davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
Four Bills Designed
{ to Lower Food Cost
Presented in House

Four bills designed to touch the
high cost Of food were introduced to-
day by Representative Fitzgerald Of
New York. Two propose food en-
barge. One would regulate trans
portation Of cold storage foods and
another would regulate the admission
to farm products and manufactured
foodstuffs to the parcel post and re-
duce the rates on food.
'aThe enactment Of any OF the
bills" said Representative Fitzger-
aid, will bring immediate relief to
the country. The people want action;
they ard heartily tired Of talk and in
vestigation-"
A mass OF petitions was fled in fa-
vor Of the legislation.
Senator Owen, Democrat, Of Okla
homa, who will lead the fight for a
new corrupt practices act, will intro
duce a joint resolution tomorrow for
an inquiry into expenditures Of all
political parties in the last national
'HThe resolution will provide for an
immunity bath for men summoned
to testify and heavy penalties for
perjury" he said.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
C. OF C. PLANS
CIVIC DEPT. FOR
WIDER INFLUENCE
Persons Without Business
Connections May Be Ad-
mitted as Members.
G.. of c.


To give greater influence to- the
Chamber Of Commerce, a special COM
mittee is now considering letting down
the barriers of admission to a civic
department that may be former as an
adjunct.
A decision is expected to be render
ed after meeting tonight of special
committee consisting Of Charles d.
Davis, j. Carlton Sterling and D. Fair
child Wheeler, appointed at the last
meeting Of the board of directors to
inquire fully into the proposition.
If the civic department is recon-
mended,; such a department will con-
sist of professional men, ministers and
citizens who are, Interested in good
government but who cannot lay claim
to business connections that are now
required as passport for admission
to the chamber.
A reduction of fees is likely to be
made with a corresponding curtail-
ment of power. Until the arrange
ment has been fully reported by the
committee the exact status of those
enteringI under a civic department will
not be known.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04

! On top of the disclosures of the
muddled condition Of the assessors
books it became known today that at
a meeting Of the common council in
the near future a mass Of certificates
OF error will be presented to the
.aldermanic claims committee.
= These documents are to correct the
mistakes Of the assessors Office, and
the list for 1915 was/by far the great
est in the in the history Of the city.
The arbitrary order of the political
bosses of the city to the assessors to
slap $40, 100000 on the value Of taxa
blep roperty in Bridgeport, coming
almost on the eve Of levying the tax
list. cannot but result in a haphazard
attempt to lay equitable increases.
The assessors, in theory. are working
from the spring until the early fall
erty, and from the early fall until
Dec. 81 in compiling their figures.
The assessors are julius w. Knowl-
ton, Frank j Hughes, William F.
Russell and Thomas O'Brien, Col.
Knowlton is the dean of the assessors,
far advanced in years. Attorney
Hughes, suffering from the effects or
an automobile accident, has not been
physically fit to do the duties Of the
office. Assessor Russell has been
absent from the Office for many
weeks, at various intervals, and As
sessor OBrien, who was factory SUI
perintendent, has not shown the apti-
tude for handling the clerical duties
Of the office that would expedite his
share Of the work.
The result has been that clerks.
employed to do other work in the
Office, such as keeping the block map
system up to date, have been unable
to devoee their time to their own du-
ties but have been obliged to do the
assessors work.
With the inevitably haphazard as
sessment. there will be an army or
property owners storming the board
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
COURT IS ASKED
TO HASTEN SUIT
ON 8-H0UR BILL
Department of Justice and
Railroads Seeking to
Expedite Case.
TRIAL MAY BEGIN
WITHIN 2 WEEKS
Decision is Not Expected
Before Jan. l, Day for
Law to Operate.

Washington, Dec. 4.-The supreme
court was formally asked today TO ex7
pedite hearing of the Missouri-Okla-
homa and Gulf Railroad case, chosen
to determine constitutionality of the
Adamson act passed in September
when a nationwide railroad strike
was imminent. N
A motion concurred in by the rail-
roads, to set the case "for hearing
upon a day as early as may suit the
convenience of the court" was pre-
scented personally in open court oy
Solicitor General Davis, of the depart
ment Of justice. Such motions usually
are acted on week after presenta-
ton. =
| The week of Dec. 18 was said to be
preferred by all counsel, to, enable ad-
|equate preparation for. arguments and
filings Of briefs. It was believed GER
tain that the court would assign the
arguments before the holiday recess,
Dec, %. It was regarded as possible
but livery unlikely that decision
would be rendered before the law be-.
comes effective, January 1.
A stipulation for SUSPENSION OF all
litigation over the Adamson act and
for protection of railroad employees
T.
decision ip the test cases was included
in the motion. The compace is signed
by Assistant Attorneys General G.
Carroll Todd and E. Marvin Under
wood and Special Assistant Franh
Hagerman for the government and by
V, alker D. Hines, committee chairman
of the railroads attorneys, and Ar
thur Miller, attorney for the Missouri,
Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad.
A recital Of proceedings in which
Federal Judge William c. Hook on
November %, at Kansas city, in the
test case declared the Adamson act
unconstitutional null and void,' was
given in the motion.
The railroad brotherhoods were not
represented officially in the proceed
ings today nor as signatories to the
stipulation but are entitled to have
attorneys participate in the argu-
metns, although such action is under
stood not to be contemplated. In the
pending case Judge Hook dismissed
the case to the brother chiefs who
originally were made defendants, leav-
ing as the only defendant, United
states District Attorney Francis M.
Wilson, of the Western Missouri dis
trict, who was enjoined from enfcrc-
ing the law
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
Want $4,000
FOR BETTERINC
LOCAL HARB0R
Congress Asked for That
Amount Today-New Lon
don Requests $780, 900

Washington, Dec. 4-Congress was
asked today to appropriate $4,000 for
the improvement of Bridgeport har-
Dor, and $4,000 for the improvement Of
the Housatonic river
For New London harbor, which is
being used extensively by the Navy
Department, 100000 was asked, and
for the improvement of the Thames
river, $4,000. Other Connecticut i'm
provements suggested are: Stamford
harbor, $4,000; Greenwich harbor,
5000; New Haven harbor, $14.OoO;i
Norwalk harbor, $4,000; Connecticut
river below Hartford, $40, 100.
Congress was requested to appropri-
ate total of So, 1885, O63 for waterway
during the fiscal year
of 1918. This is $1O,OOo,OOo less than
the appropriations for the year before.
Almost two-thirds of the expenditures
are for the larger rivers and the port
of New York, through which most of
the country's foreign commerce passes.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
MANY WOUNDED
AS REBELS ANO
MARINES CLASH

Washington, Dec. 4-In an encoun-
ter between American marines and
natives at Macoris Santo Domingo,
November 20, a number were wound
ed on both sides. The heaviest losses
were suffered by the Dominicans. The
affair was reported to the navy de-
partment today by Captain Knapp.
commanding the forces in Haiti and
Santo Domingo.
The report said no Americans were
killed and that only few marines
were Injured. It did not indicate the
number Of the natives losses: The
fight occurred while the American
forces were investigating Macoris
disarming the natives and establish
ing themselves in accordance with the
military rule recently proclaimed.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
WlFE'S
CLOTHES so SHE
MUST REMAIN IN
Burns Children s and Board
ers' Too, to Make Sure Of
Success.

John Kovack, so years, though
married many years, during which
time he has reared family, only re-
Gently developed suspicious Of his wife,
and Of late objects to her going out
nights He say, however, that he does
not know whether or not she has an
other sweetheart.
4 Last Friday night his sponse, left
their home at 6S7 Worden street
ostensib1y to take a walk Kovack
was peeved and went out after her,
insisting that she return home i'm
mediately, but his better half treated
his demand facetiously and only laugh
ed, refusing to do as hidden. u
All night Kovack stormed and
raved, his injured feelings reaching a
climax Saturday morning He ran
about the house searching for his
wife's clothes, and got hold Of num-
Der of the children's apparel as well.
Just to make sure she could not leave
the house, except in the attire Of Eve,
he confiscated the clothing Of a num-
Der Of dodgers and piled all the ap-
parel in the yard Back into the
house he rushed, got some matches
and soon his wife's clothing and that
belonging to his daughters and the
boarders went up in smoke, the bon
fire proving spectacle which seemed to
alleviate the wrath Of Kovack.
His wife however. developed a sud
den desire for revenge and called in
the police with the result that Kovack
was arrested. This morning in court
she admitted her husband gave her
the money he earned weekly and can
not understand his sudden change of
heart toward her. Judge Frank
Wilder gave Kovack so days in Jail
to repent of his action.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
AIRSHIPS HELP
UNDERSEA BOAT
TO TAKE LINER
Capture of British Mail
Ships Described by Pas
senger Here.
ROCKETS FROM AERO
SIGNAL FOR U-BOAT
Submarine Captain Makes
Threat to. Sink Ship
When Skipper Balks.

New York, Dec. "details Of the
capture Of the Dutch cross-channe
mail steamship Koningen Regentes by
German submarines on Nov. 10 and
of her being escorted into the harboI
of Zeebrugge, Belgium, by combined
fleet of German airplanes, submarines
and destroyers, were related here to-
day by DR.. Howard G. Kimbley, OF
San Francisco, who was one of three
Americans on board at the time. DR..
Kimbley arrived, on the steamship
from Ryndam from Rotterdam.
I'VE were about three hours out
from Flushing" said DR.. Kimbley
when German airplane marked
circled about us. The airplane dis
then another airship came into sight
and soon after big gray submarine
arose less than a hundred yards off
our port bow. The submarine sig
nailed to the captain. of the Koningan
Regentes to stop and notified him that
he was to turn about and proceed to
Zeebrugge. Our captain, however,
protested and managed to send, WIRE
less message back to Flushing which
was answered by the appearance
shortly after Of two Dutch destroy
ers.
With the appearance of the latter
vessels there also came a second Ger
man submarine and for time it look
ed as if there might be an encounter
between the two forces.
s"The Dutch destroyers yielded,
however, and retired, but not before
the submarines commander told our
captain that if he did not Immediately
obey orders he would send torpedo
into us.
I'VE had about seventy passengers
on board-Belgians and French, with
q few Dutch, about half of them wo-
men and children. It was evident
that many Of the men passengers had
papers they did not wish to fall into
German, hands for almost simultane-
ously with the appearance of the u
boat they began to throw packages
overheard several Of which were
picked up by the submarines and air.
ships, and by two German destroyers
which also came out to meet us.
'"The submarine captain who came
aboard our ship was, with his officers.
evidently half starved, judging by the
way they ate and drank. The first
night aboard the captain, while at the
table, talked more than he evidently
intended. He made the following
remark to me and to the captain Of
our ship:
'"The submarine fleet of Germany
has been given general orders to sink
every ship bound for American ports.
regardless of nationality. if it has con-
traband aboard. The orders, how
ever, have been temporarily halted"
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
M'FAYDEN WILL
QUIT COMMIT Tee
FOR PRESIDENCY
Insurgent Republican Alder
men Have Candidate in
w. E. Primrose.

Alderman Malcolm MacFayden of
the First district will be chosen pres
ident Of the board Of aldermen when
that body meets for organization to-
night. The decision to again name
Alderman MacF'ayden was arrived at
only after much wrangling among the
Republican aldermen at a caucus held
in Republican headquarters yesterday
and which will be continued in the
city clerks Office before the meeting
Of the common council tonight.
If the. events of the last few days
are criterion then the Invisible
Government" which directs the coun-
ell will not find the aldermen the same
docile body that has been manipulated
in the past. The new aldermen and
several of the old ones have asserted
their independence and they laid
down an ultimatum yesterday that a
few pets Of the administration may
not have all the good places.
If Alderman MacFayden was to re-
main as president of the board Of al
dermen they insisted that he give up
craftsmanship Of the streets and side
walks committee. Alderman William
e. Primrose Of the Ninth district was
their candidate for president in case
Alderman MacFayden refused. Mac
Fayden finally consented. He will be
elected president and Primrose will
get the Craftsmanship Of the streets
and sidewalks committee
The seating arrangement for the al
dermen was completed yesterday. On
the right hand side from the rostrum,
the aldermen will have desks in the
following order: Front row, MacFay-
den, Olson, Blakeslee. Steigler, Kearns
and Cole. Rear row, from the re strum,
StaggL Lewis, Remedy, Hamilton, Fin
klestone and Winterburn.
On the left hand side: Front row
from the rostrum, Mcbride, Whitney,
Kampf, Tierney, Roder and Primrose.
Rear row, Clark Thornton, Cannon,
Onkey, Clancy and Ford.
The Democratic aldermen will meet
at 7:30 tonight in the registrars office
(Continued on Page 81
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04

of relief whose work has grown to
enormous proportions.
The first official outline OF the plan
to milk the taxpayers will be made
tonight in Mayor Wilson's message to
the common council.
He will not set any specific figures,
but will outline work that he will
recommend to be done This will
include a vast amount Of street paw.
ing, and the administration old
friend, Warrenite, will be adopted for
this purpose. It is likely now that
more than one million dollars will be
spent for this purpose. Bridgeport
is paying for its Warrenite about dou-
BILE what the pavement costs else
where.
With 21 Republican and three
Democratic aldermen in the common
council, it will be simple matter
for the administration to get what q
wants in the city's lawmaking body
It remains for the administration
to handle the legislature, for the ex-
penditures proposed are SO great that
a special law will be required to make
them legal. M
The law stipulates that the city may
DOnQ LOT not more tHdH HVe per CeHI.
of it's grand list. fe
At present the total Indebtedness Of
the city is s6,422,700 or minues the
sinDing fund, s629,860.06, the net in
debtedness on Oct. 1, this year, was
s5,792,89994. Under the charter the
bonded debt Of the city may not exceed
five per cent of the grand list At
present the bonded debt is SLICE
O9161 below what the law allows.
In order to float the big bond issues
which the Republicans contemplate
they not only must increase the grand
list enormously but they must also ask
the General Assembly to permit
charter change so that the amount of
debt which the city may carry will be
raised from five to eight per cent. OF
the grand list. p
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04

dls LOT the most gigantic grab of public moneys in the
HISTORY Oh bridgeport to strengthen political machine came I'M
against an unexpected snag today when the bosses
o ne attack on the public purse discovered an appalling
dltlon OF affairs in the office of the assessors iS
prepared to instruct the the grand list b
at east 94oO In order that their ultimate TO the
for the special law egaze their
carnva OF expenditure not garng the bosses
tooay that the accounts of the such
shape that is extremely unlikely can be an ntei-
gent levy OF assessments for the tax list of 1915
Inc block map system of the city, prepared expense
many thousands OF dollars found practically covered
with coDWeb An accountant hired to keep the of block
maps up to the minute had not for any
months because he had to do the the
nemsevespaid at the rate of expected to
do.
This accountant has resigned because he did care be
Identified with the scandal he knew follow the COM
paon of the annual list Another hired take his place.
also has quit the place. and corps young
ing Of town clerks being included the reor
ganzed staff-to do the assessors work. 4
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04

London Dec 4-Premier Asquh announced in the House
this afternoon that King George had approved of
reconstruction of the Mr. Asquh suggested that
the boards business had been concluded the House ad
journ until Thursday
Premier Asquh stated that the reconstruction of the
involved departure shape or form OF the poll
CIV pursued since the beginning of the
He did deny that he designations of all the ministers
were in his hands.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
Munitions Ship, From
New York, Torpedoed

London, Dec. 4.--Lloyd's shipping
agency announces that the British
steamer King Bleddyn has been sunk
The King Bleddyn, Of 4,43S tons gross,
sailed from New York on Nov. 16, for
Havre.
New York, Dec 4.-The King Bled-
dyn was undercharter to the French
line, and carried cargo of automo-
biles, copper, steel, etc. So far as
ynown, no Americans were among her
crew
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04

mier will be able to announce before
many hours an. agreement with his
colleagues on the vital question con-
cernfng the war council, the forma-
ton and size Of which led to the crisis.
Whether. the council will be com
posed of three, four or five members
is still matter of discussion while
while its powers also are the subject
Of negotiations. Mr.. Lloyd George and
his adherents desire the smallest pos
sible council. with power to conduct
the war Independently Of the cabinet.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04

The. decision of Premier Asquith, on
advice of the war secretary, David
Lloyd George, which is supported by
Sother members Of the ministry, to re-
construct the cabinet is believed to
have saved the coalition government
lagain. and eIsued more vigorous pros
ecution Of the war.
There are some details yet to be ar
ranged, but newspapers which have
lbeen the most severe critics Of the
governments alleged dilatory attitude.
express tho conviction that the pre-
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
ENcl WAR
POLICY TO HOLD,
ASQulTH AYERS

Have Obtained Since Outbreak Of Hostilites
King Gives His Approval to Proposed Re-
construction Prime Minister Holds Resigna-
s, tions of ALI Cabinet Officers, Report in Lon
don.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
PLAN FOR HUGE RAID ON
CITY FUNDS DISCLOSES
SCANDAL in ASSESSORS

records OF Office Are in Such Shape That officials
nave Little Hope of Being Able to Present In
telllgent Figures For Annual Tax Levy-Ex-
perts. Called From Their Work to Do Assess
ors Duties. Resign Rather Than Assume Re-
> sponsibility for Conditions in Office.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
MANY ARE RETURNED.

Amsterdam, Dec. 4-The news
!. paper Les Nouvelles says the German
are beginning to reduce considerably
their requirements as to the number
{ OF unemployed to be ,deported from
Belgium and that the greater part Of
1.-THE men who presented themselves at
Liege last week were sent back to
their homes. Only a few men were
taken from the surrounding villages.
The newspaper ads that apparently
Z the protests of neutrals have be-
gun to produce effect. Invalids and
boys OF 15 years who have returned
to Ghent, Les Nouvelles says, report
they were forced to work on trenches
in the district of Soissons and that
their. food was bad and their treat
-uent harsh.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
THE WEATHER

Unsettled tonight and Tuesday;
warmer. Moderate to fresh south
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
TEuT0N FORCES twelve
MILES FROM BUCHAREST;
FURIOUS BATTLE RAGING

Petrograd 1.-The office that the Teu-
occupied the village of Gradishea AZ miles
south Bucharest Obstinate fighting is proceeding between
dfi4 and Rsfehd
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
CERMAN RAuDS REFUISED.

Paris, Dec Two German raids
on small French posts In the region
Of Bar1ux. on the Somme front, were
repulsed easily last night, 1t IS an
nounced officially A similar attempt
in Alsaoe, southeast of Mesterel, also
fwas without success Elsewhere on
the French front the night passed
quiet1y-
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
BElCIANS REVOLT
AT DEPORTATION;
MANY ARE KILLED
Antwerp Citizens In Clash
With Germans and Over
200 Are Dead

London, Dec Two Be1gians who
have arrived In Slniski1l, Holland,
from Ghent. report that there was a
revolt in Antwerp ON Nov. 80, in
which between two and three hun
dred inhabitants and many German
soldiers are said to have been killed,
according to Reuter- Amsterdam
despatch today quoting a SluiskiIl
correspondent
The reported revolt was due to a
can upon the inhabitants for work in
Germany.
The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
sERRS TAKE TRENCH

Lcndnn, Dec- @Thes capture by
Serbian troops Of part cf ?. trench
near Grunfsiate ON the Macedonian
front east Of the Cerna river bend, is.
reported In the cflcial Serbian state
ment Of Sunday
ADVANCE FOB sERBIANS
Parts, Dec SERBIAN troops have
captured a hin north Of Grunishte,
on the Macedonian front east OF
Carna river bend the war Office an
nonncez
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-10
Youths Steal Auto;
Abandon Car After
Damaging Machinery


After forcing open the door Of the
Roswell garage on Stratford avenue in
the East End this morning two young
men stole an automobile belonging to
Harry Danberg Of ~ Hamilton street
and after a few hours ride aband-
oned the machine at East Washington
avenue and Harriet street where it
was found by the police.
The burglary was committed about 2
o'clock in the morning and the ma
chine was found at 6. The cylinders
Of the engine are cracked fsom the
frost of the early morning and the ma
chine is otherwise damaged.
Policeman Clifford N. Gorgas has ar
rested Peter Philipo, aged 10, of 103
Commercial street and Frank CefaIo,
aged II, of 127 Sterling street, and they
are Charged. with taking the automo-
bile without permission. of the OWNER
and the additional charge of burglary
may be placed against them. Bonds
in each case have been fixed at $50
.Philipo has admitted being concerned
in the escapade and he is released in
the custody Of his father. CefaIo de-
MES being mixed in the affair and he
is held for trial at the county Jail. !