The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, January 25, 1913, Image 2
PROBE PHONE TRUST.
W1('KII{nM\M \SKS (OMMKIUK
t t ?MMIssK >\ l< > U T.
All.irn, > <.. n- r.il Thinks llrglllatlou
by Hoard Im Holter Tban Application
of s|n ruuan L?w.
Washington. Jun. 20 Regulation
by the Interstate comtmrcv commis?
sion i>f the Am? l a in Te'ephono and
T?l*sraph rmniMMv ?nd not by com?
pulsory eompetttlv? faovlaloai Of the
Sherman antl-truM law will be the
means of solving- In large measure the
so-called telephone trust problem, ac?
cording to Attorney General Wleker
sharn, who today anmmm ed he had
referred the question Ig UM commls
slon f<>r investigation.
This move terminates the Investi?
gation by the department of Justice of
the alleged $< 00.000.000 telephone
trust, against which independent tele?
phone companies have mil
of unfair treatment and of the em?
ployment of methods destructive of
competition. The commission inves?
tigation will be far-reaching in effect
and out of it Is expected to grow the
outline of a government policy with
mjpect to iIm telephone and tele?
grsph. It must be determined, ac?
cording to officials, whether in the in?
terest and convenience of the publiS
the telephone and telegraph monopoly
under rigid regulation should be
tolerated by the federal government;
or whether the government should
take over utilities; or whether com?
petition should be enforced undet the
Sherman anti-trust law and monopoly ,
prohibited. I
Chairman Lane of the commission '
formally announced tonight that in
response to Information submitted to
it cy the attorney general today the
Interttate commerce commission will
make sn Investigation into the opera- j
tlon. rates and practices of the va- |
rlous telephone companies. 1
Pointing to the complaints which ?
have been lodged with the govern?
ment against the American Telephone
and Telegraph company generally
known as the Bell Telephone system,
the attorney general says In his com?
munication to the commission.
"Many of these questions, it seem?
to me, can not be appropriately dealt
with by the law department of the
government, but should be made the
subject of regulation after a careful
Investigation of the whole subject by
your henorah! I ly The powers
Veet?d in y i i . anstatt appeal to me
to ha ample to enable you to make a
comprehensive and llsoro*ia? investi?
gation 4 th< matter. 11 may be thit
as a result sj| such ?nvestigatlon you
will con< l?de that additional legisla?
tion should be suggested to congress.
Quite a number of States have enacted
law* vesting In public utilities com?
missions af similar bodies Jurisdiction
Which na1' been executed, in some ln
stsnces. tr. respect to the acquisition
of the lei."phone lines of one company
by sno'ner and with respect to tne
interchange of business and facilities
between Udegrsph and telephone {
lines.
"State regulation, however, can not
be a satisfactory method of ultimate
solution of the question arising out of ?
telephone operaiton.
"Vslue of a telephone service de?
pends largely upon the facility of con?
necting every Individual telephone
user with any point upon any tele?
phone line In the t'nlted States."
Dealing with the powers of the com
mtus'on. Mr Wlckersham points out
that the Interstate commerce act
makes tebssjsyat?. telegraph and cable
companies enga'ed In Interstate or
foreign business CSfJUSMM carriers, re
SSJsTSa that all their raten ?hall be
Just and reasonable and prohibits the
granting of undue or unreasonable
preference If any one. That section .
of the act requiring common carriers
to file with the commission and keen
open to public inspection Mchedules
of rat? s. fares md charges, the attor?
ney general adds, probably is not
broad enough to extend to telephone
and telegraph companies.
II?? holds, however, that the sj |
confers upon the commission ample
power of Investigation on its own ini?
tiative and be points to the section
of the law specith ally authorizing the
commission to bx just an I reasonable
rates and prohibit unpist and *)H?
criminatory ptWStllSS by t. b pb..n? sad
telegraph companies
"t'nder the provisions o| the statute
referred to,' sa\s th?" gftteeasi geasral,
"the commission is therefore fully
empowered to mak. Ihs no?-t thor?
ough missaisjallei into the rates sad
pre- t the Islephoae eampaatia
?o determine what are reasonable
maawaam rates is ?.aawsjed rot
comrnuna atton from one State to an
ashes ?md ?r? ptasties la be sheen -?i
In all of tb. B> ahngs of the telephone
rempunh-s with IhS public and Aith
?.ib. r ssmpaalei N.sipeshiastve
kjrvsssnsattos late las organization.
u ai. ig< no rd and - undu? I of lbs Ii S?
ph< r. comparib s so far as 1 uni
aw r? has ITSf hsag bad by govern?
ment agencies.
"Th mtsrsi its commsree commis?
sion Is slothed wKfc isjs^owers above
ref?-rr. I to the subject Is . M
STANDARD OIL CHARITY.
Hoi si: passi.s hill UDO ALIS?
I\g Ro< kl fi LLl k foinha
nan,
Adopts Measure lutliorliiug Incor
|h?rutloM ?>r Foundation of $100,000,
ooo for beneficent Purposes.
\\ lehlngton, Jan. 20.?Articles of
Incorporation for the so-called "Rock?
efeller Foundation" to administer a
philanthropic fund of $100,000,000 to
he donated hy John D. Rockefeller
\v* re passed hy the house today, 152
to 65, after desultory opposition. The
measure now goes to the senate.
The hill, introduced by Represen?
tative Peters of Massachusetts, names
as the incorporatora to administer the
fund John D. Rockefeller, John D.
Rockefeller, Jr., Frederick T. Gates,
Starr J. Murphy, Harry Pratt Judson,
Simon Flexner, Edwin A. Alderman,
Wickliffe K. Rose. Chas O. Heydt
and such persons as they may assocl
ato with themselves.
The object of the foundation is "to
promote the well being and to ad?
vance the civilization of tha peoples
of the United States and its territories
and of foreign lands, in the dissemina?
tion of knowledge In the prevention
and relief of suffering, and in the
promotion by eleemosynary and phil?
anthropic means of any and all of the
elements of human progress."
The bill contains a provision pro?
hibiting the foundation adding to the
capital fund of $100,000,000 and
forcing the expenditure of the entire
income from that fund currently.
.1 U KSONYILJj; Arm PANAMA
TRADK.
Morula Metropolis Vote** Bonds to
l*roOdc for Municipal Dock and
Terminals.
Jacksonville, Fla.. Jan. 21.?The
citizens of Jacksonville today voted
$1,500,000 bonds for construction and
operation of municipal docks and
terminals. This terminates a cam?
paign of 18 months by the hoard of
trade for this cause, Involving calling
of a special session of the legislature
at its expense to pass the enabling
act. Fifteen citizens were elected to?
day as port commissioners to carry
out the act. This will make the port
of Jacksonville one of the finest on
the South Atlantic coast and docks
will be ready for use on the opening
of the Panama canal. At that time
Jacksonville's 30-foot channel to the
sea will be completed.
Miss fraysfk at ufthkl.
New Teacher Added to Force?School
in Good Condition.
Privateer, Jan. 21.?Miss Mary
Frayser of Winthrop College paid the
School a visit last Tuesday and made
a very interesting talk along indus
:rlal lines to pupils, patrons and trus?
tees. Much interest was manifested in
?vhat *:he had to say and the school is
anxitus to secure the services of
such an instructor as Miss Frayser
advocated. Several of the trustees
and patrons were called upon to make
short talks, all of which was very in?
teresting.
Miss Copeland Smith of Lynchburg.
Va>, has been added to the force of
teachers at the school, making four
teachers in all.
The school is In good condition at
the present time and doing good work
under its capable force of instructors.
Foil pan ama FX position.
HoSSBS NsSJI Measure to Permit Gov?
ernment Part leipat ion.
Washington, Jan. SI.?A favjrable
srporl on a bill introduced by Rcp
t ntative Rodenberg of Illinois to
provide for government participation
In the Panama-Pacific International
m iltlon at San Francisco In 1911
was unanimously agreed to today by
th. hotl e i ommttt< ?? on industrial arts
and expositions. The meaaure would
appropriate $2,00a,000.
New Hook-, for Library?
a number of new books have been
added to the library recently. Among
them are: "Denory, The Audacious,"
Arnold Bennett; The Lady and Sadie
Sue," Frances Little; "Romance of
Blllygoai Hill," ail e Hegaa Rice;
' "The Place of Honeymoons," Harold
I McQrnth; 1 Tin Tempting ?>f Tavcr
! ike," B. Phillips Oppenhelm,
a number of new books have also
been ordered which have nol yet ar?
med but will be here soon. The Clvto
League is anxious to add any new
names to the li*' of subscribers to the
library,
affecting the general public Interest,
and i venture to suggest thai you
undertake this work If these sug
i itlons commend themselves to your
honorable body l beg to add thai ill
of I he Information which has been
collected In Ihli department bearing
on the subject will be che.rfully put
at your disposal."
SOTTILE BRIDGE BLOCKED.
Tl 1 .I.MAN HAS MEASURE RE?
PLACED ON THE CALENDAR.
Adamson Prtimllfig -Mayor Grace that
House Committee will Not Report
Hill Without Giving Charleston
Opportunity to la- Hoard?Promo?
ter Sott lie Goes to Washington and
Declares Ho will Fight to Last
Ditch.
Washington, Jan. 20.?Mayor
Grace, Councilman Williams, Collec?
tor Durant and Mr. Bottlle arrived
here today from Charleston to look,
into the Cooper River bridge matter.
The lirst three came in order to in?
terpose objection to the progress of
the bridge bill. Mr. Bottlle, of course,
had the opposite object.
Soon after the opening of the Sen?
ate session this morning Senator Till
man had the bridge bill reconsidered
and replaced on the calendar where
it was Saturday before its passage.
The Senator says that the meaijre
will not be taken up again until he is
ready and that he will not call it up
unless the navy department and the
Charleston community are satis?
fied with it.
Mayor Grace said this evening just
before taking the train for Charleston
that he was satisfied that Senator Till
man is thoroughly capable of pro?
tecting the city s interest with regard
to the bill, and that its passage Satur?
day was not due to any lack of alert?
ness on the Senator's part. The Mayor
took occasion to say that he was much
gratilied to note the decided "improve?
ment in Senator Tillman's health .
During the day the Mayor also saw
Congressman Adamson, of Georgia,
chairman of the House committee on
Inter-State and foreign commerce, and
Judge Adamson promised him that
the bridge bill would not be reported
by the committee without giving
Charleston an opportunity to be
heard.
Mr. Sottilo called at the office of
Senator Tillman and Representative
Ellerbe. He said in the Senator's of?
fice that he intended to "fight to the
last ditch," to get his bill through
Congress. The Senator told him that
nothing could be done to advance the
measure on the Senate side without
getting the present opposition re?
moved.
Mr. Ellerbe refused to make any
statement. The News and Courier's
correspondent was unable to see Mr.
Sottlle himself.
The Two-tViit Kate.
Editor Item:
Referring to the governor's message
and your editorial notice of same as
to straight two-cent rate for passeng?
er fare on railroads: In forcing the
railroads to put on a two-cent fare,
would that be giving them a square
deal? Are we, as patrons of the roads,
not continually kicking about the
service and demanding better ac?
commodations, more or better train
service, regardless of the cost to the
roads
Is it not a fact that while every?
thing in every lino has advanced in
price, passenger fare has been reduc?
ed? Is it not a fact if there is an ac?
cident on the road, and a horse or
cow Is killed, is it not worth more
today than ever before? If a person
is hurt when a jury formerly would
give him 11,000 or $2,000, will they
not now give $10,000? I say our
roads are entitled to a square deal
and we hope the Sumter delegation
will look well Into the matter before
they fasten a two-cent rate on them.
Yours for a square deal,
CITIZEN.
Heal Fstau? Transfer.
Annie E. Hradham to L. C. Moise,
lot on Church street, $2,000.
TAX RETURNS FOR lui.i.
Notice is hereby given that 1 will
attend In person or by deputy at the
following places on the days indicat?
ed, respectively for the purpose of re?
ceiving returns of personal property
and poll taxes, for the fiscal year
commencing January ist, 1913,
All males between the ages of 21
and 60 years, must make returns as
to whether or not they are liable foi
road duty for the year 1913.
TlndalS, Tuesday, January 7.
Privateer, Wednesday, January 8.
Levl Siding, Thursday, January 9.
Wedgefleld, Friday, January 10,
Claremont, Tuesday, January It.
Hagood. Wednesday, January 16.
Kembert's, Thursday, January 1?*>.
Dalaell, Friday, January 17.
llrngdon, Monday, January 20.
Mayesvllle, Tuesday, January 21.
Pleasant Grove, Wednesday, Janu?
ary 2 2.
Bhlloh, Thursday, January 23,
Norwood Cross [toads, I'rlday, Jan?
uary 24,
Oswego, Monday, January 27.
All persons whose duly it is to make
returns should he prompt to meet at
these appointment!* All returns must
he made before February 20th, 1913.
R R WILDER,
Auditor Sumter County.
Sumter. s. C. Dec. :t. 1912.
PAROLE FOR STORKS.
Convicted of K?nning a Blind Tiger in
Ornngeburg?Judge Rice Sentenc?
ed Him lO Servo Five Years on the
County i hain Gang.
Orangeburg Times and Democrat.
The paroling of A. Mack Stokes,
who once plead guilty <?f violating
the dispensary law, and who was con?
victed last September of the same of?
fence, and sentenced to five years on
the chain gang of this county by
Judge Rice, Governor ideas.?
created no little surprise and consid?
erable comment on Saturday when it
became known that the Governor had
turned Stokes loose so soon.
Stokes, who is said to have made
considerable money out of the blind
tiger business in this city during the
past few years, was hauled up to
court the first part of last year on
the charge of violating the dispen?
sary law. He plead guilty at that
time and was given a fins on the
promise that he would quit the bus?
iness. Hut it seems he forgot his
promise, as he went right back in
the business.
He was soon hauled up again on
the same charge, and v as tried at the
September term of of court before
Judge Hayne F. Rice. He was con?
victed, but it was found that he had
fled the State, going to Augusta, Ga.,
where he remained until last Tues?
day when he turned up again. In his
absence Judge Rice left a sealed sen?
tence, which was that he serve live
years on the chain gang of this
county.
Judge Rice made the sentence se?
vere because of the fact that it was
the second time Stokes was up be?
fore the court for violating the dis?
pensary law. Stokes remained away
until last Tuesday, when he appeared
before Judge Wilson, who was hold?
ing court here then, and asked that
the sealed sentence left by Judge
Rice be opened. On hearing the sen?
tence read Stoke'a attorneys gave
notice of appeal.
Judge Wilson fixed his bond at
twelve hundred dollars, but before
his attorneys could perfect the ap?
peal, Gov. Hlea.se sends a parole to
the Clerk of Court for Stokes, and
he was turned loose without being
punished at all. Who was instru?
mental in having Stokes pardoned
or why Governor Rlease was in such
a hurry to turn him loose, is not
generally known. Bat the parole
created quite a sensation here, even
on the part of some of the Govern?
or's friends.
Stokes, who is in no way connect?
ed wdth the well known family of
that name in this county, was an
active supporter of Governor Ulease
in the last primary. We have heard
it said that his automobile was used
to bring Rlease voters to the polls
on the day of the primary election.
At all events, he seems to stand in
pretty well with the Governor, who
certainly did him a good turn when
he saved him from a term on the
chain gang.
Turning an almost open violator
of the dispensary law like Stokes
loose on the community without pun?
ishment. Governor Helase makes it
very hard to enforce the dispensary
law in this city or county, or any?
where else for that matter. If it
had been Stokes' first offence it
would not have been so bad. But he
had pleaded guilty before! he was
convicted, which makes his case an
aggravated one.
The coming back of Stokes to re?
ceive his sentence was a great sur?
prise to many, but the prompt action
of Governor Blease in turning him
loose explains the matter. Stokes
evidently knew before he came back
that he would be pardoned, or he
never would have come back to hear
his sentence, as he had every reason
to believe from his experience with
the courts that it would be a severe
one.
On i be word of one of the
wisest philosophers of the Bge,
you may set it down as a truth
?that a man can better afford
the most economical of extra?
vagances than the most extra*
Vagant Of economies.
It's Extravagant Economy to
wear your old Glasses if they
are not exactly suited to you.
Wo can show you whether
they are, and It won't cost you
everything to know. Graduate
optician in charge.
We grind our USD ICItSCS,
l.ct us till your prescription.
Ail work guaranteed.
vs.
Extravagance
W. A. Thompson,
Jeweler and Optician
6 S. Main Sumter, S. C.
I
ttmniinm?!i?m?ti?i
r
After One Has Exercised Due
Prudence and Care
In making; his trill, as every property owner should, and in se?
lecting his executor, that his request may be < an fully and strictly
carried th ough to fulfillment, the Important question Is a place to
keep the will.
There is ulways more or less danger of the will bring lost or
burned when left around t!?e house. "Why not Btoee yours in our
fireproof vault where it will be absolutely safe?
Patrons oi thU bank get this service free of charge.
The Fir^l National Bank.
You Can Find
in a minute just how you stand IX you do business with a good
bank?that's the only correct way of knowing Just who you've
paid ami who you haven't.
Save your returned chec ks end you have the host receipt in the 5
world. Join with us today.
The Peoples' Bank.
Statement of the Condition of
The Bank of Sumter,
SUMTER, S. C.
AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS JANUARY 10, 1913.
RESOURCES. I if ABILITIES.
L>oans and Discounts, 647.477.22 Capital stock. , 200,000.00
Bonds and stocks, 21,706.23 Surplus, 50,000.00
Furniture & Fix. 8,400.49 Uundivided profits, 13,366.11
Real Estate. 49,468.34 Dividends unpaid, 704.00
Cash in vault, and Bills payable, 160,000.00
in banks, 139,459.76 Deposits, 442,441.93
866,512.04 866,512.04
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF DEPOSITS:
Deposits, January 10, 1912..318,371.01
Deposits, January 10, 1913.412,111.93
INCREASE OF $124,07^.89
THE COMING YEAR.
For many years past m have been using: this space to tell all
wlu) may havo been concerned about banking, teaching as far as
I>ossible the principles <?t banking in general and the methods
and advantages of this- bank in particular. The stories told here
have no doubt been read by nearly every one who read? this pa?
per. We liave endeavored to have tliis >pace occupy matter which
was both interesting, and instructive. We are glad to note that so
many have proliited by the arguments brought to light here and we
wish to express our hearty appreciation of the attention paid our
efforts. \\o wish to announce this week that hereafter as in the
past we will fill this- space each week with something interesting
?-some tiling that every person who handle* money at all will pro?
fit by reading.
Farmers' Bank & Trust Co.
sgtmmmnmuwmmmmna
New Crop Garden Seed |
We have just received our new seeds, which
we think is the most complete assortment we
ever had. We'll gladly suggest what is best to
plant at this time - we have a seed man of ex?
perience to tell you.
EXPECTING DAILY?Our Seed Irish Po?
tatoes, which include the old original Irish Cob?
bler. Red Bliss and Early Rose. Keep us in mind
when you are ready to plant.
Phone 283 your wants.
Sibert's Drug Store,
& W. W. Sibert, Prop. Sumter, S. C
CANTALOUPE SEED.
We offer for sale our Celebrated Eden Rem Cantaloupe seed,
grown and reseleeted at Rocky Ford, Colorado, under the personal
supervision of our Mr. s. C. Mayo, of Reddick, I Ia. Ihne an*
none better to be had. Prices on spptlration.
JOHNSON-BROWN CO., Albany, Ga.
I Or S. C. Mayo, Reddick, Ma.