Evening public ledger. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, October 15, 1914, Night Extra, Image 1

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PRICE ONE CENT
VOL. I-NO. 28
PHILADELPHIA, THUBSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1914. copiamnT. ibi4, r Prauo lcto commnt.
WPI
PROPERTY IN CITY
SHOWS INCREASE
OF $52,032,625
Tax Board Reports to Coun
cils a Total Estimate of
$1,660,206,400 as Valua
tion Basis for Next Year.
ENGLAND DUPED BELGIUM,
SAYS VON BERNSTORFF
An Increase In the assessed valuation
bf Philadelphia property of $32,032,625 over
the figures for 1914 13 shown In the report
jof Hits Board of Revision of Taxes sub
mitted lo City Councils this afternoon by
City Controller Walton.
The total estimate of all taxable prop
fcrty In the city limits for next year Is
Jl.WO.tfXUOO, divided as follows: Real es
tate, city rate, $1,563,141,282; suburban rate,
7),632,78S! farm rate, $20,732,330, and per
sonal property, horses and cattle, $1,700,000.
In addition to this the board estimates
the value of the personal property taxable
tinder tho act of Juno 17, 1913, n-3 $570,000,000.
Controller Wnlton declnrcs that the In
creased valuation will mean an Increased,
toorrowlnff poxver of about three and a
half million dollars. He had not figured
cut the borrowing capacity Increase from
the personal property tnx.
WARD CALLS CHARGES TEST
OF BUILDING AND LOAN LAW
Retired N. G. 3?. Brigadier General
Defends His Conduct.
Brigadier General Joseph H. C. Ward,
Jtf. G. P., retired, of 6717 GIrard avenue,
in ex-captaln of the United States Army,
dentist and treasurer of tho Weston
Terminal Building and Loan Association,
yho was arrested on charges of making
jfalso entries made by Albert Wagner, an
Inspector for tho State Department of
tanking-, said today he expocted Wagner
would withdraw the charge before the
further hearing scheduled for Monday.
General Ward was arrested yesterday.
Dr. Ward Is a veteran of the Army of
the Potomac, in which he -was a captain.
I also served In Indian campaigns In
1S59 and his oftlce at the GIrard avenue
Bddress Is filled with Indian relics, in
cluding two arrows shot at him by
Jfavajos.
Tho specific charge against Doctor
(Ward, who Is 70 years old, is that he
marked up his dues in the association
as paid for 4 months. He declares that
the laws permit him to do this, as
.treasurer, for 6 months.
Wagner InslsteuVthat it was against tho
law, according to Doctor Ward, and the
two had a lively argument on the point
n lew days before the nrrest. Today
Doctor Ward expressed tho opinion that
4Wagner had him arrested ns a warning
to other building and loan officials that
IBuch procedures weie against the law.
The aged veteran bears no HI will
figalnst Wasner. He says the banking in
spector did his duty as he saw It. Doctor
JVnrd was paying $75.30 a month In duo.
Wagner admitted In a statement after
Jthe hearing yesterday that the dis
crepancy had been made good, but de
clared the banking laws had been vio
lated. I Doctor Ward retired as Brigadier Gen
eral In the National Guard December m
11912. In addition to his duties with th
building and loan association he is n
practicing ocnusi, ana also a real estnte
Bnd insurance operator. He has resigned
as treasurer of the building and loan as-
oclatlon, but Is still a director In It
'EACE PROPAGANDA
RIDICULED IN THE HOUSE
rnrdnar Says "Bombast" and "Plati
tudes" Are Ineffective.
, WASHINGTON, Oct K.-Statlng his
fenlnlon thnt th TTnlfwd Rtntan 4 ilnn-
Jpared for any kind of war. and that the
ffect of the -vast sums of money spent
jfiy Carnegie in hla peace propaganda had
4een to blind Americans to the fact that
pur national security from a military
olnt of view Is undermined. Representa
tive Gardner, of Massachusetts, today in-
imwuvcu a rtuotuiion provioing ror a
ifcommlsalon of nine to investigate the
preparedness of the United States for
Avar, either offensive or defensive.
.. vwiiiiiiiaQiuti wuuiu cuusiai or inree
enators, three Representatives and three
ijuio. thiamin iu ij ui'yuiniea oy tne
president
( ' "I simply cannot understand," said
iiardner, "how any Intelligent student of
history can fail to see that we are im
potent to defend ourselves and to en
force the Monroe Doctrine by moral
feuaslon and flnannlnl iriltrht atnna tk
time has not yet come when the United
pmies can arrord to allow the martial
eplrit of her tons to bo destroyed, and
nil the Carnegie millions in the world will
hot silence those of us who believe that
bullets cannot be stooped with hnmha.f
or powder vanquished with platitudes,"
"Neutral" Nirtlon Was Left to Its
Fate, Ambnssador States.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.
"England Instigated Belgium to go to
war, and when the time come to protect
the unfortunate little toUntry It was left
to Its own resources," Count von Bern
storff, the German Ambassador, replied
today In an ofTlclal statement to the Brit
ish denial of an Anglo-Belgian military
agreement.
The Ambassador said tho formal denial
Issued by England "proved nothing."
"Tho documents nro In tho hands of
the German authorities, nnd will bo pub
lished In full," s.iltl tho German Envoy.
"The fact remains that a so-called 'neu
tral country concluded a military agree
ment with England, which provided for
tho landing of British troops In this
'neutral' country.
"The document nroved that bv Its own
free will 'neutral' Belgium accepted the
British offers nnd decided to right on tho
side of tho Allies.
"Germany, on this other hnnd, who had
heard of Belgium's ngresment with Eng
land nt the beginning of tlio'war. offered
to protect Belgium and to pay full In
demnity for all her losses. Germany
would have religiously kept her promise.
The documents found In Brussels further
prove that as far back ns 1000 England
was systematically trying to bring about
tho coalition which has now forced war
on Gcrmnny."
SPEEDY AWARD OF
CONTRACT MAYOR'S
PLAN FOR THE POOR
Will Urge Councils to Pre
pare Ordinances Prion to
Vote on $11, 300,000 Loan
for Improvements.
Mayor Blankcnburg will urge Councils
today to prepare all necessary ordinances
that will facilitate the early start on im
provement projects in the $11,300,000 loan
measure that comes before the voters at
tho election next month. The ordinance
could then be passed ns soon as tho vote
on tho loan is ascertained.
An opinion of City Solicitor Ryan nd
vised against the preliminary nctlnn f
Councils In passing ordinances before tho
voting on the loan at the general election
as suggested by Mayor Blankcnburg in
his effort to provide work for unemployed
men on loah piojocts early in December,
One of tho messages the Mnvnr Wui
send to Councils today will emphasize the
duty of the legislative bodies to appro
priato at least $5000 for tho .proper pres
entation of the case begun by Director
Coolte, of tho Department of Public
Works, before the State Public Service
Commission in an effort to lobtaln lower
n3 ,frJ.h0!ty nntl residents from tho
Philadelphia Electric Company.
A hearing of tho case, which Is cham
pioned locally by the United Business
Men's Association, will be held before
tho commission, November 17. The rooo
appropriation asked from Councils would
' VlUcJ-.cJ f3
53 '
HARASSED ALLIES
' CHECK FOE'S RUSH
BY FURIOUS CHARGE
Paris Announces Wedge is Being Driven
Between Armies of von Boehn and
von Beseler German Defeat Near
Arras and at Centre Reported.
French, British and Belgian Troops Close
With Kaiser's Forces and Bitter En
gagement Now Is in Progress Lille
and Bruges Captured.
fW
vC
JVH.M
'IF YOU ARE HEALLY TRYING TO HELP ME, HELP HIM.
PEACE IN MEXICO
BELIEVED IN SIGHT
President Becelvea Montreal Mayo?
WASHINGTON. Oct. 15. Mavnr Mr-.
tin, of Montreal, today called on Presl.
Iflent Wilson. He Is conducting an In.
I&ulry Into sanitary conditions in various
titles of the United States.
FLA I N
THE WEATHER
For Philadelphia arid vicinitu Tn.
fettled tonight and Friday, with prob
iuiy qecaaional ram; moderate tem
peratures; gentle to moderate east.
prly winds.
r aeiain, see fast page, s&,ia.
aeiray the expenses nf rnnnnitir,,. i
ncers and other witnesses.
nC.hnKn!Uib? ta,kcn '" committeo today
on the bill introduced in Select Council
to compel taxicab companies nnd other
owners of public motor vehicles to estab
lish definite rates and post the schedule
of rates In each car in several different
lUUKUUKCS.
The Finance Committee will arrange for
the trnnsfer of fundR from the $107,110 ex
cess appropriation to tho Sinking Fund
to provide the amounts necessary for the
operation of municipal departments and
county offices the rest of the year. Ap
proximately 270,000 of that amount will
be appropriated to the Department of
Health and Chat i tics for heat and power
plants and a sewage disposal system at
the city's Institutions for the Indigent and
feeble-minded at Holmesburg nnd By
berry. Mayor Blankenhurg Is preparing to re
fute the statement Included in the opin
ion of the City Solicitor that approxl
mately 511.000,000 Is at present available
for use by the heads of the municipal
departments In construction projects that
would provide work for the city's unem
ployed. VILLA FOLLOWER RULES
COUNCILS OF PEACE PARLEY
General Garza Dominant Figure,
Commission Government Probable.
AOUASCALIENTES. Mex., Oct. II
(Delayed by Censor). That General
Ttoque donzales Garza, personal repre
sentative of General Villa, Is the domi
nant figure In the national peace conven
tion was proved today v.hetr the conven
tion decided to postpono action on all
Important matters until Octber 30 to
await the arrival of 25 representatives
of General Kmlllano Zapata, who are
said to be on their way here from More
los. The decision to postpone action was
reached after a stormy session, which at
first threatened to end in complete dis
agreement and the Immediate resumption
of hostilities by the warring factions. It
was a brilliant personal victory for Gen
eral Garza, and not a few of the north
ern leaders expressed their disapproval
of his fiery eloquence and the personal
remarks he addressed to the convention
Member after member arose and coun
seled calmness General Yfcobet ItobleJ
maae a, spienaiu, jiuiiunmi bjn-umi urg
ing harmony, and was followed In a
similar vein by General Alvaro Obrogon
and General Eugenlo IlenaWdes. Har
mony was at last restored, and after
a recess of an hour the agreement to
postpone action on all important meas
ures until next Tuesday was reached.
Eery thing now points to the success
of the plan for a commission form of
government for Mexico City and Indi
cates that the commission will be com
posed of seven members. Five of these
will undoubtedly be General Francisco
Villa, commander of the division of the
north; General Alvaro Obregon, of the
division of the northwest, General
Kmlllano Zapata, leader of the rebels In
the State or Morelos; General Pablo
Gonzales, of the division of the north
east; General Candldo Agullar, of Vera
Cruz. The remaining two are yet to
be agreed upon, but It is considered
likely tnat the ftvo already named will
have the controlling power.
The commission, according to the plan
already outlined, will have complete
charge of the Meatlco City Government,
with full civil and military powers. It
AS CARRANZA YIELDS4 IS PARTY'S DUTY
Situation Indicates "First
Chief" May Be Succeeded
as Provisional President by
Calderon, Villareal or Hay
Cencluded on l'ajt Tvro
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15. Peace In
Mexico will be obtained within a few
days by the selection as Provislcnal
President of either Fernando Iglnslas
Calderon, Antonio Villareal or Eduardo
Hay, according to confidential dispatches
today from Aguascallentes to men high In
diplomatic circles here.
The situation at the Cnrranza-Vllla
peace conference, as reviewed In these
messages, is that General Curranza has
stepped aside from the provisional leader
ship, and may even withdraw as a can
didate for the elective presidency.
Tho advantage at Aguascallentes thus
far is claimed by Villa, who has made
certain of concessions from Carranzk.
Administration officials today expressed
the belief that the crisis on tho border,
which yesterday threatened "grave Inter
national complications," has been passed.
The compliance of Governor Hunt, of Ari
zona, with the request of Secretary of
War Garrison not to send the rollltla to
the border removed the chief cause for
concern. It was stated. War Department
ofllcials assert the Federal troops will be
able to prevent any serious disturbances
along the International line,
The Department waited word from the
Brazilian Minister at Mexico City In reply
to Its request for information concerning
the seizure of the tramways system by
tho Carranza Government.
The decisive attack upon Naco, Sonora,
by the forces under General Maytorena
is expected today, according to advices
to the War Department from Colonel
Hatfield, commanding the Amort,
forces at Naco, Ariz.
Colonel Hatfield reported that heavy
reinforcements have reached Maytorena
and that others are on the way. The
rebel commander Is expected to overcome
the Federal garrison
Colonel Hatfield added that everything
was quiet on the American side of the
border and that the Government troops
were doing everything possible to pre
serve peace.
Secretary of War Garrison said he did
not anticipate any further trouble at
Naco.
No official word has yet reached the
United States Government that General
Cananza has resigned the Provisional
Presidency of Mexico.
TART'S FRIEND SAYS
DEFEAT OF PENROSE
Franklin W. S h o t w e 1 1 ,
Prominent Republican of
Nebraska, Calls Pennsyl
vania Senator "Menace to
Country."
OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 15.-Tho Pennsyl
vania political tight and the effort to
defeat Penrose for the Senate Is attract
ing much attention in Nebraska. Many
prominent Republicans are hopeful that
he may he beaten.
"Penrose Is a menace to the party and
to the country and should be defeated,"
said Franklin W. Shotwell, prominent Re
publican and friend of W. H. Taft.
Mr. Shotwell last month came within
less than 100 votes of being chosen the
Republican nominee for Lieutenant Gov
ernor, but he refused to contest the pri
mary.
"Pennsylvania Republicans should re
member that a United States Senator
belongs to all States," Mr. Shotwell said.
"and not to a single State. A Senator's
vote affects the entire country, not sim
ply the affairs of a single State. Upon
those broad lines Pennsylvanlans should
carefully consider before it decides to
send this man back to Washington to
misrepresent that State and the entire
nation as well.
"Senator Penrose may not be every
thing that ha is charged with being, but
that should not save tho day for him.
His usefulness as a public servant Is
over; tho country is suspicious of him;
the new era In public affairs calls for
hla defeat.
"Penrose stands at the very head of
tho class of men who have made the
word 'politician' a reproach. If Penn
sylvania will not eliminate him from pub
lic affairs for its own sake, it should
do so for the sake of the remainder of
the nation. Penrose and the things for
which ho stands must go, and Pennsyl
vanlans have it In their power to remove
him from national politics. They should
do so,"
CLUBWOMEN VOTE
FOR SUFFRAGE, BUT
NOT AS FEDERATION
Delegates to Pittsburgh Con
vention Go on Record "as
Individuals," With a Two
thirds Majority.
VILLA SEIZES GERMAN
PROPERTY WORTH $1,000,000
Large Estates In Durang-o Confiscated
on His Orders.
BI PASO. Tex . Oct 15 It Is reported
here that on orders Issued by General
Francisco Villa, German property valued
at more than 1.000.000 In gold has been
confiscated in the State of Durango. He
haa given instructions to confiscate all
large estates in that State, whether
foreign or Mexican owned. The German
property seized Is north of Durango City
and comprise more than 1.000,000 acres.
It was bought ten years ago for $500,000
gold; together with stock and Improve
ments it Is worth 1,OW,000.
Six hundred troops have been sent by
General Villa to crush the Hen-era revolt
In the Farral district Herrera is re
perked to have 1500 well-armed men ua&r
bite.
LANDSLIDE IN CULEBRA CUT
Canal Probably Will Be Closed Tem
porarily to Traffic,
PANAMA, Oct 15. A landslide occurred
in the Culebra Cut this morning, which
probably will cause the canal to be closed
to traffic temporarily.
It appears there were simultaneous
slides from both sldea of the cut, the
larger from Gold Hill, the highest point
of elevation of the canal banks. The
double character of the avalanche has
complicated the work of clearing out a
channel.
Governor Goethals was apprised of the
slide by telephone, and with canal engi
neers hurried to Cucharacha to ascertain
the amount of damage
There were no ships in the cut at the
time of the accident, according to reports
here. Several vessels will be held up in
the canal until the earth and rock Is
dredged out.
PITTSBURGH. Oct. 15.-Woman's suf
frage was Indorsed "individually" by the
delegates to the State Federation of
Pennsylvania Women, In convention at
Memorial Hall this afternoon, by abcAit
a two-thlrda vote. But the organisation
did not go on record as favoring it.
Some preliminary routine business was
transacted by tho federation this morn
ing, but this gave the leaders of the
contending forces an opportunity to mar
shal their armies, strengthen the weak
points and win over neutrals.
The generals were busy while Mrs.
.Kate talker Barrett, of Washington,
president of the National Florence Crit
tenden Home and confidential adviser of
the United States Government on Immi
gration problems, delivered an address
on national and International relation
ship, Mrs. 3arrett urged an International con
gress of women, declaring that although
men might not understand those speaking
a foreign language, tho women of all
nationalities understood each other be
cause of the bonds of motherhood. She
sulci women would play a great part In
th settlement of the European war.
The federation does not follow the
usual parliamentary proceduto of pre
senting a resolution and then discussing
it. They work bnckward. Mrs. William
I. Hull, of Snarthmore, chairman of the
Suffrage Committee, read her report be
foro the resolution was read.
Mis. Hull recommended that the con
vention adopt the resolution which was
adopted at the convention of the Federa
tion of Women's Clubs in Chicago last
June. The resolution reads as follows:
"Wrereas, The question of political
equality of men and women Is today a
vital problem throughout the civilized
world,
"ResoUed, That the General Federation
of Women's Clubs give the cause of polit
ical equality its moral support by record
ing Its earnest belief In the principle qf
political equality regardless of sex."
Mrs. Horace Brock, of Lebanon, leader
of the anti-suffrage delegates, entered
a protest to the leport of Mrs. Hull, say.
Ing It was an ardent appeal for suffrage
and not the unbiased report which should
have been made on the suffrage commit
tee's deliberations.
While Ostenrl lias been evacuated by French and British troops and the
Germans are only 10 miles away, French War Office announces that the
invaders have been pushed back all along the line.
The Germans have evacuated the left bank of the River Lys in Belgium,
the official statement adds, and reports French advances near Craonne and
arras and the capture of German trendies near Rhcims.
Heavy firing is reported near Dunkirk, France, on the French coast,
southwest of Ostend.
Unofficial dispatches state that the British and Belgians from Ostend
have joined a strong French force, and that the combined armies have
turned with fury on the German advance guard.
Heavy fighting cast of Soissons and east of the Argonnes is in prog
ress, according to the official Berlin statement, which denies French claims
of successes in the Woevre region.
The crucial battle in Russian Poland has entered the eighth day o!
furious fighting without decisive result. It is known that the Austro-German
forces are more than 100 miles across the border and are engaging the
Russians vigorously on a 300-mile north and south line, parallel to the Vistula
and running from the vicinity of Warsaw to Przemysl.
Berlin advices report Germans have cut lines of communication between
Ivangorod and Warsaw, the two strongest positions in Russian Poland.
The Russian objective toward Silesia has been checked, as the troops
are concentrated for defense of their own fortified cities of Ivangorod and
Warsaw.
Galicia is quiet, but the Russians deny Vienna reports of abandon
ment-of the--Przemysl siege nnd the retaking of Lemberg.
In East Prussia, Berlin reports holding back the Russian advance and
defeat of a large force near Schirwindt. The battle of Wirballen has been
under way since October 4 with constant losses to the Russians.
Montenegrins report a decisive victory over 15,000 Austrians in the
vicinity of Sarajevo. The Austrian mortality was enormous and many guni
were taken.
Turkey is reported to have opened hostilities by an attack on Russian
ships in the Black Sea. However, it is also reported that the Turkish
army has been ordered demobilized.
While Portugal has not formally declared war against
country is animated by martial spirit. Congress has been
traordinary session for tomorrow to authorize mobilization
which consists of 150,000 men on a war footing, and this action is regarded
as directly preliminary to a declaration of hostilities. Martial law has been
proclaimed in the Portuguese Congo, which is threatened from German
Southwest Africa. German citizens have fled in numbers from Lisbon.
British troops have been sent against Colonel Maritz, rebel leader of
the Boers in South Africa. It is reported that only 500 troops comprise
the revolutionary forces.
Germany tho
called in ex-
of the army.
ALLIES DRIVE BACK LINES
OF ENEMY, FRENCH ASSERT
FEARS DISRUPTION OF CLUBS.
"If suffrage is indorsed by the federa
tion," she said, "it simply will mean dis
ruption in the clubs. A great number
of clubs will drop out and some individ
uals from other clubs. I do not think
that the subject should be broached, since
It will have such serious results Our
by-laws eay we must have no religious
or political plans in our platforms, and
suffrage Is a political question.
"I shall be sorry from the bottom of
my heart if it Is indorsed, for the scope
of the women s cluba will he crippled
The clubs have done wonderful vvoik
and are progressing rapidly It is a plti
that they should be disrupted, ami if f.
frage is Indorsed It will be because the
federation practically has been packed
with suffragists. We anti-suffragists will
train eve nrvo to keep thla aubject
rom betas Indorsed."
PARIS, Oct. 15.
An offensive move throughout the
French battle line was Indicated In to
day's War Offlce statements. It was
the causo of unusual optimism here.
From far up Into Belgium, zlg-zngginff
hero and there across Into French ter
ritory and down to Metz, tho Allies are
apparently pressing the Germans hard.
There is over- Indication hero, from
reports, that the wedge of Belgians,
British nnd French, with which the
Allies countered the German blow at
the North Sea ports in Belgium, is be-
ins pushed forward between the armies
of Generals von Boehn and von
Beseler.
Before the German occupation of
Antwerp the Allies had prepared to
engago the German right along the
River Lys. The Germans' retirement
from this position now is reported offi
cially. So also have the Kaiser's
troops been thrust bacjt east of Arras
Unofficial dispatches here say the Ger
mans lost heavily and that the town
Itself was greatly damaged by incen
diary fires The Hotel de Vllle, a
splendid type of Gothic architecture, is
reported greatly damaged.
Particular satisfaction Is expressed
here at the enforced German retire
ment to secondary entrenchments
along the centre a retreat forced by
fierce French attack. Military observ
ers noted a slackening; in the German
offensive to tho extreme right, prompt
ly met by French advances In this sec
tion The official statement follows in full
In the Belgium theatre of war
the German troops comirir from
twerp wo marchlnjr toward tha
west and reached the region of
Bruges and of Thielt on the eve
ning of October 14.
On our left wing1 the enemy
evacuated the left bank of tho
River Lys. Between the Lys and
the canal of La Bassee the situa
tion is stationary. In the region of
Lens and between Arras and Al
bert our progress has been notable.
Between the Sommn and the Olse
there is no change. The Germans
have bombarded our line, but made
no Infantry attacks.
Lille has been occupied only mo
mentarily by the Germans.
At the centre, between the OIs
and the Meuse, we have advanced
toward Craonne. At the northeast
of the road from Barry-au-Bac to
Rhelms and at the north of Pru
nay in the direction of Heine (a
short distance east of Rhelms) nu
merous German trenches have
been captured. Between the Meuse
and the Moselle, after having re
pulsed on the night of October 13
14 attacks at the southeast of Ver
dun, our troops advanced on the
14th to the south of the road from
Verdun to Metz.
On our right wing the partial of
fenslve taken by the Germans in
tha Ban-de-Sapt, in the north of
St. Die, has been definitely stopped.
In Russia the conflict continues
on the front extending from the re
glon of Warsaw along tho Vistula
and the San as far as Przemysl
and still farther toward the south
to tha Dnelster. There is no
change In East Prussia.
French. British and German Infantry
with their artillery support, that have
been hidden behind screens of clashing
cavalry on the Belgian border north of
Lille, now are engaged In arHmportant
combat on Belgian soil.
The Allies' army that occupied Tprea
3 1
Ceacludtd aa Fj y9W
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