davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
Bill Passed by House
To-day Takes Away
Many Functions of
Commission
WINS BY VOTE
OF 155 TO 81
Measure Permits Municipalities to 0pcr-
ate Water and Light Companies
Afer Having Obtained Approval
of the Common Pleas Court

A measure taking away from the
Public Service Commission the power to
control municipal public utilities was
passed in the House this morning by a
vote of 155 to % after debate of an
hour and half.
The bill, which has been styled the
municipal home rule for utilities
bill, - has the support OF country men,
bers and many others outside the Phila-
delphia delegation. If it should get
the approval of the Senate and the sig
nature of the Governor municipalities
will be able to operate water and light
companies after getting the approval
of the common pleas court.
A companion bill was passed imme-
diately afterward which would compel
the municipality, after getting the ap-
proval of the Court, TO offer TO purchase
the plant of the private company then
operating in the municipality.
Objection was raised to the public
utilities law on this subject on the
ground that it is too expensive for a
municipality representatives to come
to Harrisburg with engineers to seek
charter.
Mr.. Vickerman, the sponsor, opened
the debate by saying that the public
utilities act has worked hardships on
the small boroughs in the western part
of the State. Representative Forster, of
Philadelphia, bore the brunt of the op-
position. He said the bill would prac-
tieally repeal the public utilities act
by taking away from the commission
most of its work.
The bill is Statewide and applies to
all municipal corpofations.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
plans CONCERTS IN PARK
Association Formed to Collect Money
to Support Them Weekly Dur
ing Summer at Reservoir

Planning to stage band concerts in
Reservoir Park at least one evening
each week during the months of June,
July and August, in addition to after
noon and evening concerts on Memorial
Day, Independence Day and Labor
Day, the Harrisburg Band Concert
Association to-day appointed commit
tee of ten solicitors to obtain funds
with which to carry out the project.
On this committee are: NJ Harvey
Taylor, president; Clarence Baeken-
stoss, treasurer; R. Ross Seaman, secre-
tary, together with W. Fred Weber.
i. E. Eshenour, Frank Blumenstine, v.
Grant Forrer, Harry G. Hartzell, H. H.
Etter and J. Steawrt Askins. The
Chamber of Commerce has approved
the formation and purposes of the new
organization.
Besides the afternoon and evening
holiday concerts the following dates
have been selected: Each Friday in
June; last three Friday in July and
all Fridays in August. Since July
falls on Sunday the holidays concerts
will be held on Monday, July 5.
1t is estimated that $500 will be
necessary TO carry out the association $
plans and that any additional concerts
will require more money.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
Keeping Swiss Forces Mobilized

Rome, April 10, Via Paris, April
20.-Ulrich Willie, commander of the
Swiss Army, is quoted in an interview
in the "Tribuna" as declaring his
eountry's military forces must be kept
modified. Although no other power
at present threatens Switzerland, he
said, an incident might occur ON the
frontier at any time which would COM
pei the Swiss to enforce their rights
and their neutrality.
After describing the military organi-
zation of Switzerland, Colonel Willie
closed the interview by saying: "Sup-
posing as a mere hypothesis that any
one wished to violate our neutrality,
they must first crush u.s.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
MAJOR Bent, Prominent
ENGINEER. dies, AGED s.
Former Superintendent of Pennsylva-
mia Steel Works and well-Known
Business Man Is Victim of Pa
rlysis in Philadelphia

Word was received here of the death
of Major Luther Stedman Bent, for
merly superintendent of the Pennsyl-
vania Steel Works, Civil War veteran
and prominent civil engineer, which
occurred at his home in Philadelphia
yesterday afternoon. Death was due
to a ten.day illness of paralysis. He
was in the S6th year of his age.
Mr.. Bent was born in Quincy, Mass,
December 6, 1929. the son of Ebenezer
and Nancy Bent. While boy he at
tended the public schools there until
IL years of age, after which he worked
on his father g farm until fifteen years
old, when he went to Boston, where he
served five years in the New England
glass factory, than one of the largest
concerns in the country.
During the war he served as major
of the 18th Massachusetts Volunteers.
At the close of the war he was en-
ployed as civil engineer to supervise
the construction of the Union Pacific
Railway, and remained in that COM
pany's service from the commence
ment to the completion of that great
work, filing various positions. He was
one of the largest contractors for grad
ing the road comprising 200 miles
through Salt Lake Valley and the
Prommtory.
Following the completion of this
work he became engaged in cattle
raising, being the first to establish eat
tie ranches along the line of railroad
in Nebraska. Here he remained for
three years.
About 1874 he returned East and
took the superintendency of the Penn
sylvania Steel Works. He retired as
head of the company about ten years
ago. At the time of his death he was
director of the Northern Central
Railroad and the Earn Steamship Com
pany.
He was an active member of the
First Unitarian church and the Loyal
Legion. In club life his connections
were with the Philadelphia, Art, Engi-
neers, Automobile, Corinthian Yacht
and Merton Cricket Clubs.
While in this city he was an active
business man and took much interest
in the advancement of Steelton. He
was a part owner of the Harrisburg
Railways Company, the Steelton Ma.
tional Bank, Steelton Trust Company
and the Harrisburg National Bank.
He is survived by his widow, who
was Miss Mary Stern FELTON,, of Phila.
delphia, and three sons, FELTON,, Stei-
man and Quincy Bent
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
Mayor Asserts He Can
Purchase Playground
Plot in Hoffman's S
Woods
AT LESS THAN
$4,000 AN ACRE
Declares Any Part Of 17-acre Plot Can
Be Acquired, and the City Commis-
sioners Tell Him to Have the Prop
osition Submitted In Writing

Opposition 10 his plan to pay S2,700
for about three acres of land for a
playground at Fifth and Emerald
streets caused NJ. Harvey Taylor, Park
Commissioner, at the meeting of the
City Commissioners this afternoon to
offer amendments TO his ordinance pro-
viding for the purchase. His latest
plan is to buy one and three-quarter
acres of ground TO front sos feet on
Emerald street and 252 feet on Fourth
and Fifth streets. and pay S14,100 for
il.
This price, Taylor said, is a trihe
more than S29 foot front, practically
the same average as he proposed TO
nay under the ordinance as it stood
originally for the whole plot. None of
the Commissioners expressed approval
of the amendment, but they consented
TO this being made, without adopting
the ordinance as whole.
Then Mayor Royal said that he may
have a substitute for Tsylor's amend
ment at the meeting next Tuesday.
The Mayor explained he has received
an offer under which the City lay
any part of the seventeen-aere Hoff-
mans woods, just north of the city
limits. a few blocks north of the Fifth
and Emerald streets site, for less than
$4,000 an acre.
Want It Put In Writing
This plan appealed to the Commits
sioners and they urged the Mayor to
get an offer ''in writing to be pre-
sented next Tuesday when the TAYLOR
ordinance may be further amended.
Highway Commissioner Lynch s
Recommendation for the award of the
contract for the proposed municipal
asphalt repair plant to the F. D. Cum
mer & Son Company, of Cleveland, o.,
was held over one week at the sug-
gestion of the Commissioners. The
Gunner Company bid s9,76S on. a
plant which would have a daily out
put of from $50 TO 1000 yards of as
phalt while the Barber Asphalt Com
psny, of Buffalo, n. Y, bid s7,495
on what the Highway Commissioner
termed a somewhat similar plant.
Comparison of the plants and speeifi-
cations, made at his recent inspection
led Lynch to decide to recommend
the GUNNER plant, ne said.
The contracts for constructing and
equipping the Royal Fire Company
house were awarded to the low bid
ders as recommended by Commission
Continued ON Ninth Page.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
Two TURKISH TORPEDO BOAT
DESTROYERS ARE BLOWN UP

Paris, April 20.-Two Turkish tor
pedo boat destroyers We're blown up,
says Saloniki dispatch, while passing
through mine belt which Russian
ships had succeeded in laying across
the entrance to the Bosphorus while
the Turkish fleet was cruising in the
Black sea. The explosions caused by
the destruction of the two Turkish boats
gave warning to the rest of the feet,
which, the dispatch says, was obliged
to remain in the Black sea because no
mine sweepers were available.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
Reports in Rome That
the Grave Questions
Confronting Italy
Will Soon be Solved
MAY TERMINATE
WHOLE CONFLICT
The Time Limit Fixed by Italy for the
Consideration Of Amy Proposals
Austria Might Wish to Make Ex-
pires To-day

Rome, April 20.-within the past
"a hours there have arisen in Rome
persistent reports that the grave inter.
national questions confronting Italy
may be solved in the near future by
what at first sight seems almost in
credible, the conclusion of a general
peace in Europe at no distant date.
While these reports are intangible
and cannot at present be ascribed to
a definite source, they nevertheless are
reflected in high quarters and they are
given heed by careful observers of in
ternational politics
Excellent Field for Negotiations
Among other reasons in support Of
this, the argument is offered that Rome
is an excellent field for the conduct of
negotiations of this nature; Prince
Won Buelow, one of the ablest of Ger
man diplomats, is in Rome as Ambas-
sador to Italy; and the official relations
between Italy and Germany as we'll as
between Italy and the powers of the
Triple Entente, are cordial.
In certain quarters in Rome the idea
prevails that the advent of spring has
not been such resumption of aggres.
sive hostilities as has been promised, a
fact regarded as significant.
Sofa is being regarded with much
interest just at present. Efforts are
being made by representatives of the
belligerents to induce King Ferdinand
to announce his decision.
The Importance of the attitude of
Bulgaria is recognized fully in Rome.
Should she side with the Teutonic allies
it would be difficult for Rumania to
make war upon Austria Hungary, for
she would then be subject to attack by
Bulgaria as well as by Turkish troops
coming through Bulgarian territory.
In this connection prominent diplo-
mat said:
"Once more is the fate of the Bal
kans in the hands of Bulgaria. Indeed,
this time her decision may have great
weight on the general development Of
the war.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
THE HOUSE PASSES BILL
REPEATING S53 LAWS

The Amber bill, which repeals $50
obsolete, superseded and unconstitu-
tional bills on the statute books of
Pennsylvania, was passed in the House
this morning. The bill is one of a num-
Der which propose new code of gem
eral laws in the State. Other bills
passed finally were:
Regulating the size and use of
buildings in cities of the first class.
Making the State liable for county
tax on forest preserves.
Amending the commodities bill in
regard to legal weight of apples and
beets.
The House shortly after noon took
a recess until 7.3O O'Clock this even
ing.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
WHEAT TAKES A BIG DROP
May Delivery Suffers a Break of AL
most Seven Cents a Bushel
b Associated Press.

Chicago, April 2O.-May delivery
of wheat suffered break to-day of
almost Z cents bushel. Free selling
of small lots of the May option at the
opening caught number of stop loss
orders and in the absence of any strong
support the market dropped with start
ling rapidity. May, which closed last
night at 16S S-4, sold to-day as low
as 156 1+2 but reacted to within one
cent of last night.
New crop months, July and Sep
tember, in which most of the specula-
tive business has centered of late.
were comparatively unaffected by the
furry in the old crop delivery, May.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
JOHN h. EBY IS STRICKEN
County Commissioner Suffers Attack of
the Heart at His Home and for
Time Is Unconscious

City Commissioner John n. Eby. it
was announced in the Court House to-
day, was stricken with heart trouble at
his home in Lykens Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday night Mr.. Eby became un,
conscious and his condition caused
grave alarm. He rallied yesterday
from his stupor and late this afternoon
was considerably stronger.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
MERCURY AT SUMNER HEAT
Fall in Temperature Tonight After
Maximum of 80 Degrees Is Reached

The temperature is due for fall to-
night after giving Harrisburg un-
usual spring weather. No records were
smashed but the temperature to-day
and yesterday lowered around the
eighty-degree mark. The passing out of
storm area will cause a drop in
temperature tonight of twelve degrees
over that of Hast night, ITO fifty de-
grees.
A high pressure area from the
northwest will bring normal weather.
Yesterdays mean temperature of 6S
was Is degrees above normal. To-day
will not show such a departure in
temperature.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
late WAR news SUMMARY

Definite gains by the German forces
in the west are announced today by
the Berlin War ONCE. Attacks were
made yesterday in the districts in
which the French offensive movements
have been undertaken recently, partic-
ularly in the region between the Meuse
and the Moselle rivers. The Berlin
statement says the Germans succeeded
in penetrating French positions, and
stormed and reoccupied the village Of
Embermenil.
In the vosges the Germans pushed
forward, their line 100 yards in an en-
gagement near Hartmans-W Weilerkopf,
position which has been in dispute for
several months. Progress in the Cham
Continued or Ninth Paxe.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
JITNEY COMPANY Is CHARTERED
Governor Brumbaugh Approves Appli-
cation of $4,000 Harrisburg Firm

Governor Brumbaugh last evening
approved the charter of the Jitney
Transportation Company of Harrisburg
and the paper was made out at the
state Department this morning, and
Will De filed with the County Prothono-
taTy.
The company is chartered for the
purpose of transporting passengers,
baggage and freight by motor vehicles
upon and over the streets and public
highways in Harrisburg, Steelton and
In the territory adjacent. The capital
is $4,000 and the ineorporators are
Augustus Wildman, Ross Oenslager and
Owen NJ Copelin, the latter being
treasurer.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
P. r. B. PLACES LARGE ORDER
$500 Freight Cars to Be Added on
Western Lines

Inquiries for the cost of $500
freight ears, so engines and 35 steel
passenger cars were sent out by the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company yester-
day, operating on the lines west of
Pittsburgh. This order was not in
eluded in the large order sent out Sat
urday. The cost will be On additional
ss,00O,00O.
The latest inquiry, added to the for
NAL order, gives a total equipment in
quiry of 16,245 freight cars, 1875 loco
motives and 1s1 al-steel passenger
ears.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
Destroyed by Own Picket Boats

London, April 20, 222 P. M.-The
British Admiralty announced officially
to-day that the British submarine Els
was destroyed in the Dardanelles by
British picket boats.
Official reports say the submarine
was in servieeable condition and in
danger of falling into enemy's hands.
1t was therefore decided to destroy
her. This was a hazardous undertak-
ing but it was accomplished success
fully.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
WALL STREET CLOSING
By Associated Press.

New York, April 2O.-Heavy buy
ing was resumed in the last hour, Anal
gamated Copper going to its record
price and New Haven making total
gain of points. The closing was
strong. To-day's stock market was
swayed by conflicting conditions In the
early trading, but became strong later
Substantial gains were maderby New
Haven, Coppers and specialties.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
Wounded Page in Critical Condition

Word was received here this morn
ing that John Styles, of near Potts
vile, a page in the State Senate, who
was accidentally shot by his father
while the latter was endeavoring to
unload a revolver at his home yester-
day afternoon, is in critical condi-
tion
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
SIS, 500 FOR INSANE HOSPITAL
Committee Lops Of s16,3OO From
Amount Sought by Local Institution

In the Senate last night among the
bills reported favorably were num-
ber from the Appropriations Commit
tee. The State Lunatie hospital. Har-
risburg, asked for s31,SO0 and was
given s15,500. The request for s15,-
900 for land and buildings was denied
and the committee Topped $1,000 off
the request for s2,S00 for pig pens.
Wernersville Insane hospital asked
s197, 500; got s112,S00.
Miners hospital, Treverton. asked
$4,000; got $4,000.
Carlisle hospital asked s15, 200; got
$1,000.
For reimbursing counties for boun-
ties on noxious animals a total of
S24O,320.47 was recommended.
Homeopathic State hospital. Ritters.
vile, asked s323,239; got $72,161.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
Spirited Artillery Exchanges in France

Paris, April 20, Via London, P.
M.-The French War Office this after
noon gave out report of the progress
of hostilities, which reads as follows:
"There have been particularly spir-
;ted artillery exchanges in the region
of ,Soissons and in the sectors of
Rheims and the Argonnes; otherwise
there is no news to give out. -
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
Allies Forces Occupy Important Town

Cape Town, Union of South Africa,
April 20.-Forces of the Union of
South Africa have occupied Keetaans-
hop. the most important town in Ger
man Southwest Africa next to Wind
hoek, the capital. 1t is an important
railroad junction and gives General
Botha, the Boer leader, command of the
railroad to Windhoek.
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
Austrians Repulsed With Big Losses

London, April 2O.-''It is reported
here" says the Chimes (" Bucharest
correspondent, "that the Austrians at
tempted on the night of April Is Wig
orous attack on the frontier of Bess-
arabia, Southwest Russia, but that they
we're repulsed with heavy losses after
a violent struggle"
The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-20
RosEBUDs FOR CHILDREN
Five Thousand Youngsters Will Plant
Trees at wildwood

Five thousand rosebuds are to be dis
tributed among school children taking
part in the Arbor Day celebration at
Wildwood Park on Friday afternoon
when the public schools of the city will
be closed for the event.
Miss Mira Lloyd Dock, of Chambers
burg, will be in charge. Five thousand
trees will be planted by the youngsters
under the direction of City Forester
Mueller.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1915-11-25

The inhabitants of Eden plainly
lived without toll They we're born to
that leisure for which we strive so
fiercely in this work-a-day world. So
far as the man was concerned, the
sting of the expulsion was the fact
that he had to go forth and eat bread
in the sweat of his face. Jehovah did
not enforce this sentence at hard labor
by putting a guard over Adam. Eve
was not placed in charge, nor yet the
willy serpent. The offender was mere
ly driven forth from the garden that
was full of trees. The trees had made
it paradise.
Every tree that was pleasant to the
sight and good for food was there. The
inhabitants walked about in the com
Portable shade and ate. When thirst
arose there we're the juices of fruits
and palm wine. The spontaneous
products Of the garden even supplied
the first demand for clothes. On that
bitter day of expulsion these erst-
while happy harvesters Of tree crops
were driven forth from this rich and
fruitful shade, driven TO the fields to
eat the herb of the field and to win
bread by the sweat of their faces At.
lantio Monthly.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1915-11-25
THE PRESIDENT AS A WooER.

The average American, responding
sensitively to suggestions OF romance,
will have no difficulty in imagining the
thrill Of a woman wooed by the Presi-
dent of the United States. 1t is no
wonder that the eyes of the nation are
turned upon Mrs. Norman Gait, who is
to be the first lady of the land. With
statesmen and diplomats waiting for a
word with the head Of great nation,
what woman would not feel proud 70
know that she came before all the
rest? That has been Mrs. Cats ex-
perience for the past six weeks. For
nearly two weeks the American note
to Great Britain, protesting against
the interference with American COM
mercc, lay upon the President S desk
unread. Democratic leaders Of the
House and Senate learned from the
newspapers that the the suspension of
the free sugar clause of the tariff was
contemplated by Secretary McAdoo;
that a bond issue was contemplated by
President Wilson to take care Of national
defense. and that Secretary Garrison
and Secretary Daniels had decided up
on military and naval programmes, but
they were not called TO the White
House because the Presidents atten-
ton was engaged almost wholly with
affairs Of the heart As sample day
at the White House, the President and
Mrs. Gait recently started out on a
drizzly morning at o'clock for Har-
per's Ferry, where they had luncheon.
Returning about six in the evening,
the President dropped Mrs. Gait at her
hons. going to the White House for
dinner. Later the White House imou-
sine called for Mrs. Gait, who accom-.
panied the President to the theatre
and at the end of the performance tn,
couple went for q long drive. LesHe''
Weekly.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1915-11-25
CARL ID. JACKSON,
HALFoRE ERICKSON,
WALTER ALEXANDER.
Commissioners

must be labeled objectionable murder.
Just how many American citizens the
boat carried is not known. Whether
she carried any or not, the sinking Of
passenger vessels on the high seas is a
crime against humanity no matter by
what nation committed. There can be
no plea raised that she carried muni-
tons What will America do? Win
the plea that she flew the Austrian
flag lead TO a controversy covering an
indefinite period, or shall we take a de
cided stand? If we do not we shall
later have American citizens sent TO
their death in the open sea by submar-
ines flying the Turkish, Bulgarian, or
some other flag These murderous
deeds ought TO stopped in the name Of
humanity Warfare is bad enough,
but the butchery of noncombatants is
simply inexcusable.