THE O’NEIL FRONTIER
ft H. CWONIH. >»ubllsW>
.^IILL NMUMlKA
A11 the besets, numbering thousands,
formerly in the vast supply zoo of the
Hagenbeck brothers at Hamburg, Gep- !
many, have been butchered and fed to ;
the kaiser’s soldiers. The zoo’s dally
feed bill was enormous, so instead of
feeding the animals, the government
decided it was better to feed the ani
mals to the soldiers. This is the story
3. W. Meredith, of Los Angeles, brings
home with him from Germany. The
lollectfon Included lions, tigers, Jaguars,
leopards, the rhinoceros and hippopota
mus-specimens of almost every Jungle
beast and reptile.
The new department store, said to be,
the largest and most complete store of
the kind in the orient that has been
under construction by the Sincere com
pany, Ltd., of Hong-Kong, has opened
for business in Shanghai. The store
occupies a new five-story building on
Nanking road. Together with the
Oriental hotel, the buildings occupy an
entire block in the central part of the
city. The entire business is Chinese
owned and Is managed by Wow Chee,
formerly connected with the company's
department store at Hong-Kong.
The shortage of German dyes in
spired "Be Blair Hampton, of Picayune,
I^a., to deviso the scheme of dyeing cot
ton as it grow. It is said that he sat
urated the seed with any dyes desired
and that his plantation presented a
pretty appearance this fall, with fiam
tng red and blue fields alternating with
the pure white bolls. Cotton thus dyed
has withstood rain and will not fade.
A new soft drink is being made from
slfalfa. Out when young and tender,
the stalks are thoroughly cleaned In
warm water and dried by artificial heat.
They are them reduced to powder by
grinding ami put into vacuum pans and
boiled. The solid particles are removed
by filtering and the liquid that remains
Is mixed with sugar syrup and bottled
for shipment.
The Malay peninsula is the largest
rubber producing and rubber exporting
country in the world. Two years ago
the production was small, us compared
with that of Brazil, which was then
the principal source of supply. Its ad
vent to first place as a rubber produc
ing country is due to its favorable ch
ina tic and soil conditions.
A Maine fisherman claims to have
pulled up a pint milk bottle with a live
crab in it. It is evident that the crab
had crawled into the bottle when small
and stayed there until it grew so large
it copld not get out. The bottle was
crusted with barnacles when It was
pulled up. which shows It had been in
the water a lone" time.
Among the 1,500 applications received
at the word department for appoint
ment as watchmen or guards at the
building now in course of construction
in Washington was a patriotic, woman
from Tennessee, who described herself
"as strong, healthy, tactful, discreet,
fair judgment, unusually quick to think
and without a nerve.”
The crescent was not originally the
imblem of the Turk. It was first used
oy the primitive Christians of Constan
tinople and the eastern provinces of
the old Homan empire ns an emblem
jf the growing Influence of Christi
anity. It was not until after the battle
of Constantinople that the Turks
adopted the crescent.
In this war 14 out of 15 men come
through safe and sound, not more than
one man in SO is killed and only one
In 500 loses an arm or leg. In the civil
war tho per cent was much higher. In
fact,, tho soldier in this war stands no
greater chance of being killed or In
jured than a man engaged In a hazard
ous occupation.
In compliance with Food Adminis
trator Hoover’s request for all possible
conservation of sugar, the Kansns lea
cream manufacturers, representing
practically all of the large manufac
turers in the state, have voted to manu
facture no more sherbets or Ices as long
ss the country Is at war.
When ex-American James W. Ger
ard, of. Germany, addressed a meeting
of 14,000 persons in San Francisco re
cently. the price of admission was fixed
at one pair of usable shoes, either new
or old, the same to go to war victims
of tho allied nations.
A fine of $100 and costs was imposed
In WJlmjngton on FVank Brocinoskl for
having forced an 8-year-old boy to drink
a glass of home mado whisky. A»
there was no law to fit the case tho
prisoner was tried on a charge of
cruelty to children.
In Exodus, 111, 8. Palestine Is de
scribed as a land "flowing with milk
and hortey." Bees are abundant even
to the present day. In the remote parts
of the wilderness they deposit their
hone- 1ri the crevices of the rocks and
In hollow trees.
The Turkish language, although
spoken, in many dialects, is so uniform
in p\an that anyone who spenks Otto
man Turkish can be understood while
travoling from European Turkey
through Asia Minor and Central Asia.
When Edward Merriam was drunk
he liked to see flames. So he set more
than 40 fires in Brooklyn during the
last two years, some of them imperil
ing many lives and causing losses as
high as J250 000.
The voracious appetite of their son
who ‘iff 12 years old and weighs 140
pounds, forced Mrs. Jessie Bond to ask
the New York court of domestic rela
tions for more alimony from her for
mer husband.
Stropg protest has been made in
South Australia against the continued
slaughter of such rare birds as the ibis,
the egret, cranes and snoonbilis to sup
ply the demands of milliners.
Japan has a population of 54,000.000
spread over an area of 147,655 square
miles, a territory Just a trifle larger
than the state of Montana, which has a
population of 446.000.
The Jail at El Paso. Tex., has steel
■'sun parlors” in which prisoners may
get fresh air and sunshine without pos
slbtMtv of escape.
Persia has no distilleries, breweries
or drinking places, and the only intox
icating beverage made use of is home
nvx.de wine.
-Vo nation, save the United States is
so economically self-sustaining or pos
sesses such a wealth of diversified
scenery and manifold resources as Rus
sia has.
Six hundred and eighty-three rice
dealers in Tokio were arrested by the
metropolitan police recently for using
“short measures" in selling their
staple.
It is estimated that the prison sen
tences imposed on the people of Alsace
Ixirralne since the war began for thetr
loyaJity to Francs would total 6 000
geam
CONVICT WILL SOON
BE GIVEN LIBERTY
Man Who Murdered Relative
Has Earned Good Will of
State Authorities.
Lincoln, Neb., .Ian. 5.—Max Ploehm,
who has spent 12 years at the state
penitentiary, will be a free man within
a few days if the governor follows the
recommendations of the stale board of
pardons. For three years Ploehm has
been out of prison, but held by the
state at the state soldiers’ home in ,
Grand Island, where he acted as gar
dener. His tine record earned for him
the 'ommutation he will be given.
Ploehm killed a woman relative in
Cass county in 1904. It was urged in
his defense that he was not of sound
mind, hut the jury held to the con
trary. Ho is 40 years of age, and with
good time has really served 20 years.
Cass county people were active in se
curing clemency for him.
MEN IN TRAINING ARE
MAKING GOOD PROGRESS
Camp Cody, Doming, N. M., Jan. 5.
—Half the IB weeks’ training course
outlined for men of the 34th division
here has been completed, with the men
well up to the point they were expect
ed to reach at this period, according to
the announcement of officers. Some
units have been deterred by weeks of
quarantine for measles, but the camp
average has been well held up. The'
men are looking forward to the re
maining drill period with increased
eagerness and are keen in their hope
to be sent overseas by spring.
The 49th depot brigade, composed of
tin' First South Dakota cavalry. First
Minnesota field artillery and Nebraska
field hospital, which has been called
upon at various times to complete the
officer personnel pf the 34th division,
and the noncommissioned officers
staffs of tlie organizations, will remain
Intact as an administrative unit and
will lie recognized as a surplus detach
ment. Col. <’. H. Englesby is senior of
ficer.
-4—
GIVES GOVERNMENT ALL
HIS LIQUOR INFORMATION
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 5.—Attorney
General Willis E. Reed has turned over
to federal authorities the evidence sup
porting his claim that there exists a
c onspiracy to bring intoxicating liquors
Into the state in wholesale quantities,
in violation of both the state and fed
eral laws.
’[’lie attorney general has not made
public the names of the individuals
alleged to be members of the conspir
acy, but states that all the details arc
contained In the mass of Information
he lias turned over to United States
District Attorney T. S. Allen, and that
the evidence is so overwhelming that
tlie individuals concerned "might lust
as well select the number of their
cells In Leavenworth penitentiary.”
The infraction of the law is so dear
and the guilty ones’ connection with
the conspiracy so well established, says
the attorney general, that there is no
possibility of a slip in their trip to the
penitentiary.
The matter will be taken up by the i
federal authorities at once.
-4
HIS WAR INSURANCE
WAS NOT IN FORCE
Camp Cody, N. M., Jan. 5.—A war
risk insurance policy for $10,000 to be
come operative not until after February
1, next, has deprived the parents of the
late Private Emmett R. Baker, Buttery
F, 127th field artillery, of Merriman
Neb., of that sum, according to a re
port here. Baker asked that his policy
be held for deferred payments. He
contracted pneumonia and died before
the policy became operative. As lie left
neither wife, child nor widowed mother
the government will not be obliged to
pay the policy it is said.
TOOK PART IN BATTLE
WITH SIX SUBMARINES
Plainviow, Neb., Jan. 5.—To have
taken part in a battle between ships of
the allies and six enemy submarines,
"somewhere in the war zone,” and to
have seen the oil bubbles on the ocean’s
surface after the submersibles had
been sent to the bottom, fell to the lot
of Chief Yeoman Earnest E. Senseney,
of Plainview, who is here on a visit
with relatives.
He has a short leave of 15 days, and
will go from here to the west coast to
take a destroyer through the Panama
canal. He was at one time employed
by the Union Pacific railroad ’ in
Omaha.
TRAPPER CAPTURES
LYNX NEAR O'NEILL
O’Neill, Nell., Jan. 5.—The mysterious
animal that lias frequently frightened
hunters in the Hemstreet grove, six
miles west of town, has been trapped.
The animal is an exceptionally large
[ lynX' t
EVERY MAN TO ANSWER
FOR DISLOYAL TALK
Ewing, Neb., Jan, 5.—Fred Eau, a
shoe merchant here, bus been taken to
Lincoln to answer to federal authorities
for his alleged pro-German talk and
actions. It is asserted that his store
has been used for disloyal meetings,
and that there are others here who will
lie required to answer for their activity
if they are not more careful.
—4"—
CAKE DECORATED WITH
SEVENTY CANDLES
Lyons, Neb., Jan. 5.— Mr. and Mrs. M.
M. Warner attended the 70th birthday
anniversary celebration of Edward
Frey, at Pender. Mrs. Warner baked a
cake for the occasion and placed 70
candles on it. Nearly 100 relatives at
tended tlie celebration.
BLOOM Pi 10 LD—('apt. J. Harvey Mct
tlen lias gone to San Antonio, Tex., to
join the medical department of the avia
tion section of the signal corps. Dr.
Mettlen has practiced medicine in this
county for 18 years. Dr. O. K. Peters and
Dr. 8. B. Kaler have agreed to take care
of Dr. Mettlen’s practice, while lie Is away
to the war. and turn over to him 2 per
cent of the fees.
NORTH BEND—Mrs. Donald Scott,
aged 84, suffered the fracture of her limb
in a fall. She was walking home from the
residence of her daughter. Mrs. Scott m
an old settler of the vlolnjjy. Owing to
her advanced years. It is considered like
ly that the Injury will be many months
in healing.
NORFOLK - A meeting of the executive
committee of the North Nebraska Teach
ers’ association was held at the Pacific
hotel, where it was decided, to hold thu
teachers' meeting at Wayne this spring
The definite date was not determined,
but will probably lie the last week In
Marc li cr the first in April. Another meet
lug of l he- committee will he held ,t|
Wayne Saturday January 8. to compl -t.
in taiiRcments for the meeting.
LYONS—Andrew Erickson, 84 years old,
died at his home here, lie te survived r.y
two daughtets. 10 grand children and li
great grand children*
NEBRASKA CONVICTS
ARE SEEKING PARDONS
One of the Men Had Part in a
Lynching in Cherry County j
Some Years Ago.
Idneoln, Neb., Jan. 5.—Applications
for pardons to three men serving life
terms in the state penitentiary were
made before the state board of pardons
today. The men were Harry Heath,
one of the quartet that lynched Charles
Sellers in Cherry county some years
ago, and Kouis Keezer and Isadore
Stitzman, convicted of murdering a
man in Cass county while robbing him.
The board recently heard the applica
tion of George and Alma Weed, broth
ers, who were convicted at the same
time as Heath, but has made no report
to the governor on the case. An 18
year-old boy, Kenneth Murphy, the
fourth member of the lynching party,
was pardoned some years ago by Gov
ernor Morehead and has made good in
business since then.
THIS PRO-GERMAN HAS
HARNESS ON RIGHT NOW
Bridgeport, Neb., Jan. 5.—This is
what Jlarry T. Dudden, wealthy farmer
of Disco, brought before the county
council of defense on the charge that
lie had openly sympathized with Ger
many and against America with respect
to the war, pledged himself to do:
Donate ?2T>0 to the Red Cross.
Donate $250 to Y. M. G. A.
Purchase *1,000 worth of Liberty
bonds and *t00 worth of thrift stamps.
Pay the expenses of the men who
came from Lisco to give testimony as
to his conduct and utterances.
To bear no grudge against them for
testifying against him.
To display an American flag on his
residence and keep it flying there for
the period of the war.
Dudden was charged with refusing
to make any donation to patriotic work,
with making pro-German statements,
and with tearing the flag from his au
tomobile. He was defiant when first
brought before the council, but finally
admitted that lie hud sympathized
with Germany and did not agree with
the war purposes of the United States.
Dudden came to this county, a German
born, with *1,200 worth of property. Hi
is now worth *40.000.
GERMAN SYMPATHIZER
IS HELD AT ALLIANCE
Alliance, Neb., Jan. 5.—A young man,
a German, is being held at ttie county
Jail pending a preliminary examination
before United States Court Commis
sioner Judge Berry. He was arrested
near Alliance, because of treasonable
utterances. He was found to have in
his possession an expensive camera
with numerous photographs of railroad
tunnels, divisions, head gates, etc. In
addition to these were a number of un
developed films which Judore Tash be
lieves, when developed, will prove to be
pictures of the potash plants and sugar
beet factories in this part of the coun
try. The young man also had numerous
individual maps of the northwest states
—North and South Dakota, Wyoming,
Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado.
Washington and Oregon. Besides this
he had a complet map of Canada.
BAND PATRIOTIC MEN
IN SECRET SOCIETY
Lincoln. Neb., Jan. C.—Business men
of Nebraska are being asked to join in
a nation-wide effort to organize a fra
ternal organization that carries no life
Insurance benefits, but which is aimed
to line up all the patriotic citizens of
'.he country into a secret organization,
tine of the objects is to counteract the
various socialistic movements and or
ganizations with political propaganda
inimical to business interests, which
is taken to mean that it is a species of
camouflage to conceal a fight against
the lion-partisian farmers league in the
west. A meeting for organization is to
be held in Omaha today.
BIG CHANGES MADE WITH
NEBRASKA OFFICERS
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 5.—According to
information from Camp Cody there has
been a shakeup of Nebraska officers.
Col. Phil L. Hall, who lost command
of the Sixth when it was broken up
and divided among other units, has
been named as colonel of the Fourth
Nebraska, to succeed Col. W. E. Baehr,
of Omaha. What happened to Baehr
is not made plain. He was lieutenant
colonel for a number of years while
the Fourth was a national guard unit,
and succeeded to the colonelcy when
Colonel Eberly, after the return from
the Mexican border, resigned liis com
mission. The Fourth Nebraska is now
known as the 127th United States
heavy artillery. Colonel Hall lias been
unassigned for some months, but has
hail charge of tho police force at Dem
ing.
LABOR COMMISSIONER
IN ANNUAL REPORT
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 5.—According to
a report filed by State Labor Commis
sioner Norman with the governor 13,991
men obtained employment in Nebraska
during the year through the free em- i
ployment bureau maintained by that
department. The bureau received calls
for help in harvesting state crops dur
ing tlie past summer from practically
every county in the state, and by ad
vertising Nebraska’s need for men drew
harvest hands from four or five states.
The commissioner says that his ex
perience during the past year lias led
him to tlie conclusion that a groat deal
of tlie so-called labor shortage is due
to the lack of an efficient means of
procuring accurate information as to
needs and the distribution' of labdr
where needed. He says that the agita
tion in favor of the closing of the
schools for several weeks in November
was ill-advised and unnecessary, and
when the test came there was plenty of
help without such a recourse.
The commission has bandied a num
ber of complaints In recent months of
disregard of the nine-nour law for
women workers and of the child labor
law.
—
BROODS OVER WAR HE
LOSES HIS REASON
Norfolk. Neb. Jan. 5.—Louis Lammlo
a German tailor who lias been employed
in the Fuesler tailoring establishment,
is believed to have lost his reason be
cause of brooding over the world war.
He was arrested at)d locked up in the
police station, where lie is wailing ac
tion of tlie county officials. Lammlo
came to Norfolk from Plattsmouth,
Neb., a few years ago.
SI liN’EY-George \Y. I.lavis, of Potter,
and James Kane of Hunstman, Nob., wore
brought before Pnttod States Commis
sioner Joseph OberfeUler, charged with
abusing the president and the govort.
mrnt generally. Judge Oberfelder place.!
them in jail and preliminary examinations
will be held next Saturday. Davis owns
j a large farm near Potter and Kane is
j employed by the Central Granaries com
pany. of Lincoln.
LOG 4N— K. lv Plaekninn, curator if
Nebraska State Historical society, has
written Charles Lamb or near Magnolia,
with a view of securing the Lamb collec
tion of tlie race antedating the Indian.
COUNTY CLERK HAS .1
INCURRED ILL WILL
Effort Probably to Be Made by
Board of Supervisors to Oust
Him From Office.
Beatrice, Neb., Jan. 4.—Preliminary
steps to oust County Clerk E. M. Burn
ham were taken by the county board of
supervisors when a committee was ap
pointed to investigate the absence of
the clerk and conditions of the office.
Mr. Burnham’s failure to have the
real estate tax books completed has
caused the supervisors much worry.
They should have been in the hands of
the treasurer eight weeks ago, and the
county Is losing the use of the funds
which would he paid in before the
first of the year. He was several weeks
behind in delivering the personal tax
books to the treasurer. He has not been
at the office this week and his where
abouts are unknown. East. Friday he
promised the board while in session
that he would be on the job and rush
the completion of his work.
—-«—
FREMONT HAD GREAT
PROSPERITY IN 1917
Fremont, Neb., Jan. 4.—Fremont ex
perienced one of its biggest years in
business and in growth in 1917, and
but for the decided letup in activities
near Ihe close, when prices reached
heights that made building almost pro
hibitive, would have boasted the best
period in the city's history.
Bank clearings of $32,000,000 were n»
gain of nearly $7,000,000 over 1916,
which was the previous record. Post
office receipts were $62,000, or $1,000 in
excess of the preceding year. Improve
ments all told reached $.819,000 against
$880,000 for the preceding year, which
held all records.
Building of the new $30,000 Methodist
church, another $25,000 orphanage in the
Masonic home development and a new
Eutheran church were put off on ac
count of tile war. Two business blocks
that had been planned were similarly
postponed.
FREMONT EDITOR TO
TELL OF WAR SCENES
Fremont, Neb., Jan. 4.—Boss E. Ham
mond, Fremont editor, who returned
from a trip to the French, British and
Belgian battle fronts, has gone on a
tour through northwestern Nebraska
for the purpose of filling 35 speaking
dates. Mr. Hammond says that he will
give his speeches on the war as his
“bit” toward the cause. He believes
that Nebraskans need to be stirred to
the seriousness of conditions in Europe.
Congressman Dan V. Stephens, who
was Mr. Hammond's companion fin the
European tour, completed a speaking
trip a few days ago. He left for Wash
ington, D. C., yesterday.
NEBRASKA BANKER IS
BELIEVED TO BE DROWNED
Pensacola, Fla., Jan. 4.—After five
days’ continuous search, with no clue to
sustain hope, efforts to locate F. H.
Young, of Broken Bow, Non., who dis
appeared on the Gulf beach last week,
while walking to Pensacola to replenish
the gasoline supply of a launch in
which he and Alpha Morgan had come
•from New Orleans, hope was abandoned
that the missing man will be found
alive, and it is believed that he was
drowned in attempting to cross the
ford. The two men left New Orleans
Saturday and arrived off Pensacola
Monday morning, when the fuel supply
gave out. Leaving Morgan in the
launch. Young eatne ashore in a canoe,
landing on the sand wastes, miles from
any house. At. this point the shore line
runs into a lagoon formed by a narrow
sand pit. running parallel with the
beach. Footprints of the missing man,
recognized by a slight deformity, were
found leading to the break in tho spit
where the tide’s action over the ford
formed a swift undertow.
Young was president of the Custer
County State hank, past state grand
master of the Masons, a Shriner and
member of other fraternal organiza
tions.
FATAL WRECK CAUSED
BY “TAMPERED” SWITCH
Hastings, Neb., Jan. 4.—Engineer*
David Llewellyn was crushed beneath
his engine and instantly killed one mile
south of Hastings when tho Burlington
passenger train from Ayr. with more
than 100 passengers aboard, was
wrecked by a partly opened switch.
Fireman Vernon Brown is the Lanning
hospital seriously injured anti may not
recover.
A railroad detective was at the scene
when tho Lincoln wrecking crew ar
rived. Several half grown boys, taken
into custody a short distance from the
scene, have been closely questioned.
It is believed the switch was spiked
partly open and its condition unob
served by the engineer.
The locomotive was most completely
wrecked and headed in the opposite di
rection. Its wheels followed the main
line, while the tender and four cars
took the switch. Conductor Utter and
his passengers were badly shaken, but
none was injured. More than 1,000 peo
ple visited the wreck scene.
MAYOR OF BLOOMFIELD
KEEPS UP GOOD WORK
Emerson, Neb.. Jan. 4.—Mayor
Harms, of Bloomfield, the man who
Imprisoned two of his best friends for
unpatriotic actions during the first Lib
erty loan drive, and Dr. Mullen, of the
same place, will speak at German hall,
one and <> half miles northeast of Emer
son next Sunday evening. The meeting
will he under tho auspices of the Thurs
ton county council of defense. The rea
son for coming over into Dixon county
by the Thurston county men is to better
reach the people of the northern part
af Thurston county.
It is expected the meeting will bo
largely attended and that the speakers
will give German sympathizers of the
community some good American advice.
It is rumored some of tho more aggres
sive pro-Germans of the community are
to be publicly reprimanded and warned
at that time.
REPRESENTATIVE SLOAN
OUT FOR THE SENATE
Omaha, Neh., Jan. 4.—Charles H.
Sloan, representative of the Fourth Ne
braska district In congress, today an
nounced his candidacy for the United
States Senate to succeed G. W. Norris.
Mr. Sloan says: "In harmony with
the republican party" he will support a
vigorous prosecution of the war.
GOES BACK INTO THE
SUBMARINE SERVICE
Mitchell. S. IX. Jan. 2.—Lieut. Lloyd
J. Wilts*-, son of Mrs. Jennie Wiltse,
who left Mitchell Saturday evening,
will immediately reenter the sub service
with the* K-2. one of the newest types
of American undersea craft. He ar
rived in Mitchell Christmas eve for the
first, visit with his mother and other
relatives during the past eight years.
He reenters the service with the as
surance of being placed in command
vt u boat within the next 10 months.
GOVERNOR COMMENDS !
PEOPLE OF NEBRASKA
""
Asserts They Have Done Well
Their Share in Program of
National Defense.
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 3.—The following
message to the people of Nebraska was
made public through the Associated
Press today by Gov. Keith Neville:
"Nineteen hundred seventeen, the
most eventful year in our state’s his
tory’. has drawn to a close and Nebras
kans may tVell feel proud because of
the response of our people to every ob
ligation imposed by the government to
conserve the nation’s welfare in the
present war crisis.
"Our quotas for the army and for the
navy have been over enlisted several
hundred percent; our allotment of Lib- j
city bonds has been subscribed; our j
obligations to the Red Cross and kin- !
dred organizations have been fully sat
isfied; the noble women of the state
have worked untiringly in our country’s
cause; the state council of defense lias
blazed a way for similar organizations
throughout the nation and only two of
our sister states have exceeded Ne- i
braska in the efficient administration
of the selective service law.
“Yes, Nebraska may well feel proud
and the loyal citizens pledge a con
tinuation of their patriotic, enthusias
tic and untiring efforts until victory
shall brin'” peace.
"Keith Neville,
“Governor of Nebraska.”
COUNTY CLERK GIVES
BOARD MUCH WORRY
Beatrice, Neb., Jan. 3.—Preliminary
steps to oust County Clerk E. M. Burn
ham were taken by the. county board of
supervisors today when a committee
was appointed to investigate the ab
sence of the clerk and conditions of the
office.
This committee will report January
8. If tile evidence is found sufficient a
complaint will he filed to remove him
from office.
Mr. Burnham's failure to have the
real estate tax nooks completed has
caused the ssupervisors much worry.
They should have Been in the hands of
the treasurer eight weeks ago and the
county is losing th* use of the funds
which would be paid in before the first
of the year. He was several weeks be
hind in delivering the personal tax
books to the treasurer. He has not
been at the office for some days and his
whereabout are unknown.
-«»-—
AHONE COMPANIES MUST
KEEP LINES IN SHAPE
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 3.—The state
railway commission made some more
telephone history Monday, when, in an
order issued allowing the Fairfield
Telephone company to issue $G,650
stock to pay for labor done by the
officers in past years at unremunera
tive salaries, it held that the business
of the company is to furnish modern
service, and to that end .ordered it to
use a part of its surplus for the pur
pose of replacing its grounded service
with metallic line construction.
The multiplication of transmission
lines in the state has made grounded
wire circuits difficult of use, the induc
tion extending for miles across coun
try. The commission has adopted as
policy restricting dividends of tele
phone companies to 8 per cent, requir
ing them to set aside 9 per cent for
depreciation and maintenance and to
give modern servica_
INSURANCE HEAD IS
CALLED TO A HOLT
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 3.—Thomas C.
Woods has secured an order of the
court restraining W. E. Straub and
other officers and directors of the
Farmers’ Mutual Insurance company,
which is one of the strongest farmers’
companies in the state, from employ
ing any funds of the company for the
purpose of gathering proxies for the
annual election this month.
Woods charges that fraud and deceit
were employed in securing signatures
to proxies, it being represented that in
surance could not be secured unless the
blank proxy in each application was
signed. He also says that unknown to
himself and other policy holders this
proxy blank was inserted in fine print
in the application, and that it is all a
scheme to perpetuate Straub as presi
dent and keep the other officers in con
trol where they can legislate to please
themselves and do acts inimical to the
interests of the other police holders.
WHISKY RUNNER IS
GIVEN LONG TERM
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 3.—Joe Bombeer,
of Omaha, “whisky runner,” was given
the maximum punishment by Federal
Judge Munger, under the federal stat
ute when he sentenced Bombeer to one
year in the Lancaster county jail. This
was the second conviction of the man.
He served time in the Douglas county
jail for bringing booze into "dry” Ne
braska from “wet” Missouri. “I wish
I had the power to send you to the
penitentiary," said Judge Munger in
passing sentence. Pierce Daviss, a ne
gro, was given six months for the same
offense. Daviss told the court he had
served time in a reformatory in Okla
homa. Bombeer had brought a large
quantity of whisky into Nebraska and
was arrested in Faso county.
ENGINEER IS VICTIM
OF FATAL INJURIES
Norfolk, Neb., Jan. 3.—Fred Cl. Mo
lander, an engineer on the Northwest
ern, fell Into a cinder pit while switch
ing near the round house and sustained
what may prove a broken back bone,
besides internal injuries. Mr. Molan
Jer was switching on what he thought
was the right track, hut when lie
stepped off the engine fell into the pit.
FRUIT CONCERNS ARE
BELIEVED IN COMBINE
Lincoln, Neb.. Jan. 3.—Attorney Gen
eral Reed has filed information against
Grainger Brothers and Stacy Brothers,
I two wholesale fruit and grocery firms
of Lincoln, charging them with con
spiracy in restraint of trade and to
prevent competition in the sale of
wholesale fruits and other products
and to fix the prices for the same.
The metal cap of a new fruit jar
is slightly convex and by depressing
the center the edges are sprung away
from the jar.
IOWA CONCERN MAY
NOT DO BUSINESS HERE
Lincoln, Neb.. Jan. 3.—By a vote of
two to one, the state insurance hoard,
has refused to license the A. O. I . W.
of Iowa to do business in Nebraska.
The Nebraska order has been in hard
lines because it increased rates and lost
a lot of members. The Iowa brethren
tiled to get permission to do business
in those countier, adjacent to Iowa, but
ttv' hoard says that its actuary reports
that the Nebraska organization is
gradually climbing out of the financial
well. Because of the similarity of
names the board dechited the permit.
HHTJ) WE
Measure Introduce in Congress
to Create Department of
Munitions Under Cabi
net Head.
CHAMBERLAIN IS AUTHOR
Proposed to Co-Ordinate Work
of Providing Supplies for
American Army and
Naval Forces.
Washington, Jan. 5.—A depart
ment of munitions under a new’cabinet
head known as tlie secretary Pi! muni
tions is proposed in a bill introduced
today by Chairman Chamberlain, of the
Senate military committee, as a result
of its investigation of war operations.
Tlie new department would operate
during the war and one year thereafter.
The bill has the backing of thp Senate
committee and will be strongly*pressed.
The new secretary of munitions would
have power under the president’s direc
tion to control arms, ammunition, food,
clothing, equipment, tentage, transpor
tation and an.s other materials tlie
president shall designate as munitions
of war.
Government bureaus, agencies and
funds necessary to a munitions admin
istration would be transferred to tlie
new department, which contemplates
control of naval as well as army sup
plies.
Co-Ordination Needed.
“The bill Is intended to increase and
expedite the supply of munitions of
war,” said Senator Chamberlain. "< >rie
great trouble with the war establish
ment as disclosed by the investigation
has been a lack of co-ordination and
the seeming impossibility of getting rid
of circuitous methods of doing busi
ness. Until there can be co-ordination
and methods more direct the United
States will he groping in the dark for
many months before we can place our
■ elves in proper fighting trim
"This measure places all jurisdiction
o.'er munitions of war which is defined
at length in the bill—and covering
everything in one person known as the
secretary of munitions, subject to the
direction of course, of the president. It
co-ordinates all the bureaus, cuts red
tape, does away witli useless decisions
whicli had tended only to hamper di
rect action and gets to the heart of tlie
whole situation.
“I believe if congress can see its way
to the enactment of this measure and
the proper man is placed at the head of
the department of munitions, America
will soon be occupying its proper place
on the battle front. It will be noted
that tlie measure is only in force dur
ing the continuance of the war which
brings it into existence.”
SLACKERS IN NATION
TOTAL ABOUT 50,000
General Crowder Estimates
That Many Have Evaded
Army Service.
Washington, D. D., Jan. 3—Fifty
thousand real slackers in thS United
States Is Provost Marshal General
Crowder's estimate in his report to
Secretary Baker. That calculation sup
poses that 10 men in each registration
district have escaped service without
being caught.
While a few more than 250,000 of the
more than 2,000.000 registered men
failed to appear when called for exami
nation General Crowder estimates that
85,000 of them have gone into military
service without notifying local boards.
"This leaves more than 150,000 to be
accounted for,” said the provost mar
shal general. “Were they all slackers?”
General Crowder answers his own
question by estimating that they prob
ably are not real slackers because
1 ottooo probably are aliens. This, he
estimates leaves about 50,000 real slack
ers to be accounted for. Only a few
more than 10,000 have been idenlified
and a few more than 2,000 have been
prosecuted.
The report shows that 928 Germans
of draft a • have been accepted for
service in e national army. A total
of 14,161 i my aliens were accepted,
the remaii r being Austrians or Hun
garians. ! emy alien registration was
279,421 of mm 104,672 were called to
produce F 14,161 accepted. All aliens
accepted i .e a total of 76,545.
ARRES \TT0RNEY FOR
FI -LURE TO AID DRAFT
Tazewell. Tenn., Jan. S.—A warrant
for the arrest of Attorney John F.
Dip. is of this place for refusal to serve
as a member of the legal advisory
exemption board of Claiborne county
was sworn out today by United States
District Attorney Kennedy. Dav*s>who
Is a former state senator, announced
that he will go to Knoxville tomorrow
and surrender to the federal author
ities. _
FAMOUS OLD HOTEL
DESTROYED BY FIRE
Niagara Falls, N. Y„ Jan. 5.—Tile In
rernational hotel, one of the landmarks
jf Niagara Falls, was destroyed by rite
yesterday and the International theater,
an adjoining building, was badly dam
aged. The loss is estimated at $650,00(1.
Several firemen were Injured.
GERMAN ARRESTED FOR
INCITING DESERTIONS
Macon, C.a„ Jan. 5.—Private George
\V. Meeker, under arrest here for de
sertion, is also charged with attempt
! ing to incite other men of his company
to desert and try an expedition into
Mexico. It is said Meeker Is a German.
DORIS KEANE WEDS.
Ijondon, Jan. -t.—Moris Kean. the
American actress, the Daily Mirror' an
nounces. was married yesterday to
Basil Sidney, an Idngllsh actor. They
had been appearing together in Lon
don in "Romance."
-. e --
BLUE SKY LAW UPHELD.
Don Angeles. Oal.. Jan. 4.—Consti
tutionality of the Arizona “blue sky
law” was upheld today in an opinion
handed down in the United Star v ,:.j
cuit courL