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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1922)
State Railway • Board Defends Phone Schedule Northwestern Bell Asks In junction Against Rates, Some of Which Are Al leged to Be too Low. Mem ben of the Nebraska railway commission came to Omaha yesterday to defend their order fixing rates, ef fective January 1, upon the North western Bell Telephone company. The company has asked the federal court for an injunction to prevent the en forecmnt of the rates, some of which the company considers too low. Hugh LaMasters, attorney for the commission, «ns prepared to argue the jurisdictional question, the coin- | mission alleging the Company hag an adequate remedy at law by an appeal | to the state courts. EarJ Cline, spe cial counsel for Attorney General Da vis, Is to discuss legal quest ons of another nature. Railway Commis sioner IT (}. Taylor Is to diRcuss the facts In tile case. 1‘repares Affidavit. u- •». Powell, special accountant for the commission, has prepared an affidavit in which he attacks financial statements filed by It. I*. Baird, audi tor for the plaintiff comimny. Mr. Powell says In his affidavit that the comptroller of the American Tele phone' and Telegraph company re fused -to allow him to examine that corppany s hooks for the purpose of ascertaining the cost to the company Of services said to have been fur nished to the Northwestern Bell for the year 1921, Mr, Powell says the old Bell com pany hud nn annual return of from 4.7 to 5.43 per cent from 1913 to 1917. It is alleged by Mr. Powell that the Northwestern company had an an nual income of 6.45 jn 1922, if (he results of the company's exchange and toll properties in Nebraska are taken as a basis of computation, plus the estimated Increase In exchange and toll revenue mention in Mr. Pratt's affidavit, plus the toll revenue that would have accrued to the state of Nebraska had the same basis of apportionment been used by the com pany in distributing gross toll collec tions received In the state for the first 19 months of 1922 as was used by the company during the year 1921, Decrease in Wages. Mr. Powell also alleges that the results of the operation of the com pany's plant In Nebraska for the first nine months of 1922 as compared with the year 1921, on an average per month basisshow nn increase of 3 per cent in total telephone revcnqes and a decrease of 17 per cent in Oper ators' wages. It Is declared by Mr. Powell that the hook cost of installing the ma chine switching central office equip ment In the Omaha general office building as of November 30, 1922, was $2,396(816,73; that the cost of the manual central office apparatus dis THE Ford Transfer Sc Storage Com pany has found the Goodyear All Weather Tread Solid Truck Tire to be tough, resilient and a * sure gripper in heavy or icy going. Goodyear Truck Tiro art told and terrictd by tht local Goodyear Truck Tiro Strricr Station Dealer. GOODYEAR I RUSCH TIRE SERVICE AT 062V 2205-7 Farnam St. Babies’ Cries for Santa Too Much: Mother of Five Tries to End Life Mrs. Minnie Miller, Deserted, Gives Up Fight When She Cannot Grant Children Wishes on Christmas. Feeding and clothing five small children, deserted by their father, was a difficult task, but their mother, Mrs. Minnie Miller, 1836 South Twen tieth street, didn't mind it. She was willing to work all day and part of the night, ready to make any ! sacrifice that a mother stands ready l to make. But Christmas eve and Chri tmas day approached. There would be five children's stocking to fill and Santa Claus to play. With childish glee the children, the oldest 12, and the youngest S, told | their mother each night before they , went to bed what they expected from I Santa Claus. Talks to Santa. Down at one of tho department stores little Clinton, 3, met Santa per sonally and talked to him, too. "I want a sled, and a pony and lots of candy," he said. The other children, Leo, 12; Mil dred, 10; Laura, 9, and Alfred, 8. I placed by the machine switchins equipment up to und Including No vember 30, 1922, was $548,295.09; that ! the increased number of subscribers : stations served by the change on No j vember 30, 1922, over November 30 I 1921, was 482. Supports Affidavit. Railway Commissioner T-. A. j Browne has prepared an affidavit j supportinf another one signed by Mr. I Powell. Mr..Browne states that lie is | co-operating with the depreciation de partment of tile Interstate Commerce j commission and that he is certain the latter body lias no rule directing tele phone corhpanies regarding the amount of reserve which shall be charged to operating revenue. .Strategic Position. Commissioner Browne, says in an other affidavit that there has been an advance in the market price of quoted securities and that this has been no ticeable with public utilities. He says the Northwestern company, as a sub rldlarjt of the American Telephone company lias occupied a strategic ihi sition in the money market and has been securing funds from the public at a constantly lessening rale of in terest. He gives examples of the float ing of bond Issues by telephone coni panics, the rate of interest in 1922 in some cases being only 5 per cent. He says the Lincoln Telephone com pany. a competitor, has throughout the disturbed financial period sold 7 per cent bonds ar par in sufficient amounts to care for its needs. Many municipalities issued paving bonds at 7 per cent iri 1929 and are now re funding these at E 1-2 per cent. Scores of Police Hunt Band of Denver Robbers (Continued From rage One.) transoms above the main entrance to the mint and in the windows of the second story of the biulding. The granite walls of the building likewise are chipped where the bullets struck. Buildings across the street show the, intensity of the fire of the guards. Windows in various stores and apart ment houses over the stores were riddled and many narrow escapes from bullets on the part of roomers were reported to police headquarters. Miss Catherine Feist, an employe of a. restaurant directly across the street, declared that she was attract ed to the door by the shooting, and is emphatic in her declaration that in addition to the bandits who leaped out of the car, she saw two men hid ing behind telephone poles nearby, who apparently were members of the gang. Youth Witnesses Robery. Paul Clar, 17, gave a thrilling ac count of the engagement. He declared he was standing directly across the street from the mint when the ban dit car, heavily curtained, drew up. Ho said: “Three of the men, all car rying shotguns, jumped out and rush ed up to the guard standing nearest the reserve bank truck. X couldn’t hear what they said, but they appar ently were telling him to open the wagon. He shook his head and then one of the bandits struck him a terrif ic blow. I don’t know whether it was with his fist or a gun. As the guard staggered under the blow, a shot rang out and he crumpled to the pavement. "At the sound of the shots a num ber of guards came running out of the mint and started firing. They were shooting at the bandits, who be gan shooting back. One of the ban for Christmas IL. E. Waterman Company, 191 Broadway, N. Y. I - - aaCa,° | , also expected to be pleasantly sur prised on Christmas morning. It was too much for the mother. She began to tire of the struggle ami shrank from the thought of Christ mas morning, when the children would be forced to the conclusion, through necessity, that "Santa Claus did not come to our house." Decides to End it All. Surrounded by her children, she de cided to end it all. She took poison. Neighbors who heard her screams called police. Po lice Surgeon Grier, who attended her, says that her condition is not dan gerous. Little Clinton pulled at the coafc tail of the police surgeon and cried. "Don't hit my mamhia. She's a good mamma.” Thomus Miller, the husband, de serted his family about four months ago, according to neighbors. They say he is now working in Council Bluffs. dits remained in the car, hunched down behind the wheel. "When there was a lull in the fir ing I saw the bandits jumping for their ear. One of them sprang on the running board on the opposite side from the mint and crouched down. Another one jumped in beside the driver. Just as he did so a shot from one of the guards struck him in the face. X saw the blood rush out and the bandit slump down in his seat. The fourth of the gang jumped in the rt?ar seat and tlie machine bore up East Colfax,” During the afternoon a suspect was taken into custody by the police, but after a questioning of. more than an hour, he was released. Shotgun Only Clew. The only tangible clew that tlie po lice have on which to work is a bloody sawed-off shotgun which was picked up in the street about a half block from the mint, where it had been dropped from the fleeing bandits' cur. The gun was loaded. Chief of X’olice Williams announced tonight that clews that might, result ! in the capture of the bandits probably would be secured by means of finger prints found on the shotgun. Chief Williams announced that po lice were guarding all roads leading out of tlie city, but that lie believed the bandits were still in hiding in Denver. Orders issued to policemen by Chief Williams said: “Btop every car on every road out of Denver and make evcrj* man ac count for hfms. If—and shAit it you find the robbers “Tlie funds stolen in today's rob bery were not the property of the Denver mint.” declared It. J. Grant, director of the mint, in a statement issued late tips afternoon, in which he gave it as his opinion that two of the bandits were wounded. “It has been customary for us to keep money at the mbit merely as an accommodation for the federal re serve lank, our vault being better suited for storage of tlie funds,” Air. Grant said in his statement. Pickrell Seeks Permit for New Electric Line TAncoln, Dec. 18.'—(Special.)—Ap plication No. 5,000 was filed Monday with the state railway commission. It was an application by the village of Pickrell for leave to construct a transmission line for electric current from Pickrell to Peatrlce. The num ber of applications has ranged from 267 In 1911 to 401 in 1917. Killed by Automobile. Norfolk, Neb., Deo. 18.—(Special Telegram^)—Herman Tappert, head of a local messenger service, died here after being run down by an auto mobile driven by a local man. Tap pert's wife and two children live In Detroit, Mlrh. Foreign residents of the City of Mexico are taught Spanish free by the department of public instruction. An Ideal Christmas Present an “ELDREDGE” j Two-8pool Sewing Machine V $29.75 and Up Sold on Easy Terms Value-Giving Bargains I —In— Used Sewing Machines “Howe” Machine .$2.50 ! “Davis” Machine.$5*00 “Household” Machine. .$7.50 ; “New Home” Machine at .$9.00 1 “New Windsor” Machine « $12.50 “Goodrich” Machine. $15.00 “Singer” Machine... $18.00 Sold on Easy Terms. | Trade Your Old Sewing Ma chine for a New “Eldredge” ; Two-Spool. jfh'liowen (b. The Value-Giving Store Hoiterd St. Between 15th nnri ISth U. S. Grand Jury Accuses 20 in Creamery Deal & • 1 Indictments Charge Use of Mails to Defraud in Pro motion of Waterloo Creamery Co. | Twenty persons alleged to have I been active in the promotion of the Waterloo Creamery company, now in the hands of a receiver, were indicted yesterday afternoon by the federal | grand jury. Fourteen counts of the indictment j charge them with specific violations : of section 215 of the federal penal code and another count charges them with a conspiracy to-violate this sec tion. Section 215 has to do with using the mails to defraud. Those indicted are I.croy Corliss, president of the company, Burt B. Corliss, vice president; Hubert P. Uy ner, former treasurer; Iva M. King, former secretary; Joshua B. Fickes, a local dentist: Oscar Wenstrand of Red Oak, la.; Charles W. Burkland, Suth erland, Neb.; Edward M. Schaefer. Omaha: Georgs Cherry, Sartoria, Nell.; Stephen S. Van Horn, Fremont: Harry Slack, Chesanir.g, Mich.; Theo dore Krueger, West Point, Neb.; F. g. Tyler. Owosso, Mich.; William H. Wil bur, Omaha; Henry Ruttger, Omaha, R. Allen Grim, Omaha; Dr. Edward A. Salisbury, Omaha; William F. Stoct zel, Omaha: E. G. Bandy, Omaha; F. VV. Schalett, Omaha. Indicted Last Spying. Most of the defendants were In dieted by a district court grand jury last spring. Numerous original letters are con tabled in the bulky indictment, pur porting to be letters sent out by some of the defendants in selling stock ! \ ariotts false representations are j charged to have been made to prospec- j five purchasers such as that the stock was worth $137.50 for each $100 share that the company had $2,000,000 as sets over its liabilities; that it owned and operated numerous dividend-pay ing subsidiaries; that It had an earned 1 surplus; that buying its preferred ! stock was Just like going into a build- j ing and loan association. t untempt I roceedings Instituted. I The resolution is cited hy which the, directors asked stockholders for a 10 per cent contribution after the company had gone into the hands of a receiver. For this contempt pro ceedings were instituted against some o! the defendants. Bond was fixed at $5,000 for each defendant by Judge Woodrough. Thirty-seven men also were indict ed yesterday by tho federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to de fraud the United States government. The S7 were all included in another Indictment returned by the grand Jury last Friday. It is alleged in the new indictment that the defendants worked among 1 themselves to falsify the alleged sur pius of the I.ion Bonding and Surety company so that It could get a license to give bonds running to the govern ment. Ofticers of the company are al leged to have traded notes to various banks for certificates of deposit tem porarily in order to show a surplus. Named in Indictment. The defendants in this indictment were not required to give bond in nd | dition to the $5,000 each Dttt UD when they were indicted last Friday. Those named in the new indictment are as 1 follows: Edwin It. Gurney, Fred Volpp, Phil ’ ip H. Kohl, Frank it. Knapp, Daniel Hanley, H. Clifford Leigh, Henry O. I Beatty, Dan F. Brown, F. Bertram ! Alldredge, J. Clarence Leonard, J. Harvey Wheeler. Charles C. Brant, Edward P. McDonald, Edward M. Martin, Stanley C. Stookey, Henry W. ! Schoettger, August A. Hayek, Harry E. Dunlap, Vaughn G. Williams, John j Tully, Fred W. Buis, Fred Wupper, J Emil E. Wolf, Caleb E. Negus, Thom i as J. Kastle, Joljn J. Thiel, John A. i Hauser, John E. Bates, J. Mark ! Shulenherger, Dennis W. Killeen, j Louis E. Cosad. Louis P. Sornson, ' Luke Mundy. Howard W. Crandall, ■h i: 11 Kniggatt and Arthur H. Baty. Man Quits Husking to Bilk Realtors* _ In Omaha Jail Now—-Police Say He Admits Check Fraud. I — John Nelson. 37, Missoula. Mont., quit husking corn In Minnesota a wceknitgo ami came to Omaha to de fraud real estate dealers, he is al leged to have stated In a signed con fesslon to police. He was bound over to district court under $500 on charges of obtaining money under false pre tenses. He is alleged to have presented evi dance of $9,500 In the United States National bank In Vancouver, B. C„ which does not exist, according to the Omaha banks, and after dickering with a real estate firm here for some suburban tract, would give a $500 check as first payment. But he would request that this check he held until his draft for the imaginary $9,000 should go through, and then rash a small check for $100 or so, for spending money. It was al leged. He was arrested through the ef forts of Leo Hozell, secretary of the Omaha Real Kstaie board, who Earned Omahh and Bluffs realtors against him. State Board Canvasses ‘Vote at Last Election Lincoln, Dec. 18.—The state can vassing board today canvassed the vote in the last general election Those present were Acting Governor l’ A. Barrows, Secretary of State I). M. Amsberry, State Auditor G. W. Marsh and State Treasurer Dan Crop sey. A proclamation declaring the two ref erendum laws carried at the last elec tion existing laws was withheld pend ing the return of Governor McKelvie from a speechmaklng tour outside the state. Lieutenant Governor’s Suit Against State Dismissed Lincoln, Dec. 18.—Lieut. Gov. Pel ham A. Barrows lost his suit to re cover more than $900 from the state for services alleged to have been per formed as acting governor during ab sences of Governor McKelvie from the stale, when District Court Judge W. K. Stewart today dismissed the claim which Mr. Harrows filed against the state audittor. Tlie lieutenant governor has made ! no comment as to whether he intends to file nn appeal. Extra Special for Christmas Week 0nly 5 PM°nth Are the Special Christmas Terms That We Have Arranged on This Beautiful Model of the Genuine Victrola. Mahogany or Walnut $100 i It is the latest product of the Vic tor Company, the most talked of instrument in the world today and by far the greatest value ever offered. Special demonstration every even ing during Christmas week. If you cannot come in phone for a Victrola concert in your home. Do it now! Ml CKECS 15th and Harney AT 4561 Taxes in State Are Excessive, Railroads Aver **Q.” Northwestern and Min neapolis & Omaha Present Evidence to Board of Federal Judges. Voluminous testimony by affidavits was taken yesterday In the suits of the Burlington, Northwestern and Minneapolis & Omaha railroads to get their county and state taxes reduced. A large array of attorneys faced the tribunal composed of Federal Judges oodrough, Monger and Lewis. Heal estate men testified by 138 affidavits from 54 counties in the slate that assessed value of farm lands in 19‘22 was 6S per cent of ac tual value. Eleven affidavits by as sessors and former assessors asserted the assessed value (jt farms was 67 per cent of their market value in 1921 and 1922. Sold at $85 an Acre. T. A. Polleys, Northwestern tax commissioner, submitted a tabulation showing farm lands covered by 4,031 transfers were sold at an average of $85 an acre and were assessed an av erage of $45.74 an aero in 1922. Cen sus figures of 1920 were introduced to show the average value of certain lands was $87.91 and that these lands were assessed an average of only $39.19. Actual value of the Northwestern property in Nebraska was given as $32,000,000; of the Minneapolis & Omaha ns $0,689,000, and of the Bur lington as $108,000,000 by their repre sentatives. “The Northwestern is assessed 15 per cent and tho Minneapolis & Oraa ha 41 per cent ahove their real value,” said Wymor Dressier, attorney for those roads. Careful Compilation. “We have made a careful compila tion in the 26 counties through which the Northwestern runs in Nebraska and have found that farm lands are assessed at only 53 per cent of their real values,” ho declared. Judge Jesse L. Hoot, attorney for 1 the Burlington, said his road is as ■eased af 25 per cent more than Its actual value. "There has been an intentional, sys i lunatic and continuous undehvalua ! lion of real estate in Nebraska for mxation purposes, except railroads,” j he declared. The Burlington has offered to pay t’>5 per cent of the taxes assessed by counties and state and all of the taxes assessed by cities, towns and vil lages. To Ask Phono Kate Increase. Hugh I.aJIaster, assistant attorney j general, declared the Burlington's j first petition filed with the state tax 1 department, made no complaint of high taxes for itself, but merely al leged that assessments on other real estate were for less than real value. The Northwestern Bell Telephone company at this hearing will ask for power to increase its rates which the state railway commission lias denied. Iowa Murders Believed Solved Man Confessed Killing Two Sioux City Men, Police Say. Sioux City, la., Dec. 18.—Two Sioux City mysterious murders, that of Dean S. Chandler, an ex-soldier, and John Miller, a Mornlngslde college student, which long have baffled po lice, are believed to have been solved. itjartin Christopherpon, In custody as a suspect, has confessed, according to (he police. Christopherson, believed by the po lice to be mentally unbalanced, was nrrested Saturday and held In connec tion with two mysterious attacks on the home of Mrs. S. P. Meigs, last week. While being questioned regarding the “shooting up” of the Meigs home Christopherson, the police say, con 1 fessed to the two murders. Killed in Railroad Yards. Blair, Neb., Dec. 18.—(Special.)— Fred Oberst, 61. was killed by a North western switch engine in the railroad yards here, this morning. Both his legs were cut off and one arm badly crushed. Needy Children by Hundreds Are on Wailing List Little Tots Are Waiting for Shoes to lie Bought by The Omaha Bee Fund. A mother with five small children, deserted by the father, attempted sui cide Sunday. Overwhelmed by toll day and night she swallowed poison. Her life was saved. But this Is lust an Indication showing, the desperate straits in which many wretchedly poor families are. The Free Shoe Fund of The Omaha l!ee steps into such homes and pro vides shoes for the little ones. Shoes are the one article of clothing which wear out the most rapidly and nro hardest to replace. There is a long waiting list of the children of lust such homes as the one mentioned above waiting, waiting for the shoes whlcbj will be bought for them when the money comes in to tho fund. Bach case Is carefully Investigated by the child’s teacher, without cost to the fund. lu fact there Is no "over head” expense of any kind allowed In this fund. Therefore, every cent you give is actually used to buy shoes for tfrrlbly poor little boys and girls. Previously acknowledged.y.MSii.HB K. II. W. •».(» «*•**•» . .. 1.00 Mr*. F. II. Hn*r»ril, ltluilen. Neli . 2 mt Elizabeth .1. Morris, IVoial lake, Neb. it no Doris >1, Port he. ^ ,(> r E*ta V. Boyer oo ” Mr*. N. A. Stauber, llrhron, Neh 2.0(1 Tblrd nud Eourtli tirades, llamp ton. Neb. 2,oO Seventh ami Eighth tirade*. IJtrb flehl (Neb.) School* I SO Total. *,157..v» If you can bring Christmas cheer to these needy ones, who will be mads happy even by gifts of such necessi ties as shoes, send what you can to "Free Shoe Fund, The Omaha Bee, Omaha, Nob.” Coats in Court. Judge Holmes In centra! polii a court yesterday continued the order ' of Judge Patrick that officials appear- •« ing in court must wear coats and not appe,ar in shirt sleeves. ®onpon.^dfen^€a From Nine to Six are Shopping Hours a! Thompson-Bel&n’s; Not Open Evening! If She Loves Out-of-Doors A warm woolly sweater and scarf would please her im mensely. The sweat ers in almost every color are from $3.85 to $15. The scarfs are $2.95 to $7.95. A Hand Bag Is one of those smart accessories no woman can get along with out. Hence a gift bag has won approval even before it has been received. There is an abundance of styles in duvetyn, vel vet and fine leathers for prices that are most reasonable. Main FI oor Gay Beads That lend their brightening touch to a dark costume are a • char ming feminine gift. Their colorings are red, blu^, amber, purple, coral, yellow and jet. Priced $1 to $8. Ma in Floor Handkerchiefs In Holiday Array This never failing gift is shown in an un usual assortment of styles. Hand- embroiderer^ linens in plain white, 60c each or $3.50 for six. Spanish and French embroideries on all white linen, $1.25 to $1.75. Toilet Waters There are toilet waters galore to please the most dis criminating. For a gift we suggest— Mary Garden, $1.35. Three Flowers, $1.50. Colgate’s, $1 to $1.50. Un Air Embaume, (Rigaud’s), $5.98. Djer Kiss Eau de, $1.50. Palmer’s priced 50c. Main Floor Dennison’s c a rds, seals, gold and sil ver tinsel cord and red and white tis sue paper are dis played here. Novelty Linen Towels These are charming towels with hand made Venetian lace insertion at one end and double- hem stitching where the colored borders o f blue, pink or yellow meet the white linen. Price $3.75. Ear Rings She’d be delighted with a pair or two, because every woman loves to follow the manner of the mode. They come in an in teresting variation of shapes and in almost any hright coloring. Price $1 to $2.50. Main Floor Silk Girdles If her heavy winter coat calls for a girdle, then one of heavy silk braid would prove to be a very appreciable gift. In brown, blue and black— Priced $2.25 to $7.00 M«in Floor