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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1922)
x The Omaha Daily Bee 'OU 51 NO. 251. OMAHA, THUKSHAY. APRIL ?. 1W2. ll II xli Suit hDii, IV , lM. ik . IVM IM 41 M tl twll DVI) lulu, tl, MMM !, M. TWO CENTS 00 S ffu fcj . Econom y Only Way iO Cut Tax; lav l'olitic, Mure lliisincss Mti-l Ht .Move of Tlio.f Seek Keiliu limt. Tax Bureau Is Desirable By PAUL GREER. ,1 he j'luMitii of IukIi t .i a 1 1 1 1 is solved spend e. A more rlttlllMIt tCIII o UlllllilliktCliug public ad.m U politics anil more ili.it is wii.it people bent on economy mu-t provide tor tiirnisclvcs. 'la secure the ma viiiiuiii of bene f.t at a minimum of sacrifice is the popular aim. But to complain of high taxes and in the next breath advocate an extension of the func tions of the government is not logi cal. It's nice to have bauds playinR in the parks, but all this comes out of (he public treasury. This also i. true of free dental treatment for school children, a feature quite widely endorsed. People w an t good roaJs, good schools, a new capitol, food inspec tion, disease prevention, sewers, paving and a thousand and one things, many of which the govern ment did not use to suppl. These lannot be oblained by any hocus pocus. but only out of the pockets o,' the people. Must Collect Less. The first thing, in order to spend less, is to collect less. This is be cause public officials are human, and if there are large funds on baud, will always find a place to expend them, usually in response to a demand from some section of the community. Hazy promises by political can didates to reduce taxes never have meant anything. It is up to the citizens to get on the job them selves, asking less of their govern ment and keeping a tight check on the actions of official expending, assessing and bondin.: boards. In manv counties of Nebraska the farmers have organized taxpayers' groups. This has not been for agi tation, but for consultation and ad vice with the bven In "county and other offices. Leaks are being stopped up. The beginnings of such an asso ciation of taxpayers may be seen in Omaha. If the advice may be offered, this should be enlarged in scope, and made more representative. Omaha should have vhat many other progressive municipalities have had for years, a tax economy bureau. How this should be financ ed is a later question, which might be solved by putting it under the control and support of the various civic clubs of men and women. Would Collect Suggestions. The manager of this taxpayers' association would investigate the methods of other cities, collecting suggestions for adding more econ omy and efficiency to the govern ment. There is now no one place where a citizen may go and find out what the government is costing, bow the revenue is raised and how the figure" compare with those of the past. What is needed is something to bring taxpayers' problems to a focus. The city manager plan should be studied from the standpoint of the taxpayer, not with the eyes of the politicians; Omaha needs a purchas ing agent, the schools need a busi ness manager, there sjiould be fur tl er consolidation of city and county offices and unbiased scrutiny of new bond issues. One of the wastes that is being cut down in business is that of rapid la bor turnover. It has been found that hiring and firing costs money. The same fact is true in city government, and public sentiment should oppose th system by which even the ele vator men arc changed when a new administration takes office. The city engineer, the city physician and clerks that have grown expert in their duties are under the current (Turn to Frit Tn. Column 8tmi.) Sister-in-Law Advised Shooting Was Accidental Mrs. Edith Stafford, sister-in-law of Lieut. Col. Paul W. Beck, who was shot to death Tuesday in the fashionable home of John P. Day, oil millionaire, asserted she has re ceived "authentic telegraphic infor mation from military authorities that the shooting was accidental." Mrs. Stafford passed through Omaha yesterday enroute for St. Louis, where she will meet the body and accompany it to Washington for burial in Arlington cemetery. Caucus Nominees Win Randolph, Xeb., April 5. (Spe cial.) The" regular caucas nominees were elected and in only one case wa; the election close, that in the South ward for councilman. George Kecd secured the position over Charles Howell bv a majority of 10 i votes. In the election of a council man for the North ward a slight bat tle also ensued, but the caucas nomi nee had a large majority. The elcc 1:on resulted in the following: Mayor. O. O. Reed: rouncilman. South r.ard. George Kecd: councilman. North ward. Frank Gishpert: to fill councilman vacancy in North ward. B. F. Gleason; treasurer. F. A. Hoffman: clerk. Clark Blizzard. Lee Brenner and Stephen Browne were elected for the school board. Betrayer of Edith Cavell - Is Condemned to Death Mens, llelgiuui, April 5. Atinainl Jeaniies was condemned to death in the court here last night for treason and espionage against Belgium and the allies during the war. lie ba! boasted that he was instrumental l bringing about the arrest and execu tion bv Germans of Edith Cave!!, Investigation Into Slaying of Aviator Begun Wife of Oil Man Declares Lieut. Col. Beck Seized Her and Made Improper Proposals. Oklahoma City, Okl.. April 5. Preparations were made ttday to launch three separate inquiries into the events surrounding the death of Lieut. Col. Paul Ward Beck, pioneer army . aviator ana assistant com mandant of Post field. Fort Sill, Okl., who was killed by Jean P. Day, wealthy oil operator and prominent Oklahoma attorney, in the latter's home here, early yesterday when, ac cording to Diy, Beck was strug gling with Mrs. Day. A civil investigation by county au thorities will determine the charges to be filed against Day. . Headed by Major. A military commission of three army olttcers, headed by Maj. Thomas B. Lanthier, will come here Friday or Saturday, according to an announcement at Post field, and in vestigate the killing. A third inquiry got under way when M. F. Meadows, federal pro hibition director for Oklahoma, be gan to check up to ascertain whether liquor might have had a part in the party which preceded the killing of Lieut. Col. Beck. County officials today were run ning down various angles of the tragedy, but until the coroner's in quest Saturday, Forrest Hughes, county attorney, announced he would not decide the question ot filing charges against Day. A statement came from Mrs. Jean P. Day early today giving for the first time her version of the killing of Lieut. Col. Paul W. Beck. She was under the care of a nurse. "Beck visited our home on nu merous occasions," Mrs. Day said. "However, each time he called pre vious to Monday night he acted as a perfect gentleman in every respect, coming into our home merely as a friend and one whom we were glad to see because of the geniality. v e greatly enjoyed having him, inas much as he was brilliant and an ac ceptable addition to anv company. Seized by Wrists. "Early Tuesday morning, however, after Mr. Day left in the automobile to take the other guests home he seized me by the wrists and threw one arm around me. It was a total surprise to me. Nothing like that ever occurred before and I was dum founded by his action. As he held me he made improper proposals to me. f struggled vainly to free my self from his grasp. "It was while I was thus strug gling that Mr. Day opened the door and walked in. He immediately went upstairs. It seems to me that several minutes must have passed before I heard him come down the stairs again. I remember very dis tinctly that he was standing on the landing with a pistol in his hands. (Turn to Pnge Two, Column Five.) "Want" Ads received up to 9 p. m. appear in The Morning Bee as well as The Evening Bee 17th and Farnam ATlantic 1000 tintisli war nurse, but tins cnarge was not mentioned in the indictments against him. There was a burst of applause In the court room when the sentence was passed, and a great crowd out side jeered Jeanne as he was taken to the death cell. England Ready to Pay Interest on U.S. War Debt Reserves Right to Call on Allies to Pay Interest on War Debts to Britain. London. April 5. (Jy A. F.) The British government has ad dressed a note to the allies, declaring that, owing to the fact that Great Britain has to pay the interest on its war debt to the United States, it reserves to itself the right to call on the allies in turn to pay the inter est on their war debts to Great Britain. In this connection it is pointed out that GreaJ, J3ritm is. now fully pie-4 pared to pay tne interest due tnc United States. The three-year agreement between Great Britain and United States lapses May IS, from which time in terest on the debt due by Great Bri tain to the United States begin to accrue, so that Great Britain will pay six months' interest the coming fall. Similarly the agreement between Great Britain and its debtors termi nates almost immediately. No Notice at Washington. Washington, April 5. (By A. P.) Beyond press reports of Great Bri tain's preparation to begin the pay ment of interest upon its $5,000,000, 000 war debt to this country, the treasury is as yet without informa tion on the subject. Great Britain, officials said today, has been reported as laying aside $25,000,000 in her budget for this year to meet interest payments to this country. In October the first semi-annual interest payment will fall due after the expiration of the three year period during which by mutual understanding, interest on the debt was 'deferred. On April 15 the deferred interest due frorii Great Britain, officials said, will amount to approximately $615, 000,000 but this sum, it has been un derstood, would be the subject of funding negotiations along with the principal of the debt when the new debt commission begins working out a general liquidation scheme. Obligations Linked. Paris, April 5. (By A. P.)-Thc understanding in French circles has been that the whole question of the interallied debts will come up soon on the initiative of Great Britain as the result of the American funding bill which requires the payment of interest on the debts of the allies to the United States. As all these obli gations are linked together, it is held in French circles that a settlement between any two countries requires a general adjustment. Britain Accepts U. S. Views on Rhine Pay London, April 5. (By A. P.) Acceptance by the British govern ment of the American views per taining to the maintenance costs of the American army of occupation, as expounded in the racent note of Sec retary of State Hughes to the allies, has been informally conveyed to the American government, although a formal note officially confirming the acceptance has not yet been dis patched. North Platte Man Says Wife's Friend Attacked Him North flatte. Neb.. April 5 Charging tfiaW. Byrne, watchman for the Union Pacific railroad, forced him at the point of a gun to sign his property to his wife, B. Jaeger of this city today caused the arrest of Mrs. Jaeger and the watchman. Jaeger claimed that the watchman, I a former roomer at the Jaeger (home, had paid too much attention to his wife. Tuesday evening. I Jaeger alleges. Byrne came to his house, made him sign over the prop jcrty at the point of a gun. beat him, I took him to the railroad tracks and tried to force "fiim to leave town. ' T . i i . r - i . i - Jaeger returned ann notified the ! police, who today made the arrest. Br i ctson Case sed Decision of Federal Judge Woodroiigli Dt'cliiriug Com paiiy Insolvent Fail tit Stand Appeal. Receiver Now in Charge lite circuit conn of uppcaU al St. Lotus f-.ieid.iy reversed the de cision if 1' iilei.il Judge iKidii'itali. who last September at a hearing in fi'ili ial court, declared the Hiivl son Tiic Maniiiai luring company in solvent and appointed Ralph M. West, attorney, mciu-r. The receiver was appointed after O. A. ltrietson, president, and di rectors of the company were heavily scored by Judge Woodroush. Receiver West hat already sold some real estate and other tangible assets of the company and cannot determine to what extent its affair will be entangled thereby until the full opinion of the ypeals court is received. Awaits Court Opinions. "It's pretty hard to tell what cuYct the reversal of the decision will have," said Receiver West upon be ing informed by The Bee. "Until I read the court's opinion I would not want to say what will be the next step. If the decision was reversed on the ground that the federal court had no jurisdiction then, probably it will be wiped out." West stated that he made a report to federal court last December, when lie stated that llrictsou got dividends not rightfully earned. Judge Woodrough's decision was carried to the higher court by M. E. Culhaue, Minneapolis, one of the Brictson attorneys. Scored by Judge. Brictson and the directors were told by Judge Woodrough that their corporation was nothing but fiction and that there never was a real cor poration. He denounced as practi cally worthless and useless the "Brictson tread" for manufacture of which the company was organized and for patent rights of which Brict son appropriated S4,UU0,l)uu in com mon and $100,000 in preferred stock,. The judge declared the Brictson case to be the most extraordinary of its kind he ever knew. The company was said to be in corporated for $10,000,000. The tire company is said to have had its origin in a haymow of a Brookings (S. D.) barn. .Brictson on the stand at the hearing stated that he started with one employe in his barn but soon branched out by erecting a frame workshop, 28 by 32 feet. Brictson had commodi ous offices in the Woodman of the World building and a luxurious suite at the Blackstonc hotel. Ax Slayer Crushes Heads of 6 in Family Concordia, Kan., April 5. Theo dore Tremblay, 18, farmer boy, was slam with an ax at his home last night, three brothers, 14, 12 and 10, respectively, are near death vvitli their heads crushed, and the father of the boys, L. J. Tremblay, a trustee of Shirley township, and an other son, 8, were injured. The as sailants are unknown. The elder Tremblay was found un conscious on- the porch of his home this morning, his head injured ana his feet bound with wire. He may re cover. The body of Theodore Tremblay was found in the barn with the head crushed and the body badly burned. The other four boys, Francis, Al bert, Alfonso and Clco were found in the house. Only the youngest, Clco, is expected to recover. All had suffered smashing blows on the head. Western Freight Shipments . Show Marked Increase Alliance, Neb., April 5. (Special.) Freight shipments over the Al liance division, extending from Edgemont, S. D., to Ravenna, Neb., for March show an increase ot ap proximately 55 per cent over the same period a year ago, according to figures compiled in the ofhee of Chief Dispatcher A. V. Gavin. The figures for March, show -a total ot 1,119,637 tons transported, as com pared with 722,592 tons for March, 1921, with 427 train trips for the lat ter period,, compared with 629 for March, 1922. Much of the increase is due, railroad officials say, to the heavy export oil trade from the Wyoming fields to southern ports, principally to Baton Rouge, La. From two to five trainloads of oil are shipped over the division each week, each train hauling from 4 Oto 60 cars. There is also a noticeable increase in the amount of building material and miscellaneous freight under ship ment. Fate of Defunct Bank Head Is Now in Hands of Jury Lincoln, April 5. (Special Tele gram.) The case of Dr. Frank P. Dwiggins, former president of the defunct American State bank, who is charged with illegally borrow ing $30, 000 from the bank, was placed in. hands of a jury here this afternoon. Fire Guts Barber Shop Arnold. Neb.. April 8. (Special.) Fire of undetermined origin gutted the I one and Carlson barber shop. J The building, an old landmark, was a pari oi me ur. iouinson estate. In grzQ il4' Roscoe Arbuckle TellsJQwn Story H7. O. 1 OH YVlineSSDiailU Act of Mercy Not Evil In tent, Led to Manslaughter Charge for Death of Miss Rappe, Star Says. San Francisco, April 5. An act of mercy and not of evil intent toward IJc Vireriniu Rannp VV3C ihp thill? , ...... ---o which precipitated Roscoe C. (Fat ty) Arbuckle into the maze of dif- r,,i,1,Ac lnQ4i'n(T tn u manslanirh ter charge against him aS a resnilt of Mis Rappe s death, lie testmed m ins third trial on the charge. "I found Miss Rappe ill on the floor of my bath," he said, in describ- ;r Inxi'rJonto Ihp Hntpl St Frail- cis party in which, according to prosecution allegations, lie tatany at tacked her. "I asked if I could help her and carried her to a bed. Later I told the other guests of the nartv th.lt she W3S ill. Still later I called a- physician to attend her." Arbuckle s testimony occupicc iln-no hours, thp cross-examination consuming two-thirds of that time. Tic explained that he came to an Frinncnn tven rlavs before the fata! party, "purely for pleasure." "1 had a new car to try, nc sani. T atrr I was croine to the golf tournament at Del Monte." At the behest of his counsel. Ar k..nll dMnMpH the incidents of the party, saying he had no knowledge that Miss Kappe was in ins room ,-i,om I,, pntpmH to Hress for an other engagement. He acknowledged the presence ot liquor in generous ouantities and his appearance in pa jamas and lounging robe. The only threat, vocal or other wise, at tjie party was uttered by himself when he told Mrs. Bambina Maude Dclmont to "shut up or I will throw you out of the window," he said, adding that it was made because she. opposed his efforts to aid Miss Rappe. He told of assisting a hotel attache to carry Miss Rappe into an other room where she could receive better attention Evangelist Arrested on Kansas Abduction Charge Lincoln, April 5. (Special Tele gram.) Lincoln police tonight "raided"' a revival meeting here and arrested Evangelist H. M. Ostraider pgd a woman giving the name of Mrs. Lcota York, who stated she was soon to marry Ostrander. The police say they acted on in structions from Kansas officials who charged them with" passing as man and wife, and a complaint by Mrs. York's former husband, Ed York, Ovcrbrook, Kan., who says the court had awarded him custody of a 15-year-old daughter found with the couple. York, the police say, charges the girl was abducted. Railroad Has Coal President J. M. Herbert of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway company announces that his company has a sufficient stock of coal on hand to last 90 days and regular operation of trains will not be hampered. No Man's Land i Man Thrown Out v ot Car and Killed Auto Swerves Into Pile of Tombstones as Driver Makes Sharp Turn Edwin W. Harrison, 44, of 2801 Woolworth avenue, was instantly killed yesterday afternoon when an automobile he was driving suddenly swerved into a pile of tombstones at Fifty-second and Center streets, throwing him out of the car and crushing his skull against a piece of marble George Kennedy of 206, Harley ho tel. and Walter Tillman of the White apartments, Twenty-fifth and Dodge streets) wire both thrown out of the car and injured.' Their injuries were not serious. Kennedy was arrested and charged with being drunk Tillman was taken home, Neither Kennedy nor- Tillman was able to describe how the accident happened. Police believe Harrison lost control of the machine when he gave it a sharp turn to get off the street car rails Mr. Harrison is survived by his wife. He was a tailor and was em ployed by the Live Wire Cleaners. Promoters of Oil Company Indicted New York, April 5. Five men and one woman have bccfi indicted by a federal grand jury for using the mils to defraud in connection with sales of Century Consolidated Oil company stock, it was disclosed today when the indictments, re turned secretly last week were mi-. sealed The individuals indicted were: Cora Stetson Butler, Dixie L. Peters Walter B. Clarke. Bonewitz Daw son, Ernest S. Phillips and Mark S. Matthews. The Century Consolidated Oil company is a Delaware corporation, with -headquarters in this city. Farmers Using Trucks to Cut High Freight Rates Chicago, April 5. Farmers living on bad roads withinl 100 miles of Chicago are evading high treigiit rates by sending their livestock to the union stockyards in rubber-tired vehicles. A report covering shipments and receipts for the last year shows that 51,100 hogs arrived on rubber-shod carriers, as compared with 33,100 in 1920. The number of sheep increased from 2,600 to 3,600 and cattle and calves from 9,200 to 9,500 during the same period. One load recently arrived here after a 100-mile trip. It contained 60 head of hogs, averaging 225 pounds. The largest number of trucks come from points 40 to 50 lfiilcs distant. More Employment. Washington. April 5 Employ ment conditions throughout the country continue to improve, accord ing to reports received during the last lit days by the presidents con ferenre, on unemployment, Arthur i Woods, chairman of the emergency .commission, announced today. Houses of Mine Workers in W. Va., Bombed: 2 Held United Mine Workers' Head Goes to N. Y.-to Speed Anthracite Wage Ne gotiations. Becklcy. W. Va., April 5. Bombs were exploded in front of the houses of Binny Chickenfcller and James Spade in Kilseythe late last night. State troops with blood hounds ar rested John Fodor and Andy Hon zez, who denied all knowledge of the crime. Chickenfellcr and Spade arc miners who continued work for the McKell Coal company after about one half the force went out in sympathy with the strike. Washington, April 5. Following up the overture it has made toward settlement of the bituminus coal strike, the hou?e committee on lo bor continued its hearings on the subject today by considering briefly Attorney General Daugherty's state ment of last night outlining the ad ministration's "bands off" policy for present. Representative Bland, republican, Indiana, whose resolution to direct the president to appoint a coal in quiry commission occasioned the labor committee's interest in the matter, read Mr. Daugherty's state ment into its record and upon learn ing that President Lewis of the United Mine Workers had left the city called to the witness stand John Moore, executive representative of the union. in Washington. "Mr. Daugherty says, after declar ing that the operators were wrong in refusing to confer with the mine workers in attempt at settling the strike issue in advance, that the United Mine officials themselves re fused last fall or some later time to (Turn to I'ane Two, Column Two.) Chicago-Omaha Short Line Association Organized Des Miones, April 5. Richard P.. Lane of Davenport was elected pres ident of the Chicago-Omaha Short Line Highway association launched here today. The association proposes to develop a hard surface road between Chica go and Omaha which will follow practically the same route as the air mail route. Robert N. Carson of Iowa City was named secretary and general manager. The Weather Forecast. Rain and colder Thursday. Hourly Temperatures. 5 m . SO j I All ' 2 p. m. li. m . . m. i. m . i. m . p. m. p. in . p. ni. 7 h. m R . m S . m in a. m II a. m T! nomi SO I S .-n ! 4 50 1 A 19 ; i 7 Si ! 8 Highest Wednesday. .4S . I'uchlo . . . . . I Rjil,l City .2 ! Salt l.ak . .14 I Sarna Ke . si 1 Shprilrt . . S'i ' Sioux 'ity . t'j Va, tut. no . 1 a vnport Itiivcr 1 " M"tn. . 1 "I'd lity t.antlT Nurth l'l-tte Promoters Convicted of Swindle I Kat liucl Strickland and Saoi I It. Mu-mt Found Guilty of Fraud in Sclliii): Oil I -am!-. Receive Verdict Calmly I Racbael Snicklaud. the "oil bar ' ones." and Sam 11. Miisscr. charged I with using the I'niled State mail j to ib ir.iml. were cull found ginttv of all m counts in the federal (h.HL'es bv a jury alter iour hour , Hinl 15 minutes deliberation, i It was K 45 last night when Judge Wooiliough lead the verdicts, first for Musser and afterwards for the wpmar A soon a it was known that Miss Strickland was found guilty, the mothrr burst into a vio lent lit of tears. Miss Strickland was calm and had a defiant smile on her lips when the verdict was read. The defense was granted a request for .VI days in which to file a mo tion for a new trial. The bonds ate 'o lie continued without change. Deliberation Is Short. The jury sarted deliberating at 4:30 yesterday afternoon. At 8 word was sent for Judge Woodrough for more instructions. In these instructions the judge emphasized the fact that misrepre sentation of any kind is construed as using the mails to defraud. After these instructions the jury took but 45 minutes to reach a de cision. Immediately after the dis charge, Juryman Westerdahl thanked the court for manner in which the jurors had been treated. "Well we have .10 days, anyway." said Miss Strickland to Musser in a jocular manner after the jury had been dismissed. "We can do a whole lot in that length of time." Musser Is Calm. Musser showed little agitation. The counsel for the defense was visibly aroused over the outcome. "I believe that we have a right to a new trial on the last instruc tions given by the judge," he de clared. "There are other grounds open to us too and we mean to make use of them." The defendants have been on trial for eight days charged, on six counts each, with using the mails to defraud in promotion of an "oil land" com pany. Judge Woodrough in his in structions told the jurors they could return a verdict finding one defend ant guilty and the other innocent if they so decide. Attacks Juror's Conduct. Just after the jury had retired, John Baldwin, attorney for the de fense, presented an affidavit charging- that C. J. Westerdahl, one of the jurors, had "approached a person and said, 'The defendants are noth ing but a bunch of robbers.' " The affidavit also alleged that Westerdahl "put his arm around Mrs. Gustafson, a government witness, in an affec tionate and loving-like manner." The signer of the affidavit is a young man, Charles E. Wilcox, 2433 South Sixteenth street. When asked his occupation, he said: ''Police work, sort of private de tective." Seen in Corridor. He said he heard and saw Wester dahl. as stated, in the corridor just outside the courtroom, during a re-, cess Tuesday afternoon. Many other persons were in the corridor at the same time. Judge Woodrough turned the affi davit over to United States Attorney Kinsler for investigation. . Mr. Kinsler said he had been in formed by Baldwin yesterday morn ing that the affidavit to this effect would be made. "If the defense knew of this al leged conduct of a juror why did it not present it before the jury took the case?" demanded Mr. Kinsler. Westerdahl was not questioned. It was said that whatever verdict is brought in by the jury will stand, so far as this court is concerned. G. 0. P. State Chairman Ready for Campaign Lincoln, April 5. (Special Tele gram.) The G. O. P. campaign will be under way under a full head of steam in a short time it was an nounced by C. A. McCloud of York, state chairman. McCloud stated that a meeting of the state central committee will be called some time this month to meet him in Lincoln, decide upon the date of the state convention, pick tlie place to hold the convention and decide upon the number of delegates to at tend. The convention this year will be held alter the primaries in July. Gypsum Factories Are Planned by Alliance Man Alliance, Neb.. April 5. (Special.- The manufacture of gypsum and gypsum products, from large deposits near Glcndo, Wyo., has been under taken by the Alliance Mining and Manufacturing company, a new or ganization headed John F. Row land and a number of other Alliance business men. Headquarters will be maintained in Denver, in charge of Mr. Rowland, with branch offices at Alliance and Glcndo. where the com pany plans to erect mills in the near frture The con:pan alo plans the extensive manufacture oi brick.