davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08

At City Hall-Public InVlt%
ed To Discuss Question:
And Suggest Remedy
CONDITIONS MUST BE
IMPROVED AT ONCE
Unfair and Discriminatory
Taxation Makes A Few
Bear Total Burden

At 1890 o'clock this morning, in
the city hall, a public meeting is call
ed for the purpose of considering
remedies for the unbearable tax con
ditions under which a part of the PEG
pie must pay the public expenses Of
the whole, because there is no law to
enforce the payment and because tax
sale does not confer a valid title. The
entire public is urged to be present to
participate in the discussion and sug
gest remedies.
Not only is the present system IN
fair, but inequalities amounting to
discrimination are also charged. This
applies to personal as we'll as realty
taxes. H. Clay Armstrong has made
a special study in the former direc-
ton and explained the point as fol
lows.
The law requires a statement from
each property holder of the amount
and value of all his property. In ad-
dition to land and houses, the real
property, should by the law, set forth
all other property, and this statement
is to be made under oath. Now this
includes mortgages, bonds (eXcept
those of the government that are
exempt by law, shares in banks or
other corporations, bank deposits.
cash, iewelry, live stock, wagons, bu"-
gies, automobiles, merCnznts' stocks
of goods-anything in sort, with
value. OF all these items that which
would amount to most ~~sth US Wou|
TO SAY ~2grtasgs and il would lo hsv-7l
this would ain8uE- millions Of '"''@T@
We all know that nothing al,,o...
mating the law is attempted h<~
Under the system praCticed it is mos
difficult to form an idea of what is
the basis for assessing personal prop
erty. If one has an automobile or a
horse and wogan, or such very unCon-
cealable property, it will surely have
consideration. But should he have
hundred or two thousands Of dollars
in mortgage securities he may count
himself exempt. Securities of any
kind enjoy the same exemption.
An inspection of the tax books re
veal some startling cases of injustice
of which this is a sample. / know
man with no personal property eX-
cept, perhaps, his watch and the fur
niture in his house; he pays on an
assessment of $3.50. Not far from
his name on the tax collectors books
is the name of another man, Teputed
to be among the wealthiest of our
citizens. Ask any business man the
extent of his wealth and you will
get estimates from 100000 to $780,
600, and very small part Of his
property is in real estate. He owns
at least two automobiles. Yet this
man pays on $4,000 or personal prop
! erty. In other words, the small
holder pays on about one-third tho
value of his and the larger holder on
about one-fortieth. And there are
other cases just as conspicuously un-
I Just
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
To
Be THE FIRST.
Nine Regiments Be Sent To
France To Build Rail
way Lines
way Lines
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Washington, May Nine new
regiments of army engineers, com
posed exclusively of highly trained
railway men, will be the first Amer
lean troops to be sent to France.
Their work will be confined to COM
munication lines. The expedition
will be volunteers, and composed Of
about twelve thousands. Every
branch of railway workers necessary
to the building and operation of a
railroad will be represented. The
force is to be raised at the nine great
railway centers Of the United States,
among which Atlanta is named.
Work of recruiting railroad men
for the expeditionary force will be
started Immediately, and members
viii be given military organization
for the sake Of greater mobility and
efficiency. The war department an
nounced the best railroad talent and
experience the nation can afford will
be included in the personnel force.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
Large Gathering Celebrated
Membership Contest Of
the Association
ALL RESOLVE TO
WELCOME RECRUITS
Crowd Of Men En-
joy One Of the Most Con-
genial Evenings

Assembling in the dining room at
Hughey's restaurant, about sixty
members and friends of the Baraca
class of the First Methodist Church
spent more than an hour Monday
night, enjoying a sumptuous repast,
after which pleasing and highly-en-
joyed speeches were made by quite 2
number, called on by the POSTMASTER,
Rev. D. ,. Slaughter, of the church
named. A more cOngenial assemblage
could probably not have been gotten
together; practically all expressed
the hope that a like occasion would
be enjoyed in the not far distant fu-
ture.
a membership contest. 1t Sc ms that
two of the gentlemen were assigned
as team captains to ring up the larg-
est number of new members. the loser
to provide the treats" The teams
tied, and that aAade tall the more
pleasant, for >T>ed II and the
best of good .I'Eship prevailed.
Some of thu present were with
the class since organization, others
quite recent acquisitions, but all en-
tered into the spirit of the occasion
last night and, new and old members
alike, enjoyed the companiOnship OF
all.
A rich spread was served anc
eaten, but not until a blessing was in
voked by Rev. DR.. Slaughter. Their
/ speech-making was engaged in. L. Y
Continued on Page Eight
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
From All Florida Comes the
Story Of Unfair Burden
some Taxation
HOUSE AND SENATE
CONSIDER 2 BILLS
Designed To Restore Prop
erty To Tax Books and
Enforce Collection
Tallahassee Bureau
The Pensacola Journal

Tallahassee, May Both finance
and taxation committees of the house
and senate have under consideration
bills designed to enforce the payment
of taxes, so as to relieve the burden
of taxation on the comparatively few,
who are paying. From many parts of
the state complaints have come, pro
testing against the inequality exist
ing under the present arrangement,
and relief is expected in a short while.
Two bills will probably be passed,
being companion measures. One to
restore property held bH the state to
the tax books, and providing for the
payment of interest, the waiving IF
and the other to enforce the collection
of future taxes, once the property
has been restored.
The first of these two bills has
been introduced by Senator Jones,
favorably reported, and we'll up on
the calendar. The other will prob
ably be a committee bill, and as such,
be given the right of way over some
other measures, insuring the passage
of both bills before adjournment.
Regulate Hunting and Fishing.
Most of the time of the senate was
consumed this afternoon in consid-
ering a bill regulating hunting and
fishing, which had been prepared by
the game and fisheries committee
Numerous changes are being made III
existing laws, chiefly in regard tc
| determining the season in which va
rious game can be killed, because OF
the divergence of condition through
out the state and the general nature
/ of the bill, many amendments were
submitted, but in the end few changes
| of Importance were made, except
! those which strengthened the act.
Want Another Insane Asylum
When the house convened this aft
ernoon a lengthy debate was almos
Immediately precipitated on a bill
/ providing the amount of bond secur'
/ ity and trust companies must have t
issue abstracts of title. Various
! amendments, with changing sums re
quired, were offered, but finally kill.
ed, and the bill passed in its origina
form.
The remainder of the afternoon wa
consumed in debating a bill providing
for the establishment of a state hos
! [Cor+i,,,a5 ,,, T1,fra EIGHTY
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
WAR 7 AXES
ESTABLISHED
All Except Newspaper Ad-
vertising-Pullman And
Theatre Tickets Taxed
~ ASs0CIATED PREss

Washington, May :. - Drastic
LIQUOR and inheritance taxes We're
written into the war revenue bill by
the house ways and means commit
tee, which adjourned tonight s..u un-
able to agree over many sections
Proposed taxes on whiskey were in
creased, and the amount of liquor
exempt from taxation in dealers
hands at time the law is effective
is reduced from an unlimited guam
tity to fifty gallons. New taxes as
written in the bill include five pei
cent on advertising, except for news
papers and periodicals; ten per cent
on the purchase price of Pullman
tickets; five per cent on sporting
goods, and new jewelry; one cent or
every theater ticket sold to a chile
under twelve years old.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
Law Makers Make Effort
To Clear Many Bills
Froan Calendar
RELIGIOUS ISSUE
RAISED IN DEBATE
Appropriations Amounting
To $645,OO0 For State
Schools Are Passed
Tallahassee Bureau.
The Pensacola Journal.

Tallahassee, May AFTER a two
day recess, the senate returned to
business this morning and started
work in earnest to clear the calendar.
All appropriation bills which had been
held up until May LIST, were special
orders, as were two bills designed to
limit the appointive power of the
governor, by placing certain restric-
tions on the senate's confirmation.
Several motions to reconsider vote
on various bills were also on the cal
endar, and the one by Mr.. Farris to
reconsider the vote by which the SEN
ate passed the house bill to permit
the reading of the Bible in public
schools, precipitated a short debate
in which the religious question was
injected.
Mr.. Farris, in explaining his mo-
ton, read a resolution from the Jack
sonville chapter of B'nai Birth, q
Jewish organization protesting siren
uOusly against the bill, claiming that
it. brought sectarianism into the pub
lie schools to which all denomina-
tons contributed, and in which nc
s. creed should be taught.
/ Raise Religious Issue.
Senator Crawford, the origina
I champion of the measure, replied
and raised the religious issue still
further by bringing the Catholics intt
the discussion. The debate stopped
shortly afterward, when other sena
tors declared that the measure wa:
unconstitutional. The vote was re
/ considered and the bill ordered re
i
Of the appropriation bills, the mos
/ important was that making the edu
. catiOnal appreciation of S645 400, 70
/ the colleges of the state. 1t passed
without opposition. Other bushes
| was of a routine nature.
Fee Bills Wednesday.
The two fee bills. one by Senate
Jones, the other by Senator Carlton
were made special orders for Wed
nesday at eleven o'clock, while til
bills curtailing the appointive powe
of the governor were continued unit
tomorrow.
Of bills introduced. the one provid
ing fer a state gasoline inspecto
and the payment of an inspection ia
is probably the most important, Will
/ Senator Baker introduced a resolutio
: scoring the newspaper COrreSpon
dents, and requesting them to b
careful in quoting senators.
The hose was not in session.
Textbook Law Amended.
A supplementary bill to the stat
uniform textbook law was passed b
the senate this morning, providin
for a commission Of eleven person
, Who shall assemble in convention
Tallahassee in July, 1917, on a dat
, to be set by the chairman, to draft
uniform course Of study for the put
lie schools of the state.
The bill provides that the boar
, shall be composed of two primar
= teachers who hold life primary cel
, tificates, two graded school teacher
q, who hold life graded certificates; tw
: principals of high schools, who hoI
life state certificates; one member
! the faculty of the University Of Flo
! ida: one member from the faculty
C--+f-,,aI nm Y1ao. = chm
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
10 Wagon Loads of Tin Cans
A Month Sho1O Money Sent
North By Pensacola for Food

In a report rendered to Street
Commissioner Thos. H. Johnson yes
terday, a great deal of work is shown
to have been done by teams in the
street cleaning department. No less
than 1852 loads of different material
were hauled during the month, and
stock in the department were fed at
an average Of S12.64 per head, or a
total cost of S265.48.
Tin Can Crop.
One of the features Of the report
rendered by the department shows
that this city is long on timed or
canned products. A total of nineteen
wagon loads were removed from the
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08

incinerators during the month, which
shows that at least nineteen cart
loads Of canned products were CON
sumed in Pensacola, and the bulk of
the products comes from northern
and eastern markets.
Not Bone Dry.
The report shows that during the
month there were hauled $50 loads of
water, which of course we're used to
sprinkle streets, 273 loads of cinders,
274 loads Of gravel and 284 loads of
ballast. The materials just mentioned
were used in some Of the new road
building and street improvement
which the department has been look
ing after during the past month.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
SPECIAL TRAIN
WAS WRECKED
Members Of French War
Commission In Coaches
Which Were Derailed
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Terre Haute, Ind, May THE
special train bearing the French war
commission was derailed near Arco-
lai, ILL.,, early tonight. Four of the
six coaches left the rails but did not
upset. AS far as known, no one was
hurt.
Later reports from the scene of
the wreck said a member of the com
mission was severely shaken up, but
was otherwise uninjured. The wreck
ing train was dispatched from here
to the wreck.
United States secret service agents
aboard the train, after an investiga
ton, announced they believed the
wreck was entirely accidental.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
New Orleans Bureau,
The Pensacola Journal.

New Orleans, May Unfolding that
the captain Of the tugboat Monarch,
belonging to the 1. H. Aiken Tow
boat Company, had not the right to
turn adrift at sea two barges loaded
with coal belonging to the CIooney
Construction Company, Eugene J. F.
Coleman, assignee, the United States
court of appeals today sent back to
the Northern district Of Florida fed
eral court, the case for a decision
which would be in keeping with their
findings.
The high court found that the Mon
arch left Calcaaieu Pass and then
went TO Port Arthur. Texas, where
She picked up two barges loaded with
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
Aiken Company Loses In
Monarch Case In NelO Orleans

coal. to be used as fuel, to make a
trip to Frontera, Mexico, on May %,
two or three years ago. Hard weather
was encountered and the captain of
the Monarch cut the barges loose.
He then put into Galveston.
Clooney & Company claimed that
he could just as well reached Arkansas
Pass with the two barges, as their
men on them said that the weather
was not hard. but a little blow above
the ordinary.
The court held that, since the cap
tain had abandoned the barges at
sea, had gone to Galveston and rem
dered report that they had been lost
at sea, that the Clooney Company had
a right to recover and sent the case
back with these instructions.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
Judge Sheppard's Charge At
Federal Court Opening
Is Mastery One
WARTIME DUTIES OF
PEOPLE DISCUSSED
Counterfeiting, White Slave,
Postal Laws, Peonage,
Conspiracy, Subjects

The United States court for the
Northern District of Florida opened
session for the spring term of court
yesterday morning with Judge Viii
liam B. Sheppard presiding. A grand
jury was drawn, composed of the fol-
lowing men: NJ. 3. Burton, of Mari
anna, foreman, Oscar G. Crona, R.
H. Capers, William F. Breen, Avery
Bell, John B. Guttnan, Harry P. Fer
riss, J. B. DOugherty, James Nj.
Fleming, Julius c. Carter, John n.
Day, Louis Boley, J. S. Bell, Jas. w.
COOns, Leo Labisinski, Charles w.
Forum, Edmund Fox, John G.. Caro-
Bryan Dunwody, Terrell Covington,
and John Engstrom, from Pensacola;
w. w. Garrett, Greenwood, and J. l.
Byrd, Bombay.
Judge Sheppard's Charge.
Judge Sheppard's charge was one
Of the most complete and mastery
charges ever given d grand jury. Be
sides the usual charge, Judge Shep-
pard laid special emphasis on the
Sherman antitrust act and charged
the jury against all types of food
spectators. "MOdern development oil
The resources of the country and con
seQuent combination of capital anC
investment, make necessary the pro
lection of the public from monopolie;
and combinations which affect com.
merce between the several states anC
with foreign countries. so that con
gress has enacted what is known as
the Sherman act, or antitrust law.
Judge Sheppard then quoted severa
sections from the act.
Judge Sheppard took up posta
laws, counterfeiting, peonage, the
white slave traffic act and couspir
acy. The special attention of tn,
grand jury was called to the presi'
dents war proclamation: BY refer
enCe to the proclamation of Presjden
/ wilson, made upon congress euactinl
the now world famous war resolution
! declaring a state of war exists be
/ tween the United States and Ger
many. it may be seen that the presi
/ dent has specially directed and APP
/ pointed officers, civil and military
! Of the United States to exercise Wig
I lance in the discharge of the dutie
/ incident to such a catastrophe, an,
/ has moreover earnestly appealed t
all American citizens that they Gv
! in true devotion to their country
{ dedicated from its foundation to tn
/ principles of liberty and justice, up
hold faithfully the laws Of the LAND
and give undivided and willing sup
! port to those measures which ma
be adopted by the constitutional au
|
1
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
British and Germans En-
gage in Violent Fight For
Possession Of Bullecourt
ARTILLERY DUELS
ARE IN PROGRESS
Six German Airplanes Are
Brought Down In the
Days Fighting
by ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Violent artillery duels are report
ed in progress in sector of Craonne
which was captured last week by
Canadian and French troops. North
west of Rheims the French carried
out successful operations. according
to official statement of the French
war office.
British reports claim a continuance
of air battles on the western front
with six German airDlanes brought
down in the DAYS fighting.
British and Germans are engaged
Confined or Page Eight
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
Homo Lincoln's Memory.

Springfield, Ill, May with
bowed heads, Marshal Joffre and
Rene Niviani, heads of the French
war mission, placed a wreath on the
tomb of Lincoln, while other members
filed into the tomb paying tribute
to the Civil War president. Vivian
speaking in the Illinois legislature
predicted United States aid viii bring
the war &C. final and glFEA\s con-
cIus@@s.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
EMPTY BUILDING IS
FOUND BURNING FAST

At 1904 o'clock last night a vacant
building at the corner of Brainard
street and Twelfth avenue caught
fire in a mysterious manner. The
damage was slight.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08

Will c. Blackwell one of the accused murderers
Of Bud Davis and wife, who was placed on trial for
his life yesterday at Crestvew made his escape last
night while being transferred for safe keeping for the
night from Crestview, in Okaloosa county, to De
Funiak in Walton county. 1t stated that Black
we'll was in cusOdy OF Deputy Moore. who arrested
him in Alabama, and Sheriff Sutton, of OkaIoosa
county, Just outside DeFuniak, it is said. an auto
mobile was waiting to hurry Blackwell and the Off
GERS to the Walton county Jail 1t was said he slipped
handouts after they left the train and escaped in the
dark.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
WILL BLACKWELL ESCAPES FROM
SHERIFF; 500 REWARD OFFERED

Crestview Fla, May Twill Blackwell escaped
frca7 the sheriff at DeFuniak Springs tonight will
pay reward of one hundred dollars for his capture
dead or alive. John P STOKES
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08
WEATHER FORECAST

Partly cloudy Tuesday with showers
south portion, Wednesday fair; warmer
north portion; moderate northwest winds
Yesterdays tenpera ture: Highest IS
degrees; lowest, IS degrees.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-08

Confined on Pasa Eight)
Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1917-09-21

W. II. Graham. of Lordsburg. is
taking Agent Kelbro'S busy job for
II few weeks during the laiters va
cation. Graham saws Dcming i
"-ome settlement"
The ball given nj the Armorv Sat
urday evening was decided success
in every respect. The receipts
amounted Ia Sll3. The ball was
given under the auspices of the War
Service Board. and much credit j.
due Mr.. Mvron \. kesner of this
Board for the evenings pleasure.
X. W. Yeargin will feed thirty head
of cattle near the Ilondale canning
factory. He will move these cattle
from his ranch Within close proxim-
itv of the factory. Mr.. Yearein
learns that the tomato pcelings and
waste from the factory affords ex-
rellent feed for fattening rattle.
These cattle have already been con-
signed to Demng BUYERS.
Mr.. +. II. Flowers. proprietor of the
Globe Barber Shop on Spruce street.
is having his barber shop remodeled
and putting in shower baths. hot and
cold baths and adding two more
chairs. thus making Il four chair bar
Der shop. Mr.. Flowers but recently
pnrcha -ed the Globe and his daily
increasing business necessiiated the
improvements and additions. Mr..
Flowers j. an artist in hi. line and
will soon have one of the best equip
ped little shops in this part of the
country.
Sergeant \. &. Cradle had an op-
Grafton for cancer performed on his
lower lip. Monday afternoon. bv Ma
ior Thomas nj the Base Hospital.
Major Thomas j. II graduate of the
University of PENNSYLVANIA and
ranks high in the medical profession.
Sgt. Cradle j. also graduate of the
same university So far the opera
ton has proven successful and the
-ergeant'> MANY friends hope he will
soon be feeling finer than silk" with
only pheasant memories of the
irving ordeal.
Mr.. Daniel Mccoy. of Denver.
'olo.. representing the William A.
Brady productions. is here this week
making arrangements with 7. Seth
Hull. of moving picture fame. where
~ some of the latest productions
will soon be shown ut the several
heaires operated bv Mr.. Hull. Alice
Brady. in BETSY Ross" Lew Fields.
N the Corner Grocery" Montague
Love and an all star caste in "Ras.
pntin. the Black Russian Monk" are
ihree of the biggest pictures made
This wear and are to be seen Mt Mr..
|Iull'S show houses very soon.