Nebraska Newspapers

    THE O’NEIL FRONTIER
a H. CRONIN. Publisher.
^■NEILL,_ NEBRASKA
How n terrible fire that gutted an
fntirr New York tenement house was
paused by a combination of a milk bot
tle. a lamp and a peaceful tabby cat is
one of tho incidents brought out in an
article on “Curious Fires," by Charles
tr. Mill, in St. Nicholas. The eat in
Question was reposing In the open back
window of a first floor flat In the <en
rment occupied by a Bpinster who was
tailed into the front room Just at the
moment when an Irate lodger In the
Bouse at the rear, exasperated by the
nocturnal concert of tw<^ undomestic
tabbies on the rear fence, shied a milk
pottle at them which landed wide of
Its mark and crashed against the tene
ment window sill. The spinster's tabby,
{lazed with fright, gave one fearful
leap, clutched at the table cover and
overturned the lamp.
Upsides its regular laundry work, one
Illinois laundry company carries on an
Bctive cleaning and pressing business.
This branch of the work is not done
Bt the shop, however, but at tho door
Of the customer's house. Steaming
pnd pressing machines have been
placed in a large Inclosed automobile.
Bud the customer can watch tho work.
|f he chooses. Delays are done away
with In this way, and freshly pressed
garments spared the crushing they
sometimes receive In crowded deliver
ies- _
A California Inventor has put out a
machine which picks prunes from the
ground, where they have been allowed
to drop. The machine Is pushed along,
laid the prunes collected by a. revolv
ing drum covered with sharp spikes.
The fruit ts then dropped into a hop
per at the rear of the drum. Spearing
the fruit does not Injure It, since the
skin must he pricked before tho prune
Is dried.
The huge revolving light which has
been placed at the lighthouse on the
island of Helgoland, In the North sea,
is perhaps the most powerful flashlight
In the world. It is equal to 40,000,000
candle power, and in calm weather can
be seen for a distance of 30 miles. The
tower in which the light Is stationed
is 272 feet above sea level. It costs
1*8.000 a year to maintain the light.
Thin metal plates, which weigh about
four pounds to the square yard, are be
ing used In France Instead of plaster
thnd wall paper. Some of the advan
tages of using this material are. It
,can be bought and placed in position at
less cost than the old materials; the
room can be kept at a more even tem
perature; workmen have little trouble
in learning to use it.
An eastern railroad burns its dis
carded wooden ears to recover the Iron
in them. Before the cars are set on
Tire, however, they are thoroughly in
spected, and ail the wood available for
further use Is removed. The iron from
tho destroyed car Is sold os scrap.
The feeding problem of New York
city will be appreciated when It Is real
ized that there are—counting' perma
nent residents and the "strangers
Pearly 6,000,000, and that they devour
1" * y®"’® ‘‘mo from $800,000,000 to
$1,000,000,000 worth of food.
Small cakes and cookies iorv easily
'■* d®5°*^b®d by. using a specially de
s gned rolling pin. This roller Is six
Si. A 5?ch Hl<1e containing three dies.
KlghteeTi small, square cakes are rolled
and decorated by one revolution of the
rolling pin.
With an enrollment of 74 women and
one man, the first suffrage school in
,the country has opened in Baltimore.
Chesses are held from 9 in the morning
until 5 at night, and the lectures are
given by some of the best known suf
fragist*.
A Calais (Me.) man who appeared
l eforc Judge 1 ackard in the municipal
court, was unable to tell what ids
Wires first name was and the proceed
ings were halted while he interviewed
ImaUon.and obtained 1110 d‘‘«i' ed lnfor
/ Cbhm •* beginning to use American
tractors for agricultural purposes in
the neighborhood of Shanghai. One
company had a single tractor last year
but has ordered four for next season
becaua* of the good results achieved.
-ii'„.-<i'hl.CaKf\man 18 tbe Inventor of
electrical and magnetic apparatus tu
move miniature ships about models of
waterways or participate in naval bat
tles in a realistic manner.
A German chemist produced a tem
perature of 13.500 degrees through ex
periments with liquid air under pres
sure. or 3,500 degree hotter than the
sun is supposed to be.
Bolivian tin mines that have been
worked more titan 300 years have
reached the depth of 2,300 feet with the
richness of the ore increasing as the
workings descend.
A device for coupling ordinary ve
hicles behind automobiles, so ilexlble
that sharp corners can be turned, is
the Invention of an 18-year-old Cali
fornia boy.
A Greek sponge fisherman's dive to a
depth of 202 feet In the sea is believed
to he the world's record for a man un
protected by any sort of diving ud
partttus. v
*v ^ ^ floss', of a rubber vine growing in
the Bahamas has been woven in Ger
many into the lightest textile vei
known that is suitable for life ore
servers.
Two Californians have patented a de
vice that measures a pipeful of tobacco
from a pouch or box and stuffs it into
* pipe without contact with a user’*
fingers.
William Bennett, of Elklaud. Pa. a
native of Preston Bisset, Buckingham
shire, Eng., has 81) cousins fightlnt
Willi the British army in Belgium anc
trance.
An electric fare box that has beer
Invented for street cars automatically
registers the correct number of fares
paid by each kind of coin dropped inti
The Mount bird, of Australia, makes
* large mound sometimes 150 feet in
circumference, and its eggs are depos
sted in It at a d^pth of fivre or six feot.
Miss Prances Collins, age IS, of
Manchester. Me., has acquired a repu
tation in the handling of cuttle. She
has broken three pairs of steers.
-- » ■-—
I The Japanese make a serviceable
rainproof garment from paper from the
niitsumata plant, which grows in the
mountains of the islands.
The British navy now employs a life
raft made in the shape ,,f a huge
i.o ighnnt. l a h baitiesfdp carries tins
kind of l.fe saving cruft.
k Alabama ranks first, among the
southern states us a producer of min
sruae.
iflHiin ... —
'QUICK action is
URGED BY SOFTS
Majority Senate Vote Is Prom
ised, But Leaders Fear
That Solons Will
“Hedge.”
Lincoln. \’el>., Feb. 19.- The woman
SolTragists, having mjbmitterl their
case to the senate committee, on privi
leges and elections and the latter hav
ing given e. hearing to the antis, are
anxious to have speedy action by the
committee. The chances are that the
bill will be reported unfavorably, but
they want it on general file In order to
get a line on the senators. One of the
members of the committee, Stethlow,
of Douglas, is a vice president of the
Nebraska 1 'rospority league, the or
ganization that fought prohibition
last year, while Mrs. Crofoot, one of
the women who appeared In opposi
tion to the hill is the wife of the presi
dent of that organization.
It is a question whether the suffra
gists can get their bill through. They
have promises from enough members,
but the promises of some of these are
of such a character that they are not
sure to stand hitched under pressure.
Senate, a Leisure Body.
The senate is again demonstrating
Its capacity to take matters leisurely.
The house was plodding away today
while the senators were at home at
tending to business. The calendars of
both houses aro fairly full, but that of
the house contains over 50 bills and
more are pouring In each day than the
committee of the whole can assimilate.
The need of a sifting committee is al -
ready becoming evident, hut the sen
ate expects to got through without
having to resort to that expedient. The
senate Is not nearly so eager to pass
bills as the house.
New House Bills.
The house passed a number of bills
Friday, cleaning up all bills on third
reading. None of these were import
ant. They covered appropriations for a
new car for the state llsh commission;
Money for buying an auto truck for the
commission; requiring bonding compa
nies, before cancelling a bond, to notify
the person bonded and give the reasons
and a chance for a heurnig; incensing
salaries of supreme judges’ stenogra
phers from $1,000 to $1,500 a year; pro
hibiting locomotives from being run at
night without a headlight.
Senate Measures.
The senate ordered engrossed for
third reading, a bill amending the law
relating to country treasurers’ bonds,
making the minimum $10,000 and not
to be for more than cash ordinarily on
hand; authorizing counties to use the
automobile license fund for claying
and stable litering sandy roads. It con
sidered in committee of the whole
without final action a measure reciting
that only legalized, authorized and
registered voters shall sign referendum
and recall petitions In cities under the
commission form of government, and
makes It a misdemeanor for any one
to sign a fictitious name. Circulators
of petitions are barred from accepting
puy for the work.
itn_M t>!ll A..i TV._I. .
The house has made the state prohi
bition bill, providing means which, it is
said, will make possible airtight en
forcement of prohibition in the state,
Bpeciul order of business for Tuesday.'
A number of amendments designed to'
strengthen the bill have been reported.
A large number of petitions favoring
woman suffrage were received by the
senate. Major James C. Dahlman. of
Omaha, relayed to the senators a mes-'
sage he had sent to Minnie Boyer ex
pressing his pleasure that ''suffrage
was coming." The petitions were re
ferred to committees.
Cut Militia Appropriation.
Adjt. Gen. Phil Hall's bill appro
priating $8,000 for mobilization ex
penses of the Nebraska national guard
has been cut to $6,000 by the finance
committee of the house.
The senate committee, after con
sidering the state prohibition bill
already passed by the house, today
suggested three changes. They ofTer a
clause directed against the trafficking
in liquor by automobiles in to the state,
also depriving a defendant of jury trial
when called into police court on a mis
demeanor charge, and, third, allowing
the manufacturer of alcohol for re
ligious purposes.
—4—
OMAHA CLUBMAN MUST
ACCOUNT FOR BIG ESTATE
Omaha, Neb., Feb. 19.—Jerome Pratt
Magee, prominent Omaha society and
club man, a lawyer and son of a well
known Chicago attorney, has been sued
by his aged great aunt. Miss Ellen L.
Pratt, of Greencove Springs, Fla,, for
an accounting for assets aggregating
$200,000 which she inherited. Her
father. Col. J. II. Pratt once was a
noted financier.
Miss Pratt asks also an injunction
restraining Magee from disposing of
securities belonging to tier and which
she alleges he now has in "a safety de
posit vault in Omaha.”
Miss Pratt is nearly blind and is un
able to read or write.
Magee is defendant here in another
suit for $250,000, brought by an aunt
who seeks to set aside the purchase of
Colonel Pratt's estate.
CANADA GUARDS SUPPLY.
Ottawa, Can., Feb. 17.—The Canadian
government announces it has tuhen ef
fective measures to insure the supply
of news print paper to newspapers in
Canada. The minister of customs, the
announcement adds has been given ub
Bolute power to license the export of
paper and also fix the quantity and
price at which paper is to be furnished
to Canadian publishers.
RAILROADS PLAN FOR WAR.
New York. Feb. 17.—The railroads of
the United States have Informed Presi
dent Wilson that the resources of their
organizations are at the disposal of the
government in the event of war. Presi
dents or other officials of lx of the
roads were appointed as a special
committee on national defense, which
will work in conjunction with the <om
manders of the four departments of the
United Stales army.
AGED EPISCOPALIAN DIES.
Minneapolis. Minn.. Feb. 17.—Rev.
■James Trimble, 94 years old, one of the
oldest Episcopal clergymen in the
country died at his home here today.
l!ov. .Mr. Trimble was horn in Ireland
t il l came to America when 16 years old.
He has held pastorales at Wooster and
Mansfield, Ohio, Lansing, Ta.. and lot
20 years at was Clinton, la. He was dean
of the Cathedral at Sioux Falls, S. IV,
for several years before taking charge
of missions ut Rice Luke and Filed
Lake, Wls.
aet - 1
OUT FOR PASSAGE
House Prohibition Committee
Announces Bill Is Ready
for Final Action—
Lincoln Notes.
Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 17.—The prohi
bition committee of the house was
scheduled to report out for passage
Friday the bill which it drew and which
it has been tinkering with ever since
it was referred tack to It. The com
mittee was hurried in making ready
the original bill, and was able then to
get it under the wire as the last house
bill. This led to some matters being
included that have since been made
matters of debate. The principal
points covered are as to the amount
of alcohol permissible in compounds
sold; the matter of search and seizure
without warrant and the elimination
of a jury trial in police court cases
where complaints are filed. The object
of the latter is to secure convictions
in Omaha and other "wet" places where
a Jury that will convict will be difficult
to secure.
Lands Bill Ready.
The bill ordering the sale of all
school lands now held by the state in
excess of 1,500,000 acres, will come up
for nassage in a day or two. It suc
cessfully passed the committee of the
whole in the house, but had only four
more votes than are necessary to se
cure passage on third reading. Every
member of the Douglas county delega
tion voted for sale, under a trade of
votes agreement, and Lancaster, for
similar reasons, divided. The bill was
very strongly opposed on the ground
that it would be robbing posterity of
the increased values that the land
would be certain to secure in the fu
ture, for the benefit of speculators of
today.
To Divide Land Funds.
Thursday, in committee of the whole,
the house passed a bill which does
away with one objection to the state's
holding these school lands. It provides
that when making the state apportion
ment the state superintendent shall
take 10 per cent of the money received
from leases and divide it proportion
ately among the counties and the
school districts on the basis of the pro
portion the unsold school lands there
bear to the entire acreage in the state.
In this way the counties and school
districts will have made good to them
what they would get in taxes if the
land were in private hands and liable
for taxes. The original bill has been
recommitted to the committee of the
whole so as to provide that the lands
shall be sold to the highest bidder.
Prohibits Sale of Catfish.
The house took a shot at market
hunters when it passed two bills asked
for by the fish and game commission.
One prohibits the seining of catfish,
places It in the category of game fish
and prohibits the sale in public mar
kets or elsewhere of catfish caught In
Nebraska waters. The other makes im
prisonment a part of the punishment
for those who kill or capture birds or
fish contrary to law.
The house indulged In a warm par
tisan debate when house rule 202 came
up for hearing. The bill is as.ted by
Douglas county in order to preserve
democratic control of the county board.
One of the members, a democrat, Is
threatened with ouster, and the bill was
to change the complexion of the board
that will fill the vacancy by changing
its personnel. Two democrats voted
with the republicans to kill the bill, but
it was ordered to a third reading.
Hit at Bank Promoter.
In committee of the whole Friday
morning the house took up a bill that
is intended to put the bank promoter
cut of business by prohibiting the sale
of bank stock above par before it is or
ganized, anil which prohibits the solici
tation by promoters of subscriptions to
bank stocks. It also prohibits the ad
vertisement of the fact that a bank's
deposits are guaranteed by the deposit
fund in the hands of the state banking
board.
Approves Bill to Help Blind.
The house placed the stomp of its
approval on a bill requiring county
hoards to help worthy blind people to
the extent of $300 a year.
One of the moving speeches which
Induced the senate to kill a bill barring
only graduates of law colleges from the
right to practice was made by Senator
Albert, who said in part: "If we had
had such a bill in years past the United
States would not have had a John Mar
shall nor an Abraham Lincoln, and
worst of all it would not have had me.”
Pass City Manager Bill.
The senate also passed a law which
will permit cities of the first class to
engage the services of a city manager.
It is particularly designed for use in
Fremont, where the sentiment is strong
for a change of this sort.
Pass Anticigaret Bill.
The house passed a dozen bills today.
The most important om was the anti
cigaret bill, against \Wiich only nine
votes were cast. It prohibits smoking
:>f cigarets in a long list of public places
where people generally go to do busi
ness or meet, and includes hotels and
restaurants. Prosecuting officers who
fall to enforce the law are made liable
to prosecution.
Bars Teacher Agents.
Another bill passed ends the employ
ment of school teachers as agents of
school book or supply houses. Another
subjects to punishment any person who
fails to close a gate on private property
when so admonished by a sign, pro
vided. "said gate can be closed with
reasonable efTort.” Another creates a
school of irrigation at Scotts Bluff.
Several amendments have been made
to the prohibition bill. An amendment
permits churches to manufacture sac
ramental wines and provide that pos
session of an interna! revenue receipt
is prima facie evidence of intent to sell
illegally.
Suff Petitions Flood Senate.
The senate, wearied of hearing peti
tions for woman suffrage, decided that
they should be referred without read
ing. It spent an hour in committee of
the whole and adjourned until Monday.
F. L. HALLER. OF OMAHA,
ELECTED COLLEGE REGENT
Lincoln, Neb., Feb. Id. The state
board of regents have elected F. 1..
Haller, of Omaha, as president. Regent
Lyford having asked to tie relieved of
the responsibility. He was the only
absentee. This is the first meeting of
the board since the election of 1\ I..
Hall and II. I). Landis as members.
Plans for several new buildings were
talked over with tile architects, the
funds having already been provided b>
the state IcgisleJ.nre.
i
! PARTY FIGHT IS
WAGED IN HOUSE
—
Arthur Mullen Offers Bill to
Keep Democrats in Contrcl
of Doug as County—
Clevar Move.
Lincoln, Neb. Feb. 17.—Arthur F.
Mullen, the. democratic boss, is backing
a bill in the house that changes the
law relating to the Ailing of vacan
cies in county boards. As at present
constituted the appointing board is
composed of the county clerk, the
county treasurer and the county judge.
The bill substitutes the county attor
ney for the county judge. The rea
son for the bill is that the democrats
feel it necessary in order to retain
control of the county board in Doug
las. One of the democratic members
is the defendant in an ouster suit,
brought on the charge that he spent
more to gain election than the law
permits, and if he loses a republican is
likely to be named in his place, as the
county judge and county clerk are re
publicans. The county attorney is a
democrat; hence the desire for the
change in the law.
If the Fultz bill, which is slated to
pass the house today, becomes a law
the cigarct will be barred from a large
number of public places. The list in
cludes churches, hotel dining rooms,
restaurants, public autos, passenger
coaches, street cars, court houses,
School houses, butcher shops, store
rooms, barber shops, moving picture
theaters, bank buildings, postoffices,
stairways, depots, box cars, livery
stables, blacksmith shops, garages and
basements. The bill says that any per
son over 18 years who violates the law
shall be fined from $1 to $25, and the
use of them Is barred to persons be
low 18. Public authorities who refuse
or neglect to enforce the law may bo
convicted of misdemeanor.
Another bill passed prohibits tractors
or machines with lugs on their wheels
from using country paved roads.
Representative Richmond, who is
backing a bill for a new capito! at Lin
coln, presented a resolution passed by
the Omaha Commercial dul) endorsing
the proposition.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The passage by the senate without
a dissenting voice, of the substitute
bill submitting the question of call
ing a constitutional convention to a
vote of the people, ends a fight last
ing over a quarter of a century. For
years the railroads, brewers and other
corporations successfully opposed such
a measure, although repeatedly passed
by the house. The railroads were afraid
of radical legislation and the brewers
of prohibition. The voters got prohi
bition in spite of the senate through
the initiative and referendum, and the
railroads are under the thumb of the
state railway commission. So there
was none to oppose. As the bill came
from the house it provided that the
people should vote separately on the
new amendments to be proposed by the
constitutional convention. The Mori
arity substitute, which the senate
adopted, reads as follows;
‘‘Be it resolved by the legislature of
the state of Nehraska.
"Sec. 1. It is deemed by three-fifths
of the members of each branch of the
legislature necessary to call a conven
tion to revise, amend or change the
constitution of the state of Nebraska,
and they recommend to the electors
that they vote at the next election of
members of the legislature for or
against a proposition to call a consti
tutional convention to revise, amend
or change the constitution of the state
of Nebraska.
"Sec. 2. At the next election of
members of the legislature of the state
of Nebraska there shall be submitted
to the electors thereof a proposition to
call a constitutional convention to re
vise. amend or change the constitution
of the state of Nebraska.
“Sec. 2. At said election of members
of the legislature, on the ballot of each
elector voting thereat shall be printed
or written the words, “For a constitu
tional convention to revise, amend or
change the constitution of the state of
Nebraska” and “Against a constitu
tional convention to revise, amend or
change the constitution of the state of
Nebraska."
j "Sec. 4. If a majority of the electors
! voting at such election shall vote for
| the constitutional convention, the legis
[ lnture shall at its next session make
[ provision by law for calling the same."
FREMONT MAN IS LEADER OF
CONCRETE PIPE ASSOCIATION
Chicago, Feb. 17.—J, F. Lillie, of Fre
mont. Neb., was elected president of the
American Concrete Pipe association at
the closing session of its annual meet
ing Wednesday.
WEST POINT—Tile movement to estab
lish a county fair association at West
Point is now agitating the public mind
and is meeting with unanimous support.
The West Point Speed association is tak
ing a leading part in furthering the pro
ject. This organization, together with the
West Point Business Men’s association,
have announced their intention of calling
a mass meeting of farmers and citizens
with this end in view. For 23 years no
attempt has been made to hold an exhibi
tion of any kind of agricultural products
here. Cuming county ranks among the
best, richest and most progressive agri
cutural and live stock counties in the
state and is noted, particularly, for its
high standard of thoroughbred cattle,,
horses and swine, and is able, at any time,
to place on exhibition an array of prod
ucts in that line which will compare
favorably, if not excel, any show of like
products that could be gathered together
in Nebraska.
BEEMER—Prof. W. C. Findley, superin
tendent of the Beemer schools, lias ten
dered his resignation to the board. lie
was elected superintendent at the begin
ning of the school year and his resigna
tion at thi« 'i’ue has caused great regret
to > school patrons. Mr. Findley’ is an
r. tor of great ability and has been
very successful in his work at Beemer.
and possesses the good will of his pupils.
A difference of opinion regarding school
management with the school board Is be
lieved to have been the cause of his
resignation.
—4-—
PARENTS SEND OUT CALLS
FOR YOUTHFUL ELOPERS
Lincoln, Neb.. Feb. 15.—Frantic ap
peals of "Let us hear from you: all is
forgiven if yon will come home,” have
been sent out by the parents of Otis
Weaver ar.d lb moo Hill, high school
students who «>lope‘d last Saturday
night. Tl.c parents are extremely anx
ious and the mothers are in tears. The
girl is l"» and the boy 17. The par
ents ioked at their determination to
get married, and they slipped away and
u.ive vanished from sight.
Omaha Member Calls Trumble
“Corporation Tool” and
Gets Unexpected
Rejoinder.
Idncoln, Neb., Feb. 16—The house
corporations committee has voted to in
deliniteiy postpone a bill introduced by
Nielson, or the Omaha delegation, tak
ing from the control of the state rail
way commission the regulation of rates
and service of the Nebraska Telephone
company In Omaha and lodging it with
the city commission. The reason giv
en by the committee is that this is a
reversal ol a settled policy of the state
to place control of public utilities in
the hands of the state commission. Mr.
Nielson was so greatly peeved over the
report of the committee that he went
over to Chairman Trumble, while the
latter was seated in a hotel lobby, and
called him a corporation tool. Trumble
slapped his face, but they were separ
ated before any more blows were ex
changed.
A large number of bills affecting tel
ephone companies are before the com
mittee, many of them being of a sim
ilar character to that just turned down.
This promises to precipitate a fight on
the floor of the house. The failure of
the commission to reduce rates hits cre
ated a feeling that local regulation
should again be tried. The companies
want the commission control retained,
claiming that there they deal with a
body which has experts at its command
and which acts as a court in determin
ing the justness of a rate. They say
that local control means they will have
to go into local politics, and if they
don't get a square deal from the coun
cils they will have to go into court.
The house staged a fight over the
question of appropriating $5,000 to aid
a district fair held at Maywood, Gos
per county. Members who objected said
it was an entering wedge for other
treasury grabs, but by a vote of 46 to
44 it was carried in committee of the
whole. The supporters of the bill will
have to get five votes out of the 10
absentees In order to carry the bill
through.
At the aftemopn session of the house
Tuesday two exciting scenes were
staged. One was when Shannon, of
Douglas, former football coach at
Creighton, and said to be nifty with the
gloves, accused Chairman Trumble of
the corporations committee with unfair
treatment in regard to a hill of Shan
non’s. He said that Trumble had prom
ised to report It out, but instead had
waited until two of its friends were
absent and had the committee vote to
indefinitely postpone the measure.
Trumble replied that any one who
made such a charge told a lie. A rough
house was threatened, but the sergeant
at arms pulled Shannon down into his
seat, and a special session of the cor
porations committee was called to con
sider the bill again, on order of the
house.
The other drama was staged, when
Jerry Howard, an Irish member from
Douglas, with a brogue of exceeding
richness, who insists on talking on
every occasion, introduced a long reso
lution lambasting the packers. He
wanted to make a speech on it, but a
motion was made by Peterson that it
be referred back to the introducer for
further consideration.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
BILL IS BEING JOCKEYED
Lincoln, Neb. Feb. 16—The senate ad
vanced to the third reading a substitute
1 for the Norton bill submitting the ques
tion of a constitutional convention. The
Norton bill provides for separate vote
on amendments. The substitute does
not. As the house is opposed to the
senate substitute it is suspected that
this method has been adopted in order
to kill the proposition.
The house recommended for passage,
among others, the following: A bill
moving the state bacteriological labor
atory to the college of medicine at
Omaha, in order to end a long fight be
tween Dr. Wild, the incumbent, and the
secretaries of the state board of health;
a bill prohibiting school and institute
teachers, high school principals and
superintendents from acting as agents
for book or supply houses, or being In
terested in contracts, under penalty of
forfeiture; prohibiting the smoking of
cigarets in public dining rooms or any
other public place, the specific places
being listed; prohibiting spot lights on
automobiles except when rays strike
the ground 25 feet distant, and prohib
iting lights over four candlepower.
—-4—
EXCESS PROFITS ILLEGAL
FROM INSPECTION FEES
Lincoln. Neb., Feb. 16—A quarrel be
tween three state officers is said to be
the cause of the state losing about
$100,000 yearly revenue from the oil
companies doing business in the state.
For years the companies had been pay
ing fees that ranged from 25 cents on
single barrel shipments to 10 cents a
barrel on carload consignments. These
fees were collected by the bureau that
has c harge of oil and food inspection,
and the net return to the state ran
above $100,000 a year. The commis
sion paid them into the treasury as re
ceived and then drew warrants on the
state treasurer for the salaries and ex
penses of his department. Governor
Morehead and Treasurer Hall became
involved in a quarrel over state finan
cial matters and the latter, while ac
cepting the fees turned in by the gov
ernor's appointee. Commissioner Har
mon, refused to pay any of it out for
expenses of the department on the
ground that he has no authority to pay
any money out of the treasury unless
so directed by the legislature.
The two departments went to law
about it, and the food and oil com
missioner won. Meanwhile he had been
keeping what fees he received, pending
the settlement of the dispute. The oil
companies did not like to be the goats
in the quarrel and they went into court
and attacked the law, claiming it was
a revenue measure and not an inspec
tion law, and therefore invalid. Tin:
court has just held their point well
taken, and the legislature is engaged
in passing a law that will reduce the
fees from 10 cents to 6 cents a barrel
on carload shipments, the method usu
ally followed.
SoHUYLER STATION AGENT
CAPTURES LOOTER OF TILL
Fremont, Neb., Feb. It.—Agent
Adolph Vlhral, of the Union Pacific, at
Schuyler, single handed yesterday
morning captured a thief who had loot
ed the cash register, securing Soli. Then
after forcing the thief to return the
money, the agent, in the presence of a
crowd that had gathered, was deeply
moved by the pathetic pleas of his
prisoner for freedom, and in.-lead of
calling the police, turned him loose with
the admonition, "Well, gel out of town
tts quick as you can."
TO 1 STATES
Once in Full Force, It Is Expect
ed to Turn Out 1,009,000
Youngsters Trained to
Work, Annually.
LABOR LEADERS BACK IT
Adoption of Conference Report
by Senate Sends Measure
to President for
Signature.
Washington, Feb. 19—The. Senate t <>
day agreed to the conference report on
the administration vocational educa
tional bill and it now goes to the presi
dent for approval. A system of educa
tion in agriculture, trades and indus
tries is to he administered in coopera
tion with the states.
Almost unnoticed in the furore and
excitement caused by the German war
cloud. which has obscured many
things in Washington, is this bill.
Leaders who are most earnest in its
advocacy say it will undoubtedly pass.
Conferees of the House and Senate
have agreed on the bill and the final
action in the House is expected to he
speedily repeated in the Senate.
Ordinarily, a measure of this import
ance would be widely discussed in ('in
gress. but as things now stand it is at
tracting comparatively little notice,
save from the small group of men in
the House and Senate who have urged
it consistently for years.
Provides Practical Training.
If the hopes and expectations of the
supporters of the bill are realized,
when it is fully in operation as a law,
it will bring about the training of
hundreds of thousands of youths of
both sexes annually, so that in agri
culture, the trades and mechanic tu'ts
and in home making they are enabled
to use their hands with intelligence.
Some estimates are that once the law
is in full swing 1,900,000 young people
annually will he trained in this fash
ion, so that they will be enabled to
earn their living in a fashion at once
more easy for themselves and of more
value to the community, with more
brains and more skill put into farming,
the trades and the domestic arts.
Ten-Year Battle Won.
It will take time to build up a corps
of teachers to meet the needs under the
bill and will take time for the states
to arrange to cooperate with the fed
eral government. The principle of tlie
bill is that the money expended by the
federal government in aid of vocational
education is to he matched with like
amounts from ttje states.
For nearly 10 years, the vocational
education bill has been urged before
congress. The late Senator Ilolliver in
troduced the bill originally and was
enthusiastic in behalf of it. The Amer
ican Federation of Labor has been a
powerful force hack of the bill.
AIR SCOUTS DISCOVER
DIG MEXICAN FORGE
Armed Men Four Miles South of
Line Near Hermanas,
Reported.
Doming, N. M„ Feb. 17.—A report has
reached here from Hermanas, a railway
station near the border west of Colum
bus, that airplane scouts reported after
a reconnoissance the presence of a large
band of armed Mexicans four miles
south of the boundary. •
GERMANSSTRIP D. S.
CONSULS FOR SEARCH
But Lansing Is Assured Indig
nities Are Ended and Dip
plomats Are Not Held.
Washington, D. C\, Feb. 19—Full in
formation on thp departure of former
American consuls in Germany was de
livered to Secretary Lansing today in
a note by the Swiss minister. It is un
derstood that every facility is being
given for the departure of the 86 for
mer American officials and their fam
ilies.
While Ambassador Gerard had ex
pected that a second train load of the
officials would leave Munich for Switz
erland some day this week, there has
been some delay in their assembly and
officials do not know when or bow they
will come out. No alarm, however, is
felt.
No reports of indignities by search
and detention to Americans leaving
Germany have come to the state de
partment since its protest against such
practices was sent to Berlin just be
fore diplomatic relations were broken
off. It was stated officially today that
the German government lias not replied
to the protest.
Consul Seltzer at Breslau and Con
sul Bike at St. Gaul, forwarded reports
of bad treatment by German military
authorities upon which the state de
partment made its protest. In ttie- cases
reported men and women were stripped
of their clothing.
FINANCES MOBILIZED..
Washington, Feb. 17.—The nation's
finances are mobilized to meet any sit
uation likely to be presented in the
near future, in the opinion of the fed
eral reserve board whose precautionary
measures, undertaken upon the sever
ance of diplomatic, relations with Ger
many, have assumed concrete form unit
are believed to cover every contingent
that may arise.
BRITISH DROP BOMBS.
London, l-’eb. 17. Naval airplanes
! dropped heavy bombs with good results
on the Ghilstelle airdrome on Friday. '
says a British official announcement
this afternoon. At the same time
Bruges harbor and shipping were aft
erward attacked. Bombs were observed
exploding on objectives, tile dispatch
announced.