davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
HOW CITY WILL PROCEED TO GET OUT OF CONGRESS
 STREET WIDENING PLAN
Wider Street Has Been Legally Laid Out and it Must be Dis continued With Assessment of Benefits and
 Damages in Reverse Order

the widening would put their property upon the corner of Main and Congress streets and increase its value by the amount of the benefit. The reverse process will be to find damages of sa.000. and one appraisal will neutral ize the other.
 As to whether the city will be plung- ed in litigation as a result of the dis continuance is a question.
 It is not believed that such 1i.igd- tion would be successful. It is true that the city has ordered the street widened. but it has never ordered ob- structions removed. A property own CT who should tear down his build ing in mere expectancy that the street was to be immediately widened w"uid probably be held to have inflicted the damage upon himself Many streets in Bridgeport have been laid out for many years. without being improved, and a mere layout of a street is prob ably not a warrant to property own CT on the street to assume that his property has been taken.
 At any rate the authorities do not look forward with trepidation to such prospective litigation.
 All of this procedure would have been saved had the original veto of Mayor Buckingham been sustained. This was a veto before the assess ment of benefits and damage had been confirmed.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
OLDEST SUIT IS
 OFF DOCKET, OF
 SUPERIOR COURT
Time Has Settled What the Courts Didn't-NeW "Old-
 est Suit"

Back in November 1892, the town of Newtown brought a petition to the railroad commissioners asking for a change in the location of a public highway at Houlihans crossing for the purpose of avoiding grade crossing after several hearings made a ruling abolishing the grade crossings. The New York and New England Rail- road which was effected by the rul- ing took an appeal to the Superior Court. That appeal was filed with Clerk Shelton of the Superior Court in April 1893. Since that time the ap- peal has hung fire, until the case had become known as the oldest on the Superior Court docket.
 Now the counsel for that railroad which has been absorbed by the N Y., N. H. & H. railroad have with drawn the appeal because of the changed conditions years have brought out, the old road having been chang ed due to double trackings.
 The wreath which the above case held for being the oldest on the doc ket is now bequeathed to the suit of Fisher & Levy of New York against Christian Larsen of Norwalk. The suit is for $1.50O on two notes for $404.- Superiar Court in April 1895. Quite singularly. in the suit which is now the second oldest, the plaintiff is the defendant in the oldest. It is the suit of Christian Larsen vS. The New Hampshire Fire Insurance Co.,. for $1 1000. The suit was filed in April 1896 Larsen was the owner of a saloon in Darien which was totally destroyed by fire. He made out his losses to- talling s1 164 and put in his claim against the insurance company with which company he held a policy for 1000.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
CHRIS DONOVAN DEAD
Former Well Known Local Celebrity Dies Suddenly
 in Los Angeles

Chris Donovan, 10 years ago one of the best known men-about-t town, is dead. News of his demise reached Bridgeport today. He succumbed to a complication of heart trouble and other diseases at Los Angeles, where for several years he has been en- gagged in the real estate business. His death occurred Jan. 9th.
 Donovan was once one of the most active workers in Democratic politics of Robert Ross in a pistol duel at the polls in Troy, a score of years ago, Donovan along with others ac- tive in Democratic politics, hastily quit the city. At that time he occu- pied the position of driver of the
 Fearing he would be brought into the probe that followed the election riot, Donovan escaped by a Hudson river boat to New York city then came to Bridgeport under the name of O'Brien. He soon resumed his own name, and on technical charge of theft was arrested and taken to Troy. After he had refused to prof fer information bearing on the cleo tion troubles, Donovan was released. he claimed, merely to get him into the scene of the investigation.
 Returning to Bridgeport he secur- ed employment as mOtorman. Lat CT he became the day watchman of the American Graphophone Co. Don ovan had leaning towards loud clothes, and his diamond horseshoe pin and diamond rings were often re- marked. He was a large, corpulent man, and with his broad expanse of shirt front effulgent with the dia- mond horseshoe's gleams, he was al- most invariably the center of little group of admirers. Carrying out still further the stage idea of the sport ing man, he was always accompanied by an ugly bull dog.
 Donovan was about 53 years of age
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
Rayner Strong For Choice Of Senators
 By Popular Vote
Present Member of United States Senate Leaves no Doubt as
 to Where He Stands

Washington. Jan. 2O-P1eading for a clean cut resolution. referring to the people the question of the direct cleo ton of Senators. Rayner Oem. of the resolution now before the Sen- ate without amendment.
 There is nothing in the proposi- tion,'' he said. in part. "that in the slightest degree affects the political sovereignty of the States. as contem- constitution. 1t was the quality of representation that gave rise to con troversy.
 'The people have for years and years insisted upon it that this amendment should be submitted to them. It is this Senate has decided how he will cast his vote and what have a reso- lutfon for today. mainly, is for those who are in favor of 1t not to load it down with propositions that mean its death: not to take away from the States rights that they will never sur render if it can be avoided. and not to give at any time a partisan Con- gresS the power to control the machfn- cry of election as aeainst the will of sovereign commonwealths. from whom the right to suffrage has never yet been indirectly taken and who will peaceably contest to the last degree this constitutional privilege"
 For nearly 25 years. Rayner said, ever since he was a member of the House of Representatives. in season and out of season. he had advocated the right of the people to elect Sena- tors. Amendments introduced by De- pew. Rep.. New York;. and Suther- land, (Rep.. Utah), the Senator declar- ed "were in deadly conflict with the spirit of the resolution"
 Depew's amendment provided that qualifications of voters should be uni- form in all the States and that Con- gress should have the power to regu- late elections for Senators. The Suth- charge of the elections but reserved to Congress the power to regulate them at any time. The resolution be- fore the Senate gives the States un- restricted power to conduct the elec- tions.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
FIFTH SUIT GROWS OUT
 OF TROLLEY-AUTO CRASH

The fifth suit growing out of the
 accident at the Oronoque post office on Nov. 1s. 1910. when Mrs. Nelson C.. Shaw of this city was killed when the auto in which she was riding was run down by a trolley car. was filed today in the Common Pleas court. It |ss for $2.0o0 and Is broeht by Elida |Ghaw. who claims that when the auto |was struck Nelson Shaw who also Twas hit was hurled against her body |ghe claims to have sustained internal |sa5uriea.
 The five suits against the Connecti- lent co. aggregate $26-000. Two suits |are brought by Nelson Shaw one for |fhe loas of his wife, and the other for Injuries sustained by himself. The |othsr two are for the death of Mrs Shaw and the suit for the damages to
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20

In the good old days when King Ar thur marched his men up the hill it was a simple matter to march them down again. He had but to give the order. Those were the good old feudal days when any old thing went. and now that Bridgeport has wiGened Congress street 1t will be obliged to follow a somewhat elaborate process to unwiden it. mainly because the veto of Mayor Buckingham was not sustained upon the first occasion of it's appearance.
 The council called hearings, assessed benefits and damages. and widened Congress street twelve feet on the north side, between Main street and HouSatonic avenue.
 Tn the eye of the law Congress street ix twelve feet wider. Physically it is no wider than before
 It will be necessary for the council tc call hearings for the discontinuance of that portion of Congress street in- ciuded in the widening. The matter must 20 in regular order to the Board Of Appraisal. which must then assess benefits and damages. but in reverse order. The report must be approved by the council and the discontinuaEce voted.
 Under the layout. Berger & O'Ccn- nor have been assessed benefits of Si.- eco. This was upon the theory that
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
DISHONEST USE OF TRANSFERS
 COST $I5,O00
Supt. C. H. Chapman Suspends
 Present Rules Temporarily
Announces That Company Will
 Shortly Begin Use of Colored , Transfers in Hope of Remedy
 ing Abuses

Declaring that the abuse of the transfer system in vogue in the local street railway service had cost the company approximately $15,o0o dur ing the past year, Supt. Charles H. Chapman in charge of the local divi- sion today announced that an entire ly new method would be introduced by which he expected the existing abuses will be remedied.
 Until the change is formally put into practice the company has de- cided in view of the widespread dis satisfaction over the existing system to modify it and the temporary change went into effect today.
 The Farmer has received com plaints from patrons of the road that gross injustice has been done them by reason of the manner in which the company has been issuing trans fers lately. For the purpose of as- certaining the company's view of the asked Supt. Chapman for statement bearing upon the question
 MT. Chapman said he was aware that there existed considerable fault finding from reputable patrons of the Barnum avenue and Stratford avenue lines.
 .'But," he said, "there are two sides to this question and we feel that when our position is understood no fair minded person will criticise us." Continuing he said:
 'We will change the entire transfer system in a. few weeks by the intro duction of colored transfers inShopes of checking the doubling back system some passengers have been working for some time past. We have discon- tfnued the rule about not accepting transfers on cars other than those Vn1, ,e6 fny a c cars are operated on the same line. We found that many honest patrons were being inconvenienced. particular 1y factory employees using Stratford avenue and Barnum avenue cars.
 Transfers or Barnum avenue and Stratford avenue lines are now good on any car providing they are issued from a local or city line. Transfers issued from Stratford cars coming in- to the city will not be good on New Haven cars leaving the city. We have put an inspector at work today to instruct conductors how to properly issue and accept transfers"
 Asked to what extent the company had been defrauded. Supt Chapman answered.: '"The doubling back system has cost the company about $50 a day in the winter time and much more in the summer time. The number of thousands of dollars that the company loses in a year cannot be estimated correctly. but is approximately $15,- O00."
 MT. Chapman when asked for an ex- planation of the doubling back" sys- tenn to which he referred, said:
 People living in Stratford come to the city on a New Haven car via the Barnum avenue line. and get a Strat- ford avenue transfer. They board a Paradise Green car and return home, making the round trip for @ nickel. When the attention of the passenger is called to the time punched on the transfer they declares that they just got it. from a local line car.
 (Continued on Page 2
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
JACkS0N'S THEATRE
 LEASED FOR l2 YEARS
P. F. Shea Theatres Company Formally Takes Hold of
 Local Playhouse

Two leases concerning Jackson's Theatre were filed this morning in the ofbce of the town clerk
 The first is an assignment from Ed ward c. Smith to Peter F. Shea of Springfield. of MT. Smiths lease on the theatre for 19 months. The rental is $60S.3S a month, and $35 a week ad- dftional. This takes the theatre up to Sept 1, 1912.
 The second lease is from the Barnum estate. owners :of the theatre. and fs signed by Clinton Barnum Seeley and Wilson Marshall. This lease Is to run for 10 years from Sept 1, 1912, at a rental of $9.500 per annum for the first five years. and s10. 800 per annum for the next five years
 The lessee. the P. F. Shea Theatres company, agrees to expend S$5, 900 in Improvements within the theatre building before Sept. 1. 1912. The lease includes the entire theatre offices. with the exception of the Bar mum offices.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
But Mystery Surrounds Back CTS of the Project, Whose
 Charter Expires August

Ten teams drawing load after load of trolley rails to the end of the North Main street trolley line, and stringing them along the proposed route of the banbury & Bridgeport line loomed up suddenly in the ex- treme north end, yesterday, causing much speculation among the inhab- itants of that rapidly growing sec- ton.
 Henry Clampett is hauling the rails for the Bridgeport 6 Danbury com pany. Just who's who in the Bridge pore & Danbury enterprise is not clear. Marsh, Stoddard & Day, at- torneys for the enterprise, have not yet made clear the identity of the interests back of the project, and be- enveloping the project, Alderman H. H. Jackson has succeeded in causing some delay on the part of the city in granting permission to the com = pany to use the street.
 At present, the promoters are mak- ing use of the street without permis- sion from the city to do so. stringins their rails along the public thorough fare from Main street at the present terminal toward the Trumbull line. With their eight cars of rails now on the local sidings, they have more than enough to reach Trumbull. That is the estimate of the teamsters at work.
 The Bridgeport & Danbury line was incorporated by John T. King, Will liam H. Marigo1d and Henry E. Reilly in 1907, and Reilly later withdrew from the enterprise. Marigold and King time ann nHM the nam manic " of Mof F Plant, the millionaire steamship man of New sLondon was coupled with the proposi- tion Of late it has been hinted that New Haven capital is behind the pro ject. New Haven railroad officials however disclaim any. part in the road and say they know nothing of the identity of the packers.
 On Jan. Il the local law firm, rep resenting the company filed a petition and accompanying map of layout, seeking the ratification by the city of the company's plans. When the com mon council met last Monday City Clerk Boucher at the suggestion of Alderman Henry Clampett chairman of the street committee submitted a report of the committee recommend ing that a public hearing be had. AL derman Jackson, also of the committee on streets and sidewalks, objected to the councils accepting the recommen- dation for the public hearing and as a result the report was ordered laid on the table until the next meeting of the Common council.
 Alderman Jackson said, today, he believed it is not for the best inter est of the city to go ahead blindly in the matter. The New Haven road he said, has petitioned for the right to lay tracks over the same territory as far as the Trumbun line. He pointed out that if the Bridgeport &
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
PASTOR GRANTS WIFE, COMMITS SUICIDE
 BY WHALING GAS

Danvers. Mass. Jan. 20.-Mrs. >Eugene M Grant, wife of the Rev. lkr. Grant, attached to the Univer- salist Church in this town, committed suicide, carly this morning by inhal- ing Illuminating gas. She was about SO years old and besides her hus- band. she leaves a son and three daughters Mrs. Grant had been troubled with nervousness for some time but such a tragic end was not apprahended by her friends
 MrR Grant formerly lived ia Stam- ford. Conn, where she was well known She retired, last night, ap- parentiy in good spirits, but when che failed to appear for breakfast her husband investigated and found her body.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20

Danbury enterprise is carried through, or permission is granted them without due consideration, there is a likelihood that an extra fare will be required to ride past the terminal of the Con- necticut Co.'s line.
 'sI can't find out anything about the new company said Alderman Jack. son today. Tt may be all right. but I believe we should know who is be- hind the plan. what they have and what they propose to do. The Secre- tary of State can't tell me who is in the company. The New Haven road disclaims all knowledge of it. Per haps it's to the best interests of the city to have the Connecticut Co.'S pc tftion to build to the Trumbull line, carried out"
 The charter of the company. it is understood, expires in August, 1911 The company expects to fight, it has been announced for an extension of the life of their charter by the present Legislature.
 One of the North End residents. who had signed the petition to the. Connecticut. Co.,, to huild to the Trum- bull line, after waiting vain1y since 1907 for the Danhury line to build it's route said the impression held ground up there that the rails were being dis tributed for the sake of retaining pub lie confidence and thus offsetting op- position to the extension of their charter.
 Pretty costly bluffing." observed Alderman Henry Clampett. whose teams are hauling the rails ssThere are seven Or eight carloads of them.''
 sI really don't know who the Of f1cers are,'' said Attorney Arthur M. Marsh, counsel for the Briag eport Xs Danbury Street Railway Go. when asked today, who is at the head of the company
 Arthur M. Marsh said he had done all of his business with Chief Engi- neer A. William Sperry, of New Ha- ven. He supposes MT. Sperry knows who backs the company MT. Marsh knows no one he says who is finan- cially interested in the undertaking. Asked if he thought that John T. King is connected with the company MT. Marsh said, .T do not think he is.''
 As for the carting of the rails to the North Main street, MT. Marsh said it shows the company intends to build, as soon as it could get through certain formalities.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
with you in the effort to. have it re- pealed and replaced with a more equit. able tax
 WILLARD c. FISHER, Mayor,
 City of Middletown.

Dear Sir:
 Your letter of the 18th instant at hand. and in reply would say that I am heartily in favor of abolishing the State tax as laid by the last General Assembly. and feel satisfied that the electors of this city would favor any plan, whereby the town could rid It. self of such an unjust burden. and as our city is going to hold a special meeting on the 23d to consider all leg islative matters pertaining to our city. I will prepare a resolution taking up the matter of taxation. and instruct ing our Senator and Representatives to do all within their power to pro- hibit the laying of special tax upon the towns and increase the tax. if necessary. upon the corporations who, at the present time, are not paying their just proportion of the tax.
 Any further suggestions that you may make. in the cooperation with your city. will be highly appreciated. z
 Very truly yours
 A. M. POHLMAN.
 Mayor of South Norwalk
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
$40, ,00O, ,O00 STATE
 DEBT CASE BEFORE
 THE SUPREME COURT
(Special from United Press. ]

Washington, Jan. 20-The famous Virginia West Virginia debt case was argued before the Supreme Court of the United States late this afternoon Over $40,OO0,000 is at stake in the lit igation which has been before the highest court several years. The State of Virginia sued the State of West Virginia to force it to pay part of the debt Virginia incurred before West Virginia was formed.
 Attorney General Williams. of Vir- giani, Attorney General Conway, of West Virginia, are representing their respective states; Holmes Conrad for the bond holders and Former Senator John c. Spooner for West Virginia.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
WALL STREET TODAY.

New York, Jan. 2O.-(Opening.) )- Price movem onts in the early trad ing on the stock market, today were irregular and at the end of the first IS minutes the tone was heavy.
 II a. m.-The market was without trend all through the first hour, some issues showing pronounced strength. while others were under moderate pressure and sustained slight frac- tional losses.
 Government bonds unchanged; oth- CT bonds strong.
 Noon.-The market became dull in the last half of the forenoon with prices of majority of issues traded in showing further slight concessions.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
RECIPROCITY TREATY
 NOT YET APPROVED.

Washington, Jan. 20.-No official here regarding the reported recipro- city agreement between the United States and Canada It is understood that the negotiators here sent to Ottawa the draft of reciprocity treaty, tentatively agree upon. It was stated at the time that there was little doubt but Canada would give he treaty her approval
 According to the State Depart ment, no official approval has vet been received from Ottawa, though such is expected.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
ESTATE OF WILLIS D. IVES

Clifford B. Wilson was today ap- pointed administrator of the estate of the late Willis D. Ives, father of former Alderman F. D. Ives and a former member of the New York po- lice department. M. B. Beariey. James A Turner and John H. Green
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
HITCHCOCK WILL STICK BY HIS
 FALSE ECONOMY
Especial from United Press. }

Washington. Jan. 20.-When ask cd about the reported protest by the Minnesota Railway Clerks against his economy plan. Postmaster General Hitchcock said. today. that he did not regard the situation as likely to interfere seriously with the railway mail service
 T have heard of no resignations of railway mail clerks" he continued, and if any do leave, we will not have any trouble filling their posi- tfonR We have thousands of ap- plicants for these places and I don't think we are likely to hear of many resignafions-"
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
YOUNG INDIAN HANGED
 FOR MURDERING SHERIFF

Especial from United Press.) San Francisco, Jan 20-Louis Augustine, a 21 year old Indian, was hanged in San Quentin, today. for the murder of Sheriff Kemp, of Lake County. Augustine stole a saddle and When pursued by the sheriff, sho: and killed him.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
LONDON TIMES HEARS
 OF FULL AGREEMENT.

London, Jan. 20.-The Times, to- day, prints a despatch from it's Wash ington correspondent stating that the United States and Canadian govern ments have come to a full agreement regarding reciprocity The terms of the agreement are not stated.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20
JUDGE BONDS CONDITION
 IS STILL CRITICAL
Especial from unitf

Especial from United PressD
 Boston; Jan. 20.-The physicians in attendance on Judge A. w. Bond of the superior court, who is dying in his Waltham home, declared thai his condition, today, was practically unchanged. He passed a somewhat easier night but otherwise there seemed no material change and no hope was entertained of his recovery
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-20

The funeral of Mrs Christopher Daily was held this morning from her Tate residence 100 Caroline street at S:30 and from St. Charles church at 9 o'clock where Rev. W. H. Lynch sang high mass of requiem There was large attendance of sorrowing relatives and friends and beautiful display of floral offerings. The pall- bearers were John Grogan, Michael Davis Joseph Carey, Robert Tait, T. Carroll and Eugene Cassidy. The in torment was in the family plot at St. Michael's cemetery.