MANY TOWNS
PAYING DEBTS
Nebraska State Auditor’s
Report Shows Improved
Financial Condition
Lincoln, Neb.—(Special) - During
the month of February $482,184
worth of bonds were approved and
registered by the state auditor’s of
fice, of which $460,350 were refund
ing bonds.
The $21,834 new bonds Is the
smallest amount that has been is
sued by cities, villages, school dis
tricts and other bond issuing units
of the state in any one month dur
ing the last 10 years, according to
the report issued by State Bond
Examiner Lawrence.
The report shows $202,523 bond"
paid and cancelled in February.
With the payment of $9,900, Bat
tle Creek finished paying on a water
bond issue of March 1, 1911 and a
sewer bond issue of August 1, 1921.
The $8,000 paid by Lindsay wiped
out an issue for a town hall dated
August 1, 1917.
Wayne, with a payment of $15,
973, paid off the February 15, 1928,
intersection paving bonds.
Other payments included: Bloom
field, $2,000: Coffee Lake Drainage
district in Cherry county, $1,000;
Ewing, $1,000; Ewing school dis
trict, $3,000: Pierce, $1,000; Pierce
county rural school, $500; Wake
field, $1,000; Walthill school, $1,000;
Winside, $2,000; West Point, $41,000.
FREE TOT IN
KILLING CASE
Coroner’s Jury Finds
Shooting Was Done
f by Accident
Broadwater, Neb. — (Special) —
A coroner's jury here exonerated
LaVerne Thompson. 9 years old, of
intentionally killing Eddie Hutch
inson, 12 years old, holding the kill
ing was accidental. LaVerne told
Eddie to hold up his hands and shot
him with a revolver, which he
found in the pocket of a coat left
on a tractor.
County Attorney C. O. Parry after
the inquest filed a complaint in
county court charging that the
Thompson boy was being brought
up without proper parental care.
When the hour for the trial arrived
it was found his mother had taken
him to Omaha and placed him in
Father Flanagan's home for boys.
The county attorney ordered that
the boy be returned to Bridgeport
to appear before the judge. He said
he did not object to the boy’s going
to the Flanagan home, but felt that
the Thompsons should i. t be al
lowed to dictate the policy of Mor
rill county.
TELEPHONE COMPANIES
REPORT ON REVENUES
Lincoln, Neb.—(Special)—The an
nual report of the Northeastern
Telephone company, filed with the
state railway commission, shows
that it Just about broke even dur
ing 1930. The company serves 240
stations at Walthill, 95 at Winne
bago and 122 at Rosalie, a total of
457, a loss of eight. The company
has total assets of $56,103. Rev
enues were $15,422 and expenses
$12,991, leaving $2,431 profit. Of
this $600 was paid as taxes and
$1,800 as interest, leaving $30.86 for
profit. Stock outstanding totals
$19,756.
%The Blair Telephone company,
which serves 1,103 subscribers at
Blair, 135 at Fort Calhoun and 224
at; Kennard, reports revenues of
$42,951, expenses of $33,832 and a
net telephone income of $9,118. Of
tliis sum $2,570 was paid for taxes
end $4,450 for interest, $2,098 being
passed to surplus, which totals $25,
8&3. The aampany paid no dividend
oh the $171,737 of assets reported.
It lost seyen subscribers and ended
the year with 1,462. Stock and
bonds outstanding total $108,200,
* The Citizens Telephone company
of Blair, which serves a total of
1,202 stations at Malmo, Prague,
Morse Bluffs, Weston and Elgin,
had revenues of $26,178 and ex
penses ef $19,598. Of its operating
incoma of $6,380, it spent $3,420 for
interest and $820 for taxes, passing
$2,140 18 to surplus. It has prop
erty valued at $123,678, and paid no
dividends on the $69,759 stock out
standing. These companies are
manajid by E. C. Hunt, who also
holdii stock control.
GIVEN PRISON TERM,
RECEIVED STOLEN PROPERTY
O’Neill, Neb.—(Special)—Orlow
Caldwell was sentenced to two to
seven years in the penitentiary by
Judge Dickson in district court
when he pleaded guilty to a charge
of receiving stolen property.
■ Stolen harness was found in his
possession by the sheriff from Win
ner, S. D. Six sots were found, five
under the hay in the mow and one
hanging in the mow.
Perrons in the eastern part of
the county identified the harness as
theirs.
Two young men from the south
eastern part of the county have
been held in jail charged with steal
ing the harness. Caldwell says the
boys sold It to him.
NEBRASKA HAS NEW
WOOL CLIP RECORD
Lincoln, Nc-b.—(UP)— Nebraska's
wool clip dining 1933 reached a to
tal of 3.081,030 pounds, according to
estimates of the state and federal
divirion of agricultural statistics.
This was a new record high produc
tion of w’ool in the state.
The 1930 crop of 3,081,030 pounds
compares with a previous high pro-*
duct:on for the state of 2,850.000.
Average weight per fleece last
year was 7.3 pounds as compared to
7.6 pounds in 1929, A total of 395,
000 sheep were shorn as compared
to 375,0041 sheep in 192®.
11 11 L__- —
TAX EQUALITY LEAGUE
MEETS WITH FAVOR
Homer, Neb.—(Special)—The re
cent organization of a Tax Equality
league in Dakota county is meet
ing with approval of both farmers
and business men. The Salem Farm
ers’ Union unit originated the move
ment.
BLOCK CHANGE
HOSPITAL H
Members of Legislature At
tack Act of Board of Con
trol as “Smooth Over”
Lincoln, Neb.—(Special)—Mem
bers of the legislature from Adams
county, where is located the Tngle
side state hospital for the insane,
indicate an intention to block the
transfer of Superintendent G. E.
Charlton from the state hospital at
Norfolk, with Superintendent Bab
cock of Ingleside going to Norfolk.
In a statement they make it plain
they have no objections to Charl
ton but they protest that Babcock
ought not to be sent to Norfolk.
The legislators recently conducted
a secret investigation of complaints
against Dr. Babcock's management
of the hospital, and say that the
state board of control is unwar
ranted, as a result of the facts de
veloped, in passing a vote of con
fidence in the ability and integrity
of Dr, Babcock. They say that it
looks like an effort to smooth
things over, when conditions were
shown to be intolerable.
Senator Vance says that the evi
dence showed that not only were
patients allowed to inflict cruelties
on other patients whose charge had
been given to them, but that at
tendants had also been guilty of
inexcusable treatment. One of the
chief complaints against Babcock is
that he made himself inaccessible,
that he did not visit the wards of
ten, and tbal he kept visitors with
business to transart with him wait
ing for long hours. They intimate
that more industrial alcohol was
used at the hospital than is usual
at such institutions, and say that
the federal bureau representative
stated he would not renew the per
mit if Babcock were retained.
HOWELL URGES GOVERNOR
TO VETO BRIDGE BILL
Lincoln, Neb—(Special)—Govern
or Bryan has been asked by United
States Senator Howell to veto the
Omaha bridge bill passed almost
urgency of the Omaha delegation,
unanimously by both houses on the
Senator Howell says that a free
bridge is certain to be built at Far
nam or Douglas streets, and that
the proposed toll bridge farther
down at South Omaha never would
get patronage enough to enable the
$2,000,000 bonds that are to be
voted to be retired out of tolls. The
result would be that the community
would have to pay the bonds. He
also doubts whether any bond house
would buy them when there has
been no vote of tire people authoriz
ing them.
Governor Bryan says he will con
fer with Douglas county members
before acting upon the bill, which
he says is a complicated measure,
difficult to accurately diagnose.
VALUABLE BULL CASE
BACK FOB RETRIAL
Lincoln, Neb.—(Special)—The su
preme court has sent back to the
district court of Dodge county for
retrial the case where Mrs. Susan
L. Thompson, who lives in Cum
ing county, sued two West Point
bankers, the Nebraska State bank of
West Point and the West Point Na
tional bank to recover for a bull she
valued at $20,000 and which the
banker sold for beef for $40.
The court ordered that the retrial
be limited to evidence as to the val
ue of the animal which was levied
upon by the bankers under provi
sions of a chattel mortgage executed
by sons of Mrs. Thompson, who are
cattle breeders. The bull was sent to
Emil Suhr, Dodge county, for keep,
but the suit is dismissed as to him
and the court says that since the
bankers took property to which they
had no right they must pay the
damages.
SAYS “OIL COMBINE
GETS IN ITS WORK
Lincoln. Neb,—Governor Bryan
charges that the “oil combine” of
Nebraska has concentrated its ef
forts upon the house of representa
tives committee on cities and towns
to kill his bill providing for the cre
ation of municipally owned and op
erated gasoline stations.
The bill was recommended for
postponement following a commit
tee hearing last week. A move to
overturn that report probably will
be made.
Denouncing the action Qf the
committee headed by J. W. Small
wood (representative of North
Platte, the governor charged the
oil and gasoline interests with “ex
tortion and profiteering" at the ex
pense of the Nebraska automobile
owner.
"I cannot believe the legislature
will permit that decision to stand
as the decision of the peoples’ law
making body," Byran added.
DEPOSITORS RECEIVED S179.ll!
Lincoln, Neb.—According to a re
port issued by Clarence G. Bliss, re
ceiver for the department of trade
and commerce, a total of $179,112.49
was distributed to depositors in
failed state banks during the month
cf February. This sum represents
liquidation of assets of nine institu
tions. Included in the list are: Bank
of Ottis and Murphy at Humphrey,
$22.36991; Newman Grove State
bank, $27,448 81; Farmers State
bank of Belgrade. $13,862.72, making
a total of 60 per cent; Knox county
tank of Verdigre, $36,118.77.
Four Spuds to a Yard i
Idaho's claim to being the “potato state” is firmly established b;*
lese four giant spuds which were grown near Burley, Id. A few yard,
f such potatoes would suffice to feed a family all winter. Vera Jones
; showing how the four measure well over a yard in length.
KANSAS ‘BURBANK’ DEVELOPES
SEEDLESS FRUITS, MELONS
- i
Success Also Includes Cher
ries, Plums, Apricots
and Cucumbers
Newton, Kan.— —“Inventing”
tUcdless fruits and vegetables is the
Jiieciislty of D, G. Klassen, Newton
horticulturist.
But the trick is to get him to
tell what he has done.
Several years ago announcement
was made of his discovery, after
five years of experimentation, of a
hardy variety of seedless tomato.
The result was a flood of corre
spondence from three continents,
countless orders for plants, theft of
several valuable specimens from his
greenhouse, and such confusion in
the reticent Klassen’s affairs that
he swore never again to tell of his
discoveries.
Only on the eve of his departure
from Newton in search of more fa
vorable climatic conditions for his
research did his success in grow
ing seedless melons, cucumbers,
cherrjes, plums and apricots become
known.
He also has discovered how to
change the season of the apricot
tree to reduce the likelihood of
damage from late spring freezes.
Klassen’s first seedless tomato
vine grew to a length of 37 feet, the
tomatoes attaining such size that
baskets were hung beneath them
for protection. On the market they
brought $1 a pound.
Formerly Klassen greatly feared
being robbed of his horticultural se
crets by “plant pirates,” and would
Starts Young
MARJORIE BURBANK
Botany is Marjorie Burbank’s
hobby, and it's probably because
this 12-year-old girl’s uncle was
Luther Burbank, who was no slouch
when it came to juggling oranges
and grapefruits. Marjorie lives in
Jasper National Park, in the Cana
dian Rockies, and she has been col
lecting wild flowers. She has a
cellection of 214 which she gathered
in the Athabaska Valley.
- - —-—
Why Secrecy Now?
Prom St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
In withholding from the Senate
foreign relations committee docu
ments covering the London naval
conference, is not President Hoover
slipping away from the postwar
rule of diplomacy—"open covenants
openly arrived at?”
When Woodrow Wilson an
nounced this policy as one of the
results of the World war, it was
received with acclaim by the civi
lized world. The policy was em
bodied in the covenant of the
League of Nations, which requires
all treaties of member nations to
be submitted and recorded for the
information of all nations.
The world has been cursed by
secret negotiations of heads of na
tions and by secret alliances and
understanding between govern
ments which fomented war. Pub
licity for treaty negotiations and
for all treaties was regarded as a
beneficient peace-preserving revolu
tion in the dealings of government
al heads and diplomats. Interna
tional dealings and agreements were
to be open and above board.
“Openly arrived at,” we take it,
means that this negotiations by
which treaties are framed are to
be made public as well as the
treaties themselves. Now. Mr. Hoo
ver refuses not only to make pub
lic, but to submit to the Senate
foreign relations committee docu
ments and correspondence relating
to the London conference. Assur
ance is given that there is no se
An Orphan Letter Used.
Photographs of the memorial to
James Buchanan, 15th president of
the United States, dedicated at
Meridian Hill park in Washington
on June 26. show that a strange
and senseless convention has been
followed. Because the Romans
were careless of distinctions be
tween the symbols for "v” and “u”
an American inscription of an
American name must be cut “James
Bvchanan.” Most of those who visit
the memorial will be intelligent
enough to put two and two to
gether and guess what the inscrip
tion is meant to say but does not.
There are other presidents in
D. G. KLASSEN
confide in no one save a yovnger
brother, A. J. Klassen, who assisted
him in the experiments.
A new congressional act provid
ing for plant patents, however, now
gives growers protection in work of
this sort. Its passage largely in
fluenced the "Burbank of Kansas”
to push his research, even at the
cost of selling the greenhouse upon
which he depended for a livelihod
and finding a new "laboratory.”
I cret understanding, but the reasor
1 offered is that "such action would
; be incompatible with public inter
est and would endanger the succesi
of future delicate international ne
gotiations.”
We can understand why when a
treaty is being framed it would b«
inadvisable to withhold informa
tion, because it might create false
impressions; but after the treaty
is adopted and submitted for rati
ficatic®, surely the people who are
affected by it, and especially the
pected to ratify it, ought to have
legislative bodies which are ex
pected to ratify it, ought to have
full information of all the negotia
tions.
—- ♦ *
THE RADIO
Of all the things that I despise,
The radio is first;
And when it wmks, or when it won't,
I don’t know which is worst.
For when it works, the stuff I get
Is advertising dope,
Toothpaste or paint, or sox or hcse,
Or some new brand of soap.
And if I get something I want
And really like to hear,
That static does not murder it,
Won’t happen twice a year.
So you can have your radios
And I’ll choose boiler shops;
The latter make more racket? Yesl
But in the night it stops.
—Sam Page.
-- ---
Seeks Crown
HP**' * 'fesvis..
LEO J. WINKLER
Although the world's grain ex
hibition and conference is not to
| be held at Regina, Canada, until
1932, entries are already being re
ceived from all over the world. One
of the first is Leo J. Winkler, above,
23-year-old corn farmer of Jeffer
son, Wis. He helps his father oper
ate a 105-acre farm and has won
many trophies at county, state and
international corn shows.
whose names this orphan letter is
to be found. What defense could
be made of inscriptions reading /
\ “Vlysses Simpson Grant,” ‘Martin
Van Bvren,” "John Qvinev Adams." \
“Rvtherford Birchard Hayes” or
“Chester Alan Arthvr?” There aie
no aesthetic reasons that support
the use of “v” for “u.” In the cen
tury and a half that the United
States has been an independent na
tion our language has developed
enough individuality to deserve free
dom from a Roman convention. How
long must we tell school children
that the alphabet consists of 26
letters except when it is used in in
I scriDtions?
NEBRASKA HAS 1G
RECOGNIZED AIRPORTS
Lincoln, Neb.—Nebraska has 16
recognized airports, representing a
total investment of $431,000 accord
ing to a department of commerce
bulletin received here by Postmaster
Trev E. Gillespie.
There are eight muncipal fields
in the state and a like number of
commercial fields, the report shows.
The average investment in the mu
nicipal ports is $47,000 against $3,125
for those of the commercial variety.
During the last half of 1930 and
the first half of this year, $456,000
or nearly as much again as the to
tal already invested was to be spent
on municipal fields. Commercial field
plans called for the expenditure of
$11,000 during the same period.
On January 1 there were 153 li
censed airplanes and 93 unlicensed
planes in the state, as well as seven
gliders. There were no glider pilots.
The 215 licensed airplane pilots in
Nebraska included 74 transport pi
lots, 23 pilots with limited commer
cial licenses and 118 with private
licenses. Mechanics numbered 120.
Data for the country as a whole
listed 1,113 airports about equally
divided between municipal and
commercial. The nation's investment
in commercial airports was $53,85G,
500 and in municipal $58,212,030.
There were 15,182 pilots and 9,818
planes.
WANT LAW TO
TAX VENDORS
Nebraska Towns Seek Way
to Reach the Itinerant
Merchant
Fremont, Neb. — (Special) — Al
len Johnson, city attorney of Fre
mont, as chairman of a committee
of city attorneys of Nebraska, in
charge of the matter, is endeavor
ing to frame an ordinance tc im
pose a tax of some kind on itinerent
vendors.
A Fremont ordinance bearing on
the subject, was recently held in
valid by the supreme court.
Now that quick transportation af
forded by automobiles permits busi
ness firms in larger cities to deliver
goods to the doors of patrons in
smaller places, it is claimed there is
more urgent need than ever for a
tax upon them or their delivery
wagons.
The proposition if an ordinance
that would stand in the courts was
discussed by city attorneys at a
meeting in Piattsmouth and a com
mittee headed by Johnson was ap
pointed to study the matter.
TWO PHONE COMPANIES
SHOW NICE SURPLUS
Lincoln, Neb.—The Cuming Coun
ty Independent Telephone company
of Wisner reports to the state rail
way commission that it possesses a
fixed investment of $117,921 and to
tal assets of $123,707. Capital stock
outstanding is $61,797, and the sur
plus invested is $25,916. Revenues
for the year 1930 were $29,219.52
and expenses $20,560.37. Of the $8,
659.15 operating income, $1,100 was
paid for taxes and $7,122.37 passed
to surplus. It operates 832 stations
at Wisner and 324 at Beemer, a gain
of 15 for the year.
The Plainview Telephone ex
change, an unincorporated company
owned by C. W. Smith, reported the
possession of assets of $76,934 and a
surplus of $55,517. Revenues during
the year 1930 totaled $13,966, and
expenses $7,332, leaving an operat
ing income of $6,633. Of this sum
$380.40 was paid in taxes, and the
remainder passed to surplus. The
company serves 512 stations at
Plainview, a loss of four for the
year.
HOUSE COMMITTEE TO
VISIT STATE INSTITUTIONS
Lincoln, Neb. — (UP) — Another
Inspection of state institutions by
house committee memebers is sched
uled for this weekend, It is an
nounced.
This tour will be made by the fi
nance committee of the house of
representatives for collection of in
formation desired by the committee
to aid in drafting the appropriation
bill for state institutions. The com
mittee will be unaccompanied on the
trip and will leave Lincoln Satur
day morning returning Sunday
night.
Committee members will go first
to Milford. The morning of Satur
day will be spent at Milford and Ge
neva. An hour during the afternoon
will be spent at the state hospital
at Hastings.
Arriving at Kearney Saturday
evening, the committee will spend
the night at that place and will
leave, Sunday morning, for Grand
Island. Following the inspection at
Grand Island the committee will
continue to York and, after spend
ing about an hour there, will return
to Lincoln.
- — . -
XV. C. T. U. STATE MEET
TO BE AT NORFOLK
Norfolk, Neb. — (Special) — Nor
folk has been named as the place
where the next state convention of
the W. C. T. U. is to 6e held. This
was decided at a meeting of about
40 delegates from over the state
in session here. The convention will
be held some time in September or
October.
BOARD MEMBERS
REFUSE TO TALK
Lincoln, NA.-Members of the
state board of control maintained
complete silence relative to criticism
of their transfer of Superintendent
Babcock of the Hastings state hos
pital to the Norfolk institution.
Although statements given to the
p-.ess Tuesday by Senator Vance
republican and Representative W.
M. Burr, emocrat, took direct is
sue with the board's transfer an
nouncement Friday members de
clined to*discuss the situation.
TRAGIC DEATH
LIST MOUNTS
Accident Totals in Nebras
ka in Eight-Week Period
Is Sixty Seven
Lincoln, Neb.—(UP)—Accidental
deaths occurring in the two week3
period from February 10 to Febru
ary 24 brought the total for the first
eight weeks of 1931 to 67, according
to statistics of the Nebraska Press
association.
During the two weeks period of
the report accidents accounted for
17 deaths, 2G9 injuries, of which 13
were permanent disabilities.
The total number injured during
the first eight weeks of the year now
stands at 1,116, while the number
of permanent disabilities occasioned
from accidental causes has reached
52, the report shows.
Of the eight weeks total, 592 in
juries, 11 disabilities and 34 deaths
resulted in motor vehicle accidents,
Home accidents have accounted for
136 injuries, four disabilities and
16 deaths.
During the two weeks period cov
ered by the report, motor accidents
accounted for 152 injuries, and nine
deaths.
Accidents with guns resulted in
six injuries, one disability and two
deaths. Falls accounted for the
greater number of the remaining 31
public accident injuries.
Industrial accidents accounted for
injuries to 10 workingmen and the
deaths of three. Farm accidents re
sulted in one death, and 40 injuries
GROWS ARTICHOKES FOR
HIS BIG DROVE OF HOGS
McCook, Neb. — (UP) — Ernest
Markwad, successful Red Willow
county farmer is preparing to plant
another big plot of “sunflowers” this
spring. At least that’s what his
neighbors call his strange crop.
They also accuse him of letting his
farm grow up to weeds.
But Markwad’s sunflowers are
artichokes. He has found them to be
fine feed for swine. Last spring
Markwad planted two and a halt
acres to artichokes as an experi
ment. He’s going to double the
acreage this season. “They are the
most profitable crop I ever planted,”
he says.
Because he did not harvest his
artichokes, Markwad is unable to
tell definitely just how great his
yield was on the small plot. He
does claim that 300 hogs pastured
on the small patch fattened and
that there were hundreds of arti
chokes left in the ground.
The Jerusalem artichoke is a tu
berous-rooted sunflower-like plant.
The stems grow from six to eight
feet high. The tubers have a high
sugar content. Hogs root out the
tubers.
OMAHA REPORTS MOKE
ACTIVITY IN BUILDING
Omaha, Neb. — (UP) — A huge
increase in building operations and
good gains in grain receipts and
shipments were the bright spots in
Omaha business conditions for Feb
ruary, according to figures compiled
today by the industrial bureau of
the Chamber of Commerce.
Building operations last month
totaled $937,896, which is an increase
over February, 1930, of 1,343 per
cent and over the average for the
last five years of 521 per cent. For
the 12 months ending February 28,
1931, they totaled $6,037,092 against
$5,437,247 in 1930 or an increase of
11.2 per cent. '
Grain receipts in February totaled
6,046,800 bushels, an increase of 6 4
per cent over February, 1930. For
the 12 months they totaled 78,870,
000 bushels an increase of 5.2 per
cent. Grain shipments in February
were 5,238,800, an increase of 13.3
and for the year 66,053,400, increase
4.1. _
CREIGHTON PHONE LINE
HAD SMALL MARGIN
Lincoln, Neb. —(Special)— The
Northern Telephone company or
Creighton, owned and managed by
E. C. Hunt of Blair, has filed its an
nual report with the state railway
commission. The report shows to
tal assets of $59 854, and outstand
ing common stock of $40,000. Rev
enues in 1930 were $15,326.82 and
expenses, $13,229.09. The company
paid $480 taxes and $1,600 in divi
dends. It operates a total of 494
stations, 447 at Creighton and 47 at
Niobrara.
The Arlington company, a^so a
Hunt corporation, reported assets of
$49,171, and outstanding stock of
$24,645. Revenues for the year were
$10,309.39 and expenses $9,982. Aft
er payment of taxes the company
went into the red $153.22. It op
erates 488 stations at the Arling
ton exchange only.
GIVEN SlO.tlO FOR
I1ER HUSBAND’S DEATH
Omaha. Nab.—(UP)—In a case
tried without a jury, District Judge
Fitzgerald Wednesday awarded Mis. .
Margaret Sutton $10,670 for the
death of her husband, Clifford, 32
years old, during a storm last Au
gust. The Nebraska Power com
pany was the defendant. During
the storm the wind blew down a
power company wire carrying sev
eral thousand volts. The wire struck
Sutton as he stepped from his au
tomobile, electrocuting him.
WIFE TIPPS OFF HER
ERRING HUSBAND
Omaha. Neb.—<UP)—H. L. Mc
' Auley, who fell into a police trap
laid by his wile, was being returned
to Denver today to face charges of
forging checks totaling about $1,
COO. Denver authorities had been
looking for him for more than a
year/ Wednesday, Mrs. McAuley,
who is visiting her parents at Fre
mont, telephoned private detectives
here that she had made an appoint
ment to meet her husband at the
Omaha postoffice. When McAuley
appeared he was placed under ar
