davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
ADAMSON ACT UP FOR
INTERPRETATION

Believing that Federal Judge John &c.
Mccall was wrong in constituting the
meaning Of the Adamson act Of con-
gross, fixing eight-hour days for train-
men, which he rendered In the case OF
H. r. Coke against the Illinois Cen
tral and Yazoo h Misgsissippi Valley
railroads, Attorneys Anderson n Crab
tree win appeal the case, they an
nounced Saturday.
According to Mr.. Crabtree, tho switch
tenders, Of which Coke was A. member,
as well as other employees Of the ter"
minas, were included among the labor
ers on the railroads In the petition OF
the four brotherhoods to President Will
son when the act was passed to avert
a strike. Judge Mccall held they were
not included by the legislation for the
brotherhoods.
Coke filed a suit for back pay alleged
to have been due him during tho time
from Jan to Aug. II, 1918, when he
worked i2 hours per day, He was paid
a salary OF SIS per month, and his suit,
filed by Anderson g. Crabtree, was a.
test case that involves thousands OF
other trainmen than those included In
the Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmen,
order of Railway Conductors, Brother
hood Of Locomotive Flremen and Broth
erhood Of Locomotive Engineers.
In rendering his opinion that the
AdamsOn act WAS not intended for
switch tenders, Judge Mccall decided
against Coke, who was suing for &7f,
alleged to have been due him for the
four hours each day he claims to have
worked overtime.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
CITY MANAGER
ACT WILL PASS
Senator Rice Says Little Trou.
bic in General Assembly,
'' Commi sSioners 2 Pledged. \

The city manager plan Is going 10
be very popular In Tennessee, accord
ing to Senator Frank ], Rice. who
arrived from Nashville Saturday morn
ing to spend the weekend and who
SAYS that a considerable number OF
cities intend to put this law into ef-
feet
Senator Rice said that tho legisa
turo is getting itself in shape to do
some real business for the state and
that Gov Roberts had some splendid
bills that should be enacted into law
Asked about the city manager plan,
Senator Rice said,
IN a good, practical bill Is drawn,
II would 10 through the legislature
without any trouble. or course there
will be no opposition in the senate
and very little IN the house, notwith-
standing Representative Joe Hanover
has been trying to XIII the city man
Gallela seems to want to stand by his
platform pledges, despite other infu-
ences. The bill, however, will 80
through the house,
AN OF the members of the leglsla-
ture want to know II n majority of
the Shelby delegation Is for the bin
and If the city Wanager plan was
not a part Of the platform pledges.
Mayor Mouteverde and Commissioners
Miller md Mason will have q hard
time when put on the grill by the leg
islatiVe committees when they attempt
to explain their backing away from
their pledge, which was;
" We pledge ourselves unreservedly
TO the city manager plan Of govern
ment, AZ proposed BY the business
mems committee and agree to forward
and support legislation to that end.
THE legislature pretty well under
stands the Shelby delegation and the
mayor and two commissioners ran on
platform pledged to the city man
ager plan, and their eleventh hour
stand FOR referendum. which Is known
TO be unconstitutional, is a mere schema
to try and kill the bill | assisted In
putting over the commission form OF
government In 1909 when three mem.
bers Of the house were against IL, and
those three members only got eight
out Of the 90 house votes
"A surprising thing to observe Is
that seven or eight municipalities In
Tennessee have appointed committees
to secure the city manager plan OF
government Notable among these ls
Murfreesboro. the home town OF Speak
er Todd, Of the senate"
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
THROUGH WAY BILLST0
COME SAY COTTON MEN

WASHINGTON, Jan. is. (Spl,)-Ten-
nessee cotton men here to attend the
meeting making arrangements for the
international cotton conferebe which
will be held next october in New Or
leans, are confident the railroad ad-
ministration acting in conjunction with
the shipping board, will restore through
bills Of lading on export cotton, The
support OF Judge Edward Chambers
of the railroad administration has been
enlisted and he has agreed TO take up
the matter at once with J. II. Rosset-
ter Of the shipping board, A confer
ence on this subject will be held next
Monday,
1--WE are not going to be satisfied
with half way measures" said John X.
Flippin, OF Memphis. The restrictions
established during the war are destroy
ing the interior markets and at the
same time cause greater confusion and
congestion at the port cities than is
necessary | think the remaining diff
Guilty is who will pay storage and de-
murrage on shipments delayed at these
ports We insist these charges should
be paid by the party responsible and
not by the shipper. That was tho
practice before the war and should be
restored"
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
NAVY PLANS TO FORCE
FIRMS TO TAKE AWARDS

WASHINGTON. Jan. IS. -- Every
power of tho navy department will be
used to force companies with which
1t has contracts to accept awards made
by the war labor board, Secretary Dan
iels said today after conference with
Joint Chairman Taft, Of the board,
on the situation growing out Of the
Bethlehem Steel company's refusal to
put into operation one Of these awards.
Mr.. Daniels said he was taking up
at once the question Of how the de-
partment should proceed. II appeared,
he said, that the Bethlehem company
had agreed some months ago TO per-
NIT collective bargaining and the es-
tablishment Of shop committees among
its employees, but as soon as the armi-
stlce was signed "the company lost
interest"
No hint was given as to what action
the navy might take, but Mr.. Daniels
pointed out that every navy contract
includes a cancellation clause. The war
department has more and larger con-
tracts with the Bethlehem company
than the navy.
Navy officials arranged conferences
with the war department in order that
common plan Of action might be
agI eed upon
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
Mississippi Slayer
Willing to Hang If
Properly Attired

BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss, Jan 49,
(Spl Elmer Byrd the young white
man, charged with the murder OF Capt.
David r. Reynolds, an ectogenarian,
killed last summer while asleep In bis
own, home by shot from vi gun 70
the hand of, Byrd, was adaudgAd inaiAo
county Friday, and s0faered sent 70 an
insane asylum, M Ftf% NJ
In the trial Byrd, who made q clean
breast of the whole tragedy, recited the
story with remarkable simplicity and
clarity, stating that no believed ut tho
time he was doing right In killing the
old man and that he still believes he
was right in doing IT, Dr. G. NJ, Muir.
ry who heard the evidence. declared
that no considered Byrd Of sound mind,
Sheriff = B Mohundro, who has had
charge OF the prisoner for several
months expressing the same opinion In
court Byrd stated that he had killed
Capt Reynolds to secure funds with
which to buy some good clothes, declhr-
ing that he had never had decent suit
Of clothing In his life,
Being asked by District Attorney
Knox II he would be willing to be hung
II the county would supply him with n
nice black suit and a standing collar
and pair Of patent leather shoes, Byrd
instantly answered "Yes, sir" evinc-
ing animation at the sery suggestion
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
HONDURAS MAY Be
LAUGHTER'S HAVEN
King Of Bootleggers Traced to
New orleans-May Be in
Central America.

Whether r. A. Laughter, long king Of
Memphis bootleggers, who Is sought by
federal authorities and Sheriff Perry
to serve sentences aggregating three
years and six months IN jail and fine
Of $4,000 will ever be brought to the
bar OF justice Ia the problem confront
Ing local authorities,
As a result OF the affirmation late
Friday IN Cincinnati, Of his sentence In
United States marshal, wants him to 90
to the Atlanta penitentiary,. Sheriff
Perry wants him 10 serve LEO sem
tcnee In the shelby county workhouse. 1.
And in the meantime Il is generally
his $4,000 bonds and departed for Hon
durss, via New orleans. When Perry
vent to Charlottesville recently. for
Laughter, the latter came South at the
same time, He kept going TO. New
s'Rs %as os ~HSrs The ISsr thnEs tha. 2 n he
took steamer for Honduras
Laughter Is under $4,000 bond In fed
eral court, when he was released to
await his appeal from, his sentences last
David Ostrich, James J Mulcahy. and
William winter The remainder OF the
bond Ia with state criminal court, II
Laughter has gone to. Honduras, all
bonds will be declared forfeited and
collected by the courts and the tentaeles
Honduras has fewer extradition1
treaties with the outside world, and
consequently. less extradltlon dangers,
than any other convenient country OF
10 pleasant q. climate, -,
Robinson and w, N. Fisher, were
caught at Ensley Landing, Tenn, Is
miles below Memphis by deputy mar
| shals and police on July 49, 1917, with
lS9 cases Of liquor which, they were
n lnnnRh StanlaV
TrezevSnt. marshal, took a pistol from
Laughter and Sheriff Perry prose-
| Cuted him on this charge.
On charges OF violating the Rsed
Laughter was found guilty IN February,
| 1918, before Judge John +: Mccall He
appealed his case, after being sentenced
to six months in jail and $1,000 fine
on the former charge and two years
and fine of $4,000 In the last. He
4 short time before this he was con
vlcted In criminal court for carrying
the pistol and given II months and ~
days, making the three years ana slT
months sentence and total fine OF
At the trial In federal court. Fisher
| pretended he was Ill at Caruthersvtlls'
| but Judge Mccall forfeited his bond.
| lie later appeared for trial and was
| convicted and sentenced to SIX mohlhs
and fine OF $1,000.
Robinson got year and day at At
lanta and a fine Of $4,000, and as he
| had no finances 10 appeal his case, pc
gan his sentence in the pen In March,
| 1918. He will be released shortly. A.
| L. Dutch" Anderson. arrested in con-
| nection with the case. got six months
and 81 900 fine,
All OF their sentences were affirmed
| by the court OF appeals at Cincinnati
| Friday, and when the mandate OF the
court arrives in less than 30 days, Mar,
shal Trezevant will take action toward
returning Laughter, The others PROB
sent TO prison.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
EXPECT JETTY TO RID
HARB0R OF MUD ISLE

BY the summer Of 1920 tho sandbar
In the Memphis harbor will be thing
or the past II plans for jetty into the
river Off Hopefield point materialize,
according to the statement Saturday OF
Capt. y. A. Warner, Of the federal tow
boat Lieut.. Gurney.
II the driving OF 1890 piles and the
formation Of a rock embankment for
200 yards out into the river can be com
pleted without the usual stoppage with
such work, he states, only one spring
flood will be necessary to wash away the
isle.
The jetty already has neen half fin
ished, as work started 30 days ago. A
week ago work was discontinued on
account Of rising water, but Friday
the Sachem towed the quarterboat and
outfit back across the river and work
was resumed Saturday morning.
The job probably viii be completed hy
early summer, and the jetty, II IL said,
will divert the current from the Hope
field point directly onto the sandbar.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
$4,000 DEFICIT ON
FINEST FARM''IS
TAXPAYERS BIT"
Inexperienced Management of
Shelby County Industrial
School Responsible for
Heavy Loss.
sY {. ?. MAcNIcol.

When farm Of 400 acres OF the fin
est soil in this section Of the state is,
apparently, incapable Of showing a
profit. is 80 far from being sslf-sus-
tanning that its operation is possible
only at an annual loss pf several thop-
sand dollars, something must be wrong.
One hears a great deal these days
about this back TO 4the- land movement.
a movement which in some agricultural
sections has almost taken the form Of
hysteria; an epidemic that in recent
years has fastened itself upon metro
politan cliff dwellers with a relentless
ness that is proving bonanza for real
estate dealers, large and small But a
AD0-acre farm that has never so much
as broken even, TO say nothing OF its
failure to produce a profit on the in
vestment involved, certainly can not be
held up as a glttering example for the
virtues 1t may have. Which brings us
to the point in question;
Taxpayers are, through the county
court, annually making up deficit Of
approximately. $4,000 that the Shelby
county Industrial school may be one
OF the finest farms in West Tennessee.
A farm worth every cent of $4,000,
20 members Of the county court say,
maintained as an institution for the
correction Of wayward boys, that last
year produced for sale the remarkable
number Of IA bales OF cotton, a few
tons of hay and a few pigs.
Why is not the Shelby County In
dustrial scheel farm at least nearly self
sustaining?
That question was put to several
members of the county court and to
others interested in the institutions
welfare. Without exception the answer
was the same in each instance:
II don't know"
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
WILL REDUCE
YANK FORCES
TO MINIMUM
Gen. March Says Total Amer
lean Divisions to Remain
Overseas viii Be Far Less
Than Thirty.

- WASHINGTON, Jan. lS.--Arnsriean
forces In France and In the occupied
territory Of Germany are 10 be reduced
10 the minimum strength consistent
with our national -obligations Gen
March said today. He added that Gen.
Foch had been informed OF this policy
What strength is to be maintained
is under discussion now by American
military officials and the allied mill
tnry leaders. No report has been re-
cetved indicating the number Of al.
visions TO be supplied by the United
States, hut Gen. March was positive
that II would he far less than the 10
divisions given In unofficial reports as
the prohahle American military con-
trihution
The American force for the occupied
zone. was fixed by international agree
ment at the time the armistice was
signed Gen March said Marshal Fcch
undoubtedly would refuse TO permit a
reduction Of his total strength to a
point whore IL would be inadequate 10
handle any possible disturbance. R.
All to Disband.
pemohilization of all army units In
the United States has been ordered,
Gen, March announced. with the ex-
oeption Of the regular army regiments
needed for camp guard purposes and
various detachments necessary to con-
tinue the rehabilitation process. Tho
total now listed for demobSlisation Is
1,177,000
Troops actually returned from France
for rehabilitation now number l04, Q00
This gives n grand total ordered dis
charged Of 1881 900, OF which 76S,62S
men and 5l,b99 officers have been dis
charged To date. The rate Of dis e
charge again is nearing the maximum
capacity OF 1000 men per camp per
day after an interruption by The holt
days E
In addition TO the regular regiments.
the exceptions from the blanket deA
mobilization order include the cavalry
on the southern border, coast artillery
troops In the coast defenses, detachA
ments ny ports and the medical per-
sonnet This last force now NUMBERS
$4,000, but Gen, March said Il would
he reduced gradually as the number
q men II had 70 care for was re-
dueed -
Assignment 70 early cunv6v home
from France oy units comprising $50
/ pfllgats aud 81 ~ en- ysga ianAqlinceA
.tpfAE = N AK lnah srhW
iirills Z ifiEiJilie tffe. 4GleaoEsf " eMRsnAefN
complete, s72d infantry. medical day
tachment and Second battalion 37tat
infantry, 18th and 10th engineers and
Third evacuation ambulance company
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18

proposals ana gong Dack TO WORK.
Patrolman ]. O. Kennedy Immediately
answered that tho organization was not
q union, but that II was known as the
having for Its purpose the betterment
Of the police department and its mem-
bers
Leaders Of the association admitted
that early objects in organization had
been 70 establish union However
since the American Federation Of La
hor had refused 70 recognize the union,
70 pursue that objective. He stated
that memhers were not willing TO dis
band the association.
Commissioner Miller responded by
saying that the association would be
dissolved or ita members would he
forced to resign from the department,
Each patrolman's name was called and
4 he had decided upon alegiaqce to
the commissioners he remained In the
room II not he walked out
As the patromen continued 70 walk
out Of the crowded room and assemble
In tho outside hall they were greeted
by cheers Of advocates and followers
When the final name was pronounced
W determined members of the associa-
tion were arrayed In the hall, Only II
patrplmeu. n pathetic remnant of the
former force, remained.
The resigninE patrolmen were ad-
dressed by Commissioner Goodman,
whose efforts resulted IN tho conference
later In the city courtroom. where the
patrphnen decided to accept proposals
and return 10 their Jobs
In the latter conference they were
addressed by John H. Walsh and II. T.
Bruce, former city officials; Mayor
Monteverde, Commissioners Quinn, MIL
Ter and Goodman
The commissioners say tho attempt
at unionizing papolmen IN n fiasco
They assert the Idea originated from
mon having purely u selfish political
view, with no thought OF aid to the
officers.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
Carrier
Service

We have set a mark of 100
per cent efficiency In the
carrier service of The News
Scimitar.
Realizing that The News
ScimitLr IL the great home
newspaper of Memphis, we
strive to see that the service
which takes this newspaper
into your home Is kept to
the highest possible stand
ard.
We want to link the CO.
operation OF our readers
with the loyalty and indus
Try OF our carriers,
We welcome the co.opera-
tion Of our subscribers. II
at any time you feel that the
delivery service In your own
individual case can be i'm
proved, call Maih 1895 or
Memphis $50. Courteous
attention will be given your
suggestion and individual ef-
fort will be given the matter.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
LoRRENs LIKES PEN.

John Lorrens, Of Covington,> Tenn,
convicted recently in federal court for
moonshining, was sentenced Saturday
by Judge Mccall to serve a year ana
day in the federal penitentiary at
Atlanta, Ga. and to pay fine OF $3.50
ard costs,
Lorrens was convicted two years ago
on the same charge and served l3
months at the Atlanta penitentiary
Last summer deputy United States
narshals raided still, said to have
capacity of 50 gallons daily near
Covlngton and arrested E4orrense and
Dan Brigham.
Brigham was convicted at ehe same
trial as Lorrens, but Judge Mccall
suspended sentence on him Saturday
until Tuesday pending an appeal. Lor-
rens will not appeal. but will accom-
pany an officer to the penitentlary
Monday.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
WORRY AGES FORMER
KAISER OF GERMANY

ANIERONGEN Holland, Jan. 1S, (By
the Associated Press )--William Hohen-
zollern's illness, which manlfests itself
principally in the form Of chilis, Is
being aggravated by his constant wor-
ry, the effects of which are plainly
visible in his features and his general
physical condition.
The former German emperor looks
to be perhaps Is years older than when
he crossed the frontier of Holland. AL
though he is only about to complete
his sixtieth year. his birthday coming
at the end OF the present month, his
appearance suggests a man of 70. He
wears a short grayish beard and a
dropping mustache, and his hitherto
firm flesh is sagging.
The guards around the castle are
maintaining the strictest vigilance In
consequence of the revival OF rumors.
which. however. do not seem to be
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18

we'll founded, that an attempt might
be made to kidnap the ex-emperor A
Dutch airplane from the aviation camp
near Utrecht occasionally flies in the
vicinity Of the castle, and the roar Of
its motors Is not calculated to diminish
the nervous tension Of the inmate.
been accustom ed TO smoke a consider
able number OF cigarets daily. now has
become a greater consumer OF tobacco
than ever. AS soon as one clgaret lis
finished he starts another, his smok-
ing continuing virtually from the mo-
ment he arises until he retires.
Herr Hohensollern' meals with his
Is the only beverage at the table, but
in the foA,noon the ex-ruler drinks a
small glass OF light red wine and In
the evening . half glass before going
TO bed.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18

Provisions of the settlement are that
the association, which was first cQR~
sldered as a proposed union, be dis
banded and a committee of patrolmen
be appointed to confer with the COM
missioners, who have pledged that thoy
Will cooperate with the men In organ
lEing a second protective league or an
association.
After J, G. Kennedy, VICE president,
and W. =, Harris, president OF the or
ganization, denied that the association
was union, the, commissioners de-
manded that II be dissolved because 1t
was. was actually organised with the pgr-
members might make organized de
mands upon the commission govern
ment,
The Memphis patrolmens Protective
association will be disorganized Sunday
morning at 1890 o'clock at Carpenter 3
hall. The commissioners have been In
Wted TO attend the meeting and discuss
with the patrolmen the creating OF a
new protective league or club.
The 6S patromen, who automatically
resigned from the department for the
short period did not receiye the sup
port Of Police Capts. O'Elearn and Ke-
hoe. The eight police sergeants also
backed the commissioners. az did q
majority of the Barksdale station off
GERS.
The first meeting was called to or
der by Commissioner C. w. Miller at
$3.50 o clock In tho assembly room Of the
police station, with IA patrolmen In at
tendance, Other officials present were
Mayor r J. Monteverde, Commit sson-
ers Leo Goodman, Alfred Mason and c.
b, Quinn.
Briefly explaining. the object OF the
gathering, Commissioner Miller stated
that the city government did not in
tend to recognize a union and that the
policemen had been called together to
decide whether they would dishand the
So called union and remain with the
department, or give up their jobs and
stand by the union.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
ACQUITTED OF DRINKING.

the Stratton- Warren Hardware COM
pany who was arrested by Commission
er Alfred D. Mason on a charge OF driv-
ing an automobile while intoxicated, was
tried in Second criminal court Friday,
Late Friday afternoon the jury reported
that II could not agree and was dis
charged by Judge Harsh
Commissioner Mason was the chief
witness for the state He testified
that he saw Buck driving at terrific
rate OF speed and run his truck into a
small machine, demolishing II, When
he arrested the negro, he declared he
smelled whisky on his breath six feet
away.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
RATES ON WAR-EXCESS
PROFITS AGREED ON

WASHINGTON, Jan 1s-Senate rates
for taxing war excess profits OF cor
porations in 1920 and thereafter, esti-
mated to raise about $1,000, 100000 an
nually, were agreed to today by confer
ees on the war revenue bill A decision
on the 1919 rates was deferred.
Senate conferees agreed to extension
of the 80 per cent war profits levy in
1920 applicable only to war contracts
which still may remain.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
SOLDIER CHAUFFEURs,

Postmaster Charles W. Metcaf IS
asking bids from Memphis garages
which have facilities to store eight
large army trucks permanently. The
government has notified the postmas-
ter to prepare place Of storage. The
bids viii be opened In few days,
The date Of the starting OF the rural
parcel post routes for a range Of 80
miles outside OF Memphis has not been
settled Soldiers probably viii be en-
ployed TO drive the truekR