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SEMI-WEEKLY EDITION EIGHT PAGES
VOLUME XXVI11
PLATTSMOUTII, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL I, 1909
NO. 11)3
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SATTLER OPPOSES
DONAHOE BILL
Sends Reply to Telegram From
Omaha World-Herald
The passage of the Donahoe bill
by the state senate to take the power
from cities to regulate their public
utilities concerns, has aroused con
siderable lively comment over the
state and a great deal of opposition
, is being expressed to the bill. Strong
efforts are being made from many
quarters to prevent the passage of
the bill by the house as It Is charged
the bill is drawn in the Interest of the
public service corporations of the
cities who desire to have the rates
and franchises placed under control
of a body remote from the scene of
operation. The 'World-Herald last
Sunday opened a heavy fire upon
the proposed bill and Bent out tele
grams to the mayors of nearly all
the cities of the state, asking their
views on the matter.
Acting Mayor Sattler received a
messnge which read as follows:
Omaha, Neb., 27.
To The Mayor,
Plattsmouth, Neb.
What do you think of the Dona
oe bill which has passed the Ne
braska senate. It lakes away from
all cities and towns the right to regu
late their franchised corporations
and places the power exclusively with
the state Railway Commission. Wire
fifty words at our expense.
The World-Herald.
Acting mayor Sattler after Inves
tigating the bill from such sources
as were available came to the con
clusion that it was a piece of bad leg
islation and one calculated to take
away from the people who might suf
fer from injustice from the hands of
corporations, their rights, wired to
World-Herald his opposition as fol
lows:
Plattsmouth, Neb., March 27, 1909.
WnrlH-lTprnlrt
j Omaha, Neb.
j Am opposed to Donahoe bill. Be-
I lieve the people should have the
i right to regulate the corporations in
their cities. The closer the corpora
tions! are to the people the better
hey can be regulated. Railroad coin-
mission stands too far from the scene
of operation to know facts. Defeat
the bill. .
John P. Sattler.
That Mayor Satler represents the
views of the great majority of the
people on this subject Is to be be
lieved. As this city has trouble
on hand right now regulating the
rates for gas and as the water ques
tion Is coming up within a very few
years for settlement, the people are
vitally Interested In the passage of
this bill. The enactment of this
measure Into law will mean that
reduction in gas rates and a reduc
tion In water rentals is only to be
obtained after a long fight before the
commission and a heavy expense to
i the city. The plan seems on its face
to be a clever scheme on the part of
I the public service corporations to
get their plants safely beyond the
t reach of local regulation. One of
t -r. tha worst features of the bill is that
whlch eliminates any possible compe-
tltlon with a company already in
the field. No franchise can be
In District Court.
Last Saturday afternoon Judge
Travis held a brief session of court
for the purpose of hearing motions
and for other small matters which
might come before him. The prin
cipal business was the argument on
tho motion for a new trla! of the case
of tho State vs. Ossenkop. Attorney
Matthew Coring appeared and ar
gued the motion for the defendant
while County Attorney Ramsey re
presented the state. The argument
were confined to attacks upon the
Instructions of tho court to tho Jury
during the trial of the case and other
minor questions. County Attorney
Ramsey ably represented the state
and argued In favor of sustaining the
instruc tions and rulings of the court.
Judge Travis took the matter under
advisement until Saturday, April 3rd
when he will puns upon the motion
and If the same be overruled, he will
probably pass sentence upon the de
fendant. In th case of the Plattsmouth
Loan & It it 1 1 (I I ti k Association vs.
Copeland et al, the sheriff was or
dered to execute a deed upon pay
ment of costs therefor and of his
granted for public service corpora
tions except by the state commis
sion. Take this city for instance, the
local light company and the local
water company would be In complete
possession of the field and the peo
ple would have to pay their price or
go without light or water. The bill
aims to make the railroad commission
the sole arbiter of all charges for
water, light and heat and all that
would be for the corporations to
control the commission and then their
rates no matter how outrageous
would be sustained.
Acting Mayor Sattler docs not be
lieve the people want to separate
themselves from control over their
public utilities but is a believer In the
right of the people to control them in
their own interest. The failure of
the two cent fare law in Missouri and
a return to the old three cent rate
shows how easily it is for the people
to lose when the body deciding the
question is far away from them. It
Is not necessarily a reflection upon
either of the local companies to say
that they might take advantage of
the law to push their rates, already
high, still higher but If Mr. Sattler
has any voice in preventing It, his
voice will speak that way as he has
Bhown. He is a consistent friend of
the people and demands that they
be allowed to control the public ser
vice corporations.
Speaking to . the people through
The Journal Mayor Sattler said:
believe that the power is rightly
placed in the hands of the people to
regulate the corporations which fur
nish gas, electric light, heat and
water. To take this power away
and put it in the hands of a com
mission situated miles away and with
no knowledge of conditions as they
exist In this city, would be wrong
The people who pay the bills are the
ones to say what is reasonable and
fair charges. Another thing which
I oppose is the perpetual franchise
idea which it seems to mean under an
"indeterminate permit" guise. I do
not believe in giving any corpora
tion an indeterminate permit to do
business and then hedge it about
with a provision which requires any
competing company to go to the com
mission situated miles from the scene
of operations and ask for permis
sion to compete with the corporation
already in the field.
Another feature ofjhe bill is that
it provides that the fixing of rates
shall be upon a basis of the physl
cal valuation of the plant which
would be arrived at by taking into
account the capitalzatlon and allow
lng a fixed rate of Interest on the
valuation as determined by the com
mission. In many cases it would be
practically Impossible to fix the real
valuation and' the result would be
that the people would have to pay
enormous rates for their utilities in
order to yield the projected rate of
Interest. As the people pay the bills
they ought to have the say about
whether they are right and reason
able or not. I hope the house de
feats the bill.
action.
Several other minor matters came
up and were disposed of but nothing
of any practical value or conse
quence.. Judge Travis will return for a
brief session of court on Friday
evening next at 7:30.
The Egg Was Good.
Sunday afternoon the members of
the "Hikers" club decided to walk
to the neighboring suburb of My
nard, and led by their popular in
structor swept down on the unsus
pecting little vlllnge. After visit
ing several hours the mom hers re
turned via the Missouri Pacific. The
rnly !n.Ment to mar th oortn'.ni war
the unfortunate breaking of an egi;
In the pocket of one of tho young
in n win hns fl'ice lost till desire
for hen fruit
C. K. Rontor who has been work
ing at Louisville for (order's for
some time past, returned yesterday
to the city and Is once more In his
old place at tho local Implement.
house cf Mr. Gorder's.
ANGEL OF DEATH CLAIMS
MRS. JOHN WATERMAN.
Estimable Lady Passes Away Tills
Morning After Long Illness.
Died Waterman. Sirs. Margaret
Ann, at her home in Plattsmouth,
Neb., on March 29, 1909, aged 68
years, 7 months and 29 d ays.
Funeral from the home at 10
oclock a. m. Tuesday, March 30,
1909. Revs. J. T. Balrd and J. H.
Salsbury officiating. Interment at
Oak H1I cemetery.
From Monday's Dally.
After an illness covering many
months and after much suffering
death at an early hour this morning
claimed Mrs. Margaret Ann, the be
loved wife of John Waterman. The
visitation of the Grim Destroyer w3
not unexpected, the final summons
having been awaited for several days
past as it was known that there vas
no escape and the end was inevit
able. Gathered about bedside when
the end came was her sorrowing hus
band and her children, their hearts
stricken at the loss of one who had
been so good a wife and a mother to
them. In their great grief at losing
her who was to them the best friend
In all hours who was their constant
comfort over life's stony way, they
have the profound sympathy of the
entire community. Living here for
so many years, Mrs. Waterman had
become known and loved in many
households as one of the best women
-true, noble and lovable and in her
passing the hearts of all are full
of a deep anl lasting sorrow.
Margaret Ann Black was born in
Springfield, Ohio, on July 30, 1840,
and here her early life was princi
pally spent. At the age of twenty-one
practically or on June 26, 1861, she
was united in marriage at Ottawa,
111., to John Waterman who survives
her. Of this union which has cover
ed almost fifty years or within a few
short years of it, there was born two
children Mrs. Ida Wagner of Wor
cester, Mass., and Miss Alma Water
man of this city, both of whom were
present when the dread summons
came this morning.
A grandson C. E. Wagner also sur
vives her as does her sister Sarah
Black who has been in Florida for
some time but who was expected to
be in the city today.
After the marriage to Mr. Water
man the couple removed to this city
in the year 1870 and for nearly thirty
nine years they have been among the
city's most honored and respected
residents.
Funeral services will be held to
morrow (Tuesday) afternoon from
the home at one o'clock p. m., ser
vices being under the direction of
Rev John T. Baird and Rev. J. H.
Salisbury, pastor of the Presbyter
ian church, of which deceased was a
lifelong member, For the benefit of
those who wish to call, the casket
will be open between the hours of
9:30 and 11 o'clock tomorrow (Tues
day) morning.
Interment will be made at Oak Hill
cemetery near this city.
In her lifetime Mrs. Waterman was
an exemplification of the true Christ
Ian lady . Her whole life was as spot
less and noble as the lily and when
the last sleep closed her eyelids, the
spirit which went out was of a true,
grand woman.
Prof. 1 1 rook to Leave.
Prof. W. C. Brooks for two years
past, principal of the public schools
here, has Just received notice of his
election as superintendent of the
Fairmont high schools, and In con
sequence, finds it Impossible to ac
cept the position of principal here
which had been tendered him by the
school board. Prof. Brooks during
time he has been in this city hns
made himself an enviable record as
an educator and his place will be
quite hard to fill. He Is a careful,
well educated, polished and refined
gentleman and the people of Fair
mont are to bo congratulated upon
securing his services. While regret
ting having to leave this city, the
promotion Is such that he considers It
a duty to accept. His friends, who
are many here, regret tho loss of so
able a man but congratulate the peo
pie of Fairmont on his selection.
Hand is Crushed.
G. A. Roman, employed on the 700
level of tl.- Honiestako tint with n
painful ncrldcnt about 9:30 o'clock
this morning. His right hand wiin
crushed between n car and post and
several fingers seriously hurt.
Black Hills Register.
Tho (5. A. Roman mentioned above
Is a son of (Jus Roman of this city
and Is quite well known hero .having
only recently been a visitor In the
city. His many friends here trust
that his Injury Is not severe and that
he suffers no loss of member.
Loses Part of a Finger,
While assisting Ab. Murdock in
sawing wood on Monday John
Rough had the misfortune to lose
the end of a finger of his left hand.
He with a number of others were
handling a very large log and In
some way his mitten caught and be
ing unable to extricate his hand, the
whole weight of the log fell on the
finger,, completely mashing the end.
Dr. Walker fixed up the injured digit
and John will take an enforced lay
off. Nehawka Register.
PAYS A VISIT TO THE
TEXAS EXHIBIT CAR.
Journal Representative Finds Fine
Exhibit of Texus Products
Shown. i
A Journal representative several
days ago viRited the car containing
the exhibit from Anderson County
Texas, w hich stands Just north of the
Burlington station. Everyone who has
not visited this car should do so at
once as it will be here but a very
short time. You will find some
very accommodating gentlemen on
hand and they will explain In detail
the many good points of Eastern Tex
as or in fact, of the entire state and
that it is a region of great promise
and full of many good things, the ex
hibit amply proves.
The specimens of Texas agriculture
and horticulture which are arranged
in the car prove that the claims of
being the greatest and most versatile
state in the Union are well founded.
The fruit exhibit is something mar
velous. If you want to see giant
specimens of apples, pears, plums,
organges, lemons, grape fruit, grapes,
gooseberries, in fact anything which
grows in the fruit line, visit this ex
hibit. And the fact is, these things
are grown In Texas. The writer has
seen with bis own eyes the marvels
whch these people show, growing on
the hills and prairies of this great
commonwealth. Then comes the
grains corn the equal of any grown
In this wonderful corn state of Ne
braska growing on fields as produc
tlve as out own and destined la Mine
to have an equal value in the land
markets of the world although now
selling very cheap. Then there is
wheat grain as fine and hard as
the best of the northern countries
""lax, than which no better is raised in
the world, hemp also of the finest
grade. Barley and oats which flour
ish and thrive on the prairies of the
Lone Star state are In evidence on
every hand.
But It is useless to try and state
the many products which this won
derful .exhibit contains. The exhibit
of nuts raised In the state is a fine
one and well worth investigation by
the public. In fact, there is nothing
seemingly which the state does not
produce and one who has been there
can testify that these things are all
grown down there. Real Bermuda
onions which experts say beat the
original Bermudas are shown and
they are fine and Inviting in their
glass prisons. If you enjoy seeing
fine speclments of fruit, grains, nuts,
garden and farm products visit this
car before It leaves. It will change
your opinion of Texas If you ever
had the Idea that It Is a barren reg
Ion.
The principal object of running
this car, which Is sent out by the
Giant Construction Company, Is to
boom the town of New Chicago, a
new town situated In Anderson coun
ty, Texas, within a few miles of the
city of Palestine. Palestine Is one
of the best cities in the big state. It
has some 12,000 or 15,000 inhabi
tants and Is the headquarters of the
I. & G. N. railroad "The Texas Road'
as it is known. This road maintains
large shops there and h-is its goner
al offices and a fine hospital there
also. It seems strange to people
up here that a county with a so large
a city In It and one which has been
settled for so many years, could have
much cheap land left In It but Ander
son county hns. And the lnnd Is
good also. No better soil In the coun
try is to be found than the black
soil of Texas. It Is richer than even
fertile Iowa or Nebraska for there
is no limit to the depth which this
black soil goes to. Then tho ell
mate is Ideal no long, hard winters
with many degrees of frost niul many
feet of snow, but a winter climate
superior to California.
One who hns been In Texas from
the north can see the vast possllill
ties which are being opened up am
those who get in now and take advnn
tage of the opportunities will bo th
winners in tho end. It Is truly the
land of sunshine and flowers and will
be the greatest grannry of the world
when northern push and enterprise
gets to work and makes the soil
yield Its treasures to man.
The car will bo hero but a few
(days longer and already many have
visited It. If you have not done so.
do so at once for it repays the time
taken many times over,
TI1K MISSOURI PACIFIC
HAS A COSTLY WRECK.
North Round Freight Train Derailed
Few Miles North of Murray.
From Monday's Pally.
The Missouri Pacific last night
suffered a disastrous wreck a few
miles north of Murray. A north
bound freight train was derailed at
the foot of the hill three miles this
side of Murray and twelve loaded
cars were piled up In a tangled
mass of iron and wood, the contents
mostly coal and lumber, being scat
tered all over the right of way. The
train was in charge of Conductor
McQuown with Engineer Abbott at
the throttle. The train was makine
fast tlmo down the hill gaining mo
mentum for the rising grade toward
Mynard and just as the bottom of
the grade was reached tho third
car from the engine was derailed I
presumbably by the breaking of a
brake hanger. Te engine and the
wo front cars remained upon the
rails and ran ahead while the derail
ed car was hurled from tho track
and carried the remaining eleven
cars with it.
Fortunately the wreck which will
be a costly one, did not destroy any
lives at least none of the train
crew, and is is not believed there
were any tramps In the freight cars
which were destroyed although this
s not absolutely certain at this writ
ing, the work of clearing the wreck
being Just started. The trainmen
were In the caboose and escaped
while the engine and crew of course,
were with the engine which as stated
was not derailed. The engine with
Conductor McQuown came to this city
Immediately after the wreck, this be
ing the first station wnere telegraph
service was obtainable and a report
of the wreck made. The south bound
passenger No. 106 was already out
of Omaha when the wreck happened
and nothing could be done to turn
it back until It reached this city. As
soon as it got in, orders were given
to return to Omaha and the train was
detoured via Louisville and Weeping
Water to Union. The north bound
train and the south bound train this
morning were also detoured the same
route, giving no service today over
the road.
The Omaha wrecker was ordered
to the scene of the wreck and It came
down this morning at four o'clock
and worked on clearing up the track
was commenced. The company hop
ed to have the debris sufflicently
set aside to permit the running of
trains by 5 o'clock this evening al
though from the nature of the wreck
their expectations are rather sang
guine. The property loss will be very
heavy as the cars were all loaded and
the contents of them will be almost
a total loss except what salvage there
may be In the coal and lumber. It
Is probable the loss roughly esti
mated will equal $10,000.
A Birthday Party.
Last Sunday afternoon a few of
the youthful friends of Elmer Ituiii
met gathered at his home and helped
him celebrate his seventh birthday.
Tho afternoon was very pleasantly
spent everyone finding something to
do which served to make the after
noon pass all too soon. There were
some dainty refreshments served
just such as could be expected at the
Rummel household where refresh
ments of the finest kind are always
In evidence, and when the folks
camo to depart they were not back'
ward In expressing their pleasure at
the pleasant time they had had and
all wished the young man many more
anniversaries.
Those attending were r lorenco and
Jon Sehcutz, Mabel and Louise Rum
mel, William and Emil Parkennlng
William and Fred Fornoff, Mr. John
Melslnger, Mr. Adam Fornoff and Mr.
and Mrs. Wm. Schcutz.
L. D. 1 1 latt returned yesterday
morning from Havelock where ho
spent several days making a raid on
the geese and ducks which Infested
tho lake northeast of thnt place. In
company with C. W. Holmes he kill
ed some forty birds altogether and
today was distributing tho spoils
among his many friends in this city.
Mrs. Henry McCuno of Jollet. 111.
departed for her homo yesterday af
ternoon on tho mail train, being nc
companletl by her mother, Mrs. Ward
who has been visiting In tho city w lth
her daughter, Mrs. L. II. Egenberger
for several weeks past. Mrs. Egen
berger accompanied them as far as
Omaha.
FUNERAL OF THE LATE
ZKKAH W. CXLK.
Held From Lnt Residence South of
This City Yesterday Afternoon.
From Tueailay's Dally.
The funeral of the late Zerah Wil
bur Cole was held yesterday after
noon from his late residence south
of this city, the services being con
ducted by Rev. F. W. Brink of the
United Brethren church. There was
a very large attendance of old
friends and neighbors of this most
estimable man and all were impressed
with the sermon of Rev. Brink, lie
dwelling upon the many virtues
which deceased had in his lifetime
so. strikingly exemplified. Tho many
Christian virtues and the long and
upright life which Mr. Cole had led
served Rev. Brink in good stead as
do dwelt upon them and drew many
lessons from the noble life of de
ceased by which those left behind
might profit. Interment was had at
Horning cemetery, tho pall bearers
being Louis Crabtree, Wm. Murray,
sr., jos. Adams, Wm. Gillespie, I C.
Huffer and Charles Jean, all old
friends and acquaintances of de
ceased.
Zerah -Wilbur Cole was born in
Pickaway County. Ohio, on October
10, 1848, and wns 60 years, 5 months
and 17 days of age when the Grim
Destroyer claimed him. When but
two years of ago or iu the year 1830
Mr. Cole's parents removed to. Iowa
settling near the present city of Ft.
Madison where they lived until the
year 1857 when they came to Ne
braska settling In this section where
the remainder of the life of deceased
was spent.
In the year 1884 Mr. Colo was
united in marriage with Miss Eva
Christina Rheinfrank who preceded
him to the Better Land in the year
1889. To this union came one child,
a daughter Gertrude Viola.
In the year 1892 deceased was mar
ried to Miss Ida Margaret Rhein
frank who survives him. One child
blessed this union, a son Lee Atlee.
In addition to those named above
who survive him, there were also
three sisters and three brothers sur
viving all of whom were present
yesterday at the lust sad rites save
Ransom M. Cole who resides at Al
berta, Canada, and who was unable
to make the trip In time, and Mrs.
Mary E. Eccles who also lived at so
great a distance ns to preclude her
getting here In time for the funeral,
she living in Now Mexico.
In tho loss of Mr. Cole the com
munity loses one of Its best citizens,
a man of exemplary habits, an up
right, sterling gentleman and such
a man as nature had marked a noble
man. In common with the general
public the Journal extends Its sin
cere condolence to the stricken fa Ti
lly. Shot While (leaning PI fie. ,
A man named Claud Morgan living
In the bottoms between the big bridge
and Pacific Junction yesterday sus
tained an Injury which mav prove
fatal while cleaning a rifle. Morgon,
It appears was engaged in f l'.aning
the rifle and was sitting down with
the muzzle pressed against bis groin'
while his wlfo was engaged In try
ing to extract a shell from the gun.
The rifle was a 22 calibre one. In
some manner the cartridge was dis
charged and the bullet entered' the
groin lodging in the bowel.. The-
Injured man was at oncer placed in
bed by his wife and Dr. Blicon sum-
mons from Pacific Junction. Upou
his arrival ho saw at once that the-
patlent was In great danger and he
hurriedly summoned assistance from
this city, a prominent surgeon going
over this morning. After consul
tation, It was decided that the only
chance for tho Injured man was to
have him taken to a hospital at
Omaha which was done this after
noon, he going up from Pacific Junc
tion on No. 3. His condition fs crit
ical but It Is hoped that ho may bo
saved by prompt treatment and good
care at the hospital.
Wagcworkcr Incorporate
Tho Wageworkers' Investment
Company of Havelock will flile ar
ticles of Incorporation April 2. The
capital Mock will be $24,000. One
hundred Havelock men will be allow
ed to Join and pay in $10 a month
for 14 months. The cash will be
Invested In Havelock real estato. U
Is reported thnt tho nurllngtoi wl.l
greatly enlarge tho shops E. S.
Wongor, W. F. Ackermnn, O. C.
Cory, A. A. Hyers. C. W. Holmes, A.
E. Fogerty, Fred Kroehler. H. W.
Hedges and O. M. Perry are the In
corporators. W. F. Ackerman will return to tlie
Havelock shopB and assume control
April 2. He Is now making a tour
of tho Havelock shops. .Lincoln
sur- ... i. v;i
r ?
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