Neb State Historical Soc
mmoutb
VOL. XXXIV.
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY. MARCH 16, 1916.
CITY COUNCIL
HAVE A PLEAS-
AHTMEETINO
Very Quiet Session Considering the
Amount of Business Transacted
and Oratory Expanded.
From Tuesfiav'a Dall.
The session of the city council last
evenir.fr was one that was filled with a
great deal of discussion and argument
over the different questions that were
brought up and the members of that
august body proceeded to thoroughly
thresh out all of the problems that
they were permitted to take up.
The opening gun of the meeting was
brought out when the communication
from the chief of the fire department,
A. F. Biaun, was read, in which he
recommended that the new hose cart
and equipment be left at the central
hose housea nd one of the other carts
sent out to the south part of the city,
as the need was greater at the central
point than it would be in the outlying
districts for a better equipped cart.
This suggestion brought forth much
protest from Councilman Harris of
the Fifth ward, as well as from Coun
cilman Shea of the same ward, in
which the new hose house has been
erected.
Councilman Johnson thought that
the suggestion of the fire chief was
one that should be heeded, as he was
the head of the fire fighting force of
the city, and the fire department
could understand better the needs of
the city in this line than the council.
He also called the attention of the
council to the fact that the better
pressure in the Main street district
for fire use was ninety pounds, while
in the south part of the city it was;
only fifty pounds, and while he did
net care about the new hose cart, he
thought the new hose should remain
where the chief desired it.
Councilman Lushinsky was also of
the opinion that the fire chief was the
proper person to pass judgment on the
place for the new fire fighting equip
ment and as the levy had been made
on the whole city for the building of
the hose house and buying the equip
ment, he thought that it was best to
carry out the wishes of the fire chief.
Councilman Harris in reply to the
defense of the fire chief's recom
mendations, stated that while he was
willing to allow the new hose to be
retained down in the central part of
the city, he desired the new cart sent
cut to the Fifth ward, as he thought
that the levy provided for this.
Councilman Shea of the Fifth was
not in favor of leaving either the cart
or new hose at the central house, but
desired them both placed in the new
P'ifth ward house.
Councilman Bajeck pointed out that
the chief of the fire department was in
a position to know the needs of the
city and was the best judge of where
the new equipment would do the most
good to the taxpayers, and if the need
for the use at the central house was
greater it should be kept there and
one of the other carts sent out to the
south side fire house.
The question was finally put to a
vote on a motion to plr.ee the new hose
cart and hose in the south side hose
house and was lost by a vote of seven
to three, Mauzy, Harris and Shea vot
ing for the motion.
A communication was received from
R. L. Propst asking for grading on
North Seventh street in order that he
might put down a permanent walk,
rnd this was referred to the streets,
alleys and bridges committee.
A communication was received from
a number of the residents on Vine
Ftreet, between Eleventh and Thir
teenth streets, asking for grading for
permanent walk and this was also re
ferred to the streets committee to look
up and determine the cost to the city.
The report of Chief of Police Bar
clay for the past month showed that
there had been twelve arrests, eight
of whom had paid fines, two worked
out, one not yet paid and one man
turned over to the county.
Police Judge M. Archer reported
that the amount of money collected
for the month had been $45, and that
there had been twelve arrests, eight
fined, two worked out their sentence
and one not yet paid, as well as one
prisoner turned over to the county.
City Clerk Nemetz reported that
during the month just closed he had
collected the sum of $63 from various
sources which had been turned over to
the treasurer.
The judiciary committee of the city
council, through Chairman Mauzy,
reported on the petition of Mrs.
Christina Dearing in regard to having
certain lots on the northern boundary
of the city which were used for pure
ly agricultural purposes set outside of
the corporate limits of the city, and
on the agreement of Mrs. Dearing to
relinquish all claims to land on the
river bottom belonging to her, and
which was in dispute with the city,
the committee recommended that the
petition be granted. The report of
the committee was adopted without a
dissenting vote.
The judiciary committee of the
council also reported on the matter
of the occupation tax ordinance in re
gard to the tax on auction sales and
recommended that it be reduced from
$20 per day to $5 per day. With the
report was the opinion of the city at
torney citing a number of cases in the
supreme court in regard to the levy
ing of an excessive tax that was pro
hibitive and which held in a case from
the city of Lincoln that a tax of $12
per day was excessive and prohibitive
and therefore void. It was explained
that this section applied to that sec
tion covering the furnishing of goods
for auction sales and that the other
section provided for a tax on auc
tioneers direct.
City Attorney Douglass stated to
the council that he did not think that
the ordinance would stand and could
not be enforced with the present rate
of taxation as carried by. the
ordinance, as the courts had passed
cn similar cases several times. He
thought that the change to $5 per day
would be upheld by the courts.
Mayor Richey stated that he could
not agree with the committee, as the
people who held these auction sales at
which the ordinance was aimed were
usually parties who came in here with
a lot of old shoddy stuff that was sold
to poor people at excessive prices and
worked an injustice on the persons
who bought them, and thought as far
as the part of the ordinance covering
traveling auctioneers or stocks- of
goods were concerned that it ought
to be permitted to stand.
Councilman Johnson heartily agreed
with the mayor on the ordinance and
thought that if the traveling peddlers
and promoters of these kinds of auc
tions could be kept out it was far bet
ter for the town.
The matter was finally settled after
considerable discussion to refer back
to the judiciary committee to revise
and make another report at the: next
meeting. Councilman Buttery took
occasion to state that he thought that
the ordinance should be kept as high
as possible to protect the home mer
chants." . - . 5 . ' ... ; i, ;
On the petition of Homer McKay
and other residents of North Eighth
street in regard to having that street
placed in a safer condition, Chairman
Bestor of the streets, alleys and
bridges committee recommended that
the petition be granted and that the
old roadway be closed up and the pres
ent road widened so as to make it safe
for travel, and also that there be a
culvert placed in the hollow at the
foot of the hill to carry off the surface
water that accumulates there from
the rains.
Councilman Buttery reported that
the electric light at Eighth and
Locust streets was out and had not
been burning for the past six nights.
The light committee was requested
to look after this matter.
Councilman Bajeck stated that a
number of the citizens and business
men had requested him to see if some
thing could not be done in regard to
paving the half blocks on Third,
Fourth and Fifth streets back to the
alley, which will be paved this spring,
r.nd he thought the idea a mighty good
cne. Mr. Bajeck moved that the city
attorney be instructed to draw up an
ordinance creating a paving district
in these three half blocks, the paving
to be of brick similar to that in use
on other streets. This was seconded
by Lushinsky and carried by a
unanimous vote.
The council enjoyed a few minutes
recess while the different councilmen
selected the judges and clerks of elec
tion in their respective wards, and the
following were selected to serve at the
coming April election:
First Ward W. D. Messersimth,
Fred Black, J. H. Thrasher, judges;
Grovernor Dovey, Carl Schmidtmann,
clerks.
Second Ward Claus Boetel, sr., W.
B. Rishel, William Weber, judges; J.
J. Svoboda, Nelson Jean, clerks.
Third Ward Joseph Kelley, C. C.
Despain, Gus Johnson, judges; Ed Ro
man, John Cloidt, clerks.
Fourth Ward August Tartsch,
John Weyrich,.John Kirkham, judges;
John Ledgway, J. C. Petersen, clerks.
Fifth Ward Fred Reinrich, George
Schantz, James Higley, judges; Ray
Sawyer, John Beeson, clerks.
The matter of the alley paving in
the rear of the property of William
Schmidtmann and William Hassler,
which has been in dispute between the
property owners and the contractors
and the city for some time, was
brought up and discussed by the coun
cil and the members were free in ex
pressing that they thought the matter
should be looked after by the con
tractor and the paving made satisfac
tory to the property owners, as the
city was losing money in interest
right along through failure to have
the taxes listed. This was referred
to the streets, alleys and bridges
committee with instructions to see
that it was settled in some manner as
soon as possible.
Councilman Lushinsky made quite a
lengthy speech in support of the
proposition for the erection of a new
school building, as it was badly need
ed and the interests of a progressive
city demanded that this step forward
be taken by this city. It was decided
to lay this matter over until later for
action.
The finance committee of the coun
cil presented the following bills as be
ing correct and they were ordered
paid: Alvin Jones, salary, $65; W.
M. Barclay, salary $"5; William Wil
son, salary, $20; F. G. Fricke, paint
for cemetery, $2.60; Weyrich & Had
raba, supplies to police, $1.20; M. E.
Manspeaker, livery to police, $3; Lin
coln Telephone & Telegraph Co.,
rents for March, $3; Warga & Schul-
dice, material and labor, 55 cents; Ne
braska Lighting Co., light at city hall,
$5.10; Charles Green, boarding city
prisoners, $5.20; Frank Boetel, noz-
zelman, $1.50; Ed Cotner, drying hose,
$1.50; Gus Kopp, nozzelman, $1.50;
James Kresak, . same, $1.50; James
Blaha, same, $1.50; W. R. Egenberger,
hauling, hose cart, $1.50 ; William
Grebe, drying hose, $1.50-; John"Bauerj
material street . commissioner, "$39.70 ; ,
Mike - Carney, street work, $17;
Charles McBride, same, $34.80; Al
bert Funk, same, .$7.20; Merle Par
mele, same, $7.20;. Mike Lutz, same,
$26.70; M. Archer, salary, $30.
UNCLE BEN BECKMAN CELE
BRATES HIS 74TH BIRTHDAY
From Tuesday Dally. , .
The country home of our old mend,
Ben Beckman, was the scene of a most
delightful time Sunday, when his rela
tive and a number of friends gather
ed to assist him in the celebration of
his seventy-fourth birthday anniver
sary. The day was spent very pleas
antly in music, both vocal and instru
mental, which added very much to the
pleasantness of the happy event, and
the iruest of honor was . showered with
good wishes for many more such happy
events. Refreshments of all kinds
were served, which proved a most de
lightful part of the very enjoyable oc
casion. As remembrances of the oc
casion Uncle Ben was presented a
number of gifts to remind him of the
pleasant event. The Journal joins
with the many friends of this splendid
old gentleman in wishing him many
more years of happiness. Those who
were present were: Mr. and Mrs. A.
J. Augustine and family of South
Omaha, Mr. and Mrs. William Sporer
and family, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Ruby
and children, Mr. and Mrs. John Stone
and son, W. D. Wheeler, Fred Ramge,
jr., Julius Ramge, Ben Beckman and
family.
Dishonesty No Longer Clever.
Yom WemeaaV Dally.
"You can fool some of the people all
of the time, and all of the people some
of the time," said P. T. Barnum. That
used to be considered a very clever
idea, and years ago it may have been
well founded. That idea, however,
has died an ignominious death. Ad
vertising is now so much a part of
every business that it cannot succeed
unless it performs the legitimate
functions of imparting truthful and
honest information. A careful study
of the advertising in the Journal
shows what the real purpose of adver
Using is. It is interesting news. It
is timely information. It renders a
service to the Journal's readers. The
circus idea of Bamum's day is dead.
The idea of service has taken its
place.
OUR CITY MOURNS
FOR THE LOSS OF A
GRAND OLD LADY
The Funeral of This Grand, Good
Woman Will Occur Thursday
Afternoon at 2:30.
The body of the late Mrs. Laura
Thrasher arrived in the city this
morning from Omaha,where she pass
ed away Sunday evening, and was
taken direct to the late home on North
Sixth street, where the departed lady
had spent so many happy years. The
body will lay in state at the home and
the friends desiring to take a last
farewell may do so from 2 to 5 o'clock
Wednesday afternoon. There will be
a requiem celebration of the Holy
Eucharist at St. Luke's church Thurs
day morning at 9 a. m. The funeral
services will be held Thursday after
noon at 2:30 at the church, of which
Mrs. Thrasher was a most devout
member. The following is a short
biographical sketch of this estimable
lady who has passed from our midst
so suddenly and whose death has
caused a most profound regret
throughout the entire community:
Laura Coats was born near Peru,
LaSalle county, Illinois, February 2,
1849. When a mere child she w'as
taken by her parents overland to Cali
fornia, in 1857. In 1858 Mr. Coats
and daughter returned to Illinois, and
in the following year, 1859, the death
of the father occurred. After the
death of her parents she attended the
convent school at Philadelphia for sev
eral years. In August, 1866, Miss
Coats was united in' marriage, at
Winona, Illinois, to James H. Thrash
er, and for several years followed the
life of the wife of a railroad man,
moving from one locality to another
as the" work demanded. In. December
1887, Mr. and Mrs. Thrasher. came to
Plattsmouth - and have .:. since, made
their home in this city, where the de
parted lady endeared herself to all
with whom she came in touch.
. The husband and four children, Wal
lace Thrasher of Dallas, Texas; Con
nie Thrasher of Deer Lodge, Montana;
Bert Thrasher of Snohomish, Wash
ington, and Mrs. Agnes Keffler of
Ainsworth, Nebraska, : . are left . to
mourn her death, as well as a sister.
Mrs. H. H. Davis, of. Persia, Iowa.
Mrs. Thrasher was a faithful member
of the Episcopal church, and of the
Woman's Auxiliary society, in which
she was one of the officers for several
years, and was also a member of the
W. R. C. and the Knights and Ladies
of Security, and for several years was
the president of the local lodge of the
Knights and Ladies of Security. The
son, Connie Thrasher, will be here to
attend the funeral Thursday. Mr.
Arthur Keffler, a son-in-law, arrived
yesterday to be present at the last
sad rites.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR CON
VENTION AT DUNBAR FRIDAY
From Wednesdays Dally.
The sixth annual convention of dis
trict No. 3 of the Nebraska Christian
Endeavor will be held at Dunbar on
March 17, 18 and 19, and gives prom
ise of being one of the most interest
ing meetings which the society has
held in recent years. The Christian
Endeavor societies of this city of both
the Presbyterian and Christian
churches will be represented at the
meetings. On the program which has
been prepared for the event appears
the name of Rev. H. G. McClusky,
pastor of the Presbyterian church of
this city, as well as R. G. Rawls, who
is one of the active members of the
society in this city. Rev. McClusky
will have charge of the quiet hour
Saturday morning, while Mr. Rawls
will speak Saturday afternoon on "En
listing C. E. Members in the Church."
Miss Edna Shopp of this city is the
superintendent of the quiet hour de
partment. Household Goods at Auction.
There will be a public auction of
household goods held near the corner
of Fourth and Main streets on next
Saturday afternoon at 8 o'clock. Re
member, these goods- go tq the high
est bidder.
LARGE NUMBER OF VOTERS
WANT MARTIN FRIEDRICH
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER
From Tuesday's Dally.
This morning a petition was filed
with County Clerk Frank J. Libershal
Ly a large number of "the voters of
Eight Miles Grove precinct asking
that the name of Martin L. Friedrich
be placed on the balloc at the primary
election in April as a candidate for the
office of county commissioner from the
First district. Mr. Friedrich has been
county commisisoner for several
terms, retiring from office when the
present county commissioner, Julius
Pitz, was elected in 1912. Mr. Fried
rich is well known all over the county,
where he has resided since 1881, and
for years was engaged in farming in
Eight Mile Grove precinct, up to a few
years ago, when he removed to Platts
mouth to make his home.
WOLF HUNTERS YES
TERDAY KILL THREE
OF THE VARMINTS
The wolf hunt held yesterday in
Plattsmouth precinct was one of the
biggest that has been held so far in
this part of the county and the hunt
ers on hand numbered in the neigh
borhood of 300, and all were armed
with shotguns with which they pro
ceeded to secure five of the wolves
that have been ravaging this section.
The hunt was from the southern pre
cinct Jine north to the Platte river,
and from every locality the hunters
came armed to the teeth with fire
arms and alert to secure as many as
possible of the animals. There was a
very large number from this city tak
ing part in the hunt under the' leader
Fhip of 'Harve Manners, as general;
and with John Bajeck, John" Iversori
ahd a number of the leading hunters
of the city in the squad. The country
was thoroughly beaten up and all the
animals which were routed out were
soon made the target for the shotguns
of the boys. The round-up of the
wolves was made near the Fred Kehne
farm, w;est of this' city, t- . 'i
The only "Unfortunate accident that
occurredj during the hunt was , that
which -befell' Albert . Schaf er J one"; of
the young farmers taking part in the
hunt, as he was unfortunate enough
to have, the thumb of his left hand
badly lacerated when his gun was dis
charged while. he. was attempting to
reload the gun and a shell was accid
ently discharged. The injury certainly
is to be regretted by the many friends
of the young man.
HARROW ESCAPE FROM
A VERY SERIOUS FIRE
From Tuesday's Dally.
This morning a very narrow escape
from a serious fire occurred at the
home of Mrs. J. C. Cummins on Pearl
street, and only the prompt arrival
of the fire department and the ener
getic work of the boys saved the home
from being swept away by the flames.
The fire started in the roof, where
some sparks had evidently ignited the
shingles and it was only a few minutes
until the deck around the roof and
shingles were burning quite freely,
but the fortunate arrival of the fire
boys allowed the flames to be checked
before very serious damage was in
flicted by the flames. The loss to the
house will be quite small.
Death of Mrs. Charles Ortman.
From Tuesday's Dallf.
A message was received here this
morning announcing the death in
Omaha yesterday of Mrs. Charles Ort
man, who is well known here to a
large number of tho residents of
Plattsmouth. The Ortman family re
tided here for a number of years,
where Mr. Ortman was engaged in the
bakery owned by J. V. Egenberger,
and of late years has operated the
New England bakery in Omaha. The
funeral of Mrs. Ortman will be held
tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. Mrs.
William Hunter and daughter, Miss
Helen, departed this afternoon for
Omaha to be present at the funeral.
Read the want ads in the JouraaL
THE JOURNAL'S
CHOICE FOR FED
ERAL JUDGE WINS
This Paper Has Stood by Joseph W
Woodrough From Start
to Finish.
Joseph W. Woodrough, well known
attorney of Omaha, was yesterday
nominated by President Wilson to be
United States district judge in Ne
braska. He succeeds the late Judge
W. H. Munger.
Mr. Woodrough was born in Cincin
nati, O., and came to Omaha in 1891,
and with the exception of a few
years prior to 1897, made his home
in this city and maintained his prac
tice here. He is now a member of the
firm of Gurley, Woodrough & Fitch.
The firm has been identified in some
of the biggest cases of litigation in
this section of the country for years.
Mr. Woodrough is considerable of a
linguist, speaking French, Italian,
German and Spanish fluently. He
spent three years abroad where he
gave considerable study to the varied
intricacies of civil law. He is a mem
ber of the Elks, Field, Commercial
and University clubs.
The leading other candidates for the
appointment that has gone to Mr.
Woodrough were William H. Thomp
son of Grand Island, chairman of the
democratic state committee, and
Judge J. J. Thomas of Seward. Both
Mr. Thompson and Judge Thomas are
candidates on the "Bryan slate" for
delegates at large to the democratic
national convention. Mr. Thompson
was Mr. Bryan's personal candidate
for the judgeship and the Commoner
statesman made a very energetic ef
fort to land the place for him.
. Mr. Woodrough stated Monday he
had heard nothing concerning his ap
pointment beyond what had apepared
in brief news, dispatches announcing
the fact.
It is been several months since the
Journal spoke of Joseph W. . Wood-
rough as the most available roan for
federal, judge, and we have kept up
the fight, until now we feel very re
compensed for a young man who de
serves the position.
MAKING PREPARTIONS
TO ENTERTAIN SUNDAY
SCHOOL CONVENTION
From Tuesday's Dally.
The various Sunday school or
ganizations of this city are making
active preparations to entertain the
Sunday school convention of this dis
trict, which will be held on Tuesday,
April 4th, in this city, and to extend
to the visiting delegates a cordial wel
come and provide them with one of the
finest program that will be given in
any of the district meetings. The pro
grams are now being printed and will
be sent out to the different Sunday
schools in the county at once so that
all can become familiar with the many
good things in store for them.
In this city the convention will be
held at the First Presbyterian church,
which has one of the largest seating
capacities of any of the churches of
the city, and its location makes it very
convenient for all to attend the con
vention who desire. On the program
of speakers will be Dr. W. M. Wal
lace of Omaha, Attorney C. A. Rawls
and Attorney A. L. Tidd of this city,
all of whom will discuss the adult
class movement and its effects, as well
as the wonderful growth of this
branch of work in the last few years,
which now makes it one of the great
est features of the modern church
and one of the greatest powers for
good in thee hurch organization. It
is expected that there will be a very
large attendance present here at the
district convention, as some of the
largest and most active Sunday school
organizations in the county are in this
city.
Philip Leipert, who has been here
enjoying a visit with ihs parents and
friends in this city and at the home
south of town, departed this morning
on the early Burlington train for his
home in Minnesota, where he is en
gaged in farming.
THE BOARD OF
HEALTH ISSUES
DRASTIC ORDER
Trained Nurse to Inspect Kery Home
in This City to See That Health
ful Condition l'reail.
The city board of health, the mem
bers of the school board and the dif
ferent members of the medical pro
fession met this morning at the office
of the city clerk to take up the mattf
of looking into the health conditions
of the city and seeing that the heatlh
regulations were complied with by the
citizens in general, so that there
would would be no more case of con
tagious diseases spread.
The conditions are not in the ka-t
alraming or the number of cases of
contagious diseases, such as scarlet
fever and measles, more than usual,
but the authorities desire that what
cases there are Khali be stamped out,
and all further danger eliminated by
taking drastic steps in the way of
enforcing the health laws of the stat
and city.
The meeting, after thoroughly dis
cussing the situation and the needs
of the city in the way of regulation
and inspection, decided to have a
trained nurse, who will be an expert
in these diseases, and who will, on her
arrival here, start in on a hou.e to
house canvass of the city to determir.
the general condition of the health rf
each family, and if there are any con
tagious diseases existing that have
not been reported, and also on condi
tions which may be unhealthful or
have a tendency toward the spread of
disease. This lady, it may be stated,
will be given full police power to
enter any and all homes to investi
gate conditions in regard to the health
of each member of the family and the
citizens are asked to co-operate with
the health authorities in giving her all
the information possible and not con
cealing the facts from her in any way
that might tend to defeat the intent
of her work. Those who attempt to
interfere with the nurse in her work
or defeat the purpose of the investiga
tion by concealing the truth in regard
to contagious diseases will be pros
ecuted to the full extent of the law by
the city health authorities, who are
taking this step in repponse to a re
quest from many of the citizens, and
there will be ro favorites picked, but
whoever violates the health law in any
way will be prosecuted. Persons whose
homes have been quarantined and who
get out and break quarantine in viola
tion of law and expos; others to the
dangers of getting these contagious
maladies will also be hauled up and
punished according to the state law.
These steps are taken by the physi
cians of the city and the board of
health for the public welfare and we
t.re authorized to state that any viola
tion of the quarantine law or failure
to allow the inspector nurse to con
duct her investigations for the wel
fare of the health of our people will
be prosecuted to the fullest extent and
everyone is given full notice that this
means business.
FORMER PLATTSMOUTH LADY
PASSES AWAY AT MOLIIIE, ILL.
From Tuesday's Dallr.
A message was received in this city
last evening announcing the death at
Moline, Illinois, of Mrs. Edward
Stamm, a former resident of this city,
who passed away yesterday in that
city. The body of Mrs. Stamm will be
brought to this city tomorrow morn
ing on No. 4, and will be taken direct
to the Methodist church, where the
funeral services will be held. Mrs.
Stamm rsided here for a great many
years, later removing: to Havelock,
and for the past few years has re
sided at Moline with her son, George
Stamm, who is employed there a
master machinist for the Rock Island
railroad. Mrs. Stamm was a sister
of Albert Rheinackle and Miss Katie
Rheinackle of this city and of Louis
Rheinackle of near Murray. A more
compelte sketch of this estimable lady
will be published later in this paper.
W. S. Schwab drove in this morn
ing: from his country home and rper.t
a few hours attending to some trad
ing with the merchants, as well as
visiting with firends.