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TKE COLFAX GAZETTE THIRTY-FIFTH YEAR. DISCUSSES COUNTY CLASSIFICATION FORMER COUNTY SUPERINTEND ENT TELLS HOW CLASS OF COUNTY WAS RAISED. N. D. Showalter, principal of the State Normal school at Cheney and former superintendent of schools in Whitman county, makes the follow ing statement in regard to raising the classification of Whitman county dur ing his term of office: 'Much has been said through the press concerning the motives which caused Whitman County to be raised to the seventh class, and the individ uals who were presumed to be di rectly responsib-e for carrying it in to effect. In noting carefully the statements made concerning this af fair, I uave been somewhat at a loss to know how those interested could believe it is such an easy matter to raise the c'ass of a county; that one man is largely responsible; that one affidavit is all sufficient. On the oth er hand, it may be said that those same individuals are rather charit able if they are willing to attach the whole interest to one man only. I mean by this that the raising of the county was talked quite generally by both business men and farmers, and several articles were published in the paper relative to it before the matter was brought up to the commission ers for consideration. "I have no desire to answer for others, nor shall I attempt to reply to certain statements made concern ing myself in this connection. These statements have shown clearly that they were either inspired by preju dice or that the author was misin formed as to the exact facts. I ac cept the latter as the real explanation in the majority of cases, and for this reason do I offer the following for the consideration of the general pub lic. "I do not wish in any way to deny my interest in the matter at the time, but I resent with the strength of my whole manhood any statement or acc;iisuations of dishonesty in con nection with this proceeding. To find fault and to blame is a very easy mat ter, but reason, judgment, and truth sometimes give us a new point of view. "In raising Whitman County to the seventh class, the commissioners were advised by John Pattison, form erly of Colfax, whose reputation as an attorney is unquestioned. They were told that in the absence of an exact counting as to the census of the coun ty, the school population could be used as a basis the same as has been done in other counties under such circumstances. I remember that in stances were cited in the presence of a number of county officers and citi zens and the process of obtaining this information was explained. Since the knowledge upon which this basis was cited was to be found in the rec ords of the County Superintendent's office, I, as officer in that department, was called upon to produce these rec ords and to make an affidavit cover ing the exact facts contained therein, which were pertinent in this particu lar case. I gathere-1 tho information asked for, all -of which was taken from the records of the office, and verified the same by affidavits before the County Commissioners at the time the question was called up for hearing. "Aat the time of the regular bear ing, I was questioned concerning the records and also concerning the com parison drawn between the number of children who were enumerated in the county during different years. All questions were answered upon oath and the basis for the same was then and stih may be found in the official books of the county. "The commissioners were advised by Mr. r'attison that the basis as shown by the evidence was sufficient for raising the county, and that they had a right under the law to act ac cordingly. "The whole matter was carried out in accordance with the recommenda tions of the council, and I feel quite certain that all who were connected with the matter believed everything to be just and proper. If, however, the basis was wrong I see no reason why this cannot be charged to the facts concerned in making up such a basis. "At the time of the hearing there were several business men and citi zens present representing both par ties, and I am sure that any one of them if questioned concerning the matter will verify the statements I have made, herewith." SEWING MACHINE AGENT GONE. Left Team in Barn at Diamond and Failed to Return. A sewing machine agent named Clisby working for R. M. Ryan & Co., collected a part of the pay for a sew ing machine at Diamond, put his horsep in the Frazier barn at that place and left without paying his board bill. The team belonged to Ryan & Co. and was left in the barn for a week before the owners were notified. Clisby had been working for them about two weeks. The com pany is out about >3 5 for their ex perience with the new agent. Boy to Training School. Theodore Colvln, a 13-year-old boy who had outgrown the control of his v ldowed mother* Mrs. Theresa Col vin, was taken before Judge Thomas Neill a few days ago and was sen tenced to the state training school at Chehalis. The boy left for the school in company with the traveling guard Monday morning. NEW INLAND TIME CARD. Colfax People Pleased With New Train Service. __^^^^ Three changes are noted in the In land's new time card which went into effect Wednesday morning. All the changes are now on incoming trains. The morning train from Spokane ar rives at 11:10, ten minutes later than formerly. The afternoon train ar rives at 3:40, five minutes later than formerly. The evening train arrives at 8:05, one hour earlier than former ly. The last train for Colfax leaves Spokane at 5:10 p. m. The change in time of the evening train will permit Colfax people to spend a day in Spokane and return home in time to attend entertain ments and lodges or go out for the evening. There is no change in the freight service. TWO MUSICAL TREATS COMING. Notable Events at Ridgeway First Week of New Year. January 2nd, The Hallowell Con cert Co., of Chicago, with harp or chestra of ten pieces accompanied by J. Lester Haberkorn, baritone. Watch for lithographs. January 6th, The Schubert Sym phony Club and Lady Quartette. The Schuberts are remembered by the lady quartette, of their company who sing Mendelssohn's March Nup tial. The Schuberts consist of ten people and the boy violinist. These two musical treats at very popular prices. Reserve seats 75c. NEVER TOO OLD FOR CUPID. Adams County Commissioner Marries Colfax Lady. Mrs. Angeline Tetherow of Colfax and E. C. Crouch of Benge were mar ried at the bride's home on North Main street in this city Wednesday, Rev. J. H. Bainton, pastor of the Congregational church, performing the ceremony. Mr. Crouch is chair man of the board of county commis sioners of Adams county and is 69 years of age. Mrs. Crouch is 65 years of age. Each had previously been married once. SPOKANE HIGH HERE SATURDAY First Big Basket Ball Game of the Season at H. S. Gymnasium. After two practice games the Col fax high school basket ball team is ready to meet the Spokane high school team Saturday evening, De cember 23. The game will be called at 7:30 o'clock. The Colfax school team last week defeated both the Brotherhood team and the Steptoe team by overwhelm ing scores. A fast game is expected Saturday night. Squibb Out on Crutches. After being confined in the house for three weeks with a broken leg which he received while skating at the roller rink, L. R. Squibb was down town Tuesday. It is the first time, he has been out of the i^ouse since the accident and is able to get around only with tne aid of crutches. Proud of New Train. Traveling Freight Agent G. W. Breckenridge of the Northern Pacific was in this city Monday looking up business and calling on patrons of his road. Mr. Breckenridge expressed his pride in the North Coast Limited, the new through train between Port land and Chicago put on last week. Illustrated "Travel Talk." One of the series of lectures on "Seeing America First" will be given at the Methodist church Monday eve ning, December 26. John P. Clum will give the talk which will be illus trated by excellent views of Califor nia. No admission will be charged. Naturalization Day. Wednesday, December 27, will be the regular quarterly naturalization day in superior court in this county. It is expected that 8 or 10 people who have made application will appear for examination. Colored Gentleman in Jail. John Williams, colored, is in the county jail charged with stealing clothing from "Negro George" of the Warren Construction company sever al weeks ago. Williams was arrest ed at St. John. PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS PAY ONE-THIRD OF TAX Six railroad companies have a to- county and will pay taxes amounting tal of 583 miles of track in Whitman to $318,878 next year as follows: Miles. Pers. Real Est. Total 0.-W. R. & N 297 $ 9,289 .$149,386 $158,675 C. M. & P. S | 74 6,417 53,654 60,071 S. & I. E „. 83 3,693 42,429 46,122 N. P. Ry 107 5,321 34.592 39,913 S. P. & S „ 17 * 461 11,809 12,270 W. I. & M 5 509 1,318 1,827 583 $25,690 $293,188 $318,878 Other public service corporations paying personal taxes in the county are, The Pullman Palace Car com-j pany, $90; Western Union Telegraph company with 976 miles of line, $739; Continental Telegraph com pany with 175 miles of line, $85; Pacific Telephone and Telegraph com pany, $1,828; Rosalia Telephone company, $55; Inland Cooperative Telephone company, $9; Penawawa Telephone company, $7; light and J power companies $1,493, bringing{ the total tax for all public service' COLFAX, WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 22, 1911. COMPARISON OF AUDITORS OFFICES RECORD IN 29 COUNTIES IS BET TER IN 1910 THAN FOR PRE VIOUS YEAR'S WORK. Olympla, Dec. 20. —Statistics com piled by the state bureau of inspec tion show that the largest profit in the office of auditor in any county of the state in the year 1910 was in Spokane county where the fees col lected were $17,643.58 in excess of the expenses of running the auditor's office. The figures also show that compared with 1909 the auditors of the state made a much better record from the point of view of the tax payer in 1910, as in 22 of the coun ties of the state the collections of the auditor's office exceeded the expense of running the office, while in 29 of the counties a better showing was made in regard to the percentage of expenses to fees collected, while in 9 of the counties there is shown an increase in the ration of expenses to collections. Pend Oreille county is not included in these figures, as it was not organized in 1909. In re gard to the percentage of fees ex pended Whitman county made a bet ter showing than in 1909 as the per centage dropped from 194.00 per cent to 160.96. The greatest drop in the percentage of fees expended was in Pacific county where it de creased from 215.10 per cent to 7 6.74 per cent. The smallest per centage of fees expended in any county in 1910 was in Grant county, or 55.98 per cent, while Wahkiakum county showed the largest percentage or 239.38. King county showed the largest collections and also the larg est operating expenses. Smith Gets Insurance. For a fracture of the first dorsal vertebra, the state industrial insur ance commission has allowed Amasa E. Smith of Pullman the sum of $60. Indians Exempt. It has been held by the state tax commissioner that where Indians do not have title to land their real estate cannot be assessed for taxation pur poses, but the improvements are to be taxed. Rate Schedule Delayed. In order to make up the rate schedules affecting all railroads ami all points in the State of Washing ton the public service commission has asked the Interstate Commerce Commission to delay until March Ist, in putting into effect its new rates from Puget Sound points east. The state commission wants to have its rates in accordance with and to take effect at the same time that the fed eral rates and the new rates put in by Oregon become effective. Powder Company Protests. The Imperial Powder Company has started a suit to restrain the in dustrial insurance commission from putting into effect the claims award ed for the loss of the lives of eight girls when its plant was destroyed by fire. The company claims that a girl becomes of age at 18 instead of 21 as held by the commission and that the commission has no right to fine the company $1,200 for having girls under 16 years of age at work. The case is now in the Thurston county superior court. Upholds the Law. The supreme court says in a re cent decision that while it does not like the "fellow servant" rule in per sonal injury cases, it has no power to put that law out of existence and in reversing a Seattle judge says that if the people want this corrected they should do it through the legislature. Bonds for New School House. Bonds of school district No. 94 to bear s*£ per cent interest were sold to the State at par Monday by Coun ty Treasurer Duncan. The bond is sue is for $1,500 for the purpose of building a new school house in the district west of Rock Lake. The State was the only bidder. Little Snow Makes Sleighing. Farmers are rejoicing over the light fall of snow which came Tues day to cover the winter wheat. While only two inches of snow fell it has made good sleighing on the pave ment and sleighbells are heard mer rily jingling on the streets. corporations including railroads up to $323,184. The Washington Water Power company pays $765, or over half the amount paid by all the light and power companies operating in the county. Valuation is placed on the public service corporations by the state tax commission. The total tax to be raised in the county amounts to $965,693 and the above figures show that more than one-third of it will be paid by the public service corporations. TIFFT'S ELECTION IS CONTESTED COUNCILf RANTSPETITION OF MR. WEINBERG FOR RECOUNT OF VOTES FOR MAYOR. Over-riding the opinion of City At torney Sherfey by a vote of four to two the city council Monday night de cided to grant the petition of Mayor E. W. Weinberg for a recount of the votes cast in the first ward at the re cent city election and fixed Tuesday evening December 26, at 7:30 o'clock as the time and the council chambers as the place for recounting the vote for the entire city. The petition filed by Mayor Wein berg contained many allegations of irregularities on the part of the elec tion officials in counting and record ing the vote in the first ward and prayed that the council fix a time and place for hearing on the petition and to recount the votes. Attorney Sher fey declared the present council has no jurisdiction over the matter of contest; that it is a matter for the consideration of the incoming council or the superior court. Attorney J. N. Pickrell was present and took the floor in behalf of Mayor Weinberg urging that the council has full au thority. Following him Attorney U. L. Ettinger spoke for a few moments urging the council to leave the mat ter alone as they had no jurisdiction. After the attorneys had all had their chance to speak Councilman Perrine, who had been chosen mayor pro tern to preside during the contest hearing, made an address urging immediate action on the part of the council. A vote was then taken and the petition granted, Councilmen Barroll, Stra vens, Kirkland and Perrine voting for it and Councilmen Dreifus and John son voting against it. Both Dreifus and JOhnson said they were not vot ing against having a recount but were following the advice of the city attorney as they believed with him that they have no jurisdiction. Charges Fraud. In his petition contesting the elec tion of J. Floyd Tifft for mayor E. W. Weinberg, the contestant, makes several charges in substance as fol lows: "That not less than ten legal votes 'tast for the contestant were wrong fv-lly thrown out and not counted for the contestant." "That not less than six votes were counted for the contestant were wrongfully couuted for the contes tee." "That all ballots in which a cross was marked in the circle or square at the top of the "Citizens" ticket, or column headed by the contestant, E. W. Weinberg, for Mayor, and on which there was a cross in the square opposite the name of any person on the "Peoples" ticket, or in the col umn headed by the contestee, J. Floyd Tifft, for Mayor, the vote was not counted for the contestant, E. W. Weinberg, or any person whose name appeared in the "Citizens" ticket, or the column headed by the contestant for Mayor, but the vote was counted for the party whose name appeared at the immediate left of the square marked with a cross in the "Peoples" ticket, or column headed by the con testee for Mayor, although there was no cross or other mark in the circle or square at the top of the "Peoples" ticket or column headed by the con testee, and although there was no cross or other mark in the square to the immediate right of the name of th.c contestee." "That Helen James, one of the clerks, became ill and was compelled to desist from her labors during the counting of the votes and at the time her tally sheet showed four less votes for J. Floyd Tifft than the tally sheet kept by P. R. Duchemin, and said P. R. Duchemin without rjght or author ity raised the tally sheet theretofore kept by Helen James four votes to correspond to his tally sheet." "That during the counting P. R. Duchemin would give the contestee credit for votes cast for the contes tant and that on more than one occas ion when calling out the vote as read by one of the judges the number on his tally sheet would differ from the number on the tally sheet of the oth er e4erk, but he would insist he was correct and would prevail on the oth er clerk to raise the number of votes to correspond with his sheet. It was very noticeable that no diserepencies occurred between the tally sheets of the two clerks except as regards the vote cast for mayor." "That P. R. Duchemin, one of the clerks, was disqualified to act for the reason he had said he would do everything in his power to defeat E. W. Weinberg." "That the said contestant did re ceive a majority of the votes cast for mayor in the First ward, and if the legal votes cast for him had been counted as they should have been, E. W. Weinberg would have received not less than 30 votes in the First ward more than the contestee, which would have changed the result of the entire election and given the office of mayor to the contestant by a majority of 30 votes." What They Say. P. R. Duchemin, the election clerk in Ward No. 1, who is charged with juggling the tally, safd to a Gazette representative, "What Mr. Weinberg charges me with in regard to the tal ly is absolutely false. At no time during the entire count did the other clerk and myself differ in regard to the number of votes cast for mayor. We did differ two or three times in j the count for some of the other ofti-. cers. One time I marked up my tally one vote to correspond with the oth er clerk and one time the other clerk marked up her tally one vote to cor respond with mine. We never dif fered in the count for mayor. I did say before the election that I would do anything in my power to defeat Weinberg but any reasonable man ! would know that meant lawfully. A man would be a fool to say anything like that if he meant to do it unlaw fully. I did not want to be on the election board anyway but I was urg ed into it. I want a recount if those ballots have not been tampered with." Miss James, the other clerk with Mr. Duchemin, says that there never was a difference between her book and that of the other clerk, on the vote for mayor, and also that Mr. Duchemin never touched her tally book, but the same was turned ove'f to Mrs. Wyman, who finished the tally on account of Miss James' ill ness, and Miss James then took her place and strung the ballots. Benjamin Baker, one of the judges of election in the First ward, has not been down town in several days and had not heard of the accusations made by Mayor Weinberg in his pe tition for a recount until told about it over the telephone by a Gazette representative. He said, "I don't believe there is anything to it. Everything was perfectly regular as far as I know. Mayor Weinberg says, "I would not turn my hand for the office; all I want is to know whether I had a square veal or not. I have it on very good authority that the count in the First ward was not correct. What I want to know is whether 1 have been rightful'y informed or not in regard to the vote in the first ward. As to the other wards I have no reason for making a contest but I will be better satisfied if they are gone over, too. All I want to know is whether the majority of the peo ple voted for me or Dr. Tifft. I have no hard feelings towards any one and if Dr. Tifft is elected I will do all I can to assist him in the im provements for tae city." WHITMAN MEN MAKE IMPORTANT ARRESTS MEN CHARGED WITH MURDER I\ MONTANA ARE CAUGHT BY DEPUTIES EASTEP AND COLE. Two men charged with murder in Montana were arrested by Whitman county officers Saturday night and were held in the jail in this city until Sheriff Fallang came from Big Tim ber, Montana, Tuesday noon and took the prisoners back there for trial. Duncan McDonnell and Walter Wey mire, the two men placed under ar rest, are well known in this county. McDonnell was a swamper in a Col fax saloon three or four years ago and Weymire has relatives in this county. Deputy Sheriff John B. Eastep and Special Deputy William Baker, after a harrowing experience with a runa way team, reached the home of Wey mire's half brother near Wilcox and called Walter out of bed to place him under arrest. Duncan McDonnell was arrested at about the same time at the home of a brother in Spokane by Deputy Wil liam Cole. The brother is a bag pipe player and a highland fling dancer. McDonnell and Weymire both fled from Montana after refusing to give or preventing any assistance to be given to a deputy sheriff, who was trying to arrest Neil B. Jowell for horsestealing. In resisting arrest Jowell killed the deputy sheriff. This happened about a month ago. A re ward of $1000 is offered for the cap ture of Jowell. Sheriff O. A. Fallang of Big Tim ber, Montana, knew the men had rel atives in this part of the country and requested the local officers to keep an eye out for them. Hospital Xotes. Mrs. George H. Shirkey is improv ing from a long siege with typhoid fever and is able to move around her room in a wheel chair. She was re moved from her home to the hospital a few days ago on account of the ill ness of the nurse who had been car ing for her. Patrick Henry of LaCrosse under went an operation for acute appendi citis Sunday. John Nelson of Thornton under went an operation for hernia at the hospital Mop day morning. , Samuel Barnhart has so far re covered from an operation for ap pendicitis that he expects to return today to his home at Mayview, Gar field county. Minister Has Enforced Vacation. Rev. N. m. Jones of the Methodist church was unable to preach last Sunday on account of a large car buncle on his arm. His pulpit was occupied in the morning by Rev. Geo. H. Newman and in the evening by Superintendent ti. L. Moses. Jubilee Singers Tonight. Tickets are selling rapidly for the concert to be given tonight at the Methodist church by the Williams Jubilee Singers. The entertainment begins at 8 o'clock. Two Weddings. Judge Tnomas Neill of the superior court officiated at the wedding of Frank Miller of Sprague and Ardo Wright of Effle on Monday. Rev. G. H. H. Moore of the Baptist church married George Minard and Sophronia Rutherford on Sunday. PRICE FIVE CENTS. POULTRY FANCIERS IN POSSESSION COLFAX IS HOST TO CHICKEN MEN FROM WASHINGTON AND IDAHO. All Colfax and a good share of Whitman county Is attending the third annual Whitman County Poul try Show at the Armory this week. About 1000 birds including all the leading varieties are on exhibition. Today at 1 o'clock a banquet will be given at Hotel Colfax by the citi zens and poultry fanciers of this <ity in honor of the out of town exhibi tors and visitors. Choice music and good speaking will be features of the banquet. Interesting lectures on poultry topics by college men will be fea tures of the remaining days of the show. Among the speakers are Professors J. F. Nicholson and Moore of the University of Idaho. Excellent music by the Ridgeway orchestra under the leadership of Prof. Ernest Griffith was one of the leading attractions at the grand opening Tuesday evening. Coupons are given away at the door all thru tne week and on Saturday evening there will be a grand distribution of prizes. Secretary E. H. Rosenkranz is on the job all the while and much of the success of the show is due to his un tiring efforts. Quality and quantity both considered the third annual show is eclipsing any former exhi bition ever held in the county. The largest exhibit at the show is owned by T. J. Nopp of Chesaw and comprises 4f> birds. Two express cars were crowded to the roof with birds brought to this city from the Spokane show last week. Moscow is well represented. Myrtle, Idaho, also has a fine exhibition of Rose Comb Brown Leghorns. Endicott, Winona, Albion, Tekoa and nearly every other town in Whitman county has a creditable exhibit. Among the Colfax exhibitors O. F. J. Deysenroth leads with 40 of his fine birds. E. H. Rosenkranz has only ten of his best Brown Leghorns in the show room this week. Last week he took over half of the prizes on Brown Leghorns at Spokane in the hottest competition ever seen in the Northwest. Over 150 birds were entered in his class. During the same week he took six prizes with nine birds at the Chicago show. Elmer Dixon of Oregon is placing the awards and is giving entire satis faction. Winners. Prizes awarded are as follows: Anconas. R. F. Smiley, Tekoa, 2nd and 4th pullet. F. W. Barrows, Walla Walla, 3d cockerel; 2nd pen. G. G. Schneller. Walla Walla, Ist, 2nd and 4th cockerel; 2nd and 3rd cock; Ist, 2nd, 3rd and 4th hen; Ist and 3rd pullet; Ist pen. White Crested Black Polish. H. H. Conover, Endicott, Wash., Ist cockerel; Ist, 2nd and 4th pul let; Ist pen. Oscar Olson, Tekoa, Wash., Ist cock; 2nd cockerel; Ist hen; 3rd pullet; 2nd pen. Rose Comb Brown Leghorns. O. G. Cannon, Myrtle, Idaho, 2nd cook; Ist, 2nd, 3d and 4th hen; Ist pen; Ist, 2nd, 3d and 4th pullet. S. C. Buff Leghorns. Katie Ward, Spokane—lst and 3rd cockerel; Ist hen; 2nd pullet; 2nd pen. E. P. Deering, Albion, Wash.— 2nd cockerel; Ist, 3rd and 4th pul let; Ist pen. Wm. J. Moore, Spokane—lst and 2nd cock; Ist cockerel; 4th hen. Rudolph Pazer, Colfax—3d cock. J. H. Bainton, Colfax—4th cock; 4th cockerel; 2nd and 3d hen. S. Comb White Leghorns. Horace Kineaid, Colfax—3d cock; 4th cockerel; 3d and 4th hen. Wm. J. Moore, Spokane—lst cock; 1 cockerel; 2nd hen; 3d pul let; Ist pen. Fred Willoughby, Albion—2nd and 3d cockerel; Ist, 2nd and 4th pullet; Ist hen; 2nd pen. J. H. Duncan, Colfax—2nd cock. S. Comb Brown Leghorns. E. H. Rosenkranz, Colfax, Wash. —Ist and 2nd cock; Ist and 2nd cockerel; Ist, 2nd and 3d hen; Ist and 2nd pullet; Ist pen. J. H. Duncan, Colfax —3d pullet. C. J. Litch, Moscow—3d cockerel; 4th punet. John Estep, Colfax—3d cock; 2nd pen. John Lisinger, Colfax— 4th hen. Mrs. H. H. Conover, Endicott— 4th cock. M. J. Cunningham, Albion— 4th cockerel. S. S. Hambnrgs. Thompson Bros., Coeur d' Alene —Ist cockerel; 2nd pullet; Ist and 3d hen. Homer Hull, Colfax—2nd cocker el; 3d cock; Ist, 3d and 4th pullet; 2nd and 4th hen; Ist pen. Joe Sluder, Farmington— 4tk cockerel. K. C. Reds. Neill & Son —3d hen. H. Ripley—3d cock; 2d and 4th hen; 4th pullet; 3d pen. John Pfeffer, Hillyard—lst cock erel; 3d pullet. J. F. Nicholson, Moscow—2d,and (Continued on page 7.)