davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
News in Brief

Homeward- bound Brooklynites were de-
layed from one to two hours by n car on
the Sea Beach line jumping the track at
Seventeenth Street. Mrs. Mary Whidden,
guard on the car. thrown to the floor.
but refused medical attention and aided in
quoting the passengers.
Detectives have gone to Jacksonville Fla.
to bring back Il man believed to be Edward
KOle or Kohl, who 10 wanted in connec ton
with a bold hold-up last May. at the st.
Francis Hotel, West Forty Street.
John Grove, of 267 Warren Street, and
Frank Malone, of 56 Fifteenth Street, both
addresses in Brooklyn were severely burned
when Il Rasolenc torch fell and exploded in
tool house at Tebos Yacht Basin. Brook
lyn.
The will OF Thomas +. O'Connor. just
filed. discloscs bequosts of s37 ,079 to Car
dinal Farley. $4,000 to Monsignor Lavelle
for the saying of for the testator
and his faithful housckeepcr." The estate
is valued at SIG. .459.
Mary and Elizabeth daughters of Mr..
and Mrs. James f. Clark. of l02 Bryant
Avenue, Jamaica. have enlisted in the
brother enlisted some time ago as Il ycoman
in the navy and they have merely followed
his example.
Samuel Gornn, electrician at the Jefferson
Theatre. 2li East Fourteenth Street.
nccdently shot and killed by Morris Jaffe
nineteen years old. of Is West One Hun
drcd and Eighteenth Street
Henry Roll. nineteen. of POI East Second
Street, WIS held charge of manslnugh-
ter by Magistrate Appleton. in the West
Side Court. in connection with the death Of
James Reilly seven years old. of 4A5 West
Fifty-third Street. who killed by motor
truck driven by Roll Bail was tiXed at $1,000.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Will Have Bill Introduced
To-day to Force H.
Hour Minimum
Urge Uniform Leases
Would Fine Landlords for
Violations, and Also Pro-
tect Them

Another heatless winter for occu-
pants Of apartments on Washington
Heights will never come to pass If a
bill fostered by them and to be intro
duced in the state Legislature to-day
is indorsed by the Albany lawmakers.
payers have been aired to a greater
extent this season in the courts OF the
city than ever before, says William A.
Herman, chairman of the Washington
Heights Tenants League, and the
measure, which will be presented by
Assemblyman Earl A. Smith, of the 23d
District also rentpayer--is designed
to afford ronclad protection.
To begin with, it calls for standard
lease for all landlords and tenants, so
that standard penalties may he in
ficted upon violators. And tenants
renting from month to month are to
be bound by lease, as we'll as those
renting by the year.
Further, the bill provides that each
landlord must provide during the cold
weather a minimum of twelve hours
of heat a day In the case of viola
tions landlords are to be fined amounts
based upon the rent the tenant pays.
"There is no desire to throttle land
lords" said Mr.. Herman yesterday at
his offices with the State Industrial
Commission. 230 Fifth Avenue. eve
are asking only our Just due. A flimsy
charge by one tenant will not be sutfi-
cient to bring a landlord to the courts
of law. 1t must be substsntiated by
other occupants of apartments in the
same building.
"We are simply resolved to prevent
experiences such as those to which we
were compelled to submit this winter.
There is no reason why tenants should
pay for heat and hot water when they
don't get them"
1t is also provided in the bill to be
introduced to-day that not less than
fourteen days notice shall be given to
tenants who are asked TO vacatc their
apartments.
Mr. Herman emphasized the favora-
bic treatment accorded tenants in court
actions in recent months.
ain one case" he said yesterday. 1--WE
were granted an allowance of 90 per
cent of our rent for February by Justice
Crane, sitting in the Seventh Municipal
Court, and the landlord voluntarily de-
Quoted 10 per cent for this month
This action benefited 1872 families And
so convinced was the landlord that he
had been in the wrong that when he
wished to dispossess two tenants for
non-payment Of rent he asked us
whether we would fight such move.
We did not, however, for our mission
is not to champion cheats. We simply
ask justice for good citiZens.'
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Jail Term for Mail Driver
MAGISTRATE House Also Lect.
ures Him on Carelessness

James j. Warren, the first mail driver
TO be convicted in the Traffic Court
cince the government took over the
mail truck service on January /, start
Cd term of ten days in the Tombs
yesterday for shaving trolley car at
Fourth Avenue and Twcnty-first Street
closer than the law allows. Magistrate
House gave him the alternative of $50
fine. but he did not have the money.
"Thc sooner you drivers of mail
trucks get it out Of your heads that
right Of way means that you may drive
in the streets when you please, where
you please and az you please SAID
Magistrate House, che better it will be
for you. Right Of way means that If a
traffic policeman is about to shut off
north and south bound traffic and open
IN west and east bound traffic he may
single you out and let you pass, provld-
ed he thinks it can be done with safety,
or he may hold a parade and allow you
to proceed"
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Government Warns
OF Seed Profteering
Prompt Action To Be Taken,
Say Hoover and Houston
In Statement

WASHINGTON. March 11.-Prohteer-
ing in seeds was charged by Secretary
of Agriculture Houston and Food Ad-
n?inistrator Hoover in joint statement
tonight, which said that prompt action
in such cases would be taken whenever
specific information was submitted
Many complaints of abnormally high
prices are being received.
"Without adequate distribution Of
seed at reasonable prices, there is dan.
ger that acreage will be lessened and
that seed of poor quality will frequently
be used" the statement said. "If such
conditions were to develop. it would
seriously impair our national food pro-
gramme."
Some increase in prices of certain
seeds was said to be justified by the
shortage Of supply and the increased
cost of doing business. The two officials
were emphatic. however, in holding that
this did not justify any one in taking
"selfsh advantage Of the opportunity
to the detriment Of the country
Speculation in seeds especially was dep
recated and dealers under Federal
license were warned that if they en-
gagged in such practice they would be
dealt with severely.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Garheld's s Coal Price
10 Close Some Mines
Increased Production by Larg-
er Concerns to Make Up
shortage, Says Fuel Head
lStaf Correspondence


WASHINGTON, March 11.-Fuel Ad.
m'nistrator Garfield to-day admitted
that under the revised government
prices for coal at the mouth of the mine
from to per cent of the mines
would be compelled to cease opera
tons. The fuel administration said
ms would be confined largely to mines
produclng domestic coal.
IN defence of price fixing which com
pelIed the cessation of mining opera
.iohs IN certain sections of the coun-
Try Or. Garfield stated that the gov
efnment prices would be so advantage
ous .L 70 'he greater percentage of mines
mat the increased output stimulated
among the latter would more than
com PenSate for the lost tonnage in
duced by Involuntary closing Of the
smaller percentage of mines.
Inc mines closed will be in all
cases those in which the cost of pro-
ductlon is too high to permit the gov
srhment to fix a price which would al
Low low 'helr operation, DR.. Garfield stated.
when asked if the country would not
require every pound of coal that could
oe produced. he said he believed the
oomestlc consumer could do without
the nigh priced coal that was being
eliminated If the railroads are able
to handle the fuel during the coming
months there will be no coal shortage
stated
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Five Seized in Raid

Five men, believed to be members of
gang of burglars who have been op-
Grating on the upper West Side, we're
arrested last night in an apartment at
2525 Seventh Avenue by Detectives
O'Connor, Coakley and Coleman, of In
spector Ryan's staff
In the room the detectives found
several pieces of burlap bag, which it is
believed the men wrapped about their
ieet to conceal footprints and pair of
cotton gloves, used it is thought, to
eliminate hngcrprints.
Three Jimmies were also found. ono
in the pocket of Matthew Nevins. of
II East Twenty third Street, Bavonnc.
n. j., the two others concealed in the
room. When the detectives entered.
Frank Scalzo, of 1868 West Hath Street
attempted to draw q revolver, but was
captured before he could fire. Tho
others arrested. are Wlfred Burke. Of
267 West Id4th Street; Albert DooIey.
of 224 l42d Street. and James McCov.
Of 3oS West 134th Street All are
charged with burglary. An additional
charge of violation. Of the Sullivan law
has been made against Scalzo.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Missing Man Is
Found Suicide in
Broadway Hotel

John W. Turrill. private secretary
Wood Finishing Company, a du Pont
enterprise, comr tilted suicide early
yesterday morning in the Hotel Bres-
lin by cutting his throat with a safety
razor blade. He had been missing for
three days, and his family had in
formed the police of his disappearance
Officials Of the Bridgeport Wood Fin
ishing Company, at East Thirty ninth
Street, were at a loss to explain their
associates act Mr.. Turrill had been
with the company for thirty years, and
was transferred to the New York Of
flee from New Milford, Conn, when the
company was taken over by the Du
Points last January His integrity was
unquestioncd, executives said, and his
accounts were in perfect order. Friends
pronounced Mr.. Turrill a man of ex-
emplary habits.
Mr.. Turril left the Office of the com
pany last Friday afternoon. He was
in good spirits and explained that he
was to meet his wife at the Grand
Central Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Tur-
rill was coming to establish home in
this city.
When Turrill failed to meet his wife
and did not return to the home of
Norman r. Haskell, at 159 Midwood
Street, Brooklyn, where he had lived
since coming to the city. he was re-
ported missing to the police, and q
general alarm was sent out. Fourth
Deputy Police Commi ssioner Wallis, q
personal friend, assumed charge Of the
search.
Mr. Turrills body was found in q
room at the hotel by employees early
yesterday afternoon. The house ply
sician said he had been dead for sew
eral hours, having severed his jugulal
vein with safety razor blade. Two
letters, one to his wife and another to
his lawyers, were found on the bureau
He had registered under his owr
name and gave New Milford, Conn.,, as
his address,, at the hotel Saturday
morning.
Mr.. Turrill had one son in the 3OStf
Field Artillery, at Camp Dix, Wrights-
town, N. J.
Mrs. Turrill is at the home of Mr.
Haskell, pros trated from grief. Don
aid Turrll, her soldier boy. came te
New York as soon as he was informed
that his father had disappeared, and i!
helping the police investigate the mys
terry Of the case.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Fire Blank Cartridges
In Payroll Hold-Up

Employees of the Munves & Berlin
Company, at us Broadway, didn't get
utes after 5 o'clock yesterday. That
they got them at all is due to the
tenacity with which William d. Unger.
the paymaster, hung on to the S3,S00
payroll when three holdup men as
sailed him in the entrance of the build
ing.
When the ough- and tumble had last
ed several minutes one of the robbers
fired four shots from his revolver,
When crowd had gathered to see
what the shooting was about the rob-
bers mingled with it and escaped. Two
revolvers were found in the vicinity.
Both of them were loaded with blank
cartridges and one of them contained
four empty Shells
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Would-Be "Movie Queen"
Plan to Escape Fails

Selma Barney, sixteen years old. VINO
has blue eyes, sunny hair and lips IKE
cherries, ran. away from her home at
Ag4 East 147th Street, The Bronx. on
Friday 10 be "movic queen" Patrol
man Yost. Of the Alexander Avenue
police station, recognized her last night
~ she stood pccring at poster III
front Of theatre in Mcirose avenue,
She admitted her identity ana startc"
With him TO the police station.
EeSore they had gone n b'ock. how
ever. sunny-haired Selma raised the
hand Of Patrolman Yost to her cherry
lIps and bit his right index finger AL
most Of before he could pr her loose, {, :,
But things worked out differently than
in the "movea," and the patro!man
still inaisted that she accompany MN
70 the station house,
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
MARCH II, 1918

small private plants, but denied that
the company had conducted any prop
aganda with the national fuel admin
lstratlon to put the small plants out
OF business. He said his company was
always ready to furnish breakdown
service for buildings having their own
plants, but not to plants which fur
nlshed electric current to establish
ments outside their own building.
lie denied any collusion with the
New York Service Company, which sup
plies consulting engineer service for
steam, heat and electric light plants,
and operates such plants under con-
tract system Copeland Townsend,
manager OF an uptown hotel. had
charged In his testimony last week that
a solicitor for the Edison company had
told him that if he signed contract
tor electric current. closing down his
own plant, he would be able to give
MN the name of company that could
supply his hotel with coal. Mr.. Town
SEND signed, and received the name of
the New York Service Company, which
did supply him with coal
Arthur Williams. general manager of
the Edison company, who is also Fed
eral Food Administrator for New York
City; E. j. Connolly. sales agent cf
The company. and George w. Martin,
president of the New York Service
Company, explained the relationship
between the two corporations Mr..
Williams and Mr.. Martin admitted thai
the companies worked together al times
Clarence T. Coley, operating man
ager of the Equitable Building, pre-
sented number of letters from Mr..
Williams with the proposal that the
Equitable Building Corporation take
electric current from the Edison COM
pany and steam service from the New
York Service Company. The latter's
proposal to furnish steam service for
S37 800 year, Mr.. Coley character
ICED as absurd. The bid was so low, he
said that the service could not have
hpnn nrnnnrl1t rnndnrad
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
hoover Names New
Food Committee

WASHINGTON, March 11.-An ad-
'soFy committee Of representative
F0daeers Of foodstuGs and livestock
ss been formed by Secretary Houston
20 Food Administrator Hoover, to
te ad7ice on national agricultural
a1Disms. The committee Will be
|,sH INTO conference frequently.
,.Nfmbers Of the committee we're sc-
20 WITH reference not only to the
.s1ef agricultural interests, but also
., geographical considerations. The
moving ~efe announced to-day as
''fsa pefA who already have accepted.
a. ., Brigham. s.. Albans. Vt;
Dps,a Z, - coker Hartsyillc, S. g.; w.
T. t. Doason, Baton Rouge, La; +. J.
lasSfenoafta, lsS. Spencer, Idaho; G.. w.
N, logan, Iowa: W. II. Jefcrs,
v<hsr'fo. =. J.; u. o. Manoney,
l,n9uS, VIE; Davis T.. Massie, Chill
t~aG ONO; William r. Pratt. Ba-
~, :. J George Z. Roeding, Frcs-
+, rai,.: Marion Ganyon, Fort Worth.
" Henry 6. Stuart. FIX Garden,
NJ, NJ, '; J. Tyson, Floradale, Penn;
'ef "Hson, Peoria, III.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Police Sergeant Is
Made Naval Officer
Barnitz, Bane Of Plotters, Gets
Rank as Senior u. S.
Lieutenant

George d. Barnitz, who. as a de-
tectivc sergeant assigned to the Po-
lice Department neutrality squad, has
been instrumental in uncovcring many
German plots, was commissioned a
senior lieutenant in the navy yestcr-
day and assigned to the Intelligence
bureau Police Commissioner En-
right Immediately granted him an
indefinite leave Of absence
Bcfore the beginning of the war
Lieutenant Barnitz devoted much of
his time to breaking up bands Of
anarchists and frustrated the attempt
to destroy st. Patrick's Cathedral
During the activity of German agents
prior to the United States entering the
war, Barnitz uncovered the plot to
destroy American ships He has re
Gently been busy rounding up danger
Gus alien enemies. He is forty-three
years old and Joined the Police De
partment in 1897.
Another important change occurred
in the personnel of police commanders
ycste rday whom Commissioner Enright
relieved Lieutenant Thomas Walsh as
acting captain of the Second Branch
Detcctive Bureau and appointed in
his place Lieutenant Patrick J. Gildea.
L,'eutenant Gildca was former head of
the branch bureau, but was reduced
by oX-Commissioner Woods when his
men were unable to stem the tide of
burglaries that swept the uptown
manufacturing district and the Fifth
Avenue retail district. Gildea, one Of
the old school of detectives with a
good record, has been doing desk duty
at the Bronx branch. Commissioner
Erright explained the change by saw
ing that Lieutenant Walsh, being the
head of tho eligible list for captain.
needed experience, and he was there
tore sent to the East Thrty-ffth Street
station.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Dealers Promise
Plenty Of Ice for
Coming Summer

1t may be consoling to New Workers
who shivered during the coal famine
that there will be plenty of ice this
summer for home consumption At
least. that was the testimony of Wesley
M. Oler, president of the Knicker-
booker Ice Company, yesterday before
the general welfare committee of the
Board of Aldermen, which is Investigate
ing the ice situation.
Mr.. Oler also declared that ice
would be sold at "a reasonable price"
He declined to state any fixed price,
but said he didn't think so cents a
hundred pounds was too much Mr.
Oler told the committee that he had
just returned from Washington, where
he was assured that the government
would release enough ammonia for the
manufacture of artificial ice required
to make up the needs beyond the sup
ply of natural ice
The witness testified that his com
pany. one of the largest ice distributors
in the state, had harvested this year
between LOO, 900 and 100000 tons Of
Hudson River ice, and also operated
fifteen artificial ice plants. He pointed
out that the ice business was esserti
ally Summer hotel proposition" and
that profits had to be made during the
five warm months. His company, he
declared, operated at a loss of 100000
for seven months of the year. If the
city were to go into The ice business, he
said there should be one central depot,
from which all deliveries in the city
should be made
Mr.. Oler and other manufacturers
and dealers testified that pursuant to
the request of the chemical division
of the Federal food and fuel admin
istration the ice manufacturers had
reduced the use OF ammonia. The num-
ber of artificial ice plants in this vicin-
ity has been reduced from seventy to
twenty.
John ". Scott, general manager OF
Burns Brothers Ice Company, testified
that his company would handle over
one million tons Of natural ice this
summer, which was 100 per cent over
cent of the ice used in this market
is cut from the Hudson River. and that
it had been proved to be absolutely
pure Members Of the aldermcn's s
committee questioned all the witnesses
in regard to the advisability of the city
going into the ice business this sum
mer The consensus was that it would
be good thing to centralize distribu-
ton, and that if the city would take
over the plants equipment and ser
vice of the companies there was little
doubt that the companies would be
glad of it. provided they were allowed
a reasonable profit on their investment
The hearing will be continued Thurs
day in the Adermanic Chamber at the
Cit,r Hall
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
New Jersey Loafers
Facing Hard Times
Police Ordered to Arrest Men
Without Regular Tobs

Those who wear an air of leisure in
New Jersey will do so at their peril
for municipalities on the far side of
the Hudson have taken up the state s
antiloating law in a serious way. The
police Of Jersey City We're instructed
yesterday by Charles +. X. O'Bricn
Director cf Public Safety, to arrest
every one who could not prove that he
Lad Il job.
Some other communities Newark
for cxample-are temporizing, taking
the ground that the enforcement of the
law is the duty Of the State Labor De-
pertinent.
In Trenton no certificatons of men
eligible for employment have been re-
ceivcd by the State Labor Department,
despite the asslduity of the Jersey City
police, and in the state capital itself
the police didn't get around to hunt for
lCafcrS
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Wells Again Is President Of
Five Points Industry House

The trustees of the Five Points
House of Industry yesterday elected T.
Tileston Wells president, William H.
Wheelock vice president, Hugh n.
Camp, jr., treasurer. y. Leo Everett
secretary, and the following trustees:
Harold B. Clark, Norton Perkins,
Archibald d. Russell, Dr. Ernest Fahne-
stock and Frederic O. Spedden, the last
two filling the places of William Tenn
pie Emmett and Evcrt Jansen Wendell,
who died last year.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Natural Ice Crop
In State Doubled

ALBANY. March 1.-THE natural ice
crop harvested this year exceeds the
normal cutting by more than 100000
tons, or about double the usual amount
harvested. Democratic Leader Wagner.
Of the Senate, declared tonight in ar
guing for the passage of certain tech
nical amendments to the ice control
bill. The measure, which was recon-
mended by the State Ice Controller.
Benjamin B. Odell, was passed by a vote
of 2G to 8
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Crime Increased in France
Since 1915; War Blamed

has taken an upward curve since the
end of 1915 in France, after having
diminished in the first two years Of
war.
Increase in crime in Paris and its
suburbs is attributed largely to the fact
that boys approaching manhood but
not yet Of age to be called to the colors
have, during the war. escaped parental
control by reason OF the mobilization Of
fathers Of families.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Billy Sunday Plans to
Visit Battlefront

CHICAGO, March 1l.-Billy Sunday,
the evangelist, said to-day that as soon
as his Chicago engagement is completed
he will go to France to visit the
trenches.
81 know several officers who are over
there, and they have invited me to
come" said Mr.. Sunday. "If they'll let
me, I'll take few shots at the Huns.
| expect to go as a mere visitor. but if
they want it l will be glad to hold
meetings."
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
osvens to Start Baseball April /

tn' Mass. March III Plans 10
w., ehe baseball zeason about April ]
!, nsaHe to-day by athletic directors
aaoHD De7ens. In addition 10 the
Nam, on which number Of
s,exe no college ftare will appear.
sfss ss ~ De about 200 company teams,
xr,sNplnp@ny xr,e. and snter-regimentaj
'S "ii oe arranged to start April
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
No Effort Made to Close
Them, Vice-President
Lieb Testihes
No Collusion, He Says
Insists He Was Always Ready
to F urnish Breakdown Ser
vice to Private individuals

John W. Lieb, vice president of the
New York Edison Company, yesterday
read statement before the Public
Service Commission declaring that his
company at no time had sought to
take advantage of the war situation
and the shortage Of coal to encourage
the closing down Of individual lighting
plants. His statement was in answer
to testimony offered last week by hotel
owners and managers of individual
plants tending to show that it was to
the interest of the Edison company to
have isolated plants closed
The hearing is on the subject of
whether small individual lighting
plants can be operated as economically
as central plant. 1t was undertaken
at the request of the national fuel adj
ministration, which may close all ind
vldual plants in the country if it is
found that lighting can be furnished
with less consumption of coal by the
central plants.
New-York tribune., 1918-03-12
Denied Propaganda Worl,

Mr.. Lieb stated that the Edison
company had never refrained from
showing by statistics and other evil
dence that 1t could furnish electric
light with less coal consumption than