Calendars" ara all gene. Come and pet a copy of "Yours Truly," a pamphlet of illustrat ed humor, four numbers of which are giver b every advance subscri ber. If you want a crop of prosparous busineM, plant your Spring ad vertisement now. VOL 30 BLOOMSliUIlG, 1'A.. FRIDAY, JULY 12. 1S95. NO 23 ELEOTRIO LIGHT IN BLOOMSBURG. THE VOTE THEREON. To the Editor oj tfie Columbian : The election on what is advertised as Ordinance No. 84, of the town council, is immediately impending. It seems that but little interest has been felt or exhibited on the subject, and nothing has been said editorially by the newspapers thereon. Now, on so important a question as that of in creasing the debt of the town $20,000 or upwards for a new electric plant, there ought to be full information and due consideration given to the sub ject. And besides, we ought to un derstand whether the popular vote, as proposed to be taken, will be a lawful and fair vote. By the Act of Assembly of 1891, P. L. 90, boroughs are authorized to manufacture electric light for com mercial purposes, but upon the ex press condition that in case of an existing electric light company in the borough, authorized to furnish and "aheady furnishing cicuric lights to such borough or the public," the bor ough shall purchase the works of such electric light company upon agree ment, if practicable, otherwise upon assessment, with the right of appeal by either party to the proper court. This is the present law upon this sub ject and it will be seen that in the case of any borough where an electric light company was in operation at the date of the Act,' it could not manu facture and sell electricity to the in habitants of the borough or for pri vate use therein, without taking and paying for the works of the existing electric company. Now, the "Bloomsburg Electric Light and Tower Company" was in corporated by letters patent from the Governor of the Commonwealth, on the nth of December, 1889, and was at the date of the Act of 1891, en gaged in furnishing electricity to the inhabitants of the town. So that if the Act of 1 89 1 applies to Blooms burg, the town authorities cannot fur nish electricity to the inhabitants upon rates of charge, or as the Act ex presses it, for commercial purposes, without taking and paying for the works or property of the Electric Light Company. As the Light Compar claims to have expended $50,000 for their prop erty, it is plain that an appropriation of their works would be costly to the town, and would require another pop ular vote to authorize it to be made. It follows that the establishment of electric light works by the town will not cheapen electric light to the busi ness men and other citizens of the town, but the operation of such works will be confined to tho street lamps and town hall. There would then be three costly establishments or works for lighting in Bloomsburg, viz: The works of the gas company with un derground pipes extending to all parts of the town, the electric light works with poles and wires for the exclusive supply of electricity to the inhabitants and business places of the town, and lastly the town works with a second set of poles and wire threading all of the principal streets and some of the by-ways of the town. We assume that neither the authorities of the town nor the people thereof would ever agree to buy the works of the existing electric company at a cost of $50,000 or upwards, or submit to an assessment therefor by a jury at an extravagant rate such as commonly prevails in damage cases against towns and corporations. By the Constitution of Pennsylva nia, Art, IX, Sec. 8, it is provided that no municipality (which would in elude Bloomsburg) shall incur indebt edness exceeding seven per cent, up on the assessed value of taxable proper- therein, nor shall it incur any new debt or increase its indebtedness to an amount exceeding two per centum without the assent of the electors thereof at a public election, in such manner as shall be provided by law, Bv the Act of April aoth, 1874, Sec, c, P. L. 68, relating to municipal in debtedness and the increase of the same, it is provided that "The word 'indebtedness', used in this Act, shall be deemed, held and taken to include all and all manner of debt, as well floating as funded, of the said munici pality : and the net amount of such indebtedness shall be ascertained by deducting from the gross amount thereof, the moneys in the treasury, all outstanding solvent debts, and all revenues applicable, within one year. to the payment of the same." The 3rd Sec. of the same Act which pro vided that when the corporate author hies propose to increase the debt two per centum or more, within the seven per centum limit, they shall submit the question of such increase to the electors of the municipality, is mb. tantially re-enacted by Sec. 1. of Tune 9th, 1891, P. L. 5. It is plain upon the face of the con stitution and these statutes that the only question to be submitted to the electors of a municipality is the in crease of the public debt thereof above the gross or total amount of the existing debt, and that by express pro vision the existing debt will include any floatipg debt or obligation of the municipality as well as the bonded debt. In brief, the question voted upon must be upon a specific increase over and above any and every form of existing pecuniary obligation, less the amount of money in the treasury, &c, as above cited. It follows that the submission now made to the electors of Bloomsburg is unlawful as well as unfair, by its inclusion of several ques tions relating to the present debt along with the question of increasing that debt by an electrical light investment, and requiring a single affirmative or egative vote upon the whole. The constitution and the statutes very evi dently do not contemplate or author ize a combination of distinct and sep arate questions in one vote, so that an opinion held by an elector on one question shall control his vote upon the whole. It is idle to expect that electrical works to light the streets of Blooms burg, spread as the Town is over an extended surface, can be secured at a cost of $20,000 we mean works suffi cient for their purpose and fitted to endure. The first investments of the Town will no doubt be doubled after ward, as in the case of the B ooms burg electric light company which be gan with a plant of $16,000 and has expended twice that amount in chang es, renewals and improvements. And it will be found that the cost of run ning the Town plant and works, in cluding fuel, skilled and other labor, oil, waste, with an estimated ten per centum annual depreciation of the working plant, added to interest upon the investment will considerably ex ceed the amount now paid for lighting the streets 01 Bloomsburg. Finally, every intelligent person understands that it is highly inadvisable to charge upon lown authorities the manage ment of water works, gas work, steam heating works or any like business employment on behalf of the Town whenever it can be reasonably avoid ed. Local patronage is thereby in creased, disputes are created and fost ered thereby, the selection and change of employees depend upon flucuating, annual elections, and more or less of abuse in management may be expect ed. It is found by experience that such business is best conducted by individuals personally interested in the due and proper management of the same. X. Last week Wednesday night, as Richard Stiles was crossing the bridge at Benton, he was seized by two men, and while one held him the other rub bed tar on his face. They had some feathers, but did not use them, as they were frightened by the approach of Lloyd Freas, and ran away. They were not recognized. Mr. Stiles is a man well along in years, and has but one arm. His home is in Philadel phia, and he was on a visit to his son. This attack on him was dastrdly and cowardly, and has met with the strong est condemnation, lhe miscreants who made it should be hunted down, and be punished by the highest penal ty the law can inflict. This matter has been made the sub ject of comment by a number of repub lican newspapers, which have done some prating about the "Fishingcreek confederacy, &c, and the impression is given that a spirit of lawlessness pervades the community where it hap pened. Mr, btiles declares that he did not know his assailants, and there is not a particle of evidence to con nect them in any way with the events of thirty years ago. There is a bare possibility that the act may have been committed by men who still bore a ermine against him for the part he took in the occurrences of long ago. but there is no evidence of it, and it is obviously unfair to cast a stigma upon a peaceable and law-abiding community for the acts of two mis creants. Whatever the motive for the attack may have been, it was wholly unjustifiable. If it is true it arose from what happened more than quarter of a century ago, it is all the more reason why the perpetrators should be punished, for men who will bear a grudge for thirty years, and then seek to revenge themselves in so cowardly manner, are dangerous men to be at large. The Presbyterian Sunday School and congregation will hold their an nual picnic at Wynona Park on Thurs day, July 18th. 8H0T TO DEATH IN THE STREET. A PROMINENT NANTTCOKE UUSINESS MAN KILLED IN THE PRESENCE OF f RItNOS. Frederick F. Bittenbender, one of the most prominent business men of Nanticoke, a director of the First Na tional Bank and member of the school board, was shot and instantly killed at noon Saturday, by Abram Eckert. The shooting occurred on the main street, Bittenbender being in his car riage in front of the kinV. F.rkert was captured. The cause of the af fair is hard to determine, although it seemed that Eckert believed Bitten bender had a grudge against him and wanted to do him injury. Eckert is janitor at the high school, and Bitten bender, as chairman of the Building Committee of the board, had the power of superising and directing Eckcrt's work. Bittenbender and another director, George W. Gruver, went to the school on a tour of inspection and found Eckert was not there attcn V.. to !.!, work. They were annoyed and drove to Eckert's house, where Bittenben der inquired : "Why don't you do your work at the school house ? You are paid for it and should do it." The men have been friends for some time despite thevr different sta tions and Eckert laughed as he re plied : "All right, Fred, I'll go down and finish up." They chatted a while, all being in good humor, and then Bittenbender drove away. The men did nut meet again until noon. At that time Bittenbender, with his father and George W. Flock, another bank director, were driving up the street. In front of the bank Eckert was standing. He called out that he wanted to see Bittenbender, and the latter drove to the sidewalk. Eckert looked very angry and said; "Something has been troubling me for a week or more ; it seems you have a grudue against me. What do you mean by treating me the way you have been doing f isomewhat sur prised, Bittenbender replied: "You are paid to do the work and must do it." Hardly had the last word left his mouth when Eckert sprang back ward from the carriage, drew a revol ver, and taking deliberate aim, fired. The bullet entered Bittenbender s right eye and caused instant death. The body plunged forward and fell over the wheel of the carriage at the feet of Eckert, who despite the cries of Bittenbender's father and Flock, who were trying to jump from the car riage, and the approach of people, calmly stood over the body and fired two more shots. The first shattered the bone in the left arm and the other missed. Then he started to run, but had gone only a few steps when he was overpowered by school director Thomas Callary and John Reagan. A crowd gathered immediately and some of the friends of Bittenbender cried, "Lynch him ; string him up." Callary and Reagan, however, ran with the prisoner to Burgess Powell's office and there he was secured and brought by constables to jail in Wil- kes-Barre. Eckert is 48 years old and has a wife and seven children. He has al ways been a quiet, good natured fel low and had many friends, who are unable to account for the sudden change in his disposition. It appears that he had some deep-seated griev ance against riittenbender. iwn weeks ago he was heard to remark, "If Fred does not stop treating me as he is doing he will be sorry." Bittenbender was proprietor of the Bittenbender Machine Shops and the inventor of many mechanical applt ances. He leaves a wife and four children. TEACHERS' INSTITUTE. The next annual Teachers' Institute of Columbia county. Arrangements have been completed for the next Teachers' County Institute to be held in Bloomsburg October 2 1 2 c. lhe best talent has been secured for in struction and entertainment. The day instructors are Dr. Arnold Tomp kins, of Chicago ; Miss Margaret Mc Closkey, of Lock Haven j Miss Gert rude Edmund, of East Stroudsburg ; County Superintendents, B. K. John son, of Union Co., and J. George Becht, of Lycoming ; Dr. J. P. Welsh, of Bloomsburg, and Prof. T. A. Sprenkel and others. For evenings the following hav been engaged : l)r. lames Jiciiley Byron W. King, Thomas Dixon, Jr,, and Halls Schunian Lady Quartette, of Chicago. C. B. Chrisman has sold his frui stand to Hervey Furman. BRIEF MENTION. About People You Know. RobUns and family are at Ocean c. s. Grove. J. G. Wells bought a bicycle of W. S. Kishton on lueaday. Mrs. Bella of rhilaJelihia, it the guest of Miss Sade Sloan. Miss Lilla Sloan is entertaining her friend Miss Kendig of Lancaster. Hon. I. K Krickbaum spent Saturday in town. lie is still hate and 1 he early Robert Young and sister Miss Kate, are taking a trip in New England. Dr. Ilonora A. Rolibins is away on a trip to Boston and Ocean Grove. E. W. Drinker and family, of Wilkes Barre, spent Sunday in town with relatives. Rev. and Mrs. B. C. Connor a'e spending this week at Mountain Lake campmeeting. R.Rush Zarr Esq., has moved to I. D. Shaffer's new house on Market street below the railroad. Recent information from Rev. V. C. I.cverctt is to the effect that his condition is not materially changed. Bruce Jones sprained his ankle in getting out "f the bus, and is confined to his room at tlio I'.xchange Motel. Warren Beddoe, of the Normal class of '94, now residing at Buck Mountain, spent the 4th in Bloomsburg. Miss Harriet Sharplcss and her three nieces, Julia Sharpless, Edna Wilson and Helen Vanderslice, are at Mt. Gretna. Mr. and Mr. J. M. Gidding left on Tues day for n ten days trip, which will include New York, l'hilaclolphia, and the sea-shore. Elmer E. l'crsou, city editor of the Will iamsport "Grit" called at the Columbian otlice on Monday. He is one of our gradu ates. Miss Ida H'. rring, Miss Martha Powell, Miss Brown and J. J. Wagonseller teft for Boston on Tuesday to attend the C. E. Con vention. M. C. Woodward, the long time collector of this town, is confined to the house, from a cancer on his nose. He has been quite feeble for some time. Mrs, Rev. I. M. Patterson and daughter, Miss Eleanor, went to Boston on Tuesday, where they are the guests of Mr. and Mrs. trunk 1'atterson. William R. Campbell, son of Tames I. Campbell of near Orangeville, is at home on a visit. He has been in Utah for the past nine years, as a Presbyterian missionary. Mrs. M. II. McKinnev. Mrs. W. M. Reber, Miss Josephine Barkley and Miss Maude Runyon went to Boston on Monday to attend the convention of Christian Endeavors. Rev. T. II. Cullen, who was rector of St. Paul's Church from 186a to 1870, has failed in health, and is in a state of melancholia. When last heard from he was in a hospital in Philadelphia. Miss Elorence Montgomery, daughter of Dr. Montgomery of Miiilinville, who hat been attending the New England Conserva tory of Music at Boston for the past year, has returned home. Her musical ability is of a high order. The mother and brother of Rev. D. N. Kirkby are visiting at St. Paul's Rectory. The former will remain some time, but the brother will return to Buffalo on Saturday. to meet his engagements as rector of an Episcopal Church. 00UETESY TO SENATOR HEREIN 0, On the day that Collector Herri ng left home to sail for Europe a com munication came from the Executive chamber at Harrisburg, containing a letter of commendation signed by Governor Hastings. It is handsomely engrossed on parchment, with red, white and blue ribbons attached, and attested by the Secretary of the Com monwealth, and reads as follows : " It having come to my knowledge that Hon. Grant Herring an Attorney at Law, Ex-State-Senator of Penna., and at piesent United Slates Revenue Collector of the Twelfth District intends travelling in Europe for pleasure and information I commend him to the special confidence and courteous attention of all authorities, officials and others whom he may meet, especially the representatives of the United States Government, as a person of high standing and character and fully entitled to and worthy of the greatest respect and regard. lhe document arrived after Mr. Herring's departure, but was forward ed, and will reach him m London Coming entirely unsolicited, it is high ly appreciated. The following letters are advertised July 0, 1805. Miss Emma Becker, Miss Sophia Dirks, Miss Lilly Lventt, Miss Margaret M. Harper, Mrs. Harry Knob, Miss Ueriha Merkcl, Mrs. Dr. E. B. Warner. Will be sent to the dead letter office July 23, 180?. James H. Mercer, P. M. Patrick Bakey of Centraha was kill ed by an explosion of gas in Lytle colliery near Pottsville, on Monday, Jie was employed as pump engineer, and went in the slope to oil the ma chinery, carrying a naked lamp. The explosion followed, and he was blown to pieces, lie was 33 years of age, and leaves a widow and several children Headquarters for bicycle clothing. J. M.GIDDING&CO. are selling their entire stock of of clothing at cost. OUR REASON We carry nothing over from season to season. Bicycle hose, belts caps and sweaters. See our great assortment of 52.50, worth easily a dollar more. SUMMER IKEBUCTION of CLOTHING. DOWN TO WHOLESALE COST. A great many men's, boys' and children's suits, $2 and $3 taken oft our extremely low prices on suits. Dpn't make a mistake. There is no need to visit lake clothiers when you can so cheap at Bloomsburg s Grand Old Stand, 0. LOWENBE Clothing Store. Latest out the Golf Cap. White duck trousers and hot weather garments. men's pants at $1.50, $2.00, and buy fine clothing
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