Lakeland Evening Telegram Newspaper, August 4, 1913, Page 1

AKELAND EVENING TELEGRAM PUBLISHED IN THE BEST TOWN IN THE BEST PART OF THE BEST STATE LAKELAND, FLORIDA, MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 19183. SWEEPING REDUCTIONS IN EAPRESS CHARGES ORDERED INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMIS SION ISSUES RULINGS LOWERING EXPRZSS RATES MATERIALLY AND ORDERING RE- FORMS IN COM PANNIES’ METHODS. OREASE | COUNT SoHENTS [UR AND ONE-HALF 8 RAISE IN TAX UATIONS: B8 0u Phosphate Plaats § of Which Show In- bout $4,000,00. ng of the Polk County today complaints or 1 be heard from prop- elative to raises in as- | e by the commission- ly ‘.meeting. - These een advertised in the Rcord. pent this year will be jeen and fourteen mil- B to the assessor, who jade up the final foot. b has proceeded far en- work to give these ap- fguics. Last year the [as about nine and one- Bted that the increase in ' ] run about four and ons. The bulk of this i8tood b the great phos- j of the county, about B Increase being assessed J, and one-half million ther property in the fact that adversise- BReasc in assessments just fl not show any raise in property, many per- impression that the ndividuals had been . matter of fact, how- jinths of the entire in- jessments is made on the mcerns. The raise was ) Assessor, in accordance By and understa\ding of $n making up his rolls; commissioners when e assessments found no ary in his figures sofar hate property was con- Bh explains why notice ) with respect to that B not included in the ad- the 8 GREAT CONCLAVE. ass., 4-—Boston pday ome of the largest n its history with the he twenty-first annual the Supreme Council hts of Columbus. Dele- nting lodges in all United States, Cuba, pes, Canada, Porto Rico re attending the meet- Irst event in connection vention will be the ex- of the fourth degree, ake place this evening. e of the fourth degree 11 precede the exempli- e degree, which will be rection of the Supreme b H. Redden of Denver. jration will be the larg. impressive that has de in the country un- pices of this branch of ‘The convention opened high mass at the Aug. D., was the celebrant. was preached by the ph G. Anderson, D. D, Bishop of the Boston e a fraternity member- 350,000 are enjoying the the prizes to be distrib_ almost $10,000. Awards to the largest, smallest, jitest, oldest, and young- in addition to fifty CE EXTENDED LOUGHMAN FIRE SATURDAY CAUSED LOSS OF $200,000 Fire Seturday aftermoon at the plant of the Everglade Cypress Lum- ber Co., at Loughman, this county, destroyed about six million feet of cypress limber, the estimated loss being $200,000. The Kissimmee fire department was summoned, and with. the help of the pecple living at the place and fire wos o'clock Saturday evening. Reports that the fir: was the work of incendiary negroes, as the result of some recent race troubles in that community, seem to be un- founded. It is stated by persons connected with the lumber company that the fire started from a dummy engine in tha yards. It is said the negroes worked hard'to keep the flames from sprecding to the mill which was not danaged DEATH THS MORKMG OF GEORE BUSSIAD Popular Conductor Passed Away At Early Hour, After a Linger- ing Ilness Mr. George Bussard, the well- known and popular Coast Line con- ductor, died at the home of his fath. er, Capt. J. E. Bussard, on North Kentucky avenue, this morning at about 2:30 o’clock. Mr. Bussard has been in failing health for thepast two or three years, and for several weeks his con- dition has been regarded as very serlous, hence the news of his death was not wholly unlooked for, though it is none the less a great shock to his family and friends. Some time ago he went West in the hope that the climatic change would prove beneficial, but the hoped for relief did not come. Since his re- turn he has steadily declined, grow- ing gradually weaker, though suf- fering little pain, until the end came peacefully this morning, and he breathed his last almost without a struggle, while supported in his father’s arms. Deceased was aged 41 years and was unmarried. He was @ man of splendid traits of character, and had thewarm friendship and sincere re- gard of all who enjoyed his ac- quaintance. As a dutiful and af- fectionate son, a true friend, and a man always faithful in the discharge of his duty, he measured up to all the requirements of true manhood and good citizenship. The funeral will take place from thefamily residence at .10 o’clock tomorrow, being under the auspices of the 0. R, C., of which he was a prominent member. The services will be conducted by Rev. D. B. Sweat, acting pastor of the Metho. dist church. THEY ARE WANTED BACK IN GEORGIA. Arcadia, Fla,, Aug. Sheriff J. L. Dishong arrcsted G. W. Bishop, D. E. Moorfield and another party while they were boarding the southbound A. C. L. train. Sheriff Dishong had received a telegram flom the authovities at Atlanta, Ga., telling bim to arrest and hold these men for Green Couny (Ga.) authori ties. These men were, it :8 alleged. doing business under assumed names, G. W., Bishop, alias G. Baker; D. E. Moorfield alias M. E. Dorsey, alias D. E. Dennis; G. Moorfleld, plias E. Moore, escaped. These men claimed to be arganizing @ stock company to manufacture soft drinks called crecla and ginger -beer, the former. being practicsily tho pamia a8 coco-cols, the plant: tp be:twected in Tampa, Fla. sold. stock under contract, it .is alleged, taking the nites from those. buying stock ang giving their notes in retura for 4ou, ble the value of the stockholders’ Dotes, payable in six months, there- by guaranteeing that they would double their money in six months. They had cashed in here about $2000 worth of notes from parties of this county who had bought stock. These persons have requested that their names be kept out of print One thousand three hundred and twenty-five dollars was found on the men. The prisoners spent last night in the DeSoto county court house where they were guarded at their own expense. This morning they were removed to jail. Bishop and Moorfleld are about forty years old and are very nice looking men. 4—Saturday mastered at about six Block Systegn, Similar to Parcel Posts Zone Plan, Will Be Instituted— Changes Will Reduce Express Revenues TwentySix Mil lion a Year. (By Associated Press.) Washington, Aug. 4—Reductions in express rates which will cost the companies twenty-six million dol- lars a year, were ordered by the In- terstate Commerce Commission to- day, to become effective October fif- teenth. Notable reforms in prac- tices are alsp ordered. The ruling will curtail the gross revenue of the companies approximately sixteen per cent. The most important change pre- scribed is the modification of the present graduated scale .of parcel rates. For fifty pounds or less all rates are ordered lowered; for larg- er shipments most rates are un- changed for short distances,but ma. terially reduced for long distances. The so-called block system, by which the United States is divided into nine hundred and fifty blocks, analogous to parcel post zones, is ordered instituted. The commis- sion’s ruling also makes sweeping general prescriptions which are in- tended as the foundation of all rate rulings. i GARRISON REACHES SEATTLE. Seattle, Wash, Aug. 4__Secretary of War L. M. Garrison, with Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, chief of staff, and Quartermaster General James B. Aleshire, reached here today on a tour of inspection of the army posts. Secretary Garrison in sympathy with the plans general staff for the concentration of the United States miliary forces in centers, ang his inspection trip is made to satisfy himself that the views of the general staff are cor- rect. The concentration pian pro- vides for an increased military force on the North Pacific Coast, with Fort Lawwon. Seattle, reained. with an increased garrison, and Fort Wright, at Spokane, abandon- ed. Mr. Garrison came from Taco- ma where he inspected yesterday the American Lake encampment site with a view to its utilization as a maneuver ground for both regulars and the militia when the reorgani- zation plan is put into effect. PAGEAPOLICYsTOIBE ‘PURSUED,NTTHLAENICO President Declares ‘l‘hat Armed In tervention Is Neither Prob- able Nor Possible. is of (By Assocated Press.) Washington, Aug. 4—The Presi- dent today let it be known that armed intervention in Mexico is neither a probability nor a possibil- ity. The peaceable solution of the situation is becoming more practic- able, he declared. He sald before the end of theday he would make a brief announcement of the first step of the policy toward Mexico. IMPORTANT MEETING BOARD OF TRADE TOMORROW NIGHT Every member of the Board is urged to be out at the adjourned meeting to be held tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 7:30. Business of vital importance to the work of the Board and the continued pros- perty of Lakoland must be transact- ed. A. J. HOLWORTHY, Secretary. RIP mntnu. LANDS A JOB. TeAC 7 g g — 'l‘nllnn-._o. Aug. 4—The newly created tax commission has elected a8 secretary of the board Rip Tram- mell, of Tampa, who took up his du- ties yesterday. He is a brother of Governor Trammell and has held a Fesponsible position with the Atlan- tic Coast Line Railroad at Tampa, He is a very competent young man and the tax commission was fortu- nate in securing his services. There were about fifty or sixty applicants for the position. MICHIGAN’S HEALTH TRAIN. Lansing, Mich.,, Aug. 4—A spec- fal health exhibition train, conduct- ed by the State Board of Health left here today. It will visit practically every city, town and village in Michigan, requiring a month for the trip. NOTED FLORIDA PREACHER GETS BROKEN NOSE Rev. Dr. Stagg suffered a painful accldent esterday at the Country Club. He was struck in tho face by a golf ball, the blow being sufficient to break his nose and inflict a pain- ful wound on his cheek. The doctor with W. M. Brittain, H. T. Lattner ilml.l Carl Darn were playing a four- the some Car] Dann drove out of the bunker on number two tee. When he drove the ball some one shouted to Dr. Stagg who was about to ad. vress a ball beyond the bunker: “Look out!” The doctor turned his head, and the ball struck him a glancing blow on the cheek. At such velocity was the ball traveling that it rolled fully a hundred yards as it richochetted from the doctor’s face. It is considered to be likely that the blow would have been fatal if it had struck plumb. Dr. Stagg was doinz nicely today. He anticipates leaving on his pro- longed vacation about the latter part of next week.—Oslando Re- porter.Star. PLANNING 0 FIGHT - THE BOLL WEEVIL But Senator Smith’s Plan to Prohibit Cotton Growing in Certain Sections is Opposed. (By Amsociated Press.) Washington, Aug. 4—The second boll weevil conference between Southern Senators, Representatives, and officials of the Department of Agriculture, was held today. The conference was called at the request of Senator Smith, of South Carolina. His plan for preventing the spread of the pest, by prohibiting the rais- ing of cotton in a certain zone, i8 under discussicn. Five department field agents have made careful study of the problem in the Sonth and will present their views., Officials of the Department expressed the opinion that the best plan is to continue to expand the present methods of im. proved culture. Smith’s zone would include two and a half million acres. Experts figured that the loss of the cotton crop discontinued in this territory would be $108,000,000. It is not estimated how much would be the compensation from other crops that might beraised there. ‘ At the conclusion of the confer- ence it was announced there worid be unanimous opposition to Smith’s plan as impracticable. . EVELYN THAW RETURNS 70 OTAGE. New York, August 4—Despite the efforts of the Thaw family to pre- vent the step she is taking, Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, wife of Harry K. Thaw, who is now In Matteawan Insane Asylum, following several attempts to galn acquittal for the murder of Stanford White, returns to the stage tonight. She will give a tango act at Hammerstein’s roof garden, accompanied by Jack CIif. ford, a noted 1-and-toe artist. The skit is twelve minutes long and it 1s said that Mrs. Thaw draws the almost record salary of $4,000 a week. Yoo ——— COAST DEFENSE MANOEUVERS Narragansett Pier, R. [, Aug. 4— The joint army and navy coast de- fense exercises which begin today in Narragansett Bay and on Long Island are the first manoeuvers of the kind arranged since 1905. The tests are expected to prove particu-' larly valuable in showing improved methods, evolved in the past eight years. Troops from the Atlantic Coast stations and ships from Rear Admiral Badger’s Atlantic fleet are taking part in the exercises. Brig. Gen. Erasmus M. Weaver, Chief of the Coast Artillery says that the war game is vot being played with an idea to seeing whether the coast de- fenses or the navy would come out victorious, but the naval craft wou!d co-operate with the coast ar- tillery to enable thelater organiza- tion to test out certain schemes and plans. AMBASSADOR WILSON'S RESIGNATION ACGEPTED United States’ Representative In Mexico Does not Please Present | Administration, (By Associated Press.) Washington, Aug. 4--fecretary Bryan today announced that Ambas- sador Wilson's resignation had been accepted, effective October 14th. He said the part the ambassacor felt it his duty to act during the earlier stages of the revolution made it dif- ficult from him to represent the views of the present administration. Ambassador Wilson saw Bryan and said the conference would be resumed today. Senator Bacon conferred with the President today, Wilson telling him hewould consult the foreign committees of the two Houses before he acted definitely. CAREFUL TO RESERVE THE GOPHER PRIVILEGE. < About twice a month a couple of barrels of gophers arrive here from Bell, on the Wanee branch, for trans-shipment to Pensacola. The land around Bell is underlaid with phosphate and overlaid with goph- ers, When a man there sells a tract of land to a phosphate company he reserves ‘“‘gopher privileges” until the land shall be worked, and land having no phosphate beneath is val- ued according to the number of bar- rels of gophers per acre it can pro.- duce in a ear. The Bell people grow fat selling gophers and the Pensacolians wax exceedingly fat eating them, and so far no one is hurt. But to the Southern Express com- pany’s officlals in Starke the goph- er trade is a thorn in the side. They have to be naturalists to some ex- tent, so they can properly care for live animals left in' their care. Thelr book of rules goes all the way from horses and and mules down to gold- fish and silk worms, and tells how to care for each, but as ‘“gopher” is not the proper name for the animal in question, nothing is sald about it. Turtles and tortoises are marine animals and the care given them wouldn’t suit a gopher, so until fur. ther advice the expressmen have to act upon thp suggestions given by men around Kingsley Lake who have grown gray haired catching and studying gophers, that “you couldn’g kill the d4arn thing, nohow.” Meanwhile they take good care to make the shipments as soon as possi- ble.—S8tarke Telegraph. com LINE $TUCK FOR e 'HEAVY DAMAGES, : e o A verdict for $10,000 damages in favor of the Wauchula Manufactur- ing Co., against the ‘Atlantic Coast ’Une railroad was rendered in the Cireuit Court of Hillsborough coun- ty Wednesday afternooh by a jury which has been hearing the evidence for the last week or more. The suit which arose over the burning of the warehouse and offices of the plain. tiffs, alleged to have resulted from a spark from a Coast Line locomo- tive, was hard fought throughout The attorney for the railroad gave notice that they would file a motion for a new trial. Although the sum of $50,000 damage had been asked by the plaintiffs and a verdict for only $10,000 rendered the rallroad company will try to keep from pay- ing any part of the damage.—Wau- chula Advocate. sl aa No- 231 NEGRO CONLEY [ELLS STORY OF PHAGAN MURDER TESTIFIES AS TO RELATIONS OF FRANK WITH THE MUR- DERED GIRL. States that He Helped Frank Hide the Body, for Which Alleged Slay- er Paid Him $200. (By Assocated Press.) Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 4—James Con- ley today testified that he helped Leo M. Frank dispose of Mary Pha. gan's body, after she had been killed by Fiank., i.e declared that on sev- eral occasions he stood guard for Frank when the latter was closeted according to the negro, was accus- tomed to stamp on thefloor when he desired Conley to keep guard. He testified that Mary Phagan went to the office of Frank at noon on the day of her disappearance. Shortly thereafter, he testified, Frank stamped on the floor and the negro took his post. A short time thereafter, according to his story, he was summoned by Frank who ap- par ntly zas much agitated. He .sald the girl resisted him, and he “hit her too hard.” Conley described two alleged in. cidents leading him to the conclus- fon that Frank was a degenerate. On these two occasions the negro said he uncxpectedly encountered Frank with the woman. Conley said after he had been summoned by the superintendent he went to the ma- chine room where he found the body.. | Continuing, Corley swore that he put the body in a gunny sack, and with the assistance of Frank, took it to the basement in the elevator. Frank, accorling o the witness, had him write the two notes found near thebody. He gave him two hunred dollars and teld him to pui the hody in the furnace. | HAS ANYBODY SEEN JOE WATKINS? Pensacola, Aug. 4—Missing from his home for about nine days or more, the police and sheriff have been requested to search for Joe Wilkins, formerely conductor on the Pensacola & Perdido railroad, but the officials have seen nothing of the well-known young man within the past four days, although a dilligent effort to find him has been made. Wilkins resided with his mother near Millview and was a young man of very steady habits, noted for his sohiety and jevial disposition, but nothing has been seen of him in that neighborhood for at least nine days. He is the son of the late Joseph Wilkins, who was for many years sheriff of Escambia county. He 18 unmarried. Wilkins quit railroad- ing more than a year ago, when he resigned his position as conductor on the P, & P. He has been in de- clining health recently, but it is not thought that his has anything to do wih his disappearance. A lady rela- tive of the missing man returned to the city yesterday from his home near Millview, where she went the day before, but reports that no trace of Wilkins has been found up to the time she left. Chief Sanders and Sheriff Ellis have put the machinery of their departments in operatiom in a search for Wilkins, every mem. ber of the police force and the many deputies in the county being notified to keep a lookout for the missing man. L SECRETARY LANE AT GREAT FALIS. Great Falls, Mont., |5wreury Franklin 8. Lane of the Interior Department arrived here this afternoon from Helens and will be the guest of the city until tomor- row morning. Mr. Lane is making a trip of inspection to study 1.rr15:- tion at first hand. His itinery in. clues Montans and Washington cities for the purpose of hearing set tlers’ complaints. Beginning tomor- row he will go carefully oved theSun River irrigation project, spending as much time as Is necessary in get- ting at real conditions there, with & view to determine whether to pro- ceed with that project or to order it abandonment. Mr. Lane and party go to Fort Shaw tomorrow mornin Aug. 4—. in the office with thewoman. Frank ° o