The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-07
UNDERTAKER'S BILL
CUT DOWN SHARPLY
Extortionate Prices Charged
for Chicago Funerals
LAND GRABBERs' LOOT
Q,g corporatious Have Acquired Land
In and Around Chicago Which
Is Not Theirs But They
Hold on to IL

Hold on TO IL
Chicago. April s.-(special )-Extortion-
ate nrices of undertakers received
judicial black eye in verdict cutting INTO
the bill of Chicago funeral dlreelor
on the testimony of W. E. Gerry gen
eral manager of the Western CasAet u
Undertaking Co., the concern when mas
cut out the middlemen's profits. An IN
dertaker in Kenwood, an aristoeratic part
of the city. charged $500 for caskee
which the latN admitted when called 10
the witness stand had cost him only sotoo'
His entire bill was 1852. A jury cut MS
charge down to 1892 80. He admitted tha'
he was paid a commission on his livery
charges and rebate by the cemetery
on the grave. He declared that no I'M
dertaker could get along on less thah NV
per cent profit-he charged 800 per ceh''
The Chicago Undertakers' ASSOCIATION i
greatly aroused by this case, its members
declaring that a legitimate BUSINESS
theirs. was menaced with extinction by
the big concern with continual business
and consequently able to get along on
profits of 20 to % per cent, The report
was that in Chicago $350o-half-ot fuhefal
expense could be saved If the small IN
dertaker and his profits could be reie-
gated to the past. Sentiment, however
does and probably will continue the
methods which have been in vogue since
Hoe Of hp nFOfltS
exacted and of the hardship in some cases
which the exactions cause. The coffin
trust which sells to the small under
takers has been a potent factor in main'
tanning the time-honored system.
The loot of land grabbers in Chicago
by the systematic "squattng' by big
corporations in streets and on land which
the city authorities failed to guard, prom
ises to run into several millions. No
means has yet been discovered by the
council public lands committee to dis
possess the offending corporations or Sc
cure any compensation TO the city LOT
the land they have quietly grabbed. Ae-
oording to the report of the committee
the lana SIdDOlliS tAaA Wa ~ ~
includes that by the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul railway of. property in the
northwest part of the city worth $toO,o0o
and also in several streets of the city
property worth $4,000 more. The report
includes the Atchison Topeka and Santa
Fe railway, the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne
and Chicago railroad and the Gas trust
of Chicago. each of which is credited with
securing property worth 100000 or more.
The committees report held out little
hope. 1t stated: Corporations ana IN
dividuals have taken the streets and
alleys and made valuable Improvements
upon the same and without any inter
ference from any of the city authorities.
Where the matter has been contested III
the courts the supreme court has decided
owing to lapse OF time and the non
interference In the possession of the prop
ertv for a number of years, and owing
10 the fact that the city stood idly by.
II was stopped from retaining the prop
erty. We also find that this is continuing
daily. This is due to the fact that there
has been no department in the city re-
sponsible for this particular branch of
executive work"
For better handling of Chicago's down
town church of pedestrians, autos, wagons
and street cars, in the loop district, the
most congested area in the world, study
is to be made by Capt. Charles Healy, in
charge OF the mounted police squadron,
of traffic conditions and regulations in all
the principal cities of Europe. He has
been given a rowing commission by the
Chicago Association of Commerce for as
long a time as Captain Healy thinks
necessary He will visit IL countries and
about 20 cities. Captain Healy has had
charge of the mounted squad since 1t
was organized In December. 1906, and is
responsible to great degree for the
efficiency developed by the men In hand
ling the crowds in the downtown part of
Chicago Traffic in 1.-The Loop'-a dis
trict three-quarters of a smile square,
has increased. according to Captain
Healy rs per cent In three years. Every
day his squad, which started with 16 men
and now nun bers II, faces the problem
of keeping things moving In this small
area into which half million people
come every morning and from which the
ton to the 100000 individuals who utilize
the loop" each "a hours, are $500 street
cars and 5000 other vehicles in the same
time BY actual count recently 1t was
found that 5000 vehicles pass in and
out of the loop district In IL hours; this
average was maintained for 10 consecutive
DAYS. Over the Rush street bridge, con-
Meeting the south and the north sides,
500 vehicles pass in II hours. Each horse
of the mounted squad averages q miles
per day. The men are divided into two
SQUADS, half working from a. m. to i2:3t
and the others from 1890 until p. m.
The KIDNAPPING OF cities at Chicago )
side door. in which Gary East Chicago
Indiana Harbor, Hammond and Whiting
have been merrily engaged under the
new Indiana statute, promises Some dis
toric developments before the end Is
reached. Gary, by action OF its munich
pal authorizes which took less than
five minutes, increased Its population
from 10000 to 10000 IL the annexation u
proposed be agreed to by the people ir
the annexed cities. This followed close or
the heels of the annexation ordinance
passed by East Chicago which. official,
al least, gobbled UP Hammond and whit
ing. It was only necessary, therefore
for Gary to gobble East Chicago to &C
ouire the gobbled cities, but 1T is a like
| " question whether this annexation vii
get any further In East Chicago The
council laws required a two days notice
for a special meeting. Garys efort was
| ia annext first. Its council learning tina
Fast Chicago,s final action was due in {
| few hours, convened Immediately, ant
presto. the annexation ordinance formal,