a Daily Bee
VOL. XL VII. NO. 215.
OMAHA, SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 23, 1918
Os Tnlni, tt Hottlt.
Newt btandl, tic. , to
TWO CENTS.
PART TWO
EDITORIAL
PAGES 11 TO 20
Omaii
H h
PUBLIC SERVICE
HEADS APPROVE
BOARD'S ACTION
Officials of Omaha Utilities De
dare No Request Yet Made
for Assistance; Will
Avoid Raise.
Big Eastern Railroad Trains Girls
to Act as Dispatchers at Terminals
The proposal of the. federal railway
administration under Secretary Mc
Adoo to give relief to the local public
service corporations throughout the
country who are finding it hard to
operate under war time costs, meets
with the approval of officials of the
Omaha public utilities companies.
G. W. Vattles, president of the
Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Rail
way company, said:
"The movement doesn't originate
in Omaha, of course, and we of the
street railway company have asked
nothing as yet. We will not ask for
anything unless the exigencies of the
times force us to it. We are not con
templating the asking of any increase
in rates. But of course no man can
look ahead and see what may hap
pen. We will avoid asking an in
crease in fares, however, just as long
as it is possible.
Expenses Almost Double.
J. E. Davidson, president of the
Nebraska Power company, said:
"The government realizes what our
increased costs of operation is, and
the government realizes how impor
tant are these industries to war ac
tivities and especially how the elec
tric light companies are related to the
food-Droducinsr concerns. Jn our
own plant, for instance, we are nay
ing $4.45 per ton for coal that
formerly cost us $2.83. This means
that on the entire consumption; of
coal for the year it costs us $160,000
more than it did formerly.
"Our taxes have increased $50,000,
most of the increase being due to
war tax..
"The cost of labor has increased ma
terially. "The cost of materials has increased
all the way from 25 to 200 per cent.
Copper, which used to average 15
cents per pound, has now sold during
the year as high as 36 cents per pound,
although the government has now
fixed the price at 23li cents.
Concerns Need Relief.
"This shows some of the increases
in our cost of operartion. It is plain
tthat the public service concerns need
relief. As to the relation of our com
pany to food production, it is well
known that we supply power to the
meat-packing industry of the South
Side, to the mills about Omaha and
to scores of other industries that are
directly concerned with the manufac
ture and distribution of foodstuffs."
Davidson was asked whether the
company would immediately ask per
mission to increase its rates.
Course Now Uncertain.
"I cannot say what we will do as
vet." said Davidson. "It seems that
President Wilson and Secretary Mc-
Adoo have not yet worked out their
program in detail as to what they
will do in these matters and until that
time we can make no statement as
to what our course will be. It is plain,
however, to those who know the in
creased costs of operation that the
public service concerns need relief. In
the states where public service com
missions exist some relief has been
afforded, but we have no such com
mission here."
Frank T. Hamilton, president of
the Omaha Gas company, said, "I
have not studied the proposal of Mr.
McAdoo and his rail board with re
gard to public service corporations,
and therefore cannot say much about
it."
Officials Study Situation.
President Wilson and " Secretary
McAdoo, director general of railroads,
have been in correspondence, about
the situation with reference to the
public service corporations through
out the country, and are seriously
considering the matter of allowing
twin to increase fares and rates
wherever that is necessary to the ex
istence and efficient operation of the
plants. The correspondence recently
between President Wilson and Mr.
McAdoo shows how very important
to the war and food activities they
consider the public service utilities,
such as the 'street railway, light, heat
and power companies.
ilr C IS sWmBS
I IS ii.?a iXl-va rn&Sff 52? I a,'V v W&t
The Pennsylvania Railroad has i
opened a building in Priladelphia to
be usatl m training women to become
train dispatchers. One of the girl
students is shown here seated at a . phone and telegraph
switchboard in the school. On the
table is a complete minature rail
road, electrically operated, with tele-
block offices,
complicated switchesftnd terminals,
by which the girls are taught the
duties of a dispatcher.
U. S. SAVES HUGE
QUANTITIES OF
MEAT F0R ALLIES
Food 'Administrator Hoover
Says Meatless Days Have
Saved Immense Supply
of Beef.
Neglected Plunder.
The lady of many portable possessions
was moving from town to the seashore for
the summer. A cab had been thought big
enough to convey her and her property to
tha station, and the cabman sat there.
from one staire of disgust to an
other still deeper, while his vehicle, Inside
and out. was piled high wltn a miscellan
eous assortment of cherished belongings.
At last the task of loading came to an end.
"Is that all?" Inquired the cabman with
polite Incredulity.
'Yes," was the reply.
The cabman looked surprised.
"Sems a pity,'' he ejaculated, "to leave
the doorstep." Philadelphia Ledger.
K "m for It.
Pat walked into the postoffice. After
..1-. int ih teipnhone box he called a
wrong number. As there was no su.h num
ber the switch attendant did not answer
him. Pat shouted again, but received no
answer. The lady of the postoffice opened
the door and told him to shout a little
. louder, which he did, but still no answer.
Again she said he would require to speak
' louder. Pat got angry at this and, turning
to the lady said:
TVporra. if I could sh'ut any louder I
wouldn't use your bloomiu' ould telephone
at all!" Tit-Bits.
Safety First.
"Now, toss, l's ready to go anywhere
dey wants to send me," said a dusky citi
zen in a southern city on registration day,
alter performing hli patriotic duty. "Boss,
Jes' anywhere! But I ask Jes' one thing
and dat is, put m In no cavalry."
"Why do you draw the line on tha cav
alry?" asked the registrar.
"It's Jes' like die. When Tt told to re
treat, I don't want to be bothered with no
boss." Everybody'! Magazine.
Materialized Good "Meow."
Otto Barn. 35, Blchmond Hill, N. T..
was In the men's court charged with
having broken up a spiritualist meeting at
125th street and Seventh avenue by throw
ing a black cat Into the meeting.
The cat landed on the back of a wo
man, and when she screamed the crowd
scattered. Barne admitted he had carried
the cat, but Insisted that It ran away from
htm and that he did not throw the animal.
E was fined $10 by Magistrate UcQuade.
t-Nw Torlt World i
Washington, Feb. 22. Meatless
days in the United States have saved
140,000,000 pounds of beef in four
months, the food administration an
nounced today.
During this period 165,000,000
pounds of beef were exported to the
allies, together with 400,000,000
pounds of pork products.
The figures were made public in a
statement explaining why the food
administration refused requests of
cattle and sheep growers to remove
beef, mutton and lamb from the con
servation rules with regard to meat
less days.
Mutton and lamb are not exported
and the food administration has re
moved the restriction on its con
sumption in some of the western
states.
Lift Ban on Mutton.
The restriction will be lilted soon
jn many of the other western states
in which large numbers of sheep and
lambs are produced for meat. Food
Administrator Hoover will recom
mend to state administrators that
the people be permitted to eat all
the mutton and lamb they want until
after April 15, when the spring mar
keting season is about at an end.
"It is desirable to bear in mind,"
said Mr. Hoover today, "that the
meatless days are simply and solely
for the purpose of enabling us to
feed the allies by saving on our meat
consumption.
"Our national consumption has in
creased at a faster rate than our pro
duction and, therefore, without the
meatless days we would not be in
position to export even the pre-war
average amounts.
"That the exports are absolutely
vital needs no proof further than the
statement of the ration at present in
force in Europe among the allies,
which has been reduced approxi
mately to one pound of meats of all
kinds a week, or less than 30 per cent
of the present American consump
tion, and it is today at so low a figure
as to tend to diminish the morale and
the resistance of the allies.
"We are doing our best to increase
the amount of exports and can do so
only by the rigid conservation on
the part of the American people."
Where Hs Fell Down.
"Te think a fine lot of Shakespeare 7"
"I do, sir," was the reply.
"An' ye think ha was malr clever than
Rabble Burns?"
"Why, there's no comparison between
them."
"Maybe, no; but ye tell us It was Shake
spear who wrote 'Uneasy lies the head
that wear a crown.' Now, Rabble would
never hae slo a nonsense as that."
"Nonsense, sir," thundered the other.
"Ay, Just nonsense. Rabble would hae
kent fine that a king or queen either dlsna
ganga to bed wl' . a croon on their head. I
He'd hae kent they hang It over the back I
o' a chair." Philadelphia Ledger.
Language of Fatchee. I
A lady advertised for a man to work In !
her garden, and two men applied for the 1
job. While she was Interviewing them 1
on the lawn, she noticed that her mother I
on the pllazza was making signs to her to :
choose the shorter of the two men, which
she finally did. When the ladles were
alone the daughter said: "Why did you
signal me to choose the shorter man, j
mother? The other had a much better
face." "Face!" returned the old lady. ;
"When you pick out a man to work In
your garden you want to go by his overalls.
If they're patched on the knees you want
him; If they're patched on the seat, you :
don't," Boston Transcript. I
IRISH SOLDIER FINDS
SOLACEJNRELIGION
Priests Enter the Ranks and
With the Men Follow
the Flag Into the
Battles.
(Correspondence of The Associated Press.)
Dublin, Oct. 10. The solace and
comfort which the Irish soldier gath
ers from his religion is one of the
phases of front-line life frequently
touched upon Dy the late Major Wil
liam Redmond in his letters home,
some of which Mrs. Redmond has col
lected into a memorial volume. In
one of these, given to the Associated
Press, the popular Irish leader wrote,
shortly before his deaths:
"The fortitude the men seem to
draw from their faith is great and
marked. The man who has been with
his chaplain and who has prepared
himself by the sacraments is ready
for any fate, and shows it in his very
demeanor. Often the writer has heard
officers declare their pleasure at the
devotion of the men to their religion,
and frequently those officers have
been of other religions themselves."
In another letter Major Redmond
writes of the work of the French
priests:
Revival of Religion.
; "With all the evil that has followed
in its train, it is good to find at least
one beneficial result from the war. It
has led to the revival of religion in a
most remarkable way.
"As to this practically everyone is
agreed, and it is apparent in a hundred
directions. Perhaps this revival is
most marked of all in France, and
there it is attributable in no little de
gree to the splendid record of the
French priests in the army.
"To many people it seemed a wrong
thing that the ministers of the Prince
of Peace should be called upon to take
up arms and play a part in the terri
ble work of bloodshed and slaughter
which has converted so large a por
tion of Europe into a veritable sham
bles. What seemed wrong, and what
from some points of view was wrong
no doubt, has in the result turned out
a blessing.
Priests in Front Ranks.
"The spectacle of thousands of
priests marching and fighting for the
country and the flag has touched deep
ly the heart of France and many a
man who was perhaps ready enough
to proclaim himself an anti-Cleric
will never so describe himself any
more. The bravery of the French
priests in battle 2,000 of them have
i been killed has been only equaled
by their devotion to their holy ofhee.
"By accident or design one must
decide according to the measure of
one's charity the Germans have de
stroyed many churches and shrines
and convents in the war. They present
a sad spectacle, but it would seem that
in proportion to the ruin thus caused
the faith has taken refuge more and
more in the hearts of the people, with
the result that, in the opinion of most
men, religion has been perhaps the
one thing in all the world, so far,
strengthened and built up afresh
amidst the horrible ravages of war.
That there has been a similar result
all over the world, and away from the
actual scene of war, is the testimony
of unbiased observers.
"The fact is that the ruin and
carnage have been so stupendous, the
sacrifices have been so great, the hor
rors have been so widespread, and
have so penetrated into almost every
family circle, that almost every human
being in the world has been affected
and has turned to look for hope and
comfort beyond the grave."
LATE WAR
BULLETINS
BIG GUNS ACTIVE.
Paris, Feb. 22. Heavy artillery
fighting on the whole front is re
ported in today's official announcement.
BRITISH LOSE PRISONERS.
London, Feb. 22. "Early last night
a large party of the enemy raided two
of our posts in the neighborhood of
the Ypres-Roulers railway and a few
of our men are missing," says today's
war office report.
"On the remainder of the British
front there is nothing special to re
port.
"A raid attempted by the enemy
early yesterday against posts held by
Belgian troops in the Merckem sec
tor was repulsed by artillery and ma
chine gun fire."
Time to Get Ready.
The other day a man telephoned to the
draft selection board for Marlon county out
side of Indianapolis and asked whether It is
necessary to have the wife's signature on
an affidavit for an exemption claim. ' He
was told It Is necessary If he Is claiming!
exemption on the ground that his wife Is
dependent on him.
"Won't any one else do?" the Inquirer;
asked "My wife says she won't sign It." i
The' board member told the man that the
best thing he can do under the clrcum-
stances is to "get ready to do." Indinap-!
oils News.
bssjsiMSSsaisaasssiMSaAsma-aH sbMMsBMssM is-
REMOVAL SALE
LOFTIS BROS. & CO.
We move March 1 to Our Beautiful New Store, 304 S. 16th
St., First National Bank Block, 16th and Farnam Sts.
Centrally located in the heart of the shopping district.
Diamonds, Watches, Jewelry, Being Sold at
Greatly Reduced Prices.
To reduce stock before removal. With stores in leading
cities throughout the United States, our great purchasing
power means lower prices to you at all times than the one
store jeweler can hope to meet. Come in today and open
a charge account.
DIAMOND RINGS
Art tha Leadinf Features of Our
REMOVAL SALE
maA,
All the new solid
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many of them
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Kold, Loftis Per
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483 Men's
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6 -prong Tooth
mounting, 14k
solid gold, at
$100
$2.50 a Week
YOUR SOLDIER BOY WANTS THIS
Military Wrist Watch
There is nothing you can give him at
parting or send him as a "gift from
home" that he will prize so much or
find more useful. Tells time in the dark.
$1.50 a Month
Open Daily to S P. M.
260 This Military Wrist Watch Is our great
special; leather strap; unbreakable class; high
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8QS&tU.S
THE NATIONAL CREDIT JEWLERS
MAIN FLOOR, CITY NAT'L. BANK BLOCK
tsr-Bv 409 S. 16th St., Cor. 16th & Harney Sts., Omaha
Opposite Burgest-Nash Co. Department Store
RESTRICTION ON
S IZES OF BREAD
UFTEDBY ROLE
New Food Regulation Provides
That Variations in Loaves
May Be Made by
Bakers.
Loaves of bread may be baked in
three-fourths pound loaves now, ac
cording to a new regulation which
just reached Food Administrator Wat
tles from the federal food administra
tion. The new rule provides that
bread may be baked in three-fourths
pound, one-pound, one and a half
pound, two-pound and three-pound
loaves.
Variations of three-fourths of an
ounce one way or the other will be
permitted in individual loaves, though
the average loaf must weigh up to
the new regulations. The new loaf
may be baked singly or in twin, two
in a uaii. mill ii.h iiiHniiirriiri. is cun.
ject to the same rules as nil nthpr
Dreaa.
Wheat Saving Measure.
The new reculation is tint intinrlH
to displace the one-pound unit and
will simply add an additional loaf
size. It was adopted as a wheat sav
ing measure on the showing that in
some large cities there are many fami
lies who reauire less than one nmmH
of bread per day.
Ihe price of the three-fourths
pound loaf should be relatively lower
than that of the pound loaf, the fed
eral food administration says.
Must Use Substitutes.
"Comolainta hav Mm in m that
' . " w ,1 J 111...
bread is hrincr sold nnrW umicriit in
this community," said Food Adminis
trator Wattles. "We want any re
ports of short-weight bread being
sold. If the person who buys a short-
Weiellt loaf will lirino- that Inaf tn 1ij
food administration oriice we will pay
him the r,rice nf th In-pari nnH Lr
it for evidence when the baker is
called before us to show cause why
his license should not be revoked."
All bakers are required to use 20
per cent substitutes for wheat flour
in hrparl anrl mils fTirfiv P.limin,
24. Those who willfully refuse will
uc compelled 10 ciose.
Potatoes mav be succpssfnllv uspH
up to half of the substitute require
ments in combinations with other
substitutes, but when so nsrr! fnur
pounds of potatoes equals one pound
01 suustitutes.
Where to Look for a Wife.
A good housewife wllf look at 1-Rst two
square meals ahead of her nose. The mod
ern system of marketing during the hlnl
cost regime Is such a fine art that a youth
contemplating matrimony should hie to the
market place for selecting a bride. My
boy, when you see a maiden pinching, smell
ing and pricing a soup bone you may rely
on her sense of ecenomy, for she Is looking
forward not less than two meals. The
soup bone when cooked Is merely food In
the rough or primitive state. Its choioest
by-products are realized after the bouillon
stage. Thereafter comes the goulash, the
croquettes and the luscious hash. By all
means avoid the girl who orders choice
cuts of porterhouse or English mutton chops.
She will make you no good helpmate. But
the girl who selects the chuck or neck
pieces or the tall end of a hambone and
renders them Into dainty, palatable dishes
is the one you want. So take my advice
and seek the market place when you feel
that you have had your fill of bachelor
loneliness and wish a tasts of wedlock. Fol
low such a girl around until you are per
fectly satisfied, then nail her, Cartoons
Mngazlne.
ALL AMERICANS
STAND AND SING
NATIONAL HYMN
Observe Washington's Birthday
by Singing "America" at 8
O'clock Last Night in
Public Places.
"My Country 'Tis of Thee,
"Sweet Land of Liberty,
"Of Thee We Sing."
Prominent singers led in the sing
ing of this hymn in the leading hotels,
theaters, churches and fraternal so
cieties at 8 o'clock last night. This
is in conformity with ay order issued
by those promoting national song
week.
In all sections of the United States
from the hearts of patriotic Ameri
cans came the words of the familiar
hymn "American." Washington's
birthday proved an appropriate day
to start the song week campaign.
Thus, just as the Mohemmedan
turns to Mecca at a given hour of the
day, so the American, the real Amer
ican, as the clock tolled 8, last night,
stood and sang "America."
Schools Are Closed.
The schools of Omaha were closed
in observance of the legal holiday,
Washingtn's birthday. Many of the
churches had special celebrations and
special services observing this day.
Banks were closed and many of the
stores had closed their doors for the
day.
ihe Douglas County Pioneers
celebrated the day at the old Masonic
temple with some speeches and songs.
Patriotic services were held at
Temple Israel at 8 o'clock. "Ameri
canism and Judaism" was the subject
of an address delivered by Rabbi
Frederick Colin.
The First Christian church gave a
party, and the pastor, Rev. C. E.
Cobby, issued an invitation to all
young people of Omaha to come and
see what kind of a party can be put
up at a church, especially since so
many depend upon the dance halls for
their parties.
Benefit at Church.
The First Presbyterian church cave
La social, the proceeds of" which are
to be used for the national service
commission of the Presbyterian
church.
The Independent Order of B'nai
B'rith celebrated at 8:15 o'clock with
a patriotic program. C. E. Herring
and Charles EJguttcr addressed the
meeting.
Ills Alibi.
"Were you acquainted with the murdered
man?" asked the prosecuting attorney of
a witness for the defense In a murder case.
The wIlllnKnrss of the witness to say all
that he could tn behalf of the prisoner was
apparent.
"Yea, sah. I knowed him; he was the
hones'es bes."
"Never mind about his honesty. Ton say
thai you knew him?"
'Tcs. sah, and l'se proud to say I neb
ber know d sech a noble"
"Answer my questloni pleas. What wss
the condition of tii health T Was hs In
robust health T"
"No, sah, he wss the feebles' nlggah I
ebber seen. Dat la, sah, he was In sech
po' health, dat even If he ain't been kilt
when he was. he was bound ter die, any
how, at least two days previous, sah!"
And the witness stepped down with a
well-satisfied air of a duty well perform
ed. New Tork Post.
BAKER'S
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The food drink
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Made of high grade cocoa
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some, and its flavor is deli
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the cocoa bean.
The genuine bears this
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only by
Walt'er Baker 8 Co. Ltd.
DORCHESTER, MASS.
IO. U. S. PAT. owr.
EiUbUbcd 17S0
Approved by Throngs at Both the
New York and Chicago Shows
Briscoe interest was amazing. Countless thousands came saw and mar
veled at Briscoe value, Briscoe beauty, Briscoe all 'round utility.
This is an omen to dealers. A reflection of even greater Briscoe demand in
1918. The dealer who wants to make money throughout the whole year can
not afford to ignore the Briscoe verdict of the great crowds at the shows.
99 Factory Built
The Briscoe is RIGHT, MECHANICALLY AND IN PRICE, to meet selling con
ditions as they exist right now.
Famous Half-Million Dollar Motor means greatest utility the utmost econ
omy in operation. 25 to 30 miles to the gallon real service in every respect.
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99 built in ten Briscoe factories at Jackson. This means greatest possible
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DON'T FAIL TO SEE THIS WONDERFL CAR WHEN IN OMAHA
I
Foshier Brothers & Dutton
2056 FARNAM STREET, OMAHA