The Augusta herald. (Augusta, Ga.) 1914-current, December 10, 1914, Home Edition, Page TWO, Image 2

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TWO BEGIN RE-HEARING OF INCREASE IN FARE AUGUSTA-AIKEN LINE (Continued from Preceding Page). then how does any one know that in adequate earnings make increased fares necessary. They say they want to cross-examine Mr. 8 alley on all these points. Throughout the entire hearing the utmost good feeling pre vailed, it was easy to see the leanings of the three commissioners. The Opposition. By his questions Chairman Richards Indicated that he leaned toward those opposing the increase. Willie Mr. Hampton indicated that he was some whnt favorable to tht Increase, al though he favored Messrs. Cullcy and Spofford coming to Colum bia to testify. Mr. Caughmun stated before the hearing that he was opposed to re-opening the case any way. The decision reached several weeks ago to allow the increase was favored by Messrs. Hampton and Caughnmn, Chairman Richards dis senting. Chairman Richards suggest ed to the Railway Company to take off some of its cars as other railroads have done, saying he believed it to he the solution. I)r. A. E. Salley, of Augusta, who happened to he in Columbia, tes tified that a Mr. Johnson, an auditor of the Aiken line, hoarded at his home end told him repeatedly that the Au gusta-Aiken line was a bonanza and was the backbone of all the A -A. cor poration properties. Mr. R. J. South all who. also happened to be In Colum bia .stated that unless the stocks and bonds Issued on the Aiken line alone find the earnings thereon were shown, the proposed increase should not be entertained. In North Augusts. There is talk of having a resumption of the hearing in North Augusta so that hooks needed may he sent for. If the witnesses from Augusta arrive there will be a session tonight, In all probability. May Request Postponement. However, the probability of Messrs. Jackson and Deague not being able to get here may cause a request for postponement. Messrs. Jackson and Dcague wer> not decided on until a short time before the train was to leave Augusta this afternoon. Mr. and Mr Jackson was vice-president and original builder of the Aiken line. The hearing was resumed at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Columbia, S. C.—The rehearing of the petition of the Augusta-Aiken Railway & Electric Corporation to in crease its rates-from one to two rents per mile was again before the Houth Carolina Railroad Commission at Its office In the Union National Rank building here at 10:20 this morning Chairman John G. Richards presided. Commissioners Hampton and Caugh man were also present. Representing the Railway Company were Vice-Presi dent J. H Pardee, of the Augusta- Aiken: and Mr. J P. Wood. Messrs. Jno. F. Williams and Herbert E. Gyles, of Aiken. Mr E K. Brtghain and Mr. U. J Williams, of Augusts, appeared as representatives of those opposing the Increase » Petition Read The secretary reud the petition of certain citizens of Aiken asking for a rehearing on the matter of the rate in crease It will he recalled that the commission issued an order granting the increase asked to take effect Jan WILL HE? - . A Bad Case of Nasal Catarrh a 4&'- v^fc-ja 1 * V* Mr. Frank W. Harris. Box 25. naate Oily. Va., mrmbrr No. IS. A. F. & A. M., write*: "1 have lists) I’eruna In my family with very satis factory results, for the last two years. My wife was severely afflicted with nasal catarrh The nerves of her head and face, called the cranial nerves, were affected. After a course of I'eruna she has been greatly re lieved. We cannot as a family speak too highly of I'eruna and your other remedies, i recommend It to every one wherever 1 have a chance. I am sure It la a medicine that when once honestly tried will win Its way with out any other argument. 1 am willing to answer any letters of inquiry concerning Peruna." unry first hut decided to re-open the case. Mr Jno. F. Williams, of Aiken, open ed for those opposing the increase by reading a demand on the Railway Co. to produce its hooks at. the hearing today to show the number of stocks bdnds, etc., sold by the company. Mr. Brigham then read a letter he wrote to General Manager Spofford on Dec. 7th, afiking him to make a showing to day on the following four points. The Four Points. First.--The profits of the interurban line from 1905 to 1912, Second- The original Investment In the interurban line, that is the coat of construction. Third —The total sum paid to the Harrimnn Estate for all of the prop erties owned by your company. Fourth—The common and preferred stock and bonds Issued by your com pany since December, 1910. Figures Submitted. Mr L. J. Wiliams was then swpra He submitted figures contained in an other column of The Herald today rela tive to alleged earnings of the Augus ta-Aiken line, the amount of storks, bonds, etc; owned by the company, the capitalization during and after Harrlman regime and the original cost of the Alkep line. Wrong to Inorease. Mr. WllianiH elaborating on his fig ures, said that it was wrong for the railroad ID try to make up Its losses on other properties by increasing the rate on the Augusta-Aiken line. The surplus earnings of 1910, according to a prospectus of Redmond & Co, were $103,000 for the entire Augusta-Aikcn Railway & Electric Corporation while even larger net earnings for 1911 find 1912 were forecasted. Reads from Prospectus. Mr. Wiliams read from the prospec tus; Mr. Williams addressing the ehulrman said that If the Aiken line was earning 132% per cent net on it a investment the owners ought to be sat isfied. Mr. Williams said he was sorry for the Railway Company and that he himself was partly responsible for I heir trouble because he helped to get the Stevens Creek power plant estab lished, but ho added, they should not lie allowed to Increase the fares on tho Aiken line because they haven’t been able to sell power as fust as they should. « They seem to want to make up the losses on the power dam, said Mr. Williams, by Increasing the fares on the Aiken line. Ho said there was no reason for the railway to squeal and squeeze people during these hard times. In Augusta. Mr. Williams added that the Au gunta-Aiken whs not an Interurban line, that It was no more nor no less than a street railroad, that it had no | accommodations like other real inter urban railroads and could not be com pared to tl e Southern, Seabonrd, Piedmont lines, etc. He said that on tho street railroad in Augusta one could ride from 10 to 15 miles for a nlekle, tending to show that the 24- mile ride from Augusta to Aiken for a quarter with no better accommoda tions was not unreasonable. Mr. Wil liams declared that people depending on the Aiken line were in bad eondi tion financially and many were out of i positions. Referring to the previous ruling of the commission granting the My Wife Had Nasal Catarrh So Bad That The Cranial Nerves Were Affected. Peruna Helped Her Promptly. increase provided that the equipment lie Improved. New Equipment. Mr. Williams stated that entire new equipment for the road would have to he secured and the road would have to ho almost re-constructed to bring it up to the standard of other inter urban lines. Chairman Richards ask ed Mr. Williams if there had been any improvement in the road since tho present management secured it. He said a few kinks had been taken but there hail been no improvement in the rolling stock, lie said he under stood road bed would have to bo changed to bring the Aiken road up to the interurban standard. Mr. Wil liams said he would swear that the figures he presented were correct, ac cording to his best knowledge and be lief, hut that if Mr. l’ardee had not brought his hooks to disprove the fig ures the case should be decided against the railroad company. South Carolinians. He said Auditor F. B. Cully, Mr. .Tas. U Jackson, Mr. Jas. R. League and Mr. T. C. Vasnn, might he subpoenaed to swear as to the accuracy of the figures he submitted. Commissioner Hampton interrupted with the statement that Georgia peo ple could net he required to testify in Carolina. Mr. Williams answered that Messrs. Jackson and League lived In South Carolina. Mr. Williams be fore eoncludlng said he thought tlie railway company should lie assisted in this lime of financial stress and should be allowed to take off some of its cars, but not raise its rates. ...8y... Hal Coffman STAR WITNESS TELLS OF U. S. NAVY PROGRAM (Continued from Preceding rage.) to be four battleships authorized thin year as the general board of the navy recommends or two battleships as 1 ordered, men's opinions differ. If the revenues of the country were suffic ient to provide it. 1 should say four battleships. We should have a strong steady development. You will never have, either for the army or navy, a defense arms and ships -to meet the most powerful navy, but you will have a strong navy.” "Are we doing enough?" he was asked. “We are doing all that the American people desire us to do and we are tn a strong position," the secretary ex plained. “I think that the war in Eu rope is going to exhaust the resources of the countries engaged and that there is less likelihood of our. at any time In the future, having any trou ble with thosj nations than there was before. You are not going to have a perfect war defense on our American policy. We should not go into com petition with nations that are military nations." P RIV A T E~ALA BAM A~BA NK E R SKIPS, LEAVING NOTE Montgomery, Ala.—Efforts are be ing made by the authorities to locate J. C. Lynn a private hanker at Glen wood, Ala. Lynn left suddenly and upon examination of his safe nothing was found by the following note: “This grieves me very much, but I have nothing else to do. 1 want every one to share equally. 1 carried but very little with me, and think l have done the best under the circumstances. 1 am not what most people think 1 am. Don't worry, 1 will do right some day by all." Lynn. It Is alleged, held cotton re ceipts and funds In trust for farmers totalling about $40,000. HERRICK BACK. TO EARN SOME MONEY” Clsveland, Ohio.—Myron T. llerrlrk, former ambassador to France, accom panied by Mrs Herrick, arrived at his i home here today. "It feels good to get back." said Mr Herrick, who added that he would have "to earn some money," as hts duties in Paris had cost him $400,000. A public reception will be given io Mr, Herrick late today. BRYAN LEAVES. Riehmond, Va.—William J. Bryan, secretary of state, who was expected to participate in the meecting of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, *n session here today, left the city for Vnahington this morning. Sectional meetings of the council were held at which education, social service, state and city federation and evangelism *• ere discussed. Action taken at these meetings, it was an nounced. would, be reported to a gen eral session late today. (mef I lit AUGUSTA HERALD, AUGUSTA, GA. I PROMISE BY JAPS TO RETURN KIAOCHUW, CHIU Say Pledges Are Not Binding Now As Germany Did Not Turn Over Territory Volun tarily. Washington.—The statement by Baron Halo, Japanese foreign minister in (he diet yesterday that Japan had made no promise to any country to re turn Kiao Chow to China is attracting much interest in official circles here. When Japan delivered her ultima tum to Germany demanding the evacu ation of Kiao Chow, the statement was published that the territory would oe returned to China. That, it was later pointed out, wss upon the supposition that Germany would comply with the terms of the -ultimatum and volun tarily turn dVet the territory. How ever, as Jafian was put to a general military campaign to get possession of Kiao Chow, one contention now in the Japanese mind is that the original pledges were not binding. After Japan began hostilities. Pre mier Okuma. replying to an inquiry, announced that Japan had no inten tion of securing territorial extension as a result of the war. Kiao Chow was not specifically mentioned in that statement, although it might have been Inferred that il was included. No Formal Statement. The Japanese embassy here, how ever, never made any formal statement to Secretary Bryan that Japan would return Kiao Chow to China, althougn it is said to lie possible that some such Impression may have been conveyed In conversation by a member of the em bassy staff but nowhere, it is said now, was there any formal pledge to that effect. It may lie slated authoritatively that while Japan has not formally under taken to surrender Kiao Chow, she has by no means officially committed herself to Its retention, the whole sub ject of the disposition of the former German possessions in Asia and Aus tralasia is still under consideration and undetermined. Practically it has been decided that those questions must await the end of the war for their answer. 0. S. 4TII IN SLA 111 STRENGTH Navy Department, to Observe Strict Neutrality, Omits Cus tomary December Report Re garding Tonnage. Washington— In order that the Unit ed States may observe strict neutral ity in the European war, the navy department will not issue this month the usual comparative statement of the warship tonnage of the principal naval powers of the world, hitherto Issued In December and July of each year. Instead of attempting to put out a statement corrected to date, the Intelligence office of the department today reissued the statemen: of last July, when all of the nations now at war were pursuing the paths of peace. While the issuance by the United States of a statement setting forth the naval strength of the warring na tions might be improper in itself, it was also pointed out that the changes wrought In the various navies by de struction of vessels on the one hand and the purchnse and completion »f craft on the other, would make It quite Impossible to compile the necessary data. The July statement, reissued today, shows Great Britain at the head of the list with a completed tonnage of 2.157,850. while the other nations in the order of their tonnage are Ger many, United States. France. Japan. Italy, Russia and. Austria-Hungary. This statement allows that with the completion of vessels built and build- r.T- WHAT’S YOUR ANSWER ? OFFICIAL BULLETINS FRENCH Paris, 2:39 p. m. —The day of Dec. 9th passed quietly in Belgium as well as In the vicinity of Arras, according to the official statement given out at the war office in Paris this after noon.' The war office claims French ad vances at several points on the ex tended battle front and makes no mention of any reverses. For in stance, near Le Quesnoy, gains of from 200 to 600 yards were made; in the Aisne and on the heights of the Meuse the French artillery mastered the batteries of the enemy and near Rheims, French cannon compelled the evacuation of trenches. Counter at tacks were repulsed near Perthes and In the Argonne. In the latter locality new trenches were taken by the, French. ing July 1, the order would be Great Britain, Germany, France, United States, Japan. Russia, Italy, Austria- Hungary. This latter calculation would place the United States fourth instead of third among the world naval potvers. ARMY lillC CONSTANTLY NON Says Brigadier General Scott in Talk to House Committee ---Amunition Supplies Ques tion Brought Up Washington.—Rrig. Gen. Scott, chief of the staff of the army, told the house military committee today that the condition of the national defense was “constatly improving” and dis cussed at length the question of am munition supplies. Representative Grone of Vermont quoted from the report of a former chief of staff, General Wotherspoon, a statement that "there is a serious deficiency" in ammunition for sea coast defenses General Scott submit ted a table showing there was avail able for twelve-inch mortars, 50 per cent; for 16-inch guns. 33 per cent; for 14-inch guns, 48 per cent; for 12- inch guns, 48 per cent, and for 10- Inch guns, 100 per cent of the neces sary reserve ammunition as proposed by the national defense board. “Nervous and Excited.” "General Wotherspoon must have been nervous and excited' when he wrote that report," remarked Chair man Hay. Replying to a question as to wheth er those supplies were sufficient. Gen eral Scott said: "I think we should get on hand the amount projected as soon as possible." He said that at the present rate of ap propriations it would require about four years to complete the supply. "What is our condition as to na tional defenses as compared with two, four or six years ago?" asked Repre sentative McKenzie of Illinois. "It is constantly Improving," Hearings Closed. "What would you say as to the at titude of toward the national defense? Has it been derelict in its duty as to supplying appropriations?” "The condition of things is constant ly Improving." replied the general. Hearings on the army appropriation bill were closed today. GERMAN Berlin, (By Wireless to London, 3 p. m.) —-Today’s official communica tion issued by the German army headquarters staff asserts that a French attack resumed in the Forest of Argonne was repulsed, the allied forces losing heavily. The text of the statement reads: "In the district of Souain the French yesterday confined themselves to the heavy artillery firing. “A renewed French attack on Ro croi and Courcullies did not make any progress. “The attack broke down under the fire of our artillery, the enemy suf fering heavy loss. “In Southern Poland the Russian at tacks were repulsed.” TENNESSEE QUARANTINE ON THE CATTLE DISEASE Nashvillfi, Tenn.—Effective Dec. 15, Tennessee will establish a quarantine against the foot and mouth disease, according to an order issued here by Commissioner of Agriculture T. F. Peck. No cattle may he brought into the state except for Immediate slaughter. Before horses and mules are admitted their feet and legs must be treated with a compound. No cattle may be shipped into the state unless thor oughly disinfected cars are used. Thus there has been no outbreak of the dis ease In Tennessee. EVERS HAS PNEUMONIA. Now York.—lllness of Johnny Evers, captain of the world’s champion Braves took a serious turn today. Physicians reported he had developed pneumonia in one lung. READ THE “WANTS” Getting Dealer Enthusiasm A i Half of the battle in selling goods is getting the enthusiasm of the sales force. The same rule applies to goods sold over the retailer’s counter. When the retailer is pushing an ar ticle with vim it usually sells. National manufacturers are finding that the surest way to create dealer enthu siasm is through newspaper advertising. When a nationally made article of merit is advertised in the newspapers, the dealers know the demand will be imme diate and definite. They get behind the goods and in creased sales follow. Manufacturers interested in develop ing business are invited to address the Bu reau of Advertising. American Newspaper Publishers Association, World Building, New York. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 RUSHING TO 1 i o. $: m Steamer Centralia, With Pas sengers Aboard, in Distress Off California Coast. San Luis Obispo, Cal.—After a night of anxiety while her anchors dragged and a southerly gale carried her dan gerously close to the rocks of Point Arguello, the passenger steamer Cen tralist rides at anchor today at th 9 western end of Santa Barbara chan nel. Although disabled by the burst ing of a boiler tube, she is in no dan ger. “Come at Once.” San Luis Obispo, Calif.—The liners Harvard and Bear are rushing to the assistance of the passenger carrying steamer Centralia, which is anchored five miles south of Point Arguella Light on the California coast north of the Santa Barbara Islands. The Centralia’s machinery is disabled and a strong southerly wind has been threatening to drive her ashore. The first wireless call for help from the Centralia was picked up by the radio station at Point Arguella at 3 a. m. It asked the operator to “tell the steamer Aroline to come as fast as she can and try to get some nearer boat in the. meantime." The liner Harvard reported at 5 a. m., from a position off Point Arguella that she was going to the steamers’ assistance. The Centralia, a wooden vessel of 487 tons, is bound from Los Angeles for San Francisco. The number of passengers aboard is not known. The coast in the neighborhood of Point Arguella is dangerous and the south wind adds to the vessel’s peril. ', Football Players on “GricT’or at Front? War Between Those Who Want Them to Fight and Those Who Do Not, England Still Raging. London.—The warfare between those who want professional football con tinued during war time and those who think that the players and employes of the football clubs ought to be at the front, goes on merrily with the Poet Laureate as the latest contribu tor to the discussion. The chief argument of those woo oppose the discontinuance of the games, which draw- every Saturday even larger crowds than the American baseball world’s series contests, is that the loss of the millions of dollars which the football “magnates" pay out for salaries and other expenses would he a crushing economic blow to a largo class. The sporting editor of the Daily News, for instance, says: “I contend that football is an abso lute necessity to the community. Stop it and you will drive the men who are making guns, ammunition, uniforms, boots, etc., into wilderness of the drink shops on Saturday afternoon. The men w-ho are fighting and will fight later on, or who are doing the nation’s urgent work at home, have selected professional football as their mode of weekly relief from the worries of their iabor.” The other side of the argument is presented in an open letter from Dr. Robert Bridges, the poet laureate. Ha says: “I voice the feeling of the country in declaring that it is high time pro fessional football should be discontin ued. “The sightseeing crowds are not so much to blame, I hope, as they appear to be; I take it they are ignorantly misled by the small body of men who cater to them. “The whole nation is mourning for those falling in defense and I would suggest that the heroic death of Lord Roberts is such an occasion as may well serve these football managers as a motive for fixing the term for the cessation of their- public entertain ments. “Our enemies calculated on finding the mass of our people apathetic. If any class is showing itself so, they are traitors and more dangerous than the Germans themselves. It is high time that our footballers let the world see what they are really made of.” As showing the extent to which football still holds the attention of a large public, last Saturday there were 4,700 matches played in the British Isles, not including boys' matches. It follows that over 140,000 men of the right sort for recruiting were kicking a football about over here, while their more patriotic comrades were being heavily shelled in Flanders.