The Topeka state journal. [volume], December 20, 1912, LAST EDITION, Image 1

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
"1
EVERYBODV
20 PAGES
EVERYBODY
20 PAGES
RBAD IT.
NfEEDS If.
i
LAST EDITION.
FRIDAY EVENING.
TUHtKA KANSAS, DECEMBER, 20, 191i
FRIDAY EVENING.
Ob Ml tT MOTbora t TV O CENTS
On tniBSa4 iMWMt&nda FIVE CENTS
TAX MEN PLAY
JOKE ON KANSAS
j -n 4. a. t. i t -l
Hired Expert tO Probe Hallway
rnnHinns In tati
L Onauions in JMdie.
Found Assessed Valuation
Higher Than Real Value.
IT HAS COST $5,000 A YEAR
In
Effect Two Years Will
Take 30 Months More.
Union Pacific Compelled to Pay
Taxes at High Rate.
When the utilities commission and
the tax commission slipped a provision
through the 1911 legislature calling for
the employment of a special engineer
to secure the actual valuation of Kan
sas railroad properties, they did not
know that they were unwittingly play
ing a huge Joke on the state of Kan
sas. Now, after two years, the utilities
commission is Just beginning to learn
that the assessed valuation of the
roads has been about one-third higher
than the actual value of the property.
And thus the state confronts a slump
in 1913 property valuations.
After the plan had been carefully
worked out to provide for a special
valuation of railroad properties in the
state, there was a nice 5.000 a year
job open for a good engineer. The
state managed to find a man who
n-n.iirt RcceDt the Job at this price.
With a proud spirit the commission
began work on learning Just what
Kansas railroads are actually worth.
For 12 months that engineer worked.
But he found nothing that created a
sensation in the way of property
which had been hidden to evade tax
ation. Now nearly two years have elapsed
Fince the plan was undertaken. About
J10.000 has been spent. It is estimated
that it will require two or three years
to complete the Job if it is ever cora
i.leted. And thus it will cost the
state about 825.0OO to gather this very
valuable information.
Work started on the Union Paclflc
The engineer was told to inspect the
rails, the ties, the bridges, station,
engines and all property that could be
found. Evidently he has done Just
what the state employed him to do.
And these are the facts which the
state spent ' 8:0.000 to collect.
In 1911 the Union pacinc was assess
ed on- a valuation or 4S,4ii,4W.
The
special engineer has learnea mat to
T-enroduee the property, a cost of $43,- I
06.760 would be entailed. And he I
learned some other things. He learned !
for example that the present value of i
Union Pacific property in Kansas is
Just $32,415,595-or $15.995,S71 less than
the amount on which the railroad was
compelled to pay taxes. He learned
that the valuation of the company's
road and the amount on which it
might bc expected to pay taxes was
$41,539 a mile. But he learned that it
would cost only $29,154.84 a mile tc
reproduce the road.
That is some of the Information
which the state has been able to gather
Jn two years with the services of a
competent $5 000 a year engineer. Kan
pas has complained long and bitterly
because of the heel of corporate op
pression which seemed to rest forever
and anon on her neck. And now comes
the fact that she has been collecting
taxes from these corporations on a val
uation far In excess of the actual
worth of the property within the state.
And It might be well to observe
whether or not the 1913 legislature
votes to continue this investigation.
TURKEYJIVES IN
Instructs Her Delegation to the
Peace Conference
To Treat the Greek Plenipo-
tentiaries Like the Others.
Constantinople. Dec. 20. The in
structions forwarded by the Ottoman
povernment to Rechad Pasha, the
leader of the Turkish peace delegation
In London, authorize him to treat with
the Greek delegation without their
previous signature of the armistice
protocol.
The Turkish delegation is ordered
to apply during tomorrow's meeting
for permission for the revictualing
of the fortress of Adrianople. j
In official circles here it is explained
that the change of the Turkish atti
tude toward Greece Is the result of
the fact that the situation In regard
to Greece has now turned so much to
the advantage of Turkey that the .
Turkish government would demand ex- i
ceptional conditions before signing an
armistice with Greece. I
I
PAROLE DAY, DEC. 23.
Governor Stnnbs Plans Christmas
Presents for Kansas Convicts.
Governor W. R. Stubbs has set Tues
day. December 23, as general parole
day and on that date expects to hear
M unusually large number of appli
cations for parole for convicts in Kan
fas penal Institutions. Such paroies
as are granted will go to the convicts
as Christmas presents from the Kan
sas executive.
For years it has een customary to
grant pardons to deserving convicts on
Christmas day. Governor Stubbs, how
ever, has abolished tlu pardon system
and has confined his work to paroles.
In such cases as he believes are worthy,
he will issue paroles. Plans have been
made to hear a number of applications
for executive clemency and these hear
ings will probably consume the greater
portion of the day specially set aside
i th work.
EGG DAY IN CHICAGO
Club Women Offer a Million at 2 Cents
Each. I
Chicago, Dec. 20. Chicago's club
v.omen became egg merchants today.
They planned to sell a million eggs at
04 cents a dozen In their campaign
j against the high cost of that produce
Mrs. Julian Heath.
Thirty stations were opened through
out the city where eggs could be pur
chased from six to ten cents cheaper
than the retail grocer's price. They
will be sold in three, six and nine dozen
lots.
The "bargain day" sale is being con
ducted under the auspices of the Chi
cago clean food league which bought
ten carloads of eggs. Sales of butter,
meat and vegetables will be arranged.
As soon as the women opened their I
sale, retail grocers plastered the front '
of their stores with signs offering eggs
at 22 cents a dozen, two cents less
than the price asked by the women.
The grocers advertised their product as
guaranteed April storage eggs, "The
same quality sold by the women."
Leader of the Fight.
Mrs. Julian Heath of New York is leader
of the successful nationwide movement to
America. The women of this league,
by selling esgs in the market house,
bring down the price of eggs. She Is
president of the Housewives Lea&ue rf
brought prices down to 22 cents in Wash
ington, 24 cents in Philadelphia, 25 cents
in New York, 24 cents in Chicago ana is
cents in Cleveland.
A NOVEUIOLDUP
Thieyes Engage in Fisticuff to
Attract Workmen.
Confederates Load Merchandise
on Wagon and Drive Away.
Chicago, Dec. 20. Attracting em-
' ployees away from their work by
starting a fist fight between themselves
was the method employed by a gang
of freight house thieves to success
fully purloin thousands of. dollars
worth of goods from railway com
panies here, according to a confession
made by one of three men arrested
for the thefts last night by detectives.
A fence was raided and $5,000
r worth of the stolen property recover
ed. The detectives were told that It
was the plan of the gang to drive with
a wagon to the freight houses during
busy hours. Once there the gang
scattered. Two would go to one end
' of the freight house and in loud tones
denounce each other for a time, and
then come to blows. All of the em-
, ployees, it was said, would run to see
j t!.e fight and during their absence the
rest or the gang would load boxes con
taining merchandise on the wagon and
drive away.
HAVE WALKED 60 MILES
Suffragettes Have Accomplished Near
ly Half Their Journey.
FlFhkfll. N. Y.. Dee. 20. Kxhausled b
J-estvJ-day's 22 mile tramp the four suf
fragette pedeFtrians en route to Albany
slept latp this morning. With a walk of
only eight miles to Wappinsjer's Falia
ahead of them, they decided not to start
until noon.
Mips Rosalie G. Jones, leader of the
Pilgrimage, announced on behalf of her
followers that alcohol nibs for stiffeneo
Joints and salve for blistered feet "had
done wonders." and that today's hike will
be "nothinit but a little Jaunt."
"They are Kolng to trive a ball in our
honor at Wappinarer's Palls tonigrht," she
added, "and we are all going to dance."
The four survivors of a company of 4
that started from New York last Monday
had accomplished when they reached nere
sixty miles of their 140 mile Journe to
the state cap'tal. The weather today waj
clear but cold.
"SHAKES" TAMMANY.
New York Governor-Elect Stays Away
From Banquet.
New York, Dec. 20. Governor
elect William Sulzer on the program
of the dinner of Tammany Hall's
speakers' bureau last night, as "guest
of honor," did not make his appear
ance. A formal announcement near
midnight that Mr. Sulzer had "found
it impossible to attend," was received
in silence by those assembled. Mr.
Suiter was at another banquet.
Thomas F. Smith, secretary of Tam
many Hall, said it could "never have
retained its hold upon the government
of this great metropolis for the 123
years of its existence if it had been
one-half as black as it has been
painted."
- v
r s -c if
t , - 4 ' I v
COST TO BE HIGH
State Departments Will Ask
$2,376,410 in Legislature. .
This Amount for Maintenance
Expenses Xext Year.
j REQUEST CONTINGENT FUND
Popular Solicitation Not to Be
Overlooked in 1913.
Money for Improyements
and Around Capitol.
in
In the budgets announced today for
state departments by State Auditor W.
E. Davis, it is shown that the 1913
legislature will be asked to set aside
$2,376,410 for the maintenance of the
various state departments in 1914-15.
These appropriations are independent
of appropriations aggregating 83.968,
360 sought by state penal and charita
ble institutions, details of which were
published in the State Journal several
days ago.
One of the important items in the
appropriations asked for maintenance
of state departments is the aggregate
item of $111,200 for contingent funds.
In recent years contingent funds have
become DODular. Apparently they will
not be overlooked when funds are ask- (
ed from the incoming legislature.
Among the contingent funds sougnt
at the hands of the state for the next
two years include: Governor, $20,000;
attorney general, $20,000; bank com
missioner. $10,000: executive council,
$4,000; utilities commission. $50,000; oil
inspector, $3,200; tax commission, $4,
000. Will Spend $60,000 for Coal.
In the item of expenses for main
tenance of the board of control. Is the
item of $60,000 for coal for state in
stitutions for 1914-15. Regardless of
the fact that several hundred men
are working in the coal mines at the
state penitentiary at Lansing, thous
ands of tons of coal are needed to
warm the various state institutions
even after using the Lansing supply.
The coal contracts are let to the low
est bidders and the state receives the
benefit of a comparatively low price.
But regardless of all of this, the board
of control estimates that $60,000 will
be needed to buy the supply for two
years.
innthcr biff item la the cost of the
various courts, which is a steady item
of expense and is In no way an in-;
crease in appropriations. The utilities
commission, however, is to cost the j
state more than $50,000 a year for the j
next two years under the present '
budget: and the bank commissioner's i
office has an item of expense almost!
equally high.
Stock Inspectors $12,000 a Tear. '
In Joe Mercer's office, that of state
1 - : n I
n a A
live stock sanitary commissioner, one
of the big items for 1914-15 is that of
employment of inspectors and veter
j inaries under the provisions of the
j present law. To maintain the depart -i
meu it will cost the state 115,900 a
year, wniie ror in pectors and veter
inarians, the cost is estimated at 812,
000 a year.
The items included in the table in
clude the appropriations asked by the
various departments tor two years.
In addition to these items. State
Auditor Davis suggests an appropria
tion of $5,500 for paving Jackson
g-eet and Tenth avenue. $4,226 for
(Continued on Page Two.)
HOUSE PESTS GO
Agricultural Department
Found Deadly Cure.
Has
Said to Kill EVery Living Pest
Infesting a House.
Washington, Dec. 20. Disheartened
housekeepers, weary with long strug
gles against the presence of bed bugs,
cockroaches, fleas, clothes moths, ants,
house flies, rats and mice, may take
heart, for the agricultural department
has found a sure remedy. It Is hydro
cyanic acid gas. It is true that Dr. L.
O. Howard and C. H. Popence, the
discoverers, acknowledge that it will
drive out also the human inmates of
the house in which it is used, but these ,
may return later. The unwelcome
guests cannot.
In a brochure issued today by the
department the scientists explain in
detail Just how the gas may be gener
ated and how it is to be applied. Grave
warning is given, however, against
carelss handling of the compound, 1
which is a mixture of sulphuric acid
and cyanide of potassium, for a few ',
whin's of the powerful fumes would
probably end the handler's existence, j
The mixture is cheap, easy to han- '
die, and is extiemely deadly, say the
scientists. They declare further that i
it has the fortunate effect of driving
mice and rats explosively out of their
holes and runways to die in the open.
The circular has been printed as a
department document.
STAIRWAY COLLAPSED
Concrete Caught Victim and Burled
Him in Debris.
New York, Dec. 20. A peculiar' inci
dent cost the life of David H. Cochran
In Brooklyn late last night. Part of 1
an iron and concrete stairway at an '
elevated station collapsed as Cochran
was descending. He was buried under
the mass, and it was half an hour be- j
fore his body was dug out.
In his pocket was a pearl necklace he 1
had JuBt bought as a Christmas gift '
for his wife.
Cochran was a son of the late David
H. Cochran, who for thirty years was i
president of the polytechnic Institute j
in Brooklyn. '
IT'S NEARLY THE
BY HAL COFFMAN
A 'JIM CROW LAW?,
Rumor of Proposed Bill in
Kansas Legislature.
Segregation of Children in
Public Schools.
REPUBLICANS FAVOR IT
Make Negroes Trayel by Them
selves on Railways.
Reawakening of Race Senti
ment In Country?
Lawrence, Kan., Dec 20. A "Jim
Crow law for Kansas is among the
first steps to be taken when the Demo
cratic legislature sits, is the substance
of a rumor which started in the office
of a conspicuous Democrat of Law
rence 'oday. Coupled with this law
will be one providing for the segregation
of white and negro children In the pub
lic schools of the state, according to the
information gained from this member
of the party which will be In power.
The adoption of such a radical law as
a "Jim Crow" law in Kansas, the state
In the Union which above all others
would be considered free from such
legislation, proba'dy would give rise to
a reawakening of race sentiment
throughout the country. But there Is
little reason to believe that the Demo
crats, who will control both houses of
the legislature and will occupy the
governor's chair, would have any hesi
tancy In adopting such a measure.
There would be no Democratic votes
lost by the legislation and the Law
rence man believes an enormous num
ber of Republicans would be strongly
in ravor or tne scneme.
"Beyond any question such a bill will
be Introduced," the Lawrence Democrat
said. "The Democrats have been talk
ing the matter over for several months
and while in a quiet way the senti
ment of the majority of the party
leaders has been obtained and a large
majority agree that it would be desir
able legislation for Kansas. The leg
islature will show as ready willingness
to carry out the will of the party as
Woodrow Wilson has shown in his
statements regarding the presidential
chair."
The Lawrence man said a "Jim
Crow" bill is beln- drawn up and it
will be presented early in the legisla
tive session. He also said the plan of
segregatin the white and negro chil
dren in the public schools from the
grammar grades to the state university
would be met with approval In every
part of lUtnsas and that this would be
true among Democrats and Republi
cans alike.
Weather Forecast for Kansas.
Fair tonight and Saturday.
25TH.
Ml
u tw m www
V, Br'A WWW
7 .
( HAW 1 J
DR. WILEY A KNOCKER.
Insinuates That the "Interests" Are
Behind Alsberg's Appointment.
Detroit, Mich., Dec. 20. "I fear that the
adulterators and debasers of rood will re
joice at the appointment of Carl L. Als
berg," said Harvey W. Wiley, former
chief chemist of the bureau of chemistry.
"I have only a slight acquaintance with
Dr. C. t. Alsberg.
Mr. Alsberg. Prom what I know about
him I believe he Is a capable chemist and
while that is an important thing in con
nection with the chief of the bureau of
chemistry, it is not by any means the
most important thing.
"The natural and legal successor to my
place, under the civil service law. Is Dr.
Bigrelow. I understand he was not even
considered. I would like to know what
interests are behind the appointment of
Dr. Alsberg and especially if any member
of the Remsen board which has been In
strumental for the last six years in pre
venting the proper enforcement of the
pure food laws recommended him."
1IXUP IN COUNT
Dickinson Co. Democrats Cling
to Hodges' Claims.
County Clerk Points Out Error
in Heath's Figures.
Talking to .the State- Journal this
morning J. W. Howe, of Abilene, de
clared that his figures on the Hodges
Capper vote as , jblished by the Jour
nal yesterday are absolutely correct.
He is backed b H. E. Pendergraft and
N. B. Robson, all of whom watched the
count all day. A tally book kept by all
three is offered as evidence. The legal
votep counted, accordingly, were 37 for
Hodges and 22 for Capper, that had
been thrown out by the election boards.
A conversation with County Clerk
H. W. King Indicates that the report
of P. W. Heath, Republican county
chairman, is wrong on account of the
number of votes shown. Mr. Heath
claims 33 votes for Capper and 29 for
Hodges, while the clerk says only 58
votes all told were counted. In his
own paper, the Chronicle, Mr. Heath
gave the figures as 31 for Capper and
29 for Hodges. The report published in
Topeka disagreed with this report.
CLIENTS HONOR HIM.
Illinois Governor-Elect Gets Present
From Chinese
Chicago. Dec. 20. Governor-elect Ed
ward F. Dunne, received his first
Christmas present last night. The gift
was a cane with a beautifully chased
head band and ferule of solid gold.
"What pleases me most In connection
with that gift." said Mr. Dunne, "is
that it was made purely out of esteem
for me as an Individual, because the
givers are not seeking office, and could
not hold office. They cannot even
vote."
The cane was presented by several
of the governor-elect's Chinese clients.
EDUCATION IS COSTLY
New Owner of A a to Loses Control and
Meets Bad Accident.
Ellsworth, Kan., Dec. 20. John
Wagon of Kanopolis, attempting to
learn the ways of a motor car he had
Just purchased, ran t ft a 25 foot em
bankment near here today. He and
Claude Heitzleman and Will Country
man, also of Kanopolis, who accom
panies him, were injured seriously.
They were brought to a hospital here.
Wagon lost control of the automobile
on a steep hill.
WANTS SOCCER GAME
I jwell Issues General Challenge for
Christmas Day.
Tom Powell wants It distinctly under
stood that his soccer football squad .
looking for a match on ChrU-ttnas day.
He is hoping he may secure a match with
Colton, Okla., but final arrangements
have not been made. In any event he is !
open to bids from all quartos, havinj? is
sued a ttenera! challenge to deadly com
bat on the soccer field.
The local team has showed up in fine
shape in Karnes played so far this season,
and promises to make things interesting
for any team that mi?ht happen along. j
FOUlfNOroOiLTY.
i
!
Chicago, Dec. 20. George W. Fitz-
g raid, former teller in the United
States subtreasury at Chicago, charged '
with the theft of J173.000 from the
erovernment in February, 1907, was
found not guilty by a Jury in Federal i
Judge Carpenter's court today. J
& i
MEXICO MUST
CALL A HALT
President Taft Demands That
Existing Disturbances Stop.
Ambassador Wilson Leaves To
day Bearing the Message.
AT WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
This Action of the Goyernment
Was Decided Upon.
Foreign Countries Hare Called
Attention to Situation.
Washington, Dec. 20. Aroused by
the attacks upon American lives and
property In Mexico as a result of th
revolution there. President Taft de
voted most of the day before his de
parture for Panama to conference
concerning the situation, the result ot
which was that Henry Lane Wilson,
the American ambassador to the Mex
ican capital, leaves here today with a
demand that Mexico take prompt ac
tion to put an end to the existing un
rest. The demand was framed at con
ferences both in the White House-and
at a cabinet dinner given to the presi
dent In the evening by Secretary of
State Knox. Officials who were par
ties to the conferences denied that
the demand could be considered as an
ultimatum. Aside from this declara
tion they declined to discuss the gov
ernment's action further.
While the state department main
tained a sphynx-llke silence, it Is gen
erally understood that foreign govern
ments have made representations con
cerning the destruction of the prop
erty of their citizens in Mexico and
the Jeopardy In which those citizen
are placed.
Only a short time ago the state de
partment addressed a note to th
Mexican government through Ameri
can Ambassador Wilson, the reply to
which was said at the time not to be
completely satisfactory.. This Is be
lieved to have inspired In a great
measure the action by President Taft
and his advisers.
Ambassador Wilson was present at
all the conferences and will leave for
New York today on his way to Mexico.
Much Evidence on Hand.
The determination of the adminis
tration to adopt a stiffer policy toward
Mexico as disclosed in the announce
ment of the purpose to make fresh
representation to that goverument re
garding the continuation of the rebel
lion is directly attributed to the re
cent return to Washington of several
persons thoroughly cognisant of the
alleged evil conditions existing south
of the border.
First was Henry Lane Wilson, the
American ambassador to Mexico, whe
has been in close touch with every
one of the American consular officers
in the disturbed districts, and who Is
also personally aware of the attitude
of the Mexican government toward the
large number of American claims pre
sented as a result of the depredations
committed by rebels.
Then there have come forward the
three members of the self-constituted
committee of Americans representing
the large plantation and mining Inter
ests In northern Mexico who from per
sonal knowledge were able to Inform
the state department of the various
practices employed by the rebel lead
ers to extort money from the Ameri
can managers and foremen and of the
comparative Indifference of the Mexi
can government officials to the numer
ous appeals of the American interests
for protection from the raiders.
Lastly, there have come the members
of the senate sub-committee on fo-elem
relations fresh from an Investigation
at first hand of border conditions from
California to Texas.
Administration Is Impressed.
The combination of all these repre
sentations has made n profound Im
pression upon the administration. It
has been concluded that stronger rep
resentations than have heretofore been
adopted must be directed to the Mexi
can government If the conditions are
to be cured. In the ordinary course
these will be communicated through
Amhasador Wilson, who Is leaving
Washington thi- morning for New
York, whence he will sail r,ext Thurs
day for his post by way of Vera Cruz.
The fact that the ambassador Is re
turning In a leisurely fashion may be
indicative of the ,)urrose of the ad
ministration to avoid undue haste or
excitement In developing this stroneer
policy toward Mexico. It has been
represented to the state department
that the strict enforcement of the
neutrality laws Is In fact, resulting
the maintenance of an attitude aj""
thiner but neutral on the part of the
United States and that the Madero
government Is benefitting unduly by
the exclusion t ar -s from the rebels,
whi'e itself receiving quantities of
military supplies, that the U. 8. gov
ernment Is now contemplating some
amendment of the practice In that re
spect so as to make Its attitude more
Impartial as between the combatants.
HO WHITE CHRISTMAS
"Sunny" Flora Says Only Pleasant
Weather Is in Sight.
"At the present time," said "Sunny"
Flora, the local weathei man today,
"there Is no indication that there will
be a white Christmas, but it is al
most too early to make a prediction.
There is nothing but pleasant weather
in sight."
This is a sunny December day. The
wind is blowing at the rate of twelve
miles an hour from the northwest.
The forecast is for continued fair
weather with not a great deal of
change In temperature. The mercury
is expected to reach the 20 degree
i ark Saturday morning.
The hourly readings:
7 o'clock 80 11 o'clock 31
8 o'clock 30112 o'clock 33
9 o'clock 301 1 o'clock 8 4
10 o'clock 30 3 o'clock .....14