davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
INDEPENDENTS OPPOSE TAX
Ad Valorem Measure Would Hamper
Development, Holds Wisconsin
Telephone Association.

MadisOn.-The Wisconsin Tele-
phone association, which has a mem
bership of some 200 of the independ-
ent telephone companies in the state,
opposes the TeasdaIe ad valorem tax
bill now pending in the legislature,
which would reduce the taxes of the
Wisconsin Telephone company, the
Bell company, about $4,000 a year.
The measure, however, would raise
the taxes of the independent COM
panies.
The association agrees that the
theory of ad valorem taxation is Just
and equitable, but believes that the
telephone industry is passing through
a pioneer stage in Wisconsin, and that
the difficulties and expense attending
the making of an inventory of the
property of the companies in the
state, numbering over 600, would i'm
pose too great a tax and expense up
on the industry at this time.
At present all companies are taxed
upon gross revenue. The Wisconsin
company pays at the rate Of 4 per
cent on gross revenue and the indie
pendent at the rate Of 2 u per cent.
Under the present ad valorem plan
all companies would be brought to
the same basis
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
To Marx Historic Snnt

A movement is on foot to erect a
monument to commemorate the first
burial which took place in the first
cemetery of the first church in the
KishacoquiIlas Valley, Mifftn county,
Pennsylvania. A little white child,
whose name has been long ago for
gotten, was first to be inferred The
funeral cortege was beset by In
dams and the men stood guard with
their rifles while the women lowered
the body into the grave and filed in
the earth. The spot is historic, located
only few yards from the celebrated
Logan spring, where Judge William
Brown, the original grantee of the land
surrounding Browns Mills, now Reeds
Vile, from the commonwealth Of Penn
sylvania, met Chief Logan, the Mingo,
which meeting sealed the friendship
between Indians and whites until the
former had been pushed further west
by the trend of civilization.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
GIVE REPORT ON
WAUPUN PRISON
ONE MEMBER OF COMMITTEE
TELLS M'GOVERN CONDITIONS
ARE IN VERY BAD SHAPE.
MAJORITY MINIMIZES EVILS
Assemb'Yman Brockhaust, Socialist,
Raps Convict Labor and Charges
Knitting Company Agents Smuggle
Whisky and Morphine to Prisoners

Madison.-Discipline at the Wis
bonsin state prison at Waupun is lax,
and whisky, cigarettes, morphine, CO.
caine, and chewing gum are carried
to conyicts by agents of a knitting
company having a contract with the
state for the labor of prisoners, ac-
cOrding to Assemblyman Fred c.
Brockhausen of Milwaukee, member
of the special legislative committee
which investigated conditions at the
prison. His report has been filed
with Gov McGovern.
Other members of the investigation
committee do not agree with the find
ngs of Mr.. Brockhausen, and have
lied a report declaring the discipline
at the prison is somewhat lax, but
that it is due to Warden TONNES
advanced method of handling the
convicts and not to incompetency on
his part
Warden Towne believes in persua-
sion instead of physical force in in
ducing prisoners to obey the rules. 1t
appears, according to the report by
Mr.. BrOckhausen, that this method
does not always work we'll
Being a Socialist, Mr.. Brockhausen
IS opposed to convict labor. He says
the agents of the knitting company
use their influence to have the pris-
oners who have violated the rules
go UNPUBLISHED, as they then are not
taken away from the knitting ma
chimes and work better and more con-
tinuously. To retain the good will
Of the convicts and get the largest
amount Of work out of them, he says,
these agents smuggle contraband ar
t1cles into the institution for the
prisoners.
Under the existing conditions the
knitting company is able to get stock
ings knit for less than one cent a
pair, says Mr.. Brockhausen. He be-
lleves that is too small pay for the
labor employed
The guards are overworked and
underpaid, Mr.. Brockhausen says. If
their pay were increased and their
working hours limited to eight a day,
it would be better for them and the
state, he declares.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
COURT HOLDS WORKMEN'S
INJURY ACT INVALID
New York Judge Declares Compensa-
ton Law Is Unfair to
Employers

Albany, N Y. = The court of
appeals declared unconstitutional
the workmen's compulsory compensa-
ton law which the legislature passed
last year. The act, which provides for
compensation for workmen injured in
certain employments specified as dan
gerous, regardless of the employers
negligence, is held by the court to de-
pTive the employer of his property
without due process of law in viola
ton OF the state and federal consti-
tutions.
This law was modelled on the Eng
hsh workmen's compensation act of
1897, which has since been extended
to cover every kind of occupational in
jury. Judge Werner wrote the opin-
ion, in which all the members of the
court concurred.
The main feature of the act was
that it required employers of labor
in certain occupations, such as bridge
building, operation OF elevators, work
on scafolds or electric wires, work
ing with explosives on railroads or
tunnels and work carried on under
compressed air, all of which are de-
clared dangerous occupations, to COM
pensate their employees for any injury
occurring during the course of the
work, although such injury occurred
solely through the negligence of the
workman.
Earl Ives, a switchman, brought the
case at issue against the South BUT
falo CrosstoWn Railway company.
Ives was injured while at work, and
brought action for damages, alleging
that he was injured solely by reason
Of a necessary risk or danger of his
employment. The company admitted
the facts but alleged the statute IN
der which the action was brought was
unconstitutional.
1t is pointed out in the opinion that
the effect Of the act is to abrogate
what is known as the fellow servant
doctrine, and also the "contributory
negligence" rule, both of which have
been well settled in the Jurisprudence
of this state and country, but both Of
which the legislature has power to
abolish.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
No IMMUNITY BATH
FOR BIG PACKERS
indictments Stand and They
Must Go to Trial.
JUDGE CARPENTER so RULES
Declares Decision Given by Judqe
Humphrey Does Not Apply to
Present charges-Govern-
ment to Rush Cases.

Chicago that the fmmu,
nifty granted by Judge Humphrey
of the federal circuit court in 1906 did
not apply to the present charges,
which, he declared, were based on
evidence not included IN the Humph.
rey decision, Judge Carpenter in the
United States district court overruled
the demurrer filed by the indicted Chi
cago packers and they lost their fight
against going on trial on the indict-
ments obtained by the government
several months ago.
Judge Carpenters decision went
into the controversy relating to i'm
muntty with great detail
In brief, the packers position was
that any conspiracy that might have
existed was the plotting prior to
Judge Humphreys immunity decision,
and that the immunity from prosecu-
ton granted them extended over all
future time, SO long as the acts COW
cred by the 1906 decision remained
the same.
In deciding this, Judge Carpenter
ruled that the immunity granted
them was only for acts which had oc-
Cured prior to the date of the indfct-
ment and could not pertain to any un-
lawful act which was performed after
that time. The evidence given by the
packers before the grand jury, he
said, could not relate to that which
had not occurred, and hence could
have no future application.
AS to the contention of the defense
that the conspiracy ended with the
first plotting, he ruled that so long as
the acts complained of continued, the
conspiracy remained in effect, and
unlawful acts growing out of the con-
sptracy and occurring after the in
dicted men had testified before the
grand jury were new and separate of
lenses and subject to the operation
of law
In addition, the offenses admitted
before the grand jury by the packers
prior to their immunity and from the
criminal responsibility for which they
were freed by the Humphrey decision,
were defined by the court as none the
less criminal in themselves. He said
they could be used in prosecutions
which were predicated on a continue
ton of the offenses.
Following are the defendants: Louis
F. Swift, E. E. Swift, Charles F. Swift,
Francis A. Fowler, Edward Tilden, ].
Ogden Armour, Arthur Meeker,
Thomas J. Corners, Edward Morris
and Louis H. Heyman.
United States District Attorney
Sims said he would in a day or two
demand that the packers be brought
into court to plead to indictments
and have dates set for trial. Sims
was jubilant over the ruling of Judge
Carpenter.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
CABINET DESERTS
PRESIDENT D|AZ
Crisis in Mexican War Situation
Is at Hand.
LOOK TO U. S. TO INTERVENE
Popular Feeling Causes Resignation
of Ministers-16O FederaIs Re
ported Slain In Battle Near
Chihuahua With Madero.

/ Mexico City.-Following a special
/ meeting Of the cabinet, all the minis
/ tiers rendered their designations TO
President Diaz. The president post
| poned action upon the designations
/ for the time being.
The announcement brings crisis
| In the Mexican war situation which
all here, official or civilian, believe
can be settled only by a miracle
That the resignation Of the cabinet
will cause the United States immedi-
ately to intervene is the consensus of
opinion.
The impossibility of President Diaz
recovering from the blow dealt him
| by the desertion Of his ministers, the
/ effect Of which, coupled with the dec
/ larattons of Finance Minister Liman-
tour prior to his resignation that re-
forms demanded by the rebels must
be brought about, is Individually an
increase of the opposition to the Diaz
government, is declared by members
Of both factions here.
The reason officially given for the
action Of the ministers in resigning is
the belief that it will contribute to
the establishment of peace and
facilitate the reforms which are in
contemplation.
Contrary to this view statements
and occurrences happening prior to
the return of Senior Limantour to
Mexico City are being recalled as
showing the real reason for the deser-
ton of Diaz by his cabinet
1t is the general belief that, while
the resignation of the cabinet will
force DtaZ to yield and that he will
now grant the reforms demanded. his
recession has come too late, and that
nothing short of his virtual abdica-
ton by consenting to a new and free
election will satisfy the popular de-
mand.
If he withholds his consent to that
plan beyond very brief time, the be-
lief is prevalent that his tnaction will
be seized upon by the United States
as a just cause for Intervention.
The tender of the designations Of
the members of the cabinet was
made entirely without ostentation.
Enrique G. CreeI, minister of foreign
relations, presented the designations
in behalf Of all of the ministers.
General Diaz thanked the retiring
members for their efficient and pa
triotic cooperation in the past, and
announced that he would postpone
his acceptance or rejection until later.
Preside, Tex, - According to
a messenger who reported to
General Jose de la Cruz Sanchez. in
command of the insurgents besieging
the town of Ojinaga, insurrectos I'M
der the direct command of Francisco
l. Madero have won an important VIC
tory in the vicinity of the city of Chi
huahua, routing the federal troops
after $50 had been killed and 40 taken
prisoners.
Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mex. =
There is no truth in reports sent
from this vicinity that four Ameri-
cans, captured with the insurrectos
during the recent battle here, we're
executed by the Mexican authorities.
The names of the men supposed to
have been executed correspond with
those of well-known Douglas resi-
dents, but none of them has been i'm
prisOned or executed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
A SI7inind Metal.

It is a legend among the peasants
Of Cornwall that at night one some
times sees a faintly-shining mineral
among the rocks brought from the
mines. That this is not pure magma
ton has been proved by Professor
Strut A specimen of the mineral
autunite, which is also found in Wales,
vas sent to him from Portugal be-
cause of its luminous property He
finds that 1t closely resembles arti-
ficially prepared salts of uranium. and
that its luminosity is due to sponta-
neous radio-activity. The light that
It sheds is stronger than that of nj
trate of uranium. Upon parting with
Its water of disqualification the min
eTal loses its luminous property.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
SOME WALK FOR A PIGEON
Makes Trip From Nrw York to Phil.
adelphia on Foot as Result
of Wager.

Allan A. Ryan, the president Of the
Aero Club Of America, said at re-
cent aeronauts' banquet in New York:
There's a chap in France who is
getting remarkable results out of a
study Of the flight of the large soar
Ing birds, the eagle, condor and Vul-
ture. He tames these huge creatures.
They walk at his side like dogs. A
condor Of his at the Pau aerodrome
narrowly escaped being run over by
an automobile last month.
There is always something funny
about walking birds. You will re-
member that windy day when the
blasts were so wild and strong that
the crows all had to walk home. Can't
you see those crows, black and grave,
trudging sturdily homeward along the
Wind-swept and snowy road?
II heard the other day about a man
who bet a pigeon fancier that he
hadn't pigeon that could make the
trip from Philadelphia to New York.
The pigeon fancier accepted this bet,
and fOohshly intrusted his best car
Tier pigeon to his opponent. The lat
ter, though, before releasing the bird
in Philadelphia, clipped its wings.
"The next day the fancier admitted
sadly that his pigeon had not yet come
home
Then I win said the other man.
No; you must wait a bit, objected
the fancier.
The second day the pigeon had still
not returned. But on the third day
the fancieG gayly demanded payment
Of the wager
MY bird is back he said, and in
superb condition, only his feet are
sore"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30

CONCESSIONS MADE TO MANI
FAC TURERS IN THE AMEND
MENTS ATTACHED.
FARMERS FEARS kLLAYED
defense of Negligence of Fellow
Servants VIII Not Be Taken from
Employers of Less Than Four
Persons-Plan Test of Measure.

Madison.-The senate has received
the report of the joint committee on
Workmen's compensation on the bill
providing a system OF paying work
men for time lost through injury re-
celved while at work. The bill was
reported for passage with eighteen
amendments.
The chief amendment to the hin
provides that when an employer elects
to come under the uniform compen-
satlon plan, he is to have restored TO
him the defenses of ASSUMPTION of
risk and negligence of fellow servant
If employees refuse to accept the terms.
This has been one of the leading re-
quests of manufacturers throughout
the state.
Another important amendment was
put in to allay the fears of the farm
ers that they might be put to extra
expense under the proposed act. This
amendment makes the general abro-
cation of the fellow servant defense
applicable only to employers of four
or more employees. This applies to
small manufactures as well as to
farmers.
The bill is designed to go into eff
feet Immediately upon passage only
to the extent that the commission is
to be organized and thus enabled to
work out the administrative features.
In the event of passage of the bill
a taxpayer will be found to bring suit
to determine the constitutionality of
the act, and in this suit every pos
sible question will be brought to the
supreme courts notice.
On July 1, 1911, the whole law would
go into effect.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
SUES SECRETARY OF STATE
Hudson Brewer Claims Frear Was a
Law Partner of Howett, Who
Oefrauded Many.

Hudson.-Suit to recover $500
and 5000 interest has been instituted
by Joseph Hockstein, local brewer,
against Jas. A. Frear, secretary of
state, to recover losses resulting from
fraudulent transactions of George S.
Howett, now serving a term at Wau-
pun for forging mortgages while, it is
alleged, Howett was Frear's law part
ner.
Frear denies absolutely that a part
nership agreement existed between
himself and Hewitt, and this is the
point on which the case will hinge.
Hewitt occupied Frear's Office in
Hudson after Frear went to Madison.
This question is an important one,
and if it is proven that Frear and
Hewitt were partners, it is stated
that other suits will be instituted.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
MILLER WHIRLED TO DEATH
BENJAMIN Smith of SayesviIe Is
Caught in Shafting and His Body
Horn by Manged.

Wauk esha-Benjamin Smith, aged
81, met death while at work in his
grist mill at Saylesville, town Gene
see. While working about some
shafting his clothing became en-
tangled in the machinery and he was
drawn in and twisted around at a
rapid rate of speed. His body was
pulled into a space so small that when
his feet and head went around with
the shaft they knocked off several
projecting spOuts. The machinery
was stopped and his body was found
to be badly mangled.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
Hioh Priced SIIfn1her

Opening his place of business the
other morning the proprietor found a
man inside. Recognitions were mu-
tual The intruder was a patron who
had been drinking and had been acct
dentally locked in all night.
Well" exclaimed the boss, where
did you sleep?"
"On the pool table in the back
room"
Wen" said the proprietor, that
will cost you SO cents an hour for
eight hours What did you do for a
pillow?"
Z propped my head on a pile of
cues"
Huh! That will cost you two and
a half cents cue extra!''
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
REF EREhDUM PLAN DRAFTED
Proposed Amendment TO Consttu-
ton Is Before Ass e nby Commit
tee-Senate to Handle Recall.

Madison.-The initiative and ref
erendum plan to be taken up by the
legislature, following out the prom
ises in the republican state platform.
has finally been drafted and consid-
Grafton of the resolution begun by
the assembly committee on constitu-
tional amendment. The drafting of
the proposed amendment providing
for the recall will be done on the
senate side by the Judiciary commit
tee.
The proposed amendment is quite
long, but every effort has been made
to keep it as brief as possible with
out leaving out provision for the ma
chinery by which the principle may
be established. The measure pro-
Yides for reference to the people of
any law passed by the legislature
when this is petitioned for by per
cent of the voters.
Any proposed amendment to the
constitution must be referred to the
people upon petition of II per cent
of the voters.
Petitions for a referendum vote
must be filed with the secretary of
state within ninety days after the
legislature has adjourned, and the
measures voted upon at the next reg
ular state election, occurring not less
than thirty days after the filing of
the referendum petition, or at an
earlier election called by the gov
ernor in not less than ninety days
after the petition has been received.
Any measure shall become effective
upon receiving a majority of the
votes cast on the subject at the cleo
ton.
Emergency measures may be
passed by the legislature by two
thirds of each house on separate roll
calls, when such measures shall be
deemed necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace,
health or safety" If referendum pc
tition be filed against an emergency
law, it shall remain in force until
repealed by the people. The vote
power of the governor shall not ex-
tend to measures adopted by a ref
erendum vote.
Referendum petitions shall bear
the names of at least per cent of
the voters from at least four con-
gressionaI districts.
The senate by a scant majority
adopted the Kileen joint resolution
for the amendment to the state con-
stitution empowering the state to
compel person on trial for criminal
offense to testify.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
CANADA MAY KEEP OUT NEGROES
Plan to Bar OkIahon1ans Causes NJ n
lnqton to Act.

Winnipeg, Man.-Of1cers of the i'm
migration department left for Emer-
son, on the border, to stop the entry
into Canada of 165 negroes from Okla
homa who intended to settle in the
Canadian northwest.
Washington.-In response to COM
plants that negro immigrants from
America would be refused admission
to Canada, the state department
asked United States Consul Foster at
Ottawa whether under the Canadian
law any American citizen as a class
could be excluded on account of color.
The department received a reply
from Mr.. Foster stating that there
were no Canadian immigration regula-
tons specifically relating to colored
immigrants. This information will be
telegraphed to American Consul Jones
at Winnipeg.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
"Ranuarr and shed !"

The motor car is responsible for
the unnecessary addition of many
French words to our language. but
for some there is at least the excuse
that we have no direct equivalent in
our own tongue To the word han
gar" however, no such excuse is ap-
pIicable: besides which, it is an ugly
word. and the average Engishman's
pronunciation of it will not be an i'm
provement in this respect. If the
word "shed" is not good enough for
us, surely a foreign equivalent does
not mend matters.-London Outlook.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
TELLS UcHIDA OF FRIENDSHIP.
Taft Summons japanese Envoy TO
White House.

ington.-President Taft and
Baron Uchida, the Japanese ambassa-
dor, had a lengthy and most cordial
conference at the White House.
MIR. Taft sent for the baron to felici-
tate with him upon the ratification of
the new treaty between this country
and Japan. He took advantage of the
occasion to assure the ambassador
that never in the history of the two
countries had the relations been so
pleasant as they are today; never had
talk of war been more absurd.
President Taft expressed pleasure
at the opportunity to set at rest once
and for all the stories which have
been published from time to time dur
ing the past two weeks that back of
the administration action in sending
troops to the Mexican border was a
motive of precaution against some
expected treacherous act by Japan. 1t
also was reported that Japan had Sc
cured from Mexico a coaling station
on the Pacific coast, to be used as a
base in attacking the United States.
Baron Uchida Is said to have as
sured the president that he attached
no Importance to the reports and had
discovered that they emanated from
irresponsible sources. The interview
lasted for fully half an hour, the presi-
dent and the ambassador chatting
with unusual informality.
While confident that the japanese
ambassador needed no assurances
either private or official as to the pur-
poses of this government, President
Taft conceived the idea of inviting
Baron Uchida to the White House for
q conference so as to give the great
est publicity possible to denial which
the president hopes will carry convic.
ton to the American people