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VS-; " A; THE DAILY MISSOURIAN NINTH YEAR COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 10, 1917. NUMBER 290 K T i K si V y si KITS IN FM OF FAIRJJCENSE TAX Business Men Believe That Tax Readjustment Is Just Plan. BOGGS WANTS BILL Mavor of Opinion Proposed Changes Will Work No Hardships. That the City Council is doing the proper thing in re-adjusting the mer chants' taxes is the concensus of opin ion among merchants interviewed by a Mlssourian reporter today. Kvery merchant who was fairly familiar with the proposed changes believed that the burdens of taxation should be equalized. Under the old state laws, 114 lines of business could be taxed here by the city. Hut the last legislature passed a bill by which many industries, which had heretofore been exempted, could be compelled to pay their proportion ate share. The finance committee of the City Council is now drafting an ordinance to cover those business firms. It is expected that it will be presented soon to a meeting of the City Council. It is planned to rc-ad-just the taxes on twenty businesses which are already taxed, and to put taxes on about twenty more under the new law. Among those which have been ex empted are newspapers, blacksmith shops, gas plants, telephone compa nies, tin shops, publishing plants, ice plants, architects, contractors and monument plants. Wholesale houses and mills have paid a small tax here tofore, but will be subject to a larger tax in the future. o Occupation Toy, Sajs Mayor. Mayor Boggs wants it to be under stood that the City Council does not wish to pass an occupation tax, which many persons have goten confused with the merchants tax. No laboring nan will b" taxed at ill, but only the businesses in order to make the taxa tion equitable. City Collector Berry W. Jacobs be lieves the proposed bill should be passed. He believes that the mer chants will not object to it when they understand the provisions of it. According to city officials, a gro cery store pays $3S.50 a year taxes. Three or four doors south of It is a pool hall which pays $50 a year. But between the two establishments is a newspaper which pays nothing to the city, except its general taxes. It is the opinion of many that newspapers should pay a tax of $10 or $13 or more, a jear. Contractors Mould Be Included. Mayor Boggs says that contractors lake up portions of the streets in do ing their work and still they pay no franchise or money for the use of the streets. He says the gas company oftentimes has the street blocked, or parts of it, and that the city is en titled to a merchants' tax. A few years ago the Columbia busi ness firms were assessed a small mer chants' tax, and paid extra for street sprinkling in the summer time. Now the city has taken over all this work and the streets are kept in much bet tei condition. Business Men Fat or I'lan. Below is given the opinion of a few business men: J. M. Batterton, former mayor. .The equalization of merchants' taxes is the just thing. I consider it a privilege to pay my share. Dr. W. C. Kpight of the Drug Shop. All lines of business should pay a just proportion of the city taxes. I. W. Berry, grocer. The City Council is doing its duty in re-adjusting the city taxes. I know of many business firms which pay no mer chants' tax that earn several times the amount of money that other small firms earn, and still they do not help the city proportionately. F. A. Henninger, jeweler. If all lines of business are taxed, we ought to be able to lower the taxes of those which already pay merchants' taxes. I believe that the Columbia merchants' taxes are higher than those of sur rounding cities of the same size. W .L .Hays of Charles Matthews Hardware Company. No Columbia business firm should be' exempt from paying a just merchants' tax. Professional men who hold state li censes, arc not subject to merchants' licenses. Attorneys, physicians and dentists come under this ruling, ac cording to Mr. Jacobs. W. L. Jarvis, a blacksmith, appeared before the City Council last night and objected to the tax because it was un fair to the laboring man in his opin ion. Mayor Boggs, however, believes that a blasksmith is under as much obligation to pay a merchants' tax as a barber shop, for instance. Resenoir to Cost City $8I9.C0. The bid of the Simon Construction Company of $8,319.00 for erecting the city reservoir was accepted by the City Council. This was the lowest of the four bids received. The council reserved the right to let the construe tion company build the reservoir on a percentage basis. Seventy days will be allowed for the completion of the work. Prof. T. J. Hodhouse of the School of Engineering estimates that the reservoir should be finished by October 23. When the members of the Biackfoot Coal and Mercantile Company sign their bond and the corporation seal has been put on it. Mayor James E. Boces will approve it. The bid of the six Columbia banks as city deposi tories wns accepted by the council The street committee will pass on a request for a short sidewalk on Fifth street. TEUTONS START DRIVE Germans Make Violent At tacks from Pantheon to Chevregny. Ily United l'rc-s PARIS, August 10. Violent German attacks from Pantheon to Chevregny early today while the French were making continued progress in Bel gium, capturing several farms, were reported by the war office this after noon. TUe German assaults were mado after violent bombardment and were supported by the famous "storm ing troops" of the enemy. All attacks were repulsed. In addition to this assault a strong attack was launched in the Foyet re gion, north of St. Quentin, over a kilometer front. This attack was re pulsed with heavy losses except for a small fraction of the advanced French Jine, which the enemy retained. "The enemy, after a night of bom bardment In the region of Filain, vio lently attacked at 4 o'clock.thii morn ing from Pantheon to Chevregny," the statement said. Ily United Press LONDON. August 10. Renewed ad vances by British and French forces in Flanders, including the completion of the capture of Westboek, was re ported by Field Marshal Haig today. The British attack was made early this morning. In addition to gaining complete control of Westboek, addi tional positions on Westboek Ridge were taken. "West and north of Bixschoote the French continued to progress," the report said. Disclosing new gains by the British, Haig stated: "Our raid ing parties entered the enemy post tfons on a wide front, blowing in his dugouts and greatly damaging his de fenses. There was considerable ene my resistance at several points and severe casualties were inflicted. "The German counter-attack where we occupied German front systems was stopped by machine gun fire. We captured two machine guns and a number of prisoners." 1,100 Russians Captured, Says Berlin. Ily United I'ress BERLIN, August 10. Capture of 1, 400 Russians in two days in the Ortz sector was announced today. On the west front repulse of all British attacks was announced. From the Monchy-Peezes road as far as the Arras-Cambrair road deep English masses attacked In advancing waves but suffered heavy losses from Ger man gun fire. $30,000 SALE BEGIXS TOMORROW Entire Stock Formerly Owned Ry Tan dy to Be Closed Out One of the largest stocks of goods eer sold at a general bargain sale will be closed out by the A. N. Poison Company which has charge of the Tandy Furniture and Hardware Com pany's stock. The stock to be sold is valued at $30,000 and consists of all kinds of furniture and hardware. The sale will begin tomorrow and will last eleven days. It will be held at the store formerly known as the Tandy Furniture Co., at 901 East Walnut street. The sale is necessary because of other interests held by the firm at Sublette, Kan. Charged With Tomato Crop Monopoly. Ily United Tress WASHINGTON, August 10. Evi dence pointing to a conspiracy to cor ner the tomato output on the Pacific coast by large packers of the country was placed in the hands of the Federal Trade Commission today. POSTOFFICESHAKEUP IS INDICATED TODAY Report That Bateman Is Out of Assistantship Is Current. SHACKELFORD HERE Congressman Pays Hurried Visit to Columbra Bate man Not Here. First indications of a shakeup in the Columbia Post Office came today when It was made public that Clinton C. Bateman, assistant postmaster, was not acting in that capacity. The only official confirmation of the rumors current in Columbia business circles all morning came from a close per sonal friend of Bateman's shortly aft er 3 o'clock. "There is a possibility of reinstatement," the friend said, "and we can't say anything definite about it as yet." An inspector from Washington vis ited the Columbia Post Office several weeks ago. Whether this official re ported anything that caused Bate man to resign or not Is unknown. One friend of Bateman's suggested that the assistant postmaster was out of his position because he was of Re publican political faith. Other causes for the change were suggested, but the only word to be had at the Post Of fice was that "Mr Guitar and Mr. Bateman were both away from the of fice" and that the Post Office employes knew nothing whatever of any trouble or changes. The suggestion that Congressman D. W. Shackelford was in Columbia yes terday and until this morning at tempting to straighten out the Post Office trouble, if such trouble existed, was regarded as improbable by Post Office employes. Congressman Shack elford was registered at the Atehns Hotel from yesterday afternoon un til this morning. Just what his mis sion in Columbia was in still a mys tery. Postmaster Guitar- could not be reached by telephone or at the Post Office as late as 3:30 o'clock this aft ernoon. At Mr. Bateman's home it was said that he was in St. Louis and that it was not certain just when he would return. "VETERANS HOLD RECXIOX HERE V. I. C.'s Sent' Dinner To Old Sol diers at Courthouse. All day today the Courthouse was thrpnged with soldiers past and present. Under the shady trees in front of the Courthouse and on the first floor were gathered the veterans of the Confederacy in their annual joint meeting with the United Daugh ters of the Confederacy. On the third floor of the building the grim work of examining and selecting men for the present great conflict contin ued. At noon the veterans sat down to a feast prepared for them by the U. D. C. .A11 morning the women had been arriving, bringing with them all kinds of good things to cat, and at noon the tables were packed with fried chicken, salads, deviled eggs and oth er dclectablcs ready to be served. During the afternoon an informal meeting was held. At the afternoon meeting the follow ios officers were elected: Captain J. H. Maxwell, commander; Colonel Eli Hodge, lieutenant colonel; and Mrs. S. E. Smith, corresponding secretary of the Marmaduke Camp of United Daughters of the Confederacy. Mrs. Julia Harbough of Washington made a short talk on the Purple Cross. The meeting oted to indorse the work of the Purple Cross. They also indorsed Persident Wilson's stand for food control and conservation. CHAXGE OF VEXUE GIVEN PAYNE Case Set For Monday and Will Re Re set That Day. The preliminary hearing in the case of the state against James Payne, mar shal at Ashland, who shot and killed James Turner last Saturday night at Ashland, has been given a change of venue from Judge Thomas' court at Ashland to Judge D. W. B. Kurtz court in Columbia. The case was set for next Monday with thounderstand ing that on that day it will be re-set for a later date. Payne has been released on a $10,- 000 bond, pending the preliminary. To Visit Parents in HawaiL Frank K. Lee, a student in the University, left for Honolulu. Hawaii. today. He will sail from San Fran cisco August 14. and will reach Hon olulu August 21. Mr. Lee Is going to visit his parents there. L SENT TO CONGRESS Approved by President and Sanctioned by Treasury Secretary McAdoo. TO REPLACE PENSION Gives Soldier $10,000 Insur ance at Low Rate Pro tects Dependents. Ily United Press WASHINGTON, August 10. Bear ing the President's stamp of ap proval and Secretary McAdoo's plea that it be made a law in Justice to America's fighting men and their families, the expected War Compen sation, Indemnity and Insurance 'Bill was introduced In both Houses of Congress today. It represents Amer ica's first attempt to be forehanded in providing for those whose homes art' wrecked by war. " The outstanding feature of the bill is the providing of insurance for every fighting man at a rate of $8 a year per $1,000 worth up to $10,000. Drafted by international experts un der Secretary McAdoo's direction, the proposed law is a substitute for the Civil War pension system. It will cost the government $350,000,000 the I first two years. Rate Much Loner Than Regular Fee. The $10,000 worth of insurance for $S0 a year, as compared with the standard rates of about $302 a year for $10,000 worth of insurance for a man of 27 years is possible because the government does not require high priced salesmen, advertising and of fices. The bill provides for the assign ment of part of each man's pay to his family, for a separate allowance to be paid by the government, for a grad uated scale of payments for total or partial disability, for a death indem nity and for the insurance. If a man fails to make application for insurance on the $7 to $S per $1,000 plan and is killed, the govern ment presumes him to have made ap plication for a $5,000 policy and pays his widow or his estate that amount. Dependents "Well Provided For. For separate support of dependents the bill provides that $15 of the en listed man's $33 a month shall go to his wife. The government, if there are two children, gives the wife $32.50 a month in addition to that, making the maximum income $47.50. Five dollars addition is allotted for each additional child. The father may give more than $15 a month from his pay if he wishes. If the man's father or mother is dependent and he gives $3 a month of his pay for them, the government gives $10. Thus, a private with a wife, three children and a mother dependent on him for support can, by allotting $20 of his $33 a month salary get $47.50 from the government, making $67.50 a month for the support of his de pendents. FOOD COXTROL .NOW A LAW President Signs Bill Today Work of New Department Starts. Ily United Press WASHINGTON, August 10. The Food Control Bill Is now a law. Even as President Wilson was affixing his signature this afternoon the Federal Trade Commission laid before Her bert Hoover evidence of an alleged attempt to corner the output of Cali fornia tomato canneries. It was one of the first results of the commis sion's investigation of food prices. Hope of nearly $10,000,000 excess profits on army contracts are said to be back of efforts to buy up the Cali fornia pick. In the face of a canned tomato output nearly double that of last year prices of tomatoes at the canneries have increased from 92 cents a dozen cans to $1.30 and more, as a result of the cornering move ment. President Wilson and Hoover will confer this evening on the enforce ment of the Food Control Law. The President personally requested the presiding officers of bsth houses to sign the bill promptly today so he could approve it. Food control throughout the country probably will be ordered late today. Wilson Signs Food Bills. Dy United Tress WASHINGTON, August 10. Presi dent Wilson signed the Food Control Bill and the Food Survey Bill shortly after 1 o'clock today. WAR INSURANCE B1L THE WEATHER Tor Columbia and Vicinity: Cenerally fair and slightly warmer tonight. Satur day partly cloudy and warmer, becoming unsettled In the afternoon or nlgbt. Tor Missouri: Fair and slightly warm er tonight. Saturday partly cloudy and warmer, becoming unsettled northwest por tion Weather Conditions. I'alr weather has prevailed In the l'liin States and Central Valleys, but rain has fallen In Utah, Idaho, and western Alberta. Showers also have been quite general In the Atlantic Coast states. The weather Is cool for the time of the 5 ear In all sections, but the tendency is to warmer west of the Mississippi Itiver. The cool wave Is traveling eastward. In Columbia the present flue weather will grow warmer, and become unsettled by Mturday afternoon or night, perhaps with showers. Loral Data. The highest temperature in Columbia jesterday was 7S and the lowest last night was .11; precipitation 0 00; relative humid ity 2 p. in. jesterdayM per cent. A jear ago jesterday the highest temperature "was M ami the lowest 7J; precipitation IMiO Inch. The Almanac. Sun rises today, 5:17 a. m. Sun sets, 7:11 P. in. .Moon lises, 1138 p. m. The Temperatures Today. 7 a. m 33 12 m. . . 74 S a. m 60 1 p. m 74 9 a. m. fiG 2 p. m . . 76 10 a. m 70 3 p. m. . 77 11 a. m 71 4 p. m 77 42 IUCCEPTED 200 Are Examined 93 Ex emptions Asked 38 Are Physically Unfit. At 4 o'clock this afternoon, 200 names had been called for physical examination by Dr. W. A. Norris and Dr. W. R. Shaefer. Forty-two were accepted for the draft army without claiming exemptions. Twenty-seven failed to report for the physical test; 93 claimed exemption, mostly with the dependents' plea. A few asked for discharge on industrial grounds. Thirty-eight men were rejected for phys ical disabilities. The examiners expected to get through fairly early this afternoon. They worked until 9 o'clodk last night completing the tests. There re mained only 22 more men to report today. One. hundred anil ten will be called tomorrow and that will com plete the list of 332 names. The men examined since 4 o'clock yesterday follow: 60. Claud Tracy, Centralia. Pass ed; no exemption. 61. Willis M. Murry, Columbia. Passed; no exemption. 62. Pearl Wyatt, Columbia. Pass ed; claimed exemption. 63. Emmett Claud Palmer, Colum bia. Passed; claimed exemption. 64. Herbert Roy Cowden, Wood landville. Failed to pass. 65. Marshall Henry Brlgham, Co lumbia. Passed; claimed exemptin. 66. L. Allen Coats, Columbia. Failed to pass. 67. Charles Hiram Leonard, Clark. Passed; claimed exemption. 68. Herley Smith Dailey, Columbia. Failed to pass. 69. Carl William Arnold, Harts burg. Passed; claimed exemption; dependents. 70. Martin Harrison Steckdaub, Woodlandville. Passed; claimed ex emption. 71. Chester James Pollock, Colum bia. Passed; claimed exemption. 72. Wilford McAlpin, Columbia. Failed to appear. 73. Grover Cleveland Kidwell, Co lumbia. Passed; no exemption claim ed. 74. James Hill, Columbia. Passed; claimed exemption. 75. Roy Ray Green, Clark. Pass ed; no exemption claimed. 76. Warren Stewart Whittle, Co lumbia. Passed; no exemption claim ed. 77. Isaac Roger Wilson, McBaine. Passed; claimed exemption. 78. William Richard Clark, Colum bia. Failed to appear. 79. James Ernest Hathman, Co lumbia. Failed to appear. 80. Walter Edward Jenkins, Harts burg. Failed to appear. SL Walter Robert Craig, Colum bia. Passed; claimed exemption. 82. Morris Franklin Walker, Halls ville. Failed to pass. S3. Squire Garth Clinkscales, Co lumbia. Passed; no exemption claim ed. 84 Noah Webster Lester, Ashland. Failed to pass. 85. RIggs Acton, Columbia. Pass ed; nc exemption claimed. 86. Samuel Gray Henry, Columbia. Passed; no exemption claimed. 87. Pearl Monroe Heath, Clark. Failed to pass. 88. Charles E. Pauley, Columbia. Failed to appear. 89. Truly Leavel, Columbia. Pass- (Continued to Page Four.) IS ELECTROCUTED IN ET B. W. Sanders Killed when Wire He was Holding Hit Switchboard. DEATH WAS INSTANT Pulmotor Failed to Revive Electrician First Death In New Hotel. Bryant W. ("Burrell") Sanders, 29 years old, an electrician" was killed instantly at 9:50 o'clock this morn ing hy an electric shock received when a steel wire ho was holding, while at work in the boiler room of the new Daniel Boone Tavern, came in contact with a part of the main switchboard of the hotel. Dr. J. E. Thornton was called immediately and the University of Missouri pulmotor was used in an effort to restore San ders to consciousness, but all efforts to save his life were unavailing. Sanders was working in the boiler room of the new hotel in the south east corner of the basement of the building. He and A. N. Morris, who was at work covering the boilers of the heating plant with asbestos, were the only two people In the room at the time of the accident. According to Morris, who saw Sanders fall, the electrician was standing on a step ladder with a bundle of steel wire, one end of which was attached to an electric wire which he was pulling through a conduit above him. About a foot from him on the right was the main switchboard of the hotel. "I was on top of the boiler," said Morris a few minutes after the accident hap pened, "when I heard a thud and a gasping sound. Sanders had fallen from the ladder and was lying on his back on the floor." Sanders was electrocuted, so Morris believes, when he accidentally struck a part of the switchboard with the bundle of wire he was holding in his "hand." Evidently the current in some part of the switchboard passed through the wire, charging it heavily, more than enough to cause death. Morris knew that if he attempted to pull the wire off of Sanders' body he. too, might be electrocuted. So he picked up a stick which was on the floor nearby and attempted to knock the wire off and at the same time called for help. O. J. Dumas, who was at work in another part of the basement, rushed to his assistance and together they got the wire off of Sanders' body. Morris says that he feels sure death came instantly, as he listened at once for a beat of San ders' heart and was unable to hear the least sign of life. Sanders had been burned about the face and on the hand by the electric current. His body was taken to the Parker Furni ture Company. Sanders had been employed by the Furtney Electrical Company and had worked there for the last four years. His death was the first that has hap pened in the construction of the new Daniel Boone Tavern, which is now nearing completion. A few minor ac cidents have been reported, but none of them have been really serious. Sanders was unmarried. He lived at 1407 Windsor street. A sister, Miss Lulu Sanders, and a brother. Champ E. Sanders, employed at the City Light Plant, survive. COMPANY F TO HE EXTERTAIXED Commercial Club Is Ilost Dean F. B. Mumford Will Speak. Company F will be the guests of the Commercial Club at the Y. M. C. A. Building at 7:30 o'clock Saturday ev ening, according to Harry Jacks, mem ber of the committee on arrangements. ,V musical program has been arranged and addresses will be made by the Rev. C. C. Grimes and Dean F. B. Mumford. Light refreshments will be served. Contributions amounting to $72.75 had been made at noon today to defray the expenses of the reception. The cost of the reception will be about $23. The remainder of the money collected will go into the company fund that is being raised by Columbians. Company F was the guest of the Veterans of the Confederacy and the United Daughters of the Confederacy at the Courthouso this afternoon. Former Unherslty Gardener Here. John Schnabel, representing the Glenn St 3Iary Nursery Company of Florida, is in Columbia for a few days. He was formerly a gardener at the University farm. AVE i ? -.- m -