Indiana daily times. [volume], December 15, 1920, Last Home Edition, Image 1

About Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922

Image provided by: Indiana State Library

                
THE WEATHER
Cloudy tonight and Thursday. Lower
temperature tonight, 25 to 30 degrees.
VOL. XXXIII.
GAS COMPANY ASKING HIGHER RATES
3,905 CHILDREN
HERE HAVE NO
SCHOOLROOMS
10 Per Cent Forced to Attena
Classes in Any Space That
Can Be Found.
BOARD SETS OUT NEEDS
An authoritative statement of the posi
tion of the board of school commission
ers, with reference to the proposed ex
penditure of approximately $2,000,000 to
carry out the 1921 building program
was made public at a regular meeting
of the board last night. The need of
more adequate enumeration records and
the "deplorable condition” of public li
braries regarding the number of books
In its possession were also emphasized.
"In view of the recent discussion con
cerning the improvements which should
be made at present or in the near future,
the board of school commisisoners de
sires to lay before the taxpayers of
Indianapolis and the patrons of her
schools the following facts for con
sideration," the statement reads. "The
mere bald statement of the amounts of
expenditure may make them* seem ex
cessive, but when considered In the light
of the school needs, they may be meager
Indeed.
"The board of school commissioners
Is fighting the battle of the child who
Is not in school and of the child who
Is forced to go to school under condi
tions which will not permit him to re
ceive adequate Instruction.
TERMS HELP
ONLY RELATIVE.
"Economy and extravagance are rela
tive terms unless all the points bearing
upon any Item of expenditure are taken
Into consideration. A saving of money
may mean an extravagance In the loss
of efficiency; a dollar foolishly saved
In a child's education must cost many
dollars In a loss of productive citizen
ship; a dollar foolishly saved by failing
to provide properly lighted, heated and
ventilated schoolrooms must mean loss of
many dollars in health and happiness;
s dollar saved by not providing a suf
ficient number of schoolrooms must mean
a loss in individual and community wel
fare.
"Any serious delay In a constructive
program of school building means a tre
mendous loss in school efficiency and a
seemingly excessive expenditure later.
Failure of building development to keep
pace with th growth of population is
the primary cause of present conditions.
According to the records of the school
city, Indianapolis began to fall behind
in the race to keep up with an increas
ing school population as far back aa
1908. In 1913 and 1915 there was con
tlderable bnllding done, but not enough
to catch up with the needs at that time.
Since 1915, with the exception of adding
a few frame portables, the school build
ing construction has totaled only eignt
schoolrooms, sufficient to accommodate
about 320 children. Since 1915 the num
ber of children enrolled In the schools
Las increased 8,000.
"Seventy-six classes are on half time
in school now because there are not
(Continued on Page Eleven.)
RELIEF PROPOSED
FOR CJTYJUDGE
Bar Association Considers Mu
nicipal Court Project.
The movement for a municipal court,
designed to lessen the burden that makes
It almost Impossible for the City Court
of Indianapolis to function, has reached
a stage of consideration by the Indian
apolis Bar Association and a committee
has been appointed to draft a report on
the project.
The members of the committee are
John E. Ilollett, Thomas A. Dailey and
Henry Abrams. The latter Is a member
of the House of Representatives and an
earnest advocate of the municipal court.
Attorneys and Judges who have studied
the situation in Indianapolis are united
In the opinion that something must soon
b# done toward relieving the burden of
work that is now imposed on one city
Judge. Reoy-ds show that Judge Wa.ter
Pritchard expected to bandlo more
cases In the City Court than are ordinar
ily handled by four judges in other j
courts.
Asa result of the tremendous amount
of business done in the City Court it is
impossible to give the individual cases
attention that they merit and it not .
Infrequently happens that the court is
imposed upon by attorneys and defend
ants.
One suggestion for relief is the estab
lishment of a municipal court with sev
eral branches, the various judges to ro
tate in the consideration of criminal
cases and to have Jurisdiction of such
civil cases as are now frequently started
in the courts of the justices and ulti i
mately reach the Circuit Court on ap- j
peal.
Premier Is Breaking
Under Heavy Strair
LONDON, Dec. 15. —Premier Llofd
George's health has begun to suffer under
the terrific strain of his responsibilities,
according to the Evening News today.
Commenting upon the premier’s condi
tion, this newspaper said:
“The premier’s health Is the subject
of much comment. He has limped lately
and in two of his recent speeches be
lacked his old-time grip on his subject.
He required constant prompting by Ills
colleagues. There are other symptoms
which have led to anxiety and to a re
newal of suggestions that he would
benefit by a real holiday.”
FIRE FROM FURNACE.
Following the arrival of cold weather
in Indianapolis the fire department had
a run today to put out a blaze caused
by an overheated furnace. Fire was dis
covered in the home of C. B. Stiedle, <514
East Walnut street- The fire loss was
estimated at $l5O.
WEATHER
Forecast for Indianapolis and vicinity i
for the twenty-four hours ending T p. in..
Dec. 10: Partly cloudy tonight and
Thursday not much change in tempera
tare; lowest temperature tonight 23 to |
CO degrees.
6 a. m 23
7 a. m 34
8 a. m 31
9 a. m 34
10 a. m 34
11 a. m 34
12 (noon) 35
1 p. m 1 34
2 32
Published at Indianapolis,
led.. Dally Except Sunday.
Uncle Is Witness
CAI'T. JOHN' WILLERS.
Special to The Times.
LAFAYETTE, Ind.. Dec. 15—Frank
Dose of this city, with whom John A.
Wiliers, ex-Army captain, made his home
several years ago, has been called to
New York as a witness in the trial of
Wiliers, who is of desertion and
of the embezzlement of company funds.
Recently when arrested. Wilier* de
clared he had been a German spy in the
United States Army.
Dose, who is his uncle, says the story
is untrue and is of the opinion that his
nephew Is insane.
FIRE THREATENS
ILLINOIS TOWN
Starts in Million-Doilar Roll
ing Mills Plant at
Madison.
ST. LOTTS, Mo.. Dec. 15.—rart of the
town of Madison, Illinois, near here, is
threatened by a conflagration which
broke out shortly before 11 o’clock this
morning, in the $1,000,000 plant of the
Helmbacher Rolling Mills Company.
Burning brands carried over the town
by a stiff northerly wind have started
a dozen other fires, it was reported.
At noon, it was said the Helmbacher
plant would be totally destroyed.
The pLant of the American Car A
Foundry Cos., occupying a large tract
next to the Helmbacher plant, was
threatened.
Fire fighting apparatus from East St.
Louis, Venice, Granite City and St. Louis
has been rushed to aid the Madison de
partment.
Bandits Get $20,000
in Gems in Hold-up
CHICAGO. Dee. 15. —After binding and
gagging Satu Rubensteln, west side Jew
eler. four armed bandits today looted the
vault of his store and escaped with
jewelry valued between $20,000 and
$25,000. Many pieces left on deposit by
holiday shoppers were among the loot.
Ryan’s Coin Trouble
Said to Be Near End
NEW YORK, Pec. 15—Settlement of
Allen A. Ryan's financial affnirs was re
ported near today.
Rvan. son of Thomas F. Ryan, famous
financier, is understood to have eome to
a definite agreement with a committee
of bankers under which his Indebtedness
may be funded until It can be paid. His
debts were said to be fully covered by
collateral.
Indianapolis Girl With
Man Who, Police Say,
Confesses Mail Robbery
CHICAGO, Dee. 15. —Edward Valentine
was arrested here today and confessed,
the police declare, that he and seven
other meu committed the spectacular
$3, 5(0,C00 mall train robbery on the Bur
lington railroad between Omaha and
Council Bluffs three weeks before
Thanksgiving.
Miss Hazel Grubb of Indianapolis, who
wrs with Valentine at the time of hls
arrest, also Is held by the police.
Although Valentine's confession, as
made public by the police, did not give
the names of his confederates, he is be
lieved to have been one of the associates
of "Lieutenant" Kieth Collins. Fred Pof
fenberger, the Phillips brothers and oth
ers already arrested in connection with
the robbery. Collins and several others
already have been sentenced to prison
terms for participation in the robbery.
Valentine also confessed, the police de
clare, that he robbed the Pennsylvania
Railroad station at Kokomo, Ind., of a
mall pouch containing between $50,000
and $75,000 in money orders and can
celled checks. He obtained no money,
he said. The postmaster at Kokomo
—.JB—Vj
W— .11l
Entered as Second Class Matter, July 25. 1914, at
Postofflce, Indianapolis, Ind., under act March S, 1879.
HARMONY PLEA
IS STRESSED AT
' G. 0. P. SESSION
It’s Main Theme of McCray,
Branch and Wasmuth at
Solons’ Confab.
OPEN DOOR RULE HOLDS
Appeals for party harmony in the
coming session of the Legislature were
made today at a meeting of the Republi
can members of the Senate and the
House of Representatives at the Hotel
Severin. . This appeal was voiced by
Governor-elect Warren T. McCray. Lieu
tenant Governor-elect Emmett Forest
Branch and Edmund M. Wasmuth, Re
publican State chairman.
For the first time In a number of yerfrs
the House and the Senate members held
a Joint meetiug and permitted newspaper
men to be present. The holding of an
open meeting, which is in line with Mr.
McCray's announced open door policy,
was decided on by unanimous vote. Sep
arate meetings of the members of the
House and Senate, which were closed,
wore held in the afternoon.
In opening his brief talk Governor
elect McGray said he has but one desire
and that is so to administer the affair*
of the State that ho can retire from
office with the affection and respect of
the people of the State.
"You were not called together in this
meeting be'-anse l*deslre<l to nsk you to
do things," ho said. "We are meeting
simply to get acquainted and to estab- j
lish confidence In one another.
“1 want this Legislature to be marked
by common sense. I want it to be char
acterized by the presentation of a few
good bills and not by Its many activities
I want statutes that will boa credit to
tho legislature.
“PARTY PLEDGES
MI ST ISE KEPT.’’
"Purty pledges must be carried out. I
want tlie party's cooperation. We may
differ, but let us remember the majority
rules. Iyot us remember that we have
a large responsibility and that we must
meet it. We should carry out the pledges
of the Republican platform.”
Mr. McCray appealed to the legislators
not to cause a congestion to occur at the
end of the session, hut to get down to
business at once.
He pointed out that increased appropri
ations for schools aud for State institu
tions must be ssked this year.
"We realize that th'-*e are no places
for a program of false economy,” he said.
•'No better investin'at can be made than
an Investment in education. We must
(Continued on I'titi Twelve.)
Tailor Is Ordered
to Refund
Israel Wlneberger, proprietor of n
clothing store at Market and Pcnnsylva- 1
nfa streets, known ns Dougias the Tailor,
was ordered by Justice of the Peace Kel
fer today to return $35 of S6O paid to
him by n negro for a suit of clothes.
The case was Instituted by the Better
Business Bureau, which charged that
Wlneberger had represented the suit to
be of pure broadcloth when in fact it !
was of cheap tibet.
The justice ruled that the purchaser \
could ke-*p the clothe*.
Youth, Booze, Still
Are Taken in Raid
~ ,„. - %
ICntmcr Coyle. 20, was arrested at his I
home. 270 Addison street, today by Lieu
tenant McMurty and squad, charged with
operating n blind tiger. A si 111, together 1
with a quantity of tn.ub and two gal
ion* of "white mule," were confiscated
by tho officers.
I verified the robbery there. Eater Valen
tine repudiated his confession of pnr
! ticlpatlon in the Omaha mail robbery,
saying 'he made it because “detective*
hounded him.” J
Valentine's confession, according to
Chief of Detectives Michael Hughes,
named a prominent business man of Dei
Moines, lowa, as the “brains” of the
robber gang. This man, Valentine is al
leged to have said, took no part In the
actual hold-up.
A woman, the sweetheart of one of
the bandits, Valentine is reported to
have said, snt in the robbers' automobile
while he and the several others were
tossing the mail sacks containing the
loot Into the machine.
The plunder, Valentine said, consisted
of $900,000 In currency and the balance
In < Government bonds. Valentine had two
of the bonds in his possession when
captured, according to Chief Hughes.
Three railroad employes who are al
leged to have supplied the robbers with
information indicating the mail sacks
that contained the bonds and currency
were implicated by Valentine, the police
declared.
Valentine declared the Grubb girl was
nfct involved in tne robbery, but said b ■
met her at Indianapolis after he had fled
from the scene of the robber}’.
Valentine gave his age as 31 and said
his home is in Akron, Ohio.
The name of Hazel Grubb is not listed
1 in the city directory.
DANGERS OF HANDLING RA TS MADE ‘SAFE ’ BY DR. MORGAN
-I--i--i- . # -I--I--I- -I--I*-I- t -I--I--|- -l- -I--I--I*
City Sanitarian Attempts to Reconcile Rodent Campaign With Accepted Medical Theory
It is the expressed opinion of Dr. H. G.
i Morgan, city sanitarian and the chief
figure in health board publicity in In
j dianapolis, that it is not particularly dan
i gerous for the community to capture its
individual rats,- taking them firmly by
the neck and amputate their tails, escort
the tails to the City Hall and collect the
bonus for them.
l’r.-v£jMMEfik3gL . Ilia; "It is :..■ ■
..a KwßHKMQtm'}win. I;. 1 'ey
bauds litre,• i-.ii .
Zfb. |
ills I and'' :\s well
sijWBHBStfIBRM-o '.adirel
frag lit.
INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1920.
Morgenthau Chosen
ArmeniaJVlediator
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15— Henry Mor
genthau of New York has been selected
by President Wilson to act as his agent
in proposed mediation between Armenia
and the Turkish nationalists. It was
learned officially this afternoon.
Morgnnthnu has received his instruc
tions. He will act as the personal agent
of the President. It Is understood Mr.
Morgenthau will not leave for the Near
East until a report is received from the
League of Nations to Investigate condi
tions in Armenia.
GOODRICH TAX
LAW GETS 0. K.
OF STATIS BOARD
Commissioners, in Statement,
Declare Act Gains Over
Old Measures.
Defense of the present tax law of In
diana and statemenls showing wherein
the present law 1* tho best in practice
and in theory, and showing wherein the
old tax laws of the State were Incompe
tent to give a Just admtniitratlon of tax
laws, is Included in a statement made
public today by the State Board of Tax
Commissioners. The statement was is
sued for the benefit of the members of
the Legislature, and will be printed in
pamphlet, form and distributed among the
legislators In the regular session of tho
Legislature which convene* Jan. 8.
The statement declares “that this board
in the past two years has endeavored
to sv* that the law ns passed by the
Legislature was enforced.” The state
ment was made following the declaration
i that previous laws were not enforced
properly by previous tax commissioners.
"At the very beginning of the enforce
ment of this law taxing officers were
met by a false propaganda against the
law which has continued in a more or
i less degree ever sln'e. all of which In
creased the burdens <>f the assessing
officers,” the statement continues.
DECLARE TAXATION
ECONOMIC PROBLEM.
"The question of taxation Is an eco
nomic problem and every citizen 1* In
terested la a correct and proper applica
tion of the principles of equitable and
Just valuations of property."
Control over bond issue*, which until
the early part of J 920 was In the hands
of the State tax board, is given much
l cotisldentflon in the statement. This
was done. It U drclnred, because the
State board found that it vii a mistake
(Continued on I’age Twelve.)
SHOTS BRING
PANIC TO CORK
Southern Part of City De
scribed as Battlefield With
Rifles Crashing.
CORK. Dec. 15.--The resident* of this
fire-ruined and swept city werv
thrown into a panic today by a heavy
fusillade of shots and bomb explosions.
Many persons, fearing that another con
fiagrntlon would sweep the uubtirned por
tion of the city, rushed to the street*
There was heavy rifle firing in the
southern part of the city. South Cork
w.ig described a* a battlfleld, with rifle
bullets crashing Into the houses. No
casualties were reported.
Lord Mayor O'Callaghan has cabled to
the United States asking for Red Cross
relief. He suggests that * contingent of
the American Red Cross come to Cork to
administer assistance to the homeless.
WOMAN'S STOR Y
TOUCHES JUDGE
Theft Case Against Crippled
Mother Continued.
Tempted by a flush coat, Thelma
Davis. 2fl, employed ns a domestic at
the home of Roy I’ayuc, became a thief.
Payne notified the police and today De
tective De Uossette arrested the woman
w hen he found the coat In her room.
When the detective saw that she was
crippled and that she had worked hard
to support a two-months-old baby girl
that her child might, not ho taken away
from her, the officer, instead of locking
her in a cell, brought the woman into
the city court room and recommended
thnt sentence he suspended.
He explained to the court that the
woman s husband had deserted her. As
the crippled woman nobbed, "Oh, Judge,
don’t take my baby from me, she Is my
life; she la all I have." Russell Willson,
Judge pm tom, assured her that the
court wanted to help her.
He warned her ilia- she had made a
mistake ill taking the coat, and thnt
the court could send her to the woman's
prison where she would not see the baby
for months, but thnt lie would give her
a chance. He said ho could not sus
pend sentence, but ho would continue
the case indefinitely.
"Mr. Payne doesn’t want her pun
ished,” explained the detective, “and we
have recovered the coat. A woman is
holding tho baby downstairs.”
"Go and take care of that baby,” said
Judge Willson, aud the crippled W’oman
limped from the courtroom wiping tho
tears from her eyes.
COUNCIL ADMITS SPAIN.
GENEVA. Dec. 15.—Spain was todny
elected a member of the council of tho
League of Nations.
In an attempt to reconcile the well
known medical theory that rats are dan
gerous carriers of disease germs with the
policy of the city board of health in sup
porting a rat campaign that makes it
necessary for someone to handle each rat
captured, a number of questions were
submitted to Dr. Morgan.
Without hesitation that versatile au
thority on waiters' garbs, hospital man
agement, cafeteria conduct. Influenza
M asks and epidemical possibilities an
swered each and every question Just like
that.
The questions and answer* propounded
and. received were ta follow*:
VANTAGE HELD
BY AMERICA IN
NAVAL RATING
England Checks Building and
U. S. Program Puts Japan
in Shadow.
HOUSE BODY IS MEETING
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—With the
United States at the crossroads leading
either to naval competition or a world
agreement to limit armaments, the House
Naval Affairs Committee sot out today
to learn what the other great powers are
doing on the warship construction busi
ness.
To gain this information the commit
tee called on Rear Admiral Robert E.
; Koontz, chief of naval operation. Data
\ obtained here today in naval circles, In-
I eluding facts which Admiral Koontz was
expected lo elaborate on before the House
committee, showed ;
1. Grent Britain, while possessing ton
nage almost twice that of the United
States, has checked her building for the
present.
j 2. The United States, on the basis of
her program now under way, will surpass
the British naval strength by 1925 unless
Britain adopts new building measures.
3. Japan while actively eugaged In
building both large and small war craft,
will remain far behind the United States
when this country's program is coia
, pleted.
1 JAPAN PROJECTS
7 DREADNAUGHTS
Japan has projected seven super-dread
j naughts. Three of them, of 33,300 tons
each, now art* being built. Their com
pletion Is expected by 1923. Four others,
40,000 tons each, probably will be fin
ished in 1927. In 1927 Japan will have
four new battleships and four new
i cruisers. In 1927 Japan will possesses
twelve battleships* and twelve battle
' cruisers, but four of each will represent
an early type.
The Japanese navy now includes five
capital ships totalling 157,480 tons.
When the seven under construction are
1 finished Japan’s tonnage In capital ships
| will total 418,5C0.
The United States today possesses ten
battleships and ten cruisers, but eleven
battleships more are being built. This
j is on the basis of the 1910 authorization
! for sixteen capital ship*.
BRITAIN BI 11.DIXG
I II E CRI ISERS.
Britain, which abandoned many of its
| vessels when the armistice was signed,
i today is believed to be building five light
j cruiser* totaling 38,780 tons; eleven ds
j stroyers, 11,125 tong, and nineteen sub
marines, 21.500 tons. It Is even possible
(Continued on Tags Two.)
FIRE BONDS GO
’ TO meYer-Kiser
SIOO,OOO Issue Bought at Par
With Accrued Interest.
The Meyer Kiser bank was the sue
cessful bidder for the $400,000 fire dr
i pertinent motorization bond Isssvse of the
1 board of public safety today. City Con
troller Robert 11. Bryson awarded the
Issue to the bank on it.* bid of par with
accrued Interest,
The Indiana Trust Company was the
j only other bidder. Its proposal was for
| only $100,090 worth of the issue, includ
ing the bonds maturing in 1937, I&3S.
1929, 11*40 and 1941, and its offer was to
take the Issue at par with accrued in
terest.
The issue l* of s'* per cent, tweaty-
I year serial bonds, payable annually in
$20,000 lots beginning Jan. 1, 1922.
The money will b used by the board
of public safety to pay for equipment
w'th which to complete the motorization
of the flro department. Tho equipment
has been contracted for several weeks,
and the Ktutx Fire Engine Company,
holding the contract for the manufacture
of pumpojs and etiglues, has made par
tial deliveries
Several other local banks are under
stood to stand ready to assist the .Meyer
. *-r r\nny | n m,, purchase of the bonds.
It Is said that $200,000 of the issue may
to to it Chicago Institution.
Naval Balloon and
Officers Still Missing
NEW YORK, Dec. 15 -No word had
been received today at the I'nlted Stntes
naval air station nt Rockaway Point ss
ito the whereabouts of three lieutenants
who left Monday for Canada in a dirigi
ble naval balloon. Tho men are known
'to have two carrier pigeons with them
and If their balloon hns been wrecked
word by pigeon wns expected.
The balloon, one of the largest In
the service, holding 33,000 cubic feet
of hydrogen, wns on an endurance test.
Two Police Officers
Go on Retired List
Sergeant Cletus Weaver, who hns been
a member of the Indianapolis police
force since Dec. 15, 1889, and Patrolman
Charles F. Dawson, who hns been on the
force since 1884, petitioned Chief of Po
lice Jeremiah Kinney today to be placed
on the retired list.
Weaver was tranefered from the turn
key's office to the emergency squad and
Dawson was reduced from turnkey to pa
trolman n few days ago by the board of
public safety.
New Colony Opened
Governor -Tames P. Goodrich today is
sued a proclamation declaring the In
diana Farm Colony for Feeble Minded at
Butlcrvllle open. The farm was estab
lished by the 1919 session of the General
Assembly, when an appropriation Os
$230,0(0 was passed for its maintenance.
Q. Is it not true that rats are re
garded by medical authorities gen
erally ns one of the most dangerous
carriers of disease germs?
A. It Is true that rats are car
riers of disease germs owing to the
fact that they Jive in filth and sub
sist upon all kinds of deromposed
material. The campo)-.> against rats
Is waged by health authorities par
ticularly for the reason that, bubonic
plague Is carried by the rat. While
at the present time there are nq eases
of bubonic plague in inland cities,
should the plague develop, an inland
dty with * lore* rat population
_ , (By Carrier, Week. Indianapolis, 10c; Elsewhere, 12c.
Subscription Rates: Mail, loc p er Month; $5.00 Per Tear.
Help the Clerks
With only eight shopping days re
maining until Christmas, Indianapolis
retail stores that arO members of the
Merchants' Association will continue
to observe their regular closing sched
ules, so that clerks, also, may enjoy
Christmas.
This is only one of the many rea
sons, however, why merchants are
continuing to urge that as lunch shop
ping as possible be doue in the fore
noon. Merchants point out that there
never was in any real reason why
stores should remain open in the eve
ting Just before Christmas.
i /
CONTRACT AND
BOND RETURN
IS DEMANDED
Showdown Called for in North
western Avenue Bridge
Muddle.
Declaring that it is time for a "show
down' on the Northwestern avenue
bridge muddle and demanding that
“passing the buck" stop, Attorney Merle
N. A. Walker, counsel for the receiver ot
the A. J. Yawger Construction Company,
which holds the $274,000 bridge contract,
today appeared before the Marion
County board of commissioners to as
certain why County Attorney Harry
Hendrickson has failed to file a "friendly
suit" to test the validity of the Yawger
contract.
The commissioners several days ago in
structed the county atorneys to file the
suit.
Commissioner Carlin Shank explained
that the county attorney is of the opin
ion that the contract is legal, although
the .State board of accounts had held the
Yawger contract Illegal.
DEMANDS RETURN
Ol BOND.
The attorney informed the commission
er-. that hb client would consent to a
cancellation of tho contract and demands
the return of the contractor's bond, given
at the time tile contract was accepted.
It was pointed out that if the contract
vra# cancelled it probably would cost the
taxpayer* of the county from $30,090 to
$40,(00.
"The county attorney feels that I am
butt ng In, but there has to be a show,
down In this matter," declared Mr. Walk
er, in explaining that the county com
missioners had done everything possible
to adjust the matter.
Attorney Walker presented the commis
sioners with the following written de
mand 'or the return of the contract
la view of the unerring and irrevoca
ble decision of the State Board of Ac
(Continued on Page Twelve.)
Police Say Man Had
Big Still in Home
Pavel Teica, 3i’>, 532 West Maryland
street, was arrested last night by Lieu
tenant Woollen and a squad on the
Charge of operating a blind tiger.
The police charge they found an eight
gallon still and eighteen gallons of mash
in Teioa's home.
Dismisses Charge
Against Physician
On the recommendntlon of Coroner
I'uni Robinson, the charge of man
slaughter against Dr. H. J. Kemper, 2510
Broadway, driver of the automobile
which killed Ernest B. Cole, 74, of 1936
Broadway, was dismissed by Russell B.
Wilson, Judge pro tem.. In City Court
today.
Cole was killed In front of hls home
on the night of Dec. 7. Coroner Robin
son, In Ids inquest, hchl that the acci
dent was unavoidable.
Palmer and Aids Admit
They Are Unable to Deal
With Coal Speculators
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—Coal specu
latois, chief factors In anthracite and
bituminous coal profiteering, continue to
ply their trade In defiance of Attorney-
General Palmer and all Federal prose
cutors who attempt to check abuses.
Tho Impotence of the Department of
Justice to remedy conditions, made the
basis for Senator Calder's attack upon
the Attorney-General for failing to stop
coal profiteering, was freely admitted to
dny by the Attorney-General and his
Rdviaers.
The Attorney General will not reply
directly to Senator ("alder. The Sena
tor's charge thnt coal profiteering goes
on despite the Attorney General's efforts
is admitted by the Department of Jus
tice to be true, but officials are quick to
explain that vigorous criminal procedure
by the department has been virtually
blocked by court decisions holding the
Lever law Invalid.
Pressed for soma explanation of con
tinued abuses in the coal trade, the De
partment of Justice revealed that In
some large producing districts coal op
erators have openly defied the Attorney
General and his agents by refusal to pro
duce (heir books and records.
A report on coal profiteering, prepared
| for Congress under tho attorney general's
direction, states thnt in fivo of ten prln-
I olpal coni producing States, comprising
Indiana, Colorado, western Kentucky?
' Pennsylvania and Missouri, prosecutions
| under the Lever law have been prevented
would form an Ideal focus for the
development and spread of bubonio
plague.
Q. This being true, the Time* would
like to know liow Dr. Morgan hopes
to avoid the wholesale transmission
and spread of disease in Indianapolis
by an authorized campaign In which
the people are Invited and tijged to
take the dead bodies of thea* disease
bearing rodents, ent off their disease
laden tails and carry them to the
City hall?
A. That would depend upon this:
If bubonic plague were present In
(Continued *n rage Two.)
LAST HOME EDITION
TWO CENTS PER COPY
INCREASE OF FROM
60 TO 90 CENTS PER
1,000 FEET SOUGHT
Petition Says Obligations to City Can Not Be
Met Unless Additional Revenue for
Emergency Is Granted .
CAPACITY BOOSTED TO MEET SALES
Declaring that it will he unable to make the improvements to their
plant demanded by the city of Indianapolis unless it is granted emergency
relief at once, the Citizens’ Gas Company of Indianapolis today petitioned
the public service commission for an increase in rates from 60 cents per
1,000 cubic feet, the present rate, to 90 cents per 1,000 cubic feet.
HOTEL GUEST
FIGHTSTHIEF
Robber Flees Down Fire Es
cape With Watch After
Tussle in Room.
A burglar escaped over the roof and
down the fire escape at The Southern
Hotel, 222 South Illinois street, after a
struggle with Elmer Larson of Donovan,
All., who discovered the man in his room
at 6:30 o'clock this morning.
There is a room reached by a fire es
cape between the two wings of the hotel
building. Tlxe burgiar climbed to this
roof and started to enter the room of
Crystal Kettell, In the south wing
of the hotel. Miss Kettell had been 111.
She wag awake and screamed when she
saw the man at her window.
The burglar tied across the roof and
entered I.arson's room. Larson had been
awukened when Miss Kettell screamed
and saw the burglar enter. He made no
signs, however, that he was awake.
The thief took Larson's watch from
his trousers, which were lying on top
jof a dresser near the window. Before
! he could take Larson's purse, the hotel
guest had the Ihief by the arm. A
struggle followed and the burglar Jerked
away, making his escape through the
| open window and down the fire eecape.
' Larsou told the police his watch was
! valued at. $25.
Willis R. I.akin, SOS North East street,
reported his home had been ransacked by
Ia burglar and that s6l was missing.
Burglars entered the S. H. Stansbury
| meat market, 1514 Roosevelt avenue. Two
smoked hams, one freßh ham tsu ntnety
] one pennies from the rash drawer were
| taken.
; It Is believed the same thief smashed
the window of George Schieek’s shoe
store. 1521 Roosevelt avenue, and took
a pair of shoes.
Miss Leona McClain, employed In an
office at 341 Bankers' Trust building, re
ported that her purse containing $9 had
been stolen from the office.
Wife of Rex Studio
Man Asks Divorce
Alleging cruelty, Mrs. Effie Gladys
Wells today filed, in Superior Court,
room 5, a divorce action against Ira A.
Wells, owner of the Rex studio of this
city. She asns for the custody of Rich
ard Edwin Wells, who is not yet 2 years
of age.
Mrs. Wells ask* that a restraining
order ‘be Issued by the court to pre
vent Wells from molesting her and the
child and also asks that die be re
strained from disposing of his studio in
an attempt to escape her request for
$3,000 alimony.
by decisions of the United States Dls.
trict Courts, declaring the law is not
constitutional.
In Tennessee, Palmer reports, fifteen
bituminous operators were arrested and
held for the grand jury, but gained
freedom from further prosecution by
virtue of an order by the Federal District
Court, enjoining enforcement of the
Lever act.
The Lever act, it was said, is the only
enactment under which is has been pos
sible to proceed in coal cases. No at
tempts have been made to hale th© oper
ators before courts under anti-trust laws
on charges of combinations in restraint
of trade.
Ex-King Boards
Ship for Greece
—.—
VENICE. Dec. 15.—-Constantine of
Greece. Queen Sophie and the other mem
bers of their family arrived safely from
Lucerne today and immediately went on
board the Greek cruiser Averoff, which
will carry them s to Greece.
your
ICHROTWA? i
SHOWN*
! HOW i
iiiSaSL A#t
NO. 187.
Outstanding obligations of the com
pany, which the petition says must b*
met in the coming year, purchase of a
large storage holder, which the officials
kay cannot be bought unless they are
given assurance that they will be pro
vided with more revenue; and the in
crease in production, due to the high
price of coal, are given as causes for de
manding an increase.
The company declares that its sales in
the year ending Dec. 1, 1920, were
3.041.327.000 cubic feet as compared with
2,669,532,000 in the year ending Dec. 1,
1919, and 2.529,178,000 the year before.
The petition says the company ha*
1 been forced to increase the capacity of
j Its plant to cope with this increase in
sale* and manufacture of gas, and that
it will be forced to further increase the
capacity and that this increase will mean
an expenditure of about $2,750,000.
"By reason of the large increase in the
demands for gas as well as the condi
tion of the equipment of the petitioner
and loss of capacity due to interruption
of service, there are many times and
occasions when the petitioner is unable
to supply the requirements of its con
sumers and as a result thereof the serv
ice is at times unsatisfactory and the
petitioner is required to reduce the pres
sure in order to conserve its supply with
the result that during these periods of
low supply many consumers are incon
venienced and business is interfered
with,” the petition reads.
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
EXTENDED ANNUALLY.
In addition to the improvements which
must be made to tbe plant, the petition
states that it faces each year the neces
sity of extending its distribution system
■ at an exjicndlture of about $100.20.0
In stating the causes for petitioning
for an increase in ratej, the petition
I elates:
During the past sevej-al years, in whleh
constantly increSsing costs of operation
have confronted all manufacturers, these
: companies which were under Gtrvernrheat
control ns to their rate* and therefore
have been unable to quickly respond
through the price obtained for their
product, tc the Increased cost of manu
facture, have been subjected to serious
losses whleh would have been avoided
had the opportunity been afforded of
following the. of the market, and
(Continued on Page Nine.)
CITY MANAGER
PLAN, SUBJECT
State Civic Bodies Men Dis
cuss Proposed Laws.
A meeting of representatives of Cham
bers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs and
i Kiwanis Clubs from various cities of
; the State was held under the auspices
■ of the Indiana State Chamber of Com-
I mere* this afternoon in the Indianapolis
Chamber of Commerce Building, to- dls
| cuss the city manager form of gov
ernment and proposed legislation rela
tive to It.
In speaking of the city manager form
of government, Robert E. Tracy, direc
tor of the bureau of municipal research
of the Indianapolis Chamber of Com
merce, who led the discussion, pointed
out that a city manager must be the sort
of man who is interested in people, in
j the welfare of children, in public health,
j in education, in parks and playgrounds,
; In public utilities, and la -11 other mu
! nielpnl activities that go to make for a
city so happy and healthy people—that
j he must lie an efficient man as well as a
j good man.
He tonehed on various features of the
; commission form f city government, as
! well as of the city manager form.
‘Arson Ring* Again
Busyat Uniontown
UNIONTOWN, Pa., Dec. 15.—-Fayette
Countyls "arson ring" resumed opera
tions early today after a lull of ten days.
The majority portion of the Fair
Chance Lumber Company's plant at Fair
Chnnce was burned with a loss of $30,-
009. This is the thirty-first fire in seven
weeks and the third lumber property
fired.
State ( troopers are standing guard
about the West End theater here, where
the annual county teachers' institute Is
being held.
NOBtESVILLE WOMAN DEAD.
NORLK.SVILI.E, Ind., Dee. 15.—Mrs.
Eliza Lebo, 87, widow of William Lebo,
is dead here. The family located In
Hamilton County during the sixties.
Among the children who survive are
Prof. William Lebo, supervisor of music
in the city schools at Hamilton, Ohio,
and Harvey Lebo of Washington, D. C.
Ft. Wayne Women
Demand Jail Terms
in Whisky Cases
Special to The Times.
FT. WAYNE, Ind., Dec. 15—The
session of the city police court was
enlivened todny when a delegation of
the Women’s Christian Temperance
Umon pnt in its appearance.
Tho delegation, which was com
posed of prominent women of the
city," nml was headed by Mrs. Martha
Ridenour, informed City Judge J.
Frank Mungovan that they insist on
violators of the prohibition laws be
ing sent to jail instead of being al
lowed to escape with a fine.
The women assured the judge that
they would be in court Friday morn
ing when the ease of Bickis Trefan,
who is charged with selling Chief of
Police Abbott a quart of moonshine
wlaky for SB, 1* brought to trial.