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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 1919)
THE BEE: OMAHA, SATURDAY, AUGUST 23; 1919. PUNITIVE ARMY WILL CONTINUE BANDIT CHASE Night Forced March Plan of r Leaders Additional Airplanes Necessary, ' ; ;. Says Dickman. x (Continued From P. One.) diate future is the country over which Villa operated in November, 1917, when he attacked and cap tured Ojinaga and threatened Pre sidio, Tex. Villa moved down the Conchos river toward Ojinaga, de ployed his force on the plain before that town and attacked from three sides. Reinforcements for the fed eral garrison at Ojinaga arrived along the same trail that the avia tors followed in their attempt to find their way out. Will Continue Chase. As long as the punitive expedition continues to follow a hot traftl, it will remain in Mexico, unless or ders to the contrary are received from the War department, Major General Joseph T. Dickman, com mander of the southern department, announced here today. General Dickman did not seem concerned over the protest of the Mexican government against the presence of the punitive expedition, saying that it was "the usual fall protest." General Dickman explained in de tail his position regarding the fail ure of Capt. Leonard F. Matlack to pay the entire amount of the ransom to the bandits. Last night the general-announced that he had modified his. original view of the affair since hearing Matlack's own story, ac cording to which Matlack overheard two of the Mexican bandits discuss ing a plan to ambush and kill both Matlack and Lt. Paul H. Davis, the captive aviator, after the last ran som' payment had been made. This fact, General Dickman stat ed, has put an entirely different light on the matter. "My position was that the prom ise of the great government should be kept at all costs," said the gen eral today. "I do not think that Captain Matlack fully realized this fact, since he told me that he did not know the payment of the ransom was authorized by the government, but thought it was raised by cattle men. "He was in some danger of be ing cut off with Lieutenant Davis at the time he made the dash, but he did a very brave thing to go two miles into Mexico alone at night to rescue the aviators, and it is ap preciated." ' , FOR INDOOR WORKERS . Hortford'. Acid PhosphaU. in drinking water ateadin nerves, over come exhaustion and makes a fine tonic. Advertisement. Food Control Act Extended by House (Continued From Pace One.) necessary "except for the inactivity and incompetency of the Depart ment of Justice. "If there was a famine in China," the Illinois member continued, "a drouth in India, a flood in the Mississippi valley, an earthquake in Porto Rico, a volcano eruption in Central America or an epidemic of spinal meningitis in .New York City, the president by a process of reasoning that satisfies himself, at least, has convinced himself that the sole contributing cause was the failure of the league of nations." Stop Chaplain's Prayers. Representative. Heflin, democrat, Alabama, charged that republican opposition to the league had become so pronounced that the chaplain of the house "was not permitted to pray for acceptance ..of the league of nations." He-said the .chaplain had offered such a prayer one morning "and since then his lips have been sealed by a high nrember of the republican party." Indication of the close interest with which President Wilson is following every move in the fight on high prices was given today in a lengthy conference, which he held with Attorney General Palmer and Director General Hines. The con ference was arranged by Mr. Tal mer, who declined to discuss what had been under consideration. Mr. Palmer also was in confer ence today with the senate apricul- ture subcommittee considering amendments to the food control act. The committee wanted to have the amendments define "reasonable prices and just profits," but no agreement was reached. It was con sidered likely that this phase of the congressional share in curbing profiteers was put before President n 1 i - . . i vvnson uy me aiiurury gcntridi. Kills Son and Self; Wounds Former Wif (Continued From Pate One.) to the Duffy-Johnston undertaking establishment. An inquest will prob ably be held today by the county at torney. Act Premeditated. Billings' act was premeditated. Yesterday he told a brother-in-law, Fred Lane, for whom he worked as a carpenter, that he thought "they were framing" on him to get com plete custody of the child. "I'm going to get them all togeth er," he told Lane, "and talk it over." Mrs. Billings recovered conscious ness on the way to the hospital. "He's killed my boy I I never thought he'd do it!" she sobbed. She lapsed again into unconsciousness before going on the operating table where surgeons made an effort to extract the bullet. Billings is survived by a brother, Gage Billings, secretary of the Beard Wall Paper company, and his moth er, Mrs. M. Billings, Twenty-eighth and Binnev streets. PROBE OF PRICES SHOWS BIG GAIN BY WHOLESALERS Watermelons, for Instance, Sold for Over 100 Per Cent More Than Dealers Paid for Them. . 1613 Farnam Street. Memm -,r 1 Our First Complete Showing of Fall Dresses Is Announced as a Sale $7,200 worth of Fall and Winter Dresses have teen delivered this week. They will be offered Saturday, at prices that make a wonderful inducement for you to select your dresses Saturday. The Materials Trieotine, Serge, Tricolette, Satin, Duvetyn, Geor gette and Jersey. The Styles Suit, effects Russian blouse styles draped mod- .elj;. Some are verysevere in lines, others have fuller effects in the skirt, but, really, the skirts have the same stepping measure as last season, but the effect allows the skirt to be worn in a practical skirt length. The Alterations Owing to the fact that these dresses are marked with a great deal less than the usual profit, we will do very little work on them In our altering room. The Price's Trieotine- Dresses $29.50 to $69.00 Embroidered and Beaded Georgette rn . fcs 53500 to $6500 Tricolette Dresses $35 00 to $59.50 batm Dresses 529.50 up Jersey Dresses 522.50 Bp Duvetyn Dresses $59.50 - (Continued From Paa One.) profits the state investigation brought out new facts and figures yesterday which showed, for in stance, the inside of the watermelon business. Selecting a typical one of many cases, referred to by Harry Schef ferle, of Zipfel & Schefferle, busi ness agents for the pool, Attorney General Davis examined the records of car No. 23489 H. C. L., loaded with watermelons, received in Omaha July 21, and the shipment split between Trimble Bros, and B. Blotcky on a 50-50 basis. Tells Watermelon Cost. Mr. Schefferle testified that the melons cost $1.60 per cwt. on track at Omaha and that incidental ex penses brought the actual cost to Trimble Bros, and Blotcky at $1.66 per cwt. With that basis to work on. James Miriovsky, Trimble Bro.' clerk, was called to testify as to the selling prices to the retailers. He offered the duplicate sales slips which showed that these melons were sold from 4 to 3 cents per pound, most of them being disposed of at 4 and 34 cents, and at a time when the prevailing retail price was 5 cents per pound. Thus it was disclosed that the value of melons was increased from 1 2-3 cents per pound at the track to 5 cents a pound in the retail store and that the wholesaler sold them for more than twice what he paid for them. It was admitted that there is some shrinkage in watermelons. Potato Business Profitable. Potatoes which cost the Trimbles 3.13 cents per pound were sold by them to the retailers at 5 and 4 cents a pound last month, most of them being at 5 and 4$ cents. The evidence on peaches and plums did not show such a margin of profits. J. Adler, representing the Ped dlers' union, the next witness called, testified that it was the aim of his organization to sell cheaper than the oool. "Did you ever hear of a combina tion of fellows holding up the price of berries, strawberries, for in stance?" the attorney general asked. Says Prices Fixed. "Yes, I have heard of it," wit ness responded. "Raspberries, blackberries, loganberries and strawberries it is all the same me or Levinson or Robinson can't get them unless we pay the same price they charge to the retailers. They have been making 50 cents a crate on berries." "Do you know anything about Gilinsky going south to buy the berry crop?" "I heard he went south in 1916 when he was married- and he stayed there all winter, the witness re plied. Adler stated that his experience had been that the prices asked by members of the pool have been generally uniform when other deal ers tried to buy them. Declares Lost Money. Louis Sommer, grocer, Forty ninth and Dodge street, related the woes of the retail grocer. He de clared that he was losing money on perishable vegetables he han dled, and that he carried this line merely as an accommodation for his patrons. He also said that he did not make anything on butter, eggs, sugar and that he would dis pose of his meat department at 50 cents on the dollar. He explained that yesterday hi bought sweet corn at cents per dozen and sold it at 30 to 35 cents and then just about broke even be cause his customers will accept only the pertect ears and much has to go to waste. Asked on what lines he had made money he replied that fancy groceries and canned eroods yielded a fair profit Can you give us any information that will help us in this investiga tion?" the attorney general asked. Blames Extravagance. "It is the high cost of extrava gance," he answered. "For instance, I have a good kind of cider vinegar which is sold at 60 cents per gallon, but the women would rather pay 35 cents a bottle for less than a quart because the bottle has a name on it and they read that name in the magazines. He agreed that co-operative buying by a pool of the wholesalers would tend to keep prices on a level. He does .not re ceive written quotations from the wholesale dealers of fruit and vege tables. Other information vouch safed by him was that his overhead expense this year had been increased by $183 per week for labor, and he added that out of a total business of $156,000 last year he lost only $28 by reason of failure to pay a bill. W. W. Bingham testified that his firm did not make any money at all this season on a shipment of five cars of red raspberries. He said his concern was a member of the pool. Talked Over Fair Prices. "Ever hear of discussions at the pool as to what fair prices should be?" was asked. "They may have talked that over," the witness stated. Harry Trimble, formerly of Trim ble Bros., said he knew of the pool, and his understanding was that 20 per cent wasr regarded as a fai profit per cent to-add to "the cost price. "Say, for instance, when the first car of raspberries come in, is it gen erally understood what they will sell for?" he was asked. What is Fair Profit? "They would sell for a fair profit" "And wouldn't they all think about the same as to what a fair profit should be?" was the next question by the attorney general. "I suppose so." The state officials will have the books of the members of the pool checked by experts. The witnesses who have testified thus far agreed that the records should be exam ined. "We have nothing to conceal," said Mr. Bingham. Ernest Meyer, member of the so called wholesale fruit and vegetable dealers' pool, and N. Levinson, denying membership in any pool, yesterday morning endeavored to explain that their business has for some time, and is now, on the road to financial ruin. The morning session was turned toward a con sideration of the wholesalers' cost and selling prices, the former data being furnished by Harry Schefferle of Zipfel and Cchefferle. The whole salers were called upon to disclose their sales records to show the sell ing prices. Ernest Meyer Recalled. Mr. Meyer of the pool was recalled to the stand to testify re garding certain specific shipments in which he was interested. The first case referred to car 12490 P. E. F., pears and plums, which arrived in Omaha August 7. The Schifferle records showed that Mr. Meyer paid $3.67 per crate for his share of the pears and $2.42 for his share of the plums. Mr. Meyer's dupli cate invoice sales slips showed that he sold the Dears to retailers from $4 to $3.90 per crate, and the plums from $2.75 to $2.50, an average profit of 10 per cent. The next item to which Mr. Meyer testified was a shipment of apricots received in Omaha July 25 in car 2040 G. N. He testified that he paid $2.45 per crate and sold them at $2.35 to $2 per crate, which was a loss on each one of the 100 crates he bought. The next item was a car of peaches received Au gust 13 in car 8809 P. F.. E., and of which shipment Meyer received 121 boxes at $12 per box. His invoice slips showed that he sold a few crates at the cost price and most of them at $1.15 or less, indicating a loss on the deal. Says He Lost Money. "I lost $1,200 last month," Mr. Meyer testified. "You bought a new automobile last month, did you?" Special Coun sel Monger .asked. "I did and a good one," witness replied. "Mr. Munger, if you had three sons working for nothing you would not""Iike it, would you?" "You are not going out of business right away, are you?" asked Leo Stuhr, secretary of the board of agriculture. ' "I am ready to hand over the key for 85 cents on the dollar. We made no money in 1917 and 1918. We are making less than 15 per cent gross, our overhead is l0'2 to 11 per cent and we net about Vj per cent," Meyer responded. He added that his annual sales amount to about $300,000. Denies Promoting Pool. Mr. Levinson denied that he, the Peddlers' Union and the Gilinsky company have been endeavoring to promote an opposition pool. "Were you ever invited to attend the friendly little meetings held in the Trimble company's offices?" asked the attorney general. "No, I can get along without them," Levinson promptly replied. "Guess you are bettter off without them. They all seem to have lost money," was the rejoinder of the attorney general. Levinson added by way of explan ation that he thought 15 per cent gross was a nice profit for his line of business, with 5 per cent net. He stated that his house has netted about $4,000 already this year on a capital investment of $20,000. Hold Liveryman for Murder When Bones Are Found in Lime Bed Maplehill, Kan., Aug. 22. Numer ous pieces of small-bone, imbedded in a thick layer of lime, were found Friday by investigators on ground back of a livery stable formerly con ducted by Rufus King, held on charges of murder in connection with the mysterious disappearance of three persons here several years ago. Three skeletons, partly identi fied, the authorities assert, as those of the missing persons have been found on the King premises. Senate Plans to Go to Work on Peace Treaty (Continued From Faff. One.) strike out or modify the articles giv ing Japan control in Shantung pro vince, China. The story of the negotiations re sulting in the Shantung provision was told to the committee by Prof. E. T. Williams, who was technical adviser to the American peace dele gation. He said he had "strongly object ed" to the settlement reached and thought the American delegates should not have assented to it. During the dayVhere was more debate on the treaty in the senate, Senator Thomas, democrat, Colo rado, criticising the provision for an international labor organization and Senator Fall, republican, New Mex ico, taking exception to information given the committee by President Wilson regarding the resumption of trade with Germany. Collapse of Compromise. Developments today pointed with increasing certainty, to the complete collapse of the effort to pass a com promise resolution along the lines of President Wilson's suggestion for reservations apart from the ratifica tion itself. Republican leaders de clared presentation of the resolution only had cleared the air so far as they were concerned and had re vealed beyond doubt that the group of republican reservation advocates would insist on having the qualifica tions a part of the ratification. On the democratic side it was as serted the move had accomplished its purpose of showing that the democrats and a large number of republicans stood for ratification with. reservations of the same sort, differing only in the methods to be pursued, and that textual amend ment of the treaty was out of the question. The democratic leaders indicated, however, they had no in tention of bringing the resolution to a vote. Skinner's the Best Macaroni and Spaghetti Recipe Book Free Omaha COUNCIL STARTS PROBE INTO RENT PROFITEERING Complaining Tenants Tell of Increased Rates and Poor Service Landlords Also Heard. At the conclusion of an investiga tion into alleged rent profiteering, started by the city council last night, Commissioner Butler made this an nouncement: "I would recommend that an at torney and expert examine the ac counts of the owners and agents to determine whether they are earning 6 or 15 per cent. Let us not make a farce of this investigation as we have with the food investigation. Let this investigation continue." Complaining tenants of the Raw ley apartments, 3007 Jackson street, were most in evidence with their various accounts of increased rates and poor service. Mrs. Frank Butts led off with a question she put to J. E. George, who happened t,o De tes" tifying at the time.' "I want to ask if $50 in a reason able rent for a two-room apartment,' she said. "The weeds have not been cut in the backyard, the walls have been painted with the cheapest ma terials and the floor of the bathroom has not been finished. The adjoin ing apartment is a disgrace. Our rent lias been raised from $37.50 to $50." Terms Rawley Case Flagrant. W. T. Graham, realtor, quickly re plied that he believed this might be a flagrant case and that the apart ment was hot in charge of STreliable realtor. M. F. Boyd, the next Rawley com plainant, stated that his rent, too, had been raised from $37.50 to $50; that he had a living room, kitchen ette, bathroom and small dressing room. He said there was no janitor service, that there had been rubbish in the yard for a year and that on occasions he had gone to the boiler room to fire up. M. H. Middleton of the Rawley complained that his rent had been raised from $37.50 to $47.50. "I have heard something said here tonight by others who spoke of decorations and I want to say a word applying to ' our apartment," he continued. "The owner furnished paint and varnish, which cost $6.40, and I did the work myself because I told him I would. That is all the decorating there has been in our apartment during the last year. When I moved in the place it looked as if it had never been decorated. I have never had hot water when I wanted to shave in the morning." Shoper & Co. were mentioned as agents for the Rawley and Gordon Roth as the owner. In conducting the investigation for the city, H. L. Mossman, as sistant city attorney, announced that the hearing was only an in vestigation to bring out the facts and that none was charged with anything. An intermission was caused by everybody standing in respect for the "Star Spangled Banner," played by a navy band on the court house lawn. Commissioner Zimman suggested that citizens who have complaints should be heard, rather than the rental men, whereupon he and Commissioner Butler exchanged a few words, and then Chairman Ringer said: "Let us have less words and more action." Beecher Higby announced that he was going to make a complaint, but preferred to wait until his landlord could be present so that he might have a debate. A match will be arranged for some date next week. Frank Benbolt, owner of the Benbolt apartments, stated that his scale of rents was raised from $35, $65, to $50, $85,on account of ex cessive increase in the cost of oper ation and to make the investment pay 6 per cent. He said he would sell his apartment cheap, at $75,000. "What did it cost?" asked Com missioner Butler. "That's my business," was the quick reply. Milton Sprensen, manager of the Helen and Alma apartments, testi fied that he had raised the rent in the Alma $7.50 on each apartment. He was unable to give any figures on the per cent of return the new rates would yield. Speaking for the Idalia apart ments, Byron Hastings stated that increases of $10 and $12.50 have been made, the new rates ranging from $60 to $80 for five-room apartments. He referred to a decorator and a plumber charging $1.25 per hour and increased cost of coal, taxes and other expenses. Cannot Afford to Build. "Isn't it a fact that the shortage of houses is the reason that rents are being advanced?" asked Commis sioner Butler. "People can't afford to build houses at the existing scale of rents.' I don't look for rents to be cheaper for a long time," Mr. Hastings re plied. , , Lee Huff, owner of-the Laton and Adelaide apartments, testified that the rents of these buildings have been advanced in two years from $55 and $60 to $95 and $97.50. "I could readily get $125 from new ten ants," he stated. R. C. Heinze of the Strehlow apartments complained of a raise to $50 in summer and $58 in winter, as against $40 two years ago. Carl Mohr, resident of the Kings borough, Twenty-sixth and Dodge streets, announced that his rent had been raised $12 a month. Alfred C. Kennedy, Ernest Sweet and J. L. Hiatt explained that in creased rents are necessary to allow owners a fair return on their invest ments. Tenants of Omaha apartment houses all over the city, who are or ganizing to resist the profiteering demands of their landlords, were highly elated yesterday when word was received that one of the district judges here voluntarily ex pressed deep sympathy for the movement and declared he would do everything in his power to protect the interests of thousands of per sons who are protesting against the situation which has developed here as a result of the arbitrary imposi tion being inflicted daily upon them by owners of apartment houses and real estate men. Whether the various organiza- "Charge it to Whom?" C.an TrvVin Pcn-chinrT VJll. J Villi x VlOlllUg,) Stranger Declares L. H. Gaver, Twenty-fourth and Dodge streets, strolled into the Ne braska Clothing company store. He walked in to the men's furnishing:, department. Two $15 silk shirts caught his fancy. He picked them up and placed them under his arm. Then he faced about and madet for the door. "Charge it," he exclaimed when the clerk demanded that he pay for the shirts. "To whom," retorted the clerk. "To General John J. Pershing," flung back Gaver. At this strange reply the clerk jumped over the counter, grappled with Gaver and wrested the shirts away from him. In a short time Gaver appeared at the Browning-King company store. Here he ordered approximately $400 worth of men's furnishings before police were called. He was ar rested. At the station Gaver signed him self as Mayor Smith, saying he was engaged in investigating the high cost of living. Police believe the man to be in sane and are holding him. tions throughout, the city would come together in a central body, has not yet been determined. Neither has a definite plan of action been decided on. A meeting was held yesterday in one of the apart ments in Drake Court, 701 South Twenty-second street. Some of the members urged that an attorney be employed immediately, with instruc tions to consult the statutes and ad vise just what can be done in order to obtain relief. Tenants living in furnished apart ments in Drake Court recently were told they would be compelled to purchase the furniture at an out rageously high figure, move out, or be subjected to an increased rent, said to be enormous. Moths have been caught in mid ocean, 1,200 miles from the nearest land. 1 .1' I hehomosonTBelden Store Store Hours for Saturday 9 A. M. to 6 P. M. During August 2 Th Hem's Shp The Shirt Sale New low prices on Man hattan, Eagle, Arrow, Earl and Wilson shirts. Splendid values in the most desirable patterns and materials. An op portunity to really save money. Pure Irish linen hand kerchiefs, 19c each $2.25 a dozen. Delpark's 50c wash neckwear, in fast col ors, 35c each; 3 for $1 Saturday. First quality fibre hose in seven colors, Eiffel make, all si?,es, Satur day 45c a pair. $1.50 Athletic union suits, Saturday at $1.25 Delpark's 75c wash neckwear, Saturday for 50c each. 75c pure Irish linen handkerchiefs for 59c each. To the left as you enter. G Sate of Clauses When The Blouse Shop moves to new quarters on the third floor no wash blouses will be taken, ex cepting tailored models. Every French voile, French hand-made and organdy blouse will be disposed of in this sale, about 400 in all Neat striped voile blouses with ruffled white organdy collars and cuffs and tiny black ribbon ties. The stripes are lavender, orange, blue, rose, green, and combinations of these colors. Blouses or iginally from $2.89 to $5 for $1.95 White organdies and voiles, lace trimmed and embroid ered. ' Originally from $5.95 to $10, Saturday for $3.95 White voiles trimmed with real filet and other laces and daintily embroidered, originally from $10.50 to $15, Saturday for $7.95 The daintiest of French hand-made voile and batiste blouses in blue, flesh and white with rows and rows of the tiniest tucks put in by hand and, a fine cording in the hand sewn arm and shoulder seams. The trimmings are very fine real filet laces, intricate embroideries and hand-hemstitching. Blouses from $16.75 to $25, Saturday for $12.95 Sizes 3 If. to 4iAll Sales Final Eashionable Fall Fabrics Splendid displays of new materials for the coming season. A presenta tion of advance fashions of a most distinctive character, including.' Cheney Kimono Silks In delightful Oriental and flowered patterns. Also Greenwich Village prints of unusual design. Belding's Satins Satin Panne and Satin Circe. Beau tiful fabrics that drape to the best ad vantage. A Complete color range is ready for viewing. Silk Georgettes Are recent arrivals. Shown in both light and dark colors. Wool Trieotine Is a most popular material for suits, $6 a yard. for dainty women... Lily of France Corsets... The new Fall models in this line have ar rived. It would be ad visable to have your corset fit before se lecting a Fall suit, as these corsets have the desirable new lines. Moderately Priced Silk Knitted Underwear siik vests with shoul der straps or bodice tops, $3.50. Glove silk bloomers, a good heavy qual ity, $7.50. Futurist suits, the ath letic underwear made from Secco silk, $4. Silk Hosiery... Black pure thread silk hose, with medium or heavy weight lisle tops and soles, flare top, $2.75 a pair. Pure thread 12-strand Jap silk hose, with lisle tops and soles, $3.25 a pair. Gloves... Washable Milanese silk gloves, with double tipped fingers. Black, white, gray and mastic, with self or contrasting embroidery, from $1 to $2.25 a pair. Fownes "Fflosette" washable fabric gloves in white, with self or contrasting embroidery, 75c and $1 a pair. .