davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-21
~ ~
BALLINcER ON
THE DEFENSIVE
MAKES VIGOROUS DENIAL OF
CHARGES MADE BY HITCH
COCK OF NEBRASKA.
IN PUBLIC STATEMENT
CHARGES ALLEoE FAvoRlTIsM
AND IMPROPER USE OF
ats PUBLIC FUNDS.


Washington.-Charges against Sec
retary Ballinger and other officials, al
leging improper use of public funds to
pay private travelling expenses of a
nephew of the secretary, we're made
in an affidavit filed Monday by Rep
resentative Hitchcock (Dem) Nebras-
ka, with the house committee on ex-
penditures in the Interior Department.
Secretary Ballinger late Monday
night issued lengthy statement in
which IN most vigorous terms he de-
clared the charges made by Repre-
sentative Hitchcock before the COM
mittee and and aimed at the Interior
Department and general land office,
were without foundation.
Answering in turn each of the
charges made today by Mr. Hitchcock
In his statement. Secretary Ballinger
asserts that insofar as they allege
any extravaganza, wrong-doing or IA
favoritism on his part. they are abso-
lutely without foundation"
False; ridiculously false; equally
false; equally ridiculous; peculiarly
unwarranted assault upon an efficient
government officer" the latter refer
ring to Mr.. Schwartz. chief OF field
service, are expressions which Mr.
Ballinger uses in his reputation of
the various charges.
In regard to appointing relative,
j. s. Ballinger, as confidential clerk
when he became commissioner of the
land office, the secretary says this
was because he was not personally ac-
quainted before coming here with any
officers or clerks in the land office.
and desired to have as confidential
clerk some one whom he knew.
He says that Judge Wright was re-
moved, not to make way for j. S. Bal
linger. but because of Judge Wright's
age, he being nearly eighty, made him
physically disqualified to perform his
duties"
The vacancy on the law board, he
says. was filled not by Jack Ballin-
ger but by Judge Grey.
He says that the certain large
brick chimney" to which Mr. Ballin-
ger alluded, was erected pursuant to
a specific appropriation for the pur-
pose by Congress; that the additional
clerks In the land office complained of
were necessitated by the Congress
sional appropriation of s1,0OO.0OO for
protecting public lands, and the
charge in regard to the purchase of
furniture 'is on par with that relat-
ing to the employment of additional
clerks"
The statement of Mr.. Ballinger came
as surprise. as during the afternoon
he evinced a disposition to let the
matter go unanswered until the joint
investigation committee is organized.
The most important allegation of
Mr.. Hitchcock is that funds. of the In
terror. Department were improperly
used in paying private travelling ex-
penses of Secretary Ballinger's
nephew
The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-21
GENERAL NEWS.

Postal Telegraph Company has
started preparation for consolidation
of all telegraph lines in the United
States.
Charles R. Heike. one of the men
higher up in the sugar trust, has
been indicted at New York for aiding
employees at docks in making false en-
tries.
Roger Sommer, using a folding BIZ
plane of his own invention and con-
struction, made a successful flight on
the 18th inst. from Dousey. France,
to Remilly ct Aillicourt. about seven
miles. In twelve minutes.
In the first ski tournament of the
season on the Duluth slide, Ole Fier-
ing of Duluth exceeded the national
ski jump record. leaping 144 feet on
a trial jump. This is the longest jump
ever made in this country.
AS result of heavy ice and the
breaking of the cable that connects
the Magdalene islands with the main
land at Bay st. Lawrence. the islands
are completely cut off from all COM
munication either by cable or other
wise, until the opening of navigation
in the spring.
The fire losses for the United States
and Canada during the calendar year
1909 aggregate s2O3.o00.0o0. While this
destruction OF property in one year is
enormous. 1t shows reduction of
some $35. 900. 900 from the record of the
year previous.
The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-21
CITIZENS WATER LEAGUE
WANTS INITIATIVE, REFER
ENDUm AND RECALL.
RADICAL PROVISIONS
DESIGNED TO KEEP ACTUAL POW.
ER IN THE HANDS OF
THE PEOPLE.

Denver.-Negotiatio between the
Labor Water league and the Citizens
Water league over their differences
regarding form OF amendment to the
charter and the personnel of the wa
ter commission having ceased. the
Citizens Water league is out with it's
proposed amendments to the charter.
There are four amendments proposed.
namely. the Initiative" the refer
eHdum," the recall and the water
amendment proper
On the passage of an ordinance
by the council 1t should remain
imperative for thirty days to give
the referendum" time to work.
Fifteen per cent of the pre-.
GUS vote signed to petition can
call for a special election to
decide whether that ordinance shall
go into effect. Five per cent of the
previous vote to petition can have it
referred to a vote at the next regular
city election.
A petition containing five per cent. Of
the previous vote at city election Is
required to initiate an ordinance for
the council to pass. and 1t must be
passed, too, over the mayors veto or
referred to the people at the next reg
ular election. Fifteen per cent of the
vote can require special election to
act OH the ordinance.
Any elective officer may be re-
moved from office under the recall
provision on a petition signed by twen-
ty-five per cent. of the last vote for
mayor. An election must be held
within forty days to elect a successor
to the officer recalled" The ire
called" officer is not prohibited from
being candidate to succeed himself.
An amendment making it easier to
secure signatures to petitions is also
provided. The findings OF the election
commission regarding the sufficiency
Of any such petition are made subject
to review by the courts
The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-21

I I Nine men and boy were killed and
six other men madly burned by an ex-
plosion OF gas in the new shaft OF the
Nottingham colliery of the Lehigh &
Wilkesbarre Coal Company at ply
mouth. Pa, on the 11th inst.
Nathan Straus, the New York
merchant and philanthropist, has
broken down nervously under the
strain of fighting for the chiIdren's
tuberculosis preventorium at Lake
wood. N. J. There has been much
opposition to the location OF the pre-
ventorium among the wealthy resi-
dents of Lakewood.
Praise for Clifford Pinchot, former
chief forester of the United States,
was the keynote of most OF the
speeches delivered at the conference
on conservation OF natural resources,
before the Republican club at New
York. But for Mr.. Pinchot," said
Col. William F. Cody CBuffaIo Bill,
1--WE should have no great national
forest preserve. And it was President
Roosevelt" he added. who started
it."
AC Ohiltu oldttS mas ioSI lIS place
as the greatest wheat producing coun-
try in the world, and Russia has won
that distinction. Even though last
year the total yield of wheat in the
United States was next to the argest
in the history of American agricuI-
ture, the crop of 1901 only having ex-
ceeded 1t, Russia last year produced
the remarkable harvest of 7S3, 900 900
bushels, which constitutes the largest
crop ever harvested by any country,
and 26.000.0OO bushels greater than
that of the United States.
Early in the morning of the 10Th
inst the New York Military Academy
at Cornwall. N. Y, was destroyed by
fire, the principal buildings being
burned The bugle was sounded and
the cadets with military precision
marched out, most of them in pajamas
and bath robes. They lost all their
personal effects. There were about
$50 students in the academy. The
buildings destroyed were valued at
about 100000. The academy has
educated young men for West Point
for forty years.
Boston on the 11th inst, in the first
partyless election held under a new
charter, elected former Mayor John F.
Fitzgerald to fill the mayors chair
again. this time for a four-year term,
giving him 46,96S votes and plural
ity of 1.223 over his nearest opponent,
James j. Storrow. banker, former pres
ident of the chamber of commerce and
former chairman of the school board
The most remarkable feature of the
election to many was the small vote
of 1.7S2 given to the present mayor,
George A. Hibbard, who received 49,.
600 votes two years ago, being elected
on reform" ticket over Fitzgerald.
The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-21
General Dc Vets Niece.

+, Greeley.-Lving on a 1.400-acre
farm In the new Grow Creek district.
far from relatives, her property con-
fiscated in her native land of South
Africa, is Mrs. Sannie De Wet Smith,
niece of General De Wet of Boer war
fame, and grand niece of the late Dom
Paul. once president Of the Transvaal
Republic and the Orange Free State.
Mrs. Smith is now the wife of B. l..
Smith, well-to-do ranchman, and this
marriage was the result of romance
which developed when Mrs. De Wet,
as she was then known, was travelling
with her three children in California.
At the opening Of the Boer war the
widow and children were travelling in
America, and when all their property
they were thrown on their own re-
sources.
Speaking several languages and
having q knowledge of music, the
mother successfully made good liv-
ing for herself and children. About
twenty-five years ago, when she was
twelve years old, Mrs. Smith went on
a trip with her Boer grandfather.
when he "trekked' with wagons and
oxen, into Central Africa and to Lake
Tangeneka.
Dom Paul she remembers as the
kindest Of men, whom all his relatives
venerate, and she often spent months
in his home, as well as in that of Cen
eral De Wet.
Mrs. Smith says the Greeley district
is 80 much like Southern Africa in ap-
pearance and climate that she chose
it for her home. at least until her
property In Cape Town has been re-
stored to her by the English govern
ment.
The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-21
shosh one Dam Einiahed.

Cody, Wyo.-The last bucketful OF
cement to complete the big govern
ment dam to impound waters of the
Snoshone river eight miles above
Cody. was put in place Monday and
the event is being celebrated in true
Western style. The dam is the high
est structure of its kind in the world,
1923 feet. 1t is eighty-five feet long at
the bottom and 200 feet long at the
top. 1t is designed to hold back the
flood waters of the Shoshone, which
will form an artificial lake ten miles
square. This is expected to furnish
water for the irrigation of $4,000
acres of land.
The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-21
WESTERN NEWS.

The principal mine owners in the
Black Hills have declared their inten-
tion to inaugurate the card system and
| permanently shut out union labor.
An exhibition of flying machines
will be held at Denver soon, accord
ing to the statement of Dr. F. L. Bart
lett. president of the Denver Chamber
of Commerce at Los Angeles.
Resolutions pledging the signers to
abstain from eating meat for at least
thirty days were circulated among
workingmen in large shops at Chi
cago and Will reach $4,000 men. The
hope is to bring down the prices.
1t is reported that Denver will short
ly be connected with Wichita, Kas..
and other points east by line of rail-
road to be built from Sharon Springs,
just across the Kansas line, on the
Kansas Pacific division of the Union
Pacific, to Wichita.
Central Wyoming sheepmen. who
faced determination OF their flocks be-
cause of the difficulty in getting feed
to the starving animals, have succeed
ed in securing enough grain and hay
and great caches OF feed have been
made on the range. While losses have
been staggering. 1t is not thought that
they will be nearly SO severe as had
been anticipated.
A meteor measuring sixty-five
inches in diameter and weighing many
tons. buried itself six feet in the earth
near Darlington, Nebr., on the 18th
inst. For a minute before it struck
the meteor Illuminated the entire sur
rounding country, and It's impact with
the earth produced vibrations like
those from an earthquake. The me-
teor remained hot for twenty-four
hours after it struck the earth. 1t
now has the appearance of dull red
ore.
State Game Warden d. c. Nowlin of
Wyoming has been informed by ranch
men of the Jackson Hole country,
south of the Yellowstone park, that
$4,000 elk and deer in that district are
beginning to suffer from short feed,
and that it is probable many viii
starye before the spring thaw sets in.
The elk and deer have been driven by
the weather and snow from the upper
ranges. and are now finding it hard
picking on the lower ranges, which
were fed over by cattle last fall.
Doubling that Thomas H. Swope,
the millionaire philanthropist who
died at Kansas City October 3rd. came
to his death by natural causes, rela-
tives have started an investigation to
determine the exact cause of his de-
mise. Attorneys representing the
Swope estate say they are convinced
a deep laid plot existed to kill, first
Colonel Swope and then other mem
bers of his family. A person who
hoped to become sole beneficiary of
the Swope millions plotted the deaths,
they assert.
An international exposition in which
the western states are vitally inter-
ested is to be held at San Diego, Cal,
in celebration Of the completion of the
great Panama canal. Although 1915
is five years away, the San Diego
boosters are working. as though it
were only two months away and their
enthusiasm is injecting the entire
West. Before the month is over, they
promise to raise $1,000,000 to place at
the disposal of the directors OF the
exposition with which to carry on
building. u. s. Grant. Jr., is presi-
dent of the board of directors of the
exposition.
The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-21
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

Representative Mondell has intro
duced bill authorizing the secretary
of the interior to sell 800 acres of land
to johnson county. Wyoming. for poor
farm purposes
Representative Rucker of Colorado
has introduced bill to promote Cap
tain James Moynahan of Fairplay to
the rank of major on the retired list
of the army,
OF March as presidential inaugura-
ton date and the fixing of the fourth
Thursday of April in it's place is pro-
vided for in a resolution ordered IA
vorably reported by the House COM
mittee on the judiciary
Senator Francis E. Warren left for
Washington without completing ar
rangements for the erection of a mod
ern hotel, the business which brought
him to Cheyenne during the holiday
recess of Congress. Senator Warren
seeks to enlist the aid of other Chey-
enne capitalists in project to erect
hotel which will be larger and better
than possessed by many towns of the
same population.
Nathan B. Williams, a lawyer of
Fayetteville, Ark, has issued a COM
plant against the Wells-Fargo COM
pany, in which he asserts that the
carrying of packages of four pounds
or less by express companies between
interstate points Is unlawful, because
Congress has committed the carriage
of such packages to the mails and has
made 1t unlawful for any private ex-
press to carry them.
President Taft has appointed Henry
S. Graves, director of the Yale Forest
school. as forester of the United States
to succeed Clifford Pinchot. He also
appointed Alfred F. Potter. at present
acting forester, as associate forester.
The new forester and his associate are
both known as Pinchot men Both
have served under Mr.. Pinchot and
both are in sympathy with his policy
of administration
Whether the thirteenth census on
which the government intends to
spend at least $13,000.000. will give a
correct picture of the nation, depends
80 Aiu>h cii eiO pCoPAO ehClnoclNtb ho
upon the enumerators, who number
$4,000. Director Durand makes this
declaration in his annual report. The
director says that any person or cor
poration may make returns and know
that when the results are published it
will be impossible to identify them
with any individual. or set of men.
The returns are not disclosed to any
one not employed in the census bu-
reau.
A statement issued by the postoffice
department of the gross receipts of
fifty OF the largest postoffices for De-
cember. 1909. as compared with De-
cember. 1908. shows the Denver re-
ceipts for December. 1903, to be $122,-
539.19. and for December, 1908, $10S.-
075.77. an Increase of thirteen per
cent.
1t is announced that the census
enumerators in the sparsely settled
sections Of the West and Southwest
will be compensated on per diem
basis instead of per capita, the rate
OF pay ranging from IS to Sc per day.
The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-21

Farmers residing near Rocky Ford
received $150.000 for sugar beets de-
1ivered in December. from the Amer
fcan Beet Sugar Company. making
the total for the year more than $780,
900.
Leonard Imboden and James A. Hill,
sentenced to the penitentiary by
Judge Peter l.. Palmer, at Den.
yer, March 13, 1906, to terms
of from nine to ten years In
connection with the Denver Say.
ings bank receivership. at last are to
have hearing, after constant efforts
to get it. Their application came be-
fore the state board of pardons on the
18th inst. and 1t decided to give both
Imboden and Hill special hearing.
The case was postponed, therefore. to
January 29th.
F. N. Briggs, the largest depositor
in the Grand County bank OF Sulphur
Springs, which went to the wall be-
cause of the alleged manipulation Of
its funds by G. H. Bowlds. is quoted as
authority for the statement that set
tlement of all claims against the bank
Il assured.
The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-21
Kansas Corporation Fee Fails.

Washington.-"The Bush Act Of
the State of Kansas. which sought to
compel outside corporations to pay a
charter fee for the benefit of the state
schools as a condition of doing bust.
ness in that state. is held invalid by
the Supreme Court of the United
States in divided decision. The con-
trolling opinion is by Justice Harlan,
with a concurring opinion by Justice
White; but three justices dissent:
Chief Justice Fuller and Associate
Justices Holmes and McKenna The
case was that of the Western Union
Telegraph Company vs. the State OF
Kansas.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-25
WOULD CREATE NEW WARD
Petitions with Many Names Are Out
for Division.
WILL BE THIRTEENTH WARD
All Territory North of Ames Avenue
to Constitute Added Ward--C.
Nj. Davidson FavOrs Move,
Saying II 10 Necessary.

Petitions arc in circulation and are being
numerously signed, to have the present
Twelfth ward OF Omaha divided at Ames
avenue, the territory north OF Ames to
become the Thirteenth ward.
Councilman Charles Nj. Davis, at present
representing the district in the city council,
has seen the petitions and admits the
movement Is taking OH formidable proper
tiona, but is not worrying about 1t.
The ward 10 too large" says Mr.. Davis.
'In common with every other resident who
has given the matter any thought must
admit there is good ground for asking q
division OF the ward. IL II should be divided
ut Ames avenue, as the petitions contem-
plate, that line would make as even a
division OF the territory as could be
reached. And tho part north OF Ames
avenue has boon building up so rapidly that
1 doubt II there would be any very great
difference In population. There are hum
dreds OF large families north OF the line"
The present boundaries OF the Twelfth
ward are somewhat irregular on tho east
and south sides. The ward line on the cast
begins on Twentieth street. running from
Ohio to PinSney. then moves over to Twen-
ty-fourth and continues 20 the north city
limits. The south line begins at Lake street
and runs west to sorty-first. on gorty-first
TO Writ, 10 Forty-sscond, TO Pratt and or
20 the west city limits, taKIns IN Fonta-
nellie park.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-25
"Rags" Wins Grew
by Daring Plunge
Jumps from the City of Peoria to
Save Sounding Line He
Thought Lost.

Rags" the five-pound canine mascot of
the City of Peoria, covered himself with
glory and water in a thrilling adventure
just off the Florence shore Thursday
night. Rags" was an innocent specta-
tor, with his head cooked to one side gag
ing into the limpid depths beneath the
boat while the coxswain was sounding
them with his lead when the accident &C.
Cured.
The dog wasn't expecting anything and
wasn't doing anything. particularly, but
just watching. From that point. versions
Of the incident differ. except upon the point
on which ell agree that Rags" suddenly
went overheard. Some OF the spectators
declare tho coxswain got his line hooked
round Rags neck and accidentally. or on
purpose-threw the dog In. Others declare
Rags attention wac attracted to something
in the water and he jumped. Not a few
maintain that the coxswain lost his line
and Rags jumped in after It.
At any rate, all OF sudden, Rags and
the lead line were floating in the water.
The boat was stopped, Wilt bells changing
and the paddle wheel working on the re-
verse order and the waters churning in
great waves, a deck hand was lowered.
and the dog was rescued.
Where Rags came in for glory was the
fact that he, had the lead line securely be-
tween his teeth when he was set on the
deck again.
Large crowds are nightly seeking the dl.
versian OF a trip on the Peoria, and the
management reports the boat is having
great success. Music and dancing are at.
fractions on the vessel.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-25
BODY OF WILLIAM KRUG
Is LAID TO ITS REST
simple Funeral Services at the House,
with Interneht at Prospect
Hill Cemetery.

Simple and impressive was the funeral
ceremony conducted for the late William
Krug from the family home, SIS South
Twentieth street Friday afternoon, The
body lay in state IN the living rooms OF
tho residence, the walls OF which wero
banked with floral tributes OF roses and
spring flowers, until the service at
o'clock. Many friends from Omaha and
from out OF the city attended the service.
and q funeral procession OF more than 100
carriages accompanied the body 10 Pros
poet Hin cemetery. where It was laid TO
rest. Rev. I. J. Mackay and Rev. W.
Sohaefer conducted the ceremony at both
the residence end the cemetery,
In respect for Mr.. IIrug the saloons OF
Omaha were closed for a part OF the after
noon and many members OF the Progress
slve Liquor league paid their tribute at tho
home. The pallbearsrs were men who had
been In Mr.. krugs service for many years
and were his oldest employees. They were
Julius Weber, James Novack, william
hAGsisen. Maurice Meyer, Hans AsInussen.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-25
MOVE AGAINST SCoRCHERS
Members of Omaha Automobile Club
Favor Spending Money TO Prose-
cute Persistent speeders.

The recent automobile accident at the
corner OF Thirty-fourth and Leavenworth
streets has aroused owners OF cars in the
city OF Omaha TO the fact that something
must be done 10 prevent reckless and fast
drivers from running cars in the city
limits. Although popular opinion on the
subject is somewhat bitter. no one out
side has proposed a really practicable plan.
one which is stringent enough and stin fair
to owners OF cars, who are careful drivers.
Considerable Informal discussion has been
going on among the members OF the Omaha
Automobile club. which contains most Of
the careful and law-abidlng drivers Of the
city, on this question and at the next
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-25
MELCHER BUYS OUT SCHMIDT
Control of New Down Town Phar-
macy Passes Into Hands of For
mer PRrtner-sOn as
Manager.

c. A. Melcher has purchased the interest
of ]. II. Schmidt in the Melcher- Schmidt
pharmacy at Seventeenth and Farnam
streets and will now call Il the c. A. Mel
cher Drug company. MT Mecher is now
sole proprietor. He has conducted a phar-
macy IN South Omaha for a number Of
years and will continue 20 run both places.
His son, Fred Melcher, Will assume man
agement OF the Omaha store about July /.
Some alterations will be made the store
VIII be enlarged and a seventeenth street
entrance opened.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-25

meeting of the club 1t is expected that
some action will be taken. About the best
suggestion which has been made so far
is that a small due be collected from each
member monthly, the money to be used in
conjunction with the police authorities of
the city to keep a mounted man on those
streets OF the city which are used the most
as speedways. and to see that scorchers
are pursued until caught ard brought to
trial. This help, with the new law on
speeding, which was recently passed,
might cut down considerably the number
of offenses in the opinion of some auto
club members.