davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-03
Work of Grand Jury.


The grand jury reported to-day, and
was discharged until tomorrow morn
ing at 10 o'clock. Nearly all of the
time of the grand jury has been taken
up in the usual criminal docket. "a
number OF local druggists have been
summoned to testify, and 1t is said that
al, Investigation is in progress regard
ing alleged violations of the State law
in regard to registered pharmacists.
Nothing so far has, however. developed.
The following true bills have been re-
turned: Lille Lee three charges of
housebreakng: n. +. Snead, for deser-
ton; r. ]. Lynch, for desertion: Lewis
Robinson. for keeping Il gaming-house;.
Lewis Robinson. for selling whiskeV
without license: G. w. Blanks. for felo-
NOUS assault; John Custer. for felo-
NOUS assault, Dennis Buford and Nose
Brown for housebreaking. The jury
reported not true bill In the case OF
j. o. Harris. charged with grand lar
ccny. and Charles Pruitt and John
t.anes, charged with felonious assault.
John Custer. young White man,
who cut Bradshaw Nichols about q
month ago on the Northside following
a quarre, over Clusters wife, was con-
victed to-day and fined IS. He was
represented by Attorney Harry Wood
ing. il.
Milton York. who cut Whit Will
liams some months ago, was acquitted
o-day Of the charge of felonious as
ca,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-03
NEIL IN WE'LL.

Rope Broke aud Ptttsylynnin Man Was
Killed.
Especial to The Times- Dispatch
CHATHAM, VA, June 2.-John JEFF
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-03
WOMAN WHO ROBS
GETS FIVE YEARS
Convicted in Danville Court or
Three Charges Of House
breaking.

DANvILLE. VA. June e.-Lillie Lee,
a young negro woman, who 1T is said
bears long criminal record. was con-
victed in the Corporation Court to-day.
Judge a. NJ. Aiken presiding. on three
charges of housebreaking and robbery.
The punishment was fixed at five years
In the penitentiary.
She was tried on three indict-
nents. charging her with entering the
residence OF Rev. j. E. Hicks. on Pine
Street. and stealing n lot Of dress pat
terms valued at about $40; for tho
theft of a lot of clothing from Jennie
Potea,. colored. who resides in rear of
the residence of Mr.. c. E. Hughes, on
Holbrook Avenue. and who works for
Mrs. NJ. G. Watkins, and for breaking
into the room of Jennie Mitchell, cook
for Mr.. o. Salzman. and stealing lot
OF clothes and jewellery. valued at
about SIS. She was given three years
for the robbery from the Poteat woman,
and one year each in the other two
!
The evening world., 1908-03-09
The Closing Quotations.

r1.dsy's highest. lowest and last prices NJ
stocks ard " net changes a. compare! with
Saturdays final figures are T. follows
The evening world., 1908-03-09
S100,0OO IS FEE
OF YOUNG LAWYER
Counsel for Wife Who De-
fendS Barker'S Will to Get
Big Payment.

During the trial or the sult to b-eak
the will o' George \ Barker the ecceu
tric millionaire Nf BGldwins LonE ISL
and. 1t develorcd io-day tha: Albert w
Ransom. counsel for the wife. who re.
"t YES all Of the estate under the will
is 10 receive fee OF SlN.pN. The two
dau2hte"S nv the h">t wife allece that
the widow used undue influence IN hav-
ing tho VIII drawn.
"Fo"r Honor" said counsel for the
dnu2atcrs, II is rreposter. us that this
young lawyer should receive such a
zee FOR eleven minutes work"
Mr. Ransom took the stand. He de-
Med that he was to receive Sl0o.co for
drawing the Will He said the assign
ment of $4,000 given To him by the
widow was based on what he might
recover from the estate of George Bell.
an uncle. who left $1,000
Barker received the inc me from one
third OF this and had the power to
dispose OF one-thrd by will. He adj
mittsd that he was Ia get - per cent.
Of The widow share.
The evening world., 1908-03-09
JAPAN AND CHI"A
IN DEADLOCK OVER
SEIZED STEAMER
Vessel Still Held, While In
dennity Also Delays a Set
tlement of SnarlS.

PEKING March 9-'rhe incident II
the Tatsu-Maru. the japanese steamer
that was held up by the Chinese aulhorl-
ties on fc5. off Macao in the belief tlat
the cargo of arms and aa5lGE.,Ioa ON
board we're intended for Chinese Yovo-
lutionisis. has not vet been fully s,t-
tied. Baron Hayashi. the japanese Min
lister to China, had conference to-day
with Yuan Shih kal. Grand CounciilJ.
OF the Empire, but th.y failed TO rcac!
an understanding Oh the question Of
the release Of the steamer. which il
still held by China, and with regard 10
the indemnity.
China has, however, gwen satisfac-
ton regarding the hauling down of the
Japanese flag on the Tatsu Mara by
Chinese Ulcers. and Baron HaNaslI
to-day assured China that Japan woui
meet her desires IsSardI.y Sup,IN Is.un
OF the trattlc in arms t. Chinese t'grl-
tory. lie agreed also 10 TIE Chinese pro-
posal for the ultimate GIapOs.InN %. tho
cargo OF the Tatsu Mara. ait,' Nalsn
ne again set forth thu mai demands @.
his Government.
Influence had to ae cNer.cI on Yuan
Shah i>Si to get 'lim 20 .,.t ia the mat
ter. The Foreign Board rlAurdtcs its
previous statements tuat the case l.,a-
not be settled without thorough IN
vestigatiOn.
The Viceroy OF Canton is rpas.u;
the punishment Of the Chinese ntva!
commander who bearded trc tttSu
Maru ana lowered the Japanese Hl-
In view of the present >.ali" ur t..
negotiations final action be Jnpa" WI.
OF necessity have TO be deferred !og n
least two days.
The evening world., 1908-03-09
HAD BADGES FOR
ALL EMERGENCIES
Also Three NishtstickS, and
Was Ready to Rid the
City of Burglars.
WOULD ARREST WIFE.
But Magistrate Sends Wouli-Be
Reformer TO Bellevuc's FSy-
copathic Ward.

= -
Decorated with more badges thRN
souso ever wore. and with three I'M
80, ,,,r,,t-s,icks danyIinr from his
tatlon Hlsht-s'l'hs "''H'i7 -
belt Charles II. Slegeman. a butcher
sIx,v-one years old walked into Police
,r,N. .l,', mn, ,,,,,.,..,,
Headquarters TODAY ana ammo "-'u
that he was ready TO 60 TO work ana
rid the city of the crooks and burglars
who are Mt, present enioyiag life her.
vs."
already" he announced to Sergt. Ma
,one of Commissioner Bln-l.aruS pei-
The evening world., 1908-03-09
MISS PARSONS TO WED.
i!crnsc Issued to sister OF Con-
grrssmRn nnd Montgomery Hare.

Miss Constarcc Parsons. II sister of
Congressman lie!hert Parsons and
daughter ~ John f.. Parsons. is to o
married. 20 Montgomery Hare n lawyer.
II no. - East Seventy-ffth street. Mr..
iinrr was Tummnny Leader Tnomls
The evening world., 1908-03-09

White batiste waist; "V' yoke o!
Val. lace, embroidery and dwarf
tucks.
The evening world., 1908-03-09

year. hut II" was defeated.
The couple went 20 ,;lr city Ilall to-
day ana took ou' marriage lictn
Miss pprsOug T., Vv h"N age as thirty
ioUr yC1r- and but address = No. ll0
~ - I hir v-SiNth street
Mrs Herbert Parsons recently inter-
ested society by publishing a hook IN
which she ,ignalizrl trial marriage"
as tho ~, per form Cor al couples seek
ing ultimate happiness in the perma-
rent state
The evening world., 1908-03-09

CrossbaT dimity waists, panels o.
embroidery, edges with inserting
Cluny.
The evening world., 1908-03-09

the lawyers saY will have an important
hearing on The suit for t3O0 0J0oC0 dam
aSes against he AmcrlcIn SUGAR Re
Philadelphia courts 'Tlc issue. in
vowed In the latter cas-" are In many
respects similar to the contention or thr
american Banana Company on which
u sought under the Sherman Anti-Trus;
act To recover damages three times the
amount oi that 1t sustained from the
United FrUi; Company.
The Washington times., 1908-12-15
Cheaper Gas Bill Passes House;
Is Adopted by NUa Noce Vote
Amendment to Original Motion Making Price IS Gents In
stead of 90 Carried racically Unanimously
After Strong Speeches.

Representative FitZgerald's amend
ment 10 the 9O-cent gas resolution, pt-o-
viding that the price should be made
s. cents instead, seemed to strike a pop
ular chord in the House and was adopt
ed without debate Representative sam
ueI w Smith, chairman Of the District
Committee, was one of those who voted
against the Scent amendment, holding
out for the committee report Of 80 cents.
It became apparent, early In the de-
bate OF the cheaper gas bull, that the
House intended to act Immediately upon
the measure A motion to recomnit
the bill TO the committee for further in
vestigation was Overwhelmingly defeat
ed. This potion was made on the basis
Of Chairman Smiths statement that the
committee should have had more time
to hear expert testimony
Mr.. Smith, however, objected to the
bin being returned to his committee and
asked the House to either pass or turn
down the bill. The House proceeded 10
do the former with a CELEBRITY that af-
forded the advocates of cheaper gas, a
number OF whom were in the galleries,
much qualification.
The Washington times., 1908-12-15

Representative Madden Of Illinois
made one or the strongest arguments
against the gas monopoly. He said:
MI Speaker. I regret to see the COM
mittee report a bill! for 9J-cent gas I
hoped that the committee would see its
way TO report In favor OF a much lower
price The cost OF gas to the consum-
erS all over the country is being low
cred continually, and I think the prica
provided in the bill introduced by me
some time ago Of 70 cents was
nearer justice TO the people who con-
sumo gas than the price which is sought
to be fixed in the bill reported by the
committee. The company having the
right to manufacture and sell gas IN
the District of Columbia HIS a capitaH-
cation Of s2.6O0.OOO. on which. according
10 Its report IL pa 10 per cent divi-
dends- This comp also has S2,6OO,OOO
of Understanding certificates on which,
I believe. per cent interest is paid an
nually. In addition to that it has about
S59S,O00 In bonds on which II pays in
terest, and all Of this stock, bonds, and
certificates OF Indebtedness have been
created out of the earnings OF the COM
pany.
NJ very largo AuHOuHS OF caSh was
ever invested IN this enterprise. The
company, in addition to the payment
Of this interest charge and these divi-
dends. sets aside a large amount of
money every year, have not the flg-
ures IN my mind-for depreciation of
the plant. and also sets aside a large
sum annually for the construction OF
new mains and the extension Of the
plant A company that is able TO build
additional facilities TO enable il to sup
ply additional consumers out OF the
earnings after paying dividends at the
rate OF 10 per cent on the stock that Is
quoted in the market at 81 for a so
share ought 20 he able TO sell gas at
IS cents
Mr.. Sims. THE gentleman from I'LL
nOiS says stxty-Seven cents. He means
it is quoted in the market at $67 a share
on q par value Of SD
The Washington times., 1908-12-15
CITIZENS OF DISTRICT WIN GREAT VICTORY
BY THE ACTION OF CONGRESS ON GAS MEASURE
'IJoker" Section of Present La1v
Quickly Repealed by House
Clause Permitting Gas Companies TO Increase or Inare
Capital Stock Almost at Will Knocked Out
BY Viva Voce Vote.

Repress ntative Campbell Of Kansas
showed up in most vigorous style the
deficiencies IN the present law which
permits the gas companies, under sec
ton OF the act Of 1896, to Increase and
initiate their capital stock almost at
viii. Following Mr.. Campbelrs address
and a few pertinent comments by Rep
resentatfves Drfscon and Sims. the
House was quick 10 pass by viva vOce
vote the bill repeating this objectionable
section.
The repeal of this section estOps all
proceedings now before the District and
United States Supreme Court. the gas
company having appealed from the de-
cisiOn Of the Court OF appeals. which
issued writ, a prohibition, on petition
Of the District Commissioners, prevent
ing the company from carrying out its
proposed infection plan.
The Washington times., 1908-12-15

Representative Sims OF Tennessee, in
advocating the repeal said, in par:
Now, it is the fear Of the Commits
sioners that through the process Of this
computation and finding or the value by
the court, which the court has itemized
including the val Re OF the franchise and
good will. the franchise being given by
act Of Congress for no value received,
redeemable at any time, that stock
should not be issued by judicial author
iZation upon the value OF a franchise
given by the people and have TO pay
earnings upon the stock based upon the
value OF that franchise. II something
was paid for the franchise, OF il had
definite time to run. they would have
a right to issue stock Il hat extent as
well as upon any other article OF prop
erty.
"A precedent shoule not be establish
ed in this District o valuing a fran
chise that is given to a public-serNice
corporation, and stock issued upon it.
IL II is only SIS, should not be perm. tied
by law. for every future corporation
that seeks the same could get II, be-
cause we should have TO put them all
on the same basis and treat them all
alike: Another thing We all know that
a franchise will increase in value with
the increase of population in a city, with
the increase of demand for gas and the
use of the franchise. In the case of the
GeorgstoVn comoanTs = SsSS S-ss4 som
The Washington times., 1908-12-15

Mr.. Campbell denounced the Joker
section Of the old act a. follows:
Mr. Speaker, the pur pose OF. this bill.
is TO repeal section 8 II the gas act
passed IN 1886. Section ) Of that act
gives the Supreme Court OF the District
Of Columbia authority 20 find the value
OF the gas properties here In the Dis
trict The section proposed to 5s re-
pealed. am Informed. was agreed TO IN
conference twelve years ago whsu a gas
bill was before Congress. and that sec
ton did not have consideration in either
the House or Senate at that time. Last
yea- the Washington Gaslight Company
filed petition II. the Supreme Court OF
the District petiiioning the court 10 as
certain the value OF it's properties. The
auditor for the District IS ex oficio or
was made a master in chancery 70 take
evidence as 70 the value Of the gas
plant and its property. The first OBJ
lection TO the section was made by the
Commissioners and by the Corporation
Counsel when the method OF ascertain
ing this value was under consideration
by the court
The franchise cost the company
nothing and Il may be terminated by
the evidence that the franchise and
good viii were estimated at SIS, 661- The
Commissioners directed the Corporation
Counsel 10 take every step that was
District and the consumers OF the gas
here from an unreasonable increase in
the capital stock OF the gas company.
The Corporation Counsel, upon the in
structions OF the Commissioners, went
into court and fled every pleading that
fraff Of he Of =
OF the Corporation Counsel IS, or was
I'D to the time this report was made.
the Court OF Appslls OF the District OF
Columbia hEd decided that section .,
under which the value Of the gas prop
erty was asCerta.ned, was uncOlstitu-
TionaI, and the case has been taken to
the Supreme Court Of the United states
and. I think. Is pending there now. The
question raised 5y the Commissioners
before the committee, and the appeal TO
Il which led TO a favorable report on the
bin and its being here today, Was upon
this proposition: Under the interpreta-
ton OF the court only the gas company
may offer evidence IN the hearing Of
the character provided for showing the
value Of the properties sought 20 be as
certained."
Mr.. Murdocz; "As section 5 stands,
is the District government hurt IN any
way for the present.
Might Keep Up Prices.
Mr.. Campbell: Eyes; the fear OF those
who have petitioned fo- The passage OF
this bill Is. II this act stands and the
Supreme Court of the United States
should say that the act providing 1or
the method Of ascertaining the value OF
the poverty was constitutional, then,
without a proper hearing from the Dis
tTiCt side, the capital stock Of this COM
pany might be very largely increased
and the price OF gas retained at a high
figure on the claim that it was neces-
sary to keep it up at that figure IN
order 10 pay dividends"
The Washington times., 1908-12-15
GALLINGER LIKELY
TO FAVOR BILLS
Chairman of Senate DISTRICT
Committee Once Put
Them Up to House.
Continued from FRS 7age)

into gas making costs more there tia.
here It's always cheaper 10 produce
large than a small quantity. II Du-
bUque Is entitled TO gas AT less than
a dollar. washington surely Is"
And with that the reader OF the Sen
ate gave the promise 70 get the meas
ures through, II he could do So
II Senator Allison had HVed, there
would be no doubt Of these bills passing
at the present session, probably before
the holidays. AS IL Is, the interest IN
the measures has become such that Il
IS believed they viii be given a chance
before many weeks There is small
debut OF their passage, once they get
on the Senate floor.
The Washington times., 1908-12-15

town gas companies made - Congress.
From these reports he made a state
ment 10 the committee, saying that
without an investigation OF this plant,
IL was impossible Tor him to be exact.
Then finally came before us Mr.. Hum
phreys. 1 believe, OF Bunalo, \. T.,
who qualified as gas expert, and 1
believe he stated that ne appeared at
Company He made his statement not
from an examination Of the plant, but
from the reports OF the gas company 10
Congress
Now, Mr.. Humphreys, who appeared
I'm behalf Of the gas company, and who
beyond any question qualified as an eX-
pert, stated in substance, from the re-
ports Of the Washington Gas Company,
taking into consideration the high can
dlepower required, the price or coal altC
materials, and all expenses as shown
by the report. that a dollar a thousand
for gas in this District was not unrea-
sOnable.
with nothing else before us and with
no opportunity of having anybody else
before us, for there IS no appropriation
TO authorize US to employ experts 10
make physical examination of the
properties and every element entering
into the cost Of making gas III Wash
ingtOn city, we did the best we could
am not here to urge that it is alb
solutely correct, because the experts
themselves base their conclusions on the
report Of the gas company and nothing
else except their general knowledge.
More Important.
7 thought 1t was more important,
and think so today, to pass the bill re-
pealing the capitalization clause Of the
act OF 1896 than It was 10 pass this bill,
because this bill at 80 cents is a COM
promise between 50 cents and 81, the
amounts named by these respective wit
nesses, ana Is not the result of specific
detailed information Further, both of
these experts agree that each gas plant
was. so to speak. an individuality; that
you could not well classify them. and
to have a proper price, Just to the con-
sumner and Just TO the producer OF gas,
the gas plant itself should have a care
full and critical examination by ex-
perts qualified TO pass upon it,
Now, there was great demand for
action by the committee for the reduc-
ton OF the price Of gas, and the com
mittcS have done all that II could with
the limited means at its disposal. and
as result has brought in this bill
tnlnk that the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr- MANN is correct in his criticism
The bill ought to be amended 10 that
extent at least, OF providing a price
and a discount similar to existing law
as i believe Is done with gas companies
everywhere; but this amendment car
be made here or at the other end OF
the Capitol. This is simply In the ma
ture OF compromise price that we aid
not think under the evidence was too
low. which is a reduction Of 10 per cent
on all gas furnished private individuals
Gas may not be worth over 10 cents
as made here under the law and re-
quirements in force here, and IL NAV be
worth s. cents or 30 or s. cents or &
The experts do not agree on the Same
state or facts. I am not ar expert, and
could not know which 90 the experts
seems to be the best sustained in hIs
conclusions by the statements made"
The Washington times., 1908-12-15
Mr. Stafford said:


Il have listened very attentively TO
the explanation that has Just been
made by the chairman Of the commit
tee, but after following him closely
must say I have come to the conclu-
sion, as I believe most Of the members
must have come to the conclusion. that
the price that has been fixed upon in
this bill is merely a guess If anything
jUstiies the appointment OF a public
utility commission to investigate this
and kindred subjects. IT is the state
ment that has just been made by the
chairman He states that it has been
utterly impossible for the committee,
on account Of lack Of time, to examine
into it as it should have been examined
into. And that committee might have
spent a hundredfold the length Of time
that il has taken, and they. not pos
sessing expert knowledge to go into the
technical details. would have been en-
veloped in a maze of difficulties that
would have prevented them from arriv-
ing at an intelligent decision, just as
they have after this bare inspection Of
three hours of a very important ques-
ton. -
COMMISSION NEXT.
we do not know from the statement
and investigation made whether we
are doing justice to the capital invested
or justice to the consumer. But the
time is coming, I wish to say, when a
public service commission will have to
be created in order to pass upon the
returns to these public service corpora
lions and the price they may charge
for services to the public. such
as street railway fares and the
price OF gas and the price of cleo
trio light; for Congress has not the time
in which to properly investigate those
questions.
I'VE give too much time as It is to
the consideration Of these District
measures, and It will be necessary in
the future to have a public service com
mission that will pass intelligently upon
the questions involved so as to report to
Congress what should be the reasonable
rate TO the consumer Of these public
service corporations Not upon the in
Vesugaton that has been made In this
case. but upon the general reduction IN
the price of gas in other municipalities
VIII support the reduction in the price
or gas to 30 cents, or even lower"
The Washington times., 1908-12-15
Stafford Thinks Time
Wasted by Committee

We do not know if we are doing
justice to the consumer or to capital.
The time is coming when a public
service commission must be created.
1 support gas at 90 cents, or even
lower.
The Washington times., 1908-12-15
Sims Prompt in Defense
Of Actions of Committee

1 have concluded price fixed upon
in this bill is merely a guess.
We do not know whether we are
doing Justice to capital or con-
sumner.
We give too much time to the
consideration Of these District meas
ures.
The Washington times., 1908-12-15

Mr.. Sims OF Tennessee spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Speaker, there has been great
agitation here for a long time in the
public press, or part OF il, for cheaper
gas aRd better service. I do not re-
member how many bills have been in
PRODUCED, but 1 must insist that the
committee did try to have hearings
and have the matter investigated as far
as it was possible for a committee TO
90 so.
Several times when we fixed days for
hearings on one or the other OF these
bills eve heard them together because
they were related one Of the gentlemen
who was to appear before US in behalf
Of the gas company was I'll. and we
adjourned the hearings several times in
order to have that gentleman before US
TO give his views as TO the Washing
ton and Georgetown gas companies, but
his illness continued, and it was i'm
possible to hear from the gas company
or to get facts as to the company given
by a person connected with it and IA
miiiar with it
Finally Mr.. Bemis was brought here,
as I understand. upon the employment
or q washington newspaper, and quail
ned as a gentleman having knowledge
Of such subjects.
Substance of Statement.
Il may not state exactly what he said.
but I think give the substance. As
10 this particular company. he had made
no investigation and knew nothing about
It except what he gathered from the
reports OF the Washington and George
The Washington times., 1908-12-15
Sims Tells Why Committee
Is Advocating the Repeal
COMMITTEES REASONS.

Precedent should not be estab-
Hshed of valuing franchises that
are given to public utilities
Franchise viii continue to increase
IN value as population of city in
creases.