The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-01-10
BIG MELLON CUTTINGS BREAKS
ALL RECORDS.

NEW 1OEth, Jan. o-1hc 5IcdL
est distribution of dividends which
the country has ever known is now
taking place here during the opening
weeks of the new year. Not less
than 500, 900, 900 it is estimated by
experts is being sent out to owners
of securities throughout the country
as their share of the general pros
perity. This is said to be the largest
amount of dividends ever declared at
one time in this country, and it will
be distributed over nearly the whole
of the United States out of that PAT
of the leading corporations of the
country have more than a million
stockholders, and while some OF
these were undoubtedly counted
twice it is still unquestionable that
hundreds of thousands of people will
share these record-breaking divi-
dends. The companies. moreover,
are only the more important ones,
which are doing business here in the
United States. Many others of the
first importance, do not have their
headquarters in New York. and in
each case the dividend is but one
half Or one-fourth of the total pay
ment to stockholders. The most
striking dividend of them all is the
melon which is being cut buy the
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
raildoad. This road, apparently as
thank offering upon its deliverence
from the famous coal roads" suit
in the supreme court, has apportion-
ed twelve million dollars of new
stock, to be sold to its present stock
holders at par. AS the roads stock
, now sells at nearly $500 a share the
privilege of participating In the new
issue is reckoned as being worth as
much as a direct dividend of 1888 a
share would be.
That the entire lack of money and
property may occasionally prove to
be a real advantage even in this city
in which the possession of a goodly
share of means is often reckoned as
a most important requisite was IL
Illustrated here in a unique manner
this week. This queer state Of af'
fairs developed as the result of the
arrest of a chauffeur for driving
car at excessice speed while he wa'
intoxicated, endangering the lives o.
nearly one h. ndred persons before HI
was gathered in by a policeman. A
his trial he was convicted and sen
fenced by the Judge to a year in thu
penitentiary. The chauffeur appeal
ed and won a decision that the Law
under which he was convicted doe
not authorize a penalty of imprison
ment but only a fine. Upon coming
before the lower court again he wa
therefore fined twenty-five dollars
Judge explaining that this was tn
heaviest sentence he could impos'
and taking occasion to remark tina
he considered the law in question Il
be a joke since it let the offender Of
with a fine of $25. The chauffeur
lawyer Immediately pointed out tina
his client got off with less than tina
since he did not have $25. Ordin
arily a person who has been fined ant
is unable to pay goes to Jail to worl
out the fine. In this case, however
a prison sentence could not be iniict
ed. The man had no money and n
property which could be attached, 8
, after having been twice %convicte
and sentenced, once to Imprisonment
, and once to a fine, he walked out Q
court scot free. Now a good man
persons are wondering just wha
protection they have against tn
whims of intoxicated auto drivers.
-I--
TO INVESTIGATE QUARANTINE