts photo- play production. SPECIAL—MEN’S, . MAD- RAS AND PERCALE SHIRTS | SOFT CUFFS, DETACHED COLLARS—$1.50° VALUES msm om sone On to Victory.’” | WE’ RE Wi i H YOU, UNCLE WOODROW, 800,000 “On behalf of the people of the state of North Dakota I beg youto ac- cept this m age of appreciation for the words ncouragement conveyed e of the 23rd. We have ded an enthusiastic two days’ war conference at Bismarck. North Dakota pledges all her man- power and resources in support of the war. Our slogan from this day is This which Secretary I. 0. the North Dakota defense council to- day wired President Wilson in re- sponse to the latter's felicitations of last week. PROPOSE LAW TO CHECK SEDITION Minneapolis, Minn., Feb. 27.—Men arrested on presidential warrants on charges of sedition, and under the es- pionage act,’ are continuing work of spreading German propaganda while out on bail, the Hennepin county grand jury charges in a report made today. Enactment of a state law by the 1919 legislators to provide ade- quate punishment for such _offenses,, if nothing is done by the federal gov- ernment, is suggested by the jury. 7:15 In Europe Last Time touieut STRONG” | | | jations or indemmtics. | poration, and the DuPont Powder Co. |mitting stockholde: j;exempt the bloodstained wealth coin-| | Fepugnant to the spirit of America lrulers of warring uations for control | “TOURS OF THE WORLD” Bi Jack Pickford] in one of the most famous stories of the age. Charged That Statements in War Aims Pamphlet Discouraged Patriots (Continued From Page: One.) jopted at the Teague convention last | June, leading off with a profession of loyalty. They argued that “our Euro: pean allies,’ made public a declara- tion.of terms of peace without annex- Private corpor- ations, the United States Steel cor- “Banana ‘Why have to and with bulging. being named specifically, are charged with having reaped unparalleled profits, corn? Coercion Charged. “We are unalterably opposed to per- of private corpor- ations to pocket these enormous prof- its while at the same time a spectes of coercion is encouraged toward al- ready poorly. paid employees. of both 3 in urging them to purchase gov- nent bonds to finance the war,” the resolution. “Patriotism de: vice from all according to pacity, To conscript men and ed from the suffering of humanity. is} contrary to the ideals of democ- Causes of the War. contributory causes of the tre various; but above ghter loom the ugly Nn economic sys It is largely a the part of adroit “The ple way. incitings of on exploitation. vulsive effort on Pain is‘eased: “Gets-It” has Ri- of constantly diminishing markets, val groups of monopolists are p! a deadly game for commercial su- away: “Statement of Prir man Laer of Nort ufier his clection last) ° pay no fs ri oY Ge T | t will be sent direct by BE. Law- ILLEGAL VOTING | or te ll be sent ale Sold in rs the best cor Drug Store. CHARGE AGINST BISMARCK MAN John Hollenbeck, gned_ before} Police Magistrate Bleckreid on Wed-! evoning on a charge of voting, legally in the last city | election, | ple I not guilty and furi ed bond in the sum of $1,000 for h ppear- pat the next term of dist court, Heged ine t Hollonbec Ik has only | 2 is not an} veniremen | Burleigh | COLLARS~ the for a special panel of Piles Cured in 6 to 14 Days | Prucsi: refund money if PAZO OINTM T fails to cure Itching, | Blind, Bleeding or Protruding Piles. Instantly relieves Itching Piles, and’ you can get restful eep after the first application. Price 50c. squeeze yourself up like the letter “Z' up into wrinkly ‘mot while you gouge and pull at ‘the “quick” of That's “the ‘old,’ savage’ way.” 2 or 3 Drops Applied ina Few Seconds —There’s no Fussing or Cutting. “Gets-It Always Works. “Gets-It” is the modern, painless, sim-, Lean over and put two drops} of “Gets-It”on the corn, put your shoes “| right on again, and forget the corny’ treatment of’ corns. tates the true flesh. You’ll stop limp;, ing on the side of your shoe, and do, with greasy St, is sold by all druggists SPECIAL—MEN’S MAD- RAS AND PERCALE SHIRTS SOFT CUFFS, DETACHED $1.50 VALUES $1.00 i| ROSEN’S CLOTHING SHOP McKENZIE HOTEL BLDG. ONLY QNE STORE ‘county: district equyt; were 01 the city commission ‘at -{ts Wednesday -evening. THIS CORN WILL PEEL RIGHT OFF! “Gets-It” Makes Corns Come’ Off The Peel” Way. flop on the fi eyes draw, your face ‘tender cs revolutionized the. It never irri- salves, bundling rs and painful t's common more than 26 cents) recommended nedy by Finney’s LOOK!! TOMORROW ONLY LOOK! Wn, 8. Hart aed Nw “THE APOSTLE OF VENGEANCE” Five-reel Thomas H. Ince Triangle Play of Thrills ORPHEUM THEATRE Orp heum Theatre y TONIGHT ONLY CHARLES GUNI N AND TRIANGLE PLAYERS. IN ‘Framing Framers’ A newspaper reporter proves that en vironment is stronger than heredity. “HIS DOUBLE FLIVVER” Comedy - TOMORROW—WM. 2 HA RT IN 5- REEL FEATURE. Last SMARC THEATRE K Tonight LOOK!!! Time